#i am incapable of letting go of that one crucial information about him to the point i can't even give in to these headcanons HAHA | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

deadsince1973 · 7 months ago

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Okay, so, I am LOVING The Legend of ShenLi! It might be in my top 3 C-dramas of all time, is definitely in the top 5, and is possibly the most exciting C-drama I've ever seen in the sense of making me want to watch the next episode right away. (I think that last one applies even more than Till the End of the Moon, to be honest.) But, all that being said, it's also clarified for me one of the things I hate most about a lot of romances (and why TTEOTM is so great).

Namely, I hate when crucial information is kept from the audience. I understand that that makes the show more suspenseful, which makes it harder for the audience to stop watching because then they're eager to learn the information. Clearly this is working with TLoSL and me. But, a well-written show can keep the suspense going even when the audience has all the knowledge of all the characters combined, and withholding that crucial information runs the risk of making the drama frustrating.

Let me give a concrete example. I just finished Episode 17 of TLoSL and these were my thoughts while watching the episodes yesterday and today:

Episode 13: I'm starting to get really annoyed. Xing Zhi is almost gaslighting her about being Xingyun. She told him flat-out that she liked him. She wasn't shy, she wasn't playing games, she wasn't unwilling to admit her own feelings. He clearly likes her back, so why can't he do the same?! It's not like he can be afraid of rejection when she's already been so open and honest about her feelings! And there are no outside repercussions he can face for admitting he likes her back. He is physically/spiritually the strongest being in the universe, and he's also got the highest social position in the universe. There can be no consequences for him for getting together with her, so why is he unwilling?! I've started cheering when she’s cold to or domineering over Xing Zhi, because she deserves to assert dominance over a man who's going to disrespect her by saying he doesn't like her and then taking her on romantic dates.

Episode 14: Okay, so he's finally stopped lying to her about not being Xingyun, but now he's explicitly told her that he doesn't have feelings for her. If you don't have feelings for her, why do you keep acting like you do?! She's right, it is really frustrating how he rejects her on one hand and seduces her on the other!

Episode 15: My cheering for her being cold to or domineering over him is becoming more sincere and less humorous.

Episode 17: His best friend lost his divinity for falling in love with the wrong person. So is that why Xing Zhi's afraid to tell her he loves her? Is he afraid to admit his feelings even to himself for fear of losing his own divinity? If that's the case, WHY WEREN'T WE THE AUDIENCE TOLD THAT EARLIER?!?! We could have spent this whole time crying for the poor immortal who can't love the woman he loves instead of getting frustrated by him!

Honestly, whether this is the explanation for Xing Zhi's reticence, or there's a bigger, deeper, truer reason coming down the line doesn't really matter. Either way, they've left us with a lot of episodes of frustration wondering why Xing Zhi can't just admit his feelings for her. This makes it harder to enjoy all the genuinely sweet and romantic moments they have together. It's hard to watch a character I love so much falling in love with another character who seems incapable of loving her back as fully as she loves him. Likewise, it's not a very fun self-insert fantasy to have: loving a man who won't say he loves you back. Being unable to fully enjoy the moments where he does show honest affection to her compounds the frustration in my opinion, because there's nothing else problematic in their relationship really (or what there is can be overlooked), so I want to cheer for them and their love, but Xing Zhi's making it hard.

Compare all of this to TTEOTM. We knew all of Li Susu's and all of Tantai Jin's complex, contradictory, and constantly shifting motivations and feelings from the get-go* (*episode 3. But that's still pretty close to the get-go!). What kept them together? Li Susu had to stay by Tantai Jin's side and show him kindness in order to save the three realms and four continents. Tantai Jin wanted Li Susu to stay by his side because she was the only one who'd ever shown him love. [Yes, my fellow TTEOTM stans, I know it's a lot more complicated and nuanced than that, but that's the biggest link in the chain holding the two of them together.] What's driving them apart? Li Susu's doubt that Tantai Jin can ever be anything but the Devil God; Tantai Jin's (correct) suspicion that Li Susu has an ulterior motive and (his incorrect suspicion that she) doesn't really love him. As soon as the main characters know these things, we know them, and it's wondering how the situation is going to evolve that pulls us through the story. We never have to be frustrated with a character decision, because every character decision makes sense based on the information we the audience have. It makes the story so much more enjoyable, in my opinion.

In addition to everything I've said above, I'd like to add a secondary point I've already alluded to but haven't yet made explicit: I think making important information a mystery decreases re-watch value. I admit, my re-watch of TTEOTM is proceeding MUCH slower than my first viewing, which in itself went much slower than TLoSL. But, I am at least re-watching it. I don't know if I'm going to want to revisit the characters of TLoSL once there's no more mystery about them. With TLoS, it's the ending that matters; with TTEOTM, it's the journey.

I want to end by saying that dramas are so complex, what doesn't work in one show might work in another. Not only is this all my opinion, but the way all the elements of a drama combine can make all the difference in whether one single element is good or bad. There are so many elements in TLoSL that I've HATED in other shows, but TLoSL did so well that I love them!

But, even with that caveat, I just think, as a general rule, making your main characters' motivations clear from the outset is the superior way to structure a show.

#I used the spelling in the title card and then initials and tried to avoid using her name because I'm hoping this doesn't show up in the #TLoSL tag. I'm not trying to hate on it or antagonize the fandom! I just think I'm right about this and I had to say it. :/#Till the End of the Moon #original #P.S. Brevity is my mortal enemy and it defeats me every time. If you managed to read to the end you deserve some sort of award.

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cv-nobody-and-associates · 4 years ago

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Foggyvent Epilogue, and a new beginning

Nobody Wants To Know

Part I – Prologue

The Hub was an interesting place. A meeting place among the infinite dimensions across the multiverse, it was a large and vaguely dome-shaped space with a pale silver colour in the sky and a metallic texture to its walls and floor. It was filled with tables and chairs of various sizes and shapes to accommodate all of the physical impossibilities that would find themselves sitting there, and it was at one such table that Nobody found herself in conversation with her succubus companion, Zila.

The two had loved one another from their first meeting, and as such when Nobody needed comfort and answers after her experience with the fog, there was only one person she sought out. Launch was a close second, but her second partner was rather difficult to track down on most occasions, and was usually not interested in getting involved in serious matters such as this, preferring to take a more background role.

“…And then the vision passed.” Nobody finished her recounting of exactly what she had seen in the fog – the two figures that taunted her and the vision of those she cared about most laying dead at her feet. “I still don’t know what it truly meant, but ever since I’ve been feeling…different than I used to. I don’t think that I only saw my fears.”

“You think it was some kind of vision?” Zila said, in that youthful silken voice of hers. In more pleasant circumstances, Nobody could lose herself in that wondrous sound, but at the moment she had more pressing concerns. Still, even watching Zila’s beautiful skin and golden blond hair, gazing into her piercing yellow eyes as she spoke, brought Nobody comfort.

“Sort of.” Nobody answered. “Not a vision of the future, but perhaps it was showing me some truth within myself. Something I have been incapable of remembering for whatever reason. Perhaps a good reason.” Zila seemed to frown at that, and Nobody almost felt dumb for even suggesting the idea. At times, Zila’s charisma was infectious even without her willing it. One of many features that came from being a Succubus. Two drinks arrived at their table, which Zila took, passing one to Nobody, who nodded her thanks.

“What kinda ‘good reason’,” Zila said, emphasising the air-quotes. “Would there be for not knowing who you are?” She asked. Nobody shrugged in response, uncertain of how to answer the question herself.

“I can only conclude it’s something my employer would want.” She replied. “Kuryo has informed me that my existence has certain terms, namely serving him on my missions. This could be another?” Nobody shook her head. “I’m really not sure, and it’s something I intend to look into. But it’s not the only reason I came here.”

“Oh?” Zila said, placing her head forward and resting it on one slender yet well-toned blue arm. She grinned for a moment, showing pale white fanged teeth for just a moment. Behind her question-marked face, Nobody smiled warmly, and placed her hand on Zila’s free one.

“I also came to see you.” She said happily. Zila’s face blushed a warm red colour, something that Nobody found adorably amusing. “After seeing the other vision, seeing you lifeless… I had to. I’m sure my friends would consider it selfish, but I won’t apologise for my devotion to you surpassing any other factors.”

“You mean everything to me, Zila.”

“Y-you’re just trying to make me blush!” Zila playfully protested, quickly putting her hands to her face and shaking side to side, a sight that made Nobody laugh, with a genuineness she hadn’t felt in quite some time. Zila took a moment to calm herself before speaking again.

“What about your other partner? Lift-off or Rise or something like that?” She asked, and Nobody sighed.

“Launch.” She corrected. “I love them too. Of course I do, and there’s next to nothing I wouldn’t do for them. We’ve discussed this before, and nothing has changed.”

“Nothing?” Zila asked. “Wait, does that mean that they still don’t know about… you know, about us?”

“Whether or not they’re aware, I cannot say.” Nobody said, leaning back in her seat and sipping her drink, an odd substance that tasted vaguely like orange juice despite looking like clear water. “But I have yet to have the opportunity to tell them. I intended to, but then they died.”

“Excuse me?!”

“Don’t panic, it wasn’t permanent.” Nobody chuckled, and Zila sighed in relief. “I don’t fully understand the details, but they have a system in place that makes them essentially immortal. They respawned, and sent me their location. Alas, I was unable to find them before getting side-tracked by work. We next saw each other at the New Year’s party on Creatorverse, Internia. And only briefly before disaster struck.”

“What kind of disaster?” Zila asked. She was always curious about Creatorverse, a world that she herself had yet to visit. “Was it those Blockhead things you told me about?” Nobody shook her head.

“No, I’m told it was Mori.” Zila nodded, vaguely recalling what Nobody had said about the mysterious Mori.

“That’s the destroyer god, right?” She asked. Nobody thought for a moment, then shrugged.

“Something like that, I think. I forget the full story, and no one ever seems to agree on the details.” She answered. “All I know is that Mori used to live in Creatorverse, but was exiled for some reason, and now they want to destroy us all for revenge?” Zila raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds kinda fishy.”

“I agree.” Nobody nodded. “But it’s not really my business to examine it further. I’ve got nothing against Mori, nor any of their companions. I’ll only intervene if absolutely necessary. Not my fight.”

“So, they sabotaged the party?” Nobody nodded at Zila’s deduction.

“Indeed. They were also responsible for releasing the fog. I think they were trying to get some kind of paperwork using it, but I don’t believe I caught the full message before I left. I didn’t see Launch at all after New Year’s. I hope they avoided the fog.”

“I hope they’re okay too.” Zila said comfortingly. “Based on what you’ve told me, they sound pretty cool.” She smiled at Nobody.

“If they only seem ‘pretty cool’, I must have undersold them.” Nobody joked, and the two laughed pleasantly for a few moments.

“Hopefully I’ll get to meet them someday.” Zila said. Nobody nodded, raising her glass.

“With any luck. It would be great for all three of us to hang out sometime.” The two lovers clinked their glasses together happily and drank for a moment. There was a pause before Zila spoke again, this time nervously.

“If…” She hesitated, and Nobody leaned forward, listening intently. “If you had to choose. If you had to choose between me or them-”

“I’d choose you.” Nobody cut her off. “I love Launch, I care for them a lot, but you’re always my number one priority.”

“Thank you.” Zila said after a moment, shining clear watery tears.

“No need to thank me for honesty.” Nobody replied. “But enough about me. How have you been? Hopefully you’ve been doing better than my vision suggested.” She joked, which caused Zila to chuckle before groaning into her hands at the thought of how things had been going for her.

“Ugh. Let’s just say I’m glad you’re here. Things haven’t been going well since our last meeting.” Nobody took a long sip of her drink.

“Oh, trouble at work?” Nobody asked, setting Zila off.

“You have no idea!” She cried, throwing her arms up in frustration for a moment. “All I’m trying to do is seduce people and take their souls, but everyone keeps trying to get feelings involved! It’s so uncomfortable. I’m just there to fuck, not for love.”

“That’s not how I remember our times in bed.” Nobody said light-heartedly. “I seem to recall us being very passionate indeed, in more ways than just physical.” Zila froze for a moment, going red.

“You’re the exception.” She said, seemingly both flustered and amused. “No one else is like you, ya know.”

“I believe I do.” Nobody nodded. Her thoughts wandered back to her vision in the fog for another moment. “Although I find myself wondering as to what I am like now. There’s still so much I don’t know…” She trailed off, something Zila noticed.

“It’s the vision, isn’t it?” She asked, to which Nobody nodded. “If it’s bugging you so much, you gotta go look into it.” Nobody looked up for a moment.

“I…” She stumbled over her words. “I have some ideas. Nothing concrete, but there are a few places that might hold some answers for me.” She thought for a moment.

“The other Nobodies.”

“Pardon?”

“When I enter another world, there is only one me.” Nobody began to explain frantically. “I just change to fit that world and its rules. But there are three exceptions I know of. One I made, one I chose, and one took the name herself. Three other Nobodies. And if I am included, there are three people within me. It’s not a coincidence, I just don’t know how it connects.” Zila smiled happily. Hearing Nobody ramble so passionately always brought her joy.

And if she was being honest, she had certain ideas for what to do with three Nobody’s…

“Well, what are you waiting for? Go check them out!” Zila encouraged. Nobody smiled beneath her question-marked face and burst forth from her seat, before remembering a crucial detail she had forgotten.

“WAIT, CV!” She yelled in a panic. “I was meant to get some things! Vanilla extract and a big magic supply! And I was meant to help those outside in the fog!”

“Wait, the fog was still happening when you got here?!” Zila shrieked in surprise. “I thought it was done!”

“I’M SORRY, I HAD TO SEE YOU!” Nobody said in response. Zila stood for a moment, briefly going red before sighing.

“Hun, I love you, but sometimes you can be a real dumbass.” Nobody nodded at Zila’s wisdom, chuckling a little. “Give me a sec, I’ll help.” Nobody gave Zila a quick hug in response to her words.

“Thanks Zila, you’re a life saver!” Zila rolled her eyes but gave Nobody a loving smile as she gently left her arms, and opened up a flaming portal. One of the perks of being a succubus was the ability to essentially travel anywhere, and in style to boot.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” Zila said, before blowing a kiss at Nobody, which the question mark girl happily caught. She then vanished through the portal.

As she waited for Zila’s return, Nobody took the time to write a small note to apologise for her absence.

Dear Shandy, or whoever else finds this note,

I apologise for failing in my duties during the Fog Outbreak. I had much to do, and some crucial personal business that I am afraid takes priority over anything and anyone within the city. Said personal business is also why I will not be returning in person.

