#for some the term is interchangeable

[starry-bi-sky]

how do you clone a fey? that's trick question; and fey love those!

@the-navistar-carol (<333) brought up a good point while I was talking about my changeling danny au with her -- Dani! How would she exist in this au? Danny's a changeling - a fae. How would Dani, a clone of him, be created? How do you make a fey? Not through any means that Vlad is doing; you can't make a fey through unnatural means, considering the Fair Folk are nature. And Vlad's not a fey himself -- he's a halfa, even if he could make a fey, it's not in his best interest too. He's a powerful ghost, but even the weakest fae can overpower the strongest ghost. He won't want a clone of Daniel to be more powerful than him.

(In a three tier hierarchy it goes Ancients -> Fae/Mythos -> Ghosts. They all live in the Infinite Realms, but on different Planes. The fae live above the Ghost Zone in the Fey Wild, while the Mythos live beside the Wilds or down in the ghost zone depending on where they are. Places like the Frozone, the Athens Acropolis, and other such large islands climb throughout all three Planes.)

(While Ghosts can travel into the Fey Wild, its generally advised against as the ectoplasm tends to manifest differently there due to close contact magic. It can make it rather disorientating for a ghost, and as human spirits, the Fae living there would jump them faster than they could blink. So unless you're willing to play mind games with 'steal thy name eat thy face' fae, most ghosts keep out of the way of the Wilds. Fey can travel down into the Ghost Zone, they just don't bother.)

That's of course, not taking into account if Vlad even knows Danny's a fae himself. Vlad doesn't ring me as someone who really cares much about ghost culture or the going ons of the GZ. He might be aware that fae exist, but the moment he realizes he can't use them for personal gain he just doesn't bother with them. The risk is greater than the reward, and he'd rather not get eaten. But lets assume he's aware by now that Danny is fey, and has to take that into account while cloning him.

So, how does Dani exist? Good question! Honestly; i'm not sure. She might not exist at all, or if she does, she's more halfa than fey. Vlad would need a lot of human dna and ectoplasm to balance out all that fae magic. He manages to steal DNA from Jack and Maddie to do it, and since Jack's fey ancestry is very dormant its much easier to use alongside Danny's DNA.

In turn, it results in a little girl whose more human-ghost hybrid than clone. With that little extra boost in fey magic making her not a fey, but still relatively powerful. Dani is less of a clone and more of a lab-grown little sister. It's a rather tedious, complex process that has Vlad tearing his hair out trying to figure out. But he does eventually figure it out.

[a-polite-melody]

I’ve seen this “anti-transmasculinity theory is rooted in Black feminism while transandrophobia isn’t” pop up a few times lately. Where is that coming from? And why do people think trying another word, even one supposedly backed up by something, is going to change how people are viewing the conversation, as if we haven’t tried that before?

[lunamay3]

I’m aromantic because I don’t experience sexual attraction. And I’m asexual because I don’t experience romantic attraction.

Anyone who has an issue with that can just deal.

[princessponies]

Tagging what region you're from is not necessary but feel free to.

[rxttenfish]

dont get me wrong, i hate the trend of villain backstory movies and shit just as much as anyone else, but i swear i have yet to see anyone talk about them and why theyre bad that doesnt just default to "some people are just ontologically evil and trying to understand why evil happens or what justification leads people to evil actions, let alone treating those who do evil acts as people as much as anyone else, is a farce and evil people are just subhuman who must be punished for it."

like. have you considered maybe its just that theyre bad because theyre continually bloating old IPs instead of taking risks on new ones, and weakening what came before for it. maybe we can go for this as an explanation, that its messy storytelling driven from profit, before we start going for "theres simply a class of people who are evil and whom you, dear viewer, will Never Be, Assuredly."

[dullanyan]

(this poll is mostly about wheat-based pasta/noodles, but it can be including egg or rice or bean, etc noodles if you want!)

i know it can depend on the dish you want it for in some cases, but for the sake of the poll lets just go with your most preferred texture!

[zerohallows]

Task 11 — The Comment Section: Write ten comments your character has left around the Internet.

Featuring Aspen & Skye Hallows

[kaurwreck]

That's not how war crimes work. Fukuzawa was not a combatant or within any command structure. War crimes are also instruments of international law— Fukuzawa assassinated only Japanese leaders.

Mori, meanwhile, was committing unusual acts of torture on members of his own unit. He didn't commit any war crimes within the jurisdiction of international law necessarily, assuming he didn't do the same to foreign combatants or civilians, but framing him as a doctor who "served in the military" to contrast his behavior with Fukuzawa's assassinations is narratively dishonest.

(I'm also not sure how any of it is bizarre— Mori was weapons trafficking as an underground doctor, and the Agency is extrajudicial by design.)

Yeah it’s bizarre the Port Mafia is ran by a Doctor, albeit an underground one and the Agency by a former assassin. But I find it so much funnier to recall that Mori served in the military while Fukuzawa was off committing war crimes.

