#Online Divorce Recovery

[drsoniasharma]

Breakup Recovery Coach: Heal Your Heart and Move On Stronger

Breakups are one of the most challenging experiences in life. If you're struggling to cope with the pain and grief of a breakup, a breakup recovery coach helps you and provides personalized support, and they also guide you in setting up future goals and confidence. A breakup recovery coach provides a safe and supportive space and also helps to set healthy boundaries.

[violetasteracademic]

Deeply personal post, and as always with my moody musings, I might delete!

I will never be able to properly convey how much your support and kind comments on Golden Doe in a Valley of Shadow and A Court of Twisted Fate mean to me. And I just feel moved to encourage kindness in a very hostile and often unkind fandom.

Exactly one year ago I was fleeing the state to get out of an abusive marriage after years of trying to get a divorce from a man who literally refused and fought at every turn. It nearly drained me past the point of recovery. I gave up my business, my life, absolutely everything.

I wrote Golden Doe while I returned to my old home this spring after the divorce was finalized and my ex husband left so I could finally gather my things, finish the half done renovations, then sell the house so I could move and start over. I couldn't afford to move back to states where I have friends or know anyone, so I am truly on my own here and it hasn't been easy.

There are so many days I feel hopeless and terrified. I was having a really hard one today, questioning if I was wasting my time writing and wondering if I'll ever be able to truly get back on my feet again. I really felt like giving up, but was able to find some support with amazing fandom friends. Then a kind comment came in on my fic in the middle of a good cry, and those little things really helped me remember why I am here and doing this. And how meaningful it is to tell stories and how important it is to reach each other through our shared humanity and empathy.

I haven't been here long, and this fandom lost a lot of shine for me pretty quickly once I realized how much of it is just women tearing each other apart. It took a while for me to find my place. I just want to encourage everyone to remember that life is really hard, and there are real people with deeply complicated lives behind these screens.

Please be kind to each other. And thank you again to those who support the writers and artists in this community. It is deeply vulnerable, time consuming, and emotionally challenging to write books for free and post them online, especially in a hostile fandom. You never know when a kind word could turn the day around for the human being on the other side of the screen!

[destieltropecollection]

Destiel Trope Collection 2024 | Day 31: Cabin Fic

Crystal Clear | @envydean Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1,981 Main Tags/Warnings: Fluff, Modern AU, Anniversary, Blowjobs, lakeside cabin vacation, Dean's not a fan of lake water Summary: Dean and Cas are at the lakeside cabin for a long weekend. It's their 15th anniversary and Cas finds a cunning way to get him to swim in the lake.

Touching Perfection | @anyreiart Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,439 Main Tags/Warnings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Canon Universe, Smut, Friends to Lovers Vacation, Feel-good, human!Cas Summary: Dean is finally ready to make a move on Cas. So he takes him on a vacation.

Cabin In The Woods | @anyreiart Rating: Explicit Word Count: 6,894 Main Tags/Warnings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Canon Universe, Bottom Castiel, Top Dean Winchester, Friends to Lovers, Idiots in Love, Somnophilia, BDSM Undertones Summary: Dean takes Cas on a vacation. Confessions happen.

Cabin Fever | @eyesofatragedy67 & @punk-is-notdead Rating: Explicit Word Count: 14,519 Main Tags/Warnings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Castiel, Dean Winchester, Bobby Singer, Jody Mills, Jo Harvelle, Ellen Harvelle, Enemies to Lovers, There Was Only One Bed, Miscommunication is the Real Villain, Angst, Smut, Fluff, Humor, Castiel/Dean Winchester First Time Having Sex, Top Castiel/Bottom Dean Winchester, Gay Sex, Anal Sex, Unprotected Sex, Oral Sex, Spit As Lube, Dirty Talk, Castiel Loves Bees, Dean Loves Dr. Sexy Summary: Following a booking mixup for a remote hideaway, two strangers agree to share. Nothing quite goes according to plan, and it looks like a misunderstanding will kill any chance of a friendship, but does "fate" have other plans?

The Impetuous Engagement | @thefandomsinhalor Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 27,207 Main Tags/Warnings: Modern Setting AU, Snowed In, Sharing a Bed, Engaged Castiel, No Cheating Summary: It’s early December and Castiel Novak, quite unlike him, is on a plane to Fairbanks, Alaska, at the other end of his world, after the man he met online, Michael Milton, proposed to him. Michael is sensitive, gallant, and romantic, and after months of daily, intense correspondence, Castiel believes he’s the only one who he ever truly connected with. On his way there, however, due to a series of bad luck and Mother Nature, Castiel somehow finds himself stuck in a small village, in the middle of nowhere, cut off from the rest of the world and with no way of reaching Michael. Indefinitely. To make matters worse, Dean Winchester, Castiel’s fellow passenger—who asks way too many invasive questions, doesn’t have an ounce of subtlety, and isn’t as charming as he thinks he is—seems to be the only option for Castiel to find shelter in the meantime. And Dean, being acquainted with the fiancé in question, and aware that he is not to be trusted, is very eager to help Castiel with housing, and perhaps something more as well…

The Places We Hide | @therighteousmanlovesanangel Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 39,827 Main Tags/Warnings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Castiel/Crowley, Lee Webb/Dean Winchester, Past Character Death, Gunshot Wounds, Show level violence, Divorce, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Grief/Mourning, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, Human Castiel, (Supernatural)hunting au, Hermit Dean, Hurt/Comfort, Imagine there's no Heaven(ly influence), John died in this AU instead of Mary, Wendigo, Undine OFC, Gay Castiel (Supernatural), Bisexual Dean Winchester, Dean/Cas Big Bang 2022 (Supernatural) Summary: Castiel is going through it. He’s been dumped by his husband and demoted at work. A walk in the woods to clear his head makes it all horrifically worse. Luckily, he is saved by a bearded stranger. Through his recovery Castiel searches for the man in the woods. When he finds Dean, an unlikely friendship grows. As Cas comes to terms with the way his life is changing, Dean opens up a whole new world to him.

A Midwinter's Dream | @li-izumi Rating: Mature Word Count: 53,245 Main Tags/Warnings: Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Canon Divergence, Season/Series 09, Season/Series 10, Canon-Typical Violence, Post-Mark of Cain (Supernatural), Minor Rowena MacLeod/Sam Winchester, Dreams and Nightmares, Christmas, Angst with a Happy Ending Summary: Christmas is fast approaching, but Dean doesn’t feel like celebrating--he’s too busy hunting for that sort of thing. Though he promises to get Cas back in time for the epic Christmas party Sam’s been planning, Dean has no intention of staying himself. That may be another promise Dean can’t keep when the hunt goes wrong, trapping Dean and Cas far from civilization. Worse, Dean is plagued by unrelenting nightmares of his time with the Mark of Cain and is gripped by a lingering anger that he can’t seem to escape. Back at the Bunker, Sam and the others are working a little Christmas magic they hope will show Dean the light in the dark—and prove to him that the holiday spirit isn’t something he needs to hunt.

