#culture differenc

[sudaca-swag]

gringos with their american exceptionalism talk about their "regional differences" as if they lived in a country where every state has 500 native languages, 7890 native ethnic groups and 13959592010 different "american" traditions, sir you only speak english and your "regional difference" is saying carmel instead of caramel and an unhealthy obsession with monstertrucks

[amie-777]

Please hear me out...

TF141 as centaurs (I hope this hasn't been done before, I assure you I never ever read it, please tell me if I overlooked!!)

TW: for homophobia (not from one of the boys), implied abuse

There have been findings of centaurs dating back to the first humans, but the both of them never really mixed well. Their culture and traditions differencing from eachother too much. But in the modern age, its more accepted to be a centaur in a society around humans.

But centaurs don't really stay in one place for too long. They roam around the world and live as nomads in their herds. Never quite a part of somewhere, or that is how it has always been for John.

He has always been around and about, first in the herd of his family, and then with his friends..and then by himself. It's easier to find jobs surely, but it gets lonely. Then he meets Johnny, at a construction site. A younger, more eager centaur. Not quite as tall as him but surely pretty. So that's how the both of them start roaming around together. Johnny tells him stories, John exchanges his own under the starry sky. They find comfort in eachother, in their fingertips over their bodies, in their shared meals and in the way Johnny has to stretch himself a bit to kiss the older centaur, and unable to hide his blush. After a few nights of travelling John asks Johnny if they're a herd now and Johnny just holds his hand and nuzzles into him.

In another town, another moment Kyle meets Ghost. Which later becomes Simon, then Si'. Even though it is not centaur customs, Simon hides his 'human' body with a black hoodie in XL, and the lower half of his face with a handsewn mask. Kyle doesn't mind, still trots alongside him, sweats alongside him and even helps him with his nightmares. One night Kyle tells Simon a secret, one he hasn't told anyone. "My mum walked away when I was sixteen, because I liked stallions better than mares, she persisted that there is no bisexuality in centaurs, that it is a human disease." Simon holds him and shows him a secret too. The scar along his left brow, when his human dad found out, he wanted to join the military.

John and Johnny find new work, new people but never centaurs again. Until they spot Ghost and Kyle. Obviously a pair, both John's decide. But they find themselves quite drawn to all of them. So finishing their work they all decide to roam around together, forming a bigger herd, so no one has to be alone ever again.

Their free time is spent lazying around together in grass, building collapsable cots for eachother, chasing one another and loving all of them. They still tell stories under the dark sky, still kiss eachother because all of them have no one left.

But they have eachother, don't they?

Thank you for reading. I wish you a very nice day and please excuse any spelling/grammar mistakes. English isn't my mother tongue and I make mistakes.

dividers from cafekitsune (thank you <33)

[class-of-classic-blog]

I had a wierd dream : okay so i dont remember much of it but here's the gest. I dreamed that Badwolf got adopted by Aphrodite ( Cupids grandmother) as a kid and that he was wering chiton and golden leaves in hair and everything. Then Cupid started complainig about how she has two schools to atend ( Monster High and Ever After High) and didn't know were to go first and then Wolf came BOLTING to her and offered he goes to eah insted of her so he can spend more time with Red (i dont know how did they met before its just wierd dream logic) . The rest of the dream was just Wolf crying in the most dramatic way becouse he relized he can't spend as much time with Red as he planed and complaining about cultural differenc.

Now , here's a fun fact about me : I am obssesd with greek mythology to the core and i have been thinking about this for quit some times and i finde it extremly funny. Just imagine how funnier would their love story be if he was acually adopted by a fucking goddess of love and doesn't understand a shit about eah system.

Also i thing that he would look extremly fucking hot as greek

[mariacallous]

Kaplan Street is one of the main thoroughfares leading into and out of Tel Aviv. It was built along the outline of a German Templar colony, whose pro-Nazi descendants were expelled from British Mandate Palestine during World War II. During the 1960s and 70s, it was filled with Israeli governmental and cultural institutions, such as the Jewish Agency and the Israel Journalists Association. These days, Kaplan is the street where, every Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis protest the attempted judicial coup led by the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Contrary to the common version in the global press, the protesters are not only the scions of the old, privileged establishment. Those gathering on Kaplan are a big tent, including both the financially comfortable and the struggling. While some of the protest movement leaders are military elites or tech moguls, many others are not. The most vulnerable of them are set to become the main casualties of Netanyahu’s judicial coup. That’s because their children, who study in the public school system, may witness its slow collapse due to funds being redirected to the religious and ultra-Orthodox institutions.

Their kids, who—unlike most ultra-Orthodox Jews—serve a full term in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), will sit idle at home because in Israel, there is no public transport on the Sabbath. Single mothers will have their state support reduced in favor of ultra-Orthodox families with multiple children. People who live in peripheral areas will have to struggle against an ultra-Orthodox takeover of their towns. The first step will be a political takeover of the municipalities, followed by massive benefits to the ultra-Orthodox population. According to reports, this process is already happening in cities such as Tiberias, Safed, Arad, and Mitzpe Ramon.

They are Jews, Palestinians, men, women, native Israelis, and immigrants who arrived from developing countries via the Law of Return. The common denominator for all of them is the struggle against turning into a so-called donkey.

In Jewish tradition, the Messiah’s Donkey refers to the donkey upon which the Messiah will arrive at the end of days. In Israel, the phrase refers to the doctrine ascribed to the teachings of Abraham Isaac Kook: The secular Jews, who represent the material world, are an instrument in the hands of God whose purpose was to establish the state of Israel and begin the process of redemption. Upon Israel’s establishment, the secular Jews would be required to step aside and allow the religious to govern the state.

Kook, who immigrated to Ottoman Palestine from what is now Latvia in 1904, is considered one of the spiritual fathers of religious Zionism. According to him, the Zionist enterprise was a new historical development of the era of redemption. Nevertheless, Kook was terrified of secularism. He believed that secular education had “sinned greatly against the spirit of Israel” and represented “the beginning of the decay and the basis of all bad assimilation.” Kook sought to settle the contradiction. The secular Zionists, he wrote, are allowed to be the bricks of the building of redemption, “but when the secret of the righteous is to be revealed,” it would be easy to differentiate “between God’s servants and those who are not.”

Unlike Kook, Israel’s founder David Ben-Gurion was an atheist. He came from a religious background and respected Jewish heritage. At the end of the 1950s, a Bible study group gathered in his house, and the prophets were his favorite biblical characters. Nevertheless, Ben-Gurion did not attend synagogue and used to travel on the Sabbath. He made compromises with ultra-Orthodox parties only because of political constraints. It turned out to be a disaster for secular Israelis.

Kook’s prediction is about to come true, with one difference: Israel will not be a theocracy. It will be a country using religious law to allow profound corruption. In the past six months, there have been many reports on improper political appointments within the Likud party and its religious partners. Some of the coalition members have past criminal convictions, and there are reports of improper past conduct by others. And the country’s transformation into a corrupt religious state won’t only strengthen its ideological rivals—Israel is also a potential international drug trade route; such a shift may boost organized crime.

Over the next decade, the government plans to increase the budget of ultra-Orthodox educational institutions by 40 percent. This will make Israel the first country in the developed world that incentivizes schools that barely teach core subjects such as math, science, and English. The governmental supervision of ultra-Orthodox schools is weak, leaving vague information available about their curriculum. But according to sources in the education ministry, these schools teach primarily religious topics: the Talmud, Mishna, and Torah.