[darkandstormydolls]

PSA to all historical fiction/fantasy writers:

A SEAMSTRESS, in a historical sense, is someone whose job is sewing. Just sewing. The main skill involved here is going to be putting the needle into an out of the fabric. They’re usually considered unskilled workers, because everyone can sew, right? (Note: yes, just about everyone could sew historically. And I mean everyone.) They’re usually going to be making either clothes that aren’t fitted (like shirts or shifts or petticoats) or things more along the lines of linens (bedsheets, handkerchiefs, napkins, ect.). Now, a decent number of people would make these things at home, especially in more rural areas, since they don’t take a ton of practice, but they’re also often available ready-made so it’s not an uncommon job. Nowadays it just means someone whose job is to sew things in general, but this was not the case historically. Calling a dressmaker a seamstress would be like asking a portrait painter to paint your house

A DRESSMAKER (or mantua maker before the early 1800s) makes clothing though the skill of draping (which is when you don’t use as many patterns and more drape the fabric over the person’s body to fit it and pin from there (although they did start using more patterns in the early 19th century). They’re usually going to work exclusively for women, since menswear is rarely made through this method (could be different in a fantasy world though). Sometimes you also see them called “gown makers”, especially if they were men (like tailors advertising that that could do both. Mantua-maker was a very feminized term, like seamstress. You wouldn’t really call a man that historically). This is a pretty new trade; it only really sprung up in the later 1600s, when the mantua dress came into fashion (hence the name).

TAILORS make clothing by using the method of patterning: they take measurements and use those measurements to draw out a 2D pattern that is then sewed up into the 3D item of clothing (unlike the dressmakers, who drape the item as a 3D piece of clothing originally). They usually did menswear, but also plenty of pieces of womenswear, especially things made similarly to menswear: riding habits, overcoats, the like. Before the dressmaking trade split off (for very interesting reason I suggest looking into. Basically new fashion required new methods that tailors thought were beneath them), tailors made everyone’s clothes. And also it was not uncommon for them to alter clothes (dressmakers did this too). Staymakers are a sort of subsect of tailors that made corsets or stays (which are made with tailoring methods but most of the time in urban areas a staymaker could find enough work so just do stays, although most tailors could and would make them).

Tailors and dressmakers are both skilled workers. Those aren’t skills that most people could do at home. Fitted things like dresses and jackets and things would probably be made professionally and for the wearer even by the working class (with some exceptions of course). Making all clothes at home didn’t really become a thing until the mid Victorian era.

And then of course there are other trades that involve the skill of sewing, such as millinery (not just hats, historically they did all kinds of women’s accessories), trimming for hatmaking (putting on the hat and and binding and things), glovemaking (self explanatory) and such.

TLDR: seamstress, dressmaker, and tailor are three very different jobs with different skills and levels of prestige. Don’t use them interchangeably and for the love of all that is holy please don’t call someone a seamstress when they’re a dressmaker

[doomvoidjelly]

people can be aromantic and not asexual. People can be asexual and not aromantic. Holy shit I wish people didn’t use those terms interchangeably.

this applies to real life, of course, but I see people in fandom do this all the time. A character can be aromantic coded and not asexual coded and vis versa. not every aspec coded character is aroace and I wish more people recognized that some characters are better read as aroallo

[sabertoothwalrus]

some of you have to get a lot better at not reblogging stolen artwork.

Even if it's credited, that doesn't rule out if art has been posted without permission, which is REALLY important nowadays with the rise of AI. If you claim to be against AI because it steals from artists, then you can't be ok with regular old art theft.

Personally, the main reason *I* don't like my art getting reposted is because I lose control over what happens to it. People are less likely to find the links to my store (and right now, every purchase counts), someone else might steal and it repost it somewhere else, and on top of that, now I have to worry about my art getting AI scraped because someone uploaded to some other website.

Sure, plenty of artists are ok with reposts. but for the time being, I think it's safer to avoid reblogging artwork that wasn't posted by the artist themself.

(and an obligatory reminder for those who aren't aware: "reblogging" is the built-in way to share art on tumblr, and a "repost" is uploading the artwork onto an entirely new post. these terms are NOT interchangeable.)

[headspace-hotel]

The idea of Pleistocene rewilding, even though it annoys the hell out of me, is so interesting in what it implies about ecosystems.

If we accept that North America's ecosystems are "incomplete" or "impoverished" because of the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna, that implies there is a "complete" state of ecosystems. In the absolute sense, of course ecosystems don't ever have a "complete" state, but is it possible for an ecosystem to be relatively incomplete? What does that even mean?

Could an "incomplete" state of an ecosystem be recognizable without knowing what used to exist in that ecosystem, for comparison? Could a researcher tell that they were in an environment where an animal had gone extinct, without any direct evidence of that animal or knowledge of what it was? Who is to say how many taxa of a kind of creatures "should" be in the ecosystem?

Say we accept, then, that North America's ecosystems after the Pleistocene (but before European colonization, which involved intentional destruction) were "complete," in the sense that researchers couldn't detect any obvious "dysfunction," whatever that means.

But 10,000 years, compared with life's history on the earth, are nothing--- the blink of an eye. There hasn't been very much time for entirely new types of animals to evolve.

So it would imply that ecosystems have a LOT of plasticity and ability to re-arrange to absorb shock, and that animals can quickly expand their ranges and change their niches to adapt to the new state of existence.

...this, in turn, implies something strange about the introduction of new animal species to a continental mainland: that "native" and "non-native" animal species probably won't be distinguishably different in their impacts in the long term, because the ecosystem is chaotic and constantly changing to begin with.

Introducing new animals to islands is a disaster, because it's introducing an animal with a niche that didn't exist before at all, such as terrestrial predators or large herbivores. Introducing plants is a disaster in a small and unpredictable sample of cases.

But in the example of horses in North America, the impact could range from positive (horses used to be here, and their extinction "damaged the ecosystem," therefore horses being introduced "fixes" that damage) to neutral (the ecosystem adapted to not having horses very fast, therefore the ecosystem can likely adapt to having horses again very fast). Saying that horses are invasive seems to require us to believe contradictory things: that the ecosystem has changed so much since the Pleistocene that horses no longer belong, and that ecosystems can't adjust to change quickly.

Then, why indeed should we not introduce camels, or cheetahs, or lions?

