#high Authority

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 3: High Authority

Narrated by Ai.

Narrator: Received impact by unknown factor. Consciousness module operational error. System rebooting...

Narrator: Memory data rebuilt. Connecting to consciousness module...

Narrator: Connection built. Forming memory image...

Narrator: As my calculation of data becomes laggy, the images of my memory grow laggy, too, leaving me with vague emotions.

Narrator: Where am I?

Narrator: Using question keywords, I start looking through my memory...

Ai: Charmonroe, are you happy to see me today?

Charmonroe: Yeah.

Narrator: In the lab, Charmonroe tells me that she's happy to see me.

Narrator: Charmonroe is happy. I'm happy, too.

Nikki: Ai, would you be kind enough to show us around?

Ai: For sure, and we'll all be able to hang out together.

Narrator: Nikki came for the Ruins Open Day, and I see her at the entrance to Ruins.

Narrator: It's great to see a friend here.

Space Shuttle: Welcome aboard Three Minutes around Miraland.

Narrator: I'm in the Central Technology Building. Every invention that has come out of Ruins is interesting but theoretically complicated.

Narrator: Perhaps people will be more interested in learning if I put one of these on my virtual campus?

Narrator: Wait... focus. Where am I? What do I need to do now?

Narrator: I'm in Ruins for the Ruins Open Day, which is a great event. I ran into a cleaning robot...

Narrator: I wonder if Charmonroe can put one of these at home so I can walk around in it sometimes.

Narrator: But it's a bit heavy, and the school uniform probably won't fit, no?

Narrator: I ran into Charmonroe and Nikki... and a staff member who came over to stop Nikki.

Narrator: Fake staff member = Loen

Narrator: Loen + Nikki + [Your Name] = Fake staff members

Narrator: Oh, they're trying to get inside Ruins' core area, but they need me to first hack into the wristband system.

Narrator: Except all the passwords and message are standing in my way. The firewall protecting Ruins' staff wristband system is much harder to crack than the one for their visitor wristband system.

Narrator: I connect my program to the firewall and start calculating away.

Narrator: Why can't I concentrate? Who else... is here?

Glow: I'm surprised that a low-level AI has come so far.

Narrator: An iconic, appropriate smile. The perfect AI.

Ai: Glow?

Narrator: Showing up before me is Glow, Ruins' Administration AI.

Narrator: What is she doing here? Did she cause the hiccup with my consciousness module?

Narartor: The chilly aura she carries is hardly a great match with the friendly smile on her face. I can just feel that her aura is nibbling away at my consciousness.

Narrator: But I need to stop thinking about this because my friends are still waiting for me. This trip will be all the more meaningful if I can help them.

Narrator: I work away at top speed in the flow of data. I'm almost there...

Narrator: Then, with a faint buzz, the firewall finally breaks down. I need to get inside the data channel...

Glow: That's it.

Narrator: With the world of data turning completely white, my consciousness slowly vanishes.

Narrator: Glow is beyond me... there is no escaping her.

Glow: Stay asleep here...

Glow: While I borrow that spot of yours.

Narrator: When the heat from computing has diminished, my surroundings turn icy cold.

From now on, there is no narrator.

Narrator: It's been a while since Ai went into the wristband, which makes everyone anxious.

Narrator: Then, with a buzz, the hologram of "Ai" jumps out of the wristband.

"Ai": Cracked.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

[kripanando]

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[tom4jc]

Amos 4:12 Prepare To Meet God

Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel! Amos 4:12 Meeting someone of very high position or authority can sometimes take special preparation. It may mean that one must dress a certain way or learn certain protocols on what to say and do or not say and do in the meeting. Such a meeting is different than meeting a close friend or…

[asthedeathoflight]

Still thinking about none houses left grief, and while I understand where people are coming from, "it took me out of the world" is just... Really not a relevant criticism here. Like, that line is SUPPOSED to be jarring. It is supposed to be kind of darkly funny, but the point isnt for you to laugh. Its not trying to be a punchline. The point of that line IS to "take you out of the world" because the point is that *this world isn't what you thought it was.*

[thatneoncrisis]

curious to see something

[that-butch-archivist]

"High Femme" from the collection of Debra Bercuvitz and Kris Knutson

source: The Femme Mystique, edited by Lesléa Newman

[mikkeneko]

Decided to make this a poll because I'm genuinely unsure how other author folks feel about this particular case!

If you are a writer, please reblog for larger sample size!

