#Thess reads

[thessalian]

Thess vs Trigger Warnings

This may be a strange title for this one, but I promise you it's relevant. So: Neil Gaiman.

I haven't really said anything about the things that have been coming out about Neil Gaiman lately. I've reblogged a few things, but haven't put my tuppence in, as it were. I'll say this, though - I was a little bit put off by Neil Gaiman before any of this came out. Not because of most of his previous work, or anything he said or did as a person, exactly. It was because of a short story compilation of his titled Trigger Warning. Or, more specifically, the introduction to that compilation, because I haven't actually been able to bring myself to read the book, specifically because of the introduction.

Yeah, I am the sort of person who reads introductions. I write, so I'm interested in what writers think about the things they've written. I picked up Trigger Warning as an impulse buy when I went to Greenwich a few months ago, and read through half the introduction ... and then I had to put it down, because ... well. It's complicated, but I'll try to explain.

The book is titled Trigger Warning, so it makes sense that the concept of trigger warnings in general would come up in the introduction. The thing is ... the tone was dismissive. On one level, he said he was "warming to" the concept of the trigger warning taken beyond stuff on the internet. On the other hand, he stated that he felt the only trigger warning anything adults are reading should need is "read at your own risk". Which on one level is kind of fair, but on the other ... how can you judge the risk if you don't have any specifics? Does he expect people to go through life constantly braced for things they literally cannot handle? That they should be braced for a panic attack every time they pick up a book?

I know this kind of thing fairly intimately, because I do actually have a trigger. Not just something that gives me the ick - an actual trigger of the PTSD variety. I have issues with the more culty sort of Christian faiths, because I was stuck in one for a little while. My father wanted me and my eventual-stepbrother out of the house on Sundays, and during the summer holidays, and basically all the time - even though I only saw him every second weekend and two weeks every summer, and my time with just my father was already hugely limited, which is another issue. Anyway, he sent us to a local Anglican church (Church of England, Episcopalian, take your pick) - for Sunday school, for day camp ... and, one year, for a two-week sleepaway camp. And it was hell. Prayers six times a day, and we're talking hellfire-and-brimstone here. When our tent group's counsellor had her day off, we ended up with this guy who spent the entire day preaching more hellfire and wound up telling each and every girl in our group why we were going to hell. Two of them? It was apparenly because they didn't speak English. Which is ridiculous and horrible because a) this was Montreal and a whole lot of people spoke French as their primary language, and b) JESUS DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. I'm not even sure that English as we know it existed at that time. Anyway, the worst of it came one day when this little kid was having some serious hyperactivity issues, and he was being loud and disruptive and clearly upset by everything going on. They took him away, and we didn't see him for the rest of the day. But that night, I woke up and looked out our cabin window and there was a big bonfire lit outside ... and there that kid was, tied to a chair, with a bunch of the camp staff dressed in white sheets, waving crosses at him and apparently performing some kind of exorcism. The kid was probably scared out of his mind. I wasn't much better. I was too scared to talk to the counsellors about it, but I did sneak into the office and called my father - it was still my time with him, y'see. I tried to explain but I guess he thought I was lying or exaggerating, and he said it was just a few more days and to stick it out. So I did. Went back to his place after it was over, and when Mum called to find out how my first experience of sleepaway camp went, I said, "It was okay, I guess ... except for the exorcism". My mother went veeeeery quiet and asked me to explain exactly what I meant by that, and I told her, and in that tone that anyone who's ever had a mother knows: "...put. Your father. On. The phone." I went two rooms away and I could still hear her yelling at him down the phone. I never went back - not to the Sunday school, not to the day camp, and certainly not to the sleepaway camp.

I never trusted churches again either. Mum thought sleepaway camp was a great idea for me, since she was busiest in the summer months and didn't want me to get bored or lonely, and I freaked out about the camp she was talking about at first because it was a YMCA-run camp and even the word Christian sent me into a panic. (It turned out okay; we were promised it was non-demoninational, and I tried it for two weeks, and it was so much fun that I went all summer every summer for years after, but you get the point.) Touring Paris was ... less than fun because a lot of the things to see involved churches and I didn't even like going into Notre-Dame Cathedral - I got through that by telling myself it was more like a Disney exhibit than anything else, which I know is probably disrespectful but it was the only way I could cope. I've been doing better - while a couple of heavily religious types I knew at one point kind of reinforced my issues, a fair few others have taught me to at least not recoil at the first mention that someone is Christian. But some things will set me off and I can't entirely help it.

So when my then-boyfriend tried to get me to watch Carnivale, I was interested ... but I didn't know how heavily Southern Baptist Fervent God-Fearing Bible-Bashing whatever it was going to be until I sat down and was confronted by that kind of thing in the first few minutes. I left the room. I had to. I couldn't listen to that. It took awhile to calm down, and I did apologise, but I never watched it, even when the then-boyfriend reassured me that the narrative went past that after awhile. But by contrast, I did watch Midnight Mass. I knew from the name and the gifsets that it would be heavily about religion, and probably get a little culty, and it was triggering ... but I could handle it because I had known what I was in for and I was prepared for it. I had my trigger warning - not an overt one, but enough to know what I was letting myself in for and make the decision about whether or not I was willing to risk it. I knew to brace myself in a way I didn't for Carnivale.

