#body language = most honest form of communication

[decaffeinatedwormling]

Okay, hold on, wait a second. Is it abnormal to place body language above verbal expression in terms of importance in an exchange?

[austinsastrology8991]

> 8th House LAWD in the HOUZEs <

8th house is the darkness - what you aware is bad but dont like to think about> which is why you tend to repress it - or are incredibly honest about. I view it as like voldemort zappin harry - you were cursed, but now u got powerz

8th house lord in the 1st - the darkness is splattered on yo face. you are a mysterious, and intriguing person; and this feels like a burden to you > because people be looking at you as if you escaped from a failed lab experiment. this is > 6 < houses away from the 8th so the 'darkness' feels like work for you > because people looking at you like a criminal, so you have to be careful not to act like one > but you always actin a lil sly, because you see the dark as a necessary evil, and its apart of your everyday affairs 8th house lord in the 2nd - the darkness is apart of your assets. you utilize your pain and transformations to help you grow > and utilize it by helping others > 7 < houses away - through helping others deal with their dark facets; you can churn it out of them and help them turn it into their ultimate advantage (and your own) by making others your little sock profits. your self esteem however is under pressure to to be of someone of value to others

8th house lord in the 3rd - the darkness is on the tip of yo tongue and you got dirt all under yo finger nails. You have a penetrating mind and you can't help but obsess over anything that enters yo mind. this is > 8 <lt;; houses away - which makes your privacy > very private > you know to keep your thoughts to yoself because you think of the most fucked up shit, and you know if you speak on it you getting cancelled. your a mouse just avoiding the mouse traps that you set up for yourself through the cascades of your own mind. and the mouse traps that others attempt to create for you > are the easier ones to dodge > because you da master at the mouse trap 8th house lord in the 4th - The darkness is never forgotten - you were basically born in a cavern; where you had to raise yourself - but since its > 9 < houses away - this has taught you much and well about the dark, and you low key know how to dodge bullets because you were born in da matrix. this does make you a secretive person though; because you know the secret powers of da dark - and want to be decisive who you teach it too

8th house lord in the 5th - the darkness is where you shine - you are taboo, and the idealization of the dark was formed by your presence alone, because you expose it by falling into it on purpose its > 10 < houses away - you are notorious for this; which means you mastering the dark, and your whole life force (5th) has been dedicated to the darkness > its like you self-sabotage to practise mastering your pain > and now you have real authoritative power due to your notoriety of walking out da dark unfazed 8th house lord in the 6th - the dark sorcerer - you deal with the dark all da time, and since reality so heavy on you, you know how to manifest incredibly well, since you had to in order to survive. > 11 < houses away. you have a probing interest within your community/friends and its probably due to your ability to figure out problems so well; but since you see how it is, this can cause serious issues in fitting in with your community, due to your ability to manipulate reality

8th house lord in the 7th - the dark you know - somehow your partners / the people you meet are dark, and you don't really view yourself as dark; more those around you > 12 < houses away, means that the dark is surrounding you, and it is a necessary lesson to learn how to manifest what you want and stop believing that after being a good person,; good will find you > you must learn to identify what a monster is, to know how to avoid sticky situations

8th house lord in the 8th - The dark is dark - the darkness within you is a grim tale, and you may feel it follows you > 1 < houses away, this darkness is written on your body language > we can see how much pain has plagued you, but we also notice how strong you are to have survived it. if anything you must realize most people could never operate normally after having been traumatized the way you have > and so power falls onto you in many ways... you just need to be bold enough to see it

8th house lord in the 9th - the dark transformed you from a maggot to a moth (not a fly so technically a compliment) - the dark should have been nicer to you than most, but you still would have had something extreme happen to you, and this likely affected your mindset more than anything; but its a sinister killer > 2 < houses away - means it will grow in time > you may grow into power but as you grow; you'll notice the burden/toll/grip it has on you. you will surely reap the benefits, but you will pay the price 8th house lord in the 10th - the dark throne in da big scary castle - your reputation should be dark, and you are vocal about it > 3 < houses away. you are fearless about the dark, even though out of all people, your someone who should be afraid of the dark > and this only exacerbates the fear others have of you > because your bold in what you say, and what you do. but be careful with what you say because it can and will affect your public image greatly > and how well you succeed in venturing through the darkness will be talked about

8th house lord in the 11th - the dark ritual - you are affiliated with dark places/people and you are almost forced to conquer the dark > 4 < houses away. your dark past follows you; so you affiliate yourself with dark people > to be able to feel like you overcame the dark that consumed you as a child. This trauma however, should be utilized to your advantage, because since you have been rejected a lot by others, it should have built yourself some strong armour; where you navigate the world with strong defences > people should trust you faster; especially with power

8th house lord in the 12th - the dark hidden behind you and within - you are surrounded by the dark all the time and this makes you pretend like it isn't dark far more often than what is appropriate > your likely conditioned this way, but since its > 5 <; houses away, your intense creativity and self expression/ self sabotage, can later help you identify the dark faster than most, because your intuition has been molded by dark trials, and this can make you a beacon of hope for people experiencing dark times

Shout out to @Linnienin for the edit <3

[alexandersimpleton]

Look at this LOOK AT THIS

So, normally Frederick's expressions are normal, right? You could even argue they're exaggerated in some cases.

But we only really see Frederick in public spaces, at least somewhat. In front of his family, at a big party, in front of Gwen, etc.

But, when Frederick isn't in public:

His expressions are way more subtle. He moves his eyes and tenses his muscles, but that's about it. He doesn't move his mouth at all, doesn't change positions, hardly shows any form of nonverbal communication. And the same goes for when he's being really honest with Gwen in the library

He tilts his head and he movies his eyes, that's it. The only frames of that whole scene where he shows any kind of significant nonverbal communication are these two:

And even then, the second one isn't that much more than the other frames. The only times he shows a genuinely, for lack of a better word, "expressive" response is when he's particularly scared or embarrassed. And those expressions aren't normal either. They're communicated by Frederick's face changing color and art style to magnify the changes, not true changes in expression like everyone else.

And when Frederick is really surprised, and doesn't get to think about his response at all

It's the same. No change in body language, minimal change in expression.

So, my headcannon is that this boy is so autistic, and is actively masking most of the time, especially in front of his family. He has to actively curate his responses to emotions so he won't be found creepy by others and be punished by his family. His shock response in particular is super unemotional looking. When he stops masking in front of Gwen (probably accidentally because it's a library and his brain is hard wired to think that being in a library means that he's allowed to stop masking, because that's how my brain works and therefore how his brain works lol) she definitely notices. Gwen, being Gwen, is able to read him anyways. She actually prefers Frederick when he's not masking. It feels more honest to her, and she doesn't know why.

[svltzmans]

hope mikaelson fluff alphabet <3

a/n: enjoy this cute little thingy while i'm finding inspiration for my new fics 😵‍💫 i'm probably gonna do the nsfw alphabet for hope too!

warnings: none! just silly little unedited writing

a = admiration (what do they absolutely adore about you?)

hope adores absolutely everything about you, but her favorite is the fact that you are a natural caregiver. she loves that you're friendly to everyone you meet, and loyal to those you love.

b = body (what is their favorite part of your body?)

hope has a soft spot for your stomach and waist. she loves to hug, so she always has her arms wrapped there. she also loves your eyes and nose, and honestly just your face in general.

c = cuddling (how do they like to cuddle?)

hope is a huge cuddler, she loves being close to you in any way she can. she's mostly a big spoon, and she feels comforted having you in her arms. she's also obsessed with laying down facing you and being able to embrace you.

d = dates (what does their ideal date with you look like?)

there are many dates hope wants to take you on; she is quite the romantic. she would absolutely take you to a drive-in movie, or cook you a fancy dinner. she also likes to plan creative dates, like painting together or going horseback riding.

e = emotions (how do they express emotion around you?)

hope is not overly emotional most of the time, but when she's with you she is always honest about how she's feeling. she knows that you are always a good listener and will tell you pretty much anything she is thinking. communication is important to her, especially with someone she adores so much.

f = family (do they want one? if they do, when?)

hope had always pictured herself with a family of her own growing up, but as she got older she didn't see herself having any children. if kids were important to you, she would be happy to raise them with you, but she would be just as happy with a few animals instead.

g = gifts (how do they feel about gift giving? what are their habits when it comes to this?

giving gifts is one of hope's love languages, and she is beyond thoughtful when it comes to buying you presents. she thinks about every conversation she's had with you about your interests and wants, and takes them into account when she buys gifts for you.

h = holding hands (when/how do they like to hold hands?)

hope isn't usually big on PDA but she likes having your hand in hers. most of the time she will happily take your hand when you are going somewhere together and are walking side by side.

i = injury (how would they act if you got hurt?)

she doesn't show it, but hope worries a lot, especially about you. if you get injured, she immediately wants to leap to your aid and take all the pain away. if she finds out that someone else inflicted pain on you, that person is dead to her.

j = jokes (do they like to joke around with or prank you? how?)

hope is not the type to play with your feelings or pull pranks on you, but she is an incredibly funny person. she has the best one-liners and will always have you giggling.

k = kisses (how do they like to kiss you?)

hope wants to kiss you in every single possible way. it's one of her favorite forms of affection, and she will sneak as many pecks as she possibly can throughout the day. as much as she loves kisses on the lips, hope is definitely the type to kiss every part of your body (cheeks, forehead, arms, etc.)

l = love (how do they show you they love you?)

not only does hope communicate how much she loves you through words, she also always shows it through actions. she always gives you an umbrella when it rains and you have to go somewhere, she cooks for you, she'd take care of chores so you wouldn't have to, she'll bring you your favorite treats when you're studying.

m = memory (favorite memory together?)

you had finally bought a polaroid camera, which you had been wanting for a while. hope was THRILLED about it, and took pictures of everything you did that day. walking in the park, class, etc.. she still keeps all of the pictures in her drawer.

n = nightmare (what is their worst fear?)

hope is terrified of losing the people she loves after her traumatic experiences with the subject. i also feel like wasps freak her out 😭

o = oddity (what is one quirk they have?)

