#I used to think this was the coolest shit ever in primary school

[goosemixtapes]

hi max! 4, 6, 9, 25 for the book asks ? i always love hearing you talk about books

4. Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

oooooh i have a lot of these because of clarion west. first and foremost sarah pinsker, whose work consistently blows my dick clean off and who is also, i would like to note, one of the kindest and chillest people on planet earth. (this is my favorite story of hers.) secondarily, usman t. malik! also one of the coolest guys to ever live. (fave story here.) and then obviously all of my clarion classmates but i'm trying to remember who has work out that i can link to. um. read haunted home by conrad loyer or i'll press the detonation button

also, does baldwin count if i already had him on my TBR? because i did, but holy shit, i need to read everything james baldwin has ever written, actually

OH AND RAVEN LEILANI. big fan of luster. i think i like her short fiction a liiiiittle less but god she has such a way with words

6. Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

Hangs My Head In Eternal Shame yes there always is </3 every year i make a specific TBR for that year and then i literally never follow it. stuff i meant to read this year but did not get around to: hell follows with us by andrew joseph white (i've had this book in my house for two years i literally just need to sit down with it), before we were trans by kit heyam, whipping girl by julia serano, and fanon's the wretched of the earth (which i didn't want to start during school because i wanted to focus properly, but then i had the busiest summer of all time and didn't get to it)

9. Did you get into any new genres?

i think i'm becoming more of a sci-fi enjoyer! (thank you to clarion west for this, too.) not that i didn't like sci-fi at all before, but i've always felt more comfortable with fantasy because hard scifi kind of just goes through my ears like water. but i read a lot of really great scifi short stories (see again: sarah pinsker) and i'm starting to read more novels in the genre! (favorite this year being the stars undying by emery robin, but i'm also working on the murderbot series)

25. What reading goals do you have for next year?

honestly the primary objective of next year is "survive until graduation" sdfnkdsfnkdsnfs. but i've been trying to read, every month, at least one book that a friend recommended and at least one book that's related somehow (research or inspiration) to something i'm writing. so we'll see how that goes :3

(ask game)

[hella1975]

What's your favorite cryptid/legend?

you ever get an ask that makes u gasp in excitement and if it was a physical object you'd be holding it very close to ur chest? that's me with this omg GET IN LOSER WE'RE GETTING INTO ONE OF HELLA'S OLDEST HYPERFIXATIONS

okay you should have seen this coming but unfortunately i can't just give you ONE so you can have a top 5 list. i've had to research this shit for as long as i've been writing fantasy aka YEARS so i am super super nerdy on this. like my niche knowledge of legends both globally and locally is..... extensive

1) very basic but DRAGONS - the fact that almost every single culture mentions some form of dragons despite never communicating it with each other is something that absolutely FASCINATES me. same hat with mermaids bc you can find them in almost every culture's mythology in some form or another but i just really fucking love dragons so they get to be on the list <3

2) the legends of king arthur - god i was about to say how OBSESSED i was with this when i was younger but spoiler alert i still can't get enough of it and bbc's merlin did NOTHING but exacerbate it. i went to cornwall this summer with my friends and a lot of arthurian legend stems from that area, the way i DRAGGED those girls on a tour lmfaooo. and i already knew all of it too

3) witches - ask me about their history. ask me about witchcraft through a feminist lense. ask me about witch trials all over the globe. i can give you names and death tolls. i can-

4) black dogs - i think these are also called hellhounds? but one of the first stories i ever wrote that was properly set out as an actual book featured black dogs and ever since i've thought they are the COOLEST thing. and people have used it as a metaphor for depression too and my mum really liked that idea so she tends to use it a lot and idk i just think they're neat

5) the hyrda - wayyyyy before i even got into percy jackson and became absolutely obsessed with mythology, specifically ancient greek mythology, my primary school had a book on myths and legends and i thought it was the COOLEST thing, and one page i really vividly remember is the page on hydras. to this day i still think the concept of them is fucking batshit and i shove them into every story i can shamelessly

[alovevigilante]

(This monologue can be performed with a normal breathing pattern, cause the message is important and should be emphasized accordingly.)

When I was younger I didn’t know from a gay person. I went to a small school, where that wasn’t mentioned. It wasn’t a part of the curriculum in schools in the 80s as it is now. So, when I heard the word, “gay” being used in society it had an entirely different definition from the meaning it takes on today. When I used to use the word “gay” when I was a kid in sentences back in the day to communicate, it was usually to say that something was “uncool”. But that’s grade school for ya. That’s why you’re there when you’re younger, to learn better.

But now at 46, out of school for many years, and after having witnessed, and after getting to know people who define themselves, and identify as “gay” I realize that they are some of the coolest people on this planet. And “gay”, in my new definition, is very very very very (meaning emphasis on very) cool. Cause gay is colorful, all colors, and vibrant. Gay is bright, and fierce. Gay is creative, and brave. And gay is a term to explain certain people’s authenticity; showing themselves to the world honestly, and not afraid to profess and show their love openly.

Being gay is not the issue. The issue is recognizing that all people, no matter who they choose to love, are of LOVE, AND Love is where it’s at! It, in this case, its the feeling of belonging, sharing joy, experiencing happiness. It’s world peace first starting from your internal, individual worldview, and then the world around you. But it starts by leaving the judgement at the door. Because the person that feels the judgement first, is you. And others feel it, if they choose to allow it to affect them. If you don’t like something, and it’s not for you, then don’t do it. We will all be happier by allowing everyone the opportunity to be themselves too, without condemnation, and dipping in others business which isn’t our own. Being responsible for how you feel if we want to stay happy, should be our primary goal. And that’s a big enough job without getting into other people’s lives.

I also forgot to mention, that if you’re at the point in this monologue where you’re not only judging the gays, but you’re judging me for loving and supporting the gays because we’re all human and made of love, please feel free to include yourself in that love. It will help to lift your spirits if you do. Cause when we judge others, we all feel the exclusion. And feeling excluded doesn’t feel good. So please don’t choose a life without love. Choose a more inclusive mindset. Ok? I’ll answer that. Yes it IS ok!

I’m not ok with judgements or hate, cause it hurts the whole of us as a human race. Cause we are all fundamentally the same. Take biology 101 for example. Like the late astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and science communicator, Carl Sagan used to say, “we are all made of star stuff.” But the point is, the SAME stuff! Water, skin, muscle, bone and organs… But listen, all science aside, we all have a fundamental need to feel loved, and to belong, no matter how much we fight it sometimes.

Internalizing love, and acting on that inspiration toward all people is needed to change the world in a positive way. And I’M DOWN wIth THAT!!!!!

(Please emphasize the word, “THAT”... say it fast in one syllable, and also, that’s why the “with” in the last sentence, is tiny...)

Let me repeat, I AM DOWN, MEANING in FULL SUPPORT of, the LOVE, and of the GAY NATION because gay people are a part of the whole of who we are as a human race! And no matter how hard one may try, no person is excluded from that. So make it a loving experience.

(Ok, back to a more neutral energy, and for me, that’s not saying much)

So, fellow humans, I’m now also coming out of the closet, to say, that I am extremely JEALOUS in a great way of the gays! (Including the lesbians, cause they’re also under that umbrella term) Because I think they’re AWESOME, and I support them 100%, and I strive to be as cool as they are!!!! Ok?!?! Yeah! It is!!!! So there!!!!! And also, because I love them dearly... 🙈🤷‍♀️💕☺️🥰

*For those of you who read all the way through to judge and rip on my writing, you clearly have missed the point entirely. I chose being gay as a group to use as an example in this case, but sub in any race, and creed, and gender or any group that has been discriminated against at one time or another throughout the history of humanity, and you can get the same result. (Although they are a part of the whole of humanity, hate groups are excluded in this case because, because A. They have excluded themselves with their fear-based, loveless choice of behavior by treating all people as the enemy, and also because some people refuse to sway from their hardened beliefs and B. I’m focusing solely on groups that embrace a loving energy, and don’t wish to harm others.) We are all human. We have all experienced things that have alienated us, and make us feel excluded, no matter how accepted we seem to be outwardly. And we miss out on a lot of wonderful people by excluding them due to our own judgements.

My point of all this writing? To unite people, in human emotions, by my deliberate choice of energy. My message is clear, if you choose to be open enough to glean it. But for those who aren’t, here’s the deal: yes, I am fully aware that my writing isn’t normal. The tactics I use, are unorthodox because it’s a way to get everyone reading on the same side. I’m over separation.

I experiment to try to figure out ways to eradicate the loveless energy. I guess I’m starting to realize that I can’t do it alone. So, some say “choose love”. “Love matters” “Inclusion matters” and it does. But unless we make a conscious effort to change the way we approach our societal norms i.e. comedy, music, entertainment in general, commercialism, big business, government, how we treat one another in our daily lives, and the treatment we accept from others and ourselves, nothing will. The sooner we can internalize that, the better. I guess that’s why I feel that starting with changing myself is the best way to it. You see, I mention all of those things, because they have the biggest platform to influence people. They also have the ability to persuade. If that isn’t utilized for a positive result for all people, we get what we essentially have now; an uneven exchange. And life isn’t fair? That shit, is old school mentality. Life can be anything we want it to be. And that’s the truth. We just have to decide to adjust it.

It’s not easy for me to fully accept myself for some reason. I’m having great difficulty sometimes maintaining a loving outlook. When I judge myself like this. I feel like there must be something fundamentally wrong with me. But there isn’t. We all feel this way from time to time. What I think about me, is what I need to focus on. Because what I feel about everything, comes from that very place. I act according to how I feel. Point blank. When I’m not consciously trying to think differently, cause I’ve been conditioned by myself to think in a fearful way, I also get just as wrapped up in the upset of the outside world as everyone else does, and I feel that life is insurmountable, and that nothing can change from how I’m seeing it at that moment in time. It takes a change in my thinking, my perception, the union of me now, not me from the past focusing on what was and how I didn’t enjoy the experience. It will take the union of me changing my mind about what I observe to make the change. I can’t hold onto the past hurts, and expect a positive change in result of my now or my future. All I can do, is redefine my past, and lose the loveless energy. That will be enough to keep me busy for quite some time.

That’s why I write. I write to cheer myself up. I write to amuse myself. I write to clear out the cobwebs of my past I have in my head, and try to accept where I am now. I write to move myself forward in a peaceful and loving existence. I write to feel better, period. Doesn’t always work. Sometimes I find that being a loving person isn’t the easiest choice, especially when you’re living in your head in past hurts. So, all of this experimentation i do with my own energy is a process that I’m willing to share with whom ever, whatever the consensus may be. My love for me and the love I have for all people is growing, and with it so is my recognition of the dissonance that is us as a human race. That is also being highlighted intensely.

I guess my point is, I understand fully that the change can’t come from just one person to affect the whole. Well, essentially it could, but it’s unlikely due to our vast majority of differences. But, if I change and affect the people in my life positively, that chain reaction could be like a pandemic of love, instead of disease. We can all affect one another, and be infected, by the love virus. Let’s choose to laugh together more often, let’s be together in love as we feel comfortable doing so, let’s stop all the things that aren’t loving to ourselves and others. Let’s decide both individually and together. Let’s choose to “be the change we want to see in the world.” (mahatma gandhi.) And let’s “be the ones to make it different.” (Me, Kari Keillor)

(Please sub the energy of pandemic and fear for the energy of love traveling the world and affecting it positively.)

