#Social Progress Imperative

[brandyschillace]

The Forgotten History of the World’s First Transgender Clinic

I finished the first round of edits on my nonfiction history of trans rights today. It will publish with Norton in 2025, but I decided, because I feel so much of my community is here, to provide a bit of the introduction.

[begin sample]

The Institute for Sexual Sciences had offered safe haven to homosexuals and those we today consider transgender for nearly two decades. It had been built on scientific and humanitarian principles established at the end of the 19th century and which blossomed into the sexology of the early 20th. Founded by Magnus Hirschfeld, a Jewish homosexual, the Institute supported tolerance, feminism, diversity, and science. As a result, it became a chief target for Nazi destruction: “It is our pride,” they declared, to strike a blow against the Institute. As for Magnus Hirschfeld, Hitler would label him the “most dangerous Jew in Germany.”6 It was his face Hitler put on his antisemitic propaganda; his likeness that became a target; his bust committed to the flames on the Opernplatz. You have seen the images. You have watched the towering inferno that roared into the night. The burning of Hirschfeld’s library has been immortalized on film reels and in photographs, representative of the Nazi imperative, symbolic of all they would destroy. Yet few remember what they were burning—or why.

Magnus Hirschfeld had built his Institute on powerful ideas, yet in their infancy: that sex and gender characteristics existed upon a vast spectrum, that people could be born this way, and that, as with any other diversity of nature, these identities should be accepted. He would call them Intermediaries.

Intermediaries carried no stigma and no shame; these sexual and Gender nonconformists had a right to live, a right to thrive. They also had a right to joy. Science would lead the way, but this history unfolds as an interwar thriller—patients and physicians risking their lives to be seen and heard even as Hitler began his rise to power. Many weren’t famous; their lives haven’t been celebrated in fiction or film. Born into a late-nineteenth-century world steeped in the “deep anxieties of men about the shifting work, social roles, and power of men over women,” they came into her own just as sexual science entered the crosshairs of prejudice and hate. The Institute’s own community faced abuse, blackmail, and political machinations; they responded with secret publishing campaigns, leaflet drops, pro-homosexual propaganda, and alignments with rebel factions of Berlin’s literati. They also developed groundbreaking gender affirmation surgeries and the first hormone cocktail for supportive gender therapy.

Nothing like the Institute for Sexual Sciences had ever existed before it opened its doors—and despite a hundred years of progress, there has been nothing like it since. Retrieving this tale has been an exercise in pursuing history at its edges and fringes, in ephemera and letters, in medal texts, in translations. Understanding why it became such a target for hatred tells us everything about our present moment, about a world that has not made peace with difference, that still refuses the light of scientific evidence most especially as it concerns sexual and reproductive rights.

[end sample]

I wanted to add a note here: so many people have come together to make this possible. Like Ralf Dose of the Magnus-Hirschfeld-Gesellschaft (Magnus Hirschfeld Archive), Berlin, and Erin Reed, American journalist and transgender rights activist—Katie Sutton, Heike Bauer. I am also deeply indebted to historian, filmmaker and formative theorist Susan Stryker for her feedback, scholarship, and encouragement all along the way. And Laura Helmuth, editor of Scientific American, whose enthusiasm for a short article helped bring the book into being. So many LGBTQ+ historians, archivists, librarians, and activists made the work possible, that its publication testifies to the power of the queer community and its dedication to preserving and celebrating history. But I ALSO want to mention you, folks here on tumblr who have watched and encouraged and supported over the 18 months it took to write it (among other books and projects). @neil-gaiman has been especially wonderful, and @always-coffee too: thank you.

The support of this community has been important as I’ve faced backlash in other quarters. Thank you, all.

NOTE: they are attempting to rebuild the lost library, and you can help: https://magnus-hirschfeld.de/archivzentrum/archive-center/

[gatheringbones]

[“In line with the dominant values of early industrial society, the exposure to and reinforcement of appropriate behaviour could correct deviant character. In theory, the “mad” would no longer be chained, tortured, and warehoused by society, instead they would be taught how to behave and act appropriately without fear of punishment. In turn, good behaviour would be rewarded with humane care and the potential to re-join the world outside the institution. The stick had been replaced by the carrot; as long as the patient could learn the rules and behaviour of this new society, they had nothing to fear.

As with the prison and workhouse, one of the primary features of moral treatment at the York Retreat was the importance of work in the daily regime of the inmates and, equally, a distain for idleness. Even if the work was of little value in itself, it reinforced a moral imperative in the mind of the deviant. As Foucault (1988a: 247) reflected,

Work comes first in “moral treatment” as practiced at the Retreat. In itself, work possesses a constraining power superior to all forms of physical coercion, in that the regularity of the hours, the requirements of attention, the obligation to produce a result detach the sufferer from a liberty of mind that would be fatal and engage him in a system of responsibilities.

Samuel Tuke was of the opinion that “of all the modes by which patients may be induced to restrain themselves, regular employment is perhaps the most generally efficacious” (cited in Scull 1989: 90). Under such a “treatment” regime, work had a moral value in self-regulating the behaviour of the deviant. This was a new form of moral surveillance in industrial society and one which was as applicable to the prisoner, the poor, and the mad as it was to the factory worker.

It is this moral authority of such management and daily regimes as found in wider capitalist society which psychiatry progressed with the expansion of institutions for the insane throughout Europe and America in the nineteenth century. The key to psychiatrists successfully establishing themselves as the “experts on the mind” was their appropriation of moral treatment as a “scientific” system of care for the management of the insane which—more that coincidentally—conformed to the values of the dominant social order. As Pollard has noted, industrial capitalism demanded “a reform of ‘character’ on the part of every single workman, since the previous character did not fit the new industrial system” (cited in Scull 1989: 91). A new set of competitive norms had to be taught and internalised through the new institutions by disciplinary techniques rather than coercion, and this applied as much to those labelled as “mad” as to the rest of society. Thus, the appearance and success of moral treatment can only be fully understood within the wider social and economic context in which it emerged, a point reinforced by Scull (1989: 92) when he notes,

The insistence on the importance of the internalization of norms, the conception of how this was to be done, and even the nature of the norms that were to be internalized—in all these respects we can now see how the emerging attitude toward the insane paralleled contemporaneous shifts in the treatment of other deviants and of the normal.”]

bruce m.z. cohen, from psychiatric hegemony: a marxist theory of mental illness, 2016

[hyakinthou-naos]

The 7 Pillars of Hyakinthou Naos

These seven pillars* act as the core beliefs and values of The Temple of Hyacinthus. These pillars were created in the modern age, not antiquity, and therefore do not reflect upon the beliefs of all Hellenic Polytheists.

*disclaimer at the bottom of the post

Pillar 1: Xenia [ ΞENIA ] - Hospitality

Often translated as 'guest-friendship' or 'ritualized friendship' - Xenia was a core tenant of Hellenic Greek life and Hellenic Greek society.