English, math, and even Hebrew are studied at an elementary level. In addition, more than $600 million of the coalition budget will be dedicated to empowering Jewish identity among students in the state education system, IDF soldiers, university students, and residents of secular and liberal cities. Aryeh Deri, the head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, a convicted tax evader and one of the most powerful politicians in the coalition, plans a series of laws that might allow the ultra-Orthodox to take over secular towns politically.

Meanwhile, secular Israelis will pay six times more in taxes than the ultra-Orthodox, who constitute only 8 percent of the Israeli workforce. Their children will be obligated, as they are today, to serve a full term in the army (three years for men and two for women), while so-called national-religious men can serve in the army for a reduced term and most ultra-Orthodox are exempt.

Despite these facts, since the country’s founding, the secular population has been deprived of some basic liberties. This is because Israel has never created a constitution separating church and state. As a result, among other things, the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate holds a monopoly on marriage, which forces many secular Israelis to get married in other countries, or even online. Israel has no formal public transportation on Saturdays, which strands the millions of residents who don’t own a car.

“The liberals are beginning to realize that they will be used as the donkey up to the moment Israel is subjected to religious law,” said Yair Nehorai, a lawyer and the author of The Third Revolution, a book documenting the teachings of the rabbinic mentors of the messianic movement. “But this realization,” he noted, “is too difficult.”

“They will no longer be the majority in the country within a few decades, and they will have to say: This is not my country,” Nehorai said.

The idea of dividing Israel into cantons, which for years has been received with mockery due to the country’s small size and security challenges, has been gaining more and more traction over the past few months, and liberals are angrily calling to separate “Israel” from “Judea.” For some, Judea means the occupied territories. For others, Judea represents all ultra-Orthodox and messianic Jews, whether they live in Bnei Brak (in Israel proper) or Hebron (in the West Bank).

Sagi Elbaz, the author of Emergency Exit: From Tribalism to Federation, the Road to Healing Israeli Society, told me that these cantons will begin with the liberal Israeli cities. “A secular rebellion manifested itself, for example, when the municipalities of Tel Aviv and several other liberal cities launched a network of bus routes that operate on the Sabbath,” he explained.

Until recently, Kaplan Street appeared to welcome protesters of all stripes. Next to No. 8, where the offices of the tech company Fiverr are located, CEO Micha Kaufman hands out free water bottles. Not far from Kaplan 17-19 stand the protesters of the “Anti-Occupation Bloc,” forcing passers-by to acknowledge the elephant in the room with signs such as “No Democracy with Occupation.” Kaplan 22 looks like the mother base of “Women Building an Alternative,” whose photos dressed as handmaids from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel A Handmaid’s Tale have gained worldwide publicity. Next to them are the members of “The Pink Front,” who have ironically swapped the Israeli blue-and-white flag for a pink-and-white one.

At the end of Kaplan and on the adjacent Namir Street, you can find the unironic blue-and-white. And khaki. This is the center of activity for “Brothers in Arms—Warriors Journeying to Save Democracy,” a grassroots umbrella organization that includes several reservist groups.

Israeli researchers have often noted that, compared to developed Western countries, Israel struggles with establishing a free and open civil society, as the Israelis are attached at the hip to their army. Despite this, the veterans demonstrating on Kaplan are not all the same: Some served in the special forces. Others spent three unremarkable years, mostly killing time. Some veterans abused their power over the Palestinians. Others were discharged with physical and mental scars.

Some believe that serving in the occupied territories is a critical security goal. Others feel that they were forced to go there, but never came out in public to say so. Some of them committed acts of heroism. A few others proved their heroism by refusing to commit acts that they have deemed immoral.

Brothers in Arms, the embodiment of the liberal side of the “People’s Army,” has the most leverage of any group in the Israeli protest movement. Now, with the coalition resuming its legislative blitz, special forces veterans have declared that hundreds of them will stop volunteering for reserve duty. The number of objectors is rising. Former directors of special intelligence operations have warned that units across the IDF, the Shin Bet and Mossad are angry and in a state of unrest.

Reserve Col. Ronen Koehler, one of the Brothers in Arms coordinators, told Foreign Policy that until mid-March, “we were just another activist group.” But in the time since, “we received a flood of phone calls from reservists who were expecting us to tell them what to do about their service.” There were questions from high-ranking commanders who have an in-depth understanding of Israel’s strategic infrastructure: What if you are ordered to shoot in a way you were never ordered to before, and you are experienced enough to know that you shouldn’t do it? What happens if a submarine crew is not sure that the person who sent them to sea is trustworthy?

“The flood of phone calls made us realize that something bigger than our protest activities was happening here,” said Koehler, who served as a submarine captain and is a former vice president at Checkpoint, a U.S.-Israeli hardware and software products company.

The government reached the same realization. A secret report that was submitted to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant caused a temporary halt of the judicial coup at the end of February, but it has now resumed with the passage of a law limiting judicial review on Monday—sparking even larger protests.

As successful as the protests have been, liberal civil society and the army veterans struggle to see eye to eye. For various reasons, some practical (to attract right-wing voters) and some ideological, the occupation is barely mentioned in speeches along the Kaplan encampment, and the number of Palestinian-Israelis joining the protests is low.

Recently, the Anti-Occupation Bloc, which usually demonstrates far from the main stage, decided to pass through the main avenue. The protesters carried a massive sign reading: “We Must Resist Settler Terror.” Some of the Brothers in Arms tried to forcefully remove the sign. After a time, they published a half-hearted apology, and a few days later, they met with Anti-Occupation Bloc representatives to settle matters peacefully.

Some protest participants hate each other, while others love each other. Some are caught in love-hate relationships. “We should be glad about the greatest achievement we got: the creation of a new kind of centrist identity,” Koehler said. “This center includes various shades, from the capitalist, hawkish right that believed in Netanyahu so far but not anymore, through the liberal center and up to the social-democratic left.”

“The protest doesn’t have intrinsic content yet,” Nehorai admitted. “But when a serving coalition is acting in a frenzy, it makes us feel, every minute of every day, that we are connected. The liberal camp is a country that is just being formed.”

All Israelis are facing legislation that will grant unlimited power to anyone the government chooses; they could be white-collar criminals, rehabilitated members of organized crime families, cocaine addicts, or messianic fundamentalists.

A growing number of Israeli liberals, especially younger ones, will soon start negotiating the cargo loaded on their backs, the identity of the hand holding the reins, and the direction of travel. And ultimately, they will refuse to continue being used as donkeys.

[lafcadiosadventures]

Madame Putiphar Readalong

Book One, Chapter One

At the core of this chapter is a question most people raised under the influence of religions claiming that reality is willed by a superior and benign being make themselves throught the ages. It is a question that sparks rebellion, because it hits precisely at the key point where religions act to instill submission. Religions propose the world is willed and ordered by a wise superior being. But how can this be so when the world is full of inequality, pain and injustice?

The question is old. Lucretius doubted the gods existed, and if they did, he concluded, they were clearly uninterested by humans.

Shakespeare wrote extensively about Fate and Fortune, a strumpet, a bored housewife, a blind goddess, or an irresistible blind force surpassing the will of men (and not governed by a wise benevolent superior entity we feel) It has been tackled by Voltaire in his Candide, where a noxious conformist of a philosopher preaches that we live in the best of all possible worlds, it is designed for perfection since God presides and orders it. He and the holy fool of a protagonist are constantly faced with the horrors of modern civilization: slavery, sexual abuse, war and famine, colonization. Pangloss cheerfully brushes all that away, repeating his slogan: everything happens for a reason. We must not complain, because things could be infinitely worse.

