#I LOVE IT WHEN WORKPLACES REFLECT THE PERSONS INTERESTS!

[ygamiraito]

can we take a minute to appreciate harlan's office / workplace (ellison wonderland). so much is happening yet its so beautiful at the same time i love it

[lavandulawrites]

Can i get yan! Jouno please? Feel free to go wild :3

A Wingless Angel

Yandere Jouno x reader

This was really fun to write! Jouno has definitely grown on me these past days. I find his creepy personality so intriguing<3

Masterlist

Warnings: Violence

Word count: 1903

Jouno’s senses were as heighten like that of a hunting animal. He’s smile was resembling a wolf baring its teeth to a helpless lamb. Jouno always knew what you were feeling before you could even place it. His angelic voice hypnotising you in a web of lies. His condescending words masked behind a gentle smile. He had sworn to you that he found greater pleasure in helping the weak and innocent than harming people. You believed that to some extent. His word would hold greater value if you haven’t seen the way his face lit up in joy when he punished those who had wronged you.

He saw himself as your saviour, and he was to some degree. He had indeed saved you from some brutish gang members who threatened to cut your tongue when you emptied your pockets to show them that you did indeed have no money on you. Jouno had suddenly appeared in the dark alley like a knight in shining armour. His white hair reflecting the light of the street lamp causing it to glow like a halo. With a swift motion akin to a angel flapping his wings, he cut down the criminals. Crimson blood rained upon you snapping you out of your trance. You screamed as you saw the dismembered bodies littered around you. You tried to get up and call for help, but the white haired man took hold of you shoulders, shaking you to get your attention.

With a voice as smooth as velvet he calmed you down. His white gloved hand gently stroking you cheek. With gentle hands he guided you to your feet. You didn’t know then that you had involved yourself with a man who was no near an angel.

He had taken you away from your normal life. It began with him involving himself little by little in your everyday life. He began hanging around the office where you worked at. His presence immediately brightening your mood. He was so easy to talk to and he was always there when you needed him. You started slowly, but surely to fell in love with him. You were naturally cautious about his job as a Hunting Dog, but he assured you that his work was to keep civilians safe. You understood of course. After a while your days consisted of him (when he wasn’t out on missions). He started to spend his time in your home making it hard to not forget that you weren’t a couple. Yet.

After a few months he urged you to move in with him after various of cases of violence around Japan. You agreed after he insisted that it wasn’t a bother, after all he did get paid handsomely for his work as a Hunting Dog. His flat was spacious and slightly luxurious. Your bedroom suited to your tastes. Weird…. How did he know that you preferred that brand of duvet covers?

You soon learned that Jouno was an excellent cook. His dishes both nutritious and delicious. Often while you ate he complained about his colleague and his rather interesting taste in food. You had asked him if you were ever going to meet his colleague (who despite his complaints, seemed like a really close friend of his), he only muttered “Not yet…” with a strained expression. You decided to not mention it further as it clearly troubled him. He was probably afraid of getting you too involved in his job.

Days pasted and you both quickly fell into a pleasant routine. It was after two weeks, he voiced his concerns about you continuing to work. “[Name] it is dangerous out there you know. Recently the number of crimes have skyrocketed. Of course The Hunting Dogs are on it, but there is only so much we can do. We don’t punish those who are doing minor crimes” he puts down his teacup.

Your brows furrow “My workplace is in a rather safe part of the city”.

Jouno smiles slightly, almost pitiful. “No part of the city is safe now. Did you not listen to what I just said?” his condescending tone cold. He slowly rose from the seat and took your hand in his. “I think you should take the day off. Or if that’s not possible at least work from home” his hand gently caressing yours. After giving it a thought you agreed to work from home, at least for the day. You missed the way his smiles twisted into something sinister.

Soon you only worked from home. The news were filled with crimes getting worser and worser. You were glad you trusted Jouno, he was after all an intelligent man who only wished the best for you. Of course he could be quite unsettling at times, but he never meant you any harm.

“[Name] I can sense that you are stressed. Is everything alright?” Jouno asked you as you were sitting in the living room after dinner.

You looked up from your book in surprise. “I am a little stressed I have to admit… All the crimes happening are stressing me out. I am worried for my family and friends. I rarely leave the house now days, but the same can’t be said for them” you sighed.

Jouno had a thoughtful expression which turned into a smile. “I think your work is stressing you out. Of course I understand that you are worried about your family, but they don’t live in the city” you didn’t notice how he ignored your concerns about your friends. “My salary is more than enough for you to live a comfortable and happy life” he smiled warmly. You fiddled with the pages of your book. Could you really quit your job?

“I think you deserve some well earned rest” he had moved beside you. His fingers running through your hair in a soothing manner. You only nodded as he slowly lulled you into a slumber.

Weeks passed and your days consisted only of Jouno except when he was on his missions. He advised you against going out alone and your outings were always accompanied by him. One particular mission required him to be away from you for almost too weeks. You had come to be sick of being imprisoned inside his flat, so you decided that you were going to escape before Jouno’s mission ended.

You only had to unlock the front door and freedom was yours. Jouno hadn’t been bothered with locking the door with other than the key, which was placed in a bowl on one of the shelves in the entryway. He trusted you to stay put, or maybe that was what he wanted you to think. Either way if it was a trap or not, you couldn’t afford to not try.

You twisted the key and the door creaked open. You held your breath and stepped outside into the hallway. You only needed to go down the flight of stairs and out the main entrance and you were free. You made your way down the stairs with shaky legs.

You decided to exist through the door by the janitor’s closet. The corridor was dark and too quiet. You turn around at every little sound, afraid of being met with an eerie smile, but no one was there.

Luckily the door was unlocked so you slip right through it.

You headed towards a small and antique café where you could ask for help. You had known the owner for years, a older woman who definitely would help you. You knew all to well that the police wouldn’t help you. The Hunting Dogs were above the police after all.

The bell rang when you entered the cozy café. You greeted the owner and took a seat in the both in the far corner away from the windows. You sat there in silence contemplating on what to do next. You needed to leave the city and that fast, but how? The kind lady brought you your favourite tea without your ordering it saying it’s on the house. You sipped on your tea while your mind was elsewhere. Suddenly the leather cushion you were sitting on dipped down.

“Found you”

You snapped you head to your left and your eyes widened. Jouno. His lips were twisted into a sickening grin. “Now tell me dear. What one earth are you doing outside of the flat?” his melodic voice sending shivers down your spine. “I have waited for you for some time. I thought you would be quicker, but of course I expected too much from someone like you” he chuckled. “I got at least to have a lovely chat with the owner of this cozy café” his words having a certain bite to them. “But I do think that everyone involved with a criminal deserves punishment. Don’t you agree dear [Name]?” his smile gentle.

You swallowed. “Please” your voice only a meek whisper.

Jouno hummed as he took your hand in his and gently stroked the back of it. “I think we should get you home before anyone gets hurt”. With a swift motion he pulled you to your feet and guided you outside. He leaned his head down to your ear and whispered “Don’t think that unruly lambs will go unpunished”.

He threw you down on the floor, towering over your trembling form. “It seems that you failed my little test. A shame really…” his tone one of faux empathy. You curled in on yourself afraid of what he might do to you.

“Please… please forgive me Jouno” a sob escaping you between each word.

