#and if you want another way to participate in the event you can also buy merch on fangamer :0

[risingsunresistance]

hey guys, idk how many of you keep up with these things but just thought you'd like to know AGDQ is starting january 5th. they raise money for the prevent cancer foundation :]

[kedreeva]

You're sort of one of the kindest people i know on tumblr, so. um. i had a question.

how do i deal with it all?

right of the bat i will tell you i am a minor and my parents are zionists, so i have no income of my own or anything i could donate. everytime i post a single fundraiser that reaches my inbox and is vetted, i get 4-5 new fundraising asks for palestine.

most of them are unvetted, but i keep thinking that if i can't donate i should at least have faith in people and reblog the fundraisers even if they're unvetted, possibly that they're actually new and need as much help we can give, however, there's a possibility they are scams, and i don't want to draw away the attention vetted fundraisers might get.

how do you decide where to help out and how to live with your decision?

I have a policy that when it comes to asks (or messages) that solicit money or other actions (like boosting posts) I don't respond to or even publish asks that come from anyone that has never spoken to me before that moment, and that's a policy that has been in place for many years now, and is unlikely to change largely because the majority of asks/messages that are requesting money or to visit a blog post/their blog/their website are scams (or more often several years ago, led to virus infections on your computer!). My blog is, as it has stated at the top for over ten years now, a personal blog, not a fundraising/signal boosting/vetting blog for spreading donations- there ARE blogs like that, and people can choose to interact with those blogs or not, but my blog isn't the place for it and that's a hard boundary I enforce for my own well being. Tumblr is my place to rest and recover, however I see fit to do that.

A random ask to my inbox asking for money, regardless of what it is for, is (in my view) equivalent to a cold call from a stranger soliciting money. It's not about faith in people, it's not about right or wrong, it's not about can or can't. This is my home, and I don't answer the phone to unknown numbers. I will help friends/family/people I know personally (or parasocially, if I like them or recognize them), obviously, but that's a bit of a different horse.

As for how I decide where to help out, if I have the ability (funds, spoons, time etc), I will seek out information on the best place to donate that can do the most with the money to help the person/people/cause that I want to help. It's the Food Pantry Equation: I could spend $5 on groceries at retail price to donate, and maybe get enough for 1 meal for 1 person (though in this fuckoff capitalist hellscape, I'm not sure $5 would even buy a whole meal), or I could give $5 directly to a Food Pantry organization, who buys in bulk and knows where to get stuff cheap, so that my $5 can help five people or ten people or whatever. I also do my best to participate in fandom events that raise money for good causes; stuff like the fanworks charity auction I helped run to donate to a wolf sanctuary, or stuff like Fandom Trumps Hate (another charity fanworks auction event). Those kind of events are generally open about where the donations go to, and have done research into organizations to ensure the gathered money goes to good charities.

Like with the above, however, it's different if I know the person. If my neighbor comes and asks for a cup of sugar or my friend needs help moving or whatever, I'm gonna give them what they need without the middleman because we have that relationship already established. Donating $5 to a food pantry would probably help more people by numbers, but helping my neighbors and friends and family etc builds community in a way giving $5 to a random stranger on the phone soliciting money cannot, and even in a way donating $5 (or $5 worth of food) to a Food Pantry cannot. It's also usually a matter of one and done, as well as semi-transactional the way any relationship is a give and take; I can give my neighbor some sugar, and down the road they can return the favor the next time I'm in need of help. I help my friends move and I know whether or not I ever move, myself, that they would do the same for me if they're able. You can't say this about a random ask on the Internet and you likely won't ever be able to say it for most charities unless you somehow end up in their exact area of expertise. So it's different.

I feel like you should also learn about Tim Wong, the guy who basically single-handedly repopulated the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly out in California. The lesson his story can and should teach is that... sometimes it can do more good for the world to care Very Much about one specific thing, and put your heart and soul into it, than it does to spread a little bit of care over a lot of things.

So, I guess what I mean to say here is... don't feel guilty about what you cannot do. There's no guilt in that. When you are ready and able to help, you can always go and look for a good way to do so (and what you end up helping may not always be the thing you think it will be), but you don't need to feel pressured by telemarketers or charity donation calls from strangers while you're trying to eat dinner. Especially if they don't even know who you are, either.

[butteronabun]

“I heard Kaeya and the others are going to join.”

“What costume are you going to wear?”

“Are you going to participate this Halloween?”

Amidst all these questions, Diluc still doesn’t lift his head from the paperwork. You take notice of this. It doesn’t really mind you, because you know how he is - dedicated to his job and takes it seriously. But despite that, you know he’s listening, even if it’s about trivial matters.

Him already paying attention — even if he isn’t facing you — is already enough, you think. ( But you also know that you shouldn’t be lying to yourself. )

“Diluc?”

“No.” is his reply.

You pout at that. “Why not?”

“I’m not interested,” He says, and turns to another paper before signing it. “And I have a bar to run. At this time of the year, it’s going to be busy.”

The bar is always busy, though, your mind supplies. But he’s right. Angel’s Share is definitely going to be a hotspot for Mondstadt, especially this spooky month. “I’ve already seen the spooky decorations in your tavern, and you not wearing anything just defeats the purpose of Halloween.” You gasp in mock horror. “Oh no. . . the bartender is just going to wear his regular bartender suit!”

“Yeah.”

You huff. What a kill-joy! Now this ruins your plans. You’ve talked to the maids before this conversation—how you’ve wanted to see him enjoy this event, by wearing silly costumes or even consuming candies together. They also did agree that the illustrious Master Diluc deserves a bit of fun.

Plus, as much as you adore his bartending outfit—it’s damn Halloween!

Then, an idea pops into your head.

“Ah. Diluc.”

“Hm?”

You hesitate—should you really say this? Yeah, you shouldn’t. You should.

You cough. “Should I. . . dress up as a grape?”

Now this. This, you notice, really, really gets his full attention. He finally puts his paper down, and looks at you. He is incredulous, and you suppress the urge to grin. “. . .What?”

“You know, grapes. Your favorite fruit,” You make sure to emphasize, fully knowing what you’re aiming for. All for this to acquire something special—piquing Diluc’s interest. Piquing Diluc’s curiosity.

Diluc stares.

You stare back.

This is so hard. You have to control yourself or you’ll laugh. Will he buy it?

The man frowns. The man frowns, deeply.

“You— you’ll look. . .” Diluc is obviously struggling to form his words. The man is contemplating, probably making sure to say the right thing. You bite your lip to prevent yourself from bursting into a fit of giggles—you already know what he’s gonna say. Ridiculous. He’s gonna say you’ll look ridiculous! Because like hell you’re gonna wear something like that.

“You’ll look delectable.”

Silence lingers in the air.

You sheepishly laugh. “I - I was joking.”

“And I’m not.”

Your eyes grow wide at that. You’re now the one who can’t believe what YOU are hearing. “You’re kidding.”

“And I’m not.” He stands up, papers now forgotten, and you flinch—oh archons, no way he’s— he’s actually approaching you. Diluc’s actually approaching you!

You step backward, lifting a hand to stop him in a panic. “W - W - Wait, Diluc— what are you—“

“The prospect of my lover wearing something flashy such as delicious fruits and the like this season has a low chance, but never zero,” You don’t know where he’s going with this, and it scares you. Maybe this is the real spooky thing. You shouldn’t have pranked Hilie and Moco last night by rattling the chairs again.

This is your karma.

“D-Diluc?” You take another step backward, before your back hits something hard, and you yelp. You’re not sure what it is? A table? A drawer? The wall? You can’t tell. All you can see is how Diluc gazes at you intensely.

“But really. As grapes? I say that you’re only up to your ‘absurd marketing tactics’ again, but. . .” Diluc stops in front of you, and he’s close enough for you to catch a whiff of his scent.

(You gulp.)

A small smile makes its way to his handsome features. “This is a bit bold of you, love.”

Yes. You know of the consequences - you know its implications. Diluc’s significant other dressing up as a cluster of grapes! The old ladies and the maids will definitely have a field day! But your lover? Who likes eating grapes?

Oh, you pulled a risky move.

And Diluc’s just playing your game.

“I was just kidding,” you mutter, as you look away, feeling your cheeks heat up. You didn’t even see this coming—how your ruse will get you so far.

