#Or maybe it's just a thing from my community

[thatsmistertoyou]

maybe a hot take idk

look I know many people are upset about the pricing/fee situation of the TIT livestream (me included, I was pissed as hell that I got a large surprise fee), and I hope everything gets sorted out. I’m proud of the phandom for being loud and demanding fairness from the platform. you will not get shit past us.

I understand that. however, I completely disagree with some opinions I’ve seen (mainly on twitter but whatever) that charging for the stream at all is greedy, especially for people who have already paid to see the show. this is a weird take imo because this stream is supposed to be an opportunity for people who didn’t get to go to see it with an audience as a communal experience. but if you already spent money and don’t want to spend more, don’t!

and I don’t know anything about anything but based on the very little information dnp have provided about the cost of touring, I really don’t think they have the option to just do the stream for free. this is just my opinion, but based on how dan said he lost money touring WAD, i would not be surprised if the livestream paid for the rights he needed to release it for free on YouTube (and the extremely important rights to play All Star in the credits). just because he wrote and performed it doesn’t mean he owned it. it would not surprise me at all if the profits from the stream don’t go to dnp only.

and also, Things Cost Money, including livestreams. I think the platform has really showed their ass, but if we remove them from the equation for a second - everyone who put on TIT, including Dan and Phil, deserve to be compensated for their work. I don’t expect them to bleed money into this project forever just because it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’m sure they’re doing just fine financially, but they are not and never have asked anyone to take food off their table to support them.

I actually find it really disheartening to see just how many people were like, legitimately, personally angry with dnp before they had even had a chance to respond to our concerns. I’ve been around long enough to remember when they announced TABINOF, there was an uproar about how they were sellouts because they were writing a book just like every other youtuber, making a shitty cashgrab when they had nothing to say. in the 2 days before we knew what the book would even be about, the Discourse had never been more annoying or mean spirited.

and it made me wonder, what are yall doing here if you assume the worst like that? have you just been waiting for the masks to slip? are you appalled that they participate in the heinous capitalistic act of selling their labor like everyone else? have your years of support not earned a little bit of grace when there’s a miscommunication?

I’m not saying approach everything like ‘they’ve never done anything wrong once in their whole lives and never will’, but the vitriol that seems to come out at minor fuck ups is alarming. some of yall do not like them and it shows. (I am looking directly at twitter dot com now)

I find that attitude really sad. after the TABINOF drama, I promised myself I’d never lose sleep over phandom nonsense again, so I’m going to bed, just had to get some thoughts out there. 💙

[tigerpearlsworld]

Pick a card

How do you think your person feels vs how they actually feel about you?

Before you choose a pile, take a moment to breathe deeply and connect with your intuition. This is a general pick-a-card reading, where the universe's infinite energies align with your path to bring you the guidance you need. Know that you can only choose one pile. The message you receive is not just for you to resonate with, but for you to realize in time as the truth unfolds in your journey. To truly receive your message, you must follow your heart’s instinct, not your expectations. Look beyond the surface and see what your soul is trying to reveal to you.

May you receive what you're meant to know.

( Choose the pile: )

The reading starts. . .

Pile 1:

How You Think They Feel:

I'm seeing you believing this person is feeling a strong, soulmate-like connection with you. You also see them as someone who wants to communicate openly and honestly to you and even perhaps... confess deep truths to you. The word destiny keeps repeating in my head so you may feel or sense that destiny or fate is at play here... yk. You also might imagine them constantly thinking about you, almost obsessed. Yet, there’s a feeling of something being taken or elusive, as if they are trying to keep their true feelings hidden or playing hard to get. Like the truth is present but not fully revealed. You perceive them as someone deeply emotional, introspective, and spiritually connected to you and again this idea of fated connection seems on play here. Like it's meant to be.

How They Actually Feel:

Tbh in reality, this person ...they see you as someone worth exploring but from a distance....*yikes* like are they curious about you? Sure...but they are also cautious, and definitely take things slow, almost hesitant...*hesitation is coming strongly from their side* i see this person is someone who just wants peace currently. They avoid conflict, they don’t want drama and like I see them not wanting to get dragged on something they don't feel ready for yet which could mean they are not ready for intense emotional involvement. I'm also getting them being overwhelmed and anxious and not being clear and wanting clarity within themselves as things are just not adding up in their life rn. Yep. I'm hearing this word "imprisoned" so maybe this person feels trapped by their own limitations or circumstances maybe it could be a mental barriers, past experiences, or even practical constraints from their side...I also feel they are though observing you from a distance, analysing the situation but will they make a move? Um.... likely not. At times they may appear detached or calculated to you but it's their way of protecting themselves emotionally.

You story:

The perception is of a grand this relationship definitely feels like a destined connection-one where the other person is just waiting to express their love and sweep you off your feet. But in reality, this person is more reserved, introspective, and cautious. They are intrigued by you? Yes but are holding themselves back due to fears, insecurities, or a need for self-growth. They admire your strength and maturity but don’t feel ready to match your emotional depth. What I see for this connection is that one side is ready to merge and connect, while the other is guarded and not ready to connect. I also feel this chaser runner dynamic coming...for when one person is ready the other is not. There is also this feeling burned due to maybe the status of one person or the idk but one person here runs away because of feeling burned by the other person wile the other person constantly chases. Also idk if you know this or not but it's just how strongly fated this feels but also filled with longing and hurdles it's just ...I deeply feel for this connection that even if you try to leave and even if they don't come to terms with their emotions ....there is just this lingering sense of ache and longing...like even if you go and be in another relationship or they go and be in another relationship with someone else both of you will just try to find eachother in that other person making both of you even more lonely in a way. I feel this person won't be satisfied in any relationship unless its with you...its just how amazing you guys are together but I definitely feel before they could come to you they maybe in a relationship before they realize what they want and that' it's you and then I see them chasing ....and I feel it's gonna take time. This connection between you two is definitely karmic ....no doubt but it’s a journey of patience and understanding. If you choose to wait they might come out of their shell-but only once they’ve made peace with their inner world.*so yea*

In the end you balance each other...there is this theme of light and dark...and without one the other feels empty. There is tragicness about this connection and its fate I'm ngl but there is also the feeling of chasing the other person not wanting to give up.

A song which was coming for you screaming in my head:

Pile 2:

How You Think They Feel:

You perceive this person as having romantic feelings for you and wanting to connect deeply with you possibly even seeing you as a soulmate. But you also sense they are not being fully honest... either with you or themselves. You may feel at times they are holding back or hiding their emotions, possibly out of fear or past wounds....and you may also believe they are afraid of vulnerability. I also see you feeling that this relationship is a journey something that is slowly unfolding and evolving over time. You likely think they are gradually realizing your value and that their feelings are growing, even if they haven't openly expressed them yet. I'm also sensing something unexpected will happen... there is an element of surprise or a pleasantness, unexpected turn of events may happen soon ;)

How They Actually Feel:

For you group no 2 your person they see you as a source of hope and inspiration....you represent something they admire and aspire to, possibly viewing you as someone out of reach. I'm definitely sensing they are curious about you, possibly watching you from afar (social media, asking mutual friends, etc.) gathering information but not making direct moves yet. I see them contemplating patiently not ready to act impulsively but also not entirely disengaged. I also feel they feel lucky to have to know you and may feel like it's fate which brought you to them...but I'm also sensing insecurities as they are well aware of your value and what you bring to the table, so I feel they may feel undeserving or unsure about how to handle such a profound connection feeling unworthy.

Your story:

You perceive them as romantic yet secretive, drawn to you but playing a game of push and pull. You think they are slowly realizing their feelings but the truth is they are in AWE of you!!!!perhaps even intimidated by the emotional depth they feel. They are observing, reflecting, and taking their time, unsure of how to proceed but deeply invested in the potential of this relationship. It's random message but be careful I'm feeling even if you may not be in a relationship but there is definitely this message coming of misunderstanding and miscommunication...i see rumours spreading in bad name about you...and then I see people trying to protect them from you and even manipulating in thinking you don't feel for them and that you're cheating which is weirdly specific but it's the message .... this feeling is coming of where they have this love for you which is genuine but there is this social pressure they are getting which is kinda of influencing them...in way....the social group is being a hurdle. *It's a random message* I'm just this person is too pure and just ig....I feel they may see as someone who will not accept them..I also feel even if you come to be in relationship with this person other person may try to steal you away or try to ruin your relationship with them. I'm feeling in this connection the words which comes to me is self-restraint and sacrifice. This relationship is of healing. I feel this person they are drawn to your nurturing energy but are cautious, almost afraid of losing themselves in the depths of what they feel for you. They definitely see you as a beacon of hope but are taking a methodical careful approach...waiting for the right moment to reveal their truth.

The song which came for you:

Pile 3:

How You Think They Feel:

You believe this person sees you as their ideal partner.. a perfect match.you think they view you as their equal.. someone who matches their energy, charisma, and fire. *It's random but I suddenly remember that song "is somebody gonna match my freak...is somebody gonna match my nasty" lol random* You likely feel that they see you as someone they can build a future with. You also think they feel a sense of loss or longing for you, almost as if they believe you were taken away from them or are just out of reach. Im also seeing for you viewing yourself as the “Main Female” in their life... the center of their thoughts and desires. There’s an aura of romantic idealization from your side where you may feel that like they see you as the one who got away or the one they can't quite have.

How They Actually Feel:

In reality I think your person is very introspective..hm..and emotionally cautious than you think. Like do they have feelings? Yea sure...they have deep feelings but they are also reserved...and I also sense they may hesitate to express their emotions openly. I also see them emerging from a period of emotional detachment or contemplation now realizing the emotional opportunity before them. I see them slowly becoming more open to this connection but still guarded. I also see they are willing to put in the effort but are doing so methodically. So this person does have romantic feeling connection and attraction towards you but they are also burdened by emotional pain or past wounds. The person might see this connection as something powerful yet overwhelming making them feel vulnerable and exposed. I see them feeling torn between their desire for you and their fear of getting hurt or losing control. they maybe struggling with emotional or mental blockage which maybe preventing them from fully embracing this connection. There is definitely baggage from their side and heavy ones.

