#i love the influence they have on each other

[sagstelliums]

Your future spouse higher self’s message to you (PAC) *follower request

Pile 1

They want you to stay focused on yourself and your success, don’t worry about people or situations that’s negative or draining. Don’t let people’s opinions and views of you change how you look at yourself, travel more/go outside more and take more pictures. They want you to know that they’re going to be loyal to you so don’t listen to rumors or jealousy that tries to say otherwise, they want you to prepare yourself for when you guys are together because a lot of people are going to want to be in your business and their business. They want you to know that they can’t wait to spend time with you/travel with you and get to know each other on a deeper level, they want you to know that they will protect you and be there for you. They feel lucky you have you and theyll make sure that you feel lucky to have them too, they feel like you came into their life unexpectedly or they didn’t know how important you would be to them. Signs- Pisces/cancer, Aries in the 12th house/aries in the 8th house. Initials- S, I, C

Pile 2

They want you to protect your energy more and have stronger boundaries, they want you to know that there could be some people around you currently that are sending you negative energy. They want you to know that they’ll take care of the kids and protect them, for some of you they want a family with you but they may want to enjoy just being in a relationship with you first. They feel like you’re a great friend and lover, they really enjoy being around you. They want you to know that even if they have a lot of friends or if they party a lot that they’re still faithful/they just like to have fun. They want you to always be yourself and don’t dim your light for anyone. Signs- Sagittarius,Aries, Leo . Sagittarius in the 4th house/Pisces in the 4th house. Initials S, H, Y, V, X

Pile 3

They want you to know that they love your creativity or what you do for a living, they think you’re very talented and good at what you do. They want you to know that they care about you a lot even if they try to act emotionally distant, sometimes they feel like youre too good for them or that you’re out of their league and they think if you guys weren’t together it wouldn’t really affect you as much as it would them. (Those thoughts/feelings they have may be mostly in the beginning of the marriage/relationship)They want you to know how amazing you are and how much they respect you, they put you on a pedestal and they think your beautiful on the inside and out. They’re attracted to everything about you not just your looks, they want you to promise to stay loyal to them and don’t go back to your past or be influenced by other people trying to court you. Signs- Virgo, Aquarius, Pisces. Virgo in the 6th house/libra in the 8th house. Initals- D, J, R, N, Q

Personal readings always available

PNGs by @buriedteen. Divider by @anitalenia

[wtfaniii]

Can you pleaseeee do a Namgyu x reader story where he’s your mean ex boyfriend that secretly still wants you 🙏

Of course! That man has something and you know it girl

From love to hate

Nam-Gyu (player 124) x reader // you

Fem reader!

Summary: You were so miserable that out of 456 people in this game you met again with the man who made your love life miserable a year ago.

Warning: Some emotional abuse, unstable relationship on both sides.

Note: I understand you girl, that boy has something that makes him attractive, I hope this is to your liking and meets your expectations!

The second game was over, the girl just wanted to calm her nerves sitting silently on her bed but she was startled a little when Thanos appeared next to one leap.

—Get lost —she said, rolling her eyes and continuing to play with his fingers.

—How pretty —he said sarcastically.

—You were nicer before —Gyu said, coming to her left side.

She sighed and got out of bed ready to move out of there, she wanted to have zero contact with him after having found in bed with her best friend.

—Fuck you

—¿You kiss with that vocabulary? —Nam-gyu hurried to stop her from escaping and stood in front of her.

—¡Move! ¡I don't want anything to do with you!

Yes, the guy was an idiot, he acted like an idiot throughout their entire relationship and he would always be an idiot.

She thought could tolerate him, she loved him enough to do it but there was a limit she wasn't going to cross, infidelity was something she was never going to get over.

Nam-gyu wasn't going to give up now that he had her so close, she was the only one who loved him just the way he was and even though he had made a mistake by getting between the legs of her slut friend he still couldn't stop thinking about her.

He took her arm with a little more force than he should have, it was inevitable, he wanted to tell her to please stay but instead he said something more hurtful.

—Stop being such a bitch and listen to me.

In his mind he wanted to regret it but the laughter deep inside Thanos made his ego as a man grow.

That was one of his many problems, the influence that third parties managed to have on him.

However, he couldn't think of anything else when he felt the girl's hand crash into his cheek, both becoming the center of attention of the other players.

—If you call me a bitch again, I'll kick you where it hurts the most —she warned him, pointing a finger at him in a threatening manner, to which Nam-gyu raised his hands in a sign of peace while backing away.

—She's a real sweetheart —Thanos said for the second time, amused and sarcastic.

—You have no idea....

[...]

It was time for the third game, the girl managed to overcome each and every one until it was time to pair up and take a cubicle before the rest.

She was alone, she thought that this time it would be the end for her.

Meanwhile Nam-gyu and Thanos had already managed to get an empty cubicle but just before closing the door 124 stopped at the entrance and looked in all directions.

—¡¿What the hell are you doing?! ¡Come in already!

But he ignored it completely, the drug in his system raised his adrenaline and clouded his judgment but the only thing he was quite clear about was that he had to make sure his damn ex-girlfriend was still alive after this.

Seeing her disoriented in the crowd, he didn't think twice and ran towards her, hearing Thanos shouting at him but he kept his eyes on the girl.

As soon as he got close to her, he took her by the shoulders and led her to a cubicle where, after having beaten the players out, he managed to close the door with her.

She was just about to thank him when Nam-gyu waved his hand at her to shut up.

—Not a word —he said, taking deep breaths.

—I was going to tell you that you are an idiot.

He gave her an annoyed look, but she was actually grateful even though she wasn't going to say it out loud.

Despite hearing the screams and gunshots through the door, the tension between them was also palpable.

They had so many things to say to each other but it was neither the time nor the place, Nam-gyu only needed to be so close to death to know that among so much shit in his life she was the only one he needed.

Their relationship had been so close and strong that all it took to end it was a one-night stand with another woman, and now he regretted it.

—I was drugged when I slept with her —he said without turning to look at her and watching through the small crack in the door as the pink soldiers collected the corpses of the eliminated players.

—That doesn't make it better —she replied without much enthusiasm.

Just by hearing her voice he knew that she had not let go of the past either, he knew her well enough to realize that the feeling of wanting to return was mutual.

But neither of them took the step that was required.

Once the doors opened, they both silently left there, Nam-gyu was the first to go towards Thanos who looked at him with his eyes half closed.

[...]

During the voting, the players looked at each other with hatred and other mixed emotions, Nam-gyu's gaze remained on the girl who was on the side of those who had chosen the tag, it was curious how now he too was questioning whether he should choose the circle again or this time make the decision to end the games.

—¡Press the circle! —Thanos shouted euphorically, bringing him out of his thoughts.

Min-su was slightly startled by the sudden shout, "Pathetic" Nam-gyu thought but he also felt somewhat pressured to make a decision.

After Thanos went to vote, he approached the poor trembling boy and spoke into his ear.

—If you don't press the circle you will be left alone without anyone to defend you.

It seems that this was enough to keep the 125 votes in his favor, with that they would win and continue participating, but when it was his turn his hand deviated towards the huge check mark.

He clearly heard Thanos' frustrated groan.

He took the red badge that the guard gave him and stood next to those his companion so hated.

—I honestly thought you would vote to keep playing —the girl murmured, standing next to him —¿What made you change your mind?

—Shut the fuck up —he mumbled angrily.

She still smiled softly at him and took his hand, a simple but meaningful sign that she was still by him side. Just as she had promised him since they met

The votes ended in a tie and now Nam-gyu had to continue playing and tolerating the irritable Thanos, he did not consider him his friend but his partner, he only hoped that this decision making would not influence their bond of trust too much.

Unfortunately, that was not the case and the tension between both sides of players increased with every second in the men's room.