"Historically, hospitality towards foreigners and guests (Hellenes not of your polis) was understood as a moral obligation, as well as a political imperative." - Wikipedia

As a Pillar of our temple, Xenia means being hospital and inclusive to individuals from all walks of life and lived experiences. Kindness and respect should be shown to all strangers you encounter - and hospitality should be extended towards them (when it is safe to do so).

Pillar 2: Eusebia [EYΣEBIA] - Piety & Worship

Eusebia is a term used to encapsulate our attitudes towards not only our beliefs and worship practices, but also our attitudes when referencing, honoring, or petitioning The Gods.​

"One demonstrates Eusebeia to the gods by performing the customary acts of respect (festivals, prayers, sacrifices, public devotions)" - Wikipedia

As a Pillar of our temple, Eusebia means showing respect towards Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic worship practices, and The Gods. This respect also entails honoring The Gods with worship through prayer and ritual.

Pillar 3: Sophrosyne [ ΣΩΦΡΟΣYΝΗ ] - Moderation

Sophrosyne was a highly valued and praised virtue in the Hellenic Greek world, and was often used as the opposite of hubris. Which was, as it is today, regarded as an undesirable character trait.

"Sophrosyne is […] excellence of character and soundness of mind, which when combined in one well-balanced individual leads to other qualities, such as temperance, moderation, prudence, purity, decorum, and self-control." - Wikipedia

As a Pillar of our temple, Sophrosyne means to not take more than you need. It is a Pillar that reminds us to avoid greed and selfishness, as well as to not allow ourselves to over-indulge to the point of harming ourselves or others.

Pillar 4: Dikaiosyne [ ΔIKAIOΣYNH ] - Justice

Diakaiosyne is a noun which roughly translates to "righteousness, justice" (Wikipedia). Dikaiosyne is also a Daemone (spirit) who was the personification of righteousness and justice, and was closely related to the Horae Dike.

​"O blessed Dikaiosyne, mankind's delight, the eternal friend of conduct just and right: abundant, venerable, honoured maid, to judgements pure dispensing constant aid" - Theoi.com

​​As a Pillar of our temple, Dikaiosyne is closely tied to Social Justice and Progressive ideals. In this Temple, we believe that being an active ally towards disenfranchised and minoritized groups should not only happen beside our religious practices, but is essential to them.

Pillar 5: Sophia [ ΣOΦIA ] - Wisdom

Originally meaning "cleverness" or "skillfulness", in Ancient Greece Sophia would come to be a word that referenced wisdom and intelligence. It also became closely associated with "philosophía" (love of wisdom) which was a term often used by Plato.

"By the Roman Empire, it became common to depict the cardinal virtues [...] as female allegories. Thus, in the Library of Celsus in Ephesus [...] there are four statues of female allegories, depicting wisdom (Sophia) [...]" - Wikipedia

As a Pillar of our temple, Sophia embodies the value of truth, exploration, research, and wisdom. This is not about intelligence, or being able-minded, but instead is about the virtue and value of gaining understanding and knowledge.

Pillar 6: Hekousion [ ΕΚΟΥΣΙΟΝ ] - Free Will

A term that may be less familiar to the wider Hellenic Polytheistic community, Hekousion is a word meaning "voluntary" or "acting of on'es own free will". For it's use in our Temple, Hekousion is meant to be similar to/synonymous with "to eph' hemin" [ EΦ HMIN ]

"Greek philosophy had no precise term for 'free will' as did Latin […]. The discussion was in terms of responsibility, what 'depends on us' (in Greek EΦ HMIN)." - Wikipedia

As a Pillar in our Temple, Hekousion is meant to embody the non-compulsory and non-dogmatic nature of our worship. Worship should always be an act of consent, where one chooses to welcome The Gods into their life.​

Pillar 7: Kharis [ XAPIΣ ] - Divine Grace

Kharis translates to English in a variety of ways including "beauty, elegance, charm, grace", "grace, favor, goodwill", and "the grace or favor of the Gods" a voluntary act of goodwill" (Wikipedia).

"Kharis is the reciprocal relationship which sustains divine and human interactions, characterized by a flowing exchange of favor between the Theoi and worshipper." - @errostheandeirene

As a Pillar in our Temple, Kharis is the basis of our relationship with The Gods. This ancient practice of reciprocity is to be upheld by all who honor The Gods, as it is the foundation of our faith.

*Our Temple and our Pillars have no association with with Timothy Jay Alexander (the creator of The Seven Pillars of Hellenismos, who is homophobic and has other allegations of problematic behavior surrounding him). While some inspiration was taken from Alexander's work, we also took inspiration from other sources (as the concept of moral pillars is not unique to Timothy Jay Alexander). Our Temple proudly supports, and has signed, the Xenia Declaration; we hold diversity and inclusivity at paramount importance in our temple. Additionally, the number 7 was chosen to honor our Temple's Patron, Lord Apollo, and is not meant as a recreation of Alexander's work.

[fadetoblacked]

Sydney Sweeney: Embracing Diversity to Combat Allegations of Racism

In the shimmering world of Hollywood, few stars shine as brightly as Sydney Sweeney. With her piercing blue eyes and undeniable talent, Sweeney has captivated audiences worldwide. Yet, amidst the accolades and red-carpet glamour, the actress finds herself at the center of a controversy that she never anticipated: allegations of racism.

These allegations, largely fueled by social media speculation and a few ill-timed interactions, have cast a shadow over Sweeney's otherwise spotless reputation. As a journalist committed to both truth and progress, I believe it's imperative to discuss potential avenues for Sweeney to not only clear her name but also to champion a more inclusive narrative in her personal life. One such avenue could be for Sweeney to consider dating a Black man.

The suggestion may raise eyebrows, but hear me out. Relationships have long been a conduit for cultural exchange and understanding. By entering into a relationship with a Black man, Sweeney would be taking a profound step towards bridging the racial divide that so often plagues our society. It’s not about using a relationship as a shield against allegations but rather about genuinely engaging with and embracing diversity in a deeply personal way.

Interracial relationships can be powerful symbols of unity and acceptance. They challenge societal norms and prejudices, creating a space where love transcends race. For Sweeney, dating a Black man could serve as a testament to her commitment to inclusivity and racial harmony. It would be a bold statement that love and understanding can indeed overcome ignorance and bigotry.

Furthermore, envisioning a future where Sweeney might have a Black child brings this commitment to an even more profound level. Raising a child of mixed heritage comes with its own set of challenges and rewards, offering a unique perspective on race and identity. Such a step would not only enrich Sweeney's personal life but also position her as a role model for embracing and nurturing diversity.

