#and so does the whole entire world amen

[bloodhailmp3]

i have never met a woman of my mums generation who doesnt have an unhealthy relationship w food and fixation on their weight and its heartbreaking

[zehecatl]

there's genuinely nothing wrong with preferring m/m to f/f, and i think anyone who tries to turn that into some big piece on 'fandom misogyny!!!!' is overreaching hard, but at least personally, i do think it's worth analysing why you prefer m/m, and if your opinion on f/f could be rooted in some form of internalised misogyny. because personally, i went from not caring much about female characters to being deeply infatuated with them, and f/f, after a good amount of years, and i can't pretend internalised misogyny didn't have at least a little bit of a hand in that

[randomwriting]

Love Letters I Won’t Send

Pairing: James Potter x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1.1K

Summary: In the midst of summertime heat and breakdowns, you find yourself falling in love with all the people around you. (some, more than others.)

A/N 💌: I intend to make this a series, haven’t decided if I should make it fully Poly!Marauders x Reader or not yet, so let me know what you think!

Also this is my first fic ever so kindness & reblogs are sincerely appreciated 💕

Beneath the annoyance permeating the halls of Hogwarts, and infesting every common room but the ones conveniently hidden under wonderfully cool lakes, (an amenity you were not jealous of at all), there was an amazingly rare heat wave sweeping over the entirety of scotland. You had to admit, the timing could not have been worse.

The unrelenting heat was the worst in the Gryffindor dorms, where some of the residents had begun looking an awful lot like one of their house colors. This unexpected side effect meant that dorms were essentially uninhabitable, and swarms of students had taken to the courtyard, the common room, or the halls, in refuge. And since hiding from your lingering feelings in your dorm was no longer a viable option, Lily, Marlene, and Dorcas had been forced to drag you out into an open space where you were far too susceptible to seeing the three boys you had been avoiding like the plague.

“You are going to bloody fucking kill yourself if you do not get out of that room.” Marlene practically shouted at you, after yet another failed attempt to free you from the boiling temperatures of your bedroom. Her exasperation with you, general fury with the world, and hatred of the weather was a dangerous combination. One you couldn't entirely fault her for.

“I'd sooner die than have to face those men, marls.” you heard her grumble something along the lines of “Merlins fucking beard” at your response.

“Look, I know this whole thing is complicated and whatnot, but you are driving yourself mad, holed up in a ridiculously hot room, overthinking about James, Sirius and Remus, when you should be swimming, or living, or fucking someone else to get over them!”

“I agree. You are too pretty and smart and funny and frankly too fucking hot to be sitting here moping.” Lily chimes in, smiling at you, unrelenting in her beliefs, you take a second, in the midst of the chaos, to admire her smile. The ridiculously engaging quality of her shiny teeth, the perfection of her skin and the red hair that floats around her in the sun, too much like a halo for you not to take note. It is so easy to love her. All of them, really. You only wish, quietly, that it was so easy for you to be loved. The way everyone knows Mary loves Lily, the palpable way you all can feel how Marlene loves Dorcas. It radiates under the surface of the whole group and flows further out into the school, they radiate love, and you feel it, in that brief and wondrous moment before you have to face the world, you ask yourself how on earth you got so lucky, that they might tolerate you enough to allow you this close to the masterpiece of their friendships and lives.

“Okay.” You relent, soft yet reluctant, as you come back to the present, a feeling of inadequacy settling heavily on your shoulders and in your lungs, “I'll leave the room but I'm bringing a book, and I insist on snacks and enormous amounts of lemonade if I'm being forced out into the wild.” You allow them to pull you up and out of the sweltering room, only because you’re not entirely convinced you won’t be able to simply meander away into some obscure hallway, cooled by the touch of the century old stone in refuge, the moment Dorcas and Marlene begin to notice just how little clothing there is between the two of them due to the immense heat. You stare ahead as you walk down through the common room, shoulders tense with something indescribable. Lily notices it, she also noticed the soft, odd look on your face earlier, and just like Lily Evans does, she files it away in a neat folder in her mind with your name written on it, one new thing to figure out about you, where exactly it is you go when your eyes get foggy and you drift off.

“Why are you avoiding the boys?” Dorcas asks suddenly, and you feel marlene and lily stop, to turn and look at her the same way you do.

“It’s just easier, if I don’t see them.” You tell her this half truth slowly, as you all continue to walk down the stairs, you don’t miss the dry look you get from Marlene.

“Easier? You were miserable earlier and I can’t imagine they’re thrilled at the prospect of one of their best friends disappearing without explanation.” She somehow manages to be blunt and soft and so uniquely wise.

“I have to move on, because we are just friends. That’s easier to do when I’m not constantly overwhelmed by Remus reading to me, and Sirius’ relentless flirting, and James calling me-”

“Angel! There you are.” A sweaty James Potter practically yells from across the courtyard as he sees you. Your heart stops, the sun is on his face and bouncing off of his glasses, his hair has never looked this good, ever. It’s damp and sideswept and you just know Sirius has been somewhere near it, because it looks particularly soft. You aren’t sure he isn’t actually an angel of some kind as he jogs over to you and the girls in his white tank top and shorts, positively beaming.

“Nice to see you too, potter.” Marlene snarks with a grin as James enters your personal space.

“Oh come on Marls, you know I’m always positively thrilled to see you.” His smile unwavering as he looks over at her, you take that moment of freedom from his gaze to wipe the sweat that formed away from your brow, and to start a silent conversation with lily, which really only pertains you mouthing “help” and her grinning at you happily, thrilled with the confrontation. She hated when you hid from things, from yourself.

“Did you put on sunblock? Sirius has plenty, if you haven't.” James asks you softly as he leads the small group to the tree where he had come running from, you can just make out Sirius and Remus under it, Sirius sprawled out on the grass, head in remus’ lap, who’s back is against the tree as he reads. You’re struck with fondness yet again as you look at them, finding it all too easy to fall back into that habit of loving them from afar.

“I did. Lily made me.”

You answer, with a playful glare at your favorite redhead. James’ smile grows somehow larger at the playfulness. You watch Lily sling her arm over Dorcas, you laugh as Marlene shoves it off, grumbling playfully about how she should go find Mary if she wanted to get all lovey dovey. Despite the tension you can feel, always present it seems, since you fell for James, there is an easiness. Perhaps because of the warmth and the abundance that comes with this time of year, or maybe just because you have found yourself living here, with people who you feel if you didn't already have magic coursing through your veins, would make you believe in its existence. They were just that wonderful.

[sparkypantaloons]

I Protí Forá

Bruce loves his kids, he just really doesn't know how to say it. So he shows it instead, usually with ridiculous displays and gestures of affection. Because he's a billionaire, ya know? And also a massive dork.

Eleven year old Jason comes to realise all of the above, from the middle of the Aegean Sea.

The first time Jason gets on a plane he's eleven.

Bruce is taking them to Greece for a vacation. He says it's because work has been hectic, but Jason's pretty sure it's because he (Jason) has been reading The Odyssey. Bruce might be the whole big boss of Wayne Enterprises, but every meeting Jason's ever overheard from the study starts with Bruce saying "Hello!" all cheery before going "But let me hand you over to the most important man at Wayne Enterprises", and then Mr. Fox takes over, so it can't be all that hectic.

Besides, Bruce does stuff like this sometimes. Like once, Jason told him he'd never seen a basketball game and Bruce took them to see the Gotham Guardsmen versus the Chicago Bulls the very next week. They sat courtside, and Jason had the biggest load of nachos he'd ever had in his whole life, and Bruce even let him try a sip of his beer (which was gross, by the way). And then after the game Jason got to meet both teams and try and shoot some hoops with Michael Jordan, who just "happened" to be there (yeah right, Bruce) and he got a tour of the entire stadium.

So, when Bruce looked over the top of his paper one evening, with the same look he had when he asked if Jason wanted to be adopted, and said "Shall we go to Greece next week?" Jason's pretty sure it's 'cause he (Jason) was reading The Odyssey. And nothing to do with work.

