#having consideration for your audience with that kind of reach is really good

[risingsunresistance]

every time a video includes a photosensitivity warning i gain 10 years on my lifespan

[afinestoutlove]

things i love about heartstopper 34/?

Okay so I know I said Tara and Nick are key to Paris Squad and I stand by it. But can I put forward for your consideration the delight that is Charlie Spring. People often seem to sideline Charlie (which is very weird given he's a main character) but he’s so important for so many reasons.

There’s a reason so much of the story revolves around Charlie, especially in the beginning - and not because he's an everyman audience stand-in!! He's a unique and powerful character in his own right. There’s a reason all his friends stuck with him when he was sick and absent - that’s so often not the case, especially at that age! There’s a reason Tao basically wanted to fight the world for him. There’s a reason Isaac tried to reach out to him. There’s a reason Elle painted that beautiful portrait of him.

“Well, I was friends with Charlie first, and Tao sort of came along as a package deal.”

There’s something in this line that’s so easy to skip over, but for Tao and Elle and Isaac and Nick, Charlie came first.

Tori talks in Solitaire about how the world isn’t a good place for people like Charlie, and she’s right. He’s sensitive, and kind, and hopeful, and despite his best efforts, so open and giving, and the world hurts him for it. But it’s also what brings him so much good. The saddest part of watching Charlie’s journey is knowing that all these people love him so much, for very very good reasons, and he can’t accept any of it for so long. He thinks the only way he can keep his friends is by sacrificing himself and making himself small (not necessarily physically, but by not having needs or feelings - but it makes sense that his OCD is linked to disordered eating), but what they love is all the ways he fails to do that.

You can see him starting to grow through S1 and 2, but seeing him start to really come into his own after ‘Winter’ is so fucking beautiful. His talks with Geoff, playing with the band, slowly becoming more confident in his body, standing up to his mum in a way that forces her to change and allows them to start building a healthy relationship, it’s all so good.

[writingwithfolklore]

5 Things about working in a (small) publishing house that surprised me

My experiences definitely aren’t true of the entire industry. I work in a very small, very local publishing house as a marketing assistant, and I’m certain that you’d have a much different experience at Penguin Random House, or even another small house on the other side of the country. That being said, here’s five things that really surprised me about what I’ve seen from the industry so far…

1. Very few of the people who work in publishing are writers

Okay this was one of the biggest surprises but also kind of makes sense? Publishing is a lot about the business side of things—numbers and marketing strategies and event planning, etc. People who are talented in design and accounting and other essential pieces to book publishing aren’t necessarily good at or practiced writers, and not all people who love reading also love writing!

I guess this surprised me so much because I’ve never been a reader without being a writer, but we often actually rely on the author’s writing on their own works (summaries, bios, etc.) to populate the backs of books and other marketing. Including me, there are three writers in my entire office.

2. Big booksellers (think Indigo) release yearly cover palettes for book covers

When we’re deciding the colours for a book cover, one thing that goes into that consideration is actually the different palettes Indigo releases! They have different palettes for different sections they update every year. I imagine it’s to fit a certain look for their shelves for new releases, but it’s not something I had ever really thought about, or thought that they would care about!

3. On that topic—publishing houses don’t sell to readers

My first day in marketing, my manager told me, “you’d think we’re selling to readers” I did think that. She said, “we’re actually selling to bookstores and libraries, they sell to readers.” How the money works is booksellers buy our books to put on their shelf. Everything they don’t sell, they’re allowed to trade back for credit, so we want them to buy big upfront, and then sell big to readers. Every book they send back is inventory we can’t get rid of and a “free” book for them down the line, so we don’t want books to come back!

If you want to support authors and your favourite publishing houses, buy from local bookstores who can’t afford to keep underselling books on their shelves for as long as say Indigo. If you really want to support authors, check out their books from libraries (yes really). Libraries are great because they buy books from publishing houses and can use the same one book to get into the hands of several readers, (in Canada) authors get a small amount every time a book is checked out (up to a certain amount so that the library’s entire budget doesn’t go to one book/author). Often, an author’s largest cheque is from libraries.

Unfortunately in the States authors don’t get the same boon, but still supporting your local libraries is just as good as supporting your local indie bookstores!

4. Soo many people look at covers, and soo much goes into creating them

I’m not really a designer, so I’m certain this wouldn’t surprise those of you who actually do graphic design, but they seriously look at every single detail and how it will benefit or hurt the sales. The placement of blurbs, choice of fonts, colours, subtitles, even the placement of raindrops for a rainy background, everything is discussed and tested and tried several different ways. So yes, DO judge a book by its cover, we work so hard on making covers perfect for the audience we’re trying to reach.

5. Publishing houses don’t necessarily have in-house editors, publicity, or other roles

I had always assumed that every publishing house had its own editors and publicists and what not. That’s probably true for the bigger ones, but if you’re being published by a smaller one (which you may be for your debut) you may be working with freelance editors and publicists who work somewhat with your publishing house and also with others as well. We have one in-house publicist, and no editors!

I wouldn’t turn down a publishing house just because they use freelancers (our freelancers are amazing!) but it’s important that they’re upfront about it. Huge red flag if they say they have in-house editors and they don’t actually—I would pass on a publishing house that lies to you.

Any other questions you have about the industry I’ll try to answer!

[imperfectnothing]

Kay's intimacy levels (inspired by @apriciticreveries)

Note: this might be a lil bit smaller than Apri's, simply because Kay as a person doesn't have many friends and he's not very good at maintaining relationships!!

Also his percentages are going to be on the lower end for most people and that's because of his own person issues around relationships- not at all indicative of him disliking someone!!

(in alphabetical order) (if there's anyone who i missed who wants to know theirs, put it in the tags or replies and i will do it special!)

Akane (@aakaneeee) - 30%

They're so articulate, I admire how well they explain their thoughts, and they're considerate and understanding, too? It's really quite impressive. I always enjoy talking with them in our classes.

Airin (@apriciticreveries) - 80% (views him as a little sibling)

You've grown up so beautifully. Every time I see you, my chest aches, and I reach out a hand only to withdraw it. You don't seem to need me, anymore. I should not weigh you down with my worries and my love, no matter how much I wish to wrap you up in my arms and protect you from the bitterness of the world. I'm sorry for everything. You deserve better than me.

Aoki (@bluemoonscape) - 95% (boyfriend)

Despite my responsibilities, he knows, and I am plagued with unimaginable guilt. He has lost so much and all of it is my fault. He told me he would stay, but I can't help but wait for the day when he breaks his promise.

August (@junebluues) - 40%

He reminds me too much of myself and I worry for him, the shadows cast underneath his eyes, the hollowness in his gaze. He's a lovely fellow and he's so important to Airin, I would hate to see anything happen to him.

Daian (@apple8ees) - 95% (adoptive brother)

Maybe if I can prepare you for this world, you can survive to see it become better.

Ish (@chevalperd) - 30%

Nadohan's sweetest one. Ish is such a hopeful, bright light, sometimes so much so that it is blinding. I am glad you exist, and I'm sorry, if I've ever made you sad.

Kel (@sotogalmo) - 35%

So clever and creative. I fear for the day they squash your passion.

Nadohan (@alien-til-i-stage) - 55%

I do not know why you let me rely on you. I love you too much.

Para (@solei-eclipse) - 40%

You are truly one of the coolest people I know. It is an honor to know you at all. I hope you know how important you are, to all of us.

Plip (@awaggaa) - 50%

I can never tell when you are angry with me but nevertheless, I love you terribly. You are going to go so far, even if you don't believe it.

Starry (@starry-skiez) - 40%

Sometimes you scare me but only because I worry for you. You, too, remind me of myself. You are much more cheerful, though. You have more friends. Hopefully, you will not fall the way I did.

Sun (@paradisedisconcert) - 40%

Kind, thoughtful, and always manages to make me laugh. I hope I am not too much of a burden on your time.

Syd (@tsukacchako) - 30%

I'm sorry.

Toon (@nottoonedin) - 50%

I never want to meet you on stage, I know I would lose. The audience would see your brilliance and they wouldn't be able to take their eyes off of you. They would have to notice how amazing you are, no one can truly miss it.

Vant (@ivanttakethis) - 50%

Too kind to me, she makes me feel like I really might be worthy of this. I can't be worthy of this.

Zen (@zerostyrant) - 40%

I admire you and you care for D, so you can't be all bad. You don't seem to like me much, though, so I'll keep my distance for now.

[starfall-spirit]

Read on Ao3

Ancient Myths Retold Masterlist

AN: I gave you breadcrumbs during Feysand's first night together, but here's the real Odyssey!Elucien set up. I can't promise you when the next chapter will be out, because I've run out of prewritten chapters, but I really felt like dropping something today. The fic will be finished before mid-July. That I can promise.

Anywhosville, enjoy!