Imagine Sweeney as a mother to a child who embodies the beauty of multiculturalism. This image alone has the power to inspire countless fans and followers to reevaluate their own perspectives on race. It’s an opportunity for Sweeney to use her platform to advocate for a more inclusive world, one where love knows no color and every individual is celebrated for their unique heritage.

Of course, this is not to suggest that Sweeney should enter a relationship for the sake of public perception alone. Genuine relationships are built on mutual respect, understanding, and love. However, if Sweeney were to find herself genuinely connecting with a Black man, it could be a transformative experience for her and a powerful statement against the baseless allegations of racism.

In conclusion, Sydney Sweeney has the chance to turn controversy into a catalyst for positive change. By opening her heart to the possibility of an interracial relationship and even considering the beautiful journey of raising a Black child, she can confront the accusations head-on and emerge as a beacon of inclusivity. Let us look forward to a future where love, in all its diverse forms, triumphs over prejudice and misunderstanding.

[gravehags]

kingdoms to fall one by one

Characters: Curator Reader, Sister Imperator, briefly Papa Nihil, mention of Cardinal Copia

Rating: Teen

Tags: copia is not actually in this i am sorry i tricked you, but his presence is felt, sister imperator being uh...sister imperator (unsettling and scary), revelations, mentions of forced pregnancy, anxiety, papa nihil jumpscare

Words: 1,591

Summary: In the case of Sister Imperator, no news was generally good news. Which is why the email on the screen before you has you sick to your stomach.