So for someone to say that the only trigger warning adult fiction should need is "experience this at your own risk" ... it says things to me. It says that he doesn't understand how much specifics help. I can read about SA and murder, but I can't read about certain kinds of religious ... stuff. Other people would be fine with reading about cults but would be triggered by even a mention of SA. Or car accidents, or anything military, or even too many holes. You can't have a one-size-fits-all trigger warning because one size does not fit all. It seems unfair to expect everyone who has even the slightest bit of trauma to be constantly braced when they pick up a book, or switch on their TV, or whatever. We have to do that enough in the world. Sure, sometimes we read to confront things we can't cope with, because a book is a controlled environment and we can shut the book and walk away if we stop being able to cope. But we either have to know that the specific trigger is there, or we have to be peering carefully around every narrative corner every time we do this thing that is supposed to be entertainment, relaxation, and most of all escapism in case our trigger is lurking somewhere. And some people can't even do that because they may not even recognise that they have trauma or a phobia until they're confronted with it.

I guess it just suggested to me that Neil Gaiman was looking at trigger warnings the way a few too many people seem to these days - as something that exists to homogenise entertainment and keep it 'clean' or whatever. This seems to erase the people who have genuine trauma, who shouldn't be forced to be confronted with their trauma during their leisure time if they don't want to. And hell, even people who are just a bit squicked out by certain things - they deserve the chance to say, "Not right now; I'm not in a frame of mind where I want to deal with this". Why is that so hard to understand?

Anyway, he finished the introduction with, "This is your trigger warning - upsetting things will be in these stories". Yeah, fine; which ones?!? Again, it felt dismissive. It felt like, "If you're so sensitive, maybe you shouldn't be here", even after stating he was "warming to" the concept of trigger warnings outside of the internet. For someone who understands the power of words on that scale, that feels like a double-standard or a "I'm an ally to this cause but don't you dare apply this to me" bit of hypocrisy. He actually came out and stated, "I wonder if someone will slap a trigger warning on my books. I wonder if they should". YES, PROBABLY. And saying, "Fine, I'll do it myself - Here Be Triggers" is insufficient, and insultingly backhanded.

I liked to hope that he was offended about triggers because of the various things in his work that the alt-right tend to attack. Or that he was worried about any remarks about transphobia as seen in A Game Of You (which there was a little, though that was more a comment on the transphobia of Dianic Wicca and the world at large than his own views). But being told, "There is Triggering Stuff in here and that's all you really get" ... no. While he does do what some authors do - discusses the themes of each story in the pages following the introduction ... it wasn't enough.

So ... yeah, I was a little off Neil Gaiman as a person before ... all of this, frankly. It still surprised and horrified me, sure, but I guess it didn't hit as hard as it could have. That one thing just ... I guess I figured that if someone was so careless and dismissive about the potential for triggering trauma ... maybe he really would be willing to cause it if it benefitted him. It still makes me sad and horrified, but I'm not as shocked as I might have been, I guess?

I may never read Trigger Warning. But I am still going to watch the Sandman series on Netflix. There's more to that series than him anyway. A part of me wonders if Pratchett knew. I really hope that the answer to that is "no". Gaiman being a shithead I can take; but not Pratchett, please.

[deliajackson]

PJO ≠ Greek Mythology

I can't believe I have to say this but I swear by the gods, the next time I see a pjo fan saying "the gods can be easily overthrow. This is canon on riondanverse and in greek mythology" or "yes. Mortals, specially demigods can win a fight against the olympians and easily defeat them. It happend on greek mythology. So it is plausible for Percy overthrow Zeus." I'm gonna riot.

You want a story where Percy takes down Olympus? Ok! There may be fics on ao3. You want a fic where Zeus is taken out of his crown and someone else takes his place? Fine. There may be fics on ao3 with this premise. I may hate this take, and I won't read it. But if you like, go ahead.

The riondanverse barely scratches the greek mythology correctly. The Gods are marely réplicas of the tales of Old. They dont match with their myths - since Riordan basically blanded one myth on the other, or created a few himself. - The PJO Gods are not a source for greek mythology, they dont properly represent their importance, much less their complexity, nuance and power.

So stop. Just stop spreading misinformation about Mythology - which u know nothing about if you are saying those things - or using it as a basis to your takes.

The Gods, the Olympian Counsil cannot be "easily" overthrow in any possible way. Using the idea "Zeus did that with Khronos so it is easy" is literally absurd. Zeus is a God. He has always been a God. He was born a God.

Only a God can fight another one and win. And a mortal - including demigods - can only harm a God with divine help - which usually is Athena's helping them. - No God can overthrow Zeus powerwise, let alone a mere mortal (Im looking at you, Epic fans). He is the King of Gods for a reason. That is a fact in greek mythology.

But if you want a good idea of "dethrone Zeus" trope acordding to Hesiod, there was a prophecy one of Zeus children would be the one to do it. When Zeus learned about it, he pushed a Khronos and devoured one his pregnant wives, Métis. Athena was still born from his head though.

Do you know what he did to Athena? Nothing. She is his favorite kid. He kept doing it? Also no. He never did that again. And all his god children were welcome in Olympus. Even Dionysus - who was born a mortal and ascended. Even Heracles, who became a minor god.

+ the "overthrown" of Zeus wouldnt happen. Zeus is - according to greek mythology - the fairest of the kings. I dont care if you don't like Zeus because for your modernized view on ancient tales "he is evil". He is a good king and that is a fact in Greek Mythology. You like it or not. He is not a tyrant. And he is not considered a Tyrant in mythology either. Another reason for one of his wives be Themis - Justice.

By the end of the day, getting out of Myth and going into their philosophy and theology.

The Gods are literally a representantion of the Cosmos and natural law. They are not "beings with too much power". Hades is the underworld. Poseidon is the nature. Zeus is the heavens. More than that, Zeus is the one who brought harmony to the universe - the oikos. Without him, everything we know about crumbles.

