#also this applies to more regions than just family of course

[lucidowl]

Casual reminder from an adoptee who's been loved by and cared for by adoptive parents since birth:

If they aren't willing to act like family to you, they're not family to you.

I think a lot of people forget that. You, likely biospawn (not adopted), still have a choice- lots of choices, actually- in the matter, and no one has an immutable right to stay in your life. If the relationship is not equal, you have no obligation to continue to serve them well. Though everyone deserves love and care, it does not have to come from you.

The goal is to have folks who want- not just tolerate having to, but WANT- to give you love and care that is fulfilling to you and who see your own love and care towards them as fulfilling. Both of these; never one without the other. And there are a whole lot of different ways that can happen, but it does happen.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

an italian fish conspiracy theory

We’ve been calling Mrs. Leech “Georgina” (which I believe has Greek origins) but what if her name is actually… “Giorgina”, a more Italian spelling??? Might this be how her name will be localized in EN?

I thought this because Ultramarine City strikes me as very… mediterranean?? More specifically, Italian. For example, the geography and architecture resembles Italy’s coastlines, which are rocky. The buildings and surrounding have similar coloration as well. Seafood is highly popular both in Italian costal cities and in Ultramarine City. (These are also true of Eric’s castle + kingdom from the film.)

Furthermore! Malleus has a voice line in his Shore’s Celebration card in which he mentions having gelato, which is an Italian frozen dessert similar to ice-cream. Gelato has lower milk fat content (less cream, more actual milk) and a slower churning process, which incorporates less air into the final product. Riddle’s voice lines mention lemons as a local specialty, just like how some regions of Italy are known for citrus. Sicilian lemons in particular come to my mind. The NRC boys eat Italian foods in the event, such as pizza, saltimbucca, amaretti, and prosciutto. Jade even mentions that Sunshine Lands uses olive oil for its canned tuna—olive oil being the fat of choice for many Italian dishes. Jade even states in episode 4 of the event that Ultramarine City is best represented by olive oil or lemon syrup. Olive and lemon are also used in their soaps.

When the NRC group sits down to eat dinner at their hotel's restaurant, Italian terms are used. For example, antipasto (appetizers), primo piatto (first course), secondo piatto (second course), etc. The dishes served are also very Italian: carpaccio, seafood platters, risotto, orzotto, txangurro, acqua pazza, and crostata. Many of these dishes feature tomato, lemon, and olive oil, all ingredients that prominently feature in Italian cuisine.

Now, it’s true that these Italian details apply to the city and not necessarily to Mrs. Leech herself. BUT—she has an acquaintance that is getting married here, in this specific place. It’s possible that they’re connected more than we think. Maybe Mrs. Leech has more “Italian” (or whatever the Twst equivalent of it is) background than we think she does.

Jade, her own son, has a voice lines in his Shore’s Celebration card in which he mentions wanting to arrive via gondola if he were to have his own wedding on land. A gondola is—you guessed it, an Italian boat. Now why would Jade specify a GONDOLA and not a ship, rowboat, or any of the other kinds of boats…? Why would he pick a type of boat that has no appearance in The Little Mermaid (which was originally a Danish tale) and didn’t associate with a particular location like Ultramarine City?

When you think about it, this isn’t even the ONLY Octatrio member with Italian ties. The -grotto in Azul’s surname is an English word adopted in the 1600s, but originally derived from Greek, Latin, and Italian origins. We also can't forget how the trio is constantly presented as "mob" or "mafia"-like. Mafia, of course, being an organized crime group or family originally operating in Sicily, Italy.

The on-campus café Azul runs, the Mostro Lounge, is Italian for “monster” (and many fans of even mistook the name as “Monstro”, the name of the whale from Pinocchio, which is set in Italy). His mother’s restaurant, La Grotta, also sounds Italian. Grotta refers to a pothole (ie a hole or cave made in rock by the action of swirling water). Azul even specifically refers to his mother’s restaurant in a few voice lines as a trattoria, which is an Italian eatery. Jade references ristorante (formal eatery), gelateria (basically a gelato shop), and taverna (more casual eatery) in the Sunshine Lands too. Not only that, but food is a huge part of Italian culture. It’s important for families to come together to eat at the same table (something which is increasingly becoming difficult to so in the modern age), and feeding others is seen as a sign of love. AND WHAT DO MRS. LEECH AND MRS. ASHENGROTTO DO??? That’s right, they give Azul lots of food 😭 Not to say that food = love is exclusively related to Italian culture, just that Italian culture is one of the cultures with that strong association.

Because the twins and Azul live in the same general area of the Coral Sea (they are familiar with the ice floes of winter, they go to the same schools, their families seem to know each other), I find all these Italian details to be more than coincidence 🤨

That’s not to say that the Coral Sea and/or the Sunshine Lands ARE 1:1 twisted Italy. I’m sure the devs have additional inspirations as well, such as other mediterranean cultures and maybe even some non-mediterranean cultures. For example, the Octatrio mention their home, the Coral Sea, being frozen over in winter, which definitely does not occur in mediterranean areas but are moreso associated with Scandinavian (like Denmark, the area in which TLM originates) seas. just thought this was interesting to note!!

Goes back to tag all my Georgina posts with “Giorgina” too just in case…

[wildshadowtamer]

Fuck it, reverse headcanon time

(Taking popular fanon and applying it to a different character out of spite. This time; Batfam)

-Jason is the batkid who knows ASL. He learnt the LOA-regional-variant back at Nanda Parbat after his voice wouldnt work post-pit, and kept using it once his voice returned because theres a lot of Deaf and mute kids in crime alley. And if the modulator in his helmet breaks and he cant take it off for any reason, he can sign. He holds classes for his goons so they learn it too.

-Babs is the coffee fiend. Her family already has addiction problem (smoking from Gordon, drinking from her father, arguably also coffee from Gordon) that runs in it, so of course she got hooked on caffeine. She actually went to college, and she has to deal with these six dumbasses over comms. She needs a heavy coffee for that.

-Signal is the sugar fiend. He finds his powers are more effective if he has a lot of sugar. His dentist is crying.

-Dick knows so many swears it once actually gave a rich guy a heart attack. He was a circus kid travelling all over the world, he knows more swears than the entirety of the batfam combined.

-Bruce listens to taylor swift. Hes a rich white man with a private jet and too many exes. He is a swiftie. He will take this secret to his grave.

-Steph is actually the favourite robin amongst the rogue gallery, except Black Mask. This resulted in Black Mask losing a scary amount of rep amongst the mob/rogue communities, because as far as they know, he killed Their robin, the villain's kid who had her One Bad Day like they did, but survived in a way they didn't. They do not know Spoiler was the girl Robin.

-Out of all the batsibs, its actually Duke (assuming hes 18+ by that point) who wins a public poll of "which Wayne heir is hottest". Dick is relieved he lost for once.

-Tim is the flirt. Dick is a flirt too, but Tim is A FLIRT, and worst of all, he forgets hes doing it half the time. Hes so used to talking in innuendos and flattery for his public image that he uses it on his teammates too. All of his team has had a crush on him before. Kon is down bad.

-Cass can, will, and has smacked someone for talking shit before. She'll do it again. Her siblings will not stop her, they are cheering her on. The minute she has enough grasp on speaking to learn verbal sassing, as opposed to body language sassing, she sasses the fuck out of them while doing so.

-Duke does drag. Jason's criminal empire he stole from Penguin has a bar he renovated into a drag bar. Duke performs there, with Bluebird and Batwoman as security in case any bigots show up.

-Damian is actually the fem one of the batboys, it just takes him a while to realise it bc Expectations and Social Pressure. Flatline, whos mostly masc, bought a bunch of dresses and skirts she keeps in her house for him to wear, before he was ready to tell anyone else. Of course, his siblings were fine with it, and Steph & Cass were thrilled to have another person to take dress shopping with them. Bruce spent the day recalculating his mental pictures of Damian's future prom photos and wedding photos. Damian is like 14 by that point, but that wont stop Bruce from finding the best dress tailor in Gotham.

-Cullen is the favourite Batkid, because he isnt a vigilante and has no intention of becoming one. Bruce is so glad at least one of his kids- even if hes not legally his- is normal.

-Steph needs glasses. She doesnt tell anyone until she gets hot-purple glittery (if that color isnt a thing, she paid Lucius to make it a thing) framed glasses and just. shows up to the manor in them. Turns out she was working virtually blind before.

-Bruce was the one who started Dick's whole pun thing, because he used to say silly catchphrases too. Rock and roll while throwing a rock wheel at someone is Dick's favourite example. He still says them in his head. (The first part is basically canon from the golden age)

-following up on that, both Bruce and Dick used to randomly start singing during fights. This is, hilariously, canon to the golden age, and i petition we bring it back. Give me Batman humming songs under his breath while on stake out. Dick training Damian to fight to a song beat.

[beneath-the-willow-tree]

I think a lot of people dont realize book armand was enslaved because they arent aware white western europeans did enslave and forcefully stripped white eastern europeans out of their culture in the past a lot. I specifically see marius' behaviour and prejudice towards amadeos eastern background not talked about much. Still, this doesnt justify not realizing amadeo was legally bought and owned as a sex life. And this still happens today. People are trafficked. Imo his enslavement will be put front and center in the show. With Armand being south asian there is no way marius&armand will be treated as a father&son dynamic. Armand can see him as a father but first and foremost its going to be presented and seen as a slave owner& his slave

I agree that this is probably part of it.

