#NON TAY RELATED

[t33sims]

A girly worked today but was sweating like crazy. Might wake up dehydrated tomorrow, or sick from legit sitting under an ac or my asthma might come for me. Find out in the next episode of Sensitive Body!

[cityof2morrow]

CO2 Skills: Custom Skill Tokens

Published: 7-17-2024 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY I use mods to make more diverse sims in terms of personality traits, body types, and lifetime wants. They’ve made my sims more complex and interesting to play overall. Still, the skill-building system feels limited alongside these mods. Being a decent pianist shouldn’t automatically make it easier to paint, spy, DJ, garden, become a career slacker, work as an architect, and play every other instrument in-game. Being clean certainly benefits barbers and pet owners, but shouldn’t they also be good at cutting hair and animal care? By default, sims can develop at least 40 skills - 4 toddler skills, 7 basic skills, 4 hidden skills, 6 life skills (AL/FT), and 11 talent badges (OFB). This custom skills pack builds directly on the existing skill-hobby system in Sims 2 in the following ways:

60+ new skills taken from other games in the simsverse (Sims 3, Sims 4, console titles, etc.)

100+ new skills related to university majors, career tracks, and popular mods from the simsverse

New skills are linked to certain objects, interactions, and career levels

All TS2 content creators are welcome to link these skills to your creations if they choose BUT this is meant to be non-intrusive. These will be linked to some of my custom careers, majors, and objects.

DETAILS Basegame Compatible – but skill-related objects and mods may require expansions. * These are skill TOKENS ONLY - custom objects, mods, majors and career tracks which use these skills will be published on this site under the #co2skills, #co2careers, and/or #co2edu  tags. Modders, feel free to implement these and if you do – please share!

GENERAL INFO

Skills are invisible tokens activated by certain interactions in-game.

Sims can’t develop the same skill twice and they can’t sell or gift them to others.

Skills do not appear in inventories or the UI.

Some repetitive and animal-specific skills were excluded.

An index of all skills and their GUIDS is included with this download. If you have custom skills to add to the list, please ask/message me.

A “SKILL TREE” FOR SIMS 2 Where do these custom skills fit in gameplay? Imagine a system with three levels of expertise… LEVEL 1 = basegame skills (body, charisma, cleaning, cooking, creativity, logic, and mechanical). ^^This level already exists in the basegame and everything starts here. You need 2 or more basic skill points before you can advance. LEVEL 2 = some custom skills, life skills (AL/FT), talent badges (OFB), supernatural/magic (AL) ^^This level exists if you play with expansions. I’ve added a few new skills here related to existing supernatural and woohoo gameplay. LEVEL 3 and up = remaining custom skills and university major skills

^^The bulk of new skills come into play here and help make sims’ hobbies, careers, and lifestyle choices make more sense.

Unlock level 3 skills by earning 2-3 points in a level 1 or level 2 skill, a talent badge, and/or attending university.

Use the skill trees below for reference. Skills are grouped by their basegame skill/hobby affiliation, but some (ballet for example) may appear in multiple categories.

You do NOT need to earn all skills/badges at one level to unlock the next. The point of this project is that your sims can finally specialize in activities and professions related to their true personality.

BODY Body skill is already linked to tai chi and the restocking badge, but the skill is named differently across games (athleticism, fitness, health/sanity, etc.). Unlock new ways to develop a sim’s physical and mental strength.

CHARISMA Charisma links to the sales badge while range of hobby-related interests fall under film and literature. Branch off and concentrate on related skill areas.

CLEANING The cleaning skill is linked to three badges (cosmetology, gardening, and fishing) and enthusiasm for animals and the environment. Specialize in ways which better reflect their lifestyle.

COOKING Venture into new worlds of taste and make magic in the kitchen! This may be especially useful for those who want more challenging gameplay in terms of food-related careers, businesses, and custom food mods.

CREATIVITY & DANCE By default, creativity makes earning badges in flower arranging, pottery, and sewing easier. It also relates to the hidden drafting/dance skills.

…because a sim who hates art should be able to become a master pianist without magically becoming a master painter too.

LOGIC & UNIVERSITY Logic contributes to the register/cashiering badge and the hidden study/homework skill. Now, sims can pursue new schools of knowledge. Certain majors will now require students to learn theory and technical skills in their areas of study.

MECHANICAL Mechanical sims can more easily earn a robotics badge and now, they can also unlock a host of new mechanical/tech-related pursuits.

SUPERNATURAL Sims with supernatural abilities can enhance their craft by building a range of new skills.

OTHER Some of the new skills require TWO (2) or more types of basic skill points. Herbalism, for example, requires both cooking and gardening skill.

DOWNLOAD (choose one) SKILL TOKENS from SFS | from MEGA

* These are skill TOKENS ONLY - custom objects, mods, majors and career tracks which use these skills will be published on this site under the #co2skills, #co2careers, and/or #co2edu tags. Modders, feel free to implement these and if you do – please share! CREDITS Thanks: Echo, Ch4rmful, Gummi, ChocolateCitySim, Sufficeittosay, WHoward, Jelly Meduza and the rest of the Sims 2 modding community. Sources: Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Magic Skill (Echo, 2006), Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik).

[bestworstcase]

Do you have thoughts you’d like to air on the Raven is actually Ruby’s dad theory? No prob if you’ve answered this before but could you link?

my general feeling on secret-biological-relation theories is that they’re usually something that arises from a misreading of narrative foiling (in that a bona fide narrative connection between two characters is taken to be foreshadowing for a literal material connection between the characters in-universe, rather than parsed as a narrative device that services theme; this also plays a role in why shipping narrative foils is so popular, because it follows from the textual thematic relationship) and in the case of secret parentage in particular, it is also often motivated at least in part by shipping (this is absolutely the case with summer/raven – and summer/qrow for that matter).

with rwby and the question of ruby’s parentage, such as it is, the fundamental issue i find in theories that taiyang isn’t ruby’s biological father, irrespective of Who the proposed alternative is, is that in practice each one boils down to two options:

#1, summer had an extramarital affair with raven that nobody else but the two of them knows about (in which case the only person who could reasonably reveal the truth is summer, because ruby is so much the spitting image of summer but for the fluffier hair she could’ve just as easily gotten from tai as from raven or qrow that no one would question she’s tai’s – especially given that we know now summer is a skilled liar!)

or

#2, everything was aboveboard (whether poly triad or open relationship or summer and tai actually having a platonic partnership or what-have-you), ruby’s true parentage is known to TRQ (and their friends/colleagues may have some general awareness of whatever the real situation was) and… nobody ever told ruby for Some Reason.

now personally i think – if we’re doing a theory in this vein – option #1 is both more interesting and more narratively plausible (because again: 9.10 flashback establishes that summer is a good liar and puts that trait squarely in focus), but the preference among the rosebird conspiracy crowd seems to overwhelmingly be for option #2, so we’ll focus on that one.

ON ITS FACE, i don’t think it’s crazy to speculate that the keeping secrets family might be keeping this secret, given e.g. yang wasn’t told about raven until summer’s disappearance (and may not really have been told so much as discovered, depending upon what “found out” means). why not hide effectively the same information from ruby?well.

for one thing, it then becomes narratively awkward to explain “yang knows raven is her mom, ruby knows raven is yang’s mom, and raven expressly claims yang as her daughter (and has a bond to her); but neither ruby nor yang know that raven is also ruby’s mom*, raven has evinced exactly zero of her i-don’t-care-she-said-caringly behavior toward ruby, nor used “bet your daddy and uncle didn’t tell you that ruby is also my daughter, did they?” as the mother of all trump cards in her “here’s why you shouldn’t blindly trust whatever you’re told QUESTION EVERYTHING” gambit, and when qrow called raven out for being a deadbeat mom to yang he said sweet fuck all to her about ruby.”

