#I don't know if I'd suggest people use their free time to read this book but well it is certainly occupying me

[outeremissary]

Whale book homoeroticism is giving me brain damage. "We're married, which means we are friends :)" is. A lot to unpack with everything around it

[mad-hatter-memes]

Shirts That Go Hard

A collection of dialogue prompts from sentences printed on shirts as seen on the blog shirtsthatgohard. Feel free to adjust quotes as necessary.

TW: Swearing, suggestive references, death references, drug references, just a whole lot of mature references.

"You say...Lesbians eat WHAT!!?"

"I do not serve cunt, I am cunt's servant."

"Contrary to popular belief, I have a dad."

"When I die I might not go to heaven. I don't know if they let cowboys in."

"Do you guys ever think about dying?"

"Sorry I missed church, I was busy practicing witchcraft and becoming a lesbian."

"I went to the Garfield Fan-Con In Cleveland, Ohio and all I got was pregnant."

"I have a lot of thoughts about the 2006 Adam Sandler film "Click"."

"I make my mom sad with my choices every day."

"I gotta see the candy first, then I get in the van. I'm not stupid."

"Your shirt says "Cocaine and Caviar" but your face says "Fish Sticks and Fentanyl"."

"Sorry I shoved a Rice Krispie Treat in your DVD player..."

"My parents said I could be anything, so I became an asshole."

"After all that surgery you are still ugly, and that is what gets me."

"Calling me fat is not an insult. I'm sorry my mom bought groceries and not crack.

"Denny's is just Waffle House for people who don't know how to fight."

"The only thing I like more than reading books is fucking."

"I am going to punch you in the mouth! With my mouth...softly...because I like you."

"You constantly amaze me, but not in a good way."

"If she is your girlfriend, why is she playing with my mullet?"

"What have you done to deserve your legs?"

""What's Updog?" how about you shut the fuck "Updog"?"

"I feel like 2007 Britney..."

"Jesus loves you, but I don't. Go fuck yourself."

"I don't know what's wrong with me but I can name several prescription medications that haven't helped."

"Sorry for having great tits and correct opinions."

"Everything I want to do is illegal!"

"I haven't lost my virginity, because I never lose."

"I ain't afraid to love a man. I ain't afraid to shoot one either."

"I believe in you! I also believe in Bigfoot so don't get too excited."

"Jesus loves you. It's just the rest of us who think you're an asshole."

"I just took 12 gas station dick pills and now I'm on my way to Applebee's."

"You can go to hell, I'm going to Toyotathon."

"I wish Italians were real..."

"Not now, sweetie. Mommy's cyberbullying the mayor."

"Baby girl you're so damn fine. Though, I'm trying to know if I can hit you with a pinecone.

"In this group is a Fox News viewer. Can't find them? That's because they live among us, be afraid..."

"You're not a "Bad Bitch", you're a bad person."

"If there's no Bingo in heaven, I'm NOT going."

"Toes are just thicker fingers."

"I'm gonna identify as a fucking problem."

"At least get me some coffee before you start in with your horseshit."

"You're twisted, perverted, and sick...I like that in a person!"

"I don't need life, I'm high on drugs!"

"Hating popular things doesn't make you an interesting person."

"Sorry princess, I only date women who might stab me."

"Kindly keep your bullshit to your fucking self."

"We're all trying to kill time, while time kills us."

"What the fuck is really going on?"

"If you heard anything bad about me, believe all that shit and leave me the fuck alone."

"Bigfoot is real and he tried to eat my ass."

"If you think I'm a bitch, you should meet my sister."

"Sweating sucks, I'd rather be embraced by the cold chill of autumn."

"Oh I don't drink, just drugs for me thanks!"

[rei-ismyname]

X-Men #8 - Raid on Graymalkin

I think I've come to terms with the fact that the target demographic for the line is quite a distance from my desires and expectations. I'm still grieving Krakoa and the kind of follow up we could have had but I've accepted it's not happening in any form. If anything, I'd call From The Ashes the anti-Krakoa. With that in mind, X-Men #8 was pretty damn good!

Uh oh.

The issue has an unknown timeskip from where #7 left off, but it's implied that it's a matter of days not weeks. As shown in solicits, Beast is in Graymalkin prison and the president of Terra Verde is there to hold him accountable for the genocide during Krakoa. What's made explicit is that Warden Ellis is going to sell him to them for a show trial and execution. Why a show trial? Hank McCoy did those things. Not this one, but is that common knowledge? Either way everyone's motivations are clear.

Especially Cyclops', as he is not happy about Hank getting snatched and declares they're breaking the prison. Psylocke tries to calm him down, suggesting he's not thinking clearly, but despite some justified anger I'd say he's clear-headed. It would have been wise to talk to Rogue (something they're capable of doing instantly) but it's a crossover. People don't communicate in those. The X-Men figure out exactly what happened very quickly and form a plan.

Warden Ellis hasn't had any page time in this book, so it's necessary to show how awful she is for folks who only read adjectiveless. We also get a better idea of how many inmates they have - at least 30 but likely more. Hank, Jubilee and Calico aren't delighted to find themselves in a prison drama mess hall, and find the time for some light inter-team rivalry. I had thought Jubilee was working with both teams but it seems she's picked a side. This Beast has never met Jubilee, but they make nice.

Ellis tells Calico she'll be free to go due to her family donating to the prison. She accepted her mutant status very suddenly during the last issue of Uncanny, but there's a reason she fled - they're the kind of people who donate to a gulag. Unless Ellis is lying here to break any solidarity she formed with this affidavit. Wouldn't surprise me. Calico isn't having it, chowing down on the gruel that is 'mutant food.' Saucier would be horrified by that but it's a nice character beat here.

Her tears definitely help sell it. Calico has had a very sheltered life up until she ended up here, escaped (I think,) lived in the woods for who knows how long, and now she's back here. Ellis orders her beaten but Hank steps up and absorbs the beating for her.

'Is that all you've got, screw?' is an excellent line and declaration of defiance. Fuck prisons and the people who run them. The guards beat the shit out of him though he doesn't try to defend himself at all. Ellis leaves to deal with a commotion and orders the guards to keep beating him. It's brutal and it shows Hank at his best.

Said commotion is the X-Men, who teleported the Marauder into the yard and trashed a lot of their ordinance as well as the main power. My purple prose makes it seem slower, but this happens early in the issue. One of my issues with this book so far has been one of pacing. There's been so many disparate threats and plot elements plus an entire issue dedicated to a Morrison/Quitely psychic rescue homage - but the pacing here is sharp and purposeful.

Magik's reinforcements are demons from Limbo and she explicitly asks what the murder parameters are. Scott insists on no killing. Appropriate character beats for them both and even a nice nod to their war-forged friendship. Rule of cool is absolutely in play, adding to the beats as opposed to standing in for them.

Here they are! I wonder what the deal is with Limbo right now. Maddie Pryor was in charge in recent Infinity Comics after Magik gave her the crown, but I can't pretend to be an expert on Limbo demon politics. It shows Cyclops' pragmatism as a commander, using all resources at his disposal, and the guards are delightfully terrified. Good.

Cutting to Ellis frames it as a contest of commanders, zooming out from the battle without losing either side's front line POV. With so many characters in play I think this kind of formalism is necessary and it works well here. That they're ideological opposites heightens the tension and drives the conflict forward. Nobody is backing down here.

I wonder how Juggernaut feels about his childhood home as a gulag he's about to break into. I hope that's touched on.

One of the big challenges with set piece battles is keeping track of where everyone is and what they're doing. If a character just appears at an objective there's no tension, whereas showing us where each combatant is and what they're attempting sets up the spoken plan guarantee so it can go wrong. We know where the pieces are so when something goes wrong the heroes have to improvise and pivot with the unexpected.

The X-Men have momentum and the advantage right now, but Ellis has further assets to deploy.

