#believing that others are loved and important and valuable is good for respecting others sure

[devine-fem]

I know a lot of people don’t read for Ra’s Al Ghul and understand because it is hard to find good characterization and solos for him period but if you need a reference here’s the complexity of Ra’s Al Ghul’s character, especially if you wish to write him.

Let’s extablish this: Ra’s Al Ghul is evil. He is a villian but not purposeless, he has motivations, ideations, as to why he does what he does. The Demon’s Head is a philosophy after all.

In the comic I’m going to talk about frequently, Ra’s aims to topple empires built upon the betterment of humans but to the destruction of animal health, habitation, ecosystem, and people who are a threat to the Earth itself, he then makes sure the next person who takes this Empire aims to either shut it down or improve it in a way that no longer allows said empire benefit from malicious means.

Batman: One Bad Day explains Ra’s Al Ghuls youth and loss of his home and family at the face of a siege, with nowhere to go and no protection, he was left defenseless until he was protected by the wolves in the wilderness which led him to believe that the forest itself protected him. This is why I have a hard time hating Ra’s personally, I could never hate someone who’s gone through every catastrophic event of our ancestory, I imagine he’s victim to a lot of historical tragedy and any attempts to find happiness in a pure, authentic way probably was snatched from him. He’s likely seen the worst of society and I couldn’t hate him for that.

It’s important to note that Ra’s Al Ghul can love within centuries of his life, then he can be abusive.

He believes all life to be just as worthy and precious as another. He believes all life is worth being saved though after all the hell that humans has put the Earth and it’s children through he has grown bitter and angry. He’s experienced the pit madness over and over, it’s likely simply a part of who he is.

Over spending hundreds of years alive, so much grief and death every single year for centries, he’s become traumatized. Now he attempts to save humanity from itself because of one bad day.

Ra’s Al Ghul has even said that Jason Todd’s unnecessary death caused him to grieve, so much so that he sought Jason’s body out and brought him back to life.

Here is Ra’s Al Ghul breaking down and tears for having to put his pet down so he’s very much not emotionless.

Here is Damian arguing with his father over whether Ra’s Al Ghul’s ideations are correct or not. Damian’s feelings toward Ra’s are likely extremely complicated but I am sure there is more bad than good but that doesn’t mean it’s all bad.

Here is Ra’s Al Ghul telling Damian that he is proud of him and has a deep respect for him. Also note that in Birth of the Demon, Ra’s Al Ghul has said that he prefers Bruce and him to be allies instead of enemies and even considers Bruce his son.

Ra’s still wishes he could be allies with Bruce and fantasizes about fighting alongside him to this day.

Ra’s threatens Damian’s life but immediately after admits that he was just bluffing, and he would not have hurt Damian.

When Ra’s mortally wounds Bruce, he lets Damian have a moment with his father given that he’s the one who fatally wounded Bruce in the first place.

Ra’s says explicitly that he was doing what he is doing for Damian’s future. He states again that he does not believe one life is more important than the other, even humans.

I think it's very important that what Ra's does is extremely traumatizing and would not make sense to a child. He functions in a way where he thinks he is right and what he is doing comes from a place of love and compassion, including the things he does to Damian.

Whether you agree with his philosophy or not is up to you, but he truly believes he's doing what he is doing for the bettering and benefit of his family.

In conclusion, he is somewhat human, he's somewhat of a madman, he believes human life is valuable but as valuable as a healthy bird soaring through the sky, his actions come from a place of love though sometimes (often) he may be abusive. He would not kill a man without reason, he would not kill an animal without reason, he says above that he thinks killing to survive is different from killing for pleasure, he believes he's doing the same as killing to survive. And finally, he has no interest in anyone or anything that does not fullfill his role as the demon’s head.

[bl4z33467]

The Vulpixen Cannon 2

Part one^^^^^

A couple years pass. Novos trains harder than he ever had, knowing the atrocities he committed, desiring for no one to know what he has done. He believes the stronger he gets, the less likely people will know of his attractions. He tries to put on muscle, but fails due to his poor diet. Ceaser, learning from his mistakes with Altilis, makes sure that his protege, Novos, doesn't end up overweight and unwilling like Altilis. So, he makes sure he is on a strict diet, keeping him underweight (i swear this is a plot point guys). In the meantime, Altilis had been growing more mature. He began to be able to accept himself and realize the importance of his role in the legion. He became content with not becoming the next Kaiser.

Then it happens. Caesar is found dead. The tumor won. A large ceremony is held as Vulpes Novos Inculta is deemed the new Kaiser. His first act, he makes Altilis his advisor. For the next few years, the clones nearly double the legion's territory. During these years, Altilis's population grows, people begin respecting him more for his flawless battle plans and knowledge of terrains. One very interesting thing with Novos being the kaiser, he no longer has someone telling him what to do, particularly what to eat. This is a detriment to him, as he no longer was constantly on the battlefield and had whatever he wanted to eat at his disposal for the first time in his life, he began to get fatter. At first, it was good as he was sickly skinny. After a while though, legionaries began confusing the twins. This didn't bother Altilis but miffed Novos. Instead of changing his horrible diet, he trims his lovely blond curls and dyes it brown. Along with this, he gets more elaborate robes, having lots of pelts, feathers and gold accents. This only helped partially, as more and more legionaries began commenting to him that he reminded him of Altilis. He began to get more angry about this. They're saying he looks like him, acts like him, IS HIM? No! He wanted to be LIKE him, not him! novos needed to change this. But how. He was too stubborn to change his own ways, so he had to get rid of the problem itself: Altilis.

"Why do I have him around anyways" Novos thought, "The legion is doing just fine with me leading them."

Novos fails to recognize how much Altilis does to help the legion.

"I can't just, banish him. i mean, hell i could but that would damage my reputation to the legionaries" Novos begins to ponder. What can make him able to send him away. He wonders around fortification hill, studying all the various Tents buildings and other things. He spots it. A medium sized, shottily thrown together building. Altilis Library. His brother had been an avid scholar his whole life, collecting books of all sorts and maps too. A wealth of knowledge extremely valuable to the legion, that he let any legionary come and use. Novos chuckles lightly to himself, cocking his head. "Would be a shame if something happened to it" he says under his breath. He glides over to the building, and walks in. Altilis is there, nose in a book as usual.

"Hello Kaiser Novos" he says in a neutral tone, without looking up.

Novos doesn't respond but walks over to the desk Altilis sat at.

"I dont see you here often on your own acord" Altilis says while flipping a page in his book, "anything in particular you want? A map, im guessing?"

"Not this time. I was wondering, how do you keep this place bright even if its walled off?" Novos inquires.

Altilis looks up from his book finally. He looks at Novos dead in the eyes. "Candlelight....? Like we do in most areas??"

Novos smiles faintly "Thats what i thought." (He turns to leave before pausing. "Do you think you can do something for me?"

"Anything you wish, Kaiser Novos" Altilis says. Despite being Novos being Altilis's younger brother, Altilis still had great respect for Novos.

"I need you to gather me more intel of the terrain up north. As soon as possible, and as much as possible. Okay?"

Altilis nods. "Yes Kaiser" he says while putting his book down and goes off to grab an atlas.

"I need it soon and fast, so you will stay up until you've given me sufficient material" Novos said gruffly.

"Kaiser Novos, I will need to sleep soon, it has already been a long day for me and-"

Novos lifts his hand, shushing him.

"Yes, Kaiser Novos. My apologies" Altilis says. The scholar began to compile stacks upon stacks of information on the north as fast as he could. It drained the life out of him to stay up all that night and the next day before Novos waltz back into the Altilis's Library in the evening.

"Hows that information coming" Novos says with a hint of smugness.

Altilis, weary from his lack of sleep and studies, coughs up an answer. "Its been real tough, some of these areas seemed even uncharted before the war-"

"YOU LAZY BASTARD" Novos screamed, slamming his fist on the table. The candle, which was nearly burned down, wobbled. He slowly moves his head over to it and smirks, then looks back to Altilis. He whispers "No one is going to believe you." Altilis's weary eyes go shot. Novos bats the candle off the table. Altilis takes a moment before trying to put it out, but Novos had pounced on him, pinning him down. Altilis would have usually overpowered him, but his exhaustion made the effort futile.

"Novos! Brother! Why are you doing this?!? What have I done to deserve this??" Altilis cried.

"They were thinking i was you." Novos sneered.

"We have the same genetics! Of course they would, we are basically twins!" Altilis proclaimed.

Novos furrows his brow. "Not that, Altilis. They thought I ACTED like you, and you acted like ME. They were challenging my authority by insinuating that we are one in the same." The flames began to leap higher around the men.

"We aren't. You know we aren't. I know we aren't. I don't want to take your place, Novos!" Altilis said, beginning to squirm as the heat was getting to him.

Novos loosened his grip on his older clone. "I know you dont, but I want no questions about who's running the show. I can do this without you." A book shelf toppled under its own weight from the fire eating the wood below. A bunch of books topple onto the ground near them. They both look over and see a tattered old book. The title read "Canids." Both remember that night, oh some 15 years ago.

"But you- you said" Altilis said, confusion and fear in his eyes.

"I was a STUPID child!" Novos barked, If i woulf have known what was to come, I should have never given you that book." Novos gets up, and lets Altilis get up. Novos shoves him, causing the still exhausted altilis to stumble as novos dashes out of the flaming building. Altilis makes it out soon after.

The next day dawns. The library, where nearly all of the legion's books and other important paper records where held, was burned to the ground. Novos sat in on his perch atop of Fortification hill as he called out. "Fellow legionaries!" He cried, "Look at the devistation that was caused!" He motions to the smoking pile of wood. "I was there when it happened. My evil, EVIL, clone tried to light me ablaze! But I made it out, alive to tell the tale."

The crowd roared. Celebrating Novos surviving, and shouts of calls to kill Altilis sprang up across the mob.

"Pretorians! Bring me the criminal!" Novos shouted, almost theatrically.

4 men brought the weary Altilis before the crowd. His face reddened by the flames, clothes and accessories singed from the blaze.

The crowd began to shout, at first clattered and confused, but began to chant "crucify him!" Novos's breath hitched. He looked at the crowd and to his older brother. A man who he once loved and looked up to. He couldn't. He couldn't kill him. But the legionaries wouldn't accept sparing him. He had to give him a chance, something to make it out.

"LEGIONARIES! Calm down! I have a worse punishment in mind! Look at this man! He could survive years without food! I propse to let him rot in the dessert ALIVE."

The crowd roared again. It was settled. Novos motioned for the pretorians to follow him, which they did. The 6 walked deep into the Mojave desert before Novos grabbed Altilis from the pretorians and threw him to the ground. Altilis looked up to him, hopelessly. "Why... why didn't you just KILL me..."

Novos kneeled down to him, and gently kisses him on the forehead. "You're free, brother." He whispered. Novos gets up and walks back to fortification hill . Altilis, lying there to die.

[generic-sonic-fan]

Hi! Just in case you're still doing the ship chart asks, i'll ask for Shadow x the Commander. I'm gonna have to explain a lot on how I got here (i don't think anyone else has made a case for it on this website before) so please bear with me for a bit lol

My first point of interest... I genuinely think the Commander is meant to mirror Shadow's own journey in a way (both in SA2 and Shth i mean). The details vary but it stands that either through manipulation or general lack of information, they're both driven to seek revenge against eachother for their childhood best friend/sister figure, Maria : to Shadow, GUN, humanity and therefore the world, is responsible. To the Commander, Shadow (along with his two dads) is responsible. But in the end, they're able to see the situation with more clarity. Shadow realizes that Maria loved the planet despite all the flaws of its inhabitants, respecting her wish for her sake... And although those feelings aren't explored that much in depth, i think the Commander realizes something similar too, that Shadow cared about Maria a lot and in a way is finally able to see the kindness she saw in Shadow too...

I also believe that in a subtle way, the commander's arc is an echo to Shadow's search for the truth. Even though he starts out convinced Shadow is the evil one, that viewpoint is challenged when he actually faces him... (in the only scene they have together, the Commander leaves their interaction uncertain and confused, when a minute earlier he was determined to get rid of Shadow for good... just one short interaction with Shadow was enough to shake his resolve and question his convictions. The commander was one piece of the puzzle Shadow needed to solve, but the truth was just as lost on the commander as it was on him)

All this to stay. Shadow's journey of finding the truth in its whole and putting the past behind you is also the commander's, methinks. They're two people coming from opposite sides of the story, they deeply mirror yet contrast eachother... i thought that was really brilliant. So i'm really invested in what their interactions would be like after this game.

Canon hasn't really brought back the commander in the past 20 years (i heard shadow gens would change that though! hurray for me), so this next point would be about what their dynamic (relationship?) might look like post-shth.