The story:

You see them as passionately in love viewing you as their perfect match and ideal partner. You believe they are captivated by your charm and see a future of abundance and happiness with you. However in reality they are conflicted and cautious...i see they may feel a deep emotional pull but are wrestling with inner demons, fears, or past experiences that hold them back. *Mental trauma and past is also being highlighted for some I'm also seeing the person could have been sexually assaulted or abused in the past or during childhood it's random but it's how it's showing...for some I'm also feeling the person way of looking at the opposite gender could also get broken due to it...also hearing there is also some gender fluidness* I see they admire you and are slowly coming to terms with their feelings but are struggling to find the courage to act on them. There is beauty and melancholy in this connection—a longing that is palpable yet restrained. This connection is deeply karmic, urging the person to confront their fears and you to exercise patience and understanding. *Also getting some addiction vibe the person could be using addiction to escape pain?* They need time to heal and grow before they can fully engage.

This came it may help...the person is really broke it's just what I'm feeling anyway this song came

Pile 4:

How You Think They Feel:

Okay....group number 4 for you I see that you may believe they have deep emotional feelings and that they are in love or are developing strong romantic emotions for you. You may also see them as someone who is emotionally mature but guarded and holding back their emotions while feeling intensely. You also perceive them mature then you maybe in age/appearance or the way they present....you also think their logical and rational, someone who is thinking carefully about how to approach you and communicate their feelings. You might also think they are in control of their emotions and trying to make a move towards you soon. You may also believe they are making a serious decision about you, perhaps deciding to take things to the next level or make a commitment. You might feel they dance around circling at the top of love and you're anticipating... almost like waiting for them to reveal their true intentions.

How They Actually Feel:

In reality they are more balanced and relaxed than you think like...I see they feel a sense of harmony and peace when they think of you, but they are in no rush. They are taking their time to process their feelings, letting things flow naturally without rushing. I also see like they do have romantic feelings but they are in the early stages of those feelings. They feel playful, curious and just exploring their emotions without taking things too seriously yk. I also see they may see you more as a friend like they may see you as someone fun someone they enjoy spending time with, but they might not yet see this as a full-blown romantic relationship. They are taking a light-hearted approach with you and just enjoying the present moment without overthinking the future. There is yes a strong spiritual connection but....BUT! it’s wrapped in a sense of playfulness and ease for them. They are not approaching this with the seriousness you perceive or crave but that doesn’t mean they don’t care...it just means they simply want to enjoy the moment and let things unfold naturally.

Your story:

I see you perceiving them as deeply in love but guarded...yk. I also see you strategizing their every move almost like you are waiting for them to confess their feelings. You see them as calculating but romantic....carefully controlling their emotions. In contrast and reality though they feel a joyful, light-hearted connection with you.They see you as a friend, a companion, and someone who brings emotional fulfillment and happiness. They are curious about where this could go but are not planning or strategizing as much as you think Or overthink. Lol. I feel that you feel haunted by the possibilities, analyzing every move and every word. But they are dancing in the moment, carefree enjoying the lightness of the connection without being burdened by the past or the future. It’s like you’re watching a dream while they are simply enjoying the dance. This connection is about learning to balance intensity with playfulness depth with lightness.

No song came for you

[halliejaade]

Edelweiss

Joaquín Torres x Female Reader (Chapter One)

Disclaimer: Since there isn't much of a backstory for him, this is kind of setting up a background for both him AND you, plus, I gave him a little sister. I thought the dynamic would be fun to explore and could add to the story in a good way. :) Also, I just came up with a name for their mom because I wasn't sure if she's been spoken about canonically.

Synopsis: The seed of love once planted during your childhood with Joaquín never had the chance to bloom due to the weight of circumstance. Years later, you find yourself still totally and completely in love; but perhaps, after all this time, that love will finally be allowed to bloom.

Moving to Miami is as exciting as disorienting.

It had been incredibly hard; leaving all of your friends behind. But your father simply couldn't pass up the job offer that he had been given.

Being only twelve years old meant that you didn't pay any mind to the house your parents had bought. You did pay attention, however, to the fact that this neighborhood actually had other kids. Back home, there were only older folk, who wanted absolutely nothing to do with eager-to-face-the -world children.

It also helped that there was a beach only a few miles from this house.

You stepped onto the front lawn and observed your new home. The possibilities seemed endless; a sprawling front yard, perfect for the game of tag, a sidewalk just waiting to be drawn on with colorful chalk, and a huge tree sat in the backyard, beckoning you to climb it.

You were helping your father unpack boxes from the moving truck, relishing in the pride laced into his tone when you lifted a particular heavy box with ease. You set it on the curb, wobbling slightly as you noticed the neighbors that were chatting away with your mother.

A beautiful woman stood beside a gentle looking man, her hand hooked in the crook of his elbow, a smile splayed across her face. Between them, a young boy and even younger girl stood; the splitting image of both of their parents.

"Honey, introduce yourself," Your mother encourages softly.

You smile bashfully, fingers moving to grasp at your mother's long skirt. Bowing your head, you introduce yourself. When you peek back up, the boy is watching you carefully.

He catches your gaze, and smiles softly, dimpled cheeks becoming an instant comfort for you.

"I'm Joaquín," The boy says proudly, "And this is my little sister, Maria." He swings an arm over her shoulders.

Joaquín grins then, and it's so bright, that it makes you think that maybe he's the sun incarnate. In fact, you're almost positive that he is.

"Would you like to show Y/n around the neighborhood?" Their mother, Cecelia, asked quietly. Joaquín nodded enthusiastically.

You realized rather quickly that Joaquín didn't do anything half-heartedly. He didn't do anything without complete and utter certainty, and that apparently included becoming friends with you.

The little neighborhood you had moved into was safe. Kids could be seen wandering about the streets without supervision, because that's how secure everyone felt in their little community. You could turn a corner and be sure to see a familiar face.

You followed close behind Joaquín and Maria, rolling the sleeves of your shirt up your arms as rays of sunlight bit at your skin.

"We can stop by Max's and get a cold soda, if you'd like one," Joaquín says.

"I don't have any money."

"That's okay. Max always gives us our drinks for free!"

Maria, who had been quiet up until then, laughed loudly. "Yeah, but that's 'coz you annoy him. He doesn't want to deal with you."

In a few years, you'll look back on this moment and only have fond thoughts about it; the moment you met you're two greatest friends. Joaquín, who was always quick to say what was on his mind, always so ready to speak up about the things he believed in. And Maria, who was soft-spoken, always choosing to spill her thoughts on paper rather than from her mouth.

A cluster of businesses stood proudly in your neighborhood, all small, locally owned. In the middle, a group of men were attempting to set up what looked to be a fireworks display. Joaquín looked over his shoulder at you and then pointed toward the square.

"When it gets closer to Christmas, they'll put up a massive tree. It's pretty sweet! But one year, a hawk flew into it and knocked off one of the big bulbs. It hit Gloria in the head. Knocked her out, but it was kind of funny. She was fine, by the way. Well. Not really, 'coz she's kind of crazy, so I think it might have made her crazier-"

You were about to interrupt him and ask who Gloria was, but you didn't have to.

Maria jammed an elbow into her brother's ribcage, "Shut up."

A woman, who could have only been Gloria, based on the fear that emanated from the Torres siblings, was walking across the street. Right at you.

"Oh no, she looks like she's on a mission. Let's make a break for it," Joaquín whispered, beginning to turn in the opposite direction, toward the pharmacy.

"Hey, wait!" Gloria called. "I want to meet the newest addition!"

Joaquín grimaced. "Can you run fast?"

You shrugged. You weren't sure what fast was to him.

"Sorry, Gloria! Maria's real sick, you probably shouldn't get too close." And then he clapped Maria on the back. Maria bent at the waist, coughing loudly. Joaquín turned around and made a show of pointing at his little sister. "See! Nasty cough. Wouldn't want you catching that. We have to get her medicine, anyway."

The three of you took off running then, though Maria was still coughing wildly. "What is the matter with you?!"

Joaquín only giggled.

Even though you didn't really need to go into the pharmacy, you did anyway. The old metal sign hanging from the awning sighed loudly as the wind caught it, and you couldn't help but admire it for a moment. It was old, a testament to how long some of these businesses had stood in this little square for. The bell above the door chimed as the three of you stepped through, the elderly man behind the pharmaceutical desk greeting you all with a friendly smile.

You had only just moved to Miami, and already you felt like you belonged. That's just how it was there. It could get frustrating, not having much privacy, but you always knew you had people in your corner.

A month passes. Friendship festers.

Turns out, Maria did have a bit of a rebellious side to her. Though it only presented itself once she got comfortable with you.

The whole thing had been her idea.

Once July hit, the temperature spiked, and the days were often scorching. Playing outside was a no-go, with the weatherman warning of too high temperatures. Lazing around the house proved to be a hard task for a couple of twelve-year-olds, so you had to get creative.

It's how you find yourself climbing the tall fence running the perimeter of the Miami Shores Country Club swimming pool with Joaquín and Maria.

Joaquín climbed up with ease, lifting himself up and settling down on the top before reaching down to help you and Maria up.

You spent the day floating around the pool together, rummaging through your pockets once the sun got to be a little too hot for loose change so you could buy ice cream from the little concession stand. By the time you left, (that's how you all chose to tell the story; the real version was that you got caught and were kicked out), there was melted popsicle dripping down your fingers, and your hair smelled like chlorine, but you couldn't have been happier if you tried.

It was getting dark by the time you were finally heading home, so you wouldn't have come across it if it weren't for Joaquín getting distracted and crashing his bike. He had landed in a woody area, the thick grass breaking his fall. You and Maria quickly dismounted your bicycles and hurried after him. He had already gotten up and climbed through the brush. You weren't sure what you were expecting to find on the other side, but it certainly wasn't a massive meadow that you were expecting. It was as if the rows and rows of wildflowers were endless.