Gotta love the coordination of the psychic Discord allowing Temper and Psylocke to take advantage of vertical space so Cyclops can unleash an optic blast. It's sharp, kinetic action as well as a display of competence before the unexpected flips everything on its head.

Using Psylocke to get up to date intelligence on enemy tactics reinforces this while signalling that the turn is right around the corner. They don't want to fight mutants but they may have to. Ellis' trustees have been seeded all through Uncanny and it's horrifying to learn the extent of it. The X-Men know before we do, so our imagination briefly goes wild before we turn the page.

Blob AKA Fred Dukes has been wonderfully rehabilitated in the last five years, first in Age of X-Man and then as the dutiful, friendly barkeep of Krakoa's Green Lagoon. Seeing him like this sucks, but it's earned and should concern Scott who's been fighting him since he was a teenager. They don't want to hurt him though they do know how to neutralize him.

Then the action and adrenaline screeches to a halt as they come face to face with the Uncanny team. It's an effective cliffhanger to end on and the first explicit scene to say 'yes, this is a crossover.' It speaks well of the issue that Mackay waits until the last page to show that the Uncanny team are doing the same thing as the X-Men - a prison break.

I don't love that the tension between the teams has not been built aside from Logan (whose eyes are healed!) inexplicably hating on Scott. Rogue is effectively calling Scott out for standing by and poor communication, but both apply to her too. It's a cliffhanger within a crossover, so it's doubly unlikely they start fighting immediately, but I do wish we'd been given more reason for them to be at odds. Solicits suggest they don't come to blows until Uncanny #8, so hopefully they're able to cooperate in the short term. There's been a lot of editorialising about an ideological divide between the two, and a heated, dangerous situation is a good place for that to happen.

I've made no effort to hide my disappointment in this area, but the slick execution of this issue gives me some hope. Time will tell. I'll be frank and say that crossover events are often rife with needless conflict and mischaracterisation. However, so far so good, as Jed Mackay has had a great week of X-Men. He nailed Avengers #21 and X-Men #8 was a huge step up from the tenor of the run so far. The pacing is top notch, the characters are acting like themselves, and all the pieces are in place for some messy escalation. I've been harsh on his work so far, so it's only fair to give credit where it's due. X-Men #8 is a banger well worth reading.

[euniexenoblade]

Question about that post you reblogged with a bunch of poly terms: I'm poly and have known for many years with pretty healthy relationships and breakups overall. However, I don't know most of the terms used in the post, and it also mentioned "books you should read when getting into polyamory". Would you suggest that anyone who is polyam needs to be reading some relevant literature to, in a sense, "do it right"? If so, would you have any recommendations for someone who is having a hard time with heavier reading, for what would be a good starting point?

(also possible that I don't know most terms there because they're more western terms, but it did make me wonder if it's essential to know all those concepts if you're poly?)

P.S. thanks for all your poly posts they're bringing some much needed positivity!

I mean they probably are Western terms so yeah I'd imagine. I don't personally know of books to recommend, I learned my stuff by interacting with the polyamory community and dipping my toes in poly relationships for over 10 years. But, maybe @deepseametro has books to recommend since he mentioned it (also feel free to fix my definitions here).

But definitions in order

Meta: short for metamour. partner of a partner.

Compersion: Opposite of jealousy. Joy from your partner having wonderful experiences with their other partners. Kinda murky in explanation, but it's just having happiness that your partner is happy in other relationships more or less.

Kitchen Table Polyamory: Polycule that operates like a family, it even can include metamours who aren't dating each other. Named such cuz they can gather at the table for a meal.

Triad: Pretty on the nose. Three person polycule. Generally meant to refer to three people who date each other specifically but I've seen other weirder more specific definitions. I've only actually heard it used to describe what I said though.

Solo Poly: very simple concept but hard to put into words. A person who controls their own autonomy, doesn't ask for permission to date people from other partners.

Polysaturated: poly but not seeking new partners, not open to new relationships (generally because of the amount partners and lacking time to devote to new ones).

Parallel Polyamory: when a person's relationships are independent of each other, the partners don't really talk or interact.

Nesting Partner: Person you live with long term. ie. My husband is my nesting partner, we live together and that's the plan for the foreseeable future.

Hierarchy: Again, on the nose. Some partners have priority over others. ie. I'm going to be more devoted to my husband of 15 years than someone i just met and only started dating.

Again, a lot of this I just learned by talking to poly community, ol and irl. Lived experience and all that.

[bingbongsupremacy]

Knock knock Pt. 2 (Last Part)

Pairing: Ellie Williams x Reader

Warnings: Use of pet name 'baby' and nick names.

Summary: A simple request to turn the music down turns into a frustrating back and forth battle. Why does your neighbor have to be so damn attractive?

This fic does not mention anything about the way the readers' body is shaped, their weight, their height, etc. If I happened to miss something or accidentally described the readers' appearance anywhere, please let me know so I can fix it.

*Not Proof Read*

ABC List TLOU Master list

*****

" You fucking narc. " Venom drips off of Ellie's voice. Her eyebrows are drawn together, anger splayed across her face.

I hold onto the door handle tightly, staring at the girl on the porch. " I told you what would happen if you didn't shut your little party down. I'm not playing. Williams. " I try to keep my tone cool.

" I'm not either. This isn't over. " With that, Ellie storms away. She slams her front door, mumbling to herself in the process.

Serves her right.

------

" I'm going to kill Ellie Williams. " I huff, burying my head into my hands.

Loud, music vibrates off of the walls. Dina rolls her eyes. " You just keep making things worse by pranking her. She was pissed when you sent 50 pizzas over and she had to pay. No wonder she's throwing another party. "

" She'll easily make the $300 back. She sells fucking drugs, she makes more than I do. " I mutter.

" Maybe try talking to her again? I mean, if it's bugging you that much, it's always worth another shot. Just don't piss her off this time. " Abby suggests, her eyes not tearing away from the medical anatomy book in her hands.

" She's pissed off by everything I do. I literally asked to borrow a pencil once and she told me to fuck off. " I sigh. " But I guess it's worth a shot. Are you guys seriously not bothered by the constant noise? "

Dina shrugs. " Not really. I mean, we live on party row. Of course people are going to throw parties all night. "

I just want some peace. At least like an hour.

I push myself up from my spot on our couch. I'll just try asking nicer.

Once again, I find myself wandering through Ellie's house trying to find her. Eventually my eyes land on the brunette. Her head is tossed back from laughter, her blunt loosely hanging out of her fingers. She's manspreading on the couch, a guy snorting what I assume is coke next to her.

Her eyes eventually find mine as she scans the room. A small smirk makes its' way onto her face. She breathes in another puff from her blunt before releasing it in my direction.

God, even through the smoke she's hot.

" Look who's here guys, the cockblocker. " Ellie teases. " What can I do for you, babe? "

My stomach tumbles from the pet name. I can't tell if it's from nerves or from excitement.

I ignore the feeling, trying to focus on the reason I came over here.

" I wanted to see if we could work out a deal. " I stand a few feet away from the brunette, my eyes not leaving hers.

Ellie's eyes break contact as they scan me up and down. " A deal? " She leans forward, her full attention on me. " What kind of deal? " her eyebrow cocks up in curiosity.

" The kind where we both end up happy. You get to throw your parties and I get a full nights' sleep. "

Ellie stands up, taking a step closer to me. The faint scent of cologne and weed fills my nostrils. " Go on. "

" I'll pay you 100 bucks a week to shut the parties down at 10. Please. "

" No. " Ellie's voice is cool.

I furrow my eyebrows. " No? " I was really hoping she'd take the deal. I mean, who doesn't want free fucking money. The only thing she'd have to do is shut down the party. " What? Um, fine. I can probably do like 10 bucks more. But barely, I'd have to pick up a few more shifts. I- "

Ellie interrupts me. " I don't want your money, Y/N. "

" Then what do you want? " I ask, desperation in my tone. " I can't stay up like this anymore. I've-I've tried earplugs, white nose, everything. Fuck I- "

" I want you to go out with me. "

Ellie's words surprise me.