We know the commander is pretty remorseful, and goes so far as to invite Shadow to his house... not sure if Shadow would have accepted though, lol. But either way i do believe the commander wanted to bury the hatchet for good and is determined to keep it that way, even if Shadow is still a menace sometimes.

As for Shadow... there is that one scene in Chronicles.

(It's hilarious to me. its canonicity is dubious but i couldn't not mention it)

Shadow doesn't like humans still so I think he has little respect for the commander lol. I feel like while the commander really tries to get along with shadow, the guy remains pretty ambivalent to him at best ha.

However, with their shared past and all, there's potential for them to grow closer on that basis... maybe a sort of confidant relationship. The past isn't something either of them are defined by, but it still can't help but hurt at times... I imagine it would be especially hard for Shadow, who could still be recovering memories of that time and whose trauma seems so much fresher in his mind. In those moments, the commander might be the person in the world who understands his pain the most, and as someone who's lived with it for decades and managed to build a new life around it, his support would be really valuable, even if Shadow doesn't accept it at first. I think that vulnerability and the emotional intimacy that comes with it would be the key for a more intimate relationship to develop between the two... they'd become really important part of each other's lives this way, irreplaceable

Sorry about the huge wall of text haha. even without the shippy stuff, I find their dynamic really interesting and i like thinking of their possible future together... it wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows, probably really messy in the beginning. I believe they could have a sweet ending together though. it's the rarepair that's closest and dearest to my heart and i'd go as far to say i think it would be more popular if they were the same species! That's not the case though, so i'll keep spreading my propaganda >:)

Anyways, I'm excited to know what you think! Even if you don't see it, I hope you got something out of my ramblings

You're honestly kind of insane for this but you know what? I respect it.

Made it into a messy QPR since while their chronological ages match, their mental ages don't quite mesh for me. You go off though, sonadowkismesis. This is a genuine rarepair and I enjoyed thinking outside the box for this.

[fairfoxie]

hi!! i was wondering if i could get your perspective on something, as i really respect the resources you share about being faekin and i want to know more about it! i am irish reconstructionist pagan who works with the good folk, and i admit that i often have trouble reconciling my religious beliefs with 'kin posts that i see. i was wondering, if you felt comfortable responding, what your perspective on the clash that sometimes occurs between faekin and the cultural evolution of the fairy archetype is? if this is offensive i apologise and absolutely did not mean it as such! i'm still relatively new to the nonhuman community (my nonhuman blog is foxwyrm!) and am trying to learn more about it :} regardless, i love your blog, and appreciate what you share!!

Hi! I'll start by saying this is not even a little bit offensive! I know you're asking a question in earnest and I'm honestly really grateful to get the opportunity to voice my perspective.

And really, I wasn't sure at first how to approach all of this at all. My brain and beliefs are scattered, and to be quite honest I make it up as I go along. That's why I used to be petrified of doing any kind of spirit work, especially with the Good Folk. So only recently have I combined my own Neopaganism with my Otherkin experiences. I am still learning. But I'm learning a lot, especially now from others who walk a similar path.

I'll admit I had to look up just to make sure I understood what an Irish Reconstructionist Pagan is, and it seems to be exactly what I was hoping it would be! I may not be strictly of that faith myself, but I'm highly grateful that there are people who are, who keep that alive. I'm so fascinated by pre-Christian Celtic faiths and I do wish it were easier to find the old stories. But stories survive through people, and I enjoy sharing videos I've found where Irish people who coexist with the Good Folk, talk earnestly about their faith and how it impacts their lives. I think those collective experiences are very real and important and culturally valuable. I see parallels in our perspectives, when they speak of mutual respect and of leaving nature undisturbed. I highly value the words of the people who live where there are said to be Faeries.

Still I'd hesitate to discuss being faekin with someone of that particular tradition. I do get overcome with doubt and worry about myself. Is my very existence disrespectful? Just yesterday I ran off into the woods in tears with a question of who, what, am I?

I have discussed being Otherkin with the trees before. I'm an animist at heart, and I like to keep company with the friendly spirits of trees often.

Tree spirits are good listeners, and they understand the humans they live with. When I talk to the trees, I don't have to explain what I am. I show them. They understand. They accept me. They don't judge or argue, and they accept strange contradictions like me being human and nonhuman at the same time.

I see lots of things in the forest. Things that renew my belief in magic every time in different ways. I have hardly a choice but to believe in all manner of beautiful spirits, fae big and small, even gods. I believe in monsters too, but I believe in myself more, and I value my autonomy, and so I choose not to let my spirit be harmed.

And because I value my autonomy, I am drawn to the Otherkin community, where you don't have to have all the answers, just be who you are and you will be accepted in the best of our circles. We respect each other's minds, bodies, and spirits, and each of us walks a parallel but completely different path into ourselves. I'm glad there are others like me, who don't know why they are nonhuman in some way, just that they are, and that we have carved out a space in which to exist as we are.

I don't have all the answers, and probably never will. But I find little congruencies that allow me to slip through the cracks between what is and isn't. Here are some of them.

Many Faeries do look like humans. Changelings of course, and selkies, and Hulder and Skogskra, and nymphs and elves and many others. And much folklore seems to have it that people who seem to be human turn out to be Fae.

But I was born to humans, I know that for sure. And as such, I consider myself a Human Fairy. Of sorts. Like I said, I value my autonomy, and my right to say what I am and be what I am.

For me, the difference between a Faery and a Fairy is that Faeries are the beings that already existed, living at arm's length from most humans for most all time. We only remotely understood them back then, we only remotely understand them now. But we respect them, and many do respect us back and seek friendships with us.

The Fairy, on the other hand, is that cultural archetype you were talking about. A Fairy can be created by a human, it can be a human, it can be a character, and most importantly, it can be the link between people and magic. I have an affinity for pixies and pillywiggins, flower fairies, gnomes, brownies, dryads, sylphs, and all manner of tiny winged beings of nature, and yes, Tinker Bell, who was my personal introduction to the Fairy world, and the idea that there are magical beings who live in another world but also interact with our world. My first 'kin feels' would have been daydreaming myself in Pixie Hollow/Fairy Haven as a tiny fairy with wings and a talent, just the same way Prilla blinks to the Mainland. I still clap sometimes, because I do believe in Fairies.

And I think that the spirit world contains multitudes. I think it contains Faeries and Fairies all at once, and that thoughtforms, spirits, fae, and gods are all a big part of what makes humanity who we are in the first place.

And even still, I don't know if I have all of my facts and beliefs straight. But I know that I don't have to. If I waited until I understood myself completely before going and living my life, I'd simply never get the chance to. And so I just go live it. As I get older I care less about the labels and more about the experiences. But I love being a Fairy. I love being Otherkin. And I love talking to the kindest of the Good Folk. And I'll love this whether or not I will ever fully understand any of it.

I truly hope this is something like the answer you were hoping for.

[eternal-echoes]

Hey!! I’m a catholic too, I never skip a sunday mass and I pray daily. I had a question about your views on abortion, gender and sexuality.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:

and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 7:2

I do view abortion as homicide and I personally would never do it but I do not feel in any way in the position to judge a woman for wanting to do an abortion just like I wouldn’t judge somebody killing in case of self defense. I am not God and the most valuable thing He gave us was choice and free will and as a catholic I feel obliged to respect that in my neighbor. Same goes for LGBTQ+ people. Jesus never even mentioned the theme of sexuality or gender identity and always put love in front of the abrahamic law during the entirety of the gospel. What right do I have to judge others? What right do I have to think I’m right and they are wrong? I am cis and heterosexual, I would never abort in any scenario but in no way I can afford to be judged with the same measure I would judge others by telling them I was right and they were wrong for coming out as transgender or gay. I am sinful and ignorant, I’m not God, thus I have no right to judge.

In this very same way I’m not judging you, God has laid a path for us all and I’m sure you are doing a great job walking on yours, carrying your own cross. I’m sure you had a kind of upbringing that brought you here and made you who you are but you remind me a lot of who I used to be and I just felt the need to tell you I changed on the very moment I realized being religious wasn’t enough to be saved.

May God bless you! I will pray for you and I’m sorry if I crossed some boundaries writing this to you (also because as I said I’m ignorant and I might totally be wrong… if you think I am please pray for me so that God might lead me closer and closer to the Truth).

I wish you’ll spend a Merry Christmas!

Hello, Anon, thank you for your polite question. I will answer as best as I can.

As Jesus said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." - John 14: 15.

We can't just say we love God but break His laws He has explicitly stated in the Bible. Loving God is in His terms, not ours.

The thing about morality is that objective. It's not just an opinion, what will be wrong for me will also be wrong for another. It's not a matter of preferring vanilla ice cream over chocolate, if me and another person do it with full knowledge that it's wrong, then we've both committed a mortal sin.

Since you already believe that abortion is homicide, then you must believe it's also homicide when other people do it. Yes, we're called to love and respect our neighbor, but that does not mean we're called to approve of their sinful actions. All of us are still children of God when we commit sin, our actions doesn't negate our dignity. But being children of God doesn't negate the intrinsic evil of the sinful actions that people may decide to take. While there are different circumstances that may have driven a woman to abortion (i.e. poverty or desire to indulge in promiscuous lifestyle without consequences), and we as Christians can never assume that she's beyond forgiveness, we can never just declare that abortion isn't morally wrong or intrinsically sinful. It would not be loving to support someone commit something that would lead them to Hell. For a Christian to truly love someone is to will the other person's good. And that means saying no to what will lead them to Hell and guiding them to what will lead them to Heaven. In other words, we Christians have a duty to forbid promiscuity and promote chastity.

As for homosexuality and transgenderism,

it's important to remember what constitutes as sinful acts and what does not. Neither homosexuality or transgenderism are considered sins because those are not actions, especially since those do not fall under one's agency. What the Catholic Church teaches about people with same-sex attractions is written in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

The Bible has been clear is condemning homosexual acts.

“‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." - Leviticus 18: 22

"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 9-10

"for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine." - 1 Timothy 1: 10

As a Catholic, we use the Bible as our guide along with the traditions of the Church in leading holy lives.

If you know any one who has same-sex attractions, I encourage you to share with them couragerc.net. It's a Catholic ministry that helps Christians with same-sex attractions lead chaste and holy lives.

In the case of transgenderism, the Catholic Church does not consider it sinful. The Catholic Church simply affirm the truth,

"God created man in his own image . . . male and female he created them" - Genesis 1: 27

No one is born in the wrong body because God doesn't make mistakes. People are fine just the way they are even though they do not adhere to the world's standards of beauty or socially constructed gender stereotypes. The body and soul are not separates; together they make up one substance.

We humans are integrated beings. That means our souls don’t reside in a round glowing ball in the middle of our chest. Our bodies aren’t something to detest, something that holds our soul for now but isn’t important. We are one being. So just as much as your soul is you, so is your body you. What we do with our bodies matters. You don’t just hurt my nose if you punch my face, you hurt me. If someone uses my body sexually for their own gratification, it’s not just my body that is affected, I am affected – my whole personhood has been hurt by being objectified.

Emphasis are mine. Read the full article here.

Transgenderism, or gender dysmorphia, is a mental health issue. It's in DSM-5. The correct treatment for mental health issues is therapy. We don't give liposuctions to anorexic girls who think they're fat because they're not in fact fat, so we shouldn't cut off perfectly healthy breasts on girls who think they're boys trapped in the wrong body, because they're not in fact boys. Being a girl means having XX chromosomes and being a boy means having XY-chromosomes.

It's true that Jesus has never specifically mentioned homosexuality and transgenderism but Jesus has never explicitly said not beating your spouse either but that doesn't mean He approves of it. When Jesus said, "But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5: 28), He was already speaking out against all sins against marriage here.

All of us fall short in following God's standard of morality, but that doesn't negate our intrinsic worth of being made in the image of likeness of God. We're judged by the same measure but we're also loved by the same God who wants us to keep striving to live a holy life even if the road is lonely and full of hardships. We can never judge someone as being unworthy of repentance and Heaven because only God knows that. But God did give us a moral code found in the Bible and expounded by the Catholic Church to tell us how to live a holy life according to His plan.

Anon, if you have anymore questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

[dearweirdme]

Hello! I was looking for some chill Taekook blogs and I stumbled upon yours. I saw your response too an ask about Taennie and found your response very mature, well spoken and open to different opinions. Then read through your blog and really liked the chill vibe you got.

Tbh I'm not sold on Taennie either lol Not because it gets in the way of my ship (I'm a jikooker, it literally can't get in the way), neither because I'm a parasocial Tae biased fan who can't accept him being taken (my bias is actually Hobi and I would be thrilled to find out he is happy and in love), I just find the whole thing weird and suspicious.