Without warning, you took off into the field, causing a swarm of fireflies to burst from the flowers. It looked like the stars were falling from the sky.

You caught one of the fireflies, and gently cupping it in the palms of your hands, you made a wish. You wished to always have these friends, to always have the security of the Torres siblings next door.

Joaquín wanted to keep catching bugs, and had been prepared to set some ground rules for a game (not that he ever really followed the rules back then), when you turned, and said the last thing he had ever expected.

"Come dance with me, guys!"

Heat burned Joaquín's cheeks. "Ah, I don't know...go ahead and dance, Maria. I think I'll just hang back here and look for bugs."

He wasn't sure why he felt so embarassed about it.

"Whatever, boys suck anyway," His sister announced as she brushed past.

The next few minutes were some of the worst that he'd ever endured in his short lifetime. He watched, partially in amusement, but mostly in horror, as Maria stepped all over your toes, as she apologized over and over again every time she did so. Finally, he got frustrated with having to watch you grimace and try to cover it up with a smile every time your toes got stepped on. He shoved off of the tree that he had been leaning on, and told Maria to watch and learn.

"Wait, where did you learn how to dance?" You asked, placing a hand on Joaquín's shoulder.

"Oh, our cousin got married last summer, so our Ma taught us."

There was a moment of silence, of pure joy as Joaquín twirled you slowly, and then...

You were so sure that you were going to have to break up a fight once the look of realization passed across Joaquín's usually passive face. Even more so once Maria laughed smugly at him.

Joaquín swore to never fall for one of his sister's deceptions ever again.

Another month passes, the gravitational pull grows stronger.

Daisy, your younger cousin, flew down with her mother to spend the remainder of the summer with you. It was a tradition you had back home, for your aunt and cousin to come and stay with you for one month out of the summer. You were excited that even though the location was different, that the tradition wasn't ending. You liked Joaquín and Maria, loved them even, but you were happy to have a familiar face around.

Joaquín had recently gotten into heroes, and nearly every day, at the crack of dawn, he'd drag you, Daisy and Maria to the meadow down the street to play a game of heroes with him. Though, on this particular day, only you were able to go.

Thankfully, you had proven to be just about up for anything, so when he asked you the night before if you still wanted to go, you quickly agreed. The next morning, he found you waiting on your front porch steps for him, and then you took off running for that meadow that had become a safe haven for your little trio.

The crack of a broken branch echoed through the muggy August air as you leapt from one tree to the next. Normally you'd be the sidekick in Joaquín's story, but now that Maria and Daisy were both at home, someone had to play the villain.

"That was sick, Y/n!" Joaquín broke character for just a moment, a shocked laugh escaping from his chest. "But please be careful."

You laughed wildly, feeling the freedom of air as you swung yourself from the branch and landed in front of Joaquín.

"This is fun. I want to be the villain every time!"

His mouth twisted down into a little frown, "But I like you being my sidekick."

"I do think we make a good team," You replied thoughtfully.

"Wait, really-"

He was cut off as a raindrop splattered along the ridge of his nose. You looked up, and took note of the angry gray clouds that were rolling in.

There weren't many things that frightened you.

Storms were one of the few things that did.

Not many people would've noticed that it wasn't just concern that danced in your eyes, but a deep-rooted fear as well. But Joaquín did. He always noticed things about you that no one else did.

"Hey, let's get home, yeah?" He commanded quietly, grabbing your hand. You stood in place, like a frightened fawn that hasn't quite learned how to leave its mother's side yet.

He realized then, that he would have to do anything he could to get you to move, that this was his chance to get a jumpstart on being a hero.

"Hey, rainboots," He said playfully, nudging your bright green boot with the toe of his sneaker. "Race you home? Winner gets the loser's dessert for the next week."

Now that caught your attention. Your mothers had grown close quickly and had implemented dinner's together three times a week. They collaborated on both dinner and dessert, but the dessert was always the best part of the meal.

Even though it was technically supposed to be a race, you didn't let go of Joaquín's hand when you took off into the rain.

He was quicker than you, but the both of you knew that he was going to say that you won the race.

You were only halfway home, when a crack of thunder tore through the sky. It wailed deafeningly loud, the ground shaking beneath your feet in response. Dense raindrops smacked at the tops of your heads as you ran down the street. You could barely hear over the roaring thunder, could barely see through the thick curtain of rain, but you weren't scared anymore. You couldn't feel anything but calm.

You just couldn't find it in yourself to be afraid when sunshine was running just a few steps ahead of you.

Summer descends, Autumn howling at its heels.

School was right around the corner, the dread finally settling in at the prospect of (forced) early mornings, homework, and shorter days. Daisy was due to go back home the next day, and then the following week, you'd start school with Joaquín and Maria.

You were spending the day with Joaquín, sipping sweet tea on the front porch as you played a game of cards. Daisy was down on the sidewalk, near the street. She was trying to catch a toad, and splashing around in the puddle's leftover from the rainstorm the previous night. The two of you were hidden from sight, so you didn't know what was about to happen until it was too late.

Joaquín always thought that it would be extremely difficult to envision you as an angry person. You were just so kind to every person you came across. You would sing to honeybees, even as everyone else was running away screaming. If Maria (or Daisy) dropped their ice cream cone on the sidewalk, the first person to offer theirs up would be you. Strangers would gawk at your sometimes unruly behavior, and would sometimes frown upon your boisterous laughter, but you'd just grin at them in response.

He came to a realization that day, though.

There was a boy who lived in your neighborhood. He liked to pick on people, but only if they were smaller than him and couldn't really fight back. He hadn't ever gotten brave enough to try anything with you guys, since he was always outnumbered. But he hadn't seen you or Joaquín up on the porch that day.

Neither of you realized what was happening until Daisy screamed. You watched in horror, as Beau shoved Daisy. She teetered back on her heels before losing her balance completely, her elbows skidding across the pavement as she landed. Her cries sent the both of you to your feet. Joaquín was the first to make it down to the sidewalk, his anger propelling him forward.

Joaquín was only inches from Beau, his hand reaching out to grab at him, when a blur flew past.

He slowed to a stop, watching in utter amazement as you gathered the back of Beau's shirt into your hands and yanked him back as hard as you could. Beau scowled as he turned, ready to strike. But then he saw you standing there, and laughter bubbled up in his chest, up and up, until it burst from his mouth, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He lunged at you, his fist raised as if he was about to hit you. Joaquín took a step forward as you took a step back.

Beau smirked. "Yeah, that's what I thought." He tugged a piece of your hair, before turning on his heel.

You tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned back around, you smiled innocently up at him, and rocked back on your heels.

Your smile dropped.

"You forgot something."

And then you swung your fist into his nose.

It was at that moment that Joaquín realized that, yes, you were kind, and friendly, and often went out of your way to help others, even if it meant you got slighted in the end.

You were also fiercely protective.

A year passes.

Middle school came, and while schools changed and so did the students, you and Joaquín remained the best of friends.

You fell in love with art, and ballet. Joaquín joined various sports, intent on becoming strong so that he could protect and provide for his loved ones.

The two of you were really finding yourselves. It was beautiful.

Two years pass, then three.

The shift happens when your world suddenly turns on its axis.

Everyone called it the Blip. You called it the worst, yet most defining five years of your life.

It was odd, how your parents had been there and then suddenly...they just weren't. Maria, and Joaquín's father were gone too. But both he and his mom were safe, still in that house next door.

His mom had practically begged you to stay with them, but you couldn't bring yourself to. You couldn't bear the thought that your parents might show up again, that they might only appear just long enough that you'd miss them if you were out of the house. So you stayed, even as the echoes of what once was haunted you.

Home went from love and laughter and so much fun with your parents to the kind of quiet that was capable of driving someone mad.

Joaquín, however, was determined to redefine what home meant to you.

Having a bedroom across from yours had its perks, one of them being that he could very easily cross the tree that connected your bedrooms whenever he pleased. He had been doing it before the blip, when the two of you decided one night that it would be fun to have your own way of communicating. One flicker of your bedroom light meant 'lets watch the stars together', two flickers meant 'i'm bored, let's talk', and three meant 'sos come over as quickly as you can'.

So it wasn't necessarily strange for him to come over at all hours of the night, but it was different when the blip happened. It became less fun, and felt more like something you both needed.

It isn't a surprise for you when you hear that familiar knocking on your bedroom window at half past midnight. You call out softly, telling him to come in. What you are surprised about, is the tinge of nervousness you feel when he climbs through the window, moonlight washing over him.

You pull your covers up and around your shoulders, as if that could protect you from the newfound feeling.

"Are you cold?"

No.

"Yes," You reply.

Joaquín nods in understanding, and motions for you to scoot over in your bed. It shouldn't be strange, this had been the routine for a long while. But when he settles in beside you, face set in a peaceful expression, it gives you butterflies so badly that you think you might vomit.

"You okay?" He asks softly.

You only nod, too afraid that if you open your mouth that you'll say something stupid.

Joaquín shifts closer.

You're unsure of how and when this happened. You're unsure of when he became so...handsome. Somehow, it's only now occurring to you how much space he takes up in your bed, how broad his shoulders are when he rolls onto his side to look at you.

"Rain boots," He whispers, "Tell me what's wrong?"

Unable to look him in the eye, you roll over and stare at the blindingly red numbers on your alarm clock. "Just miss my parents."

It's not a lie.

You expect him to do what he always does. You expect him to offer some advice, to tell a joke so that you smile, you expect him to poke at your sides until you have no choice but to erupt with laughter.

You don't expect him to shift closer to you, an arm reaching out to drape over your waist. You don't expect the warmth of his breath against your neck. His chest presses to your back, and you have to stop yourself from dying right then and there. Tentatively, he slides his hand into yours, before he squeezes three times.

