#and who i am is someone who spends absurd amounts of time on very very niche things

[lionwitch]

Ok, hear me out. An AU where Janet Drake is best friends with Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen.

They met in school, and she's a high society girl, not expected or allowed to be much more than a pretty face, but there's this trio of smart idiots (they did all sorts of stupid stuff at school, but they are overall very, very smart), and they're in all sorts of cool classes and extracurriculars, and she wants to learn

So, she snakes her way into the group with well-timed looks and blushes. They eventually include her in all their activities, and so she learns all sort of stuff that she usually wouldn't be allowed to learn, because they help her keep it in the down low. No, she's not taking classes with them, she's being a proper lady and cheering her smart friends on through the oh-so-hard classes.

At some point or another, they all develop a crush on her, fleeting as it may be (they're hormonal teens and they're required to flirt, it was bound to happen)

They flirt publicly, as it keeps the media from pressuring them into relationships— or so they thought. It backfires when they're adults, the media is demanding Janet settle down and stops leading all three of them on. But there would be a scandal if she picked any of them, so she picks Jack, someone who doesn't love her or she loves, but someone desperate enough to climb the social ladder to care if he loves his wife.

When he's not allowed to flirt anymore, that's where Bruce realizes that he actually liked her.

When Tim comes along, and Janet has to go on trips, she leaves him with her trusted friends. So, Tim learns a lot from his Uncle Lex, learns to shoot a bow from his Uncle Ollie, and loves staying with his Uncle Bruce and his children. He figures him out far too easily and does become Robin when Jason figures he's ready to pass on the mantle to his little brother (because they're brothers. Tim spends a lot of time in their house)

Bruce adores Tim, he really does. It just kinda hurts, that he's Janet's kid, but not his.

Eventually, Janet divorces Jack, and she gets to spend a lot more time in Gotham. But by now Tim is as much Bruce's as he is Janet's, so they co-parent the gremlin that is her son, which leads to a lot of time with Bruce.

Bruce treats her better than Jack ever did, and she trusts him far more. They have the memories of years together. Eventually, Bruce tells her the truth— that he never truly moved on from his best friend.

When they marry, sure it's a media circus, but also not a surprise.

She's also a good mom, to Tim as much as to Dick or Jason.

When Jason finds out Catherine is not his mom, sure he gets curious, but he has a mom already, he's happy. He does want to meet his bio mom, but he agrees to do so safely, not go alone. Fine, B, you can come with.

Joker never happens. Jason is disappointed when he finds his mom is not at all what he expected, and he has a much better one at home.

Eventually, when Damian comes into the picture, he's snappy with Janet. "you will never be my mother, you harlot!" but Janet simply puts a hand on his shoulder and speaks calmly, yet sharp as the blade he threatens her with

"You will not speak to me like that, boy. No, I am not your mother. But I am married to your father, and I hold the authority as such, so you will go up to your room, you will cool down, and you will never threaten or insult me again, or you will be grounded."

"You can't do that!"

"She can. She has my full permission to discipline my kids, Damian. In this house, she holds as much authority as I do." Bruce interjects

Damian, begrudgingly, learns to respect Janet, and eventually he does see her as a second mom

The amount of times Oliver or Lex visit the Wayne-Drake household is absurd, but sue them, they like their friends. This leads to a lot of chaos, because every time Oliver visits so does Roy, and Roy hangs out with Dick and Jason, while Damian sticks to glaring at everyone.

Meanwhile, they dote on Tim, because they sure as hell have a favourite nephew, and it's the one they watched grow inside the belly of one of their best friends, the one they all changed the diapers of, the one they've taught a lot of skills to, the one they helped raise in a way they never helped raise any of the other Wayne boys. They don't even try to hide their preference. Now, of course they like all their nephews, but it's always hilarious because when Tim is around his uncle Lex, he's ten times the evil mastermind he generally is, and Oliver encourages it, simply for the chaos, and so does Janet, while Bruce is downright terrified of the idea of Tim as a villain (everyone is)

[amateurasterism]

everyone knew he was attractive. he knew it too, because every year on february 14th he dreaded opening his locker. dreaded the absurd amount of chocolates and tacky gifts that he never understood why obsessive classmates would spend time to make for a blatant and dull person like him. he doesn’t even think any of him have seen him smile. but after meeting a certain someone, he added two very important steps to his valentines day routine. before giving the gigantic bag of gifts to his eager friends, he sorted through every single one in search of his favorite candy bar he only told you about, always wrapped in a slip of bright pink paper because you wanted to blend in with the other gifts. as if he couldn’t tell it was your handwriting in which the paper read “never forget how proud i am of you.” as if he didn’t know you were the only one out of a hundred chocolates who would write such a message that belonged on the pin board above his desk because it reminded him that you were the only person who loved him under his gorgeous looks, who saw him for the work he put into the things he loved. and thus, his last step on valentines day was to take a photo of the half-eaten candy bar and send it to you with a message that reads “should’ve given it to me face-to-face, coward.” to which you would respond with “i could say the same thing about the chocolate covered-strawberries you made for me. if you’re not confident in how they taste, should’ve just told me.”

ITOSHI SAE, itoshi rin, nagi seishiro, fushiguro megumi, nanami kento,TSUKISHIMA KEI, kageyama tobio, suna rintaro, iwaizumi hajime, MIDORIMA SHINTARO, aomine daiki, akutagawa ryunoske, CHUUYA NAKAHARA, levi ackerman

[alienwritestoo]

Philza Minecraft is a wizard who accidentally became immortal after meditating too hard.

Missa Sinfonia is an engineering student who got turned into an vampire after going to his first (and only) frat party.

Decades later, they bump into each other at the bar Forever Anonymous.

------

"So you... don't want to be immortal?" Philza eyes his drinking partner.

"Hell no," Missa scoffs. "I have to get my engineering degree again." He puts his head in his hands. "I chose the wrong career for being a vampire, man."

"Oh thank god." The blond wizard relaxes. "I thought I was the only one who hates immortality, mate." He puts on his hat. "Say, I've been researching a way to reverse it. Want to join me?"

The dark haired vampire clasps his hand desperately. "Please!"

------

Years pass in their pursuit to reclaim their mortality. Missa makes himself helpful to the cause- "It's okay to take a break Philza, have some enchiladas so I can live vicariously through you!"- and fashions them in the mortal regalia of the decade as time slips through their fingers like quicksand. He keeps them to a schedule of new names, new jobs, and new towns so nothing inconvenient props up once they've figured out the cure.

They take a small detour for Philza to conquer Antarctica for a couple of decades, but it was well worth it for the penguins. And it helps that there's never much sunlight during the times of year they're there, and the vampire can't really feel cold. It becomes Missa's favorite vacation destination.

Returning to their home in not-Antarctica is less exciting for a vampire who can't be in the sunlight.

"Are we there yet?" Missa complains as he sits at their normal kitchen table, eying Philza's sandwich mournfully as it sits untouched and unappreciated.

"Not yet." Philza smashes golden applies into a blender hooked up to an absurd amount of redstone circuits behind the wall. His eyes glow purple as he waves his wand, mummering an incantation as the machine screeches impassively. "Maybe this will work?"

Missa drops his head and sighs. Being an immortal vampire can be very, very boring. Maybe he should visit the penguins and see his Great, Great, Great Grandchicks.

------

Philza sighs as he rolls into bed. He waits for ten minutes before slipping into Missa's room and pretending to be really, really cold.

"No problemo, Philza," Missa says as he opens his cold arms wide. "I'll warm you up." He teases with a quirk to his lips.

The wizard sinks gratefully into the cool skinned embrace of his vampiric companion. A couple of decades ago, his face would be turned carefully away in embarrassment while spending time internally combating a sexuality crisis, but the immortal has long realized that labels are bullshit and he can ask for a hug if he wants one, dammit.

"What's on your mind?" The cold-skinned vampire asks him, seeing right through his bullshit.

"Forever told me he's in love with me." Philza confesses softly as he lies prone in Missa's embrace. "But he's not actually, because I remind him of his old partner from when he was mortal. Same hair, eyes, taste in clothing-" His chest grows tense. "I saw the pictures. Which I know it's really sad that Forever's life partner was mortal and gone, but I hate that it means I'm being seen as an imitation of someone else instead of the person I am. And it's not like I reciprocate his feelings-" He glances up at Missa. "But I wish we were at least friends, you know?"

Missa huffs. "He's a pendejo, Philza. We should going to his terrible bar."

"We did meet there." Philza reminds him, both amused and pleased by his partner's defensiveness on his behalf.

"We'll go to other bars!" Missa counters irritably.

"There aren't any other immortal bars, Missa." Philza points out logically.

"Well, he has to pay somehow." Missa's grip tightens in anger with vampiric strength, before he remembers himself and loosens his hold. "I'm not letting him get away with treating you like a convenient replacement for a ghost. It's rude, man!"

"We'll think of something." Philza placates with a suppressed smile. "Let's sleep on it. Okay?"

Missa hurumps and settles down to meditate. "Only if we think of something better. Otherwise, you know I'll burn that place down, Philza."

They both drift into unconsciousness and wake later with revenge in mind.

------

The strange pair walks into the latest government's registration office right before close in winter. They complete an absurd of paperwork and giggle as they walk out.

A few weeks later, they receive marriage certifications in the mail and proudly display them above a picture of a sulking Forever.

When their friends ask why, Missa starts to theatrically sob and accuse them of not believing in true love. Philza, without an ounce of shame, always just laughs.

They both refuse to elaborate.

------

"Ta da!" Missa jazz hands as he slides into view. "I found us a son!"

Philza blinks as he stands in the foyer of their home, looking down at the dragon hatchling stabbing him in the leg with a wooden sword. "A what now?"

