#and working solely in volunteer capacity

[zarya-zaryanitsa]

The most baffling thing I discovered while working in divorces is that divorcing men will surprising often start acting like the children are no longer theirs the second children no longer live in the same home as they do. I can’t come up with any explanation other than „they consider their children to be objects (perhaps some form of home decor) that they can own, but no longer wish to finance if they aren’t in possession of them/can’t control their comings and goings at all times”.

[sofiascripts]

love in recovery ✧.*

pro hero bakugou x reader

when pro hero dynamite, along with some other heros, step in to assist midoriya during the intense ua finals, he finds himself accidentally injured and in need of treatment from the new recovery girl. assuming she follows the same procedure as her predecessor, he expects a kiss on the cheek to heal his wounds.

✎ wc: 3656

ׂ╰┈➤ warnings: cursing... and not proofread

when you had started at u.a. high, it had been filled with excitement and anticipation. every day had felt like a new adventure, with the hallways buzzing with energy from the promising students. you were new to the area, having moved into musutafu for the job, leaving all your friends and family back home. it wasn’t as scary as you thought it would be, and you had midoriya to thank for that. he started around the same time as you, and since he grew up in the area and graduated from u.a., he was more than willing to show you around.

you were no idiot; you knew about him way before his introduction. after all, the name izuku midoriya was synonymous with heroism, the man who had followed in all might's footsteps and become a beacon of hope for so many. but despite his accomplishments and fame, midoriya was incredibly humble. he didn’t mention even once that he was pretty much the sole reason you were here, working this job, and pursuing your own dreams. he could’ve easily let his reputation speak for itself, but instead, he chose to connect with you as an equal, as if he were just another colleague finding his place in the world.

you couldn't help but admire him for that. his kindness and humility made it easy to settle in and find your footing. he introduced you to a few of his friends and they welcomed you with open arms, he was always there with a smile or a word of encouragement, and before long, you found yourself feeling more at home than you ever expected.

this was your second year as the new nurse at u.a. high. your quirk, aura of restoration, allows you to emit a healing aura within a certain radius, gradually mending wounds, restoring energy, and alleviating pain for anyone within its range. it's a powerful quirk, capable of providing much-needed relief during intense training sessions and after battles. you can also focus your aura on one individual, which is especially helpful when the injury is serious because all of the healing is concentrated on them.

however, your quirk comes with significant drawbacks. the more people you heal at once, the more energy it drains from you, leaving you physically and mentally exhausted. on particularly challenging days, even maintaining the aura for a few minutes can be taxing. additionally, your quirk is highly sensitive to your mental state; if you're stressed or anxious, the effectiveness of the healing diminishes. the aura might flicker or fail entirely, putting those relying on your help at risk.

despite these challenges, you take great pride in your work. you often volunteer at hospitals to strengthen the capacity at which you can heal. you’ve become a familiar face to the students and staff, offering them not just physical healing but also a sense of comfort and reassurance. many students appreciate your presence, often stopping by not just for medical help but also for a few calming words or a bit of advice—or perhaps just as an excuse to get out of class. you appreciate it nonetheless!

today the atmosphere in ua was even more exciting than usual, it was lovely, you knew your quirk would be extra strong today. you continued down the hallways waving hello to your colleagues and stopping by the faculty room.

“good morning, mr. aizawa,” you greeted as you poured yourself a cup of coffee, the rich aroma began to fill the room.

aizawa glanced up from his papers, his usual tired expression softening just slightly. “morning,” he mumbled, taking a sip from his own mug.

“what’s the deal today? the energy in the building feels different—much stronger and very lively,” you remarked, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of your coffee.

aizawa raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting toward the window where sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow across the room. “some of the pro heroes are coming in today to help with the students' finals. it’s got them all worked up. they’re eager to impress,” he explained, his tone as calm as ever, but with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“ah, that would explain it,” you said, nodding in understanding, “its going to be quite a show with all of them here.”

aizawa smirked slightly, a rare expression for him. “and some of the teachers are also looking forward to seeing their old students,” he added, a knowing glint in his eyes.

“oh? so we might see some of your former students too, then?” you teased, trying to imagine aizawa in a more sentimental light.

he shrugged, but there was a trace of fondness in his voice when he replied, “maybe. it’s always interesting to see how they’ve gro–

before mr. aizawa could finish, a cheerful voice cut through the conversation causing both your heads to turn toward the doorway “good morning, mr. aizawa! y/n!”

“goodmorning izuku! we were just talking about you,” you turned to aizawa and watched as he let out a loud and obnoxious sigh causing midoriya to raise a brow, but neither of you missed the way the corner of his lips twitched up, as if he was forcing himself not to smile.

midoriya continued toward the bagel arrangement, selecting one and slicing it open with practiced ease. “oh? all good things, i hope?” he asked with a knowing glint in his eye as he spread cream cheese on his bagel.

you took another sip of your coffee, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “what else could there be?” you replied, setting the mug down on the counter.

midoriya’s grin widened as he prepared his bagel, clearly pleased by the compliment. “guess i’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

you finished your coffee and placed the mug in the sink, quickly washing it before putting it away in the cabinet. “i heard your friends are coming in today. are you excited?” you asked, turning back to him as you dried your hands.

“of course!” midoriya beamed, crumbs falling from his bagel onto the plate as he spoke with his mouth partially full. “it’s not often we can all coordinate our schedules like this. it’s always great to catch up and see how everyone’s been progressing. they’ve been training hard as heroes, so i’m really looking forward to seeing how they’ve grown.”

you leaned against the counter, your smile softening as you watched him enjoy his breakfast. “i just hope they don’t rough up my students too much,” you said, a hint of concern in your voice. “i want everyone to stay safe and make the most of today’s opportunities.”

midoriya chuckled softly, his eyes filled with reassurance. “don’t worry. they’re professionals. they’ll push the students, but they know how to keep things balanced and constructive.”

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘♡︎∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ 

“DIE! DIE! DIE!” you swore you could feel the observation room shake every time that angry blonde yelled, even if he didn’t set off any explosions. 

you were stationed in a temporary office nearby the testing site. there were three battles at a time and you had nine screens, giving you three different angles for each fight.

you were in the middle of healing three students who had all failed their practical exam, the sadness in their voices was evident making you a little bit sad which caused your quirk to work a bit slower than you liked. the room was filled with the low hum of concern and the occasional sharp war cry from bakugou, whose frustration was clear even through the thick walls of the medical bay. his voice, filled with rage, echoed through the facility.

one of the students from tsukuyomis group, still visibly shaken, tried to explain the chaotic battle to you as you worked. “that was so scary,” they said, their voice trembling. “one minute i was trying to——and then dark shadow, and the next, i was—oh my gosh—out of nowhere, everything just went boom!”

you tried to listen attentively, nodding in fake understanding while focusing on your healing. you were pacing around the room, allowing yourself to spread the calm and healing aura to each of the three students around you. all had very minor injuries, which is what most of the students had when they came in. you were really nervous for pro hero explosion god something murder the dynamites students though. “GET OVER HERE YOU BRAT!” you tensed up for a minute and sighed, grateful that you had already gone through your training and never had to experience a mentor like that.

as bakugou’s furious shouts reverberated through the medical bay, you couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. his anger was intimidating, almost overwhelming, but beneath that fiery exterior was something undeniably impressive. it wasn’t just his raw power or the way he commanded attention—it was his unyielding determination, his refusal to accept anything less than excellence from himself and those around him. he pushed his group of students hard, maybe too hard, but it was clear that he did it because he believed in their potential. he saw something in them that they might not even see in themselves, and he was determined to drag it out, kicking and screaming if necessary.