“so it goes.” -Kurt Vonnegut.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #357

“your magic white rabbit has left its writing on the wall  /  we follow like alice, and just keep diving down the hole”

Are you better at telling stories or writing them? Writing, by a long shot. What’s one song you hate, but know every word to? i'm a barbie girl in a fckn barbie woooooorld What’s your favorite magazine? I don’t read magazines. If you could be an animal for one day, which animal would you choose? Probably a house cat. Be indoors and safe, able to just nap... lol. But I'd want another cat as a friend, too! Do you prefer outdoor or indoor concerts/events? Indoors, by a mile. I get hot outside way too easily. Do you know if you were a planned child? I don't know. What’s your favorite gem? Dragon's breath opal. As an adult, do you want to live in an apartment or a house? I'd like to live in a house, especially with the pets I want. I doubt many apartment complexes would allow multiple reptiles and inverts. Do you like the stem or leafy part of the broccoli? It doesn't matter much to me, but I prefer the stem. The texture is more likeable to me. Do bats frighten you? No, I adore bats! Does Paris appeal to you? Yeah, it's a pretty place. Are you a KPOP fan? No, I've never really checked it out. How long was your longest relationship? Over three and a half years. First time you kissed the last person you kissed? We were outside roasting marshmallows one night. Do you have to really know someone to kiss them? Absolutely. I don't dish 'em out for nothing. Were you anyone’s first kiss? No. If you had to be named after one of the 50 states of America, what state would you WANT to be named after? I actually think "Nevada" would be kinda pretty as a name? Do you think morals are universal or relative to the beliefs, traditions, or practices of individuals or groups? I've wondered this for a long while, really. I lean towards it being a mix, maybe? But more towards universal, I think... with some exceptions. This answer is all over the place, I honestly don't know. Is torture ever a good option? If no, why not? If yes, when? No? I think the "why not" is obvious... You just don't. What do you think is one one of the most undervalued professions right now? Teachers, garbagemen, retail and food workers... There's a lot. Have you ever seen anyone have a heart attack? Thank Christ no. Have you personalized your answering machine/voicemail? No. Have you ever had Fiji brand water? I actually don't believe I have, though it's always looked appealing to me, haha. What’s your favorite horror movie? The Crazies and the first Silent Hill, as well as both Blair Witch Projects. What was the worst thing a friend has either done or said to you? I'd rather not even think about things the bitch said to me. Are you biracial? No. When was the last time you got mad and broke something? I've never broken something when mad. What color dress did you wear to prom? My first was maroon, second one was black. Who is the cutest baby you know? My friend has a daughter named Scarlett who is absolutely gorgeous. Have you ever thrown a rock at a window? No, because I respect people's fucking property. Has anyone ever thrown a rock at your window? No. Does your hair react well to dye, or does it damage it? It likes to not take dye at all. >.> I have only had one instance where a friend dyed it red and it stuck for months and months, but we kept it in for a couple hours, I think. My normal hairdresser says it's because my hair is really healthy and I guess rejects it. What kind of pet do you wish you had? I ramble plenty about how I want tarantulas and more reptiles, haha. I also DESPERATELY want to rescue or foster an opossum. When was the last time you were diagnosed with something? Are you concerned about anything regarding your physical or mental health at the moment? I haven't been diagnosed with anything in quite some time, I believe, but as I'm going through the process of being approved for TMS therapy for my depression, my bipolar diagnosis is being questioned, which is... strange to me. It's been acknowledged by many a doctor that I have bipolar 2, but if insurance recognizes my primary diagnosis as bipolar, they won't cover TMS because it can massively excite the mania portion of bipolarity, and therefore I can't do it because we can't manually afford it. I'm willing to take the risk by far, as I've never had issues with mania, but I can't without insurance. I'm just waiting to hear back from them... What is one blanket judgment you tend to make about people (like, you judge all people who live at home, all people who drink, etc)? Does this judgment come from a particular personal experience? I really don't know. How do you react to other people yelling or slamming doors? Is this something you ever do too? I get very scared if it's a man. I don't like anyone doing it, and my anxiety will spike regardless, I'm just terrified of angry men. Have you ever lost your cool at work or somewhere else important? What happened as a result? No. Who has the power to break you? Jason still might. I don't know. Is anyone in your family blind? My sister is legally blind in one eye. Do you believe in evolution? Yeah. I do find the concept odd, that ALL LIFE originated from one thing, but I sure ain't got a better explanation, so. What job do you think people should be paid the most for? Surgeons, maybe? I dunno, that's a big question. Were you ever held back a year in school? Did you ever skip a grade? No. Have you ever been given a hickey? Have you given one? Yeah to both. What is your least favourite thing about your full name? I have the most basic white bitch middle name in the world, lol. Do you like the age you are? Eh, I don't mind it much, but I think it'd be better to be in my early 20s versus mid 20s. I'm just always so tired now. I can't believe I used to refuse to go to sleep before 10:30. What’s your favourite kind of poptart? The chocolate sundae one. If you had to eat one type (Chinese, etc.) of food which would it be? American bc I'm not very adventurous with food at all. When did your family immigrate to wherever you live now? *shrug* Are your fingers long, or short? Long. Mom's always said I have "piano fingers." Do you play Pokemon Go? If so, what level are you and who’s your buddy? Yeah, I love it, but don't play it nearly as much as I want because I don't exactly go anywhere, lol. My bud's Charmeleon, and I'm probably like five EXP from level 28. Do you ever sit indoors and wear sunglasses or a hat? I don't own either, so. Do you know how to read animals’ behavior? I honestly think I'm very good at it. Do you like playing video games? If so, what do you usually play? Yes, but not as much as I used to. All I really play nowadays is World of Warcraft. The only working console I have is a PS2, and I haven't bought a new game in probably a couple years, but there are definitely ones I want to play, mainly on PS4. Just can't afford it right now. Have you ever viewed the moon through a telescope? No. Do you know how to properly eat food with chopsticks? No. There's no way I could, given my tremors. Do you prefer reading books, comic books, manga/graphic novels, magazines, or the newspaper? Books. When is the last time you ate donuts? It's been months, man. I've seriously been craving a glazed one, though. Krispy Kreme sounds amaaaaaziiiiiing. Has anyone ever called you sexy? Somehow. Do you like raisins? NO NO NO NO NO. Have you ever overheard a conversation you weren’t supposed to? More than once. Do you like ants? They're genuinely extremely fascinating animals, but they're seriously annoying nevertheless. Did you like the movie Antz? I loved it as a kid. What was your favorite ice cream flavor when you were little? Chocolate. Is it still your favorite? Eh, depends on the day. By the way, what is your name? Brittany. What time zone do you live in? EST. Do you like cats? I love cats. What’s the most creepy experience you’ve ever had? One night when my mom and sister were at the beach for a dance competition, I was having trouble sleeping, and it only got worse when my dog Teddy started freaking the fuck out, barking loudly and staring intently at the foot of the bed. I was so scared that I tried to force his head to lie down, but he fought against me. I was terrified, but got up out of the bed and went into the living room to call my mom at like 3 in the damn morning, and she had to have our neighbor come over to sleep in the house with me (I was in a different room that night). You can't convince me that there wasn't paranormal shit going on. I think the house was haunted honestly, for multiple reasons. What’s the most boring game to exist? Why do you dislike it so much? Hm, I dunno. What’s the coolest place that you've ever been to? What’d you do there? Disney World was very memorable as a kid. We just went around collecting signatures, going on rides, all that fun stuff. I'll never forget fireworks at the castle. If you’re interested in having a long-term relationship with someone, do you think that waiting a certain amount of time before you first have sex is a good idea? Or does it not matter? I think it's a good idea, personally, mostly for the sake of reducing the spread of STDs. Just because you think you'll be long-term, doesn't mean you will be. Besides that, isn't there a science that sex and feelings of love are connected? Like, sex is impossible without at least some underlying emotions? I might be entirely wrong, in which case forgive me for spreading misinformation, but if that's so and things don't go as planned, you've gotten emotionally invested in someone too early and wind up getting hurt. You do you, I just don't think it's smart. Have you ever discovered something big by looking through someone’s phone, Facebook, email, etc.? No. Have you kept anything from your past relationships? (Things they left at your house, gifts, notes, etc) Do you think that’s a big deal for future relationships or not? Yeah, like plushies and little stuff like that. When it's tiny things like I just mentioned, I really don't think it matters. I think some things might be questionable to keep, but at the same time, I don't think it's really wrong to keep memories of a happy time, if the thing still brings you joy and has been emotionally disconnected from the ex? Idk. Do you have any financial regrets? Either way, what’s an example of a GOOD financial decision you’ve made? Going to and dropping out of college three fucking times. I don't know about a good financial decision seeing as I'm not even in charge of my own finances, nor really have any to begin with. Are you a believer in “signs” from the Universe about things in your life? If you are, can you think of a particular example? No. Name some things that one or both of your parents are really good at or really interested in. Mom LOVES medical stuff, like watching surgeries and stuff like that. She is also absolutely incredible with children. Dad likes sports a lot, hockey and football especially. Think of a good friend of the opposite sex (currently or in the past). Have you ever had any sort of “more than a friend” or sexual thoughts about them? If not, can you explain why? Well, we dated briefly, so... It was awkward to, but I let myself imagine sexual situations a few times to help myself understand if I really did like-like him, or if he was truly just a brother to me. Turns out, he's a bro. If someone told you that you would never achieve something and you ended up doing it, would you have any interest in finding that person and showing them? I'ma be honest, yes. I wouldn't actively seek them out, but rather just hope they somehow find out or I run into them or something. What is the most jealousy-induced thing you’ve ever done? Apparently, be the girl Juan liked instead of this girl that literally threatened to deck me. Guess what? We're friends now lmaoooo.

[probablyottrpgideas]

Tabletop Asks

In reference to the previous post: 1.) Game Master, Player or both? Why? 

I am currently lucky enough to be player in one game and DM in another (both 5e D&D), however ordinarily I am overwhelmingly the DM/GM. 

2.) When did you start role playing? How old were you? 

My first start with published tabletop adventures was actually quite late, in my second year of university when I was about 19, so 11 years ago now, with D&D 4e. However, I think my first freeform roleplaying experiences were with a mate of mine all the way back in primary school, where we had this quite extensive worldbuilding and characters. It was my first introduction to the idea that I wanted to be a writer.

3.) What was the first role playing book you ever owned? 

The 4e PHB, DMG and MM all at the same time. I had a job then, missed playing, decided “fuck it, I’ll start my own” and dived in.

4.) Describe the first game you ever ran or played in. 

A 4e Starters Box run on Keep on the Borderlands. I played a Dwarf Fighter out of the box, which I named Xzienne (which some of you know is my regular online handle). He was fun; in my oh-so-extra way, I kept my game notes as In-Character journal entries.

5.) Which system did you grow up with? 

D&D, all the way. Fourth edition and then Fifth, with a look at Third in between. But I’ve played about a dozen or two different systems all up.

6.) Which system do you play now? 

Predominantly 5e

7.) Longest campaign you’ve run or played in? 

My D&D “Empires Intelligence Services” campaign ran from 2016-2020.

8.) Where did you meet your current gaming group? 

I tend to throw my groups together from among various people I know from all over. My favourite group ever was the one formed entirely of cast members from our local theatre company production of Wicked.

9.) Strategic combat or dramatic plotlines? 

Does it need to be either/or? I feel like good drama gets you invested in the character’s outcomes, good combat (or puzzles or traps or whatever) gets you invested in the character’s actions. You want people to achieve their goals with emotional satisfaction but without just narrating to them; they need to feel involved in the process of making those goals come about. Challenges are not just there for the Power Gamers and the Slayers, they make the plotlines feel satisfying for everyone.

10.) Favorite RPG genre?

I love Science Fiction and I love Fantasy, and my own work so often smashes the two together. I write a lot of Contemporary/Urban Fantasy, and my D&D world is a magepunk magitech setting with spacefaring aircraft and so forth.

PLAYER CHARACTERS - Describe:

11.) Your first character. 