Anyways, the reason why I came here is because I love maknae line's bond! But I think the whole Taekook vs Jikook war made both sides very bitter about the other ship's interaction and consequently created a lot of unnecessary hate toward Taehyung and Jimin. I'm mostly on the Jikook side of the internet so I can't speak for Taekook, but I often find Jikookers having a hard time appreciating sweet Taekook moments because they're afraid of toxic Taekookers invading their space with hate, so they just don't talk about it and some even grow a bitter taste with Taekook's bond. So I imagine Taekookers might go through the same because of toxic Jikookers.

And I really hate that.

I love Taekook's bond, they clearly love and care for each other so much, and they have so many cute and funny moments together. And since it's such a popular ship I wanna know more about them and understand different perspectives. So I came here because I'm genuinely curious and open to hear your opinion on Taekook!

What are moments that made you go "Huh? There's no hetero explanation for this"?

If Jikook is just fanservice what makes Taekook moments different?

Please don't take this as a toxic Jikooker invading your space, I am genuinely curious. I fully respect Taekookers opinion!

Borahae 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Hi anon! You are very welcome here, I don't mind different opinions, I think they are valuable. What's important to me is that someone comes to me in a polite way, and you are doing just that. You will at times read some snippy comments about Jkkrs on my blog I'm afraid. Some do come to me with less polite manners, and well.. my patience only goes this far. I think you and I are a bit alike, only from different sides. I also really enjoy Jimin and Jk interactions, and vminkook all the more. It is definitely sad that with those interactions automatically comes a sense of dread, because these days I just know when to expect drama in my inbox... and it's very often TKkrs in distress whenever something Jkk happens, or Jkkrs angry or gloating whenever something Tkk or Jkk happens. It's a wild situation. I wish it weres different, but at the same time... I know not to expect change.

I think many can see Taennie is not real, or at least sus. You don't even need to be part of any ship to see that. It's so obviously used for promotional purposes and severely lacking on the 'real relationship' side. My tag for it is Taennope or Taennie, and you might want to look at Gurumi as well if you are interested.

We are on actual opposing sides. If my ship is true yours cannot be, and vice versa. There's no compromising to be done. The most we can do is stay on our own sides a bit. While you are very nice, I also know we are not going to agree, but it's a nice change to see a Jkkr with a good opinion of Tae and who at least sees Tae and Jk are close. While Jkkrs often say Tkkrs hate Jimin (and to be fair there are definitely Tkkrs who talk about him wrongly) I feel this goes both ways.

To me it is not an either/or situation. If it ever turns out that Jk and Tae are not together, I wont believe Jimin and Jk are. That is just not how I see them. I understand why Jkkrs do, but... I just think you are mistaken in how you view their interactions. To me Jk and Jimin are just best friends. Super close, very playfull, flirty at times sure, but definitely platonic. If I were to compare the two. I feel with Jk and Jimin there's always a definite moment where they are "done" with each other. Like, they'll be playfull and bantery and touchy, but it's always just a moment with the purpuse of being funny, comforting, or friendly. It's not an underlying connection like Tae and JK have. Those two are constantly aware of each other, and that is not true for Jimin and Jk. You'll see many times where Jk and Jimin just don;t care what the other is up to, completely unaware.. and that is different with Tae and Jk. My taekook tag is way too full to go through, but I'll link some specific posts that contain most of my thoughts on Tae and Jk's bond at the end of this post.

I think one very important thing to be able to understand Tkkrs is that you have to be able to see that Tae and Jk never grew apart, like so many believe. It is such an accepted view throughout fandom that they grew apart somewhere inbetweeen 2016 and 2020 and that they became awkward. I absolutely do not think that is true. There is definitely less footage of them during a part of that time, and sure some awkward moments, but when you actually look at the footage that does exist, you can see a bond and a comfort that has not changed. If you are able to see that, you will also be able to see how Tae and Jk have been deliberately separated, even visibly on footage. Moments where they were close and touchy, they notice something off camera, they separate, and there's an emotional reaction to it. That does not happen with any of the other members, inculding Jk and Jimin. This is a post I made about the 2016-2020 period.

This post contains some thoughts I have on Taekook in general:

You can also find a lot of my thoughts on both Jikook and Taekook in these tags: Taekook analysis Ship analysis and there's my straws tag, but that one might also contain some snippy comments, so you might not enjoy 😶.

Thoughts on Jk and thoughts on Tae .

In general I don't think Jk and Jimin's interactions are fanservice. I think they have a genuine strong bond. Do they at times play it up for the camera's, Yes. But all members do that. While Jk and Jimin's interactions have never been avoided in official footage, Jk and Tae's have... and that's where imo the screwed vision of respective bonds comes from.

I've given much to go through, but it's too complicated for me to explain in just one post (though I have tried before 🙈).

[serenityslab]

Great or Nothing (an amy march inspired subliminal)

⋆ have a very strong belief that you deserve to be heard and seen

⋆ have a very strong belief that everything you create is beautiful art and it's deserving of love, attention and certainly the money it takes for people to acquire it

⋆ have a very strong belief that you are worth it; you are worth an unconditional and healthy typa love, you are worth abundance, fame, affection, kindness, happiness, peace

⋆ have a very strong belief that there's beauty in imperfection

⋆ have a very strong belief that you deserve to be people's first choice therefore you act accordingly

⋆ be everyone's first choice for everything; love, money, opportunities etc (so good things only)

⋆ you know ur self worth and also have dignity and respect for yourself therefore u can never let anybody treat u or talk to u disrespectfully or like u're less than and inferior.

⋆ u are very valuable and people see, respect, and appreciate that (including you!)

⋆ u have a very strong belief that u deserve only the best in life so u act accordingly.

⋆ u can never be second best to anyone because u know ur worth.

⋆ u don't care to compete with others, u're to busy working on ur growth in all aspects.

⋆ u are unique and can't be compared to anybody bcuz there's only one of u and people love that. they see you for who you truly are.

⋆ never be in the shadow of anyone; shine bright like a diamond

⋆ never be misunderstood; in words or action

⋆ whether big or small, ur accomplishments are always praised, congratulated and valued by people and yourself most importantly because you know gratitude attracts more blessings

⋆ you recognize ur strengths and good traits more than the bad (it doesn't mean you become ignorant or won't work on the weaknesses, you're just choosing to focus on the good/what u DO have while doing so)

⋆ people see the good in you more than the bad

⋆ become wise and a deep philosophical thinker

⋆ always think before speaking and acting

⋆ be kind, thoughtful, loving, caring and empathetic

⋆ quick thinker

⋆ always fill ur cup first so u have enough love, energy and strength to be there for the ones u love (bcuz u know u can't pour from an empty cup)

⋆ ur cup of strength, love, kindness, calm, peace, talent, grace, wisdom, determination, self worth and genius is overflowing

⋆ u're always happy and having fun no matter what is happening, no matter what you're doing (stress..begone😗)

⋆ never be compared to someone in a negative light

⋆ no matter what people think or say about you, u can't feel bad about urself. u just readjust where need be and continue living on in peace and joy

⋆ be unbothered by people's opinion and perception of u. it never affects ur confidence, day, self worth or esteem

⋆ always believe in yourself and believe you're enough

⋆ have a very strong belief that you are deserving of a healthy, blossoming, thriving typa love-thats all you'll attract btw- and act accordingly (romantic and platonic)

⋆ strive for perfection in everything in a very healthy way

⋆ stop being self-conscious in a way that negatively affects ur mental health

⋆ be self-confident and brave

⋆ people u're surrounded by understand nothing is perfect therefore they never expect such from u. they just accept you as you are and love and cherish u anyway

⋆ always speak up for yourself when wronged with confidence and eloquence

⋆ u are ambitious but never overexert yourself to the point of burnout

⋆ u work hard and balance it with rest bcuz u believe both are equally important

⋆ stop seeking validation and approval. the only people u need that from is God and urself

⋆ stop caring whether or not people like u since u have all the love u could possibly need from God and yourself

⋆ u are the main character and u do main character shii

⋆ start caring about yourself, ur mental health, sanity, health, body, peace, joy and act accordingly, making sure they're always in top-notch shape.

⋆ u compete with no one. ur only competition is who u were yesterday.

⋆ be completely healed, detoxed and unlearn from internalized misogyny and a fixed mindset on things that are negative

⋆ have an open mind. believe anything is possible and u can achieve everything u set ur mind to

⋆ unlearn every negative thing gathered, programmed and conditioned into u from the past

⋆ be surrounded by people who are visibly supportive of u annd ur ambitions and never get jealous of u

⋆ all the jealousy in ur heart nd in the heart of ur family, friends and foes have completely evaporated and been destroyed

⋆ nobody's jealous of u (trust me, it's better that way)

⋆ recognize and take accountability for where u are wrong but never let ur failures define u

⋆ be sttong and antifragile.. nothing can break you.

⋆ be everybody's favorite

⋆ stop carrying the world's weight on ur shoulders and being burdened by anything or anyone

⋆ Be Free; do what you love, say what u mean, act how u want, love who u want. love yourself. love deeply

⋆ nobody ever feels burdened by u

⋆ always have the power to make ur own choices in life. nothing or nobody can force, coerce, gaslight or manipulate u into doing what you don't truly want..it can never even cross their minds

⋆ never give up. be optimistic, determination and persistent

⋆ always make great use and the most out of what u have

⋆ always treated with love, respect, kindness and understanding by everyone

⋆ u are never overlooked by the *good* people i want to be seen by

⋆ nobody can place an unhealthy amount of pressure on u (including yourself)

⋆ be extremely driven, passionate and consistent in ur passions

⋆ effortlessly express ur feelings to people without fear

⋆ trust and be vulnerable with the right people

⋆ everyone sees ur worth and appreciates u

⋆ become more hardworking (especially at the things u love)

⋆ be financially stable and abundant simply by doing what u love (I'm talking an unfathomable amount of money. BAJILLION GANG AYY 🥺

⋆ never settle for less

⋆ u deserve great thinga and u have great things; you're surrounded by great people. u read great books, drink great tea, eat great food, go to great places, buy great furniture and decor, listen to great music, play great games, make great art, sing great music, watch great films, write great books, make great subliminals, have great pets, ur life is art..a simply extraordinary art.

⋆ always follow ur dreams, no matter what

⋆ u never abide by societies rules where it hurts u

⋆ know what u want and go for it fearlessly

⋆ be calm and calculative

⋆ know how to cheat the system amd make things work UR way

⋆ u love good pretty things and are able to afford it all on ur own

⋆ be more feminine and girly. embrace ur femininity

⋆ feminine and masculine energy are perfectly balanced however u can kean into one more than the other by choice when needed

⋆ u are never easily swayed by the opinions of others or external pressures because u know yourself extremely well and stay loyal to ur values

⋆ be confrontational and outspoken when need be

⋆ u are a genius in ur own way and u truly believe that

⋆ never limit yourself; effortlessly create the life of your dreams and believe u can have and be anything u want

⋆ be a ray of sunshine; beautiful, joyous and good energy. funny, happy, a joy to be around. u make people happy

⋆ become intelligent, magnetic and talented (if u have a specific skill in mind, great! if not you'll just become talented at random stuff 😳

⋆ people love being in ur presence

⋆ have a positive mindset that pays off

⋆ only be surrounded by people who truly love and adore u

⋆ ur self worth and confidence never comes or reclines comes from what people say or think about u. it comes from u and God.

⋆ you believe u are gorgeous. you are soo pretty and everyone can see that

⋆ easily accept compliments with joy rather than deflecting

⋆ u know ur level of productivity and success doesn't define u so u act accordingly

⋆ u are loved just as intensely and passionately as u love. those u love, love u back more.

⋆ u are a chill, magnetic, loving, confident, unbothered, kind, feminine girl

⋆ believe in and love the idea change and u adapt easily into any circumstance

⋆ be spontaneous and fun

⋆ u believe u can do all things through christ who strengthens u so u act accordingly

⋆ be determined to create a life u love waking up to and to achieve all ir aspirations in life

⋆ have a strong sense of self. know and understand who you are, what u want and settle for nothing less

⋆ become a creative genius that always has endless, creative, genius ideas flowing through ur head

⋆ never run out of ideas for ur work and in general

⋆ ur art is so original and breathtaking. it's always so unique

⋆ become a person of many talents who finds it easily learning new stuff, no matter what it is.

