#finding your tribe

[xtrablak674]

Finding Your Tribe

Initially I had come across the image during my morning Tumblr'ing, and as I was wont to do I was doing a reverse image search to find a higher quality version of the image. I mean if I am going to download smut, better have a good-looking version of said smut. During my search I had come across the young man's Twitter account and prayed to my goddess that I wouldn't have to scroll long to get to the image I was looking for.

The thing about scrolling through someone's social media is you get a sense of the person, even if it's a highly curated and polished version. Its the version that they would like the world to see. One thing that became immediately apparent to me is that this curly-haired light-eyed sort of middling looking young man had found his tribe.

His "friends", because I am not sure what the kids are calling them these days, especially when the lines between plutonic and sexual were so clearly blurred, were clearly of the same tribe. Young people and others who had similar sexual interest and also loved documenting their merry-making in photographs, gifs and videos. Celebrating their lust and loves in a very public fashion. It had me very curious what these misfits did for work, because clearly they didn't care that their faces with dick in mouth were on very open display for all to see.

I could map the similar aesthetic between them, artsy but alternative, definitely not the main-stream gays that colour places like Chelsea but the on-the-edge queers who would exist in places like Bushwick barely boarding on being hipsters but divergent enough to be their own sub-genre of gay. Whereas a Manhattan gay may brag about wearing Prada and Louis Vuitton these ones would thrive in a new piece thrifted at L Train Vintage, never caring for those luxury brands but finding solace in their grandfather's old boots or jacket, paired with their grandma's pearls.

After watching the twelfth episode of Tracker last night where Colter finally met up with his wayward and possibly murderous older brother Russell, this made me think of the last time I had a tribe to speak of. And it would be back when my mom was still alive and I lived with my two younger siblings. It was the only time in my life I had a true connection to someone else around me, and albeit after her passing and our separation I would never truly find anything remotely the same.

In college I had a "crew" of sort largely based around the terraces where I lived my freshman year at this private college in upstate New York. They were gay, like I was at the time, some were lower-class like I thought I was, and would only later find out I was actually middle-class. None were of color, which then made me a novelty of sorts. I recall quite often being quizzed about how to use the language these upper-class queers had just learned from Jennie Livingston's infamous documentary Paris is Burning.

Ms. Trevor how do I say FIERCE? And what exactly is shade? Girl, teach me how to vogue! I mean I did my best to hobble together bits an pieces from my short-lived foray in the queer culture of New York City, which I had only really begin to explore the peaks of in my last two years in high school right in the middle of Manhattan. But this didn't feel exactly like my tribe, I seemed to be torn between allegiance to the HEOP Black kids on campus and the LGBT queer kids, not totally fitting in with either because of either class, orientation, how I preformed gender or how I performed race.

Post-college I continued the activism I had started moving into HIV/AIDS education through GMHC. Joining their youth program which was made up of primarily of other post-college kids but unlike upstate was more diverse having more woman, Black and people of color in its ranks. I can say I felt a connection to these young people as we tried our best to educate others our age and younger about how to navigate the complexities of trying to stay safe while being a young queer.

I have always had very mixed feelings about work relationships and albeit there are some people I met at my first advertising agency job that I would connect with an be friends with years after I left that company. I am not sure any of those relationship had a tribal feel to them.

My next significant connections would be to small or micro-business owners I had associated with through a non-profit that was out to help us with micro-loans. I was never really interested in the loans having long had an aversion to debt, but I did like the fellowship with the mostly Black business owners and using my own brand design business to help these folks out, at least with the visual aspects of their own brands.

But like all things that passed too.

The last fifteen years I have been a loner, most of my friendships drifting a part for one reason or another. I even stopped dating and then sexual relations too. It is a popular platitude to say to young people that you will find your tribe, I just haven't found that to be true. It has felt like all throughout my life I have had to partition pieces of myself to be accepted in certain areas. Even my fifteen year stay on Flickr seemed to be primarily based on folks sexual desires towards me, not really seeing me as a whole but just parts of a whole.

At this point I have let it all go, and find solace and comfort in my own company or in having parasocial relationships with the characters in my comics, books or television shows. If a tribe is a thing, its a thing that has always eluded me, maybe my not being able to compromise my values to 'group think' and allow folks to make me feel less than I am has not allowed me to assimilate into a group dynamic. Maybe my strong sense of self and moral aptitude and not ever being one to succumb to peer pressure or other ill-conceived notions has left me adrift. I am not sure I will ever understand how to be a part of a group.