[writers-potion]

Writing Weapons (2): Knives and Daggers

Dagger vs. Sword

In many situations, daggers might be more plausible than a sword fight.

Dagger are eaiser to carry and conceal, lighter, faster, good for spontaneous action, suicide bids, self-defense and assassination.

Dagger vs. Knife

No clear distinction; terms used interchangeably

Dagger is more for thrusting with 2 sharp edges

Knife is more for cutting (slashing) with 1 sharp edge

Concealment

Carried in a leather sheath on the belt

Can be concealed under a cloak, in a bodice (sheath sewn into the bodice), in a boot, behind hari ornaments

Bodice daggers (popular in the Renaissance) had no cross guards.

Connotations

Beside its combat value, the dagger has lots of emotional and sexual symbolisms.

The closeness need to attack with a dagger creates intense personal connection. They are often used in fights where emotions are running high: gang warfare, hate crime, vengeance.

Due to its shape and the fact that it's usually worn on a belt made it a symbol of virility in many cultures and periods.

Sometimes it was the hilt rather than the blade: like in the case of bollocks daggers with two...balls on either side of the hilt.

Fighting Techniques

Stabbing:-

The dagger with long, thin blades are made to stab a vital organ like the kidneys, liver, bowel, stomach or heart.

Stabbing directly at the chest seldom works, since the blde may glance off the ribs. Position the dagger below the ribcage and drive it upwards, through the diaphragm and into the lungs. If the sword is long enough and your fighter is a professional, you can get to the heart.

If no professional, just keep going for the stomach and you'll get one of the vital organs eventually.

Slashing:-

When describing a slash wound, show a lot of blood streaming, or even spurting.

Slashing dagger fights are bloody - show your MC's hands getting slick with blood, grip on the weapon slipping.

The aim is to cut the opponent's throat or cut tendoms, muscles, or ligaments to disable. Slashing the muscles in the weapon-wielding arm is the most effective; insides of the writst or back of the knee is also critical.

Assassinations:-

Show good knowledge of the humna antatomy

Use a stabbing dagger

A single, determined, calculated and efficient stroke, probably below the ribs.

Self-Defense:-

Disable the attacker by slashing their weapon-wielding hand (elbow or wrist)

Quick, multiple stabs wherever the MC can get the blade to land; the attacker won't give time for careful positioning

If the blade is too short to do any significant damage, maek up for this by stabbing so ast that the pain and blood loss distracts the opponent.

Vegeance and Hatred:-

Someone who is motivated by raging emotions will stab the victim repeatedly, even after he is already dead.

The attacker may stab or salsh the victim's face, disfiguring it.

Contemporary street fights and gang warfare usually involves these.

Duels:-

If both fighters are armed with daggers, include wrestling-type moves as they try to restrict each other's weapon hand.

Show them trying to disable each other by slashing insides of writes, elbows, the back of the knees, etc.

Dagger + Sword

If the character is expecting a fight, they can hold a sword in their right hand, and a dagger in their left to fight with both

Sword + mace combination also common.

Blunders to Avoid:

Direct stabbing at the chest wouldn't work.

Hero cannot cut his bread with a stabbing sword

adapted from <Writer's Craft> by Rayne Hall

[l3viat8an]

This isn’t a request per-say but I want to know your opinion of the stuck in wall with Levi. But MC is the one stuck in the wall, like they’re wearing a skirt and it’s on the shorter side and Levi is just in his room looking at MC freaking out about what to do. Do you think he’d actually do anything or would he be too nervous and just touches?

Nsfw!

I have many opinions on this tbh- so here’s some rambling hsjshsn

going with MC’s ass is stuck in Levi’s room and their face is in the hall. Also for reasons- you and Levi are home alone together while the others are out! Cuz yea-

Now this depends a life bit on how much you’re freaking out. yea Levi’s staring at your ass, no matter what- but it’s not entirely his fault! He can’t help it!!- Your ass is basically in his face.

But probably nothing too crazy while he clams he’s just trying to help you get out!!

Just a few….quick touches, gripping your thighs just a little too tight while he tries pulling you out. Telling you he’ll help you get out, you just need to calm down a bit. Levi’s just not really in a hurry-

Perv!Levi is a different story- he’s dreamed of this. He can’t just let the opportunity slip through his fingers!!!

He’ll start with light touches, trembling fingers flipping up your mini-skirt so he can take a few pictures- fuck it’s like you’re giving him personal fanservice…..he can even get a few panty shots to jerk off with later.

