#hence the hesitation in recommendation

[manebioniclegali]

I find it funny that I've been using Duolingo for 200+ days but I still wouldn't really recommend it to most people lol

[squiddy-god]

"Antique hearts"

Zhongli x reader

Sweet, cute, and domestic fluff with the former geo archon turned charming man. More re-uploads. As usual no beta no prof

♥︎REQUEST ARE OPEN♥︎ don't be shy, send request for any of the fandoms on my fandom list, you can even recommend shows/games if they aren't there. Or even if you just want to chat! Anon is also always open!

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Hesitance was etched along his defined features when you suggested a trip to mondstat, nothing too long, simply a day away from the familiar mountains of liyue. "Are you sure my dear? " He inquired, you nodded smile painted on your face, "it'll just be for a day I promise, there's a place I'd love to take you" 

How could he say no when you gave him such a hopeful expression. He let out a deep sigh, amber eyes closing gently. It was no secret that zhongli was not a fan of mondstat taverns, the oddities that they often served- it simply wasn't his cup of tea. Thankfully you had no intention of taking him somewhere like the cat tail or angel's share, no no, you were planning to take him somewhere you were certain he'd love. "Alright, I suppose a day's visit to the city of wind wouldn't hurt" He agreed, still slightly sceptical. 

Holding his gloved hand in yours you lead the tall man through the stone streets of mondstat. Although the geo Lord stuck out quite a bit in his liyue attire, people still smiled nonetheless. "Dear, where exactly are you taking me? " His inquisitive gaze was locked upon you, the rich hues of his eyes holding a silent plea that it wasn't a tavern. "Well we're almost there! You'll see soon" 

You were indeed right, you soon came to a quaint cafe, a hole in the wall that was almost never packed. 

He took in the sight, a charming sign hung up above and the small chalkboard with a drawn cake and teacup, it gave a calm atmosphere he rather appreciated in a city such as the bustling mondstat. "Wait until you see the inside" You chirped, interlocking your fingers and leading the way. 

The interior was plastered with a warm yellow wallpaper, murals of cities and gardens painted on the walls. It was as if  each wall was a new place, straight from a story book's pages. But truly what caught. His eyes were the antiques. The front room was adorned in cute white shelves stacked with anything from porcelain birds to beautiful oak jewelry boxes. Elegant carvings in the dark wood drew his eyes to inspect them, a shimmer of curiosity lighting his dazzling face. 

You smiled seeing him so happy, the gentle smile he now dawned warmed your heart and you chuckled. The lady at the front desk created you with a warm smile before leading you to a table in the further back of the cafey. Zhongli admired the walls, beautiful flower bushes and charming window shutters tying together in a landscape unfamiliar yet beautiful. 

"This place is quite charming, hmm, even the cloth on the table holds much character, perhaps this place holds interesting stories" He mused holding his chin. He was delighted to learn they had a vast selection of tea, some blends even from liyue harbor, how curious that such a small cafe had such selection. 

His gloved thumb traced the smooth porcelain cup, swirls of gold lining the rim with pale yellow flowers painted on the smooth surface. 

"This is a common shape for tea cups, the design is wider and lends itself to the maximization of surface area" He began, eyes shifting subtlety from the hot liquid to your eyes. You happily listened as he went on, gently placing the cup down on the matching saucer as you intertwined your fingers atop the table. His voice was soothing and calm, the slight rasp lending itself well to his deep vocals. "The reason for this is to focus on the texture and feel of the tea, specifically teas with rich and velvet textures. Hence it is often used to serve black teas such as Sichuan Imperial Gongfu" He finished, a warm smile on his face as he sipped his tea. 

He always loved when you listened to him, he adored how appreciated you made him feel. That twinkle of attentiveness in your eyes as he spoke, yes, he'd make sure to return that love ten fold.

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[charliedawn]

How would the slashers react to a nurse who’s just like Ryuzaki/ L Lawliet from Death Note? If you’re never watched death note I’ll break down his character

Ryuzaki/ L Lawliet s a detective and has also created fake names to keep his identity hidden, (including the name Ryuzaki it’s a fake name) he’s a popular and well known detective who’s always alone by himself and practically does everything by himself. He’s also a person who loves sweets and sits in weird positions . If you haven’t watched Death Note I definitely recommend it

If this request is too much feel free to ignore it, have a nice day!!

Nurse L.

Nobody came to them unless they had a problem to solve. And you had a problem to solve—a big one. You had a whole hospital filled with slashers, but you had yet to find out HOW one became a slasher. Or what it meant exactly.

You had hence asked Nurse L to help you by investigating on the slashers.

When Nurse L arrived, they immediately introduced themselves to you, but you didn’t even get to introduce yourself—they already knew you. They hence asked you to lead them to the slashers who had been warned that they would be asked questions.

Brahms:

"Brahms. Someone is here to see you." You announced and Brahms slowly looked back at Nurse L with a slight curious tilt of his head. L sat down in front of him and both of them weren’t actually sitting, just crouching and staring at each other. L had made their research beforehand and hence started.

"Are you Brahms Heelshire—son of Cole Heeshire and Maria Heelshire ? Born in 1983 ? In America ?"

Brahms didn’t answer, but he eventually nodded and L nodded before writing it down.

"According to my calculations, you stopped aging at age 33, is that correct ?"

Another nod.

"Can you tell me when you realised that you were a slasher ?"

Brahms looked up at the ceiling of his room where pictures of flowers and poneys were there to help him when he was faced with strong emotions.

"…Greta. Stabbed me." He finally said. "I…bled. The blood wouldn’t…stop." He lifted his hand to his side and looked down—as if expecting blood to come out.

Nurse L observed his reaction and hummed understandingly.

"What did you feel ? Did you feel betrayed ?"

Brahms started thinking about it before slowly nodding. Nurse L wrote it down before smiling at Brahms.

"I see…Thank you for answering my questions, Mr. Heelshire."

Your heart squeezed as you saw the sadness in his eyes before you and Nurse L left the room.

Jason Voorhees:

Jason hesitated. He didn’t like strangers asking him questions. But with enough coaxing, he was finally brought before Nurse L.

She looked through his file.

"Tell me, Jason…Why did you become a slasher ?"

Jason looked away before he forced one word out.

"Alone."

Nurse L looked up at him.

"Interesting. Could you please develop ?"

Jason started fidgeting nervously as he continued.

"Jason was…alone. Only Mama stayed. But, Mama then gone…Jason alone. And Jason kill. And be killed."

Nurse L nodded understandingly.

"And how old were you when you died ?"

Jason hesitated.

"…11."

You frowned. 11 ? Nurse L seemed to notice your puzzlement and then asked Jason.