My nephew was talking to me last week about this group chat, and I thought I have never been in anyone group anything. Even my attempts to start them have failed, like the group I created on Facebook for my fellow grand jury members. I thought we had an amazing eighteen month together, but I think afterwards we became the strangers that we were before. This has been the rhythm of my life since my mom died and I truly don't think it will ever change, and curiously I am okay with that.

Albeit our society loves to preach about how important relationships with others are I have found I think the most important relationship you can have is one with yourself, one unbound by pretense, pretensions and falsehoods. One unencumbered by expectations, animosity and aggression. One that lies in seeing who you are and appreciating all aspect of whom that person is and what they bring to the table never asking them to select which pieces are the most suitable for acceptance. But embracing, loving and encouraging them to come as they are and be welcomed.

[Photo by Brown Estate]

[megamagimugi]

I felt this in my soul.

I guess the second one just hasn't happened for me yet. Maybe except for some online spaces and communities, but I think it's important to also find your people IRL.

Which can be hard.

rare vent art from a few months ago

[curried-mermaid]

A Review: Soara and the House of Monsters Vol. 1

Author: Hidenori Yamaji Illustrator: Hidenori Yamaji Publishers: Seven Seas Entertainment Age Group: Teen Genre: Fantasy Type: Manga

Content Warnings: Prejudice, verbal abuse, trauma

Spoilers ahead

Plot

Soara is a young orphan girl who was raised by knights and trained to fight against marauding monsters. By the time Soara is old enough to join the fray, her blade is no longer needed, as peace has been declared with monsters. Searching for a new calling, Soara stumbles upon Kirik the dwarf, Architect of the Monster World. Suddenly, instead of fighting monsters, Soara finds herself working alongside Kirik to build comfortable homes for Monsterkind! In the course of her new career, will Soara find a home for herself? 

Character Development

Soara, our young orphan girl, has been verbally abused and told she’s worthless which is why the soldiers have taken her in. They made her a weapon of war…but there is no longer a war. With her only purpose now taken away, she leaves human society to find her place. She just didn’t know it would be with Demi-humans and monsters. In unfamiliar territory, she tries to cling to her training. She goes through some quick growth from prejudice against monsters to seeing them in a different light. Having never had a home to call her own, she can understand monsters wanting their own. 

Kirik, the great architect of the monster world, is cocky, creative, a good listener, and wise. From the little interaction he and Soara first have he pegs her as prejudiced, without a home of her own, and needing a different viewpoint to heal. He invites her to join them in making houses for monsters because he can see she’d be good at it. This conclusion comes after she one shots the ice to bring a volcano back to life so the goblins can have heated floors. 

The other two main characters Gansho and Niko are hard-working, anticipate Kirik’s needs, and are comedy relief. They’re banter and wit are what makes this series light hearted and fun. 

World-building

The world-building in this is really awesome. We get to see the before and after for the different houses. The artist breaks them down so we can see what changes there are. There’s a lot of lore that goes into building each house. With the goblin house, Kirik chooses a type of wood called spring wood that makes it impossible to fall and get hurt. On top of that, it also has moss that grows on it that’ll eat all the bones and stuff the goblins don’t eat. No more bone piles! 

There are many other things that like this during the home construction of various monsters that make the world-building in this series awesome. 

Themes

Finding your tribe/home may just be where you least expect it. I say this is the overarching theme of this series. Everyone deserves a home that’s comfortable for them. Soara has never had a home and helps build monster homes. She starts to overcome her prejudice and all the brainwashing she experienced growing up. 

Observations & Predictions

One of the biggest things I dislike about this series is it claims it’s for teenagers but it reiterates things that can easily be inferred. I’m not talking about things that would improve the storytelling but distract from it because it’s things that are very obvious such as Soara going with Kirik and the other dwarves to help build houses. We don’t need narration about that. In fact, I’d argue that by having the narration in this series it drops the age range to pre-teen.

Another thing that I dislike about the first installment of this series is that after the goblin house, all the construction projects go by a lot faster. There’s not enough emotional development for Soara. I say this because we do get some but it seems like she’s making greater strides overcoming everything without the audience having the payoff of watching her grow. This is a problem if the storyline focuses around Soara and finding her own version of home. 

Recommendations

Watch for a special edition on the second installment!

 Other feel-good series to try: 

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess By: Yoshino Fumikawa

Coral’s Reef By: David Lumsdon

One Piece By: Eiichiro Oda

[pennyinpaige]

Hello and Good Rising!