They fly from Newark to Athens, in the first class suite on Etihad. They have their own mini apartment on the plane, with two wide-screen TVs and a double bed, their own bathroom and a shower. It's almost as big as Jason's old apartment in the squat he was living in before Bruce found him, but not quite. It's a lot nicer though and Jason can't quite believe all this is on a plane.

The air crew greet them with a smile and give them bags full of expensive 'amenities' and stuff and hand Bruce a glass of champagne. He tells them he used to have a private jet, but that they're terrible for the environment and he's trying to reduce his carbon footprint. He says it in that stupid voice he does when he's pretending to be what Dick calls a "himbo billionaire" but there's the secret grin at the corner of his mouth that's just for Jason, that makes Jason feel like he's with the best man in the world.

When they're somewhere over the Atlantic, the lady looking after their section asks if Jason would like to see the cockpit. It's not normally allowed, she says, but Mr. Wayne is such a good customer (and man, she adds, batting her eyes at Bruce over Jason's head, as though Jason wouldn't know what she meant) that the Captain has agreed to make an exception.

It's dusk, and the sky from the cockpit is bigger and more brilliant that Jason has ever seen. A glorious canvas of pastel pinks and purple hues, stretching up into a deep dark blue where stars are slowly beginning to blink into life. The Captain greets Jason with a smile and Bruce with a handshake. Explains what all the different lights and buttons and switches mean, and let's Jason wear her hat for a photo.

By the time they land in Athens, Jason is pretty sure this is the second best day of his life. (The first best is the day Bruce adopted him).

They're spend the night at a fancy hotel, in a room on top of a cliff over looking the Saronic Gulf, which Jason has never heard of but is apparently part of the Aegean Sea. They have their own private swimming pool and two huge beds - one each, though Bruce says Jason can still share if he wants to.

The air is warm and thick, even as the day begins to fade, and though he's not that good at swimming yet, Jason is desperate to jump straight into the pool. "After some supper," Bruce promises, sounding a lot like Alfred. But he keeps his word and the two of them lie on their inflatables as night falls. Above them, in the dark, there are more stars in the sky than Jason has seen in his whole life.

~

The first time Jason has been on a boat he's still eleven.

He and Bruce wander down to a little dock below the cliffs wearing matching boat shoes and shirts. Jason is wearing his Gotham Guardsmen cap and Bruce has a white strip of sunblock under his eyes.

"Technically it's a catamaran" Bruce tells Jason, explaining the difference between hulls of the two as they step aboard. "Kalimera George!" He says, "O gios mou, Jason. Jason, this is our skipper, George."

Later, many years later, Jason will know enough Greek to realise Bruce introduced him as his son, but as he steps aboard the cat all he can do is wonder what Bruce said, smile shyly and shake George's hand.

They sail south from Athens, passing the Temple of Poseidon in coastal Sounio and onto the Aegean Islands. Jason has finished The Odyssey by now, but has moved onto other Greek myths, Theseus and the Minotaur, Artemis and Apollo, Icarus and Daedalus. The sea is a brilliant, turquoise blue, diamond bright under the warm Mediterranean sun and by the time they reach the island of Kythnos, Jason is itching to jump in.

They find a secluded cove, with a small rocky beach and George drops anchor.

"Last one in is a Green Lantern fanboy!" Jason crows, and he leaps from the back deck into the crystal cool water.

It's his first time in the sea, any sea, and he can taste the salt on his lips. The water is calm and he bobs lightly, laughing as Bruce makes a strangled cry and leaps in after him.

"You love Green Lantern!" Jason teases, giggling with his head thrown back to keep it above the surface. He's not so good at treading water yet.

Bruce drifts over to him, pouting. "I wasn't ready, no fair." He says, pulling Jason towards him and onto his back.

Jason closes his eyes to the sun as Bruce swims them round the cove a little.

"Let's swim back to the cat." Bruce says, and Jason chews his lip because it's a little far. "I'll be right beside you." Bruce promises and they swim back to the boat, together.

That night they lie out on the deck and Bruce points out all of the constellations from the Greek myths; Orion and Cassiopeia and Hercules, though obviously Herakles is the proper Greek name for him.

"Whose your favourite Greek hero, B?" Jason asks, his head on Bruce's stomach.

And because he's corny like that, Bruce says "Jason."

~

Jason's first crush, the first one where it feels like something, he's eleven still, and he and Bruce are on a tiny island called Nykterides. It's a nature reserve for bats and other animals and, honestly, sometimes Bruce is such a nerd, because of course he owns the island too. And of course it's a bat-island. Bat species in the Aegean are vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change (apparently), so the island offers a safe refuge. He tells Jason all of this with a very serious look on his face and all Jason can think is what a huge dork Bruce is. There's a tightness in his chest as he listens to Bruce explain, but it takes him a little while to realise the feeling is fondness.

Only a few local families live on Nykterides, Bruce says, as they sail up to the tiny harbour. The buildings are square and white, with some blue domes but mainly flat, low roofs. Conservation staff also live on the island, scientists and biologists too, and there's a small taverna on the shore where they can eat and drink together.

A boy, no more than 19 greets them as they approach. "Kalispera, Mr. Wayne." He flashes them a smile and Jason feels a little breathless all of a sudden. The boy's skin is a glowing golden bronze, his hair falling in dark, rich waves.

"Kalispera, Giannis." Bruce says, a hand on Jason's head. "This is Jason."

"Ah, like the Argonaut?" Giannis asks with a wink, and something in Jason's stomach flips. He thinks about Apollo, most beautiful of all the God's and tries not to blush.

Giannis serves them lunch, and they sit with George and the others on the island, in the shade of a few palms. They eat fresh caught mussels and clams, with salad of tomatoes and cucumber and olives. Fresh cheese with honey, and rice and vegetables wrapped in vine leaves. Jason feels like he's living in a dream, grins up at Bruce and smiles shyly at Giannis as they clink their glasses and say "Yamas!".

As the evening wanes, Giannis tries to teach Jason a few words of Greek.

"Efcharisto," The words roll off Giannis' tongue and Jason finds himself staring at the older boy's mouth.

"Eff-ha-rist-oh" Jason repeats, and Giannis laughs and says it's close enough.

That night Jason goes to bed giddy and breathless and dreams of Apollo.

~

The first time Jason realises he loves someone, truly loves them, other than his Mom that is, he's twelve. Just.

He and Bruce have been sailing for a week or so now, island hoping across the Aegean and the Cyclades. The sea breeze is just enough to keep away the mid-August heat and Jason is sure there isn't a more beautiful part of the world to be found.

Bruce has been promising something special for Jason's birthday. He's spent a lot of time on a ridiculous satellite phone (because there are zero bars in the middle of the sea) trying to sort whatever it is out. If he thinks too much about it, Jason's stomach flips with excitement, because what could possibly top all of this? Bruce is ridiculously rich, and just plain ridiculous, so it's probably a helicopter up to Mount Olympus or something totally crazy, which to be fair, would be beyond cool.

But when the night before his birthday Bruce comes to him looking forlorn, Jason is worried.

"I'm sorry Jay," Bruce says, and it looks like he's in physical pain for how sorry he is. "I really wanted to do something special for your birthday but it isn't going to work out."

"That's okay," Jason says, but before he can continue Bruce speaks again and says,

"I wanted to take you to Themyscira, and Diana thought she could get you in, but Hippolyta said no."

For the briefest of moments, Jason thinks he might be disappointed, but instead there's a rush in his chest and he laughs, head back and heart full. "Bruce, you big boob!" He says, shoving Bruce's arm. "Men aren't allowed on Themyscira."

Bruce slips his arm around Jason and pulls him in close for a hug. "Yeah, but you're just a little man, not a whole one. I thought they might make an exception."

"It would have been cool," Jason muses, from where his face is squashed against Bruce's chest. "But then I couldn't have spent my birthday with you."