Then there’s Diderot, who only believes in nature, and the responsability to be moral towards each other. Diderot tries to adopt determinism, his own eclectical version of it, and is not completely satisfied by it because he has created various private masterpieces that consist on anthitetical aspects of himself debating over the existence of free will. But Diderot is convinced that god is not real, he is not in the equation. Religion is merely a form of social control, highly noxious to human development.

Borel’s technique is different and completely Romantic. If the first chapter took place in his heart, I feel here we are inside his brain. He depicts with painful accuracy what it feels like to think of a problem to the point where it provokes pain. We are at the limit of human reason.

The question that haunts him is at its core one about injustice and inequality. Why are some lives so ripe with suffering? Borel tries out all the conventional, conformist explanations he can think of, and pretending to take them seriously, socratically refutes them all. How do we explain suffering on Earth.

Is there a collective Fate of humanity (I tend to be reminded of that one Hegel essay when I see mentions of a collective Fate driving humanity towards Progress in a 19th century novel. The progression is georgraphic, from the primitive East, to the pinnacle of civilization, Europe. And to him America -the Americas, and to be more specific, the war between the Americas- is the future. He conveniently declares Africa and the precolumbine Empires cannot be part of this narrative because they aren’t universal enough, they are neither the past or the future. It was kind of a lapsus that is not worth mentioning in the general history of human progress because the cultures are too specific to be universal incarnations of the spirit.)(you can see how awful this is, and how most theories implying that there is a human fate tend to drive towards instilling conformism, and/or a notion of progress which usually implies some nations are more evolved than others and so on)

Perhaps we are not dealing with a collective drive towards progress but a congregation of multiple human fates written before birth. Some of these beigns lead lives of suffering. Can we explain these fatal beigns by their biology? By their lack of intelligence? Do people who are less intelligent deserve to be taken advantage of, like modern science would affirm, one phrenological diagram at a time? IF so (Borel entertains the idea to expose its absurdity) why would a benevolent God allow these differences?

Suffering that is due to diminished capacities would imply an unfair delivery of fates at the time of procreation. And an unfair one.

Is it possible that humans are like animals, divided into pray and predators, and are simply following their instincts? If determinism is correct, then all men are innocent because they cannot be blamed for their nature.

He then tackles a -somewhat- rousseaunian explanation. Men’s passions existed before society determined which of them were good or bad (and I find this extremely interesting, the narrator says, according to which of these where “profitable” for society. It’s a common enough expression, but he could have used bénéfique possibly? but went for “Ceci est bon parce que ceci m’est profitable” instilling the idea of societies more interested in wealth than in morals) so it is also wrong to judge something natural with a social mindframe (the answers are also pushed to the point of absurd)

If man is a social animal why does Providence make some of them unsociable? Is it extravagant? How can a wise ruling deity be susceptible to flights of fancy? And why are there good, sociable men whose lives is society are made so unbearable? Borel does not address the questions of the governments of men (for now). But one can easily imagine the implicit question: if God is real, why does he allow for the powerful to exploit the weak?

And that’s where the “invention” of the afterlife comes in. But even that invention is unfair because the Just who was just because his life was easy is rewarded, whereas those who commit bad acts out of need or being driven to them by desperation are, on top of that, punished for all eternity.

So here Borel introduces social inequality into the equation. Being good is sometimes very easy, on a full stomach, when you are not discriminated or ostracized, and so on.

The hyperbolic solution the Narrator offers is punishing or rewarding God for his good and bad creations. Because humans cannot be blamed or rewarded for their acts: how they act is conditioned always by external factors. Their social class, their level of comfort or desperation or the laws and rules of society that goes against human nature.

The narrator has heard the affirmation that insects have been created to amuse children who enjoy torturing them, and wonders if humans are made to amuse some higher order of beigns who rejoice in our moans of pain. Many lives are like that of beetles pinned alive to the wall (again, criticism science and returning to the earlier mockery of phrenology) or bats used as target to aim the crossbow. (i don’t know if this was a thing or if it is wordplay of some kind, or symbolism, but again, nature versus technology, and the animal picked is one usually asociated with darkness, ilness, vampirism, while it’s merely a natural being humans attribute sinnister qualities to)

So, exhausted, the narrator concludes: it is the reader’s task faced to these terrible fates we are about to be told of, to try to solve the question of fate. If the reader can see these man made horrors, and conclude a god allows them, and even discern what would be the point or need of so much suffering on earth, then the reader is much more “fortunate” ironizes Petrus, than the writer,

——

as an annex I’d like to add an excerpt from a more recent work, a monologue of Ivan in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, which I couldn’t help but be reminded of. In the Rebellion chapter, Ivan is overwhelmed by memories of child abuse he proceeds to tell in a highly detailed manner to his novice brother Alyosha:

““I think if the devil doesn’t exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness.”

“Just as he did God, then?” observed Alyosha.

“ ‘It’s wonderful how you can turn words,’ as Polonius says in Hamlet,” laughed Ivan. “You turn my words against me. Well, I am glad. Yours must be a fine God, if man created Him in his image and likeness.”

“Can you understand why a little creature, who can’t even understand what’s done to her, should beat her little aching heart with her tiny fist in the dark and the cold, and weep her meek unresentful tears to dear, kind God to protect her? Do you understand that, friend and brother, you pious and humble novice? Do you understand why this infamy must be and is permitted? Without it, I am told, man could not have existed on earth, for he could not have known good and evil. Why should he know that diabolical good and evil when it costs so much? Why, the whole world of knowledge is not worth that child’s prayer to ‘dear, kind God’! I say nothing of the sufferings of grown‐up people, they have eaten the apple, damn them, and the devil take them all! But these little ones! I am making you suffer, Alyosha, you are not yourself. I’ll leave off if you like.”

[amandabanks1]

Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives_ Creating Opportunities for Individuals with Diverse Cognitive Abilities by Public Speakers including Amanda Banks

Amanda Banks Lubbock

Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives: Creating Opportunities for Individuals with Diverse Cognitive Abilities by Public Speakers including Amanda Banks

Neurodiversity, a concept that embraces the range of cognitive variations in the human population, is gaining increasing recognition in workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives. Individuals with neurodiverse conditions, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences, bring unique strengths and perspectives that can enhance organizational performance and innovation. As businesses strive to create inclusive environments, understanding and implementing neurodiversity hiring initiatives become crucial for fostering a truly diverse workplace.

This blog explores the significance of neurodiversity in the workplace, examining how tailored hiring initiatives can create opportunities for individuals with diverse cognitive abilities. We will delve into the benefits of such initiatives, strategies for successful implementation, and the impact on organizational culture and performance. By embracing neurodiversity, companies can build a more inclusive and innovative workforce that reflects the broad spectrum of human cognition.

Understanding Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity refers to the natural variations in the human brain and cognition, encompassing conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and more. These cognitive differences are recognized as part of the diversity of the human experience, rather than as deficits or disorders. Understanding neurodiversity involves recognizing that these variations can offer distinct skills and talents that benefit various aspects of work, from problem-solving to creativity.

Embracing neurodiversity involves shifting perspectives from viewing these conditions as limitations to appreciating them as valuable differences. For example, individuals with autism may excel in detail-oriented tasks and pattern recognition, while those with ADHD might demonstrate exceptional creativity and adaptability. By acknowledging and valuing these cognitive variations, organizations can leverage the diverse strengths of their workforce to drive innovation and achieve competitive advantages as highlighted by public speakers like Amanda Banks.

The Benefits of Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives

Implementing neurodiversity hiring initiatives offers numerous benefits for organizations. First, it enhances creativity and problem-solving by bringing together individuals with varied cognitive approaches and perspectives. Neurodiverse employees often possess unique skills and thinking patterns that can lead to innovative solutions and improvements in processes. This diversity of thought can foster a more dynamic and adaptable work environment.