“try to focus on your breathing,” you gently advised one of the students, she was one of the students that failed. you placed a reassuring hand on their shoulder, your aura continuing to work its calming magic. “you did well, remember, it’s all part of the process. everyone grows at their own pace.”

the student nodded, their breath evening out as they relaxed under your guidance. you could see the tension slowly melting away from their posture, and you were glad to see it. it was moments like this—when you could help bring someone back from the brink of fear and uncertainty—that made your job worth it.

“let’s get you patched up,” you said softly, moving to the next student, who offered you a grateful, if somewhat shaky, smile. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘♡︎∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ 

you had just finished up with the last round of students, sighing in relief as you began to tidy up your small office. the day's paperwork had demanded most of your attention, so you were completely absorbed in clearing your desk when a sudden, loud thump made you jump. heart racing, you spun toward the source of the noise, fear gripping you as you realized you hadn't even heard anyone enter.

"got hit." the voice that broke the silence was gruff and low, tinged with irritation. you turned fully to see him—pro hero great god dynamite murder explosion, something like that—sitting on one of your beds, his usually fierce gaze narrowed slightly as he pointed to a small cut at the top of his forehead. your eyes widened, and your mouth hung slightly agape. bakugou was the last person you'd expect to see wounded by a simple training exercise.

but you quickly gathered yourself, professionalism taking over. "oh? pro hero dynamite got bested by a couple of kids?" you teased lightly, trying to mask your concern with a touch of humor.

his scowl deepened, though there was a flicker of something like amusement in his eyes. "first off, it’s pro hero great explosion murder god dynamite." he sank into the chair across from you with a grunt. "second, they made me go easy on those brats. 'course they got a hit in." he made a face, clearly mimicking someone else. "'told me i couldn’t just fail them all, it would ruin their self-esteem.'"

you bit back a smile as you began to assess him more thoroughly. the cut on his forehead was minor, but your trained eyes quickly scanned for any other injuries. as you reached for his wrists, you noticed two quirk-suppressing bands clamped around them. one of those could practically nullify a person’s quirk—two were overkill, even for someone as powerful as bakugou. your gaze drifted lower, and he caught you staring at his ankles.

"they slapped these on too," he grumbled, pointing at the heavy weights secured there. "said it was to 'even the playing field.' whatever that means."

you hummed thoughtfully, gently inspecting the quirk-suppressing bands. "they really didn't want you going all out, huh?" you murmured, more to yourself than to him.

he huffed, crossing his arms. "if i hadn’t been wearing all this crap, they wouldn’t have landed a damn finger on me."

he then pointed at the small cut on his forehead again, a slight tilt of his head making it clear he was expecting something. you blinked at him, confused for a moment, before the realization dawned on you. "you want me to... kiss it?"

"what, you think i’m here for a band-aid? just get it over with already.” 

you stared at him, half-expecting him to crack a smile and admit he was joking, but his serious expression made it clear he wasn't. and then it dawned on you, he thought you were like recovery girl. he thought that your quirk required a kiss to heal. 

despite the absurdity of the situation, you found yourself hesitating. he was in a foul mood, and it was probably best not to argue, so you let out a small sigh.

"right... sure," you muttered you. you leaned in closer to him, slowly activating your quirk before your lips lightly brushed against the small cut on his forehead, leaving a faint warmth behind. you pulled back quickly, your cheeks slightly flushed as you avoided his gaze,

“all set!” you say softly, you move over to your desk to once again busy yourself with your paperwork. he stared at you for a moment but slowly got up and walked to one of the mirrors in the room and stared at the spot where the cut once was, deciding that your work was good, he began to leave but paused when he heard you chuckle softly.

"what’s so funny?" he asked, his tone a mix of irritation and curiosity.

"oh, nothing," you replied, "just picturing you going easy on a bunch of kids. it's hard to imagine."

bakugou grunted in response, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward just slightly—a rare almost-smile.

"don't get used to it," he warned, "next time, those brats won't know what hit 'em."

you couldn’t help but roll your eyes, finally allowing yourself to smile as you watched him head toward the door. "try not to get hit again, dynamite," you called after him, half-teasing, half-serious.

he glanced back at you, smirking. "don’t hold your breath."

and with that, he was gone, leaving you alone in your now slightly less cluttered office, shaking your head in amusement.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘♡︎∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ 

you didn’t expect to see bakugou for a while—actually, you didn’t expect to see him ever again after healing him on the first day of finals. but to your surprise, he kept coming back to your office after every fight. each time, he had nothing more than minor scuffs and bruises, barely anything that needed attention.

he also always conveniently liked to show up after all the other students were gone. you couldnt complain though, it allowed you to focus on the students and it made it easier for you to maintain the little white lie that you were just like recovery girl. though you couldn’t quite figure out why he kept coming back, especially when his injuries were barely worth mentioning—a few scrapes, a bruise here and there, nothing serious. 

each visit left you more puzzled, wondering what exactly was going through his mind. was he really that concerned with every little scratch, did he have some sort of problem? 

eventually, curiosity got the better of you. after yet another visit where his injuries were almost laughable, you couldn’t hold back any longer. you leaned in slightly, a playful smile tugging at your lips. "so, bakugou, are you here for the healing, or do you just enjoy my company?" you teased, raising an eyebrow. "because these tiny bruises hardly seem worth the trip." you gave him a quick peck, still activating your quirk.

he brushed off your question with his usual gruff attitude. “told you, it’s about staying in top shape. can’t have anything slowing me down, not even a damn scratch,” he snapped, his voice laced with irritation. “gotta be at my best if i’m gonna be number one.” but as tough as he tried to sound, the slight redness creeping up his neck betrayed him. his eyes flicked away, avoiding your gaze like he was hiding something. despite his words, you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his frequent visits than just wanting to stay in peak condition. 

but you didn’t push. instead you gave him a small smile before moving back to your desk.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘♡︎∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ 

it was the last day of the students' finals and also your last day at ua before winter break. just like he had been doing for the past two weeks, bakugou was back in your office, sitting on one of the infirmary beds with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, waiting for you to finish up and give him a ‘healing’ kiss.

you were helping midoriya with something before bakugou arrive, and when he walked in, you hald expected him to demand your attention as he usually did, but he simply took a seat and waited. you glanced at him, surprised by his uncharacteristic patience, but decided to finish up with midoriya first.

bakugou sat there, silently fuming as he watched you and midoriya chatting away. every now and then, a soft laugh would escape your lips, or you'd toss in a teasing comment that made midoriya blush slightly. each time, bakugou's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists as he tried to keep himself from blowing up right then and there. he was certain midoriya was dragging things out on purpose.

“thanks again,” midoriya said, glancing at the paperwork you'd helped him with. “not sure why they make these sites so difficult.”

