#and doctors to hound about their research

[lucifers-rubber-duck]

𖤓 Can we keep them? 𖤓

Characters: Charlie, Lucifer, Alastor, Angel & Husker.

Warnings: None.

Summary: Reader suddenly appears with a baby Hellhound on their arms and asks to keep them, what would their reactions be?

𖤓Charlie

• She's extremely surprised when you appear with a baby Hellhound on your arms, even more when you asks if you could keep them.

• She would probably say yes without thinking, with her eyes shining of how cute the little dog looks, before she quickly shakes her head and tries to stand her ground better.

• She would probably lecture you of how much of a responsability it is to adopt a Hellhound, especially when they're still little and can't do much by themselfs, she would probably also info dump to you about them.

• She makes you promisse that if you're going to keep them you'll take good care of them, she actually helps a lot since she grew up taking care of Razzle and Dazzle. She acts like the cool aunt of your new baby.

• She's probably the best influence you could get for your child, she's just the sweetest and will help you teach the baby what's right and wrong, will read them bedtime stories, will teach them to sing and to dance. She's simply the best person you could ask for.

𖤓Lucifer

• He's a little confused at first, he never put much thought onto the creatures of Hell, but the moment you show him the cute puppy's face, he's melting and allowing you to keep it.

• He would try to help to take care of them but wouldn't be very good at it, he never did a proper research on the beings of Hell, he disliked sinners already, he saw no reason to even pay attention to the other beings his past actions had created.

• But after you adopt the little hound, he will personaly go talk to Beelzebub and ask her what he should do. He asks her tips, about the best snacks to give them, how many baths should a pup get by a day, he's going full dad mode.

• He doesn't take care of a child since Charlie was little and everytime your new baby runs to his arms when he walks in the room to say hi he's in the verge of tears, he'll hold your child on his arms and act like he's the actual father.

• Don't even think twice if you need anything for your pup, he's going to give it. They got sick and need a doctor? He's calling someone from the Ring of Sloth just for them. Need diapers or clothes? Boom, they're already at your door. Want to take your child somewhere fun? He'll give you two free access to his theme park Lu Lu Land all rights reserved.

• Man is just happy to be able to experience being a father all over again.

𖤓Alastor

• The moment you show him the Hellhound you can hear static piercing your ears and the air getting colder, a green energy coming out of him as his antlers grow bigger and his eyes turn dark with only red dots to be found in them.

• You get that it's a no pretty quickly and hides the puppy away before he can do anything about it.

• But you're not known for giving up easily and keeps the Hellhound even so, making sure they never get too close to Alastor, and by to close I mean in the same room, breathing the same air.

• You'll have to try your best to make Alastor slightly fond of the puppy. First trying to give up some signs that you wanted to adopt a baby, then start talking about all the perks a Hellhound has and then later slowly introduce both of them in the same spaces.

• Is like showing your old pet your newer pet and praying they get along, but the old pet in question is a powerful Overlord that can easily kill both of you and broadcast your screams to all of Hell and the new pet is a creature that is in the bottom of Hell's hierarchy.

• After weeks of trying he would just let you be to be honest, he says you can keep it if you stopped annoying him about and forcing him to interact with them. But sometimes you would find yourself trying to calm him down because the Hellhound decided to walk too close to him or even chewed a part of his coat off.

𖤓Angel

• He probably wouldn't mind and say that you could stay with them, it's not his business, it's yours, you do what you want.

• Would eventualy grow attached to the hound, probably not as much as some others, but he does enjoy their company.

• He likes being the bad influence and would 100% teach your child swear words. He wouldn't be as inappropriate around them tho, he knows his limits and was scolded by you enough times about his actions around such a young figure.

• I think if the hound ended up getting friends with Fat Nuggets he would care more, he treats his little pet pig as his own child and would find it rather adorable if they got along togheter, you know for sure he's snapping photos.

• Likes to play dress up with you and your child, he would already lend you some clothes and help you take care of your skin or paint your nails, etc. He would do the same with your Hellhound, dressing them up to look all fancy, brushing their fur and giving them little accesories. Y'all probably have matching shirts he buyed for fun.

• “Where did you found them again toots?”; “Doesn't matter, check out this new trick they learned.”

𖤓Husker

• Would probably say something like “I'm not your dad, do whatever the fuck you want” and keep going with his day.

• He would try to ignore the Hellhound as much as he can, he doesn't like children very much and his cat instincts can get the best of him sometimes, making him hiss at the sight of the dog.

• But he'll definitely call you out if you end up doing something wrong while taking care of them, he says he doesn't care while teaching you the proper way to hold and to feed them. If you ask how he has so much experience he'll flip you off.

• After some time with the Hellhound around, he'll start to accept babysitting them if you ever need to go out to work or to do a importat thing, don't blame him if the pup ends up learning a bad word tho, you are the one leaving them with a drunk bartender in his bar.

• The Hellhound and him would start to go really well together and you would find them sleeping in the couch of the hotel's lobby when you return late to the hotel thanks to work, your now adopted child sleeping on top of the man's chest, snoring and with Husker's wing around them both.

• You took a photo just to always remember the sweet moments and maybe use against Husker if you needed a favor from him, it always works and you get cute photos so it's always a win-win for you.

[highdefhoetry]

how he cares for his mentally ill partner

cw: discussion of mental illness and symptoms, gender neutral reader, fluff

zayne immediately goes into doctor mode as soon as you tell him about your "condition". he researches your diagnosis in depth to better understand your brain and state of mind, as well as the best ways to support you. he diligently checks in on you, always asking how you're feeling and encouraging you to express what's on your mind so you don't get in the habit of bottling things up. nothing you share will ever scare him, even the more "frightening" thoughts you experience. when something's wrong, he does everything in his power to make it right, whether that's hounding your pharmacy to make sure your refills are ready or reminding you when it was time to take your medication. when you have bad mood swings or depressive episodes, he listens to you without judgment, gazing softly into your eyes with nothing but kindness in his own. if you ever lash out at him, he doesn't take it personally. he reassures you as many times as you need, even if it gets repetitive. you will always have your doctor in your corner.

rafayel is a bit confused when you first tell him about your mental illness. he doesn't understand when you say "something is wrong with your brain", because to him, your mind is perfect. he acknowledges your unique struggles, but insists that you are much more than a medical diagnosis or symptoms of an illness. you aren't broken, you aren't too much. you're his beloved, and he is determined to love every part of you, even this so-called "dark" side. he wants to know everything about the way your mind works so that he can be a better partner, whether that's learning your triggers to prevent you from having episodes or figuring out what kind of reassurance you need to feel safe with him. he may get upset sometimes when you lash out at him, but when that happens, he'll remind you that no amount of depression, anxiety, or psychosis will stop him from loving you. you will never have to fear being abandoned again.

xavier doesn't fully understand your condition, but he can relate to your feelings of anxiety and depression. having struggled with those emotions himself, he empathizes with you deeply in a way most other people can't. he never judges or blames you for lashing out; his laid back personality and gentle demeanor help ground you when you feel like you're falling apart. however, he does get upset when you hide your struggles and aren't honest with him about how you feel. you can trust him; you no longer have to bear such heavy burdens on your own. when he can't be there physically, he'll encourage you to self soothe by buying you bubble bath soap or sleepytime tea to relax your nervous system. when he is around and you happen to have an episode, he holds you until the tears subside, wiping them from your cheeks after you've finished crying against his chest. he hates seeing you this way, so he'll do anything to ease some of your pain.

[good-beanswrites]

Kazui adopts Amane

Kazui marries Shidou

Amane goes ballistic

LMAO she can never be free 💀💀💀I shifted things to work as a single silly scene, but omg it was incredibly fun picturing a feature-length comedy of Amane trying increasingly ridiculous ways to sabotage Kazui's wedding. For this scene, though, it was fun enough picturing what a quirky life these two would live on their own 😂

When Kazui told Amane the good news, she did a victory lap around his apartment. It was a silent, stoic march that made him look on in worry, but she assured him it was all in celebration. 

Now the day had finally arrived. She checked the clock, eagerly awaiting the newest arrival to the household. Kazui said he’d still be taking things slowly, but asking this mystery partner to move in was a huge step if you asked her.

And she was thrilled. No one had listened to her voice throughout all of Milgram, she’d been put through trial after trial, but things had finally made the switch for the better. She was getting her reward for her behavior. The prisoners listened to her pleas and allowed her to go home with Kazui. She’d have no more controlling wardens and sinful doctors hounding her all the time. She’d have a picture perfect home. She went from not having any kind fathers, and by the end of the night she’d practically have two.

Kazui had been a bit vague about this new man he’d been getting serious with. He said Amane may not approve of him, but she should give him a try. She denied all his concerns – she knew Kazui was likely still embarrassed about moving in with a man in the first place. So, as any perfect daughter would do, she proved her acceptance by reciting some facts that she’d researched about homosexuals. She wore the shirt with cats and rainbows that Mahiru had bought for her. In the days leading up to their meeting, she asked Kazui for the man’s name so she could pray for him before bed each night. 

Each time, however, Kazui found a way to skirt around the conversation and avoid telling her the name. That was no issue to her. It wasn’t anything new since coming to live with him. Sometimes he planned on cooking noodles for dinner, but felt the need to speak vaguely on the topic until the dishes were on the table. Sometimes he needed to fix a home appliance, but crept around the place with the type of secrecy you’d expect from a burglar. Amane was learning that he was simply not a forthcoming man, and that wasn’t anything to worry about.

She checked the clock again. And again. Kazui had come home late from his shift, and was busy showering in the bedroom. He said he’d hurry out, but she was thrilled with the responsibility of answering the door. She would get to welcome their new guest into the home and make a good first impression. She would do this perfectly. 

She paced the kitchen, keeping her arms behind her back like Kazui had a tendency to do. She crept to the door, pressing her ear against it. Hearing nothing, she resumed her stiff pacing of the kitchen. She heard the water shut off, and worried Kazui would be out in time to steal away her chance at the welcome speech she’d been rehearsing. 

But then – there it was. The polite knock on the door.

“I’LL GET IT!” 

She flew across the room, throwing the door open. Her beaming expression immediately melted away.

“Oh. It’s you.” Kirisaki Shidou stood in the doorway, smiling down at her in his sweet, infuriating way. Amane had seen a few of the others since everything had ended, but she was struck with how odd he looked in casual clothing. Her frown deepened. She much preferred the prison uniform for him. 

“Hello, Amane-chan.” 

She shifted the door an inch, showing her intention to close it momentarily. “I’m sure Kazui-san would appreciate your visit, but we have other plans tonight. You should come back another time. We’re expecting a very, very important guest.”

“Are you now?” Shidou’s smile didn’t fade, like she hoped it would. Instead, it almost seemed to grow warmer. 

Amane moved the door another inch closed. She felt rage swirling in her chest. What if Kazui’s partner showed up now? What if her speech was ruined because Shidou had absolutely no manners and wouldn’t leave when asked?

“We are. I’m terribly sorry–” the look on her face communicated just how sorry she really was “–but you’ll have to leave. It would be horribly rude to our guest if you’re still here.”

“I see… you don’t wish to be rude to this guest.”

She shifted it more closed. “Precisely.”

“Well, then, I suppose I can come in? It would be rude to make me wait out here, would it not?”

Amane scoffed. “I just said –” Her eyes widened. He smiled. 

Reaching above her, Kazui opened the door all the way. His voice boomed. “Shidou-kun, I’m so glad you could make it!”

Amane looked at Shidou’s expression. Then Kazui’s. Then back to Shidou’s. She took a steady breath. So this is how it was, mm? 

She grabbed the edge of the door and slammed it shut.

[bugs1nmybrain]

First of all, love your writing! I especially love reading your headcanons 😁

Would it be alright to ask for headcanons on how Stein would be with a S/O that’s chronically ill/has a weak immune system? Like winters for them are hell because they know they’re gonna catch a cold come September and coughing fits, doctors visits and medication refills are just apart of their daily routine(may or may not be speaking from experience TTwTT)

🤍⚡️Franken Stein (Soul Eater) x Immuno-compromised Reader 🔩 🩺

I haven't written for Stein in forever!!! I hope I write this with sensitivity! I'll research a bit on it to make sure I write this as accurate as I can.

