#do yourself a favor and research the topic some more :)

[atheneum-of-you]

This is a repost with added information! The previous post has been deleted in favor of this one. Huge thank you to @theic-manic for reminding me ♡

I recently conducted a poll on what topic people would like an in-depth post/guide on and creating prayers was very largely requested! So today I'll be going step by step on the significance of prayer, how to construct one yourself, how to construct an "offering prayer", and some basic questions surrounding them.

As always, I'm just a single resource, and everything I say comes from my own personal research. Always make sure to do your own when possible!

Buckle up, cause this is a long one!

The Significance of Prayer to the Gods

When we think of prayer, oftentimes, the first thought is Abrahamic religion (Christianity, Catholicism, etc). We're taught that prayer is done to give thanks to the Lord, and to make our requests known.

While this is true to the gods of the hellenic Pantheon, there are some key differences. The biggest being tone and desire. Unlike what we're taught with the Abrahamic faith, the gods don't particularly favor "prayer." This is because prayer to the hellenic gods are typically crafted as petitions, requests for something, and the gods typically don't care for requests without offerings. This directly opposes the usual Abrahamic prayer, which typically is both request and praise simultaneously at all times. However, with the hellenic gods, prayer is typically just request FOLLOWED by offering. That's not to say a prayer can not become an offering, but the working of it is a bit different, and I'll go into detail about that later.

For now, we'll be separating the two as we learn how to construct our prayers.

Constructing a Prayer of Petition

Posture

One of the most important starts to a prayer should be establishing how you pray. If praying to Olympian gods, you'll want to pray standing with your hands upright, facing the sky.

If praying to the chthonic, your prayers should be whispered, with your hands and head down.

If praying to the einalic, your arms should be outstretched towards the sea. If you're not near the sea (as many people aren't), cult images of the deity also suffice!

That said, this applies mostly to the ablebodied. While standing for the Olympic gods during orayer is standard, if this isn't possible for you, then sitting and kneeling are just as fine.

Tone

One of the most important things about a prayer is the consistency of our tone. Naturally, we approach with respect, and that respect should be consistent throughout the entire prayer.

That said, your level of formality should be consistent throughout your prayer. If you start informal, the prayer should remain informal all throughout. The same is held for formal prayers.

When we craft our prayers, they require 3 main components. Invocation, our kharis, and our petition.

Invocation

Naturally, fhe first step to creating a prayer would be to invoke our gods. This is how we get that god's attention, and request their attention. This will always start with the god's name, and for our example prayer, I'll use be using Hermes.

However, there's a lot more to a god than just their name. An invocation should be recognition of that god, and tell them that you know who they are and their significance/importance. For this, you can use epithets, their domains, and even their residences and parentage. Epithets have different meanings, so make sure if you're using one, it should pertain to the reasons for your prayer. For example, if I wanted to ask Hermes for a little extra luck, I might invoke using his luck bringer epithet, Eriounês. Or perhaps I wanted to ask him to deliver a message to a passed loved one, then I would invoke Hermes Trikephalos of the crossroads. So an example invocation could go something like:

"O hear me please Hermes Trikephalos of Arcadia, Herald of the crossroads, son of Zeus."

With this, we've invoked Hermes and informed him of who we are and our placement. We can finally move forward with our petition.

Kharis and Justification

The next step in constructing a prayer is to remind the god who you are, and your relationship with them. This can simply be your name, or your title amongst them (if you have one), or even just direct reference to your status with them (servant, follower, worshipper, devotee, etc). That said, this should also follow the tone of the prayer.

If you were to address Hermes as a worshipper, you'd probably say something such as "I, [name], your follower and worshipper, approach humbly and with grace." Once again, this can be completely tailored to you, and you can change things how you deem more appropriate.

Additionally, reminding the deity of things you've done in their name/provided as offering reminds them of the relationship you've established together. Let's say we've set up an altar for Hermes. We can add that to our prayer!

So altogether, our prayer sounds like:

"O hear me please Hermes Trikephalos of Arcadia, Herald of the crossroads, son of Zeus. I, [name], your follower and worshipper, approach humbly and with grace at the altar I've set in your name."

With this, we've invoked Hermes and informed him of who we are and our placement. We can finally move forward with our petition.

Petition

With what we have, we can now give our petition. Our petition is our request to that god. Naturally, this can be asking for assistance with something, but it can also be asking them to accept an offering or simply asking for their presence to chat, say good morning/night, etc.

I can't really give much guidance on how to craft a petition, because each one is unique and personal to the one praying. However, I can give examples!

If I were to stick to the epithet of Diaktoros, my petition would more than likely involve a message to a passed loved one.

"I ask that you deliver this message to [insert loved one's name]. [Message to be delivered]."

This is, of course, just a basic example but you can tailor this to your needs and desires.

Vow

The vow is incredibly important in prayer, and is a promise of offering or sacrifice to that god for listening to your prayers. Vows can be anything pleasing to the god (ensure it's something your god would enjoy receiving), and you'll want to clearly state the intention of providing it if you're not already. Hermes enjoys coins, so we'll use that as our vow. So perhaps we would say something to the affect of:

"I offer a piety of gold and silver coins for your mercy and kidness."

You dont need to immediately follow up a prayer with an offering, however offerings should absolutely follow answered prayers without fail as this is your vow.

Ensure that your vow is POSITIVE. A promise to give. Negative vows such as "if you help me do x I won't do y ever again!" are unfavorable to the gods. They gain nothing from that, and it's not done for the god but rather yourself.

Prayers as Offerings

As stated before, prayers are not inherently offerings to the gods, moreso, they are requests. But can they be offerings? Well sure! However, our approach to them needs to be different.

Whereas our previous prayers were for requests, prayers for offerings should not contain requests but rather be appealing and aesthetic to the god.

A good example would be dedications of praise to that god. Once again, we'll invoke our god as we did previously. A dedication can start however you want and involve whatever praise you'd like! We'll use Dionysus for this example.

Dedication prayers will require some extra knowledge of your god than simply making requests, as we will be praising achievements of theirs. You can praise several achievements, or focus on a single one! For this example we'll praise several. So our example dedication can go as follows:

"Praise be to Lord Dionysus Eleuthereus, the almighty liberator, twice-born son of Zeus and Seleme!

Praise be to the generous wine giver, traveler of lands far and wide as his almighty vines spread!

Praise be the Bacchus, may we stomp our feet in joy and hail his mighty name! Father of kings!

We praise the mad one, slayer of the fool Damascus who denied our Lord's sacred gift!"

With this dedication, we've done several things. Invoked Dionysus with his epithet and parentage, praised his travels, glorified his lineage/children, praised his slaying of Damascus, and called attention to several iterations of him (the Bacchus and the mad one).

Additionally, this dedication gives the energy of being loud and high energy, things that are appealing to Dionysus. If we were to give praise to Apollo, we might favor a dedication more poetic with a more lyrical scheme. Or for Ares something far more militant and powerful, similar to a battle cry.

These dedications can also be accompanied by other offerings and given to the god during or after. Additionally, these dedications can be as long or short as you please! Just be sure to keep your god in mind while crafting them.

Take time to really learned your god, so thay you can offer dedications and praise to them in earnest!

Common Questions

Will my gods be angry if I pray informally?

I wouldn't say angry, no. That said, every god has a preference. Certain gods simply prefer more formal prayers, but in the end, it all comes down to your personal relationship with your god. If you have a more formal relationship, they would expect a more formal prayer. The same goes for informal.

Do my prayers NEED to be followed up with an offering?

Nope, although it's good practice. That said, if your prayer is answered, an offering of thanks is essential to maintaining good Kharis with your god.

Can the Orphic/Homeric Hymns be used as prayers?

That really depends, but the short answer is yes. I personally don't consider them prayers as the Hymns are moreso dedications, but its entirely up to how you view them.

Are prayers made by other people less valued than prayers I make myself?

Not at all! Prayers are prayers.

My prayer wasn't answered! Does my god hate me?

Nope! There could be a multitude of reasons why your prayer isn't answered, and truly, it all boils down to the will of that god. We have no way of knowing their will or what they think, so if your prayers go unanswered, try not to take it to heart.

This is my first time praying to a god and we have no kharis yet, can I still pray to them?

Yes! All relationships start somewhere~

I hope this was helpful for you all, and I truly hope it inspires more people to write their own prayers and dedications. Feel free to ask for any clarifications at all, and safe travels, friends ♡

[larphis]

Yeah. You're not asexual.

Quite intruiging anon that you seem to have a better understanding of my sexuality than me myself.

I am a sex-repusled ace person. The thought of sex with myself involved in any way disgusts me, however despite a lack of sexual attraction I still have a strong sense of aesthetic attraction to people. I couldn’t care less about having intimacy with them, but I still feel extremly drawn to people’s weird quirks and character traits.

Not to mention that asexuality is a spectrum, and demisexual people as well as people who have an active sex-life are also all a part of the ace community.

I would highly recommend using the time you are investing in trying to invalidate strangers sexualities in actually researching and educating yourself about all the different forms asexuality can take.

I am valid, and it took me years to accept that about myself, and I am not going to let that be taken away by someone who hides behinds the comforts of anonymity and has not exchanged a singular word with the person that I am.

Besides I use the asexual umbrella term because it’s easier to understand - for people like you who are clearly not educated about asexual people because it’s easier than me having to explain that I am aegosexual because almost no one would know what I am even talking about.

