#can struggle with balance under certain circumstances

[helaenadream]

my most prized musketeers headcanon is that aramis sustained like permanent brain damage from that mortal head wound in savoy and now a stiff breeze can knock him out. he’ll be sparring in the yard with the cadets and one of them will cuff him on the cheek and he just drops like a stone. porthos is inconsolable like the first ten times this happens

[hwnglx]

pick a pile - what makes you beautiful? (detailed)

hello dear reader! let's take a look into what makes you so uniquely beautiful. breathe slowly, take your time and use your intuition to go with the pile that speaks to you the most. this is a very specific reading, so it's likely that not every message will speak to everyone. remember to take what resonates, and leave what doesn't. 𓆩♡𓆪

✰ pile 1 ✰

so, this pile definitely gave me the biggest boss vibes. you have very strong energy, with so much major arcana in my spread. i can tell you are not someone to be messed with. (also kinda feel like you might parent or coddle the other piles lmao)

your beauty lies not only within your immense strength, but also in your ability to stand over situations which can appear very dark and difficult on the outside. i do believe you come with your own struggles, insecurities, doubts and fears which don't seem to always find their way to the surface; but you deal with them in such a graceful and impressive way. i can feel some people being in genuine awe of how you handle trials and tribulations. i do think you've been through certain things which have given you thicker skin. now, you know what you want and need in life, you're aware of your potential and what you can do, so even if a situation presents itself in which you find yourself in self-doubt, you believe in the power of hard work and consistency.

you don't seem like the type to dwell on your problems for too long or allow yourself to drown in self-pity, but moreso like a person who feels this desire to work on whatever troubles you. let's say if a situation presents itself to you, in which circumstances seem unfavourable; rather than complaining or remaining stuck in this hopeless place, you'll likely be the type to think about how you can change and work on your own attitude and mindset instead, in order to come out the other side in a stronger manner. you put a lot of importance into remaining confident and keeping a grip on your self-belief. since you see that as the best version of yourself. you appear to be very mature; even if your age is still young, you seem to have a wise soul and an impressingly reliable, as well as responsible nature. maybe you had to grow up quickly, you just give off this energy of someone who had to learn how to be responsible in life very early on.

considering i got both, the emperor and the empress for you, i think a lot of your beauty also lies in your duality. you're likely to have this balance of both feminine and masculine qualities inside of you. you seem to be the type of person who can be assertive, more self-centered and individualistic in some ways, like you do think it's important to focus on yourself in order to find fulfilment in this world. however this doesn't distinguish the compassionate heart you carry for other people. you're someone with an empathetic and kind nature, someone who wants to take care of the people you love.

you could make a very good parent, actually. i think you balance this sense of responsibility, dependability and solidity, with a nurturing heart, a soft and gentle core. you might be the case of someone with a hard shell but soft interior. i feel like you're the type to root for the underdog. someone who takes people under their wing, protects them from external influences. like you'd take a bullet for the people you cherish. (i do think you might be more selective in that aspect though, like you do have your boundaries straight, and wouldn't just throw your hand in the fire for anyone)

this is a random message i got; some of you also might be on the curvier side when it comes to your bodily built, and it makes you very very beautiful. like i can tell that some of pile 1's bodies are bangin! like yes sir or ma'am, go rock that bod with confidence!

another very beautiful thing about you; you do not fear getting your hands dirty. meaning, you're willing to put in the necessary hard work in life. like “if i have to personally run up this hill for several hours straight, then so be it, as long as i finally get to the top!” you aren't someone who will shy away from bearing burdens and heavy weights on your back, you understand the need to hustle in order to succeed. you can feel this need to improve yourself, put in the required effort to keep getting better at everything you do in life. not just for yourself, but also the people around you. you want to be a comfortable and stable figure in your loved one's lives.

i keep feeling like you're just this person people can lean on with no second thought; someone who will have their back no matter what. very loyal, dedicated and passionate energy within you. i'd personally love to be your friend, like i'd feel pretty lucky! i feel like you're the friend who keeps their promises, who's okay with running errands for others. you'd get things done for someone if they're unable to do so; like e.g. picking your friends up and driving them random places. maybe you're the friend at the party who holds themselves back from drinking in order to be the responsible one making sure everyone gets back home safely. you just seem to have this devotion to the ones you love, and wanting to make them feel safe, as well as cared for. you might also be a huge hype man in their lives, always cheering them on and lighting up any dark place they find themselves in. you have such bright and inspirational energy!

you carry this beautiful balance of; focusing on your own interests, ambitions, desires and goals, but also remaining considerate and caring towards the special people in your life.

✰ pile 2 ✰

oh my gawd, this pile is super cute. so, you immediately strike me as someone very independent and freedom-loving. you love to have your own space, and being able to just do whatever you want, whenever you want. i feel like you just have this very contagious and bright energy, where people might trust you to make the best out of every situation you're in. you seem like a big risk-taker, someone who doesn't fear the concept of change, and isn't afraid of starting all over again if you feel like that's necessary. you're so beautiful, in the way of just being down and ready to do things others might shy away from. you might be the person who will drag your friend out the dark and quiet room and tell them to get out, enjoy the beautiful sun on your skin, connect with mother nature, appreciate the smaller things in life and find happiness in them, because that's where true fulfilment lies. there is this very philosophical and poetic side to you. i keep feeling like you might have significant neptune/jupiter/mercury aspects.. i can just see you running through the blooming fields in this almost movie-like way. (random but do you like ghibli movies? you just give me ghibli character vibes, especially kiki's delivery service 🥹 i love that movie, it's so comforting)

you're beautiful in the way where.. you easily see beauty in the world. you seem so easily excitable, and count all the blessings you have in life. i feel like you're the type to find something positive in everything and everyone. random, but you might love photography, and taking pictures of almost everything around you, just because you can see art in anything or any place. you love exploring new places, new cultures, understanding and learning about people or things completely different to what you're used to. you might like to travel, because you enjoy this thought of getting insight into entirely new lifestyles. you're very open-minded.

you aren't worried about leaving toxic people or situations behind if you feel like they just keep you in a negative place. it's kinda giving been there done that. i think you consciously reject negativity now because you're not at that same place anymore, and especially don't want to be anymore. you're so overly protective of your peace now, because you had to deal with so many tribulations, and took so much on the chin from life in order to get to this place of inner peace. you don't allow anyone to take it away from you anymore.

you also don't seem afraid to completely transform. maybe you even enjoy transforming yourself physically, like you love reinventing yourself and can find your identity in things like your fashion. you enjoy expressing your unique nature in that way. i also just feel like you're such a pleasure to be around, people likely just enjoy your presence because it makes them feel like everything will be okay. did anyone ever tell you about how your presence is therapeutic to them? if not, some people might think that without openly expressing it.

i do think you can be very emotional too, which is another beautiful trait of yours. you might be the type to tear up rather easily, i think your interior is very squishy and sweet. you wear your heart on your sleeve in this beautiful and special way. you not being afraid to express your emotions (although sometimes they can just take over you unintentionally lmao dw i relate..) makes you so extraordinary, it gives you this unique light and glow. don't ever lose grip on this wonderful side of you. don't ever feel ashamed of it, and don't allow anyone to make you think you're anything but beautiful for your passion! i feel like you genuinely care about the world, and everything that it involves. your energy is just so pure and innocent in a way, even if you yourself don't see yourself that way. your intentions and heart read as very sweet.

in addition, your beauty lies in your ability to see opportunity of growth in whatever life throws at you. like pile 1, i do believe you have had to deal with your fair share of challenges in life, but this lead to you being able to see how.. even situations that might look awful from an outsiders perspective, can serve you as a learning lesson. “what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.”

again, you're just so philosophical! i feel like we could just sit down together and discuss life for hours, in such a deep and intriguing manner. you seem to have a lot of understanding of the different complexities of life, just because you've experienced a lot of situations in which you had to adapt or adjust. so there's this natural know-how here, it's almost like you're not scared of life's upheavals anymore. you didn't let it discourage you at the time, so best believe it will not bring you down at this point in time. you're so youthful and almost childlike in spirit, but carry a deep sense of knowledge about life. like some other people might turn all bitter if they went through what you have been through, but you remained soft and sweet in this harsh world, which is such a beautiful trait to have! i sincerely applaud you, and hope you can never lose this truly wonderful spark inside of you.

✰ pile 3 ✰

oh, this pile seems so genuinely nice, but i can sense some struggle here too.. first of all, you read as a very humble and down to earth person. like i truly can't sense a single ounce of arrogance inside of you. you feel like you're an eternal student of life, continuously learning with every experience, and growing endlessly. you give off this energy of someone who's always so eager to expand your skills and knowledge on things. especially if you get hooked on something like a fun hobby, you're just so ambitious and approach the learning process with this modest, but determined attitude. you seem quite capable of dealing with constructive criticism, and take it as a way to further better yourself. like yes tell me what i did wrong, so i can improve. definitely a very hard-working and earnest energy within you.

you're so beautiful, because you live and lead with this sense of compassion and acceptance inside of you. you seem to have high emotional intelligence; as well as a lot of empathy for others. you're the type of person to.. hold this cup filled with love, in a crowd full of people fighting each other. while other people are overly competitive and at each other's throats to win over the other, you seem like the one who prefers seeing everyone as equally worthy of praise, equally lovable, equally deserving of respect. i truly don't see you enjoying to put yourself above others, simply because you don't see why you would want to. like i don't think you fully understand this need to argue and cause problems with others, it irks you.

you even might put other people's needs above yours almost naturally, it seems to come very easy to you. (did some of you grow up with a lot of siblings? i feel like there's this natural tendency to supress not only your own desires, but also your own emotions a lot.. i feel like you might've found yourself in plenty of situations where you needed to swallow your pride, bite your tongue, ignore your own emotions or grant others chances you yourself might've wanted.) you might be the type to politely hold the door open for people even though your arm hurts, offer the seat to the elderly even though you yourself are exhausted, allow your friend to grab the opportunity although you might need it just as much.