Well, this is where "Pleistocene rewilding" gets on my nerves: it sees North America as fundamentally impoverished of animals, and at the same time, somehow treats different species of animal as weirdly interchangeable. We don't know if the American lion was closer to a lion or a tiger, and we don't know some important things like its hunting behavior. The "American cheetah" was not any more closely related to the African cheetah than to the cougar, and might not have been a specialized fast runner like the cheetah.

So this might apply to the horse just as well: the species of horse in Pleistocene times might have been so different from today's horse that they don't have the same role in the ecosystem. Well, is it better to be horseless or horsed?

I don't think that introduced species are inherently bad. This isn't a extreme position. Among plants, very few introduced species actually become invasive, and even some of those considered "invasive" are not actually harming the ecosystem in a way that can be demonstrated. I don't think I would recommend the introduction of a plant purposefully, though...or would I? With climate change occurring rapidly, I am in favor of moving species to areas where they can survive.

One philosophy of biodiversity is that the more biodiverse the ecosystem, the more ability the ecosystem has to absorb shock and adapt to change. Introduced species could have a range of potential to adapt different from native species, and could raise the shock absorption potential of an ecosystem. But they would also disrupt existing relationships and cause a shock to the native species that already exist.

Range expansions are an alternative to extinction for some species. We will probably HAVE to consider introducing species to new areas in the future. Well, imagine in the future we put Zebras in Arkansas, and the Zebras outcompeted the white-tailed deer in that area. Is that good or bad? Both species get to keep existing, but the deer's range is a bit smaller. Is the measure of biodiversity more important in a local area or in the world?

Makes my head hurt...

[pa1nrema1ns]

Master and Apprentice || Sung Jin-woo (Part 1 of 3)

Siren!Jin-woo x Deaf!Omega!reader

A/N - Hello everyone! This fic was inspired by the lovely @forbidden-sunlight's siren!au. We both collaborated on this piece and it serves as a direct sequel to her imagine, so do be sure to check it out first! This story picks up right where her imagine left off.

╰┈➤ Chapter Index

🪸 Prequel by @forbidden-sunlight 🌊 Part 2: Two Intertwining Melodies 🦈Part 3: In a Sea of Fire

Content warnings: 18+ MDNI, mythical creatures au, canon divergent, a/b/o dynamics, afab!reader, suggestive themes, obsessive thoughts, slightly ooc Jin-woo (he's very reverent towards Ashborn), mentions of violence, death, and despair, forbidden romance (humans and sirens are natural enemies), eventual yandere!Jin-woo.

Word Count - 3.6k

Summary - Sung Jin-woo seeks answers about his potential mate from Ashborn in the deepest depths of the abyss.

Dividers by @anitalenia and @firefly-graphics

After what feels like an eternity, Jin-woo comes to an abrupt stop. He wasn’t tired in the slightest, but he couldn’t finish this journey unless he was in the right frame of mind. If he was going to face the sea monarch, Ashborn, then he needed to compose himself. He was his mentor’s prized disciple, after all.

Resolute in his decision, Jin-woo pinches his brow, shuts his eyes, and releases a deep, suffering sigh. He had to stop ruminating over the useless ‘what ifs’ of his current situation and focus on the matter at hand. You emitting pheromones in his presence was proof enough that you were a compatible mate, but this would be meaningless if you were unreceptive to him. It also begs the question, was humanity even capable of consorting with sirens? In search of an answer, he reminisces about the tales of old passed down by generations of his kin, as well as the many speculations made by humans.

No one knew the exact origins of his species. Most humans assumed the progenitors were Persephone’s handmaidens, punished by Demeter after Hades had taken her daughter to the underworld and forced her into becoming his queen. Some stories also claimed that seafoam  birthed them, but Jin-woo scoffed at this particularly ridiculous rumor. A scholar had recently published an article on how sirens may actually be the offspring of the river deity Achelous and a divine songstress, citing notations from various mythos on this theory. In truth, reality was far simpler than any of these far-fetched narratives.

There was just no definitive explanation for the existence of sirens. They were not interchangeable with the peaceful denizens of the ocean, known as mermaids and mermen. While all fell under the umbrella of the term ‘merfolk,’ the sirens had a far more hostile and bloodstained relationship with humans.

Since time immemorial, his brethren were viewed as nothing but a scourge upon this world of humanity. Beautiful as a raging typhoon and every bit as devastating, the sirens served as harbingers of doom and destruction for those foolish enough to risk the perilous waters. Their heavenly voices were tantamount to the funeral dirges used to usher the dead into the afterlife. It would be understandable to believe that the sirens were the monsters in this baleful story. However, human nature at its core is fraught with wickedness, and men soon grew wise to the machinations of merfolk.

Odysseus was the first to survive an encounter with sirens. During his voyage to Ithaca, the cunning man had instructed his crew to plug their ears with beeswax, effectively blocking the intoxicating songs that had ended the lives of so many before them. Emboldened by the success of Odysseus’s scheme, other sailors began using this method to conquer the sea and establish trade routes. Within a matter of a couple hundred years, humans not only overcame their fear of sirens, but they also poached them. Huntsmen would capture, torture, and kill Jin-woo’s ancestors simply for crossing paths with them. Worse yet, these scoundrels would often murder merfolk solely to harvest their organs, bones, and scales. They would then use the defiled corpses as ingredients for commodities, medication, and even aphrodisiacs. It was truly grotesque, if not outright barbaric, and more than justified the ire his kind felt towards humanity. While they hunted for the noble sake of survival, men did it for bloodsport and money.

