#External Publicity Wing

[presssection]

The 78th Independence Day Celebrations in Hong Kong.

[inevesgf]

UNDER THE LIGHTS • LANDO NORRIS

catching lando norris' eye at a halloween party isn't the best of attention you could ensnare, especially when you're masking your not-so-innocent personality with white wings and a halo.

content + warnings: 18+ smut with plot, p in v, female!reader, swearing, dirty talking, semi-public sex, no strings attached, mentions of alcohol + drinking, slightly intoxicated sex, clitorial stimulation, teasing!reader, mentions of bruises, unprotected sex. word count 2.5k.

even though lando isn't one of my favorite drivers, damn he is so fun to write for. if you would like to be tagged in upcoming works from this special, click the link here ⋆·˚ ༘ * notes + reblogs are heavily appreciated and don't forget to tell me your thoughts via comment, reblog or ask.

as you entered the party an intoxicating mix of laughter and music filled your ears, the bright lights casting shadows that danced upon the wall. light smoke filtered through the air, adding to create the perfect atmosphere as your friends piled in behind you. 

dressed in a flowing white gown that draped elegantly on your body, you looked like a vision of light — an unexpected twist for someone who usually wore their sarcasm like armor. oversized wings – feathered and slightly askew – fluttered behind you as you glided into the crowd. a halo perched atop your head, glimmering with an almost mocking brilliance.

you were beyond the frame of innocence or elegance, which almost made your costume all the more perfect, masking your true nature. even though you had thrown the outfit together with items from your closet, eyes hungrily fell onto you as you made your way deeper into the party, a certain pair catching your own gaze with a look of mischief.

it wasn’t until you looked forward and saw lando with his jaw slightly slack that you knew that you had picked the right costume. besides his external shock, there was a hint of a smirk that formed on his lips, his eyes hungry for something that made your stomach turn in excitement.

floating through the crowd, you swiped a shot from the tray a wait-staff member held above their shoulders, you pulled the glass to your lips, quickly downing the alcohol inside.with a satisified hum from your lips, you began your advance towards lando, the amber liquid swirling inside you like a tiny storm as you discarded the empty shot glass onto a nearby table.

“an angel at a party full of sinners,” lando’s voice erupted over the pounding sound of the music, “that’s pretty ironic. couldn’t find a better costume?” a roaring laugh fell past his lips, causing you to playfully roll your eyes before scanning his body. “i could say the same for you – you look exactly like how you dress everyday. it’s a little souless.�� you teased, sucking your bottom lip under your teeth as a look of mischief decorated your face.

lando grumbled, taking a sip of the murky gin and tonic that he held lazily in this hand, taking a step closer in order to hear your voice better over the loud music. “i’m a vampire, duh!” he jokingly grumbled, looking down at you with a hint of admiration in his eyes, though his words didn’t show it. “it’s a funny act you got going on, yknow – dressed all innocent, but everyone here knows you’re anything but that.”

you forced out a dry laugh at his words, adjusting the halo that sat above your head as if to mock him. the playful banter between you two was barely audible over the blasting music, but then tension in the air was palpable. “next year, i’m going as the devil. much more fitting, don’t you think?” you cocked, the same stupid smirk decorating your face as if to egg him on with your words, itching to get under his skin.

“definitely,” lando snickered, leaning in just a tad more to the point you could feel the heat radiating off his body, “because right now you’re not fooling anyone.” a satisfied hum fell from your lips, knowing his words were mostly correct. your eyes pooled into his hazel ones as if to undress him simply with your gaze. with hungry eyes, you looked over his costume, his slightly unbuttoned white button-up working perfectly as it fit snug upon his triceps.

“do you bite? since you’re a vampire and all..” a teasing tone poisoned your words, a challenging look decorating your visage. lando chucked dryly at your words, a smirk of surprise coming to rest on his face. he took a small step forward, bringing his head down so he could whisper in your ear, “only if you want me to.” the words sent a shiver down your spine, the smitten look that laid upon your face only growing larger.

you brought your finger to your lips, shushing lando as you pulled him by the collar into the bar bathroom, locking the door behind the two of you. almost immediately, lando’s calloused hands were on you, his fingers carefully trailing down your body as his lips met yours. the kiss was sloppy and hungry, your bodies pulled tightly against each other as the alcohol only suited to broaden the moment. 

lando’s hands came down to grip your ass, pulling the hem of your dress up slightly as he squeezed the flesh, eliciting a soft moan from your lips into the kiss. his touch all over you made you feel dirty, and you loved it, your previous sexual tension now finally able to have a place to release itself.

as lando began to pull the hem of your dress up, bunching it around your waist to reveal your lacey thong, you laughed into the kiss, your lips briefly detaching from his. “so eager, huh?” you teased, yet your fingers found themselves delicately coming to unbutton his button-up, your gaze eating him up like a full course meal.

“only for you,” lando growled, his hands lazily resting up your hips as you began to undress him, “especially when you dress like this – all sweet and innocent when i know deep down you’re so dirty.” you laughed sweetly, letting his shirt fall off his shoulders and onto the bathroom floor as you brought your soft lips to his jawline, placing a delicate kiss on his cheek.

“wanna find out?” you breathed against your skin, your manicured nails eagerly finding their way to undo his black dress pants. lando’s breath caught in his throat at your confidence, the usual dominant man melting in your touch. “i’d be sick and twisted to say no,” he smirked, letting your hands dance all over your skin.

as if to regain any bit of dominance he could have had, lando picked you up, his strong arms wrapping around your thighs as he set you onto the sink counter. a small giggle escaped your mouth before you bit your bottom lip, tangling the flesh under your teeth. landos lips immediately landed on your nip, licking and sucking sweetly at your soft skin as he stood between your legs, spreading them with his action.

as he peppered your neck with kisses, his teeth joining in on his movements as he marked your skin, his fingers hooked under the waistband of your thong, eager to rid you of it. a soft moan escaped your lips as you let your head rest on the mirror behind you, yours eyes closed as your breath became labored. “mhm, yeah, take them off, baby,” you hummed, spreading your legs even more before propping your heels up onto the table you sat upon.

lando didn’t waste any time pulling your thong down your legs, discarding it on the floor with his shirt and the white halo you had lazily pulled off your head. his eyes danced around your body as your cunt was revealed to him, your core glistening with your arousal from lando’s lingering gaze and passionate touches. 

“so fucking wet f’me already,” lando growled, one of his hands coming to rest on your inner thigh as he whispered into your ear, “want me to touch you, huh? make you mine, pretty girl?” his erotic words sent a shiver down your spine, your body finding itself on a euphoric high from his touch.

“yeah, fuck me like i’m all yours,” you moaned back, your voice low and sultry as one of your hands found its way in his curls, twirling them slightly between your fingers. lando groaned at your words, your actions only serving for lando’s boxers to tighten more at his arousal.

his fingers danced up your thigh, getting closer and closer to your cunt that throbbed with need. the tension in the room was palpable, the sweat beading across lando’s forehead only displaying to dire need between the two of you as his fingers continued their travel, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake. 

when his cold fingers make contact with your clit, you let out a satisfied moan before reconnecting your lips with lando’s, kissing him feverishly. lando reciprocated, kissing you as if you were the only source of oxygen left on the planet – like if ge didn’t kiss you, he would die. his fingers worked magic around your clit, rubbing tight circles that had your mouth widening against his lips, impatient moans slipping through.

“you like that, huh?” lando teased, his voice escaping at a low growl as his lips brushed against yours, his fingers starting to pick up the pace. you squirmed under his grasp, whines that lando would call pathetic and needy escaping your mouth as you bucked your hips into his touch.

“fucking love it,” you grunted through heavy pants, small little moans escaping your parted lips, “fuck me.” the melodic noises that escaped from you sounded like music to lando’s ears as he chucked dryly at your whiny plea, the vibration sending a tingle straight through your body. 

lando was incredibly turned on by everything about you. from the way you teased him, to your moans and your beautifully wet cunt: it was all so perfect to him. he quickly finished undressing himself, pulling his boxers to his thighs to reveal his painfully hard cock, the tip flushed a deep red as precum leaked from it.

the sight was beautiful, your eyes scanned his tone abs and his hard-on as it took center stage. your panting picked you, your body desperate for any form of touch as lando neared you, your legs spreading even more to reveal the mess between your legs. “so beautiful,” lando hummed, positioning himself between your thighs as his hazels eyes looked down on you, his gaze dark and hungry.

his tip teased your entrance, rubbing smooth circles around your clit which dragged a small moan from your lips. the loud bumping of the music could be heard outside the stuffy bathroom, but the sound only continued to drown out as lando pressed into you, your head spinning at the contact.

pushing his hard, thick cock into you, lando grunted, starting to thrust at a pace that was slow enough to already have you begging for more. whines and whimpers left your lips as lando grunted, the deep gaze of his eyes never leaving yours despite the fact you struggled to keep yours open.

“i didn’t know you were so sensitive,” lando cocked, a teasing tone dripping from his words as he fucked harder into you, your knuckles turning white as your fingers dug into his shoulders, “so messy already and i’ve barely begun yet.” his words had you reeling, your clouded mind hardly pushing out a reaction, yet your body jerked, your highs pushing up to meet his thrust. 

