#but if you only create for validation you might burn out!

[solargeist]

i think saying "if you like but don't reblog i'm blocking you" is a bit extreme, bc at the end of the day thats still someone that liked your art. also, whats the time limit? sometimes i "like" things to queue later, since reblogging/tagging on mobile can be annoying

[thecosmicangel]

It’s the law of ASSUMPTION not the law of believing it, so no you don’t necessarily have to believe it for it to true. And you are not new to manifesting you have been doing it your whole life.

Really think about it, why would we need to work hard or be deserving of something to have it? If that where the case then “bad people” wouldn’t have the money or lifestyle that they have. Do you think that if we had to be deserving of things, good people would suffer? Did they deserve the bad things to happen?Since we been born we have been programmed with limiting viewpoint and beliefs saying things like

“Good things take time”

“You have to work hard to earn it”

You have to deserve it

If it’s meant to be it will be

It will happen in divine timing

You have to be completely healed to have it

You have to be vibrating at a high frequency

You have to be positive all the time

You have to be patient, everything happens for a reason

Or you have to be logical , be realistic

And so much more. This is why you can make up your own rules because everyone else is, everyone decided what they choose to believe / assume to be true for them and based on that they experience their reality.

Just because we are born and exist is enough proof and validation for why we deserve to have what we want. We have those desires and dreams for a reason. We were created to experience all of our desires. Do you really think we were born to work a horrible or boring job everyday for the rest of our lives? Do you think you were born to suffer ? Do you think you were just born to desire stuff but not get them? No we were born to experience being god in our own way, by creating our own realities. Creating our own heaven in earth.

Stop limiting yourself by thinking you have to wait,or that you have to earn it. God doesn’t wait , so why would we have to wait? If we were meant to wait we wouldn’t have a burning desire for what we want, that in itself is proof that the desire is waiting on you to accept it and make it yours!!! The bad/ unwanted circumstance we create didn’t have to wait so why does the good or our desires have to wait? I’ll show you how it’s irrelevant to wait , say you want a certain shirt, jeans or whatever that you know is available at a store, well you know you have everything you need to buy it so you will order it or go to the store and buy it because you want it, you are not waiting around to see if the shirt wants you or if some other power wants you to have it, you simply decide you are buying it because you want it. I mean unless you want to procrastinate and overthink if you really want it or not then yeah it might take you sometime to decide on buying the shirt, but it’s all the same thing. Nothing is harder or easier to manifest everything is neutral and only based on your assumptions if it’s hard or easy.

Everything starts of with an idea or thought. Think about all the inventions in the world, someone had that idea and made it happen. Even science is based on ideas/ observations, they start of with a hypothesis.

Your desires are manifesting you, they are calling on you or else you wouldn’t want them ( the desire is calling you, not you calling it, so pick up the phone and answer the call) your desires are here and available for you the second you become aware of them it’s just waiting on you to take it & accept it. Trust that they can happen instantly too, make an assumption/rule on how long it takes for you to manifest things. Create your own rules and what it takes to manifest without doubting it. Do you just want to affirm or assume once and that’s all? Because really that is all you need to do and not contradict it and it will manifest.

If you want to see how it works try it out with something you know you can manifest, for example when I would doubt my power I would set up little test for me, “I would say today I want to see a purple Lamborghini” not even 5 minutes later I would see a purple Lamborghini. Another day I would say I want to see “xyz” I would be as descriptive as I wanted and then I would see it later on that day. This just helped me understand and see proof of how my mind works and how easy it is to manifest. So if you’re having trouble understanding the law try this little experiment out for yourself. The same way I could manifest seeing the things I wanted for my experiment is the same way I could manifest everything else, now the thing is to not contradict myself and stick to one story and it will inevitably be.

-xoxo, the cosmic angel ⭐️🪽

[sillylittlgaythings]

I have a bone to pick with the Yellowjackets fandom, more specifically with the twitter community

im just gonna rant here for a bit. oh. my. god. you guys are UNBEARABLE and ANNOYING.

first: “why did they pair shauna with melissa and not with mari/akilah/gen/x/y/z?”

because melissa was a BLANK character with 0 meaningful conversations with shauna in s1 and 2. shauna already doesn’t like mari. “so now you’re her protector? a little late for that” thats mari to shauna after jackie’s death and the girls wanting to burn her body, they could not make mari into the wide-eye girl infatuated with shauna like they did melissa it. wouldn’t. make. sense. (same thing with gen, she always takes mari’s side and it would be kinda interesting to see this dynamic play out, but anyway).

shauna needed someone she had no previous feelings (good or bad) for and that also includes akilah. she was the one helping shauna giving birth, calming her down and trying to save her and the baby, akilah already had a personality being developed in s2 and clearly had a different plot direction for s3, while melissa didn’t. shauna already had her interaction with akilah and has a perception of her.

melissa was a perfect vessel for shauna’s girlfriend. no meaningful interactions before. no attachment. shauna is able to create melissa the way she wanted in her had, make her a replacement for jackie, use her as she sees fits because she doesn’t know melissa beyond that

second: “why did they get rid off lottie for melissa/they fired simone to afford hillary swank”

thats NOT how the industry works. that’s not how budget works, they’re not taking payment from one actress to give it to another, also hillary’s fees (an award winning actress) are much higher than simone’s (an somewhat unknown actress, love her but it’s true) if it actually worked that way it would made more sense to get rid off melanie or christina, the biggest and most expensive actresses in the adult tml along side with hillary now.

“but lottie’s story wasn’t done” one of the main points of the series is that every death was unfair. the people who died in the crash was unfair. laura lee exploding wasn’t fair. jackie frozen to death wasn’t fair. javi drowning wasn’t fair. nat dying from an overdose after battling addiction and finally getting clean is not fair. every death was unfair. i do think it would be interesting seeing more of lottie’s character but lottie was NOT killed off for melissa, let’s be realistic here.

third: “why are so many shauna scenes?” she’s the main character!!! she’s the one we follow throughout the show, of course there are other principal characters but shauna is the protagonist and the main plot will be around her in some way

fourth: “it’s so weird that tai is the only POC to survive” that’s not true, both lottie and travis were survivors and people of color, yes they’re dead now, but they are still survivors. we also don’t know how many made it out of the wilderness, the 8 survivors theory is just that, a theory. mari, akilah and gen might have made it out and choose to hid/fake their deaths like melissa did.

i do think the treatment of non-white characters and actors in the industry needs to be discussed further and deeply, i’m not saying non-white fans shouldn’t complain about things they see as unfair and wrong, i’m just pointing things out and not speaking over them. i’m not saying they’re complains are justified, but it’s not the intention of this post to discuss this issue specifically.

i’m just so tired of people complaining about every. single. damn. thing this season, of course some criticisms are valid and some conversations are importante to have, but it’s just so annoying to see people nitpicking every little thing about s3 everytime a new episode drops and wondering why certain plots were finish, not understanding why things were written like this or that or etc feels like this is you guys’ first time watching a show with one episode per week like WAIT, BE PATIENT, we already know there are 5 seasons planned so it’s obvious some things will be left unknown or a mystery.

yes it’s nice to dissect a show and analyse the writing and the characters, but it feels like some people either don’t actually like the show or are to stuck in their AO3 fanfic dynamics to enjoy the actual show and characters.

anyway, have a good day guys and enjoy the the season finale next week.

[cowboyidiot]

ok my thoughts on this aren't fully formed but to me it’s like yeah markhelly infidelity lol i love to joke but i think boiling it down to that doesn't really do the situation justice to me. mark didn’t want to sit with his own sadness so he quite literally created an entirely separate person who was born so he could both live a life without this crushing emotion and memory of his wife and turn himself off for 8 hours a day. 

and the thing is, it worked. yes, mark s experiences secondhand grief from his outie, but he doesn't remember gemma. that's not his wife. he already didn't want anything to happen to ms. casey, and he wants his outie to be happy, so he wants to help both of them once he finds out the truth, but he also feels something for helly that is entirely his own, not lumon's, and not his outie's. he was born to serve the agenda of both a company holding him hostage for labor, and an outie who is using him as means to an emotional end and he finally finds someone of his own. yes, of course there are similarities between him and outie mark but mark s doesn't have any memory of gemma and was quite literally created so mark could have a chance of escaping and moving on. he does. 

here's the thing though. outie mark reintegrated solely to see his wife. what a surprise it’s going to be for mark to have to live on with all the grief for gemma he was trying to hide from and suddenly be also drowning in grief from another life, another love, another betrayal. 

he has no idea mark s is reeling from helena's betrayal, not recognizing helly was missing, irving's death due to his blinding first love, and the anger helly is sure to direct at him for a situation he also feels horribly about. milchick even told him his innie found love! mark still viewed reintegration as his decision to make on a whim, not considering his innie's life and experience as something to seriously consider in his decision even though he was fully ready to leave mark s with "who is alive" burned on his eyelids and let him figure out how to get the answer to the outside with no help. the innies lives and emotions are inherently considered inferior. 