His smile widened slightly “I don’t think I will”. He kneeled down and placed a cold hand on your cheek. He pulled his hand back and licked away the tears that wetted his hand with a delighted hum. “Your tears are as exquisite as the smell of your fear”. He rose to his feet and turned on his heel “Wait here dearest”.

It didn’t take long before he returned with a crowbar in hand. The tip coated in dried blood. He smiled before he stopped in front of you. “You see my sweet [Name], it hurt me so very much when I smelled your scent in the city centre. Your heart rate was so high that one would think that you very running away from some sort of monster” he chuckled. “I am so glad I found you”. He leaned down slightly “But I can’t have you running of like that again. That would be unfortunate”.

“Please… I will never escape again! I promise!” you cried.

He tched. “Escape? One should think that I kidnapped you!” he laughed. “I believe you agreed upon staying here, am I right?” his canines showing. He kneeled down on his knees and took hold of your leg. He caressed it gently before he raised his crowbar and whacked it down on your ankle.

You screamed so loudly that you thought you would damage your hearing. Jouno winced slightly at your loud scream, but didn’t falter in his actions. The loud creaks of your bones filled the air. You screamed and kicked, but he didn’t budge in the slightest. He soon repeated the process on your other leg. The pain was unbearable and white dots speckled your vision. In the coroner of your eyes you could see Jouno’s gleeful smile. Now you would never dare to try to leave him.

[skuntank]

Ok I bitch a lot about people hating Diantha but the arguments I see against Geeta are also really annoying

Firstly: 98% of people who dislike Diantha or Geeta end up comparing them to Cynthia at some point. Stop it. Cynthia is INCREDIBLE, and was my favorite champion for a very long time, but I don't see fans holding the male champions to the standard of Cynthia nearly as much as I see people do with Diantha and Geeta. Please ask yourself why you do that. Figure yourselves out.

Secondly: the argument that Geeta hate is somehow more justified and "encouraged by canon" because a fair amount of gym leaders dislike her to some extent is plainly stupid. I am sure, then, that you have absolutely loved every boss you've ever had and been 100% happy with how they manage things and that most workplaces are not at all inherently miserable to some extent. Because of course, most institutions under which we work all have the best interests of the employees baked into the very fibre of how they operate and that burnout is not at all rampant at any job you go to. You are so right, it is all absolutely a reflection of just Geeta and her personality. Christ. 🙄

Thirdly: I get really tired of "the battle sucked" as the main argument to dislike a character. Sure, if that's all you want to base your opinion on, then fine. Not going to stop you. But I do think you are intentionally robbing yourself of some genuinely interesting characters and how they might potentially influence how you interact with a piece of media when you pointedly choose to only focus on one aspect of them. Hell, you can still see Geeta as just a bad boss who tortures her employees (loser mentality, but you do you), but that's still something to work with and makes for an interesting character when explored further and in relation to other canon characters. You can hate her, but she is far from boring.

Fuck, you don't need to like Geeta, you don't need to like Diantha. I acknowledge it is harder to get into Diantha's character due to her very limited appearance in the games, but I don't see people making the same arguments for Lance, who has the canon personality of a sheet of cardboard, or for Leon, whose entire characterization is "Unbeatable Golden Boy Champion Man." At least Diantha has a canonical acting career, and is extremely busy in her life, which makes a good argument as to why she is so absent in the games. Already that gives so much context to who she is as a person and why she is the way she is. I would argue that perhaps it is more a reflection of your lack of creativity or lack of willingness to be creative with character interpretation.

You don't need to like these characters. But the same arguments I see made against them are for the most part thoughtless, boring, and pretty misogynistic.

[redroomroaving]

Writer Interview Tag

Ok, it took me 8 days to get here, but I’m finally responding to this lovely tag from @lemonsrosesandlavender I adored reading yours, it was so interesting!

I've tagged a few people in this post later on and would love any of them to join in and have a go at this if they'd like to share their own answers :).

Answers under the cut, because this got long - I touch on some personal stuff a bit here, so CW for chronic pain discussion.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing nonsense since I was a kid, largely - I have old notebooks from when I was very young I still keep full of little characters and story snippets I used to write mostly to entertain myself on long car journeys  - I had one particularly ridiculous sci-fi story written as a series of diary entries across 4 notebooks I started when I was like … I wanna say 10? Boy.

I attempted my first actual novel at about 16. Tried it again at 21. Tried it again at 26. I’m sat, still, on my first draft of something I actually could do something with that I started 10 years ago. Me and writing have had a bit of a journey, largely due to some workplace related trauma - but coming back to it after all this time has been a lot like coming home, really. I think I’ve always been, as my mother would put it; ‘away with the fairies’.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading than what you write?

The honest answer is ‘probably not’. I rather enjoy non-fiction, but in terms of genres of fiction and themes within, I’d say I’m a very broad reader and outside of fic I’ve tried my hand at quite a lot of genres; I’ve dabbled in sci-fi and horror particularly, because that’s my happy zone.

Before joining the BG fandom my answer to this question would have been ‘Romance’, actually, because it was something I liked to read but didn’t necessarily feel brave enough to write; but truly, writing fic has pushed me right through my reticence to write romance of my own, and now it’s sort of all I write, I think!

Outside of that, I’m afraid I’m shamelessly drawn to the sorts of things I’d want to write.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

I’ve not really been compared to anyone specifically; I’ve had a very flattering comparison of my themes in one particular story with Neil Gaiman - which is of course the kind of comparison anyone would be very happy to hear, but overall I’m not sure I’m prolific enough for that sort of thing ;).

I’m not sure who I’m trying to write like - if I’m trying to write like anyone - I like to think my prose style is reasonably my own but is almost inevitably really an amalgamation of all the people I’ve grown up reading and loving. 

Mostly, I’m a fan of the sort of magic realism/fantasy zone that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and a narrative voice that reflects that, and peppers it in around the characters own thoughts  - my bigger influences are probably in the Mervyn Peake, Warren Ellis, Pratchett, George Elliot, Peter S. Beagle sort of zone. 

To an extent, my interest in cinema and television is also a massive influence on how I write; I’ve spent most of my academic career working on breaking down scenes, the construction of frames - the threading of narratives on screen - and I don’t like to discount my favourite filmmakers and screenwriters as part of what I’m trying to achieve, too. 

Nothing should be in a scene without purpose - even if its superfluous presence is the purpose - and I keep that locked right to my heart. 

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I don’t have a dedicated space particularly - my phone at 3am, by the coffee machine between meetings, the dining room table at times, my desk at other times - scribbled in the back of a notebook on the bus.

I’m a deeply disorganised person, and my creative process is much like my life; full of piles of laundry done in fits of productivity, half stacked and waiting to be put in their proper places; invariably, waiting forever.

What's your most effective way to muster up a muse?

I have no good answer for this either - writing, for me, is rather like possession. When it has seized me I’ll readily throw down thousands of words in a flurry, and when it’s gone, it is gone. There’s little in between.

If I can’t find it - it’s usually time to steep myself, and let things sit and soak into the bones for a while. Throw on a bit of music and let it turn around in my head without trying to force it out - a tactic that for me, at least, never works - imagine some scenarios or conversations, until something or other takes root. 

Half the time it’s just about sitting in my character’s heads for a bit until I feel like I really know them, and could respond as them to questions and queries readily - this is something I’ve carried over from being a long time Dungeon Master - whose prep for sessions was about 15% maps and monster stats and 85% ‘stewing in my NPCs until there’s no question the players can ask I can’t answer in character’. 