The Fog may have shown others their fears, but to me it showed a vision. It allowed for some part of me long forgotten to connect to the rest, and I now need to find answers. I understand if you will not forgive me, but I shall not apologise.

However, thanks to a special someone, I have some gifts I had promised, that I hope shall make up for my extended absence.

Take care, and don’t die,

Nobody In Particular

Zila returned as soon as she had finished writing the letter, holding a rather nice-looking woven basket.

“Alright, I got you a bunch of Vanilla extract, a duplication ring they can use to get more, and…” She took out a large black sphere that seemed to hold within it a burning white-hot flame. “One Hell Pandora. It’s a magic sphere that holds some of the most potent powers and souls from hell, like a pocket dimension. Don’t worry about using souls, they were in Hell for a reason.”

Nobody nodded, taking the basket and briefly opening a portal of her own. She placed it carefully at the door of the council building, never fully stepping through. Once she was sure it had been safely placed down, she came back to The Hub.

She then wrapped Zila in a tender embrace, and after a moment the gesture was returned.

“I may not know the full story of who I am,” She began, before moving to look Zila right in the eyes, holding her by the shoulders. “But I know that I love you, and I always will.” After a moment’s hesitation, Nobody peeled back the question-mark face she wore, revealing her True Form and its human face beneath. Then, she gently removed that face as well, showing off the face of her Final Form.

Her right eye was finally open, a prism of strange and interdimensional energy held within it. Her natural blonde hair now stood in eerily still spikes, mixing with a misty aura around her. Her mouth was now masked with a deep purple and black misty aura, mixed with fiery fangs.

This was Nobody in her purest state, something that only Zila had ever seen. And whilst most avoided it as much as possible due to its fearful effects, Zila only ever admired it as she did all aspects of her lover.

Gently, Nobody kissed Zila, letting their mouths come to a pleasant embrace. It was all too brief for the both of them, but at the same time it was also a moment that neither would ever forget.

“No matter who you become, I’ll always love you.” Zila said, gently caressing Nobody’s face as it morphed back to its default question-mark state.

“Now go.” She spoke. “I’ll be waiting for when you return.”

And with those final words, Nobody departed, beginning her search for answers.

[END]

AN: Thanks for reading this! This started as just an epilogue for the Creatorverse Foggyvent, but I’ve been working on some of Nobody’s backstory and lore, so the idea to expand this struck me as an excellent way to explore it! The three other Nobody’s mentioned are all characters that I created, and the only AU Nobody’s to not just be the canon one shifting based on the world she’s in.

I should probably give some context for that. The short version is that Nobody is an extra-dimensional being. Specifically, she is a Fusion, which in this case means she is a cross between the souls of a Creator from Internia and an entity known as a Void Demon, an energy being that lives in the Void, a space between realities. Both of these are separate from Nobody, who is a third being created from combining the previous two. More info will be revealed as the story progresses.

As for Zila, she’s another sona of mine! I made her to be a somewhat less complex character than Nobody, who has a lot more complex lore behind her. So Zila’s whole deal is that she’s a Succubus from a realm known as Hell, and she travels across realms to…well, do what Succubi do. I’d be happy to talk more about her if asked.

Worth noting, Nobody is indeed canonically cheating on Zila with Launch, even though Zila is aware and fine with it. It’s not a poly without everyone knowing what’s going on and giving consent, and since Nobody has yet to tell Launch about Zila, it’s cheating. Out of character, Zila is just another representation of me just like Nobody. They’re both parts of me. So, unless dating literally myself counts, no IRL relationships are affected whatsoever.

There’s more I could ramble on about, but I don’t want to drag this AN out for too long, so I’ll leave you here. I hope you enjoyed this!

#creatorverse #my post #Nobody Lore #Nobody Wants To Know #Foggyvent #epilogue #Also a prologue

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zuzuslastbraincell · 4 years ago

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☕ Aang.

He's a character I don't see you talk about much, so I'm curious about you thoughts on him, his character arc, what you like or dislike about him, etc.

The short answer: Love Aang. He’s great! Feel like a lot of the dislike of his character (while fading, at least in the circles I’m in) is misplaced. People who think Aang didn’t make the right end game decisions don’t understand his character / miss the point, IMO. That said, dislike some of the character decisions especially r.e. Katara/Aang.

The longer answer: I really love Aang and I feel like the hate he receives from various parts of the fandom is very unwarranted, though I wonder if it stems from watching the show as a child his age and finding his playfulness unrelatable - like as a kid I might have found it exasperating but as an adult I find it very refreshing and it is so obvious to me that Aang is A Child, it informs how he behaves and his decisions massively, and I wonder if the dislike comes from the lack of perspective and being unable to view Aang as a kid, being kids themselves when these haters watched the show?

That said, all kinds of people do dismiss Aang as immature and it frustrates me to no end, because being cynical =/= maturity, a willingness to make difficult decisions that betray deeply held beliefs =/= maturity, and Aang’s decision to stick to his beliefs should always be viewed in tandem with the context that he is a victim of genocide, that genocide includes the destruction of a culture’s common beliefs and practices too, and whether those beliefs live or die in the future starts and ends with him.

Additionally, I feel like Aang does possess a lot of emotional maturity for his age, even if he has bouts of being immature (like, normal, honestly). Like he processes his anger in a way that is largely healthy, actually? I think that’s a thing most people don’t understand, they don’t see that as part of Aang, when really Aang processes his emotions like someone who’s had very clear healthy models for it. He does feel anger, and grief. When Aang tells Katara in the southern raiders episode vengeance isn’t the way, that’s something that he’s fought hard internally to believe in, that’s something that he’s learned.

Tying into that, I think an overlooked aspect of Aang’s development is how in season 1 Aang spent a lot of time looking for Fire Nation citizens who were good / who could be good, because the idea that the Fire Nation is fundamentally evil contradicts his world view (”the monks taught us all life was sacred”), but I think that was probably a perspective he clung onto as well as a way of dealing with his grief. Like, I feel like Aang has fought hard to reaffirm his beliefs in a world that seems determined to “prove him wrong”, surrounded with characters who largely don’t share or understand them & see it as naivety because they lack perspective and have only known war / understand the brutality of the opponent they’re facing on a personal level. I think we don’t see a lot of this explicitly, it’s largely subtext and often an internal debate -- Aang doesn’t have many people to soundboard these kind of thoughts off, there’s no one who is an air nomad or of a similar kind of upbringing around.

Tbh I feel that Aang is best in season 1, largely because his developments in later seasons also incorporate his feelings about Katara as part of his general development, and if I’m just completely honest with you all, I mean no disrespect to Katara/Aang folks you’re cool in my books but I’m just not sold by it at all. For example, because Aang’s journey mastering the avatar state involves him reckoning with his earthly attachments and the idea of letting go, and that conflict revolves around his feelings for Katara, and because I am not particularly sold by Aang and Katara, that impacts on how I view that whole arc. I love a good friends to lovers arc where the depth of those feelings extends to both friendship and romance but I feel like the way ATLA writes romantic arcs often involves a character suddenly looking at another with heart eyes and very little actual bonding to justify that sudden change, very few *journeys* or *arcs* that culminate in feelings (unrelated, but this is my theory as to why Zuko is shipped with almost everyone, because he literally has several life-changing journeys with other characters at the tail end of S3), and it’s fairly unconvincing / pretty flat to me? Especially since we do not get anywhere near as much an insight into Katara’s feelings in that regard? I get that romance isn’t always a grand arc or whatever but given that it’s tied to a lot of Aang’s S2 development, I think it ought to have more prominence.

If I’m honest, I also feel like Aang’s development regarding Katara and the Avatar State was incomplete, and that made a lot of his S3 development frustrating because in other aspects I think he came into his own and matured - usually in subtle ways, like his attitude in the Southern Raiders, but also we see him from being understandably upset about having to hide his identity, to incorporate aspects of Fire Nation dress into his final late S3 look - but in that aspect, his arc felt incomplete to me? This might be a poor reading of it, but to expand on how I see it, in S2, Aang is incapable of letting go of Katara until literally the most critical moment, when he has to -- at which point, he is struck down by chance. In S3, the concept of entering into the Avatar State being a matter of difficulty is literally not mentioned, so we can presume he’s come to terms with letting go of Katara - which directly contradicts the pushy behaviour he shows in Ember Island Players, the way he ignores her boundaries? And then that’s literally never addressed, Aang never apologises, Katara and Aang never have an important conversation resolving the conflict there, and in the end Aang gets the girl? It’s frustrating.

Like, the way I see it, “letting go” of Katara shouldn’t mean putting no importance on her - I actually like the idea of Aang not being willing to leave his friends behind, his compassion and care is important in this aspect. Rather, if I were in the writer’s chair, I would have it that “letting go” means a willingness to face rejection. Aang lets go of a romantic prospect of Katara - and acknowledges she can and might reject him, and that’s always a possibility, but opens his heart to her anyway out of trust (and when they get together, it’s not because he’s proven himself worthy, but because Katara wants to be with him). I think that would have been such a monumentally *powerful* message, especially in a late 00s cartoon, prior to the likes of Adventure Time and Gravity Falls quite explicitly deconstructing the idea of the male protagonist always getting with their crush (I feel like a vital context new viewers miss r.e. Katara/Aang is that the male protagonist would always always get with the girl in cartoons, it always happened, to the extent that female characters existed as much as love interests as characters in their own rights). I honestly don’t think it would even require that much in terms of change! I might show that in S3 Aang still has difficulty with the Avatar state at times - he can go into it at will, but not always - and that’s because he’s in the process of letting Katara as a crush go. I’d still keep the kiss in Day of Black Sun - tbh, I have no issues there, he thought he’d never see her again quite possibly, he’s impulsive, it makes sense - but I’d maybe highlight a slight awkwardness afterwards. I might even keep the awful Ember Island Players conflict - but crucially, I think Aang would have to learn from this. I think when Aang might realise he’s still struggling with the Avatar state as late as Sozin’s Comet episode 1, panic, realise he needs to internalise that belief more, and I think he’d leave Katara a note - including an apology for his actions before, for pushing her when she wasn’t ready, but explaining also, that he needs to go on a journey by himself to figure this out. Rest of Sozin’s comet goes ahead as normal, more or less. I’d end with Katara, maybe at the tea shop afterwards, talking to Aang and asking him why he went off by himself, explaining that she & the gaang would be there for him, he didn’t have to go on a journey alone. Aang would explain that he didn’t expect they’d understand, they’re not monks, and Katara explaining that maybe they wouldn’t, but he could *try*, that’s a risk you sometimes take (but concedes they could have been more understanding). And I think over that conversation it hits Aang it’s not about being alone. Everything’s connected. It’s about not clinging on. it’s about being willing to lose. It’s about trust. I think by the end, they agree to try and communicate better, and Aang then asks Katara out - mirroring “Do you want to go penguin sledding with me?”, similar kind of activity. He almost tries to over-explain and say ‘listen it doesn’t have to go anywhere’ but Katara just smiles and says yeah. And they leave to go on their first real date.

Anyway that’s how I *would* have handled it and that is what I think could be an interesting and compelling arc that wouldn’t take much adjustment to add. Aang is afraid of losing Katara, and realising that he can and might lose her is important.

.... that’s way more than I intended to write but yeah. I feel like a lot of Aang’s development ties in with his feelings for Katara and that’s where I take issue.

#aang #soozenwrites

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ritamordio19 · 6 years ago

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The Idea of a Love Triangle in ACOTAR 4.0 vs. Nessian

So I’ve been much more active in the last two days on my Tumblr than I have since like....well, ever, to be honest (considering this is my first post), and I’ve been seeing a lot of mentions of a possible love triangle between Cassian and Nesta/Emerie, which I heavily disagree with, so I wanted to dissect Cassian’s character quite a bit in this post. I won’t touch Nesta’s character since, as much as I love her, I don’t think I could possibly do a better job than rhysand-vs-rowan did on the one reblog I have on my wall (seriously, read that one too; it’s amazing!!). But Cassian is just as important (and real) to me as Nesta, and I think people don’t realize quite how large his main character trait drives his actions, which is to say: He has to help every female character in distress. And it’s true. He literally cannot help himself whenever there is a woman in any type of problematic situation, which I factor largely due to how his own mother was treated when he was a young child and the helplessness he felt at that time when he couldn’t stop her from being killed. Now I’m not saying this is a character “flaw” per se-- he certainly does quite extraordinary deeds at times, sometimes at great personal cost, to help out these various women in his life -- but it isn’t really a choice for him and can cause serious emotional exhaustion for him when he’s overburdened (often the case when dealing with the Illyrian camps). I see a helper’s complex in him where he can’t feel complete or satisfied as long as he knows a woman is burdened, causing emotional drainage until he’s fixed the issue. The reason I bring this up is because people are looking at how Azriel or [especially] Rhysand treat women they love/have romantic interest in and saying “Cassian treats X girl this way too, therefore there might be a love triangle.” But they’re not comparable situations. Rhysand --only-- put in the amount of effort he put in with Feyre because she was Feyre. You do not see him draining himself to the bone to help Nesta now, and you did not see him draining himself to the bone to help Elain earlier either. At best, he offered them positions in his court, a very low-energy offering, and he left almost all of the grunt work to Cassian, Azriel, and Feyre. This is not to say he doesn’t -care- about their pain, but he is not the type to go out of his way to help while he’s busy being High Lord. He is much more of a passive resource, available to help if asked for, which Elain only uses to a small extent and Nesta is incapable of using (as it would require her to ask for help, something she is currently not capable of and possibly/probably does not believe she deserves at the moment, with the amount of trauma she is dealing with). Azriel we have less information on, but he puts exactly zero work into helping Nesta, while putting in a noticeably larger effort with Elain. And were Morrigan to ever have another traumatic event, it is almost assured that Azriel would be there for her as well. Cassian, on the other hand, has been like this with every woman he has encountered in the story who has been hurt, regardless of [lack of] romantic interest. He put in emotional work with Feyre during their initial training, and he constantly, CONSTANTLY fights for the rights of Illyrian women to remain unclipped and holds these rights and their rights to be trained as his #1 and #2 priorities when in Illyrian camps during non-war times. In addition, while he admits doing so due to jealousy and claims he regrets it, I don’t think he truly would reverse his decision to sleep with Morrigan if that decision had come five years ago instead of 500 years ago. I do strongly believe that, even with age/wisdom/”maturity”, he would’ve risked sacrificing his friendship with Azriel to save her from a life in the Autumn Court with who he believed Eris to be (who Eris truly is?), not having advance knowledge of what her parents would do to her. Yes, he has gone overboard emotionally with Nesta as a result of his interest in her, mainly in terms of their mutual verbal jabbing, but remember this really crucial line, when Cassian realizes she’d been sexually assaulted, from their small story in the back covers of ACOMAF:

“She hadn’t answered him. ‘Would it change anything if someone had? Would it make you see me differently, treat me differently?’