“you fuck like a mad-man,” you groaned out, hooded eyes staring into his as his dick twitched inside you, your tight cunt holding him snuggly between your walls. lando chuckled dryly once more, your words only suiting to egg him on more as his thrust grew more rapid, sloppy.

lando licked his lips, sweat beading at his forehead as he tried to regain rhymatic thrusts, the tip of his hardened cock never falling to slam into your g-spot as he gripped your thighs. you couldn’t help but let out borderline pornographic moans as you swallowed his cock whole with your cunt, the air in the room stuffy and hot with the aroma of lust.

lando adjusted his angle, his cock only fucking harder into your pussy as erotic words oozed from his mouth, “spread your legs wider, baby.” his tone came out commanding, your fucked out mind too full of bliss as you mindlessly obeyed him, widening your legs to reveal more of your cunt – red and abused from the prior attack of his fingers. “that’s it .. wider,” lando grunted like an animal, his words coming out in huffed sighs as his cock throbbed in your tight pussy.

loud whines and moans fell from your swollen lips, the sound of the music completely drowned out inside the bathroom and replaced with the hums of the ecstasy of pleasure. “look at you,” lando purred, “such a needy girl.” his condescending words pulled you closer to the edge, your cunt sucking him in deeper as the eye contact remained.

“you can do better than that,” the words feeling from your lips between pants, your hooded eyes trying their hardest to not close tightly shut at the pleasure you ensnared, “fuck me harder, lan.” lando grunted at your command, your words sending a shutter of gruff desire through his body that slowly began to grow tired.

another dry chuckle fell from his cracked lips, the action sending a vibration through your body as his thrusts didn’t slow nor quicken. “you’re in no place to tease, baby, look at you,” he mocked, his calloused hands gripping your thighs harder as he now quickened the thrust of his cock into your tight cunt. your head rolled back in pleasure, the grip your hands had on lando’s shoulders only tightening, sure to leave little bruises in their wake. his condescending words did a number on you, your stomach tightening in pleasure as his cock battered harder in your poor cunt, making your body feel weak yet beautifully pleasured. 

“so fucking good–” you moaned out again, little ah-ah-ahs falling so carelessly from your parted lips. lando smirked in satisfaction, your praise only suiting him more as he fucked into you vicariously, giving you his all as he felt his climax rapidly approaching.

your stomach began to spin, your walls clenching around lando’s cock that still pumped into you, the vibrancy of your pleasure radiating off you as your moans sang together like an erotic duet. “yeah, cum for me, baby,” lando grunted, panting and heaving as he egged the two of you closer to your orgasms. your body shook with pleasure, your cunt throbbing as a pleasurable warmth flooded over your body.

before you could come to gather your actions, your climax hit you like a train, smalls moans of lando and little oh fucks falling from your reddened lips. quickly after, as if he was so sweetly waiting for you, lando finished. a guttural grunt fell from his parted lips as he did, thick beads of cum spilling onto the finger-printed skin of your thighs, lando’s fingers having left small bruises upon the flesh.

the two of you slowly came down from your high, the air smelling of whiskey and sex as the two of you gathered your senses and began to catch your breath. lando’s eyes never left yours as he slipped his clothes back on, bending his frame down to the ground to pick up your lazily discarded halo.

a satisfied hum escaped his lips as he placed it back onto your head, a smirk decorating his visage as his cheeks remained flush from the extertion. “see,” lando whispered as if to tease you, “i knew you weren’t all that innocent, angel.”

© inevesgf do not copy, plagiarize, translate, or claim any of my works as your own. notes + reblogs are heavily appreciated! ⋆·˚ ༘ * find my other works here.

[nothanksjohnny]

Hiss?

Do you remember those videos of cat owners hissing back to their fur babys? And the cat is juet stuck in confusion wondering if this big weird cat actually can speak the same language.

I want this but with cybertronains. They still speak in their original tongue from nobels to minors can share a mild unity in this common language. There was different frequencys depending on if one was a seeker or grounder and other occupations but the common language was known. Yet primal actions where shown to. The flaring of plating and twitching of kibble were a few external expressions used.

Hissing and growling were more extream used. The baring of fanged denta and use of now exposed claws to threaten. Snapping of jaws or flarring of wings. Aggressive chittering or annoyed deep rumbles. These actions more than often reserved for more heated opinions yet some of the more vocal responses could be toned down to simply display emotion without giving of intent of physical action.

Now imagine a human finding themselves within the clutches of a decepticon. It's already been an awful day for both. One disrespected by the one who promised changed only to collapse any sense of normality for all. The other forgot their headphones at home and have a migraine. Leading to a frustrated mech that bares sharpened denta and hiss to get the human to keep from squirming in their clutches. Only to get a loud and airy like hiss in return from the organic in response along with showing canines and their frustration boils over.

Ratchet being overwhelmed and irritable all cycle. Snapping and rumbling at the team and doing a small snap of teeth to optimus. His plating it's in a constant flare a physical warning he will do more than throw a wrench. Yet their more grown human companions have been affected by his agitating aggression. And so when this medic growls at a human that was simply trying to help it caused them to snap. A low and long growl is given in return. Embarrassment ignored by frustration at this primal response. Ended with a " to you to" as the human leaves the medic with widen optics.

This finding has caused cybertronains to attempt to understand our responses. We don't growl in public. A action often getting punishment for acting with animalistic tendencies. Mechs trying to ease their human companions to try and speak with sound. Megatron putting a digit to his humans throat as he tells them to try and match his tone of growl. Starscream huffing when his human expresses discomfort at hissing " by primus if you organics weren't supposed to vocalize this way your throat wouldn't allow you to would it?! Hush I'm not being rude. Come now fleshy you wouldn't want to disappoint me hmm?" Have fun now he's getting his trine to only respond if and only if you at least try to communicate with hissing. Ratchet trying to see if rumble as cybertronains can with their engines. Flating his servo and gently around a willing humans throat and chest. A low hum I given in a attempt to respond to his pleased rumble.

[tanadrin]

This series of four videos on Ukraine and the Russia-Ukraine conflict is very interesting. The first is basically just a narrative political history of Ukraine from about 2000 to 2014, talking about different political factions that were relevant in the country in the period, and how different internal and external pressures shaped politics. It's very helpful for understanding the Ukrainian political context, including just how recent and just how shallow the supposed tensions between monolingual Russian and bilingual Ukrainian-Russian speakers was in 2014.

The second video is an overview of the Donbass war from 2014-2022, which you might have been vaguely paying attention to at the time. But it's very helpful to have it all laid out in chronological order with the benefit of hindsight, especially due to the obfuscation of Russian operations at the time that made it hard to work out what, exactly, was going on. It's a combination of a good old 19th century-style filibuster (the military expedition, not the parliamentary maneuver), Fox News-style propaganda, and some (rather badly failed) attempts at astroturfing civil unrest--why Russia thought that would work becomes important in Part 4.

Part 3 is just an extended argument that NATO expansion is not relevant to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and while I already agreed with that assessment, it's nice to have it laid out in detail. The very very short version is that by NATO's own public criteria, Ukraine was simply not a candidate to join NATO, and had given up on joining NATO, and that had been painfully obvious since at least the Obama administration. Even more frustratingly, there were multiple points where Russia had an offramp to escalation, where it had gotten everything it could have possibly wanted from the conflict in Donbass, and it refused them all.

Part 4 is the author's attempt to explain why it refused them. The very short explanation is that Russia's government is led by idiots, who are very enamored of a flavor of conspiracy theory that has its origins in the LaRouche movement, and which has been bubbling in both left-wing and right-wing circles since 2000. In this worldview, the US government acting through the CIA (or the British royal family, or George Soros, or Jewish bankers, or whoever your bogeyman of choice is) has an almost supernatural ability to overthrow any government on earth by funding performance art groups (seriously), civil society NGOs, and protestors, and that almost every revolution, actual or so-called, since 1989 has been their direct work, from the post-Soviet revolutions, to Euromaidan, to the Arab Spring.

This belief, in its more overt or fragmentary forms, is incredibly popular, spurred on no doubt by historical instances of CIA malfeasance and actual aggressive wars waged by the Bush administration. But the problem is, it's bunk. During Russia's initial moves against Ukraine in 2014, they tried essentially the same playbook in the Donbass, and of course it failed miserably--you cannot actually astroturf a popular uprising. (The CIA has preferred to stage coups and assassinations, which are a different animal from color revolutions.) The separatists in the Donbass eventually had to be supported by a few thousand Russian troops and direct military aid.

But Putin, driven by his own paranoid misunderstanding of world events, the clique of yes-men he has embedded himself in, and his fear of gay Nazi Jewish CIA agents, simply got Russia in over its head. There is no offramp because Russia cannot articulate what its goals are, and because "stop trying to use George Soros to overthrow the Russian government" is not something the US can agree to, since they are not doing it. The only thing that might have prevented Putin fucking with Ukraine in the first place was maybe if rigging the parliamentary election in 2011 hadn't resulted in protests, in which Putin saw the specter of the hand of the CIA--but of course the US and NATO and the EU had nothing to do with that!

And to cap it all off, since the 2010s the LaRouche movement and its theory of color revolutions has been making inroads in China, so we have that to look forward to in coming decades.