[ceruark]

general yandere headcanons - ratio, boothill, aventurine, sunday

notes: gn! reader. yandere! ratio, boothill, aventurine, sunday [separate] cw: general yandere themes - obsessive & possessive behavior, stalking, abduction, manipulation, blackmail, brainwashing words: 2250 a/n: one of these is longer than the others. can you tell i have a favorite?

VERITAS believes genius comes in many forms, and you exhibit some traits that could qualify you as being one. Whether or not you're a scholar, your ability to listen intently, ponder things deeply, and uphold meaningful conversation captured his attention and landed you in his favor. He thinks highly of you, and finds himself eagerly awaiting the next time he can poke your brain about some complex topic you feel like you aren’t equipped to comment on, but do so anyway at his insistence.

His obsession with you isn't apparent at first, not even to him. He tells himself it's simply in a scholar's nature to learn more about the things that intrigue them, and you're not special just because he seeks out information on you wherever he can. His research ends up paying off when he finds out that you desire more than the quaint life you've made for yourself, and he personally extends you an invitation to Veritas Prime.

When you accept, he insists that you attend as many of his lectures as humanly possible. Even if it doesn't align with what you're studying, he convinces you to show up anyway, fabricating some argument for how it will be useful for you in the future. Normally he'd be irritated with himself for giving a lackluster lecture, but he can hardly blame himself for being distracted when he has your undivided attention for hours on end. He's addicted to it, the way your eyes lock with his, the way you hang on to every word leaving his mouth.

Not that any of this is obvious to you. No, from your perspective, he's harsh and critical, always undermining your intelligence by insisting you need additional lectures and overseeing your studies himself. Obviously, he doesn't put much faith in your competency and thinks you'll fail unless you're being handheld the entire way. He may not outright insult you the way he does with others, but his "special treatment" is enough to make you feel insecure in your own abilities.

And that insecurity is a weak point he unapologetically exploits. When he feels like he hasn't seen enough of you lately, all it takes is a few bad marks from him to have you at his side, seeking out guidance and ways to improve. The worst is when he catches you spending too much time (which is any time at all) with those insignificant simpletons you call your friends. Clearly, you have too much time on your hands. Certainly you can assist him with his latest project, no? Well, if you'd rather slack off and lose all the progress you've made so far, that's fine, too.

You'll never know what his true intentions are until he's already involved in or controlling every aspect of your life, and at that point, you can't risk upsetting him. Your future success is contingent on how content you can keep him, and in this new phase of your relationship, you hardly know how to do that.

Better get to researching.

Threat Level: 3/5 Pet Names: darling, dear/dearest

BOOTHILL loves to make you laugh— it's the thing that drew him to you. He'll do anything to keep your attention on him, not caring how much of a fool he looks so long as you keep those gorgeous eyes on him. But beneath all the flirtation and humor is a deep desperation; he can't lose you, not after everything he's already lost. He stays on your home planet for as long as he can, but he has things to take care of, so he can't stick around forever.

To be fair, he tries. He makes the first few trips alone, leaving you behind to live your life— and every minute is agony. He doesn't know what you're doing, who you're with, or if you're safe. He's glued to his phone, constantly checking the news to make sure no tragedy has struck your home planet or the cozy town you reside in. Every night he wakes up from a nightmare, the sounds of bombs ringing in his ears and the illusion of your corpse still hovering before his eyes.

The next time he visits you, he takes you. You're coming with him— you don't have a choice. He can't live without you by his side, but he can't stay in one place, either. You can fight him all you want, but he's relentless, and his fear builds up into a frustration that causes him to be a little harsh. You're weak, vulnerable, and you can't be expected to protect yourself, so he has to. When he calms down, he tries to convince you that it won't be so bad. You'll get to travel the endless galaxy with the man you'd been so taken with just a few days ago. What more could you ask for?

Trying to escape him is futile. He's probably the easiest one on this list to get away from, but don't let that get to your head: he'll be hot on your trail, so you better hope those few days away from him are worth it in the end.

But with time you'll learn there is some truth to his words; if you don't try to leave him and keep him happy, then maybe you can trick yourself into believing that this is a life you chose for yourself.

Threat Level: 3.5/5 Pet Names: beau, gorgeous, sugar

AVENTURINE is like a moth to a flame, and your capacity for intimacy is the match. You're the first person in recent memory who treats him as a person, not as a commodity or a body, a wallet or another cog in the machine. Your first interaction was fleeting, but it replays in his mind every time he closes his eyes.

He watches you for some time, learning you inside and out— partially to satisfy his desire to know more about you, but mostly for leverage. He memorizes your schedule and interests, and subpoenas documents to learn more sensitive information, such as your medical history and anything pertaining to your family. He remembers everyone you interact with, making note of who's on the sidelines and who's part of your inner circle. He sees the way you openly bare your heart to them, keeping them comforted by its warmth, and he wants it all for himself. Hasn't he been denied something so pure for long enough?

He's charming in the beginning, using one of his many masks to slither his way into your mind and heart. He showers you with compliments and gifts, leaving you flustered after every single meeting. He knows exactly what you like, so it's easy to keep you fixated on him.

When you two finally make things official, he lures you into the palm of his hand. Your rent unexpectedly went up? No worries, he can start covering that for you— it's no trouble for him, really. Someone important to you had an unexpected health issue and can't cover the bill? He's got it, anything to cause you less stress. Is he sure it's okay? Of course it is. He only wants to see you happy.

When your friends start dropping like flies and even your family starts to distance themselves for you, he's by your side through the turmoil. Fate has been so cruel to the both of you, hasn't it? It's okay, he's here for you. He's not going anywhere.

By the time you catch on to his manipulation and realize he's behind your isolation from your friends and family, it's too late. You're too dependent on him, and he knows everything about you and anyone still sticking by you. Do you dare bite the hand that feeds you? Will you try to escape? Can you afford to pay the price if it all goes wrong?

What will you wager to get yourself back in his good graces?

It’s unwise to try your luck against his. Play along, and perhaps he'll show you the face that you fell for.

Threat Level: 4/5 Pet Names: babe, doll, sweetheart

SUNDAY takes notice of you because of your carefree nature. Being so trapped in his own head about the fate of Penacony and humanity as a whole, he's captivated by the way you seem unconcerned with matters larger than yourself. While you do plan for the future and have aspirations of your own, you still manage to live in the moment and take things one day at a time, possessing a liveliness he's never quite seen before, never been allowed to have himself.

He knows about you long before you ever meet him. Nightingales line every path you walk, sticking to the shadows and noting everything about you: the places you frequent, the food you like, the type of clothes you buy, your colleagues, your route home, and the little habits you have that he finds so endearing.

When he finally appears before you, you're starstruck— how could you not be? The head of the Oak Family is seated beside you at Dreamjolt Holstery, making small talk about your day and your life and your interests when he could be speaking to any of the other high-profile guests at the bar. You're flustered from the honor of having his undivided attention, and the butterflies in your stomach only worsen when he asks if it would be possible to keep in contact with you. Of course, you give him your number, and your impromptu meeting turns into another, and from there, into more.

He's so earnest in his adoration for you that you never notice how off-putting it is that he seems to already know what you like. Surely it's just a coincidence that he takes you out to all your favorite places and gifts you things that you'd been spending months saving up to buy yourself. It's nothing more than fate that you seem to bump into him at the oddest of times, on your way back home from a night out on the town, or during the day while you're heading out to meet with one of your friends.

It's only when you agree to a relationship that you start to get concerned. Describing his behavior as "clingy" would be putting it lightly; he tries to have you by his side in any way he can, talking you into attending a party with him or asking you to sit in his office at his side while he gets through paperwork. When you go anywhere without him, he's ordering a member of the Bloodhound Family to accompany you. He seems so distressed at the mere thought of you not being by his side, nevermind the thought of you being out in public by yourself— it's not healthy for either of you. Before you can even think to voice your concerns to him, he's wrapping his arms around you and reminding you that he just worries about you. The Family has many enemies, and they would be willing to use you to get to him. He just wants to make sure you're safe.

When Robin goes missing, things take a turn for the worse. He moves you into Dewlight Pavilion, and you don't get a say in the matter. If he's home, you're by his side at all times. Anything you have to tend to at this point can be done from within the comfort of the estate, and in his presence. Even if he's not there, he might as well be; the nightingales and their pervasive gaze are out in the open now, watching as you aimlessly wander the pavilion, getting lost in the maze and growing a little more desperate each time you explore your new home. You move through the mansion with an urgency, like you're searching for something.

Like you're trying to leave.

When Sunday's suffocating protection inevitably gets to you and you try to confront him, he gives you one more chance to see things his way on your own. It's a miscalculation on his end; you snap again, only this time, you manage to find an exit. You make it back to Golden Hour, but by the time you get there, there's already a group of Bloodhounds waiting to catch you and drag you back.

When you're shoved into his office, he's standing with his back to you, hands clasped behind his back. You can hear the heartbreak, the betrayal in his voice as he tells you how hurt he is that you'd endanger yourself after everything he's done for you. Out of guilt or fear, you can't tell, but you apologize and swear to him that you won't do it again.

And you won't— he'll make sure of it. Under the light of the Harmony, all is revealed: his undying love for you, your reciprocation, and the strength of his will over yours. You see it now, don't you? Everything he does is for your wellbeing. Clipping your wings while you're on the ground is just a way to ensure you'll never fall out of the sky. You're safe here, in this gilded cage he's tailored your tastes, with a kind keeper to tend to your every need and shower you with all the affection your heart could ever desire. How could you fault him for that?

You can't. After all, you don’t even remember why you were upset with him in the first place.