‘It’d make me hunt them down and shatter every bone in their body.’ A shiver went down her spine -- not at the fear of him, but at the truth in the promise. The sincerity. ‘You don’t know me,’ she said. ‘Why bother?’ Cassian snarled, inching closer, his hand gripping hers -- then paused. As if the question sunk in. As if reality sunk in. He blinked. ‘I’d do it for anyone.’ She knew he meant it -- and that he would.”

In terms of him acting as the protector/helper figure that he is, he would go to the ends of the earth for anyone. So the pain he feels at Emerie’s wings being clipped, the anger he feels that the entire village is ignoring her store because a female Illyrian is running it -- that would’ve been the same for any female he encountered. In fact, he demonstrates the same exact internal dialogue/speech with Emerie that he does with literally any female character in the cast other than Nesta. While he may make comparisons to Nesta, these are still passive thoughts from his first impression of a new face (and daughter of an old friend), and they have no emotional baggage or romantic obsessiveness behind them. I want you to compare this to his attitude towards Nesta, far different than with any other member of the cast. In their first and second meetings, he has a very low view of her due to her treatment of Feyre and insults her [protecting Feyre], earning a fairly large backlash from her as well. Importantly, at no point does he see her in any way as vulnerable or burdened until he finds out her past trauma from sexual assault in their second meeting. He doesn’t know about her starving herself (and by proxy her other sisters) in order to try to force her father to do something and the subsequent guilt she faces. He doesn’t know about the trauma she faced watching her mother die. He doesn’t know about Tomas until mid-second meeting. He doesn’t even know about her loneliness/feeling of madness at being the only one to know the truth in their entire household in the midst of Tamlin’s glimmer on their household. He doesn’t know how she braved the forest for weeks in order to try to rescue Feyre. Yet, importantly, he says this in his inner monologue before meeting her the second time to deliver Rhysand’s message:

“Cassian surveyed the estate, the muddy, thawing grounds, the distant village, and looming, budding forest. He’d left their first encounter not entirely sure where he’d stood, or who’d had the upper hand. And, Mother damn him, in the past few weeks, he’d found himself turning over every word and look he’d exchanged with her, over and over.

None of it had been pleasant, every syllable from her mouth barbed and vicious, and...Cassian huffed a breath, hot tendrils ripping away in the wind. He couldn’t tell what was worse: that he’d thought so much about it, or that he’d run here so damn fast. And was now...dawdling.

The thought sent him into a swift, reckless dive for the green-roofed estate.

Nesta is the only character in the entire series that Cassian feels this way towards. She is the only character who gets under his skin -- Emerie included. And remember, this started from their first meeting, whereas his meeting with Emerie was the very definition of platonic, even as he felt the need to solve her shop’s financial crisis. Seriously, could you imagine the following:

He’d had lovers, some for a night and some for months, and Mor had never cared, but...

This woman standing before him like a pillar of steel and flame...Cassian didn’t want to tell Mor about her. About how he’d touched her neck.

...being said about any other female character in the series, even Emerie? Cassian would likely help any woman in distress the way he helps Nesta, but would he freak out about them, constantly replaying their conversations in his head? Would he find himself drawn, time and time again, to any other woman that he views with as much disdain as he did Nesta in their early days? He literally calls her a bitch at least three times in their second meeting alone, and that’s not counting the large number of other insults he sends her way, whether stated out loud or not, all with full intent.

Conclusion

Now, I will temper my comments to a small degree at the end here, which is that, despite being a huge Nessian shipper, I do think it is possible that they do not end up together despite believing, without a doubt in my mind, that they are mates. I just do not think that this would ever be due to Cassian’s end, which is what an Emerie love triangle would entail.

On the other hand, Nesta is dealing with quite heavy emotional trauma post-war, and she is [very understandably] pissed off that literally everyone sees her as Cassian’s. She is free to do whatever she wants, and she may choose to take her own path as Cassian (and the rest of the Court) reminds her too much of the reasoning for various aspects of her trauma (the Cauldron, the war, her father dying). And that is absolutely okay -- she has the right to make her own choice, even if it isn’t Cassian, even if the person she chooses isn’t her mate (are you hearing me Feyre about Elain?????).

But I 100,000% believe with my entire heart that Cassian would rather go single another 500 years than ever give his heart to anyone but her. Thanks for reading my way-too-long comments on Cassian. Let me know if you agree/disagree -- I’d be interested to know why the love triangle theorists believe Emerie to be in play for Cassian’s emotions and am open to having my mind changed. Until then, I’m straight Nessian trash though~~.

#acotar #nessian #nesta #cassian #acotar theory #a court of thorns and roses #a court of frost and starlight

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glitterysummerkitty · 7 years ago

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Dr Bombshell & Mr Hollywood

A Jake Gyllenhaal Fan- fiction

Prologue// Chpt 1// Chpt 2// Chpt 3// Chpt 4// Chpt 5// Chpt 6

Chapter 7

Sunday evening was by far the most phenomenal day Candice had, in terms of fun, in a very long time. As soon as the game began Candice fell completely in her zone and she had even managed to impress the hell out of everyone present. At the end of the day Dave had been a proud captain and both Jaylon and Ronnell were all praises with Ronnell even trying to bribe her into abandoning Dave and joining him for the following matches.

Even Mabel was surprised and after the glorious victory of the Omega- 3’s, the first question Mabel had asked her was ‘Where the hell have you been? Jheez Candy! I didn’t even know you were so good at this sport.’ Candice blushed but didn’t think it important to remind her best friend that she had been the captain of her team college team and they had won several trophies. She even won several awards, which were now displayed proudly in a pristine glass shelf at Washington State University.

At the end of the friendly match Pizza’s and beers were ordered and jokes and stories about their spouses and children were shared. Candice kept mum and tried to stay out of anyone’s focus but more often it had been futile since she was the star player of today and so everyone’s attention was on her. Especially Uma. Candice had never thought at the beginning of the evening that she would ever be comfortable with Uma but surprisingly at the end she found out how hilarious Uma really was. Basically Uma was Gemma multiplied hundred times. Candice believed she could handle Uma and her eccentric behaviour.

After such a beautiful Sunday came Monday bringing along with it, its infamous blues. Candice groaned as she reached out and shut the alarm. She tilted her head and looked outside the window. It was still dark out there and although it wasn’t snowing anymore it was drizzling. Candice saw the little droplets of water glistening under the streetlight against the glass surface. Candice sighed. Strange fact check about Candice- she hates rain. Yes, she loves snow but hates rain. Why? Don’t ask because even she didn’t have a reason for it.

With the comforts of her warm sheets and Mr Ruskin’s hot body pressed against her sides, Candice didn’t feel like getting up. But work was work and so she closed her eyes counted from five to one backwards and then hopped out of her bed.

She barely got time to breathe on Mondays as she had three classes to teach and the clinic is almost always full on Mondays, filling up her schedule for early evening to late night. The first class was with master’s student and their class had been on a topic which was more challenging and close to her heart- Maternal Nutrition and it’s consequences. They had discussed and critically analysed some of the studies out there and compared the methods and their varied results. It was fun.

But then her next class was with first year Grads and that wasn’t something she enjoyed especially considering she would have to face Zachary. After that day, when she had kicked him out her class, she hadn’t seen him and it made her slightly nervous. Also, after just having such a challenging class, to have to talk about the process of digestion wasn’t something appealed to her.

Mentally preparing herself, Candice pushes open the door to the large hall and entered it. As she did, the rambunctious class fell to a low hush. As usual, on the very first row at the very centre the seat was occupied by one of her least favourite students Brianna. Candice had observed how the slightly obese girl with a bad case of acne and a harsh expression, never mingled with her other classmates. She always sat by herself and had minimal to no contact with her mates. Candice had also made an observation as to how Brianna seemed to have a problem with her although she would never understand why.

“Good morning class. I hope you all had a great weekend.”, she started as she scanned the class and found it devoid of Zach. She didn’t know if she should be relieved by it or not.

“We sure did!”, someone said but Candice couldn’t point out.

“How was yours Dr Averell?”, a slim, blonde seated two rows up from the front row asked in her sweet voice as she twirled a piece of hair in her finger.

“Better. Thank you Cameron.”, Candice smiled back.

“So... Today I am going to talk about the whole process of digestion, absorption and Metabolism.”, there were some groans, some exited rustling of pages showing eagerness to write down notes while some just sat straight with their nose buried in their phone screen.

“Digestion is the first crucial stage where food is broken down to smaller chemical constitutes for absorption. There are two ways this is achieved- Mechanically and chemically.”, Candice moved to the next slide on her presentation, when the door to the hall opened and in strode Zach. Instantly every girl’s, except Brianna, attention was consumed by him and Candice felt compelled to roll her eyes but she didn’t.

“Sorry I am late, Dr A. I was eating breakfast and went in deep thought about all the things I could do during the time I waste during your class and lost track of time.”, he smirked as she took to his usual seat. Immediately the class broke out into an “Ooooohh” and “Burn”. Candice gave the entire class a sharp look before finally settling her glare at the infuriating boy.

“Really?”, Candice feigned surprise, “Well from observing Mr Meyer’s performance in class for an entire year one would assume that he’s incapable of deep contemplation but I am glad to know you can.”, with that Candice turned her attention to her PowerPoint. She ignored the snickers and Zac’s stabbing glare as she went on about peristalsis.

Candice decided to grab lunch from the ‘Four Hundred Guild’- a restaurant within the campus that served exclusively to the faculty and staff of Pruitt and Hearst University- before going to her next class. She shot Mabel a text, letting her know where she was and then decided to call Bethany to check up on her aunt. Apparently Aunty Aubrey wasn’t doing so well. Her latest cycle of chemo had left her very weak. It had Candice worried but Bethany assured her that she and a few women from the church were doing everything to help her through this. Candice end the conversation with a promise to send some more money by the weekend and also a request to fill her hospital room with some Calla Lily. “She loves them.”, Candice said.

Over a lip smacking lemon thyme chicken, Candice narrated the whole incident over Zach to Mabel, who was flabbergasted by Zac’s audacity and also found it hard to believe that Candice had stood up against him.

“While I am very proud of you for what you have done, I am also worried. What if he decides to take action on his threat? In my opinion you shouldn’t continue to antagonise him. It’s a question of your career.”, she advised as she shoved a brussel sprout in her mouth.

“I know. It’s just he’s so infuriating.”, Candice grumbled.

At half past three Candice left from the university. Once again she made a stop at Starbuck on her way to clinic and faced the same server as the last time. She placed her order without making much eye- contact and then sat down at the table. This time Candice had time enough to have her drink at the café.

As she waited for her Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwich and a tall cup of Americano she got her laptop out to check her e- mail. There lay a tiny dose of happiness waiting for her and Candice grabbed it.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: 19 Feb 2018, 10:00 am

Dear Lynne,

I have finally got time today and I am determined to spend the day reading and hopefully get to the end of your book. As I am typing this mail, on my desk lies your book, a tall mug of coffee and a lot of snacks. Believe me when I say that I am on a mission to finish this book today.

You can expect to hear from me by tonight on my opinions on what I thought about the book. Until then I am signing out! Xoxo

Regards,

An Avid Reader

Candice grinned. She loved the reader’s enthusiasm and could only hope she felt as enthusiastic once she finishes reading the book. Candice wasn’t one to care much about what other’s opinion. She wrote ‘Love Knows no Bounds’ because it was something she believed and something that she wanted to write about. It didn’t matter if others didn’t buy what she had to sell. But for some unknown reason ‘An Avid Reader’s’ opinion mattered to her very much. She giggled silently to herself at the (xoxo) part making her wonder who the reader could be. Was it a man or a woman? Was he/ she old or young? Which part of US was this person writing from?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: 19 Feb 2018, 3:45 pm

An Avid Reader,

Your enthusiasm towards my work is encouraging. For any artist, I believe, appreciation of their work means above all and they while they can do without it, when a reader like you shows so much eagerness it really gives much pleasure. I hope you continue to show similar gusto until the end and after that too.

I will be waiting to hear from you as well. Until then happy reading!

Regards,

Lynne Brooks

(Author of-

“Love Knows no Bound”)

As she ate she went through some more fan sent e- mails and replied to few. She reached clinic on time and Ashley greeted her with a great news that owing to the bad weather, Mrs Laine had cancelled her appointment and so had two other patients.

“Dr Averell. Do you think I could leave early today? Actually it’s my boyfriend and I seven month anniversary.”, Ashley asked. In the three months that Ashley had been working here this was the first time she had asked for anything so Candice didn’t have the heart to say no.

“Sure. Oh and I probably think it’s a good idea because on Wednesday I need you here late. I want all the patient files organised and prepared for the next month’s audit.”, Candice informed. The red head looked happy.

Candice saw the few patients who had braved the weather while using her free time to update her patient’s information into the software. The said task was mundane and taxing to Candice but something that she had to be done. When only one file was left on the table she opened it and the name sent both, shivers down her spine and anger through her veins. Candice marvelled at being able to experience two varied emotions belonging to different spectrum, simultaneously, at the sight of the same name.

There is a knock on the door and Candice looked up, expecting to see Ancil walk in but it was Ashley.

“Dr Averell your seven o’ clock is here. I just wanted to ask if it’s alright if I leave?”, Ashley fidgeted with her fingers. Candice thought, amused, if she came off intimidating to Ashley.

“Of course you can leave. Thank you Ashley.”, she smiled. Ashely smiled back nervously before scrambling out the room. Candice wondered what she ever did to intimidate the poor girl.

“Good evening Dr Averell.”, that familiar baritone voice filled her room making her tremble in her seat.

“Good evening Mr Dumont. Please have a seat.”, she mumbled as she motioned for him to take a seat. It didn’t matter if Ashley found her intimidating or not but Ancil managed just fine to drain every ounce of courage she possessed.

“You look gorgeous. As always.”, he lowered his voice and by the time he said always it was merely a whisper. Candice squirmed in her seat as she felt her muscles in her stomach and everything south of it clench.

“Thank you... How are you today?”, she said a little out of breath and blushed deeply. She kept her gaze fixed on the file before her.

“Better than I have been in days.”, he replied.

“Good. How much of the plan have you been able to follow?”, she asked as she made notes on her file.

“Hhhmm...”, Ancil trailed off forcing her to look up when he didn’t say anything for a while. Candice watched mesmerized as he tapped his lean finger against his lips. His face looked like he was genuinely trying to recollect. Candice wanted those lips wrapped around her own, she wanted to run her tongue over it, she wanted to...