Moreover, neurodiversity hiring initiatives contribute to a more inclusive workplace culture. By actively seeking and valuing neurodiverse talent, organizations demonstrate their commitment to diversity and equality. Social justice advocates such as Amanda Banks mention that this inclusivity can improve employee morale, increase engagement, and attract top talent from a wider pool. A diverse and inclusive work environment also reflects positively on the organization’s reputation, enhancing its appeal to clients, partners, and the public.

Implementing Effective Hiring Practices

To effectively implement neurodiversity hiring initiatives, organizations must adopt inclusive hiring practices. This begins with creating job descriptions and recruitment processes that focus on skills and qualifications rather than traditional criteria that may inadvertently exclude neurodiverse candidates. For instance, using clear and straightforward language in job postings can help individuals with cognitive differences better understand the role and its requirements.

Additionally, organizations should consider modifying interview processes to accommodate neurodiverse candidates. Structured interviews, which focus on specific job-related questions and skills, can provide a fairer evaluation of a candidate’s abilities. Offering alternative interview formats, such as written assessments or task-based evaluations, can also help accommodate different cognitive styles. Providing a supportive and understanding interview environment can enable neurodiverse candidates to showcase their strengths more effectively as noted by public speakers including Amanda Banks.

Creating an Inclusive Work Environment

An inclusive work environment is essential for the success of neurodiversity hiring initiatives. Organizations should focus on creating a workplace culture that supports and values neurodiverse employees. This includes providing reasonable accommodations, such as flexible work hours, quiet workspaces, or assistive technologies, to help neurodiverse individuals perform at their best.

Training and education for all employees about neurodiversity can further enhance inclusivity. Awareness programs can help reduce stigma, promote understanding, and foster empathy among staff. By encouraging open communication and creating a culture of respect as emphasized by social justice advocates like Amanda Banks, organizations can ensure that neurodiverse employees feel valued and integrated into the team. A supportive environment not only helps neurodiverse individuals thrive but also contributes to a more collaborative and harmonious workplace.

Measuring the Impact and Success

Evaluating the impact and success of neurodiversity hiring initiatives is crucial for ongoing improvement and effectiveness. Organizations should establish metrics to assess the outcomes of their neurodiversity programs, such as employee retention rates, job performance, and overall satisfaction. Public speakers such as Amanda Banks convey that gathering feedback from neurodiverse employees can provide valuable insights into their experiences and identify areas for enhancement.

Regular reviews and adjustments to hiring practices and workplace accommodations can ensure that the initiatives continue to meet the needs of neurodiverse employees. By tracking progress and addressing challenges, organizations can refine their strategies and demonstrate their commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. Measuring the impact also helps to showcase the value of neurodiversity hiring initiatives to stakeholders and reinforces the organization’s dedication to diversity and inclusion.

Neurodiversity hiring initiatives represent a vital aspect of creating a truly inclusive workplace. By recognizing and valuing the diverse cognitive abilities of individuals, organizations can unlock a wealth of unique skills and perspectives that drive innovation and enhance performance. Implementing effective hiring practices, fostering an inclusive work environment, and measuring the success of these initiatives are essential steps in building a diverse and supportive workforce.

In embracing neurodiversity, companies not only contribute to a more equitable society but also gain a competitive edge by leveraging the strengths of a diverse talent pool. As organizations continue to advance their diversity and inclusion efforts, prioritizing neurodiversity can lead to a more dynamic, creative, and successful work environment.

[itoshikinozomu]

I think it's big time people start differencing reacting to negative experiences and having prejudice based on something they never experienced or at least not at the same level to say the least. For example, hating men, conceptually, isn't something people developed from cultural assimilation, but the results of a culture that promote them at their expense. People being on the edge about marginalized classes more often than not come from cultural inference, especially notable when you see people having extreme opinions regarding gender care and trans people rights while having none of them anywhere close from their own circle.

The thing with developing an aversion out of cumulative negative experiences doesn't make it "acceptable" in the wide sense, but people subjected to the results are mostly aware or at least constantly reminded that they shouldn't be that way. But it's an average trauma response, and unlearning it is extremely tedious given the bad experiences won't just stop happening just because someone do the work on themselves. If someone vent about something that makes you feel guilty just take in consideration two things: first it might not be personal, second if you take it personally is it because you may do the things that may have pissed that person making that post? If so, that may be on you. But unless it's really about you, is it ever appropriate to derail to make excuses for yourself and try to switch the guilt balance?

[sysk-ehess]

GRISELDA POLLOCK

Vendredi 14 juin à 18h (heure de Paris)

Friday June 14th 2024, 6pm (Paris time)

@ MSH, 16 – 18 RUE SUGER, 75006 (métro Odéon ou St – Michel)

Griselda Pollock est l’une des figures les plus impressionnantes de celles qui, depuis les années 1980, ont révolutionné l’histoire de l’art en la soumettant au questionnement féministe. Bien au-delà de la question désormais classique du « canon » de l’histoire de l’art, c’est à une réélaboration radicale du cadre même de la discipline, informée par la théorie politique, la psychanalyse et l’anthropologie, qu’elle a consacré une vingtaine d’ouvrages qui sont aujourd’hui considérés comme incontournables parmi lesquels Vision and Difference: Feminism, Femininity and the Histories of Art (1988), Differencing the Canon: Feminist Desire and the Writing of Art's Histories (1999), Encounters in the Virtual Feminist Museum: Time Space and the Archive (2007), After-Affects I After-Images: Trauma and Aesthetic Transformation in the Virtual Feminist Museum (2013). Au fil des années 2000, Pollock a déployé un riche programme de recherche, à la fois personnel et collectif, sur le trauma, la représentation après la Shoah, la mémoire et le cinéma. Charlotte Salomon and the Theatre of Memory, publié en 2018, se situe à la convergence de ces deux perspectives. Professeure à l’université de Manchester (1974-1977) puis à celle de Leeds (à partir de 1977), Pollock a dirigé le Centre for Cultural Analysis, Theory and History (CATH) de l’université de Leeds. En 2020 elle a obtenu le plus prestigieux prix international pour les sciences humaines, le prix Holberg "pour ses contributions révolutionnaires à l'histoire de l'art féministe et aux études culturelles". En 2023, traçant les grandes lignes d’une approche entièrement renouvelée de l’historiographie, elle a dirigé un volume d’études consacrées à Helen Rosenau, historienne de l’art et de l’architecture, autrice du pionnier Woman in Art : From Type to Personality (1944). Aujourd'hui paraît enfin en français le classique des classiques, sa première intervention féministe dans l’histoire de l’art, Maîtresses d’autrefois. Femmes, Art et Idéologie qu’elle publia avec Rozsika Parker en 1981.

[EN] Giselda Pollock is one of the most impressive figures among those who, since the 1980s, have revolutionised the history of art by subjecting it to feminist questioning. Far beyond the now classic question of the art-historical “canon”, she has devoted some twenty books to a radical re-elaboration of the very framework of the discipline, informed by political theory, psychoanalysis and anthropology. These include Differencing the Canon: Feminist Desire and the Writing of Art's Histories (1999), Vision and Difference: Feminism, Femininity and the Histories of Art (2003), Encounters in the Virtual Feminist Museum: Time Space and the Archive (2007), After-Affects I After-Images: Trauma and Aesthetic Transformation in the Virtual Feminist Museum (2013). Over the 2000s, Pollock deployed a rich, personal, and collective program of research on trauma, representation after the Shoah, memory and cinema. Charlotte Salomon and the Theatre of Memory, published in 2018, lies at the convergence of these two perspectives. Professor at the University of Manchester and then at Leeds University, Pollock directed the Centre for Cultural analysis, Theory and History at Leeds University. In 2020, she was awarded the most prestigious international prize for the humanities, the Holberg Prize “For her groundbreaking contributions to feminist art history and cultural studies”. In 2023, outlining an entirely new approach to historiography, she edited a volume of studies devoted to Helen Rosenau, art and architecture historian and author of the pioneering Woman in Art: From Type to Personality (1944). Todday, the classic of classics, Old Mistresses: Women, Art and Ideology, her first feminist intervention in history published with Rozsika Parker in 1981, is finally published in French.