—I'm not mad at you —230 said, approaching him while splashing some cold water on his face —I would also bend over backwards for a hottie like her.

He wanted to avoid fights but 333 butted into his conversation.

—Stop bothering others, you must understand that not all of us want to die in here.

Thanos laughed amused. —Oh look! The two lovebirds want to get out of here just because their girlfriends asked them to!

—I think we've collected enough money —Nam-gyu interrupted with a stern expression and a defensive posture. —Friend, we can still get out of here.

Maybe if 230 hadn't been under the influence of drugs he would have listened to him and they would have had a formal conversation where everyone would have come out a winner.

But that wasn't the case, instead he blurted out the following words.

—¿Why don't I just let you two die in the next game? You two can relax, I'll take care of your girlfriends so they won't be alone, if you know what i mean...

He barely finished the sentence with an arrogant smile when 333 threw a punch that Thanos managed to dodge.

He was going to make fun of it if it hadn't been for Nam-gyu punching him in the face, leaving him stunned and unleashing a fight between the Circle team and the X team.

Nam-gyu may have been a jerk to her, but she was still his girl and even if he had to kill other contestants, he would make sure they both came out alive and with a good amount of money.

Yeah... he did love her.

[beyond-far-horizons]

'Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him.'

Just one line from an epigraph of Way of Kings that isn't really related to the main narrative at the time that lives rent free in my head.

This line made Ati one of my favourite Vessels, if not my favourite. Ruin in Mistborn has always been far more intimidating that Odium (the god of literal Hatred) for me. Then we learn that this being was once the total opposite and, if he were ever free of Ruin's influence or 'Intent' would be distraught that he had become something that he loathed. The tragedy of Ati just in the background of the cosmere meta story just makes me feel so sorry for him and love him. I just know Brando is going to make the eventual origin story for the Vessels so tragic.

But two things:

First, his characterisation of Ati is quite inconsistent. In one WoB he implies Ati is quite weak and unable to resist Ruin's destructive impulses, which is in line with what we see in Mistborn. He pretends to be compassionate, but he's sadistic and revels in the destruction he creates. But later, Brandon says Ati actually forced Ruin's Intent into a safer version of 'Entropy', indicating he was strong-willed. Problem is Ati talks about being a version of Entropy, but he's laughing ecstatically at the planetary destruction he's causing (horrific, but also wonderfully hammy and why wouldn't you?) and causing people to horrifically murder each other. That doesn't say Entropy to me, that's scarier than Odium. So which is it, Brando?

Second, I've always wanted to see Ruin go head to head with Odium and I didn't like WaT's implication Ati was afraid of Rayse, because if he's that far gone with Ruin's Intent, my boy would totally be up for a fight! I wish Brando had just said, Ati wanted to help - he's totally up for some Ruination - but he was restrained by Preservation at that point. (Tanavast, you wouldn't have wanted Ati's help at that stage, lol, all of you would would be in the firing line. Except maybe Cultivation, I think her and Ruin make a great pair.)

cannot stop thinking about "Ati, perhaps kindliest among us, who had boldly taken up Ruin." the mistborn brainrot never stops. he was the kindliest among them. the man that became the ruin we know, that the final empire crew had to defeat, was the kindliest of the sixteen Vessels. hello is anyone out there

[urstruly-ghst]

i dont want you like a best friend - leona kingscholar

in which you admit to leona, which was something that you've promised to never do

author's note: inspired by dress by taylor swift.

cw: suggestive, alcohol, desperate kisses (bcz .. leona.)

golden tattoo. that was something you had on your collarbone, it was a simple tattoo you got on a whim. well, if you call alcohol and some peer pressure a "whim," have your shot at it. you woke up with that tatoo and a new electrified sense of life.

to think the prince you consider someone rude and even downright pompous was someone who'd bring you some sense of semblance in nrc. leona kingscholar, someone whom you never thought would be willing to help you (or even glance at your direction), you discredit him more than you realize.

leona was a big softie, whether he'll ever admit that or not, it was obvious. that's why, slowly, you two became friends. best friends even. but above his hidden softie exterior, and "im not your friend" declarations was a passionate lion, he had such starvation you never could imagine.

at a random bar you both snuck into, you had drinks. it was fun, drinking, hitting the dance floor, ans accessing that sweet vip room thanks to leona's influence. however, as the night grew longer, you and leona snuck off. in the crowded room below you two, the party was still loud. yet in a quiet room, you and leona kingscholar are clawing each other with need as the kisses turned deeper. his hands brushed around your tattoo with a small smirk, it unknowingly matches him. maybe that's why you got it?

"herbivore, we need to stop sneaking around" leona mumbled as he pulled away for a moment to breathe before diving back in to kiss you.

"mmhm.. no.." you whine and amidst the kissing, your head reeled back with the dizzying passion and (delusional as it may sound, love.) you whine as the night was swept away again with leona being with you again.

as you both lay down on your bed, you glare as you noticed his name on the bedpost. it was like he marked your bed. leona smirks again and shrugs, saying he doesn't know what you're saying.

"admit it. you like my name on your bed, herbivore." he said sitting up to stretch. you protest—

"..." you stayed silent as the anger died down as you noticed his tail wrapping around you. you blush and wonder, what is he trying to do with you?

"leona, why do you keep doing this with me? you can easily stop this." eri asked as she looked confused. but then, before leona can answer, you blurt out words you promised yourself would never be spoken out loud.

"because leona, im starting to like you. every stolen glance, our moments like this, the secret kisses. leona, its getting to me! and this name, this tattoo. leona, just flat out say why! am i just a friend? a lover? a hookup?" you were unsure why you did that, was it the clarity hitting you? the teasing boiling over? what—?

did you just admit that. leona kingscholar, someone who's as quick witted and sharp, couldn't speak.

everything just stops.

"i don't want you." leona, said smugly. your heart was shattered, and you try to stand up, but he grabbed you,

"i don't want you like a friend. i literally fucking makeout with you, marked your bed with my name, even got a matching tattoo, and i sneak off with you! herbivore, are you really that dumb?" he laughed. you blink and he sighed rolling his eyes. you couldn't see it, but he had the faintest of smiles.

"i love you, herbivore. now stop this drama. let's nap, im sure i did a number on you"

[yourstardarling]

The Planets in Astrology

Sun is Sol aka Soul. It’s your essence and the power source in your chart. It can also be symbolized as your ego as each birthday you have is a celebration of the Sun. This planet essentially shows how you shine and the light you bring into the world. The sign and house the sun is in oftentimes is where you excel the most. It’s where you have authority and significant influence. Dictates having ruler ship, sort of like where you are king. The Sun also depicts your relationship with your father as well.

The moon: In astrology, the moon deals with several aspects of your life in the birth chart. It’s why it’s considered the most important planet in Vedic astrology. Essentially deals with how you feel at home. Not just your physical home, but the emotional world within you as well and how safe you feel within your own body. Since the body houses dna and remnants of family the moon deals with how you interact with your direct family members . The relationship you have with family and also the way you interact with your ancestors. Undertanding your moon sign is understanding what makes you feel safe and comforted, as well as your origin story.

Mercury: The intellectual aspect of the heavenly bodies. It is essentially the mind, showing how you process information. It also deals with the voice and your communication style. It’s how you get across who you are to other people in the world and how other people will receive what you say. Important to note Mercury always stays close to the Sun it can only be one sign behind, the same or one sign in front the Sun. The depiction of the fool always being close to the King is depicting mercuries relationship to the sun.