I think when many people hear the word “slave” they think of something more akin to the transatlantic slave trade, not Roman pederasty, which is the model for Marius and Amadeo’s relationship and sort of what I was alluding to in my original post. Marius doesn’t treat Amadeo the way we might think of slaveowners treating their slaves in a more modern context — aside from whipping him as a punishment — but Amadeo’s status as a slave and a foreigner (specifically from a region Marius deems “savage” in comparison to Italy) is what emboldens Marius to sexually exploit and groom him, because Marius comes from a society in which an adult man could legally have sexual relations with a younger boy only if the boy was a prostitute or slave — and often a non-Roman, but not necessarily non-European, one. (Disclaimer: I am not an expert on pederasty in Ancient Rome, so if anyone more knowledgeable would like to correct or add to anything I’ve said here, please do.) Considering Marius derives most of his personal philosophy from Ancient Roman ideals in a somewhat legalistic manner, I simply do not think he would have sex with Amadeo were Amadeo not a slave — though I am open to other takes on that.

In my — potentially unpopular — opinion, the abusive/incestuous parent/child dynamic is not the most useful analytical framework to apply to Marius and Amadeo’s relationship, because while Marius views Amadeo as a son, and Amadeo views Marius as a father figure, these roles ultimately are pretense (Amadeo is still a slave from a legal standpoint, and even centuries later, as Armand, he continues to refer to Marius as his master) and treating them as legitimate obfuscates the nature of the structures that enable abuse in their relationship. This is not to say that the nuclear family as a social model does not enable abuse, of course — just that it’s not the only social model that enables abuse, and trying to map familial roles onto other types of abusive relationships can be misrepresentative. The maker/fledgling bond does lend itself to a familial reading more than Marius and Amadeo’s vampire/human relationship does, but it gets a bit more complicated than human familial relationships, so that’s a topic for another day, perhaps.

I completely agree re: the show emphasizing Armand’s enslavement — especially if they end up adapting any of TVA, since no one in Renaissance Venice is going to look at a South Asian boy and assume he’s a rich Italian man’s son. I also think it’s going to make Marius’s racism a lot more obvious and uncomfortable, which is great, because it is uncomfortable! Even if you ship them, it’s hard to overlook that Marius denigrates Armand’s cultural upbringing. But like you said, many people don’t talk about it much in the context of the books because they’re not as aware of bigotry against Eastern Europeans as they might be of other forms of bigotry. And while Armand’s backstory doesn’t directly mirror the way sex slavery operates today, you are totally correct that it still happens — and it is often still Eastern Europeans who are trafficked in Western Europe.

[wordsandrobots]

Update on the Wishing on Space Hardware sequel: I have reached the halfway mark for the first fic, that is, the bit where I explode the starting premise and show what's really going on. Also it looks like this is going to be in the region of 90,000 words total, so the whole should come out about as long as History of a Catastrophe and Ragnarök in G Minor combined, which feels about right.

Since I've finalised this, I don't mind telling you that the first fic in Akatsuki's Big Adventure will be entitled Child of the Dawn. The second is currently under the working title Soldier of the Dusk. The first is pretty much wall-to-wall OCs (some exceptions apply, including of course Akatsuki himself), while in the second I am planning on bringing back (pause for dramatic effect, possibly a mild dun-dun-dun) Tomomi Bernstein.

Yes, look, I have Thoughts(TM) about Kudelia's mum (plus her worthless husband and his whole deal) and you're getting a fic out of it. Well that and a few trifling other items following from the first part of this ABSOLUTELY DEFINITELY TWO PART SERIES, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO BALLOON I SWEAR TO HOMER DON'T DO THAT TO ME AGAIN. *ahem*

The themes are still developing but I think I'll be able to do you a nice line in misjudged decisions, going too far in the name of desire irrespective of need, and how exploitative systems bring out the worst in people. So, you know, an Iron-Blooded Orphans story. But with a side helping of oppressive weighty family legacies, some loneliness at being left behind, and just a smidge of 'about those evil corporations this setting canonically has...'

At the very least, I've drafted a prologue to give you a taste of --actually probably not an awful lot, but I worked out how to finish it off this evening and I wanted to share. May revise it (even to the point of ditching it entirely) later, but for now, it's under this handy cut for your delectation.

Prologue

Three hundred and fifty years ago, give or take, a woman walked into a gym and met a man, a boy really, who flattered her like the sun on autumn leaves. Their story lasted a decade or more, ending in fire and hope and a long, cold silence.

Thirty-two years ago, a man left a bar and got talking to a woman, a girl really, who knew better than to turn from the offer of solace in empty times. Their story went on in fits and starts, moments of joy snatched out of endless struggle.

Twenty-seven years ago, a boy saw a girl across the street and bought her lunch, because food is serious business, too precious to hoard. Their story was brief, racing towards blood and love and an imperfect future, bright as weeds in spring.

Ten years ago, the world ended. It happens.

Five years ago, things got worse. But that's another story.

Six minutes ago, an airlock cycled without prior authorisation. The duty supervisor poked a warning light on his console, checking if this would clear the fault. Nobody had any business near that particular exit, so there had to be an error somewhere.

The light went out. The supervisor grunted, returning to mindlessly scrolling the news feeds.

Outside is the three hundredth and forty-fourth year following the Great Disaster. The solar system continues to turn, sweeping billions of tiny lives along with it, and they continue to meet and talk and care and every other thing people cannot help but do.

Within an hour, a new story will have begun.

Although, as with the rest, perhaps it really started centuries ago.

Either way, there's no stopping it now.

[cerberus-new-owner]

Had this stuck in my head all day (I lied the past 2 months) but

how do the brothers deal with like ptsd and stuff after the fall and losing their sister (I'm pretty sure it is brought up in the games but idk)

ngl I almost didn't post this

TRIGGER WARNING/CONTENT WARNING - Big boy Spoilers (can't remember what lesson/s) and Topics, Angsty, Mentions of Antidepressants, Depression, Eating Disorders, PTSD (like everyone in this has it), Anxiety, Probably OOC (Please tell me if I need to add anything to this)

About 1476 words in this including the intro this part and the end notes

If you feel like you need help or are going to do something overly drastic that could potentially harm yourself or others please contact

lifeline: 13 11 14

beyond blue: 1300 22 4636

or any other services similar that can help that apply to your country, region or area I am unsure as to whether or not these numbers will work in countries outside of Australia

These are just my headcanons that I've formed over the course of the past few months. If you feel I should add something or edit a part that I didn't do well on I will gladly take on any constructive criticism and edit this as i do not personally have expreience when it comes to most of these topics.

Lucifer

after the fall and the whole having to see his sister on the brink of death and having to hide the truth from his brothers he 100% has PTSD he hates talking about anything to do with it and has done as much as he can to erase certain things about the war from his mind and he 100% feels guilty about dragging his brothers down with him this caused him to try avoid them making up excuses to not have to leave dias side or offering to take on extra work for dia (leading him to overwork himself like he does in the og and nb timelines) and domino-ed into mammon having to deal with the others. he does eventually get better at managing his feelings and talking to his brothers and the other characters (as seen in the games from what i remember) but it'll always be to a certain extent before his stubborn pride takes hold.

Mammon

medicated depression, lucifer was like never there seeing as he would've been busy with lord diavolo leaving mammon to try to look after his five younger brothers as they all grieved whilst he was also grieving and trying to control his sin he had to (somewhat) pull his shit together somehow and it wouldn't help that his brothers are constantly referring to him as a scumbag and blaming him for stuff disappearing suddenly, mams only choice was to get diagnosed officially and start taking the meds he was given so he could help look after his family, (and if i remember right mamon says multiple times that he does care about his brothers and wants to help them) he has blocked out as much from the celestial war as he can the main parts still stick with him but over time the affect the memories of the war had on him faded, it will forever hurt him to remember just not as much as it did in those first few months/year.

Levi

chronic social anxiety the amount of demons talking about the fall and not trusting the brothers caused him to become more cautious when talking to others he focused only on the good memories from when he was in the celestial realm like watching anime with his brothers and sister re-watching said anime for days on end eventually he'd branch out and try something new just not whilst he was grieving. he just wants to feel the nostalgia/feel like he's somewhat honoring his sisters memory by watching the shows they used to watch together, he likes reliving the good memories with his sister thnking of the good things that happened rather than the bad. he does take therapy sessions through chats and such when he feels he needs them (more so in the past than in the 'present' idk what to call it)

Satan

as much as he hates to admit it at the beginning of his existence he had separation anxiety. lucifer disappearing and reappearing being the main trigger purely because he would've been confused (imagine spawning with memories and a feeling of wrath that's not yours seeing the guy who you spawned from and watching as said guy disappears leaving you with his younger brothers who are trying to grieve) like he despises lucifer sure but i feel like it would've been something like a baby duck and its mother (aka the first thing it sees) so whilst tan was constantly trying to hurt luci in the early months of his existence underneath that hatred was some kind of f-ed up 'as long as i stay here with my brothers i am looked after and cared for' or some kind of 'if i stay here long enough i can put these memories to stories and experiences' it's also kind of a rebellious teenager type thing like sure he rebels against lu but it's not necessarily pure hate (if it were a pure hate he would be trying to kill lucifer instead of mildly inconvenience him daily) other than that i don't think he would have depression or anything just PTSD from how he came to creation.

