#fearlessly inept

[companionwolf]

commander who is a furry, call that a commandfur-- * I am picked up by Central and thrown off the flight deck *

[ilpanettone]

What are your controversial fanon Alec Hardy opinions bestie I am so here for it 👀

oooooooooh violence may ensue

the biggest one for me is when he is TOO awkward and socially inept, if you know what i mean? like, he's bad at too much small talk yes, but he understands people enough to be a decent detective, and he does his best to say the right thing to comfort ellie (and daisy), even if his delivery is lacking confidence. yet in a lot of what i read he just completely misses with it/doesn't even try and idk... if he was that bad with people wouldn't he like, not be in a role which requires trying to understand them and their motivations and emotions... to Me he's just shy, exasperated, and above all, tired.

second is somewhat related but also not... he wouldn't always be an amazing father. like, i've seen fics showing him as the World's Best Father to daisy and ellie's children alike but like, he's still alec... he's still married to his job and would forget to put it aside when he needs to and he'd still struggle with happily communicating his love for his child(ren), you know? it'd still be a rough relationship sometimes i think...

ummm there are plenty more but to avoid writing a whole essay on it i'll add that i do not actually believe that he will marry ellie and settle down with her forever and mellow out, he cannot be fixed so easily and neither can she ❤️ i enjoy fics where he gradually gets better at being a human being but i also don't think they're realistic... alec's been cheated on by the person who he trusted more than anyone and ellie's ex turned out to be a child murderer... like those two are going to stay struggling to effectively and fearlessly communicate their feelings for each other and trust each other and remember how to do these things.

idk that's just how i feel about it 🫶🏻

[albievillamor-blog]

Youth Activism in the context of Social Media, March 10, 2017

Almost all people in the world have social media accounts. And you, my reader is pretty aware of that. From knowing the kind of trendy outfits for the day up to checking in on our friends on Facebook and Twitter even if they are miles away, we hold our hands out for its help. We are now in an area where communication is within arms’ reach, enabling us to know everything.

Social Media gave us a new way to explore the world, transcend its cultural barriers, and create a smooth flow of communication from all walks of life. For a country like the Philippines known as the social media capital of the world, it is just imperative that youth use its wonders in the best possible ways.

Social Media already became an aid in the pursuit of age and let our voices be heard. Through one push or click, we already propagate what we think and feel about the issues that confront our country to educate our audience to be able to forward our sentiments not just for raising awareness but also for tapping those concerned to get their acts together to perform their tasks to ease our country’s the dire situation.

Facebook, the most-widely used social networking sites, has lately become a fireball as a great upsurge of the youth taps its access with which they can put forth change. Youth think, encode, and fearlessly post their train of thoughts that spur debates leading to people’s enlightenment of the issues that press our nation. Though some people post views irrelevant to discussions, it is nevertheless important that we each recognize this phenomenon, foiling the thoughts of seating-back and keeping our mouth shut. This became more evident during the nationwide election we had last May.

In fact, social networking sites were used by some politicians to have further their popularity among the netizens. Former Miriam Defensor-Santiago proved this so. With her three million Facebook followers, she used social media for her campaign, less focusing on traditional media like radio, newspapers, and television. Furthermore, the Duterte supporters have admittedly tapped its power to raise Digong’s popularity after he announced his presidential bid. It is reported that a Facebook group was created with millions of followers to embolden netizens to back his presidential bid, just like what Santiago did.And see, he won the presidency!

Not only was it used for campaign, but also for igniting the people to converge and fight the injustices we all face. In 2012, a post from twitter about the constitutionality of Priority Development Assistant Fund (Pork Barrel) went viral starting a nationwide protest held in Luneta where thousands of people particularly youth from all over the Philippines converged and carried banners expressing their dissent and grievances against it. It was during this protest where the youngsters expressed their concern over the corruption committed by some politicians who used the Pork Barrel for their own purpose by coursing it through the bogus NGO’s managed by Janet Napoles, the known Pork Barrel queen.

When our government turns up inefficient with its objectives and plans, we react on Facebook and show our righteous indignation, lambasting politicians who are inept and frivolous with their position. When it showers on success we basked in the joy in social media, clearly making it a platform to let others know our elation. With all this, it is just honest of me to say that if you do not know the advantages brought by the social media, then you are living under a large rock.

So why don’t we make a full use in its usage anyway?

Social Media is a free market of liberalized communication where engagements are easily committed, no one killing the flow of the ideas in the cyberspace. In this conduit of free expression, this enables the timid to speak up, the oppressed to be heard, and activism to take rightful levitation. This enables us to see the real situation of people who we don’t know but need our help due to repression.

For instance, netizens were able to raise the awareness of the plight of Lumad, the people of Mindanao, whose rights are exploited and education is killed. People of the internet also created consciousness regarding the state of our IPI’s and knocked the doors of government to help them, creating noises too loud to be drowned out by government itself.

With these amenities, youth should take these advantages that social media has put into the table with serious frame of mind.

I believe that social media should be a platform for intellectual discourses and not for vanities which only promote wanton lifestyle toleration that erodes our function of changing the society for the sake of the present and next generation. In this way, we work hard to create a future society far different from what we have now --- a clear indication of our sense of nationalism.

We should strongly utilize our social media accounts not only to get in touch with those we’re concerned with, but also to tell the tales of the voiceless and marginalized to educate our family, friends, and acquaintances. So, instead of sitting and browsing through our Facebook and Twitter feeds the whole day, why not set a time to scour through sites delineating the pity state of the masses?; it will surely encourage others to do something to lessen their awful conditions in any way.

Imagine if each of us cares and does causes to attenuate our countries dire condition with proper use of social media, this would be a much safer and ideal place to live in. People will be more informed, more aware of trolls spreading wrong information, and can be vigilant of the national concerns.

We have to act mature now. Lately, it has been proven that the youth is a powerbase of change as they attempt to grillunproductive governments, criticize imbecile discourses, and forward strong spirit for collective change. As millennials, we can’t dwell in our comfort zones so we have to go out, engage, and use social media the right way.

Let us, youth be activists in social media. Who knows? This might lead to our country’s firmer change.

[supremeuppityone]

For this week’s Klaroline Spotlight Sunday @klaroline-event​, I’m promoting Flowers on Her Skin by Marianita195.

What a heartbreakingly beautiful story! Caroline is a breast cancer survivor trying to rebuild her life. When she opens a flower shop, she meets a surly and unfairly attractive Klaus, who owns the tattoo shop next door. It’s a story of loss and triumph, and all the big and little ways people can come together to make each other better.

The best stuff:

This talented author fearlessly tackles the important task of normalizing the aftermath of breast cancer.

Caroline’s self-esteem has been wounded by her ordeal, but she’s a fighter with an endearing stubborn streak.

Klaus’ inept attempts at flirting are EVERYTHING.

Caroline’s inability to recognize inept attempts at flirting are even more entertaining.

The very best of the best stuff:

Klaus’ heartwarming scenes with his little brother: There’s an unexpected gentle side to him that shines in every interaction.

Caroline’s steel spine: She’s no one’s doormat, and when Klaus doesn’t treat her well, she lets him know. Even more importantly, she rightly sees his clumsy apology as an insult and sets the boundaries she needs in order to heal.

Caroline effortlessly charms everyone she meets. She’s the best friend you’ve always wanted and the author vastly improves upon what canon never seemed to get right.  

Go leave this talented author a review!

[inmyownlittlecorner5]

Moonlight Chapter Four: Take Two

A fanfic Novel by la-topolina

Rated for Mature Audiences

Warnings: Language, Violence, Sexual Content

Chapter 4/26

Moonlight Masterpost+

<< Chapter Three+

Chapter Five+ >>

-----------------

A week after the vampire killing, Miranda knew that she could put off her visit to the Ministry of Magic no longer. She approached the innocuous phone box and rode the elevator to the guest entrance, flexing her hands and fidgeting with her clothing as though everything itched her. She had been depressed and restless, particularly since Severus’s disappearance. If she were honest with herself, she knew it was probably for the best. The man’s jumpy behavior made her strongly suspect that he was wrapped up in something less than legal and she barely knew him. It wasn't her usual practice to fall into bed with complete strangers, but she knew it was most likely to happen when she was coming down from a case. The thrill of the hunt and the kill had to run its course. Sometimes she managed this in more virtuous ways—meditation, exercise, and the like. Sometimes she stayed awake for three or four days and the slept for the same amount of time. Sometimes she smoked and drank the feeling to oblivion. In her younger days, sometimes she would indulge in a one night stand; but they had usually been disappointing. After a few times of pretending that an inept lover was a Casanova, she’d mostly given up the practice. Men’s egos were so fragile and she had no patience for stroking them when they didn’t deserve it. Once, a long time ago, there had been a man worth the trouble and her throat tightened as his face appeared before her eyes.