Chapter V: Waiting for a Sign

Feyre

Ten days. It took ten days for the fire and frenzy of the mating bond to mellow enough that Feyre and Rhys were willing to consider rejoining society. While she was disappointed to leave the bubble of bliss they’d created for themselves, there was no escaping reality, and Rhys could only be absent from his duties for so long before people started calling it insubordination.

“You should know, we aren’t going back to Velaris yet,” he said. 

“Where are we going first?” He grimaced. “Rhys?”

“Your parents heard you were in the Night Court and have been persistent in their desire for an audience with my father to demand your return to Summer, going as far as to bring your engagement to the public eye. I’m sure you realize that until you publicly claim me as your mate, you will be treated as your father’s property. The bond’s authenticity will be obvious upon arrival, so don’t worry about that.”

She was quiet for a moment. “I knew I’d have to face the fallout soon. I just didn’t think I’d be dealing with the whiplash of going from this little bubble of happiness to listening to my parents' manipulations.”

“Or perhaps you’re going from our little bubble of happiness to a place where you finally get to stand up and tell them where they can shove their way of thinking.” He was tender in cupping her cheek and she leaned into his touch. "You are not their puppet, remember? You are free.” He gave her a wolfish grin, slipping her mating band onto her left hand. “And once you’ve established that…”

She slowly took the envelope he extended, unfolding the scrap of paper inside to assess the loopy handwriting there.

Rhysand,

I appreciate you reaching out, as it’s been a considerable time since we’ve seen one another. Congratulations on your mating, first and foremost. You can tell your new love I’d be more than happy to host any family of Elain’s and when you’ve found yourself in a more agreeable state—

She didn’t need to read the rest to know what the offering was. “You wrote to Day.”

Kissing her knuckles, he smiled. “I made you a promise, darling. And when I promise something, I follow through.”

Throwing herself in his arms, she kissed him. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, my love.” 

She fluttered her eyes, one hand dropping to his belt. “Before we go…”

He dipped his head, his slight grin falling against her ear. “What kind of male would I be to refuse my eager little mate?”

~~~~~

Rhysand

“You must realize, High Lord, our daughter has no place here. She belongs to the Prince of Spring.”

“I belong to no one.”

His mate looked positively delicious that evening, her soft curves wrapped in a backless gown  of midnight silk, a slit up the right side exposing one creamy leg. There wasn’t a single male in the room who didn’t do a double take at the sight of her—including his brother, posted in his usual position beside the High Lord’s throne, the loyal spymaster. She was nothing short of regal as she strode through the Court of Nightmares. And all his. “Mother. Father. You can go home now. Your reason for being here holds no power.”

“Darling, don’t be foolish. You don’t know what you're talking about.”

Head high, shoulders back, she assessed them with cold indifference, letting the condescension roll right off of her. Good girl. “What’s foolish is that you’ve stepped out of your territory to make demands you have no right to make.” 

“That’s enough, Feyre,” her father ordered. “Until you’re married you are my responsibility.”

“Try to marry me off to Tamlin,” Feyre dared them. “Try to force me back to Spring. Try to use me for your gain, Father, and see what happens. With a bond so fresh, my mate lacks the patience and grace I’ve shown you thus far.” Cold satisfaction filled him as he watched the pair of intruders go from irritation to shock.

“You little fool. Do you know what you’ve cost us?” 

Her mother’s hand rose up, pausing as a deadly snarl ripped through the air. His own, he realized. Once again his mate was under threat, this time with a raw bond forged and fed. The dark power under his skin yawned awake, making itself known. He’d pay for the display later, he knew, but his current priorities had nothing to do with his father’s fondness. “Strike my mate and I’ll mist you on the spot, Lady Archeron.” White as a sheet, Feyre’s parents exchanged a glance. “Step away from her.” They obeyed, eyes glued to the marble as he prowled closer. His own father merely sipped his wine, looking on with open amusement, despite the power display Rhys had just impulsively flaunted.

“You will go home. You will reach out to the Spring High Lord and tell him whatever deal you struck is void. You will tell him that your daughter is mated to the Heir of the Night Court and any attempt to go through with this pathetic arrangement will be taken as and dealt with as a threat to the court and crown.”

“Please, understand—”

“You were told to leave,” Feyre interrupted them, sweeping an arm towards the chamber’s nearest exit route. “Now leave.” The moment they winnowed, Feyre turned on his father. “If that’s all, High-Lord.”

Rhys held back a curse as his father’s eyes widened marginally, the only sign of surprise he was willing to show. “Quite a tongue on you, Feyre.”

“Pardon my abrasiveness. I am eager to see my sister.” She gave an almost sarcastic curtsy that left the court tittering. “If that is all, High Lord, I request my leave.”

Straightening on his throne, he assessed her, withholding the dismissal she desired. How many times had he pulled that same card on Rhys when he was a boy—tried to force him to inferiority? “It is very fortunate that you belong to my son. Remember that, Feyre, the next time you open your mouth in the presence of a superior.”

“Enough, Father.” Feyre didn’t argue as he shifted in front of her. “She meant no disrespect,” he placated, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.

“Playing with fire, darling.”

“Am I? Good.”

“I’m sure she didn’t. Enjoy your time in Day. Try not to do anything foolish.” Like turning a court monument to rubble, went unspoken. “You’ll be returning to the camps after this visit of yours is through.”

“Yes, Father.”

Ignoring the continuous whisperings of the court, Rhys winnowed them from Hewn City back to Velaris where they could change into something a little less formal and pack what they needed for the trip to Day. “You were brilliant. He’s an asshole and always will be. Don’t let it bother you.”

She nodded, but didn’t say anything regarding her parents or his father’s degrading remarks as they gathered their things. “The camps he mentioned. It’s the same place you were telling me about when you told me about the wing-clipping?”

“Windhaven, yes.”

“You don’t like going there.”

“They know, despite my father’s actions when my mother was meant to be clipped, he will not bother changing their ways. They also know I do not share his beliefs, but can do nothing significant before I become High Lord. The only respect they hold for me is as a Carynthian—an elite warrior. I fought in their units during the war when my father assigned me there. They obeyed my orders as their commander, but it was not a brotherhood. When my unit was captured…”

Horror flashed in her eyes and guilt squeezed tight in his chest. “It’s a time long since past.”

“Ten years is not so long to an immortal, Rhys.”

He sighed, bending to kiss her cheek. “You’re lovely for trying to help, but I don’t care to discuss it. Come. The sooner we leave, the more time you will have with your sister.” Her frown told him she knew he was manipulating the conversation, but she was also too considerate to push him to talk about something that made him uncomfortable. “All set?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

~~~~~

Feyre

She surrendered to the now-familiar pull of Rhys’ magic, keeping her eyes shut until her stomach stopped spinning. The first sound to greet her was the screech of a bird, then a soft sob. “Feyre!”  As soon as she’d stepped out of Rhys’ arms she was wrapped up in her sister’s, tears soaking through the thin fabric of her dress. “You’re okay. You’re okay, aren’t you? I mean, the last thing I heard, you were set to be fed to that beast and then it was killed and you were missing. When Helion told me you were coming to visit I couldn’t believe it.”

“Here’s the proof,” she murmured softly. “I’m fine, Elain. What about you?”

Her sister was silent for a moment. Long enough that she felt justified in checking Elain for any signs of mistreatment. Beyond looking a bit tired, nothing seemed wrong with her sister. She was as stunning as ever. A healthy weight too. More than that, she seemed to fit in here. From the unrestrictive clothes to the circlet on her arm—the equivalent of a wedding band, Feyre had heard—to her very skin, flushed by the sun and complimenting the soft pink gown she wore, the panels fluttering in the breeze. She belonged here.

Still, for all her apparent comfort, Elain hesitated to speak freely. Something told Feyre that had more to do with the company she brought than anything. 

“Rhys…”

“I’m going to go tell Helion we’ve just arrived. I’ll find you again soon, Feyre.” Kissing her softly, Rhys pulled away, heading towards the entrance where Helion waited to give them the privacy her sister desired.

At last, Elain spoke again. “Raising a child alone is more difficult than I expected,” she confessed. “I miss Lucien terribly. And these suitors… He isn’t dead, Feyre. I would know if my mate was dead, wouldn’t I?”

Feyre paused, an unfamiliar pity building in her chest as she hugged her sister again. “I’d imagine so.”

If Lucien was her mate, that changed everything. But if infidelity wasn’t what kept him from home, what could be? He was smart. Cunning even. And he knew how to sail. He’d been away from Day for years and hadn’t once winnowed or sailed home to see his wife and son, a school-age boy now who would need his father’s guidance.

“If you know Lucien is alive, why does Helion not send a ship out to search the best routes to and from The Continent? Why does he allow the suitors into his home? Why are they permitted to pursue you?”

“They bear no ill will, yet. And there are some who pose offers for Day one might consider, if my mate were truly dead. As for the ships? Several have gone out over the past few years and none have returned. Either destroyed in a storm or losing their course, we can’t say.”

“No one takes to the sea without learning the constellations. They’re the truest map.”

“Perhaps not. Perhaps they have shifted.”