The horrific fates suffered by many of their beloved brothers and sisters particularly infuriated the alphas, with their robust constitutions and natural sense of leadership. With a thirst for vengeance, they began targeting and attacking ships, ports, and even beaches. The alphas considered any place or vehicle that harbored humans as eligible targets. The less temperamental betas remained neutral and avoided the bloodshed, opting to prey upon shoals of fish and other maritime animals instead. Omegas could not join in the hunt, as they were far too precious to lose. They were the most cherished and talented singers amongst the sirens and required around-the-clock protection because of their significant rarity. These were the origins of the current hierarchical structure Jin-woo adhered to.

After recalling the tumultuous history of his people in its entirety, Jin-woo clenches his fists until his knuckles turn white. This was so damn frustrating! Rather than granting him an understanding of his attraction, it just proved all the more why it was so illogical. 

Defeated, Jin-woo raises his head, opens his eyes, and continues to swim.

Another hour passes before he finds himself at the ingress of Ashborn’s lair. His enigmatic teacher lived in almost complete obscurity. Devoid of any light, and enveloped by a suffocating aura, this nautical cavern intimidated all who dared to approach it. Well, almost all that is apart from Jin-woo. He effortlessly permeates the invisible barrier designed to keep intruders at bay and ventures into his master’s spiritual domain.

Despite being an ancient and powerful king of the sea, Ashborn made the strange decision to emulate a land-like environment in his personal chambers.

As Jin-woo manifests into the realm, his appearance gives way to a form more befitting of a land dweller. His tail separates into two legs, his scales smoothen into skin, and he loses the winged fins on his ears and back. Once finished with this metamorphosis, Jin-woo takes a deep breath. Fresh pine, grass, and flowers perfume the air as he’s greeted by a lush valley. It had been a while since he had visited, and the setting had required him to transform into a human. Interestingly, transfiguration was one of the first skills Ashborn taught him. Speaking of his mentor –

“My disciple, it is good to see you again, though you appear…troubled. Tell me, what ails you so?” A rumbling voice rings across the horizon, signaling Ashborn’s approach; the tenebrous essence of the powerful deity contrasting with the greenery of the land. He appears in front of Jin-woo as a great dark knight. Much like his surroundings, Ashborn’s current visage was nothing but an illusion. Even the bravest of warriors said that his lifelike image invoked sheer terror in their hearts.

Many speculate he possesses a massive stature, at least several leagues in height and breadth alone, with piercing eyes and endless tendrils of dark hair. Others claim he is the son of Poseidon, one of the twelve Olympians, and a God of destruction who presided over the sea. However, Jin-woo never once witnessed this side of his teacher in all the years he’s been under his mentorship. Ashborn certainly exuded dignity, but he still displayed a humble attitude. And without fail, he would always appear in that strange, armored suit whenever he was in Jin-woo’s presence.

“My teacher, I must ask for your help on an urgent matter,” Jin-woo starts, anxiously running his tongue across his bottom lip. “This morning, while I was scavenging, I stumbled across the unmistakable aroma of an unmarked omega. It…it was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. As if I was being beckoned by someone or something. I wanted, no, I needed to heed its call.”

Ashborn listens in silence, his expression indiscernible. Jin-woo continued.

 “When I arrived, I was in front of a monstrosity of a ship – a yacht right by the sandbanks. At first, I assumed that someone had taken an unfortunate siren captive. But when I finally saw her–”

“You recognized she was human. Not only that, but she belongs to the lowest level of the hierarchy, an omega. Speak if I am wrong, my dear pupil.” Jin-woo lowers his head in shame, fringe obscuring his eyes. This action all but confirms it.

“I don’t know what to do or how to proceed, teacher. Everything I’ve learned about these creatures has made me detest them. But I can’t bring myself to hate her. How could this even be possible? We are not even of the same species. She’s my enemy, my prey…. At least, she’s supposed to be.” His voice lowers into a near whisper as he ends his confused rambling.

“And yet you don’t view her that way, do you child?” Ashborn poses a question he already knows the answer to but needs to hear in his pupil’s own words.

“No, I don’t,” Jin-woo replies grimly. “I yearn to know more about her. And not just that. I want to meet her, court her, and make her mine. If she’ll even have me, that is… So please, teacher, tell me if there is any meaning behind what I feel. Am I destined for something that bears no place in reality?”

Ashborn remains uncharacteristically quiet while faced with such a loaded question. All is eerily silent for a few moments, save for the cheerful chirping of the illusionary songbirds. At last, the monarch gazes at Jin-woo and gives him the answer he so desperately desires.

“It is entirely possible Sung Jin-woo, alpha of Jindo island, for I am proof of such a fantastical circumstance. My first and only love was also a human omega. A woman I devoted my entire being to over a millennium ago.”

Jin-woo’s eyes widened in shock at this revelation. His mentor had fallen in love at some point, and it was with a member of the human race? This was unheard of.

“I never knew you had a lover,” Jin-woo murmurs softly. “What was she like? Do you still remember everything about her after so many years?”

“Let me show you, my disciple. It is a tragic tale that words alone cannot properly convey.” With a wave of Ashborn’s hand, their surroundings began to morph and alter. The valley transforms into a spacious, yet quaint medieval village composed of several wooden houses with a bustling marketplace at its center.

When Jin-woo regains his bearings, he notices his mentor has also metamorphosized. A man with a sun kissed complexion, long dark hair, and a beard stands where he once stood. Though visibly unrecognizable, he was unmistakably Ashborn. A crimson cape was clasped to the pristine silver armor he wore. A paladin. Jin-woo recalls. He had some knowledge of the past lives of men through his rare excursions onto the Mainland. While disguised as a human, Jin-woo once traded in his goods for a textbook on history. He was loath to admit just how intriguing he had found it.