Xzienne the Dwarven Fighter, mentioned above. My first character I made though, on the other hand, not including NPCs, was much later. I think it was probably Tetsuo, my Shin-jin from a Dragonball RPG

12.) Your favorite character. 

Definitely Ortlinde. An Aasimar Witch who was the granddaughter of a Valkyrie, and was mad that the gods would be so callous as to bar her mother from Valhalla just because she wasn’t a warrior, and so tried to stage a coup against Asgard. Fuck she was cool.

13.) Your most ridiculous character. 

If not Ortlinde, then possibly Parian, my 13th Age Bard whose “One Unique Thing” (a 13th Age mechanic that I love) was that he could modify his spells on the fly by casting the verbal components as full poems, which I would write and perform in-session. I once got to add a Fear effect to a Thunderwave because I made it sound like the trumpets of judgement day, and I managed to cast Charm Person but with an allied player as the focus of the target’s charm by making the poem about their character.

14.) The best in-character line you’ve ever had. 

Not a lot of what other players have said have stuck with me, really. Possibly my favourite was Alice’s ranger in Castles and Crusades who said a whole lot of buckwild shit until my halfling begged her not to talk. 

Whereupon she shortly thereafter discovered a secret Dryad home inside a tree, and didn’t mention it to the party. When asked why?

“You told me not to talk.”

15.) Your most epic death. 

I haven’t died that often, to be honest. Probably the most memorable death was Parian, who got crushed in a moving wall trap and had to be scooped up in a bag and carried around as “bard soup” until a True Resurrection could be cast.

16.) Your most disappointing death. 

See above.

17.) Something that shouldn’t have worked, but did. 

Meliorn Metcalfe, Tiefling Spellbinder, orchestrating an ambush in a town square against the people who had been sending thugs to attack the party in their beds and stealing shit from the townsfolk. I set up traps (clay pots filled with caltrops and poison), used sunrods to blind the attackers while we had our backs to the light, and we greased the buildings around the area so that they couldn’t climb to safety. It went perfectly, even after they rocked up with a gargoyle.

18.) Something that went hilariously awry. 

Just recently I was playing in a Wildemount game which saw the party running Benny Hill style around an ancient lab from a Wight. In the process I got nearly killed by both flying knives and a very angry carpet.

19.) Your most memorable in-character moment. 

Ortlinde’s speech to Frigg, lambasting the Gods for their mistreatment of mortals. 

20.) The coolest item you ever got and how you came to possess it.

The Masque of Clavicus Vile, from the Elder Scrolls games, pulled from Niddhogr’s treasure hoard and buffing my Spell Save DC to 27 (including other stuff like class features for the Witch and another item which synergised with those). 

GAME MASTERS - Describe:

21.) Your favorite NPC and how the party reacted to him/her 

By far Celia Sapienza, Eladrin Kensai, who became the party Mum even though she was younger than a few of them. She’s now the head of the Empires Intelligence Services Northern Branch.

22.) A game you wish you could run or want to run someday. 

I’ve been eyeing off Dread, Skullduggery and Leverage for years, but I also recently got the Dishonoured game which looks sick as, and Blades in the Dark, and...

23.) Something you made up on the spot. 

So so much, but most recently I had a Marid sailor NPC who I had to improvise and entire story of his previous voyages. I did it in a Brian Blessed voice and the players, no shit, fucking applauded. 

24.) Your most successful game. 

The Wild Huntresses, finally figuring out who had killed the town alchemist and facing off against her and her pet Water Elemental in the caves beneath the hills. Such an epic game. God I miss that group.

25.) Your least successful game. 

Paranoia, but that’s just built into the premise.

26.) The craziest thing your players have ever done, and how it affected your plans. 

I had a player walk straight out the front doors of a castle under siege. I hit him with 2 dozen crossbow bolts. That guy was an asshole.

27.) Your favorite setting or game location. 

I massively love the idea of Eberron, and I love the MTG crossover settings like Ravnica and Theros. 

28.) Your creative process when you plan a game. 

Typically write about a page of notes for every 2-10 hours of gameplay, depending on the amount of combat expected. Things like important NPCs and what they want, where the party are expected to go in general terms and some ideas for things to throw at them when they inevitably wander off the path, that sort of thing. If it’s really plot important, though, I’ve been known to write pages and pages of lore and character info to hopefully seed into conversations. I also once wrote a full script that we did as a table read for a big conversation between a bunch of NPCs that the party were there to listen to but not be involved in. 

29.) The best / worst character concept you’ve ever heard. 

No character concept that fits within the rules is ever really bad, although sometimes the execution isn’t great. Some are very, very dumb, like say every character ever built or played by the asshole player I mentioned a few entries back.

30.) What makes GMing fun for you.

Players getting invested in the world and in each other’s stories. Nothing makes me feel better as a GM than being able to sit back while the players have a full in-character conversation with each other.

[squishytenya]

Hi you want thing in your ask so here’s some things: What boys have plushies in their room? (I imagine iida has all the ones his older bro gave him?) What if like they have patronus’ like who would have what? Do you have personal headcannon’s? For me I think deku and sandy blonde hair guy would probably get the same presents from their moms and sandy dude would be like “mines better” and deku would cry. I’m still new to the anime but if this a lot and stuff sorry I just wantedtomakesomeone’sday-

THIS LITERALLY MADE MY DAY YOURE THE BEST

Iida has a baby blue teddy bear that Tensei saved up all his pocket money to buy him when he was little. Kirishima has a plush shark that you can stick your hands in to keep warm! And Midoriya just has a bunch of stuffed hero merch let's be real (katsuki has a brown teddy that his mum gave him when he was younger but he refuses to admit he still has it)

I think Jirou would have a cat or a tiger patronus and Momo would have a swan or a stalk, Denki would be a freaking hamster or some shit and he would think it's the coolest thing ever

Deku and Bakugou (sandy blonde guy) would totally be making things for mothers day in primary school (elementary) and it would be something so dumb like pop up cards or cupcakes but as soon as he saw Izuku's he would say some mean shit like 'wow mine is so much better, guess I'm a better son' and this would cause him to lowkey have a meltdown rip deku

Some personal headcanons would be that Iida is autistic (because I am and I like projecting) and that Ojiro starts purring like a cat if you scratch the fur on the end of his tail which is so random. Plus! Sero gets a skin condition like eczema and chronic pain when he uses his tape a lot (also projecting)

[kit-prescott]

Lo here.  this is my boy atticus “kit” prescott and we loves him.  

•(more about the boy below)•

CISMALE — ever hear people say ATTICUS PRESCOTT looks a lot like BRENDON URIE? I think HE is about 28 so it doesn’t really work. The MUSICAL THEATRE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR has lived in Livingstone for TWENTY-THREE years. They can be +CREATIVE, but they can also be -DISORGANIZED. I think THE ENIGMA might be N/A. ( Lo.24.est.she/her. )

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

○ Kit was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a college football coach father and a small business owner mother. has a thick af Boston accent.

○ his mother is italian and jewish and his father is irish. needless to say, he is one of many siblings and part of an even bigger family.

○ hates being called by his full name. the only people who call him atticus are teachers, his parents, and his siblings when they want to screw with him. otherwise, unless he gives carte blanche, he will only answer to kit. His full name, Atticus, is a reference to Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mocking Bird.. His grandfather loved that book growing up and as a tribute to him, his mother decided on that name.

○ was definition of a “class clown”. he was always the one goofing off or making snarky comments in class. most of his high school life was surviving bullies by making them laugh and spending afternoons in detention for pointing out that the mole on his math teacher’s balding head looked like pangea. also, the most common thing he hears is “sit down and shut the fuck up, albright.” now, he’s still the class clown but he’s running the class.

○  if you can get past the constant puns and he incessant picking on, kit is the most trustworthy and loyal person you’ll ever meet. if you’re his friend, it’s likely you’re a friend for life.

○ His parents split up shortly after Harper was born. His mother had primary custody, with help from his maternal grandparents. His father was in and out of the picture, since he was always out touring. However, his father would sometimes take him out on tour for a few weeks in the summer. Kit thought that was the fucking coolest thing ever. There was nothing better growing up then being around “rockstars.” Both of his parents have since remarried and he has gained a plethora of step and half siblings. Either house he goes to, there’s siblings to deal with. 

○ Kit’s father has since become an actual musician. Somewhat of a famous one. Kit isn’t so used to the fame life and likes having his mom’s house to escape to when the nights of paparazzi and parties becomes too much. People noticing him in his everyday life will make him blush insanely. And that’s no good for his “pretentious theatre boy” essence. 

○  Speaking of theatre, Kit’s life is dedicated to the stage. When he was younger, his mother put him in theatre as a way to combat his severe shyness and his lack of social skills. What started out as a creative outlet soon turned into a source of life for him. He has been in over 100+ shows and has done everything from acting to stage managing. Kit wouldn’t be Kit without those stage lights and a script in his hand. 

○ when he was younger, he was kind of a piece of shit. did drugs, cheated on girlfriends, stole, drank...just not a good kid. by the time he was 19, this was his life: stuck in this seedy underbelly of the world. However, things seemingly slowed at 20 when his current hookup became pregnant. Though young, broke, and addicted to drugs, Kit ended up decided he needed to man up for his child. And seemingly, that was the kick in the ass he needed to change his idiotic ways. His daughter, Harper (named for Harper Lee for his grandfather) was born nine months later. 

○ when Harper tuned 3, her birth mother just split. no contact. no reason. nothing. at twenty three, Kit really had to man up and became a single dad. His main reason for turning his life onto the right track was absolutely Harper.  And though he can still be impulsive and can slip every so often, he is trying to be  better person.Key word being trying.

Wanted Connections

the best friends ;; his partner in crime, the ying to his yang. the pair or more that are typically attached by the hip, consult each other, and couldn’t live without one another.

the bromance ;; ‘bros before hoes’ is their motto. if they were both gay, they would probably have been married three years ago. they might as well be attached by a bro hug.

the partier ;; the sound of too loud music and the taste of warm, cheap beer are the defining characteristics of this friendship. these two may give each other recognition in the halls, but as soon as the word ‘party’ is involved, these two are together. the best of friendships always start smashed.

the one? ;; these two flirt so much, they might as well just get it over with and date. however, many steps have to be taken to get there. are they willing to make those steps?

the big ex ;; these two seemed to be so in love. …or not. maybe they ended on a good note, maybe it went down in flames. all that’s known for certain is that they went from the cutest couple to barely speaking.

drunken love ;; college is the playing ground of drunken hookups and these two are no different. every party or even just a friday night, these two tends to find each other. could this develop into more? there’s no room for questions like that when your lips are locked together.

HMU! ~Lo

[wintersongstress]

Writing Interview

tagged by the lovely @connorshero , thank you Sadie! I loved reading your responses and this tag was really fun! :)

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Q: What is your coffee order?

Chai Tea Lattes are my life and rarely disappoint me. Also, one cafe I love has Lavender Lattes and those are pretty good too. Whenever I go to Starbucks I, like Sadie, will also get a JavaChip Frappucino with a double shot of espresso.

Q: What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done?

Its hard to narrow down a singular experience as the “coolest”. I’ve been skydiving. I’ve been to the Taj Majal and I’ve ridden an elephant up to Agra Fort. I’ve flown in a helicopter up to Mendenhall Glacier and ice-climbed (yes, with Lara Croft-style axes) and that was a ton of fun. I saw all these Inuit villages and mountainside waterfalls up close and Alaska is just beautiful. I mean, I guess I’ve done some cool things…

Q: Who has been your biggest mentor?

My sister has been the person I can talk to about anything. While our lives are on different paths, she has always been there for me to offer guidance and subsequently been an inspiration to me. She is the most creative and artistic person I know.

Q: What has been your most memorable writing project?