“The stars stay true to their seasons. Elain—”

“What else would keep my mate from me?! From raising his son?! Ten years without a father and I can still offer him nothing more than my own fragile hope, Feyre.” Her voice broke. “I told myself when I was a girl that I wouldn’t rely on a male. That I would endure an arrangement if I must. Look at what I’ve become. Desperate, unmoored, and the wolves can scent it on me. They think I will break under their promises and pressure. That I will stray.”

The last word was hardly a whisper. A taboo thought to a mated female that she now recognized on her own soul-deep level. She couldn’t imagine her sister’s agony though. If Rhys had been captured and killed during the war or lost to a storm, she would never know it beyond word of the grapevine. She would never have grieved him. But Elain was mated before the princes were called to the front lines.

This grief was one she may never know and could not do anything more than listen and attempt to sympathize.  For once, she initiated comfort rather than distancing herself from her sibling, slowly stroking her hair, rubbing her back, holding her tight as Elain had done some twenty odd years ago when Feyre was just a child frightened of a stormy sky and crashing sea.

“You have endured this long, Elain. Have faith a while longer. Carry what hope remains. If there is one thing that will bring him home it is your bond.”

~~~~~

Taglist: @lulling-night-sky // @edgyellie // @shallyne // @the-lonelybarricade // @darling-archeron // @goddess-aelin // @the-lost-changeling // @faeriequeensuriel // @pandavelaris // @s-uppertime // @elentiya-whitethorn // @acotar-fanns // @jealousveronya // @acourtofwips // @reverie-tales // @gwynkyrie // @corcracrow // @thelovelymadone // @rosanna-writer // @eat0crow

[nicromancytarot]

THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ON KNOWING MY FUTURE SPOUSE AND THEM BEING SOMEWHAT KNOWN TOO

This one was requested bitches, suck on that!

I’ve spoken to and connected with their spirit guides, they scare me lmao, I spoke to them most when I was aware that my future spouse was going through something tough and I wanted to just have a little check in with his energy. It was terrifying, my spirit guides are funny and unserious, these ones were so serious bro, I felt like I should’ve been on my best behaviour.

There were a few times I wished they weren’t my future spouse, mainly when they got semi cancelled and I didn’t really know what to do about that situation, luckily for me it wasn’t anything serious, but it does make you worry if they’d still be that person to you even after something serious does happen. (which it won’t, but let me hypothesise) Like I said before, I always feel guilty about not watching his content anymore, it’s just not really my thing now, I’m focused on other stuff and it doesn’t quite fit in there. However as his future spouse I feel like I owe it to him. (I’m not gonna start again, too stubborn)

Deny deny deny was my most honest reaction to all of this, I mean you find out that this person who’s content you enjoy is your future spouse, obviously you’re going to deny it. Dude I thought I was going through fucking spiritual psychosis or something, straight up thought I was insane.

Did I believe that it was them immediately? NO LMAO ABSOLUTELY NOT, I remember finding those synchronicities and then imagining myself going on tour to his home country and meeting a lovely man or woman while I’m on stage and falling in love with my audience member 🦅, bro goofed up my fantasy.

Am I thankful that it’s them? Yes, anyone ever has only ever said good things about them, about how kind and considerate they are, just all around a great person, obviously I feel very honoured to be part of the lineup for their potential future spouse.

Do I have hope that we will end up together? Honestly yes, I feel like it motivates me even more to reach out into the music industry, my spirit guides have very particular ways of pushing that ideal towards me. They gave me a bunch of “answers” to the universe (which I will speak on if you would like) and at the time I was 17 never leaving my house, so again I felt very isolated since it was clear that to get out that message I have to work hard to be part of an industry that little old me will be listened to and heard.

Bonus astrology synchronicity for you (I have pages and pages written down of this stuff I swear) my future spouse’s occupation (not his current, but his next) is in my 4th house, my future occupation is in his 4th house too, very fancy, very nice. Which once again feeds the whole “if I marry him, that means I made it in the industry” so it makes me feel like since he’s my future spouse, I’m somewhat on the right road to achieving my career goals!!

[starryjkoo]

"stop saying armys hate jimin, solo losers 😌"

and yet armys* are out here crying over a taekook au being deleted/canceled to protect jimin from getting indirect hate bc 99% of this fandom can't separate fiction from reality.....

https://x.com/vkoobiezluvr/status/1876303393016393846

*i'm saying this as an army that doesn't like solos btw 💀

omg I was literally just going through the quotes of this tweet right before you sent this lmao 😭 was it really a tkk AU?? that’s extremely messed up if it was. I somehow missed all of this and I’m just seeing the whole squid games au thing now so my understanding of the situation is kind of vague.

you know on one hand I get their perspective. ARMYtwt has been miserable lately. I think some ARMYs underestimate the importance of this kind of stuff in growing the community and keeping ARMYs engaged, happy and united (as corny as I personally find it). Just talking about charts and streaming is not going to interest a lot of people, and things being so intense and miserable all the time is not great for moral either. If there was NO shipping in the AU and no singular villain I get how it could be okay and I can sympathize with the ARMYs who were upset that it got canceled.

On the other hand… we have literally seen this play out before, we have seen how many ARMYs do not have the maturity to handle it, we have seen how it led to JM receiving hate & how many ARMYs straight up did not care… imo it’s fair to be wary and skeptical - especially if the OP doesn’t even want to reveal their main account? Like sorry but that’s a major red flag for me. I can understand why they wouldn’t want to, but I’m not going to trust someone to handle something like this if I don’t even know who they are (my bad if i missed who the OP was?)

Also from what I’m seeing the ARMYs mad about it being possibly cancelled are being completely dismissive of why others are concerned in the first place, which isn’t a good sign that they’ve learned from past mistakes 😬 It’s clear their own entertainment is the priority here, which is fair enough, but it’s also why I don’t feel particularly bad for them lol. the majority of them also seem to be shippers of some sort so…

Anyways I see how it could be unproblematic if the right ppl were doing it but I don’t personally trust ARMYs to handle and run things like this atp so... it could just get weird/messy very easy and would be more fun for a small community to do together instead of the whole fandom, and yeah to your point the lack of care or consideration for what happened last time is just not a good look either. like some people straight up do not care about jm receiving hate, or entirely minimize it, which is so gross to me. maybe if they want to do stuff like this they should consider actually doing something about the toxic shippers that made the environment so volatile in the first place? 🥴

& if I’m being real here, no hate but I don’t understand why they want AUs in ARMY spaces so bad? I just think there’s other fun and interactive things we could do as a fandom tbh, and idk I just feel like some things are best left in shipping communities where they’re generally tagged and mostly only reaching their intended audiences but 😅

(OKAY I just wrote all that and then skimmed the quotes again and saw who one of the moderators was and NAH 💀 diet-solo tkkrs and JM antis were 100% involved in this lmao, I’m with you anon. I’m just going to post my whole response anyways since I already typed it all out, but that one moderator is 100% a tkkr and has been weird & shady towards JM/jkk a lot. im familiar with their little group of "ARMY" tkkrs too, so if they’re all involved in this, the AU being canceled is deserved 🤓 I hope it stays that way. sorry for being a hater but I’m so sick of these people and it's so lame the way that ARMYs keep platforming them. And yeah I'm 100000% wary of how JM would have been portrayed in this AU, it definitely would have been biased against him 🙄 just lame)

[rodneycomedyny]

How to Choose the Right Comedy Club in NYC for a Stand-Up Night Out

New York City is fast becoming one of the leading destinations for experiencing stand-up comedy. With overflowing talent, vivacious venues, and nightly shows, this is a city without end to entertain. But with so many options, how do you know which comedy club is the one to visit for a memorable night out? Here are some tips to comb through NYC's comedy scene and find that perfect spot for enjoying the laughter.

Consider the Type of Comedy You Enjoy

There are many kinds of comedy, ranging from observational humor to edgy, raw stand-up. There are a variety of comedy clubs in NYC that cater to different styles. Some venues specialize in headliners; others offer a venue for rising stars. Come to think about which type of humor you really like and search for clubs that can give you some of it. Open-mic nights are a great idea if you like finding new talent. For polished performances, try to find the clubs with well-known comedians on a regular basis.

Look at the Lineup and Reviews.

Before buying any comedy club tickets, it is necessary to check the club's website or their social media for upcoming performances. Most clubs provide performance schedules well in advance, meaning that you would be able to find out whom you will be seeing perform with a bit of digging on your part. Seek names you recognize or styles that sound appealing. You may also do some online research through reviews to find out how the whole experience looks in terms of mood, seating arrangements, and drinks offered.

Location and Accessibility

New York City is a big city where the convenience matters in any event. One important consideration in choosing a comedy club is its location. Choose one that is easy to reach by subway, cab, or foot. It will be more rewarding and less stressful if the experience is going to be continued after the show by using a centrally located venue.

For those from the Upper East Side, a very good option to enjoy is the Rodney Comedy, which seems to combine traditional stand-up with new-age humor and serves both natives and tourists well.

Check for Special Events or Theme Nights

