#highlighting what matters

[esperanzapretila]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: "Moose Conquering Fear" by Peter Massam

What if fear had a smell? Could hesitation carry a scent we’ve learned to recognize since childhood? Moose Conquering Fear explores how fear lingers in unexpected ways—read on to uncover its true essence.

Genre: Memoir / Personal Development Fear is often painted as a villain in the human story. It lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike, rendering its victims powerless. But what if fear is not the enemy? What if it is a misunderstood companion, nudging us toward growth rather than retreat? Peter Massam’s Moose Conquering Fear is not just an account of a man overcoming obstacles. It is a…

[samwaverley]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: "Moose Conquering Fear" by Peter Massam

What if fear had a smell? Could hesitation carry a scent we’ve learned to recognize since childhood? Moose Conquering Fear explores how fear lingers in unexpected ways—read on to uncover its true essence.

Genre: Memoir / Personal Development Fear is often painted as a villain in the human story. It lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike, rendering its victims powerless. But what if fear is not the enemy? What if it is a misunderstood companion, nudging us toward growth rather than retreat? Peter Massam’s Moose Conquering Fear is not just an account of a man overcoming obstacles. It is a…

[sallymajors]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: "Moose Conquering Fear" by Peter Massam

What if fear had a smell? Could hesitation carry a scent we’ve learned to recognize since childhood? Moose Conquering Fear explores how fear lingers in unexpected ways—read on to uncover its true essence.

Genre: Memoir / Personal Development Fear is often painted as a villain in the human story. It lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike, rendering its victims powerless. But what if fear is not the enemy? What if it is a misunderstood companion, nudging us toward growth rather than retreat? Peter Massam’s Moose Conquering Fear is not just an account of a man overcoming obstacles. It is a…

[rachellepryce]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: "Moose Conquering Fear" by Peter Massam

What if fear had a smell? Could hesitation carry a scent we’ve learned to recognize since childhood? Moose Conquering Fear explores how fear lingers in unexpected ways—read on to uncover its true essence.

Genre: Memoir / Personal Development Fear is often painted as a villain in the human story. It lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike, rendering its victims powerless. But what if fear is not the enemy? What if it is a misunderstood companion, nudging us toward growth rather than retreat? Peter Massam’s Moose Conquering Fear is not just an account of a man overcoming obstacles. It is a…

[spotlyts]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: "Moose Conquering Fear" by Peter Massam

What if fear had a smell? Could hesitation carry a scent we’ve learned to recognize since childhood? Moose Conquering Fear explores how fear lingers in unexpected ways—read on to uncover its true essence.

Genre: Memoir / Personal Development Fear is often painted as a villain in the human story. It lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike, rendering its victims powerless. But what if fear is not the enemy? What if it is a misunderstood companion, nudging us toward growth rather than retreat? Peter Massam’s Moose Conquering Fear is not just an account of a man overcoming obstacles. It is a…

[kwillow]

As an eligible young noble of no small fame, Ambroys had a number of arranged courtships and suitresses in his youth, but any nascent marriages always fell through.

It's not that he didn't try; he certainly knew how to court a lady (perhaps too well, according to many fathers and husbands), and when he lacked knowledge on the affairs of womens' hearts, he sought counsel from a young woman who was a dear friend of his (perhaps too much counsel, according to his own father). Nonetheless, all he garnered for his efforts was separation after separation.

Ah, well. Maybe it was for the best.

[radiocity]

The L Word: Lookbook ↳ 2.01, Life, Loss, Leaving

[stil-lindigo]

art vs artist 2023

[rolandkaros]

ROGER FEDERER [SUI] & RAFAEL NADAL [ESP] || WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL || 07 06 2006, 07 08 2007, 07 06 2008

[@rgrfederer]

[esperanzapretila]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: Until September by Harker Jones

Have you ever wondered how a single gaze across a summer’s beach could change the course of your life? In this review, we unravel the answer hidden in the poignant pages of Until September.