[*we do not do the insistently referring to the non-carrying parent as The Dad thing in this household, thank you.]

if the presumption is that raven being ruby’s parent is not secret-secret—as in, this is known information to TRQ—then it becomes untenable as a surprise twist once you reach v4 and have qrow and raven, in a private conversation, discussing her abandonment of only one of her two daughters. even if raven felt (for some reason) that ruby didn’t really ‘count’ as her daughter, qrow has zero. reason. to let that fly, and no reason at all to uphold a charade when it’s just himself and raven.

rwby is better than butchering his characterization in this one scene for the sake of a dramatic reveal down the line; there are ways you could write qrow’s dialogue there to include both girls while being vague about the specific biological relationship, and then it becomes punchy foreshadowing instead of a retroactive “…why does qrow not give a damn about raven abandoning ruby too?” moment.

and foreshadowing like that is one of rwby’s greatest strengths! they do this sort of dialogue sleight of hand all the time!

but say they did fumble that one moment—it happens, it’s not impossible—well… as a narrative secret this becomes really untenable after v5. even if raven flat out did not consider ruby to be her daughter whatsoever for her own labyrinthine raven branwen reasons, if she is aware of a direct biological relation between herself and yang’s sister of which yang has clearly been kept in the dark, and her goal is to shock yang with information that will break her trust in taiyang and qrow—which it is, that’s exactly why she does the whole shapeshifting song and dance—then why wouldn’t she drop that bomb?

you could not possibly design a more flawless QUESTION EVERYTHING ALSO NEVER TRUST DAD OR UNCLE ABOUT ANYTHING EVER AGAIN kick in the face for yang than “oh by the way, your sister? i’m her mother too. the only reason you know about me is because you went looking; if you hadn’t… well, they would have happily kept you in the dark your whole life, too.”

and if raven didn’t drop that bomb because she has her signature Complicated Feelings about ruby, then shouldn’t we expect to see a glimmer of that in her response to ruby, as opposed to what we plainly get—which is “hm. you sure are summer’s daughter. fireball in the face for you for one thousand years!!!”

in the reverse direction, we have the question of whether such a reveal really serves the narrative, and i don’t think it does.

the general thrust of the “for” argument here is that the revelation of such a frankly pointless lie about something that is only a big deal because the adults conspired to hide it would tie off all the existing threads about team strq being generally dysfunctional in a tidy little bow and highlight it by virtue of that dysfunction being emphatically Not Salem’s Fault. to an extent this is a line of thinking that i find not unreasonable because it is quite clear that team strq’s dysfunction was indeed Not Salem’s Fault – the shadow war was a significant stressor of course, but there is an awful lot of small interpersonal messiness simmering inside that pressure cooker.

HOWEVER,

rwby has spent Nine Whole Volumes meticulously slow-boiling “what happened the night summer rose met salem?” as THE central mystery – that is the question haunting this entire narrative, the missing piece of the puzzle, the answer that must be found and resolved before the story can end. and i promise. I PROMISE. that the answer to this question will not, in any configuration, principally concern the intra-team romantic fuck ups of team strq. LOWER THE FILTER SETTING ON YOUR SHIPPER GOGGLES THAT IS A SIDE DISH OR PERHAPS A GARNISH.

the problem for rosebird parents (and other ruby parentage theories) is that it’s very difficult to fit a reveal like that into the margins of The Most Important Narrative Reveal. (which is: summer joined salem.) narratively you put yourself into a corner where you have to balance exploding ruby and yang’s relationships with all of team strq at once against… resolving the actual central conflict of the story and dealing with the fallout of “OUR MOM JOINED YOU?!” and the end result is going to be either:

the parentage reveal just kind of falls flat and gets skimmed over quickly in a not very satisfying way because everyone has a bigger, unfortunately immortal fish to fry

the parentage reveal turns into a narrative black hole that eats up way too much runtime proportionate to its actual narrative importance and salem is like “…so should i come back when you kids are done yelling at your parents or…?”

neither one is a great idea. again, the optimal time for a ruby parentage reveal was v4/5, with raven’s entry proper into the story. doing this in v10, with everything else that is going to be going on in vacuo as the story enters its final arc, would not go well.

a secondary issue is the impact such a reveal would have on 1. the nascent dad’s chickens come home to roost arc, and 2. resolving matters between raven and yang in vacuo, however that shakes out.

for the first, any kind of “actually tai isn’t the dad” reveal inherently moves the focus of his character arc, from “tai neglected his kids and favored ruby, also why is he still in vale” to, you know, the lying. it dilutes the payoff for all the development with regard to neglect/favoritism by veering off at a wild angle right before the punch. there is a time and a place for narrative velociraptors in the bushes, but swerving like that isn’t it.

and for the second… there is no way to do a reveal that raven is secretly also ruby’s mom, at the point in the narrative where yang is meeting raven again after their confrontation now that raven is committed to trying, without drop-kicking yang and yang’s finding-her-mother storyline off the stage. sorry. you can’t do this without making it all about ruby and how ruby feels and how raven feels about ruby and summer and how yang feels about ruby having the same moms. like lol they are not going to do that, in the same way they’re not going to suddenly drop ruby’s summer rose identity disturbance storyline in favor of going “aaaaactually yang is raven’s and summer’s baby so let’s focus on how yang feels about learning summer is her biological mother for real.”

tertiary problem with the rosebird parents theory, and this isn’t a narrative issue but rather to do with the “explaining how two women made a baby” exercises, wearily taps the sign. Intersex Conditions Do Not Work That Way.

[your-local-crypt1d]

More WRA and Roseblings headcanons 🥀

Part 1!

Gem inherited her mothers' green eyes, whereas fWhip inherited his father's blue. After she transitioned, people would often say she looked just like their mother, to the point it was uncomfortable. Gem never knew her mother, she doesn't share the grief of her people (as much as she understands why they grieve, she finds it hard to sympathise), and being thrown mournful glances and overhearing hushed whispers of the late empress left a bitterness inside even if she knew it was illogical to be upset over it.

"What do you know of my mother? I did not even know my mother!" Has been a phrase Gem's regrettably snapped more times than she'd like privy

Just the complicated feelings/experiences children of a mother who died during childbirth having to deal with growing up, especially when that mother was such a beloved political figure as Grand Empress MelodiaRose of the Wither Rose Dynasty

All traditional Grimmish names are compounds. it stems from their language having a logographic writing system (e.g. Chinese), so it contains a separate glyph for each word or phrase. Traditionally, Grimmish parents choose two words and/or names and compound them together for their children.

As mentioned in the previous part, fwhips' name is a poor translation between mythic and common, and it means "someone who gets back up after being knocked down".

Gemini comes from the tradition of the firstborn heir being named after a constellation or celestial body, and then Tay is a synonym of May in Grimmish. May/Tay in Grimmish has to do with the rising sun, and it symbolises the heir being the rising Emperor of their nation. Not that that happens with Gem, though.

So Gem has a very similar name to her father (like John vs. Jack levels of similar) and looks almost identical to her mother.

Unlike in other empires, adoption in the Grimmish royal family means being included in the line of succession, and having the same rights to inheritance as blood-related children.

With a large portion of the population being non-human ("monsters"), monster hunters historically have been a very big problem for the residents of the Grimlands. The heads on spikes and towering walls are to keep the hunters out.

This leads to many orphaned children in the Grimlands and surrounding empires, especially orphaned vampire children since Vampires are fiercely protective of their young to their dying breaths. Adoption is a large part of Grimmish culture, and they take it very seriously.

Their foster system is the best in the realm, support workers for children in the system are highly regarded (in the same way soldiers and doctors are), and as mentioned, royal adoptees have the same legal rights to inheritance as their adopted siblings.

Hence why Sausage, an adopted child, was allowed to become king of Mythland when he had no blood ties to the royal lineage.

Speaking of, I think Sausage would make iron friendship bracelets for the other Wither Rose Alliance members. Pearls' has sunflowers carved into the metal and inlaid with yellow gems. Gems' has amethyst pendants in the shape of magical symbols. fWhips' is painted black with little spiked studs painted red.