There’s nothing quite like the mania and rush of when the muse takes control, and it’s always a bit of a sorry experience when you find yourself on the other side of it, wondering once again where it went. 

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

A few big ones - two that don’t surprise me, and one that does.

The first – coming to terms with what you were supposed to be, and what you are - the trajectory of my life hasn’t been particularly straightforward - I made a lot of decisions based on what I felt I owed to other people in my youth, my obligations to others, particularly family, steered my path towards disaster and the breakdown of my health, career, and life. I started over and found a new path. It’s not been easy. 

Over and over again I’m drawn to characters that have trajectories like this; who are coming to terms with what they thought they were supposed to be, the role they were supposed to have, and how they failed to meet those expectations - or in the case of some - how those expectations failed them. 

The second - pain, and finding the purpose within it. I have chronic pain of an unhelpful sort, acquired during the stuff I just mentioned - that can truly only be described as purposeless. In fact, I’ve had a clinician quite literally describe it as such (although the word they used was ‘pointless and unhelpful’).

I won’t pretend that’s been easy to live with, or that when I say ‘it is what it is’ whilst my body screams at me literally all seconds of all days and won't ever stop doing so forever, I’m just saying that because I can’t say anything else.

It’s not particularly surprising I ended up exploring this theme, inevitably. It’s probably why ‘Sufferer, I shall’, my Donnick x Abdirak fic, and that pairing that was so unexpected and clotheslined me out of nowhere, is the one that matters most to me. 

Finally, the theme that surprised me - is finding purpose and growth in love; for me, the heart of all the romances I write, big or small, is based on this foundation. If there’s no trajectory for individual growth, enhanced and augmented by a relationship with another - usually through the ways in which we can connect and more importantly gently contrast to push one another forward - I am not interested in the romance.

I’m painfully, painfully demisexual, so my romances need to be so dripping with Feelings it’s embarrassing. I didn’t know this about myself until I started writing it, but now I see it everywhere, and all of these three come together into a rather depressing sort of whole. I’ll sum up.

I’m constantly trying to build a happier tale than my own.

That one got sad, but it’s also the answer to this next question. 

What is your reason for writing?

See above. Writing gives me joy, but it also helps me to create a kinder, warmer world than the one I live in - even when I’m exploring its darker parts. 

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

I love any comments, I truly do - they all fill me with joy - just to know someone has read something I’ve written.

I’d like to take a moment, though, to shout out to a few people in particular - because I think commenting is an art in and of itself, and instead of talking about what motivates me, I’d like to thank some people for motivating me.

When @benicemurphy found my Rolan x Geraldus fic ‘the Harper in the Tower’ I started getting some of the most insightful, most moving comments I’d ever received. The way in which you so perceptively saw every tiny hint, every theme and thread just absolutely floored me. Anyone who gets a comment from you should be honoured to do so.

This goes too for @cedar-phoenix, who I don’t think I have on tumblr (Cedar! found you!) - but who might be one of the most perceptive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. You have an absolute gift.

@graysparrowao3 left me some of the most punch in the face comments I’ve ever had on ‘Sufferer, I shall’. Watching your trajectory of reading the story and being greeted with ‘WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL’ truly, truly made my year. 

I love it when a commenter pulls out specific lines or moments that they enjoyed - especially because it’s never the ones I expect! @tavyliasin and @n1ghtmeri left me some of the most emotional comments on ‘Sufferer’ I’ve ever had the pleasure of receiving, and @darkurgetrash picking out specific lines of my Klaus x Kar’niss fic always gets me chomping at the bit to write more. It takes time and effort to leave the sorts of comments you do, and I want you all to know how deeply I appreciate it.

And of course, my dear @lizziemajestic - the only commenter who has left me a sobbing voice note. You have no idea how much that meant, and how much it has continued to mean, to me. 

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Honestly - I’m not really sure how to answer this. I hope it’s a warm cup of coffee; a bit of nourishment. I hope they can see how deeply I feel what I write, and that some of that comes through in the words they read - too.

I really care about all these silly little guys - and if reading it makes them smile, or cry, or really anything at all, that’s what I wanted, I think.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I’m terrible at talking about my own strengths so expect this to be a rubbish answer.

I like to think I’m good at character voices; I spend a lot of time thinking about and puzzling out how a character would speak and think - and as I predominantly, if not exclusively, write canon characters and NPCs, I hope I am able to capture their voices in a way that feels natural and organic. 

I never force a character to do anything - it doesn’t work, for starters - but I really do try to let them guide what’s happening and follow them where they lead. I hope that comes across in what I write and helps create something that feels in character and plausible, no matter what’s happening; I struggle at times with worrying this might mean things seem boring, or fail to meet expectations people might have of how things are going to go - but it’s a principle I stick to. If I’m changing something fundamentally about a character it feels wrong - and that’s a guiding principle I hold.

This extends to romances and relationships; I hope, at least, I build connections between characters that feel organic and earned, even when sometimes they are characters who literally have never interacted at all before. Finding the organic spark of connection is what I most enjoy writing. 

I hope I’m pretty good at environmental storytelling, too. It’s important to show character in the same way we show ourselves - in our environments, our habits and the spaces we occupy. Everything you do, the things you surround yourself with; that’s just as much you as the you in your skull. 

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely for yourself, or a mix of both?

“Why write if not to fill the world with the kinds of things I want to read?”

I try to write mostly for myself. I’ve written a few things based on prompts and ideas for others, and do enjoy that - but first and foremost, I’m writing for my own sake.

How do you feel about your own writing?

Mostly good. Mostly. I’m not the best, nor do I want to be - I try not to engage too much with thinking about the wider space and how I’m comparing to others - I know I’m plundering down in some obscure mines at times, and that’s ok - that’s where I chose to be.

I’m not good at complimenting myself, but, I have managed to write some things I’m genuinely proud of as part of finding my way back to writing full stop. 

Overall though, I think I’m just happy to -be- writing. After so long being unable to do so because of the pain and being unable to use my arms, and feeling like writing was the thing that ruined me, finding a way back to some creative joy and reclaiming my pain as purposeful has been, genuinely, a lifeline.

I apologise that this got all deep and sad. I hope if you’ve read this, you know how grateful I am to you all; I’ve been so lucky to find this space, and all of you, and myself again too.

[mysticalflaneur]

The truth is, I thought about writing this just because I yearn to get the E-girl outfit, but as I progressed with the writing, I reflected a lot on the game and what My Candy Love has meant to me over the years.

First of all, my journey in the game began in 2013 when I discovered My Candy Love: High School Life and since then, I have been a loyal player and eternally in love with Castiel (and smitten by Armin). My adventure and graduation came just a few months after theirs. This journey continued in 2018 with My Candy Love: University Life, which coincided with my first year as a university student, so in a way, I felt close to Sucrette/Candy/Lyn again. Then, with MCL: Love Life, came the final installment and my Sucrette's wedding with Castiel and Alternative Life where I reunited with Armin, which was really sweet and emotional.

