#i feel like noting that significant aspects of this are inspired by the ways my parents were raised.

[spring-lxcked]

Takes your face in my hands. I need you to understand before reading this that, while I discuss William's personality being, in some ways, a reflection of how he was raised, this is not in reference to the horrific murders. Even if he had had a near perfect childhood, he always would have turned out a serial killer. Any discussions of his parents' effects on him are about personality and how he raises his kids. That's it. Also boohoo none of this excuses any of his behavior lmao.

Overall, William's childhood wasn't abnormal for the time. He grew up in a household that had been middle class, but struggled during and after the war. He lived in a relatively small town—not quite rural, but lacking in the bustle of city life. A mid-sized home built in the 30's. A mother and a father who were very much products of both the times and their own childhoods. A sister one year older to whom he was very close. It had all the makings of a standard childhood.

William's relationship with his parents was complicated—something his sister could relate to as well. Their parents were Ethel and Sidney, a pair who fit right into the norms of the time. Ethel was a housewife, albeit not opposed to Jayne's desire to work, and Sidney was an office worker turned automotive technician. While they swore that they loved their children, their relationship with them was simultaneously strict and distant. Once they were old enough to be away from their parents, they were sent outdoors to play with only the expectation of being back in time for meals. The notion of actually playing with their children was beyond them—they were far too "busy" to engage in that kind of thing.

Their father was an infrequent presence in their life, often either working or spending his time off relaxing rather than with the kids. He did, however, teach William how to work on cars. These moments are some of the few genuinely fond memories he has of his father. Their mother, although much more present, was emotionally distant and not particularly skilled at expressing her love. The mother who would hold William when he was young and pet his hair when he cried faded as he aged. The household could be best described as cold outside of William and Jayne's relationship.

Emotions were a touchy subject and "sensitivity" was not tolerated beyond a certain age. While crying or showing strong emotions was shamed in general in the household, the society of the time only reinforced this to William as a boy. Meanwhile Jayne was forced to withstand the assumption of maturity far before William. Despite their close ages, she was expected to be more in control of herself than William as a girl. The negative feelings around showing emotion are something that affected both of them. Neither are good at opening up except, to some degree, to one another.

The relationship with William's parents became more strained with age as he began acting out. Repressed anger—a kind he couldn't put a name to nor explain—led to him lashing out at those around him. (This, and a genuine enjoyment of scaring and even, at times, harming others.) William took the concept of a "bully" to a new level—the older he got, the more his fellow teenagers began to question if he was actually dangerous. Friends were hard to come by, and William had never had a good grasp on making friends as it were. Despite his actions, Jayne stuck by him, hoping to talk him down from his escalating behavior. If he had a best friend at this time, or a friend at all, it was her. His parents, on the other hand, inevitably gave up on him—something they told him outright. No amount of punishment seemed to help, and they knew nothing else. Even when he began to pull himself together at 17/18, they no longer had any use for him.

Cutting off his parents when he moved to America had been easy enough. Outside of a call here or there, he ceased any interaction with them. When his mother became sick, he didn't go home. When either died, he didn't attend the funeral. Although she would never admit it, Jayne never quite forgives him for that—for leaving her to handle it all by herself.

William's childhood has major impacts on how he parents his own children. On one hand, he strives to be better than his parents were. On the other, he is still his parents' child. Where his parents were unwilling (when able) to provide their kids with the things they wanted (rather than just needed), he spoils his kids materially. Where his parents were not active in a lot of his life, he regularly tries to involve or be involved with his kids. Where his parents were overly strict, he can be almost too lax (at least early on). But, much like his own father, he loses himself in work, excusing his absence (or having to haul the kids with him post-divorce) on "providing for his family." Like his mother, he's entirely emotionally unavailable and incapable of showing anything beyond the most basic comfort.

[cozycottagetarot]

Why Did They Come Into Your Life?

How To Pick A Group:

Typically I recommend going with the image that you find you keep coming back to after giving each of the piles a once over.

Notes:

This reading will probably work best for anyone who you:

Feel a strong bond with and are curious about its significance.

Are seeking clarity on the role of a certain person might be playing in your life journey.

Potentially: Have encountered someone who left a lasting impression.

This reading is for entertainment purposes only. ✨

Content Warning: One of the piles did take on a bit of a heavier tone (not the person's presence, but your background) I've added a content warning explaining a little more at the beginning of it!

LINKS: Dividers | Reading Masterlist | Patreon | Paid Readings- Open

GIVEAWAY: Personal Reading Giveaway (June 2024) — Closed ✨

PILE 1

Cards: Seven of Spring, The Lovers, Ten of Summer, The Moon, Eight of Winter

This person could be...

This feels like you might be thinking of an ex (you’re on good terms with) and may still be a part of your life, a one-sided crush (as in you genuinely don't know if they feel the same), a friend… someone who has you captivated. This person did not break your heart or hurt you intentionally if that's an aspect of the relationship. Someone from in the last two years. If it’s someone current then… they’re very supportive of you— actively supportive. It doesn't feel like someone you’re currently in a relationship with but you think highly of them. If none of these fit then I’d say choose another pile.

I feel like this person came into your life to help you become the radiant version of yourself. They entered your life to help you find yourself, believe in yourself, and stand up for yourself. They came to bring you clarity and show you where your happiness lies. While this reading isn’t necessarily romantic, I'd still get the vibe it is/was even if I removed The Lovers. It feels like they have you under some sort of spell or have left a lasting impression on you. Music could be an important aspect here too... either they brought the music back into your life; maybe music is something you share, or they inspired you to pursue it in some format. This could be someone you thought you'd have a forever connection with (in some cases there's still hope for that), or if you know them now, there’s potential for a lifelong bond. You used to hold yourself back and hide from the world, but with this person's presence, you're now stepping out into it with full force.

They came to show you not to fear the unknown, but also to help you gain direction. The seven of spring (wands) would typically be followed by the eight of wands in the traditional tarot deck, which can signify sudden changes and actions. In this deck, the fairy on the card is in an action pose 🦸, symbolizing boldness and assertiveness. What I get from this is you’re gaining confidence and in turn everything is seemingly going to start happening at once. This person could also prevent you from standing in your own way (eight of winter).

In general, they offer you a lot of emotional support, which I feel you may really need at the moment. They make you feel loved and valued—this is someone you want in your life forever, and it feels like they will be, though this is a general reading. I think they also came to show you how to have a good time. This person might be a fling or short-lived but intense friendship, but even then, it’s the kind of experience where you'll reminisce about what you two had fondly and find yourself giggling about in old age.

PILE 2

This person could be...

Oh my gosh, I’m getting so many different things from this pile but overall I think you’ll like it.

This could be someone you knew as a kid or someone who makes you feel like a kid again. They are warm and loving. I’m getting a Cinderella situation or vibe here. Definitely some kind of monumental change or transformation is occurring or has occurred. The person you’re inquiring about could be someone you’re manifesting, and this reading has a heavily romantic tone. If that’s not what you’re looking for, consider a different pile. They could be with you or support you through a very dark time. There’s an emphasis on emotional connection, so if you don’t feel that bond and know it’s reciprocated in some formt, this might not be the group for you either.

This is someone you’ve been waiting for, or it feels like “your soul” has been waiting for. It’s hard to describe, but this person feels like a heart's wish. Whatever your long-term hopes for the future are, this person plays a role in them. For example, if you want a partner with a significant commitment, kids, and a fancy house (sorry, not the most imaginative at this moment), then this person is going to play a significant role in that.

With the card Release (traditionally Death), I feel like this person has come in when a cycle is over or very Very close to closing out, even if it doesn’t feel that way. I emphasize this because the fairy in the card is in a beautiful setting with shimmering lights above them and their eyes closed. I feel like that is you- you can’t see the transformation taking place… yet. There’s also the nine of summer (cups) following the card, where the images remind me of a coronation coupled with a fairy godmother’s transformation. So I feel like this person symbolises or marks that transition even if you don’t see it yet…. For some of you, I feel like this is still to come. I’m not fully sure how to describe what I’m picking up.