hope is obsessed with jigsaw puzzles. she is constantly working on one, usually with a ridiculous amount of pieces, and she'll usually rope you into doing it with her.

p = pet names (what do they like to call you?)

hope usually uses "baby," "love," "darling," etc., all of the classic ones. she hardly ever calls you by name.

q = quality time (how do they like to spend time with you?

hope loves to just relax with you. she loves taking naps with you by her side or just hanging out and watching movies.

r = rhythm (what song reminds you of them?)

she's a swiftie (because duh) she thinks of you whenever she listens to "you are in love."

s = secrets (how open are they with you?)

there is nothing hope won't tell you about. she is very open and she values communication in relationships more than anything.

t = time (how long did it take you to get together?)

hope always had a crush on you but was nervous that the feeling wasn't mutual. when you two first started hanging out, hope picked up on the fact that you seemed to be flirting with her, and she asked you out right then. it didn't take long at all for you to become a couple.

u = upset (how do they act when you're upset?)

hope is a very comforting person. she wants to cater to your needs in any way she can, and wants to help you relax when you're feeling upset. she will go out of her way to do anything you might need to feel better, including buying you snacks or going on a walk with you.

v = vaunt (what are they proud of? do they like to show you off?)

hope likes a "private, but not secret" kind of relationship. she doesn't hide that you are together in any way but she doesn't tell everyone about it. as for what she's proud of, she takes pride in the way she is able to protect those she loves with her supernatural strength.

w = warrior (how do they feel about you fighting? would they fight for you, beside you, etc?)

hope would absolutely fight anyone or anything for you (and would win). she's not opposed to you fighting (she finds it attractive) but she does have the tendency to jump in and protect you if it goes too far. she would also love to practice with you or give you mini self-defense classes.

x = x-ray (how well are they able to read you?)

hope knows you insanely well, and is able to read you almost always. she can tell when you're feeling sad or angry even if you don't show it.

y = yes (how would they propose to you?)

hope is not really a fan of anything public when it comes to proposals. she would want it to be just the two of you involved. she would definitely plan something cute though, maybe taking you to a park at night when it's just you and her. she would have it set up with pretty fairy lights or something.

z = zen (what makes them feel calm?)

hope's safe space is her bedroom. whether she is alone or with you, she is always at peace and at her most comfortable in her bed. she also usually calms down by reading a book before bed.

a/n: it's almost 5am but i wanted to finish this

[cedar-sunshine]

soft intro for a new project!

As it says SOFT intro. all of this stuff is subject to change, I'd LOVE ur opinion on it!

No name for it currently, but it's about a group of criminals arrested for crimes against the government being sent on an Australia type mission in a sci-fi space setting- around 100 of them, with consent, are sent into a 'sleep' (possibly through the freezing thing but yk whatever. It's futuristic who cares, I'll figure it out later) and set to go on a 150-year-long journey to a superhabitable planet that's being considered for a human colony (it has a breathable atmosphere and a relatively young star). Unfortunately, humanity (along with a couple other species from near us in the galaxy) figures out a faster method of space travel about 20 years after the journey starts, and the Australia type mission is forgotten about. 32 years before their mission should have landed on the colony, something goes wrong with the ship and the AI is forced to make an emergency crash landing on a nearby habitable planet. Only nine (<- in the works) people survive the crash, and those are our main characters!

Its found family/sci fi/survival stuff, I'm very fond of most of the characters and the general aesthetic.

The main characters so far are:

Carbon (he/they)

The leader of an anti-government group that led attacks on infrastructure and weapons storage units, etc. He's the oldest at 32 (younger is safer for the 'sleep' process), mostly human, and kind of ends up as a begrudging father/older brother to all the college-aged kids they decided to put on this mission. He's easily the most responsible in the group due to his old job, but he can be cold and impersonal, or too controlling. He has a prosthetic leg (from just above the knee) and hand, both amputated from diabetes. He doesn't sleep with them on, but he uses them for more intricate things and to maim people with if necessary.

Altar (he/she)

Half human, half squid guy, brightly colored pilot. She murdered a handful of corrupt government officials with help. He has tendrils in place of hair, which are a little thicker than your average air strand, have nerves, and have a bit of motion (not prehensile, but they get tense and sort of hover a little when he's stressed). Adhd as hell, high energy and fun. She doesn't really take much seriously, which can be annoying to work with. Second youngest at 17. They use forearm crutches.

Palace/Lace (any)

Synthetic (robot basically) with their intelligence in a small 'skull' that controls a large mass of tiny metal orbs to act as their body. He can manipulate both shape and color at will, and prefers to have a smooth form with rose, white and gold coloring. Pretty self centered and arrogant, but honest and uplifting. She's definitely sure that she's better at everything than everyone, but that doesn't mean they're not good! Or at least okay, compared to him. Smuggler. I think they're 20.

Olive (they/them)

Human engineer/mechanic who, on earth, would go on tours of government buildings and inspect them for a few days before figuring out how they worked and sending the blueprints to groups which would destroy them. They don't talk much, preferring to think thoroughly, but they often forget that they're supposed to talk after thinking and just start doing things without saying what they're doing. They're autistic and 19, and chronically covered in oil stains.

Lazuli/Laz (she/her)

Half plant person, half human. Mostly made up of different microplants. Photosynthesizes. Diplomat (officially) and hacker (why she got arrested). She can't speak (no vocal cords or mouth, she just needs sun and water) but she can process vibrations into speech. She uses sign language and teaches it to those in the group who don't know so they can communicate with Hermes. Calm, rational, and likes being in control of all situations. She's the youngest in the group at 16 and finds it very hard to admit that she's not ready to take on both surviving on an unknown planet and acting like an adult.

Hermes (he/him)

Transmasc deaf space pirate. Due to some bullshit ableism in the system and a lot of miscommunication and purposeful lack of accurate translation for him, he was put on the mission without consent and is dealing with a lot of grief for the beginning of the story, which affects a lot of people's veiw of him. He's quiet and warm, and prefers to sit in silence without talking and just experience others being around him than engage in conversation. 18.

Halcyon/Halcey (he/him)

Biologist and bioengineer, very excited about plants. He specializes in xenobiology (understanding how newly discovered plants that aren't from earth or other well known and populated plants work) and genetic engineering of plants. He made bioweapons (which is decently clear by now I hope). He's sort of silly, like if a Pokémon professor was 24 and mostly an alien. He's very sweet and just. So hyper about plants and biology.

Civet (she/they)

Half human, half 'ferox' (basically a fossa or civet type humanoid) with more ferox traits. Long term government plant and spy. Hot headed, fun and protective of the younger kids (she's 21). She's fully prepared to become a problem at any provocation and is probably one of the people who starts the most fights in the group. She's very sweet to the kids, though. She's basically their older sister.

Bardiche/Bard (they/any)

Mostly synthetic/mecha person (human base), they've got RAD legs (like if T Rex legs were muscley and agile and also have big cool talon feet) and a prehensile tail with a polearm tip (due to weird nerve stuff with synthetic parts, they can't feel it and need to grab it in their hand to stab people). She also has big forearms with armor plates and some spikes (same with their legs) and claws, plus cool horns. They're very sweet and gentle and really insecure (not abt the synthetic parts he KNOWS he's rad) and they're a former mercenary/assassin (that's why they got the murder mods). They're great and I love them. They're like 7 feet tall or something, their jump height is insane.

lmk if you want to hear more about this!

[thunderboltfire]

I was having fun with making up their voices! I've also decided to solve a question of languages (languages color-coded to avoid confusion).

Also, this one has quite a lot of tiny text, so I've included transcripts.

[ID: a list illustrated with colored doodles of characters' heads. Titled Who speaks what?

Igna [cartoon picture of Igna's face drawn in brick red color]: Native language: illiraian (southwestern regional form). Understands enough elvish to know when she's being threatened, and can ask for directions, but not much more.

Argo [cartoon picture of Argo's face drawn in sap green color]: Native language: northern elvish. Fluent in illiraian, hardly discernible accent. (it took Igna 3 months to figure out what's off - he rolls 'R' a bit too hard and his vowels sometimes are pronounced too close to the back of his throat).

Theria [cartoon picture of Theria's face drawn in muted brown color]: Native language: Samhran. Fluent in illiraian, audible samhran accent (difficulty pronouncing consonant clusters, palatalising 'L's and 'T"s, mixing up vowels and dyphtongs, sometimes sing-song affect to the vowels). Speaks basic Andaran and broken Omtheron.

Daen [cartoon picture of Daen's face drawn in violet color]: Native language: Moer. Fluent in illiraian, Andaran and gods know what else. Communicative in old elvish. Understands both dwarven languages, but speaks neither. No discernible accent in illiraian.

Haart [cartoon picture of Haart's face drawn in blue]: Native language: Kará (east-dwarvish). Fluent in illiraian (mostly without an

accent, but he often switches soft and hard 'H'). Understands some Andaran and Omtheron. Knows his local variety of sign language.

Knows some expressions in samhran (exclusively swearwords and toasts).]

-

Results: Igna is a spoiled kid, she's the only one in the group who has the luxury of speaking her native language day-to-day. She grew up in complete nowhere, with a very scarce contact with other languages. Tentative A1 in elvish, due to her dad trying to teach her.

Argo probably had the knowledge of Illiraian hammered into his head during his education - inhabitants of Riss speak exclusively a dialect of elvish day-to-day, but the duchy is an enclave, and it would be severely imparing not to know the neighbors' language.

Theria has been away from home long enough to gain a pretty good grasp of Illiraian, and has around B1 level in Andaran. Both spoken with a pretty thick accent, her native language is from a different language family with a strikingly different phototactics, and she's learnt the foreign languages pretty late.

Daen speaks many languages, and all of them pretty well. Maybe it's his long lifespan, but it's possible he's got a knack for language learning.

Haart has had a similar situation to Argo in a sense he's lived in a close neighboorhood of another language and learnt it in childhood. He comes from a merchant house, so it's understandable his family would want him to know foreign languages.