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Pour regarder les séminaires antérieurs : http://www.vimeo.com/sysk/

Séminaire conçu et organisé par Patricia Falguières, Elisabeth Lebovici et Natasa Petresin-Bachelez et soutenu par la Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso para el Arte

[faltravelmart]

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We pride ourselves on our in-depth knowledge of Qatar, its culture, and its hidden gems. Our team consists of local guides and long-term residents who have an intimate understanding of the country, enabling us to offer unique and authentic experiences. Best Travel Agency in Doha, Qatar specializes in customizing every part of your trip to your preferences, as opposed to pre-packaged trips that are one size fits all. Your specific needs and preferences are given priority in every decision we make, from choosing accommodations to creating tailored itineraries. We can offer exclusive access to a variety of sights, events, and local experiences that are not easily accessible to the average visitor because to our broad network of contacts and relationships. We can make it happen if you’ve ever dreamed of flying in a private jet. It’s the type of luxury travel, allowing you to go wherever you want in style and comfort. Our dedication to providing exceptional privacy and customer service makes us unique.

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[gatheringbones]

["Former lesbians often framed their emergent heterosexuality in the language of desire, longing, and "internal" selves contrasting this newer understanding of themselves with that of their former, lesbian self, which had been formed within a lesbian subculture. Some saw heterosexuality as providing a release from the intimate demands of relationships with women. Toby Miller spoke of having a couple of brief affairs with men to "test the waters": "I was at the point of breaking up with my [female] ex, a long-term relationship. It was a little step into the sexual twilight zone. Emotionally, there was nothing in it. It took my mind off a relationship where there was a lot of emotion going on. It was some kind of weird escape." The libertarian "pro-sex" discourse that had emerged among some feminists in the 1980s publicly sanctioned the pursuit of pleasure. Though unaware of these "sex debates" as they had come to be called, Laura recalled her realization at the time that "maybe penises weren't so bad after all." The fact that heterosexual love was so forbidden in her friendship circle made it even more powerful. When she eventually became involved with a man, it had "some of the flavor" of her first relationship with a woman— precisely because "it was so not right": "It had the power that I realize was the power that lesbians had when they came out. That's what I think is so frightening to me. It's that here I had come into the situation thinking: I want to try this and see. I expected the same thing to happen to me when I tried women. But instead what happened was this incredibly powerful falling-in-love experience that I didn't know how to interpret." The taboo aspects of that longing made it even more attractive, rekindling a passion that had been missing from her lesbian relationship after the initial few years. "I knew that it might mean I was straight," she laughed. "I don't think I expected that experience."

But, ultimately, there was much more at stake than simply erotic pleasures. When discussing their relationships with women, many former lesbians mentioned that the differenced that once elicited desire had proved to be problematic in the long run. Some ex-lesbians described a dynamic of having been drawn to female lovers who were very different from themselves in terms of class, race, gendered roles, and so forth. As we saw in chapter 3, Sally Kirk found that in her relationships with women, she "always had to be attracted to people who were really different." But over time, "it was hard to sustain a relationship with a woman who was "so different" from herself. In a striking reversal of feminist ideology, which claimed that lesbian relationships offered an intimacy founded upon the pairing of equals, Sally came to believe that a male lover could provide a "better mix" of qualities than a female lover. Her description of her current male partner illustrates her point:

The thing that feels great about being with him, and that's related to his being a man, is that he's so much like me. The thing that is really great about being with Henry is that he's interested in all the same things. So there is a lot of it that is very validating, but it doesn't feel like I'm relating to myself because he has this penis. It makes him different enough, that there's this dynamic. His being a man enables me to be with him for a long time in terms of our values and our worldview, which is so much more similar.

By becoming involved with a man, according to Sally, she has been able to find a good mix of "sameness and difference" in a partner. Toby Miller told a similar story. She met a man who, like her, "is very gay-identified": "He identifies as bisexual but he's really more gay than straight. He's primarily had relationships with men and has really been entrenched in gay culture. He's really into drag and stuff. He told me he had crushes on me when he was in total drag. There's actually a picture of him in drag, you can see…. the odd couple. He told me that he had a crush on me. Anyway, I said that's nice but I'm a lesbian. But we eventually fell in love." While heterosexual, Toby described her relationship as affording an extraordinary reversal of roles: "We're not your average straight couple…. With Sandy, I'm the man. He's much more in touch with how he feels at any minute, at every second. He's an unusual man. He's also very good when I have feelings. It's much more balanced than many of my other relationships. [My woman lover] could hear me only after huge, dramatic, gigantic fights. Sandy and I never get that far."]

arlene stein, from sex and sensibility: stories of a lesbian generation, university of california, 1997

[kim-isnt-seaweed]

I get we eat a lot of kimchi but like there is no possible way on this earth a family of four people (if you count my in law's household and ours since we live a floor apart) can eat 15 buckets (?) Of kimchi in a year. We literally still have lile three bucket full of kimchi from 2016 that i am not allowed to get rid of because we can still eat it.

+3 that were not pictured

There is no real reason we need this much kimchi, me and T more often than not eat out and my in-laws are only two people. Its not like we hold banquets or parties, the only other people that ever come are my brother in law and his family and thats just three people and we usually always eat out. I'd get it if it we donated part of it but nah man its just that my mother-in-law doesn't really know when it's too much. This doesn't only happen with Kimchi, every time they go to aunt's farm she comes back with enough food to feed a village, it'd be great if we owned a restaurant but like for real does our family need two garbage bags (the big black kind) full of Korean monster sized apples?? I dont even eat apples, T dont eat apples. Do we really need 1 full back of spring onions??? Or three sacks of 무? Our freezer still has three medium sized bags of pepper powder and two of minced garlic that thankfully somehow don't go bad, we have two big sacks of rice in our house two people cant eat this much rice i dont even eat two bowls of rice a week. Like am i the only one that stresses over this??

Don't get me wrong i love everything that comes out of aunts farm and i love my MIL's generosity, but the guilty catholic in me aches for the things that is bound to go to waste. I was taught to only get what i can use so i dont leave waste. really we dont need this much kimchi!!! I know for a fact because my kimchi fridge still has kimchi from past years. Also i am bitter because these motherfuckers are bigger and heavier than they look and i had to haul them all up the stairs by myself because T was late for work.

[tamsin-tw-blog]

Au(Oh) Pair!?

11/2018 London

Well, it has already been the forth month as an au pair for me and I had already stayed with three different families. The first one is still my favourite. The second one and third one has quite a few unacceptable points..pfff...it’s gonna be a LONG LONG complaint list.

About Second Family :   1.Parents’ awkward relationship    2.Too much requirements (even my ROOM)   3.No privacy    4.Spoiled kids

I know it’s non of my business about their relationship but I really can sense of that intense feeling came out when host mom and host dad are talking. I even have heard of they were arguing with “cursing” words.