The sun so far has been hopeful and positive, but my mother worries like the shadow side of the moon. The night fills her head with worst case scenarios and she speaks of fear and anxiety throughout the day but the sun helps me bloom. The love I have for the world is defined within my soul but from those who don't understand worry for my well-being. They're scared I will get lost, stolen, or be in the depths of despair as I travel through and live on all the lands. As my heart yearns for many eyes to be made visible towards the interconnection through all human beings, my mind is tapped into the essence of my purpose. My heart transcends through knowledge of cultures, living through every one else's everyday life, observing their minds and listening gracefully. Analyzing where they are at mentally and emotionally and connecting that to their physicality.

I feel pulled to understand and guide. Ask questions that can open their mind. Their perception of themselves that maybe they didn't see before as they can offer me likewise. Through watching my surroundings and touching the earth underneath their feet, my mind expands further intensifying the love stimulated from it's full capacity. Sleeping under the same moon but within their home. Seeing and feeling something other than what my country owns. Pushing me to transcend in ways I couldn't if I decided to stay. So I leave and keep my every day at bay.

I don't leave often for I am not running from anything but rather running to everything. I'll arrive back home and sit under the sun next to my tree. I'll arrive back home and let the moon paint my face and answer my minds plea. I come back to the place where I always sleep to collect my thoughts and reestablish all forms of humanity, indefinite information that was made available to me. I pull the time of the past and fill my body with it temporarily. Let it caress my body and fee my soul presently. It energizes my gratuity and reflects all the memories. This is what guides me to the next lead, transcending my spirituality.

With birds that fly high and butterflies that migrate; Fish that swim in deep oceans and ants that create their paths; I am nature. Through fears or ambition, I trust the wings the Universe gave to me. I trust the light my Angels use to guide me. I trust my Ancestors and the courage they give me. I trust God for he is inside all of us and I am nourished. I feed, water, and listen to him and he grows inside me.

My mothers shadows skew her view of my souls power. The quest of my purpose in life that I choose to endure rises concern from a familial love but perhaps showcases a deep seed that's rooted into a lack of trust. I will ease generational fear by being an example of what is possible when you truly let go. When you relax your hands and quiet your mind, you hear everything, you see everything. Let me show them the starred footprints I'll leave behind, as they are not scared for me but perhaps scared of what they couldn't be.

Water Yourself & Blessed Be

Peace

[thecineaste]

Three for the Ages

Today I want to tell you about three very special people who enlighten our lives in different ways. They are Scott Sayre, Greg Gerritsen, and Valerie Wilson, all members of the 500K Marketing Group that meets each Wednesday evening on Zoom. Scott leads the group. A Renaissance man, he is an author, a chef, a healer, and a teacher. In his spare time, he has written and polished his screenplays…

[pwrn51]

Finding A Home in Stories: A Journey in Storytelling

  Betsy Wurzel recently had the pleasure of chatting with David Alfaro Serrano on her show, and their conversation was a journey in itself. David’s story is quite remarkable: originally from Peru, he wandered through various South American countries before finding his way to the United States in 2013. While pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics, David stumbled upon something unexpected –…

[simplymwanza]

3 Lessons I've Learned

Learning lessons doesn’t mean that you’re helpless, it just means you’re human and man is to error by default. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Here are three truths that made me a better version of me: 1. Today’s autopilot could become tomorrow’s life sentence. Yeah, that one stung. I realized I was sleepwalking through life, making choices by default, not design. When you realize…

[ljpriest]

The Power of Art

Lately art has been my go-to place for happiness. The other weekend, I drove an hour’s distance to attend a class on working with felt. I expected a small room with about maybe six elderly ladies sitting around, gossiping about the latest religious event. Instead, what I found was a thriving, dynamic group of about thirty plus people, of all ages and backgrounds. I arrived late and was greeted…

[edwardgdunn]

Farewell, Toxic Ties: How to Build Happiness By Finding Your Tribe

Introduction

Friendships are an essential aspect of human life, providing support, companionship, and joy. While forming connections with others is a natural part of our social existence, not all friendships are created equal. The quality of our friendships can significantly impact our overall happiness and well-being. In this blog post, we will explore the significance of being friends with people who share your core values and how these relationships can bring more happiness into your life. We’ll also delve into the potential problems of socializing with those who do not share your core values and offer insights on disconnecting from such relationships. Lastly, we will discuss effective ways to find and nurture friendships with individuals who align with your core values.