i do feel like you're quite peace-loving, and don't enjoy arguments at all. you seem excellent at approaching conflicts and problems in, not only this calm and collected manner, but also with this diplomatic and tender sense of understanding towards all parties. do you have any major libra placements? i can sense this beautifully non-judgemental energy in you, where you always seek harmony, no matter what situation you find yourself in. you also just seem balanced in general, and like not much can tick you off. some people might even ask you “how are you always so calm?” although i feel like you can experience feelings quite intensely once they take over you (i feel like you might cry a lot when you're on your own..) you just don't enjoy openly displaying your emotions, and might have problems expressing them outwardly. again, i keep feeling like this likely stems from a deeply rooted place, maybe you've just naturally aquired this mechanism within you, where you shut off your emotions and internalize them a lot.

you might put a lot of thought into how others view you, might dislike the thought of anyone looking at you as overly dramatic. you also seem pretty perfectionistic, especially in closely managing the way you're perceived by people, or the way you treat people. you might often fear doing them wrong, or overstepping any boundaries. i can sense an avoidance of expressing or asserting yourself strongly again here, because you just don't want anyone to feel like you're doing too much. (i know this is a reading that focuses more on positives, but spirit is telling me this selflessness in you makes you immensely beautiful.. maybe you even have a lot of egocentric people around you, therefore your kindness just stands out even more. don't lose that sincere heart you have for others, however; you need to listen to what you yourself want more as well <3 learn to balance these two sides in you out, because if not, others might take advantage of you)

i do think though, that a lot of this calmness might be a result of your maturity. it's interesting because on the one hand you can feel like the young student who still believes they have so much to learn from life, but at the same time, you do have a lot of valuable advice to give to people, just because you might relate to a lot of the things others go through. you seem amazing at putting yourself in someone else's shoes, i can feel people thinking you're a great listener.

i just feel like your unique beauty lies in this gentle, pleasant and mild energy you bring to the table. you'd be the type of person i could tell my deepest darkest secrets to comfortably, and i feel like you wouldn't mutter a word to anybody. like your friends probably can tell you the wildest sht they've done, without any embarrassment. or call you at any given moment, and you'd be there to listen to their angry rants or rages, and just take it all in quietly.

[wistrea]

small changes to my rules!

the dni for my fandoms list is updated! under no circumstances will i be interacting with anyone who has characters or verses from attack on titan / shingeki no kyojin, the wizarding world, and stranger things. you're welcome to ask me for my reasons if anything's unclear! i'm also going to be super selective when it comes to certain fandoms or fandom affiliated characters, such as hotd.

i will no longer be writing smut without something pre - established beforehand. at the very least, we should've written or discussed a basic meeting to add some depth to it. this might sound weird, but i just don't want to feel like i'm being used for just that, especially with my oc being heavily fem presenting. so if we do write spicy stuff but we had plotted things or at least written beforehand already, that's totally ok and this isn't about you!

not really a rule but like ... i don't intend to play down kira's power or personality when it comes to interactions, so please don't treat her like a plot device. it's something i struggled with for a while, understanding that she's strong at the core of her character but she isn't omnipotent therefore i try to find balance with that. she can be harsh, she can be mean, and she can win. i don't intend to water her down or dilute her characterization for any scenario.

[captain-kit-adventuress]

There is something I've been struggling to articulate for a long time, and it concerns this election and what happens after.

Every single post I see is about how "Trump will do this, Trump will do that." And that, to a certain extent, is true. He will do things, they will be far-reaching, and they will be devastating to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, if not billions. This is a fact.

But the claim, while not untrue, does actually belie a fundamental misunderstanding of how American government is supposed to work, especially on a Federal level, and to a greater degree, who will actually be controlling the lives of the American people, and by extension billions of others in the world, for potentially the next four years and possibly decades longer.

Trump wielded power in a highly unprecedented way the last time he was in the White House: it was filled with executive orders, designed to bypass Congressional oversight in specific and the Constitutional checks and balances system in general. Executive orders are not, as many think, set in stone. They can be overturned in a few ways, not the least of which is by the courts. It's not that likely, because the spirit of an EO is that it's to be used as something of a last resort, but it does exist for getting necessary things done in the face of undue opposition or potentially time-sensitive emergencies, and there is recourse if these orders are out of line.

Many of the things that were drafted into executive orders during Trump's time were normally things that, under far more normal circumstances, should and would have gone through the legislative process the American Constitution outlines. This is not how an American president is supposed to lead. Of course, that is mostly convention, as there is no actual legal mechanism for denying the right to issue EOs, but it has always been the standard that EOs were to be used as rarely as possible, not as a matter of day-to-day business. But. It goes deeper. These orders were not things Trump had on his agenda and he accomplished them through whatever means he could, because he couldn't actually have done a single bit of it. Sure, his signature is on the piece of paper, but a government, even if it's an awful government, is never the work of one person.

Let's acknowledge right now that Donald Trump is not actually clever enough to have done any of this himself. It's not like he sat down with his team and set a legislative agenda and then saw it through by any means possible. He is not the seat of power, he's a puppet who can hold a pen. Of course no president singlehandedly drafts their own exective orders, as one example, but that isn't what I mean. I mean none of those ideas were likely his, either. They were presented to him by others on his team, explained in such a way as to make it an attractive idea for him to sign (whether that explanation is true or accurate or not), and then he put pen to paper. That's not the same thing, because I very much doubt he would be able to demonstrate real understanding of what he was putting his name on.

Project 2025 is not his work. It is the work of the most right-wing of the Republican Party, and quite possibly plenty of unnamed others; that he will accomplish much of it on their behalf does not make him the mastermind behind it. He may as well be an Autopen with a particularly nasty, buggy software update. None of this will be his work, and it is incredibly important to note that, because this is precisely what the Republican Party wants. He's not the president, he's the patsy.

Do not mistake his craving for authoritarian power and universal adulation (however we may be forced to feign it in future) as the sign that he himself is the author of any of this. This is the deal that was struck: he gets whatever little illusion of power he wants, in exchange for signing away the lives of the majority of Americans, and by extension, the world. He is completely incapable of anything even remotely approaching the sort of sophistication this kind of silent political coup requires.

Always remember that where Trump is concerned, there is someone behind the curtain. He is merely their stand-in, and, if necessary, their fall guy. It has, unfortunately, not yet proved necessary, but it is there as a backup if it's needed.

This is why state, local, and other offices in elections are so important. This is why midterms are often far more crucial than presidential elections. The president is not ever supposed to act with unilateral power, and the fact that so many of you have no problem with applying the Republican Party's strategy of simply bypassing the will of the American people no matter who's in office is evidence of the normalisation of hugely eroded Constitutional checks and balances dating back to at least Richard Nixon, if not even earlier. Once again, Ronald Reagan is an enormous culprit in this and you know what he has in common with Trump? Neither one of them possessed the ability to orchestrate any of this themselves, and both were puppets for unelected government officials who actually ran our country. In Reagan's case, it was undisclosed, serious mental deterioration and a willingness to follow orders; in Trump's, there are more possibilities as the cause but the effect remains the same. In fact, it is pretty easy (and obvious, in my opinion), to look at the last four Republican administrations and draw eerily similar conclusions—none of those leaders were chosen for their ability to actually lead, or their political vision, but for their ability to toe the party line. Only one of the last four had even a small individual capacity for politics himself, and interestingly, he's the only one who was a single-term president. The other three were nothing more than faces on a more nameless administration that absolutely no one elected.

Once is a mistake; four is a pattern.

Please understand that this election won't come down to solely Trump. He's only doing this because it personally benefits him to do so, and if he'd said no, or shown that he couldn't at least plausibly get people to vote for him, the Republicans would have chosen someone else who could get it done. They want you to make him the symbol of their fascist movement to insulate themselves, and I guarantee you that the people we should be paying attention to are the men and women behind the curtain. Do not buy into the belief that he is the reason any of this is happening, because, and I cannot stress this enough, Trump has no fucking idea what he's doing.

Keep your eyes on Congress, keep your eyes on SCOTUS, keep your eyes on all of the rest, because they are the ones facilitating this—and the Constitution allows it, because the balance was written to tip in favour of the legislative branch. Always remember that if the Republicans wanted Trump out of the running, they could make it happen; if they were truly so desperate as to keep some rogue idealogue out of the Oval Office, they would find a way, I promise that. That they are acting in concert tells you that not only is this very much what they want, they will stop at absolutely nothing to get it—and they're not even hiding that fact, or trying to.

It is another reason why it is so important to vote for Biden: his staff are not going to take over the country by any means possible, nor are the Democrats trying to orchestrate it. What they are doing is desperately trying to hold on to whatever little semblance of not-fascism we have left. They're trying to save us—and by extension, the rest of the world—from the horror that will almost certainly be the last free election America could have for decades, and quite frankly the utter climate apocalypse that will be on us (which is one of the biggest existential threats to the rest of the world) if Trump and the Republican Party are allowed any modicum of control.

tl;dr: don't make it solely about Trump, he didn't do any of this by himself. Vote blue down the ticket. This is much larger than simply Biden vs Trump.

[avirael]

Stuck on Repeat

He wanted to scream.

To scream and to cry and to be anywhere but here. But the best A’viloh could do was try not to tremble and instead follow Rael‘s example, who - despite the fact of being shackled and pushed around - still maintained a certain stubborn grace. He wished he knew how they did that.

What exactly was going on? A‘viloh wasn’t sure of that yet and it would take a while for him to process all of this. Everything had happened so fast. Suddenly the sultana had gasped for air, her goblet falling to the ground along with herself, soaking the expensive carpet with its dark red content. While A‘viloh had only stared in shock, Rael had immediately jumped up and was by Nanamo‘s side only split seconds after she collapsed. The next moment there had been guards everywhere and also that mean Lalafell accusing them of regicide. They had barely been able to say anything before the guards had grabbed them both, checked them for weapons and tied up their hands.

Now, as the door in front of them opened, the soldier behind A‘viloh gave him a rough push. The miqo‘te winced and stumbled forward into the room filled with people, all eyes on him. He lost his balance and with his hands tied behind his back, he landed rather ungracefully on the hard, cold stone tiles. His head started to spin, his vision began to blur, his heart was racing. It was all just too much and also too late to stop the memories that had buried their ugly dark claws deep in his mind. Miserably he gasped for air.

Rael hadn’t fallen but still knelt down and leaned towards him, wanting to make sure he was alright. „A‘vi! Please stay calm. I’m trying to find a way to get us out of this…“, the viera managed to whisper before someone pulled them away.