⋆ u love drawing and painting and u do it daily and you're so talented at it too

⋆ be financially boyuant by making art for a living

⋆ painting and drawing is a fun hobby for u that u effortlessly do consistently

⋆ receive compliments on all ur artwork

⋆ have all ur artworks sell faster than anybody could fathom it's just that awesome. they sell out effortlessly

⋆ u can easily convey emotions into ur artwork

⋆ people always feel numerous emotions when looking at ur profound artwork..it moves something in them

⋆ u can make a living doing whatever the heck u want. you're a success and successful at doing what u love most and u're able to effortlessly support yourself and ur loved ones because you're so wealthy

⋆ be free from perfectionist tendencies

⋆ enjoy and be completely focused in the process of making art

⋆ enjoy and find solace in spending time in nature. it recharges u mentally, physically and emotionally

⋆ effortlessly find cool, unique, beautiful spots bursting with nature in ur neighborhood

⋆ spend a lot of time outdoors

⋆ be calm and serene when in nature and when making art

⋆ become a lover of art and nature. infact you believe nature IS art. it's easy for u to decipher the feeling that an artist is trying to convey while also connecting with it on a personal level

⋆ u are independent and can easily take care of urself and handle yourself in any circumstance

⋆ effortlessly make decisions for yourself and in general. you're very decisive, a great decision maker.

⋆ always be present

⋆ be healed from codependency

⋆ thrive in the *real* world and know how to protect yourself. be able to effortlessly physically and verbally defend yourself if the need occurs

⋆ easily read people and their intentions

⋆ be great at negotiating; always he able to get stuff at cheap prices

⋆ become street smart and observant

⋆ always be protected and safe

⋆ live happily

⋆ enjoy dressing modestly and comfortably

⋆ always find pretty modest outfits that ate ur taste

⋆ become brave, witty, sassy, fearless, smart, strong, confident and assertive

⋆ take care of yourself the way you wish to be taken care of

⋆ always be on a fun adventure. you step out of ur comfort zone and do new things

⋆ u are always effortlessly ur authethtic self and can never compromise on that

⋆ be seen and appreciated as ur authentic self

⋆ ur creations draw attention, admiration and magnetizing opportunities

⋆ always recieve unique opportunities

⋆ always carry myself with grace

⋆ radiate confidence because u know ur value is inherent and unchanging

⋆ command respect and accept nothing less than dignified treatment

⋆ effortlessly attract opportunities dor financial abundance and creative fulfilment

⋆ only ever attract loving, respectful relationships where u are cherished and prioritized

⋆ successfully cultivate a positive mindset which causes u to ponder more on my strengths and blessings.

⋆ be grateful for everything

⋆ effortlessly navigate life with grace and resilience, maintaining inner peace amidst any storm

⋆ always effortlessly establish healthy boundaries because u don't settle for anything less than extraordinary.

⋆ be forever unmatched. u can't be compared to anyone because u are one of a kind...in the best way possible.

⋆ have a tantalizing and serene presence, aura and energy

⋆ posses the power to see the deepest depths of a person's psyche

⋆ everyone finds ur presence comforting

people are so comfortable with u, so much so they go as far as revealing their deepest darkest secrets

⋆ effortlessly become the best artist in the world.

⋆ everyone effortlessly connects with ur art.

⋆ always have great posture

⋆ effortlessly exude charm, poise, grace, wisdom, excellence, genius and femininity

⋆ ur beauty is off the charts, u are breathtakingly beautiful

⋆ u have pretty things. pretty clothes, jewelry, accessories, beddings, home decor, paintings, shoes, and makeup

⋆ have a large loyal fanbase

⋆ all ur siblings treat you well. they llve and respect you

⋆ have a great relationship with ur parents and siblings constantly thrive and blossom into something beautiful

⋆ easily articulate ur thoughts and feelings into words

⋆ communication skills is off the charts.

become so skilled and gifted when it comes to communicating and connecting with others

⋆ have wisdom

⋆ be healed from scoliosis and back pain

⋆ be down to heart and humble

⋆ become a smart worker

⋆ effortlessly and consistently express yourself through ur art

⋆ fall in love with the right people

⋆ love girly stuff

⋆ be in tune with ur divine feminine⋆

⋆ be modest

⋆ be eloquent when u speak

⋆ u can easily express ur thoughts and feelings into articulate and so simple yet profound words

⋆ the man u will fall for in the future will be one that is like straight outta fairytale, a wholesome romance novel

[yourmoonmomma]

Hi!

I’ll definitely consider changing therapists! thank you for the suggestion. I’ll give it another session to see how I feel and then look elsewhere if needed.

Therapy is strange..Idk I’ve always been comfortable with my emotions (it took a lot of internal work during my younger years). But, when it comes to therapy, I struggle to get words out and I’m really panicky. I’m not sure if this is because every time I would show emotions with my ex he’d tell me I was living in my head or just bringing up the past? I cried so much during the relationship when he would get really distant, and I just remember him just watching me. No words, nothing. He would say it killed him inside but idk actions will always be more valuable than words.

Continuing on from that point. Lately I’ve been feeling like it was all my fault, that I was the one who treated him badly. Every time we’d argue it was always because I bought something up and we’d go in this cycle. But he was a good guy, kind, loyal, and I think he tried. This ofc, just makes me feel like trash because maybe I didn’t appreciate him? I see things on social media like “if your ex did any of these things you deserve better” and it’s stuff like cheating, following other girls on socials, name calling etc. He didn’t do those things, we struggled on the emotional side of things..Did I ruin something good? The guilt consumes me a lot. Even when it ended he told me I was asking for too much and his family was more important. I still don’t know what I asked for other than to have more than one date a month and consistent communication..

I keep asking everyone if it was my fault, truthfully I feel like I ruined it all. I replay the day before the breakup where I knew from his eyes that the love wasnt there but he still said he loved me. It really haunts me. I’ve been asking a mutual friend of ours to let him know that I want a final conversation where I can admit my faults and guilt. This friend said he won’t do that because I was treated badly, and i need to hold my self respect. Deep down I know I was horrible, no one seems to believe me.

Bleh sorry for the rambling, I should ask though, how have you been? I hope you’re taking care of yourself and staying hydrated! -🐼

Hi lovely!

I'm glad to hear you're open to doing that <33 I've seen probably close to 10 therapists in my life, and of those 10, only 2 (one of which is my current therapist) was the perfect match for what I needed. It can be discouraging sometimes, going through so many, but when you find the one that fits your needs, it's worth it!

Actions ARE more valuable than words, and I'm sorry he didn't respond better to your emotions :( You can always say that to a therapist though! Something like "sorry, I just need a few moments to gather my thoughts, I'm feeling something, but I'm scared of saying it/unsure of how to say it/can't name the feeling". You're allowed to sit there with your feelings until you can express them!

Just because someone tries doesn't mean they were right for you. They don't have to cheat to still not be the person you should be with. If it was good, it wouldn't have ended. I understand that guilt or fear or worry, but there will be a better person that comes along for you, I'm sure of it. You are NOT asking for too much by asking for more communication or more dates. You just need to find someone who also wants those things, or is willing to provide you with those things. That is not too much to ask, especially from the right person.

I don't believe you were horrible, but I am sorry you feel that way. If you were, it's important to know it takes two people to end a relationship, in most cases. It sounds like you were willing to work on things, if he was willing to work with you, and he wasn't. No matter who is "horrible" that's all it comes down to. Faults or not, a good thing or not, he wasn't willing to continue working on the relationship.

Don't be sorry for rambling, that's what I'm here for <333 I've been okay though! Jayson surprised me with a new phone after I smashed mine, so I'm very happy about that :3 Been eating way too much it feels like lately, especially for how broke we are lol, but it's been nice to cook & eat food. I hope, despite everything, you're taking care of yourself too <3

[princejoffreyvelaryon]

Joffrey Velaryon Headcanons

Joffrey is a rule follower before anything else. He believes in being honorable, using correct and respectful titles, staying far away from "improper" places, and things of that similar nature. He dutifully trains with the sword, practices his courtesies, and studies the histories required of him (even if it is not his wish to do so). He often takes care of his young siblings and makes sure to impose these values upon them whenever possible. Making sure they learn their manners and respect just as he did when he was a child. If he sees another person doing wrong (in his strict sense of right and wrong), he will always make sure to call out their behavior, even if this does not go over well with the other person.

While his talents lie mostly with his sword, the Prince has more of a passion for archery. He knows this is not a valuable skill for one of his ultimate goals, being a tourney knight, but he still loves to further this skill. He especially loves when he gets to practice archery on horseback.

Though knowing histories (especially the Valyrian histories) is an important aspect to a Prince of the realm, Joffrey feels rather indifferent to the topic. He would rather spend his time squiring under his step-father or care for his young siblings than to sit down and read a book about events that happened hundreds of years ago. In general, he cares little for reading and books. He knows his grandfather, the King, is very passionate for the histories, and quite a few other members of his family are as well, but Joffrey can not bring himself to care. He knows the Valyrian language well, so why care for what the Valryians did hundreds of years ago? He remembers the basics of Westerosi history, so why try to figure out more? Many have told him to care more for his heritage, but it only further annoys him and disconnects him from the subject.

While the Prince is known for his closeness with most people around him, he considers his best friends to be his step-sister, Lady Rhaena, and his younger half brother, Prince Aegon. He also shares a notably close bond with his mother, Princess Rhaenyra, and step-father, Prince Daemon. Joffrey spends a lot of his time caring for his younger siblings along side Rhaena. He loves to train with and pass down wisdom to Aegon. He squires under Daemon, and of course admires his mother above everyone else.

Rumors of his parentage have affected Joffrey, just not in a way he would ever outwardly show. Deep down, the rumors of him being a bastard make him feel dirty, ashamed, and sad. But he comforts himself by making sure he upholds the good values every honorable man should have, and telling himself that he is a good prince. No rumor could ever change that about him, and the rumors matter little in the end.

While the bastardy rumors are not too much of a cloud over Joffrey's head, he deals with another unfavorable rumor that comes his way. One that he does not share with his two eldest siblings. The rumor states that honorable Prince Joffrey shares some very dishonorable tastes with his late father, Laenor Velaryon. Those tastes being that Joffrey prefers the company of men rather than the company of woman, in a romantic sense. He was even named after the thought to be lover of Laenor; Joffrey Lonmouth, the knight of kisses. This gossip was spread when it had started to be noticed that Joffrey would shut down any romantic advances made by woman. He would not even look at a pretty lady twice. Yet, he seemed affectionate enough with his male friends in the training yard, it had been observed. The Prince has yet to shut down these rumors, so people continue to talk behind his back. Joffrey knows that these rumors aren't true, and so he puts no mind to them. In fact, his reasoning's for acting the way he does have to do with honor rather than unusual tastes. He feels it would be most honorable to only engage in "romance" with a lady if it were his betrothed. He waits for his mother to arrange his betrothal, and only then would he spare glances and have flirtatious conversations with the lady in question.

[dmagedgoods]

9, 12, 13 for Sal? 👀 And if you already got those, I also have a question not from the list - how did Sal deal with the particular "gifts" from the Other in acts 2-4? Was he just cautious about keeping it quiet or was he more concerned about Daeran's safety?