I am currently 25 years old and just months away from getting my university degree, starting my thesis, and looking for a job. A few months ago (2024), My Candy Love: New Gen appeared in my life!!! Once again, a heroine/protagonist comes to accompany me in my life steps. Ysaline is young and inexperienced, hasn't been in the workforce for long, and must overcome the adversities that come her way by meeting many different characters with different goals, interests, and motivations. I have been very excited about this new installment because, in a way, I can relate to and feel accompanied by the new Candy, and this, although it is a small thing, excites me a lot because, like her, I want to start my adult life fully in a new workplace.

Now, it's not just this, I admit that I have two strong crushes!! At first sight, Jason and Thomas are divinely gorgeous, and I adore them! Jason seems like a careful, dangerous, and mature route, you know, that man represents carnal desire for me (Yes, Daddy🔥🔥). Thomas seems sweet, inexperienced, and it's nice to think about how their relationship develops in an area that doesn't seem to be his strong suit (human relationships) because I notice that he will give his best 🤗 (?). It’s time to talk about other characters haha, DEVON, our boss, is magically attractive. At first, I wasn’t interested in having a route with the boss of our company, but WOW the more I interact with him, the more I like him!! He is attentive, helpful, flirtatious, and attractive, a total heartthrob!!

As for the other routes (Roy and Amanda), I'm not sure yet. Roy is a good friend to me (although I expected more drama with Brune), and Amanda and I are not compatible in any way. She seems annoying and capricious, wanting everyone to do what she wants, and that’s not for me!! Your reign is over, princess!! Hahaha.

Regarding other characters, I must say I really like Elenda. I want Ysaline to have a nice friendship with her; she is an extremely good and noble person!! And Uncle Archibald, I love his theme song when he appears! And he gives us clothes for our Taki (my goose's name is Miss Petunia).

In short, I hope to continue this stage accompanied by the new characters who promise to give a lot more and be important in our lives and that of our new Sucrette. I hope everyone can enjoy this new installment as much as I do.😍

These are just some of my thoughts.

@tetrakys

[respectthepetty]

Reading the (Visual) Rainbow 101

Lesson 4 - Barriers & Boundaries

Because I get so many asks about colors, I decided the best way to celebrate Pride is to educate anyone who is interested in how to better Read the (Visual) Rainbow and simultaneously allow myself to appreciate queer media.

Today's (late) lesson will focus on how visuals reinforce emotional barriers and boundaries, so are you ready to cross the line?

Lesson 3 dealt with the way in which visuals (an item that we can see) represent abstract themes (ideas which we cannot see), and Lesson 4 will build on this.

Lesson 1 covered visual rhetoric, so you should be able to recognize this image as a form of visual rhetoric, but what is it trying to say?

The obstruction between the two boys is a visual representation of an emotional barrier between them. It divides the screen and keeps the characters on their distinct sides. The size of the barrier, the color, and the material from which it is made are all important when analyzing the context for its use in the shot. In the above image, the barrier is big, red, and concrete demonstrating that the emotional barrier between these two is noticeable, mixed with love and hate, and not flexible.

The barrier could be big and black because the reason for the disconnect between the two characters could be a secret, but one which greatly hinders the characters' relationship.

Or it could be thin and glass, a transparent material, or a reflection because the reason for the barrier is probably power dynamics due to social class, age, or workplace hierarchy. These are always present even when the barrier isn't being discussed.

But if the barrier is on a background surface or part of a movable fixture, the characters can bypass it.

Perhaps it's an open door that shows both characters must be open and communicate to move forward.

Lighting can mimic barriers because it helps us clearly see which side the characters are on.

Regardless of the barrier, you want to observe what is dividing the screen, so you can reflect on why it is there and mark the character who crosses it because it shows which character might feel more emotions in that moment or does not adhere to acceptable behavior.

If you watched either video mentioned in the previous lesson, you may have noticed in Silvy's "Queen" video that the barrier between the characters (being gender) was easily danced around. We see that through the split screen, the separation of the walls at the angle, and the colors for the binary (blue/boys, pink/girls).

Joel Corry x MNEK's "Head & Heart" showed two sides of a single person using colors (gray-ish blue/sad, yellow/happy) and the split screen. The two emotions within the person finally merged when the person reflected on himself which caused the barrier to disappear.

This is also used with mirrors. Mirrors symbolize truth, so to see a character split between mirrors or his image fragmented means he is having in internal conflict (becoming two different people or dissociating) which hinders him from being honest with himself. He is a split person because of the barrier.

People can serve as barriers to others as well as binders. If a person is in the middle of two others, they are usually the source of conflict or at least they will be, and sometimes that character has to decide between the other characters.

Bridges symbolize unity and communication, so to see one in between characters would mean two characters must communicate to unite. The bridge below is the Tamsui Lover's Bridge in Taiwan, so it added another layer of meaning between the two characters.

Since bridges unite, bars divide. Bars on a character represent oppression and repression of emotion.

Levels, although not a barrier, are an easy way to notice power structures in a relationship. Much like the thin line in the background, levels can show who has the higher social class, who is superior, and who holds the power in the relationship because that person is above the other, physically within the space. If the person can be equal to the other if he can simply raise himself up, this is smybolic of the character doing the same with his emotions - he can become equal if he solves an internal issue,

but if there are stairs or some other way to ascend, that tends to signify differences in social standings which will have obstacles and endeavors the person must encounter along the way to the be equal with the other person.

Anything can serve as an emotional barrier or narrative conflict if it divides the two characters on the screen like pillows on a bed or an umbrella handle.

Sometimes these barriers are easy to spot if they are huge red concrete pillars between the characters, but sometimes, it's harder to notice, but just remember, if something is the middle of the characters or they are not level, question why. It might be nothing, but it also might tell an entirely different story.

Activity

Video #1 - Watch ONE of the following videos and note the room and color of each member (yellow is my favorite color):

The Internet "Come Over" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3gWkhLkxM

Bob the Drag Queen "Gay Barz" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZzy_nCiBNw

Video #2 - Watch ONE of the following videos and note the color of clothing the main artists wear:

Saucy Santana x Latto "Booty" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hylG-CYTzBI

Scissor Sisters "She's My Man" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPwc-DpVFdc

See you for Lesson 5 about group efforts.

[fights4users]

Reflections

Programs look like their users. They share little bits of personality and sometimes mirror relationships. We all know this. On my last rewatch I’ve come to notice just how close their relationships really are and it’s more than any of them will ever realize. Again the quote from Gibbs “a little bit of our spirit remains in every program we wrote for this company etc.” It’s not literal or magic but I take it much more as a “craftsman’s touch” like how handmade pottery will sometimes have the indent of the creators finger.

Alan and Roy - Ram and Tron

Now Roy doesn’t play a main role in the original movie he’s “popcorn co worker” but notice… he and Alan have cubicles right next to each other. I believe their computer to computer. A closed in box right next to each other, feel familiar anyone? I imagine they became friends in a similar way, Roy talked first and probably a little to much at first- then the worked up to work friends, real friends enough to it lasted 20+ years. If Ram didn’t get derezzed I imagine he’d still be pretty close with Tron, especially after what they went though together. Also the cell to cubicle comparison is not a bit of social commentary that’s lost on me.

Alan and Lora- Tron and Yori

Jesus a mirror relationship if I ever saw one. Both are lovely, overexcited young couples. The touches, the glances, the longing? (Mainly tron and yori as a kiss isn’t a thing yet but they want it- there’s so many times they turn and stare and you’d think). I already have a post on this, but ya know. Alan and Tron are a bit more hesitant— but they’re also capable of jumping headfirst into action without thinking they just worry about it right after. Lora and yori are - not the worrier, they are the action. Girls were “we breaking in or not” and “let’s steal this experimental vehicle 💕” Alan and Tron also tend to be boyishly protective when Flynn starts acting weird.