what happens, then, when suddenly the love that was a direct repercussion of his severance feels just as real as the grief he still hasn't managed to escape? i wouldn't categorize his relationship with helly/helena as infedelity, not only because reintegration seems to be a slow process mark s is only just starting to experience when he and helena have sex, but because mark s is not and was never married to gemma. his experience doesn't deserve to be relegated as purely an affair because his outie's emotional and personal life is validated and his is not. that isn't his wife. mark got exactly what he wanted from severing, he forgot gemma, and now he has to live with the consequence of emotional contradiction. 

this also paralells irving and helena's experience with their own innies, both of whom went into lumon with a specific agenda that blew up in their face (again, because they did not and do not consider their innies as fundamentally autonomous). the things outies believe are intrinsic to their personhood and lived experience, in mark's case his overwhelming devotion and love for his wife, are all turned on their head because this show is inherently about exploring the contradictions within personal identity and how those might manifest physically if these contradictions were housed in a single person's body.

you can't both create and destroy different choices, different versions of yourself, because you wish things were different and experience no consequences. the consequences are in direct response to his wish to forget gemma. in the end, it really is a double edged sword to reintegrate because mark is about to understand that every single thing he wanted out of severing he got, and he can’t turn his brain off again to avoid it. he wanted to forget gemma, and he did. he wanted to be happy and move on, even if it was as a different version of himself, and he did. he wants to see his wife? well now he has two of them. 

[personastrologyhub]

The MOON in your Moon persona chart🤍

| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |

The Moon in your Moon persona chart holds deep significance, far beyond simple emotion. It unveils how you instinctively respond to the world, process emotions, and deal with inner pain. This chart reveals how your psyche copes with the dark undercurrents of pain, longing, and emotional survival. It’s here, in this lunar domain, that we encounter the wounded child, the neglected soul, the disowned feelings—those parts of ourselves we rarely acknowledge, yet which speak to us through dreams, intuition, and visceral reactions.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°••°•

Aries Moon (Moon PC):

You may have an emotional intensity that burns fast and hard, often feeling misunderstood. While it might seem that you're constantly angry, it’s often a result of deep frustration that emotions are difficult to control. In this placement, you experience emotional volatility, feeling easily provoked but just as quick to calm down once you’ve expressed yourself. However, you tend to mask your vulnerability, often presenting strength to hide your insecurities.

Hidden Insight: You may find that physical activity, competition, or pushing boundaries helps you process emotions more effectively than contemplation. Work-out in the Gym, Martial Arts. Boxing

Aries Moon in this chart suggests that embracing your vulnerability—allowing yourself to feel weak, to cry without needing to act—can be your true initiation into emotional maturity. You learn, through the fire of life, that emotions are not enemies to conquer but allies to integrate.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Taurus Moon (Moon PC):

There is a strong sense of calm, but you often prioritize others' needs above your own. You hold onto emotions and may have difficulty letting go of emotional wounds. This Moon gives you a desire for stability, but sometimes this can translate into stubbornness in dealing with change or emotional upheaval. You may suppress emotions to maintain external harmony.

Hidden Insight: Self-care rituals and connecting with nature deeply recharge you. Emotional security for you means creating a physically comfortable environment that supports emotional well-being. Learning to release emotional attachments to people, objects, or memories opens you to the true nourishment of the soul, which comes not from external sources, but from your own inner stillness.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Gemini Moon (Moon PC):

Your emotional needs are linked to intellectual stimulation and communication. You may overthink feelings, which can lead to anxiety or scattered emotions. You have a knack for talking your way through pain, but sometimes you doubt whether you’re truly being heard. You may feel emotionally restless, struggling with inconsistency in your feelings.

Gemini’s shadow in this chart lies in the tendency to escape emotions through distractions. Healing comes when you allow yourself to dwell in the uncomfortable stillness, when you give voice not just to your thoughts, but to your silences

Hidden Insight: Journaling or speaking your emotions aloud can offer relief. Learning to balance rational thought with emotional experience is key to your emotional health.

Cancer Moon (Moon PC):

Cancer as your Moon persona chart ruler brings forth the archetype of the wounded nurturer. You are the healer who longs to give but feels depleted because your own emotional needs often remain unmet. There is a sense of sacrifice, a belief that to nurture others is the only way to receive love. Yet beneath this giving nature lies a pool of unacknowledged grief.

Hidden Insight: True emotional healing for Cancer Moon comes when you turn that nurturing energy inward. In this chart, it asks for you to mother yourself, to hold space for your own pain, rather than seeking validation through caring for others. Only then can you find the deep emotional security you crave.

This Moon creates a strong link to family or home, and unresolved family dynamics could profoundly impact your emotional state.

Hidden Insight: Establishing clear emotional boundaries can prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by the emotional needs of others. You also find solace in connecting with your ancestry or roots.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••| ⊱✿⊰ |••|

let me know if you would like more on this topic

[theadhddimsenion]

Some notes of mine on how the heroes of helluva boss contrast with the villains.

Let's start with my boy the helluva boss himself blitz and his ratshit father and stupid wannabe striker.

Blitz as it is well known is someone who was raised to belive that his self worth was not tied to what he believes it to he but how much he can offer to the otherside of the relationship and when the circus burned down as a result of his honest mistake he was convinced that showing any kind of emotional vulnerability would cause everyone he cared about to burst into flames. In short blitz is the type of guy who will give you all the love and affection in the world but the moment you try and love him back he panics, runs and tries to push you away because he thinks he's only worthy of giving and never receiving.

But despite him struggling he turned that self hatred into a mission to help people like him. Those who had cruel and exploitve fathers (moxxie), those who felt ignored and cast aside (millie) and especially those who were unfairly screwed over by the unfair world of hell (loona).

Now let's take a look at what cash and striker have done. Blitz created the one place where imps (and one hound) can work for themselves without being beholden to the rich and powerful. Meanwhile cash made his circus off the backs of rich costumers like paimon and exploiting those around him like fizz and barbie and blitz.

Where blitz did his best to help his fellow imps rise above their station striker turned to pettiness and spite. Turning his hatred outward rather than inwards onto the royals needing someone to blame of his misery other than himself. Setting out on a crusade for vengeance against a system that had wronged him but rather than do anything to help his fellow imps he instead became grew a massive ego and even adopted the same superiority complex that the nobles had and even began working with them! Betraying his own ideals and dogma just to get more power to compastate for how week he felt all those years ago. A house slave in revolutionary clothing.

Next up stolas and how he is a better person than paimon, Andy and stella put together.

Stolas was neglected and denied agency and love his entire life and despite what his antis might say he still did a far better job of parenting than paimon ever did. Remembering his daughter's name for one thing and fighting tooth and nail to protect her childhood from the sheriking harpy that made his life a both figurative and literal hell! His only real mistake as a parent is not realizing that the childhood he had fought so hard to protect was coming to an end.

Now let's talk about stella who instead of trying to make the best of an arranged marriage turned to spite and anger to validate herself and took enjoyment out of watching someone like herself held in position against their will suffer more than they already were! And then theirs andy who instead of recognizing the portentous charade that the goetia court life is for what it was like stolas did, embraced the greed and envy of the whole system and instead of trying to be content with what he had dedicated his life to further himself through any means nessacry. Not to mention the fact that seems to be scared of his own sexualtiy which say what you want about stolas he isn't trying to convince people he's straight by yelling about his siblings attractiveness.

Then there's moxxie. Too often dismissed as a coward and a kill joy he how proven himself to be a better person than crimson ever was by the mere fact that he is willing to actually do his own dirty work. I mean think about it when's the last time crimson fought his own battles? Answer. Not fucking once!!!

Think about it. Crimsons a mob boss and has never actually tried to take part in any battle personally unless he was certain he could win. In exes and ohs he couldn't even face his own son unless he was certain moxxie wasn't going to stand up to him. And both times he had others fight on his behalf and neither times it worked. You all saw how he was cowering when millie dealt with his goons! Moxxie may not be the toughest imp around but he never tried to force anyone to do anything that he wasn't willing to do himself!! Theirs also the theory that crimson Is in denial over his own sexualtiy which works so well to me because of how it fits in perfectly with his character!! Crimson is all about trying to be a tough guy while simultaneously not having the guts to do any of the work himself!! So him projecting his own insecurities onto his son and abusing him for it because he knows that moxxie is stronger than him in both mind and body fits him so well!!

Mille well her arc seems to be just beginning and only time will tell if she will have her own villain that embodies her feelings of being ignored and always second place as well as her need to help others while ignoring her own struggles.