Warnings: Gender neutral reader, sfw, chronically ill reader, not proofread yet

Mister Doctor man is on the case!

If you don't tell him upfront that you have a weak immune system, he'll notice quick that you seem to be constantly under the weather

Will pry about it, and ask you if this is regular for you

When you tell him that you're chronically ill, it isn't a surprise. He'll help

Stein is proficient in most areas of medical care, so he'll make sure your medications are constantly available to you and even offer to be your personal domestic doctor. You'll tell him it's a conflict of interest as a joke, but he insists

He knows how to make sure you're as comfortable as you can be, making sure you're properly nourished and getting meals that incorporate a proper amount of vitamins

It isn't exactly a cure, but it helps

If you're feel especially sick, he encourages rest. If you need doctors' notes for work or college or the like, he's on it.

He doesn't treat you like you're made of glass or anything because he knows better, but he's definitely vigilant of your symptoms and reminds you to make sure you're taking your medicine and taking it easy if you're having a hard time

Coughing fits don't gross him out and he'll be there to help you feel better however he can

Will hound on treatment regimens

He'll try soooo hard not to ask if he can dissect you

Ofc will remind you to wash your hands regularly, but he knows you're already aware of that. His reminders are more his way of telling you he cares about your wellbeing and that he loves you (don't let him convince you that he doesn't)

If you need someone by your side when you're bedridden, he's there. Even if he has to take off time from work, he will, and don't feel guilty for it. He'll sit beside you and have the silliest conversations with you, whether they are theoretical or just casual talk. If you win him over he'll snuggle, but this man is TALL so get yourself a big bed, okay?

He will try to keep his smoke out of your face so that it doesn't stuff you up

He's here to help you to the best of his abilities. He can only imagine how hard it is, but he's a smart guy. He'll take care to make sure you're as healthy as possible.

[schwarz-san]

Danny is a normal fourteen year old boy in a household in a normal family.

His parents are doctor and engineers and has a smart older sister who likes psychology. He has a goth and a technerd as bestfriends in a normal highschool.

Then all of a sudden he's been kidnapped to be used as a sacrificed to a Eldritch Death God from beyond by some cult that literally came out of nowhere—

---

Danny is a normal kid.

Well, as normal as a kid of a couple with triple doctorates in Chemistry, Engineering and Demonology as well as black belt in multiple martial arts could be anyway .

He has a older sister that is interested in Psychology and proficient with Matial arts.

He's friends with a rich rebellious goth girl who likes plants and a tech genius boy who could probably hack pentagon if wanted that likes meat.

Life is fine.

Then he got interested in demonology and started reading his parents books.

(Maddie and Jack is so proud, their boy is following their footsteps!)

He then read something about a High Ghost King of The Infinite Realm from one of their ancestral books from his dads side. Way back when the Fentons was still called Fentonightingale's and still worked as the greatest and most infamous supernatural hunters around in the olden days.

He got hooked very quickly.

He studied and research more and more about the Ghost King, learning that its existence could be seen through out multiple civilization and mythology all across the globe and has been around way, way back to ancient greece, china, japan, egypt and so on.

He learned that it was considered as a Death God, Eldritch in nature in some cases. That its also represent life and death, balance, Stars, Planets, space and the entire cosmos itself as well as the sea of possibilities, that is simply known as the multiverse in modern culture.

It was known through various titles such as The Balance between Realms, The Absence of Heat, The Protector, The Great One, Halfa and many more with the title High Ghost King of the Infinite Realms being his most notable one.

Danny loves learning about the ghost king and the infinite realms.

On how it was the afterlife, and how it hold all other afterlife with itself. Its pantheon, its customs and its king.

Life is fine.

He graduate highschool with honors and recently got accepted in college, aiming for Engineering.

(He may love studying the supernatural but he still loves space and still defenitely aim to be an astronaut.)

Life is fine.

Then it reality came crashing down all in a blink of an eye.

His family got caught in a rouge accident while visiting gotham, only danny survived.

People who wants his parents tech and research are all hounding danny for their patents, for their tech, their researchs.

And they never stop.

Time passess and Danny is just tired of everything.

He dropped college.

He's pennyless.

Jobless.

His friends are out of reach.

(He heard rumors about the government and high standing people hounding them as well due to their connection with him)

And pretty much after that, he loss just about everything he has.

All except his fenton family heirloom books and his parents researchs.

So he lays on the floor of his crappy rundown apartment, disheveled, thick dark lines under his eyes, and unshaven face. His books, his parents research scattered and discarded around him on the floor along with numerous empty bottles and cans of beer and alcohol. Some bottles were even broken.

Danny is drowning and life is not fine.

Despair clawed deep in his chest as he continue to drowned in just about everything.

Despair

Sadness

Anger

Hate

Loneliness.

So on, so forth.

It was too much. Too much for a simple man like him too bear alone.

Until one day, he just can't anymore.

Broken shard from empty bottle of beer fall on his hand and his mind swirls. Every emotions, every suffering and all of his despair cultivating in to a potent, potent poison like poisonous critters fighting inside a poison jar.

He raised the broken shard in his hand before his bloodshot eyes fell on a discarded open book on the floor.

The Fenton family heirloom.

One that mentions the King of the Infinite Realms.

Then all of a sudden, memories rush back to Danny like water from a broken dam.

His childhood.

His parents.

His sister.

His friends.

His dreams of flying out of the planet.

His obsession with the ghostking and the ghost zone as his family labeled it.

His happy memories.

The accident that take everything away from him.

On how he loss everything.

On how… he doesn't have anything else to lose.

The fact that he doesn't have anything else to lose.

Tired, resigned and resolved, danny made his decision and blood fell to the floor.

--

Danny is an engineer.

A very smart one infact that he was often compared to the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards.

CEO of Fenton Works and formerly, Dalv co. (His Godfather insisted of making Danny inherit everything and Danny doesn't have the heart to refuse a dying man) , which he merged with his parents small company with the same name Fenton Works.

They are advance compared to other tech companies and could keep up to Stark's tech (probably one of the very very few that could keep them on their toes) that continue to ridiculously advance at a terrifying pace due to continuous study of alien tech that Stark manage to observe and get his hands on due to his superhero stint.

(No. Danny isn't jealous. Not by the fact that Stark could go in and out of space at his leasure. Not by the fact that he could go to other planets or the fact that he could meet real life aliens. No, shut up Tuck. Seriously dude, stop laughing–!)

Life is fine, he's engage and happy with his life and his family.

Then he got on a accident.

Sam is in coma, with no concrete time on when she'll wake up.

Her parents were angry of course but relented when they saw that state danny was in.

His arms were crushed and he cant feel anything from them.

The vary same hands that he use to craft. The very same hands that sam compliments whenever he made a new invention that made that hammer dude green with envy and made stark speechless.

Fenton work is declining. It wasn't obvious yet but they are slowly losing footing in the industry. All because he couldn't make anything new.

His parents helped, and the only reason that the company isn't crashing and burning to the ground yet. But even they could not totally prevent the company's slow and steady decline.

They then tried to find a way restore his hands.

They tried a lot of things, cybernetics to medical operations and medication, so on, so forth. They worked. But only by little as everything felt horryfyingly wrong whenever he tried any of his options, but for the sake of the fenton works, danny endured. Everything to ensure sam that everthing is alright the moment she woke up from her com.

It's been half a year since then.

Danny was in his office, typing on his computer with the Fenton Ghost Gloves on his hands that let him do work despite the condition of his hands when Wes suddenly barged to his office holding a flyer, yelling something about a way to permanently heal his hands and a possible way to wake up Sam from her coma.

That immediately got Danny's attention.

With hope in his eye and determination burning in his chest, Danny take the flyer and went to the place right of the bat. Lets just say that it wasn't what he was expecting at all.

Danny new of the supernatural. Kind of hard not to when your family have a been written in history books a the worlds greatest and infamous Supernatural Hunter bearing the Fentonightingale name and with Gods and all the magical shenanigans that keeps happening left and right that the Avengers have to deal with.

Which means that he shouldn't have been surprised that magic is involved with the flyer promising miraculous healing.

It's also strange (hah) to meet Stephen Strange again.

He knew the man, a little arrogant but definitely have the skills and talent to back it up. He also heared that he had an accident similar to his that led him to give up his medical career entirely unlike danny who make do with his fenton gloves.

Now he's a sorcerer, not just any sorcerer but The Supreme Sorcerer and may have been a Avenger now for all he knew. Doctor Strange, then gave him the option to either help him heal his hands or learn magic.

Danny chose magic of course.

(Sam would be so mad the he went on and learn magic on his own without her and Tucker)

Now, he just need to learn the magic to wake her up safely.

A year pass and Danny is a full bown sorcerer.

It baffled everyone how fast he learned that he's already nearing the Supreme Sorcerers level with only just a year. Definitely faster than the progress that Doctor Strange himself shown.

They all shuddered in horror once they heared his family name though, and Danny understand their reaction. A descendant of Fentonightingale himself, the greatest Witch Hunter, having magic is a image that they never would have imagine.

That said, it's also been a month since Sam woke up ( there was so much crying involve) and has been in rehab ever since.

She's mad that he learned magic own his own as expected and demanded that she and tucker learn it as well.

(He couldn't say no to her)

It also a shock to learn about Tuckers potential with magic, something about having Egyptian roots. Sam is jealous. Well, that was until she obtain some form of plant magic and make herself a walking terror to everyone.

(The illegal loggers and companies were not ready)

Meanwhile, Danny's specialty is tapping and looking through diferent dimentions, secretly of course, and space magic as well as exorcism related magic in honor of the Fentonnightingale name.

Life is well.

Until one day when he was scrying through other dimension, he encounter a very very large, endless dimension consisted of green skies. It's a dimension that Danny doesn't recognise so he got intrigue and he knew he should have told Doctor Strange immediately but well… his curiosity get the better of him and he take a peak. Just a little wee bit of peek and—

A massive Eldritch Eye looms and stare back at him.

"Uhhhhh—GAAAAAAAAAAHHHH—!"

-

It's been Eons and Danny has been The High Ghost King for quite a time.

Probably more considering that time in the Realms never really flows in a linear Fashion.

(He could tell, with all the time he spent at Clockwork's Lair, his position as the High King, dominion over Space and the fact that Time and Space are always intertwined and are lowkey perpendicular to one another so it's nly natural for him to do so)

Danny just got back from his vacation to another universe and may or may not have traumatize a lot of people (Arceus still won't remove the barricade he put at the Hall of Origins, Giratina may be traumatize as well but enjoys watching Arceus suffer so its worth it. Revenge for being lock away in his own lair. Hah!) And is feeling great! Sure Tuck and Sam were mad that he leave them with his own paperworks but can you say no to this adorable face? (Sam and Tuck grumbled as Danny make the Ookemon team he got from vacation to do puppy eyes with him and aim it to Sam and Tucker, like seriously, its not fair! Hes thousand years old how can he stay adorable after all that years!)

They forgave him but demand that they be included along when Danny decide to have another vacation. Though not before stealing his Pokemons and dumping athe backlogged paperworks on his desk.

Great…

So there he is, doing work like he hadn't taken a vacation and a Mt. Everest worth of paperworks.

(Danny doesn't know what he'll do with out his duplicates)

He's done about half of them (what can he say, hes fast and just want to go to bed) when he felt something.

He could feel it. The ripples from countless universes hapening everywhere all at once, they touched the surface of the Infinite Realms and made themselves known. Normally, ripples isn't something to be worried about. There will be people, gods, cosmic beings and such that will always deal with them one way or another so beings from the realms rarely bothered. This one though is different. Because it messes with the realms, something that almost never happened before.

Further more, he could feel something tugging at his core, which only happens when he was being summoned most of the time.

Putting his paperwork aside (oh yes, finally a valid excuse), Danny take a look to the one he could feel is scrying throigh the realms with magic.

He tuen Eldritch and peak back to the rude person peaking without permission.

Danny wasn't expecting to see a version of him scrying through the realms with sorcery of all things.

He shut his Sorcerer version's spell as he heard the man scream in terror.

(Danny snorted, for some reason, he found it hilarious)

Welp, I guess it's about time to visit Clockwork.

