#i mean healthy pre is clear right?

[moraxsthrone]

i just gotta get something off my chest rq...

lately i've seen a few fics/drabbles where a dude's precum is described as being white and i can't help but wonder if some of these folks out here writing about pre have ever actually seen pre-ejaculate?

i mean, correct me if i'm wrong, but i think if a guy's pre is white...he might need to see a doctor about that? he could have a yeast infection or smth idk.

[tteokdoroki]

☆༉ — KATSUKI BAKUGOU. pre-k teacher!au.

about. some random headcanons of bakugou being a pre school teacher bc i think that he’s great with kids and would try so hard not to fall in love with his student’s mom.

warnings. minors, blank and ageless blogs do not interact. sfw, bakugou is soft for kids, reader is a single mother, fem!reader, pre school teacher!bakugou.

personally, i think bakugou would make a great pre-school teacher.

imagine a quirkless universe where bakugou decides to work with kids because he knows that in a world where everyone turns against one another — kids are the only ones who have never done wrong. as a pre school teacher, he tries to be the person he wished he had protecting him.

the class pre-k teacher!bakugou gets assigned are known to be ‘his kids’. they have their own system, in which bakugou claps once and they all scramble to sit on the carpet for story time or know to stack their handwriting books up neatly at the end of their tables. the kids like that their teacher is strong and able to pick three of them up at once, they order that he plays heroes with them or sometimes dresses up like a princess from the story book before nap time.

pre-k teacher!bakugou's class is the most well behaved, the little ones always snuggle up to him quietly when it’s time to sleep and listen well before they’re let out into the playground for time out doors. it’s almost like he gentle parents them too — your kid in katsuki’s class is particularly sensitive at times, but the blonde always gives her a little time to cry out her feelings in the reflection corner because kids will always figure their shit out even if they can’t articulate it properly.

“what’s wrong, sweetheart? can ya try ‘n tell me what’s up?”

pre-k teacher!bakugou who gets along well with the parents but doesn’t dare to cross the boundaries of professionalism… except for when it comes to you. the flustered young mum who’s trying to get her life together with an extremely shy and stubborn daughter that takes bakugou months to crack. he bribes her with special books at reading time, the first pick of pillows and blankies for naps and even helps her tie her shoes when he’s not supposed to.

but only because of the way your eyes light up at your daughter’s progress a few months later and the way you cling to pre-k teacher!bakugou's arm (whilst trying not to cry) when he tells you that your daughter is finally setting in with friends.

he absolutely cannot have a crush on you, however.

pre-k teacher!bakugou makes homemade snacks for his class that meets every dietary and allegory requirement of every kid he has — more often than not it’s fruit and veg, he tells his kids that they get superpowers from eating healthy. but sometimes he indulges them with gluten free brownies or muffins, sending extra home for the parents too.

pre-k teacher!bakugou puts his funny reading glasses on whenever a student of his makes him a piece of art. they always giggle. no matter what’s been made, the creations from his kids always go up on the ‘bk class wall of fame’ — he feels sentimental over each blob drawn onto colour paper with sprinkles of glue, pasta, buttons and glitter. they mean so much to him, he can’t help but adore the gifts he’s given.

pre-k teacher!bakugou who tries not to cry when his class move up a grade. he promised himself not to be like this, but the kids are squeezing and hugging him, showering him in end of year gifts as a thank you for being the best teacher ever. bakugou isn’t very good at hiding how much he’ll miss his kids — especially your little girl who he’s so used to having by his side until you pick her up everyday.

but when pre-k teacher!bakugou starts clearing out his classroom for a year, he finds a card from his favourite student (your daughter) and inside is your number scrawled quickly in the top right corner.

‘been waiting for this all year. call me, now that you’re not her teacher - xxx’

꒰ end. — all rights reserved © tteokdoroki 2023. do not copy, repost, translate & recommend elsewhere.

[ryin-silverfish]

Nezha the Demon Child: oh god not the discourse

…I promise, this isn't about Nezha's age. No, really, it isn't.

It's about this idea of pre-resurrection Nezha as a "Demon Child", and good lord that's just as discourse-worthy isn't it.

My short answer is "It's Nezha 2019 specific and doesn't quite work outside of that context, if you are using FSYY's version of Nezha's backstory."

My long answer is this entire post.

First, I must define what I mean by "Nezha as Demon Child". It's the popular fanon inspired by 2019! Nezha, who is the Demon Pearl incarnate as opposed to 2019! Ao Bing's Spirit Pearl, after 2019! Shen Gongbao switched the two around, and thus destined to be destroyed by divine thunderbolts in three years.

In the movie, Nezha's demonic birth and out-of-control powers makes him into an outcast, despised by the villagers, and he retaliated with some pretty mean pranks.

But whereas 2019! Nezha's parents still love him and try their best to give him a good childhood in those three years, in the "Demon Child" fanon of JTTW adjacent works, Li Jing is the one who despises Nezha and sees him as a demon from the moment of his birth, and sometimes Jinzha and Muzha too.

Now, I have made it pretty clear before that I'm not a big fan of Li Jing. However, if we are just looking at FSYY novel, how much support can we really find for the "Demon Child" idea?

Well, for starters: there is only the Spirit Pearl/Lingzhu Zi in FSYY proper, who reincarnated as Nezha, destined to become the Vanguard of the Zhou Army in the upcoming War of the Investiture.

When Lady Yin gives birth to a ball of flesh after 3 years of pregnancy, two servants report to Li Jing that she has given birth to a demon. Li Jing rushes into the room with a sword and cuts the ball open, and a little kid jumps out and starts running around, and this is Li Jing's reaction:

李靖骇异，上前一把抱将起来，分明是个好孩子，又不忍作为妖怪坏他性命。乃递与夫人看。彼此恩爱不舍，各各忧喜。

Rough translation: "Shocked, Li Jing stepped forth and lifted him up into his arms; such a fine child. He could not bring himself to harm the child as a demon. Then he passed him over to his wife, and the couple showered him with affection, despite their individual joys and worries."

