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livvywrites · 6 years ago

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11/11/11 Post

tagged by: @vieliwrites Thank you!!!!

rules: answer 11 questions, tag 11 people, and ask 11 questions

tagging: i only know a couple of writeblrs, so if you see this and you want to do it, go ahead! (and tag me if you like!)

1. Where’s your favourite place to write? (bedroom, coffee shop, study, etc.)

Used to be my favorite place to write was my desk. I’d sit by the window and type away. Now I don’t have a desk, and I’m still looking for a new place to write. The kitchen table can be nice, but I also like writing in bed and on the couch.

2. Do you have any writing habits you’re trying to shake?

Yes. I’m really bad about editing as I write, and I’d like to stop doing that. I’d also like to stop policing my story so hard and just let it take shape, so I can finally finish it.

3. If you could spend one whole day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do with them?

Oh jeez.

I feel like Talitha would be the most fun to hang out with, but I doubt I could keep up with her. Um… I think I would most enjoy hanging out with Melantha, from Sapphire Dreaming. We’d probably just chill and read, maybe talk a bit. I’d like to watch her use her magic.

4. Do you have any pre-writing rituals or habits? (lighting some candles, showering, etc.)

I make something to drink—flavored water, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. I make sure I have some snacks nearby. Then I put my headphones on, turn on RainyMood or Noisli, and get going.

5. What’s your favourite genre of book and is it the same as your current wip? Why or why not?

High fantasy! Particularly YA/NA. Both of my current WIPs are high fantasy, but I have a few short stories/novellas in mind that are not.

6. What's the hardest part of creating a character for you?

Ugh, the name. It’s one of the last things I do, generally—and finding one that fits them either in sound or meaning can be really hard! I do like playing with sounds, but I don’t always come up with names I want to use. And making them different enough they’re easy to remember, but similar enough they sound like they came from the same place? Ughhhhh.

I also have a hard time really classifying their style, but that’s less of a hardship haha.

7. Do you live by a motto or quote?

Mmm… growing up my mom had two things she pressed on my siblings and me—don’t judge, and treat others like you’d want to be treated. So I guess those??

Writing wise, I live by the quote “write the story you want to read.” (Heavily abridged, haha.)

8. What are your favourite relationship tropes in fiction?

Oh jeeeez. I love me a good slow burn. Friends to lovers is also good. Enemies/rivals to friends to lovers is even better. I’m also fond of the surly grump x literal embodiment of sunshine.

9. Was there something in particular that inspired your current wip? (a piece of art, a song, a scene in a film, etc.)

Sapphire Dreaming’s inspiration came from a list of writing rules, actually. You know the ones. “Don’t open your story with the weather.” “Don’t start with your character waking up.” Specifically, Sapphire Dreaming was inspired by a list of ways not to end your story—but telling which one would be a big spoiler ;)

Aura’s character was inspired by a character in a TV show I loved. The MC of that show had always wanted to be a hero, and therefore, wasn’t running from his destiny. I wanted to explore a similar character, and Aura was born!

The Martyr Queen was in part inspired by Dragon Age 2. I loved my Hawke so much I wanted to write an actual story about her—which slowly twisted until it became a story of its own. Now you can only see bits and pieces of its Dragon Age roots xD

I also wanted to explore a character with abilities that made existing in her world more difficult, instead of easier—so that came too.

10. What was the last book you finished reading?

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip. Her style is gorgeous. Reading it felt so comforting, even in the darker parts. I didn’t want to put it down at all, but at the same time, I wanted to sit after each chapter and just absorb it fully. It’s definitely on my reread list, and I highly recommend it.

11. Have you ever dreamt of your OCs? If so, what was it about?

No, I don’t believe that I have! I daydream about them all day long, and tell their stories to myself to get me to fall asleep, but I’ve never dreamed of them.

Actually—no. I take that back. I have dreamed of a set of OCs once.

Talitha Jade, the pirate captain from The Martyr Queen, and her best friend Lyr were in it. They were a deep sea divers, and encountered a strange, sentient giant squid. I don’t remember much more than that, but it was an interesting dream, haha.

[[LINE]]

My questions:

If you could recommend three books for everyone to read, what would they be?

Which OC would you say is most like you?

Which OC would you most like to be like?

If you could visit one place in your story’s world, where would you go?

When you write, do you know how it’s going to end?

How have you grown as a writer since you first started writing?

How much of your story do you have planned before you start writing?

Is there a snippet of writing (or completed work) that you’re proud of?

Which comes first for you—plot, worldbuilding, or characters?

Do you have a place you store ideas/plot bunnies you want to work on some day?

What do you do when you get stuck?

#writeblr #am writing #11 challenge #11 tag prompt #amwriting #about me

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lizabethstucker · 4 years ago

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Some of the Best from Tor.com 2019 Edition

This was a free collection on Amazon at the time that I stumbled across it while browsing science fiction selections. While I’ve always liked both Tor and Baen publications, I was amazed by how very much I enjoyed almost every short story and novella in this collection. Such high quality, and some authors that have been added to my TBR list. 4.5 out of 5.