[ID: a scale diagram titled "profanity meter" Left to right: Daen titled "Apocalyptic event indicator", Igna titled "curses when hurt", Argo titled "curses if pissed", Haart titled "curses to emphasise" and Theria titled "Fuck is a sentence divider"]

-

I have to face the fact that Theria most probably has a severe case of unwashed mouth. Her mercenary career spans a good few years when she enters the stage and she doesn't seem like the type to watch her language, so in all probability she doesn't even notice that she curses like a sailor.

[ID: a list titled "Voice and expression". On the left side there's an up-and-down double ended arrow titled "pitch". Characters from top to bottom:

Igna: Easily the highest voice of the group. Clean, and rather strong despite it. Makes an open and honest impression when speaking, fairly good singing voice.

Theria: on the lower side of feminine voices, full-bodied voice with a bit of a vocal fry, on average way louder than the rest of the group. Enjoys singing, but easily dominates a choir

Argo: rather raspy, matte voice. Has a tendency to mutter - the limited sensitivity on the scarred side of his face makes it harder to speak clearly. Speaks quite fast despite of this. Can't hold a note for his life.

Haart: soft, full baritone. Probably the nicest laughter. Nice singing voice, talks with his hands a lot. Makes a characteristic huff when he's nervous.

Daen: low, resonant voice. Clear pronounciation. Reticent, rarely talks more than necessary. Makes a formal impression.]

Last but not least, my trials to work out how would they probably sound like. (I'm not really one to do voiceclaims).

[dropintomanga]

Tenten Hosokawa's "I'm Enough" - A Manga About the Power of the Interpersonal

12 years ago, I talked about a manga author named Tenten Hosokawa who wrote a manga called "My Significant Other Has Depression." I loved how honest she was about clinical depression and how to best deal with it. 12 years later, I found out one of Hosokawa's recent books got released here by Last Gasp Books.

I'm Enough: An Illustrated Beginner's Guide to Self-Acceptance and Interpersonal Relationships is one of the best manga out there about mental health and hell, I should say an amazing mental health help book that's better than a lot of mental health books.

The guide focuses on Hosokawa's recent experiences dealing with negative emotions. She believes that she is the queen of negative thoughts due to her mother telling her to not feel anything positive during childhood. Hosokawa's belief causes her life to go into a deep spiral where she feels like a failure no matter what she does. Hosokawa feels that she can't change until she is recommended to meet with a psychiatrist named Dr. Hiroko Mizushima, who practices interpersonal therapy, a form of therapy that focuses on the power of interpersonal relationships to help improve one's mental health. Together, both Hosokawa and Mizushima present ways on how to make peace with negative emotions, accept them for what they are, and grow from there.

The book is outlined in 3 major parts: Problems, Solutions, and Growth. The Problems part basically says that having negative thoughts is okay and how to utilize them to help those try to understand you better instead of just thinking negative emotions shouldn't be expressed. The Solutions part addresses communication problems when it comes to interpersonal relationship disputes and dealing with role expectations. The Growth part focuses on the power of reflecting and changing one step at a time.

What I like is the structure of each part. Each part has several mini-chapters. Each mini-chapter starts in manga format with Hosokawa explaining how much they dislike whatever is bothering them and Mizushima providing solid reasoning and advice on how to move forward. Then it ends with a text section from Mizushima focusing on key points of the mini-chapter and what to do when it comes to a specific problem/solution.

What this book drives home is that it's important to accept yourself for who you are. And that means accepting everything about yourself. Even the ugly parts. If a part of you feels that you might be, for example, a "whiny bitch", accept that you are one. Only by accepting and acknowledging your present state can you actually start to figure out how to overcome whatever is ailing you mentally.

Another key point emphasized is how much people cause each other emotional pain. A lot of major mental health problems stem from those around us. Some of it can be from our loved ones, while some stem from acquaintances (i.e. workplace harassment). Most people try to solve these problems by communicating in ways that don't help, like nonverbal body language and being silent and taking so much information in like a sponge. This ends up causing even more pain in your relationships.

And the last point is everyone's trying their damn best to live their lives. This is the hardest part to learn. It's way too easy to get caught up with how bad some people act towards you. But you know what, they can still change and grow slowly. You have to accept that to go along with accepting yourself. In fact, they go hand in hand. Changing for the better probably didn't happen overnight for you, so why believe that others can do the same?

I feel that Mizushima's approach is incredible because a lot of therapy focuses on changing the self a bit too much. She says we are highly impacted by the relationships those closest to us. If they're great, we thrive. If they're terrible, we will falter. A lot of trauma revolves around terrible relationships with people who we thought were supposed to help us, but didn't. Therapy sometimes ignores this. Also, psychiatry often tells us to take medication and that should be all. While some medication is fine, it should never be the whole solution.

I can personally tell you how much self-acceptance has saved me. I only wished I learned it sooner. While there were struggles at times over how I feel like I haven't accomplished much, I'm slowly learning to tell myself that I'm enough. I'm going out there. I'm living. I may not be living life like a social media darling, but hey, I'm doing okay and that's enough for me. Maybe I'm a silly dork or overthink things; I've accepted that and somehow don't get too caught up in those things. Hosokawa and Mizushima's work is a much-needed resource for those who truly understand that we're all interdependent on one another to get out of whatever mental hellholes we get caught in.

I wholeheartedly recommend I'm Enough. Everyone's rushing to be great all the time or everyone's feeling like they're the worst people in the world. There's no middle ground. I want people to be able to accept themselves through the help of others. And to admit that a grand truth of life is that things are often personal - very interpersonal.

[dreamsndmadness]

hellooo!!!(sorry in advance for all of the rambling)

first of all, im absolutely gushing from all of the soft moments in ch9: feyd nearly crying from being cared for, paul helping feyd with his nightmares, and feyd being protective/caring in both the breakfast scene and throughout the spice field inspections :333. It was all VERY adorable and paul finally being unhesitating about his sexual relationship with feyd and them communicating (both implicitly with paul reading feyds body language and explicitly with paul making feyd ask for what he wants), it's all very rewarding in general :)

Also, ive just been thinking nonstop about all the stuff going on with paul. so, my first theory about pauls exhaustion was because he was staying up because of feyds nightmares waking up but then i re-read it and saw paul was tired even before they shared a bed, and then i remembered that lack of sleep is a common symptom of pregnancy so thats my leading theory rn, that OR paul is staying up late reading lol. im also so interested in what paul and lady jessica are plotting, they mentioned controlling feyd and learning more about him in the beginning and then theres the date palm scene. I remember in the movies that date palms are definitely on arrakis so my first thought was that feyd was being a paranoid little freak about it but then i thought lady jessica might be trying to assess pauls health or something?? its safe to say im super hyped for the paul POV

sorry about the length and INCREDIBLY half formed theories

( •̀ - •́ ) ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

The wonderful bowl100!!

I love your questions ☺️. Omg yay!!! I’m so glad you liked the chapter. I always have a crisis of confidence when I post new chapters 🙃. Yesss. The softness. Feyd cutting the fruit and making sure Paul eats was one of my favorite moments from the chapter. It’s so hard to write moments of tenderness from him without it seeming out of character. And then he can never be honest with himself about why he’s doing things or why certain things are making him feel certain ways. Man. This guy. Feyd used his words FINALLY!!! And yes!! I’m so happy for Paul. Starting to enjoy himself. It’s so important.

Okee so here’s what I can say. You aren’t wrong about any of your guesses per say. It’s been such a joy to write from Paul’s pov because he’s a much more emotionally evolved person so I can write him being like “ah yes. This is making me feel this way!”. So one of the biggest reasons for Paul’s exhaustion is that he has been having dreams. Some of them good, some of them pretty disturbing. And yes, we will be seeing them in the next chapter. He is also (not really a spoiler cause it’s in the tags) pregnant! Another big reason! That’s going to be a plot point of the next chapter as well.

Lol the date palm scene!! You’re right on both counts. Feyd is being a paranoid little freak. He’s like “they are speaking in code!!” No you weirdo, they are talking about date palms. However, I am going to give him a little credit because he did pick up on the weird energy of the scene which is basically due to Jessica trying to draw Paul out of his funk. She’s worried about him and thinks he’s not doing well, and she’s trying to cheer him up and also trying to subtly (probably too subtly) signal to Feyd to do the same. Which he kinda gets! Cause he then invites Paul to come with him on inspection and Jessica is like “thank fucking god you are so fucking dense”. To Feyd. Not Paul. Paul can do no wrong in Jessica’s eyes lol.

Anyway! All of your theories were pretty spot on and perceptive!!! Sorry it took so long for me to respond 😔. I’ve been sick this week and it’s been a struggle. I have most of Paul’s chapter finished (it’s sitting at 5,500 words right now 😀). And I hope to edit and post tomorrow!!

Thank you as always for your lovely questions. I look at your wonderful art every day 🥹.

All the best 🫶.

[akirameta84]

do you have any scenes in mind for the hk bugdragon au that you cant get out of your head but havent shared yet?

oho the answer is yes, there are so SO many. but the majority would be a hassle to share because of format and needing context

however i do have a scene in easily shareable format, as i wrote a short oneshot for the latest rendition of the au!! never really planned to share it outside of the friends i already shared it with haha, so its your lucky day

enjoy. hopefully. takes place some vague time after a battle with the radiance but before hollow has officially been proclaimed to the kingdom as child of the monarchs, but the palace staff are aware that the vessel role is no more and theyre supposed to be treated with the same respect as their king and queen

warnings for dehumanization, but it focuses on thk. so thats to be expected. around 1.8k words

---

They hadn’t even managed to fully emerge from their room into the gleaming hall of the palace before a voice caught their attention with a startling fashion.

“Ah, there you are! I was beginning to think you’d sleep all day!”

Considering they were still blinking off the last few dregs of sleep combined with some rather strong painkillers, Hollow flinched back in surprise as they jerked their head towards the speaker- a lone palace retainer standing beside their doorway at…not that far after sunrise, to be honest. They spoke as if Hollow had slept for an inordinate amount of time, though before, this would have been a very late time for the vessel to awaken.