The next day, Taiyi showed up to congratulate him, asked about the timing of his son's birth, and basically went "Ah, crap." See, because the child is born at the hour of Chou, he is destined to break 1700 prohibitions against killing. Right after dropping that bombshell, Taiyi named the child Nezha, took him as his disciple, and just…left.

Soon, Li Jing got a report that 400 vassals had rebelled all over the realms, because prior to this, King Zhou had summoned his four major dukes to the capital, killed two of them, imprisoned one, and only left Chong Houhu the asshole bootlicker untouched, at which point the two dead dukes' sons promptly rebelled.

As Nezha grew to the age of seven, Li Jing was still conducting drills in case of an attack by the new Duke of the East's rebel army.

So what does it all mean?

Well…it sure doesn't support the idea that Li Jing despised Nezha because he still thought the child was a demon after cutting open the meatball.

He could plausibly be unsettled by the whole "break 1700 prohibitions against killing" prophecy, but instead of being abusive, I think it's more likely that he just neglected Nezha due to his duties as a general, leaving it entirely to Lady Yin to raise the kid.

Which is still not the best parenting, but with different implications for Nezha's character. Like, FSYY's Nezha gives me the vibe of someone who just doesn't quite understand social norms, or human behavior in general, or what a healthy degree of fear even feels like, and being outright despised or abused as this "Demon Child" would have taught him to fear things very quickly.

If he was indeed feared by Li Jing, it's less "suffer not the yaoguai!" and more "let's keep our third kid happy and ignorant and never let him out of the house again."

To use a fucked-up analogy…Nezha is less this dangerous hound that must be chained to a wall and whipped into submission, but a fine, powerful weapon Taiyi had left to them for safekeeping purposes, much like the Qiankun Bow & Sky-shaking Arrows sitting in their backyard building.

Perhaps he still isn't seen as his own person or treated like a regular, flesh-and-blood kid, yet it won't make sense for Li Jing or his older brothers to do the equivalent of spitting on this precious weapon or kicking it off the stands.

(Since Nezha doesn't even recognize Muzha when they run into each other during the Attempted Patricide Arc, my HC is Jinzha and Muzha both left home to study under their masters at a pretty young age, and rarely came back for visits.)

Like, I can still see Li Jing being this stuck-up and emotionally distant guy who only interacts with his kids to "check on their homework", so to speak.

Or Lady Yin coddling Nezha, partially because she wants to make up for Li Jing's absence, and partially due to the vain hope that, by sheltering her youngest child from the world, she might be able to shelter him from his very destiny too.

...

Here's where I go off a tangent: on a meta level, Nezha isn't a demon or an aberration of the natural order (which yaoguais are often seen as) either. This is very much informed by a Chinese essay called 由哪吒看《封神演义》的天命世界 that analyzed the character in relation to FSYY's view of Fate.

It is very well written and has given me quite the emotional damage (/hj).

Specifically:Nezha is destined to violate 1700 prohibitions against killing, not because he is "evil" or demonic, but because he's born to be an executioner carrying out the Will of Heaven.

He is the very embodiment of the "Peril" that is the War of Investiture, and thus must suffer through his own perils, to be ritualistically remade in death into a demigod-like warrior.

Much like how the Chan 12's participation in the War of Investiture is, in and of itself, a Peril, something they must endure and survive as the consequences to their causes——failing to sever the Three Corpses and breaking prohibitions, Nezha's suicide served as his Peril, a death that shall cleanse him of his guilt and satisfy the karmic laws while also fulfilling his destiny.

Everyone he killed in battle follows the same logic: they have violated taboos (more true for the Jie Sect immortals), gone against the impersonal, ironclad Will of Heaven yet paradoxically playing straight into Fate's hands, as their deification through death has proven——a Peril as well as a consolation prize.

To folks that don't buy into FSYY's view of Fate and think it's bullshit, or don't understand the logics of deification: an alternate and more "modern" interpretation of Nezha's suicide may be an attempt at finding freedom.

After all, what's a weapon's biggest act of resistance, but breaking itself?

After this, I'll never owe anyone anything again. My debts are repaid. I'll never see my mother cry. I'll be no one's son, no one's disciple, a blade that will never be sheathed and left to gather dust in the attic, obstructed, then blamed for doing what it's made for.

It also isn't as simple as he thought. Death, as well as freedom.

Looking back centuries later, he'll probably cringe at his younger self too.

This? This is what you think your destiny, or freedom from it, looks like? Dishing out death indiscriminately without understanding what it means and lashing out in a fit of rage——it doesn't make you a good warrior, or even a good weapon, just a mad dog!

Like, I think Nezha can be rightfully pissed at Li Jing's Asshole Arc after his death, while also gradually coming to a more mature and nuanced understanding of violence and his purpose during WOI.

Namely, as ironclad and undeniable as Fate is in FSYY, attributing everything to it is just an easy way to avoid the difficult questions and personal responsibilities.

And I feel like there are a lot of interesting potential in exploring Nezha's post-war arc, of someone who is born to be a weapon, who finds comfort and certainty in that purpose, suddenly having to become something else.

Not necessarily in the "learning to be human again" sense, moreso the divine equivalent of a veteran adjusting to civilian life, exploring the boundary between executioner and protector, while dealing with both the funny and messed-up implications of working alongside everyone he sent into the Investiture.

[bi-bard]

Tests - Joel Miller Imagine [The Last of Us]

Title: Tests

Pairing: Joel Miller X Reader

Word Count: 997 words

Warning(s): none

Summary: [Pre-Show] After dating (Y/n) for a while, Joel decided that he wanted to introduce them to his daughter. (Y/n) now has to prepare for what is easily the most important night of their relationship so far.

Author's Note: How have I not written a pre-outbreak story? That doesn't seem right.

-------------------------

As I pulled up to Joel's house, I felt my heart about to beat out of my chest.