The doors of the lift snapped open and Miranda shook her head to clear it. Now was really not the time to be thinking about such things. She knew there would be a mountain of paperwork waiting for her. She walked quickly past the fountain, her boots clicking on the marble floors. She was so intent on controlling herself and crossing the atrium, that she didn't notice a tall man dressed in black until she had knocked into him. For a brief, hopeful instant, she thought it might be Severus, back from the dead. But as she looked at the cold grey eyes and saw the long blond hair, she knew this man was not who she had hoped. "So sorry," she muttered and pushed past him. "I'm sure," he drawled lazily after her. Miranda's eyes were crossing as she finished and filed the final form. It seemed to her that the process became more complicated each time she followed it. She supposed it was worth it to some degree. If she had a good track record for following procedure, then the Ministry wouldn't see the need to prod into anything that didn't quite fit. That was her hope in any case. "Just a moment and I'll have your receipts for you," squeaked a short, balding wizard from behind the desk. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the counter, studying the wanted posters that decorated the walls. They all seemed to be of the same hollow-eyed wizard, one Sirius Black. The price on his head was high enough that her interest was piqued. Perhaps she'd do a bit of digging in a week or two and think about taking up the case. He'd been at liberty for quite some time, and with a Hippogriff too. That might make for an entertaining chase. "Thank you. Have a pleasant day," the bureaucrat finally said. "Same to you," she said, exhausted and thoroughly sick of being indoors. She had just reached the fountain in the atrium again when she noticed the same tall, blond wizard from earlier. He was striding towards her purposefully, followed by an older, white-haired man in a purple suit. The older man looked vaguely familiar and as they approached she realized the older man was Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic. They were on a collision course with her and she stopped, standing out of their way with a slight frown. To her surprise, both men did indeed appear to want to talk to her. "Good afternoon, Minerva Rose, isn't it?" Cornelius Fudge asked, sticking out his stubby hand to her. His tone was jovial and smooth like the politician that he was. She smiled blandly at him and corrected, “It’s Miranda Rose, actually. Although Miss Rose will do.” He went on as though he were only half listening. “I am Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic. I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure, but your work has come to my attention. Excellent job on the ghoul hunting a few years back.” “I think it was a graphorn that time…” “Quite so, quite so. What brings you to London just now?” She extricated her hand, but kept her tone polite. "I just finished the paperwork on the Islington Vampire case." "Excellent, excellent. Allow me to introduce my companion, Mr. Lucius Malfoy." Lucius inclined his head to her, but did not try to take her hand. "Charmed," he said. She returned the nod. "Is there something I can do for your gentlemen?" “Indeed there is,” Cornelius said. "I'd like to talk to you about something that I hope could be your next case.” "Mr. Fudge, I'm terribly sorry, but I have a bit of a waiting list at present and it will be at least a week before I'm ready to think about another case anyway.” "Come now, Miss Rose," Lucius said cooly, "I'm sure we can make it worth your while." Miranda could tell by looking at Mr. Malfoy that he was a man used to getting his way. He was sneering down his nose at her like a prince would sneer at a serf. The back of her neck prickled in warning and she knew he was not a man to be trifled with. "Well, in that case, throw this into the fire in a week to remind me and I'll come discuss it with you then. I'm afraid I'd be utterly useless to you now, I got a bit banged up in the last fray you see.” She pulled a silver card printed with M. Rose out of her pocket and handed it to Cornelius with a charming smile. "Of course, perfectly understandable," Cornelius agreed. Miranda started to leave but Lucius blocked her path. "One week, Miss Rose." His voice sounded like a threat. She held his gaze fearlessly, but calmly and replied, "Good day Mr. Fudge, Mr. Malfoy." Lucius blocked her path for a moment longer, and then let her pass. She kept her pace unhurried although she wanted to run. It wouldn't do to show any discomfort in front of a man like Lucius Malfoy. He would pounce if he scented fear. She was very glad when she finally reached the street. *****

Later that evening Miranda found herself loitering up and down Grimmauld Place. She’d returned to the alley where she’d met Severus several times since his disappearance. She knew she was being ridiculous—for all she knew the man had been dead since the previous week. She told herself that she was doing this mostly to keep herself from getting into worse trouble. Surely wasting her time in a fruitless search was better than sitting alone in her cabin in a drunken stupor, or picking up some fool at Prospero’s night club. At least this way she was getting some exercise. But she knew that part of her hoped that she might succeed in tracking her quarry, ill-advised as that might be. Her instincts were usually spot on when it came to judging people, which served her well in her profession. Severus was obviously an ass, but he also seemed to possess the intelligence necessary to observe what would give a lady pleasure and the self control to give her the time to enjoy it. As impulsive as she knew she was being, she ached to continue what they had started.

She leaned against the wall of one of the dilapidated houses and lit a cigarette.

"Nox" she whispered, and the light at the butt of the cigarette went out, even as she continued to smoke it. The shadows of the building covered the smoke as she watched and listened. She told herself that this would be the last night she'd waste this much time.

As the minutes ticked by, she gradually became aware of a spot between two of the houses a bit up the street from where she was standing. She settled deeper into the shadows, but noticed that there seemed to be quite a few people who wandered up to the spot, and then disappeared. The silence was eerie, and she could have sworn that it was punctuated by the angry shrieks of a woman. Her eyes narrowed and she slowly made her way to a better viewing point across the street. Just as she reached a new length of shadows, her patience was rewarded. She heard a crack that sounded like a wizard Apparating from somewhere close. A few seconds later, Severus swept into view, cape billowing like giant bat wings. Her eyes narrowed as he approached that same spot between the houses, but she could not see exactly when he disappeared. She crossed casually to the spot. She could almost smell the magic, but she doubted she would be able to break whatever spell was in place. Instead, she followed Severus’s trail to the alley from which he had emerged. Grinning, she realized that it was the same alley where they had had their first meeting. Moving like a cat, she climbed up to a fire-escape and lit another cigarette. The magic spot up the street somehow slipped from her mind and she settled in to watch and wait. ****** Severus was in a very black mood as he swept out of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. He'd taken his anger out on all of the members of the Order and felt a bit gratified that he had put a few of them out of temper as well. Since his interrupted tryst of the previous week, he felt rather at the end of his rope. Tasting the promise in Miranda’s lips had lit a fire in his blood that had been long dormant. He was like a starving man given a crumb of bread--his hunger was harder to bear after the tease of the morsel. He tried to tell himself he was probably fortunate that they had been interrupted. She had seemed relatively honest, but how could he really be sure that she wasn’t playing some other game? As much as he hated teaching, he really would be glad when he had his duties at Hogwarts again to distract him. He turned into his usual alley to Apparate back to Spinner's End and felt, rather than heard, someone drop to the ground behind him. He whirled around, wand drawn, and found that he held it pointed at Miranda Rose's lovely neck. "Oh, that's right," she said with a note of laughter in her quiet voice, "you're jumpy." "You are fortunate I didn't kill you," he snapped, wand still at her neck. What the hell was she doing here? "You're right," she said, more seriously than before. "Stupid of me. It must be the moonlight. Do you think you could point that thing somewhere else?" He lowered his wand very slowly and demanded, "What are you doing here?" "Waiting for you. Hey!" she snapped, temper rising as his wand returned to her throat. "What do you think you're doing?" "Who are you working for?” His voice was soft, smooth, and dangerous. There was no possible way she was waiting for him for any good purpose. Wasn’t there a saying somewhere about not trusting beautiful women? "I told you before. I work for my father. His name is Conor Rose. You can check my story at the Ministry of Magic if you don't believe me. Now put that wand away before I get angry." "I don't think so. Why are you waiting for me?” She raised her chin in defiance and said irritably, "Well, if you must know, I was hoping that you weren't dead." "Obviously I am not. Why should you care?" He was sneering at her and her face had turned so red that he could tell that she was blushing, even in the shadows. He relaxed his wand a fraction of an inch and arched an eyebrow as he waited for her answer. Blushes and brazenness, what an interesting combination. Despite her blush, she met his eyes boldly. "I thought that we could pick up where we left off before we were so rudely interrupted." "Did you?" He dragged out those words as though he were tasting them. Very slowly, she brought up a hand and placed it over his. Just as slowly, she stepped closer to him, pinning his wand, and their hands, between them. She turned her face up to his, and murmured, "I suppose I'm being a bit forward, but I hoped you wouldn't mind."