Alpha Seeking Omega | @samanddean76 Rating: Mature Word Count: 66,666 Main Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Castiel, Alpha Jimmy Novak, Omega Dean Winchester, Alpha Lucifer, Canon-Typical Violence, Non-Graphic Violence, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-Con, Non-Graphic Rape/Non-Con, Past Abuse (but not really as the treatment is part of the societal structure), Past Malnourishment, Mystery To Be Solved, Mating, Knotting, True Mates, Slow Burn, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Top Castiel/Bottom Dean Winchester, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Revenge, Or Justice, Castiel and Jimmy Novak are Twins, John Winchester's A+ Parenting, Mpreg, Eventual Happy Ending, Cabin Fic Summary: Omega Dean has lived a harsh life prior to being selected to be a demonstration model at a party unveiling the latest product that Morningstar Enterprises is set to produce. Alphas Castiel and Jimmy Novak are guests of honor at the event, but when they lay eyes on the Omega that is clearly at the center of something that was not a part of the party, the twins leap into action. Unfortunately, they are separated. Now Jimmy must keep Dean safe until Castiel can be rescued. But the more that Jimmy learns about this very well-trained Omega, the more he questions what was really going on that night. The problem is will he be able to figure out the puzzle and still rescue his brother?

[ac3may]

“ the wag diaries ”

How You Met

~ Millie Bright ~

~~~~~~~~~~

• for the first time since you were sixteen you were single

• and you had anticipated it'd stay that way for at least a year

• but when millie bright walked into your life all the hesitancy in the world couldn't stop the inevitable

• growing up in a single father household in Kingston you had been raised a Chelsea fan

• no matter how much your toxic Brummie boyfriend turned baby daddy turned husband turned ex tried to switch you Villa

• having gone through a recent divorce and sexual awakening you were trying to navigate your new life as a single mum of three

• with inherited new funds and incoming child support your first instinct was to do something spontaneous

• something you never could have before

• with your youngest barely able to hold his head up

• your eldest daughter a football fanatic nonstop talking about the upcoming world cup

• and your middle girl obsessed with all wildlife, and a particular new interest in sea turtles, the answer seemed obvious to you

• hopping online you had one goal and within an afternoon had secured flights to spend the entire summer in australia

• for your family being in australia and not watching the Women’s World Cup would have been a travesty

• so you secured tickets to the first England group game and the final

• within a week of arrival you were all sat in matching jerseys, front row, awaiting the England vs Haiti kick-off

• flags and signs waving in the air ecstatically it was no surprise your littles were noticed

• by the cameras

• but also by the team themselves

• Georgia directed her celebrations first to her family and friends, but secondly to the two young blondes going crazy goalside (aka your daughters)

• after the match all the lionesses made their way around the pitch, spending extra time in the fan section where the four of you collected a number of signatures

• the absolute adoration on the captains face as she caught your eye for the first time was unmissable to her best friend

• Rachel joining her side immediately to distracted and entertain the kids beside you

• having gone through a somewhat recent breakup herself Millie had found herself a bit of a player in recent months

• so when her charm isn't so quick to work with you she falters

• somehow your total oblivion is even more adorably endearing to the older blonde

• it’s not intentional of course, you simply hadn't had enough experience flirting to recognise it

• especially from an International footballer!

• you agree to spend her recovery day with her, knowing just how many irreplaceable memories it'd create for your kids (and maybe you a little too)

• spending the day behind the scenes at australia zoo with the lionesses was more than you could have dreamed

• football for Kolby, animals for Ayla, and twenty-three football players all dotting attention on Lex

• other than exchanging numbers at the end of the day nothing romantic happens that day

• but Millie was unable to ignore her obvious attraction to you

• texts between you becoming increasingly common and tickets to all matches being offered

• it took longer than either would've liked but eventually Millie found a free hour and a teammate willing to babysit

• a sunrise beach walk with coffee in hand was too romantic for even you to ignore the signs of

• somehow you became groupies, discovering the country while following the team to every game

• falling for Millie came surprisingly easily

• watching the way she bonded with your children was heart melting

• and just a glance in your direction had you pinching yourself

• how was this your real life after the shit deal you'd been dealt so far?!

• she felt the same way though, not believing someone like you had walked into her life and xoukd be interested in her

• semi-final celebrations were moments of dreams

• neither of you being found too far away from the other at the after party

• ending the night on the beach, both a little tipsy, laid watching the stars, you finally share your first kiss

• the labels of your relationship not coming at quite as happy a moment

• england had just come second in the world cup and you couldn't be prouder, especially after coming to know the girls personally

• but with captaincy resting on her shoulders Millie couldn’t help but be disappointed in herself, despite her pride team in the as a whole

• finding a quite moment to pull the older girl away from the post-match madness and media you held her as she finally allow the mask to drop

• as you held her crying in your arms you still found her the most beautiful person you'd ever met, you knew you had to make her yours

~~~~~~~~~~

And here it is! The first blurb of the Wag diaries!!

Let me know what y’all think! Is it something you think you’ll be interested in??

[stereax]

why do people hate vegas so much?

Do you want the Stereanalysis version or the short one?

The short answer is basically this: The Vegas Golden Knights entered the league and were expected to be hot garbage. Despite this, they had what many assumed was a "miracle" run in the 2018 playoffs, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and have since established themselves as a consistent contender. Many haters of the Knights claim that Vegas was "gifted" a championship team from the onset (revisionist history at best), that Vegas didn't "go through years of pain" like most expansion teams (which, it's not their fault they're good?), and that the refs and Bettman want Vegas to win (which is said about 32 out of 32 teams in this league). Additionally, it's believed that a lot of Vegas fans are "fair-weather" and that they'll abandon the team when it doesn't do well, which ties into the theory that the NHL is "rigging" it for Vegas. Winning the Cup last year, over the undercat Florida Panthers to boot, angered many, especially due to Vegas's owner's bold prediction of "Cup in six [years]" made before their first season.

Additionally, Vegas's front office has a history of big deals. From trading fan favorite Fleury with no prior warning, leaving him to find out online; to the story of Haula, who literally showed up to practice and his keycard didn't work and that's how he learned he got traded three days before his wedding (but we don't talk about that one because Fleury is Fleury); to every single Vegas trade and trade deadline where they seem to acquire every big free agent and give up fairly little in return (Hertl, Hanifin, Quick, Barbashev, Eichel, Stone, Pacioretty, the list goes on). Many people can't divorce the front office from the team itself and get very upset when Vegas "poaches" the players they want.