“sure thing, zuku," you replied with a grin, your tone light and teasing. "but i gotta say, you're pretty hopeless when it comes to this tech stuff, huh?"

the nickname made bakugou twitch in his seat, his patience wearing thin. he couldn’t stand seeing you and deku acting all buddy-buddy, especially not when he was practically bleeding out of a deep wound in the middle of your office. it was about the size of a paper cut.

midoriya, ever observant, noticed the bakugou's odd behavior. a knowing smirk spread across his face as he decided to push his old friend’s buttons just a bit more. “i don’t think i’ve ever seen you visit recovery girl this much back in our school days, kachann,” he remarked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

bakugou’s glare sharpened, and he turned his head toward midoriya, practically daring him to continue. “what?” you asked, catching the tail end of their exchange, curiosity piqued.

midoriya's smirk widened, his voice lowering even further. “oh, nothing. just noticing how often you’re in here these days, bakugou. you know, back in the day, you couldn’t stand being patched up, always rushing out before recovery girl could even finish. funny how things change.”

bakugou’s patience snapped. he shot to his feet, fists clenched at his sides. “scram, nerd,” he barked, his voice low and threatening. “didn’t want old lady lips on me back then, and i sure as hell don’t want you flappin’ yours now.”

midoriya chuckled, holding his hands up in mock surrender as he stepped back. “alright, alright. i’m going.” he turned to you, giving you a warm smile. “thanks again. see you after the break.” with that, he left the room, leaving you alone with a still fuming bakugou.

you couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as you finally turned your full attention to him. “you’re really going to blow a gasket one of these days, bakugou,” you teased, walking over to where he was standing.

“shut up and just get on with it,” he grumbled, though the red creeping up his neck betrayed his embarrassment.

you couldn’t resist one last tease before giving him what he’d come for. “you’ve really gotta tell me, are you here for the treatment, or is it my company you're after?” you asked, a playful glint in your eye.

“just do your damn job,” he muttered, but you caught the faintest hint of a smile on his lips as he sat back down.

you leaned in, pressing a light kiss to the small bruise on his arm as your quirk activated. bakugou watched you closely, his irritation fading as the warmth of your quirk spread through him. despite his gruff exterior, he always seemed a little calmer after these visits, like the tension he carried with him all day finally started to ease up.

as you pulled back, you noticed his gaze lingering on you, a question unspoken in his eyes. but before you could ask, he stood up abruptly, heading for the door without another word.

“bakugou,” you called out, making him stop mid-step. he turned to face you, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. you gave him a playful smile, trying to keep the mood light. “be careful out there, wont be around to patch all those little scapes and bruises.”

he raised an eyebrow, his usual scowl softening slightly. “so?”

you shrugged, a teasing grin on your lips. “sooo don’t want those little injuries to add up and start slowing you down, especially with your fight for the number one spot and all.”

he huffed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “no promises,” he muttered, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before he turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.

a/n: thank you guys so much for all the love on striking a chord like omg i lit cant believe it Agafhdsjhfjnwjen i love you all so so very much and appreciate all of the likes and reblogs <333 there will be a chapter very very soon and i hope you all enjoyed this little thang as a token of my appreciation, lmk if you want a part 2!!!

(*♡´‿` 人´‿` ♡*)ﾟ

part two: love in recovery: the unmanliest of pairs!

[wombatwisdom]

The Institution

In the version of the first vision that is most frequently quoted by church members, I find the question posed by the 14 year old, soon to be prophet, rather telling.

He does not ask a personal question, such "how can I be a better disciple of Jesus Christ?" Or even more biblical "what lack I yet?"

Nor does he ask a more general question like "how can I help people more fully come unto Christ?"

The question he poses is an institutional one: "Which of all the sects was right, that I may know which to join." (JS History 1:18)

It should be noted that this account was not drafted until 1838, and is likely not a perfect recounting of events but rather a recounting with a purpose. If you are trying to convince people that a church is the one true church of God, the question that initiated the vision had better be about churches.

I think, however, this institutional focus looms large in our church, exacerbated by correlation efforts in the latter half of the 20th century. In many ways, the church has survived and thrived off its institutional design.

As I see it, the church has two aspects that constantly create tension: the centralized institution (think church headquarters) and the local congregation (think your ward or branch). Historically, the church has oscillated between different approaches: at times highly centralized, others more localized. In the modern church, it has struck a rather successful balance between the two, and landed in what I like to call the "franchise model".

My mother likes to say she loves that church is the same no matter where she attends. And generally that's true--she knows she can share her testimony on the first Sunday of the month, she knows what class to attend for second hour, and she knows when to sit, stand, sing, and say amen.

In truth the structure of the church on this tightrope between the top down approach of the centralized church and the bottom up approach of the localized church is a marvel. The average member feels empowered at the local level while supported by a larger framework maintained by a centralized group. Local leaders are volunteers (sort of), so less likely to be swayed to corruption, while the central leadership is full time with the capacity to address sweeping and large issues.

But these two structures pull against each other too. Local congregations can veer too far from the comfort of Central planning and can have their autonomy reduced (see women on the stand in California). Central leadership can implement policy that is difficult to enforce at the local level that will just kind of be forgotten (see the countless examples of leadership roulette).

Central leadership's goal is to maintain the institution and keep the train on the tracks, where the local congregation's goal is to foster community. And between the two is the estuary of middle-management who are trying support both at the same time (a confusing and thankless task if there ever was one).

These goals can be tricky to support and are often contradictory but can be advantageous to the church as a whole.

You've probably seen this in action. If someone in your ward mistreats you and you offer this as reason for no longer attending, you are often reminded that the church is more than the local community, it is a global Church run by God and you shouldn't abandon it because of a less than stellar ward environment. Similarly, if Central Leadership proposes a policy that marginalizes you or othes, the defense is to remember how great a community of saints exists and how much you are loved.

This makes it difficult to criticize, advocate or create positive change in the church. While grassroots movements can work, it is important to see how both sides of the church work and in what ways they are interconnected and how they are separate. A movement solely focused on improving the community does not change damaging centralized policy or teachings, likewise even perfect policy will not create the desired effect if the local community is hostile or otherwise unable to implement it.

From the very beginning of the LDS tradition there has been an eye towards institutionalism. Much more can and needs to be said regarding how Christ fits into the institution, but this post is already too long to tackle that. So, I'll leave it here for now.

[bfpnola]

image description under the cut

when i was 12, i was ambitious. a heart of gold, in the words of earth, wind & fire, i truly believed that nothing could stop me so long as i gave it my all. no obstacle was too large, no goal was too distant. now, at 20, my dreams are shattered in many ways. yet in many ways i am still grateful (and i am aware that i have so much left to live). i owe it to the family i have created to tell this complex truth over a neatly told lie:

for the nearly 8 years that better future program, inc. (bfp) has existed, i have run it almost entirely alone. each time that we gained momentum, it was as though the narrow visions of others dragged us right back to the depths of the void. and i was the one always left to pick up the pieces. you see, for nearly 8 years, i fought and cried, chased and fell, lived and died. but it was through my struggles that i made lifelong friends to kiss the very scars this organization has graced me with. i will always hold a place in my heart for the volunteers who showed up, who bleed alongside me as these words rip into our spirits.

you see, i am writing this because i am a changed person. called every name in the book right down to ngger whore*, something about my soul is hurting. my children and i, my wonderful children, have spent 8 years begging our white peers to care. it does something to you… to look into someone’s eyes, to say that you feel as though you could die, that the world has cursed you with this endless sense of urgency, and for them to only center their themselves whiteness in the end. even in the home we had created, we could not escape white supremacy. i refuse to sugarcoat just how heartbreaking a revelation this was. in the words of one of our truest and most gentle-hearted allies, internally, we had become parasitic, only existing to serve the needs and wants of our white members. and of course, we were disposable. when cycles of harm were disrupted, they left us without a single word of remorse.