His hand was brushing the curve of her breast where she had it pinned. If he were honest, he'd spent a good deal of the last week imagining what that curve would feel like under his fingers. He raised his free hand and traced her lower lip with his thumb. Her lips parted slightly and this was rather more temptation than he cared to resist. He leaned in to taste those lips and they were warm, yielding, and eager. Vanquished, he slid his fingers over her cheek and buried them in her thick hair, knocking pins asunder as he did.

A few moments later, he became aware that the moonlight was much brighter than it had been. He opened his eyes and saw that they were standing on that same country lane as they had been the previous week. "Homing Spell," she reminded him quietly. "I suppose I wanted to come," he replied, smirking. It was a much more pleasant way to travel than Apparation or port-keys. The cabin wavered into view and he finally pocketed his wand. She started up the path and he followed silently behind her. When she reached the door, she turned, a little smile on her face. “You don’t have any appointments tonight, do you?” she asked. “Nothing planned,” he replied, suddenly hyperaware of the skin on his arm around the Dark Mark. It felt raw for a moment, but the Mark remained quiet for once. “Good.” She opened the door and entered the cabin, removing pins from her hair as she went. He closed the door after them and stood near it, eyes glittering as he watched her. When she reached one of the shelves, she turned and held his gaze as she released her hair from the pins, one lock at a time. She put the pins on the shelf and ran her fingers though the waves of silver, smiling at him invitingly. He crossed the room to her, took a lock of her hair, and wrapped it around his hand. It wasn’t red hair, but it would do. He brushed her lips with his, and then trailed them over her jaw to her throat. She let out a delicious little sound somewhere between a sigh and a moan.

She wasn’t Lily, but she would do.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and her body moulded to his.

This wasn’t love, but it would do. It would do very nicely, indeed.

-------------------

End Notes:

One of my favorite things about this story is the opportunity to imagine what sort of a magic and American would do. The Homing Spell is one that is particularly useful throughout the tale. This is a spell that is put on one specific place by one specific person. It enables the person to return to the place by picturing it in her mind, relaxing, and “stepping sideways,” sort of the way one enters the Land of Oz (but not quite). The spell caster can bring another person with her, assuming that person wishes to go, as relaxation is key to the spell working. The spell also keeps the place hidden from anyone the caster doesn’t wish to see it. There is a limit to how far away from the place a person can be and have the spell still work, and you can’t perform the spell from anywhere that is warded to prevent Apparation. I’ll write more about my American spells as they come up.

Masterpost+

<< Chapter Three+

Chapter Five+ >>

[zodiac-queens]

The Zodiac Signs’ Deeply Buried Truths and Dreams

To understand a zodiac sign’s motives, you must understand the workings of their mind and heart. Dreams and ideals can help to grasp their patterns of behaviour which would otherwise be inexplicable to us. 

*use sun, moon or dominant sign

The Fire Signs (Aries, Leo & Sagittarius)

A fire sign’s fantasy world begins where the fairytale book ends. It’s a realm of romance and myth. In fact, the fiery signs mythologize everyday-life to a large extent and transform their reality into a stage where everybody plays their part. Their fantasies can be quite black and white, full of clichés and old and well-known tales. When their lives lack drama, they simply project their brilliantly colorful dreams onto the people or situations in their surrounding. They can not stand the grey dullness of the emprical world and their minds are the best escape.

Aries The Aries’ fantasies are of a quite chivalric nature as, deep down, they are knights in shining armor looking for a noble cause or a damsel in distress. For them the Age of Courtly Love is not over and they live according to the rules of the Round Table or the Order of the Garter as their dreams revolve around honour, loyalty and praise. Aries needs adventure, a lost cause to participate in, a war to fight, a heart to win back, otherwise they grow cold and experience psychic indigestion.

Leo Leos love to create myths and stories concerning their self. They are highly idealistic and envision a world where good is purely good and bad is purely bad - they don’t really see grey shadows or the subtleties of human nature. The lion wants to be the hero or the heroine, anyone really who is respected, looked up to and appreciated. Their dreams are full of romanticism and love they pour into their beloved subjects/children/objects of affection and about the tenderness they receive in return. 

Sagittarius Like their arrows, Sagittarius’ visions are aimed at some distant future or a faraway possibility. In the centaur’s dreams nothing has limits and their abilities and possible journeys are endless. It’s hard for them to cope with people telling them that something is impossible because they strongly believe that every goal can be reached, no matter how absurd it sounds. What really drives a Sagittarius are unexplored paths, unexplicable mysteries and a sense of anticipation that lingers in the air. Because of that boundless realm in their head, the centaur understands that life is meaningful and that everything teaches a lesson and encourages growth but the light of their visions can rarely be transformed into reality. 

The Earth Sings (Taurus, Virgo & Capricorn)

The fantastic and uncomprehensible world exists for Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn as well but unlike the fire signs, earth signs tend to not recognize it as a part of their actual life but as something supernatural. They are terribly afraid of disorder which is why most of them will opress their imagination and dreams rather than embrace them. And while they know almost everything about the world surrounding them, spirituality and fantasy have the potential for them to come to terms with their inner self. They probably really need and want to retreat in a realm of dreams but they often feel too occupied with everyday-life and therefore guilty “wasting” their time drowning in fantasy. 

Taurus Taurus needs to escape into a world of beauty from time to time. When the reality is too cold or things just do not seem to work out, they like to drown in things which are exquisite and beautiful, either physically or with their mind. If they can’t have their real piece of luxury they like to think about times when they will or had and just generally knowing about all the art in the world, like paintings, music or good food keeps them going. They are one of the most sceptic signs and the ones who value the known and reliable most, so it is most likely that their dreams revolve around something they can actually capture with their senses.

Virgo Virgos are quite romantic and imaginative souls but they are not idealistic like most of the water and air signs. Their minds are neatly and orderly arranged knowledge gained through quiet observing and silent curiosity. Their oftentimes cold or brusque exterior is a protection for the possible gunshots reality could take at them. Their safe haven is a mind that has a resolution for every situation, where every thing is coloured and structured in its realest, most detailed form to shut out all dangers from outside. Virgos wish the world were a more equal and better place but they have to protect themselves before they can help others.

Capricorn Achievement to Capricorn is what romance is to the fire signs. Without goals and challenges, a Capricorn can grow cold and be thrown headfirst into depression because this unfriendly world can not offer him meaning anymore. The most mysterious of the earth signs, known as ambitious, working and plodding, is a magician, a chaser of mysteries in disguise. A true Capricorn knows how to make peace with the earth, and, in the end, all their hard labour is just a steppingstone to a more profound, reflected and introspective side to their nature. Once they have learned how to live in this world, they can use their newly found freedom to pursue their love of the mysteries, which, for them, revolve around all the energies that govern life.

The Air Signs (Gemini, Libra & Aquarius)

Air signs are the children amongst the zodiac and there is no one quite so familiar with the existence of wonders like a child. They have an incredible emotional depth and are incurable romantic at heart. Every emotional experience they make is profound and meaningful and immediately valued as one with an idealistic outcome. Gemini, Libra and Aquarius lack a certain worldliness because they seem to understand nearly everything. But all the mysteries and secrets of the world can only be understood by them when matched with a correlating system like religion or occult. They need to understand in order to be sane which is why some mysteries (the truly inexplicable ones) will never cease to fascinate but scare them.

Gemini A true Gemini is an eternal child. The world will never cease to overwhelm and amaze them and they will make it their life-long mission to gather broad and comprehensive knowledge about it. Geminis learn for the sole delight of self-taught wisdom and quenching that unbearable thirst that seems to be part of their nature. In-depth analyses are something you will not ever see a Gemini make because there is so much the universe can still teach and they simply have no time to think about something for too long. So it is no suprise that the twins are the least introspective of the signs, the vast pool of wonders around them is more important than sitting down and thinking about one’s own motives.

Libra A Libra’s life is seen through a tinted glass that shows all the bauty it can contain. Like the true children of Venus that they are, Libras seek the Beautiful, the Good and the True and their dreams revolve around a world in which every being has their perfectly fitting counterpart and ordinary life is lifted to idealistic heights. Most of them feel like a part of them is missing and will never stop believing in finding perfection in form of a worthy companion, fulfilling job or just general happiness. Their quest for the Good and Beautiful can seem like hollow flattery to the more sceptic signs like Capricorn and Scorpio but dreamers will appreciate their efforts to preserve fantasies rather than destroy them with a brutal truth that is rarely ever absolute anyways.