The last time we had met for dinner, Joel asked me to come over and meet Sarah. I accepted immediately. That seemed to give him some sense of relief.

I heard quite a bit about Sarah while on dates with Joel. I wanted to meet her just based on how much he had told me about her. It was clear that she was the center of his world, and I had no intention of fighting for that spot.

I walked to the door, focusing on not falling over and getting my hands to stop shaking.

Joel must have spotted me on my way up the driveway. He opened the door before I had a chance to knock.

"Hey," I said.

"Hi," he replied. He stepped to the side and motioned for me to walk inside. A young girl rounded the corner. "This is Sarah."

"Nice to meet you," I held out a hand.

She shook my hand. "You too."

"We were just setting the table," Joel explained.

I nodded. I followed the two of them into the kitchen.

Joel pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit. He seemed nervous. It was cute. He grinned at me.

Sarah sat down next to me as Joel grabbed the plates from the counter.

"Joel talks about you a lot," I said, trying to spark some kind of conversation.

"Does he," she asked, giving her dad a smug grin. Joel rolled his eyes at her. "He has told me a bit about you too."

"Has he?" I mimicked her actions. I could've sworn I saw a split second of regret on Joel's face just as he sat down with us.

Our night consisted of talking and small talk. Mostly, it was Sarah asking me questions before I could ask her.

"What do you do for work," she asked.

"I own a coffee shop," I explained. "It's why I brought Joel and the guys coffee a few times. It's how we met."

She nodded. "Why a coffee shop?"

"I developed a very early relationship with caffeine," I shrugged. "And owning a business was the next logical step in my life."

"Successful?"

"I'd say so."

"Could I get a discount?"

That made me chuckle. "Sure. As long as you don't abuse it."

"Sounds like a deal."

"Sarah, you don't need to interrogate them," Joel tried to step in.

"It's fine," I stopped him. "I would be the same way in this situation. Gotta be safe."

"Yeah, gotta be safe," she agreed with me. "What was your first date?"

"Dinner at some small restaurant in town," I said. "Joel picked it. I can't remember the name, but I remember the building."

"How long did it take him to ask you out?"

I chuckled. "A few weeks. He was a bit nervous."

"Hey, I was not that nervous," Joel jumped in.

"I said 'a bit,'" I shrugged. "I feel there's a heavy-hitting question here."

"What are your intentions with my dad," she asked bluntly. I knew it.

I heard Joel sigh, "Sarah..."

"It's fine," I repeated my earlier statement as I looked at Joel. I turned my attention back to Sarah. "Hopefully, your dad and I can have a happy and healthy relationship."

"What does that mean for you?" she continued.

Joel grumbled and ran his hands over his face.

"Good communication, honesty, respect," I listed. "Acceptance, sense of humor. The ability to experience vulnerability with each other. I could go on for hours."

She nodded.

"I have as much respect for you as I do for Joel," I continued. "I hope that I'm making some kind of good impression. I promise that I am going into this situation with the best intentions I could have."

She grinned a bit. I grinned back at her.

The rest of the night went well.

Sarah was exactly as Joel described her. Smart and stubborn and funny. And it was very clear that so much of that came from her father. I felt like I fit in there.

I left a while after we had actually finished eating, making a comment about how late it was and how I needed to be at the shop early tomorrow.

"It was really nice meeting you," I said to Sarah as we made it to the door. "Maybe next time, I'll get to squeeze a few questions in."

"We'll see," she joked. "I might have a few follow-up questions."

I chuckled. "I'll be prepared for the next portion of the interview process."

She laughed a bit at that.

"Have a good night."

"You too," she nodded.

Joel decided to walk me out.

"I'm sorry for the ambush that happened in there," Joel said as we reached my car.

"It wasn't an ambush," I chuckled. "It was a daughter wanting to protect her dad... probably in the same way that he protects her. It's honestly really sweet."

He looked away from me for a moment, clearly somewhat embarrassed about the comment. I almost felt proud about making him nervous like that.

I glanced at the window of the house to see Sarah standing there. She had her arms crossed. I laughed, looking away to cover it up.

Joel looked over his shoulder and sighed, rolling his eyes.

I took a deep breath before speaking up again, "Past your curfew, Joel?"

"Shush," he muttered, chuckling to himself.

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'll call you when I get home, alright?"

"Alright," he nodded. He kissed my forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," I mumbled. Like it was some great secret.

Joel stood outside, watching me get in my car and drive off. I waved to him just before I did. He waved back.

I let out a breath of relief as I drove away.

If that was a test, I felt like I had passed with flying colors.

-------------------------

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[sickmachete]

HEY !! HERE ARE SOME RANDOM FIRE SAFETY TIPS !!

AVOID HILLS. seriously. the radiant heat coming off the flames pre-heats nearby grasses/fuels located above (heat rises!) which is what cause fires to "run" up hills lighting up long strips in the blink of an eye. you cannot outrun a fire that's chasing you up hill.

EVEN IF you are standing below the fire all it takes is one stray ember blown in the wind to start a fire below YOU and then you're really screwed. if you're caught on a hill, run to the side and (if possible) try to get to any charred/burnt zones behind the fire.

charred/already burnt black areas are safe zones. they will not easily re-burn and can become refuges to retreat to (but still be mindful of smoke inhalation).

healthy green grass lawns can also be temporary safe zones. the moisture held in lush grass makes it a lot more difficult to catch fire and can work as a temporary refuge in the case of a house fire. however, TO BE CLEAR: this does NOT apply to tall forest meadow-type grasses. when i say healthy grass im talkin like suburban manicured lawns okay? if your lawn is looking crusty dry brown then thats not gonna be a good place to run to.

most mild carbon monoxide poisoning (aka smoke inhalation) can be cured by simply taking in fresh air. severe smoke inhalation may require further medical treatment though.

fire needs FUEL + OXYGEN + HEAT in order to burn. if you removed ANY of these 3 things, the fire will go out. this is known as the fire triangle. the reason why water works against fire is mainly because it's cold, however it also helps by "drowning" the fire, depriving it of oxygen.

on this note!! if you're cooking and your food catches on fire inside the pan, DO NOT! pour water onto it!!!! that will only make it splash. what you're gonna wanna do is grab a pot/pan lid and gently slide it onto the pan. this will cut off its oxygen and put the fire out. DO NOT! slam the lid onto the pan!! this rush of wind/air could blow the fire right out of the pan and directly onto you/nearby furniture!