I search her face for any sign of a joke.

Her expression is serious. Her eyes stare into mine. A glinter of what I think might be worry or nervousness shining at me.

" What? "

Ellie repeats the words. " I want you to go out with me. I'll stop the parties if you go out with me. " She shrugs, pulling the blunt up to her slightly chapped lips.

My eyebrows furrow. " But why? "

Ellie rolls her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. " Because you clearly want to. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you check me out. Not that I have an issue, I think you're hot too. "

I feel heat burn against my cheeks. " I do not check you out. "

Ellie nods mockingly. " Sure you don't, babe. What I said still stands. If you go on a date with me, " She shrugs. " I'll stop the parties. "

" Completely? " I ask.

" Completely. " She confirms.

I'm silent for a minute. Ellie continues to look into my eyes, her confident exterior seeming to grow slightly less confident as the time goes on. She looks a little nervous. I've never seen her like this before.

" Fine. " I finally talk. " I'll go out with you. "

Relief flashes across Ellie's face. " Alright. " She grins. " Friday sound good? "

I nod. " Friday. "

Hopefully this is worth it.

Tag: @macaroni676

[growinguparo]

Hii! this is my first post here and i'm not sure about what to say, but i hope someone can help me. I'm really new to all of this, this world of aromanticism, it's like i found something that was missing. i just came to realize being aroace this year, so i'ts just a few months of knowing that i'm aromantic, but i'ts years of being aromantic and honestly, i couldn't say i'm not confused, but i really want some advice on how to.. accept myself. because, honestly, i reaally love romance movies and books, and i grew up thinking some day it would be me, but what if it isn't, what if it's not going to be me, like ever. how do i lead with that? how do accept the possibility to not fall in love like everybody else does, and meet someone to stay together for all life an get married. i know i don't want to get married, but this idea is internalized in my head, how to be happy without romance? without a partner to take care of me, to support me, to help me. maybe one day i'll wake up and realize that i've fallen in love and that i'm not going to be single forever and that i can be just like people expect me to be. but what if i don't? what if that day won't come and i'll be "Loveless". i really loved that book Loveless and i't just felt like maybe it wasn't that bad to be like this, i also watched Koisenu Futari and honestly, i never felt so part of something, like i've found the REAL happiness for me, not that one that people always talk about, saying that is the only happiness, to date, get married and have kids. i know most people feel fulfilled with this, but what if i don't? i'm not everybody else, i don't need to live based on people's expectations. if anyone reading this, feel something similar, please(if you like) share your experiences :) thank you for your attention

tbh my first impression here is that you've already figured out what i think is the most important part: the fact that what will (most likely) make you happy is different than what seems to make everyone else happy. and you being happy is the goal. you've figured out that you don't want that traditional romantic relationship, and that that's okay. that's awesome!

i also love that you were able to see yourself positively within Loveless and Koisenu Futari in a way that felt authentic to you. representation helps us imagine what our life could be like. if you can't see yourself in a traditional marriage, what can you see yourself doing? you could live a life like in Koisenu Futari. allow yourself to imagine a life you would be happy and authentic in. try to be free with it, not shooting down ideas because they're "unrealistic". (btw - this might be hard. there are nearly infinite varieties of romantic relationships that are spoonfed to us from birth. coming up with your own ideas is harder than being spoonfed, so don't get discouraged.)

if you haven't already i'd suggest reading about relationship anarchy. it's basically the idea that no one type of relationship is superior to another, and within your relationships you can do whatever you want forever, tailoring them to your needs and wants.

besides that, i think acceptance takes time. you're altering your view of yourself and your future and your place in the world. you've had your whole life to get used to one reality, one self-image, and now you're changing that. it takes time to get used to.

there are also some very real material concerns that come along with being aro. to name a few: navigating the world as a single person is harder legally and financially. western society is built on individualism and we are trained to only seek emotional support from a life partner, even though that is a blatantly unstable way of living even for allos. that can result in single people struggling to find continued support throughout their lives.

accepting being aro doesn't mean the hard parts go away, and ignoring them will not help. it's like accepting being gay - there are real material concerns that come along with being gay, but you can still love being yourself and love being gay. and you can fight to make the world a better place for people like you, if you want to.

followers, any advice?

[goodluckclove]

WRITERS - Read More Nonfiction! (With Recs)

Okay so before I start I'm making it very clear that I don't say this as some generalized statement about how All Online People Aren't Reading Right. I doubt that's true! But based on some of the threads and discourse I see on my corner on Writeblr, it definitely seems like a lot of you would greatly benefit from expanding the scope of what you read.

I think there's probably a big stigma against nonfiction for a lot of people - there was for me for the longest time. Maybe six years ago, though, I stumbled into the genre and found that it can actually be rad as shit. It's been an invaluable form of research from people who definitely know what they're talking about, as well as a way to open myself up to new ideas.

You have chronic writers block? It could potentially be because you're consuming exclusively one genre of media. If that's the case, this will definitely get the gears turning!

Below are a collection of my favorite nonfiction books from my own shelf. The funny thing I immediately learned about suggesting more than like three nonfiction books at a time is that it does paint a kind of intimate picture of who I am. Feel free to tell me if these recommendations surprise you based on who you view me to be.

Clove's Favorite Nonfiction Books!

The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth by Thomas Morris - a collection of historical medical cases back when someone would see a doctor for a gunshot wound and the doctor would treat it with a laxative. WILD stuff.

American Monsters by Linda S. Godfrey - US cryptids! Lots of first person accounts.

Cursed Objects by J. W. Ocker - Famous cursed shit. Quick read but very fun.

The Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Prector-Pinney - this was written by the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, a real organization. It tells you everything you need to know about clouds. Fascinating.

Gory Details by Erika Englehaupt - stories and studies of more morbid and "gross" aspects of science, like the guys who stung themselves with instincts to measure the pain or that beach that feet kept washing up on for a while. Cool interviews with science people.

Fuzz by Mary Roach - wild animals break the law a lot actually and we still as a species don't really know what to do about that.

Spook by Mary Roach - an account of Ghost Believing from all sides of the argument. There was a guy who measured dying bodies to see if he could see them get lighter as their soul escaped.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimberly - an indigenous-influenced look at our relationship as a species to nature around us. Really beautiful prose from someone who I believe is primarily a botanist and activist?

All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell - stories and analysis from different aspects of the death industry! Embalmers to crime scene cleaners! Super interesting!

American Afterlives by Shannon Lee Dawdy - I have. A lot of death culture books. A lot. This one talks about all the neat things people in America do with their bodies after they die in the modern age. It's fun!

Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom - so this IS a book on the history of Anthropodermic bibliopegy, or books bound in human skin. I'm actually midway through this now and it's super fascinating and cool. Also my wife refuses to talk to me about this so I'd love someone else to talk to.

The Secret Lives of Color by Cassia St. Clair - I read like four books on color theory and pigment for a novel I wrote a few years ago and this was my favorite. It's a look into a ton of major hues and pigments throughout history as well as a peek into the timeline of color making. Did you know making green fabrics used to be illegal?

Atlas Obscura - a fucking cool look into weird and unique spots across the globe. Every artist who works with places should have access to this. It's awesome.

Every Caitlin Doughty book they're all great. She's a modern mortician and founder of the Order of the Good Death. Just an incredible human being and a super engaging and informative writer.

If someone wants to reblog with their favorite nonfiction books and what they got from them, be my guest! Maybe someone could use a new read to get their next idea or refine what they're currently working on!

[hillbillyoracle]

Curiosity Box

So a few years ago, I helped tutor some homeschoolers in history and it forever launched me down the rabbit hole of homeschooling content. One thing I think a lot of homeschooling families do really well is making learning fun and communal and that is something applicable to any age.

I've been seeing video after video about people's Morning Baskets and it inspired me to make an adult version. The goal was to give my partner and I an alternative option for hanging out together without screens that was easy to pick up and put back down so it didn't feel like a whole thing. We don't have to use it - it's simply another option.