Asmo

as much as i don't want to say it i feel like he had an ED at some point after the fall along with depression the ED mainly from the sudden shock of change from chastity to lust feeling the constant need for some form of connection causing self insecurity to sink itself into him making him feel a strong need to look good on the outside to find people/demons to help satisfy that need for 'connection' sure he had his charm but i don't think he would've really known how to use it properly (i don't think any of the brothers would've had control of their sins like they do in the present timeline) and he would've felt bad making someone he didn't know to do that sort of thing against their will (back then he felt a lot more guilty, now he's just a shameless flirt).

Beel

PTSD he blames himself for her death and binge eats from both his sin and guilt he did eventually find a healthier outlet most likely being exercise knowing his sister wouldn't want him to feel so upset he doesn't try to block out the memories knowing that nothing can be done instead he tries to ignore how guilty he feels when his sister is brought up in conversation, he does his best to go through his normal daily routines he is probably profesionally diagnosed for depression (mammon probably got at least him and maybe belphie get diagnosed, he figured if anyone out of the brothers is gonna have a depressive episode of sorts after the fall it would've been them).

Belphie

PTSD, and as much as he hates it he does partially blame beel for the death of lilith the first few months he spent seething silently occasionally killing a few humans to extract his 'revenge' on them and ignoring his brothers unless it was beel. i also think he has a bit of depression, he lost his best friend and sister, had to watch her pretty much die in front of him and then didn't even get to say goodbye to her body when he fell because her body was gone (from what i know/remember) and he was the youngest other than lilith (again from what i know/remember) who fought on lucifer and liliths side of the war thats 100% gonna fuck someone up (like i mentioned with beel's mams tried to get him diagnosed as well he probably either declined or slept through the appointment).

Holy sugar that was a lot to type, I don't think I was quite able to write as well/freely as I normally would between making sure my facts are straight about certain mental illnesses and such but I hope I did some good in writing about them.

These are just my headcanons that I've formed over the course of the past few months. If you feel I should add something or edit a part that I didn't do well on I will gladly take on any constructive criticism and edit this.

None of this is any sort of recommendation or saying 'you should do this to fix your mental health' as I do not have personal experience when it comes to a lot of the things I talked about here nor am I a professional (getting a diagnosis is probably a good thing to do but it is purely what you believe is best for you) I did as much research as possible on how they affect different people (and did my best to transfer that into demons).

I went a bit darker than I would on a regular day/months of writing/typing for a fandom and I thoroughly apologize if this made anyone uncomfortable in any way but there was a warning at the start.

Again, if you feel like you need help or are going to do something overly drastic that could potentially harm yourself or others please contact

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

or any other services similar that can help that apply to your country or area I am unsure as to whether or not these numbers will work in countries outside of Australia.

Have a good day/night/marshmallow (I promise the next thing I post isn't gonna be angsty)

its just a hop skip and a jump to the masterlist

[wordarttmn]

Omori observations 12

’ll play again tonight but not much. Probably.

I didn’t save yesterday so i’ll go back and get my sno cone

First i want to focus on the slowed down version of Sugar Star Planetarium that’s about to play

Of course we get the strident noise that tell us that we are no longer where we’re supposed to be

Watermelons… are my favorite part of summer…

The watermelon disappeared last.

I don’t think that’s just slowed down SSP. It sounds… different

Also, it has started snowing

Even though i know this part well, it manages to be slightly chilling

A wish? But what should I wish for? I have everything I could want right there.

i’m not sure he was telling the truth here, and even less sure of what he did end up wishing for. If he did tell the truth, that was one of the best days in his life for sure.

The cake disappears last.

I have way less control during these scenes than with any other dialogue.

Are you going on ahead? Don’t worry about us… we’ll catch up in a minute

The sky looks like that by the way, and it’s rapidly moving. This is not headspace.

MARI’s cookies… MARI’s cookies have much more love baked into them. I could eat them forever.

The cookies disappear last.

There is an ethereal sound to that track, that i’m only now noticing with my new headphones

We’re still young… We should dream big, right?

Well one of us doesn’t speak, so one of us gets to speak twice

But this is the definitive proof that Sunny agreed.

The windmills disappeared last.

This also leads nowhere

And here’s the sixth one, the one that nearly half of player miss

that’s true of the field as well as of the library (different but related snippet you know)

This year, you get just one present… from all of us.

That present disappeared last.

we’ve got a slightly ominous red light, and i haven’t yet talked about what i think of the red light but idk if it applies here

Of course it does.

(this scene is very petscop for some reason. I don’t really get it)

i’m turning off the lights in my room

And there are the stairs again. I won’t be taking notes before i’m done with that part so i’ll try to remember my thoughts

So you have

-a useless letter, F

Is it there to pay respects? From the moment i got it i could no longer open the hangman menu

A music stand, with notes scratched out

A "happy family", which gets scratched out

A suspicious black lightbulb.

All of this will be contextualized much later. But by now family photos (and photos in general) as well as music have been persistent elements for a while and are all hinted to play a big part in the plot.

Where have I seen that wallpaper though?

I ran through the stairs like a madman. Screeching was heard while my something chased me.

Basil’s had this uncanny texture for a split second.

The lightbulb has changed.

Time to look through my book

Hero loves puns

Omori loves making fun of Kel

Siblings a few years apart can have vastly different experiences of technology.

My early computer memories are much more of educative CDRoms and offline windows stuff, and my sister’s of online flash games, and we’re only two years apart.

So i don’t think Hero’s weird for that

I really love Omori’s writing style. I’m getting COUAC vibes from him

it’s not too clear who’s speaking in the next cutscene, at least to a novice player. But of course it’s Basil

Interesting choice of texture here too

Woke up Sunny and the silence is deafening. it’s what i imagine the backrooms to sound like. (who am I kidding, that’s what my flat sounds like right now)

Sunny’s mom, i’m pretty sure, moved early to prepare the new home, and i doubt "the city" is too close. it’s the US so it might be an unsane distance.

For context, I take a 2h30 train ride to go home on weekends, and i see that as a long trip. (I’m traversing a whole region)

I’m gonna play a little Blackjack.

I don’t think the soundtrack of that game appears in the OST, but it’s obviously a version of The Last Resort

Okay I am GOOD at Blackjack. I am leaving the table with $350.

we’ll see about that

WHOA Kel calm down i’ll open tomorrow

I’m 13:33 into the game, and barely out of the prologue.

Now I AM often pausing the game to write my thoughts but i don’t think that’s reason enough to be that slow.

[mariacallous]

THIS ARTICLE IS republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

On Valentine’s Day 2025, heavy rains started to fall in parts of rural Appalachia. Over the course of a few days, residents in eastern Kentucky watched as river levels rose and surpassed flood levels. Emergency teams conducted over 1,000 water rescues. Hundreds, if not thousands of people were displaced from homes, and entire business districts filled with mud.

For some, it was the third time in just four years that their homes had flooded, and the process of disposing of destroyed furniture, cleaning out the muck, and starting anew is beginning again.

Floods wiped out businesses and homes in eastern Kentucky in February 2021, July 2022, and now February 2025. An even greater scale of destruction hit eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina in September 2024, when Hurricane Helene’s rainfall and flooding decimated towns and washed out parts of major highways.

Each of these events was considered to be a “thousand-year flood,” with a 1-in-1,000 chance of happening in a given year. Yet they’re happening more often.

The floods have highlighted the resilience of local people to work together for collective survival in rural Appalachia. But they have also exposed the deep vulnerability of communities, many of which are located along creeks at the base of hills and mountains with poor emergency warning systems. As short-term cleanup leads to long-term recovery efforts, residents can face daunting barriers that leave many facing the same flood risks over and over again.

Exposing a Housing Crisis

For the past nine years, I have been conducting research on rural health and poverty in Appalachia. It’s a complex region often painted in broad brushstrokes that miss the geographic, socioeconomic, and ideological diversity it holds.

Appalachia is home to a vibrant culture, a fierce sense of pride, and a strong sense of love. But it is also marked by the omnipresent backdrop of a declining coal industry.

There is considerable local inequality that is often overlooked in a region portrayed as one-dimensional. Poverty levels are indeed high. In Perry County, Kentucky, where one of eastern Kentucky’s larger cities, Hazard, is located, nearly 30 percent of the population lives under the federal poverty line. But the average income of the top 1 percent of workers in Perry County is nearly $470,000—17 times more than the average income of the remaining 99 percent.

This income and wealth inequality translates to unequal land ownership—much of eastern Kentucky’s most desirable land remains in the hands of corporations and families with great generational wealth.

When I first moved to eastern Kentucky in 2016, I was struck by the grave lack of affordable, quality housing. I met families paying $200 to $300 a month for a small plot to put a mobile home on. Others lived in “found housing”—often distressed properties owned by family members. They had no lease, no equity, and no insurance. They had a place to lay one’s head but lacked long-term stability in the event of disagreement or disaster. This reality was rarely acknowledged by local and state governments.

Eastern Kentucky’s 2021 and 2022 floods turned this into a full-blown housing crisis, with 9,000 homes damaged or destroyed in the 2022 flood alone.

“There was no empty housing or empty places for housing,” one resident involved in local flood recovery efforts told me. “It just was complete disaster because people just didn’t have a place to go.”

Most homeowners did not have flood insurance to assist with rebuilding costs. While many applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, the amounts they received often did not go far. The maximum aid for temporary housing assistance and repairs is $42,500, plus up to an additional $42,500 for other needs related to the disaster.