The future is being written out in small steps—steps so small you can’t tell. That’s not meant to scare you! I feel like you might be anxious about that at times. But you’re stepping into a new chapter with lovely rewards. It won’t be all sunshine and rainbows, but when you look back, you’ll remember the good times and how you overcame the bad rather than simply dwell on the bad.

I feel like good things are coming to you with this person. Messages like this can feel short, but there’s not much more to say other than congratulations. This person is loving, nurturing, chivalrous, and has a protective energy. I feel like you’ve lucked out.

I keep wanting to say I’m giving you a hug, but I see you’re already taken care of. ♥️

PILE 3

Cards: Four of Summer, Seven of Summer and King of Summer, Queen of Autumn, Life Experience

CW: I don't read about certain topics but will mention them if they come through strongly. This group briefly mentions substance use (in a sentence). There's also brief language 🙄. It's also a tough-love group...

In this group I talk about the person romantically but it can absolutely be any other kind of relationship. I did my best to include both. But if you pick this pile then you gotta stick with me because there are so many different messages in it— ready?

This reminds me of a tarot reading I watched on YouTube that mentioned being addicted to someone who has something physically or materially going for them but wasn’t emotionally available. Meanwhile, getting bored of the sweet, emotionally available, non-chaotic type of [person] that [you] need to balance you out… yeah... that’s the same vibe I’m picking up here. I was curious to see what cards would follow when the four of summer, seven of summer and king of summer came out, and as soon as I saw life experience (the tower) I immediately thought yup that's the vibe!

So there are two scenarios I’m picking up on here. This person is either the loving, emotionally available partner you need and deserve OR this person has f*ck boy (idk what the neutral term is) energy and can potentially lead you down a bad path. I kind of feel like this person whichever persona they are, they're here to push you to make a decision. In the imagery on the four of summer, there’s this child kind of like looking up pleading to an older person who is looking off into the distance. I feel like your inner child or some part of you might be begging you not to make dumb decisions. Sitting with the cards more, this person feels like they are more the 'king of cups' type mentioned above. But on your end, it's like the universe could be shining a big old spotlight on them with multiple arrows saying this person is good for you and you'd be like 'yeahhh but I want something different 🤪'. My love— don’t. It reminds me of the song Chaos Mode by DEZI. I feel like this person came into your life because you’re meant to elevate yourself and live to a certain standard (again wording, sorry) instead of repeating things that are going to leave you unstable.

I also feel like this person or type of person you go for can potentially lead you down a pathway of poor mental health and substance use and while I don’t read about substances/substance abuse if that resonates with you, please take the steps you need to get help/break out of that pattern.

You might also be overly picky. Especially if you’re into manifesting and adjacent practices. So if someone fits the bill of what you want but let’s say they don’t look like it by one detail— this person could be everything you’ve wished for personality-wise and everything you need. So it becomes a case of 'are you gonna let the good thing go because one detail is off or are you going to consider if it should legitimately be a dealbreaker'? And what I mean by little things is they look how you want minus a specific piercing or hair cut 🤨, that’s essentially what I get. Long story short, this person came in to make you make up your damn mind.

This person might not be forever either, but they may be the start. I think they’re also here to help you regain your focus on what’s important to you. I know I’ve been tearing into you this whole time (all out of love 🥰) but with the queen of autumn I feel like you have such a lovely personality and demeanour but someone or a certain set of people or event/s have distorted how you see yourself.

Overall, don’t be afraid to change and go after something better. I feel like you’ve been through something significant at some point and the person you’re inquiring about is acting as a guide to bring you to something better.

I’m sending you love, pile three 💕

PILE 4

Cards: Ego, Ten of Autumn, The High Priestess, Awakening, Nine of Autumn, Four of Autumn, Princess of Winter

This person kind of feels like they came into your life because they’re a messenger of some kind. They’re here to help aid, guide or set you on the right path to the long-term destination you seek. You’re not seeing yourself clearly right now or you’re not seeing something clearly.

They make you pause and question: Are you really in alignment? Your priorities may be off, but this person helps you get back into the right place to enjoy where you are now and what’s to come. This feels like someone who works in a profession helping others or has a safe energy to them, but at the same time, you feel wary about them. There’s an older energy to this person, or they may have been through something you’re going through and are trying to help. To summarize, they have a mentor energy.

This person has entered your life to help you trust your intuition and clear the lens through which you view life. I feel like your energy is slightly jaded, but at the same time, you may mirror each other, so it’s hard to tell which of you is rough around the edges. They might be slightly impersonal but wise. They help you do the work so you can enjoy the results. They may assist with how you view yourself and help you become more open and receptive to others.

I don’t know why, but I got an image of Scrooge—that’s what comes to mind. This person helps you go within, get clarity on one thing or another, revive you, and gain a new perspective.

[citr0us]

Tarot Reading

How is going to be your next month?

These readings are general, they have various energies which means they may not resonate with you and your situation, if this happens feel free to change your pile and remember read and stick with what resonates with you and leave what doesn't.

notes: Hii guys, so i been kind of distance from posting here, because I am having a lot of other projects. But when I found some time, I am going to post here more. And give feedbacks about the reading and ideas. Byeeeee.

I did it for pure fun and curiosity, I'm not a professional, just a tarot student.

My native language is not English, so if there are any spelling mistakes, please don't mind

I am accepting genuine feedbacks and this reading is timeless

pile 1 ———————> Pile 2

pile 1: the cards flew off the table very quickly in this reading, The first thing I heard was ‘’surprises’’ maybe next month will bring surprises for you. The first 4 cards were:

7 of Cups: May indicate that you will have several opportunities or choices to make, but some of them may not be as real or promising as they seem

10 of Pentacles: It may indicate that you are in a good financial or family moment, with a solid foundation.

The Tower: It represents unexpected changes, which can shake the structures you have built. Despite being a difficult card, it also brings the opportunity to rebuild in a more solid way.

2 of Swords: need to make a difficult decision. There may be a situation where you feel divided or unable to move forward

General interpretation for the next month: The next month may bring many options and opportunities, but not all of them will be what they appear to be. It is important to anchor yourself in the things that bring security and stability. However, you may face a significant change or an unexpected event that shakes your certainties. This can lead to a situation where you will need to make a difficult decision, balancing reason and emotion to move forward. Being prepared for change and staying focused on what's really important to you will be essential to navigating this period.

two more cards to finish:

To finish, the Sun card and Seven of Wands fell. I think you might be celebrating something at the end of the month, something you fought hard and fought to achieve. In my mind it seems like you had difficulties, people or even you yourself doubted your ability, but in the end you succeed. I see a family celebrating and jumping (very cute)

At the bottom of the cards there is the Hermit So I think you will now be looking for new opportunities, and new paths will be shown. In my thing here there is an older guy with a lamp trying to get through the dark without knowing what is coming, I think that is what you will get through.

Random things: family, Fire sign (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius), ‘’apple’’ charli xcx (lol)

Pile 2

MY GOD, the cards jumped too, but I felt like it was going to be one of your best months. I heard success for definition of the month.

The first 4 cards were

The Chariot: It can indicate that you will be on a journey, whether literal or figurative, where willpower and confidence are necessary to overcome challenges.

Ace of Pentacles: new beginnings in relation to material or financial aspects, such as job opportunities, financial gains or new prosperous projects.

Ace of Wands: It is associated with inspiring beginnings, enthusiasm, creative energy and new ideas. It can indicate the beginning of a new venture or the arrival of a new passion or project that fills you with vigor.

Nine of Wands: Suggests that, even when faced with obstacles, you must continue to fight and protect yourself, remaining firm in your convictions.