CHECK YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS!!! please!! not all fire extinguishers are meant to be used on the same fire!!! while it can vary (and you should definitely look up the ratings for your own location/extinguishers) many of them will have specific class ratings written along the label. here in the USA, those ratings are in letter form (ie: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class K). sometimes these ratings are combined (ie: Class ABC), meaning that a Class ABC fire extinguisher can be used on a Class A, B, or C fire.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND THEIR ASSIGNED FIRES

CLASS A: these extinguishers should be used on wood/paper/plastic (ie: your basic trash fire).

CLASS B: these extinguishers should be used on flammable liquids (ie: alcohol, gas, petroleum, greasing oils <- not food oils though!!).

CLASS C: these extinguishers should be used on electrical fires (ie: sparking cables, your computer spontaneously combusted and is on fire, etc).

CLASS D: these extinguishers should be used on combustible metals (ie: magnesium, titanium, potassium, sodium, etc. if that metal shit in your garage is burning, use Class D).

CLASS K: these extinguishers should be used on flammable cooking oils/greases (ie: your stove is on fire, your barbecue's on fire, etc).

CLASS ABC: these extinguishers can be used on any of the Class A, B, or C material fires.

DO NOT USE THE WRONG EXTINGUISHER. they are labeled differently for a reason!!! a Class ABC extinguisher (for example) will make a Class K fire splash! you will cause that big old greasy fire to splash right back onto you!! Class K extinguishers are specifically designed to safely put out fires without disturbing the liquids/oils so please please please check the labels of your extinguishers.

AND REMEMBER TO "PASS" !!!

HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER — P.A.S.S.

PULL the pin in the handle.

AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire.

SQUEEZE the lever slowly.

SWEEP (across the base of the fire) from side to side.

[linnoya-writes]

Aang actually *was* a Terrible Dad (and we should stop making excuses for him).

One thing I cannot get over is how people say that Aang actually wasn't that terrible of a father, and I keep hearing the same excuses to his behavior: he didn't grow up with conventional parents, he had to focus on bringing back his air-bending culture, Katara was already a natural parent and was totally okay being the housewife/mom who let Aang off the hook with most of the serious parenting duties... ugh....

Anyway, I have three points to give:

1) Aang may not have grown up with conventional family structure, but he certainly knew enough about the world (being a nomad his whole life pre-war) to understand what a healthy family dynamic looked like. He knew enough about Toph's dad and Zuko's dad to understand what a poor father figure looked like. Aang also spent time with Hakoda, in ATLA season 3, to see the characteristics of a good father -- and this doesn't even include the time he spent traveling with Sokka/Katara alone and noticing how their dad's absence was affecting them. I put a lot of emphasis on Katara, here, because she makes it very clear in Season 3 that her father leaving the family was devastating... and this girl would want a partner who understood those feelings and do absolutely everything to keep the family together. It's what she did throughout the entirety of ATLA-- Katara was the glue that kept everyone close -- and you would think Aang would pick up on those cues, rather than let history repeat itself after he had his family with Katara. Imagine how awful it must've been for Katara, watching the man she married ultimately go off with their air-bending son on these cultural excursions, and not even consider that their two other kids might want to learn about air bending culture anyway. They're a bi-cultural family, after all, right? Wouldn't that have been a prime example for the new world, showing a blended family being together and not separate? Just let that sink in for a moment.

2) Many people say that any misunderstood family dynamics between Kya, Bumi and Tenzin came to a peaceful conclusion in LOK season 2 with a happy family portrait. Here's the thing-- a posed, smiling family portrait doesn't necessarily indicate a healthy family unit. I'm also making note of LOK Season 3, when Bumi admits that he finally feels more connected to their father after he magically gets Airbending, and also that scene when Kya/Bumi arrive to the Northern Air Temple and the acolytes are shocked to hear that Avatar Aang had other children besides Tenzin. I mean... how much effort would it take, exactly, for Aang to just mention to the temple monks and acolytes that he had two other kids? Was he embarrassed to tell them they weren't air benders? Was he ashamed? In any case, he was the Avatar and he should've demonstrated pride for the children he had regardless of their bending ability or lack their-of. It goes without saying that, while Aang did grow up differently and had many priorities being the Avatar and the Last Airbender... he still made some conscious choices about how little of a "family man" he wanted to be. Aang clearly favored the air-bending life and didn't process that he was also raising a family that was part WaterTribe (perhaps because many of their customs clashed with his air-bending way of life... but that's another conversation.)

3) Yes, Bryke are notorious for writing examples of poor father figures (Ozai/Unalaq/BeiFong/Yakone/Hiroshi) and I'm also here to tell you that they're known for writing women who lose agency and turn devoted-doting-domestic-docile once they get with their man. Pema from LOK is a good example-- all we know about her is she literally gave her life to be an air-acolyte and carry Tenzin's children (the only backstory we get is Pema secretly pined for Tenzin until it became too much and she had to say something), and be the good housewife and mother to those air bending kids. We know nothing about this woman's individual wants or needs outside of motherhood. Another example is the backstory of Yakone and his unnamed wife who-- after giving this man two sons, completely disappears from the narrative and is not aware Yakone is abusing his kids. And she's still exists, because Amon refuses to go with Noatak so as to not abandon their mom. Their mother was so unnecessary as a character after she had the kids, she became this oblivious/silent character in the background who let her own kids get abused. Another example is Unalaq's wife-- again, about a father using his two kids like his henchmen and the mother isn't even in the picture. We know she exists because after Unalaq gets destroyed... Esna turns to Desca and says "what're we gonna tell Mother?"  It may have been written as a subtle joke... but the underlying sentiment is still there.