[sleepingdeath-light]

yandere hcs ; lucifer morningstar

requested by ; nobody / self indulgent

fandom(s) ; hazbin hotel

fandom masterlist(s) ; here

character(s) ; lucifer morningstar,

outline ; “general yandere hcs for lucifer”

warning(s) ; yandere!lucifer morningstar, obsessive behaviour, acts of violence, extreme jealousy, extreme separation anxiety, kidnapping, isolation, self aware yandere, stockholm syndrome

to get the obvious out of the way first, lucifer isn’t someone who is going to be quick to act on his feelings even if he happens to be a yandere — hell, after how distraught he was left in the aftermath of lilith walking out of their marriage it would take him a long while to even begin to acknowledge his feelings for you let alone consider acting on them

in all honesty, unless there’s some external pressure pushing him to act he’s much more likely to avoid you and try and suppress his feelings instead

yeah…

lucifer isn’t really the best at handling this sort of situation

(to say the very least)

but after a much needed pep talk from charlie, and an off handed comment about you potentially having a date soon which angel dust made in his presence, lucifer does manage to get over himself enough to actually start courting you

and for a while it’s a pretty normal relationship, or as normal of a relationship as you can have with the literal devil: he takes things slow with you, treats you like royalty, spoils you with gifts, does his best to keep track of the things you tell him, takes you out for dates regularly, and is nothing short of a complete and utter gentleman when you’re together — and that’s because at this point his feelings for you are still pretty innocent and the more intense and possessive feelings he has are quickly buried as he doesn’t want to risk scaring you away

he can’t lose you like he lost her

he can’t

so he bites his tongue and tries, desperately tries, to be the best version of himself he can possibly be — until something finally pushes him over the edge and causes all of those dangerous possessive feelings to rush in and take hold of his mind

maybe it was somebody really not getting the hint that you’re taken, maybe it was alastor really making a good effort to get under his skin by messing with you, maybe it was even a thinly veiled threat by adam about ‘stealing you away’ and ‘getting even’ after you two went public with your relationship — whatever it was caused lucifer’s mind to run wild with both fiery jealousy and white hot fear and pushed him to take matters into his own hands in the worst possible way

he snaps and he snaps badly

he lashes out physically at whoever was threatening your relationship (killing the nobody that was flirting with you, putting alastor back into his place with some injuries he can’t just shake off, harming adam enough to send a message without outright inciting another war, etc.)

he immediately wraps you up in his arms and wings, pulling you tight against his body as he apologises (you think it’s for his behaviour but what he’s apologising for hasn’t even happened yet)

then, finally, he teleports you both back to his palace and locks you both inside before having a bit of a breakdown and locking himself in a separate room to calm down and ground while you process what just happened

(eventually, once he’s out of his own head enough to do so, he’ll reach out to charlie and tell her that he’s keeping you at the palace for your own safety because of some threat or another, promising that she can come see you once everything’s safe enough for her to do so — and, unfortunately for you, she trusts her dad enough to believe him outright and simply wishes you both the best before getting back to work on the hotel)

during your time in captivity, lucifer does everything he possibly can to get back into your good graces and to try and repair your relationship (he’s keenly aware that what he’s doing to you is wrong, and he apologises for it often, but he’s also so terrified of losing you that he can’t bring himself to let you go free) — he spoils you rotten, makes your favourite meals every day, lets you have your own room close to his and makes it as comfortable as possible for you despite his own separation anxiety, tries to talk to you about the things you love (always hoping that this time you’ll finally respond to him), and taking you on little ‘dates’ around the palace grounds to try and replicate the things you did together before he took you

this is a very tumultuous time for you both and it won’t get any better until that small resilient part of your mind dies and you fully accept your new life with lucifer — but don’t be too hard on yourself for breaking, even the most strong-willed of people will give in eventually after spending months and months completely isolated from the world outside of a single person

and once that’s finally happened its almost like that difficult period in your relationship never happened at all — he’s taking you out for dates, he’s sticking close to your side at all times, you’re accompanying him to important outings to visit other royals, he’s publicly announcing your relationship every chance he gets, he’s proposing marriage, and you’re planning your royal wedding (with lots of help from a very excited step-daughter-to-be who can’t wait for you to officially join the family), and you’re given all of the protections and prestige that one could hope for in hell

sure you don’t really have much time to yourself but you love lucifer so you don’t mind having him nearby (or have you just forgotten what it’s like to have personal space?), and sure you’re only permitted to have friends that your fiancé approves of but you trust his judgement and you know he’s only acting in your best interests (or are you just too tired to fight him on it?), and sure anyone who tries to get too close to you for lucifer’s comfort is dealt with as swiftly and painfully as possible, but you’re both happy (are you really happy? are you even you anymore?) and really that’s all that matters

… right?

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Judd Legum at Popular Information:

In May 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed Florida House Bill 1069, a law that requires sex education classes in the state to conform to right-wing ideology. Specifically, the law requires all sex education classes to teach students that sex is binary, "either male or female," even though that is inaccurate. It also mandates that students are instructed that sex is defined exclusively by "internal and external genitalia present at birth," and these sex roles are "binary, stable, and unchangeable." This requirement erases the existence of trans and nonbinary people. Schools also must "teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students" and "the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage."

To enforce these new rules and other aspects of the DeSantis administration's political agenda, HB 1069 also requires "all materials used to teach reproductive health" to be approved in advance by the Florida Department of Education (FDE) or use textbooks pre-approved by the state. Previously, sex education curricula were approved by district school boards. Florida parents can opt-out of sex education lessons on behalf of their children. 

The FDE instructed school districts to submit their materials for sex education by September 30, 2023. The school districts met the deadline, but the FDE never responded. Florida counties were placed in a no-win situation as not teaching sex education, a mandatory course, at all is a violation of state law.  Several Florida school districts — including Hillsborough, Orange and Polk Counties, three of Florida's largest — decided not to teach sex education at all during the 2023-24 school year, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Other counties, including Broward and Seminole Counties, taught sex education classes without getting the legally required approval. 

The FDE has ignored requests for comment and public records requests seeking an explanation for the delay.  Now, a new school year is underway in Florida, and the FDE still has not approved any of the submitted sex education materials — or provided any response at all. Orange County hoped to make up for last school year's missed lessons when school started this August, "but now those plans are on hold."  Schools are reluctant to use the state's pre-approved texts because they are glaringly incomplete. For example, one textbook "preaches abstinence as the only effective way to prevent STDs and pregnancy and does not mention contraception." To avoid issues, the textbook advises students to "go on group dates rather than spend one-on-one time with a partner."

Popular Information takes a deep dive into why Florida students at several school districts aren’t being taught sex ed at all, even though it is a a mandatory course.

[haggishlyhagging]

The cis theory of gender also fails to take on the psychology of oppression. It erroneously assumes that any person who does not want to transition is perfectly happy with their assigned gender at birth. Those humans who fail to stage a very specific kind of public performance - the act of transitioning - are assumed to affirmatively embrace the gender assigned to them at birth.

Yet gender's imprint on the identities of female humans cannot be measured by their apparent assimilation to being "girls" and "women." Women's internalization of gender identity and gender roles has been analyzed endlessly by feminist and political theorists of all kinds. Over a century and a half ago John Stuart Mill (in collaboration with his wife Harriet Taylor Mill, whose intellectual contributions were subsumed under her husband's name precisely because of gender roles) put it plainly in "The Subjection of Women":

All causes, social and natural, combine to make it unlikely that women should be collectively rebellious to the power of men. . . . All men, except the most brutish, desire to have, in the woman most nearly connected with them, not a forced slave but a willing one, not a slave merely, but a favorite. They have therefore put everything in practice to enslave their minds.

This passage highlights the importance of psychological control as a tool of domination. It is undeniable that some women are willing to participate in the structures of our own oppres-sion. Radical feminist Andrea Dworkin's Right-Wing Women is all about this." Liberal feminist Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique describes the quiet desperation of women suffering under the crushing weight their own conformity to women's sex-specific social positions as wives and mothers. These very different but very classic feminist texts, along with many oth-mers, have helped women understand how identification with gender is externally constructed; how we relate to the sex-based social roles expected of us; and why we might come to embrace practices or behaviors that ultimately serve to harm us.

Adopting the values of the oppressor is a well-documented coping skill of people who are debased and essentialized. Feminists know that women are not unique in internalizing their own subjugation:

Coerced assimilation is in fact one of the policies available to an oppressing group in its effort to reduce and/or annihilate another group. This tactic is used by the U.S. government, for instance, on the American Indians.

Similarly, women have been subtly and not-so-subtly groomed to take joy or pride in the superficial social rewards of gender conformity. The target characteristics of the female gender role—to be passive, people pleasing, and self-blaming—increase the likelihood of eventual assimilation. Women who did not internally identify with femininity but who were willing to do whatever it took to fit in, to suffer in silence, to pretend forever; of women who grudgingly resigned themselves to their social role under threat of violence or social ostracization; these women are not part of the cis/trans theory of gender identification.

-Elizabeth Hungerford, “Female Erasure, Reverse Sexism, and the Cisgender Theory of Privilege” in Female Erasure

[didmyownresearch]

"I've told you!", or, why the left lost the US elections

No, this gives me no pleasure. It is like futilely watching a car crash in slow motion. But you could see it coming if you paid attention and stuck your head above the echo chamber. 

It wasn't really Trump who won. It's the Democratic party that lost.  Trump got 74.2 million votes in 2020 and 74.8 million votes in 2024, so he didn't gain much since his defeat. The Democrats, however lost 10 million votes. That's quite a drastic decline. And it really has little to do with their candidates. Biden was not that much more attractive than Harris. There are more fundamental explanations. So, I'm going to present here what I believe to be the two main reasons for this collapse. One is more concrete, the other more innate.

I. The derailing of the left

During the last twenty years the left-wing agenda was hijacked by what I have chosen to call the post-left. It gradually replaced liberal and social values with identity politics, and moved from a pacifist strive for human rights to cheering a violent battle that aims to enforce the radical postcolonial dogma.

This transition has disastrous results, both in the US and worldwide.  The woke agenda alienated the lower middle class, whose insecurities were amplified by the attack on traditional values. Furthermore, by abandoning the struggle against capitalistic exploitation in the corporates-controlled economy the left lost its one and only offering that relates to the actual welfare of the common people.

It didn't matter that eventually the post-left fringe deserted the Democrat's camp as Harris was too right-leaning to their taste. The damage was already done. Their vociferous, belligerent tactic drowned all the other voices. In the eyes of the unsophisticated working-class public these became the faces of the left: some pompous intellectual snobs, perhaps blue haired with weird pronouns, rioting and waving the Palestinian flag.