Loona is a lot like her father though the key difference is that while blitz has had time to prefect his fake asshole act loonas tends to Crack a lot more easily as seen in queen bee and the two latest episodes. But she also seems to share some of stolas's issues as in due to being locked up and neglected her whole life she has no clue what a healthy relationship looks like or any kind of normal non volient social interaction looks like. She's in many ways both a foster Child and a shelter pet both of which tend to have poor to nonexistent social skills and if the situation is practically bad voilent attitudes. Loona exhibits a lot of these traits but while her willingness to be open with her father has certainly improved she still has a long ways to go with her social skills.

As @cute-little-fly pointed out. Loona is likely going to have to learn the same lesson the main character of means girls did. That trying to recreate social patterns, especially negative ones, is ultimately not going to work out in her favor. While we do see her with friends at the end of sinsmas she seemed to rely on dunking on Vicki as a means of connection and while Vicki definitely deserves it building a relationship on mutual hatred isn't exactly a strong foundation.

And speaking of Vicki i have already discussed why I believe that she would be the perfect candidate to serve as the striker to loonas blitz.

1. She seems to have some level of social sway and the social scene is far from loonas stronge suit as I said.

2. Loonas development hinges on her learning to be open with others and make friends and Vicki is in the perfect place to hinder that.

3. She has some knowledge of loonas past given how she had that photo of her and knew her old nickname "loonatic".

4. The thematic reasons of how Vicki could embody what would happen if loona never stopped trying to put others down in order to validate herself by being basically the hellhound verison of Regina geogre.

5. and finaly the simple fun of the goth wolf/husky vs the valley girl poodle.

[babsharrison]

Safe Haven - John Wick

(Chapter three)

Pairing | John Wick x Original Fem! Character

Summary | In search of a breath in his tumultuous life, John Wick finds himself in a charming bookstore where he meets a sweet and welcoming woman. As they grow closer, John questions whether she can love him despite the dark secrets he carries. While battling the shadows of his past, he must protect the love that is blossoming and discover if hope and redemption are truly possible.

Word Count | 2.6k

A/N | New chapter! My day was so boring today, but listening to music brought me so much inspiration!! I really recommend it!

(Previous chapter!)

The lobby of the Continental Hotel was shrouded in na elegance that only the most dangerous appreciated. The golden lights reflected on the marble floors, creating na atmosphere of luxury and power. Every assassin, mercenary, or bounty hunter passing through was a reminder that this was no ordinary place. It was a refuge, but also na arena where everything could change with a single glance.

John Wick crossed the lobby with determined steps, his black suit immaculate, but his gaze hardened. He was no stranger to this routine, but Winston’s summons felt like a warning that something more serious was about to happen.

When he reached the reception, Charon, as always, was there—impassive and professional. “Winston is expecting you, Mr. Wick,” he informed without hesitation.

John simply nodded, heading straight for the elevator. The path to Winston’s office was familiar, but something in the air felt heavier, as if a storm was approaching.

Upon entering the office, Winston was already there, pouring two glasses of whiskey. He smiled faintly, a gesture that didn’t completely hide the seriousness in his eyes.

“John,” he greeted, handing him one of the glasses. “Sit down.”

John took the glass but remained standing. He knew Winston wouldn’t have called him here without a valid reason.

Winston sighed, swirling the whiskey in his glass for a moment before speaking. “Have you heard of Marco Vitale?”

John remained impassive, but the mention of the name sparked a flicker of recognition. “I’ve heard of him,” he replied in a firm voice. “Why?”

“Vitale lost someone very close a few days ago. And you were responsible.” Winston set the glass down on the table, his eyes fixed on John. “The man you killed at the nightclub was more than na associate. He was practically family to him.”

John raised na eyebrow, the whiskey glass unmoving in his hand. “He’ll have to get in line,” he responded indifferently, taking a sip from his glass.

Winston, his expression unchanged, was unsurprised. “John, Marco is not a man who forgives easily. He has resources, influence, and a burning desire for revenge.”

“Everyone does,” John responded with a disconcerting calm.

Winston’s seriousness remained. He had known John long enough to understand that the man before him wasn’t easily intimidated, but Vitale’s threat wasn’t something that could be ignored. “I understand you’re tired of this cycle, John, but you need to realize that Marco won’t stop. He won’t be deterred by rules or fear. He wants revenge, and you are the target.”

John looked at Winston, his eyes cold and calculating. “I’ve been through this before. And I’m still here.”

Winston leaned slightly in his leather chair, crossing his fingers in front of him. “And how many more times do you want to go through it?”

John didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looked out the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. It was as if the world out there was just a distraction, and he was destined to walk this path of blood and violence. Nothing seemed to matter as much as before.

After a brief silence, he turned to Winston. “If he comes after me, I’ll handle it.”

Winston nodded slowly, a mix of resignation and respect. “I know you will. But just remember, John, revenge isn’t the only thing that drives people. Be careful of what you might lose without even realizing it.”

John let out a short sigh, knowing that even though Winston was trying to warn him, he still faced everything with the same cold determination. The Continental offered refuge, but John knew that, in the end, he would have to face his own demons—once again.

“Thanks for the warning, Winston,” John said with a nod before turning to leave.

Winston watched him go, a hint of regret in his eyes. He knew John Wick wasn’t na ordinary man, but he also knew that even a legend had its limits. And maybe, this time, he was closer than ever to reaching them.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿

Weeks passed, and the rainy weather became a constant in the city, wrapping Mia’s bookstore in a cozy and comforting shelter. Raindrops trickled down the large windows, while the soft sound of water hitting the sidewalk blended with the whisper of pages being turned. Customer traffic began to grow, and many came not just to buy books, but to lose themselves in the unique atmosphere Mia had cultivated—a space where every corner told a story.

On gray days, Mia noticed that John had become a frequent visitor. He would usually arrive with a soaked coat, always seeming a little tired, but his presence brought a new dynamic to the bookstore. Mia watched as he settled on one of the sofas, immersed in a book, his expression softening as the words transported him away from his reality.

On one of those gray days, while carefully arranging the shelves, Mia decided it was time to establish a new ritual. With a determined smile, she prepared a special blend of coffee—a mix with notes of chocolate and caramel, perfect for warming the body and soul on such a cold day. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, enveloping the bookstore in a comforting warmth.

When the bell above the door announced John’s arrival, Mia glanced at the special blend she had prepared, waiting for just the right moment. He entered, shaking off the raindrops clinging to his coat, and his usual tired expression softened in the bookstore’s warm light. The shelves, full of colorful books, created a safe refuge, and the golden lighting gave the room a magical touch.

Mia smiled to herself, picked up the cup of coffee she had set aside for him, and approached. With light steps, she handed it to the man who now seemed to be a part of that peaceful routine. “Something special to warm the day,” she said, breaking the silence without being intrusive.

Hesitant, he looked at the cup, a mix of surprise and discomfort spreading over him as he recognized the gesture of kindness. It was something so different from his reality, a simple offer that seemed loaded with meaning. Before he could formulate a response, Mia quietly stepped away, allowing him to ponder.

Meanwhile, Tom, Mia’s coworker, had been watching the scene from afar. He noticed the repeated gesture and decided to approach her. “Hey, are you making coffee for that guy again?” he asked, a playful grin on his lips. “Are you flirting with him or just trying to win his heart with caffeine?”

Mia turned to Tom, instantly blushing. “No, of course not! It’s just a welcoming gesture,” she replied, trying to hide her embarrassment. The idea that John might interpret this differently made her uneasy. “I just… want to brighten his day.”

Tom raised an eyebrow, amused. “Just that? Uh-huh. And what if he thinks you’re interested?” He chuckled, clearly finding the situation hilarious. “You know, he might be taken!”

Mia’s face flushed even more at the thought. “You think? What if he is? I just wanted to do something kind... now you’ve made me nervous,” she said, biting her lower lip. “I hope he doesn’t think I’m doing this for another reason.”

“Hey, relax! A coffee isn’t a declaration of love. But, hey, it’s nice to see you care like that. Who knows, he might appreciate it more than you think?” Tom winked before returning to his tasks.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿

In the days that followed, Mia’s gesture became almost a silent habit. Whenever the rain started to fall, she prepared a cup of coffee and discreetly left it by John’s side. He would notice the coffee, hesitate briefly, but never touch it, as if simply receiving it was enough.

One particularly quiet morning, the rain was pounding hard against the windows, filling the air with a constant and soothing sound. Mia was enjoying the rare silence of the empty bookstore, slowly and thoughtfully arranging the shelves, lost in the peace of the moment.

The doorbell softly chimed, breaking the bookstore’s silence, and John walked in. His black suit was slightly damp, with small raindrops dripping from the collar. He ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it slightly to shake off the excess water. As he stepped into the warm, welcoming space, his posture—usually rigid and alert—softened a little. His eyes scanned the room until they found Mia, who gave him a barely noticeable, welcoming smile, as if he had become na expected presence in that place.