"But, you do not look 11."

Jason tilted his head before he pointed towards his own head significantly.

"…11. Brain. Dead. 38…Body."

Suddenly, your eyes widened in shock as you realised what he meant. Jason had drowned at 11, but his body had kept growing…until his body had died at the age of 38.

…

The realisation made you sick and you quickly hugged Jason tightly. He hugged you back.

Penny:

Penny thought it would be funny to scare Nurse L and appear in front of them out of nowhere. But, Nurse L remained completely calm as they looked at him.

"Ah. Penny I presume ?" Penny blinked twice before grinning.

"Yessss."

Nurse L nodded before writing it down.

"Born Bob…Do you remember your last name ? Your place of birth ? Or anything from your life as a human ?"

Penny blinked twice and Nurse L sighed.

"I will take that as a no."

L then looked back up at Penny.

"Do you at least remember why you became a slasher ?"

Penny remained silent for a moment before he grinned once more and leant forward to look L in the eyes.

"I was starving…Do you know what starving feels like ? It has…no words. The pain has no limit."

L hummed before nodding.

"So…you were starving. But many people die of starvation in the world. Why were you any different ?"

He was silent for a moment.

"…They…trapped me. They locked me up. They didn’t want to see me anymore." Penny said—his eyes unfocused. Nurse L hummed before writing it down.

"Who…Penny ?"

Penny didn’t answer. He then giggled maniacally.

"Foolish human. I am a god. You thought you could just get the answers you seek out of me so easily…?"

L hummed once more before writing it down.

"I see…Thank you. Would you mind taking me to your brother then ?"

Pennywise:

"So…Pennywise. You are Penny’s brother. But, you were born Robert Gray, is that correct ?" Nurse L asked Pennywise who hummed and nodded.

"Yeah."

Nurse L nodded.

"And you were born in the colony of New England and had 6 brothers and one sister, correct ?"

Pennywise nodded again.

"Then…How did you become a slasher ?" Nurse L asked and Pennywise sighed.

"The turtle."

L frowned.

"The…turtle ?"

Pennywise nodded again.

"It is called Maturin. The turtle at the origin of your pathetic world. The one you owe your lives to…"

Nurse L was silent for a moment.

"And that…turtle…turned you into a slasher ?"

Pennywise nodded again and Nurse L lowered her notebook to look at Pennywise.

"Then…why ? Why were you chosen ? Your brother said you were gods. Is that how you see yourself ? And if so…then why did Maturin make you slashers ? Why did it save you ?"

Pennywise growled.

"I don’t know. The old fossile enjoys the sight of suffering or something…How the hell should I know ?"

L remained silent for a moment before proceeding.

"What was so entertaining about you and Penny’s suffering then ?"

Pennywise blinked twice in astonishment at their words before he snarled.

"Fuck off with your questions !"

And with that, Pennywise disappeared and L sighed.

"Sensitive that one…Oh well…Guess I’ll have to ask someone else."

Michael Myers:

"…So, Michael Myers." L started and Michael gave them a side glance. He remained silent and L decided to jump right away to the main question.

"Mr. Myers. Do you remember how you became a slasher ?"

Michael was silent for a moment before he started writing down on his special notebook.

My biological parents were part of a cult. I was chosen as a human vessel for an evil spirit.

Nurse L nodded understandingly.

"I see…It must have been painful, right ?"

Michael nodded before writing again.

The worst pain one could even feel…

Nurse L could tell that Michael didn’t like talking about his past and nodded.

"And can you tell me how you died exactly ?"

Michael’s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists and wrote down.

My sister killed me.

L nodded.

"I imagine you resented her for it ?"

Michael nodded and L nodded back. But, when Nurse L wasn’t expecting was what Michael wrote down next.

Yes. I resent her for it. Because she should have made sure I wouldn’t come back.

You gasped and Nurse L stared at Michael and the sorrow in his eyes.

"I see…Thank you for your help."

Jack Torrance:

"Well…Hello there. What can I do for you ?" Jack asked and Nurse L smiled.

"Mr. Torrance. Could you tell me about the night you became a slasher ?"

Jack tilted his head before thinking about it.

"I mean…You already know everything. I was chasing my wife and my little boy in a maze when I died frozen. That’s pretty much it."

Nurse L nodded.

"And tell me…What were your last thoughts before you died ?"

Jack’s smile faltered a little as he remembered that night. He took a swing of his drink before sighing and confessing.

"…That I wish I had been a better man. For them."

Nurse L hummed understandingly before replying.

"Is that the reason you let yourself die that night ?"

Jack frowned a little in confusion.

"…Let myself die ? What are you talking about ?"

Nurse L sighed.

"Mr. Torrance. I made the calculations. There is no way you would have spent the entire night in that maze and not find the exit. At some point, you must have found an exit. There were four exits in that maze. Plus, you had an axe. And the maze was made of bushes. At any point, you could have cut down the bushes to get out. So, why didn’t you ?"

Silence settled all around before Jack huffed a small humourless laugh.

"You are pretty clever…Alright. I’ll tell you." Jack finished his drink before his smile turned to a sorrowful expression and he let out a deep sigh. "…I was a shitty man. My wife insisted on staying with me when I knew she could found so much better. And Billy…Billy deserved better. At the end, they left and I…I just let them go."

You felt a knot in your stomach at Jack’s words. The man then ran a hand on his face before he uttered in a whisper.

"Just one last attempt to…be a good man."

He then stood up and forced a smile on his face.

"…I guess I managed to do one good thing at the end."

And with that…he was gone.

Freddy:

When Freddy was asked the question, he scoffed.

"Let me see. When did I become a slasher ? Hum…I died. So…there’s that. A bunch of kids testified against me and I flee cause angry parents started running after me. They then burnt me alive and…yeah. That’s pretty much it."

Nurse L nodded before writing down the details and they then looked up at Freddy.

"…From what I recall, you were about to adopt when the case blew up, right ?"

Freddy’s smile faltered.

"Yeah."

Nurse L nodded before continuing.

"And turns out, it was your sister who had abused and killed a lot of kids ? And framed you for it ?"

Freddy’s smile dropped completely.

"Yeah."

It was strange to see Freddy replying so shortly. Him who usually lived nothing more than talking. Nurse L lowered her notebook and noticed that Freddy’s eyes were covered by the brim of his fedora.

"…It must have been quite difficult and painful to realise that…you had been betrayed by pretty much everyone around you."

Freddy gritted his teeth and tilted his head to the side.

"Are we done ?" He replied sharply and before she could add anything else, Freddy was out the door. You were about to follow him when Nurse L asked you to bring one last slasher in.