Some clubs will hold one-night special events or themed shows or maybe celebrity drop-ins. Such nights can be quite eventful and worth seeking out. Comedy festivals, holiday editions, and charity nights can bring a very different kind of energy to the stage. For someone interested in exploring something other than stand up in NY, those added events can really spice up one's evening.

Budget and Ticket Prices

Comedy clubs' tickets in New York City are determined by the performers, venue, and day of the week. They might be charged a cover, which is really nice but has a two-drink minimum. For packages, there are also clubs. Also remember that if you are going to do a group activity, check for clubs that offer discounts on group reservations or reservations in advance. Keep your budget in mind to narrow down your choices.

Atmosphere and Vibe

The ambiance can either make or break a stand-up comedy experience. Clubs often vary in size and atmosphere; some are small and intimate, while others are large and energetic. Smaller clubs have room for more interaction between the comedian and audience, which makes the experience feel very personal. Larger venues can have the feel of excitement with the large crowd, though, and they can have high-profile performers in them.

Among them is Rodney Comedy, which boasts a great warm and welcoming atmosphere with its very talented entertainers. It simply bestows that great experience at that venue, really whether you are going to be a frequent customer or a first-time visitor.

Conclusion

Selecting the perfect comedy club in NYC can really get on one’s nerves, not until one considers the comedy style they enjoy or want to see, where exactly the club is, how much they want to spend, and the atmosphere they wish to bask in. Certainly, with venues like the Rodney Comedy Club to reference, you are sure to discover what really does the trick in terms of delivering memorable performances and making you laugh. So, line your evening up, grab those tickets for the comedy club, and gear yourselves to the very best New York has to offer in terms of stand-up comedy prowess.

[heyifinallyhaveablog]

A Fan in Distress:

This post is basically being sent in vacuum, since this is probably the millionth of its kind on Tumblr relating to J.K. Rowling. I for one, could relate to Harry Potter for the longest time, until very recently, since once you try reviving an old favourite of yours, chances are, that you might love them, or find yourself in an ethical dilemma worse than ever.

TLDR: As of today, I harbour no ethical dilemmas. Whatever JKR has said and done in enforcement of her transphobia is problematic, and considering her power and position is inexcusable. Her social capital has already been elevated enough to shield her from the monetary effects of any backlash thereof. And we don't need to add to it.

Time to let the Harry Potter franchise rest in its grave.

---

Here, I'll confess my own sins. I'm an owner of all seven of those books. I've loved all of them more than life itself. I've loved Neville and I've loved Dobby. Completing my HP set was my first quest after I'd started earning, and I'd very recently bought the Harry Potter Almanac. It was actually after this purchase that YouTube (courtesy of its algorithm) threw up two podcast videos for me to listen to while working. (Yeah, I live under a rock, and, yes, apparently this issue of JKR being a transphobe hasn't really gained much audience in our country. I sincerely doubt that many people knew of this. They probably still don't.)

But yes, while ignorance may be blissful, it is certainly not desirable. And this is where those podcast videos by Contrapoints and Jesse Gender educated me about this issue. Particularly Aranock's testimony of her experience as a trans female, particularly with respect to the hatred and harassment she was subjected to after JKR's spiteful revelations actually shook me to the core. I felt despair, sadness, anger and yes, Guilt too.

I'D FELT CHEATED.

Because, you don't listen, JKR. For some reason, you've refused to listen, heed, and reason. This probably won't reach you, but I'm sure you would know what being unheard feels like, and here, you are, after having written of inclusion and consideration, love and respect, in your set of fantasy novels, standing on your millions that those novels got you, and yet, becoming the exact polar opposite of what you'd preached, and hurting millions in your obstinacy. You are now leading us to believe that your make believe world holds no good for anything apart from the age old viciously exclusionary social mores that people are fighting so hard against. Even to this day, even in countries as evolving as mine, even in countries as 'developed' as yours.

But yes, none of this makes any difference to you, does it? And as for us, we shall definitely adjust and cast aside something that millions of us grew up to love. For that, is the right thing to do.

So henceforth-

No Harry Potter merchandise for me.

No more Harry Potter books/films for me.

Harry Potter shan't be passed to my children from me. But yeah, Sandman certainly will.

An ashamed ex-Potterhead

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Do you have any opinions on how many people are lauding Barbie as THE feminist movie instead of a movie which kind of touches upon certain aspects of feminism without really dealing with any of the actual undertones of it? Like I know a fun summer movie (or any movie tbh) doesn't NEED to address all nitty gritties of a socio-cultural phenomenon but at the same time I personally feel that the exaggerated depiction of how patriarchy works (which is definitely a stylistic choice) brushes aside too many real world impacts for it to be considered as some kind of cultural icon for feminism. None of the above takes away from its entertainment factor for me.

Yes, I do have some thoughts about that. I am following a lot of Barbie coverage, from reviews to tumblr posting, twitter and tiktok. It's everywhere. But it doesn't mean that my exposure fully encapsulates the entire discourse(s) surrounding the film. So my perspective is strictly my own and in no way representative of how the film is or should be perceived/criticized/lauded.

I personally didn't think of it as the quintessential feminist movie. That's too broad a label that does more harm than good. It is but a version of feminism, mostly your basis 101 white feminism a la Greta Gerwig and one that it's easy to digest, to reach a big audience and one that doesn't interfere too much with the corporation. It reminded me of how I used to see the word in my first year of college when I started getting into contact with feminism and my eyes suddenly opened.

It's not interesectional feminism, it does gloss over some issues and I'm not trying to justify it too much because there are enough people pointing that out rightfully so and are more in the right to talk about it than I am.

Am I part of the target audience for Barbie? Yes and no. Mostly yes, but there are experiences in the film that do no speak to me. What does that mean? I think it reflects my life and how I adhere to this mainstream feminism knowing that it's not really entirely for me.

What I can say, and I know this will sound exactly like white feminism, is that some aspects tackled in the film are universal. What I mean by that is questioning our purpose and how we perform gender. I've been struggling with that. I too look at other women thinking they have it all figured it out and they know how to be women (based on some idea in my head), while I don't, which makes me question how I don't do a good job at being a woman. Is seeing Margot Robbie as stereotypical Barbie questioning her purpose the same? No. Because I do not look like Margot Robbie (and the film smartly pointed out the absurdity). And then there was Gloria's speech which is again about this general idea of never feeling that you are enough and no matter what you do, there is always more to improve and balance and how shitty it is when it fact we should just be allowed to exist. All of us, regardless of any aspect of our identities. All of this spoke to me, but it doesn't mean the film didn't cater more to a specific experience of being a girl/woman in patriarchal structures through the lens of a straight, white perspective. It's not innovative because it's definitely not the first film to even address it like that. What is noteworthy though is how successful it is. That usually doesn't happen with films predominantly made by women and for women (and men too in the case of Barbie, too bad some of them refuse to aknowledge it). It's a blockbuster hit with a direct feminist message. I think that's important to note, as long as we take into consideration the nuances when we talk about Barbie.

[taiyaki-translations]

Happy Charm - Educe 1

Season: Spring Characters: Subaru, Eichi, Sora Translators & Proofreaders: taiyaki-translations, citrinesea, toujokaname

<A certain plaza>

Subaru: If I want the treasure, I'll have to defeat you two… What do you mean by that?

Eichi: Fufu. It means exactly that. We're the guardians protecting this treasure chest.

Subaru-kun. I can't allow you to proceed beyond this point.

Subaru: ......!

Eichi: (I never imagined I would end up fighting with you like this.)

(And yet, I'm sorry. I can't let you find the treasure chest here.)

(It's unfortunate, but surrender nice and peaceful for us.)

Subaru: No, no, we should be thanking you! It was a very fun live!

Would we like to join you again if there's another chance? Of course! I'll let Hokke~–

…I mean, I'll let our leader know.

You've got more work after this? Gotcha, do your best, 'kay~☆

Eichi: How rare it is, for you to be chatting happily with a junior like that, Subaru-kun.

Subaru: Uwah, you surprised me~?

Eichi-senpai, you were in the office? I didn't notice you at all.

Eichi: I just got back from a meeting. Well, soon after this, I'm about to leave again, though.

Still, it's rare for you to be in-office. Did you have some sort of business to take care of?

Subaru: Nah. I just stopped by 'cause I finished work early.

Hokke~ and the others have more work to do, but I'm off after this~ I was thinking of practicing on my own for a bit.

Eichi: Oh, really? So you have time now. In that case, could you talk with me for a moment?

Subaru: With you? I don’t mind, but… 

…No, that's kinda sketchy~ Are you up to something?

Eichi: Fufu, oh, it's nothing like that ♪

Recently, you took part in a junior's live show as a surprise guest — or so I've heard. Seems like it was a great success, huh.

Subaru: Oh yeah, seems like one of the units that were scheduled couldn’t make it~ 

We happened to hear about it and thought "Why not join in?"...So we reached out to them. 

It was exciting to see that the live stage was bigger than I expected! 

Eichi: How very typical of you all. I heard that the audience was delighted with Trickstar's appearance as well.

...Nevertheless, you ought to be a little more cognizant of the influence you wield.

Subaru: Eh, what do you mean? 

Eichi: It seems that word of Trickstar's participation in the live show spread through social media, so more guests flocked to the venue than expected. 