Diluc grabs your chin with his thumb and index finger, and gently turns your head so you can face him again. “I know.”

“. . .Ok.” You attempt to change the topic. “Join me for Halloween, then.”

“But aren’t I already? I promised that I’ll be giving out candies to the children with you.”

“That’s not enough,” You whine. “You’re not wearing any ‘stume.”

“‘Stume?” Diluc’s smile widens, amused.

“Short for costume.”

Diluc sighs through his nose. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”

You lit up a little. “Really? You’ll do it for me?”

“Of course,” He leans in, and tenderly pecks your lips. Your chest swells with warmth. “For you.”

You manage to contain your squeals. Oh, your dream is going to come true. You should prepare and head to your maids immediately! Diluc says that he’s going to think about it? Nonsense. He’s already agreed, even if he said he’ll think about it. So it’s game on!

“Though. . . on one condition.”

You lift a brow at this. “Huh?”

“You’re gonna wear the grape costume you’ve mentioned.”

You feel yourself crack slowly. “Diluc. No.”

Diluc cups your jaw, his eyes lowering halfway. “I guess we don’t have a deal, then.”

“DILUC? I’ll look stupid in there!”

“Not in my eyes,” He kisses you once more. “I think you’ll look endearing.”

“NO!”

[yaksha-lover]

may i request vil, idia, azul and malleus with a reader (reader is their s/o) that is yuu but decided to stay in twisted wonderland and in their second year at nrc they participated in the vdc singing bc, surprise, they have an amazing voice! (i have this thought that maybe they were also in the pop music club with kalim, cater and lillia)

after the vdc many companies contacted them and after graduating at nrc they became a really popular artist

basically the boys reaction to their s/o singing at the vdc and then becoming famous, how would they react and how would they support them

thanks for the request!! sorry i took some time with it! hope you enjoy :)

Vil

Vil probably knew you were a decent singer considering you were in the pop music club

But you’ve never really sang in front of him, so your performance at the VDC definitely takes him by surprise (in a good way)

He’s super happy for you when you start getting offers from recording labels and such

Although he would’ve helped you out with his own contacts in the industry if you’d wanted

He loves that you can relate to each other even more than before

Now you understand what it’s like to be a celebrity as well, both the good and bad, bringing you two closer together

He’s super proud of you and not afraid to show it, hyping you up on all his socials and surprising you with flowers after your concert performances

He’s also very protective of you, knowing how mean and judgemental people can be, and he’s not afraid to stand up for you whenever he can

You two are definitely the celebrity power couple that all the fans love and find super cute

Idia

As much as he didn’t want to go to a social event, Idia was willing to attend just to see you perform

He starts malfunctioning as soon as he hears you sing; he can’t believe he’s with someone so talented and amazing

He’s happy for your success and knows how much you deserve it, even though it can be hard for him considering his antisocial inclinations

He absolutely becomes your biggest fan, no exaggeration

He’s the first to buy all of your merch, wears it proudly and puts up posters of you in his bedroom

Idia is a bit insecure about dating someone so famous and talented and beautiful and kind and every other amazing things that you are

So you’ll need to reassure him sometimes that you still love him and that he’s good enough for you

He’s super shy when you talk about him in interviews, but secretly it makes him so happy for you to acknowledge him as your boyfriend

If you want it, he’ll even offer to help you out with things like editing for music videos or building a website for your brand

Will force himself to go to your concerts, as long as he can sit in the vip box alone with Ortho as the two of them cheer you on

Azul

The first time he hears you sing at the VDC, he’s of two minds about it

First and most obvious, he’s excited for this new opportunity for the both of you

Determined to help you get famous (not just so you can help promo his businesses)

Encourages you strongly when you start getting offers from companies

He’s also just very proud of you for how far you’ve made it just by yourself (you refused his resources, much to his dismay)

He does love how hard you work and truly feels you’re one of the only people who match his drive

At the same time

You’re his partner, and it’s hard for him to watch all these people thirst after you, once you become famous lmao

He loves you and it’s a bit difficult to feel like he has to share you with the rest of the world

Lowkey a bit scared that one day you’ll meet another cool celebrity and decide they’re a better match for you than an octopus

He’ll be okay once you reassure him that you’re not going anywhere

Azul supports you every step of the way, still taking time out of his busy schedule to come see you at your shows or making dinner reservations at his own restaurants

Malleus

Lilia would always speak of you being a great singer but Malleus had never actually heard you sing until the VDC

Immediately fell more in love (if that was even possible)

Your voice and demeanour were so captivating, you were truly lovely in that moment (not that you weren’t always in his mind)

He knows you’ll get offers from companies, he’s so sure of your talent and absolutely wants you to get all the recognition you deserve

He���s happy when your music starts to become more and more famous because people are finally seeing you as wonderfully he does

You deserve to be admired, as long as no one gets too close

No matter how famous you are, you’re still his after all - though few rarely test their luck with you, your boyfriend is Malleus Draconia after all

You’re quick to tell them off, anyway

Being busy with Briar Valley, Malleus doesn’t always have time to come see you in concert

But he does when he can, and he’s sure to make his visit extra special

You definitely become a beloved celebrity of Briar Valley, with all the people loving you as the royal consort, but also because of your talent and music

[misc-obeyme]

hellooo i’m here for your event !!

is it okay to request mammon headcanons for hurt with comfort? ik you already have a request for him so :’)

just something like he’s insecure about if mc loves him or not (maybe they spent the day with another brother) so mc comforts him :D ofc if you have your own ideas that’s great too ^^

have a great day <33

Hello there!!

I really don't mind writing multiple things for the same character! It's usually just the prompts I don't want to repeat lol. Anyway, I did use the idea that MC spent time with someone else - in this case I decided to have it be Lucifer specifically. Hopefully it turned out okay!

Thank you for participating!

COZY COMFORTS EVENT

GN!MC x Mammon

Warnings: uh just jealous Mammon lol

Mammon tries to convince himself he isn't jealous when he sees you with one of his brothers. He's able to push it down most of the time, knowing that you see his little brothers as family. They mean as much to you as they do to him. Watching you be there for them only causes a slight twinge of that feeling and he finds it's easy to overlook it. But things are a little different when it comes to his older brother.

Lucifer is the responsible, upstanding demon that Mammon could never be. Whenever you're with Lucifer, Mammon can't think clearly. He can't stop imagining you falling in love with his more competent brother. He sees you being impressed, as you should be, with everything that Lucifer is and can do. He sees you realizing you'd be better off with a demon like Lucifer.

The worst part is that he can't argue with that. He knows it's true. Deep down, he knows he's not good enough for you. Lucifer can be everything you need, everything he can't be. And it makes him crazy knowing that no matter what he does, he just can't compare.

And it isn't just that he feels that inadequacy. It's also that he's seen you with Lucifer. The way you smile at him, the way your eyes go soft… you look at Lucifer the way Mammon wants you to look at him. And when that happens, he starts to wonder. He wonders if you really love him after all. Is he even lovable to begin with? Out of all his brothers, why would you ever choose him? Especially when Lucifer is right there being perfect and handsome and everything anyone could ever want?

Mammon tries not to let you see how he's feeling. He keeps his distance, pretending you aren't spending the day with his brother, pretending that seeing you together doesn't make his gut twist uncomfortably. He tries to act cool and calm. You can't know about the knots that are tangling up inside him.

When you find him later, he's keeping up the pretense. He thinks he's doing a good job until you call him out on it. You ask him what's wrong and he blushes immediately. He can't tell you! He can barely look at you. How embarrassing would it be to say that he was jealous of you spending time with Lucifer? To say that he's started to question your feelings because of it? To say that he's terrified that you'll slowly slip away only to settle instead into Lucifer's arms?

You may not know exactly what he's thinking and there is a slim chance that he'll actually tell you, but you know your demon well. He's so busy trying to pretend he's fine that he doesn't realize that you're onto him. He doesn't realize until you ask. And when you do, he's flustered because of course you could tell. He wasn't going to fool you. What made him think he could? He stutters out something about how there's nothing wrong, but you're not buying it.