Eddie Gluskin:

Eddie sat down in front of Nurse L and they both sized each other up. Nurse L asked the usual questions until L went to the question that they had been asked to answer today.

"Ah. Eddie Gluskin. The last addition. Tell me. How did you become a slasher ?"

Eddie remained silent for a moment, staring at L until he finally replied.

"I died. A metal spike went right through my heart. I died at the age of 44 and was given a second chance."

There was a long silence before L leant back in their chair.

"Funny choice of words. A second chance ? A second chance for what ?"

Eddie’s eyes glanced at you and smiled.

"A second chance at life."

L frowned.

"Why ?"

Eddie looked back at her and his smile widened.

"To find my perfect wife. Of course. Since the last one killed me."

L sighed before nodding.

"I see…Thank you. That will be all."

After the interview:

You looked at Nurse L who sighed as she looked over her notes.

"Nurse Y/N. Did you notice anything special about the testimonies today ?"

You started thinking about it before answering her.

"Hum…They all died ?"

Nurse L nodded.

"Precisely. But, more than that…How did they die ? WHY and HOW did they die ?"

You started thinking more about it before your eyes widened at the realisation.

"Betrayal…They all became slashers after they died because they were betrayed by those they trusted the most." Nurse L mused before looking at Nurse Y/N. "They all died because they trusted someone…And then died in the most excruciating way out of trust and the weakness of their own hearts."

You looked away and Nurse L sighed before finally closing her notebook and setting it down on a table nearby.

"They were hence given a second chance. All of them. They became more than just slashers. I believe the Penny brothers are somehow right. They are gods. All of them."

You frowned.

"No. They are not gods. They are human…"

Nurse L smiled and shook their head.

"Now, understand that when I say gods…I do not mean that they are Ancient beings meant to guide and protect. I mean that they are beings that were meant for greatness, but something or someone changed their fate. And turned them into what they are now. The slashers were born with hearts, and those hearts were broken and betrayed. Hence, they became slashers—overruled by their own emotions and pain. Pain is hence something their share, a fuel that keeps them alive. So, they did not become slashers because of some outside cause…but because of something within them. You see…You and I are human because we care. But…imagine for a second that we stop caring. That pain is the only thing remaining. The only thing that matters…What would happen ?"

You were taken aback by the question before you finally replied.

"I guess…we would turn into monsters. If nothing mattered anymore and if nothing held us back then…"

Nurse L smiled.

"Precisely. We would turn into monsters. Slashers. If nothing held us back. If we simply stopped caring. If we decided that we just wanted the world to feel the same pain as us and nothing else. If we wanted the world to turn into ashes. If all that mattered was pain…pain…and more pain. Nothing else."

Your eyes widened at the realisation. The reason. The way slashers became slashers. The atrocious truth…

Nurse L smiled before standing up.

"I guess…We now have our answer. The secret behind the birth of slashers."

You also stood up and sighed before shaking L’s hand.

"I guess we do…"

L nodded before adding.

"This place. St Louis. It is…a good place for them. Keep taking care of them, and maybe their pain will heal one day."

You smiled back and nodded.

"I will…Thank you."

[l-e-morgan-author]

I'm musing on my plans ahead for a specific story (I'll update y'all when the month is over and I'm back on social media! but I have made a plot breakthrough literally three years in the making), and I realised: this character would absolutely have religious OCD/scrupulosity. So I need to do research.

People with ROCD, what resources would you recommend/what is it like living with scrupulosity? I may live with it myself, but I have no formal diagnosis and no medical professional has ever considered exploring it (that'd be multiple friends who've asked if I have OCD) so I'm hesitant to give her purely what I feel/experience in case I'm misleading myself.

A google search wasn't particularly helpful on specifically how to write it, hence why I came here.

Please signal boost and give me ideas :)

Though I won't see any responses until the month is over, if you have questions about the story itself and how her issues impact and are impacted by it, I'm happy to answer anything. I don't know how to keep a spoiler to save my life, lol.

[momentomori24]

Bringing this post back up because as hyped as I am and HAVE been for this movie for ages (Shadow is being unapologetically hot cool and it's a movie based on SA2/Shadow 05 what do you want from me), it's important to remember that Paramount is very much pro-Israel and has also snuck in Zionist propaganda in the Knuckles show as well (here's people way smarter than me breaking it down ). That's not even mentioning the fact that they casted a man who has spread doubt about vaccines as our Robotniks and the first two movies-- as fun as they are-- being blatant copaganda (which is funny considering Sonic is heavy on the police/military and government corruption and being anti-cop).

And to all the people in the notes of that post AND in general being all "but Keanu isn't a Zionist!!" or "he only shook hands with someone" or "that was [inserts years] ago!":

First off-- YOU MEAN BENJAMIN NETANYAHU??? THAT TOTALLY RANDOM ASS SOMEONE HE SHOOK HANDS WITH???? I don't think I need to tell you that shaking hands with the fucking Prime Minister of an ethnostate that's been a genocidal menace towards Palestinians for more than seven and a half decades before Oct. 7 is not some trivial thing nor is that some "random" Israeli. Please stop acting like it is 💀 And it doesn't matter how long ago it's been, be it 2014 or 2017 or whatever (especially when the genocide dates waaayy back); what's important is that he has not made any comments about what's happening right now. He hasn't made any mention on his stances or on his previous involvement with other Zionists (who are very vocal on their genocidal intentions btw). He may not endorse their actions, or maybe his views have changed, and maybe he isn't and was never even a Zionist, but what does that mean if he doesn't say anything about it?

Also. He not only shook hands with the Prime Minister of Israel but he trained specifically with an Israeli special operations soldier, Aaron Cohen, for the John Wick movies too. And if you somehow think "oh but what's so bad about that??" THIS can be found about him btw:

And if he wasn't enough of a shithead from this alone, I recommend watching this clip where he appeared on Fox News (that's a good sign innit) from May this year. THIS is the guy Keanu was training with. This guy. The more you look into him, the worse he gets.

It would've been something else entirely if these were just random people who just happen to be Israeli (bonus points if they weren't even Zionists), but that's not the case in the slightest and downplaying that isn't helping. The Israelis he's been involved with are openly genocidal maniacs. He has multiple instances of being friendly with Zionists in the past and nothing about condemning Israel now. Even if he isn't a Zionist himself, what does that mean to you?

Also also. Zionist or not, it doesn't matter. Keanu is part of the problem, not The Problem. Regardless of his own political stance which I know nothing about, it's just a perpetuation of a pattern we've seen already. Paramount has made pro-Israel statements (they also had this on twitter). They added Israel propaganda in the Knuckles show. They cast a man who has relations to IOF members as Shadow. What does that say to you?