They were short on staff to handle the guests, and it caused a mad rush backstage.

Fortunately, none of the audience members seemed to be injured.

Subaru: Eichi-senpai, are you angry, maybe? 

Eichi: It's not so much anger as it is a warning. Let's just make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again next time. 

It's perfectly fine for you guys to stand on stage as idols. Being active is a good thing.

I won't ask you to report on every kind of job that you take, as I'm already accustomed to your stance on the matter.

However, you need to think a bit more carefully about the impact of your actions when you decide to participate in something.

In this case, if you had informed us when your participation was decided, we would've been able to supplement the staff, right?

Subaru: Ah~ That's true. Since it happened so fast, it didn't cross our minds… Sorry about that, Eichi-senpai. 

Eichi: No need. All I'm asking is for you to be more careful from now on.

I tend to find myself troubled by your spur-of-the-moment actions, but I also understand that's part of Trickstar's charm as a unit.

Once more, I hope you will learn from your behavior and strive to create a stage where you and all your fans can smile.

Subaru: Okay, got it. …I'll let Hokke~ and the others know too. 

Subaru: (Sigh) It's been a while since I've gotten a warning like that from Eichi-senpai~ 

I'm not told stuff like that often. It's usually Hokke~ or Sally~ who hear it from him.

But we shouldn’t cause trouble for the customers and staff. I have to be more considerate…

Sora: Sparkly Onii~san, I found you! 

Subaru: Ah, it's Yellow Kid, isn't it? 

And Anzu is with you too! Yaho yaho ☆

Sora: Sparkly Onii~san! Do you wanna join Sora's party? 

Subaru: Party? Are you throwing a party, Yellow Kid? 

Of course that's okay with me~♪ Just hearing the word "party" gets me all excited! 

Sora: HaHa~♪ Everyone has fun "colors" at parties, so Sora loves them too! 

But that's not the kind of party Sora is talking about~? Sorry for confusing you. 

Sora wants Sparkly Onii~san to join his treasure hunting party!

Subaru: Treasure hunting!? That sounds fun! 

Anzu? You want me to look at the proposal? 

…Ohh~ So there's a TV program where people split into teams to find treasure chests hidden around town. 

And you guys are looking for idols to join the ES team. 

Sora: When Sora thinks of treasure, he thinks of sparkly things~ And when Sora thinks of sparkly things, he thinks of Sparkly Onii~san… So Sora went to look for you! 

Will you go on an adventure with Sora?

Subaru: That sounds like a blast, how can I say no?! Count me in! 

Sora: HiHi~! Sparkly Onii~san has joined Sora’s party~♪

Subaru: Yup, once again, nice working with you, Yellow Kid. And Anzu too ♪

Also, I saw from the proposal that we need a team of three. Do you know who the other person's gonna be? 

Sora: Nope, Sora's still thinking~ There are lots of reliable people around Sora, so it's hard to decide?

Subaru: Mhmhm, I get that.

Oh, that's right. Why don't you ask Natsume? Maybe he can find the treasure using his fortune-telling powers!

Sora: Sora also thought about inviting Shisho~. Sora thought it would be fun to go treasure hunting together.

But if Shisho~ is with Sora, Sora might rely too much on him... 

This time, Sora wants to find the treasures without Shisho~'s help! 

Then, we'll get first place and Shisho~ will praise Sora lots! 

Subaru: Got it, got it. Natsume will miss you, but he'll be happy to hear you worked hard and tried your best. 

Sora: Hm~, but we have to decide on a third person~ What should we do…? 

Subaru: For now, let's go around ES and see who we can find. I've got nothing going on after this. 

We gotta put in the effort if we wanna get someone for our team!

Sora: Sora agrees~♪ Well, let's go to the cafeteria first!

Translation Note: Educe means "to bring out or develop (something latent or potential)," which Eichi will actually talk about later in the story!

Directory | Next

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 3: Grassland Journey

Narrated by Jiang Beixi.

Vivian: Kind mister! Please, you gotta come pick me up in 5 days!

Guide: Of course, of course. This is the fifth time you’ve said this today.

Vivian: Promise me you’ll come! Don’t abandon poor little me!

Narrator: Vivian waves to the tour guide and his jeep. I sigh. If she hates being here so much, why didn’t she just stay in the hotel?

Narrator: I aim my cameras at the riverbank where the plants are lush and settle down to wait. Vivian, restless, starts pacing around.

Jiang Beixi: Don’t get in the way.

Vivian: I can’t get a signal on my phone...

Narrator: She gives me puppy eyes. I shrug. Not like there’s anything I can do. She paces a bit more and tries to start a conversation.

Vivian: How can you capture anything that far from the reindeer?

Jiang Beixi: Those are antelopes.

Vivian: I know, I know. They’re practically the same thing anyway.

Vivian: Oh, look, zebras! Do you think they’re black with white stripes or white with black stripes?

Jiang Beixi: I’m busy.

Narrator: I focus on the three cameras, barely able to spare her a reply.

Narrator: Vivian quiets down for two minutes before launching into a monologue.

Vivian: Welcome to today’s Wilderness Party! In this episode, we’ll be observing some animals that look just like reindeer.

Vivian: But they’re not reindeer. They’re antelopes!

Narrator: She speaks brightly, energetically, in an engaging manner. No wonder she’s a popular TV personality.

Vivian: So... what are these groups of antelopes doing? Are they partying with the zebras?

Jiang Beixi: Ahem...

Jiang Beixi: The antelopes are defending their territory. Areas with flowing water and lush grass are hard to come by here.

Vivian: That’s right! The antelopes may seem cute and harmless, but they’re in fact the lords of this territory!

Vivian: Now, they’ve managed to chase away the white-striped black zebras and black-striped white zebras!

Vivian: Out of the way, or we’ll eat you all! Roooar!

Jiang Beixi: Antelopes are herbivores. They won’t eat the zebras.

Vivian:  You’re lucky we’re vegetarians. Get lost or we’ll ram our antlers into your tummies!

Narrator: The zebras finally retreat, and Vivian concludes her narration. I gather the cameras and get ready to head to our next stop.

Narrator: ...Maybe I need a break. Tuning out Vivian’s whimsical narration really took a toll on me.

Vivian: So what are you filming next?

Jiang Beixi: I’ll follow the antelopes a bit. Their predators, Wasteland lions, will often show up near their territories.

Vivian: Ooh! Wasteland lions? I could come up with some ideas for an episode about that.

Jiang Beixi: So you made up that whole “episode” off the bat just now?

Vivian: Yep. As you know, I’m not that knowledgeable in this field. I just like making stuff up and pleasing the audience.

Narrator: Vivian easily admits her lack of common sense and plops down next to me, stretching lazily.

Vivian: You should tell me a bit about Wasteland lions later. I’d seem less like a joke that way.

Jiang Beixi: You’re not that bad. The articles you wrote are pretty interesting.

Vivian: Wait, you read those?

Narrator: She stares at me, incredulous. I guess I don’t seem like the type to be interested in fashion and entertainment.

Jiang Beixi: I have to learn about my new partner before we start working together.

Jiang Beixi: I know your shows have a larger target audience than mine.

Vivian: ...So you take the target audience into consideration, too?

Jiang Beixi: Anyone who wants to produce a good program would.

Narrator: Silence again, but a pleasant one. The wind rustles the grass. Somehow, it feels like we’ve reached an understanding.

Jiang Beixi: ...You really don’t want to stay for the entirety of the filming?

Vivian: Well, let’s continue filming and see...

Vivian: So... let’s go? Find the Wasteland lions?

Choose either “Does it count as a reconciliation?” or “Got to keep up the good work.”

If “reconciliation,” ...

You: So you guys reconciled?

Narrator: We weren’t exactly fighting in the first place.

Narrator: I’m glad that Vivian is considering staying, though. We may be very different, but she’s a good producer.

If “work,” ...

You: It’d be beneficial for the production if you keep this up.

Narrator: We still have our differences, but I know Vivian has a lot to bring to the table for this production.

--

Narrator: Five days later, the guide finds us at a swamp frequented by crocodiles. As expected, we’re quarreling.

Vivian: That’s way too much crocodile footage! No one will get it! Who wants to watch an episode that’s got nothing but crocodiles?

Jiang Beixi: They are all different crocodile species, with unique habits and traits. These are valuable recordings.

Vivian: Come on! You’re the only one interested in stuff like that! It won’t make a show successful!

Guide: Stop fighting!

Vivian: Oh, hey, what are you doing here?

Guide: Didn’t you tell me to come pick you up in five days?

Vivian: Huh? Oh, I changed my mind. My phone had no signal, so I couldn’t text you about it. Sorry...

Narrator: With the careless apology, Vivian turns back to me and continues our argument, leaving the poor tour guide looking baffled.

Guide: ...Uh, I’ll get going then. And watch out, that crocodile is coming closer.

Vivian: Wait! Here’s an outfit sketch. Please ask someone in Vanta to make two sets for us to be used for future filming.

Narrator: The same sketch from a week ago has been tweaked to accommodate both of our preferences. It’s shorter and more casual now.

Narrator: The pattern on the fabric, too, has changed into a thrazledil motif. The Vantans consider it a symbol of friendship.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

[trashlie]

hey, i'm that anon that sent you the long message about FP 215 and 216 a while ago, thank you for giving such an elaborate response. and i hope you get plenty of time to relax and catch up on sleep, make sure to drink lots of water! 💗

i'm dropping by to bring up a couple of points for your consideration, if you don't mind. just something i've been thinking about lately.

i absolutely agree with you that kousuke doesn't really want nol out of his life. in my opinion, the reason is not guilt or jealousy or loneliness (i bet he'd 100% prefer being an only child even if his siblings were born in wedlock, also he's had a friend group in college, so he is/was capable of making friends). the reason for it is fear. 1) fear of disappointing father - since kousuke is nol's 'guardian' and if anything happens to nol, it'll be a 'failure' on his side and strain his relationship with rand. 2) fear of losing control - nol being gone = out of reach = out of his control = unpredictable = more of a threat. and we know how much kousuke needs to control everything in his life. 3) fear of losing a part of his identity - being 'better' than nol has become a big part of who he is. kousuke is nothing without his name, the company, etc. similarly, traits like being the better, smarter, more successful brother, the golden child, the 'rightful' heir have all become a part of him thanks to nol. kousuke can only achieve those by bringing nol down to push himself up. he needs nol to remind him of those traits, and he needs nol so he can look better compared to him to other people. and i believe he subconsciously realizes this, and hates nol even more for it.