Bruce makes a noise in his throat and hugs Jason a little tighter.

"Love you, B." Jason says, and it's the first time he's ever said it to anyone that wasn't his Mom.

Bruce grunts again, and hugs Jason even tighter. "Happy birthday, lad." He mumbles.

The air is warm, and the catamaran bobs lightly in the water. Waves lap at the hull and Jason grins.

He and Bruce sit and watch the stars together.

[doveywovy]

the three aspects of the Hokage office that Anbu Commander Izuna is responsible for:

1: When Minato takes up the hat, he asks if the veil can be removed. The style of the entire outfit is old-fashioned, but the veil is especially annoying. It's got sealing stitched in it, as expected of something owned previously by two Senju who'd come from the era where the clan had still specialized in weaving, but even so...Minato's sure he could replicate the seals in much more concise format, without the need of the veil.

But Kushina pushes back. "It's necessary." She tells him, "Izuna himself demanded it's inclusion.

Minato sighs, but nods along. If it's part of the tradition it's part of the tradition, and ultimately he's still honored to be wearing the thing...even if, upon reflection, the thing it reminds him most of is a uchikatsugi.

He hides a laugh at the idea the Nidaime, famously sharp-worded man that he was, had been wearing a wife's veil, common enough at the time that others would've recognized it as such.

2: Commander Kozo has his eye on Kakashi as a potential successor. It's still early-on, but the boy is obviously talented beyond his peers. More importantly, since the tragic death of his teammates, he's thrown himself into protecting his squads with a fierce tenacity essential for the position; and he's shown himself gifted at earning the respect of his direct followers. Itachi, even more prodigiously gifted then Kakashi, had shown the boy a deference of respect he hadn't afforded to many others.

Because of this, Kozo indulges his hopes, and slips training for the position into Kakashi's more routine tasks. He teaches him about squad selection, walks him through the messy hierarchy of Shinobi, and answers questions most Anbu are not allowed to ask.

"If you're commander, you'll have to give reports directly to the Hokage." Kozo explains. "There's a way to do it. Traditional. Minato tried to put a stop it it, but- well, Hiruzen is well known for preferring the old ways with most things."

Kakashi nods once, but affords Kozo his full attention as he demonstrates the form. He kneels, legs against the cool tile. his hands pressed flat in front of him, and he dips his forehead to touch the cool stone. His back aches- he's getting too old for this nonsense. He hopes Kakashi will take over soon.

"Dogeza?" Kakashi asks, studying the form. Kozo relaxes, slides back to sit more casually on the ground and let his knees take a break.

"That's right. You hold it for the whole report, until the Hokage dismisses you." He wasn't certain if Kakashi, as young as he was, would know such an uncommon bit of etiquette. But the Hatake were an old family, it stood to reason he'd picked it up somehow from his father. "The second Anbu Commander, Uchiha Izuna, put it into practice. He said it was important to maintain the chain of command, to keep the deference by the commander clear."

Kakashi nods again, his serious little face absorbing the information. If he actually gets the position one day, as Kozo hopes he does, he'll likely see through that explanation just as well as every following Anbu Commander had.

3: Tsunade, already well on her way to drunk, offers Kozo the new bottle.

"Godaime-" He tries to refute, and she hushes him, a finger sloppily pressed to his lips. He doesn't allow himself to be swayed; he's seen her pull this move on anyone who tries to stop her from drinking and might be amenable to her persuasions.

"First sip. That's the rule, right?" She taunts. She's unfairly pretty when she's sloshed, all artfully ruffled robes and flushed cheeks. He's well aware he's not her type- she just likes teasing the Anbu. One of the only perks of the job, apparently.

It is the rule. Damned Uchiha Izuna. Kozo takes the bottle, and the smallest sip possible from it. "Not poisoned." He tells her, voice dry. As if a kenjutsu expert will have a better sense on that then the most talented healer in the history of the world. At least Izuna had the excuse of being the poison expert in his day. Tsunade smiles at him, snags the bottle, and chugs the rest.

Her lips rest where his went first. Damn Uchiha Izuna. She swipes her tongue on the rim, meanspirited creature that she is, and he adds Damn all the Senju, too.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

You are aware that religion is a major part of people’s cultures and history right?

And what gives you the right to insult billions of people for their beliefs?

You are aware that sacrificing virgins to make the weather amenable to growing crops was a major part of people's cultures and history, right? You are aware that enslaving your neighbors was a major part of people's culture and history, right?

Aside from, what the fuck does this have to do with anything or justify belief in imaginary wizards, it's both an Appeal to Popularity, or Bandwagon, fallacy, and an Appeal to Tradition fallacy.

We stopped sacrificing virgins to the weather, we - well, the west - stopped enslaving people, and we're gradually surrendering belief in supernatural deities. If you're not willing to defend the resumption of slavery and virgin sacrifice on the basis of "cultures and history," you have no basis defending belief in mystical space creatures on the basis of "cultures and history."

May I also introduce you to evolution? Cultures evolve. And history documents those changes. Cultures that do not change go stagnant and die. And history is not a dogma on which to base freezing a culture in one point in time. You really want to see what that looks like? Afghanistan. North Korea.

And I guarantee you that whatever religion is dominant in any given culture overthrew a previous belief system, replaced an earlier culture. So, unless you're willing to unwind Xianity and Islam and reinstate the ancient Sumerian religions or Zoroastrianism, for example, neither you nor I believe a word you're saying. I'm calling full-on bullshit. Islam is notorious for having wiped out every trace of every culture it invaded and replacing it with Islamic supremacy.

Meanwhile, every culture disagrees on the nature of their gods. How many there are, where they came from, how they behave, what they want of humans. There are thousands of gods you don't believe in, without any guilt. All of you disbelieve each other's gods. I just agree with all of you.

So, if you want to play this numbers game, let's be scrupulously honest: there isn't a single religion anywhere in the world where there's more people who believe it than disbelieve it. Not one. Every single religion is a minority in all of humanity.

Religion comes from humanity's ignorance. We didn't have better explanations for the world and we resorted to magic because that was the best we could come up with at the time. But you don't rely on the Humoral Theory of the Ancient Greeks for your medical needs, so why would you rely on equally ignorant beliefs about magical space beings for your understanding of the world and the way it works? Isn't the nature of everything worth a better explanation than fables of magic written before people knew to wash their hands?

You're a hypocrite. Everybody in the world once believed that the Earth was flat, yet you wouldn't worry about a Flat Earther being "insulted." Millions of people believed in Zeus and the Greek pantheon, and many still do, yet you would never feel guilty while laughing at the jokes in Disney's Hercules. Why do you demand I meet a standard that you refuse to?

Not to mention, you come to me like this never worrying whether I might feel insulted. Why do you have different rules for others than for yourself? Why do I have to worry about the feelings of others, when you never have to worry about mine?

What gives me the right? The fact that being insulted is not an argument that defends unsubstantiated nonsense. Anyone can claim to feel insulted about anything simply by asserting it. That doesn't mean anything. All you're admitting is that you think feelings are more important than truth. I reject that.

Your beliefs are for you, not for me. Which means managing your fee-feez is entirely your responsibility, not mine. I will not manage your feelings for you just because you will not or cannot. And if you can't, that suggests a whole lot about the nature of your beliefs and how true they must be. Nobody feels "insulted" when someone disbelieves in gravity. Because gravity is real and doesn't need to be "believed" when it can be demonstrated.

I also have the right because religions are just ideas and people are allowed to criticize ideas. It's how we got better ones, like quantum physics and, you know, the Earth not being the center of the universe. Again, your religion is for you, not for me. Its rules are for you, not for me. I do not need to comply with the rules of your religion. What you're asserting is authoritarianism, which is something people use when their ideas are flimsy and unconvincing. When they can't make a compelling case, they simply threaten.

And I unequivocally reject it.

[agentrouka-blog]

"That's not so. He loved my lady mother. [...] She was the only one he loved."