A’viloh still struggled to sit up and at the same time tried desperately to see where Rael had gone, when someone grabbed one of his arms and a handful of his hair and yanked him into a kneeling position. He pressed his eyes shut and tried to breathe, tried to not let the fear and the memories overwhelm him, but a small whimper still made it past his lips. He fought against his own mind, racing and about to shut itself off from all of this.

„Stop it!“, Rael hissed angrily. What else than complain could they do with their hands tied behind their back. The brass blade turned his attention to the viera instead of A’viloh. „Shut up!“, the man growled and struck Rael across the face with the back of his hand. They gasped and when they looked up again a moment later, with a mix of shock and indignation on their face, their lower lip was split and bloody.

Ashamed A’viloh stared to the ground and tried to pretend that this wasn’t his fault while the voices and turmoil around him faded to the background. Instead his mind was filled with questions and fears. Would they be executed? Thrown in jail? What had happened to Nanamo? Would their friends at least get out of this with their lifes, if Rael and him were made responsible?

Suddenly something touched his shoulder and pulled him out of his thoughts. A’viloh gave an alarmed shriek.

„Shhh!“, Rael shushed him, leaning their shoulder against his. Worried they glanced at him. „You were gone for a moment weren’t you?“ A’viloh didn’t answer but that wasn’t necessary. Rael sighed deeply. „Give me your hands. Maybe I can loosen the knots…“

Working behind their backs Rael tried their best but it was impossible. The angle was bad, they didn’t see what they were doing and the knots were simply too tight. On their own the two of them would never make it out of their ties. “Seven hells!”, Rael cursed. “I would sooner chew through these things than get that knot open!”

It was a funny imagination and under different circumstances A’viloh would maybe have laughed about it. Instead he turned to look at them and offered a sad smile. “It’s alright. At least you tried…I’m sorry about your lip.”

The viera looked surprised and then shook their head. “Don’t worry. I can fix that.”

Suddenly the turmoil around them got even worse. A’viloh only now noticed the screams and the fighting. “What’s happening?”

“Raubahn killed Adeledji. Tried to kill Lolorito too. Panic broke out and now he is fighting Ilberd. But I honestly don't think he has a chance...”

As if to confirm this, one of the giant stone pillars exploded under a heavy misaimed hit and through the cloud of dust and rubble Raubahn was hurled through the air and landed right beside them. With a swift movement of his blade he cut their ties and only then as he stood up, rubbing his wrists, A’viloh noticed that the Flame General was missing an arm.

But there was no time to question how that had happened and what else he might have missed while dissociating. Confidently as ever Raubahn spoke up saying that he never doubted them or the Scions and that they should flee. A’viloh was still to dazed to argue against that and so let Rael pull him along, to Minfilia and the others and then out of the palace.

As they hurried down the stairs of the Royal Promenade Thancred ran towards them and with a sudden peng of guilt A’viloh realised that he had been so shaken until now that he hadn’t even noticed yet that the Hyur hadn’t been with them. Thancred warned them that Lolorito’s soldiers had already taken control of all important points in the city and that it would be impossible to just walk out through the city gates. Luckily he offered another plan. Rumours about very old secret passages leading out of the city and luckily he knew how to get there.

But just as they wanted to leave the heavy steps and yells of the brass blades got closer.

“Go ahead! I’ll handle this!”, Yda exclaimed and turned towards the soldiers.

Papalymo made an incredulous face. “By yourself?! …I suppose I shall just have to join you.”

Rael offered to help them too. Papalymo and the viera could cause quite the destruction together that was certain but the thought of leaving any of them behind made A’viloh sick. There had to be a different way. One were all of them got out of here together.

“Don’t!”, he croaked and hated how his voice sounded a lot quieter and squeakier than he had intended. Had anybody heard him at all? But before he could say anything else or before Rael could join Yda and Papalymo, the Lalafell shot a fireball at the mechanism that held the palace gate open and with a roaring sound it crashed down and cut of the path between the two of them and the rest of the group. It would give them some time but neither Minfilia nor A’viloh seemed to be willing to leave without their friends. Helplessly and pleading the Miqo’te reached through the bars with one arm and stretched out a hand towards his friends. A’viloh and Yda had quickly befriended each other after meeting for the first time. They had spent a lot of time training together and Yda had soon become one of his dearest friends among the Scions. The thought that something could happen to her was unbearable for him. “Yda! Please!”

But the girl laughed at him and locked her fingers with his for a second. “Don’t worry, A’vi! We’ll see you later!” Confidently she smiled at him before she let go of his hand and turned back around to face the soldiers that had almost caught up to them.

The others called out for them and reluctantly Minfilia and A’viloh followed. There was nothing else they could do now apart from making Yda’ and Papalymo’s efforts worth it and get out of here before more soldiers appeared.

In a haste they ran through the decorated corridors of the palace district and luckily the entrance to the secret passage was exactly were Thancred had suspected it to be. The tunnels were bigger and more complex than A’viloh would have thought and for quite a while they ran through dusty old corridors trying to find the right way that would lead them out of the city.

After a while the echoes of yells and footsteps appeared again and unlike them their pusuers seemed to know the ways down here. They tried to hurry but in no time the voices were coming closer and closer.

“I will stop them.”, Y’shtola exclaimed and abruptly stood still, making everyone else pause for a moment as well. “You go on ahead!”

“No…”, A’viloh protested, he wasn’t willing to leave any more people behind. But Thancred nodded. “Then I will stay too! It would be rude to let you fight alone…”

“No! This is all wrong!”, A’vi repeated a little more loudly. “Let me and Rael fight them, we can defeat them surely.”

Y’shtola shook her head. “Not that many of them…” and Thancred agreed, “The two of you are far too important to get captured...” He didnt say or worse but it was clearly there.

“But…” A’viloh wanted to protest but what was there to say? So he just helplessly stared from one of them to the other. Instead Rael nodded. “Alright!”

“No! Nothing’s alright!”, A’viloh exclaimed pleadingly. „There has to be another way!“

“No, there isn’t.” Thancred said and put his hands on A’viloh’s shoulders. „Listen! There is no time. You have to get out of here, do you hear me? And you have to get Minfilia to safety. Look at me A’vi!“

He slightly shook him and despite the closeness between them A’vi did as he was told.

“Can you promise me that? To get yourself and Minfilia to safety?”, the Hyur asked with a serious voice.

Pleadingly A’vi stared at Thancred’s face wondering if it would be the last time he was going to see it. He hadn’t stopped shaking since Ilberd’s soldiers had put him in chains but now it got worse again. Nonetheless he nodded slightly.

“Good.“ Thancred said and nodded too, but hesitated to let go of him.

A strange expression appeared on his face, one A’viloh never had seen on him before. A mixture of doubt and maybe fear? Thancred sighed and muttered “Just in case…“ more to himself than anybody else but A’vi was close enough to hear it anyway.

A’viloh hadn’t expected at all what happened next. Before he even realised it, Thancred had leaned down, closed the gap between them and kissed him. He was too shocked to react, too confused as well, so he just let it happen. Weirdly this made him feel better but also hopelessly sad at the same time. What was he doing here? This was crazy! Maybe he would later curse himself for allowing this or he would wish he hadn’t wasted this moment like this but before he had figured out how to feel or to react the moment was over. Thancred pulled back a little and looked like he already regretted either what he did or simply having to let him go. Or maybe that was just how A'viloh felt himself. “Consider this my lucky charm…“, the hyur whispered, barely audible, and weakly smiled at him.

Then he pushed A’vi away, as gently as the urgency of the situation allowed, and spoke up louder to all of them.

„Now, get out of here!“

„No!“, the Miqo’te whimpered, his hands tried to hold on to Thancred’s arm but he ignored him and looked at Rael instead. „Get them out of here, please. I’m counting on you.“

The viera looked annoyed, more than usually, but nodded without a word and only when A’vi felt their hands at his arms pulling him away, he realised they were all still here watching him. At any other occasion he would have felt horribly embarrassed now but all he could think of right now was that he couldn’t leave all of his friends behind here to fight, and possibly die, while he fled to safety. He didn’t want to run any longer. But Rael seemed to share Thancred’s opinion.

“Come on, A’vi. We can’t waste time now. Every single soldier in this twelves-forsaken city is after us now, we can’t fight our way out of this. There’s no way to set this right if we don’t get out of here first.”, they explained as calmly as they could in this situation, then grabbed A’vi’s hand and dragged him along as they ran. A’viloh followed on stumbling feet but only because his body had long since stopped listening to anything his brain screamed at him. Stop! Go back! Fight!

Rael’s words made sense but still… weakly he tried to look back and see what was happening behind them but then Rael and Minfilia took a turn into another tunnel and he lost sight of Y’shtola and Thancred. For another while he just numbly let the viera pull him along until they abruptly stopped at an intersection.

“There is light! The exit must be right around that corner!”, Rael announced pointing to one of the tunnels.

Minfilia nodded. “I think so too. But I have somewhere else to go. Hydaelyn speaks to me, I have to stay behind but you two, you cannot stay with me.”

Rael shook their head: “We promised to protect you and I don’t plan to break that promise.”

Minfilia smiled kindly.

“I release you from this promise. Instead promise me to flee and clear our names for us! You are the only ones who can do this. I have a different task to fulfil. Please, you must go on! You are the Warriors of Light! You are hope - for the Scions, and for all the realm! As long as your flame continues to burn, the light of the dawn may ever be relit! You must escape, and save Eorzea from those who would plunge it into darkness! This is the only way...”

Rael grimaced but nodded. “Fine…”

A’viloh on the other hand just weakly shook his head. Words had long failed him and with every minute all of this felt more and more like it was happening to someone else and not him. Like all of this couldn’t be real. Like it was a horrible, weird dream that he would wake up from every second now! How had everything escalated so fast?

Minfilia saw his expression and put her arms around him in a tight hug. “Don’t blame yourself for this, A’vi. None of this is your fault. Everything will be alright, I promise.“

Then she ran in the opposite direction and all A’viloh could do was watch her vanish in the maze of tunnels.

After a few seconds Rael took his hand again and A’vi snapped back to attention watching the Viera’s free hand point towards the light. “Let’s go, the exit is right there.”

But A’viloh refused, even if his voice was nothing but a weak whisper. “No, please go alone. I’ll follow Minfilia. Someone has to protect her.”

