#and i'm sure some people might appreciate the knowledge XD

[melting-sugar-cubes]

𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂: Shishi no Odoriko 🖤 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕: Yanase Seno

[gemsofgreece]

Thats such a shame re: the Greek class community. I've been trying to do my best to learn greek for the last little bit, but methods for doing so are rather... limited? It's easier to learn basic Spanish here in the US, or Chinese because my partner's family speaks it, but there isn't enough of a Greek community or anything like that in the city/area I'm closest to, and any places that offer a Greek class (not a 1:1 tutor which is hella $$$, but an actual class with a few other students) are in person only and at least a 6 hour drive away :(

Re: apps, so many have started integrating AI to generate lessons that native speakers (of multiple languages!) Have called them out on having down right incorrect information.

I've got vocabulary lists and Greek radio stations, but they talk so fast that it's really just for immersion right now, there's no way I can follow any of it lol

All that to say, I (and I'm sure many others) appreciate your language posts, they've been super fun/interesting/helpful, so thank you for posting them (despite tumblr being... tumblr)

Thank you! I am really happy to know they actually help some people in their effort of learning Greek or deepening their understanding of it.

It might be perceived as sabotaging people's efforts or killing their motivation but I can't help but agree that the resources for Greek are limited and often of low quality. Nobody who is studying Greek should feel disheartened because they struggle with it, because the resources really are not that good and it is totally legit if not expected to have trouble learning due to it.

Also, I have been seeing "entertaining" educational content left and right and even that makes me... angry. I have seen Greek-learning content that has actual mistakes and I am not even a linguist, so they are glaring mistakes and it's unacceptable to see mistakes or limited knowledge in the content of the supposed teachers. So much of the content features unserious and pointless intervals for fun, focusing on funny expressions or hand gestures or malaka malaka malaka tzatziki malaka yassou souvlaki malaka and honestly this is not a befitting image for the Greek language (or any language for that matter). And even serious resources are chaotic for real. It can not be justified because Greek is easier than Chinese, if Chinese can be taught methodically and realistically, so can Greek. Half of the Greeks making educational content don't truly believe others will learn Greek other than to say a couple vacation phrases for fun. And malaka. *sigh*

If it makes you feel any better, if I weren't a native speaker I would not be able to learn Greek with the tools and apps I have seen around, except some basic with Duolingo. Duolingo is solid. I have checked some other apps and have hated them all but people learning Greek swear by Language Transfer. I didn't get the hype at all but maybe it's a me problem. Check Language Transfer if you haven't. It has recorded actual audio lessons of a Greek teacher with a foreign student and it was originally designed with the Greek language in mind. Maybe this one offers that depth of understanding I mentioned earlier and this is why people like it. I still found it a little chaotic tbh but most people say otherwise so give it a try if you haven't.

You said something that works like a trigger in me XD about Greek being spoken very fast and being unable to follow. I admit it's bold of me to say since I am a native speaker but honestly......... I don't think we speak THAT fast. I have seen this comment many times, people joking that Greeks speak like "atdkyfkaugsakikoakistakpidakoltesiki" so I decided to look into it and there was a study confirming that Spanish and Greek said on average the biggest number of syllables per time unit. However, I kept looking into it and I found what could be clearing things out and maybe it's a trick you can use (though of course I don't know your level in Greek):

The trick is that the difference of Greek (and Spanish) is that unlike many others, they are overwhelmingly open-syllabled languages and have MANY open syllabled endings. That confuses people from more closed-syllable lingual backgrounds because they sort of miss the beats in which the word or phrase is ending and they think the speaker pronounces a never ending word or sentence and they can't follow. Furthermore, despite the openness of the syllables Greek has strong and sometimes challenging consonant clusters (quite stronger than Spanish) and people from closed-syllable backgrounds tend to think this is where a word or phrase is supposed to end but this is never the case since Greek has usually open syllables and the words never end in a consonant cluster (just a sigma or a ni at most), so they kind of miss the flow of the language. To make this false perception worse, Greek has some seriously long words and due to the open syllables it makes people feel like a lot more things are said than what is actually said! And the unpredictable stress also perhaps confuses people with a first language that is usually stressed in the same spot within each word.

For example, imagine a Greek saying in a breath:

"o-si-ði-ro-ðro-mi-kós-stath-mós"

"wow hold on a bit now"

"what...? I just said 'the rail station'!"

You know? It's like German but with a lot of vowels which adds more and more length. I don't know if this hits any close to home, maybe the difficulty you encounter is different, but I figured I should mention this potential explanation just in case. If this hits close to home, then try to train yourself to expect the pauses and the endings of words and phrases only in a vowel or a ni or a sigma. And when you start listening to the radio, don't feel defeated but keep thinking "I am listening fewer words than I think" and "I am missing less stuff than I think".

By the way, by radio you mean classic radio or podcasts? Because there are some podcasts where the narration is a bit on the slower side (to my native ears at least). Check the podcasts of LIFO, such as Mikropragmata by Ares Dimokidis. Check in general podcasts with one single speaker (because in dialogues things get more animated and faster).

From youtube, if you like science, check channels like Καθημερινή Φυσική, Astronio, Greekonomics. Obviously the vocabulary is advanced in this context but I feel they speak medium to slow.

If you like Criminology, real crime stories etc, check out Vassilikou's channel, she speaks slowly and is thinking as she speaks so I think it's a good pace.

For some lightheartedness, trash tv references, celebrity news (Hollywood and Greek), LGBTQ+ representation (mild though, he doesn't really focus on sexuality topics), check Eponimos. He speaks slowly.