Threat Level: 5/5 Pet Names: angel, dear/dearest, dove

[khaire-traveler]

🌲 Subtle Pan Worship 🌿

Take a walk/hike in nature

Take regular breaks from screens; get some fresh air

Go camping out in nature; focus on the wildlife around you; look at the constellations at night

Learn how to safely forage

Get a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)

Keep a picture of him in your wallet

Wear jewelry that reminds you of him

Pick wild flowers; press or dry them

Start a garden; tend to a plant

Decorate your space with vines, leaves, and the like; maybe fairy lights with bugs, flowers, or mushrooms on them

Have imagery of fauns, goats, forests, meadows, pan flutes, sheep, wildflowers, or mountains around

Have a stuffed sheep or goat animal; have a stuffed animal of any forest, meadow, or mountain creatures

When you're anxious or afraid, go to the forest or to nature; spend time outside, and breathe; you will be ok

Learn about local fauna and flora

Collect animal bones from nature (please thank the animal's spirit beforehand); make sure to safely handle them; link to some safety tips when handling fleshy remains

Cook with homegrown herbs or produce

Drink a natural herbal or produce beverage; fruit juice works but has high sugar content, so just be aware in case that's an issue for you

Fall asleep/meditate to the sounds of a forest or general wilderness

Pick up trash in your environment

Support environmental preservation organizations, animal sanctuaries, or animal shelters/rescues

Feed neighborhood dogs, cats, birds, etc.

Volunteer at an animal sanctuary or animal shelter

Go outside of your comfort zone; if you're afraid of doing something, do it scared; it could work out far more beautifully than you ever imagined

Learn how to play panpipes; own panpipes in general

Light a bonfire with friends in the wilderness (SAFELY!!!!); share scary stories, especially those y'all have directly experienced

Plant seeds, especially the fruit of vegetables you've eaten; give it new life

Research coping skills for stress, fear, or anxiety; try some for yourself

Keep a dream journal specifically dedicated to nightmares; try to interpret them; what are they trying to tell you?

Explore the areas nearby you, be it nature or otherwise; acquaint yourself with the unfamiliar

Get comfortable with the concept of the unknown and uncertainty; remind yourself that you need not know everything in order for it to work out in your favor

Address the uncertainties in your life that cause you the most stress; find your own answers; topics like death, the afterlife, the long-term future, etc.

Play with your pets; spend time with them

Keep your pet healthy; feed them good food, take them on regular walks/exercise them, keep them up to date on vaccines, etc.

Do something fun and new with your partner (or alone); try something exciting or scary that you've always wanted to try

Use natural herbs and remedies to address minor health issues, such as stomaches or sore throat

Try urban exploring - the practice of visiting abandoned places, especially those that have been reclaimed by nature

Face your fears; learn to work through them

Recycle; reuse things that don't need to be immediately disposed of; use compost for your garden or nearby plants

Take time to be alone and decompress, especially after a long day

Cook a good meal for someone in need

Cook a good meal for you or your loved ones

-

This list still feels pretty short to me, so I'll likely add more in the future. For now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Pan. I hope this is helpful to someone, and take care! 💚

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[namazunomegami]

emperor!geto x imperial concubine!reader

a/n: I’ve spent way too much time to research about chinese imperial concubines, playing with Royal Chaos during my highschool years and I had a boring shift at work. This is the result. Probably out of character as hell but hey, I wrote this for my enjoyment.

This is part 1 of a lil historical AU drabble series. I’m already finished with Sukuna, Gojo is in the works, and I got some ideas for Choso and Toji but don't think too much about it, ideas are just ideas.

I was so close to write reader as gender neutral but reader owns a type of traditional chinese headgear used exclusively by noblewomen so... yeah, reader is afab if you squint (very hard).

Likes and reblogs are appreciated, mwah <3

wc: 1011, I initally wanted a few headcannons but I got a full ass drabble

cw: suggestive, false accusations, implied murder, mentions of whipping, choking (not the kinky kind), yandere behavior

credits: renmakia for the gorgeous fanart and my dear @notveryrussian for proofreading and just putting up with my massive jjk brainrot every day, luv ya darling <33

MDNI, if you do, I'm gonna catch you like I'm gonna catch Gege.

He’s a monarch who considers his mind a weapon and information as a whetstone despite being born in relative peace. Spending his leisure time reading Sun Ce, the scripts of Confucian and Taoist scholars, sharing afternoon teas and long walks around the gardens with Buddhist priests and conversing about reaching enlightenment. As if he desperately wanted to understand how the world he was meant to rule works. His mandate of heaven brought prosperity, a flourishing economy, a strong connection between allied realms, a good education system that produced more scholars than in any other time before.

Competing for his attention is not an easy task. You almost gave up, bracing yourself for a long and uneventful life where you can only admire him from afar. You sit in the shade of a willow tree with a board of xiangqi, your playmate having left you not so long ago and you were trying to figure out which tactics and strategies they should’ve used to defeat you. You’re so lost in your thoughts you can’t notice him standing there, in the presence of his guards. You kowtow to him, excusing yourself for daring to bother him, pleading for his patience while you pack your things and leave. He likes that your manners are spot on, and he rewards you with a command to stay, to play with him, since xiangqi is a game between two people. And based on the positions of the pieces on the board you’re an experienced player.

Of course, he defeats you with ease, but he’s grateful you showed him everything you’ve got and didn’t let him win. He tells you that his victory lies in applying the teachings of Sun Ce to his playstyle. Your eyes light up and you beg him to elaborate further, maybe he can help you improve your tactics in the next game. He’s such a well-read man, so hungry for knowledge, so desperate to understand people. You’re sure he wants to figure out your thoughts too, what you think about the world, what values dominate your heart. And the secret to win him over is to shower him with all the details and even politely disagree with some of his beliefs and explain your point of view. That’s what gets him going, knowing your place in the hierarchy but not being afraid to stand your ground. Mindless obedience, at this point, bores him. That’s probably the reason why he slowly starts to favor you, your conversations refresh him, inside and outside of his bedchambers.

You may think that earning your place in his heart is a lengthy and hard process, but when he becomes sure that your infatuation comes from an honest place, he generously rewards your efforts. He showers you with gifts, each more thoughtful than the other. He sends you scripts from his personal library about topics that interest you, fulus he received from his priests to protect you and your chambers, phoenix crowns so elaborately adorned with pearls, sapphires, small dragons, and phoenixes made from solid gold. Gowns embroidered with clouds, cranes dancing around them, gifting you a small piece of the sky itself he descended from. He elevates your rank quickly so you can accompany him during events. Letting the whole court look at you, wrapped in everything he gave you, standing so close you can see him stealing glances at you from under the twelve tasseled crown. He rewards your family with money, grain, rice, political power. If he lifts you up, he does the same with everyone important to you.

But Geto’s court is highly competitive. It’s certainly not easy to be his favorite. You can literally smell the stench of jealousy eminating from the other consorts. Their gaze pierces your skin deeply when the eunuchs drag you around the Palace of Heavenly Grace with a brocade blanket hugging your naked figure. They must endure the sight every other night and they have no idea that the son of heaven is ready to serve you and do as you please behind closed doors and not the other way around, as tradition dictates.

Though he can comfort you, outside of his chambers you fear for your life. You needed a food taster now and never dared to walk the gardens without at least four guards in your proximity. You begin to doubt the trust between you and those you’ve befriended, because they can only blame you for his negligence towards them.

And then, the first accusation about you begins circulating around the palace. Some concubines claimed that you were guilty of witchcraft. So many of them are against you, with so much made-up proof you cannot do more than spend the night crying, believing that at dawn, guards will come for you and throw you into a well. You have no idea where Geto is or how you could beg him for protection.

The next day, strangely, a new set of officials deem you innocent. What boggles you even more is that he comes to your residence instead of having you delivered to him. Even his scent is not like it usually is, there’s something metallic, salty, and musky mixed in with the incense smoke.

That night he cradles you, shushing you, promising to keep you safe at all costs. Keeping it a secret how brutally he disposed of the rumor mongers, how he had some of his officials whipped bloody for not believing your testimony or about the thinly veiled threats that he’ll make anyone’s life a living nightmare if anything happened to you. Your heart skips a beat and simultaneously sinks deep in your chest when those of higher rank than you lower their head, trying their best to not look at you as they pass you by. With dark marks staining the skin below the neckline of their gowns, not even the empress consort being an exception.

It's not easy to be his favorite. It’ll never be easy.

But he’s a god, the son of heaven, and heaven will forgive him and so will you.

[cosmicdream222]

I’ve adapted this post from an incredibly wise shifter named Love/Vanilla, an amino user who seems to have permashifted out of this reality by now. I have found her explanations of shifting and the multiverse to be incredibly enlightening, and want to share them with others. I have edited for grammar and spelling, but full credit goes to this lovely soul. The original post.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・。.。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

How shifting works (the whole package)

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・。.。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

If you find yourself asking, "How does shifting work?" you might be thinking about the multiverse and becoming aware of another reality. But that's not the "how", it's the "what." So, how does it work? I'll explain that in this post. Please, please, please read the whole thing. I didn't realize how important this is here, but guys, it's genuinely one of the main misunderstandings. Take the time to read it, it's basic knowledge about the multiverse, and something everyone should know.

Feelings

You keep waking up here, again and again, and it's exhausting. You've tried everything, done everything, and everyone says you'll shift. But you still wake up here. You still "don't shift," and you have no explanation for it. So, you keep trying and hope you'll wake up in your desired reality while doubting everything. What if it's all just an inside joke? What if you're wasting your time? What if you never shift? And you wake up here again and again. You research, but you already know everything. Everyone else shifts, but not you. There are 25,000 different ideas about why you don't shift, but nobody tells you how. Of course, there are methods and subliminals, but how do you shift? Has anyone ever answered that question?