Venus: the planet of love, beauty and glamour. I feel like the most essential aspect of Venus is pleasure. What brings you a sense of satisfaction in your life. Your Venus sign shows how you give and receive pleasure in your life. Pleasure is not a bad thing, but the dark side to Venus shows without boundaries it can lead you to overindulgence and superficiality. The planet also rules over your values and what makes you have a sense of self worth. It can also signify your monetary gains and relationship with money. Venus is exalted in Pisces showing that love excels when it’s unconditional. However, unconditional love does not really exist. Mainly because you need certain boundaries and conditions in love, or else you are only allowing yourself to be mistreated. What I believe unconditional love to mean is that no matter who you are, you are deserving of love and with the people you love you must learn to forgive( forgiveness being the core trait of Pisces)

Mars: The driving force in our birth chart. It’s often associated with passion, aggression and drive. Mars is the warrior and how we fight for what we want in our lives. But as much as it is associated with violence and destruction, I often see mars as the planet of protection. One because of the shield that is apparent within the symbol. However it’s mainly because mars does not fight unless it feels threatened, it is a planet that seeks for justice. So in order to protect himself, he must utilize the sword to strike down his enemies. In summary mars is going to show how we fight and protect ourselves, what angers us and motivates us to keep pushing forward. I would also like to point out that mars is often associated with our sex drive as well. I need to do more research on this, but it’s mainly because Mars controls those primal instincts within us. Sex being one of those instinctive urges. The combination between your Venus and your Mars can show the sensual pleasures you seek in life.

Jupiter: The planet of expansion. After Venus, it is the 2nd benefic planet but considered the most beneficial. Whatever Jupiter touches it expands and enlarges. We can see this from the fact that it is the largest planet. The key word for Jupiter is abundance but the shadow to this is excess. Wherever Jupiter is placed in your chart you will experience an excessive amount of that energy. Oftentimes, your Jupiter placement will take you on important journeys that will help teach you significant life lessons. Jupiter rewards you when you learn these lessons and apply them into your belief system. It is the guru planet that makes you gain wisdom from experience. Experience is another key word for Jupiter as it rules over long distance travel and foreign lands. How far will you go for the chance to gain knew knowledge. If you want more luck in your life tap into your Jupiter placement.

Saturn: Now Papa Saturn... Farther time can often be so cruel, but we later see down in the future this was a blessing in disguise. Saturn is the planet of restriction and discipline. Whichever house and sign Saturn is in your chart you can expect significant delays to occur, you might feel like your being blocked from any progress, but Saturn shows with resilience and consistency things do become better. Time heals all is the main theme of Saturn. It provides you with blessings through growth and maturity. This is what the Saturn return is all about, when Saturn comes back to the sign of your birth after about 28 years. It comes to either bless you for becoming wiser and older or wake you up to your false reality. At the end of the day Saturn just wants to bring you a sense of stability.

The outer planets:

Now with the outer planets they are a little bit tricky because they have all been discovered within the last few centuries. So interpretation are very modern. But the myths of the planets explain their significance. These are generational planets as they take a long time to move around the sun. This means it’s important to recognize this is a collective energy rather than a personal influence. Think of them as ways you interact with the larger society. Unless these planets are making strong aspects in your birth chart, they often don’t hold much significance.

Uranus: This is the planet of upheavals and major rebellions. Uranus in the birth chart shows where you stand out in your generation. It signifies authority and where you demonstrate your uniqueness from society. It is an innovative energy that correlates to new technology; as it was discovered during the Industrial Revolution. There is a sense of unpredictability with Uranus, you can never really know the next move of this planetary energy. Future oriented, the placement it is in makes you seek novelty and carve a new path towards innovation. There’s an intellectual aspect to Uranus often seen as foreign knowledge, like an alien understanding of information.

Neptune: This is the planet of illusion and idealized dreams. Neptune shows us that everything is not what it seems. That oftentimes we create a collective fantasy. This fantasy is one that a generation may share based on the sign Neptune is in. In our charts, it can signify where we are often deluded and lose a sense of reality. Confusion is a significant theme for Neptune as even its discovery was covered in mystery. The waters of Neptune can be very dreamy and surreal. You can often get shrouded in a false sense of self in the house Neptune sits in. You may get a lot of confusion on what to do and how to properly maneuver through. It’s important to be cautious about leaning into false illusions and move with sensibility in the regards to your Neptune. However, intuition is also an essential component of navigating the waters of Neptune, you have to somewhat feel your way through.

Pluto: One of the smallest planets, but with the most influential amount of power. Pluto shows us that true power does not lie in size, but rather influence and impact. The significance of Pluto comes from its association with our unconscious shadows. The sign Pluto transits in shows us what in our time do we idealize and give a lot of power to. Later on, this will be ultimately destroyed and transformed. Pluto is the underworld, so it shows the underlying fear we collectively have surrounding the placement of that sign. It is also a planet of corruption as the things we give significant importance to often have hidden shadows. Where Pluto sits in our chart, we often see the hidden nature and the evil ways this placement can have an impact our lives. Pluto shows us that death is not a ending, but a beginning into something new. It is important to not let fear sabotage you in the house that this planet sits in. Instead alchemize it into strength for yourself, seeing where you can influence the world around you.

____

-yourStardarling

[eniokai]

I tried to explain to myself some of Marius's actions towards Armand, and I ended up with a lengthy post in which I want to express my perspective on the dynamics of Marius's relationships with Lestat and Armand. I want to emphasize that this is not how I personally view these characters, but rather how I see Marius's perspective on them.

It will be no secret that in Lestat's and Armand's lives, Marius occupies the role of a mentor, teacher, wise advisor, and serves as a father figure for both of them.

If we consider their relationships as familial, in this hierarchy, not by age but by position, Lestat would be the older child, upon whom Marius places his main expectations, ambitions, and hopes. Lestat is a reflection of Marius himself, the heir to his values and ideas. They are soulmates, sharing views on life and understanding each other well. This forms the foundation of their love and mutual respect. Respect is particularly important here because, despite the fact that Lestat creates just as many problems and chaos as Armand (honestly, even more) Marius sees him as an independent individual. He considers him an equal.

In contrast to Lestat, Armand is complicated and incomprehensible to Marius. He occupies the position of the stereotypical younger child, someone Marius expects nothing from and places no hopes on. He loves Armand simply for existing, even if that existence is not right beside him. However, Armand pays for the lack of burdensome expectations with the fact that he is not treated as an adult independent person. Marius does not believe that Armand is mature enough to live without the interventions of a true adult (Marius) in his life.

Does Marius consider Armand his equal? My honest answer to that is no. You have every right to disagree with this. Marius is convinced that he not only has the full right to make important decisions regarding Armand's life and to scold him like a child, but he believes that Armand needs this.

So how do Armand and Lestat differ in their positions? In absolutely every way. Lestat was initially a free person, he already had a formed personality and he already had a true maker. He found Marius on his own initiative and chose Marius as his authority.

Armand in turn belonged to Marius in the most direct and barbaric sense. Even if Marius did not consider him literal property, that was the factual status of Armand in palazzo. The difference in position and status is obvious.

Furthermore, what is most important is that Armand hardly remembered his life before the brothel. Armand was a blank slate. His new identity was built on mentorship and guidance from his master. Marius replaced parents, teachers, and other possible authority figures. This is more significant than Marius's involvement in the life of any other boy from the palazzo because they had a past, possibly families, and they knew their identities. In Amadeo's life, Marius is the foundation of his new personality.

And perhaps most obviously, but no less significantly, Armand is Marius's fledgling, his dark child.

I’ve seen a lot of angry discussions about why Marius believes he has the right to make decisions for Armand. I agree with this perspective, I think he genuinely believes he has rights over Armand due to all the aforementioned circumstances (not because of the fact that he bought him, but because of the immense influence he has had on his personality and his status as Armand's maker). I see an analogy here with parents who struggle to accept their children’s adulthood, they want to do what’s best, but it often backfires.