II. Democracy in disrepair

It's a common misconception to view a democratic rule as a permanent structure, defined through a constitution or any other rigid legal code, and leaning on stable institutions that regulates and controls its routines. Not so. Unless there's some focused effort to fix the inherent flaws in the system it will deteriorate, as those who benefit from these flaws use their excessive power to preserve and deepen their control. The 250 years old American system is corroded. Public opinion is manipulated by a media cartel; politicians' career depends on the funding from tycoons and mega corporates; the judicial system is thoroughly politicized; and, a weird, twisted and anachronistic election method ensures that no more than two presidential candidates from the same two specific parties shall ever have a chance of winning.

Everything in this system drives it towards a zero-sum confrontation that stems from an acute ideological, social and cultural polarization. As a result, extremists thrive and the moderates shrivel. Instead of a rational and moral debate we have an emotional struggle, where the strongest motive is to humiliate the adversary. Donald Trump is just a figurehead, a tool to hurt the lefties. This is a horrible way to arrive at coherent political decisions, but here we are. It was a battle of egos, and those who cared more won.

[michael-svetbird]

THE BRONZES OF SAN MARIANO Exhibit: A collection of Etruscan bronze artefacts dating 6 BC, discovered in 1812 in the municipality of Corciano, San Mariano, 13 km west of Perugia, combined and displayed together [for the 1st time] in -Museo Archeologico dell'Umbria. The bronzes are from: - Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia - Staatlichen Antikensammlungen, Monaco - The British Museum, London - Staaliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin - Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen - Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris - Musée du Louvre, Paris

Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell’Umbria, Perugia | MANU [Floor 1]

Web : https://www.musei.umbria.beniculturali.it/musei/museo-archeologico-nazionale-dellumbria

FB : https://www.facebook.com/MANUmbria

IG : @ museoarcheologicoumbria

👉 Pic 01: Zeus defats a giant [gigantomachia] Fragment of Etruscan chariot external decorative plate covering, Bronze with paint overlay, 530-520 BC.

👉 Pic 02: Griffin and Leopards-? Fragments of Etruscan furniture or box decorative plate coverings, 550-520 BC.

👉 Pic 03: 2 Leopards [close-up] Fragment of Etruscan furniture or box covering, 550-520 BC.

👉 Pics 04-06 | Fragments | Close-ups: Heracles fights with Ares and his son Cycnus [in presence of Hera-? behind them]. The Amazons, daughters of Ares, arrive at a gallop [on the right]. Another interpretation - Amazonomachy: Heracles fights with 2 Amazons in hoplite armour, other Amazons on approach [the 9th Labour-?]. Fragments a chariot [probably] external decorative plate covering, 520 BC. [Pic 05: ©MANU | The image is not in public domain].

👉 Pic 07: The group of 3 vertical plates with mythological figures: Chimera and Hermes; Artemis-? and Demeter-?; Paris-? and a goddess. Furniture, altar or throne coverings, 520-510 BC.

👉 Pic 08: Sphinx or Griffin, Furniture Covering-?; Winged Goddess Bronze Statuette [1 of 2], 550-500 BC.

👉 Pic 09: Sphinx, Fragment of a chariot covering, 530-520 BC; Lion's Head, Fragment of a chariot or furniture covering, 560-500 BC; Fragment of a female statuette [Kora-?], 550-540 BC.

👉 Pic 10: Research drawings by Walter Briziarelli [1913-1975], a Perugia-born Architect, Museologist, Illustrator and Designer, study 1953-57 https://www.briziarelli.it/walter-briziarelli/walter-briziarelli-biografia.html ©MANU | The image is not in public domain

MANU | Michael Svetbird phs©msp | 07|07|24 6300X5200 600 [I.-X.] The photographed objects are collection items of MANU and other Museums mentioned above [Non-commercial fair use | No AI | Author rights apply | Sorry for the watermarks]

📸 Part of the "Small-Format Sculpture and Miniature Artifacts" MSP Online Photo-gallery:

👉 D-ART: https://www.deviantart.com/svetbird1234/gallery/69450077/small-format-sculpture-and-miniature-artifacts

👉 FB Album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.859777984390780&type=3

.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

My theory is that Charles is showing us how he's going to rule differently than the Queen did. Since the beginning she kept EVERYONE even Phillip out of her regin. I read in Royals how she refused to speak with him about many issues, did not share the red box information nor let him sit in with the PM visits. From what I recall her own father didn't do that, he discussed everything with the Queen mother and leaned on her quite a bit. Charles imo chafed at Elizabeths reluctance to share power with him, to ease him into ruling. Also when the big public push to William to ascend probably caused a lot of jealousy kinda "pass me over when I haven't got to do anything as King?". So I think Charles was happy to have the then Cambridges spend their time raising their children instead of taking a chunck what little position he was given as PoW. But now that he's King he doesn't want to be like Elizabeth in that way. He realizes that he will have a short reign and needs to get William ready for the crown not just his position of PoW. A crash course if you will.

I can see this but I'm not sure I agree. It's definitely a sympathetic look at Charles, one that's absolutely worthwhile to consider, but It's not what I see when I look at it.

My sense is that The Queen felt her parents' "just us four" approach to family was ideal for raising heir and spare, where the duty is family with country coming later. It was how she was raised, it was what she had for a little bit with Philip, Charles, and Anne as Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and it was what she wanted for Charles, Diana, William, and Harry but I don't think Charles wanted that for his family. Obviously we know what happened in the Waleses' marriage so perhaps when William and Kate began planning, she supported "just us four" knowing that family needed to be the heart of the monarchy, rather than work.

And my sense is Charles was happy to go along with William's focusing on his family because with William away in Norfolk, Charles could spend more time as a "shadow king" without having to worry about the public being as vocal for their support (and admiration) of William. Don't forget, this was around the time that Charles and Andrew were pairing up to push Geidt out and install Young instead - truly the work of a shadow king, IMO.

We do know The Queen was mentoring William, as he spoke about it a bit, so we do know that William has been getting some kind of education in monarchy so the crash course from Charles isn't necessary. At most, Charles should be continuing the training. "Leveling up," if you will, since William (and Kate) received the fundamentals from The Queen and Philip. Did/is Charles continue/continuing that? I'm not sure.

Personally I don't see Charles mentoring William in that way, not after the way BP insisted Charles wouldn't call on the Counsellors of State to assist after his cancer diagnosis was announced. That doesn't strike me as someone interested in teaching, but someone who'd rather hoard - but perhaps that was Charles doing a kindness so William could stay with Kate. Because if it had been announced Charles was calling on the Counsellors of State, but it was Anne and Edward showing up with William MIA, who knows what would've happened.

I think where I disagree with you, anon, is that Charles wants to rule differently than The Queen. I think Charles wanted The Queen to share duties with him in the name of modernizing because she had done it independently her way for so long and he was tired of being "the backup" but he had every intent to keep William waiting in the wings as long as he could. and I think some of that reluctance has been made visible over the years. But much like external forces required The Queen to begin letting Charles "in" (age, Philip's retirement, the pandemic, her own illness, Philip's death), external forces have required Charles to bring William in earlier than he expected (the Sussexes, cash-for-honors scandals, and Charles's own cancer).

I also disagree that William needed a crash course for monarchy/the crown. As mentioned earlier, William was getting that from The Queen. He didn't need a crash course on being the Prince of Wales either, because it's the same work he did as The Duke of Cambridge (i.e., The Royal Foundation and its humanitarian-focused charitywork) just with a different title.

What William needed, and which Charles could give him, was a crash course for being the Duke of Cornwall. There isn't a whole lot on the record of William undertaking any preparations or receiving any kind of mentoring or instruction or access from Charles. Yes, William took some courses, but that's all we know. That's where Charles could be an asset to William, but again - it just looks like Charles kept a close, firm control on his work because he didn't want to share. And again, that's just the public perception; we don't know what the actual conversations were behind closed doors.

Sorry for the rambling. It's Sunday. I definitely lost the plot somewhere in here.

[mariacallous]

It is urgent that the leaders of colleges and universities stand up in defense of their interests and the values of higher education. American schools have long trumpeted their contribution to promoting an educated citizenry. Now, as one of the most consequential elections in American history approaches, we must do everything we can to help students work on campaigns and facilitate voting. And we must call out the threats to higher education.

This may seem straightforward, but in the wake of Oct. 7 and controversies over statements (or the lack of statements) concerning the atrocities, many academic leaders have embraced a doctrine of “institutional neutrality.” Recalling the bruising hearings with lawmakers in December 2023 and the campus protests of last spring, it seemed to many safer to celebrate a doctrine that called for silence. Few people, of course, want corporate-sounding university statements that say next to nothing while trying to please everyone, but now presidents, deans, and others are being told not to participate in debates about the issues of the day. After years of encouraging “more speech” as a sign of a school’s commitment to freedom of expression, the fear of offending students, faculty, and, especially, lawmakers and donors has led many academic leaders to retreat from the public sphere.

This is exactly the wrong time for such a retreat. Although academic leaders usually stay neutral about a candidate’s political statements, today’s campaign rhetoric is not politics as usual. The threats to higher education made by former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance are not subtle. Although for decades schools have interacted well with Republican and Democratic representatives, the brazen VP candidate has declared that “universities are the enemy.” The Trump agenda promises to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion departments and to punish those schools who do not live up to a right-wing version of civil rights standards. Trump has promised to close down the Department of Education and fire the accreditors who now certify which schools are eligible for governmental support. The folks who brought us the fraudulent Trump University now threaten to dismantle a higher-education ecosystem that is still (for now) the envy of the rest of the world. We must not be neutral about this.