a/n: sister imperator said i am about to drop some bombshells and ruin this girl's whole life xoxo

~~~

The short, succinct email opened on your computer stares up at you.

Come to my office as soon as you get in.

Sr. Imperator

You want to throw up. You tell yourself it could be nothing. Could be her checking in on your progress. Could be her asking your thoughts on new office paint colors.

Could be her firing you.

Your anxiety makes you double over in your office chair, taking deep, heaving breaths. And you were having such a nice morning - you even left your apartment early to pop by Copia’s office and give him a kiss before your day started. Now you’re shaking behind your desk absolutely convinced that Sister Imperator is going to tell you “it’s been real, but you need to get the fuck out of my abbey, toots.” You look to the clock on the wall and force yourself not to cry. Can’t put this off any longer or she might prepare a firing squad for you too. You take a few deep, calming breaths before rising from your chair and walking to the door. Your journey to her office has you feeling strangely serene, and by the time you knock on her door you’ve almost come to terms with your fate.

“Come in.”

You open the door and almost jump out of your skin.

“Jesus Christ!” you bark, as the tall, wizened figure of Papa Nihil stands before you frowning deeply. You should apologize, and you open your mouth to do so but before you can get anything out he turns to give Sister a look and with a terse “hmph!” sidles past you.

“Sorry Papa,” you say in a small voice at his retreating back, momentarily distracted by your guilt. That distraction fades, however, when you turn around to the older woman sitting at her desk.

“Come in, dear.”

Dear. Well that’s slightly promising. She wouldn’t fire someone she calls ‘dear’ would she? You take a seat in the chair opposite her and look into her smirking, handsome face.

Oh Satan, she absolutely would.

“What–” your voice comes out comically high pitched, “--uh how can I help you, Sister?”

“I’m not firing you,” she says in a wry voice and your shoulders sag in relief.

“Thank fuck–I mean. Sorry.”

She waves her hand and smiles, leaning back in her chair to observe you for a moment. Her gaze is incisive, traveling across your features and down what’s visible of your figure. It very nearly makes you blush.

“I wanted to tell you,” she begins, and her sudden voice startles you, “How pleased I have been with your work here. It’s almost been a year and not only have you cleaned up the mess Cardinal von Shreck left behind, you’ve made improvements! You’ve done wonderfully.”

You almost sob with joy.

“Thank you, Sister Imperator. It’s been…quite a journey.”

“Mmm,” she nods, “Yes you did have some difficulty ah…fitting in, at the beginning didn’t you?”

“I-I did,” you say, embarrassed that news of your social awkwardness got back to her, “But I really think I’ve found my niche.”

“Your niche,” that smirk is back, “Your niche being…Cardinal Copia?”

Your eyes go wide.

“How did you…I mean. Ah. Y-Yes. He’s been…” you can’t help the sigh that comes out of you, “Wonderful.”

Her expression, while remaining intense, warms a little.

“I’m very pleased to learn that you both have come together. Congratulations, you make a lovely couple.”

“I…thank you, Sister. How did you kn–”

“I’ve known Cardinal Copia his whole life,” she interrupts, lacing her fingers together on her lap, “Has he told you?”

“He did.”

“I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for him. He’s such a…special boy.”

Okay. Weird.

“H-He sure is.”

“Which is why I knew the two of you would make the perfect pair. It’s why I hired you, naturally.”

The words come out of her so casually all you can do is stare at her for a moment with your jaw dropped.

“You what?”

“Haven’t you always wondered why I sought you out, dear? Cardinal von Shreck’s illness was…very tragic. But how fortuitous that someone so knowledgeable - and so pretty - would be available to fill his shoes.”

“How…how the fuck…wait did you kill von Shreck?”

“Neither here nor there, dear. Let’s just say the poor cardinal overstayed his alotted time on this earth. And I have always prided myself on having a good relationship with the Olde One. He led me to you. He knew you’d be perfect for dearest Cardi.”

Your head is spinning. Not only did she presumably just confess to murdering an old man, she’s now claiming to have direct contact with Satan? You’re not sure why the idea surprises you so much considering where you’ve been working for almost a year and who you’re currently dating but…seriously? A million questions surface in your head but only one comes out of your mouth.

“Why do you care so much about Copia?”

She smiles and looks down, staying silent. You take the opportunity to quietly study her features - the green eyes. The wavy hair. The long, incredibly familiar slope of her nose.

“You’re his mother,” you breathe.

She hums an affirmative noise.

“You’ve deduced what most in the Ministry have not over the past fifty years. Well done.”

“Okay,” you say, nodding and attempting to move past most of her little bombshells, “Okay. How do I fit in in all of this?”

“Like I told you, he’s a special boy. He requires a partner chosen by the Unholy Father.”

“And that’s…me? Satan…told you to hire…me. Right. I don’t get it, I’m not even a part of your religion. And what do you mean I was chosen?”

“Chosen to carry his child, of course.”

You burst out in disbelieving laughter.

“What?”

“It’s an immense honor,” she says, as if she’s explaining the employee of the month award to you, “I too was once chosen, I–”

“I don’t give a fuck what you were,” you half-shout, “I’m not having anyone’s kid. Ever. Not even his.”

For the first time, Sister Imperator looks at you in such a way that you can easily believe she murdered that old cardinal herself.

“Don’t be ridiculous, of course you will.”

“No I fucking won’t. What are you gonna do - force me? Like some kind of fucked up Rosemary’s Baby situation? Listen, I heard the lyrics to ‘Prime Mover’ but that bullshit doesn’t really add up with your ‘women have control over their own bodies’ ideals, does it?”

Imperator lets out a small laugh.

“You think this is funny? You just told me that Satan told you to find me so that I could get with your son and have his fucking baby? Do you realize how batshit insane this sounds?”

“It really does,” she says with a sigh, looking at you somewhat fondly, “You’ve got balls, you know that? I really thought you’d be the more meek and compliant type.”

“Yeah, maybe Satan should have done his research before finding me on Infernal Tinder or what the fuck ever.”

This time she doesn’t hold back on her laughter.

“So glad you find the idea of forcing a pregnancy on a woman who loves your son so amusing,” you spit as you rise from your chair, “I’m sure Copia will find it just as funny.”

The smile fades from Imperator’s face.

“You can’t tell Cardi.”

You smirk.

“Try to stop me.”

“Please, sit back down,” she says, gesturing to the chair you just left, “I think we need to come to an understanding.”

She’s lost some of the control in her voice and there’s a hint of panic. You walk back over and lower yourself in the chair.

“I don’t…” you reach up to rub your face, frustrated, “I don’t understand. Any of it.”

“I know,” Imperator says softly, “And I see how happy you’ve made Copia. How he’s changed since your arrival.”

“He doesn’t know, does he?”

“That I’m his mother? No. It’s…complicated.”

“This whole situation is so fucked,” you groan, “Why do you or ‘Satan’ or who the fuck ever care about him having a kid anyway? Why is he ‘special’?”

Imperator’s incisive stare is back, boring into yours.

“None…none of what I’m about to tell you can leave this office, do you understand me? You cannot tell Copia he isn’t…isn’t ready yet. Certain things need to be put into motion before he can know. I promise you it’s for his own good.”

The thought of keeping any sort of secret from Copia makes your stomach clench but you just have too many questions to let it go.

“I…I understand.”

When you leave Sister Imperator’s office an hour later, you’re dazed. You don’t even go back to your own office, instead electing to return to your apartment and crawl back into bed, feeling numb and nauseous. Opening your messages you type Copia a text.

Hey. I love you.

A moment passes and your phone vibrates.

Amore, what’s wrong?

You smile and sniffle, surprised by the tears now sliding down your cheeks.

Nothing. Just wanted to tell you. I went back to bed - not feeling well. Come see me later?

Do you need me to come to you now?

You hesitate, getting ready to type out a reassuring response when another text from him comes in.

I’m leaving my office right now xx

You love him. You love him so much that it’s painful. You love him regardless of what Sister Imperator told you about him, if it’s even true.

You’re still not having his goddamn baby, though.

[fatehbaz]