But at the same time, Marius is willing to take responsibility (finally 🤐). He takes Daniel under his wing not because he feels pity for some half-mad newly turned vampire, but because it’s a failure his own fledgling. Rights and responsibilities cannot exist without each other. Perhaps in this way, he is trying to atone for his actions (or lack thereof) towards Armand, maybe to redeem himself as master and maker. But I doubt Marius will ever be able to admit this, even to himself.

Armand finds it difficult to break the established opinion about him. Throughout the series of books, there has been a constant tension between them, which sometimes escalated into open conflict.

Armand would lose his temper when referred to as a child, he fought for the right to be considered an adult, as he had indeed gone through his own journey and made significant progress. Unfortunately for him, Marius is not a psychology guru. The differences in their views, life rules, and temperaments are perceived by Marius as misconceptions and immaturity, while Armand's adherence to religious beliefs is seen as a sign of suggestibility and an inability to make his own decisions. To be honest, I think there is some rational basis in this. The occasional emotional outbursts and impulsive actions, but most of all Armand's walked out into the sun, only reinforce Marius's opinion that Armand cannot handle his life on his own.

Let's wish Armand success in being perceived as an adult! 🌠

Origin: Cryptid Club

[whateverisbeautiful]

Thorne described herself as an excellent reader of people/skilled Poker player and yet it took her quite awhile to realize the special connection between Rick and Michonne. What do you think caused her to miss their obvious deep connection?

Good question. I think while Pearl thought she was an excellent reader of people, she really wasn’t. It’s a skill she said she had but didn’t actually have. Even with poker, she shared that once she tried to play in a more intense arena she lost. Then playing poker with Rick, she lost there too. And Beale was so easily able to convince her to ditch Okafor’s mission and join his. I said previously - Bs need to be given a mission whereas As create their own. And Pearl was definitely a B. I think it also helped that Michonne’s arrival occurred after the death of Okafor which initially rattled and distracted Pearl who was grieving and unsure of her own direction. With Okafor gone, Pearl was a bit preoccupied with that and then she’s quickly promoted and gets preoccupied with proving herself in her new role and missions for the CRM. 

I also think Pearl’s overall outlook was that dead love stays dead and so I think she’d almost feel it was impossible that this new consignee that’s shown up could be the wife Rick was taken from and had been longing for all these years. Love like that doesn’t get to return in her eyes, and so it wouldn’t cross her mind that for Rick it did. The most she seemed to pick up on is that Dana Bethune has some sorta influence on Rick because he’s willing to take lots of risks when it comes to her. But I guess she just chalked that up to Rick feeling indebted to Dana for saving his life. The fact that Pearl took so long to pick up on anything between Rick and Michonne shows her ability to assess others isn’t as sharp as she thinks, because it’s not like Richonne is just super subtle about each other even when they’re trying to be. 

[docholligay]

@thoughtfulfuri sorry this took me so long! A revised list of books you should look into reading this year. I could have added more ahaha, but this will keep you plenty busy.

Deeply informed by your list and the brief of:  “Books that have deeply influenced the thrust of the genre and media broadly” 

I also went for breadth over depth--you had some authors with a TON of books on your list, and if you’re looking for understanding of media influence I’m not sure that’s the best use of your time. THis isn’t a perfect list but I think it’ll provide a better net than your original. I do not know what you have an haven’t read. Spots where I think you might have read my recommendation I supplied a second. An incomplete list, because no list is ever complete, and always has huge gaps in judgment. WE can always make a new list next year! 

Agatha Christie -- And Then There Were None This was already on your list and it’s perfect. I prefer Murder On the Orient Express, but in fairness, those are the only two Christie novels I’ve ever read. And I’d keep it to one from each author. 

The Art of War — Sun Tzu  From your list, I have no issue with it

Kurt Vonnegut -- Slaughterhouse Five  This is his best and most enduring work. IF you’re looking for incredible influence, this is the one. 

Octavia Butler -- Kindred  I winnowed down your multiple Butler works to this big hitter. 

Isaac Asimov -- I, Robot From your list, make total sense

Daphne DuMaurier -- Rebecca You had My Cousin Rachel, which is great fun, but Rebecca is THE DuMaurier book. 

Leo Tolstoy -- War and Peace I replaced Crime and Pnishment with this not because I don’t like Crime and Punishment, but because if you’re going to commit to a russian novel, you may as well make it the most influential one ever written. This is routinely hailed as the best fucking novel ever written. It is in fact great. I will reread it with you this year! 

Frank Herbert -- Dune. This is from your original list and it’s fine I guess. I think reading Dune is a waste of time unless you’re super into sci-fi, but I won’t fight it. 

JRR Tolkien-- The Fellowship of the Ring From your original list and yeah absolutely. Cannot hope to ujnderstand fantasy as a genre without reading this. If you like it I recommend the whole series, but Tolkien can be hard for people. 

Harper Lee -- To Kill A Mockingbird From your list. Yes, this is an incredibly important American piece. 

Jane Austen -- Pride and Predjudice. There is no more influential Austen novel. You gotta. If you’ve read P&P read Sense and Sensibility, which has the added benefit of being at least four times better (according to people named Doc, who are me, who do not like P&P) 

Ray Bradbury -- Fahrenheit 451. I actually prefer Something Wicked from your list, but F451 is much more influential. If you’ve read Farenheit, read 1984 by George Orwell. IF you’ve read that, read Brave New World by Huxley. If you’re read that, scrap totally, your list is very sci-fi weighted anyhow. 

Oscar Wilde -- The Picture of Dorian Gray. Replaced A Woman of No Importance, which most people haven’t even heard of, with Picture, a deeply and widely referenced novel. If you’ve read picture, read “The Importance of Being Earnest” or better, watch a proshot of a play. 

Gregory McGuire--- Wicked. I dunno that I think this deserves a spot on your list, but I get that everyone’s talking about it right now. And I like the book! But it’s just not very genre influential, it’s more deeply influenced BY the genre. I left it, because I get wanting to engage with everyone talking about it, but those are my reservations.

WE ARE OFF YOUR LIST TOTALLY NOW. So I took a bunch of repeats off your list. I admire wanting to track influential books, and broaden your understanding of media generally, but I think you were sorta getting into the weeds. So I added a few others that have huge media impact. 

Charles Dickens -- David Copperfield    Boy did this suck for me to try and pick. I fucking love Charles Dickens. He was a dick in a lot of ways, revolutionary in others, and the man could write his ass off. He knew how to write a serial style that also keeps track of itself, and there is stuff that blows my mind as a modern reader even now. (If I hadn’t unintentionally made last years book clubs essentially Brit Lit 2: Brit harder i would be doing a Dickens novel for book club. I do have an idea of theming this year as “The American Answer” so like, we did Brideshead last year and the, well, an, American answer to that book is the Secret History. Here On Earth for Wuthering Heights. I don’t know. Actually, there’s an AMerican restyling of David Copperfield in my to-reads for this year) BUT ANYWAY, I ended up picking David Copperfield. It was Dickens’ own favorite, it’s one of his only first person novels, and it is the clearest example of Dickens’ tendency to impress himself upon a character. It has its flaws, of course, but I think centering yourself on David, a nostalgic, emotional writer trying to make his way in the world up from poverty, gives you a great understanding of both Dickens’ incredible influence and his own understanding of HIMSELF. Wow that was a lot of words. I have feelings about Charles Dickens. Sorry. 

Toni Morrison -- Beloved I didn’t like this book, when I read it. But it is good, it won the fucking Pulitzer Prize. I think Song of Solomon is better for me though. Anyway, you have to read Toni Morrison. The way she weaves in the Black American experience with undertones of magical realism impacts the way stories of what I’m going to call “difficult narratives” are allowed to be told today, influencing even people outside of the Black community. 

Salman Rushdie -- The Satanic Verses A masterwork of parallel storytelling, people keep trying to kill Rushdie over this book, a fantastic story about the immigrant experience in Great Britian. 