[ape-apocalypse]

Road To The Kingdom - Firestorm Tie-In Novel

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Firestorm is a prequel novel written by Greg Keyes for the second movie in the reboot trilogy. It takes place soon after the end of the first film, about a week after the apes escaped into the redwood forest beyond San Francisco and the Simian Flu began to cut through the human race. This novel is a fantastic bridge between Rise and Dawn, giving us more insight into characters we met in the first movie who will feature in the next, as well as fleshing out the fall of society. 

The book does very well juggling between the two massive plots of Caesar's apes avoiding their human hunters and the Simian Flu tearing through the city. Though we don't see Will or any other humans we met in Rise, they give us many new human characters: a reporter trying to make the connection between the escaped apes and the new virus, an emergency room doctor dealing hands on with outbreak casualties, and an ape researcher and a former hunter who have been brought in by Gen-Sys to capture Caesar's group. While I thought I wouldn't care about the humans because the apes are always my favorite characters, all these humans in different locations and with different stories keep the story from dragging; I ended up enjoying the final days of humanity almost as much as Caesar's story. The book also gives us the first introduction to a human character who will become important in Dawn: Dreyfus, the leader of the human colony played by Gary Oldman. Going into the movie, his backstory isn't very clear other than he was in some position of power before the end and he lost his wife and children. But the book goes really deep into his story of a former police chief running for mayor and wanting to protect humans. Rereading the book in 2024, the parallels of the Simian Flu with the Covid outbreak definitely rings true (much like the YouTube shorts).

But no matter how good the human characters are, what I enjoyed most about this book was seeing Caesar and his escaped apes start to adapt to life in the wild. Even while they're being hounded by the humans chasing them, they have to figure out how to care for sick/injured apes and where to get food without humans to feed them. A great moment for Caesar is when he thinks to himself that he never thought beyond escaping from the human city; his realization that there is more to figure out than just dodging humans shows how he goes from accidental ringleader from the sanctuary to the wise authoritative leader of the apes of the next two films.

Though surprisingly, the true star of this book isn't Caesar; it's Koba. We get numerous detailed flashbacks of Koba's life before ending up in the Gen-Sys lab and receiving the brain enhancing drugs. From the death of his mother to being an abused TV star to arriving at the labs as a test ape. In the films, Koba's hatred of humans shines through and is unquestionable; you don't need the backstory to understand why he carries a grudge against all humanity. But reading the details really did break my heart. And getting his backstory revealed as he learns to work with other apes, as he proves his loyalty to Caesar by rescuing injured apes rather than wrecking vengeance on humans, you actually have hope that he could be happy now that he was free with other apes. 

Another great part of the book is getting to see the very beginning of Caesar and Cornelia's courtship. Since one of my disappointments with the films are the forgotten female characters, I was glad to see Cornelia here, challenging Caesar's orders when it came to taking care of injured apes. Though her role is still small, I liked seeing her get a little time to flesh out her character.

Firestorm is officially labeled as a prequel (which is why I have it listed first as I'm trying to go in chronological storyline order), but I actually enjoyed reading it after seeing Dawn. While I think it can still be appreciated in any order, I liked getting to meet Koba in the movie and seeing him as a great complicated villain, before then learning his backstory and growing your sympathy for him, while also thinking about how tragic it is that he couldn't let go of his hate. Whatever order you decide to read them in, Firestorm by Greg Keyes is a wonderful expansion on the movies that I would label as required reading for fans for the expansive and enjoyable story it shares.

Intro / Previous / Next

[myemuisemo]

In approaching the first chapter of The Hound of the Baskervilles in this week's Letters from Watson, I initially felt that I was sort of cheating as I know I've read this more recently than middle childhood. Then I read the first chapter and realized my memory of the story consists of a vague impression that it has a moor and a dog. Oh well.

Mortimer's staff being referred to as a "Penang lawyer" reminds us that when you live in a colonialist society, the mindset is everywhere. The staff is presumably made from Licuala acutifida, a sort of cane native to China, southeast Asia, and Pacific Islands. By 1889, when the novel is set (five years after the date on the walking stick), British Malaya had been under direct crown rule for a couple decades. The Brits had owned Penang since at least the secret Burney Treaty of 1826.

Dr. Watson's initial wrong guesses provide a window into his world and preconceptions. My first reaction was "how did he think hunt rather than hospital when he himself has medical training?"

Growing up in the genteel countryside would explain "hunt." But Charing Cross Hospital, then located just off the Strand, would have been only about two miles from Baker Street. How do you miss a large hospital?

There might be a titch of snobbery in play, as Watson did his residency at much, much older Barts (St. Bartholomew's). Barts dates from the 12th century, while Charing Cross Hospital was an early 19th century upstart. Watson also went for additional training at the military hospital at Netley.

Watson really puts up with a lot, though.

James Mortimers' publications focus on the idea that illness stems from throwbacks to a more primitive state, an idea also applied to criminology of the day. Through 2024 eyes, this is unlikely to be a good thing, but let's see where Doyle goes with it. I have faith in Holmes due to his love of that book that attributes much of human civilization to non-white world cultures. (Coveting Holmes' skull reeks of phrenology, but I can't believe this was meant as an appealing trait.)

After being informed that Sholto was based on Oscar Wilde, I'm wondering which of Doyle's acquaintances was the pattern for James Mortimer (who is not addressed as "doctor" because he's a surgeon; it's a British thing).

While Holmes describes Mortimer as "amiable" before meeting him, he does not find being described as "the second highest expert in Europe" all that simpatico. There's some impatience in Holmes' chapter-ending request that Mortimer explain why he's there.

At this early stage, I dislike James Mortimer. It's partly the nature of his publications, but also the false humility of calling himself a "dabbler in science" when he in fact has publications, an award, and a degree. It's dabbling to collect bones or bugs or whatever and be perpetually working on a treatise that never gets finished or published. It's not dabbling when you have official recognition within your chosen career for your research.

So what is Mortimer here about?

[bigoltrashpile]

Here to help

The amazing @tkspersonaldump commissioned me for this very sweet story, thanks again TK!

Everything was fuzzy.  Everything hurt.  You groaned as you held your head.  There was no reason for you to be feeling this way, you needed to stop hurting!  Well, maybe there were a few reasons.  The fact that you hadn’t slept in two days, and the various letters surrounding you definitely didn’t help.  Bills, doctor’s notes, letters telling you your SSI had been rejected yet again, more bills…there was a lot on your plate.

Which was probably why the splitting headache wouldn’t go away.  You yelled in frustration and grabbed your phone.  You didn’t know why, you just hit one  of the numbers in your contacts.  You needed help, as much as you hated to admit it, and even though you couldn’t see much right now, the familiar voice of Hound helped you snap out of your pain.

“hey, it’s hound.  i can’t come to the phone right now-” Shit.  Of course he didn’t pick up.  You knew he hated answering phones, not to mention he usually had his on silent.

“Hound, I need help,” you managed to croak out.  “Everything hurts, and…and I don’t know what to do.  Just come get me.”  You winced, before trying again.

“hey, it’s hound.  i can’t come to the phone r-”

“FUCK.  Hound, I need help right now, please just come and get me!”  You had tears running down your face.

You tried again.  “hey, it’s hound. i ca-”  With a yell of anger, you threw your phone across the room, before curling up and sobbing.  You couldn’t do much else.  Everything hurt way too much, and you just…

Wanted….

To sleep………

----------------------

Hound groaned as he ran his hands down his face.  Even though he didn’t have eyes, his sockets still hurt from staring at his computer screen.  He really needed to invest in some blue light glasses.  He finally stood up and turned to the darkness of his room.  He had been researching for the last several hours, and he really needed something to eat.

As he left his room, he was quickly confronted by his brother.  Or, not his brother, but the strange, friendly, blue-eyed version.  “AH, PA-HOUND.  ANY UPDATES?”

“nothing good.  contacted the doctor at least six times, wouldn’t tell me shit.  the stupid ass human government wouldn’t help me with the ssi either.”  He sighed.  “i’m just gettin’ something to eat before i try again.”

“I SEE.  WELL, WE HAVEN’T FIGURED OUT A WAY TO GET THEM TO MOVE IN WITH US,” Lucky grumbled.  “THEY ARE JUST FAR TOO STUBBORN.  AND WE DON’T WANT TO LOSE THEIR TRUST BY FORCING THEM.”  He let out a frustrated sigh.  “Why Can’t They See How Much Better Things Will Be If They Just Move In…”

“eh, they’re too independent.  reminds me of someone i know,” Hound joked.

Lucky scoffed, knowing Hound was talking about him.  And all the other Sanses.  “FAIR POINT.  STILL, WE HAVE TO KEEP TRYING.”  A playful, less serious grin spread across his face.  “NOT TO MENTION, IMAGINE HOW FUN IT WOULD BE TO HAVE THEM WITH US ALL THE TIME!”

“we’d be able to cuddle all fuckin’ night,” Hound laughed.  “the dream.”

“WELL, I WON’T KEEP YOU FROM YOUR BREAK,” Lucky waved.  “GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WORK.”

“yeah, you too.”  Hound strolled down the stairs to the kitchen, absentmindedly pulling out his phone as he did.  As soon as he turned it on, he almost choked on nothing.

He had three missed calls.  From you.  And three voicemails.

Frantically, Hound listened to the first voicemail.  Hound, I need help.”  Your voice was weak and soft, Hound had never heard it like that before.   “Everything hurts, and…and I don’t know what to do.  Just come get me.”

Shit, he needed to find Scar.  Hound raced around the house while he listened to the second voicemail.  “-CK.  Hound, I need help right now, please just come and get me!”  This time, Hound was sure you were crying.  Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck, where was Scar??  He needed to get to your house, now.

A flash of purple.  There he was!  Chatting with the “original” Papyrus in the kitchen.  “bro, bro, c’mere,” Hound grabbed his brother by the scruff of the neck.

“WHAT, CAN’T YOU SEE I’M HAVING A CO-” Scar’s sassy comment died in his throat when he saw the genuine fear on Hound’s face.  Wordlessly, Hound opened the last voicemail.

This one was the scariest.  There weren’t any words, just a loud thud before the faint sound of your sobbing.

Hound looked up.  Scar’s eyes were completely black, and Papyrus had his hands over his mouth, a terrified look in his eyes.  “take me to them,” Hound demanded.

Wordlessly, Scar nodded and grabbed his brother’s hand.  “I’LL PREPARE THE SPARE ROOM FOR THEM,” Papyrus said quickly.  “AND TELL THE OTHERS.”

Scar nodded, and in a blink, him and Hound were gone.

Hound sucked in a deep breath when he and Scar landed outside your front door.  Shit, Hound hated how dizzy that always made him, but at least it was fast.  He put a hand on the door to brace himself while his brother knocked.

“TK?  ARE YOU HOME?”  There was no response.  Scar knocked, louder.  “TK, THIS IS IMPORTANT.  PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR.”  Still, silence.

Hound gently pushed his brother to the side.  Effortlessly, he phased his hand through the door, and unlocked the door from the other side.  Thank the stars for the brothers’ weird physics breaking abilities.

As soon as the door was unlocked, the two of them burst into the living room.  Now that they were inside, they could hear shaky breathing coming from your bedroom.  They sprinted down the hall, and found you curled up on the floor.

You were surrounded by letters, and there were tear tracks running down your face.  Even though you weren’t crying, it was obvious that you had been for a long time.  Hound internally cursed himself for always having his phone on silent.  If he had heard you, you wouldn’t have been in this state.

Scar examined a few of the letters while Hound knelt next to you.  “hey darlin’, it’s us,” he whispered.  You just stared, like you didn’t recognize him.  “i’m so sorry i wasn’t here sooner.  c’mon, let’s get you out of here.”

Gently, like you were made of glass, Hound picked you up bridal style.  You didn’t respond at all, just sat there, limp.  Completely uncaring.  Hound kissed your forehead.  “we’re gonna get ya home, safe an’ sound.  i promise, angel.”

Scar sighed before standing up straight.  He looked at you with concern, but said nothing.  He simply put his hand on his brother’s shoulder, and the three of you were teleported back home.

----------------------

You rolled over in bed.  Ugh, it was too early.  Five more minutes.  You pulled the blankets up over your head as if to block out the whole world.  It was then that you realized what was wrong.

This wasn’t your bed.

Immediately, you jumped up, wide awake.  You frantically whipped your head around, then sighed in relief.  It was just the guest room of the skeletons, your good friends.  You had slept here a few times before, but…what were you doing here now?