3D and 4D

This is a very, very important part of shifting, the most important part, actually. But for some reason, nobody talks about it. Why is that? Anyway, let's start with the main topic.

Definitions:

We'll start with the basics. Everything is made up of several planes, but for our purposes, we only need two: the 3D and the 4D.

3D: The 3D is the physical plane. It contains everything you can feel, see, hear, smell, or taste. Your body is physical, the world around you is physical. That's what you guys call "reality." Well, surprise surprise, you're wrong. It's not the reality; it's the physical world. Nothing more and nothing less.

4D: The 4D is the actual reality. We can't see it (because we only see the physical plane, as that's our job), but it's extremely important. It's where our subconscious resides. Every thought and assumption belongs to the 4D, and that's where reality gets created. Everything you want gets added, and you have it immediately. It only works in your favor. Your subconscious's job is to make you happy, keep you healthy, and give you everything you want. Very easy.

Differences:

We could keep it simple and say, "Well, the 4D is the reality, and the 3D is not." That's 100% true, but we want everyone to understand it completely. You can think of it like a computer. The 3D is the screen, and the 4D is the actual computer. This is a good example to visualize how useless the 3D is and how unimportant it is. The whole process takes place in the 4D. The 3D does nothing else but exist.

The "How" in Shifting

Now, the most interesting part for many of you. How do you shift? How does all of this work? It's much simpler than you could ever imagine:

You want to shift. Your subconscious recognizes it and says, "Okay, here you go!" The 4D gets changed to your desired reality in less than a moment. Your subconscious gives the command "Change; we're in our desired reality" to the 3D. The 3D receives the command and begins to change.

Many people think shifting is like "your awareness leaving your body, floating through the multiverse, and entering your desired reality's body." It's a beautiful idea, but it's not the case. There is only ever one 3D. It can change, but it can't switch.

Why Is It Important?

In short, you're overcomplicating it, and your lack of knowledge is affecting others' journeys. In more detail, due to doubts and limiting beliefs that come with being human in this reality concept, you're constantly questioning everything around you. This questioning happens not only in a positive way; you're searching for explanations, ideas, inspiration, people who share your interests, and even things to blame.

When I first joined this community, I was looking to learn more about scripting and hear other people’s ideas. But what I found was shocking – a community full of misinformation, overcomplication, frustration, and blame. I didn't realize how much wasn't "common knowledge" in this reality. That's why I started my posts – to explain and help clarify things. You know what? After three months, countless comments, and 89 PMs specifically about shifting, I discovered that 90% of you weren't aware that the main problem lies in understanding the concept of the 3D and 4D. It's more common than you might think.

It might sound tough, but none of this is or was ever your fault. Not at all. You're living in challenging circumstances for this kind of stuff, and every single one of you should be very proud of the fact that you're still here and still trying to shift.

Misinformation

Here are some common misunderstandings about the 3D and 4D:

"I can enter/leave the 4D": No, you're always in the 4D because you always have thoughts, assumptions, and desires. Your subconscious resides there, and it's still a part of you.

"There are multiple 3D's/4D's": Yes and no. Yes, because everyone has their own 4D and 3D, as well as all the other planes. But no, because you only have ONE of them. You can't enter someone else's 4D/3D. You only have one, and it's your very own.

"The 3D can influence the 4D": No, absolutely not. As I explained, the ultimate rule is FIRST 4D, THEN 3D. This will never change. Remember the computer.

"Your subconscious only gives you what it thinks you deserve": Yes, and it's in the most positive way. It only gives you what you deserve, and what do you deserve? Everything you want, every desire, every wish, and everything positive. That's your subconscious's job.

Trust

In the end, you can always trust your subconscious mind. You don't even have to do that; it will do its job regardless. It will shift you, because it loves you and will always do everything for you. No matter what, things WILL work out.

I can't stress this enough: Your subconscious is not your enemy, never was, and never will be.

Affirmations

Here are some affirmations you can use in your everyday life. They can help calm you down and remind you that you are above the 3D world.

The 3D is not the true reality.

I do not have to tolerate the 3D.

My subconscious gives me everything I want.

The 3D has no choice but to obey me.

The 3D cannot influence my reality.

Time does not matter.

Time is irrelevant for me.

The 3D time cannot influence me.

Events in the 3D cannot influence me.

I do not belong to any 3D world.

I have no such thing as an original 3D world.

[norizz-nation]

Ah I see, so it’s acceptable to write about rape because it’s a fic. Sure hun 🙄 Just grow up. My point is that these can be incredibly sensitive topics to some and you’re playing into the very very very deepest of concerns people tend to have about cnc. You undermined of what cnc relationship is about. You made it impossible for a reader to escape a cnc relationship, where a fictional character of a real person stalks, kidnaps and rapes the reader. There is no “consent” later in the story - the consent should have been there at the start because the previous relationship, including a cnc agreement, ended. You are clearly ruining cnc for people who truly are in the community. It’s wrong and it’s contributing to the worst stereotypes about such relationships. You need an out, you need a safe word - this was not established in the fic and must be there to portray it as safe. This is not safe for anyone in the community to read. Just because it’s not a real relationship, you don’t get away with portraying rape.

You write fiction - great, and notice I have in no single word criticised your writing. I am critical of the fact that you didn’t get your facts right and ended up with a “dark” rape fic. Do yourself a favor here, stop defending yourself and making this personal about my intelligence when you run out of arguments defending your rape fic, and next time do the research before you write another rape fic.

I get it that topics like these are sensitive. That's the reason why i mentioned that its dark in the warnings. If stuffs like these trigger you then just leave my blog. After saying like a thousands of times that this is not a rape. For fucks sake. Get a life instead of investigating other bloggers posts. Rape would've been if the reader told him to stop till the end. I mentioned in my fic that the reader wanted it. I mentioned that the reader wanted his touch more. Yet if you think its rape then i dont know girl what to do. The thing in your head that's supposed to work probably doesn’t. Focus on your life rather then focusing on other bloggers stuff. This might burn your ass but honestly you're just wrong here. Admit it.

[v-anrouge]

Oh this sounds so fun! I’ve never had a matchup done before!

I have no real physical preferences for people- I do tend to favor more unconventional appearances though! I love interesting looking/unique features. I have a unique aesthetic myself, and I really love when others put effort into their appearances as well! I often gravitate towards emotionally available and responsible people- it’s important that our values have some alignment. I’m relatively responsible but I’m also incredibly anxious so I am fond of others who can balance out my more neurotic tendencies.

I read a lot (mostly non fiction) and really enjoy learning! I have an odd knack for research papers, and I just generally love sharing information with others (though I could never see myself becoming a teacher by profession).

I also cook frequently! Cooking is a way that I express my love for people, and my primary love languages are gift giving and acts of service while I love to receive gifts and words of affirmation.

I can be quite competitive when it comes to academics, but this does bleed over into my interests and hobbies- ESPECIALLY video games. I’m a completionist and I will aim to be the best at even the most trivial mini game. I also love making clothes, painting, and making jewelry <3

pairing you up with rook! (what a surprise)

rook and you are genuinely soulmates like no one will convince him otherwise, you two match in so many ways it fascinates him, it makes him want to discover more and more about you he feels like he just can't enough

rook is so obsessed with your aesthetic and the way you present yourself, you can often catch him just staring at you with a dreamy smile and eyes that are exploding with emotions, shining brighter than a firework show

despite his silly and teasing nature rook is a very mature person who dislikes conflict and would much rather sit and communicate than keep anything hidden from anyone he cares about, especially if that someone is his lover. it's like rook can sense whenever your body starts to feel even slightly anxious because immediately he'll be looking at you and coming up with an excuse to quickly get the both of you away from the situation and take you to a place that calms you down and where you feel safe, he's someone that is fascinated by the human brain so he'll do lots and lots of research and even sit down with you and take notes about your condition so that he can have a better understanding of how to help you and how to comfort you, he'll always be there by your side, and he won't leave until you're 100% sure you're okay

rook LOVES reading AND writing so if you two can engage in that together he'll really really love it, especially if you don't mind physical affection and let him lay his head on you, but if you're not a fan of it he won't complain at all, just having you by his side warms his little heart. he loves your curiosity and the way you're passionate towards sharing information, he always has the biggest smile as he hears you talk about something you researched recently and he himself will do researches about it so he can engage more in a possible next convo about the topic. HE LOVES COOKING OKAY THATS AN HC YOU'LL NEVER TAKE AWAY FROM ME. he loves cooking with you and he makes sure t make everything so fucking cheesy like he's playing some songs you both like he's flirting with you as he cooks he's such a fucking loser if he was a dog his tail would be wagging so fast it would cause a hurricane

rook is a tad competitive himself and he can't help but find that side of you quite attractive and amusing, he'll definitely love to engage in silly competitions with you, his prize is looking at your determined expression and the way you proudly present your skills

please let him record and take pictures of your creations, please he loves your designs so much they're so priceless to him especially if you make one that is made for him to wear like he's almost too afraid of ruining to wear but also he's SO excited to see how it looks in him it's torture, save him 💔 you're both people that are passionate about art and he can't enough of that fact, if you two ever move in together (please say yes please say yes please say yes please say yes plea-) the house will be filled to the brim with art pieces and if you don't stop him he'll dead ass make a private museum to show off your artwork to whoever comes to visit your home

[rametarin]

Just remembered

Back in the day when PewDiePie got bad press for being problematic, I encountered a person or two on tumblr that were bragging about having not researched the issue, just celebrating they were just such a good thinking person and gave no platform for Nazis.

