#i know that all pf them have been a little vague

[blushouyo]

I LOVE THAT THEYRE JUST KILLING CHARACTERS IN STAR RAIL. YES... KILL!!!!

[partywithoutsmiling]

Some musing on the Wanderer!Branch AU

(Okay, bit of a chaotic lore dump incoming, as this is probably the first time I am putting it to words)

Okay, important info first:

I headcanon it that Branch- and thus the other Brozone bros- are half-pop half-rock in their herritage; this headcanon is an old one, ever since World Tour dropped, and honestly only supported by the fact that Total Eclipse of the Heart that Branch sung as trolling is considered a Pop Rock song XD But hey, one doesnt need to have many reasons to make headcanons pff

(I have some tentative lore about his parents- and his grandparents- too, and how that would effect Branch and his Bros growing up, but I will leave that for a separated post)

But anyway, with Branch's Pop side being moderated by his Rock side, he would have always felt a bit out of place among his tribe, even he grew up perfectly happy with no tragedy in his life (I know switching Branch's and Poppy's place when it comes to being grey is all the rage right now, but I still feel most are missing all the necessary nuance to really make it work, but lets not get into that pf)

Obviously, that feeling of not fitting it only got hundred fold worse since his PTSD and him being grey, as Pop Trolls doesn't seem to be known for mental health support. Branch eventually leaving is not him going 'Screw you all, I will find someone who appreciates me' (much like Clay did) but more of a 'I am sorry, I won't get in your way anymore, I wont be a burden'

Basically massive amount of self-loathing and severe lack of self-worth. When Branch had his final breakdown and decided to leave, I don't think it would be with the precise goal of finding anyone (yes, part of him hopes he would be able to find his brothers and at least find closure one way or another, no matter how much it terrifies him).

Honestly, Branch probably didn't dare to examine his decision to leave any closely than he needed to, lest it would stand out to him for what it really was- a suicide trip.

This was Branch that doesnt know anything about the wide, outside world; he knows Bergen Town, knows of the old Troll Tree, and now knows the Forest and their Troll Village. But everything else is uncharted territory for him. He knows of the Neverglades, because of a faint memory of John Dory constantly talking about them when he was a baby, but has only a vague sense which way they are (I headcanon they make up for the border of Pop and Rock territories)

His preparation for the trip was abysmal, and so was his plan in general. He just picked a direction- opposite of Bergen Town, away from them- and started walking. When he first encountered the towering high peaks of Classical Territory, he immediatelly recognized that they can't be the Neverglades- very much not fitting the description that he remembered, so he walked past/around them, smack dab into Country territory.

Compared to others, I don't think the Country Trolls would have been very welcoming to him at the beginning; used to hard life, inhospitable land and abundant death, Branch would be an unexpected disturbance; obviously not a Classical Troll, who borders with them the closest but never comes down from the skies, obviously not a Funk Troll, who with their technological advance might as well be myths at this point- and obviously not a Pop Troll, since he doesnt shower them with obnoxious music and doesnt even look the part.

Had he been at his 100%, they would have probably been quite content to send him packing, figuring he was just a Rock Troll going solo career (little insert headcanon: Rock Troll Rite of Passage is going on a Rock Tour, and sometimes the more adventurous Rock Trolls strays into other territories to bother and cause mayhem other trolls. Barb's Rock Tour was her Rite of Passage, and being a freshly fanged Queen, she took it to another level)

But Branch quite helpfully collapsed on their doorstep, half starving and dehydrated, and they weren't so callous as to leave him there for the elements to take care of him.

Naturally, their help hardly came for free, and even if they didn't ask, Branch would have already feel indebted to them for wasting resources on his wellbeing. A Survivalist himself, he easily spotted the tight budget they were running, and felt guilty for being a burden yet again.

To his surprise, when the country trolls found out he was a hard worker, a skilled architect and wiz engineer, they completely turned their wariness around.

It was the start of his 'finding himself' journey, but for the first time, Branch started to feel... appreciated. Yes, these trolls didn't know him- but they looked at him, looked at what he can do, and called him accomplished; they were praising his skills, and called him valuable.

(But some sense of danger remained with him; as far as he believed, 'Branch' was left behind to rot away in his bunker. So when introducing himself, and habit got better of him, he started with "Bra-" but caught himself and finished "-mble"; and that new name, 'Bramble', stuck XD Still a plant name, still close enough that he can learn to repond to it- and honestly, feels like fits him better right now, as he feel all out of sorts)

It was only the first step, maybe, but it was a step toward feeling that he had some worth.

I think, out of all the Tribes, he stays with the Country trolls for the longest; yes, the life there is hard, but that is perhaps why he feels most welcomed there. There are no useless nonsense parties, no senseless dancing- the times when they can finaly wipe their brow and relax is when the community gathers together and they just... talk. Sit around, share food, look at the stars and reminiscence.

It's all very subdued, and even though Branch is the most obvious outsider ever, he feels like one with the community, and that by itself is already healing a deep wound he didnt know he had.

When the country trolls finally start singing on their good day, Branch is rather taken aback (He forgot, that Trolls are Trolls, and Trolls sing)- but the sombre and slow melody and topic of the country speaks to him, and while he doesnt join- and they dont push him to join- he listens, and he appreicates.

It is with Country Trolls that he heals most of his trauma when it comes to music. His Grandma and his Brothers leaving him are still a big guilt that weights him down- and something he wont address for a long time- but Country trolls shows him that music can be wildly different. He still doesnt sing, but when offered to be taught to play a banjo (XD), he probably doesnt refuse- mainly out of fear of insult, but also because for the first time in his life, he wants to actually try.

As time passes, his more curious side comes out- he asks questions, wants to know everything- up to this point, he didn't even know that the Country trolls were country- and to them it was obvious what they were, so why would they need to introduce themselves?

That line of questioning leads to the explanation of the other Tribes existing, and that each Tribes' music is different.

And for the first time in his life, Branch felt something alien to him- burning Wanderlust. (Bit of his Rock herritage showing, eh? Solo Rock tour, Rite of Passage~?) The thirst for knowledge was always there- after all, his bunker had many journals filled to brim with information about what he discovered in the foods, helpful tips for survival and many plans for inventions- but those were always done out of necessity, discovered and noted down so that he could live another say. Never before he had a desire to discover simply for the sake of discovering.

Never before he also actually felt like he had the option to do so; the world has always been an inhospitable wilderness to him, only filled with a small handful of trolls and a town full of monstrous giants. His childhood was filled with memory of a large iron cage, and that trapped feeling didn't change; after all, his Bunker, for all that it offered him safety, was a different type of cage too. The whole Troll Village- Pop Village, as he learned now- was another cage as well. Gilded one, made of ignorance.

And so he knew his time with the country trolls came to an end- and it was because he grew to respect them and appreciate them, that he doesnt disappear in the nigh and haltingly tells them his decision to leave and explore.

Memories of his Brothers' argument echo through his mind as he waits for the inevitable blow up, but.... he is once again surprised when the trolls just accepts this decision and wish him all the best- going as far as to help him pack- properly this time- and wheedling out of him a promise to check in once in a while, whenever he is in the neighbourhood.

Equipped with a non outdated map, he decides to make visit all the other territories one by one, starting from Country and heading right towards Classical, going around in one large circle around Pop Territory- Going to Techno after Classical, and to Rock right after that. Funk is largely a mystery to him- the Country trolls are at this point content to believe they are just a myth- much the same way a unicorn is to us- but Branch wants to keep an open mind.

After all, he himself had no idea other kind of trolls existed, so why dismiss the Funk Troll existence right away?

His travels to Symphonyville proved to be as challenging as was the start of his trip towards Country territory. Being high in the mountains- higher than anywhere Branch ever went- really showed him that walking is easy only when the road is straight and flat.

The air growing colder and thinning, he probably doesn't make the best first impression neither- especially in his dishevelled state, he is once more mistaken for a Rock Troll, and it takes a gargantuan amount of effort to convince anyone that he is simply there to learn music, and not cause any trouble.

Out of all the Tribes, he would stay with the Classical trolls the shortest. They are strict teachers, and their culture is very frigid and traditional- and Branch knows that he would have to wildly change himself to fit among them. Yet looking around, seeing the tall spires of the buildings around him, he finds he doesn't really want to. The grandiose of everything is rather intimidating- but even if he tried his best, he would never fit well among the classical trolls, always limited by something (like his ability to fly)

And realizes that was okay. That was acceptable. And that the classical trolls knew he wasn't a good fit now, and would hardly ever be a good fit ever- but they never expected him to become someone he is not. He asked them to teach him and so teach him they will- but you cant force a white sheep to grow black wool anymore that you can force a black sheep grow white.

The moment they realize Branch is there to learn and not wreck their peace like wandering Rock Trolls tend to do, they definitelly warm up to him more- but it still with the mildest of disapprovals since compared to them, Branch looks like a scrunkly kitten and all of them are just itching to groom him properly XD

Branch himself is amazed at the variety of musical instruments that exists and very quickly finds that he is not a progidy in plaing them all pff. Wind musical instruments are most likely completely beyond him, and after some attempts gives them up for a lost cause. Percussion fairs a bit better; he definitelly has some idea how to keep a beat and a rhythm, but even there he finds playing piano the most comfortable out of them all, with drums being a close second.

It is with string instruments that he trully shines, especially those that he can play with his own hands, without the need to use a pick or a bow; a tentative hint at his connection to music, the vibrations just send shivers down his spine and makes him feel more close to the sound his playing produces. (Guitar and Harp becoming his favourite instruments from the get go).

Getting to Techno was trickier. Them living underwater makes access to their territory rather impossible- unless Branch happens to meet someone willing to cross then bridge between Land and Sea XD

It makes for a rather convenient introduction for minor genres; the land bordering Classical and Rock seems to be as the perfect land for various minor tribes to cohabit in peace.

Are there Techno Opera trolls? Siren like beings, that found their homes on the deck of boats, sailing from and to an island after island? Techno Classical that built their living on the coast line, wanting to be close to both land and sea?

In any case, Branch discovers that even with music it's not so simple as shelving it into labels, and that it is ever growing, ever evolving. He never manages to actually visit Techno Reef, but he doesnt' need to; compared to other trolls, the Techno Trolls are not insular, and quite happily come to the surface or to the coast, both to vibe with the offshoots of their genre, to discover what they came up with, but also to simply make friends and have fun.

