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checkoutmybookshelf · 1 year

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The Immortals Quartet

Time to chat about another of Tamora Pierce's beloved heroines and one of her early quartets. This is also the quartet that--in my entirely subjective experience--catches a lot of guff for its romance subplot. But we'll get to that. These are some of my favorite books of Pierce's, and I'm pretty sure that I read these after the Alanna and Kel books, although they were her second published quartet, coming before Kel. Let's talk The Immortals Quartet.

Veralidaine Sarrasri, unlike Alanna and Kel, is not originally Tortallen. Our girl is Gallan, and when we first meet her in Wild Magic, she is recovering from bandits sacking her village, burning down her house, and killing her family and all their animals. She's also desperate to hide what she thinks is a form of madness from every human she runs across, which gets really complicated when Numair starts teaching her how to harness her wild magic. And for just a hot second, can I say how much I love Numair in this series? He has just as much character as Daine and I am never NOT here for phenonemally powerful mages who are also basically oversized puppies.

Getting to watch Daine develop relationships with Numair, Onua, Alanna and George, the royal family, and the Queen's Riders is such fun, and so well done that when Daine finally feels safe enough to explain why she sometimes seems recalcitrant about her magic lessons it feels immensely earned. These relationships also become immensely foundational to the rest of the series, as does Daine's b-plot but still really compelling arc about hating Stormwings.

The Stormwing arc really finds traction in Wolf Speaker. In my experience, most people say that In the Realms of the Gods is their least favorite Immortals book, but for me, Wolf Speaker takes that prize. Not at all because it's a bad book, but for me it's the most forgettable of the four. Daine and Numair are investigating sus nonsense in Fief Dunlath, and there are blood rain and shape shifting/mind riding shenanagins and Daine begins to have holes poked in her Stormwing prejudice courtesy of Rikash Moonsword. It's a fine book, and the subplots with the wolves and ogres are compelling, but for whatever reason this book does not stick in my head.

The book that does stick in my head and is unequivocally my favorite of this quartet is Emperor Mage. This book follows the Tortallen peace delegation to Carthak, and geopolitical and divine shenanagins ensue. Dain's relationships with Kaddar and Ozorne--and particularly how Numair and Ozorne's history colors both those relationships--are again central to the plot. The Graveyard Hag is also actively throwing broom handles between the spokes of Daine's wheels by giving Daine the power to bring skeletons to a seeming of life.

That gets absolutely amazing because the Graveyard Hag wants Daine to reanimate human skeletons, but Daine makes the PHENOMENAL point that humans forget literal walking nightmares really fast. What humans don't recover fast from is when you literally raze their centers of government to the ground, including food stores, records of all kinds, and the freaking treasury. So instead of making human skeletons dance through the streets, Daine reanimates DINOSAUR SKELETONS and wrecks absolute shop. It's amazing, I wouldn't change a thing.

The other thing I love about this book is Numair yo-yoing between being an experienced intelligence operative and black robe mage and a complete idiot. He is tangled up in plans to free slaves and overthrow Ozorne and yet he still somehow manages to forget all of that and swing at Ozorne when he suggests that Numair is banging Daine. Numair. Honey, sweetie, friend, you cannot be THAT much of an idiot. And the best part is, at least three other characters call him on that idiocy. This book is fantastic.

In the Realms of the Gods is the book that, in my experience, gets the most flak from fans. My experience has been that people object to the student/teacher dynamic between Daine and Numair deveoping into a romance and the significant age gap between the two characters as the romance develops. People also seem to feel that this book is too long and drags in places. I don't tend to find that the book is draggy and long, but that tends to be a very "your mileage may vary" thing for readers.

In terms of the age gap and student teacher dynamics, I want to start off very clear: In real life, student-teacher relationships are never ok, are always predatory, and I do not support. However, to paraphrase Red from OSP, not every book that shows things that aren't unequivocally morally good do not need a "Do Not Try This At Home" sticker on the cover. Books don't have to be morally instructive, they don't have to show the best possible healthy relationships, they just have to be interesting. And honestly? I find Daine and Numair interesting. On top of that, Tamora Pierce is aware enough as an author that Daine and Numair actually do (however briefly) discuss the potential pitfalls of the age gap between them. They don't address the student/teacher thing, but then I wouldn't expect them to because that's not the relationship they have in this book. They are more partners than student/teacher. All this to say, I can understand why people dislike this romance, but I'm not here to throw shade, because honestly I enjoyed it.

I also enjoyed meeting and learning about Daine's parents, exploring the literal Realm of the Gods and all the wibbly wobbly timey wimey chaos shenanagins, and the conclusion of Daine's Stormwing arc. (And how dare Pierce make me cry that hard over Rikash. That was uncalled for.)

Overall, I deeply loved this quartet, and Daine is a welcome change from the very martial Alanna and Kel. She also represents an evolution of the magic systems in Tortall, which was really compelling and refreshing.

#tamora pierce #the immortals #the immortals quartet #daine sarrasri #numair salmalin #wild magic #wolf speaker #emperor mage #in the realms of the gods #ya fantasy #tortall universe #tortall #books & libraries #books and reading #books and novels #book recommendations #books #fiction

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kittyscupcakeandbunny · 1 year

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GOOD BOY X PJ

INTRO

Side Charecters: Kim Namjoon, Jung Hoseok, Min Yoongi.

Warnings: mentions of violence, smut, nudity, dom and sub relationship, bdsm topics, slave training, anal sex, poly relationship, male and male, punishments, overstimulation, voyarism, public sex, anal plug, dirty talk, edging, exhibitionism, face sitting, fire and Ice play, forced orgasm, gunplay, Impact play, nipple play, orgasm denial, pegging, pet play, sensory deprivation, wax play.

Genre: stranger to lovers, bdsm relationship.

NIGHT SHIFT

I sight looking at my watch. It seems like I've been doing that a lot lately, but right now my client is trying everything he can to extend our time together while I keep telling him I can't.

Is not always like that. But it can get ugly sometimes.

I made the excuse to use the restroom and he finally let me out. Man can be so difficult when drunk, that's why I usually prefer hosting for women but, even them sometimes can get a little out of it when drunk, the difference is they usually listen when I say I need to leave.

I'm not a prostitute. I say to myself in the mirror. I try to remind me of that, stay true to what i want to do, to my dreams and who i am. But it all seams so foolysh. Leaving and heading to the hosts room. The other boys are working but, I see Chul resting on the sofa playing something in his phone.

- difficult client? - he said without looking at me as I plot on the sofa sitting far away from him.

- the usual. - I simply reply.

My eyes close by itself. It's 3 in the morning and I'm so tired. But the thought of having dance classes later in the afternoon makes a smile grow on my face and suddenly, I have the strength to fight a bear. Well, not literally.

I hear boys laugh coming closer to the room, Hwan and Myung enter saying their goodbyes as they have finished their night for today.

- oh, Jimin your next client is here - Myung said to me.

- thank you, I'll be off now.

Tiredly I make my way out of the room and towards the second floor, where all the rooms we attend our clients are. I stop for a few seconds in front of the door before I make my way in - just one more - and besides, joon is a big softie with me.

[...]

Dance is what makes me feel life. Is what keeps me alive and walking forward. It's like breathing for me.

When I hear the sound of a melody, my body instantly moves with it as if I'm dancing with it, not for it. My mind is no longer a prisoner of my nightmares and I can finally feel free, like this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

When my class is over, Eun ji my dance teacher praise me for dancing so beautifully fluid. I thank heavens everyday for her.

When I first came here to Seoul, she was the only one who helped me. Eun ji has been a dancer for 20 years now, she and her husband have a dance studio for classes and they teach all kinds of people.

They were the only ones who accepted me with all my background. They also gave me a place to stay when I didn't have one, and even helped me find a job but, the club was the only place someone like me could be accepted.

- it's been three years already! - Eun ji exclaimed. Her eyes on me as she talks. - I know you think your not ready Jimin but, me and Cha really want you in the studio anniversary celebration.

I knew this was coming. Every year on the Studio anniversary, they held a big celebration with all the dancers and groups they've been teaching. I never participated because I wasn't ready, the fear of disappointing myself with a performance in front of so many people would always make me denied her invitation.

- I don't think I'm ready ms. Ji - I said as look at my feet, not being able to look at her face as I denied her again.

- Jimin I know what you think, but if you keep doing this to yourself you'll never be able to grow - she said and I felt her put a hand on my shoulder - I'm getting older Jimin, and I want to see you shine in that stage, I have no children of my own and you have been like a son to me and Cha.

I look up at her.

- please, think about it.

With a sad smile she leaves.

Her words clutch to my mind for the next few days. I've always wanted to be on stage, but my fears and anxiety hold on me with claws while laughing at me.

I'm not ready. I keep saying, trying to comfort myself in any way possible before i make my way to the manager office.