"Close your eyes, boots. I'll be right here when you wake up, okay? I'm not going anywhere. Not ever."

You do as he says, trying to get your breath back to its normal rhythm.

"Goodnight, Y/n."

"Night, Joaquín," You breathe.

The last thing you remember thinking, before sleep finally claims you, is that Joaquín's heart is beating in tandem with yours.

Two more years.

Joaquín always knew that you were destined for things far greater than you could have ever possibly imagined. It was apparent to him from the very beginning.

Growing up next to you had plenty of perks; one of them being that you had the ability to keep Maria entertained unlike anything else ever had. You had always managed to come up with fantastical scenarios, assigning the siblings their roles as you acted them out. From a young age, the world had been your stage.

You never seemed to mind that not everyone wanted to attend the show, you were always so unendingly free.

So it's absolutely no surprise to him that you seem so comfortable on a real stage.

You just...belong there.

The stage lights are bright, but not nearly as much as you are. You're radiant, a cosmic entity.

"This is beautiful," His mom announces quietly as she takes in the venue. After the blip, after everything was said and done, you decided not to waste any more time and accepted your offer into Julliard.

It had been difficult, moving away from home after everyone you loved came back. But if the blip had taught you anything, it was that life was short, and you wanted to make the most of it when you could. And now, here you were.

You'd always dreamt of performing in The Nutcracker. You weren't supposed to tell anyone when you found out, but you couldn't keep it from Joaquín that you'd gotten the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. And to think, after all your hard work, you were performing with the New York City Ballet!

"She is so beautiful," Joaquín agrees.

"Not to diminish her, because she is very beautiful-but I said the venue was beautiful."

Joaquín looks to the side, at your mother's and at Maria. "That's what I said, too."

Maria snickers, and rolls her program up before smacking her brother with it. "That is definitely not what you just said, you dork."

He hates to admit it, but she's right. She was right all those years ago in that meadow when you were so excited to dance with them. She was right to trick him into dancing with you. Even when Maria was gone, he could almost feel her eyes on him any time he laid with you at night. He could almost feel the way she'd say, "Make a move you big dummy!"

But he was afraid.

He was afraid that he would put his heart on the line for nothing. He was afraid, because he was leaving in less than a week for the Air Force.

But mostly, he was afraid that he would get hurt, or worse, and that he would totally and completely break your heart.

So he kept quiet about it, though it was almost physically painful for him.

During curtain call, you take your final bows, and Joaquín can't help but leap from his seat. The entire audience follows suit, and he sees the way that your eyes light up. He sees the tears (that he knows are happy) that gather on your waterline. He sees, because out of everyone in the audience, you look for him.

And, damn it, if that doesn't make him want to drop to his knees and tell you right then and there how truly and completely he adores you.

But he's leaving, and you'll be here, dancing. He's leaving, and he'll be in dangerous situations that he'll be sure to not divulge with you. He's leaving, and you'll be here, safe and sound. So he keeps his mouth shut for a while longer.

Afterwards, you take them out to your favorite sushi spot. You're ecstatic, practically glowing. You had taken your hair down and taken the makeup off, but you couldn't have been more beautiful if you tried.

"This is insane," You gush, squeezing your mom's hand as you press the button on the crosswalk. "I can't believe this is my life right now!"

"Rain boots."

You glance at your greatest friend, the boy who isn't as much of a boy as he is a man now. "Joaquín."

I love you.

But he can't say it yet.

"I'm so proud of you."

You smile softly, and wrap your hands around one of his biceps before crossing the street as a group. He thinks that's all you're going to answer with, that this is where it ends. But right before you walk into the restaurant, you lean your head against his shoulder, and although you say it quietly, he hears you loud and clear.

"I'm proud of you, too."

Annnnd chapter one finished❤️ I'll get more into the plot of TFAWTS/CABNW, but I wanted to set up the back story and allow you guys to get a feel of the dynamic. (:

[mangled-by-disuse]

Possibly worth noting the alternative side of this:

Coming out publicly was intended as a deeply political act to be undertaken as activism.

The origins of things like National Coming Out Day weren't "have a chat about your sexuality/gender on socials", they were an active and targeted campaign to be like "oh, you think this doesn't affect you? you think you don't know any gay people? you think the AIDS crisis is happening somewhere else to strangers? surprise bitch we were here in your life the WHOLE TIME"

And it was effective at that! But also: the nature of that kind of activism is that it's a decision that needs to be weighed up against the cost of doing so. Like arrestable protest actions, like whistleblowing, like holding a rally in a hostile community, there is a whole calculus in play about what it will accomplish vs. what it will cost.

Most of society, thanks to coming-out movements, does know that there are gay people in their community (we're still maybe working on trans recognition, but.) Most homophobia I've experienced is not based on "I've never met a gay", so much as "I've met gay people and it made me very uncomfortable" (or, indeed, "some of my best friends are gays, I just don't like when they shove it in my face").

This doesn't mean we should disappear, but it does shift that cost-benefit analysis from where it was in the 80s and 90s. The cost of being out in public is still high. The political benefits, while palpable, are different, and possibly less, because of the work that the previous generations have already done.

And, like arrestable actions or whistleblowing or rallies, you are allowed to decide you're not in a place to do that now. That doesn't make you a bad queer or a bad activist. It just means that you might need to turn your energy elsewhere, and that when you do that cost-benefit analysis, the cost is higher than the benefit.

Coming out is a complicated thing, but it's not what makes you queer. It's not even what makes you a queer activist. Thousands of queer people did amazing work for the community without ever publicly coming out of the closet.

It is a brave and laudable thing to come out to a hostile world that needs to be reminded that we're here, we're queer, and we won't disappear. But it's not the only thing. And not doing it does not condemn you.

In ~these times~ it is important for queer people to be reminded of what "coming out" originally meant. "Coming out" did not mean telling all of your co-workers something super stigmatized and vulnerable about you, wearing your queer status on your sleeve in public, informing the police or government institutions about your sexuality, or even telling your parents. "Coming out" meant venturing out into the queer community; being among other queers as a queer yourself.

Coming out isn't about telling the entire world when doing so is not safe for you, it's not about arming your enemies with information they could use against you. No, coming out is about making a fulfilling queer life possible for yourself through participation in the queer community. It is about escaping the restrictions and dangers of the cisgender heterosexual world by rooting oneself more deeply into the queer one.

And you can always do that. No matter how oppressed we are. No matter how much the culture shifts and policies are enacted to terrorize us. We are always able to be ourselves when we are amongst each other. And living our queerness has always been a collective social project, not just a matter of personal exposure.

[strangelittlestories]

"You know, Red Riding Hood, *some people* consider it rude to comment on a person's physical traits." Grandma's awfully big and bushy eyebrows (above her awfully big eyes) raised in unimpressed fashion. "Like, if it comes up in conversation, sure. But completely unprompted? For shame, granddaughter."

Red considered this. She considered this deeply. She held a brief little internal conference about this.

Red's Super Ego: She's got a point. In an ideal world, this isn't how we'd behave.

Red's Anxiety: Yeah, we fudged it, lads. We've screwed the pooch. Really wrenched the dalmatian. And absolutely bolted the little doggie too. The only thing to do now is apologise and get eaten.

Red's Healthy Boundaries: Hold up, can we consider context? Sure, avoiding physical commentary is usually a good rule, but it's situational right? And the situation we are *currently in* is noticing that our grandma has suddenly developed a severe case of apex predator. A condition that, by the way, is usually terminal ... but not for her.

Red's Lizard Brain: RUN RUN RUN! TEETH! RUN! TEETH! OH GOD! FLEE FREEZE! AAAAAAAAAA! GULLET! MUZZLE HER WITH A DOILIE! USE THE CROCHET LIKE A NET! PUNCH THE SNOOT!

Red's Ancestral Knowledge: Hold up. Something feels ... I dunno. Itchy? Like. Itchy on the inside. There's something we're missing. Why does it feel like night-time when it's not dark? Why do I love this wolf in grandma's clothes? What *day* is it?

Red's Critical Thinking: Sorry I'm late to the party, gang. Hey, if this wolf ate grandma, then why's everything so clean still? Like, no gore or splatter? And if it ate her whole, then how's it wearing her nightgown?

Red's Adrenal Glands: Hey, you guys like 4 Non-Blondes? 'Cos we're about to take a deep breath and then GET REAL HIGH.

All of this happened in moment. But that, it turned out, was still a moment *too long*, because Red's mouth had been talking out loud while the other bits had been talking in her head.

"Grandma, let's cut the crap." Red's voice was blunt, but still fond. "You're a big old wolf and I'm snack-size. But just because you're a danger doggo, doesn't mean you're not *also* my family. Maybe you ate grandma. Or maybe the full moon's about to come out and it turns out granny's always been a bit howly around the edges. It doesn't matter - either way, my gran's in there somewhere. And I love you. You hear me? I love you no matter what you are. So if you're gonna eat me, you'd best do it quick, because the woodcutter usually checks in around this time and he is not a lover of anything lupine. So ... what do you say?"

Red could see two different creatures were warring in grandma's eyes horizon-wide eyes. One hungered for community. Another hungered for flesh.

But, ultimately, both were pack predators.

"My, what a big heart you have, granddaughter."

And the wolf engulfed Little Red Riding Hood with its limbs, rather than its jaws.

"Phew. That's a relief. I wasn't sure who was gonna win there." Red's voice was a little muffled from around the fur and fluffy nightgown. "But I wasn't joking about the woodcutter. So unless he's likely to get real chill with some stuff real quick, you and me have gotta make a man disappear, grandma."

Grandma the Wolf nodded.

"Hey kid. If a tree falls in this forest and no-one's around to hear it?" Grandma's big-ass teeth were all the better for grinning. "Then can they do us for murder?"

"They cannot." replied Red, resolutely. "Let's make this tree-hating motherlover cry wolf."

"I'm actually a little surprised you're so down for murder, Red."