General Interpretation for the Next Month: The next month seems to bring with it significant movement in your life, with new opportunities emerging in both the material and creative fields. There will be a need to stay focused and determined, seizing these new opportunities with vigor and energy. However, you will also need to be resilient and prepared to face challenges, but the message is clear: you have the strength to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. may arise.

the last 2 cards: bro, I hope you guys are ready. I feel like you're going to live a teenage dream aaaaaahhh.

girl, I can only hear celebrations, and joy.

1 of cups and 3 of Pentacles you will be in your era of abundance, prosperity and love. I think for some of you, you may meet someone romantically, and you will also meet new people, and even more new opportunities in the area of ​​work or school.

I really wish pile 2 the best of luck. Your next month is going to be wonderful.

random things: couple fight, teenage dream ''katy perry'', yellow, feeling: dizzy, itchy throat, left ear getting hot

[elderwisp]

hi! Im so sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, I've looked for answers for this before so I'm just not sure,,

i absolutely adore your sims and your story! Its completely inspired me to create a story w/ my sims as well! the only thing is I'm quite overwhelmed with it all and I don't know where to start :(

do you have any tips? Whats your process? there's so many things to use and I'm just curious what you use! Thanks in advance and no pressure to answer if this is the wrong place :))<33

HAI :D OMG EXCITING <3 no worries! my inbox is always open for assistance and i'd love to help! here's a bunch of tips ranging from writing to technical to artsy stuff:

the start:

⟡ i should preface this story did not begin as one typically would which is say following the example of how to write a novel in a year. my writing style for this project started out with my interest in the characters created. my desire to wanting to know why certain oc's acted the way they did and that's where it all began. what started out as short stories of certain individuals reworked into something much more authentic. this was the hook for me so you gotta find that one sliver of interest and run with it. you can most certainly utilize tools like character sheets, pinboards, storyboards to assist you but i find that if i'm not connected to the story, it's difficult to use them

⟡ with that being said LOL invest the time in fleshing out your character because when you understand how they work, when you believe in them, the easier it'll be in creating scenes and writing dialogue. for me, it's almost intuitive writing for characters to the point where i will easily check myself and rewrite a scene because it didn't align with a certain character

⟡ while the influence of your own ideals/experiences eventually bleed into an oc, it's important to identify that, otherwise a cast of diverse characters eventually feel the same. this was something i struggled with for years which is why i could never really begin until now!

⟡ it's good to ask yourself what sort of story do you want to create. the best question is is it plot driven or character driven? what sort of tone do you want to set? do you want to blend them? i think there's a huge stress on just doing things for fun and not taking things seriously but i do want to challenge others to consider what that might look like for others. sometimes people like to create grand posts or fun slice of life posts and neither is more valid than the other. it's truly up to the author

technical stuff:

⟡ i'm gonna be honest with you, i'm not as organized as i once was in how i go about plotting things however! in the beginning, i would utilize sticky notes with ideas written on them and then shuffle around how i wanted things to play out. now i use a dingy little notebook LMAO but i've heard good things about milanote! as for dialogue, i do use google docs but i do think they're under fire for using your things for ai training or somethin O_O

⟡ i do use photoshop to edit my photos and that usually looks like cropping, color/contrast enhancing and sharpening. i do add dialogue last because when i sharpen it all together, the font looks cwispy! there's this mini tut by @/stinkrascal on how to format the text so it's all even if that's the style you're going for! anyways it changed my LIFE lmao! right here are some free alternatives. also this is an older post in which i shared my process and it includes some tips and tricks with photoshop (you can also see how i used to format text lmaooo)

⟡ knowledge is power. if i find myself really struggling with certain aspects, like maybe the logistics of a character, i'll set aside some time to learn from certain authors, commentators or directors. even if it's a short clip of seeing how they approach something as simple as their thought process behind how a scene supported a character to something as small as the significance of Isha's hat from Arcane

misc writing tips:

⟡ ooh! because tessellate is such a large group of characters, it can be challenging to structuring a plot. so i started off by slowly introducing characters rather than all at once. i also break up character plots into arcs but with that comes filler episodes to help space out big moments. i like to utilize filler episodes as bite sized pieces that introduces the readers to newer characters while also allowing there to be breaks in between. those filler posts highlight certain events, ways of living, etc that might influence how things play out in the future. a good example is kai, we're nearing the end of his arc but all of those little moments in between really helped shaped how things played out!

⟡ when i think of conflict, i think of it a lot like a boiling pot. it starts out at a neutral temperature (your foundation), before bubbles begin to form (minor annoyances between characters), steam hissing (the lead up) to an eventual lid popping off (the conflict). the build up is the most important part to the pay off!

⟡ my best piece of advice for darker themes is really understand the topic and stray away from stereotypes as it diminishes a lot of depth in certain subjects as well as does more harm than good. recognize that at the end of the day a weakness does not define a person as they are a person through and through. approach it with compassion rather than judgement.

⟡ i know i know everyone says to read your dialogue out loud and that is incredibly important however while doing that, think about the flow too. as a writer, because we are goal oriented, sometimes dialogue can be turned into what will progress the plot which makes things feel a bit unnatural and sometimes lacking the proper flow. remember to consider the personality of a character. how is a line delivered through a character who is brash versus one who is a bit more reclusive? also! here's a great video about the stiff dialogue in veilguard that shows what unnatural dialogue can sound like.

⟡ remember, comparison is the thief of joy. it's easy to get caught up in recognition and likes. there was a time where i consistently got 3-5 readers and that was it. there are moments now where certain posts are incredibly inconsistent in engagement and sure, it can be disheartening but then i think about the handful of individuals that consistently comment, the specific asks about how a certain post made them feel seen and interact and i remember why it's i chose to write. it isn't the recognition i seek, it's the connection. it's important to have that one thing that gives you the strength to continue because truthfully, things can be inconsistent and that's okay.

the artsy stuff:

⟡ i am a huge fan of cinema, animation and photography. i think consuming a lot of media and art has helped train my eye especially if i feel as if my screenshots are becoming repetitive. it's good to see how different directors go about framing dialogue. comic panels are amazing as well since artists find new unique ways of captivating an audience through levels like coloring, framing, posing and such! it's honestly why i introduced some vertical shots to black out bars in story posts because of that unique angle! remember, media is meant to inspire you! after watching the latest season of Arcane (haven't finished it yet tho) it genuinely relit a fire under my ass LMAO

⟡ different angles, lighting and positioning can help elevate a story. the aesthetics of a story can really add another layer of depth however it's important to remember that it is a supporting role, not the entire role

⟡ i do use my own reshade and i've formatted it to have similarities of a film camera as well as my preference of color correcting. i lean heavier towards contrast, colors and shadows however i always encourage for people to look into what supports their vision the best! the lightroom shader by quint and pd80's contrast/brightness/saturation shader help with color grading in game as they do have sliders that tweak certain colors. the sepia shader is great for adding a cinematic tint but it can conflict with relight and the way the lights are presented. relight of course can add those shadows in lighting. i'll sometimes have two presets, one for up close shots to further shots because sometimes zooming out can create inconsistencies in your preset as things might look to muggy or like a disco ball LOL (ps what helps with that is adjusting bloom if used and messing around with shadows/midtones/highlights/saturation with that lightroom shader)

last but not least, a story is a labor of love, it's a tool in which authors can utilize the pen to their own manner whether it's to communicate ideas or to simply tell a tale. don't be afraid to dive deep into the layers of your story and remember each piece can be important factor but it's entirely up to you as to where you want that focus to be. it does take a lot of courage to start but i truly believe if it's something you cherish, it'll always be worth it!

i do wish you the best of luck! thank you for trusting me enough to give you some tips and tricks! i tried to lean more into the more finite details as i felt like this is what truly helped me throughout the years! <3 also here is a complimentary meme i made:

[mylifeisjustafeverdream]

why didn’t you like british dimitri :(

I can't lie, he's simply not sexy enough. This is the man that had these hoes framing each other for murder for the CHANCE to be with him. You cannot convince me that British boy could inspire such nonsense.