I asked if they actually researched the topic or if they looked over his work to look for examples of this supposed Nazism.

They bragged they had not, and would not, because, "no platform for Nazis."

So someone can be accused of a Bad Thing but the accusation itself and the thing so bad that it's a given it must be true, or else why would someone just out and say that? Right.

Well. Come to find out the wave was mostly fueled by people that wanted to whoop up and make topical and current a quick hair-trigger rebukation and ostracism of people, using the pretension of accusing them of being Nazis to shut them up and force them to either overcompensate to prove how not-Nazi they were and not opposed to, "change," or make them radioactive socially and use ignorance as a weapon to harm anyone that liked them or made them popular. And so, Pewdiepie was caught up in that shitty gave of social telephone and strutting.

And when you dissected his actual work, at best you could find insensitive or boorish jokes. Nowhere even close to the kinds of toilet and shock humor of Comedy Central alumni stars of the 00s and 10s, like Sarah Silverman, anyone that ever hosted The Man Show, or a whole bunch of standup comedians.

A bunch of comedians that after they made it big using the more liberal and lax attitudes and atmosphere of the 90s and 00s to be edgy and exist in that bubble of protected speech without the political correctness retaliation, decided to close the bubble and declare everybody else that does it doesn't have proper clearance, good faith or good motives for doing it.

So PewDiePie dressing like a British soldier of WW2 to roleplay as a Nazi being shocked at losing was considered tantamount to support of Nazism or some sort of right wing dog whistle, but god damned Jimmy Kimmel could do blackface with two characters for multiple comedy sketches as recurring characters, and that was fine.

Suffice to say, do yourself a favor and actually look up if the person being accused of heinous shit is actually doing heinous shit, and keep in mind that there exists a motivation for smearing people, if not to smear the individual person as a Zoink, then to make fear of Zoinks a big social-topical priority, cannibalizing the reputation of a person to perpetuate the fear of Zoink (Zoink being a placeholder word for any kind of figure of a witch hunt.)

There are very strategic reasons why someone might lie about another person. If not for personal gain, than for ideological gain. Positive impression of a thing, negative impression of a thing, intellectual misunderstanding of a thing serving to act as a lens just to see the image someone else wants you to see.

You are never more pure for not having read or willfully misinterpreting a thing, than someone that has read it or disagrees with your interpretation.

[quietlywatchingwritingreading]

So i made a little poll about what sort of fanfic I should write over here.

So this is the short little oneshot of Espresso and Madeleine spending some time together.

Fanfic was looked over by @robocatfan, for typos and other small mistakes. Content warning: No major ones, but there is a discussion of Animal Testing being a thing. I prefer to try and warn of any triggers. If anyone wants me to add any triggers I've forgotten/not realized, let me know and i'll edit this post, or add additional tags.

Also this is a really long post.

Madeleine couldn’t help but admire the sunrise whenever he returned from his travels. It was as if the Divines themselves were welcoming him home after a long and cold night. A fleeting moment of peace and relaxation before he would once again return to protecting the kingdom and its inhabitants. 

It wasn’t time to relax.  Right now, he needed to find Espresso. It had been several days since he had last seen his friend, even in passing, and he was starting to get worried. 

Not that the Professor was in any sort of danger. Madeleine had made it a point of pride to protect this kingdom! Therefore there were almost no roaming thieves or vicious beasts to threaten him, or any other cookie! 

Still, the professor was known for locking himself away for days on end. He could spend just as long at his friends' workshops, or at the libraries. Never mind his long sleepless nights researching any number of topics, or the long sleepless nights traveling to the Wafflebot Workshop or Parfedia Institute. 

Fortunately, the knight knew exactly where he might find him. 

It was still not quite dawn when he arrived at the park. It was nestled neatly between the residential homes and the market, making it the perfect place for gatherings and picnics. Even now, the aroma of fine coffee hung in the air. 

Espresso was sitting at a small table, waiting for his pour over coffee to brew.

“Espresso cookie!” Madeleine boomed. “How are you faring today, my friend.”

Espresso shuddered, before he let out a long, defeated sigh.   “Hello, Madeleine. I wasn’t expecting to see you this soon. Or early.”

“Oh? Well, of course I’m up early! I’m the knight commander, and there are always cookies that need to admire my glorious armor at all hours of the day!”

“Right. Coffee, then?” Espresso pushed a glass to an empty seat. “There's some milk in the basket over there.”

“Ah, thank yo-wait. Espresso , you never drink milk. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I don’t. But I had a feeling that I'd have a guest this morning. Most cookies can’t handle a truely bitter coffee.”

“Huh? Oh, were you expecting me, then? That’s quite an honor! I’ll  be fine, bitter or sweet“ Madeleine couldn’t help but laugh. Espresso just looked, frustrated. 

“Well, Espresso? Did you need my help with anything?”

“I’m quite fine, Madeleine. I don’t see why you worry about me so much.”

“I-How could I not?! You spend days working without rest! Wonderful work, that helps so many others! But the cost to your health and happiness–”

“Madeleine-”

“I’m serious! How can you be happy working yourself to the crumb!?”

“My results speak for themselves. Do you think I would get favorable results if I spent my day lazing about?”

“That didn’t answer my question, As long as you’re happy, Espresso, then that’s all that matters. I'm glad to see you take a moment of your day to enjoy the light! There's so much to enjoy outside of that stuffy laboratory!” 

Espresso sighed. He couldn’t understand. Madeleine wasn’t the first cookie to show concern for his work habits, but he was by far the most consistent. Every other cookie was perfectly willing to accept his answers and excuses, but Madelene always went back for him. 

More than once, that knight had managed to herd him into some sort of celebration or picnic. More than once, that knight had managed to catch onto his frustrations and problems before he’d even said a word. More than once, that knight had tried to cheer him up or distract him from his failures. 

He couldn’t let him know how much he appreciated that. 

Still, he had a feeling that the knight already knew. Or, he wanted to think Madeleine knew. 

“Did you have a bad time in your science classes? Or did the Creme Knights not teach such classes? You seem to have a certain distaste for laboratories.” 

“Oh? Oh! Of course, the Creme Knights taught a wide range of classes, from fine dining to first aid! Though I must admit, it wasn’t my favorite subject. I always got distracted, and forgot the exact measurements of the experiments. Still, it wasn’t my worst subject, even if it is related to my greatest childhood failures. “

“Oh?” There was a glint of interest in Espresso’s eyes. “You? You did something bad? Care to share, or is this a secret you keep to your grave.”

“To my Grave!” Madeleine yelled. His blue eyes quickly  darted around the park. Once he was certain they were alone, he leaned closer.  “It was nothing that bad. I and some other Paladin Students felt bad for  the Sugar Mice that were to be used in some of the experiments. And well, we broke into the school and released them.”

“Awww. That happens more times than you would think. I believe most schools have banned that practice-”

“-Into House Custard.” 

“Hek–” Espresso started choking on his coffee. 

“I think they’re still dealing with those poor mice, and their great great grandchildren!! Ah-I know now that this was a terrible way to handle the problem. All I can do is try and learn from my mistakes. “ 

Espresso was struggling to breathe, holding his chest. “You just-did you -how did you?! Did you throw them over the fence?!”

“Espresso for your safety and mine, we should not discuss this further!”

“Hard to imagine that the star pupil of the Creme Knights would have a rebellious side. “

“Espresso. I’m certain you must have a story or two as well!”

“The Parfaedia Institute absolutely does not partake in anything quite as oh I can’t even try to keep a poker face!” Espresso was smiling. “There’s always something. Do you know how many wizards are planning to try and prank Almond Cookie? 647 of them! I’m the one in charge of flooding his office with Balloons!”

“Huh? That seems petty-”

“Petty? Of course. Safety is important, and I’ve nothing but respect for his work. However, trying to cage curiosity must always  be rebelled against! Especially in petty, harmless ways.” 

“Still, that’s unlike you, Espresso!”

“I owed Latte a favor. Still, I’ve not done anything too noteworthy outside of my discoveries and reports. As a student I did help with an experiment to try and revive a prehistoric creature.”

“I see. So Scorvilla is the only reasonable school to send my future children to, understood.”

“Madeleine!” espresso was laughing so hard, he had to place his coffee down. “Its not-its not that–”

“If I have a child who desires to become a mage, I'm sending them to Scorvilla. That is clearly the best choice for them.”

“I would have assumed any of your children would follow the family tradition of becoming a paladin?”

“Of course I would love that! But they need to be their own cookies, and they have to choose their own paths in life. If they want to be politicians, mages, or stonemasons, then that’s their decision!”

“Hmm. I can’t say I disagree with you.” Espresso sighed. “I should probably get back to  the lab. Unless you wanted to become a test subject for the magic candy-”

“That sounds boring! I think I'll stick with patrolling the kingdom and shaking hands with the locals!-”

“Did you want to join me in flooding a detective’s room with an obnoxiously large number of balloons?”

“That also sounds fun! -this isn’t going to disrupt his work, is it?” 

“My magic will be able to clean his office up in seconds. I might need you to bail me out of jail though-”

Madeleine laughed. “Oh, of course! I’d never let you end up in such a dreadful place! You’ve done nothing to deserve such a fate! ”

Espresso smiled. Madeleine was far more reliable then he wanted to admit. “Thank you! Ah-and perhaps there’s something you’d like to do? I don’t believe you’ve visited the Magic Institute before?” Perhaps, for one of these meetings, he could lead the day’s events. Of course, he was under no illusions.  Madeleine would eventually take the lead. This, along with his endless confidence,  no longer bothered him nearly as much as it had. It was just part of his many charms.