The child is wearing a duck floatie. They don't own a pool. He has never been more confused in his life.

Philza accepts he has a son minutes later after listening to a peacefully dull, ordinary tale that makes him relax about the decision his husband made. Something about an adoption center ran by polar bears, a "Federation" kidnapping them at some point, inconsequential stuff. They could absolutely raise this child with no worries whatsoever.

He corrects the child's form. "Now this is the way to stab someone, mate." The child chuffs happily and proceeds to stab him a bit better than last time. The immortal wizard looks up at his husband. "What's his name again?"

"Chayanne!" The vampire' grin drops at the murder in Philza's eyes.

"I thought I said that name is banned in this house!" Philza yelled, chasing him around the house with his son's wooden sword. "No cheating!"

"I'm sorry!" Missa wailed before getting thwacked. "Its a good name!"

The name inevitably sticks after the dragon hatchling refuses to answer to anything else. The immortal family of two swiftly, and spiritedly, becomes three.

------

"How did we meet again?" Missa asks his husband as they curl up around the fireplace.

"Oh that?" Philza hums considerably. "I think we were at Forever's bar and bonded over something we both really, really hated. Can't remember what it was, though."

Missa gasps. "Wait, I know!"

"What was it?"

"Engineering." The vampire says gravely.

"No wonder mate." Philza groans. "Not worth relearning how things actually work every decade."

"I know, right?" Missa says, sitting up as he becomes more passionate. "I'm so glad I switched careers to creating destruction wherever I go and reaping mortal souls by drinking all their blood like a mortal Capri sun."

"That really is so much better, king." Philza agrees. "I think Chayanne would be perfect at that when he's older."

"He's 200 years old, cariño." Missa reminded him. "Our little huevo chose to fight God with Uncle Etolies, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I remember now." Philza lies. "I heard on the news, after the Capri Sun ad, which, I don't know how that company lasted so long-

Missa suspiciously smirks. All the employees are his minions.

"-That the sun's going to collide with the earth in the next five years."

"Can it be sooner than that? I can barely remember Forever, and he's got a name that we have to say all the time." Missa groans. "Immortality, forever, whatever man!"

"Yeah our memory's fucked." Philza chuckles.

The married immortals stare into the fireplace and hope they haven't forgotten anything important. They go to bed to meditate the night away.

"Shit shit shit!"Missa slaps Philza out of his trance, who rolls over in protest. "Get up, old man!" A bucket of water dumps over his head. And then lava, which tickles. "We forgot Chayanne's birthday!"

------

End of fic

[levandright]

hello! thank you for this fun event first of all, you’re so generous to be doing this, i hope it’s just as fun for you as it is fun for us and i hope you don’t become stressed with too many requests hahaha 🩷🩷

my persona: i am 168cm (5’6?), my fashion is a comfortable style, i like to wear baggy jeans and neutral colors, crop tops and nice shoes, and i never wear makeup 🫣

i am an introvert (ISTJ/ISFJ) i find it hard to talk to new people but when i do speak i can easily make friends, my best quality is probably my humor and im a very good listener, im empathetic but also logical, i like learning and im very critical, im chill, im a bit lazy/unmotivated, im not very loud, my humor is absurd things/illogical things, characters i relate to the most are: garfield, coraline, alice in wonderland, shrek. im procrastinating, sympathetic, soft-hearted, soft-spoken, reserved, affectionate, anxious, traditional, non-conforming, gentle, generous

i did a personality test and it told me: “You tend to focus on the straight facts in front of you, instead of thinking about hypotheticals and other possibilities. You do not spend too much time dwelling on your own emotions or past experiences.” “While you often organize and schedule your time, you also appreciate spontaneity and the value of just letting things happen. You try to do just the right amount of planning, but not too much.” “In group situations, you are more reserved than most people. You tend to speak less often, speak more softly, and smile and laugh less frequently than others in these settings. You are more comfortable when playing a supporting role, rather than taking charge and leading the group.” “You strive to be helpful and cooperative, and people often see you as a team player. You are more likely to do what is best for the group, rather than only do what is best for you.” “You tend to worry and imagine the various ways that things could go wrong. You also ruminate on your past decisions and wonder whether you did or said the right thing.”

my favorite season is winter because i love the snow and the cold, i am a virgo sun virgo moon libra rising virgo venus virgo mercury and pisces mars.

i like playing the sims, reading books, dancing, watching comedy/horror movies, i love watching the office and pen15, but my biggest hobby is eating food with friends or hanging out with friends in general

my ideal type would be a pure, respectful, kind guy with good intentions, like kinda innocent but not in a babyish way, someone who wants to take the lead and is good at expressing his love, a guy who blushes easily and likes to joke around/tease each other. my favorite trope is friends to lovers because i have to be friends with someone/comfortable with them before dating them, and my love languages are 1. physical touch 2. quality time 3. acts of service

my fandom: nct dream!!! and i would like a moodboard please <3

FINDING YOUR MATCH...

MATCH FOUND! your match is... NA JAEMIN

JAEMIN notices the small things that make you happy, like your love for food, playing sims and reading. when he's not feeling like doing anything, he'll go watch you play the sims, probably has luna or lucy in his lap to pet while watching you torture play with your sims.

JAEMIN would plan cozy and fun winter dates—building snowmen, sipping hot chocolate at cafes, or strolling through snowy parks while bundled up together. he’d hold your hand to keep it warm or even wrap his scarf around you, grinning as he says, “can’t have my favorite person freezing out here.”

JAEMIN compliments you effortlessly, noticing every detail: “the way your hair falls over your sweater is so pretty,” or “you look amazing, but what’s new? ah, i know! you're wearing the crop top i bought you~” his words would always feel genuine and make you blush.

JAEMIN holds your hand in quiet moments, wraps you in warm hugs during cold winter evenings, and finds every excuse to keep close to you. adores your clinginess in private, lets you rest your head on his shoulder or snuggle close to him while binge-watching your favorite shows.

JAEMIN is someone you can always rely on when you're feeling frustrated or stuck, he would cheer you on with sweet and encouraging words like: "you got this!" or "it'll take a while, but i know you'll figure it out."

JAEMIN wholeheartedly embraces your sense of humor. if you laugh at something completely random, he’d laugh too. sometimes at the joke and sometimes just at how amused you are by it. the two of you definitely have your own inside jokes that no one else understands, he texts you memes or funny clips that he thinks you'd like.

JAEMIN would be the first to notice if you're feeling anxious and start being more reserved, he'll offer you comfort quietly and will simply sit beside you while holding, and squeezing your hand until you feel ready to talj.

.☘︎ ݁˖ lev notes : haha ty! don't worry its fun for me too :) making the playlists and moodboards is very enjoyable for me. the amount is a lot i must admit, but its not as hard as it looks like (well i don't think it is cause im having fun thinking of headcanons but other ppl might struggle to keep up with so many matchups i will say) i just honestly missed when matchups used to be more popular T-T but that was like 2-3 years ago back in peak tumblr era, i loved getting matches back then so now that im a writer i want to have others experienc what i did back then! .☘︎ ݁˖ want to find your own match? apply here! curious about other matches?

[everything-fine-n-peachy]

when daffodils bloom (h.rj)

pairings: huang renjun x reader genre: fluff (hbd baobei hihi) summary: your typical highschool nerds find a way to express their love for each other in the way they know best, very shy rj and kinda dense y/n

Renjun knew you had high standards. He expected nothing less after sharing all his honors classes with you for the last five years in high school. You even showed him a list you kept in your school journal, pointing at each item to explain why it was necessary. For example, you swore that the average shelf in a common household was just beyond the reach of someone like you, who stood at five foot three. Therefore, you needed someone at least five foot ten or taller to help you grab items on the top level.  

three inches, Renjun thought, he was below your standard by just three inches. 

This is exactly why he never found the courage to confess his feelings. Sure, he was the smartest guy in his class and it wasn’t like there weren’t other girls he could pursue, but there was just something special about you. He’d lost count of the amount of times Chenle had nagged at him to just come clean or give up all together. The thing is, Renjun may be a Math whiz but he was also really terrible at expressing himself. 

So he settles for giving you his reviewers. As in, only you. Whenever his friends would complain about how you didn’t need an extra hand in your academics, Renjun would wave them off and say you’d exchange top secret study notes anyway, nothing special. 

On the contrary, he would work tirelessly making sure he’d get all the right topics and jot them down in his careful handwriting, spending hours at a time before handing you a copy. 

And you were completely oblivious. 

To you, Renjun was your confidant, someone who could understand the many pressures of growing up in a family with high expectations. You thought he was way too handsome to look your way and always insisted to everyone who teased you that he was just a nice guy. 

On the days when you had Math tournaments to attend and missed class, he would be the one you’d run to for notes. Which is why you never stop to think that it was ever special treatment. 

That was until Giselle came sulking one day at lunch, begging you to lend her a copy of Renjun’s notes. 

“I told you already, I did ask Jeno if he had them but he told me that Renjun ever only gives them to you,” she whined. 

“That sounds a little far fetched now don’t you think?” You pause for a second contemplating the possibility of Renjun actually having feelings for you. It was absurd. 

“Well, notes aside, don’t you notice how he always likes to hang around you?” 

"That's just cause we have the same advanced electives," you counter.

"Okay how about, that time when he stayed behind while you sorted out responsibilities as homeroom representative? That' definitely counts for something since he belongs to a different homeroom class plus it was a Friday."

You take a thoughtful bite out of your sandwich.

am I really that dense?

The truth was you always thought he was handsome. You’ve just always been drawn to the more athletic type that your friends all fantasized about. 

A quick mental run down of your list makes you smile to yourself. He was top of his class (intelligent), could tolerate his chaotic circle of friends (patient), always willing to tutor struggling classmates (kind), and was very generous except with his reviewers. 