The federal government often provides more aid for rebuilding through block grants directed to local and state governments, but that money requires congressional approval and can take months to years to arrive. Local community coalitions and organizations stepped in to fill these gaps, but they did not necessarily have sufficient donations or resources to help such large numbers of displaced people.

With a dearth of affordable rentals pre-flood, renters who lost their homes had no place to go. And those living in “found housing” that was destroyed were not eligible for federal support for rebuilding.

The sheer level of devastation also posed challenges. One health care professional told me: “In Appalachia, the way it usually works is if you lose your house or something happens, then you go stay with your brother or your mom or your cousin … But everybody’s mom and brother and cousin also lost their house. There was nowhere to stay.” From her point of view, “our homelessness just skyrocketed.”

The Cost of Land—Social and Economic

After the 2022 flood, the Kentucky Department for Local Government earmarked almost $300 million of federal funding to build new, flood-resilient homes in eastern Kentucky. Yet the question of where to build remained. As another resident involved in local flood recovery efforts told me, “You can give us all the money you want; we don’t have any place to build the house.”

It has always been costly and time-intensive to develop land in Appalachia. Available higher ground tends to be located on former strip mines, and these reclaimed lands require careful geotechnical surveying and sometimes structural reinforcements.

If these areas are remote, the cost of running electric, water, and other infrastructure services can also be prohibitive. For this reason, for-profit developers have largely avoided many counties in the region. The head of a nonprofit agency explained to me that, because of this, “The markets have broken … We have no [housing] market.”

There is also some risk involved in attempting to build homes on new land that has not previously been developed. A local government could pay for undeveloped land to be surveyed and prepared for development, with the prospect of reimbursement by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development if housing is successfully built. But if, after the work to prepare the land, it is still too cost-prohibitive to build a profitable house there, the local government would not receive any reimbursement.

Some counties have found success clearing land for large developments on former strip mine sites. But these former coal mining areas can be considerable distances from towns. Without robust public transportation systems, these distances are especially prohibitive for residents who lack reliable personal transportation.

Another barrier is the high prices that both individual and corporate landowners are asking for properties on higher ground.

The scarcity of desirable land available for sale, combined with increasingly urgent demand, has led to prices unaffordable for most. Another resident involved in local flood recovery efforts explained: “If you paid $5,000 for 30 acres 40 years ago, why won’t you sell that for $100,000? Nope, [they want] $1 million.” That makes it increasingly difficult for both individuals and housing developers to purchase land and build.

One reason for this scarcity is the amount of land that is still owned by outside corporate interests. For example, Kentucky River Properties, formerly Kentucky River Coal Corporation, owns over 270,000 acres across seven counties in the region. While this landholding company leases land to coal, timber, and gas companies, it and others like it rarely permit residential development.

But not all unused land is owned by corporations. Some of this land is owned by families with deep roots in the region. People’s attachment to a place often makes them want to stay in their communities, even after disasters. But it can also limit the amount of land available for rebuilding. People are often hesitant to sell land that holds deep significance for their families, even if they are not living there themselves.

One health care professional expressed feeling torn between selling or keeping their own family property after the 2022 flood: “We have a significant amount of property on top of a mountain. I wouldn’t want to sell it because my papa came from nothing … His generation thought owning land was the greatest thing … And for him to provide his children and his grandchildren and their great-grandchildren a plot of land that he worked and sweat and ultimately died to give us—people want to hold onto that.”

She recognized that land was in great demand but couldn’t bring herself to sell what she owned. In cases like hers, higher grounds are owned locally but still remain unused.

Moving Toward Higher Ground, Slowly

Two years after the 2022 flood, major government funding for rebuilding still has not resulted in a significant number of homes. The state has planned seven communities on higher ground in eastern Kentucky that aim to house 665 new homes. As of early 2025, 14 houses had been completed.

Progress on providing housing on higher ground is slow, and the need is great.

In the meantime, when I conducted interviews during the summer and fall of 2024, many of the mobile home communities that were decimated in the 2022 flood had begun to fill back up. These were flood-risk areas, but there was simply no other place to go.

Last week, I watched on Facebook a friend’s live video footage showing the waters creeping up the sides of the mobile homes in one of those very communities that had flooded in 2022. Another of my friends mused: “I don’t know who constructed all this, but they did an unjustly favor by not thinking how close these towns was to the river. Can’t anyone in Frankfort help us, or has it gone too far?”

With hundreds more people now displaced by the most recent flood, the need for homes on higher grounds has only expanded, and the wait continues.

[attorney-anon]

Hey, I’m a law student and I’m also autistic and ADHD and I was wondering if you have any tips for working in law as a neurodivergent person? I love my course and I can’t wait to work but the 85% unemployment statistic really scares me.

This is a long answer, so I'm going to cut it for the sake of mobile users. I do link some products below; I'm not getting paid, and I'm only linking them because they honestly work for me. Also, as a caveat, a lot of this advice assumes that you're American and/or working in-person at a private law firm; unfortunately, that's my only experience other than a month doing part-time intake for my regional legal aid service.

The biggest hurdle you will meet is the bar exam*: you need a study buddy who does not have ADHD and can help keep you on track. Don't study separately then meet up; do things like watching lecture videos together and keeping pace with one another in person. I'm not ADHD myself, but my best friend and forever study partner is, and she struggled to self-start.

Buy a bar prep course. This is not the time to be a scrooge; don't buy Kaplan just because it's cheaper (it also sucks). Barbri and Themis are both good - of these, use whichever you can get for cheapest or, if the costs are comparable, use Barbri if structure gives you comfort and use Themis if you need some control over the order in which you do things. Also use Themis if humor engages you; the Property and Contracts lecturers are hilarious. Stick to your bar prep program, but be gentle with yourself if you fall behind pace - realistically, you need to get through all the topics at least once, but you don't have to do every practice MPT, every practice essay, and every practice MBE quiz. Use the same study techniques that got you through law school. IMO, useful supplemental tools include the Critical Pass flashcards (get them used if possible, or get a referral code from somebody) and the Finz Multistate Method guide. Do your best to treat the bar exam as a game - because it is one.

There's a strategy for every section, and you should practice these strategies. For the MBE, use the Finz method - it works. For the MEE, or any other essay exam, use IRAC - and make up the R if you need to. The UBE, and most state bar exams, are graded such that you do get more points for knowing the rule, but you can still get points if you make up a reasonable-sounding rule and then apply it correctly. For the MPT, just throw in as many case and rule cites as possible. Try to cite every document you're given.

Join a bar prep FB group if you use FB; I was in Themis Memes for Should-Be-Studying Teens, but I know there's a Barbri group too. I found that being able to laugh at my bar prep course made it less miserable to do it. Don't be afraid to turn the videos on 2x or 0.5x speed - or faster or slower as needed. Some of the Themis lecturers talk to slowly that we went up to 3x; one of them talks so fast I had to slow him down.

Practice for the test in as many different environments as you can. I took the 2020 Pandemic Bar, so my bar was different than standard (I took it in a hotel room with my back to the door and proctors patrolling the hallways, it was mildly traumatizing fun), but I highly recommend getting used to noise while you're taking the test. Your ADHD/Autism hyperfocus will help here - make the bar exam your hyperfixation to the extent possible.

Once you pass the bar exam, your next hurdle will be the job search. You are going to have to mask for interviews, there's just no getting around it, but how much you mask will depend on your area of law. Big Law firms and intense, litigation-focused practice areas (e.g., business lit or criminal law) will expect you to be gregarious, friendly, and charming from the get-go; less litigation-focused practice areas (e.g., probate or family law) will often have more tolerance for quieter, less aggressive types.

Do not panic if you wind up at a less-than-favorable firm on your first or even your second job; a lateral shift between firms won't kill your resume as long as you can give a tactful reason you left (e.g., "I found that I prefer to focus on X instead of Y," or "I found that I had more opportunities to explore X at Y firm, and I am interested in focusing on X"). It is not normal to cry every day after work. It is not normal to routinely have panic attacks in the bathroom.

Once you have a job, billing is going to be difficult unless you gamify it. I use the Finch self-care app, so I have a task at the end of every week to make sure I have billed my time. My friend rewards herself for every day she bills by buying herself a new pen. Some people thrive off of timers (MyCase and Clio are popular case management software programs; both have timers built-in), but if nothing else, simply note when you start tasks and when you finish them by sending e-mails to yourself (or others, if relevant) at the end of every task. If your case management software can integrate with your e-mail (MyCase can integrate with Outlook, for instance), then use that to tag outgoing e-mails so you can be sure each one gets billed.

Outside of Big Law or intense practice areas, very few people bill 8 hours per day - a lot of the work you do will be non-billable, but also you will suffer from exhaustion or burnout if you try to bill 8 hours per day (my minimum is 20 hours per week, which is just 4 hours a day). You also will usually have some discretion in billing - use that to make yourself feel better if inattention issues make something take longer than you feel is fair. As for billing enough, if you find that you are most productive outside of work hours, find a firm that will let you access client files offsite - work at home if they'll let you.

I do a lot of my best billing either in the mornings right when I get to work or at 10:00 at night. That's okay so long as you take breaks during the workday (I watch a lot of TikTok during my breaks, but I also fiddle with various online games and such); you'll need mental rest to reset between cases. If you struggle with task-switching, use a break to help reset your focus. I strongly recommend setting an alarm for yourself during breaks so that time blindness doesn't derail you. Make your alarm kind of annoying; something you won't just mindlessly ignore.