The Importance of Core Values in Friendships

Core values represent the fundamental principles and beliefs that guide our decisions and actions. These values shape our identities and serve as the compass for how we navigate life. When we build friendships with people who share our core values, a profound sense of understanding and mutual respect is fostered, laying a strong foundation for lasting and meaningful connections.

Being friends with like-minded individuals offers numerous benefits for our overall happiness and well-being. Here are a few ways in which shared core values contribute to enriching friendships:

a. Authenticity: Friends who share your core values are more likely to appreciate and accept you for who you genuinely are. There’s no need to put on a facade or pretend to be someone you’re not, fostering an authentic and fulfilling friendship. When you share your values with your friends, you create a safe space where vulnerability is welcomed, and you can open up without fear of judgment.

b. Common Ground: Shared values create common ground for conversation and activities, making it easier to bond over shared interests, goals, and beliefs. Engaging in activities that resonate with your core values can lead to meaningful experiences and create lasting memories.

c. Emotional Support: When facing challenges or seeking advice, friends who share your core values are better equipped to provide meaningful support, as they understand your perspectives and motivations. They can offer valuable insights and encouragement during difficult times, helping you navigate through life’s obstacles.

d. Reduced Conflict: Differences in core values can lead to disagreements and misunderstandings. By surrounding yourself with like-minded friends, you can minimize the potential for unnecessary conflicts. This creates a positive and harmonious atmosphere within the friendship.

The Problems with Socializing with People who Differ in Core Values

While diversity in friendships can broaden our perspectives, socializing with individuals who hold vastly different core values can sometimes lead to challenges and emotional distress. Here are some problems you might encounter when befriending those with conflicting values:

a. Lack of Understanding: Divergent core values can create a communication barrier, leading to misunderstandings and difficulty relating to each other’s experiences. This lack of understanding can create friction and tension within the friendship.

b. Emotional Drain: Constantly engaging with people whose values clash with yours can be emotionally draining and may leave you feeling unfulfilled or unsupported. The constant struggle to find common ground can take a toll on your emotional well-being.

c. Inner Conflict: Being friends with individuals who have conflicting values might cause internal conflicts, as you may feel torn between staying true to yourself and compromising your beliefs to maintain the friendship. This internal struggle can lead to feelings of discomfort and dissatisfaction.

d. Limited Growth: Surrounding yourself with people who challenge your core values can hinder personal growth and prevent you from fully embracing your authentic self. In such friendships, you may feel the need to suppress certain aspects of your personality, hindering your personal development.

Disconnecting from People with Conflicting Core Values

Recognizing when it’s time to disconnect from friends whose core values clash with yours is crucial for your emotional well-being. While ending friendships can be challenging, it can also be an empowering act of self-care. Here are some steps to consider:

a. Reflect on Values: Take time to reflect on your core values and assess how they align with those of your friends. Be honest with yourself about whether these relationships support your personal growth and happiness.

b. Communicate Openly: If the friendship is essential to you, consider having an open and honest conversation with your friend about your differing values. Communication might lead to mutual understanding or pave the way for a more balanced friendship.

c. Gradual Disengagement: If the differences are irreconcilable, gradually disengage from the friendship. Slowly reduce the time and energy you invest in the relationship to ease the emotional impact for both parties.

d. Seek Support: Reach out to other friends who share your core values for emotional support during this process. Having a supportive network will help you navigate this transition with greater ease.

Finding People who Share Your Core Values

Seeking out individuals who align with your core values can open the door to more fulfilling friendships and a happier social life. Here are some practical ways to find like-minded friends:

a. Join Interest-Based Communities: Engage in activities or hobbies that resonate with your core values. Join clubs, meetups, or online communities centered around these interests, where you’re likely to encounter individuals who share your passion. For instance, if environmental conservation is a core value for you, consider joining a local eco-friendly group.

b. Volunteer and Give Back: Participating in volunteer work or charitable events attracts people who value giving back to society, creating opportunities for meaningful connections. Volunteering not only helps you meet like-minded individuals but also allows you to make a positive impact on your community.

c. Attend Workshops and Seminars: Attend workshops and seminars related to personal growth and self-development. These events often draw people with similar aspirations and values. Engaging in such settings can lead to enriching conversations and potential friendships.

d. Utilize Social Media: Platforms like Facebook and Meetup allow you to find groups and events tailored to your interests and values, providing a virtual space to connect with like-minded individuals. Engage in online discussions and forums to interact with potential friends who share your core values.