And some genre stuff for flavor: 

Spy Novels:

Ian Fleming -- Casino Royale  You know who james fucking Bond is. He was a book character first! 

John LeCarre -- The Spy who Came in From the Cold Okay, I am gonna level with you that this and fleming are two opposite poles, but I think they are two opposite poles that give you a really good look at what the spy novel can be and has been. I really enjoy John LeCarre despite not being huge into the genre

Horror: 

Shirley Jackson -- The Haunting of Hill House  This is the novel that launched Stephen King of all people, among others. Jackson is a fucking genius. 

Stephen King -- The Shining Horror is hard, because I read and love a lot of it. But The Shining had a huge influence on both horror and the American consciousness broadly. 

Fantasy:

TH White-- The Once and Future King. Were you at the book club for this? I cannot fucking remember to save my own life. Anyway, if you weren’t, this and LoTR changed fantasy forever. Same time period, even. How we understand fantwasy broadly today comes out of how Tolkien and White were thinking of it. If you read this, read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. 

Grr Martin-- A Game of Thrones Oh, I’m gonna get letters. But genuinely this book changed the game in fantasy, and had a huge cultural impact on America and many other Western countries.

[nianeyemystic]

Traveling & Love (Pluto astrocartography observations)✈️👩🏽‍❤️‍👨🏾

Traveling is in my opinion one of the best ways to meet new lovers, friends or find connections you otherwise may not come across. Here are a few of the experiences I have had when traveling and how love played a role.

Pluto on the Descendant (DS): The Power of Transformational Relationships

I traveled to San Juan, PR for my 28th birthday, the early start of my Saturn year. It came a week or so after leaving my highschool sweetheart. and was probably one of the best vacations I have ever taken for reasons I will share in this post. So this time as very transformational for me, my whole life was changing and I was feeling a sense of freedom and rebirth while in PR. I kept joking with my homegirls about how I was going to meet my Puerto Rican papi while I was there so keep that in my mind. First let me explain how this Pluto DS line played a part in the events that happened.

The Descendant in astrocartography represents partnerships, relationships, and how you connect with others on a one-to-one level. When Pluto is prominent on this line, the relationships you form in this area are intense, transformative, and potentially life-changing.

Transformational Love 💖

So while in PR I end up meeting somebody whose love has been what you guys see me describing in most of the posts. We met on the water where I was completely caught off guard in the best way. Being with him feels like a transformational love in so many ways. Meeting my love near my Pluto/DS line feels like a deep, magnetic connection that is fated or karmic. He has definitely have awakened a side of me that I hadn't accessed before. This is important bc again, I met him right after freeing myself from a toxic cycle of love I was so afraid to leave. And there he was. The connection with him challenges me to confront deeper truths about myself, my desires, and my capacity for vulnerability and intimacy.

Healing and Rebirth✨

Pluto governs transformation, endings, and new beginnings. Traveling to San Juan after ending a 15-year partnership symbolized a personal rebirth for me. This place was a catalyst for me to shed old patterns and step into a new chapter of my life.The love I found there to me is a reflection of this rebirth—a relationship that feels profound and meaningful, and one that has helped me to heal & redefine what partnership means to me.

Intensity and Depth 🧡

Relationships under the Pluto/DS influence are rarely surface-level. The way I feel like I have known him before.Like everything I manifested in a partner came directly to me in the person I needed at the right time. I was so serious when I said I was looking for my husband, and the more I spoke that the more real this became for me.its a connection that feels intense, all-consuming, or like it’s touching parts of my soul I didn’t know were there.The emotional depth and passion he brings feels like the opposite of what I experienced in my previous partnership, creating a stark contrast. a breath of fresh new air is what I look at it as.

Emotional Rebirth: San Juan, near my Pluto line, served as a backdrop for a symbolic death (the end of my past relationship) and a rebirth (my new connection). It’s as though this place holds the energy I needed to step into a new version of myself..

It gets better. I learned that he lives in Houston, Texas. another city I've traveled to where I have had some of the best times of my life. I saw Beyonce there and met some of the most genuine people. The way I felt like again,I belong here was so real. I could see myself living there and being a more vibrant person each time I went. So when he said he was fom Houston I immediately am like. hmm.

So I check to see what line Is have going through Houston.... yall. why is it my Venus & Mars IC line go directly through it. I have them conjunct natally. So let me break that down in a separate post. But just knowww, I think I was meant to meet this man. By the way for context he's a Capricorn sun, and Im a virgo sun.

Where is your Pluto line in your astrocartography chart? Have you ever traveled anywhere you felt called to go and something out of the world happened to you?

-@nianeyemystic

[happy-lemon]

I act a little funny. I wouldn't change not for no money. I'll be a friend as long as you're a friend to me, yeah, yeah. ~ TLC, 1992

I invited everyone over to clear the air. They left spouses and babies at home so we could talk through our feelings. They were all a little mad at me for shutting them out, but also felt guilty for not checking in on me more often. I'm not sure that would have helped. I was pretty good at masking. Still, we cried and hugged it out, and remembered all the things we love about each other.

I'm still getting to know their families, and sometimes I'm deeply embarrassed that I missed out on so much. That I chose drugs over people. When I was under the influence, I had kind of a "live fast, die young" mentality. But when I see how happy they all are, putting down roots and raising babies, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to live slow and die old.

[fizziepopangel]

A Fizziepop Take: Let’s talk about the anti-Blitz bash

I’m still fairly new to Reddit, but I saw this post on it and I wanna talk about it. No hate to the OG Reddit poster or anyone else who shares this opinion, I just have some thoughts about it, so let’s get into it because I actually get the “Fuck Blitz Party”.

Ok, so we all know that Blitz, while being a definite fan favorite in the show, and the shows literal namesake, Blitz is bad at love, BUT in order to talk about why this party is actually “necessary” in a way, we first need to talk about Blitz and his ideas of what love is vs what kind of “love” he himself deserves. Within the fragmented bits of flashbacks and from what we’ve actually heard from the mouths of the characters, we’ve been able to start piecing together backstories for some of them…. But as of right now, I wanna look at the bits and pieces of Blitz’s past that we’ve been slowly accumulating throughout the last 2 seasons because we get to see a lot of what made him the way he is now. Starting off strong, we have an abusive father, a best friend turned enemy, a sister gone no contact, and the tragic death of a mother…. Yikes. Thats like 4 tiers on a tragedy cake, which is why it so heavily influences how he experiences love as an adult; trauma changes the brain chemistry, meaning that from the first time his father spoke down to him and treated him as lesser than Barbie and/or Fizz, the imp’s perception of himself and the world around him began to shift, and with each new trauma came a new sense of everything within and around him. Within his formative years, we see him lose the 3 close relationships (his mom, his sister, and his best friend), and it happens literally one after the other after the other, which in his mind solidified the ideas of worthlessness his father planted in him at such a young age. 

What does this all have to do with Blitz’s exes hating him enough to throw a party about it in the current day? I know a lot of people hate this phrase (myself included honestly), but “hurt people, hurt people”. It’s a cheap line, I know, but there’s not too many ways to explain it that don’t boil down to this idea at it’s core when it comes to Blitz…. But here’s the thing: Blitz never truly wants to hurt anyone, he just kinda does it and even he doesn’t understand completely why he feels the need to fuck up every good thing he seems to get his hands on. On the outside looking in, we as an audience know that Blitz is bad at love because he’s been conditioned to equate his worth with what he can give/what he can do (think of how his dad manipulated him into stealing from stolas, or no one seemed to laugh during his jokes in the circus), and this mentality strongly affected how he’s able to cultivate relationships now because he’s still constantly looking at all his relationships as transactional because it’s the only way he believes he deserves to be loved by anyone. A lot of people say that you can’t love someone until you love himself, meaning that Blitz’s own self hatred is holding him back from meaningful relationships, which is true, but it’s less a case of the imp being unable to love and more a case of him being uncomfortable with intimacy and therefore not entirely knowing how to accept or show it. We that man has so much love in his body to give to those he surrounds himself with that it is almost sickening, but because he’s not comfortable with receiving the same type of loving energy he puts into others, when it happens and someone shows a genuine interest in him past just sex, he panics and goes on the offense. Think of him like a dog who’s been attacked by other dogs; after the first time, they might be a little scared, after the second, they’ll probably start to become a little more skittish and on edge when other dogs approach them even if its someone they once enjoyed being near, but by the third and fourth times its happened, that dog will start viewing every other dog as a potential threat and they’ll react by being the aggressor because “if I hurt them first, they can’t hurt me”.