He settled on one of the sofas, his gaze immediately turning to the book he had brought. Without disturbing the silence, Mia decided it was time to continue her ritual.

After preparing the coffee, Mia placed the cup next to John, watching him discreetly as he read. He noticed the gesture and hesitated for a moment, but before he could refuse, he slightly inclined his head toward her, as if silently thanking her. His expression changed when he finally took a sip, and a faint smile appeared as he noted the flavor.

Seeing the silent interaction between them, Mia couldn’t help but smile. The bookstore’s quietness enveloped them, and they were alone in that space, creating a deeper connection. The aroma of coffee filled the air, and she felt content to provide him with a small comfort.

After that moment, Mia, feeling the intensity of that connection, decided to step back a little. She returned to organizing the shelves behind the counter but couldn’t stop herself from casting furtive glances at John, who seemed completely absorbed in his book, the coffee cup resting beside him. The tranquility of the bookstore enveloped them both, but his presence made her heart race, sparking na anticipation and curiosity about what was going through his mind.

When the silence was abruptly interrupted by the ringing of John's phone, he stepped away slightly to answer the call. Mia, still organizing books, heard the murmur of the conversation but couldn't make out the words. The tension in the air was palpable, and she wondered if something important was happening.

As soon as the call ended, John stood up, walking with firm steps towards the counter where Mia was. His gaze, fixed on her, carried a weight that made her heart race. It was only then that Mia noticed the beauty of the man—his dark, smooth hair fell softly over his forehead, framing his angular, strong face. The fresh haircut accentuated his features, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the contours of his cheekbones. His eyes, deep and intense, seemed to hold a secret story, while an expression of seriousness and determination dominated his face, as if he was pondering something significant. Watching him had become a habit for her, and now, curiosity wrapped around her intensely, making her wonder what he was about to say.

With a hesitant motion, John reached into his pocket. Mia held her breath, intrigued. He pulled out a good amount of money, the bills crumpled and somewhat worn. His intention was clear: he wanted to pay for the coffee.

“I can’t accept this,” Mia said quickly, extending her hand in a gesture of refusal. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel the need to repay her.

He remained silent for a moment, his intense eyes locked on hers. “I insist,” he replied, his voice low and firm. The directness with which he spoke made it clear that this wasn’t up for discussion.

Mia felt the urgency in his voice, but she was determined not to let gratitude become an obligation. “Really, it’s not necessary. I enjoy doing this.”

John hesitated, his intense expression softening slightly. He seemed to weigh his words carefully, his deep eyes focused on her. After a moment of reflection, he paused, and Mia realized how the air around them seemed heavy with expectation. With a serious look, he finally said, almost in a whisper, “John... my name is John Wick.”

The revelation was unexpected, and Mia couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle, which lit up her face. Her smile, a mixture of surprise and delight, made her eyes sparkle. “Mine is Mia Fletcher,” she responded, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. The warmth in Mia’s cheeks betrayed the shyness of the moment, as if the simple act of sharing their names was a bridge between worlds that had once seemed distant.

Mia extended her hand, the gesture hesitant but hopeful, as if she was offering not just a greeting, but an invitation to something more. The slight tremble in her fingers betrayed her anticipation. John watched her for a moment, his eyes searching hers, gauging the authenticity in her gesture. Then, slowly, he reached for her hand, his grip firm yet gentle, creating a tangible connection between the two.

As their hands met, the space around them seemed to shrink, the noise of the bookstore and the sound of rain outside fading into the background. The intensity of their exchanged glances made them both acutely aware that, despite the bustling world outside, that moment was theirs alone.

John remained silent for a moment, absorbing the depth of the connection just formed. His eyes met hers, and for an instant, the world around them seemed to disappear. But, like the sunlight hiding behind clouds, the intensity of the moment also faded.

With a slight nod, he stepped back, slowly retreating toward the door. The expression on his face was a mix of gratitude and the usual seriousness that followed him. Without words, John turned and began heading outside. The soft chime of the doorbell broke the gentle silence that enveloped them, but Mia, still immersed in the newfound discovery, didn’t notice.

As he walked out, Mia’s mind raced, reflecting on the revelation of his name and the connection she felt with him. With a smile on her lips and the memory of his touch still vivid, she allowed herself to drift into her thoughts, almost floating in the bookstore’s atmosphere.

What Mia didn’t notice, as her gaze wandered to the rain-fogged windows, was that John, in a quiet gesture, had left a generous amount of money on the counter before leaving. The crumpled bills rested there, like a whisper of gratitude lost in the air.

Mia finally snapped out of her daydreams, blinking slowly as she reconnected with the reality around her. The bookstore, now wrapped in an almost supernatural calm, seemed to resonate with the memories of that morning. She could still feel John’s presence lingering in the air, as though his silent, imposing energy had seeped into the shelves of old books.

Without him there, though, the place felt a bit emptier, and her heart tightened slightly with the unexpected absence. Curious, she looked toward the door, perhaps hoping he would return—or that it had all been a fleeting illusion. But as she lowered her gaze to the counter, her eyes landed on something that made her pause. There, among the books and the space he used to occupy, rested a small pile of bills.

Surprised, Mia laughed in disbelief, shaking her head softly. “He really did that...” she murmured to herself. The idea of John leaving payment for the coffee, even without her there to see it, was as unexpected as it was curious. “How did he do that?”

Next chapter!

[ben-talks-art]

Oppressed turned oppressors

I really like the concept of showcasing the ramifications of oppression or injustice by creating characters who are so enraged with the system and feel such a desire for vindication that they end up being consumed by their emotions and becoming the thing they hate.

They adopt this mentality of "The world turned its back on me, so I'll turn my back on the world" or "it's up to me to fix the world" or "I'm justified in my actions because I suffered."

It's a cool way of showing how villains can be more complex and more human than the usual bad guy of the week that just wants to take over the world.

You're basically looking at a Frankenstein monster, something created by the poor decisions of idiots with power who used it wrongly, and how now they became a problem you can no longer run away from.

And that's the thing, it's meant to be a Frankenstein monster, it's meant to be ugly, it's meant to be a representation of how acts of oppression can bring out the worst in people (so maybe stop oppressing??).

Magneto messing with the Earth's polarity and killing millions around the world, Jet trying to drown a whole village with innocents, Megatron trying to kill his own former friends, Silco using drugs to enslave and control his own people, Dabi burning people just to make his dad mad, Killmonger wanting to kill innocents using the technology of Wakanda, and so on.

They each took "the ends justify the means" to the extreme and saw themselves as the heroes in their story instead of realizing they were just continuing the cycle by unconsciously trying to replace one oppressor for another.

This usually leads to great tragic narratives about the never-ending cycle of hate and makes you think how easy it is for one to stray from the path.

The one thing I don't like about these characters, though, is how sometimes they might be a little too good at making people buy what they're selling.

I often see people who watch these characters and go, "You know... Maybe they have a point 🤔, maybe they're right, maybe they're not so bad, " and so on.

Like... No, the point is that they don't have a point.

They have valid reasons to be angry, but they don't have valid reasons to hurt innocents. There is no such thing as a valid reason to hurt innocents, that's why oppression shouldn't exist.

The moment we reach the point where we say "maybe it's okay for them to kill or hurt innocent people," it's the moment we need to start rethinking some things. 😑

These characters are not actually trying to help make things better, all they want is to vent out their personal frustration and use their pain to justify their actions and sense of entitlement over how things should be.

They're great characters, but they're terrible people.

I think the need to defend these characters comes from how the media sometimes makes people that fight oppression the villains, when instead it should be the people who use their fight against oppression to justify their atrocious actions who should be the villain, and teach that even when you think you have a valid reason to be bad, still doesn't change the fact that evil actions are evil actions.

This is what makes the people that do fight oppression without resorting to terrible actions even more admirable.

True strength isn't trampling over others to get what you want because you believe your pain entitles you to it.

True strength is not allowing your worst version of yourself to become the only version of yourself that exists, even when the world tries so hard to turn you into that version.

Oppression wants to be spread, it wants to live rent-free in people's heads, it wants to convince you it's a necessary evil, it wants to turn regular people into other oppressors, and to beat it, you need to reject it.

Not by becoming your oppressors but by becoming what they failed to be, someone better.

[dark-l-angel]

I absolutely love your work! feel free to ignore or delete this but do you have any small tips for new writers on tumblr?

have an amazing day!!!