9. Any NPCs important to your KC? Oh, does this include companions? Just in case: Daeran more than anyone of course, the love of his life and guiding star, but also Woljif and Regill and with a bit more distance Arueshalae and Ember. But since I wrote a lot about his relationships to his companions already, I’ll mainly answer it for the non-companion NPCs: The Hand of the Inheritor almost would have become a close friend. His betrayal put an end to this development, but maybe there is hope. I rambled about it here. Salvadore started to strongly cherish Berenguer, Yaniel, Katair, Lariel, and especially Targona who always showed up to support him. There was a special connection between Salvadore and Targona especially because he managed to clean her from the influence of the Abyss – and with this deed himself from every last doubt that he is in full control over his own powers too and truly transformed them into a force of light and goodness. He enjoyed listening to the storyteller and was highly interested in his story, knowledge, and learning from him. Areelu was very important to Sal in highly mixed and complicated ways. (The details are here and here.) 12. What were the hardest choices your KC made? I answered this question in this ask. :) 13. Was there anyone your KC felt particularly attached to? Anyone they particularly loathed? Salvadore might be slightly attached to Daeran. Alright, serious answer, I’m sorry. 😂 Salvadore loves Daeran more than his life, more than his valuable principles even. There is nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice to guarantee his happiness and freedom. His closest friends aside from Daeran, and together with him his strongest source of support and comfort, are Woljif and Regill. – Woljif also offers lighthearted times of fun, laughter, and small adventures, Regill also gives important and cherished advice, guidance, and shares his experiences. Furthermore, Salvadore is friends with Arueshalae, with Ember, and with Targona. When he actually uses this word – friend –, he means it deeply and those people are highly important to him, and can be sure he’ll be there for them always. I should mention some more characters, though. Despite them not being close enough to him he’d call them friends, he has an intensely high opinion of them and he enjoys it when they’re around and misses them when they are gone: Berenguer, Yaniel, Katair, Lariel, Greybor (starting in act V) and Anevia. Also, you won’t believe it, he was genuinely happy when Nenio came back to write her encyclopedia in Drezen and wanted his help. ~ At first, he loathed Nenio when things started out, due to her utter lack of respect in a form he wasn’t able to handle well. His opinion grew much more positive over time. Eventually, he got to understand her better and that she’s just acting the way she is with no ill intent. Salvadore looked down on Lady Konomi. She dares to claim he hasn’t enough experience in politics – his main field of expertise – while she herself is the worst diplomat he ever encountered. Well, eventually he renewed the whole Royal Council (with Daeran’s help), basically causing her to lose her job, and suddenly she was tame like a kitten. He must admit her new behavior towards him felt quite satisfying. Of course, Salvadore strongly dislikes Elan for calling attention to the fact that he has no true military rank in Mendev (something that bothers Sal himself more than anyone) while at the same time, he didn’t show any kind of proper respect for his commander. The game lacked the option to punish his behavior, since Sal absolutely did punish him for his behavior (by suspending him in my version of things). Salvadore loathed Galfrey. They fought a subtle battle for influence and the love of the people, jealous of each other while having many things in common. Salvadore only saw the mistakes she had made and her throne within his reach. Daeran’s crush on her wasn’t of any help to make this complicated situation easier. Sadly, Salvadore didn’t manage to overcome those petty emotions in time. But neither did Galfrey. It ended with strong feelings of bitterness, shame, and regret from both sides when she died in Iz and apologized with her last breath. ((I always get a little sad about all of this myself, because I know if they would have met under different circumstances, with Sal already in a position of power himself and not dependent on her, they would have become allies and eventually maybe even friends. Very competitive in it, but still.)) Salvadore not only hates insects in the best of cases already, he also despises mindless destruction. While he partly managed to respect Baphomet for his intelligence, Deskari truly felt like vermin he urgently had to get rid of. To only watch Irmangaleth being killed, felt like too little and he was quite displeased with the result. He wanted to see him tortured for what he had dared to do to him, he wanted him to beg him for his death. Bonus: how did Sal deal with the particular "gifts" from the Other in acts 2-4? Was he just cautious about keeping it quiet or was he more concerned about Daeran's safety? Hehe, great question! 😁 I even have to start in act 1. At first, when he found his room decorated with dead demons in Defender’s Heart – one night after Daeran had joined – , he thought it was one of his impious pranks. For a moment he had suspected Cassius, his leopard, of being responsible. But then he remembered that Daeran had joked about selling Terendelev puppets with removable heads (Sal actually had been amused, but more about the fact that Daeran seemed to believe it would be this easy to appall him in some way) and there was a cleanly cut off demon head on his nightstand, so the case seemed clear for him: Not Cassius’ fault but the gift of a badly behaved green-eyed cat nonetheless. It seemed a little like bringing him a dead mouse to show off. Only when he found the heads of people in his bag as well – he dearly hoped that at least it were the heads of people they had fought before, cultists, etc. – he slightly started to worry about … Daeran’s mental health. Eventually, Daeran’s party happened and he got to know the truth and the nature of those gifts seemed even more concerning than before. Did the creature try to communicate with him? To intimidate him? As arrogant as always, he wasn’t worried for his own safety for a second, but all the more for Daeran’s. He also felt a hint of guilt for not being capable to put an end to it without more information from Liotr. What if the creature killed more innocents in the meantime? Some of the people he was responsible for? At the same time, he wanted to let Daeram know that he’d find a way to save him, even more so when their relationship grew serious. Of course, he couldn’t.  To not endanger him, he played his role perfectly, never showing in the slightest what he had seen. – With one exception: After the night when they had slept with each other for the first time, while being watched by the Other, he mentioned the dream of a dark threat he had had and that he’d always protect him. Knowing that Daeran is very smart and also more than capable of getting a hint, he hoped it would be enough to secretly tell him that he knew and that he’d do anything in his power to free him.

[ginnypark]

In which Ginny pays a visit to @ijemmaokafor. (tldr: ginny tells jemma that she's going with sol on his next trip out of redwood. it doesn't go over terribly well.)

Ginny: [knocks, then calls through the door] Jemma? It’s Ginny. Are you home?

Jemma: -calling out from her desk- Yeah, door’s open!

Ginny: [lets herself in] Hey, you. Busy?

Jemma: -setting her pen down- Never too busy for you. What’s up? Council meeting go okay? Did Sol crawl out of his skin there in the spotlight?

Ginny: [closes the door but hovers by it, obviously uneasy] Sol squirmed plenty. He hates that sort of thing but he did well. Had plenty of information to share. I’ll, uh, I’ll have the minutes for you to look over tomorrow, if you want.

Jemma: -turning in her chair, growing concerned- Okay. Something bad happened.

Ginny: No, no. Nothing bad. It’s just, um… [she sighs heavily then crosses to finally sit on the edge of the bed, folding her hands, looking down at them as she talks]

Sol’s here for now but he’s headed back out in about a week’s time. There were some things he discovered that… well, the council thinks they warrant further investigation. Out west this time, for a couple of weeks, at least. And it’s not a trip he should be taking alone. So… I’m going with him.

Jemma: -clenching her jaw- No. Nuh-uh, Gin, you don’t—I came from that direction, I—the council approved this??

Ginny: They did. It's just recon, Jemma. I'll... I'll be back before you know it.

Jemma: Just recon, it's dangerous out there no matter what you're doing! We build this place, put these walls up 'cause it's not safe. And folks still keep finding reasons to go out there. If I had a vote on council, I wouldn't have approved Sol going, he just got back. And what's so important out there to investigate, huh? I'll tell you what's out there. Assholes and zombies. You gotta put your neck on the line just to confirm it?

Ginny: That’s not the only thing that could be out there.

Jemma: -dropping her head forward- I won't take it there. I'm not gonna argue that, you know I'll never argue that. But there are other people here that can look for him. And I love you, I believe you can do anything you damn well please, but you're so much more valuable here.

Ginny: [finally looks up, looking thunderstruck for a moment before speaking] You’ve never said that before. That you…

Jemma: -pausing a moment to play back her own words- What? That I love you? I do, though. That's why I'm so fucking furious right now. -closing her eyes and sighing- I'm sorry...if I was supposed to wait for some big romantic moment or something, I never understood the fuss of all that. I love you. Statement of fact. And right now I'm kinda losing my shit.

Ginny: No, no. You did it all right. That’s… it’s good. It’s… Furious, though? That’s not fair. You know how much this means to me. [pauses to listen, then sighs again] Jem, I… [stands then crosses the room, brushing Jemma’s hair back, searching her expression before pressing their lips together]

Jemma: -holding onto Ginny's biceps like it's keeping her tethered- You've already decided it for sure, then?

Ginny: [at a whisper and with her eyes closed] I have to. It’s been ages since someone’s been out west. I have to check.

Jemma: -nodding and trying to put on a brave face- I know you do. I'm not gonna pretend to be happy about this 'cause I respect you too much for that bullshit. But I'll be damned if I'm on a sour note when you leave.

Ginny: I think if you were happy, I’d have even more to worry about. [opens her eyes, tries for a smile, though it fades; lifts a hand to cup Jemma’s cheek] I’m sorry, Jem. This isn’t me trying to hurt you. Is there… can I do anything to help you… not lose your shit?

Jemma: -perking up- Yeah, actually. Have one of the many first-person-shooter dudes around here give you a refresher on gun safety. And see if Renee's got some kinda zombie first aid kit you can take with you. I know Sol's unabomber ass is probably out there duct taping wounds shut, but we can do better than that.

Ginny: Okay. Okay, yeah, I can do that. … This probably isn’t fair to say, but… I’ll really miss you while I’m gone.

Jemma: -clicking her tongue against her teeth in dismay- Jesus Ginny, I'd never begrudge your affection. -settling on a tired smile- I'll miss you too. Y'know, in case the freak out left you wondering.

Ginny: I never wondered. [kisses her again, slowly, keeping them close when she speaks again] And, listen. If anything happens… it won’t, but if it does, the house by the graveyard is yours. If you want it.

Jemma: -shaking her head- We'll talk about the house when you get back. -mores softly- I hear you, just...not right now?

Ginny: [whispers] Okay. Not right now.

END.

[hotwheelzx]

The Quest for Self-Discovery: Unlocking the Power Within

Today, we begin a quest of self-discovery, a quest that will lead us to unlock the immense power within ourselves, the power to master our minds and improve our mental health.

Recognize the Value of Your Mind

Getting lost in the chaos of the world and feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, and self-doubt is easy. But don't worry, you're not alone, and there's hope!

First things first, recognize the value of your mind. We must respect and take care of our minds. We gotta make sure we give those things the love and attention they deserve, you know? They're important and valuable, so we gotta treat 'em right.

I want to remind you that our thoughts have a significant impact on our lives. Therefore, it's crucial to prioritize our mental health just as we do with our physical health. Taking care of both aspects is crucial if we want to live our best lives. So, let's ensure that we're taking good care of ourselves, shall we?

Focus on Thoughts, Actions, and Resilience

But on a real note, like, how do we start working on ourselves..? How can we stop feeling so down and start living with more meaning and joy?

Well, it's all about what we think, how we act, and how we bounce back from tough times. Like, we gotta focus on the good stuff and keep pushing through the bad. It's not always easy, but we got this!

To begin improving ourselves and finding more happiness and purpose, we need to focus on our thoughts, actions, and resilience. We should aim to emphasize the positive aspects of life and persevere through challenges, even when it feels impossible. With effort and determination, we can achieve our goals.

Believe in Yourself

If we want to enhance our lives and discover more joy and meaning, we need to concentrate on our mindset, behavior, and ability to bounce back. Let's try to highlight the good things in life and keep pushing through obstacles, even if it seems tough. With dedication and perseverance, we can make our dreams a reality.

Although easier said than done, I want you to believe in yourself, even when things get tough. I believe in you.

Surround Yourself with a Support System

Surround yourself with a support system that uplifts and encourages you. Seek out individuals who inspire you, who share your vision for growth, and who believe in your dreams. Together, you can create an environment that fosters mental well-being and propels each other towards greatness.

You deserve to live a happy, successful life.

Prioritize Self-Care

Lastly, remember that self-care is not selfish; it is self-preservation. Prioritize activities that bring you joy, peace, and tranquility. Foster healthy habits that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Whether it's practicing mindfulness, engaging in physical exercise, or pursuing creative endeavors, make time for yourself, for it is in self-care that we find the strength to face life's challenges head-on.

You are worth it.

The Power is Within You

It's important to know that you have the power to overcome any obstacle and achieve your dreams. We need to work together to create a society that prioritizes emotional well-being and helps everyone reach their full potential. So babes, take control of your life, trust in your own abilities, and let them guide you towards a brighter future.

Together, we will create a world where mental health is celebrated, where individuals feel enabled to break free from the chains of self-doubt holding them down, and pursue a life of endless opportunities.

The power is within you.

Lauren Martin

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Thranduil and Josie Pt. 122- Court Is In Session

Summary: The Elvenking has a "shocking" meeting with the warlock Harker. Josie, Garrett and Legolas go to court with the Seelie Queen who plays a vindictive game with the unwilling participants. The verdict is in as Legolas faces a new reality as do Garrett and Josie. Familiar fiends enjoy the bonfire and come across a major clue.

*Warnings* Angst, violence, heartbreak, language

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist

"Harker..." Thranduil scowled at the blonde wicked warlock through narrowed eyes.

"The one and only. What a glorious day here in the goblin realm don't you think? All dark and deathly. Surely you were not thinking of departing after all the destruction you have brought forth to my brother's kingdom? I must insist that you remain here awhile longer to answer to the King for what you have done."

"Get out of my way." The Elvenking snarled, losing the patience he most always had.

Harker took a step towards Thranduil with a grin, not intimidated in the least by his twin swords or his feeble words.

"Oh, but I cannot do that. You see, you were quite a valuable piece to the goblin King in obtaining the final, most important piece for his plans, but that will soon be collected along with one other needed item. Really, you serve no purpose now and I may have been inclined to let you go, but not after you have brought forth the inferno on top of that mountain. Did you really think it would be that simple to kill Jareth? Surely you must know there is only one way to do that...All you have merely done is destroy his castle but not his labyrinth inside that mountain in which he still lives and breathes."