Ashborn speaks, his voice no longer resonating within the confines of shadowy steel.

“It was here in this village that I came across her. She was the only daughter of a peasant farmer. A strong-willed, rapscallion of a woman with a wit sharper than any blade. I can remember her beauty, her warmth, and her tenacity as clear and concise as the day we met.” He says with a wistful gaze. The scene then shifts to a woman in a pure white gown. Her eyes remained hidden, but it did nothing to impede upon her loveliness. The woman runs animatedly towards a man who looks identical to Ashborn’s borrowed likeness and leaps into his arms. The man then effortlessly spins her around before bringing her into a kiss. Jin-woo watches on, mesmerized by what was unfolding in front of him.

“I feared her rejection once she knew the truth of my identity,” Ashborn admits. “On the night we first made love, I finally revealed to her my status as ruler of the sea. However, it did not matter. She loved me wholly and unconditionally, regardless of who or what I was. Such was the strength of her resolve.” In the next instance, they return to the same valley from earlier. What differs this time is that the man and woman are there, unacknowledging of Jin-woo and Ashborn’s presence. Lost in their own special world. The woman has a flower crown on her head, and she sits on the grass, holding the man’s head in her lap. Both appear happy and at ease.

“For the first time in my existence, I experienced true contentment. I long to return to those days, but alas, our bliss did not last.”

Ashborn solemnly shuts his eyes as darkness overtakes the sky and rain falls. The man is now shown standing at a grave with an expression of anguish marring his face. The woman is nowhere to be seen, although Jin-woo knows exactly where she’s at.

“A plague was scourging the land and indiscriminately ending the lives of thousands. I tried to protect her with my magic, but it was to no avail. She fell gravely ill despite my best efforts. I discovered shortly thereafter that omegas were more susceptible to sickness than their contemporaries. If I had known beforehand, I would’ve brought her to the sea with me, away from that damned disease. But I was a fool who was willing to love and live with her as a man, not as a king. And as punishment for my hubris, an ailment snuffed out her life.”

At the end of his recollection, Ashborn’s lair returns to its original state. His mentor had also regained his shadowy exterior. The valley appears completely untouched by time, as if it were still one thousand years in the past. That’s why his lair looks like this. Jin-woo thinks as he finally recognizes its significance, It was their personal sanctuary. After a few moments of silence, Ashborn speaks.

“Although our circumstances are similar, you still have the privilege of choice. I cannot turn back time, nor can I change the past, but I am grateful. I experienced unspeakable grief, yes, but I also would have never encountered such love, tenderness, and passion had I not taken a chance on my omega. You, my disciple, still have free rein over your decision. Should you choose to pursue this woman, you have my blessing and irrefutable proof that she is a viable mate for you. If not, you will still receive my unwavering support in your future endeavors. The choice is yours to make.”

Jin-woo’s throat bobs. He feels an incredible sense of guilt at unearthing his master’s secret.

“My teacher, I apologize for prying into your past. I – I did not mean to bring up painful memories for you. I cannot imagine what you have endured. As of right now, I am not sure what it is I want, but I know for a fact I cannot give up on this human. I will need some time to contemplate and sort out my feelings. If you will excuse me.”

Jin-woo bows his head before turning to take his leave. As he approaches the exit, a sudden thought emerges at the forefront of his mind.

“Teacher, there is one more question I must ask. This human, she does not speak with words. She communicates with her hands and gestures. Is this some type of sorcery or spell that she’s casting?”

“It is most likely sign language, a manner of non-verbal communication used by humans who are unable to vocalize or hear. Perhaps she cannot speak, or has a hearing impairment, so she must express herself through other means.” Ashborn answers, curiosity lacing his voice.

Jin-woo feels his heart sinking. A siren’s serenade played a pivotal role in the mating ritual and was performed just prior to consummating an eternal bond. If what Ashborn said is true, then there is a possibility you could be immune to his song. This meant he wouldn't be able to use it on you when the time came…

He grits his teeth as he remembers your smiling face. Try as he might, Jin-woo just could not get you out of his head, nor was he willing to let you escape his grasp. You may not have realized it yet, but you had unknowingly sunk your fangs into him and the seeds of obsession were already beginning to take root. Rather than being discouraged by Ashborn’s observation, he instead finds himself reinvigorated.

“Teacher, disregard everything I said earlier. I now know what it is I must do.”

Ashborn peers into the eyes of his disciple, relieved by the determination that lights them. This was much more like the obstinate young man he knew.

“I choose to seek this omega and stake my claim, no matter what challenges may await the two of us,” Jin-woo proclaims proudly. “I will make her mine, but only if she consents to my proposal. And if not through song, then through other courtship methods. I am strong, stronger than any other alpha in my territory, and I know I can protect her from all who would wish her harm. I won’t let my mate slip through my fingers.”

“But what of maladies and the passage of time? You can fight against gods and monsters until the end of your days, but sickness or her ephemeral lifespan will not spare this young woman. In the end, your time with her shall be fleeting.” Ashborn ruthlessly counters Jin-woo’s declaration of protection.

Jin-woo bites his lip, not expecting this development. However, before he can muster a response, his mentor graces him with an answer.

“I know of one way you can overcome this. There is a recipe for an elixir known as the Holy Water of Life. It is a miraculous potion that can imbue invulnerability to communicable diseases, extend lifespan, and transform the consumer into a siren. I unfortunately did not have knowledge of such a panacea while I was with my love. Of course, I live with the regret of not discovering it sooner, as now I have no such use for it, but this does not mean I will idly stand by and let history repeat itself with my protégé.”