Let yourself hyperfocus on things; all of that time you spend researching and drafting and correcting and perfecting that motion or brief is billable, and it's also good practice of law - your client and your partner will appreciate your thoroughness, and the judge will almost never hate it (some judges prefer brevity, but I've never had a judge upset at me for wordiness).

I also recommend getting apps that can automate things for you; I use Espanso to make my life easier by having easy-to-type shortcuts for common phrases and information (e.g., the current date, my bar card number, my work e-mail address, etc.). You can customize these things to make sense to your own brain - your process doesn't have to work for anyone but you. Similarly, I use macros in Word to make drafting go faster by letting buttons do all my formatting for me.

Excel sheets make excellent task lists because you can split them up by case, and set them up to highlight things (e.g., today's date) automatically. Most firms will have some kind of "docket meeting" where everyone goes over the status on each case - some people prefer handwritten notes (my best friend does), some people prefer digital notes (I have an excel workbook I use). Find a method that reduces distractions but lets you keep up with the flow of conversation.

On the topic of technology, if your firm provides a computer for you, or if your firm will provide accessories to supplement your own computer, push to have multiple monitors - I use my own laptop, but my boss provides monitors and I have two plus my laptop screen. It is WAY easier to keep up with billing if you can keep your time entry software open and visible on one of your screens.

You will be spending a lot of time in your office; make it comfortable. Once you are making enough to get by, invest in a good office chair (that you own, so you can take it with you if you leave the firm) and some basic office supplies that you like, such as a post-it note dispenser (mine is a cat!). My office chair is designed to let me sit cross-legged - I highly recommend having an office chair that matches your most comfortable sitting style. Having some things that are yours will make any future moves less awkward. I also strongly, strongly recommend getting some simple and quietish fidget toys - I have several spinners, wacky tracks, tangles, and clicky fidgets in one of my desk drawers, amongst others, to help me self-stim, as well as a sensory sticker on my desk pad (on the linked set, I have the rough version of the bottom middle sticker, the rainbow finger labyrinth one).

For me, I find that actual litigation requires scripting. Whether it's an oral argument or just a temporary orders hearing, I typically have every word I intend to say written down as much as I can (re-direct examination or re-cross examination can't be scripted before the day of, but I usually at least scrawl a summary of the question I need to ask as I'm taking notes). I don't necessarily read from it, and sometimes I veer off-script, but there is a specific comfort in having the words scripted out. On the few occasions I have ad-libbed things, I find that I come off less authoritative and confident, which gives the judge the impression that I am guessing. I also find comfort in having a copy of the code I need (which is always the Texas Family Code for me) on-hand at the counsel table. You are allowed to tell the judge you'd like to consult the statute when the judge asks you a question.

I also find that, for courtroom litigation, it's worthwhile to make sure your court clothes are comfortable. Courtrooms in my area are universally a little too warm, so I have a linen blazer that breathes and a variety of shell tops that don't have sleeves. I also have bad ankles, so I wear exclusively flats despite the fact that I am less than 5 feet tall. For me, heat sensitivity is a part of my sensory issues so I am all about setting myself up for success. It's also worthwhile to bring extra water bottles; at my firm (we are almost all ND in some regard), the standard is 2 per attorney and 1 for each support staff, then 1 for the client.

For out-of-court days, even "business" can be comfortable if you're a creative shopper. My last firm required business attire, though not necessarily courtroom attire. I wore a lot of dresses to stay cool, and a solid-color dress in a modest cut paired with a black blazer (which you can remove when you're just working in your office) almost always makes the cut. For those who don't like or can't wear dresses, comfortable slacks and a modest blouse or dress shirt, paired with a blazer, also works. My current firm only requires business casual for client meetings, courtroom attire for court, and otherwise as long as we cover our shoulders and don't wear shorts, we're good to go. I use a cardigan to cover my shoulders when I'm outside my office, as most of my blouses are sleeveless. It's worthwhile to invest in a good office sweater anyway; I like a thin t-shirt material cardigan for me, but my officemate uses a pullover knit sweater. Do what's comfortable.

Office meetings, or even court hearings, can sometimes get loud and overstimulating - buy you some Flare Audio Calmer ear inserts, they really do help take some of the 'sharpness' off of the noise. I also recommend a playlist that contains binaural beats (assuming you like them) or colored (white, brown, pink, etc) noise and a solid pair of ANC headphones or earbud, depending on your preference (the linked products are far from the only options, they're just reasonably-priced options that I know work; I personally use first-gen Airpod Pros). If you don't like binaural beats or white noise, instrumentals of pop songs are also excellent.

You can also get phone apps that layer binaural beats over your music - I find that it sometimes helps me calm down when I'm close to a meltdown, though I personally feel worse at the lower frequencies (I usually stay around the alpha-beta frequency line, but ymmv). I think there are probably also some apps for colored noise over your music, but I haven't looked. If you haven't before, I recommend experimenting with binaural beats and/or colored noise - I find that they can help calm down some of the staticky feeling I get from overstimulation.

Offices also sometimes involve other sensory dangers - like, for instance, food texture issues (another big one for me). You can often get out of things like that by simply explaining that the food doesn't agree with you, or that you're not very hungry - or, if your boss knows that you have sensory issues (mine knows I'm autistic), you can just quietly explain that it's a sensory problem and you have it under control. Keep some safe snacks in your office. You can avoid alcohol, if you're picky about it or just don't like it, by explaining that you're not in the mood to drink (or that you don't drink, period) and that you'll stick to soda/tea/water/whatever. Only major assholes will push past that.

Most coping mechanisms for sensory issues can be justified with "I don't feel good" or "I have a headache."

If your office chair hurts your back, get up and walk around. You are not in elementary school; at most firms, you can step out and just let your coworkers know where'/how to find you, and when you'll be back.

For intra-office and extra-office communications, if you have any doubts about the quality of the communication, you can put it in writing afterwards. A quick e-mail saying, "Okay, so this is my understanding of X, please let me know if I've misunderstood anything or if anything changes" is a good CYA to cover any communication difficulties; don't use idioms or shorthand in these e-mails - actually spell out exactly what you think happened, or what you think you've been asked to do.

If you're worried about your tone in written communications, Chat GPT is good at doing a first draft. It can also do a first draft of your attorney bio, if you're asked to write it yourself. Tell it the message you want to convey, and the tone in which you need it said. For instance, if you need to convey to a pro se opposing party that your world does not revolve around them, but you want to do it professionally, you might tell Chat GPT, "Write a professional e-mail to my opposing party conveying that my world does not revolve around them and that I will get to them when I get to them." That won't give you a perfect e-mail, but it gives you an idea of how to set the tone. Never trust any citation the thing gives you, but you can also use it to simplify complex thoughts for motions that you need to be simpler.

Law practice is also emotionally draining. Take the time to cry if you need to, or to go outside or into a breakroom and breathe.

Essentially, working in law when you're ND means finding tools to help you. It's definitely doable (as I said, most of my current firm is ND), but you'll need to find coping mechanisms to soothe yourself. If you've gotten into law school, I think it's clear that you're competent enough to work. The trick is not burning yourself out entirely, which I hope the above can help with.

* - This is not and never will be an endorsement of bar exams as a measure of competence for new attorneys. The bar exam is a racist and classist institution born from the desire of old white men to keep their good-ol'-boys club exclusive. Fuck the NCBE and abolish bar exams nationwide.

[justcrafting]

I always find it funny and infuriating to get confirmations that a lot of schools do NOT care about marginalized families that attend them. Especially schools that were made to "help" said marginalized families.

I work at a school uniform store, because in the southern United States - the Gulf of Mexico region specifically - students in both private and public schools are required to wear uniforms. One of the schools that we sell for is a charter school - which is kind of in between a private and public school, believed to have better education than public schools and also generally made to help teach students of color, especially those whose parents immigrated here and don't speak a lot of English, but are cheaper than private schools. This charter school, when I first started working at my job, had a patch logo for the longest time - a patch logo is a patch that can be iron-pressed and/or sewn onto an item of clothing. These patch logoes were able to be applied to clothing items purchased from our store for free, or for $5 per item (without tax!) if the clothes were brought in from another store. At the beginning of summertime last year, the school decided to switch from the patch logo to a vinyl press-on logo - these resemble the designs on graphic t-shirts, and can only be applied via a logo-press iron. They could not be sewn on. Since it was before school started, the school did not allow a grace period for parents who previously bought the patch logo to continue to wear the shirts with the patch logo on it, all parents had to come in to get new shirts with the press-on vinyl only. While mildly frustrating, it was still okay because like the patch logoes, the vinyls were able to be applied to clothing items purchased from our store for free, or for $5 per item (without tax!) if the clothes were brought in from another store. Then, about a week after school started, the school decided that they didn't like the vinyls anymore, and that they wanted to look more "professional" and switched entirely over to a monogram. We tried to explain to them that this was a very bad idea, and that it would screw parents over, but they went ahead with it anyway. Now, a monogram is something that is entirely stitched into a shirt via a machine. We don't have that kind of machine at our store, so we send it off to a company that we're partnered with and have them do it for us. Because of this, we charge for both our own items and outside items ($9.00 per item for our stuff, not including tax (tax is included for monograms), and $10.25 per item for outside stuff, not including tax). It also takes about 3-5 days to get done, and that's only during our slower months. When we're busy - say, the few weeks before school starts -, it takes weeks because our monogrammers get very backed up with all of the orders they're taking in. And, for whatever reason, the school decided to only give the very briefest of grace period for these parents who JUST bought these uniforms for their kids - dropping about hundred dollars, if not more, on clothes for their children - to purchase entirely new uniforms, which now cost even more. And that grace period lasted about a week or two before WE contacted THEM and they confirmed - after a long time of getting mixed answers because these schools are never organized - that we were not allowed to apply the old vinyl logo and that everything had to be the monogram now. No exceptions. So all of these poor, mostly immigrant families, had to now repurchase their kids uniforms and their kids had to be left without the proper uniforms for days to weeks because the school decided to screw them over with no consideration to all the money that was just wasted. And, of course, while some parents understood that what happened was not our fault, a lot of them berated US for these changes even though we explained that the school was in charge of stuff like this and not us. Also, the monogram is ugly as fuck and garish. It does NOT look good at all. So really, the hell is the point? And no, the school does not get money from this.