Sausage has a lot of scars from growing up, and when asked about them he has a running joke of always coming up with inconsistent and elaborate lies on how he got them, fWhip is in on it too. He's told the same advisor three different stories about how he got the scar on his upper arm (a warden, falling down a cliffside, stabbed by an assassin). No one knows the real story except Sausage, not even his siblings, but that's just Sausage for you.

With the surplus of crops, especially wheat, in Gilded Helanthia, I think baking would be a very popular and cheap hobby. Also popularised by their Queen taking an interest in it. Pearl usually makes pastries, tarts, and breads which she'll bring to WRA meetings for taste testing.

Gem doesn't have traditional courtiers as most rulers do, she has a large family of Allays who live in her tower and do nice fae things like cleaning up and bringing her important documents. Only occasionally do they hide things from her, or take coins, but Gem finds it hard to be mad when they technically "work" for her unpaid. The Allays don't seem to mind, though.

Along with that, Copper Golems aren't an uncommon sight in the Grimlands and Pixandria, the copper supplied from the latter and the engineering from the former. The Copper Golems around Eastvale are what inspired a young fWhip to take up engineering in the first place.

And native to the northern regions of Gilded Helanthia and further up north into Mythland and the Codlands are Glares. Just to round it all out. I imagine the Glares around the swamp have the moss cloaks (like depicted in-game), whereas ones from Mythlandic dark oak forests lean towards liverwort and fungus, and the ones from the Plains of Gilded Helanthia coontails and vines.

[astrogurujimayanksblog]

How Ketu in the 1st House Shapes Your Identity and Spiritual Journey

In Vedic astrology, the placement of Ketu in the 1st house of a natal chart holds profound significance. This positioning shapes a person’s identity, personality, and spiritual journey in unique ways, creating a blend of mystical influences that touch all areas of life. Known as a "shadow planet," Ketu is associated with detachment, spirituality, and karmic lessons, often influencing how an individual views themselves and interacts with the world. When positioned in the 1st house—the house representing the self, appearance, and how one projects themselves—Ketu's influence can be intense, bringing both challenges and profound insights.

Self-Identity and Personality: The Karmic Veil of Ketu

The presence of Ketu in the 1st house often introduces complexities in self-identity. Individuals may experience an unusual detachment from their personal identity, finding it challenging to define themselves or their role in society. This detachment can manifest as feelings of alienation or an unshakable sense that they are somehow "different" from others. Often, those with this placement project an unconventional personality, as Ketu encourages them to break from societal norms and seek their truth.

This placement promotes a deep inner journey toward self-discovery. The individual’s ego and self-perception are continuously tested, compelling them to question their true identity. As a result, individuals with Ketu in the 1st house may feel a strong desire to explore life's mysteries, searching for answers that resonate with their soul rather than with external expectations.

Spirituality and the Quest for Higher Knowledge

One of the most distinctive effects of Ketu in the 1st house is the heightened inclination towards spirituality and metaphysical subjects. People with this placement are drawn to spiritual practices, meditation, and philosophy, often in pursuit of higher knowledge. Ketu's energy drives them to seek answers beyond the material realm, prompting a quest for enlightenment and deep inner peace.

This placement encourages a person to reflect on life’s transitory nature, understanding that physical and material experiences are fleeting. Such individuals often prioritize inner growth and spiritual fulfillment over worldly success or validation. They may also feel a deep connection to ancient wisdom and esoteric teachings, preferring to spend time in introspective pursuits rather than conventional social engagements.

Physical Health and Mind-Body Connection

The influence of Ketu on physical health is subtle yet impactful. Often, Ketu’s placement in the 1st house brings challenges related to physical well-being, particularly in areas tied to the digestive system and mental health. This may manifest as gastrointestinal issues or conditions such as anxiety and depression. The root of these health issues often lies in Ketu’s tendency to disconnect individuals from their bodies, leading to neglect of physical needs.

It is crucial for those with Ketu in this position to foster a mindful approach to health, grounding themselves to counter Ketu's ethereal nature. Engaging in mind-body practices like yoga or tai chi, along with a balanced diet, can help restore the necessary connection between body and mind. Mindfulness practices can provide grounding, ensuring that the individual remains aware of their physical state amidst their inclination toward spiritual detachment.

Relationships and Emotional Detachment

Ketu in the 1st house affects how individuals approach relationships and interpersonal dynamics. Often, there is a sense of detachment or non-attachment in personal connections, which can make it challenging to forge deep emotional bonds. These individuals may seem aloof or emotionally distant, as Ketu’s influence encourages them to withdraw from emotional entanglements, leading to misunderstandings in relationships.

However, this emotional detachment is not necessarily negative. For many, it allows a more objective and rational approach to relationships, enabling them to focus on meaningful connections rather than superficial attachments. They may form relationships that align with their spiritual values or attract partners who share their pursuit of higher wisdom. For relationships to thrive, it’s essential for these individuals to find people who respect their need for space and introspection.

Life Purpose and Direction: A Journey of Self-Discovery

Ketu in the 1st house influences an individual’s sense of purpose, often driving them away from traditional paths and toward a unique, personal journey. These individuals tend to question societal expectations and may reject conventional definitions of success, preferring instead to pursue what feels authentically fulfilling. Ketu’s influence leads them to seek a higher calling, a path that resonates with their inner values rather than external achievements.

This placement encourages introspection and self-awareness, prompting individuals to explore life’s deeper meaning. It often leads to a feeling of wandering or constant searching, as they move through various experiences and challenges that shape their identity. Ketu’s guidance helps them discover that true fulfillment comes not from external validation but from spiritual growth and self-discovery.

Personal Transformation and Growth: Lessons of Ketu

Ketu in the 1st house brings about significant personal transformations over time. The journey with Ketu is often tumultuous, with each experience acting as a lesson that pushes the individual towards growth. The transformative periods they undergo are not just random events but are often karmic in nature, guiding them toward self-realization. They may find themselves letting go of old identities and attachments, constantly reshaping who they are in search of a deeper truth.

These transformations, though sometimes painful, are ultimately beneficial. They serve as catalysts for growth, helping the individual shed the superficial layers of identity and dive deeper into their spiritual essence. The lessons learned during these transformations lead to an enlightened understanding of the self and the world around them.

Karmic Lessons and Past-Life Connections

Ketu is often seen as a karmic planet, and its placement in the 1st house suggests that there are karmic lessons tied to the individual’s self-identity and expression. The challenges they face may stem from past-life issues or unresolved conflicts related to the ego. This placement often brings situations that force individuals to confront parts of themselves that they may have ignored or denied.

These karmic lessons are not meant to punish but to guide the individual toward spiritual maturity. By facing and overcoming these challenges, they gain wisdom and insights that help them grow. Ketu in the 1st house acts as a reminder of the transitory nature of identity, encouraging them to embrace their true self without attachment to superficial labels or roles.

Conclusion

The placement of Ketu in the 1st house offers a unique mix of challenges and opportunities. While it may bring issues related to health, relationships, and self-identity, it also fosters profound spiritual insights and a path toward enlightenment. Individuals with Ketu in this position are often on a journey of self-discovery, exploring their true nature and seeking a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries. By embracing the lessons of Ketu, they can transform their lives in powerful ways, ultimately finding peace and fulfillment through spiritual growth.

The impact of Ketu in the 1st house is deeply personal and varies based on the individual’s entire natal chart, including aspects, conjunctions, and other planetary influences. Seeking guidance from an experienced astrologer can provide further clarity and support in navigating these complex influences.

[talonabraxas]

The Yogic Yang Spiral Meditation

The aim of the yang spiral meditation is to bring into awareness of the participants the presence of Cosmic Consciousness and to be part of the worldwide efforts of raising the consciousness of the planet and of entering into a superior stage of evolution of humankind.

The Yin-Yang Concept

Everything that exists in the Universe is polarized, i.e., formed of yang-solar (+) and yin-lunar (-).

The presence of these complementarily opposed counterparts creates a tension. From this tension, Life is born. For maintaining the tension (therefore, life), one of the poles must predominate. This predominance leads to movement, change, transformation.