On top of this, you have the "cap circumvention" narrative, claiming that players such as Stone are "faking" injuries so Vegas can do cap magic and add more players than they should be "allowed" to. First of all, the idea that players like Stone are faking injury is bullshit, especially in a league where players like Stutzle and J Hughes have outright stated that they played injured for long stretches of the season. Fun fact, the NHL does have doctors that run checks on LTIRed players and verify that they're truly injured. (The Leafs got into some hot water last offseason when they were LTIRing Murray and then later with Klingberg as well, as the NHL was suspicious that they had moved Murray's surgery date and recovery time to allow themselves to "bury" Murray's contract on LTIR for the season.) If anything, Stone was probably still hurt in the playoffs. The man is seemingly incapable of playing an 82-game season and yet people are screaming that he's faking injuries when he does get hurt. (Also, on cap circumvention: Nobody remembers Kucherov anymore but that was so much more blatant. Additionally, the league has considered closing LTIR "loopholes" several times now and several times has decided against it. Your team doesn't do it? Okay. It doesn't give you a moral high ground, though, as it is patently legal in the NHL rules to do so.)

Plus, there's definitely some disdain for the glitz and glamor of Vegas. Sparkly gold uniforms, City of Sin, pink flamingos, shiny golden helmets, elaborate pre-game shows where knights slay dragons, slot machines, glitter, all of that. I'm not going to bring up my personal theories here, but I'd advance the question to Vegas haters why they dislike the spectacle of Vegas, and whether that dislike also may apply to other areas where men may be associated with glitter, pink, sin, sparkles, and all that, such as, y'know, drag queens, or gay men more generally.

But hey, that's just a theory... a stereax theory.

[gabatelepsychiatry-blog]

Consequences of Untreated Postpartum Depression (PPD)

10 - 20% of new moms face PPD, a condition that goes beyond typical baby blues. Unlike its milder counterpart, PPD doesn't resolve on its own; it needs proper treatment. Addressing postpartum depression is crucial not only for challenging the myth of the 'perfect' mother but also for recognizing and nurturing the sufferer’s inbuilt strength and adaptability.

Untreated PPD can have these serious ripple effects:

For Moms:

Ongoing depression

Relationship strain

Work difficulties

Bonding challenges with baby

Health problems

Anxiety

Suicidal thoughts

For Babies:

Potential developmental delays

Cognitive impacts

Emotional health

Attachment difficulties

Social skills

Stress response

For Families:

Marital strife or divorce

Sibling impact

Financial stress

Generational risks

In severe cases, PPD can even lead to self-harm. That's why getting help is crucial. 

The good news? Effective treatments exist! Therapy and medication can help moms reclaim their mental health and embrace motherhood more fully. By seeking treatment for PPD, we can create a supportive community that embraces both the joys and the challenges of parenthood.

Are you or someone you know struggling? Don't wait - reach out for support. Early intervention can make a world of difference for both mom and baby. Learn more about PPD treatment options at https://gabapsychiatrist.com/category/postpartum-depression/.

Need professional help? Consider connecting with board-certified online psychiatrists for accessible PPD support. +1(833) 312-4222 or visit our website: https://gabapsychiatrist.com/

Remember: You're not alone in this journey. Help is available, and recovery is possible. 

[andrea1717]

New Story is online:

It was a creeping and slow process almost as slow as Bucky’s recovery after the accident.

They started to fight more and talk less.

Steve doesn't want to be divorced. He doesn't want to lose his lover and best friend all at once.

He wants to talk about it all, do better and find a solution but it was Bucky who closed up and then ultimately filed for divorce.

...

Moodboard, Playlist & Story to read here

[ikram1909]

i agree with everything y’all have said but the “pedrigavi breakup era” was NOT a month. as someone who spends too much time online, the drama went on for an excruciatingly long time. from what i remember it all started going to hell in the summer bc during the preseason after months of waiting for the team to come back pedri didn’t talk to anyone that wasn’t ferran and he didn’t look in gavi’s direction once (at least thats what i got from the tiktok sources). and well the divorce era only ended in feb when pedri got injured and started having to sit next to gavi in home matches. though that’s over now so i sense another drought and plenty of drama ahead

See that's why you shouldn't believe the drama queens on Tiktok 😭😭 they were still talking and you'd see them with each other just not often as they are with other people (Ferran Fermín etc) so people took that as them hating each other 🫣 and they were interacting before Pedri got injured because Pedri drove Gavi many times when he couldn't drive on his own earlier in his recovery. I think people just overdramatise everything when it comes to those two idk why 😭

[oldfangirl81]

Anyone else thinking about their coming out story?

Teenage/early 20s me = a very good ally, heteroflexible, open minded

Mid 20s/early 30s = bisexual, what's in their pants doesn't matter to my interest

30s onward = asexual, biromantic

Did anyone else have MySpace as part of their story?

I have a friend who has always been more conservative than me. I was considered a bad influence at times during our teen years because I was a feminist. Tales for another time.

Anyway in college she got together with a guy who was all the bigotry. Anyway, at the time she wouldn't add me to her MySpace because "you have freaks for friends who might want to be my friend". I was hurt but went home trying to figure out what she meant. (I'm lousy at confrontation in person).

The only common thing I could see on the ones she didn't already know was they were queer and I had bisexual listed as my sexuality. I'd know her over ten years at that point. I stayed up all night crying.

Dad saw me in the morning and asked what was wrong.

"Jane isn't accepting that I'm bisexual and friends with gay people online."

"You're bisexual?"

"...I thought you knew?"

"I did." Mom piped up. "The Angelina Jolie crush made it obvious."

"Oh. Well I don't care who you date as long as they're Jewish." (It was a long running joke because Mom converted but he later made sure I knew he wouldn't care as long as I was happy).

So for a couple years I had very limited contact with Jane. We'd meet up and part of the conversation was always the same.

"Are you still doing that bisexual thing?"

"Uh, yeah."

"And your parents are still okay with it?"

"Yup. Mom bought me a cherry chapstick recently in her odd supportive way."

Eventually the relationship with the bigot ended badly for Jane. During her divorce recovery she got close to a bunch of drag queens and other LGBTQ folk.

I didn't know any of that at the time. Imagine my surprise after years apart we meet up. I expected the same frustrating questions. Instead my friend is using terms like "top/bottom" correctly with no judgement.

I've been lucky in my coming out experiences. But then I also never told my paternal grandparents about it. I doubt they would have been happy. But that is also a whole other drama tale.

Anyway, yay for Evan Buckley going on his first queer date in his 30s.