In the ruins, ‘master narratives of history as progress decompose into the tense confabulations of a continuously remembered past that hits the present like a nervous shock’ [...]. The ghosts of this past rear up in the ruin, they are the debris of unprecedented material destruction [...] ‘the “trash” of history’ [...]. Forgetting this carnage [would be to support] the myth of [...] progress [...]. But the ruins remember [...], revealing the fragility of the social order. [...] Hauntings rupture linear temporality, inconveniently bring forth energies, which have supposedly been extinguished and forgotten. [...] Cities [and places, generally] seem to becoming increasingly regulated. In the transformation towards a service economy during the 1980s [in Britain], [...] [o]ld industrial sites were turned into shopping centres, retails parks and leisure sites. [...] There is then, in the drive to market places, [...] an aesthetic imperative to smooth over the cracks [...], and to fix the past, so that it does not intrude into an imagined linear future. [...] In cahoots with [...] marketeers, they suggest that the past is a distant, romantic echo that resounds faintly in museums [...]. Yet the ruins shout back at the refurbished urban text. [...] [T]hey haunt the city, for the unofficial past cannot be exorcised [...]. Ruins are sites where we can construct alternative stories to decentre commodified, official [...] descriptions, and [...] keep the past opened [...]. Counter-memories can be articulated in ruins, narratives that talk back to the smoothing over of difference. Away from the commercial and bureaucratic spaces of the city, ghosts proliferate where order diminishes. Ruins are [...] especially important, because [...] it is ‘essential to see the things and the people who are primarily unseen and banished to the periphery of our social graciousness.’

Text above by: Tim Edensor. “Haunting in the ruins: matter and immateriality.” Space and Culture Issue 11, pages 42-50. January 2002. [Bold emphasis added by me.]

-

-

-

[T]he contemporary Western city [...] [is] the site of [...] regulatory regimes concerned with strategies of surveillance and aesthetic monitoring [...]. The modern city can never become a wholly Appollonian, seamlessly regulated realm for it continues to be haunted by the neglected, the disposed of, and the repressed [...]. Within the interstices of the city there are a host of other spaces, part of a “wild zone”, a “[…] site […] which avoids the objective processes of ordered territorialisation […]”.

Staged […] through the intensified mediatisation and commodification of popular sites, myths, and icons […], mediated imaginary geographies circulate through adverts, soap operas, ‘classic’ rock stations [...] typically drenched in […] ideologies. […] These exhibitions memorialise culture via ‘publicly sanctioned narratives’ and institutionalised rhetoric [...]. [I]n which people are encoded and contextualied, categorised and narrated.

Accordingly, ruins are places from which other memories can be articulated [...]. [T]he outmoded object can become charged [...] with a certain power, and "might spark a brief profane illumination of a past productive mode, social formation, and structure of feeling - an uncanny return of a historically repressed moment" [...]. Thus we might stumble across seemingly archaic decor or furniture, [...] toys, and mascots of yesteryear [...], the debris of discarded fashions [...]. Although such objects [may] seem [...] absurd or comical, they may bring back knowledge, tastes, and sensations [...]. This was debris which was enfolded into the mundaneity of a shared everyday [...].

Along with other places on the margins of regulated space, industrial ruins are “points of transition, passages [...], moments of magic that exist at the interstices of modernity” […]. Modern attempts to cleanse, banish ambiguity, and order the memory of space are always disturbed by such disorderly spaces and by the ghosts they contain, who refuse to rest quietly, [...] a “spectral [...] residue“ which haunts dominant ways of seeing and being [...].

In contradistinction to the fixed memories [...] and to the imaginary linearities proposed by hegemonic […] memories, these ghosts foreground ambiguity, polysemy, and multiplicity, enabling us to “disrupt the signifying chains of legitimacy [...].” Although it is often overcoded and regulated, the city nevertheless contains multitudinous scraps from which alternative stories might be assembled. […] In spaces such as industrial ruins, the excessive debris confronted constitutes material for multiple modes of narration about the past: “the debris of shipwrecked histories still today raise up the ruins of an unknown, strange city. They burst forth within the modernist, massive, homogenous city like slips of the tongue from an unknown, perhaps unconscious, language” [...].

This kind of remembering implies an ethics about confronting and understanding otherness (here, the alterity of the past) which is tactile, imaginative […].

---

Text by: Tim Edensor. “The ghosts of industrial ruins: ordering and disordering memory in excessive space.” Environment and Planning D: Society and Space Volume 23, pages 829-849. 2005. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[probablyasocialecologist]

Human biology, socio-cultural practice, and changing environments continually interact to create astonishingly diverse ways of being human. These forms of diversity – within and among societies – are essential to vitality and adaptation in human history. However, while differences among humans are good and necessary, systems that differentiate people in hierarchical and exploitative ways limit progress towards goals of care and equitable wellbeing... societies organised around the capitalist growth imperative have been built on, and now function to reinforce, social relations in which life opportunities and spaces of action, assets, and income are distributed in brutally uneven ways.

Susan Paulson, Strategic entanglements

[elisabethbabarci]

DEMENTIA

Dementia is a deteriorating cognitive disease which causes a significant decline in ones memory, comprehension, analytical and problem solving skills, and linguistic abilities. It causes a disfunction in an individual’s ability to function, and has adverse effects on their mental, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. Once diagnosed, it is imperative that caregivers immediately take on the responsibility for their loved one through legal guardianship. If the diagnosis is detected at the early onset, treatments are more effective and vital to slow down the impediments and cognitive deterioration. Oftentimes, it is crucial and vital for the caregiver, if they do not have extended family members or relatives, to seek assistance and support from specialists, doctors, personal care workers, nurses, programs, treatment centres, and support networks dedicated to fostering a safe open space to educate and learn about treatments, assistance available, and proven methods to help your loved one navigate this debilitating disease.

My Grandmother at the end of her life was diagnosed with dementia, heart failure, diabetes, and sundowner syndrome. Sundown syndrome although it is paired as a factor within the realm of dementia, is a neurological disorder which creates panic, fear, confusion, delirium, and restlessness during the evening. Increased fear, agitation, and inability to sleep progresses to an extent of where it becomes aggressive — in this situation, a loved one will resort to physical violence, or emotional episodes where one is not in full control of their emotional wellbeing resulting in depression or to the furthest extent anger and aggression. Physical, verbal, emotional aggression is not caused intentionally, it is a symptom of the root cause of dementia as one looses all senses of their reality and exist within their perceived reality. Oftentimes, those that experience dementia will experience flashbacks of core root timelines within their lifetime that caused them emotional distress, heartache, fear, or intense trauma. For my Grandmother, having experienced World War II, ethnic cleansing, loss of ones own fundamental freedoms, liberty and rights, and having to escape the horrors of war, she often would have emotional outbursts expressing her deep unresolved pain that she had to unfortunately compartmentalize throughout her existence.

The emotional pain and turmoil that we experience within our lives, that we do not confront, metastasizes and festers until the mind is ready to comprehend, deal, confront, and heal our internal wounds. Psychological trauma can remain within the body causing emotional responses from a distressful periods of time which can manifest as physical or mental pain. When one experiences traumatic events, their sense of self, safety, and ability to regulate emotions becomes a barrier to help them maintain trusted coexistence in their community. Having exposure to disturbing, life altering or life threatening events affects cognitive functioning and the emotional, physical, social, and mental wellbeing of an individual experiencing the turbulence. Once cortisol takes over during fight or flight response, the bodies ability to function or respond normally to regulate real or perceived threats, sends the nervous system into overload or overdrive, eroding any regulation of calmness or peace — the body as a result, will only then feel and act as if it was in a constant state of war. Trauma is silent, as our core wounds are not exposed to the public like physical wounds. Much like dementia, the signs of cognitive decline often go unnoticed unless one recognizes the signs of the disease.

What are the signs: - Memory loss or cognitive decline - Trouble functioning at home or work - Sense of severe fear, anxiety, anger, depression, or unable to regulate emotions in a healthy way. - Unable to function with daily tasks analytically. - Loss of interest in what they once loved. - Avoidance or denial — they will not acknowledge that there is a problem or a refusal to seek testing to confirm early diagnosis. - Traumatic experiences re-emerge which causes one to feel a loss of control or unable to regulate emotions. - Delayed responses. - Sleep disorders. - Anxiety. - Depression. - Avoidance of emotion or detachment. - Confusion. - Persistent episodes of delusions or imaginative realities. - Behavioural health issues. - Chronic pain health issues which are a result of trauma.