Rael growled. “Were you listening at all? Do you want all of this to be in vain? I know this is difficult for you, but so it is for me!“

“But-“, A’viloh tried to protest but Rael looked like they almost wanted to hit him and angrily yelled at him. “I want you to be safe too, you know?! I would gladly stay behind and fight if it meant you and the other’s were safe but the best we can do now is run!”

Before A’vi could say anything else a deafening crash sounded through the tunnels. Alarmed they both stared back the way they came. The walls and the floor seemed to tremble and a roaring sound echoed down the tunnel and came closer and closer.

“Oh no!”, Rael gasped. “The ceiling is coming down! We have to get out of here! Now!”

“The ceiling?!”, A’vi shrieked. “But what of the others? We need to — Let go of me!!”, he protested as Rael tried to drag him out of the tunnel.

“It’s too late now, A’vi. Please!”, the viera pleaded but A’vi struggled and screamed. They almost wouldn’t have made it out in time. Just as the cloud of dust and rubble hit the protective barrier Rael had summoned up to shield them they were catapulted backwards by a burst of magic the last few meters out of the ruins and into the late afternoon sun.

Both of them coughed from the dust and it took a moment until they could see anything again. The entrance to the tunnels had collapsed entirely, lots of small and bigger pieces of stones lay in a huge pile in front of what was barely recognisable as the tunnel entrance anymore.

Shocked A’vi stared at the rubble for a few seconds before he began to scream again. Quickly he jumped up and tried to get the stones out of his way, to find a way back in, but of course it was hopeless. The old broken stones were too many and too heavy for him. They wouldn't give in to his pleading. "No! Please, no..."

As calm and soothing as they could Rael took his hands and spoke to him. “A’vi. Not now. There’s nothing we can do now…”

Slowly he let Rael turn him around. He looked at the viera, his eyes filled with tears, before he wordlessly threw his arms around Rael‘s neck. „I‘m so sorry…“, he whispered after a moment of just silently clinging to them.

Rael shook their head. „Not your fault…“

A’viloh didn’t answer to that. Instead he sullenly looked at Rael for a moment before he dared to ask, „Do you think they are dead?“

Rael sighed and then grimaced. „I’m not going to lie to you, A’vi. I honestly don’t know, but it really doesn’t look good…“

The Miqo’te just nodded weakly, the corner of his mouth twitching for a second. He appreciated the honesty but he had hoped for something a little more reassuring.

Rael carefully squeezed his shoulder. „But maybe they aren’t. We will figure that out, I promise. But first we have to proof that we did NOT kill Nanamo... We should really go now…“

„Thank you. I would be lost without you…“, A’viloh muttered and followed Rael along the railroads leading towards Blackbrush station, defeated and disheartened. Silently he wondered if there was a safe place now for them at all and how they possibly could manage to clear their names…

[ziekaramaik]

The Last Day

(Agatha All Along spoilers)

(Word count: about 800)

"Mom! Look out!"

The car swerved. Went off the road. The ground dipped abruptly. They were sliding down uneven terrain. Out of control. Even with his seatbelt, William's head jostled around the backseat. William's side of the car suddenly smashed agains--

Silence.

William came to awareness slowly. It was all so sudden, it took a while for his mind to catch up and figure out what happened. He was still in the car. His parents were not. The window right next to his face was cracked badly. A tree was blocking the dented door. In a daze, William slid over the backseat and got out of the car through the other door.

The woods were completely silent. No birds or animals. William couldn't even hear his shoes crunching over pine needles.

"Mom…? Dad?"

A leaf was hanging in midair, frozen. No, not completely frozen. If he looked closely, it lowered a very tiny bit. Time had slowed to a near-stop, between one moment and the next.

And then he saw her. A woman in a dark green cloak walked towards him, hood raised over her head. She walked slowly. Dignified. Absolute.

William didn't need to be told. He knew what she was instinctively.

"I'm…?" His voice cracked.

Death nodded.

William looked back to the car. The door he left through had never really opened. Through the glass window, he saw his own body slumped and bleeding in the backseat. He thought he had got out of the car. But his corpse didn't leave with him.

He turned back to her. "Where are my mom and dad?"

"They're not here," Death answered. "They're still alive."

They survived the crash, William thought. That's good, right? It was only… me…

He struggled not to cry. He was supposed to be too old for that.

The leaf dropped a tiny bit lower.

Death moved closer. They were face-to-face now. "It's time."

The dam broke. William sobbed. His face just crumpled. Through his tears he said, "This was supposed to be a good day…"

Death kept her face impassive. She made sure not to look like her heart was breaking for this poor boy. She definitely made sure not to roll her eyes at his petty mortal fear, as tempting as that was. She remained professional. She was doing her job.

"Why did it have to be today? It's my bar mitzvah. Today was supposed to be a start."

Death replied, "Every day is the start of something. And every day is the end of something. The one you die on isn't more special, or right, or wrong. It just is."

Suddenly, her gaze shifted away from William, back towards the car. William turned around to see.

The car was empty now.

"Where's my body?" William asked.

Death kept her face very, very, very impassive.

He looked back to her, confused. "W-We could see it a minute ago. Why can't we see it now? What happened to it?"

Death wasn't supposed to say she didn't know. She was supposed to act all-powerful and all-knowing in front of mortals. Because normally she was. That was how the sacred balance worked.

She wasn't a mere goddess, like her representative, Hela. She was a force of nature. She transcended all of Time and Space, and existed in all places where people met her. But people who were still living were just barely out of her reach. When she wasn't in her mortal disguise as Rio Vidal, it was harder for her to see living beings.

(And it was much, much more difficult to find a certain living being after she started using the Darkhold to hide herself. Just saying. Not that she's BITTER.)

People can only ever come back to life under very special, very specific circumstances. Death paid close attention to those exceptions. But that's not what happened here. William Kaplan's soul was still dead. By all accounts, his body should be dead along with it.

Something had gone very, very, very wrong with the sacred balance.

But Death didn't say that in front of William. She was on duty. Ever the professional, she smiled gently at him, stepped to his side, put a hand on his back and said, "That's not something you need to worry about."

Death has seen the face of literally every mortal in history. She now paid very careful attention to William Kaplan's face, memorizing every bit. She told herself to be on the lookout for it among the uncountable amount of faces in the future.

They began walking. Death gently led William towards What Comes Next.

As they walked, Death looked over her shoulder. She glared at the crashed car, towards the living beings that were just barely out of her sight.

She would figure it out eventually.

[jyotishgher]

 Negative Thoughts and Astrology Why Are You Getting

Negative Thoughts and Astrology can provide insights into the potential reasons for negative thoughts, but it's important to remember that it's not a definitive diagnosis. Your personal experiences, upbringing, and life circumstances also play a significant role. Our minds are like expansive landscapes, filled with thoughts that shape how we perceive and navigate the world. While uplifting thoughts can inspire and energize us, negative ones often leave us feeling overwhelmed or distressed. 

Order Report https://jyotishgher.in/mantra/reports.php

If you're struggling with persistent negative thoughts, know that you're not alone. These thoughts can arise from a variety of factors, such as external circumstances, personal experiences, and even cosmic influences. Vedic astrology, with its deep understanding of planetary energies and their impact on our lives, offers valuable insights into the root causes of negative thinking. In this blog, we will explore the astrological reasons behind negative thoughts and uncover how cosmic forces may influence their presence in our lives.

Here are some astrological factors that might contribute to negative thoughts:

1. Planetary Influences:

Saturn: Saturn is often associated with fear, anxiety, and limitations. If Saturn is prominently placed in your birth chart, it might contribute to negative thinking patterns.

Mars: A poorly placed Mars can lead to anger, frustration, and impulsive behavior, which can manifest as negative thoughts.

Pluto: Pluto is associated with transformation, power, and destruction. If Pluto is prominent in your chart, it might lead to feelings of insecurity, fear, or control issues, which can contribute to negative thinking.

In astrology, negative thoughts or mental distress can often be linked to specific planetary placements, transits, and influences on the mind and emotions. Here are a few key astrological reasons why someone may experience negative thoughts: Let me tell You

1. Moon's Condition

The Moon sign, or Rashi, in your birth chart represents your emotions and mental state. The position of the Moon sign can influence your thought patterns and emotional responses. A challenging Moon sign placement may contribute to recurring negative thoughts. Vedic astrology provides insights into how to balance and harness the positive aspects of your Moon sign to counteract negative tendencies.

The Moon governs the mind and emotions. If the Moon is weak (debilitated, in an enemy sign, or afflicted by malefic planets like Saturn, Rahu, or Ketu), it can lead to emotional instability, anxiety, and negative thinking.

Moon in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house: These houses can cause mental stress, overthinking, and pessimistic thoughts.

Aspected by malefics (Saturn, Mars, Rahu): This can create mental disturbances or mood swings, making it hard to maintain positivity.

For personal consultation write PC4JG and send it to :care.jyotishgher@gmail.com

2. Mercury's Affliction

Mercury represents intellect, communication, and rational thinking. If Mercury is afflicted (by malefic planets like Rahu, Ketu, or Mars), it can lead to confusion, over-analysis, or negative thought patterns.

Mercury in retrograde or under stress can cause anxiety, worry, or mental agitation.

3. Rahu's Influence

Rahu is known for creating illusions, fears, and obsessions. If Rahu is negatively influencing the Moon, Mercury, or the ascendant (first house), it can result in irrational fears, obsessive thoughts, or mental unrest.

Rahu in the 8th or 12th house can intensify feelings of paranoia, confusion, or pessimism.

4. Saturn's Impact

Saturn is a planet of discipline and restrictions. However, when poorly placed or transiting certain sensitive points in the chart, it can cause excessive worry, depression, and a sense of hopelessness.

Sade Sati (Saturn transiting over the Moon) is a well-known astrological phase associated with mental challenges, fear, and doubt.

5. Ketu's Role

Ketu represents detachment and confusion. When Ketu influences the Moon or Mercury, it can create scattered thoughts, feelings of purposelessness, and negative thinking.

Ketu in the 1st or 7th house can cause a sense of mental disconnect or dissatisfaction.

6. Mars and Anger

Mars represents aggression, and when afflicted, it can result in frustration, impulsivity, and anger. This can lead to negative or destructive thoughts.

Mars in the 8th house or conjunction with Saturn or Rahu may intensify inner conflict and irritability.