And as always, I keep recommending ERTFLIX, the entirely free and internationally available Greek state TV OTT platform which has lots of good content with Greek audio and foreign content with Greek subtitles. Available in all devices, apps, platforms etc

I know you weren't really asking for help but I thought that maybe these notes would make it easier for you idk

[kajilychnis]

Arcane order headcanon

I wanted to share some headcanons on them about their knowledge about modern "technology". First let's start with Bellroc. (Sorry I will use "he" for Bellroc and Skrael, ik some people prefer to use "they/them")

First, Bellroc hates human technology the most of the three, In my opinion, he's the one who knows the least about technology. I think he knows heaters, it's probably one of the things he appreciate the most. Everything that is camera, telephone and etc, he hates that. This reminds me of the scene where Bellroc smashes Toby's camera (I JUST REMEMBERED THAT IT WASN'T TOBY'S CAMERA BUT KREL'S ROBOT DAD OMFG HOW DID I FORGET XD). I'm pretty sure Bellroc combs his hair with a comb.

For Skrael, I would say that if he wasn't a demigod he would actually be a geek. He loves refrigerators, he might even go inside and take a nap. I imagine him eating ice cream inside a freezer. He hates guns, he finds it pathetic. He knows everything about torture machines, he probably has a book on torture and medieval torture, speaking of books, I'm pretty sure he likes reading. Besides, I'm sure he knows manga, I don't know why but it wouldn't surprise me (I don't think he reads them though) I believe that among the three, Skrael is the one who knows the most about human technology (that doesn't mean he knows a lot…) So when Bellroc sees something human he automatically asks Skrael what it is. Often Skrael answers wrong.

Bellroc : ... *is staring at a phone charger" ...Skrael, what is this ?

Skrael : The phone leash.

Bellroc : ...

Skrael : ...

Bellroc : What's a phone ?

Nari doesn't know much about human technology but she probably doesn't like "human things" that pollute. But I honestly think she's a little more understanding about what humans use while Skrael and Bellroc love to make fun of human's new inventions. She knows that humans invent things to make their lives easier. She knows everything about gardening equipment, in fact she learned it with the help of Douxie. I think she likes to read too but she doesn't have the same taste as Skrael at all. I truly believe that when Douxie works and stays home alone, she watches TV. Douxie probably bought her a phone so she can contact him whenever she feels in danger or is in danger. She never uses her phone and she always forgets where she puts it, when she uses it it's to check the weather for her plants.

[patchwork-crow-writes]

I know the poly Ralsei thing is partially a crack theory, but ngl that "one valentine" word in Ralsei's letter is pretty sus. Call me crazy but pretty sure that Toby intentionally put that word instead of the more general thing like "Maybe there’s someone you’re interested in… But I’d be happy if you could also accept my feelings!" lol

He's certainly captivated a lot of people, hasn't he? :P

Though in all seriousness, I think it depends on how you interpret the term Valentine. You could certainly make the argument that it's meant in a romantic context, since the holiday is most closely associated with romantic love. But it also feels like there's a growing sense that it can also encompass friendship love, as well. Platonic Valentines are very much a thing, and honestly I think that's kind of beautiful.

Another thing to consider is the potential recipient of such a card. Now I know that they're jokes sent to people in the newsletter and all that, but there are some interesting details to glean from a few of them (see the growing popularity of the Vaster/Gaster has literally shattered into multiples of himself theory making the rounds). And you could make the argument that, given Ralsei's knowledge of game mechanics and his... interesting behaviour around Kris, he actually intended for this card to be received by us - the players of Deltarune.

And perhaps it's meant for Kris, because we know that Ralsei does think the world of them, and he blushes around them in that exact manner as well. But note that his other cards are addressed to Susie and Lancer (there's also the... other one, but we'll get to that). And it's not like Ralsei is particularly shy about directing compliments at Kris themself. The lack of a recipient's name here is telling, I think.

Now, does it follow that he's trying to rope us all into a gigantic globe-spanning Ralsei-centered harem? Honestly that idea is pretty hilarious! But I think mainly that this card's purpose - such as it is - is to add another log to the fire of the whole "Ralsei is aware of us as players and appears to be addressing us directly" theory. It might be his way of expressing appreciation to us for playing the game - after all, our actions are what enables the story to progress and the prophecy to be fulfilled. Given that, I'm not entirely sure that fluffy boy has it in him to seduce literal gods... however much of an effect he might have on people! :P

...there again he also wants to be stepped on, so maybe he is just hungry for love XD

[egg-emperor]

What are your detailed thoughts on the Mario movie?

I appreciate your interest! ^^

Gonna preface by saying I've only been interested in the Mario series for a few years (beyond the Mario & Sonic Olympics if that counts) for about 5-6, compared to 16-17 years of Sonic and still can't say I'm the biggest fan as I haven't played many games and don't have a lot of knowledge. So I feel I'm not equipped to speak much on some parts but I can share my thoughts based on what I do know and saw! And don't be surprised that I compare it to the Sonic movies quite a bit XD

Not gonna go heavy with spoilers by getting too much into specific moments but might mark as such just in case.

I'll start with the summary of my overall feelings and that I think it's simple, cute, and fun and that's been my impression of every Mario game I have played and seen so far, so it's along the lines of what I expected and I'm satisfied with it, I'm not sure what else people were expecting. It made me smile and feel joy the most I have from any movie I've seen in a while. And it's not quite as generic as a lot of other movies of the genre because they care about capturing a lot of the game's essence.

The visuals and atmosphere were gorgeous, I love how they took great advantage of some of the beautiful colorful worlds they've already created for the series and utilized them well, as well as how they merged them all together creatively. That's exactly what all movie adaptions could and should do, it'll always be so much more beautiful and appreciated than anything you can do in boring dull live action landscapes lol

I like all the references and callbacks, I noticed many despite not being the most knowledgeable Mario fan, compared to both Sonic movies where I didn't even notice a lot despite all my knowledge and years of enjoying it because I couldn't even see them. The Mario movie managed to include tons of noticable ones AND has more subtle easter eggs and background details.

The actual Nintendo games music being involved so much more instead of just outside licensed music was really good. The visuals of the returning environments are fantastic. The tons of characters they already managed to include in such a short but sweet movie and handle so well is amazing. The tons of game aspects, references, and easter eggs to find are a delight.