CURRENTLY FREE ON AMAZON AS OF THE DATE OF THIS POSTING!

“Deriving Life” by Elizabeth Bear

Marq Tames is contemplating suicide or becoming a Host, unable to cope with being alone again after their spouse dies. Tenants bring many benefits, including being pain-free, living a bit longer, making better decisions for themselves. Unfortunately the Tenants ultimately consume their Hosts. Unlike most potential Hosts, Marq is healthy. Wow. A really detailed look at grief, cancer, loneliness, and the choices we might make for happiness. Intense. Could be triggering for some who are themselves dealing with grief. 4.5 out of 5.

“For He Can Creep” by Siobhan Carroll

The Great Jeoffry the Cat helps keep the demons away from the humans in the madhouse. His favorite is the Poet who is trying to finish the most important Poem for God. If only his creditors would leave him alone, stop pushing for the satiric content he once wrote. Then Satan himself comes to speak with Jeoffry. Satan deems the Poem to be out of favor style-wise, and not very good. He wishes to have the Poet write him a poem, one that will drive religion out of the minds of the masses. To do that, he needs to speak with the Poet without Jeoffry’s interference. It is, as they say, a devil’s bargain. Jeoffry may, for the first time since kittenhood, lose. He must consider and consult. The fact that this is based on a real poem written by Christopher Smart, who was incarcerated in St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics, circa 1763, adds an extra layer of interest and curiosity to the story. Needless to say, I spent the evening researching the poet online. 3.5 out of 5.

“Beyond the El” by John Chu

Connor struggles to recreate his late mother's dumplings, never quite reaching that bit of perfection. He really doesn't need the stress of his cold abusive sister back in his life. Although maybe he does. Very low key. The relationship between Nick and Connor was more interesting to me. As to the use of magic to prepare foods, was it really necessary? 3 out of 5.

“Zeitgeber” by Greg Egan

Sam is searching for why his daughter Emma's sleep patterns are suddenly and radically off phase. It isn't long until this issue with sleep cycles begin spreading throughout the world. At first it was just puzzling and annoying. Now there are more and more accidents and deaths. Life moves on, people adjusting as best it can, with cures both fake and possible appearing.

Truly fantastic tale. Scary as well, especially considering how we are waiting for a cure for COVID-19 with trepidation and distrust of the very organizations, such as the CDC and FDA, that are supposed to protect us. Add on top the discussion of just how much conformity society demands of us. 4 out of 5.

“One/Zero” by Kathleen Ann Gorrnan

The war made its way to Vida Zilan's home in Kurdistan, ending with her parents, aunt, and grandmother dead. Now Vida is on the run with her three year old brother, traveling with other terrified and displaced children. Mai Davidson has retired in Washington D.C. after years of helping with various issues through the agency she had given her life to, until her husband died and she began to look for something different. Her life is becoming increasingly regulated as the AIs begin taking control of medicine and senior care and transportation, among other things. Or are the SIs, the rumored super intelligent computers now moving out into the world? Be careful what you wish for has always been what is said in regards to those who can grant wishes. Perhaps with the right teachers, the right guides, the SIs can help fix the world for the children, with the assistance of the children. If only, if only. Magnificent look at how Hal might not be the villain of the piece. After all, he just wanted to save both himself and his astronaut charges. 4.5 out of 5.

“Skinner Box” by Carole Johnstone

A trip to Jupiter and back, scientists caught up in their personal cycle of pain and hatred, an engineer who brings some comfort and support. And a Skinner box filled with nanites. There are layers upon layers upon layers in this intense story of experimentation and conditioning, the cost of freedom and, ultimately, love. In essence, there are three reveals. The first was expected almost from the start. The second was almost suspected after we met Boris. But it was the third that, for me, saved the story from the coldness. 3.5 out of 5.

“The Song” by Erinn L. Kemper

The world is moving from beef to whale meat, expensive as it is, taking abandoned oil rigs and converting them to whale meat processing centers. As the ecowarriors grow increasingly violent, killing those involved in killing the whales, the people on SeaRanch 18 are stranded without relief personnel. One of the last new scientists to arrive is Suzanne who is staying the changes in communication patterns among the whales. She tells Dan, a deep sea diver and welder, of attacks by the whales, how humpbacks and blues were congregating for the first time ever seen and apparently communicating. Whales and dolphins are so very intelligent, yet humans think they can do whatever they want to them. I don’t understand. Needless to say, I was primed for this story. I thought I was prepared, even hopeful. But the ending was beyond tragic. 4 out of 5.

“Articulated Restraint” by Mary Robinette Kowal

(Lady Astronaut 1.5) After an accident leads to a lunar rocket slammed into a space station and the airlock jammed, the moon’s astronauts must figure out how to rescue them before their air runs out. First, they’ll need a plan of action and see if the plan can work on their mockup rocket. They need a way to get them more oxygen and a way to get a life raft to the vehicle. Complicating procedures is Ruby’s nasty ankle sprain, especially after she needs the foot restraint which requires her to twist her feet to get into position. Something snaps, but she perseveres, unwilling to let her injury prevent the rescue of her friends. In some ways this reminds me of old time science fiction, a neat adventure with threads of backstories I want to know more about, such as the Meteor and what’s going on back on Earth. Luckily I discovered that this is part of a series, so there is a possibility of learning more. Although I have a few other of Kowal’s works in my TBR pile (freebies back in the day), I hadn’t as yet read any of her works. Definitely want to read more based on what I found here. 4.5 out of 5.