[outofangband]

Love, love, love the birds worldbuilding in Himring.

I've actually been digging through links looking for birds that occupy Nan Elmoth and the surrounding area - Himlad, northern Estolad, the banks of the Celon.

Any thoughts about the flying critters living around there?

I’ll start with Himlad!

Flora, fauna, geography and environment masterlist

Himlad was a realm in Eastern Beleriand, bordered on the West by the river Aros and on the East, its tributary, Celon. It means ‘cool plain’ in Sindarin and was described simply as a cold region, likely due to its proximity to the March and thus to the Iron Mountains, the cold fronts of which extend throughout the surrounding regions. 

I have imagined it as a steppe environment with an ecology similar to Mongolia. We have little information on environment other than the description of cold but some speculation can be done due to the habitat and through looking at similar real habitats, mostly in Northern Europe and temperate parts of Asia as well as parts of North America which Tolkien was inspired by the prairies in (source: The Flora of Middle Earth)

As always I include world building notes at the end so it’s not just a list of species! And as always please consider the list incomplete! There are so so many birds and I often go back to add more. Feel free to request a more specific prompt to focus on or a more specific family of birds

In the plains and steppe: tawny pipit (migratory, traveling west in the winter), David’s snowfinch, brown accentor, Siberian stonechat (also found in shrubs), rosy starling, swan geese, steppe partridge, pallas’s sandgrouse, great bustard, common cuckoo (migratory), cornrail (migratory, avoids the more arid parts), bearded vulture, crested lark, golden eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, grey faced buzzard, ring necked pheasant, hazel grouse, black grouse, blue rock thrush, common quail, horned owls, gray partridge, desert warbler

Roosting in the sparse trees and shrubs: Yellow browed bunting, common rosefinch, fieldfare, stock dove, common nightjar, little owl, pine bunting

River shores: snow bunting (migratory), red necked crane (migratory), greater painted snipe, osprey, coturnix quail, grey heron, hen harrier, white throated dipper, bank swallow

Other: fork-tailed swift (migratory, mainly aerial), white headed duck, house sparrow, brambling (migratory), song thrush (migratory), black billed caper, northern wren

World building notes:

-Hunting with eagles and other birds of prey is more common than in the other Fëanorian realms (though most utilize birds at least sometimes). Golden and steppe eagles are used primarily by Celegorm and his loyal servants; these are huge and beautiful birds whose use is in some ways a boast of the skill of their handlers

-Celegorm’s knowledge of the language of birds is highly utilized for the defensive and offensive projects of Himlad. Though his followers do not for the most part have this gift they are highly skilled in using tracks, traces and conditions to understand the presence of local birds and the implications thereof. They know what to make of the stray tail feathers of a steppe partridge versus the presence of molt. They know the difference between the tracks of

Of course this applies to other creatures besides birds but as this post is about birds…

-Grouse and quail are sometimes kept for meat and eggs though different species of quail then are kept by the Marchwardens of Doriath. Some of the species are brought from Estolad, Ossiriand or Western Beleriand. The birds are housed in large open pens with small nesting boxes. 

-There are also domestic species of chicken, peacock and quail like birds that are kept for similar reasons. Hybrid species, sometimes with native species, occur naturally and through planned breeding projects during the Long Peacd

-The camouflage of steppe creatures including birds is often used in the fashion of Himlad’s soldiers.

-The various sections of archers among the army and scouts are distinguished by varying types of feathers used in their arrows. For example, Swan goose feather is used for the scouts that patrol the borders and rivers, swift feathers are used among the smaller more specialized groups and golden eagle feathers are reserved for the archers who will be first in the lines of offensive movements.

-Game birds are hunted for meat though all parts are used. Bird bones are actually highly utilized by the host of Himlad, in jewelry and headwear as well as whistles and other tools.

As always please feel free to ask more!

[peachypede]

✈️ 💔🍸 for Pecha andddd 💯🐉 🎮 for Aman?

Ask meme is here!

✈️ AIRPLANE — does your oc like traveling, or do they consider themselves a more homey person?

Traveling is very nostalgic for Pecha. Most of her childhood consisted of going on research trips with her dad and camping out in the wilderness to study bugs. Name a forest in any region and she’s probably been there. In her recent years she’s become more of a homebody, but she still very much enjoys traveling when the opportunity comes up.

Plus she didn’t get to go to many cities during her travels with her dad, so she loves being able to check out shops.

💔 BROKEN HEART — what are three of your oc's negative traits?

Anxious - Pecha has an anxiety disorder. She worries about almost anything and everything, especislly social interactions.

Obsessive - Her adhd brings hyper-fixation, which sometimes centers around people. With how romantic minded she is, it can become accidentally overbearing.

Pessimistic - Pecha fears about the worst case scenarios that she often perceives them to be the only scenario that can happen. Someone gave her a funny look? They probably hate her, she must have done something to upset them, etc.

🍸 COCKTAIL GLASS — what is your oc's favorite alcoholic drink, if they can drink?

Since her anxiety gives her IBS, she tries to keep her drinks mild. Beer, red/white wine, whiskey, vodka, and gin tend to be low-FODMAP (aka the carbohydrates in alchohol that can trigger digestive symptoms) so she tends to stick with them. She’s also a lightweight so…she tries to limit things to one drink only.

Gin and tonic is her go to drink usually at bars, despite being teased occasionally that it’s an old man drink. It’s really the best thing for her stomach. Since beer is usually the casual party drink, it’s easier for her to fit in there. Rarely does she go for anything stronger though.

💯 HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know.

- Aman was the son of a crime lord in Sinnoh before the accident that left left him orphaned and without his right limbs. If that accident hadnt happened, Aman probably would have grown up in a gang. (And this is why he was sent out of country to be adopted in order to make sure he was safe from rival gang members)

- The carefree attitude he has is really a front. He harbors a lot of anger inside that he releases during his job. He hates people he loves seeing that part of himself.

- He actually wants to have a family someday. He’s a sentimental guy deep down and there’s nothing that tugs his heart strings more than thinking of settling down someday with someone and having kids.

🐉 DRAGON — what is your oc's favorite mythical creature?

Since this is the pokemon world, I’m guessing this applies to mythical/legendary pokemon.

Aman’s favorite is Arceus but also that’s funny because he’s religious so he’s basically saying “God is my favorite”.

After Arceus, it’s probably Azelf. Aman just felt like he had a personal connect with it when he was a child.

🎮 VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER — what are three of your oc's favorite hobbies?

- Reading is a big favorite, especially classics. Also just reading anything absurd or crazy. He finds weird books funny. (Badly written romance novels are good)

- Painting/drawing. He was raised by artists and they would consider it a tragedy if Aman didnt know how to paint and draw as well. He’s not good at drawing humans or pokemon, so he sticks with plants and humans objects.

- Hanging out with people that aren’t related to his assignments. It’s nice to not have to worry about every single thing he’s saying. (Although he keeps the whole being an Interpol Agent thing quiet still of course)

[futurevision0]

Study in Australia: Trusted Guidance from Bangladesh

In recent years, Bangladesh has seen a surge in students seeking international academic opportunities, particularly in Australia. As one of the top destinations for quality education and career prospects, Australia continues to attract thousands of Bangladeshi students each year. However, navigating the process—from choosing the right university and course to understanding visa regulations—can be overwhelming. That’s where the best education consultancy firm in Bangladesh comes into play, ensuring a seamless journey for aspiring students. Among these, those specializing as an australia bangladesh education consultant stand out for their targeted guidance and regional expertise.

Choosing to study abroad is more than just applying to a university; it's about making life-changing decisions that affect your future. This is why students and their families increasingly rely on professional support to get it right the first time. A dedicated australia bangladesh education consultant not only assists with application procedures but also provides strategic advice tailored to the unique needs of Bangladeshi students. From English language requirements and financial documentation to career planning and cultural readiness, these firms offer end-to-end solutions to ensure a smooth transition into academic life in Australia.

The best education consultancy firm in Bangladesh understands the academic, social, and emotional challenges students face when planning to study overseas. They don’t just offer information—they offer insight. These firms are updated with the latest immigration rules, university rankings, and scholarship opportunities. More importantly, they take a student-first approach, treating each applicant as an individual with unique dreams and goals.

