#can you tell literature was one of my favourite school subjects

[aluminia]

Today I present: Mia

[walrus150915]

cw: discussions of nonsexual grooming

There is one thing that has been spinning on my mind ever since I watched the movie. This conversation isn't that popular in the fandom, probably due to its uncomfortable subject matter, but it needs to be discussed. I'll be the one to start

The Director has groomed Ambrosius and it affected him far into adulthood

(A really long analysis post)

Warning: I'm not a psychologist neither am I really educated in this sphere, and I never was a victim of grooming, so don't take my words as 100% truth. However, I'm a literature student, so I can analyse a few scenes and make a conclusion lol

So, to start off, let's share the definition of grooming, shall we?

"Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them."

Now, of course Ambrosius is an adult in the movie, and we can't exactly know his entire history with the Director. So this analysis will take a few things as truth despite them not being confirmed

- the Director has been by Ambrosius's side throughout most of his life. Considering the fact that she's been around even when Ballister was a child, the same can be assumed about Ambrosius

- we as viewers do not see Ambrosius's parents (because this is quite unnecessary to the narrative, maybe we'll see them in a sequel Quane and Bruno were teasing buttt¯\_(ツ)_/¯), and he's been in the Institute since childhood, so it seems like the Director was the most reliable adult in Ambrosius's life

Despite Ambrosius being a grown man, the effect the Director has on him cannot be denied. His relationship to the Director is like half his character arc, the man being torn between his loyalty to the kingdom and his lover

I will take a few scenes from the movie where Ambrosius and the Director interact and try to analyse them

Starting off strong, we've got the "acting like common children" scene. I could point out the obvious bias the Director puts in her words (villainizing an oppressed group of people as a rich white woman in power how nice of her) but we ain't coming to her throat for classism today. Pay attention to her praising Ambrosius and singling him out. "Thankfully, we have a descendant of Gloreth to lead us"

Are other knights happy to be around Ambrosius tho? The answer is no

(Text below is taken from the screenplay. The scene is after Nimona's and Bal's escape)

***

Knights: I knew we never should have trusted Ballister./If Goldenloin hadn't trusted him.../Well, if Goldenloin hadn't helped him...

***

Todd: This is his fault!

Knights: Yeah!/Tell him, Todd!

Goldenloin realizes all eyes are on him

***

I think it wouldn't be wrong to assume Ambrosius's colleagues dislike him at best and outcast him at worst. Compared to Todd, who seems to be the more liked one amongst their peers (bro really is a jock bully high school stereotype in his 20s isn't that embarrassing), Ambrosius is isolated. He doesn't have anybody except Ballister and the Director. And as you all know Ballister and Ambrosius are separated for the most of the movie. So it leaves him with the Director as the closest person to interact with. Yeah...

Also in this scene she displays TWO tactics groomers use to manipulate their victims: isolation and favouritism

Another scene I'd like to pay attention to is Ambrosius's ✨iconic✨ freak out

"What's on your mind, Ambrosius? You can talk to me"

"...I'm fine, Director"

This scene actually left me confused on the first watch because it looks like a perfect moment for the Director to seem at least somewhat sympathetic. It truly seems like she cares about him

Honestly it's pretty hard for me to surely say whether or not she's being sincere or not but her goal is definitely to win over Ambrosius's trust, to make him believe she's a safe person (now that his real safe person is away ajdjdjj). That is also another tactic for groomers to manipulate their victims

And I think it would be fair to mention Director's attitude towards Ballister's and Ambrosius's relationship. It's obvious she knows about them (...not like it's rocket science have you seen these lovebirds) and disapproves. She doesn't outright state it but it's really clear

"Sir Goldenloin, is your loyalty to this Kingdom or to the knight who consorts with a monster?"

Again, amazing case of manipulation. She doesn't say Institute, nor "me" or whatever. She says kingdom. And she clearly knows that it works on Ambrosius, because he is, after all, Gloreth's descendant. Gloreth was the original protector, and Ambrosius is supposed to be the protector now. By choosing Ballister he betrays the kingdom, his bloodline and Gloreth

Now, I know this scene is not Ambrosius & the Director because it's Nimona in disguise but considering how good Nimona was in playing her part we might as well assume real Ambrosius would act the same.

Look at these eyes. He's afraid of her. She has the complete power over him. And Ballister is aware of this (if that's how he told Nimona to act)

Off-topic but I watched Nimona with two of my buddies yesterday and during this scene they both went like "Wait, who is she to Ambrosius again? Is she his mother? Because she acts like she one" and they are so damn right???

Now remember the fact that during one of the interviews Eugene Lee Yang said that the Director is Ambrosius's parental figure. Do with this information whatever you wanna do

I'm still not over her audacity in this scene. Her lip didn't even twitch and she's killing a person whom she praised for his bloodline. Saying "May Gloreth forgive you" while DRIVING A SWORD THROUGH HIM is beyond evil like??? Chill out Nancy Reagan???

I could say that this is the scene that debacles the American model minority myth (with East Asians being put on a pedestal and used to further reinforce white supremacy). A white woman killing an East Asian man while using a Christ-like figure to justify her actions (Gloreth is literally mentioned to be a Christ figure in the art book), and, if we take into account the theory that she wanted to set Ballister up so that it looks like he killed Ambrosius, BLAMING IT ON A BROWN ASIAN MAN was really a choice huh

The Director killed Ambrosius the second he questioned her, the second he wasn't useful to her

And how was he being useful to her? Allow me to introduce you to the scene which made me SUPER uncomfortable once I realized what was going on

During most of the movie Ambrosius acts rather impulsively, reflexes play a big part in his body language. And what does he do? He protects her with his body

"We need to get you to safety!"

Ambrosius was trained in a way that he needed to protect the Director with his body and his life.

Even in scenes where Ambrosius and the Director don't interact you can see how much Ambrosius is brainwashed.

"She manipulated you. She manipulated both of us. But together we'll take her down, you'll be a knight again"

"Thank you. The Director can't-"

"The Director? Oh, no, Bal. I'm talking about your sidekick"

Ambrosius refuses to even think about the effect the Director has on him. He's insisting on Nimona being the manipulator despite him being manipulated

Finally, when Ambrosius realizes something is CLEARLY wrong, he still tries to talk some sense into her

"But what if we're wrong? What if we've always been wrong?"

Despite him being a constant witness to Director's misdeeds he tries to do everything peacefully. Look at his face. This is a face of a man who doesn't want to harm. He gives the Director a chance to improve herself. I think he would forgive her after everything she's done

...but being a conservative she'd rather explode than admit she's wrong. So she attempts to kill Ambrosius again

This, again, says that no matter how much mercy you show to hateful people, they'll continue to be horrible to you. Just because they think they have a right to

Analysing Ambrosius's and the Director's relationship I think it'd be more than valid to state that she has, indeed, groomed Ambrosius to exploit and use him for her own (political and other) benefits. Other knights were brainwashed and groomed too, but something about her attitude towards Ambrosius really bugged me the wrong way

She is an excellent manipulator and Ambrosius fell victim to that, which is no surprise

Thank you for reading this! It took so long to make😭 If you want to add on anything in the reblogs please do, because the discussion HAS to happen at some point

[legendary-guest]

High school sucks, from puberty to petty relationship drama to navigating the cliques - not to mention the teachers! Some so crabby, so lippy, so unfair, so mean that you could swear they were...evil?

Meet Dr. Drew Lipsky and Ms. Shea Go! Other outfits linked here. Lots of text under the cut.

"Mr. Lipsky is my father. You will address me as Dr. Lipsky."

It is difficult to escape Dr. Lipsky on the learning side of the high school ecosystem, he practically runs every class that involves math or science.

Arrogant, grouchy and with a tendency to ramble, Doc runs his classroom with an iron fist and a strict no lip policy. He is seldom seen without his ruler, which he uses to write along the chalkboard with his terrible handwriting, draw diagrams, gesture wildly with and slam on sleeping students' desks to rudely wake them. Despite this unpleasant behaviour, he has obvious favourite students - some of them have gone a long way just by sucking up to him - like not being yelled at and being one of the privileged few that haven't been damned to detention for a minor transgression. He's not just mean, he's also weird.