Also! Lora/Yori are the one who drives.

Walter and Lora - Dumont and Yori

This one I don’t see people talk about and its sad because they’re quite close. Gibbs is Loras mentor(not to mention the founder of Encom) he’s a loving and well intentioned father figure around the workplace. They joke, work, and I can imagine endless conversations with them both absolutely rattling off about digitization. Similarly, Yori greets Dumont like one would an old friend with some “do it for me” vibes in there too. They’re quick to grasp hands when sincere or hold onto each other when worried. I don’t know how they’d know each other in the past but maybe it’s a similar situation, before he took on his current function? But Dumont is similarly father figure like to Yori but slightly less trusting of Tron than Gibbs is of Alan.

Flynn — Clu

The outsider. His is the only program without a mirroring relationship (probably because he later comes in himself). Clu was a hacking and stealth program, he wasn’t there for friends or much besides finding the memory and getting out. However if we look at Flynn and his relationships in and out of the grid it’s almost exactly the same. One day he comes into everyone’s life and puts on the charm. He’s annoying but earnest, smart but dumb etc. Quick friends and quicker enemies.

As for Dillinger and stark I feel like that one is completely self explanatory, but I can go into it. Because he is actually a pretty interesting character.

[arty-ffxiv]

💖Just a gentle nudge to remind you that you're not just existing—you're thriving, even on days when it doesn't feel that way. You're a one-of-a-kind force in this world, bringing light and love in ways you might not even realize. You've overcome so much, and you should be proud of every step you've taken, no matter how small. The world is better with you in it, and you've already made such a difference just by being you. Keep going, keep growing, and never forget how important you are💖

Thank you, who ever you are. This message warmed my heart and has been a well needed reminder ♥

I've not advertised it much, but I've been on a FFXIV/ Tumblr hiatus for the past ~5ish weeks; this blog has been running on old, queued content since then. I'm feeling quite drained and burned out, and frustrated as I'd just gotten back into my creative outlets again.

It's the longest time I've taken away from the game, and I didn't want to step away so soon from the FFXIV Tumblr community again after returning from another long hiatus.

Putting more under the cut, for those interested in IRL stuff. Otherwise, please know that I'm ok, just taking a break.

I've been in a bit of a strange place mentally, since before Dawntrail dropped.

In the week leading up to the expac's early access release, I was made redundant from a job role that I really loved. I'd been in limbo regarding my role for a number of months, and hadn't anticipated any movement or news for at least another few months- things move slowly in the community services world.

I had a week of annual leave booked for the expansion release- I was keen for the break, and excited to be going into the new adventure with the new friends I'd made within the Tumblr FFXIV community.

2 days before I was due to go on leave, I was told I was having a meeting with HR and my line manager. I was advised to bring a support person.

My anxiety sky rocketed, and the next day I was given the news of my redundancy. I was given some options to mull over for the next few days- redeployment to another site, putting in an application for a more senior role with no guarantee I'd be successful, or to leave the organization.

As you can imagine, this put a big dampener on my excitement for Dawntrail. I'm grateful that the news came when it did, so at least my leave was spent with something to focus on instead of just moping about, but it just fucking sucked.

I was spending most of my time on leave in game, trying to keep my mind off work and the mess of emotions and confusion I knew I'd be coming back to. I enjoyed the expac- at least the first half. I wasn't emotionally prepared, or ready, for the second half.

I won't be going into details for those who have yet to finish the MSQ, nor to upset myself further.

The second half of the story was just too much; I spent my time in the last zone consumed with the thoughts of I'm not having fun anymore, I'm not enjoying this, let's just rip this fucking bandaid off and get through it, we can process all the feelings this is dredging up for us later.

Since finishing the MSQ, I've not really done much else in-game or really logged in again. I've been reflecting on it, and I think the ending of the expac triggered some deep-seated traumas for me. This, coupled with the grief and mixed emotions of moving into a new work environment, has really exhausted me.

I'm 5 weeks into my new workplace, and I'm enjoying it but am just so exhausted. While I'm still in the same organization, my workload is more than it was previously and I've lost the motivation I'd only recently gotten back for FFXIV and creating.

Hopefully now that I've gone through the motions of resettling and learning the ropes in this new space, my creativity will begin to come back. I can only hope.

[bettercostume]

This is purely hypothetical, not claiming you think they're bonking in real life, but like. IF they were, when/how do you think neymessi would have gotten together? Basically if you were to write a complete non-AU get together fic, when does it take place and who makes the first move?

I hope this question doesn't sound insane

im picking up what ur putting down, no worries

UHM, i think in this irl projection that there are like levels. like hell. Each burdened by homophobia, womp womp. hero worship > genuine affection>romance / intense relationship Ney enters Barca. Ney is touchy, sports enable a lot of borderline cuddling, you are aware of your teammates physicality and you feel an almost primal jealousy and admiration when you see someone do something mindblowing. plus ney straight up loved messi, so i think it would have been this intense firehose of affection from ney that leo grew into liking because how can you not? It's not gay, it's a kid with an embarrassing amount of interest. Ney becomes more of Leo's equal and they form two prongs of the most psychosexually obsessed trio in football, MSN. Leo begins reflecting some of that affection, as Ney becomes a part of his life. It's not gay, it's professional respect. After one of the games leading up to the UCL final they made out in the locker room and then just folded that into their growing link-up. It doesn't have to be a title game, just one where everything worked perfectly. It's not gay its being in synch physically and mentally in every way at the job that brings us the most joy, transformed our lives, and allowed us to find more love than we could ever imagine.

Overall I think every convincing neymessi get-together is just a workplace romance. I think Leo would actually make the first move to take it to tha next level (tm) when he realizes ney is incredible, as a person and a player, and stops seeing him as a little brother ingenue and as neymar, fully realized person. some mundane little sliver of time where ney winks at him across the locker room and somehow in this moment that motion sums up every kind word, embrace, telepathic pitch connection and casual appraisal of his physique in a mind-altering moment that hits leo like a stroke. i also think they make out a lot and stand very close together and gently touch and breathe into each other's mouths and then as soon as someone's dick is out it gets derailed for like two weeks while one of them has a crisis of heterosexuality and then it becomes some rule-bound almost-chaste frotting thing they do after every game that just increases how hot they are for each other. two years after neymar leaves leo finds out in casual shittalk that pocho was having full on anal off and on with some french twink who owns a vineyard. this is an open secret and no one cares. it rocks his world so thoroughly he almost texts neymar for the next three days, and then deletes the chat window, because what would he even say.

i also think when he joins psg they never, ever talk about this. instead they are like, semi-divorced lovers who could, but won't, and their foundational affection for each other is bewildering to literally everyone.

i hope this is literally anything like what you meant when you asked, lol. happy sunday!

[shai-manahan]

Hollowed Minds, as a story, is like a mirror that reflects the complexities and contradictions of human society, exposing its flaws with honesty and clarity.

It is interesting to me to see a story where the author doesn't hold back in showing the raw reality, without holding back. Showing how the darkness of the reality and society surrounding an individual with ideals and hopes for the future, tries every single day to extinguish that light of hope inside of them. How it tries to destroy them. How it tries to alter their personality, ideals and beliefs.