On a more serious note...

My issue with British! Dimitri really just speaks to my larger issue with how the show, and others like it, chose to adapt the source material. I literally HATE when one of my favorite book series is adapted and it is done in a way that the VA show did. It's this thing that a lot of YA adaptations do where they take the basics of a series like the setting, characters, and usually the overarching premise of the first book and use it to create it's own show. It's what Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries, and Shadowhunters did. They take the series and gut it for parts to make a broadly marketable series that they can push for as many seasons as possible. An "adaptation" that you can identify as the book series, but also tells a completely different story. This isn't me saying these shows are bad television shows. I am saying they are bad adaptations. Of the previously mentioned shows I was only able to get through Vampire Diaries and most of Pretty Little Liars, and that was because I didn't read the books before I watched it. I wasn't met with the soul crushing devastation I was met with when I watched Shadowhunters and realized it was not actually going to adapt the book. (It's why, even though it's a literal dumpster fire, I prefer the movie because it at least tried to follow the books) Some people don't mind this, and that's totally okay, but I hate it so much. I feel like these adaptations take away so much from the story they are adapting, and make it worse. Obviously they could make it work having Dimitri be British, but it also just alters so much about how he is characterized. He wasn't Russian in the way that Lissa and Adrian are. It wasn't just used to give him a cool name, or to make sense in the overall world building. Richelle made Dimitri being Russian a significant aspect of his character. It influences his plotlines and is a major factor in why he behaves the way he does. The changes made to show Dimitri fundamentally change who he is in the world of the series. Him being a foot taller than Rose isn't to make a cute height difference, it is to signify just how massive he is compared to the other Dhampirs. The boys refer to him as a god, and that's not just because he was a good warrior. If that were the case they'd say the same thing about Janine, and they don't. Dimitri's entire being makes him a force to the dhampirs. He is other worldly to them. The show made him plain, average. That is my issue with British Dimitri.

[tears-of-amber]

FREYA (a deity deep dive & some UPG)

⚔️Who Is Freya?⚔️

Freya is a Norse goddess of war, love, beauty, sex, pleasure, magic, and so much more! Its very hard to summarize the extent of her powers, and what knowledge remains of her through artifacts and myths suggests she was once as complex a deity as Odin (bearing many alternate names and ruling over so many aspects of life). I took inspiration from @coinandcandle for the layout of this post. Hopefully that isn't a problem! If I get any information wrong or site sources that someone else discovers to be unreliable, I am open to feedback! Note: some of this is UPG, and I'm very clear when I'm stating UPG. If there's any confusion, feel free to message me!

⚔️Parents & Siblings⚔️

-Njördr (Freya's father, a Vanir god)

-Njördr's Unnamed Sister (Freya's mother, who some scholars speculate is Nerthus, yet it remains a mystery)

-Freyr (Freya's brother, a Vanir god)

⚔️Significant Other⚔️

-Odr (Freya's husband, a mysterious wandering god who is suspiciously like Odin)

⚔️Children⚔️

-Hnoss (Freya's daughter)

-Gersemi (Freya's daughter)

⚔️Epithets⚔️

-Hörn (meaning "flaxen", probably in reference to her hair)

-Gefn (meaning "the giver")

-Syr (meaning "sow" a creature that was associated with fertility like Freya)

-Valfreyja (meaning "lady of the slain", as Freya is the goddess who picks and rules over half the slain warriors in her hall Sessrúmnir, in the field of Fólkvangr.)

-Mardöll (meaning "sea-brightener" or "one who makes the sea shine") Note: I always think of her making her father Njördr proud, as a way of making the sea shine, but that is UPG.

-Vanadis (meaning "Vanir goddess")

⚔️Important Notes⚔️

-Freya is famous for her beauty, and her lavish taste. An example of this is her iconic necklace Brísingamen. She acquired this necklace by sleeping one night with each of the dwarves who made it. In return they made the necklace (which is said to have been gorgeous and forged out of gold with amber beads).

-Something that also confirms that amber and gold are sacred to the goddess Freya would be the story of how she cries tears that turn to gold when they touch the earth and to amber when they fall on the sea. Its important to note that she cries these tears for her husband Odr who has not returned in a long time from his wandering journeys. Below is a picture of the famous artwork that depicts her tears by Gustav Klimt:

-Oh, and Freya rides a chariot pulled by cats. Pretty cool, huh? The original cat lady. Cats are sacred to her, so if you want to honor her be sure to treat feline friends with extra respect and adoration!

-When she doesn't ride her chariot, Freya is said to ride her boar into battle. The boar's name is name is Hildisvíni (meaning battle swine).

-Freya possesses yet another treasure: her falcon cloak. This magical cloak of falcon feathers helps her to fly with the ease of a falcon. Therefore, its safe to say that falcons are sacred to this goddess.

-Despite being a goddess of sex and pleasure, Freya is not easily won over. The myths reveal she wont just sleep with anyone. Many giants sought to steal her away and wed her, yet she never caved and slept with someone she didn't see the benefit in sleeping with. In my UPG, she is a very independent goddess.

⚔️Modern Deity Work⚔️

Correspondences (These are based off of my UPG)

Rocks/Stones/Crystals

-amber

-gold

-falcon's eye (also called blue tigers eye)

-carnelian

-rose quartz

Herbs/Plants

-rose

-cinnamon

-mugwort

-daisy

-lily of the valley

-cowslips

Animals

-cat

-boar

-falcon

-rabbit

-hawk

Offering Ideas

-cinnamon tea with honey

-sweet decadent foods

-pieces of amber

-cat figurines

-jewelry (specifically necklaces)

Acts Of Devotion

-spending time caring for cats

-fighting for what you believe in

-standing up for yourself

-being respectful of your own and others sexualities

-beauty routines

-glamour magic

-learning seidr

-connecting with magic in whatever form feels right for you

-practicing being more loving and compassionate

⚔️Sources⚔️

[sleepvines]

can you go into a whole tangent about rain world naming pretty please. :D

I wanna hear your thoughts!

SURE THING! (spoilers below) (also this isn't a proper essay so I get to be messy 👍)

So first of all. Rain world naming conventions seem to follow a somewhat consistent pattern, but the pattern varies.

Let's divide them up by types for iterators specifically: Type A names are those that involve a number, measurement, or count of objects. Type B names involve concepts and actions. Now we can list all the known iterators (since iterators started this tangent) in those categories.

Type A: Five Pebbles, Seven Red Suns, Sliver of Straw (Implied 1-count), Epoch of Clouds (implied time measurement)

Type B: Looks To The Moon, No Significant Harassment, Unparalleled Innocence, Chasing Wind, Pleading Intellect, Wandering Omen, Gazing Stars, Secluded Instinct

There's a few things we could gather from this, notably that "Type B" names are more prevalent, at least in this list. Sometimes these particular names are characteristic of their owners, such as Gazing Stars holding a fascination with ascension, while Secluded Instinct is optimistic and excited about the future. Which to me thematically opposes the whole mission statement of iterators, and thus it's a bit of a hidden (unusual, taboo) instinct to have hope. Other times these names seem ironic, as seen with Unparalleled Innocence's apparently mean spirited nature. Looks to the Moon feels like a happy accident with how fitting it is, since she's the Local Sector's "Big Sis Moon" and her peers look up to her. There's a possibility they named her Looks to the Moon because their city would be resting on top of her can which would have it face the moon.

To note, Moon and Wandering Omen are both older superstructures. "Type B" names might be tied to more antiquated models of iterators, but there's not much evidence to support it. Something my roommate @acewarden (incredible brainstorming & lore discussion pal) mentioned offhand is that Five Pebbles goes by Erratic Pulse as a communication alias, and that if the name seniority thing is true, he could be trying to seem older and more experienced. But again, that's conjecture.