Candice flushed as she found him smirking at her, apparently having caught her staring at his lips. While she knew her body had its natural cravings, she chastised herself for fantasizing about her patient right in front of him. Embarrassed she turned her attention back to the file and for the rest of the session didn’t look up until necessary.

#jake gyllenhaal #jake gyllenhaal imagine #Gyllenhaal #Maggie Gyllenhaal #prince of persia #prisoners #southpaw #source code #imagine #fiction #fanfic #fanfiction #hot actors #love #romance #not a real story

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tuesytuesday · 7 years ago

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Name: Jeanne Melenni Q. Barroso

Issue: Rape

Thesis Statement: I am Against Sexual Violence in the World.

Rape is a crime of violence and assault that not only affects a victim for a moment, but it destroys her entire life.

According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, rape is defined as “any kind of unlawful sexual activity, usually sexual intercourse, carried out forcibly or under threat of injury and against the will of the victim.” This definition has been redefined to cover same-sex attacks and attacks against those who are incapable of valid consent, including persons who are mentally ill, intoxicated, drugged, etc. (rape). Because rape crimes affect all races, cultures, ages, and economical classes.

The effects of rape can include both the initial physical trauma as well as deep psychological trauma. Although rape victims commonly report injuries and issues with their reproductive health after the sexual assault, rape doesn't always involve physical force. The most common and lasting effects of rape involve mental health concerns and diminished social confidence.

I. Rape Victims

94% of women who are raped experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the two weeks following the rape (D.S. Riggs, T. Murdock & W. Walsh, 1992).

A big percentage of the rape victims face traumas although as stated earlier, rape victims commonly report injuries and issues with their reproductive health. These traumas go far beyond the victims impacting their closest relationships as well as impacting communities and our society at large.

Guilt, shame, self-blame, embarrassment, fear, distrust, sadness, vulnerability, isolation… These are some of the emotional impacts that up until now affects victims and survivors of sexual assault. Each survivor reacts to sexual violence in their own unique way. Personal style, culture, and context of the survivor’s life may affect these reactions. Some express their emotions while others prefer to keep their feelings inside. Some may tell others right away what happened, others will wait weeks, months, or even years before discussing the assault, if they ever choose to do so. It is important to respect each person’s choices and style of coping with this traumatic event. Whether an assault was completed or attempted, and regardless of whether it happened recently or many years ago, it may impact daily functioning. A wide range of reactions can impact victims.

This point can be very difficult, it can be very tempting to “take over” for a while in an attempt to help the survivor deal with the rape. It is important to remember that because of the rape, the survivor felt a loss of control over their life. Reestablishing that control is very important. Try to defer to a survivor’s decisions, even if they decide to let you make some decisions. Then at least that was their choice and not yours. If a survivor wants to talk, try to be an open listener. If they prefer not to talk about the assault, then try to be supportive in other ways, letting them know that you care about him/her and are willing to listen at a later time if so desired.

II. Are Women Responsible For Rape??

This discussion clearly makes a distinction between victims who took precautions and those who didn’t. Such distinctions make some feminists uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t. Good people err in judgment, especially when they’re young. But no one does women a favor by treating them like children bearing no responsibility for their own safety.

This has nothing to do with sexual mores. A woman of sound mind has a right to hook up with however many men she wants to and engage in whatever sexual activity she and the partner agree on. But there are risks involved. Skydivers don’t have armies of helpers running along the ground with safety nets.

Law enforcement is ill-equipped to play the chaperone. It basically does cleanup. And people injured in car accidents are taken to the hospital whether they wore seat belts or not.

Let’s end with clarity. Women raped by a date, co-worker or husband should be cared for as those assaulted by a stranger in a park. They deserve criminal justice. But rapes by total strangers are the most horrendous. They should be more troubling to the police — and the public, as well.

III. What to Do?

A great deal of harm is done, often unintentionally, to survivors because the people around them believe the myths that surround rape. Rape is never the fault of the survivor, but rather the fault of the rapist. Although this sounds like a simple, even obvious, fact, much of the misinformation that exists points to the victim as being responsible for the rape. Educating yourself allows you to provide informed, compassionate support.

Many women will not seek help because they fear that no one will believe them. A victim of sexual assault should be treated with dignity and respect. Nonjudgmental belief in her at this time is very crucial. Focusing on the facts as reported by the victim and recording them completely can be very reassuring to her. In the rare instances where false accusations of rape are made, nothing will be lost by a supportive attitude. In all other cases, doubting her credibility can devastate the victim.

The success of the victim’s recovery depends heavily upon the attitudes of those who are important in her life. The fear of being alone is common after an assault. Friends can help by making sure she is not left alone during the days, sometimes weeks, following the rape. Provide her with a sense of protection while also reinforcing that the rape was not her fault. Many victims blame themselves - focusing on how they might have been able to prevent the rape. Remind her that the rapist is to blame, not her. And, most importantly, provide reassurances of love and care.

I would like to tell the victims that it is not their fault, rape is a crime and justice must prevail. It is their right to fight for themselves, everyone does have a right to fight for what is right. Nonjudgmental belief in her at this time is very crucial. A victim of sexual assault should be treated with dignity and respect.

#NoMeansNo

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ivorytowerblr · 7 years ago

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NaNoWriMo 2017: Jan 22nd

Still tired.

Word Count: 947 Previous: November (Master Post) December (Master Post) Jan: Week One (1st-7th) Week Two (8th-14th) Week Three (15th-21st)

It’s late afternoon when we pass through the mostly-empty casino, bundled in coats against the late-winter chill. The snow barely reaches the ground, but the wind howls through the streets, chilling us to the bone. I tug my collar up, and use my hat as shelter against the wind.

The vehicle the sisters share sits in the parking lot, and I let Omega approach it first, just out of habit. I don’t drive much any more, though I’ve recovered from my injuries. Somehow, it just doesn’t feel quite the same.

“Where are we going?” Omega asks as we get into the car and buckle in. “To see your information broker.”

“He lives deep in the heart of the city, though not in a place as nice as this,” I say. Omega laughs a little, surrounded as we are by gaudy lights, though many are off, conserving power for the evening. “I’ve known him for a few years, and his information is usually quite good.”

“Well, I trust you, so if you trust him, I’ll trust you too.” Omega smiles and me and I smile back, and then grip the door as she lurches forward.

Of the three sisters, Omega is easily the nicest, but she drives like a maniac.

I give Omega directions quickly, in the hopes it will prevent her from recklessly moving from lane to lane, but in this I am entirely incorrect. I’m grateful for my seatbelt, for the firm door handles, and that everyone else on the road is as terrified of her as I am.

My information broker lives a few blocks from the casino, in a darker part of the city. Here, there are fewer neon lights, and the lights that do exist are half-burnt out, fading, or deliberately broken to create greater pools of shadow at night.

At an hour before sunset, it mostly just looks tawdry.

“We should probably park outside of the area and walk,” I say, only partially out of desperation to be out of the car. “So that no one will damage it. It’s a rough neighbourhood.”

“Which you want us to walk through?” Omega points out, though she does find us a place to park. “It can’t be that bad, can it?”

“The first time I made the mistake of thinking that, it was the second worst destructive thing that’s ever happened to my car,” I say dryly, and Omega rolls her eyes. Thankfully, with the car now stopped, death is no longer imminent. I get out and wait for Omega to lock up before beginning to walk towards a cluster of forbidding thresholds.

“What do you know about this man?” Omega asks me. “How can you be sure that he’s trustworthy?”

“Aside from knowing him longer than I’ve known you, his information has always been accurate, as well as having been crucial to my investigations,” I say. “I probably would have asked him about the cases you and Alpha brought before me, if they’d been real.”

“And this is part of an investigation?” she asks. “Why couldn’t I just go to an information broker myself in that case?”

“You could,” I say. “Find one. Name one that isn’t the one I’m bringing you to see.” Omega opens her mouth, and closes it. “Guarantee that the broker in question isn’t in the pocket of the person you’re investigating, or won’t just like to take your money and give you a false lead. There’s a lot more to this than just talking to someone on the street.”

“You make a good point,” Omega says, walking along beside me. “But you know all of these things to be true about this man?”

“Yes,” I say. “He sits outside of their influence, which is important. More important, he doesn’t provide any resources to your casino, which means he’s not being pinged by the data. It keeps him secret, after all. I know he wouldn’t lie to me. Some days, I think he’s the only one incapable of it.”

“A lofty claim… though it explains why you were so upset with us.”

“Aside from what happened to my car?”

“Aside from that.” Omega rolls her eyes again. “You want people to be scrupulously honest with you at all times. You dislike falsehood.”

“That’s not an unreasonable thing to dislike,” I point out. “Being lied to, among other things.”

“People lie all the time,” Omega says. “To be polite, to protect people. To protect themselves. It’s a necessary thing to do.”

“In an ideal world, it wouldn’t be protective or polite or necessary to lie,” I say, annoyed and a little hurt. I was sure Omega and I shared an opinion on this matter. “We would use truth to illuminate the darkness of lying.”

“Noble,” she says, and sounds a little wistful. “And…”

She stops, trailing off, and now I have to prompt her. “And?”

“Impractical.” Omega shrugs. “I’m sorry, but it is. There will always be usefulness in lies. It’s just how society works, how it functions. We’ve protected ourselves from the conspiracy through keeping things secret, which includes lying when we need to.”

“If everyone was truthful, the conspiracy would have nowhere to hide,” I note, before leading Omega inside one of the dilapidated buildings. I make my way through the tangle of personal belongings, leading Omega down to where my information broker is hiding, half-hidden in shadow.

If I’m truthful, the man is usually pretty over-dramatic and theatrical, and considering how much he usually charges, I’m not going to argue with him about the fact he chooses of wear a deep, shadowed cowl most of the time. Obviously, he has a flair for this kind of thing.

#nanowrimo 2017 #wh20k #so very tired

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gilbirda · 7 years ago

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Human courting is confusing. Chapter 17

This is a bit revised version from the ones I posted before in FF and Ao3. I dunno, I think I’m losing control with what my hands are doing. I should be working on NaNoWriMo but neuyako consumed my soul.

The plot is going where I want this to go, but maybe I’ll revise this fic when I finish. It really needs some editing.

I’m trying to go for a little bit more smutty content, and neuyako will be my very first attempt at writing, well, porn (with plot). Bear with me.

(No, this chapter doesn’t have a lemon)

[FF.net][Ao3]

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Day 17: Spooning.

"I'm so sorry, Godai-san," Yako said for the tenth time, a hand squeezing his trembling shoulder in what she expected was a calming gesture. He looked back at her, his second cigarette half finished on his shaking right hand, and a terrified expression on his face. He had stopped screaming a while ago, something Yako was grateful for, and now he was in some kind of catatonic state. "You shouldn't have found out this way."

"Like hell I shouldn't!" he took another drag of the cigarette and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please don't tell me that you and that monster have fucked. My old heart wouldn't take it."

"What!? We haven't!" she yelled, surprised by his question. Was this what he was afraid of?

"Yet." Said an amused Neuro beside her, leaning on the sofa she was sitting on, his face mere inches from hers.

"Neuro!"

"Oh God," Godai murmured putting the hand with the cigarette on his forehead, his eyes losing focus. He was losing it, Yako knew, and shook the man a little bit to keep him from passing out. "Oh God. Tell me you are being careful, Yako. I don't trust that monster, but I trust you."

"Godai-san! We are not-" she was starting to say, but was interrupted.

"So, let me see if I understand you. Are you actually more shocked about the fact that Yako and I are courting than me being a demon from Hell?" said demon asked with a low chuckle. They couldn't help it, Godai had to be explained some things after finding them in a very heated make out session, in an advanced state of undress, with Neuro's horns very visible on top of his head and Yako on top of Troy with the demon between her legs. The poor man passed out for a few minutes in shock.

"Courting? Man, that was not courting. That was foreplay, for fucks sake," he whimpered, not realising that his cigarette was burned up. Yako was red to the roots of her hair, facepalming. She didn't think she could look at her friend in the eyes anymore.

She risked a glance at her boyfriend, grateful that he wasn't looking at her. How could she let things go so out of hand? They started kissing as usual, a happy peck on the lips as a reward for doing great on her exams and marking her freedom until next fall (freedom that would be used on more mysteries, of course), and then they were incapable of stopping the need to touch each other. She just remembered wanting more and more, desiring to touch his bare skin, taste it, kiss it, feel him closer; a passion that had been growing every day they spent together sharing kisses and cuddles, until such a point that she had to study somewhere else so she wouldn't be distracted.

She was no longer afraid to feel those things with him, just a little nervous. It was real and it was happening. Being physical with Neuro had became a reality and bit by bit thoughts of what more it could be assaulted her mind, forcing her to take drastic measures to focus on her studies. But now that she was free her more basic impulses came to the surface, allowing such an intimate thing on a place where anyone could walk in and see them. Thank God it had only been Godai. It would be too embarrassing if it was anyone else.

The issue of Neuro losing control of his human façade was something she wanted to discuss. Him losing control of anything? It seemed impossible, but as much as she was aroused by the passionate look on his face when they were at it, his horns suddenly materializing really shocked her. But, well, that was seconds before realising that Godai was at the door of the office, screaming.

"Oh God…" murmured the terrified human again, dropping the finished cigarette.

***

"Poor Godai," said Yako when she was getting ready for bed that night. They had send him home a few hours before with promises that he would not tell anyone about the demonic condition of his boss, at which he said "I already knew something was really wrong with you monster and didn't tell anyone".

"He shouldn't have interrupted us, and that's his fault," he said as he took off his coat and shoes. They slept together every day, and this time for real, as he was there when she woke up. It was cute, she thought, that she could cuddle with her boyfriend every night until falling asleep. Well, cute if he wasn't trying something weird, from touching her on soft places to playing tricks on her with more of his demonic tools. She just hoped that tonight he'd took it easy on her as she was really tired.

"I kinda thank him that he did," she murmured, not looking at him in the face. She heard him stop what he was doing and feared for her life, as the argument when he accused her of not wanting to mate him was fresh on her memories and she was afraid of voicing her concerns of going way too fast in this whatever they were.

"What do you mean by that?" the demon asked with an edge on his voice that she knew very well. He was interrogating her like she was a suspect. He walked to her position and turned her head to make the woman look at him, finding a serious look on his eyes. The grab on her chin was strong, barely controlled. He was angry, insulted even, but waited for what she wanted to say and trying to understand her.

He had really listened.

"I think we are going too fast, Neuro," she said with confidence, sure of her answer. The tension left his shoulders and the demon let her go, but still looked at her straight in the eyes, expecting her to elaborate. "I don't think I'm ready yet for doing it. I'm afraid that if we lose control I'll let you do something I'll regret later." He chuckled.