The blasted tail attached to its body twitched with the first pang of confusion through its mind- their mind. As far as Hollow knew, they had not been assigned a personal retainer like a few bugs who resided in the palace had. They did not know if that would change, for that was up to their parents, though they did not particularly care for one. Movement impeded by a missing forelimb or not, they could take care of themselves just fine alone.

Regardless, they spread their mandibles wide enough so that they clicked when brought back to strike against their jaw, carefully spelling out the words they wanted to say. They had only begun learning deepspeech a few days ago, and so far did not know many actual words, merely the alphabet. But, while slow, it allowed for some communication.

The native tongue of Deepnest was picked for their communication for its focus on clicking and tapping out words, something easy to accomplish for a creature both mute and quadrupedal (and missing a forelimb to boot, making most forms of sign language barely accessible).

(They felt something warm that could have been happiness when they considered the topic of learning the native language of their baby sister. It was hers and now it was theirs).

“Hi. W-h-a-t-”

“Anyways, now that you’re here, I want you to sit for me, vessel,” The retainer interrupted, talking as if they didn’t even realize Hollow was trying to communicate in the first place (…Which wasn’t that far out of the question considering deepspeech wasn’t exactly commonly spoken in Hallownest, and was only being taught to residents of the palace to allow them to communicate with Hollow, specifically).

But-

It- They-

What?

Their body remained perfectly still even as their mind stumbled and struggled to process what it had heard, paying no mind the actual clarity with which the words had been registered by their senses.

They were not supposed to be the vessel anymore. They did not want to be. They were told that was okay, even. The light the vessel was supposed to contain was now dead and left to be forgotten, their wounds a testament to that, so there was not even a need for a Pure Vessel anymore. Yet-

Had something changed? Had they missed something in the short frame they had slumbered? Why-?

“You must not have heard me properly. Pure Vessel, I command you to sit.”

Its haunches lowered to the ground and it found itself sitting only moments after the words were spoken, staring attentively at the retainer.

Their breath hitched slightly once they realized how readily they’d obeyed. Not even a split second hesitation like they endured before speaking most times. Gods, was it any wonder their brief time as an actual person, as their father’s child, had abruptly come to an end? They were better suited for their old purpose.

…No, they needed to cut that train of thought off now. They weren’t the Hollow Knight anymore, just Hollow who happened to be receiving a long overdue knighting ceremony. Just Hollow, now a wyrm just like their father and technically heir proper (Not a true heir; their parents would have to die for that to mean anything, and gods with strong health and many followers did not tend to die unless they wanted to).

Just-

“Good, you haven’t lost your obedience the way you lost that much more convenient body.”

The words of the palace retainer forced their thoughts to halt and their head to bow as a fresh wave of shamed anxiety shot through their body.

But it did not let itself get lost in thought again. It sat still and merely stared at the retainer, waiting for its next set of directions.

The bug clad in pristine white robes stepped over to where it sat in the entrance of its room, humming as they reached to grab onto the risen hood of its strikingly vibrant, red cloak in their hands. A cloak so big that it draped enough to cover the large wings on its back, and yet they decided to use a part right next to its head instead of anywhere else for examination, tugging against the buttons that kept it fastened around its horns.

The pulsing urge to snap its terribly fanged jaws to the side and rip that arm right off was strong enough to cause its head to twitch slightly. That was their gifted cloak, their possession, their cloak, made just for them by Queen Herrah-

But it did not. It did not even turn its head to look. It sat still and listened.

“I think I’ll keep the cloak on you. Not nearly as regal as your armor and cape used to be, but anything is better than those unsightly injuries beneath!” The retainer chuckled as they backed away, gaze bordering on something like disapproval.

Disapproval that made it want to skitter back into its room and sit behind the door so that no bug could enter.

But it did not. It sat still.

“Come with me now. I am in need of a guard for myself and a few others for a function in the capital, and what better guard for a bug of my status than the Pure Vessel itself, changed or no?”

The vessel watched as the retainer walked off into the hallway, and when it first attempted to follow, its body jerked forward but failed to get up.

It did not make the same mistake twice. Its next attempt left it successfully lumbering after the retainer as it was led down a staircase to presumably exit the palace.

It almost lost its footing only a few steps in; this was only the fifth time it had used stairs since its most recent…molt left it no longer bipedal. This was only the third time time since it had lost what would have been an arm had this change not occurred.

This was the first time it did not once actually lose its footing and tumble painfully down. It made it to the bottom, albeit slowly and trembling more than before when it reached the floor.

…Why was it trembling? It was just following orders like it was supposed to.

No matter. It was to focus on the retainer leading it to where they needed it to go. That was its only priority.

Light brighter than the persistent glow of the palace already had in the corner of the eye it could still see out of immediately became its priority seconds later, and it was unable to stop itself from snapping its head over to the source.

That was the King. That was their father-

It snapped its attention back to the retainer fast enough that it could only pray its slip up had not been noticed by either party (Pray to whom? The god it was praying to have avoided in the first place?).

The sound of his numerous footfalls halted not a beat later, though, and the vessel knew its own limping stride was not capable of drowning it out to that degree. He had stopped.

He had noticed.

“Hollow, would you come with me? I have something to show you,” Came his unexpected voice, forcing their head to twist right back to his direction.

In what could only be described as an undignified, desperate scramble, it swiftly made its way to its fathers side, quivering as it fought to avoid its gaze for reasons it could not place. Unlike before, this lack of hesitation brought forward a traitorous feeling of relief.

“I do hope that you did not need them for anything important, for they will be unavailable for the next while,” He addressed to the retainer, and though their head was bowed, they were far taller than him even like this and could easily see how he shifted to face them.

“A-ah! No, no worries, it wasn’t! I just asked if they’d be willing to help me move some heavy furniture, but I can find someone else!”

…They were lying straight to the face of the Pale King. Hollow couldn’t stop the flood of sheer indignance on his behalf at their audacity. Why would they not tell the truth? Did-

Did that mean that they weren’t the vessel again? Was the King not supposed to know they had been ordered such? He…

…was facing them now. They met his gaze, resisting the urge to flee back to their room as his eyes narrowed in…contemplation? Anger? Disappointment? They had hardly learned how to read their own emotions, let alone others-

“I see. Hollow, is that what they asked you to do?”

…He was asking them for what happened. The prospect, let alone actually being asked as much, broke the slight reverie they’d fallen into. Evidently, things had not reverted back to before.

They flicked their gaze at the retainer, who was fidgeting with the sleeves of their robe.

They flicked it back to their father, who was watching expectantly.

And then they opened their jaws to click out the needed words.

“Go-to p-a-r-t-y. O-r-d-e-r-e-d f-o-l-l-o-w. G-u-a-r-d.”

Despite merely explaining the actual, truthful story, they still shook as if they had just lied as egregiously as the other bug…though maybe that was also because their remaining forelimb was beginning to ache as painfully as the one that wasn’t there somehow did.

Their father sighed and immediately faced the retainer, who Hollow didn’t dare glance at as they waited for the tense moment of silence to pass. Their tail threatened to break the silence with how it twitched against the floor, annoyingly, though.

“Right. Why don’t you go find your mother in the palace’s gardens and take your breakfast with her? Tell her I will be preoccupied for the next while,” Was what he settled on saying at last, and Hollow didn’t spare a second glance before turning to leave with his permission.

Breakfast sounded nice. Being anywhere else sounded even nicer.

“Come with me. Clearly, you have ignored some of the recent changes within the White Palace, and I take pleasure in properly enlightening you on them.”

The words they heard from their father as they left had them feeling warm again, though. It left them believing they truly could be more than just a vessel someday, no matter how much that fact was sometimes a struggle to accept.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Do you have any advice for two autistic partners sharing a room without killing each other? We're trying to communicate more but that leads to shutdowns and frustrations on both ends. Autism to autism communication failures.

Hi there,

I’m not sure if this’ll help, but I found some way to communicate better with autistic people.

1. Address him or her as you would any other adult, not a child. Do not assume that this person has limited cognitive skills. An individual’s disability may be more language-based and not related to his or her ability to comprehend the content of the conversation. In other words, s/he may understand every word you say, but may have difficulty responding verbally.

2. Avoid using words or phrases that are too familiar or personal. For example, words like “honey” or “sweetie,” or “cutie,” can come across as demeaning or disrespectful to anyone, but particularly to someone working to establish his or her independence. Save these terms of endearment for close friends and family members.

3. Say what you mean. When interacting with an adult with autism, be literal, clear, and concise. Avoid the use of slang, nuance, and sarcasm. These forms of communication may be confusing and not easily understood by a person on the autism spectrum.

4. Take time to listen. Being an active listener is an important skill when interacting with adults with ASD. Taking the time to listen lets them know that you care and support them. If you do not understand what the person is saying, ask more questions to clarify what he or she is trying to convey.

5. If you ask a question, wait for a response. If someone doesn’t respond immediately to your question, do not assume they haven’t heard or understood you. Just like typical adults, individuals with autism or other special needs sometimes need a little more time to absorb and process information before giving you their response.

6. Provide meaningful feedback. Some adults with ASD may unknowingly communicate inappropriately. Be prepared to provide specific feedback about what in the conversation was inappropriate. Providing feedback that is honest, non-judgmental, and clear can help someone with ASD learn to safely navigate complex social interactions.

7. Don’t speak as if the person is not in the room. In a group setting with family members, caregivers, teachers, or others, do not talk about this person as if he or she were not in the room. It is easy to be drawn into this trap – especially if others are talking about this person in his or her presence. By modeling appropriate behavior, you can help others learn how to be more supportive of adults with ASD.

I’ll leave the source below so you ca read it if you want.

I found another article listing some other ways too:

Processing information

An autistic person can find it difficult to filter out the less important information. If there is too much information, it can lead to ‘overload’, where no further information can be processed. To help:

say less and say it slowly

use specific key words, repeating and stressing them

pause between words and phrases to give the person time to process what you’ve said, and to give them a chance to think of a response

don’t use too many questions

use less non-verbal communication (eg eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, body language)

use visual supports (eg symbols, timetables, Social Stories) if appropriate

be aware of the environment (noisy/crowded) that you are in. Sensory differences may be affecting how much someone can process.