Did he still need to be five foot ten to be a guy you liked? 

After the bell rings Renjun returns to his classroom to find the reviewer he’d given you last week on his desk. You left a little post-it on the front with a message that read, 

thanks for the special subscription thinking of going premium…not just for the notes though :)  we can discuss terms over coffee this afternoon

Renjun bites his lip to hide his stupid grin. It’s no use when his friends have been peeking from behind, yelling and shoving each other over their friend’s newfound love life. He covers his face in embarrassment, more than anything else because Yangyang and Chenle are obnoxiously shrieking and making a scene. 

Whatever the case, he sits in class distracted for the first time. He thinks the entire English lesson probably went over his head, but it was a small matter. You asked him out. Given, it was likely to turn into a study date. Then again, studying is always better when it’s with you. 

[mars-ipan]

Ya got any rants stored up? Long-burning hatred?

i FINALLY found one i’ve been holding onto this ask waiting for the opportunity.

i HATE how people treat people with anxiety disorders. it’s endless pity mixed with complete incompassion

like ok. obligatory i have generalized anxiety disorder here. a lot of things make me stressed and when i’m having bad anxiety attacks (which can last days and sometimes put me into month-long spells of misery) i get physically sick, to the point of throwing up and fever. i also tend to go nonverbal/low-verbal during these periods of time (usually bc i’m nauseous.) i’m also very prone to migraines and have a tic and wear a night guard due to jaw clenching etc etc you get the point it affects me.

when i share these symptoms with people (assuming they don’t have similar symptoms) i get a lot of frowny faces. “owh i’m sorry :( that must be awful how horrible“ and the like. and it’s never said in a way that’s actually kind. it’s said in the way people talk about those aspca commercials. and it’s never actually come from a place of genuine concern- it’s superficial pity apparently meant to placate me. i hate it

and that’s assuming i even get that reaction at all! usually when i try to explain to someone that i’m experiencing symptoms of some sort like “hey i’m sorry i can’t really be productive right now, i’ve got a lot of brain fog” i am ALWAYS dismissed. EVERY time. maybe it’s because i’m quite skilled at coping and masking. maybe it’s because my panic attacks don’t (always) look like wailing and thrashing and choking on air. but for some reason people don’t seem to understand that yes my anxiety disorder is actually disabling for me sometimes. i will ask for an accommodation i need, be compared to someone else with different needs from me, and then be told i need to just suck it up and deal with it. and i am SO! TIRED! OF! IT!!!! the amount of times i’ve told people “hey please don’t say that to me i’m prone to paranoia about xyz” and then been yelled at because “it’s not that serious take a joke” is ABSURD. hey maybe stop telling me my cough is covid bc now i have to spend the next 3 hours reminding myself that i don’t have any other symptoms asshole!!! jesus

and THEN when i actually DO find a way to cope or utilize the way my brain works or god forbid crack a fucking joke about it people get mad at me. “see i knew it wasn’t a big deal” or “so you’re actually fine” or “that’s not funny” i am. so tired of it

and then i go online and see people saying that disorders like anxiety and depression have been destigmatized and we’re treated basically the same in neurotypical society. motherfucker i did not go undiagnosed for 17 years with several doctors telling me it “wasn’t anything to worry about” despite my family history and clear signs from a young age just to be told my disorder is respected. if i say my anxiety is a disability i get called dramatic and am told to stop taking attention away from people who need it- or not to call it a disability because “it’s not that bad” and i’m fine because clearly having a disability makes every second of your life miserable of course of course. hell anxiety is demonized too! not as badly as many other illnesses but it’s still demonized!!! if i tell people “hey i have anxiety so please be careful with xyz” they act like i just asked them to let me do anything i want without consequence. there’s literally a whole fucking stereotype of people using “anxiety” as an excuse to be lazy or an asshole or entitled. as someone whose anxiety manifests in depressive spirals (freeze response) and rejection sensitivity (doom spiraling) this is Not Great!!!!! like i am hypervigilant about enough things i do not need to add “will these people get mad if i explain how my brain works” to the list

and about the rejection sensitivity. i HATEEEEE when people judge me for crying because they’re upset at something i’ve done wrong. “mars if you’re in the wrong then you’re not the victim” who the fuck said i think i’m the victim???? i cry because my brain takes “can you pls stop doing this it genuinely bugs me” and turns it into “you’re a horrible person how could you do this to someone they hate you.” but just because that happens doesn’t mean i’m not capable of rational thought!!! i KNOW realistically that my friends are good communicators and share that stuff because they like my company. i just need to cry about it as well. that doesn’t negate my logic or say i won’t actually try to improve myself. i’m just upset that i made the mistake. obviously i’m gonna fix it. that one REALLY pisses me off esp when i warn someone in advance that i do that. like calm the fuck down i’m not even pointing out that i’m crying rn this isn’t about me stop making it about me.

ANYWAYS. it’s really frustrating to deal with this shit from nts and then go to an online nd space for community and hear people talk about anxiety disorders like we don’t face ableism. just because it’s quieter doesn’t mean it isn’t there. that AND the “it’s barely an issue” girlie i was told i wasn’t disabled enough by doctors my whole damn life i am NOT about to start hearing it from you too. you can drown in the ocean or a swimming pool or a puddle. doesn’t fucking matter. the hypocrisy irritates me so bad

[arrow-dodger]

Hi. I hate Christmas.

(This is about to be a poorly constructed and boring rant. Sorry.)

There are many things about Christmas that are fine and good in theory, I guess, but I'm not someone who gets to enjoy those things, so I'm a total Scrooge at this point.

I hate the capitalism. Nobody needs to buy this much stuff. I'm serious. Nobody. The fact that we're meant to spend a great deal of money on every single person close to us on the holidays is frankly absurd, not to mention unsustainable in this economy. The fact that parents have to budget for the entire year to buy their children an acceptable amount of plastic for Christmas is such a nightmare to me. I just find no joy in any of this.

I hate that there have to be entire guides about how to "survive" visiting your family for the holidays or them visiting you. I hate that my friend group chat is full of messages wishing everyone luck "dealing" with their families on Christmas. So many people have a fucking miserable time doing this, yet they do it anyway. They have families who are rude and disrespectful and have terrible boundaries, but for the holidays you're meant to tolerate all of that to "be polite" and go along with "traditions." I understand that toxic family dynamics are all unique and to be dealt with individually, but I wish people would question these status quo things more.

Mostly I hate the culture of gift exchange. I cannot overstate how much I hate it.

I am not good at it. I don't buy myself very many random trinkets. I have a lot of anxiety about spending money on myself in general, so I have to make excuses and convince myself and buy things for utility purposes that seem to shake out properly in my mind (this is something that has gotten way worse in the past 2-3 years due to having to pay off many thousands of dollars of medical debt). I also just generally don't enjoy having "stuff." (Stuff as in things with no particular use. I'm talking figurines, plushies, even shit like vases or random sculptural shit that just exists to sit on a shelf and look pretty.) Like 90% of the "stuff" I have was a gift from someone else. I don't even really like receiving gifts unless it's something I specifically asked for or said I liked, because then I just get anxiety about what I'm going to do with the thing.

Because of all this I do not have a consumer mindset compatible with being good at buying gifts for other people. I have no idea what kind of things people WANT to be gifted! It doesn't naturally come to me at all! And that's one of the main things with gift giving -- you're meant to be able to read people's minds about it. You're supposed to guess what someone would like based on your knowledge of them and the relationship you have. If you guess poorly, that means you're a bad friend and not very thoughtful. If you buy them something like a gift card so they can pick out their own thing (something I personally enjoy receiving because it takes away the anxiety of being given a random thing I might not need/want), you're lazy and don't care about that person. If you just ask them what they want so you can be sure to get the right thing, depending on the person, this is also a slight. It's all a big game, and if you're not an expert at it, you lose pretty much all of the time! And then that makes the people you care about RESENT you! My favorite thing!!

You may think I'm being dramatic, but I'm really not. Social media after the holidays is absolutely inundated with posts like "am I the asshole for not liking this gift I received" where the comments reinforce the idea that someone giving you a gift you don't like means they're a lazy and uncaring friend/partner/relative. People who get gifts donated to them through charity complain that they didn't get enough, or good enough items! I listen to my own friends and family complain about things they received and how it must mean the person who got them the thing doesn't really care about them. (My dad did this once about something my sister bought him at the Dollar Store. She was maybe 12 years old at the time.) You see people asking what the etiquette is for regifting, donating, or throwing away things they got as gifts. Does anyone even LIKE anything they get for Christmas?! If not, or if not in most cases, THEN WHAT IS THE FUCKING POINT? What a waste of everyone's fucking time and money!

Everything about this shit makes me feel anxious and like a total clueless loser. Add on all my trauma from working in retail on the holidays, every fucking building I try to go into being so crowded and teeming with holiday shoppers it gives me claustrophobia, cold and flu season absolutely raging this time of year and sick people not staying home because they just HAVE to go out and buy more shit, my seasonal depression and genuine hatred of cold weather, my terrible relationship with my own shitty family, the anniversary effect of so many terrible things happening to me this time of year throughout my life, and all the shitty annoying music to top it all off, and we are left with absolutely ZERO redeemable things about this time of year. I am not exaggerating when I say I almost die this time of year pretty much annually now.

It's just a game of survival to me at this point. "How was your holiday? :)" makes me seethe. I want to be SO HAPPY FOR YOU ALL that you're having a GOOD TIME, but my god it's hard.