I like the implementation of the power ups and how they didn't turn them into some magical thing and change it drastically. I like how they know that the game mechanic can work for a movie story and cared to add all the things that people actually know and enjoy about the games. Unlike the Sonic movie not doing that and giving him completely different abilities.

The faithfulness to the series capturing the magic and fun all around makes me smile. Despite not knowing Mario for long I can appreciate all of these things too and it feels like they care about what the fans actually want and enjoy about the games. Every video game adaption movie ever needs to take notes from this because it has all the main most important fundamentals.

I like how Mario was silly but still brave and heroic. I like how he determined he is and doesn't know when to give up. I love how it's a good thing and one of his biggest strengths and the important theme throughout. He's told he can't do something or the odds seem against him and he still fights and believes in himself and protects what he cares about. A simple but good message.

I like how Luigi is the cute silly shy scaredy cat he is but how he manages to step up to help his bro at the end. Would've been nice to see him get to do more but his moment of saving Mario and teaming up with him at the end was great. Their bond and moments together was sweet and I like how much it motivates them and how they want to stick together and protect each other.

Bowser was great because he's funny and wants to marry Peach and is also genuinely really threatening. It makes you understand why he's the villain and why it's such a serious dire situation for him to take over, he's fucked up and mean and evil and destructive and that's what I love in my villains!!! And Jack Black did an awesome job and didn't just use his own voice like hey I'm Jack Black lol Very unlike Carrey just being Carrey instead of Robotnik, especially in the first movie.

If I got a movie Eggman anything like this I would've gone insane and died from joy went to heaven ahsjsbfjsnfb it's not faaaair. I'm happy for anyone that feels the way I do about Eggman but for Bowser because I'm sure y'all would've been especially losing it for this. I do love him too and he is hot but you know my ultimate preferred fucked up dilf of the two lol. Bowser got such better treatment in my eyes. Happy for him as a fellow bf of Eggman's XD

Bowser, Mario and Luigi were my favorites so they're the ones I'll bring up here but I think every other character was handled pretty well too based on my limited knowledge of them outside of the movie and I didn't have any issues, they added to the entertainment a lot too. I like how they pretty much all have a good balance between humor and seriousness when the scenes call for it, nothing felt really annoying or forced, handled with respect.

The humor in itself was actually fine too, my brother and I tend to cringe at certain jokes and humor in kids movies these days some stuff being in the Sonic movies ngl but there was nothing of the sort in this movie that made us feel that way, we both noted to each other right way. Very inoffensive, not super obnoxious or hip and just generally enjoyable for all ages, which is a cool pleasant surprise coming out of a movie by Illumination especially lol

The animation is fantastic too, really putting all the character's tooniness to it's full advantage so they're lively and bouncy and expressive in ways that really helps bring out their personality. Again, that's why cartoony characters will always be best in CG no matter how exaggerated and expressive you think your live actors can be. Every character was charming and pleasing to the eye, a ton of love was clearly put into capturing them visually.

I'm surprised it's rated so low by actual reviewers last time I saw, not that I care about their opinions but I'm with the audience more than usual. I don't know what I'm missing about it not being likable because I haven't read the reviews and don't plan to lol. I think this is practically everything a video game adaption should be, though in a perfect world I'd want all the characters to have all the same actors behind them too.

I liked this way more than both Sonic movies combined, though I'm biased as of course I'll love full CG over live action hybrid for toony series like Sonic and Mario any day. But man, Mario is genuinely better and more likable to me than both Sonic movies in every way because I'm not really a fan of those at all in comparison. Even without the comparison as I hardly even thought about the Sonic movie throughout, it was enjoyable and made me really happy.

But then it's funny because I've been a Sonic fan for near my whole life while Mario for a mere 5 minutes in comparison so you think I'd be biased and saying that the Sonic movies are better or just as good but they really didn't do it for me. It felt like both Sonic movies were too concerned about appealing to non Sonic fans with generic Hollywood plot lines taking up huge chunks of the stories than giving them more of what we all actually love about the game series in the first place.

The Mario movie went all out in almost every way it could right from the first movie and THAT'S how it's done, I have so much respect and appreciation for it. They knew they didn't need to appeal to non fans specifically and can hold up great as is. I think that should always be expected out of any video game adaption, especially cartoony kids ones that have existed as long as Mario and Sonic. They did a great job and there's a lot of video game heart in it bravely and unapologetically.

The voice cast is still their most bizarre choice but it's honestly okay once I'm watching it and I don't have major issues with it, I stopped thinking about it after the first few minutes and it wasn't annoying as it was random and unnecessary. But of course I still think it's really sad and not fair that Charles Martinet didn't get to at least have the main role of voicing Mario, despite him literally being right there and more than willing to do so because nobody deserved it more than him.

I wish they'd honor legacy actors by letting them shine in their role on the big screen instead of bigger names for audience and money. Same happened for the Sonic movie and it raises my fear that even if we did get the CG Sonic movie of my dreams, Eggman might not even be voiced by Mike Pollock then either :( But I love what Charles get to do, I'm glad he had some part in it! Hearing him as Giuseppe/Jumpman and Mario's dad was a delight, his performance is always pure joy.

Though he still deserved way more of course and I'll always be really sad that most actors in the Sonic series didn't even get any cameos or side roles at all.

Something also funny to me is there were TONS more people in the cinema than both Sonic movies, both on the first day when we almost went as it was sold out and there were actually a lot of people in there when I went yesterday too. I haven't been amongst an audience for a movie for so long. For both Sonic movies the cinema was near empty for all those, so everyone around here has a big preference! XD

So yeah, I had a great time with it! I recommend it to everyone and this is a movie I want to watch again and own on blu-ray. This has helped me appreciate the Mario series even more because of how much fun it has with things that are in the games and don't stray from using it for the sake of wider appeal. And it's a gorgeously animated and designed movie with a simple but sweet story and sometimes it's all a great movie needs! I loved it 🥰❤️💚🐢⭐🍄🪠

[nekrophoria]

I know I said Roland was stealing the show and we were done talking about him. But please... for Roland? 3 (although I'm pretty sure you've already answered it elsewhere but I need to see it in relation with your previous answer for Mabon xD) Then 6, 11, 17, 26, 30, 40, 41, 54, 58 - for the same... obviously.