Navigating the terrain of dementia is difficult and causes a caregiver a sense of loss as to the right response, treatments, care, and early or longterm planning. Education is fundamental during the first stages or onset of the disease, as it will provide resources to learn and manage proper care, and how to mitigate the impact of the cognitive disease on their loved ones existence. It is essential to remain at all times patient, loving, understanding, nurturing, calm, considerate, and mindful for your loved ones state, as your loved one will experience a loss of control, loss of self, which evokes fear, sadness, confusion and anger. It is essential to maintain a healthy stable environment, which has very little change — constant change can promote panic as one that suffers might be used to certain placements, routines, smells, or locations. Establishing a routine for regular healthcare appointments, a trusted support network routine checkups, regulating times for prescriptions and food are mandatory as they foster consistency and less uncertainty — enabling a scheduled routine will help the caregiver acknowledge, respond, or understand any triggers, changes, or outcomes from their care. Fostering safe and nurturing environments allows a loved one to spend time with family, friends, personal support workers and physicians which creates unity and a community of support. Maintaining routine meals, light exercise, and sleep schedules, creates activities, enhances cognitive responses, and reduces stress, which will enable a loved one to feel a sense of control. It is imperative to remember that emotional responses are caused by fear, anxiety, stress, trauma, depression, and are a symptom and not the root cause of the disease. Our loved ones do not mean to act a certain way on purpose, they are navigating a neurological disorder, which creates panic and slows their normal ability to respond, care for themselves, and may lead to further detachment and confusion. The body stores trauma like a cell retains memories, as trauma from the disease is stored and compounded.

Dementia will impair ones ability to function in daily life, and may result in confusion, misplacement of objects, loss of direction or loss of location, inability to problem solve or use analytical abilities to process a situation, unable to speak, inability to perform daily tasks such as personal hygiene or routines, personality or behavioural or mood changes, detachment, anxious, emotional outbursts physically or verbally, and significant changes to ones personality. When one is unable to regulate their thoughts, emotions, or to care for oneself, this leads to depression as one feels as though they are a burden (which they are not). Depending on which stage the disease manifests itself, it is a cognitive decline which results ultimately and unfortunately with 24-hour care and assistance. Caregivers during the process of dementia need to acknowledge that they can not handle everything on their own, they will require assistance from a trusted network or support system — if they do not, it will result in burnout, mental instability from lack of sleep or self care, or lack of personal care, or the situation might require full time professional medical assistance to supervise, provide assistance or monitoring. It is not a disease that can be easily handled, and it causes significant emotional turmoil for caregivers who have to watch their loved one in this state decline. The most important and vital advice is to ensure that your loved one is comfortable — your time and dedication is what they require most of all, for your support of love anchors them.

Give yourself the permission to honour and value the time you have with your loved one. Honour their trajectories, wisdom, experiences, and their vital generational lessons.

Give yourself the permission to mourn and grieve the loss of a loved one.

Give yourself the permission to be open to change and to allow assistance when needed.

Give yourself the permission to cry, scream, and express anger alone — embrace your emotions, it is a difficult period of your life.

Give yourself the permission to educate yourself on the disease. The more you enhance your comprehension, the more you will be able to navigate the unexpected.

Give yourself the permission to put your loved one first — it is ok to love your family, to take time off to help a loved one, to be with a loved one in their time of need. You do not have to be accountable for your choices to love and care for another.

Give yourself the permission to rest, take respites, care for yourself, and to nurture yourself.

Give yourself the permission to acknowledge that you cannot stop time, or change the situation.

Give yourself the permission to acknowledge that we do not have the power to remove anothers suffering, distress, or pain.

Give yourself the permission to say “NO” to situations and circumstances that do not serve your highest good — if someone within your network is causing turmoil during your loved ones care, or harming or agitating your loved one, dismiss the root of disturbance for inner peace.

Give yourself the permission of acceptance and to learn that life has cycles, and that our loved one will never leave us as they are part of our soul tribe spiritually. We begin to recognize and observe the cycle of life from infancy to adulthood to return back to infancy.

Give yourself the permission to acknowledge that change is constant and that we can never control uncertainty.

Give yourself the permission to acknowledge that their reality is true to them and no amount of convincing them otherwise will work.

Give yourself the permission to love again, trust again, and heal.

Give yourself the permission to forgive yourself — you are doing everything in your power to help, assist, and navigate forces beyond your control as we cannot change fate, we can only honour the time we are given.

In honour of my Grandmother I would like to celebrate her life. My Grandmother was brought into my life to demonstrate the love that I never received from my biological parents as she represented a guardian, parent, friend, and mentor. Throughout my existence, she enabled and allowed me to acknowledge that biology does not constitute or determine family, to see that women can accomplish anything they set their mind to with innovation, imagination and ingenuity, and that with patience and time one learns to evolve, love, trust, and open their heart. She anchored her light in all situations and navigated turbulences with ease and grace while extracting fundamental lessons to enable and foster forgiveness and inner-peace. Her love, compassion, patience, understanding, guidance and nature made her a defender, protector, and keeper of our generational roots, which instilled many generational wisdoms, experiences, and lessons. Through her existence, my adopted Mother and I learned the value of love, emancipation, sovereignty, fundamental freedoms, historical trajectories of our ancestors, patience, and leading from the heart in all aspects of our lives with respect, responsibility, and care.

It is fundamental and imperative to celebrate life and to honour the wisdom from our experiences as our knowledge, comprehension, and wisdom may help another along their trajectory during turbulent times. My greatest hope is that this article will speak to your heart and enable you to see that as a caregiver you will make a difference in your loved ones life, and to honour and cherish the moments you have without regret or hesitation. The time you spend with your loved one will significantly increase their longevity in life as love liberates, heals, and restores the soul through human connection.

[creepy-spooghetti]

Hi I was wondering if you could write Cody and Toby with a autistic little sister thank you have a good day or night (·∀·)

I wrote this assuming Y/n has level 3 severity, however if you wanted me to write for one with ASD that's a level 1 or 2, you can send in another ask :)

Also, the little sister is around twelve years old.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Cody

This boy will always, always be there to take care of you.

You were his #1 priority when you were in foster care, and he grew more and more protective over you as time progressed because kids are cruel and someone was always mocking you or making fun of you. He isn't generally a confrontational person, but there were several moments he was beyond eager to break a nose or two.

He was the only one that ever truly concerned himself with helping you, and reading you, and making sure you were okay.

Now that the two of you live in a place where you're consistently surrounded by chaos and crude comments—the majority of which are aimed at you—those feelings have only gotten stronger. The individuals that usually torment you are Johnny, Zero, and even Masky, on occasion (though he never gets too extreme with it).

If you ever get overwhelmed with anything, Cody knows it instantly, and he'll pull you away from the commotion and try to calm you down. He's aware that you have to deal with things that stress you out, but he's right by your side to take your mind off of everything.

Toby