The two poles of the manifestation are contained in a tremendously big circle that keeps them together (in the above drawing, the exterior circle should be extremely big, but considerations of space makes this unpractical in this material). This symbolizes the existence of a Transcendental Principle that controls and dominates from a higher level. Only in this way Creation is possible. If the Transcendent Principle wouldn’t compel the two poles to stay together, they would return into Unity, Invisibility, Non-manifestation.

Each polarity contains, in seed, its opposite, which means that everything is relative. Everything, in some deep, mysterious way, is his opposite. Every moment of life includes, somehow, qualities diametrically opposed to those apparently implied. It is well known the truth of the original androgyny (having male and female characteristics in one) of the human being. By virtue of this, the balance between male (+) and female (-) hormones, condition sine-qua-non of life, is possible in all humans irrespective of sex.

Man is predominantly Solar; his seed (the semen) is Lunar (-). Woman is predominantly Lunar (-); her seed (the ova) is Solar (+). Thus, tai-ki is a perfect symbolic synthesis of Universe and Man, defining in a masterly manner the essence of Yoga Science. The representation of the two poles, the Solar (+) and the Lunar (-), as being equal is an idealistic point of view. A perfect balance leads to absence of tension, hence non-manifestation. In the manifested worlds, there always is and must be a predominant pole. The state of power appears when the two poles are very close to a perfect balance. A strong lack of balance between them results in weakness, suffering, illness, lack of self-control and lack of power.

Another important aspect is that yang is centripetal (it proceeds toward a center or axis) and moves in energy vortexes that turn counterclockwise, while yin is centrifugal (it proceeds away from a center or axis) and moves in energy vortexes that turn clockwise. Yang is the principle of order, structure, decrease of entropy. Yin is the principle of chaos, lack of structure, increase of entropy.

The spiral is charged with multiple symbolic meanings. Many of these meanings include the dynamic interaction between yin and yang.

The yang-spiral expresses the luminous, solar, dynamic and optimistic energy. When moving along the arm of this spiral in a counterclockwise sense, it is just natural to reach the center, which represents the Source of Creation from which everything that exists started and to which it will return.

The yang-spiral thus represents the circular centripetal movement of returning to the Center. The yang-spiral is related to the movement of spiritual evolution leading to liberation from the cycle of reincarnations, while the yin-spiral is related to the movement of involution and chaining to the reincarnation wheel, since it gets further away from the Center.

The spiral is often seen in nature: the snail shell is a well known example. The symbolism of the spiral is scientifically funded by the mathematical theory of the logarithmic spiral and of the Golden Number, or Fibonacci series. This Golden Number was discovered by the Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci (c. 1170 – c. 1240), also called Leonardo of Pisa.

Fibonacci numbers have many interesting properties and are widely used in mathematics. Natural patterns, such as the spiral growth of leaves on some trees, often exhibit the Fibonacci series. A corollary of this is the well-known fractal structures and the discovery of fractal geometry. --Gregorian Bivolaru

'Celestial Lovers' Tao Teh King Talon Abraxas

[inbalanceofpower]

hc + ❓

❓ for a headcanon of the receiver's choice: feminism

to put it very simply, tay is the most tradwife non-tradwife to ever tradwife. she's a terrible feminist, in the sense that for her feminism mostly begins and ends with other people. there are certain things (au-wise) she won't budge on: she works— she could never let someone else provide everything; household bills are a 50/50 split— again, that's the guilt complex. unsurprisingly, they're finance-related! growing up, she didn't have a lot of money and whilst she doesn't have any real reason to worry about it now, she refuses to take it for granted. those are quite literally her only redeeming elements where modern feminism is concerned, and they aren't much to do with it. strike one!

now, tay used to liken herself to an independent #girlboss. she was making her own money, sure. but in the customer service industry... i shall say no more. for a period of time, she swore off love, slept with who she wanted, when she wanted. she was the pinnacle of men can do it; why can't i? there are things that disprove her girlbossery in her affectionately named tinder-era, in particular that being that she quickly relented to the desires of her sexual partners (primarily men during this time; her relationship/sexual dynamic with women differs⋆). of course, there's an element of people-pleasing— that's just how she is. but there's also an element of enjoying being controlled, and with a male partner majority, yikes. strike two!

as for being independent... 💀 she can be, and she is in certain aspects— financially, literally just financially, and i've made that point already. tay is quite reliant on other people, and by other people, i mean men and by that i mean klaus. and she likes it! big no-no for modern feminism. (this is also applicable to hybrid verse, where she isn't just reliant but indebted eternally. you can imagine how that looks.) strike three!

in relationships (or "relationships" for klaus-related inclusion) with men, she can be very traditional. obviously, this is dependent on their worldview and their skillset. tay is not a good cook; she doesn't belong in the kitchen. but! she'll insist on doing the rest, the clean-up is hers, as is the responsibility of fixing a drink afterwards. the menial chores, as well, she views as her responsibility. she won't always refuse the offer of help, but know that she feels bad for it afterwards. she feels safe around most men, she seeks the comfort of men, she loves the safety that most men provide. she's an all-around man-enjoyer.

most controversially, despite it not being her reality, tay would very much enjoy being controlled by a long-term partner. when it comes to how, there are obvious exceptions to this; she would still like to work (the crowd boos), but that would be her only condition. it isn't a fantasy she'd share. she doesn't often talk about the things she wants, and above that, it's not realistic. but it's still there! she allows herself snippets of it— asking that she be told what to wear, asking to be ordered for at a restaurant, asking for permission to go out (it comes across more-so as do you need me here). you get the picture. she likes possession, she likes dominance. she'd love more of it.

⋆ quite simply, tay would not receive any satisfaction from a woman treating her in this way. strike four, i think!

as i said, her feminism begins and ends with other people. tay, to other women: do as i say, not as i do! and that is to say, if other women behaved as she did, she'd encourage the opposite. she's a hypocrite, and not so naïve that she thinks how she feels is right. she wants better for every woman out there, just leave her out of it.

bonus:

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Currently Watching - May

Because I love a good little list - in alphabetical order! 😊

Regularly updated during the month, latest update 30.05.2023

Here you can find my weekly roundup that goes into a bit more detail about each episode.

And a little link to my favorite bl-tropes-collection 💙

This may contain spoilers!

1. Be My Favorite (1/10 on Youtube)

Well...It had some funny parts, but right now I can't imagine how Kawi and Pisaeng get together...I mean Kawi is so head over heels for the girl...But as I said, there are some really funny moments and I had a good laugh.

2. Bokura no Shokutaku aka Our Dining Table (8/10 on Gaga)

Hozumi Yutaka likes to cook and is good at it, but he can't eat infront of other people. Meeting Tane and his older brother Ueda Minoru his life seems to change and he may finally have found what his body and soul were longing for. A true comfort watch right now.

3. La Pluie (5/12 on iQiyi)

Saengtai goes deaf whenever it rains. The only voice he can hear in his head is his soulmate's one. But he refuses to answer it, because Tai doesn't believe in things like love or soulmates. That is until he meets his soulmate for the first time. It is surprisingly good and I am looking forward to this one.

4. My Story (7/10 on Youtube)

Every now and than I like to watch a pinoy-bl. The first episode was a mess and a bit boring, but I have a strong second-lead-syndrome! I love the secondary couple and they just slept together in one bed, but that was so cute! Looking forward to the next episodes!

5. Our Skyy 2 (12/16 on Youtube)

Can I be honest? This isn't my cup of tea...I still watch it, because I hope the next episodes are better, especially the ones I am hoping for (MSP + ATOTS). But most of the dialogues are cringy and cheesy and the stories are...weird or boring. MSP was really good though.

6. Sparks Camp (1/? on Youtube)

Philippines's first gay dating reality show! And it's giving you everything you're looking for! Well at least a bunch of cute and cringy moments! And I am sold!