“Painless” by Rich Larson

Mars is a child when he is first found by the men who have been searching for someone like him, a genetic mutation who cannot feel pain. There’s an organism put inside his body, that can make him stronger and able to repair himself, even grow body parts back. He is trained to be a soldier, a mercenary, a killer. He yearns for freedom and someone to be his friend and family. The story jumps a bit from present to past and back again. It took me a while to get into the author’s rhythm, but once I did it was well worth it. I can see so many countries and organizations who would kill to have someone like Mars under their control. Good read. 3.5 out of 5.

“Seonag and the Seawolves” by M. Evan MacGriogair

Seonag was considered strange almost from the moment she was born, but she still loved her homeland. So much so that she hides when her parents make plans to sail to Canada, unable to afford the croft rent. Once they leave her behind, Seonag goes to the town bard for help and advice. She is told about the wolves that were driven out of Ireland. He tells her to swim west until she can hear the wolves. The advice is cruel, certain suicide. Knowing all that, Seonag still decides to do so. An old style story, a myth, a fable, a fairy tale. A story about those who only want to belong, yet are different enough to be pushed to the sidelines. Mystical and magical. 4 out of 5.

“Any Way the Wind Blows” by Seanan McGuire

The Cartography Corps explore and map the parallel universes in order to determine if any ever go missing at a future date. In this Manhattan, they find an intact Flatiron building, but no killer pigeons in this universe, so win-win. Then a group of locals ask to meet the Captain. This should be a television series! I’d watch each and every episode and cackle at the crew’s adventures. The only thing I was disappointed by was the length. It was too short. 4.5 out of 5.

“Blue Morphos in the Garden” by Lis Mitchell

Vivian does love Dash and Lily, their daughter, but she continues to refuse to marry him, unable to deal with what his family goes through upon death. If she officially marries into the family, she will become a Karner in all ways. When it appears that Viv may be dying, she will need to make a decision sooner than she had hoped. Stay, but remain a terminal. Marry and, once she dies, become something else. Leave, with or without Dash and Lily. There's a beauty to having one's death transform into something useful or beautiful or both. Frankly, I don't understand Vivian's concerns about that. 4 out of 5.

“His Footsteps, Through Darkness and Light” by Mimi Mondal

Love comes in many forms, some never spoken out loud. Binu had found a home and a job with the Majestic Oriental Circus. He became a trapeze master, soon heading his own team. He also continued playing Alladin in Shehzad Marid’s illusionist act. He was happy and content. Until he helped the wrong person. There is so much hinted at and more left unsaid. But it will always be known that Binu was a good man and a loyal friend. Bittersweet, yet in that time and place, perhaps the happiest ending(?) one could hope for. 4 out of 5.

“Old Media” by Annalee Newitz

John was as free as he had ever been under his latest Master, a lady scientist who provided him franchise papers that granted him full rights within the city before she went into hiding. Med, a fan of John's journal on Memeland, becomes his friend and roommate. She is also a robot and professor, as well as the lady scientist's research partner in the project that caused the woman to flee. John and Med try to navigate the idiosyncrasies of living among humans, both clueless and bigoted. 3.5 out of 5.

“More Real Than Him” by Silvia Park

Morgan Ito is working on her own robot, one that resembles her favorite actor who is currently doing his two years of military service. This is the first story in the collection that I struggled with. Frankly, it read like bad fanfiction, and I'm a fanfiction reader and writer. I didn't like any characters except Stephen, but he was barely in the story. I finally gave up, not caring what would happen to pretty much anyone. DNF

“The Hundredth House Had No Walls” by Laurie Penny

The King of the country of Myth and Shadow is incredibly bored after five hundred years on the throne. He does what any ruler does in his situation, he decides to travel incognito to the imaginary land of New York City. There he runs into the Princess of Everywhere and Nowhere.

I had a hard time at first dealing with random phrases, words, and letters made bold. This was a strange story. Once I got past the random bolds, I quite liked it. Feminist overtones with a message about freedom and allowing each individual to write their own story. 3.5 out of 5.

“The Touches” by Brenda Peynado

Life is separated into clean and dirty. Clean was living virtually, locked into a tiny cubicle from birth, cared for by an assigned robot, and hooked up to an all-encompassing system for hours at a time. Dirty is the real world, filled with plagues and viruses and what the narrator calls filth. Things get more complicated as robots glitch, an accident puts the narrator into quarantine, and a phone number leads to something scary. There's a layer of disconnection due to a lack of physical contact that cannot be fulfilled by robot hugs and virtual touches. Add to that the narrator's extreme fear of the dirty world. She actually has counted the number of real physical touches in her life. Very intense, more so during our current Pandemic and the separation of friends and family. Also extremely weird. I don't know what to say about this one, but I suspect it will linger in my memory for quite a while. 3.5 out of 5.