Avoiding open-ended questions

Keep questions short

Ask only the most necessary questions

Structure your questions, eg you could offer options or choices

Be specific. For example, ask “Did you enjoy your lunch?” and “Did you enjoy maths?” rather than “How was your day?”.

Ways to ask for help

If appropriate, give autistic people a visual help card to use to ask for help.

Being clear

Avoid using irony, sarcasm, figurative language, rhetorical questions, idioms or exaggeration as autistic people can take these literally. If you do use these, explain what you have said and be clear about what you really mean to say.

The link to this will also be below if you want to check it out:

I hope these can help you and your partner.

Maybe some of my followers can leave some tips and advice too. :)

Thank you for the inbox. I hope that both your and your partner have a wonderful day/night. ❤️

[firstginger]

daemon roundup: wolves

i've been wanting to do a write-up on wolf daemon forms for a while now as i think they're a popular form and the phylogenetic distinction between the grey wolf and all of its subtypes is fascinating. species outside of the grey wolf are often considered nonviable due to their overlap with the grey wolf but also the difficulty researching their ecology. so here is going to be my deep dive on the wolf daemon persona overall, as well as what canis lupus subspecies (as well as peripheral species of the african wolf, eastern wolf, and red wolf) can be considered viable forms.

the wolf personality overall subspecies aside, all wolf daemon individuals are going to share some essential traits.

— loyal and cooperative. canis lupus forms, both the wild wolf and domestic dog, are notorious for their sense of community and hierarchy. wolves depend on the group for survival; social dynamics among the pack are incredibly complex, reinforcing tight-knit bonds and a democratic hierarchy among the family unit. wolves play, console each other, and develop unique pack culture through intergenerational communication. while sociability and extroversion varies between subspecies, all people with wolf daemons are going to naturally form or desire close friendships, and they are committed and generous to the ones they love.

— communicative and tactful. similar to above, wolf individuals are very honest and expressive. wolves have very advanced communication that include vocalizations, body language, and scent marking. this enables them to diffuse conflict and reinforce hierarchy, maintaining stability in the pack. while inter-pack aggression isn't rare, territories are defined through olfactory signaling and vocalizations. those with wolf daemons therefore prioritize clearly expressing themselves and their boundaries. they are socially intuitive and value group harmony; it is important for them to know where they stand and that tension is diffused as quickly as possible.

— dutiful and hardworking. wolf individuals are driven and reliable, committed to pulling their weight and motivated in their work ethic. wolf species are clever and cooperative hunters, chasing down much larger prey until their target is exhausted, then latching on and dragging their prey down with incredible resiliency. those with wolf daemons don't shy away from hard work, though they are also perceptive enough to observe obstacles from all angles and determine how to work smarter not harder. once they have initiated something, they often become absorbed in it and are driven to see it through.

— self-assured and resourceful. those with wolf daemons tend to be confident — or at least assured that they will be able to overcome what troubles them. wolves are typically apex predators of their biomes. they are assertive in maintaining hierarchy and defending territories; while tactful, as mentioned above, the wolf individual takes pride in themselves and aren't often self-doubting, particularly when they have group support. they adapt when change or hardship comes to them and are the type of person who is good at putting their head down and making do.

for these reasons, wolf personalities are often categorized as xxFJs. they are strong Fe users and i believe an argument could be made for either Si or Ni. they are also likely relatable to enneagram 6s and 2s as well as potentially 7s and 8s. however personality assignment is fairly subjective, so if you feel this fits you, don't shy away considering these forms.

grey wolf, canis lupus the grey wolf has already received an extensive TDF analysis, and overall serve as a general template to which to compare canis lupus subspecies. to point out several unique aspects of the grey wolf, it must be stated that the grey wolf tends to be one of the most social and group-oriented wolves. they have a strong focus on hierarchy and cooperation. they are also highly adaptable and even-tempered, capable of flexible behavior and adjusting strategies wherever they might end up. this makes them rather quietly bold and ambitious people; they are at ease out of their comfort zone, and they are dedicated to seeing their projects and intentions through. grey wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are extroverted, confident, flexible, straightforward, and committed.

african wolf, canis lupaster the african wolf, also called the golden wolf, is native to northern africa. it is a small wolf subspecies, intermediate between the jackal and the wolf, though its appearance changes based on its location: eastern african wolves tend to be small and more jackal-like, while northern and western african wolves tend to be larger and more wolf-like. despite this, they are genetic descendants of grey wolf and ethiopian wolf cross. african wolves live in small, flexible packs that fluctuate depending on prey availability. their social groups are demonstrative and affectionate; african wolves have frequently been observed grooming, playing, and courting. they are extraordinarily territorial and can be highly aggressive to intruders though interestingly are primarily reactive to intruders of the same sex. altogether, this paints a picture of an individual who's competitive and extroverted, gravitating towards like-minded companions but individualistic enough to head out on their own. their hunting habits are, indeed, varied; african wolves do take large prey, but overall value a generalist diet, employing multiple strategies such as turning over dung piles to find beetles. they will hunt more than they can consume and cache the prey until later — though they are highly territorial and hostile towards other scavengers. african wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are adaptable, assertive, individualistic, socially savvy, and inventive.

arabian wolf, canis lupus arabs the arabian wolf is native to the arabian peninsula and lives in arid desert and mountain habitats. they are one of the smallest wolf subspecies, also notable for their large ears that help them disperse body heat. these wolves live in small groups and have an opportunistic, omnivorous diet. they tend to hunt alone or in small groups, though there is heavy competition for prey and they will readily rifle through human garbage. compared to grey wolves, arabian wolves are substantially less social. they only aggregate into larger groups during mating season or when prey is plentiful; otherwise, the arabian wolf is less territorial and not terribly communicative, and tends to be nomadic and always on the move. the arabian wolf soul is a perceptive survivalist, highly adaptable but prioritizes their flexibility to such a degree it makes them less likely to depend on others. they're more unobtrusive and self-focused, though they have the capability to be cooperative and are certainly tolerant of others. their competitive nature is essential to their form, however — it's a priority for them to have all of their needs accounted for, but their opportunism makes them highly resilient and they are excellent at completing projects even if it involves cutting corners. arabian wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are going to be individualistic, self-motivated, flexible, not picky, and shrewd.

arctic wolf, canis lupus arctos the arctic wolf is a grey wolf subspecies found in the high arctic tundra north of the treeline. these wolves are well-adapted for the snow and cold; they are a medium subspecies with small ears and possess a thick, typically white, double-layered coat. like the grey wolf, they live in packs and pursue large prey such as muskox and caribou. because their habitat is so isolated, they have very few natural predators (besides climate change) and tend to be rather confident and unafraid of people as a result. while arctic wolves are similar in sociability to the grey wolf, they are going to be overall more confident and specialized. these people are highly opportunistic and dogged when pursuing their goals, though they have a preference for depth over breadth. their ambition gives them resiliency and a self-assured nature. due to their tight ecosystem, these people will also be environmentally sensitive and perceptive — it is their preference that things are clear and they are in control, and they will endeavor to maintain stability in their relationships. these wolves also maintain extremely large territories often twice the size of grey wolf territories. an essential quality to this form is going to be how good they are at seeing the big picture, planning ahead, and ensuring their goals will be met. in addition to the general wolf traits, arctic wolf daemians are going to be specialized, confident, perceptive, resilient, and tenacious.

eastern wolf, canis lycaon the eastern wolf is a subspecies found in eastern canada and is sometimes sub-divided into two subspecies: the great lakes wolf (larger, a higher percentage of grey wolf DNA) and the algonquin wolf (smaller, a higher percentage of coyote DNA). since they seem behaviorally similar, i'll be grouping them together. the eastern wolf is descended from a grey wolf/coyote hybrid similar to the red wolf; they are in between grey wolves and coyotes in size, and they live together in tight-knit packs. eastern wolves maintain rather small territories and primarily hunt deer, though their diet also consists of moose, elk, beavers, rodents, and berries. similar to grey wolves, they will often follow ungulate migrations and engage in food caching behavior. overall, the eastern wolf form is going to be fairly similar to the grey wolf. they are highly loyal and inventive, though a key distinction is that the eastern wolf is a degree more unobtrusive and conflict-avoidant than the grey wolf. they likely come across as more introverted and come to life around their loved ones. eastern wolves are also going to be somewhat more attached to routines and a sense of security, flexible when change is needed but not the type to take unnecessary risks. in addition to the general wolf traits, eastern wolf daemians are going to be dedicated, conflict-avoidant, supportive, cautious, and perceptive.

eurasian wolf, canis lupus lupus the eurasian wolf, also called the common wolf, is native to europe and asia and can be distinguished from the grey wolf by their narrower snouts, shorter coats, and melodic howls. though the eurasian wolf has the largest range of all old world subspecies, they have lost a lot of their historical territory. their pack sizes tend to be smaller than grey wolves and they have an extremely varied diet — these wolves are often forced into populated areas and will subsist on livestock and human garbage. they tend to be less skittish around people than grey wolves as a result. similarly, they will often forage independently or in pairs as often as they will hunt in packs. their sociability is similar to grey wolves; eurasian wolf individuals will be similarly extroverted and tight-bonding, though can be distinguished by their survivalist and individualistic tendencies. they have a high degree of adaptability and can be inventive and risk-taking in their problem-solving. while loyal, they have confidence in themselves and their visions, willing to branch out in order to see things through. when compared to the grey wolf individual, the eurasian wolf soul can be distinguished by being more boldly adaptable, socially flexible, and ambitious, highly resilient to hardship. eurasian wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are reliable, bold, adaptable, expressive, and quick-thinking.