Thank you so much!! ❤️

And sorry it took so long!

Asks for the man of the hour Roland

Number 3 is already answered here as you know ^^

6. What are they like in the bedroom — well-rounded lover or wooden plank?

He likes it a little bit rougher, but to a very minor degree. And he can also be surprisingly gentle, although he might be a bit clumsy in that case. It's like his efforts to...sort of hold back his rough exterior for his partner take up a huge part of his focus.

Whether he's dominant or more submissive also really depends on his partner for him.

Just like in other areas of life, he's not a big talker...he might crack a self deprecating joke to ease the tension a bit every now and then. So if you don't take yourself, or him, or sex too seriously that's definitely a plus.

He's not good at romance though...he really won't be acting much different than he does in non-sexual situations. Apart from the obvious sexual aspects of the situation and the fact that he will be a bit more mild and (perhaps) vulnerable.

11. Who’s the most important person in their life?

Although he would never want to admit it...Mel. Dude doesn't have many close people in his life. And he does care for him although he'd rather stab himself with a fork than let him know.

17. What’s the most ridiculous thing they’ve ever spent money on?

This book.

He hasn't even read it yet but ...everything about it made him feel obligated to buy it.

26. What’s one topic they could never get tired of researching or learning about?

Languages, as previously mentioned. That's pretty much it. He really isn't the type to actively research its more a "picking up things on the side by accident" sorta thing for him.

30. What’s their political stance?

He tries to stay out of that shit. He's very much anti government still, or at least thinks that most politicians are pretentious wankers who suck at their job...but what can ya do.

Roland:

40. What do other people find annoying about them, if anything?

Roland doesn't really show much enthusiasm in conversations...even with topics that actually interest him. He's really not good at keeping conversations going so unless you like the sound of your own voice shit can get frustrating really quickly if all you get as a reply is a bunch of Uh-huh." " Mhm..." "Yes." and "...I see."

41. What do other people love most about them?

That is especially appreciated by people who visit his bar. He doesn't judge. He stays out of your hair. If you're nice to him he's nice to you, that's all that really matters to him.

54. What’s their body count, if they have one?

Zero. From what he knows.

His time in the army was very short lived. He joined when he was 18 and left after roughly 1 year under a medical discharge. (he basically broke down)

Although he was stationed in an active war zone for a while he is fairly certain he is not directly responsible for any deaths. Then again the whole situation was absolute hell for him and the details are blurry at this point.

(Keeping this one a bit vague cuz I am basing it on a real event to some degree without enough knowledge and/ or experience to do it justice and I don't wanna be disrespectful)

58. If they could change one thing about their life, what would it be?

Being born.

Okay that sounds more depressing than he means it...but just from a very objective standpoint he is aware that most fuck ups in his life were a chain of unfortunate events that started very early in his life. And he really wouldn't know how he else he could change the outcome for the better.

[ollieofthebeholder]

for "leaves too high to touch (roots too strong to fall)", 10, 11, 16, and 20 for the ask game!

I am actually going to answer 10 under the cut, because, y'know, it's a 60-chapter fic, so. XD

11. Was there a scene that you hadn't originally planned to include? Why did you decide to fit it in?

It's not exactly a secret that I did not originally plan to include Walter's statement. I wasn't sure it would fit the flow of the fic. The reason I decided to include it was twofold. First, everybody kept asking for it; I was going to write it and just, like, post it as a one-shot separately, but the more I looked at the plot and what I was doing with it, the more I realized it had some plot relevance after all. And second...somebody actually figured out the final twist in that statement, long before I'd even decided for sure that I wanted to include it. (Since this is outside the cut, no spoilers.) I'd had it in the back of my head at the start of the fic, but actually, by the time I wrote the chapter that got that comment, I'd decided not to include that particular headcanon in this fic. And then Tinyzoar said "you know, I almost thought that..." and I went OH HELL IT CAME OUT ANYWAY MIGHT AS WELL GO FOR IT.

I'm glad I did. I think it definitely added something to the final few scenes for MP to have that knowledge.

Beyond that, there were definitely a few moments I didn't plan on that came up (Charlie, JonMarTim, Sasha's uncle - fun fact, I originally had a VERY different explanation for why she could hear the worms singing!), but it wasn't so much that I decided to include them as I just...let them happen as they came up.

16. What was the easiest scene to write?

Weirdly, I think it was Chapter 39 - the confrontation with the Not-Them. There were a lot of chapters that just flowed (especially the statement ones), but Chapter 39 was the one that came closest to the Ernest Hemmingway quote: "Writing is easy. You just sit down at a typewriter and open a vein."

20. What is something you wish more people noticed about this fic?

Tim. Specifically, how Tim behaves around Martin Prime.

(Okay, I lied. I have to put the cut here because I can't answer this fully without spoilers!)

I actually don't know if anyone noticed at all - nobody ever made a big deal out of it in the fic, and I didn't see anyone comment on it - but from the moment Tim found out Martin Prime was blind, he made a point of announcing himself every time he entered a room or left it - or any time someone else entered a room or left it. It was just a little thing on Tim's part, as far as he was concerned, and Martin Prime did tell him (off-screen) that he noticed and appreciated it immensely, but yeah, I kind of wish more people had noticed that, because it's meant to be a small but important insight into Tim's character.

(Also, while everyone noticed the shift from ARCHIVIST/PAST ARCHIVIST to JON/PRESENT ARCHIVIST in the last scene, nobody commented on the fact that the Primes' POV chapters were in past tense and the past crew's POV chapters were in present tense unless I pointed it out, and I admit to being slightly disappointed about that, because I was kind of proud of that stylistic choice. XD)

10. Share a screenshot of the original outline (if you dareee😈)

Technically this isn't the original outline, it's the final outline, but I genuinely can't remember which chapters I added after my initial outline, beyond Walter's statement. (I think it was 44, 48, and 49, but don't swear me to that.)