External controlling of the curriculum, monitoring entrance exams, and policing faculty are direct threats to our educational missions, and these are not the only ones. Institutional leaders should also be speaking out against the mass deportation the Republican nominees threaten. So many of our schools have made a place for Dreamers, those students who were brought to the United States as children, and whose status in a second Trump administration is uncertain. Now Trump has promised to deport legal immigrants as well. His nasty nativism is antithetical to the recruitment of international students, a practice that has been a boon to higher education and to the world. We must not be neutral about this.

Educators should give up the popular pastime of criticizing the woke and call out instead the overt racism that has rippled through the Trump campaign over the past few months. The rhetoric about pet-eating Haitians is the most sensational example, but when a presidential candidate speculates about immigrants’ genetic disposition to commit crimes while also calling minorities “vermin,” we are fully in the zone of racist hate. How can we stay silent when a presidential candidate suggests that because of immigration, “we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now”? We must not be neutral about this.

It’s no secret that colleges and universities suffer from a lack of political and intellectual diversity. I’ve long argued that we should have an affirmative action program for conservatives, especially at highly selective schools and especially in the humanities and social sciences. But wanting more conservatives on campus is perfectly compatible with opposing the direct threats to education that we have heard over the past several months. We should not be silenced because of fears of appearing partisan. Anticipatory obedience is a form of cowardice, especially given the promise of Trump and Vance to punish those who oppose them. This week, the candidates spoke of using the military against those who don’t share their views, referring to Democrats as “the enemy within.” As Ian Bassin has noted, “There is not a case in American history where a presidential candidate has run for office on a promise that they would exact retribution against anyone they perceive as not supporting them in the campaign.” We must not be neutral about this.

I am sure there are some university leaders who hope that if they keep their heads down, their institutions will be spared the worst in the event of a Trump victory. Like the German philosopher Martin Heidegger after the Nazis came to power, they may rely on hopeful assertions of the greatness and autonomy of the academic enterprise. But the academic enterprise demands that we defend our students, our faculty, and the freedom that makes educational work possible.

Many fans of institutional neutrality today reverentially cite the University of Chicago’s 1967 Kalven Report to legitimate the silence of educational leaders. But even that report noted that “from time to time, instances will arise in which the society, or segments of it, threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free inquiry. In such a crisis, it becomes the obligation of the university as an institution to oppose such measures and actively to defend its interests and its values.” This is such a time. We must not be neutral.

[elaho]

Stardew Valley MBTI x Enneagram: Abigail

Following my last post about the Stardew marriage candidates and their MBTI types, I've been learning more about Enneagram, how it pairs with MBTI, and how it changes some of the typical characteristics of each type.

The Enneagram and MBTI complement each other wonderfully, providing greater depth and understanding of how a person interacts with the world [Cognitive Functions] and their motivations why [Core Desire/Core Fear].

Here are my thoughts on Abigail's MBTI and Enneagram pairing.

Abigail - ENFP 7w8: “The Opportunist”

“ENFPs are the campaigners of the MBTI typology. They bring good vibes and excitement that’s hard to ignore. You’ll also agree that their happiness and charisma can be infectious. It’s not a surprise then that most ENFPs identify as type 7 in the enneagram of personality.

[ENFP 7w8s] enjoy a good adventure and good conversations. They can also easily be the life of the party when they are excited. However, having a type 8 as their wing makes things a bit interesting, [creating] a lot of changes in this type of ENFP.” - Personality Hunt

Abigails’s Core Desire: To be happy

The core desire of the ENFP 7w8 is to be happy. ENFPs need consistent intellectual stimulation and external engagement to be truly content.

Bringing their ideas to life is incredibly important to them, and the 7w8 tries to achieve this by reaching their goals and getting everything they desire.

“The birds were happily chirping today. They're too simple to understand the future. It's better to be like them, isn't it?”

“I always loved this place, long before you moved in. Now I can explore the farm whenever I want!”

“There's always something new happening on our farm... I love it.”

"The sounds of the night are louder out here. I'll never stop enjoying that."

“It's pretty cool that we have a cave on our property. It's something I always dreamed about.”

Abigail’s Core Fear: To be deprived

The core fear of the ENFP 7w8 is to be deprived. Because they lead with Extroverted Intuition [Ne] ENFPs get bored quickly and easily if they aren't given enough freedom and flexibility to explore new ideas and chase after their dreams [both old and new].

Because of their fear of deprivation, ENFP 7w8s do everything in their power to ensure they'll never be in that position.

“Hey, this is my favorite magazine! My Dad won't let me have a subscription, so I have to get it on the black market like this...”

"Don't tell anyone, but I snuck into the old community center last night... I think it's haunted!

"I heard you've been exploring the old mines. That sounds like fun! ...I'm working up the courage to go there myself...”

*sigh*... Can you believe my parents were ever young? They don't understand my perspective at all. I know, I know... they grew up in a different era, with different values. It still ticks me off sometimes, okay?”

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

How Enneagram 7w8 changes typical ENFP behaviour:

New Strengths

1. More Direct

"ENFPs are feelers. This means that they use emotions as their first point of call. However, you get another vibe with ENFP 7w8s. While they retain their emotional intensity, they can now express these feelings directly and clearly. This can make the ENFP better public speakers." - Personality Hunt

Abigail isn't afraid to speak her mind or speak up when her values are threatened. Although she can come across as blunt in some instances, her emotional awareness allows her to temper her responses so that she still gets her point across without going overboard.

Examples:

“Hey. Sorry in advance if I say anything rude. I didn't get much sleep last night. What do you want?”

“I felt like making some soup for dinner. I hope it's not too disgusting.”

“I hope you'll still like me when I'm old and shriveled. It's going to happen some day!”

"Stop trying to make me feel guilty. I appreciate that you and Dad are helping me out, but expecting me to dress the way you want is ridiculous. I'm not a little girl anymore, Mom.”

2. More Likely to be Assertive [ENFP-A]

ENFP 7w8s are more likely to be Assertive [A] than Turbulent [T]. Because of their more direct nature, they can come across as opinionated or assertive. This can make them seem more determined and focused in the long term.

More information about the ENFP-A can be found here.

Examples:

"Ew, I hope I don't get a tan this summer."

"I used to think Pelican Town was kinda drab, but lately I'm starting to love some things about it."

“No matter how much we clean, the house keeps getting dirty again. I guess farms are kind of dirty.”

“Congratulations on the marriage. I guess this means Sebastian won't be moving to the city like he always talked about. That'll be nice. I'd be kind of sad if I never saw him again. We've always been good friends.”

3. More Disciplined

ENFPs aren't typically known for their discipline and following through on plans or projects.

Their Extroverted Intuition [Ne] constantly makes connections and seeks out new opportunities, and an idea that once had merit can no longer seem relevant or the best use of time, especially when more information and opportunities are made available later on.

Though ENFP 7w8s also struggle with procrastination and follow-through, this is reduced thanks to their 8 wing; however, the extent of their follow-through will depend on the strength of their wing.

Examples:

"I'm still mad that you beat me at the egg hunt last year. You'd better start practicing..."

"Feeling pretty good about the egg hunt, huh? Well, next year you won't be so lucky...

“Hey, the egg festival is tomorrow. I'm sorry, but I won't go easy on you because we're married! I plan on winning that egg hunt. Go ahead and try to beat me.”

"I guess you're wondering why I'm in the graveyard at this hour... Well, I'm here because it's the best place in town to find some privacy. And I'm all sweaty because I've been practicing my swordsmanship.”

4. More Ambitious

ENFPs are the adventurers and campaigners of the MBTI world. While they have big dreams, they don't crave financial success or riches. This is also true for ENFP 7w8s, but they realize that having money or power is one way to achieve the life they want. Thus, ENFP 7w8s tend to be much more ambitious when compared to typical ENFPs.

Abigail doesn't seem ambitious in the traditional financial sense, but her ambition is clear when it comes to making a name for herself: she wants to do something memorable with her life.

Examples:

“See? You understand why I'm out here, then. I've lived in the valley my whole life, but I've never really done anything memorable. I want to go on an adventure!”

5. ENTP Look-Alike

"ENFPs and ENTPs are cousin types. Thus, it’s only natural that they look alike. However, ENFP 7w8 will look a lot and behave like the ENTP to an extreme level.

They will be more rational, charismatic, and argumentative than your normal ENFP. Thus, a lot of ENFP 7w8 can easily misidentify themselves as ENTPs." - Personality Hunt

ENFPs and ENTPs have the same dominant and inferior functions: Extroverted Intuition [Ne] and Introverted Sensing [Si]. However, the main difference comes from their 'sandwiched' functions: ENFP ENTP

Extroverted Intuition [Ne] Extroverted Intuition [Ne] Introverted Feeling [Fi] Introverted Thinking [Ti] Extroverted Thinking [Te] Extroverted Feeling [Fe] Introverted Sensing [Si] Introverted Sensing [Si]

On the surface, Abigail may appear to be an ENTP. However, when considering the cognitive functions and their application between ENFPs and ENTPs, Abigail uses Fi much more readily to determine and defend her values and Te to implement her values in real life [ENFP], rather than use Ti to ensure her decisions are logically consistent and Fe for external feedback as to whether her logic is taking other people's values and opinions into consideration [ENTP].

For this reason, I believe there is strong evidence that Abigail is an ENFP 7w8 rather than an ENTP, though she does share qualities of both types.

Examples:

“Hey! I'm just debating what I should do today. I'm not used to having this much freedom!”

“Oh, that's right... I heard someone new was moving onto that old farm. It's kind of a shame, really. I always enjoyed exploring those overgrown fields by myself.”

“Disgusting... I love it!”

"Whoa... Where'd you find this? The workmanship is fascinating...It's a little too rusty to use, but I'll add it to my collection."