All in all, I'm not here to rain on your parade. You're excited for the third movie? Be excited for the third movie, I don't blame you. I really, really don't. Love the art and not the artist but it's extremely important, now more than ever, to know the artist and what they stand for. You deserve to know who your money goes to and make an informed decision based on that knowledge, hence why I bring all this up again 9 days away from the movie's release.

For me? As much as it personally really kills me on the inside as someone who's been looking forward to this thing for so long, I won't be paying to watch it. Even without Reeves, the blatant Zionism oozing from Paramount makes me really hesitant. I'm just gonna bake something instead or whatever. I'd encourage y'all to do the same, but I'm just some random college kid barely surviving my final year, so whether or not that means something is entirely up to you, I guess.

[seraphdesire]

Not the best pictures, I know, but to my credit it's nearly 5am and I've been awake since 2am

Thought I'd give a small Sybil update!! She's making pretty good progress. Although she's still very hesitant to take her food directly from the tongs, she WILL strike for it if I offer it out for long enough. As of late I just put it down near her and leave her to it because I don't want to stress her out by offering it (was that the right thing or should I continue to feed it directly??)

I brought her out this morning hence the blurry pictures. She was super calm, she wasn't trying desperately to get away from me or being antsy/panicked. She was sat still on my hand/arm most of the time, with the occasional repositioning/exploration.

I love her so much, it makes me so so happy that she's making good progress. I'll continue using the methods I was recommended by everyone! Tysm to all those who helped!! ❤️❤️❤️

[assassinschaoticcreed]

so um, how did everyone become friends?

so im gonna start off saying that these are the ages I HC the boys are modern time, per my noggin.

Desmond: 22

Ezio & Arno: 23

Connor: 24

Altaïr & Jacob (& Evie): 25

Edward: 27

don't ask me why, but its just my brain rot.

Ezio's family adopted Desmond into their family after he left the farm; so their relationship is like brothers (obviously) (Desmond was 16, Ezio was 17)

Arno met Ezio & Desmond through one of his mom's fashion show; Maria & Claudia are huge fans of her work and managed to snag tickets to one of her shows (those runway things). Maria and Marie (Arnos mom) talked about their sons and Marie was like "hey let's all get together over some nice wine, my husband owns a winery" cue Ezio, Desmond & Arno meeting. ironically when they first met Arno & Ezio couldn't stand each other because of how much alike they acted, Desmond was the peace maker. over time though Arno, Ezio and Desmond became inseparable. (Ezio & Arno were 20, Desmond was 19)

Edward and Connor met through Haytham, in my noggin Edward & Connor are actually cousins but there is a 3 year difference between the two. they also have a sibling like relationship due to Edward also not liking Haytham. (Ziio is alive and her and Haytham married, they are happy, although it was rocky before they officially married and Connor was 5 years old when they married.) Connor doesn't get along with Haytham not only cause of the Templar thing, but also Charles Lee & the other Templars judge Haytham for being with Ziio and Connor being his son. they belittled Connor hence his hatred for them, Haytham behind the scenes though threatened them to stop or else..

Edward, Jacob (and Connor) met Jacob this way; they met during a mission they were sent on. they had to meet Jacob at a pub to listen to a Templar meeting and after they got their info they all sat and had drinks and a meal (Connor didn't drink any alcohol, only Ed & Jacob). they all got along great, although Connor did NOT appreciate having to carry both the drunkards back to the hotel, and he just dumped the two of them on the bed and went to sleep in his.

Altaïr met Ezio, Desmond and Arno at one of the Creeda HQ centers. he was just transferred to their branch, and he was a complete dick. Arno had no hesitation and lit into Altaïr for his behavior and had one of those "catch me outside how bout that" Altaïr ACTUALLY had respect for Arno for standing up to him let alone make a threat. they became good acquaintances, that developed into a great friendship (he does wish to throw hands sometimes if Arno becomes too sassy). Altaïr was Top Annoyed with Ezio when first meeting him. *looks to Arno and points at Ezio* "does...does this thing ever shut the hell up?" cue Ezio *LE GASP* "ME? A THING? bastardo! how dare--" and Desmond pipes in "let's all just calm down and talk, yes?" they all sit down, Desmond & Ezio introduced themselves. Altaïr likes Desmond too, Ezio is a 50/50, he wanted to punch him in the face but he didn't hate him. they're now great friends too. (Altaïr: 23, Ezio & Arno: 21, Desmond 20)

Arno, Ezio, Desmond & Connor met at Arnos Cafe (the one he was gifted from his parents on his 20th birthday) Ziio recommended the Cafe for its bakery sweets and rich flavorful coffee, they also have great hot chocolate. (Connor got the hot chocolate and some macaroons) Desmond was the one who made the recommendation on the flavors of the macaroons while Arno recommended the "campfire hot chocolate". Connor heard campfire and was convinced it'd be the best thing ever, it's his go to whenever he's there now. Ezio was introduced to Connor by Desmond & Arno. they adopted Connor into the boys then and there. (yes I see Ezio being the one to give the friend group that name)

Connor introduced Edward & Jacob to the boys.

Arno & Desmond introduced Altaïr to the boys (Ezio was still salty with Altaïr so he didn't do the introductions).

the rest is history 👏

[padyakmnl]

28 books in the past 7 months (2 books not in the photo), from April to October.

For the longest time, I had been trying to finish Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, recommended by a stranger I met at a coffee shop in Taipei December last year. Without hesitation, I opened myself up about the life crisis I was going through. Hence, the book recommendation. I just really couldn't finish it as I was so annoyed to the whiny protagonist (realizing eventually I was she). Though I know some books are not meant to be finished, I have a habit of pushing myself to finishing them, so I wouldn't carry the agony of not knowing what happened to the story. Even when there's a tower of books waiting to be read.

The frustration led me to hiatus. The first quarter was all cycling, coffee shop hopping, and contemplating. Then there's the month-long trip in Malaysia. But it all came to my senses that I had to stop doomscrolling, and limit myself from watching cute cats and dogs, and happy couples online. In a snap, I was back to 1 book a week, a lifelong tradition since college.

And here I am, 28 books after 7 months. I call it realistic reading. Even after many years of reading, I still find it dubious when people say they finish 10-15 books a month. I understand that there are fast readers, but like food I want to digest properly what I read. So far, Tara Westover's Educated is the best this year. It's a beautiful memoir about her life growing up in a conservative, and religiously-devoted family, and achieving the education she never thought she would have.

I'm looking forward to the next 2 months, and hoping to not fall for the sluggish air lingering soon.

P.S. I finished The Midnight Library 2 weeks ago.

