#doing all sorts of research and stuff

[captainsparklefingers]

Yes, it's technically Thursday, I'm always a bit behind the wheel. I got tagged by @grayintogreen, and I figured...well, what the hell. Maybe sharing a little bit of Unhappy Families will help with the writing motivation; I'm stuck in 1945 and absolutely dreading writing 1947, which is probably part of the problem. Turns out, trying to figure out how to write a downward spiral bender ending in a drug overdose? Not exactly fun!

But anyway. I don't really know who to tag but if you're working on something and want to share with the class, consider this a poke in the ribs?

And without further adieu, here's a little bit from Unhappy Families (or: one went up, two went down), specifically from 1929:

Pops dropped them off along the banks of the Hudson after what felt like the longest, quietest, most awkward car ride of Jonathan’s life. Tony’d sat uncomfortably close to him the entire time, his hands balled into two white-knuckled fists. Pops was silent the entire time, only speaking when the car stopped and he popped the trunk open to hand them two shovels.

“You two, get diggin’. I’m going to grab a few things and pick up our guest, and I’ll be back in thirty. I expect to see a decent size hole when I get back, understood?”

He and Tony’d quickly mumbled out a ‘yessir’ that seemed to satisfy Pops, who gave them a short nod, got back in the car, and drove off. Without looking at Tony, Jonathan started to dig. It was almost second nature to him at this point; he’d been digging graves for his father since he was fourteen, it was easy at this point to just turn his brain off and work through the task methodically. In, up, out, in, up, out.

He let himself get lost in the task and didn’t notice right away that Tony wasn’t digging until he caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, gripping the shovel and staring at it like he couldn’t understand what it was.

“Tony…ya gotta dig. You can’t leave me doin’ all the work myself here.”

Tony just kept staring at the shovel.

“Fer Chrissake…Tony, Pops’ll know you didn’t dig when he gets back. You gotta at least try, kid.”

Fuck, was he shaking? He’d been doing so well, too, kept it together in the car the whole time, why did he have to slip up now? Christ. With a groan, Jonathan shoved his shovel into the dirt and walked over to his little brother. “Tony. Look. I know what you’re thinking. And…you can’t think, with this sort of stuff. You think it was easy for me when Pops took me out to do this for my first time?”

He still thought of it sometimes, that night when he was fourteen, when Pops took him along to take out a few rival soldiers mooching in their territory. The way they’d begged and pleaded, their terrified eyes…how quick his father was with his gun, not even blinking as he shot man after man in the head. The way the blood spray looked on the wall behind them. The smell of blood and bodily fluids and gunpowder.

How heavy the shovel had been. How heavy the bodies were.

“You just…you get used to it. You learn to turn your brain off and go somewhere else. Don’t…don’t think of it as diggin’ a grave, Tony. Yer in Mamma’s garden, helping her plant the tulip bulbs in the spring. Just…we do what Pappa wants,” he said quietly, staring into the hole he’d been digging. “I’ve told ya before. Keep acting the way he wants you to, and when it gets tough just…hide in your head for a bit, let instincts take over. Eventually, it gets easier.”

“Is that what you do?”

“...yeah. Yeah it is.”

Tony sniffled and looked at the hole, the shovel, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he had this look of grim, strangely cocky determination on his face, and he shot Jonathan a toothy grin.

“Bet I can dig faster than you.”

“Like hell you can, you little shit!”

For a few minutes, the two of them were able to forget why they were engaged in a digging contest; they were just two brothers trying to get one over on the other. And…it was nice.

And then the car came back.

[icewindandboringhorror]

I made a few new wax seal stamps out of clay (like the ones I did for my worldbuilding stuff forever ago), this time just of random symbols that I thought might look good done in the style of painting over the raised part of the wax or etc. :0c Some of them aren't carved deep enough to really show up that well, but overall they worked okay for being clay lol

[ryllen]

jade who got heartstruck by someone who listens, and trey who generally takes interest on really listening to what people have to say, about things he doesn't know yet

[rawliverandgoronspice]

behold: my least favorite string of words in the entirety of Tears of the Kingdom.

[lucalicatteart]

-- Poorly Constructed Enchanted Tool --

A small tool carved from a fruit tree seed. Energy to power the enchantment has seemingly run-out long ago, and the method of recharging is unknown - but, based on the appearance, it's very likely that this was once used for detecting magic. Usually, looking through the glass center would highlight areas of higher magical energy concentration present in the viewer's environment, even if they were otherwise obscured to the naked eye. While this form of enchantment itself is highly advanced, the craftsmanship of the item is far less neat or complex than what might be typically seen in similar devices. It may have been made as part of training/practice, or as a hasty replacement for a previous tool that had broken.