I'd say my favorite example is the fate of Fire Lady Ursa-- a woman once determined to protect her children that she was willing to commit murder and treason -- ends up choosing to forget those same children and instead wipes all her memories of them entirely to start a quiet domestic life with her childhood sweetheart, a man who very much knows the life Ursa left behind and has the power to decide what truths he wants to tell her about the world and live like there wasn't even a bloody war happening. (Don't even get me started on how The Search disappointed me. Oy).

Perhaps Aang and Katara -- even without intent -- might have fallen into that formulaic pattern when Bryke wrote out the first two seasons of LOK, because that was during the time The Promise, The Search and The Rift comics got published, and Katara's character was definitely becoming that unquestionably-loyal/no fuss/devoted girlfriend to Aang where she would go with everything he decided and sadly sit in a corner while Aang got all the praise and attention and never considering her feelings. Bryke picked up on these mistakes, however, because in the later comics like North & South and Imbalance, you can see them giving Katara some leadership moments (particularly when Aang isn't around) and Aang more of a mature, considerate approach with Katara, saying things like "I'm sorry I just left you to fight alone like that!" and "You're always asking me if I'm okay. Now it's my turn-- are you okay?"  The effort was definitely there to make Aang and Katara look somewhat more compatible than they let on. But things didn't really seem that promising in Legend of Korra... as Katara's character arc gets breadcrumbs of acknowledgement regarding what she did for the world outside of Aang's narrative.

It seems like Katara's badass individual characteristics were written second only to whatever she needed to be for Aang, including being the primary parent to his non-airbender kids while he focused on the air-bending culture.

In any case-- I'm almost certain Bryke will be bending over backwards to "fix" all of these flawed elements of Kataang and Aang as a father figure in the upcoming animated feature films, because if there's anything Bryke likes to do... it is "tell" us that Aang was a great guy and there absolutely was no other better person for Katara.

[genericpuff]

I’m curious about some of your recent criticism of RS’s past making medical fetish art… in one post you mentioned there being a connection/continuation between her past art and the “problematic” parts of LO and cited DDLG and medical fetishism more specifically.

Can you say more about what makes those two things problematic? The obsession with Lolita and sexualizing actual minors is one thing, but kink isn’t inherently problematic IMO.

And, just to be clear, I appreciate your critiques of her art/the sloppy way that WT is shoving LO down our collective throats even though it’s way past its peak… I’m just more curious about how her past fetish art fits into your critiques of her as an artist.

I mean, that kind of enters "separate the art from the artist" territory which I don't feel you can actually do when the artist is inherently problematic and is sowing those problems into their art. But that's a separate topic.

Kink being a factor in her work is not an issue, and frankly, I didn't bring up any of the medical fetish art as to say it's an issue as a whole, more so to point out how this has pretty much always been Rachel's M.O. and it makes it make WAY more sense as to why LO is written the way it is knowing that (and more so just pointing out how weird it is that she apparently wants to ditch her life pre-LO but still keeps the usedbandaid name).

But I think it becomes far more of an issue when we all know her work is affiliated with Webtoons, a platform that predominantly markets to children as young as 11 years old.

Like, The Doctor Pepper Show was kinky as all hell, and it didn't try to hide that, it said right in its description that it was a medical fetish comic and it made it clear it was meant for people who were 18+. LO, meanwhile, is constantly trying to play this game of tug of war between its ideas and what it's trying to accomplish and who it's meant for. On the one hand, it's meant for teenagers who can identify themselves through Persephone's struggles as a teenage girl coming of age; on the other hand, it's meant for horny adult women who can insert themselves into Persephone's relationship with Hades and fantasize about getting swept away by a rich man who will solve all their problems, which isn't exactly something you want to be advertising/normalizing to the former demographic. It's trying to be both a serious deconstruction of misogyny and purity culture but it's also flippantly reinforcing misogyny and purity culture through the fetishization of Persephone as an "eternally 19" character who settles down with practically the first guy who pays attention to her.

When it comes to kink, I think it's more an issue of Rachel dangerously toeing the line between kink and predatory. There's nothing wrong with being into BDSM or the gothic lolita aesthetic, but there are people who use those labels as a way to normalize more abusive ideals and behavior (like what abusive men try to accomplish by infiltrating the BDSM community and claiming their abuse is healthy and fun, or when pedophiles try to infiltrate the gothic lolita community with the intent of fetishizing children).

Rachel being a fetish artist isn't the issue and that was never the point I was trying to make. The point is understanding Rachel's roots pre-LO and how they influence LO in ways that aren't necessarily good for the comic, its narrative, or the audience it's selling itself to. If LO were an 18+ series on a platform that marketed it as such and was unapologetically sexual/kinky the same way The Doctor Pepper Show was, then I don't think there would be quite as much of an issue (though it would still be held accountable if it did do anything morally questionable like what I mentioned above). But it's constantly being marketed to children and young teens, and it's being used as a self-insert power fantasy by Rachel to boot, rather than operating as an actual story with anything meaningful to say.

To use an example outside of LO, at least mongie had the nerve to step away from the WT's platform when she realized it wasn't going to suit the work she wanted to put out. She wanted Let's Play to be far more sexual than what they were allowing her to do, so she left. And while I don't like Let's Play all that much either, it has PLENTY of its own issues that almost seem to be adopted straight from LO, I can still respect her stepping away from the platform when she realized it wasn't going to be a good fit for what she wanted to pursue.

And no, none of that's to say that Rachel should leave WT or that she's in the same situation as mongie lmao but the identity crisis is evident in how LO is written, it feels very much like it can't decide what it truly wants to be.