You take his face in your hands to make him look at you. Your fingers are cool against his flushed skin, which only makes him blush harder. He doesn't want to face you, but he can't pull away. Your eyes gaze into his, clear and serene. There's a flutter inside him when he sees how you're looking at him. Like he's your universe. Like he's everything.

And it turns out he doesn't even have to say it. You've already figured it out. You tell him that he doesn't need to worry. That it doesn't matter how much time you spend with any of his other brothers. That he's the one you'll always come back to. He's the one you love. He's the one you'll shower with kisses. He's the one that makes you feel like you're home.

Mammon can't stop himself. He pulls you into his body because he has to feel you as close as possible. He needs to have you in his arms, needs to know you'll never leave him, needs to press you against his heart. Ya make him crazy, MC. Don't ya know how much he loves ya? You do. You always have. And then you can't say anything more because Mammon can't stop kissing you.

cozy comforts | masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

Hi! What would the main 10 skeletons favorite Thanksgiving activities be?

Undertale Sans - Sans likes Toriel's cooking too much and Toriel doesn't know how to tell his friend is full so uh, Sans eats until he literally passes out on the table, so happy. He can't say no to another plate because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings so... Yeah. He's pretty much in a coma for three days after that.

Undertale Papyrus - He goes to see a football game with Undyne. None of them really understand what's going on but everyone is screaming and they're screaming too! Also, they discovered that apparently, only certain people could run after the ball after Undyne got kicked out for scoring because the players were taking too much time. Human culture is confusing.

Underswap Sans - He participates in a turkey trot and does his best to win because there's no way he's losing. He doesn't mind if it is supposed to be a playful event, he's tryharding until he collapses behind the finish line. He's proud of him!

Underswap Papyrus - He goes to see some parades in big cities. He doesn't like the crowd, but that's fine, he somehow convinced Asgore to come with him and Asgore is so impressive people stay at least ten meters away from him. He's having fun!

Underfell Sans - His brother wanted him to do something with the random turkey he brought into the garden, but Edge was talking too much so Red didn't listen and now he's not sure what he's supposed to do with the bird. So, uh, he freed the turkey hoping his brother won't notice. That's only after the turkey left that a random spot of publicity reminds him he was supposed to cook the turkey. Well, shit. He runs to the nearest shop to buy another lmao.

Underfell Papyrus - Toriel insisted Undyne and him sit down and tell each other nice things because apparently, Thanksgiving is about being kind to others? Obviously, Edge doesn't like that, but Toriel makes sure that Frisk stays in the room so, if Undyne and him starts insulting each other, she will roast them alive instead of the turkey in the oven. Ew. He's disgusted and after a long two minutes of just staring, he tells Undyne she has nice fingers. Pfew. He did it. That was even more painful than fighting against Asgore. He feels sick actually.

Horrortale Sans & Papyrus - They organized a big Thanksgiving meal with all the monsters of the Underground on his farm. They do that each year, and it makes them feel a little better to see they are each year a little more than the precedent year. Monsterkind is slowly rebuilding and moving on. They also celebrate Gyftmas that day so they can all have more gifts at Christmas a month later. What, they're clever, don't be jealous.

Swapfell Sans - He prevents his brother from dying and that actually takes a lot of time. They are invited to share a meal with the Queen, but Rus... Rus thinks it's a good opportunity to tell the old bitch what he thinks of her, and alcohol definitely doesn't help. Toriel neither by the way, especially when she broke one of his brother's ribs because apparently, you have to break a wishbone or something on that day. Nox just wants to go home and sleep for three days, please.

Swapfell Papyrus - After Toriel breaks one of his ribs, Rus says that's ok because Thanksgiving is also about giving back. Then he punches her in the face. After that, he has to run the fastest turkey trot of his life because the Queen wants his head on a spit.

Fellswap Gold Sans - He's before all a business man so he goes shopping on Black Friday. Except he is merciless. Women, men, children, no one will stand between him and whatever he wants to buy. He's biting people's legs, throwing bones, and fistfighting everyone getting in the way. He doesn't need six televisions but he's still going to buy them just because he can!

Fellswap Gold Papyrus - He's all cozy in his room with the pumpkin pie he stole from the fridge, a big plaid and watching cliche Christmas movies in his bed and crying because that's so beautiful how Karen realized Jack-Sexy-Muscles was actually Santa Claus all along. He doesn't need more, really.

[thegeekcloud]

Boycott Eurovision: Yes or No?

There has been a lot of talk on boycotting Eurovision this year because of the Israeli participation and their qualification to the final. Behind everything of course is the subject of money.

MoroccanOil or however it's spelled is one of the biggest sponsors of the Eurovision Song Contest, not just this year but every year. And guess what country this company is from? You got it. It is therefore logical for audiences to boycott Eurovision by refusing to fund the competition in any way. That includes:

Streaming the competition

Buying merchandise

Attending

Voting

If the EBU is not funded then the profitability of having MoroccanOil as a sponsor (and Israel attending) will drop dramatically.

However.

One must keep in mind a few things:

"The big Five are the biggest sponsors which is why they are automatically qualified to the final". They literally keep 5 countries in the final to entice them to keep paying. IN fairness, this is not as much as you might think but still a substantial amount.

They already banned Russia - a country with an incredibly large amount of people (and therefore potential viewers)

The sponsored money has already been given. This is the money that mostly funds the contest.

The participating countries themselves pay a fee. A fee so big a LOT of Balkan countries can't afford!

Most of the money is used for the incredible staging and other events of the competition.

Boycotting Eurovision now in terms of keeping money away from the EBU doesn't really do much in truth. Go for it if you like. It doesn't hurt. But, watching the contest right now is not really gonna change much. A lot of people are already attending (tickets are like 1000 euro apparently btw).

It doesn't hurt, though it doesn't make much difference either to be completely honest with you. My advice is follow the instructions of your favourite artist. After all, this contest is not just about Israel but about them as well. They've all worked so hard and they've been asked to remove all political messages from their performances which is basically a violation of freedom of speech.

Protesting always helps though it is very hard to do IN the arena.

Voting would help if we were all to vote for one person. We all saw last year how Loreen took the crown from Kaarija even though he had like 1.5 times more public votes. And now, Joost is about to be disqualified (cause apparently he punched an Israeli representative who mocked Joost's dead father???). Not voting would basically mean Israel would win. Why?

Italy is not really a political ally of Israel (an example for that would be apology votes from Germany) yet they gave them 40% in the semi finals vote. 40%!?!?. Israel was not even that high on the trends yet they got 40%. But, at the same time, I do not know many people who watch the semi-finals so those who did are either die hard fans or, if those were protesting, people who explicitly watched for Israel.

The jury will 100% give a lot of votes to Israel. I don't like to say it but their song is EXACTLY the type of song they vote for. Another example might be Greece (they are trying something different from a musical point of view) or France (let's face it that man is an angel). I want to say Switzerland but I would also have said Belgium and look where we are. They SHOULD like Switzerland too. In any case the jury can do SERIOUS DAMAGE (again, why Sweeden won even if tHeY'rE nOt SoRrY tHeY wOn)

Governments can push the jury towards a specific result. We probably know where Belgium's 12 is not gonna go (they cut the broadcast) but this is for example a minister in greece:

IF the competition ends up going to Israel THEN the real boycott will matter cause it can start earlier. Prevention of countries participating for example. People not attending at all.

But the best result would be to prevent that all together. It doesn't help that Joost (Netherlands) did not perform today at the Jury show but his recording was shown.

That's all.

My advice is don't watch or don't watch israel to send a message but vote for either Greece, Italy, Croatia or Switzerland or all of the above. The Netherlands too if they participate cause even though I don't want the contest to go once again there Joost has fucking earned it.

Edit: the goal was for israel not to participate at all (and honestly Azerbaijan shouldn't either) but they did, they are, we're here now so...unless the artists themselves step down....