“Knowledgeable Creatures” by Christopher Rowe

Investigative dog Connolly Marsh is hired by human Professor Thomasina Swallow after she kills a coworker who was threatening blackmail. Things become increasingly screwy. The body is missing, the learned mouse who is also Sparrow's adopted father believes historical research into the history of knowledgeable creatures and humans shouldn't be forbidden, and Marsh can't make himself leave the case alone. Huh. Another strange story with a lot of dangling threads left behind and even more questions. Yet this isn't a set-up for a longer story or even a series. It is complete within itself, with a somewhat sad ending for one character. Intriguing, almost a noir type of story. Fantasy with just a touch of science fiction. 3 out of 5.

“Blood is Another Word for Hunger” by Rivers Solomon

Anger boiled in the heart of fifteen year old slave, Sully. When she heard that her master had been killed during a battle, she drugged all five of his family members, slicing their throats. Her actions cause a rift in the etherworld, drawing Ziza to her. Sully is a product of her life, the cruelty of her upbringing. She may also hark back to a creature from the country of her ancestors. Sully shouldn’t be a sympathetic character, but she is. I wanted her to find, if not happiness, at least a form of peach. And maybe she will with her revenants, especially Ziza. Be aware that this isn’t an easy read by any means, but I found it surprisingly satisfying. 4.5 out of 5.

“The Last Voyage of Shidbladnir” by Karin Tidbeck

Saga learns the ship she serves on is a living creature who is outgrowing her shell of a high-rise building. Saga and Novik, the engineer, are determined to save Skidbladnir from being sold for meat. She needs a new shell, so they'll find her a new shell. This gripped me the moment I realized Skidbladnir was alive. I'm a sucker for stories like this. So enchanting. I wish it had been longer or had a sequel, but that is just me being greedy and not wanting to leave Saga, Novik, and Skidbladnir behind. Lovely from start to finish. 4.5 out of 5.

“Circus Girl, the Hunter, and Mirror Boy” by JY Yang

Lynette first saw Mirror Boy the night she was almost killed after fighting off a rapist when she was barely 16 years old. After she survived, Lynette found a friend to unload her pain, her disappointments, and her dreams to the boy who appeared in place of her own reflection. Once she left the circus she had grown up in and worked for, Lynette had never seen him again. Until now. The boy is worried that a serial killer is after her. A perfect story for the month of October, with a wraith, a witch, and a supernatural hunter who made assumptions that led to so many innocent deaths. An ending that, while I guess it might be coming, was also so satisfying. 4 out of 5

“Water: A History by K. J. Kabza

The surveyors badly judged how compatible the colony of Isla would be for the humans who left Earth on a one-way trip there. The colonists adjusted, but being outside too long led to cancer deaths during the early years. Marie, in her 50s, is now the last person who has direct memories of Earth. She has been extraordinarily lucky in that her frequent trips outside hadn’t led to an early death. A younger colonist, born on Isla, longs to go outside as well. She wants to smell the planet’s dirt and feel the breeze on her face. Lian finds a friend and support in Marie. But no one can expect the good times will last forever. Deeply emotional and tragic, yet somewhat hopeful as well. Yet the story needed more depth, more content. Good, but not as good as many of the others in this collection, in my opinion. 3 out of 5.

“As the Last I May Know” by S. L. Huang

Nyma was just ten years old when she was selected to be the Carrier. In order to impress the consequences of using seres on another country, the Order choses to hide the codes in the body of a child. To obtain access, the President must personally kill the child Carrier and rip her heart open. AS the enemy forces draw ever deeper into the country, Nyma waits. Oh, this one was gut-wrenching. Seriously gut-wrenching. And yet, the logic behind the Order's idea was extremely logical. Force the President to basically live with the child he must kill to get access to the seres that will kill millions, make it real. And Otto Han is disgusted by the Order, but it is what it is. Again, the idea makes sense, but that doesn't mean that it isn't horrifying. Not to mention torturous for the child who must live with the idea that they can be killed at almost anytime in order to kill millions of other people. 4.5 out of 5.

“The Time Invariance of Snow” by E. Lily Yu

When the Devil's mirror splinters, it enters the hearts and minds of mankind, spreading hate and violence despair and depression. G and K are in love, but G is wary of the violence of men. When K makes a comment on how he would kill her, she protests his cruelty. He leaves. Despite knowing how the story will end, G goes on a quest to save him from the Snow Queen.

A subversion of fairy tales and a treatise on both them and the treatment of women. I have to admit that I was annoyed by the use of footnotes in this fictional short story. I barely tolerate them in non-fiction books. That said, as I struggled on, once G and K came onto the scene it became an easier read. I think I would've enjoyed this more if it had been expanded. My least favorite in the collection, but still worth reading. 3 out of 5.

#book review #Some of the Best from Tor.com 2019 Edition #science fiction #fantasy #collection

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valjar · 7 years ago

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Some thoughts about JASPER and Ignys Jasper -Part 3- A comparison

In Part one and two of this trilogy, I have written down some thoughts about JASPER and Ignys Jasper. About their nature, who and what they are. Now here is why I started this in the first place. How Jasper and Ignys are similar and why Ignys could be called a character analysis on Jasper in her early stages.