"Type A" names are a bit of a mystery, but could be tied to a date, an event, a location... In particular I'm reminded of ancient Nahua naming conventions, which you can read about here. Keep in mind this article includes old excerpts/quotes from a missionary, so there is some dated and insensitive language, but it has examples of what I'm reminded of:

Names referring to particular time units/periods/seasons eg Maxihuitl (“Five Years”), Xopantzin (“Venerable Raining Season”)

Anyhow, the article supposes that these names not only marked the day a naming ceremony took place, but the potential fortune of the individual being named due to the date. I have to wonder if there was a similar reasoning for these "Type A" names. some Nahua names related to a day on a specific intersection of their calendar cycle. In Rain World, THE Cycle was an unavoidable and religiously significant aspect of the ancients lives, I don't see why they wouldn't also construct their naming scheme on a similar principle.

In fact I definitely see aesthetic influence from ancient Mexica art in how the ancients depict and dress themselves, and it's not unlikely the developers pulled from it for their inspiration. Take these for example:

Side note just for me, I have a sneaking suspicion the way dates are logged in Rain World is similar to some things I noticed while looking into the Mexica Calendar but maybe that's a reach. I won't dive into it here EDIT: I couldn't find anything satisfactory so I'm dropping that theory

Now we can take a look at the Echoes, which were once ancients. Since they were the ones to build iterators in the first place, their names would inform their super computer's names. Of course. (of course.)

Note the difference in these names, they are either in two distinct parts and/or reflect a "positional" intermediary term. Ancient's canonically had a very complex and hierarchical naming scheme, with many variations of honorifics and titles that were always formally addressed in their complete entirety, but for echoes we get the base names. (Also note I'll use a ; to break up the names so they're more convenient to list.)

Echoes: Nineteen Spades; Endless Reflections, Four Needles under Plentiful Leaves, Droplets upon Five Large Droplets, A Bell; Eighteen Amber Beads, Six Grains of Gravel; Mountains Abound, Two Sprouts; Twelve Brackets, Twelve Beads among Burning Skies, Distant Towers upon Cracked Earth, Rhinestones beneath Shattered Glass, Eight Spots on a Blind Eye

Note that we see vastly more "Type A" names! Additionally there's a prevalence of size or measurement related terms that emphasize some kind of grandiosity. Things like Abound, Large, Endless, Plentiful.... I believe that, while the literal counts (Five, Six, Eight, etc.) are indicators of something specific, the adjectives here sound like they serve a fortune bearing and/or self-aggrandizing purpose. lol.

One thing I do notice is that some families? groups? in the ancient society (as outlined by the pearls) have numbers or concepts tied to them. Such as the house of Eight or the house of Braids. One ancient is noted as being "of pure Braid Heritage" However these are not included in the base name, and are instead tacked on as a separate title, indicating the names themselves are not of familial origin.

Let's break some of these Echo names into their constituent parts. (With color)

Red being the measurement itself, orange being the object that conveys the measurement/units of measurement, purple being an intermediary term, green being a secondary location/object noun, blue being what I'll call the "grand element."

Six Grains of Gravel; Mountains Abound

Twelve Beads among Burning Skies

A Bell; Eighteen Amber Beads

Distant Towers upon Cracked Earth

Four Needles under Plentiful Leaves

You could argue "A Bell" is instead read "A Bell" but I DIGRESS!

Not every name has a measurement association, but they do consistently have some kind of object. I'm led to wonder if some names are earned or altered later in life. Maybe they have absolutely nothing to do with a calendar cycle and instead reflect the status, history, and hierarchy of the supposed individual. Come to think of it, that would make sense. Nineteen Spades; Endless Reflections recounts they had progeny, and well, what are children if not a reflection of an organism into the future? Twelve Beads among Burning Skies says that they were "an angry fool." I find Six Grains of Gravel; Mountains Abound evocative in the sense that, maybe as an individual they are "Gravel" but their family/accomplishments/legacy is so bountiful it's considered mountainous. But that's a stretch.

I would be remiss not to mention my favourite ancients. The following are Pearl excerpts of their full name and associated titles.

"In this vessel is the living memories of Seventeen Axes, Fifteen Spoked Wheel, of the House of Braids, Count of 8 living blocks, Counselor of 16, Grand Master of the Twelfth Pillar of Community, High Commander of opinion group Winged Opinions, of pure Braid heritage, voted Local Champion in the speaking tournament of 1511.090, Mother, Father and Spouse, Spiritual Explorer and honorary member of the Congregation of Balanced Ambiguity. Artist, Warrior, and Fashion Legend." ((Deep Magenta pearl, Shaded Citadel))

And my all time favourite:

"It is with Honor I, Eight Suns-Countless Leaves, of the House of Six Wagons, Count of no living blocks, Counselor of 2, Duke of 1, Humble Secretary of the Congregation of Never Dwindling Righteousness, write this to You." ((The rest of this one is really funny, please read the Deep Pink farm arrays pearl if you have time.))

To come full circle, to me, iterator names sound like they're composed of only half of an ancient's name. Make of that what you will, I think it says something about the two way parent-child relationship between ancients and iterators. A more diminutive/simplified name for their creations? Likely. A shortened name for a respected figure and venerated grounds? Also likely. Shrugs.

All this to say that without access to more concrete concepts from the ancient's society, we're left with a lot of guesswork. Still super fun to pick apart, though!

[refriedrambles]

I have a new character who makes Krysa a stronger character. Her name is Roara and she's probably the most feminine character I've ever had and I love her

She's breaking off and absorbing some of Krysa's traits (it's very necessary, Krysa was a mess of a character) and adding them onto a beauty appreciating disney princess/villain. That appreciation can toe the line with vanity but it's also such a genuine deep seeded appreciation that doesn't end at just a pretty face that it's a bit contagious. It applies to nature and interiors and personalities and so much to ideas and art. She's just so full of passion about it too. My notes describe her as a nymph mother goddess and like probably not the best way to describe her but I like it a lot. She is socially adept, a natural leader and very protective of "her" people

Also I have her design in my head but it is getting muddled and I should be asleep so, inspired by Aurora and Megara. Light strawberry blonde, possibly a more typical blonde fading into a light strawberry blonde idk. Head band, but likely often change outfits. Slightly older than Krysa, but probably shorter, this likely makes Krysa taller rather than Roara being an especially short idk figure later

There are significant changes to Krysa from this, but also they're kinda minor at the same time? Roara heavily influences who Krysa grows into by rubbing off on her and taking the time to teach her not to a miserable little shit and handle people. Also learn the importance of taking care of oneself, feeling pretty and though this one doesn't sink in all that much appreciate others. Roara being there really helps me solidify Krysa's character. I can remove the maternal aspects from her, solidify her feelings on having to be a leader herself (she loathes it) matching it with her hatred of authority, and detangles a lot of the confusion between her brutality/hatred of humanity and her strong protective instincts/detest of the cruel and unfair. She's a lot more focused on her curiosity now. Also herself hatred changed from oh I know I'm a bad person and can never be good cause I'm just that smart enough to see it to oh I've seen something so powerful and moving in all of the shit and I could never be that. That's not it like I explained that so badly lol it's not like envy at all. Maybe a bit of su's love like you, but Idk how to get the rest of it across right lol

Krysa's got two big things now self hate while fuels her trust issues and a zealous passion to learn

Roara's got two or three a feverish passion for all types of beauty, a nurturing and protective nature (selective tho it may be), and a knack for knowing how people work

[acorpsecalledcorva]

The Addiction (1995) is an interesting movie to watch 30 years later. Firstly, the analysis for it is hilarious

Like, no shit.

But also sits in an interesting spot in cinema history. 1995 feels like it should be a really significant year, and there are some absolute bangers song get me wrong, Brave heart, Before Sunrise, Seven, Power Rangers The Movie, but there's no Pulp Fiction or Trainspotting, you get me?