[leaderpinhead]

Jade - The Cult of Jade

Prompt: Just In Time

Ramshackle’s prefect had impeccable timing when it came to any crisis that befell the Night Raven College campus. Drama barely had time to brew before she was there with her judgmental stare and snippy comments. It was almost as if she had some type of sixth sense for these things. 

Or, Jade concluded as he grinned where he sat on the floor of Ramshackle Dorm’s basement, she was just a natural busybody who couldn’t mind her own business. 

She blinked down at him from the top of the staircase. Her judgmental stare was critical, but it only made his grin widen. When she didn’t breach the lengthy silence that fell over them, Jade decided it would be his duty to slice through the sudden tension. “Why, good morning, prefect! I wasn’t expecting you to be such an early riser. When Grim expressed his desire to sleep well past noon, I imagined you would be of like mind.” 

An inquisitive squeak from one of the dust bunnies surrounding him caused the rest of the colony to voice their curious squeaks. Yuu’s eyes drastically narrowed. She slowly lowered the foot that hovered above the step when she froze upon seeing him. “Jade.” 

“Yes, prefect?” 

“Why are you sitting on the floor of my basement at this time of night looking like a cult leader corrupting my dust bunnies?” 

Jade’s grin widened. “Because I am.” 

“Excuse me?” 

“I am indeed...” Jade paused long enough to make the prefect carefully step back up one stair, “...very curious about these fae creatures! Were you aware that there is very little research done on the origins of dust bunnies? Researchers are aware they are a type of fae, but beyond that, they simply deduce these small fae collect dust to mimic small woodland creatures. Hence their name. It’s very fascinating. I highly recommend checking out a book from the library debating their existence as mere pests or a viable part of a home’s ecosystem.” 

“I already have,” Yuu slowly replied. She stepped down again but with a hesitance that told Jade she greatly questioned her decision. “That doesn't answer the question of why you’re here. At midnight. In my basement.” 

Jade pretended to be surprised. “Why, where else could I find such a large colony to observe? You, dear prefect, are the only one on campus who doesn’t immediately exterminate them.” 

The dust bunnies surrounding him protested at the mention of extermination. The way the prefect’s nose wrinkled carried the same sentiment. “Doesn’t Azul need you in Octavinelle?” 

“As you said, it is midnight.” Jade paused with a smile. Yuu’s delightful scowl prompted him to finish with, “So no. I imagine Azul is tucked snuggly in bed.” 

“I swear, if you’re here to farm more of your damn mushrooms in my basement, I’m gonna set the whole foundation on fire.” 

“I don’t believe the school’s insurance covers arson.” 

“Get out of my dorm, Jade.” 

Jade emitted a woeful sigh but stood at the prefect’s continued insistence. The dust bunnies squeaked and chattered but only a few hopped along behind him when he climbed up the staircase. Yuu hurried up before him and stood judgmentally glaring at him from the door. 

Jade paused a step below her and turned to address the dust bunny colony. He swept his arm out towards them. Their squeaking silenced. “Fear not, my children, for I shall return bright and early in the morning to bring you the good news of our benevolent Sea Witch.” 

“Stop that before I seriously start thinking you’re converting my bunnies into the Cult of Jade.” 

Jade’s chuckle was drowned out by the cheerful chatter of the dust bunnies. 

[skzoologist]

My mooties

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⤐ @dmnksrt - One of my irl best friends, you guys can thank her for so much, because she is my number 1 fan and keeps cheering me on. Without her, I wouldn't have written this much. She's a victim of accidentally being converted into a kpop fan, purely because I was also dragged into the fandom. Even though she stans another group and man (Suga), we still ramble to each other for hours easily. Once she gathers the courage to post her own fanfics, you can be sure I'll be there to support her immediately. Her brain is wonderful, just like her, I wouldn't hesitate to commit arson for her sake. Her tag is 'my Darling', no, we aren't dating, in case any of Nat's anons come here asking that.

⤐ @nerenbe - Well well well, if it isn't my menace herself. This lil gremlin is the sole reason I am in this fandom altogether, since she just kept singing 'Star lost' while we were in the Christmas market in the year 2023. I guess this is what I get for dragging her into so many animes and manhwas, haha. She isn't really active here, but know that she loves to murder me with pics and memes of my bias and wrecker. Truly, she lives up to her nickname.

⤐ @shetherocket - The last of my irl best friends, the poor one who isn't in the kpop fandom and has no idea wtf I am saying to her, ever. It's really funny actually, as she just nods as I speak, no clue about anything. But she likes Felix! Loves his softness and sunshine self, so I sometimes spam her with him lmao. I am never going to be sorry for that :D

⤐ @thightswideforhanin - First ever person to loudly admit Bae wrecked her, and hard. I always enjoy her reblogs, she was one of the first ever active members of my blog.

⤐ @michelle4eve - A shy follower of mine who gathered enough courage to speak to me, and would you look at that, we speak more regularly now :) She's very sweet, which is why I just call her my Sunshine.

⤐ @jinnie-ret - Jinnie-ret, Jinnie-ret, the person who started it all. She was the first skz writer who noticed me and decided to raid my blog, quite literally. She recommended my work on her blog and I got a big influx of people, making me breach the 100 followers threshold. I still can't believe she'd followed me back, when I've been her silent follower for months by that point. While we don't speak a lot, as she is busy, I know she's very welcoming and kind (also my brit mum, because she decided to adopt me lmao).

⤐ @atinyniki - Niki, my precious little pocket pookie who just loves to pester me and absolutely shower me in love, no matter how hard I keep pushing it away (this is the norm for me and my friends). She's absolutely sweet and so strong, I look up to her in that sense to this very day. We easily start gushing about ATEEZ or my husky puppies for a good while, or even start planning some gut-wrenching fics together xD I am so happy she wrote to me, even if she keeps insisting I am cute, falsely.

⤐ @writingforstraykids - Nat, my talented menace! I love her art, oh my god, I cannot wait for her to draw more, even if that is a year later or more. And her soft thoughts? Hell yes! She's the one who usually gets to see my own random thoughts about the boys (hence our collab), because she's my mootie and they get VIP services :) I am forever afraid she's gonna do what my menace does and send me pics of the boys... I would straight up die on the spot.

⤐ @cheesemonky - Leisel! While we don't talk a lot (timezone differences and my depressed, anxious self), she's cute and so supportive. I just know if we would talk more, our chat would be filled with rambles and thoughts about TXT, haha.

⤐ @yangbbokari - Mumu, the chaos child. We didn't get to know each other well yet, but she loves to say random shit and cause mayham xD Very maknae line coded.

⤐ @lilmisssona - Sona, my sweet sonata, who is so sweet and supportive of me despite barely knowing me, it gives me diabetes. I already love her works, her AUs are very interesting. She also loves my two puppies, and I am only glad to provide her with photos and videos of them.