[moonchildridden]

hey, I hope your day is going well. I’m curious to know your top 5 favorite bl series/movie

Hey love, my day is going fine, and I hope yours as well. So...this question took me a while to get an answer because my top 5 changes a bit after I watch some series and it's difficult for me to get a definitive and solid set of series that I would kill to watch again and again, non stop. But I got it...I guess (this is for series that already finished airing and based on some that are still airing and I really like it, this list can change at any moment)

5. Bad Buddy

Enemies to lovers? Slow burn? Mutual pining? Angst? Pain and suffering? Bad Buddy provided me with that in a good amount and even doubled a bit in some of those aspects for good measure just to make me suffer a bit. Granted, the novel had more of angst than the series, but it got angst nonetheless and I LOVED IT!

Emotionally constipated characters like Pran are a very truthful representation of how I am in real life and how difficult it is for me to navigate in personal relationships without overthinking to the point of freaking out when something actually happens (episode 5, specially the rooftop scene, was one of my favorite episodes of the series, because of the amount of feelings it managed to pour in those two characters. I even wrote something in Pran's POV of the kiss, and it hurts me to read til this day)

Also, the OST was absolute fire and Nanon (one of my bl boy) was in it, so I was sold.

4. Manner of Death

I don't usually talk about my favorite midia but if there is something that I adore in story genre is police investigation, murder and suspense. Give me a good mystery to solve, good places puzzles to put in place, dubious characters and I will follow you into the dark like a character in a horror movie. Even if MaxTul weren't the actors portraying the protagonists of the story, I would've watched because Sammon is a good writer and I really enjoy her stories.

This story also gave me mutual pining (TanBun really wanted to get on each other but we're simply repressing themselves, Bun more than Tan, for obvious reasons), fire chemistry, a spoon of angst (I really love to suffer, I know), swiftly adopted son (Sorawit is TanBun's child and I won't accept contrary opinions on that) and a happy ever after (or a happy for now, because we really want "Transplant", the continuation of MoD, to be adapted as a series and the chances are getting higher by the minute).

3. Vice Versa

Stories with supernatural/fantastical aspects have me by the neck, let's start with that. So, when I heard there was a series with parallel universes involved, my interest got picked immediately and I waited to see what I was going to be served (JittiRain, just like MAME, has a reputation of starting well her stories but midway do something that would ruin one or both characters, or even be sus the entire story), considering that I had liked two series based on her novels (2gether and Theory of Love). PuenTalay became my babies the second they met on that airport bathroom. Literally a soulmate meeting.

Another emotionally constipated character in the form of, well, both of them, in various degrees, and two people with an absurd will to love but not having the chance to explore the way they can really love until they are forced to spend time in a different universe than theirs, searching for a way to go back. It was so beautiful to see Puen have a chance to be himself, even if it was in somebody else's body, explore more his interests, gain friends, a family, learn how to express himself, how to pursue something he really wants and how to fight for what he wants; Talay, my sweet boy, someone who also wanted to love but his life was constantly in a blue color mood, only focusing on work because his love life was empty and no one seemed to get his attention, learned how to let go and just enjoy life for the simple things it can offer.

Both of them had an incredible growth, learned how to deal with their insecurities, how to lean on other people when they have a problem, how good it can be to let other person paint your life in a different color. "And now he paints my life pink forever" line, you'll always be famous.

2. Triage

Another Sammon work being adapted into a series (when I say that woman has me in a chokehold, I'm not joking. And when I say that stories with supernatural/fantastical elements also has me in a chokehold, I'm definitely not kidding. This time, were going time loop.

It took is almost three full years to have this series airing, and while some people had already lost all hope of seeing that happening, I kept waiting for it, because TaeTee really wanted to star in this series. And the wait was reeeeeeeeealy worth it.

Granted, there are a lot of differences between the source material and the series, mainly all the story surrounding the human organ trafficking stuff, that wasn't exactly on the novel. The novel focused on piecing together the reason Tin was involved with Tol, what was their relationship and why he was the only only being tasked with saving that boy from dying, over and over again. Seeing the disastrous attempts from Tin to approach Told and warn him about his death, starting from directly telling him that he was going to die (too straightforward, my friend, are you insane?) to make Tol break up with his girlfriend and fall in love with him, so he could save him (very weird plan, my guy) and how things slowly unfold between them was something that I enjoyed reading and watching, and would love to forget everything so I could experience the feelings I had while watching it for the first time.

1. Love In The Air

At this point, are we even surprised with this?

Seriously, I didn't even wanted to watch this series (MAME and her reputation have the power to push away potential viewers in the speed of light, I'm a living proof of that) and was going to let this one pass but then I decided to watch the first episode and see how things would turn out. Not gonna lie, I'm glad I decided to watch the first episode the day it came out.

Payu grabbed my attention with his long hair in a ponytail and his Daddy vibe. Prapai decided to step in and whistle, and I was sold. Rain was my baby himbo, so innocent and fragile that I wanted to keep him wrapped in bubble plastic and never let him go anywhere. Sky called to me because I, unknowingly, saw myself in him. PayuRain and PrapaiSky are literally two sides of the type of relationship I would like to have: as someone with a fairly long lost of kinks, having someone who not only understands but also encourages the exploration of said kinks and the possible discover of many others, Payu is the type of person I would like to have by my side, someone who's secure and stable in their skin, knows how to live their live and has a heart of gold (also because I can be bratty sometimes, give a brat tamer, I would love to push their buttons, just for the kicks. And as someone who is a trauma holder, Prapai is the embodiment of the idea that I would find someone who would understand my pain, my hesitation and my fears and, instead of forcing me to overcome them while I'm not exactly ready, would be by my side every step of the way, being a safe haven, reminding me that I did not deserve what happened to me and that I'm not a broken person or undesirable.

I love how they are so fundamentally different but manages to win my heart in a way that not many couples did and I continue to love them even more everyday. It doesn't matter if my heart leans more towards PrapaiSky (again, trauma holder here, it was bound to happen), I will always carry my weather boys in my heart until the day I die.

I know you only asked for my top 5 but every time I think about my favorite BL series, there is this one series that even if it's not on the top, will always be the favorite amongst all favorite, not only because it was my first bl but also because the amount of identification aspects I found in one of its characters really hooked me and till this day, I smile every time I think about it. So, a honorable mention:

SOTUS/SOTUS S

Many people have various opinions about this one, about a lot of things, but what makes this particular story stick out to me is the fact that Arthit's self discovery journey felt a lot like my own journey, down to a T (or almost down to a T). How he never really thought about it, used to make jokes about queerness but was really not homophobic, how he was "forced" to deal with it by having Kongpop kick his way into his life, the brief "enemies/haters to lovers" thing going on between them, the pining, the leap of faith, the doubts, them trying this new relationship to both of them (I have a headcanon that Kongpop is demissexual but that's not the point here), and how the support of their friends was really important.

And that's just SOTUS. The second season (one of the few early series that didn't have a cheating plot on the second season or a breakup in the penultimate episode of the first season) tackled the transition from the University life, a controlled environment, to the working world, where your life and what you do in it affect more than it is supposed to, how we need to constantly come out to other people, the development of their relationship, how being outed affects your life, your head, the way you react to the situation, how society becomes more judgemental the older you get, how they managed to overcome that; the side stories where one of my favorite things in SOTUS S, and gave us a more in-depth look into their private life, how they were managing that new stage in their lives, how their love continued to grow.

Don't get me started on their episode in Our Skyy, because I cried like a bitch when I watched the first time (without subtitles, because it was a LINE TV production, that primarily only distributed that in Thailand), and then with subtitles because it was so good. Being a couple that has to maintain their relationship at distance is not something I would like to see anyone go through (been there, done that) and when Arthit cried while talking with Kongpop about it...it broke my heart. Fortunately, everything got ok in the end, and my heart was healed.

Well, there you have it. It was really difficult to get to this definitive top 5, when I could rant about so many series, but these are the ones that really managed to grab my heart, tie it into a chair and don't let go. It got longer than I intended but what to expect from someone who got known here by making analysis and theories posts, right?

Ask my top 5 anything

[danielleverboski4e]

Danielle Verboski

The closing date for the property is getting closer, even if there have been a few obstacles during the past three weeks. For the ultimate pleasure, spend a day at the spa renewing and resting before your treatment. This real estate agent's acquisition of this seaside property in Connecticut might have been a turning point in his life. With this current information, you may move forward with confidence when looking at East Lyme, Connecticut, homes for sale. Among our many services is building management. Their initial meeting in a public place, like a plaza or mall, was probably a huge success. If people lived on a planet, in an ideal world, there would be a means to silence the entire planet. We can fully appreciate the ride because we're not in a rush.

Homes for sale in east lyme ct

The vast majority of people live in one of the many tiny seaside or suburban villages.

People are motivated to take on more when they see the impact that others are making for causes that are important to them.

I had a sacred duty to support the disadvantaged. My insecurity makes me repress my emotions. Helping someone who is not as lucky as you could have unintended consequences for you. Precise accuracy and quick thinking are essential for success.

The brokers and agents in real estate could provide you with a plethora of information. Use this knowledge when the time is appropriate. Because of everything we have experienced together, I am positive that they are unique. Upon depleting every alternative, we need to start thinking outside the box. This was never emphasized to us. As soon as a takeover occurs, the ship must immediately begin a new round.

Having spent my early years here, I know this place like the back of my hand. It felt as though my eleven years of labor had been for nothing. Instead of communicating with your current customers in an impersonal or chilly manner, concentrate on developing a rapport with them. The cornerstone of our company's success is our unwavering dedication to comprehending and fulfilling our clients' goals.

Is it hard for you to get over your fear of public speaking? I would suggest Remax to anyone looking for a real estate agent. There is absurdity in every single one of them. If you should happen to be in the area, don't be afraid to drop by as soon as possible. We really appreciate your steadfast support over the years, and we will always be grateful. We respect your thoughts regarding our team very much.