That's all my two cents though, take it for what you may. That post about her medical fetish art wasn't meant to be like "LOOK AT HOW GROSS SHE IS, EWWW!" it was literally meant to just point out that she's still using a username from her medical fetish backstory for some reason despite the fact that she's tried REALLY hard to act like she never did any projects pre-LO. Shit, there are comics she's done pre-LO that weren't even fetish/kink comics, such as Castle Castle:

That's why I'm also not sharing much further and leaving it up to others to do their own digging, I don't think there's much to gain from sharing her kink art from 2004 unless it's somehow directly tied to her identity now in some way (like the madame issue drawing showing off the bandaids and self-insert aspects). A lot of that stuff is in the past. It's just odd that she's trying to leave much of it in the past but still couldn't let go of that one username that's still affiliated with it. I also think it's frankly ridiculous that she's trying to erase practically everything pre-LO, not just the stuff that she might cringe over or might be too sexual for her modern audience, but also the stuff like Castle Castle that she really should share, IMO! Because it's neat and it shows that she didn't just come from nothing, she made so much art pre-LO that ought to be shared and seen and preserved, but it seems like she's too focused on selling the whole "one hit wonder" image these days that she never bothers to mention the work that I'm sure even her own fans would love to see.

As a final note to wrap up this long response, it's wild that it's often only the critical community sharing these old art pieces, because a lot of the time, barring questioning of her values and ideals that are present in some of her old pieces, most people really like them and have lots of good things to say about them. I think the ultimate takeaway is how sad it is that she's fallen this low in terms of quality and effort. I think she is capable of making beautiful art, but somewhere along the way, she either stopped caring or lost the drive and that really sucks to see.

[gothicprep]

two things I’ve been meaning to comment on: the redlettermedia video on the death of movie theaters, and The Usual Suspects of z-rate youtube movie critics blaming furiosa’s failure at the box office for being too girlboss. I promise i’ll tie these together in a way that makes sense.

there are a lot of reasons why theaters aren’t doing great right now. the biggest one is attendance, and how it hasn’t bounced back since lockdown. this has been exacerbated by a lack of product in the marketplace, driven by the wga and sag strikes. this isn’t anti-labor union sentiment on my part. I want to be extremely clear about that. it’s not a comment on the negotiations. just an objective statement about how two large guilds striking = less movies = less butts in seats. I’m surprised the rlm guys didn’t consider this.

but there are two salient other things to bring up with what’s going on with the box office rn specifically.

one of them is that movies are still performing in the way you’d expect them to in the box office rn, relative to other seasons. furiosa is a great example of this. fury road, commercially speaking, was not a big hit. furiosa had a higher budget. and mad max movies tend to stand on their own. no further proof of this exists than most americans thinking that the road warrior was the first mm movie, because WB really shat the bed on the distribution for the original. they’re highly tethered to the anxieties of when they came out. the pre-apocalyptic nature of mad max dials in on what kept people up in the 70s. the road warrior is evocative of OPEC and middle east/oil anxieties. thunderdome confronts our 90s fears of tina turner. fury road deals in environmental collapse, right down to how the manpower in the citadel is imagined. Furiosa breaks from this format in a few ways. max not being in it is the obvious one. the other is that it’s so reliant on fury road that its end credits contain a supercut of the movie. this is unusual for a prequel, at least in its extent.

this all to say, there’s no universe where this movie made a lot of money. it was never going to happen. contrary to what some may tell you, it was never a girls get it done thing. i know furiosa was great, but you need to remember that critic and general audience reception are very different things. if you’re someone who likes to talk and write about movies, you’re in a place that’s closer to critic brain than you are general audience brain.

If you had a normal release schedule for, say, may, this would be sort of a nothingburger. but remember – marvel movies have pretty much always dominated may. marvel is in sort of a weird position rn post infinity war, and there was no marvel movie to come out in may.

the second one is more related to the strikes. haulted production is a temporary hiccup. within a year, things should normalize a little. think of it like the recovery period after a surgery. something is wrong. you get it fixed. but there’s a time period after that where you can’t do much of anything. in the end, you come out healthy. your strength may be diminished, but you move on. we’re in the recovery period rn. perhaps theaters are a dying business, and this is one of those situations where you carry on but are a bit weaker. but it’s recovery. not death.

ah well, those are just my thoughts on it.

[rise-my-angel]

I think choosing Arya and/or Sansa for Jon is so much worse than Dany. I don’t like any of those, but if you’re going to argue that they’re better for him, it’s sooo much worse and twisted. He didn’t know about Dany when they got involved, they didn’t know they were related. BUT he did grow up with the other two as their older brother and he sees them as his little sisters. Like you said it is 100% predatory.

He pushed Daenerys away, he would never pursue his little sisters, and that is a fact

Jons intentions do not need to start out as sexual or romantic to even be predatory. Look at Petyr Baelish. He did not right away pursue Sansa as a romantic replacement for Catelyn. But, he met her when she was a girl and knew her for many years as a girl who thought she could trust him as a safe mentor. He came to see her in that way, and begun to use that existing trust to groom her closer towards him.

Jon has seen those girls raised every single day of their lives, he was an older brother they knew they could always trust. So for Jon to suddenly see either of them in a romantic way, it means he is now using that preexisting trust to pursue them in a fashion that preys on their younger ages to trust in his intentions.

It's extremely predatory to know someone as a little kid, let alone all the way from birth as someone older, then begin pursuing them later in life at an appropriate age, because you are using that pre existing trust and feeling of saftey to now pursue them in a way that that dynamic was not used for until now.

But they think because Jon is a good person, that it means it's not predatory because it's him. But the fact is, to make the ships make sense, they still have to twist Jon into seeing two little girls he's seen as sisters from the day they were born, into something romantic where he holds the power over them. They trust him as a big brother and see him as someone safe, and now he does not view them as girls to keep safe from that sort of behavior because it now does not benefit his interests otherwise.