himalayan/tibetan wolf, canis lupus chanco canis lupus chanco, called the himalayan wolf, tibetan wolf, and mongolian wolf, is found in the himalayas, tibetan plateau, and central asian highlands. this species is known for its thick and woolly coat which is typically fawn-colored to help it blend in among the steppes. they live in small packs and hunt both cooperatively and alone; prey include yaks, argali, kiang, antelope, and livestock. other notable aspects of the himalayan wolves is how they are biologically adapted for hypoxia and also have distinctly low and short howls. otherwise, this species closely resembles the grey wolf within its region. slight differences may exist in the himalayan wolf being more resilient and wary in nature, though overall they are still sociable and dependable individuals. likely due to their biome and their sparse distribution in the highlands, himalayan wolves also have a reputation of being less aggressive and territorial than grey wolves as well. these individuals are thus less assertive when their boundaries are crossed and would prefer to adapt their behavior or live and let live to avoid pointless conflict. in addition to the general wolf traits, himalayan wolf daemonians are going to be straightforward, perceptive, confident, tenacious, and tolerant.

iberian wolf, canis lupus signatus the iberian wolf is native to northwestern spain and portugal in relatively isolated populations that have resisted backcrossing or mixing with other wolf subspecies. these wolves are distinct for their slighter, small frame and the dark marks on their legs, upper lips, and tail (signatus for signed). it lives in small packs and its diet primarily consists of large ungulates such as deer, wild boar, and livestock, though like all wolves the iberian wolf is an opportunistic hunter and will also eat martens, feral cats, rabbits, and rodents. among its packs, the iberian wolf is hierarchical and a cooperative hunter; they have unique howls that are used for individual recognition and the dominant pair in the pack scent marks territory. while the iberian wolf is somewhat adaptable to their biome, they are reliant upon forest cover, and are known to be reclusive and rare even in their region. ultimately, this form embodies many aspects of the grey wolf in terms of expressiveness, group cohesion, and opportunism, but the iberian wolf will overall be more reserved and introverted. they are highly boundary-keeping and assertive — perhaps even wary at first, though natural problem-solvers who have a drive to succeed. their natural confidence makes them rather adamant and willing to take calculated risks similar to the grey wolf. iberian wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are going to be introverted, opportunistic, perceptive, expressive, and protective.

indian wolf, canis lupus pallipes the indian wolf is native to india as well as regions of southwest asia such as turkey and iran. overall indian wolves are small with short, thin fur and they live in open grasslands, thorn forests, and scrublands. while social, their packs are smaller than the grey wolf's, typically an average size of three and are widely dispersed across their habitat. interestingly, the indian wolf is a relatively less vocal species; they seem to rarely howl, though they have a wide repertoire of vocalizations including howling, "social squeaks", whimpers, and whines that they use to communicate with pack members. additionally, indian wolves tend to hunt small prey (such as rodents and rabbits) solitarily and larger prey (such as blackbuck and chinkara antelopes) in pairs, in which one indian wolf acts as a decoy. thus they've garnered a local reputation as extremely reclusive but clever animals — as is required, as the indian wolf has to compete with other local apex predators such as the tiger, dhole, and feral dog. the indian wolf individual is going to display some stark differences compared to the grey wolf, similar to other desert wolf subspecies. the first is that they're going to be much more individualistic, socially selective, and unobtrusive; indian wolves do not defend their territorials as strongly, and overall seem to prefer avoiding potential conflict. they're also going to be quick-thinking and highly cooperative, though even then somewhat reserved, perhaps slow to open up to others and wary about being the center of attention. in addition to the general wolf traits, indian wolf daemians are going to be introverted, observant, cunning, reserved, and conflict-avoidant.

islands wolf, canis lupus ligoni the islands wolf, commonly called the alexander archipelago wolf, is a subspecies found in a limited range in southeastern alaska along the coasts and islands. they are separated from the rest of north america by the coast mountains, creating a unique subpopulation that has resisted inbreeding with other wolf subspecies, coyotes, and dogs. the islands wolf is a small subspecies and is generally dark in color. they live in dense forests where they den in the roots of large trees and primarily hunt sitka deer, though will feed opportunistically on coastal species such as beaver, seals, salmon, birds, and marine invertebrates. their pack sizes can range between a pair or up to twelve members and the islands wolf is unique in that it does not disperse as much as other wolf subspecies and its home ranges are rather small. the islands wolf individual is thus going to show similar social tendencies as the grey wolf while being much more routine-oriented and less adaptable. this is one of the few wolf subspecies that is less opportunistic and highly dependent upon a single prey source; as such, the islands wolf soul tends to prioritize optimization and persistence when possible. they excel at exploiting opportunities though tend to be more sensitive when out of their comfort zone, as their preference is to stay with what is more dependable. it's also likely that they're socially flexible, comfortable in a variety of social situations and particularly cooperative and supportive when times become hard. islands wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are dependable, routine-oriented, specialized, precise, and reserved.

italian wolf, canis lupus italicus the italian wolf is native to the mountain ranges of the italian peninsula, though it has modernly expanded northward into france and the french alps. these wolves are medium-sized and live in packs between two and seven members, though due to prey scarcity, they are most often found in packs consisting of a breeding pair and their adolescent offspring. they are opportunistic predators, feeding on medium-sized hoofed mammals like deer and boar, as well as smaller prey like rabbits, insects, and various fruits/berries. particularly in the summer, they are also voracious hunters of local livestock and will den near the edge of pastures on the mountain ridges. like most wolf subspecies, the italian wolf is also a cooperative hunter and highly social within its pack. similar to the grey wolf, they defend their territories and can be aggressive to intruders. overall, the italian wolf is going to be a similar form to the grey wolf particularly in terms of adaptability. they are confident, perceptive, and flexible, readily adapting or changing course when one avenue isn't working out. their sociability is somewhat more reserved than the grey wolf; they tend to be more private and protective, likely seen as reserved individuals who are tenacious when pursuing their goals or maintaining their boundaries. in addition to the general wolf traits, italian wolf daemonians are going to be dedicated, adaptable, tenacious, confident, and reserved.

mexican wolf, canis lupus baileyi the mexican wolf is a highly endangered subspecies endemic to northern mexico and the southwestern united states. the smallest north american wolf subspecies, the mexican wolf has long legs and a sleek physique. they live in mountain woodlands and deserts, maintaining large packs similar in size to grey wolves. their diet predominantly consists of elk, though they also will hunt deer, rabbits, and other small mammals, as well as scavenge carcasses and steal prey. these wolves are highly social and expressive; they have strong pack hierarchy and engage in play, vocalizations, and cooperative pup rearing. overall, the mexican wolf individual is going to be gregarious, supportive, and engaging. they are communicative and talkative, expressive and readily speaking their mind. like grey wolves, they're also going to be hierarchical and socially savvy, appreciating the dependability of a group and happy to cooperate to reach their aims. they're also somewhat individualistic like many wolf species, willing to hunt alone and will cache food away from the rest of the pack. despite their environmental sensitivity, mexican wolves are also going to be adaptable and inventive, similar to the grey wolf. mexican wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are extroverted, vocal, flexible, energetic, and clever.

northern rocky mountain wolf, canis lupus irremotus the northern rocky mountain wolf is a success story in conserving these subspecies populations. native to the rocky mountains and yellowstone, these wolves became critically endangered as settlers spread west, trapping and killing northern rocky mountain wolves that threatened livestock. massive efforts by the northern rocky mountain wolf recovery plan restored this population to the wild where they now live in idaho, wyoming, and montana. northern rocky mountain wolves are one of the largest grey wolf subspecies, typically bearing light-colored coats and primarily subsisting on large hoofed prey such as elk, bison, and deer. socially, they are similar to grey wolves; this subspecies lives in packs and will hunt communally as well as opportunistically. in terms of form viability, the northern rocky mountain wolf is analytically essentially identical to the grey wolf. one might consider this form if a somewhat more ambitious wolf appeals to them, with an emphasis on smooth cooperation and maximizing output. in addition to the general wolf traits, northern rocky mountain wolf daemonians are going to be cooperative, perceptive, confident, ambitious, and honest.

northwestern wolf, canis lupus occidentalis the northwestern wolf is a very large subspecies native to the northwestern united states and southern canada. their bushy fur, size, and short legs help them thrive in the frigid northern mountains and forests. they live in packs of up to over 30 members and primarily hunt large animals such as moose, bison, elk, and caribou, as well as smaller grey like rodents, salmon, and rabbits. they are highly mobile and will travel for 10 hours a day, up to 70 miles to search for prey. their incredible hunting prowess has given them the reputation of being exceptionally intelligent, powerful, and cooperative. compared to the grey wolf form, the northwestern wolf is going to be a degree more reserved, tenacious within their comfort zone and inclined to work in a team. they are enduring and patient when it comes to their ambitions, not the type to shy away from hard work or cut corners if it means getting the best possible result. they're overall still expressive, tight-bonding, and devoted, more sensitive when away from their group. cunning and perceptive, this individual is quietly ambitious and loyal. in addition to the general wolf traits, northwestern wolf daemians are going to be strong-willed, observant, confident, gregarious, and tenacious.

red wolf, canis rufus the red wolf is a subspecies native to the southeastern united states, intermediate in size between the grey wolf and coyote and sometimes claimed to be a coywolf descendant. they are smaller and narrower than grey wolves and possess longer legs and ears. red wolves are historically habitat generalists, and while their range has been reduced significantly, they can still be found in swamps, forests, wetlands, mountains, and bushlands. they live in familial packs, typically consisting of a mated pair and their offspring, that assist in raising pups. overall, the red wolf is more sociable than the coyote but less social than the grey wolf; they hunt in groups or individually, playful with their pack members but highly antagonistic to strangers. they are omnivorous and generalist feeders, primarily eating deer, raccoons, rabbits, rodents, insects, and berries, as well as livestock. despite being highly endangered, red wolves are apex predators within their biome, though they are shy and secretive around humans. compared to the grey wolf, the most obvious distinction is that red wolf individual is going to be more boundary-keeping and private, willing to engage in conflict in order to maintain their peace. they're highly devoted and loyal to their people, but also value their sense of self and their own identity. they're socially savvy and tactful while also quite adamant. like the grey wolf, they're fairly adaptable and tend to be generalists, but tend to be more sensitive. in addition to the general wolf traits, red wolf daemians are going to be sociable, flexible, protective, cautious, and inventive.

