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-Pari Anon
After the, um, accidental kidnapping, Albedo learns that Pari!Reader hates being taken to the city. But they enjoy being at the Inn or in nature.
He finds them again on the balcony. Theyâre splashing happily in a tub of shallow water. He remembers the Adeptus that got angry at him, but as long as he doesnât take Pari, he isnât breaking any rules.
So he plays with Pari a while. And he isnât bothered.
Until Xiao is walking up the stairs and finds Albedo with Pari again. It takes all his self control to not attack Albedo.
He begrudgingly learns that Albedo isnât much of a threat to Pari. And maybe he can help should Pari get kidnapped by a certain Geo Archon.
[ prev post ] : spoilers for albedo lore/story quest
all things considered, albedos trip to liyue was going rather well. aside from the part where he angered an adeptus and nearly got his head cut off, of course, he could have gone without that. but heâd found the source of the ley line disturbance, and a few books in the city on teyvatâs mythos confirmed what he already suspected. the pari were an ancient sumerun race capable of changing the very terrain with their elemental powers⌠so why were you here?
unfortunately, there was no book on the local adepti at wanwen bookhouse. he considered asking around, but that might just draw unnecessary suspicion. if you lingered around the inn, it was likely your adeptus wasnât far behind. he conferred with a few local specialists, comparing notes on the ley line disturbances. taking care of his business in the harbor took less time than traveling here, but he wasnât as upset as heâd normally be. you alone would have warranted a full trip to the inn.
revised notes and a few new pages of othersâ observations later, he was on his way. it was late into the afternoon, too late to return to mondstat but more than early enough to make it to the inn. the path was well-worn and easy to follow, and even if it wasnât it was hard to get lost in the plains. wangshu inn stood high above the horizon line, a permanent marker of his path. he passed the occasional merchant or guild member, but neither they nor he stopped. his journey was largely uneventful, in truth, arriving at the inn an hour or so before the sun would sink below the sea. perhaps if he was able to get settled in by then, heâd be able to watch.
he checks in, going to the balcony to try and catch a glimpse of the sky, and finds you again. someoneâs set out a shallow tub for you, filled halfway up with water and sitting on a table so you can see over the railing. the fading sun catches the splashes of water and turns them a bright gold, though you quickly freeze up. how strange, that someone as far removed from human form as you express such complicated emotions as conflict and warning so easily.
how strange, that a pari had not only found itself in liyue, but chosen to stay under watch of an adepti.
âi apologize for earlier,â he says, taking post by the railing and setting up an easel from his inventory. âi didnât know you had found a guardian. youâre not native to liyue, and i worried.â
a half truth. his motives were far more self-serving than selfishness, but he truly wouldnât have bothered you if he knew you had âthe bane of all evilâ as your host. his mistake, though the circumstances of your relationship were quite strange. not a pet, you were too intelligent and the adepti had insisted otherwise.
idly, he trasmutes one of his shorter pencils into a small wooden boat, khemia buzzing in his fingertips. itâs childâs play, one of the first forms heâd mastered, but he hears you chirp sharply from behind him. itâs not fearful, and you donât say anything when he sets it on the table next to your basin in a quiet offering. he angles himself such that he can see both you and dragonspine behind you, taking up another pencil and beginning to draw.
was it wise to start another sketch when his first was still unfinished? probably not. but that one didnât have you in it, did it?
the wind runs cold as the sun begins to set, though he doesnât notice. what does make him pause is the burn of ozone in the air, his mind automatically wondering if tubing had come loose before remembering that he wasnât in his lab anymore, and that-
âwhat are you doing here?â
right. ozone, the same odd smell that he didnât have enough time to register earlier, stinging his nose and warning the air. albedo set down his eraser, giving his hands a cursory dusting before turning around. the same adeptus as before, flickers of gold gathered in one hand like heâs prepared to draw his spear at any moment. you sit in your tub, glancing between them, and he notices youâve brought the boat in with you.
âdrawing. itâs too late to make the journey to mondstadt, and iâve already checked in with ms goldet. donât worry, no harm has come to your⌠friend?â
the adeptus doesnât respond, not that he expected him to. this was a shared public space, one that he happened to be in at the same time as you. nothing suspicious. you were not alarmed, and had not called for assistance.
you chirped softly, succeeding in getting both of their attentions. you were holding up the boat, carefully balancing it on your wings. were you⌠showing it to him? why?
the adeptusâwould it be rude to ask for his name?âpicked up the boat by the mast, turning it over. his gold eyes flashed white with elemental sight, then he returned it just as delicately as heâd picked it up. âwhereâd you get that?â he asked, voice considerably softer than before.
you pointed one wing at albedo with another chip, letting the boat fall back into the water and batting it around. heâs not sure how much entertainment someone capable of understanding complicated inter-personal relations could garner from a boat, but you were pushing yours to the upper limit, it seems.
âyou.â he lifted his eyes, surprised to see the harshness in the adeptusâ had dulled. âwhatâs your name?â
âi am albedo, chief alchemist of the knights of favonius. you are?â
ââŚI donât suppose you just *happened* to have that boat on-hand?â
âno, i made it for them. consider it a gift for scaring the both of you last time.â
âi did not get *scared-âŚ*â he crossed his arms, shaking his head. âirrelevant. come with me, youâre going to catch a cold.â
the latter sentence was of course addressed towards you, his hand lowering to pick up his sleeve. he held it out for you to flap up and into, clutching the boat tight to your chest. the adeptus turned away, swallowed by blue smoke, and albedo sighed.
heâd much have preferred to have his name, but it wasnât strictly necessary. as for his drawing, it was getting dark, so he added in a quick detail on the front before flipping it over, writing along the top of its frame.
âan adeptus and his friend.â â oil, canvas â a painting of a small pari in a basin, lifting a toy boat into the air. at first glance, it may seem like they are the adeptus in question, but finer eyes will see a figure hidden in the shadows atop the roof, looking down with a thin smile. completed by the chief alchemist during his trip to liyue, kindly donated to the knightsâ headquarters for your viewing pleasure.
#m1d : [chats]#m1d : [secrets]#pari anon#whatâs up danger#anybody else absolutely deranged about baizhu?#liyuen immortals got me fucked up chat#archon!morax got me head in hands down disgusting tbh
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âYou might want to review your contract,â Aventurine said, with an easy smugness that evoked pure Schadenfreude. âFunny little thing called a spontaneous travel contingency clause. Up to 80 hours of on-site consultingâpaid, of courseâif the asset liquidation specialist deems it economically valuable.â
Now that this blog is active again: hey, I have an Aventio fic on AO3! (In progress, updates on a semi-weekly basis.)
Ratio POV; slow-burn enemies to colleagues to perhaps a secret third thing, featuring political intrigue and a side of in-depth Ratio character study because I am perpetually compelled to put that man in a jar and examine him like a bug.
Link to read from the beginning is above; latest chapter is here.
#dr ratio#aventurine#honkai star rail#aventio#ratiorine#writing#asymptotic fic#pspspspsps fellow ratio appreciators come talk to me about this skrunkle of a man#i know you're out there i see you and i salute you#(aven enjoyers always welcome as well! i am not normal about him either)
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More than a third of all British women who travel by railway are likely to be assaulted during their commute, new data commissioned by the British Transport Police (BTP) has revealed.
BTP data also indicates that most assaults occur during the evening rush hour when trains are packed and busy.
Unacceptable behaviour such as leering, catcalling, touching, pressing, upskirting or indecent exposure is being experienced by women more than ever, with 51% of female victims stating that other rail passengers intervened to try to help.
However, only one in five people who have witnessed incidents of sexual harassment reported it to police.
BTP Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Furnell called on the community to watch out and stand up for each other while catching the train or tube.
âIâll guarantee that most of us have told our daughters, mums, or friends to be careful on their way home when theyâre travelling alone late at night â perhaps to share their journeys and stick to well-lit areas,â he said.
âBut we know that sexual harassment and offending can take place at any hour of the day, and our figures show that itâs most likely to happen at the busiest hours when carriages are most full.
âThis means we all have a part to play in taking our heads out of our phones or newspapers and being aware of whatâs going on around us â and if we see something that isnât right, doing something about it, whether thatâs intervening, if you feel safe to do so or reporting it to police.â
Mr Furnell urged members of the public to report incidents of sexual harassment, whether experienced or witnessed, to the police.
âDriving out this unacceptable behaviour is our number one priority at British Transport Police,â he said, adding: âWe will always believe you and take you seriously.â
The BTP survey does indicate that rail passengers are looking out for each other. However, officials are urging the public to report sexual harassment incidents to police so offenders can be held to account.
Chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group Jacqueline Starr revealed that the industry is working hand in hand with BTP to stamp out sexual harassment on trains.
âThe latest data shows that harassment doesnât just happen out of sight,â Ms Starr said.
âExperiences of sexual harassment are sadly a reality for many women, but as an industry, our message is clear: any form of sexual harassment on the rail network is completely unacceptable, and we are working with the British Transport Police to confront this problem.â
Specialist teams of plain-clothed British Transport officers use data provided by the public to target patrols and identify offenders.
On trains, the rail industry and BTP are rolling out a new, ongoing anti-sexual harassment campaign to educate passengers on how to recognise situations of sexual harassment, how to intervene safely, and how to report perpetrators to keep all passengers safe from harassment while commuting to work, home, or wherever their destination may be.
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According to an August report from the Russian state news agency TASS, the Kremlin plans to become a âsafe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals.â To this end, Russia will introduce a new visa pathway for foreigners fleeing countries whose policies run contrary to âtraditional Russian spiritual and moral values.â The report, although sparse on detail, claims that three-month visas may be issued for these spiritual refugees as early as last month. Discussion of the policy in the Russian information sphere has been colored by visions of Moscow as the leader of a future world in which so-called traditional values can thrive. Indeed, the idea for the policy was allegedly voiced to Russian President Vladimir Putin by an Italian university student during a virtual forum titled Strong Ideas for a New Time.
On the surface, Moscow appears to be resuscitating the old Soviet practice of painting itself as the center of resistance against the West. Back then, it was against capitalism; today it is against the Westâs supposed liberal decadence. But there is something thoroughly 21st century in the new rhetoric and policies. The visa plan is the latest in a series of public relations measures designed to challenge the nature of borders in an increasingly digital world. The regime is not seriously looking to attract immigrants and seems unembarrassed by the paltry numbers of Westerners taking up the offer. It is looking to strengthen its virtual coalition of fellow travelersâa maneuver that has dangerous implications for liberal nation-states seeking to counter the Kremlinâs influence.
At home, Russiaâs vision of âtraditional valuesâ consists of a draconian web of pro-Russian Orthodox, misogynist, and anti-LGBTQ+ laws, as well as the teaching of a mythologized history imbued with a cult of masculine, military strength. Frequently, these policies are driven by conspiracy theories as much as any state ideology. More often than not, they simply rail against anything Russia associates with Western liberalism. Whatever trends prevail in progressive Western society, from trans-positive messaging to support for Black Lives Matter, is decried as anti-Russian and antithetical to âtraditional values.â In this sense, Russiaâs campaign in support of its alleged values is a project rooted in the countryâs relationship with the outside.
Indeed, defending âtraditional valuesâ is at the center of the Putin regime���s domestic and foreign policy. The Kremlinâs updated 2023 National Security Concept mentions âtraditionâ no fewer than 16 times, claiming that âa wide-spread form of interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states has become the imposition of destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes that run counter to traditional spiritual and moral values.â Moscow has anointed itself the leader of âinternational efforts to ensure respect for and protection of universal and traditional spiritual and moral values.â Russia seeks to weave support for âtraditional valuesâ into its policies abroad by funding sympathetic far-right groups across Europe and North America and by linking economic and security policy to the defense of values in international forums.
Moscowâs history of proclaiming itself as the center of an international political vanguard dates to the early Bolshevik era. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Soviet propagandists told their citizens that they were âthe greatest internationalistsâ in the world and that Westerners were flocking to seek refuge in the fledgling Soviet Union. The state did plenty to attract both sympathizers and industrial specialists to its territory.