These were all from our bookshelves - though I do have a reader of Buddhist sutras for recitation coming as well as I wanted a spiritual component. What works well are readings that have sections. Everything here is either a collection of stand alone pieces or written with natural breaks in the prose.

You can select whatever you like, we just happen to have a lot of classics around but there's nothing superior about them or anything. I think poetry is always a solid addition though. Very easy to read one or two of.

More than a few of these came from discount books stores and other budget book options. But if you don't have any money at all, I'd suggest hitting up your local Little Free Library or simply putting in some library books that you don't pressure yourself to read all of.

I also included a Question Jar I made on our first Valentine's Day. It's just a jar with a bunch questions I printed off, cut out, and rolled up like fortunes in a cookie. We keep the old ones so we can use them again and see if our answers change. Basically free to make if you've got printer access. It's sparked so many good discussions over the years and I recommend it.

Currently, we're reading Kafka's Metamorphosis and we're surprised by how darkly funny it is. Much better than we remembered.

I'm considering adding some quick games we can play and some fidgets. I also thought having a feelings wheel and a check in prompt all lamenated up might be helpful since we both struggle with alexithymia.

Live alone? I still recommend this. I grab the Uncle John's Toilet Reader all the time solo. I used to use question prompts for getting to know myself when I lived solo. Throw your tarot cards or a journal in. It's still nice to have your screen alternatives all in one visible spot.

[sadiegirl2021]

Last day of @gwynrielweeksofficial!! Thank you for the excellent prompts and organising such a great event. It was such an amazing two weeks. So excited to read the fics I've missed and stare lovingly at all the new fan art!

So, since it's a free day, I thought I'd write a trope that I don't see much with Gwynriel - Accidental Pregnancy!

I've only written two chapters so far, and they're up on Ao3. (I don't know why, but I'm super nervous about sharing this one! Is the pregnancy trope controversial? It's a fun, fluffy, light-hearted journey! I promise.)

Unintended Consquences - Sneak Peak

It was the Valkyries' first Solstice at the River House, and Gwyn was impressed by the effort put into making it a magical spectacle. Of course, with it being the High Lady's birthday as well, nothing less was expected. Rhys fawned over Feyre, showering her with gifts and affection. Gwyn had never been celebrated like that on her birthday.

There was love, of course, but rarely gifts, so she didn't feel like she was missing out there. The priestesses didn't believe in them, opting for a life free from attachments to material possessions. That's why she never wore the necklace she received from 'a friend'. She felt no connection to it. The only items that held meaning for her were her friendship bracelet and a few books.

Affection, though. She missed that… a lot.

While growing up, receiving it from her mother, sister, and other priestesses was enough, but now there was a different desire, a strange new need— which had been growing for some time now.

She wanted someone excited to spend time with her and celebrate her. Someone to share her body and soul with. She was ready for it. And the countless smutty romances she read didn't help. She was wound up like a spring, eager for release. She needed to get out more, meet some males… maybe find love.

Nesta had suggested the pleasure halls, but alcohol and establishing boundaries didn't seem to mix. She needed a male who understood her need to be in control if they had sex, at least for the first time. She'd rather meet new people in sober environments, like a café or gallery. Maybe that would be her New Year's resolution: to put herself out there.

She nodded affirmatively to herself and knocked back the champagne she'd been cradling for too long. Once she emptied her glass, she went to grab another.

Half paying attention, her fingers brushed against the cool, rough ridges of a hand she knew well.

"Sorry, shadowsinger. After you," she said, retracting her hand from the same glass he was reaching for.

He didn't say anything, just picked it up and handed it to her before grabbing another one for himself. She nodded a thanks as he downed his and went for another.

"Bad night?" she quipped, observing as he effortlessly drank glass after glass of Rhysand’s finest champagne.

"About to be," he answered flatly before turning his attention toward the centre of the room where most of his family were situated, just finishing up the present portion of the evening.

Gwyn had received some thoughtful and practical gifts she would use: exotic spices from Emerie, romance books from Nesta and Cassian, and a reading faelight from Azriel, the same one he had given Nesta that Emerie and herself often tried to steal.

She didn’t have enough money herself to buy anything, so she had sung as a gift before dinner.

It seemed like something everyone enjoyed immensely, including Azriel's shadows, which danced around her during each tune. Feyre had cried, grabbing her for a tight hug when she finished. Rhysand had insisted it became a tradition and joked that Azriel would join her next year. She flushed slightly at the thought, remembering back to the previous Solstice when she’d asked him about his singing abilities. She thought it would be nice to have a duet partner for future events and made a mental note to tease him into submission for next year.

Someone clinked their glass lightly to grab everyone's attention.

"This will be quick. I promise," Elain said in her airy voice. "As you know, my mate has been very patient with me, allowing me the time to get to know him as my dearest friend before becoming my greatest love…"

Lucien grabbed her left hand, kissing the engagement ring he had placed there only a few weeks ago.

Elain turned to Lucien, gazing adoringly at him. "My love. Starting a new tradition, I actually got you a gift this year!"

A couple of people laughed, but she had no idea why that was funny.

Elain let go of his hand to reach for a small square slice of Feyre's birthday cake and stood before Lucien with her offering.

"My handsome mate, please accept this food as a token that I wish to accept our bond."

Lucien looked like he was going to cry, grabbing the sides of Elain's face to place a passionate kiss on her lips before stepping back to look at the cake in her hand.

"Right here?" he quipped, and another burst of laughter, especially from Cassian, rang through the room.

Gwyn guessed he had the mating frenzy on his mind.

Elain laughed. "Just eat the cake, Lucien!"

He chuckled and opened his mouth so she could feed him. All their family and friends cheered, offering the mates their congratulations… except for Azriel.

"What’s the matter, shadowsinger? Do you have an aversion to love?"

He snickered, taking a healthy sip of champagne before answering. "Just hard being surrounded by it."

She could certainly agree with that. Nesta and Cassian were not discreet with their affections, and Emerie and Mor were like horny teenagers since they started dating. Training was literally foreplay for the couples. And she wasn’t afraid to admit she was jealous.

Some of the other priestesses had started to date too, which irked her a little more. She was the first priestess to sign up for training, she was the first one to become a Valkyrie, and now others were going to surpass her in allowing males back into their world. That would end in the new year. Love, and sex, had to be waiting for her; she just had to go find it.

"At least we have each other to keep company," Gwyn quipped, raising her glass toward him. He chuckled, taking another sip. With centuries of tolerance under his belt, he was already multiple glasses ahead of her, while she felt a pleasant buzz after just one and a half.

He smirked in response. "Don't go falling in love, and you can stay my friend!"

"Friendship with conditions, how appealing!" Gwyn laughed, enjoying their banter as always. There was something about Azriel that brought out a playful side of her that few others ever saw.

"Seriously, Berdara. My shadows know a lot of secrets, including yours!" he teased, squinting at her with mock suspicion.

Gwyn feigned surprise. Of course, a spymaster would hoard secrets like treasure. "Enlighten me," she retorted with a grin.

"You're looking for ‘special’ someone," he whispered, leaning a little closer than usual, perhaps courtesy of the alcohol. Despite herself, she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. She wondered how they’d figured it out. Maybe they could read minds!

"Tell them they're busybodies!" she exclaimed, shooting a stern look at the shadows lurking from behind his wings.

They dispersed in a flurry of movement as he replied with a smirk, "They already know that."

She chuckled, the sound low and teasing. "So, what if I am! You can’t expect me to be alone forever. And I'll never meet anyone hiding in the library."

Azriel's dark eyes sparkled with mischief. "You met me."

A slow, suggestive grin curled her lips. "True. But I want to meet someone who I can… train in other areas with!"

His smirk deepened, a playful glint in his eyes. "I hear I'm a good teacher."

A rush of heat flooded her cheeks, and she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Are you propositioning me?"

His responding chuckle sent shivers down her spine. "Depends on your answer."