Shakily, you tried to get out of bed.  You didn’t remember how you got here, when, or who brought you.  All you remembered was trying to call Hound, before everything became a blur.

You winced to yourself.  Shit, you had probably scared him so much, you had to apologize.  As you got closer to the door, you heard familiar voices outside.  The closer you got, the louder they became.

“-EST OPTION.  THERE’S ALREADY A ROOM FOR THEM, AND WE ALL LIKE THEM.”

“yeah, but we really gotta ask ‘em first.  they’ve said no every time.”

“we gotta wait ‘til they wake up, let’s just call the doctor again and-”

You opened the door, and instantly, all conversation stopped.  All eight skeletons were standing in a circle outside your door.  Clearly, they were surprised to see you, judging by their wide eyes and open mouths.

“TK!” Papyrus cheered.  Before you could say anything, he had wrapped you in a tight hug.  “HOW ARE YOU FEELING?  WE WERE ALL  SO WORRIED!”

“Um, I’m okay, I”m so sorry for worrying y-”

“YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR,” Noir said sternly.  “WE CARE ABOUT YOU, WORRYING IS JUST PART OF THE DEAL.”

“we’re just glad you’re awake,” Sans said.  The bags under his eyes seemed darker than normal.  “when scar and hound brought ya back, we thought ya had fallen down.  didn’t know if humans could do that, but it looked pretty damn close.”

Slim gently put a hand on your shoulder.  “how about ya go sit down, i’ll get ya some monster candy and some soup, that’ll help ya feel better.”

You smiled gratefully at him.  “Before you do that, what were you guys talking about?  I’m guessing it was about me.”

They all looked away.  It was cute how they all had the same mannerisms.  After a beat of silence, Butch broke it.  “we were gonna ask ya to move in with us again.  we know how stubborn ya are, so don’t say no yet, but it’s the best option.  we can help cover your expenses, ya wouldn’t have to pay rent, and ya’d always have us there for ya when ya need us.  before ya say no-”

“Okay.”

Butch blinked.  ��....okay?”

“I’ll move in with you guys.”  You rubbed your shoulder.  “Today was really scary.  I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come to help me.  Plus, everything is just so crazy, and I’m going to have to start some new medications…”  You looked up at them hopefully.  “If you’ll let me stay, that would make me feel a lot better.”

Instantly, Lucky scooped you up in a hug.  “YES YES YES!!!  SEE, I TOLD YOU GUYS THEY’D AGREE!”

“i can’t believe you’ve finally agreed,” Slim beamed.  He pressed a quick kiss to your forehead.  “welcome to the family, honey!”

You beamed.  “Thank you guys.  You all mean so much to me.”

“and you mean the world to us, darlin’,” Hound smiled.  “we love ya.”

“And I love you all too.”

[tma-reader-inserts]

Not a insert but something worse

Some food for thought

Other avatar backgrounds

(tw: self-harm in the desolation)

The eye

- journalist/ columnist

- Junk man

- Highschooler in charge of the gossip circle

The vast

- professional pool cleaner

- Landscaper

- Architect

The lonely

- librarian

- Artic circle researcher

- At home worker

Desolation

- self harming person with fire

- Incinerator worker

- Crematory worker

The corruption

- A couple obsessively in love with each other

- Bee keeper

- Forensic entomologist

The flesh

- Model

- Masseuse

- Surgeon

The stranger

- Model

- Sculptor specialising in realism

- Musician

The dark

- electrician

- Spelunker

- Sleep analyst volunteer

The buried

- grave digger

- Tube worker

- Gardener

The spiral

- drug dealer/drug addict

- Thrill seeker

- Artist

The web

- old lady crochet

- Video surveillance security guard

- Toxicologist

The slaughter

- war reenactor

- Axe thrower

- Enthusiastic carnivore

The end

- er nurse/doctor

- Hospice volunteer

- A cat who can tell when someone’s about to die

The hunt

- truancy officer

- Father searching for their lost child

- Blood hound

[dathen]

“I have no doubt, however, that your researches will soon clear the matter up.”

“My researches!”

“Hence the health-giving expedition to Lausanne.”

Lmaaaaooo he WOULD see an investigation as a health-giving trip, given how eager he is to dive into mysteries on his own doctor-mandated vacations. Surely it would be the same for Watson, yes??

This also makes me place this story before Hound of the Baskervilles. Watson is much more shocked about going solo here than he was in that story, even though Holmes offered his help without checking with him first there! This definitely feels like the first time, and that would explain why he was less surprised then.

[justforbooks]

In the mid-1990s the historian James Sharpe, who has died aged 77, wrote Instruments of Darkness, a book on witch-hunting in England that reopened a field of research that had been in the doldrums for a generation after the Welsh historian Keith Thomas’s brilliant Religion and the Decline of Magic (1971). Published in 1996, Jim’s book helped to make the study of British witchcraft what it is today: one of the most lively areas of historical writing.

Earlier historians had argued that whereas witch-hunting on the European continent was fantastical, dominated by beliefs about the devil, English witch-hunting was comparatively rational and down-to-earth, centred on beliefs about the practical harm that witches caused to people and animals. Jim showed that this was nonsense, and that English witch-hunting was also powered by fear of the devil and followed much the same pattern as many other European countries.

An archival hound, Jim surveyed every possible paper-trail in the course of his research, uncovering valuable sources for those who have come after him, including via his copious footnotes and bibliographies. In addition, he went to many conferences on the continent and made it his business to meet the leading scholars of crime and witchcraft, always developing the European dimension of his work.

He loved the detail – he was fascinated, for instance, by the phenomenon of familiars in English witchcraft, creatures who suckled on witches and carried out their bidding, one of the few features that do indeed set English witch-beliefs apart from the continent. He noted them all: Bid the ferret, a lamb, another creature that was carefully kept in a basket with wool, and a white-spotted cat ominously named Sathan.

Perhaps his most appealing book is his history of Anne Gunter, published in 2000, about a 17th-century girl who claimed to be possessed but was unmasked as a fraud. It is a classic of its kind, a marvellous micro-study that reveals the inner world of an unhappy individual who found herself used for other people’s agendas and who, Jim argued, just wanted love and attention. The book, Bewitching of Anne Gunter, explores the mindsets of the doctors, ministers of religion and even the monarch himself, James I, who did not believe Anne’s stories.

As Jim was well aware, at another level it is also a story about fathers – and patriarchal figures of all kinds – who fail their children. It is a gripping read, with lots of humour, and along the way speculates on the origins of football. In the style of a 17th-century broadside Jim gave the book the wonderful sub-title, A Horrible and True Story of Deception, Witchcraft, Murder and the King of England – wording that led the Bavarian State Library in Munich to refuse twice to buy it, on the grounds that it simply could not be an academic book.

Jim followed up with Dick Turpin: the Myth of the English Highwayman (2004), another fantastic read, and then A Fiery and Furious People: a History of Violence in England (2016), which upturned the idea of the peaceable phlegmatic English character.

This was a return to earlier preoccupations, for Jim started out as a historian of crime. From 1983 on he wrote a series of path-breaking books on the history of crime in the British Isles in the 16th and 17th centuries, inspiring others to follow in his wake.

In a field dominated by Tudor and Stuart monarchs and their courts, Jim brought ordinary people into history, in all their variety, by showing just what could be done with court records of crime. These rich sources have revolutionised how we write history because they take us as close as we can to the voices of the lower classes in the past, and Jim was one of the first to realise this.

Jim was born in Lewisham, south-east London, to James, a labourer, and Margaret, a cleaner. At Colfe’s school, in Blackheath, he won a place at Oxford University, where he did a history degree and then a doctorate under Thomas’s supervision. He spent all his career, from 1973, as a history lecturer at the University of York, where he was a marvellous and generous teacher and rose to be professor before retirement in 2016.

York became the go-to place for social history, with the three Jims, Jim Walvin, Jim McMillan and Jim Sharpe, all doing exciting new work on slavery, women’s history and crime respectively. He adored teaching and had a wonderful line in dry humour; his students all knew how proud he was of them.

He is survived by his wife, Krista (nee Cowman), whom he married in 1993, and their children, Guy and Freddie.

🔔 James Anthony Sharpe, historian, born 9 October 1946; died 13 February 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[mariacallous]

“My brain will desperately want to forget all this,” narrates journalist Mstyslav Chernov over footage he filmed of city workers adding bodies to a mass grave in Mariupol, “but the camera will not let it happen.”

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chernov, along with his Associated Press colleagues, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, were the last international media left reporting from the besieged city of Mariupol. Those who remained within the city faced significant risks as Russian forces advanced.

The footage they captured for the AP, including famous scenes from the aftermath of the Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital on March 9, 2022, horrified the world and arguably contributed to mobilizing international aid for Ukraine.

The documentary film "20 Days in Mariupol" pieces together this footage in chronological order. It earned a nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film at this year's Oscars, which are scheduled to air on March 10, and there's a strong likelihood that the film will win.

The Oscar nomination is a first for Ukrainian cinema and a victory for “20 Days in Mariupol” would be a historic milestone for Ukrainian culture during the country's darkest hour. But many are hoping that it will also bring renewed global focus on the stark brutality of Russia's war crimes as the full-scale war enters its third year.

Creeping horror

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Mariupol was home to around 540,000 people and  considered one of the largest cities in Ukraine, according to data in a report published by Human Rights Watch, Truth Hounds, and SITU Research this February. Mariupol’s residents endured relentless bombardments for eight weeks until the city fell under total Russian occupation in May 2022. The city’s destruction is one of the first major war crimes committed by Russia during its all-out war against Ukraine.

The authors from the report “Our City Was Gone: Russia’s Devastation of Mariupol, Ukraine” estimate that around 400,000 of the city’s residents were able to flee the city by mid-May 2022. However, those who remained “were left for months without basic services, including electricity, running water, and health care.”

The exact death toll from Russia’s siege on Mariupol is unknown given that the city remains under occupation. Official estimates range between 10,000 and 25,000 people, but the actual number is likely higher.

Critical infrastructure was targeted by Russian forces early on in the siege, meaning that Mariupol’s residents were left “without (widespread) access to running water, electricity, gas, heating, telecommunications, or information about what was happening around them in the city or the broader (war).”

The report also incorporates testimonies from multiple survivors, giving added context to what viewers see in “20 Days in Mariupol.” For example, there is the testimony of  a 57-year-old English teacher who sought refuge with her husband at the city’s Regional Intensive Care Hospital. The woman suffered a broken arm during the Russian shelling of her neighborhood, while her husband sustained injuries to his face, jaw, and legs, rendering him unable to eat or speak. Doctors in the city increasingly struggled to provide sufficient medical care to patients such as the couple, as the city was under a blockade, and their supplies were rapidly diminishing. They were soon compelled to conduct amputations for the more severely injured patients under improvised anesthesia. Patients moved to the basement after the Regional Intensive Care Hospital was targeted by Russian forces on March 13. “There were hundreds of people in the basement. It’s hard to figure out how many. The basement was packed. There were mattresses and we had some ventilation. But there was only a little light, no water, and no toilets. The hospital had a generator, so we sometimes had electricity,” the woman recalled.

The bodies of at least 10 people who later died from their injuries or other complications had to be removed from the basement, the woman added.

The authors of the report collected multiple testimonies of how Russian forces deliberately targeted civilians.

A member of the Mariupol City Council, Halyna Morokhovska, managed a shelter for civilians that was targeted by Russian forces on March 15, 2022. There were 172 people in the building at the time of the attack.

“There was a lot of shelling, lots of loud explosions ... Suddenly I heard a long hum, like a ‘uuuuuuuuuuuuu’ sound, and then my ears were ringing. I was later told that there was a large crater in front of the building,” Morokhovska said.

“Then I saw (a woman) buried under bricks, with parts of her body sticking out. The right-hand side of my body, especially my leg, had been badly injured by shrapnel. My thigh and my face were bleeding, and blood was flowing into my eyes and mouth.”

‘Film how these f**kers are killing civilians’

“20 Days in Mariupol” captures all this horror as it begins to unfold. Having previously reported on Russia’s attempts to take the city in 2014, Chernov and his colleagues knew that it would once again become a target and decided to return there in 2022.

The first death seen on film is at a hospital on the city’s outskirts, located just a few kilometers from the front line.