Aquarius Aquarius’ ideals mean everything to them and they would gladly give their life for the realization of their dream about universal love, equality, a brighter future. Without the ideas of an Aquarius, no real progress can take place, like their symbol the Waterbearer they offer the water of life to humanity. Their dreams are their ideals and their ideals are their reality. But while Aquarians always have an inept sense of the big picture, they lack comprehension for the personal and that makes it incredibly difficult for them to not only be humanitarian but also a fearlessly feeling human.

The Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio & Pisces)

To the water signs everything is motivated by feeling as they move in the world with instinct, at home with what is irrational and inexplicable. Their reality is made entirely from what they feel and they subconciously assign an emotion to literally everything. Their own world contains a whole universe of dreams and fantasies and they mean so much to them because they are stuffed with profound truths that are part of a water sign’s core personality. They oppose the logical and rational values of our time and the processes of the intellect which are typically assigned to the air signs. They speak the language of the heart or  gut (which is a water sign’s most powerful tool).

Cancer Like their symbol the crab, Cancers’ home is the border between earth and water.They need the security of dry land like commitment, promises and truths but they also feel a strong pull towards the depths of the ocean of imagination. Their dreams and longings oftentimes revolve around stability, being needed and loved and the emotional subtleties underlying their fantasies are important for a Cancer’s personal and introspective growth. But individuals born under this sign are painfully self-protective, so do not expect them to talk to you about their secret longings and even if they do, be aware of them not telling you the whole truth. 

Scorpio While the element of air is idealistic, water signs are more realistic and especially Scorpios know that ideals are important but life is different. They are as sensitive as their watery companions and possess the same emotional awareness but they can not afford romance because they are painfully aware of the human nature not only being great but also very animalistic and vicious. No other sign understands the shadows of being human as good as Scorpio and no one accepts and embraces the darkness as willingly. After all, there is nothing else to do. What really drives this sign is the will to make something of themselves as they want to find the profound truth of their being.

Pisces Pisces is the true sign of the mystic and they desperately need and are aware of another reality, a magical, elusive world which makes ordinary life meaningless. A lot of people born under the fishes are deeply religious (not necessary in an orthodox way) as they hold on to practices that are concerned with a side of life that is uncomprehensible, vast and profound. Unlike their watery fellows, Pisces’ sensitivity and deep wisdom about the futility of human behaviour is focused more outward and people with this sign are generally not as concerned with their own well-being and more focused on the hapiness of those around them.

[thehbcunation]

#Repost @mrjasonowilson • • • • • It's great to be a compassionate leader, but it's a great weakness to be an emotionally unstable one. I could have chosen any day to release my book but I chose MLK day. There are countless attributes I admire about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but his ability to not let his emotions control him in the face of hate is one I desire to master as a leader. If you know body language, you can see King was indignant by this reporter’s inept question. However, instead of yelling, he channeled his anger in order to articulate truth in such a way, that it could only bring conviction. Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for fearlessly leading in the spirit of power, love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs5167sH1E5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=etf4wi5ns3g0

[songwriting-analysis]

So the 19th Century had its own William Hung! I’m surprised to see that so-bad-it’s-good art was appreciated when culture was more uniform and people were far less deferential about their beliefs. I guess our rapid technological progress makes it easy to overestimate how much different we are from our predecessors on a human level. Our baser instincts still find ways to outshine our virtues and the scar tissue of worldly cynicism dictates that we should laugh sardonically at the effervescent enthusiasm of the inept.

Living after modernist/post-modernist poetry and rap music, McGonagall’s metrical errors are far less offensive than they probably were to his contemporaries but there’s still something humorously tone deaf about how mechanically he invokes construction practices while commemorating a tragedy in “The Tay Bridge Disaster”:   

“I must now conclude my lay

By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay

That your central girders would not have given way,

At least many sensible men do say,

Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,

At least many sensible men confesses,

For the stronger we our houses do build,

The less chance we have of being killed.”

[deathtouch]

⋆ femfeb day 5 // my femfeb masterpost ⋆ xposted to ao3 ⋆ mei/symmetra // 3k // general audience ⋆ adventure, holding hands, kissing ⋆ mei and satya scale a cliffside to retrieve some valuable data (thanks to @5idestuff for the suggestion!!)

To The Top

“It’s a little scary.” Mei said softly. “Like a ghost story.”

Lena burst into a sharp fit of laughter. “Mei-Ling! That’s not a ghost story!”

Satya was glad they were facing each other and speaking to one another. She was a few seats down from them at the table and from her vantage point she could listen to the conversation unfold perfectly without necessarily needing to be part of it. She liked listening to Mei speak. Her voice was gentle and sweet.

Though Mei often spoke about her work, it wasn’t a constant stream of climatology. Some other teammates could use a lesson in diverse topics of conversation. It was nice when Mei brought up the things she was passionate about, though. The timbre of her voice changed. It was like a little buzz of excitement running through her. Satya could sense it when it happened. It was charming to see her get lost in the intricacies of her profession.

“A little!” She insisted, not backing down in the face of Lena’s laughter. “Think of all the research that could be sitting up there, just waiting for someone to find it. The work site might be abandoned, but the work itself shouldn’t be lost.”

Mei had regaled them with the tale of a nearby research facility located on one of the many islands that dotted Ilios’ shores. Apparently years back there had been a team of researchers busily collecting weather pattern data when a tsunami crashed through. Boats were wrecked, lives were lost, and a great rock structure that had been standing on the little island for years had crumbled away in the relentless waves. Now the half wrecked research site sat atop a lonely peak with no path up.

Mei had gone out for a long walk along the harbor just last night to look for the island in the distance. It was clear how badly she wanted to go. From Satya’s understanding there really was no way to scale the rocky hillside that the research facility was located on. Even if Mei was an experienced mountain climber, which she wasn't, it was still dangerous terrain. It’s not like there was a magic set of stairs that could take her straight to the top… not yet, at least.

“You’re right.” Satya spoke up.

Mei and Lena both glanced at her. They had probably forgotten she was there at all with how quiet she’d been until now.

“I would be happy to accompany you in order to retrieve the data.” She added, straightening her back a little as she spoke.

Mei blinked at her for a second before smiling sadly. “There’s no way up the hillside.” She said.

Satya offered up her open palm. The tech of her arm whirred as she created a perfect model of a staircase in glowing blue hard-light. It was tiny in comparison to what they would need to climb an island peak, but it was a clear indication of what she had in mind. In truth a set of stairs might not even work, and she would have to build something else to help create a path up to the research facility. It was worth it to try, though. Wasn’t it?

Mei gasped. “Satya!” She rose from her chair and bounded towards Satya in big strides. At once her arms were around Satya’s slender shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. “You’re brilliant!” +++

Satya regretted her decision not to bring sunglasses. The mid-morning sun was sparkling over the cool blue ocean. Everywhere she looked bright light glinted up at her. Even Mei herself was a glitter of light, in a completely different way. She didn’t have much in the way of warm weather clothing. She looked a little silly in her blue pants and pale tank top. Satya herself had opted for athletic leggings and a nice tunic, a switch up from her usual sari. They certainly didn’t look like two women about to scale a dangerous island cliff but that was precisely what they intended to do.

Their team knew where they were headed. Lena offered to follow them to the shore and watch for them across the water. Mei and Satya decided against it. They didn’t know how long it would take to reach the summit and it was unnecessary to keep someone waiting for them. If they needed help they would contact the base. Angela packed up a medkit for them, just in case of an accident, and sent them off with plenty of warnings about being safe.

A fisherman down at the harbor offered to take them over to the island in his boat. He didn’t even ask for anything in return. He had nets to check in that area and he was happy to ferry them along. It took some of circling of the small island before he found a good place to dock the boat. There were some craggy rocks to navigate in the water but eventually they found a flat topped rock that the fisherman could pull up to. Satya held Mei’s hand and helped her step atop the rock. It was just big enough for the two of them and when Mei had her footing she helped Satya up as well. They waved the fisherman off with their thanks and both turned to stare at the rising peak. It wasn’t so tall, maybe six or seven stories at its highest. The island itself was about as big around as a soccer pitch or two. Up at the very top a precarious looking building, no bigger than a one room house, sat among the ridged peaks of rock.

It was easy to see which parts of island had been knocked away by the tsunami. Satya could imagine a slope with natural footholds to climb, making it a pleasure hike up to the top building and then back down to the sea. It must have been easy to come and go to the research center. Now it would be a challenge. A challenge she was happy to face. She took in the entire shape of the rising landmass with a critical eye, looking for the best places to ascend.