7. Step by Step (6/10 on Gaga)

Employee meets boss without knowing who he has met and crushes hard on him, just tells him what everyone thinks about the new boss and is just adorably clumsy infront of him. I adore the friend group! I hope we get to see them support Pat a lot. The second episode...difficult for me.

8. The Day I Loved You (9/10 on Youtube)

Go watch this! It is such a good show! So great. I love it so much. I was hit by tthis series with a sledgehammer. Not just how good the production is or the acting, but the theme and plot. Damn! So good. And I can relate to this a little bit too much, but I still love it. Just watch it!

9. The Luminous Solution (1/6 on Gaga)

Every wish comes with a price...We meet Thana and Patis, a couple of over a decade. While Thana tries to holds closeness to his partner, Patis is working non stop at the hospital and doesn't see, that his partner is suffering. And now Thana lost his job and his mother is in depth. One evening he enters a very special café, which only shows itsself to people who are in deep need for a wish. But can you pay the price? As a second couple we meet Mai and Ryou, who become enemies on the first day of school and who will have some obstacles to overcome to be together. And there is Ryous best friend, I guess he has a huge crush on Ryou. How they will end up in the café? I don't know, but I am intrigued.

10. Zenra Meshi aka Naked Dining - Love, Life and Liberation (7/12 on Gaga)

Everybody has their own way to release stress. Ichijo Futa eats naked. When he goes to his dead grandmother's house, he meets Miki Mahiro, who finds out about his eating preference. I guess it is a series about understanding what is really important in life.

Finished in May

Series

Tin Tem Jai (on Gaga)

They say if you don't have anything nice to say, just keep your mouth shut…That's my motto about the series. I really didn't like it that much. 2 out of 10 for me

2. Happy Merry Ending (8/8 on Gaga)

As often with korean bls, this one was soooo short! Just 15 minutes per episode. But it was a good. We meet SeungJun and JaeHyun and when they meet there is not a question left that those two like each other. A wedding singer and a pianist. A wedding singer with social anxienty and trauma. I really enjoyed this drama. A good 9 out of 10 for me.

3. A Boss and A Babe (12/12 on Youtube)

I wasn't a big fan of ForceBook after watching Enchanté, but I think it works in this drama. Cher is getting an internship at a gaming company. In his free time he runs an ASMR channel and the boss is a big fan of his voice (a thing I can't understand) and they start talking in the evenings so Gun, the boss, can finally manage to fall asleep. And then they can start to fall for each other. Most of the times I liked this drama, but it has some flaws. So a solid 7,5 out of 10 for me.

4. My Esports Genius Brother (12/12 on Gaga)

Jiang YiFeng can't feel physical touch, emotions or anything else, he can't taste and he doesn't see colors, which makes him super focused and an exellent gamer. That is until he meets Lu Lin, an idol with too much of everything, especially the potential of becoming violent. YiFeng helps him to calm down and thanks to Lu Lin YiFeng can see colors, taste food and experience the whole palette of emotions. A romance blossoms between these two against all odds and even though it is a chinese censored drama with some almost kisses (the scenes were horrible cut) and a sweet confession scene, we can feel the attraction between these two. I really liked. Just wished it would be a little bit longer! 5 minutes per episode was just a little bit short. But nevertheless sweet. 7,5 out of 10 for me.

5. The Promise (10/10 on WeTV + Youtube)

Okay, I loved it in the beginning. I thought it was a really good drama. But after a while it got repetetive and boring. I wished Nan just got together with Party, because Phu just could get his head out of his own ass. I was really angry at him at times. And there was so much unnecessary drama, especially in the last two episodes. It was just too much. Just a 6,5 out of 10 for me in the end.

6. Watashi to Otto to Otto no Kareshi aka Me, My Husband And My Husband's Boyfriend (4/10 on gaga)

Misaki is married to Yuuki. She nows something is off, because he doesn't really have interest in getting sexual with her. On the day before their wedding anniversary she sees him kissing a man infront of their home. It is her former student Shyuuhei, who also has a crush on her. Now they have to find a way to deal with everything. And their solution...I don't really get in the end. It is kind of an open ending, which is totally fine, but the resolution with Misaki being okay with the situation was kind of rushed? Just a 6,5 out of 10 for me.

7. Love Mate (6/8 on Gaga and Viki)

I am in love with the grumpy-I-don't-believe-in-love-guy and the sunshine-I-fell-in-love-with-you-at-first-sight-guy. The butterflies went wild in my stomach and my heart got all fluffy. Over all a 10 out of 10 for me!

Short Film

At The Moment (on Gaga)

In a not so far away future people can freely choose, which gender they identify as. They have the chance to change their gender once in their lifetime, so they must make the right decision. Of course, there are programs and surveys which will support you on your journey to the right decision. But what is the right decision? What if you were born male and you identify as a male, but you like feminine things and fall in love with another young man, but everyone around you tells you to change into a woman, because it is the most logical next step? We accompany Yi An, on the edge of seventeen and in love with his classmate Zhou Yang Kai, on his way to find out what exactly he is. His best friend, identifying as male and in love with Yi An, wants to help him getting comfortable with the idea of being a girl. But Yi An questions everything around the idea of gender swap and his own sexuality and in the end it is about self-love and to accept the fact who you are and who you love. It is an interesting short movie about the question what attraction, sex and gender is and if it does have to do with gender preferences or sex. A 9 out of 10 for me.

2. Gaze in Silence (on Gaga)

This should be named Obsession. Everyone in this was obsessed. The first one with sex, another one with the thought of becoming the first person's boyfriend and the last one was just obsessed with the first one. A story about a very active young man who likes to have sex with different partners and who is not looking for a relationship. One of his sex-partners wants to become his boyfriend and the situation escalated. But lucky number one has a stalker who films him during his sex-sessions and who now rescues him from the hands of the evil wanna-b-boyfriend. And they have sex while the wanna-b is lying next to them...tied up. A very strange ending, but not bad. A very quiet short film with a lot to say in the end. I liked the way it was shot and that there were no real conversations. 7,5 out of 10 for me.

3. May you stay, forever young (on Gaga)

If you expect there to be much romance or love here, you are mistaken. This was a very depressing and hard to watch film. You could literally feel the emptiness in our main character. It oozed outward from his core. Only the family couldn't see it. First and foremost, the mother. Francis grows up sheltered and is supposed to concentrate on his lessons and especially his piano playing. At least that's what his parents want him to do. He, on the other hand, wants to spend time with his friend Tommy and even secretly starts working a part-time job in the restaurant where Tommy works. The relationship of the two is never clearly defined. What is certain is that Francis likes Tommy. Whether those feelings are reciprocated, I don't really know. And in the end, Francis breaks down and the parents stand helplessly around him, not knowing how to deal with him. And then the movie ends and you're about as helpless as the parents, because we don't know what's going to happen next in Francis' life. But that's what I really want to know! Over all a solid 8 out of 10 for me.

4. So refreshed (on Gaga)

Kim and Choi are two gay friends. Kim likes Choi, but Kim is not Choi's type. So Kim suffers in silence until one night Choi decides to book a middle-aged masseur with a light belly for company. While Kim is out to get the money, Choi has fun with the, in the end, really homophobic masseur. Kim and Choi fight and when Kim is home alone again, he watches the video of Choi and the masseur, he secretly took with his watch, and jerks of...so refreshed! It was really disturbing and disgusting to watch. A 5 out of 10 for me.

5. Old Narcissus (on Gaga)

A story about aging and the struggle with it. A story about beauty and its transience. A story about acceptance and the fact you should really not trust strangers, you don't know shit about! That was one stupid choice you made writer! The moth never would! Still a 7 out of 10 for me.

Movie

Dropped/On-Hold in May

House of Stars

Dropped at episode 3. I really don't like this one. I don't like the acting not the story. It is boring and confusing and just overall not good, in my opinion.