Our total trust is based on the superb reputations of Heritage and Remax. Our clients are the first to learn about newly listed properties in Connecticut thanks to our wide-ranging real estate network. At RE/MAX®, you can reach reputable real estate brokers whenever you need to. The house won't be unlocked until every showing and sale has taken place. The peace with which they seem is simply astounding. Now everyone may relax. It makes no difference what happens. Purchasing and selling real estate does not require a plan. Everyone has put up a tremendous amount of effort. Use it with extreme caution. If the real estate deal hadn't fallen through, then perhaps things would have happened differently. To stay ahead of the curve, we must generate fresh concepts. You can easily get this information anytime you need it.

My investigation into recent transactions in the neighborhood has led me to an approximate estimate of your home's potential value. What do you estimate the house's worth? To obtain an unbiased evaluation of a home, it is advisable to seek suggestions from people you know. They are happy with the result, as are their bosses. As soon as we receive confirmation of the sale, we will promptly remove the "SOLD" notice.

Real estate agent connecticut

Your successes have made everyone in Mystic, Connecticut very happy. I find encouragement in your unwavering dedication to personal improvement. It includes people like Danielle Verbleski. The real estate markets in Waterford and Stonington have grown significantly during the past few decades. Danielle Verboski, the agent, is dependable. You can examine Danielle's schedule by clicking on the link we provided. She will only pay attention to you when money is tight. The towns of Stonington and Waterford, Connecticut, hold Danielle in the highest regard. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with Realtor Danielle if you would want more specific market information and are interested in purchasing or selling a property. She'll reply right now. Just by begging for help, she can be persuaded. It appeared as though the "American Dream" may come true—at least for the wealthy. She felt better after reading your analysis of the real estate market. Deals in real estate are laborious and time-consuming, so don't rush them. Think about every possible result before making a decision. Our diplomatic efforts have yielded little fruit thus far. I would be extremely thankful if anyone knew of a real estate agent in the Connecticut towns of Waterford or Stonington. The request is for your assistance. Do not hesitate to contact us if you require any extra assistance. Please get in touch with Danielle Verboski if you'd like to talk to her. No matter how small, every encounter gives us insight into the people we encounter.

[gamingavickreyauction]

The one meritorious argument I've heard against playing devil's advocate is that possible beliefs about the world underspecify the data, so it's always going to be possible to come up with weird beliefs that are nonetheless internally consistent, that can't be disproven and can't be proven highly unlikely.

This is particularly bad with ethical beliefs, where there is no data to go off. I'm thinking about that ethical system someone made a joke about that's relativity-adjusted hedonic utilitarianism, so you should try to go as fast as possible to reduce suffering by time dilation. It's simultaneously obviously absurd and impossible to devise a watertight argument against, because most ethical systems are impossible to devise a watertight argument against.

This is also very easy to do with factual claim about poorly understood things, like maybe all non-human animals are conscious except for dogs, specifically. Sounds stupid, but perhaps there is a natural selective pressure for consciousness, and humans unwittingly selected against consciousness by trying to breed more docile pets and dogs, being the most intensively domesticated animals, are the only ones to lose consciousness as a result of this effect. All these claims are highly dubious and have no evidence against them but none, so far as I'm aware, can be proven wrong. And if even deliberately silly sounding ideas like this can be defensible, think what you could do when you try to devise defensible ideas instead of silly ones.

The upshot of this is that it's not feasible to engage with every defensible idea, and only engaging with ideas that serious people actually hold is a good filter for what it's worth spending your finite time on earth on. You can't afford to get bogged down engaging with endless possible perspectives when you have an actual decision to make. Whilst in principle engaging with them could help you toss out bad ideas and make a better decision, in practice many ideas will be defensible, and you won't be able to toss many out, and you'll just lose confidence that you really know anything about what you're dealing with. Maybe radical uncertainty is actually the most correct position, but it's not a luxury you have when faced with a practical problem, even if the problem is something like 'what avenue should I pursue in my research'. Pure reason will never take you as far as you like, and at the end you have no choice but to make a leap of faith. If there are people you're working with who legitimately hold opposing beliefs, you have no choice but to engage with them, because you need to be able to agree on a course of action. But if an idea has no supporters that's probably as good a reason as you'll ever practically have to disregard it.

To be clear, this isn't just about time-sensitive decisions. Even given years of scholarly debate there will commonly be many possible ideas that fit the available data, and even after years of study there will still be work to do to better understand the perspectives of actual people who disagree with you, without worrying about ideas no one actually holds.

I don't attach a huge amount of weight to this idea. Ironically, to a large extent I am playing devil's advocate here.

I find the idea that we can never find our way through to murk of possible world views deeply disturbing, and I like to collect different perspectives on the world, and try to understand them. I think that doing this has been of benefit to me, and whilst it has to a great extent produced the deep uncertainty I have described, I can selectively ignore that to still hold beliefs about the world that I am convinced of, which leaves me no worse off than if I didn't much understand the perspectives of those that disagree with me, and it helps me to understand and communicate with those people. It also sometimes does change my views, in a way that I think is genuine progress rather than a lateral move through impenetrable fog. And I think it is genuinely helpful to have more ways of seeing the world.

So I mostly do not agree with the conclusion of the argument I have outlined, but I think it contains some truths and is a useful idea to keep in the back of my head for when it is enlightening.

[danielleverboski4d]

Homes for sale in east lyme ct

The closing date for the property is getting closer, even if there have been a few obstacles during the past three weeks. For the ultimate pleasure, spend a day at the spa renewing and resting before your treatment. This real estate agent's acquisition of this seaside property in Connecticut might have been a turning point in his life. With this current information, you may move forward with confidence when looking at East Lyme, Connecticut, homes for sale. Among our many services is building management. Their initial meeting in a public place, like a plaza or mall, was probably a huge success. If people lived on a planet, in an ideal world, there would be a means to silence the entire planet. We can fully appreciate the ride because we're not in a rush.

Homes for sale in east lyme ct

People are motivated to take on more when they see the impact that others are making for causes that are important to them.

I had a sacred duty to support the disadvantaged. My insecurity makes me repress my emotions. Helping someone who is not as lucky as you could have unintended consequences for you. Precise accuracy and quick thinking are essential for success.

The brokers and agents in real estate could provide you with a plethora of information. Use this knowledge when the time is appropriate. Because of everything we have experienced together, I am positive that they are unique. Upon depleting every alternative, we need to start thinking outside the box. This was never emphasized to us. As soon as a takeover occurs, the ship must immediately begin a new round.

Having spent my early years here, I know this place like the back of my hand. It felt as though my eleven years of labor had been for nothing. Instead of communicating with your current customers in an impersonal or chilly manner, concentrate on developing a rapport with them. The cornerstone of our company's success is our unwavering dedication to comprehending and fulfilling our clients' goals.

Is it hard for you to get over your fear of public speaking? I would suggest Remax to anyone looking for a real estate agent. There is absurdity in every single one of them. If you should happen to be in the area, don't be afraid to drop by as soon as possible. We really appreciate your steadfast support over the years, and we will always be grateful. We respect your thoughts regarding our team very much.

Our total trust is based on the superb reputations of Heritage and Remax. Our clients are the first to learn about newly listed properties in Connecticut thanks to our wide-ranging real estate network. At RE/MAX®, you can reach reputable real estate brokers whenever you need to. The house won't be unlocked until every showing and sale has taken place. The peace with which they seem is simply astounding. Now everyone may relax. It makes no difference what happens. Purchasing and selling real estate does not require a plan. Everyone has put up a tremendous amount of effort. Use it with extreme caution. If the real estate deal hadn't fallen through, then perhaps things would have happened differently. To stay ahead of the curve, we must generate fresh concepts. You can easily get this information anytime you need it.

My investigation into recent transactions in the neighborhood has led me to an approximate estimate of your home's potential value. What do you estimate the house's worth? To obtain an unbiased evaluation of a home, it is advisable to seek suggestions from people you know. They are happy with the result, as are their bosses. As soon as we receive confirmation of the sale, we will promptly remove the "SOLD" notice.

Your successes have made everyone in Mystic, Connecticut very happy. I find encouragement in your unwavering dedication to personal improvement. It includes people like Danielle Verbleski. The real estate markets in Waterford and Stonington have grown significantly during the past few decades. Danielle Verboski, the agent, is dependable. You can examine Danielle's schedule by clicking on the link we provided. She will only pay attention to you when money is tight. The towns of Stonington and Waterford, Connecticut, hold Danielle in the highest regard. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with Realtor Danielle if you would want more specific market information and are interested in purchasing or selling a property. She'll reply right now. Just by begging for help, she can be persuaded. It appeared as though the "American Dream" may come true—at least for the wealthy. She felt better after reading your analysis of the real estate market. Deals in real estate are laborious and time-consuming, so don't rush them. Think about every possible result before making a decision. Our diplomatic efforts have yielded little fruit thus far. I would be extremely thankful if anyone knew of a real estate agent in the Connecticut towns of Waterford or Stonington. The request is for your assistance. Do not hesitate to contact us if you require any extra assistance. Please get in touch with Danielle Verboski if you'd like to talk to her. No matter how small, every encounter gives us insight into the people we encounter.

[foodiebites24]

7 Secrets of an Indian Competitive Eating Champ

Sanket Sankpal, who has been wolfing down a load of food for his YouTube channel, lets us in on the method behind the madness.

How can you describe the act of someone spending 23.49 minutes on Ganesh Chaturthi gobbling up 101 modaks and in the process, consuming close to 18,000 calories? While most of us won’t understand why this strange gastrointestinal feat aka ‘speed/competitive eating’ even exists, for many around the world, eating ridiculously large quantities of food in a minimum amount of time is considered a sport.