Australia’s education system is known for its flexibility and diversity. Whether a student wants to pursue business, IT, engineering, healthcare, or creative arts, the options are broad and well-structured. However, with so many universities and programs available, making the right choice requires deep understanding. A reputable consultancy firm helps students match their profiles with institutions that align with their academic background, career goals, and financial resources. This strategic matchmaking greatly increases the chances of both admission and long-term success.

Another reason students gravitate toward the best consultancy services is their in-depth knowledge of visa application processes. Australian student visa policies are detailed and require a level of documentation and accuracy that can be difficult for students to manage alone. Professional consultants ensure that applications are complete, truthful, and well-prepared—minimizing the risk of rejection. Additionally, they guide students through interviews and post-approval processes like health checks, travel planning, and accommodation support.

One such reliable name that has built a strong reputation in this domain is Future Vision. They are known for their student-centric approach, focusing on transparency, ethical practices, and personalized counseling. With a track record of successful placements in Australian universities, they have become a trusted partner for students and parents alike.

Furthermore, many firms are now embracing technology to enhance their services. Virtual consultations, digital document submissions, and online pre-departure briefings are becoming standard practices, making it even easier for students across Bangladesh to access top-tier consultancy services without having to travel. This innovation is not just convenient—it reflects the evolving nature of education and the growing digital expectations of students today.

The role of a good consultant doesn’t end once a student boards the plane. The best education consultancy firm in Bangladesh provides ongoing support even after the student arrives in Australia. They assist with local orientation, part-time job guidance, and sometimes even community networking. This level of care ensures that students are not just placed but are prepared to thrive.

Future Vision has continually demonstrated why expert consultation is key to academic and career success abroad. Their strong connections with Australian institutions and dedication to student welfare place them among the top choices for those seeking reliable guidance.

In summary, as the desire to study abroad continues to grow among Bangladeshi students, the need for trustworthy, knowledgeable, and professional consultants becomes even more vital. Choosing an experienced australia bangladesh education consultant can make all the difference between a difficult journey and a rewarding academic adventure. For students with dreams of Australia, working with the right consultancy is not just an option—it’s a smart decision.

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[nexgenimmi]

Visa Consultancy in Jalandhar – NexGen Immigration

Introduction: The Growing Need for Visa Services in Jalandhar

Jalandhar, being a vibrant city in Punjab, has seen a significant rise in the number of people aspiring to study, travel, or settle abroad. With increasing global exposure, international travel for education, tourism, or family purposes has become common. But navigating visa procedures can be complex, confusing, and time-consuming. That’s where a reliable visa consultancy in Jalandhar like NexGen Immigration steps in to guide individuals with accurate, up-to-date, and result-oriented services.

Why Visa Consultancy is Important

Visa procedures involve paperwork, documentation, interviews, eligibility requirements, and country-specific legalities. A small error or missing document can result in rejection. A visa consultant helps:

Assess your profile

Select the right visa category

Prepare documentation

Train for interviews

Submit error-free applications

Communicate with embassies or consulates if needed

A professional consultancy not only saves time but also increases the chances of visa approval.

NexGen Immigration – Trusted Visa Consultancy in Jalandhar

NexGen Immigration is one of the leading visa consultants in Jalandhar. With a team of experienced counselors and visa experts, we have been helping individuals and families achieve their overseas dreams with confidence.

✔ Our Approach

We follow a transparent, ethical, and personalized approach for every client. Whether it’s a first-time student applying for a university in Canada or a parent wanting to visit their child abroad, we offer tailored solutions based on your specific needs.

✔ Wide Range of Visa Services

We specialize in various visa categories, including:

Study Visa: For students aiming to study in Canada, UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, or Europe. From course selection to university admission and visa filing, we handle it all.

Tourist Visa: Planning a vacation abroad? Our team ensures your tourist visa is processed smoothly, with all required travel documents in place.

Business Visa: For entrepreneurs and professionals looking to expand business overseas or attend trade events.

Visitor Visa: Visit your relatives or friends living abroad without hassle. We help you prepare for interviews and ensure strong documentation.

Schooling Visa: Specialized visa assistance for school-going children planning to study abroad at an early age.

Family Sponsored Visa: For spouses, parents, or dependent children – we assist in applying under family reunification or sponsorship programs.

Visa Counselling Services – What Makes Us Different?

Visa counselling is more than just document checking. At NexGen Immigration, we offer detailed one-on-one guidance sessions that help clients:

Understand the visa process in simple terms

Choose the right country based on profile and goals

Build strong Statements of Purpose (SOPs) or cover letters

Prepare for embassy interviews

We also keep our clients updated about changing immigration rules, visa policy updates, and country-specific eligibility changes.

Client-Centric Services with Real-Time Support

We believe in responsiveness and reliability. From the day you visit us till your visa is stamped, we stay in touch. Every client is assigned a dedicated counsellor for quick updates and personal assistance. Our office in Jalandhar is open to walk-ins and appointment-based visits, ensuring flexibility.

Local Expertise with Global Vision

Being based in Jalandhar, we understand the mindset and aspirations of Punjab’s youth and families. Whether it's Canada’s SDS program or Australia’s subclass visas, our global network of partners and legal advisors help us deliver up-to-date, compliant services.

We also support post-visa services like:

Pre-departure briefings

Accommodation support

Travel insurance and forex guidance

Client Testimonials & Success Stories

Thousands of clients from Jalandhar and nearby regions have successfully secured their visas through NexGen Immigration. Their trust and repeated referrals speak for our dedication and results.

"I was very confused about my Canada study visa, but NexGen’s team guided me through every step. Got my visa in 22 days!" – Harpreet Kaur, Jalandhar"NexGen helped me get a tourist visa for Australia. Everything was smooth and professional!" – Rajinder Singh, Phagwara

[jasonvanof]

Ten quick tips regarding luxury dinnerware

When it comes to sophisticated entertaining, few elements make as powerful a statement as exquisite dinnerware. Whether you are hosting an intimate dinner party or considering corporate gifts in Sri Lanka, luxury tableware transforms ordinary meals into memorable experiences. The perfect plate is not merely a vessel for food—it is an artistic canvas that elevates your dining aesthetic and reflects your personal style. For those looking to invest in premium dinnerware or seeking the perfect present for loved ones, these ten insightful tips will guide you through the nuanced world of fine tableware.

The Art of Material Selection

The foundation of exceptional dinnerware begins with its composition. Bone china, with its remarkable strength-to-thinness ratio and translucent quality, represents the pinnacle of ceramic craftsmanship. When tapped gently, it produces a distinctive, melodious ring—a hallmark of superior quality. Porcelain offers similar elegance with slightly more durability, making it ideal for households that entertain frequently.

For contemporary settings, vitrified glass and stoneware have gained popularity for their distinctive aesthetic and exceptional durability. These materials often feature in modern collections available through dinner plates wholesale distributors, allowing restaurants and catering businesses to access designer-quality pieces at more accessible price points.

Before investing in any set, consider your lifestyle requirements. Will these pieces be reserved for special occasions, or do you prefer luxury in your everyday dining experience? The answer will guide your material selection toward either delicate, ornate options or more resilient yet equally sophisticated alternatives.

Understanding Craftsmanship Markers

True luxury dinnerware reveals its quality through subtle details. Examine the uniformity of plates within a set—premium collections maintain consistent thickness throughout each piece. The glaze should appear perfectly smooth and evenly applied, without bubbling or inconsistencies.

On decorated pieces, patterns should demonstrate precise application with clean lines and careful detailing. Hand-painted elements typically command higher prices but offer unparalleled artistry. Many heritage brands include maker's marks on the underside of each piece—a signature that authenticates its provenance and craftsmanship standards.

When shopping for the best housewarming gifts, these quality indicators help ensure your present will be treasured for generations. A carefully selected dinnerware set becomes an heirloom, carrying stories of memorable meals and celebrations through the years.

Consideration of Context and Cuisine

The relationship between culinary presentation and tableware extends beyond aesthetics. Different cuisines benefit from specific plate profiles and colours. Eastern dishes often shine against minimalist white porcelain that highlights vibrant ingredients, while Mediterranean fare may find its complement in rustic, earth-toned stoneware that echoes the region's natural warmth.

Consider the typical serving temperature of your favourite dishes when selecting dinnerware. Some materials retain heat more effectively—a benefit when serving foods that cool quickly. Others maintain their cool longer, making them ideal for cold presentations like sushi or delicate salads.

The dining context also influences appropriate selection. A formal twelve-course tasting menu demands different tableware than a relaxed family-style gathering. Building a versatile collection that accommodates various dining experiences demonstrates true sophistication in entertaining.

The Psychology of Colour and Shape

Dinnerware colour influences not just visual appeal but potentially even taste perception. White and cream plates create a neutral backdrop that allows complex dishes to command attention. Deeper hues can create dramatic contrasts that emphasise lighter foods or create thematic dining experiences.

The psychological impact extends to plate shapes as well. Round plates convey traditional elegance, while square or asymmetrical designs introduce contemporary energy to table settings. Subtle rim variations—from completely flat to delicately raised edges—affect both presentation possibilities and the practical dining experience.

When selecting a gift for wedding couples in Sri Lanka, consider their home décor and personality when choosing between traditional and modern dinnerware profiles. A thoughtfully matched set demonstrates attention to the recipients' personal style—always the mark of a meaningful gift.