I would tentatively say it came out just a few years too soon, it's a Cubicle Movie, it's very transfixed with the idea of ok, the 20th century is coming to a close and all this fucked up shit happened and we're all just pretending it's ok? Well what do we actually do about that? Can we do better? Are we capable?

As a vampire as allegory movie it makes the same mistake Buffy does in season 6, it gets too literal. The first scene of Kathleen sating her new hunger is her using a needle to draw blood from someone and shooting it into a vein. Very quickly she starts getting her philosophy professor high and shooting up his drug blood.

Performance wise I've always liked Lilli Taylor and this role feels made for her, she carries the disillusionment of her character well without making it over bearing the way some other 90s vampires do.

I actually really like her little philosophical rants as base level as they can be because I identify with getting drunk and ranting about the world a lot. The physical acting is more of an issue but I honestly put it down to the cinematography, lots and lots of wide shots that are often clever but aren't always scene appropriate. It's very easy to tell someone is pretending to have convulsions when you can see their whole body. But there are some gorgeous scenes

This shit is S-tier, I have taken notes.

It can feel dated though. Like I said this movie feels out of place, it's filled with imagery of human atrocity and draws inspiration from the decades of those attrocities, but in a 90s way. You can feel the appreciation of 1920s cinema, of 60s french cinema but in that same indie way that Clerks or Tarantino films do things. I also wonder if it doesn't land as much simply because I didn't watch it in the 90s and haven't been rewatching it the same way I rewatch The Matrix or Fight Club. It's presence hasn't followed me, I haven't carried it with me over the years.

Very good movie though, I normally avoid low budget indie vampire movies because they focus much more on the horror aspect which I'm just not interested in really. I need my Interviews and Let the Right One Ins and this is a very welcome addiction to that category and I'm glad there are still vampire movies of that kind I haven't seen yet

[55555-555-5]

Period Post!

I love love love when I begin my bleeding cycle. It’s when I am the most in tune with mind, body, soul and universe. It wasn’t always this way tho.

Ever since I started menstruating (at age 10 I think) my periods were heavy metal, meaning I would bleed through both a tampon and a pad and be in so much pain I physically couldn’t stand up straight. Everything was awful on my period and finally my mom brought me in to the doctor to see what we could do. He prescribed me birth control. Surprised? Probably not. Womben are so quickly given pills and heavy medications to put into their bodies when they simply just need to know what’s going on. He never walked me through balancing my hormones or discussed progesterone or nothing. Gave me this pill, it’ll fix all my problems. For a while I loved the pill, I set an alarm on my phone, took it every day, my doctor gave me a type I would stack for three months and then stop taking them for a week so I could bleed. That week was always fucked cus it takes a long time to get out of your system so by the time I would bleed I would start taking the pills again. I’m gonna wrap it up: I took birth control for about 12 years.

Fast forward: I’ve come off the pill, spent the time necessary to cleanse my body of the pill. My periods took a while to be some regular and coming off the pill they were just as heavy and painful as before. The things that changed my life are proper education, appreciation for my womb, following the right people on social media, herbal remedies and rituals.

It’s so important to learn that the time that we run on is built around mens bodies, as are most things. We have different cycles and our timing is divine and if we can connect to it, life gets easier. Learn the 4 phases of your cycle; inner summer, inner fall, inner winter and inner spring. I’m in spring rn and I’m feeling like I’m blossoming into my next phase of life, energetic, hot af, and connected.

Herbal medicine has impacted my life in many ways but nothing seems as significant as my period. One cup of this tea and my cramps are completely GONE! Use equal parts chopped cinnamon bark and chopped dried ginger or freshly grated ginger root and honey to taste if you like. For one cup of tea use 1 teaspoon of ingredients. I have this tea every bleed and it instantly helps.

A big thing I learned is you want to keep your womb warm to avoid pains. Keep your feet warm, don’t eat cold foods, your jaw and pelvis are connected so always try to relax your jaw, singing and sighing are wonderful. Also you are what you eat (in the nicest way) so if you haven’t already made a change to be more aware of what your putting in your body definitely do it now. What you intake will be the factors that balance your hormones. Something important to note is food is everything that is consumed; what you eat, what you watch, what you listen to and what you say to yourself.

A huge part is learning to love your period. Menstruation is the beginning of time and your womb is a portal. Around every 28 days depending on your own cycle, you go through death and rebirth. It’s sacred and powerful. Look into some ancient stories of worshipping menstrual blood and figure out some rituals and practices that inspire you. For example I love giving my blood back to the earth. I free bleed so I rinse my underwear in water in a jar and then pour the water onto my plants or the trees roots outside. Once your blood is healthy and free of toxins from pills and what not, it has so many healing factors for life in all aspects. I also love to use my finger to gently collect some blood directly from my body and place a dot on my forehead where the third eye is. It’s beneficial as a face mask as well. Also note that your first bleed is the most powerful!

I got so much important and beneficial info from Womben Wellness who you can find on Instagram under that name and also Facebook. The womban that runs it name is Usha and she does actual courses on this type of shit! She also does free educational zoom calls every once in a while that I tune in to. You could just google Womben Wellness as well, but definitely look into her she’s amazing. I get my divine love for my cycle from Goddess Molding who you can find on Instagram as well with that name, she also has a website where she sells sacred ceremony handmade items. She’s the one that shared all those bullet points in the last photo.

I could go on for EVER about this stuff, I’m so passionate about it now that I’ve learned some basic stuff that they didn’t teach us. I’m worried I’ve gone on too long so I’m finishing up now. Definitely check out those womben I recommended, they will explain everything a lot better and more beautiful than I did. Also note that every body is different and responds in different ways. It’s really figuring out what path YOU should take, what works for your body specifically and taking responsibility for your health. No one else is going to fix your body for you, and that was the hardest pill to swallow. Also remember that your womb is not separate from your body, any other health issues you have could be impacting your period. Going down this road could expose a lot of other health issues.

@changingandhealing ❤️

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Angry Blackmen

Photo by Joseph Torres

Since joining forces in late 2016, Chicago rappers Quentin Branch and Brian Warren have become more lyrically pointed and sonically experimental with each new release. Their 2017 debut Ok! sounds positively poppy despite the self-lacerating lyrics. By 2019 on the EP Talkshit!, the music is darker, drawing from Detroit techno and industrial music as much as underground acts like Clipping and Dälek. On their latest album, The Legend of ABM, the pair combine ferocious dexterity and radical truth-telling with the coruscating sonic architecture of producer Formants. As Andrew Forell noted in his recent review, “Rapping from within the belly of a diseased beast, the pair rely on human rhythms that dodge and weave the noise of the city ricocheting around them.”

Quentin

Philip K. Dick — Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

A lot of Dick’s novels inspired some of the writing for The Legend of ABM, especially the themes that deal with existential struggles with technology, authoritarian governments, paranoia, and consumerism. A lot of those core themes are explored in his book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Wu-Tang Clan — Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

One of the most influential albums in music history. This album taught us how to channel some of the most traumatic aspects of being Black in America with humor and charisma while being accessible to people unfamiliar with said aspects.

Charles Bukowski — Women and Factotum

Most of his poems came from the perspective of the dying working class: working while pursuing art, alcoholism, suicide, and the American dream. His books, most notably Women and Factotum heavily influenced the writing on this album.

Public Enemy — Fear of a Black Planet

This group is very significant to us. The way they infused political messages critiquing American racism and the media have had a profound effect on our own music. One project that has had a huge influence on our style is Fear of a Black Planet.

Paul Thomas Anderson — There Will Be Blood

2007 American classic directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film explores the dark side of capitalism and the American dream in late 19th and early 20th centuries. Similar themes are exposed in The Legend of ABM.