On my way to the club he called me and told me I had a special request. Special client. Tonight I'll accompany a CEO in a small business dinner, at a fancy restaurant. The only time I've done this before was a year ago, and it did not end well.

Business man are also assholes.

I knock three times before I come in.

- you called me sir - I say.

He turns from his computer and takes off his glasses as he looks at me from his desk.

- you have a vip client tonight - he says - there is only two reasons I called you, number one being the vip client situation.

- oh.. is he new? - I ask.

- yeah but that is not the only thing.... - he says looking around his desk - you'll be in a room with big, big people, important people, extremely influential people.

It makes me wonder who they might be and at the same time makes me uneasy.

- so make sure you serve your client well and... - I already know what he's gonna say - do your little thing and grab a few new ones too.

I knew it. The sight that escapes my mouth doesn't go unnoticed by him, he gets up annoyed and comes at me. I gulped as he stands behind me as I was sitting in front of his desk.

His hands on each side of my shoulders completely cornering me, last time someone said something he didn't liked the boy was beaten up so bad he had to go to the hospital. To say I was scared was an understatement.

I gasp out of shock and pain when he grabbed my neck, his breath hitting my ear as a chill run down my spine.

- you are my slave, so you do what I say or else... - his grip tightens on my neck and tears start to form in my eyes - so if you want to stay alive treat our client very, very... well.

He lets me go. As the air fills my lounges I cough reaching for my neck, my eyes falling on the men in front of me who looks at me as if I'm nothing.

As if I'm just a slave boy.

- the second reason is because of what happened last time - he says, making his way to sit behind his desk again - make sure that doesn't happen again, even if means your ass will get filled.

I stand up, not wanting to hear any of that shit anymore. I hear his laugh as I storm out of that office, anger filling me so hard I smashed the wall besides me.

The pain in my hand being the only thing that brought me back, soon I was blinded by my tears as I grabbed my hand that was now bleeding.

I cried.

[...]

The show must go on. I put on my best clothes as I pushed my feelings away. I have no time to waste pitying myself.

I have no choice but to keep going, I feel a wall suddenly growing around me as I feel so empty. The want to come back home to my mother and cry while she embraces me, almost makes me cry again.

I cursed myself for punching the wall so hard, now I can't bearly do my make up. As i manage to do a decent job I look myself in the mirror being satisfied with it.

One last breath.

I run my hands through my hair, as i build up the strength to keep going.

The show must keep going.

Next?

Taglist?

#bts fanfiction #bts smut #bts x you #bts yoongi #yoongi smut #yoongi x reader #bts suga #jimin x reader #bts jhope #bts namjoon #bts au #jimin fanfic #jimin x oc #jimin smut #bts jimin #jimin x you #jimin x y/n #bd/sm master #bd/sm dynamic

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spacey-llama · 5 months

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How did u get into just dance 👀👀

haha why thank you for opening the can of worms

Proper punctuation for this one, it’s long. Seriously. I’m basically putting my whole history with the Just Dance franchise in one post.

So, I got into Just Dance in kindergarten when my music teacher put on Cotton Eye Joe from Just Dance 1 as a fun little exercise thing.

However, I didn’t get deep into it until I started having sleepovers basically every weekend with my best friend at the time, and she introduced me to Just Dance 4 on her Xbox 360 (she also introduced me to Minecraft, but that’s a different story). We weren’t allowed to play Crucified or Disturbia, but every other song was on the menu. It was cool!

The funny thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever been a good dancer. I was just enamored by the colorful characters and the delicious songs. Most of my music taste comes from Just Dance soundtracks!

I didn’t have a console of my own until YEARS later, so I would look up the choreos on YouTube and follow along w/ them. Throughout the years at school, teachers would also put on choreos as fun little things! I still associate Moskau from JD 2014 with 3rd grade gym class.

Small tangent, I was moving states when they started putting Just Dance 2014 ads on TV. So, I really associate that game with these two weeks I was staying in a hotel before my parents could find an apartment. Troublemaker is a choreo I specifically remember seeing on TV.

When I got a Wii U, I got Just Dance 3 and 4 with it. Later on, I would acquire all the games (except for 1, 2, and 2014) up until 2017. Dude, I played them all the time. The YEARS I spent fixated on those games was insane. Most of my friends didn’t like them, so I didn’t have many people to play with, but it was fine. Also, I would literally point out any song playing on the radio and be like “Thats on Just Dance (insert game here).” I still do that.

Oh, and the first song I got 5 stars on was Me And My Broken Heart on JD 2015! It’s still one of my favorite choreos ;)

AND THEN! My Wii U broke! And instead of trying to find a place to fix it, my brother elected to SMASH IT IN THE BACKYARD WITH A HAMMER!

So I didn’t play much Just Dance after that. I still have all my old game discs, though. And I’d play it with friends at their houses if given the opportunity. Unrelated, but I’m also very unfamiliar with any game that came out after JD 2017 (sans 2023 and 2024) because of The Hammer Incident.

“Oh, gee, Spacey, this is so crazy, how’d the fixation grab you again?” Glad you asked! See, I started seeing edits of the Just Dance 2023 storymode and I went “LORE???? CHARACTERS?????? THEY HAVE NAMES NOW?????? AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”

And I immediately watched the story stuff on YouTube and fell in LOVE! I like the silly little cast! The songs they use in the story modes aren’t my faves, but the CHARACTERS and LORE are what I am here for.

So. Yeah. Then I got 2024 for my Switch (not smashed by hammers) as well as Just Dance+ and I’ve been on that grind ever since. It’s one of those games that I find most people tend to like. It connects people. I’ve kept foreign exchange students at my house, and we wouldn’t be able to hold a long conversation, but we could play Just Dance together. There’s a comfort in that. I could wax poetic on the beauty of Just Dance and its ability to bring people together, but I won’t.

Also, while I do adore the main cast of 2023/2024, I’ve kind of started to take older characters and give them names, personalities, and stories myself! So if you’re going to follow this blog or anything, expect a lot of that.

TLDR: Kindergarten bestie introduced me to Just Dance, was crazy about it for years, it faded into the back of my mind, the 2023 lore got me back into it.

Thank you for the ask! I love yapping!

#spaceys yapping #just dance #this franchise is one of those things that ive just always been obsessed with ig lmao #i need to post about all the funny lore ive given to characters #btw just dance 2-2014 is my favorite era HOWEVER i still like the newer stuff #its just i dont like modern pop music that much lmao so that brings down the newer games for me #but thats just a me thing!

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timextoxhajima · 8 months

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what's the right word?

my first kpop group was snsd when they first released gee back in 2009/2010 and i was 9/10.

i've been stuck in this hole of 'kpop' since. i turn 24 in april. thats more than half my life.

growing up in a conservative asian family and the elder daughter of two teachers, it's not easy to explain the grievances and troubles i feel like i've experienced. some might not even consider it a terrible thing. yes, i've had a good standard of education and had parents who took care of me but sometimes the challenge was truly connecting with people and finding an emotional support.

nobody else can replicate and/or understand the true depth of the love, admiration, inspiration and reliance a fan has on her favourite idols/groups. throughout the years, i've gone through the eras. going from the snsd/shinee/suju era, and then into the bts/exo/vixx/bap era, and then blackpink/red velvet/wanna one/nct and then i feel like my life had a significant trajectory in the 2019-2020 period because i started dancing.

after having spent a decade being so invested in the idol culture of perfecting every single performance, pushing past boundaries and the idea of 'not being enough' being the exact source of motivation, perhaps picking up cover-dancing wasn't the best idea. especially when i come in a package with a bunch of baggage, anxiety, stress, and other perfectionist ideals.

throughout the years before 2019/2020, my reliance on my kpop idols was emotional. i wrote letters to them like they were my best friends, wished them the best of health and that they were always enough, while wishing i was as good as they were (ironic?). to my past loves: sooyoung, donghae, minho, jonghyun, jungkook, baekhyun, kang daniel, irene, jaehyun and the other members who have helped me through alot - i owe my life to them. quite literally.

tbz and enhypen have a special place in my heart. because not only did they become the usual emotional support pillars i had all the while, they became my mentors. an actual source to learn and be better. enhypen even more, because i've covered at least 5-6 of their items.

this growth in myself and the growth i see in them was so quiet but so sudden last night as i filmed their performances. 'oh my god, i danced to this song back in 2022 and now i get to see it live?'

as a fan, i feel more emotional because not only am i a fan who enjoys their music, i feel like i had connected to them on the 'stage performer' level and though i'm still lacking in many, many ways, i owe my progress and improvement to enhypen. they push me both mentally and physically during practises and their want to surpass themselves always reminds me that love knows no boundaries. the love for the stage and the love to be the best version of yourself.

i'm quite sure there's some psychological term for it, when you rely on someone who doesn't know you exist, and that you gain energy just from this person's existence.

the story is much, much longer but i could write a whole fic about it if i wanted to.

to my strength, my (probably last) love, heeseung.

i could write a billion words about you, and it would still not be enough to share how much of my life, my success, my motivation, my strength i owe to you. the love between a fan and an idol can only go so far, but i promise it will be forever.

i have a knack for choosing the members who seem to be the 'ace' of the group, but you are so unapologetically open about being a perfectionist. that's just my opinion. you know you want to be at your best, and you strive so hard to get there, sometimes i almost feel sad that you think you're not yet perfect. but then again, that's the very thing that makes me look up to you.

saw you for the first time and probably the last time last night. thank you for reigniting this want to surpass myself in every way possible. thank you for reminding me that lacking is the only way up.