7. 12th House Influence

The 12th house in astrology governs isolation, loss, and subconscious fears. If the 12th house or its lord is afflicted, it can bring hidden anxieties, negative dreams, and subconscious fears that result in negative thoughts.

8. Dasha and Transit Periods

Negative thoughts may emerge during challenging planetary dashas (periods) or transits of malefic planets. For example, a Rahu or Saturn dasha may bring periods of mental stress and doubts.

9. Weak or Afflicted Lagna (Ascendant)

If the Lagna (ascendant) or its lord is weak or influenced by malefic planets, a person might struggle with self-esteem, optimism, or positivity. Read More

2. House Placements:

Sixth House: The sixth house is associated with health, service, and enemies. If planets associated with negativity, such as Saturn or Mars, are placed in this house, it might contribute to negative thoughts and feelings.

Eighth House: The eighth house is associated with transformation, regeneration, and hidden resources. If planets associated with negativity are placed here, it might lead to feelings of fear, insecurity, or obsession.

Twelfth House: The twelfth house is associated with hidden enemies, losses, and spiritual growth. If planets associated with negativity are placed here, it might contribute to feelings of isolation, self-doubt, or victimhood.

3. Nakshatras (Lunar Mansions):

Certain Nakshatras: Some Nakshatras, such as Magha and Mula, are associated with challenges, obstacles, and karmic lessons. If you are born under these Nakshatras, you might be more prone to negative thinking.

4. Aspects:

Negative Aspects: Negative aspects between planets in your birth chart can also contribute to negative thinking. For example, a square or opposition between Saturn and Mars can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, and self-doubt.

Remedies:

Strengthening the Moon and Mercury through mantras, fasting, or wearing appropriate gemstones (like pearl for Moon or emerald for Mercury).

Practicing READ MORE

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Conclusions:

Practicing spiritual remedies and seeking guidance from a Vedic astrologer can help you address these Negative Thoughts and Astrology effectively. Embrace the wisdom of Vedic astrology to navigate through the complexities of life, find inner harmony, and replace negative thoughts with positivity and growth. Remember, you have the power to transform your thoughts and embrace a more fulfilling and uplifting life journey.

[6316454]

I write now because I feel I have been given no other choice. When I started writing as a small child it simply came out of me. I had no choice but to write. The endless possibilities I was capable of harnessing and combining were irresistible to me. I study the practice I had as a child like expressionists studied the art of all children. To discover something about the nature of the creative process.

Writing is to me now something I do in a perfunctory way. In academics I was given an assignment and I struggled the whole way through. Regardless of the perceived value of the outcome I struggled. This I believe is the result of having that childlike approach beaten out of me. This does not make me unique. I write this essay to express this fact about myself. It is not a unique circumstance and the road I am on is not a unique one. "Bigger idiots than I have accomplished it."

I have been told that art should have a point. You should seek to accomplish something with a piece or collection of works. This was a surprise to me, when I was at my most artistic and prolific. As a teenager I wrote reams of poetry, because I had no choice. There were things I could not tell a single soul, not even a journal. I wrote because I loved words. I loved learning new words, discovering new words excited me. I loved choosing words based on the feel and flavor and exoticism. Using as many strange and unusual words was reason enough to me to write a poem. One or two particularly expressive words could motivate me to write dozens of verses. As an adult I learned that this is called pretentious or inaccessible or overwrought or flowery. Not a good thing. I learned that a writer should consider their audience and what the piece communicates to them. At first I dually accepted this but attempted to seek a balance between my manic compulsion for verbosity and restraint for the sake of consumption. But "God didn't make you crazy for no reason!"

Eventually my artistic practice withered and died in the specifically controlled hothouse of the collegiate level art class. My desire to achieve and have my art recognized was stunted by inability to understand the principles being taught to me. I felt stupid for not having the foundation to keep up with the course material or understand the point of the exercises. I panicked under the immense pressure of producing master studies or a certain number of still life sketches in charcoal. Despite multiple efforts to reconnect with my artistic practice over my years, you cannot water a dried, yellowed husk of a begonia back to health. Regardless of how much you would like it to be true.

I am not an artist, I accepted. It was a bleak realization to have. For much of my life I eschewed traditional milestones or achievements in favor of art. Now as an adult I feel I have nothing to show for it. No marketable skills, no achievement in non artistic arenas. I'm not an academic, or a designer, or a singer or an actor or a writer or an artist. I turn in my resume to multiple places a day with the help of the internet. But it is difficult to market oneself when you feel there is nothing to market.

As I feel doors have been closed to me I have grown bitter. I have experienced loss and grief beyond my years. I do not want to recover. I do not want to "work harder." And yet I struggle to be "kinder" to myself. My self expression is almost completely dammed up. What would be the point in a poem? What would I want the reader to take away? Would my essay have a compelling structure, and appropriate narrative? What do you write about when you have spent over a decade stagnating in obscurity? What experience do you draw on?

I am writing this essay to make no point. I am writing the words which occur to me. I am imparting no wisdom. I am telling, arguably, a fragment of a narrative. But when you have no skills, any output is progress. Nonlinear progress can still be important. In a way I am my own audience. Maybe my thesis is an apology. For abandoning my artistic practice. For neglecting my best and most reliable audience: a little girl who loved the thesaurus and Edgar Allen Poe.

[mareenavee]

From the OC asks, but I am a cheaty mc-cheat and an incorrigible crow, SO... these are for your version of Ondolemar, in your future project. Yes, I'm mean like that. Hey once an NPC is a POV, that's pretty much your OC, same rules apply. :-P 2, 14, 29 and just for fun and to balance it out, 33.

Skyrim NPC-to-OC ask for a technically-unannounced spin off fic I have brewing in the background LOL (Please feel free to ask more of these! Post is here.)

You really are an incorrigible corvid, aren't you LOL But no, thank you for this!!! Really. It's only been brewing in the back of my head, and in tiny fragments, so I really had to put some thought into these answers!!

First I'll say this fic is going to be a thing. It's not necessarily a sequel, but more of a spin off. I hinted at it in this post here.

As the ask states, this one is for Ondolemar (:

2. Do they worship any deities, be it aedra or daedra?

Maybe not worship specifically, but he does acknowledge the Aedra and not just to put on appearances. He will repeat the general Thalmor things regarding Auri-El and the other divines when he has to. He admonishes Talos when he has to, and, truthfully, he doesn't actually understand the point of that god to begin with, even without the influence of the Concordat.

He's truthfully not overly religious, really, but he feels indebted to Mara, the goddess of compassion, among other things. Without spoiling too much of the fic, one of his main goals is to help his people get out from under the thumb of the Thalmor. Considering his legacy and parentage, he could have easily been as indoctrinated as the rest of the Thalmor, but he isn't and doesn't subscribe. Something or someone cared to spare him from that or gave him the strength to be able to avoid falling into the whole thing far too deeply to get back out again.

On the other hand he finds Daedra worship repulsive, again due to backstory things that will spoil World and this fic, so I can't reveal here. (:

14. What's their morality like?

It definitely would depend on who you ask. By association with the Thalmor, a lot of people assume he's terrible and evil. He leans into this to keep up appearances, but certain characters know it's not like that at all. He might not be the kindest person on the face of Nirn, but he's got noble goals in the grand scheme of things. Those who really know him and his goals know to trust him, even in situations that would seem otherwise impossible.

The thing is, he still needs to keep up appearances in order to further his goals. Sometimes he has to do things in the name of the Thalmor he'd rather not to protect himself, because he absolutely cannot be caught. Too many lives depend on him. This can sometimes bother him, he does still have to deal with the consequences of behaving in the expected way. He likes to pretend he doesn't care and will do whatever needs to be done, but certain things will weigh on him. Imprisoning a Talos worshiper for appearances? No. But other things will be much more of a struggle for him.

29. What do they think of Skyrim politics? (Jarls, Thanes, empire, high kings, etc)

Skyrim itself is not his primary concern, personally, but because of his job and his status within the Thalmor's presence in the province, of course it has to be front and center in his mind. He needs to know the details of all of this in order to function and to keep blending in. In all, he doesn't mind the idea of Jarls governing huge swaths of lands and working together to select the most qualified High King/Queen.

He believes it could, under normal circumstances, be a decent, almost fair system, if not for general hubris and corruption that power often brings. But then again, he's used to something of a totalitarian government in what's now called Alinor. Now regarding the Empire...he's not impressed with how they've failed to stand up for its people. But he deeply, deeply understands that individual states cannot easily stand up to the Aldmeri Dominion. He knows how bad things can and will be under their complete control. So while he doesn't like the idea behind them at all, and honestly, in another life, would prefer if they'd just collapse already, he recognizes them as perhaps the last line of defense against a greater evil.

33. Do they have a specific color scheme?

WELL. We kind of know his color scheme already, at least in his Thalmor regalia, right? Black and gold. But I'll describe him more generally, I suppose, for this question.

So yes, he still wears his black and gold uniform. He's got a very warm, gilded skin tone. He's a little more on the light skin tone side, probably by virtue of being stuck in Understone Keep more hours than he'd normally prefer. In my hc, he has grown out his hair in recent years, but still keeps the sides shaved/undercut more or less. He ties it back out of his eyes, normally. I figure occasionally, he'll wear a man bun instead of a ponytail lol. Speaking of, his hair is silky, shoulder length and silvery-blonde. His beard is the same color, when he lets it grow out more than it already is. When he's in civilian attire, he'll usually wear light gray clothing. Maybe a slate blue-gray travel cloak, depending on what he's up to out of uniform, anyway.

I know this was only little glimpse of this project, but I hope it was fun to read anyway! And that there's some hype for the story, maybe? (:

[calliethetrekkie]

Star Trek TOS S01E04: The Enemy Within

Original Thoughts

"So The Enemy Within was a legit tense episode of Star Trek. I’m a sucker for the whole good/evil sides of a person being split into separate beings kind of scenario, and the contrast of the Kirk's is interesting and freighting. The Good Kirk struggling as he slowly loses his ability to be decisive without his more assertive half was also compelling and helped give more insight to his character, which again I’m a sucker for. The final breakdown of Evil Kirk was also intense and helped give some personification as well. A well-played scenario all in all. However, the episode is bogged down by one big factor: the outright tasteless treatment of the attempted assault on Yeoman Rand, or at least the aftermath. It’s unfortunate, but the story and conflict with Kirk was still a worthwhile watch."