Send me a number + the title of one of my fics and I'll answer!

[cybiluncivilised]

Yucky Dirty Medieval People

So, I posted a video about this to TikTok, in which my hair is awful and I framed it badly... I think the worse my videos are the more comfortable I feel putting them up.

I keep seeing videos and posts on how people were not dirty in the medieval era and apparently we're still needing to get the message across. I've seen a couple of people mention that Medieval People (people from an incredibly broad 1000 year era in history) thought that water wasn't good to wash with because it spread disease. This was a renaissance era belief, apparently, and we have very clear guidance on bathing and when and how to do it in the medieval era.

I actually am not a huge expert on this, but think it's worth discussing. In the parts of Europe the Reenactment Soc I'm in represents, bathing was discussed as a very decadent and vane thing to do very often. I tend to take the opinion that if someone was complaining about it, then people were definitely doing it.

I would really appreciate if someone who had better knowledge than me tagged me in a post that basically covers good facts and resources on this! I'd det it up for a scheduled reblog quarterly to make sure people kept seeing it because why are we talking about this?

It was a lot of effort to get a nice warm bath going and in the cooler places like the United Kingdom you were starting with basically colder water but people are recorded to have still bathed in rivers. People definitely sponge bathed often with linen cloths and towels, they definitely took measures to smell nice including wearing perfume and brushing their teeth. What they had and how well these things worked depended on where and how people lived, a lord might chew on a piece of cardamon for sweeter breath and a peasant would go for something more like mint.

I also personally believe what was considered "clean" and what was considered "moral" were very linked in those days. The line between being pious and being clean were a little blurred, I mean. Right now it's easy to see that being clean in a world of disease and infection is a social responsibility. A person who doesn't practice good infection control is a "bad person".

When I see more discourse on how people covered their hair as a religious principal it really hammers it home for me. Protecting hair keeps it cleaner, we know this. People washed their hair less often, but they covered it up because it's just absolutely unheard of, vane, unpious, to not do so.

Clothes

This is what I actually made my TikTok about.

I went on a pilgrimage with our Master at Arms (the person who inspects all the hard kit in our society) and we got lovely and muddy! I left my stuff with him, because he was going to wash his kit he may as well wash mine as well. Honestly, I was tired, lazy, and just couldn't be bothered to carry two bags home from his instead of one. I KNEW that there was a high chance he wouldn't do it straight away. I KNEW what would happen if he didn't. I feel guilty for putting him in that position but the repercussions are mine to deal with so that's ok. His stuffs fine so ladeedahhhh XD

People absolutely, completely, definitely washed their clothes pretty much as soon as they got muddy. Having sat and made this kit, knowing that fabric was more expensive as a proportion of your costs overall and that you'd actually want to look after these things, knowing the labour I put into these garments, I know no one would let this happen.

I'm going to keep working on washing these. I could pick up some materials to make lie from my parents, who have a log burner, but I'll give handwashing with a bar of soap a go.

This is, for me, a demonstration of how important experimental archaeology is. I could make a post on what I learned specifically from the pilgrimage.

Things I feel certain of, women probably wore winningas and I'm sure they pulled their skirts up, or at least their underskirt somehow. Just avoid getting mud on your linens, if you can. Wool seems to cope better with it in general, or maybe ours did because ours were all in brown and brown adjacent colours.

Winningas are long strips (like, 10-14') of about 3" wide, hemmed wool, secured around the foot and calves under or sometimes instead of shoes.

We did speculate that a lot of people would get more comfortable with a wimple falling off during a long pilgrimage but I'm honestly thinking maybe not, still. I think that people who wore wimples and veils and such every day were much better ta wearing them than me.

Anyway, my reflections on medieval laundry are flawed by my personal feelings. I strongly feel that someone who spent money and time making something, in a world where being dirty might make you a "bad person" but also made you look poorer and everyone hates poor people, would want to keep their linens looking as good as possible. Linens had the function of protecting your outer clothes from sweat from your body, so it may have been an accepted fact that they were just "dirtier", even though their smell deterring, sweat whicking, purposes only actually worked if you washed them quite often - like at least twice a week maybe.

Maybe I should do a few weeks in medieval kit, tilling some land and such. See how well I can cope, mostly having sponge baths, mostly just washing the linens. Hahahaha

Thank you for reading, I really enjoyed getting this off my chest!

(I spent ten minutes earlier editing this post before posting it and it somehow still posted my earlier draft FFS so sorry if you read this the awful time round!!! It's super annoying that it did that and I'm super pissed thank you Tumblr.)

[janiedean]

Do you think that, if given the chance to move forward with a romantic relationship, Brienne would have an issue with Jaime's previous relationship with Cersei or do think she'd move past it easily? As someone who likes both couples (for VERY different reasons and in different ways) I'm super interested in how one affects the other. (If this question is too related to Cersei or the Jaime/Cersei relationship though and you'd prefer not to talk about, feel free to ignore!)

nah it’s fine I mean I’ll tag it properly so ;)

that said: I don’t think she’d be bothered that he had it, I think they’d have to work through the *consequences* it had on him.