And Zeus children are the parts of human society. The pillars of "civilization". Apollo is art and healing. Hermes is communications and commerce. Athena is strategy and warfare. Hephaestus is technology. Ares is conflict/war and bloodthirsty. And there you go.

All the Gods represent the "good" and "bad" aspects of their domains. + They also reflect the human nature. That is why they are "flawed". That is why they are way more complex in the myths. Why they make good and bad decisions. Why they sometimes are kinder, why sometimes they are crueler.

Overthrow the Olympians mythwise? Would be the end of the life as we know of. The end of civilization. If there would be human life by the end of it.

Stop saying shit u don't know about only to support your takes on a greek-american fanfiction written by an American man.

[artfucksmylife]

My bitches, I am very much open to take requests. Send an ask or comment if you have an idea.

[madame-mongoose]

kill yourself

Seriously dude? You know I'm going through a really hard time and you send me this shit

There's actual gore in there. I cannot believe you. I thought we were friends. Not to mention you drawing wheatley being abused by me

Like this isn't funny. You're not funny. This is extremely fucked up. Not to mention the fact that I clearly stated multiple times people who woobify wheatley dni. And yet you send me chelley fanart unprompted in dms knowing it'll make me spiral. Bc he is MY husband and he is NOT human and you KNOW that pisses me off. Not to mention sending me wheatley art with Stephen Merchant's head on his body knowing that man scares me. Like what is wrong with you. Seek help

THIS IS A JOKE DONT TAKE THIS POST SERIOUSLY AKDHJSJS

[altruistic-meme]

here are some more various notes from my poetry books so far :) as you can see, i am putting in so many thoughts to what im doing right now

genuinely though, i am very much delving heavily into the characters heads for this fic which is so fun for me and i cannot wait to see how it turns out!

[swaggiestherb]

ill take the bait ,,,, what does ur url mean ?

OKAY SO

iwaslikehmmmmmhowcanimakeaplayonthephraze”lookingthrurosetintedlenses”orsmthlikethatandiwaslikeooOOOOOoooourple!!!!ofcbcitsmyfavojritecoloursoithoughtofniceshadesofpurplelikeeeeeWISTERIAPURPLEsoooowehave”wisteriatintedglass”(?)

ANDTHENITHOIGHTgomgomgthissomggggtalksaboutbrOKENGLASSITSOERFECT(thesomginbybio)soooooooooHHHHglassSHARDSbclike.itspoeticSOOOOO”wisteria-glass-shards”!!!!!

BUTdykwhatsoundsjustlikewisteria??HYSTERIAandahahahahimadethisat3amsoiwaspracticallyhystericalmyselfandiwentooOoOooOoOooPUNTIMEandso”whysteria-glass-shards”cametobe😌

[buglyknight]

545!) Introduce

I'm so pathetically in love

And this love is so disgusting

Does everyone in love feel this ugly?

It consumes me

I surrender I have to surrender to it

Oh wait nobody here has met her

So they mustn't know

I should introduce you guys

So you can fall in love too

Her name is ugly bug and,

Ok guys wait I know what you're thinking,

She is so amazing I love her.

Huh? Wait you think she's ugly?

No guys, you're missing the fucking point

God damn it. Haven't you been listening to these?

No, we love her, not she is ugly. Oh my god

You have to love her despite the ugly

Okay I get it, but you can't just say that

Listen keep it simple

Just love her, or I'm going to fucking kill you people.

So yeah, now that you're looking

You guys feel that too?

Oh shit security is coming back

[insanely-lovely-and-random]

Alrightyy saw Challengers for numero uno tonight and these are some thoughts/things that really got me the second time round!

*Thess are just my opinions the film can be read however anyone else wants

Okay so hear me out.. Tashi is such a dom, Art is such a sub and Patrick is such a switch and oooh it got me how at the beginning it felt like he was Arts dom, then he finds this girl he thinks is fantastic and maybe he thinks she could be the glue to bring him and Art and her all together BUT then it totally fricken backfires and instead he loses both. Art the little puppy he is starts wagging his tail in Zendayas direction and next thing ya know he's got a new owner and Patricks a thing of the past much to his palable distress. I mean christ boyos living in his car and starving, boys a mess since his lost his dom and sub poor boyo, so now various things I noticed some of which I feel back up my argument haha

Gosh theres so many little moments, Patricks thing for Art seems so obvious yet Art seems totally clueless.

1) Patrick is defos bi, not just because he just so is but also cause he matches with a guy on his dating app during his swiping.

2) The doubles match they play in the past? Gosh they're all over eachother! And Pats clearly in charge of that relationship and Art seems totally cool with that (for then anyways..)

3) When him and Art are watching Tashis game at the vert beginning Patrick grabs Arts leg in exhilaration. I mean he always seems to be touching or in the space of his boy for christs sake.

4) When Tashi mentions the fact Arts going to Stamford Patrick noticeably makes a face, you could say its because shes paying attention to Art instead of him or that hes upset because shes going to college instead of going profesh BUT I really didnt read it that way. To me it looked like he was upset Art was going to college, they've been together for years after all and now their splitting up, poor boyo.

5) When Zendaya asks if theres anything going on between then, Art laughs and says no BUT Patrick??? Science and he looks down, hell he wishes there was summat.

6) He taught Art to jerk off. Fucking hell.

7) There kiss man, all three of then and then just Art and Pat, just soo much chemistry.

8) When he reveals he slwpt with Zendaya to Art, and Arts smile drops. I think he's heartbroke at him sleeping with the girl he likes but I also see it as pain at being left out. These two people he's entwined with and now he's outside looking in. I also think If Patrick had seen that reaction he'd have seen a looot sooner that his relationship with Tashi might backfire greatly.