He likes to show-off the fact that he can draw a perfect circle, free-handed. This impresses a lot of the kids, until it becomes dull - he is workshopping drawing a perfect dodecahedron free-handed (it's not going well). School festivities and similar events, not centred around sport, tend to have him actively organising and participating in them. Always decorates the classroom around Christmas time, becomes unbearably cheery. His love for Snowman Hank is infamous.

Students have figured out an effective method to avoid learning - by getting Dr. Lipsky to talk about himself, or anything that vaguely interests him, he isn't difficult to distract. If he realises what's happening, everyone gets extra homework. If he doesn't and class ends, he seethes about it.

Of course, this means that he's always marking, always busy, a vicious feedback loop. He secretly doesn't mind this, as it keeps him occupied, away from depressing thoughts and crushing loneliness. His job is his social life, but even this is difficult as the only real rapport he has with anyone are the students he rambles to. Well, them and now Ms. Go, whom he carpools with - picking him up and dropping him off 5 days a week, just the two of them. His own car was totalled by Ed, and unable to afford another on a teacher's salary, he'd been catching the bus to and from work. His garage has turned into a workshop, where he tinkers with fixing old computers, building robots, lasers, programming microchips, etc. He really doesn't spend time in his own home.

Drew is dyslexic but doesn't know it - he's found ways to manage this. One of these ways is calling on kids who he knows are in Ms. Go's classes - he always knows them - to help him spell something. “How do you spell it?” “What?” “What do you mean ‘what?’ I know you’re in Miss Go’s AP Literature class, so tell me how to spell it!” “Uh…” [spelling ensues] “That wasn’t so difficult now was it?” “Thanks would be nice” “Detention.” “What?” “I heard you talk back. Detention. I’m old, not deaf.” Unlike Drakken, the subject of his blue skin and scar aren't things he's keen to talk about. He addresses it once at the beginning of every semester to the students to quell rumours and that's it. “Before you all start asking, I’ll tell you. This nasty scar? Lab accident. Blue skin? Lab accident. Is it contagious? No. We’re speaking about injuries, not cooties. So, you know I take lab safety very, very seriously. Gloves, closed shoes and glasses in the lab at all times! Last thing I need is a lawsuit from your parents.” No member of staff, including Ms. Go, know why he is blue.

He is still a college drop-out - his doctorate and teaching certifications are fake. He has never been caught. The inciting incident for dropping out (I have yet to cement whether or not it is the Bebes) has defeated him instead of motivating him. Drew Lipsky is still Drakken, but listless, without real focus or ambition, prone to indifference and depression. As Dr. Lipsky, he is a genuinely good, competent teacher, despite all his faults - the need to explain things, repeatedly, helps him in the profession.

Ms. Go is the hot new English teacher at school! Although she is new to teaching on her own, she is not as naïve as some might think. With her experience as Shego, member of Team Go from Go City, dealing with her brothers and various criminals and villains alike, Ms. Go knows her way around people - the Child Development qualification is merely a bonus.

Staff and students don't know of Ms. Go's hero identity and she goes to great lengths to deceive students that point out her strangely tinted skin - by telling them that it's merely the fluorescent lights in the school that make her appear green, and that, maybe, they should be more focused on what's on the board. Several students have started wearing glasses since her employment. Gaslighting the kids is something she enjoys immensely. Dr. Lipsky has noticed, too, but he doesn't bring it up, accepting her reasoning - for now.

Her attractiveness is no secret, with many a boy harbouring a crush on her, some of the bolder ones hitting on her in class or the hallway. Ms. Go effectively destroys the fragile, male teen ego in a single, creatively worded sentence, leaving a path of bitter, broken hearts (and sometimes tears) behind her. Creative put-downs aren't just reserved for boys that hit on her.

Ms. Go's criteria for her hitlist include: disrupting class, poor enunciation/pronunciation, mumbling, using the wrong words, incorrect/poor grammar, and abuse of teen slang in class.

Anything that isn't a school textbook or notebook that is left behind in Ms. Go's classroom goes missing. Pencils, pens, spare change, personal diaries, MP3 players, CD players, gum (which they shouldn't have anyway!) - gone. Ms. Go picks the room CLEAN as soon as all of them leave - finders keepers! She has an impressive collection, and shares the spoils with Dr. Lipsky. Forgot something in Ms. Go's class? FORGET IT! She gives props to those who can clap back in a creative (grammatically correct, well-spoken) way. For this, she is a very divisive figure, fluctuating between cool-hot-mean-bitchy at all times.

The popular, self-absorbed girls try to emulate Ms. Go, from her mannerisms to her style. She doesn't mind this, and even has some fun in seeing how far she can take it.

Ms. Go runs her classes efficiently and she never assigns extra homework - she doesn't want to mark it. She clocks in at 7am and clocks out at 3:30pm, not a minute before or after.

She has an expensive sports car (I'm thinking a Maserati), which she was able to procure from the Mayor of Go City for her service. Hego was, is, very upset over this. Although she has been out of the hero game for a while, something about the unusually hued Dr. Drew Lipsky had her extend the offer to carpool - just him. Especially after she saw him come to work, late, soaking wet from some surprise torrential rain, snarling and growling and snapping at anyone who so much as looked at him funny - only to be berated by the principal on top of it all.

Her degree in Child Development means that she holds the position of school counsellor. Problem is, no one wants to see her! Who does after hearing all the mean things she says? Her small office is rarely visited, to the point where Dr. Lipsky has moved in with all his stuff, mountains of paper that made his corner of the teacher's lounge very unseemly. Anyone who knocks is met with the Doc's intimidating stature and signature frown.

Ms. Go and Dr. Lipsky sit by themselves in the small office, never in the teacher's lounge. Drew will sometimes stay back and work, catching the bus home, whilst Shea goes home. As they get closer, Ms. Go will sometimes just go for a few hours and return to the school to take the Doc home. Although it seems like she's got it all, at the end of the day, she still goes home to her apartment - alone. Used to being surrounded by her family, as annoying as they are, used to the excitement and rush of hero work, and no longer actively using her powers, Shea is not too sure what to make of normal, civilian life. Especially after hers has been anything but. Partying, clubbing and shopping on the weekends are fun, but the prospect of socialising with others, finding interests that aren't focused on her career is daunting, if not a little frightening, if she were honest with herself. Shego, as Ms. Go, still calls him Dr. D (for 'Drew', she says the alliteration makes it fun to say) and Doc. Drew Lipsky for when she really wants to annoy him.

Drew/Drakken having dyslexia, Drew/Drakken taking the bus and the name Shea for Shego's real name are all lifted from Dwelling by @gogofordrakgo. The AU has been stewing for a very long time, almost as long as I have been reviewing. All elements lifted have been credited. I see several paths for it.

A 'Normal' AU where they exist within the KP world but never become villains, and don't teach at Middleton High School.

An Origin Story of how Drakken and Shego met teaching at some high school and then getting into villainy together.

An AU where they are teachers at Middleton High School and Kim and Ron are students there, still saving the world. They still play an antagonistic role, Drakken more than Shego, with Shego empathising with Kim without breaking her Shego-ness and becoming too nice, still distance between them. Ron would also be Shego's one-and-only student that she sees as a counsellor. Their sessions consist of having him accompany her to the mall - retail therapy. In this version of the AU, the recurring villains would be The Seniors. Senior Sr. is a big name supervillain looking to retire and is training his spoiled, sheltered son Senior Jr. to take up the mantle, but all he's interested in is becoming a teen-pop sensation, even though he learns quickly and can take on KP. Senior Sr. finds Kim Possible, not only a worthy adversary, but the ideal match for his son! He is the number one Kim x Junior shipper. (500k slow-burn, enemies to lovers epic fanfic, babies ever after - 7 for all 7 continents - 4 girls and 3 boys - evil-and-in-love - he's planned Junior's entire life for him, he can't wait to retire!). Dr. Lipsky and Ms. Go become villains at the end, becoming Dr. Drakken and Shego, the new villainous couple looking to rule the world and taking the place of Senor Senior Sr. and Senor Senior Jr.