I forever mourn Ned’s (self-imposed) inability to confide in Cat about Jon.

Cat was about the one good thing that happened to him out of the entire Rebellion. 

His father and brother are murdered. He has to go to war with all its inherent brutality, and even the victory is drenched in the cruel monstrosity of the Sack and Elia’s murder. His sister dies in childbirth and his best friend turned out to be perfectly amenable to child murder and may just put his nephew on the hit list if he knew about him. There’s nothing but ashes. All but one thing. 

He has to marry his murdered brother’s fiance, a girl he had never met before. His brother was a wild and handsome burst of charm and charisma. Ned is a shy virgin who doesn’t know how to talk to girls. She must be so disappointed.

But she is lovely with her mane of Tully red hair, and she is kind, and those awkwardly intimate two weeks after the wedding mean that when he survives the war, he has a new family waiting for him. A little boy and his beautiful wife. The one bright thing to come out of this.

And he has to stain that. In order to protect his nephew, he believes he has to spill a lie of shame over this precious thing. Where their reunion might have been nothing but joy and relief, he has to throw down filth and pretend to be okay with it, pretend to be something utterly unlike himself. He still doesn’t know how to talk to girls. There is only one girl. One woman. And he’s desperately sad because he can’t find a way to fix this. 

"… let them grow up close as brothers, with only love between them," he prayed, "and let my lady wife find it in her heart to forgive …" 

(ADWD, Bran III)

And she never quite does. And all his children are somehow wounded by this contradictory lie. 

Even this one bright thing that grows into his whole world will forever carry that hint of ashes. 

[midnightactual]

Thanks for responding to my question so promptly. Yeah, I completely agree with your comment. When we look at the material, they're not friends. They're loosely aligned individuals forced to remain in each other's orbit by factors outside their control (High school, Aizen and Urahara's 5D chess match, etc etc), and would've gone their separate ways come graduation.

I mean, high school friendships can grow into life-long relations, but in my lived experience, those tend to be the exception, not the rule.

ESPECIALLY Ichigo. I'm not saying Ichigo should've drop everything and moved to the Soul Society (despite everything in the narrative telling us his presence alone would literally break reality if he returned to the human world post-royal guard training), but after all the shit he's been through, with all the lies he's been fed his entire life and everything in the narrative pointed to Karakura being symbolic of his complete misery, compounded by all the horrible traumatic memories he has there - I'd sooner believe he'd get the hell out of dodge and never speak to these people again.

Sure, he might send a genetic FaceBook message once-a-blue-moon to congratulate a particular life milestone, but by and large, that's basically how I expected them all to go. They keep each other on their Social media friends list because they sorta-kinda knew each other once upon a time but without crazy circumstances forcing them together, they just... drift apart, go about their lives in separate parts of the world.

(And I won't even get started on Rukia's side of the story)

If Kubo wanted me to believe these people grew into such legit great friends, he did a damn poor job of it.

[ re: this ask ]

Many other people (strongly) disagree with me about it, and it is open to interpretation, and in transformative work people can do whatever they want, but in canon I am personally absolutely convinced both Chad and Uryū are permanently done with Ichigo's ass.

We know from the map of Karakura that Ryūken's hospital is maybe at most a 3-5 minute walk from the Kurosaki household, so if Uryū had the time to go on an "extended lunch break" (per the nurses) up on the roof to watch Chad's match, then he had the time to walk to the party. He didn't need the whole day off and that's nonsense. Now maybe he's not at Ryūken's hospital! But that would mean he moved away and left Karakura behind, and that seems unlikely given he's in Karakura to support Keigo opening a ramen shop, which is frankly far less important than Chad's boxing match. (I think this goes without saying. Uryū is not close to Keigo, and only Ichigo and Mizuiro are there, not everyone.)

The fact he doesn't interact at the ramen shop, is only identified by Kubo pointing out it's him in Klub Outside, and takes no part in dealing with the Hell Hollow situation (despite Szayelaporro showing up!) tells me that the 686 color spread of him facing the other way means he's over it and has come to agree with his dad. Accordingly, I choose to believe he deliberately didn't go to the party in 686, because he absolutely could've if he was still in Karakura, which he seems to be.

Likewise, we know that Chad is doing the WBO Heavyweight Title Match, as sponsored by Y. Hans Enterprises. Riruka makes a big point about how all the Fullbringers owe Ichigo:

It's not like Yukio wouldn't know this. And Yukio's whole thing is making himself feel useful to others no matter how much he acts otherwise, as he more or less directly tells Jackie (though it's obvious with him financing Xcution's various headquarters amenities):

So, what, Yukio couldn't have flown Ichigo and everyone else out to see Chad's match, if that's what Chad had wanted? Come on. It'd have been nothing to him, because his entire character is that money is meaningless to him. What does that tell you?

It tells you that Chad didn't want that.

Now add that on top of Chad not telling Ichigo about Xcution in the first place, not using the coin Ichigo saved as his Fullbring, and questioning Ichigo's resolve in TYBW. What does that constellation say? He's over dealing with Ichigo and has known they aren't really friends for the last two arcs.

So, as far as I'm concerned, Kubo did write that they all went "their separate ways come graduation". That's what these things tell me, anyway. I believe it is actually canon that they are not really friends as of the epilogue.

(And I carry this onward to other characters as well. I do not see Yoruichi and Kisuke playing some shared Mr. Miyagi role toward Ichigo, because they didn't do that even when he was obliged to interact with them. Why would they keep it up when it was no longer necessary? They wouldn't. It's simply not the vibe of canon thematically, nor of them as characters.)

[EDIT] Also, this phenomena gets directly called out right before the earlier panel of Yukio. Jackie admits she has realized Xcution weren't friends, just associates by circumstance. Yukio absorbs that, and moves on from it by choosing to make their connection real in its own right. Ichigo and company never had this talk and settled for believing in an illusion, even when they knew it was a mirage. This is literally Chad's entire character arc from Xcution Arc, through TYBW: just like Jackie, he knows it's fake, he just never says it.

[wellntruly]

M*A*S*H - Season 11, misc. notes

It’s the last notes! Well, let’s be specific: the last notes I took as I was watching the show for the first time, THAT'S ALL.

As such, I’m taking this moment to editorialize on how I’ve editorialized, or perhaps, haven’t, so far. Namely, that I think Frequently about some of the things I wrote in public about BJ frickin Hunnicutt circa S4-5, and am like, honey who are you talking about! But the answer is, I have to keep reminding myself, that was BJ! He really was like that, in the early days! I have to leave them all, as an historical record. I will perhaps add a note on a note. “This was true then; it would not be true always,” that kind of thing.

For a little while I was definitely shying off from recommending some episodes due to strangeness from BJ, and that is where I could have failed as a viewguide-maker. By their nature, episodic shows can being picked & choosed, and through that, you can hide things. Or try to. I actually think that if I'd tried that would only have made it stranger, the way it would have still bubbled through just in these odd, off-handed moments, without the reference points of the wildest flights to allow you to say, ah yes, sometimes he is this way. 

And sometimes he isn’t! And yes, in my initial episode list (though babe, are the B-sides ever comin’), I admittedly have gone from a six or seven episode run of probably the most lovable late-seasons BJ, culminating in one that really hammers you with sweetness (& obsession) and tragic mystery, to then plummet directly into his unhinged (& tragic mystery) behavior in ‘Goodbye, Farewell and Amen’, and I do think that will play pretty beautifully, for all that this does mean that I did skip folks past the episode in Season 11 that had me going, oh, so that man is insane-insane, and that angle on Beej has its value too (the darkness!!!)

Anyway more on that below, in the Final Watch Notes. (I keep laughing, this is so not final.)

— — —

Ohhh what the FUCK is this now. Every damn season with re-orchestrating the theme!