[aworldforastage]

A second subjective list of favorite danmei’s I read in 2023

ABO

Miraculous Love (aka "Evil Love Appears") :: 邪门的爱情出现了 by 丧心病狂的瓜皮

Why Is It Possible For This Type Of A To Also Have An O? :: 为什么这种A也能有O by 图南鲸

老婆是顶级Alpha，我该怎么办 by 海藻大王

Entertainment Industry

内娱第一花瓶 by 三三娘

Concealed and Blended: Fendai :: 粉黛 by 七世有幸

Flower Vase :: 花瓶 by 困倚危楼

可一可再 by 反舌鸟

Modern (Miscellaneous)

Poison of the Heart :: 心毒 初禾

Surrender (Book 1) :: 臣服 I by 墨奈何/墨青城

交易沦陷 by 在下小神j

Historical

Fei Ping Ying Qiang :: 妃嫔媵嫱 by 七月侯

穿成苏培盛了 by 一渡清河

九千岁[重生] by 绣生

ABO Novels

Miraculous Love :: 邪门的爱情出现了 by 丧心病狂的瓜皮

[ABO (A/O), romance, sexual awakening, reconciliation] -- This is one of those novels that leverage the ABO setting to explore topics like relationships, marriage, and sexuality. Late-bloomer Omega Fu Xiaoyu and recent divorcee Alpha Xu Jiale connect and build a relationship based on their intense sexual chemistry and attraction. Sex allows Fu Xiaoyu to feel loved, desirable, and unashamed of his own sexuality for the first time, but this new relationship forces Xu Jiale to confront his own misconceptions about marriage as well as the difficult reality of parenting a young child after divorce. Every Omega in this story has complicated histories and attitudes toward relationships because of society's prejudice against their gender, and every major relationship in this novel involves a divorcee, a cheater, or both. But life still goes on for them, after they learn, grow, make amends, and heal.

Why Is It Possible For This Type Of A To Also Have An O? :: 为什么这种A也能有O by 图南鲸

[ABO (A/O), transmigration, abuse recovery, political activism] -- This novel uses the ABO setting to explore gender-based oppression. A surgeon transmigrates to an ABO universe, into the body of a horribly abusive Alpha, whose partner is terrified but powerless in their oppressive society. They work hard to help each other heal from deep-seated trauma, and join the work of advocates for Omega's rights. This is the most political danmei I have ever read, that shows civil disobedience and structural changes can be good and necessary. The advocates network, organize, protest, and they get threats and pushbacks. Prejudice is systemic, generational, and almost normalized in society, and it takes a massive wave of disruptive protests to finally bring about rudimentary legislative protections for Omega. It comes too late for many and is far from any semblance of equality, but it's hope and a start.

老婆是顶级Alpha，我该怎么办 by 海藻大王

(Title roughly translates to "My Wife is a top-level Alpha, What should I do?")

[ABO (A/A), "rebirth", space/interstellar, mecha, college, political conspiracies] -- Now, for an ABO novel that just wants to have fun as a OP Mary-Sue sci-fi-ish Young-Adult Action-Adventure. The protagonist is a super-soldier reborn to the early days of his military career with skills, knowledge, and an AI assistant from the future. The love interest is a prince who is rich enough to buy entire planets. Together they become the most popular power couple at the military academy, and work together to foil a conspiracy that targets talented Alphas. They get fake-married, and later discover they are each other's secret online crush. It has plenty of humor, a cute "college" romance, and the kind of dramatic "cool" characters my teenage self would could only dream of in a wish-fulfillment fic. Save it for one of those days when you just want to relax and revel in the joy of ridiculously attractive and competent teenagers who are killing assassins, saving the empire, and acing their exams!

Actors and Celebrities

内娱第一花瓶 by 三三娘

(Title roughly tra. nslates to "Top Flower Vase of the Mainland Entertainment Industry")

[entertainment industry, film-making, reconciliation, elite society ]-- Most entertainment industry novels focus on the fun parts of glamour and fame, but this story puts the focus on the creative work, with a main couple that has marvelous chemistry as great artists who inspire each other. Over the 900K words of this novel, they meet, fall in love, bond over film-making, break up, and later reconcile. It's one of those rare stories where the shou has to chase the gong after breaking up, and you can sympathize with the hurt on both sides while understanding that no one is intentionally being scummy. The novel really goes into the details of film-making and the entertainment industry -- the styles and visions of the directors, the practice and preparation of the actors, the logistics and finances of running a crew, and the strategic calculations to manipulate the media narrative and public discourse.

I have a love-hate relationship with this novel because of some of its narrative choices. Some arcs seem to just fawn over the "wisdom" and "classiness" of the ultra-rich, and conflate privilege with virtue. (The gong, whose family of casino owners once helped him pay off hundreds of millions in gambling debt, is the one making an awarding-winning movie about a regular person succumbing to gambling addiction ... ) But to be fair, I'm holding this novel to a higher standard than a typical danmei because of how good it is and how much I like it.

Concealed and Blended: Fendai :: 粉黛 by 七世有幸

[entertainment industry, actor x makeup artist] -- This is also a story about two artists who inspire and help each other develop their crafts, but a much shorter and lighter take. The gong is a makeup artist, who considers himself straight but cross-dresses as a branding gimmick to advance his career. The shou is a retired E-sports player-turned-idol actor, who is secretly gay and has no real passion for performance. The novel starts off with funny interactions between "straight pretending to be queer" vs "gay pretending to be straight." Later, they develop a deep bond after collaborating on a series of projects, and help each other discover their true career aspirations. Despite being celebrities, the main character feel like normal people because we see them learning and practicing their professional skills. Fame is a fickle and cruel game that they must play in their profession, but does not define who they are.

Flower Vase :: 花瓶 by 困倚危楼

[entertainment industry, contract relationship, scum gong crematorium, reconciliation] -- This story is a classic in the scum gong crematorium genre. Wealthy business man gong pays actor shou for a sexual relationship; the shou is secretly in love with the gong, who is pining after a "white moonlight". The shou is smart, resilient, knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it. The gong has already started falling for him, but he hasn't moved on from his "White moonlight". Their peaceful breakup mid-story is suffocating, because they both have feelings for each other, and they almost got it to work, but the feelings are just not quite right yet, so this relationship has to end before it festers into something truly unsalvageable. But don't stress too much, the "crematorium" is so friendly it almost feels like an kiddie obstacle course the shou has set up to help them transition into a better relationship -- didn't I mention he is a very smart guy who knows how to get what he wants?

可一可再 by 反舌鸟

(The title is a reference to an Eason Chan song. I can't find an official translation of the song title, but it roughly translates to "Once and Again")

[entertainment industry, rebirth in another body, reconciliation] -- Controversial actor Jiang Yu dies in a traffic accident, and returns in the body of a D-list Idol. It's very fun to follow a POV character like Jiang Yu, whose internal monologue is dripping with pettiness, insecurity, jealousy, and adamant insistence that he is *fine* with his hard-working and well-intention-ed nature always being misunderstood in bad faith. His love interest is his foil in this: an award-winning actor with an impeccable reputation and a unflappable personality. As the story explore their histories, relationships, and grief over Jiang Yu's death, it also deconstructs these initial perceptions. In this second life, Jiang Yu gets a more measured view of his relationships and artistic legacy, while his "perfect" boyfriend faces his own flaws and the critical mistakes he has made in their relationship. With this clarity and honesty, they rekindle their relationship, and Jiang Yu starts a new life and career.