Alternative to the last where it's all the same but they don't become villains. Maybe they try for a bit and after having their fun, they settle down to have a family. I dunno!

Now, is there more to come? YES! MAYBE! We'll see how I am feeling. Why did I do it this way and not write something properly? Because I don't like writing or plotting multi-chapter fanfic. I really wanted to make something that I could write for in this very casual way, and, if anyone else wanted to write or draw for this, that it would be possible.

Teacher AU is such a strong concept for the characters as they are, I wanted to really have it be true to them, as we see and know them in the show. I didn't want huge differences in their backstories, interests, mannerisms or relationships with other characters, because all those things inform who they are. I love that Drakken is a scatter-brained, easily-offended, easily distracted grouch and that Shego is such an annoying, snarky woman, a staunch grammarian and runner-up for professional slacker (Ron takes the number one spot). I wanted to challenge myself with this and I hope that I have been successful with it, at least initially.

[soracities]

hi mim, i'm sorry if this comes across as rambling, but i wanted to ask you, how do you choose what to study/pursue when you don't know what you want? i recently moved to a new country with my family and i've taken a gap year to prep for an entrance exam back home, but i don't know whether i want to continue in the new country or go back to my home country, whether i should study x or y degree, i just feel torn both ways. and what makes it worse is that,secretly, i would love to study english lit or anything to do with languages, but my parents would never allow it unless it's a last resort. i just feel like i'm betraying myself no matter what i choose in the end. would really appreciate any advice on what the heck to do <3

Oh anon, this is such a tricky situation to be in and I can absolutely understand all the doubt, worry, and confusion you're going through. I grew up with a lot of friends in variously similar situations and it's never as simple as just telling you to "follow your heart" or "do what you want" because all the various considerations that you have to make and bear look different for everyone, and they cannot always be so easily dismissed or ignored.

I think one thing that might help in this is to focus less on what you want as a career, and maybe spend some time trying to figure out where your values lie and what kind of life you envision within those values--take the subjects that you enjoy most, for example: what exactly is it about those subjects that excite you? Do you value a host of different and new experiences, or do you prefer to deepen the experiences you've already had? If you enjoy working with or being around people, what capacity does that enjoyment reach its full potential for you? Is it in receiving new knowledge from others or being able to share new knowledge with others? Is it in providing aid, information, or comfort to people? Is it in working out a particular problem? How important is financial stability to you, and what are you willing to sacrifice or not sacrifice for that stability? What are the broadest possible options within that category? Do you want a stable 9 to 5 where it's easy for you to plan things out because you have a reliable routine? If not, why not? What does "stability" mean for you in the first place?

Some of these are all fairly vague questions, I'm aware, but I think it helps far more sometimes to isolate these things, rather than look at them in terms of what career you do or don't want, because focusing on "doctor" or "architect" or "teacher" or "accountant" disguises the day-to-day reality of what those jobs contain, and this reality is what will tally far more with the things you actually value. For example, my favourite subjects in school were languages, English, history and the sciences: my top two choices were biology and literature, but if I were to go to university now, I absolutely would not study English literature at all. I love it deeply, but what I love about it is not something that I can only get from a degree. What I value about literature is not necessarily something that would align with studying it as a degree. On the other hand, mathematics has always been something I had a very fraught relationship with; i also don't like the idea of being boxed in by expectations (my reading and watching habits are testament to that)--however: I'm not opposed to studying accountancy despite it being something most people don't associate with me at all. And I'm not opposed to it because the things accountancy involves--a fixed work week (which also means fixed free time), a particular set of problems requiring a particular set of tools (I enjoy that kind of focus)--are things I can see myself doing provided it's in the name of something important to me. Does this make sense?

I also want to add that whatever degree you choose, whatever job you settle on, is not a life sentence: just because you choose engineering or data science doesn't mean you will be an engineer or a data scientist for the rest of your life. You can, at any point in your life, at literally any age, change course or pursue something new or something radically different. You don't come with an expiration or a use by date--as long as you are still here, the world will still be here and the opportunities you find within it along the way are endlessly broad and full of surprises. It's a conversation that's cropped up quite a few times on this blog so I have an entire tag for it here, which I hope will go some way in giving you some hope, anon (and if it helps, I never went to university, but here I am losing my mind over literature on the regular and subjecting you all to it, too 💗).

As for the issue of what you want to study and where--I don't know how immense the pressure is from your parents, or how open they are to compromise, or exactly what their own reasoning for their stance is (I'm not saying that it's fair, only that it may help to know what "education" and a degree mean and symbolise for them, and if, once you know that, there's wiggle room available for you), I also don't know what your financial situation is or how much freedom you have in that regard and these are all things only you know. I will say though that it's important for you to make a list of concrete differences, pros and cons, and considerations between studying in your home country and studying where you are: what will accomodation look like for you? what universities are in your options and what do you value in those universities? what are the financial constraints between the two countries, if there are any? Are you able to mix programs between faculties so that you can do a major / minor degree? one that will allow you to compromise between what your parents expect and allow you to pursue a subject important to you?

I think the last one is something I would advise you to try and look at in line with all the questions from above (and you can absolutely add in more questions of your own for yourself). I don't know if your parents are set on a few, very specific courses by focusing on specific careers (i.e., the usual Big Three of Medicine, Engineering, Law), or if they are a bit more open and just looking at degrees themselves (which would be broader, if not by much). If it's the latter I think it is absolutely worth seeing if there is something that can align with the values most important with you and somewhat placate your parents also--just as an example, if they insist on something technical and scientific, there are a range of options in linguistics which also open up the pathway to languages for you: additionally, languages and multilingualism is something important and if it's something that helps broaden your prospects for employment (I hate talking in those terms, but you know what I mean) it might be worth bringing up, especially if you can tie it in or find a course that allows you to bridge the gap, even somehow, between your own interests and your parents' expectations.

Again, I'm sorry that you're in such a difficult position, anon, and I'm sorry too that I can't offer more to you. I really do hope, though, that some of this has been useful to you, even in just a small way. Sending you all my support and best wishes. Regardless of what you decide, please don't ever think that you are done for after decision. The world is so much bigger and so much broader than you can even imagine right now, I promise 💗

[flowercrown-bard]

Thank you @restless-witch for tagging me ^^

Questions for 15 friends

ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?: Not as far as I know (i like to believe I'm named after a character feom "Pippi Longstockings" but i know I'm not) If, for some reason, i don't want to tell someone my given name I tend to use names of characters I played in a ttrpg or in a play (my favourite name is Valentine from Twelth Night) if that counts?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: Monday, from 8pm until 10:30pm, with some breaks (i had a bit of an exhausting week with a lot of bottled up emotions and rehearsing for a play in which sickness, death and loneliness are prominent topics is both cathartic and very hard sometimes)

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?: Nope

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED?: i used to play handball (hated it), vaulting (loved it), track and field athletics (hated it), hip hop dancing (it was fun i guess but i also felt incredibly awkward), Judo (loved it), Jiu Jitsu (loved it). Now I dance (for the theatre but I'll still count it) and go running sometimes and very rarely I do some sword fighting with a friend (i feel like I'm missing something but i dont remember anything else)

DO YOU USE SARCASM?: Yeah, but only with certain people. I am very bad at telling if someone else is just being sarcastic or is genuinely insulting me, so i often worry that my sarcasm comes across as such. I often follow it up with "just a joke" or something

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?: Probably hairstyle and clothes? Visual things by which i can try to remember them

WHAT’S YOUR EYE COLOUR?: Brown

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?: Depends on my mood

ANY TALENTS?: One time I got out of bed and failed so hard that i broke a foot. Make of that what you will

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?: Germany

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?:

Theater (including singing, dancing, acting, building the stage set, crafting the props)

cooking (i love doing it, i just don't do it very often)

playing the guitar

ttrpg

going on long walks/hiking -running -creative writing -indulging in the hubris of thinking i can teach myself a new skill without doing any research (aka. Whittling, embroidery, crocheting, making my own dnd dice) I feel like I'm missing something but oh well

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?: Sadly no. But I'll give an honourable mention to the dog I'm taking on walks whenever i got time

HOW TALL ARE YOU?: 168cm probably. I haven't measured my height in ages

FAVOURITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?: Theater and literature. Honourable mention to maths, not because i liked o4 understood the subject but because my teacher was the absolute best

DREAM JOB?: Kindergarten teacher (and maybe publishing a book one day)

Tagging: @dhwty-writes @parttime-creative @sinilumi @combatbootsfemme @lycanbucky @lokibus @a-kind-of-merry-war @witcher-and-his-bard and everyone else who sees this and wants to do this <3

[transmurderbug]

🌿Tag Game Wednes- Thursd--... Friday! 🌿

Thank you for the tags Evie @energievie, Nosho @creepkinginc, Becki @francesrose3, Kat @mybrainismelted, Molly @deathclassic, Comet @spacerockwriting and Vey @look-i-love-u! 💙

Name: Sky

Age: *Calculator noises* *static* Nosho!

