#and sometimes spite is a strong motivator

[ziskeyt]

a thing to know about voting in florida is it's a closed primary state. this is why i registered republican this time around. i am not a republican at all in my political, social, or economic ideals -- but i am aware that this party has been beset by radical right wing actors and as someone who would like to see the american democratic experiment continue in my lifetime and beyond, it felt important to be able to vote in the republican primaries. it would be ideal if it wasn't locked like this, and if i could register to vote without a party there, but i cannot. and i would like for the state to continue to accept absentee and mail-in voting, which means not voting for the republicans in the primaries who are running for supervisor of elections who are against these things. perhaps one day i'll return to the states, there are many reasons to want to live there, as there are many reasons to want to stay where i am. not only do i want to ensure those paths remain open, i want to make sure that people who aren't me can continue to vote and expand voting rights to those who are excluded presently.

i vote because i believe in a better future and i know that voting is just one of the ways that i can take action to build that future.

[hiemaldesirae]

in my da days i had a friend who was genuinely like the coolest person ever to little me. found out a year ago when we spoke again for like the first time in four (??) years that they were actually only a year older than me and i think something in me shattered that day

[ghcstao3]

(part 2) (cw fictional drugs, mild body horror, mild torture)

Shifters should be born, not made. That’s one of few things that science has been able to say for certain about the biology (and ethics) of the species.

Of course, this never stopped those truly motivated—for a few years now, there’s been a serum circulating black markets and cartels and terrorist rings, a dangerous, potent thing that allows for the temporary rewrite of human DNA; for just a handful of hours, this serum allows any non-shifter to gain a shifter’s abilities, often with the goal of making them stronger, deadlier when it comes to picking off their enemies.

Obviously, this serum comes with a few cons: a human cannot determine what animal a serum will give them until it is taken, and because its effects are only temporary, the substance becomes highly addictive. One taste is never enough—but after so many continuous uses, the drug’s effects change into something far more sinister. Potentially fatal; one might lose their mind if they’re lucky, or become some deformed half-thing stuck between human and animal if they’re not.

There’s a reason, scientists will say, that sometimes genetics, DNA is not to be tampered with to such extreme lengths.

But with this serum comes a rumour: somewhere out there exists a more permanent solution, a serum to completely change someone, to make a shifter. Something so strong that it can transform a person, though at a high risk of something going wrong.

This serum does exist, and certainly does hold a risk of things going wrong—the survival rate within days of injection is a measly 5%. The human body is not built to withstand the force of fundamental change, though some prevail; unfortunately, however, often enough they don’t survive long enough afterwards to meet the full potential of their new abilities.

And not necessarily because of the change itself—but rather because the people creating these abnormalities will often decide to erase their existences, once past their use and novelty. If this new creature cannot be leashed, there’s no point in keeping it, no point in allowing it to go free and revel in its newfound talents.

When Simon Riley doesn’t break the way Manuel Roba wants him to, he becomes a victim of this serum. He’s informed, in spite of his torture-induced delirium, that this injection will put him down one way or another—be it through the pain, the incompatibility with his body, or through his expired usefulness after Roba has beaten him into submission in whatever form Simon is blessed with.

The serum feels like hot, molten, infernal flame has been injected directly into Simon’s veins, searing his body from the inside out. The first wave of pain arrives in a flash, has him writhing on the ground as his muscles lock up and he’s gasping for breath to fill lungs already burned to ash. Throat closing up, bones grinding together, the ripping of flesh. He can’t scream. Can’t claw at himself until he’s bloody and raw and dead.

It just goes on.

Roba’s laughter rings through the cold, impersonal laboratory, four cement walls and a cracked floor, the reeking, cloying scent of mildew and rust and failed experiments—it’s all that Simon’s world has narrowed down to until he blacks out in his anguish.

When he wakes, everything is wrong.

Simon’s more than disoriented, though that’s hardly a surprise. But beyond that, beyond the usual aches and sores and bruises—the red of the bloodstained floor is dull, too dull, and his limbs don’t feel like his own. His brain is a fog, simultaneously exhausted and alert, and his tongue sits heavy in his mouth—Simon rolls over, sluggish, his tongue sliding languidly with gravity, picking over teeth sharper than he remembers them being.

The bars of his cell rumble open, the rattle reverberating through Simon’s body.

Wrong. All wrong, wrong, wrong.

It takes effort to lift his gaze, to meet Roba’s own where he stands in the doorway. Simon’s eyelids droop, weighed down by nothing he can discern, and all he can make out through the slits of leftover vision is that smarmy grin and those beady, oil-black eyes.

Roba grins wider when Simon stirs, shifting stiff muscles in a fool’s errand of attempting to sit up.

“I knew you would survive, English,” he says. Simon’s ear twitches. “Welcome to the first day of your new life.”

Roba’s footsteps are loud, grating in their approach. He crouches in front of Simon’s prone form, regarding him in a way Simon has been plenty subject to—always displeased in some capacity, sometimes for known reasons and sometimes not, but also plotting, envisioning the next methods he might use to drill obedience into the soldier, to rearrange his anatomy, to fuck irreparably with his head.

With a sigh Roba reaches into his breast pocket to fish something out, some antique compact with engravings on the lid that Simon is in no state to decipher. He opens it with a muted click, then holds it in front of Simon’s face with something akin to a sick glee woven into his expression.

What stares back at Simon is not human.

[punkpandapatrixk]

🌓Sweet Girl Venus ♦︎ Timeless Pick A Card

This world contains in it a great number of elements that push most everyone to toughen up and abandon all senses of calm, grace and loveliness on the path towards growing up. In this world, so many people believe that the only way towards great achievements is by becoming tough. Whilst it is true that strength of character is crucial for survival, I don’t think toughness has to translate into being actually hard on oneself or everyone else.

Psychology says, ‘When someone is exceedingly critical of the smallest, most trivial things, that means they crave Love most of all.’

Here is a love letter from the Venusian Goddess harmonic of your Higher Self to yourself💌More than you may realise at this moment, you really are still a sweet and kind baby of gentle melodies and fragrant bouquet💐If you’d eventually realise this of yourself wholeheartedly, oh, that would be…

♥︎

SONG: teddy bear by Hamasaki Ayumi

MOVIE: Uptown Girls (2003)

[PAC Masterlist] [Part 2] [Part 3]

[Patreon] [Paid Readings]

☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

Pile 1 – Bubblegum Blue Baby

VIBE: Hatsukoi Shoujo (Singer’s First Love) by Sheena Ringo & Noir by SUNMI

what’s really sweet about you – King of Wands Rx

You’re the type of person who, in spite of your passion and determination, aren’t cruel. You possess a strong character and try to uphold justice everywhere you go. You’re really a courageous fellow with a heart of gold. Baby-blue gold. I see that you’re often the type of friend who cheers other people up; you always have an idea in your mind to make someone else feels better about their darker days. When somebody is lacking courage or confidence in themselves, you’re the one who says, ‘I believe in you, tho! It’s clear to ME you can do it!’

And because you always seem so energetic, confident and capable, people easily believe your words. I think people haven’t told you enough how grateful they are that you’re always cheering them on like that. It’s not that they’re not grateful; it’s that they don’t know how to convey their gratitude properly. You know, sometimes words fail us. Especially when you’re the type of magickal butterfly that attracts naturally a lot of people who are not so confident in themselves. Such people, sometimes they simply don’t know how to utter words of gratitude because not many people in their lives have shown them enough appreciation. You could be, probably, like the ONLY person in their world who shows them appreciation like that!

You’re really so kind and charitable, more than you’ll ever hear from the mouths of other people♥︎

honouring your softness – King of Cups

And I guess, for the most part, such people really see that you’re an authoritative figure in your own respect. Because you appear to them so large and magnanimous, people don’t even suspect that you also have your down days. Certain days, you’re also in the mood for getting praises just like everybody else! But because you don’t get that as much as you’d like, sometimes you get sad. I think you struggle with a little self-loathing (or a sense of being a phoney) every now and then, feeling like you’re not good enough whilst everybody else seems to move ever forward, supported by your encouraging words.