my children and i, we are a broken people. torn from our homes, our hearts cracked open, we are a people whose throats are hoarse from screaming, who eyes flood like the mississippi river, whose soles are calloused from chasing after dreams (after humanization) across red-hot coal. we are burnt out.

so where does this leave us? what does any of this mean? crucial details highlighted below:

better future program, inc. (bfp) is changing. our nonprofit status will remain. but our volunteer positions will not. our liberation library will remain. but our discord server will not. we will no longer accept donations. our current funds will be redistributed through mutual aid networks. our 3,000 free resources will still be available. but our capacity for material change has truly been diminished. we hope to continue to provide marginalized youth with educational materials for as long as we possibly can. and so we will do so, for as long as we possibly can.

you see, my children and i, we are a resilient people. borne of slave ships and reservations, occupation and colonization, abuse and grief, we are survivors. our hands grasp one another’s tightly so that we may never lose each other in this world. we have held hands since before we ever even met. as we venture back out into our local communities, we will never stop being intentional in our relationships (in fact, we already have a new project in the works so that may stick together). better future program, inc. (bfp) has still given us so much. and for that we will always be grateful.

if you have any further questions, which i imagine you might, feel free reach out through info@betterfutureprogram.org, instagram (@bfpnola), or tumblr (@bfpnola), as these socials will remain available.

thank you so much for supporting us for as long as you have. it’s time we take a new path.

sincerely,

reaux (she/they)

founding executive director

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Okay but what if those A and B characters that creators substitute for relationship dynamics are actors who volunteer to be placeholders

And what if A secretly resents B because A always has to be the cheery, sunny, character, who loves without limits and always plays the initiator

What if A is sick and tired of only being relevant in B's context because B somehow ends up consistently becoming the base for the fan favorite character while A just becomes the character shipped with them

What if under that resentment is jealousy, and under that jealousy is hurt, because A gets it, A gets why B is so loved, and A wants to be loved too but B is nothing but cold and distant towards them when they're working together

What if A secretly wonders if their capacity to constantly pour into someone is the reason B is so loved, and if the reason B never looks at A twice is because B doesn't want to acknowledge that

What if, for how cold B acts when they're posing with A, it's because they love A

What if B wants to turn around and dump all the love and gentleness and joy and safety that A has given them over the years back onto them, but they can't

What if B wants to make absolutely sure that their motives are pure, and is just waiting for a chance when they're not acting to do so because that's not something they want shared with an audience

What if B used to freeze up whenever those chances came along, and now they don't get those chances anymore because A decided the best thing for both of them was to show up, act, and leave

What if one day A and B show up, only to find out that the creator who booked them got art/writer's block and couldn't make it

What if B invites A back to their place and is surprised that A is surprised when they do

What if A goes along with B's request solely because it was so unexpected they just said "yes" and now they're wondering why they're willingly walking into a space that'll only tell them all over again how contextual and relative their importance is

What if B's living space has been transformed over time to be a safe haven from their many admirers

What if A had forgotten what it felt like to be safe

What if A and B start talking as B makes A's favorite drink order and casually calls them by their real name (which doesn't even start with A!)

What if B finally gets to show all the warm colors and nurturing nature and gentle smiles and initiation that they always have to hide under a blue-grey watercolor wash when they're on set

What if A's so lost at this point that they just -

What if A just breaks

What if all the burnished bronze of their golden retriever smile finally gets a break and all the yellows and oranges of their character start running off like paint bleeding down a soaked newspaper

What if B sits in quiet, cold horror as they finally realized that for all the details they noticed and care they held, they never saw A's pain

What if A does their best not to let too much out, but B is perceptive enough to realize that they're the reason the most beautiful thing in their life has been falling apart

What if B apologizes

What if A tells them it might've been their effect, but it wasn't their fault

What if B asks A to let them take care of them

What if A says no

What if A says that they don't want a caretaker, they want a friend

What if B calls out for both of them for the next few weeks and tells A they can stay in their safe space as long as they need to (work can wait, the creators love it when C and D show up to do their "idiot gremlins in love" act)

What if B spends the next week battling the heartache of finally having the connection they wanted in their grasp, only to realize they still needed to earn the privilege of having all that love and care accepted from the person they'd refused to interact with earlier

What if A spends the next week rediscovering what it means to trust someone and start accepting in return what they've been giving and giving and giving

And giving and giving and giving

What if one week in A finally asks if it's okay for them to take

What if B says yes, if A asks first and waits for permission

What if the first thing A asks for is to be held

What if it's one of the most awkward cuddles in the world, at first, because A's always been build for hugging and B's always been built to be hugged and B's arms aren't used to reaching out quite so expressively and A isn't used to curling up into a tiny ball for such a happy reason

What if they both start to wonder if this is what love actually feels like

What then?

[robins-egg-bindery]

Renegade Publishing & The Realities of Anti-Censorship

DISCLAIMER: I can only speak for myself and my own thoughts and opinions; I do not speak for Renegade, ASH, or anyone else. I am attempting to come at this from an objective viewpoint, insofar as any human is able to manage. No part of this is meant as an attack, but rather an open dialogue about community values.

We are a not-for-profit guild of fanbinders — publishing in extremely limited edition fannish works, including fanfiction, meta, original fic, zines, and other works. We are a transformative community connected by shared values, shared goals, shared work, and shared stories. We value fanfiction and fanwork in all its forms, and our fannish culture’s infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

-Excerpt from “Renegade Publishing Manifesto”

Renegade was founded by ArmoredSuperHeavy in 2020, following a viral post titled “I am a Guerrilla Publisher.” This post, along with his document “How To Make A Book”, found its way to like minded folks, spawned a community, and incited the modern fanbinding movement as it is seen today.

This community has since grown exponentially. It can be difficult to see Renegade as a whole, and by extension how vast it is, but here are some statistics to put it into perspective:

SNAPSHOT OF A YEAR (2022)

Typesetting/Binding Exchange: 33 typesetting participants, 41 bound fic participants, more than doubled from the previous year.

FFWAD (Fan Fiction Writer Appreciation Day): 34 books sent to 9 countries

Binderary: 156 books created in 2022. This year, 2023, we had 729 books created from 117 different fandoms.

Additionally, we have Renegade members on every continent (barring Antarctica). The Discord has risen to over 2,000 people, with the Renegade Publishing membership nearing 200. We are a guild of artists shaped by shared community values surrounding the ethos of fanbinding as a craft. Renegade as an organization is run by a volunteer group 40+ strong, with a code of conduct and rules written collectively; no one member or person holds any superior power over the group as a whole. Generalizations on a community this wide and this deep are misplaced and misrepresented.

I myself have been heavily involved in many of these volunteer efforts and events, in a mission to make Renegade’s resources visible and accessible to all, because I believe fanbinding on the whole will be richer and more fulfilling, the more people who are empowered to bind for themselves.

We bind for the following reasons:

To stand against censorship in any of its forms. Most of the books contain subject matter some people may find objectionable on various grounds. Some binders deliberately seek out works that authors and artists were persecuted online for creating.