"Well, they do say the best defence ... is a *hood* offence."

[1980shorrorfilm]

last goodbye

pairing…ellie williams x gn!reader

in which…you leave ellie at the farmhouse.

before you read…angst. ellie gets mean :[ inspired by yellowjackets <3

the food is no longer steaming when ellie enters the quiet house, but you’re still there, sitting at the dining table— waiting.

your plate untouched, because you told yourself to just wait a few more minutes, wait for your lover to come home and join you. that was stupid. her routine of leaving and coming home when the sun was setting, or already down, wasn’t going to change simply because you wanted it to.

and what can you say to her?

she says it helps and clears her head from the things you couldn’t even imagine taunting her. you had to accept it. you had to tolerate the pushing away at the times you needed her to communicate to you. or her turning away in bed if your hand lingered on her thigh. the days spent knitting on the couch, alone, because she wasn’t there.

she never was. and yet you wait, and you wait, for something to change. but it wasn’t going to be ellie, no, her habits would remain the same. you had to do something.

you had to do something with all this love in your heart that feels unreciprocated, a harsh realization after everything you’ve been through with her. you’re sure, or you convince yourself, ellie does still care for you; she just can’t show it, not like she used to. maybe one day, you’ll receive that warm feeling again.

maybe, just not now.

“hey,” you greet her quietly, fork poking at your food, “kinda late, no?”

she pauses after kicking off her shoes and shutting the door, a cool wind slipping in before it closes. “you my parent?” she asks back in a tone that makes you feel dumb, and she quickly bites her tongue when your head is down. she sighs, “just…thought i was tracking somethin’ big…but i lost it.”

you stand up, collecting both full plates on the table, “sure you’ll find it when you’re out all day tomorrow.”

you walk to the kitchen, not catching the huff that leaves her lips or the roll of her eyes— the same pretty eyes that once only held admiration for you, and nothing else. that looked at you like you were the sun and the moon and all the twinkling stars in wyoming’s sky. now so…bland. not much behind them. 

ellie follows you, staying in the doorway while you pack away the untouched meals. “you’re not gonna eat?” she questions, arms crossed.

“lost my appetite.”

“seriously?”

you briefly look at her, unable to read her expression. you can only assume it’s one of annoyance. wanting to ignore her, you redirect your attention to the task at hand, placing the now-empty dishes in the sink and turning on the water. she squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, trying to remain patient despite the tension filling the space between you two. 

“i’m…” she begins, another deep sigh, and slowly walking over, “i’m sorry, babe.”

she’s using that soft voice that she does when you’re upset with her, and it used to work in the beginning. something little like dragging her muddy shoes through the house when she was eager to see you, to hold you, to kiss you. now, it doesn’t quite work. it’s a facade, she cannot be sorry when she will do the same fucking thing tomorrow and the day after that. 

you feel her behind you, pressing herself into your back, head on your shoulder. “just didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” she explains softly, kissing the tender skin of your neck, but it doesn’t seem to get a reaction from you. you don’t move like you’re being tickled, she doesn’t get a smile or a shy giggle, yet she kisses again.

you speak beneath your breath, “course you didn’t.”

ellie halts, then, slowly detaches herself from you. she takes a few short steps away, with a very dry and short laugh that almost makes you uncomfortable. for a moment, it’s silent, then comes a heavy gust of wind vibrating the house, and she nods, “okay.”

“okay?” you repeat, finishing up and drying your hands, reluctantly devoting your focus to her. “that’s all?”

“i don’t know what you want from me.”

now, it’s your turn to laugh, humorlessly while looking her in her green eyes, “i-i just want you to be here—that’s fucking it, ellie.”

“i’m here, aren’t i?”

you swear your hands shake in anger the moment her mouth shuts. and she’s serious, too. she’s so oblivious this is more than a cold plate of spaghetti. unfortunately for ellie, it’s hard to pinpoint when something—anything—had gone wrong, because her days blend together. hours and hours of feeling nothing. 

it’s the same for you, in a different sense. except you desperately crave an escape. 

and it’s not that far out of reach.

“i…i’m going home.”

“what? you—you are home.”

“i mean jackson, ellie. to my mom, my dad, people that love me, you know?” you tell her harshly, walking past her and going upstairs. she follows closely, mind racing, processing how the hell this escalated that damn bad.

“no—no, you’re not,” ellie says, like it’s true, because the reality that this isn’t some sort of joke or way to make her feel bad is unacceptable. 

you can’t leave her. you never have. you fucking left jackson twice to be with her. when she intended to avenge joel and when she decided to move away. and you did both things with no hesitation, an immediate yes, that’s only the ever answer for you when it came to ellie. was.

“what are you doing?” she asks, watching you grab a dusty backpack from beneath the bed, one that hasn’t been used since you happily moved in together. she had kicked it beneath the frame with her hungry eyes on you, laying on the mattress, one knee propped up and swaying and teasing. the first perfect night here. one of many, before they slowly faded into bleak loveless routines.

you don’t reply, because she has eyes that she can use, and turn your back, opening the closet. you skip over her clothes and to your own, tugging at your hung shirts and throwing them on the bed.

“c-can you stop— y/n,” ellie walks over, hand on your arm, a firm grip that prevents you from moving. until you tug away, looking at her like she was out of her mind. meanwhile, she’s thinking that with you. “i’m sorry—o-okay? just stop.”

her voice is begging, tears pricking at her eyes as it’s hitting her this is real. her partner doesn’t want to be around her. the love of her fucking life. her mind has already convinced her you were too good for her, for all her problems she has made your own, but that doesn’t mean she was just going to stop herself from loving you. she couldn’t. she needs you. you can’t leave.

“i’ll be better, yeah? i will. i’ll be here—with you, i want to be. a-and we can visit jackson, together— show em’ how good we are. w-we can be really good, we gotta try—i will fucking do anything, baby—” her words are rushing out, she doesn’t even know what she’s saying, if she’s making sense, but she thinks it’s getting to you.

she almost has hope for a moment.

then, she swears she sees it. that sorrowful look on your face, one that looks like future regret.

“ellie…i love you—”

“don’t—don’t fucking do that—no,” ellie puts her hands on her hips, shaking her head, not taking her eyes off of yours no matter how blurry they got.

suddenly, you hate this, and you want to vomit. the only ellie you saw when you wanted to leave, was the one that was no longer comfortable sharing emotion with you, being vulnerable like she once was. and now, she’s here, when you’ve made that decision. 

you shiver at her icy gaze and air slipping through the crack of the window, ellie wishes she could just make you freeze in place with the power of her saddened eyes. she can’t. 

and the idea that she can’t infuriates her.

she hesitates, “fucking pathetic…gets too hard for you and—you just run.”

now, you’re still, forgetting about the backpack and the shirt in your hand, the one you momentarily thought about hanging back up when you saw the first teardrop. you were going to do what she wanted and stop, to see if she meant it, if she’d do better. if you can be there for her, if she could just let you. how silly. 

“no—” your attempt to defend yourself is cut short, ellie speaking again, “b-but you ‘love’ me, right? damn liar…waste of my fucking time.”

you feel it. the actual breaking of your heart at words you think she doesn’t mean. she’s just upset. she’s just upset.

she gulps, “when you leave…don’t come back.”

you’re crying.

now you do feel pathetic, and you hate the way she’s staring at you, you push her away and rush out of the room. she’s following and it only makes you move faster, your combined heavy footsteps being the only thing louder than the settling of the house.

you reach the front door, grabbing the nearest jacket, ellie’s brown one she kept from joel. it smells just like her and it’s unfortunately extremely comforting. you put it on, and then your shoes, ellie just watching with confusion on her face. she doesn’t want this—why did she say that? what’s wrong with her? the same question that hung above her head for months. 

“y/n— wait—”

and that’s it. that is, essentially, her goodbye to you.

you’re out the door, jogging down the porch stairs, and not looking back as she stands, watching. telling herself to keep following you, because it can’t end like this, like a nightmare; losing you.

but, she doesn’t.

you made up your mind that she can’t change, she had tried. she lets you go, your only guiding being the dying sun. 

she stands by the door until you’re out of sight, then hesitantly, walks to the couch. she can’t go back upstairs, she can’t touch that bed now. she lays down, staring into nothing, everything on her mind that prevents her eyes from shutting. 

how did she get here? 

how? 

she doesn’t know when she fell asleep. she seemed to stay awake forever, must’ve been when she lazily tugged a nearby blanket on her body, the living room growing cooler.

but the windows weren’t open. why the fuck is it so cold?

ellie sits up when there’s some light peeking through the windows, the sun rising and the snow falling. it had been falling all night. she thinks of you, and something is wrong. she senses it, like a calling, two hearts synced and not beating in the same rhythm anymore.

ellie gets up, throwing on her sneakers and grabbing a thick hoodie, along with the rifle propped at the door— before exiting it. she can hardly focus when she sees the thick snow coating the ground, unsure how to fucking track you, to make sure you took the right path to jackson without getting lost or hurt.

it’s not a short trip. not on foot, and not in several inches of snow, or with this fucking wind that forced the snowflakes to hit her face. 

she decides to call your name once she’s on the usual path, not caring if anything else heard, she can handle it. what she can’t handle is not finding you.

and, she does.

another hour in, a few feet to the left, propped against one of the many trees.

sleeping—that’s what she wants to think. 

ellie says your name, quietly, and knowingly. 

she feels like the ground beneath her has just swallowed her whole. she thinks she’s screaming, but her mouth is just ajar as she’s fighting for breath.

she’s on you, holding you, trying to warm you up, but that cannot undo what has happened. she had lost you.

she had lost you a long time ago. she thought she could make up for it, she made the promise she would when she was lying down just hours prior— and you weren’t even here anymore.

now, she never can. and it’s like the sun, the moon, and all its stars, no longer exist. you had taken them with you. maybe she would be at peace, knowing there was a moment—a short moment—where you only felt a rush of warmth, and it was like being held by her again.

like she’s holding you now; she cannot let go of you. if she leaves, then it makes it real. 

so, she stays.