A series of high-profile Western leftists were treated to Potemkin tours; among those who visited in the 1930s were George Bernard Shaw, AndrĂŠ Gide, Henri Barbusse, and Romain Rolland. Shaw, who was granted a private audience with Joseph Stalin on his visit in 1931, lauded Russia as the home of a spiritual resurrection that would rectify the social ills he saw in the West. He would later write to the Soviet author Maxim Gorky that he was âas strongly susceptible as anyone to the fascination of the Russian character.â Shaw was fascinated with the idea of Russia not as it was, but as an antithesis to the West: a mystical place where his own dreams could be realized.
More often, though, illusions were shattered. Gide was thoroughly disheartened by his own visit to the Soviet Union. Appalled by the lack of freedom of speech, the uniformity of opinion in Pravda, and the climate of fear, he wrote: âI doubt whether in any other country in the world, even Hitlerâs Germany, thought be less free, more bowed down, more fearful (terrorized), more vassalized.â Fellow intellectuals who tried living in the Soviet Union, such as the anarchists Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman, reacted even more strongly, publishing works that violently decried the persecution of the early Soviet era and fleeing within months.
Meanwhile, the ordinary leftist refugees, workers, and students who continued to immigrate to the Soviet Union from various capitalist countries tended to leave as disgruntled as they arrived and typically went home as soon as hard currency or other special support from the Kremlin dried up. As foreigners, they were also under permanent suspicion, and many disappeared in the Gulag. Despite its grandiose claims, Moscow was never an appealing destination for many foreign fellow travelersâespecially once they experienced the reality of Soviet life.
Recent publicity tours in Putinâs Russia mirror the early celebrity visits to the Soviet Unionâalthough todayâs visitors tend to share Shawâs excitement, not Gideâs revulsion, about life in Moscowâs realm. Right-wing provocateurs such as Jackson Hinkle and, most famously, Tucker Carlson have popped up in Moscow to record adulatory videos for their vast online audiences. Carlson, who posted clips of an interview he conducted with Putin this year, claimed to have been âradicalizedâ by his trip to Moscow. His video diaries depicted a world of fully stocked grocery stores, immaculate subway stations, and grandiose performances at the Bolshoi Theater. Even Tasty, Full Stop, the copycat McDonaldâs that sprung up after the fast food giantâs departure from Russia in 2022, won Carlsonâs approval.
Carlsonâs Russia seems to be nothing but propaganda: the depiction of a fake world, untarnished by the poverty and violence that is endemic in Russian society. Yet Carlson carefully crafted an image of a Russia that is, essentially, a Disneyfied America: Here was a rich white man treated like royalty and able to access every aspect of an idealized American lifeâeven McDonaldâsâin a society shorn of the perceived messiness of todayâs America, and especially of its supposedly deleterious progressive values. Like Shaw, then, Carlson projected onto Russia the hyperreality of a desired homeland: the dream America of the MAGA brigade. Moscowâs behavior on the international stage may challenge Washingtonâs geopolitical supremacy, but its âtraditional valuesâ rhetoric functions as an escapist simulation.
Todayâs online proponents of âtraditional valuesââwhether in the United States, Hungary, Austria or elsewhereâcan thus react enthusiastically to Russiaâs plans to welcome them as immigrants, even if they have no intention of ever moving to the country. In response to the policy announcement, Alex Jones, the bankrupted Infowars founder, encouraged âtrue patriotsâ to âstand up for spiritual and moral valuesâ in a post on X. On Truth Social, the right-wing social network founded by former U.S. President Donald Trump, Moscowâs plan was met with enthusiasmânot for Russia as some sort of conservative utopia, but for the rejection of cultural traits associated with progressive America. The fantasy of Russia as the ânew America,â as one Truth user put it, provides the raw material for bonding around conspiracy theories and anti-progressivism from the comfort of homeâand makes it possible for self-styled patriots to sympathize more with Russia than with their own country.
Only a handful of fellow travelers on the traditional values ticket have attempted to make the move to Russia. While the Russian state has recently trumpeted an American familyâs escape from âthe dissolution of traditional moral and family values,â the experience of other recent arrivals has left them desperate to âjump on a plane and get out of here.â Russian authorities do little to help with schooling, jobs, language training, and so onâand claims of bold projects to house incoming foreigners turn out to be little more than amplified rumors. Presumably the latest policy announcement will be another element of simulated reality: the creation of the idea of Russia as the home of traditional values without anything to back up that vision.
However, when 21st-century fellow travelers are able to bond over and amplify their visions of Russia as the new America in the online world, Russiaâs approach may turn out to be more than an easily debunked PR scheme. Pravdaâs monotonous reel of uniform opinions shocked Gide, but todayâs Russia sympathizers are more likely to be found in polarized social bubbles where the order of the day is conformity, not plurality, of opinion. Unlike their 1930s predecessors, who could not get a sense of Soviet reality from abroad, todayâs fellow travelers have Russian reality at their fingertipsâif they care to look. This includes thousands of hours of footage of war crimes, evidence of widespread oppression of dissenting voices, and accounts of the systematic repression of religious believers outside the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church.
Yet in the fragmented world of social media, where anyone can live in their own self-constructed reality, the disaffected are able to project an imagined anti-liberal vision of reality onto Russia. In the United States, this culminates in MAGA voters giving a higher approval rating to Putin than to their own president, something that was unimaginable in the 20th century outside a tiny, politically irrelevant fringe. Parties that have aligned themselves with the rhetoric of âtraditional valuesâ have enjoyed real successes across Europe, including recently in France and Austria, and the MAGA movement may yet carry Trump back into the White House. Russiaâs âtraditional valuesâ project may not win it a war or generate an influx of migrants, but it has a clear effect on other countriesâ politics.
Most analysts consider Russiaâs dream of creating a multipolar world in which its territorial, economic, and military might acts as a counterpoint to U.S. or Chinese hegemony a fantasy. Equally outlandish is the idea, much propagated by Russian nationalists, of a new Eurasian empireâor even, given Russiaâs depleting strength, reuniting Ukraine, Belarus, and todayâs Russian Federation into a âGreat Russia.â But analysis that overemphasizes the physical over the virtualâor dismisses online movements as mere propaganda and trollingâfails to recognize 21st-century realities.
The most important future clash of civilizations is not based on geography. Instead, we are beginning to see the creation of virtual civilizations: boundary-less political allegiances defined by amorphous and fluid values perpetuated through the internet. Citizens with similar affinities in Russia, the United States, France, Germany, and wherever find themselves having more in commonâand spending more timeâwith each other than with their own compatriots who donât share their political views. Putinâs Russia may not be about to conquer Ukraine or create a multipolar world order, but it is working to reorder political identities by encouraging foreigners to view Moscow as a simulated realization of their own political dreams.
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The âMiracleâ | Chapter 1: Colorado
Summary + Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5
Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader
Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance, Tragedy
Summary: You, 26, are a doctor who worked as an infection control specialist for the CDC when the Cordyceps Pandemic hit. You became a whistleblower when you realized the CDC was instructed by the government not to give accurate information on precautions. You had been fired from the CDC and famed as a fraud doctor on the news. You went back to your family to embrace the pandemic. 20 years later, you, now 46, find yourself with a group of Fireflies traveling to Salt Lake City for some âmiracleâ cure.
Warning: Suicide to Avoid Infection
Autumn 2033
You were wearing a dark green coat, black pants, black boots, and your hair was in a ponytail. You had your duffle bag with your medical supplies and weapons on your left shoulder. You heard gunshots echoing through the halls of the university and ran toward cover with Greg and Tyler, two Fireflies.
âWho the fuck?â Greg grunted and readied his gun.
âThought this place was cleared out last time?â Tyler said.
âGuess not...â Greg shook his head and stepped out of the doorframe that he used as a cover. He began to walk down the hall cautiously.
âWhat do we do?â You turned your head to Tyler.
âLetâs get to the rooftop, we can get a better look from up there.â Tyler instructed and began to walk the opposite way.
You pulled out your rifle and followed behind him. The two of you heard a few more gunshots then nothing. Tyler stopped walking and turned to you. âDo you think itâs over?â You whispered.
âNo...I think we have other company.â Tyler pressed his finger to his lips. Sure enough, a clicking noise echoed through the halls of the room they were in. The two of you froze and you pulled out your shiv from your pocket. Two clickers came into view in the room and searched the area. Tyler reached over for a piece of glass to toss but just as he was about to a manâs scream broke the silence.
The clickers screeched and ran toward the two of you. Tyler pushed you away and shot the heads of the clickers but not before he was bitten on his neck and shoulder. The clickers slumped over and died and Tyler began to hyperventilate. âG-Go...â Tyler turned to you and brought the gun over to his jaw, âGo!â You nodded and ran away toward the other room when you heard the gunshot.
You wouldâve shed a tear, you wouldâve cried that your friend is gone but this new world only prepared you for death and death only. You finally made it toward the balcony of one of the dorm rooms and got a better view of what was going on. You saw a man on the ground and a teenage girl crying and trying to help him. âJoel!!â You heard her scream. You looked around, trying to find a way out of the building from the third floor to help the two.
You rushed back into the building and ran down the stairs, not caring if the infected heard you. You had only hoped to find Greg on your way out. You made it to the second floor when you stopped in your tracks. You saw Greg, he was standing away from you, his back facing you and he was...Twitching...
You took a step back toward the door and quickly turned around as you realized you had reached the balcony on this floor as well. You heard a scream and saw the infected Greg charge toward you. You shot him square in the chest and fell back against the railing of the balcony from the force. You saw two clickers following behind Greg and decided to jump off the balcony. You jumped off the balcony and rolled onto the ground.
You groaned in pain and your back ached in pain from the fall. You watched as the clickers fell down as well. âFuck!â You grunted and grabbed your rifle to shoot the clickers that came toward you. When it was all said and done, you got up from the ground and dusted yourself off. âFucking hell...â You sighed and limped over to the other side of the building to find the man and girl.
You caught a glimpse of them on a horse, riding away from the building. You ran toward your own horse and mounted it quickly. You began to follow their trail after seeing the large pools of blood from the man.
You continued to follow them, not sure why you were doing it. You didnât know them...Why should you care? Yet here you were, following the blood trail. You halted your horse when you saw the man on the ground and the girl trying to get him up.
She quickly turned to you when she heard your horse and pulled out her gun. âS-Stay back!â She yelled, pointing the gun at you.
You dismounted your horse and raised your hands up, âYou need help.â
âWere you following us?! Were you with those fuckers that attacked us?!â She cocked the gun.
âOkay, first of all, lower the gun. Iâm not going to fight a child. Second of all, I donât know who attacked you, but...Iâm with the Fireflies.â You slowly moved your hand to pull out the Firefly pendant.
The girl gasped softly seeing the necklace but she didnât lower the gun. âHow do I know youâre telling truth?â
Smart kid...
You looked over to see the manâs face becoming pale. âListen, right now, your dad is about to die if he doesnât get help. Iâm a doctor, I have tools and medicine in my bag, let me help you.â You said softly.
The girl was quiet and looked between you and the man. âFuck...â She said and lowered her gun, âIf you hurt him, Iâll shoot.â
âTrust me, kid, thereâs nothing worse I can do to him now.â You said and grabbed your bag and rushed toward the man. âWhatâs your name?â You asked as you unzipped the bag and pulled out your gloves.
âEllie...â The girl answered and sat next to the man.
âAnd your dad? Whatâs his name?â
Ellie was quiet for a bit as she watched you examine Joelâs wound. She wasnât sure if she should tell you anything more but...You looked like you were helping. âHis name is Joel.â Ellie said sadly.
âThank you, Ellie, Iâm going to help Joel, okay? We need to get somewhere warm so I can get a better look at the wound.â You said.
Ellie nodded and tilted her head at you, âWhatâs your name?â
You answered her question and the two of you got Joel onto the horse again and headed toward shelter.
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Avise
Avise was grateful for their return to Skyhold. Crestwood had warmed up towards the end but rainy and cold weather like that always made her feel miserable. While Skyhold was in the mountains, there was so much ambient magic that seeped into the foundations of the place it was temperate and almost warm when they arrived.