"I do know, but it does not hurt in crippling an empire. Since when do you care for Jareth. You are the one who killed him are you not?"

"I see you have done your homework. Yes, I killed him and my watered down brother Julian had to bring him back, clueless as to what Jareth would become, the warlock he was always meant to be and so Jules shall also be, now that he has taken his proper place as a 7th son. Ironic don't you think? Julian being the ghastly good son and trying to keep Jareth on the straight and narrow like him, only to accidentally turn him into what he tried to save him from. But now, all is right thanks to yours truly. Quite a family reunion it will be I must say."

"You spew lies as any warlock of evil does. Julian would never fall under your wicked wings."

Harker formed an overly confident grin as he held the crystal Julian had obtained from the bookstore back in Scotland.

"You don't know the half of it."

"We both know that Ashmole is the only thing that can destroy Jareth along with the combination of three powerful gemstones, which two are already in my possession as you can see, oh and yes, the three missing pages to that book, I also now have......but that is not the only reason Jareth wants it, for he has great plans for all of middle earth....now, as you were saying about Julian?"

Thranduil's eyes widened as he saw Jareth's citrine ring upon Harker's finger and also over the fact that Julian never would have given up those pages, not willingly anyways, since for 9 years he suffered in silence, torture and captivity to keep Caroline from getting her hands on that book.

"Judging by the expression on your face, I see you now believe what I say to be true."

"What have you done to my wife's father!?"

Thranduil greatly respected Julian for many reasons, but mostly because of his genuine love for you, even in knowing that he was not your biological father...and Thranduil knew how much you loved him as well.

Harker chuckled. "I have done nothing to Jareth...oh! You mean Jules, her father for all intents and purposes, that daddy. Oh the irony in that tale, but I'll save that for another time. I have done nothing to Julian. He is very much alive and well. Now Jareth on the other hand, he was away for awhile and came to visit Jules and I. He was able to persuade our brother to join us. It really didn't take much effort in convincing Jules that it was where he belonged."

Harker gazed at the citrine ring on his index finger as he stroked the gem with his thumb.

"And he will be obtaining the other gem needed soon enough, along with the book, both actually right under your wife's nose, one literally. I would have paid my niece a visit myself but I felt it to be much easier for the moonstone to be retrieved by someone she trusts. Daddy dearest. Although, I would have loved to have went there myself for I hear she smells of cherries and I like cherries."

A rage like no other boiled through Thranduil's blood as he death glared Harker, teeth grinding and nose flaring.

"Oh my, if looks could kill. It appears I have struck a nerve." Harker chortled, unscathed by the Elvenking's eyes of daggers.

"If it is the stone you want, I will tell you where to locate mine, for they are one in the same. You will leave Josephine out of this!" Thranduil growled, knowing his ring lied on the underside of his finger, hidden inside his glove.

"What a thoughtful gesture to offer your ring of power for a simple woman. Such a loyal and faithful husband, well, that is unless you count your indiscretions with Raven as loyal and faithful...oh yes, and let us not forget Tauriel, my how word gets around. You sure like those redheads eh?...BUT, then again, so do I. I also hear the sweet Josephine is becoming quite close to the new King of Mirkwood...what's his name? Lego something? Oh well...back to the matter at hand. Jules is probably almost there and will do whatever is necessary to take the gem, for the girl he knew as his daughter now means nothing to him."

Thranduil let his words about you and Legolas go in one ear and out the other, for that he was certain to be a lie. He knew how Legolas felt about you, but did not believe you would ever return his feelings...but what Harker said about Julian truly worried him.

"It will do you no good! For it is merely a small piece of the original moonstone. You will need mine to complete your task. Call Julian off and I will offer you mine freely!"

Harker shook his head and motioned for the army of goblins he had concealed in the shadows to come out.

"Nice attempt to deter me from her. I am growing tiresome of this but I will give you an A for effort. Her stone will do just fine for it belongs to a witch, and it is the one needed and desired... and I WILL obtain it. The moonstone of an elf lord is worthless! I have the crystal, I have the citrine and I have the missing pages....and soon I will have the book and the moonstone. If Julian fails, I will retrieve the gem myself and maybe even have your wife as well."

Thranduil's already boiling blood now ignited into a volcanic eruption.

"Are you ready to DIE FOR IT!" The Elvenking raged as he poked the tip of his sword against Harker's throat.

Harker began bellowing in laughter and then his face went flat and serious. He slowly wrapped his hand that bore the citrine ring, around the razor sharp blade and then the stone lit up like the sun. The burning glow traveled swiftly through the blade up to Thranduil's hand before he could even react. The King's arm glowed orange and he began to shake as if he were being electrocuted. He couldn't move nor release his hand from his sword as Harker continued to grasp it firmly. As sharp as the steel was, it should have sliced right through the warlock's hand but the ring protected him.

Harker finally let go and Thranduil stumbled back a few steps, completely stunned and disoriented, his arms dangling helplessly at his sides as his twin swords fell to the ground.

"Jos...Josephine..." Thranduil choked out.

"You whimpering sprite!!" Harker reeled and struck Thranduil across his face with great warlock force, knocking him clean off of his feet and onto his back.

"Take him to the iron cage in the mountain's dungeons! I have plans of my own for the Elvenking." Harker ordered to the goblins.

Thranduil found himself yet once again being drug off by Jareth's mutant minions and completely helpless to do anything about it, for the jolt of Jareth's ring disabled him from being able to move or speak, but he was well aware of all that was happening and felt the debilitating pain from the electric charge throb through every inch of his body.

You walked beside Garrett as you both followed Legolas inside the Seelie Court. It was all like some beautiful image out of a fairytale book you read as a kid...but as Legolas had said, don't be blinded by it. It was hard not to be, for it reminded you of Thranduil's gardens, where you both were married.

You stopped to look around and were startled by a male faerie groping your hair as other female ones did the same to Legolas and Garrett.

"Welcome." he said and took your knife as the women took Legolas's bow and arrows and knives. Garrett didn't carry weapons, for he was a weapon himself.

"Hey, hey!" Garrett snapped and rushed to your side, planting himself between you and the faerie man. "Ok magic mike, keep your hands to yourself."

"Garrett, it's alright...but..Legolas, they, they took our weapons."

"You'll get them back when you leave the court." the Seelie Queen spoke as she arose from her throne that was embedded in an abundance of vines.

"Your majesty. What an honor." Legolas said as he bowed to her and gave you and Garrett a look that told you to do the same, in which you both quickly did.

"Wait, that's the Queen?" Garrett whispered to you.

"Why is the vampire here? He was not invited."

"He's with me." you quickly answered.

"My lady, Garrett has proven himself a worthy warrior and a loyal friend. We insist that he be here with us." Legolas replied.

You and Garrett both looked at Legolas like a deer in the headlights.

"Anything you can say to us, you can say to him." Legolas added.

"Very well. The vampire can stay."

Legolas bowed his head at her acceptance. "You are as generous as you are lovely."

"Set an extra plate at the table for our third guest." Amara told the servant.

She then came to you and took your hand, leading you to the table.

"This is going to be fun."

You glanced back at Legolas and Garrett, who gave each other a look and quickly followed.

You all then sat down atop pillows on the forest floor at the table which was an old mammoth sized tree stump and filled with mostly fruits.

"It is just so strange, her appearance for being so ancient. She hasn't even reached puberty." you quietly said to Legolas who sat next to you.

"She is ancient. She uses the Seelie magic to manipulate her age."

Garrett sat at your other side and softly spoke his thoughts.

"Genius. She tries to seem all innocent and cute but really she's just..."

"Hungry?" Amara said as she came to the table and sat down.

You and Garrett wide eyed each other as he lightly gulped.

"Thank you, but we would really like to know why you requested for Josie to be here?" Legolas asked politely.

"I'd like to know more about Josie. You are one of Jareth's and Caroline's children?"

"Umm, actually I'm the only one. Well, except for a half sister I do not acknowledge..." you answered as your eyes slowly moved to Garrett over his filthy fling with Raven. His eyes hovered over his plate as he felt the burn of your stare.

"Are you sure about that?" Amara questioned.

"As far as I know, why do you ask?"

She looked you over as if she were reading your soul.

"I feel you share the same blood with two others, both of magic like yourself. I would love to see what you can do. How about a demonstration? Don't be shy."

"Well...actually...I...I don't have any powers right now. I seemed to have lost them..."

"Have you really? They're still there. You just have to look deeper for them....and you vampire...are you still learning to walk in the sun?"

"Wow. Word travels fast down here." Garrett answered a bit surprised that she knew anything about him at all.

"It does. I hear whispers from the birds, the bees and the bugs. They're all in my service. Such as, you're an effective killer. The sweeter the honey, the deadlier the trap."

She eyed a quite uncomfortable Garrett as if he were something to eat, then included Legolas.

"And what about you Legolas. You and Garrett both wish Josie to be your lover?"

You almost choked on the grapes you were munching on as Legolas and Garrett's mouths dropped open from the Queen's words.

"Respectfully, I do not think this is an appropriate conversation." you said to help them both out.

She gave you a not so nice look and took the hand of her servant to get up, then her teeth turned into razors as she bit into an apple and tossed it onto the table.

Garrett's eyes bulged as he followed the mutilated apple to it's resting place while the fiercely fanged faerie stood right next to him.

"I'd like a moment alone with the daylighter."

"Alone?" Garrett slightly gulped and cautiously looked up at her.

"With Garrett??" you asked in great concern.

"My lady, perhaps you could discuss it here? We prefer not to be separated." Legolas insisted.

"Don't worry. I'll bring him back with all his limbs attached." she smiled as she glanced down at a very disturbed Garrett.

"Umm.. Ok..." Garrett replied as he looked in your worried eyes and got up. You didn't like this one bit....or her.

"It's ok Josephine. I'll be fine."

Off they went behind a curtain and disappeared.

"I've never met a vampire quite like you....and I've been alive for a very very long time. One that only kills the bad humans for his daily food intake and can control his thirst. You're quite interesting to me Garrett."

"Sooo...you're not upset that I'm here?"

"On the contrary. I have seen you watching Josephine for sometime now. I was hoping your friends would invite you along tonight, the daylighter rockstar. I've mentored some of the greatest Seelie musicians. Have you ever heard of Sia or Bjork? I can help you too. You can visit my court anytime."

"Annnnd why would you do that for me?"

"Because I want to be friends. Allies. I feel darker times are coming Roman and my feelings are rarely wrong....Oh..oh can I call you Roman?"

"Uh...yeah...go for it." Garrett agreed, if it would keep her from going all pennywise again, he thought to himself. He was mind blown at how she knew anything of his human life.

"You and I can help each other Roman. We both want what's in the other room. I want the King and you want the Queen."

"And how do you propose to make that happen?"

Amara smiled. "You're still so young Roman, in your newborn phase. Elves are all alike, even physically, but you, you're so different and much more appealing to humans....to Josie. I can see it when she looks at you. You are of her own kind, human like still and she's drawn to you because of that, as you are to her. I can rid Legolas as your competition so you can finally have her."

"RID Legolas? I am not sure what your intentions are to get what you want, but I will not do anything to hurt Josephine. I have done enough to her already. I'm sorry but you've got the wrong guy."

"No I don't. I want to be friends Roman and I'm willing to wait. I'm a very patient woman."

You paced back and forth in worry for Garrett as Legolas sat at the table.

"We should never have let Garrett come...If anything happens to him because of me....."

"He didn't exactly give us a choice Josie....and I can't really blame him. If I were him, I would never leave your side either."

Legolas looked so glum as he lowered his eyes to the table and it broke your heart knowing how he felt about you.

Suddenly, Garrett came hauling ass out of the curtain with the Seelie Queen and her servant following him.

"Is everything ok?" you asked him.

"Great! Josephine, we need to leave here RIGHT now." He said as he grabbed your arms.

Legolas stopped him as not to insult the Queen.

"Your majesty, with your permission, we really should be going."

"But you've only just arrived."

Vines began crawling up and winding around Legolas and Garrett's legs, and then to their arms before anyone of them knew what was happening.

"It's futile to struggle. Vitas Veritas. Enchanted vines that only obey me."

"What are you doing?? Let them go!"

"But they killed several of my kind."

"What? We didn't kill anyone!" Garrett adamantly said.

"She cannot lie. Your majesty, you must be mistaken." Legolas professed.

"I told you, the birds, bees, bugs, they're all in my service."

Then it hit you. "The gnats...at the kill tree."

"Seriously? The bugs I killed?" a befuddled Garrett asked.

"But that can't mean..." you began to speak.

"Their deaths require justice." Amara quickly explained. "Unless of course, you'd rather play a game?"