[eisthenameofme]

embracing the vampire autism i have going on apparently means combing through 500 vtm books and making notes on the lore and contradictions in the lore and potential implications and what was intended to be taken from some things vs things that actually make sense in context/with better research and sorting through what was included for mechanical gameplay vs worldbuilding reasons and combining all of this + the information intentionally left vague so i can form my own ideas into an amalgam of schrodingers canon with which to try to figure out what i personally tend to view as canon in-universe and then still figuring out how to insert the contradictory information/alternate interpretations in as like. character opinion/intentional misinformation/etc.

[bidonica]

Btw funniest thing to happen in Snake Eater after "I need you EVA............ Because I can't fly the WIG" was finding out, amidst the very poignant and emotional events of the finale, that "Big Boss" isn't a nickname they gave Snake on the field but an actual official title bestowed by the US President. I fell off my chair

[piesa2]

im always in between not considering myself a comic artist and then also when i do make a comic im like wow i love comics

[squadrah]

La squadra's fav perfume hcs pls! And the scent notes as well. Love ya 💖

You have thrown me a curve ball, dear Anon, but you threw it with love and I appreciate it. 💖 I haven't worn perfume in the last fifteen years (I am sensitive enough that they give me a headache), but I am stepping up to bat!

Risotto: In his younger days he never wore perfume beyond occasionally using his father's cologne for bigger events, so he didn't develop a personal taste beyond it. Upon starting a new life in Passione, he became a challenge because his Stand's influence has given his already pungent skin a slightly metallic odor that isn't noticeable without cologne, but immediately cuts into anything floral or fruity. In the end his teammates figured out that an earthy perfume suits him best, usually a sandalwood base followed by herbal heart notes like rosemary or star anise and some peppermint or pine in the top notes, which gives him the reassurance of smelling fresh and clean. He is more fascinated by fruity perfumes all the same, and admires people who wear them well.

Formaggio: As a true jack of all trades, he knows his perfumes well enough that he has some private theories about what your perfume preferences say about you (based on many a one-night stand and short-lived fling). His body odor isn't as strong as Risotto's so he has more room to play, and he will always go for spicy and fruity scent notes because in his opinion, these make you smell the most exciting and the most desirable - ripe for the picking, if you catch his drift. He will go for a vanilla base note to further enhance his favorites, and look for heart notes like strawberry or pear and cinnamon or ginger. He then finishes off with citrusy top notes, usually orange and bergamot. If your perfume smells good enough to eat, he will know he has found a kindred spirit, but he also loves a good floral perfume on principle because you can't go wrong with flowers.

Prosciutto: The Grateful Dead has not only compromised his ability to taste, but also impacted his sense of smell by virtue of proximity, which is one of the few things he's actually self-conscious about. Theoretically he loves the idea of perfume as a complement to your ensemble, but the selection process is tedious guesswork at best, so he has resigned himself to buying highly approved designer brands only. One of the few who not only prefers a strong musk base, but also wears rich scent notes really well in general like amber, vetiver, blackberry or cardamon. Herbal and floral scent notes "wilt" on his skin, but he can appreciate them on a partner by leaning close and focusing on their scent. If he ever catches you wearing something smelly or tacky around him because he "can't tell anyway", he will never forgive you for holding him (and yourself) so cheap. He could and probably has punched people over this.

Pesci: While he's perfectly content to use your run of the mill deodorant or wear anything that seems popular and therefore must be acceptable, he is quite sensitive to other people wearing perfume, and can tell when their chosen scent and natural odor are not in harmony. He can appreciate any sort of perfume that is in harmony with the wearer's skin type, but if pressed a little further, he does have his favorites. Fresh top notes like citrus will always be preferred to floral notes, and ideally these should be followed up by fruity or herbal heart notes depending on the desired vibe, like green apple or basil. He loves a fig base note, perhaps with a touch of vanilla, but only on his partner because he's too embarrassed to wear such a sweet smell himself; a cedarwood base might be a better compromise for him overall.

Ghiaccio: He openly prefers deodorant and body spray to perfume for himself (what other people wear is their business and he won't say a word unless it's downright offensive to him one way or another), but was gently and sometimes not so gently coerced into wearing cologne for more solemn occasions and had to make up his mind about what scent notes were acceptable. Will not be caught dead wearing any type of musk: wood base notes are his go-to, especially pine, and for the heart notes, he prefers to pair that with minty herbs like spearmint, sage or absinthe. The top notes are mostly watery like oakmoss or sea spray, and altogether these give him an almost cold smell that suits his powers as well as his desire to present as cool. He would prefer his partner to either wear something light or nothing.

Melone: Like Formaggio, he has made extensive observations about perfumes and personalities, but also pays more attention to context because he, by virtue of being an underpaid assassin, will usually take what he can get and is perfectly content to wear anything cheap if it catches his fancy at the moment. He's not ashamed to admit that he sometimes uses cooking extracts when he has nothing else on hand. His preferred base notes are vanilla and violet, respectively (he experimented with but never committed to musky or woody base notes), and he likes to blend these with heart notes like lavender, orange blossom or magnolia. The top notes are usually citrus, and altogether they give his tired skin a fresh and naturally sweet glow-up. He appreciates most types of perfume on a partner, though the stronger ones will overwhelm him unless applied in moderation.