Misc. Modern

Poison of the Heart :: 心毒 初禾

[mystery/police procedural, (sort of) social commentary] -- Instead of uncovering some mastermind criminal conspiracy, this police procedural is famous for its down-to-earth cases, so realistic it sounds like it could have been in the news. Most of the cases see normal people gradually lose their best selves after suffering excessively under systemic social issues like poverty, misogyny, and prejudice. Their misfortunes, emotions, and reactions feel very realistic and relatable. However, since the discrete cases do not build up to a coherent arc, they also don't do much to support the development of the main characters -- a detective and a cybersecurity expert; they are fine but I just don't find either of them or their slow-burn romance too interesting. (Their slacker co-worker who becomes more motivated in his career has a more memorable character arc imo.) Personally, I think this novel is a good read for the mysteries, but maybe not so much as a romance or character drama.

Surrender (Book 1) :: 臣服 I by 墨奈何/墨青城

[BDSM, power differences, mob/gang drama] -- Young businessman Xu Ye, who has only dabbled with BDSM, stumbles into one of the most skilled dom's in town, who is also a mob heir. This dom finally gives Xu Ye the experience he wants from BDSM. But as their chemistry in the playroom soars, their personal and professional relationship in the real word grows more complicated. I love that this story shows the communication and work that goes into building a relationship, albeit one within BDSM parameters. The story repeatedly emphasizes that both partners are equals outside of play (but this rule is sometimes broken by the main couple for "drama"). Although Xu Ye is a sub, he has more agency than most shou's I see in danmei. He is experienced with sex, knows what he wants and likes, and is fairly independent from Chu Ye professionally and personally. He feels like a reasonable adult who has chosen a relationship that brings him joy and pleasure.

交易沦陷 by 在下小神j

(Title roughly translates to "fallen in transaction")

[romance, (sort of) prostitution, family relationships, healing and forgiveness] -- This a Haitang story with lots of humour and sex, but also a surprise tear-jerker full of heart. An Li's life has been ruined by a criminal record, taking the fall for his cheating ex-wife so she can look after their ill daughter. While desperate to find work to support his young daughter's medical treatment, he is mistaken for a male escort by young CEO Xu Shaoqing. Xu Shaoqing is angered by An Li's borderline homophobic reaction to the incident, and pressures An Li to sleep with him for money. Xu Shaoqing himself is struggling with the distress his sexuality causes his homophobic and ailing father, who has sent him to conversion therapy and still pressures him to go on dates with women. An Li and Xu Shaoqing eventually form an unlikely connection, as they help each other process the hurt caused by the people they love, and salvage the good from those relationships.

Historical

Fei Ping Ying Qiang :: 妃嫔媵嫱 by 七月侯

[male concubine, imperial harem & court drama, age gap (initially 15 vs 20)] -- As an unfavored shu son, Xiao-Qi is "gifted" by his family to his brother-in-law, a prince who is known to like men. Though he has no choice in the matter, he eventually falls in love with the Prince, who has shown him more kindness than anyone else in his life. The prince (gong) has a "realistic" and gradual shift from accepting period-typical polygamy to wanting to build a life with the one partner who really loves him, but it's a messy situation because he has already married and sired children with multiple women, and his position really requires him to have an heir. However, Xiao-Qi learns a lot and grows up with the gong's help, and together they overcome political and social obstacles for Xiao-qi to be recognized as his partner.

穿成苏培盛了 by 一渡清河

(Title roughly translates to "Transmigrated as Su Peisheng", referring to the name given to Yongzheng Emperor's senior personal eunuch in the popular cdrama "Empresses in the Palace".)

[historical transmigration, Qing Dynasty/Kangxi Era, political intrigue, prince x (real) eunuch] -- Lovers of long, complex, character-driven political novels will probably enjoy this 2-million-words epic. It's not only a battle of wits, but also a examination of personal values and emotional priorities of many well-crafted characters who live in a complex political environment, including the largest and most active female cast I have ever seen in danmei. The protagonist shou is a transmigrator, and it shows mostly through him being very mature during his younger years, and having a sense of self-worth unexpected of slaves of that era. The gong is Fourth Prince Yinzhen (future Emperor Yongzheng), and he is married with children just like in history. The main couple have a bittersweet secret relationship, yet they love each other enough to be able to live with that imperfection. The plot seriously downplayed the darker implications of the shou' role as a eunuch and slave, but their idealized romance is a much-needed relief from the intense and tightly-paced political content, which is inspired by real history.

九千岁[重生] by 绣生

(The novel title literally translates to "Nine Thousand-Years-Old", which is a title occasionally given to excessively powerful eunuchs, comparing them to royals, like emperors who are said to live to "Ten thousand years".)

[ (eventual) "double rebirth", political intrigue, prince x (fake) eunuch] -- In his first life, Crown Prince Yin Chengyu is deposed after falling for political traps, and only returns to court after making a "indecent proposal" with powerful eunuch Xue Shu. Despite working together to help Yin Chengyu win the crown and govern the nation, their relationship remains complicated and contentious until Yin Chengyu's untimely death from illness and overwork. Waking up as his younger self, Yin Chengyu immediately puts a metaphorical leash on Xue Shu's neck while the latter is still young and impressionable. While they work to strengthen Yin Chengyu's political position, the prince also tries to come to terms with his feelings for Xue Shu across the two lifetimes. Xue Shu eventually recovers his memories of the first lifetime, and their second-chance romance gets a happy ending.

As a serious political novel, this story lacks depth and suspense, but as a feel-good "rebirth" novel, the plot feels a bit too slow and heavy. It doesn't stand out in either categories, but it feels unfair to completely ignore it, especially because it kept me company for weeks while I was struggling with a reading slump.

[marimeiastories]

Seven books about mental health

I want to share positive books, which talk about improvement and positive outcomes, hoping that these books can bring you comfort.

1. It’s Kind of a Funny story by Ned Vizzini

Craig is a 16-year-old teenager who struggles with depression and anxiety. Because of this, he decides to be admitted in the psychiatric ward of his neighbourhood, and there he meets people and lives situations which will make him think more positively about the future.

This is a hilarious book full of fun interchanges between the patients of the ward, but it also touches deep topics, like depression related effects and stories of people who are trying their best to get better, in a down to earth matter. It was made into movie, which I recommend too.

2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor is a middle aged woman who is used to be alone and does not seek company, as she knows that the moment she will create meaningful connections it will be the moment in which she will get hurt. She frequently talks with her mum, altough the latter treats her coldly and constantly judges Eleanor’s actions and beliefs.

This is a novel about a person who numbed her emotions after going through trauma. It talks about post-traumatic stress disorder and the inheritance of creating meaningful connections despite the uneasiness felt in doing it.

3. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

A book in which the author writes abour his own approach to his suffering from depression and anxiety. Through his journey he gathered some reasons for which it is worth to live in spite of a mental health condition, and he writes them in this book to invite others to reflect and help them in their own journey.

4. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Although in this book there’s no mental health condition specified, this is a real story of a person who mentally hit rock bottom after a divorce and picked herself up. The author opens up completely about days spent crying, her seeing no happy future for herself. Through a journey that will take her through three countries, she finds herself again. There is also a movie on this, but, in my opinion, it does not reflect the depth of the book.