(Original Post, edited from original)

Rewatch Thoughts

You ever had an episode that you like about 95% of, but there's a moment or two that really bogs it down? Yeah, as my original thoughts alluded to, this is one of those cases.

I'm going to avoid going into that scene. I did it before, and I was able to at least tolerate it this time (though fast-forward also helped). I also don't want to risk triggering anyone on a topic that I myself don't feel qualified or comfortable talking about from a show that took place in a different time. That being said, the scene still made me uncomfortable, and even moreso how the aftermath was handled. That is all I'm going to say about it, let's move on.

Thankfully, I have nothing but good things to say from this point. Even despite what I said above, this was one of the episodes I had really enjoyed the first go around, and I'm happy to say I still felt that way. This one has so much that I can go into concerning the plot, the philosophy, and Kirk himself and how his relationships with Spock and McCoy are showcased here. I don't know where to start... but I guess we're gonna try.

I love the concept of having Kirk split. His good half and his bad side as separate entities. The good Kirk seems like how Kirk would normally be, but as time goes on he deteriorates into being indecisive, lacks any ability to assert himself, and just seems to be becoming more meek and insecure. The Bad Kirk is, as Kirk so elegantly puts it, more like a wild animal. Aggressive, violent, easily-provoked, and while by no means unintelligent, he's prone to being driven by fear and instinct. He does, however, have the strength, assertion, and ability to act that Kirk needs to be an effective captain and leader.

We tend to look at our worst traits and try to lock them away. It's terrifying, the thought of having this potential ugliness inside you. An ugliness that could drive you to doing unthinkable things. The Bad Kirk, with the lack of morality, threatens McCoy, is willing to harm other crew members, and what happened with Rand can speak for itself. Kirk would sure as Hell never do anything like that unless he had a good reason under any circumstance. But without the good half to balance it out, the bad half is in its most raw form. Unable to be tamed or controlled, and without that self-control, who knows what a person could be driven to do.

But in the end, without any darkness, what are left with? We lack a certain will-power. A certain assertion. A certain strength that can only come from feelings such as fury and desperation, for example. Anger can be a powerful motivating power, as we've seen in real life for both good and bad reasons. It's as McCoy told Kirk, we need the darkness. It doesn't make you automatically bad, it's a part of what makes one human. Makes one whole. Without that darkness, the good Kirk cannot be the captain that he needs to be and he can't afford that. He still has the traits he needs, such as his logic and morality, but without the balance he is giving into passiveness and uncertainty. Neither the good nor the bad can exist and function apart. They need to exist together, no matter how unwanted one may be.

The episode handles it incredibly well. Honestly, I think that this was the episode that really sold me on Kirk as a character. Up to that point I had only the pop-culture depiction of Kirk to go on. Which came off as a reckless, womanizing, arrogant hot-shot. I could not have been more wrong. This shows Kirk in one of his most vulnerable states. He can't perform the duty that defines his identity. Yet, as Spock points out to him, he can't let it show because otherwise it will cause unrest among the rest of the ship. He sees himself at his worst, and the fact that he has to merge back with it is terrifying. Why would he want that? How can he accept that such a feral being is a part of himself? Is himself? And what is he himself left as without it? Seriously, I just wanted to hug the poor guy through most of the episode. And despite it, he still shows his dark side so much empathy and care.

I think what most helps represent this struggle is his interactions with Spock and McCoy. I detailed a lot of it here, but here's the brief version.

We have Spock with Kirk as his second-in-command and trusted friend, having been asked by Kirk himself to speak up if he feels that he is slipping. He has to remind Kirk of what happens if he tells the ship the full scope of the situation. He's the one that Kirk trusts to help him face the Bad Kirk in the lower decks, unwilling to let anyone else see it. He's the one who has to inform Kirk of what he is losing and what the end result will be. He's not doing it to be cruel, but it is the reality, and it can't be ignored. That's Spock's job as First Officer, to be able to keep the captain on track and step in when needed. He's also ultimately willing to take the risk of merging Kirk back when it could kill him, certain that such a thing will not happen and even if so, it must be done so that they can rescue the landing team. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.

Then we have McCoy with Kirk. We don't get it as much as with Kirk and Spock, but it's very much still present. He tries to assure Jim that he can still act as captain, seeming almost offended that Spock would seem to question him. But he does ultimately admit that Spock is right, comforting Jim and talking with him to help him find the self-assurance he needs to go through with it. Then he refuses to allow Jim to go through the transported, utterly against risking his life despite the lives of the landing party in the balance. McCoy is worried about what is of concern at that moment, as we already saw in The Corbomite Manuever, and in this case it's Jim.

Kirk is left in the middle. He sees both sides, but in his current safe that's as far as it can go. He can't make a decision on what to do. He can't make any command decision, even needing Spock to take over talking to Sulu at one point. Thus, Kirk's left with the two and can neither choose nor compromise, ultimately just having Spock keep working on the transporters and McCoy conduct an autopsy. It shows how important both perspectives are, but as his role is to normally mediate it, we also see how it is when he can't. The two sides are left unresolved. It ends well enough with Kirk ultimately going through with the transporters, but it still shows how much Kirk both needs Spock and McCoy and how much they need him.

So with all that said, my final thoughts? This is a great episode. Great plot and concept, great pacing, great character moments with Kirk especially, it's all very well done. I guess Shatner's acting isn't going to be for everyone, but I think it worked alright, and I think he did pretty well with Bad Kirk's breakdown at the end. The only thing holding it back is that one part that unfortunately bogs it down enough that I can't give a perfect rating still. But all that said, this is one I'd very much revisit if I felt like it. I had a lot of fun coming back to this one, and I'm glad I did.

Original Ranking: 4.5/5.

Rewatch Ranking: 8/10

[My TOS Reviews]

[TOS S1 Reviews]

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[ren-shonen]

Returning fire: time to Be Seen friendo

"There's A Lot Going On Actually And It Can Get Messy" is a favorite genre

Likes blue as a motif color (for various symbolic reasons but if I had to pick one, maybe a hint at the ever lingering sense of feeling "blue"/lonely that they just can't shake?)

Very inspired by music, but especially lyrics

Drawn to characters who are "fishes out of water" so to speak, whether they're in a different physical environment from where they grew up, or in a new social circle/status that they're not used to having (shoutout to Rhenbraen for ending up in BOTH types at once)

Also characters who struggle with the balance between maintaining their independence and leaning on others for help/support

Symbolic 👏 Locations 👏 and/or Landmarks 👏👏 (whether for in-game screenshots like FFXIV or fanfic settings for characters to meet up at)

(Much like you did I kinda cheated for some of these since we've talked about favorite themes and motifs before but I can point to your writing entries and go "Right there, Exhibit A")

(Hello! This lovely ask prompted an absolute ramble, but since I intend to reblog this to my FFXIV blog also, I must apologize in advance for not putting this under a readmore)

A Lot Going On: You're SO right. 😅 I do like the layers, and I like peeling them back.

blue: Yes, I sure do end up with a lot of OCs with blue theming, don't I? Also, I had it pointed out once that blue shows up more than once in my BNHA fics, specifically as the color of the sky in the early morning, before sunrise. I promptly went "y'know.... huh" because I associate that time of day with having been up all night and, yeah, with a certain deep loneliness or sometimes solitude (perhaps funnily, my motif color for myself is red!)

lyrics: very yes. Especially lyrics. Almost all of my BNHA fics and FFXIV writings have a song associated with them, and several of the fics have lyric titles (as is tradition XD)

fish out of water: You're on to something here for sure, because this is true of very many of my FFXIV characters!

I suspect this may stem primarily from my enjoyment of Putting Characters in Situations that they then have to deal with, and being far from home and the familiar is a great way to do that. FFXIV's setting also makes it easy (practically necessary) to do this with any character whose lore origins place them outside of Eorzea, since they'd have to have a reason to travel there. As a result, I often employ it as a plot device to "shake things up" — like the most minor version of the isekai trope, perhaps. So I'd say it's less "drawn to" and more "tend to deliberately engineer," lol!

It may amuse you to know that Rhenbraen actually was very firmly embedded in their home environment for a BIG initial chunk of their story, and trying to figure out how to maneuver things so they would leave it was a major undertaking. (They were so stuck. SO stuck.)

...arguably, "being forced out of one's home environment" in my writing is usually a spur toward growth and positive change, even if it comes with significant growing pains.

Relatedly, I do have a personal theme of "you can't go home again" that shows up for almost all of my OCs, even the ones who have literally returned to their home environments.

I'm not sure if this also shows up in my BNHA stuff. I think there, it's more general sense of the world changing around the characters, and changing the characters, too? of time continuing and bringing with it new circumstances and situations, some of which are painful? Like Izuku having to confront being touch-starved for the first time when he moved into the dorms ("Distance and Weight"), which is a not-uncommon teenage/young adult experience. Now that I think about it, that's a good example of the second type you talked about (different social circumstance).

independence/support: oooh that's a fun one to ponder. (I wonder if I have any characters who lean toward the be-supported side? Maybe Renan? Zedyr?) Definitely shows up as a prominent theme in my BNHA stuff, though, at least on the "trouble asking for help" side. *cough*Izuku*cough*

landmarks: ooh interesting one. You know, this one actually is a bit personal/about me as the writer, even if I'm not totally sure it reaches beyond Rhenbraen's symbolic attachment to the Lominsan lighthouse (have to think about that one! but it feels right....) I'll message you to tell you more about the specifics. :D

[thesolemnhour]

Hello Lairiend :) 3, 4, 15, 17 for Agria?

omg hey dujour! nice to meet you! i love all of your writing you were a huge inspiration to me to start sharing my stuff!❤️

tysm for asking these are such fun questions! sorry this got long under the cut lol

3. Companions: your OC’s platonic best friend?

LANN. Agria thinks Lann rules and likes him immediately. He also agrees with her choices maybe twice in the whole game, so it's the duality of man(n), I suppose. Agria recognizes qualities in him that she really wishes she had herself: honesty, stability, straightforwardness. Lann takes slightly longer to warm up (he rightly thinks she's annoying), but he similarly appreciates things Agria has that he lacks in comparison: she's outgoing and sensitive in a way that he struggles to be.

It strikes a nice balance, and she basically considers him family by Act 3.