Sometimes you feel envious of others for what they have. They seem to have everything going on a lot easier than you. But baby, stop! This is all your wild assumption. The truth is, people really be trying their best to put up a strong face, to put their best foot forward and come and tell you good news about them, because they want to get praises from you😅Yeah, some things in Life really be tricky like that. As convoluted it gets, this is actually their way of thanking you. You encouraged them before, you gave them so much courage, inspiration and motivation; now they’re doing better and they want to let you know it’s thanks to you! They want you to feel proud of both themselves and the magnanimous ways you’ve cared for them🥲

Well, now that you know… Pretty baby, stop being so sad!🐬

a happily ever after – 7 of Cups

You’re the type of person who, most of the time, has your head in the clouds. This makes you feel ungrounded often. I think you sometimes feel overwhelmed by reality itself. There’s a lot of things you don’t understand and you often feel lost about the meaning of existence and your place in the world. Fret not—you’re hardly a failure. You’re magick, baby💙Magickal beings often find living in the Human world incredibly taxing, so you can be patient with yourself—it’s a group thing LMAO

If anything, it is exactly because you’re a magical being like this that you can be sure you’re going to get everything you want out of Life. As long as you don’t allow yourself to stop dreaming in exchange for being practical! You see, the world really isn’t as linear as you think. So, be confident in who you are and your own personal favourite methods of manifesting. There’s quite nothing in this world you can’t have. You just need to learn to focus on one or two things at a time so you get each thing you want faster⚡️Isn’t so wonderful to be so magickal?

Know that you could be so much happier. You could be so much more spiritually content because your heart really is good. In spite of some things you may believe about your flaws, your Higher Self really doesn’t view you that way. In this world that is a world of chaos where 98% of people are hurting and hurting each other, it’s expected, so it’s not such a big deal. You really are such a kind Soul and your sweetness, your charitable bubbliness, just needs your acknowledgement so you can give yourself more tender care🌸

SWEET GIRL ENTERPRISE🔻💙

quantum glow-up! – Silver Physician (John Dee)

practical self-care tips♥︎ – Priestess of Magick

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☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

Pile 2 – Soft Enterprising Boss

VIBE: Cookie by NewJeans & YEPPI YEPPI by aespa

what’s really sweet about you – Ace of Pentacles

You are a powerhouse of creativity. You’re incredibly smart and resourceful. You’re like an idea bank but you couple that with real, tangible efforts that always produce real results. You have an amazing capability for laser focus and your work ethic is almost inimitable. With that, you’re truly a dependable friend who has a lot to offer those around you. People turn to you for advice, and you always have something valuable to offer. But yeah… that doesn’t mean your input is always appreciated. But that’s not your fault, right?

You need to admit that a lot of people are hopelessly confused. Sometimes, people simply want a friend to confide in and hear their whining. I know you’re almost always there to lend an ear even though it kinda irritates you that people seem so lost, so incapable of helping themselves. You genuinely want to help, but like already mentioned, sometimes all someone needs is a company that listens compassionately. I think you’re good as long as you’re there to be a pillar for someone in need.

So really, you needn’t concern yourself with how that someone will resolve their issues if they, indeed, do not seem that interested in resolving their own issues🤪It’s not like you’re getting paid for caring so much about other people’s personal drama!

honouring your softness – 2 of Pentacles

More than you give yourself credit for, you’re actually a really reasonable person. You’re grounded in reality and able to weigh options more realistically than most people you know. You’re always thinking of pros and cons in your head. That’s wonderfully responsible, of course, but sometimes you could get stuck in a rut when you simply can’t decide. Still, I think you’re such a wonderfully capable person who’s willing to go the distance when your mind’s finally set for a prize.

You’re ambitious and tenacious; no matter the challenge, you’re up for whatever. If it requires lessons, training, complex practices, extensive readings, you can do it all. But hey, stop to breathe a little, will you? The world doesn’t end tomorrow so you needn’t hurry so much, alright? It benefits no one to be so hard on yourself whatever the rewards may be at the end. What’s really exciting about this whole thing is how much you’re enjoying yourself as you gain knowledge and skills. So, I hope you remember this at all times.

As long as you’re having fun, Life’s good, you know. You can’t possibly think that Life’s only gonna get good when you’re at the end of your journey, right?

a happily ever after – 8 of Wands

You are a visionary—admit it. You have amazing ideas and your visions could possibly even change the world. You could become someone profoundly inspirational because there’s a teacher-like quality in you. If you feel that you’re not that good at communicating your ideas, it’s definitely a skill you can polish. You really have got it in you to become an effective speaker, even on a public platform, because your mind is usually quite methodical. Practice is all you need.

Even if you identify as someone shy, or timid, actually you will be so much happier in Life if you could be in the public eye for when you do so, you get to be charitable with your skills and knowledge. When you’re older in Life, you will have gained so much expertise in various disciplines, and if you’re not gonna share with others, how else are you gonna ever feel blessed?

You are a shooting star sent from Mars—or Venus—to teach Humanity a transcendent way of living. I hope you never forget how precious you are just for the fact you’ve reincarnated on Earth in this passage of time😜

SWEET GIRL ENTERPRISE🔻🧡

quantum glow-up! – Green Magus (John Dee)

practical self-care tips♥︎ – Priestess of Fertility

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☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

Pile 3 – New-World Inventor

VIBE: Super Shy by NewJeans & Spicy by aespa

what’s really sweet about you – 4 of Cups

Gosh, you are such a loyal one that sometimes it comes to your detriment. You’re the type of person who could go the extra mile to accompany someone who doesn’t even deserve your compassion. You’re willing to sacrifice a lot to make another person feels less alone even when you’re not getting the same in return. I think you have a noble heart and that’s something clearly valuable. But… I hope you know when to stop giving your support to those who are clearly losers, hopeless cases. There’s only so much you could give to another when your own Cups aren’t getting filled in return.

‘People treat you the way they view you. Be blind if you want.’

I know you don’t want to disappoint because you know how depressing it is to get disappointed. You know first hand all the painful sensations that come with having your trust broken. But the way I see it, you shouldn’t turn your past disappointments into a goody two shoes tendency to please everybody. Are you certain this isn’t just a weird overcompensation that could destroy you in the end? You may wanna check out this concept of a Good Girl Syndrome. Understanding the symptoms could just help you unravel the patterns🧵🪡✂️

honouring your softness – Queen of Pentacles

You are an Old Soul, and it doesn’t matter how young or old you are right now, you have this innate desire to be of service to others. On a profound Soul level, you have this magnanimous energy that makes you want to care and nourish those you come into contact with. You are really a kind person, incredibly generous, to a fault LMAO After all, this Human world is littered with shameless takers who do not set a limit for themselves. You don’t wanna be stupid enough to get drained all the time by ingrates, right?

So, it’s time to stop giving too much of yourself and start affirming that you, too, deserve the company of people who will nourish you as much as you them. If you don’t start reaffirming this daily, it may never manifest, which would be such a shame because you’re so deserving to be blessed with warmth and sweet emotions🥧

a happily ever after – Page of Swords Rx

At the present moment, you may be thinking you’re simply afraid of conflicts and arguments. Heck, you don’t even like feeling other people’s negative emotions. If you were to stand up for yourself, you’re sure everybody would give you a nasty look, or even spew very unkind words to make you feel bad. So you know this and you try to avoid that as much as possible. But that’s got to stop now because when you really think about it, all the chaos and conflicts are WITHIN you. Is that even worth it? Do you think you deserve to live like this?

‘You’re keeping the peace around you, but what about the peace in you?’

I’d like to remind you, you’re really such a smart person. You’re so knowledgeable and actually, if you’re honest, have great desires to be of service to the world. You’re a high-value somebody, so you’re allowed to muster the courage to affirm that you CAN take up space and still maintain your boundaries. Alright? One day you’re going to really change the world. But right now, you need to change your world first.

Don’t be afraid of being seen as a bitch, especially when you know you’re not a bad person🍒Sweet girls can still be SPICY🌶

SWEET GIRL ENTERPRISE🔻💗

quantum glow-up! – Gold Astronomer (John Dee)

practical self-care tips♥︎ – Priestess of Innocence

Access full reading + cards on Patreon🌸

☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

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[jamiesfootball]

Season two of the Ted Lasso rewatch and I am having some string feelings. Some strong feelers. Some shrimp about Ted and Jamie and how Ted really, really struggles between being Coach Shaped and being Dad Shaped when it comes to Jamie, and how Jamie is horrible at discerning either.