Of course she was pulled immediately into a meeting with her advisors, leaving Solas, Blackwall and Dorian behind to stable the horses. Leliana had already gotten their missive on Crestwood but the meeting was not about that. The Advisors saw multiple reports from the field about Avise learning new magic from Dorian and Solas, and they felt it was important that she directed her focus to a specialization. Solas was their specialist in rift magic and the Fade, for example and Dorian held skills in necromancy. Josephine informed her that there were three trainers in the courtyard ready to meet with her. Begrudgingly she left the meeting and went to speak to them. Her options were limited but all powerful in their own right. The rift mage was an odd one and Avise secretly felt that Solas would have been a better option. As much as she loved Dorian, necromancy was not something she felt connected to. It tapped into fear and pain. She had enough of that in her life, she did not need more.
The last though called to her in a way she had not expected. She had heard of them before, Knight Enchanters. The Dalish told her stories of the warrior mages who fought for the elvhen people, that their techniques were then taken by the Chantry and used for their own mages. These became the Knight Enchanters. The woman speaking to her was direct, blunt but also elven. Something about the entire interaction called to her, like her heart had found its place. What was it that Solas had said to her weeks ago? You have chosen a path whose steps you do not dislike because it leads to a destination you enjoy. Could this be her destination?
Her first task was to obtain a book, Way of the Knight-Enchanter and to obtain some materials to make a spirit blade. That in of itself was no issue. Dorian was able to locate the book in question and Avise had a habit of picking up everything she could in their travels - it had become a running joke in her inner circle but this time it paid off. She felt smug in the knowledge that her picking up odd items was not useless as Varric liked to tell her.
She found a spot to sit on the bridge between Solasâ rotunda and Cullenâs office. Sitting on the very edge of the bridge railing, her legs dangled over the side as she flipped through the book. Cullenâs heavy footsteps from behind her did not pull her attention from the tome in her hands. She was enthralled. âI do hope that is not one of Varricâs romance novels,â the Commander joked behind her, she shook her head, using her thumb as a bookmark as she turned to look towards him. She moved one leg on the other side of the railing so she was straddling it while they spoke.
âNo! I only read those in the privacy of my own room. Have you ever read the positions Varric writes of?â She couldnât help it, the way he got so red when she teased. Though she showed him the cover of the book before he could start stammering. âOne of the trainers suggested I read it. It is the only one of the three that has called to me.â Cullen tilted his head so he could read the title, âKnight-Enchanter? I know a little of them. They can be quite powerful from what I've heard.â Avise nodded, âI find that I have a tendency to run into the fray even though mages should generally stay in the back line.â Her smile turned sheepish, âIt felt like a good calling then to be able to protect myself and my people when I could. Though I suppose this means I will need to train in close combat as well.â The thought made her nervous, her hand gliding over the cover of the book as she contemplated what she needed to do. What steps to take to get the most out of the abilities she wanted to learn.
Cullenâs voice broke through her thoughts, âI can train you.â She looked up to him, their eyes meeting and Avise smiled widely, âReally? You would do that for me?â They had a strained relationship. There had been bridges mended of course and after Haven he was increasingly warm towards her. She supposed she had proven herself to be in control of her magic. He gave her a lopsided grin, his lips curling up at the same edge as the scar. âOf course. I have time tomorrow if youâd like to begin, my second, Rylan, has other training exercises so my morning is free for once.â
- - -
Avise stood in the courtyard with Cullen the next morning. She was more nervous than she realized, hopping from one foot to the other to release some of her anxious energy. He was down to sparring clothes and she realized she had been staring. The elf was head over heels for Solas, of course. Solas connected with her on such a level that she could not explain. But she was still alive and breathing and there was something objectively attractive about the Commander. He wore breeches and no shirt. How were humans so large? How did his muscles look like that? Elves were not built like that. He towered over her and it felt like he was at least twice her size, how could she fight someone of that size without magic? How could she defend herself from someone that size?
He had given her a sparring sword, as the book mentioned the use of a spirit blade and it seemed comparable for now. She did not have a blade of solid magic ready for her but it felt like tempting fate at that point anyway. Like giving a small child matches. Solas and Dorian seemed interested in her training and to her dismay Blackwall and Sera had also shown up to watch. She groaned internally. The elf stood there in leather leggings and her own tunic but she felt small in comparison, the sword felt foreign in her hand. She was uncomfortable. Cullen did not seem to care about her companions lining up to watch, his eyes dangerously focused on her. Shit, this is gonna be intense. Avise tensed.
He first walked over and began to adjust her stance. Cullen used the edge of his own practice blade to move her legs and arms but his hand reached out to move her hips. He was not like his usual, blushing and awkward self as he adjusted her. He took command. It ignited a fire in her stomach that she tried to push away, the tips of her ears turning pink. Creators, what is going on?
Next, he worked movements with her. How to lunge with the blade, sweeping attacks, how to add more power to them in close quarters. It felt good to be in her own body as she moved through the motions. It felt natural and smooth like she was meant for it. The thought made her a little giddy and she could not help the smile that was plastered on her face.
- - -
Solas
Solas sat on the sidelines next to Dorian as he watched Cullen train Avise. The familiar jealous knot settled in his chest the moment the man put his hands on her hips to adjust her, watching as Avise flared pink in response. It was he own fault, he conceded, he had pushed her away and told her he needed time to think about it. And he had, almost constantly. Always torn between what his heart told him when he looked at her and the crushing guilt that settled in his chest when he imagined that they could be happy, maybe. That he did not need to cause her pain in the end.
He tried to focus on Avise herself, putting the thoughts of Cullenâs hands on her body out of his mind. She seemed to be enjoying herself and she was picking up the instructions quickly. The more comfortable with the blade she got, the smoother her movements. Like when she had begun to use fire magic again, it connected with her. Solas thought with amusement how the techniques of the Knight-Enchanter were like those of the Arcane Warriors. Ancient elven mages that used a combination of martial prowess and magic, channeling magic through their blades and bodies on the battlefield. They were a force to be reckoned with and Solas wondered if Avise knew the history of what she was learning. That she was maybe unknowingly, yet again, stepping towards reconnecting with her ancestors.
She continued to surprise him in such small ways.
A gasp from next to him brought his mind back from his memories and thoughts only to see Cullen on top of Avise and the elf laughing hysterically while the man blushed and looked down her body. Sera whistled loudly, only making Cullen go more red, âShouldnât you buy her dinner first, Cully?â He did not see what happened but watching the human stare down at Avise like that was too much for him to take. It only got worse as Cullen seemed frozen and unable to move from between Aviseâs legs. Quickly, the elf left Dorianâs side to return to his rotunda to paint.
- - -
Just before lunch Avise strode into the rotunda and inspected Solasâ work. He knew he needed to fix areas he had painted that day, his nerves were too high to paint a straight line but she either did not notice or chose not to comment. She was still in her sparring leathers but she pulled back her hair into a plait. The elf seemed very pleased but was moving stiffly, she was likely not used to that level of movement or at least moving those particular muscles. He could see it in the way she walked. Her thighs tensing with each step. His mind betrayed him as he wondered if she needed help with the sore muscles, like she had for his neck after Redcliffe.
Clearing his throat, he pushed those thoughts away, âThe new power you wield⌠I heard from Cassandra that it is the magic of the Knight-Enchanters? If I am not mistaken, the techniques descend from those of ancient elven mages called arcane warriors. I wonder what they would think to see their magic used in defense of the Chantry.â His words came out harsher than he had meant them to and Avise looked at him and frowned. She moved towards his desk, sliding a few papers from the edge before perching herself there, one leg dangling as she watched him curiously while he focused on his frescoes.
âI do not like it either, if I am to be honest. The Chantry has done too much to my people for me to support them fully. Ever.â She looked away from him, picking at her nails as she continued, âI hope the ancient elven warriors would be pleased to see their techniques survive. Though I do not know how much they have changed since that time. I hope they would be proud to see another of my people using those skills.â She sounded sad and he noticed she continued to distance herself from him in a way. My people instead of our people. But again, he had done much of that to himself. He often corrected her when she used âourâ. Solas hadnât realized how much he began to see her as one of his people.
âI hope so, as well. So much knowledge has been lostâŚâ He bowed his head slightly before turning back to paint. Despite the rough start, Avise still wanted to know more. Her questions bubbled up from behind him as he tried and failed to fix the mural. âWhat were they called back then, do you know? I doubt they were called âarcane warriorsâ in elven.â Solas smiled, placing his brush down and moving to his desk to sit down. He much preferred her sitting there with him and he wanted to be able to look at her while they spoke.
âThe formal name for the techniques you have learned was the dirthâena enasalin, knowledge that led to victory. Mages who eschewed physical confrontation called it ghilanâhim banalâvhen, the path that leads astray.â She seemed excited about his information, he assumed whatever the Knight-Enchanter trainer had taught, it did not contain much information on the specializations actual roots. She adjusted herself to turn towards him fully, placing her boot on the arm of his chair. He draped his hand over the toe. âWhat else do you know about them?â
âThey were elite guardsmen, serving as bodyguards or champions for nobles, as I understand. Mages who focused on spirits or the Fade might sneer at their physicality but never doubted their honor. They were the living embodiment of will made manifest, mind shaping the body into the perfect weapon.â Avise looked at him with mixed emotions, âAs someone who focuses on the Fade, someone who has all this knowledge of the elves from long ago. I know the Dalish have their faults, theyâre trying but they only know so little about true elvhen history. What do you see when you look at me?â Her question was vulnerable and she could not meet his eyes after she asked. The question was also dangerous because there were countless things he thought of when he looked at her.
There it was again, he felt it in the center of his chest. Everything in his mind wanted to pour out and tell her everything. Wanted to hold her close, feel her body pressed against him, to whisper every good thing he saw in her, every desire he had of her. He held back, his muscles tensing. What he could do however was stand up quickly and press the palm of his hand against her cheek. He could feel the inside of her thigh pressing against his hip, her other leg between his legs as he stood close to her. Her eyes widened once he got close.
âI see one of the best examples of what our people have to offer. One who carries the torch for who we should have become. Through your strength, your magic. Your spirit. I believe the Dirthâena Enasalin would see what you are doing and be gratified by your desire to connect with them. Perhaps having something they created carried forward, even in such a different form, would make them proud of their descendants. That is what I see when I look at you.â
#dragon age inquisition#inquisitor lavellan#solas x lavellan#sollavellan#avise lavellan#fan fiction#dragon age#spoilers#lots of them#solas#solas dragon age#solavellan#honey and wildfire are both the color gold
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Donald Lipskiâs new permanent artwork âBessie and Roxeyâ (2023) at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Mineola station celebrates two separate but interconnected figures of Long Island history â aviator Bessica (Bessie) Raiche and Roxey the LIRR dog.
Bessica Raiche, credited by the Aeronautical Society of America as the âFirst Woman Aviator of America,â in 1910 took flight alone for the first time in a biplane constructed with her husband at their Mineola home. After starting a company with her husband building planes and giving flying lessons in the neighborhood, Raiche resumed her previous career as a physician and went on to become one of the first women specialists in obstetrics and gynecology.
Roxey, a stray dog who found his way to LIRR Garden City Station in 1901, was adopted by the station master and became the de-facto LIRR mascot. Roxey regularly rode the trains and was given a pass to sit wherever he chose. The beloved dog even traveled with President Theodore Roosevelt in his private car to Oyster Bay and visited the Presidentâs home at Sagamore Hill.
Lipskiâs 20â tall bronze sculpture joins realistic depictions of the two in a pose reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty. Rendered in the familiar green patina, Raiche holds up the LIRR dog in place of the torch. Standing on a stone base, the towering figure can be seen in the station plaza and from across the platform.
Lipski collaborated with modelling artist Christopher Collins to create the figures, and Art Castings Co then fabricated the work in bronze finished with patina.
Photos: Jason Mandella
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BNHA: Kakashi dimension hops crossover (8)
Summary: Kakashi gets dumbed into the My Hero Academia universe through random plot devise.