"What kind of...." Legolas tried to ask.

"A game sounds better." Garrett quickly added, interrupting the elf. Legolas glared at Garrett as the vampire returned the look with furrowed brows as he shook his head in frustration.

"It's simple really. All I ask is a kiss."

"Youuuu, want one of us to.... kiss you?" you asked in straight up confusion.

"The game isn't for me. It's for you Josie. The kiss that will set them free is the kiss you most desire. I suggest you move quickly. Once the vines reach their neck, the boys will be dead, dead, dead....."

"and your emerald has no power here to save them." Amara explained with a satisfied smile.

Legolas and Garrett gazed at each other with worrisome looks as the vines tightened over their arms and around their chests.

"Josephine, just kiss Legolas so we can get out of here." Garrett anxiously told you.

You turned and looked at Legolas, then rushed to him and kissed him soft and quickly. When you pulled back, nothing changed.

You spun around to Amara. "Why are the vines still here??? I did what you asked!"

"Why do you think Josie?" Amara grinned with confidence as you looked at her in fear, knowing that you now had to face something you had fought for awhile, even more so after what happened with Raven....and it was something Amara knew as well.

You quickly turned back around and stared at each the elf and the vampire as the vines were now beginning to wrap around their necks.

"You can fool yourself, but not the vitas veritas." Amara continued with her sick game.

You glanced at the Seelie Queen once more and then sped over to Garrett.

"This means nothing..." you told him, just like he told Raven the same thing before he did what he did, but in his case, it was true.

He quickly nodded with tears in his eyes, not because he was losing air but because of how horribly sorry he was for everything he had ever done to hurt you. In that moment, he actually did want to die because you were being forced to admit something you didn't want to...something he could feel that did mean something to you by the way you looked at him....something that was about to hurt you again because of him that now involved Legolas whom you cared for deeply...and he never wanted you to be put in such a position. That's how much he loved you.

You stretched up on your tippy toes and pulled the towering vampire down to you, then quickly laid your lips over his. Garrett's cool lips and maple scented breath flowing from his nose made you weak in the knees, causing you to release him....but you froze just inches from his mouth as you both gazed into each other's eyes. You wanted to kiss him again and his eyes screamed for you to do it...and so you did, this time softly and deeply as you laid your hand upon his chilled cheek. Your mouths slowly opened, sealing together as your body pushed into his. It was as if no one else existed in that moment but you and him.

The vines began to unravel off of Garrett and Legolas both as the elf gaped at your lip lock in shock. Once you felt the vines moving, you forced yourself away from Garrett, in disbelief of your actions and of how it made you feel....Both of you couldn't take your eyes off of each other.

And then you looked at a crushed Legolas who could barely bring his eyes to yours...

and then your eyes flowed back to Garrett, not knowing what to say or do. The way Legolas looked at you was a look you would never forget.

The Seelie Queen though, she grinned from ear to ear for she knew her plan had succeeded with flying colors....for she now ignorantly believed she had a chance with the new King of Mirkwood and that could only spell trouble for him.

Legolas turned and slowly walked out with his head lowered.

"Legolas!!! WAIT!!!"

You ran to him and took his hand.

"Please...please wait....please let me..."

"You do not need to do this."

"Yes, yes I do...What just happened...it..it didn't mean anything. Your life was at risk. I..I had to kiss Garrett, I had no choice."

"I know. I was standing right there, remember? This is not about you kissing him. The Seelie Queen made you reveal who you desired most and it was not me, it was Garrett."

"It's a trick. That's all it was."

"Be honest with me Josie."

"I am...You said yourself the Seelie's, they thrive on getting inside your head."

"Josie stop. Don't make this harder than it already is because you don't want to hurt my feelings."

"What do you want me to do Legolas...just tell me?" you said and began to cry.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you do not have any feelings for him."

You stood speechless as your tears fell. Even Legolas's eyes were beginning to glisten...and he quickly turned away. You quickly went to him and made him look at you as you sobbed.

"Look at me...Legolas...I...I love you..."

"Don't do that!"

"Why??!"

"Because you don't mean it the way that I mean it!...and you never will. For so long, I have been in love with you, every minute of every day. You are the first thing I think of when I awake. If the Seelie Queen had asked me that question, kiss the one I most desired, no one would even come close to you....there's something between you and Garrett and you cannot deny it."

"I..I...I...don't know...maybe, but Legolas...it's nothing like you and me..." you insisted as you took his hands.

"But it's enough...enough for me to know. Kissing you, telling you I loved you, wanting to be more than friends....it..it was a mistake."

Legolas gently pushed your hands back and pulled his free from yours, then turned to Garrett.

"If my father were here in this little game, we both would never have had a chance. Something for you to think about....I'm sure Garrett can get you home safely....wherever that even is anymore..."

Legolas then left you standing there in a disarray of mascara streaked cheeks and erratic gasps from crying so hard.

Garrett tried to comfort you and took your hand.

"Josephine...I...I'm..."

"Don't...." you snapped and yanked your hand away. "I need to get back to my daughter..."

You then stormed out as Garrett lowered his head with a sigh, then followed you.

The fires raged through Jareth's kingdom atop the mountain as dragons still soared about in a frenzy while two onlookers sat by the dark forest's edge enjoying the view of the goblin king's crashing empire.

"How do they put it Marius? Karma is a....witch?" Lestat chuckled with a wicked grin.

"Indeed it is. One burnt fortress for another."

"I could not believe my ears when I heard the hymn no one dares to play...or should I say, no one knows how to play, except I."

"And no one plays as well as you if I might add. Although, I can think of the only other one who could do all."

Lestat gazed into the blazing inferno. "Yes. I thought the same thing as well, but we know that is not possible since he is gone so that leaves me to wonder....who did this? I would personally like to shake their hand and take them out for...dinner and....drinks."

"Yes. Whomever it was has a mighty skilled hand and a hatred for Jareth...and I must say, they also have some big balls. With so many dragons, that person's balls might be burnt marshmallows now."

"Yes....big balls indeed." Lestat curiously said as he narrowed his eyes in deep thought.

"Something is bothering you?"

"Yes. Some things just don't add up. But there is no time to ponder on that now, for we have been spotted. I think it's time to fly."

A gargantuan dragon towered over the blazing castle and glowered down at the two sitting ducks, then dove after them.

Marius and Lestat zipped off with the dragon in hot pursuit. Although the beastly serpents were capable of great speeds, they could not match that of a vampire.

The dragon gave up and went back to his perch, continuing his reign of fire. As the two vamps made their way to the other side of the kingdom, Lestat halted in mid air and hovered, leering down at something that glowed from the fire's light. He then swan dived to the ground to see what the object was as Marius reluctantly followed.

"I prefer not to find myself a roasted marshmallow like the other fool probably is. What on earth are you doing?"

Lestat eyed the object with a tilted head as he neared it, then picked it up. It was the splintered violin Thranduil had almost taken Raven's head off with.

"Well now, would you look at this. How do you propose it ended up in this predicament?"

"My guess would be that a dragon used it as a toothpick after he ate the player." Marius stated with a serious face.

"There is blood on it."

Lestat brought his nose to it and took in a deep whiff.

"Well I'll be damned...or should I say Raven is."

Marius excitedly clapped his hands like a child. "Shall we sing ding dong the witch is dead?"

"One could only hope that is the case."

Lestat's grin fell flat when he picked up another familiar scent on the in tact bow.

"It..it cannot be..." he whispered, as his previous suspicions danced through his mind.

Marius sucked in a whiff as well from where he stood and slightly gasped.

"The Elvenking........"

@redeemer46

[digitaltravelexpert]

How to Build the Best-Ranking Travel Blog Worth Following Now

What does building the best-ranking travel blog worth following in your niche require? We are going to discover the key ingredients for running a travel blog that stands out and keeps readers coming back for more, all supported by our expert insights and practical advice. Truth be told. Travel and tourism may seem the easy-welcoming sector due to its relationship-based nature. But one thing is certain. Passion might ignite the fire but it takes courage and expertise to keep the fire burning. We all love following and google catchy titles like these: profitable travel niches to grow your Travel Blog In 2024, Is travel a good niche for blogging, What travel niche is most profitable, How to find travel blog niche, What is the most profitable blog niche. Well, I have nothing against looking up the best-ranking travel blogs worth following in your niche. It is even a good thing in some scenarios. There are so many sources around the web discussing the best blogging platform, how to start a WordPress blog, and email marketing best practices for bloggers which most of us have used or still use.

Reasons to Follow the Best-Ranking Travel Blogs in Your Niche

Yes, following top-ranking travel blogs in your niche can be a smart move for several reasons: 1. Inspiration and Ideas: These blogs can provide fresh ideas for destinations, itineraries, and unique travel experiences. By seeing how successful travel bloggers craft content, you can also get inspired to explore different angles or stories in your niche. 2. Learning from the Best: High-ranking travel blogs often have polished content strategies, effective SEO practices, and strong engagement with their audience. Observing how they structure their posts, use photography or video, and market themselves can teach you valuable lessons on growing your platform. 3. Networking Opportunities: Engaging with top travel bloggers can open doors for collaborations, guest posts, and partnerships. Building relationships with influencers in your niche can expand your reach and visibility. 4. Staying Updated on Trends: Travel trends change rapidly, and following the best blogs can help you stay current. Whether it's new travel apps, emerging destinations, or sustainable travel practices, top blogs are usually on the cutting edge. 5. Motivation and Benchmarking: Tracking the success of other bloggers can motivate you to improve your content. It gives you benchmarks for success and goals to strive towards. In sum, studying and engaging with top travel blogs in your niche can be a great way to hone your craft and grow your following! Now, let us pick one scenario among the above-cited: Learning from the best-ranking travel blogs. How can you build the best ranking-ranking travel blog in your niche? What does it take to start a niche travel blog?

How to Build the Best-Ranking Travel Blog Worth Following in Your Respective Niche

This is the cornerstone of this blog post as we explore a few things, probably not so common, that should be your guidelines as you plan to start a travel blog in the niche you are passionate about. Let us do it. Before getting into details, let’s build a current persona of the future best-ranking blogger. Why is this persona even important? The purpose is to assess your capabilities of becoming the best content creator not just the average travel blogger. Blogging will surely require your time and resources. Why not do your homework first?   And one super important thing: Your travel blog will be attached to your name. You don’t want to embarrass yourself with some unrepairable faux pas that may occur once you’ve started your travel blogging journey. So, let us look at our future travel blogger. Persona: Future Top Ranking Travel Blogger - Name: Alex Carter  - Vision: Aspires to leverage travel as a tool for promoting peace, cross-cultural understanding, and uplifting lesser-known destinations. Alex believes in using travel to connect people and bridge cultural gaps. - Background: Alex has worked extensively in the hospitality industry, gaining deep insights into customer service through years of experience in hotel management. Also, as a former tour guide, Alex has firsthand knowledge of curating memorable travel experiences and a love for showcasing history and culture. - Skills: Recently mastered digital marketing, with a focus on SEO, content creation, and social media strategies. Alex is equipped with the technical skills necessary to build a strong online presence and connect with a global audience. - Hobbies: Passionate about history and culture, Alex loves diving deep into the local customs, traditions, and untold stories of every destination visited. - Personality: Humble and non-judgmental, Alex embraces all cultures and perspectives, creating an inclusive space for travelers to share, learn, and connect. - Future Goal: To become a leading travel blogger who not only showcases destinations but also promotes peace and understanding through storytelling and immersive cultural experiences. Now that we have a clear picture of one of our future worth-following travel bloggers, she/he will need to pick a niche they can specialize in. Based on the persona, there is a great variety of travel niches and sub-niches to choose from. For the sake of clarity, let us pick five of them Based on Alex Carter's persona, here are five travel niches and sub-niches that would align well with their passions and expertise. Sub-Niches For Expert Travel Bloggers

1. Cultural and Heritage Travel Sub-niche: Exploring lesser-known historical sites, promoting the preservation of cultural heritage, and telling the stories behind ancient civilizations, customs, and traditions. 2. Peace and Conflict Resolution Travel Sub-niche: Visiting regions with a history of conflict to highlight peacebuilding efforts, connecting with local communities to share stories of reconciliation, and promoting travel as a tool for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. 3. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Tourism Sub-niche: Showcasing eco-conscious destinations, supporting local economies through responsible tourism, and highlighting authentic travel experiences that promote environmental sustainability and cultural preservation. 4. Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations Sub-niche: Uncovering hidden gems in underrepresented countries or regions, promoting destinations that are often overlooked, and encouraging travelers to explore new places while respecting local cultures and environments. 5. Culinary and Cultural Immersion Travel    Sub-niche: Focusing on food as a gateway to culture, highlighting local cuisines, traditions, and the stories behind them, while offering in-depth insights into the history and cultural significance of culinary practices. What next? What will make the new blog the best ranking in each of the above travel sub-niches? By definition, the best-ranking travel blog is the blog that established itself as a reliable source of information for travelers, fellow content creators, students, and possibly academics. The best blog isn’t just necessarily defined by SEO, social media, or any digital marketing metrics. It is the vote of your audience that counts. Here is the thing, Search engine algorithms may promote your content, but the true vote comes from your audience. In the end, they are the ones consuming your ideas, not the algorithms. How Does the Audience Vote for the Best-Ranking Travel Blogs?