⤐ @minholing - Jenny, my lil biologist sprout. While she left, I will await her return here. Who knows, maybe by then I'll be able to accept her hugs more easily.

⤐ @kimistorm - We don't really talk, but we occasionally tag each other in some games. Her works are really nice and sweet, I wouldn't be surprised if she is like that too.

⤐ @miuracha - Miu, the legend amongst us. I haven't really gathered the courage to talk to her yet, but I do know she is an absolute sweetheart who only deserves the best. I hope life finally gives her a break, and very soon.

⤐ @silverstarburst - Silver, my star and guardian wolf, thanks to her protective nature over her friends. Our friendship started with her tagging me in a Jisung photoset, completely unprompted. That was a sign, so true that we now regularly talk here or on discord. Bless her and her gif/photo sets.

⤐ @galaxycatdrawz - A very active moot of Nat, someone who gave me even more meme ideas when I started memeing Nat, being the menace he is. Thus, he shall be named my official meme partner. While we don't talk regularly, that doesn't mean he isn't fun to be around.

⤐ @thatonedemigodfromseoul We haven't really talked a lot so far, but that is how it is when you just meet someone.

⤐ @dean-a-mean-tae Ah, yes, sweet Ronnie, who likes to sing my praises, even though I am average at best. No, please, don't look at me like that guys, I'm sorry- We have this mouse and cat game where we compliment the other in an endless cycle. Also let me tell you, when I first saw that they mentioned me, saying how good my silly fics are, I just sat in front of my screen like a confused and emotional dumbass. Definitely will remember that day for a good while, haha. I look forward to getting to know them better, if life allows it.

If I didn't tag you here, that either means I am way too nervous to do so (you're probably a big writer blog), or I just straight up forgot with my smooth, pea-sized brain. Please do reach out to me, I assure you I didn't mean to somehow offend you.

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[lil-lost-mind]

(This is a bit of a along post about my general experience in the qsmp fandom, both good and bad, and it does mention xenophobia but not direct experiences)

I'm happy to see people here being so nice and reminding that we(Brazilians) are welcome here

I was really hesitant about interacting with fandom at first, I actually was there the Brazilians arrived because suddenly tazercraft live appeared for me on YouTube, I joined for a moment but didn't stay long, but I did look about it later. Because Brazilians youtubers/streamers are on a server with a bunch of people from other countries? I was curious about what this would lead to

Didn't regret it, but since then, I was a bit scared of interacting on fandom. Some comments on clips were fine. But then I started using tumblr because of a friend's recommendation, I kept a look on what was happening on lore on general but didn't really interact on fandom. Hence why I created this blog, and also why it took me so long to link this blog to my main one

Because, well, if I got hate for any reason, it would only be a sideblog that I only posted about qsmp. I could just delete it or just ignore them

I am by nature a person who is very shy to talk about my interests, it might have nothing wrong about it but I'm shy, I'm the type of person who goes on asks box on anon because is too shy, even if I'm not doing anything wrong there's this fear of judgemeent.

In the light of the recent events, I am once again reminded that's why I don't use or plan to use Twitter, but still I couldn't avoid but feel... scared in a way, I don't think anyone would like to be treated that way. And even a bit ashamed of saying that I'm brazilian. Ashamed might not be the right word, but there's this feeling wich is similar, and while I'm proud of being a brazilian, I just... maybe invalidate is a more fitting word, it's just feels like my culture is unimportant compared to others.

And this is what it seems, in my understanding, what looks like suffering from xenophobia is, but I imagine it's worse suffering it directly ofc, and ironically, I don't think I ever felt like that for those reasons before. And while I can't talk about how it feels when suffering from it directly, I feel bad for the people who had to go through it(not only Brazilians). Nobody should feel ashamed of their culture or ethnicity

Ofc tumblr isn't free of people like that. After all, no social media will be free from intolerance. But it feels like it's harder to see it. But I can't emphasize enough how it makes me happy to see so many people saying their blog is a safe place for us. After seeing this stuff, it makes things better, for me, at least. It reminds me that my culture isn't less important than any other

And qsmp brought something beautiful, the unity of communities. Because even with those bad things happening, it's not the only thing in fandom, it happens, and any fandom has this, unfortunately. But I love to see every time someone talks about their culture, facts about their languages, to see people motivated in learning new languages. It's beautiful and makes me happy each time

I don't regret making myself part of the fandom, the opposite, really, I've met creators that I would have never without the qsmp. I've met amazing people there, I've found incredible artists and writers. I've had fun

I've found the motivation to learn new languages again, more passion to draw

And I'm thankful to everyone there who is incredibly nice and so made me more comfortable interacting here, even if they will probably never know

So despite everything, I think it was worth it

Was worth reading character analysis and theories, enjoying stories, seeing fanart and animatics, learning new language facts and about other cultures. Was worth seeing people being happy

Again, I'm very thankful for all the people who made me, and I'm going to assume a lot of other people who needed to hear that, comfortable and validate here, I can't express how much this made me happy, I hope everyone coming from twitter have a good time here<3

And a very big and sincere "VAI TOMAR NO CU" to any xenophobic and racist person

I know very few people will see this, or even read everything, but I had to say this somewhere, so yeah, I'm rambling on tumblr again:D

[nejjcollectsbooks]

I took these pictures myself. Some of these books are old, some were just poorly handled over the years, and all were thrifted across the second-hand stores of Dublin.

Some classic Asian literature I own:

Monkey: The Journey to the West by Wu Ch'eng-en, translated by Arthur Waley.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, translated by Martin Palmer.

Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, translated by Jay Rubin.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms summary:

A Chinese historical fiction piece that seamlessly weaves together the fictitious and legendary aspects of the historically documented rise of three powerhouses vying for total control of the country. Full of treachery, court intrigue, ambitious characters and deceptive ones alike.

Some lovely quotes from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms:

“To kill deliberately is very wrong,” said Chen Gong. “I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me,” was Cao Cao’s reply.

"A man plans. The heaven decides the outcome."

"Let me ask, my lord. Would you rather give yourself to the world, or would you rather make the world yours?"

"Work hard and even harder! Do not carry out the evil just because it is small, and do not hesitate to do the good just because it is small. Only virtue and benevolence can move the people's heart. Your father lacked virtue, hence don't emulate me as a model."

"In peace you are an able subject; in chaos you are a crafty hero!"

I made another two similar posts, one for Monkey: The Journey to the West and one for Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories.

I reblog bookish content and since I have a home library I also make bookish content myself; aesthetic book pics, reviews, recommendations, quotes, excerpts, hauls and cats.