-Excerpt from “Renegade Publishing Manifesto”

Renegade was founded on an anti-censorship tenet; it has been in our manifesto, our code of conduct, and the server rules since the community’s inception. What content any member chooses to bind is separate from Renegade, and solely their personal choice. Renegade does not content police, or pass any kind of official judgment on the content that anyone chooses to bind. If this sounds familiar, (and it should):

You understand that using the Archive may expose you to material that is offensive, triggering, erroneous, sexually explicit, indecent, blasphemous, objectionable, grammatically incorrect, or badly spelled.

You recognize that the OTW does not endorse Content on the Archive in any way, except when material appears as an official statement of the OTW. No committee members, officers, or directors of the OTW are acting in an official capacity when they post fanworks, commentary, or other Content of the type generally provided by site users.

This is a direct quote from the Terms of Service page for AO3. The Archive does not screen content; there is no content policing on AO3 and there never has been, never will be. The Archive was created specifically so there wouldn’t be any content policing, and was founded on the principle of protecting all fan works - and yes, this does include the content you may think shouldn’t exist, why would somebody write that, etc. If you find any content on AO3 unacceptable, for any reason (you find it offensive, triggering, disgusting, morally reprehensible, etc)...I’m sorry to tell you that it is indeed permitted on the Archive. Renegade is exactly, 100% the same in regards to this issue.

AO3 and Renegade take fandom as a whole - the good, the bad, and yes, even the ugly. At the end of the day, it’s important to recognize that the Archive and Renegade both deliberately chose to keep their content open to all, even while knowing that doing so would essentially be opening Pandora’s Box.

If you disagree with this ethos, that is absolutely fine, as everyone should cultivate and curate their own experiences and spaces. The reality for me is that, whether or not I personally do/do not engage with or condemn/endorse certain content, I believe in the tenet of anti-censorship. I do not feel like it is my place to tell anyone what they can and cannot write, read, or bind, and the Renegade community, like AO3, upholds that belief impartially and unequivocally.

Regardless, just like AO3, it is up to you to curate your own experience. I, personally, do not look into binds of content that I do not wish to engage with; your feed is your own to curate. I have intentionally withheld any kind of personal judgment in this discussion, as it has no bearing on analyzing Renegade’s position and tenet of anti-censorship.

To quote Evelyn Hall:

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

-The Friends of Voltaire, Evelyn Hall

I want to reiterate that I can only speak for myself and my personal analysis and understanding of Renegade’s rules; any official response from Renegade will need to come from an official Renegade page, and any response from ASH will come from his personal pages. We are an organization, just like AO3, and I encourage everyone to explore our informational pages for full context on the above excerpts, if you feel compelled.

[marley-manson]

Saying Mulcahy does no good at all in Korea isn't quite true. His work at the orphanage is extensive, never mind the acts of heroism he partakes in throughout the series. Of all the very valid criticisms, that is about the only one that doesnt hold, because on a purely personal level he simply does do good. You can argue he isn't doing good in the right ways even, and ofc talk about how he is willingly a part of a harmful societal and other broader harmful structures, but on an individual level he does significant good. This is one of the reasons he is both a more problematic and more interesting character and is at the heart of a lot of the issues with MASH as a social critique.

I don't exactly disagree but I think this is a semantics thing wrt how we understand the concept of doing good. Feeding hungry children is good, but in my opinion that good is obliterated because it's a Catholic orphanage doing it. The harm caused by missionary work and cultural imperialism in general is much greater than the good caused by saving some lives. I'm speaking purely from my own point of view ofc, not the narrative's, which does consider Catholic missionary work largely and uncomplicatedly good.

Add the military volunteer thing and the harm Mulcahy cosigns, represents, and actively supports vastly vastly outweighs the good, even just speaking in terms of civilian lives saved vs lost. Heck, even just in the context of the show, rather than real life, where the U.S. army was still responsible for at least one destroyed village.

Like yeah on an individual level he does some good, but I don't consider that worth anything myself. The post you're responding to was a little off the cuff and written hurriedly, if I'd sat on it a little longer my point might've been a little more nuanced. But I do stand by the fact that by my standards it's accurate to say he does no good in his capacity as a military priest. It doesn't make him a bad person, he clearly wants to do good, he attempts to do good, he, like you said, technically does good on an individual level, but he doesn't have a net positive impact. He does more harm than good by a wildly vast margin, which to me = no good.

The funny thing to me is that the show does almost understand this - but only when it comes to Hawkeye's character lol. He wrestles with the fact that even if he's saving lives, he's not doing good because he's only saving lives as part of the war machine. Even the conclusion of Letters, where saving an innocent life rather than a soldier is what keeps him from succumbing to despair, is negated by GFA and ultimately (if maybe unintentionally?) shown to be naive.

Meanwhile Mulcahy's out feeding children in exchange for being able to indoctrinate them, telling soldiers that wanting to desert is wrong, and hankering for a promotion within the same army that drives Hawkeye insane because of the harm it forces him to do as an involuntary draftee, but the narrative has no interest in exploring Mulcahy's complicity in the war machine, almost solely painting him as a great guy who's in Korea to do good and successfully achieves that.

Idk if it's exactly a double standard since Hawkeye's narrative reflects Hawkeye's perspective which is clearly closer to my own, and it does make sense that he's the only character in the cast who thinks about this, but it sure feels hypocritical lol.

Anyway yeah tl;dr ia that he does some good on an individual level, and ia that there's a potentially interesting tension between that and the way he cheerfully represents like two of the most harmful structures in the world (and boy I wish the show had explored that at all), but it's not much of a factor in terms of my own moral assessment.

[hoursofreading]

Abortion funds are holding us — our clinics, our communities, our families and lives — together with scotch tape. They are working tirelessly to ensure that the power over a reproductive life is where it belongs: not in the hands of a health insurance corporation or a doctor, but in the hands of the person who’s living it.  An abortion fund paid for my medication abortion and the aspiration I ended up needing, and abortion funds are often the sole safety net keeping my patients and doula clients from being turned away at their abortion appointments for lack of funds. Even if you have health insurance, they are likely to deny coverage of your “elective” abortion, or to charge you such a high deductible that you still need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars up front. And the vast majority of people just can’t do that easily, while they’re raising families or just trying to survive in this country. Enter: abortion funds. There are so many ways to support your local (or national!) abortion fund or practical support organization (which often funds folks’ travel, lodging, etc.). Monthly donations are the way to go, because funds need to know exactly how much they’ll be taking in so that they can plan ahead and help as many people pay for their abortions as possible. But also: buying a piece of merch is great, because it pays for abortions and spreads the word that the fund exists as a resource in the community. I’ve had so many people say “cute shirt / tote bag / keychain / sticker / etc.” and then get so excited when I tell them about the abortion fund I bought it from. The average person — even if they feel rage and despair about the systematic destruction of our rights and our health — often doesn’t realize they can be instrumental in protecting their community members from these violent and hateful barriers to care.  If you’re exhausted or busy or don’t have capacity to show up physically, give an abortion fund money. If you’re broke, volunteer on their intake line or plug into their work wherever they need you. Abortion funds shouldn’t have to exist, and also their existence is beautiful.  Giving to, or doing work for, or even just hyping up an abortion fund is a very real and accessible way for us to love each other, protect each other, and show up for each other.

[96percentdone]

Fic Writer Interview.

thanks for the tag @juudaimes-true-form. the @ is. not working. sorry kjnbhvbhj

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

30.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

245,076, apparently.