4. Companions: your OC’s rock / person they go to for reassurance?

Agria trusts and admires Seelah tremendously. Early on, she's kind of in awe and crushes on her for a hot second in Act 1. Faith is one of Agria's very few insecurities, and she's deeply impressed by Seelah's confidence in hers, even when what she wants to do might be at odds with conventional doctrine. In the moments where she is truly unsure of what to do, she goes to Seelah.

Later, as they start to get closer, she also goes to Woljif! He is the one she really trusts to understand her, whatever the circumstances may be. She spends so much time trying to get a read on him and anticipate his choices in Acts 1 and 2 that it actually really takes her by surprise that he was watching her back just as closely.

She is briefly mystified by the realization that all her little tricks for deflecting and getting people to only ask her the questions she wants to answer suddenly aren't working anymore. That kind of awareness of her would be terrifying, but there's a real sense of safety there. It's just us; what's there to be afraid of?

15. Your OC’s backstory?

This got so, so long, and I can only apologize.

Agria is a card-carrying member of House Lebeda, one seven great houses of Brevoy, but she's not an important one. Her father Victor was a deeply disposable fourth son, which meant that he would inherit precisely nothing but was afforded a certain level of freedom his brothers never got.

The first thing he does with this freedom is make himself a very unconventional love match with one Lady Alase Istul. The Istuls are former Sarkorians who only gained lands recently: wild choice for the son of a great house, but everyone decides that at least the novelty keeps them entertained.

For a while, everything is great! The junior Lebedas certainly don't have the kind of status their cousins have, and Alase and the in-laws don't get along, but that's to be expected. And, hey! Agria is born an aasimar! That's probably a good sign, right?

Even if Victor is busy all the time, Alase and Agria get along just fine. Mom cultivates in her daughter a deep love of Sarkorian culture and history.

As she grows, she picks up the typical knack for fire magic common to ember-kin aasimars. Trouble is, little Agria is igniting the drapes, so she's going to need some help here. Dad had some instruction as a kid, so he pulls himself away from work for once to teach her the basics.

And, wow, uh? She's really good? Huh, interesting. Victor has spent enough time desperately trying to break into the world of politics to know an opportunity when he sees one. When the ruling Surtovas start making noise about turning Brevoy into a legit hub for magic in the north, he can't raise his hand fast enough to volunteer his daughter.

He moves his family to the capital, and for the first time, the junior Lebedas matter. Agria thinks, "Well, maybe I'm working really hard, and I don't have time for stuff other kids do, but it's for magic!" And she loves magic!

That is, until her mom dies when Agria is fifteen. Agria was so busy she barely knew she was sick. Then, she thinks, "Uh. Um. Guys. Maybe I should slow down?" Dad reacts like she just stabbed him.

It takes a few years, but eventually she does blow up her life spectacularly. Agria limps out of New Stetven with a ruined purpose in life to match her new broken leg. No one who she loved will speak to her after that.

The only one who will speak to is her mother's sister-in-law, Dalla. She has a young daughter, Gwyneth, who only just started doing magic herself and needs a teacher, and this is the pretext Dalla uses to justify inviting her to stay with Clan Widowknife for a while. Agria, nursing a leg that will not heal, is determined to hate life, but but Gwyn wears her down. Damn that sweet kid and her bug collection.

Over time, she starts actually listening to Aunt Dalla, who becomes her guiding star. Aunt Dalla is the coolest person ever, so why not do everything she does? She starts worshipping Desna because she so admires the way that her aunt sees the world.

But she's still Agria, and love is an action, so she needs to do something meaningful for the Istuls and Clan Widowknife. After a few years, Gwyn wants to learn the kind of summoning magic the Godcallers of Clan Widowknife did before the Worldwound. But they can't find a single person who still knows it! This sparks her grand quest to seek out the scattered Sarkorians to collect their lore for future generations, which leads her to Mendev!

17. Your OC’s high point?

Right after the Mephistopheles fight on the Azata path in Act 5!

Agria is not a good Desnan and is so desperate for clear instruction that she doesn’t really suspect “Early Sunset” until Arue points it in the Abyss. Then, it seems completely obvious. No Azata would ever have made it this easy for her!

So, going into this fight, Agria keeps the mythic powers, choosing to take their manifestation in this particular way as a sign that she’s on the right path. But she doesn’t feel great about it yet. It’s the kind of going out on a limb that free-spirited Desnans live for and that she is terrified of.

Going back to the island for the first time since Act 3 is a little bit like facing that unsure version of herself that still needed Early Sunset to feel confident in her choices. She figures killing Mephistopheles properly is more work than it’s worth, but making sure that he knows she’s better than him feels pretty great.

The big moment for her really comes when Maitresse Olla Devara tells her that Elysium backs her up on the decision to keep the mythic powers. She says, “it doesn’t matter who or what was the original source of your powers. What matters is where your heart calls you.”

It’s the first time Agria really feels sure in her faith, and it’s an incredible feeling.

She also gets the “run away with me” event in the Woljif Romance Mod right afterwards, which is both the nicest thing anyone has ever done for her and the moment she knows she’s in love with him. I will happily elaborate on that if anyone would like lol!

[constellationcrowned]

Is there a particular character that you write that you feel deserves more attention? Do you as a writer have a 'type' or trope you're the most drawn to? Out of your cast of characters, who's the best prepared for a crisis? The worst? Who has the best singing voice? Who could be really good at it with some practice? Who has the weirdest hobby, like does someone grow flowers to make their own paints and dyes?

How would (blorbo of your choice, my pick is kariom) react to 'You're just like your mother and/or father'?

((Slapping this under a read more only because I have to answer multiple questions and I might be....wordy. Might.))

Is there a particular character that you write that you feel deserves more attention?: From a general standpoint (and in the interest of just being frank) all of them do considering this blog is incredibly fuckin niche and getting engagement is.....difficult. Not that I'm going to let that stop me, obviously.

Coming from a place of bias personal standpoint it'd be nice for my oc Sishel to get more attention if only so I can flesh him out more, finalize some things, etc.

Do you as a writer have a 'type' or trope you're the most drawn to?: As is the case on my other blog I am heinously in love with sad, damaged men; especially those struggling with what makes them 'human' (or not human, in certain special cases) and how that shifts their perceptions about the outer world and their own internal world. All of the muses on this blog are walking a fine line of some sort---some realize they're on it, some don't---likewise some know that it will kill them to remain/keep walking but, for a variety of reasons, circumstances, etc, refuse to step off said line. I've always loved complex characters that are far, far, far removed from a mere black and white view and I get that in excess here for every character and I love that.

Out of your cast of characters, who's the best prepared for a crisis? The worst?: Sishel is best prepared for a crisis Not only was he trained for such things for one his perspective in a general sense is broad and as a result he's hard to truly surprise. He's not the only one well equipped to handle things, obviously, but he's one of the best.

The worst prepared? Kariom. Sometimes. His dependency upon those he trusts---Flynn, Bo, Milosh, etc---can potentially (if not drastically) hinder him in regards to figuring out, ultimately, what to do during a crisis if they're not actually there beside him. He has a tendency to go from point to point, one thing to the next, and so on, in a very narrow view until the wider issue becomes more manageable which can easily be both a good and bad quality. He won't give up when there's a problem in front of him---and that saves him often, his determination is one of his strongest assets, after all---but he might be slow to act initially or doubt himself if he's alone, stressed, undergoing a shuffling or suffering from do-de, etc.

Who has the best singing voice? Who could be really good at it with some practice?: Kariom is one of the characters with the best singing voices---a talent only further helped by the fact that his head is nigh constantly filled with the various songs and voices of the stars to the point where (provided he's not being hurt by those same voices, that balance is one of his walked upon lines) he'll even try to sing and/or hum them aloud himself, not only as a way to remember them/potentially write them out later, but to share them with others.

In regards to a muse being good at singing with practice Flynn doesn't need it, per se, but you will practically have to pull teeth to get him to sing for you in the first place. If he does it without much fuss/coaxing/begging it's generally for a special occasion like Tigla-Dera or a Rite within the clan that might call for it. Sometimes he sings while he works---usually he just hums while working the field but sometimes he'll sing to the plants and crops---but that's usually only when he knows he's alone. He used to sing to the kiddo when he was little, he even taught him a few songs that he could, at the very least, hum along to if the words were hard to remember.

Who has the weirdest hobby, like does someone grow flowers to make their own paints and dyes?: The Traveler's collection thanks to her 'job' somewhat falls under this; considering she's close to an masterless melalo and yet her explorations, documentations, experiments, and crafting go far beyond mere spiritualism or mysticism and as a result ends up being incredibly physical/tangible in nature. Melalo are hands on too, obviously, but there's a quality of alchemy to the Traveler's work that marks a clear division between the practices.

She's very, very, very hands on with her work; be it for herself or for someone else that she's trying to aid in some way, and that has led her to witness some very astonishing and nightmarish things (to say nothing of how she ultimately interacted with said things) and as a result her 'collection' can be seen as 'strange' by someone viewing it from the outside. Flynn, Junyver and Mares would certainly appreciate it. The distance between benign and pleasing to stark and deadly is incredibly thin with her. And she doesn't know when to stop.

How would (blorbo of your choice, my pick is Kariom) react to 'You're just like your mother and/or father'?: For a multitude of reasons I can't answer this in regards to Kariom (yet) but if you were to say this to Roui---specifically in regards to his father, Churi---he would not take it well in the slightest. Roui would be deeply hurt for the most part; especially when you take into the account the work he puts forth in order to avoid the pitfalls that plagues his entire family line (with incredibly mixed success mind you; not to mention some of the toxicity he doesn't seem to realize that he's already internalized), and saying something like that without keeping his efforts of growth in mind can and will set him off. Roui is working hard to better himself as a person first and foremost and his primary associations of his father are steeped in feelings of pain, abandonment, etc, and are, understandably, hard for him to see past much less reconcile. Yet. It doesn't help that he practically refuses to talk about it in an honest or open way because he's afraid of being judged and misunderstood by others.

He would respond more positively to being compared to his mother (although she too has some rather stark issues that Roui was (and still is) negatively impacted by) especially she's actually present in his life and that gives them the opportunity to repair their frayed relationship and move forward in a healthier and closer way.))