Pookie, thank you so much, you’ve seriously made my day with this message 😘💋 But listen closely, I’ll share a few little secrets with you, because I know exactly what it's like to start from scratch. It's a lil long, I know. So read it carefully by your heart and soul, make sure to take notes, angel:

Tips of gold for new writer:

🔥Write for your own self: Not for anyone else. If you’re writing just to impress, you’re doing it wrong. When you write what ignites your soul, trust me, that power will bleed through and others will feel it. And they’ll crave more.

💅Don’t sweat perfection: Babygirl, the messy drafts are where the magic is. Don't let your first attempts hold you back from creating. Perfection is a cage. Let yourself run wild, and you’ll find your rhythm.

💋 Tags, babe. TAGS, TAGS, TAGS: No shame in it... it’s how people find you. Tag the hell out of your posts. The more, the better. Trust me, your future fans will thank you when they stumble on your work.

🪄 Reblog. Reblog. Reblog: Never be shy about sharing your work again... the universe moves fast on Tumblr, hun. Give your masterpieces the attention they deserve by reposting them. Don’t let anyone forget you.

🩰Be unapologetically YOU: Don’t just be a writer, be a presence. Engage with your audience, but don’t beg for validation. Post what you know is fire, and let them come to you. You’re not here to chase anyone.

👑 Grow at your own pace: There’s no rush. You’re building something that can’t be measured by likes or followers. One reader, one comment, one person who feels you... that’s the real success.

💣 Stop asking for permission to take up space: You’re not here to be small or sweet unless you decide to be. You're not "annoying" for promoting your work. You’re not "too much" for having ambition. That soft, sensual power? That bold creative fire? That’s your birthright. Own it, and remember well: You're here to give them the "read it or leave it, let who appreciate the true art enjoy the masterpiece".

😶‍🌫️ Be mysterious, never absent: You don’t have to overshare to connect. Give your audience just enough to taste you, crave you, and come back hungry for more. Curate your vibe. Be deliberate. You’re not a content machine, you’re the main event.

🖤 Don’t you ever chase clout.. build loyalty: You don’t need 100k followers to matter. You need five who would fight for your work, scream over your words, and reblog your every drop. Focus on connection over numbers. Real readers are sacred.

🚮 Let people underestimate you all they want: Let them scroll past, let them ignore you, let them think you're just another cute blog with "potential", Meanwhile, you’re sharpening your craft like a blade. One day they’ll wake up and realize they missed a storm in the making.

🧠 Study how you react to posts: What makes you stop and reblog something? What titles grab you? What formats make you read till the end? Reverse-engineer that, hun. You’re not just a writer... you’re a strategist.

📈 Pace yourself and take it easy: Burnout isn’t glamorous, and overposting doesn’t make you grow faster. It’s okay to disappear, recharge, and come back sharper. A slow burn is still a fire, princess.

🔮Reinvent whenever the hell you want: Change your theme. Switch your tone. Start a new series, more characters, even if they were OCs. Don’t trap yourself in one version of your creativity. You’re not a brand. You’re a force. Let yourself evolve.

💌 Be someone’s comfort, be their for them, let the words touch their souls: Your words might be the only softness someone feels all day. Or the only fire that lights them up. Never underestimate the intimacy of writing. You’re not just telling stories.. you’re touching hearts and souls in secret places in different angles.

👠Your voice is the seduction: Anyone can write. Not everyone can enchant. The way you phrase things? Your rhythm, your breath, your bite... that’s your signature scent. Hone that. Speak like you’re already unforgettable. Because you are.

🍷Don’t be afraid to be indulgent: Want to write a ten-paragraph kiss? A slow-burn that hurts? A monologue full of venom? Do it. Art isn’t supposed to be fast food.. sometimes it’s meant to be wine aged in your mouth, bitter and sweet. Let them savor you.

🩸Write with feelings more than thoughts, live in the moment: Tap into that realness. Anger. Lust. Joy. Longing. Don’t write safe.. write like your ex is going to read it and spiral. Make your followers live the moment through your pov, make them feel the pain of the heartbreak, the tears of joy and happiness, the butterflies in their stomachs, the chills under their skin, the grief, the sadness, the fear... etc. write Like your future self is watching you proudly.

👑 Be the writer you needed: Write the softness you craved. The rage you swallowed. The power you were never allowed to express. Use every piece of your shadow and shape it into gold. That’s not trauma dumping.. that’s alchemy, love.

🕯️ Let your readers fantasize about you: Not just your characters.. you. The way you express things, the way your brain works. The confidence in your metaphors. The way you command a scene. Leave them wondering who the hell is behind the curtain.

💄Don’t take critique from someone who’s never built what you’re building: If someone doesn’t like your style, that’s fine... you’re not a one-size-fits-all. Some people just don’t have the palette for dark chocolate, and that’s their loss.

🐍 Use silence as a weapon: Don’t explain your stories too much. Don’t apologize. Don’t over-tag with "this is bad lol". Let your writing stand tall. If someone doesn’t get it.. good. Let them chase the meaning.

💜 Romanticize being underrated: When no one’s watching, you get to be dangerous. Free. Wild. This is your training arc. Keep sharpening. One day they’ll look back and say "how did we miss her?" And the answer will be: you blinked.

🌹Write like you’re already a classic: Think about it... one day, your words might outlive you. That soft little sentence you wrote at 3am in your pj’s? It could sit in someone’s heart for years. So make every line a love letter or a loaded gun. No in-betweens.

🔊 One final advice from me:

You're not just a writer, babygirl. You’re a whole myth in motion. A secret the world isn’t ready for but needs anyway. You’re that quiet kind of storm.. the one that ruins foundations and still leaves flowers blooming after.

You're not here to tiptoe around anyone’s comfort. You’re here to take up space.. to dominate, not with noise, but with presence. With grace. With words that taste like honey and cut like glass. The kind of art that lingers on someone's skin long after they’ve read it.. like perfume on their collar… like something they’re not sure they were supposed to love, but can’t let go of.

And listen to me, princess.. don’t shrink your crown for anyone. Don’t let likes, algorithms, or anyone’s half-baked opinion make you question your power. That crown? It was carved from every version of you that refused to stay silent. Adjust it. And own the room when you walk in.

Fame, clout, attention? It’s cute. But legacy? That’s what we’re after. And legacy takes time. Take yours. Let them catch up. The right eyes will find you. The right hearts will feel you.

And if you ever need a reminder of what you are.. not what you do, but what you are... you come right back to me, pookie. I’ve got you. I see you. And I’m rooting for you louder than you’ll ever hear.

Now be a good girl and go write something that tastes like sin and feels like truth, tag me so I can taste the wine 🍷😉

[fantasy-anatomy-analyst]

In your opinion, is worldbuilding an important part of a fantasy story that's set in a fictional world? By which I mean making the world and society interesting, complex, believable and consistent. I've read that it's still possible to tell a compelling story while stretching believability, that a good story can cover flaws like inconsistensies.

However, to me, having a world which is internally consistent and believable is an important aspect of immersion, and bad, or lack of worldbuilding disrupts it.

One example are the dothraki in ASOIAF that despite being stated by GRRM to be based on real societies like the plains indigenous people, huns and mongolians, are in reality more based off racist stereotypes created by Hollywood, as explained by historian Bret Deveraux in his blog ACOUP.

GRRM has been quoted as saying this in an interview: "The way history is taught today,” he says, is “more socioeconomic trends and things like that, which…I don’t know if it’s more valid or less valid, but it’s certainly more boring.” He reads history for “the wars and the betrayals, who stabbed who in the back, who was having an affair with whom, and to me that’s the juicy stuff of history. That’s what makes history fun.” 

I don't think that's a good attitude to have when writing about fictional societies, and it hurts storytelling because everyone is influenced by their environment, so if the society the characters live in isn't believable, then that makes them less believable as people as well.

the blog mentioned:

I do love Bret Devereaux, he's exactly the sort of weirdo I aspire to be. Making long, rambly, well researched analytical articles about things that bother him in fiction. Give his blog a read if you haven't seen it before.

I have a strong bias towards fantasy that's got detailed and well thought out worldbuilding. To me, writing in a fictional world but never actually putting effort into making it stand out from the real world is just wasted opportunity. What's the point? Why is it in a fictional world if you're not going to really build that world and make it unique? I know the complaints about coffee and chocolate and citrus fruits are a little tedious at this point, but it's part of the problem! Why do some fantasy worlds only explore things on a surface level and then thoughtlessly and uncritically allow their characters to have exactly the same modern conveniences with no real explanation? Why use the veneer of a european fairy world but not spend time getting any deeper about how it functions? It's boring to me and I dislike reading fantasy that refuses to engage with a unique world or flesh out its cultures.

Fantasy in a unique world with some modern conveniences absolutely can be done well. There's the CS Lewis method of "screw you, they have a street lamp and Santa Claus and that's part of the fun and whimsy of this being a fairytale world". Or the similarly humorous approach of Terry Pratchet's Discworld. Or anyone who decides to come up with other ways modern conveniences could have been invented and created in their fantasy world.