With a flash of light, an ancient scroll appears in front of Jin-woo. It unravels by itself to reveal its contents to him. Jin-woo’s eyes widen as he reads. Is this…?

“Behold. The ingredients for crafting the Holy Water of Life. I bequeath this boon unto you, my disciple. However, heed my warning as the acquisition of these components requires you to conquer all 100 floors of the Demon’s Castle and to defeat its king, Baran. This is a treacherous dungeon that may claim your life if you are unprepared for it, but it can also impart you with unspeakable power should you prevail.”

Jin-woo perks up at this information, his interest now fully piqued. “Tell me, master, where can I find the Demon’s Castle?”

“It hides far away, in the city of Seoul, within an incorporeal dominion. It is a flame-ridden landscape that will require you to assume the form of a human to enter the castle. Knowing all the risks it entails; do you still accept my offer?”

“I do,” Jinwoo confidently states.

“Very well,” Ashborn nods his assent, and a key materializes into Jin-woo’s palm.

“Use this key to open the gate to the Demon’s Castle. I have also implanted it with the coordinates to the dungeon’s location. You need only close your eyes and grasp onto the key to visualize it.”

Following the instructions, Jin-woo sees a map that details the exact distance from his current whereabouts to the metropolitan area of Seoul. It will be a lengthy trip, even with his impressive swimming prowess. He estimates it will take roughly half a day to arrive at his destination. Undeterred, Jin-woo presses onward.

“Teacher, I cannot thank you enough for all your help and guidance over these last few years. I give you my word; I will return alive and well, both with the elixir and Baran’s head. And then I will meet with the omega and court her in earnest.”

He departs without another word, although his promise relays an unspoken farewell between them. After some time passes, Ashborn stares at the vast skies of his domain and muses to himself.

“You have grown so much from when I rescued you from the Cartenon Temple all those years ago, Sung Jin-woo. I could not be prouder of you, my disciple. Till our next encounter.”

12 hours later...

Jin-woo finally emerges from the dark, briny waters that frame Seoul’s coastline.

After leaving Ashborn’s lair, he briefly returned home to pack and prepare for the journey ahead. Both Jin-ah and his mother were worried about his sudden departure, so he did the best he could to assuage their fears by giving them a sanitized version of the truth.

Jin-woo claimed Ashborn had provided him with a list of rare ingredients that were only available for purchase in the human markets at Seoul. He even promised to bring back a box of chocolates as a souvenir, something his mother and little sister had enjoyed during one of his return trips to the surface. He then traveled the full 413-kilometer distance from Jindo-gun to Seoul, stopping only for a few hours to rest and recuperate.

As he approaches land, he assumes the form of a naked human man and walks inland from the sea. However, Jin-woo comes to a halt when he becomes more aware of his current state of nudity. While it didn’t bother him, it would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble if any nosy beachgoers happened upon him and asked questions. It is also…pretty embarrassing to admit that he is…wobbly on these legs. Very much so.

He quickly summons his magical inventory and grabs a simple black t-shirt, boxers, fitted jeans, and athletic sneakers (‘Adidas’, the portly sales attendant had called them). As worthless as he found human decorum to be, Jin-woo needed to remain as inconspicuous as possible while he was in disguise. Once dressed, he strolled into the city. After 45 minutes, he found himself at the designated street junction on the map. Taking a deep breath, he brings forth the key, turns it, and unlocks the gate. 

⚓︎ To be continued...

[prokopetz]

I'm sure this is one of those "your experience is not universal" things, but I find that, while various terms for penises are more or less interchangeable in prose, I wouldn't use them to describe the same things in art. An artist who draws dicks is fundamentally not working within the same idiom as an artist who draws cocks, whose work is in turn is distinct from an artist who draws peckers, and so forth. Some artists draw plain old penises, to which no colourful nomenclature need apply – and sometimes, if you're very lucky, you'll bump into an artist who draws what can only adequately be described as a schlong.

[lizardsfromspace]

One of the interchangeable ghouls running in 2024 is talking up his plan to tie voting rights to passing a civics test & it's amazing watching people discuss this in neutral terms

A lot of the response to this is "oh, that's great, next let's restore civics education in schools", but the entire point is that they're not going to improve civics education. The age range gives a hint: this is a ploy to disenfranchise young voters, by, presumably, demanding they pass a test the state won't train them for in order to get rights granted by the states. It's like saying "oh, yes, literacy tests for voting makes sense, it'll really inspire the South to educate black people". It uh. Didn't. And I think many of the people agreeing know that and support it bc it's disenfranchising, but some seem to just agree bc it's "COMMON SENSE" and they're not digging any deeper?

This would be a civics test authored by a far right administration, to be clear. The tests we give immigrants are already propagandistic nonsense, imagine that in the hands of the "slavery taught people valuable skills" crowd

Also, his amendment would allow young people who can't pass the test to vote if they join the military. This is a "service guarantees citizenship" amendment

[northopalshore]

🦪 Neptune in the

Union persona chart

Neptune in the Union persona chart describes your love story with your future spouse or long-term partner during the early years of your relationship. It also shows you what your partner may fancy you (find attractive about you) from the moment you've met. Works for every sexual orientation. This interpretation was made from my personal observation. Based on the charts of celebrities I've seen & people I've met in real life.

୨୧ Please do not repost without consent ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔฅ🔉

Masterlist| Union persona chart masterlist| Briede persona chart

In retrograde! There is this longing for love. In some way, your partner might be aware of you long before you've met ( or just the thought of meeting someone like you in the past). You likely have seen things that correlate to them as well whether you notice or not. Though, this also means that a lot of waiting, back & forth unpredictable changes/troubles may occur when it comes to your love life.