[eimearkuopio]

I'm going to be 40 this year and I don't drink. I chose not to start when I was underage, even though this is very rare in Ireland, because I figured I could always start later but I might find it harder to stop. I sometimes cook with wine, and pre-COVID I would sometimes receive communion under both species at church, but I've never deliberately consumed an alcoholic beverage just as a drink. (I've also never deliberately consumed recreational drugs, and the limited unintended exposure I have had has left me with no regrets on that front. And I drink way more Coke and eat way more chocolate than I should, both of which have ethical implications that I struggle with, so this isn't me claiming moral superiority, just describing my life.)

I've also never killed anyone. Neither have most people, you might say. But here's the thing: I have zero doubt that, under the right circumstances, I could and would kill someone.

Here are my requirements:

I would need to genuinely believe that the person I killed would do sufficient harm to the world that killing them would balance out any corresponding good they might do or I might do. Killng them would also need to ensure the harm was not done. I fully believe Elon Musk is going to do enough harm that his death might be justified, but killing him might not actually prevent that harm because he's part of a larger system that will continue in his absence, so I'm not going to kill him even if the opportunity arises.

Me killing that person would need to be the only reasonable way to prevent their doing harm. Historical example: whatever the current situation or original intent, the Catholic Church has undeniably protected child abusers in a way that permitted them to continue offending and doing harm to others (and arguably to themselves). These days, there are better (if still imperfect) protective systems in place, so if I uncovered ongoing abuse, there would be alternative options. On the other hand, if I was living in Ireland in the 1980s and uncovered something like this and tried to go through "correct" channels, things would have been covered up and going vigilante could have legitimately felt like the only option.

You may have noticed earlier that I said I was balancing my choices, not just against what good the other person would do, but against what good I might do. That's not because I'm planning to go the murder-suicide route. That's because, if I ever end up having to follow through on this (and I hope I never will, but it's not impossible), I will immediately give a full confession to all relevant authorities, together with a comprehensive explanation of my motivation. If I ever kill anyone, it will be because I genuinely believe it's the only acceptable outcome in that situation and I might still be wrong. I wouldn't do it on a whim. I'd rather let a flawed system evolve and become better and perhaps protect more people more effectively, and I can encourage that progress more effectively if I'm in the "above reproach" position of never needing to put this philosophy into practice. But if I ever do kill someone, everyone will know, because if I get it wrong then I should be imprisoned or institutionalised; and even if I get it right, I can never do it again, because then it's not "I must do this to protect the world", it's "well last time I got it right so this time I will too!" And that's how you get police brutality and Bond movies.

Point is, I think this is how Batman thinks. If he ever deliberately kills someone, he will hang up his cowl and confess everything. All the good either Batman or Bruce Wayne could ever do will be crippled as a result (and we can discuss why I would rather be Jim Gordon than Batman another day, even if Batman arguably gets more done by certain metrics and Jim Gordon might actually kill multiple people as part of his role). I don't think he holds back from killing the Joker to avoid the slippery slope, but because he gets one, and he tries to do enough good in the world that the scale is never quite weighted in favour of taking out any specific villain permanently if his own removal from the board would also be a consequence.

I hate Bruce's "I don't kill because once I start, I wouldn't be able to stop"

Like I simply do not buy it. Murder is not a potato chip Bruce. I think he is full of shit and a messy bitch who lives for the drama. I am certain Bruce has some kind of valid reason for not killing, but I don't believe that this is it.

[freenewsreport]

Thomas Kingston’s Tragic Death Sparks Questions and Concerns

The untimely death of Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston, has raised many questions and left a community in mourning. Thomas Kingston, 45, was tragically discovered deceased outside his parents' residence with a fatal head injury and a firearm nearby. While an inquest into his death is scheduled for February 25, 2024, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain a subject of speculation and deep concern.

The Life and Legacy of Thomas Kingston

Thomas Kingston was a prominent figure known for his sharp intellect, compassionate nature, and steadfast support for charitable causes. He was a beloved member of his community, and his unexpected death has left a void in the lives of many. As the husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston, he often stood in the public eye, admired for his grace under pressure and his dedication to family.

Unraveling the Circumstances

The tragic event unfolded at his parents' residence, where Thomas Kingston was found lifeless. The presence of a firearm and the location of his injuries have sparked questions about the exact nature of his death. Early reports suggest it might have been an impulsive act, with authorities also considering the potential influence of prescribed medications on his mental state.

What the Inquest May Reveal

The upcoming inquest is expected to shed light on the events leading up to Thomas Kingston death. Inquests are conducted to determine the cause and circumstances of such tragic incidents, often involving testimonies from medical professionals, family members, and other key witnesses. For Kingston's family and friends, the inquest represents a critical step toward understanding what happened and beginning to find closure.

Initial Findings and Implications

Preliminary investigations suggest a complex interplay of factors, including mental health struggles and the potential impact of prescribed medications. Thomas Kingston had reportedly been prescribed medication that might have influenced his behavior, raising broader concerns about the side effects of certain drugs. Experts emphasize the need to evaluate how these medications might contribute to impulsive actions, urging further research in this area.

The Broader Impacts of Mental Health Treatments

The tragedy of Thomas Kingston highlights the delicate balance of treating mental health conditions with medication. While such treatments can be life-changing, they may also carry risks that require careful monitoring. Lady Gabriella has since spoken out, calling for increased awareness about the potential side effects of these medications and the importance of open discussions about mental health.

Public Interest and Media Coverage

The high-profile nature of Thomas Kingston’s death has drawn significant media attention, with outlets closely following developments. While the coverage has brought awareness to important issues surrounding mental health and medication, it has also placed additional pressure on the grieving family. The public and media are urged to approach the matter with sensitivity as the inquest unfolds.

Conclusion

The tragic loss of Thomas Kingston has left a lasting impact on those who knew and loved him. As the inquest approaches, the hope is that it will provide answers to lingering questions and help the family find some measure of peace. His death also serves as a sobering reminder of the complexities surrounding mental health treatments and the importance of understanding their broader implications.

By reflecting on Thomas Kingston's life and the circumstances of his passing, society can better address the challenges of mental health and work toward a future where tragedies like this can be prevented.

[ross1245]

Pros and Cons of Doing a Short Sale in 2025

Considering a short sale in 2025? Contact Short Sale Connection for expert guidance today!

Pros and Cons of Doing a Short Sale in 2025

Considering a short sale in 2025? Contact Short Sale Connection for expert guidance today!

If you’re struggling with mortgage payments and considering your options to avoid foreclosure, a short sale might be a solution worth exploring. In this blog, we’ll dive into the benefits and drawbacks of a short sale, helping homeowners like you weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

At Short Sale Connection, we understand the challenges homeowners face and are here to provide expert guidance throughout the short sale process. Whether you’re facing financial difficulties or simply looking for alternatives to foreclosure, our team is here to help. Visit us for more information about how we can assist you: myshortsalelink.com.

Benefits of a Short Sale for Homeowners

Avoid Foreclosure One of the biggest benefits of a short sale is that it allows homeowners to avoid foreclosure. Foreclosure can be a lengthy and stressful process that not only impacts your credit but also adds additional legal and financial complications. A short sale can offer a way out, allowing you to sell your home while the lender agrees to forgive the remaining balance on your mortgage.

Potential Credit Recovery While a short sale does affect your credit, it’s often much less damaging than foreclosure. Homeowners who go through a short sale can typically recover their credit score faster than those who experience foreclosure. Additionally, a short sale can help minimize the impact on your ability to secure future loans or purchase a home.

Move On with Your Life A short sale provides an opportunity for homeowners to move on without the prolonged uncertainty of foreclosure. Once the sale is complete, the debt is resolved (depending on lender approval), and you can begin to rebuild your financial life. This can be particularly beneficial if you need to relocate for a job, family, or personal reasons.

No Deficiency Judgment (In Some Cases) Depending on your state’s laws and the lender’s policies, a short sale may not result in a deficiency judgment, where the lender seeks the remaining balance after the sale. By negotiating with the lender, Short Sale Connection can help prevent deficiency judgments, saving you from further financial burden.

Drawbacks of a Short Sale for Homeowners

Impact on Credit Score While a short sale is less damaging than foreclosure, it still impacts your credit score. Lenders will report the debt as “settled for less than owed” or “paid less than full balance,” which can lower your credit score. The extent of the impact depends on your overall credit history and the timing of the short sale.

Longer Process Than a Traditional Sale The short sale process can take several months to complete, especially when a lender is involved. Unlike a traditional sale, where the transaction is relatively quick, a short sale often involves lengthy negotiations and waiting periods for lender approval. Homeowners must be prepared for this delay, and buyers should also understand the potential for a longer closing timeline.

No Guarantee of Approval Even if you meet all the qualifications and submit all required paperwork, there’s no guarantee that the lender will approve your short sale. Lenders are not always willing to accept a short sale offer, especially if they believe they can recover more money through foreclosure. However, with the right help and guidance from Short Sale Connection, you can maximize your chances of lender approval.

Potential Tax Liabilities One of the drawbacks of a short sale is the possibility of facing tax liabilities. The IRS may consider the forgiven debt as taxable income, and you could be required to pay taxes on it. However, there are exceptions under certain circumstances, such as if the property is your primary residence, or if specific state laws apply. Consulting with a tax professional can help clarify your situation.

Emotional and Financial Stress The short sale process can be emotionally and financially draining. Homeowners are often under significant stress due to financial hardship, and the added complexity of navigating the short sale process can amplify these feelings. It’s important to have the support of experts who can handle the details, which is where Short Sale Connection comes in. Our team can help reduce the stress and guide you through each step.

Is a Short Sale Right for You?

The decision to proceed with a short sale is not one to take lightly. While it offers several advantages, such as avoiding foreclosure and potentially recovering your credit score, it also comes with challenges like an impact on your credit and potential tax liabilities. Before making a decision, it’s essential to carefully consider both the benefits of a short sale and the drawbacks of a short sale.

At Short Sale Connection, we are committed to helping homeowners navigate the complexities of the short sale process. We can help you understand your options, negotiate with lenders, and ensure the best possible outcome for your situation. Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind during a challenging time.

Get Expert Help with Your Short Sale

If you’re facing financial difficulty and are considering a short sale, don’t go through it alone. The team at Short Sale Connection is here to assist you with every step of the process, from negotiating with your lender to finalizing the sale. We specialize in helping homeowners like you avoid foreclosure and find a path forward.

For more information about our services and how we can assist you, visit myshortsalelink.com today!