As for requirements, the host mom asked me to do quite a lot of things in her way, mostly are fine but some are a bit unacceptable for me,like she asked me how to make the bed in HER way...uhh but that’s my room...

And Privacy, she went into my room when I was away from the house by telling me that they found out I have snacks inside my room which is not allowed...fine but what about my privacy in that room? Also, kids always just push the door and get inside my room directly or keep knocking on the door even on WEEKEND...why don’t you educate your kids how to be respect,if you don’t tell them, they will never know and understand,right?

Not gonna comment too much about spoiled kids LOL Purely just personally opinion.

About Third Family :

The one that I’m currently staying with. Basically this family is okay, they are a single parent family, no dad only mom. There are mainly two parts that I can’t really understand and feel a bit unacceptable and they are related.

First, the host mom told me that she would prefer me to sort out dinner on my own, meaning, we have dinner separated which is fine BUT she doesn’t like me to use the kitchen at night..what on earth is this requirement? If you don’t want to prepare the dinner for me,why don’t you allow me to use the kitchen and cook something for my dinner? She said I have whole day to cook, the kitchen is so small, I don’t like it that you use it after I tidy up...so yea she generally wants me stay away from the kitchen at night and want me to prepare dinner during daytime and heat up with microwave...pfff

Second is more weird, not exactly unacceptable which is fine.So this host mom likes to iron everything, bed sheets,clothes,underwear,socks...I literally don’t understand why xD especially those bed sheets and kids’ panties, anyway, it doesn’t really bother me a lot, i just have to do it instead of questioning.

What’s your experience of being an aupair? :D 

[vampirae]

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 A combination of Scorpio and Sagittarius or Pluto and Jupiter makes someone lucky with interpersonal relationships with foreigners or immigrants. A Scorpio rising with Jupiter in 1st/Pluto/Mars in Sagittarius or it's ruler in conjunction with Jupiter or a Sagittarius rising with Pluto in 1st/Jupiter in Scorpio/8th or it's ruler in conjunction with Pluto or the rising receiving major aspects from Jupiter/Pluto (the more placements you have the better). This natives naturally attracts foreigners as friends, lovers, spouses, business partners, in fact they may have more close relationship with them instead of locals. Foreigners may help them a lot trough life, like being emotionally there for them, giving them money/gifts, help and work. Also the native may be fascinated by different cultures, and growing up they may immerse in studying languages, habits and cultures.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Though the aforementioned placements should approach this relationships with discernment and analysis, and try to control their impulsive/unpredictable nature, as in some occasions, they may attract bad luck if they don't trust their gut feeling about someone or something. Like being coerced into a relationship, having (unwanted) sexual affairs, being lied to or used by foreigners.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Your venus house may tell you a lot about which type of people you attract, even if you're not looking for them. For example, Venus in 2nd may attract generous, gregarious, light-hearted individuals, that may be clever, with a lot to teach to the native, that likes to travel and may be even a foreigner. Venus in 3rd may attract people that are ambitious, hardworking, responsible individuals, even self-made man/woman that will help the native to grow in their career, or support their career pursuit, or even working together (as a couple/friends). Venus in 10th may attract playful, loving and generous individuals. Someone that spoils them with attention, lovey-dovey intentions/affirmations/thoughts. It's someone who will always be there for the native, to light up their day.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Venus square Neptune in a man chart, is a tricky placement to have and to deal with. Love, lies, illusions, fantasies and frustration goes hand in hand. Their love life is a constellations of unpredictable events with a dramatic flair that would change their course of life for the better or the worse. Pattern or key words for this placement are: love at first sight, sacrifices, being cheated on, lying (from both parties), to illude/trick the other to have/stay in a relationship with (both parties), dreaming about marrying your partner, to reach heaven just to fall in the biggest pit of despair, toxic relationship (though they're pretty fine with it), manipulative partner (both parties).

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Saturn opposite/square/conjunct Venus creates so much anxiety and lack or low self-esteem. The native has huge complexes about their appearance, body, desirability and sex appeal. Usually tends to hide this fears or hide their body/the part(s) they don't like, and only if they trust with all their heart, they'll open with their partner about their fears/doubts. How to deal with it as their partner: kiss their "problematic" parts, affirm that you find them attractive and you like them the way they're and if they truly dislike themselves so much, give them the kindest and truthful opinion on "what should be changed" and reassure them that you'll support them in the process or whatever they chose to do.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Saturn opposite/square/conjunct Venus also makes someone prone to doubt their sexual prowess. Like they may be not enough. Men may have "problems" with lasting too much or too little.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 There's two types of Sagittarius women: the blissful hetero and the bisexual in denial. (Many sagittarius women with Capricorn/Aquarius venus/mars are bisexuals in closet)

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius placements tend to be in relationships with some age gap or cultural differences. They tend to have mentor/teacher or scholar/student relationships with their lover.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Cancer and Capricorn placements also tend to be in relationships with some age gap, but for different reasons. They look for a parent/caregiver in a partner or act as a parent/caregiver for their lover.

𓆩 𔘓 𓆪 Water/Earth venus/mars (or houses) after a hard and painful breakup, can have a "heartbreaker" phase, they tend to casually date or hook-up as a way to prove to themselves that they're over their ex and that they're still in control of their life or stuff. Also they have an internal timing that tells them when to stop and when they're healed/ready to heal and look for a serious stable and loving relationship. Though if you end up falling in love with them in their "heartbreaker" phase, no matter how much you love them, or whatever you try to change their mind and heart, they won't. They're too hurt to care about others people feelings and yours included. Trying tirelessly to change their behaviour it's just a waste of time. Also Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio and Capricorn placements tend to be more resentful and way too focused on their pain. Literally it's a lost cause, they need to have their time and be a little bastard as a treat.

[barbietoiles]

i love this because a) its still important to learn for the cultural differenc, and b) i already feel these in my bones the academic setting is a mockery

busuu is teaching me filler words now its like my brain has a balm its so refreshing TT

[karazrel]

liam and mason needing to be around each other when scared (req by anon)

[whoppert]

Sunna 4 (loki/reader) (stephen strange/reader)

◂previous chapter first chapter ▴

3592 words

warnings: after effects of mind-violation

AO3 Master Fic List

I'm not really sure how long I've been walking, but I can't bring myself to stop.

Loki had slipped inside my mind like he owned the place and I can still feel him in there, the remnants of his power lingering behind.

The temperature of the air had quickly dropped and in my haste to leave, I hadn't thought to grab a jacket. The chill was enough to make me question if it was time to return home, but what if Loki was still there and my friends hadn’t returned and I was alone with him again and-

The thought is hastily pushed from my mind. I wrap my bare arms around myself, trying to keep the shivers at bay. I’ll walk until morning if I need to.

Some guy steps onto the street out of a liquor store without looking first, and I have to stop sharply to avoid banging into him. I walk around him, trying to ignore the way he leers drunkingly at me and keeping my head down, pretending I hadn't noticed that he had attempted to initiate conversation. He calls me a ‘bitch’.

AO3

I try to keep my wits about me as the people around make their way, looking for their own destinations. Even at night, there were an uncomfortable amount of people. The street was still packed even after sunset, and it hits me that it's Saturday, of course it is going to be busy.

Everything feels more vibrant than usual, overwhelmingly so, every light piercing my eyes and the noises jarring, loud and overlapping in a way that makes it nearly impossible to focus on any single one. It feels like a knock to the head. I don't think I hit my head, but it was pounding anyway. The crowd thins as I made my way onto a quieter street, which is all I can do to stop the overstimulation nausea.