(Buckle up this is gonna be a long one)

Because what we start off with in season one is very much a man who is used to being Coach Shaped. He wants the boys to be inspired and to learn about life and to become the best versions of themselves that they can be. All of which could be very Dad Shaped, but in execution they’re not.

He steps back to let people grow, and sometimes that involves letting bullies be bullies so that the true leaders of the group can step up. Sometimes it’s letting Nate roast the other players- quite cuttingly at that - to get the team motivated. He’s directing the orchestra sure, but he’s not in the pit telling people how better to get along. He’s warm and welcoming, and he tries to foster good rapport and encourage people to talk to him and open up. He, dare I say it, actually has boundaries with people. He asked Rebecca in the first episode how she was holding up with the divorce, and when she seemed upset he noted it, offered a little commiseration, and moved right along without making a fuss.

And then he calls Jamie Tartt into his office to give him a compliment sandwich (“you’re a great athlete now pass the fucking ball and then you’ll be a super great athlete okay thanks”) and I think that’s where Ted’s boundary with Jamie first starts to erode. Because Jamie unintentionally ruins his whole fucking script. Jamie’s disaffected act crumbles at the first compliment. He’s sincerely taken aback by Ted’s praise, a little nervous and a little pleading. He breaks the rules of compliment sandwiching by demurring “well I work really hard”, which forces Ted to agree which is in a way TWO compliments, and when Ted tries to push through with his critique, Jamie ends up critiquing himself first about something completely different (“my left cross”), and then Ted has to wrestle them back to the actual critique, and the whole thing is just. Definitely not the ordeal Ted thought it would be.

So from early on we have these two working at cross purposes - because Ted thinks he’s being Coach Shaped, but the Shape he is doesn’t fit any Coach Jamie has ever had.

“what’s he like?”

“Great”

“…….”

“Well great at football”

“Yeah, I’ve know guys like that.”

And in return, Ted has known ‘guys like that’, competent athletes who are a necessary part of the game, but have such egos (“I’m not sure you realize how mentally healthy that is”) that Ted thinks he has to go to his players girlfriend for insight on how to motivate Jamie in the way that Ted needs for team cohesion.

So this is Ted trying to be Coach Shaped and give this kid a wake up call and this kid is so receptive that Ted barely had to lift a finger. But it doesn’t stick.

Ok. So next he attempts to give Jamie a book that he thinks will wake him up to the reality he’s living. He gave them to everyone. He’s still being Coach Shaped. He makes Roy and Jamie sit at the same table and tries to orchestrate a truce. He kinda gets there, but the next episode they’re still at each other’s throats. Jamie listened to Ted about the one in a million / one in eleven thing, but then Jamie ignored it. So he benched him. He’s Coach Shaped; it wasn’t personal.

Except Ted is not has not been anything Coach Shaped that Jamie could recognize, and football really is his life too. So it was very fucking personal. And here’s the first wrinkle in the narrative both of them have been telling themselves, because what does Jamie do? He fakes an injury and benches himself.

If Ted doesn’t think he should play, or doesn’t think that the way he’s playing is correct, then fine- he’ll make them both miserable. He just won’t fucking play. It’s kid logic at its finest. It’s cutting your nose to spite your face. ‘Well you said I wasn’t doing it right, so I won’t do it at all.’

It’s the same shit Jamie pulls on his dad when he leaves Man City to go be a reality tv star.

And it’s the first crack in the veneer between them, because the way Ted loses his shit at Jamie for it is not very Coach Shaped, but it is very very Dad Shaped. And unfortunately it was the sort of Dad Shaped that Jamie did recognize.

It’s the first loss of control Ted has in general, and it’s circling this player that Ted can’t seem to get a grip on.

And then there’s Jamie going to Keeley, and he’s got Manchester on his mind. It’s the first time we’ve heard him talk about the council estate he grew up in, and Keeley is telling him to stop battling people who want to help him. So he goes to the bonfire. And he talks about the fucking footprint his dad left in his wake. And he talks wistfully about his mom being proud. And this isn’t just about opening up to the team, it’s also about Jamie Tartt not battling Ted. Taking a risk that even if Ted isn’t very Coach Shaped, even if he appears closer to Dad Shaped than Jamie would like, whatever Ted is - Jamie is probably safe to be a little honest.

It’s not very Star Athlete With An Ego of him; but it’s very very Son Shaped.

“I was just starting to get through to him.”

Ted’s anger with Rebecca could be Coach Shaped. It could be. But it sure hurt him enough that it’s the first time he’s actually angry with Rebecca. Meanwhile Jamie was so hurt he had to tell everyone who would listen about it. Had to iterate that it was good riddance on being rid of Ted Lasso, because at least Pep was a proper Coach Shaped Coach. Someone who’d drill Jamie on the technicals. Someone who probably never once cared enough to pull him aside and tell him if he did a good job. Someone who probably assumed that’s what Jamie’s dad was for, showing up after matches.

“Good luck out there, Jamie!”

“Fucking mind games.”

Whatever Jamie already thought of Ted as a coach must’ve been rolling in the pit Jamie tried to bury it in, because Coach Shaped men don’t cheer you on when you’re playing for the other team. Pep wouldn’t do it if he still played for Richmond.

And maybe Coach Lasso does it for everyone he coaches. Probably. But it’s a very Dad Shaped thing. And fuck, Jamie’s actual fucking dad doesn’t cheer for him at all when Jamie isn’t playing for Manchester, so how’s Jamie supposed to know what it means?

Then there’s Ted, who just can’t help himself. Who can’t help but see potential in Jamie. And when he sees Jamie after the match, it’s a quick war on whether he should speak to him because in that instance Coach mode and Dad mode are in alignment.

Except reality hits as hard as a boot against the wall, because Jamie has a dad. And it’s not Ted. It’s not someone who’s come to tell him well done, or that he’s proud of the baby steps Jamie has taken, even though he’s been left to walk them alone. It is the opposite of what a father should be, but it’s taken up the mantle. Father Shaped. A thing of fury. A role fulfilled, not looking for new applicants.

Coach wins in that moment. Ted turns and walks away, and Jamie can finally see now in Ted Lasso the Coach Shape he’s familiar with.

Except even that can’t stick around and be familiar can it? Because while no one was looking, the Dad Shape in Ted scribbled him a little message. Left a note in his absence to let him know he was proud. Sent Beard with an army man, someone to lookout for Jamie and keep him safe. I’d say at this point a Ted Lasso couldn’t’ve drawn a line between Coach Shaped and Dad Shaped - this was a matter of pure human empathy, and decency, and an apology in its own way. I’m sorry for the roles we’ve been given. I’m sorry, but please know I care.

He walked away from Jamie and his dad. He didn’t have any obligation to Jamie. There was no more match to be won. Any involvement of Jamie Tartt in Ted’s life coulda woulda should’ve ended there.

“There’s something out there worse than being sad, and that’s being sad and alone. And ain’t nobody in this room alone.”

The look on Jamie’s face in that scene says it all. Because he is alone, but Ted clearly (desperately) doesn’t want him to be.

But being alone is better than being stuck in a room with James Tartt Sr.

Jamie doesn’t go to Ted first after Lust Conquers All. Why would he (think he had the right to)?

The first thing Jamie does do (after Keeley tells him it’s ok to go to Ted) when he meets Ted again is show him the Ted (Danson) Soldier. Ted may have made the gesture, and Jamie may have understood the meaning of it, but he does Not understand Ted. Not this Coach-but-Not-a-Coach. Still Jamie thinks he has the distinction down - what soft underbelly he thinks he needs to bare for this type of Coach to believe him when asks for a chance to come home.

“You were getting good minutes up at City.”

Ted redirects Jamie here in a very Coach Shaped way. He guides Jamie into admitting the real reason why he quit. He hears Jamie out, makes observations about how Jamie coming back would work from a team perspective, and makes only occasional eye contact. This is Ted clinging to a role that he’s used to, the one that comforts him in its ability to help other people.