[venuscheered]

derry summer faire — 

the annual summer faire has finally hit the streets of derry maine , the lights of the carnival making even a washed up town like derry , shine like booming city .

like any faire , there are many attractions for all ages !

ferris wheel — 

the ferris wheel is a popular attraction , especially at night with young couples . the line is always long , there's no real way around it unfortunately - unless you're someone who pushes their way in . not many will stop you .

house of horrors — 

asides from the bone chilling attraction inside the house of horrors , consisting of many jump scares ; many delinquents tend to hang around the area out back . a popular place for them to sneak alcohol and smoke . carnies aren't paid enough to care , nor do they want to get involved

carousel , swings , and other rides — 

the carousel is usually deemed too kiddy and uncool for most to ride , although it's a staple and it's delicate design is popular among girls .

the swing set is another popular attraction , the ride soars at a decent height , the best music is always played here .

food concessions — 

food stands are always busy , you can buy just about anything when it comes to junk food . you can deep fry about anything as well .

cotton candy , popcorn , candy apples ... you name it you've got it ! all over priced , of course .

carnival games — 

a popular attraction , play games and win prizes . although most if not all games are incredibly rigged ... those with a strong arm can absolutely claim a prize of their own ( or perhaps for someone special ! )

what can we do ? —

glad you asked ! on top of creating mood boards or art pieces based on your characters experience , this is also a roleplay event ! you can write about your character's time at the faire - what is their favourite ride ? what do they do ? even if i haven't specifically mentioned a ride , you are absolutely welcome to include it ! roller coasters , thrill rides , anything .

how to participate —

any and all mood boards and art can be tagged with #derrysummerfaire , and any roleplay starters can be tagged with #derrysummerfairestarter if you're looking to interact with other people .

[ngkiscool]

A (not so) short guide for FTH bidding

Bidding can be a bit confusing, especially this year with so many great artists who are willing to offer their time and talents. This guide will hopefully assist to build strategies on how to choose artists, what to expect and how to handle things after you win. 

The most important thing to remember is that FTH is a charity event. The creators don’t receive any of the money that is being donated, and get nothing but satisfaction. It also means that unlike a regular transaction, the bidder is not “buying” the artist’s time. Creators are participating out of the kindness of their hearts, and should be treated with even more respect for their time and boundaries than usual. 

Another important thing to remember is your budget limit. It is easy to get swept up by the heat of the moment and raise your bid offer, but at the end of the day, if you win, you are expected to honour your offer. It is strongly advised to decide, before you start placing your bids, how much money you want to spend (advice on how to keep track of the sum will be detailed later).

Another thing to consider before you start bidding is your goals. Is there one writer's offer you will pay any price to win the bidding on, or are you going to bid for all the writers and be glad with whoever you will win? Maybe all you want is a podcast or a beta? Do you have a specific idea that only one artist will do justice?

Browsing can seem confusing at first, but there is logic in the madness. Read the Sticky post, the tips are useful!

On the desktop computer you will see on the left a list of all the fandoms and the main tags. From mobile, you will see only the list of creators, so it is advised to use the tips in the sticky note to narrow down the list.

When deciding whether to bid for an artist you are not familiar with, there are some important things that can help with the decision. First, check their previous works - do you like their style? Each artist is different and creates something else, that’s part of the beauty of fandoms. Focus on the artists that appeal to you, and don’t expect artists to change their style. Second, take a good look at their offers - what are they interested in? Some artists will focus on certain characters, while others prefer specific genres. Does the rating match the prompt you had in mind? 

If you have an idea that is similar to one of the topics that the author marked as “unwilling to address”, or a specific kink, contact them before you bid (each creator provided a way of contact). 

When you find a creator that interests you, check all their offers. Some artists offer different things (rating, special interest and type of fanwork), so make sure you bid for the right one. 

Most creators focus their skills for a specific fandom, while some offer works to all fandoms, so it is advisable to browse the “all fandoms” tag as well.

While browsing, make yourself a list of all the artists you wish to bid for. It can be in any format you want, but make sure to include the author’s handle, what they offer, their link and the status of your offer. That way you keep easy track of the amount of money you offer as a donation, and decide if you reached your limit or you can bid higher.

Golden needle auction - shortly before the bidding ends, the FTH mods promote creators that had yet to get offers. Keep your eyes open, you might find an artist you accidentally missed, or even discover a new artist or a fandom you hadn’t thought of before. Sometimes this can prove a chance to discover a great creator you weren’t familiar with.

During the bidding - some people chose to bid as early as the bidding starts and wait for the results, without engaging in bidding wars. Others like to keep track of their offers, and update them if needed. Whichever strategy works best for you, remember to keep an eye on your budget and not offer more than you can afford yourself. 

After the bidding - Congratulations! You’ve won an auction (or auctions). What’s next? First, get some rest. The process can be exhausting, so take a moment to relax and celebrate your wins. Also, allow the mods a few days to contact all the winners. 

You will receive an email with the details of your wins, and will be asked to donate to one of the charities your creators listed on their page. Please donate and answer the email with the receipt as soon as possible, and don’t wait for the last minute - both the mods and the creator will appreciate it. 

Contacting your author - after mods have received proof you donate, you will receive the creator's details. Please remember that the money you paid was for charity, and none of the creators are being paid for it. It was a stressful process also for the creators, so don’t panic if they don’t answer immediately.

Deciding on the gift - some creators like to be given a vague idea and a wild hand, while others prefer an elaborate idea and back and forth with the bidder. Whichever way you choose, make sure the creator is comfortable with the theme, rating, genre and kinks, and respect their boundaries. Remember, if the creator is happy with the prompt they are given they are likely to get more inspired for the work so it’s always better to make sure the idea is something the creator is fully comfortable with.

Thank you for participating in the event, and may the odds will always be in your favour!

[animes-trash]

Servamp Secret Santa 2023

Hey hey hey Servamp fandom, guess what time is it ? That's right, the Servamp Secret Santa 2023! You'll find the form at the end of the post, but first and foremost, let me remind you the infos and few rules we have.

Important informations / rules

For those of you who never did a secret santa, here's how it works : it's basically a gift exchange online. We're not buying anything, but we're making Servamp related gifts such as fanarts or fanfics (or edits, or else, whatever you can make) and sharing them online. In the form, you write your wishlist and your no-no, and I'll communicate it to your secret santa. This is the only informations I will share, along with your username. Don't worry, your email will be kept secret.

It's a secret santa, so please don't reveal who you have (you might know them on tumblr) until the gift reveal. If you really have questions about their wishlist, you can write to me and I'll find a way to assure the communication while keeping it anonymous.

Let's talk about important dates now. The last day to sign up in November 30th ! Passed this deadline it'll be too late, which is why I'm opening the registrations early to everyone can know about it in time. Please, check out your mail inbox around December 1st. That's when I'll send you your secret santa (or maybe on the 2nd, depending on the time I have).

The last day to drop out is December 5th. Don't worry, it's okay to not be able to go through the secret santa, we all have personal lives with its problems and events. Just be sure to tell me as soon as possible so I can assign your secret santa to someone else.

The time for sharing gifts will be from December 24th to the 31th. You can give your gift at any moment during / between these days. PLEASE stay within this time period.

To avoid people being late, there was this thing that I saw on another server for fanfic writers. Basically, it was a time limit of 2,000 words (so that people don't plan too long fics then don't finish). I won't put it as a strict word limit (mostly because I wrote a 5,000 words stuff last year–), but I'm still putting it as an advice.

You can make fanarts, fanfictions, or edits. This is mostly what people do in general.

Let's use the tag "Servamp Secret Santa 2023" to share our works later. I'll also use them on all my secret santa related posts.

NO NSFW. This is a family friendly secret santa.

There is a discord server ! I encourage all participants to join (it's very useful for the gift-share there). It's also open to anyone. There is the role of "observer" if you want it. Here's the link, if you want to talk a bit with the others.

And I think I've said everything ! If you have any question, don't hesitate to ask in my inbox, by dms, or this post's comments. I'll answer as best as I can. Please, share as much as you can !

HERE IS THE LINK TO SIGN UP : https://forms.gle/m4bLbbjWQW9uHKdT8

[from-a-legends-pov]

Star Wars Legends Highlight of the Week: Honor Among Thieves by James S. A. Corey

This is a new feature where a fan will share one thing they love from Star Wars Legends – a book, a comic, an author, a character, an event, or anything else they want to highlight – and tell us more about it.

If you, too, love Legends, follow @from-a-legends-pov and check out our upcoming Star Wars Legends fanfiction event, From a Legends Point of View, HERE. Signups open April 28 - please encourage your favorite Star Wars writers to participate!