°22 degrees! This degree is a bit special so I'll add a bit more to it here outside of its original attachment (Capricorn degree). Your relationship is very unpredictable there is great potential for deep healing but also a "lesson" for you to overcome. There is usually a risk you must take with this. Either to stay or to go, to shame or be shamed, or to "kill or be killed".

0° degrees! Enhances the qualities of the sign & house it's in.

FS/Future spouse & partner are used interchangeably throughout the post.

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Aries (°1,°13,°25) | 1st House

Your FS is immediately struck by your beauty, or something about your charms. They love how bold and sassy you are! It can cause this sense of rushing feelings and innate sexual attraction between you & your partner (mostly your partner). Your love story is filled with passion, fast paced action, quick progress & even feature fighting, misunderstandings & hot tempers. Though the passion runs high, so does your patience. A lot of things could happen very quickly for you even from the moment you've met. It's on par with the "hot young love" troupe! It's not completely dramatic though, just expect some bickering to show up here & there.

Ex: I had an ex friend that met her boyfriend literally less than a month before dating. And like a week later, they're talking about marriage, commitment, merging families — it's a whole thing. She has Neptune in Aquarius retrograde (°13 Aries) in the 1st house. Is there trouble? Yes. But it's quite private so I won't air it out.

Taurus (°2,°14,°26) | 2nd House

Your partner is impressed by your humility, your beauty & your work or reputation (whatever that may be). I remember writing something similar in a different post, but the "household name" aspect shows up again with this Taurus placement. However that doesn't necessarily translate into being famous. Even in the most mundane world imaginable, people will still associate you with your partner. This relationship is one where you have the potential to have it all with your partner. Where both of you are very sweet to each other & attentive to your partners needs. Your relationship is very stable, and very romantic from the beginning.

Gemini (°3,°15,°27) | 3rd House

Your FS will be very impressed with your wit & knowledge. Perhaps they love the way that you talk and express yourself, the words that come out of your mouth or the things that you write really strike their interests. They also admire your intelligence and intuitive nature. Your relationship is very light-hearted & entertaining as well! You could act like best friends, or have a somewhat sibling-like relationship. You love sharing your thoughts together; and could spend a lot of time talking or going on trips. Non stop talking even.

Ex: A friend of mine has Aquarius Neptune retrograde (°15 Gemini) in the 6th house. Her fiance is from a different state & ethnicity than her, they're on the phone 24/7. They talk about everything together. Take it from me as her roommate lol. It's quite sweet actually. Since they're long distance, both of them make sure their partner is in their life one way or another. Also, they are always giving each other advice & constructive criticism (though at times, one of them feels attacked)

Cancer (°4,°16,°28) | 4th House

Your partner could be infatuated with your innocence and warm personality. Your love story is one that's very affectionate, warm and reassuring. It's the "you are my home" placement even from the beginning. You & your partner will be very easily reliant on each other for that comfort which can lead to you will also get quite attached to your partner. The progression is very natural from what I've seen & emotions run high whenever you're with your person. You could have a codependent relationship as well. Could be a "meeting young" indicator.

Ex: Michael Jackson has Neptune in Scorpio (°4 Cancer) in the 12th house. Both his ex wives were infatuated with him when they were younger. His relationship with both of them were quite codependent, though he had a special attachment to Lisa Marie Presley even long after their divorce. She was like his place of comfort especially since they met round the time when he was most shrouded in controversy. She also tried persuading him off the substance.

Leo (°5,°17,°29) | 5th House

Listen baby, your partner thinks that you are hot shit. Straight up. Your relationship is very romantic, fun and wild. From the beginning, it's as if your partner introduces you to an exciting new world. Expect a lot of flirting and eyeing each other down. Both of you are a force to be reckoned with i.e a power couple! People will adore you when you're together. It's usually an indicator of a famous couple regardless of whether you are famous or not, just because of how good you look together. The vibe you bring to the function is sexy , fun & flirty. What can I say? Your relationship is also quite sexual, there is a lot of physical intimacy & compatibility. (Or rather, day dreaming about it lol).

Ex: Both Beyoncé & Jay-Z have Neptune at °29. They both found each other very attractive and when they met, they were on a roll in their career. Both had pretty steady reputations and Beyoncé was just looking breaking into her solo career (she debuted solo with Jay-Z in 2003).

Virgo (°6,°18) | 6th House

Your partners love the potential that they see in you, like you become their motivation or blank project to work on. Your relationship grounds you & brings you safety & structure. They also admire you for your work & lifestyle (how you structure yourself & your routine). They motivate you to become a better version of yourself. Depending on your lifestyle that could be amazing or detrimental to your sanity lol. You can either feel extremely criticized or very supported.

Ex: Brigitte Bardot has Neptune in Virgo (°13 Aries) in the 3rd house but it's also conjuncting the IC (°17 Leo). She's had several husbands, the first one was passionate and most beneficial to her career (helped her rise to fame). The second was quite hard, rigid & controlling from what I've read (disagreed with her lifestyle). The third was romantic & avant-garde (he was a German billionaire playboy lol) but short lived. The last marriage is private but seemingly quite supportive & a steady man to settle down with. Truly, a perfect example for all her placements.

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Libra (°7,°19) | 7th House

Your FS will be very impressed by your grace & poise. Perhaps to them, you symbolize the ideal woman/man. They'll think of you as beautiful and elegant & classy (at least classier than them in a sense). Your partner will be very attracted to you and find everything about you lovely. As for your love story, it is incredibly romantic & dreamy! There is usually traditional courting involved with this placement.