In India, 21-year-old Sanket Sankpal has been eating way too much food since last year, catapulting him and his YouTube channel, Wake ’N’ Bite, to viral fame (205k subscribers). The final year Civil Engineering student’s first video from June 2017 saw him and his friend eat a square pizza in under 30 minutes. No biggie, you’d think. But this video racked up 205k views, making the Mumbai boy take his serious fascination for American food reality show Man v. Food to another level. What sets him apart from world champs (more known for wolfing down hot dogs) is his desi choice of food: vada pav (an alleged world record of eating one in 13 seconds—care to beat it?), samosa (one in 16 seconds), 50 chicken lollipops, 400 pani puris between him and his brother, and 2.4-litre Maaza (in 20 seconds). He often invites friends and family to join him, with his Mom vs. Dad challenges doing particularly well—the one with them eating pani puris got 7 lakh-plus views.

“I first tried singing and then dancing but wasn’t too good at either,” he tells VICE. “I wanted to do something fun on YouTube and randomly put up the pizza-eating video. It did really well, and no one was doing this in India. India mein khaane wale log kitne hai; khaane mein mazza hi kuch aur hai (India has so many eaters; there’s a different fun altogether in eating). People ask me why I do what I do. But it’s a different high altogether.”

Is there any guilt consuming absurd amounts of food in the name of entertainment in a world where many do not have access to even two square meals a day? “I get these kinds of comments all the time, and they are legit ones,” he says. “But all of us consume too much of something or the other, at the cost of others getting it. Our way of combating that is donating food. We once donated 100 samosa pav, and we encouraged our subscribers to do it as well, even if it was just buying one samosa for someone. So many people are rich but do not do anything at all—so I don’t bother much about those who comment about wasting food because you don’t know what I do in my personal life.”

As he preps to place a massive KFC order for a video later that day, we had to ask: What was the competitive eating game plan?

1) An eater actually requires training though there’s no manual.

Stomach capacity is the make-and-break deal keeping you from wolfing down a ridic amount of, say, cupcakes. An adult stomach can usually hold about one litre of food but competitive eaters train it to stretch far beyond—sometimes up to seven times its natural resting capacity. “If you keep having lots of water, you can stretch that capacity,” says Sankpal. While some monster eaters use low-calorie but filling food to expand the capacity, many use water for its zero calorie and easy-to-process properties. Plus, it’s kinda free.

When you OD on food, what usually kicks in is the satiety reflex. That’s the one telling your brain you are full/want to throw up all over the damn place. Pros have to work to overcome this very reflex. “I usually watch videos of other professionals, and listen to their tips. Apart from the physical training, this is also a mind game. In my case, because I am making a video of the eating, I have to make sure I remain excited and energetic even if the food is making me dull or not feel good.” Reminds you of the time when the munchies hit and you ate 12 Nutella waffles and then proceeded to barf all over your friend’s shoes, doesn’t it? Oh, that’s just me? (Sorry, Sneha).

2) Water is their BFF. Not to hydrate but to lubricate.

Most competitive eaters dunk their food in water or have sips of warm water between bites to soften and lubricate the food, allowing it to be swallowed more easily. “I remember this one time we were doing a challenge that involved eating butter chicken and naan. By the time we finished taking shots of the food and my introduction, the naan had become very hard. We ate the chicken but the naan was ridiculously tough. Ultimately, I dunked it in water for some seconds before eating it.” Gross much?

3) The best competitive eaters are in great shape.

Look at the top eaters around the world and you will realise that most are in great shape or real skinny. “If you have stomach fat, it can actually hinder your ability to eat,” says Sankpal, who is 5 feet 7 inches, and weighs 70 kgs. Sankpal religiously hits the gym, with the only exception being when exams are around the corner. What’s important is what to put in your system when you are not competing or making YouTube videos. “I keep my meals homemade, healthy and light. Plus, travelling for four hours to and from college means I am on my feet for considerable amounts of time.”

4) They do eat on competition days.

“On days I do my videos, I drink coffee and have a biscuit for breakfast. Lunch is very light, with just one roti and sabzi. If you stay hungry then your stomach doesn’t accept food.”

5) The possibility of death by chocolate (or any other food) is real.

Kids, do not try this at home. Choking is the fourth-leading cause of unintentional injury death—and it happens with disturbing frequency at competitive eating events. According to a 2007 study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine: “Professional speed eaters eventually may develop morbid obesity, profound gastroparesis, intractable nausea and vomiting, and even the need for a gastrectomy. Despite its growing popularity, competitive speed eating is a potentially self-destructive form of behavior.”

“The worst I’ve ever felt was after downing 1.3 kg honey in 1 minute 37 seconds,” says Sankpal. “I started saying rubbish after it because there was so much sugar in my system that it really hits you. I just went and slept for a bit.” Do you worry about your health, we ask him, or sign up for body check-ups to know about long-term damage? “Not yet,” he says. “I try keep really healthy rest of the year, and I know I need to check my sugar levels and generally get tested. But I’ve not seen my weight fluctuate, and apart from the few uncomfortable minutes after each video or feeling out of breath for a bit, I haven’t felt sick.”

6) You can actually make money stuffing your face.

“Competitive eating is still too new in India but over the past year, I have not only been able to stop taking pocket money from my parents, but also purchase the equipment I need for my videos (camera, background, lights, laptop) by myself, and save a little. If you put up 7-8 videos a month and have 1 lakh-plus views, you can easily make Rs 30,000-40,000 a month. If your videos hit a million, the money can go up to even Rs 60,000. If I get a good job after graduation, I will take it up and do this by the side. But if this does really well and I meet my goal of a million subscribers, I will do it full-time.”

For competitive eaters in the land of plenty (and plenty-wasting) America, earning big bucks is a bigger possibility. The mega popular Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog-Eating Contest gets first-place winners $10,000, and champions often end up making six figures a year.

7) You don’t get into this because you love food.

So, you claim that your love for good grub is real and infinite. If that’s the reason you want to get into speed eating, allow us to tell you that you will not enjoy your ration. A pizza might be fun for three, seven, ten slices. But after the 15th, you might not want to look at one for a long time to come. “Even if it’s something delicious I love, like pastry, I hate it by the end of it,” says Sankpal. “There is no chance that you will enjoy the food you will eat. This is not about taste at all. Don’t do this for the love of food. You don’t want to end up hating what you love.”

Source:https://www.vice.com/en/article/yw7djy/7-secrets-of-a-competitive-eating-champ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wake_n_bite/channel/?hl=en

[penig]

On the one hand I know exactly what you mean. On the other hand, perception and memory are subjective and humans tend to perceive and remember negatives more than positives, so perhaps it will help you feel a little better to know that what I remember, alongside all those stupid takes, is a joyous festival of ace response to the adaptation; absolute waves of posts squealing: “Yes! Finally! Something for us!” Certainly aspec A/C fic is not hard to find, along with more genderfuckery than most fandoms attract.

And I think that a great deal of the nasty “queer baiting” nonsense came from the same relatively small group of sore heads making a disproportionate amount of noise, as soreheads always do, especially when they realize that they have already lost the ground they claim to defend. Probably that is a bit too harsh, since some of those heads are sore due to taking repeated blows; but I’ve taken my share of blows, too, and if it ever led me to shove someone else out of the boat we’re all in, I hope I never did it so loudly or rudely, and I am certainly very sorry for it.

I’m allo, myself, and hopelessly cis, but the paucity of aspec representation bothered me long before I knew what an asexual was, or gained enough knowledge of myself and the world to identify myself as queer. I grew up in the sixties, and approached the question from the feminist perspective that making romantic attachments the greatest thing in life, to which everything else was secondary, was prima faci absurd, out of line with feminist goals, and greatly insulting to people who had worthwhile lives on every other front. I had many historical and literary heroes who either never married, or manifestly should not have married, who led rich, rewarding, productive lives; I knew unmarried adults; as I grew older I was surrounded by people making themselves miserable solely because they didn’t have a romantic partner. There’s plenty in this world to make us miserable, without saddling ourselves with a monolithic vision of what we are supposed to want and making all of our other happiness subject to it. I saw enough divorces to know that romantic love is no guarantee of happiness or anything else.

I had no intention of marrying myself. No one was more surprised than me when I found someone I wanted to marry, and I was prepared to walk away from that if we couldn’t get on the same page. Sex is easy to get if you want it, affection takes many forms, and it is far more important to have equal and mutually respectful relationships than romantic ones. (In the event, I like being married a great deal, but I also think that my willingness to walk away from it in the beginning contributed a lot to my ability to find someone I could like it this much with. )

Anyway, once I identified as bi, it became clear that the division of the queer community into subsets that could be ranked in importance and legitimacy was counterproductive and that any group of people who had to spend time defining themselves and convincing others that they exist holds common cause with me. Bi erasure and ace erasure are the same thing at the root, and if allosexual homosexuals would only recognize it, they are both the same thing as the “just a phase” nonsense so many of them have to deal with (and guess what? So do we!).

Queer people of all kinds have had to live on the crumbs of the heterosexual table. We should all rejoice together now that we have a table, and cooperate to enlarge it and enjoy an ever more varied menu. Perhaps this is due to my own curation of the space I occupy (no anonymous contact, block people who anger or hurt me) but I see that far more than I see these dogs in the manger arrogating to themselves the identity of Only True Oppressed and speaking over and further marginalizing their fellow queers. My impression is, that they are primarily financially secure cis white gay men of a type I have met before, who grew up in the ruling class and internalized the notion that they belong among those who make the rules and hold the privilege to the degree that they can’t conceive of themselves in any other way, or of anyone unlike them being legitimately people. Like all such people, they are noisy out of all proportion to their importance in the larger scheme of things, and it gives them too much power to let them spoil your party. Block them and enjoy yourself. It is not their business what makes you feel represented.