The very first thing she did was create a footbridge with a wave of her fingers. It connected the flat topped rock they stood on to the base of the island. It was a simple, glowing blue plank. She could have finessed something architecturally beautiful, a miniature version of the Golden Gate or Sydney Harbor bridge. She didn’t bother. It would take a little longer, require more effort, and needed more concentration. Getting to the top was their goal, not creating art.

Satya held Mei’s hand and they walked across together, helping one another to balance. The hard-light tech was sturdy and stable under their feet. If they fell here, it would only mean a dip in the water. Not pleasant, no, but not fatal. It was when they started climbing up high that they would need to be especially careful. At the end of the bridge Satya squinted around, trying to find the next place to step. If they could find a stable rock with a good platform surface, she wouldn’t even need to create a foothold for them. It not, she would improvise.

“This way.” Mei said happily, cherry picking her steps as she found a path among the rocks. +++

Mei didn’t seem particularly athletic. She was a scientist after all. Not to mention she had a thick layer of adorable fat that likely kept her warm in all the frozen places she used to travel to for research. That being said, she held her own. In battle she could keep step with even the fastest member of Overwatch. She never lagged behind or held anyone up. She often used ice walls to elevate herself to dangerous rooftops and she never seemed to have trouble navigating those. Satya knew she wasn’t weak or inept. Seeing her fearlessly lead the way up a mountain side was incredible though. Mei was always surprising her in little ways.

Satya actually enjoyed the work of it herself. It was a fantastic mental exercise. It reminded her of some of the harder training she’d been put through back at Vishkar. None of the simulated tests or civil engineering she’d done under the watchful eyes of her instructors were quite as complicated or complex as this. It was hard, but rewarding. Every time she looked back and saw how high they were climbing, Satya felt even more proud of herself. Blue chunks of hard light dotted the cliff side. Some parts were bluer than others. They often found natural stepping places which made their patchwork path all the more interesting.

The sun was hot overhead but neither of them minded. Their minds were busy elsewhere. Mei’s dark bangs were sticking to her forehead but she didn’t seem to notice. If Satya wasn’t using her hands to create a new bridge or platform to walk on, she was holding onto Mei. They had no illusions about their safety. They took their time, slowly making their way, careful not to miss a step or fall.

They were close to reaching their goal. The building was more near than ever. The terrain actually seemed a little more stable up near the top of the peak. There were still sharp spires of rock that jutted towards the sky but there was also plenty of flat surface at the top of the ridge too. Enough flat surface for a building to be built up here, and enough for Mei and Satya to walk with a little ease.

Even with the ground steady they held on to one another, hand in hand. +++

The little research building was made of wood. It reminded Satya of the squat life guard offices she had seen built on wooden stilts that dotted the shorelines in America. There was no wooden stilt frame here, but the texture of the wood was the same. The outer walls had been battered by wind and rain and maybe even lapped at by especially large waves. The paint had chipped away. This place certainly was abandoned.

Sun bleached tech sat on the flat roof of the structure. Little satellite dishes pointed in different directions, a massive circular Doppler radar, other things Satya couldn't properly recognize. Some of the tech seemed to be holding up better than others.

Mei went for the front door. It was locked, but the wood frame was rotten and moldering. All it took was a good push and the frame splintered open. There were no windows to the structure and so when the door fell open, it showed a single room of darkness.

'It's a little scary,' Mei had said at the table the other night. 'Like a ghost story'. Well, she was right. Either she wasn't afraid of ghosts or she really wanted that data because she entered fearlessly. Satya followed.

Being out of the sun provided an instant coolness. It took a long moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the room. It was musty and stank of rotting wood inside but it bearable. The one room building was surprisingly cramped inside, packed full to the brim with different computers and monitoring equipment. All of it was decades old, it would be a miracle if any of it still worked.

"All this stuff." Mei said sadly. "Just left behind."

She went to a nearby computer and tried to switch it on. It didn't work. Her disappointment was so palpable it made Satya's heart ache.

Satya glanced around in the darkened room. She spotted a generator in a back corner on the bottom rung for a sturdy metal shelving unit. She went over to it and knelt down curiously. It took a moment for her to make sense of the controls but she found out how to turn it on easily enough. As soon as she did the room came to life, computers turning on, screens lighting up, different monitoring equipment whirring.

Mei lit up. "Ah! Satya! Thank you!" Her glasses began to glow with the light of the screen in front of her. She made an excited noise and began clacking away at the keyboard as soon as the computer had finished booting up.

Satya went to stand by her side. She too peered at the screen. The operating system was foreign ancient to her. Mei seemed to be in the same boat. She clicked around somewhat cluelessly. She didn't seem to know what she was doing or what she was looking for.

It was only a lucky guess but Satya pointed to a curious looking icon on the screen. "Try this." She suggested.

Mei clicked on it.

Different windows began to populate, one after the other after the other. They were marked with dates and times in the upper corner. The rest of the information was a mess to Satya. Mei, however, cried out with delight.

"It's here!" She said happily. "It's all here!"

Before she could stop herself she turned to Satya and grabbed her by the cheeks. Mei pulled her in close and planted a kiss right on her mouth. It was full of excitement and gratefulness. A congratulations and a thank you at the same time. Mei didn't even seem to notice what she'd done. She went right back to the computer, clicking through the unearthed data. She babbled on about how long the equipment had gone on recording after the tsunami, how long the generator must have lasted before kicking it, how much information they had.

Satya blinked slow, the words washing over her. She still could taste Mei's lips, rich and delicious like cherries. She couldn't believe that had just happened. Her heart was thudding happily her chest. She wished they were still outside because then she could blame the hot sun for the way her face flushed.

Satya watched as Mei stuck a trusty thumb drive into the port and began copying the information she wanted. She was buzzing with excitement, a glitter of energy in the dark of the room. She was so beautiful when it came to the thing she was most passionate about. +++

The trip down the hillside was a little quicker than going up. They didn't need to carve of create a path out of the rocks, they need only retrace their footsteps. This was a little easier said than done. In the places where there were no hard-light bridges or footholds they had to refind natural stepping places.

Mei was a bundle of energy. She had checked every computer and every device for any information they could find before leaving. They probably spent more time in that stuffy little room than they had climbing to get up there. Satya wasn't complaining, though. It had been nice to retire from the hot sun for a little while.

Their fisherman friend had seen them making their way back down the side of the island peak. He had sailed over to meet them when they finally reached sea level. His little boat was filled with his catch for the day. Satya tried not to be too obvious about holding her nose but the smell wasn't particularly nice. Mei beamed and regaled the fisherman with the heroic story of their ascent. She talked about starting up the computer like it was uncovering a treasure chest. It made the short trip to the harbor bearable to hear her happy speaking voice.

Back at the base she scurried off to find Winston. She had hopes that he could help parse through the raw data she had found. Satya wished her good luck before departing to find a shower.

It was almost three days until she saw Mei again. By then the entire team had heard the fantastic story of their adventure. It probably sounded much more exciting than it actually had been. Mei had a way of talking about these things and becoming utterly captivating with her storytelling. Either that, or Satya was just easily captivated by Mei. It was hard to tell.

Everyone around the base was talking about it. Mei had managed to sweep them up in the whirlwind of her excitement. Everyone was curious about what the uncovered data could mean and how it would help working scientists today. It was all anyone seemed to be thinking about.  Everyone except for Satya. She was curious too, no doubt, but there was one part of a Mei's story she had left out; their kiss. Satya couldn't stop thinking about it; those warm hands on her cheek, the taste of cherries, over before it began. She wondered if Mei even remembered doing it.

They ran into each other again in the hallway. Mei was clearly on her way back from Winston's unofficial office, where she had been squirreled away working tirelessly. She didn't look tired though. She was still buzzing with excitement.

"Satya!" Mei stopped in her tracks. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you."

Satya stopped too, standing in front of Mei. She tucked a long strand of her hair behind her ear, not quite sure what to say.

"I, uh-" a slight blush crossed Mei's face. "I wanted to tell you; I don't know what I would have done without your assistance. Not only did you help me reach the research facility but you knew to turn on the generator and where to click for information."

"Oh." Satya considered for a moment. "It was nothing."

"No!" Mei insisted. "It wasn't nothing. You've done so much for me. I don't know how to thank you."

Satya didn't know either. She didn't feel like she needed any thanks. Making Mei happy, seeing her beam with pride and buzz with excitement was enough. She couldn't think of anything more she wanted. Well, except... maybe...

"How about another kiss?" Satya suggested innocently.

Mei looked up at her, the blush on her face burning brighter.

"If you'd like, that is." Satya quickly added.