Today’s highlight is Honor Among Thieves by James S. A. Corey (actually the pen name of writing team Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, whom you may recognize as the writers of The Expanse), a 2014 Legends novel, and we’re talking with Dessi (@otterandterrier).

Tell us about your Legends highlight. What is it? What’s it about?

Honor Among Thieves is the second novel in the Empire and Rebellion duology (the first one being Razor’s Edge, a previous Legends highlight), and one of the last books published in the Legends universe by Del Rey. This book is Han’s story, and is told entirely from his POV.

The story is set about a year after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and our heroes start off scattering through the galaxy in their respective missions. Han and Chewie are sent to the Core to retrieve Scarlet Hark, a high-level spy who is after a thief in possession of secret, deadly information stolen from under the Empire’s (and her) nose – and that the Empire is willing to do anything to get back. Han doesn’t want to get involved, as this is way above his paycheck. But then he realizes that Leia is at a gathering on Kiamurr, the very same planet their thief is headed to, which means the Empire will be hot on his heels. That makes up his mind about helping Scarlet get there first!

The plot is quite the wild goose chase, and you have to suspend your sense of disbelief many times and forget specialized bits of lore in order to buy it. Even so, it’s really fun and gripping, and I appreciate the way that the main conflict is used to give us excellent insight into our favourite smuggler’s mind.

What makes this a Legends highlight for you? What do you love about it?

This is one of my favourite Legends books, because I love Han Solo. I love the intensely caring, occasionally dorky, bad at flirting, barely concealing a soft interior Han Solo that somehow we were fortunate enough to get in the Original Trilogy and, somehow, so many people missed. And that’s the Han Solo we get here! I love getting to see the narrative peeling off his self-admitted layers, contemplating his involvement with the rebellion, his new relationships, and the man he could have been had circumstances not put him on the path of an old Jedi and an idealistic farmboy, by setting up a contrast with an old acquaintance that shows up. We also get to see how competent and clever he really is, something that is often neglected.

Favorite moment or scene?

There’s this scene where the group is walking through a jungle, and a character is about to shoot at a large mud creature that scared her—but Han stops her. He explains that the creature is harmless, then he pats its snout and tells it to look out for humans. Leia calls him an animal lover, to which Han replies: “If everyone got to kill anything that looked big and scary, Chewie would never be able to leave the ship.” I love this little moment because it shows that soft, caring, yet practical side of Han that not many people get to see, and it’s also a nice moment of connection between Han and Leia. Han’s concern over creatures that are “just trying to make it through another day” also gets called back towards the end, rounding off Han’s overall spot-on characterization—although that’s all I can say without spoiling the book.

Anything else you’d like to share about it?

A few other reasons I love this book:

It develops Han and Leia’s early relationship: as a shipper, the UST and the moments of deeper understanding between them here make me squeal. We see Leia through Han’s eyes and beyond his façade, and how he goes from “I can’t stand her” to “I will kill anyone who tries to hurt her.”

Scarlet Hark FTW: This OC is a bit of a perfect male fantasy, but I like her a lot. Intelligent, badass, take-no-shit female character? Yes please! I particularly love that she and Leia get along so well and it’s never a competition between them. She’s a really interesting character to explore, and I’d love to see the OT gang teaming up with her again.

Han and Luke’s relationship isn’t forgotten: I really appreciate that the authors gave this friendship the importance it deserves, with Han thinking several times that he’s sticking with the Rebellion mainly to look after Luke (which is a better motivation than him staying because he wants to sleep with Leia).

To learn more…

If you’d like to read more about Honor Among Thieves, you can check out its page on Wookieepedia or find the novel at your favorite library or used bookstore (like Razor’s Edge, it seems to be out of print for new copies, sadly).

And be sure to check out @from-a-legends-pov and our From a Legends Point of View fanfiction event; as another reminder, signups open April 28, 2024!

[savage-rhi]

Ardyn x reader? But with some dialogue prompts

"Close your Eyes for me Love"

And

"Listen to me . . .take deep breaths, yes follow my breathing just like that. There's no need to panic, I'm right here now, aren't I? You're safe"

You can honestly use these for any scenario you see fit. But these ones spoke to me as someone that is an anxious person.

@sillylittlevulpine OKAY. I got WAY too carried away with this prompt, but I hope you like the outcome!

Niflheim's celebration of it's imperial founding was well underway at the main palace. Though Aldercapt dedicated much of his life to Zegnatus Keep as his main base of operations, he dare not soil tradition when it came to the birthday of the empire. The grand hall was filled to the brim with people. Most hailing from the richer provinces within Niflheim, though on this day, commoners were allowed to mingle within reason. 

The night was alive. Chandeliers glimmered and bounced off an array of light, illuminating everyone’s elegant clothes. Music from magnificent orchestras thrummed through bodies and pulsed against eardrums. Deep conversations came and went. The grand hall was filled with rich scents and smoke from candles that made Y/N feel like they were underwater; in another world where they shouldn’t have dwelled. 

When Ardyn approached Y/N a week prior to the event, they didn’t anticipate feeling so miniscule. Y/N had participated in a fair share of parties, but nothing close to this. They were beginning to regret not taking Ardyn up on his offer of him buying a formal gown on their behalf. Though Y/N considered their attire for the night to be nice, it also stuck out like a sore thumb when it came to class standing. The higher imperials made it known in jest. 

While Y/N swirled their wine around in their glass, they fixated on the fireworks that were going off outside the large glass windows leading to the balcony. The thundering booms did little to ease their nerves, but watching explosions was far better than dealing with people. Since Ardyn was summoned to entertain envoys from Accordo, Y/N lost count of the many that approached them. 

Like a horde of locusts eyeing a fine grain, they swarmed; asking numerous questions. It wasn’t everyday the chancellor had someone at his arm when it came to these events. Ardyn was fairly private despite his sly and charismatic demeanor. Though Y/N had rehearsed with Ardyn, they found themself stumbling when it came to questions addressing the nature of their relationship. The quriked eyebrows and snide remarks at times further made Y/N’s nerves fire off. 

Y/N so badly wanted to tell the truth; that Ardyn brought them along to blend in with the culture of the higher imperials. He had rumors at court to quell, and was dealing with people in opposing nations trying to sway public opinion negatively regarding his lack of familiars. It was as he said: having a mysterious aura does wonders when it comes to the art of persuasion, but it also has its hindrance. And people were catching on that Ardyn wasn’t just quirky, but there was another level. Something dangerous that could even put someone like the emperor in harms way. Little did anyone know, Ardyn was the empires best kept secret. 

Y/N knew Ardyn was infected with the scourge, having caught him in a moment of weakness when the daemonic miasma flared throughout his body and he needed aid. Before then, he seldom if ever talked to Y/N. Although, Y/N noted he was courteous when need be. The dynamic changed after that night when Ardyn promised not to harm them if they kept their silence he was infected.

Conversations and meetups began to become a common occurrence between them both. Y/N was scared out of their mind at first; believing he would go back on his word and kill them, but Ardyn wormed his way in like always with whomever crossed his path. 

Ardyn stated several times in passing to Y/N that he felt relief being able to be open with someone about his illness. For years, he only had the company of Verstael and Aldercapt when it came to such things. Even then, the relationships boiled down to how his mind and powers could be put to the empires benefit while they searched for a cure for his ailment. At least, that was what Ardyn had told Y/N when it came to his story. 

Ardyn never said they were friends outright, but there was a strong camaraderie that grew between Y/N and him over the past several months. It was something Y/N tried to remind themself of in the present when another round of people came over and interrupted the firework display. Such sentimentalities couldn’t drown out their anxiety, and soon, Y/N took off pushing past people. 

Blood pounded in Y/N’s ears. Their hands quivered, and their feet tingled as if maggots were crawling over each nerve that ran down their toes. Y/N had to get away from the crowd and all the decadence. There was no thought or reason that traveled through their mind, only a resonating panic that felt primal. 

Eventually, Y/N’s retreat brought them to one of the common ways; smaller halls within the palace that led to a multitude of rooms. Scattered about were large statues of the gods, and previous Niflheim rulers. Y/N slouched against a pillar nearby, and took a long, slow deep breath, then rounded the corner out of sight as guests came and went. 