[literaticat]

Hello. I know an older person (a relative) who is a very good illustrator (as a hobby). They do have an email address but don't have a website (yet anyway). I'm encouraging them to draw maybe half a dozen or a dozen illustrations so I could submit them to some publishers on their behalf (those who are looking for or open to illustration submissions). Some of these sites mention having a website, others don't. Would the person have to be a professional illustrator or would this be okay? And would it be better for me to see if I can teach them to draw on an iPad or could I just scan on their handdrawn illustrations and email them for them? They're open to the idea but don't think they're good enough. I think they have a lot of natural raw talent, just wondering would publishers be open to illustrations from an older person who is very green to this and has no experience. What do you think? And could you give me/them any other advice? Thank you so much. Happy New Year!

I'd strongly suggest you not do this. I know you have the very best of intentions, and it's lovely that you're such a cheerleader for your relative. I'm sure they are very talented. BUT. Start by finding out what their goals really are. There are plenty of other ways for them to get their work out there. Maybe there are local art classes, where they can explore different mediums and just have fun and meet other artists and potential mentors. Art contests, or local magazines or journals that might publish work from local artists. If they really want to start a little cottage artwork business from home maybe they can create beautiful cards or prints that can be stocked at a local shop or something like that, and you can help them print them out and be their 'sales rep' if you like. Investigate these types of outlets for your relative's creativity, there's no need for their fun and pleasant hobby to become a difficult, demanding career, unless that is something they are TRULY passionate about.

(Not everything needs to be monetized. Normalize just doing things because you like them!)

Because yeah - - you can't really "dabble" in professional book illustration. Either you are a professional illustrator, which means publishers might hire you -- or you aren't, which means they definitely will not. Now, you can be a NEW professional illustrator, that's a thing, people aren't born as professionals -- so, again, if that's really something that your relative WANTS TO DO, truly wants it, OK -- but they are gonna have to do the legwork. You can't be submitting work on their behalf or holding their hand the whole time. Age is not a factor, but professional illustrator is a real job, not a fun-time hobby, and they do have to be willing and able to do the work themselves.

So if becoming a professional children's book illustrator is truly of interest to them, I'd suggest they start by:

-- Taking some picture book illustration classes, whether online or in-person -- specifically those, not just general "art" or whatever. The rules and goals of book illustration are just different from other kinds of art! This is not, strictly speaking, necessary, some artists are indeed entirely self-taught -- but it would probably be QUITE helpful to make them feel more confident (or alternatively, help them realize that this is not where their talent wants to take them!). COST VARIES.

-- They should also read a lot (A LOT) of modern children's books to see what the level of work is that they'd need to be doing, and different ways to tell a story through art. Because it's not just about having pretty images -- that's great, but they have to be able to *tell a story* through the pictures, also, otherwise they have just created random images, not a book. Start with the books that have been Caldecott medalist and honor winners for the past 5 years, they should all be available at your local library. FREE FROM LIBRARY.

-- I'd strongly recommend getting and studying a used or library copy of WRITING WITH PICTURES by Uri Shulevitz. While there is one section that is quite dated (because PB illus are typically delivered digitally now, and this book is from before the digital days) -- the majority of the book, about the actual craft of telling a story through pictures, is super-informative and brilliant. FREE FROM LIBRARY OR UNDER $10. USD

-- Consider joining the SCBWI; it does cost money to be a full member, but if they are serious, it may be worth it -- there are loads of resources online and in person, conferences, local meetups, workshops, etc, where they can connect with other creators and professionals to research and learn the ropes of children's book publishing; there's also a forum where they can ask questions, etc. $99. USD

-- Alternatively (or in addition), there are also kids-book oriented Facebook groups for this kind of thing that have seasoned pros answering newbie questions -- KIDLIT411 would be a smart one to join, if your relative is on Facebook. (Kidlit411 also has a website with resources!) FREE.

Once they have done all these things, they will need a professional-looking digital portfolio -- these can be physical works that are scanned in, or works created digitally (or a combo -- physical works that the artist tweaks layers in photoshop, etc). There are other posts here about what should be included in such a portfolio, look in the FAQ. This way they aren't just sending publishers random images all loosey-goosey, they'll be presenting themselves as somebody that might actually get hired. But I really wouldn't bother with this part until/unless they've done most or all of the previous suggestions.

[aritsukemo]

Welcome! 🤍

Blog's Theme Song - Falling Behind - Laufey

"Hi!!! I see you've wandered into my little corner so allow me to introduce myself while I pour you a cup of tea! I'm AriTsukemo, but most guests tend to refer to me as simply Ari! I like to write fics and read for fun!"

"I built this place with the intent of getting better at writing and brodening my anime horizen! That being said, I've already tackled quite a bit of animes! As for what my favorites are, I'd say.."

Demon Slayer | The Case Study of Vanitas | Toilet Bound Hanako Kun | Blue Lock | Yona of the Dawn | Alien Stage | Windbreaker | Tokyo Revengers | Link Click | Miscellaneous

"Hm? What about games? Well, I don't play much games that I'd typically want to write about, but since you asked.."

Genshin Impact | Omori | Danganronpa | Sally Face | Honkai Star Rail | Miscellaneous

"If you want to know about some of the other animes and games I may have watched/played, I don't mind sitting here and telling you about them! I can make myself comfortable and— Hm? You don't have the time right now? Oh.. Alright then.."

"You want to know about the rules of this place? Well, I don't really have anything big.. I'm not really one to be so..strict, y'know? My only rule, per se is.."

Please don't be rude to the other guests here! You can be impolite towards me all you want, but I will not tolerate such behavior towards anyone else!

"As for anything else you might want a heads up about.."

I love giving people nicknames and receiving them in turn. My favorite's to call people are "Dearest", "Love", "Sweetheart", and things like that! As for recieving..well, I don't really have any preference. Feel free to call me anything!

I'm currently taking requests! If you like my works or simply like what I write for and want to request something, you should first take a glance at my rules regarding requests!

I'm always looking for a friend to yap about fics and animes with! Though, do be warned that I am a bit awkward when it comes to new friendships so bear with me..

All blank blogs will be blocked without question!

I have an obsession with using emojis/emoticons so I apologize if that upsets you! 🤍

"Do I run any other places like this? Well, yeah!"

As some may already know, I have a Wattpad Account! If you like Genshin Impact, Demon Slayer, or Omori, I definitely suggest clicking the link and checking my books out! 👀✨

"You..want to know more about me? You- You serious? Uh- Uhm, there's nothing really interesting about me, but since you asked.."

After years of self-discussions, I've come to the realization that I pretty much have no preferences when it comes to love! I mean, there's so much to fear in this world, why would I choose to be scared of liking someone that may not fit society's norm, y'know?

I'm used to She/Her pronouns as I was born a female, but many tend to refer to me using They/Them pronouns online. I don't really care what you call me to be honest.

I've accumulated a plethora of favorite anime characters over the years, but I'd say my top favorites overall are Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro and Yuichiro Tokito, Shinobu Kocho, Ciel Phantomhive, Mitsuki Kiryu, Suo Hayato, and Chifuyu Matsuno!

My birthday is July 15th which, I'm pretty sure, makes me a Cancer. I don't know, I'm not really a big horoscopes person..

My music taste is the perfect embodiment of me; all over the place. From Hip-Hop to Pop to Indie, I don't really have a designated fav genre. Artist however.. Well, I'd say my all time favorite at the moment is Billie Eilish! While some runner ups would be Sabrina Carpenter, Alec Benjamin, Laufey, Chase Atlantic, and Melanie Martinez!

"Hm? You want to sit and chat after all? Hehe~! Fine by me! Let's— Ah, it seems you ran out of tea.. I'd have to boil some more for you.. Hm..how about you grab something to read from one of the sections I showed you earlier while I go and make some more tea? Alright, I'll be back in a little bit!"