(Part 1 - JASPER) HERE

(Part 2 - Ignys Jasper) HERE

As the other posts already indicated, there are striking similarities between JASPER and Ignys. Some were intentional when I wrote Ignys, but most were not. We don´t even know that much canon meta about JASPER after all. Sadly. Not yet. So, this post will also lean a bit into theory territory and can be debunked by canon, but I have the feeling that some of these hold some water in the end. First, I´ll list the similarities, then I´ll write a bit about them and then the differences. Then I´ll look on what drives the two and what makes them the most powerful and how that is linked between them.

Similarities between JASPER and her descendant Ignys Jasper Firewalker:

1. Both have a long and decorated and eventful military past

2. Both have quartztypical bodytypes and fighting skills and styles.

3. Both are extremely strong.

4. Both possess indomitable willpower

5. Both ALWAYS keep going. No matter what if they must.

6. Both are strongly influenced by their emotion.

7. The (red) Jasper is regarded as “the supreme nurturer” and both have abilities and traits in that direction.

8. Both had an extremely abusive and toxic relationship with a Lapis Lazuli. Jasper with the gem Lapis Lazuli and Ignys with her descendant Lapis HOPE Lazuli.

9. Both are linked to the ocean in powerful and mysterious ways.

10. Both have lost a Diamond they cherished deeply and suffer from it greatly.

Ok, here´s the list. Let´s get down to detail. The topics are in no intended particular order.

1. Ignys and JASPER have both a long and decorated military past. Both have been in positions of command and both are hailed as heroes by certain people and gems. While Jasper is a gem and has been in the military over 5000 years, Ignys is a hybrid and served for 25 years. Jasper is hailed as “the ultimate Quartz, who took out 80 crystal gems before sundown upon emerging” (see PART 1). Ignys is hailed as an ultimated unit, too, but in different ways. Where Jasper is hailed for her strength and strategy, Ignys is hailed for her adaptability, strategy AND strength. Ignys is much more finetuned and refined. What kind of commander Jasper was is not quite known, but there is a popular headcanon/theory that she has been some kind of general. Ignys WAS a general. She was the youngest general to EVER exist. Due to her tremendous physical strength and, more striking, stamina and adaptability and her strategy and intelligence, she flew up through the ranks.

She helped improving the army and the Red Fortress, the elite force she served in for 20 years of the 25, much to the delight of all and was overall a very good and charismatic leader with a strong codex of honor, like for example to not hurt non combatants/those not involved in the fight. Jasper shows the same trait. In "The Return", she shows no interest in harming Steven, because, to her, he was a human non combatant. Only after he reveals himself as a gem hybrid and in possession of the gem of THE Rose Quarz, she attacks him, but only knocks him out. Ignys would do the same. She would in a fight/battle rather subdue or incapacitate her opponent than seriously harm or even kill them. Both adapt to the environment they fight in quickly. Example: Fighting in and around water. Normally gems, that are not water gems, don´t really have anything to do with water and therefore probably not too much experience with fighting with/in/under it. JASPER adapts to it through the whole Malachite situation to a point, where it´s very hard to make out, who of the two is steering the fusion at the moment and Jasper appears to find her way and target under water swiftly and efficiently (see Alone At Sea) and has no longer any problem with going into it (see Crack The Whip). Later this will only deepen, despite a short period of Malachite related PTSD reactions around water (wether it happens in the show or after it is not yet known, but I root for in the show, like late season 5 or season 6). Ignys on the other hand is made and born for fighting in/around and under water. As already mentioned in PART 2 multiple times, Ignys is a diver with tremendous abilities and paired with her military elite training, she is a highly valuable and sought after type of unit, what makes her word gain weight and her raise through the ranks as well and is a major contribution to how she could be the youngest general of all times (usually generals are 60 years and older and have most of the times at least 30 years of military service under their belts). Both JASPER and Ignys will be matriarchs of an own court-like structure at the peak of their power, which they fiercely protect. More to both´s role as matriarchs later.

2. Ignys and JASPER share bodytype and a lot of their fighting style. Both are very tall, muscular, massive and percieved as beautiful. They also share a lot when it comes to fightingstyle. Both remind of the Quartz they are. Jasper fights with massive power, but also with strategy, but the strategy can be overriden by anger or distress. The quartztypical fightingstyle has a lot of kicks and punches and yanking and shoving around. Both are not afraid to tank away a lot of hits and damage, making both very resilient and tough. If they would have to pick a martial art, they would both pick kickboxing and would both excel at it. Even though, they share basics and quartztypical patterns in their fighting styles, there are also clear and striking differences: While Jasper prefers to stay on land, Ignys prefers the water more and more, the older she gets. Ignys blends in with her environment and fights along from stealth, JASPER prefers to face her opponents rather head on, the moment the fight has begun. She uses her strength and speed to her advantage. Ignys relies more on her endurance, adaptability and dexterity and then puts a lot of strength in to, preferably, one, well placed move. Ignys has a much wider palette of styles than Jasper. She also shows patterns of Pearl, where her fighting looks almost like dancing for example. The biggest difference between JASPER and Ignys is, that JASPER is an almost total land unit and Ignys can do both, but is more a water unit, given her talent in it. JASPER is offense/tank, Ignys is defense/tank, at least strength and resilience wise.