Y/N wrapped their arms around their chest so tight, that their nails dug into their sides. Their breathing was hard. Really hard. As if they had ran across Niflheim and all the way to Tenebrae. Bile rose in Y/N’s throat as they attempted to stifle their sobs. Although their body was on fire in the worst way possible, a small token of relief washed over Y/N. At least they were free of the grand hall. The consolation however didn’t do much when it came to their guilt. They were here to give Ardyn a good impression, and this outburst was sure to undo a lot. 

As if he heard their thoughts from afar, the sound of Ardyn’s boots hitting the marbled floors had Y/N swallow hard. The common way was dark, but they could see his features coming into the light thanks to the lamps nearby. There was a ferocious concern in his honey eyes that made Y/N tremble while he approached. 

“There you are,” Ardyn paused, leaning forward to catch is breath momentarily before he fixed his posture. He tilted his head curiously, studying Y/N from head to toe. “I heard whispers you took off in a hurry. Are you hurt?” 

“N-no,” Y/N shook their head. Their voice shook and another wave of fear began to crawl against the hairs of their flesh. “I--needed to get away.”

“Y/N?” 

“I---too many people. Too many questions. I couldn’t do it anymore! And the rude comments, and the noise, the music, it’s all just---gods, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I made you look stupid. So stupid for bringing me here! I don’t belong here--with these people. I don’t belong here with you. I’m nothing like them, and I--”

“Shhh, hey, hey, hey…” Ardyn’s voice started firm then faded softly. His hands gripped either side of Y/N’s shoulders, and he gave a gentle squeeze. “Look at me.” 

Y/N forced themself to tilt their head up and gaze at him. His hardened stare from before settled. A look of regret now combed over his features while Y/N continued to sob. 

“If there’s any fault to be had, its at my expense,” Ardyn began. “I shouldn’t have left you alone for so long. Feeding you to the wolves wasn’t my intention.” 

“I---I slipped up so many times,” Y/N choked. “C-couldn’t get my stories straight. Just one person after the other---and I’m already dirt. I don’t belong with you or them. T-they told me as much. And--” 

“You’re right,” Ardyn murmured. “You are nothing like them, that’s precisely why I wanted you at my side tonight. I may seem well put together, but I get nervous at large festivities myself.”

“Y-you get nervous?” 

Ardyn nodded and stepped closer so the rest of their conversation was out of earshot. “Do you know what I do to curb such ill feelings?” 

Y/N shook their head, noting the childish grin that began to grow from Ardyn’s mouth. 

“I envision everyone I meet, naked. It takes away their power.” 

There was no way Y/N could stop the exhausted laugh that tumbled from their throat. Ardyn’s own bout followed suit. Alas it didn’t tamper down the adrenaline rush of panic that still remained in Y/N’s body. Their smile dwindled after the punchline lost its majesty, and they were crying. 

Ardyn furrowed his brows and moved his hands from Y/N’s shoulders and to their face. Each palm cupping their cheek. “Close your eyes for me, love.” 

“W-what?” 

“Close them.” 

Despite the uncertainty, Y/N’s eyes fluttered shut. The erratic pulse of their heart continued to throb behind their ears. Only the sigh that escaped from Ardyn momentarily pulled Y/N out of their inner turmoil. 

"Listen to me…take deep breaths,” Ardyn muttered. He too joined in, inhaling slowly through his nose, and exhaling through his mouth. It wasn’t long before Y/N began to sync to his tempo, and relief began to pool in his mind, knowing a fire would soon be put out. 

“Yes, follow my breathing just like that. There’s no need to panic. I’m right here now, aren’t I? You’re safe.” 

“Y-yeah,” Y/N said in between breaths. Fragrant oils that were upon Ardyn’s clothes and skin found its way to Y/N’s nostrils. The familiarity along with the red wine on his breath aided in calming them down. 

After some time, Y/N opened their eyes. It was so quiet, they half expected Ardyn to have been gone. He still remained in front of them. His hands still holding their face while his thumbs absentmindedly trailed underneath their eyes. Y/N had a morbid thought of Ardyn plucking out their eyeballs. He could easily perform such an insidious action given his infection, but alas nothing came of it. The intrusive thought ran away seeing the faint yet sincere smile that formed on his lips. 

“I fear we must--” Before Ardyn could finish his sentence, he saw some of the Accordo envoys and a round of higher imperials making their way toward his and Y/N’s general vicinity. The face he made had Y/N look over his shoulder, hearing the commotion coming from the group. 

“Gods be damned,” Ardyn whispered bitterly, letting go of Y/N’s face. “Not them.” 

“I thought you got along with them?” Y/N sniffled, taking a moment to wipe their eyes. 

“Yes and no,” Ardyn begrudgingly answered. “I have no patience let alone the disposition to listen to the words of drunkards tonight. Especially when it involves politics beyond my reach. No doubt once they see me, they’ll try dragging me in for another debate.” 

A light went off in Y/N’s head. Though they were still healing from the panic attack, they pushed through the last of their nerves and quickly gestured at Ardyn’s hat. 

“Get closer to me.” Y/N stepped forward and more into Ardyn’s personal space. Not giving him the chance to register the sudden intrusion. The look of bewilderment on his face would’ve made Y/N laugh any other time but now. 

“I’m afraid I’m not following?” 

“You don’t want to talk to them right?” Y/N began. “Well, take your hat and shield our faces with it. Lean in close. It’ll give them the impression we’re being intimate and don’t want to be bothered. Just trust me on this.” 

Ardyn’s mouth parted to protest, but as soon as he heard his name being hollered, he quickly went through the motions that Y/N requested. Ardyn leaned forward and heard Y/N’s breath hitch in their throat. His eyes were glued onto theirs now, and he couldn’t help but smirk at both the awe and nervousness that dwelled in Y/N’s gaze. It reminded Ardyn of the night they had seen him as Adagium, and didn’t run. Intrigue and a twist of something more primal began to pull at his mind. 

The shuffling of boots and shoes grew closer, and it wasn’t long before the group ventured by. Ardyn’s name was shouted a few times, until several aggressive hushes followed suit. Both Y/N and he could hear the whisperings, and Ardyn used his free arm to wrap around Y/N’s waist. Whatever doubts the drunken buffoons had at what they were witnessing fell away and soon colleagues beckoned their fellow peers to give space and privacy. A few wolf whistles here and there was given, and the flock retreated back to the festivities. 

“See? They bought it! ” Y/N laughed with a grin. Whatever embarrassment they initially felt started to fade, but puzzlement began to take its place especially when it became obvious he had no intention of letting them go. 

“Ardyn?” 

He didn’t say a word. Not even his breath could easily be detected. 

Ardyn stared at Y/N with an intense look in his eyes, where they could tell he was thinking hard. There was something irresistible about the vehemence his golden eyes held, and before Y/N could stop themself they leaned forward until their face brushed up against Ardyn’s. The stubble on his chin scratched them, and Y/N waited a moment, in case he wanted to pull away but he didn’t move. 

Y/N’s emotions were so tangled from the night, that doubt began to creep in. Before it could take root and sprout, they closed the last bit of space between themself and Ardyn and pressed their lips against his. From the gentle push and pull of his mouth, Y/N could tell he’d been waiting for this and strangely so have they. 

Ardyn’s hand at Y/N’s waist slid down further. His fingers dug into Y/N’s hip. He sensed the shiver that traveled down their spine and deepened the kiss. It’s not long before his tongue meets Y/N’s, and he wastes no time mapping out their mouth. Their taste was intoxicating to him, much like the wine he had nursed himself with during the worst flare ups of the scourge.

Ardyn was surprised with himself, that even after 2,000 years his body still remembered what this felt like. He was so indulged with the soothing texture of Y/N’s mouth against his lips that he didn’t register them pulling away initially, until the warmth had left him in yearning.

Y/N watched Ardyn lick his bottom lip while his hooded eyes studied them. They felt their knees wanting to give out at the image alone. Shaking, they reached for Ardyn’s hat that somehow continued to shield them both, and they took it from his grasp and placed it on top of his head. Y/N grinned briefly, averting their gaze downward. That’s when they felt Ardyn’s right hand gently grab at their chin, coaxing them to look up. 

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Ardyn breathed. 