“Sebastian mentioned that he heard strange music while having dinner the other night...I didn't tell him it was us! It seemed better to keep it a mystery.”

“I may fight with my parents a lot, but I know they're just looking out for me. They're doing what they think is best. I dunno why I'm saying this to you. Don't tell anyone.”

6. More Focused and Determined

"Their wing beings a steely attitude to the ENFP. Thus, they will be more focused and determined. This might show in school, the workplace, or even at home.

ENFP 7w8s are go-getters and will achieve their goals or get close to doing so. You’ll see a clear difference between this ENFP and the stereotypical ENFP you have probably heard about." - Personality Hunt

Examples:

“*sigh*... so I've been playing 'Journey of the Prairie King' for hours and I can't even beat the first level...”

"Hey, I finally beat the first level of Journey Of The Prairie King! Watching you play helped a lot.”

“Maybe I'll boot up Journey Of The Prairie King today... one of these days I swear, I'll beat the whole game”

7. Less Impulsive

ENFPs aren't the best at considering long-term implications when jumping into something.

Their Extroverted Intuition [Ne] is great at taking advantage of opportunities in the here and now; however, their Introverted Sensing [Si] function is the weakest in their stack, meaning they aren't the best at examining past experiences to help navigate potential pitfalls in the future.

This can cause them a lot of trouble and lead to repeating avoidable outcomes that could have been prevented with some reflection. Depending on the strength of their wing, ENFP 7w8s will be slightly less impulsive and more considerate of the consequences when putting themselves in a position that may lead to the loss of power or control.

Examples:

“Whoa, that's a creepy looking book... I love it! *Flip* *flip* *flip*... Ooh... It's full of monsters...I'll have to study this before going into the caves... Thanks!”

“If I knew how to use a sword I would be exploring those caves by the mountain lake right now. It's probably nice and cool in there.”

New Weaknesses

1. They Have a Temper

"Type 8s are known for being confrontational. So, no matter how soft and emotional this personality type might seem, they have this in them.

Thus, ENFP 7w8s can have quite a temper. This might only be displayed when they are pushed to their wall or when their feelings have been hurt. It can be quite scary." - Personality Hunt

Examples:

“Hey, I heard you and Sam got together... He's a really good guy! We've been friends for a long time. You'd better be good to him, or you'll see my bad side!”

“Oh, it's because I'm a girl... isn't it? Ugh...Why? I'm just as strong as you! I'm not some fragile princess… I can take care of myself.”

"Mind your own business [Dad]! You think I should be at home cooking dinner because I'm a girl, don't you?!"

2. Manipulative

"This personality type will be more manipulative. Type 7 loves to have influence over others while type 8 loves power.

These two types blend to form an individual who knows how to control or influence people’s decisions.

While this is true, this does not necessarily mean that they might use this to hurt others. However, it is definitely part of their arsenal." - Personality Hunt

Though Abigail isn't manipulative throughout most of the game, when her marriage to the farmer is on the rocks, her manipulative tendencies start rearing their ugly head:

She becomes passive-aggressive, wondering out loud if she'll eventually get bored living on the farm.

She also asks if she could have done better than marrying the farmer and brings up her old flame Sebastian in front of them.

A low blow, if you ask me.

Examples:

“I wonder if I could've done better... I was very good friends with Sebastian before we met. He was probably the one...”

“I wonder if we'll live here our entire lives? I might get bored.”

3. Distrustful

"There’s a lot of talk on ENFPs being naïve. While this personality type loves ideas and wants to trust others, they can be especially distrustful.

They realize that people might not be exactly what they sell themselves as. Thus, this personality type might play the fool but understand exactly what is going on.

You’ll probably know where you stand with them when the chips are down." - Personality Hunt

Examples:

“One thing I've learned living here... everyone stares at you if you look different.”

“I can't trust a person who doesn't like animals...Oh, don't worry! I know you're an animal lover!”

“Hey. I know you're smart, but I still worry about you sometimes. The world is full of monsters. Just promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to lose you.”

“Hey! What... you think I'm too weak to swing a blade? Sorry, I guess I'm getting a little defensive.”

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

Conclusion

Abigail is everyone's favourite goth gf in the Stardew Valley community: she's outgoing, quirky, energetic, and marches to the beat of her own drum.

However, there is a lot more to Abigail than her renegade lifestyle:

Though her character arc isn't as dramatic as other bachelors and bachelorettes, Abigail struggles to find what many of us yearn for in our lives: happiness.

Though she hides it well, Abigail is deeply unhappy with her life and life circumstances. Her parents are overbearing and controlling, demanding she conform to their traditional lifestyle and manipulating her into doing what they want by holding financial support over her head:

"Stop trying to make me feel guilty. I appreciate that you and Dad are helping me out, but expecting me to dress the way you want is ridiculous. I'm not a little girl anymore, Mom.”

"Mind your own business [Dad]! You think I should be at home cooking dinner because I'm a girl, don't you?!"

Even her community doesn't seem to understand her or make an effort to. There are few people she feels she can trust to be herself around, and those are few and far between.

“One thing I've learned living here... everyone stares at you if you look different.”

Her Enneagram type 7 desire for happiness, paired with her MBTI cognitive strengths as an ENFP, leave her wanting more than what Pelican Town can offer her. That is until the farmer arrives and embraces Abigail for who she truly is: encouraging her to follow her dreams, and supporting her in all her adventure-filled endeavours.

“I always loved this place, long before you moved in. Now I can explore the farm whenever I want!”

Do you agree that Abigail is an ENFP 7w8? If not, what type do you think she is? Let me know your thoughts in the comments :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------- References:

Personality Hunt: ENFP 7w8 - The Complete Guide

[drbased]

men on the right pride themselves on how they're the ones who are truly 'respectful' of women - but also, far-right misogynists despise 'white knights' for being respectful of women. this is because men intrinsically understand that how they treat women needs to be transactional; there are rules and structures for how you're supposed to treat women. conservatives believe that their way of treating women is honest: there is an honest transaction at play of the man 'courting' a woman, who refuses to give up sex until marriage thereby proving she is pure, at which point she gives herself wholeheartedly to him, and with her trapped into marriage and birthing children, both cruelty (rape) and kindness (affection) blur into one singular cultural institution representing righteousness itself. this becomes 'true masculinity', 'true femininity' and 'men and women having different roles'. this is how conservatives get away with presenting themselves as kinder to women that the left wing - with clear boundaries between public and private, and rigid structures that reduce paranoia and sexual jealousy of the woman cheating or leaving him, conservatives can freely present an image of themselves being respectful of women in public. additionally, they can claim that simply following the 'natural order of things' is being kind to women in and of itself - after all, all the romance propaganda has sold to women an idealised idea of marriage, so a culture where men are seeking marriage gets to lay claim to the idea of it being more in line with what women want.

white knights, meanwhile, are men who are seen as kind and respectful to women with no boundaries or social structure. it's especially noteworthy that the kind of respect they supposedly give women is exactly the kind of respect that a conservative would disagree with - that is, agreeing with her opinions, especially the political ones and especially the feminist ones. conservatives believe that a man should lead and the woman follow - so a man listening to a woman is a complete betrayal of nature. this is all a smokescreen, of course - as with all right wing politics, it's all just made up shit to justify the fact that they don't like women having power. but still, an ideology is constructed around this, and exploring its apparent contradictions is a valuable exercise in deconstructing it. left-wing men do not hold to the rigid societal structure that right-wing men do, so both their cruelty and kindness to women tends to be more public by default. right wing men despise this, because tradition and social convention disguise morality; calling something 'normal', 'natural' or 'how we've always done things' is a form of social rohypnol that disrupts people's empathy process - morality becomes something divorced from the very basic context of causing someone harm and instead reflects some external and nebulous concept of righteousness. religion is a perfect example of this; it is infamous how christianity allows for pedophilia but calls homosexuality evil, and this is achievable because what is 'good' and 'bad' is determined not by real-world harm but by an invented concept of spiritual harm, allowing for a very effective form of social control and the preservation of power structures. so, then, do conservative men despise left-wing men for how the disollution of power structures makes the actual harm caused by misogyny much more recogniseable. here, right-wing men are engaging in what I call the 'hypocrisy fallacy' whereby if someone has a politics or morality system that primarily signals to being a kinder person in some way, they are expected to 'go the whole hog' and any failure to do so will result in accusations that they are hypocrites, and this is always presented as being worse than being honestly bad. An example is of meat-eaters making 'gotcha' arguments at vegans not caring about exploited farmers. So too do red-pilled men see 'white knights' as hypocrites for not being truly honest about their intentions. but there's an irony in all this - conservativism is fundamentally dishonest in its treatment of women, but the honesty between conservative men is much more about recognition of the transactional nature of respect and kindness. they're not claiming that women deserve respect for being human; whereas a 'white knight' is giving her respect they believe she has demonstrably not earned. therefore they despise what this signals to other men; they find it unchivalrous. and on top of that, they are fearful of what it signals to other women; these men are planting the idea in women's heads that if men are capable of at least seeming to respect us outside of our relationship towards purity and marriage, then we might actually deserve respect as human beings. patriarchy 'hurts men too' because men put a lot of work into these convoluted societal conventions in order to have both a functional society and a foundation of misogynistic cruelty. right-wing men are obsessed with the idea of societal collapse caused by the dissolution of social roles and women gaining more rights, and the more far right you go the more you see that fear take centre stage.