(If there is something Dad Shaped in that scene, it’s an awful, haunting one. Not the one that Jamie grew up with, but the one that Ted grew up with. The one who took his son to play darts every Sunday for six years, who probably sat next to him and drank beer the way Ted does)

But Ted never set out to be anyone’s dad. He’s their Coach, and he has a responsibility to everyone on his team. It’s nothing personal; he’s just being a Coach.

They clink glasses. Cheers, and best of luck to your future endeavors.

There is something very tired about the way Jamie puts down his beer without taking a sip. He looks lost. He does not look surprised. (How could you have expectations for something you’ve never known? And how come that doesn’t make him feel any better about it?)

We don’t see Jamie after that.

We see Ted at training, worrying about Dr Sharon watching the team he’s made. He worries that she’s getting closer (metaphor). When Sam storms off the field, Ted is startled but relieved to follow. He doesn’t want self examination. He wants to be Coach. He wants to embrace the parts of coaching he’s always loved- helping other people improve and be better.

Sam tells him that he doesn’t want Jamie back on the team, and there’s a split second of relief from Ted because he made the right call.

Then Sam talks about his father, and how his father is grateful for Ted because with Ted around, he knows his son is safe. Because this has nothing to do with being Coach Shaped. Coach Shaped he may be in Sam���s life, but here’s Sam, who is very Son Shaped himself, and his father agreeing that Coach Lasso serves a greater purpose in Sam’s life than just being a supportive motivator. In their mind, in the absence of a father, Ted Lasso will do just fine. He will keep Sam safer than any little green army man.

That’s the final inexorable blurring of the lines for Ted, where the coach finally drops the ball to pay attention to the scraped knees that have been left behind.

Ted calls the Diamond Dogs meeting. Coach Beard and Coach Nate are very Coach Shaped indeed. What about the teamwork, Ted? “He’s the poop in the punch bowl.” Leslie is for bringing him back, but it’s for football reasons. It makes managerial sense.

But none of it means anything to Ted because at that moment he can not find it in himself to be Coach Shaped.

“I thought it was settled, but Sam went and unsettled it.”

“He reminded me that not everyone is lucky enough to have a good dad.”

“In sports aren’t we always on about second chances? Shouldn’t that apply to people too?”

This is not Coach Shaped. In some ways it’s not even Dad Shaped. But it is caring, and empathy, and wanting an excuse, any excuse, to try again. It is Love Shaped.

Ted Lasso is a coach to his team and a dad to a great little boy down in Kansas, and for Jamie Tartt he can try to fit on a third extra thing. Whatever that thing is called. Neither of them know what that thing is called. They’re too familiar with Coaches and too unfamiliar with Dads to know the difference.

[tlcartist]

I cannot stress enough how much I appreciate JJBA's willingness to explore morally grey characters, especially as the series progresses. At the end of the day, this facet of a character is what keeps me engaged, because you have an (often) deeply flawed person doing their best to achieve their goals, protect the people they care about, and to survive. I genuinely don't think it'd have the same effect if this series was full of Perfect Heroes.

JoJo protagonists (with the exception of Jonathan but I'll discuss that in another post), are messy. Yes they're strong and brave and have a sense of justice but they're also rude, con artists, manipulative, and hurt/kill people as they see fit. And honestly? I love it. I wouldn't have them any other way. It humanizes them. It transforms characters who essentially have superhuman or even godlike abilities and makes them relatable. They struggle with guilt, regret, shame, and anger just like anyone else. They have damaging coping mechanisms. They sometimes take their frustrations out on people who don't deserve it. They're fucked up just like a regular person.

The whole point of this is creating a world where there are no true Good Guys. Everyone's hands are dirty. AND YET, in spite of all of this they still have good hearts. This series could have very easily taken a turn in the other direction and gone the nihilistic route but it doesn't. JoJo could have become a series full of nothing but characters who are only motivated for selfish reasons but it isn't. Not to be cliche, but, at it it's core JoJo is a series about love and friendship and protecting it at any cost. It understands that the connections we have with each other are stronger than any stand. That no matter how fucked up a protagonist or supporting character is they still have the potential to do good. This is a story where, at the end of the day, love will always prevail and I think that's pretty damn wonderful.

[l0stfoster]

You said traced and my first thought went to like—tracked/stalked and I was *very* worried. But you mean like the art sort of traced

I’m so sorry anon but your ask is gonna be the base in my post about this because it made me giggle right before getting into the shower. Have been stalked before but thankfully that’s not the situation here!

I do meant the art way yep, big thanks to @idealess-at-this for bringing it to my attention you have full permission to get a free commission from me bc I’m very thankful that someone bought it up to me 🕺

My first time being traced too I’m giggling, never thought my art was good enough to be stolen like that, so I’m as flattered as I am offended. Seriously,,,, what. Whitewashing Two as well 😭 The gall.

I’ve been slowly working on the full lineup designs but out of spite I’m finishing Soda and Two-Bit and posting them today or tomorrow because pettiness is a strong motivator

Let it be known, @h0n3y-bee I’m,,, honestly surprised you have the courage to follow me and then pull this, was fully expecting this to be one of the many no-profile-accounts that follow me.

Apparently, you’ve done this to another artist on here as well, because they’ve made a similar post about you in the past.

You’re 17 my guy,,, this is honestly just kind of pathetic? It’s also real bold to go about stealing from people while leaving everything relating to your irl life public and connected to it as well, I fear you need a lesson on internet safety sometime in school, and I’m saying this out of genuine concern too lmao.

I barely use my instagram as it is (self promo go follow me @/totally.here & @/faltser) so I’ll take a bit to figure out how to go about reporting the stuff, but it would be nice if anyone else who has the chance to report it could try and do that?? I’ll figure it out on my own eventually, though.

Also this is not an excuse to go and witch-hunt this person or anything. I do not condone that kind of behavior.

On that note, I get to make a TikTok off of this so there’s a plus!

[desmon1995]

Luther's Echo of Chaos: How Incel Fantasies Fueled the Alt-Right Machine

Luther, in The Warriors (1979), was never meant to be anything big. He’s a pipsqueak villain—the kind of guy who creates chaos for the fun of it, then hides when the real action happens. His "that's it?" motivation feels almost disappointing, like finding out the monster is just some loud kid throwing a tantrum. He’s a symptom of the world around him, a reflection of how gang culture exploits and then spits out the very people it pulls in, but ultimately, Luther is more noise than threat. It’s not until 2024 that his character takes on a new, darker meaning.

In this reimagining, Luther isn’t just a chaotic brat. He’s a mirror to something deeply unsettling in our present-day society. He’s become the embodiment of the modern-day white incel and alt-right figurehead. A character who was once irritatingly one-dimensional now speaks directly to the dark undercurrents that have woven their way through the cultural landscape, especially after the 2024 election. In a world where certain voices get louder, Luther is louder than ever—and maybe even scarier.

In the original, Luther kills Cyrus just because he can. In 2024, he does it for a deeper reason. This time, it’s because Cyrus is a Black woman, a powerful Don whose unity-focused movement is chipping away at the very power structure Luther depends on. Her existence threatens him, but not just because she’s strong—because her power undermines the twisted worldview he clings to. Luther’s world depends on certain people being at the top, and in his mind, there’s no room at the top for a Black woman with that kind of influence. He’s willing to destroy her to keep his worldview intact, and he’ll scapegoat anyone to cover his tracks, starting with another Black woman he points to as a “convenient” enemy.

Luther is the ultimate 2020s grifter, not so different from today’s alt-right influencers. He’s manipulative, charismatic to those who follow him, and devoid of empathy. He leans into dog whistles and open racism, mocking the African American Vernacular English that Cyrus uses and reducing her to “girl,” a colonialist insult meant to deny her authority. His gang, the Rogues, doesn’t just follow him out of fear—they respect his audacity. They look up to him the way followers of today’s grifters look up to people who “say it like it is,” often without realizing the hate they’re consuming.

In a way, Luther’s story is timeless. White supremacy has always thrived on fear and the ability to dehumanize those who threaten its hold. It weaponizes trauma and division, and Luther—true to form—gets a kick out of watching other people destroy each other. His destruction of Cyrus’s vision keeps her community fractured and ensures people like him can stay on top.