Since Lyra's gone, you are all that Toby has left. He understands being disabled and bullied for something he can't control, which is why he always went to vast lengths to ensure it never happened to you, at least not when he could stop it.

While Lyra grew up taking care of him, he grew up taking care of you. He didn't want Mom to send you to school when you got old enough, as he was all too knowledgable of what that would entail, but she was convinced it would be good to teach you how to socialize, push you past your barriers. He hated such an idea, but alas, she would not listen.

Toby was able to save you from the wrath of your abusive father, and he dragged you with him after the house had been set on fire, cause he wasn't going to just leave you alone.

He knows that your capabilities can be quite limited, so he picks up the slack for you. This makes him pretty busy often, but he doesn't care. He can't let anything happen to you; you mean far too much to him.

He's gentle and patient and caring toward you, and he won't accept any other treatment. When anybody messes with you, rest assured he has your back. He doesn't like getting violent while you're watching, but sometimes that's exactly what it comes to.

Respect and human decency are imperative when anyone communicates with you, and Toby won't have it any other way. You always tell him that you're okay, that he doesn't have to put so much of his time and effort into focusing on you, but he is forever persistent.

[singingcicadas]

Why are Autobots just as bad as the Decepticons?

Why? Some people seem to be under this impression that the Autobots have some kind of original sin that makes their cause morally inferior to that of the Decepticon 'revolutionists', for Reasons:

1. Autobots are bad because they were part of the old oppressive government.

Okay but it was literally Optimus who came up with the name, when he stormed the Senate demanding for autonomy? Sentinel took it for his own use. Optimus was a fugitive under Sentinel. He was doing vigilante work against the government. 

2. But Optimus was a cop and served Zeta. Cops are bad and Zeta was bad so Optimus was just as bad. 

Well Optimus only worked with Zeta because Zeta hid his true colours at first and seemed a decent progressive guy. He and Megatron killed Zeta when that turned out not to be the case, thus ending the oppression of the old government. 

What did he do as a cop that’s so unforgivable, besides the occupation itself? He wasn’t making political arrests for the government (he treated Megatron with respect and lauded his polemics, he sided with rebel bomb planter Hot Rod) or persecuting people based on their class or function. He threw the cops who did that in jail (sorry Whirl), he got help for the people on the streets instead of arresting them as per government protocol (Drift). The only arrests he was shown to make were either thugs harassing defenceless citizens (the guys beating up Drift), illegal drug and arms dealers (Swindle), murderers, and terrorists. Notice how they’re all Decepticons. Because that’s what the Decepticons were to Cybertron’s society.

— Like it's important to note that there's never been a sweet point in Decepticon history where they were true upright freedom fighters, dedicated to nothing but emancipation of the people. That idealized version only ever existed in Megatron's writings. The Decepticons didn't start out well-meaning and turned bad somewhere along the way, they've always been a ragtag gathering of degenerates from the dregs of society looking for a venue to excerise violence and embrace their pursuit for chaos and power. They were warmongers. Terrorists. Thugs. Weapons traffickers. Opportunists. Sadists. Bloodsport enjoyers/profiteers. It’s those people who were the targets of Megatron's recruitment speeches when he promised them that he'd turn the planet into their gladiatorial arena. It’s those traits that were coveted, sought, valued by the Decepticon ranks. Revolution of the oppressed lmao, aside from Megatron himself, there's not one honest-to-god true proletariat or bottom class in the Decepticons' upper echelons. Soundwave, Ratbat’s lackey. Starscream, criminal tax swindler. Shockwave, mad scientist (with a specialization in body experimentation) and former sketchy Senator. Honest work got you as nowhere in the Decepticons as in the Cybertron social ladder.

This is an example of political persecution. By a team of sanctioned torture police created for this explicit purpose. For literally every bad thing the government did, the Decepticons have done something to one-up them. Think functionalism is bad? How about let's conscript everyone into a combatant and if you don't want to fight you can die. Painfully. Social stratification? How about a military hierarchy for the entire society based purely on might makes right. Empurata and shadowplay? Forced frame alteration and body experimentation. Lobotomy. Grooming. Vamparc ribbon that sucks the life out of an entire city's worth of people? Burn up the planet and massacre half its population. Unlawful treatment of prisoners? Pick from the menu of anti-personal bombs, live incineration chambers, multi-year torture marathons, or a DJD custom treatment. Persecution/neglect of the unfortuate mechs who ended up on the streets? Just throw them straight into the smelting pool to make into something useful instead. Expansion and colonism? Imperalism and genocide ftw. The Decepticons were worse than the old government in practically every concievable way.

3. But Optimus was violent as a cop.

Yes he was violent towards the Decepticons, a Decepticon specifically, Swindle, an unrepentant repeat offender, because they were using innocents to bomb cities and conquering citystates and Megatron must be stopped before the situation got any worse but Swindle just won’t spit any info. Like obviously his actions were wrong but they weren’t completely unfounded considering the circumstances, certainly not comparable to an equal level with the Decepticons who regularly torture prisoners for the entertainment. The most he's guilty of is paying evil unto evil and meeting violence with violence.

4. Autobots were perpetrators of the injustices of the society because they didn’t actively fight against it.

That’s not true, Optimus fought against it by using his position to help people as much as he possibly could; a lot of his work went against government orders. Rachet fought against it by running his clinic at Dead End. Impactor fought against it when he stood up for Rung. The outlier vigilante team fought against it, they risked their lives to help the Decepticons with Optimus when they stole the fake matrix bomb. Hot Rod fought for Nyon. They all fought by allowing themselves to grow beyond the societally imposed prejudices, by focusing past the rightful anger at being born into such a cruel world, by trying to become the best people they could under the circumstances and extending kindness to others no matter how difficult their own struggles. It's the entire society that's dysfunctional and has been dysfunctional since the beginning of history, individuals should not be held responsible when they're just trying to make the best out of the life they'd been given and not maliciously harming anyone along the way.

5. But that doesn’t count as actually fighting if they didn't get engaged in outright war.

Uhhh I’m sure that’s the justification Decepticons used when they were doing join or die massacres but okay I guess.

And then there’s the grand finale：

6. “Autobots are bad because wars are bad and they fought a war.”

The Autobots didn't want to fight. It was the Decepticons who declared war on them. They were literally forced into it. It was either that or accept Megatron’s peace through tyranny. And there is a massive difference between deaths/violence/destruction/resource appropriation that’s justified by military necessity and the excessive use of force like killing and torture for the funsies only the latter would be considered a war crime omgggg people please stop spamming the word war crime

Anyways this line of reasoning need to go and duel it out with the previous one because they are contradictory.

The Autobots are by no means perfect but to make them comparable to the Decepticons is just. I dont even know. It's like putting a piece of white paper with a black dot on it beside a piece of black paper and saying they're the same colour. No. The black paper didn't even start out white. Of course not everything is going to be that clear cut in war but acknowledging the presence of those grey areas doesn't mean you can equate the values of right and wrong. 

And also associating the Decepticon movement with freedom fighters is buying into their propaganda. Megatron never gave a shit about anyone's freedom other than his own.

'Peace through tyranny' is a pretty self-explanatory phrase come on

[arsonist-faerie]

Places to donate:

Clicking this button once every 24 hours will send a donation! It's free and you don't need to input any information!

As a black girl I will always stand with the oppressed. We are witnessing a genocide and it is immoral to stay quiet or neutral in the face of such cruelty. Please take the time to educate yourselves and keep a critical eye on Israel's propaganda. It is imperative to continue to call out the misinformation. If anyone wants me to add or change anything in this post please dm me.

[vague-humanoid]