[doodleworldstarfall]

Introduction Post - please read!

welcome, welcome! this blog will be home to all DW: SF AU posts from now on. this AU is made by @quartxio :]

please read the following below for more information, especially if you're new to this blog!

before you read any more, i would like you to know that this AU is incredibly self-indulgent and made purely for fun! hence, one big thing that will get involved is OC x canon, as well as some changes made to canon characters' personalities and designs, so do step out if it's not your thing. i also don't have any posting schedule nor plan, it's all basically "i'll post what i want and whenever i want about my AU".

if you are new to this AU, here is the synopsis:

Doodle World: Starfall is a fantasy-futuristic AU where humanity discovers magic in the cosmos, after their technological advent into space. so far, all of humanity can only use basic magics, and each individual is limited to only one type. however, across the planets are 'Artifacts' (which replace the Keys) which are said to be able to break the mold and ascend someone into mastery of magics. the player protagonist is replaced with an OC - Rose Aurelius, a sorcerer and archivist who came from another world to learn about this one, but gets herself wrapped up in the mystery of the Artifacts.

Doodle World is a Roblox creature-capture (aka pokemon-like) game where you catch these paper creatures known as Doodles. it's a fun game and i recommend it if you enjoy these kinds of games :]

if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send an ask!

(will add tags soon)

[werbooz]

Why User-Centered Design is the Key to Online Success: Leveraging Psychology and Design Principles to Create Meaningful Experiences

 

User-Centered Design (UCD) is crucial in today’s digital world, where success relies not just on aesthetics or functionality but on crafting a user experience that resonates with users on a deeper psychological level. UCD prioritizes not only visual appeal but also the way users think, feel, and behave. Creating effective User-Centered Design is simpler than it may seem; it involves applying psychological principles, such as understanding cognitive load and paying careful attention to even the smallest design details. By focusing on these aspects, we can develop experiences that are not only intuitive but also rewarding. In this blog, we will explore why this approach is essential and how real-world examples highlight its significant impact.

Understanding Human Behavior: The Psychological Pillars of User Centered Design

Every user interaction with a product involves mental processing. If this process is considered overly cumbersome—in other terms if the user experiences a high cognitive load then—there is a likelihood that users will feel an overload and thus get annoyed and quit your site/product. One of the key ideas in user-centric design is reducing cognitive load, or the amount of mental effort required to use and understand a product.

Hick’s Law: Simplifying Choices

Hick’s Law states that the time taken to make a decision increases with the number of alternative choices available to the individual user and hence the more choices available to be used by or have the decision the more prolonged it will take for the user to make a decision. Thus, if a website bombards users with too many actionable options then the users may hesitate or leave entirely. Because of this same reason platforms like Netflix offer recommendations to its users to limit the choices and to show the user what’s most relevant. So, Instead of overwhelming users with the entire library, Netflix focuses on curating options that best fits the user preferences, thus making decision-making easier and faster.

Netflix Interface Showcasing Uses Hick’s Law to Simplify Choices

Fitts’s Law: Designing for Ease of Access

Fitts’s Law explains that why large, well-placed buttons are more effective than small buttons that are hard to reach. Users must have no friction or struggle to find key actions on your website/product. Amazon implements this really well by placing the "Add to Cart" buttons in prominent locations.

Design comparison showing familiar interface versus unfamiliar

These buttons are easy to spot and are large enough to click effortlessly, and also the buttons are placed so strategically to minimize user effort. This simple but thoughtful design element can significantly increase conversions because by doing so Amazon reduces the friction in the user's buying journey.

The Impact of Small Design Decisions: Tiny Tweaks that Leads to Big Results

Small design decisions can lead to a significant difference in how users interact with a product, even if the differences seem atomic or minute at first glance.

The Importance of Spacing 

Strategic spacing between elements can drastically improve focus and comprehension. According to the Gestalt Principles of Perception, specifically the Proximity Principle, items placed closely together are perceived as related, while those spaced apart draw more attention individually. Even something as simple as reducing visual clutter makes an enormous difference.

For example, Airbnb uses this principle beautifully. Their listings have plenty of white space, making it easier for users to digest information like pricing, property details, and reviews without feeling overwhelmed. By strategically spacing elements, they guide user attention to what’s most important—booking a stay.

FAQ

Que 1. What is User-Centered Design (UCD)?

Ans 1. User-Centered Design (UCD) is a design method that prioritizes the end user's demands, behaviors, and preferences. It entails studying and understanding customer expectations in order to develop products that are intuitive, simple to use, and aligned with user objectives.

Que 2.  How does psychology influence user-centered design?

Ans 2. Psychology has an effect on UCD because it helps creators understand how people think, act, and make decisions. Making digital systems easier to use and more interesting is based on psychological principles such as Hicks' Law (choice time), Fitts' Law (interaction efficiency), and the Gestalt principles (perception and organization).

Que 3. What is the difference between user-centered and conventional design?

Ans 3. The user's demands are prioritized in user-centered design, as opposed to traditional design that prioritizes aesthetics or corporate goals. Whereas traditional design may overlook important user feedback, resulting in usability problems, UCD constantly tests and refines based on user input.

Discover the Full Story

[kyufessions]

drama

synopsis: late night drives with your boyfriend

pairings: boyfriend! hanse x g.n. reader

word count: 0.9k

genre: fluff

a/n: inspired by bloo’s drama ; wrote this blasting it on repeat at four in the morning, so i’d recommend listening to it as you read and look up lyrics afterwards or beforehand. ♥︎

general taglist: @jwnghyuns @eaudenana @soobin-chois

as midnight closed in close, you could’ve sworn the glittering moon’s stardust fell into his hair as he drove. the occasional glances down at him as you stood up in the passenger seat, the upper half of your body sticking out of the rooftop of the aging car he insisted on buying because he supposedly fell in love with it at first sight. chipped maroon paint flakes fell into your palm whenever you grazed it ever so slightly, but as long as it made him happy you refused to argue about the purchase. regardless, it was his money and his decision. plus, the rooftop was a bit of an eye opener towards beginning to like the vehicle. hence why you finally agreed to a late night drive with your boyfriend.