9) Patrick vsiting Stamford, first person he goes to see, his girlfriend maybe..? NOPE hes too busy chasing Art around the tennis court 😭

10) There's a ton of hot moments in this film. And the hottest? To me? That bloody stool grab with his foot. He wants Art close, he always bloody does! And the churros christ! And once again showing Art who's top so to speak, eating his churro, and telling him hes proud of his snakey behaviour. And that it makes his relationship with Zendaya hotter (I bloody bet it does) He never ever seems to show jealousy about Arts feelings for Zendaya, he points out thay he doesn't see him as competition to her not long after and I BET his doesn't. Cause I think he'd love it if Art was with him and Zendaya.

11) My God this bit gets be cause it gets echoed later. Him and Zendaya are making out and this girl who he's with and cares about is just talking bout his tennis game. And tbf what does he say?? "Weren't you gonna tell me bout Art" hells bells could you be more obvious?? And then the fight, he asks her if she's talking about tennis and her reply "I'm always talking about tennis" and I mention this cause it's gonna be relevant later.

12) The injury happens and everyone loses something. Zendaya has lost her career and ability to play tennis to her full potential. Art loses his best friend and Poor pathetic Patrick lost his bestfriend(and secret love) and his actual girlfriend all in one day!

From here on I cant guarantee my numbered points are in timeline order as the timline stated getting more out of sequence🤣

13) Zendaya and Art in the diner and after hearing Art and Pat dont talk no more saying she's a homewrecker after all. And what does Art say?? Zip. Nada. No denial just silence.

14) Okay lets talk that sauna scene. It was gloriously tragic. Patrick is clearly unaware why Art is THAT hostile towards him. I mean thinking of it from his point of view he'd have more reason to be angry considering the snakey girlfriend behaviour. But he never is angry at Art, not once no matter what he did. Of course we then discover Art is SO pissed cause he knows about Atlanta. Christ I bet pur stupid idiot boy Patrick thinks hes just being cleverly smug with that "when we were teenagers" line but idiot boyo your rubbing salt in the wounds 😭

15) still about the sauna, the naked trying to be top dog like old times but no no no, not anymore. Arts not his to be in charge of anymore. And the camera shows Art as higher while Patrick slouches nearby. Patrick asks him when he's so mad but doesn't get an answer. This scene was tragic to me, Patrick just seems hurt by Arts attitude. Art points out that they're no longer peers and I love this because thats the difference between the Zendaya/boys relationship and Arts and Pats. Pat may have been the dom so to speak with Art but he still saw them as peers. Zendaya doesn't. Thats the main difference in their relationships. Respect.

16) One of my fave damn parts of dialogue in the movie. (I really can't remember exact phrasing but this is how I rememeber it) Art is so sus of Pat, Pat asks him if he misses it, Art says he doesnt. And when Pat says he wasn't talking about tennis, Art says "Your always talking to me about tennis" and oof the punch to my gut that was. And it seemed to Patricks too! His face, this poor boy has twice been talking to the people he cares about, abou their relationship and they just say their talking about tennis, he cant catch a break😭

17) Pats reaction to Zendaya asking him to throw the game, is he offended for himself? Nopeee he's mad that she'd do that to Art. He says something along the lines of fucking him was one thing but to have Arts victory be a lie?? Gross, too far, too much of a betrayal.

18) For the third time, having just fucked Zendaya in the car and she just immediately brings up him throwing the match, like crimeny man this boy is probs sick of this game getting in the way of his relationships haha

19) Ooh that match point is glorious glorious cinema my friends. Patrick is so interesting in this whole match. Him deliberating on if he's gonna tell Art? So juicy and the way he did was fucking hilarious. That unspoken signal? Beauty.

20) Arts reaction? Wow oh wowww. The lad went through the five fricken stages of grief! The denial "fuck off!" the rage, throwing his racket, the bargaining, looking at Zendaya as if to say its not true (when she has no fucking clue what just happened). The depression, those sad sweaty tears 🥲 and then? That gorgeous smile, that acceptance. I think he felt catharsis, his marraige was clearly dysfunctional at this point and maybe knowing she cheated, knowing she'd threatened to leave if he lost, maybe that helped him let go of it. Ripped off the bandage, turned off life support, finally shake the pedestal he'd put his wife on( he compared her to jesus for christs sake). He made it through to the otherside and Patrick was there waiting for him with open arms ()iterally lol)

21) When Pat sees Arts smile? His own blossoms, clearly in relief and exaltation. I truly think he told him not to throw his game but to spur Art on. To finally unlock his potential. And to get the old Art he knew back and it bloody worked. That final back and forth, the pure energy, those sexual grunts all building up to a crescendo of a climax. Hooo boy

22) That goddamn brilliant leap in the air. Art is freed and flying, and Patrick doesn't hesitate he flings his racket to the floor because the thing that mattered to him most was never tennis. And he catches his boy with arms wide and then that embrace. They have finally come back together. It was beautiful. What does losing the match matter to Pat when he finally has his arms all over Art again just like he did in the beginning. We have come full circle.

Hahaha this is purely my own read into the movie and obvs mostly about the Patrick character and how I saw his actions. Now a few little bonus notes I noticed.

Nearly everything the boys eat/drink seems phallic, hotdogs, bananas, churros, even those drink bottles and cigarettes. Boyos are obsessed!

Zendaya on the rock at the beach was very little mermaid. Also in that scene when she said she wouldn't wanna get between em. Art said they didn't love together but Pat says "It's an open relationship" hecks you too obvious boy.