I'm putting large steam engines in my own worldbuilding and they work with runes that heat the water instead of having to burn fuel. But I haven't given them any steam powered vehicles smaller than a train or steamboat, because it's still a fairly new development in their timeline and they haven't prioritized private vehicles.

I agree that internal consistency is one of the most important factors in worldbuilding. You can come up with dozens of new ideas for your world, but if they're incoherent and contradictory and poorly explained, it's not going to work. and on the other hand, if you simplify your world and only provide a few broad details, but keep it consistent, you might have a lot of success with it!

Here's a few things I personally consider important for a well written fantasy world:

Don't rely too heavily on modern language. Using too much obvious real world swears and slang-- especially ones that will become dated-- breaks the immersion. I hardly even notice that Tolkein uses real world month and weekday names in his writing because everything else is so fleshed out that it's very easy to gloss over those details and they don't shatter your immersion at all. But Fourth Wing uses modern slang so much I forget I'm reading a book about a dragon rider war college and not a contemporary teen drama set in a high school with bizarrely high stakes. (I have decided to embrace the pettiness and not obscure book titles this time.)

Expanding on the above, don't rely too heavily on real world cultures. Especially not ones you're unfamiliar with. It frequently leads to problems with racist caricatures. Like the Dothraki. On the other hand, if you know what you're doing and you're using personal connections to a real culture, it can still work! I've been reading the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty recently, to get out of my reading slump. It's set in the real historical region of the middle east and it does use real details from the cultures of that region, but the author has an actual connection to those cultures and the fantasy is built up from the mythology she loves, with personal touches that make it feel unique. The books also spend quite a bit of time exploring and explaining these worldbuilding details, so it's very immersive and enjoyable. (highly recommend if you're looking for fantasy aimed at adults that isn't more focused on being a sexy romantasy, and actually has some good worldbuilding and plot and political drama to chew on and think about)

Be consistent and don't overdo the details. Much as I love to deep dive into a fantasy world, if it's oversaturated with information it will probably end up contradicting itself and just become a confusing mess to read. When the Moon Hatched has some interesting worldbuilding potential, but goes a little too overboard with all of it in a way that's kind of overwhelming and difficult to follow, and not in a fun way. It's rather tedious and the plot is awkwardly paced. On the other hand, The Locked Tomb series is heavy with details and intentionally trying to confuse and mislead you, in a way that feels more rewarding when you pay attention and re-read the books to catch the details and piece together the plot mysteries yourself.

not every fantasy needs to be heavy with its worldbuilding, but it's also just so much more fun, for me, if fantasy books set in their own worlds display some deeper thinking and planning on the author's part. I don't need to know every detail of how the world functions or have full dictionaries of all their possible languages and a long list of historical events that created the context of the setting. But I like to read a book that tells me those details exist. That conveys just what I need to know while also implying that there's more and giving me little tastes of how much more there must be, because that's what makes it feel real and immersive. Without that taste of depth, the world feels like it's just a prop for the plot and not much else. Which is boring. For me, at least. I don't want the world to be a prop, I want it to be a Place, where the plot happens because these characters and events are real within their world.

And that's my several cents on that lol.

[wuxiaphoenix]

Worldbuilding: Vampire Nomads

Hear me out. Vampire aristocracy is an awesome Trope, Dracula is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read and enjoyed, and I will always take a second look at a vampire wearing a cape, because so many have done it with style. And yet.

From a worldbuilding perspective, vampires as nomads has interesting possibilities.

Vampires are predators, and the real-life predators we’re most often familiar with take and defend territories. Lions, tigers, bears, oh my; all of them need a large expanse of territory not just to have enough prey, but to have areas to court, mate, and raise offspring. But these are not all predators. Take great white sharks. Zoologists have rather recently established that instead of hanging out constantly near swimming beaches, they commonly migrate from near the poles to the tropics and around various continents. They meet and mate as they travel; female great whites are capable of taking care of themselves, and great white pups are independent shortly after birth. They don’t have territories that we recognize as such; they don’t need them.

Folkloric vampires may or may not mate (look up dhampirs). But how vampires are created generally is not standard reproduction. There’s no courtship, competition with others of your sex, or territorial defense involved when a vampire arises from a suicide, or is infected with a bite, or by blood dropped into their food, or an animal jumping over the corpse. Or most of the other myriad ways folklore has said they rise. In that sense, a new vampire is like a newborn great white: perfectly capable of feeding and existing on its own pretty much from the start. So why shouldn’t vampires travel as they will?

This makes even more sense when you think about what vampires need to feed on. Almost invariably, they need blood. They need living animals. (Humans specifically, but not always exclusively.) And that implies they would want areas where there are more animals to feed on than plants. As in, areas where ranching and herding makes more sense than farming. A grassy steppe dotted with horses and sheep is full of blood walking around. A farm growing grain, where there are only as many animals as the farmer can afford to feed? Not so much.

On top of that, through most of history nomadic herders have had more meat to eat, hunted and from herds, than most farmers who subsist on grains. Meaning less anemia than settled people who have to boil iron in their rice and ram nails into apples to rust, then eat the rusty apple! Herders are probably going to taste better.

Plus, if you think of vampires as beings of eldritch lore and ancient knowledge? That also fits in with a lot of nomadic cultures. The Mongols, for example, were well known for giving extravagant gifts of silk and gold - things that are heavy to carry - while carefully hoarding intangible treasures like their language, knowledge of bone-setting, and skill at iron-working.

Of course, nomadic vampires are easier to pull off if they don’t burn to ashes in daylight. (Many vampires in folklore do not.) But even if they do... the Roman legions were known for building a whole fort every night they stopped. I could see a band of vampires digging out and concealing a hiding spot completely on their own. Or, if they’re part of a larger group of mortal nomads, just rolling up in the tents for the day, and taking the night-watch to look after the herds. Heck, with how many nomadic groups also sometimes drink animal blood from their herds, they might not even be considered that strange....

What do you think? Valid un-lifestyle?

[pikahlua]

Fourteen Days of MHA: Day 1

Home

WARNING: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood spoilers (seasons 1 and 2)

You: Huh!?!?!?!?

Oh yeah, it's time for a little mini-meta.

Okay, well, we're not going to get into the ENDING yet, but there's actually a lot going on in MHA that looks eerily familiar if you're an FMA fan. MHA itself is in many ways a referential work, and I don't think all of these parallels are coincidences (though surely some are).

Let's talk about the symbolism of the home.

My Hero Academia has three major examples of "home" that it highlights as symbols: those of the villains Tomura Shigaraki, Himiko Toga, and Touya Todoroki. The villains view their homes as symbols of oppression and pain. We know the home is seen as the image of all that oppression based on how various characters treat the houses themselves.

When Touya returned home after his miraculous survival, he found the home hadn't changed as a result of his death. The "scene" there always looks the same.

And when Endeavor tries to atone, Endeavor acknowledges that the "house" he raised his children in is full of bad memories to the extent that he decides to build his family a new home where they can live without him.

Touya's opportunity to demonstrate his feelings about his home arises with Himiko Toga. She returns to her abandoned childhood home out of curiosity and finds it full of hatred and derision, symbolizing her experiences there.

Touya does her a "kindness" by destroying the house.

Then he reveals that doing so, to him, is a way to get back at Endeavor--at the man who created Touya's own broken childhood home.

This scene in particular evokes the famous imagery of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood of the Elric Brothers burning down their own childhood home.

The act of destroying their own home is so important to them that Edward chooses to commemorate the date by engraving it inside his pocketwatch, "Don't Forget 3.Oct.11." To the brothers, this act is a symbol of their resolve--of their chosen path to atone for their sins and restore their bodies. There can be no going back home if there is no home to return to.

In other words, the purposeful destruction of one's home represents a threshold, a point of no return. By destroying their homes, the villains of MHA demonstrate their conviction for the paths they've chosen.

The problem is, there's another reason one might destroy their own home.

To run away. To hide. To forget.

Why does Himiko call Touya's act of destruction a kindness, even if Touya denies it? Because he has destroyed the largest reminder of the pain of her childhood.

The League of Villains seek to destroy the world because they were rejected by the world and wish to reject it back. Those homes were the world to them at one point, when they were children. To them, the world is just an extension of the suffering they experienced.

Tomura wants to destroy the world to justify his existence as a destroyer, but in reality he doesn't want to face the fact that he killed his family by accident.

The tragedy of his childhood was so traumatic he repressed the memory and only found his concrete motivation to destroy the world once he remembered his past in Deika City. As soon as he remembers that house, he wishes to destroy it again. It's already been destroyed, but the memory of it continues to hurt him long after. By destroying the world, maybe he can forget it again. Maybe the pain will make sense and he won't have to think about it anymore. Maybe he'll stop being a crying child deep down.