"Don't be silly," Neuro said with a toothy smile, "I won't lose control."

"The incident with your horns told me otherwise."

"Ah, that," he arched an eyebrow. "Do you think that I lost all of my control? Slug, I have to stop myself from marking you and dragging you to Hell for the mating every time we are together. Do you think that I care about my form when I have more crucial things in mind?" The woman was shocked. Was that true? Did he really want to mate her so much? She felt her face go red. It was weirdly cute.

Before she could voice her opinion, she felt herself be pushed with force, knocking the air out of her, before feeling that she was being suspended in the air with weight on her back. In front of her face were pointy spikes that came out from nowhere, and the thing on her back was, of course, her beloved boyfriend who grabbing a rope that she couldn't see was attached to the ceiling with a pulley, and down again to her person ending in hooks on her nose.

"I'm disappointed, maggot. I didn't think you had so little faith in me," he laughed when she screamed at being so near to the spikes. "Apologize to your master now."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she yelled, worried about her face.

"Hm," he let her go and walked to the bed, deactivating the spikes with a hidden button on the wall. Yako breathed hastily, not surprised that he had set traps on her room. Of course he did.

"I hate you."

"Come to bed, my dear," he patted the place beside him as he laid comfortably on her bed. She felt like puking with the fake sweet tone and the big smile.

"I hate you so much." The detective sighed rubbing her nose and walked to the bed. Any sleepiness she could had have was now gone.

She got into her bed and turned off the lights, ignoring the blank faced demon by her side, trying to get some sleep done. Tomorrow she expected him to drag her around the whole city searching for mysteries.

"Yako."

"Hm?"

Instead of answering her, the demon scooted closer and surrounded her in his arms, successfully spooning her as he likes to do. It always calmed her and he knew that. The damn demon was too smart using her weak spots against her.

"Kiss me," he suddenly said making her turn around.

"Why would I do that? You just tried to turn my face into cheddar cheese!" the woman said, angry.

"But you love it!" he was smiling his innocent smile.

"No."

"Yes, you do," the Brain-Eater mocked her and grabbed her thigh, caressing her skin with the soft material of his gloves, earning a delicious gasp when he went up to her bottom. She still getting used to touching in some places. "I can smell it, don't forget."

"Go to hell," she growled, feeling her face go red.

"I am from Hell already."

"I hate you," she said again, gasping when he squeezed her rear with a bit too much force than was necessary. The tingling sensation between her legs came back and she cursed her own body for responding to him in such a way. Her mind was flooded with things that he could do with those hands, things that she didn't want yet to happen despite the growing desire for him to do them.

"Dirty girl," he said and kissed her deeply before letting her go and turning her around again. She could feel him on her back through the thin material of her pajamas, his hands around her and his warm breath on her neck. It was comfortable and cozy and Yako really enjoyed this little moments with him.

She truly felt at home. She closed her eyes.

"Yako," he said again, just under her ear, making her shiver. She made a noncommittal sound in answer. "Is marking 'going too fast' for you?"

Startled, she opened her eyes and turned, looking at him in the eyes. His expression was neutral and didn't gave her any information of what he would be thinking.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just answer me," he squeezed her against his body.

"Well," she thought about it. A visible mark full of demon energy on her body? It wasn't permanent, he said that it would fade if the process wasn't continued, so the level of commitment was very low, "not really. It's not permanent and we could test if this could work. The mating, I mean. Why do you want to know?"

"Can I bite you?" he ignored her question, but that didn't surprise her. What did was the fact that he was even asking after all the times he had been biting her. He slightly furrowed his brows and she paled in realisation.

"You mean…"

"Yes, I want to mark you."

"Now?"

"Yes. Are you deaf?"

"Why?"

"Do I have to explain everything myself?" she snorted.

"No, I get that you are a hormonal-crazy demon that likes to bite, but I'm wondering why now of all the times you could have asked." He seemed to think his answer for a while.

"Something inside, my instincts, are telling me that now is the best moment. And I always listen to my instincts." She arched an eyebrow.

"Is that all?"

"Aside from wanting to mark you for a long time, nope." He smiled his big smile that augured no good and Yako sighed. Yeah, why not. It couldn't hurt more that his usual bites.

"Ok, I guess." There is no harm in it, right?

Later she would regret thinking this, but when he chuckled in his deep voice and licked the side of her neck, her only thoughts were of love and warmth. As she expected, he bit, and really hard, on the spot at the base of her neck in the joint with her shoulder and something like an electric current coursed through her body, somewhere between warm and cold, making her hyper aware of the sensations. It hurt. It hurt a lot. It felt like someone was messing with her nerves, playing with them to see if they could reach every cell on her body, successfully inflicting hot and cold sensations in places she didn't know there were nerves.

Her back arched in pain, her body lifting from the bed, and she tried to scream but a gloved hand covered her mouth in time. His other hand hold her in place against him as the last of his demon energy coursed through her system, reaching her head for a second before swirling back to the bite at the same time that he detached himself from her neck and her whole body.

She took a greedy gulp of air when the pain went away, not leaving any traces of its path on her, and slumped back to the bed, panting.

"What… the hell… was that," she managed to say, looking at the demon who was wiping her own blood from his lips. "Is it done?"

"No quite." He was panting, too. "Now, we wait."

"What for?" she sat back, leaning against the wall and looking at him in the eyes.

"To see if our energies match."

"And if they don't?" she asked, feeling authentic fear. This was not explained before.

"Well… you die," he smiled and sat back in the bed , watching her closely for any change on her face.

"What should I be feeling like?" she was starting to feel a weird tingling on the tips of her fingers.

"From what I've heard of other demons' mating, it feels like "turning into sand"."

"What? Sand?" she definitely was feeling something, but couldn't quite name it. "I'm feeling weird, Neuro. What is happening to me?"

"Just wait. I'm sure that you will succeed." His confidence in her didn't help at all.

"If I die, remember that I hate you," Yako glared at him her best killing eyes, and choke down a whimper. The weird feeling was crawling up her arms and starting on her toes. Slowly, it went up through her legs and shoulders, getting frightening near to her chest and heart. "And tell Godai that I'm sorry, too."

"You are not going to die."

"Yeah yeah," she silently cried as the tingling attacked her heart, which started to beat faster. The pressure was overwhelming. She never had felt like this in her life. Her back arched again in pain, her heart going now a mile per hour, something that she was sure wasn't humanly possible. Ok, it's my time. Goodbye world.

And then, it disappeared. Her body rested back against the wall and her hands felt normal again. No tingling and no dying.

"You passed," the demon in front of her said with a smug smile. "I knew it."

"I did?"

"Yeah. And you are glowing!" she looked at her hands to check if he was telling the truth and, in fact, she was emitting a green glow. Great. Just great. Surviving a demon ritual just to become a living glowing stick.

"Oh, damn."

#mtnn #majin tantei nougami neuro #nogami neuro #katsuragi yako #fanfic #neuyako #gil writes

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ingloriousfanfics-blog · 8 years ago

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All Smiles - Ch 2

SHIP: link x sidon / sidlink WORD COUNT: 4,163 RATING: T for teen because this bad boy is getting a little VIOLENT FANDOM: the legend of zelda: breath of the wild ONE-SHOT/MULTICHAPTERED: this is CHAPTER TWO, you can read chapter one here!

SUMMARY: inspired by my own playthrough/painful journey up to zora’s domain, in which link finds prince sidon to be incredibly obnoxious… at first! journeying to the zora’s domain in order to battle with the divine beast ruta, link’s injuries from the monsters speckling the path there result in him spending more time getting to know sidon than fighting ruta.

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“... She was your sister?” The grand statue was almost imposing, were it not for the gentle expression upon its face. Kindly and soft, nurturing in nature, it struck the same tone of familiarity as the rest of the Domain. Yet, he could not put a name to it. Not until Sidon piped up with it, that is. ”Yes, the Champion Mipha. She is my elder sister--er, was, I guess. Wording is always clunky when trying to speak of her, but she had fallen in battle against the Calamity Ganon.” Gaze drifting from the immaculate statue, near lifelike in appearance, to Sidon, his stomach twisted in sympathy when seeing the flash of pain upon the Prince’s face. ”I was still young when she died. I never got to know her well, but I have bits and pieces of memories to hang on to, alongside that of the elders.” His smile recovered, yet the grief behind it was poorly veiled. ”You miss them every day, however, the grief becomes easier to manage. In her memory I have strove even harder to become the prince that my people need, especially now that I am to claim the throne upon my father’s stepping down.” Link watched as Sidon’s lingered upon his sister’s immortalized image before the Prince shook himself out of it, looking back upon him properly. ”Do you have any siblings, Link?” Opening his mouth to answer, only to find no answer could come, he shut it, and frowned. ”… I do not remember.” Blinking, and then looking startled, Sidon gaped. ”You don’t remember?” ”I lost my memory... A long time ago.” Was it during his deep slumber, or perhaps when Calamity Ganon had struck him down, stripping his mind of any memory of his past? The fact he could not even remember that was frustrating, and he turned away, scowling at the water-slick stone. ”… I’m sorry. If I hit a raw nerve, it is my fault entirely.” Nearly flinching at the soft touch of Sidon’s hand on his shoulder, wondering if they were all so touchy among the Zora, Link shook his head, and brushed off his hand. ”It’s fine. It is coming back in bits and pieces.” He could remember that he had a father who, too, had been a knight before him. While he could not remember his father himself, he could recall that tidbit of information from the memory of he and Princess Zelda overlooking Hyrule Field. She had seemed so forlorn in acknowledging her fate as a princess. He wished he had said something comforting to her at the time. They stood in silence for a minute longer, Sidon gazing upon Link in slight worry that he had done something to offend him, while Link was instead brewing over the memories he had thus far recalled, wondering what crucial details he had lost with his memories. ”… If you are feeling well enough for it, I must ask that you come with me to the throne room. We have much to be discussed with my father,” Sidon finally added, voice careful, trying to gauge how Link may react. A moment of silence longer, and Link nodded, hands settling upon his hips as he gazed up to Sidon. ”Take me to him.”

Link was left gaping at the sight of the King, having to tilt his head straight up in order to gaze upon King Dorephan. ”You do not remember me, Champion?” He had not heard his prior statement, nor had he noticed Sidon’s jolt of shock at realizing that he had brought not only a Hylian to assist them in their quest to appease Ruta, but the Champion thought to be long dead. ”Amazing! You were the Champion of the Hylians all this time, Link?!” Glancing between the pair, his mind moreso fixated on whether or not Sidon would grow to be as large as his father, or if it was simply a trait unique to the King himself, he looked to Dorephan, shook his head, and then to Sidon, and nodded. ”I lost my memory, and if what I am told is correct, and what little I remember, I had been the Champion,” he confirmed, and as Sidon looked upon him in awe, Dorephan pursed his lips and scratched at his jaw. ”What a shame… To think, you had been alive all this time, yet your memory gone. It is a price you must pay, I suppose, in return for living. But it is good timing that Prince Sidon found you, for we are in dire need of your help…”

”You cannot possibly think you are ready to face the Lynel as you are!” Readjusting the Zora Armor, gazing silently upon how well it fit to his form, Link looked back to Sidon. ”It’s what I must do. To think I managed to forget her…” Princess Mipha, Champion Mipha; the one destined to guide the Divine Beast, and the one who had fallen in love with him. Had he known at the time? Had he planned on becoming engaged to her once they had defeated Calamity Ganon? As distinctly as he could recall that instance in which she had healed his arm, such warm love in her eyes, he struggled to remember his own emotions. He struggled to deal with that she had been so deeply in love with him, that she had gone into battle, and died. ”Mipha would not want you charging off so quickly when your wounds are still healing---” ”If we had been successful, she’d be here to heal them!” Lips pulled back into a snarl, fingers sinking tight into the shoulders of the armor he had been adjusting, he hadn’t noticed his own simmering temper until it all came flooding out. Instantly, regret flooded him, watching Sidon go from shock, to hurt, to a quiet acceptance, looking away. ”… Sidon, I’m sorry, it’s just hard---” ”I understand. You never got to grieve. You just forgot, and now, you are forced to feel this pain for someone you barely remember.” Sighing, it was a long few seconds until Sidon looked back to him, his fingers clasping the doorway, his face bearing a sorrow that Link found indescribable. ”But please. Understand that my sister had gone to war knowing the possibilities, whether she may live, or die. And likewise, she would want you to take care of yourself, even if she is not here to do so for you.” His gaze hovered upon Sidon for only a second longer before looking away, incapable of maintaining his gaze. ”If she is not here to protect you, then I will take her place, Link. Now, please… Please rest before you hurt yourself further.” He did not need to look to see Sidon walking away, his fading footsteps enough to bring him back to the bed to sit down, and think.

Nightfall had long since fallen when he crept out of Sidon’s quarters and past where Binsley snoozed. His clothes, once tattered, had been repaired during his long rest, yet he had no time to admire what had been made good as new. Adjusting his bow upon his back, double-checking his stock of arrows and seeing to it that he had an array of weapons at the ready in the case any one of them broke, he headed for the east bridge. He knew most of the Zora to be asleep aside from the few guards staying true to their duties, easily creeping around them and making his way back to the main path. The low glow of the blue posts, their luminous stone providing guidance to where he needed to go, looking up to the looming Ploymous Mountain. Slowly did he straighten from his crouch, no guard up ahead to prevent him from making his way to where the Lynel laid in wait. ”Did you ignore Mipha like you have done to me?” His bow was drawn sooner than Sidon could blink, yet the Prince stood unwavering, staring down the shaft of his arrow straight into Link’s eyes. ”… I’m not patient,” Link answered gruffly, withdrawing his weapon> ”Then I am coming with you,” decidedly Sidon replied, striding past Link before he could see his look of shock. ”But--you’ll get killed!” ”And? So will you! The Lynel is no laughing manner, and you are by no means geared for fighting against such a beast.” Giving Link a once over, Sidon turned back, gazing up to where the Lynel supposedly waited. ”We will have to be quick, and collect the arrows without it paying notice to us. If you wish to fight it, that shall be reserved for another day, as we have more pressing matters at stake.” ”And you aren’t worried about being electrocuted? I might get hurt, but you might---” ”We’ve already gone over this.” Turning to face him, Sidon grinned and flexed an arm. ”I’m stronger than most Zora! How could I be their prince if I can’t handle a little bit of electricity?” Rolling his eyes, Link shoved past, fixing up his bun and glancing up to the waterfall ahead. ”We will have to see. You said this armor will let me climb the waterfalls, right?” Jogging to catch up, falling into step with Link, Sidon gave a confirming nod, looking over the waterfall. ”You will be able to swim right up it as if you are a Zora as well! But, it will be much easier for me to do all of the work. I am strong enough to carry you, and I may as well as use this to our advantage so you do not end up fatigued.” With a second flex, Sidon dashed off to the edge of the pool, doing a spinning backflip into the water, with Link staring wide-eyed at the feat of athleticism. And this visibly did not go unnoticed by Sidon himself, who grinned with pride as he floated to the surface. ”Come on! Jump onto my back!” Shaking himself out of his stupor, Link ran and jumped onto Sidon’s shoulders, slipping down to wrap his legs around his torso as the Prince swam towards the waterfall. ”Hang on!” With fingers digging into his shoulders, Link felt a rush of air around his face before it all turned into cold water, and within the same instant it seemed, they were flying back up and splashing down into a second pool. Hair dripping wet and chest heaving hard from the adrenaline, Sidon hollered, splashing down an arm in excitement. ”Woo! That was great! I swear, I’m only getting faster at this!” Grin bigger than ever, he looked back at where Link still held on. ”You okay back there?” Managing to give a sharp nod after taking a moment to catch his breath, readjusting his grip on Sidon, Sidon turned back around, looking up to the next waterfall. ”Alright, let’s do this!”