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Oumasai Oneshots: 1,297

A Fragile Bridge of Trust: 710

Lost Souls: 593

History Maker: 433

Game Over: 417

All of these are old and older. One of them isn't even finished. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--

Please read my newer works o(╥﹏╥)o

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Nearly always yeah. I like the people who read my work and overcome whatever anxiety they might feel to know that I appreciate anything they have to say, and I'm grateful.

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

I enjoy angst a fair bit but rarely do I ever write something that ends with angst. Obviously, Game Over was expressly written as a bad end to a v3 au i was working on, so it's the easy answer, but there are a few in the oumasai oneshots that I think count, namely Chapter 22, Chapter 24, Chapter 26, and in more ambiguous turf Chapter 19 and Chapter 15. I still like the ambiguous ones a fair bit even now, the first 2 not-ambiguous ones just do not hold up with my interpretation of the text anymore (and also i wrote worse), but 26 is fine. Game Over could have been better, but hey I was a different writer then.

That said I have a lot of stuff I consider heavy on angst, but since they have happy endings I don't think they count for this. But I enjoy that kind of fic the most.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

the ones I haven't finished yet--/gets shot. Nah, probably Le Chasseur et le Démon (The Hunter and the Fiend), because it's a fairytale. It gets a fairytale ending. But I like happy endings so it's pretty hard for me to pick.

7. Do you write crossovers?

No because I tend not to like them and find them obtuse, UNLESS said crossover is between dangan ronpa and Higurashi. No I could not explain why these two things in specific inspired me this much. But also I'm SO right and one day I'll get back to those. But mostly crossover concepts exist in jokes in dms with my friend Cass.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yep lmao. A couple times. It's been pretty lackluster though like solid 2/10 hate comment y'all can do better.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No? Okay so I did orphan a series of fics that had smut in them, but that smut was kind of poetic and deliberately vague, and it's probably the most I plan on committing to in the future for the fics I'm working on rn.

I think people who write pwp or other hard smut are very impressive and have a set of skills I lack, namely....the ability to express physical intimacy in any capacity, including through words! I honestly like. Still struggle with kiss scenes sometimes, but for me all this comes down to my visceral irl discomfort with people existing within 3 feet of me, nevermind touching me.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I sure the fuck hope not. 

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don't remember if this happened with a fic, but iirc I think someone translated that long ass DR meta I wrote about Ouma and Komaeda into...Russian? I don't remember very well. Also that meta is being majorly overhauled spoilers I guess.

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not for fic no. All my fic belong solely to me, as do my original works, and its what I prefer. I've done volunteer writing on other people's original projects however, even right now. @clusterfuck-au is something I work on with my friend Wren, but I do all the writing, and they do art stuff, so its not the same lmao.

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Idk how I'm supposed to have one of these when I can't really pick a fandom over a fandom. So I'll just name some fandoms I like, and the ship I currently like the most for it.

Ace Attorney: narumitsu (there are a couple close runner ups tho)

Dangan Ronpa: komahina

AITSF: ryudate

Higurashi: keimii

Spy x Family: Twiyor

There are other I fandoms, and other ships, but it'd take forever so take these.

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I HAVE SO FUCKING MANY MY GUY, AND I REALLY WANT TO FINISH THEM, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IF EVER I'LL GET TO EM. HERE WE GO. I will not be including the WIP I'm working on right now! That's happening! fuck you @ self

The Long Way 'Round: This is supposed to be an extremely long narumitsu Ace fanfic about their relationship through the years from their time together in childhood to after Apollo Justice. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about their relationship, its ups and downs, and the character development they undergo together and seperately. The fic would not feature anything actually shown in canon, and doesn't include DD or SoJ because I hate them and think they're bad and disowned them from canon. This fic is next on my list of things to work on.

Exoneration AU and the LCC rewrite: aus that only makes sense to anyone who has ever read the visual novel Chaos;Child and is in fandom (maybe 100 people) and ALSO is gay enough to ship Takuru, the main character of a bishoujo game, with Shinji (his token best friend). Also has to be gay enough to ship the girls together. also has to be based enough to think Kawahara deserved better and are mad about the writer's gaslighting. I'm not going to explain the plot of these any further; y'all aint gonna get it.

The Cries of Hope's Peak Academy: AKA, clusterfuck AU. What if I took the higurashi cast and put them in a pre-despair dangan ronpa setting (also the v3 kids are here too). Also. What if I shipped. Mion with Keiichi, Hinata, and Ikusaba, Keiichi with Ouma, Kamukura and Saihara, Ouma with Kamukura and Saihara, Kamukura with Komaeda, Komaeda with Hinata, and Hinata with Saihara. This is the titular clusterfuck; they are a polycule in progress. Its not even the only ship. The plot though is inspired by all that I wished Dangan Ronpa 3: Despair Arc was, with Enoshima taking advantage of vulnerable people via manipulation and HPA's inherent powderkeg, but with higurashi's thematic core.

Higurashi: When They Cry - Uso (Lies) and what would be its answer arc counterpart I haven't named yet: The other crossover fic. This one is just. What if I yeeted Ouma into the Higurashi setting like it was where he belonged. What would happen. It's Higurashi, so it borrows a lot from its overarching story and arc ideas, but every arc would be a unique twist based on the existence of a new guy in there! I still like this a lot. I still think of every character in dangan ronpa, Ouma feels the most like the one who would belong in Higurashi, and stands the most to gain from it.

The Klav/Seb enemies to lovers fic: it's exactly what it sounds like. I just think they have a lot in common but their themis years would absolutely be filled with PETTY beef because seb is a nepotism baby which pisses Klav off, and seb doesn't know he's a nepotism baby so he doesn't understand what the fuck his problem is. Also Apollo is there later. Klavier has 2 hands.

Pewter in a timeloop for aitsf and he gets a buddy cop dynamic with Iris on his looping quest to save renju. yeah that. that's the jist. also includes REHABILITATING THE OKIURA HOUSEHOLD AAAAAAA

I have some oneshots I haven't written yet, but those don't count. If you're aware of a long fic/series I was working on that isn't listed here....sorry but I think I've grown past those ideas.

I have two WIPs that are original, but I still work on those. They're both visual novel concepts I came up with, and they both mean everything in the world to me.

15. What are your writing strengths?

Fanfic specific strengths, I'm great at being in character. Translated more broadly, strong dialogue and internal narration coupled with actions and behaviors that reflect their emotional core.

I think my narration is at its best when it's just sitting inside some messy bitch's head and living out their entire thought process, and I think my background in poetry really adds to that. I like using line breaks and font sizes/alignments/effects to express intensity or disarray, etc. I do that for dialogue too. Also I'm pretty fucking funny in both places when I want to be. I think it adds to the charm, and I think my authorial voice adds to that.

Also tbh I'm so good at structuring and pacing frankly I think I'm a natural at it. I think my scenes are as long as they need to be, my stories hit every necessary beat, every scene and story ends and begins on the correct note, and readers learn things when they need to. Pacing and structure is not really something people think a lot about when they get asked this question, but I think it's the most important element to any story. If your pacing, your narrative structure is broken, no amount of metaphor and poetic description can save you.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

God forbid I have to describe a physical thing. Forget it. Not actions per se (although sometimes yeah those too, but more like clothes, settings, sounds, smells, tastes--that's a real struggle. I always think its the weakest thing I have to offer, and a lot of my writing process is desperately trying to put the image in my brain into words that make sense and sound good. Definitely the biggest weakness I have no fucking contest holy shit.