Cultivating Friendships with Shared Core Values

Once you’ve found potential friends who share your core values, nurturing these connections is vital to developing meaningful and lasting friendships:

a. Be Authentic: Be true to yourself and let your values guide your actions. Authenticity is key to building trust and fostering deeper connections. Share your experiences, thoughts, and feelings openly with your friends, and encourage them to do the same.

b. Listen Actively: Practice active listening to understand your friends’ perspectives and experiences better. Respectful and empathetic listening strengthens the bond between friends and fosters a sense of emotional intimacy.

c. Support Each Other: Offer support and encouragement during both joyful moments and challenging times. Being there for your friends fosters a sense of reciprocity and trust. Celebrate their successes and be a pillar of strength during their hardships.

d. Embrace Differences: While shared core values form the foundation of your friendship, embrace the differences that exist between you and your friends. Embracing diversity enriches the friendship and encourages personal growth. Be open to learning from one another and expanding your horizons.

Conclusion

The quality of our friendships significantly influences our happiness and well-being. Building connections with people who share our core values provides a profound sense of understanding and authenticity. On the other hand, socializing with individuals whose values differ from our own can lead to emotional strain and conflict. Recognizing when to disconnect from such relationships is essential for our personal growth and happiness. Seeking out friends who share our core values empowers us to build meaningful and fulfilling connections. Through common interests, active listening, and mutual support, we can cultivate lasting friendships that enrich our lives and contribute to our overall happiness. Embrace the power of shared values in friendships, and watch as your social circle flourishes with authentic and supportive relationships.

Remember, the journey to finding genuine connections might take time, but the happiness and fulfillment gained are well worth the effort. So, go forth, be open, and build the friendships that will bring you joy and contentment for a lifetime. Surround yourself with friends who not only understand and accept your core values but also encourage you to be the best version of yourself. Embrace the richness of diverse perspectives while cherishing the bonds you share with those who align with your values. Together, you and your like-minded friends can create a powerful support network that sustains you through life’s highs and lows. Happy friend-finding and nurturing!

Check out the Happiness 2.0 Podcast — https://podcast.edwardgdunn.com/

Happiness 2.0 Blog — https://edwardgdunn.com/blog

[womenrockinglife]

The Joy of Thriving Sisterhood: Respected, Listened to, and Celebrated.

Introduction:

In a world where relationships play a vital role in our lives, the bonds we form with others often transcend bloodlines. One such powerful bond is sisterhood—an extraordinary connection built on mutual respect, active listening, and genuine celebration. Being a part of a thriving sisterhood means finding individuals who embrace and support you, creating a space where you can share your heart without judgment. In this blog, we explore the numerous reasons why being a part of such a sisterhood is truly remarkable and the impact it can have on our lives.

Mutual Respect:

One of the foundational aspects of a thriving sisterhood is the presence of mutual respect. Within this sacred circle, each individual is valued for their unique perspectives, experiences, and strengths. Respecting one another means recognizing the inherent worth of each member and fostering an environment where everyone feels safe and supported. In a sisterhood grounded in respect, we are free to express ourselves authentically, knowing that our thoughts and opinions matter.

Active Listening:

A vital ingredient for any meaningful relationship is active listening—a skill that thrives within a sisterhood. Being heard and understood without judgment is a priceless gift. In a thriving sisterhood, members genuinely listen to one another, offering support, empathy, and advice when needed. Through active listening, we validate each other's experiences, providing comfort and reassurance in times of joy or struggle. Knowing that our words and emotions are valued fosters a deep sense of connection and belonging.

Genuine Celebration:

In a thriving sisterhood, celebrations are not only reserved for special occasions but become a way of life. Each member's successes, achievements, and milestones are cherished and honored. Whether it's a small victory or a significant accomplishment, the sisterhood comes together to celebrate and uplift one another. This culture of celebration creates an environment that fosters growth, confidence, and a sense of collective pride. When you have sisters who genuinely celebrate your victories, life becomes even more meaningful and fulfilling.

Unconditional Love:

The beauty of sisterhood lies in the fact that it transcends the boundaries of blood relations. Sisters are those who choose to love, support, and stand by you, regardless of biological ties. In a thriving sisterhood, love flows freely, unconditionally, and abundantly. This love encompasses acceptance, forgiveness, and unwavering support through the highs and lows of life. It is a love that gives us the courage to be vulnerable, knowing that we will be embraced and cherished.