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uriekukistan · 9 months

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right so here i am w MORE URIE BALLET HCS

- the first time urie went to a ballet class was against his will

- i wanna say hsiao took the quinx bc the way i see her move in the manga reminds me of a dancer…yeah she probably goes for cross training or smth

- urie was pretty reluctant and not looking forward to it at all. probably thought it was a waste of time

- but he so quickly came to love it. like by the time they were done with tendus (literally the second thing you do in a ballet class)

- i wanna say he was one of those people who didnt think much of ballet and ballet dancers, but after that class he really came to respect the art

- i’ve said before that i think he would appreciate the way it combines all of his fav hobbies - the creativity of art, the athleticism of working out, and ofc we rarely see him not listening to music in his headphones

- but i think what he likes most is the structure and discipline of ballet

- he’s someone who has a lot of thoughts at all times. ballet classes are very predictable and you should be focusing on the technique, so your brain kinda goes quiet. i think he would appreciate that

- anyway after that first class he’d kinda get obsessed w ballet but he would keep it to himself

- his fav company is the bolshoi ballet btw

- after a few weeks of obsessing, he would finally go to another class, but he would figure out when hsiao went and specifically go on different days. or he would straight up find a completely different studio

- idk why he’s so hellbent on hiding this new hobby bc you know the quinxes would be supportive as fuck

- the teacher really likes him because he’s always super focused and looking for corrections

- so the teacher asks him if he’d be interested in performing in the nutcracker with the company they’re part of (omg time for my fav urie ballet hc)

- urie hesitantly accepts because he really does enjoy ballet but he’s worried he’s not good enough and also that the quinxes will find out (again- why???)

- so he ends up being the cavalier for the sugar plum pas de deux, which he’s kinda like ???? because other than the nutcracker prince it’s one of the most coveted male roles in the nutcracker

- he’s also never done partnering before so he’s kinda nervous. very shy in rehearsals but also very cooperative with his partner. he wants to do well in everything so he works very hard and always asks for tips and feedback from his teacher and his partner

- he also finally comes clean to the quinxes about where he sneaks off to every night and theyre so excited to come see him dance. he thought they would tease him, but no one does because they can see how much it means to him

- they all come and sit in the front row. saiko also told takeomi and yoriko, and kaneki and touka so they all come too and urie is lowkey mortified

- he slays tho as expected

the dance if u were interested! one of my personal favs! this was so long omg

also his dream role is prince siegfried from swan lake (bc his fav ballet is swan lake), and he kinda wants to do the russian dance from the nutcracker bc of all the jumps

#local ballerina tokyo ghoul stan speaks again #damn i really rambled with this one #i have lots of urie ballet thoughts #urie kuki #tokyo ghoul #tgre #tokyo ghoul :re #kuki urie #tokyo ghoul headcanon

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devilh0rnsinc · 8 months

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AWLRIGHTTT, just a quick reminder that on this day, "bob actually" released ❤️ how do you feel about this special episode?

*sigh*

Well, you asked for this!

This episode means a lot to me. Weird, a silly Valentine's episode from an adult cartoon means more to me than my childhood pet. No joke!

Bob Actually has to be hands down my favourite Bob's Burgers episode ever. Now I feel some of you reading this going: Oh Devil, you only like it because of the ROUDISE! And you would be correct to some degree. However, this episode is so much more than a shipping moment.

I love the storylines throughout the episode, how they all interlink and create an overall message of love and acceptance, and that nothing can stop love. Now I haven't watched Love Actually (SCANDALOUS) but it's probably similar and they have taken inspiration from it for this episode. Putting that aside, it was still the most plotlines we have ever had in a BB episode, and they did it so well. We had Tina's storyline with her diarrhoea and her sky kiss with JJ, Bob and Teddy taking a dance class with 'Hip Hop' teacher Shelly and Flips White Fudge (Funniest side character ever), Gene with Isabella making Chocolate, Dark chocolate. Linda and Miss Selbo, an underrated and quirky pair that we see again in season 13. And of course Louise, Rudy and Chloe Barbash, and how jealous and protective Louise gets over her friend.

All of these storylines were hilarious and balanced the episode out perfectly. OH and how could I forget Speedo Guy and Mermaid-Unicycle Girl!

This was the first episode I ever saw of Bob's so I may look at this episode through Rose-tinted glasses, but I don't care. I still enjoy the episode to this day, and that's all that matters, isn't it? It's a timeless classic.

Of course, Louise and Rudy were a massive part of this, and they were the first ship that I ever drew fanart for. And just for Lols here is my first fanart of them compared to my latest:

2019 - 2024... Crazy right.

These two got me to where I am today! An awesome YouTube channel where I met a ton of amazing people, I literally found some friends for life on there. Some amazing mutuals on here and Insta sharing my passion for these little dweebs. And then finally creating art for others and starting up my own projects. I mean it gets me emotional sometimes...

AND THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THAT EPISODE.

So yeah I love Bob Actually... And I have watched it many (20) times, and I will be watching it again tonight.

Thank you for the ask <3

#bob’s burgers #regular sized rudy #louise belcher #roudise #louwheeze #asks #questions #bob actually

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disregardcanon · 5 months

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Toh npmd au for my own personal amusement

First thing’s first: character assignments

Amity as Steph

Luz as Pete

Willow and Gus as Ruth and Richie

Boscha as Max

Hunter as Grace

Odalia and Belos both as parts of Mayor Lauter

Setting details: it’s still in Gravesfield, CT which still has its same Puritan vs witches branding. The mascot is a pilgrim and that IS Gus in the suit. Who has more school spirit than Augustus Porter? (No one.)

So a few changes I’m making to make the toh cast slot a bit easier into the framework

Belos is a fundamentalist preacher who’s raising his “niece”. Yes he DID kill Caleb and Charlotte. No one knows tho. It was lords in black related. Does that make it better? eh

Hunter is trans masc and a TOTAL egg. Right now, he’s a very enthusiastic little warrior for purity culture. Yes, he’s trying to get the dance canceled, YES he’s bullied a lot for being a “nerdy prude”. Not gonna dead name him but. He wouldn’t realize he’s a guy until significantly after the events of this musical

Luz has NOT been in amity’s class since the 1st grade. She only moved here a year ago

Amity is still the mayor’s daughter and she and Boscha used to date. Amity’s stopped actively bullying people after they broke up and she’s felt like, guilty about it, but she’s never seen how much more.. Physical? Boscha’s bullying got than hers did. Sure, Amity was a queen of psychological warfare, but she never beat people up in the parking lot.

Luz moves to Gravesfield during her junior year of high school. Amity and Boscha on the cusp of breaking up, so things are changing in their social hierarchy. For one, Amity is backing away from bullying and the spotlight and for two Boscha is getting WORSE. She when Luz moves in and aligns herself with “half-a-woman Willow” and Steve Urkel.. She’s thrown to the bottom of the school hierarchy immediately. Looney Lulu is what comes to mind first.

Enter Boscha: literal monster, best quarterback in the school’s history and the first girl (she works that angle as hard as she can), and QUEEN of the school. She’s amity’s ex and like… mainly over her.

Okay, who are we kidding? She’s not over her. Not at all. Boscha decides to put all her “trying to make amity jealous and take me back” energy into seducing amity’s least favorite student: local nerdy prude, preacher’s “niece” wittebane.

Hunter and amity do NOT get along. At all. They’re duking it out for the valedictorian spot, their respective guardians are pitting them against each other, and they both just find the other… insufferable.

So trying to bag the “girl” who’s the forbidden fruit and maybe making amity mad enough to take her back with it too? It’s worth a try, at least.

Amity, meanwhile, is failing theater. She’s getting very frustrated and flustered and asks luz to be her scene partner so maybe she doesn’t fall on her ass. Luz is nervous because this is Amity Blight, super cool girl who used to be very mean to willow and now isn’t really a bully but is just? Way cooler than they are? Amity’s able to talk her into it.

The teacher heaps a LOT of praise onto them and their chemistry and promises them good grades in the future if they keep working with each other. This leads to amity calling luz and trying to set up the pasqualli’s date.

Boscha, meanwhile, is cornering hunter near the gym where he’s protesting the concept of dancing. He gets freaked out when boscha starts getting very very flirty and he gets really flustered because? Girl? Girl flirt with me? Also a girl? Hahahaha NO I AM NOT GAY I AM NOT- and he’s having a little sexuality crisis. Willow, who’s done putting up with boscha’s shit right here in the school building, hurls a waterbottle across the room in between them.