I know by this point, everyone is probably still like “Fizzie, why does this mean that his exes hate him enough to throw a party like that?” and “How did he date that many people?”

Simply put: Blitz didn’t “date” all those people. If I had to guess, I would honestly say he probably only ever had real relationships with about a quarter of the people at the party. Why is that? Because I Blitz used sex as a coping mechanism for most of his life… if I were to go based solely on vibes, I think this likely started because his father realized he could rent his son out for more “playdates” after what happened with Stolas when they were children, meaning that he would have equated sex with being desired, and I think for a long time being desired in any way was better than not being wanted at all in his eyes… But with his fear of intimacy and being left to rot after having fallen for someone, I think he took the hurt them before they hurt me approach, so I think a lot of the people there were in a mostly one-sided relationship with him, one that Blitz never truly viewed as romantic intimate relationships, hence why he says he can’t believe he’s fucked that many people rather than dated that many. Looking at things from this perspective, it would make a lot more sense since Blitz not viewing most relationships as exclusive would mean he potentially had his connections and fun with multiple people within the same timeline. Do I think Blitz is a cheater? Not by nature, but I also think that when he was using this mentality anyone who wanted to have a relationship with him where he didn’t wander from their bed would have had to explicitly specify that to him, and I think that a lot of these exes either assumed he would hold their relationship to the same standards they did or, when they would bring it up or mention the word ‘love’ in anything more than a joking manner, he would cut and run, likely doing something in the end to show them that he was not worth the love they attempted to pour into him, like he did with Verosika.

Assuming this is the way things went down with the exes at the party, it’s likely that a lot of them never truly got the closure they needed to fully heal from hurricane Blitz… And though I don’t think he ever meant to hurt this many people to that point, I think it was a sort of wakeup call to him to see that not only have these people trauma bonded over him to the point where the party is almost like a support group for these people, but it also opened his eyes to how Stolas felt about him because he was at this party to essentially drink the heartbreak away for the night. Despite the end of Stolitz being heartbreaking, I think that the party scenes were necessary to the beginning of Blitz’s personal growth story-line, and the potential beginning of a better version of the Stolitz we all love.

Anyway… as always this is only the humble opinion of a simple Fizziepop, and I’d love to know what other people think about the annual gathering of his exes to trauma bond over one man. I personally love the way it plays into Stolas and Blitz’s  breakup and healing arcs…. And also I’m a pisces so I do tend to be a lil dramatic sometimes and live for things and people as dramatic and extra as I tend to be.

[mapoeggplant]

new interview with takamatsu misaki is out!

screenshots with translation by g00gle

sensei talks a lot about how shoujo manga influenced her in the creation of skip to loafer, dives a little deeper on shima and mitsumi's relationship and more:

honestly, i really love how sensei always talks about how shoujo manga is an influence for her and shares which stories served as inspiration. i love how she says that there's a soul of shoujo manga in sukirofa by the way that the stories focus on human relationships.

also find REALLY interesting how she reforces the idea that some people have more things on their mind that aren't romantic love and how that is also important for the development of a teenager, since not all of them prioritize that part of their lives. it just shows how she's so worried about creating a story that focus much more on the beauty of human connections and doesn't put so much focus on romantic love. it's also really important how she's so worried about showing how shima isn't a perfect character and it's someone with a lot of flaws.

she also talks about nao and how the relationship with their hometown changes from people to people. there are places where we thrive and live way more happier than others, and that's what we need to focus on: finding or safe space and celebrate it.

with every new interviews, it's easy to see how takamatsu-sensei loves her series so much and cares deeply about each one of her characters. she's always so careful with building them and creating teenagers that will feel human enough so many people can see themselves in them.

skip to loafer is a story like no other, and i'm very glad that sensei chose to write it the way she did. I'm very grateful for her and all of her characters. please, do read the full interview!! it was hard for me not to share everything because it's such an amazing one!

you can find it in this link, in japanese. thank you sensei for being so available to share your thoughts and creative process and the kind interviewer yokoi shuko who made so many amazing questions:

[rhondafromhr]

Hey y’all,

This isn’t an easy decision, but I’ve decided to deactivate my blog. I don’t want anyone to worry about me, so I want to let y’all know I’m alright and mentally I’m doing better every day. I’ve just realized that I’m at a point in my life where I’ll be happier and more mentally well if I have no social media whatsoever, including tumblr. More details below the cut if you’re curious (mainly just me being sappy about how much fun it’s been and how amazing my mutuals are).

I’ve had a blast here and found so much fun, joy, community and creativity at a time in my life where I desperately needed it. Seriously, I can’t overstate how much it meant to me. It was so much fun playing pretend with you all, hearing all your thoughts and ideas, reading your incredibly thoughtful takes and analyses, bouncing ideas off of each other. You all helped me reignite my passion for writing and rediscover a lifelong fun, fulfilling hobby—I never would have started doing it again if it weren’t for the nerds corruption AU and my life would look completely different now. All the love for my fics and unhinged AU ideas meant the world to me, too.

And of course this sappy goodbye post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention how amazing, kind, creative and talented my mutuals are. Aurora, thank you so much for all the moodboard requests you did for me, they were all amazing and brightened my day so much, for having so much appreciation for Grace and really influencing how I saw her character and just for being a lovely person in general <3 Ali, I haven’t seen you on here in a minute but if you happen to see this thank you so much for that drawing!! You are such a talented artist with a really cool, unique style and I still haven’t forgotten it. Ellie, you’re an incredible writer and I’m sure you’ll be seeing me in your comments section on ao3. I’ve had so much fun whenever we’ve interacted and bounced ideas off of each other and you’re just generally a really cool person with immaculate vibes. Thank you for being the mutual that Gets It. Elliot, you’re a super talented writer as well, and thank you so much for all the sweet comments you’ve left and the general good, positive vibes you bring to the fandom. Cosma thank you for giving Brenda the appreciation she deserves and for also being so much fun to interact with. I love how you always engaged with my weird AU ideas and built on them, and how you came up with so many amazing and creative ideas both for fanworks and your original content. And Sanguine thank you for all your support on the corruption AU from the beginning, it meant so much to me and was really motivating.

Even if I didn’t mention you here, if we were mutuals and we interacted at any point, you meant something to me and I thought very highly of you (I’m big on cultivating my experience here and I was absurdly picky about who I followed. I was honestly kind of ridiculous about it lol)

All that being said, I think it’s time for me to move on. For all the wonderful things this website has to offer, there are downsides and I often find myself wasting hours mindlessly scrolling, and sometimes getting genuinely stressed about and fixating on really dumb, petty stuff that literally doesn’t matter in the slightest. I’ve also struggled with OCD for a majority of my adult life and while I’ve been in recovery for going on two years, its kind of been resurfacing lately and I think some of the prevalent attitudes and rampant reblog bait found on this website have contributed, even if they aren’t the main reason. I’ve tried to cultivate my dash, but some things inevitably slip through.