sea wolf, canis lupus crassodon the sea wolf, also called the vancouver coastal sea wolf, is native to the pacific northwest coast of north america. i included this subspecies because of their fascinatingly unique behavior. like many other wolf subspecies, they live in robust packs — however, they primarily feed on fish rather than hunt cooperatively. they will also forage on other marine wildlife such as seals, otters, barnacles, clams, and whale carcasses. often these wolves will forage alone, incredibly adapted for cracking open mollusks with their teeth. they are strong swimmers; they will migrate between islands on the archipelago, swimming between them and following the salmon migrations. sea wolves are notoriously reserved and rarely seen by people, though they're also powerful predators and have been known to fend off black and grizzly bears. their pack life is highly social and wolves spend most of their time together. when comparing interpretation of this form to the grey wolf, sea wolf individuals are going to be highly specialized and reserved, a unique person who seeks out like-minded companions. they are dedicated companions who are adaptable and inventive problem-solvers; these individuals are the sort who always come out on top, good at finding patterns and adjusting their behavior under challenges. they're socially flexible, both cooperative but possessing a dogged individual ambition. in addition to the general wolf traits, sea wolf daemians are going to be problem solvers, specialized, flexible, sensitive, and supportive.

steppe wolf, canis lupus campestris also called the caspian wolf, the steppe wolf is native to the caspian steppes and neighboring steppe regions. they appear similar to the eurasian wolf, though tend to be smaller on average, have shorter coats, and are characterized by their triangular face. these wolves are voracious hunters; they will hunt cooperatively and alone, preying on antelope, livestock, rabbits, rodents, and even caspian seals. while wolves are notable for taking large game and gorging themselves, steppe wolves have been reported to hunt more than they can consume. they also have an aggressive reputation; they live close to human settlements and pick off livestock, and they also appear to have higher than average rates of intra-pack antagonistic encounters. therefore the steppe wolf individual is going to be someone more bold and cutthroat than the average wolf daeman. they are ambitious and much less conflict-avoidant than other species, including the grey wolf, while still being highly hierarchical. this may indicate that they are sensitive to personal disrespect and disruption that affects group harmony. certainly populations of these wolves are brave enough to attack livestock in broad daylight. confidence is a key aspect of this form, perhaps to the point of arrogance in the name of making sure themselves and those they love are taken care of. steppe wolf daemians, in addition to the general wolf traits, are cunning, bold, adaptable, assertive, and achievement-focused.

tundra wolf, canis lupus albus the tundra wolf is sometimes mistaken for the arctic wolf. while arctic wolves live in the northern arctic in regions of canada and greenland, the tundra wolf is native to the tundra of northern eurasia from finland to the kamchatka peninsula. they are of medium size and have thick, fluffy coats that are typically light in color. their diet fluctuates with the seasons; typically they hunt large ungulates such as reindeer, elk, bison, and muskox, though in the summer may also take birds and smaller prey. many aspects of this form is going to be similar to the arctic wolf: tundra wolves are going to be resilient, tenacious, and extremely specialized. this subspecies is heavily reliant upon the reindeer population that makes up most of their diet — their southern range is defined by the reindeer's migration. thus while this subspecies is still going to be cooperative, sociable, and tenacious, they're going to be less adaptable and more inclined to plan ahead in order to avoid obstacles. similarly, as they live almost exclusively in the far north or boreal forests, this subspecies is going to be more reserved and unobtrusive particularly compared to the arctic wolf. they have quiet confidence but may come across as aloof to those who aren't in their group of people. in addition to the general wolf traits, tundra wolf daemonians are going to be introverted, perceptive, specialized, tenacious, and conflict-avoidant.

[acowboystale]

Ugly

It rained that day.

Which is the most on-the-nose thing of all.

All my memories of the saddest scenes in the history of cinema remember the rain. All my memories of the saddest moments of my life remember the rain. Even when the sun was shining at that time. The rain holds more memories of my feelings than I ever will.

And whenever it rains, those feelings come right back up. Not in the form of a tragic prose or a sentimental poem, not in the form of screams and plates shattered against the kitchen walls after yet another fight with my mother, not in the form of the silence that follows right after the reproaches have resonated. Not in proper words that swim right back to my ears.

In the form of a stereotypical melancholy. In the form of a misguided anger. Of droplets racing on the window. Which one will win, this time? Can one win? Or will the droplets always merge with others, making it impossible to know if the one you chose as yours at the beginning of the race is the same as it was then, has remained intact from all interference of other, smaller or bigger droplets? What’s the point in watching them race, then, if none ever wins?

The form of those feelings is always so slow, so lingering. When what they hold in my memories is so harsh, heated, so violent. 

But shit happens. And when that shit has time to boil and rot within the deepest and ugliest folds of my soul for months and months, waiting for the right time to burst into flames and be vomited alongside my terrible and poor-chosen words, all that is left is the rain.

I could have gone and stood there, in the garden. No one would have seen me. I could have gone on with my life-long fantasy of thinking that my life is a movie. It would have been a great coming-of-age movie end scene, with the water pouring down my hair and my clothes, symbolizing the freedom that finally comes to wash me from my chains and regrets. And, as always, my mind would have been watching, observing  my body from the outside like a camera operating a back shot.

Because my body has never felt like my own, yet I manage to hate it like it was, like it represents visually all the things that I despise about me but hide in those folds, the ones I want no one to find but always feel like I wear on my forehead in bold golden shining letters. Look at her! She doesn’t know how to communicate. She avoids deep connections, because she fears vulnerability. She fears being alone, but she keeps everyone away with a pitchfork. She’s aggressive, and mean, and her words come out ugly, like her soul is. She can’t even open-up in French, for the sake of yet another deceiving poem: she likes the detachment she can get from writing in another language than the one of the little voice in her head. Approach, don’t be scared!

What if I wore my heart on my sleeve? What if I was skinny? Would that make me sincere? Would it give me the ability to be honest, if the appearance I have does not feel like it represents how foul it is, inside? Would people want to actually be my friends? Would I be able to give them my whole person? Would I allow myself to feel at a hundred percent? If I smile, will people stop to think I am aggressive, and mean, and that my words come out ugly, like my soul is?

It rained that day.

The day after I tried to be vulnerable. The day I tried to open up for someone, to communicate. To avoid the smell of the rotten fruits coming out of my nose. To preserve the deepest connection I have ever had, even if they had said they did not feel like I was delivering as much of myself as I thought I was. The day I was met with the truth: the brutal, deep, ugly truth.

So much ugly coming out of my hands, here. So much ugly to be mentioned, to be warned about. So much ugly to define how hard I try to be pretty. So much ugly to define what makes me, me.

I guess I must make people boil as well. If we are the reflection of the ten closest people in our lives, I hope I am ranked the lowest for the ones who consider me to be in their top 10. Like that, they get the chance to take as little of me as possible to bear in their heart and on their face. Because the world would be worse than it already is, if it was not the case. But I know, I hope, I must be close to the top for some people. A few. So, those unfortunate, beautiful people, I must make them boil. They must be constantly fighting this urge to burst into flames, when near me. Maybe this is why I’m unable to fully open up. Because then the people I love would combust. Who wants that?

So I plaster a weird smile on my face, I talk too loud, and I get angry very easily. Because the image of me I try to display on the big screen is fragile. Fragile like the words I use, like the meaning they hold. Fragile like the opinion I have of myself, and that they now hold of me as well. 

It’s ok. 

I can always reinvent myself. I’ve always done it. We have had to do it over and over again for ages. Who likes boring, anyway? Now I get to choose what I will be. The girl next door? I would need to lose weight or gain charisma. I can go back to the eyeliner and the arctic monkeys and the electric guitar. I’ve done that. The people I have done that with are not in my life anymore, so it would count as a reinvention. I can blast Deftones in my ears and wait for my train which is always late, and bullshit some new scenario about the 910387th part of the saga of my way-too-boring-to-have-that-many-parts life. I can do that. 

As long as I keep smiling for the cameras, I can do that. As long as I don’t open up too much just to be hurt again, which kind of works with the character I’ll be, I can do that. As long as people don’t realize how ugly it is inside, I can do that.

Yes, I can do that.

[novelmonger]

Inklings Challenge asks for First Contact please! 📖 for "They were mimicking the humans, Dr. Campbell suddenly realized" and 🌟 for "Like a mother scolding her child for putting something into her mouth that she'd picked up off the ground."

📖 - tell me about something that helped inspire this part of the story

What inspired this, and really the whole way the aliens approached the people on Earth, were stories I've read and personal experiences I've had with missionaries here in real life. The most effective missionaries are the ones who go and live among the people they're trying to reach, adapting to the way they live as much as they can. Not faking it, exactly, but besides just learning the language and basic customs so they're able to communicate, learning how to dress and act in ways that make the people in that culture comfortable. Such as...I think it was Hudson Taylor, who wore Chinese clothing and styled his hair like they did, in an age when many Western missionaries thought that, besides making the people they went to Christian, they also had to make them Western.

So, because the differences between the aliens and the humans are even more pronounced, I had the aliens be even more cautious in the way they approached their mission field. Instead of styling their hair and wearing different clothes, the aliens did their best to adjust their physical forms to a shape that would be more familiar and less threatening to the humans, since their bodies allow them to do that.

🌟 - tell me something about how this part of the story played into your plans for its themes or imagery

Umm...to be honest, this part was kind of an afterthought when I realized I hadn't addressed what the aliens ate, but I didn't really want to go into all of that in this short piece. But I guess you could say that, whether Birdcall really is a child or not, whether the aliens really do eat by absorbing stuff through their "hands," this little episode shows the childlike eagerness and curiosity that the aliens bring to their expedition. Not in a demeaning way, but in a good way - the way we are supposed to be like children at the feet of God. These aliens had to trust God with the faith of little children who declare they're going to fly to the moon when they grow up, in order to travel across the galaxy to a tiny little planet so they could hopefully learn to communicate with these sentient creatures and bring them the good news.