Location: In a cave

And now, think about your childhood and tell me:

Did you have a nickname and is it still used? No, but I've been called many things so I just listen to whatever 🤣

What did you want to be when you'd grow up? It always changed! On paper I'm a dog trainer though (so far), plus I have one photography school under my belt

Your favourite cartoon: I was a nature channel kind of kid, but I enjoyed Teen Titans occasionally

Your favourite TV show: I watched a bunch of Hungarian animated shows, but never consistently Your favourite book: I had SO many. I'm trying, but I can't highlight just one

Your favourite toy: I have to say the stuffed dog I got when I was around 1. I still have him 🥰

Your favourite thing to eat: Sztrapacska. A potato noodle sort of meal with cottage cheese and bacon that's of Slovakian origin (ours is slightly different)

Your favourite school subject: PE, English, literature and bio (sometimes music)

How did you spend your summers? Barefoot and outside 90% of the time (the 10% was the sleeping)

Did you listen to music? If yes, did you have a favourite band/artist? Yes! I couldn't point on one artist, I enjoyed all things rock (and subspecies). It's a bit more fine tuned now, but I stayed the same 🤣

And lastly, tell me something you did as a kid that your parents still don't know about: I am thinking so hard, but I can only say the usual stuff. Going to places I shouldn't have been, doing really dumb things with my brother... I'm not sure about the "they still don't know about" thing, there was no hiding from my mother and her observation skills 😂

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Not tagging, because I'm super late (who would have thought), but if you see this and haven't done it yet, this is your tag. Also here, have this hamburger 🍔

[stitchkiss]

15 questions, 15 mutuals

tagged by @mmoosen and @wolfboy88 ty!!!

1. Are you named after anyone?

nah just those sparkly lil bitches in the sky. i do have a family friend named rosemary and an aunt named rose so i assume they were influences

2. When was the last time you cried?

an hour ago bc i watched s2 ep3 of our flag means death and the end scene just really got to me yknow?

3. Do you have kids?

no what for. i literally have SO many customers ask me if i have kids when i literally look like a baby and i’m like “sir/ma’am i’m 20” and they go “okay so soon right?” NO!!!!!!!! i have a dog tho he’s a real hassle to raise if i’m being honest

5. Do you use sarcasm?

it depends but i actually don’t think i do. i randomly lie tho or say the opposite of what i mean just to be contrary but people are always saying i’m predictable when i do that. “can i have a spoon” “no” but i get the spoon anyway bc i’m difficult. subverting expectations keeps people on their toes AND me bc i never know what i’m gonna say until it tumbles outta my mouth

6. what's the first thing you notice about people?

hair eyes mouth the way they speak. really tells you a lot about a person

7. What's your eye color?

hazel. brown with some green. looks cool always but Cool in certain lighting. not to flex but i’ve had people ask if i wear color contacts

8. scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings!!!! i have a weak heart and the only thing holding it together is stitches of hope

9. any talents?

i can open any twisty lid on a jar, cup, bottle etc. without a rubber thing in one or two tries. i’m so good at it. i can also drink a lot without throwing up.

10. where were you born?

i was born and raised in the same place as our dear captain jimothy kirk. my blood is ranch, my bones are pork, and my brain is corn. i don’t fear small towns here small towns fear ME. ope

11. what are your hobbies?

being cool n sick as fuck all day every day babey

12. do you have any pets?

i have 1 dog and he’s geriatric and has a biiiiiiiiiiig tumor on top of his head so my pet count will soon be down to 0 unfort but i do have this fly eating plant i made my mom buy yesterday that i got really attached to and i’ve named him ricky the 2nd. he Cannot cuddle tho so pros and cons i guess

13. How tall are you?

i couldn’t hear this question from all the way down here can u repeat ?

14. favourite subject in school?

anything english/literature. i impressed a student teacher in sophomore year for answering a “fate or free will” question with a super smart and thoughtful answer and used anecdotes like greek tragedies, oedipus and that one quote from jane eyre “your will shall decide your destiny” and the final destination franchise, then unimpressed him when we started the lord of the flies unit by saying i would rather just die than trying to survive in the wild. my essays always slapped.

15. Dream Job?

racecar driver or author or some kind of performer.

i feel like all my mutuals are already tagged but i’ll just do whatever i want bc i can: @raekensarcher @disasterpenguin @trpiaep19 @thiamsxbitch @sydney-winchester @kitjosten13 @arlyiahshay

[livethroughtthis]

I was tagged by @lady-larva 💕 🪐

1. are you named after anyone ?

Nope my mom wanted to call me like my grandma but she tought it brought bad luck ahaha. If I was likd Robert Pattison, and lied compulsively at each interview, for these are tumblrs interviews, I would tell you my first name is after Sylvia Plath, and my seconds after Sara, the song by Bob Dylan ad Elisa is after the other name of queen Dido. The truth tho, is thay my mom bought one of those "how to name your baby" books.

2. When was the last time you cried?

I actually don't remember . The last time I cried heavily is when I tried to fix things with a friend just to discover that maybe we have nothing left to talk about

3. Do you have kids ?

Noppp and I don't plan to.

I already took care of my whole family so I think I need a vacation. Rn my idea of family is falling in love, cherish each other, and be two for a while. Maybe that will change maybe not

4. What sports do you play/have played?

Swimming, ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, figure skatingTbh I want to try archery lmao

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Quite a lot

6. What's the first thing you notice about someone ?

If their expression reaches the eyes. The way that they move/carry themselves

7. Eye color

Brownnn

8. Scary movies or happy endings ?

Scary Eery movies with an happy ending

9. Any talents?

Drawing/painting/realistic portraits I can also move just one eye per time, does it count?

10. Where were you born

in a hospital in my hometown in italy

11. Hobbies ?

I love to draw and to read, I play mtg, i used to love singing but I'm a bit self conscious

12. Any pets ?

A cat but she can't stay with me and my roommates who have a dog atm, they own the house so I don't have a say. I'm going to wait till I have my own little place

13. Height.

I'm five foot something and I'm roayalteee short king queen mama yeh

14. Favourite school subject

Literature hystory and math

15 - dream job?

Museum curator

I tag @c0ldh34rts @glitterandgorre @syrenki @orreur if you want to obv 🪽🪽

[vinniehorrible]

oc interview tag

Thank you to @agirlandherquill for the tag! Much appreciated! :D

I'll be using Jin Cloudhopper from my Arcane Deliveries for this.

Were you named after anyone? "Jin is a pretty common name where I'm from, but nobody up to my great grandparents had a name like this, so if it came from someone, they weren't family."

When was the last time you cried? "When Airo began floating in his sleep and flew out of an open window. I was laughing so hard my eyes filled with tears."

Do you have any kids? "I'm still technically a kid, so no."

Do you use sarcasm a lot? "Nah, not at all." ;)

What is the first thing you notice about people? Species. I mean, when someone has rock instead of skin, it kinda hits your eyes first.

What is your eye colour? "Some weird shade of grey. I probably got the least interesting colour in the world. Humans are kinda dull like that."

Scary movies or happy endings? What in the ley-lines is a movie? But... I like happy stuff more than scary things.

Any special talents? I can navigate my town blindfolded and never bump into anything or trip. ... Oh, and magic. I do some magic too.