It shows how the mentality of "Public glory and fame" can corrupt a person. How the public opinion can make a person a beacon of light and a model for society, only to drag that same person's reputation down, damaging even their career. How the public opinion does not care about the evidences that prove the claims thrown in the media, but just accept them as if they are the absolute word of God. The same thing happening to MC at the start of the story.

On the other hand, it also shows how good and dangerous idealism can be, through the Ripper and Wesley. A duo who in their past did many good deeds for the people, but who can be so much influenced by idealism that they fail to see the consequences of the actions they take in doing good deeds. It can result in someone getting harmed. Their judgement can be clouded, making them fail to see reality for what it is.

Then you have the classic "We are all doing this. It's not good to be a snitch on your colleagues for breaking the law. You are a bad person if you go against the flow" shown in the Ripper's workplace where they are treating them not with the respect they rightfully deserve just because he exposed the corruption happening in that place. But such is expected from a society that has been turning a blind eye to crimes. In public they may tell you "We want justice and the criminals behind bars" but this is true (and they will support you) as long as you don't touch their interests/benefits.

For the sake of the ask not getting too long, I'm going to stop here with my ramblings, but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the fact that you have chosen to share this story with us. I love the characters, with all their virtues and flaws, and I love the way how each time I go and replay the demo, new things are discovered. I hope you keep writing this story until the very end and that you take good care of your health💛

Hey, anon, this is probably the highest form of compliment I've ever gotten on this platform, and honestly? I've been reading this over and over for the entire day because I just felt so seen.

You've shared some thoughts here I never expected to see this early in the story, and I'm so grateful you made the effort to type it all out and send it to me because I've definitely been second-guessing myself in how I'm portraying certain scenes.

I mean, I'm autistic. It's hard for me to make my thoughts clear, and it's a lot harder for me to figure out if the readers are getting the information I want them to have and the conclusions I want them to form. And when I do make an effort to do just that, I get the realization that I begin to describe too much.

It's a flaw of mine that I'm confused what to do about sometimes, so I cannot emphasize enough that seeing my work be so clearly understood, so deeply analyzed, is really just, I don't know, I feel like gratifying is not enough of a word for this, but it might be the closest.

I also want you to remember what you yourself said about the idealism that Ripper and Wesley had, because that one paragraph now made me confident that a future revelation would not be wasted on at least one person :') It's... a nice feeling, to be honest.

I might just end up crying here if I keep going, so I'll stop here. Thank you again and I hope you'll have a good weekend! I hope you'll also see this through the end!

[cavernsofdarkness]

OMG I WAS THINKING! Ghost sims would make really good holograms …that sound creepy… but anyways especially the blue one. Also what do you think cyberpunk school would look like… sorry I’ve been searching on Pinterest and can’t find anything. Im at a tie with college like sermon with holograms, some where they’re hooked into vr headsets or computers, and just… there is no school. Idk what your thoughts?

(Sending Love … 98% Complete)

I love when people come to my inbox and posit things like this! I have a lot to say, lol.

As a baseline definition, cyberpunk as a genre is a near-future dystopia, defined by the domination of megacorporations, technology and the escalation of class stratification and its ramifications. So, I think there definitely is school and higher education.

Everything below is based heavily on the workings of US school systems.

There is general education through the high school level provided by the district/city but, much like in our own world, the quality of this education is dependent on the wealth of the district. The schools in poorer districts have less funding, and thus less access to technology and different specialties and extracurriculars for study. I imagine that, if you're lucky, there might have been a wealthy benefactor that decided to be generous and fund the operation of the cyberpunk equivalent of a charter school in your district.

The best schools are going to be corporation-owned or private institutions. These are private schools with all of the best amenities and access to the latest technology. Even amongst these schools there's a hierarchy, with the tuition costs reflecting the level of prestige. In Cyberpunk 2077, corporate workers get access to the corporation's healthcare plan; I imagine that getting discounted tuition for your child to the corporation's school is also one of the benefits, thus incentivizing people to join the megacorp machine (like in the US, how a lot of people join the military because they promise to cover the cost of your schooling).

On to higher education. College/university is astronomically expensive (and that's saying a lot considering how expensive it already is *cries in American with student loan debt*). Only the ultra rich, or those with connections can afford it. If you're not in one of the aforementioned categories, the amount of debt you would incur trying to finance education is a life sentence. For reference, there's an ad in Cyberpunk 2077 offering a loan with a 31.1% interest rate (can you imagine!?) and obviously, poorer people with bad or no credit are going to be subjected to the higher rates.

Now, about your ideas on the different manifestations of school, my answer is 'all of the above'! Dictated by funding, a school/business probably employs a mix of all of those methods. Imagine a guest lecturer joining via holo (in-person/physical classes probably cost more), or a netrunning class where they get to experience the net without the risk via a VR simulation. This applies not only to traditional academia, but other skill classes as well (martial arts, pottery, aerial silks, you name it!); just like in our reality, you can take singular classes in whatever you want, for a price.

As a result of everything previously mentioned, I think the majority of people in a cyberpunk reality make it through basic schooling and then engage in nontraditional/nonstandard methods of education. I imagine that some people may find someone who can train them in their desired trade/skill, and a lot of the hackers/netrunners, techies etc. are self-taught. In this vein, just like currently in our world we have access to lots of tutorials via youtube and websites like skillshare etc., the popularity of this has probably only grown and I imagine that training braindances/simulations are commonplace, both in and out of the workplace.

The one time I did a hologram (of a person) I just used a regular sim and edited them in post to get that holo effect. I haven't messed around much with ghost sims; I'm curious about how the ghost sim form would interact with lighting and such. Maybe next time I do a hologram I'll try it and see if I like it. It might save some time if all I have to add are the scanlines, lol.

[lente-ment]

Sorry if this is too personal, but I read on your AO3 that you went from being a fujo to a lesbian. I've heard of that happening before, and I just don't get how someone goes from being into media all about the attractiveness of males and males alone to realizing they are only attracted to females and females alone. Would you mind offering any insight into that process?

See, I'm a cis bi guy who started off straight, but women have remained just as attractive to me as I became more interested in men. I can't imagine being no longer attracted to women because they're hot for different reasons than men and vice versa.

I hope this doesn't come off weird! I just find gender/orientation stuff like this really interesting.

Oh hey, this isn't weird at all! Thank you for asking about a genuinely interesting topic, at least for me. (And sorry for the late reply, what little time I had last week I focused on editing ch13 and getting it ready for publishing... almost there...)

Relating to your question, I'm not even sure where to start, except by acknowledging that, yes, it probably is weird to go from being super into m/m and the whole culture that focuses on men, to being a lesbian who cares little for men (as objects of romantic or sexual desire, I didn't turn into a misandrist, just to clarify). It didn't happen over night, of course. And I do have to say that I had always been a little bit queer to begin with.