Time Well Spent:

Being part of a thriving sisterhood means having a circle of individuals who genuinely want to spend time with you. It is a sisterhood that understands the value of shared experiences, laughter, and making memories together. Whether it's engaging in meaningful conversations, embarking on adventures, or simply enjoying each other's company, time spent with sisters becomes a treasured gift. The bonds forged within a thriving sisterhood create lifelong connections that bring joy and enrich our lives in countless ways.

Remember:

A thriving sisterhood is a remarkable testament to the power of chosen relationships and the impact they have on our lives. Within this sacred circle, respect, active listening, celebration, unconditional love, and quality time are cherished values. The support and connection found in sisterhood provide a safe haven where we can be our true selves, knowing that we are respected, listened to, and celebrated. Let us embrace the beauty of thriving sisterhood and cherish the incredible bonds that make life more vibrant, meaningful, and fulfilling.

Pastor Dorothy May Ross

Facebook Community

It’s a girls thing

[happytakes]

2023.05.29 | Have you found your own tribe?

"A community can serve as a social safety net, but finding one and becoming a part of it is different from simply making friends."

[muffinlance]

Wait, what’s going on with Embers???? That fic has been on my read later list since 2021, what’s happened with it???

Brief overview, then I'm likely never touching this topic again, because this is not a Drama Blog:

Context: Embers is a super old AtLA fic that was written during the early fandom days, read widely at the time, and was the origin of the widely-used fanon name of "Wani" for Zuko's ship (kind of by default that it was one of the first popular fics to give his ship a name, I think?), even though most fic writers don't seem to realize it's from there anymore.

"What's Going On": I used to include a link in all my stories to it, because I believe in crediting other writers for borrowed elements, and I was using "Wani" in all my fics. But BOY did I not want to be sending readers that way anymore, so I've adopted a new name for Zuko's ship, and removed all Embers links.

None of the criticisms about Embers itself are new; I'm assuming they date back to when the fic was being written, because this isn't an "it aged badly" thing, this is an "actually yeah this gets worse the longer you think about it and I shouldn't have ignored my bad feelings just because some of the worldbuilding was interesting" thing.

An Incomplete List of Why I Made the Change:

I don't actually like the story that much anymore, and don't want to rec it

I tried to re-read it recently to see if some things were as bad as I remembered and it turns out they were So Much Worse Oh Yikes. More specifically, the treatment of Katara and Aang and their respective cultures has... rather a lot going on. One example: The Fire Nation and Air Nomads are both given multiple backstory elements in an attempt to make the average Fire Nation soldier's participation in the genocide/war in large part the fault of the Avatar and the Air Nomads themselves, and also fully justified from the Fire Nation perspective. And I do mean fully. One of its core tenants is "People from the Fire Nation (and only people from the Fire Nation) who don't follow orders Literally Die, therefore murdering pacifists and babies and continuing the war (and their regularly scheduled war crimes) is the only thing it is physically possible for them to do". I cannot emphasize enough how literal that is.

Also the name "Wani" means "Alligator" and is... objectively a pretty lame name for Zuko's ship? Where's the personality, where's the deeper meaning, where's the resonance with Zuko's themes? @tuktukpodfics initially thought I was calling the ship "Wanyi", and that's what I've switched to, because it is Objectively So Much Better. In their words: “Wànyī (萬一): Literally ‘one in ten thousand,’ ‘perchance.’ Used grammatically in Chinese to mean ‘what if’ or ‘just in case.’ I think a ship called ‘The Perchance’ is perfect for a boy clinging to false hope.”

TL:DR; I don't rec Embers anymore, because I don't actually like the story anymore, and there are things about it that get worse the more I think on them. I've removed links to it and renamed Zuko's ship to "Wanyi" ("The Perchance") because our boy deserves a ship name that reflects his character arc.

[visionsofaselfmademan]

[thecineaste]

Progress, Progress

The Montecito II is beginning to rise against the windows of my former apartment of 23 years and I am now gazing out my many new windows at the variegated Hollywood Hills from a higher floor. I call my new digs the David Kearse Atelier. The view from my atelier And from it I create blogs, record podcasts and write novels and screenplays. Currently, I am writing a Romantic Novel (bisexual)…

[wickedcriminal]

But the winds will still blow when I am no longer here. The storms will still rage, and the forces of Empire and oppression, be they Roman or otherwise, will still be waiting at the corners of the ocean. The fight goes on for the Heroes of the Future.

Third day of Doomsday! ☠️