Dividers were made by me, pictures used are from Pinterest, post formatting is inspired by @xxsabitoxx and @romaritimeharbor

[my-castles-crumbling]

Hi Cas,

So I just found out that you're a teacher and I have been struggling with school quite a lot lately so i could really use some advice.

Let me give u some background context, before COVID I used to be a straight A student, in like all subjects except maths ( i used to get Bs , which was kinda ok).

But during covid, I like stopped studying as hard as I used to which has a very bad effect on my academics now that I've returned to school.

My studying capacity has really reduced and i really really struggled to maintain a good GPA in these previous academic years. ( i passed my mind sem exam by 2%) And now I'm going to start a new academic session (bcoz the next 2 academic sessions r literally one of the most important years of my education) and I need to get my shit together, I did some self reflection and have realised that I waste a lot of time on my phone & laptop and even when I'm not using them i just waste a lot of time but just lying in bed and doing nothing.

I just finished a semester with a very stressful period of exams and have some free time on my hands (like 15 days ig), and I really want to use this time fruitfully.

So as a teacher, what do you suggest I do?

p.s- thank you so much for listening to all our problems and giving advice, you're like a guardian angel and i really appreciate what you're doing. ♥️♥️

Hi hon!

First, I think it's amazing that you're reflecting and wanting to do better, especially at your age. It's difficult to make those realizations, you know?

Also, I want you to know that you are absolutely not alone. SO many people are struggling after covid.

I think the biggest things to put in place, especially as school gets tougher (which is natural as you get older) are strong study habits, organization, and time management. You can't always control the difficulty of classes, but you CAN control how you deal with that.

So, over the next few weeks, I'd suggest taking some time to first, get yourself organized. If you don't already have one, come up with a system that works to keep all your books, notes, assignments, etc in order. And then STICK to it.

Next, practice some different ways of time management. Do you work better with lists or a planner? Alarms on your phone? Rewarding yourself after every twenty minutes of work with a Tumblr break, or just getting the whole assignment done at once? Reflect on how you manage your time best and make sure those systems are put in place before classes start. Then, STICK to them.

Last, reflect on your study habits. What's the best way for you to study? Do you prefer to read information? Rewrite it in notes? Say it aloud? Make flashcards? Some other way? If you're not sure, try each one. Knowing the best way to study for YOU will help you later when you have tests so you're not wasting time making flashcards if you really benefit more by reading.

Once you figure all this out, make sure to stick to it. Even when it sucks. Because if you do, you won't get as overwhelmed when things start to get tougher. I'll be honest with you, I literally started using a time management strategy I hadn't used since high school just the other day because I had so many things going on and it was SO helpful!

Remember, you've got this! I believe in you!

(Also I am naming you student anon in case you want to write again!)

[amanda-melly]

My Good Omens headcanon - some thoughts on the possible endings

1. Please don't make them human I really, really don't want to see them having their grand finale by becoming humans. That's the whole point. Heaven and hell are equally corrupt and need free thinking angels and demons.

And Aziraphale and Crowley love humanity but they don't love the idea of BEING human.

Aziraphale and Crowley like to be an angel and a demon who love each other and love earth and humanity and earthly pleasures and who just love to be an angel and a demon, with their immortal lives, getting to have lots of fun through the ages as humanity develops and changes and comes up with new things for them to enjoy. Both of them have showed us time and time again that they delight in being immortal and being able to make miracles and all that. And, like Crowley says, no dying! It's not on!

This exactly how I want them to end: Aziraphale as an angel, Crowley as a demon. And they get to live happily as an angel and a demon who love each other and earth and humanity etc.

I don't want Crowley to be an angel again and I DEFINITELY don't want them to become human. That would be a cliché and very out of character for both Aziraphale and Crowley, at least the way I see it. Their big character development arc should be that of acceptance of oneself and the other, so a change in their nature would undermine their character development.

2. Make the queer happy please

The way I see it, in my headcanon, by the end of the story Aziraphale and Crowley are overtly a couple (and yes I want them to kiss and I want Aziraphale to take the initiative and I want them to ACTUALLY kiss in a very HAPPY kiss) (and I want it to be implied that they may have sex or that at least they sleep together - or Crowley sleeps while Aziraphale reads right beside him - this image is a fan favorite for a reason). (I know this is a big debate especially for ace visibility but I have also seen people saying that Anathema and Newt got to be a couple almost instantly and that the main couple of the series possibly never got the same treatment because they're a queer couple and I just keep on asking myself how the series could have been very different if aziracrow were played as a straight cis couple) (yes I know that angels and demons are never cisgender but I meant the way the public perceives it) (anyway I'd love to see a nicely handled scene between Aziraphale and Crowley of them experimenting with their sexuality and getting to discover if they are ace or not without moralisms in a healthy scene).

3. I'd like to see in the end the entire system being put into question and blurring the edges of the "sides". The freethinking angels and demons could end up in an alternative corporate/governmental system based on different values - perhaps independent agents, perhaps a democracy?... Maybe Gabriel and Beelzebub would come back for this. Or not. I don't know. I love Jon hamm's portrayal of Gabriel. It's priceless. Please let Jon hamm be in season 3 somehow: flashbacks or whatever.

4. There should DEFINITELY be a suggestion box in the end.

5. The cottage would be cute as long as Aziraphale keeps the bookshop as well. They can have a lovely getaway cottage to spend some time here and there. But, as Crowley says, Aziraphale can't leave the bookshop.

6. I'm still wondering about the whole "book of life" thing. It needs to be important in s3. It can't just be a threat to move the plot of s2 forwards. It needs to make a difference in s3 (or at the very least to be the narrative ticking bomb in s3). If it's already been used, maybe someone important has been erased in the past. Maybe the book of life will be used against someone in s3 and it will create a new timeline and the characters will find out and try to reverse things. But I really don't like this kind of plot device - if the book of life has already been used by an antagonist in season 2 and we don't know it yet, it would imply that everything we have seen so far doesn't have value, because it was manipulated by a mastermind evil puppeteer.

[innerchorus]

Gurgin for the ask game, pick and choose whatever numbers you want! It's a free-for-all! :D

I probably am gonna ask you about Shapur, Isfan, and Kubard later too because of course I am

I said I wanted to answer every question for him and I wasn't lying. Thank you for enabling me! (Ask game post is here, for anyone else who wants to send something in / reblog it themselves. I have a few others to answer already which I'll get too asap now this post is done, but feel free to send in more!).

My first impression of them

Just one of a handful of evil masked guys. Best mask design by a long way, though.

2. When I think I truly started to like them (or dislike them, if you've sent me a character I don't like)

I first got curious about him when I read about his backstory and found out about his shared past with Farangis. Honestly I'm not quite sure how I got to the point where I love him as fiercely as I do now, but I know I started shipping him with Zandeh after seeing art by @strangeshipper and it built from there. I don't know. I just find him really interesting.

3. A song that reminds me of them

I know I've mentioned You Are The Blood by Sufjan Stevens before, but also Don't Worry, We'll Be Watching You by Gotye (POV: you are being recruited by Team Zahhak).

4. How many people I ship them with

Always with Zandeh. OTP status for sure. I have considered other stuff (such as the Zandeh/Gurgin/Parizad OT3) though. And Hilmes/Gurgin in Mage Hunt AU. And if anyone wants to suggest other ships for him, I'm listening.

5. My favorite ship of them

Zandeh/Gurgin, obvious answer is obvious.

6. My least favorite ship of them

I don't know whether anyone actually ships it but Gurgin/the Master.

I won't lie, it's crossed my mind, but my headcanon is primarily that although the Master was once interested in stuff like that he's been alive for so long that he doesn't really have those sorts of urges any more (overlaps a bit with my thoughts on how the type of magic that Team Zahhak use might affect sexual desire, I don't think I've directly mentioned that before but the basic concept is that it can warp it from its baseline just as it warps their bodies, and results vary from person to person, but it's quite common for it to be either dulled or switched off completely and kind of goes hand in hand with the headcanon that their magic renders them sterile).