Hunter SPRINTS away because OH BOY I WAS EXPERIENCING SOMETHING STRANGE AND UNWELCOME NO THANK YOU NO THANK YOU- and then he finds out that newly buff and gaining more confidence willow is the one who saved him. And she’s just like oh yeah anytime. No one should corner other people like that. And his little heart is going bEEPBEEPBEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEPPP and the rest of his body is not calming down either, ya know?

Unwanted sexual attractions experienced by local nerdy prude today: 2. Fantasies experienced in the bathtub: 2 very, very different ones in a single sequence.

Luz gets the shit kicked out of her at pasqualli’s because she runs into boscha before she finds amity and she’s like no i’m not gonna cower AMITY BLIGHT INVITED ME HERE! And. that. DOES NOT GO WELL

Willow is ready to go to war over this when they get to school the next morning because she WARNED luz that amity wasn’t to be trusted and look? Look what happened! And luz is like yeah you also said i should stand up for myself- and willow’s like husssshhh.

They plan a prank in the bathroom that goes very poorly. Hunter writes gus a detention slip for being in the girls’ bathroom (he should have written himself one too!) and then they prank the shit out of Boscha.

To the point she. You know. Dies. then they have to dismember her at hunter’s urging! Hooray!!!!

Cue peace and love at the high school :) until poor gus dies. I’m sorry dude! You’re the mascot you were cursed. Of course the quarterback was going after you first.

Boscha goes after luz second because she’s the dweeb who thought that she could steal boscha’s girl. Luckily for luz and amity both, they were together at this point and they RUN as fast as they can. Luz demands they go find willow because she’s probably the next victim, and they find her mid-boscha kill. She lost an arm because boscha was trying to take the “half-a-” thing to its logical, puny extreme. They rush her off to the hospital. The police come to question them.

And then pastor wittebane comes with hunter in tow. He pulls something with the police about the parks wanting him to perform a protestant equivalent of anointing of the sick on their ailing daughter.

Pastor wittebane very clearly knows what happened.

“I thought you were gonna keep the beans cool!” Amity demands.

“I couldn’t,” hunter tells her.

“Fucking useless, wittebane,” amity mutters.

Pastor wittebane glares at all of them. “You are going to get in my car and come with me.”

“That sounds bad,” luz says, “my mom told me to never be one on one with religious officials.”

“Fine,” he says, “if you’d like to be the next victim, be my guest.”

They all get in the car, except Willow, who’s bed-bound. (Luckily, since she’s already in the hospital, boscha thinks of her as less of a kill count priority.)

Belos takes them out ot the middle of the woods and makes them dig up the black book. Then boscha kills him! We DO get boscha killing belos, so i think that’s a win. They flee the scene, run into some cops, then make it to the high school to complete the ritual.

We’ve got amity, luz, and hunter on the floor of the gym summoning the evil teletubbies. The evil teletubbies REALLY want amity to kill luz. They get to have their cool as i think i am reprise <3 and then the bullet leaves the gun and boscha catches it. Because she is very, very excited to do luz in personally. She’s still debating whether or not she’s gonna end amity, but luz IS going to die. In front of amity. For absolutely certain.

Boscha’s getting ready to take care of another nerdy prude when hunter bursts out like HELLO YES! I AM READY TO HAVE THE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE! And boscha’s just like… whut? And then he gets very flirty and goes along with the stuff that she was saying earlier, and he’s.. Legit into it. Sure, flirting with hunter was half to spite amity, but she’s still very turned on by the idea of corrupting the perfect angel church girl into having hot and heavy sex with her on the football field. And making amity watch? That’s a bonus. Maybe she’ll get a threesome out of it.

Hunter sends boscha to hell with the power of his jesus freak virginity, luz and amity have sixteen different crises, and willow lives to hear the whole crazy tale. Luz and willow mourn gus, hunter goes through the weird process of mourning his uncle while also realizing he’s glad that the guy’s gone and gets to know the shoulder ANGEL part of the shoulder angel and shoulder devil fantasy he was experiencing, and amity hides the book away in her own personal safe to try to keep it away from bad actors.

It doesn’t keep it safe from mayor odalia blight, but… that’s not going to be that big of a deal.. Right? RIGHT?!?!?!

#toh aus #lumity #huntlow #npmd

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zalrb · 10 months

Text

Something Something Walter Boys 1x01 Review.

I am already crying at the delivery of this dialogue. What have I gotten myself into?

"This is so awesome, I can't believe you pulled it off" literally people are just dancing. What exactly is amazing about this?

I know that a Gen Z somewhere can deliver dialogue without it being stilted. I know they exist.

If Jackie is SO good at this, she should be walking around and talking with her friend instead standing in one spot the entire time. Jesus Christ, be Caroline. Be Marissa.

"Oh my god, this is going to be the best night ever!" I mean, is it?

Oh, Donna, I already know you deserve better.

Btw, 9 times out of 10, I will probably call Catherine Donna because she's Donna.

Those eyes make me feel unsafe in my own home. I'm not even sure who this boy is even though he was just introduced.

They're trying to make this house seem chaotic and it's one boy on a skateboard. A contained swordfighting scene and a dog in a pool.

Jackie is cute and it's all of these ugly to mediocre white boys omg.

LIKE, THEY GAVE AN ENTRANCE FOR THIS?

No no no no no no no, if it's not this

I DON'T WANT IT

"Don't worry about it, New York". They couldn't come up with something better?

Why wouldn't they clear the bedroom of Donna's art supplies ?

"She has to learn how to take a bit of rough and tumble, she'll never survive here otherwise" your lives seem pretty cush, it's not like you're all working on the orchard or doing chores or doing any sort of work/labour to help out on the land when she arrives. You're swimming in a pool.

Well, she's moving her entire life here of course she has a lot of stuff?? This is supposed to indicate that she's sheltered or spoiled or something but she's literally uprooting her life. That comes with boxes.

I AM SO SORRY ABOUT ALBERT. He sprayed her with water, he didn't jump on her or anything.

Donna is actually acting and is natural and just commands the space and everyone else is stilted af.

This exposition dump is KILLING me.

"the rough and tumble"

Ah yes, taking the obligatory apple for breakfast instead of eating a meal.

The only reason why I'm going to remember Cole's name is because his hair fills me with rage.

I'm trying hard to be sympathetic to Jackie because you know her family died and she's in a new city and in a new school but please get out of the damn car. You're moving SLOW. Have anxiety about not knowing where your classes are while you're walking to the school entrance.

"Not like them fancy Manhattan schools, huh?" I mean, even Spence looks like this

it's a building. Relax.

everything about this person infuriates me. this looks like a HORRIBLE kiss

also, wouldn't you go to the office to get your schedule? Do Colorado schools not have offices because they just can't keep up with New York?

"can you stand up and tell us something about yourself?" I have never experienced anything like that when a new student came to class when I was in high school. It was just a "this is xyz. take a seat." and then we moved on.

And wouldn't teachers be briefed on the fact that her family died in an accident beforehand? O for 2, Colorado.

Is that Alex? I'm not entirely sure he's human.

I'm also partially convinced Cole is actually AI.

We never actually got letter grades outside of elementary school.

This is a horrible guidance counsellor. Get her more challenging classes if she wants them. She has a goal to get into Princeton, don't just be like "that's a tough school to get into" if you want to introduce backups to her, you can be like there are lots of other great schools to add to your roster.

"My last school was very supportive of my goals" and the guidance counsellor wants to talk about how she stopped seeing her friends, which fine, you want to make sure she's coping and emotionally stable and has a well-rounded life but don't dismiss this girl's academic goals, jesus christ.

"This is a good school" then put her in some AP classes, what the HELL?

Oh, they don't have many for her year. Well.

"Princeton will understand." NO THEY WON'T. BITCH, YOU'RE A GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR?

LMAO, sorry, I think I'm having flashbacks to my own high school experience where I had to fight to be taken seriously about my average and wanting to get into top schools in Canada and with particular teachers telling me to settle.

I had to look up how old the actor who plays Cole is because I was like, sir, you are like 27 year old man pretending to be 10 years younger and it's not working for you. You can't pull it off. (He's 25).

He's supposed to be using his pretty privilege to cut the line but he isn't pretty so I'm just confused.

And he isn't charming.

"Do you like her?" She has been there for literally a day.

So, are we just not going to talk about racism? In Colorado?

a) who runs into class like that? b) "Hey, Sky, you know that new girl who was sitting with Cole?" "Yeah, she's right beside you." That's all you needed to say. This is SO contrived. I'm DYING.

Kylie, Jackie, Skyler jesus christ. This sounds like a wattpad story.

"Jackie's landed in boy heaven" Girl, you need to get out more.

I will also remember Grace's name because I want to murder her.