But the way, do they? The best blog isn't solely defined by SEO rankings, social media metrics, or digital marketing tactics. While these tools are important, the real magic happens when your content genuinely resonates with your audience. If you focus on creating great travel content that’s not only useful but also deeply engaging, you’ll naturally stand out from the crowd. Rather than chasing after fleeting trends or self-serving interests, such as just seeking profit or superficial enjoyment, invest in authentic travel storytelling that truly serves your audience's needs. When your content provides real value, addresses your readers' interests, and reflects a genuine passion for travel, your audience will become your biggest advocates. They’ll share your work organically, champion your blog, and help it grow—often without any prompting. In essence, if your travel blog stands out by putting your audience's needs first and maintaining a sincere, ethical approach, you'll build a loyal following that actively supports and promotes your content.

Best-Ranking Travel Blog Ideas You Can Use Today

Travel Blog Domain Idea: TheKindJourneyNotes.com Overview: TheKindJourneyNotes.com is a travel blog dedicated to promoting peace, empathy, and cultural understanding through authentic travel experiences. It combines practical guides with inspiring stories to foster a more thoughtful and connected world. The blog is designed to educate, inspire, and engage a diverse audience by showcasing the meaningful impact of travel. Content Focus Journey (How-to Guides) - Content: Practical advice and step-by-step guides on planning and experiencing travel in a way that emphasizes cultural respect, ethical practices, and personal growth. - Keywords: “ethical travel tips,” “cultural immersion guides,” “peaceful travel destinations,” “responsible tourism practices.” Notes (Personal Experiences) - Content: Personal stories and experiences from travels that highlight moments of connection, learning, and cultural exchange. These stories aim to illustrate the transformative power of travel. - Keywords: “compassionate travel narratives,” “uplifting travel experiences,” “cross-cultural interactions,” “serene travel experiences.” Goal/Mission: Educating the World Through Travel Experiences. The blog aims to demonstrate how travel can be a force for good, fostering understanding, respect, and empathy among people from different backgrounds. Target Audience Travelers - Needs: They seek meaningful travel experiences that contribute to a peaceful world. They value content that helps them make ethical travel choices and understand the deeper impact of their journeys. - Content Benefit: Practical tips, inspiring stories, and advice that make their travel experiences more impactful and fulfilling. Travel Professionals - Needs: They are interested in enhancing their understanding of how to create authentic connections between destinations and travelers. They look for insights that can improve their service and promote responsible tourism. - Content Benefit: Case studies, best practices, and ethical travel strategies that can be applied to their work. Scholars and Tourism Experts - Needs: They aim to understand the broader implications of tourism on societies and cultures. They require in-depth analyses and discussions on the impact of travel. - Content Benefit: Research-based articles, interviews with experts, and thoughtful discussions on tourism’s role in fostering global empathy. Scaling Up and Monetization Building a Community - Engagement: Foster an active community through interactive content such as webinars, Q&A sessions, and collaborative projects. Encourage reader contributions and discussions. - Social Media: Use social media to share content, engage with followers, and build partnerships with like-minded organizations. Monetization Strategies - Sponsored Content: Partner with ethical brands and travel companies that align with the blog’s mission for sponsored posts and collaborations. - Affiliate Marketing: Promote travel gear, ethical travel services, and booking platforms through affiliate links. - Products and Services: Offer digital products like e-books on ethical travel, planning guides, or exclusive webinars. Consider a subscription model for premium content or a members-only community. - Consulting and Speaking: Provide consulting services for travel professionals or offer speaking engagements on ethical travel and cultural understanding. Expanding Reach - Guest Contributions: Invite guest bloggers and experts to contribute, diversifying content and reaching new audiences. - Partnerships: Collaborate with universities, non-profits, and travel organizations to expand visibility and influence. - SEO and Content Marketing: Continuously optimize content for search engines and engage in content marketing strategies to attract a wider audience. Content writing for travel websites demands constant updates and continuous learning from your experience. In Summary: Look ahead of the year in review, TheKindJourneyNotes.com will be a beacon of ethical travel, offering valuable content that inspires and educates. By focusing on authentic storytelling, meaningful engagement, and diverse content, the blog will build a loyal audience and generate revenue while staying true to its mission of promoting a kinder, more connected world. FAQs: How to Build The Best-Ranking Travel Blog Worth Following What is the best travel blog?The best travel blog in the niche is one that offers authentic, compassionate travel stories and practical insights, focusing on cultural understanding and ethical experiences.What are the main features of a travel blog?A travel blog typically features engaging content about destinations and experiences, including practical tips and personal stories. It often includes high-quality visuals and interactive elements to captivate and inform readers.How do I become a successful travel blog?Focus on creating genuine, valuable content that resonates with your audience and reflects your unique perspective. Build a strong, engaged community and leverage ethical practices and effective marketing to grow your reach and impact. Final Thoughts In conclusion, while the travel and tourism sector may appear approachable due to its relationship-driven nature, building a top-ranking blog requires more than just enthusiasm. It demands a blend of passion, courage, and strategic expertise to truly stand out and engage readers. By applying the key ingredients and insights we’ve discussed, you can create a travel blog that not only attracts but also retains a dedicated audience. Remember, it’s your ongoing commitment and skill that will turn your blog into a standout destination in the travel niche. Read the full article

[equalonline]

Tips To Stay Safe During Garden DIY

Many people love to work in the garden. In recent times it has been found that people started working in the garden more due to its health benefits. Therefore, we decided it’s probably worthwhile to know some valuable safety tips that it’s good to keep in mind, to help you use your garden ladders and others safely.

1. Be Careful With Power Tools

If you're using equipment like chainsaws, circular saws, grinders, and other garden machinery, there’s an honest chance that you are simply conscious of using it. But don’t be – overconfident as this might cause an accident! Regardless of how well you know your equipment, the most effective way to stay safe is to always treat them like you’re using them for the very first time and provide them the respect they deserve. Move them deliberately, and don’t leave them on an unstable surface, regardless of how briefly.

Most importantly – and here’s where most people stumble – don’t make any change to any power machinery unless you're sure it’s off and all moving parts have stopped.

2. Use Proper Working Kit

Doctors and hospitals are often found to serve reasonably as a standard consequence of machine misadventures. While treating the facility tool carefully is the primary step to avoiding these, it’s equally important to make sure that you’re properly dressed for the work, with the proper kit and clothing. Meaning regardless of how warm it's outside, don’t cut the lawn wearing flip flops, or soft sandals! Sturdy shoes are safest, like steel-capped boots.

Hard gloves are another essential piece of kit when working outdoors, even though there aren’t power tools involved. You’ll also need an honest set of safety glasses or goggles if you’re using strimmers or similar tools, as it’s not unprecedented for stones and other objects to fly up into the operator’s face.

3. Make Sure Your Workspace Is Clear

This is another good general rule for most DIY, but especially true for garden work. You should always need to have a clear space around you to ensure your safety and that of everyone else. This is especially important in the garden, given its usual role as a family space where pets and young children are prone to running and playing. If it is necessary, it is better to lock yourself out there temporarily, especially if you’re using particularly heavy equipment like ride-on mowers.

4. Check Your Ladder Is Safe Before Using

This is something we are used to saying a lot, but there’s a decent reason for that – it’s because it’s worth repeating! Regardless of how many times you’ve used your ladder before, you ought to always provide it another quick check before you employ it, just in case you identify something that may possibly make it unsafe.

Contrary to what many folks believe, falls from short heights can be even as dangerous as falls from longer ones. Before you step foot thereon, ensure that it’s sturdy and stable and that it can take your weight. You’ll get to move it to a special working surface if necessary, like a tough patio instead of soft ground. (That’s where our garden ladders are available handy, by the way – they use the third leg to stabilize themselves on soft ground like grass or mud, providing extra safety value and peace of mind.

Choose the Correct Ladder For Your Work

One of our top safety tips for working in the garden is to always make sure you’ve got the right equipment. You wouldn’t plan to mow the lawn wearing roller skates, so similarly, don’t attempt to jury rig just any ladder for the task at hand. It’s quite common for people to rest extension ladders against trees – or worse, hedges – while they’re performing on them, but ideally, these should be used on more plain or rough surfaces where they can be fully secured. Again, this is the place where garden ladders are worth their weight in gold! Similarly, ensure to keep your hips inside the guardrails at all times. A major proportion of injuries are right down to people leaning out too far away from their ladders!

If you need a good quality ladder, here is EQUAL which serves a wide variety of ladders at different heights such as multipurpose ladders, household ladders, telescopic ladders, scaffolding ladders, etc. 

[bobbyfiend]

People don't "deserve" things, but it's not because they don't deserve them

I guess I'm an existentialist, now. It's been a decade or two coming, but here I am. I find the basic premises of existentialism convincing, especially this really big one:

Nothing has meaning in and of itself. Thinking beings create meaning.

A beautiful waterfall isn't inherently beautiful, even though we say it that way; we find it beautiful (note: maybe not everyone does). People are not inherently good, bad, etc.; these are evaluations given to them by other people. Humans make meaning, we don't discover meaning that was already there. Because it wasn't.

This doesn't mean life is a bleak, meaningless experience[1], because we make meaning. That's what humans do. When we say "America is great" or "You are an amazing teacher" or "Room With a View is the best Merchant Ivory movie," we are expressing a meaning we make and experience. We can try to persuade others to adopt our meanings, and we can be persuaded by them to adopt theirs. This is how we get things like "justice" and "freedom" and "taxation without representation." The discussion of meanings is critical to creating a life worth living, and it never ends (welcome to the dialectic).

The hard part

When someone says, "Every human deserves [x]" (x = love, freedom, compassion, water, healthcare, safety, etc.), that is a logical problem for me, because of the stuff above.

Before anyone yells (not that anyone will read this, but just in case), please understand first that I fully agree with the end goal of those statements: we should be making sure people have access to those things. I'm not arguing with that view, I'm talking about how to understand it in a consistent way.

People don't have inherent meanings any more than rocks, nations, or political parties do. We give them the meanings. Beyonce is an amazing artist, Trump is a garbage fire disguised as a politician ... these are meanings we assign to others, or that emerge from meanings we assign to behaviors, identities, etc.

Saying a human deserves something packs a lot of meaning into that person. I don't think it makes sense to do that, so I [2] need a different way to think of this stuff--a way that respects the principle that meaning is created, not discovered.

I'm not 100% sure how to construe or talk about this, so internally I say things like "I believe, because of meanings I made or accept about humans and a bunch of other stuff, that I need to work toward humans having access to the things I consider human rights"[3]. I think making humans safe, happy, loved, healthy, etc. is a good thing, and that the human race will be better off the more we do this, so I'll try to convince others to do it. Underneath that idea are some more beliefs like "I believe making humans happy is a valuable thing to do," "I believe trying to convince others of this point of view is a valid activity," and "I believe I cannot be who I want to be unless I strive for this."

Again, I don't know quite how to say all this without saying humans "deserve" something. Here are some stabs at it, none of which really satisfy me.

"The more people working toward [x], the greater overall happiness will be, which means our world is better."

"People will be both individually and collectively happier if we work toward the happiness of others, such as by providing [x]."

"Your rationale for not striving to provide [x] to all humans regardless of identity or context is much less convincing than the rationale for providing it."

In the end, I don't think it's too important to convince others to drop the "all people deserve [x]" language, because I generally 100% agree with the push to provide [x]. We're working toward the same goals. The "deserve" frame also probably appeals to a lot more people than my kludgy attempts to express this without "deserving" in it.

Anyway, I haven't worked out quite how to conceptualize or talk about this, yet, despite being (currently) convinced that "deserving" is not it. My internal dialectic is ongoing.

---------------------------------------------------------------

[1] Maybe that's nihilism?

[2] I don't expect everyone to need this; maybe it's just me, and that's okay.

[3] Human rights aren't the same (at least from some perspectives) as humans "deserving" things; human rights can be seen as legal or moral statements about what a bunch of humans need to be doing, without saying that it's because other humans have inherent meanings that nobody made.