Russian forces had not yet entered the city, but the sound of fighter jets overhead and increased shelling prompted residents to seek shelter wherever they could find it.

As Chernov explains to the tense soldiers at the hospital perimeter that he has to film because it is a "historic war," their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of an ambulance. Inside, paramedics are desperately trying to save a four-year-old girl.

“My baby, oh God,” her mother wails. “Please save my child.”

Chernov follows them with his camera as she is transported onto a gurney and brought inside the hospital. After a few minutes, it becomes clear that the little girl cannot be saved, leading to increasing emotional distress among the doctors and nurses.

“It’s good that the press is here,” one of the doctors says angrily. “Film how these f***kers are killing civilians. That’s how (Russia) ‘saves’ people.”

The little girl’s name was Anhelina. Throughout the film, Chernov tries to name the victims whenever he can in his voiceover narration, so that they are not perceived by the viewer as mere statistics.

The deaths of multiple children — including infants — are seen in the film along with the heart-wrenching sight of grieving parents struggling to come to terms with their loss. In one scene, a teary-eyed girl timidly confesses in a shelter that she’s afraid and doesn't want to die. These are perhaps the most difficult scenes to sit through — but they are also important as they underscore the sheer brutality of Russia’s war.

While it might be viewed by some as a controversial decision, the film also chooses not to shy away from the darker moments of the siege on Mariupol. For example, a distressed woman watches helplessly as her store is looted by locals. There are also some Mariupol residents who, due to the spread of misinformation, believe that it’s the Ukrainian army attacking them.

However, there are many more Mariupol residents who declare to the camera — either through tears or anger — that they don’t want their city to be part of Russia.

As Chernov notes in his voiceover narration, war has a way of amplifying a person’s character. After the credits roll in "20 Days in Mariupol," the viewer will inevitably ponder the fate of each individual depicted in the film — whether they succeeded in escaping the city, currently live under occupation, or were later killed by Russian forces.

Getting the truth out

Russia's war against Ukraine has been frequently called "the most documented war in history" because of the extensive footage captured since Feb. 24, 2022. But the pervasive nature of Russian propaganda has led some to still not fully grasp the horror of the violence Russia has inflicted upon Ukraine.

This is a problem that “20 Days in Mariupol” acknowledges, ending with footage of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya being confronted by journalists about the footage Chernov, Maloletka, and Stepanenko captured in Mariupol.

Nebenzya tells reporters that there are “so many fakes” and complains about a so-called information war against Russia. Chernov juxtaposes this in the film with footage of Mariupol city residents navigating through a completely destroyed urban landscape, highlighting the grim reality of Russia's "liberation."

Russia's global-scale information war persists as Ukrainian civilians nationwide face repeated targeting through shelling, missiles, and drone strikes.

On Jan. 3, the Emilia Romagna Cultural Association announced an event in the Italian city of Modena focusing on the purported "rebirth" of Mariupol and Russia's claimed "rapid reconstruction" efforts in the occupied city.

The Facebook post about the event, which was written in both Italian and Russian, referred to Russia’s “liberation” of Mariupol. Russian Ambassador to Italy Dmitry Shodin and Eliseo Bertolasi, an Italian journalist with pro-Kremlin leanings, were scheduled as speakers.

Thanks to pushback from Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the Ukrainian community in Italy, Modena city officials revoked permission for the event on Jan. 9. But the fact that it was even approved in the first place points to the urgency of not letting the world forget about Russia's ongoing war crimes against Ukrainian civilians.

Tetyana Denford and Darya Zorka, who translated the film into English for Frontline PBS, wanted to do their part to help reveal the truth about what happened in Mariupol, despite the emotional toll they knew it would take on them.

“We’d only recently found out about the Russian atrocities in the Kyiv region (when we got hold of the footage) and we knew that Mariupol was likely much worse,” Zorka told the Kyiv Independent.

“However, we didn’t fully understand the scale of destruction and Russian barbarism until we saw the raw footage from the city.”

It would sometimes take Zorka two hours to translate a two-minute segment because she couldn’t stop crying. Likewise, Denford began to consult a therapist because she realized that the second-hand trauma she experienced from watching the footage was affecting her day-to-day life.

“But I realized how urgent this was, and I became sort of robotic in my work. I couldn't stop until I finished whatever I had on my desk that day, as long as it took,” Denford said.

The announcement of the film's Oscar nomination in mid-January represents a significant milestone for Ukrainian culture amid an ongoing war for the country's survival. For the two translators, it’s important that more people will now be talking about what’s happening in Ukraine at a point when coverage of the war is dwindling from international news cycles.

“It just shows you that creativity, art, cinema… these are ways where people can learn more of the truth, instead of just watching the news unfold. We can reach people with these ways on a much bigger scale,” Denford said.

“You just have to be human, and believe that people have a right to tell their stories. We all just have to give each other the space and respect to tell our truth. Otherwise, we have nothing left.” At the same time, this achievement comes at a great cost to Ukraine and has been followed by countless other atrocities, such as the Bucha massacre, the discovery of mass graves in liberated Izium, and the brutal Russian capture of cities like Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

“I would give all the Oscars in the world for the people of Mariupol to be alive and just live their lives like the rest of us,” Zorka said.

“No Oscar can return the tens of thousands of people killed or heal the millions of those who witnessed unspeakable horrors.”

[thecandywrites]

Monster March 2024 Day 7- Incubus/Succubus/Concubus-

The Lotus House- Clinic Practicum

Woo, sorry, been a busy day today. But I made it! So, this is, also a continuation from this prompt from last year. So here's Part 1.

As always, thanks to @borealwrites for their Monster March 2024 prompt list. Enjoy

Monster March 2024- Day 7- Incubus/Succubus/Concubus- 

The Lotus House- Continued- 

Clinical Trials

Senora took a deep breath as she approached- what was to her- could either be- the biggest possible threat to her academic career, or could be her biggest ally. Or something in between. This was essentially a black grab bag of possibilities. Because for every approach there could be a thousand possible outcomes. She instead had tried to simplify the equation, down to two variables. Her,and the person behind that door.

Xorrax. 

This was his favorite suite. Because on the other side of the back wall was Professor's Xeneth’s office. This suite was always given to Professor Xeneth’s favorite student. He found one every 3 years. Would usually hand pick the very best incubi student, who had the most potential. And that student would go from Student, to Master in any field after the student graduated, as the student was even given credit on Professor Xeneth’s research papers and thesis papers that were always groundbreaking. But Professor Xeneth didn’t have a class where they taught regular classes, because if they did, just about every student would be in attendance. 

Xorrax was the favorite student and personal assistant to Professor Xeneth the Practicum Master who was the Head of the Clinical Committee who oversaw the Clinic as a whole. 

Professor Xeneth however, was notoriously busy and always practically buried in paperwork, reviewing students in their performance reviews and exit exams from the Clinic Practicum. Professor was rumored to be quite old, cranky and had little to no patience to deal with bureaucratic bull shit or prima donna students. And was always said to be blunt, honest but fair in his reviews, but also, close to retirement. Professor Xeneth also, used Xorrax- to give any student who dared to become predatory- a clinical hour of their worst nightmares before they were escorted off the premises and banned from returning. 

But Senora had noticed that the students who had willingly put Xorrax in their practicum curriculum early, and sought him out, usually excelled and aced through the course. Others saw him once a semester to help them make steady improvement. The ones that sought him out- practically gushed and beamed and praised that when it came to honest feedback, he was the best. But those who sought him out, hoping to bribe him into turning a blind eye to anything going on in the clinic or to take part in any scheme, was usually dealt with by Professor Xeneth himself who immediately launched investigations and used Xorrax to spearhead them and would be exposed on a school wide and community wide scale. 

However, others did all they could to avoid Xorrax in the clinic altogether because the last thing they wanted was to open themselves up to his overly harsh criticisms or were usually the students who had something to hide. Plus, Xorrax had also built a reputation that- he liked to fuck his way through every female in the school, and specialized in students in the Bride Program and especially 3 C’s. 

It was rumored that Xorrax could make even the most devout sexual abstaining nun into a whore in five minutes flat. It was also rumored that he personally investigated anyone and everyone who even hinted at one student who would have any romantic attachments to any other student. And do so, without ever having to oversee any sessions. They would just need to walk past him, and he’d practically sniff it out like a hound which is why Professor Xeneth used and protected him and basically let him have the whole clinic as his playground, until Xorrax would eventually age out, become either a doctor or a teacher in their own right.  

Xorrax’s skills as a very powerful incubus were a class all their own. And all a student needed to do was be within his presence for 15 minutes and he would narrow down their biggest obstacles and biggest points of weakness. And that if the student worked on those, they would come out and improve their Student Overal Score by at least 50- 100 points, if not more. 

Senora, didn’t need the help academically. But she did want an honest appraisal, which is why she was not surprised when- the moment her class was released to start to schedule in the clinic, all of the top students in her class had filled in Xorrax’s schedule. And she had been lucky to even get this spot the first week. And she did not want to schedule anything else until she met with him first. Xorrax, of course, always gave deference to the newest students, or the students earmarked for needed extra improvement. Which filled his schedule up. 

And while he did spend, most of his time in the clinic- the man did have a home of his own. Where? She didn’t know. And all the details of his personal life were a mystery, just the way he liked them. 

But Senora, just because she wasn’t in the Bride Program herself, she wanted Xorrax to treat her as if she was. Because she wanted to be honestly assessed, tested and proven so that she would know how best to proceed, she thought of herself as a pretty well rounded student, but she still felt she needed a fresh pair of well trained and experienced eyes to really see her and her abilities as they were to give her a better understanding of herself and something of a baseline going forward. 

She had spent the last year, both preparing for the clinic, but also doing research on her own and had tracked down any and every student she could who had had sessions with Xorrax. All with varying degrees of success and every single one having a slightly different experience, but all of them, admitting that he didn’t give them what they wanted, but what they needed. 

But Senora, also, wanted to meet this Xorrax- head on. And get the one thing she wanted more than a sexual release. She wanted an honest appraisal of herself as a student. And that could only be given if she was really seen as she was. And the one looking- really saw her as she was.  

She knocked and heard a deep, and practically velvety voice answer. 

“Enter.” Xorrax answered before she did and simply stepped into the room and closed the door and waited. She was surprised when it didn’t look all that different from any other standard room. Most students, who got released into the clinic- liked certain styles of certain wings of the clinic. Others wanted it to be as bright and colorful as they were, yet others, wanted as close to a medical clinic as it could be. 

But this was as plain and generic as it could be. The perfect canvas. 

“Correct.” Xorrax praised from the shadowy corner where he was seeing her and sensing her. 

“Why?” Senora asked as she continued to appraise the room instead of looking into the dark corner where she had heard his voice come from. 

Although, if his skills were as good as his reputation built them up to be, he could practically make a room out of nothing and have a session without ever touching his partner, for how quickly and easily he could get into his partner’s head and manipulate them. 

“However, I am curious as to how you came to the conclusion that the room is a blank canvas.” He prodded curiously from a different corner as Senora simply grinned but instead had walked around the bed in the middle of the room, as if she was appreciating an art piece in a museum. 

“You’re an artist. Every woman in Dorierra is supposed to be a work of art- either in the making or already finished. And a blank canvas is just a way for her to expand her own work of art. But in this setting. It could either show the art in all it’s glory, or have it put under a microscope and scrutinized and judged and picked apart for its flaws. Besides, the best lovers simply mirror the love of a beloved. However, a mirror only works if the art is under the right light. Too harsh- and the lighting damages the pigment, makes certain colors fade or wash out and the art itself depreciates, not enough- it’s just a blob of barely deciphered color in the shadows.” Senora offered as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror on the wall before she simply moved to the bed to appreciate the ever changing inkblot art on the wall. 

She could feel him poke and prod her mind by changing the art, trying to find something she would like, something that she would see an image of something in. As the ink itself changed colors, seemingly at random as he seemed to be dialing her in but she did what she was advised to do- keep her mind free and clear, let things flow like a gentle breeze or a small stream in a forest. Don’t hold onto anything because whatever you tried to hold onto, Xorrax would take. Whatever you tried to hide, he would find. So, she didn’t hide anything. She didn’t hold onto anything either. Not even Xorrax. 