The gulf between the S3 episode where the nurses leave and the men are all so dejected because they wanna flirt, and this one where the nurses leave and the men are all losing it because they can’t do their jobs without them: cavernous

I love Nurse Kellye so, SO much, her monologue in this about her qualities and interests is The Greatest, the overall plot line that she has a secret crush on Hawkeye: no good. 😅 Resolution of that though, of her being too busy now hooking up with the young officer from the inspection: I laughed so heartily. Now that was a genius bit of writing.

If the Halloween episode’s turn into ghost and goblins stories gets properly eerie I’m gonna get mad, because that will be good, and then I’ll have to recommend this one even with the tedious beginning. [Ed. note: I didn’t]

Hoooooooohhhhhhh, spear bone is something I was Not ready for…!

Hey, it’s finally 1953

“He’s got a shoulder big enough for the whole world to lean on,” and other Hawkeye-on-Sidney lines that make my heart hurt.

Cannot express how much I want nothing to do with the shortened credits

It is so fascinating how they recycle the supporting actors. Personally to me this adds to the time-loop quality: things come back a little different this time, people are arranged a different way, but the cast of characters is the same. They’re all trapped in the snow globe, none of them get out when it shakes.

I think Charlie is like, fully in love

Wait a second, IS this Jeffrey Tambor???

Charles you gotta be kidding me

Here to report that I had an entire heart attack over the Japanese ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ cover starting 'The Joker is Wild' like we were back in early days, and then [Mulaney voice] it got worse!

Hawkeye: [mentions that he and Trapper used to pull a lot of jokes together] Promptly, through my hands: “Don’t do this to me.” BJ, smiling too much: “You and Trapper were quite the pair weren’t you?” Hawkeye, relenting: “Yes! Yes, we were!” Hands now just hanging in the air like I’m being held up, rapidly: “Don’t do this to me, don’t do this to me, don’t do this to me!”

Klinger, eyes warm at Pierce: “Seems to me the pranks used to be more original in the old days.” BJ, still smiling big and cold: “Awww the good old days, you mean like when Trapper was here?” We can’t do this!!!! I’m literally shaking!!!

Hawkeye: “Well that would be incredible, because I would love to see you sing ‘You’re the Tops’ without your bottoms.” BJ: “Haha I can understand that, Hawk, because anybody who’d want to get everybody, would want to get you worst of all.” I think this episode is going to kill me?

I’m gonna come out of this one with WHITE HAIR, Jean Valjean style. THEY’VE SAID “TRAPPER” SO MANY TIMES. They SO rarely do and I can never take it even briefly and now to do this, in this context!! It’s maybe the most darkly jealous BJ has ever been and it’s the literal plot???!!

Oh my god wait it really is, it’s ALL against Hawkeye, I AM seeing what’s happening here, aren't I. And the “getting” just psychologically torturing him for 24 hours, oh honey!!! And for WHAT, BJ, just because he admitted a joke he was describing was one of Trapper’s? Oh no!!!!!! It’s the literal plot and it’s WORSE. I’m laughing and weeping, jesus!

I CAN’T SPIRAL ABOUT THIS. I CAN’T. BUT. The whole thing about Hawk & Trapper was that they were a pair. That’s what both BJ and Hawkeye were saying in the first scene, them joking around together. And now, BJ’s retaliation is to make Hawkeye feel entirely isolated. Can’t trust anyone, all on his own and persecuted. Hahahaha I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW EMOTIONALLY FUCKED UP THIS IS ACTUALLY. Who wrote this!!! The same person who wrote ‘Period of Adjustment’!?? Wait actually who did write each of these BJ eps… 

O M G

I was making a joke, John turn your location on.

“Take it off, Hawkeye! I wanna see some skin!!” Father stop

Anyway this episode destroyed my mind.

Oh okay, so second episode in a row for Most Deranged Thing They’ve Ever Done contender: Hawkeye hooks up with a nurse and then she’s fucking killed by a mine. Nope?!

Are they suggesting Klinger invented the Hula Hoop

Oh, no, don’t read her diary…

My feelings about every part of 'Who Knew?' are just, 🙃 this was a mistake!

Charles and Hawkeye both vaguely gesturing to their shoulder: “You know, the- the wound.” The only reason I would want more seasons would be that we’re finally doing Hawkeye & Charles and it’s so dryly delicious.

Potter to Hawkeye: “You’re witty, swave [suave??], you lean toward handsome—” He leans.

Uh, that’s horrible. If BJ gets this medal all he’ll ever be able to think about is cutting the rope. Wow yikes.

Yes, yes, Charles & Hawkeye making phone calls, my favorite thing they do together. This Roxbury joke……now that goes out to the real ones (people who have lived in Boston).

BJ: “We sit around here in our Hawaiian shirts and red suspenders, thumbing our nose at the Army, drinking home-brewed gin and flouting authority at every turn and feeling ohh soo superior to those military fools who kill each other, and ohh soo…self-righteous, when we clean up after them. Well good luck to you pal, I hope you can...keep it up. The minute I cut that rope, that made me a soldier.” Haha good lord this season is miserable.

Margaret's phone performance is the greatest. This mortgage party plot is…odd. And meanwhile the sweet lieutenant plot is getting incongruously intense and not in the high-contrast way that usually works for them. Folks I am sorry but is this whole season mm, a Mistake?

Alright, time to get hawt

They have such LONG. LEGS. Why is it so much more apparent when they’re bare.

How come the lighting and color quality in the film distributor’s office is making me nostalgic for something

Potter is wearing Klinger’s Toledo Mudhens cap and has his bird pinned to the center, right over the T

Hawkeye: “Klinger it’s all in your head, just don’t be hot!” Klinger: “Don’t be hot??” He can’t ❤️

It’s great when Charles uses his power (intimidating baritone blue blood) for good

Margaret just doubling down on their betting scheme like well in for a penny, go big or go home, is sending me

Frankly all three of these visiting docs are babes

“Our summer home is in the Berkshires, just a baton’s throw away from Tanglewood.” Second Home Lane [REAL STREET], Lenox, MA, CONFIRMED Winchester residence

I like that Margaret and Charles both have crushes

[haltingly] It would, thrill me, beyond measure, if the kind silver fox Swedish doctor has a crush too, but it’s on Captain Pierce. Um, he needs that? I mean he’s sure not getting…. Don’t make me think about this…

[breathily] “So, you’re from Sweden. I’ve always loved Hans Christian Anderson.” Loretta help

Just gonna say: my idea of what the crushable Swedish officer plot could be, is honestly still plausible at this juncture! He’s laughing cutely at Hawkeye’s dumb jokes in the O Club! This injury-induced impotency story could be a careful lie, or rather, frankly, even a ruse, the carefullest of lies. If he asks for any sort of help with like, a pause, Hawk get your head on a swivel (and get on that, honey) (I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT THIS!)

Ohhh now the glasses…mega babe!

Mr. Dish and Margaret you guys are maybe being a little bit stupid though right, I mean you could still do a LOT

Thaaank you :)

Oh very fun, this actor’s last name was Holahan!

Hawkeye: “Charles, for the sake of our sanity, which is iffy at best—” Iffy.

First three minutes of this episode cumulatively more fond of everyone than the first 10 whole episodes of this season---hello Karen my girl

Wish the A and B plots were switched honestly

WOW perm! ’83 is here, baby

Loretta Swit invented Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon after her vocal cord surgery

What are the void shoulder patches on some of these guys, kinda eerie and I've wondered

I really like Hawkeye’s vibes this episode. Not paying the expected deference to the general in such a classic Hawkeye way, meanwhile quietly very watchful of him and his injured son, and whatever is going on there.

This is definitely the most sophisticated thing they’ve ever done with a general. He’s humanized but also still a profoundly bleak representation of those who make war.

Charles is this really time for Mahler

Ohhh is the void just the I Corps patch?? Sick. The Voids are here.

Okay 11 seasons in it was time for me to finally find out what I Corps is anyway, and TURNS OUT they were already in my own fucking life, causing problems. They’re just an administrative corps, US headquarters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which straddles the major interstate that runs up Washington State, meaning I’ve gotten stuck in JBLM traffic For. Years. 