Gurgin in Sacrifice AU falls into that category, he doesn't completely lack interest but his focus is dominated by his work for Team Zahhak and by the time the AU picks up his story afterwards he's also underweight and depressed so his sex drive is basically 0. And then he meets Zandeh, and gets better, and realises what it's like to want someone so badly you can't think of anything else, lmao

(My headcanons for Gurgin vary a bit in this respect depending on the AU, though. There's probably an AU out there where his desire never returns or he never had any in the first place but even in that case I still see him and Zandeh as life partners and feel they'd work it out somehow.)

7. A quote of them that you remember

What he says when he's rallying his comrades at the end of Book 7 after their Master is (temporarily...) killed: "Let those who do not respect the Snake King Zahhak boast of their victory! Three years, just three years is enough. At that time, they will fall from the peak of joy to the bottom of the valley of despair. The higher they climb, the further they fall!"

It's primarily the last line that sticks in my mind. If I ever make the Gurgin playlist that I daydream about so often, I'd definitely title it 'The Further They Fall'. Anyway, that's actually the last line of dialogue from the final scene of Book 7 (the last book before the timeskip). A very ominous way for it to end, right?

8. Your favorite outfit of them

He has One Outfit. (He would've worn something different when he was a trainee priest, but there's no description of it. A manga flashback to that time feels much less likely now, but you never know, maybe Arakawa will decide to reveal a little of Farangis's backstory before the end… my one hope…)

9. Your least favorite outfit of them

One Outfit, and I love it so no complaints. But I wish Arakawa had planned to adapt the second half so I could see him getting drenched by the rain in Soleimaniye.

10. Describe the character in one sentence

My blorbo who did lots of things wrong.

11. What’s the first thing you think about when thinking about the character?

Huh, this question made me realise that in the mental picture of Gurgin that first pops up when I think of him, he's not wearing his mask. His hood is up, though, and he's in Team Zahhak black. Maybe it's because I've been thinking about the Magical Healing AU more recently, where his appearance is often like this.

12. Sexuality hc!

He doesn't waste much time thinking about it, but he's mainly into men. However, I do headcanon that he had a crush on Farangis when he was young.

13. Your favorite friendship they have

This question makes me sad because I don't see him as someone who's ever had many friends. I don't think his peers at the temple liked him that much (though honestly I think he probably felt quite indifferent about this). There were a handful of other trainees he spent time with, but his closest friends were probably his brother and Farangis. There's certainly no real evidence of friendship between any of the Team Zahhak disciples.

He deserves more than having one-sided conversations with winged apes! Was that mainly for exposition purposes in canon? Perhaps, but it's also a result of a lack of human contact — the novel makes it clear that the mages feel loneliness as their numbers dwindle, and at that point Gurgin is operating alone and hasn't heard from his remaining comrades for a while.

(He absolutely does talk to Hamkar from time to time in Sacrifice AU before Zandeh arrives on the scene, too.)

14. Best storyline they had

Is there anything about his canon trajectory that I really wanna label 'best' lmao? I mean, I wish things had turned out different for him but I do find his loss of faith / corruption arc interesting. Though that's because I also love to think about a future for him where that all gets reversed.

15. Worst storyline they had

His involvement with what went down in Oxus, probably. Oof.

16. A childhood headcanon

You know, I haven't spent much time thinking about what his childhood was like (aside from Mage Hunt AU specifics that differ from whatever a general /baseline headcanon would be). I guess the only thing I feel certain of is that he and his brother had no other siblings, and whatever region they grew up in didn't have much to offer in terms of creating a better life for themselves, and that's why they ended up at the Temple of Mithra in Khuzestan. (Tentative headcanon is that he grew up in / near the Nimruz mountains.)

Aghriras entered the priesthood because of ambition, and that reasoning makes sense for Gurgin, too (they're azat, freeborn commoners aka the lowest social class above slaves, and if they want to climb above the few opportunities that affords to them then it's either joining the priesthood or proving their merit on the battlefield) but I do think that to a certain extent Gurgin followed his brother.

lmao I can feel a backstory headcanon forming even as I type this.. like, what if their father died or left them when they were young (Gurgin probably doesn't remember him much) and they were raised by their mother, who wanted them to have a better life than she had? She wouldn't have wanted them to face the horrors of war, so she encouraged them to work hard on their education so that they could find their place in the priesthood. Perhaps she, too, had passed away by the time they left for the temple, so at that point they only had each other. I feel like Gurgin didn't have any close family after his brother died.

Oh no Gurgin, are you desperate for recognition from your Master because you never had a father figure? Fuck.

17. What do you think their first word was?

Eh, probably some variation of 'brother' or 'mother' (with the headcanon above). I feel like most first words are… not that interesting.

18. How do you think they were as a kid? (Like, were they shy, noisy, wild, etc)

Curious and intelligent! Asked a lot of questions. Easily frustrated when things didn't go his way. I imagine at school he had trouble making friends as he both sought approval from his teachers and thought himself superior to others who were not as clever as him, plus he could be impatient with others. (He was, in general, a bit better about all of this at the time he joined the priesthood, but when he's with Team Zahhak all those negative traits are brought to the fore.)

19. The most random ship you've seen people have with them

Well, I'm not sure this really counts but sometimes I'll ask my boyfriend really weird ArSen questions out of the blue, and recently I asked him "give me a Gurgin ship" and usually when it's something like that he'll try and pick something at random that he thinks I won't like… He said Gurgin/Farangis.

(No, he didn't remember that they knew each other. And I can't think of a way this would work but it sure gave me a whirlwind of feelings to think about. The thought of something happening between them because of shared grief, years after they last saw each other? It's so angsty and messy. If something did happen I think Gurgin would feel immensely guilty for it, but I'm not sure about Farangis. I feel like she might be able to compartmentalise it as something that happened that shouldn't have done, and move on. She'd handle it better than Gurgin, at any rate.)

Wait, my Hilmes/Gurgin ship is pretty random I suppose? Think of that as an alternate answer. Zandeh/Gurgin probably qualifies too given that they don't ever meet in canon, but I can't see it that way now, not after spending so much time thinking about them together.

I've also had very vague thoughts of yeeting Gurgin back into the past, but would I ship him with anyone in that circumstance? Eh, not sure.

20. A weird headcanon

I'm sure I have many! The 'he likes hot baths' headcanon is a pretty random one that came from 1. reading that the real Mount Damavand has some pretty nice hot springs near it (which in ArSen verse are probably disgusting bubbling sulphurous poison mud pits but whatever), and 2. the fact that he probably had a bad time during the flooding of the Dark Temple and it amuses me to imagine him enjoying water in a different context? I just want to let him relax from time to time? He works hard, he deserves it.

I want to write a bath scene for him in Interlude (Magical Healing AU). Or I keep thinking about a comedy scene of him at one of Ecbatana's bath houses with a gaggle of bird-faced beasts for company, because it amuses me.

Here's another headcanon: he's pretty bad at archery. It was taught at the temple, but it didn't interest him much and he wasn't that motivated to work on his skills, even though Farangis tried to instruct him. As far as weapons go, later on he uses a Team Zahhak-typical knife, which he wears strapped to a thigh like Farangis. (He still has it in Sacrifice AU! Chekhov's Snake Knife lmao.)

21. When do you think they were at their happiest?

When he was at the temple with Farangis and his brother, before things went wrong. Other than that, he was pretty fucking ecstatic in Book 16 when the Master said that he would be his successor (disregarding the fact that it's because there is literally nobody else left at that point lmao). I'm not sure I believe the Master was ever planning on stepping aside, but whatever.

22. When do you think they were at their lowest?

After his brother's death.

23. Future headcanon

The whole of Sacrifice AU, I guess. Just anything where he makes it out of Team Zahhak and tries to lead a different life.