Looking forward to in May

House of Stars (May 1st on iQiyi)

Love Mate (May 4th on Gaga)

Star Struck (May 18th)

Be my favorite (May 26th on Youtube)

The Luminous Solution (May 27th on Youtube and Gaga)

Tie The Not (May 27th on Youtube)

Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai (May 27th cinema release, no international release for now)

[stardomtrash]

The Lore of Death

Someone asked me to explain the lore of The Clown. Behold, a condensed down version that's friendly for all your non-wrestling normie friends (as I make a concerted effort to avoid revealing this is wrestling related. Idk I found it funnier that way)

Once upon a time there was a woman named Kaori Yoneyama.

One day, she became possessed by the powers of death metal and began hanging around with some raver chicks with neon glow weapons called Tokyo Cyber Squad. She changed her name to Death Yama-san, and all was well for a long while. She had many friends.

However, due to very tragic circumstances, the neon ravers had to be disbanded, and Death Yama-san was left without a home. She was taken in by our resident heroes who go by the name Stars. They cast a magic spell on her to remove the darkness from her, and turned her into a happy clown by the name of Gokigen Death (lit. translation to I Am Good Mood).

Gokigen Death and Stars played together for a long while, until they were challenged by the forces of evil, known as Oedo Tai. They waged war, and after one gruelling battle, Gokigen Death was captured by Oedo Tai and corrupted by their darkness, turning her into Fukigen Death (lit. translation I Am Bad Mood).

She now runs around with them, causing mischief, reading the sports paper and smoking air cigarettes. There are also rumours she is an alien, but these are unfounded.

[alongwaytostar]

*Clears throat*

“ Bitches, bros, and non-binary hoes, we are gathered here today in haphhazard communion, to witness the condemnation of one Tay Mcangst shitty-slutty-ash-toobles-Pornmagazine. Tay, which is far too anglisized a name for a semitic revolutionary who exists as Russia’s worst nightmare given human form, proves we cannot all escape the allure of Taylor swift, deadly siren that she is.

This court comes to order, to flay open the plethora of crimes commited against readers and mutuals everywhere, by this menacing figure of “Shittygaypornmagazine” on the problematic and venerable tumblr dot com. (In painful tandem with the affects of certain works of fiction through Archive of our own dot org) To expose the psychic damage inflicted upon those at the mercy of Mr. Pornmagazine’s wordsmithing.

Throughout history, humanity has suffered at the hands of its brethren, and it is my humble opinion that the monopoly held by this “Tay” mimics those observed even in ancient times. “There was no rest left for the commons, and, as the last straw, they where now to be taxed. Poor creatures!-crawling home exhausted, mutilated, decrepit with age, they would find everything gone in their long absence to wrack and ruin.” (Livy, The early history of Rome, 5.10) Though this excerpt was taken from a history detailing the events of Roman history in the year 401 B.C.E, it also applies perfectly to the experience of following tumblr user Shittygaypornmagazine. Indeed the allegory of the ogligarchy relates quite well to the fanfiction experience at large. In this case, Tay has been charged as responsible for the emotional deprication of their readers, through use of merciless angst, nought but unfulfilled promises of fluff, and a considerably playful attitude towards the affair as a whole. For this reason, the formal prognosis for Tay’s crimes, has been to charge him with “Corruption of the youth.”

Now, it is duely acknowledged by the court, that another important figure of western antiquity, was charged with this same crime and kept his honor. Socrates, saying at the very end of his trial, “Now it is time that we were going, I to die and you to live, but which of us has the happier prospect is unknown to anyone but God.” (Plato: collected dialogues, Socrates’ defense (apology) 26)

Tay, though undoubtedly equally well spoken, will not share in Socrates’ mode of death. Hemlock is an unforgiving mistress and the courts have designed a much better instrument. Faithful companion to the accused, Yris Latteyi, has lovingly crafted a bright pink guillotine for the purpose of bringing their angst tormentor to justice. We thank you for your dedication, Yris.

With all the evidence presented, and only a few self important tangents committed by the writer of this piece, this court is hereby adjourned with the following conclusion; Tay Mcangst shitty-slutty-ash-toobles-Pornmagazine, is condemned forthwith to death by pink guillotine.

As a final homage to sir Pornmagazines influential nature on the fandom, though everything they didnt want is everything he was, we promise that we will sing about you.

@shittygaypornmagazine @yris-latteyi

*slams hammer on table* “Court adjourned, go home you hedonistic fucks.”

[jenniferdiazisatransgirl]

“Goodnight, Moon Girl” (Spoilers)

Hey everyone,

So I am now up to “Goodnight, Moon Girl” and this show honestly does look like a promising show for me to refocus on.

Initially, Lunella and Casey struck me as interesting. In “Moon Girl Landing” the way the two characters initially get very flustered around each other had me thinking maybe they had crushes on one another. Watching through the show further though, the two are socially awkward in their own individual ways. Lunella easily gets nervous around her peers and then Casey confesses she hasn’t had many friends. It makes sense that the two would get kinda flustered around anyone, even despite the fact Casey is a social media influencer.

And for those who are unfamiliar with my blog, my general focus is LGBT+ representation in shows made by Disney TV Animation. Lunella and Casey still strike me as interesting here. I don’t necessarily ship Lunella and Casey with each other, I think they have a great dynamic as best friends and somehow I’m not sure how I feel about shipping them. I particularly like how Casey during the sleepover recognises how Lunella is struggling and is up for just going back to her place where they can chill and watch a movie. Even though initially both wanted to be away from their parents. Throughout this show so far, Lunella and Casey have been there for each other in the best ways possible. And on its own I just love that friendship dynamic.

I’ll confess with Lunella though, beyond her initially getting flustered around Casey I have no reason to think she is LGBT+. She could be, but I think she is just legit socially awkward based on canon so far.

Casey though is a different story. Her card she hands out in the first episode has a rainbow on it, one stripe short of being the Pride flag and her sleeping bag in “Goodnight, Moon Girl” is a Pride flag. It is worth noting she does have two dads so maybe she is merely just an ally but the fact she has a rainbow on her business card makes me wonder whether she is LGBT+ herself.

You have Tai, not much to theorise there. Canonically confirmed to be non-binary.

Brooklyn isn’t expressly said to be LGBT+ but given the Rainbow and Trans Pride sticker on her water bottle and the fact she is voiced by a trans actor, it is reasonable to presume she might be trans but once again she could just be an ally.

Not to mention a good few LGBT+ background characters, even if some of it has been a blink and you miss it sort scenario, I find it way more forgivable when there does seem to be some decent potential for more solid representation in the main cast.

Additionally, I did look into this show when researching the next show for me to focus on and was made aware the crew is mostly composed of people of colour and/or LGBT+ people.

This show really does feel worthy of my attention. I have yet to have any theories I am hugely invested in yet though, so I may simply rebrand to being a generic Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur fan blog. But we’ll see.

I said I won’t force content though and with Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, I don’t feel like I will be forcing content.

This show seems solid. Beyond the potential and actual LGBT+ rep, this show has a good plot so far and strong cast with engaging and relatable characters. I’m also rather enjoying the art style and the way the episodes are put together. Like even those little title cards that I’m guessing are shown either side of ad breaks (I’m watching this on Disney+).

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

If you dont mind me asking, while dont you want to rewatch how to train your dragon or ratatouille, but spiderverse is a fav?

I love movie vents

Oh Dear

so- to start with, again, these movies are GOOD! they are good and i am glad they exist. i just have to stay far far away from them.

the why starts years ago. it starts with reading book after book after book.... after book... and watching movie after movie after mov- you get it, just basically Everything- where the default non-romance story is about a Boy.

And often this boy is mediocre. He's relatable, you know? He's just normal. But by the end, he's done all this cool stuff and got all this cool stuff- He won the thing! Or got the thing! He showed everyone just how good he was- okay sometimes yes by lying about it for most of the story but he comes clean in the end so it's fine.

Usually he also gets a girl. Or impresses her. Something like that.

That was. Well. It got stale after a while. I have four sisters and was raised by my single mom. People (mostly) looked at me and saw a girl.

But hey, the stories and movies had other stuff I like so whatever, you know? Aliens and swords and stuff. Maybe the main character was character I liked the least, so what. The story needed him to exist.