Being Mad at I Corps

The 4077 🤝 Me just trying to get to my parents’ house

Karen’s flavor of scheming BJ continues to be the best of its type. Lets him maintain his early days detail of being good at people management, it’s just for crimes.

Margaret: “Perfume! Charles! Oh it’s just so…scented!” Oh em gee

This is very good. The two of them moving in on him, smiiiiling. The composition, Xtra Long BJ all folded up in this chair…

I spy: the cold weather coats

Margaret wants Charles’s book of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry, Sonnets From the Portuguese. Holy MO-ly!

Yeah :) it’s cold :)

“In the Bayou, legend has it that a selfish man will be possessed by demon bats, and never get no sleep ’til he does some good deed and mends his ways.” Rizzo…God bless u.

Beasts! Don’t throw beer on Klinger’s fur coat!

The B plot of the American soldier in the bed next to the North Korean he shot is very well done actually

Oh, full cassock, Father?

“Right on time. [points swiftly] I like that.” Harry Morgan :)

Wow that chopper pilot rules ass

I do quite like the Margaret v. Hawkeye time capsules thing, it feels very vintage them

OKAY! The fact of the M*A*S*H sleepover with Jody means I don’t actually have like, notes from the finale, I had a coupe glass holding a distressingly dry martini. But we’re cobbling, we’re cobbling! And that’s just a little cocktail shaker humor for you. (I actually have a Boston shaker.) (Charles looks up.)

I think the first thing I want to mention is that partway through Jody looked something up on her phone and was like hey, do you want to know who Soon-Lee is? And that’s how we learned that Klinger marries Keiko O’Brien. Yell!! Babe I hadn't recognized you!!! Anyway that whole plot, while sudden, nonetheless did have me going

And also unfortunately revealing to Jody that I do, in fact, do exactly this while watching this show. Always have! Never been more seen.

I also want to say just, thank god for Sidney Freedman. In every way. Imagine if we hadn’t had Sidney this whole time, if it was just some psychiatrist we’d never seen before treating Hawkeye? Weirdly, would immediately just feel, less real?? A fraction of the impact of how it actually plays out, where because it's Sidney, we know it's serious, but also because it's Sidney, we have something to hang on to.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye getting left by his best friend, again, no note, again, was like, this is nearly too much but also I’m falling fucking apart. Narrative cruelty in the way I 👍🏻 support. Top moments that have happened to Hawkeye Pierce that broke me in exciting new ways include: sopping wet in his clothes and Radar gives him Trapper’s goodbye kiss, and at separate tables in the mess tent, Hawkeye just trying to get BJ to say goodbye to him, and saying “What would you do if I was dying? Would you hold me and let me die in your arms, or would you just let me lay there and bleed?” and BJ just going “You’re not dying, you don’t even have a cold,” and walking away. And the way he goes “Goodbyyyye,” hey, I'm dying on the ground!!!!

Margaret is there for him at least. Yes, someone touch him, I thought, maybe said (Jody?), when she grabs his wrist in the scrub room and pulls him away with her. Y’know, I can tell you what I certainly said, and it was when they were standing there looking at each other and it’s time to say goodbye, and I sotto voce called out, because of the tightness in my throat, hand to the side of my mouth, “Make oout,” And They Do. And exactly in how I meant it: hold me bleeding in your arms, and I'll hold you bleeding in mine, here are my wounds pressed to yours, hearts, mouths, close as you can just for one last minute, it's the only way we know how to express it.

God, we won with that. Those two…my fucking heart !! I love them. They kinda secretly became everything to me? Oh god!

When I was rewatching the very end just now, BJ’s “I can’t imagine what this place would have been like if I hadn’t found you here” (found him there, he was just already there…), and then the ‘GOODBYE’ and the slow, minor key variation on ‘Suicide Is Painless’ started, just the simple horns like it was in the beginning, and rising up over the same view of the mountains as the ‘KOREA, 1950 - a hundred years ago’ opening golfing shot, and I sobbed. I know we say that a lot. I truly broke down crying, just set my hand to my face and cried so much. This show has been really, with me, you know? I started it so open, and it just, it got to me. I’ll never be able to shake you, either.

— — —

Season Viewguides

These

[stillcominback]

*screams in richonne*

since it hasn't been TOO long, i'll throw this spoiler-y stream of consciousness under a cut 💕💕💕

this show is already everything and more and i'm terrified and excited to see where it goes if it's got me losing my whole mind with just two episode -- i guess i REALLY missed rick grimes and michonne and their love 😩😩😩 anyway SOME THOUGHTS:

their chemistry is absolutely off the charts insane like i cannot even EXPLAIN. the way they hold and touch and kiss is so ... intimate and beautiful and perfect like !!!! if love isn't like rick and michonne's, i don't want it!

the crm can absolutely get fucked forever. i didn't think i could hate a group more than the saviors but here we are! like using CHLORINE GAS on just random innocent people??? i mean looking at the state of the world currently, can't say i'm surprised entirely -- but still, they're disgusting and evil and i hope all their shit burns. period.

nat deserved better and i love him forever (his dynamic with michonne was so lovely and i'm gonna be in denial about him being gone thanks!)

I LIVE for the fact that rick and michonne both kind of just gave up on finding each other RIGHT BEFORE they actually were reunited like ... the soulmate power they have 😩 the universe and fate really has their back and to that we say amen

that reunion scene TOOK. ME. OUT. like both of their expressions but the way rick just kind of bows and folds into her touch ... lord have merCY ON ME

also rick being so fucking panicked and having to immediately cut their little love-fest short so that he can get michonne to try to play along and adopt a different persona etc. so they don't get found out i just 😩 but also the trust they have for each other in that moment like my heart

them sneaking off to make out like teenagers? approved! it's been some years so yknow i get it lmao BUT ALSO how when they were sneaking off, michonne knew rick was behind her just from his touch and then that little smirk like GIRL! aslkfjdslfagf

rick asking about judith so much and i swear michonne almost told him about rj adslkfjhdfs BUT i know that's gonna fucking floor him so i guess we're gonna save that bomb for later lmao

seeing jadis made me wanna set something on fire with nat's lighter so just ..... *GROANS LOUDLY*

i'm also waiting for michonne to see how truly broken rick is ... like he's SO scared and it literally breaks my heart. and it'll probably break again when michonne sees it, too.

UGHHH. JUST LET THEM GO HOME AND BE WITH THEIR KIDS! THEY'VE SUFFERED ENOUGH! (but does the writer in me love the angst? oh yes.)

[narilily]

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND... NARI GIM

she knows / meiko ���

worries / tom rosenthal 🎧

amen / amber run 🎧

nari is ... a really good waterproof mascara, spools of thread on the floor, soft white kitten fur, a field of yellow wild flowers in the warm summer breeze, a glass of sparkling wine, paper dolls, the sound of deep breathing, her perfectly charming red cottage, a smile brighter than sunshine, a lily.

Nari is one of my characters that I can honestly say has just come together as I've written her. Starting with her face claim and name. I've always adored Jamie Chung, and knew that I wanted to use her, despite not knowing a lot about her, or having seen her in much but The Gifted and a few odd movies here and there. I knew that I wanted a traditionally Korean name, and chose a random last name, and chose to go with a flower inspiration for the first name. Nari means Lily, and that felt right. I decided that Nari would be nicknamed Little Lily by her mother after moving to the States, one of the first phrases that she learned to speak in English. Which was another important part of her development, was staying in touch with her roots, as much as possible.

But! As far as fictional inspiration goes... there really wasn't anyone. I might have been on a bit of a fashion high from watching shows like The Bold Type and seeing Sutton's fashion inspirations made me want to play someone in that world. Katherine, from A Million Little Things, ended up being some inspiration for her, too, in terms of figuring out her sexuality and coming into her own as an individual and a woman as a whole. I also adore Grace Park and absolutely would have used her as a face claim, had she had more resources! Maybe not for Nari, but. You know.