Overall, I just need to be more present and in the moment with the people I know in real life and devote more time and energy to my IRL goals if I want to move forward. I think in order to do that, I need to cut myself off entirely, because I do use fandom on tumblr as a vice and a distraction, often to a degree that I think has become unhealthy.

I’ll still be active on ao3 (username rhondafromhr) and probably continue updating my current WIPs and writing more for Hatchetfield as well as other fandoms, so if you enjoy my writing it’ll be there! I also made a discord, so if we’re mutuals on here feel free to say hi on there sometime if you want 😄 we can be Totally Normal about the characters and exchange unhinged AU ideas for old time’s sake. I can’t promise I’ll be the greatest at replying bc of the whole “trying to be more present in real life” thing, but I’ll do my best and I’d be stoked to hear how you’re doing! Here’s my link

Okay, I’m done rambling. I’ll probably leave my blog up for another day or two, I want all my mutuals to see this so they don’t think I blocked them or just up and disappeared or anything, but after that Rhonda’s retiring (I mean retirement isn’t really a thing anymore, but she’s an internet persona so we can pretend). Once again, thank you all for everything <3 <3 <3 if we don’t talk again take care, I’ll miss you and I genuinely hope for nothing but the best for you!!

[thaifanfests]

Here are some brief explanations for some of our prompts for ThaiTheKnot2025! (Our other prompts, such as “ceremonies” and “The Pillow Arrangement,” will have dedicated posts.)

🏳️‍🌈Garland

Floral garlands, generally known as phuang malai (พวงมาลัย) symbolize respect and luck across Thai culture. Garlands and other forms of floral art were historically used in various royal and religious ceremonies and are traditionally made with fresh flowers. Garlands are handmade, with the garland highly symbolic of the patience and attention needed for the threading process. Today, you can find markets and stalls that sell garlands of all shapes, sizes, and arrangement types across Thailand. Some of the flowers used for phuang malai include jasmine, champaca, orchids, marigolds, and gardenias. 

For weddings specifically, malai song chai (มาลัยสองชาย) is usually made with jasmine and crown flowers since they are associated with love and happiness. In the Thai wedding ceremony, both bride and groom often wear malai song chai, and other variations of garlands can be worn by other important family members or guests. (macramebynicha)

This is an example of a Lady Pattern Garland, which is a popular choice for weddings. (PraewWedding)

Some beliefs about weddings says that the bride and groom should use only one Malai throughout the whole day and not change it to a fresh pair halfway or something like that so that their marriage would be smooth and have no reason for a fight to happen between them, so they wouldn't have any reason to break up. (Origin Vertical Blog, translated by @recentadultburnout)

🏳️‍🌈Newlyweds’ house (เรือนหอ)

“A groom moving into a bride's family's house is a traditional way of Thai marriage. Each couple can do whatever they want, of couse. Buying a new place only for themselves is an appealing choice for many of those who can, but I want to point out that a groom marrying in is historically done and a very normal choice in Thai.” (recentadultburnout) One of the traditional choices is the groom builds a new house on the bride's family's property/near the bride parent's house to use as the couple's home after the wedding. Buying one from the parents (sometimes they happen to have several buildings in the same fence) is also ok. (recentadultburnout)

“Traditionally, after the wedding, the banana tree and sugar cane will get planted at the newlyweds' house as a wish for the couple to have a sweet, flourishing life with many children.” (recentadultburnout)

🏳️‍🌈Ring & Jewelry

“A wedding ring is a western influence, but a popular one. At this point, it's the norm for a married couple to have one.” (recentadultburnout)

“In the process of giving the engagement ring, the groom first puts the ring on the bride, and then the bride bows down to the groom. Like this Link. After that, it's the bride who will put the ring on the groom, followed by the couple bowing down to pay homage to their parents.” (recentadultburnout) Here is a video that shows what a ceremony could look like.

Typically, when considering the bride’s dowry, jewelry and gold are offered. 

🏳️‍🌈Sinsod Thongman (Dowry)

Dowry, or sinsod thongman, is the practice of a groom paying the family of the bride to ensure the bride’s good status. Dowry and its definitions differ across Asian cultures, but for Thailand, dowry is a social practice that is still widely done. Traditionally, to offer a very sizable and generous dowry means that the groom is financially stable and can care for the bride. To do so also strengthens the connections between groom and bride and their families (Thai Embassy). 

The amount of dowry is dependent on several factors, including social status, level of education, and lifestyle of the bride. “When a man and a woman decide to marry, The men will send his parents or recruit elderly men who have a high position in society or may be their respected elder relatives, known as "tâo gàe", to approach the woman's parents in order to ask the woman to be his bride and be the one who talks about the dowry.” (recentadultburnout)

When the proposals are accepted, there is a dowry counting ceremony, in which the parents of the bride will pretend to count the dowry. Some families keep the dowry themselves, but usually, the dowry is given back to the bride and groom and used to start their marital life. (recentadultburnout)

Dowry is usually given in the form of jewelry, gold, and money, but it can take the form of anything valuable.

In a traditional Thai marriage, dowry is expected. However, some modern marriages forgo dowry altogether. Nonetheless, the decision to not have a dowry should be discussed with both families. (Thai Embassy)

🏳️‍🌈Surname

“The wife's taking her husband's last name after marriage is the most common, but the opposite, or both of them keeping their own last names or even go creating their own new last name, is also an option. As for using both last names, it's not so popular among Thai couples, but it's what quite a few Thai-foreign couples want. This option can be a bit more difficult compared to the others due to its being out of the norm and the process of obtaining it can be confusing, so many people will choose to make their old last names into middle names as a way to keep them instead of actually trying to use both.” (recentadultburnout)

🏳️‍🌈 What's ThaiTheKnot2025? 🏳️‍🌈 Guidelines 🏳️‍🌈 Prompts 🏳️‍🌈 Discord & Carrd

[astersofthesky]

VERY WELL SAID OP!!! Also to add, I've recently just finished rewatching season 1 and one thing that I also wanna add is that InHo is also greatly influenced by the games philosophy of "having equal chances for everyone."

(apologies for the badly cropped image!)

InHo, who was once an officer, was falsely accused of taking bribe from a criminal resulting to him entering the games in 2015 for his wife and unborn child. He saw the game as one last shot at life (a common feeling the players have when entering the game—even Gi Hun entered the game again for his mother).

In-Ho had seen the worst of the games and had also seen how people kill and deceive each other for money. And how the VIP's also sees the lowest of the low as some worthless betting horses to gamble for and get entertainment.

I just know he is disgusted by all these things, coming out as a player himself and as a former purveyor of justice.

So yeah OP, i agree that InHo never enjoyed watching or even handling the games. I bet he's just doing it cause he believes he's got nothing anymore. Or maybe the guilt is eating at him everytime he goes home to meet Jun-Ho and their mother so he stopped coming home altogether during 2020 (Ironically Gi-Hun's game).

I feel like it was guilt and fear of facing Jun-Ho and letting him know what evil things he did in the games is the reason why In-Ho came back and became the frontman. Or maybe he came back a regular pink guard and climbed his way up in the ranks (I wouldn't put it pass him) all because he thinks humanity is dead (his humanity is dead).

BUT IF THIS IS THE CASE, then the way he's obsessed with giving these "scums" the last "shot" at life clashes with his disgust in humanity right??

Comes in the hope, this secret hope he still cherishes inside his shredded yet fully locked heart that maybe humans aren't so far gone yet.

That maybe if we keep on giving equal chances to everyone, someone out there would show that the human heart is not only made to deceive and hurt and be evil.

Then come Gi Hun who was one step away from winning yet he came back to give up the game to save him and Sang Woo.

That caught his attention.

All his life he's known cruelty (even as an officer) to being the frontman and come this guy with all smiles and naivety and hope and kindness cause i juuust know In-Ho was intrigued when player 456 chose player 001 despite being an old man during the marbles game not even knowing what the game will be.