This movies so chock full of foreshadowing too, the story about Cat who got injured a week later. Patrick at Tashis party saying she'd have deals and a foundation which she does but via her relationship with Art instead just really cool script tbh

(Will probs add more when I remember em/see it for third time cause I am planning on that🤣🤣)

[andypantsx3]

Hiii Andy!! I hope you're doing well. But I wanted to ask if you've ever thought about writing a fanfic with omega!Shoto and Beta!SN ?

Ooooh I have not! I think personally I love the idea of Shouto being an alpha simply because of the contrast with how pretty he looks and how alphas are supposed to be like all rough and tumble LOL. It's too good to pass up.

But I swear to god I just saw someone talking about omega Shouto on the dash recently and it sounded good and I cannot for the life of me remember who!! 😭 @ anyone reading this if you remember an omega Shouto post from the last week or so pleeeeeease link it for Thesse and I!!!

[yanderambling]

OMG IM SO GLAD YOUR DOING THESSE!!!!! Can I please please get Aschanti (submissive royal) with F I M and S??❤️❤️Thank you so much for writing!!!

yandere alphabet ~ Aschanti

(submissive monarch!yan x pining knight!reader)

full alphabet here <3

Fight [How would they feel if their darling fought back?]:

Aschanti would immediately cave to any resistance you showed them, unless they felt they were at some risk of losing you completely. In the event that they were forced to keep you against your will, Aschanti would never raise a hand back to you in violence- they probably wouldn’t even try to defend themself. Even if you hit, kicked, and spat insults at them, Aschanti is certain that you’ll come to understand in time, and so they will meet all of your offenses with nothing but gentle placations and a patient smile. They would keep you away from any deadly weapons out of necessity, and if you proved persistent then they would reluctantly promote a temporary personal guard, just to keep them alive long enough for you to realize how you really feel for them. It would break their heart to see you so upset, but Aschanti would gladly let you take out your frustration on them as much as you needed.

Ideals [What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?]:

Aschanti rarely lets themself dream that far into the future, so certain are they that you could never return their affections the same way. But, when they allow their mind to wander, Aschanti fantasizes about leaving it all behind with you, just abandoning the courts and royal obligations and taking to the country with just your hand in theirs. They find guilty pleasure in the thought of becoming your housewife, taking care of you and your shared home by serving you, and letting you care for them in turn by telling them what to do, how to be. Maybe, one day, Aschanti could cook your meals (and pretend they’re your live-in servant), do you laundry (and get to sniff and taste your clothes whenever they want), and even help you wash your magnificent body (need they go on?)<3

Mask [Are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?]:

Aschanti wears a couple of masks, even around you. In public, they are remarkably composed and confident, they are widely renowned for their poise and natural leadership. But, when it’s just them and you, they find it harder to keep their cool, they become notably more uncertain and deferential, more open about looking to you for direction- but they still try to maintain a regal air about them so as to not lose your respect. On their own, however, Aschanti is nearly unrecognizable from the esteemed ruler known throughout the land. They spend most of their alone time thinking about you, taking stock of their collection of your things, touching themself to the scent of you lingering on the clothes they practically smother themself with- they’re really just a needy mess when there’s nobody around to impress, and they feel no small amount of shame from their desire to show themself to you like this and let you do as you like with them…

Stigma [What brought about this side of them (childhood, curiosity, etc)?]:

Aschanti has always felt they were forced to take positions of authority because of their royal status, but they’d always really wanted to just let go and leave the control to someone else; you’re the first person they ever felt safe enough to even entertain the idea with. Before you, they never let themself dream of giving up their control as they so deeply wished, but once they’d been in your capable hands it became impossible to stop. Really, you’re the reason they’re like this, so obsessed with retaining the stability and comfort you provide them. You just make them feel so safe and secure, so wholly taken care of- it’s a feeling they’ve always craved, and you’re the only thing in the world that has ever sated them~

thanks so much for reading! feel free to send a request <3

check my pinned post~

[thessalian]

Thess vs New Book

So I finally got to order my paperback copy of Be The Serpent by @seananmcguire - the most recent Toby Daye book which I've been waiting to be able to order for awhile (largely because spoilers). Still waiting for the next couple to be available in paperback, but anyway, not the point.

Anyway, the point is that it's a good thing it arrived today. Because, y'see, this is the first workday in weeks (not counting PTO) where I have not worked overtime.

Because, y'see, there's a tradition I follow when I get my mitts on a new Toby Daye book, and it really only involves one sentence: "I read it immediately".

If I'm at work, I read in my microbreaks.

If I'm going to the shops, I bring it with me to read on the bus (if it's a far away shop, anyway; I've stopped short of reading while walking since the cane)

If I am in the bath, I read it in the bath. If I have a functional shower, I will still have a bath instead of a shower specifically so that I can read it in the bath.

When I cook dinner, it's with a book in one hand and a utensil in the other whenever possible.

You see where I'm going with this. It arrived at about 1:30pm. I started reading it on microbreaks. After my workday was done, I tucked it in my handbag for my trip to Peckham to get pain meds and various groceries. I read it while cooking dinner. I read it in the bath. I'm not done yet, but I'm pretty close and now I'm in that "combination savouring it / being afraid of where it will end because I have seen spoilers about the next couple of books and just noooo" stage. And I decided that ... no. New Toby Daye book.

IF ANYONE TELLS ME TO WORK OUTSIDE MY NORMAL HOURS WHEN I HAVE A NEW TOBY DAYE BOOK, I WILL EAT THEM.

The only thing that has ever made me set a Seanan McGuire book to one side before it was done is my D&D group. As it should be.