“You’re right, but you didn’t stop either.” 

“Touche’,” Ardyn huffed. “I have questions for you.” 

“And I have a million to ask you.” Y/N countered with a shy murmur. They smiled at the amused laugh that left him. 

“It seems we’re at an impasse,” Ardyn chuckled. His fingers gently stroked Y/N’s skin before letting them go. “Allow me to begin: do you want to leave this place?” 

“Don’t you have people to meet and greet?” 

“Yes,” Ardyn bluntly stated, then smiled as if he was up to something mischievous. “But you see, my distinguished guest I brought along suddenly fell to illness. Wine doesn’t mix well when you’re under the weather. I couldn’t fathom letting my plus one continue to carry on. For the sake of their health, I had to take them home or I wouldn’t live with myself.”

Gods, he was a masterful liar and he did it so well that Y/N couldn’t help but fall for the charm. The playful demeanor of Ardyn’s words while he conjured up his tall tale excuse had Y/N’s pulse stammer in their neck.

“What happens after we leave?” 

“We can go anywhere you want,” Ardyn sincerely whispered. His features began to shift, looking morose almost. “The important thing is you and I need to talk.” 

“About what happened just now?”

“Yes,” Ardyn paused. He contemplated his next words carefully. “And there’s some things I must share with you, about my condition, but not here.” 

Y/N could only nod to his terms. No other questions or words would leave them. Not when their mind lingered on how saddened his voice was. Before anything else could potentially be said, Ardyn excused himself to go make the arrangements for their departure, and told Y/N to wait for him at the front gates. 

As he walked away, Y/N couldn’t help but wonder why they felt a heaviness in their stomach; that whatever Ardyn had to share, it would change their dynamic once more. Y/N hoped they had the strength for it.

If you like my work and feel generous, feel free to donate to my ko-fi account or my cash app account!

Cash App: $JayRex1463

[thebaffledcaptain]

No such thing as dumb questions, so might as well ask it…

Advice for one starting out in reenactment (specifically American Revolution/18th century) and I don’t mean acting - I mean things new people should know?

Great to see other people getting involved with reenactment—hope your search is going well!! Certainly not a dumb question—as I am definitely still a reenactment beginner myself, relatively speaking, this stuff is still fresh in my mind and relevant to me as well. Here's a couple things I can think of off the top of my head:

I'm gonna start with the unfortunate safety caveat: reenactment, as a hobby, is not the most accepting one out there. It's probably 85% middle-aged white dudes who have been doing this for like 20 years, and I'm not going to lie and say that it's a super inclusive environment. If you're queer, non-male, or non-white there is a very real possibility that you might encounter some Bad Opinions. There are definitely units out there who are assholes about ""historical accuracy"" and don't want, for example, women/non-males in their ranks because ""it's not historically accurate."" This is a flimsy excuse for bigotry. If any of it was truly historically accurate, no one over the age of, like, 25 would be allowed to participate, and we'd all have dysentery—which is to say, if they're assholes, find another unit. There are more accepting ones. The community is gradually becoming more diverse and more inclusive, slowly but steadily, and if you don't feel safe in your unit, there's definitely a better one out there.

In my experience, I definitely don't feel unsafe in my own unit, buuuut there are definitely guys who I would avoid talking politics with. That being said, I also think we have an awesome group of probably the queerest fifers in the British Brigade, and more than one well-intentioned dad who I absolutely trust to accept my queerness. Reenactment is a mixed bag, but again, you can definitely find the right people, and I hope you don't settle for less.

Next thing I would say is probably one of the first things you’ll hear after joining a unit: don’t buy anything without the approval of your unit! In all honesty I would say you probably don’t have to worry much about assembling a kit at all, initially—most units have spare gear that they loan out to people, often for long periods, so that they can get out on the field and start having fun as fast as possible. Now it’s probably going to be the old stuff that’s been in someone’s basement for ten years, but it gives you the time to put together your own stuff at your own pace (and reenactment gear is not cheap, so it saves you having to blow a whole lot of money at once, that’s for sure). If you’re hoping to procure anything yourself, ask someone, ideally a commanding officer, before you buy—not only to make sure you buy the right thing, but also because there’s a good chance someone in the unit might either be able to give you one, help you make one, or know a guy who could. A lot of reenactment is making your own stuff, fixing up hand me downs, and trading stuff around the unit (at my last event I straight up switched shoes with another fifer from my regiment…) so there are definitely less expensive (and in a sense, more accurate) ways to go about it.

Another thing I would say as a reassurance, if you’re anything like me and Generally Anxious about doing new things, especially things where everyone has been doing this for years and know a lot of things you don’t, and also especially if you’re by yourself: it may be “battle,” but the stakes are low here. My favorite way to look at reenactment is as a bunch of grown men dressing up to play war. As part of field music I was super nervous about my “performance” at my first event—it was before I had really mastered the art of, you know, consistently getting sound out of my instrument—only to discover that it really, really didn’t matter that much. Having a whole bunch of experienced people around means that you are almost never left without someone to turn to for help. As long as you’re trying your best to play your part, that’s really all anyone expects from you as a new member—you learn as you go, and you learn by doing.

And that kind of brings me to what I think is the most important thing you can do as a reenactor: be willing to learn. If there’s one thing I really respect about the reenactment community, it’s that they’re very, very knowledgeable. Everyone is here because they’re interested in the history and they love doing this, and a good portion of them are already retired and spend, like, all their time researching this stuff in order to present the most accurate impressions. The best units, in my opinion, are the ones that prioritize historical accuracy in their presentations—not in an exclusionary way, but in a way that makes that accuracy as accessible as possible. In my experience all you have to do to make a good impression is show up, be a decent person, and express interest—these guys love when young people want to get involved, and they do these events specifically so they can rattle on about niche history stuff to people who want to listen. Learning from them will help you with your impression, of course, but it’s also just such a wealth of highly specific knowledge from people who are super eager to talk about it. It’s hard not to learn something from them.

Anyway, that’s some of the best “beginner” stuff I’ve learned so far—I have another event coming up this weekend (very exciting) so I expect to learn some more. If you want more specific suggestions for a first event or something I’d be happy to come up with some stuff but I’m assuming this was a more general question. Either way, hope this was helpful and best of luck in your reenactment endeavors!

[usafphantom2]

Ukraine should receive the first F-16 jets in June

Fernando Valduga

Ukraine is on its way to receiving F-16 fighters in June, American Foreign Policy reported on February 17, citing two European authorities.

“I think we will see them in Ukraine in June,” said Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, citing a schedule that was confirmed by another European official present at the Munich Security Conference.

The Ukrainian government expects 12 pilots to be trained in fighters by the end of U.S. fiscal year 24 (September).

On February 15, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Illarion Pavlyuk, said that the transfer of the F-16 fighter to Ukraine was "progressing as planned," but the exact date of delivery would not be announced.

Kiev understands the deadlines and the need to prepare pilots, engineers and infrastructure within certain deadlines.

The Ukrainian Air Force does not confirm or deny that Ukraine will receive F-16 fighters in June, refusing to talk about the moment. Previously, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, said that Ukraine's partners were ready to provide the country with F-16 fighters, but Ukraine still needed time to finish the preparations.

"The only thing I can confirm is that there is indeed an action plan, and it is being implemented. Our partners are ready to deliver the aircraft to Ukraine. The countries that agreed to do so. Of course, it is not only about the transfer, but also about the continuation of the maintenance of the aircraft, financing of this process and modernization of the F-16. Because the aircraft is in constant repair and modernization. The countries that provide us with the aircraft certainly also assist in the training of pilots. In the training of engineers, officers, ground personnel and others. Because we also need to pay for the training," he says.

Commenting on the readiness of the infrastructure to receive the fighters in June, the spokesman notes that "the infrastructure and its readiness is a very complicated concept".

"Therefore, it will probably take years to prepare it completely. The ideal today would be to hide everything underground, as Iran does, and have total peace of mind. Build reinforced concrete storage facilities that resist ballistic missiles. You can see the craters that form after the ballistic missiles, and you need to protect the aircraft. Well, first of all, passive defense means shelters and infrastructure. Secondly, the infrastructure must be protected by air defense. Against ballistics, cruise missiles and drones. Therefore, all this happens in a complex way," he explains.