[enhaflixer]

How are jay's parents with jane? Also I don't remeber so can you pls tell what the reader and jay's jobs are and how did they handle ir during or after the pregnancy?

Exclusive Interview with Park Jongseong & His Wife on Parenthood, Careers, and a Certain Marriage Law

—A follow-up interview featuring Park Jongseong, his wife, and a deep dive into parenthood, their careers, and how they managed it all.

-

Q1: How are Jay’s parents with Jane?

(Jay leans back against his chair, arms crossed, while you shake your head, a fond smile tugging at your lips.)

You: “They’re obsessed with her.”

Jay: grinning “I don’t even think I exist to them anymore. It’s just Jane now.”

You: “The way your mom acts, you’d think she gave birth to her herself.”

Jay: laughing “She sends daily letters asking what Jane did that day, like she’s waiting for some groundbreaking development.”

You: mocking “‘Did she say a new word? Did she show signs of advanced magic?’”

Jay: “And my dad—he literally used to strike fear into people’s hearts, and now he’s out here having tea parties with a toddler.”

You: “Oh, and let’s not forget when Jane made her stuffed dragon breathe actual fire.”

Jay: grinning “My dad looked at her like she had just invented magic itself.”

You: laughing “Meanwhile, I’m in the background putting out actual flames.”

-

Q2: What do you both do for work?

Jay: “I work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, handling business regulations and legal disputes.”

You: grinning “He basically tells rich, entitled wizards that they aren’t above the law.”

Jay: smirking “And that’s fun for me.”

You: mocking “You mean you like arguing.”

Jay: “I like winning.”

You: rolling your eyes “Anyway, I work in the Muggle Liaison Office, helping integrate Muggle-borns into the wizarding world and making sure the magical community doesn’t accidentally expose itself to Muggles.”

Jay: teasing “You used to work at Flourish and Blotts too.”

You: groaning “That was years ago.”

Jay: grinning “Yeah, and I still remember picking you up from there.”

You: mock-glaring “That was one time.”

Jay: leaning forward “One very important time.”

-

Q3: Wait, wait. What happened? He picked you up from Flourish and Blotts?

(You exhale, shaking your head as Jay watches you, amusement flickering in his eyes.)

You: “It was early on, right after the law was implemented. I was still trying to keep things… normal. I picked up a few shifts at Flourish and Blotts, just to clear my mind.”

Jay: softly “You needed the distraction.”

You: nods “Yeah. But one evening, my shift ran late, and I was exhausted. I was bracing myself to go home alone, but then—” glances at Jay

Jay: smirking “Then you stepped outside, and I was leaning against a lamp post, waiting.”

You: grinning “He acted all cool and casual, but I saw the way you were checking your watch.”

Jay: chuckles “Okay, fine. Maybe I was a little impatient.”

You: “You didn’t even say anything at first. Just took my bag off my shoulder and held my hand.”

Jay: softly “You looked like you needed someone to do that.”

You: heart squeezing “I think that was the first time I let myself really… lean into you.”

Jay: “I remember. You sighed—like you’d been holding your breath for weeks—and just rested your head against my shoulder.”

You: whispering “And I let you take me home.”

-

Q4: How did you handle your jobs during and after pregnancy?

Jay: laughing “Handle? I didn’t let her work.”

You: glaring “That is not true—”

Jay: “You were heavily pregnant and still trying to handle Muggle-Wizard disputes.”

You: scoffing “Because it was my job.”

Jay: “And it was my job to make sure you didn’t keel over from exhaustion.”

You: muttering “You banned me from going into the field.”

Jay: mock-serious “I did. And I would do it again.”

You: “The Ministry had to force me to take maternity leave.”

Jay: “Because I stormed into their offices and demanded it.”

You: smirking “That was kinda hot, though.”

Jay: grinning “I know.”

-

Q5: First day back at work after having Jane—how was it?

Jay: groaning “Horrible.”

You: teasing “For you?”

Jay: flatly “For both of us.”

You: “I think I lasted… four hours before I started panicking?”

Jay: “Yeah. And I sent you an owl every two hours.”

You: “Until I had to tell him, ‘Babe, I’m literally coming home in five hours. Please relax.’”

Jay: grumbling “You were gone too long.”

You: softly “You missed me?”

Jay: mock-glaring “Obviously.”

-

Q6: If you could say one thing to the Ministry about the Marriage Law now, what would it be?

(Jay exhales, tilting his head back, before looking at you.)

Jay: “You wanna go first?”

You: laughs “Sure.” clears throat “Screw you.”

Jay: grinning “That’s it?”

You: shrugging “That’s all they deserve.”

Jay: hums “I was gonna say something more professional.”

You: raising a brow “Oh?”

Jay: deadpan “You’re all corrupt, incompetent, and if you ever try something like this again, I will personally take your entire department down.”

You: grinning “That’s professional?”

Jay: mock-thoughtful “It’s diplomatic.”

You: laughing “But… despite all that…”

Jay: nods “Despite all that.”

You: softly “We wouldn’t change us.”

Jay: “Not for anything.”

-

And there you have it—proof that even a government-mandated marriage couldn’t stop love from finding its way in.

TL: @ziiao @beariegyu @seonhoon @ijustwannareadstuff20 @ddolleri @naurwayyyyy @zzhengyu @annybah @somuchdard

[gulpchulp]

my goodness some of y’all are exhausting when it comes to Gemma

People really wanting kids is very very common in a lot of circles. Probably less here on tumblr or reddit but amongst others just out in the world, stuff like fertility issues is a huge deal. A lot of people start to feel inadequate when they struggle with fertility although they really shouldn’t. But I think it makes people hurt because they feel like their body isn’t doing a thing that it should be able to do and feel like it is stopping them from reaching their goals.

Additionally, just because someone cares about their career (like Gemma) doesn’t automatically mean they don’t want kids. People can want both AND people can struggle with that. Especially women as they are often shoved into a box of ‘needing to choose one or the other’ (like i have seen some people on here say) when these two things can exist side by side. Wanting kids doesn’t ruin your career or mean that you have lost all ambition, it just means you want to be a parent.

And on top of that I really do not think at all that Gemma voluntarily left to do some random treatment retreat thing. I think that is a misinterpretation. Now maybe I am wrong and if I am sorry in advance but the way I see it is that Lumon took her. They faked her car accident the night she was going out, they had probably waited for a situation like that so they could take her (at night, alone). Yes her and Mark were having trouble but again this is very common amongst the general population. Relationships can have rough patches, you are just people and people are emotional and reactive (to different extents depending on the individual).

Honestly Mark and Gemma’s marriage stuff didn’t seem that unusual to me. I mean they weren’t in a great place but it was in a very normal way, a way that happens to a lot of people. That doesn’t mean that it is automatically great and that the way they were communicating with each other was amazing and is what should have to happen in a relationship but they were in a dark place. But I think that they were both stressed and tired of working towards a goal they presumably both wanted.

It was disappointing and stressful and when people are stressed they snap and they say or do things that they wouldn’t otherwise. Like Mark, who pulls away and gets snarky when confronted with pain or grief, he runs away not because he doesn’t care but because he does, too much. So I don’t think him and Gemma stopped loving each other and that she would run away to Lumon because they were having trouble. (I honestly don’t even think it would have ended in divorce or anything though that happens a lot too).

I get that pregnancy and birth plot lines are not for everyone, but I think it is narrow minded to write it off as a cop out or bad writing. Pregnancy plots and discussion of children and family’s have always been in the show, they just weren’t the main focus. And this was just one part of one episode. Gemma exists as a person outside of wanting a child, half the time we see her she is not worried about that at all, she is too busy being tortured. And yet many of you have latched on.

I think that sometimes in people’s discomfort with traditional societal norms (for a lack of a better term) they end up leaning into the toxic side of them. You allow Gemma’s desire to be a mother to overshadow all other things occurring and ridicule the show for including it. You blame her for her own torture and you think that if a couple ever struggles they do not love each other. You blame Gemma for everything happening in the marriage as if it wasn’t Mark buying the crib and later taking it apart.

Anyway yeah imma need people to start thinking critically in regard to Gemma cause these takes are some of the worst I have seen.

[girl-lostconnection]

This post was probably a little overdue but here it is now.

Guys, I’m happy to see people that are excited to see my work. I’m always glad to geek out with you over these things because that’s one of the reasons why I made this blog in the first place and I really appreciate all the support I receive from you — it is much more than I could have ever expected.

What I’m not elated to see is the increased “I followed you for *insert specific AU*” and “when will you write more about *insert specific AU* i followed for it” in my inbox/askbox. First of all, I truly do not understand the point of coming out to say that you followed someone for one specific thing and then getting upset it’s not the main priority of the blog or not the main centrepiece.

I have been having some issues with Fruit bat AU for a little while now. While it was fun to write something this soft and funny and see how much people enjoyed the little jokes and animal facts that got woven in there, the continuous demand for more and more and more and more but in different font is overwhelming.

Also important notice: unless we talked about it and I specifically said that it’s okay, I’d appreciate my work NOT being rewritten and their endings changed just because you did not enjoy the original.

This is fanfiction, not an original piece of media. You don’t like mine? I hope you will find the one that works for you from a different creator.

But let’s respect my work and your time. Don’t do stuff like that, it does feel unpleasant.

And maybe I should have announced it specifically when I started writing in the first place but I write things I like reading AND writing myself. I’m my main Reader, I’m my most important audience.

I love sharing my work on here but it does not mean that I OWE to anyone what, how and when I write things.

I do not appreciate being treated like market and not a writer. I do not enjoy influx of demands, I do not like being someone to place pressure and disappointment on because I did not fulfil an expectation I didn’t know was there.

As of right now the requests are officially closed for an indefinite period of time. I will open them back when I will be emotionally and mentally ready to give more.