Fujoshi, or perhaps simply "readers of yaoi" (since fujoshi is a really derogatory term from what I gathered), are usually women. It is safe to assume that most of those women are straight, or at least attracted to real men in some way. However, men portrayed in yaoi works are rarely reflections of how real men look and behave. That's further supported by the fact that very little gay men read regular yaoi. Some read bara. In regular yaoi, male characters are very "sanitized" versions of men, made for women who only want the emotional side of the whole affair. They want to see the men show their feelings and be vulnerable. But not with them (they want strong men IRL), or other women (jealousy). But with other men? That's okay. Because those stories are always under their control (unlike real life is, for a lot of women). Most of these women also like real men (actors, guys in their school/workplace), and end up dating them/married. I'd like to point out that I haven't read any scientific research, or psychology papers. These are my personal observations and things I discussed with friends in the past regarding this topic.

Anyhow, to get back to my experience, I got into yaoi because these stories were fun. I gotta admit, I'm not sure how I found out about yaoi to begin with. I don't remember anyone around me being particularly vocal about it. I dug that stuff out from the depths of the late 2000s/early 2010s internet all by myself. Anyway, IRL, I was never particularly interested in men. Or anyone, until high school. Shows like Junjou Romantica or Ai no Kusabi were just interesting stories to me. And when I think back on yaoi anime and doujinshis that I consumed religiously in my teenage years, I mostly remember liking the themes they worked with, such as non-con sex, power play, bondage, humiliation etc. I cared little for the physical side of things. What little arousal I felt I connected with my own physiology, not with male genitalia. Meanwhile, yuri never had the same appeal. Those girls were always soft and gentle and shy. I think you know by now that that's not how I roll with my (vamp) lesbians.

After high school, during college, my love for m/m stuff waned. I guess my worldview expanded, and I mulled over being bi so I started considering women as well. The fact that I also never managed to have a relationship with a man longer than a week should've spoken louder volumes to me. As I grew as a person, I realized a lot of yaoi that I was reading was really immature, too. There are still a few works I'd recommend, but everything else doesn't do it for me anymore. Unfortunately, the same thing could be said about f/f stuff. Not just yuri (that is to say, works coming from Japan), but fanfics as well. There aren't really any f/f ships, even today, that I'd root for as hard as I did for some m/m ships. Because of that, I didn't know where I stood for the longest time.

At the end of college/beginning of my adult life, I finally started accepting some things about myself. One of them was that calling myself a lesbian was a completely valid thing to do. It felt a bit weird at the beginning. I come from a somewhat traditional surrounding so I didn't know too many queer people during that process. There was nobody to validate my feelings externally. That extended the self-realization process. Yet, slowly, I understood that I was finally doing myself a proper service by focusing on women.

To be honest, I still find some men attractive, but that's more of an exception than a rule. And it's pretty random. And I never act on it because I'm not interested in them sexually, and only like... 5% romantically. So, uh, maybe that's just like seeing someone outside on the street and thinking "huh, this guy looks cool, hope he has a nice day".

Uhh, okay, that's a wall of text. Hope it illuminates some things for you, anon? If you're comfortable sharing, I wouldn't mind hearing about your own self-discovery process. Thank you for checking out my fic and hopping into this inbox. Have a nice day! 💙

[faithinfashion]

How Christian Apparel Helps You Share Your Faith at Work

In today's diverse workplace, it can be challenging to openly share your faith. While some workplaces are more accepting than others, many individuals are hesitant to express their beliefs for fear of judgment or conflict. Christian apparel offers a subtle and effective way to express your faith without being overly preachy or confrontational.

Why Christian Apparel?

Christian apparel encompasses a wide range of clothing and accessories featuring religious symbols, scripture verses, or inspirational messages. These items serve as visual representations of your faith, allowing you to communicate your beliefs in a non-intrusive manner.

Benefits of Wearing Christian Apparel

Starts Conversations: Christian apparel can act as an icebreaker, prompting colleagues to ask questions about your faith. This can be a natural way to share your beliefs and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Provides a Testimony: Your clothing becomes a visual testimony to your faith, allowing others to see your commitment to Christ. It can inspire others and demonstrate the positive impact of faith in your life.

Offers Comfort and Encouragement: Wearing Christian apparel can provide you with a sense of comfort and encouragement throughout your workday. It serves as a constant reminder of your faith and helps you navigate challenges with a spiritual perspective.

Creates a Sense of Community: Christian apparel can help you connect with other believers in the workplace.Seeing someone else wearing a similar item can foster a sense of shared values and provide support.

Choosing the Right Christian Apparel

When choosing Christian apparel, it's important to consider your workplace environment and personal preferences.Here are some tips for selecting items that are both faith-affirming and appropriate for your professional setting:

Tips for Choosing Christian Apparel

Subtle vs. Bold: Determine your comfort level with displaying your faith. Some individuals prefer subtle symbols like a cross necklace, while others may opt for t-shirts with scripture verses or inspirational quotes.

Workplace Culture: Consider your company's dress code and culture. Opt for clothing that aligns with the general workplace attire and avoids any potential for offense or distraction.

Quality and Comfort: Choose well-made, comfortable clothing that you feel confident wearing. It should enhance your professional appearance and reflect your personal style.

Variety: Explore different types of Christian apparel, including jewelry, accessories, and clothing. Look for designs that resonate with your personal beliefs and style.

Sharing Your Faith with Grace and Respect

While Christian apparel can be a powerful tool for sharing your faith, it's important to approach conversations about your beliefs with grace and respect. Remember:

Principles for Sharing Faith

Be Patient: Not everyone will be receptive to your faith, and that's okay. Be patient and understanding when encountering differing perspectives.

Listen to Others:Engage in genuine conversations by listening to others' views and concerns. Show respect for their beliefs, even if you disagree.

Focus on Love and Compassion:Your faith should inspire love, compassion, and understanding. Let your actions speak louder than words, demonstrating the values of your faith through your interactions.

Don't Force Your Beliefs:Avoid pressuring others to convert or adopt your beliefs. Offer opportunities for conversation but respect their right to disagree.

Christian Apparel as a Conversation Starter

Here are some examples of how Christian apparel can spark conversations and opportunities to share your faith:

Conversation Starters

"I love the verse on your shirt. It's so inspiring."

"I've been thinking about the meaning of that symbol. Would you mind explaining it to me?"

"I'm interested in learning more about your faith. Would you be willing to talk about it sometime?"

Conclusion

Christian apparel offers a unique opportunity to share your faith in a subtle and respectful manner. By choosing appropriate attire, engaging in conversations with grace, and demonstrating the love and compassion of Christ, you can create a positive impact in your workplace and inspire others to explore their own spiritual journeys. Remember that your faith is a personal journey, and your expression of it should reflect your own unique beliefs and comfort level.

A variety of Christian apparel options are available online and in stores. Find high-quality, affordable apparel that reflects your faith and style

Relate:

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[theloverscardtarot]

Can I ask you more about the soulmate’s career? Will this person be recognized through Instagram or TikTok. Like how would she be discovered? I’m more interested in her past dating life, if she had one.

Hi Anon! So I did a five card spread on her past loves before Evan and 5 card spread on her career. Keep in mind, decisions Evan and even the soulmate make in their lives can absolutely alter how they meet and if they will be together romantically. This is all based on assuming they will be together. I'm not sure it will answer your questions but here goes:

Love life

7 of Cups: This signifies an important decision is being made together as a couple. Marriage? House?Kids? If she's single, it means she's daydreaming about the perfect partner. Maybe she's manifesting Evan 😍

7 of Pents: putting in the work to better your relationship. There is good communication. Setting romantic goals and looking forward to achieving them. Long term goals. If she's single she may be reflecting on her own long term goals and how a future partner may fit into her life.