Characters: Kakashi Hatake
Fandoms: My Hero Academia and Naruto
WARNINGS: Mentions of violence/injury
START/ PREV/
The view from the window in Wadaâs office is of tall, glass covered buildings and what must be a railway looping around them. The train that zips along the tracks travels at speeds far surpassing similar technologies available in the Land of Snow. The Land of Snowâs chakra rich atmosphere allowed its trains and other technology to run on a mix of chakra and steam generated electricity. It was a combination prone to overheating and blowing up, meaning it was only really viable in cold climates. Kakashi hadnât cared enough to follow up on the Land of Snowâs rail system after delivering the initial intel to Konohaâs intelligence division. Large scale infrastructure was only an asset in a country so isolated that there was no major risk of it getting targeted by enemy nations. The speed of the trains in Hosu have him reevaluating that assessment.
âHatake?â
Konoha used steam to generate its own electricity as far as Kakashi was aware, the specifics of which escaped him. All he knew was that it was resource intensive, its exact location was marked âneed to knowâ and only half the villageâs buildings were connected to it. The power generation system used to move Hosuâs trains at such a speed might be worth investigating. It was obviously more efficient than Konohaâs system if it powered the train and all the infrastructure around him.
âHatake?â
Kakashi shifts his gaze back to Wadaâs office and away from the city, propping up his elbow on the arm of his wheelchair so he can lean against it.
âHatake,â Wada crosses his arms, pushing back on his chair so he rolls out from behind his desk, âAre you listening? If youâre tired, we can have this conversation tomorrow.â
He tilts his head to the slide to meet the doctorâs disapproving stare.
âYou want my personal information for a residency application. We were also about to run through my diagnosis and tests results,â Kakashi idly summarises Wadaâs last few minuets of lecturing. âI would like to hear what the quirk specialist has to say about my quirk,â he adds, trying to inject a little enthusiasm into his voice so he is not immediately wheeled back to his room for another week of rest.
âPlease call me Kakashi,â he throws in as an afterthought.
âYes. Yes. Kakashi then.â Wada waves the correction away, âIâm going to need more than a name if you want further aid from the City. After your discharge youâll be left high and dry at this rate. Donât think I donât see you trying to avoid the topic.â
Wadaâs irritation has Kakashi nodding along for good measure, prompting the doctor to continue talking with a sigh of mild frustration, âThis is all quite complicated. At the moment, youâre being treated under Tokyoâs District Collateral Damage Scheme which would usually extend to relocation, occupation support, and asset recovery. However as the investigation into the attack on your person hasnât linked it to any credible Villain activity, youâll need to be a resident of Japan to receive further support.â
Wada frowns at him, âThatâs a problem seeing as we see canât find any of your records.â
âHmm,â
âYou have no birth certificate, citizenship information, school records, place of residence, career history or passport,â Wada lists, âAre you absolutely sure Hatake Kakashi is the name we need to be searching under?â
There is another pause where a reply would usually go. Kakashi finally lets his full attention sit squarely on Wada, taking in his mildly irritated expression and how his eyebrows are drawn together in a slight frown. The man is leaning forward, arms crossed, irritate but keen for a response. Kakashi habitably scans for signs of deception.
âWhy.â Kakashi finally asks, voice dropping flat as be briefly lets his suspicions seep into this tone. The medical attention he could understand. Doctor Wada was being paid by the hospital to give him medical care because of its poor patient vetting. This other help wasnât medical attention. Kakashi wasnât Wadaâs friend, ally, or family member. He doesnât have ties to the man outside of being his patient and he knows Wada doesnât pay this much attention to his other patients.
Wada huffs, throwing up his hands, moving from vaguely annoyed to openly exasperated. If Wada hears the underlining threat in Kakashiâs question, he wilfully ignores it.
âYou walk out of hospital like this, and youâll be jobless on the streets by sunset. Rent. Jobs. Bank accounts. They all need identification. Best we get this sorted while you still have access to the hospitalâs resources.â
âAnd you do this for everyone?â Kakashi asks sceptically, because Wada has obviously misunderstood him.
âHumph.â Wada grunts, âMost of my patients have relatives and friends visiting every few days and arenât missing all their personal records. Helping people isnât just for the Heroes you know. Us regular people like to give it a go every now and then as well.â
Kakashi stares as the man gives a resolute nod like his had given a valid answer to Kakashiâs question. What did being a Hero have to do with anything?
âI see.â He really didnât but maybe this was a normal doctor thing to do? This world was so strange.
âUnfortunately, I donât remember anything else of use,â Kakashi repeats. It was probably the most truthful he has been since waking. Kakashi has no further information for Wada revenant to his lack of records.
âYes, very unfortunate,â Wada sounds ever so slightly disappointed, âunfortunate for you. Iâm not a miracle worker. Youâre going to have issues with this lack of records.â He rolls back behind his desk, yanking out a stack of paper held together with thick metal clips. As he shifts objects on the desk around to clear space, Wada continues, âI might be able to get you a job interview with a friend of mine and I might be able to get you into some city subsidized housing. But thatâs an iffy mightâŚall I can promise.â
Never mind that Kakashi hasnât asked for anything since his arrival.
Wada slaps the stack of paper down on the desk flipping it in Kakashiâs direction and sliding across towards him. âYou can show your appreciation by paying attention. Your medical records are the only thing we do have at the moment.â
Kakashi examines the booklet, raising a questioning eyebrow. On top of it is one of those plastic communication rectangles. Phones. It is black with a black screen.
âThis is my old phone, no sim card but youâll be able to connect to the Hospitalâs internet. Iâll see if I can get you a charger tomorrow and set you up with patient access account.â
Wada moves the phone to one side.
âThis is youâre recovery plan. I took the liberty of printing it out for you. Though with your quirk itâll probably be a waste of paper.â Wada follows the sentence up with a quick, âOnce youâre cleared to use it. Which youâre currently not. Donât even think about it.â
Kakashi raises a hand in a loose calming motion.
ââŚand on the topic of your quirkâŚ.â Wada fusses around, patting himself down muttering, âWhere is it. I swear if I lose another penâŚAh.â He pulls out a pen, leaning forward to scribble out a line of numbers and letters.
âYouâre Registry ID. Wonât be for active for another week at least. But, once it is, if anyone gives you trouble for using your quirk in public you can tell them to go look up your file. I sent all your information off to be assessed and your quirk is probably going to be registered as âpassive biologicalâ which is an automatic Licence Waiver if Iâm remembering my law correctly.â
âDonât quote me on that. Iâm a doctor, not a legal professional. And just because you can use it, doesnât mean you should. High Stress quirks need to be carefully managed.â
Wada reaches over and flips the booklet open, tapping the page.
âYour quirk puts a huge strain on your brain. Specifically, it strains your memory and vision processing centres. The expert opinion is that your bodyâs fast regenerative factor has naturally evolved to offset this physical stress.â Wada hums, pausing in his explanation to check that Kakashi is following. âUnfortunately, even with this mutation your quirk is maladaptive at best actively destructive at worst.â
Kakashi glances at the page Wada is scribbling on. It has a diagram of a brain with serval areas now circled in blue pen ink.
âSee this area here. This shows high activity. And see how it how activity increases when your quirk is active.â Wada flips the page, âAnd then activity in these outer sections of your brain drops to practically zero? None of this is good in the long term.â
Wada clears his throat, âA lot of your bodyâs resources are being devoted to vision and memory processing and it has led to enlargement and increased activity in these areas. This sort of imbalance in the brain has been connected to depression, paranoia, anxiety, chronic stress and panic disorders. Something youâll need to keep an eye on it and I have noted on your registry file when it comes time for your annual quirk check-up. I have also taken the liberty of scheduling some initial psychologist appointments with Hosu General.â
All this sounds somewhat familiar. He thinks in he has ben given similar warnings about sharingun and dojutsu users being more prone to severe paranoia episodes by medic-nin.
Honestly, with the rate Uchiha went loopy, he is not surprised to find out that the sharigun messed with the brain in other ways. He had always just chalked it up to the unpleasantness of having to retain perfect memories of comrades dying gruesomely.
Of course, he had never hung around the hospital long enough to get a proper diagnosis and assessment of his sharingun beyond an understanding that he should keep use to a minimum. The Uchiha had had their own medical centres for sharingan related ailments which heâd been unwelcome in before they had all disappeared along with the clan. Not like knowing meant much in the long run. It wouldnât stop him from using it. The sharingan was the most powerful weapon at his disposal. Better to overuse it and suffer hypothetical future consequences then underuse it and watch his allies die.
ââŚand there is no cure for this?â he asks to cover his bases because he wasnât the only shinobi with a dojutsu that messed with brain activity and maybe this strange world had something useful to bring back.
âUnfortunately, research into ocular quirks is still in its infancy. However, these sort of maladaptive characteristics arenât uncommon in third generation quirks. An unfortunate result of a quirk mutating quicker than the body can handle or an individual inheriting a quirk from their parents but not developing the accompanying physical mutations necessary for that quirk to function properly. For now, your memory loss has been diagnosed as an Externally Triggered Quirk Incompatibility Event resulting in detriment or damage to the quirk user. ETQI Events are quite common in individuals with high stress quirks.â
The way Wada waits again for Kakashi to respond is more evidence towards his growing suspicion that Wada was beginning to doubt that his memory loss was as extensive as he had been implying.
This time Kakashi doesnât answer because his attention is pulled away to focus on unusual movement above the city.
A large bat-like creature flashes across the now dark sky, diving in between the buildings. Since arriving in this world Kakashi has seen serval types of loud flying vehicle hovering or passing over the city. Enough to have grown use to the sight and sound of them passing overhead. Nothing this large and organic and this creature was definitely organic.
âKakashi? Are youâŚ. What in the world?â
In amongst the buildings there is a breif flash of orange light, and a trail of smoke can be seen raising upward. Despite it being mostly obscured by the tall structures, Kakashi knows an explosion when he sees one.
Wada stands abruptly, âOh myâŚthatâs the city centre,â he pushes around his desk so he can stand next to Kakashi.
There is another flash of light and the creature shoots back into the air above the buildings. Wada startles at the sight. So large flying creatures arenât a normal occurrence for Hosu. Good to know.
â-Announcement; all staff refer to personal devises. Event level 2.-â can be heard through Wadaâs office door, the announcement coming in from the hallwayâs intercom. Wada is immediately distracted searching his pockets.
âA Level 2? In Hosu?â Wada questions, staring at the screened devise â phone, Kakashi mentally corrects- he frees from his pocket, reading through something. Emergency orders from the hospital.
Kakashi notes the alert as he flips up the soft medical eyepatch and pulls off the bandage-tape covering his sharingun so he can better track the creatureâs trajectory across the darkened skyline. The fact that Wada isnât yelling at Kakashi about his sharingun use tells him that a Level 2 is serious business.
The creatureâs flight is sporadic, like it has sustained an injury to one of its wings and trying to escape whatever caused it. The creature is also on a collision course with one of those highspeed trains Kakashi had noted earlier.
â-Announcement; all staff refer to personal devises. Event level 2.-â
Kakashi watches, his sharingun catching the moment the creature rams into a train in perfect detail even at the considerable distance. The side-carriage buckles inward and the train is flung partially off its rails, momentum abruptly slowing.
He canât hear collision at this distance, but Kakashi thinks the hospital building tremors ever so slightly. Whether the tremor is from the train crash or another explosion closer in the city he canât tell.
At this point Wada has stopped staring at his phone and is following Kakashiâs line of focus. The man inhales sharply in alarm, rushing forward to press against the window.
âThatâs the main line!â
â-Announcement; all staff refer to personal devises. Event level 2.-â
Cautiously, Kakashi stands from his wheelchair to follow, approaching and eyeing the train and then the city. He can pick out four smoke trails wafting up from among the buildings but nothing is close to the hospital. Yet. In a citywide attack a hospital is a logical target.
The flying creature falls away from the smashed-up side-carriage like it has been blown backward by a powerful shockwave. It flounders in the sky for a second, disoriented, raising higher then dropping into uncoordinated wonky dive. Of course, the dive puts it in line with the hospital, his eye allows him to make the calculations automatically, tracking the trajectory.