It is a personal work and is a long way from where it started and where its going to finish. There is no title yet so you can tell how much of a good grasp I have on it, but I’ve been working on it since probably 2015.

Q: What does your writing path look like, from the earliest days until now?

Here is what my writing looked like ten years ago, vs. something I wrote today. As you can see, it’s still as terrible as my handwriting lmao

I have always, ALWAYS, loved stories–hearing, reading, telling, and even drawing them when I was young. I think I wrote my first story when I was seven or so; it was about two bunnies who were sisters and were ballerinas AND IT WAS CUTE OKAY.  When I was eleven, I was taken out of school to be homeschooled. I had a lot of time to myself and I would write in a notebook everyday. I had several different ideas and the freedom to explore them. That was when I loved writing the most.

When I was 14 I built my first computer and I started writing on there. I also started reading fanfiction and it exposed me to a WHOLE NEW WORLD. I was never drawn to write any until I was 17. College taught me more about writing, and sometimes I wish I would pursue it in earnest. Nowadays I write self-insert fanfiction that no one ever sees!

Q: What is your favorite part about writing?

When something just..unlocks inside of me and everything starts pouring out the way its meant to and I reach that untouchable place where everything is how I want it to sound and the images are as clear on paper as they are in my mind. Or when I look at something I wrote a long time ago and think wow, I was onto something there.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?

Bust out of my coffin at 7AM and prepare for a long day at school. I used to go to work straight after and let me tell you, being a full-time college student with two part-time jobs was exhausting. My daily routine has changed since I quit my primary job and I only have my second job on campus now so I have more (much needed) time on my hands. Might fuck around and start going back to art class. Anyways, when I finally get home I’ll take a nap do homework and eventually unwind. I’ll either write or turn on my playstation with a mug of tea and you know how the other half of my night lives. Rinse and repeat.

Q: What does your writing process look like?

Throwing my laptop and notebooks into Lake Michigan and never writing another thing again.

Struck by the Idea™ .

Brainstorming.

Research & Development: This is the phase a lot of WIPs get stuck in. Before I go forward, I decide the POV the piece requires. I think about the tone and atmosphere I have in mind and set up the diction that is going to accomplish this through the voice. I’ll do research if I need too. This will include reading or watching movies, whatever I think I need to specifically inspire me to write.  

Drafting.

More drafting.

Even MORE drafting.

Let it simmer.

Come back and send the draft through the revision wood-chipper. I hand write it one last time (a lot of mistakes can stick out when doing this, in my experience).

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve gotten?

The more uncertain you are about your calling, the more sure you can be that you have to do it.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

Don’t leave your backpack in the back of your car in a Seattle parking garage with all your writing notebooks in it!!! That shit will get stolen and you will never see it again!! Seriously, back up your stuff. Also remember that if its on your computer there is no such thing as truly deleted and you can recover your files. Computer forensics is a wonderful thing.

Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing?

Focus on yourself and what you want to get out of writing. Never forget that reason, that purpose.

Don’t compare your writing to others. Just don’t.

Be patient with yourself and how long it takes for your skills to develop.

Rid all thoughts of inadequacy.

Read. Reading is the best way to learn how to write.

Always be open to try new things. Write a villanelle. Write in second person. Try epistolary writing. The more things you try, the broader your skill set becomes.

Take as long as you need and accept that first drafts are garbage. If you already hate it you are already seeing what is wrong with it and you’ll start getting ideas on how to fix the problem you think you have.

                               ═════ ═════◄••◇••►═════ ═════

You don’t have to do this, but I’ll tag: @a-shakespearean-in-paris // @sunstrain // @anniesburg // @deviantramblings // @anyone who wants to do this!

[thysurveys]

860.

Welcome! And you are? I am Jess. When you buy/recieve new clothes, do you instantly wear them or wash first? I wear them. Do you hate using public restrooms? Most of them, yes. What’s the weirdest item you’ve seen for sale on Ebay? I don’t know. Do you check to make sure there’s TP before using the restroom? Yes.

Do you drunk dial/text? Fucking always. It’s a talent. Why are mall Santas always portrayed as drunken, depressed old men? I have no freaking idea? Have you ever built a massive snow fort? Nope. What household chore do you loathe? The washing because it never ends. Are parents to blame for what their kids do on the Internet? No, I don’t believe they are.  Would you care to meet Tom, the creator of MySpace? Sure, then I would ask what the chances are making MySpace a thing again? That shit was the bomb dot com. That’s where I first started surveys! Have you ever looked at a person and thought they looked like an animal? Yesss. Do you use acronyms to remember things? Always. Do you take pills like Tylenol for the littlest aches and pains? Nope. Unless I know a migraine is on it’s way. In that case, I have a prescribed medication. What would you do for a Klondike bar? What’s a Klondike bar? Don’t you think Crocs are ugly? I don’t care for them? Lol When was the last time you went rollerskating? A looooooong time ago. What trend do you hate right now? I don’t care for any. Do you really follow trends, or just wear what you like? I wear what I like. How many times do you think you go out to eat each month? Probably way too many times. Do you call people “dude” a lot? Lmao yeah.  Who was your favorite Ninja Turtle? Michelangelo only because his name is cool. I’m actually wearing a Ninja Turtle shirt right now. Horror flicks make you: laugh, scream, or squirm? Scream. If you could become a doctor, what would you specialize in? Paediatrics or Neurology. What’s the cutest thing a little kid has ever said to/in front of you? Bree says a lot of cute things. At what age do you plan on moving out? I’ve already moved out, like 5 years ago. Did any characters from TV shows scare you as a kid? Which one(s)? Oh, yeah. Courage the Cowardly Dog was one, I used to have nightmares about Noddy, for some reason.  What’s the saddest thing you’ve heard on the news recently? I don’t watch the News. Do you believe that acupuncture works? No idea. Have you ever been hypnotised? No. If you got expelled from school, would you continue your education? Probably? How long does it take before you trust a person? I don’t know if I trust anyone, ever, fully? Do you ever wish you had Jedi powers? Nope? Will we ever get to see Jack’s face (guy from Jack-in-Box commercials)? Who? Would you kick it with Jay and Silent Bob? Who? Say…would you like a chocolate covered pretzel? I’m good thanks. Would a wax museum scare you or amuse you? Amuse. We went to one when we were in Hollywood.  What’s the first food you can smell when you enter the mall? No idea? Have you ever made a time capsule? What did you put in it? Back in primary school, I think. What would you do if your mom or dad read your diary/journal/blog? Ugh. Do you turn the music up when a good song comes on? Depends. Do you know anyone with a lisp? Yes. Do you hate going to the doctor? Nope. Why did the dish run away with the spoon? Why not the fork or knife? Because it rhymes with moon. Hahaha I am so creative. << Pretty much lol What is the worst hurt you’ve ever experienced? Heartache.  Do you wish time went faster or slower? Idk. Do you write thank-you notes? I write thank you cards, if I have to? If you were to break a Guinness Record, which one would you try and beat? Never really put any thought into it. Are you distracted by shiny objects? Not really. What’s the coolest item in your room? Pretty much nothing? Are you grateful for what you have? Sure thing. Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? Who knows. Are you scared of clowns? Not really, nope. Are you accident-prone? Nah. As a kid, what was your favorite activity on the playground? The slides or monkey bars came to find first. Are huge muscles gross or sexy? Definitely not my thing. Have you ever fished and caught something weird? Nope. Your final thoughts…? eyyyy I’m hungry.

[sweetahoges]

oh shit whats POPPin

Rules are: answer the questions and tag ten people you want to know better (tagged by @exventospes ! )

Name: nyon

Gender: female

Star sign: libra

Height: 5′3″ APPARENTLY. i cant really remember

Age: 19

Wallpaper on my phone: my lock screen is that painting of macrou i did and my wallpaper is a closeup of tonto because i cant bring myself to change it SFGDFGDFG THATS A BIT EMO BUT YEAH

House: i got sorted into gryffindor on pottermore and i feel very typecast

First ever crush on a teacher: ohhhhh. i dont think ive ever had one? ive had teachers i really liked but mostly as like... guardian figures. My english teacher in my last 2 years particularly, she helped me through a lot.

Coolest Halloween costume: I WENT AS TEREZI ONCE TRICK-OR-TREATING LMAO. ive had a few cool costumes though, once i went to my primary school halloween disco as princess leia and my mum got 2 of those hair donuts and wrapped my hair around them so i legit had the hairstyle. I won a prize for that I think.

Favorite 90’s tv show:  PROBABLY THE ANIMANIACS

Last kiss: I GIV MY CAT A KISS

Have you ever been stood up: cant be stood up if youve never been on a date (ANIME GIRL LAUGH FOLLOWED BY CRYING)

Favorite pair of shoes: comfiest is my work shoes, theyre these ugly ass black sketchers. My FAVE tho are these irregular choice heels i got for my birthday last year! They’re purple and have a cat brooch thing on the sides, and the eyes of the brooch have gems in them.

Have you ever been to Vegas: never been outside of europe LMAO

Favorite fruit: ive been feeling bananas lately which is WILD because i used to hate them

Favorite book: hmmmmmmmmm, i dont really have a fave that i return to but right now im reading trainspotting and i really like it!

Stupidest thing you’ve ever done: i dont know. theres probably a lot i could say but i dont feel like dwelling on those sorts of things is healthy

All time favorite shows: i really like its always sunny in Philadelphia, friends, handmaids tale, certain parts of game of thrones, call the midwife, UHHHHHHHH THERES PROBABLY MORE. I also have a place in my heart for all the shitty shows my mum makes me watch like dallas and little house on the prairie, also every jane austen adaption known to man. 

also this meme doesnt ask you what your favorite film is but its THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL please watch it i love it so much SRGRFDFHDGFH.  Also watch the film adaptation of trainspotting and it’s sequel T2 Trainspotting. VERY GOOD AND VERY SCOTTISH.

Last movie you saw in theaters: oh my god... i cant remember...... uhhhhhh. I think it was A Ghost Story that i went all the way to edinburgh to see? It’s super sad. The soundtracks nice, but i dont know if i’d watch it again because it gave me existential thoughts. OH SHIT IT MIGHT HAVE ALSO BEEN DUNKIRK. Dunkirk I would rec, especially if you can see it in cinema, the way it’s shot is amazing and there’s not even any gore from what I remember... just Raw my dude.

im not tagging anyone because im LAAAAAAAAAAAZYYYYYYYYYY

[itsthegameilike]

Just some fic recs...

I’ve read a lot of really good fic this year and I just thought the best of the best deserved some recognition.  I tried to weed out the super popular fics, but some still show up because I love them that much.  Also, the ships are numerous and varied.

Running on Air--eleventy7; Drarry Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects. *I would murder people to protect this fic.  It’s beautifully written, well-plotted, original, and it reuses certain sentences, making them more poignant the later in the story they’re used.  Like, fuck me up*

the ghost of you--kissmesexybatman; Klance When Keith goes missing without a trace, all his family and friends are able to do is move on with their lives. When he shows back up after a year, they have to convince him they still want him back. *I may be slightly biased because the coolest person in the world wrote this, but let me tell you, it’s emotionally heartwrenching, wonderfully written, and gives you a happy ending without sacrificing the needs of the characters*

My soul is an empty carousel at sunset.--dawnstruck; Otayuri Yuri grows up and grows older and grows into himself. Otabek helps. It just takes a while to get there. *I’m demi and this fic described exactly what that experience has been like for me, as it features a demi!Yuri.  Beyond that, it was sweet and genuine and I adored it*

Dewey Despicable--ghostystarr; Klance "To the toddler who left coffee stains all over the ancient myth books – have you ever heard of these fantastic things called lids? You can put them on all sorts of things; cups, Tupperware, a coffin. Which is exactly what I’ll be shutting you in if you desecrate my thesis paper’s primary sources again." *This one is just hilarious and sweet and adorable and it made me smile for hours*

tears and vines--adamganseys; Pynch The turn for Monmouth is about to come up when Adam speaks again. “Do you want me to drop you at Monmouth?” There’s a note of reluctance in Adam’s voice, and that’s when he realizes how very much he wants Ronan to come to his apartment with him, how much he needs his comforting presence after what just happened.