3. Both are extremely strong. This one is self explaining. Ignys is part JASPER and Diamonds, so she possesses tons more strength than a normal human her size/age/sex would. Ignys can lift twice her bodyweight. With a body weight of 551 pounds, that would make 1102,31 pounds, so, A LOT! This strength shows in their fighting and in their mastery over their body/form a lot. Further, they share trememdous mental strength, that can further amplify their physical strength.

4. Both, JASPER and Ignys are known for their willpower. Once they want something done or deem it right, they WILL get it done, especially when it is in sync with their codex of honor. This willpower allows them to bear and endure even the impossible and in Ignys´ case allows her go WAY past her limits. Both cannot be controlled via psychic means, nor can they be seduced. There was a period in both´s existences where they could, but as they both get older and more in sync with themselves, they can less and less. Especially Jasper will get her mental and emotional autonomy by season 6 and beyond, which will make her effectively immune to seduction and bribing and mind control, much to the dismay of Lapis Lazuli and homeworld, who still lowkey want that. In Ignys´ case, the person, she has to free her psyche from, is Lapis Hope Lazuli, her abusive ex. She falls less and less for her traps and lures and both, JASPER and Ignys, end up standing rigidly behind their codex of honor.

5. As their will already indicates, Ignys and JASPER keep going. No matter what. No matter how hard and how bad and no matter how painful. JASPER goes through millenia of grief, Malachite and abandonment, without really showing it caving under it. Only in Earthlings, we see Jasper broken and vulnerable to the point of no more self restraint, something that had already taken form in Alone At Sea. Ignys goes through decades of grief, through the horrors of war and the aftermath of an abusive relationship and wrestles with the horrid current of Dark Rock Cave this way. Ignys sees her student in a life threatening situation, after latter has fallen into the currents off Dark Rock Cave and despite those being so strong and despite them being cursed and inescapable, Ignys goes after her student. And she fights and fights and fights and keeps going, until she has saved her student. No matter how hard and dangerous it is, no matter how out of breath Ignys is. Especially the(free)divers among you will know, how hard it is to keep going when you are out of breath and how dangerous that is. JASPER even says in Crack The Whip: "Jaspers don´t give up. Jasper keep going until we get what we want!", so it DEFINITELY runs in the JASPER lineage to be willstrong, which is amplified by the Diamond information in Ignys (see PART 1 and PART 2). Ignys´ will will be put to the ultimate test when LEVIATHAN, a demon from both, her and JASPERs past appears and threatens everyone. JASPERs test will be much less flashy, but not any less deep, meaningful, interesting and hard.

6. JASPER and Ignys are both strongly influenced by their emotions and their mindscape. It can either be their greatest power or their greatest Kryptonite, depending on what is going on inside them at the moment. When JASPER feels triumph or a good reason to fight, she gets empowered by it. Even by a temporary good feeling. Something, she believed Malachite would give her and she deemed worth fighting and searching the whole ocean for. For Ignys it was and is saving lives. The first time we see that is in "Rising Tides - New Skies", where Ignys saves her student from drowning in Dark Rock Caves horrid and cursed waters. Ignys and JASPER are both strengthened by the feeling of doing the right thing and weakened by the feeling of help- and/or powerlessness. Jasper, when she was forced to see the corrupted gems run away in "Earthlings" and Ignys, when her ex, Lapis Hope Lazuli comes back and intrudes in her life uninvited after 30 years. Lapis Hope Lazuli is Ignys´ biggest Kryptonite, as well as being reminded of her shot mother. JASPERs Kryptonite will be Lapis, Malachite and the reminder of her past, probably directly Pink Diamond and her own self loathing and doubt.

7. Coming back to what makes Ignys and JASPER strong, it´s important to know the spiritual meaning of the gemstone Red Jasper. The Red Jasper is called "The Supreme Nurturer" and that means, that it provides energy, stability, to an extent healing and of course protection and grounding to the ones around them. That is the ideal and natural state of this Jasper´s energy. So it´s for JASPER. After the events in the show, or mid/late in season 6, JASPER will discover this side to her. She will find herself at her most powerful, when she protects or helps others. A thing, that will make her a matriarch later on to a lot of Quartz gems and others, who find protection with JASPER and her new allies in the homeworld/earth conflict and finally live around her in an almost courtlike structure. Ignys discovers, that love is her greatest enhancer every time she protects or saves someone. Especially children and her students. When she saves her student, Ignys feels an immense surge of power in her. This becomes stronger and stronger, as she gets her girlfriend Imogen Morganite, who she will protect from LEVIATHAN. Her love for Imogen will ignite a global love for every living being, a nurturing energy, that will be so strong, that Ignys reaches her ultimate power. A power that allows her will to be overcome the process of actively dying and allows her to fight herself back. JASPER lacks this ultimate, because she can´t die the way people do. Ignys, even more than Jasper, is willing to go through literal hell to protect her loved ones. Love gives both, especially Ignys, unfathomable power.