It is on a collision course with the section of building Kakashi is currently occupying. If the creature didnât slow or turn, its impact with the building would probably take out a portion of the upper floors, including Wadaâs office.
A little chakra enhancement and Kakashi kicks the glass from the window in front of him. It was best not to retreat into the hospital as he doesnât know if the buildingâs structure was sound enough to withstand the collision. It was a safer bet to escape outside where he would have more room to manoeuvre.
The window shatters, glassing spraying out and falling onto the pavement that ran the perimeter of the hospital.
âHolly SâŚ. âWada begins to exclaim and is interrupted when Kakashi snags the doctor by the arm and throws the man over his shoulder, winding him in his haste. He then turns and in one sweeping motion swipes his recovery plan and phone off Wadaâs desk, crouching fit through the window frame, and jumps, dropping straight down.
There is the loud crunch and screech of metal and glass twisting up above him as the creature rams the side of the building. Kakashi lands and darts further along the path and away to avoid falling brick and glass.
Around him the civilians, who had been distracted staring at the explosions and smoke rising from further in the city, turn at the noise created by the impact. Then there is a lot of panicked yelling as people scatter in all directions.
âBack away! Move away from the wall! Please stay back from the road!â Two uniformed policemen come jogging towards the crash site, unsuccessfully attempting to re-direct the streams of fleeing people. Itâs a lot of uncoordinated chaos as people spill out onto the roads around the hospital and get in the way of oncoming vehicles which subsequently crash into one another.
It is all very chaotic up until a short grey-haired man in a yellow onesie drops to the pavement few meters from where Kakashi had initially landed, right under the flying creature. Yellow-onesie-man turns to order the policemen to keep civilians back before propelling himself up the building in long leaps worthy of any respectable shinobi, kicking out and knocking the creature off the building, manoeuvring around several uncoordinated retaliatory attacks. A âpro-Hero,â Kakashi decides, tracking yellow-onesie-manâs quick decisive strikes and dodges. He had noted that Heroes tended dress bright and flashy to attach as much attention as possible.
It obviously works as, around him, the civilians who had previously been fleeing in blind adrenalin fuelled fear seam to calm, focusing on yellow-onesie-man and his efforts to redirect the creature away from the hospital.
Kakashi watches the fight long enough to confirm that it was not headed in his direction. Relatively certain he is not about to be suddenly attacked or rammed into by the panicking crowd he loosens his grip on Wada, bending to let the man down. Kakashi slouches, attention split between his immediate surroundings and tracking the fight as it moved out onto the road.
âOffices,â Wada, who had been uncharacteristically silent, exclaims. He stumbles back and plonks down onto the pavement, landing on his ass, âThose are the third and fourth floor are offices,â The man is staring up at the damaged upper floors of the hospital. âItâs afterhoursâŚthere wonât have been anyone workingâŚI should have been the only one in this late,â he mutters.
Kakashi habitually scans the structure. The damage isnât bad all things considered. There is a lot of broken windows and a significant hole on the fourth floor, but it is shallow, only penetrating a few meters into the building, meaning the flying beast had attempted to pull up at the last second, lessoning the impact. Probably hadnât managed to smash through any of the supporting walls so they wouldnât have to worry about the building immediately collapsing. The third floor has broken windows and damage to the outer wall which wasnât dangerous unless you were standing right next to the glass at impact.
âHmm, probably no casualtiesâŚthe rooms on the fourth floor are empty. Aside from us,â Kakashi confirms. He had stalked the doctor enough to know when there were and werenât people in the rooms surrounding his office. The air also lacked that strong stench of blood that so often accompanied a person being crushed by rubble. Even the stink of this people-filled city wouldnât have been able to block that out.
Wada blinks up at him. âHow did you get us down here so fast?â
âI believe I jumped.â
â⌠how in the world does a memory quirk let you land a four-story drop on a leg that is still injured?â
Kakashi gives a bland smile, scratching his chin thoughtfully, âYou know what, I donât know. Must be an ETQI Event, you did say it affected memory.â He holds up his recovery plan for emphasis.
Wadaâs response to that is silent, open-mouthed disbelief.
âI should have retired last year and followed my sons advise. Iâm getting too old for this,â the doctor finally mutters, rubbing his eyes, hand shaking ever so slightly. He lets out a long breath.
âYouâre not injured, are you?â Kakashi asks, reminding himself that Wada is a civilian without chakra and thus doubly susceptible to injury.
Wada makes a show of checking himself over, âNo. I suppose Iâm not. Aside from the heart attack.â
âIsnât that good news.â
âOh yes, wonderful news,â Wada huffs, âAlways good news when my patient who shouldnât be walking jumps out a window to save my life.â
Kakashi hums, watching the man struggle to stand. All shaky. Adrenaline would do that if you werenât used to it.
He bends and grabs a hold of the doctorâs shirt to pull him to his feet, holding him still for a second until he was sure Wada could support his own weight. Aside from looking a little windswept the man is no worse for wear.
Once standing, Wada finally takes proper stock of his surroundings, âWell, isnât this terrible.â
By now the Hero has drawn the flying creature down the road and far enough away from the building that a number of the hospital staff are rushing out to inspect the damage. Several alarms are sounding in the building at varying levels of shrillness, there is the loud crunch of metal hitting metal as the Heroâs fight knocked into hastily abandoned vehicles, and behind it all people are yelling instructions and questions at each other.
âIâm going assist with any evacuating or patient care where I can. You need to follow the directions of hospital staff and get yourself settled somewhere safe. We can discuss all this later,â the doctor orders as his shakiness dies down.
âHmm.â
Kakashi flicks open his recovery plan, sharingan stamping the information into his brain. He would devote some time to considering it later. Now that the catâs out of the bag he doesnât need to worry about maintaining a façade in front of Wada. Quickly, he flips through the booklet. The whole process takes barely a minuet.
âThank you, but I think Iâll be off,â Kakashi says simply, handing his recovery plan back to Wada, âyou were right about the waste of paper.â
Kakashi pulls the eye patch back over his eye, turning away from the hospital. âIâll keep this though,â he holds up the phone.
As he begins to wonder away, Wada splutters, âWait. Where are you going?â
âMah,â he waves a hand lazily without turning, âIâm going to find my memories. Iâve lost them on the road of life and I need to retrace my steps.â
In some ways he is glad to have had this opportunity to save Wadaâs life. It meant he could walk away without feeling indebted. It was also the push he needed to finally make a decision on what he wanted to do with three years of prospective down time. Explore this world a little. Gather intel without having to worry about hospital staff and other civilians getting in the way. Watch everything from afar for a while before trying to seriously integrate in with the locals. Find somewhere secure to get a proper nightâs sleep and to properly start experimenting with his chakra and other potential ways home. Idly, he scans the road full of stopped cars and scattered civilians, picking a direction that would take him adjacent to the Heroâs fight. This would be a good opportunity to observe Heroes and see quirks used in proper combat.
âYouâre not even dressed properly?â Wada calls after him.
âMy first stop.â Of course, he would need to acquire a set of cloths that werenât a hospital gown, pyjama pants, and flimsy slippers.
âHold on a second,â Wada hurries around to stand in front of him, forcing him to stop. Kakashi arcs a brow at the forwardness.
âWhatever trouble you were in before now doesnât matter. I donât care enough about the memories you may or may not have or your quirk. Iâm too old to worry about all that stuff these days. Youâre young enough to deserve options. Think about it. A sensible job and a place to live. Sure, itâs not exciting, and it all gets a bit dreary every now and then but itâs a far cry better than bleeding out in an ally after being stabbed in the chest.â
Kakashi eyes the man not bothering with a smile. He lets his stare stay bland, face expressionless in that way that would have any sensible person dropping the topic of conversation.
Wada keeps talking, âIâve seen plenty Villains find their place in society and make honest men of themselves. Not exactly easy but it is doableâŚwith help. Help the hospital can give you.â
AhâŚthis man was like Naruto in a way⌠heâs concocted some backstory for Kakashi that likened him to this wordâs version of missing-nin and is now attempting to reintegrate him whatever passed for a hidden village here. He is still parcelling out the details on how everything fit together in this world but he thinks he has this analogy somewhat correct.
âThat wouldnât quite work for me,â Kakashi loosens, slipping around Wada fast enough that the man stumbles, hopping up onto the roof of a crashed vehicle so he can jump between them and more easily cross the road.
âBye bye.â
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Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 10: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression
(⌠see past poll results + further information HERE (link) âŚ)
Yesterday's poll decided that The Adventurer should join the travelers on the larger river boat for a short lunch ...
~
"Before he even fully musters the courage to shout a 'hello', the large group on the boat initiates contact first, gleefully waving at him, whooping and shouting as they near his tiny raft in the water. Apparently, some of them were betting over whether they'd actually find any other travelers out on the river today.. He fumbles over his words a bit, as always, but somehow manages to successfully get himself invited onto their boat for a quick lunch..
After safely securing his raft to the side of the boat with some spare rope, he climbs aboard, stumbling into the excitement of some sort of celebration. A few of them explain that they're traveling for 'kahesallei', an old elven holiday recently re-popularized in some of the larger cities nearby. Whatever it's true meaning and origins used to be, the current significance (at least to those within the city walls) seems to just be mindless feasting, drinking, and gaudy decor. Most of the traveling group are strangers to each other, only brought together by catching a ride on the same tour/party boat, but the mood is light, quite friendly between them, and perhaps a bit drunk.
While the boat itself is relatively plain wood, it's been strewn with gold and orange banners, flags, shimmery tassels, beads, and bushels of dark green ivy braided with fresh herbs and wildflowers. There are flat round tables of food and drink, plenty of cushions to lounge on, and one random guy perched precariously on the edge railing of the boat, gently strumming a lute for background music..
The elderly ship captain hobbles over to The Adventurer, sternly explaining that, no matter what the 'silly' passengers say, he's only allowed to stay for an hour because he didn't pay for a boat ride ticket, and thus really shouldn't even be allowed on board. By the time The Adventurer has mentally processed this information, the captain has already returned to his little steering room, slamming the door shut with a displeased grunt.. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to confront him or question the rules...... But! Hey, at least he has one hour at the party.. How should he spend his time? "
~
Additional Information
the adventurer's current main goal: follow his map to reach the abandoned castle ruins and see the rare animal specialist about the mysterious egg he has
#paventure posting#polls#poll#choose your own adventure#LATE AGAIn I know.. I'm still in my weird unproductive spell. literally I've had the same 5 to do list items on my list#for 2 weeks now. I can't even do five simple things in 2 weeks lol. I did start some new supplements and change my diet since#my doctors are still trying to sort out what health issues are going on or etc. so maybe it's something with that#like accidentally on the new diet I'm not getting enough calories or not getting enough of some vitamin or something so it's made me oddly#brain foggy and just really tired and unable to focus well for the past few weeks or something..? ANYWYA. not really sure what#it is specifically but my functioning in terms of actually focusing on and completing tasks has been a lot worse . thus#chronically behind on things. which I am always chronically behind on things in some sense since I always have like 7000 projects#I'm working on at the same exact time and etc. lol. but like.. even more chronically behind than usual .. ToT#ANYWAY.. I'm suprised that the 'try to get a ride on the boat' option didn't get that many votes actually lol#Like.. treveling down a river in a tiny handmade raft is probably.. not extremely safe or efficient lol#But at least he gets to have lunch there. Just the hour that he's on the boat doing whatever will get him a lot further because the boat#is moving faster than his raft would be. It should still get him out of the river and back on track sooner. Because he still has a long way#to go to get to the abandoned castle. I know it's been a lot of days since I'm not keeping up well with actually doing these#daily or every other day - but technically in the story it's only been a little over a day since he left the Inn#The first day he just walked. the second day he saw there was a barrier in his path. then spent half the day building a boat. and now he'e#*he's where he is now. The trip is roughly 4 days and he's like.. a little over halfway through his second. Not counting any detours or#distractions he might run into. But at least at this pace he should be off the river before it starts to get dark#Thate the main thing. you want to get a good rest on solid ground. ideally. So long as nothing strange happens on the boat#but yeah! day 10.. of little elf man adventure... ALSO he is like early 20s I imagine. so he can drink hbhjbjh#I know the 'very quick simple ms paint style' is kind of chibi-ish so it makes people look young but he's not a boy#don't worry. I didnt want it to seem weird like some 10 year old kid walking into a party of drunk 30 year olds#like a toddler hanging out in a night club or whatever. It's safe and okay for him to be there. just for the record. lol#I mean maybe not SAFE safe. it's still a boat of like.. rowdy party goers who could easily fall over the edge into the water or whatever bu#but like.. safe in the sense that he's not a 6 year old being offered vodka by strangers at a party. etc.#despite his goofy nervous demeanor and chronic baby face syndrome he is indeed an actual adult somehow ghbj
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Why the fans are the best privacy protection program.