The United States authorized Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters. This was confirmed when the Netherlands and Denmark announced that they would supply Ukraine with 61 F-16 – 42 and 19 aircraft, respectively, on August 20.

On January 5, the Pentagon reported that Ukrainian F-16 pilots will be ready to carry out missions in 2024.

On January 10, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian pilots are still being trained in F-16 fighters in different programs around the world.

On February 17, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the process of transferring the F-16s to Ukraine is on schedule. Ukraine will receive more than 20 combat aircraft.

Tags: Military AviationF-16 Fighting FalconUkraine Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[p5x-theories]

hey ! a question , do we know anything of if p5x will be/is f2p friendly at all ? /genq

No worries!

As someone who's been entirely free to play with P5X (I'm not even sure how I'd pay money, since I'm playing the Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau version), I can assure you it's been very friendly overall! The developers have even said they want to make sure the game's still enjoyable if you're F2P, though they obviously add a lot of stuff that you can benefit from if you pay money.

Without paying any real-world money, I've pulled every character from the gacha at least once (besides Cherish, who was only added to my game yesterday, haha), and haven't had much issue fully participating in every event and update! Granted, I make sure to not to miss any dailies, weeklies, or other events with rewards, and I only ever spend gacha pulls on new banner characters rather than trying to get duplicates of the ones I already have (which would power them up) or trying for weapons, so I'm a bit conservative with in-game resources in that respect, and probably a little lucky, but I think that's pretty good for never paying any money? I'm certainly not in the top player rankings, but I have fun with the game and don't feel like I'm missing out on much.

There is an energy system! Technically two, in fact. You can read more about game mechanics like that here!

Pulling for characters requires you to gain a resource called "Metaverse Crystal Amber", which are purple gemstones that can be used to buy character pulls, weapon pulls, and some other stuff from Marthym's store. Some events/etc. will also directly reward character pulls and/or weapon pulls, such as the collab chapters and some daily login bonuses. From there, you can perform a 1-pull or 10-pull.

I don't know the weapon gacha as well off the top of my head, but since you specifically asked about characters, I know in the original gacha, you're guaranteed to get a 5-star character after 80 pulls, and if the guaranteed 5-star you pull isn't the banner character, then you're guaranteed the banner character after another 80 pulls. I forget the exact odds (if it's really important I can check in-game later, so let me know), but you're also guaranteed a 4-star character every 10 pulls.

Whenever you pull a Persona from the gacha instead of a character, you get a bit of currency that can be used to buy resources, and sometimes character pulls are available there in small quantities as well. Pulling a character from the gacha gives you a different currency, which can always be spent on character or weapon pulls, as well as a few other things. When the game first launched, it was possible to use this currency to buy one Key and one Sepia, specifically, but I haven't seen any characters available in that store since.

(I believe the above also applies to 2/3-star weapons and then 4/5-star weapons in terms of which currency you get, but since I pull for weapons so rarely I'm not sure whether the numbers are exactly the same.)

There's also a general character gacha, separate from the banner(s), that's permanently available, and contains all non-limited characters, so almost all the 4-stars (I don't think the story teammates are included?), and a handful of the 5-stars (Rin, Riddle, Phoebe, Marian, Mona, Skull, and Panther, I think?). Pulls for this one are obtained in the same ways, but you can also find them while exploring Palaces, and are generally a bit more frequently rewarded. I believe the 5-star guarantee mechanic might have slightly different numbers as well, but I don't remember for sure, and this general gacha doesn't really have a banner character (I don't think?).

As of the most recent game update, Version 2.3.2, they added another type of gacha with different odds, which players can now switch between at will for any available character banner(s), though the "guaranteed pulls" count isn't shared between them. In this one, you're guaranteed the banner character at... I want to say 110 pulls (?), rather than having a chance to get a different 5-star from the guarantee. It also guarantees you a free non-limited 5-star at 165 (?) pulls, separate from the banner guarantee, and I believe you can even choose which 5-star you get, though I haven't hit this guarantee yet so I can't say for absolute sure.

I hope that answers your questions, and is adequate for your friend! This is the only gacha game I play or know much of anything about, so I'm not sure I used the proper terms for everything, heh.

[narrators-journal]

Yandere!Tatsujun headcanons

These might not be the best, but I hope they scratch the itch to post my prompt list. Hopefully buying me a few more days before I inevitably crack and post it/set up for kinktober early. So! Enjoy some yandere!Tatsujun to fit in with Ryomina’s yandere take. Except, I don’t think these two would drag someone else in for the reason of a baby. I think Jun’s gay, and he’s not one to share lolol.

INNOCENT SIN

If you happen to get entangled with Tatsuya and Jun in the innocent sin era, you’ve arguably got a bit of a better chance. Namely because of Tatsuya.

Jun is still very much a yandere in innocent sin, if not worse. In contrast, Tatsuya’s far more normal and stable. So, if you’re in this era, your best chance for some form of safety is through the brunette.

That’s not to say Tatsuya would exactly protect you from Jun if his lover opts to ‘add a third’.

Tatsuya’ll empathize, comfort, and maybe advise you not to get tangled up with Jun, but he won’t step in when Jun’s indoctrinating you or manipulating you.

In fact, Tatsuya would play into the gas lighting his lover does. Though, a bit reluctant in that.

In contrast, Jun is a very active Yandere.

He’d stalk his choice of darling, engraciate himself with them, play mind games, and relish in all of the ways he knows how to keep you under his thumb without you realizing.

And all the while, Tatsuya just lets it slide with little more than the occasional weak argument or scolding.

In the innocent sin era, though, Jun is very much the scary motherfucker that will ruin your life to draw you back in the event of escape.

And, in that escape attempt, Jun will also bank on your empathy and rapour with Tatsuya to lure you back. After all, can’t leave another potential victim in the situation, right?

Though, while he isn’t the type to punish you with broken fingers, legs, or pulled teeth, if you do prove to be too much of a hassle for him, or you bully him and degrade him, he will still kill you. Yandere is still a violent character type, y’know.

Tatsuya will try his best to help though, or at least give you someone who can understand the misery that would come from being the prey of a master stalker and cult leader. Even if he himself is far too used to Jun’s shit to really care about how bad it is anymore.

Jun’s real simple, though. He’s, again, not a violent type, he’s far more sickly sweet, emotionally damaging, isolating, and stalkerish.

With catty gossip, the back up of Tatsuya, and far too much familiarity with how to tear apart someone’s self esteem without them registering it, Jun can break you down very easily.

All in all, the innocent sin era is not the most harmful version of Tatsujun, but they are still a very toxic pair who will not let you go without a fight.

ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

Eternal punishment is by far the worst era if you’re caught up with Tatsujun.

Because, while Jun isn’t an active cult leader, he’s still got the manipulation knowledge and lack of morals to still be one. Even if he’s not acknowledged for that fact.

But, unlike innocent sin, where Jun is the biggest threat and the aggressor of the yandere behavior, Tatsuya is a far more active participant in your entrapment in the relationship.

Though, it isn’t because he particularly wants you badly, it’s more because Jun wants you.

Because yeah, Tatsuya still isn’t exactly a yandere who’ll be obsessive and pursue you. But, he is a bit yandere-esque when it comes to Jun. Namely, keeping him happy and with him so that he has no reason to be turned against him by Nyarlethotep or something.

In short, he’s effectively an obsessive body guard for Jun, which makes him an immense threat if Jun’s decided he wants you.

As for Jun, he’s still a stalker.

He’s also still a manipulator, who will rip you down, isolate you, and keep control of you like some demented pet.

The only real difference from innocent sin, is in Tatsuya, not really Jun.

Jun doesn’t change very much, but Tatsuya’s demeanor does.

Instead of being a simple shoulder to lean on, Tatsuya’s effectively an enforcer after eternal punishment.

Jun wants you, he’ll get you, and Tatsuya will make sure you can’t escape unless Jun wants you to.

But! Don’t worry! Jun’s not likely to go after you if you escape. You can freely bolt if you want out.

Instead, it’s Tatsuya who will hunt you down, rip out your nails as punishment, and drag you back if told to. Because Jun wants you to stick around, and he won’t let you upset him and drive him to be more obsessive and spiteful to humanity.