By the time they had reached the top of the mountain within a few minutes time, they both were breathing hard. Link, from being beaten down by the rushing water of the waterfall and the adrenaline rush of clinging to Sidon, and Sidon himself, for swimming as fast as he could up each and every one, trying to beat his record from the last. Heaving himself onto the shoreline after letting himself slip off of Sidon’s back, flopping down onto sweet, sweet solid ground, his eyes idly tracked Sidon’s own progression from the pond, to laying down next to him. ”Didn’t… Even break… a sweat,” Sidon panted, trying to get up to play off his own exhaustion only to follow Link’s lead in flopping back down. Observing Sidon gasping to catch his breath, it was in that instant Link realized, he was showing off. Not letting him use the armor, having him ride on his back, trying to go faster up each waterfall---he had been attempting to impress him. And evidently, also trying to impress him with how little it had fazed him, yet that was mostly unsuccessful. Why, however, he had decided this necessary went unknown, and instead of dwelling upon it (or worse, gathering up the courage to confront Sidon on the matter), he heaved himself back up into an upright position. ”We don’t have much time before daybreak,” Link huffed, pushing off his knee to stand up. ”The moment it gets light, we’ll lose the cover of darkness, and the Lynel will see us.” Perking up, and quickly following suit, Sidon dusted off the sand clinging to his damp skin, and looked up the path ahead. ”The Lynel should be waiting for us there,” he concluded, “If Muzu was correct. We should be able to collect the arrows, and get out of there quickly. You ready to do this?” Nodding, Link took his boomerang, and dropped it. ”Wait---what are you doing?! Won’t you need that if it wakes up?!” ”It makes too much noise, and it’ll attract electricity if it DOES wake up. I’ll still have my bow and a quiver full of arrows,” Link reached back and patted the aforementioned quiver, “if we need them. We just need to be quick enough to get what we need, and get out.” Twenty arrows. They only needed twenty arrows, and upon checking, Link had found he already had thirteen. They only needed a handful more of shock arrows, and then they should head back, and prepare for their fight against the Divine Beast. The thought alone was enough to make his stomach lurch. ”Well, then let’s get this over with,” Sidon grunted, reaching out to give a tug on Link’s hand, and then heading on ahead up the path. He sure does like leading the way, Link thought, quickly shoving his boomerang into the bushes where he would come back to it later, and trotting to catch up. The path was not long, and it did not take long at all to reach the top of the mountain, thank to Sidon’s swift traveling up the waterfalls. Silently thankful to not have to endure any more long journeys, at least not for now, he quickly brought an index finger to his lips, motioning to a neighboring tree. Shoved in deep, only the shaft exposed, the end of the arrow crackled with electricity, where feathers might had been instead electricity held together with magic, giving the shock arrows their shock. ”That’s easy,” Sidon muttered next to him, looking around the open area, noting each tree that had an arrow stuck in side of it. Some of them even had more than one, easy pickings for a small, quick Hylian. ”You stay here,” Link instructed, crouching low and evaluating the best places to hide. ”And I’ll go grab them.” ”But---” ”Keep watch.” His eyes landed upon Sidon, serious and focused. This was his element, truly most at ease when he felt he was back in the warzone. ”Warn me if you see the Lynel, and I’ll come running and we’ll regroup. I’m not going to be focused much on looking around, so I’ll need you to be my eyes. Okay?” There was something else that flickered in Sidon’s eyes besides mere acknowledgment, and before Link could place a finger on it, it was gone, replaced by the same serious look. ”Got it. Be careful, okay?” Nodding, and pulling up his mask to cover his mouth and nose, he turned and vanished into the brush. His plan was to be quick, darting from tree to tree, grabbing an arrow, and then figuring out where the next and going to it as quickly as he could. It was difficult, maintaining a crouch while trying to be light on his feet. Every step onto a tree branch, every accidental splash in a puddle, and Link would freeze, gaze darting around, tense as he waited for a stampede of hooves coming to trample him. Yet, nothing would emerge. A bird would chirp nearby. A goat, wandering the cliffside, darted away, baaing as it bolted down the mountain. The quiet was near eerie, and the task of collecting arrows far too simple for Link’s liking. And he saw why when he stood upright to grab an arrow too high up for him to remain crouched, his gaze drifting to see Sidon doing the same. His fingers stretched, reaching for an arrow that was embedded in a branch just within his reach, his eyes fixated on the arrow and the arrow alone. It was what Sidon had been designated to look for that made Link know exactly why this was not meant to play out as he had hope, and what caused him to feel so sick.

“SIDON, RUN!” Sidon jerked away from the arrow at his scream, eyes blown wide as they looked between where Link was running as fast he could for him, and then to the Lynel standing behind. Jaw going slack, he stumbled back, tripping over one of the roots of the tree he had been leaning against and hitting the ground with a grunt. Hands fumbling, digging into the soil as he tried to jerk back, Sidon looked up the shaft of the Lynel’s drawn arrow, the electricity that crackled down it illuminated his face, the shadows from it dancing across his form. ”No, no, no, no!” He wasn’t fast enough, he wasn’t going to make it. Every foot fall felt like he was running through molasses, feeling as if he were trying to run in a dream where everything still stayed stationary. It all went in slow motion. The Lynel, bow drawn, arrow plucked back and nigh upon release. Sidon, fumbling back, with no time to lift himself up and run away, staring death in the face. Link did not think as his hands reached back, muscle memory guiding him to bow and quiver, drawing and aiming. His right foot hit the ground, and in the instant of having something solid to brace himself against, he let the arrow fly, watching it soar through the air. The Lynel did not see it, and Link damned himself for not making some noise, not distracting the beast to look away, away from where Sidon lay. And in that same slow motion, he watched as his arrow struck the Lynel point blank, and watched as its spasming muscles from the hit let loose the arrow it had already drawn, screeching down for Sidon. ”NO!” His scream was not enough to halt the arrow in its path, still too far away to try and deflect the bow, too far away to take the hit. Sidon’s scream nearly made his run slow, nearly brought him to his knees at the thought that he had let him die. He had been so stupid, that not only had he drawn Mipha to her death, but her brother, too. He was walking bad luck, bringing death and destruction wherever he went. And it was truly, utterly, all his fault. His stride stuttered, paying no mind to the roaring Lynel, who had jerked back to cover its face and feel for the arrow lodged in its skull. His stumbling walk was aimed to where Sidon still lay, limp and motionless, surely dead. He was a Zora, susceptible to electricity. They all risked death when faced against shock arrows. This was fact. ”Sidon, Sidon I’m sorry,” he gasped, breathing hard. The arrow wound in his shoulder reopened, and lifting the arm hurt. Drawing the bow had been too much, and drained what was left out of him. ”I’m sorry,” Link said, choking back a sob as he crumpled down, crawling to where he was, aware that the Lynel would not take much longer to recover, and come after him twice as furious. His hand reached, and with his good arm he went to touch him. ”I shouldn’t have let you come, I should have known you were too good to simply sit back and watch. You’d want to help, and get yourself killed,” he wept, tear drops falling onto Sidon’s dried skin, his fingers gripping his shoulder to try and pull him near. ”I should have---” He froze, palm brushing against Sidon’s chest. And when he pressed it back down, letting it linger, he felt movement. A shallow, barely-there rise of his chest, and when carefully moving around the scorch marks from the arrow and where it was plunged into his shoulder, ear against his mouth, he felt a warm puff of air. He was alive. Despite taking a shock arrow dead on, he had survived, and still had a chance to live. ”Fuck,” Link gasped, looking up to the Lynel, slowly shaking itself out as it finished removing the arrow, and to Sidon’s unconscious form, too heavy to easily carry. ”Fuck, fuck, fuck.” They had to get out of there, before they both wound up dead, whether it be stomped to death by the Lynel’s hooves, or by another pair of shock arrows that would not miss this time. Link couldn’t shoot an arrow and carry Sidon at the same time, effectively crippling their one, decent shot at defending themselves, especially when Sidon was not awake to assist in doing so. Forearms hooking beneath Sidon’s armpits, with a shuddering grunt he heaved him back, sliding him along the soft grass towards the path they had come from, his feet stamping hard against the ground to try and move as quickly as possible. ”I’m so sorry if I hurt you more,” he gasped, eyes frantic as they watched the Lynel beginning to look for them again. ”Trust me, this hurts… The both of us…” The path crept nearer, and Link damned it for not magically appearing next to them, and saving him the trouble of having to drag Sidon any further. Muscles aching and tired, his bad arm nigh upon becoming uncooperative after such punishment, his adrenaline rush was fading when the Lynel looked up, and it was nearly gone when he saw it running for them, and felt its hooves shaking the earth. ”I’m not ready to die,” Link whispered, clutching Sidon to his body, watching the Lynel approach. His eyes shot back behind them, seeing nothing but open air. If they fell, they’d certainly die. But if they stayed… ”And neither are you.” The Lynel gave a roar, its front hooves rearing up before them, ready to stomp down, and Link jerked back. Solid earth gave way to nothing but air, wind rushing around them as they plummeted. Arms still tight around Sidon, feeling them falling only faster with their combined weight, Link fumbled, panicking, struggling to undo the paraglider attached to his belt. ”Come on, come on, come on!” The trees rose up faster than he could keep up with, images of being skewered alive flashing rapidly in the forefront of his mind. His fingers snagged the edges of the paraglider, ripping it away from his person. By reflex, his hand reached up to snag the handle while the other still hung onto Sidon, and instantly did he scream, feeling the wound in his shoulder stretch and rip. Their descent slowed, and the split second he had been able to hang on was just enough, fingers slipping off near instantly as they came crashing into the brush. Rolling and tumbling, the paraglider cracking itself against a tree as the pair slowly rolled to a stop, Link sputtered and gasped, struggling to not scream from the pain that felt much like his shoulder had been ripped from its socket. Blood and sweat soaked, he laid still for a moment, recovering himself as he listened to Sidon’s soft, slow breathing, reassuring himself that he was not alone in this. And it was this fact that got him to heave up, kept him moving lest they both died from his inability to keep them alive. ”… Where… where are we?” Link looked around, the forest unfamiliar, and the endless horizon of trees doing no better in helping him. Hands shaking, grip unsteady, he managing to pull up his Sheikah Slate, drawing up a map. Blank. An area unexplored, it remained a dark, unmarked blue, and he had forgotten to log the shrine within Zora’s Domain to ensure a quick and easy way back. Fumbling with the device some more, thinking of how quick and easy it would be to travel, he glanced back to Sidon. If he couldn’t take his horses with him when he traveled, did that mean he couldn’t take another person, either? And he didn’t even have his weapon, left behind by the waterfall, alongside the others meant to replace it in the case it broke. Groaning at their circumstances, smacking himself in the forehead for getting too cocky, he slowly sat back down, looking over to Sidon. ”… First things first, we need to take care of both of our wounds. And then… I guess we’re going to have to see what we’re going to do then…”

#sidlink #prince sidon #link #breath of the wild #sidon x link

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datingadviceonreddit · 5 years ago