Oh God no, she talks and I can't do it. Shut UP.

"Miss J Crew." "Um, it's Ralph Lauren??" could've been funny if any of these people could act.

I also like how Cole's not-girlfriend is talking about how vanilla Jackie's clothes are and she's dressed in the most basic bitch outfit.

"I'm not buying this little Orphan Annie act" ... I mean her entire family did die though, do you think she faked that?

Also, Jackie embarrassing whatsherface means nothing when it isn't in front of other people that matter to whatsherface. This should be in front of all of whatsherface's friends including Cole. This is just basic teen drama logic.

Grace opens her mouth --

me:

I'm not sure why I didn't number these.

This is a pretty lax ranch or orchard or whatever.

Her hair is distracting

"Any other dangerous animals I should know about?" I mean, I don't think they would have a venomous snake just roaming about.

Cole is not charismatic enough for this.

oh my god, the boy who grew up around horses knows how to take care of horses, he's SO sweet. jesus christ.

AND SHE PET THE HORSE AND CALLED THE HORSE BEAUTIFUL SO HE'S LOOKING AT HER LIKE SHE'S BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE NO OTHER GIRL IN THE HISTORY OF HIS EXISTENCE EVER PET A HORSE.

Oh thank god it's over.

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babylon-crashing · 1 year

Text

tarot of syssk [booklet]

We live as we dream ... alone. ~ Joseph Conrad.

Originally I intended to use as many gender neutral terms as possible, settling on honorific titles like Sovereign, Ruler, Mx, Sonkeigo and Sensei (both Japanese terms for teacher), but I ran out of words, so I fell back on Mother, Crone, Lord, Lady, Master and Mistress as well. I am always open to suggestions if there are other ideas.

Each card is written in English, as well as Japanese and a made-up language called Galactic Basic (Syssk's mother tongue). Since a lot of choices that I made fall under the “Rule of Cool” heading (see: it seemed like a good idea at the time) in hindsight I see how foreign languages might be confusing, as if they're hiding vital information needed to understand each card. They're not. They could be removed entirely and the card would still be the same.

The decks I consulted in designing the cards were The Rider-Waite deck, The Barbara Walker Tarot, The Hermetic Tarot and Yonas Lunata's Qabalistic Tarot.

Since symbolism only works if a person can recognize the symbols being used here are my notes for cards that differ enough from The Rider-Waite deck as to be confusing:

[0] THE FOOL.

Childlike. Adventurous. Spontaneous. [R] Naive. Overly Optimistic. Not looking before the leap.

Notes: In Shintoism (Japan's native religion) the Torii Gate behind Syssk represents the border between the secular world and the sacred and acts as a passageway into a shrine's sacred space. It is the cliff in The Rider-Waite deck. The beckoning good luck cat is called Maneki-Neko, and ceramic versions can be found in shops and restaurants throughout Japan as a way of welcoming customers in.

[I] THE WITCH: Onibaba.

Self-confidence. Delight in Occult studies. Talented performer. [R] Manipulation. Lies. Power for the sake of power.

Notes: Onibaba literally means, “demon woman,” and plays many roles associated with European witches and witchcraft. The symbol behind her is a bagua, used in Taoist magic to represent the fundamental principles of reality. Because this card corresponds to the Magician, I included the four elemental symbols of water, air, fire and earth, as well as a cup, a coin, a wand and a pentagram to round things out. For more information on Onibaba, I suggest Kaneto Shindo's 1964 masterpiece of the same name.

[II] HIGH PRIESTESS.

Experience. Wisdom. Intuition. Teacher. [R] Using knowledge without wisdom. Two left feet. Unbalanced.

Notes: In The Rider-Waite deck the High Priestess is static; she sits in a chair, holding a book of wisdom and not really doing anything else. Learning wisdom, however, comes in many forms and here it is all about dancing as an ancient form of praying for rain. Dressed as dragons, people would dance and beseech the gods for another fruitful year.

[III] EMPRESS.

Motherly. Growth. Nurturing. Abundance. [R] Shallow. Ignoring the bigger picture. TERF.

Notes: While the Empress here is the same as found in The Rider-Waite deck, the background depicts what royal childbirth was like in ancient Japan, which I found fascinating.

[IV] EMPEROR.

Architect. Laws. Authority figure. [R] Loves chaos. Patriarch. Control freak.

[V] HIEROPHANT.

Blending of traditions. Knows some dance steps. Gives good advice. [R] Counseling needed. Can't think for oneself. Drowning in dogma.

Notes: One of the curious strengths of Shintoism is its willingness to blend in with other, outside religions. Like the dancing found in the High Priestess, here a Shinto priest dances to Syssk's drumming, while Buddha and a Taoist monk look on.

[VI] LOVERS.

Romance. Sharing. Equal partnership. [R] Separation. Arguments. Incompatible partnership.

[VII] PALANQUIN.

Drive. Ambition. Understands what makes things go. [R] Procrastination. Mind-forg'd manacles. Can't move forward.

[VIII] STRENGTH.

Confident. In control. Inner resources. [R] Drained. Depression. Fear.

[IX] HERMIT.

Meditation. Alone by choice. Finding answers in oneself. [R] Unwanted loneliness. Withdrawn. Need for introspection.

[X] WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

Prosperity. Windfalls. Paid your dues. [R] Stuck in a rut. Refusing change. Afraid of taking chances.

[XI] JUSTICE.

Fair assessment of oneself. Desire for equality. Karma. [R] Out of balance. Unfair treatment. Ill fate.

Notes: Taking a more psychological approach to this card, Syssk looks in the mirror and sees her shadow side looking back. Until we can be impartial in judging ourselves we are unfit to judge others.

[XII] GALLOW'S TRUTH.

Sacrifice for wisdom. Suspension of disbelief. Calm before the Storm. [R] Indecision. Literal hang ups. Impatience for outcome.

[XIII] DEATH.

Cosmic transformation. New outlook. Letting go. [R] Fear of change. Living in the past. Need to let go.

[XIV] TEMPERANCE.

Blending of Heaven and Earth. Compromise. Tolerance. [R] Need for moderation. Lack of indulgence. Addiction.

[XV] DEVIL: The Four Noble Truths.

Shadow self, unhealthy attachment, addiction. [R] Releasing one's own limiting beliefs, exploring dark thoughts, separation from the world around you.

Notes:In The Rider-Waite tarot, The Devil is all about unhealthy attachments, restrictions and fear of one’s own sexuality. In other words, all the negative aspects of your personality that you need to work on. Here I focused on an idea from Buddhism that there are four aspects of being human that no one can escape from: that [1] we all suffer, [2] our suffering has a cause, but also [3] there is a solution to end our suffering and it’s up to you to decide if you want to [4] do what it takes reach that end. The Four Noble Truths. The demon on the right side of the card comes from an ancient legend about an Oni (a mountain demon) who fell in love with Buddhism and decided to walk the path of enlightenment, even though everyone else would still only see a monster. This is, ironically, the same situation Syssk finds herself in but instead of seeing a kindred soul all she sees is an Other (an Other othering another).

[XVI] TOWER.

Chaos. Sudden Change. Destruction. [R] Time to grow and move on. Rebuilding with a clean slate.

[XVII] STAR.

Hope. Dreams. Goals. [R] Losing hope. Disillusioned. Depressed.

[XVIII] MOON.

Imagination. Visions. Infatuation. [R] Self-deception. Insecurity. Hazy understanding.

[XIX] SUN: Dancing for Amaterasu Omikami.

Dancing for liberation. Glee. Restoring cosmic order. [R] Dark days. Unfulfillment. Turning away from the light.

Notes: Another example of dancing for the divine. In the Shinto creation story, the goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu Omikami, (for complicated reasons) hid herself away in a cave and let the world grow cold and barren. The goddess of the dawn, Ame-no-Uzume, realizing that something had to be done, invited all the humans to the mouth of the cave and performed such wild dancing that the Sun goddess reemerged to see what all the laughter and dancing was about. Thus, burlesque dancing saved the world, once again.

[XX] JUDGMENT: Seppuku.

Self-annihilation only way to save face. Making logical decisions. Practicality. [R] Bad Karma. Poor Judgment. Dishonor.

Notes: Even if a person knows nothing about Japanese history they've probably at least heard of the warrior-class called the samurai and how they often committed hara kira (seppuku) ritualized cutting open of their stomachs to atone for some sort of sin. In The Rider-Waite deck, uses the Christian idea of divine judgment, with Archangel Gabriel blowing a horn and zombies rising up out of the ground, hungry for brains. Here, though, the day of judgment is always at hand since your lord might, for any reason at all, order you to commit suicide in one of the more painful ways imaginable. No salvation, no good deeds or bad deeds weighing down your soul, no sitting at the right hand of the Patriarchy, just the atrocious need to save face and the horrific lengths that some people will go to carry out their lord's wishes.

[XXI] RETURN TO THE VOID.