[sugarplanet]

Instantly Overcome Hating Your Art and Stop Wasting Your Time In 3 Easy Steps

Throughout the fall, I've hit the proverbial reset button a few times hoping to start with a clean slate or the right foot in progressing my career and just being better at art. Still, it's easy to hit a plateau when you get wrapped up into one thing and neglect your portfolio, your idea moleskin, or your twitter (though I don't really want much to do with that last one these days). Despite the tone of this post so far, I can at least tell you that it's much better now than it was three or four years ago. One time, I'd stopped posting or drawing or speaking to people an entire year and it did no favors to my self-esteem or my muscle memory. Now, when I smack face first into a wall or feel like nothing I do is ever good enough, I have tools to react, retract, and reflect before I do something harmful, like impulsively ghost everyone or stop going to work. Here's some directions to get back on track:

1: Stop

If you find yourself saying mean things about your own art or feel like you're about to throw your painting against the wall or see something so beautiful on social media immediately followed by a train of people who have tons in milage/talent/popularity on you then you're going to have to press the pause button. Immediately stop whatever you're doing and take a deep breath. You'll have to build some serious discipline to do it but it's an invaluable skill to be able to cut off intrusive or harmful thoughts before they can stew and fog your brain any further. Go take a break and come back to your craft or task and after you've given energy to something else for a little while, you'll find you have more energy than before.

2: Turn Around

I find it a huge help to go over the basics (a lot) as a refresher regularly as when you take on something really complex you can get easily overwhelmed if your skill or tolerance for perspective and doing lineart by hand isn't seasoned enough. This is where going through the fundamentals or at least better researching your topic can help you troubleshoot the WHY and WHAT going on. If you're trying to draw a landscape from your imagination or with other art as a reference, you're going to need to do some thumbnails. If you need tigers or rhinos, go do some tracing and then some studies. If you can, try working on a different medium than what you were working with before; that bit of separation is going to help keep you from burning out again too fast and create some interest as well ("oooh color pencils, how exciting!") BONUS: Avoid doom scrolling through other artists! You'll want to save observation purely for intentional style studies rather than get stuck in the trap of comparing yourself to everyone.

3: Go Back

You'll have to go back at some point, especially if it's for your day job or for a client... But before you do, make sure you can check these off: > Feel better emotionally > More energized/inspired to take this on > Have a viable solution to my problem > Am proud of self and my work and don't think I suck If you can, great! Take it from the top. If not, maybe you need a little more rest (if you're still struggling emotionally) or maybe you need some more practice (if you're not satisfied with your solution yet). Repeating this process enough times will also help you bounce back from break-downs, burnouts, and blocks a lot quicker. I promise; if I can sit here and write this long, then you can absolutely make great things happen for yourself. :)

[nocturnis-speaks]

ıllı ⋆ Nocturnis. ★⋆

he/they. neos: aby/abyss/abysself, eldri/eldritch/eldritchself˚★

ageless ⋆ agender???

I do not care for romantic endeavors or otherwise.

Primary magickal researcher.

┊ ┊ ★⋆

┊ ◦. ┊

★⋆ ┊ . ˚

˚★

PERSONAL BELOW THE CUT:

system questions:

written in the voice *of* Nocturnis, not necessarily Nocturnis themself.

---

Basics:

1. Nocturnis.

2. Gold. Black. Silver.

3. Regality, stature. Darkness. Illumination.

4. I percieve myself as an educator and a researcher of the eldritch.

Personal Goals:

5. To not have my rites interrupted.

6. To get out of this house to an environment more conducive to magick. Furthermore, a lifetime goal-- apotheosis.

Internal and External Goals:

7. I would like more organization and to front more.

8. Control. Stasis. Growth. Autonomy.

Positive Triggers:

9. Rites themselves. Creating for our Gods. Researching occult materia. Bloodletting and similar endeavors.

10. Religious ecstasy, a meditative state.

11. Preparing for rites, particually important ones.

Negative Triggers:

12 and 13. Activities and Emotions: non-applicable unless I am significantly irritated, which is difficult to accomplish.

14. Situations: Having a rite or any aspect of our (especially my own) magick be interrupted.

15. I prefer to support myself when I am fronting. I wish to be helped with my magick or research if I am encountering difficulties. I would like to be left alone if that is what is required. I can handle myself.

16. I love the occult and my Gods and deities. I despise close-minded people, evangelicals, and cults.

17. Irritants: Having my magick interrupted (sorry to repeat myself).

Safety

18. Practically I need space and time to conduct my rites and research, to meditate, and to work on our energy body. I suppose "relaxation" and "taking care of this vessel" are regrettably important elements as well...

19. Emotionally: Emotional needs are not my prerogative. I have emotions but can more easily put them to the side if they are not required or needed in some fashion.

How can we best collaborate with them?:

20. Communication: Address me as myself. Be assertive in your tone and actions.

21. Sharing tasks: I do this when it is required, or when it is an unspoken rule. Generally I do not mind doing tasks "for" the body or the system as long as my time and energy are respected.

22. Mutual support: I will help guide you all.

23. Lesson: Learn to stand for yourself and your beliefs and be assertive. Claim your power.

24. I would want to make fronting significantly easier, and make sure it actually occurs.

25. Aspirations: To come into our own as a person and as a magickal being. To continue the work we have started.

26. I do not instigate conflicts, nor get involved in them. I mostly came after all of that was finished.

27. I find joy in the occult, in Enn chants, in my research, in formulating new ideas and putting them to word. I quite like being educated on topics that I like.

28. I want to say our shared experiences are a human outlier of patheticness, but perhaps that is too harsh. We were dealt a harsh hand but did nothing to reject it, and for that I am extremely resentful, for we could have progressed much more as a person despite our trauma and lack of favorable emotional response from our parents.

29. My strengths are research, record-keeping (to an extent), and utilizing what magickal knowledge we have to come up with ideas for rites and the energy to carry them through.

30. My weaknesses are thinking I am too smart to be deluded. Not being able to step up to the plate when it is needed. Not being grounded in the corporeal due to desire for the ethereal and godhood.

I suppose... I need someone to keep me in check and remind me that I must take care of this fleshsuit of a vessel, for we are but a spirit in human form.

31. Our communication is quite fluid, seeing as we all maintain co-consciousness and a certain continuity of self, but it is also poor, considering-- like in our own trapping abode-- we never talk amongst ourselves as if we are seperate beings, only as if we were one individual. For the times when this is not the case, or when you want it not to be the case, I believe a certain amount of differenitiation and sense of plurality needs to be essential moving forward.

32. I am concerned I will never get out of this house to be able to properly practice magick, which would certainly make both I and our spirit team both upset.

33. I suppose grounding, centering, and meditation, though I do not think of them as lovey-dovey self care as much as maintenance we/I must regrettably take on in order to live more comfortably.

Harmony, support, and how to achieve this. . .

For me: Get me out of this fucking maddening house before I lose my shit and curse everyone in it, or something worse.

As the Gods have said several times, it shall not be served to you on a silver platter. You must work for it.

[yourpediaglobal]

THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MOVING TO GERMANY

When You have got admission at the German university and course of your choice in Germany. Now you are all set to travel abroad to Germany for your studies. You need to have certain qualities that will help you harmonize with the new culture, new place, and new surroundings. Several factors will influence you such as university, organization, food preparation, bureaucracy, accommodation, and travel. The quicker you adapt to them, the better you will feel dealing with the new stumbling situations abroad. This includes information on the following topics:

Where in Germany Will You Live

Germany is a huge country consisting of 16 federal states. Each federal state has its atmosphere, job opportunities, salary size, behaviors, culture, traditional food, holidays, etc. Firstly, understand what your priorities are. What do you want to get from the place you choose to live in? After working that out, start to research different parts of the country or the specific city want to move to.

Being Independent

Your family won’t be available to help you there with your daily chores other than being available on video calls. So be prepared to face and deal with the situation. It’s not difficult either. Just make up your mind and try to be independent at home a few months before you start.

Cooking

At first Indian food won’t be available and second whatever you want to eat you need to cook all by yourself. So get some tips from home and learn some quick meal recipes to do yourself a favor. It will spare you from eating junk food and you will not have to spend a lot of money at restaurants or buying ready meals.

Self-Sufficient

Before the processing of papers starts there is some particular amount of money that is required to be put in the blocked account, for you to meet any contingencies in the foreign land, but most people tend to take that out once the formalities are over. So, we advise you to keep some funds to be self-sufficient. Additionally, students can search for part-time jobs to support their money requirements and not depend upon others for it.

Mentally Strong

It has been rightly said that “The strength of your mind determines the quality of your life.” To study and enjoy equally there you need to be mentally strong. You may need to travel alone many times, work part-time, cook, visit a physician when ill or do any other task without anyone at your side, so be prepared to do everything alone and yet take care of yourself. Training your mind to be stronger than emotions will keep you cheerful always.

Dealing with the Language

In Germany, Germans speak German most of them also speak English. Moving to a more international city (like Berlin) can give you some more options to speak in different languages – Russian, Turkish, French, Vietnamese, and so on. Speaking German is very important for finding a job, getting different documents, dealing with government institutions, and in general for making the most of life in Germany.