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I (19f) rarely post but this question has been eating away at me for a while now so I'm going to give this a shot. Also, using a throwaway account to preserve my anonymity.In short, what does it feel like when you're truly attracted to someone in a romantic way? Obviously this is pretty subjective because everyone loves and feels differently but I've always struggled with fantasizing and liking the idea of something more than the actual thing itself and I definitely used to do this all the time about what being in love would be like.For context, I have very little dating experience and have only had one relationship so far and that was a rather complicated situation that only became more intricate when it ended (will elaborate later). However, I'm definitely not incapable of feeling love or knowing when I do love someone. For example, I love my friends and family very fiercely and I can guarantee the love I feel here is genuine. But when it comes to love in the context of a romantic relationship, I now find myself stumped.My first relationship is worth mentioning here because much of my dilemma stems from that. Keeping this as short but informative as possible, I met the most wonderful character of a guy I'll just call "Alex" (same age as me at the time) online who lived overseas. Over time, we learnt more and more about the other and I inevitably began to develop feelings for him which I finally confessed to him after nearly a year of talking/calling). To my delight, he returned those feelings and we became a kind of unlabelled couple. Not in the way where many people nowadays don't like to put a label on themselves due to disliking committment and such but because we both felt that as valid as we felt our relationship to be, it was missing some crucial factors (namely physically being in each other's company).During that time I was pretty much in a constant state of happiness. The fact that he existed alone was enough to make me giddy for no particular reason. I interpreted this sense of elation as a sign of genuine romantic love. I cared about him deeply and this is something I can still stand by.However, everything changed when we finally met in person. One day he let me know that he was planning on coming to visit me and I had never been quite that ecstatic in my life. I counted down the days excitedly and finally he arrived. Due to a tight schedule he could only stay a week but I was willing to take whatever I could. The first half of that week was fantastic. I hadn't been worried about this but it was still reassuring to see that he was exactly like his online self in real life. But one day during that week, I noticed he seemed a bit off. Quiet and almost apprehensive as if he were holding something back. So I slowly begun to try address whatever might have been plaguing him and eventually, I stopped tip-toeing around and asked him straightforwardly if he still wanted this relationship. To my complete and utter shock, he said no. My mind couldn't register this so instead I asked if he still liked me. To this he responded "not in the way you want me to".To summarise what went down next (I'm trying my hardest to be as brief as I can): He tried to explain himself and what he meant but nothing he said made sense to me at first and the shock of his response still had me too shaken up to properly think. Finally, he agreed to go out somewhere so we could talk and the resulting conversation was the most eye-opening experience of my life.Talking to him then, it felt like I was talking to him for the first time, REALLY talking to HIM. I knew he was a generally upbeat guy on the surface who always tried his best to come off as carefree and fine but I never realised the extent to which he had filtered himself so I wouldn't see the more troubled parts of him. In short, he was an incredibly broken soul and the whole time we had been talking, I had been more of a lifeline than a girlfriend figure to him. He reaussred me that he really did care about me tremendously but not in a romantic way. He knew how I felt about him and that what I wanted was romantic and as awful as he felt about this, he let himself lead me on and kept up with the motions of liking me romantically out of fear of losing me as a person.This all happened around mid-last year and since then I've had plenty of time to reflect and recover and I've never hated or resented or even blamed him for anything that happened. Of course, I was left in extreme emotional turmoil from the whole thing and it took a long time to get over the grief but I came out of that conversation still caring about him. But once I got to see the bigger picture and saw him in his entirety, I strangely no longer felt romantically about him. After a bittersweet goodbye he left my life for good and I tried to move on with my life.We fast forward to around now where I've slowly been trying to get back into the dating scene. For the last couple months, I've been talking to the loveliest guy who I met through a dating app. We only got to meet up once before we both went back to our homes for the summer but we've been talking on a near daily basis and I really enjoy our conversations.Okay here's where I FINALLY get down to the actual crux of this post. Talking to this new guy, there are definitely moments of excitement and slight giddiness but I can't help but notice the difference in how I feel about this guy compared with how I was when I was talking to Alex. After Alex left, I'd like to think I did a fair bit of growing and I've both matured and gained more cynicism. I don't think being more realistic and grounded is a bad thing and when I think about my time with Alex in hindsight, I feel like I had been living in this bubble where everything had been a happy utopia. This also wasn't necessarily a bad thing, maybe just impractical. Having come out of that and reviewing it now, I definitely feel like I had been more naive and childish than I would have liked but I can't deny that it was a wonderful feeling. I miss feeling that schoolgirl giddiness.So now with this new guy, I'm becoming more and more aware of the fact that I don't feel those same intense sensations I did for Alex. People often say there's nothing like your first and maybe that's true for me in this case. I feel like my more level-headed, lowkey mindset I've got with this guy is much more suitable for sustaining a proper, mature relationship. My ideals are realistic and I don't lose my head talking to him.But is this how I should be feeling? I really like this guy and obviously want to feel romantically about him but I genuinely have no clue if I do right now, or if I should/could be feeling more intensely about him. With Alex, I thought I was properly in love and I thought I knew what it felt like to love someone romantically but that whole situation with him revealing everything about himself has made me question it all.So have I just matured some more and this is just what normal, healthy relationships should feel like? There's less of an infatuated element with this guy and that's probably a good thing but do I/is there the potential to like him romantically? It seems pretty stupid to have to ask this but I've never been so unsure about my own feelings in my life.I apologise for letting this get so long but if anyone had the incredible patience to read through this whole thing I am genuinely grateful and would appreciate any and all thoughts on this.Tl;dr: After a first-relationship mishap and naively thinking I knew what love felt like, I am unsure of what it feels like to actually love someone romantically via /r/dating_advice

#dating #dating advice #reddit

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fancy57-blog1 · 6 years ago

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Journal Week #4 - The Importance of Our Beliefs in Education: What Will Your Legacy Be?

How does our knowledge and beliefs about educating young adolescents affect our work?

Informational Research - The Text:

The Association for Middle School Educators (AMLE), focuses on a framework of 16 characteristics, called the “This We Believe” statements, that aim at successfully teaching young adolescents at the middle school level. Out of the 16 total characteristics, there are four essential attributes that profoundly impact the education of middle school students. These attributes describe that education for young adolescents must be: Developmentally responsive, challenging, empowering, and equitable. Our beliefs and knowledge, as teachers, highly influence the ability of these characteristics to show up in the classroom. Below, I will briefly describe the importance of each of the four essential characteristics.

Development:

Teachers must be knowledgable about the development of young adolescents, and let this knowledge lead their practice and planning. According to AMLE, understanding development is crucial, as this knowledge serves as the foundation for school organization, policies, planning, and decisions about how assessments will be conducted.

Challenges:

It is important to make sure that there are challenges in the classroom, but not challenges that set young adolescents up for failure. By understanding the appropriate amount of challenge, teachers can scaffold students into learning harder material, but make sure that they have enough guidance to properly learn and succeed. Too much of a challenge can lead to frustrated students that feel stupid or incapable of learning.

Empowering:

Knowledge goes beyond the classroom, and according to AMLE, it is essential that teachers believe in teaching students skills that will help them achieve both inside and outside of the classroom. Teachers should understand that there is a responsibility of preparing young adolescents for the challenges that they may encounter in their lives. Skills should aim at helping students become functioning members of society at all levels, says AMLE.

Equitable:

As a teacher, the belief in equality in the classroom is essential, as AMLE describes equality as ensuring every student’s right to learn. Knowledge about proper ways to advocate for and ensure equality in the classroom is essential for teachers. By creating an equal environment, students can feel safe to learn and worthy of learning with ALL of their peers. Teachers should have beliefs in equality and student’s rights to education and learning and should promote this belief at all times in the classroom.

In addition to the essential characteristics, the “This We Believe” statements promote health/wellness, community/parental involvement, and the promotion of leadership & organization. AMLE describes the importance of student’s health and wellness, as healthy students (physically, socially, emotionally/psychologically) are better prepared to learn in the classroom and be safe outside of the classroom. Community and parental support can contribute to the goal of schools being a safe haven for students in which they feel the school is like a family. AMLE also states the importance of teachers modeling leadership and organization and teaching these skills to their students. By helping students have the skills of leadership and organization, teachers can encourage higher levels of achievement both in and out of the classroom according to AMLE.

Teachers should have knowledge and beliefs that aim at well-rounded, healthy, happy students that are capable both in and out of the classroom. By understanding and believing in the 16 characteristics of the “This We Believe” statements, teachers can implement strategies that foster student’s successes and encourage them to be good students, as well as overall good people.

Personal Connections & Field Connections

I remember being very lucky growing up in my school district, as even if they did not know it, my schools promoted most, if not all of, the 16 characteristics stated in the “This We Believe” statements. I credit my schools for this, as I was lucky enough to have had many teachers that served as great models and fostered my future goals of becoming a teacher. I feel as having such good teachers and good school environments inspired me to become a teacher and pass on that great feeling. I was also very lucky to have had many teachers that were passionate about the classroom (subject, planning, curriculum, etc), but they were also just as passionate about their students. I definitely can say that I was beyond lucky to have the schools and teachers that I did to help me grow into the person I am and the person I aim at still becoming.

I am beyond lucky to have such an inspiring teacher for my methods I field placement. My cooperating teacher incorporates every statement in the “This We Believe” in such a seamless and organized fashion. My cooperating teacher teaches science and is a huge believer in discovery learning by doing hands-on activities that foster conceptual material, skills for future science classes, and critical thinking/ problem-solving skills that are applicable outside of the classroom. Another thing that I was VERY impressed by was his knowledge and understanding of the developmental stage and changes of his students. He sets up his classroom in a way that encourages students to get up and moving during their learning and to collaborate with one another. Also, during an “down time” (lab groups move at different paces), he would come up with “games” that kept the students busy but also taught them a skill or worked on their classroom culture through teambuilding. This had the students focus on something positive during this downtime instead of goofing off. Also, my teacher noted the importance of having a calm “vibe” in his classroom, in which the students could know every day when they walk into his room they can relax. He said this relaxation is huge for their learning and his relationship with the students, as they sometimes come in so uptight and stressed from other classes that, as young students, they need to have time in the day to decompress. He said this relaxation also decreases bad behavior in his experience. As the kids are so thankful for the way he runs his class that they want to please him. Lastly, my teacher was amazing to foster learning instead of allowing failure. Whenever students (as a whole class) were not catching on, he said he would go about teaching that concept in a different way to make sure students learned. If a student failed individually, he would meet with them and do this differentiated instruction on a one-on-one basis and have the student complete the work again to show them that they can learn and improve. My cooperating teacher is truly an amazing teacher, and I know I will build my knowledge and solidify or change my beliefs based on what I learn during my time in his classroom.

My Future Classroom - What will be my legacy?

One of my general beliefs is that the smallest acts can still make the biggest differences. Having this belief, I feel, will help me implement the “This We Believe” statements in my classroom. Each and every student matters, and if I can run my classroom in a way that helps students succeed in any area of their lives, then I feel that I did something right. Although my act at the time may be small, such as not letting a student fail or having my classroom be a safe place for a student, in the end, my act could change the life of that student and that is the legacy I hope to have. Instead of a big legacy through one big act, I hope to have a million little legacies through various small, yet monumental, moments. I want these small legacies to be all the ways that I helped my students succeed both in and out of the classroom. I want all the little things I do for my students to turn into little legacies, then over time turn into one big legacy as many of my students are able to look back and think of all the small things that ended up making the biggest difference.

#AMLE ThisWeBelieve ThisIBelieve SmallThingsLeadToBigDifferences

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citizentruth-blog · 6 years ago

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PC Conundrum - When Political Correctness Hinders the Disabled - PEER NEWS

New Post has been published on https://citizentruth.org/pc-conundrum-when-political-correctness-hinders-the-disabled/

PC Conundrum - When Political Correctness Hinders the Disabled

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose,

By any other name would smell as sweet…

~ William Shakespeare

Consider this true incident recounted by the father of an adult son with severe Autism. One evening his son unexpectedly “snapped” – flooded by hormones and impulsivity – and began assaulting his parents uncontrollably. Panicked, the father placed the following 911 call: “I have an emergency. My son is attacking me and I need help to restrain him. He has autism and is mentally retarded so do not draw your weapons!” Message received, the police response was swift and informed, and the young man was safely subdued and treated.

Now imagine a twist on that urgent 911 call: “This is an emergency, I’m being attacked by my son. Do not draw your weapons he is–‘differently abled.’” Doesn’t quite work, does it? To the contrary, it’s so confoundingly vague the caller must offer further clarification, fast ~ how is he “different”? What’s his exact problem? Therein lies the difficulty of political correctness gone awry, where the earnest attempt to secure equal treatment for the disabled obfuscates the truth of who they are and what they might need.

The young man above is autistic, but not mentally retarded. When I asked his father why he used the additional label, his answer was unadorned: “I needed to use language everyone understands.” So in moments of crisis, where intervention is informed by the child’s impairment, it’s crucial that language reflect common understanding to avoid catastrophe. Put another way, in exigent circumstances, political correctness must yield to definitional precision.

When I wrote my unguarded account about my son, Autism Uncensored: Pulling Back the Curtain (April 2018), my goal was to speak truth about a difficult topic. “Differently abled,” a recent scrubbing of the now disfavored term, “disabled,” seems to do the opposite by implying that individual abilities are merely a matter of degree. Not everything exists on a continuum, and to pretend we all function on a socially contiguous spectrum is to deny the enormous challenges for people like my son, Zack, to perform even most rudimentary tasks like boarding a bus, feeding oneself or sitting quietly without flapping. “Differently abled” is insulting to Zack who – if he had sufficient language – would be happy to list all the ways he struggles to do what the rest of us take for granted.

“Differently abled” is also pragmatically useless. Take the milestone of filling out a job application for Zack. Am I truly to identify Zack as “differently abled,” avoid the “A” word and leave employers to guess at his characteristic deficits? Zack’s autism is not tantamount to disqualification from all jobs, but it does disqualify him from many. To pretend otherwise is a cruel game which sets him up for failure since there are whole categories of jobs he simply cannot do. Try this instead. Zack is autistic, he’s unable to comprehend nuanced language or social cues, and he has limited verbal language. But he can follow concrete directions, has extreme visual attention to detail, an unusually strong physique and hand-eye coordination, and kick-ass strength. Now let’s talk about how my autistic son can be of best use.

“Differently abled” literally erases the disabled under an anonymous blanket that masks traits society now finally seeks to honor and embrace. Employers now actively seek autistic employees for tasks that require sequencing, obsessive attention to detail and scrupulous work ethic – hence news of one group of autistic adults who are charged with cleaning, separating and lining up surgical tools for pre-op. The recent surge of t.v. and movie characters such as “Speechless,” “The Good Doctor” and “Atypical” don’t dance around their characters’ disabilities but rather shout them from the rooftops. Against this social exfoliation, the term “differently abled” feels regressive, not revolutionary. Zack has a cognitive disorder which makes him compliant, comfortable taking directions, incapable of subterfuge. Here’s the revolutionary part –it’s fine. Zack can miss social cues and still get trained up to do a job that integrates him into society as a contributing member.

Try as a might, I can’t help but view “differently abled” as overcompensating for slurs against the disabled. When we shy away from diagnoses and allow our children’s disorders to be nebulized it is a form of shame repacked. A diluting of the truth of who they are in order to shape them into a more socially acceptable category – one that dare not reveal impairments or limits. True confidence lies in the call by the disabled to “boldly go where everyone has gone before”; now it’s a limp plea for acceptance which begs, “we’re not really so different from the rest of you…please?” As advocates, we must not get distracted from real fights about jobs and fair pay by allowing them to become comingled with petty disputes about semantics. Our energy must focus on securing vocational schools, fair housing, accessible transit and recreation for our disabled children while still calling them what they are.

So we are all clear, Zack is autistic, and he’s good at it. My understanding of who he is, his understanding of who he is, is so clear-eyed we don’t feel the need to hide. This is a healthy attitude we would all do well to cultivate for ourselves and for our children irrespective of their nascent abilities. Slurs that ridicule the disabled for their inherent traits are genuinely searing, but to react by diluting their identities is to play their game on others’ terms rather than our own. We must not allow that. I will not cower to the slur, but nor will I desperately seek to assimilate with the norm. After all, a rose by any other name is still…autistic.

#autism #Disabilities #disabilty rights #Language #political correctedness

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wordsfromafangirl · 7 years ago

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BBC Merlin Re-watch Thoughts

I read a post about how a fan thinks Merlin was used by Kilgarrah and the Old Religion to seal Arthur’s fate (I am not trying to sound mean, just stating a brief description of the post). While I think The Dragon withheld information from Merlin before he wielded his dragonlord power over him, I don’t think Merlin was being used a pawn to seal Arthur’s fate. All that was put upon Merlin’s shoulders by the Old Religion and/or the Druids seemed to be something like, “Here Emyrs we will give you this information about the future but it is your choice to do with it as you will.”

You can keep drinking the tea, if you want to trudge through this long post.