It was the first time Branch encountered a large party not unsimilar to that of a Pop Troll one- and yet for all that the party was just as loud and wild as he was used to seeing, the sight of it didnt really fill him with uncontrollable panic. It definitelly helped it was once again more about the music and the beat itself, and about the mood of the partygoers than it was about the singing; it was about experimentation and trying out new things- and yet not every troll was dancing around like maniacs. They had the stage for sure, and large crowd was gathering there- but there were also the fringe areas and corners, where Trolls just sat and chatted and bopped to the beat. Not forced to do anything they didn't want to, simply allowed to have fun in their own way.

He doesnt really interacts with the Techno Trolls that much, beyond when there is a party happening on the surface. Gravitates more towards exploring the Minor Territory, and discovering that it holds more than just Techno Classical/Opera. Not wanting to stray too close to the border with Pop, he nevertheless encounters encounters various offshoots of Pop as well- and the K-Pop gang as well

This definitelly allows him to learnt that even the Trolls Kingdom are not free of corruption and the bounty hunters are not starving for contracts- crime does happen in the troll kingdoms, and when the local police force comes short, the bounty hunters are the next best thing to employ.

Speaking with the K-Pop gang, he learns- with a bit of unease- that there was an old contract unfulfilled, that searched for all the Brozone Brothers, and thanked his lucky stars he can in no way be connected to them. It was considered a cold one, where there was no hope among the communities of it ever being cashed in- but the knowledge someone was looking for them- specifically for the younger of the brothers (Him, Floyd and Clay) made him wonder who could it be.

(Part of him entertained that it could be John Dory)

(Other part dismissed it right away. After all, JD did specifically state 'Goodbye Forever'- why would he make the effort to employ bounty hunters to find three of his brothers, if he was even alive to do so?)

That meetings seems to set of a string of bad luck- at least, that's how he feels. Continuing down to Rock territory- of which he is most wary (after all, he was constantly being confused for one, and expected to cause mayhem and destruction- so what kind of Trolls Rock Trolls were to earn that reputation?

A very specific kind- wild and chaotic.

Compared to other Territories, no-one blinks when he just walks in and continues deeper into the Kingdom; and he can finally see why he was mistaken for a Rock Troll. Muted colours, sharp smiles and even sharper claws, it was like walking into uncanny valley, where nearly every troll wears his face. At that point, unknown to him, his colours are not completely grey and black, so he is sporting some faint hues, and very quickly learns that thanks to the direction he came from, Rock Trolls think he is from an Offshoot genre; either Punk Rock or Pop Rock (though they obviously hope for the former) They reconsider him to Folk Rock when he brings out softer tunes that he plays on a borrowed guitar; and for the first time in a while, Branch is asked to sing.

He panics, obviously- playing musical instrument is one thing, but getting over his trauma from singing is another- and quite swiftly and bluntly refuses, cringing after to wait for the inevitable "You are a Troll, why don't you sing?"

Only... it never comes. There are shrugs, and one "Cool." and then he just gets invited to an Indie Rock show, and that is that.

Completely baffled at this easy acceptance, Branch agrees out of shock, before he can trully think it through- and realizes it's the first time since he left Pop Village (at this point probably nearly two years ago) that he thinks back on its inhabitants and namely Poppy.

He feels rather guilty, for taking this long to really give them a concrete thought. Like yes, he did think of them at the beginning, when he lived with the Country trolls- but that was only in general way, comparing the different livestyles. He never really chose to think about the people he left behind.

Now, no longer blinded with grief, self-loathing and rampart paranoia, he does remember that not all adults in his life went out of their way to activelly fail him. King Peppy, for all that he was unequipped to deal with Branch's issues, tried to check up on him regularly; his Grandmother's friends or those who knew her, made it their goal to be kind, even if Branch tried to avoid them out of reminder what he caused

Hype, Trickie, Boom and Ablaze were old friends- his childhood friends- the ones he made after his brothers left, and the ones he pushed away after he went grey- and yet they still managed to be around, noticing them from a distance, even as he stopped speaking to them.

And then there was, of course, Poppy.

Just starting to mature when he left, it's not quite a crush that he feels for her (not yet anyway), but there is still some sort of appreciation for her- some part of him, that subconsciously aches at the need to be close to her, and feeling just that bit of her warmth and positivity- one that made him wistfully keep all her invitations and listen to the sound of her recorded voice.

For the first time, he wonders how they reacted to his disappearence. Wonders if they miss him- or if they curse him. If they do both- like he felt conflicted towards his brothers, the older he got and the more obvious it became that they are not coming back.

It was that thought- the comparison to his brothers- that pushed him to hesitantly think about returning back to Pop Village; to his bunker, to his old life- to Poppy.

It was a tentative thought really; truthfully, the desire was a half hearted spur of the moment, and not something he would drop everything for. He didn't miss his old life; where he was the village hermit, the outcast, the weird one. Besides, he just arrived in Rock, and he still had a whole adventure ahead of him, trying to find the Funk trolls.

And so, When in Rome, do as the Romans do- and so Branch steeled himself to attend a party, one that he was specifically invited to; after all, he had been at parties before now, within the reach of Techno Reef, it's not like this one is any different

Only it kind of felt like it- yes, the music was harsher, the beat went harder- but the harmonizing of voices reminded him so close of his own tribe that it just left him feeling jittery- and at first, yes, the party made him tense and hardly participate, but as it went on, song after song, he could feel himself slowly relax.

(Besides, there was something about rock music, that send warmth straight to the core of his being; something about it resonated with him more than any other music did, besides Pop- and where before he fought hard to not allow it to do that, perhaps, just this time, he could try the opposite)

(After all, they were underground, where Branch always felt the safest, and the Bergens had no idea other tribes even existed- he could indulge a little)

Of course, fate has a funny way of entertaining itself, and in the second of his indecisiveness, he gets bumped into and trips and falls- or he would, if pair of hands didn't steady him, and familiar voice asked him if he was okay

And Branch suddenly felt altogether three years old, getting fed empty promise and watching his older brother disappear through the entry to his Grandma's pod

And he is now in present, left staring at nearly 15 years older Floyd, his brother clearly living the best life, happily away from Pop Territory (away from Branch)

His name drops from his lips before Branch can stop himself, and that has Floy pause and squint at him- obviously not recognizing him, obviously trying to place him- before something clicks and his eyes widen and he goes pale

Branch most likely punches him- and then finds he cant stop heaving in fury and goes punch him again, not allowing Floyd a word in (honestly, he is not punching very hard, not apart from that first one)

Of course, Floyd is hardly alone, probably in a band, and his band mates are not keen on having their member be attacked by a random troll

Brawl very easily breaks out- honestly nothing new among the Rock Trolls- and ends up with all of them, especially Branch, thrown in a cell for their troubles, much to the protest of Floyd's bandmates, who curses and claims innocence

For the first time in forever, Branch feels hollowed out; yes, he had been hoping for a closure- but honestly, he had expected to find all of his brothers dead; not finding any of them living happily away, their youngest brother not even a blip of concern in their mind.

He certainly never expected it from Floyd, who essentially lived a stone throw away; who clearly was able to cross the distance it took from Bergen town to arrive in Rock troll's territory, just shy away from the Pop one.

------------------------------------------------------------ This is where I will stop the musing for now XD;

Obviously there are more things to add; Barb would make appearance, not yet as a Queen but definitelly in charge of keeping any Rock Trolls in line (she is not called a Princess because the Rock Trolls don't use that title for their heirs) and while Floyd is aware she is the future Queen, that information doesnt get shared)

The discovery of Funk Trolls still awaits as well, as does Branch's return to Lonesome Flats, as he had promised to do

But that's for the next time :)

[alvivaarts]

🌪

This is an answer for the prompt: 🌩️ Share something funny/cracky from your WIP. Other prompts are listed below. Please send them to my ask box!

Edit; this looked like a lightning bolt on desktop I’m so sorry 💀 ---------- An unposted excerpt from Not A Lot, Just Forever (A Serrenedy Week oneshot series and collection of mostly-sexy-epilogues for Simulation Swarm)

Maybe they got a little too into it, because they’re definitely drunk. A whirlwind of swaying and scattering claws, barely muffled snorts and scrabbling grasps at walls is not a hard thing to hear as they come stumbling down the hall together. In fact, the vague shadow of them can probably be seen from the candlelit hallway- tails intertwined and arms about each other's shoulders- as Jill snatches the bottle of sake from Leon's hand as he manages a semi-hushed protest.

"Heyyyy, Jill!"

"Shhh! Shut up!"

They stumble right past Luis and Leon's shared door before Leon seems to skid to a halt, much to Jill's seeming amusement.

"What? Pf- what?"

"I forgot the door."

She giggles. Which prompts Leon, haplessly, to fall into a fit of giggles that goes all echoey as he haphazardly snags the bottle back for another drink.

"Where're you gon' go?"

"I dunno. Where's our husbands?"

"...Do- what if it's the wrong floor?" She starts, but she sounds more amused than anything in her conspiratory whisper. "Oh my god!"

"Oh my god-"

They don’t have time to argue -or are they arguing? More laughing at what massive idiots they are- before one of the doors slides open. For all of two seconds, Leon’s worried that somebody’s gonna be pissed off that they’re being too loud. He’s hardly even sure where it’s coming from, but a familiar voice cuts sharp and hushed through the otherwise still of the hallway.

“Oye, borrachos!”

He and Jill whip around in tandem, so fast they only narrowly miss knocking their heads together. Luis is standing there in the doorway with one of the weird cigarettes glowing a lovely amber between his fingers. He clearly looks amused, taking in the sight of them standing there with a dubious grin.

They’re both hot messes. Hell, it has Leon a little sheepish. His kimono- it’s like, a layer and a half (they’re supposed to be blending in or something), some kinda half loincloth underwear going on under what, to him, feels like the world’s comfiest pink and purple floral bathrobe. Kimono. It’s not a bathrobe, it's a kimono, and the only reason it’s still on his body is the black cord around his waist. Jill’s in much a similar boat. She’d insisted on not having the super long, six layered one, so she’d ended up in a yellow men’s kimono not unlike his own.