Disclaimer: This is a rant. I am ranting out of my personal experience as someone who has been working in the entertainment industry for 5+ years and has occasionally worked in security and hospitality for artists all over the globe. I am also an international specialist on enterprises and fan-centered programmes and have been in close proximity to governmental and international processes as well as criminal justice. Take it with a grain of salt, you know im always open for further discussion however please do so respectfully.
Hello Iâm back with another rant after a long time. In light of what weâve seen in the news today on Joonâs invasion of privacy I wanted to rant a bit on it given that it isnât the first time this sort of thing has happened. Iâve refrained from ranting mostly because as you know by now, Iâve been working in the Kpop industry as of lately and as Iâve grown in the industry, it has come with greater knowledge but also greatest privacy on matters such as this one, so Iâll try to refrain from explicit details while also giving my two cents of expertise on the matter.
Iâve seen a lot of HYBE PROTECT JOON along with hashtags and templates going around, and while yes, the artists protection should and surely does come mainly from their company, the invasion of privacy (especially in the Kpop industry) is a matter that runs far deeper than whatever massive security an artist could have.
Artists can have dozens of physical barriers to protect them, hundreds of security protocols that ensure they get in and out of places safely, yet all the while these procedures take them further away from their connection to fans and work a funny little something in peopleâs minds that ends up placing them even in more danger and prone to privacy invasion because of it just because some people strip them away from their humanity and places celebrities on a pedestal where the main train of thought is all they have and are today is thanks to their fans ergo, fans are entitled to know whatever they want to know about them. A statement that has its own in and outs of itself that can be talked about a whole bunch. Truth is, weâre all human and we are all entitled to our own privacy.
Say, and Iâll focus this on BTS only, Joon can stop going to temples, try and attend places quietly, people can clear out spaces in restaurants for Jimin, they can grant access after hours for Hobi, Jungkook can change time and time again his phone number, Yoongi can walk as fast as he can as he travels from place to place, Jin can exit airports through the diplomatic exit, Taehyung can ask for the company to clear out any rumours, all of the NDAs in the world could be signed, their company could coax industries, papers, magazines, news, enterprises, etc into signing a mutually beneficial convention, they could get an A-level security team wherever they go, yet- it is the mundane things and exposure that ends up getting to them. One that all of us are subjects to.
Think about it statistically, and just focusing in the Korail incident, just exactly how many people travel via rail in Korea daily, weekly, given that statistics report an approximate of 140 million people per year (just the ones operated by Korail) say, out of those 400,000 people traveling daily, what exactly is the catalyst of tracking down one person? (And Iâm not even talking about how scary this fact is as general public)
Realistically speaking, as we live in what always seems to be the highest epitome of a capitalistic world, along with every crease it comes with its industry-driven system. Whatever platform, place, industry, website, etc. you input your data into, thereâs someone on the other side that can and will have access to it. Security protocols be damned, if someone wants your data and youâve provided it, theyâll have it, that is just- systematic.
So we must boil it down to a less reaching sphere of analysis. The individual one. Why would one person, potentially a worker, place their income in danger just to get some information about a particular person? Motivations, clearly, are unique and down to each individual case, however, for analytic reasons we must suppose the most likely one: they are able to sell it. Now, itâs borderline systematic, sure, we arenât really questioning the moral of why they would sell it but rather a more objective approach: Why does it sell?
Why is there potentially someone out there willing to buy said information?
And now here we get to the ages old loop of capitalism and market law so bare with me. If personal information sells because someone is willing to buy. Why is this hypothetic person willing to buy? Same old story and brings us back to the beginning, because it sells. But hey, it doesnât reach a market value necessarily. Celebrities privacy has a high price, which is why it is considered a luxury (yes, rough words and completely inhumane to talk about a person but hey, thatâs capitalism to you) if only the fewest can have access to said information and it needs to remain mostly secret for it not to lose value, how exactly can one sell it? Easy, social media.
Privacy and personal information of celebrities is nothing less and nothing more than an access key to a greater assortment of stuff. Think: concert access, location, photos, information that canât be verified, addresses, schedules. And it sells like no other on social media. Close up photos, rumours on new content, flight schedules, new projects that havenât been officially announced, you name it, it is out there.
Revenue doesnât necessarily means money during this time. Which is why fans are the most effective protection program. We cut the market law loop from the bud. If it doesnât get interaction on social media, there is really no point in be willing to buy information to access to something that doesnât sell, hence, there is not a worker willing to sell information that doesnât get bought and ultimately never gets any attention at all.
Remember artists are human, just like all of us. They deserve their right to their privacy and we are obligated to remain as fans. Donât give people the power to strip your faves away from their humanity. It takes less than three minutes to verify official content and to stop interacting with people that do nothing more than monetize of off peopleâs personal information.
I know it is a much more complex topic and it has a lot of geographical and cultural context waived into it, but this is just a brief rundown on the matter. Have a safe timezone and Iâm sending you all much love.
Edit: if youâre interested in reading a bit more on PIPA and what (ideally) could happen in regards of its violation you can read a bit on it here (please know that this is a third party information and it isnât the actual law in Korean, and remember that law is open to interpretation of the authorities)
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-Pari Anon
Add Albedo to the Pari!Creator brain rot.
Before anyone learned that Pari!Reader was the Creator, Albedo had managed to catch a glimpse of them while he was at the Inn heading to the harbor. Xiao is away dealing with demons, so Albedo is able to get close to Pari!Reader. He finds their chirping adorable, and he can tell they donât mind by the way they nuzzle into his hand.
He plays with Pari!Reader for a while until he has to go. He makes the mistake of trying to take Pari with him.
He isnât even across the bridge before Xiao has a spear pointed at Albedoâs throat, demanding he release Pari.
i love this really, like albedo studies leylines and he can sense the disturbance, so he decides to travel to liyue to ask some specialists about it. he travels, taking a stop at wangshu inn, travelling high to better sketch the view. liyue is rather pretty, and this angle of dragonspine is quite striking⌠he grabs a chair and sits against the balcony railing, sketching as the sun sets.
when a rather odd looking creature flies onto the balcony, it starts toward him, then stops, awkwardly readjusting midair to land on the balcony. itâs as if it expected him to be someone elseâŚ
he flipped to a new page, sketching the strange creature. it was unfamiliar to him⌠maybe local to liyue?
it tilts its head at him and he smiles. âhello. how are you?â
he mostly ignores it, figuring itâs some sort of adeptal pet or creation, but when he returns the next morning to catch a few more details for his drawing, itâs there again. it flaps, chittering, and he smiles as he finalizes the sketch. he can color and refine it later, but these details were crucial before he continued his journey into the city.
he looks up to say goodbye, and sees the creature curled up on the railing, seemingly asleep? how strange, for an animal to place its trust in another so willinglyâŚ
after a few moments of inspection, he realized the creature was imbued with some form of elemental ability. how odd, he thought heâd had all forms of elemental life documented⌠perhaps this is whatâs been causing the disturbances?
after a bit of thought, he takes off his jacket and gently moves the creature into it, keeping them bundled in one arm. he collected his things and said goodbye to verr goldet, walking out of the inn. his trip is peaceful, though the creature begins to stir as he approaches the gate. he slows, making a small opening in the jacket for it to poke its head out. it tilts its head again, chittering, and he canât help but smile.
âhello,â he says again, and the thing chirps back, looking around as he continues to walk. however, once it does, when it sees the buildings of the harbor and the millelith standing guard, it starts to fuss, flapping its wings.
he should have seen this coming, in truth.
âno, i wonât hurt you-â the creature bats away his hand, letting out a sharp cry that hurts his ears with the pitch. he winces, and in the split second his eyes are closed, something sharp presses against his skin.
ârelease them.â
his eyes open, and he sees.. someone he doesnât recognize, admittedly. teal eyes and a jade spear just as sharp are all he can pick up, their hand reaching for his jacket, pulling sharply. the creature quickly squirms out, diving behind the strangerâs shoulder, and albedo timidly raises his hands.
âa pet, then? i was unaware-â
âdonât call them that,â the stranger growls, and albedo hisses as their spear digs into his skin more. they reach their free hand to the creature, who leans into them with chitters.
âwho-âŚâ he doesnât think heâs met another with such a fierce glare, though the weapon at his throat certainly doesnât help. âwho are you?â
the stranger sneers, lip curling. âyou dare venture into liyue without knowing those who reside there? do you have no respect for the adepti?â
ah. that explains quite a bit.
âmy apologies. i am not a native.â
âclearly.â
ââŚmight you be able to tell me what that is, then? i have never encountered an elemental being in that form before, not have i read about one. it appears to resemble one of sumeruâsâŚâ he pauses, fumbling for the name, and the adeptus retracts his polearm.
âthat is none of your business. in the future, it would be wise to not touch what isnât yours, and stay out of what youâre not involved in. i will be keeping an eye on you for the remainder of your journey; be mindful of your manners.â
the adeptus turns, vanishing in a cloud of teal smoke, and albedo lets out a breath, hands lowering.
at least that explains how he appeared without his noticing.
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Preserving tags because these are interesting and useful! Carneys in the States seem to operate totally differently to Showmen in the UK and in Europe in general, where Showman is a hereditary culture (as in, a Showman child remains a Showman their whole life even if they grow up and get a job as an accountant) as well as a profession.
So the Showmen (Always Showmen and singular Showman, which means you do end up with sentences like "A Showman woman wearing a green hat" but that's just how it is) and Circusfolk- who are basically, the people who own circuses and fairground rides.
And it's kind of obvious when you think about why- Running a circus requires not just personal coordination between people, but also huge investment: You might spend tens of thousands of pounds on a lorry to haul your gear (your ride, your stall, your actual Big Top itself, seating for customers, metal railings to direct crowds) and the same again on a trailer to live in while you're on the road - And then you need somewhere to live on the off-season, which usually means a Yard in the UK, which is a permanent address where you both live during the winter when the show isn't travelling, and where you put things that are undergoing maintenance (eg, new parts for attractions, a shed to paint in which has things like an airbrush booth, fibreglass moulds, potentially old rides or props from old shows that you don't use right now but that you might bring back into use later, vehicles like tractors and haul trucks to help with setup and teardown etc) - Which means that you are, generally, committed to living in chalets and trailers rather than in a brick house, you're likely going to live somewhere out in the edge of town where land is cheap rather than in a city centre (and the cities which DO have yards in the centres often have long legal battles as they try to evict their historic Showman communities!) and you'll be raising your kids in a way that is generally 'different' to settled people. So most people pass their things down to their kids, as an ongoing business and also as physical STUFF, as land, as machinery, as well as as cultural norms - Who will have themselves grown up travelling with the fair or circus in the season, so they already know "how it all works" and will usually have been helping out since they were little - Obviously, they hire labourers (so your misfit character could definitely realistically be hired to help build up or to drive a wagon, or to be a specialist performer) but just culturally, usually customer-facing jobs will go to a friend's teenage kids, or your own kids, or some other relative who is willing to help out.