The villains seek to destroy their own origins, which is by nature a self-destructive cause. Paradoxically, they will end up destroyed in the end no matter if they succeed or fail in their goals. Either the world will be destroyed and they along with it, or they will die trying.

To save Tenko's heart, Izuku has to bring that memory of the house to the surface. He has to recontextualize it to validate Tenko as he is.

And the recontexualization is All For One.

By contextualizing Tenko's life as a product of All For One's machinations, it gives Tomura a new reason to destroy that memory and that house: to destroy All For One.

And with that comes a new justification for Tomura's existence.

The destruction of All For One.

[august-anon]

Read the initial post and comments that you and inkedloveandlostpromises had on Cardio Training raspberries and wanted to add my own thoughts. The idea is too adorable and funny not to talk about. I don’t know much about gym slang, but I know that people will do a certain amount of sets for each exercise (like 5 sets of 10 reps with little breaks in between each set). Bruce has a whole scheduled workout for his kids to make sure they are strong and build endurance. However, the bat kids hate cardio because they only want muscle and they think cardio is uncool, especially when they are younger. While Bruce wants his kids to be strong, he also wants them to have the endurance and lung capacity to run through the city. It's a challenge for him to convince his kids to do cardio, which is how he came up with the Cardio Training. The first time, it surprises them. After it becomes a pattern, the batkids start running, which is a win-win in Bruce’s book. His kids get a good run in and help increase their cardio (he just enjoys messing with his kids, but he can’t have them knowing he’s a softie. He has an image to maintain)

I can also imagine Cardio Training being used when one of the bat kids is injured and unable to work out for long periods (such as a broken bone or concussion). Bruce will wait a few days until his kid is complaining about being bedridden and start attempting to escape (if the kids are complaining about being stuck in bed, Bruce knows they have healed enough for tickles. He doesn’t want to accidentally hurt his kid, but he must burn their extra energy). Since the bat kids are bedridden, Bruce must bring in Cardio Training to ensure they stay active. Plus, it helps the kids get rid of extra energy and rest.

Part of me is tempted to turn this idea into a mini fics on how each bat kid learns about Cardio Training. You should also see a mini fic soon with Tim and Bruce.

Bruce and Alfred totally have created detailed workout plans for all the kids (and Bruce himself), and as someone who also despises cardio, yeah i can def see the kids skipping it sdjhsdfh idk about Dick, he might be more willing about it with all the gymnast/acrobat background so he's def used to intense working out from a young age, but the rest absolutely complain and try to shirk certain exercises lol. but that is SUCH a good reason for him to have invented the cardio sdkfjshf and i imagine that even if they start running he doesn't stop, because "lung capacity is important" (not because he's a softie, not at all lol)

the cardio training is probably a little less intense when doing it coming off an injury like that, but the threat of cardio training tickles is enough to actually keep the kids resting for just slightly longer than they usually tolerate. still not long enough though, and tickling the energy out is a perfectly valid method of making sure the kids stay resting instead of trying to sneak out on patrol while injured (do as bruce says, not as he does, lol)

excited to see mini fics from you, my friend!!

[anincompletelist]

hello hello! :D

thank you to @faketrex and @kiwiana-writes and @firenati0n for the tags, friends! if you come across this post, please feel free to take an open tag and share your own as well! x

we're nearing the end of the year and while stats aren't really my thing, I do enjoy taking a trip down memory lane to see what all I've shared this year. (though I'm only including some of my personal highlights, because I am not @kiwiana-writes and I do not have the patience to list them all PROPS TO YOU MY FRIEND IT WAS TIME FOR SOME REREADS)

I'm going to try to keep this relatively short, but I did just want to underline how grateful I am to have a space to share all of this. life continues to throw curveballs my way, especially the last couple of years, and these characters have offered me comfort and stability during a time when everything else feels out of my control. most of the time I open a doc with a general idea and end up with something I had no idea I needed to get out, and getting to know myself a little better in the process.

to anyone who has gone with me on this particular journey, be it for one fic or all 57 from this year, I hope some part of it has created joy, purged some angst, validated grief, sparked realization, or healed something within you too, the way that it has for me.

I'm not sure how long I'll need to be in this space, but for now, it continues to serve an ever-changing but always enlightening purpose.

so, I hope everyone who is celebrating is having a lovely holiday, and I'll see you all in the new year -- wherever it takes us!

anincompletelist / sarah x

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there were pages turned with the bridges burned (everything you lose is a step you take) [94k]

The entire world has it on video. Alex stumbling forward, straight into Henry’s shoulder, knocking him back into the table and then crumbling to the ground, the cake falling on top of them. Everyone thinks Alex was drunk, or that he hates him, or that he’s immature or unfit for his title, but none of it’s the truth. Everyone’s acting like it’s the end of the world regardless. And maybe, for Alex, it kind of is. [Or, the way things might have played out if Alex had been diagnosed with type one diabetes after the royal wedding.]

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treading water in the deep, just waiting for the tides to meet [8k]

Alex can’t remember his first words. He can’t recall the melody to the lullaby his parents often sang at his bedside to get him to sleep, nor the name of his sister’s imaginary friend that they had tea parties with on the floor of her bedroom. But he knows they existed. That it all happened and that each of those little, seemingly insignificant moments had built him up and formed him into the person he is today, even if he can’t recall every one of them perfectly. But he can remember, as clear as if it’d been only moments ago, the day that he found out what the red band around his wrist meant, imprinted underneath his skin with a small gap right over his pulsepoint, waiting for the day the ends would meet. 

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cover me up and know you're enough to use me for good [6k]

Alex decides on forever with Henry, no matter what that looks like for them--the good, the bad, and everything in between.

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you've got two hands to take all you can (but don't take too long) [8k]

Philip’s life isn’t his own. Not really. He controls what he’s allowed; even if he’s the one that pays the price for it.

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Something Borrowed, Something Blue [116k]

When June gets engaged, Alex, her brother, and Henry, her best friend, are asked to be the official Guys Of Honor. There’s a month to plan the whole thing, which would be near impossible anyway, only made worse by the fact that being around each other the last several years has only ever led to petty fights and useless competition. Unfortunately, as the two most important men in her life - aside from her fiancé - they don’t really have much of a choice. Alex has a lot of feelings about this. As it turns out, Henry does too.

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hate to be lame (but I might love you) [45k]

Newly out as bi, Alex decides the best way to commemorate the occasion is to sleep with the most well-endowed guy on campus. Henry thinks he might be insane, and isn't quite sure what that says about him for being the one to catch feelings when this whole thing was just supposed to be practice in the first place. It all works out. Eventually.

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l'ecchappatoire [22k]

Henry fixes anomalies in other people's timelines. It's quite predictable and impersonal work for the most part. (Save for when it seems intent on unraveling his own, of course.)

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playing to win (you're in my head again) [37k]

Other than Nora, there’s Pez, the one that’d wrangled them all together in the first place and continues to plan their token themed brunches & bar crawls each week; Eliana, or Eli for short, ridiculously talented creative with a heart of gold underneath the leather jacket and the nose ring; and Mateo, their resident bro, all around hype-man and Alex’s fellow bisexual. And that’s pretty much the group. Except for Henry, of course. But Alex tries not to think about him if he can help it. Or, Henry and Alex are practically perfect for each other. Once they get past the years long animosity and hate-pining, of course.

ain't got a problem with provocative (I wanna be close to you) [22k]

Alex has somehow made it into the most elite sex club on this side of the city, and so far he’s gawked at one (1) naked man—a downright gorgeous man, in his defense—from a distance and gone non-verbal and introspective on a couch by himself. Truly riveting stuff.

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I want you to have me like I've never been had (you get all my wild parts) [37k]

Henry's always struggled to get past the inevitable road bump of his classification when it comes to finding a partner. In an ideal world, that sort of thing wouldn't matter. He'd be able to walk into a bar and find someone to take home, wouldn't have to bother with anything aside from just good, casual sex between two people—status aside. He's not really expecting to find that sort of thing at all, but he's certainly not expecting Alex Claremont-Diaz to be the one that makes all of his wildest dreams come true.

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tired of writing in pencil (I'm inking you in) [34k]

Against everyone's better judgement, tattoo artist Alex takes up a babysitting job on the side after he forms a connection with the kid over their shared love of art. It doesn't hurt that his dad's kind of hot, too. He gets more than he signed up for the longer he spends with them, and figures out that maybe the key to happiness isn't what he thought it was — maybe growing up means being a little childish after all.