She totally hadn’t had any nip slips or anything, no way.

Luis stands there like he’d been keeping an eye on them out the bedroom window and he already knows the answer to the question he’s asking.

“You two drank too much, didn’t you?” Thankfully, Luis doesn’t sound mad (which is great, because that means his plan is gonna work pretty well), simply humorous, enjoying watching their shitty little scramble down the hall. Still, he offers a nod with his chin. “Carlos is down the hall.”

Jill immediately breaks into a genuine snort, and she goes teetering, leaning back against him as Leon clings on and tries not to look too embarrassed. But his face does, flushed or not, light up like Christmas.

“No!” Leon chimes instantly, as if he’s forgotten he’s still holding their almost empty bottle.

---------- Other prompts: 🌀Post the fic summary for a fic you haven't written/published yet. It can be hypothetical or something you really plan on releasing... ❄️Share a snippet from a WIP of your choosing. 🌤️Share your favorite piece of dialogue from your WIP. 🌧️Share something angsty from your WIP. 🌈 Share something soft/fluffy from your WIP. 💧 Share something romantic/hot from your WIP, or just something sweet if it's gen. ☔Is there a fic concept you have that you'd like to just explain and share because you're not sure you'll ever write it? If so, what is it? 🌪️Sum up a WIP with a few fic tropes/Ao3 tags.

[moonspirit]

Hello, Moon!

For the director's cut game:

In Planetisimal Feelings, what's your input on the scars on Annie's lower back, how she was afraid of letting people see them, including Armin, but grew to be more comfortable with Armin seeing them (later chapters)

Falling into Neptune (my personal favorite of the series!), the scene where Annie describes Armin's shoulders and hands, how she thought he might grow and become

As for VBEOW, you know I want more about Annie's thought process buying the family name seal (and maybe even receiving it later on)

Best of luck!

-Clouds

Heya clouds! And thanks for asking xD This becomes a little hehe sexy toward the end xD

1. PF, Annie's Scars.

So it's my personal headcanon that pre-shifter scars and marks remain intact even during limb regeneration and Titan healing. Good old Ymir in the paths probably has an anatomy book for every shifter in history to make sure she doesn't mess them up when she rebuilds their legs and arms. Anyway, this is why Annie has scars at all, in this series. Wounds she sustained from her dad's training.

I think Pre-Armin Annie would've cared very little who saw what and what they made of it. Post Armin however and her realisation that he saw her as a nice person, she develops a whole avalanche of emotions that she doesn't really figure out. But anyway at this point, she wants to be a good person for him... But her scars are a memory of her ugly upbringing. Proof that she was trained "not to be good", in direct contrast with Armin who's the epitome of goodness. It doesn't really matter atp because he traps her, she crystallizes and any emotional advancements between the two is pretty much doomed before it even progressed.

Post Rumbling, she's alive, he's alive, they've talked their feelings out and it can't be ignored anymore. Armin who stopped the Rumbling because he's never been a person who's liked the idea of killing anybody ever, and Annie, who killed so many out of a selfish/desperate desire to go home. She feels ugly. Not good enough. Not "clean" enough. She doesn't want him to see it. She also doesn't want him to see proof of the shit she went through as a child because now, it all seems pathetic. Her life has been a pathetic existence. What would he think of her, wanting to go back to the very man who gave her those scars? At least, these are her fears.

But then, throughout the series, Armin wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't seem to be fazed by anything belonging to her past. He pops a vague-ish "will you marry me" question in PF. Tells her how much he desired her, physically, in Falling into Neptune. In TFLM, he tells her it's okay to live and desire happiness despite everything and that he wants to live his life loving her. Most importantly, there's the letter he gives her in which he very clearly promises to "Love her in all the ways it is possible to love her and maybe someday, the pain that rests in the scars on her back will no longer be a bad memory." which is basically a moment of reveal for her that he already knows about them through Bertholdt's memories. And he still loves her just the same. He doesn't see her as a used war weapon, now useless; he sees her as a girl, a woman, his future.

Her fears begin to dissipate. In VBEOW, she goes through a lot of reckoning over her feelings and her needs and desires, trying to make sense of them beyond just the surface level sexual frustration, and she makes several reckless (and cute) decisions that only serve to tell her that he means so much to her, more than she can even begin to describe. She wants him in her life, for good, for long, forever. And he reinforces all these beliefs by constantly telling her how much he loves her (too). By the time chap 5 comes and she learns of Pieck's sparse time with Porco, she understands the miracle it is to still have Armin alive, and the miracle of being granted long, ordinary, human lives. The scars will remain but she's fine with showing them to him, because it's Armin, he wants her and her alone, exactly for who she is and nothing more or less, and he's never going to let her go.

(More on her scars in chapter 11, Armin's going to... make good on that promise. Literally.)

2. Falling into Neptune - physical changes.

A horny midnight hour idea that arose out of the frustration of being robbed of the moment when Annie really SEES the man Armin's become, in canon material. Anyway. Since none of the sequels were planned at this stage, this was just a fic that focused on the purely physical traits that people grow to desire and want.

There's something to be said of a teenage girl's fantasies over a boy she likes. Annie, despite all her pessimism and seeming disinterest in romance and sex, was no exception. These thoughts are intrusive. You just can't help having them. At 15, as military trainees, while Armin was puny and frail, he was still taller than her. After becoming aware of her special fondness for him, she would've started becoming aware of... other things too. Like the size of his hand when he handed her a loaf of bread - a little bigger than hers. The protrusion on his throat that bobbed with every hearty laugh and shout. The back of his neck when the wind blew his hair away and how it would feel to hold onto it. The curve of her hips in contrast to his - slim and narrow. The wider shoulders compared to hers, narrow and small. The heat and scent of his body when he came especially close to her in totally normal situations, but her heart races. She would've gone to bed after training replaying all the little sounds he made while talking to her, all a little deeper in tone. She liked him, and he was a boy, so... different from her, a girl. At this age, you're hyper aware of every single change that you go through and she would've imagined how much taller he'd grow, how the features would change and etc. At the end of the day, she was just a girl with fantasies like anyone else.

At 19, things are very, very different. She's been listening to his voice deepen in register over four years, but seeing him is... a shock. Suddenly he's way taller. His shoulders are now broad. Much stronger. For all the strength and muscles she packs in her arms, his are now much bigger, and longer. Her neck, thin and long, and his neck, thicker and wider. The back of his neck, exposed permanently by that stupid gorgeous undercut that makes him look so good. Longer legs, thighs slimmer than hers but very firm and strong, and when she sits on his lap, she can feel how easily they remain in place and don't buckle under her weight. Waist and hips still narrow. When he turns his neck and yells at someone, she can see a vein straining. Beautifully long fingers and attractive as fuck forearms. The clench of a sharp jawline. He's lost the baby fat from his cheeks, but while he still looks a little boyish, there's no doubt that this is a man. And far sexier than in all her fantasies put together.

3. VBEOW, Annie's hanko.

So an unplanned but very significant subplot now, the hanko is, undeniably very cute xD While she doesn't find out about the hanko's existence until she actually visits the stamp maker, this subplot begins the very moment she undertakes Armin's job of getting that official seal made. The way I see it, the common family stamp in Japan is affixed on all official documents as a signature, and everyone carries one around. In VBEOW however, I made it so that a married couple has just one, and they share it. When she agrees to visit the stamp maker, she's already begun to share his responsibilities. Seeing the hanko there is just a physical manifestation of what she wants in their relationship, both consciously and sub-consciously.

She's also impulsive. Had Armin seen that hanko, he wouldn't have bought it. (If I can say it without spoiling, I'd say Armin's... going about this in a different way xD and I'm so excited to write this scene later on!) Armin is methodical and he'd have done it by the book, and got their hanko after being married. But Annie had one look at all the family names embossed so cutely in little rubber circles, and she thought "Oh... Arlert... would look nice on one of these."

All it took was once glance. And it becomes a fixation. Better at expressing her emotions by actions (sometimes not even that) than words, she runs back to the store the next day with enough money in her pocket, little to no thought of how it would look like to get a seal typically ordered after getting MARRIED of all things, until after she actually reaches there, she blurts out his surname and scrams back home, mortified and embarrassed. Subconsciously, she wanted something of him to keep with her at all times, but how embarrassing would it be to ask him to give her something of that sort? But here's a thing she can buy, put his name on it, and keep close.

Once she receives it out of the stamp maker's kindness (for free! basically trying to say that the things you do for love, in love, are priceless), she becomes instantly attached to it. At this point, she's still battling with putting a proper name and description to her love for him, so to have this little stamp carrying his name in her pocket, in her hands, something of her own that makes her happy and warm and safe and most importantly, loved (in contrast to the ring, that reminds her of awful things) feels like magic.

The hanko will be important in future too, and there will be plenty of cute shenanigans around it :D (some moments i'm literally DYING to write T^T)

Oh god sorry this is so long T^T I hope you made it through ifhsoighsgg.

[richardsphere]

Rwby character-writing analasis thing.

Its really interesting to me how much RWBY as a series has changed in the post-beacon era. And while there are many differences i could write page-long essays about,  I think most of those are a story for another day. Today i want to talk about how the post S3 change in genre has negatively affected the strength of its characterwriting. (other topics might come up tangentially but wont be the focus.)