And then, you have to coordinate with other people, because one circus or fair as experienced by the public might actually be ran by two or three families who live in a handful of yards across the area - Eg, the Robinsons have the Waltzer and the Smiths have the shuggy boat and the Millers have the candyfloss stall and the hook-a-duck - Or the Smarts have the big tent and the Joneses have the horses and acrobat act and the Coopers do a car show - And none of them can really work alone without the others' cooperation. And this is the other incredibly valuable inheritance: Human connections. When you know another family, and you've known for six generations that you've always travelled together and worked together, you have that kind of social license to expect more of each other- "Of course I'll let young Jones take a pitch with me, his grandmother painted the old rounding boards on my gallopers, and his sister is going to marry my niece..." sort of thing. A "black book" that is a century deep is a valuable thing in its own right.
And that's even before getting to - Why do we HAVE fairs? Why do they travel? What's the relationship between fairs and circuses, and horse-fairs, and markets? Which all broadly came from medieval European fairs which would incorporate both what we would consider fairground and circus attractions, but also livestock and goods sales and would be an enormous event which some of the first passports in Europe were issued for, which were a huge diplomatic milestone and... There is so much history there!
How Do I Make My Fictional Gypsies Not Racist?
(Or, "You can't, sorry, butâŚ")
You want to include some Gypsies in your fantasy setting. Or, you need someone for your main characters to meet, who is an outsider in the eyes of the locals, but who already lives here. Or you need a culture in conflict with your settled people, or who have just arrived out of nowhere. Or, you just like the idea of campfires in the forest and voices raised in song. And youâre about to step straight into a muckpile of cliches and, accidentally, write something racist.
(In this, I am mostly using Gypsy as an endonym of Romany people, who are a subset of the Romani people, alongside Roma, Sinti, Gitano, Romanisael, Kale, etc, but also in the theory of "Gypsying" as proposed by Lex and Percy H, where Romani people are treated with a particular mix of orientalism, criminalisation, racialisation, and othering, that creates "The Gypsy" out of both nomadic peoples as a whole and people with Romani heritage and racialised physical features, languages, and cultural markers)
Enough of my friends play TTRPGs or write fantasy stories that this question comes up a lot - They mention Dungeons and Dragonsâ Curse Of Strahd, World Of Darknessâs Gypsies, World Of Darknessâs Ravnos, World of Darknessâs Silent Striders⌠And they roll their eyes and say âThese are all terrible! But how can I do it, you know, without it being racist?â
And their eyes are big and sad and ever so hopeful that I will tell them the secret of how to take the Roma of the real world and place them in a fictional one, whilst both appealing to gorjer stereotypes of Gypsies and not adding to the weight of stereotyping that already crushes us. So, disappointingly, there is no secret.
Gypsies, like every other real-world culture, exist as we do today because of interactions with cultures and geography around us: The living waggon, probably the archetypal thing which gorjer writers want to include in their portrayals of nomads, is a relatively modern invention - Most likely French, and adopted from French Showmen by Romanies, who brought it to Britain. So already, thatâs a tradition that only spans a small amount of the time that Gypsies have existed, and only a small number of the full breadth of Romani ways of living. But the reasons that the waggon is what it is are based on the real world - The wheels are tall and iron-rimmed, because although you expect to travel on cobbled, tarmac, or packed-earth roads and for comparatively short distances, it wasnât rare to have to ford a river in Britain in the late nineteenth century, on country roads. They were drawn by a single horse, and the shape of that horse was determined by a mixture of local breeds - Welsh cobs, fell ponies, various draft breeds - as well as by the aesthetic tastes of the breeders. The stove inside is on the left, so that as you move down a British road, the chimney sticks up into the part where there will be the least overhanging branches, to reduce the chance of hitting it.
So taking a fictional setting that looks like (for example) thirteenth century China (with dragons), and placing a nineteenth century Romanichal family in it will inevitably result in some racist assumptions being made, as the answer to âWhy does this culture do this?â becomes âThey just do it because I want them toâ rather than having a consistent internal logic.
Some stereotypes will always follow nomads - They appear in different forms in different cultures, but they always arise from the settled people's same fears: That the nomads don't share their values, and are fundamentally strangers. Common ones are that we have a secret language to fool outsiders with, that we steal children and disguise them as our own, that our sexual morals are shocking (This one has flipped in the last half century - From the Gypsy Lore Society's talk of the lascivious Romni seductress who will lie with a strange man for a night after a 'gypsy wedding', to today's frenzied talk of 'grabbing' and sexually-conservative early marriages to ensure virginity), that we are supernatural in some way, and that we are more like animals than humans. These are tropes where if you want to address them, you will have to address them as libels - there is no way to casually write a baby-stealing, magical succubus nomad without it backfiring onto real life Roma. (The kind of person who has the skills to write these tropes well, is not the kind of person who is reading this guide.)
Itâs too easy to say a list of prescriptive âDo notsâ, which might stop you from making the most common pitfalls, but which can end up with your nomads being slightly flat as you dance around the topics that youâre trying to avoid, rather than being a rich culture that feels real in your world.
So, here are some questions to ask, to create your nomadic people, so that they will have a distinctive culture of their own that may (or may not) look anything like real-world Romani people: These aren't the only questions, but they're good starting points to think about before you make anything concrete, and they will hopefully inspire you to ask MORE questions.
First - Why are they nomadic? Nobody moves just to feel the wind in their hair and see a new horizon every morning, no matter what the inspirational poster says. Are they transhumant herders who pay a small rent to graze their flock on the local lordâs land? Are they following migratory herds across common land, being moved on by the cycle of the seasons and the movement of their animals? Are they seasonal workers who follow man-made cycles of labour: Harvests, fairs, religious festivals? Are they refugees fleeing a recent conflict, who will pass through this area and never return? Are they on a regular pilgrimage? Do they travel within the same area predictably, or is their movement governed by something that is hard to predict? How do they see their own movements - Do they think of themselves as being pushed along by some external force, or as choosing to travel? Will they work for and with outsiders, either as employees or as partners, or do they aim to be fully self-sufficient? What other jobs do they do - Their whole society wonât all be involved in one industry, what do their children, elderly, disabled people do with their time, and is it âworkâ?
If they are totally isolationist - How do they produce the things which need a complex supply chain or large facilities to make? How do they view artefacts from outsiders which come into their possession - Things which have been made with technology that they canât produce for themselves? (This doesnât need to be anything about quality of goods, only about complexity - A violin can be made by one artisan working with hand tools, wood, gut and shellac, but an accordion needs presses to make reeds, metal lathes to make screws, complex organic chemistry to make celluloid lacquer, vulcanised rubber, and a thousand other components)
How do they feel about outsiders? How do they buy and sell to outsiders? If itâs seen as taboo, do they do it anyway? Do they speak the same language as the nearby settled people (With what kind of fluency, or bilingualism, or dialect)? Do they intermarry, and how is that viewed when it happens? What stories does this culture tell about why they are a separate people to the nearby settled people? Are those stories true? Do they have a notional âhomelandâ and do they intend to go there? If so, is it a real place?
What gorjers think of as classic "Gipsy music" is a product of our real-world situation. Guitar from Spain, accordions from the Soviet Union (Which needed modern machining and factories to produce and make accessible to people who weren't rich- and which were in turn encouraged by Soviet authorities preferring the standardised and modern accordion to the folk traditions of the indigenous peoples within the bloc), brass from Western classical traditions, via Balkan folk music, influences from klezmer and jazz and bhangra and polka and our own music traditions (And we influence them too). What are your people's musical influences? Do they make their own instruments or buy them from settled people? How many musical traditions do they have, and what are they all for (Weddings, funerals, storytelling, campfire songs, entertainment...)? Do they have professional musicians, and if so, how do those musicians earn money? Are instrument makers professionals, or do they use improvised and easy-to-make instruments like willow whistles, spoons, washtubs, etc? (Of course the answer can be "A bit of both")
If you're thinking about jobs - How do they work? Are they employed by settled people (How do they feel about them?) Are they self employed but providing services/goods to the settled people? Are they mostly avoidant of settled people other than to buy things that they can't produce themselves? Are they totally isolationist? Is their work mostly subsistence, or do they create a surplus to sell to outsiders? How do they interact with other workers nearby? Who works, and how- Are there 'family businesses', apprentices, children with part time work? Is it considered 'a job' or just part of their way of life? How do they educate their children, and is that considered 'work'? How old are children when they are considered adult, and what markers confer adulthood? What is considered a rite of passage?
When they travel, how do they do it? Do they share ownership of beasts of burden, or each individually have "their horse"? Do families stick together or try to spread out? How does a child begin to live apart from their family, or start their own family? Are their dwellings something that they take with them, or do they find places to stay or build temporary shelter with disposable material? Who shares a dwelling and why? What do they do for privacy, and what do they think privacy is for?
If you're thinking about food - Do they hunt? Herd? Forage? Buy or trade from settled people? Do they travel between places where they've sown crops or managed wildstock in previous years, so that when they arrive there is food already seeded in the landscape? How do they feel about buying food from settled people, and is that common? If it's frowned upon - How much do people do it anyway? How do they preserve food for winter? How much food do they carry with them, compared to how much they plan to buy or forage at their destinations? How is food shared- Communal stores, personal ownership?
Why are they a "separate people" to the settled people? What is their creation myth? Why do they believe that they are nomadic and the other people are settled, and is it correct? Do they look different? Are there legal restrictions on them settling? Are there legal restrictions on them intermixing? Are there cultural reasons why they are a separate people? Where did those reasons come from? How long have they been travelling? How long do they think they've been travelling? Where did they come from? Do they travel mostly within one area and return to the same sites predictably, or are they going to move on again soon and never come back?
And then within that - What about the members of their society who are "unusual" in some way: How does their society treat disabled people? (are they considered disabled, do they have that distinction and how is it applied?) How does their society treat LGBT+ people? What happens to someone who doesn't get married and has no children? What happens to someone who 'leaves'? What happens to young widows and widowers? What happens if someone just 'can't fit in'? What happens to someone who is adopted or married in? What happens to people who are mixed race, and in a fantasy setting to people who are mixed species? What is taboo to them and what will they find shocking if they leave? What is society's attitude to 'difference' of various kinds?
Basically, if you build your nomads from the ground-up, rather than starting from the idea of "I want Gypsies/Buryats/Berbers/Minceiri but with the numbers filed off and not offensive" you can end up with a rich, unique nomadic culture who make sense in your world and don't end up making a rod for the back of real-world cultures.
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Expert Spine Doctor in Borivali: Advanced Pain Relief
Spinal health is crucial for overall well-being, as the spine supports body movement, posture, and neurological functions. In Borivali, individuals suffering from back pain, spinal disorders, or injuries can benefit from specialized care offered by expert spine doctors. With advanced diagnostic tools and cutting-edge treatment approaches, seeking timely intervention from a Spine doctor in Borivali ensures effective relief and long-term spinal health.
Understanding Common Spine Conditions
Spinal issues can arise due to multiple factors, including aging, poor posture, injuries, or underlying medical conditions. Some common spinal disorders include:
Herniated Disc â Occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its exterior, causing nerve compression and pain.
Sciatica â A condition where the sciatic nerve gets compressed, leading to pain radiating down the leg.
Spinal Stenosis â A narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on nerves, often seen in older adults.
Spondylosis â A degenerative disorder affecting the spine, leading to stiffness and chronic pain.
Scoliosis â An abnormal curvature of the spine that can cause posture issues and discomfort.
When to Consult a Spine Doctor in Borivali
Seeking professional help at the right time is key to preventing complications. You should consult a spine specialist if you experience:
Persistent back or neck pain lasting more than a few weeks.
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs.
Difficulty in walking, standing, or maintaining balance.
Sharp pain radiating down the legs or arms.
Loss of bladder or bowel control, which requires urgent medical attention.
Advanced Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches
Modern spine care facilities in Borivali offer state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques to assess spinal health accurately. These include:
MRI and CT Scans â Provide detailed images of spinal structures for precise diagnosis.
X-rays â Help detect bone deformities and fractures.
Electromyography (EMG) â Assesses nerve function and detects nerve damage.
Treatment plans are customized based on the diagnosis and may include:
Non-Surgical Treatments â Physiotherapy, medications, lifestyle modifications, and pain management techniques.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) â Advanced surgical techniques with smaller incisions, reducing recovery time.