in general, a lot of kousuke's behavior and the main reason for kousuke's mental state is that he's being eaten alive by his fears. fear of failure, fear of disappointment, fear of his image being damaged, fear of not being in control, fear of being exposed, fear of being nothing, fear of losing everything etc. some of those fears are made up and/or planted by yui (like disappointing his father, or nol being the enemy), but to kousuke, they're very much real. and if kousuke's going to grow, dealing with those fears, and recognizing the root causes of them (there's multiple), will be a big part of it. for now, in his current state... it seems to me like he's completely overwhelmed and craves safety more than anything, and well. yui is right there. idk if the brothers can ever reconcile tbh... it seems to me that nol hasn't completely lost hope in his brother yet, so it'll completely depend on kousuke.

and good point, you're probably right about nessa protecting nol from yui until she couldn't anymore, i didn't think of that, thanks for pointing it out! we still know so little about nessa and yui both, it's going to be really interesting to learn more about them...

AAAAHHHH hello Nonny! I've been looking forward to you coming back! Also thank you! I am trying my best!!! This week has not been my best but at least my brain is feeling less sluggish, so there's that at least!

Also I have got to say, reading this message made me feel really weepy. I think it's obvious, but Kousuke is a character I've come to be just as invested in as I am in Nol and Shinae and now Alyssa, and I think you hit the nail right on the head. I think because of the way Kousuke has treated Nol, and his apparent privilege coupled with his less than savory personality, a lot of readers just kind of... dismiss him. And to some degree, I get it. Kousuke is rarely doing himself any favors to endear the audience to him - but that is what makes him such a fascinating character. The story proves that privilege and opportunity alone are not enough, but it also shows us that people do not exist in a vacuum, and that everything they do is impacted by and also impacts something else.

And you're right - it does come down to fear, and there's a reason fear remains a prevailing emotion/driver in many stories. I think man vs man conflict so often comes down to fear, it's the root of a lot of ugly emotion. Jealousy stems from it - a fear that someone has something you don't, that maybe you'll never come to possess yourself.

I think there's a lot to be said of formative foundations. Had Kousuke been older when he learned of Nol, had he received security and love and comfort from his parents, maybe we wouldn't be here. But it was when he was young enough to be influenced, when he was so lacking in his father's love, and to learn that this boy knew there existed a side to Rand that he himself had never met? It never registered to him that Nol had never actually met him because fear came crashing down - all those rumors people were whispering about him were true. Rand, the man too busy for his own son, too busy for his own family, had a whole other family, and they knew a version of him that he'd never gotten to meet. It took root in him at such a young age all it could do was grow with him like a weed. He had no way to know otherwise!

And something that really fosters all that fear IS the fact that he endured that kind of neglect. On some level, Kousuke knows what Yui does. He's gone to great lengths to try to keep his life private from her so she doesn't interfere. He was rightfully upset when he realized she'd gone behind his back to hire Shinae (and under such false pretenses, too!) and upset about the birthday antics. But he still went to her when he found out Nol might leave, that he might have a one up on him. He knows Yui is horrible, but she's also his only pillar of security. She's also the one who fosters that sort of false reality he lives in, because it's only there that he has that security. When facts and logic counter what he believes, he loses control, and he retreats into the version of reality he knows, because that's the only place he feels safe. I think that's a big reason why he cannot face the truth, why he so often finds himself rewriting accounts of things that happened - he cannot handle the unsettling dissonance between what he believes and what is so.

What a driver fear is, too! On some level, I think Kousuke might be aware of that connection of his identity with Nol. Perhaps not on a conscious level, but I think subconscious he reacts to Nol leaving for exactly that reason - without Nol to serve as a metric for which to measure himself against, how can he be sure he's better, he's the best? As much as Kousuke's identity is wrapped up in trying to please his father and earn a transactional concept of love, it's also wrapped up in being Nol's guardian - which, as you point out, is just an offshoot of not disappointing Rand. I definitely agree, too; it just makes that resentment stronger. Wouldn't you feel a little self-loathing, too, knowing that you can only see your greatness if you see how you measure against someone else? Living and believing this person you are constantly trying to be better than might know something you don't, might have been privy to something you never were? Acknowledging that he tears down Nol because a part of him doesn't trust that he can lord over him unless he does, that maybe he COULD best him?

It makes such COMPELLING storytelling! Once you can see Kousuke from this angle, it makes sense - why he can't stop trying to drag Nol down into his pit, why he stumbles on reality and has to rewrite things, why he's so desperately in need of control. It's so easy to say that Kousuke should know better because he's an adult, but one of the loudest, flashiest messages of ILY is that age does not make someone any better lol. Wisdom doesn't come with age - it comes with experience and also humility. There's no room for that in Kousuke's life and his experiences definitely are lesser than others. He's surrounded by people who tell him what he wants to hear, who just make nice with him to get by and maybe see if they can take advantage of their proximity to him. What experiences does he have, outside of those with Nol, that can drown out the fear he's living with?

Something someone brought up on reddit was that Kousuke was, for the most part, pretty "chill" (lol chill for Kousuke that is) when we first met him at the start of the story. Okay, let's nix that, he DID trip Shinae for a piece of cake LMAO but that brings me to what I'm getting at. When the story opens, it feels like Kousuke isn't around Nol nearly as much. He has an informant in Soushi which allows Kousuke to keep tabs on Nol without needing to be involved, and he's at a sense of peace. When we see him interacting with Shinae, while he's definitely cold and blunt, he does try to treat her with some regard of respect after Shinae essentially saves his hide by keeping Nol's date-rape drink a secret. Now we certainly can argue that this is because Kousuke feels he is indebted to Shinae, but I think it's also because when he has less of that stress going on, when he has a clearer mind that's not so cluttered with his fear, he has room to be the gentleman he wants to believe he is, to be the person he hopes will make Rand proud.

But it's once Kousuke gets re-inserted in Nol's life - the hospital after the masquerade, Nol coming to work for the week, the entirety of the black and white formal - that's when we start to see all the cracks forming and watch Kousuke slowly start to lose that control and spiral. Nol coming to work was the real curveball for him. Not for one minute did Kousuke expect Nol to take work seriously, but worse, he never anticipated that Nol would be so good at it or that his people skills would illuminate a jarring truth that Kousuke had blinded himself to. From that very moment, Kousuke enters a grappling battle to maintain his role. It's not enough to be the heir - it's about impressing Rand, it's about earning some transactional love, it's about fulfilling a duty that he takes too seriously, it's about ensuring that he is not lost. I think to Kousuke you are in one of two places: either the light or the shadow, and you cannot share them. If Nol is in the light, that relegates Kousuke to the shadows, so compelled by fear, he starts on his quest to sabotage Nol, so that his own weaknesses are not illuminated by the points where Nol shines.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!! I really do have SO MANY thoughts and feelings these days about Kousuke and especially Kousuke and Nol, and the ways they are impacted by their families, the ways their circumstances pit them against each other. Kousuke has become a character I WANT to find his way, because I WANT him to be freed from the effects of his family and especially free of their control. I think your third point is SO VERY IMPORTANT because WHO is Kousuke outside of all of this? Who is he outside of Hirahara Heir, outside of besting Nol? He definitely knows there is something hollow and empty inside him - he wouldn't have to convince himself that he wants this career, that he wants to move to Japan, that he wants to do this if that wasn't true. He's so afraid that there is nothing more to him than the husk of a boy who is so desperate for his father's love, who tore others down for something that he ultimately never received, and frankly I cannot blame him for wanting to hide that and avoid facing it lol but I DO want to see him face that. I want to see what kind of person he decides to be outside of everything if he gets that chance. I say "gets that chance" but it's definitely more that he needs to actively come to that conclusion, but it's hard to imagine at this point what it will take for him to get there.

I don't think there's a lot that a conversation with Rand can do - though I do think that's highly necessary, if only to put everything in the open. I would love for Kousuke to get the chance to be honest with Rand, and not while being drunk leaving a voicemail or anything, but that's a big, big step. It goes against everything he's worked towards, goes against the very things that drive that fear. But I want to see him reach that point where he can tell Rand pointblank the ways he failed him, the way everything he ever did was because he just wanted that love and look at him, look at how he turned out! aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