“if i get in trouble for sneaking out tonight, im blaming you!” you tease aloud, sinking back down into your seat as your eyes never left his side profile.

the laughter that left his lips made you smile, your heart flipping at the sight of his dimples popping out for you. “blame yourself for agreeing!” as he stopped at a red light, he took his chance to turn to analyze your features; something he genuinely enjoyed doing.

he brought his hand up to cup your right cheek, smiling at your loving facial expression as his calloused thumb rubbed tiny circles into the apple of your cheek. the sight of his tattoos peeking out from under his black and white knitted sweater made your heart beat faster, always falling in love with the art pieces that scattered across his body. looking back to focus on his face, you notice his eyes focusing on your slightly parted lips. taking the opportunity, you leaned forward and brought his lips against yours without hesitation. it was deep, sensational even. both moving in sync, his hand still cupping your cheek as your one hand laid on his chest as you both sat in the car. you were about to request access with your tongue when the beep of a horny brought you both out of your little moment, some yelling followed suit from the car behind you both.

laughter from both of you escaped your mouths, hanse automatically driving off as he realized the roads were clear to do so. as you turn your head to look out the window, your cheeks heat up in slight embarrassment. sure, they probably couldn’t see in through the newly tinted windows but that doesn’t mean you can’t help but feel the tiniest bit of embarrassment. your boyfriend just continued with small fits of laughter accompanied by lil peep playing on the old radio in his car, hearing the smile in his voice as he attempted to sing along but failing as he remembered what happened minutes before.

sitting on the hood of his car, the time nearing one thirty in the afternoon, you stuffed a kimchi kimbap into your mouth as hanse drank a cola flavored slushie with a gamja hot dog. sleeping with sirens’ if i’m james dean, you’re audrey hepburn’s acoustic version played on his shitty car speakers in the empty parking lot down the street from his apartment complex, the mood comforting as your thighs touched with his head on your shoulder.

“stay with me tonight.” hanse suggests, his tone flat with a hint of seriousness laced into it.

swallowing the bite of kimbap, you kiss the top of his head as you wrap your arm around his waist to pull him closer into your side. “why? are you not feeling okay?”

he lifts his head to look at you, adjusting his seating position on the hood of his car to properly look at you as he grabs your free hand in his. “i’m fine, i just don’t want tonight to end. it feels, perfect.”

you smile at his remark, nodding in agreement. jumping down from the hood and onto your feet, as your feet land you pull him down gently with you by his hands. although confused, he allows you to do so. watching with a raised curious brow, he laughs as you start to slow dance dramatically with him in the middle of the parking lot as you sing along to the lyrics. if anyone were to see you both in this moment, they would either feel lovesick at the young couple who were madly in love with one another or would be concerned for the two. either way, nothing in this moment matter but you two. all your focus was on hanse and vice versa, the smiles evident and laughter being heard from miles away.

as the song finished, you both stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. the only light being from the moon itself and the flickering streetlight awaiting to be fixed a few empty spaces down from where you two stood. the stars danced along to the change of song, filling the darkened sky with minuscule speckles.

“why does this feel like some kind of drama.” he admitted, making you laugh before placing your lips on his.

cupping his face in your hands, you smiled into the kiss as his hands found your waist and slivered underneath the hoodie you were wearing. after several minutes, you both pulled away to regulate your breathing. you went to walk back towards the car, about to suggest a nightly cuddle session inside of his apartment down the street until he pulled you back into his arms. letting out a soft chuckle, you put your chin on his chest as you looked up at him.

“let’s stay like this for a bit longer.” he recommends.

you comply, not questioning why but rather enjoying the moment. although green day’s basket case doesn’t really scream romance to you, being in this very moment with hanse was everything you needed. and, once again, vice versa.

[lightningfilledsaber]

i have a quastion. what is dungeon meshi like i’ve considered watching the anime since it looks amusing…. i trust you as an authority on this hence why i’m in your asks :3c

Dungeon Meshi is so good!!!

So Ryoko Kui (the author of the manga) is a super super great artist and writer in general, and her knowledge of intimate and expansive worldbuilding, including the cultures of different fantasy races is VERY apparent in dunmesh without being super in your face. It strikes a perfect balance between showing and implying and telling; giving you information when you need it but not holding your hand throughout the process. Ecology and biology of creatures and the places (mostly dungeons but yk) is SUPER important and expanded upon in the story. It scratches my Creature autism SOOO well. And all of the characters are VERY distinct and fun AND THE DESIGNS FUCK SOOO HARD. Dungeon Meshi has become one of my favorite series of all time, because it's so. so fucking profound. There are a LOT of funny moments and gags but there's an equal amount of genuinely serious and emotional moments. The character dynamics. GOD. Cannot recommend it enough.

Also. Dungeon Meshi is super fucking horny. LMAO. Not in a "fanservice-y" way (in fact, there is only ONE character that ever gets upskirt/panty shots and it is Senshi, the bearded dwarf man. He's my fave btw <3). But dunmeshi uses consumption (and to a lesser/technical extent cannibalism as well) as a... metaphor for love and obsession, and frequently eroticizes it. I hesitate to say metaphor because it's honestly VERY obvious lmao. Especially with how genuinely autistic Laios is about monsters and eating them. Then there's also transformation and change that's also VERY eroticized. A lot of the focus of Dungeon Meshi is desire. How people experience it, and just how far people will go for it. Which, again, is super eroticized a LOT. All done in a tasteful(? not sure if this is the right word but yk) way and not in a surface level "LOOK, SEX!!!!!!!!!" way. Not that there's anything inherently WRONG with being horny and not being like profound about it but I'm just trying to make a point lol

Now to specifically talk about the anime since that's what you mentioned wanting to watch (though I REALLY reccommend the manga, it is fucking GORGEOUS and there are so many hilarious panels that haven't been brought over to the anime, despite how well it's been doing with that so far. It just happens with turning a manga into an anime yk?)! It's doing a really good job so far!! The only issues I have are relatively nitpicky (I've gone into detail abt it if you wanna see here) and more of an issue with modern anime overall so! They're doing a really great job of translating over from the page to the screen and the voice acting work (both the original japanese and english dub) is really fucking good. And I don't typically like modern english dubs. The layout of the episodes is really nice so far too, centering around the "dish/es of the day" without feeling too constrictively like your typical "monster of the week" type episodes. It helps that Dungeon Meshi as a media itself strikes a really good balance between that and its storytelling. Though again. Laios is genuinely SO fucking autistic about monsters and eating them lmao and the series focuses on him/his party so! There's so much good in depth discussion about monsters, both their biology (especially in relation to their taste hehe) as well as their natures, and ecology!

I'm also really a fan of netflix releasing the episodes weekly instead of dropping them all at once. It's refreshing coming from netflix specifically considering their... track record.

But anyway yeah! TYSM Marty for coming to me about this and letting me go on an autistic talk about it!! I only apologize for not being more specific, but a lot of my dunmesh posting (reblogs anyway since I'm pretty sure the posts I've MADE about it have been relatively vague??) is already pretty spoilery and I'm a firm believer in a first watch/read being as spoiler free as possible!! It makes subsequent rewatches/rereads all the more fun to me personally <3 Though that's obviously up to you lol