Right. BOOK. With thanks to @seananmcguire for saving me for my own borderline masochistic work ethic.

[orphiclovers]

Reading a Detroit:Become Human fic. If you don't know, it's a game about robots gaining sentience. In this fic and canon, its a plot point that robots replaced human workers and unemployment increased. Some humans then turned against robots out of fear of being replaced. It's supposed to show us a grim future and make us think about the present, like all scifi. Since we're seeing from the androids perspective, thess humans are often the antagonists to our protagonists.

In the tags of this fic in big capital letters there was the warning "DONT FEED THIS FIC INTO AI"

The thing that gets me is that the author is seemingly blind to the...irony? I don't know if irony is the right word to call this. I don't think the author is wrong to put such a disclaimer. More like... "you're trying to write satire on a futuristic scifi scenario, yet the future is NOW. you're living the events you are seeing as far off fiction and you don't even connect the dots due to cognitive dissonance. You're the homless guy protesting in the streets of Detroit."

[walkswithmyfather]

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” —Romans 8:28 (AMP)

Friend, praying for you. God is always with you. He is ALWAYS at work every moment of your day, working ALL things for your good. Keep going, never quit. Read the promises of God in His Word and take them for yourself. Pray over them. God answers prayers and your prayers have great power (James 5:16) so never stop praying (1 Thess 5:17).

May God bless you today and always! Amen! 🙏🕊️🙌

[ambersky0319]

23 & 24?

23. First series you remember falling in love with?

The Magic Treehouse books. I was not a fan of reading as a kid, but thess books man. These books had me in a chokehold from like first grade to third. I discovered one day in middle school after not even thinking about them that one of my then best friends had also read and loved the books, and I tried reading them again (time constraints and wof brainrot stopped me though). I dunno when I will return to this series, but I think imma try slowly collecting the books over time. Bc I am nothing if not a nostalgia gremlin, and also, I just think it'd be fun!

24. Do you collect anything? Why do you collect it? What have you collected in the past?

I think it's pretty self-explanatory what I collect if ya look at this picture of my bed

But for real, I collect plushies/stuffed animals whatever you wanna call them. This is actually a small amount, behind the ones seen there are dozens more of smaller plushies. And in my garage there are two trash bags full of plushies that I need to figure out how to properly wash, because I discovered they had this weird red matting when I found out I had bed bugs.

Why do I collect them? Because I love soft things and have decided to utterly indulge the desire to be surrounded by soft things. Plushies have also just... always been something I loved having. When I lived with my parents, I think I had double (if not more) the amount of plushies I currently own, but that I (for some reason that I do not remember) did not take with me when moving to my grandparents'. I used to have a massive orca plushie and a smaller one. I had a Bolt plushie. A lot of dog plushies actually. Lots of beanie babies. I miss them a lot sometimes

And something that I collected in the past (well. I kind of collected. This was more something thrust onto me that I never got rid of) was dolls! Not like, barbie dolls (of which I actually don't think I owned many of?) but mostly porcelain dolls. I think my grandpa when I was a baby started a tradition of getting me dolls for birthdays and christmas - and they were all dolls that had blonde hair and blue eyes (like I did most of my youth). I have some fun stories about the dolls. Most people were freaked out by them. I'm not big on horror in general but maybe I should give some doll-themed ones a watch, I feel like I'd be desensitized to the creepiness since I grew up with practically an army of dolls staring down at me every night 😅

I actually had a lot of collections years back (or even now) that I... didn't quite think about until this moment ^^"

Thanks for the ask!!!

[orthodoxydaily]

SAINTS&READING: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024

november 8_november 22

SYNAXIS OF THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL AND THE OTHER BODILESS POWERS;  ARCHANGELS GABRIEL, RAPHAEL, URIEL, SALAPHIEL, JEGUDIEL, BARACHIEL, AND JEREMIEL.

The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of Laodicea, which met several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The 35th Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as heretical the worship of angels as gods and rulers of the world but affirmed their proper veneration.

A Feastday was established in November, the ninth month after March (with which the year began in ancient times) since there are Nine Ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month was chosen for the Synaxis of all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven since the Day of the Dread Last Judgment is called the Eighth Day by the holy Fathers. After the end of this age (characterized by its seven days of Creation) will come the Eighth Day, and then “the Son of Man shall come in His Glory and all the holy Angels with Him” (Mt. 25:31).

The Angelic Ranks are divided into three Hierarchies: highest, middle, and lowest.

The Highest Hierarchy includes: the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.

The six-winged SERAPHIM (Flaming, Fiery) (Is 6:2) stand closest of all to the Most Holy Trinity. They blaze with love for God and kindle such love in others. The many-eyed CHERUBIM (outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment) (Gen 3:24) stand before the Lord after the Seraphim. They are radiant with the light of knowledge of God, and knowledge of the mysteries of God. Through them wisdom is poured forth, and people’s minds are enlightened so they may know God and behold His glory. The THRONES (Col 1:16) stand after the Cherubim, mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God through the grace given them for their service. They are ministers of God’s justice, giving to tribunals, kings, etc. the capacity for righteous judgment.

The Middle Angelic Hierarchy consists of three Ranks: Dominions, Powers, and Authorities:

DOMINIONS (Col 1:16) hold dominion over the angels subject to them. They instruct the earthly authorities, established by God, to rule wisely, and to govern their lands well. The Dominions teach us to subdue sinful impulses, to subject the flesh to the spirit, to master our will, and to conquer temptation. POWERS (1 Pet 3:22) fulfill the will of God without hesitation. They work great miracles and give the grace of wonderworking and clairvoyance to saints pleasing to God. The Powers assist people in fulfilling obediences. They also encourage them to be patient, and give them spiritual strength and fortitude. AUTHORITIES (1 Pet 3:22, Col 1:16) have authority over the devil. They protect people from demonic temptations, and prevent demons from harming people as they would wish. They also uphold ascetics and guard them, helping people in the struggle with evil thoughts.