Ronan studies him in that intense way of his before replying, “I’d rather just chill at St. Agnes a bit, if that’s cool with you.”

(Or, my response to the prompt things you said when you were crying, where Ronan comes to Adam's apartment with him after Robert Parrish's trial) *A nice, slight deviation from canon fic that really utilizes Adam’s connection to Cabeswater in the best possible way.  Plus, Ronan is excellent in this*

Mental--sara_holmes; Drarry Harry has had quite enough of sharing his mind with someone else, thankyouverymuch. A miscast Legilimecy spell says otherwise. *This is one probably everyone has read, but if you haven’t, fucking do it.  It’s sweet, well-written, and Draco’s characterization is amazing.  Definitely one of the favorite ones I have*

Nerve Endings--Phyona; Viktuuri When Yuuri moves in with Victor in St. Petersburg, they have to work through Yuuri's anxiety and Victor's secrets to find their balance. *Again, probably everyone has read this, but jesus christ if you haven’t, it’s a must.  Yuuri is done wonderfully, especially his anxiety, and the relationship is sweet and caring and perfect*

Smoke and Mirrors--Footloose; Merthur Merlin's magic has been revealed, and it has all gone wrong. Arthur might hunt him, he might hate him, but Merlin can't help but protect him from afar. *It’s angsty as shit and frankly, does not get any less angsty as it goes, but it deals well with the magic reveal and the writing is hauntingly lovely*

The Lullaby of Nifflish Erupments--sheafrotherdon; Wolfstar Sirius Black is a Boy With Ideas. Remus Lupin is the target of his cunning plan. James merely loses his underpants. *This is short and sweet and hilarious and Sirius is just so Sirius*

A Creature Void of Form--ignipes; Wolfstar Christmas, 1994. Two men, a cave, a hippogriff, some blankets, a hot meal, a blizzard, a bottle of vino rosso, and a conversation. *Again, kind of super angsty, but it never fails to make me feel warm inside by the end.  There’s just something about the devotion against all odds in this one*

Play Your Cards Right--merlywhirls; Solangelo Will and Nico meet through a Mythomagic forum board and begin texting, and begin to own themselves. *It’s a truly delightful texting fic.  This author is so goddamn good at them.  It’s pretty short and funny and definitely romantic*

Étude--xlydiadeetz; Lamen “The heart has a melody. Once you discover it, there’s no going back.”

Present day, Auguste is dead. The Golden Pianist is gone, and Laurent finds himself completely alone in the world. Haunted by the ghost of the promise he never accomplished, he goes through the stages of grief as he remembers his brother and deals with the return of a high school crush who makes him start to believe once again in the beauty of music. *Yet again, I’m probably a little biased, but this fic has heart.  It’s painful a lot of the time, harsh mistakes are made by the characters, but it doesn’t take away from how human they are and how much they all love each other*

When There’s Moonlight, I See Your Eyes.--Kali Cephirot; Noah and Brian There is, hidden in the hatch where Noah existed for the past two years, even deeper than that, the smallest, tiniest, brightest little hope that likes to go maybemaybemaybe at him if he thinks too hard about this. *The only fic I’ve read--admittedly there aren’t many for I’ll Give You The Sun--where Noah is captured perfectly and it definitely pays off.  This fic is lovely*

Adunatio--Vixenette; Wolfstar A potion accident has unexpected consequences *I think you know what the potion does, but FUCKING READ IT.  That’s all I’ve got*

Because I Cared--jostenminyard; Andriel Andreil prompt: A Raven sneaks a dashboard lighter on to the court and Neil gets hurt and has a panic attack. *Because everyone has read Lessons in Cartography and I haven’t read nearly enough fic for these two.  This one is super good, however short.  It’s just so them*

Midnight Doesn’t Last Forever--ghostystarr; Solangelo "So come and watch the sunset with me?" Solangelo. *This is reread worthy.  Fluffy and fun and it captures the personalities of Will and Nico so perfectly and makes me love them like ten times more than I already did*

Sansûkh--determamfidd; multi The battle was over, and Thorin Oakenshield awoke, naked and shivering, in the Halls of his Ancestors.

The novelty of being dead fades quickly, and watching over his companions soon fills him with grief and guilt. Oddly, a faint flicker of hope arises in the form of his youngest kinsman, a Dwarf of Durin's line with bright red hair.

(Follows the story of the War of the Ring).

(Bagginshield, Gimli/Legolas) In which recovery takes time, the dead members of the Company take to watching Gimli as though he’s a soap opera, the living struggle with being left behind, Legolas is confused, Khuzdul is abused, and Thorin is four feet and ten inches of guilt and anger. *Listen, so many people have read this, but I had to.  It’s a must read, even if you aren’t a Lord of the Rings person.  I’m telling you.  You won’t regret it for a second*

Time Isn’t Real (but you’re a constant)--SpiritsFlame; Pynch "Time is what prevents everything from happening at once." - Albert Einstein.

Adam wakes up in the future, learns a few things about himself, about time, and about his priorities. But mostly he just wishes that Time was doing it's job better. *A relatively well known fic, but it’s my favorite pynch fic by far.  There’s just something about younger Ronan and older Adam interacting.  Well, and the other way too.  The older versions are so beautiful and in character, but they’ve also grown and it’s just so rewarding ughhhh*

Text Talk--merlywhirls; Wolfstar Sirius is in boarding school, Remus is in hospital, and they don't know each other until Sirius texts the wrong number. *And the holy grail.  I have read this fic like twelve times.  I don’t even care if you like Remus or Sirius or if you don’t read texting fics or you don’t like harry potter, you have to read this.  It’s my life.  It is my comfort food*

[mazwistar]

...I started listening attentively to teachers and I stopped drawing cartoons in class. I started pre-reading topics before every class and stopped socialising until the teacher comes in. I started using free time during short break and lunch to do some assignments to offload. I started completing my home works at home instead of waiting to copy from my classmates in the following morning. I started reading on the bus on my way home and to school. I started consulting from those who were ahead of me and believed that for every problem there is a solution. I also started testing myself before I write a test from my teachers, a golden strategy. School suddenly became fascinating again. ...

FROM AVERAGE TO OUTSTANDING (HIGH SCHOOL BREAKTHROUGH)

My Name is Mazwi Thabiso Magagula. Today I want to share with you my High School Journey. This is dedicated to everyone who may be reading or listening to this, If you’re in school I hope you get inspired.

It all started at Mabhibha Primary School, now known as Buhlebuyeza Primary, in 2003. Yes I am one of those who skipped grade zero for reasons I don’t wish to know. I don’t remember much details about my primary school days, because you know everything was on automatic pilot then, but I do remember that I never repeated a class and I passed my Standard 5 external examination with a good second class and I was exhilarated I was going to secondary high school. A new school and new environment was worth exploring.

In 2010, I was admitted to one of the local High Schools, Dvokolwako High to pursue my Junior Certificate. I felt like “I made it” until what I then perceived ‘’discrimination’’ popped in. There they were streaming us into select classes in accordance with our primary school performances. An activity I hated and obviously deemed unfair and painful. Honestly I felt discriminated. How could they? But then I also thought to myself “Who I am, to be in the same class with the most brilliant students?’’ I started to recall that I was from Mabhibha, a school which recently tested the bottom 3, worst performing primary schools in the country. I was crushed. I felt inferior and unwelcomed.

There were five classrooms reserved for form 1s that year. Form 1 A to E. The cream pupils were loaded in the A classroom, yes your merits and first classes. On the B classroom there were the better pupils so I thought. There was not much difference between the C, D and E classrooms but, you know, there was no way you wouldn’t feel like the dulliest pupil in the whole form 1 if you were like me in Form 1E. I hated myself, I hated the system, I despised my colleagues (well more than half of the class were regular culprits as expected from Eeee pupils), and you know everyone would get a beating for their sins. I hated this streams, I still hate them today.

I was getting Ds snaps in tests and exams my entire form 1 and it got worse in form 2. More Eeee pupils were dumped into our classroom from other schools and others chucked out by the system from the A classroom. It was better in form 2 because we had an additional classroom form 2F, worse than US and it was nicknamed “THE ZOO”. By the way, I literally failed my form 2. The number of subjects passed were down and I also got an Eeee in English. Luckily there were a lot of form1s pumping to replace me and I was pushed to form 3 on a wheel barrow. Failed and promoted. While everyone thought I was smart and quiet, I was actually an Eeee pupil. At least I was amongst the best in my classroom ;>.

School didn’t fascinate me back then. During prominent events like the Speech and Prize giving day I would always stay home. That was for the A pupils, so I thought. And yes I was right. I always thought everything good was given to the A pupils, even good teachers :>. The A pupils were really doing great (they had all the good teachers too) but instead of being inspired I was pissed. Why? When you are not the favourite kid at home you always given dirty Jobs, you eat shit, you are taught shit and at the end of the day all you know is shit. That was harsh right? But that’s how it felt to be kicked out of the classroom during learning ours to clean some dirty abandoned teacher’s warehouse because your colleagues were making noise, while the other classes carried on with learning. If there was something bad that happened in school, we had all fingers pointing to our class. I felt like Junk.

So how did I change? Mixed classes. Now these were the only classes I considered fair. My commercial classes were a real escape. Here I met other pupils from the other classes and a few of them from the A class. We all met to learn accounting and business studies from one teacher and in the same environment. This was the very first place I discovered and started believing in the power of association. The A pupils were by far performing better that the rest of us and soon enough I began to master how they were excelling. I can say the process took longer because we had a few of mixed classes and we spent a lot of time with our Eeee colleagues. Trust me it was hard for me to understand cute little sayings like “Hard work pays” at that age, but I got the chance to see it work. I applied it and the results were amazing. I began to understand that hard work always beats talent when talent thinks he is too good to work hard. First business studies topic test in form 3 (E) I got 96% and two guys from The A class scored 98% and for the first time I was the 3rd highest in my business studies class. That wasn’t much but I was thrilled by HOW I got that 96%.

It was 2012 and we went through the Waya Waya Teachers Strike and also added our own shortly after that as pupils of Dvokolwako High enraged by a delay of examination timetables. I wrote my JC examinations and again I passed with a ‘not so bad’ second class. Just like most people. I wasn’t really happy about the second class thing, but there was something different about this second class! I had a cute symbol A from business studies. I wasn’t fascinated by the A for the sake of being a cute symbol but by the fact that I knew exactly what I did to get that A from business studies which I didn’t do to the other subjects. As a wise man once said, succeed ones and everything that follows next will be a copy and paste. From that day I wanted to replicate the strategies I used to excel in business studies to the other subjects.

To my surprise, when I registered for form 4 I found my name on form 4A’s class list. Yes, there I was in a midst of wolfs. At first I was like “Oh my gosh I am going to be chowed fr good and forever” and then it came to my mind that I wasn’t thrown here, instead I earned myself a space here. See for the first time in my life I take responsibility for my academic performance. Why? Because I made it! Confucius was right when he said we are all self-made but only the successful will admit it. I spent my entire secondary in a gutter and I never admitted that I put myself there, now this!! Yes I was proud of myself but there was also this score-sheet thing that freaked the hell out of me. I was scared that my name will pop up in the worst section of this sheet. You don’t want that to happen to you, especially if your girlfriend is getting straight As in another class. So I hard to work my ass off. I knew how to get outstanding results from my JCs business studies so why not die trying to get them?