But here’s the thing: even though Luther stands in the way of progress, he’s not invincible. Sure, he benefits from society’s structures that tell him he’s entitled to power and control. But he’s ultimately hollow. The moment someone confronts him—someone he can’t manipulate or scare into silence—he falls apart. Luther, like so many grifters, only has a facade of power. His strength lies in others’ fear and in the illusion of control. Strip that away, and he’s just another scared man clinging to relevance.

The scary part is that Luther's simplicity is what makes him so believable. Today’s culture often demands complex villains with tragic backstories, thanks to our obsession with “realism” in media. But let’s be real—people do horrible things all the time, often for no reason deeper than greed, fear, or pure, unchecked spite. Sometimes the simplest villains—the ones who hurt others because they can, not because they’re misunderstood—are the truest reflection of the world we live in.

Luther’s lack of complexity isn’t a flaw. It’s his most horrifying feature. And in a world where “freedom” often seems to mean “freedom to harm,” he’s the edgelord fantasy of a culture that wants power without consequence. But the thing about edgelords? They’re not immortal. Despite everything, progress keeps moving forward, bit by bit. And for Luther, that’s the one truth he can never destroy.

I think nothing encapsulates Luther more than his villain song "Going Down"

Luther unironically describes himself as a "Shooting Star"

Think about what a shooting star really is: a bright flash, blinding for a moment, but fleeting. And that’s the irony here—Luther’s convinced he’s this powerful, almost mythic warning to others. He believes his trajectory is like some epic, fiery descent. But as he sings about it, you realize he’s just a flash in the pan, a self-proclaimed symbol who’s ultimately bound to fade.

The brilliance here is that Luther doesn't even see it. He thinks he's part of this eternal constellation, when really, he's just passing by, burning up, destined to disappear. It’s like the lyrics give him this false grandeur, this sense that he’s important and tragic and somehow eternal. But the whole metaphor undercuts him: he’s just a momentary blaze that’ll flicker out long before anyone can even remember he was there.

[mywitchyblog]

Little Rant

One of the most powerful sources of motivation in my life is spite. While it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of motivation, I genuinely believe that spite can be incredibly effective in driving action and perseverance. It’s an often underrated force, but when harnessed correctly, it can fuel you to achieve things you never thought possible.

In my content creation, I find that spite plays a dual role. On one hand, I genuinely want to uplift and educate people, sharing knowledge and perspectives that can help others grow and expand their understanding. On the other hand, there’s a part of me that’s driven by a desire to challenge and provoke—to make people think harder and question the status quo. Sometimes, that means making people uncomfortable or challenging their deeply held beliefs, especially when those beliefs are rooted in ignorance or prejudice. It's about making them confront their biases to the point where their limited thinking is forced to evolve—or at the very least, be exposed.

This is particularly relevant when it comes to some of my most talked-about topics, like age and race changing. These are subjects that tend to provoke strong reactions, often negative, especially from people who cling to rigid and outdated ideas. For example, there are those who claim that changing race is inherently wrong or that altering one's age is a sign of something sinister. When I challenge these notions and point out the logical fallacies in their arguments, the response is rarely a thoughtful counter-argument. Instead, it often devolves into personal attacks and "ad hominem" fallacies—insults that do nothing to address the actual points being made.

One of the biggest examples of an ad hominem attack I’ve encountered was when someone reacted to my post about race changing. Their only response was, "Did you write it using ChatGPT?"—as if one of my writing tools somehow invalidated the arguments I came up with. They didn’t even attempt to provide a counter-argument or engage with the content of my post. It’s a classic case of dodging the issue and attacking the person instead of addressing the actual points. Do better (not that you seem capable, unfortunately).

What I find particularly striking is that, despite the strong opinions, I’ve yet to encounter a well-reasoned argument against race changing that accurately addresses why it’s wrong. As a person of color, this issue is especially relevant to me, yet the opposition I see frequently comes from individuals who don’t share my lived experiences—often white people who have no stake in the matter telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. They’ll throw around terms like "DNI" , "I dont wanna argue with you" "if you support race changing block me" or brand me as a bad person without engaging in any meaningful dialogue. It proves that they are cowards, pathetic and that their claims hold no weight and reeks of insecurity.

If you hold such strong opinions, you should be able to defend them with proper and well-reasoned arguments, rather than resorting to straw man and ad hominem fallacies. Engaging in meaningful dialogue requires an open mind and a willingness to confront different perspectives with logic and evidence, not with dismissive tactics like "DNI" (Do Not Interact), "Block Me if you support Race Changing," or refusing to engage in discussion. When someone immediately shuts down a conversation with these phrases, it often reveals that they know their position is weak, and instead of addressing the flaws in their reasoning, they choose to avoid the discussion altogether.

This kind of behavior is not only intellectually dishonest but also counterproductive. By refusing to engage, they miss the opportunity to learn, grow, and potentially refine their views. Instead, they cling to their beliefs while metaphorically taking a swim in the Egyptian River—denial. It’s easier to block out dissenting voices than to confront the possibility that you might be wrong, but this approach only serves to reinforce ignorance and close-mindedness.

If you truly believe in the strength of your convictions, you should be willing to test them against opposing viewpoints. Healthy debate and respectful discourse are essential for the development of well-rounded and defensible opinions. So, instead of hiding behind fallacies and avoidance tactics, why not step up and engage in a real discussion? That’s the only way to prove the validity of your beliefs—or to recognize when they need to be reconsidered.

Adding to the hypocrisy, I’ve observed a significant and troubling pattern among some people of color (POC) who are vocal about being offended when others shift to a different ethnicity or race. These individuals often position themselves as gatekeepers of racial identity, asserting that certain identities are off-limits for others to adopt or explore. They argue that shifting into a different race or ethnicity is a form of cultural appropriation or even a denial of the struggles that people of that ethnicity face. However, what’s particularly striking—and frankly, hypocritical—is that many of these same individuals don’t hesitate to engage in their own forms of identity shifting, sometimes even changing their race, gender, or entire species.

For instance, these individuals might shift into non-human identities like vampires, werewolves, or fantasy creatures, embracing an entirely different existence without any apparent concern for the implications justifying it as a form of escapism or exploration. Yet, when someone else attempts to shift into their own ethnicity or race, they react with outrage, claiming that such actions are inherently wrong or offensive. This double standard is not only contradictory but also reveals a deeper inconsistency in their reasoning.

The core issue here is that these individuals fail to recognize the inconsistency in their arguments. If it’s acceptable for them to explore their identities by shifting into something they aren’t naturally—be it a different species, gender, or being an actor singer basically something they are not in this reality—why is it suddenly problematic when others do the same? The fundamental logic behind shifting, whether it involves race, species, or any other aspect of identity, is rooted in the idea that identity is fluid subjective and personal. Shifting allows individuals to explore different facets of themselves or experience life from a different perspective. To claim that some forms of shifting are valid while others are not, based solely on who is doing it or which identity is being adopted, is to engage in a form of gatekeeping that undermines the very concept of identity exploration.

Moreover, the hypocrisy becomes even more apparent when considering the intent behind these shifts. Most people who shift into a different race or ethnicity do so out of curiosity, a desire to understand another culture, or simply to experience life through a different lens. Their intentions are not malicious, and they often approach the experience with respect and a genuine interest in learning. On the other hand, the outrage expressed by those who condemn such shifts often lacks a similarly respectful or thoughtful basis. Instead, it tends to be reactionary, rooted in a desire to control how others express their identities rather than a legitimate concern for cultural sensitivity.

This double standard not only weakens their arguments but also perpetuates a divisive and exclusionary mindset. By insisting that certain identities are off-limits, these individuals reinforce the very barriers they claim to oppose. They create an environment where identity becomes something to be policed rather than explored, where the freedom to express oneself is curtailed by arbitrary rules and judgments. This approach ultimately stifles the potential for genuine understanding and empathy between different groups, as it discourages people from engaging with cultures or identities that are not their own.