“Interesting.” Xorrax hummed, as if pondering the merits of her theory. 

“But that is just my opinion, and not the truth. So will you tell me the truth or will you simply have me believing my own opinion as correct?” Senora asked. 

“Well your opinion is one of the better ones I’ve heard.” He mused. 

“But it’s not the truth unless you say it is or it isn’t. I’m not one of those students who always has to be right or always has to win. But I am a curious one, who believes that a single truth should outweigh any number of opinions.” Senora urged. 

“Yes you are. And it’s that quest for wanting to see everyone else for who they really are, and understanding the why- that drives you. It’s why you’re the top of your class. It’s why you’re a favorite of your teachers and among your other paired classes. Because you care about accepting your partner, as they fully are, it lulls them into a sense of vulnerability without the threat of exposure.” He seemed to recall, as if he had already done his research on her too. 

“But, I also have learned that very few people are comfortable showing, much less being who they really are. Because of things like acceptance, or fear of rejection, or social norms, or attractiveness based on appearance, specifically the symmetry of their form.” Senora offered. 

“Ah, so I see, someone has already used their cubi- powers to hide themselves from you. That’s why you’re so incessant on being truthful and getting the real and true picture of your partners. Such an approach has gotten you very far. But such an approach will burn you here in the clinic.” He predicted. 

“How so?” Senora asked as her head tilted to the side curiously. 

“In the clinic, very few are interested in being seen as they truly are. If they want such things, they go to a therapist, not to The Lotus House. The Lotus House is a proving ground, and a place for students to build their ability to change themselves to suit anyone and everyone else. The Lotus House is about teaching students to build the right illusion, while not losing themselves in their own illusion. There is a huge difference in being seen as you are, and being seen as you want to be seen as. And that’s what most truly want. And what they desire above all else. They want to slip into a fantasy where their faults don’t exist, that their flaws are minimal, that they’re attractive and that all the reasons they would ever have to be critical of themselves or loathe themselves don’t really matter.” He plainly, and rather cynically appraised. 

“And that’s why the Bride System and 3 C’s produces individuals- capable of making any number of grooms believe such things.” Senora calmly concluded. 

“Is that why you’re not in the program? Unable to swallow such things down with a smile?” He asked as Senora could almost sense him almost pacing behind her, staring into the back of her head and could almost feel his sarcastic, perhaps almost snarky smile in his almost sneering tone. 

“That’s part of it.” Senora nodded. 

“But you didn’t answer my question. Why is the room plain?” Senora redirected him as she cast a curious look over her shoulder to barely see a shadowy figure move out of her area of view as she resisted trying to follow the figure and simply turned and stared at the blank wall in front of her once the pictures on the wall seemed to settle on pretty pictures in appealing colors, which was her cue that he had already dialed her in to a degree.  

“You were right, it is a blank canvas, but not for the student’s benefit. But for mine. I do like to think of myself as something of a piece of art in progress myself, but also part mirror, and part light and artist, all in one. I learn something from each piece of art that comes through that door. And a plain room is no different than a clean and clear artist gallery. Just open space and a series of lights, switches and dimmers and candles and lanterns to provide or hide any and all light needed or wanted. Some students come in, hoping I will find and expose their faults, others come in, hoping they will be able to hide whatever they want to from me- under their own school uniform. Others try to distract with their own brazen nakedness, in order to conceal their true vulnerability.” Xorrax expounded. 

“It’s a shame that I only came in naked then. Simply wanting you to see all of me, as much or as little as you wish to see to give me an honest appraisal.” She offered with a smug smirk as she slipped the silken robe off of her shoulders to simply sit on the bed. Not sucking in, not posing, just simply sitting comfortably, even slouching a little as she simply focused on sitting comfortably. 

“A naked subject is hardly an open book.” Xorrax practically scoffed. 

“And an open book is hardly the whole story. You know as well as I do, that the writer can either add or take away as they see fit through various revisions. Or pages can be torn out, or glued together. Or the print can be faded. Or in an unknown language altogether.” Senora pointed out. 

“So you came here for a philosophical debate? You’re better off meeting Professor Xeneth for that.” He almost taunted her. Was he having a bad day or something? Was he in a bad mood? Was he tired? Exhausted from the barrage of new new students in the clinic, all of them eager to have one on one time with him?

“No. I came to be honestly appraised by you. Not by Professor Xeneth. But, if you do refer me to Professor Xeneth, I would accept such a referral, but it was not why I came to you. I applied for this session with you. I specifically put on the session notes that I wanted an honest appraisal, which you already accepted. And I came naked, just in case that appraisal needed to be more intimate than just this conversation. I simply wish to see myself as I truly am. And I’m told no one is better with honest appraisal than you. That you can make even the most obsessive perfectionist or the worst lying charlatans see the truth of themselves. Surely you can do the same for me. I requested your professional assessment.” Senora maintained. 

“So you’ve tried to do all the research you can- to prepare yourself for your session with me?” He posed. 

“Well, while I do like to be prepared, I also try not to be convoluted either. I know I’m not the smartest student in class. I know I still have a lot to learn throughout my courses here at The Lotus House. I know that I don’t know everything, or know everyone. Nor do I wish to. All I’m looking for is understanding of myself. You are the personal assistant to the Head Clinic Practicum Master himself after all and are second only to him.” Senora appraised. 

“I hear you’re working on another thesis with Professor Xeneth that will rock The Lotus House to the core once it’s eventually published, just like the last one did. That it will most likely, at the very least improve, if not- rewrite our curriculum and even change how we approach The Lotus House and sex in general. And that Professor Xeneth has used you to then use and test every student who has willingly walked through that door- as a test subject for their various theories. But while I won’t object to you testing any out on me, I am still waiting on my honest appraisal.” Senora offered. 

“Then please slip your robe back on.” Xorrax insisted before she did and only a moment later, a stool seemed to appear before her before a white cane came out of the shadows, with a blind man holding it before he sat down. He was dressed really modestly. He was actually rather thin and almost frail and looked nothing like how he was usually perceived to look like. 

“You are both surprised, yet smug in your perceived appearance of me.” He offered. 

“You are cubi, a powerful one. One who can change everything about yourself to suit anyone else’s tastes. Usually when we lose one sense, the others grow stronger. If you are either naturally blind, or are simply choosing to appear to me- to be blind, that would account for your cubi powers to be dialed in and dialed up to an unimaginable maximum. But it would also account for the bare minimalist room. Less things for you to trip over in here, and less you have to worry about manipulating for your partner’s benefit, or the less potential there is for anything to happen to you as you would move about in here to interrupt the illusion.” She offered as she slipped the robe back onto her body to re-establish her modesty. 

“Precisely.” He smiled. 

“And it’s why you can hide in the shadows in the corners, and simply let your cubi- senses- sense the person who comes in here. And once you get into someone else’s head, you can see both yourself through their eyes, but also, themselves through their own eyes. And if you’re able to do that much, you probably don’t even have to physically touch them. It’s their own minds that do the rest.” Senora boldly mused. 

“Correct.” He confirmed with another nod. 

“But then again, this all could just be an illusion you put into my head too, to satisfy my own curiosity.” Senora realized. 

“Perhaps. But you wanted honesty in your appraisal. And you wanted the truth as to why the room is plain. Which I am showing you, instead of telling you. So, since you are so ready to accept me in any form I wish to show myself to you in- even if it’s not the form you are expecting. I will do you the honor and the justice to give you what you have asked for. An honest and fair appraisal.” He began. 

“Miss Senora, it is clear to me, that you could have sex with every student, regardless of gender in this school. And you could get perfect scores doing so. But there is a sense of comfort and safety that one carries when their true heart is held, protected, cared for and nurtured by another. And that is what you have - and it is how you have breezed through the pairings of the class. You have your true, inner heart- so securely cared for, loved, protected and shielded that it doesn’t matter what I or anyone else says or does. Nothing will change how you feel about your beloved, or how your beloved feels about you- no monogamous relationship needed. And it’s because you trust the person whose own heart you hold, just as carefully, just as securely, just as tenderly and just as protectively, that they look at the clinic as a trial by fire, but you and your love have made them fireproof as their love for you has made you fireproof in turn.” He calmly, and if anything, rather proudly appraised. 

“That kind of love- and acceptance- is never going to be against the rules, or against anything that The Lotus House teaches and stands for. If anything, it’s what the Lotus House is geared towards. To help those who stay in Dorierra to have successful relationships, however they wish to quantify and qualify said success. It’s why you’re comfortable baring yourself as much as you are, because you have already bared yourself to your beloved and he has already accepted all of your true self and your true heart as much as you have accepted him in turn and you both wear such affections like a suit of armor. You have already understood that there can be a difference between physical, mental, emotional and psychological fidelity or infidelity. And you are simply waiting to weather the Clinical Practicum Trials, no matter how they would test you- either by a trial of fire or a trial of flower petals.” He appraised as the very fire he was speaking of seemed to alight from his staff, and the very flower petals seemed to fall about them like snow before disappearing a moment after. 

“You have already won the war, whereas others have yet to really fight their first battles, because you have been honest and humble with yourself first.” He honestly appraised with a fond grin. 

“ Is my beloved that obvious to you?” Senora asked curiously, because she thought she had done a good job of neither hiding Volron nor showing him off in her mind. 

“Oh yes. Because while you tried to hide yourself in plain sight. I still can’t help but see him when I’m looking in the background of your mind, the truth plainly plays out in your subconscious. Everyone’s inner mind is like a physical place. Different thoughts are like phantoms of either people or structures. And you hid Volron in plain sight, all around you as you would be with him both in memory and fantasy. However, to the untrained eye, he would have blended into the background perfectly and had practically been invisible. You worked very hard and were very good in making sure there was only ever one of him at a time. Never more than one at any one time, just like no one in the real world is ever in more than one physical place at a time. Some people, when they try to hide who they don’t want me to see, I see copies of them everywhere all at once and it’s like I see nothing but them, others try to lock their secrets into safes while the code is practically stamped on their foreheads.” He chuckled with a subtle shake of his head. 

“But, with you, what I see in the distance, where you imagine yourself being one day, is not your graduation, or even, your wedding day or the birth of your first child with Volron. But simply, what you imagine him and yourself being one day- a pair of old people, walking side by side, hand in hand, your tails wrapped around the other as they trail behind you. It’s adorable. And what’s even more adorable, is his version of you is the same in his own mind. It’s his fantasy that he uses to soothe himself after every clinical hour he puts in here. And it is quite adorable. And I don’t even need to be in a session with him to see it. But don’t worry. He will not get in trouble, and neither will you. If anything, he is a better man for his true loyalty to you. You want to be a counselor. And there is nothing in your way of achieving that., and all he wants is to make you happy, and there is nothing but his own fear at being found out in his own way.” He offered with a nod of approval. 

“You are otherwise, a pretty well rounded student, academically, you’re obviously, top of your class, but you are not desperate to stay at the top of the class academically, like some of your fellow students. My only caution to you is to understand that the Clinic Practicum is all about illusion and fantasy. And that others that come into the Clinic are looking to escape into any number of fantasies, and they’re coming, looking for sexual release and to blow off excess steam with you and the other students in a safe and controlled environment. And your ‘I’ll show you all of me so you can show me all of you’ approach- while has it has helped you in practice between the paired classes, especially when you’re new and young and naive and still gaining experience and it forgives awkward fumbles. The Clinic is looking for smoothness in manners and self confidence and self assuredness. Your current approach can be quite dangerous. It’s far from unique and usually, at the beginning, it can boost your clinic session score, because it’s seen as ‘new’ and ‘individual’ and ‘refreshing’. It will however, get old. And once it gets old, suddenly your clinic practicum scores will plummit because either they grow bored, or they grow hungrier for that private, intimacy with you. It’s a great way to find a husband and settle down and having to test out of The Lotus House early, if that’s what you really want. But if you want to give yourself and this part of your education justice, it’s a dangerous disservice.” He warned. 

“For one- it opens you up to the more emotionally needy clients who will drain you faster than a water hose left open on full blast. Two, you run the risk of more than just your Beloved falling in love with you and actually genuinely, romantically pursuing you and wanting to be romantically involved with you and only you because you’ve made the emotional involvement too easy to entangle yourself and themselves in. 3. It will absolutely jeopardize your relationship with your Beloved and it will be a test too far and it will break the relationship and bring out the worst in you both. And I would hate to see The Lotus House break up yet another happy couple, that could have been just fine, if no one had interfered.” He cautioned as he held up one of his hands to list them off. 