Trust me in this one, I wasn’t, at all, thinking about being the best in class instead I just wanted I just wanted to clear my name out of the worst section of that sheet of paper. From my very first class in form 4 I started listening attentively to teachers and I stopped drawing cartoons in class. I started pre-reading topics before every class and stopped socialising until the teacher comes in. I started using free time during short break and lunch to do some assignments to offload. I started completing my home works at home instead of waiting to copy from my classmates in the following morning. I started reading on the bus on my way home and to school. I started consulting from those who were ahead of me and believed that for every problem there is a solution. I also started testing myself before I write a test from my teachers, a golden strategy. School suddenly became fascinating again.

First test in form 4 (A), Physical Science test 1, Mr Simelane brought back out test scripts and started distributing them to us. I also got mine and I opened it. My eyes couldn’t believe what they saw. On a serious note, I first thought it was a 41% cause it was hand written, but really it was a 91% decorated with a shining gold star. I was evidently shaking. Mr Simelane immediately announced that the highest was 91% without mentioning a name. WOOOOW!! All the hairs on my arm and legs stood tall with prickling sensation. For the first time in my whole academic life I was on top of my class. And this was not just a class it was the ‘A’ class. This was me being the highest over the whole form 4.

I was thrown into wolfs and I came back leading the pack! Throughout 2013, in form 4 I wasn’t always the best pupil but I was constantly testing that position. I was way beyond the worst section of my class’s score sheet. At this moment I was no longer driven by fear of the score sheet but the hunger to become the best. For the first time in school, I was interested in a Speech and Prize giving day and guess what? There was none that year! NONE! Completely Nothing. I should have felt bad, but I was perfectly fine. I had my final results in form 4 they were the coolest I had ever seen.

My first encounter with being ��the best’ was when I was in form 5, still (A) :>. Remember I said it was mixed classes that turned my academic life around? There was something else, when I was a toddler, I stabbed myself in my left eye with a knife. I have always had eyes problems in school and I was getting visionary impaired gradually. Luckily one of my teachers noticed that I had trouble getting what was written on the chalk board and I was invited to seat on the first line. Believe me this simple shift of places was a real game changer. I became more focused, more organised and I started participating more frequently in class. A killer combination.

First monthly tests in Form 5 I got aggregate 92% and yes I was the man. From that day I never wanted to be second again. SGCSE results came out I was ranked among the top 30 pupils in the whole country and yeah that was something. There I was swinging with 4 A+s a B and two Cs. 3 of those A+s were from all the mixed classes I attended and one from the A class. And yeah it was mixed classes that threw me to varsity.

For your inspiration, throughout my entire academic life I have learned that; the only way to excel in any exam is to have confidence in the exam room, and the only way to have confidence in the exam room is to know everything that the examiner may possibly ask, by heart.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #470

“how can you choose to let the blind see better than you?”

What was the main character called in the last film you watched? Dewey. What would you name your pet snake if you had one? It would depend on its appearance. The snake I have now is named Venus because of her coloration. Do you like peanuts? Only if they're covered in chocolate or in granola bars in small portions. Have you ever gambled? What was your biggest loss/win? No. What was the last movie you watched? Who did you watch it with? Girt and I watched School of Rock together. What do you eat for breakfast? Excluding the rare occasions my mom cooks something, usually cereal or a sandwich. Do you have a Flickr? I do, but it's abandoned. Anything exciting happening in the month of September? No. When was the last time you had an ice cream sandwich? Oh man, it's been too long. I really want one now. Do you eat breakfast daily? Yeah. What was the last thing to scare you? "Scare" is a strong word, but I was very, very nervous to hear what weight I'd gained since my last doctor's appointment. Do you like mustard? Yeah, I do. Do you have a desktop computer or laptop? A laptop. Do you like to play Jenga? I guess? I don't really have an opinion on it. Do you like Fresca? Not very, but I'll drink it if I really want a soda and it's the only option. How many towels do you use after a shower? Just one. Would you ever flash a cop if you knew you'd get out of a ticket? Um, no thank you. What is your favorite thrill ride ever? I don't like those. I'm afraid of puking or fainting. Biggest irrational fear? Truly irrational, probably whale sharks. Favorite movie sequel? Hm. If you had endless funds, where would you buy most of your clothes? Cloak and Rebel's Market. How many jobs have you had? Three, technically. What is your favorite thing to do in your city? Oh hun, fun doesn't exist here. This place sucks. Have you ever gone strawberry picking? Ha ha, yes... but I was a little kid that absolutely gorged on the strawberries instead of putting them in my basket. The person that worked there didn't make my mom pay for what I did or anything, but they made a joke about weighing me to check the damage I did, ha ha. My face was COVERED in strawberry juice. I wish I could actually remember the occasion, but I was too young. How many times have you seen a doctor this month? It feels like a lot. >_< I had to get blood drawn for two different things on separate appointments, I had a follow-up appointment with my primary physician about my weight, I recently spoke to my therapist and psychiatrist... Could you pull off orange hair? I've actually considered like, a light creamsicle orange. I actually edited a photo of me with my current hair style trying different colors, and that tint looked pretty cute. Do you shave your legs? It sounds dumb, but yes, now that I'm in a relationship. I feel obligated to at least try and be attractive by societal standards. I know it seriously doesn't matter, but I would be so inexplicably mortified if he saw my unshaven legs kalsdj;flkasdjwe What type of weather is your favorite? Snowy! Coolest place you've ever been? Disney World, probs. Do you like corn on the cob? Yeah, man. Have you ever waited tables? No. Build your favorite pizza. Soft pan crust, your average amount of sauce and a good amount of cheese with various meats on it. What did you last get fancy for? I wouldn't say I got like, super fancy, but I wore a nice shirt and a necklace when Girt came over for the first time as a couple. I thought we were actually leaving the house to go out to dinner, but the plan was actually to have Buffalo Wild Wings delivered. It was totally fine by me, I'd just misunderstood. Dream pet? A female Brazilian Black tarantula named Black Betty. :') Do you tend to get clingy in relationships? I know I do. What is the last horror movie you watched? It's sad that I don't know. :( Would you be grossed out if your best friend mooned you? No, I'd just be extremely confused lmao. What is the last thing that you drank? Milk. Currently popular song that you can't stand? I have zero idea what songs are popular right now. What is the weather like right now? Too fuckin' hot to be mid-September. Do you have favorite type/brand of pen? I mean, I like the feel of gel pens. I don't know about brands. What is your go-to snack at the convenience store? Some form of Reese's. Popular drink that you dislike? Coffee shocks the most people. What TV show are you waiting on to return/create a new season? None. What is something you currently want but cannot afford? Oh, dear. -_- Do you have sensitive skin? Very. How many toilets are in your house? Two. Do you have an older sister? Three that I know, one that I don't really count because I know nothing about her and have never spoken to her. What color is your mum’s car? White. Do you live in an apartment? No. Cats are usually cuter than dogs right? Kittens are generally cuter than puppies, imo. Where do you keep your kitty litter box? It has to stay in my bedroom, which I hate. Mom insists on in being in here so I don't forget to clean it. My memory is awful, but I'm preeeetty sure I'd remember to give my cat a clean place to use the bathroom if it was kept in the spare room by the door... Are you rude to little children? No; even if I don't really like kids, that is something I definitely avoid. Kids should never lose their hope in or love for humanity, and I would absolutely hate to be one of those people that makes the human race appear unpleasant. Are you a lighter complexion than your father? BY FAR. He's a mailman so is out in the sun nearly every day, so he's pretty damn dark to be Caucasian. I wouldn't be surprised if by his complexion he's ever been mistaken for being Hispanic, because the color definitely fits. Do you like apricots? No. Are banana chips delicious? Ew, that sounds gross. Do you like kinky sex? I wouldn't know, my dude. I've never really explored outside of pretty vanilla stuff. What is one thing you will never do again? Rely solely on another person for happiness. Would you rather be twice as smart or twice as happy? Twice as happy. That's not even a competition. What would your parents be surprised to learn about you? I very legitimately wonder if I would be disowned for how fucked up some of the shit I write is, ha ha. Mom would probably cry if she saw some of even the milder stuff and force the topic to come up in therapy. If you could have been a child prodigy what would you have wanted to be skilled at? Maybe painting? If earth could only have one condiment for the rest of time, what would you pick to keep around? Hmmm... I suppose ketchup. Do you think it’s important to stay up to date with the news? I think it is, but I don't. .-. What is the best present you could ever receive? An all-expenses-paid trip to South Africa to visit and tour with the Kalahari Meerkat Project to meet and photograph the meerkats. :''''''''''') Would you give up one of your fingers if it meant you’d have free WiFi wherever you go, for the rest of your life? Nah. That's what data is for, lol. If someone told you you could give one person a present and your budget was unlimited–what present would you get and for whom? A new car for Mom. Giant house in a subdivision or tiny house somewhere with a view? Oh, that is SO easy. Give me the view. Well wait, HOW tiny is the house? My answer would change if it was one of those truly mini houses that would make me feel claustrophobic as shit. What was your favorite Disney movie as a kid? The Lion King. Still is. Do you brush your teeth in the bathroom, or do you get bored & roam around? I roam around. Does your city/town have a little festival/carnival every year? Yes. I never really pay attention tho 'cuz I never go. Have you ever been to an apple orchard? No, but I would love to go. Were there any cartoons your parents didn’t let you watch as a kid? Except "adult" cartoons obviously, no. Could you handle motherhood? No fucking way. Being entirely serious, I think I'd either end up dead or horribly depressed, and the kid psychologically damaged to some extent from having an unstable mother. Like do not get me wrong, I'd try very hard, but I know I couldn't stay sane and happy as a mom. Have you ever touched a squirrel? No. What's better, candles or incense? Incense. What movie did you see the most in theaters? I don't watch movies in theaters twice. It's expensive to go even once. Who played the best Batman? Idk. I didn't watch all the movies. Who’s the best American Idol thus far? *shrug* What’s likely to happen next in your family - wedding, funeral, or birth? Uh, I suppose a wedding? None seem likely any time soon. Do you like hot, cold, or lukewarm showers? Hot. Have you ever taken part in a threesome? No, not my jam. Do you plan on having both your parents at your wedding? Yep. Which movie’s musical score is truly memorable? Tarzan came to mind very quickly. What’s your favorite scene from the movie Titanic? Idk, I've only seen it once. Which TV show theme music do you remember most? That '70s Show. Have you ever bounced any checks? ... I don't even know what that means. :x Have you ever been snipe hunting? I will never in my life hunt in any way, shape, or form. Do you try to be politically correct? For the most part, but I do believe it's gone too far. Generally though, I try to conform to the "rules" to avoid offending someone. What’s your favorite kind of sea critter? Bottlenose dolphins, various types of whales, sea turtles... I don't think I could pick one. Have you ever tasted locally-made honey before? Does it count if it's from a honeysuckle flower? Do you like to wear toe socks? No, they're mad uncomfortable imo. Have you ever worn bright red lipstick? Yes. Do you think raccoons are adorable, like I do? BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!

[angel-nero]

11 questions...

I was tagged by @pureren @zaevran @glaspaladin @z-ayauitl and @kcgane ty so much !!! ♥

RULES: 1. Always post the rules 2. Answer the questions given by the person who tagged you 3. Write 11 questions of your own 4. Tag 11 people

my questions…

1. what’s the worst piece of clothing you own?

2. what’s the coolest piece of uh fashion that is so cool you can’t even wear to go out? lol

3.- what book have you read that you feel it has been the worst?

4.- What’s the healthiest meal you actually like?

5.- do you love keith kogane? (or vld keith lmfao what u prefer to use)

6.- something paranormal ever happened to you? if yea, what?