This man is full of love. And In-Ho knew it when Gi-Hun picked up Sabyeok's brother is okay and ensured that he and Sang-woo's mother are all financially and emotionally okay.

I bet In-Ho was feeling frustrated when Gi-Hun dialled their number and told he's gonna track him down not just because he'll be a threat but because he knows Gi-Hun is throwing out the chance to heal and be happy the way In-Ho was too cowardly to do to his brother and mother.

Gi-Hun will regret coming back the way In-Ho regretted saying yes to being the frontman.

Now, even joining the games, he got to know Gi-Hun more and not just from pictures and reports. But he gets to know him personally and In-Ho sees that as much as they're alike they're different.

They're different cause he thinks Gi-Hun is still naive for seeing the world in black and white but In-Ho sees the gray areas and some people does use the money for good.

They're alike cause this shows that deep down, In-Ho believes that greed for money is not the only thing keeping this people fighting and hoping the same way Gi-Hun believes that greed for money can be overcome by standing over on what's right and fighting for human lives and hoping in humanity's innate goodness.

Even Lee Byung-Hun said that unknowingly In-Ho might be rooting for Gi-Hun's belief to be right over his own.

Not because he's entirely wrong but Gi-Hun's belief leads to a hope he had lost when his wife and child died. When all he sees are cruelty atop cruelty (and even most of them because of his doing) and he's just numbed and he wants to care for Jun-Ho but can't and will never be able to come back.

And that's why In-Ho is a selfish coward 'cause he wants Gi-Hun to be right but he's scared that maybe, that the hope Gi-Hun brings, is only temporary.

That Gi-Hun will become like the people he despised the most.

That Gi-Hun will eventually become a monster like himself.

So he crushes everything that Gi-Hun cares about. He kills Jung-bae. He kills "Young-Il." He was already trying to nip the bud of hope in his chest cause he's scared to be proven wrong and be all broken all over again when he had already developed this numb, indifferent mask over the course of the years.

Cause if Gi-Hun gives up, then he can give up into the delusions of second chances as well.

If I say that I'm not used to people misinterpreting my favorite characters, I'd be lying. But the way they get so many things wrong about Inho's character is kinda pissing me off because you KNOW that most of them do it to cancel out the possibility of InHun being *something* more than what's shown so far. You don't ship them, that's fair, frankly I don't care. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion UNTIL your opinion is wrong.

Let's talk about a couple of things I've seen being talked about on tiktok (🙄)

“Inho joined the games because ilnam said that it'd basically be more fun to play than to watch so he followed his example." loud incorrect buzzer ! Inho has joined the games before, and not only that, he's also a previous winner, so therefore he's very much aware of what it's like to be a part of it, he's experienced them first hand, just like he's experienced the atrocities of it. they've changed him for the worst and possibly caused him a huge trauma —they're the reason he's lost faith in humanity after all— so, why would he crave to relive it just for the thrill of it? i, personally doubt he even enjoys watching the game.

“Inho didn't look at Gihun with love, he likes to watch him suffer” Short answer is no. He doesn't like to watch him suffer, neither he looked at him with love, not the pure kind of love at least. Two things can be true at once. Inho spent half the season staring at Gihun because everything about the man intrigued him; His determination, his stubbornness, his kindness, his hope, his heart that's full of love despite the pain he suffered, even the pain in his eyes every time someone got eliminated in front of him as if it was the first time it had happened, as if the cruelty of it all surprised him every damn time. How can someone, who's been through the same things Inho has been through, be the polar opposite of him?

now, the reason(s) that I think Inho actually joined the games for..

(yes I am an Inhun shipper, does that make my opinion a little biased? maybe. do i still believe I'm right? absofuckinglutely.)

Let me clarify this: Inho is NOT a good man, no matter the redemption arc he might get in s3, he'll continue to be a terrible person because nothing will ever erase the blood he's spilled and the evil men he's worked for. BUT at the same time, he's not ALL bad, not like the VIPS and ilnam. See, Inhun are the average "yin-yang" trope in fictional romance, (which I eat up every time and I find it very interesting when it's done the right way, don't get me wrong) Inho is bad but there's some goodness somewhere deep inside him. And the only person who's brought it to the surface is Gihun. Sure, he does think Gihun is naive, but he's also the only person who's actually challenged him, who's "forced" him to get his stupid head out of the dirt and look around him, even for a short while and Inho definitely liked what he saw. Honestly, it wasn't even that hard for Gihun to do so because the goodness in Inho wanted and waited for someone to pull him out of the dirt, he wished for someone, something to give him hope for humanity or.. anything. Anything that'll help him escape from his misery.

You can definitely argue that he joined the games to befriend Gihun, to gain his trust and stop his plans when the time comes, which is half true. But keep in mind that he needed to justify his choice to join the games. He's not a VIP nor the mastermind to simply get to do that without consequences. He's the frontman, the one who controls and manages everything. He's needed for the games to work and go by smoothly and successfully without unnecessary losses and problems. Gihun would only cause problems, Inho knew that very well and yet he chose to put him in it once again. He recklessly made that choice, risking pretty much everything because of his inner conflict. A part of him wanted Gihun to prove himself to him, that there's indeed good that'll save the world and the rest of him wanted to prove to Gihun that everything he so strongly believes in is merely a fantasy.

Joining the games and befriending Gihun was the only way for Inho to see the real him, without the heroic mask he puts on every time he faces the frontman. I think he believed that someone as extraordinary as Gihun will either break in front of him and he will end up disappointed by the human kind once again, or Gihun will change everything about the way he thinks for the better. But the problem is that Inho hopes for both of those things at the same time.

And that was Inho's arc in season 2. His inner conflict and how it will affect him, the game and Gihun later on.

[bagmanunlucky]

TAROT INFLUENCED ABSTRACT FANDOM ART COMMISSIONS

hello my fellow deranged friends! i'd love to meet some folks on here and contribute to the art rather than admire anonymously from afar. my name is chelsea (they/them).

as a writer, researcher, artist, and tumblr fanatic, i had an idea to make fan art more personal for each commissioner. above are some commissions for friends (more to post) to depict their favorite moments, themes, motifs, characters, etc. from their fandom of choice, which they'd like to be incorporated into my art. during a FREE consultation, we can discuss preferences and ideas, and i'll ask some questions to get to know you and your relationship to the fandom more!

my FAVORITE aspect of this is doing a tarot draw for the commissioner/seeker in order to make a more complex piece of work that can resonate with you. Character development, research, and human connection help me treat this like a playwrighting/dramaturgy/artist combo rather than fanart. This has helped me add another layer of depth to the stories i am depicting for others. We can do one during free consultation, with additional opportunities for a full, in-depth analysis from me, written or in person. Tarot can also be read to depict the SCENE happening in the art, doesn't need to be a reading for YOU if you don't want that!

i'd love to spread my art along tumblr for those fellow fanatics who appreciate their fandom "merchandise" to look subtle/abstract vs. straight up wearing a Dunder Mifflin t-shirt. I always want memorabilia and things to express my personal love for a show, and i wonder if other's have the same experience. this would be YOURS. Coming from your mind, and unique to you.

My Scream Franchise sweatshirt says "Woodsboro Film Club" and my Buffy sweatshirt is simply the sweatshirt they all wore in gym in high school that only super fans would notice. If you feel my pain, let's have a free consultation for a commission!

DROP QUESTIONS BELOW! I am happy to add more art, clarify things, and hopefully get started working for y'all soon!

and maybe @strawlessandbraless can let everyone know how their Merlin piece turned out! too scared to show @katherynefromphilly as if it's not more based on her glorious fic than the show. (If you have read "and like the cycle of the year, we begin again" on Ao3 are you ok?