Jon is NOT that man. He never will be. The incest aside, which I've made clear he would be against, pursuing his little sisters or wanting him too, is to want Jon to break that trust and saftey they feel towards him as an older brother, to pursue something that they never trusted him for in the first place. And if they are saying he felt this way in the first place, and not just something that developed when they were all older, then it is direct grooming. Getting his little sisters to trust them because it benefits an interest that conflicts with the reasons they trust him.

But they have no idea this is what they're painting Jon out to be, and it is an insult to his character to ever think he'd behave that way towards two girls he has always been there to protect.

The Dany thing is much more about foresight. I do have the knowedge that they are related. I am aware Dany is his aunt, meaning that to support them getting together only before he knows the truth, is still to say, I want to see Jon unknowingly have sex with his aunt, despite knowing that revelation will be extremely traumatizing for him.

I do not support the idea of wanting Jon to willingly enter a situation that will later traumatize him in a manner that would likely destroy his ability to develop a healthy relationship in the future. It's now not me painting Jon as predatory, it's now me wanting to see Jon enter a relationship that will inevitably leave him traumatized. No one should want that. No one should want Jon to get into a situation that will inevitably leave him very fucked up from it.

The Sansa and Arya shipping with Jon is very bad because it means twisting Jon into a predator just to satisfy the optics of a ship you think you like. The Dany thing is very bad because you as the audience member, want Jon to get into a relationship that will leave him traumatized and unable to have a healthy relationship ever again.

The me thinking incest is bad and harmful and wrong and think none of the Starks would ever come close to supporting it, aside? Jonsa and Jonrya rely on Jon acting like a predator towards two girls who trusted them to be a safe person they can rely on. In these two ships, the problem is the shippers painting Jon to be the one committing harm.

Jonerys relies on the audience themselves supporting the idea of putting Jon in a traumatizing situation just to satisfy your own whims, and not caring of what wanting a character to be in a trauamtizing situation because you like it, looks like to other people. In this ship, the problem is the shipper themselves wanting to force Jon into a situation where we already know will harm him down the line.

Jonsa and Jonrya is wanting Jon to harm the girls, Jonerys is the audience itself wanting to harm Jon. And no amount of cope can change that. In this series especially, they really should have a better understanding by now of the ramifications of putting characters into situations that will knowingly harm them, and should want to avoid the desire to see those characters in further harmful situations for your own personal shipping satisfaction.

Jon, Arya, and Sansa all deserve better then to be trapped in this toxic incestual shipping war.

[toamg]

Lyric analysis of Hoziers “Too Sweet”

"To Sweet" is a newly published song, released in March 2024 by the Irish singer and songwriter Hozier. There are many theories circulating on the internet concerning the lyrics of the piece, which describe the incompatibility of two different personalities in a relationship. Some people claim that the song is a rejection song, while others think it shows the inner conflict of the lyrical "I," who thinks he’s not good or pure enough to devote himself to a relationship with the lyrical "you."

In the following analysis, the song will be examined verse by verse to explore its true meaning.

Disclaimer: This is just my interpretation of the lyrics, and other opinions and ideas are welcome!

In the first verse, the lyrical "I" shows that he has bad habits and is aware of it ("can’t be said I’m an early bird, it’s ten o’clock before I say a word"). At the same time, he is confused or rather amazed by the lyrical "you's" discipline ("baby I can never tell how do you sleep so well"). This first verse highlights that the lyrical "you" and "I" are polar opposites already, and their lifestyles don’t function together.

In the next verse, the lyrical "I" describes how the lyrical "you" tries to push him into a healthier lifestyle ("You keep telling me to live right, to go to bed before the daylight"), and he tries to do the same to her, convincing her to become a bit more like him ("Don’t you just wanna wake up dark as a lake, smelling like a bonfire, lost in the haze?"). In the next sentences, "if you’re drunk on life babe, I think that’s great," he again highlights that he is absolutely fine with her being positive, but they simply don’t work together. It’s like the lyrical "I" is saying: You’re "drunk on life" so positive and healthy and full of energy, but "I’ll take my whiskey neat," indicating he can’t match her energy.

With the line "I’ll take my whiskey neat" in the chorus, he again highlights his darker, more subtle view on life, which is the polar opposite of hers. Now the line "you’re too sweet for me" can be interpreted in a couple of different ways, but I like to believe that it’s his way of saying he doesn’t deserve his lover, that he feels like he’s not good enough for her. Like he’s almost afraid of turning her bitter like his coffee that he likes black (ref. "I’ll take […] my coffee black").

In this example, you can also see the clear contrast again that is shown throughout the entire text, between bitter coffee and too sweet. Two things that just don’t make sense together.

The fourth verse says: "the ground is where I go, I work late where I'm free from the phone," which sounds almost as if he is hiding from his partner. Maybe it’s the being so different and not having enough in common to feel completely comfortable in each other's presence.

"But you worry some, I know, But who wants to live forever babe?" This beginning of the pre-chorus once again highlights the difference between the partners. The lyrical "you" being so careful, being drunk on life instead of alcohol and guarding her mouth as if it’s heaven's gate, her body like the TSA, as the next verse reveals. And in contrast to that, the lyrical "I" with his life fast, die young attitude, no risk no fun behavior. ("who wants to live forever babe?")

The 6th and last verse shows how highly he thinks of her and that he isn’t judging her in any way ("you’re bright as the morning, soft as the rain, pretty as a vine, sweet as a grape") but the sweetness is simply not what he likes. In these sentences, he uses a grape or vine to describe her, which later turns into "you can sit in a barrel, baby I’ll wait," referring to the process of making wine, which turns sweet grapes into something more sour and alcoholic, how he wishes she was more like.

To conclude, I believe that this song is not intended to be a rejection song, at least not in a classical sense. He doesn’t reject her because he doesn’t like her, but because he feels he's not good enough for her, or at least he thinks so.

[antlereed]

Troubling

some precampaign, pre-truly knowing each other, laudna and imogen stuff!