Other smaller struggles is a tendency to overuse words like just/maybe/really/still/etc; the problem with having a strong voice is that some of the quirks from my way of TALKING don't actually add anything to narration or the dialogue, so I've been training myself to cut back and cut things out. It can lead to things being repetitive.

Also, while I believe I have a lot of killer ideas that slap 10/10, and I'm a very creative person, the ADHD makes it hard to keep working on ideas even when I love them. The smallest thing stumping me, or boring me, or just kind of draining my sole, can get me not writing for weeks. I guess this is an ADHD problem, but it affects writing, my one true love, and in some ways that makes it the real biggest issue.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I think it's fine depending on how you do it. If you put a note at the end translating all the lines in other languages, or fit the translation smoothly within the narrative, I think that's completely legal.

With that said, I do kinda cringe when instead of writing Japanese someone types out just. romaji. I get that you want your audience to know how to read it, but they're likely not to know what it means anyway even IN romaji, so just commit. Go for authenticity. You can put the pronunciation in your footnotes too.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Pokemon in my spiral notebook in 5th grade. It's still pokemon online cause I made an illegal ffn account and moved it there at age 11. You can't read it; I literally don't even remember what the account was.

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

Mmm....I guess spy x family? I haven't written full fic for it yet, and it'd be nice to. The list of ships is longer, and I'm not going to bother with that, but needless to say I have a lot of passions lmao.

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

The ryudate fic I'm revising right the fuck now. No, okay, that's illegal, it doesn't exist in full yet, although you can read its revised first chapter here <3. That said, I find this decision kind of hard, so I'll give you a few that I've finished: Yours, Le Chasseur et le Démon (The Hunter and the Fiend), A Rational Man, The "Death" of Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth and a fic for a Pandora Hearts zine that hasn't come out yet!

Um. I will tag. @generalherasyndulla, @queenshroorn, and anyone else who reads this whole thing and considers themselves a writer.

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

LYNN WHITFIELD, ERICA DURANCE, AND PATRICK SABONGUI STAR IN ‘WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS’ A NEW ORIGINAL PREMIERING OCTOBER 22, ON HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES

Part of the Annual “Miracles of Christmas” Programming Event

STUDIO CITY, CA – September 28, 2022 – Lynn Whitfield (“Vacation Friends,” “Greenleaf”), Erica Durance (“Color My World with Love,” “North to Home”) and Patrick Sabongui (“Hello, Goodbye and Everything Between,” “The Flash”) star in “We Need a Little Christmas,” a new original premiering Saturday, October 22 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries as part of the network’s annual “Miracles of Christmas” programming event.

Irene (Whitfield) is a vivacious, elderly woman who had been alone in her home for over a decade before Julie (Durance) moved in next door with her young son Gavin (Azriel Dalman, “Moonfall”). Julie lost her husband and partner in their architectural design firm a year ago and is trying to juggle her new role as sole owner of the business, being a single mother to a grieving child, and facing the first Christmas without her husband. Widowed and retired from work life, Irene spends her days volunteering in various capacities, still shovels her own driveway and keeps herself incredibly busy. Julie, overwhelmed with work and the holidays, sends Gavin to a Christmas day camp where he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Irene, who is one of the volunteers. Before long, Julie and Irene begin to share their experiences – both widowed, one with a grown grandson she raised who is now a military doctor, and one with a young child she is determined to make the holidays special for this year. While Irene helps move Julie toward balancing her personal and professional lives, Julie plans a Christmas surprise for Irene in the hope she can repay her for her kindness.

“We Need a Little Christmas” is from Old Films Inc. Howard Braunstein and Angela Mancuso are executive producers. The movie is produced by Gilles Laplante. Kevin Fair directed from a script by Graham Locke. Story by Angela Mancuso & Graham Locke.

[theogmissg]

The Giver

The Giver is written from the point of view of Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy living in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. There is no prejudice, since everyone looks and acts basically the same, and there is very little competition. Everyone is unfailingly polite. The society has also eliminated choice: at age twelve every member of the community is assigned a job based on his or her abilities and interests. Citizens can apply for and be assigned compatible spouses, and each couple is assigned exactly two children each. The children are born to Birthmothers, who never see them, and spend their first year in a Nurturing Center with other babies, or “newchildren,” born that year. When their children are grown, family units dissolve and adults live together with Childless Adults until they are too old to function in the society. Then they spend their last years being cared for in the House of the Old until they are finally “released” from the society. In the community, release is death, but it is never described that way; most people think that after release, flawed newchildren and joyful elderly people are welcomed into the vast expanse of Elsewhere that surrounds the communities. Citizens who break rules or fail to adapt properly to the society’s codes of behavior are also released, though in their cases it is an occasion of great shame. Everything is planned and organized so that life is as convenient and pleasant as possible.

Jonas lives with his father, a Nurturer of new children, his mother, who works at the Department of Justice, and his seven-year-old sister Lily. At the beginning of the novel, he is apprehensive about the upcoming Ceremony of Twelve, when he will be given his official Assignment as a new adult member of the community. He does not have a distinct career preference, although he enjoys volunteering at a variety of different jobs. Though he is a well-behaved citizen and a good student, Jonas is different: he has pale eyes, while most people in his community have dark eyes, and he has unusual powers of perception. Sometimes objects “change” when he looks at them. He does not know it yet, but he alone in his community can perceive flashes of color; for everyone else, the world is as devoid of color as it is of pain, hunger, and inconvenience.

At the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas is given the highly honored Assignment of Receiver of Memory. The Receiver is the sole keeper of the community’s collective memory. When the community went over to Sameness—its painless, warless, and mostly emotionless state of tranquility and harmony—it abandoned all memories of pain, war, and emotion, but the memories cannot disappear totally. Someone must keep them so that the community can avoid making the mistakes of the past, even though no one but the Receiver can bear the pain. Jonas receives the memories of the past, good and bad, from the current Receiver, a wise old man who tells Jonas to call him the Giver.

The Giver transmits memories by placing his hands on Jonas’s bare back. The first memory he receives is of an exhilarating sled ride. As Jonas receives memories from the Giver—memories of pleasure and pain, of bright colors and extreme cold and warm sun, of excitement and terror and hunger and love—he realizes how bland and empty life in his community really is. The memories make Jonas’s life richer and more meaningful, and he wishes that he could give that richness and meaning to the people he loves. But in exchange for their peaceful existence, the people of Jonas’s community have lost the capacity to love him back or to feel deep passion about anything. Since they have never experienced real suffering, they also cannot appreciate the real joy of life, and the life of individual people seems less precious to them. In addition, no one in Jonas’s community has ever made a choice of his or her own. Jonas grows more and more frustrated with the members of his community, and the Giver, who has felt the same way for many years, encourages him

[harmonyhealinghub]

Boxing Day - Celebrating Generosity and Tradition Shaina Tranquilino December 26, 2023

As the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day settles, there is no time to rest as the much-anticipated Boxing Day follows suit on December 26th. Originating in the United Kingdom, this holiday has evolved into a day when people across the globe come together to celebrate generosity, tradition, and giving back.