Endings and beginnings. Cycles. Success. [R] Delay in fulfillment. Lost. Unable to accept change.

Notes: In The Rider-Waite deck, the World is all about completion. Here Syssk's exile on Earth is over. Her rainbow UFO is fixed, she leaves terra firma for the celestial heavens, clutching her beloved katana sword, the only souvenir of her adventures that she takes with her.

[XXII] HAPPY RABBIT.

Wild Card.

Notes: This card can be left out, if one wants. It is modeled after the Happy Squirrel, a joke that appeared in an episode of The Simpsons, when Lisa goes to get a reading done. (“Is that bad?” “Perhaps, the cards are vague and mysterious.”) It has since shown up in actual decks, though for the life of me I cannot figure out what to do with it besides give a nod to Stan Sakai's epic tale of Usagi Yojimbo, a masterless samurai rabbit, who wanders the roads of Edo-period Japan and was a big influence in my formative years. I reused two of figures from the 10 of Wand's Mistress of Artful Trickery (a kitsune fox-spirit) and drummer.

__________________________________________________

[COINS]

[0] ACE OF COINS: Sovereign of the Earth's Roots.

Magnetism. Ideas for making money. Working with hands. [R] Lack of creativity. Money woes. Singing the Blues.

[2] OF COINS: Ruler of the Syndicate.

Multitasking. Business partnership. Financial harmony. [R] Trouble juggling responsibilities. Distracted. Chaos.

Notes: Originally this was titled, “Ruler of Multitasking,” since the 2 of Pentacles in The Rider-Waite deck is all about balancing multiple priorities, except “multitasking” feels like such a modern term, it just felt off. I discovered, however, that one of the older definitions of the word, “Syndicate,” concerns itself with harmonious group work … though its modern usage is almost entirely mob-related. Perhaps there is a better term somewhere.

[3] OF COINS: Lord of the Joint Venture.

Communal work. Craftsmanship. Apprenticeship. [R] Unskilled. Unprepared for upcoming tasks. Problematic individualism.

[4] OF COINS: Mx of Earthly Powers.

Working the Earth. Honest labor. Financial stability. [R] Poor stewardship. Salting the Earth. Failure to understand growth.

[5] OF COINS: Master Destitution: the Ronin's Path.

Abandoned. Living paycheck to paycheck. No security. [R] Recovering from disaster. Temporarily unemployed. Returning to work.

Notes: If a samurai was a warrior who served a lord or lady, then a samurai who had (through many different ways) lost their lord or lady was called a ronin. Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo is such a person, wandering the land on a musha shugyo (warrior's spiritual pilgrimage), occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. Sakai, in turn, was greatly influenced by samurai movies of his childhood, such as Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1961), from which Sergio Leone heavily “borrowed” the idea for his Spaghetti Western, A Fistful of Dollars (1963). The term ronin means, “to be cast adrift upon the waves,” without family, friends or financial support.

[6] OF COINS: Sensei of Resources.

Asking for what you need. Gifts. Inheritance. [R] Not getting help from others. Having to quickly pay back debts. Bad credit.

[7] OF COINS: Mst of Bitter Profit.

Hard work leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. [R] Climbing to the top. Indifference in coworkers' suffering.

[8] OF COINS: Qy of Sagacity.

Wise in the way of Money Magic. Taking on an apprentice. Education is liberation. [R] Losing interest in school or work. World-weary.

[9] OF COINS: Sonkeigo of Abundance.

Reaping what you sow. Money is stable and growing. An sea of opportunity. [R] Unexpected expenses. Exhausting one's resources.

[10] OF COINS: Mistress of Uncanny Wealth.

Finding riches in odd places. Money is good or will be so soon. Secure and stable finances. [R] Major financial loss. May have to burn down the business and flee on foot. Crazy setbacks.

[11] ONNA-MUSHA OF COINS: Champion of a Rich Harvest.

Free market rules! Beginning a new career. Abundance of merchandise. [R] Village market starting to hate you. Delays in beginning the reaping. No one wants what you're selling.

Notes: Corresponding to the Page of Pentacles, here Syssk and a friend have come to sell the rich harvest of the 4 of Coins at market. There is some debate about whether female samurai existed (why it is important for some people to say that historical warriors, like Hangaku Gozen, ‎Nakano Takeko, ‎Niijima Yae and ‎Ohori Tsuruhime weren't samurai, but rather simply high ranking women from samurai families, trained in the Way of the Blade, who fought in battles, I don't know)‎ however, the term used to describe such people is Onna-Musha. The nice thing about telling a story of a xenomorph marooned on Earth is that no one will accuse me of being historically accurate; if you can suspend your disbelief long enough to accept Syssk you can also embrace Onna-Musha as samurais as well, I suppose.

[12] SAMURAI OF COINS: Knight of the Verdant Green.

Satisfaction from an important job. Moving up in the world. Trees love you. [R] Unexpected change in job. Boss out to get you. Coworkers can't wait to see you fired.

[13] SEISHITSU OF COINS: Lady of the Forced Profits of the Earth.

Materialistic. Gold digger. Trouble handling practical money matters. [R] Unselfishness. Generosity. Has the Golden Touch.

Notes: The Queen in The Rider-Waite deck and tying in with the 5 of Coins' concept of destitution, a wealthy elite is served the best food that the restaurant can offer while in the background, poor Syssk, without a single coin to her name, curls into a fetal ball and wishes (not for the last time) that she was back home.

[14] DAIMYO OF COINS: Lord of the Joys of Capitalism.

Good business sense. Making Robber Barons sexy again. Obsessively industrial. [R] Monopolizing power. Delights in inequality. Blind to the machinery of capitalism being oiled with the blood of the workers.

Notes: Daimyo is the term used for Kings in ancient Japan; in this case, the King of Merchants (for what it's worth.)

__________________________________________________

[CUPS]

[0] ACE OF CUPS: Sovereign of the Root of Riotous Water.

New relationships. Sensuality. Birth. [R] New relationships delayed. Next step delayed. Troubled pregnancy.

[2] OF CUPS: Ruler of the Fertile Imagination.

Romantic passion. Equal and balanced relationship. Sharing mutual feelings. [R] Unbalanced desires. Unrequited love. Not attuned to one's harmony.

[3] OF CUPS: Lord of Dubious Company.

Wild celebrations. Orgies. Going all out. [R] Fear of overindulgence. Bad family gatherings. Addiction.

[4] OF CUPS: Mx of Heinous Phantasy.

Striving for more. Dreaming large. Feeding a healthy ego. [R] Unsatisfied. Not realizing the value of one's current state. Boredom.

Notes: In The Rider-Waite deck, the 4 of Cups deals more with issues of apathy and being so narrowly focused as to ignore the world around you. Here, Syssk really loves her blue cup, to the extent that she does not see the helpful Oni (mountain demon) offer up its own, nor the horrific shadow on the wall behind her. Daydreaming is wonderful, except when the world is out to get you and you need to focus.

[5] OF CUPS: Master of the Song of Regret.

Fear of avoidance. Facing unpleasant realities. Lost in nostalgia. [R] The need for struggle. Evolution. Growing pains.

Note: Apparently Syssk can play musical instruments. Even though lover's suicides did happen I see this card more as a cautionary tale about what not to do when you're filled with regret.

[6] OF CUPS: Sensei of Childhood Memories.

Making peace with one's childhood. Past returning with new meanings. Owning one's passions. [R] Horror of family. Outgrowing a relationship or person. Becoming your own toxic parent.

Note: The Barbara Walker Tarot talks about the 6 of Cups being about childhood traumas and memories. Of course Syssk would also have some sort of parent somewhere and in this case it is Xenomorph Queen from the Alien franchise. It's a side of her past that she doesn't like to talk about, probably because the only thing xenomorphs seem to do in these movies is drool and screech … so much alien drool. Some families are so embarrassing that the only thing you can do is change your name and flee to an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea. (Thank you, Douglas Adams)

[7] OF CUPS: Mst of Uncertain Opportunities.

Discovering your inner road map. Idealism. Loving all your children ardently. [R] Too many dreams without plans. Lacking passion. Dreams turn to whimsy.

[8] OF CUPS: Qy of Abandoned Dreams.

Leaving the past behind. Owning one's loneliness. Follow through. [R] Lack of closure. Imaginary slights. Settling for the mundane.

[9] OF CUPS: Sonkeigo of the Blade.

Achieved goals and dreams. Skilled master. Uniqueness of craft. [R] Smugness. Unrealistic goals. Not knowing one's limits.

Note: One of my goals with this deck was to make it easy enough to understand so that a reader wouldn't need to know about samurai, their Bushido code of ethics and/or Japanese history (so, naturally I slapped Japanese text on each card because being inconsistent is something that I apparently strive for). The Way of the Blade is, briefly, the idea that a warrior can and will cultivate an, “implacable fighting spirit to overcome their enemies.” How one wants to define an, “implacable fighting spirit,” is left up to the reader to decide; however, for me it means honing your skills until you are a master at whatever it is that you're doing. In that way it hearkens back to The Rider-Waite idea of contentment, satisfaction and gratitude.