Finding Accommodation

Finding a place to live in Germany is hard work, It not being easy and takes time and effort. German landlords tend to ask for 3 months of salary statements, they seem to favor married couples. In Germany’s cities, it is hard to find a flat because of high demand and increased prices. To rent an apartment officially, you need to have a bank account, but to open a bank account – you need to prove your registration (your actual address in Germany). This is a very serious factor to think about before moving to Germany.

Transport in Germany

Germany is well known for having an excellent public transport system and some of the best roads in Europe. The roads in Germany are built for all kinds of transport and you can get everywhere from anywhere. The public transport isn’t cheap, but it is clean, mostly runs on time and very frequently.

Bicycles are something that Germans love a lot too. It is a cheap, healthy, and nature-friendly mode of transport. Cities in Germany are very bicycle-friendly – almost all roads have a specially designed lane for bikes. And, when moving to Germany, the bicycle is also the best and the cheapest way to get to know your surroundings.

Visit this website for complete details...

YourPedia Global

[123gracker]

Boost Your SEO Business with Effective Blogging Strategies

Blogging isn’t just a fun way to share your thoughts—it’s an absolute game changer for your SEO strategy! In today’s digital world, consistent and quality blogging has become crucial for boosting your website's visibility. Google’s recent algorithm updates, like the core updates rolled out in late 2023, now heavily favor well-researched, engaging content. This means if you’re not blogging effectively, you could be missing out on ranking higher in search results.

But here's the kicker: great blogging can massively drive traffic to your site and enhance your search rankings. For instance, HubSpot found that companies that blog get 55% more website visitors than those that don’t. Imagine what that could do for your business! So, if you want to stay ahead of the competition, it’s time to embrace the power of blogging. Check out more on this topic at Moz for in-depth insights into how effective blogging can transform your SEO!

Blogging plays a pivotal role for SEO professionals and small businesses alike. Fresh, valuable content isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for boosting search engine rankings. Search engines favor websites that regularly publish original content. By consistently updating your blog with useful posts, you signal to Google and other search engines that your site is active and relevant. This can lead to improved visibility in search results, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

Moreover, blogging helps build authority and credibility in your niche. When you share insights, tips, or how-to guides, you position yourself as a knowledgeable expert. A small coffee shop in Austin, Texas, for example, started a food blog focusing on local beans and brewing techniques. Not only did they attract coffee enthusiasts, but their blog also helped them rank higher for key terms like “best coffee in Austin” and “coffee brewing tips.”

These case studies illustrate blogging’s potential to drive traffic and sales. If you’re still on the fence about starting a blog, just remember: it’s one of the most effective ways to foster real connections with your audience while climbing the SEO ladder. So, gear up, get creative, and watch your business thrive! Check out the success stories at HubSpot for more inspiration.

Let’s dive into some current trends that are influencing the landscape of SEO and blogging strategies. First off, have you noticed how important user experience has become for Google? It’s not just about keywords anymore; it’s about how visitors interact with your site. According to recent studies, nearly 75% of users judge a company's credibility based on their website design. That’s a powerful stat! So, optimizing your blog's design for engagement is crucial.

Voice Search Optimization

With the rise of voice-activated assistants like Alexa and Siri, voice search optimization is a game-changer. Imagine someone asking, “What's the best coffee maker?” and your blog being the answer. To get your content featured, focus on long-tail keywords and natural language. This reflects how people naturally speak, making it easier for search engines to pick you up.

Mobile Device Responsiveness

And let’s not overlook mobile optimization. Mobile users account for over 50% of web traffic now, making it essential for your blogs to be mobile-friendly. If your site doesn’t look good on a smartphone, you could be missing out on half of your potential audience!

Brands Making the Shift

Some brands are already adapting. For instance, Spotify is leveraging voice search for user queries, ensuring they remain accessible. Meanwhile, Starbucks has redesigned their website for mobile-first indexing, leading to a 30% increase in mobile orders in 2023. It shows that adapting to these trends isn't just smart; it’s essential!

So, if you're keen on upping your SEO game, leveraging these current trends in your blogging strategy could make a world of difference. Want to learn more about the latest strategies? Check out Moz for comprehensive insights.

Creating compelling and SEO-friendly blog content can seem like a daunting task, but don’t worry! With the right strategies, you can boost your SEO business and keep your readers coming back for more.

First things first—let’s talk about keyword research and topic selection. Using tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush can really help you figure out what folks are searching for related to your niche. Aim for a mix of high-volume keywords and some long-tail keywords to capture different queries. For instance, if you run a digital marketing agency, keywords like "SEO strategies for small businesses" might be gold for attracting your target audience.

Now onto content structure: break your blog into clearly defined sections using headings (H1, H2, etc.) and subheadings. This not only helps with search engine optimization but also makes your content user-friendly. Keep paragraphs short and snappy—think two to three sentences max. This keeps readers engaged and makes the information more digestible.

An engaging introduction is key. Hook your readers with a relatable scenario or a bold statement. A strong call-to-action (CTA), like “Subscribe for more tips!” at the end of your blog, can encourage reader interaction—don’t let your insights end at the last paragraph!

Now, let’s dive into some techniques to maintain reader interest. For instance, including anecdotes—like a fictional small business owner who tripled their traffic through effective blogging—offers real-life scenarios your readers can connect with. You can also pepper in stats, showing that blogs with images receive 94% more views than those without. That’s a stat worth thinking about!

Check out this brief table of compelling stats to keep your audience informed:

Incorporating these tips will not only improve your SEO rankings but also enhance your reader's experience. Be authentic, relatable, and engaging, and you’ll notice the difference in your blog’s reach and effectiveness!

For more detailed strategies, check out resources like HubSpot and Neil Patel to deepen your understanding of effective blogging practices. Remember, the more you connect with your audience, the better your blog will perform!

Incorporating visuals into your blog can really elevate your SEO game. Think about it: a post filled with just text can be a snooze fest. But when you throw in images, infographics, and even videos, you're not just making things pretty; you're making content that resonates. According to a study by HubSpot, content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without. Let’s be real—everyone loves a good infographic that sums up complex information at a glance, like the rise of video consumption, which has increased by 149% in just 2 years, as per Cisco.

Images and videos can break up long passages of text and give your readers' brains a little visual feast. Plus, Google really loves it when you include multimedia in your content, often boosting your rankings as a result. However, it’s crucial to optimize these elements for SEO too. Make sure to use descriptive file names and alt text for images—this enhances accessibility and ensures search engines can understand what the visuals convey.

Don’t forget about loading speed, either! Large files can slow down your site, so compress those images and videos before uploading. In the end, visuals aren’t just decoration; they're a strategic tool to keep your audience engaged and improve your SEO. For more tips on effective blogging, check out Neil Patel.

Promoting your blog effectively is critical for achieving maximum reach, especially when you’re looking to boost your SEO business. Let’s dive into some strategies that really work!

Social Media Promotion: Get the Word Out

With billions of users on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, social media is your best friend for promotion. Craft catchy posts with snippets from your blog—think of it like offering a delicious bite-sized appetizer before the full course. Utilize relevant hashtags to boost visibility. Did you know that tweets with images can get 150% more retweets? So, showcase those visuals! Don’t forget to join industry-specific groups on Facebook and LinkedIn; they can be goldmines for sharing your content.

The Power of Email Marketing

Email marketing remains a powerhouse for driving traffic. According to a study from HubSpot, businesses using email marketing see, on average, a return of $42 for every $1 spent. Oof, sign me up for that! Send out engaging newsletters featuring your latest blog, exclusive tips, or even sneak peeks into upcoming posts. Just ensure your emails are mobile-friendly since over 60% of emails are opened on smartphones.

Enhance Visibility through SEO

You can’t overlook SEO for blog promotion. Start by using keyword research tools to find topics people are searching for. Once you identify these topics, naturally incorporate them into your blog titles, headings, and content. It’s like inviting Google to your party—help it know you’re the guest of honor. Don't forget to build backlinks too; getting a link on a high-authority site can boost your rankings exponentially, much like a vote of confidence from a trusted friend. Check out how companies like Moz expertly leverage these strategies for an inspiration boost!

So, roll up your sleeves and apply these strategies! With a little creativity and consistency, you’ll see your blog traffic soar, and your SEO business will flourish.

When it comes to measuring the success of your blog, you want to dive deep into the data. Tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush can illuminate the path, helping you track key metrics. You’ll want to keep an eye on things like page views, bounce rate, and average time spent on your posts. For example, you might notice that a blog post on "Local SEO Strategies" attracted high traffic but had a bounce rate of 75%. That’s a signal to refine your content or call-to-action.

Analyzing Traffic Sources

Understanding where your traffic is coming from is crucial. Are people finding your blog through organic search, social media, or referrals? Each source tells its own story. Perhaps social media drives a lot of traffic, but engagement is low there. You can use tools like Hootsuite to analyze which platforms resonate best.

Refining Your Strategy

Once you’ve gathered your data, don’t be shy about refining your strategy. If a certain topic or style consistently performs well, double down on it! Implement A/B testing for different headlines or formats to see what clicks. And don’t forget to engage with your readers—respond to comments and ask for feedback. All of this will help shape your future content and engage your audience, so keep the conversation going!

To give you a snapshot of how blogging impacts SEO, check out this data:

By using these insights, you can effectively boost your SEO business and craft content that truly resonates. So, let the data guide you to success!

When we delve into the world of blogging as a powerful SEO tool, one success story that stands out is that of “GreenThumb Garden Supplies,” a small family-owned business based in Oregon. In early 2023, the owners realized that their online presence wasn’t cutting it despite having high-quality products. They decided to revamp their strategy with a dedicated blog, sharing their passion for gardening.