While many may believe that Boxing Day is all about shopping sales and grabbing bargains, the true essence of this day lies in its historical roots. The exact origin of the term "Boxing Day" remains debated among historians, but most agree that it dates back centuries ago when servants and tradespeople would receive a gift or bonus from their employers. These gifts were often placed in small boxes, hence the name "Boxing" Day. It was a way for employers to show appreciation for their hard work throughout the year.

Over time, this tradition expanded beyond just employees receiving gifts from their bosses. It became a day when families and friends exchanged presents with each other as well. This practice remains an integral part of modern-day celebrations, with many households reserving December 26th for exchanging gifts they didn't have time to open on Christmas Day.

However, Boxing Day isn't solely about material exchanges; it's also about extending kindness to those less fortunate. In many countries, including Canada and Australia, this holiday serves as an opportunity to support charitable causes through various events and donations. Families engage in acts of charity by donating clothes, food items, or volunteering at local shelters. Some even organize fundraisers or participate in sporting events to raise funds for charities close to their hearts.

In addition to these acts of generosity, sports play a significant role in Boxing Day traditions. In particular, cricket matches are wildly popular in countries like Australia and South Africa during this time of year. Families gather at stadiums or tune in on televisions to watch thrilling matches while enjoying picnics and spending quality time together. In the UK, football matches also take center stage, with stadiums packed to capacity as fans cheer on their favourite teams.

For shopaholics, Boxing Day sales provide an excellent opportunity to snag some fantastic deals. Stores slash prices, offering discounts that attract eager shoppers looking for post-Christmas savings. While it's true that shopping has become a significant part of this holiday, it's important not to lose sight of its deeper meaning - giving back and expressing gratitude.

As we celebrate Boxing Day each year, let us remember the history and traditions that make this day so special. It is a time to appreciate those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, extend generosity towards others less fortunate, and spend cherished moments with loved ones. Whether you're participating in charitable acts or indulging in retail therapy, may the spirit of Boxing Day remind us all of the immeasurable value of kindness and selflessness.

So, as December 26th dawns upon us once again, let us embrace the essence of this unique holiday with open hearts and open hands. Together, we can continue making Boxing Day a celebration of generosity and tradition for generations to come.

[seaside-goldenrod]

Return from Hiatus

Hello!

It’s been a little over a year since I was last active on here. As my last semester is ramping up, I figured I’d dust this blog off.

For my final semester as an undergrad, I’ll be taking two practical-heavy GIS courses along with my semester long research. My capstone will be on wetland ecology: looking at the status of plant habitats, their health, and how restoration efforts (trail maintenance to reduce habitat fragmentation, volunteer stewardship, funding for maintenance of restoration projects) have shaped the natural preserve I’ll be studying. We’re at the halfway point of the growing season right now, so data collection is the focus. I’d love to make a post sometime about my methodology, as it can very easily be replicated by anyone inclined towards citizen science!

But needless to say, the pressure is on. It’s frustrating that I can’t be focusing all my time and energy solely on finishing strong because I have to pay the bills somehow. I know I’m not alone, though. We working-class students always find a way.

All to say, I’m excited to be back in whatever capacity I can manage! If any fellow studyblrs out there want to share some tips on how to manage work and school at the same time, I’m all ears.

⭐

[locustheologicus]

Pope’s December prayer intention: Volunteers needed with non-profit organization.

Pope Francis points out that the "work of volunteer not-for-profit organizations is much more effective when they collaborate with each other." And he calls for volunteer organizations to "find people willing to...ceaselessly seek new paths of international cooperation." 

Working for a charitable organization I know how important and indeed essential it is to cultivate volunteers. They help us with the distribution of resources and providing social ministry to the communities we serve. During the beginning of the Covid pandemic, in the months of March, April and May of 2020, we were stretched beyond out capacity with our growing food distributions. We were blessed at that time to have volunteers that came around May from amazing organizations, unions and associations. They made it possible for us to continue doing our work.

This year we experienced the need that came from the newly arrived asylee and refugee communities into the city. Here once again we felt stretched. Learning from the pandemic we reached out for assistance and donations and once again we have been blessed by a generous response. This is truly a blessing, a blessing we must cultivate for both the organization and for the volunteer.

Pope Francis reminds us that “Solidarity finds concrete expression in service”. As a Catholic charitable organization it is our mission to serve the social needs of our community. Yet charity is not a charism that belongs solely to us, it is an essential element of the faith for all Christians to participate in. As Pope Benedict XVI says, “charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.”

Part of the richness of what we do as a Catholic charitable organization is to find opportunities for the Catholic community to share in this essential experience of our faith. Like doing physical exercise it is often difficult to do something that is not in our comfort zone even though, deep down, we know we should. Once we get into a regiment of doing physical exercises we often feel good about ourselves. In a similar way, our spiritual exercises (being more authentic with our prayer life and doing acts of justice and charity) are also very enriching for those who enter into the experience of it.   

The Advent/Christmas season is a great time to have this experience. We do what we can to reach out the community that we serve and share with them the Christmas spirit with something as simple and deeply meaningful like a toy distribution. 

It is encouraging to see the amazing donations and service that people give during this time. It’s an opportunity for donors to engage with them. The joy that people receive as they offer these gifts is heartwarming to say the least. The element that we need to continue cultivating, however, is for us to develop even more concrete experiences so that donors can find themselves serving “not just for the people, but with the people.” A suggestion that Pope Francis offers in the prayer intention video for this month. 

My goal is to explore further how to make this joy more concrete and sustainable. Like doing physical exercise people can get caught up with the good feeling they get from achieving an initial goal and then they loose the momentum to follow-up. My prayer and goal is to make the spiritual exercise of solidarity an ongoing and concrete experience for Christians throughout the year.

[boozegravity]

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"Mind is one of the most powerful organs that regulates the functioning of all the other organs in the body. When our mind gets disturbed, or imbalanced then it impacts the overall functioning of the overall body. It negatively impacts our emotional health, work performance and relationships too. Due to the significance of mind, it becomes very important to keep your mind healthy. If you relate to any of the mental disorders, then do not hesitate in seeking treatment. Early treatment can enhance the chances to treat the disease quickly and easily. " Right Course Drug Detox Florida is a third-party information service for consumers who are dealing with addiction or seeking information on addiction treatment. All content and information provided by the site are intended solely for informational and marketing purposes and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always seek advice from a licensed caregiver if you are experiencing any condition which may require medical treatment, and in the event of an emergency, please dial 911 immediately. Reliance on any content or information set forth within this website is solely at your own risk. See Terms and Conditions for further details.

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[greensummit]

Green Summit

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Taking care of one's mental health involves more than just seeking professional assistance when necessary. It also involves interacting with others, exercising, volunteering, getting adequate sleep, and believing that there is a solution. People with good mental health are better able to reach their full potential, handle daily stress, work efficiently, and give back to their communities. Interpersonal interactions, physical ailments, childhood trauma, and many other circumstances can interfere with people's mental health. A person's capacity to enjoy life is maintained by taking care of their mental health.

Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are the three things that can have an impact on our mental health. Our ability to manage our negative emotions by using positive ones is a key component of our emotional well-being. Life's general meaning and purpose are important aspects of our psychological well-being. Our regular encounters with others and forging enduring relationships play a role in our social well-being. Simply give yourself some time to be happy, is the message at the end. Be grateful for what you have and allow yourself to enjoy the life, fun, and leisure that it brings. Life's too brief.

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To Learn More:

Well Heard Rehab Center Kansas