Content Warning: This review may spark introspection about themes such as self-discovery, unspoken love, and the complexities of human connection. While the story remains tender and reflective, readers should approach with an open heart and a readiness to tackle the emotional terrain of youth. A Quiet Symphony of Self-Discovery “How many years would you have to go back to change your destiny?”…

[samwaverley]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: Until September by Harker Jones

Have you ever wondered how a single gaze across a summer’s beach could change the course of your life? In this review, we unravel the answer hidden in the poignant pages of Until September.

Content Warning: This review may spark introspection about themes such as self-discovery, unspoken love, and the complexities of human connection. While the story remains tender and reflective, readers should approach with an open heart and a readiness to tackle the emotional terrain of youth. A Quiet Symphony of Self-Discovery “How many years would you have to go back to change your destiny?”…

[sallymajors]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: Until September by Harker Jones

Have you ever wondered how a single gaze across a summer’s beach could change the course of your life? In this review, we unravel the answer hidden in the poignant pages of Until September.

Content Warning: This review may spark introspection about themes such as self-discovery, unspoken love, and the complexities of human connection. While the story remains tender and reflective, readers should approach with an open heart and a readiness to tackle the emotional terrain of youth. A Quiet Symphony of Self-Discovery “How many years would you have to go back to change your destiny?”…

[rachellepryce]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: Until September by Harker Jones

Have you ever wondered how a single gaze across a summer’s beach could change the course of your life? In this review, we unravel the answer hidden in the poignant pages of Until September.

Content Warning: This review may spark introspection about themes such as self-discovery, unspoken love, and the complexities of human connection. While the story remains tender and reflective, readers should approach with an open heart and a readiness to tackle the emotional terrain of youth. A Quiet Symphony of Self-Discovery “How many years would you have to go back to change your destiny?”…

[spotlyts]

Spotlyts Story Awardee: Until September by Harker Jones

Have you ever wondered how a single gaze across a summer’s beach could change the course of your life? In this review, we unravel the answer hidden in the poignant pages of Until September.

Content Warning: This review may spark introspection about themes such as self-discovery, unspoken love, and the complexities of human connection. While the story remains tender and reflective, readers should approach with an open heart and a readiness to tackle the emotional terrain of youth. A Quiet Symphony of Self-Discovery “How many years would you have to go back to change your destiny?”…

[galedekarios]

I think the reason some Galemancers think the astral scene is the “lesser choice” is because you get 5 extra approval points if you choose the bed scene. Both are good! But that’s what I would think. Also, I believe the astral scene pushes him towards the crown more vs the bed.

thank you for your message, anon, and for trying to explain!

however, i think there's some confusion and (unintentionally, i'm sure) false information here that i'd like very, very much to clear up:

a) approval points

both choices have the exact same approval points attached to them: five in both cases.

astral sea scene:

Player: I'll remind you we're newly acquainted, not newlyweds. Gale: Then we'll start writing the prequel. Gale: What do you say? Player: I think that sounds delightful - but I don't see a bed. ['Gale 5']

old ways scene:

Player: I don't need illusions. I want the Gale standing right in front of me. Gale: Are you sure...? I could conjure up any sight that you could dream of, and a few you could not. I could use the Weave to make us feel sensations beyond reckoning. I could do more than woo you. I could wow you. Player: You don't need to impress me, Gale. I'm no goddess., FEMALE ['Gale 5'] Player: You don't need to impress me, Gale. I'm no god., MALE ['Gale 5'] Player: You don't need to impress me, Gale. I'm no deity. ['Gale 5']

you can net five approval points in the last night alive scene in other ways too:

telling gale you love him:

Player: I'm in love with you too. ['Gale 5']

2. leaning in for a kiss:

Player: Lean in for a kiss. ['Gale 5']

3. gale also doesn't mind if you change your mind during the astral sea scene and want to return to the 'real' world:

Player: It's beautiful, but it's you I want to be with. The man, not the illusion. ['Gale 5'] - Player: I want to be with the real Gale - the man, not the fantasy. ['Gale 5']

these are NOT extra points. you will ONLY get these if you didn't choose the "Player: I think that sounds delightful - but I don't see a bed. ['Gale 5']" option in the same dialogue tree i listed above to follow through to the astral sea scene, but instead return to the "old ways" scene (gale snaps his fingers and the illusion of waterdeep disappears).