5. The Choice by Edith Eger

This is my absolute favourite. Edith Eger is one of the survivors of the Holocaust, and she tells the story of how her childhood was stolen by being deported in a concentration camp. But the book does not stop here, and Edith goes on describing her recovery from the traumatic experience and her willingness to become useful to others in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. She describes how she saw hell and from it she learnt how to use her pain to serve others by becoming a psychologist. She’s a great, inspirational woman.

TW: being the Holocaust the subject of this book, the story contains some crude scenes.

Have a look at Edith Eger website: 

6. The girl who dated herself by Susannah Shakespeare

This is a novel about a girl who learns to love herself after a breakup. After the separation, she realises she never loved herself the way she deserved and starts doing things alone, from going to the cinema to having a fancy dinner.

This is a book about self-love and how it is good and healthy to want to spend some time alone.

7. The curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

This is a novel about a boy on the spectrum of autism and how he deals with it through seeing the world as a mathematical problem that needs to be solved. In the story, he finds himself involved in a mystery to solve, which starts with a dog found dead in the neighbour’s garden.

This book describes well the struggles of someone with autism and how their vision of the world is different, but this doesn’t mean worse.

Please let me know if you have any book recommendation for me, I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Marimeia :)

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day. Welcome to Too Much Information Tuesday.

Dog food is tested on humans.

Penis enlargement surgeries are free in Cuba.

2.7 million Americans work for either Walmart or Amazon.

Scientists have discovered a species of algae that tastes like bacon.

1.5 million trolleys are stolen from British supermarkets every year.

If your parents are happily married, your risk of divorce decreases by 14%.

Jack Nicholson once got detention at school every single day for a year.

Walt Disney used to pack his testicles in ice to improve his sperm count.

In 2010, a doctor in Blackpool spent £1,200 trying to win a cuddly toy at a hoopla stall.

The first pornographic film came out in 1895, just a few months after the first regular movie.

Nelson was about 5’ 4". His statue on top of the column in London is about 18ft. That's Horatio of about 3:1

During the 2012 Russian election (when Putin was elected for a third term), one region registered a voting turnout of 146%.

If your name begins with a letter that is towards the end of the alphabet, you are likely to struggle more when getting your first job.

Every year, a village in Montenegro hosts a ‘lying down’ championship. This year's champion spent about 60 hours lying down.

2022 saw the highest number of people ever diagnosed with gamophobia, which is the fear of commitment, relationships and marriage.

Elon Musk and Bill Gates have joined forces to make a penis enhancer. Early reports say they plan to name the product Elongates.

Research at MIT has shown that only half of perceived friendships are mutual. Only half the people you consider friends think of you as a friend and vice versa.

In 2008, a Japanese man found a homeless woman living in the top compartment of his closet after setting up a security camera because his food kept disappearing.

In ancient Greek mythology and folklore, the act of women exposing their genitals was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits or demons. A practice known as ‘anasyrma’ or ‘ana-suromai’.

In 2019, an accountant in London who’d endured years of being bullied at work decided to ‘go out with a bang’ and stole £170k from his employer. He spent it ALL in one weekend on prostitutes and cocaine.

In the town of Whittier, Alaska, almost everyone lives in one building. 90% of the town's residents live in one 14-storey building that also houses a post office, shop, police station, health clinic and a bed & breakfast.

In 2010, UK retailer GameStation claimed to own 7,500 souls after putting a clause in their online terms that stated, "By placing an order via this website ... you agree to grant us a non-transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul."

In Indiana, a 25-year-old delivery driver, Nick Bostic, risked his own life to save five children trapped in a house fire, running into the burning building and safely escorting four children outside and then leaping from a window with the fifth. He made a full recovery.

In 2010, a Harvard student decided to give up on life and shot himself in the head leaving behind a suicide note, explaining in thorough detail why “life was meaningless”. The suicide note he left behind was 1905 pages long.

On April 28th, 2023, the ground really moved for one woman during the second movement of the LA Philharmonic’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, when she experienced a “loud and full body orgasm.” Several concertgoers described the woman’s climactic moment from the balcony at the packed Walt Disney Concert Hall. “Everyone kind of turned to see what was happening,” Molly Grant, who was sitting near the overjoyed woman, told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. “I saw the girl after it had happened, and I assume that she … had an orgasm because she was heavily breathing,” she said. “It was quite beautiful,” Grant added. An audio clip purporting to capture the woman’s moment of ecstasy has gone viral. British composer Magnus Fiennes, brother of actor Ralph Fiennes, also was in attendance. “A woman in the audience had loud and full body orgasm during the 5th’s second movement. Band politely carried on,” he said on Twitter. However, some social media users expressed their doubts about the incident, with one who was present suggesting that the woman had a medical emergency. Fiennes insisted, “It absolutely happened. Was in close proximity and had no less than eight other friends attending. All reached a similar conclusion.” Classical pianist Sharon Su added in a tweet that she “checked with someone who works at the LA Phil and they confirmed” that the incident was real and that the orchestra did not stop playing during Tchaikovsky’s 5th. The LA Times reported that its sources and the audio clip corroborated the accounts that the orchestra did not miss a beat during the explosive moment. Music agent Lukas Burton told the LA Times that the woman’s loud moan was “wonderfully timed” to a “romantic swell” during the performance. “One can’t know exactly what happened, but it seemed very clear from the sound that it was an expression of pure physical joy,” Burton told the paper.

Okay, that’s enough information for one day. Have a tremendous and tumultuous Tuesday! I love you all.

[foreversecrets]

Foot In Mouth

Rogers Family Expansion

Paring: Frank x Daphne

Summary: Living together Frank encouraged Daphne to explore hobbies and acitivies she'd enjoy but doesn't have the most encouraging response once she finds her passion.

Despite Frank and Daphne being one of the earliest couples to get together, they were nearly the last to get married. For the longest time Daphne ‘lived’ in Franks’ guest room though she  frequently found herself having sleepovers in his bedroom. Shortly after the divorce they sat down and set boundaries and laid out their relationship. They both acknowledged their affection towards one another but mindful of the neglectful marriage Daphne had just escaped from, Frank put the progress of their relationship entirely into her hands. She didn’t want to fall back into the loop of marriage, though he hadn’t meant James had caused her so much mental turmoil she was almost afraid of marriage. 

She wanted to make her own decisions independent from the expectations of everyone else, she didn’t want to be the woman her parents raised her to be, didn’t want to be the homemaker marriage had made her out to be, but the problem was she didn’t know what else there was to her. Everything in her life had been decided for her up until she fell in love with Frank so now she was stuck at a point where she didn’t believe she had any individuality. She struggled to branch out at first, her ideas being small like trying a recipe for dinner she found online instead of something she knew how to cook, or teaching herself how to properly iron Frank’s button up shirts. 

While Frank was trying to be supportive he gently advised her that her branching out should be activities outside the ones outside the house maintenance. 