Running out at night wasn't the smartest idea, but every time I think about what had happened it was a shard of ice down my spine. Why would Loki think I was trying to play Stephen? Why would he even care? He had wanted a cut, a piece of the action, but what action did he think there was going to be exactly? What was so wrong with my friendship with Stephen?

Maybe it had been a mistake to move in with Stephen. I wasn’t even sure what had inspired me to accept his offer. After that first time we had met, Stephen had started turning up every now and again at the museum to bring me a welcomed coffee and ask thoughtful questions about the exhibits. He was serious, funny, smart and had this mysterious vibe about him and when I found out he was the infamous occult scholar from that great haunted house on Bleecker Street… Well, I work in cultural anthropology. To me, the Sanctum is the same as a candy shop to a kid. The collection of artifacts is so impressive and provides so many opportunities for research. When Stephen had swept his hands through his hair and asked if I was interested in cataloging, I had jumped at the opportunity. Once they trusted me with the artifacts (especially after I had caught Stephen in the act of making magic and realized the extent of what I was being trusted with) and even now I still sometimes get lost in the Sanctum while Wong and Stephen go about their business. Despite all our differenced, we all became fast friends. The same night I'd walked in on Stephen's magic, I took him for an evening walk and revealed my own small well of power. In hindsight, of course he knew but he was still very polite about it. He wanted to help. To train me.

Once I'd popped in to visit after work and spent so long in one of the many relic rooms that I fell asleep. When I'd woken in one of the spare bedrooms, I'd had to rush to get out the door and to work, and Stephen had bristled and said '[I] should just move in if [I] planned to spend all my time there.' I remember laughing, but Wong had interjected to assure me that despite the tone of sarcasm from Stephen, the Sorcerer Supreme was serious. They’d discussed it and agreed that I would be a good fit for the place.

It had seemed so right at the time, like I had been created to live there. Utter perfection. Even Stephen had been surprised at how easily I had agreed, but I cannot describe the feeling the offer had filled me with, almost like magic. I joked with them that the biggest reason I accepted was that I didn't want to keep paying $2500 a month in rent, but I'll be damned if it wasn't the most impulsive decision I had ever made. If my friend told me… I searched my mind for a friend to use in an example, but found I couldn’t come up with the name of a single friend outside of Stephen and Wong. Do I seriously have no other friends? God, I’m such a- Not the point. If a… coworker told me that they were moving in with someone that they had only known for a couple of months, I would think that they were crazy.

Walking along the street, I am more and more aware that I cannot walk in a straight line, veering from left to right. I probably look drunk. Behind me, I hear yelling and jeering. Glancing in the direction of the noise, I am confronted with the sight of the man from the liquor store, himself drunk and trekking towards me, almost tripping over a piece of uneven pavement. I had been too distracted to notice that he was following me. Shit. I up my pace and make it around the corner, but I can still hear him calling after me. Back onto a more populated street.

Something was holding up the traffic, and I step off the sidewalk to knock on back window of the nearest free taxi.

"I need a ride," I can see the driver through the glass. He twists in his seat to look at me, shakes his head and points up at his darkened sign. I knock again, "come on dude!"

The driver sits on the horn. The sound is like a hammer to my head and I stumble away from the vehicle until I was far enough away from the car that the noise ceases. Patting my pocket I realize that my phone had been left at home with my jacket. Double shit. No Ubers then.

“Hey baby!” the drunk man slurs through the words. “You look like you could use a ride. I'll give you the ride of your life," he calls, letting out a bought of raucous laughter.

Less than twenty feet separates him from me now, and if need to I'm not sure I could defend myself from him, magically or otherwise. Stephen had taught me to fight, but that wasn’t real, how was I supposed to fight off a fully grown adult? Someone who doesn't stop when he's afraid he's hurt me? Bobbing around pedestrians, I cross the stress, but to my dismay he follows me to the other side.

Stay calm, I chant in my head. W.W.W.D? What Would Wong Do? Search frantically for any place that is open, any place I can slip into and get help or at least disappear, but the only places open look just as seedy as the drunkard. Where the fuck was I? I don’t even recognize the area.

A hand appears on my shoulder, and I jump half out of my skin, whirling around and preparing to scream or gouge at his eyes or something. To my surprise instead of the man who had followed me for three blocks, I see Stephen’s exhausted face.

I've never hugged him before. My relationship with Stephen is… subdued. Historically, he kept me at arm’s length. He seems like the type of person that holds personal space with a defensive reverence, and yet, when I throw myself into his arms he embraces me without hesitation, one hand twisting into my hair as I press my face into the spot where his neck and shoulder meet, trying to anchor my swirling head. His other hand settles on my lower back, holding me to him with a ferocious grip, that I'm sure I'm imagining.

The people around us voice their annoyance, we've caused a blockage in the middle of the walkway, but neither of us move. From over Stephen shoulder, I scan for the drunk man, but I can’t see him anywhere.

“Are you okay?” Stephen’s voice is hoarse in my ear.

“I think so,” I can’t tell if I'm the one trembling.

“Loki told me-,” the hand on my back folds into a fist around a handful of my tee shirt. He speaks through gritted teeth, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone with him."

I don’t reply. I don’t really know what to say. I want to tell him it's not his fault, because it's not, but I'm swaying on the spot and my head is thumping,

When we detangle, his hands linger on my arms and when he feels how cold I am, his Cloak wraps itself around me. The passersby tutt at us, more concerned that we were impeding foot traffic than the sentient bit of fabric. For a moment it's like Stephen can't even process that we aren't alone, so it's a surprise when he glares at the stranger, and begrudgingly walks us to the side.

“Do you want to go home?” he asks, like he is genuinely scared I am going to say ‘no’.

“Is... he still there?”

Stephen shakes his head. “He will never be allowed back. I- I... may kill him if I see him again.”

I nod and Stephen’s intense gaze finally slides away from me. He leads me into the nearby alley, before his hands flow in that familiar smooth circular motion, and a portal opens directly in front of us, through which I can see the inside of Stephen’s office, the fireplace erupting as it senses the need for warmth. I pour myself onto the sofa, still shivering.

A sweater is tossed to me, as is the indication to put it on. Stephen mentions something about letting Wong know I am home, and then he ducks out of the room. I examine the sweater, the grey one he had been wearing earlier this evening. The Cloak slips from my shoulders, laying across my lap while I put the sweater on. It is warm and soft and it smells like Stephen.

I’m not sure when I fell asleep.

The room had dimmed during my rest and Cloak was pulled up to my chin like a blanket. Through its embrace, I swear I can feel the fabric fluttering, as though it is snoring softly. I am alone, the fire in the hearth still flickering, but much lower, maintaining a very comfortable temperature. The door is askew, letting in a stripe of light from the outside, from where I can hear two voices speaking in hushed tones.

“-are you sure that is in her best interests?” It's Wong. “That is how I have counselled you this whole time, Stephen,” a sigh, “but are you sure that now is the time? Loki has left a mental wound, and you have not slept.”

Stephen did not speak for several moments, but when he does it is too soft for me to decipher.

Wong replied, “I will rearrange the wards on the Sanctum. When I am through this house will be Asgardian proof.”

“Put extras on her room,” Stephen add tensely. “He’s left the remnants of his magic all over, I don’t want anyone going into her space without her express permission.”

I've never heard him sound like this, infuriated.

A creak of the floorboards, and then Stephen is alone.

The office door opens wider and I shut my eyes promptly, trying to keep my breathing even enough to pass for sleeping. He stops at my side for a moment, watching me 'sleep'.

A sigh from Stephen. He crouches in front of the hearth, warming his hands. I pretend to stir. Stephen looked over his shoulder at me and starts to stand, but I stop him with a gesture of my hand.