Beacon era RWBY was a verry slow, airy slice-of-life heavy show with only a bit of action sprinkled on top, like Fondant on a cake. It gave the characters plenty of time to breathe, interact and just share a chemistry together.  I’d even go so far as to say the early show was, 80 percent slice of life (at minimum), and maybe 20% action at most. Even “fight for our life” were permeated with moments of dialogue and lighthearted character-beats. (Ruby and Weiss talking out their squables mid-beowolf fight, Weiss VS Boarbatusk cutting to ruby’s little flags for example)  But it should also be noted that, With exception to Pyrrha, who the show knew had only 3 seasons to be fleshed out. Most characters were left deliberately sort-of vauge so they can be deepened out when we get to their arcs later. (certainly they were given “goals” like “find Raven” or “redeem the Fang”, but anything more specific was left out for future writers to resolve). But in a post-beacon world, the showrunners put them into a constant no-time-for-breaks pacing has prevented much of that filling in, as the show repeatedly denied them any moment for them to just “exist” (as well as the infamous stories about how any scenes that do allow characters to do so, having all chemistry surgically removed by production to “prevent romantic spoilers”.) They cut out so much of its slice-of-life moments, that all levity happens either off-screen (Yang+Blake at the disco) or in the background of “actually important” plot-beats. (Meeting Jaune’s sister taking second-seat to a critical debrief re:Ozpin-being-full-of-shit) Not to say there’s been no progress at all on filling out the blanks left behind in their early characterisation but: Ruby’s 6 seasons of constant trauma, ended on a resounding concluding note that “she was fine as-is in S1E1″, meaning nine collective seasons of character development, amounts to a great “Status quo, but now with Laser-eyes”. Yang’s raven-issues “resolved” at the fall of haven, and did so in a rather unsatisfying in the way. Because her and Raven never really explored the abandonment issues beyond a vague “i know you dont care about me, I’ve decided the feelings mutual now Portal me to my sister/Hand me the damn relic”. (which doesnt feel like a resolution, but the show tries to frame it as a “going no-contact” resolution) Blake and Weiss have both actually had their core struggles in the world removed and tranposed onto adjacent characters instead of actually resolving their established “goals” in the world at large. (Weiss no longer wants to redeem the family business, thats Willow and Whitley’s job now, Blake no longer wants to redeem the Fang, thats Ghira and Ilia’s job). and although we now know how Ren and Nora came to be together, their atlas arc only emphasises that even they still dont know who they are themselves.  Same for Ozpin, pf whom we now know how he came to be cursed, he spent so much time dormant “regaining his oldest memories” that we only know we dont know him either.  Six additional seasons of writing for these characters, and they are all (with possible exception to yang) either back at square one, or in BW’s case have somehow stumbled themselves back to square zero. The only character that’s gotten “more” fleshed out in a way that satisfies on a narrative level is Jaune. (to the point that i cant even fault elements of the fandom criticising the show for being “The Jaune Show”) And even that is only because of how well-realised Pyrrha was at time-of-death, It really says something about the drop quality in the shows post-beacon characterisation that Pyrrha is more well-written in absentia then the entirety of the shows namesake team combined. and that is just plain tragic.

[fierceawakening]

That post about ableism in horror (though again I don’t love the way it’s worded. If people are scared of disabled bodies, just yelling stop it at them doesn’t actually help them rethink whatever they have going on… and some deformity actually is painful or harmful, such that it makes vague sense revulsion would be an immediate reaction)

That’s basically what I’m feeling rn about the parts pf the Phyrexia story I wish had been handled better. There’s a lot of it I really like (I stress this cos I don’t want anyone to miss it!) but at the same time… wotc has been doing fantasy and sorta sci fi lore for ages. I feel like they should have stumbled on “you know, there’s some ableism in ‘evil cyborg.’” It’s not like disabled people haven’t talked about that before now!

And like. Not that they shouldn’t have done it! I am a disabled person who has loved Phyrexia since Saga! I do not like the “we find this *ist, so it is FORBIDDEN” thing at all.

But I do wish they whould’ve been a little more aware and worded some things… a little differently, maybe.

Think of it like, idk… “okay, you can set your horror story in the asylum… but you’ll likely write a better story if part of the horror turns out to be ‘institutionalization is bad’ rather than it ALL being ‘some people should be locked away.’”

Which idk what I would want exactly. Some Phyrexians who started off disabled and still have personal non cult reasons to feel pride in what they became, distinct from the brainwashing part? Maybe. Some acknowledgment that non-Phyrexians locating the horror in the body rather than in the corruption of mind is messed up? Maybe. Someone recognizing calling Phyrexians things is really creepy? Please.

I dunno I just feel like there could have been… more of… something.

Again, it’s not like disabled sf/f fans have never mentioned this is a thing before now.

[enniewritesathing]

Hi 👋

Hello and welcome to whatever the hell this is my simblr. My name is Ennie. I’ve had this blog since the start of TS4 and I’ve been creating poses for 3 years. So, I’ve been here a while. This simblr is a lot of things. Mainly a chaotic hot mess.

This simblr centers around John and Brian. They’re doofuses. They’re also madly in love with each other; they’ve recently gotten engaged! And they have a cat! Her name is Spaghetti. She’s very cute.

Did I mention I make poses? I make male poses! And there’s something for everyone; general, romantic (specifically for m/m couples), little bit of spice, bit of action here and there. Poses! For guys! You know what’s even better?

🚨They’re 100% free! No ads! A rarity! And I post WIPs! Early access without the hassle!🚨

All pose pics are in-game and barely edited (they just have vibrance), so what you see is what you get. If I use render pics, I’ll include in-game too.

I also make stories! Do they have any continuity? Mostly! (One story is a very vague AU but it’s more about the aesthetic more than anything else) That means: yes, that’s canon; it happened. I realize that my early works are very rough compared to now, but I left them alone for prosperity. They vary in length and self-contained (except The Werewolf and the prequel, The Incident and you can actually read those two in whatever order; you can read Incident first and then Werewolf or vice versa -- it’s probably my fav story to date so far). And the posts are in chronological order with links to the previous/next part in the post.

The bulk of OC lore is through the oc things tag if you’re willing to read or try and get the feel of John and Brian. Or, you can ask; my inbox is quite open. I also tend to do OC lore dumps about a thing or something. Sometimes, they may become future stories.

My play style is gameplay? Gameplay. I guess it’s slice of life? I don’t know! I make things out of them sometimes.

I tag a lot of things, but mostly just The Big Ones. Every now and then, I have a spicy or spicy adjacent tag ‘rated s for spicy’, but the truly spicy posts are gonna be on PF, whenever that comes back up again since Tumblr. I can get creative with camera angles though. And then there’s ‘rated b for booty’ which is just a nudity tag. It’s just John doing what he just loves to do -- being naked. Brian does it too but it’s rare.

This simblr may not be the most visually appealing or ~colorful~ so I don’t have much in the way of that, but if you don’t mind... then please by all means check it out, stay a while, throw a comment or two, maybe a sweet reblog? This is a very chill blog, so, if you need some respite with Everything That Been Happening, then maybe I can give you one serotonin. 👋

[betaamity]

angelhood, tranquil, tiger, morale, seven, heart, anomaly

Angelhood - What is one of your favorite memories?

hm,, i don't have a lot from childhood that aren't fuzzy but like when i was really little my dad had a rescue husky named taisha. she used to be really protect of me cause my dad had her before i was even born so yeah. my favorite memory at least is that when i had one specific blanket, and she knew it was only that blanket, she would lay down and insist i used her belly as a pillow. and from that moment forward every other dog i met in childhoods hated me because taisha set too high of expectatio ns

Tranquil - Who do you laugh the most with?

honestly you or my sister. we dont usually verbally talk, but a lot of the things you say to be silly absolutley do make me laugh. i might need to get better at telling you that

Tiger - What is your bravest moment?

honestly i'd say like. any time ive stood up for myself? thats vague but it doesnt happen often because a lot of the time i just get scared of conflict and used to avoid it at all costs, so i'd say its. the bravest i've ever been to ignore that fear response and stand my ground on things like my boundaries or chewing somebody out for not respecting me as a person

Morale - Is your castle made of glass or stone?

-softly- what does this one mean,,?

Heart - Are you in love?

uhh yeah. tbh took a while to process as a whole but thats just the nebularomantic experience, babey!

Anomaly - What do you find unique about yourself?

tbh i think my thought process in general? i know i work majority of the way like other adhd folks, but its so far enough to the left whenever i explain stuff and how i jumped from one point to another, even others with adhd question how i got there pf ft. also the fact of how i process emotion. i had to like. suppress them a lot growing up so its taking me a. long time to process '[x emotion] means im feeling like [x emotion things]' instead of '[x emotion] is bad ignore it'. basically i feel like a toddler learning emotions for the first time, at least thats unique

tender asks

[still-figuring-me-out]

The Social Worker and the Businesswoman Au - Chapter 6

It was almost 1PM before Alex decided to wake Kara. Partly because as the older sibling it was her job to torture her younger siblings and partly because some was knocking at the door.

“Go away Alex” Kara groaned.

“I beg of you make it stop,” came Jess’ croaking voice from a pile on the living room floor. “I swear I can feel banging inside and outside my head.”

“The banging in your head is most likely from you trying to put the bar out of business and then drinking Kara’s apartment dry. The one outside your head is coming from Kara’s front door,” Maggie quipped.

“Why are you so cheerful so early?” Winn scowled. “You had just as much to drink as the rest of us but you look as fresh as a rose while I feel like I’m dying. That’s just not fair”

“Firstly it’s the afternoon so not so early,” Maggie grinned. “And secondly I can hold my liquor unlike you lightweights.”

“I really could learn to hate you both,” Kara replied to Maggie’s shit-eating grin. At this point Alex is wrestling with Kara who has burrowed into her sleeping bag and seemingly developed superhuman strength because try as she might she couldn’t get her out.

“Dammit Kara, someone is at your door!” Alex exclaimed.

“Make them go away!” Kara shouted back. She immediately regretted raising her voice as it set the jackhammers in her skull pounding.

“This is your house Kara,” Alex replied exasperated. “What if it’s work? What am I supposed to tell them?”

“Why can’t you let me die in peace?” Kara asked dragging the sleeping bag down and revealing her bedhead.

“Because that would ruin my fun,” Alex smiled back.

“You’ve been with the FBI too long,” Jess says sitting up. “It’s making you evil.”

“She’s always been like that,” Winn replied squinting at the bright light streaming in through Kara’s bank of windows. He’d always loved the entire wall of windows that Kara’s apartment boasts because of all the natural light it allowed in but today he’d kill for some darkness.

“Yeah,” Kara quipped struggling to her knees. “I’m pretty sure she’s been teaching evil lessons to the FBI in her spare time since elementary.”

“Hey!” Maggie says immediately coming to her girlfriend’s defense. “It’s actually been since preschool.” Alex shook her head while all they all roared with laughter before Kara, Winn and Jess all held their heads and groaned. Just then there was another knock on the door.

“Seriously Kara get up,” Alex says. “What happens if it really is work?”