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livin' in the violet sounds [12k]

Wanting Alex’s blood is nothing new. Wanting Alex as a whole is nothing new. But Henry knows that it’s a dead end—one that will most likely lead to his own demise if he allows himself to drift too far into his orbit. No matter how attracted Henry is to him, how much he’s imagined the sweetness of his blood on his tongue, how much he’s envisioned the contrast of Alex’s skin against his bedsheets, it doesn’t change the facts. It doesn’t change who they are. Henry, born into a role he never asked for, and Alex, born into a bloodline bred to exterminate him.

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(amazon) history, huh? [1k]

henry's amazon history over the course of a year (plus a little more).

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ties that bind [4k]

Alexander runs a tight ship, but Henry has long since learned that everyone has their weak spots. Above all else, Alexander cares. Henry’s learned this, observing from a distance. He worries when one of his crew members falls ill with cabin fever or a seemingly rare bout of sea sickness, when they dock to prepare for a restock of supplies in a risky area, when they draw up the sails as storm clouds roll in over head. Henry thinks he likely made a good choice ending up here in his escape plan. And then he gets caught.

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Don't Move [55k]

A year after Arthur Fox goes missing on an annual winter getaway at the family lodge, all six of the others revisit the place where it happened to reconnect and - hopefully - to find closure. It may not be as black and white as they'd hoped. [Or, an Until Dawn AU.]

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it's so hard to get to heaven with my head in my hands [6k]

His mother would have a fit if she could see him now, taking comfort he isn’t owed from men he shouldn’t want it from. But Henry wipes his tears with the back of his hand and Alex begins singing the dulcet tune of a Spanish lullaby and George feels, perhaps for the first time in his life, like he belongs.

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the way to a man's heart (is through his symbiote) [10k]

Henry’s stopped catastrophizing about it or trying to logic his way around it. He might have more feelings about it when it actually happens, but Henry likes knowing that Alex has an extra layer of support and unconditional love anytime he needs it. That if for some reason Henry ever couldn’t be there, Venom would. He also sort of likes the fact that his boyfriend’s extraterrestrial symbiote-bond thinks he’s hot. It’s not the weirdest thing that could have happened. Maybe.

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kinktober 2024 [16 works, completed]

all the fics posted throughout kinktober during 2024.

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let's talk about sex! [9 works, ongoing]

fics that feature conversations about kink and intimacy.

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mary & George [2 works, ongoing]

firstprince, george, and all of the hurt/comfort.

[kutputli]

It's been two days since I finished watching Interview with the Vampire, and the show has been consuming all my brain space. I didn't have the energy to live blog each episode of season 2, but I want to get my reactions down, before I go in search of reading other people's. This will be a haphazard collection of thoughts, so I think what I will do is start talking character by character and see if that helps me organise things any.

Louis

This one is the beating heart of the show, and I don't see how it would have worked if they had not made him a Black man. Everything stems from what he learned during his life of how to survive and thrive and yet remain kind and compassionate, and watching him be fragile and loving and grieving is soul stirring. Perhaps other people might still have found the show engaging with the role played by a white character (given fandom's embrace of the slave owning pirates in Our Flag Means Death, I am sure a slave owning Louis would not have been an insurmountable problem).

But this story belongs to the Black Louis, and to what Jacob Anderson made of him. Just impeccable acting choices, all down the line. I am mesmerised by him.

Praise for the character aside, he is the moral heart of the show. (I know there is a case to be made for Claudia, but I will get to her after this.) I don't actually much enjoy villains presented as anti-heroes, and Louis engenders so much empathy in a show filled with rather awful people.

Of course, he loves Claudia. And I do see him putting her first to the best of his ability. Claudia may be entitled to her resentment, but that doesn't make it rational fact. Louis encouraging her to leave the first time, knowing that Lestat would follow him if he left, that's a valid choice. And then choosing not to burn Lestat... I am reminded of how few victims of domestic abuse actually murder their abusers. The main desire is always to get away. I don't condemn Louis for choosing to not kill his lover.

Claudia had no roots laid down in New Orleans, but Louis did, and he gave all of that up to support her really rather nonsensical search for mystical vampires who were not as awful as Lestat. He helped her join the coven even if he could see it was a cult. And when she introduced him to Madeline, he listened to her. He turned her for Claudia. I don't ever see a moment where he stopped actively caring for her and doing the labour to prove it. I took the line about her being a burden as fully just transparent bait for Armand.

And when Lestat shows up at the trial, its Claudia that Louis is focussed on. He Always. Puts. Her. First.

The way that Louis finds his way into a relationship with Armand is so heartbreakingly soft. We never see them in their intimate moments as dom and sub, but I get the sense that he would be a tender lover -what he wants is to be respected, to have control.

And then we come to the post-trial choices.

I can somewhat buy him sparing Armand's life during his vengeance murder spree, because it wasn't just that Armand said he had saved him during the trial - if you remember, Armand was only encouraging him to leave Paris. Louis was the one who asked. But also, Armand was the one who let him out of the coffin. He did save Louis, and Louis would have tasted the blood of the person who saved him and known it was him.

I think maybe Louis was able to get over Armand facilitating Claudia's murder, because he saw him as a victim paralysed in the same way that he himself had been. Louis knows about having to keep his head down and be complicit with an oppressive system, and I think he offered the benefit of the doubt to Armand because of that. Perhaps also - Louis forgave Claudia for attempting to murder Lestat because he could see her desparation and why she needed to do it. Maybe Louis created a story for himself where Armand was similarly trapped. I don't know. To me, his choice of staying with Armand is the one I am the most questioning of.

(All of this is presupposing that what we saw was what actually happened. There are indications that there is yet another layer to the trial that we don't know about, and because Louis wasn't there as primary witness for the end, maybe some new facts will emerge to make Armand either more sympathetic, or more manipulative.)

Louis's relationship with Daniel is endearing and charming and all things adorable. I hope they whatsapp each other often and have some uncomplicated relaxing stress-relieving sex.

As for Louis and Lestat... see, I was ok with what I saw on the screen. I saw an abuse survivor leave his second marriage the instant he found out he had been lied to, and I saw him visit the parent of his child for closure. Taking on the burden of Claudia's death is nonsense, of course, but it was believeable nonsense. In that I accept that Louis, after having learned that Lestat did lift a finger to partially save his life, spilled out from all his generosity and love, what he thought might help the wretched ex he saw eating on rats and playing on a plank.

But what I am not ok with, what repulses me to the core, is the apparent conviction of the show producers that Louis and Lestat are destined to return to each other, as the great love of each other's lives. It is true that some domestic abuse survivors never manage to completely free themselves from their abuser, and some spouses continue to stay with the abuser of their child (Alice Munro, looking at you). But that storyline is a horror story. Nothing in the framing of the show indicates that horror. And I do not wish for a season 3 that walks down that road.

[pkmnirl]

An invaluable thing to learn when running a roleplay blog on Tumblr is to understand what type of blog you want to run and what you want to do when there aren't interactions. There's this misunderstanding in communities like this that you always subsist entirely off interactions from other bloggers. While there's nothing wrong with seeking out interactions, there will inevitably be times where interactions are harder to come by. Focusing solely on getting interactions regardless of the type, this obsessive focus on attention in any form, is the easiest way to burn out.

There have been some rumors going around that asks are getting capped at a lower number. People are understandably concerned that their blogs are going to go radio silent, and many struggle to gain traction in the first place. There's been more posts circulating saying things like "reblog if you want an ask from me!" or "reblog this and reply to three people in the notes!" and while these can be helpful they still can only do so much if you are feeling burnt out or discouraged.

So if you find yourself dissatisfied with your experience, ask yourself a few questions. Are you still having fun writing this character even if you are not getting attention? Are you more focused on numbers than on enjoying writing/creating? If you feel like the only thing on your mind is getting people's attention and you aren't having fun, a break might help to relieve some of these anxieties. There's no harm in logging off for a little while, though I know it can be hard to hear. It's important you take time for yourself and not rely solely on the validation of others.

Now when it comes to a progressive mindset when writing and gaining traction the questions are a bit different. What would your character post about when people aren't necessarily watching? How would your character describe themself to a stranger? What are some aspects of your character that you want people to pay attention to? To some extent you must promote what you are doing for people to be interested. When you reblog posts to find blogs to interact with, give in the notes a short description of your character and what they do.

For example, when I created my first blog and was reblogging posts asking for interactions I added in the tags, IC of course, "I'm a sneasel researcher working to reintroduce the Hisuian variant to the wild!" It's brief and it gives people a little bit to go off of when scrolling through a massive list of blogs that all reblogged that post. More structured roleplay communities have dossiers with basic information about their characters to help people get an idea of what to talk about. Generally, the more easily obtained information people have, the easier time they have formulating messages to you. Remember that your pinned post is going to be the number one thing people read when clicking onto your blog. Put information there that will help you find the sorts of people you want interacting with you.

And don't forget reblog karma! Sending interactions with your name attached can help you spark further conversation!