The Blogging Journey

GreenThumb kicked off with a series of blogs featuring practical gardening tips, seasonal plant care guides, and DIY projects. They utilized SEO best practices by incorporating relevant keywords like “organic gardening,” “plant care,” and “local gardening tips” throughout their posts. Each article was not just informative but also personably written, often reflecting the owners’ own gardening mishaps and victories.

As their blog picked up steam, GreenThumb saw a remarkable uptick in website traffic. By mid-2023, their organic traffic increased by 150%, leading to over a 60% rise in sales. According to Karen, one of the owners, “Investing in our blog transformed our business! We connected with our community, and they began to trust us as an authority in gardening.” Their blog not only attracted new customers but also fostered customer loyalty; many readers turned into regular buyers.

What Worked

The strategies GreenThumb employed were spot on. They focused on consistency—posting weekly—and used engaging visuals and helpful infographics to break down content. They also leveraged social media to amplify their blog posts, directing traffic back to their site. The combination of quality content and effective promotion led to a vibrant online community that regularly engaged with their brand.

In essence, engaging with blogging allowed GreenThumb to thrive in the competitive SEO landscape. It’s proof that when done right, blogging can indeed be a game-changer for small businesses navigating the digital world. If you’re curious about turning your passion into a thriving online presence, consider blogging as your next big step!

Wrapping up our discussion on boosting your SEO business through effective blogging strategies, it's clear that a robust content plan can set you apart in a crowded marketplace. We talked about the importance of targeting relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and engaging with your audience. These tactics not only help you climb search rankings but also establish your brand as an authority in your niche.

So, why wait? Dive into these strategies today! Start by brainstorming topics that resonate with your audience, and don’t forget to measure your progress through analytics. Every small effort adds up!

Lastly, I’d love to hear from you. Have you tried any of these strategies? Got questions or experiences to share? Drop a comment below; your insights could inspire someone else in our community. Let's continue learning and growing together—after all, we're all in this SEO journey as a team! For more tips on marketing strategies, check out MarketingProTips.

For More info:- https://blog.gracker.ai/boost-your-seo-business-with-effective-blogging-strategies/

[finnglas]

Eyyyy, another clinically depressed person here chiming in! I have two different pieces of advice to try out and see what might help.

1. A lot of times expressing self hatred or depression feels Good in the moment because you're confirming an internal bias and also because, in simple terms, you're emotionally stimming. It's the same kind of idea as if you were physically bored and began hitting yourself or excoriating your skin or pinching or scratching or any other behavior that causes pain and harm to your body: you feel empty, and the pain is better than empty. But the problem is that it's also causing injury and not really solving the long term problem. If you notice yourself doing it, you can identify oh crap my emotions need something they're not getting, let me see what I can find to feed them. And when you're depressed, I know that's easier said than done because it's like being hungry but having dampened taste buds. But you still need to eat even if your taste buds aren't playing along.

2. I have found, for me personally, that separating myself from my behaviors has put me in a neutral starting position and given me a sense of control. So instead of assigning value to myself based on my behaviors, I see it more like: Ah, I see a pattern where I have been engaging in X behavior (sitting on the couch staring into space, doom scrolling, ruminating about past mistakes) more than usual lately. I think that isn't doing me any favors, so can I replace some of that time with Y behavior (researching a new topic I don't know much about, going for a short walk down to the mailbox, feeding my NeoPets, brushing my real life cat, etc.) and see how that goes? And usually that helps because otherwise I tend to be like oh man I'm a lazy slob who can't even do basic tasks, and then I just continue engaging in the behaviors that confirm that self perception and feeling even worse.

IDK, it may not work for everyone, but for me, being Extremely Neutral about it helped a lot more than trying to be positive. But that might just be my 'tism speaking.

[loonyoz]

I real love the points you’ve made, interesting how deeply ingrained heteronormativity is in society (society is very vague i know). I tend to feel more comfortable engaging in stories about queer relationships because I assume it’s less likely to place characters into gender roles (which is, of course, not always the case). I can’t speak to the variety of bg3 or other fics out there, but I have definitely noticed similar stuff. It always bothers me when people decide a persons sexual preferences based off their appearance or mannerism, because 1. It often implies something weird (or stereotyped) and 2. I just think it makes no sense, in real life I don’t think you can or should determine a persons preferences based off these things. Or like sure this person tends to let others take the lead in group dynamics, that doesn’t define everything else about them. It’s like saying that because someone likes to put milk in their coffee the must like it in their tea as well.

I've also been confused about the language used for awhile now. I had always thought that top/bottom referred to who is/isn’t penetrating during sex. Yet I often see it used interchangeably with dom/sub, which has to do with a desire to explore a certain power dynamic in a relationship or sexual activity. If my understanding these definitions is correct, this honestly makes me very upset. In a generally cisnormative society the partner being penetrated is often associated with women, due to a variety of reasons, one of which being that afab people have vaginas. If bottom and sub are used synonymously it’s implying that the norm for sex is that the partner being penetrated is submissive. Furthering these gender roles in which a man is always dominant and a woman is always submissive. Which also carries over in the portrayal of some queer relationships, in which the penetrated or submissive partner is often assigned a “feminine” gender role in the relationship.

Of course people can write and read what makes them happy but as a reader and someone who cares about social issues Im going to be disappointed by something that tosses aside what makes a character an individual in favor of enjoyment of something that perpetuates an unnuanced and harmful approach to gender and sexuality. Of course I’m not saying someone can’t be, for example, stereotypically feminine, enjoy bottoming, and enjoy a submissive role. That’s obviously valid, and not a problem. The problem is how we talk about it. For example: someone saying oh this person definitely bottoms because they act so effeminate. If you find yourself saying similar remarks, I think it’s important that you reflect on why you’re saying that. Why are you make that connection? God I hate discrimination biases because it can be a lot subtler than other forms of bigotry. It can be hidden in the sociocultural environments that we are familiar with, and can be a product of systemic bigotry. It can be hard to notice in others and in yourself, and it can do so much harm.

I appreciate how you brought up that there are arguments on both sides that are harmful. I often observe arguments becoming this aggressive polarized nightmare. Nothing but more harm is caused by those types of arguments. If both sides are self reflective, able to listen, and able to explain their point of view in a non aggressive manner, that is when you can have a productive discussion. Of course things are rarely as simple as that. Which is a whole other topic in and of itself.

I also think what you brought up about sexual trauma is really important. I would need to do more research if I wanted to make a reflection on the various portrayals of sexual assault and what that means. But there can definitely be some odd take aways depending on how you depict the occurrence of sexual assault and recovery from the trauma. I think the way we view gender and sexuality definitely play a role in how sexual assault is talked about.

If you've gotten to the end of this post, I would like to say that I am by no means an expert in any of these subjects, and I am limited by the scope of my personal perception. If you feel Ive misrepresented something, or caused harm, please let me know. These are difficult and sensitive topics. I know Im taking a risk by posting it on the internet, where communication can be difficult. I am always open to constructive feedback as long as it is respectful.

People get really defensive about "writing Astarion with women" when what people are actually annoyed/upset about is that people are putting him in heteronormative relationships with women.

And it's not like, "YOU, INDIVIDUAL WOMAN, WROTE HIM WITH A WOMAN? A POX ON YOUR HOUSE!" and more like "a majority of fandom is writing him in this specific way with this specific type of character that doesn't really reflect who he is in the game and shoehorns him into a generic booktok dom daddy."

Which. Yeah. People are allowed to feel annoyed/alienated by that type of trend. I think. Maybe. I've seen several fics where Astarion being with big burly men (implied to have been penetrated) was portrayed as traumatic, while being with little virginal female Tav was "healing". And yeah, you're technically acknowledging his pansexuality ... But the implications aren't great. Ya know?

And there's a LOT of conflating domming/topping/being on top. Which ends up only highlighting the heteronormative approach to a lot of fic about him. "He gets on top > so he always tops/penetrates > so he's a dom." Because for some reason penetrating others is less traumatic to him than to be penetrated? Which is a whole bag of worms that people seem reluctant/unable to unpack.

Now, the other side of this argument are people who go "lmao those delusional wamen think this homosexual twink would top them" which is. Also not great? But in the end reflects the same type of reductive and heteronormative argument, it's just coming from the other side of the spectrum. He's flamboyant and pretty so he MUST be incapable of putting his dick into someone else. And he's MORE feminine than the women he gets paired with, so obviously that's unrealistic and he must be paired with a big strong man instead. Which is like. Well you're paired him with a man but you're still being just very heteronormative about it. Even gay relationships must have a "man" and a "woman", is your argument? And Astarion, being beautiful and a presumed bottom, is "the woman"?? Hmm. Don't like that.

Maybe. Astarion is. Pansexual. And can both bone down and be boned down. Maybe he does have a preference. Maybe he doesn't. Maybe he doms, maybe he subs. Maybe he switches depending on mood/partner. Maybe he likes different sex positions where he's on top and ones where he's below. Maybe he's down for whatever as long as it's with someone he loves. Maybe he's neither "the man" nor "the woman" in a relationship and he's simply Astarion, a man in a relationship. Maybe in the end it doesn't fucking matter and putting him into rigid binaries is doing him a disservice.

Anyway. My nonbinary Tav's gonna upgrade his gender to Man+. Cis premium. They're gonna explore his gender and preferences and expression together. I think that might be fun and freeing maybe. And they're gonna take turns topping and bottoming and both will be soooooo healing because um. They're having consensual sex and are in love. So it's healing by default. Regardless of who's putting what where.

Well. Anyway. All I'm saying is. Stuff.