24. What do you think is a secret they have that they never told anyone?

I love this question. I wouldn't necessarily know the answer for every character but I do have a headcanon for this for Gurgin, and that is that no matter how vehemently he protested his brother's innocence, a small part of him wondered whether Aghriras really had done it. I don't think he'd ever admit that to anyone (except perhaps to Zandeh in Mage Hunt AU, where Gurgin's backstory adjustment gives him very good reason to hope that Aghriras had killed that particular person). The fact that Aghriras's innocence was later proven only makes it much worse.

25. When do you think they acted the most ooc

I don't think any of his canon scenes are OOC? Is that what this question is asking? I may not like what he does, but none of it feels unbelievable.

26. When do you think they were being "themselves" the most?

Maybe I'm picking this just because it's before he went down a dark path, but I think the conversations he used to have with his brother back when they were at the temple are pretty typical of his true self. The little flashback conversation we get in particular gives the impression of someone who's curious about stuff he maybe shouldn't be, and is attracted to power, but it also shows that he was willing to listen to his brother's guidance. I don't think he'd have ended up with Team Zahhak if his brother had lived.

Otherwise, his Book 16 decisions that get him killed are unfortunately also peak Gurgin, at least in his Team Zahhak era.

27. If they could meet a character from another show/movie/etc, who would be the most fun for them to meet?

Either (or both) of the Devil Forgemasters from Castlevania, 100%.

28. The most unnecessary thing they ever did?

Killing the dog at the temple. Or lashing out and cutting off the hind legs of a winged ape (a creature that is on his side, and under his command!) when his plans started to go wrong in Book 13.

29. How do you think they would be as a parent? (and if they are a parent, how do you think they would be if they weren't?)

Honestly, not great but not as bad as he might think. But it's not something he wants. Thoughts of having a family aren't really on his mind (except for AU instances where he's worried it's something Zandeh might want that he won't be able to provide).

30. The funniest scene they had?

Okay, Gurgin's not actually present in this scene but it's hilarious to me so I'm choosing it: after the winged ape attack on Soleimaniye in Book 13 was thwarted, Kubard and Narsus are discussing what happened. They don't know that Gurgin was the one in charge, but Narsus's opinion is that it couldn't have been Ilterish (the usual commander of the demon army) because Ilterish would've done a better job, lmao. Sorry Gurgin but your inexperience is showing.

Anyway, that's the end of the questions! Not sure how many people are interested enough in Gurgin to make it this far, but like... if anyone does want to talk about Gurgin with me... my inbox is always open...

[ifuckingloveryoshu]

Bleh. Not really tagging I need to un-blorbify Ryoshu in my head but also, I want to be selfish and keep thinking self shipping thoughts. What a hassle. I already tell people that I write her or characterize her too nice. That is my bias, (not that I am writing anything at all even, its all just imaginary again) and what have you. The rest of this post is more about my thoughts on what I've read about the book Violence: A Writers Guide by Roy Miler, and vaugly rambling.

I have a pdf of the book, Violence: A Writers Guide. I still haven't set the time off to read it because I am infamous for managing time and acting on impulse. Anyways.

I feel when people do dislike Ryoshu or just see her as only sadistic murderer, they are here. I guess. Contrary to the name, I can understand why people not like Ryoshu. Honestly, as long as she continues to be written well, I will keep loving her even if her views don't align with mine. I'm prepared for if Ryoshu turns out to be the greatest artist of all the lands but ends up not the greatest mother. Hard to vocalize but you can dearly love your child so, so much, but activly be hurting them. I never want that to be forgotten because LOVE itself is a double edged sword. Never the end all be all. To open youself up to others and to live loved and loving means opening yourself up to getting hurt or hurting them. Someone else who has more life experience then I do, more experince with living, and one who is more sure of themselves could explain it better. I am not in the right place. Oh, but it is still varying from person to person, as lot of things dealing with humans tend to do.

Its too late to be typing so much but, from what section of this i've read are the levels of agression as followed: Nice, Manipulative, Assertive, Agressive, Assaultive, and Murderous. Nice are pacifist who don't use any agression. Manipulative takes advantage of nice people by passivly getting their way (maybe think blackmail or just good 'ol manipulation.) Assertive will set bounderies and use soft power to inforce those boundaries, Agressive will make threats of violence and yell out (think heavy verbal abuse.). Assultive will actually hit the aggressive person and feel justified about it. Murderous is just good ol murder.

Ryoshu is murderous but all the people on that bus have to be knocked down to the assultive level by default. They can't activly go around murder hoboing all the time. Outis is the only other sinner who I'd put in murderous because she can openly advocates like a professional. To quote the book, "A professional does not fight you, doesn’t even think about fighting you. He takes you out." And I think that fits Outis well if she weren't just stuck to Dante. Or I'm overestimating Outis' capabilities. Meursalt just doesn't apply to this scale at all. He is a special case that just does as hes told with little to no fuss. Hes not suggesting murder but he'll just do it if hes told. Even if hes not told, even before the bus, I still haven't read his book but come on. We kind of know the sun in the eyes thing.

Side Tangent: Hong Lu, Gregor and Yi Sang are in assertive. Hong Lu, im skeptical about because he is confusing. I have no idea what's going on in his brain, he has lived in an enviornment of high violence probably while being in a Nest which is strange. He just acts so care free, but there's something else there. We all know. Sinclair is just being forced gradually up there to assultive. Yi Sang has been persecuted but violence is not his first answer to things. Even if Gregor was in the Smoke War as a war veteran, his attitude does not strike me as assultive because he tries to talk things out, he was more of a PR boy, and what his bug arm does unvoulentarily is diffrent from what Gregor himself wants to do. Sinclair just keeps going from agrressive to assaultive, then to murderous with Kromer. He's developing and breaking out of his shell so he really isn't set.

I'm going to bed but

GMD: Not Limbus but uninvited guest in uhh Library Of Ruina

EBD: Virgilius and Don Quinnote scene. Virgillius just to any sinner. Maybe N Corp and Kromer and Sinclair to teach Sinclair a lesson. Uh. Erliking Heathcliff to Heathcliff roughly.

SSS: Anything sydicate related honestly.

Predatory Violence is just The City. It's just the way of the City, at least the areas outside the Nest.

There is a lot more intresting stuff in this book. Maybe when I decide to read more, ill just screw around I guess. uh. Thank for reading.

[megbits]

Hillbilly Rant (A Quick Book Review)

Goodreads is currently blocking new reviews of JD Vance's Hillbilly Elegy. Giving something a two-star rating is my typical catharsis after reading something truly terrible, and I needed that outlet badly enough that here I am back at Tumblr after a bit of a break.

I pulled the copy I read out of a Little Free Library around the time rumors of Vance as the Republican VP pick began circulating, thinking maybe I should finally read it, despite studiously avoiding it since its initial release.

But while I didn't expect to like HE, I'll admit I didn't anticipate it to be as awful as it really is. The last few decades have been the golden age of memoir and autofiction, and this somehow captured everyone's attention? I don't know that it makes me think poorly of Vance so much as it does every reader who found this revelatory or insightful.

I'd heard it called 'poverty porn,' interesting mostly for the shock value, but if what's in here is shocking then you've managed to keep up some willful ignorance about the lived reality of a good many people. And if you take his surface-level conclusions on any of it as thoughtful analysis, it suggests you also haven't been taking in much else on the topic.

But also: just go read some other memoirs, where the author does the work of self-characterization rather than the flimsy self-portrayal offered up here. And on the book as a way to know more about Vance: it seems clear that he has departed pretty far from where he was throughout most of HE, in which he is learning to see the lack of genuine meritocracy in our institutions while also critiquing possible cultural constraints to class mobility. At the end of the book he's in law school, developing beliefs about networking with other powerful people as the core to success in America. If this memoir is any guide to Vance in his current form, it's that, as he's gone on to endorse despotic philosophies espousing explicitly anti-democratic ideals, including arguments that the wealthiest should control corporations that brutally rule us all. Even if he was always a poor representative of hillbillies, he's clearly moved on from any alliance with the working class to advocating for the Peter Thiels of the world.