[10] OF CUPS: Mistress of Sublime Harmony.

Dreams coming true. Love and familiar surrounding. Comfort. [R] Happiness delayed. Troubled commitments.

[11] ONNA-MUSHA OF CUPS: Champion of Rebellious Floods.

Crossing life's floods with help. Growth from self-reflection. [R] Lack of patience for ones own needs. Need for reflection. Immaturity.

[12] SAMURAI OF CUPS: Knight of the Purifying Cascades.

Willingness to heal. Emotional growth. Spiritual meditation. [R] Ignoring pain. Pushing oneself too hard. No sense of humor.

[13] SEISHITSU OF CUPS: Lady of the Sovereignty of Waters.

Powerful. Life-giving. Cyclical like the tides. [R] Oversensitive. Chaotic emotions. Destructive love.

[14] DAIMYO OF CUPS: Lord of the Turning Waterwheel.

Karmic completion. Just parent. Gentle law maker. [R] Weak nature. Unreliable. Natural born cheater.

__________________________________________________

[SWORDS]

[0] ACE OF SWORDS: Sovereign of the Root of the Air.

Beauty. New Ideas. Empire of the senses. [R] Lacking curiosity. Overbearing. Confusion.

[2] OF SWORDS: Ruler of Peace through Power.

No compromises. Battle of wills. Standstill. [R] Reconciliation. Compromise. Accommodating difficulties.

Note: During the late Edo period in Japanese history almost every large family had a family crest that was worn on the right and left sides of their kimonos. Samurai crests usually featured flowers of some sort, falling leaves, cranes in flight or sacred trees. At some point I decided that Syssk needed a crest as well, so I settled on a stylized version of the face-hugger parasite from the Alien movies (the first stage of xenomorph development after it leaves the egg). The purpose of this card was summed up nicely when Frank Herbert wrote, “Absolute power attracts the corruptible.” Under the right set of circumstances we are all corruptible, even visitors from the celestial kingdom.

[3] OF SWORDS: Lord of the Moon's Sorrow.

Balancing one's feelings. Healthy friendships. Riding the turbulence. [R] Love triangle. Jealousy. Heartache.

[4] OF SWORDS: Mx of the Respite before the Storm.

Recovery. Rest. Recuperate. [R] Sensing upcoming doom. Cutting recovery short. Dread.

Note: A trope that runs through some horror literature is the idea that monsters, while they can assume the shape of a mortal, are often undone when their shadows reveal their true, monstrous form. Of course this only works if a person is observant enough to pay attention to such things and not, as Syssk and her friend are doing, get caught up in fantastical story telling, oblivious to the danger sitting right in front of them. Often we think that the storm we must face is far off and we have time to recover, when, in fact, it has already consumed us.

[5] OF SWORDS: Master of Defeat.

Exile. Deceit. Hidden or old enemies surfacing. [R] Ugly truth revealed. Detachment emotions. Coldness.

[6] OF SWORDS: Sensei of Senseless Struggles.

Realizing the path forward isn't the best. Campaigning. Following your own path. [R] Blinded by bad directions. Out of the frying pan into the fire.

[7] OF SWORDS: Mother of Betrayal.

Getting played. Being used. Leaving yourself too open emotionally. [R] Trust issues. Skepticism. Suspicion. Uncertainty.

[8] OF SWORDS: Crone of Ambitious Passing.

Owning who you are. Speaking one's mind. Being fabulous. [R] Walking on eggshells. Fear of independence. Not being true to oneself.

Note: I am a horribly cynical person and this is, perhaps, the most cynical card in the deck. Syssk works hard to try and blend in with the unwashed masses surrounding her and it is a thankless task. She's mastered make-up and how to sit politely, poetry and tea ceremonies, the katana sword and the samurai code of ethics, Bushido. None of this changes the fact that when people see her all they can see is her monstrous appearance and not the enlightened soul. For some of us being an outcast is much more preferable than having to compromise or hide who we really are, but I suspect, for Syssk, that is not an option open to her and everything about this planet is hellish in one form or another. In a world that has yet to invent the steam engine, let alone FTL drive, the endless prattle that the Earth is the center of the universe and that humanity is some sort of beloved pet for a Creator god blew her mind the first time someone said it and every time since. An ancient Zen koan asks, “What is the ocean to a frog living in a well?” Or, to put it slightly differently, in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Ford Prefect (also an alien marooned on Earth), “would often gate-crash university parties, get badly drunk and start making fun of any astrophysicists he could find till he got thrown out … fifteen years was a long time to get stranded anywhere, particularly somewhere as mind-boggingly dull as the Earth.”

[9] OF SWORDS: Sonkeigo of Malice.

Workplace stress. Worried sick. Enabling a bully. [R] Light at the end of a tunnel. Recovery. Burden lifted.

[10] OF SWORDS: Mistress of Painful Endings.

Betrayal. Stabbed in the back. Crash and burn. [R] Learning from mistakes or betrayal. Getting back on feet. Communicating well with others.

[11] ONNA-MUSHA OF SWORDS: Champion of Rejuvenating Zephyrs.

Attention. Grace. Source of springtime. [R] Premature autumn. Crudeness. Disregard.

[12] SAMURAI OF SWORDS: Knight of Typhoons.

Courage. Quickly and unexpected change. Riding out the storm. [R] Pointless violence. Change as disaster.

[13] SEISHITSU OF SWORDS: Lady of the Sea's Sovereignty.

Grace. Rectitude. Hidden powers. [R] Bitter. Delight in drowning fools. Indifferent.

[14] DAIMYO OF SWORDS: Lord of the Raging Winds.

Owning one's own power. Bending reeds and breaking oaks. Sharp mind. [R] Nasty and mean spirited. Abusive. Ball of agitation.

__________________________________________________

[WANDS]

[0] ACE OF WANDS: Sovereign of the Root of the Flames.

Passion. Starting point. Answering the call. [R] Lacking creative thinking. Uninspired. Tunnel vision.

[2] OF WANDS: Ruler of Foreign Influences.

Embracing the alien. Long-distance relationship. Synchronicity. [R] Traditionalism. Incompatibility. Old and moldy.

[3] OF WANDS: Lord of the Far Expanse.

Counseling. Returning home. Third party assistance. [R] Third party interfering. Impulsiveness. Lacking the initiative.

[4] OF WANDS: Mx of Martialed Armies.

Stability. Gathering one's forces. Firm foundation [R] Debilitated commitment. Troubles of cohabitation. Adynamic planning.

Note: This is suppose to be an army on the march but I am unsure if that's apparent.

[5] OF WANDS: Master of Strife.

Serving a fair and just ruler. [R] Serving a vicious and wicked ruler.

Note: The term “Bushido” has been referenced several times so far. I have been calling it a samurai code of ethics, concerning all aspects of moral attitudes, behavior and lifestyle. The best example of its essence comes from Stan Sakai's The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, where the following conversation takes place between our rabbit ronin Usagi and a samurai who serves the antagonist of the story:

Usagi: You'd die for a lord who vilifies you? He doesn't deserve your loyalty!

Torame: I'm a devotee of Bushido, the samurai's code. Do you remember the warrior riddle I told you?

Usagi: “Which more exemplifies Bushido? The samurai who serves a good and fair lord, or the one who faithfully serves a wicked lord?”

Torame: The Samurai who is loyal to his unprincipled master because he who remains faithful even in adversity has the greatest warrior spirit. After all, “samurai” means “to serve” and devotion to your master is paramount.

[6] OF WANDS: Sensei of Nauseous Sacrifice.

Victory at a price. Losing by winning battles. Stress vomiting. [R] Unable to understand why you lost. Disillusioned. Rewards long delayed.

Note: In The Rider-Waite deck, the 6 of Wands deals with public recognition over one’s success. Here, however, the card has more to do having to preform some sort of task that you find personally abhorrent in order to succeed. That, too, usually has very public ramifications (think: selling out for money, or sacrificing a friendship to get ahead) but you’ve decided that failure is not an option, so the ends justify the means, as they say.

[7] OF WANDS: Mother of Valour.

Attacked from all sides. Win battles and playing well with others. [R] Attacked from all sides. Defeat. Feeling drained and stressed.

[8] OF WANDS: Crone of Swiftness.

Expanding horizons through travel. Talking to people or seeing new places. Reading new ideas. [R] Frustration and delays. Can't seem to communicate. How do you make this hawk go?

[9] OF WANDS: Sonkeigo o£ Tenacity.

Bad ass with a katana. Ready and prepared for what is ahead. Good at defeating others. [R] Paranoid from many past battles. All vain pomp. Sound and fury signifying nothing.

[10] OF WANDS: Mistress of Artful Trickery.