He suggested she assisted Chloe get things rolling for the bakery she wanted to open, right now Chloe was working out her and Curtis’ house while she tried to find a location and place a bid. She’d been so excited but after day two she solemnly told Frank she wouldn’t be returning to help Chloe, too many customers had complained about incorrect change or products being damaged in transit. Ever encouraging, he asked Annie to show Daff some of her skills thinking maybe she could become Aria’s personal assistant as she’d been looking for one since she’d been more focused on her modeling agency lately over her actual modeling. But an incident with burnt coffee being spilled all over Aria in a one of a kind gown had the designer screaming at Daphne, Aria tore the man a new one and terminated her contract with him but she had to let Daff go. Aria was frustrated by the situation but she reminded Daphne that no one had the right to speak to her in that manner. Then Curtis offered to pay her to help him work in his garden he’d let go during Chloe’s recovery from the Rumlow trail leaving an overabundance of weeding to be done. And while there was no disaster there she found she hated it, so she hopelessly gave, returning to things she knew. Cooking and cleaning for the Adler household, which Frank didn’t mind but he knew it was important to her to find someone for herself, to help her grow outside of who she was forced into being. He had to ride the line of being encouraging without making her feel like he was nagging her because he was content to just have her in his arms.

Returning to a schedule of housekeeping she finally found something she was passionate about and was moderately good at, unfortunately Frank’s response was poor. 

Watching house flipper shows with Frank and playing sims with Mary she found herself enjoying the decorating of a home or businesses. She started picturing what types of furniture would look nice in their house, which colors would set certain moods like:a warm welcoming living room, cozy comfortable bedroom, clean and orderly bathroom, lively and joyful kitchen. She loved it but she was lacking in confidence so she decided to try her skills out on the Adler House, Frank had said he wanted her to treat it as her own house when she’d first moved in but all she’d brought was clothing and her toiletries so far. But now she was ready to push the limits of her skills and change the vibe of their home.

When Frank came home the day she redid the kitchen aesthetic (she wanted to remodel but she wasn’t sure that was something she should do without Frank’s input), he put on a bright smile and offered positive words for her. But 3 weeks into the room by room changes, he snapped. A rough day at work reviewing Delilah and Ransom’s months allowance had left him with a massive headache. Why the hell did Ransom need a $600 leather keyboard and why was his sister subscribed to a month-to-month dog treat box-she didn’t even have a dog! Rough day followed by him coming home and tripping over the new shoe rack that was supposed to add organization and distress to whatever had his fuse rising dangerously close to blowing. When he entered the kitchen he saw the crock pot out and on, hoping seeing dinner would bring his anger down slightly he leaned over to look but his gaze was instead drawn to a receipt for $1500. Fucking what?! She did their bedroom today, what could she have possibly purchased!

“Daphne!” He called out.

“Bedroom, honey.” she sang out. He walked the path to their bedroom, reading off the items on the receipt until he entered the bedroom that was done up with neutral tones, more photographs of the now three person family but all the furniture was the same as it had been. “Do you like it?”

“Like you? You spend $342 on decorative pillows.”

She nodded eagerly, “There was a bogo so I got two!” 

“What the fuck am I supposed to do with a decorative pillow!”

“Well it helps bring ….” she trailed off not really knowing what to say and finally picking up on Frank’s foul mood. 

He’d never directed his ire at her and he was right, the price was ridiculous for a decorative pillow now that she thought about it. It wasn’t even her money, it was his, he had every right to be mad at her. Though he’d given her that card to use how she wanted, this was taking advantage of his generosity. 

“I’m sorry, you’re right.'' The crack in her voice diluted Frank’s anger as he realized what he’d said and how he was mistreating her. “I’ll fix it tomorrow, but for now I think the beef stew is ready.”

“Daff wait!”

“Mary, dinner is ready. Come help me set the table please.” 

Sighing, Frank threw the receipt on the dresser and changed into his loungewear. He’d apologize after dinner and make things right, her food always put him in a better mood so he’d be more equipped to handle the situation delicately. But after dinner Mary had needed help with homework-turns out she hated English. Then when he went to fix things, Daphne had locked herself in the guestroom, so he pushed it off until the morning. Again she distanced her by using Mary, taking the kid to school before Frank emerged from his bedroom. He called her at lunch and she led the conversation, not letting him get his apology out by focusing on what he wanted for dinner the next week. He thought maybe things had resolved with time but when he came home from work that night, when he went to put his shoes in the rack, he found it missing. In fact every change she made to the house apart from her personal belongings had been reverted back to how it looked when she first moved in. Panic surged, thinking she’d left altogether, a relieved sigh slipping out when he found her in the kitchen cooking. 

“Honey?” when she turned to look at him he instantly picked up on her despondent eyes. The look on her face was reminiscent of the first day they met, the melancholy he hadn’t seen since the divorce had been finalized. “What’s going on?”

“I’m making dinner silly.” she forced a smile and a giggle. 

“Don’t do that, please.” Slow tears started falling down his cheeks. “Don’t pretend to be happy. Don’t let our relationship mirror your previous marriage.”

“I’m not,” she gently patted his check and went back to breaking up the hamburger meat. “I just realized what I do best is in the home and that's where all my energy should be.” 

“No, honey!” 

“I thought you liked-”

“No you are good at that but that’s not all you’re good at! The changes you’d made to the house were nice.”

“I shouldn’t have changed anything without your permission and I shouldn’t have used your money. I’m sorry Frank.” 

“Daphne, the changes you made helped this house truly feel like a home. I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you and your efforts.” 

“My intentions weren’t to make you angry.”

“It wasn’t you, I just directed it at you because you were there. It was wrong and I am sorry.”

“Did you actually like the changes?” she asks, sounding hopeful. 

“I did,” he places his hands on her hips. “I didn’t understand all of it but I liked the additions.”

“Can I put everything back?” she rocked a bit on her feet. “Most of it is still in my car, I only had time to return the bedroom stuff.”

“You can and maybe once we put everything back you can help Chloe renovate the bakery? She found and closed on a building but it needs a lot of work. It would be a good opportunity to start building a portfolio.” 

“That’s a great idea.”

Together, as a family, Frank, Mary, and Daphne brought back the items Daphne hadn’t returned and placed the items back where she’d originally placed them. It took most of the weekend but it was the perfect chance for Daff to finally fully move into Frank’s bedroom with him.

This minor hiccup in their relationship being resolved was the reassurance she needed to progress in their relationship, though she still wasn’t ready for marriage. It wasn’t until she began to gain notoriety for her small design business that changed. After redoing the bakery, Frank had her do his office at work which led to Aria asking for her to do the lobby of her modeling agency. With Aria’s approval of how well she’d done, she gained her support publicly which brought in clientele far too quickly for her to manage the projects she received. Within 6 months she had a year-long waiting list. 