Where were you born? Right here, at home.

Do you have any pets? My parents never let me have any. The my friend ended up with a parasitic snake attached to his soul forever, so I kinda stopped liking the idea of having one.

What sort of sports do you play? I train martial arts that would go hand in hand with my magic. But... my teacher is a wizard who looks like a beanpole so... I am not sure we do much else than just punch and kick stuff.

How tall are you? Perfectly average! Don't let people tell you I'm short! I'm surrounded by other species. Of course they're taller. Plus, I'm still growing!

What was your favourite subject in school? Reading. Most books were fun. Then we got to the adult literature. That wasn't as entertaining. Too complicated and often with too much kissing.

What is your dream job? Oooh, I will be a great wizard one day. I am literally being taught by the best wizard in the world, so you better be ready for the day I reach that top!

Now, for some tags...

@leahnardo-da-veggie @aaftergloweeye and... I saw most of my mutuals already do this, so... lets's just say that if I forgot about you, you're invited too!

[raw-law]

What a captivating sensation to be held so high by such brilliant men, I couldn't quite describe it even if I tried to and I don't often lack of words to choose from so just know you two have deeply touched me as well. There is a certain distance people like to keep when something is even slightly intimidating to them, for example in the form of pure honesty, confidence and strong mindedness. All of which represent my most valuable traits in my opinion, so I greatly appreciate and thank you for your.. alluring praise. Yes. Certainly. I suppose humans are like this because they fear what they don't know and envy what they don't have, the classic example of a species made to have things fit their way instead of finding a way to fit with others. This just makes my appreciation bigger. I mean, you know it's serious when Ryuzaki starts swearing, right? Haha I would like to establish that I do not particularly care for "socially right" so be unafraid when it comes to expressing yourself, Ryuzaki. I just.. Wish for you to indulge in it. Don't limit yourself to society's expectations of how to accept a compliment. Really, the only shame here is that you have not received them more often throughout your life. Light, I assure you there is no need to apologize for the little wait. In fact, I'm honored you two chose quality over quantity haha

(No pressure for future asks, reply when you can and want to! Please.)

I dearly hope you didn't worry too much about.. Your words or reaction being a suitable match to what I have told you, because really, I do not send these for praise or recognition, even though it's a nice side effect. (And it's a real story, believe it or not) The fact that I have managed to get you to understand where I am coming from and where my point stands.. What a blessing, especially after being criticized by me haha although maybe now you can understand my initial complaint of shallowness. I have expanded my explanations because I knew you are capable of understanding and you boys did not disappoint. Nothing inadequate about it, Light. It's a pleasure. Enough about moi!! I want to come back to you. First off, since we can all agree that my experience equals my knowledge, I think I'm safe to end the "who tops in Lawlight?" debate. Because really, if Eroticism anon can't tell, then who could, ever? :p After analyzing your responses so far I can confirm there is no traditional "top". You're both sword and shield depending on the situation and you both challenge each other in a multi faceted way, resulting to.. Switching. That's my final conclusion. Anyhow.. Ahem, coming back to more serious topics. After this lovely conversation so far, I'm dying to ask you something. Tell me, Ryuzaki, Light, do you like literature? Do you have favorite works, if so? I write erotica/horror erotica (what a surprise, wow) so I'm always interested to find out what other people read, if they do. No worries, once I reveal myself you boys may bombard me with whatever questions and statements you feel like regarding the whole eroticism subject.

- 🩶

Light:

Thanks for understanding about the wait...and I'm glad you enjoyed both our responses!

And of course it's a real story, I never doubted that. There are some things that you can't fake the authenticity of, no matter how hard you try...and your story is certainly one of them. Don't worry about the criticism---it's helped to widen my viewpoint, so I definitely appreciate you pointing the shallowness of my answer out. Feel free to call me out in future, no worries.

Anyways, I suppose I do agree with your statement about the 'who is top' argument....I think someone did ask this question a while back, and Ryuzaki's and my answers were similar in respect to yours.

And thank you for asking that question! Yes, I do love literature---in fact, it's probably my favourite subject in school, and one of my hobbies when I get bored. Honestly, I'll read just about anything. I'll just include some of the books I've enjoyed/plan to read for a few genres, then, though I'm not going into too much detail because of the length:

Philosophy:

The Stranger (Camus), The Prince (Machiavelli [though this reads politically]), Beyond Good And Evil (Nietzsche, want to read)

Non-fiction:

Too Big To Jail (Garrett, about coporate law enforcement), Why Politics Fails (Ansell, mentioned in a previous post of mine), Heart (Barrett, on heart health), The Power of Geography (Marshall)

Short stories:

Binge (Coupland), Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory (Bob-Waksberg, previously mentioned), Cursed Bunny (Bora Chung)

That's it for now. I could go on and on, but I think it's a little overwhelming for one day...thanks for the ask, though. I rather enjoy sharing my book taste with other people.

L:

well. in my defense, when words fail (which they often do), swearing is the next best option. and i'll keep in mind this uh. "indulging" bit. it'll.. take getting used to, but i won't say no. so.. thank you. it means more than i'm able to express, hah.

but i agree with light. there are some stories in this world that are too beautiful to make up. and i'm also glad that you criticized our initial shallowness. don't hesitate to do it again, since i'm sure there's still a lot i don't know in this realm of intellect.

and in regards to the top argument.... i'll accept that as the final answer.. ... light-kun would like taking it up the ass more though. he's kira if he says he doesn't.

for the actual question though,, my relationship with literature is very... hate-love-ish?

i like literature, but frankly i despise the general act of reading. anything longer than a few pages feels like hell to sit through. having to sit there and focus all my attention on scanning through words without being able to multitask is just.... euck. and i don't say that to drag anything down, because i do heavily enjoy literature, and art in general. it's just a personal thing really. i'm not happy about it either. i like being immersed in stories. i like drowning in pages of knowledge.. but i just can't stand all the words after a while. it's why i attach to video essays more, or audiobooks. anything that can give me the same/around the same amount of closure that a book can while allowing me to multitask is something i'll latch onto. it's just more efficient for the way my mind functions.

anyways, ignoring the fact that i just said i hate reading (i swear i still have redeeming qualities that can make up for it. maybe. hopefully.), i do still have works i really like. .. though, admittedly, they're a lot less sophisticated than light's recommendations. i would explain why but i think it'll explain itself fairly quickly:

Dork Diaries, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, That's Debatable, and this one book i have that's just a collection of historical US documents (it's name is legitimately just The U.S. Constitution and Other Writings).

and.. that's all i have.

thank you again for the ask and response. i'll just hope i still have a reputation after this.

[plantwithoutplot]

Tagged by @luffysfakebeard to do "15 questions 15 mutuals" ― thanks! This was really fun, and I enjoyed reading your answers 👀💚

are you named after anyone?

Technically, sort of? My dad loved some old brand of bear-shaped chocolates and wanted to name me after it. My mom liked the name too and it was popular at the time sooooo....?

when was the last time you cried?

Uuuuuuh a month or so ago because of some beef with my family lol

do you have kids?

Nope! But I plan on adopting a cat soon, does that count? (I believe it does)

do you use sarcasm a lot?

What's life without sarcasm??????

what sports do you play/have you played?

I did some Judo for a while when I was 5, but despite loving many sports I didn't do any because clubs in my hometown had too bad reputations :( I really wanted to learn ballet and gymnastics though!!!

what's the first thing you notice about people?

Their eyes. Yeah pretty common answer, I know, but they really do tell you more about someone than most of what they say upon your forst meeting ( ˊᵕˋ； )

what’s your eye colour?

I don't... Know? Center is borwn for sure, but then it changes around it? It can be blueish or greenish, sometimes seem entirely brown, or even grey? It sounds really weird but @whymustmyfavalwaysdie can attest that no one had been able to pinpoint my eye color 😂😂😂

scary movies or happy endings?

SCARY MOVIES!!! SCARY MOVIES ALL THE WAY!!!

1) I'm a huge fan of horror so :)))))

2) Most happy endings do not feel 'satisfying' enough, so I tend to dislike them as a whole

any special talents?