“Fine, I’m up!” Kara scowls standing. She begins to weave her way to the door before Alex snags her arm.

“Not so fast you. Bathroom. Brush your teeth no-ne needs to be exposed to your particular brand of morning breath. Also try and comb that mop you call hair and find your glasses so that you can at least SEE whoever is knocking on your door on a Saturday.” Alex gently shoved her in the general direction of the bathroom to get her moving. “Maggie can you make sure she doesn’t walk into something?”

"Sure thing Danvers,” Maggie replied setting down her cup of coffee and grabbing Kara just in time to stop her from running into a wall.

“If that’s a salesman or Jehovah’s Witness you have my permission to shoot them Alex,” Kara says darkly over her shoulder.

“If you do I will arrest you Danvers,” Maggie calls back with turning around.

“Justifiable homicide Alex, go for it” Jess called.

“Hey maybe it’s Kara’s mystery person,” Winn exclaims like an excited puppy. “wouldn’t that make for an interesting morning um afternoon.”

“Shut up Winn!” Kara shouted from the bathroom before groaning.

“Don’t worry Kara,” Alex called while opening the door. “If it’s you green eyed hottie I promise not to shoot them.” She grinned when she heard Kara’s less that child appropriate response. Annoying her younger siblings always seems to brighten her day. She quickly lost her smile and uttered a swear of her own when she found herself staring into the greenest pair of eyes she’d ever seen.

“Who’s at the door Alex? Is it the love of Kara’s life” Winn guffawed.

“Yeah Alex, is it Kara’s raven haired soulmate?” Jess called before dissolving into giggles.

“Both of you shut up!” Alex shouted over her shoulder. She prayed that the woman at the door couldn’t hear them or that she wasn’t the woman Jess had told them about last night. Because if she was Kara would either die of embarrassment or kill them all. “May I help you?”

“I hope so,” the shorter woman replied sticking her hands in her coat pocket and shuffling her feet in her expensive heels and turning a bright shade of red. “I’m trying to locate Kara Danvers.”

“Kara Danvers?” Alex parroted while groaning inside. Please let this not be who I think it is.

“Yes, Kara Danvers, she works as a social worker-“ the brunette began.

“Yes I know where my little sister works,” Alex replied a frown on her face while she attempted to place the face in front her of her. She knew they had never met but she was certain she’d seen the younger woman’s face somewhere.

“Have I offended you in some way?” the shorter woman asked with a cool expression.

“What?” Alex asked after being pulled out of her reverie.

“Have I offended you in some way? You’re currently scowling at me,” she clarified.

“I am?” Alex asked in surprise. Usually she was better at keeping her thoughts off her face. “No, sorry. I’m just trying to place your face; you look oddly familiar.”

“I’m certain we’ve never met,” the woman answered. “I’m fairly new to the city.”

“Then how do you know my sister?” Alex asked out pf curiosity.

“We share an overlapping interest,” was the vague response. “Is she in?”

“Oh! Sorry yes. I’m so sorry where are my manners, please come in,” Alex replied stepping back at opening the door wider to allow her entrance. “I’m Alex by the way.”

“Nice to meet you Alex, my name is” the woman began and was promptly interrupted by a decided less than sober Jess.

“Who do you know with an Irish accept Alex” Jess called pushing herself, sleeping bag and all, up to the couch. As Alex stepped to the side Winn’s quickly indrawn breath could be heard through the suddenly silent room.

“Oh my God you’re,” he began excitedly.

“Shit,” Jess muttered loudly after getting her first full view of their guest.

“Babe who was at the door?” Maggie asked as she made her way back into the room followed by Kara who was just putting on her glasses.

“Shit!” Kara breathed out when she was finally able to see clearly who was at the door.

“It’s a good thing I have a healthy self-esteem,” came the amused response. “I don’t think I’ve ever had so many people in one room have quite the same reaction to my presence. At least not to my face.”

“Sorry about that,” Alex answered when the rest of the room seemed incapable of speech. “We’re off to a slow start today.”

“That’s quite alright,” the brunette replied looking up at her.

“Let me introduce everyone,” Alex spoke up again after another awkward silence. “You already seem to know my sister. Beside her is my girlfriend Maggie Sawyer. The young man currently imitating a guppy is Kara and my younger brother Winn Schott and the redhead trying to disappear into the couch is Jess.” A chorus of nice-to-meet-yous promptly went up from everyone simultaneously.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all, I’m Lena Luthor.”

“Wait,” Maggie is the first to reply, “Lena Luthor as in the Luthors who own half of National City Luthors?”

“Lena Luthor as in one of the youngest female CEOs ever in National City or Metropolis. You’ve topped the Forbes Thirty under Thirty list for the last three years running. The same Lena Luthor whose worked with Jack Spheer is said to be well on its way for curing at least two forms of childhood Leukaemia and God knows what else. She also sits on the board of at least fifteen charity organizations throughout National City and Metropolis and those are just the ones she’s made public. She holds four PHDs from colleges in the US ann UK. Your work in biochemical engineering, Physics and mechanical engineering is awe inspiring…” Winn exclaimed.

“Winn? Winn? Take a breath,” Alex called. “You’re freaking out Ms. Luthor.”

“I am?” Winn asked staring at Lena crestfallen.

“It’s just a bit…unnerving having someone I’ve never met know so much about me,” Lena replied.

“I promise he’s not quite as stalkerish as that episode of word vomit indicates,” Alex responds. “He’s pretty much harmless, right Winn?”

“Right,” Winn mumbled.

“And he’s gonna start using his big boy manners, right Winn?” Alex called giving Winn the evil eye.

“Right,” Winn answered diligently staring at his feet.

“No that’s quite alright. I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions,” Lena tells Winn. She couldn’t bear to see the kicked puppy expression he was currently wearing.

“You may live to regret that,” Alex sighed when Winn immediately perked up but secretly pleased that Lena had taken the time to make her brother’s day. “Winn is a bit of a nerd and will talk your ear off.”

“Like you’re not the same,” Maggie quipped from the island separating the kitchen area from the living room where she was currently making coffee for everyone.

“Zip it you,” Alex called good naturedly while the others snickered. “And Winn you will wait until after Ms. Luthor has concluded her business with Kara before plying her with questions yes?”

“Yes Alex,” Winn sighed.

Kara stood listening to the conversation swirling around her and praying that the floor would open up and swallow her. Why is it that on the one day that she decided to be completely reckless the most beautiful woman she had ever seen turned up at her door? It’s like the universe had decided to use her for target practice. What did she do to deserve this? She was nice to people, even that new witch Pam who seemed to believe Winn was her personal maintenance man. She gave to charity, she didn’t hunt, she was hardworking and an upstanding citizen so why was the cosmos picking on her?

“If you don’t mind my asking, why are you here?” she heard Alex asked Lena.

“I needed to talk to your sister about Mikayla Dawson,” Lena replied looking at Kara to gauge her reaction. She was happy to see the immediate look of concern cross the blonde’s face. Maybe Judge Ellington was right after all and Mikayla had a champion in her corner.

[chisatowo]

uhhh rei or hina or lisa or touko or kasumi or tsugumi <- sorry for so many i just love hearing ur bandori thoughts

I shall now do several of them because I love sharing my bandori thoughts :]

Rei:

First impression: woah holy shit there's a whole other band in the japanese servers??? Also hee hee that one looks silly

Impression now: my absolute beloved light of my life I want slink you over my shoulders like a blanket and then throw you (affectionate) and also hee hee you look silly

Favorite moment: that moment in the second film live when she talks abt liking sasanqua. Number one part of that thing that ruined my life how dare they /pos

Idea for a story: I generally just wanna see them interact with more of the cast, but in particular I wanna see them and Touko interact, so I think it'd be funny to force them to colab on a song or smth. Im thinking like a music festival involving multiple schools that's particularly big this year thanks to Touko's school being involved too, but the rest of morfonica couldn't make it so they bullied Rei into helping or smth like that. Idk again I just wanna see them interact

Unpopular opinion: I don't actually ship Rei and Tae, I think they're cute but I like it when Layer has to 3rd wheel everyone too much sorry <3

Favorite relationship: probably her and Chu2? I'm not actually sure tbh I also like her and Lisa's friendship

Favorite headcanon: crinkly bones

Hina:

First impression: hm ur a little rude but I think ur just blunt we'll see how things go

Impression now: the character of all time. Honestly one of the best written bandori characters in my opinion she is so so dear to me

Favorite moment: like all of them but if I had to chose one then probably her realising she's loved during the wonderful sweet event? Shout out to every time she's talked abt Aya tho, ur so pathetic Hina <3333

Idea for a story: either something from her rock bottom period of her life or smth from current times abt her thinking a bit on how complicated of a history she has with her school, it having been the setting of both the worst period of her life and her recovery from it. Idk just with her graduating soon I think it'd be nice to write abt how she feels abt her school as she's almost ready to leave it

Unpopular opinion: I don't think she abd Sayo should or will live together in the future, I think it's rly important that despite still being very important to eachother and their relationship improving that they're still building towards having a sense of self and life outside of eachother, and that's ultimately so much healthier for them and allows them to have a healthier relationship as siblings too.

Favorite relationship: Hina and Chisato make me lose my mind but that's probably partially the Chisato bias djfnzjdg those characters sure can parallel.

Favorite headcanon: Hina is the only one of the 3rd years that's a good driver. Like scarily so. She just drives so normally it's freaky. There has to be a catch but there isn't she's just the only one who drives like a normal person

Touko:

First impression: oh we blond person

Impression now: *ponts* adhd haver. I care you so so much.

Favorite moment: again it's hard to pick one but uhhhh that one story where they take notes by just writing down words to describe the energy of Nanami's playing in their mind? Idk why that scene in particular always stood out so much to me but it does

Idea for a story: Touko and Tsukushi have deep talks™ abt romance and sexuality before they decide to stack on top pf each other to reach a book and Tsukushi has to go home from school early 😔 I actually do wanna write this one that's why I'm being super vague fmfbdj

Unpopular opinion: I genuinely don't get any Touko ships I've seen. Maybe it's just my aro bias but I don't get it I just don't </3

Favorite relationship: Touko Tsukushi bestie moments means the world to me y'all don't even know. Every now and then I remember them and just need to lie down for a bit I love them so so much

Favorite headcanon: nonbinary aro lesbian Touko <33333 it's genuinely such an important hc to me, one of my biggest comfort hcs tbh

Tsugumi:

First impression: wow that sure is some girl

Impression now: he's just some guy except he's also a freak at the same time. He's also a lesbian. I also love him.