For the first time in her life she felt like her own person, not dependent on anyone else and successful all on her own. She didn’t and would never again have to rely on someone else for her survival. Though Frank still made more than her, if their relationship ended she would land on her feet, only having to deal with the heartbreak of loss. It was her financial independence that finally had Daphne giving the go ahead for marriage, putting the ball back in Frank’s court. But she told him to take his time and ready himself, adjust to the changes in her life before determining if he wanted a future with her. 

His first instinct was of course he was ready but he’d been patiently waiting on the sidelines during her character development-staying stagnant-so he considered her advice and waited. He went to Sarah and Annie for their sage wisdom to know when he was ready and when to propose. They told him to picture two lives one with Daff and one without but he couldn’t imagine the second option, when he’d voiced it the women smiled and told him he was ready. The next day he picked up Daphne’s best friend, Blair, and his sister-in-law Annie to aid him in his ring shopping though he wouldn’t propose for several more months. 

[starfoam]

Public Knowledge (Available online, easily accessible):

Lorelei Kaimana Snow is the founder, owner, and lead designer at the Summer Snow boutique, located on Mele Mele island in Alola. She has been working since she was 19, and founded the boutique at age 25. She is currently 28 years old.

Lorelei’s network includes Felicia Blanche, a famous Kalosian designer of women’s fashion who apprenticed Lorelei and who happens to be her stepmother. Despite murmurs of nepotism, Lorelei has described Felicia as “one of the toughest customers I’ve ever had - I wasn’t allowed to finish my apprenticeship until I created a garment she would put on a runway. Anyone who’s worked for her knows how exacting that standard is, but I’m a better designer because of it.”

Lorelei is currently single. There are rumors of a former fiance, but no conclusive evidence of this exists.

Lorelei has a quadrupedal goodra named Benji. He’s a good boy.

Luminous is a masked vigilante with powers of unknown origin, who is dedicated to preventing structural damage in extreme natural and Pokemon-induced events. She also wrangles Ultra Beasts and sends them back to their dimension.

Luminous’s powers include flight, super strength, crystal generation and manipulation, energy manipulation, matter manipulation (but she can only make purple, black and white),  and accelerated healing. The source and extent of these powers is unknown.

Luminous can be reached... generally by yelling, honestly? She often leaves communication devices in Areas of Interest that can just be poked and spoken into, and she’ll be there. They look like sparkly purple-pink rocks.

Semi-public Knowledge (Available if you dig for it):

Lorelei’s timeline is... spotty? She seems to move from place to place far faster than somebody with her resources should be able to, and there’s an entire section on her frequent days-to-weeks-long “disappearances” where she’ll just seem to vanish off the map and can’t be reached. This timeline isn’t on Wikipedia, btw, it’s on a fashion designer’s wiki.

Lorelei is capable of doing extremely detailed work in short periods, which would suggest she’s using mass manufacturing or some sort of external labor, but there is no proof or even a hint as to where or how she can be doing it, especially when she’s always seen working on these projects herself. People who have seen her work can confirm she is capable of doing hand embroidery, jeweling, and beading, so she might actually be that fast. 

Lorelei is a great cook, and originally intended to succeed her father as head chef of his eventual restaurant. She was drawn to fashion as a career early on in the process of funding the restaurant, but still comes in to help her dad when she can.

Lorelei has four parents - her bio-dad Kei and bio-mom Lea are both divorced, and remarried to Andrea and Felicia respectively.

Lorelei has a... cousin? Named Lore. She’s 19, a lesbian, and interested in becoming a proper tainer.

Luminous has died at least once to public knowledge, or at least appeared dead, before disappearing from public view. She re-appeared a week later, claiming an “emergency status” and subsequent recovery.

There’s... a castle? Made of crystal? Off the coast of Mele Mele. But it only exists some of the time when Luminous approaches it. What is within this castle is unknown, but she retreats to it when severely injured.

Luminous is a confirmed dimension-hopper, and can cross between worlds without issue. She does this often to provide aid to other timelines.

Private Knowledge (no online record of this information exists, and is only accessible by talking to the correct people):

Lorelei can only retain memories of other timelines that disappear or taper off by taking something tangible from them. She does this by way of taking Polaroid photos and writing as many details as she can on the back.

Lorelei’s fiance, Rhys, was from another timeline which tapered off. She retained the fading memory of him for a long time, but Lore eventually destroyed his polaroid in order to free Lorelei from the cycle of grief she was trapped in from it. She remembers not being single at some point, but all other details are lost, and no conclusive evidence of his existence remains.

Lore is the only known alternate of Lorelei, and came from the “original” timeline that eventually broke off into our current one. Her timeline is now gone, and an empty pocket dimension is all that remains.

Benji is afflicted with the same magic as Luminous, and (unknown to Lorelei) is actually typed dragon/fairy.

Luminous has died conclusively three times - once by falling from a great height shortly after gaining her powers, once by way of a rampaging Kyogre, once by absorbing the power of an Ultimate Weapon and overloading herself. She has nearly died several more times.

The Ultimate Weapon she disarmed is stored in the underbelly of the castle, at the heart of a garden which somehow exists in a state of being upside down.

And, of course:

Lorelei Kaimana Snow and Luminous are the same person.

[legalassist-delhi]

Understanding a Wife's Property Rights After Divorce in India: A Simple Guide(Top Lawyers For Property Case in Delhi)

Getting divorced is tough, and figuring out who gets what can be confusing. In India, the laws about property rights for wives after divorce have changed over time. Let's break it down in simple terms.

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First, it's important to know that different religious groups in India follow different laws for marriage and divorce. But there are some general rules that apply to most cases.

One key thing to remember is that a wife has the right to keep any property that belongs to her. This includes things she owned before getting married, gifts she received during the marriage, and anything she bought with her own money. No one can take these away from her, not even her ex-husband.

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Another important point is about the house where the couple lived together, often called the "matrimonial home." Even if the wife's name isn't on the property papers, she might have the right to live there for some time after the divorce. This is especially true if she has nowhere else to go or if she's taking care of the children.

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In recent years, Indian courts have started recognizing something called "stridhan." This means any gifts or money given to the wife by her family, friends, or even her husband during the wedding or marriage. Stridhan belongs only to the wife, and she has full rights over it after a divorce.

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But what about property that the couple bought together during their marriage? This can get tricky. The law doesn't automatically split everything 50-50. Instead, the court looks at things like how long the marriage lasted, who earned what, and who contributed to buying the property. They try to make a fair decision based on each case.

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Sometimes, a wife might be entitled to get money from her ex-husband to help her live after the divorce. This is called "alimony" or "maintenance." The amount depends on things like how much the husband earns and what the wife needs to live comfortably.

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It's also worth noting that if the couple has children, the parent who takes care of the kids (often the mother) might get to use or live in certain property to help raise the children, even if they don't own it outright.

One last important thing: these rights apply whether the divorce happens by mutual agreement or if it's contested in court. A wife can't be forced to give up her property rights just because her husband wants a divorce.

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Divorce is never easy, but knowing your rights can help make the process a bit less stressful. If you're going through a divorce in India, it's always a good idea to talk to a lawyer who can give you specific advice about your situation.