I make super weird yet super accurate metaphors. ........... was I supposed to brag about an actual talent??

Ah― ྕ•̃͡ ɷ•̃͡༽

where were you born?

In my hometown  :0

what are your hobbies?

Reading, drawing, writing! The holy trinity of never being bored, ever ✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡

do you have pets?

Not yet! But hopefully soon 🩷 However, I did grow up with pets most of my life ! (which is another story of how, out of 10 pets, my parents only agreed to get 2 of them....... Work smarter not harder, kids)

how tall are you?

5'1ft (156cm) 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

favourite subject in school?

Literature/foreign languages!! I got to study both in University (as well as a few other AMAZING subjects) so I really have zero regrets about this lol

dream job?

Full time writer ( ˊᵕˋ； )

I often fear that it may only be a faraway dream and that no one will want to read my books/that my writing won't be good enough, but life is too shitty to give up on dreams that actually make you happy so screw anxiety and shit, I will keep working toward that dream 🪿🪿🪿

Tagging: @whymustmyfavalwaysdie @newbieineverything @chuliann @stygianheart @acedgola 🪇🩵

[a-very-fond-farewell]

15 questions, 15 people:

I was tagged by the lovely @lienwyn 💕 hi dear. thank you for the opportunity to overshare 😈🔥 (also, you own a loom?? amazing flex. I’m honestly jealous ahah. and the dog-longing word?? 🥺 heartwarming 😔💕 I feel you on the pain in the back tho, that must have been quite intense for you to have such a reaction. big hugs 💜)

here we go!

-

1. are you named after anyone?

unfortunately yes, but it was a mistake. my parents thought the name was elegant.. little did they know a historical figure had it too ahah

2. when was the last time you cried?

so. weird thing. I cry when I see animals. or when I look at people and go “........ earthlings just like me <3”. or when I think too much about how much I love my people. but spontaneous, SAD crying......? not sure. Ik I’ve been down recently, yeah. but if I start crying it’s the end for me. I end up with a stuffy nose all night, if I do. (my hand recently had me seeing stars tho, ngl)

3. do you have kids?

I’m glad I don’t.

4. do you use sarcasm a lot?

I try not to IRL bc you never know how smart people can be. in the sense that I used to use it when I was younger and people smarter than me called me out for it enough times to make me lose any interest in it. I’m also not really good at knowing when someone is being sarcastic with me, period. so.. yeah. not really. no.

5. what’s the first thing you notice about people?

I’m oblivious. I’m so oblivious I don’t even notice large scars on their faces or the color of their eyes sometimes?? from afar I’m quite proficient at reading people’s mood tho?? like, if they are belligerent or not?? is that a thing?? also I can hear them before I can see them almost all the time. I’m a bat, I can hear everything.

6. what’s your eye color?

green? possibly? I have a colorblind mother who tells me they’re blue tho. but she might be convinced of that only because she sees her own eyes as gray when they are green. so I’m not sure about that. my dad tells me we have the same eye color..........but that’s not true. like. his are blue-blue. mine are not like that at all.

fun fact, I love dark eyes. keep talking, gorgeous, I’m not gonna argue with someone with beautiful big brown eyes.

7. scary movies or happy endings?

I’m a scaredy-cat :( I wish I could watch scary movies tho. that seems so much fun! so imma stick to happy endings for now, yes.

8. any special talents?

I craft? a lot? oh but I want to learn woodcarving *-* that would be so much fun. and I guess I’m semi-proficient in the Dad-Art of “collecting weirdly-shaped objects that will eventually come in handy to slot somewhere when they are needed”. yeah :D

9. where are you born?

in the bog. the foggy countryside. the cul-de-sac. but also. northern italy.

10. what are your hobbies?

felt punching, drawing, writing, nagging people, watching old detective shows, reading, petting cats, telling dogs they are good bois (or good girls!), cleaning cupboards, researching, taking notes, horror vacui, listening to people tell me all about their special interests, naps.

11. do you have any pets?

parents have 2 dorky kitties. I long for a silky anteater or a lobster tho. a fat loaf of a cat to call mine would be nice too one day tho, yes.

12. what sports do you/have you played?

I was pretty good at crab soccer when I was younger. and I liked skiing. ;-; too expensive for me where I lived tho.

13. how tall are you?

166cm (5’5??)

14. favourite subject in school?

Dante :) no but fr, italian literature and english. German was cool too, but now I can’t remember any of it :(

15. dream job?

I’m considering either sheparding or...... are there non-religious monasteries out there? that aren’t sects or cults? tax-free, honest labor? no? just me? ok. no but fr, restoring old furniture or working in a library. but I don’t have the qualifications for either of those unfortunately.

it’s time to open that lobster sanctuary of my dreams then 😤 that will cure me.

-

here we go! thank you for the lovely game! Imma tag......... idt I have 15 peeps to tag. but I’ll tag some, in case they want to join (or simply to snoop around my business, always nice to be seen :) no pressure to play): @goaheadandflysomeplane , @fismoll7secinv , @shhhsoftnwet , @kinslayersadvocate , @sssrha , @thepointlessmasterpiece !

[sam-glade]

15 OC Questions Tag

Got tagged by the lovely @iced-ginger-tea here. Thank you💜

And gently tagging: @awritingcaitlin @tisiphonewolfe @captain-kraken and also leaving open tag.

Let's go with Rilna. I'm slightly ill and in need of a comfort character. No, Sieran, I'm not glaring at you for being an angsty, nervous wreck...

Are you named after anyone?

She gives you a small, smug smile.

"I don't believe it was intentional, but there was a Rilna in the seventh century of the Second Realm, who was the Keeper of Keys of Gale's Rest. She started her political career as..."

You clear your throat ten minutes into the admittedly well-told, but lengthy story.

2. When was the last time you cried?

She looks away and clenches her hand nervously. The twitch catches your attention. She sees where you're looking, and hides the hand under the table.

"I honestly can't remember," she says softly. You can tell that the realisation surprised her.

3. Do you have kids?

"Divines, no." She relaxes somewhat, and looks up at you with smiling eyes. "Maybe, one day, when it all blows over... But even then, I don't think it would be easy for a single parent, so it probably won't happen."

4. Do you use sarcasm?

"Sometimes, with my friends, when the mood is right."

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

"Their smile, their eyes-" She breaks off rather abruptly and shakes her head. "No, that's not true. It's their attitude, if they noticed the bracelet, and how friendly or dismissive, or hostile they are to a... To someone like me." Her smile is apologetic.

6. What's your eye colour?

She looks up at you, and her eyes gleam.

"Brown."

You write it down and add 'like chestnuts'.

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

"Happy ending." Her smile grows and little dimples appear on her cheeks.

8. Any special talents?

"Do you mean, other than this?" She waves her left hand, and you can just about see the rigid shape of the locking bracelet under the sleeve of her blazer. "I've got a pretty good memory for names and dates. It comes in handy for a historian," she rushed to add, as if to sweep away the bitter mood.

9. Where were you born?

"In the suburbs." You look at her with a silent request for clarification. "Of the City of Light, right here."

10. What are your hobbies?

Her smile returns, sweet, a little lopsided.

"Baking. I've got a sweet tooth, and it makes others happy."

11. Have you any pets?

"Not at the moment, but maybe, one day, I'd want a cat. One of these round ones, with chubby little cheeks."

12. What sports do you play/have you played?

She chuckles.

"Divines, I don't think I've touched a ball since school..."

13. How tall are you?

"Uh... not that tall, just under 170 cm."

14. Favourite subject in school?

"History. No, wait, all the way back in school? I think it was literature."

15. Dream job?

She looks away again, and her smile wanes.

"I've never considered it, to be honest. Knacked like me, once we get any job, we do our best to keep it. I was really lucky to get the postdoc position, and I suppose I like it a fair bit, but... Yeah, I think my dream job would be transcribing historical documents. So few people can read the ideographs nowadays, and even fewer are interested in preserving the historical sources. Hm. I suppose I should have mentioned that as a special skill, too."