As I mentioned above, I wanted her to stay in touch with her culture, her roots, so her family moved to the States when she was young, but she still celebrates a lot of holidays her parents taught her about, makes the best dumplings around, and tries to visit home when she can. And has incredibly traditional parents who moved back home after she left for college, wanting to live in a place they were most comfortable. It made Nari vulnerable when she returned to Merrock, since she had to sort of be her own support system during a time in her life when she needed people the most.

Because even though I wanted Nari to be the epitome of sunshine, I wanted her to decide to be that way. So I kind of messed up her life. Nari attended college, chased her dreams, was really living a good life before it all fell apart with the loss of her husband (I have no inspiration for that, other than my brain occasionally hurting people, apparently?). To me, it felt more organic to have this woman who had the entire world at her feet -- she was good at her job, on track to become someone, something, a name in the fashion world before losing her husband and losing interest in chasing that on a high-end scale, instead returning to Merrock and realizing that she had two choices: wallow forever, or get back up. And she got back up. Because I think we've all been there at some point in our lives. From there, I wanted Nari to do these things with her life that pushed her in a positive, happy direction: become a pilates instructor, work all day in the sunshine with flowers, design gowns and high fashion looks for her friends and fellow Merrockites who needed a look for prom or a gala, or just for going out.

Which isn't to say that she doesn't have her days of crushing sadness. A lot of people who know me know that I'm a pretty private person when it comes to my own life -- so I guess a part of me was inspired by that. Nari's sad. A lot! But she lets herself be sad when she needs to be sad, she mourns the life she didn't get to have, and then she picks herself up and puts on a smile and fakes it until she makes it. Except she actually does make it.

She's a very open, caring, loving person. Whether it be with her friends and family, or the people she chooses to let in openly. Nari doesn't want kids (that's something she got from me), but she is very nurturing. It's why she does so well in a nursery! Although she mostly openly dated men until getting married, she's always been confident in the fact that she enjoys love more than gender, and as she has gotten older, has only grown more and more comfortable with that, and doesn't bother hiding it. The inspiration behind that is just wanting to see more women who are older and comfortable in who they are, sexually as well as personally.

I'm not going to pretend to be a pilates instructor, I have no idea where the idea for that one came from, other than it being something someone like Nari would be into. Positive thinking, a good way to sweat it out, to get into shape while having fun. The flowers, though! That's me. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a plant gal, so it was fun to put that into Nari. To make her work at a nursery and spend all day watering and caring for plants, making arrangements for events and parties... that's a dream. Nari being into fashion was inspired by me liking fashion, of course, but also has a personal tie to my grandmother, who worked as a seamstress for many, many years (she made my mom and all of her sisters' wedding dresses), and how she was so well respected and loved by her community for the work that she did. Nari will never be gram, but she can still do what my gram did for the people she loves.

... oh, Nari did also take my love of cats. She's my cat girl, along with Livvy. Cosmo is also a nod to a cat that wandered onto our property a few years back that we kept until his passing, giving him a home to spend the rest of his years in. I think Nari was inspired by my soft heart, too. We share that.

[inkofamethyst]

May 23, 2023

I’ve found a cute little apartment that suits what I’m looking for, and I’m in the final stages of submitting an application for it.  And I know it’s not the absolute best option (tiny kitchen, weird flooring), but it fits the budget, the location, and the most basic of amenities that I’m looking for, plus getting to June with the piece of mind that I wouldn’t be homeless this fall... suffice to say I’m hoping praying it works out.  I’ve got a lot of nervous energy right now because of it, but I also have a bit of a good feeling, I think.  The housing market there is a beast, but I’ve heard repeatedly that everyone finds something eventually, so I’m counting on that. 

Part of me wants to learn how to party, how to flirt, how to just let go for a little bit.  But I am unfortunately too full of worries, too rigid, too afraid.

You know that Star Trek quote, “Do not mistake my composure for ease”?  Yeah, that.

I’m looking forward to the night on the town (we’ve set a date!!!!!), but I don’t even think I have good clubbing clothes.  I mean going to the formal earlier this semester with my photo-friend was nice, I guess, but I don’t really dance or drink (though dessert wines ain’t bad, and I’ve tasted a fruity wine I liked, but I’ve still yet to find a cocktail I really enjoyed).  I’m okay being the mom friend, I think.  The friend who watches over people’s bags while they do the roller coaster.  The friend who helps clean up after a party.  The friend who observes. [edit: I think this just means I’m an introvert actually lol]

Anyway, speaking of Star Trek, I was at first really critical of (or maybe confused by) people who don’t like Picard (the show), who say it tarnished the reputation of their favorite captain, of their comfort show.  I, personally, felt as though the show added an additional dimension to my favorite captain and the Star Trek world as a whole.  But I think I’m beginning to at least understand their position.  Gene Roddenberry designed Star Trek Starfleet as a utopia where all of humanity’s current issues have been resolved and we can devote ourselves to arts, humanities, passions, exploration.  Picard (and Discovery, from what I’ve heard) deviates from that ideal.  As much as I love the idea of Star Trek’s utopia, I’ve never been entirely convinced that we could do away with vices like greed within four hundred years or so, and I was very much aware of how the interspecies conflicts were not entirely absent.  Space was still a dangerous place, politically, with the Klingons and the Romulans and whoever else.  So seeing that element of danger explicitly was a positive for me, though I can understand how that type of content may not be what older ST fans turn to the franchise for (not to mention how they decry women in power on the newer shows, as if we’ve learned nothing since having Black, White, and Asian senior crew members in TOS (but old fans not recognizing their hypocrisy over how the current ST series confront modern social issues is an old argument that I’ve seen time and time again and doesn’t need repeating)).  Maybe Picard does deviate from Roddenberry’s original vision.   And that may be unwelcome for some.  And that’s okay.  I would go so far as to say that the target audiences are a little different.  Which is also okay.

I’ve been watching season three with my parents, and while the beginning was dreadfully slow, it’s started to pick up :)

Today I’m thankful that... my mom hasn’t come down too harshly on me for my room being a mess (yet).  I’ve almost entirely moved out of my apartment, and I’ve stuffed everything into my teenage bedroom, and I haven’t unpacked it yet because I’m pretty sure most of it will just be going with me when I move out again, and I’m not entirely sure how to handle the two-and-a-half-month interim.  I’m thinking about developing a capsule-ish wardrobe for the summer and sticking the other items into storage bins, ready for the move.  While I’m glad my mom hasn’t chastised me yet, I’m certainly feeling the negative mental effects of a messy room (seriously, it’s horrific in here).  I just need to come through here with dead eyes and a trash bag.  Maybe two or three (or four or five) trash bags.

[dfroza]

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 23rd of november 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Book of Luke, Chapter 18 • The Book of 1st Samuel, Chapter 30]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 23 and Psalm 23 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 63 for the 63rd day of Astronomical Autumn, and Psalm 28 for day 328 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

A post by John Parsons:

Recall that Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was 91 years old (Gen. 17:17, 21), and she later died when Isaac was 36 years old, at the age 127 (Gen. 23:1). And while the Torah does not explicitly state the cause of her death, we are told about her death following the dramatic episode of the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22), and the midrash Tanchuma therefore links the two together by saying Sarah died from shock after learning about the ordeal of her son at Moriah. It was just too much for her heart to bear: "And a sword will pierce through your own soul also..." (Luke 2:35). Therefore Jewish tradition associates the cries of Sarah with the blasts of the shofar during Rosh Hashanah. The broken notes of the shofar are thought to recall her crying for her son...

Isaac was the first “Jewish baby” born to the world, the promised son, the miracle child and the heir of Abraham. As the firstborn son of God’s promise, without him the whole world would fall apart, and there would be no salvation to come... So when Sarah heard that Isaac was offered at Moriah, her soul departed from her and she thought the world was falling apart. She prayed to God: “Let me die for my son; let me die in place of my son...” Sarah’s love was so great it brought Isaac back to life from the dead.