Duplicity as a positive thing. Getting others to carry your burden. Looks great with nine tails. [R] Overburdened. Too many responsibilities. Unable to see what is right in front of you.

Note: In Japanese folklore, Kitsune are trickster fox spirits that have the ability to shape shift into human form. The card speaks to the 4 of Sword's warning that a sinister shadow might be concealed in the most charming of outer appearances. In this case the Kitsune is using a life-size puppet to manipulate others, while Syssk, jamming on her biwa in the background, remains oblivious to any danger.

[11] ONNA-MUSHA OF WANDS: Champion of the Luminous Flames.

Companion. Assistant. Helper. [R] Refusing advice. Lone wolf. Getting foolishly burned.

[12] SAMURAI OF WANDS: Knight of Thunderbolts and Lightning.

Person with an inner fire. Using the storm to your advantage. Good at dodging the wrath of the gods. [R] Anticlimax. Thunderbolts and lightning very very frightening. Need for follow through.

[13] SEISHITSU OF WANDS: Lady of the Uncanny Glow.

Eroticism as creative power. Living life to its fullest. MILF. [R] Burns out quickly. Restlessness. Unsatisfied.

Note: The erotic nature of our lives is profoundly spiritual. Since Syssk is the avatar for the reader the question of where Syssk falls in the sexuality spectrum has come up and while she is certainly intersexual (bodies that fall outside the strict male/ female binary) trying to define an alien species in human terms will only take us so far. She identifies as a “she/ her,” and while she is curious about the concepts of sex and romance she has yet to find anyone willing to teach or share. Perhaps she is Panromantic (someone who can experience attraction to anyone regardless of gender identity, sex or anatomy) or perhaps she is Demisexual (someone who does not experience attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection first), but what is important is that it's something only Syssk herself can decide upon and, as of this writing, she is still weighing all her possibilities.

[14] DAIMYO OF WANDS: Lord of the Song of the Turbulent Fire.

Owning one's self. Charming. Legendary. [R] Forked tongue. Smooth talker who is massively insincere. Sucka MC.

__________________________________________________

Originally the deck was going to feature astronauts and their Alien familiars. But that path would lead only to issues of copyright infringement, which is why Syssk ended up looking the way that she does and not like this:

[Magician]

[The Hanged One]

#syssk #tarot #tarot of syssk #myart

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ladytheoris · 1 year

Text

The Adventure in Jujutsu High

Warning: Mahito (it sums up almost everything), crackfic

Words:

AN: I hate Mahito, and I use every possible way to show my hate to him. Manga readers can vouch for that hate.

Pick Me

In this school, every student has different opinions on everything. Be it be the fact that their hate for Todo who did nothing -literally, or their hate for their ex-principal, or their opinion about having baseball as an event for the annual sports day, it is always different.

But one thing they all can be together on is their opinion about a certain student; Mahito. Nobody knows where or how this one became a student. A person who has stitches all over his body, and the ones who drop off him at school and pick him back look more or less like people who run the mafia. (One guy with ash brown hair, who smokes like a burning volcano, and another one with roses, dragon, and some other random things tatted on his skin.)

Were they wary of him? No. It is just that they all hate the moment this one opens its mouth, which mostly is for spouting nonsense or catcalling literally anyone. The situation which made them hate him, even more, is when their beloved teacher Yn was teaching and he decided to whistle like he doesn't care. Nobara swears she nearly threw her textbook -which is one thick book of all Shakespearean works- at that blue head, and he would have surely popped a few stitches. And yes that is true too, had it not been for Yuuji that day, Mahito would've seen the doors of hell that moment.

As things like this happened that day, Nobara was sure to make sure everyone in the school know about that rancid person and her pent-up anger against him. By the time lunch break was done, Megumi has to drive away a lot of students from other classes who came to see Mahito. Was Mahito bothered by that? No, he was three seconds away from doing a strip show if it wasn't for that one teacher with beige tux; that's what he told. It is a fact that the only person this Mahito guy was scared of was Nanami.

It was a shame for him that he decided to befriend the most badass-looking teacher just to show others that he has even more ground than others. Who was this teacher, you ask. None other than Ryomen Sukuna. Who according to the Zen'ins is the King of Curses. Because there is no time in this universe without this one teacher screaming all the curse words. A second it is fuck, the next it is shit; to the point, they thought he was banging his random side chick in the Physical Education classroom.

That aside, Mahito tried every possible trick in his sleeves to make Sukuna like him. There is a rumor going around that Mahito secretly wants to bang Sukuna. The next one was that Mahito was the one who brought hash brownies to the school on Valentine's day, which Gojo Satoru ate and got high. It was all baseless, yet believable. This takes us to today, Mahito standing in front of the PE room with a box (which Miwa guarantees is a box of condoms, because he bought that same thing from the store she does part-time for).

What we should see here are the bunch of students (Yuuji, Nobara, and Miwa) are standing -more like in a disguise to observe Mahito- behind the wall, eyes keenly on Mahito. Mahito knocks on the door, from which Sukuna appears. Now, Yuuji is fretting like a lost puppy. He sees Mahito offer Sukuna the box, and they three have different conclusions. Because all the saw was Sukuna walking back into his room, and Mahito doing his little victory dance- wiggled his non-existent butt.

"I'm sure that box is drugs," Nobara says.

"I am telling you guys for the hundredth time, no I saw that butthole buy a box of condoms yesterday, and that is the box." Tells Miwa.

"Guys, that could also be a box of chocolate," Yuuji tells, eyes fixed on the door, which Mahito walks in.

"Yuuji you are too pure to exist," Nobara pats his pink hair.

Yuuji gave a small pout, and without thinking twice, he walks towards the room. Now it is Miwa and Nobara who are fretting. Because of Yuuji, their undercover works might see the light, right now.

"What-" Yuuji's words stop in the mid as he sees what was happening in the room. Mahito's shirtless back was all Yuuji could see. There were a few stitches and tattooed stitches on his body, with Sukuna hugging him.

"S'kuna what are ya doing?" Yuuji screamed. That was the day Sukuna saw red.

"OMG!" Nobara and Miwa were also doing a few loud fan chants. Even though nobody shipped them, was this ship somehow sailing?

Sukuna was quicker than a lightning bolt to react to his astounded students. "Kids, it is not what you think."

"Then what is this?" Yuuji's voice was two tones higher than usual when he screamed at his half-brother. "It clearly looks like you are having fun, trying to kiss that nasty ass". Yuuji's pink hair looked red than usual like his anger seeped through his hair. "I swear that guy does not even clean his ass after pooping, why are you with him of all creatures?"

"It was pure self-defense. He tried to attack me from behind." Sukuna tried to justify.

"Then why is he half naked?" Yuuji yelled back.

"He told me a few stitches popped and to check it out."

"And I can clearly see you checking him out." Yuuji retorts back.

"Yuuji, I know you are angry about me burning your lunch, but think about my side too." Sukuna justifies. "I turned back to get the flashlight, and he suddenly pounced on me from behind. That is what happened."

"You tried to put him in a chokehold?" Miwa asks.

"And he clearly enjoying being choked by Sukuna," Nobara tells.

"Ryo, can you do me a favor?" This was another voice that wasn't heard till then there.

"Yes, darling", Sukuna, as if on cue responds. Just to realize his mistake a few seconds later, he pushes Mahito against his body.

"Ryo?" "Darling?" The students were screaming in surprise, only to be even more surprised seeing the owner of the voice. None other than their beloved teacher, YN.

"You guys are dating?" Mahito asks.

"Oh sheet, Mahito you were trying to ruin their relationship?" Nobara did throw her textbook at his head finally, knocking him out; but not entirely.

"Oh hey, kids!" YN wished back at the surprised-looking students. "Cover my last hour with their class, I have a meeting," Yn tells Sukuna.

Sukuna nodded his response, and YN turns to her beloved students, "Kids back to class, lunch break is about to end."

"Don't you think we'll start the rumor of you guys dating?" Yuuji asks YN.

"Of who? Me and him? Oh cut it out Yuuji, we've been through this before. I am not dating your brother but giving him dating advice to bag one person he is trying to see." YN tells. "And no Nobara, that is not me. I have a certain someone else in my life at the moment."

What left the kids surprised wasn't that Sukuna had his eye on someone, but there is a specific ring on YNs finger that caught their attention.

And that is for today's episode of Jujutsu High. In the next episode, we'll see how the student unveils the darker secrets of their teacher.

Shoko and YN chatting over a coffee:

Shoko: Oh he finally had the guts to ask you out?

YN: Yeah with a ring pop.

#jujutsu high #jujutsu kaisen x reader #⛩️ adventures in jujutsu high #jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu sorcerer #jjk manga #gojo satoru #kento nanami #jujutsu kaisen headcanons #jujustu kaisen #nanami kento #satoru gojo #sukuna ryomen #yuuji itadori #kugisaki nobara #miwa jjk #jjk scenarios #mahito #aoi todo

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