[chainsawmascara]

TAG GAME TAG GAME TAG GAME TAG GAME, man, i missed these. @hotnerdywizard got me on this. Let's fucking GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

1. Are you named after anyone?

I was named after an actor! Quite a famous one. I won't name him, of course, but i love his work. Renaming myself was a bit of an accident. Someone had to take up the mantle of Prince, as a very short and flamboyant singer, it fits despite the lack of intention.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Excellent question! I was listening to a song about two weeks ago, it came out of nowhere. Spent about half the track crying with not an inkling as to why. I suppose i was overdue, no?

3. Do you have kids?

I do! A little mischief muffin of a young man. Very snuggly, shockingly bright, biggest smile I've ever seen. I adore him. I'd set the world on fire for him.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

Cross country! I was Scouted for my refusal to play team sports when i could run laps and get three miles in (this did not prevent the necessity of dodging when dodgeball was the sport - whoopth). I played short stop for a while. Basketball at home, scorekeeping for my first job when i didn't make the team. I was a gymnast for years! Damn good at it, too. One of these days, I'll reteach myself to backflip. Eventually. At some point. Does extreme inline skating count? I was big on that.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

No, I've never been sarcastic in my life. (That was sarcasm.)

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes. I stand by that. General aesthetic, their vibe. The emotion they're hiding in their eyes.

7. What’s your eye colour?

Somewhere between green and yellow depending on the light.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

There's a little of both in any story.

9. Any talents?

Talent can only bring one so far. It's the skills we hone from them. I have quite a number tucked in my back pocket. We haven't the time for the list. Well, we DO, it's more I'll Sound Like An Asshole if i give that laundry list. I may sound like one anyway. Folks tend to view a confident person as arrogant.

10. Where were you born?

Good old Providence. I never leave this city for long, it has my heart. Not to mention that one time i had to drink from a fountain downtown, there's a fountain down city with a superstition to it. Should one drink from it, they never truly leave. I'll die in this city, I'll die happily.

11. What are your hobbies?

Writing - poetry, journaling, journalism. Singing. Running when I'm able. Catching any concert I can. Art of many kinds. Perhaps I'll indulge that today. Reading. Philosophy. Designing. Stand up comedy and spoken word, I'm overdue a return to stage. Gaming. Body surfing and swimming. Rockhounding! Deciphering grave markers. Traveling, with any excuse, often with no notice to anyone until maybe a day prior. There are others, surely, that escape my mind at present. I do Many Things.

12. Do you have any pets?

My beloved bearded dragon, Babs. I'd set the world on fire for him, too.

13. How tall are you?

5 feet of fucking fury and an extra inch of insufferable pretention.

14. Favourite subject in school?

Neuroscience and literature - existentialist and gothic horror to be precise. I was a neuroscience TA, in fact!

15. Dream job?

A dream is what you want to do but still haven't pursued. I've done my dream jobs, I'm still doing most of them. I've always maintained I'd never have a normal job. So far, I've made good on that. If any of you catch me at an office job, kill the imposter on sight.

My dear friend tagged most of the folks i would've! It's up to you, @yolo-swaginz and @kuzupekos , should you find yourselves up to the task.

[countlessrealities]

𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑

Are you named after anyone?

Yes and no. No one in my family has my first name, but I have a second and a third names (which aren't official, as in the are present on my birth certificate but not on my other IDs) that are dedicated to my maternal grandfather and to my maternal great-grandmother.

When was the last time you cried?

I honestly can't remember. It's been a while, though. I had an anxiety attack last month, but I didn't really cry. So maybe...uh, December last year? 0.o Or maybe before then. I know that I cry way less than it's healthy these days.

Do you have kids?

Nope and I don't have plans to ever have some. I don't think I have what it takes to be a good parent, considering that I'll be mostly focus on my work. And I'm not equipped to be a parent in any case. At most, if I ever were to adopt a kid, I'd been some sort of older sibling figure to them, but definitely not a parent.

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Yes. It's my number one defensive mechanism when I'm directly dealing / talking to someone. In general sarcasm is my humour. I can't say that I'm a funny person, because I'm not, so sarcasm and irony tend to replace what for most people would be covered by humour.

What's the first thing you notice about people?

It depends on the person and on how I meet the person. IRL, I guess it the way they approach others (myself included), Online it's usually their speech patterns and how they related to other people. Usually, I'm always wary of new people until I've seen how they relate to other. How they talk to and about them is usually a good way for me to tell whether or not they are worth my efforts.

What's your eye colour?

Grey-blue (I didn't give my eyes to one of my muses on purpose, nope. I realise it in the aftermath like an idiot xD).

Scary movies or happy endings?

Damn, this is a tough one. Horror is one of my fave genres, but it's also to be said that I'm very picky when it comes to horror movie. They not only have to be scary, but they have to make sense and have a comprehensible lore. If it's just jumpscares and random stereotypes, thanks, but no thanks.

On the other hands I really like happy endings in fiction. Real life sucks badly enough, I want some satisfaction and proper endings at least in fictional universes. So, if I had to pick, I guess happy endings?

Any special talents?

I'm kind of not sure? I've been told that I have a knack for writing and also that I have a great emotional intelligence (which isn't the same as empathy, mind you). Personally, I don't think I'm especially talented in any field.

Where were you born?

Italy! That's my mother country and Italian is mother language ^^

What are your hobbies?

writing (mostly fanfics), roleplaying, listening to music, watching movies/shows, overthinking shit, being a walking mess in general.

Have you any pets?

I have a cat! He's white, deaf and has motor issues, but I really love him 🖤

What sport do you play/have you played?

I've always practised sport, since I was in elementary school, and I've practised a lot of them before settling for one in particular. Before the pandemics, I used to do martial arts (even if I have been skipping a lot of lessons because of university). I'm not doing much nowadays, but after graduation, I'm planning to get back on track with that too.

How tall are you?

168 cm (which should be 5'5"? Or 5'6", I can never remember)

Favourite subject in school?

Philosophy and literature.

Dream job?

I'm on my way to become a doctor and I'd say that it's my dream job. Not because I've always wanted to become one or stuff like that, but because nowadays I can't imagine myself as anything else.

Tagged by: @misstantabismuses & @misfits-of-zaun [[ thank you! ]] tagging: @advnterccs @omniishambles @imprvdente @halfghcst @dynamoprotocol @technodromes & whoever wants to steal it !

[plopspoodle]

10 Book Recommendations

Hey! A very common thing in this motivation/positivity community is to encourage reading, however sometimes you may not know where to start. Perhaps you loved reading when you were younger but haven't read in a while; perhaps you only ever read books when you had to for book reports/school; perhaps you read all the time and want some recommendations! No matter what the scenario, here's what I have read and why people may also like these books.

Lil disclaimer before you go through my recommendations, some of these will be familiar to you if you have done English GCSE and A-Levels in the UK! My favourite genres are dystopian and southern gothic however there are other genres in here that I like reading. Each book will have a trigger warning as all of them have sensitive topics. Please read with caution.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: abuse, suicide, alcohol consumption, car accident 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 15/16+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Tradegy/Modernism/Roaring 20's 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: The Great Gatsby, Third novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925. Set in Jazz Age New York, it tells the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman whom he loved in his youth, narrated by Nick Carraway. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 9/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: I read this in my English Language/Literature A-Level at 17 (got an A, well done me), and I fell in love. Gatsby is often hailed as a masterpiece of the 20th century and I completely agree, and I recommend it to anyone regardless of their preferred genres. Only reason it's not a 10 is because occasionally the characters don't make sense, but I don't necessarily mean that at the fault of Fitzgerald. Just be warned, you won't like the characters (at least by the end of the book).

1984 by George Orwell

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: gaslighting, sexually explicit scenes, torture, limited human rights, authoritarian regime 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 16+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Dystopian/Science Fiction/Political 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: 1984 is the story of a man questioning the system that keeps his futuristic but dystopian society afloat and the chaos that quickly ensues once he gives in to his natural curiosity and desire to be free. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 10/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: This was the second book I ever read on my own. Granted, I read it at 13 (under the age I recommend), but that was more because I had a thing for reading "banned books", so only read it if you can cope with mature themes. It's very well written, as is anything by Orwell, and it holds true and very threatening warnings of what our future holds. Sadly, like A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, it was written with the intention of things being possible but not imminent. Now? It isn't as far from fiction as one would hope.