Favorite moment: just the entirety of the comic panic story, I love that story sm

Idea for a story: gender

Unpopular opinion: idk how much this counts but I love transmasc Tsugumi who very much gets to look like a grill dad eventually very much. Also I think ppl should think abt them more outside of sayotsugu love and light

Favorite relationship: despite what I just said I am indeed a sucker for sayotsugu. But also shout out to Ran and Himari <3

Favorite headcanon: not counting gender uhhhh she's eaten a bathbomb before along with a shit ton of other very non editable things you could hand her anything and their first instinct would probably be to eat it

[duskwingmoth]

In the place of culture in the United States, at least for white Americans, is capitalism. Having taken up refuge in metaphysical human spaces, it leeches off our need for togetherness, and atomizes us out of any true sense of the same. It sells us an image of loyal and fervent patriotism, and for people whom that isn't enough, it cannibalizes actual cultures and sells us hollow shells.

Cultural appropriation, on the common level here, i posit, is white America feeling that emptiness, and thus draping itself in the facsimile of other cultures, doing its level best not to think about how that isn't a positive solution because America largely can't conceive a world outside capitalism, let alone how to escape it.

In goods and utilities, I am able to spot this easily; I know that PF Chang's isn't real Chinese food (having spicy orange chicken should probably disqualify you immediately), and I know Taco Time isn't real Mexican food. I'm aware that I shouldn't be buying and wearing sombreros or feathered headdresses as a white person.

But when it comes to art, unless it's blatantly incoherent drivel, I stumble, and don't feel the same repulsion, sometimes even when it's pointed out how utterly incorrect a work is. Intellectually I recognize what you're saying and I believe you, but it isn't connecting elsewhere in my mind.

Partly because I have nothing else. My Irish heritage means very little, especially on the west coast, and so it goes for being French, German, and Russian. I don't know a lick of two of the relevant languages, and the others are barely remembered basics from a single year of class and the subsuming of all other cultures into English.

Partly because I feel denied even the ones I should have some ancestral right to. What good does it do me to know where my family came from if nobody there wants me around? I don't exist in the same space as St. Basil's Cathedral and I am not allowed to, as much as I desperately want to on some primal level.

It's a melancholic envy, I think; a yearning for what we're supposed to have but do not, for any sense of it has been warped by market forces. We see vague shadows of it from other places and people, and we get by on those scraps, unknowing or unheeding of how doing so is a violence that dilutes them even further.

[convoy914]

So okay, here’s what happened at the end of Volume 8: Penny was already dying and used Jaune to expedite the process so that Cinder wouldn’t get her hands on the Maiden Powers. So why do some people refuse to see it that way? Easy: Because it was poorly written and didn’t come across as well as it should have. That, and overprojecting onto a side character resulting in seeing things that were NEVER intended. And so while the hurt is 100% understandable, the way people on both ”sides” of this argument have taken it just…makes me uncomfortable. From dismissing legitimate concerns to making up problems and conspiracies, hypocrisy all around. And I am hardly guilt-free on that count, I've had a year to reflect on all pf this and conclude that i was, and maybe still am, part of the problem.

The result is…well, what I saw after Volume 7 after Clover. I knew from the moment it started that it was gonna end up like that, and i knew that people outright dismissing the concerns would just make it worse. My approach to this was…flawed. Vague-posting and obfuscating because I didn't want this to go as badly as it did, which only resulted in me being part of the REASON it did. My admitted shortening patience as it got more and more ridiculous did not help either. I keep trying to play ”middle” here and I’m really not good at it, nor explaining my points. I know WHY this is such an issue and why these people perceive each other that way, but I'm not able to properly express it. It’s a lot more complicated than the usual RW/DE affair, although I do find it rather hypocritical on all fronts either way. Things you criticized others for doing in the past unironically repeated. If Clover’s death wasn’t queerbaiting because that wasn't the writer’s intentions, then how is THIS case any different?

My advice: Do what my friend on Twitter said and step back. Consider WHY some people are so upset by what happened, consider whether or not your personal biases have led to you acting in a way that would vindicate them, consider the actual circumstances of the episode and what was actually done, think about the CHARACTER and how much was really theree and how much was projected, either way. Just…step back. You’re only ruining your own enjoyment if you don’t. I know I am. I’d like to go into Volume 9 without worrying about how people are going to misinterpret Jaune’s actions and why they happened, as well as how the other characters may react, but I know they’re gonna. One way or the other. ”How dare they be a little upset with him” or ”how dare they not treat him as irredeemable scum”. Both of these are wrong. As for what WILL happen, who fucking knows? It’s all based on what was actually written there, and people are kind of notorious for misunderstanding Jaune’s character, so I don’t think we can objectively evaluate it

So lets talk about what happened: Jaune did a terrible thing in duress at the request of the magic woman who didn't want her soul stolen. This will likely cause some conflict even if the unique circumstances made it what it is. And it was STILL poorly written on top of that. Just not AS badly as some, understandably in this case, suggest. The narrative won’t treat him as 100% irredeemable because the whole point of that was to show a GENUINE sacrifice to contrast Atlas’s bullshit. Most people see it that way, even the neurodivergent and depressed ones. And I’ve seen them express irritation at people who, in their minds, just want to use these things as an excuse to shit on the show. But I’ve also seen neurodivergent depressed people treat it as exactly that. The moral of the story is, no one’s experiences are identical and you need to keep that in mind. Both in how you treat media and how you react to it. Whether or not you're part of the problem. I know I’ve been. Part of the problem, that is

[a-muse]

FVD - Week 4

The module was building up at a faster pace now. Kuntal was keeping us engaged with his stories from around the world. Carmina and Shilpa had already joined us during our 3rd week but we missed out Suman, Shiva and Probal.

We started with Gestalt laws and theory and their significance. We got to know about Similarity, Continuity, Figure and Ground, Closure and Proximity. There was also another principle of Pragnanz which talks about how we perceive our environment and things around us in terms of simpler shapes and patterns.

So, we got into more examples as we went along. A short recap of my understandings.

Similarity- Elements which are similar to each other in colour, form, texture, size or motion are perceived to be one group.

Continuity- When viewing objects together, human eyes sometimes perceive objects moving in a straight or curved line if they are arranged in such a way.

Figure and Ground -  Our brain sometimes divide elements and their spaces, both negative and positive as foreground and background and look at them in such a way to create that distinction.

Closure- Even if objects do not join together to form a recognisable shape, our brain draws parallels between them and perceive those elements as one single comprehensible entity, shape or form.

Proximity- Objects arranged together start forming shapes or patterns of their own when they are close or far away from each other based on their proximity.

Pragnanz- Human eyes and brains have a tendency to divide and look at environments and things around us in terms of simpler patterns and shapes.

Gestalt Photo Diary

The first assignment of this week was to click photographs which would showcase gestalt principles. These photo may have multiple principles in them but there should be one dominating principle in all of them. 

Initially, I had problems with finding the right subjects but as I started reading and researching more on this topic, I started to notice the principles all around me but next the task was to single out the dominating elements in them. Following ones are few of the pictures I clicked.

Proximity- How the squares have come together to create a pentagon like shape. It also somehow has a hint of closure as well.

Continuity- The curved lines moving up and down the wooden blocks.

Figure and Ground

Similarity

Continuity- How the electrical cables continue in the dark BG making our eyes follow them. 

Happy Durga Puja btw everyone.

Similarity

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ok a small break. Umm.. let me show what I have filled up in my colour journal this week.

Kaashful. Durga Puja -can’t really keep calm.

TV and childhood

Experiments with textures

This is very interesting as this has been done with plastic crumpled on acrylic white solution with water and left to dry. Some interesting thin ice like patterns.

Emotions

Mahisasuramardini. Ok last one about Durga Maa, I promise.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Music Video with colours

This was the highlight of the week. We were both excited and kind of taken aback with the brief that was provided to us and plus we had to work within random groups of 4 or 5 people, create our own music and patch them with the visuals... Ok phewww..

I meet with my group which consisted of Dikshita, Ranjana and Subhadeep on call and discussed multiple ideas and how to implement them. We looked into  some very interesting links and videos and articles. Let me share a few with you right here right now.

Neil Harbisson: I listen to Colour. It was very fascinating to learn about the different types Synesthesia. The video link for you here.

Kandinsky and his paintings. How he turned music and sounds into colours and finally into beautiful elaborate abstract paintings. The video link.

Look into these. I am sure you will enjoy them. Now for the initial ideas, let me share some of them in here for you to see.

Initial Ideas:

Idea 1: Play with Rasas and their colors along with their corresponding raga patterns as bg music.

Idea 2: How a blind person might sense color through music or sounds with very faint interaction of colors. Just enough to understand the ambience outside

Idea 3: How we can see different colours throughout the day right from the time sun rises to the time it sets and then through the night and till the next morning whenever it rises again. We can use corresponding ragas which run through the timings of the day.

Idea 4: Colors as thoughts in our brain. How unrest, peace, insights, ideas popping in our minds and other things might be working in our minds. Like how a jumbled train of thoughts arriving at a point of insight.

There were multiple brainstorming sessions which helped in moulding the ideas and finally zeroing in on one. Let me take you through the flow of the final idea.

Final Idea

1. When the project is announced:

That AHA moment. Excitement runs through our mind. The project seems to be one of a kind and challenge gives a sudden adrenaline boost.

2. When reality sets in:

We start to question the reality. How do we go about this?

Ok we have groups now. Random, whattt? Ok, do I know this person?

3. When discussions start:

A little bit of icebreaking is required.

Brainstorm, Brainstorm, Brainstorm.

A lot of ideas are coming to me but how do I put those into words? Are the other team members able to understand my idea.

The ideas seem very vague. Actually all of them

Wait, that sounds like a good one. Oh ok how about we do this with that? Now, things are starting to take shape.