Furthermore, this hypocrisy can have a chilling effect on the broader discourse around identity and shifting. When people see that certain shifts are met with hostility, they may become reluctant to explore their own identities or share their experiences for fear of backlash. This not only limits personal growth but also hinders the development of a more inclusive and empathetic community where people feel free to explore and express themselves without fear of judgment.

The reality is that identity is complex and multifaceted, and shifting is a way for individuals to navigate that complexity. It’s a deeply personal process that can be motivated by a wide range of factors, from a desire for self-discovery to a need for escapism or healing. To arbitrarily declare that some forms of shifting are acceptable while others are not is to ignore the diverse motivations and experiences that drive people to explore different aspects of their identity.

The truth is, there is no such thing as multiple "races" within humanity. The concept of race is a social construct, not a biological fact. If we were truly different species/race, as some might suggest, then bi/multiracial individuals wouldn’t exist. Genetically, we’re all far too similar for such divisions to hold any scientific weight. So, to argue that changing race is somehow fundamentally wrong is to ignore both the science and the lived realities of millions of people who embody the diversity of the human experience.

In conclusion, the hypocrisy displayed by some POC who condemn race shifting while engaging in similar practices themselves only serves to undermine their arguments. It reveals a fundamental inconsistency in their reasoning and perpetuates a divisive mindset that stifles the freedom to explore identity. If shifting is to be truly respected as a personal and valid form of self-expression, it must be recognized as such for everyone, regardless of the specific identity being explored. Respect, empathy, and open-mindedness should guide our discussions on these topics, rather than rigid rules and double standards that only serve to limit understanding and growth.

In the end, my content serves a dual purpose: it’s here to educate and inspire, but it’s also here to challenge, provoke, and yes—sometimes, to spite those who refuse to engage in meaningful and open-minded discussion. Because sometimes, a little bit of spite is exactly what’s needed to shake people out of their complacency and make them think.

My Masterlist for those who wish to see my stance on it :

P.S.: I’m all for debate, discussion, and divergence of opinion—only if they are presented in a decent and respectful way. Don’t even try to debate with me if you pull up with ad hominem or straw man fallacies; you’re not worth my time and, quite frankly, it’s pathetic.

[bonebabbles]

God the new ultimate guide sucks

It's not JUST the awful art, either. The art's just worth mentioning because even if the book's info had been terrible or contained nothing new, really cute art can make it still worth having.

But, no, it's even full of recycled lines we've been hearing for years like "Bramblestar Can Match Squirrelflight's Fire Not Contain It," and that's when it DOES get everything right. These entries leave out major, important details (making them bad summaries) and are sometimes even straight-up incorrect.

SUMMARY THOUGHTS

Leafpool is said to have watched Brambleclaw kill Hawkfrost to save Firestar-- but for one, no, she was not there because Ashfur was still leading her and Squilf towards the scene. For two, no, Brambleclaw did not kill Hawkfrost just to save Firestar, it was self-defense. Hawkfrost had him pinned and was going to kill him.

They're REAL cute about Leafpool's death, too, neglecting to mention WHY the Sisters needed to be saved at all and just saying Leafpool's "generosity" lead to her death in that cave-in.

I'm not even going to get into everything on Bramble's entry jesus christ.

Sagewhisker's entry is ESPECIALLY fucken' dandy, framing Yellowfang's Secret like she was simply waiting patiently for Yellow to realize her 'destiny' and not actively shoving it on her at every opportunity.

Leopardstar's entry states that romantic interest in Tigerstar was part of her motivation. "Perhaps she'd hoped he would be her mate" please speak to a woman irl for once in your life.

Gray Wing's entry forgot that the reason he "blamed himself" for Bright Stream's death is because he was literally staring at his big strong brother too much and tripped on a root in front of him. It IS his fault she died.

Clear Sky/Skystar's entry is just obscene. "He regretted abandoning his son and after a fire, he encouraged him to live with him" instead of "saw his teenage child was useful now and bullied and belittled the kid and his uncle into letting Thunder come with him." "Retaining his fierceness towards his cats and outsiders which caused his son to leave" instead of "murdering, brutalizing, and abusing everyone around him caused Thunder to leave." I'll just say this tho; "Fierce" is an interesting way to spell "Cruel."

It's interesting that they don't point out that a major part of Jagged Peak's arc was proving he was "Just As Good" as every other cat in spite of his disability, thanks to his introduced-and-pregnant-in-the-same-book wife becoming his life coach, only earning Clear Sky's respect after being allowed to physically lead a patrol in Blazing Star. Instead they frame him finding his place through taking care of kits, which... was something he seemed to resent in the actual series, considering how the books suddenly treat Gray Wing's protective treatment of him as a terrible thing in Blazing Star because he "didn't give him a chance". But at the same time I actually strongly dislike Jagged Peak and his messy, frustrating character arc so I'm not really UPSET with it. Just... noting it. I suppose this is the official direction they're taking away from it?

Shadowstar's entry is barely even 3 paragraphs yikes.

SHORT STORY THOUGHTS

And if you're wondering if the 4 brand new stories they smooshed into the end in a desperate attempt to make the rush job worth buying are good? No. Of course not. They're all slop.

Story 1: Firestar and Graystripe

First one's a marginally cute story about Graystripe and Firestar which is setting up the framing device linking the mini-tales together. They both remember this situation where Firestar fell into a ditch wrong. The punchline is that Thunderstar remembers it perfectly and they're both like, "WOW! Too bad Thunderstar's memory sucks!"

It's not terrible, but it does feel a bit pointless. But, hey, if you want more Firestar and Graystripe in the series that tosses them fanservice at every turn, who am I to judge?

Story 2: Dovewing and Ivypool

The next one is the Dovewing/Ivypool reconciliation passage everyone's talking about. It's... fine, but immensely dissatisfying to me.

Dovewing is apparently having problems adjusting to her Clan, grapples a little bit with the fact she has no friends but is going to be finding meaning in helping tigerHeartstar "bring the new ShadowClan into existence." She ultimately decides that she needs to talk to her sister, and begs for reassurance that Ivypool believes in her, feeling that her support can help her get through this difficult time in her life.

I think its biggest problem is that Dovewing was not the right choice for the POV here.

Dove was never the one responsible for the rift in their relationship. Ivypool is. Ivypool is the one who was jealous, willing to sabotage anything that would put Dovewing closer to Tigerheart, and continues to be generally aggressive towards her. So when Dovewing is reaching out to Ivypool in hopes of them reconciling, it feels wrong because Ivypool is the one that should be reaching out to Dovewing. SHE is the one who has some things to apologize for, and to show how much she loves and misses her.

It's even kind of frustrating, because Dovewing can never catch a break. She has to have these problems to force her to reach out, Ivypool even ends up suggesting that she leave and come home and take her kids with her, but in the end even a LITTLE bit of assurance from her aggressive sister helps.

I feel super bad for Dovewing, man. She deserves better than this cheap writing. What was the point of such an unsatisfying, rushed reconciliation, shoved into a crummy field guide, when we KNOW from the newest book that they're just going to use tension between them as part of the drama anyway?

shouldn't have even been written, imo. Even ends off with, "They'll always have each other :)" which is so... cliche. It's TIRED. Are any of you really happy with just getting a retconned platitude in a good-for-nothing field guide, instead of seeing complicated, INTERESTING feelings in a main book?

Story 3: Alderheart and Twigbranch

A tale of Cherryfall getting sick during TBC and Alderheart sneaks back into the territory to treat her. Also Crowfeather has a scene where he yells at him. Charming.

Twigbranch comes up with a diversion while Alderheart does his work, which is cute. It's a fine story.

Story 4: Clear Sky

Trash. Three dogs spawn in the middle of a gathering so that Skystar can have an uwu big boy sendoff saving his grandkit. Then he goes to StarClan and throws a fit because they can't give him ANOTHER life, becoming so upset that he attacks the nearest woman. Naturally, Shadowstar brushes it off because it's not the first time Clear Sky has pummeled her in the midst of an adult tantrum and this book series thinks violence is fine if their favorite sadboy does it.

Then Gray Wing brings him to the magic mirror pool where you can see the living, to confirm that Star Flower is ok and that makes him feel better.