Clarification: I do like receiving requests from you, guys. I like being able to share and to write out something that before that only existed as a thought or a dream or an idea — it’s incredibly satisfying to see people be happy at the sight of my work and know that yeah, I did that.

What I do not like is pressure of expectations I never placed on myself.

I will write things not all of you may like and that’s okay. I will update things you did not want or did not wait for and that’s also okay. I like them, so I wrote them. I was interested in them so I wrote more.

I enjoy being part of this community tremendously but guys, you are in my sandbox.

This is my playground first and foremost. And as much as i like to share it — that’s what I do. I share.

You don’t own it or my time or my writing.

Let’s treat each other a little nicer. Because next time the continuous pressure may backfire severely.

And it may not only not get you the thing you want, but cause me to start reject said specific work.

As the result it not only will never be updated — I may consider removing it all together.

[lulumangione]

as someone who’s autistic i also really get the feeling that luigi is on the spectrum and i have nobody to talk about it with because i feel weird like armchair diagnosing him😭

his mannerisms really give it away for me. he’s overly expressive and literally cannot talk without using his hands—and also he comes off to other people as maybe “suspicious” which i really relate to and honestly makes me sad because he’s just chilling!! he might seem like he’s up to something to some but he just seems to me like he’s naturally very antsy and maybe uncomfortable in his own body so he fidgets a lot. i’ve done that little half stretch with the arms raised too many times to count. that’s not even mentioning his little default stance with the hands clasped in front of him or that stupid face he does in pictures sometimes where he scrunches up and looks like he’s gonna bite a bitch

and before he went missing he mentioned to some people feeling “different” from everybody else, like he was on a different wavelength, and that SCREAMS undiagnosed autistic to me. the “npc behavior” he described being so concerned with feels like an extension of this—i think maybe he felt like someone whose feelings are so so big in a world that seems to not feel much at all anymore. that feeling of not belonging and being out of place is the most autistic thing anyone can experience and i feel for him so much. if he does happen to be on the spectrum i wish he could’ve found some kind of community of other neurodivergent people that get him and share similar struggles because maybe then he wouldn’t have felt so alone. idk this turned into a RANT sorry i’m very passionate about autism can you tell

NONNIE YOU'RE SO FUCKING REAL OMG Thank you so much for this ask, you expressed so clearly how I feel about it too!!

As a fellow autistic, at least in my personal experience, I can easily tell when someone clocks that I'm autistic, despite the fact I'm extroverted and a pretty confident person. I think Luigi falls under that too.

No matter how hard you can try to not seem that way, there will be neurotypicals that see it. They'll usually play it up as "weird" or "suspicious" like you said, I've had it a handful of times. It's just how we are, lol.

I think it's unfortunate that he found community in a bunch of incels online, but I can understand why he would be drawn to that despite how smart he is and how his brain ticks. We don't know him personally so there's no telling what his political thoughts are entirely. Man is an enigma in that sense – which also makes sense for being neurodivergent.

With such wealth and an overbearing family, it's easy to understand why he would just want to get away. Find peace outside of everything he'd ever known. I feel the same sometimes.

It also makes sense for his distaste for technology, or at least somewhat of it. We get overstimulated easily and the world was already going haywire and towards something unhopeful, flooding socials and the media in general, before all of this, so I can at least comprehend why he would want to disappear.

Luigi's Reddit posts I feel go more into him as a person outside of silly twitter posts, the way he would randomly info dump about things is a big tism flag for me.

(example, the sunglasses post, lmao. "Fun fact" babes, no one asked x)

I mentioned before how it can feel weird to talk about, but I genuinely do think it's okay to feel that connection, regardless of who it is.

(Btw pls feel free to DM me whenever!! I'd love to hear more on everyone's thoughts on this.)

[velvetvexations]

It got to a point where the weird background noise of distain for transmascs within the queer community, frequently from other fucking transmascs, made me stop really wanting to call myself a trans man. I kind of avoid saying it where I can now. I'm factually transgender but I'm "just some guy" I'm "something like that" when asked.

It wasn't the active vitriol that did it either, it was the casual, mocking scorn.

I'm proudly bisexual, proudly queer in concept, but... Maybe it's because being extremely dysphoric and disabled made it hard to be proud in the first place, maybe I'd feel differently if I wasn't mostly housebound and could meet more queer people in the real world, but it's nearly impossible for me to feel pride in a part of my identity that so much of my own community seems to consider trite and embarrassing.

I don't know, maybe I /am/ a whiny loser transmasc who can't take a joke, but I think even just joking about entire identities being pathetic and annoying can't be good for the community. Either way, thankyou for sticking by your brothers and siblings, Miss Velvet, you do make me feel less ashamed in this way.

The idea is that men have surely brought it on themselves. And I don't really see how you can't apply to that logic to anyone. Like, if a transfem abuses a transmasc, and a transmasc abuses a transfem, it seems like those two people in particular are dead even, and should have a greenlight to be horribly transphobic to each other. It's so obviously childsh, pointless nonsense that serves no purpose whatsoever.

And I mean, COME ON. They'll be like "oohhh but why can't we make our widdle jokie wokies :(" and then you ask them to give you some of their act and it's just a nihilistic screaming cocaine bender about how much they despise the guts of everyone other than themselves and sincerely thinks the world would be better off without them.

"but oppressed people get catharsis!"

IDK, maybe I don't want you to get catharisis. Maybe I want you to be frustrated and miserable for as long as that's where you get your catharsis from. We're gonna be over here doing something that's actually praxis and does good for whatever cause while your therapist tries to introduce you to breathing techniques that might make you less of an annoying death-obsessed freak.

And truly we fucked up letting it get this bad. Everyone could broadly agree it was fine to make fun of dominant groups but it's spiraled so far out of control people care more about targets they can actually hurt instead of the one's doing the oppression.

Which is cowardly, too, by the way. Like, have you noticed how little any of those bloggers talk about transphobic cis people? I talk about transphobic cis people. The closest they come is bringing up TERFs to make up a 100% fake backstory justifiying slurring other trans people, and femboys to say anyone who isn't attracted to trans women are simply transmisogynistic liars and the people they are attracted to simply a poor immitation of Trve Transwymyn.

Their politics are not remotely oriented towards anything remotely productive and never have been, because they don't care about transfemminism, or transmisogyny, or any of that, it's the furthest thing from their minds, what they care about is getting the constant attention that requires an enemy.

[anxiousapplepie]

I am very curious and also concerned that the current Dragon King is potentially willing to genocide his whole race (or allow it if not perpetuating it) end a war, but I'm guessing it has to potentially do with the other two you included alongside what I believe is the look of the current Dragon King? (Far right, black hair and pink eyes) ... Actually, I don't think Rose eye colour rules work for the Dragons, now that I think about it.

Though it's a bit interesting and conflicting if the current Dragon King's reason (or at least part of it) for being okay with either extreme relating to the potentially very depressed Rose in his care (probably not human, eyes are too red for that. Though, can Roses actually smoke?? That's gotta be far more harmful to them than it is for humans.) and a Coloured Dragon child (his child??? Maybe???). Especially since this is a Black Dragon who did forsake his connections to others and community before. You know, following the info you already gave us.

... I think you gave me far more questions than answers. Whoops. And I doubt I'm connecting these dots correctly, but I'm pretty sure the partial revenge part is because of Rose Society's standards leading the brown Rose to depression and apparently smoking?? Who is probably the one person who got past the current Dragon King's metaphorical walls??

... Well, flip. I was gonna propose a theory I had on the Mythical Knight for my next ask before this just came and took up all my attention instead. You don't need to elaborate if you don't want to; I just have many questions about that small art snippet we got. But I could also be just completely wrong, and you can just tell me if I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. Good luck and I am very sorry for the word vomit. ☆

I am giggling and kicking my feet so much because I see you connecting the dots I've shared so far but also I'm laughing maniacally for reasons I cannot even begin to explain yet! (It's the colors. it's 100% the colors! XD) I will make two thing plain, though: the black-haired dude is indeed the "current" Dragon King during Lapis' story. And yes, Roses can smoke and it is Very Bad for them (for obvious reasons) XD

seriously you have no idea how much delight I got from your word vomit- I'd give you permission to check off your RK bingo card for a few of your ramblings, but that implies the situation with the Dragon King is that simple and clear cut XD

[katerinaaqu]

Lol where did I say anyone's opinions is less than another's for that matter? Actually that is literally what you said to me. That my opinion doesn't matter because someone else had that opinion. And I also love the "I am not afraid to" like I feel honored you think someone would be "afraid of me" but that was never part of my profile to begin with lol. No one said you cannot say your opinions. Ironically you came and say to me that my opinion is off. I mention my ethnicity because of your comment about how Greeks look like and I said that I believe I qualify very much to say how Greeks look like. That is not an opinion that is a fact.

I am pretty sure you are being confused. Greeks are europeans. If akin color is not race (which I agre you can find variants to each race group if one can use that) but my comment just in case it escaped you was to show exactly that when you show different ethnicities that also belong to different races or ethnic groups it should be commendable from all sides. And I as a Greek person know that Greeks come in all different shades within the European spectrum. Not in every shade as to every continent in the world. Of we talk about ethnically Greeks that is. If we talk about people with greek nationality that belong to different ethnic groups of course they are as greek as I am nationally but ethnically speaking Greeks are europeans. People in Africa come in many different shades as well. That doesn't mean that I will hire a Scottish looking person to play an African deity nor will I make a historical film about South Africa or Zimbabwe by hiring people from nowadays predominantly white communities just because they are born and raised in Africa for hundreds of years. The same with Greeks. Greeks were moving around in Africa AND Asia. That doesn't give me the right to cast ethnically Greeks to play ethnically African or Asian people just because "different shades" it just looks wrong. And I would absolutely agree to anyone opposing such a bizarre notion.