4. Reality strikes once again:

The idea seemed very interesting at first but I do not have any clue about how do I take this forward.

Gloominess sets in. Trying to carve time out of busy schedule to do some explorations.

Fail. Do again. Fail Do again. This is getting tiring.

Procrastination overpowers.

Some of the explorations work well.

5. Penultimate stage:

The lethargy is contagious. Everyone seems to be slacking off.

The date and time splashes on the mobile screen. WE HAVE NO TIME LEFT AT ALL.

Panic sets in. Try to do everything to finish off the project somehow. By hook or by crook.

Although the project that you are working on right now seems to be very enjoyable but you just cannot relish the process anymore. Aaaaaghh, this is exhausting.

6. The final deliverable:

Ok the project is done now. (sigh of relief)

You skim through the entire thing once more and find some of the things very roughly done.

Things could have been done better

Blaming ourselves for not taking it seriously the first time.

Showcasing of work. Other people seem to have done a marvellous job.

Ok now that we are done, there is nothing left to do. Only promise ourselves to manage our time better for the next project.

Behind the scenes:

Had some fun with refined oil, water, colours and guess what, PepFizz

Ink in Water

Ink in Water

Milk, water, paint and washing powder

Creation of the BG Track and final video:

We recorded different sounds from around us ranging from washing machines, void sounds from washrooms, voices, metal clanking of glasses and spoons, rattling pf crockery. Then, I further took them to FL Studio, digitally remastered them and created the entire BG track.

Creating the progressions and melodies on FL Studio

Layering tracks to make the final score on FL Studio

Editing the clips and merging the sequences with sounds to create the final video on After Effects 

Let’s see the final video now, shall we?

The journey of Anticipation

Ok, wow. This was done in a very short period of time with half of our group not well. Pulling this off was a task in itself but the explorations and everything made it worth it. I also tried my hands on FL Studio after a long long time and I plan on continuing composing some scores and music in my spare time from now on.

But although the explorations were fun, it was insightful as well. Many properties of colour, composition and whole treatment of these things came in as hoardes of information as we went along. And making the connections between each shots and relating them to the stages of our narration while thinking in a abstract way of how colours and music would narrate that same thing. It was tough at first but then it seemed very natural. 

But.. But... Ummm.... this whole assignment made my mother pretty angry because the room was a total mess and I was too lazy. But worth taking the risk for assignments this interesting.

Ok that was the end to Week 4. A very fruitful one indeed. Catch up on Week 5 soon.

Alvida, Adios, Tata, Bye Bye, Hasta la Vista and Sayonara till next time.

[sometimesambroswrites]

SINCE YOU SEEMED SO SAD ILL JUST HAVE TO ASK FOR A PROMPT PF MAGNUS DOING ALEC'S MAKEUP (I didn't know I needed this until this moment)

wirtanzenimregen ha detto:Well, thanks to you, I now want Magnus doing Alec's makeup. Please throw some Alec trying on jewellery in there💞

Ahhhh sorry, the jewelry didn’t really fit, but I’ll keep it in mind to use as soon as I can!Thank you both for these (very spontaneous) prompts!

Read on AO3

Magnus' head is pillowed on his chest and Alec is carding his fingersthrough his ink black hair, pink strands running from time to timebetween his index and middle finger.

He looks a bit tired, purple bruises coloring gently the skin underhis eyes; then again, they all always look a bit tired and they couldall use a few months off.

Alec brushes his thumb against Magnus' lips, just so, feels Magnussmile against it; he whispers: “I like you without make-up,”voice still rough and low with sleep.

Magnus turns, rests his chin on Alec's chest, his eyebrows raised, aplayful smile on his lips: “So you don't like me with make-up.”

“Yes,” Alec says, playfullyraising his chin, “That's exactly what I meant. I thought I wouldinsult you a bit first thing in the morning.”

Magnus chuckles before he leans forward, pressing his lips againstAlec's. “Great strategy.”

Alec hums: “I know. It was Jace'sidea.”, and Magnus snorts, lettinghis forehead drop on Alec's collarbone.

Alec's fingers intertwine on Magnus'back: “Have you always beeninto make-up?”

“Yeah,” Magnus says with a small sigh, talking in Alec's skin,“Yeah, I guess so. I remember my mom used to wear it, and after –you know. It was just relaxing and fun, doing my make-up.”

Alec hums, his thumbs drawing circles on Magnus' back: “Plus, youlook hot with make-up.”

Magnus snorts: “So I don't look hot without make-up.”

Alec groans, a sleepy smile on his lips, and he closes his eyes inthe warmth of the bed and Magnus' body half on top of his own.

“You know who would look hot with make-up?”

Alec opens one eye: “Not me, for sure.”

A cat-like smirk curls Magnus' lips as he looks down at Alec:“Definitely you.”

Alec groans, untangles his fingers from where they're still restingon Magnus' back to cross his arms over his eyes: “Izzy tried once,”he says, voice muffled by his hands, “She needed the practice,”he says, using air quotes, “And she poked me in the eye withsomething and it burned. Don't laugh!”, he says,glaring at Magnus from the small corner of space allowed by his bentelbow.

“Sorry,” Magnus says, but he's still chuckling; he wraps hisfingers around Alec's wrists and pulls, “Sorry, I promise I won'tpoke your eyes with any make-up. You – ”, he presses his lips,clearly trying not to laugh, “Big, brave Shadowhunter.”

Alec glares suspiciously at him.

“I promise,” Magnus restates.

“Fine,” Alec concedes, rolling his eyes like he knows he's justmade the biggest mistake of his life, “But nothing – extreme.”

“Vague limitation. Deal!”

He's sliding off the bed before Alec can muster up an articulateresponse.

*

“It feels weird,” Alec says, frowning down at his nails, nowpainted in a dark purple. He has to resist the urge to shake hishand, like he needs to shake the polish off his fingers. “Cold.”

“It will dry in ten minutes,” Magnus says, distractedly, studyingthe ridiculous amount of little tubes and round thingies on thetable.

Alec emits a half surprised, half indignant sound in the back of histhroat: “Ten minutes?”

“Stop flailing or we'll have to reapply it and it'll take thirty,”Magnus says, grabbing Alec's wrists and placing his hands on thetables, palms down.

“This make-up thing sounds way too complicated,” Alec grumbles,still studying his nails; they look weird too. Way too dark.

Magnus chuckles as he picks up what looks like a pencil: “Closeyour eyes.”

Alec sends him one last warning glance before he obeys. He almostflinches when the pencil starts drawing on his eyelid, but Magnus'hand holds his head in place; it doesn't hurt exactly, butit's – uncomfortable, the way the pencil drags the skin on hiseyelid a little bit.

But he stays still, Magnus' wrist resting on his cheekbone.

His other eye receives the same treatment and Magnus leans back; Alecraises his eyebrows, eyes still closed.

“Okay, open.”

Alec opens his eyes.

Magnus studies him for a moment, pencil tapping against his lips.“Okay, close.”

Alec closes his eyes.

It's actually relaxing once he stops worrying; Magnus' fingers arelight on his skin, even brushes and sponges are involved and theydon't hurt at all – it's actually like a little massage on his faceand he kind of enjoys it.

Plus, he can focus on how close Magnus stands, between his legs, hishands and fingers constantly touching Alec's face like it's a canvas,and Magnus is still warm and soft from sleep, and Alec slips hishands under Magnus' shirt, curls his fingers around Magnus' hips.Magnus' tapping on Alec's forehead stops for a moment. Alec smiles,eyes closed. Magnus resumes tapping.

He could almost fall asleep, if it wasn't for Magnus asking him toopen his eyes and look up a couple of times.

He feels warm and comfortable when Magnus tries to take a step back,Alec's hands tightening their hold on his hips; he whines aninarticulate protest.

Magnus chuckles: “I'm done and you look so hot.”

“You mean I don't look hot without make up?”, Alec says, asmirk curling his lips as he buries his nose in Magnus' neck, kisseshis skin just because.

Magnus chuckles, just a bit breathless: “Yeah, that's exactly whatI'm saying,” he exhales, as Alec's teeth tease the skin between hislips. “No, but seriously, just look at my masterpiece before weruin it.”

Alec groans against his neck, excitement running through his back andfingers; he leans back, cold wrapping around him as Magnus steps awayfrom him and takes his hand to drag him to the bathroom.

Alec almost stumbles on his feet when he sees himself in the mirror;it's him, but it's – not. He looks slightly different: hisskin looks smoother, a light blush on his cheeks; his eyes lookbigger, cat-like, black lines playing expertly with the actual shapeof his eyes; his lips are painted in a deep purple that matches hisnails.

“What do you think?”

Alec blinks: “It's – weird.”

“Good weird?”

Alec turns to look at Magnus, an idea popping in his head: he presseshis lips against his cheek, leaving a purple impression of them onMagnus' skin.

A wide smile spreads his lips before he kisses him, purple going fromhis own lips to Magnus': “Best weird.”

[omg-johndel-b-villarin]

ASYNCHRONOUS TASK NO. 3

ACTIVITY 1:

this page by putting an arrow to the object/s. [No need to indicate what type of Figures of Speech they are]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Notes: Most Commonly Used Figure of Speech

1.     Alliteration is the repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words.

Example: Fresh fern fronds from the forest

2.     Allusion is a figure of speech that quickly stimulates different ideas and associations using only a couple of words, thus making an indirect reference.

Example: Describing someone as an “Adonis” makes an allusion to the handsome young shepherd loved by the goddess of love and beauty herself in the Greek myths.

3.     Anaphora is a stylistic device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginning of neighboring clauses to give emphasis.

Example: You are lovely, you are gorgeous, you are pretty, you are glorious, you are, you are, you just are!

4.     Anticlimax refers to a figure of speech in which a word is repeated and whose meaning changes in the second instance.

Examples: He got his dignity, his job, and his company car.

In the car crash, she lost her life, her car, and her cell phone.

5.     Antiphrasis is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used to mean the opposite of its normal meaning to create ironic humorous effect.

Example: She is 65 year young.

6.     Antithesis is a figure of speech that refers to the juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas. It involves the bringing out of a contrast in the ideas by an obvious contrast in the words, clauses, or sentences within a parallel grammatical structure.

Example: To many choices, too little time.