Then it launches into Firestar saying "ouuuugh yum I LOVE the taste of his butthole. Clear Sky is so misunderstood, He Just Loved Too Much."

to which Graystripe responds, "Yes, he was a good and amazing person and his farts smells SO good, and can you believe that some people think StarClan punished his Clan for his arrogance? As if he ever did anything wrong, ever?"

Firestar, indignant, refutes it with, "Ugh!! StarClan would NEVER be interesting, we don't punish living cats we just float around and make vague, frustrating prophecies that do nothing but pad the word count. Why cant ppl understand that, gosh."

who wrote this? Gray Wing??

[abstract-moth]

Thinking about the scroll and the fact that Gloreth is portrayed as an adult in full armor

but Nimona is a child

Ambrosius says the scroll was in the Institute vault for a thousand years. So chances are it was made by or directly based off the primary witnesses, possibly even Gloreth herself. So why is Gloreth an adult and Nimona a child?

Gloreth being an adult actually makes a lot of sense. Even though the witnesses present must have known Gloreth was a child at the time. Based on the timeline we know, 1,000 years ago was sometime after the incident possibly when Gloreth was training the knights and building the wall. Aging Gloreth up would strengthen the building ideology and better the propaganda. A strong knight fighting against a monster makes a very good reason for both founding the Institute and closing off the kingdom.

Whoever made the scroll also took creative liberties and made Nimona to be a big scary beast, which was not present at all in the original incident.

But then why was Nimona’s core portrayed as a child? 

Children are commonly perceived as innocent and sympathetic, keeping this truth could undermine the very ideology the scroll was trying to promote. So why not age her up too? Or remove the child from and simply keep the big scary beast? In fact the version we are told at the start of the movie, likely the version that survived a thousand years, does remove Nimona’s child form entirely.

So why did the scroll include it in the first place? Someone must have intentionally chose to retain that part of the story. In spite of the propaganda and twisting truth finding its way into the original, they decided that Nimona being a child was important enough to remain. What could’ve possibly been their motivation? Was it so that other people could recognize Nimona in the future? Was it an attempt to portray her shapeshifting nature? Or was it so that in spite of everything they could remember that at the heart, Nimona is a child?

Did Gloreth see this scroll?

Could she have made it?

[meariluna]

For my baby witches, your curiosity of the craft must be so fun. Explore the craft, learn as much as your heart desires but PLEASE do not forget to ground yourself. Not every witch is your friend, unfortunately, and that is due to a lack of maturity. You learn as you grow.

Witchcraft and spirituality go hand in hand. As you heal your spirit, your energy grows and your priorities as a witch change. Make sure to ground yourself, meditate, and make sure to focus on yourself more than others.

Sometimes we might think outside sources are poisonous or cursing us when in reality it could be our own selves that need healing and growth. As you heal your past lives through disciplined meditation and grounding techniques your power will be stronger and your presence a natural repellent for emotional vampires and petty hexes.

For example, I attended a vampire ball last year and a spiteful woman who I barely spoke to throughout the event attempted to hex me. I felt this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach causing me incredible nausea until I arrived to my hotel room. A friend who accompanied me wore a protection necklace that snapped the moment I felt off. We left immediately. I took off all my clothes as soon as I got to my hotel room, cleansed, sat on the ground, took deep breaths, and cleared my head of all thoughts. Grounding looks different for everyone but if it weren’t for the strong presence and protection I had built over time for myself I would have ended up feeling a lot worse. Her attempt was unsuccessful in every aspect.

This woman complimented my appearance a few time throughout the night and tried to make herself seem friendly but I am loyal to my gut feelings and made sure to be safe while enjoying my night. You never know when things may go awry.

Baby witches, prioritize protection. Enjoy the craft but do not place emphasis on spells or any sort of energy manipulation without thoroughly researching the process. In order to take, you must give. That is the law of nature. That is how the universe keeps its balance. Life is death, death is life. Truly contemplate before working your craft and ask yourself:

“What is my motivation for this work? Am I fueled by my ego or by my higher self? Does this work resonate or am I allowing my emotions to control me? Have I meditated enough?”

Chances are if you don’t have the desire to meditate before working, the intent may not be the best. You will naturally wish to prepare for grand work when it feels right intuitively.

Turn to your tarot cards. What is spirit’s message for you? What do your guides wish to convey? Be open to receive positive or negative feedback before making any emotionally charged decisions.

A pendulum is also an amazing tool. Use with caution and make sure you know who you’re speaking to.

Cleanse your energy. Use crystals, moon water, bask in sunlight, distance yourself from society and go walk in nature. Feel the ground with your hands and feet. Move to music with healing frequencies, move the way your body wishes to with no judgement. These are all incredibly simple yet effective ways to ground yourself and release negative energy.

Hope this helps you guys. I’m so happy you’ve begun your journey. There is so much to learn. Be safe on your travels.

[astrolovecosmos]

~Libra Season~

A sign that is known for being lovely yet deceitful, shallow yet also surprisingly strategic, insightful, and potentially jealous, spiteful, or determined. Libra is associated with the surface-level, but they also encompass the idea of "more than meets the eye". A lot of Libra's stereotypes revolve around more shallow ideas, but below I've explored 3 major traits that help illustrate the complexities of the scales.

Objectivity: Libra is known for being unbiased, fair, and about equality. They are usually easygoing and level-headed. They have a strong sense of justice and are usually more logical than emotional or brash. This can be attributed to their association with intellect, balance, and the general detachment and observational side of the air element. But there are many reasons astrologers have claimed are the main motivators for Libra's pursuit of harmony, balance, and peace. Some may cite their people pleasing nature, a fear of conflict, pressure, or flaws, an urge to always find the middle ground from an analytical standpoint, or a great need to connect and understand. Their idea of balance may also be deeply rooted in ideas of balancing two extremes, strengths and weaknesses, balancing stressful and restful times in life, a need to balance to reach self-awareness or self-protection. With all of these different motivators I think it is still worth remembering, sometimes their objectivity comes from a useful ability to rely on facts while also taking into account all sides of a situation, the ability to be open to new ideas and info.

Romantic: Most know Libra as a romantic and charming sign. They are associated with partnerships, dating, and marriage. Libra is about cooperation and avoiding conflict and flaws. Their easygoingness and longing for connection and harmony aligns with their romantic side. They have a sensitive side that admires beauty both literally and abstractly. Libra can be deep in their love and romance - finding growth and understanding from others or meaning through the excitement and mystery in the everyday. Libra can also be frivolous in their romance - approaching dating and fun with a hedonistic attitude, becoming socially competitive, living by vanity, or always staying light and detached. Romance for Libra is not always related to relationships, it may also be related to romancing their lives, hobbies, or interests.

Artistic: Libra is usually labeled with the trait of being "artistic". While this sign can be very intellectual and logical, it can also be imaginative and creative. However Libra is usually pinned with the phrase "artistic" more so than talented or imaginative. Libra may have a connection to the arts due to their connection to beauty, leisure, and culture. The "aesthetic" side of art is a common interest for them. But they may also try to live as an artist by enjoying the small or unusual things, taking time to indulge and relax, being romantic and soft, being curious, and experiencing both the shallow and deep side of people and life. Libra is an air sign and has a level of detachment to them. They may struggle to understand and process their emotions. But through art Libra may find emotional understanding and processing. Many air signs find themselves attracted to or fascinated by artistic pursuits for this very reason. Practicing their art may also help Libra to sharpen their social intuition. Maybe help them balance intellect vs. emotion.

[josnhoes]

Delicious in Dungeon knak idea... Give the reader a slingshot and make them a good shot. Aim for the eyes of any non slime or plant monster; head shots for all 👀

Content warnings Canon style violence

Chilchuk was the one to give you the sling shot. He knew it would at most buy you time should you be in a fight and have to engage. But really the entire group preferred the idea of you hidden away from the monsters. Truly he and Senshi would have preferred getting you back to the surface. A child of any race didn't belong in a dungeon. But their mission is time sensitive so they can't take you back. But they couldn't abandon you either.

The slingshot chilchuk gave you was old, and if you asked him why he'd explain that as a child you don't have a lot of strength to pull back the sling so an older more worn in one would be easier. You'd get stronger, probably graduate to a newer one. If you ended up with them long enough.