4. the friendship version of the scene also allows the player to not five approval points if the player chooses to stay with gale under the stars:

Gale: Yes... but there is so much to live for, and so few moments in which to house it all.Approval_AtLeast_30_For_Sp6 Gale: Damn you. Damn you for giving me so much to care about. Our friends, our adventures... this would have been so much easier if it was just me. But it isn't. Gale: If there is a way - any way - to save all that's grown dear to me, I want to seize it. I just cannot fathom what that might be, other than to fail Mystra and condemn the world. Gale: Stay with me, will you? I don't want to think of it any more, but I don't want to be alone either. Player: Stay with him and watch the stars in silence. ['Gale 5']

the second part i want to address because that is (again, i'm sure it's completely unintentional so no worries, anon, and/or a misconception/misunderstanding) false information:

b) choosing the astral sea scene pushes gale towards the crown

that is completely factually wrong and i felt it was important to clear that up. there is not a singular flag in the entirety of the scene's files that determines pushing gale away or towards godhood, away or towards the crown.

not one.

which makes sense because at that point in time, neither gale nor the protag even know about the crown. it's only at the end of act 2 that you find out about it, and it triggers gale's act 3 choice to pursue the crown (and godhood) or not to.

the only flags set in gale's act 2 romance scene is if you push him towards sacrificing himself or making him understand that he doesn't have to do that and that you'll find another way with him.

i've detailed that in a meta post about those flags.

if you would like to check the file for youself, you need to open "CAMP_GalesLastNightAlive_SD_ROM", which contains gale's act 2 romance scene.

the only other flags that appear in this scene are the following:

ORI_State_Partnered = False / True

ORI_State_DatingGale

CAMP_GalesLastNightAlive_SD_ROM_Event_CollateralDamage = False / True

ORI_Gale_Event_PushTowardsDeath

ORI_Gale_Event_PushAwayFromDeath

as well as the flags for approval (to determine which scene variation you get -> low approval, friendship, romance) and for karlach, as she has special dialogue in this romance scene with gale, depending on whatever or not she got the second upgrade that allows her to be able to touch.

again, my goal here is just to clear up misinformation about the scene. none of the two versions have a disparity in approval or have a 'negative' consequence attached to them in terms of flags.

what i, personally, find interesting and what i would like to add at the end of this post are the devnotes. we don't have that many in this scene, however, gale makes it clear that if you pick the 'old ways' scene - which is, in and of itself, a perfectly valid choice to make btw depending on how you rp your character, and i have two characters myself who have different ways of doing this scene - the devnote makes it very clear that gale is bowing to the player's preference.

it's not his wish. it's the player's wish.

and it's a wish that he respects to the utmost:

Player: It's beautiful, but its you I want to be with. The man, not the illusion. Gale: The old ways then. If that is what you wish, so be it. devnote: Tactful, bowing to the player's desires Gale: A small gesture towards your comfort.

all in all, i think personal preference is something else entirely, but i do think - looking at everything i've laid out here - it's very sad to see one scene painted as the 'lesser' for reasons that are factually wrong.

if ppl are interested to read a post taking on a more favourable reading of the astral sea version of gale's act 2 romance scene and want to understand why some people might prefer it, i'd greatly recommend this meta by @clericofgale. i've also talked about my own feelings (this is my personal opinion) in the tags of this post:

#i've spoken about this already but the amount of times i had to read derisive takes on the astral sea scene #because people think that making gale understand that he is more than his magic #is the same as separating him entirely from it #it does him a great disservice when it's such a great part of his life #you are romancing a wizard and a wizard comes with magic #i think it's also important to note that gale believes this is his quite possibly last night #the scene is literally titled that in the files: 'last night alive' #it's not a show it's love and acceptance and vulnerability #he is trying to share what he can and as much as he can with the person he loves in what little time may be left to him #he shows you his home and bares his soul to you in hopes you'll accept him in his entirety for who he is and the things he holds dear #when you deny him he acquiesces but he is doing so on your wishes and your comfort alone - not for his

again, thank you for your message, anon! 🖤

[sskk-manifesto]

Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple and how “ability users” (opposite to “normal people”) learning to accept themselves through the acceptance of their own abilities is a queer metaphor of acceptance of own's sexual orientation and gender: an essay by me