Mixing Artfully Rather Than Matching Perfectly

Contemporary entertaining has embraced eclectic styling over perfectly matched sets. Thoughtful curation of complementary pieces creates visual interest and conversation starters at your table. Consider building a collection around a unified colour palette while varying textures and patterns for sophisticated layering effects.

Heritage brands increasingly offer compatible collections designed for mixing across lines while maintaining cohesive design language. This approach allows for expanding your collection gradually and incorporating special occasion pieces without requiring complete set replacement.

The ability to coordinate rather than match exactly also provides practical benefits—individual replacements become simpler, and your table setting evolves naturally over time while maintaining its essential character.

Investment Value Considerations

Fine dinnerware represents more than a practical purchase—it is an investment in quality that often appreciates over time. Certain heritage brands maintain remarkable resale value, particularly limited editions or discontinued patterns. Before investing significantly, research manufacturers with established reputations for longevity and consistent quality standards.

Consider the maintenance requirements as part of your investment calculation. Hand-painted details and precious metal accents often require more careful handling and specific cleaning protocols. The most practical luxury pieces balance exquisite appearance with reasonable care requirements.

For those exploring dinner plates wholesale options for business purposes, consider how the perceived value of your tableware influences customer experience and price expectations. Premium restaurants recognise that their dinnerware selection significantly impacts dining atmosphere and perceived value of their cuisine.

Seasonality and Versatility

Sophisticated hosts often maintain seasonal dinnerware collections that reflect changing light, available ingredients, and entertaining styles throughout the year. Lighter, brighter pieces naturally complement spring and summer dining, while deeper tones and heavier materials feel appropriate for autumn and winter gatherings.

Rather than purchasing entirely different sets, consider building a versatile foundation supplemented with seasonal accent pieces. Chargers, appetizer plates, and serving vessels offer opportunities to introduce seasonal elements without requiring complete collection changes.

This approach creates refreshed dining experiences throughout the year while maintaining cohesion in your overall collection—a thoughtful strategy for those who entertain regularly across seasons.

Storage and Maintenance Essentials

Proper storage significantly extends the lifespan of fine dinnerware. Invest in quality storage solutions with soft dividers to prevent scratching between stacked plates. Climate-controlled environments prevent gradual degradation of delicate materials and decorated surfaces.

Establish clear handling protocols, particularly for pieces featuring gold or platinum details. These precious metal embellishments typically require hand washing and cannot withstand microwave use. Some modern luxury collections offer remarkable durability despite their refined appearance—research care requirements before purchase to ensure compatibility with your lifestyle.

When packaging corporate gifts in Sri Lanka, include care instructions with any dinnerware presents. This thoughtful addition demonstrates consideration for the longevity of your gift and provides practical value beyond the immediate presentation.

Sustainability Considerations

Contemporary luxury increasingly encompasses environmental responsibility. Many heritage brands have embraced sustainable production practices without compromising quality. Investigate manufacturing processes, particularly regarding water conservation and energy usage, when selecting brands aligned with environmental values.

Dinnerware made from recycled materials has entered the luxury market, offering innovative aesthetics alongside environmental benefits. These pieces often feature unique colour variations and textures that cannot be replicated in traditional production methods.

The ultimate sustainability statement remains investing in quality pieces designed to last generations rather than disposable or trend-driven options requiring frequent replacement. This approach honours traditional craftsmanship while reducing environmental impact.

Personalisation and Customisation

The pinnacle of luxury dinnerware often involves personalisation elements. From subtle monogramming to custom pattern development, bespoke tableware creates an unparalleled entertaining experience. Many heritage manufacturers offer customisation services ranging from colour variations to complete custom designs for significant celebrations or corporate identity programs.

For those seeking the best housewarming gifts with personal significance, consider investigating small-batch artisanal producers who can incorporate meaningful elements into their creations. These unique pieces carry stories and significance beyond their functional purpose.

Even without custom manufacturing, thoughtful curation creates personal meaning. Building collections around significant travels, life milestones, or family traditions transforms dinnerware from mere objects into vessels of memory and meaning—the true essence of luxury beyond mere price points.

Final Thoughts

Luxury dinnerware transcends its functional purpose to become an expression of personal style, cultural appreciation, and entertaining philosophy. Whether building your own collection or selecting meaningful gifts for others, understanding these nuances elevates the experience from simple shopping to thoughtful curation.

By considering materials, craftsmanship, context, and sustainability alongside aesthetic preferences, you create not just a tableware collection but a framework for meaningful gatherings and celebrations. In a world increasingly dominated by virtual connections, the tangible pleasure of breaking bread together on beautiful plates remains an irreplaceable human experience—one made more memorable through thoughtful attention to the surfaces that cradle our culinary creations.

[fisheremsims]

4.18 - Morgan’s Legacy of Love, Art and Family

The day before Morgan’s birthday, Julian surprised her with a “Farewell to Adulthood” brunch—a heartfelt meal filled with pancakes, fruit, and mimosas.

Morgan laughed as she took a sip of her drink, appreciating the thoughtfulness of her youngest.

Just as they were finishing up, her phone rang. It was Jade.

“Sorry I couldn’t make it, Mom, but I have big news!”

Morgan and Jacob exchanged knowing glances. “You and Nolan are finally together?” Jacob guessed.

“Yes! It’s about time, right?” Jade chuckled. “We’ve been spending our days training our horses, exploring trails, and planning for the future.”

And as if that weren’t enough—She also won her first regional competition as a young adult, officially making a name for herself in the equestrian world.

Morgan’s heart swelled with pride. Her little girl was truly living her dream.

Meanwhile, Julian shadowed a local veterinarian for school career day. At first, he was given simple tasks—organizing supplies, fetching paperwork. But then, he got to observe a check-up on a sick puppy. He watched closely, soaking in every detail.

The gentle way the vet spoke to the animal.

The precision in her hands as she worked. Julian felt it in his gut. This was what he wanted. This was his future.

That night, Jocelyn aged into a young adult. As she graduated high school, she felt more determined than ever to turn her passion into a career. She applied to an art program in San Myshuno, ready to explore the city’s creative scene and develop her own artistic voice.

Morgan hugged her tightly. “You’re going to be amazing.”

And with that, another child prepared to leave the nest.

As the day came to an end, Morgan reflected on her life. An artist. A wife. A mother.

She turned to Jacob and whispered, “We did it, Jacob. We really built something special.”

And the next morning, Morgan and Jacob aged into elders together.

Their kids threw them a ‘Golden Years’ party at home, inviting all four children, Nolan, Aaron, and Michele (Jack’s widow). It was a night filled with laughter, reminiscing, and love.

That night, Morgan officially retired from her freelance career—but not from art.

“I’m not done painting, you know,” she told Jacob, smiling. “I’ve still got a masterpiece in me.”

And she meant it.

Joelle set her sights on her first professional bodybuilding competition, fully committed to making a name for herself.

Jocelyn moved into a shared apartment with other creatives in San Myshuno, ready to immerse herself in the art world.

Julian continued volunteering at the shelter, preparing for his future career in veterinary medicine.

Jade and Nolan were closer than ever, training together every day. And then, one Sunday at brunch, Nolan pulled Jacob aside.

“Sir… I’d like to ask your permission to propose to Jade.”

Jacob smirked. “Took you long enough.”

That evening, during a peaceful sunset trail ride, Nolan finally asked. With Shadow and Rusty nearby, Jade said yes. The wedding planning began immediately.

Morgan, of course, cried when she heard the news.

Meanwhile, Morgan continued mentoring young artist Brooklyn, teaching her new techniques and taking her to Magnolia Blossom Park for inspiration.

They sketched (frozen) flowers, and Morgan smiled watching Brooklyn’s talent blossom. This wasn’t just about painting.

It was about giving back.

Aaron surprised Joelle with a thoughtful gift—custom workout gloves.

She had been worried he only saw her as a friend, but now? She wasn’t so sure.

Meanwhile, Jocelyn met Cameron Sawyer—a quiet, introspective artist working on his own piece.

They bonded over their shared love of art and quickly became close.

At the same time, Julian launched a Simstagram account for Lassie, quickly gaining followers. His local community loved the creative photos and captions.

This was just the beginning.

As her kids chased their own dreams, Morgan worked on a self-portrait for her legacy wall. She wanted it hanging next to her children’s portraits. This was her story, her mark on the world.

Joelle placed in the Top 10 at her first bodybuilding competition, with Aaron cheering her on from the front row.

Jocelyn and Cameron started meeting regularly, their friendship deepening.

Julian and Morgan visited a wildlife sanctuary, where he got to observe and interact with exotic animals. It was the best early birthday present he could have asked for.

On Julian’s last day of teenagehood, Morgan worked on her final legacy painting. A piece that represented her life.

That night, they took one last family portrait—Morgan and Jacob in the center, their children surrounding them.

The next morning, Julian aged into a young adult, officially graduating from high school. He was recognized for his volunteer work at the shelter and applied for veterinary school scholarships, determined to pursue his dreams.

As Morgan stood in her home, surrounded by her family, her art, and her memories, she knew—She had built something truly special.

And now it was their turn to build something new. Her legacy would live on through her children, her paintings, and the world she had helped shape. And as she watched her family gather around the dinner table, laughing and sharing stories—She knew.

She had done exactly what she was meant to do. She slipped Julian an envelope of $15,000, keeping with family tradition, as she trusted him to carry on their family legacy.

4.17 - Strokes of Autumn

4.19 - Gen Four Summary