Inklings Challenge Ask Game

[castlestation]

Fantasy Facts - Elven Puberty

Elves. Graceful. Elegant. Wise. These are all words we typically associate with this ageless race. But what of elven childhood? Elven senescence? Elven... puberty?We all know elves fuck, but few talk about how they grow up. In D&D, elves are suggested to reach adulthood at around 100 years of age. They may or may not reach physical adulthood at the same age as humans--it's unclear--but they are not treated as adults socially until that centennial mark.

Boring, to be honest. So let's imagine something better. Prepare for the nightmare that is

ELVEN PUBERTY

OR

THE FRENZY

Elves mature slowly, spending much longer at each stage of development than their human compatriots, ultimately reaching what we would call our 20s around 70 years old. The period before that is most commonly called, in various dialects with various lexical accoutrements, "The Frenzy." It is a surprisingly simple name for a people who prefer their names to be forty syllables long and in 🎶song🎶 form.

After reaching puberty somewhere around ages 30-40, elves go into heat for the first time, a nice side-effect to being attuned to nature's rhythms and cycles. Much as adolescent animals leave their parents before fully reaching adulthood, pubescent elves leave the confines of their emerald enclaves and mountain retreats to travel... and fornicate.

The urge is nigh irresistible, with only a small percentage of elves able to choose to go through puberty in a traditional social setting. The rest are feral, sometimes forgetting even how to speak. They run with the beasts, fuck the beasts, and eat the beasts. This coming of age is full of terror and regret--just not for the youths.

The frenzy is made worse by the fact that elves continue to go through heat every century or so, resulting in mass births. When in heat, elven communities often engage in orgies and other kinds of group sex. These child booms result in groups of ferociously horny adolescents being unleashed upon the world. Messengers are sent out from elven communities to neighbouring peoples, warning of their spawns' coming (or cumming).

The 40 year old virgins travel first to a forest glade or clear plateau, something that gives them view of the sky as well as having surrounding cover. They then fuck each other, sometimes for weeks on end. Elves can go without sleep for several months, and during the frenzy can go for years, followed by long hibernation periods lasting months to years themselves.

Once the youths have explored every aspect of each others' bodies, they search outwards, feasting on the land in more ways than one. Many believe that centaurs are actually the result of elven "teens" mating with wild horses and elk. Their urges are insatiable.

Those fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to come across feral elves will first see a filthy yet beautiful person, often bruised and bleeding, with leaves and twigs caught in their silken hair, somehow still loose and shimmering despite being half covered in mud. They are rarely found wearing clothes.

They may ask to have sex, and for those who agree, the night is rich and fruitful, if exhausting--once they see their partner is unconscious or otherwise spent, they move on. Refusal can be problematic, as the elves are typically not in a mind to consider consent. However, much like the bears they likely fucked earlier in the day, it is possible to frighten off a pubescent elf by standing up taller, and opening ones coat to appear larger. Shouting, especially with clear, concise language, will cause them to feel that the situation is not particularly sexy. Some other clever ways to defuse feral elves includes playing chess, discussing politics, or asking how their day was.

There is a darker side to the frenzy, as some elves form roving gangs that do not take "no" for an answer. These rotten youths are hunted by their parents. Once captured, they are punished with solitude in meditation chambers, surrounded by soft music, water, and flowers, visited only by elders and their parents, who recite ancient songs and poems about losing oneself. If the path to enlightenment fails to drown out their darker urges, they are disappeared by the commune. Few will tell what happens to them, but it is understood that their lives do not continue.

After a few decades of hunting, roving, and fucking, the primal heat ends, and the young elves return to their families of their own volition, sometimes travelling across oceans and continents to return from whence they came. They relearn manners and etiquette, and occasionally have to atone for what they have done while away.

While elves themselves cannot get pregnant during the first heat, they are capable of causing pregnancies, and half-elves birthed from the frenzy are known to be rowdier, rougher, and hornier than those from more relaxed unions.

Tune in next time for more Fantasy Facts that are 100% real and definitely true.

Have a suggestion for what Fantasy Fact should be next? Let me know in the ask box or comments!

And remember, be Elf Aware! It could save your life (or at least your ass)

Poster credit goes to my lovely partner @madicienne

[rogloptimist]

book recs for aapi heritage month 🕺🕺

a bit late, but happy aapi heritage month! i’ve been getting back into reading this past year after my pandemic slump, so here’s some books that i really enjoyed by aapi authors 

the poppy war trilogy by rf kuang - this series is a fantasy based on 19th-20th century china. it’s hilariously written with some of my favorite characters of all time, and deals with some really heavy topics like colonialism, the effects of warfare, and classism in a brutally honest fashion. i have so much to say about it but that’s for a much longer post-

babel: an arcane history by rf kuang - at this point i will read this woman’s grocery list, she is such a skilled writer and genius storyteller. babel is set in an alternate 1800s oxford university, in a world which the british empire’s power is built upon magic silver. babel unpacks the intrinsic ties between academia and empire from the perspective of someone on the inside and the concept of resistance. it also really hits home to the feeling of disconnect from your native language as a bilingual/third culture kid- overall just brilliant book imo. the magic system is also really interesting (as is that of rf kuang’s other work)- she builds upon the real world to create a fantasy that is engaging, but also very representative of the motifs of her work?? idk how to explain it but 🙏rebecca🙏

you’re the only one i’ve told: the stories behind abortion by meera shah - you’re the only one i’ve told is a collection of stories about abortion entrusted to shah, a medical practitioner who works as an abortion provider. the book humanizes these people and their experiences from a variety of different backgrounds and circumstances, and is a really compelling read. 

we have always been here: a queer muslim memoir by samra habib - we have always been here is a memoir about  habib’s experience growing up as an ahmadi muslim in pakistan, coming to canada as refugees in their teenage years, and grappling with queer identity within an environment where their body and personhood was thought to have been needed to be controlled. habib discusses faith, sexuality, and love through a lens of self discovery and finding community that you didn’t know existed. 

the henna wars by adiba jaigirdar - this book is set in dublin, and follows a young bangladeshi girl named nishat. nishat has fallen for an estranged childhood friend, flávia, who just so happens to be her rival in an upcoming school business competition. and by some luck, they both have chosen to create the same business; henna tattoos. i’m a sucker for fluff so this book got me, but it also deals with appropriation and queer romance (particularly from a 3rd culture experience) quite delicately. nishat’s relationship with her sister was also so well written, and i think was one of the most compelling bonds in this book!

this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar - okay i’m still in the process of finishing this book, but it has been so good so far! this is a story about two rival agents moving through a war that stretches across time, fighting tooth and nail for their own victory in a vaguely apocalyptic world. they begin a correspondence that spills into something that could change the course of time extremely literally. the writing style and descriptions are gorgeous, and the fragmented format of letters jumping across thousands of years is a really interesting reading experience. very cool book!

on earth we’re briefly gorgeous by ocean vuong - god this man is such a talent- everything good you’ve heard about his work is true and you should go read it rn. on earth we’re briefly gorgeous is written in the form of a letter from a son to his illiterate mother, and tells a story that crosses over 3 generations with it’s epicenter rooted in vietnam. the narrator unpacks how the effects of warfare, immigration and generational trauma have shaped his relationship with his mother and his own life. i’m not doing it justice (not for any of these rlly i cannot elevator pitch books), but vuong’s writing is so beautiful and intimate yet quiet? 💃💃🙏🫶👍🙏👌💃

that’s all i have for now, if you have any recs pls do tell!! to my fellow asian/pacific islander americans, your voices and stories deserve to be uplifted and celebrated without being fetishized, appropriated or pigeonholed. have a great may! 

[busterpointisdead]

Sooo... Pyro headcanons no one asked for! Disclaimer

I have never played tf2 since my computer would likely explode upon booting it up!!! So my knowledge is limited to the comics.

I don't know how long this will get so it's all under the cut!

Pyro is his only name, preferring he/him, they/them, and occasionally she/her. To trusted individuals they're known to not be a man at all.

Appearance

Referring to any outfitting without the asbestos suit or gas mask

Under the mask is an eldrich blackened flames, capable of some shapeshifting

Any form changes are minor and the flame-like qualities of his body are ever present

They appear to have two halves of a face put together

The left side has half a mouth and a sideways eye that remains closed, note that they can disguise this half to have human-like skin

The right side has four eyes, one main eye appearing larger than the rest to feel more human

Despite being made of black fire Pyro seems to have bones or at least a clear humanoid outline

Origin

Uncertain, but if asked during a clear and starry night they point to the sky

Capabilities

Pyro is not only made of fire but can conjure it as well, though their ability is no greater than candlelight

He can't read most things,especially with the mask on and he finds it very frustrating at times

However, he does recognize each character and has a loose grasp of written language

Seems to write in a strange set of glyphs that only he understands, it seemed like useless scribbles until Dell was found with it saying it was their shopping list

Pyro can speak English fluently as well as ASL!

The mask worn by Pyro is enchanted, he did it himself and was their most powerful spell

An extremely capable fighter, savage when they see red and feel massive guilt for murder

Minor shapeshifting capabilities as mentioned before, mostly just to look more human

Pyro is more often than not nonverbal and communicates through ASL or written notes

Oddities/Misc.

The mask has Pyrovision, it acts as an escapism tactic so he feels less bad about being a merc

He can be found mumbling in his sleep in a foreign and unknown tongue

Gets upset when referred to as "it" since they so badly want to feel human

Despite being made of fire they can still be burned, as the fire Pyro is made of is very different from your average fire

Merasmus may occasionally refer to them as a "moonlit candle"

Very much a cuddly fella, loves hugging and snuggling up with Engineer when possible (I ship it like... [insert shipping company here])

Just a very physical touchy feely guy all around, likes to squeeze things and has a particular soft spot for plushies due to the texture and squeezability

In a relationship with Engineer, he really enjoys reading with him and swapping notes

Hyperfixates on wildfires and pine trees, pine trees love being set alight to propagate after all

Very much aware that they are the CEO of a company, they don't know how they got there either to be honest!

Still doesn't do his taxes