What does this have to do with the three animated movies so many people fell in love with?

Well.

They each remember girls exist. And ladies can be cool. They can be good at stuff!

But.

No matter how good she is, no matter how much she's trained or how hard she worked or respects this thing or how much it means to her-

the guy will be better at it than her

the guy. who couldn't do the thing at all.

he just needs a quick montage, or a rat under his hat, and suddenly she's in the dust

And you know what that's fine it's fine it's especially fine in Kung Fu Panda where the boy (po) is fat and the point is that's okay he can be fast and graceful and powerful and cool- THAT i've never seen before and it's Amazing-

only. po still.... he still gets the place tigress spent her whole life training for.

This still in a world where most of the powerful people (shifu, tai lung, oogway, the other kung fu masters we see in that and later films) most of them are, well, guys.

It's a whole lot of guys.

Everywhere. Guys. Why? No idea. Their gender doesn't really inform or guide their actions. Tigress and Viper aren't commented on as rare for being lady martial artists. There's no reason for there not to be more lady kung fu masters. I guess this is a movie made by guys and so the default is guys. Fine! No problem!

im so tired

po becomes dragon warrior in a montage of training and a quick dose of self realization. tigress is impressed and stops being mean to him. the fandom wants them married

no big deal

I'll come back to that in a moment, but-

Hiccup is the mediocre guy (by viking standards) who through trickery (empathy) becomes the best at this thing that this girl he likes is really good at. but he comes clean in the end and she's very impressed and he's so much better at the thing now he's the best at the thing and saves her at some point and now she's into him and they get together

tired

hey there's this guy and he's bad at thing and this cool girl is good at thing so through trickery he gets better at her than thing bc there's a rat under his hat but don't worry he comes clean and the girl is very impressed

i can't . im too tired

if she didn't like him before he was cool, i don't want them together afterwards.

I'm so exhausted of being told it's sweet

the same implication bashed over my head again and again- a guy cannot be loved if he is just a dork or just mediocre. He has to also be "cool".

The girl won't notice or like him until he is Better than her at the thing she loves

the other implication- no matter how hard a girl trains, how long she studies, how much she works for it- the guy can learn it in a montage and do it better. Or he can lie about it and that's okay too.

(po was a kung fu nerd but im sorry, im sorry that's not the same as training from childhood)

(do you remember how in legally blonde the ex boyfriend wasn't even that good at lawyer studies like elle getting better than him didn't mean her being the best ever and she ends up being so good bc of the other stuff that WAS part of her main life experience?? remember that?????)

(maybe if they'd leaned in more into Po's fat protecting him and his nerdness or cooking xp guiding him against tai lung, but he uses epic kung fu to fight the most dangerous master around and holds his own. he does better than tigress did with four others to back her up. im sorry. i know it's awesome and im glad it's a film. i can't rewatch it)

WHY did they make tigress want to be dragon warrior?

they never really explore her and shifu's relationship in that movie or the sequels. there's so little pay off to her accepting that she can't be the student or child shifu always wanted and lost. they are never the focus of the movies. never even plot B. Tigress didn't need to want this

the only ones who had to be ANGRY about po as dragon warrior was tai lung and shifu, his master who has to train him and the rival who wants his title. Everyone else could have just been reasonably confused and skeptical. tigress could have gone off to fight tai lung purely out of a lack of faith in po and wish to protect shifu- why why why why why did they have the plot point of her WANTING to be dragon warrior and RESENTING po for taking it? why did they have po filling this role she worked so hard to be ready for?

why did her character have to be a SHE for that, in a world with almost no other important or powerful ladies?

oh. right. girls can be good, but the guy will be better. that's the only way she'll respect him.

i've seen this story before

I don't think it's insidious or anything like that. It's just, the normal.

That's why I can't watch it.

im tired

Atlantis The Lost Empire- Milo is a noodle guy he solves things with brains and compassion and curiosity, Kida is the one with a spear, the lady throwing guys around-

ah but we must have Milo physically brawl with the villain to save Kida. he can be a lame nerd, but only if he also is "Cool"

tired

NOW. Spiderman Into the Spiderverse!

Miles never takes Gwen's place.

They are BOTH their universe's spiderman- he CAN'T replace her, he CAN'T outdo her, he CAN'T be better than her-

because there is no Best version of spiderman

a pig can be spiderman

YOU can be spiderman

so when he gets his confidence in time for the last fight, when Miles finds his groove and takes his leap of faith after a whole movie of stumbling around flailing frantically and turns badass- he takes NOTHING from Gwen. Nothing.

She is still her world's spidy,

and AND she liked him BEFORE he was "cool"!!!!!

When he was a mess desperately trying to figure things out, she tried to help him. Worked with him. Became friends with him.

Friends.

That also. My gods. He tries to flit at the end, she smiles and says friends, he smiles and they fist bump over it.

He got cool and didn't get the girl.

He was himself and already had a friend.

She is powerful and cool and a girl and worked hard to get where she is, and no one EVER outdoes her at it.

You can make a story about a normal guy becoming badass while crushing on an awesome girl, you can LIFT HIM UP without having to PUSH HER DOWN.

They can stand on the same level and be epic together.

I've needed to see that story, for so. Fucking. Long.

so yeah. my tiny personal problem. there 'tis

[velvetineblue]

muse pop quiz !

their fav coke flavor:   he doesn't like the taste of coca-cola drinks very much, so something like 'cherry vanilla' would be preferred: since it adds sweetness to the flavor... ( ironically, cola flavored candies are one of his favorites~ )

their fav non-lips place to be kissed:   anywhere, he loves giving and getting kisses from a s/o 🥺🥺 but if forced to answer... cheek kisses for wholesome 'warm fuzzies' kisses; chest/stomach area for heated spicy-time kisses .

do they believe in love at first sight:   no, he believes in chemistry at first sight, which can itself be a magical and mysterious thing that feels fated . . . !! but, that's not love; love can only come with time & getting to know one another .

their karaoke song choice:   80s songs!! 'everybody wants to rule the world' ... 'take on me' if he wants a challenge & to most likely get a laugh out of the audience jasjaj. and/or, nostalgic pop-rock/emo songs: FOB, MCR, etc.

the disney character they feel like they relate to the most:   stitch... the destructive alien asjajj.

their taco bell order:   i'm sorry, i don't know enuff abt their menu to do this one JASJSAJ all i know is that he'd want a LARGE BAJA BLAST .

their fav amusement park / boardwalk ride:   ooh, you've unlocked a rare meta that few know! AND HE WISHES IT WOULD STAY THAT WAY, but here I am telling on him. he would definitely gravitate toward the more chill rides like the ferris wheel because tai is actually, surprisingly, a little bit afraid of super fast, super tall rollercoasters. which will strike one as odd because he's an adrenaline junkie & overall pretty fearless, but for some reason, this is just an 'irrational', inexplicable fear of his . . . he doesn't like to ride them very much, but will avoid admitting why since he thinks it's hella embarrassing. he'll try to distract whoever he's with with boardwalk games and carnival foods and hope they don't notice that he's avoiding the big-boy rides 8D LMAO.

friends character they would be:   oh, idk... a combo of the sardonic nature of chandler + the whims of phoebe?? asjajj i'm not too sure though, i am not super familiar with the show.

fav type of cookie:   snickerdoodles. also hot take but he likes oatmeal raisan more than chocolate chip. (he's a blasphemer and I say we burn him at the stake for this)

tagged by: i stole it off the dash bc i'm bored at work atm, hehe . tagging: @ofgentleresolve @uroborosymphony @rippleofwords @hatesdogs @wellfell for any / all muses of your choices !!