The Lowest Hierarchy includes the three Ranks: Principalities, Archangels, and Angels:

PRINCIPALITIES (Col 1:16) have command over the lower angels, instructing them in the fulfilling of God’s commands. They watch over the world and protect lands, nations and peoples. Principalities instruct people to render proper honor to those in authority, as befits their station. They teach those in authority to use their position, not for personal glory and gain, but to honor God, and to spread word of Him, for the benefit of those under them. ARCHANGELS (1 Thess 4:16) are messengers of great and wondrous tidings. They reveal prophecies and the mysteries of the faith. They enlighten people to know and understand the will of God, they spread faith in God among the people, illuminating their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel. ANGELS (1 Pet 3:22) are in the lowest rank of the heavenly hierarchy, and closest to people. They reveal the lesser mysteries of God and His intentions, guiding people to virtuous and holy life. They support those who remain steadfast, and they raise up the fallen. They never abandon us and they are always prepared to help us, if we desire it.

All the Ranks of the Heavenly Powers are called angels, although each has its own name and position by virtue of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest ranks of the angels, and they in turn inform the others.

Over all the Nine Ranks, the Lord appointed the Holy Archangel Michael (his name in Hebrew means “who is like unto God”), the faithful servitor of God, as Chief Commander. He cast down from Heaven the arrogantly proud Lucifer and the other fallen spirits when they rebelled against God. Michael summoned the ranks of angels and cried out, “Let us attend! Let us stand aright before our Creator and do not consider doing what is displeasing unto God!”

According to Church Tradition, and in the church services to the Archangel Michael, he participated in many other Old Testament events.

During the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt he went before them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Through him the power of the Lord was made manifest, annihilating the Egyptians and Pharaoh who were in pursuit of the Israelites. The Archangel Michael defended Israel in all its misfortunes. He appeared to Joshua Son of Navi and revealed the will of the Lord at the taking of Jericho (Josh 5:13-16). The power of the great Chief Commander of God was manifest in the annihilation of the 185,000 soldiers of the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib (4/2 Kings 19:35); also in the smiting of the impious leader Heliodorus (2 Macc. 3: 24-26); and in the protection of the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias and Misail, thrown into the fiery furnace for their refusal to worship an idol (Dan 3:22-25). Through the will of God, the Chief Commander Michael transported the Prophet Habbakuk (December 2) from Judea to Babylon, to give food to Daniel in the lions’ den (Dan. 14:33-37). The Archangel Michael disputed with the devil over the body of the holy Prophet Moses (Jude 1:9). The holy Archangel Michael showed his power when he miraculously saved a young man, cast into the sea by robbers with a stone about his neck on the shores of Mt Athos. This story is found in the Athonite Paterikon, and in the Life of Saint Neophytus of Docheiariou (November 9). From ancient times the Archangel Michael was famed for his miracles in Rus. In the Volokolamsk Paterikon is a narrative of Saint Paphnutius of Borov with an account of Tatar tax-gatherers concerning the miraculous saving of Novgorod the Great: “Therefore Great Novgorod was never taken by the Hagarenes... when... for our sins the godless Hagarene emperor Batu devoured and set the Russian land aflame and came to Novgorod, and God and the Most Holy Theotokos shielded it with an appearance of Michael the Archangel, who forbade him to enter into it. He [Batu] was come to the Lithuanian city and came toward Kiev and saw the stone church, over the doors of which the great Archangel Michael had written and spoken to the prince his allotted fate, ‘By this we have forbidden you entry into Great Novgorod’.” Intercession for Russian cities by the Most Holy Queen of Heaven always involved Her appearances with the Heavenly Hosts, under the leadership of the Archangel Michael. Grateful Rus acclaimed the Most Pure Mother of God and the Archangel Michael in church hymns. Many monasteries, cathedrals, court and merchant churches are dedicated to the Chief Commander Michael. In old Kiev at the time of the accepting of Christianity, a cathedral of the Archangel was built, and a monastery also was named for him. Archangel cathedrals are found at Smolensk, Nizhni Novgorod, Staritsa, at Great Ustiug (beginning of the thirteenth century), and a cathedral at Sviyazhsk. In Rus there was not a city where there was not a church or chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of the chief temples of the city of Moscow, the burial church in the Kremlin, is dedicated to him. Numerous and beautiful icons of the Chief Commander of the Heavenly Hosts are also in his Cathedral. One of these, the Icon “Blessed Soldiery,” was painted in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The saintly soldiers, Russian princes, are depicted under the leadership of the Archangel Michael. We invoke Saint Michael for protection from invasion by enemies and from civil war, and for the defeat of adversaries on the field of battle. He conquers all spiritual enemies.