Mei's words seem to stick in her throat. Instead she nodded her head gently up and down. Excitement blossomed in Satya's chest. She waited a beat before leaning in and gently pressing their lips together. Mei stood up on the tips of her toes to kiss back. Her lips were just as soft as before, and they still tasted sweet like cherries. There was no urgency now. No underlying messages or themes. Just a kiss, simple and sweet and gentle.

When Satya pulled away her heart was beating faster. Mei's eyes fluttered open and she smiled. "I've been thinking of kissing you ever since it last happened." She admitted sheepishly. "Would you allow me to take you to dinner too? As a thank you?"

Satya smiled and shook her head. "No. But you can take me out to dinner as a date."

That was a much better idea.

[patiusstories]

Battle of the Azure Terror

Based on a recent group encounter last weekend that needed to be written in narrative.

The morning was breaking for the afternoon as the caravan traveled through the road.  Everything was quiet, even for the lazy countryside. However, thoughts remained deep and flustered to recent events; this god and his ‘game’ was becoming known to the entire company now, yet it was still as enigmatic as first heard. Nor was it truly a quiet subject as their intense warrior Farris continued to grumble and brood with another swig to his seemingly endless alcohol.

Even Bo, distant and murderous as he is, was of different mindset under the falling sun. The monstrous gnoll sat on his haunches, looking at nothing in particular as that familiar face continued to pass his mind’s eye. Numbing the Hunger, thinking to the past’s territory. The master before any; powerful, ruthless and teaching. What cruel illusion foul his eye to remind him of his missing Alpha after freedom?

Suddenly the ground tremored that caused the whine of the Dwarves’ horses and Aled’s curious grunt from his ursine maw.

“Um.” The worg rogue Nerrick hummed immediately, his ears perked and head soon too with worried eyes. “What was that?” As if answering, the ground shook again with the disturbing boom of thunder rolling through the very trees. When the sound stroke their ears, the force behind it shook the wagons into a dangerous tilt before slamming back on all four wheels. The company’s wagon by the slightest, even with their forge and combined weight.

‘What was that!?”

As everyone searched from their spots, Bo was the first - in his bloodthirst - to raise to his feet. His remaining ear twitching and ruined nostrils snorting through his helmet’s fanged maw. The air was too thick with an uneasy surge that made his visible fur stand up on ends, he couldn’t place a picture to this smell. Never have he felt such a sensation, but the howling screech of a roar that ripped through the air and the beat of powerful wings.

Not even the most inept of senses could misplace what was coming…

Aled was already on the move, his great shoulders shaking and trying to pull the reins of his charge when a great beast, bigger than a stone house with hide of sinister indigo and belly as sulfuric yellow as a Dwarven coward’s cry, swooped from the growing cloud of debris to the east. All eyes watched in a stunned sensation of imposed horror watched as it sliced through the air. Popping arcs of raw energy collected from its grand horn and between the powerful cavernous maw.

“Drago-” One brave voice tried to give it a name, but instead, it - and the wagon closest to the front was incinerated into oblivion by the very power of storms collecting in one terrifying blast. Leaving nothing but ruin with the few remaining bodies of guards hurled and landed into popping spasms in their prized platemails. The stench of it curled even the gnoll’s jaded nose.

Xathis’ sockets burned the dim lights of firefoxes at the destruction before snapping his steed into action. Finally regaining motion in his body, the werebear hurtled the cart off his shoulders in the motion of transforming into his upright form. His great axe pulled from its home and clawed hands gripped its shaft. “Quick! Get into cover!” He warned with his billowing voice, Farris was already moving his body along the cart. His crossbow drawn out and bolt preparing to be launched.

“No,” The warrior tried to counter, “The trees might catch in the bolts!” Everyone was scrambling between cover and preparation to fight as well. Nerrick searching and calling for something to shoot a projectile with. All the while, Bo was wide-eyed with a hellish cackle of gnollish worry and desire to kill. Unmoving at all to the possibility of dying today, his ripped cloak fluttering to the beating wings of the Blue Dragon in its turnabout.

“Here it comes again!”

As it roared down upon its found prey, the speed of the armored great skeleton and his long-dead stallion was unaccounted for. Its bony limbs revealed its power still held true to hurl them both into the air with a ghastly whinny, Xathis lept into the climax of height. His noble blade drawn in one righteous motion and struck true at the overlapping scales of the beast’s belly. By the time the second passing slash cut a bloodied X to the forced weakspot, the skeletal warrior was forced to obey gravity and landed roughly on his catching steed, galloping away in their own turnabout.

“Are ye mad!?” The caravan leader cried to the galloping knight, but no heroic or crazed remark was given as he returned to fray.

Catching the point made upon the dragon’s scales, Farris took his crossbow to rest upon armored forearm and aimed down its sights. With the squeeze of his trigger and power of his own defiance, the bolt speared itself through the weakened spot that summoned a furious cry from the dragon. The burning sapphires of its eyes searched for the one responsible, only to down its anger upon the closest wagon to the company. The sheer force nearly knocked everyone back as the raining energy destroyed the trapped horses and its commanders. The whole front of the wagon gone in seconds, leaving nothing but burnt ash and the vehicle looped forward.

Nerris quickly dove off the wagon, well aware which vehicle might be next in the dragon’s assaults but Bo remained, the white gnoll under his black platemail lumbered along the Cart-Home’s length. “Bladefist, Rabbit!” He snarled, his blood-red orb of an eye looked back to his loyal lessers. “To cover, away.” Obeying without question, Milbo was chattered in nervous fright with a salute. “R-Right, Mister B-” Instantly shutting the halfling up, Bladefist wrapped his arm around his waist and jumped off the cart when the Blue Dragon flew overhead. Looking up to the darkened sky, Bo curled his right arm’s claws tight as smoke oozed from the gauntlet’s overlaps and shot burning spiked chains from underneath armor and flesh. Wrapping like constrictors and summoning the bony gruesome heads of fiendish flails to serve their bound wielder. Whirling the triplet heads with a winded scream until he got to the front of the cart with one foot stomping the rider’s seat.

Howling out the abyssal words of Yeenoghu’s burning rage, he swung his weapon and three scorching ray-bolts of hellish fire hurled and arced at the passing dragon. The leading projectile passed the skilled airborne beast’s sudden turn, but the maneuver left it open to the attacks burned into its hide. Finally catching the true adversaries to his meager anguish, it turned and suddenly drop onto the ruins of its beautiful destruction.

Ash fluttering and power radiating off its mighty form, even the blood seemed to cause a picture of terrifying aura.

“You dare,” A deep guttural voice snarled in the common tongue, its reptilian - if one could even call it that - face almost created a form of sneer as it stared beyond its snout, “Insignificant worms, crawling on the dirts of ancient earth. With your weapons of lesser metal and stolen magics of gods, fae and daemon claim to affront me?”

Aled did not give the honour of return verbal banter as he roared a cry and swung his weapon in a pouncing lunge. The dragon jerked his head just enough to avoid his wounded breast from being touched, the bearded head running almost like chainmail across its azure scales but the blunt power was noticed with a savage snarl of pained annoyance. A taloned hand reached to swat at the Werebear, but the ancient warrior returned a startling retort to cut its palm and jammed his axe’s other end at the larger wound.

Screaming out loud enough to make the air ripple and earth tremor, the Blue Dragon snapped down like a viper when the axe refused to budge in the bear’s attempt to retreat. Everyone watched in shock watched as those mighty jaw clamped down on one musclebound arm, provoking the first pained holler from the Aled in a long time. However, what came next was the jittering cry of electricity scorching and cooking the werebear’s bleeding limb before the tyrannical beast hurled him aside with ribbons of meat to give the taste of first blood.

“Aled!” Farris cried out, reaching to the shuddering, curled bear as he fought off the sensations with his unwounded arm already trying to reach for his weapon. Sneering with bared teeth, the human fearlessly whirled his greatsword and lept for the dragon in murderous warcry. However, the beast proved far more agile than his bulk gave and lept back into the air. His wings carrying him even higher with a mocking laughter.

“The game is only starting and there will be no pieces to oppose.”

Only to choke at the Human’s howl, “I thought you was a dragon! Come and fight me with honour or are you as scared as you are yellow-bellied!?” A look of distraught reaction passed the dragon’s face, only to have it followed by the Knight, “He is without it, those wings just add to his fat.” A snarling sizzle gathered in the once-confident creature’s maw, after what they just witnessed. They dare mock him!?

“Hey guys!” Another voice said, brokering the beast’s sight on a wolf-like creature wrapped in leather armor. A crooked smile on his muzzle as he laid against the Human’s plated shoulder by the elbow and clawed hand out, “Don’t tease it. It’s only a oversized gecko!”

“Y-You dare…!”