And if you look in the fandom spaces that matter, you’ll find that the aces are not afraid to speak up, write the fics, make the art, and claim the space, and good for them.

i remember 2019 and how just ... shocking it was that people were so repulsed by the idea that crowley and aziraphale could be interpretted as asexual. not canonically! just interpretted that way! just violently hateful towards it i could never understand it and it caused me so much grief back then when i was so new to my identity. people i had followed for years were blogging nonstop about how "it's more important that they're gay" and "just watch a different show if you're ace" and g o d

right? i haven't been around the good omens fandom in years and had hoped people had moved on from the silly 'we're gonna call neil gaiman neilman because he doesn't deserve to have gay in his name cos these two men didn't have a kiss which is the only way to be gay' while we're on the sidelines like.. one, they're not two male characters, two what if they're asexual or demisexual or aromantic or aspec in anyway, three he literally confirmed they're in love, four have you seen all his other works that have gay and trans characters in. i don't know how in this later year post-sandman people can think gaiman has a problem with lgbt characters being lgbt on screen

[danielleverboski3d]

Danielle Verboski

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To obtain a sense of what your house could sell for in the market, I will research recent sales in the area. What do you estimate the house's worth? To obtain an unbiased evaluation of a home, it is advisable to seek suggestions from people you know. They are happy with the result, as are their bosses. We will promptly take down the "SOLD" sign as soon as we have confirmation of the transaction.

Your successes have made everyone in Mystic, Connecticut very happy. Your dedication to improving oneself inspires me. Its members include Danielle Verbleski and similar individuals. The real estate markets in Waterford and Stonington have grown significantly during the past few decades. Danielle Verboski, the agent, is dependable. You can examine Danielle's schedule by clicking on the link we provided. She will be there for you if you ever get into a financial jam. The towns of Stonington and Waterford, Connecticut, hold Danielle in the highest regard. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with Realtor Danielle if you would want more specific market information and are interested in purchasing or selling a property. She'll reply right now. Just by begging for help, she can be persuaded. Thanks to her wealthy parents and big family, she had the opportunity to experience the "American Dream" from an early age. She felt better after reading your analysis of the real estate market. There's no need to speed through real estate transactions because they are laborious and time-consuming. Think through all the outcomes before choosing a choice. Our diplomatic efforts have yielded little fruit thus far. I would be extremely thankful if anyone knew of a real estate agent in the Connecticut towns of Waterford or Stonington. The request is for your assistance. Do not hesitate to contact us if you require any extra assistance. Please get in touch with Danielle Verboski if you'd like to talk to her. No matter how small, every encounter gives us insight into the people we encounter.

[panharmonium]

beyond the white mountains

Since I’m on an Ealdor kick right now (not that I’m ever not, I mean, but working on that edit the other day and thinking about Merlin running away with Freya just started me feeling things with renewed intensity), here is some talk about my favorite location, for my own satisfaction.

(My deep and abiding interest in Merlin’s home is a pretty niche passion and probably not something that is particularly interesting to others, which means I haven’t ever really typed up any serious musings about it before, but at this point, I think anybody who hangs around my blog knows that my brain is at least 50% unfettered love for Merlin’s pre-Camelot life, so I’m just gonna go ahead and indulge myself here.)

Something that has always been a pet peeve of mine is the fact the map we’re all familiar with as supplemental material is wrong.

I know it comes from the BBC.  It is STILL WRONG.

I’m sure most everyone is already aware of this fact, just by virtue of looking at some of the other locations and thinking, “uhhh that really doesn’t make sense” (for instance, in the show, the Isle of the Blessed is canonically stated to be in Odin’s kingdom, whereas on this map it’s in Camelot) - but my particular area of interest, due to past writing escapades, is Ealdor and Cenred’s kingdom, so just to set the record straight on those locations specifically - this is what our supplemental map tries to tell us:

And this just isn’t right.  Canonically, Ealdor is NOT to the east of Camelot.  Cenred’s kingdom is NOT on Camelot’s eastern border.  And the White Mountains are NOT all the way over there!!!

Here are the Real Facts™, courtesy of the show:

1. Ealdor is NORTH of Camelot.

“So where are you headed?” (Tristan, asking where Merlin and Arthur are going, as they’re on their way to Ealdor.) “North, over the border.”

“We're heading north to a safe haven.  To Ealdor.”

2. The White Mountains lie BETWEEN Ealdor and Camelot, not way out in West Nowheresville.

“I know a place.  Ealdor.  It's beyond the White Mountains.”

“Ealdor lies at the far side of that valley....Agravaine couldn’t have tracked us through the mountains.” 

You can even see the mountain range in the show.  Ealdor is visibly situated in the valleys created by the foothills of The White Mountains.  Merlin has to hike THROUGH the White Mountains to get from Ealdor to Camelot:

And then this is the view on the way from Camelot to Ealdor:

And this is literally what Merlin sees every time he looks out his back door.  (This shot is from Hunith’s POV, when she’s standing on the village green watching the fab four head back to Camelot.)  

The map can say what it wants, but the White Mountains are NOT all the way over in the western reaches of Camelot, and Ealdor is not out to the east.  The mountains are NORTH of Camelot, forming a border between Uther and Cenred’s kingdoms, and Merlin’s home is nestled in their foothills.  When Merlin is out haymaking every June in the meadow pictured above, he’s doing it in the shadow of those very mountains. 

[This fits, too, with Hunith’s comment to Uther that “winters are harsh in Ealdor.”  The climate in various mountainous regions can differ tremendously, obviously, but if Ealdor is on the windward side of the range, it would receive a lot more precipitation (more snow!) than Camelot on the leeward side.  And then there’s mountain/gap winds to consider, altitude, etc - all things that could contribute to Ealdor experiencing slightly different winters than Camelot.]

It matters, too, when we think about the scene Merlin has with Freya in 2.09, when they’re talking about their respective homes - when Freya tells him her home was "surrounded by the tallest mountains” - when she talks about the winter storms, and the wind, and the summer wildflowers; when she says it was like heaven - that resonates with Merlin.  Freya doesn’t necessarily realize it, because Merlin has been more reticent than her about describing his home, but a lot of what she’s describing is familiar to him.  It speaks to him.  It paints a picture of something he misses, in a complicated way; it’s something he sees as beautiful.  “It sounds perfect,” he says to her.  And he means it.

There are a number of reasons why Merlin decides to run off with Freya in 2.09, and this is hardly the most important one.  But it does matter, and I personally think taking Merlin’s tangled, frequently-suppressed homesickness into account when we try to understand who he is and why he does the things that he does is relevant, always, even if that particular side of him usually goes undiscussed.

We know some other things about the geography surrounding Ealdor, too, though those features aren’t so egregiously mislabeled on the map.  

We know that there is a forest somewhere along the border that extends into Cenred’s kingdom (it’s labeled on the map, it’s just not big enough):

“We're going to Cenred's Kingdom, aren't we?” “What makes you say that?” “Er, because we're in the Forest of Ascetir and we're not stopping?”

(honestly, lol @ Arthur asking Merlin “what makes you say that”.....Merlin’s like “uhhhh i was born here???  i know where tf we are”)

We also know that there’s a “Ridge of Ascetir,” per Uther (I assume it’s associated with the White Mountains, but we can’t know that for sure):

“Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Ascetir.  For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war.” 

^ The above two elements bring up a point that I haven’t actually ever seen discussed anywhere else, and I assume it’s just because I wasn’t involved in fandom back when the show was actually airing - but, for clarity’s sake: there is NO canon indication of what Cenred’s kingdom is actually called.  I’ve seen the term “Essetir” used in some places on AO3, but that’s not something that actually comes from the canon, and I assume it’s just a fanon misspelling that emerged out of people mishearing the word “Ascetir” (or “Aesctir,” as 1.10′s subtitles put it) when characters were talking about the forest or the ridge.  The only places that canonically bear that name are the Forest of Ascetir and the Ridge of Ascetir, both of which are partially located in Camelot - there is no indication that Merlin’s home country is actually called Ascetir, and in fact the kingdom is only ever referred to as “Cenred’s kingdom” (or Lot’s kingdom, after Cenred is dead).

In terms of the rest of the area’s geographical features: we already know about the mountains (discussed above), and some sort of cave system (”I thought you said you grew up in these tunnels”) which exits (in one place, at least) out onto the side of a mountain, beyond which are plains (in Arthur’s words, when he suggests moving further into Lot’s kingdom) and then in the other direction there’s the Forest of Ascetir.  We know that there is a river associated with Ealdor (Morgana says “they’ve crossed the river” re: the bandits in 1.10), and we also know that Ealdor itself is bounded on one side by a steep stone ridge (the same one that Agravaine’s men line up on to surround the place):

And this ridge actually fits very well with what we see of the village itself.  Ealdor has to be located in an area where stone is easily accessible, otherwise its buildings would not look the way they do.  (BBC Merlin is, of course, a fantasy show, not taking place in a particular historical period, but just drawing from real history, most peasant homes in medieval England were not of stone construction, unless the village itself was located in an area where stone was plentiful and easy to access.  Moving stone for construction purposes was incredibly labor-intensive and, generally, prohibitively expensive.  But Ealdor is obviously located in an area where stone is readily available, and you can see indications of that in the image above.

Ultimately, is any of the above information relevant to anyone who isn’t me?  

No, not really.  And are there a lot of ways in which this show is often super inconsistent when it comes to geography?  Yes, absolutely.  (The Lake of Avalon, for instance, is ALL OVER THE PLACE.)  But, surprisingly, geographical info on Ealdor/Cenred’s kingdom is actually pretty consistent throughout the canon, and the map is the odd man out - so since canon tops supplementary material for me, and since the map is so clearly wrong about other things, this is how I conceive of Ealdor whenever I think/write about it.