(now, general premise: I think what I think about how j/c works ie that it was extremely unhealthy and damaging for him more than her, so if anyone has issues with that reading feel free to ignore me xD)

now, in specific:

brienne has known of that relationship since the moment she met him - when she was down in the dungeon with cat he was questioned on throwing bran from the window and then in the bath he reiterated it ("You ought to be pleased. I've lost the hand I killed the king with. The hand that flung the Stark boy from that tower. The hand I'd slide between my sister's thighs to make her wet."). actually she actually started their knowledge at his worst possible moment because the first information she had from him first hand were that he pushed bran because he saw him and cersei having sex and her opinion of him was abysmal at that point, so... if in affc she’s willing to die hanged for him because she loves him anyway (and I think that from her affc povs it’s pretty much obvious it’s canon on *her* side or she wouldn’t be dreaming of jaime putting cloaks on her) while going against her vow to cat regardless of his previous relationship with cersei or his misdeeds I really don’t think she’d have issues with the fact that he was in a relationship with cersei, if she fell for him when she had known from the get-go and it was because they got to know each other and saw he was more than she thought. but like, she knew the bad sides from the beginning so i really don’t think *that* would be the issue;

like, she probably wouldn’t even care the moment they got together;

the problem is that jaime has actual damage from that relationship he has nowhere near even come close to deal with that would automatically cause consequences in any other relationship he might have after;

specifically: he doesn’t have experience with having a relationship that he doesn’t have to hide from people, he doesn’t have experience with a relationship on an *equal* footing where both people get to take decisions and he just doesn’t go along with the flow (because jc is not on equal footing whatsoever), he doesn’t have experience with caring for his sexual needs properly (guys he’s basically been celibate bar the times he was with c. for his entire life and again.... a thirty-four year old guy into women isn’t troubled by his body’s response [literal wording] when he sees a naked wet woman in a bath after being imprisoned for one year, the fact that he reacts to being physically attracted to brienne like a fourteen year-old because he doesn’t conceive being physically attracted to people that aren’t cersei means that his relationship with his own sexuality is fucked to hell and back), if he had children he’d have endless issues on how to relate to them even if he’s actually good with kids because his own father was shitty, it’s text that he barely remembers his mother and he couldn’t father his own, and his entire arc was about how he has to find out he’s his own person and that he’s not cersei, which means that in a subsequent relationship he should grapple with the concept that in relationships you don’t have to annul yourself for the other person;

this has to be paired up with the fact that brienne has never been in one herself but has been on the receiving end of two failed betrothals in which... the first one ended in a public humiliation based on her looks, the second ended because the prospective husband couldn’t stand that she wanted to be a knight and not to stay home and have her children, so since she knows how it feels to be treated like you’re a commodity and to be at the other end of a forced relationship where the other party doesn’t recognize your needs would not want a partnership where any of the two parties is treated like that, and as she does like jaime for his shining personality too she most likely would not be too impressed if he didn’t try to argue with her or just went along with what she wanted and so on, never mind that while she has zero sexual experience herself at least she doesn’t have to unpack 15+ years of forced celibacy/the issues jaime has;

(for the sake of making things simpler I’m not touching The Elephant In The Room when it comes to jc’s sexual history but let’s say that if I was right about my hot take on it and he actually Dealt With It at some point it would have fairly bad repercussions but let’s just pretend that is not going to be an issue or this turns into a dissertation xD)

so: she wouldn’t have issues with his past relationship. I mean, again, she was gonna get hanged for him, I doubt she cares about that. but if they get together they’d have to, at least, work through the following:a) how he’d react to not having to hide it and how he’d work through it, because I doubt he wouldn’t have the impulse to make sure others don’t know and the likes, which she might find hurtful since she might assume it’s because of her looks;b) their sexual life would be interesting because she has zero experience herself (though she’s been living in the middle of armies since she was seventeen I mean she definitely isn’t completely naive about it) and he has one experience that has left him with fairly bad notions of how you should have sex and whatnot, so they’d have to figure it out from scratch and I think she’d actually have less baggage than him at this point;c) if they had kids they would definitely need to communicate a lot because he’d most likely freak out and she would for different reasons (ie: as far as affc goes, she thinks she’s too old for them even if she wants them so... like, add with his issues above, they definitely need to negotiate and talk the matter thoroughly when it comes to that one topic);d) as stated, she wouldn’t appreciate someone who doesn’t contradict her or does what they think she wants or just goes along with her plans, and he would need to realize that he can retain his individuality if he’s in a relationship with someone and they’d have to work through it esp. because he acts on instinct a lot of times and his instincts would most likely do what worked with cersei... which wouldn’t work with brienne /o\

like, I think she wouldn’t give a damn about the fact that he had a thing with his twin sister especially since she’s known for the get-go and she obviously doesn’t care, but the fact that he was in it for his entire life would definitely give them cause to possible misunderstandings/frictions/arguments for the above stated reasons. obviously I’m personally of the opinion that since they’re p. well-balanced in that sense they’d eventually work it out but there’s no way that the moment they don’t have to kill zombies and settle down any of those consequences don’t end up causing issues, because he wouldn’t go straight from that kind of all-encompassing relationship into a balanced one without blinking, especially because he has... no direct experience of how a balanced relationship works in the first place. I mean, as stated he barely remembers his mother so he can’t have his parents as an example, he was with cersei, tyrion never had one (because their father ruined it for him and he feels like shit at being complicit in it even if putting it on him is imvho unfair, it’s 100% on tywin) so he can’t know from him, then he had the first row seat to aerys and rhaella’s and cersei and robert’s and that’s it, so he can’t even draw from other people’s. like, in that sense it definitely would affect his rship with brienne period, but not because she’s bothered that he was with someone else before/that the someone in question was cersei, if I explain myself. 

[7thspacevelocity]

Symphogear XD Unlimited - Memoria Card "Relaxation Date" EN TL

(Very rough translation. If I've made mistakes, feel free to message me with corrections! I'm still in the process of learning and any help is appreciated. Fixed formatting [30/8/17] after breaking it; might transition this to the format the rest are in later.)

Shirabe: [Stare-...]

Elfnein: Zzz... Ah... What is it, Shirabe-san...?

Shirabe: Elfnein, you're sleepy...

Elfnein: Yes... Ah, um, I've been stationed at headquarters since yesterday...

Kirika: Since yesterday...? You mean, you've been pulling an all-nighter!?

Elfnein: I did take a, a little nap...

Shirabe: ...Are you okay?

Elfnein: I'm all righ... Wha!?

Kirika: That must've hurt... She propped her head up with the wall...

Shirabe: ...Are you really okay?

Elfnein: I, I'm fine... I woke up a little just now... More importantly, what official work is there?

Kirika: Oh, that!