Ex: Priscilla Presley has Neptune (°7 Libra) in Libra 4th house. Elvis found Priscilla to be beautiful and courteous despite her age (he was likely attracted to that child-like "purity" of hers as well since she was only 14 when they met. Their relationship was very romantic especially in the beginning. They did have a proper relationship despite the aforementioned age gap!

My mom has Neptune in Sagittarius (°7 Libra) in the 6th house. Both my parents act like high school sweethearts in a way (even though they aren't). You know the good girl & bad boy trope from Crybaby? It's one of my favorite movies but it reminds me of my parents ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ! Or maybe they're closer to Hank & Peggy Hill's relationship (Kind of the Hill). They act like best friends and still do till this day, but can be quite naggy at each other.

Scorpio (°8,°20) | 8th House

Your love story is the least straightforward love story ever & likely the toughest as well. There will be a lot of personal struggles, unforeseen trouble, push & pull and potential squabbling (which could come from a multitude lot of reasons). Your love requires sacrifice, and overcoming trauma, going through the fire to be born anew. It's as if you need to be born again just to be with each other or being together helps you realize a lot of your flaws & inhibitions. This love is revitalizing, hot, & scandalous. Trouble lies ahead but can be rewarding in the end after you've dealt with the trouble. There is always a hot sizzling attraction with this placement & the lovers are usually obsessed/possessive with each other (in both a good & bad way). Though it also means your relationship has the ability to withstand a lot of pressure.

Sagittarius (°9,°21) | 9th House

Your relationship is very fun and entertaining. You and your partner are a humorous and open-minded duo; there is nothing that you cannot share or express with your partner. Even when you become old farts you'll still crack jokes and treat each other as you did in your younger days. You are each other's biggest motivators and energizers. No day with your partner is wasted or left ignored as you have a tendency of sharing your interest, thoughts, and doing/exploring new things together. This is one of the healthiest placements that I've seen in any relationship (provided you are open to playfulness & fooling around at times). You may also travel together often (or to each other).

Ex: Ryan Reynolds has Neptune in Sagittarius (°14 Taurus ) in the 12th house & Blake Lively has Neptune in Capricorn °9 Sagittarius in her 9th house. They were always the fun couple, you can see from how they act, they love to poke fun at each other and entertain each other. Literally trolling one another too. Still, they are both very supportive and most times they seem to be on the same page.

Capricorn (°10,°22) | 10th House

Your FS is very attracted to your professionalism, and your work ethic. Literally being impressed by how "cool", calm & collected you are! There is usually a separation phase which is very prominent in your relationship. Like you can't get with each other at least not face to face often, or something causes a lot of "cold" feelings, detachment & frustrations. A delay for commitment & dating. Your relationship takes time and a lot of effort to maintain, but if you can handle the turbulence, it's smooth sailing from there. Your relationship has the potential to last a very, verrry long time given the right treatment. Most of the people who have this work with their partner but it's not exclusive to that scenario.

Ex: Zendaya has Neptune in Capricorn (°25 Aries) in the 4th house. Tom said in an interview that he found Zendaya's professionalism & down to earth nature very impressive. The dating rumors started very early (on the set on Spider Man when they first started working together in 2017) but their relationship did not develop or at least wasn't that consistent as Zendaya has dated others before they finally got together again in mid 2021. Ever since then, they have been going steady & are engaged.

Safiya Nygaard has Neptune in Capricorn (°20 Scorpio) in the 11th house (conjuncting Uranus). She & Tyler met at university & were friends for a long time before they started dating. Even when they started dating, they were quite preoccupied with their own goals & interests; with Safiya working with Buzzfeed & he had his own technology centered business as well. However, after Safiya started her own Channel & invested time there, he started working with her too (supporting her). They have worked closely together ever since!

Aquarius (°11,°23) | 11th House

Your relationship will be very well known in one way or another. You could be quite popular online if you post couple content, either way, people want to see you & your partner together; people are naturally more attracted/curious about your relationship. Other than that, in a way, your relationship will defy the norm. You change something about how people, view love, commitment and connection. Nobody, literally nobody would ever think you'd be with your partner. On the most basic level, it's different. Can indicate a interracial relationship as well (since that where I've seen it show up the most).

Ex: Beyoncé & Lisa have Neptune in Aquarius. No ho none, nobody, expected either one of them to end up with who they are with now. It was very surprising to the public when both their relationships were revealed.

Guess, who has this placement too? Jungkook! (Neptune in Aquarius °0, 2nd house). For him, it will make sense just a little while longer. You can expect him to end up with someone opposite (much different) of what people thought he would/hoped/wanted to see him with. I'd love to explain, but it's not the time for it. Not yet.

Pisces (°12,°24) | 12th House

Your FS finds you completely enchanting & almost unreal. They could see you as "perfect" as well! The love you have is genuine, and built solely on love and adoration. Your relationship is very private, and you could even keep it hidden from those around you. There is usually some form of distance and delay involved with you & your partner but it's not completely restrictive (remaining mostly in contact). You progress very slowly with your relationship but the love & fascination only grows stronger as time goes by. This is an extremely romantic placement to have.

Ex: Beyoncé has Neptune in Sagittarius (°24 Pisces) in the 2nd house. (Updated birth time; no changes found). They met in 2000 but didn't really start dating until around 2002 (speculated due to their collaborations that year). When they started making music together, their brands sort of merged together. Even later in the relationship, a lot of Beyoncé's love songs were centered around Jay-Z & vice versa.

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Thank you for reading ♡ support?

@northopalshore

@northopalshore union persona chart 2025 all rights reserved. Disclaimer.