“You need to stay in control of yourself and what happens and what transpires in the Clinic Practicum. Because if that power is given to your client instead of to you- the client is going to be greedy and take and take and take until you are empty and then they’re going to give you bad scores for being used up, which is not fair at all. There should be a little give and take during the session, yes. But you should not be the only one giving. Because, as I’m sure you’ve understood in your Dominatrix and Submissive classes, it’s the Submissive who is in real control. Always stay in control of yourself and the room during the session. And the only time that control should be given up- is in private, with your Beloved. No where else.” Xorrax offered.

“But that’s it. Otherwise you’re lovely, inside and out.” Xorrax grinned. 

“Thank you Xorrax.” Senora thanked him.  

“Professor Xeneth would like to meet with you. You will find your uniform in the changing room on the other side of this door to change to meet him formerly.” Xorrax offered before he stood and touched the light switch on the wall to reveal a truly blank room. The paintings, long since revealed to be nothing more than empty frames on the wall as he went to the door before he knocked a peculiar knock before he opened the door and showed her into the dressing room as she quickly changed into her regular uniform and once she was done, there was another knock on the other door. 

“Yes?” She answered as she opened it to reveal Professor Xeneth on the other side. 

“Yes Miss Senora, a pleasure to meet you. Dr. Zellora has given me quite the glowing review. You are one of her favorite students in this year’s class.” Professor Xeneth offered as he shook her hand and then showed her to a comfy chair on the other side of his desk before he walked around and sat down, her official student file on his desk as he was looking through it and reading it before there was another knock on one of the other doors to his office before Xorrox came in and went to his own desk- that was remarkably clear except for a tray of stamps, each with braille label. 

Senora watched, rather in awe as Xorrox didn’t need a cane as he walked around the desk and sat down and used his sense of touch to find the right file in a filing cabinet next to his desk before he took the paper out and then used a special frame next to a special platform over the paper before he pressed a series of stamps into the paper before he got it back and put it onto Professor Xeneth’s desk before he touched Senora’s shoulder as she reached up and squeezed his hand over it and couldn’t help but smile fondly up at him, even though he was blind, and probably couldn’t see it but the mutual respect and fondness was still felt as she felt him fully disengage with her so he could engage with his next client in the next session. 

“Well, Xorrax is yet another who has given you a glowing review. But a fair criticism nonetheless.” Professor Xeneth noted as she smiled at the various “stamps” that while they simply looked like strange symbols, were a language and held vast meanings. 

“Xorrox has advised that you do an Accelerated Program in the Clinic Practicum.” He offered. 

“What kind of Accelerated Program?” Senora asked. 

“This kind.” Professor Xeneth said as he took the paper Xorrax had stamped and went to his own filing cabinet to get a copy of each of the worksheets and made sure he got at least two copies of each one before he put them into a neat stack on his desk before he put additional marks on Xorrax’s assessment. 

“Now, in my professional opinion, I will second everything that Xorrax has admonished to you. But I wish to add one more thing. Usually what the student does not like, or- is an acquired taste, is usually what the student needs more of- to be well rounded. So, you will find two copies of each of these assignments. One is for you to use with any other student or client at your discretion. The other- will be an assignment, given by the Clinic Managers, for they usually know each of the classes and each of the students in those classes, better than their own teachers will, because we can not escape some form of favoritism and bias but the Managers have enough distance to be objective in said assignments. You can either choose to have the assignment first, and then have the joy of choosing the second. Or, use the choice to prepare you for the assignment. I have seen many students choose either- or, and have had success with both. Once you look at these assignments, you can decide.” Professor Xeneth noted as he wrote down which of the assignments were being assigned to her. 

“Next, I want you to know that once you do these assignments, you will have satisfied the Clinic Practicum Requirements.” 

“Wait, what?” Senora blinked in shock. 

“What part of accelerated program do you not understand?” Professor Xeneth asked as he looked at her over the top of his glasses. 

“I…I….I didn’t think it would  be that accelerated.” Senora stuttered. 

“Senora, you are young and your mind is still quite the sponge. You wish to be a Student Counselor here at The Lotus House. And you show amazing aptitude for it. And your ability to sympathize and empathize, and really understand others struggles in this program should really be nurtured and developed, especially while you’re still malleable. And doing the whole- normal clinical hour requirement, would be, honestly, a waste of your time. Sometimes, the longer you are in Clinic, while you gain experience, it drains your empathy and sympathy and can jade people a very ugly shade of green. And Xorrox, and I and the other staff do not wish for that to happen to you. You will still get plenty of experience. But with you not being in the Bride Program, and instead, still have a wonderful career in front of you. I don’t feel meaningless hours and exhausting, unneeded experience in the Clinic Practicum will help you with your ambition or your career. So, I am about to do, what very, very few students get to ever earn the right to do. Since you are in the accelerated program. If you will do this half of these assignments as assigned. I don’t care if you choose to do every other single one with the same student. Or if you choose to have every homework assignment done with the same partner from here on out. It will be allowed. Your career and your future should not be impeded by The Clinic Practicum, it should be supportive of it as well. And this accelerated rate- will see to it.” He added. 

“So, allow this old man to offer a pre-emptive congratulations. Congratulations on passing the Clinical Practicum Trials.” He congratulated her as he handed her Xorrox’s assessment and the small, practically miniscule stack of assignments. 

“What?” She asked as she took it and looked at the paper. According to the special paper- she had just done two years worth of clinical trials in a single session. She was still free to partake in the clinic if she wished to after the assignments were completed. But she otherwise aced it and- at the completion of these assignments would be considered graduated from the Clinic Practicum.

“Why?” Senora asked as she just stared at the pages in awed bewilderment. 

“Because you cared enough to want to see the real Xorrax and were honest in showing him the real you. Even at great risk. The truth means everything to you, as does endurance of any and every trial. And such a noble endeavor deserves to be commended and supported.” He offered. 

“So, Xorrax, really is blind? That was really him? That was the real him?” Senora asked. 

“Yes. That was the real him. Doctor Xorrax- really is blind. But his phantoms can see just fine. And he uses his clients to be his eyes and ears for him as well. It’s what has made him an exceptional student and perfect for this role.” Professor Xeneth praised. 

“He’s a doctor?” Senora asked. 

“Yes, he just pretends to be a student. But that first thesis we put out? That was his doctorate thesis. And he is a scientist. It’s because he is blind that his cubi powers were enhanced to such a great degree that his work on a person’s subconscious- is how we can test to see if a student is really mentally mature enough for the Lotus House. It’s how he can investigate everything that he does. Because his cubi powers are practically superpowers, he is able to do everything that he does and more. You will actually be working quite closely with him from now on for he is instrumental in helping pair the right students to the right counselors and vice versa.” Professor Xeneth explained. 

“You are an exceptional student Miss Senora. And you will make an excellent counselor. If you wish to continue to use the clinic you may- if you feel you need the experience, but otherwise, the sessions will not add to your already impeccable score. However, I suggest, having one last session outside of these assigned ones, with Volron. Using this. If he can do all that is specified on this paper in a single session, it will be his own exit exam from the clinic and he can be your only homework companion if you both wish him to be. He came into the Clinic Practicum, expecting it to be a trial by fire, he should leave it as a trial by flower petals, don’t you think?” Professor Xeneth offered one last piece of paper with Volron’s name and student number already written by Professor Xeneth on it. 

“Thank you. Can I hug you?” She asked as she took it and couldn’t help but start crying tears of relief as both pieces of paper were more precious than anything she had ever held before. 

“Of course.” He held out an arm as she came around and hugged him on the side and kissed the top of his head. 

“Sorry.” She offered as she tried to wipe her tears from his hair. 

“It’s ok. You’re not the first, nor will be the last to cry on me today. Go and enjoy the rest of your day, and leave out that door, you leave from this door and you’ll intrude on Xorrax. And I do not wish to court his ire.” He chuckled. 

“Thank you!” She thanked him before she took the precious papers and left and she felt like she practically floated all the way up to front desk before she handed all the papers to the Clinic Manager for that wing who readily handed her the copies of her own private assignments back while earmarking the others that would need to be assigned as Dr. Oresha immediately knew who Senora should have for the assignments. 

“Congratulations Senora.” The Clinic Manager- Dr. Oresha cooed as she happily hugged Senora once she was done and showed the students names written in pencil first to Senora who nodded her agreement to the assignments before Dr. Oresha wrote over them in ink to make them more permanent. 

“Thank you.” Senora smiled and couldn’t stop smiling, or crying more tears of happiness. Most of her classmates, much less the other students, hadn’t even gotten through half of their sessions yet. But Senora happily flipped through the book and found Volron’s last open day and scheduled herself for the session with him. And knew it was going to be his exit exam from the clinc practicum. She got the other paperwork back and practically skipped through the halls to leave the clinic and practically floated back to her classroom where Dr. Zellora was in her classroom, grading papers in the school, so she didn’t have to bring them home and risk grading them there, and having any of her grandkids accidentally make a mess of them. 

“Knock knock.” Senora said as she knocked on the door frame.

“Miss Senora! Hi! Come in, come in, tell me, how was Xorrax?” Dr. Zellora invited as she invited her student to come and pull up a chair next to her desk. 

“You mean Dr. Xorrax don’t you?” Senora beamed with a bright smile before Dr. Zellora practically squealed in delight as her tail whipped and wiggled excitedly as Senora’s did as well. 

“Oh you aced it! You aced it! I knew it! I’m so proud of you!” Dr. Zellora practically bounced her seat over to Senora to hug her tightly. 

“Tell. Me. Everything. Right now!” Dr. Zellora gushed as she immediately put her papers to the side to turn to Senora so they could talk and gush about the experience. 

“Holy shit, he showed you the real him? He showed you the cane? Aw, you really must have made him feel safe and secure enough for him to show you that. He’s so sweet and so nice. I mean, he can be a hard ass too. But that’s only to the students who try to pull a fast one. But to the truly meek, mild and humble? Oh he’s a dream. And his honest appraisal of you as a student is exactly what I was hoping for. It’s good but honest and fair. Now I do agree with Professor Zeneth’s advice as well. But once you go through the assignments, these choice ones will be not only a breeze, but a pleasure and a joy. And I agree, having you do the entire Clinic Practicum is not only- unwarranted but would be a waste of your time, but mostly a waste of your sympathy and empathy too. And you need to save as much of that for your future students as you can. You will still be getting all the Clinic Practicum you need to stay well rounded and stay well informed and well experienced. You should absolutely keep your focus on your studies and your career. And I know this will be one less thing for you to worry about in class. And one less distraction from your chosen career path. I’m so happy for you. Ok, so, tell me, do you have any ideas about this?” Dr. Zellora asked once she held up what was going to be Volron’s exit exam. 

“Oh gosh, well it was encouraged that his clinic practicum has been a trial by fire so far, and it should end as a trial of flower petals.” Senora grinned. 

“Well ok, so, how far do you want to take that?” Dr. Zellora asked. 

“How far am I allowed to take it?” Senora asked. 

“Oh Honey, I have had some students make their room a damn honeymoon suite. If it’s going to be both of your guys’ last time in the clinic. Make it the best session ever. Make it the best- last time together as students. Make it yours, make it his. Make it memorable. And a day and possibly night, he will never forget. But most importantly. Use any number of these room numbers.” She offered before she wrote down a series of room numbers. 

“But that’s Dr. Xorrax’s wing.” 

“Exactly. Dr. Xorrax only assigns those rooms to who he is watching and who he is investigating, or I’ve seen him use that whole wing, each with a phantom of himself in each one and able to keep all 12 rooms occupied and to the point that none of them knew they were ever in those rooms alone. And I know for a certainty that these, are otherwise, unused. Most students don’t even want to go down this hallway. So you’ll be able to make all kinds of noise and make all kinds of racket without an audience which is what the final practicum exit exam room has. And without interference. And the rooms are purposefully just as plain as his is. Make any of those rooms, your perfect canvas to create your perfect final piece of art. Enter that room as a student, and leave it as Volron’s beloved, loud and proud. Hell, you have my permission to leave it as his fiance if he is so inclined.” Dr. Zellora cooed schemingly as that seemed to make Senora blush and giggle and practically vibrate with happiness. 