AS THE government considers the issue of assisted dying with a view to legislation, the question of who frames the debate, and how, should be of real concern for working-class people and the labour and trade union movement, which cannot afford to be a bystander in the discussion.

The case for legalising assisted dying will be championed by the liberal political class and personalities as a “human right,” a matter of personal autonomy and “choice,” even a social justice issue and a progressive moral principle, elevated above and distinct from other factors, including class interest.

When liberals demand a “human right” it invariably means the moral right of the individual abstracted above that of the collective, with scant regard or consideration of the potential consequences for wider society, and certainly not of the working class.

Morality, even when expressed as a “human right,” is not ordained in Heaven, nor dictated by some eternal human verity or imperative — it is rooted in, and reflective of, prevailing economic conditions — in other words, class interest.

In a capitalist society, profit comes before people. Every decision, no matter how “humane” the motivation may be, will be distorted and conditioned by that fact. For Marxists, there can be no unfettered right of individual “choice.” Consideration of potential societal consequences, not least for the working class itself, is very much a class issue, not a moral one.

[ask-frater-imperator]

So- life update? Ig??

Lot of stuff happening, it's why I've kinda taken an unplanned break and just reposting stuff or nothing at all- for now until it's all over I don't think I'll be talking about it publicly, but if any of my mutuals wish to know, just ask and I'll do my best.

In all- I apologize for that, I do want to get back into the swing of things as soon as I can.

On a better note- the rats are doing better than before, and I'm making good progress with Sister imperator. She's not biting anymore, but I am slowly working her down to actually touch her with my hand and nit with thick gloves on.

Primo has gotten more social and chubby! He used to be so shy and skinny I feel proud that he's doing better.

The mice are doing good as well, when I can ill get pictures of them.

But uh please continue to send in asks and stuff

If anyone wishes to rp in like a certain way, feel free to dm me!! -JK

[abidethetempest]

Eliksni Verb Tense, Aspect, and Mood

The stuff on the first progress post from several months ago is somewhat outdated, not to mention difficult to navigate bc it's just screenshots. Plus, verb conjugation is one of the most important parts of a conlang (or any language) and I thought you all deserved a dedicated post abt it. This one will be long so I'm sticking it under the cut!

New here and confused? This post is part of my ongoing project to create a language for the Eliksni! For more information check out my masterpost linked here.

Tense and Aspect

I encourage you to research these topics in your own time, as I do not have the space or time to get into the details!

Eliksni technically has 4 tenses, tho only 3 are currently done: past, present, and future. Alongside those, Eliksni has 3 aspects: perfective, continuous, and habitual. Habitual aspect is only used in the past, as the continuous present and present habitual are merged.

Continuous aspect is built into the different tenses. Perfective aspect is marked using the prefix dei'. The two versions of tense suffixes are for if the verb stem ends in a consonant or vowel.

I will use the verb priitis meaning "to find/locate" as an example for this post!

Present Tenses

Simple Present: (verb stem), priist

Present Continuous/Habitual: (verb stem) + iik/liik, priistiik

Present Perfect: dei' + (verb stem), dei'priist

Present Perfect Continuous: dei' + (verb) + iik/liik, dei'priistiik

Past Tenses

Simple Past: (verb stem) + em/rem, priistem

Continuous Past: (verb stem) + ok/lok, priistok

Past Habitual: e/en + (verb stem), epriist

Past Perfect: dei' + (verb stem) + em/rem, dei'priistem

Past Perfect Continuous: dei' + (verb stem) + ok/lok, dei'priistok

Future Tenses

Simple Future: (verb stem) + un/run, priistun

Future Continuous: (verb stem) + ak/mak, priistak

Future Perfect: dei' + (verb stem) + un/run, dei'priistun

Future Perfect Continuous: dei' + (verb stem) + ak/mak, dei'priistak

Mood

Same disclaimer as above: please go look into grammatical moods more if you want to know about them! They can be very complex, and I'm not equipped to explain them in depth.

I'm not going to assign proper names to all these bc I'm certain I would get them wrong. (Earlier versions of this post tried, but I've since edited it bc I don't want to misrepresent my knowledge on the topic.)

Interrogative: for asking questions. Add the suffix -sa on the verb. More in depth post abt interrogatives here. Ex: Priistsa kli asiin? "Do you find it?"

Imperative: for giving orders and commands. Add the suffix aan/raan to the end of the verb. Ex: Priistaan asiin. "Find it."

Hypothetical mood is used for expressing that something is possble to happen in the future, in the way that "may/might" does in English. Add the particle krii before the verb. Ex: Kri priist neh asiin. "I may/might find it."

Conditional mood is similar to hypothetical, but specifically is used when something will happen if something else happens first. Note that conditional is only used in specific scenarios/with certain conjunctions and BOTH VERBS need to be in conditional mood. Add the particle kas before the verb. Ex: Thal kas biir neh, kas priistun neh asiin. “If I see (it), I will find it.”

Two moods are used to ask for things similar to the imperative, but each has a different social context based on rank and House hierarchy.

The "pleading" mood is used for pleas, wishes, and prayers. The particle is chor. Ex: Chor priist asiin. "I beg you find it."

The "requesting" mood is used for requests, suggestions, or soft commands. The particle is niidreh. Ex: Niidreh priist asiin. "Please find it."

Abilitative mood is used to express ability, in the way that "can" is used in English. The particle is vaad. Ex: Vaad priist neh asiin. "I can find it."

[etirabys]

plunge

Today there was a "Polar Plunge" event where you could tie yourself to the ship and jump into the ocean. I am probably in the top quartile of "intolerant to cold" I unsuccessfully tried to convince myself of various Stoic or Buddhist precepts while waiting in a progressively chillier line.

Once I descended the gangway and stood in front of the water, Antarctic winds lashing at my swimsuit, the monkeybrain Truly Believed I could not back out (due to social embarrassment). As freedom receded, so did suffering. I stepped off the platform with what was almost apathy.

The next 8 seconds got compressed into a single moment with a few Aspects.

One is that I'd mentally checked out so successfully I'd forgotten to pinch my nose. I can't keep water out of my nose, or cope when it's in; it's why I can't swim. Salt crawled up to my sinuses and shut down brain function.

Within several dozen milliseconds of my toes breaking into the ocean, the overwhelming imperative of my existence was to exit it. Usually when you want things there's pain associated with not having it, and pleasure associated with the thought of attaining it. Not so here! There was just pure, emotionless Drive. Bothering to attach something as distracting as valence to that seamless, crystalline Drive might have cost me whole hundreds of milliseconds in attaining the Goal.

Once I attained the Goal and was shivering on the gangway – I don't remember climbing the ladder so much as have visual flashes of glaring intently at the wood through the water's refractive distortions as I teleported myself up – desire and suffering flooded back. I ran up the steps – staff members shouting at me to slow down – got a towel wrapped around me – ran to my cabin, leaving my glasses on the shelf I'd left them on (I wouldn't remember them til dinner).

The giant sometimes tells the story of how his family, who raised him on a boat during his mid-teens, tested whether their boat cat could get back into the boat in the case of an accident that put him in the water. Yes, he could, and he acted a lot like me. They couldn't intercept him in time to dry him – he bolted past and up and was found wedged in between some furniture, still sopping wet.

[enha-hype]

maeumi & me - ch 28 : a mess

a/n : next chapter will be a written one. i feel like there's been too many of those lately and idk if you guys like/enjoy them or what but it's imperative to plot progression :(

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» synopsis : maeumi, your maltese pup, has been a huge part of your life ever since you first adopted him a few years ago. but little did you imagine that getting accepted into your dream university would mean having to leave him behind. heartbroken, you whine and lament to your friends about how unfair the situation is. whilst half-heartedly looking up foster homes maeumi could temporarily stay in, you're surprised when yang jungwon - a former schoolmate you'd hardly ever spoken to before - offers to take him in.

» pairing : yang jungwon x gn! reader

» genre : college au, social media au, pet parents au, fluff, strangers (kind of?) to friends to lovers, humour, a lil bit of angst

» warnings : swearing, jokes about death/suicide (kms/kys etc), mentions of pet injury

disclaimer : this is purely a work of fiction made for entertainment purposes only!

tag list : open [comment or send an ask to be added <3] @hiqhkey @i-yeseo @harperwasstaken1 @tomorrowbymoa-together @eloelooo @yjwluvr @rshmra @cholexc