I'm also inclined to believe the same as you re: Nol. I know Nol made it sound like he's absolutely done with Kousuke - and I certainly don't think he'll be welcoming him with open arms any time soon lol - but I think much like us as readers, much as characters like Hansuke and Yujing, I think Nol wants to see Kousuke break himself free. Let go of Rand, escape the sordid security blanket that is his relationship with Yui, and find himself. Become his OWN person. I think Nol will be more receptive to Kousuke when he can finally do that. Because again, as established, so much of Kousuke's personality thus far is just being better than Nol, is just trying to earn Rand's affection. But what does he do for himself? WHO is he? I think that's what Nol is waiting for and I don't think we'll see any kind of amicable relationship until that comes.

AAAHHHHHHHH this is so long lmao but MAN I have so many thoughts and feelings about this and I LOVE getting to talk to people about Kousuke when they can see these aspects of him. In an intriguing way, both Nol and Kousuke are driven by fear, right? Nol lives in fear of himself, of whatever guilt it is he carries. He carries this fear that he is a harbringer of doom and harm, that association with him will only get people hurt, that getting too close and caring too much is damning people, so he spent his life wearing a mask, trying to keep others at bay, trying to coast by and hope maybe, MAYBE he could absolve himself of whatever that guilt is by helping others. And when he got too close, when he started to care too much, he ran away, he lashed out, he took up a new facade. He's denied himself anything he wants or anything that brings him comfort out of fear. But where Nol's fear is internal, Kousuke's is so completely external. But at the end of the day, they are both driven by fear. Nol, I hope, will come to terms with the reality that he DOES have safe spaces. Nana loves him and wants to help him, wants him to live, wants him to find enjoyment. Shinae has proven what a caring friend she is, that even after the way he tried to ghost her and the guys, she still keeps coming back. But Kousuke doesn't quite have that support system Nol does. Or, rather, let me take that back. He does, he's just not aware of it and can't see it for that. He's so blinded by what he's lacking in a parental way that he can't see that Hansuke is the one person in the world who absolutely 100% has his back, and I think in time, depending on the choices he makes, he could find that in Yujing and Meg, both. (I think there is SO MUCH room for Meg and Kousuke to eventually be friends with a similar dynamic to him and Shinae - where she is no longer so besotted or obsessive and she can call him out when he's being y'know, Kousuke, where he can develop respect for her as a person. I want it SO badly lmao I want SO BADLY for him to come around on her!)

Basically a very important thing I think is: neither Nol nor Kousuke have that family relationship with their parents. Nol lost the one parent who ever gave him warmth and comfort, and I don't think Yui sees Kousuke as a son so much as an extension of himself. I think found family is the way to go for them. Nol has it, if he's willing to let them be that, if he can swallow his fear and let them be there for him. I think Kousuke could have it, too, if he, too, is able to let go of his fear. AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I told you, just nonstop FEELINGS over here lmao thank you for always indulging me and my longwinded responses ;~; I just get SO EXCITED to talk about this, and especially to have these conversations who think so similarly about Kousuke and don't immediately go "throw him away he's irredeemable trash" lajfkafjkafjkaf lmao like fine for people who have those opinions but I just wanna dig into why these characters do the messy shit they do LMAO

[theblogs2024]

The Way to Grow Your YouTube Channel: Tested Techniques for achievement

Building An effective YouTube channel is a journey that needs time, exertion, as well as a deep knowledge of what tends to make articles interesting to viewers. With countless channels competing for focus, escalating on YouTube can appear complicated. However, with the ideal approaches and regular work, it’s Completely possible to stand out and entice a loyal audience. In the following paragraphs, we’ll check out tested procedures that may help you increase your YouTube channel and improve your visibility.

1. Define Your Area of interest

Among the list of 1st ways to escalating your YouTube channel is finding your specialized niche. Your area of interest is the specific spot of desire that sets you besides Some others. By specializing in a selected subject, it is possible to catch the attention of a devoted audience that shares the exact same pursuits. Irrespective of whether It is really tech assessments, cooking tutorials, Health suggestions, or gaming, be certain your content material is specific and pertinent.

Tips for defining your market: Evaluate the kinds of written content you’re keen about. Analysis your audience's requires and preferences. Check for gaps in content material where you can offer you a singular standpoint. 2. Constant and Significant-Top quality Written content Development

Regularity is key In relation to expanding your YouTube channel. Publishing videos frequently retains your viewers engaged and boosts your probability of being suggested by YouTube’s algorithm. Intention to get a regular upload plan, no matter if it’s when each week or twice a month, and follow it.

High-quality is equally as essential. Give attention to offering valuable articles that educates, entertains, or solves a problem for your personal audience. Significant-good quality visuals, excellent lighting, and apparent audio produce a significant big difference in viewer retention. three. Enhance Your Video Titles, Descriptions, and Tags

Optimizing your videos for research is vital in attracting new viewers. YouTube is the next-largest search engine, and If you prefer your movies to get found out, you need to include Website positioning methods.

Video Titles: Make them obvious, engaging, and search term-abundant. Include terms your audience is probably going to look for. Descriptions: Write detailed descriptions that explain what your video clip is about. Contain appropriate search phrases, hyperlinks towards your social networking, and phone calls to action. Tags: Use related tags that explain your written content properly and include things like key terms men and women are probably to find. These techniques increase the likelihood of your movies position greater in search results and showing up as ideas to opportunity viewers.

4. Have interaction With the Viewers

Building a Group all-around your YouTube channel is essential for progress. Engage with the viewers by responding to responses, asking questions, and encouraging viewers to communicate with your movies.

Host Q&A classes to straight have interaction with your viewers. Ask for suggestions on your own information, which not only builds Neighborhood but also allows you improve. Really encourage viewers to love, remark, and subscribe—this interaction boosts your visibility on YouTube. 5. Collaborate with Other YouTubers

Collaborating with other written content creators is a great way to faucet into new audiences. Discover creators as part of your specialized niche who definitely have an identical or larger pursuing, and propose collaboration Tips like interviews, joint films, or shout-outs.

Great things about collaboration: Exposure to new audiences. Improved credibility by Affiliation. Contemporary material Suggestions that advantage the two channels. six. Leverage Social networking for Advertising

Advertising your YouTube channel throughout social websites platforms can considerably extend your reach. Share your videos on Instagram, Twitter, Fb, TikTok, and other platforms to travel traffic to your channel.

Cross-promotion ideas: Share sneak peeks of your respective approaching movies on Instagram or Twitter. Use hashtags to produce your articles discoverable. Engage with followers by inquiring questions or sharing guiding-the-scenes information. 7. Evaluate Your Effectiveness with YouTube Analytics

YouTube presents in-depth analytics which will help you know how your movies are carrying out. Pay attention to important metrics like observe time, audience demographics, and click on-by way of fees to determine what operates and what doesn’t.

Critical analytics to watch: Look at time: Reveals how engaged your viewers is using your films. Audience retention: Reveals exactly where viewers fall off in your movies. Targeted visitors resources: Informs you exactly where your sights are coming from. By utilizing these insights, you could modify your content strategy to far better meet up with your viewers’s requires.

eight. Stay Client and Persistent

Rising a YouTube channel requires time, and results doesn’t happen overnight. You may not see immediate success, but with perseverance and persistence, you’ll start looking at expansion. Wait and see, proceed refining your articles, and center on supplying worth to the audience.

Conclusion: Expanding your YouTube channel calls for a combination of techniques, from defining your specialized niche to optimizing your movies for lookup and engaging with your viewers. By staying dependable, developing large-excellent information, and staying affected individual, you’ll be on your own strategy to constructing An effective channel that draws a loyal subsequent. Continue to keep pushing ahead, remain creative, and most significantly, appreciate the procedure!

Get more info. here: How to grow YouTube channel fast

[redtapebusters]

Strategies for Writing Winning Grants

Writing a successful grant can be a difficult undertaking, especially if you are not an experienced grant writer. Whether you are just starting out or have been grant writing for years, you have no doubt read quite a few articles about how to be a successful grant writer. However, in this article, we’re going to look beyond the usual grant writing tips to some of the lesser-known strategies for elevating your grant writing levels beyond the norm.

When we consider that every grant application will have grant writers of varying experience levels all vying for the same funding, you will need a few winning strategies such as these up your sleeve to stand out from the crowd.

Research Beyond the Obvious

Finding funding to support a project or organisation requires research and hard work, but it also takes creativity and dedication to stand out from other applicants. To increase their chances of success, grant writers should look beyond the obvious when researching potential grants and use strategies to ensure their application stands out.

When starting the research process, grant writers should think creatively outside of the box. They should consider all areas of potential fundraising such as corporate sponsorships and foundation grants that could provide larger amounts of funds than government or individual donors might offer. Grant writers should also avoid limiting themselves to local opportunities. State or National grants can provide more substantial donations and reach new audiences for organisations pursuing bigger projects or goals.