Cloak ruffles up, pooling in my lap before drifting over to the sorcerer.

I follow suit, sitting next to Stephen and pulling my knees up to my chest. “How long was I out?” I ask quietly.

“An hour. Maybe two,” he doesn’t look at me, dropping into a cross-legged position at my side. “I didn’t want to wake you, that kind of magic takes a toll.”

There it is again, quiet rage, woven through his voice and it completely disarms me.

“You look tired,” I mutter.

“I am tired,” Stephen replies. “I haven’t slept in a month.”

"Hilarious."

"It wasn't a joke."

"Wait, you're serious?"

He nods.

“I knew I had reason to be worried about you,” a forced chuckle. “You need rest more urgently than I do.” 

There is a long silence before he replies in a haunting whisper, “something is keeping me awake." Stephen shivers despite the fire.

“Bad dreams?”

“Not usually."

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” then he adds, “but I should." For a second I think he might actually share with me, but all he says is: "eventually.”

In the flickering light of the fire, Stephen looks miserable.

“Have you considered therapy?” It was meant as a joke, something to lighten the awkward silence we're sitting through.

But Stephen doesn't speak, his trembling hands twisting in his lap into a meditative pose, eyebrows furrow. 

I can't handle the silence. “I’m pretty sure you know my whole life story - to be fair, it has been uneventful! Coming here was probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to me, speaking strictly as someone whose life flashed before her eyes tonight. It's not fair that I know next-to-nothing about you.” It's no exaggeration. Stephen had put in such an effort to get to know me since we’d met, asking me about my life, my friends and family, what activities I enjoyed and what I didn’t… Maybe the reason you don’t have other friends is because you never ask anyone about themselves. A wave of guilt and hurt mixed together washes over me, even though I know that I have tried to get to know Stephen better. He's just so private.

“You don’t regret it?” he is so still. “Coming here? Even after tonight?”

I shake my head.

From Stephen’s shoulder, Cloak reaches over to pat my arm. Stephen monitors its movements, swallowing hard, like he's deciding whether or not to send Cloak away.

“I was irresponsible tonight. I knew better than to leave you alone with Loki, I should’ve sent you to one of the other Sanctums. I should have sent him away. He created a distraction and I fell for it.” Stephen's spirit finally seemed to steady. "When I realized… I have never been so terrified.”

I don’t know what to do with him when he is in this state, my mind is at a loss. I don't want Stephen to feel bad, it's not his fault. “I’m sure you’ve faced scarier things. How many times have you saved the entire realm from certain doom? I forget, is it eleven or twelve?”

But Stephen doesn’t reply, finally turning his uninterrupting gaze towards me.

“It’s not your fault. I certainly don't hold you accountable."

“When you move here, you become a part of my commitment to protect the Sanctum. I failed to do that.”

I sigh and shrug my shoulders, “c'est la vie. If you're waiting on my forgiveness you have always had it.”

“You don’t know me well enough to know better than to forgive me.”

“Then tell me something about yourself. God, learning anything about you has been harder than pulling teeth.”

He gaped for a moment. “What do you want to know?” Stephen asked slowly, sounding out the syllables.

God, I hate being put on the spot. “I don’t know. Anything, tell me anything.”

“I used to be a doctor.”

“I knew that actually. Wong told me.”

Something brightens in his face for a flash. “I didn’t realize you two talk about me behind my back.”

I scowl at him, my nose scrunching slightly, suddenly aware of how close I had sat to him, so close that the fire illuminates the way his forehead is wrinkled in concern, the grey of his eyes almost silver and the deep purple stains under them, the curve of his mouth, his neat beard.

It takes me moment to realize Stephen was also analyzing my face, roaming over my jaw and chin and up to my cheekbone until he holds my eye contact for an extended moment.

“My middle name is Vincent,” he breaths without blinking.

I laugh, the kind of deep laugh that makes me feel like I am okay. Stephen laughs, too.

“I don’t think even Wong knows that.” He leans back, his palms on the floor behind him, but the clemency from the tension lasted only momentarily. “How are you feeling?”

I take a deep breath, “Head has a dull ache, but a little better I guess. Everything, all my senses, I mean, it's all so overwhelming.”

“Going into someone’s mind without consent is a violation. It can lead to serious injury.”

Stephen asks me to describe my symptoms in lots of detail, so I comply. Finally, I ask, "is that normal?"

"It can be. Everyone is different. We won't really be able to tell for a couple of days. You might find performing magic particularly draining." He looks me over and I know he can see my magic pulsing dully under my skin.

I tell Stephen what happened when Loki and I were alone, how he had forced his way in, how helpless I had been, the memories Loki had pulled up and the emotional and physical payment it had cost me.

Stephen scowls through my whole tale. He's fighting the urge to look for Loki, I can tell, forcing himself to stay with me, at my side. “Mind magic is… not my thing. So invasive, so many possibilities for things to go wrong, so much potential for mistake.”

“Like naming your child ‘Vincent’.”

He snorts and it makes my stomach flip over. This is what I need, the sound of his laughter in my ears. That is the only thing that warms the icy hole Loki had burrowed into me.

“Come on! Stephen Vincent. The middle two syllables are pronounced the same! That’s just a bad naming scheme.”

“Take it up with Mr. and Mrs. Strange. Do you have a middle name?”

“I…” my mind went blank. “I don’t think so, no.”

Stephen raises an eyebrow, “I think it’s time to get you to bed. Wong should be finished with the new wards by now. Unless you want a different room?”

I shake my head. “Are you going to bed? You haven’t slept in a month. Not sure how you managed to survive that."

He scratches at the back of his neck absentmindedly and rises to his feet, hand extended towards me. I take it and he pulls me to standing, his calloused fingers dragging along my skin, leaving goosebumps behind.

The rattle of Stephen’s heart against his ribs is jarring.

He’d woken to find her in his bed, their warm, naked bodies entwined while she slept, one hand slung around her waist and the other tangled in her soft hair. The sorcerer examines the marks he had left on her neck the previous night, but despite his gentle hand, she wakes, her eyes opening only briefly before snuggling in deeper to his side.

“Stephen,” she whispers, “you’re staring like you just got eyes for Christmas.”

“I am admiring my own handy work,” he says, running a hand over the small series of burst blood vessels littering her skin. “They’re so purple, very pretty. I’d give them a nine-point-five out of ten.”

“Surprised you could give yourself anything but a perfect score.”

Stephen laughs from deep in his chest. “God, you’re so beautiful. What did I do to deserve someone so funny too?”

“You make me coffee,” she murmurs against his skin.

“Your wish is my command.”

I observed the unfurling dream from a third person perspective, like some kind of voyeur. Dream-me seemed very comfortable skin-to-skin with Stephen, and watching makes me blush.

Someone speaks.

The voice is familiar, airy and light, like it was brought in on a stray breeze, but I can’t place it, and it takes me a few seconds to release it was talking to me, not dream-me, but the real me.

“He is displeased with you, you know,” whispered the voice. It did not hold any ill will toward me. “It’s taking longer than expected.”

“Who is displeased? Stephen?” I ask, unable to find the source of the voice.

A tinkling laugh, “no. Not Stephen. This is getting messier than planned. Especially with recent events. For the record, I am sorry for what it has cost you.”

So tranquil, I feel so peaceful.

“Hurry up, my dear,” said the voice. “You would not do well to have to join me in my clouded cage.”

Everything dissolves and I wake up.

My room seems utterly normal, cleansed of Loki’s energy and the sleep had left me well-rested, even if I had woken after only a few hours, but as the sunlight begins to peek through my curtains, the realization hits me like a bullet to the head.

Something is very wrong.

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