7.- do you get jealous easily? with who? (friends, popular ppl, talented ppl, the s/m)

8.- what’s the cutest thing you own?

9.- what are your favorite crisps?

10.- do you have a favourite drink?

11.- can you tell im hungry? what hobby you wish you liked or wish you did?

i tag: @kukinta​ @kittyr0se​ @heirith​ @liesfromsatansbuttcheeks​ @sheith-love-always​ @acequeenm​ @blessedkeith​ @lukaspatel​ @ke1th​ @ace-pidge​ @keith8​ but only if you want to!

TESSA’SS AND!! TAMI’S QUESTIONS1!!!

1.  Do you connect with people easily?

mmm, I don’t becos im a very quiet person and can be w u w/o talking at all and I get overwhelmed by convos I don’t care about also it’s kinda hard to win my trust and also interest lol. I’m nice tho, i mite not be enjoying myself but i’ll forev b nice w u.  

2. Did something good happen to you this week?

uH yeah, i’m doing things to improve my health, i did my uni exam, im frEE, i finally don’t have to go to rEliGIoUs classes aNYMORE and UH,,, i got a diet to win weight and its cool i get to eat ESQUITE LMFAO. i will see my bffs in friday and i have browney mix there i should bake but im lazy

3. What’s the personality trait that annoys you most in other people?

When people pretend to like something just 2 b friends w someone or ME, do you know we can be total dif and maybe still b friends if u cOOL. Ass kissers, hypocrisy, LIES LOL. I don’t like fake ppl at all.

4. If you could participate in any existing tv reality show, which one would you choose?

The ones where they change ur style and buy clothes for u 2 love urself and do ur hair and make up and buy u xpensive undies. I loved that crap when i was in secondary school lmao

5. What’s something you’re insecure about?

That I can’t be in one place without wanting tofuckin run, the fact that i can’t eat w ppl at all, that i have to go to the fucken gYM

6. What’s your favourite way to hang out with friends?

:’)) well,,, i go to my bff’s house or they come. If im fine then walk around my neighborhood cus it’s nice ahaha anxiety am i rite. oKAY, even if i get anxiety i like ice skating, or roller skating, i have a lot of fun. My friend want us to go to this pixies concert and im like :(( boo i love u

7. What’s your favourite fic trope?

lol idk,,,,, pining? mutual pining? no pining and they getting to know therngs im melttin sTOP idk…… it depends on whAT shIP. I just know i’ll read any fake dating of my otp. idk idk duuuude i legit don kno. It’s not a trope but i love crunchy feelings, showefjsid fksjnj its hard to talk about this im sOrry

8. What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve liked in the past?

hahahahahaha my crush

9. What do you consider to be the best period of your life?

When I was 14. I went to parties more than i go to them now lol, i drank and smokkd w who where my best friends back theN i know it’s whack. we used to go to roller skate? all the damn time and did sleepovers and everything was funny, we practically lived together and my friend that was 16 drove us to places lmao,, everything was so good. but like, dont imagine me too wild i only smokd like 5 cigs in my life and hookah and we even broke one.

10. What do you consider to be the worst period of your life?

mpghgg, when i turned 15,,, in the middle of it everythin went to shit to the actual date. But im trying to change that

11. How did you meet your best friend?

I met her,,,, 11 years ago. Look, I usually have best friends in pack. I have 3 bffs at the moment, one of them sat next to me in 2nd year of primary school. IDK how i got to actually know my absolute bff tho but we did a lot of weird shit. we also met in the same classroom and she was my bff back then. The third one was also a frind but not so much during those years. Later i changed of classrooms and shit and bonded more when I was 14 w 6 friends and those r i did crazy shit w but we got separated and stopped talkin and they invited me to the club a week before my uni exam but i was high on meds and sick af. and never replied also going to meet em again at the club makes me nervous af tbH…. I have had a lot of super close friends in my life wTf. In my new school i have also 7 friends that r super close.And we’re also a pack of bffs. I actually had a hard time to use the word bestfriend lol, not bc of me havin a lot or anythin, i was just emo i guess

BEX’S QUESTIONS YOo

1. What’s the strangest nickname you’ve ever been given?

:))))))))))))))))))))))))) gabhole, gabaloney, TETI THAT SOUNDS LIKE TITTY. now ft Aztec secret 

2. Do you like to gossip?

UMMMMMM,, i dont like to listen to another ppl judging someone, I hate it and i normally tell them to stop. it depends i guess

3. Are you afraid of the dark? um,,, no but i dont like it lol

4.Have you ever been stung by a bee?

no, but i steppeddd on one. I also was pickin a tree and till this day i dont knoW wTF it was but i had something big in my middle finger and it fucken hurt like a bitch and i had A BALL on it UGHHHHH I HATE BUGS

Bigfoot or mothman? fucking none

Do you trust anyone with your life? i mean, idk

Do you have any habits you wish you could break? yEAH, to stop tweeting my mental breakdowns is one lmao. 

Would you go ghost/alien hunting? 

both tbh, who wants to break into abandoned houses w me, i live in front of one,,, i mean not so infront but in the row of houses infront of me lmao english whO? dude rosetta stoned by tool is my aesthetic, alien stuff. bex listen to it pls

Best pickup line? (you’ve heard or used on you/you’ve used)

u r the best chair *proceeds to sit on em* keith to shiro probably

Mint or fruit gum?

I dont like gum much cos it makes me hungry or thirsty. I also drink too much soda to fuck w mint stuff :(( say that to the mints i bought lol :( i only eat halls or gum bc im nerves w ppl so they stopped bein a thing i enjoy for me lol. i do that since im like,,, uh,,, idK 15. it fuckd my stomach

What do you want to be remembered for?

I mean if I have to pick and b unrealistic, for art maybe,,, or for the thing i end up working with, like architecture or somethin. Art, def art cus i like art so much

ZURI’S QUESTIONS!!!

1.-if you had to chose one thing to eat for the rest of your life what would it be? 

I MEAN THIS QUESTION IS THE DEVIL I GET TIRED OF EVERYTHING TO THE POINT I DONT WNAN EAT ANYTHING I WILL JUST IGNORE IT SSAYS ONE AND SAY MEXICAN FOOD

2.- what are you most afraid of? Mental illnes and being ill and living 

3.- do you have a favorite place to visit?

I mean,,,, i love walking in the center? centre? of my city bc is like going to another place. Is also fucking Cuba in there. Everyone says that, my dad asked a cuban marine he met if it was true and he said it was ‘’ the fackin same’’ So its like,,, travelling in time and places. also the beach and the port.

4.- what type of weather you enjoy the most?

I need the sun, otherwise i get sad… i like cloudy w sun. I just like to go out in the afternoon tho lol so like,,, sun pls so the sky can turn pinkish

5.- do you have a rare ability like dislocating your thumb or moving your eyes really fast?

i move my tongue real real fast and also can do the cherry knot thing and uh i can like, be aberrantly stupid too. hey but dont fuk w me and bother me 4 bein stupid, i will fist fite u and i mite b stupid but i will also mite think u r stupid if i don like u so fuk off. Dam,,, i get like, bothered so easy LOL like, think u r better than me and i’ll fist fite u LMFAO WHY THO I SUK, but like, if not bothered, i think of everyone as my equal… wow this was not the question

6.- do you think it would be easier to create one universal lenguage or an accurate translator? nO… dont delete culture like that,,, an accurate translator mite come in handy u kno but like, some languages have words that don’t exist in others so like :-/

7.- is there something that soothes you no matter what? um no i wish

8.- favorite piece of clothing? boots and thights

9.- is there a song stuck in your head right now? YEAH dig down by muse i love it, every1 says it sUCLks but i can’t stop listenin to it

10.- why is your favorite animal your favorite animal? i don play favs but i love the honey badger bc of this pleas fuckin watch it and THIS

11.- morning person or late riser? Oh,, i cant wake up to save my life so late riser

SUNNY’S QUESTIONS!!!

1. do you have any plushies? a LOT but im like,,, they r in my wardrobe and i luv em but like,,, they’re all gifts,,, did u kno one of my past bffs bought me a dino for christmas?

2. have you ever walked out the cinema before? 

Yeah, i love drive’s aesthetic and Ryan gosling a lot but is SO boring so idk if my friends and I got kicked out or we prefered to get out to talk haha. 

3. if you could have a mascot what would it be and why?

A CHINCHILLA, they’re a irl pokemon and they r so cUTE

4. what would your theme song be? kool thing, sonic youth maybe or is she weird by pixies. All Over the world by pixies too lol

5. do you have any phrases or sayings you find yourself coming back to often? not really, im so bad at remembering sayings and quotes

6what’s the nearest object to your right? a book called azul by ruben dario

7. would you rather live in the big city or out in the middle of nature? 

Big city forever. I love high? buildings a lot. I dont do that well in the rural life lmao 

8. are you working on any creative projects right now (fic/art/music/photography/ect) Nope at all and das sad cus i should b doing art lmao

9. what’s your favourite movie score? idk what is score… but the soundtrack of trainspotting is one of my favs… oh but score… aghgsdhaj any tarantino movie tbh or wes anderson movie… or before I disappear or demolition oR southpaw or the girl w the dragon tattoo

10. i say vol you say….? uuhhhhh,,,,,  vol….tron??? (ICONIC, I MELT, I LVOE HIM)

[floridamining]

Interview with Matt Allison and Matthew Usinowicz

January 19, 2019

Artists of Slamdance Cosmopolis

About the artists:

Matt Allison

Matt Allison is a collector and (re)arranger of objects. In a culture increasingly driven by immaterial content and virtual realities, he remains dedicated to uncovering the stories contained within stuff. His practice is particularly informed by the unexpected object pairings that come from “DIY” repurposing projects and homegrown interventions.

He was a co-manager of the experimental art space OPAQ in Jacksonville, FL, and is the co-founder of Sea Farm City and MNK Studio which operate in Downtown Los Angeles. Matt received his BFA from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2004, and his MFA from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2015.

www.mattallisonprojects.com  @mattallisonprojects

Matthew Usinowicz

Conceptually drawn to social politics and the physical accumulation of stuff, with a specific interest in the relationship between humans and objects, Matthew works in a process- based mode of production using materialism – the physical and psychological elements of materials – to visually communicate. The results are fabricated objects, using an interdisciplinary practice to create; these objects are used as a humorous, allegorical means of telling a story.

Last time Matthew was in Jacksonville, it was the last stop aboard a US Navy vessel before heading to the Persian Gulf in 2001. 17 years later, he finds himself making and exhibiting artwork that critiques the very system he swore to protect and defend. Some things never change, just the vessel you choose to arrive in.

Matthew received his BFA from San Francisco Art Institute and his MFA from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

www.matthewusinowicz.com  @matthew_usinowicz

Where are you from and where are you now working?

Matt: I was born in South Florida, and slowly moved my way North to Jacksonville. I lived in Brooklyn for a few years, before coming out to California. I currently live and work in Los Angeles.

Matthew: I was born in Salt Lake City, but I’ve lived most my life either floating somewhere on the water, or in the San Francisco Bay Area. Currently I live and work in San Francisco.

How did you meet each other and what sparked your collaboration?

Matt: Matthew and I were in the same Graduate Program. I could tell from his work that we had common influences... So I invited him over for dinner. He brought two bottles of wine and several blocks of cheese. We've been working together ever since.

Matthew: We met in graduate school in Southern California. We naturally gravitated towards each other through similar interests: cooking, good food, music, politics, fighting common childhood conformities, grafitti, and of course art making.

How is your work similar? How is your work different?