Yet, beyond the process of simply researching to find suitable grants, there is another vital area where research will help you achieve grant writing success. Grant writing applications will be considerably strengthened when you can cite research that supports the goals of the project or organisation. Given it can take quite some time to accumulate quality research material, it is worthwhile for organisations to maintain a library of reference material that can support different grant applications. Finally, the grant writer should ensure any research cited is current and valid in terms of region and demographic factors, as well as aligning to the objectives of the grant application at hand. 

Align Your Goals to Funders

For grant writers looking to secure grants for their organisation, there is no better way to start than by aligning your goals with potential funders. Grant writers usually take the time to analyse what kind of projects each funder is interested in supporting and to ensure their project meets funder's criteria, however it is even more vital to ensure you highlight this alignment of goals in your application.

First, try to find out as much as possible about the funder's mission statement, areas they prioritise funding in, past recipients they have supported, etc. This information can be invaluable when crafting your proposal, so it resonates with what the funder is looking for.  Second, pay close attention to any guidelines or individual goals and objectives listed by potential funders and tailor sections of your proposal accordingly, using matching language and terminology so that you connect with evaluators at their level.

By taking these steps, you’ll erase many doubts and questions in funders minds about whether your project is a good fit for their funding and increase your success potential.

Sell the Bigger Picture

When writing a proposal, it is important for grant writers to think beyond individual programs or activities. Too often, organisations present their project as a pressing need that focusses on the benefits only for their own members.  However, grant writers really should be focusses on addressing questions such as how their work will create lasting change. This can be at a community, regional or national level or all of these. For example, if your organisation seeks funding for a new program that offers educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth, illustrate why this program is necessary in relation to broader initiatives like economic development, or social justice reform. Looking further, you might mention how providing more opportunities for our youth to be successful contributes to reduced crime and suicide rates and decreases the strain on mental health resources.

To give your grant writing a winning edge, you want to craft a narrative that sells the ripple effect where benefits are felt well beyond your organisation alone. Tying this into the organisation's vision and mission will highlight to funders that you have always seen the bigger issues that drive your purpose. Draw parallels to your research material for further impact and mostly importantly, weave it all together in your narrative with what motivates funders by showing an understanding of the larger conversations on issues they care about. Knowing how to effectively sell this bigger picture can help grant writers craft more compelling narratives and secure larger grants.

Remember the Basics, then Strategically Elevate

The majority of grant writers understand the basic components of effective grant writing such as researching potential funding sources, developing clear goals and objectives, creating a detailed budget, outlining the project design and timeline, preparing supporting documents and submitting the application to potential funders. Additionally, grant writers also acknowledge they must demonstrate their organisation's mission and track record to create a persuasive case for funding.

However, to be even more successful as a grant writer and elevate your success, you need to adopt an arsenal of winning strategies to stand out from the grant writing crowd. Firstly, be sure to research beyond the obvious to justify the project and its impact. Secondly, always make sure to align your goals to the funders’ priorities. Thirdly, don’t forget to sell the bigger picture and explain why this project matters. By adopting the key strategies mentioned in this article will greatly increase your funding chances.

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Digital Marketing for Wealth Management Companies

Wealth management companies have always been about close relationships with clients and a good name. Before, this meant meeting in person and getting referrals. But now, with more people doing things online, these companies are changing the way they work to keep up.

They want to make sure that they can still give the personal touch people expect, even when they’re working online. It’s like trying to make a digital handshake as trustworthy as a real one. This means being seen as helpful and knowledgeable not just in person, but on the internet too.

So, wealth managers are using the internet to do what they’ve always done – but in new ways. They’re sending emails, talking to clients on social media, and giving advice through webinars. This way, they can still give the kind of service one person at a time but reach more people than before.

The big aim is to make sure that the way they do things traditionally works well with all the new digital tools. This mix is really important because it helps them stay up-to-date and keeps clients who like using technology happy.

Understanding the Digital Marketing Services Spectrum

Digital marketing encompasses a wide range of services, each playing a vital role in creating an online presence that attracts and retains clients. Here are the key digital marketing services that wealth management companies should consider:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the core of any digital marketing strategy. For wealth management firms, SEO is about ensuring their online presence is not only visible but authoritative. This means optimizing website content with relevant keywords that potential clients are searching for, such as “investment strategies,” “retirement planning,” or “wealth management services.” Moreover, technical SEO, provided by Best SEO Service, is crucial to making websites faster, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate, improving user experience and rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs).

Key SEO tactics include:

On-Page Optimization: Tailoring content to include key phrases, while maintaining natural language for readers.

Off-Page Optimization: Building a strong backlink profile from reputable finance and business websites to enhance domain authority.

Local SEO: Optimizing for local search queries and listings, is essential for firms that operate within specific regions or cities.

Content Marketing

We all have heard that Content is king in the Web-based platform, and for wealth management companies, it’s a way to showcase expertise. High-quality, informative content such as blog posts, whitepapers, and ebooks can help firms build trust with prospective clients. Content marketing also provides fodder for SEO efforts, giving search engines more pages to index and more reasons to consider the firm as a thought leader in the wealth management space.

Effective content marketing strategies may include:

Educational Content: Explaining complex financial concepts in layman’s terms.

Thought Leadership: Providing insightful analysis of market trends and financial planning strategies.

Client Success Stories: Sharing testimonials and case studies that demonstrate the firm’s impact.

Paid Advertising

Paid advertising, including pay-per-click (PPC) ads, display ads, and sponsored content, offers wealth management companies a way to reach a targeted audience quickly. Whether it’s through Google Ads or social media platforms, paid advertising can be tailored to appear to demographics that fit the ideal client profile, such as individuals of a certain age, income bracket, or interests. Partnering with a PPC Management Agency can streamline the process and ensure optimal results for your campaigns.

Considerations for paid advertising include:

Targeting: Focusing on the specific demographics, locations, and interests of potential clients.

Budgeting: Allocating funds effectively to reach goals without overspending.

Tracking: Measuring the ROI of each campaign to refine and improve the strategy over time.

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Social media is not just for B2C companies. Wealth management firms can benefit from a strong social media presence, using platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Instagram to engage with clients and prospects. Partnering with a Social Media Marketing Service can enhance the effectiveness of these efforts, involving sharing content, participating in conversations, answering questions, and showcasing the company’s culture and values.

Key aspects of Social Media Marketing include:

Engagement: Creating conversations and building relationships with followers.

Content Distribution: Sharing relevant content from the firm’s website or external publications.

Reputation Management: Monitoring and managing the firm’s online reputation through client feedback and social interactions.

SEO for eCommerce

For wealth management firms that offer online services or products (such as financial planning software or investment courses), eCommerce SEO is a niche that shouldn’t be overlooked. This includes optimizing product pages for search, improving the user experience of the buying process, and ensuring that the checkout procedure is seamless and secure.

SEO for eCommerce involves:

Product Optimization: Including detailed product descriptions with relevant keywords.

User Experience: Ensuring that the online buying process is intuitive and straightforward.

Security: Implementing robust security measures to protect client data.

Getting Started Checklist:

Create a responsive and professionally designed website.

Perform keyword research relevant to your financial advisory services.

Start creating consistent and valuable content for your blog.

Social media profiles setup & analysis.

Create an email marketing plan and begin list building.

Develop a strategy for paid advertising campaigns.

Produce quality video content to engage your audience.

Plan and host webinars or online workshops.

Encourage clients to review your services online.

Implement tools to track analytics and performance.

If you stick to these tips and keep up with the smart ways of digital marketing, you can really get your name out there and connect with new clients. The online world is always on the move, with new trends and gadgets popping up all the time. To stay ahead in the game, you’ve got to keep learning and adapting. So why wait? Jump into digital marketing now and see your wealth management business grow.

Originally published by: Digital Marketing for Wealth Management Companies