2 of Swords Rev.: There is such a major decision to be made in your love life that you may be avoiding dealing with it. Putting on blinders to avoid the subject. "If you can't see it, it's not there". If single she's conflicted on what road to take next when it comes to love.

8 of Swords Rev: You need to be clear on what you want out of this relationship. Is your partner serving you or holding you back. If she is single she may be giving up hope on finding the one. Like the 2S, the woman is also wearing a blindfold and this can indicate she cannot see her path clearly. She may not want to see what is really there.

Page of Pents: if single, she may be manifesting a future partner. This card symbolizes somebody loyal and ambitious. I have a feeling one or more past lovers, however many before Evan, have maybe lacked motivation and have been unfaithful. I got something like this in the reading I just did. She is trying to manifest the right person for her.

Career

The Chariot: Automatically I think that her career is traditional. Key words are ambition, power, leadership, determination, control. This card signifies a very competitive workplace. Maybe kinda cut throat. "Keep your head down and focus on your own hard work".

Ace Of Pents: new jobs, manifestation, stability, prosperity, hard work and determination. An abundance of opportunities. Associated with the element of earth. I got last time that she may switch careers. Possibly way before they meet.

The Tower: There may be a change in her career that causes some sort of upheaval. Maybe she will have to move across seas for her work. There will be some sort of destruction and loss that leads to this new beginning. Can signify relocation(!) will come out more stable in the end.

6 of Wands: This card signifies getting acknowledged for hard work and efforts and accomplishing a work related goal. It can also signify fame/glory/popularity. So, this makes me think she will be in the biz. Even though I know the OGs may have seen she was just a normie that will only be known for dating Evan. Yes, I know it sounds like Natalie. I feel like she has a big part in something here, I just don't know what yet. Anyway, I think the soulmate may have social media. But I also think we will know who she is before meeting Evan. It's possible the OGs saw her having a normal job because that was the mindset she was in at the time. I get a lot about starting a new career path.

2 of Wands: Taking risks, future plans, discovery and progress. 2 cards often represent choices. She may be in a position where it's time to decide what career path she really wants to be in.

Looking a little further, I see that she may work in a field that requires constant change/upheaval and will be thrust into the spotlight. That could be acting. Also she may be in management or financial planning. I also keep seeing career change. I think the normal job may come before the job that will put her in the spotlight. I got in the reading that she is artistic and she may decide to try a creative field. The picture of the 2 of Wands depicts a man with a globe in his hand and represents decisions being made. I also wonder if that means she will be known around the world or if the decision to relocate will lead her to or play somehow into her relationship with Evan.

[kaytmy]

A New Story, from the Southern Highlands

This road trip crystallised some initial thoughts and resonance on craftsmanship, fashion/ food/ design regarded an art form beyond framed displays or craft-store supplied mediums, and appreciating it more fully with writing, reflection or documentations.

The initial interest was piqued in tertiary education - writing "why I liked X" in an Art module; to which I wrote a piece on the music video "Robbers" by The 1975. Circa 3 years later, doing a cross-disciplinary and cross-university module in a Fine Arts collage for one semester where was introduced to Abstract Art and researched on Robert Motherwell; then acrylic paint an impression painting with his technique - which now still hangs on my bedroom wall back in Singapore. Another 2 years later, discovering the master storyteller Niel Gaiman through a literature lecturer in university who was introducing us to book publisher awards and as it turns out, was one of the best discoveries of my student life; rekindling an appreciation for non-fiction books. Starting Mood Work, a wellness e-commerce store - copywriting for my own website, personal branding, a moment of clarity for my designer spirit. Soon joining a local fashion designer where yet again, explored another dimension of art - craftsmanship, quality, creating from inspiration. It was good to know it existed.

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Art took a stop for a while. I decided that I won't be doing it for work (where it doesn't pay as well as a corporate job), but I would do it as a hobby - only writing cards, decorating my living spaces, gifting nice presents. As income, work titles and competence became more important to me, art and work wouldn't be held in the same space in my life for the next 3 years.

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How long does it take to get over something/ someone? Can you lose a part of yourself? Can you forget a dream?

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Becoming a Christian is a lot like moving to a new country, because it gives me a new perspective on culture, and outlook of work i.e. a Singaporean who firsts moves to a foreign country is shocked to discover how many of one's intuitions and practices that she considered common sense and universal are actually particularly Singaporean or personal ones (and are ridiculous to other people). By living in another culture (both geographically in countries, and expanding my view of Freedom and Love in God), I get a vantage point from which I am now cognisant of myself, and as a result I am slowly changing, dropping some attitudes and adopting others.

Freedom and Love is making me see everything in a new light, but it is taking time for me to grasp and incorporate this new information into my life, day to day decisions and pursue a bigger life.

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Southern Highlands crystallised this for me: Australia is big on people. At the workplace, team culture where everyone is a contributor and collaboration and new initiatives for improvements are encouraged, you wouldn't go far if you kept your head down. It's not boastful, it's using and offering your talents and time to problem solve.

Cafes support it's local talent when they hire their staff, when they put on a local artist for the playlist streaming in the background, when their chef is skilled with techniques and flavours to cook with ingredients that uses the season's produce (therein the artful mastery like a pianist who is so skilled with their scales, that they can compose any piece thereafter). This reminds me of the skill to live everywhere and always (a continued inner work and teaching). There's effort put into doing the work, marketing the work for advocacy, and support from the community.

Services are charged 13% extra on public holidays - I finally understood and am appreciating how the country instills laws for it's people.

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This learning experience may never truly end, but I must remain gentle to myself and spirit as I hold on to faithfulness and continue declaring Truth when fainthearted. The light is winning "Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it [loving others]. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining" 1 John 2:8.

So I take heart. Love is an action, all I have to do is trust that patience, kindness and goodness will flow from springs within - for I am not a reservoir, You are an ocean.

Yes, I am changed, and changing still. This transformation will never truly end.

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Today I prayed myself into the dream.

It's not blasphemous to say I am made for more.

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I am my own person. I know what I am capable of.

Recently, I applied for a new job and allowed myself to pursue a male-dominant career as a young female. Have you ever joined a workplace or were interested in a career path that was a certain gender dominant? If we are being honest, who hasn't? We live in a society that has these gender "norms" that influence our "what do I want to be when I grow up" mindset.

For example, men are typically influenced to be first responders. That is because as little boys, they grow up playing with action figures such as policemen, firefighters, military officers, etc. On the other hand, women are influenced to become vets, teachers, and nurses; having a lot with society believing women are just naturally nurturing

along with this societal view comes the mental insecurity that comes with it. The fear of losing yourself because society has this role of you and your gender is apparent. You are allowed to be yourself, and the world should never say no to that. Unfortunately, everyone judges, but at the end of the day, you are your biggest enemy. The way you treat yourself has a great deal on who you are on the inside.

Be the person you are on the inside. Follow your dreams and pursue your own career. Women are allowed to do a man's job. Men are allowed to do a woman's job. That is the best part of a workplace; diversity and encouragement are what bring us together.

If you ever feel as if you have no one and are stuck on what your next big step is, reflect on this new blog. Allow yourself to find the post that relates to you. Share your story on this page along the way and express yourself.

You are encouraged to be Y O U R S E L F

Every. Single. Step. On the way to your success.

Love,

SafeSpace4You Blogger