Shirabe: We wanted to use the simulator for some training, but...

Elfnein: So that's what it was. Please wait a little while. I'll get it ready now.

Shirabe: ...Is she really okay?

Kirika: It doesn't look that way at all...

Shirabe: Kiri-chan, you've been kind of greedy since this morning...

Elfnein: Yawn... ah!

Elfnein: I'm s-sorry... I've been in a bit of a daze...

Shirabe: You're apologizing to the wall.

Elfnein: Wha- ah... Shirabe-san, I'm sorry...

Shirabe: You're still bumping into the wall. That's not me.

Elfnein: You're right... Where did Kirika-san go...?

Shirabe: Kiri-chan's numbers were coming up short, so she's working overtime on a check.

Elfnein: Ah, is that so... Alright, then I'll...

Shirabe: Even if you keep working despite being tired, I think that's too much. You should rest a little.

Elfnein: But I can't be the only one resting if everyone is working their hardest...!

Shirabe: ...Well, it can't be helped.

Tomosato: Ah, Shirabe-chan. Kirika's adjustments just need a little more.

Shirabe: Is that so? Then, I'd like for you to give Kiri-chan this message. Please let her know we're going out to the park for a little while.

Tomosato: Yep, understood.

Shirabe: Let's breathe in some fresh air with a little change of pace.

Elfnein: B-but I...

Shirabe: It'll be fine.

PART 2

Elfnein: Ah, ouch...!

Shirabe: Tripping even with nothing in your way... Look, you need to watch your step.

Elfnein: Yes, I'm sorry.

Elfnein: Oh, ow...!

Shirabe: And this time she hit a telephone pole...

Elfnein: I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Shirabe: Don't apologize to the telephone pole. Even cutting out the bad condition you're in, you've already blundered enough.

Elfnein: I have so little knowledge of just about anything that isn't alchemy...

Shirabe: Is it really just your knowledge...?

Shirabe: Show me your hand.

Elfnein: My hand?

Shirabe: I'm a little worried, so how about we hold hands?

Elfnein: Okay... Thank you very much.

Shirabe: I know how it feels to not be able to rest, so at least breathe in some fresh air...

Elfnein: I will, thank you...

Elfnein: [deep breaths]

Shirabe: ...She's fast asleep. Ah, I think a little nap's fine. Just a little.

Elfnein: ...Yes, I'm sorry...

Shirabe: Right after the Frontier incident, Kiri-chan also apologized a lot in her sleep...

Shirabe: But I feel like her sleeping face looks good.

Shirabe: Fufu. Kiri-chan, could you wait a little more?

Kirika: Oof, they left me practicing alone...

Kirika: But this is the last one! Even if I'm waiting for Shirabe's sake, I've gotta finish up quick!

Kirika: Gear adjustments, FINISHED!

Kirika: Alright then, I'll hurry over to Shirabe's side!

Elfnein: Ha...!

Shirabe: Are you awake?

Elfnein: ...I fell asleep so quickly... A, ah, I'm sorry I used your shoulder like a pillow!

Shirabe: That's...

Elfnein: I've got to show my gratitude somehow... Ah, what's that vehicle over there?

Shirabe: It might be an ice cream truck.

Elfnein: I'm going to buy some as a token of thanks!

Shirabe: It was really nothing! Ah... she's gone.

Elfnein: I bought some. Here, please feel free to eat up.

Shirabe: Just one? What about yours?

Elfnein: I didn't have enough money...

Shirabe: If that's the case, let's eat it together.

Elfnein: Is that okay?

Shirabe: Yes. I think it's tastier eating together than eating alone.

Elfnein: Shirabe-san, you're so kind.

Shirabe: I'm not really-

Elfnein: Ah, Shirabe-san, there's some ice cream on your cheek.

Shirabe: Hya!? What!?

Elfnein: Please don't move. I'm removing it.

Shirabe: Elfnein, you're tickling me!

Kirika: De... de...!

Shirabe: Kiri-chan-

Kirika: De-de-de-de-ss!?

Kirika: How did the two of you end up in this kind of relationship...!?

Shirabe: Hold on, Kiri-chan!?

Kirika: I, I'm...going to get away for the sake of friendship! Shirabe, I hope you're happy!

Elfnein: She's already run away... Are things going to be alright?

Shirabe: It's not good, but it'll be fine.

Shirabe: Jeez, Kiri-chan is...

Elfnein: I'm sorry. What I did just now was weird, wasn't it?

Shirabe: Just a little. What you did just now was off limits for people who aren't intimate friends.

Elfnein: I understand... Then was it wrong to do that to you...?

Shirabe: No... It wasn't bad, but you should treat Kiri-chan the same way.

Elfnein: Understood. Next time, I'll do the same to Kirika-san.

Shirabe: Mm... Sure, let's go with that.

[squaredancing-weston]

text || Brobastian (Week 2)

Bas: Well, maybe it should be in a room full of mirrors, then. That way I get to see myself /and/ the other guy. Although I feel like just fucking me would actually take less effort than the teasing would. I mean, there's only so much of someone rutting against me that I can take - especially if they're murmuring in my ear about all of the different ways they plan on having me. That shit gets /exhausting/, Brodes - there comes a time where you just want someone to fill you up, or - fuck, I feel like riding them would be easier than just the /tease/. I mean not that the tease isn't all manner of hot, but, you know - there /are/ limits, and pushing them with me in this state would just be cruel, you know? Best just to give me the relief I need.

Bas: When your material revolves around crappy jokes at my expense, then that's just sad. Really - you have /one/ subject. I know you're obsessed with me, Brodes, but come on. Hey, I'm not the one trying to be a comedian, here. That's on you.