Illuso: Possibly has the nicest skin on the team, which seems to be one of those arbitrary blessings of life that requires no effort on his part and only makes him more smug about the fact that he does know his fragrances. He loves a cypress base note for its woody and spicy scent as well as its benefits to a nervous constitution like his, and he's all about those floral heart notes: jasmine and ylang ylang are his prime favorites, the latter sometimes paired with sandalwood. The top notes are also likely to be on the floral side, especially rose or hyacinth, and the overall impression is exotic and alluring. Being a bit of a snob about this, he can get openly judgmental about people's choices, and because he does have enough knowledge to boast, he will give unsolicited though sound advice on scent notes.

Sorbet: If he can, he will wear perfume every day, and he tends to be loyal to his few select favorites, though he always tags along to perfume shops to browse and appreciate the bottle designs. His preferred base notes are patchouli and sugar cane. He loves a sweet smell, and accordingly he tends to go for heart notes that give it character and nuance: think a hint of musk, spices like clove, fruits like coconut, or subtle florals like lily and violet. The top notes are usually citrusy to add some freshness, and occasionally spicy to make him smell almost like a flavored caramel. He scoffs at bland woody colognes and rolls his eyes at the more pronounced floral fragrances unless they have something unique to recommend them, but otherwise tolerates everybody's choices with great composure.

Gelato: He actually doesn't wear perfume on the daily unless Sorbet explicitly expresses a wish for it, and then you will find that to him, the only valid base note is patchouli because that's what he grew up with and he refuses to part from it. That's a strong start already, but he loves to boost that with heart notes like frankincense and myrrh, and the top notes will likely be a citrus like bitter orange or a spice like black pepper. All in all, his favorite colognes have a musky or smoky quality to them that echoes the crowded bars he likes to frequent, and in other contexts gives his presentation an almost somber aspect. He is somewhat unbending in his preferences and finds it a little odd that most people go for lighter blends than he does, but will not make a big deal of it beyond poking fun if he can get away with it.

[richhietozier]

very vaguely working on a buffy the vampire slayer au fic rn (that i think will be centered around steddie) where nancy is the slayer, eddie is a vampire, and steve, robin, and jonathan are nancy’s scooby gang

[ninjaaa-go]

do you ever just

[nomaishuttle]

AND im super excited to add rivers and stuff :]]

[ace-malarky]

Hmmm you know what I haven't done in a while? Character ramble

Stuff keeps happening on Sundays. Stuff might still happen today tbh but I'll take that risk

Gonna talk Kestrel! That's the group we were on!

Usual tag is "character ramblings", I'll see you in a bit ;)

[hyperfixated-homo]

when ur making a doc for a fanfic but you dont know whether to put it in your research folder or sanders sides folder

[noxtivagus]

i LOVE stormblood (listening to some of the ost rn <3 i love all the expansions so very much. they all mean a lot to me <3)

[i-am-a-fish]

Sex Ed Time

ok I'm gonna tell you about some things that might happen if you are transitioning m->f. this is not a comprehensive list just my own experience, be sure to do your own research I just really wanted to voice how this affects me because I think open discussion about this type of stuff is just more helpful for everyone rather than keeping it private

BOOBS HURT WHEN THEY GROW

your sex drive (libido) will probably go down a lot

facial hair is very hard to get rid of

my go-to gender affirming clothing is high-waisted jeans. I suggest going to a goodwill or some sort of cheap store that lets you try on clothes to figure out what you like

muscle mass will go down, fat will be redistributed

boobs do all sorts of crazy stuff when you run / exercise

overtime your skin will get softer, you also might smell nicer, and I've been told it can thin body hair but I don't really see it all that much 🤷

your brain chemistry can change when you reduce testosterone and increase estrogen, there are lots of factors that contribute toward any changes to your personality, but hormones can have an impact as well. for me this is a good thing because I struggle with allowing myself to feel emotions sometimes, no matter how hard I tried I was never really able to get myself to cry. I've gotten closer to being able to cry since I started transitioning though and that makes me very happy

this is a slow process that can take several years, ultimately you're going to be in your body for several years regardless, so if this is something you want it's definitely something you should try to pursue if possible. the time will pass anyways, and it does feel nice to work towards something that can make you happier.

also this is very important, you don't need to do any sort of hormone replacement therapy in order to be trans. not everybody can access HRT, and for those who can access it, not everybody wants to take on all the changes that come with treatments. you don't have to chemically or physically change your body in any way in order to deserve respect

all right that's all I have for right now feel free to add anything in the comments, I would especially like to hear from trans men what your experiences have been, I think openly talking about these types of things can really help some people