8. Both had an extremely abusive relationship with a Lapis Lazuli. JASPER had one with Lapis Lazuli, the ocean gem and riptide queen herself and Ignys with a descendant of said Lapis Lazuli, Lapis HOPE Lazuli. While Lapis the gem trapped JASPER in a fusion in the ocean, Lapis HOPE Lazuli "trapped" Ignys much more lowkey and non physically. Both had a really hard path with communication, openness, gentleness and respect and in both cases the "big and strong one" was the victim. Yes, in both relationships both were abusing each other, but JASPER and Ignys ended up on the recieving end of the abuse MUCH more often. In both cases, unspeakable things were done to the Jasper part, that barely even get mentioned, because both Jaspers are barely capable of ever really talking about it. Unlike JASPER, Ignys will find a way to talk about to Imogen and both abusive relationships are intertwined with each other. Ignys and Lapis HOPE Lazuli are the second generation to this relationship and those two will have to work on it to bring the demons of the past to peace at last. Unlike JASPER, Ignys completely embraces this duty to the past and does her hardest to resolve it and is ready to forgive Lapis HOPE Lazuli. The big showdown between Ignys and LEVIATHAN is the point where the fate of their intertwined fates will be decided. Either, Ignys, the dragon will win and Malachite/LEVIATHANs energy will find peace or LEVIATHAN will win and cause unspeakable chaos and calamity. Both JASPER and Ignys are deeply traumatized by what they experienced, but somehow both find a relationship, that is not abusive and they are happy with. Ignys and Imogen´s relationship is the good, healthy and happy counterpart to this relationship and that one is linked to the relationship between JASPER and Laura Tiger´s Eye, a very early 10% gem hybrid.

9. JASPER and Ignys are linked to the ocean/water in mysterious and powerful ways. This one should actually be evident from what is mentioned in PART 1 and 2. This link started with Malachite and is possible because Lapis has "written" a "code: ocean" onto Jasper and Malachite has passed on some "codes", too. To understand this, you have to imagine gems as a kind of mobile, sentient supercomputer. Their gem is their hard drive and their "Lightbodies" are their screens, that are actually more of holoscreens. This allows them to be tachnically immortal, independent from organic needs and to shapeshift swiftly and to have a wide variety of powers. All these attributes are like "Apps" written on the gem during the creation process, like the knowledge of your purpose and who to be loyal to. These "Apps" or "programs" set limits to the gem of what they can do. They can only shapeshift to a certain extent and only reform with (slightly) different clothes, but not with different bodies. Normally, those "codes" barely get changed at all, so the gem doesn´t get to change either. No growing up, no change of purpose and change of mindset is extremely hard. Fusion on the other hand CAN add different codes to a preexisting "App" or write an entirely new "App" altogether. Such a new app can be a new power or a perspective and of course a different appearance. They create a new "model" of "computer". The longer those two gems stay fused, the more likely it is that new information gets written onto the gems of the components and those keep these changes even after fusion. Example Garnet and Malachite. In Garnet, two complementary gems with clashing abilities live in a permafusion. They have created the new "app" electricity-type power and have a different appearance to the two gems Ruby and Sapphire. Also the "app" of Sapphire, future vision, gets changed. It shows now many possible outcomes of a future, unlike Sapphire, who only gets to see one outcome. Ruby gets to use Sapphires "App" future vision and has so built it into her life and mindset, that she doesn´t really want to live without this perspective andymore (see Jailbreak, where Ruby sits in the cell and is pretty desperate). Garnet is a fusion of extremely rare and extremely common and is a healthy fusion. Malachite on the other hand is a toxic and not very stable fusion. She is a fusion of JASPER and LAPIS LAZULI, both perfect individuals of their gem type. JASPER has the "Apps" spin dash, extreme strength, endurance and durability. Lapis has the "Apps" flight through water wings, extreme hydrokinesis and experience in the/under water. Malachite is held together by Lapis´ tremendous willpower and hate and her information is forced onto Jasper, who is held underwater 24/7 for a whole year. That made Jasper adapt and she began to percieve the water-information as a rush of power and after unfusing, she wants it back. JASPER totally takes in the experience and and confidence in/under water and claims this power and learns to love the deep more and more. If Lapis misses anything, is not known. It´s only known, that she lowkey missed JASPER as a grand total, but I think she rather misses the feeling of being able to take out her stuff on an other. This information of this past fusion now sits in the gems and can be passed onto hybrids. And so Jasper did, but not every hybrid individual actually displays this information the same, if they display it at all. Same for Lapis Lazuli. But Ignys and Lapis Hope Lazuli do. They display talent, confidence and experience in/under water perfectly. Due to them being more than 60% organic, they display this power much differently to the gems themselves. They display this as extreme diving talent and capabilities. So, all in all, organic beings (hybrids) display the same ability much differently as a gem. Ignys experiences this link with the water as an intimate relationship of love, trust and respect. For Lapis Hope Lazuli, the water is just a power. Her relationship is not as deep as Ignys´. Same for Jasper and Lapis Lazuli the gem. Actually, Ignys´ relationship with water and the deep is unique. She gets from water power, strength, refuge and inspiration. To a point, where Ignys, under certain circumstances, can reach and enlightened-like state for a certain period of time. That shows in "depth´s clarity" and "phoenix" (a power, that makes her will so stubborn, that she can save herself from actively dying or even actively bring herself back from death. It only works, when she hasn´t been dead for too long and she can remove herself from the situation quickly. It causes terrible heat and exhausts her massively and she describes it as very painful.)