Like I said the people that I talked with didn't enjoy it. They mocked it. And again I love it how literally double standards is the reason why you attack me in the first place. That for some reason out of the entire bunch voting here it was MY COMMENT about MY CHOICE that erupted this reaction from you or the other commenter but lol

Okay there were a bunch of people who enjoyed racist movies of the past about Africa as well. Does that make whitewashing of Africa right? Of course not. People disrespected the Egyptian history for ages and yet people enjoyed it. Does that mean we shouldn't make it right? Of course not also Greeks laughed at the inaccuracies for a long time and there is always a breaking point for everything or when someone says "maybe it is starting to get too much" the same way that Greeks also complaint about how North European actors are being constantly hired to play greek figures as well. They liked it once they liked it twice but after decades and decades it became annoying and disrespectful.

And I understand and appreciate your opinion but again if it is not so important then why won’t you let people who DO care speak their mind on them and again I wasn't even speaking on the artist whom as I said I deeply appreciate their style and the way they offer effort to the art and all. If it is not important then why did you step in? Again I insulted no one. In fact people came for me with the will to attack me and they have attacked me before for having an opinion for my own culture and its representation and never have I implied that my opinion is the universal truth or truth for all Greeks etc.

I disagree. Like I said Greek gods to me are better depicted as Greeks wanted them to get depicted. The same that Egyptian gods should be as Egyptian wanted them depicted Indian gods should be as Indians wanted them depicted and so on and so forth so the idea that there is no such thing as accuracy to me is wrong. But as I said before that is my opinion.

Redesigned my Athena.

[sirfrogsworth]

This post has really been a big lesson in science communication.

Like, yeah, the lack of detail from being far away is a needed variable to create the illusion. But why do we still see it as small once we know it is big? I'm trying to go beyond the technical and into the psychological and some people just don't want to take that journey with me so they just default to "he is wrong about this".

I think I did a little better with my addition where I showed the horse from below. And maybe if that was in the original post I wouldn't have gotten so many of these skeptical comments.

I was trying to make a bigger point about how past experiences inform your present visual perception. At a very young age we are blasted with imagery. Thousands of images per day. Our brain builds a library of visual experiences to help us understand what we are seeing at any given time.

Again, up to 90% of our visual perception is our brain using past experiences to build what we see. And by "see" I don't mean the raw data collected by our eyeballs. I mean the finished visual product our mind constructs for us.

If our brains had to process the entirety of our raw visual input they would literally overheat.

This is not a perfect analog, but imagine trying to process an 8K video at 60 fps... while also constantly stitching together a three dimensional panorama... all while processing your other senses... and running your vital organs... and thinking about what you are seeing and then processing the meaning... and sometimes also processing sound and its meaning... all at once... nonstop.

Your brain takes shortcuts to give you a very close approximation of visual reality. It has to.

I wasn't trying to answer if you would see tilt shift photos as miniature without previous experience. I think if all of the variables that are needed for the effect were perfect you might get that sense. In photos where those variables are imperfect, it might take a while to get there. But I really have no idea and I think that would be impossible to test. Like, after seeing one image you're going to use that experience to process all future images.

So, maybe the answer is yes, but only one time?

But how would you find a person who has no visual experience looking at small things that represent big things? I had toys before I could remember having toys. How do you find someone who has never seen a Rudolph Christmas special or a toy advertisement?

If your brain has that data, it is going to use it. So for the vast majority of people, past experience is absolutely why they see the effect. I guess I was trying to answer why you feel it is miniature so instantly and intensely, and more importantly, why you can't *unsee* it as miniature.

You can't tell your brain, "actually, thing is big" and then see it as big. Maybe if you concentrate really hard you can get a sense of bigness but it is always going to snap back to "thing is small." Your brain has years and years of experiences looking at pictures of small things and you can't undo those experiences through sheer force of will. It is using that old data to avoid melting and so "thing is small" becomes locked in.

I just thought that was fascinating and a huge mindfuck and much more interesting than "if you remove all these experiences will it still look small?" EVERYONE HAS THOSE EXPERIENCES!

Except maybe one of those tribes that shoot arrows at anyone who tries to see what their deal is.

Okay, to settle this we are going to need a suit of armor and one brave scientist willing to take an iPad with a photo of a train into their village.

In any case, I felt this tilt shift illusion was a perfect opportunity to explore the science of visual perception and answer a bigger question. And I'm not sure what I could have done differently to keep people from having these doubts.

One person said I was speculating and then speculated as to why I was wrong about this.

First... lol.

But I'm not pulling this out of my ass! I went down so many research rabbit holes trying to figure this out. I just feel like the detractors aren't getting what I'm trying to explain. And I don't know if that is because I'm doing a bad job explaining or if explaining it to everyone is just not possible.

If there are any science communication people or enthusiasts who can advise, I would appreciate it. I love doing this kind of educational content and I just want to make sure I reach as many people as possible.

[lunarsilkscreen]

Can you write a beginners guide to chess?

Uhh. This is not my department. However; I may be able to elaborate on how my approach to chess is a bit different.

Currently; the Language of Chess is the most predominant form of [Language] and [Communication] when it comes to the Military and Political landscape.

As such; I appear to be uninformed and ignorant when I sit at their tables, despite having a*more* advanced form of tactical language in my repertoire.

[Step 1; I have been told, by assorted, musicians, in, assorted, fields; is ALWAYA SELF-PROMOTE. thats why I had to that first.]

Right now there are three aspects of the [game of chess] that are covered by the literature and the nomenclature.

1) The Boardstate

2) The Tactics

3) The Opponent

0) The Void

When we begin a [game of chess], the first thing we notice is the field and/or the pieces. That is the Board and the Pieces.

These combine together to create the term we know and love called [Board State].

In [Chess] the current [Board State] is the most important thing in all of the entire game. Why? Because unlike in more advanced games, there isn't really the fear of a "Board Wipe"

Because chess is supposed to be hyper-realistic and nobody comes back after a board wipe.

Now let's take a moment here to Google some GothamChess reaction videos to ChatGPT playing chess ... That is; a game between two LLMs where each seems to be playing by its own set of rules.

What is each of these things doing? Why/how can it break the rules?

Because Large-Language Models reference the board state as [one-move] differences. Instead of by [How a piece can move]

Now, this has probably been corrected by more advanced LLMs, but the example remains. You're welcome.

How each of those models might come to define what is meant as a [one-move difference between Boardstates] is up to that particular Large-Language-Model's interpretation.

2) The Opener!

[The Opener] is kind of like picking a class in a RPG, you follow a strict "Rotation" [sequence of moves, or algorithm] and the goal is to ensure to maximize your own opportunities over your opponent available opportunities. While maintaining your board state and/or rotation.

2) The Opener AND Boardstate

Because [The Opener] isn't as strictly defined as a class in an RPG; it may change when your Boardstate changes.

If for, for example, your opponent pushes you from "London Play" into the perfect "Grunfeld" Boardstate... Then you automatically get to choose if you wanna switch tactics.

^ this is kind of the key to my approach in chess. I let the opponent do what they want while reacting just enough to set-up my own board state *until* one of us sets off a "Move Cascade"

A [Cascade] is a series of moves that are forced, or the alternative is too high risk. And so each player looks as though they are playing speed chess getting through "The Cascade" but it's just [Asteroids or Plagues] hitting the board like in [Hearthstone].

The tricky part is knowing which move is most valuable.

3) The Opponent

Who are you playing against?

How do they react when you play certain moves?

Do they always react a certain way when provoked?

Do you?

Are both of you aware of the Opponent's Depth of awareness?

--This is my weakness here. I'm not a Poker Player, I'm not about the social algorithm, just the physical one.

Are they likely to switch Boardstates when presented with the opportunity or not? Are they aware of the possibility?

This one is not clearly defined, because this is anything that is outside the rules of chess. If, for example; you're playing chess "Prison Rules" style... What's stopping your opponent from throwing dust in your eyes and their "Referee" from messing with the pieces?

<aside>"referee" in this facet I'm using as a Fencing term. In a Brawl, you always show up with a possè in case the other guy in the duel and *his* possè don't "Play by the rules." Effectively; both sides should bring their own referees. But maybe the fight transcends individuals for some reason, then the referees get to Duke it out while we go for a cuppa something.</aside>

<aside>Now. When the Referees are both prison guards.. *everybody* has problems and the guards are probably raking the take for the simulated "prison beef."</aside>

The Void;

[thegaissilent]

Elphaba's reply makes her instanty regret opening her mouth at all and perhaps she should have just stayed inside the secret spot talking to Adelaide. Maybe she should just live there forever. It would be better than feeling like she was completely incapable of conversation.

"Right..." She answers quietly, going back to her hair brushing, eyes looking all over the room as she swallows and her lips are gently agape.

She swallows and it is a little difficulty to say anything else, so she resorts to their newfound way of communicating.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know what to say and the silence was gonna make me explode and I was talking to my squirrel friend before coming here and it was the first thing that came to my mind."

The thought flow rapidly from her head to Elphaba's, as if she's babbling in her mind. She probably didn't need the detail about the squirrel but then again, it was Elphaba, she couldn't call Galinda strange when she was super weird herself, could she?!

Elphaba isn’t sure how long she had been sitting there, trying to make sense of the same passage about the Great Drought that she had been looking at ever since Galinda came in, but she finally put it aside when her roommate spoke to her. Her brow furrowed in confusion at her statement—about squirrels. Specifically, about how cute squirrels were.

She was not only confused, but a little disappointed that she had spent the whole day thinking about her, and tellingly, about the last words they had exchanged, for this to be the first thing that she said to her.

“Squirrels.” Elphaba sighed, sitting back in her chair and folding her arms over her chest. “You threaten to punish me in front of the whole school, and now you want to talk about…squirrels?” she asks slowly, her gaze both amused and baffled by this turn of events.

“Sure, they’re cute. But what I admire the most about them is how resourceful they are.” she continued, shrugging. She wasn’t sure what she expected to happen once the pair of them attempted to talk to one another again, but it hadn’t been this.