[rhas-writes]

Intelligent Encounters - Il Dottore x Reader

Possible Spoilers! for 3.0 Ardravi Valley - Zandik's Legacy

Warning! Dottore and his disregard for human life

| Content? Fluff, hurt/comfort, reverse hurt/comfort, slight angst. | Format? A long drabble? I never know how to categorize these. | Pronouns? You/Your. | Relationship? Up to you. |

Context: Fallen Archon Reader - Tldr; Reader is very smart and has seen lots of Teyvat's history but has forgotten most of it.

Context: Assumes Dottore is Zandik (link to fandom wiki on his character summary).

---

Young!Dottore who crumples paper after paper, ruby eyes narrowing at the walls as he curses the Sages for their insolence.

Rejecting his thesis purely on the notion of it being longer than a thousand words is absurd. How is he supposed to put a cap on such genius?

In the midst of spouting ruthless threats to the Grand Sage for enforcing such a ridiculous rule, precise knocks sound from his door. He grimaces opening it, far too many insults readied on the tip of tongue. However, he clams up a little at the senior greeting him from the other side.

"Sharnama."

The older man politely nods in greeting, eyes far too tired to be open at this hour of night.

"Wh-"

"The Group of Daeva. You have heard of them, yes?"

The young scholar nods with pinched brows. The Group of Daeva is a supposed group of scholars that anonymously submit research to the Sages. But they're only an urban legend, so why bring them up?

"I am in contact with a few of their members and passed along your recent thesis proposal."

Before Dottore could spew his thoughts on carelessly sharing his work, the worn out man holds out a rolled parchment.

"There has yet to be a Daeva paper rejected by the Sages. I suggest you accept their revisions."

Sharnama leaves Dottore without another word, simultaneously solving the scholar's problem while creating a dozen more.

-

It takes Young!Dottore an obscene amount of time to track down his mentor's contact.

First it was Sharnama refusing to share any confirmed information about the Group of Daeva. Then it was finding and meeting many scholars who claim to be part of the group but after one conversation it's clear they do not have such academic prowess. Then it was getting railroaded by his teachers because they thought "he wasn't spending enough time on his research." The list goes on.

But he's finally managed to secure a line of communication with the group. Best of all, he's meeting one of their members tonight.

Young!Dottore who waits bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation. Oh the amount of questions he has for this unprepared individual. How many of you are there? Why publish anonymously? How do you publish anonymously while wearing an Akasha Terminal? Why do the Sages allow the group to exist?

His whirling thoughts come to a halt as a shadow falls across his shoes. A traveler, one that couldn't be any older than him - perhaps a few years younger, meets his imploring gaze.

-

Young!Dottore who perks up as his name falls from your lips. The unfamiliar cluster of butterflies he's slowly becoming accustomed to bristles at your fleeting touches. Research no longer takes up all of his mind for it has made room for you.

If someone had told him he'd experience such feelings he'd think them madder than himself. He's only ever felt something while pursuing knowledge.

His ecstatic cheers and grins were reserved for breakthroughs in his research. They aren't shared over other accomplishments or with other people. His ceaseless thoughts were filled with what ifs and what could be. They don't wander aimlessly about your likes and dislikes. He's soon to complete his first thesis paper, his feelings should be trivial compared to such an achievement.

Yet...they're not.

You're not.

-

Young!Dottore who you know as the slightly off the rails scholar Zandik. He is unique in every sense of the word. His crazed and often blasphemous spewings push people away but you can't help but be drawn in.

Like a moth to a flame, his ambition shines bright. His intellect is sharper than his piercing scarlet gaze. In all your recollection, you have never met someone quite like him.

There is an immediate bond when you first meet, one only made between like minds. A bond you haven't had since the betrayal that cost your life as an archon. But even then, Zandik understands you. He gets you in a way no other being has.

When you accidentally fall into a long tangent criticizing a Vahumana article on the many evildoings of the Scarlet King based on recently discovered ruins, Zandik doesn't listen just to placate your feelings, he listens because he sees you're making a valid point. He builds off your argument, poking and prodding at possible holes and the two of you spend the night debating the authenticity of scholarly conclusions on past civilizations.

Something dark and sinister brews within Zandik. He's swift to reel in its rare occurrence, but you know it's there. Even before meeting him, you knew it was there. His rejected thesis easily gave it away. He cares little for anything outside of himself. Everything is just a means to and end for his research. He desires only the answers to his endless questions.

But who are you to chastise him? After all, don't you desire the same?

-

Young!Dottore who bares all of himself to you in the light of the rising sun. It comes after weeks of not seeing him and days of him not sleeping.

He barges into your quaint abode, almost receiving a knife to the chest if not for his familiar ramblings. Ah, that's right. You had given him a key - should he need anything, he can find help in you.

He drags you through the forest by the wrist, hushing any protest from you with an excited grin. It's an easy but out of the way path, one that he's walked a countless number of times.

It's at a disguised entrance at the end of a shallow cave where he stops. Caught in the rush of finally overcoming his most difficult project yet, he didn't think about what he was doing. Not once did he question why he was running to find you. The want. The need. To show you his success was a far too natural instinct for him to ignore.

For the first time in his life, Zandik feels the crippling pressure of fear root him to the ground. What if you report him to the Sages for this? What if this goes beyond your morals? What if you want nothing to do with him after this?

Darkness creeps to the edges of his vision, thoughts tunneling in a way they've never done before. He doesn't want to lose you. He can't lose you.

"-ik? Zandik?"

Your free hand clasps around his while the other stays in his tight grip.

"Zandik, you look awful. Is this where you've been? You need to take better care of yourself, at least the bare minimum."

Anyone else's voice would have been nails on a chalk board. But yours is an exception. Perhaps that's what it's always been. You as the exception. The uncontrollable variable.

Wordlessly his fingers intertwine with yours and he leads you to his biggest secret.

A barely lit cave with only the bare minimum to call it a lab. Papers and chalk boards haphazardly strewn about. The odd combination of damp soil and artificial cleaner wrinkles your nose. But at the center of it all is a child scribbling with crayons.

The matching hues of blue hair, pale skin, and scarlet eyes is unmistakable. You've heard Zandik complain about how he wishes there were more of him, how he could get so much more done. But it was never more than that.

"Is this...what I think it is?"

His hand grips yours, afraid that you'll run.

"This is just the beginning. The replication of human beings is a mere stepping stone to what I truly think is possible."

He turns to you, eyes burning into yours with fervor.

"Think about it, the sanctity of the gods because they hold some great power is foolish. Humans are adaptable. They can have endless potential given the right circumstances. I believe one can become a god, perhaps even greater than. And I know I will achieve this in the future, today is proof of that."

You can feel the rapid thrums of his heartbeat, the blood rushing through his veins. You can feel the determination in every word he speaks. It's familiar. It's exhilarating. It's ambition.

Pure uninhibited ambition radiates from him in tidal waves. It cradles you with blazing flames that sears your skin. The sensation was once forgotten but it reaches your chest and blooms the memories from long ago.

Home. Everything in this moment reminds you of the home you built upon the cruelest lands the earth had to offer.

His skin is cool to the touch as you cup his face.

"Then do it. If this is your goal, reach it."

-

It's been a few months since he's shown you his true self and Young!Dottore could not be happier about the outcome.

He didn't think it was possible to grow so close to a person, to need someone so desperately. He works so much better with you around - he has a chart on it and everything. His efficiency, productivity, everything goes up when he's with you.

Life is smooth sailing for him. His experiments are progressing accordingly. He's on the last parts of his second thesis and he's sure it will pass the academic review. Even his body is in reasonable health, thanks to your constant reminders.

Oh, but how quickly the winds change and the tides turn.

It's in his little slice of heaven that your hell appears.

-

Young!Dottore who plans a stargazing picnic and comes prepared to debate its celestial existence. Truth be told, he's noticed you've been a little off lately and hopes this will prove a helpful distraction.

Dinner is unusually quiet as Zandik tries to fill the empty space for two. You're distant and hardly touch the food.

"What's wrong with you?"

The words themselves seem harsh but his tone is soft and laced with concern. He's never been good or decent with emotions but he's trying.

"I-"

A somber torrent of conflict fills your eyes as your mouth opens and closes. Zandik waits with bated breath, his hand reaching yours, imploring you to continue.

"It was tonight."

Every instinct of self-preservation tells you to stop. Celestia erased your existence. Even the Irminsul has forgotten you. But you can't. You can't keep it in anymore. A hundred years of masquerading, of secrecy, of acting ignorant and trying to find so many answers.

It's all too much. And finally, finally, there's someone who has understood everything else about you. So maybe, just maybe, he'll believe what you have to say.

"They killed me this very night."

Layers upon layers of walls come tumbling down as you spill your true identity. Zandik listens intently, his arms holding your shaking body.

Everything you say should be music to his ears. Once you regain all your memories, you'll be an endless pool of knowledge - one far easier to deal with than the Akasha System. Archaic relics, automatons, long lost languages, surely you must hold even the thinnest sliver of information on them. Beyond all this, you're a perfect specimen to dissect.

And yet.

The thought of slicing your flesh raises bile in his throat. He feels an anger with cruel intensity course through his veins. His ice cold heart squeezes as your tears coat soak past his shirt. He couldn't care less about people's feelings but seeing your pain awakens an unruly beast in him.

Zandik pulls you impossibly closer, teeth gritting against each other. His breath is hot against your neck as he speaks so lowly you're not sure you were supposed to hear it.

"Those cretin had no forethought in disposing of such an intelligent and exquisite creature. Together, we will find every answer we seek. No knowledge shall be out of our grasps."

-

If only either of you knew what the words each of you spoke would lead to.

---

Requests? Critiques? Share your thoughts!

Published: 09 October 2022