Brian

OutKast — Stankonia

The duo perfected the art of juggling themes of self-inflicted struggles and interpersonal relationships. They also helped me with my approach towards some of the writing process on The Legend Of ABM, especially the album Stankonia.

Kendrick Lamar — Damn

This project taught me the art of balancing the flaws within oneself and keeping a level head in a crazy world.

Safdie Brothers — Uncut Gems

A movie directed by the Safdie bros with its unique and unsettling camera speed and turbulent atmosphere gave me the inspiration to rap as chaotic as the feeling you get when watching this film.

Earl Sweatshirt — Some Rap Songs

An artist that has a profound Influence on my lyrical content as well as my approach to the artistry. His ability to step out of the box while pushing his artistic integrity to new levels is unmatched.

Coen Brothers — No Country for Old Men

A huge theme that stuck out to me was the passing of time and generational change. I wanted to make lyrics that made the listener feel as uncomfortable as Anton Chigur's cold but calculated nihilism.

[ficretus]

Theory: Speculating about Relic of Destruction

I had some thoughts about the matter so I wanted to throw some theories about it. This will be slightly different than my usual output of looking at plausible ways for certain ship to happen.

When Relics were first introduced with Relic of Knowledge its attributes made perfect sense. It's inspired by wish granting lamp so of course it will have a spirit inside and 3 wish restriction. But then similar attributes were repeated with Relic of Creation. Once again it has spirit inside and significant restriction of needing precise instructions as well as only one creation at the time can exist. To me this implies that remaining two Relics will also have an ability that requires spirit to function as well as have some significant restriction.

This brings me to Relic/Sword of Destruction, which we know quite literally nothing about. Usually when I make speculations I'll base them on confirmed literary influence, but with this one there is not much I can definitively base it on. So bear with me.

I've been reading about various mythological swords and best I can base it on are various cursed swords like Muramasa, Dainsleif and Tyrfing. I choose those influences because I feel they work best with given criteria (ability comes through spirit, has restriction). Is it weird that Relic that is placed in Middle East inspired region could be Nordic inspired? Kind of, but then again, Relic of Knowledge is Middle Eastern inspired artifact in East Asia inspired region, so, eh.

There were some relatively attractive options like Joyeuse or Durandal, but thing with those is that they are mostly just really strong famous swords. If Relic of Destruction is just some really strong sword (that let's say erases existence or something like that), where does spirit and restriction fit in? Does spirit then become wielder's hype man?

Appearance wise, Tyrfing also work relatively well as an influence. Both Relics so far were golden, and Tyrfing has been described as having a golden hilt as well as gleaming like a sun every time it gets unsheathed.

Tyrfing and Dainsleif also work as parallel to Sword being Maiden kept relic. Maidens are essentially royalty, both holding divinely mandated hereditary powers (also 4 Maidens, 4 kingdoms). Similar to that, Tyrfing and Dainsleif were swords used by royalty. Tyrfing itself regularly switching its owner between various kings and powerful warriors. I've seen on one page (and nowhere else, which makes me sceptical) that Dainsleif was originally forged for Odin before it was given to various kings. If that is indeed the case, this once again works well with Relic, being given to Ozma (who has lot of parallels with Odin) and handed down to Maidens for safekeeping.

While Muramasa, Dainsleif and Tyrfing don't literally have spirit inside, all three share the aspect of wielder being compelled to fight to death as soon as they are unsheathed. This makes me believe that spirit of the Relic will this time work through possessing the user and fighting for them.

Ok, but what would sword's ability be? If Relic of Creation (which would logically be destruction's counterpart) creates something when given instructions, how about Relic of Destruction destroying given target. Now, I don't think something like Death note where intended target immediately dies, more like it becomes intended goal of Sword's rampage. Spirit possesses the wielder and makes him go berserk hunting down intended target. Berserk mode gets disengaged if target is killed.

While in berserk mode, user is almost invincible due to spirit's combat prowess being transferred to it (similar to something like Sword of Freyr). Three blades I listed inflict unhealable wounds and are capable of cutting through anything. In RWBY, this might translate into Sword completely negating Aura's defensive and healing properties.

This does sound fairly overpowered, so time to slap some usual restrictions. First, there can only be one target at the time, mirroring Relic of Creation's restrictions. Berserk state rapidly consumes user's Aura, and if that runs out it continues draining their life force. This prevents abusing the Relic as well as cheating the system. You can't pick some impossible target to kill (like Salem) and keep permanent combat buff until the end of time. Just like those three blades I listed (and especially Muramasa), Sword wants blood, be it yours or enemy's, it doesn't matter. Either you or your opponent will be consumed by Destruction.

Alternative to disengaging the berserk mode would be if Sword is somehow separated from the wielder. Due to spirit's possession, wielder would be unable to drop the Sword on their own unless they can somehow break through spirit's control with their own willpower. Both of these are unlikely scenarios due to spirit's overwhelming power.

Anyways, what are your thoughts? Do you consider it plausible or do you think only thing Sword ever destroyed is prospect of ever seeing Volume 10?

[sugarplanet]

Realizing How Important Storytelling Is To Art

For a lot visual artists, writing fully fleshed out stories doesn’t seem to be as widely an exercised skills. Many have scripts, storyboards, outlines, footnotes, or loose ideas in their reference folders or notes apps but it can be hard to connect the dots all the way. I myself find writing to be pretty taxing (thank you short attention span) while I do love making lots of unsorted detailed lists of traits spread out among characters and little factoid sheets, telling a full cohesive story was a bit harder to get into.

For some of my latest character development project, I’d imagined a world in which religion and culture was heavily developed around astrology and astronomy on a planet where humans and gods were once the same thing, the effects of which can even be seen even in a post modern wire-punk dystopia. I had some ideas I thought were cool and ideas for outfits and quirks but not much to tie it all together. It wasn’t until I found myself no longer satisfied with just doing that alone, looking at what I developed thus far, that I remembered one of the key aspects of growth as an artist; references. If you need pictures of tigers or knees so you draw tigers and knees correctly, it stands to reason you also shouldn’t rely on the confines of your brain to help you write a fleshed out made up universe.

For this character, Jet, I set him up with some cool animal transformation powers.

I also didn’t know where his powers came from. He just needed to have them and be the way he was because it seemed really cool. When I started questioning other aspects of my designs (why is this character some sort of patron saint of moon worship with healing powers and why does she have an annoying talking rabbit god side kick? And what does she want with this dude? Why didn’t I make the rabbit a backstory and also visually cuter?)

A while ago, I had gotten a book on astrology on a bargin-bin surfing whim and lately I’ve been sifting through it in bits and pieces at a time in the mornings. Right now, I’m finishing the long decoding each western zodiac sign. I’m not a strong believer in astrology but I did find it interesting and it lead me to research on non western perceptions of the “zodiac” and where there were differences and similarities. I looked up how they’re used in modern terms and what they meant back when they were first a thing. I even dabbled in chakras and their ties to astronomy in some spiritual practices. Inspired by my research, I started cobbling some things together like wet sand into a sand castle.

If your zodiac sign and its traits could have some sort of iconic embodiment, it could be cool animal powers. Perhaps since gods separated themselves from humans and fled to the stars, the moon, the sun, to other planets, then their relation to your zodiac sign could be significant. Jet is a Leo born in the year of the monkey and born during a pretty improbable alignment of planets closest to the earth during a solar eclipse and is therefore a special case special boy. (The only challenge is making that interesting while not letting it overshadow his actual character) Building a magic system with a more clear idea of what my world looks like and having intention behind what I’m pulling from and where to use it was a lot easier as well.

I even managed to change the look of my costar to suit the color coding theme and to look less like a weird monk of vague lineage and denomination and more like a kid who only really has a magical bunny as a parent, teacher, and friend for the longest before clinging to Jet. (Not to mention change her rabbit pal drastically to a more cohesive design...)