No one expected your aim to be any good. Liaos commenting on how being new at it you might hit one of them. That night while being taught, you showed him just how powerful spite could be as a motivator. And if you feigned a few small misfires to knock the man in the head he didn't notice. Everyone else did but no one complained. You didn't hurt Liaos after all just gave him a couple tiny bruises. He got worse from his own armor sometimes.

They still all try to keep you out of battle. Keeping you in the back with Marcille when they can. But the cover fire you help with while not strong enough to kill yet you do make openings; which is just as valuable to them.

[vampire-crimson]

Concept for a Sonic role swap AU: Shadow -> Tails -> Amy

Shadow, in this AU, is not the ultimate life form, but is instead Sonic's best friend. (Or whoever Sonic is swapped with) When younger, Shadow was bullied, resulting in his signature cynical personality. He began to admire Sonic when Sonic defended him from bullies. From then on, Shadow would hang out with Sonic whenever he could, earning his nickname from "being Sonic's shadow." Originally, Sonic disliked this nickname for his friend, but Shadow eventually reclaimed it.

In spite of their close friendship, they still tend to butt heads quite frequently. Shadow's negative attitude doesn't always mesh super well with Sonic's own views. Shadow in this AU, since he is not the ultimate life form, is not as fast or strong as Sonic. This is what leads to Shadow starting to use weapons and his signature skates. After the events of Sonic Riders (or whatever the equivalent is in this AU), Shadow trades his wheels for Extreme Gear.

Shadow's character arc involves him living less in Sonic's shadow, being more independent, and also becoming a brighter version of himself as time goes on. Shadow, in this AU, is decidedly a good guy (unlike in the main series where he started evil and his motives are still usually mysterious after that), however both his personality and his methodology sometimes lead him to doing the "dirty work" that Sonic does not always approve of. Shadow's collaboration with Tails and frequent interactions with supernatural and alien forces eventually enable Shadow to replace his conventional weaponry with similar-looking, less lethal alternatives.

Tails in this AU is a mostly-average city boy who works in his own mechanic shop. In his spare time, he makes inventions, but this is a much smaller part of his life than before. He is still friends with Sonic, and has a one-sided brotherly affection for him, always trying to get Sonic to settle down or at least stay for dinner… which Sonic is unfortunately too energetic and adventurous for. Tails is the heart of the friend group, and his boy-next-door personality means he easily makes friends and helps others open up.

He also has a hidden sneaky streak—after G.U.N. recognizes how often Tails helps Sonic, more and more G.U.N. employees just so happen to start visiting the shop more often. Completely coincidentally, nothing to do with surveillance at all. (It helps that Tails is one of the best mechanics around, so for the G.U.N. members, this duty is actually something of a privilege.) His amicable personality makes it easy for his customers to open up around him, and so Tails is frequently able to act as an informant to Sonic and friends. Tails is also the one who made Shadow's Extreme Gear for him. Paradoxically, Tails sees more of Shadow than Sonic, and is mildly jealous of him for their close friendship, but never lets that get in the way of Tails' and Shadow's own friendship.

Tails dreams of traveling the world, and eventually the galaxy, to learn more about others' use of technology. He also hopes to one day be able to work as an inventor fully, instead of it just being his hobby. As such, he is always overjoyed to be able to join Sonic and friends on their adventures, and they in turn view his talents as an incredible asset. In the meanwhile, he is perfectly content to remain a part of his city's community, and help others where he can with his own abilities.

Amy is now the ultimate life form. In addition to the Chaos powers, her own magical abilities are much more prominent than in the original story, and she is much faster and stronger. Her hammer is now made with alien technology enhanced by Gerald Robotnik, and responds to the world around her. She can also channel her powers through it to enhance their effects. (In essence, her powers resemble a mix between the original Shadow's powers, and something similar to Silver's powers, with some more witch-y imagery thrown in for good effect.) Amy wears a ribbon on hear headband that was gifted to her by Maria, and justifies her girly interests as living the life she believes Maria would have wanted to live together.

She originally views Sonic as an enemy, but over time comes to see him as more of a rival. These feelings, and her recognition of his kindness, heroics, and freedom of self, also lead to her infatuation with him. However, she values their friendship too much to actively pursue him, and so keeps her crush on the back burner, admiring him from a distance. Amy is extremely competitive and surprisingly fierce, and you do not want to get on her bad side. After recovering from her initial amnesia, she is an incredibly good-willed person who values her friendships. Her work with G.U.N. sometimes seemingly puts her on the opposite side of a battle as Sonic, further enabling their rivalry, but in the end she is always firmly on his side. She's good at finding loopholes so that she can follow both her orders and her heart. She can also be critical of others, but does so because she genuinely cares about them and wants them to improve. She struggles with speaking out of turn, and her rank within G.U.N. is mostly due to her ability and achievement rather than her personality or "following orders," a status that she's perfectly happy with.

[bunji-enthusiast]

I haven't been passionate about the thing's I've been trying to write lately, but if there's anyone on here who wants to yap with me about the possibilities and scenarios on the events of gun grave gore and how reader can coincide with their involvement is welcome to chat me up!

The excursions made to eradicate SEED were continuously debilitating, but the end result was no less worth it to see how beautifully the people and the environment affected can recover. Your body just felt positively worn out after the thousands of hours of working – well you were exaggerating of course, but you sometimes couldn’t help but think how Brandon (or otherwise, Grave) was thinking and feeling about it all. 

Surely, even with a body that he truly tries his hardest to keep clean and inhabit, that he is taking nearly the brunt of everything after all. How can he continue to keep moving? You had no idea, but his will to move forward had in turn motivated you to do the same. Even alongside Mika, the young woman was incredibly amazing and strong despite all that she no doubt experienced. 

She never deserved it of course, Mika should never have to pay for being born in the circumstances where the empire of the underworld suddenly fell apart so soon. All she wants to do is help, and in a way – reminded you so much of her daddy, Caldwell. He was quite the kind and paternal man even in spite of the bloody crimes committed, just like him she will do everything in her power to ensure the betterment for the interests of everyone involved. You simply wonder when the day comes that you will fully exterminate the SEED completely, one can only guess-supposedly. 

Letting out a begrudging sigh you walked back to the airship, rolling your neck and popping your still-sore bones. At the back, opening up the entrance to the ship greeting you was Cheni Angel. She greeted you with a wave of her crystalline hand, almost reminding you of the unfortunate circumstances. Goddamn, she was better than you. By now you would’ve lost yourself to the streets, it was rather in good health that her grandfather had been so kind to take care of her and keep her out of dangerous hands. 

What you would’ve given for circumstances like hers. 

“How’d it go?” She asked, albeit lightheartedly. You had just returned from one of your many missions, and you ended up destroying a SEED refinery, there were many that procured existence throughout Scumland and amongst other cities unsurprisingly. You shook your head with an exasperated sigh. 

“Rather okay i guess,” You replied, walking up the angled steel platform adjacent to the form of the plane itself. “But my back just hurts like hell.” You added, brows furrowed as a whine escaped your lips. 

“I know, sorry.” The blonde whispered, almost an apologetic seething leaving her lips. She didn’t mean to act so prudent, or whatever the word may be, but this was good work on the way – useful for future circumstances. Cheni Angel knew, and for sure, that this was going to be good for the last of them. For all of us, and for you alone. Her heterochromic colored eyes scanned the razed environment, seemingly for someone else alone. 

You turned your head, then sat down on the cold-metal on the opened plane doorway of the ship. It was easy, you knew whom she was looking for. He was quite the advent.

“I met up with Grave halfway through the destruction of the third refinery in this city,” You began, almost trailing off before you finally added — “He shouldn’t be long now.”

“I see.” She responded, crystalline hand folded into a fist and resting on her left hip. “I swear, he’s so slow sometimes.”

You shrugged with a reproachful laugh, yet noting the clear truth in her words. Brandon without a doubt was quite the heavyweight, but the entire drawback is the slow speed he has. He could be a hell of a lot faster without his coffin, though it’s entirely a powerful weapon on its own from what you’ve understood had saved his life multiple times. 

Sincerely a very dangerous man, despite being undead. 

Just when will the chains finally be broken?