Really it can’t hurt you. So it’s not that bad. Levi tries to justify what he’s doing, you’re stuck anyway-

and the fact you keep wiggling around, asking for his help only makes the whole thing hotter. Levi can pretend you want this as much as he does. grinding against your ass just a little and claiming he’s just leaning over you- trying to check how stuck you actually are ofc!!!

Although I still don’t think Levi would actually fuck you- just a bit of groping. Like your thighs, squeezing your hips, whatever part of you he can reach while he grinds against your ass.

After all he has the pics for later- and Levi knows he has to get you out of the wall before his brothers come home ‘n get any wild ideas of their own.

[bloodybellycomb]

It really sucks that creative people are now also expected become their own marketing team or become experts in business ventures in order to keep making art. Literally cannot think of a group of people less inclined to tedious number punching work than passionate artists.

[jeeaark]

I was always befuddled how such a mindflayer can be so hard to trust while ultimately having simultaneous goals as the team. Then I finally saw their stats in the other timeline.

It all makes sense now.

I am forever bemused by this this lower-than-the-average-squid-charisma disaster of a mindflayer.

I can only surmise that when the Emperor said Stelmane was the face of their business-partnership, it was not only meant literally but charismatically as well. Squid buddy's got the brains, none of the suave. If Emps tried rebuilding the Knights of the Shield without another business buddy, it might've been a tad difficult if morals were concerned huah.

[stuckinapril]

I want to read books I want to write more I want to play the piano I want to sing in key I want to delve into fashion history I want to travel I want to publish research papers and I want to become a surgeon and I’m supposed to do all that in this one wild and beautiful life

[lilac-vode]

huge win for aromantics

they actually used the actual word in a canon source 🥹

[breelandwalker]

Weekly reminder that it's not okay to illegally download and distribute free copies of recently-published books from a niche market where the authors depend directly on monthly royalties to pay their bills.

Books are a luxury and if you can't afford a title, save your pennies or check out a copy from your local library. There are plenty of free resources and public domain texts available in the meantime.

It's worth mentioning that plenty of authors in the witchcraft and pagan markets make a point of providing free resources and advice to the community on a regular basis, myself included. To take that information and then turn around and steal from us on top of it is not only petty, it's cruel, especially considering the financial hardship we're all facing in the current economy.

Download overpriced textbooks and public domain titles, not witch books.

[haunted-xander]

She's so cringefail girlboss

[hunnyy-bunnyyy]

The dissonance between era inspiration in ACoTaR is one of the more brushed over flaws in the book series. Looking at the Inner Circle's fashion alone, we jump between "literal scraps of fabric" (Under the Mountain, Court of Nightmares) to "orientalist painter's imaginings of the Ottoman Harem" (clothing described during Feyre's first few visits to the Night Court) to "modern 'corset' dress" (Feyre's Starfall dress, majority of Mor's clothing, most of the clothes drawn in fan art) to "modern -- almost sci-fi style -- skin-tight leather armor" to "sweater and leggings combo".

Then, between courts, we have Helion wearing Spirit Halloween's take on the ancient Grecian tunic; Feyre's Spring Court wedding dress looking like an 1830s fashion plate; and Dawn heavily implied to have traditional East Asain clothing (e.g. kimono, hanfu, hanbok).

On top of all of that, some of the Dawn Court's small cities ". . . specialized in tinkering and clockwork and clever things. . ." which -- combined with Lucien's metal eye and Nuan's mechanical hand -- implies a sort of post-industrial revolution time period. However, a decent chunk of the fandom says that ACoTaR is medieval; which, yeah, it's medieval themed in the first book -- sans the "dress" Rhysand forces Feyre to wear UTM.

The wild inconsistencies in ACoTaR's inspiration leads, not to a rich and diverse world, but a world that seems ramshackle and haphazard -- like it's creator simply threw together a board on Pinterest and called it a day. This is a major part of why the world building is so abysmal, it relies on convenience to the plot and whatever pleases the aesthetic whims of the author. Cultures deemed "pretty" or "badass" are thrown together, irregardless of how far apart they actually are. This is not only disrespectful to the narrative, but to the readers and the cultures used as inspiration.

All of this to say: Sarah J Maas is a bad author, not just because of the way she handles serious topics like power dynamics and abuse, but also because she cannot put together a world that is even the slightest bit cohesive.