Bas: Can't say I've counted. What - you think I don't own any R&H? You underestimate me, as usual. While I appreciate ballet as an art form, yeah - no. Besides all of the dizziness, it really is just gonna send me to sleep again. I've slept enough. Why do you equate my ability to find people to sleep with to a lack of standards? While I might have had some questionable hook-ups in the past (all hot, just some... questionable people), I do like quality. Newbie Brody sounds adorable - man, I'd have loved to corrupt him - but I digress. Just because you're fine going home alone, doesn't mean we all need to do so. Don't get me wrong, there's been a night or two where I haven't hooked up, but it's really not very often. Why skip out on the chance for some good sex? Fine, fine - he can do the groundwork, but I'm making my intentions clear.

Bas: Man, you can be so dramatic sometimes, you know that? Tell you what - if I die from sex, you can rest assured that you were right, and I'll have gone out in probably the best way that I possibly could. I'm not /that/ sick - I'll be fine in a few days. I already told you - nobody said /anything/ about being ass-raped to death apart from you. Seriously, I worry about you sometimes.

Bas: He's been hovering, yeah. You don't really /need/ to angle Blaine - his ass is a good view no matter where he's standing in the room, so long as he's not directly facing you. Although the rest of him is perfectly pleasing to look at, too.

Bas: You mean there's no one to obsess over. Don't worry, Brodes - me and my ass will be back in no time. Oh, but if he's as bad as you claim he is, you're fine mocking over texts? So cruel. I don't deserve this shit. I didn't say anything about not liking it. If nothing else, she'll give me something to do during lunch hour. And by /do/, well.... I'm sure you know what I mean. Yeah, but what happens when she puts on Legally Blonde and they start thinking that they can get a law degree and win trials based on their perm maintenance knowledge? And I bet she wouldn't even show the Broadway version.

Brody: Doesn't a room full of mirrors mess with the reflection though? Like kind of skew the coloration or something, because it's just reflection on reflection on reflection, etc? But yeah-- I mean, you could definitely play with more than one, get all the angles. You're missing the point, Bas. The point isn't what would take the least effort: it's what has the biggest payoff. And since you can't really handle that level of exertion for at least another week, the tease has to last until you can properly enjoy it. So until then, they can really only get by themselves by talking about how intense it's going to get-- how they're going to spread you out, stretch you open one finger at a time, three fingers deep, before lapping up your ass like a cream to a cat. Fucking bringing you to a breaking point if you don't have their full, thick, throbbing cock inside of you, punching up against your sweet spot hard while their hands are //finally// reaching around, slicked up so they're wet and hot and completely covering you and just pumping like you guys haven't fucked in weeks-- which, you know, you haven't. Because you've been on bedrest and he's not going to fuck you until you're off. It's a medical thing, Bas-- I mean, it's that or nothing, you know? And I figured since //nothing// was basically killing you here, it'd make more sense this way, right?

Brody: I hardly see that as sad-- who deserves jokes at their expense more than the proud peacock? I mean really? And it makes everybody laugh. I cater to my audience, what can I say. And you're worse than they are, Bas-- I know you; you'd rather hear anything about yourself than the funniest jokes about anyone else. Tcha-- everyone's a critic until the light's on them.

Brody: Well, let me know when you think of a ballpark figure. //You// watch Rogers and Hammerstein? Like more than just in passing? You do know people usually fall in //love// in those shows, right? Without sex? Or are you sleeping through those parts? You realize sleep isn't the enemy, right? I mean, I'm not encouraging you to sleep through culture in its purest form, but if your body's trying to drag you under, that's usually a sign. It might have something to do with the fact that there's a limited number of bodies in Ohio and you've likely slept with the majority of them-- and they definitely could not have been all 10s, Bas. I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't give some of them a 7 after you took off your beer goggles. Yeah, I'm familiar with the questionable aspect-- I've seen that scar on your back XD Hey-- Newbie Brody was still plenty experienced, just...a little gun shy. Let's just say I didn't leave Sparks without a little bit of crazy chasing me out. And if 22-year old Bas was when whips were involved in your sex life, I wouldn't really want to be corrupted, thanks. Well, I guess I just don't mind the break to focus on other things then. Sex isn't air for me. Bas, I've heard you guys talking-- I'm pretty sure your intentions are perfectly clear by now. Like bird flying into a window transparent.

Brody: //I// can be dramatic? That's a laugh, considering some of the shit I've seen you pull over the years. So I can write on your grave: Brody Told You So You Assless Peacock ? I mean, since if you die by //my// dick, I'm going to be in the next grave over, it seems only fair. Okay, okay-- you're just unnecessarily stuck on bedrest while coughing like hell. You're not sick. I'm still not sexing you up while you look like that. You know, when you say crap like that, it makes me believe you never even watched the show, much less read the books, and that hurts my feelings. I mean, did you think they'd be asking about the actor(s-- since the guy was recast three different times at least) or what? Because I'm pretty sure they would have clarified that point if that had been the case. Hey-- I didn't choose the dead guy. I chose the manipulative girl with experience.

Brody: well, so long as we're in agreement that his ass is way better than yours, I'll totally agree with that. I mean, personally, he's not really my type, but I don't blame you for pining over the innocent soul you failed to fully corrupt. Everyone has the one that got away, Bas.

Brody: I'm sorry, are you implying that I couldn't easily find someone else to talk to or about? Because I'm pretty sure that the conversation is significantly more diverse around the people that are actually //allowed// out of the house. Well, a) I can't see you, and 2) didn't you just say you were fine? XD Can't have it both ways, peacock. Speaking of obsession...you know you could always just stop answering, right?

Brody: [unsent] holy fuck please do not actually seriously consider that as an option-- why the fuck did I say that god fucking dammit I'm pathetic

Brody: I guess-- just make sure you wipe off the desk before and after-- and rinse out her mouth. God mayonnaise just bugs the crap out of me. I mean, obviously it's not hurting her, because she looks great, but why do people need their sandwiches to look like someone dumped a vat of glue on it? Yech. I admit, if your kids are watching Reese Witherspoon the Lawyer-based movies and not coming out of it with any worthwhile lyrics in their head, I'll be a little disappointed. But I'm sure she'd give them all time to perfect the bend-and-snap, since you won't be there to demonstrate whenever you need something from the principal XD