That was enough of unexpected chaos on the dragon’s part to miss a sudden blast of energy striking at his exposed wound. Screaming out again, his body bucked back and nearly broke his wings’ flight, just in time for two resonating punches of dark air to cave the surrounding scales of his wound in.

“Kill you all!” His returning scream as he dived in like a oversized hawk at the Human and wolf first with talons ready to tear them asunder. One clumsy sweep of his bloody claws barely missed Farris in a duck and another slash that Nerrick flipped away from. When the dragon went to clamp his jaws around the warrior’s head, a snarl of annoyance spat from his crackling maw by the insignificant hit at his haunches.  Twisting around, he saw Aled and Xathis.

The dragon spat something vengefully before barrelling on his limbs. His horned head dipped and threw Aled aside again, going straight for Xathis in one savage bite. Barely missed by the knight’s experienced maneuvers, spinning on his heel and struck his sword down on the monster’s neck in a elegant riposte, only to have his blade rake uselessly on the heavily-armored body. In a cruel cackle, the beast sneered, “Your bones will decorate my lair…” and caught his closer arm in a crunching battle.

However, the dragon was surprised by the sheer lack of a bloodcurdling scream...or the lacking of body under the armor but the sudden stop of possibly bone. Releasing in the distracting thought, he was open to the knight suddenly gripping his hilt in both hands and ram his pommel into the open eye. Screaming a hollering roar of genuine pain once, recoiling and clawing at the rippling organ. Enough that Xathis came after him with no hesitation.

Slashing across the snout, the holler and attempted blast of draconic lightning was hindered by a slice across his thick muscle of tongue. Blood spattered. The skeletal knight was a dancing master of his weapon as his unnatural body surged in strike after strike. Hurling into the air as he forced the once-dominant beast in his retreating snaps like a cornered alligator. One lunge when it seemed that a opening was possible, the disoriented and fatally surprised dragon miscalculated and was dodged in a cape-fluttering evasion.

His sword whirling between his hands, Xathis spun and thrusted his blade into the coming dragon’s eye. The momentum couldn’t be stopped, the body plunging its soft spot deeper into the weapon. The other eye was shuddered and looking about in a sudden alien fear, never had it felt  a thing. The pain so explosive that it was numbing, body unable to pull away. Limbs were failing. Mind running like a mad horse. Everything was so vivid yet hazy. His growing power halted and slowly tripped. Again and again. Then fell into the abyss as if all his little years and survival was all for naught. Nothing but weight into the Darkness of Death’s grip. The last thing that functioning eye saw was the clearing blue sky…

The blue dragon’s body collapsed in bloody defeat.

[companionwolf]

Fluffbruary fill #5

@fluffbruary

Prompt: Bonus - birthday

Fandom: XCOM 2; nebulously Fearlessly Inept verse?

Rating: PG

Warnings: N/A

Central has never seen someone cry over cupcakes until today.

The Commander is staring down at the slightly off white open box, mouth parted slightly, blinking tears. Their trembling hands hold a chocolate cupcake-- it's a little small, and the frosting is lumpy, and the XCOM logo is a simple blue fondant piece, but he made them with all the love in his heart.

And by God, is there love in his heart.

"Happy birthday, Commander," he says.

They choke a sniffle and beam at him, lips wavering. "How did you get the ingredients for this?"

"Trading, calling in favors, other things that don't really matter," he answers.

The Commander shakily opens the bottle of white grape juice he brought up with the cupcakes and pours them both drinks. They drink slowly and evenly, and the smile on their face stays all the way through.

"It reminds me of home," they say, and then add in between smaller swallows, "Well, not home, but traditions."

"I understand." The taste hangs on his tongue, sings of simpler times and cornfields and farmer's markets his mother took him to when he was young. He smiles over the rim of his cup at them and takes another drink.

The Commander sets down their cup against their knee and with careful hands picks the cupcake up again They unwrap it and for a moment they just sit and stare at the dessert in their hands, new tears in their eyes.

Central finishes his drink and looks at them, smiles disappearing into worry. "Commander?"

"No, it's okay, I'm okay." They gingerly bite into the cupcake, as if it's going to dissolve into the air, as if it's a bomb primed to explode. Then there is a long sigh, their eyes are closed in bliss, and the rest of the cupcake is gone in moments after.

"Holy shit, that is a baller cupcake."

Central turns his head away to hide the fact that he blushes. "You flatter me, Commander," he says, reaching for one of his own.

"It's true," they say. "They're good. They're really fucking good. Holy shit. How did you get chocolate." It's less a question and more a exhalation of euphoria.

They grab another and this one is eaten quickly and somewhat messily; the Commander comes away with frosting on their nose. Central shifts his own half eaten cupcake to one hand and reaches over to wipe their nose with the other.

They blink at his touch, and then smile; a somewhat sticky, crumb covered finger gently presses his nose back

"Boop," they murmur.

"Boop," he repeats, returning the gesture. They laugh, smiling ever wider as they wipe the debris from around their mouth and tears from their cheeks with the back of their wrist.

The Commander pulls a third cupcake from the box and offers it wordlessly to him. Once he's swallowed the last of his first and takes the new one, they shut the box and gently place it into the ice chest by the foot of the bed, putting the grape juice with it.

He's gingerly eating the edge of the cupcake as the Commander lays their head in his lap, eyes shut.

With a free hand Central tousles their hair and then shifts to gently running his fingers through it, massaging against their scalp, and they sigh happily.

"I love you," they say, and the words are half muffled into his thigh. They shuffle, until they are on their back, looking up at him with eyes full of adoration.

"I love you," they repeat.

"I love you too," Central says, popping the last piece of his cupcake into his mouth and then leaning forward to touch their nose with his own. Then he picks them up under their shoulders and hugs them back first to his chest. They lay their cheek against his breast, ear over his heart.

"Happy birthday," he says softly.

"Only because of you," they answer, snuggling closer to him.

"Again with the flattering."

"No, again with the truth."

"I'm so glad you're back, Commander."

"I'm so glad you came and got me, Central. I love you."

"I love you too."

[yancyism]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gregory Yancy (@yancyism)

Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr.'s Eloquence & Pose was amazing. There are countless attributes I admire about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but his ability to not allow his emotions to control him in the face of hate is one I desire to master as a leader. If you have studied body language, in this interview you can see that Dr. King was indignant by this reporter’s inept question. However, instead of yelling, he channeled his anger in order to articulate truth in such a way, that it could only bring conviction. Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for fearlessly leading in the spirit of power, love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). #MLK #MLKDay (at St. Louis, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7i9eSTh52W/?igshid=1umyl3466jif6

[anthonybialy]

Historical Forgetfulness

I'm trying to remember the line about what happens to those who forget history. Could you repeat it? The maxim about what happened is one of countless information pieces readily available and discarded by modern folks too smart to care what plagued the past. Defying what we've learned shows we're fearlessly heading into the future. Sure, such heedless dashing will lead to agony again. Thank those stubborn fools who won't pay attention to what happens when we put everyone's money in a pile. But it beats knowing we're about to hurt.

The only thing progressives know about history is their beliefs confirm it. That much confidence doesn't need evidence. Those committed to bringing back the 1930s remain dedicated to claiming they're on the timeline's right side. It's a sure sign of modesty. Many contemporary braggarts should only be flaunting the countless reasons they have to be humble. But the Instagram Era is renowned for putting glowing perception ahead of filthy reality. In political terms, claiming socialism means helping others is the Clarendon filter with 100 lux.

The fervent certainty of correctness is especially obnoxious from people so consistently and predictably incorrect. The penchant for balancing factual obliviousness with sanctimony is making our time especially prosperous. Who needs evidence when you're convinced your feelings make life precious?

The future will feature whatever bit of lunacy is fashionable for the moment. Regardless of what the ironically intolerant claim is, know you're not permitted to disagree, hater. Men who think they're women must be allowed to use the latter's restrooms, so at least we know that remains our time's foremost moral crusade. Meanwhile, be careful while noting humans are born this way. The claim is fine if you're discussing homosexuality and monstrous if you're announcing genders can't be changed like outfits.

Those leading the charge into the future don't understand why fools were escaping in the wrong direction over the Berlin Wall. The steadfast refusal to engage in economic warfare means we're losing the war against poverty. We can't just let combatants battle by earning more. People earning different amounts is the moral crisis of our time. Sure, taking money to help everyone hurts everyone, but it's crucial to ensure nobody commits an atrocity like creating value.

Stop being selfish and give me what's yours. Sure, the real moral affront is taking from those presumed to thieve because they earned more. At least an ironically greedy government is inept about squandering. Tearing down the rich to build up the rest has been a failure every time it's been tried. These are the most consistent results possible. And you say commerce isn't scientific.