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: (so many) attempted murder, child abuse, death, incest, poisoning, rape, religion, sexually explicit scene (one), starvation, neglect 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 17/18+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Horror/Southern Gothic 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: Blond, beautiful, innocent, and struggling to stay alive... They were a perfect family, golden and carefree—until a heart-breaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 7.5/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: This is a very hard book to read. I do not recommend reading this if you are under 18 or are not in a good state of mind. As you can see, there are a LOT of trigger warnings. I also think it's important to know that whilst these topics are in the book, it does not glamorise them. If you are the type of person that thinks Vladimir Nabokov is a p*do because of writing Lolita, you will not understand this book. It tackles a very complex subject and overall has a message that if something is "bad" you should not encourage it but you should not also shield it: you should explain it to the person/people at risk so they understand. That is the most important thing about the book. It WILL make you feel uncomfortable. If you can't handle that, do not read the book (harshness is needed). My rating is 7.5 because the final chapter (epilogue) is awful and feels it's written by another writer, and it really slogs through at various points (with reason, but it just makes it that bit harder to read).

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: ableism & ableist language, alcohol consumption, body horror, death, murder 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 13+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Gothic Horror 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: Dr Jekyll is a kind, well-respected and intelligent scientist who meddles with the darker side of science, as he wants to bring out his 'second' nature. He does this through transforming himself into Mr Hyde - his evil alter ego who doesn't repent or accept responsibility for his evil crimes and ways. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 7/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: I attempted to read this when I was 11 but gave up because the language is very difficult to understand sometimes. It was written in 1886 and uses a lot of old/Victorian English, so I was only really able to re-read it at 14 for my GCSE. Being able to analyse the language actually made it easier to read, so if you want to read this I do advise you to take your time and to be prepared to make notes. Overall it is a good story and a good book, but there are parts that feel disjointed and, other than the main characters of Jekyll and Hyde, I don't find it that memorable. I remember it was good, but I don't completely remember why.

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: racism & racial slurs, homophobia, suicide, alcohol consumption, recreational drug use (smoking), emesis (being sick), gun violence, depression/life uncertainty 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 14+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Bildungsroman, coming of age 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: The novel details two days in the life of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield after he has been expelled from prep school. Confused and disillusioned, Holden searches for truth and rails against the “phoniness” of the adult world. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 10/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: Catcher in the Rye is a very good yet odd book. I found when I read it (for the first time), it was kind of boring. And yet, I kept reading. There's something about the way Holden narrates that feels relevant to you but you can't pinpoint what it is. Even though I've put the age rating of 14+, the ideal age to read this book is between 14-21, essentially any young age when you are being faced with new, adult choices. The book is also pretty timeless: yes, some of the language is outdated along with some attitudes, but overall you could imagine this at any point in time (1920's, 1960's, now) and it would still work. That is a very incredible feat for a writer. And I haven't even talked about the artistry in this book! I am a bit of a h*e for symbolism, and all I have to say about the symbolism in Catcher in the Rye is this: the ducks. Remember the ducks. :)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: racism, blood & gore, death, plane crash, animal death, tribalism (due to survival), child abuse (by other children) 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 13+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Survival Horror, Psychological Thriller 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: When a group of schoolboys are stranded on a desert island, what could go wrong? A plane crashes on a desert island. The only survivors are a group of schoolboys. By day, they discover fantastic wildlife and dazzling beaches, learning to survive; at night, they are haunted by nightmares of a primitive beast. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 8/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: This is, once again, a book I read at school. I think I read this at 13, though it is often pushed as a book to read once you're able to read bigger words - child advice, don't do that. Being able to read words doesn't mean you can or should understand them. Whilst the book features children as the characters, it's not really for children, and is much more aimed at adults and the theme of innocence. It is a good book, but unfortunately I can't give much reason why as I haven't read it since the last time.

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: strong physical and sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse, alcoholism, mental health issues (psychosis, hallucinations, compulsive lying, primarily Schizo-affected symptoms) 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 16+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Southern Gothic, Play 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: Fading southern belle Blanche DuBois is adrift in the modern world. When she arrives to stay with her sister Stella in a crowded, boisterous corner of New Orleans, her delusions of grandeur bring her into conflict with Stella's crude, brutish husband Stanley Kowalski. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 7.5/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: To start with, I don't really like reading plays, and I had to read this for A-Level. That being said, it is very well written. I usually have more of a problem of the people who read/watch's reaction rather than the play itself. It is meant to be a very tragic tale of what happens to those who are mentally ill and don't get support, but instead people very often label the main character as "crazy" (as an insult) and "a bad person" whilst labelling the man in the gif underneath as "misunderstood" and "hot". Abuse is obviously a very difficult subject, and Tennessee Williams deliberately chose Marlon Brando to portray the character he does in order to show how people take advantage of their natural assets to take advantage of others. Like with Flowers in the Attic, if you are someone who only likes reading the surface and not in between the lines, I do not recommend this. If you are, like me, someone who loves symbolism, this is the story for you!

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: suicide, upper class priveledge, alcohol, gaslighting 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 14+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Modern Morality Play, Drama 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: The action of the play occurs in an English industrial city, where a young girl commits suicide and an eminently respectable British family is subject to a routine inquiry in connection with the death. An inspector calls to interrogate the family, and during the course of his questioning, all members of the group are implicated lightly or deeply in the girl's undoing. The family, closely knit and friendly at the beginning of the evening, is shown up as selfish, self-centered or cowardly, its good humor turning to acid, and good fellowship to dislike, before the evening is over. The surprising revelation, however, is in the inspector… 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 6/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: I don't personally like this play a whole deal, mainly as it is (again) a play and something I had to read at GCSE. That being said, it is quite fun. I've put the age range as 14+ because while the trigger warnings aren't as strong as previous entries, a decent knowledge on the time period and context is needed in order to understand this properly. I personally dislike the ending, and I think the tone is quite inconsistent, but I still think it's a good play, and a very good introduction to plays if you are wanting to read more.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: animal abuse, murder, death, suicide, violence, authoritarian regime, communism 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 13/14+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Dystopian Political Satire 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master, Mr Jones, and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless elite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, starts to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another. Orwell's chilling 'fairy story' is a timeless and devastating satire of idealism betrayed by power and corruption. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 9/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: This is the first book I ever read on my own! As you can probably tell from this being the second book by George Orwell on this list, I love his writing. He had such skill for these dystopian topics and the phrase "all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" will forever be etched in my brain. Whilst I hail it so highly, I haven't put a 10 merely because of the ending. It reminds you that it is a political satire so I understand, I just wish it went a bit differently.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

𓆩♡𓆪 TW: ableism, misogyny, alcohol consumption, recreational drug use (smoking), murder, gun violence, animal death, the Great Depression (economic hard times) 𓆩♡𓆪 Age Range: 13+ 𓆩♡𓆪 Genre: Social Realism, Tragedy 𓆩♡𓆪 Summary: An unlikely pair, George and Lennie, two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression, grasp for their American Dream. They hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. 𓆩♡𓆪 Personal Rating: 8/10 𓆩♡𓆪 Notes: Good book, had to read it in Year 9 for school. Pretty sure it's one of those books where the teacher reads out the n-word because it's "educational", but disregarding that it is a good read and a very important view into the lives of those during the Great Depression and how people with disabilities go through life.

And that's all my recommendations for now!

I may have more in the future as these aren't the only books I've read, but I think they're a good introductory look into what I like and what I hope others would like. Also, though I don't always seem like it, I don't really have a problem with readers who don't like reading deeply in between the lines. It's absolutely fine if you want to just read it as you go, I just personally am naturally analytical. However, I would recommend that if you are one of those people, please listen to those who talk about the deeper themes of what you're reading. A lot of books and authors are misunderstood by those who want to believe life is black and white; good and bad. Life is complex, and so are stories. The beauty is finding your favourite shade of grey. As long as it's not 50 shades. That I don't know if I can condone.