Matt: We each have our own odd take on formalism with very strong affinities for color. Our reference points overlap a lot: Music, graffiti, providing food for loved ones... We're different in the way we approach materials. Matthew is a butcher so he breaks a material down to its "rawest form." He then refines the material and rebuilds it into something new. I'm a collector, so I'm more concerned with preservation, and transformation through association.

Matthew: We both focus on materials and objects how they exist, how they operate in spaces, and how we can activate (or disrupt) their state. We deconstruct these objects and materials differently. Matt is more of a “arranger or re-arranger” of objects. I intend to break down the objects/ materials formally and manufacture a new, different objects from my deconstruction.

What inspired the show Slamdance Cosmopolis?

Matt: My inspiration for Slamdance Cosmopolis is how “everyday” the process of dehumanization has become. While political leaders are talking about fellow human beings as if they're some alien invasion, the corporate world is looking for prospective employees to be a minimum wage version of Siri. Meanwhile, we’re all sacrificing lived experience in favor of being documentarians for our own fictitious "social" media empire. Everyone is either a super villain or a super hero - No one is just a complex and flawed individual that knows they have no business throwing the first stone.

Matthew: Shitty people in government and shitty people in general.

Why did you choose to do a show in Jacksonville?

Matt: I lived in Jacksonville for during a very formidable time in my life, and consider it my home (even though I didn't get there until I was 23. I love the city's strengths, and wanted to be a small part of the growth that'll overcome its weaknesses. Working with the ACLU of North Florida on a show that opened a few days before midterm elections seemed like a good way to do it.

Matthew: Matt has a strong connection with Jacksonville; working and living there and being involved in the food and art scenes. I heard nothing but good things about Florida Mining Gallery and intriguing nostalgia about Jacksonville. I’ve never been (with exception of a pit stop while cruising with the US Navy) and I love shrimp, grits, and beer! It has been a pleasure making work for Jacksonville, staying in Jacksonville, and eating my fair share of Mayport shrimp in Jacksonville.

What does the title Slamdance Cosmopolis mean?

Matt: It’s a coupling from the poem that Allen Ginsburg recites in the song “Ghetto Defendant” that closes out the A side of Combat Rock.

Matthew: The urge (and possible need) to break out in full mosh (slam dance) mode in a crowded metro car because the crazy shit that’s happening now, the dehumanization and government corruption and pettiness, is absurd. And we all need a good mosh pit now and then.

How would you summarize Slamdance Cosmopolis?

Matt: A visual conversation between two friends, trying to figure out how to retain one’s connection to humanity amid the economic disparity, language barriers, gentrification, emotional isolation, crime and pollution that permeate our respective cityscapes.

Matthew: A dialogue from the past, is the dialogue of the present. Generation after generation, this recurrence of very little change creates anxiety, and progress is moving too damn slow. As a visual artist these are our/ my modes of expression in hope to inspire others to being more active in a push to sustained progress for the human race.

What about Combat Rock by the Clash motivated you to create the series of posters featured in the show?

Matt: It's a record that naturally gets put on the turntable every time Matthew, my wife Katie and I are hanging out in our living room. After several years, we had so many conversations with it playing in the background that it became, in my mind, a sort of conduit for a lot of our best ideas. The Clash are the perfect jumping off point for anyone who want’s to make critical thinking seem like the coolest thing on the planet.

Matthew: Song titles and overall theme.


What is your favorite piece from Slamdance Cosmopolis?

Matt: The "Straight to Hell" poster.
Aside from being my favorite song on the album, the lyrics are eerily (and depressingly) relevant to our current administration’s tactic of reducing human life to political capital. I picked the image of Elian Gonzalez as a stand in for the abandoned Vietnamese child from the song, and the very next morning news breaks of families being separated at the Southern Border. Check in as I’m writing this, and those children are now dying in American custody. This is not a partisan issue- Children shouldn’t be victims of our own fabricated conflicts. It doesn’t matter if the president’s last name is Clinton or Trump. Or if you don’t want to give up your assault rifle. Or if you still believe in the doctrine of the Catholic Church. Or if you think frozen concentrate is more convenient then peeling an orange.

Matthew: Straight to Hell. The layers of content are deep and visually it kicks ass!

Do you have plans for your next collaboration?

Matt: Yes, always. Contrary to the artist myth, I got (and stay) in this game to work with others.

Matthew: Yes. Cooking more food together in L.A. or S.F.

Who are some of your biggest influences? Artists or otherwise?

Matt: Currently the list is as follows: My wife Katie and daughter my Clementine, the ACLU, Philip Glass, Chef Dan Giusti's work transforming public school cafeterias, Bell Hooks, the novel Alas Babylon, Defend Boyle Heights, and the Spiritual Jazz scene of the late 1960’s.

Matthew: Traveling. Food. Music. People I meet (formally, through shared experience, eye contact, or otherwise.) when traveling.

How do you navigate the creative process? What helps you develop a piece from beginning to end?

Matt: My creativity is my primary problem solving tool, I’d truly be lost with out it. I’m also extremely restless when it comes to my art practice, so I have this sort of natural catalyst constantly pushing me forward. I’ve never been one to chase the “finish line” when it comes to making work. I’m interested in work that allows for any number of variations, and that grows and evolves over time. Especially when an exhibition is usually the first time you have different people interacting with the work. In a lot of ways, that’s when things are just getting started.

Matthew: Watching/ listening to S.F. Giants baseball, watching “The Wire”, “The Sopranos”, “Fargo” (TV), “Breaking Bad”, or “Better Call Saul”, over again...

Do you have a preferred medium?

Matt: Some small found object that that stirs my soul for reasons unknown me. 

Matthew: Never, ever. Always changing. Never limit yourself to medium.

What are your hobbies outside of art?


Matt: Trying not to worry.

Matthew: Travel, eating/ drinking, cooking, music, baseball.

[oceaninwinter]

I was tagged by @casownsmyass. Thanks again! I always love doing these!

LAST

1) Drink: water

2) Phone call: my mom

3) Text message: received? sent? well this is the last text to appear on my phone so, “Go ahead and start it I am checking out now. Just unlock the door for me”

4) Song listened to: Dysfunctional by Tech N9ne

5) Time you cried: this morning while doing some work for a character (I’m an actor)

HAVE YOU EVER

6) Dated somebody twice: like went back and seriously dated the same person after breaking up? ...not really.

7) Been cheated on: yep, and its the worst

8) Kissed someone and regretted it: I guess yeah, but I try not to live with regrets. it happened. oh wells.

9) Lost someone special: yes

10) Been depressed: yep

11) Gotten drunk and puked: nope

THREE FAVOURITE COLOURS

12) red

13) purple

14) black

IN THE LAST YEAR YOU HAVE YOU

15) Made new friends: yes! :)

16) Fallen out of love: are we talking 2017 or like in the last whole year? cuz if we’re counting a full year then ok yeah i think so

17) Laughed until you cried: yep

18) Found out someone was gossiping about you: no?

19) Met someone who changed your life: honestly yeah. Looking at you @foxygrandpahell. You sir, are the coolest :) thank you for being such an awesome friend. You’ve made me a more considerate and caring person just from knowing you.

20) Found out who your true friends are: I’ve known that for a while :)

21) Kissed someone on your Facebook list: in the last whole year? yes?? yes. that happened. lol

HOW MANY/MUCH

22) Facebook friends: 778

23) Pets: none at the moment. I had a beagle named Dotty but she passed in 2015. Still miss her all the time.

24) Want to change your name: nope. I love my name.

WHAT

25) Did I get for my birthday: I think i got a book and a couple dvds.

26) Time I woke up: around 10:30 am

27) Were you doing at midnight: finishing watching a movie

28) Can’t you wait for: to someday meet Jeffrey Dean Morgan. ok but in like the actual foreseeable future, to see Logan in theaters, finally, and to see Negan in twd again. I’ve missed him.

29) Was the last time you saw your mom: like an hour ago

30) Is something you wish you could change about your life: ooohhh, lots of things, but I’m trying not to dwell on them so I won’t bore you all with the details.

31) Are you listening to right now: nothing actually. its late, I don’t wanna be noisy.

32) Gets on your nerves: unwarranted negativity, like I don’t need that in my life

33) Talked to a person named Tom: huh...not that i can recall off the top of my head.

34) Is your most visited website: probly tumblr tbh

35) Elementary school/primary school: Landell

36) High School: Cypress

37) College: University of Southern California (USC)

38) Hair colour: dark brown

39) Long/short hair: its long at the moment

40) Crush: I think we all know the answer to this question, say it with me:

Yep, I’m talkin about you Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

41) Do you like about yourself: i have a powerful imagination, expressive eyes, and soft skin :) Aaaand...thats about all I got goin for me. so there ya go. lol

42) Piercings: none

43) Blood type: umm...oh shit, idk???

44) Nickname: Ro, RoRo

45) Relationship status: single but...(secretly one of Negan’s wives)

46) Zodiac: libra

47) Pronouns: She/her

48) Favourite show: omg, i have too many, but I’m gonna say Doctor Who

49) Tattoos: none

50) Left or right handed: Right

FIRST

51) Surgery: i had my wisdom teeth taken out, but if we’re talking major surgery, i had a tumor removed from my ovary a couple years ago so that was...fun :P

52) Piercings: none

53) Best friend: my best friend, Eric, who I met in Kindergarten who I am proud to say is still my best friend to this day :) Love that dork with all my heart <3

54) Sport: soccer

55) Vacation: I think it was a trip to Mammoth? thats the first trip i can remember anyway.

56) Pair of shoes: nooo idea.

RIGHT NOW

57) Eating: nothing

58) Drinking: water

59) I am about to: go to sleep, in fact, I should be sleeping now. Oops.

60) Listening to: nothing

61) Waiting for: my time to come to meet Jeffrey Dean Morgan whenever that may be.

62) Want to see: LOGAN!! My best friend and I have been waiting to see it together and hopefully we will soon!

63) Want to get married: uhhh...maybe in the future?? If i find the right person? but its def not a priority.

64) Career: Actor

WHICH IS BETTER

65) Hugs/kisses: kisses, but i love hugs too.

66) Lips/eyes: Eyes

67) Taller/shorter: Taller

68) Younger/older: Older...like a lot older...let us refer back to exhibit A..

69) Romantic/spontaneous: Romantic. I am really not great when it comes to handling spur of the moment things.

70) Nice arms/nice stomach: arms

71) Sensitive/loud: Sensitive (because lets be honest, I’m gonna be the loud one in any relationship)

72) Hookup/relationship: relationship

73) Troublemaker/hesitant: Hesitant

HAVE YOU EVER

74) Kissed a stranger: yes

75) Drank hard liquor: I’ve like tasted it I guess but that’s about it.

76) Lost glasses/contact lenses: nope cuz I am blind af so if i lose them I am SCREWED.

77) Turned someone down: yes

78) Canoodling on a first date: yep

79) Broken someone’s heart: I don’t think so?? I could be wrong about that, but not that i know of.

80) Had your own heart broken: ooohhh yeah.

81) Been arrested: Nope

82) Cried when someone died: yes

83) Fallen for a friend: yeps

DO YOU BELIEVE IN

84) Yourself: yeah, i mean, for the most part, i guess??

85) Miracles: I suppose (I mean...Jeffrey Dean Morgan exists so...)

86) Santa Clause: no??

87) Kisses on a first date: absolutely

88) Angels: kinda yeah

89) Love at first sight: not really, I think thats called lust. lol

OTHER

90) Best friend’s name: Eric

91) Eye colour: dark brown

92) Favourite movie: I have a lot but I’m gonna go with Noises Off

ok, this was really long so you guys totes don’t have to do it. I just love doing these things. But I tag : @h3y-nikki @grab-my-boner @thescarletromeo and honestly anyone who sees this and wants to do it! Tag me in it so I can see your answers if anyone decides to do it!