Collectivization means you personally won't have to toil. Now, that helps. Punishing advancement hurts us all, and we should be glad for equality. It's not as if we get a choice by law. You can always tell when something's a good idea by how nobody will do it without coercion.

The modern socialist claims nobody should be poor in a country as rich as ours. Yeah, the reason our country's so rich is because we don't treat property as collective. We would change same richness quite quickly by giving away fortunes. Also, individuals are wealthy, not the collective. And they're going to quit doing things like create value if their work's reward is shared. I can't believe those who despise unregulated markets don't grasp cause and effect. Our prideful pinko friends think their ideas are fresh.

Why don't you want tomorrow to happen? Sure, letting life expire would mean environmentalists would go extinct. But there'd be disadvantages, too. Claim the is planet melting, or freezing, or just at the wrong temperature. Remember to ignore how histrionics about our planet's murder have been peddled for half a century. We're all supposed to have drowned or melted by now. Climate models are as consistently wrong as socialized medicine, which is no coincidence. It's hard to control all variables in experiment that's literally Earth-sized, if you can believe. But you can't find compassion in a lab.

A lecture about what's destined to come next usually comes from someone who forgot what they tweeted over lunch. Who cares about documentation? Things like the Constitution were written by white geezer dudes, and we can ignore their ideas on hoary ideas like natural rights because they were racist sexists.

Claim that caring supersedes trifling concerns about mathematics. It's sure to affect number-crunching. Those who are sure ideas painfully discredited in the 20thcentury will lead us into the future are so convinced about history that they don't even need to study it. I wish I could muster such certainty.

[albievillamor-blog]

Youth activism in the context of social media

Almost all people in all parts of the world already have social media accounts. And you, my reader is pretty aware of that. In fact, it has become part of your daily activities. From knowing the kind of trendy outfits for the day up to checking in on our friends on Facebook and Twitter even if they are miles away, we hold our hands out for its help. We now in the area where communication is within arm’s reach, enabling us to know everything.And it’s all thanks to Social Media.

Social Media gave us a new way to explore the world, transcend its cultural barriers, and create a smooth flow of communication from all walks of life notwithstanding the distance. For a country like the Philippines known as the social media capital of the world, it is just imperative that youth use its wonders in the best possible ways.

Social Media already became an aid in the pursuit of age and let our voices be heard. Through one push or click, we already propagate what we think and feel about the issues that confront our country to educate our audience to be able to forward our sentiments not just for raising awareness but also for tapping those concerned to get their acts together to perform their tasks to easeour country’s the dire situation.

Facebook, the most-widely used social networking sites, has lately become a fireball as a great upsurge of the youth taps its access with which they can put forth change. Youth think, encode, and fearlessly post their train of thoughts that spur debates leading to people’s enlightenment of the issues that press our nation. Though some people post views irrelevant to discussions, it is nevertheless important that we each recognize this phenomenon, foiling the thoughts of seating-back and keeping our mouth shut. This became more evident during the nationwide election we had last May.

In fact, social networking sites were used by some politicians to have further their popularity among the netizens. Former Miriam Defensor-Santiago proved this so. With her three million Facebook followers, she used social media for her campaign, less focusing on traditional media like radio, newspapers, and television. Furthermore, the Duterte supporters have admittedly tapped its power to raise Digong’s popularity after he announced his presidential bid. It is reported that a Facebook group was created with millions of followers to embolden netizens to back his presidential bid, just like what Santiago did.And see, he won the presidency!

Not only was it used for campaign, but also for igniting the people to converge and fight the injustices we all face. In 2012, a post from Facebook about the constitutionality of Priority Development Assistant Fund (Pork Barrel) went viral starting a nationwide protest held in Luneta where thousands of people particularly youth from all over the Philippines converged and carried banners expressing their dissent and grievances against it. It was during this protest where the youngsters expressed their concern over the corruption committed by some politicians who used the Pork Barrel for their own purpose by coursing it through the bogus NGO’s managed by Janet Napoles, the known Pork Barrel queen.

When our government turns up inefficient with its objectives and plans, we react on Facebook and show our righteous indignation, lambasting politicians who are inept and frivolous with their position. When it showers on success we basked in the joy in social media, clearly making it a platform to let others know our elation. With all this, it is just honest of me to say that if you do not know the advantages brought by the social media, then you are living under a large rock. 

So why don’t we make a full use in its usage anyway?

Social Media is a free market of liberalized communication where engagements are easily committed, no one killing the flow of the ideas in the cyberspace. In this conduit of free expression, this enables the timid to speak up, the oppressed to be heard, and activism to take rightful levitation. This enables us to see the real situation of people who we don’t know but need our help due to repression.

For instance, netizens were able to raise the awareness of the plight of Lumad, the people of Mindanao, whose rights are exploited and education is killed. People of the internet also created consciousness regarding the state of our IPI’s and knocked the doors of government to help them, creating noises too loud to be drowned out by government itself.

With these amenities, youth should take these advantages that social media has put into the table with serious frame of mind.

I believe that social media should be a platform for intellectual discourses and not for vanities which only promote wanton lifestyle toleration that erodes our function of changing the society for the sake of the present and next generation. In this way, we work hard to create a future society far different from what we have now --- a clear indication of our sense of nationalism.

We should strongly utilize our social media accounts not only to get in touch with those we’re concerned with, but also to tell the tales of the voiceless and marginalized to educate our family, friends, and acquaintances. So, instead of sitting and browsing through our Facebook and Twitter feeds the whole day, why not set a time to scour through sites delineating the pity state of the masses?; it will surely encourage others to do something to lessen their awful conditions in any way.

Imagine if each of us cares and does causes to attenuate our countries dire condition with proper use of social media, this would be a much safer and ideal place to live in. People will be more informed, more aware of trolls spreading wrong information, and can be vigilant of the national concerns.

We have to act mature now. Lately, it has been proven that the youth is a powerbase of change as they attempt to grillunproductive governments, criticize imbecile discourses, and forward strong spirit for collective change. As millennials, we can’t dwell in our comfort zones so we have to go out, engage, and use social media the right way.

Let us, youth be activists in social media. Who knows? This might lead to our country’s firmer change.

[companionwolf]

'Is fearlessly inept your kin tag?' No that's my crack/comfort verse, but it also isn't like. A selfship verse either.

[companionwolf]

Cabbage, elegant, and hammock!

With careful fingers and precious seeds, right from the Arctic apocalypse vault somehow still unearthed and undisturbed, Bradford and the Commander have begun a garden out back of the house they moved into at the end of the war.

Said House was his work, all by hand and furnished with items stolen or bartered for or ‘borrowed’. Said garden is full of hardy vegetables: beans and kale and cabbage, mostly, and when Bradford visits it at the heat of the day, he finds the Commander napping amongst the sprouts, cheek against the planter’s wood frame.

Bradford gingerly steps through the rows to them, stares down at their slumbering form. They look almost elegant in a way, curled up snug to the planter with a beam of sun illuminating their skin, sending notes of dust and pollen swirling around them like some kind of glitter.

He absently wonders if glitter still exists somewhere as he sits in the edge of the planter next to them. Their breaths are soft, even, not the chaotic panic they are sometimes when he is woken in the night to them clinging to his body slick with sweat and with fear.

“You’re going to get a crick in your neck,” Bradford murmurs quietly to them. Right then, he decides to make a hammock.

Sure, he’s got no idea how but it can’t be any harder then building a home- they’ve fought two wars to get here, a hammock should be a piece of cake.

There are two trees at the far end of their backyard, where the grass gets longer and more wild, where their property becomes possibility and wilderness. Bradford jogs back into the house and grabs a blanket from its draped position on the couch and comes back out, where he ties both ends of the blanket to the ties and forms a pocket of fabric between them.

Bradford tests it first, and thanks himself for doing that as the hammock breaks under him. A tighter tie at both ends, and another test— it holds this time. Good. The Commander weighs much less then him, it should be fine.

Bradford eases them up, careful to make sure they’re still sleeping as he carries them across the distance to the hammock. Gently he sets them down into it; for a moment he fears it will break and he will have to explain himself to a bemused and grass covered Commander, but it holds, even as they shifts in their sleep.

He stands there, watching their chest rise and fall, and feels warmth erupt in his own heart. Twenty years of searching and occupation had all but beaten even the slightest idea he would ever get this from his head. He had been ready for so much less, had all but settled for so much less…

But here they are, him leaning against a tree and the Commander sleeping soundly in the hammock, with the garden growing and Earth freed.Bradford isn’t sure if he’s ever been happier.