[teabookgremlin]

hello i’m bored and had the idea to assign coffee/tea drinks to the yellowjackets and i’m qualified bc i’m a barista lets go

shauna: black coffee. probably just drip. probably the type to just drink any coffee good or bad (evidence being the diner scene where she’s meeting with tai)

tai: we know she does espressos to keep from her sleep walking but i feel like she’s usually a cappuccino girlie

van: some ungodly sweet latte with a bunch of syrup. like i feel like she would love trying like seasonal specials and such. but like i do think she’s more of a tea drinker than a coffee drinker (i’m projecting), like a nice strong black tea with maybe a touch of sweetener

lottie: usually some weird herbal tea blend that she and her cult members make sweetened with a bit of her honey. but if she’s at a cafe probably like a matcha or one of those turmeric chais. idk which milk but definitely a non dairy one (my gut says oat or almond but i’m also biased bc those are the only ones the cafe i work at uses so i’m used to those)

nat: i feel like she wouldn’t give much of a shit about coffee, like if she needs the caffeine she’ll drink whatever’s there (kinda like shauna) and probably would find a lot of fancy coffee drinks kinda stupid

misty: ok i’m struggling a bit with misty. do we think she’s be a mocha kinda girlie? maybe? not sure i need more input on her preferences. or she’s just order whatever the person she was with was getting to seem relatable to them. but yeah i think a mocha if she’s alone

[docholligay]

Ep 4: Taissa

Hello! This is about up to Episode 4 of Yellowjackets, and ONLY episode 4 of Yellowjackets. I have not seen beyond the fourth episode, at all, and know NOTHING about this show. Please do not spoil it for me.  Things that are spoilery in nature, for me, include: saying things like  “Just wait!!” confirming or denying anything I put forward, outside information about the cast interviews or creator statements, leading questions like “Do you think “blank moment” means anything?” etc. Remember  that Y’ALL HAVE SEEN THE SHOW AND I HAVE NOT. This informs the way you  talk about things relating to the show. Just be really careful is all  I’m asking. Also: If there is LITERALLY any stance I  could take on this show or character that would make you upset, please  just fucking block the tag

If you WOULD like to discuss the show and my takes on it, the Discord is right here! I don’t go there, so it’s a great place to get every emotion out.

Please thank @sailorsunspot and @moonlight-frittata for backing this odd way of doing a liveblog, and remember my tip jar is always open

Taissa’s story in this one is also fairly straightforward--This episode was largely about Nat, if we’re all dwelling in a space of honesty here. 

So much of Taissa’s story, I think, is about domestication. Her wife, Simone, tells her to “be herself” but as we all know that is terrible fucking advice because Tai is a predaotr, she is a wild thing, she is not a domesticated dog like the rest of them. Even when we first see her at the party, our focus is on her uneven, minute wobble on too-tall heels, as if the platform they have placed her upon might crumble at any moment. She is in this world but not of it. 

One fo the things I really really love about Tai, and one of the things that makes me feel uncomfortable, sometimes, and allied with her, and identified by her, is something that I think really comes out in this episode. People have a vision of optimism, of dedication to community, as being a very Usagi Tsukino-type thing. Very bubbly and kind and always loving and forgiving, but Taissa is not that. She is optimistic because she KNOWS the world can be better, she knows that we can get through all this, but she also knows that someone will have to pursue the hunt. Someone will have to be ruthless, and hard, and sometimes difficult and hard to live with. Optimism means knowing the world can be better, even if you are the one who has to drag it toward betterment. 

Taissa is fucking INTENSE. “Why don’t people like you?” Sammy asks her, and oh I fucking understand why people don’t like her in the same way I understand why people don’t like me. 

To that, I fucking adore that she loses her shit, completely blows her chance and to at least some extent, throws away her future, because the things Tai chooses to guard and keep, the promises she’s made to others but especially to herself, are non-negotiable. Now, would I have told Tai to come up with a lie that sounds like a revelation, to learn to tear up a little bit, or some shit? Sure. But do I also love watching her come unglued when she’s told to watch her fucking tone, like she’s a goddamn child and this fucking rich white lady can keep her as a pet? Yeah, we love it! 

I have no idea what the hell I think is going on with Sammy. His watchfulness, it all ties back to the eyes, to Tai’s memories of the man with no eyes and the way he steals…I don’t know. I am constantly thinking a million things at once at everything suyrrounding what’s going on with the man with the eyes, and SEEING and being WATCHED, and how all that comes back to Taissa, and I haven’t figured out a good through line on where I think that’s going yet. I’m collecting little baubles about it and I feel like eventually it’ll all come together for me.

[pagingharu]

Name: Gitta (family name unknown)

Age: 20

Height: 5’8”

MBTI: ISTP-A

Main Theme Song: Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men

Occupation: Thief and Dragon Rider

Bio: After surviving the horrors of what her village went through, the sole child survivor named Gitta was forced into a life on the road. Confused and traumatized, she didn't understand how her life could change so abruptly, and how people could care less about her. 

Just another beggar on the street, she resorted to stealing as means of survival. Even choosing to get caught up in street fights to teach herself how to throw a punch after losing her stolen goods one too many times from others.

Never staying in one place, Gitta came to love her freedom until she pickpocketed the wrong person (Viggo Grimborn). While in pursuit, she snuck into a merchant's ship and sailed off with them. She eventually found herself on the Ingerman Triplets' island (island made by my friend for our discord server), and decided this place would do for now.

Personality: free-spirited, self proclaimed non-saver, blunt/direct which can be seen as being insensitive, dives in head first into things, decisive and can easily ditch one project for the next, spontaneous but this leads to her having a hard time to commit to something, independent which makes her think that socializing isn’t a need— rather picky on who she chooses to socialize with, reserved when it comes to her worries and her past

A.K.A. Gitta marches to the beat of her own drum rather than adhering to societal norms and rules

Dragons: As she came to love her freedom, so too did her respect for dragons. She believes them to be the ultimate free beings, pleased to do whatever they want and go wherever they want. There were days where she imagined herself to be a dragon rider, just to have a taste of the dragon’s freedom. This made her unable to relate to dragon hunters and trappers alike, judging them for doing such a thing on beings that were meant to soar the sky.

Triple Stryke: This eventually leads her to a point in her life where she decides to free a captured Triple Stryke she just so happened to pass by while traveling. A magnificent being forcefully being placed into a cage and getting hauled into a ship, Gitta knew she had to set things right. Though this would conflict her for a bit; should she risk her own life for another? While the dragon was under the hold of Viggo Grimborn, she couldn’t find it in her to move on after seeing such a sight.

She eventually does a stealth mission to free said dragon, unaware that someone (Scarlet, a friend's OC) has been watching her. Both Gitta and the Triple Stryke escape together before things could get any messier, and the two have stuck together since. Until Gitta pickpocketed Viggo again, making her flee away to a merchant’s ship. While she didn’t want to leave the Triple Stryke, she didn’t want to lead Viggo to where they were hiding in the forest. 

The Triple Stryke has been searching for Gitta since. Maybe they reunite again at the Ingerman Triplets’ island. Eventually she names her Triple Stryke as Apple, much to the dragon's dismay.

Fun Facts:

>A chaotic orange cat energy behavior, Gitta is usually seen or heard in doing something… questionable. She thinks first hand experiences are the way to go about in life, and wouldn’t hesitate to try new things.

>Comes and goes as she pleases in conversations, and would sometimes say out of pocket things. This would probably make it hard to befriend her as one would want consistency

>Despite being a self proclaimed non-saver, she has saved two things: Tai and the Triple Stryke (though excuses would fly out of her mouth when asked about it)

>Eventually, stealing became a habit rather than a thing she needed to do. While it’s still the main thing that keeps her afloat, her quick hands would always pick up something even when she doesn’t need it

>Can only read and write the basics since living on the streets never really gave her a chance for proper education, much less afford it

>Used to being on the streets wherever she went, she grew accustomed to a place brimming with life. How there was always the hustling and bustling of people going about their days. Gitta, being alone, but also not really? There would always be background noise, and there would always be voices around. Perhaps, in a sense, this reminds her of home…

>If family is supposed to be the most stable one that lasts for a lifetime, then how laughable it is that it was easily taken away from her. Eventually, this kind of thinking was what led Gitta to go solo in her ventures