interestingly, though, this paranoia provides a valid societal function for men in preserving patriarchy. left-wing men form a useful scapegoat for the right-wing. men as a class need to 'pass the buck' on rape - we all know rape happens, so to disguise male-pattern violence, men require an alternate form of masculinity. racism, classism and ableism have always been useful ways of achieving this - accusing other men of being more bestial, less civilised and less evolved have always allowed for rape to be seen as something 'less human' males do. but also, the right-wing beliefs of tradition, a clear separation of public and private, and strong social roles means they like to stake a claim on their version of masculinity being 'real, healthy masculinity', with the left-wing dissolution of social roles and power structures scapegoated as the actual source of rape. within this there is a tacit admission that without societal structure, men will rape with impunity, but this is treated less as a moral confession and more of a threat - after all, right-wing men are consider themselves much more honest in their belief about rape being 'natural' for men, which is why it must been contained within the privacy of marriage, where it can be successfully disguised as righteous and natural - this is reflected in how rape has been allowed in marriage according to law until very recently. if you think about how men see rape - as a destruction of their property, it makes sense that conservatives see raping with impunity as something causing the downfall of society, just as mass rioting and looting would. left-wing ideology is presented as more bestial, not-so-coincidentally in line with how lower class men and men of colour are believes to be bestial and their interests broadly considered to be left wing. and of course, let's not forget how the left wing engage in the exact same thing - the rhetoric of right wingers is so much more obviously patriarchal and also right wing men tend to be associated with higher class white men, so the reverse situation gets to be used for the benefits of left-wing rhetoric and its interest in power structures and their dissolution. There's an interesting mirroring effect here, a delicate balance on both sides that is mutually beneficial.

the more I've engaged with this kind of theory, the more I've come to these sort of tinfoil hat conclusions whereby certain social paranoias stay around because they're actively benefit the class of people who have them. Just how individual people will hold beliefs that are harmful to them because deep down it benefits them to have them in some way, so do societies reflect that; and male class solidarity is so intrinsic and powerful that men will hold these catastrophic beliefs about other men being so useless and evil that they will cause society to collapse just so they can say to other women 'stick with us and accept our version of rape, or society will collapse'. so too, then, do right wing women do the same (still looking forward to when I can get a physical copy of dworkin's right wing women because I can't engage with ebooks).

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Perhaps the most damning statements came from Omar and Tlaib, who share the privilege of being America's first Muslim women elected to Congress. Tlaib, who is of Palestinian heritage, said Sunday that a peaceful solution "must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance."

Anti-Israel "activists" and militants alike often use the term "resistance" to describe violent activity aimed at their perceived oppressors, from throwing stones to targeting civilians in suicide bombings.

"The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer," Tlaib wrote, pushing a theory that Israeli civilians invited the atrocities experienced on Oct. 7.

In a lengthy social media thread, Omar declared, "Palestinians have few recourses for justice and accountability," suggesting that the massacre of innocents was an acceptable course of action. She pointed to "lifelong psychological and physical trauma" experienced by Palestinians," whom she claimed live under "occupation and systemic apartheid."

Although Israel maintains external control of Gaza, the military occupation ended in 2005. The following year, Palestinians elected Hamas, a hardline terrorist government that fired thousands of rockets at Israeli population centers and launched countless terrorist attacks in Jewish towns and cities.

Along with her colleagues, Omar warned against perpetuating "a cycle of violence," an offensive cliche that implies Saturday's intentional attack on innocent civilians was a morally equivalent answer to past Israeli military operations, equal in scale to the ferocious savagery exhibited by Hamas.

In reality, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) take great pains to avoid civilian casualties, following strict rules of engagement and punishing negligence. Conversely, Hamas uses human shields, fires rockets from launch sites in schoolyards and hospitals, and tunnels underneath residential neighborhoods.

Omar, Tlaib, and Bush each called for ending vital U.S. military aid to Israel at a time when it needs the funding more than ever. Since Israel's founding, the U.S. has provided more than $270 billion in assistance so that its closest Middle Eastern ally maintains a military advantage over its Arab neighbors, which have collectively invaded Israel multiple times in recent history.

[qsycomplainsalot]

I'd like to say, I really appreciate you taking an unapologetic stance on the French Revolution. In the US and UK there has been a renewed push in pop history and in fiction to portray the revolution as unjust, or as racist, sexist, undemocratic etc. etc. I even remember my underfunded public school history textbook back in the day having a big sob story about antoinette and the king and the nobles, trying to make us feel sorry for them. The recent addition of vague social justice language to discredit the idea of overthrowing oligarchs and unelected rulers makes it quite clear (to me, at least) that this is simply the fears of the ruling class manifesting themselves again. While certainly the revolution is Morally Complicated when taken as a whole, I feel no compunction to hand wring about the destruction of monarchy by any means necessary. SO, thank you!

That's a bit of an odd comment because I don't think I defend it that much ? And also it's funny because in France we're definitely not told enough about, and it ends up coming off better than it was. The thing is the first revolution was kind of an overall failure, it blundered along into achieving great things until monarchy returned in one way or another. The actual process of getting to actual democracy took almost a hundred years and you could argue even by the third republic we weren't there. But it got the ideals of enlightenment philosophers out of parlors and into government policies, it DECIDEDLY set a new tone for the relation between the people and the kings, and generally was a good precedent to dangle over the head of future monarchs. It broke the back of a royal dynasty that had been ruling France uninterrupted for eight hundred years, showing people that something else was possible. But it was also a brutal mess of conflicting ideologies and political reprisals. It never had a single effective government and did not in any way match the idea of progressivism tumblr bloggers assign to it. Of course all the while having to deal with external factors such as England bankrolling the whole of Europe to attack us because they wanted to have their backyard safe while taking over a third of the world's landmass. So like yeah I tend to defend the revolution against right wing idiots who try to make it seem like the French nobility didn't have it coming for hundreds of years, but I'm also gonna remind the people shipping St-Just and Robespierre that those were actual, deeply flawed and murderous bastards operating a repressive government "in the name of liberty". It's not a simple period of history to characterize, just like Napoleon's reign which if you ask me is the one with a real smear campaign run against it in the anglo world.

[a-whispering-echo]

WYVLISKS

Physical Traits:

Wyvlisks are draconic-humanoids with a graceful, almost elfin build. They possess spindly yet elegant proportions, standing tall or short depending on lineage. Their most prominent dragon-like features, such as scales, wings, and horns, only appear after marriage, marking a monumental transformation from their mostly human-like state. Pre-marriage Wyvlisks can appear entirely human, with no external signs of their draconic heritage.

Some Wyvlisks have the unique ability to shapeshift into cat-sized dragons, though this is a rare and revered gift. This form is considered sacred, often reserved for private or ceremonial moments.

Lifecycle & Maturity:

Wyvlisks are considered "infants" until their 20s, reflecting their prolonged development, both physically and magically. They remain in a juvenile phase until they marry, which is when their full magical potential is unlocked. This rite of passage transforms them from unremarkable beings into powerful, awe-inspiring creatures.

The act of marriage doesn’t just signify commitment but is also the key to unlocking their draconic traits. This magical metamorphosis is considered a sacred, almost divine event, marked by a public ceremony where their horns, wings, and/or scales emerge in a dazzling spectacle. It is said that witnessing this transformation is like watching a star being born, a radiant blend of power and beauty.

Cultural Roles:

Wyvlisks are often seen as embodiments of beauty and power, especially after marriage. Historically, they were revered and sought after by noble houses and influential leaders. A Wyvlisk spouse was considered a divine blessing, a sign of favor from the gods, and was often treated with great reverence and respect.

Despite their grace and elegance, Wyvlisks are formidable, especially with their unparalleled healing abilities. Seeing a scarred Wyvlisk is a chilling sight, as it suggests a battle fierce enough to overwhelm their natural regeneration.

Marriage & Jewellery Traditions:

Jewellery is a crucial part of Wyvlisk culture, used to denote marital status, power, and emotional ties.

Silver: Worn by singles, silver is a highly significant metal. Silver jewelry is passed down through generations, becoming treasured family heirlooms. A child is given their first piece of silver on their 20th birthday, an important rite of passage. If a Wyvlisk is not gifted this silver by their family, it is the greatest insult—a sign of disownment. For a parent to withhold silver is to sever ties permanently.

Gold: Worn by married Wyvlisks, gold symbolizes the beauty and strength of their union.

Black: Worn during courtship or engagement, black jewellery shows a Wyvlisk is in a relationship that is progressing towards marriage.

Copper: Widowed Wyvlisks wear copper, and the natural oxidation of the metal reflects the length of their mourning period. The longer a Wyvlisk wears oxidized copper, the more respect they are shown, as it displays the depth of their loss

Interestingly, gifting silver to a partner signifies the end of a relationship. It's a respectful but final act, akin to saying, "We are no longer bound."

Courtship Rituals:

Courtship among Wyvlisks involves braiding each other's hair—a symbolic act representing dominance, protection, and the readiness to provide for one another. The act of allowing someone to braid your hair is a gesture of deep trust and submission, indicating that you are willing to let them shape your future.

Wyvlisks also prove their worthiness to potential mates by engaging in feats of strength or skill, such as hunting, sparring, or other displays of prowess. These actions serve as proof that they are capable of protecting their partner and building a strong family.

Hair and Power Hierarchy:

Hair plays a vital role in Wyvlisk society. From infancy until around age 5, it’s acceptable for Wyvlisk children to wear their hair loose. However, as they grow older, loose hair is seen as childish or even uncultured. As they mature, their hairstyles become more intricate, signifying age, wisdom, and power.

Braids are not just decorative but also functional, acting as a symbol of one's magical and social standing. The more elaborate the braiding, the older and stronger the Wyvlisk. Powerful Wyvlisks adorn their hair with jewels, bands, and metal ties, often denoting magical prowess or social status. The positioning and angle of the braids also communicate hidden messages within Wyvlisk culture—where a single misplaced braid could cause offense or signal a challenge.