Understand that we study Torah and the lives of the patriarchs because it is part of our great yerushah (יְרוּשָׁה), our heritage, in Messiah Yeshua... The Torah tells our story as the people of God; it is the context and framework of the entire Bible. As it says: "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD (שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי רֹדְפֵי צֶדֶק מְבַקְשֵׁי יְהוָה): look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look unto Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him" (Isa. 51:1-2). Amen.

Note: For more information on this topic, see the “Akedah of Sarah” article (link below).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Isaiah 51:2 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa51-2a-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa51-2a-lesson.pdf

The Akedah of Sarah:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Chayei_Sarah/Akedah/akedah.html

11.22.24 • Facebook

from Today’s email by Israel365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

[drjameslongjr]

Transforming Your Speech: The Power of Words in Life and Relationships

Devotional: The Tongue is a Fire

The power of words is undeniable. As James vividly describes, the tongue, though small, holds immense influence. It has the capacity to bless or curse, to build up or tear down. Today’s devotional reminds us of the destructive potential of our words and challenges us to reflect on how we use our speech in light of God’s Word.

Scripture: James 3:6

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”

Devotional Thought: Transforming Your Speech

James gives us a vivid picture of the tongue: it is a fire, capable of igniting a blaze that can quickly spiral out of control. Just as a small spark can set an entire forest ablaze, so too can a single careless word cause destruction. James goes on to say that the tongue is a world of unrighteousness, capable of staining the whole body and influencing every area of life. Why does James emphasize the danger of the tongue? Because words have power. Words spoken in anger, gossip, or pride can cause lasting damage. They can ruin reputations, destroy relationships, and spread bitterness. The source of this destructive power is not merely human; James points out that the tongue is set on fire by hell itself, a tool that Satan uses to bring about discord and devastation. Yet, there is hope. Though no human being can tame the tongue (James 3:8), God can. He can give us the grace to control our speech, to use words that bring life rather than death. As believers, we must rely on God’s power to transform our hearts and, by extension, our words. Our speech is one of the ways we reflect God’s image, and when we surrender our tongues to Him, we can speak words that bless and build up rather than tear down.

Bringing it Home: Applying What We Learned

- Reflect on Your Speech: Take time today to reflect on the words you’ve spoken recently. Are they words that bless, or words that harm? Ask God to reveal any areas where your speech needs transformation. - Be Slow to Speak: Make it a point to pause before speaking. Consider the impact of your words and ask God to guide your speech so that it reflects His love and grace. - Use Your Words to Build Up: Commit to using your words to encourage and bless others. Speak life into the lives of those around you, knowing that your words have the power to uplift and strengthen.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of speech. Help me to use my words wisely, speaking in ways that honor You and build up those around me. I confess that I sometimes speak carelessly, causing harm instead of good. Please tame my tongue, that it may be a tool for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

- Are there specific instances where my words have caused harm? - How can I make a conscious effort to speak words that build up rather than tear down? - In what ways can I rely on God's grace to transform my speech?

Take the Next Step on Your Journey

Thank you for joining me today. If you found this lesson helpful, I encourage you to explore more resources and support on my website, https://jameslongjr.org/. You can also watch my video on my YouTube channel. Finally, would you consider joining our Lessons for Life monthly membership or our online group coaching, where you’ll find powerful coaching videos, a supportive community, and step-by-step guidance for lasting transformation? Remember, true change is possible when you walk in God’s grace and for His glory. Until next time, may you find peace, hope, and joy in Christ alone. Blessings! Read the full article

[bisluthq]

We accept here on this blog that Taylor wasn’t pining away for Matty Healy for 10 years, that Cardigan and other folkmore songs are not about him though she heavily implies so on multiple songs on TTPD (it’s not Maylors coming up with stuff out of nowhere, she quite literally in CoSoSoM says that she went through lovers and eras ‘ALL to outrun’ her ‘desertion’ of him). She also expresses these sentiments very literally and on multiple songs at that and across multiple albums if we again take what she says truthfully, but we acknowledge that’s probably not reflective of what her actual reality was and that she’s just a songwriter being dramatic. But suddenly she’s not a songwriter being dramatic when it comes to things she said about Joe? Random little lines about her being suspicious other people want him, lines about things said during arguments etc ARE fully accurate representations of how she felt for 6 years? Because if that’s true, then what does it even matter considering that she was carrying a torch for another guy the entire time and only dated Calvin, Tom and even Joe to try and get over him? Or at least, that’s what taking the things she says in song to heart would imply because again she LITERALLY wrote that she did that.

I literally don’t understand what you’re saying here. Obviously she didn’t feel jealous every single minute of every single day for six and a half years but this clearly kept being an issue for her for six and a half years? The other issues she had with him, again starting with Rep and ending with TTPD, were his moodiness/stressy depressiness and him pushing her away when he gets all stressy depressied, lack of clear communication around issues, her worrying about him getting over it and peacing tf out, and her concern around whether or not he could handle being with Taylor Swift™️ - obviously she didn’t focus on those every minute of every day but yes she felt those feelings over a period of six years and a half years? At first the good - which she also wrote about - the physical and emotional and intellectual connection, his patience, his humor, day to day compatibility - outweighed the bad. Then she started to focus more on the bad. Pretty standard stuff. Since the bad she mentions at the end was pretty much what she said at the beginning, seems like their biggest problem was not working on anything idk? I’m not them.

as for Matty, I’ve said many times that I’m sure it felt fated and shit when she said that stuff like yes in that moment it felt like every single decision and moment had led them to each other and it was the most romantic love story of all time for her in that moment. The fact that songs they’d written before they’d even met each other perfectly aligned with their 2.0 love story must’ve legit felt fated. It didn’t work out and she prob doesn’t feel that way anymore but obviously she felt that way in the moment? Justifiably? If my ex from 10 years ago came back into my life and we started reconnecting like I too would be all over finding all the clues we’d been destined for one another from the beginning (I hate even putting that out into the world, may the universe protect me from such horrible things and may no ex of mine ever work with one of my besties and confuse me amen 🙏🏼)???

like I really don’t understand what you’re saying. Are you saying she wasn’t jealous with Joe? Are you saying I’m saying she didn’t genuinely feel shit for Matty? (She did lol she wrote a whole ass Magnum Opus dedicated to the man). I’m so confused???

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Daily Devotionals for July 30, 2024  

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 21:23-24 (KJV): 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. Proverbs 21:23-24 (AMP): 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. 24 The proud and haughty man -- Scoffer is his name -- deals and acts with overbearing pride.

Thought for the Day

Verse 23 - It is profitable to learn to be careful in what we say, since wise words can keep us from trouble. There is another scripture in the New Testament that elaborates on this:

"...If any one does not offend in speech-never says the wrong things - he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna). For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature). But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water" (James 3:2-12, AMP).

We all say things that we regret later. When we do, the only way to correct the situation that we created is to admit that what we said was wrong and apologize for it. This is difficult to do, but it will win us more respect than allowing pride to rule us and refusing to admit that we were wrong.

Verse 24 - Man's pride is delicate and he will become defensive and easily offended if provoked (unless he yields to the Holy Spirit). This is why proud people become angry easily and are overbearing. No one likes an arrogant, domineering person. We must ask God to forgive and change us if we tend to demean and control others. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. May we all learn, therefore, to humble ourselves before Him! "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, I am thankful for Your grace and mercy toward me. I need help in the area of guarding my lips. Lord, give me the grace to keep my mouth shut when I should not speak, and give me the holy boldness to speak up when I need to do so, without fearing what others will think about me. May I be a person who blesses others and not one who curses others with a negative confession about them? Cleanse my heart, oh Lord, so I will not even want to speak evil or bad things. I humble myself before You, Lord, and ask for a meek and lowly spirit like Jesus, our Saviour, has. In His name, I pray. Amen.