“Really?” Senora asked. 

“Hey, the minute you check these check marks and sign here, he’s done. Make sure you sign before he proposes though.” Dr. Zellora urged. 

“Ok.” Senora nodded in understanding. 

“I have some shopping to do to prepare for this then.” Senora happily and giddily offered as she took it, carefully slipped them into a protective folder and into her backpack. 

Off to tell her Beloved The Best News Ever.

[johannestevans]

i was reading your post abt asab at the doctor and my brain tried to go into solution mode as it is wont to do, but i realized like. there is no solution. at least not one that isn't a complete overhaul of the medical system, including research fields.

i've been on t for a year as of tomorrow, and a few months in i noticed my adhd medication stopped working. it got so bad that when i would take it, i would have to fight to keep myself awake. i couldn't figure out what was going on and my doctor just said 'just keep taking it and maybe it'll level out.' several months later, i still felt like absolute shit when i took it to the point where i felt better when i didn't take it. i asked to up the dose but she said it would be 'too much of a shock to my system.' i eventually just stopped taking it because even though i barely function without it, i didn't function at all with it on that dose. i talked to a friend last week who is also on t and he said 'oh yeah your dose is too low. your metabolism can change on t, so it's likely you need to up your dose.' so like not only was this a situation where if i was a cis man my concerns likely would have been addressed immediately, but it was a failure of my doctor to actually understand how trans bodies on hrt work and what they need. so how exactly would having "afab" on my chart have helped??? bc there is no difference in initial dosage between male and female patients, the starting dose is usually 30mg across the board (my doc had me on 30mg initially then lowered my dose to 20mg after i lost access to it for a month??????), the thing that affected me wasn't my fucking vagina or ovaries, it was a change in my endocrine system!!!

and i feel like this heavy reliance on asab makes doctors lazy. they don't do regular blood tests, they don't test your metabolism, your hormone levels, they just assume based on the f or m what your levels should be, or they see that you're fat so they assume you have high bp, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. (cannot tell you how many times i've had nurses take my bp numerous times bc they refused to believe it was average, and i still keep getting hounded abt my blood sugar and cholesterol despite the fact that every single test has come up normal.) like i don't think any doctor has ever even bothered giving me blood tests until i started t, they just assumed from the f on my chart and my body size. i remember getting put on metformin when i was young with no blood tests simply because i was fat, and i still have kidney issues because of it.

anyway sorry for ranting in your inbox, that was kind of all over the place, but your post just really struck a chord and reminded me how much i hate the medical system.

YEAH EXACTLY. I'm so sorry, it's just like... ARGH.

Like especially the weight problems and like... Doctors desperately want to go based off of people's ASAB and what their weight is and not what's normal for them! Same for racial assumptions, especially assumptions doctors will make about Black people and anyone who's dark-skinned and/or has natural hair.

Plus disability! Addiction! Mental health issues! They'll just make assumptions based off any other aspect of their identity - any excuse to dodge talking to the patient and treating them like they're a human being, or acting like as a doctor they're a human being rather than a god and commander.

Like, all these specific metrics rather than what the actual patient's experiences are, and what they're saying. A lot of medical professionals just think the world will end if they actually talk to and listen to one of their patients, and it's infuriating!

[crimson-ace-reviews]

Crimson Ace Reviews: Kamen Rider Gavv Episode 2

This episode reveals why Kamen Rider Gavv is a fantasy show: It portrays corporations as evil, and we all know how false that is, right?

Let's get into Kamen Rider Gavv's second episode: Happy Zakuzakuchips

We pick up right where we left off last week, with a woman named Sachika waking Shoma up. Sachika then offers to take him back to her place for some food.

It's here we get the show's opening theme, “Got Boost?” It's a pretty upbeat theme with some nice visuals. I especially like the one part where Shoma, Hanto, and Sachika are all singing along to the song.

After the opening, Sachika takes Shoma to the store she runs, Hapipare, or Happy Parade. Shoma mistakes a towel Sachika gives him for cotton candy, before being told to go take a shower. Make sure to wash your Gavv too, Shoma.

The next scene properly introduces the season's villains, the Stomach Family. These are the heads of the company which produces the Dark Treats, those things Granute Hound wanted more of last episode. Lango Stomach is the president of the company after the death of their father, Glotta Stomach is the head of manufacturing which involves those shrunken humans wrapped in Fruit by the Foot, Nyelv is in charge of research and development, and the twins Shita and Jeebh are in charge of getting supplies. It's a very effective scene that introduces the villains and gives the audience an idea of their goals and explains more about the Dark Treats. I also love how rather than an evil empire, the villains are structured like a corporation, sort of like the villains from Kirby: Planet Robobot.

Back with Shoma, he helps himself to some of Sachika's food, only to forget the whole “giving birth” thing.

Damn it, Shoma! Do that in the bathroom for Gaim's sake! Or at least see a doctor about your Gavv if it keeps up.

Something of note is when Shoma tries a bento made by Sachika, he doesn't create a new Gochizo, showing that it's only snacks that affect his Gavv. After he struggles to hide the new Gochizo he created (including a few he made from eating potato chips for the first time), Shoma offers to help Sachika help a friend move. Because he has super strength, it's a snap for him, so they celebrate with soba and potato chips.

Meanwhile, Hanto gets a lead on the mysterious monster attack, taking him to Hajime's house.

Oh hey, Hajime. We thought you were dead.

Speaking of monsters, we get our first look at this week's Granute, Granute Whipple.

Damn, Squidward's been hitting the gym.

He gets a new assignment, to target the friend Shoma and Sachika just helped move out.

Back with Shoma and Sachika, the latter asks the former just why he goes so crazy over snacks. He explains that he gets it from his mother.

You know, between this show and Dragon Ball Super, who would have thought junk food would be seen as humanity's greatest achievement by aliens?

After Sachika gives her full name, Shoma starts to reveal his last name, but because it's all but stated that he's a member of the Stomach family, he has to improvise and come up with a name that's less evil.

Okay, not the best person to name yourself after, but at least Toshiki Inoue isn't a mass-murdering psychopath.

Cut to Granute Whipple, who wraps up the friend into the shrunken Fruit by the Foot form, which is seen by two of Shoma's Gochizo. After starting to write in a snack diary, Shoma is alerted to this, so he heads out and confronts the Granute, transforming into Gavv. Granute Whipple tries to bargain with Gavv by offering to split the profits, but Gavv tells him to shove it. Gavv gets the friend back, but his gummy armor is chipped away again, so he tries a different Gochizo, this one labeled “Zakuzaku Chips”.

I like this form. The food motif is much clearer here, and I especially like the touch of his eyes being potatoes that are quickly sliced off.

The weapons, a pair of swords called the Zakuzakuchipslasher, are really creative, looking like crushed bags of potato chips. Hopefully, these things won't break so easily like what happened last week.

In all seriousness, Shoma is just as surprised before he figures out that the Zakuzakushipslasher's effectiveness depends on the angle, and even if they break, unlike the Poppin Gummy armor, he doesn't need to reload another Gochizo to make the blades regenerate. So Gavv goes to town on Granute Whipple, and just like the commercials say about eating chips, you can't just stop at killing one Granute. Gavv saves the friend, but she isn't grateful to be saved by him.

Yes, because clearly the bright blue gummy-themed person is a terrifying monster.

Gavv rides off on his ATV, only to be seen by Hanto. We learn that the reason why Hanto is so obsessed with monsters was because a Granute murdered his mother when he was just a kid. Damn, that's two for two on dead moms this season. Somebody better get Sachika's mom to a bunker.

Just like last week, the episode ends with Shoma deciding to leave Sachika's place to continue roaming the world. Our hero, ladies and gentlemen, master of chewing and screwing.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Shiny New Toy: For the Zakuzaku Chips Gozhizo and the Zakuzakuchipslasher.

No Parents Allowed: For Hanto's mother, who was killed by a Granute.

This was a pretty okay episode. It had some strong character moments, a good introduction to the villains, and hints at future conflicts with the mystery Granute that murdered Hanto's mom. It's a good follow up to Episode 1.

Next time on Kamen Rider Gavv: Shoma continues to scare the public that probably thinks Monster High is too graphic for them, given how he's still being called a monster. But hey, at the very least, he discovers soda-flavored gummies.

[titleknown]

HELLOWEEN #30 KNOCKLUND

-KNOCKLUND is a Knight of Hell, with 44 legions and 23 keeps to his name. He may teach the arts of swordsmanship, animal husbandry and falconry, may grant enchantments towards martial weapons of a singular holder, the summoning of his hawk for spycraft and his hound with breath of blazing aether to guard, and may take possession of one's body to grant his martial prowess for 40 days and 40 nights.

He appears as a three-armed knight with a flaming sword and a skull for a face, accompanied by a horned hunting hound and a hawk with one eye. They tell me I am the first woman to challenge them on Earth, and the first woman on Earth to win against them.-

...I fear I have made a mistake in my editorial research, a shame I should be transparent about. Until now I have been referring to the author of The Last Testament of Doctor Faustus by male pronouns, as the name given for the author, Pan-Alastor/Panelestor, has been presumed to be male by most scholars due to prevailing trends of the time and lack of statements otherwise, and I; fool that I was; followed along.

But, in my research, I found the first edition of the book in Hell's own archives, and in this section the text was crossed out. It appears in no other editions, most likely due to her pragmatism deeming it unecessary and perhaps even boastful, but that pragmatism appears to have come at the cost of erasure.

Though she must have been formidable at arms indeed, given my experience with Knocklund. I did not encounter him by intention, but rather by pure accident. I was attempting to cross the Bridge of Screaming; a difficult task in its own right due to the infrastructural decay and infestations of mites, when I saw him, flaming into the distance. 

He threw me an ornate sword, one of many he had beside him, told me to fight, and... well, off I went. I was in book form rather than my projection of course, I am well aware of the value of being a smaller target, but he was relentless. I have some small experience in fencing, I have been told in fact that I am above-average (though that seems more flattery to me) but there was no gentility of the kind one sees in fencing to his strikes. 

There was the power of blind fury behind them, but also the precision of purely mental clarity, both united in an onslaught that would not cease. I could not attack, I could barely withstand his strikes, until I noticed something. His hound, watching nearby and moving to patrol the area (perhaps in the case of another trying to intervene) appeared to be moving... oddly. 

They seemed to have difficulty standing upright, and I saw them cough up a bright pink bile. Now, when one is a monsterologist one learns the signs of parasitic infestation, and this was a wholly straightforward case. I tried to speak; perhaps over-meekly, but he would not listen, so focused was he on the duel.

So, in frustration I threw down my sword and yelled from the bottom of my leaves "YOUR DOG IS SICK." He lowered his sword, confused. I explained to him the symptomology and he came forward, curious.

With a simple interchange, it was determined his hound had acquired Hellminths from eating a fleshy piece of the bridge that day, and with simple emetics the Hellminths were on the ground in a flaming puddle and the dog appeared alert. 

Knocklund said that; because I had stopped him from fighting, I had by rights won the duel and could pass. he also allowed me to keep the sword, saying he considered it to be of some use. 

I did get the chance to ask a few questions, and it seems he is still a soldier for Hell's armies, but is acting in this capacity of challenging sufficiently powerful-looking passersby to duels to train for the next war; rather than working on mega-projects or creating cruel regimes and armies.

When I inquired that perhaps there might not be a "next war," he simply replied "I hope not! This training is far more rewarding than the wars ever were!" 

Perhaps that's something that others in Hell could learn from...

-Xavier X. Xolomon , Monsterologist and Understudy to The Librarian Of Babel

————————

Is it too cliche that I did the whole Sir Didymus/Gilgamesh-type thing with this dude? I basically made him because I wanted to do sort of a cool demon knight, and it felt natural to go with that from there.

And, as for the gender reveal of Pan-Alastor, that was basically a spur of the moment "Why the hell not" bit because I thought it'd be a neat twist for her entry. But then I remembered I'd referred to that author with male pronouns throughought the Helloween. So I decided to make that itself into a plot point. Jury-rigging lore is fun!

As per usual the whole descriptions, designs, ectcetera from this project are free to use as you see fit under a CC-BY 4.0 license so long as I; Thomas F. Johnson, am credited as their creator!