Spinal Fusion â A procedure to stabilize the spine in cases of severe degeneration or instability.
Disc Replacement Surgery â Helps restore mobility in patients with damaged spinal discs.
Why Choose Synapse Spine Clinic in Borivali?
Synapse Spine Clinic in Borivali is a premier facility offering comprehensive spine care. The clinic is equipped with modern technology and a team of experienced spine specialists dedicated to diagnosing and treating spinal conditions effectively. Patients receive personalized treatment plans tailored to their needs, ensuring optimal recovery and pain relief.
If you or a loved one is struggling with spinal issues, consulting an expert spine doctor in Borivali at Synapse Spine Clinic can help you regain mobility and improve your quality of life.
Location of Synapse Spine Clinic in Borivali
đ Address:Ground Floor, Samadhan Society, Chandavarkar Rd, near Rail Nagar, Paranjape Nagar, Vazira, Borivali, Mumbai â 400092
Easy Ways to Reach
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From Western Line: Alight at Borivali Station (West) â Take an auto/taxi (5-7 mins) to Chandavarkar Road.
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From Central Line: Travel to Dadar Station â Switch to the Western Line â Get off at Borivali â Follow the above route.
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From Outside Mumbai:
By Train: Arrive at Mumbai Central/Bandra Terminus â Take a local train to Borivali.
By Air: Land at Mumbai Airport â Take a cab (30-40 mins).
By Road: Exit at Borivali West via Western Express Highway.
The clinic is easily accessible for all patients.
#spinal stenosis#degenerative disc disease#brain and spine tumors#endoscopic surgery#synapse spine#spinal fusion#orthopedic spine surgeon#spine specialist#spinesurgery#Dr. Nandan Marathe#Dr. Anuj Bhide#Dr. Ajit Mishra#Dr. Aditya Raj#Dr. Abhishek Kulkarni#Dr. Medha Vyas
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How to Choose the Best IVF Specialist in Chembur?
Finding an experienced and trusted IVF Specialist in Chembur can make all the difference in your fertility journey. Chembur Fertility Clinic, located in the heart of Mumbai, is a leading destination for comprehensive fertility solutions.
Why Choose Chembur Fertility Clinic for IVF?
Expert care from an experienced IVF Specialist in Chembur.
Advanced treatments customized to your specific needs.
Convenient location with easy accessibility.
How to Reach the IVF Specialist in Chembur by Local Train?
Traveling by local train to Chembur Fertility Clinic is simple:
From the Central Line: Take a train to Kurla Station. Switch to the Harbour Line, heading toward Chembur. The clinic is just a short distance from Chembur Station.
From the Western Line: Reach Dadar Station. Change to the Central Line, then follow the same steps to reach Chembur.
Steps for Out-of-Town Patients Visiting the IVF Specialist in Chembur
Plan Your Journey: Book a train or flight to Mumbai. Chembur is well-connected by road, rail, and air.
Stay Nearby: Numerous hotels and guesthouses in Chembur offer affordable accommodations.
Clinic Access: The clinicâs convenient location ensures easy access via cabs or public transport.
What Services Does the IVF Specialist in Chembur Provide?
Comprehensive infertility evaluations.
State-of-the-art IVF treatments.
Personalized support at every step.
How Do Patients Benefit from an IVF Specialist in Chembur?
Patients receive world-class care close to home, ensuring a stress-free treatment experience. Visit Chembur Fertility Clinic for exceptional results under the guidance of a trusted IVF Specialist in Chembur.
Find us on Google Maps.
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Why Should You Choose a Lady Gynecologist Near Thane?
When it comes to womenâs health, consulting a knowledgeable and experienced gynecologist is essential for addressing a variety of concerns. If you are seeking a trusted professional, a lady gynecologist near Thane can provide a compassionate and personalized approach to your care. Understanding the unique health needs of women, these specialists focus on creating a comfortable and reassuring environment for patients to discuss their medical concerns.
A Specialist You Can Trust
Dr. Arohi Tasgaonkar is a renowned lady gynecologist near Thane, offering a wide range of gynecological services tailored to women of all ages. With a commitment to ensuring her patientsâ well-being, she specializes in addressing reproductive health issues, high-risk pregnancies, menstrual irregularities, fertility challenges, menopause care, and more. Patients benefit from her expert knowledge, empathetic nature, and evidence-based treatments.
Her clinic is located at: 2nd Floor, Mohan Heritage Building, Mahapalika Bhavan Rd, above Nipun Hospital, opposite Thane Municipal Corporation, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Panch Pakhdi, Thane West, Thane, Maharashtra 400601.
This convenient location makes it easy for patients from Thane and beyond to access her exceptional care.
Comprehensive Womenâs Health Services
Dr. Tasgaonkarâs clinic is equipped to address a broad spectrum of gynecological concerns, offering:
Routine Gynecological Checkups: Regular visits help detect and prevent potential issues before they become serious.
Pregnancy Care: From prenatal checkups to postnatal support, her clinic ensures comprehensive care for expecting mothers.
Menstrual Disorder Treatments: Whether itâs irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or severe pain, personalized solutions are provided.
Infertility Solutions: State-of-the-art diagnostics and treatments to support couples on their journey to parenthood.
Menopause Management: Guidance to navigate hormonal changes and maintain overall health.
Adolescent Gynecology: Specialized care for teens, ensuring early education and management of reproductive health concerns.
Convenient Access for All Patients
Located in Thane West, the clinic is easily accessible via multiple transportation routes:
Western Line: Patients traveling from Borivali, Kandivali, and surrounding areas can switch to local transport upon reaching Thane Station. From there, the clinic is a short auto ride away.
Central Line: Commuters from Dadar, Mulund, and Kalyan can reach Thane Station conveniently and take a quick cab or auto to the clinic.
Out-of-Mumbai Visitors: Patients coming from outside Mumbai can rely on the cityâs robust rail network. Arriving at Thane Station, they can easily find the clinicâs location with GPS assistance or local transport.
What Sets Dr. Arohi Tasgaonkar Apart
Dr. Tasgaonkarâs approach emphasizes the importance of patient education and empowerment. She dedicates time to understanding each patientâs medical history, lifestyle, and concerns, ensuring personalized treatment plans. Her clinic provides a safe space for open communication, fostering trust and confidence in every consultation.
Patients frequently praise her dedication to quality care, her ability to explain complex medical issues in simple terms, and her friendly demeanor. Whether addressing routine checkups or complex gynecological challenges, Dr. Tasgaonkarâs expertise ensures that her patients are in capable hands.
Why Location Matters
Choosing a clinic in a central location like Panch Pakhdi, Thane West, offers significant benefits. Not only does it minimize travel time, but it also provides ease of access to patients from neighboring areas. The proximity to major landmarks like Nipun Hospital and the Thane Municipal Corporation makes it easy to locate.
The clinicâs location in the Mohan Heritage Building ensures a professional and welcoming environment. Nearby parking facilities and public transport options add to the convenience, ensuring stress-free visits for patients and their families.
Creating a Comfortable Experience
Dr. Tasgaonkar understands that visiting a gynecologist can feel daunting for some patients. Her clinicâs patient-centric approach is designed to alleviate such concerns. From a warm and welcoming staff to a modern, hygienic facility, every detail is tailored to ensure comfort and confidence.
For first-time visitors, the clinicâs website (www.drarohitasgaonkar.com) provides all necessary information, including appointment booking options, available services, and educational resources. This level of accessibility underscores the commitment to delivering exceptional care.
#gynecologist in manpada#complete womenâs care#gynaecologist in hiranandani estate thane#gynecologist in thane#dr. arohi tasgaonkar#gynecologist in waghbil#gynecologist in ghodbunder road thane.#gynecologist in kasarvadavali#gynecologist in ghodbunder road thane#gynaecologist in bethany hospital thane.
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Selecting A Skilled Ovarian Cancer Doctor In Chennai
Ovarian cancer is one of the most challenging forms of cancer affecting women. Early diagnosis and expert treatment play a critical role in managing the disease effectively. If youâre searching for the best ovarian cancer specialist in Chennai, youâre taking a significant step toward ensuring quality medical care.
Chennai has emerged as a hub for advanced cancer treatment, boasting some of the best doctors for ovarian cancer. In this article, weâll guide you through the importance of specialized care, what to look for in a doctor, and why Chennai is an excellent destination for ovarian cancer treatment.
Understanding the Importance of an Ovarian Cancer Specialist
Ovarian cancer requires a tailored approach to diagnosis, treatment, and management. Specialists with expertise in gynecologic oncology are well-equipped to handle the complexities of this condition. They not only have advanced knowledge of ovarian cancer but also access to cutting-edge diagnostic tools and therapies.
By consulting an ovarian cancer specialist in Chennai, patients benefit from:
Accurate Diagnosis: Specialists use advanced imaging techniques and pathology to diagnose ovarian cancer accurately.
Personalized Treatment Plans: Based on the stage of cancer, specialists can design a treatment plan that may include surgery, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies.
Multidisciplinary Care: Many specialists work within multidisciplinary teams that include surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and nutritionists to offer comprehensive care.
Why Choose Chennai for Ovarian Cancer Treatment?
Chennai has become a leading destination for ovarian cancer treatment due to its combination of skilled doctors, state-of-the-art facilities, and a patient-centric approach. Hereâs why Chennai stands out:
Expertise: Chennai is home to some of the best doctors for ovarian cancer. These specialists have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating various stages of the disease.
Advanced Medical Technology: Hospitals in Chennai are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including robotic surgery systems, precision imaging, and molecular diagnostics.
Holistic Approach: Many medical centers in Chennai focus on holistic treatment, offering counseling, pain management, and rehabilitation services alongside medical care.
Affordability: Compared to other global cancer treatment centers, Chennai offers world-class care at a fraction of the cost.
Accessibility: Chennai is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it an easily accessible city for patients traveling from other parts of India or abroad.
Qualities to Look for in the Best Doctors for Ovarian Cancer in Chennai
Finding the right specialist is crucial for successful treatment. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a doctor:
Credentials and Experience: Look for doctors with a specialization in gynecologic oncology and years of experience treating ovarian cancer.
Patient Reviews: Positive testimonials and success stories from other patients can give you confidence in a doctorâs abilities.
Hospital Affiliation: Ensure the doctor is affiliated with a reputed hospital equipped with advanced facilities.
Communication Skills: A good doctor will take the time to explain your condition and treatment options clearly.
Supportive Team: A specialist who works with a multidisciplinary team ensures a comprehensive approach to treatment.
Treatment Options Available in Chennai
When you consult an ovarian cancer specialist in Chennai, youâll have access to a range of advanced treatment options, including:
Surgical Intervention: Surgery is often the first step in treating ovarian cancer. Specialists in Chennai are skilled in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures.
Chemotherapy: Advanced chemotherapy protocols are available to target cancer cells effectively while minimizing side effects.
Targeted Therapy: Innovative treatments like targeted therapy focus on specific cancer-causing genes or proteins, offering a more personalized approach.
Immunotherapy: Cutting-edge immunotherapy options help boost the bodyâs immune system to fight cancer.
Palliative Care: For advanced stages of cancer, palliative care focuses on improving quality of life through pain management and emotional support.
Preparing for Your Consultation
Before meeting with an ovarian cancer specialist in Chennai, itâs essential to prepare:
Medical Records: Bring all relevant medical records, including test results, imaging reports, and previous treatment details.
List of Questions: Prepare a list of questions to ask about your diagnosis, treatment options, and expected outcomes.
Support System: Consider bringing a family member or friend for emotional support and to help take notes during the consultation.
Conclusion
Choosing the right ovarian cancer specialist in Chennai is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your treatment journey. With the best doctors for ovarian cancer in Chennai and access to advanced medical facilities, the city offers hope and healing to patients battling this challenging disease. Take the time to research and consult with specialists to ensure you receive the best possible care. Early diagnosis and expert treatment from the best doctors for ovarian cancer in Chennai are the keys to improving outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for ovarian cancer patients.
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