The Magic of Color and Gifting:

Each Wyvlisk possesses a unique magical aura, and their partner's jewellery is adorned with stones that match this aura in colour. These stones, crafted by hand, must perfectly reflect the precise shade of their partner’s magic. This attention to detail is crucial in maintaining the deep bonds between Wyvlisk partners.

When a Wyvlisk proposes marriage, they not only give their partner gold but also present the partner's family with a golden chalice. The chalice symbolizes acceptance into the family and is used during the wedding ceremony when both families drink from it in honour of their union. The partner is also gifted a personalized object—something deeply tied to their interests or the relationship. If this gift is not well-received, it can lead to an immediate dissolution of the courtship, as it indicates a lack of understanding between the couple.

Ancient Legacy & Fall from Dominance:

In ancient times, Wyvlisks were considered divine emissaries, believed to have descended from celestial dragons. Their marriages were seen as cosmic unions, and their species held positions of immense power and influence in many societies. To marry a Wyvlisk was to be blessed by the gods, and their beauty was considered otherworldly.

Over time, however, the Wyvlisk’s dominance waned. Legends speak of wars, betrayals, and internal strife that weakened their once-thriving population. While their influence may have diminished, they remain symbols of great honor, and marrying a Wyvlisk is still considered a rare and treasured gift.

Wyvlisk Tribal Structure: The Five Tribes

The Wyvlisk tribes are scattered across various terrains, from lush forests to desolate mountains. Though they share a common heritage, each tribe has developed unique cultural identities. The differences in their approach to scars, marriage, physical appearances, and magical practices are significant.

The Horiskh Tribe (Mountain Dwellers)

Physical Traits:

Size: Generally taller and more muscular, Horiskh Wyvlisks are adapted to the harsh, rugged mountain terrain.

Scales and Hair: They often have dark, metallic scales with shimmering hues of bronze or copper, providing natural camouflage against rocky environments. Hair colours range from deep black to silver-Gray.

Wing Structure: Their wings, post-marriage, are larger and more powerful than those of other tribes, allowing them to navigate high-altitude winds.

Cultural Beliefs:

Scar Worship: Horiskh Wyvlisks revere scars, believing that each scar represents a victory against a formidable foe or natural challenge. Scarred Wyvlisks are held in god-like esteem, often becoming leaders or spiritual guides.

Courtship Rituals: In courtship, physical prowess and endurance tests are key. Partners braid each other’s hair mid-hunt or during combat training, symbolizing unity in strength and mutual protection.

Magical Specialization: Horiskh Wyvlisks are known for their earth-based magic, manipulating stone and metal, which they use to shape their mountain homes and forge intricate jewellery.

Marriage Customs: Gold worn by Horiskh Wyvlisks often incorporates raw gems found in mountain caves, symbolizing the unrefined power of their union. These gems are believed to carry spiritual energy from the mountains, enhancing the couple’s magical abilities. weapon-shaped jewellery (miniature daggers, shields, or spears) are common, In addition to standard anklets, they wear elaborate golden bracelets on their arms and horns if present, signifying their prowess in combat.

The Aelithe Tribe (Forest Guardians)

Physical Traits:

Size: The Aelithe are generally shorter and more agile, perfectly suited to their forest environments. Their horns are thin and almost ethereal, often resembling the twisting shapes of tree branches.

Scales and Hair: Their scales are often green, gold, or dark brown, providing camouflage among the trees. Hair colours vary from earthy brown to deep red, and leaf-like patterns sometimes appear in their scales. NOTE: Some Aelithe have been noted to have very dark, almost black or purple scales and hair. The reason for this is unknown, as it does not appear to be genetic.

Wings: Post-marriage wings are smaller and more delicate, resembling butterfly or dragonfly wings in some, emphasizing their stealth and agility.

Cultural Beliefs:

Scarring and Purity: Scarring in the Aelithe Tribe is seen as a terrible blemish, corrupting the natural beauty that is central to their identity. Scarred individuals are often banished or sent to live in isolation, as they are believed to disrupt the natural flow of magic.

Courtship Rituals: Aelithe courtship is centred around forest stewardship and harmony with the natural world. Couples often braid each other’s hair while surrounded by nature, and they are required to tend to sacred trees, whose health is believed to reflect the health of their relationship.

Magical Specialization: Aelithe Wyvlisks wield plant and life-based magic, able to influence the growth of plants and even communicate with the forest. Their braided hair often contains living vines or flowers, signifying their connection to the wild.

Marriage Customs:

Gold jewelry in the Aelithe Tribe is delicate, often adorned with small wooden carvings or enchanted leaves. These elements are thought to represent the fragility and beauty of life, as well as their deep bond with nature

The Kethlin Tribe (Desert Survivors)

Physical Traits:

Size: The Kethlin Tribe tends to produce tall and lean Wyvlisks, with long limbs and narrow frames, adapted for survival in hot, arid climates. Their horns are less prominent, but their claws are unusually sharp, marking them as natural hunters.

Scales and Hair: Their scales are commonly gold, sandy, or white, reflecting the harsh sunlight of the desert. Hair colours range from pale blond to deep auburn to dusky greys. Hair ALWAYS turns grey in old age. The lack of pigmentation in their scales is a symbol of power and beauty. Scarfs and head coverings are common, used to keep sand out of more delicate areas, like eyes.

Wings: Post-marriage wings are slender, bat-like, enabling gliding over long distances in the desert winds. Their wings are small, adapted for short bursts of flight, perfect for their nomadic lifestyle

Cultural Beliefs:

Scar Acceptance: In the Kethlin Tribe, scars are a neutral symbol—neither revered nor despised. They are seen as natural consequences of life in a harsh environment. However, excessive scarring can lead to concerns about one’s ability to defend oneself, and thus may harm social standing. A scar is simply a sign that you have lived long enough to earn one.

Courtship Rituals: Kethlin courtship is a test of survival skills. Prospective partners undertake long treks to prove their endurance and mental fortitude. Many also play fight for dominance and enjoyment. Braiding each other’s hair after a natural disaster or during a challenging journey is a sign of respect and readiness for partnership.

Magical Specialization: Their magic is tied to heat, sand, and wind, allowing them to create mirages, shift dunes, or manipulate desert air to summon powerful gusts.

Marriage Customs:

The gold jewellery of the Kethlin Tribe is often spotted, in microscopic small dots, so the full image is made of very small craftsmanship, representing the shifting and ever-changing nature of life. Chalices given to families are etched with desert motifs, and filled with water gathered from distant oases, symbolizing endurance and perseverance. They are also known for their simplistic but meaningful jewellery, often carved from bones, animal teeth, or natural materials like clay.

The Sireshith Tribe (Swamp and River Inhabitants)

Physical Traits:

Size: Sireshith Wyvlisks are shorter and stockier, with muscular builds adapted for swimming and navigating through murky, swampy environments.

Scales and Hair: Their scales range from dark green to teal, often with bioluminescent markings that glow softly at night. Hair tends to be dark blue or black, with a slick, wet sheen. Nakedness is seen as very natural, and clothing is often slight or see through in appearance. Many only clothe themselves when visiting other tribes. Elders often weave kelp or seaweed into their braids as a sign of their closeness to nature and water.

Wings: Their wings are webbed, designed for gliding over water rather than flying long distances. Their wings are large but webbed slightly, resembling those of sea dragons, and they are excellent swimmers. Their horns are sleek and pointed, resembling shark fins.

Cultural Beliefs:

Scar Rituals: Scarring is considered a sign of rebirth in the Sireshith Tribe. Each scar tells a story of survival in the dangerous swamps, where creatures and natural hazards are abundant. Scarred Wyvlisks are often seen as wise and resilient, but there is no reverence or worship of scars, simply respect for those who bear them.

Courtship Rituals: In the Sireshith Tribe, courtship involves swimming in sacred waters. Couples braid their hair while submerged waist-deep in the water, allowing the current to influence the braid patterns, which are thought to show the course of their future together.

Magical Specialization: Sireshith Wyvlisks have control over water-based magic, including the ability to purify, manipulate, and control water. Some can even influence local aquatic wildlife to assist them. Frog and fish 'pets' are common.

Marriage Customs:

Their gold jewellery is often 'water-themed', with rippled textures or set with river stones. Ceremonial chalices contain sacred swamp water, believed to enhance fertility and prosperity.

The Xethari Tribe (Sky Nomads)

Physical Traits:

Size: Xethari Wyvlisks are lean and medium-height, with a build that emphasizes speed and agility.

Scales and Hair: Their scales are often iridescent blue or silver, shimmering like the sky or clouds. Hair colours are typically white, pale blue, or soft purple, mimicking the colours of the dawn or dusk sky. The Xethari style their hair in tight, controlled braids, with minimal decoration, often incorporating dark feathers or nightshade blossoms as symbols of their mystical nature. Their society values mystery and control, and their hair reflects their emphasis on keeping personal power hidden.

Wings: Their wings are the most developed, resembling those of large birds of prey, giving them unparalleled speed and agility in flight.

Cultural Beliefs:

Scar Stigma: In the Xethari Tribe, scars are considered a terrible mark of weakness. Since they pride themselves on aerial prowess, a Wyvlisk who is injured to the point of scarring is often exiled or reduced in status, as it implies a failure in battle or flight.

Courtship Rituals: Xethari courtship involves aerial dances, where partners demonstrate their speed and agility in flight. Braiding occurs while hovering in mid-air, a display of dexterity and trust.

Magical Specialization: Xethari Wyvlisks wield air and lightning-based magic, able to control wind currents or summon storms.

Marriage Customs:

Their gold jewellery often contains sky crystals or feathers. Chalices are filled with rainwater, believed to be blessed by the sky gods.

Their silver is often tarnished intentionally as part of their aesthetic.