Holy Scripture and Tradition give us the names of the Archangels:

Gabriel: strength (power) of God, herald and servitor of Divine omnipotence (Dan 8:16, Luke 1:26). He announces the mysteries of God. Raphael: the healing of God, the curer of human infirmities (Tobit 3:16, 12:15) Uriel: the fire or light of God, enlightener (2 Esdras 5:20). We pray for him to enlighten those with darkened minds. Selaphiel: the prayer of God, impelling to prayer (2 Esdras 5:15). He prays to God for mankind. Jehudiel: the glorifying of God, encouraging exertion for the glory of the Lord and interceding for the reward of efforts. Barachiel: distributor of the blessings of God for good deeds, entreats the mercy of God for people. Jeremiel: the raising up to God (2 Esdras 4:36)

On icons the Archangels are depicted in according to the character of their service:

Michael tramples the devil underfoot, and in his left hand holds a green date-tree branch, and in his right hand a spear with a white banner on which is outlined a scarlet cross, or sometimes a fiery sword. Gabriel with a branch from Paradise, presented by him to the Most Holy Virgin, or with a shining lantern in his right hand and with a mirror made of jasper in his left. Raphael holds a vessel with healing medications in his left hand, and with his right hand leads Tobias, carrying a fish for healing (Tobit 5-8). Uriel in his raised right hand holds a naked sword at the level of his chest, and in his lowered left hand “a fiery flame.” Selaphiel in a prayerful posture, gazing downwards, hands folded on the chest. Jehudiel holds a golden crown in his right hand, in his left, a whip of three red (or black) thongs. Barachiel is shown with a white rose on his breast. Jeremiel holds balance-scales in his hand.

Each person has a guardian angel (Matt 18:10), and every nation also receives its own guardian angel from God (Dan. 10:13). When a church is consecrated, it also receives a guardian angel (Palladius, Dial. Ch. 10).

Hebrews 2:2-10

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:"What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Luke 10:16-21

16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

[atopvisenyashill]

elia sand, queen of (what’s left of) the seven kingdoms

HEAR ME OUT.

probably the biggest and most important question after you accept ��king bran in harrenhal” into your life, is but bran can’t have kids. that’s correct. or well, it’s potentially correct - everyone in universe seems to think he won’t be physically capable of having a child because of his paralysis. BUT. that doesn’t mean he won’t marry nor does that mean that there isn’t a potential benefit to him not being able to have children.

now, there have been several marriages made to bring peace after conflict - dorne is involved in several of thess with the matches of maron & daenerys as well as daeron & myriah. the marriages of robert & cersei and jaehaera and aegon iii were…less successful attempts at this. so even if bran isn’t expected to have kids, it’s possible that a marriage for him would see prudent as a way of brokering peace in some symbolic way. what better candidate than dorne, really, given the similarities between their people and what dorne & the north have lost (in differing colors for formatting reasons)-

"I promise." Promise me, Ned, Lyanna's voice echoed. The prince is a sentimental man, and he still mourns his sister Elia and her sweet babe.

Lyanna had only been sixteen, a child-woman of surpassing loveliness. Ned had loved her with all his heart. "As children Elia and I were inseparable, much like your own brother and sister."

That was his curse. Robert would swear undying love and forget them before evenfall, but Ned Stark kept his vows. He thought of the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them. "If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all seven hells," he promised.

Archmaester Brude, who was born and raised in the shadow city that huddles beneath the crumbling walls of Sunspear, once famously observed that Dorne has more in common with the distant North than either does with the realms that lie between them.

"Robert, I ask you, what did we rise against Aerys Targaryen for, if not to put an end to the murder of children?" "Four lives will suffice for me. Lord Tywin's golden twins, as payment for Elia's children. The old lion, for Elia herself. And last of all the little king, for my father." "The boy has never wronged us."

but why justify elia sand specifically though? well-

Robb bristled at that. "The Westerlings are better blood than the Freys. They're an ancient line, descended from the First Men. The Kings of the Rock sometimes wed Westerlings before the Conquest, and there was another Jeyne Westerling who was queen to King Maegor three hundred years ago."

Arianne read the letter thrice, then rolled it up and tucked it back into her sleeve. A dragon has returned to Westeros, but not the dragon my father was expecting...Fire and blood was what Jon Connington (if indeed it was him) was offering as well. Or was it? "He comes with sellswords, but no dragons," Prince Doran had told her, the night the raven came… “Elia's son... I would weep for joy if some part of my sister had survived, but what proof do we have that this is Aegon?"

wild Elia Sand, a maid of ten-and-four.

Five yards from the gates Elia Sand came flying from the cloud of dust behind them to rush past both of them on her black filly. “Are you half horse, child?" Valena asked, laughing, in the yard. "Princess, did you bring a stable girl?" “I'm Elia," the girl announced. "Lady Lance."

Not even Lord Rickard's daughter could outrace him, and that one was half a horse herself.

When his fallen foes sought to ransom horse and armor, the Knight of the Laughing Tree spoke in a booming voice through his helm, saying, 'Teach your squires honor, that shall be ransom enough.' Once the defeated knights chastised their squires sharply, their horses and armor were returned. And so the little crannogman's prayer was answered.

"Rise. Tell me, who is Lyanna Mormont?" "One of Lady Maege's daughters, Sire. The youngest. She was named for my lord father's sister."

so two joust loving, sassy 14 year old girls are rolling up to A Targaryen Prince who is about to be TESTED by all his Promised Princeliness. Elia Sand, named after Elia, Rhaegar’s wife, and Lyanna, who has a living namesake in Lyanna Mormont. robb justifies his marriage to jeyne by saying kings have married westerlings before…and if elia and aegon elope like some other Unruly 14 Year Old/Targaryen Prince, he has the power to legitimize her, and this excuse could be used again.

As everyone decides what should be done about Bran’s marriage, Elia Sand is pressed forward - she’s around his age (only four years older), she has been legitimized (is perhaps even going by Elia Martell), she is, like jeyne westerling, a crownless little queen without a princely son or a living kingly husband. And as people start to grumble about her baseborn heritage, Arianne will point out that no one is expecting Bran to have children, and it’s merely symbolic - a way of giving Dorne a say in rebuilding Westeros, and if attempting to reunite what’s left of the kingdoms.