The prime example being the visions in the crystals, did the seer know of Merlin’s interference? Well, it wasn’t written as such I think. Multiple times it was also mentioned there are many different futures, even in this episode with the crystals, Gaius tells Merlin that what you saw could be miles into the future. Merlin being anxious about the visions expedited everything in a way, and like Arthur’s bane, Merlin had the choice of letting Morgana die, thus eliminating a threat to Arthur. However, Merlin is human before he is all powerful sorcerer, and seeing his friend’s grief at the possible loss of Morgana was hard for him to handle so he saves her. Probably meaning he also fast tracked the path to Arthur’s demise without ever knowing it.

The one thing I may admit to is that The Disir used “Arthur’s Bane” against him. Merlin didn’t see that coming either. In fact, he assumed that by disagreeing to Disir’s wishes it would leave Mordred for dead. That was not the case, though. They wanted Mordred alive, seeing as how the Old Religion sorceress’ had probably known of Morgana’s role in Arthur’s death. Even if it wasn’t scripted, it isn’t hard to believe the Disir had known of a future in which Morgana creates the sword wielded by Mordred that will kill Arthur.

I also imagine that some of the Old Religion’s beef was with Merlin/Emrys. They probably knew and never told Morgana, because that would be too easy. Why not let her find the path on her own, while gaining power from the Old Religion and bringing it to fruition again? Morgana and the late Morgause, siphoning from the Old Religion probably kept them fed, kept the burning embers alive to hopefully plant more roots back into the Earth but I think Emrys‘s powers were feared by the Old Religion. This head canon only stems from if I believe they knew of his true identity as Merlin. Basically, Gaius’s knowledge of the Old Religion has lead me to believe it was a nasty piece of magic the sorceress’ and sorcerers’ practiced and Emrys/Merlin plus Arthur stood in their way.

As for Kilgarrah, I think he may have been magically fed information since Merlin’s conception as funny as that sounds. Balinor, Merlin’s father was the last dragon lord alive, he created a line, Kilgarrah probably knew that but he didn’t fear that young Merlin would ever figure this out. Plus, the dragon was “heated” about being held captive by Uther for so long. So in some way I think he was magically given information about a Merlin/Emrys that he must deliver because this young sorcerer will set you free. But Killgarrah underestimates Merlin’s abilities in harnessing the dragon lord’s power, thus establishing a connection in which I think it made the dragon incapable of lying to or duping Merlin in any way.

Hang in there, I know this is a long post with perhaps zero points.

And so Merlin having an immortality of sorts waits for his King to return. The question you’re probably asking though, why couldn’t Merlin have made it in time? Well, if you think about that maybe he wasn’t supposed to? They are two sides of the same coin, Merlin could’ve let Morgana die but he didn’t, Arthur and Merlin think Mordred is dead he is not, they were duped, so perhaps the sorceress’ of the Old Religion did use Merlin? Arthur then makes that crucial decision of hanging someone Mordred cares for, tables are turned right then and there for both him and Merlin. The one man who knows Emrys and he takes himself straight to Morgana whom he has already formed a half-trusting relationship with previously. Sure, they were tricked but the decisions Merlin and Arthur made almost sealed their fates (most especially Arthur’s) more than either of them ever realized. Everything shifts because Merlin let Morgana live, and sure she could’ve met her demise a different way without Mordred ever being involved as an accomplice. That is if the Disir hadn’t tricked both Arthur and Merlin into letting him live as well. There is some trickery I’ll admit and that’s what frustrates Merlin the most.

Maybe I’m straying from a point here? The re-watch sent me on a Merthur adventure!

This question can also be posed, was Merlin trying to save a friend or a King? That ending scene certainly screams Arthur was more than just a King to Merlin. So much more. Is it weird to say that Merlin selfishly used his magic for Arthur? It became less about purpose or destiny as time went on, it was just a selfish need to protect a friend or something more. Sometimes in a way while they made each other strong, I often thought Merlin and Arthur were also each other weaknesses. Morgana used Merlin to try and assassinate Arthur, she also ends up using Gwen (and by that writing technique it solidifies a fact: Arthur loves both Merlin and Gwen).

The fact that Arthur trusted Merlin’s words and actions so deeply and vice versa may have very well impacted every part of their destiny. In between each of them made their mistakes that unwittingly endangered the other, while also at the same time countlessly sacrificing themselves for the other. Plus, what Prince/King brings a servant to every freakin’ battle/fight? Or on every picnic he has with a potential suitor? Or even the kicker, that gets me every time is when he admits to Guinevere, sometimes I want to get away from it all, be a farmer somewhere. Oh you do the hard work? No, I’d bring Merlin of course. Okay. Cool. You just told your ‘girlfriend’ that you’d like to spend a life without a duty to Camelot, on a farm, with your man servant. 🤔

This has become a Merthur rant. Sorry. Well, not really because after the re-watch I did recently, I saw more evidence of how it isn’t entirely out of left field to think that Merlin and Arthur are in love. In fact, in my head canon mind I always thought Arthur would just say one day, “My fellow brothers in arms, I tell you this first before I announce it to all of Camelot. I will be marrying a King and Queen to take my side as ruler of Camelot.”

Leon gives his famous puzzled look. “A King, my lord?”

Percevial shrugs. “It’s Arthur he’s bound to make crazy decisions.”

Elyan asks tentatively, “Obviously the queen to be is still my sister?”

Gwaine looks round at everyone, laughs very loudly and shakes his head. “Is there something you’d like to tell us, Gwaine?” Leon asks.

“You’re telling me that none of you have any idea? None at all? Arthur tells us he wants to have another King at his side along with his Queen, which we already know of. There is only one person in all of existence who should and could be Arthur’s husband. Yes, I said it, his husband.” Gwaine points at Merlin. The Knights look perplexed for a moment but then it’s as if it clicks inside their heads. Everything begins to make sense.

“Oh, so that is what poetry means?” Leon jokes and Arthur gives him a pointed look. “Sorry my Lord,” Leon manages to croak out through laughter.

Merlin isn’t denying anything either. Arthur had already pleasantly proposed to him so it was of no surprise this announcement. “So, without any objections I shall have a husband and a wife. A King and a Queen.”

Arthur offers a hand to both Gwen and Merlin. They accept and stand together. Gwaine obnoxiously laughs again. “Really? No one saw this coming? I knew it ages ago. Arthur was either going to choose both or the safest choice to present to the kingdom, Gwen of course. I always favored he would choose both because damn if you paid attention you’d see the way he looks at Merlin is just the same as he looks at Gwen. I think it also a brave move to reveal to Camelot how their King apparently favors former maidens and manservants. Also, this would be a great time for two of our fellow Knights to come forward about their relationship.”

“Thanks Gwaine,” Elyan scoffs. “There was no need to expose me and Perc. You should’ve let us explain that.”

“I need no explanation,” said Arthur. “If it does not interfere with your work as Knights then I do not care. Do as you wish. Be as you wish.”

I digress though, because that is whimsical fantasy. My thinking is wacky because if Merlin’s magic or any magic could’ve saved Arthur his mind frame was forever changed and if he waltzed back into Camelot, Merlin still at his side, knowing full well that his oldest friend is a sorcerer, you can’t tell me that the bisexual King wouldn’t want to take it to the next level? Just kidding, but not really. Hell, I forget my point in this post. If you made it to the end then:

#long post #long post LONG POST #WARNING LONG POST #merlin #arthur pendragon #colin morgan #bradley james #katie mcgrath #morgana #angel coulby #guinevere #thoughts #omg if you kept up with me I want to hug you #but I've had this swimming around in my head since the re-watch I did #needed to vent it!

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johnheintz · 7 years ago

Text

Research is Transforming 6th Grade Educaction

Paris has some great schools. An American friend of mine lives near the Bastille with her French husband and two primary school-aged kids. She likes her kids’ school. But she still wants to move her family back to the US when they get to high school.

They want an American high school experience. The allure of US high schools isn’t math, science or history. It isn’t academic, college and career preparation. The Paris parents want cheerleading, prom, homecoming, football games, school spirit and sports. In other words, they want the comprehensive US high school experience, which isn’t offered in a French system that focuses almost exclusively on academics.

School-aged kids’ parents disagree with me all the time on how much schools have changed. I’ve worked with many public, private and parochial, secondary and higher education institutions in three states and five countries, and I’ve advised parents, teachers and leaders. Helping my friends navigate schools is rewarding. They are passionate about their choices, and I know that those choices matter. I listen to them talk about conversations about whether it’s better to learn physics before biology, the best novels to introduce to teens, the value of studying abroad in China or Argentina and whether private school is worth the cost. We typically do not disagree about extra-curriculars like prom and sports, so when I heard my friends in France say they wanted to move back to the United States for high school extra-curricular like sports, a light bulb clicked on.

Many of the parents I advise spend their days working in data rich environments where their jobs often revolve around their ability to analyze and act not on emotion but on verifiable information. It seems reasonable that for one of the biggest decisions of their lives, these parents would rely on fairly detailed research and data, quantitative and qualitative, to support their decisions about where to send their kids all day every day for nearly two decades.

Decisions about schools aren’t made that way. When it comes to choosing schools, most parents go with their gut. Choosing a school based on cheerleading and prom exposes deeper assumptions about how schools work- or don’t work.

Parents generally hold that schools haven’t changed much, and the popular literature saying schools look today like they did in the 195s is generally accurate. Even if parents notice minor changes, they simultaneously dismiss those changes as insignificant and conclude that what was good enough for them is good enough for their kids. When I try to persuade them that school today is fundamentally different, I usually fail.

Schools are different because increased competition for selective college spots, including from international students and especially competitive children from China which topped 300,000 this year.

Schools are different because of increased student stress due to the increased competition, which even parents who retreat to the safe suburbs can’t avoid. The competition is all the more cut-throat given increased academic accountability from accurate new assessments that mercilessly sort students leaving little room for consideration whether a child is nice. When I was in school, being nice was at least as important as performing well. Those days are over.

Schools are different because of macroeconomic issues that have created a wildly different world. It’s unclear what work students will be doing in the future, so schools have a hard time creating highly targeted programs.

Higher education costs continue to increase disproportionately to the economy overall. There are increasingly vocal questions about whether the big student loans for the big degrees are worth it. Even as the economy improves, there is the concern that salaries are not increasing at pace with increasing education costs, and children turning 25 in 2050 will very likely have a lower quality of living than today, if they haven’t already.s

The evidence I give for a fundamentally different approach to school doesn’t move them. Parents seem incapable of handling bad prospects and/or are hold such romanticized views of their school days. They are blind to the coming tsunami. They speak positively of their kids’ schools, and most of their evidence, from what I can tell, comes from comparisons about their school experience, which just isn’t applicable in this global market.

Just yesterday, a teacher spoke with a father in China who complained about his daughter’s experience at school. He remembered getting an assignment on Romeo and Juliet in tenth grade, and the fact that his daughter got a shorter Shakespeare assignment with more online analytical work was a negative sign to him.

Parents send their kids to school thinking what their children experience is fundamentally similar to their own childhood experience. I’m gentle with those parents because they aren’t running schools, and they don’t understand how different schooling looks every day on the ground. I also let them go because I figure it doesn’t matter too much. I know parents are the central educators in their children’s lives but also am comfortable letting them stay in their lane, parenting while I stay in my lane, running schools. Today, I realized the problem with that argument. I arrived today at the best example of how schools have fundamentally changed.

It’s research.

Twenty years ago, most high school English classes taught research in high school when seniors did “the research paper.” Today, students would think it’s a joke to wait until twelfth grade to introduce research. Why? Students in third grade and earlier perform research every day, multiple times per day far more rapidly than any twelfth grader of the past.

It’s old news saying that the internet has changed everything. It means a world-sized asteroid collision for schooling. A totally new approach to teaching and learning is needed that embraces these changes, yet most schools are plugging away at practices and pedagogies they’ve been doing for decades. Many are banning technology, sending their kids ever further into the Twilight Zone where students as young as 10 are asking why they can’t look up the answer on their phones.

What needs to be updated?

Research needs to be taught directly and at a much earlier age than high school. The curricular plan need to be comprehensive and discuss reliability of sources and how to give credit where credit it due.

Research need to be taught by whatever means necessary. Students in Shanghai research on their phones. Why? It’s easier to have Virtual Private Networks, big business in China, on one device, and students often can’t afford big fancy computers. They are masters of working with thumb-typing, and, as I was amazed to learn early, they know where to find everything.

Students need to be encouraged to do it with fast processors, fast internet and good online support. This is a hole-in-the-wall-like idea is that kids will research and learn on their own. It’s not forcing them to rifle through piles of papers in the controlled stacks of books in the Harvard Library. Every kid every day already researches information. They want to do this, so channeling this positive energy toward more productive directions is a great idea.

Schools and universities are not gate holders to information. All the information out there is easily available. Schools that don’t take advantage of this by telling students not to use tech are ignoring reality and will soon become unable to function.

Plagiarism. Traditional schools are futilely trying to control this tsunami of information and research by making increasingly tough rules against plagiarism. This is misinformed. Tech an opportunity for teaching and learning, not a time to legislate rules.

Parents of little kids need to understand this and a get on board. If you as a parent think your kid will get the same education you got, you’re not only wrong, your expectation is hurting your child. Parents need to advocate for things to look like they did when the way information was introduced in the past is gone, now and forever.

Schools must commit to teaching skills. This has been true for decades and has been repeatedly highlighted in the research literature. With easy access to info, it’s more crucial today than ever to have the skills to manage it. In 1993 when I started teaching, I had colleagues who said all students must know Death of a Salesman or Moby Dick. Today naming a single text as a source of all good is insufficient. Content is more important than ever, but the curating function of schools is decreasingly necessary. Young students research constantly now. They instantly look up up everything they don’t know. If I give them Moby Dick, they will read the summary online before the book. There is no point to stopping it. We need to teach to it. Students need the skills to know those online summaries are woefully insufficient to provide them with the content they, themselves, need and want.

Schools can try to require kids to reading certain content and take away tech to avoid temptation, but if the kids don’t support it, it’s a short-term ”solution.“ All that matters now is giving students ownership of the content they find, read and ultimately respect. The content that motivates and garners their respect they will read, and that content will change their minds and expose them to culture. Schools ignoring that little kids are researching are missing this.

Sadly most schools are missing this because of parents. Parents aren’t the only ones who think their own education is good enough for today’s youth, but they are the most powerful ones. Parents still control more of their children’s education than a school ever could. When parents come to see how fundamentally schooling has changed - regardless whether parents think they are sending their kids to a “traditional” school or not - then schools will have the latitude to fundamentally change how they approach reading, writing, research and, most imperatively, learning.

#research #technology #ideas #change

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