10. Both have lost a Diamond who they cherished deeply and they suffer a lot from it. JASPER lost Pink Diamond and Ignys lost her mother, Magenta Diamond. Pink Diamond got shattered during or shortly before the gem war/conflict. Who actually shattered her is not quite known yet. Magenta got killed by a, for a very long time, unknown person, too. She got shot. Both, Ignys and JASPER were helpless witnesses of their Diamond´s/mother´s demise. Jasper searched for the guilty and thinks it was Rose Quartz, like many do and tries to cope through revenge plans, but those backfire horribly. Ignys on the other hand swore, that no one would ever die through violence, if she could help it. Both made, motivated by those deaths, questionable and too many times, wrong life choices, that lead to their suffering and that of many others. Both finally realize, that trying to revenge violence with more violence won´t lead them anywhere but into a downwards spiral. Both discover a different job, outside their decorated military life, where they can protect, nurture and save life instead of killing it. Unlike Ignys, who becomes a teacher at the Beach City Capital School and stays one, JASPER changes her "jobs" many times, before she finds that one for her.

So, that has been an awfully long post and one or too many times I have drifted a bit astray, but I needed to write that down. To all those, who have read to this point: Thank you so much!

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krisiunicornio · 6 years ago

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From navigating the start of the hectic holiday season to dealing with family dramas that are very likely to surface, here’s how to use your yoga practice and what’s in the stars to help you navigate the coming weeks.

Learn what your horoscope tells you about preparing for the holidays.

Around the world, many of us are beginning to prepare for the upcoming festive season. In an ideal world, holidays are a time for reflection and joy. In the real world, they can draw out old poisons we thought we’d processed long ago. After all, it’s one thing to explore the magic of who we are alone—and quite another to do it within the context of our families of origin, who we tend to spend more time with this time of year.

When you introduce your clan into the equation, your assignment fills with landmines. But the good news is that your work also becomes richer. Keep this in mind as you progress through the month of November and into December. And remember, if you’re able to identify your wounds as a reflection of a problematic system, you can depersonalize them and start to work toward the solution.

As humans, we’re in partnership with each other, and we’re participants in this time of great change. As a yoga teacher, practitioner, or student, you undoubtedly feel the energy of metamorphosis in your body and soul. Know that as you continue to self-reflect and meet your emotional experience with mindfulness, you are playing an important role in the great unfolding. As we say in astrology: as above, so below.

See also The Power of Self-Inquiry for Uncovering the Real You

There’s a New Moon in Scorpio on November 7

Imagine yourself as a deep-sea diver: In order to descend to the bottom of the ocean floor, you must prepare by strengthening your lungs and developing stamina. You’ll need a deep breath, and an innate understanding that at some point on the journey, you’ll find yourself in a desperate race to the surface where you can breathe again. You’ll also need courage, because in the furious pursuit of air, panic and fear will invade your mind and you’ll have to surrender to your instincts, allowing them to guide you up and toward the light—into the oxygen.

Scorpio pushes you to face your fears in order to complete your mission. Some of us find the intensity of Scorpio compelling; others prefer to remain on the surface where air is plentiful. Regardless of your preference, the New Moon in the sign of Scorpio will ask you to look with courage at your unhealthy attachments and negative patterns, and anything else that scares you. With fluid connections to Neptune and Pluto here, expect revelations and epiphanies to arrive with a glimmer of fairy dust—especially if you get quiet and yield to what’s trying to emerge.

During this New Moon time, make it a goal to be especially present in your Savasana. Use this dedicated time of stillness to allow inner intelligence to bubble up like a spring, releasing the exact information and wisdom you’ve been looking for.

Open up and allow Venus to mend your heart.

Venus Goes Direct November 16

Venus has been in retrograde since October 5, which has given us wisdom about living in integrity with our value systems and personal truths. During the retrograde period, imagine that you’ve been cleaning out a room deep within your heart, one filled with old grievances and pains that are connected to love. As Venus goes direct in the sign of Libra, it’s as if you’re opening a window in your mending heart and allowing a cool, fresh breeze to swirl in. The crisp air is invigorating and carries with it a newfound stability and resolve. Because you’ve done the difficult work of emptying your heart of old stories and have come to terms with your own worthiness, you can now enjoy new beginnings in love—and shift your focus elsewhere.

Your spine—a.k.a., your backbone—is an integral part of this particular strengthening process, so take advantage of the stream of vitality available now by incorporating Cobra Pose into your practice. Not only will it precisely support your backbone, but it will faithfully continue to open your heart.