Not only was I feeling more confident in my design work, but I was having fun working on this project again. I’d encourage everyone to do a little homework if they’re feeling stuck as well but please keep in mind that you’ll want to do so mindfully. You have to first have any idea at all of what you’d like, an overall theme, and a place and time where your story happens. Consider what you’re basing the world you’re building on. You can look up significant historical events or scientific breakthroughs as a basis for the world building. I’d also recommend keeping notes next your concepts as you’re working them over lest you design something really cool that you fall in love but that is totally ill fitting to what you’re making that look FOR.

[boqorka]

Romantic Love Notes for Her: How to Express Your Love in Writing

At some point in our lives, most of us have felt the need to express our love for someone in writing. However, finding the right words to convey our deepest feelings can be challenging. That's where romantic love notes come in handy. In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing the perfect love note for her.

Why Love Notes Matter

Love notes are a timeless way to express your love and affection for your significant other. They can be a simple yet powerful gesture that shows your partner that you care. Writing a love note allows you to put your thoughts and emotions into words, which can be especially helpful if you find it difficult to express yourself verbally.

Tips for Writing Romantic Love Notes

When it comes to writing a love note, there are no strict rules. However, there are some tips that can help you create a more meaningful and heartfelt message:

1. Be specific

Instead of writing generic statements like "I love you," try to be more specific. For example, you could mention a specific quality that you appreciate about her or a moment that you shared together.

2. Use vivid language

To make your love note more memorable, try to use descriptive language that paints a picture in her mind. Use adjectives and metaphors to describe your feelings.

3. Write from the heart

The most important aspect of a love note is that it comes from the heart. Don't worry about being poetic or using fancy words. Write what you feel, and your message will be genuine and authentic.

Examples of Romantic Love Notes

Here are some examples of romantic love notes that you can use as inspiration for your own message:

1. Sweet and Simple

"Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure. I love you more every day."

2. Playful and Fun

"You make me laugh, you make me smile, and you make me the happiest person in the world. I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

3. Poetic and Romantic

"In your eyes, I see a reflection of my soul. In your touch, I feel the warmth of your love. In your heart, I have found my home."

READ MORE:

[hskinhome]

Hi! I think I was a burgundyblood with a mutation that made me a sea dweller, completely non-canon so I’m having difficulty remembering what I was like and such. I have a vague feeling that I was connected or apart of the Signless’ group but that’s about it, could you give me a tarot reading so I can get a better understanding of what I and my life was like? It would mean a lot, thanks!

Sure thing! I’ll use this spread since I think it fits what you’re asking best, as well as my Homestuck Kickstarter tarot deck! Since you were connected to The Signless and I work with him, it would be a good idea to use that one for a change! The reading will also be under the cut!

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A personality trait of your kin

I got the upright High Priestess card, which symbolizes intuition, inspiration, revelation, psychic and artistic ability, and hidden knowledge. While more of a power than a personality trait, you had quite good psychic powers and fortune-seeing! Due to this, you had good instincts and were able to help guide people! This can definitely show you being close to The Signless, as he had similar powers due to being the Seer of Blood in a different timeline! Your powers also influenced your creativity and imagination, and you may have been a skilled artist!

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A second personality trait of your kin

I got the upright Magician card, which symbolizes strength of Will, the ability to apply intellect, correct decisions, balance, and harmony. Going off that previous card, you were a skilled leader and a good decision-maker! You helped ensure everything was in line and going as it should be! Your powers helped you out, too!

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One thing associated with your kin

I got the upright Hierophant card, which symbolizes religion, ritual, conformity, orthodoxy, captivity, servitude, one who gives spiritual advice, and marriage. As a follower of The Signless, you were incredibly dedicated to his causes and teachings, almost to a cult-like degree. You were extremely close to him and possibly a reliable source of information for him! It’s also possible that after his execution, you were subjected to slavery as a punishment for your crimes. The marriage meaning is also worth noting, which I’ll get to at the end!

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Your strongest shared aspect

I got the upright Seven of Pentacles, which symbolizes a harvest to be reaped, a promise of fortune, pause, speculation, and anxiety over the future. The most vital part of your past and current selves is the want/need for a good future! You hope for the best to come, which can sometimes result in anxiety. Despite this, things are definitely happening, and you’re waiting for the moment to strike!

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A trait you could benefit adapting from your kin

I got the upright Nine of Swords, which symbolizes despair, sorrow, nightmares, grief, death, delay, disappointment, deception, and miscarriage. As someone close to The Signless, you dealt with many deaths, grief, and negative emotions. This card points to how you overcame those emotions and to now implement them into your daily life and struggles. This card features Hussie looking down at The Empress (Feferi), which holds significant meaning that I’ll get to at the end of the reading, along with a picture of the positioning!

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A second trait you could benefit adapting from your kin

I got the upright Two of Pentacles, which symbolizes the ability to juggle two things at once, joy, recreation, harmony, change, difficult beginnings, news, industriousness, and swinging emotion. Another thing that’s worth incorporating into your current life is your ability to manage any problems that might come your way and to remain optimistic throughout it! New adventures may be trying, but you persevere nonetheless!

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How to incorporate this kin into your daily life

I got the upright Empress card, which symbolizes wealth, abundance, fertility, growth, motherhood, pregnancy, and physical creativity. To me, this card reads as an omen of a birth in your life. As a follower of The Signless and living in the 21st century filled with political strife, your purpose is to nurture and parent a new generation that will help push a brighter future forward. 

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Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The placement of the cards and how the characters are facing each other is something that’s important in this scenario (and it’s also something I’m trying to incorporate in readings more). Diamonds Droog, the Hierophant, brings the meaning of marriage with him. He focuses his gaze on the Seven of Pentacles, which features Itchy and Matchsticks. The duel between the Midnight Crew and The Felt is something to note, but not for what I’m considering now. He focuses on what we’ve determined as looking towards the future, possibly hinting that a happy marriage is in the cards for your current life.

Feferi represents The Empress and motherhood. She remains optimistic and joyful despite looking at the more grim future that the Nine of Swords holds. The Nine of Swords depicts Hussie looking down at his laptop in grief. As you prepare for a new life in your family, the person carrying them may face some pregnancy difficulties. While this will be incredibly difficult to cope with, you will remain optimistic as The Empress is depicted, pulling from your past life on how to work through the emotions flooding your system.

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I hope this helps you, and let me know if it does!

[misdre]

shower thoughts-tier post: weird how the way you interpret things or just feel about them in general changes depending on your mood and life situation and probably like the alignment of the stars that month or something, at least for me

i'm re-reading (well, listening really but anyway) a book i last read in 2020 because i remembered having been fascinated by the way it was written, and i felt like i needed a little boost for fic writing by immersing myself in inspirational english prose.

and, well first of all, it's been confusing noting that i just simply understand this novel better now than i did back then, which seems to mean my english has improved or my brain has somehow changed, i think it's probably because i've been reading books non-stop for years now and many have been in english so i guess, my brain has become more used to english prose than it was in 2020. like, i just remember, this book was a bit confusing back then because it's very flowery language and not so straightforward, it was hard for me to follow and felt more ambiguous back then.

secondly, all the details of the book and the character relationships feel wildly different from what i remember having felt in 2020. the story is set in a way that the main girl has a fated love interest boy but is interested in another, and i vividly remember finding this annoying and thinking the relationships in this book felt too shallow and i guess i was also annoyed by the heteronormativity of it or whatever because my expectation was to read it for the male characters and their mutual relationships, so i ultimately wasn't interested in continuing the series. now i'm gobbling this up much faster than i did back then because i find it really interesting, and the romance aspects don't even feel significant or off-putting enough that it'd be a reason for me to judge the whole book the way i did back then.

i dunno, it's just weird and kinda fascinating noticing these kinds of things about myself. feels like i'm a different person depending on the year. and my priorities are so different when i read a book the first time vs when i read it the second time and pay attention to completely different things.