7.     Apostrophe is an exclamatory rhetorical figure of speech in which a speaker or writer breaks off and directs speech to an imaginary person or abstract quality or idea.

Example: Oh, moon! You have seen everything!

8.     Assonance is a figure of speech that refers to the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences.

Example: A certain purple curtain, captain. (note: cer in cetain, pur in purple, and cur in curtain. Also tain in certain, curtain, and captain.)

9.     Climax refers to the figure of speech in which words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance.

Example: Three things will remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

10.  Euphemism is a figure of speech used to express a mild, indirect, or vague term to substitute for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term.

Example: saying “passed away” for “died”

Saying “in between jobs” to mean “unemployed”

11.  Epigram refers to a concise, witty, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement.

Example: Oscar Wilde’s “I can resist everything but temptation,” or “I am not      young enough to know everything.”

12.  Epiphora (or epistrophe) is a rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the end of neighboring clauses to give them emphasis.

Example: “…a government of the people, by the people, for the people. (Note: The phrase the people is repeated twice after it was first mentioned.)

13.  Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to created emphasis or effect; it is not meant to be taken literally.

Example: I told you a million times to clean your room.

14.  Irony is a figure of speech in which there is a contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is really meant. It is characterized by an incongruity, a contrast, between reality and appearance.

Example: The explanation is as clear as mud.

15.  Litotes is a figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.

Example: Instead of saying that someone is “ugly” you can say that someone is   “not very pretty.”

Instead of saying that the situation is “bad” you can say that it is “not      good”.

16.  Merism is a figure of speech by which something is referred to by a conventional phrase that enumerates several of its constituents or traits.

Example: saying “young and old” to refer to the whole population

Saying “flesh and bone” to mean the whole body

17.  Metaphor s a figure of speech that makes an implicit , implied or hidden comparison between two things or objects that are poles apart from each other but have some characteristics common between them.

Example: The planet is my playground. The Lord is my shepherd.

18.  Metonymy is a figure pf speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with the thing or concept.

Examples: Using “Malacaňang” to refer to the president or the government

Saying “a hand” to mean “help”

19.  Oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines incongruous or contradictory terms.

Examples: open secret, virtual reality, sacred profanities

20.  Personification is a figure of speech in which a human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object.

Example: Red punctuates and makes bold statements, says something, and means it like an exclamation point!

21.  Simile is a figure of speech directly comparing two unlike things, often introduced the word, like or as.

Examples: A smile as big as the sun. She prays like a mantis.

22.  Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole of something is used to represent part of it.

Examples: Sixty hands voted. (The part “hand” is used to refer to the whole person)

The country supported the president. (The word “country” is used to refer to                        the people.)

23.  Understatement is a figure of speech used by its writers or speakers to deliberately make a situation seem less important or serious that it really is.

Examples: A nurse to give an injection saying, “It will sting a bit.”

To describe a disappointing experience, a participant may say, “It was …different.”

   ACTIVITY 2:

LITREADITURE!

Look for literary pieces and take note some lines in it that expresses figures of speech listed below. Write your answers on the space provided. (One example for each)

 1.ALLUSION: The Outsiders (1967) by S. E. Hinton

"Ponyboy."

I barely heard him. I came closer and leaned over to hear what he was going to say.

"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold ... " The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died.

 2.ANAPHORA: "London," William Blake

In every cry of every Man,

In every infant's cry of fear,

In every voice, in every ban,

The mind-forg'd manacles I hear

 3.EUPHEMISM:Dropping the Euphemism, Bob Hicok

   When I said

   I have to lay you off

  a parallel universe was born

  in his face, one where flesh

   is a loose shirt

   taken to the river and beaten

   against the rocks. Just

   by opening my mouth I destroyed

   his faith.

4.EPIGRAM: Sonnet 76 (By William Shakespeare)

   “So all my best is dressing old words new,

   Spending again what is already spent:

   For as the sun is daily new and old,

   So is my love still telling what is told.”

  5.LITOTES: Fire and Ice (By Robert Frost)

   “Some say the world will end in fire,

   Some say in ice.

   From what I’ve tasted of desire

   I hold with those who favor fire.

   But if I had to perish twice,

   I think I know enough of hate

   To say that for destruction ice

   Is also great

   And would suffice.”

 6.METONYMY: Bartleby the Scrivener (Herman Melville)

   As I afterwards learned, the poor scrivener, when told that he must be conducted to the Tombs, offered not the slightest obstacle, but in his pale, unmoving way, silently acquiesced.

  7.OXYMORON: Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare)

   Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,

   That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

 8.MERISM: "There is a working class—strong and happy—among both rich and poor; there is an idle class—weak, wicked, and miserable—among both rich and poor." (John Ruskin, The Crown of Wild Olive, 1866)

 9.ANTITHESIS: Community (By John Donne)

   “Good we must love, and must hate ill,

   For ill is ill, and good good still;

   But there are things indifferent,

   Which we may neither hate, nor love,

   But one, and then another prove,

   As we shall find our fancy bent.”

 10.IRONY: The Necklace (Guy de Maupassant)

   “You say that you bought a necklace of diamonds to replace mine?”

   “Yes. You never noticed it, then! They were very like.”

   And she smiled with a joy which was proud and naïve at once.

   Mme. Forestier, strongly moved, took her two hands.

   “Oh, my poor Mathilde! Why, my necklace was paste. It was worth at most five        hundred francs!”

         JOURNAL WRITING:

Journal Entry #2

What’s the language of the piece?

Read a literary piece (prose or poetry). Review and examine the language used by the author (Tone, Diction, Style and Figures of Speech). Include photographs to add creativity and visuals in your writing. Your answers must not be less than ten sentences.

                                     To an Athlete Dying Young

                                                    Title

                                           A. E. Housman

                                                  Author

A. E. Housman has also include literary devices in his poem in tittled " To an athlete dying young" to express and share his feelings towards the athlete. The literary devices used are: Personification, Assonance, Metaphor, Oxymoron, Consonance, Symbolism, and Enjambment.

 The poem or him shows the run or the cycle of how a man's life goes. The first stanza shows how people (close one) gets happy, great, and proud seeing us fighting to live and achieve our goals. But nothing last forever, time will come and all of these will stop. And all of those who really know, support, and been there for us will also be the one who will march our dead body towards our grave. Even our glory, dreams, achievements, and hardwork will be gone. It stated there that our lives is like how fast a single roses losses its own petals. Our eyes will forever be close it will be dark as a night and there will never be any color. Whole body will be numb nothing to hear, nothing to fell. And only those close ones will remember our name and our deeds. Life is a competition and we should keep running 'til everything stops. Everything has its ending point. It has no exemption and that everyone includes our life.

[kendrixtermina]

Gender is a quale (as in singular of qualia) isn’t it?

​It just occurred to me sometime yesterday, as a conclusion on some stuff i was reading...

maybe this is just me being stumped over a  purely semantic realization in a way that is more indicative of my past perspective than reality, but - 

It’s got to be, right? At least the hard-wired, not socially scripted parts. 

Most of the assigned behaviors etc. have varied wildly across cultutures and time periods, but there’s the part that stubbornly manifests in toddlers as an emergent property. You can’t just take a girl and raise them as a boy youd give them pretty much the same host pf phychological issues experienced by trans ppl , (we know this unfortunately because psychology used to be a new and inexact science until recently )

A lot of the talk/ discourse makes it out to be this vague and unscientific thing about “what you feel like inside” but I don’t think that level of fuzzyness is needed here, like probably has a cause in your brain somehow. How you interpret it and what it means is a different matter (”What is this feeling am I sad, tired or comming down with the flu”) but if you say you have an experience there must be something causing you to have it just due to, physics. 

Perhaps you could define it as “marking behavior”, marking yourself as one group or another or neither, but HOW you mark yourself as such seems to be largely pulled from the environment.

In that sense maybe you could say that gender might actually be older than sex

Yeast as an unicellular organism doesn’t have a specialization between nutrient rich mating cells and fast, mobile mating cells (which is all that male or female as a concept boil down to under the microscope), but they do secrete one or two of some particular signaling proteins, and when you look at it its less about actual mating than about how the organism ‘acts’  (which of course but where it came from doesn't really matter for what you actually do with it, such as you might get a person who’s completely aroace but still considers herself a girl., its all just likelihoods and explanations no rules goals or prescriptiveness)

Of course you would probably have to get sharper there in terms of definition, there’s  precious little distinction between physiological processes and “behavior” (strictly speaking an animals-only thing) though that division is kinda illusory even in things as complex as us

That would make it about the only qualia where most of us, apart from the genderfluid/flux folks,  experience only a single one in our existence, and then if youre unlucky you might have to argue about it with other people who tell you what to do and that youre doing it incorrectly

Imagine if it was smell, but that there was only one smell for your entire life. For most of us it’s been static but it doesn’t actually have to be. 

Thinking about it that way also explains why some ppl come up with those relatively poetic/aesthetisy descriptions for what it is they’re experiencing, probably varying shades of “no clue what i am sensing, lets try using associative brain to explain it” 

You don’t think of it as a perception but it probably is one... since it can change for some people (lots of perceptions are ‘internal’ like proprioception etc or of highly human-specific things not directly related to describing reality (consider the color magenta)) and you could probably use it like a grounding question or reality check question while meditating attempting to lucid dream ot just getting really high,  “Are you dreaming right now?” “Is your hand purple right now?” 

“Are you a girl right now” - which of course assumes that this has only one answer while you are sober and awake. If this was loaded with traumatic experiences for you would probably freak yourself out not that id know

But you wouldnt even have to open your eyes and look at your hand, (as with the lucid dreaming technique example... then again that’s only useful if your dreams tend to be 3rd person narratives with non-you characters if you always have your ‘default stats’ in dreams then its not gonna make a difference. I just end up debating wether to wake up or not instead of thinking of doing any cool stuff which probably means that ive definitely NOT cracked this lucid dreaming thing yet.  Some of my siblings have, that just makes me feel like im failing to take full advantage of our weirdo genes)

Am I a girl right now? Probably yes, though nothing in life should be accepted without reflection and maybe the time has come to think about it even if it just leads to the same, though more founded conclusion. I think I’d probably have noticed by now if the final answer was different im defs not a dude.