Laudna doesn’t know how to heal. It was never truly a concern before. Her body knits itself back together no matter how fatal the injury. Learned that the hard way, after a cleric sent her fleeing into the jungles and nearly onto the blade of their sword-wielding friend. That had been difficult to escape from, though she had managed with some tricky darkness and a quick climb up the limbs of a too-tall tree. She could probably manage it better now, with her newly earned friend and her sweet-toothed charm. Imogen groans beside her, likely hearing the shift of Laudna’s thoughts, which makes the situation resituate itself in her mind.

The blade hadn’t punctured deep, at least from Laudnas less than professional eye. The blood made it difficult, stymied and pooling under the yellow scarf that she was pressing against the wound. Imogen groans again, eyes flickering open briefly before her bag floats, unsteadily, across the camp to land in a lump beside them.

“Y’handy with a needle and thread?” Imogen’s voice is pained, her right hand clumsy as it digs through the rough-worn pack. Glass and metal clink together as she pulls a metal canteen out, the cork getting popped out easily.

“I embroidered this shirt and dress, stitching you up shouldn’t be too much trouble.” Laudna watches as Imogen nudges the hand putting pressure on the wound away, the scarf along with it as Imogen tears the rest of her shirt off of the wound. Her stomach flexes as she takes a deep breath. It’s a distracting display of vitality, which means Laudna misses the next words from Imogen. She just watches as Imogen pours a healthy amount of liquid onto the cut, hissing hard through the pain, before grunting and jutting her chin toward their unfortunate dinner guest.

“Clerics usually have some bandages on ‘em, and I got needle and thread in my pack if you wanna use that. I’ll take care’a cleanin’ this if you wanna get that stuff all ready?” Imogen’s voice, while laced thick with pain, is clear and commanding, sending Laudna automatically to her feet to root through the spattered pouches of the dwarf. Bandages found, she walks on her knees back to Imogens side, hand already pulling free a length of her own red thread.

“Nonsense, this thread has served me well for patching up both my clothes and myself from time to time. Plus I think red rather suits your skin, don’t you think?”

[lonniemachin]

lonnie for the character ask thing :)

always. always.

Sexuality Headcanon: i bounce back and forth between whether i think lonnie wouldn’t label his sexuality or whether the act of labeling his sexuality (+ gender for that matter) would be something that feels good for him, but i’d say what either describes it best or IS it is bi. im also fond of aromantic lonnie and both at the same time.

Gender Headcanon: transfem + genderfluid (i tend to use she/he interchangeably for her). and i read it into her narrative too. the way that she always felt a disconnect from her peers that tied into her apologizing to her parents that they weren’t able to bring up the “all-american boy” and the way that her parents emphasize that she’s different from other boys, how the anarky costume has a mask that reflects the faces of the people that look into it back outward + how i feel that through giving so much of her life to being anarky she’d get used to being this entity that’s referred to by terms other than just he and him and man and boy etc. until she unmasks and it defaults back. i think after a while there’d be a disconnect and it wouldn’t really hit until after red robin when she has to deal with just Being Lonnie (and Moneyspider) for longer than she’s ever had to after taking up her mission. and i think that gender fluidity of anarky, despite if she sticks with the identity or not, would be something she decides to embrace for herself as a person. i’ll stop there. but basically its real.

A ship I have with said character: i’ve already been over timlonnie on my tim post so i’ll make my stance clear right here, right now: i like stephlonnie but in my own “their characterizations align with how they were pre-flashpoint and rebirth never happened” way. i think the base concept of lonnie falling for steph is soooo cute and having it be her of all other gothamites would be very fitting. i think he and steph could also bond over quite a lot from the way they approach vigilantism to their complicated relationship with the bats and the joker paternity debacle vs. having the cluemaster as a chromosome donor.

A BROTP I have with said character: lonnie does not have many friends and that is a purposeful thing. i already mentioned tim on my tim post so instead of saying he + mia dearden, which is entirely made up in my own mind but nonetheless has me in a chokehold, i’ll say he and oliver queen, which is one of my favorite out of the… 3 big dynamics he has with other vigilantes. oliver is the one older person who, despite distrusting him at first, came to approach lonnie’s way of doing things with an open mind and actually teamed up with her twice. partnering with lonnie reminded ollie of the ideals he holds dear and of his younger self in a way that prompted good introspection. i think having someone like ollie around, who is an experienced leftist vigilante willing to see things her way while also providing a bit of natural guidance and even potentially a community would be good for lonnie… and i forever mourn the team-up comic that was proposed but never got made. hard traveling heroes 2 forever.

A NOTP I have with said character: ummmm. rebirth stephlonnie? born of horrid characterization. there are not many people he’s interacted with enough to ship him with. i guess i’ve seen people ship he and bruce in the far dark corners of earlier bat fandom which should go without saying but fucking sucks ❤️

A random headcanon: aside from her 12-year-old self’s job as a paperboy, she likes biking. being active in general too but she should probably slow down because there is no way 9+ hours of exercise a day is healthy

General Opinion over said character: my favorite comic book character and i can’t see that changing soon. lonnie means the absolute world to me and more. getting a little personal, i’ve met some of my best friends through liking and talking about anarky, and for that i’m forever thankful. digging into the history behind his creation and his use in the bat narrative revealed just how much passion was put into him as a character which makes him even better and more meaningful to me even if he went in a direction i wasn’t the biggest fan of. despite less than 100 appearances, she’s a complex character with some of my favorite comics under her belt and an unforgettable debut appearance. what she means when put up against bruce and the potential that held is something i never tire of discussing. i wish every single day that dc would stop marketing her as a batman villain. i think she should’ve been disabled and had what happened to her during Red Robin centered around her because i think it would’ve been an excellent way to both give her more prominence and develop her along more after such a period of being so isolated + putting her whole identity into her mission. i never get bored of reading through her comics over again, it makes me genuinely so happy to do so. machin nation forever and im serious.

[primordialsoundmeditation]

✨✨HOW TO OVERCOME THE FOUR FEARS OF LIFE✨✨

🌀 FEAR OF LONELINESS

There are two options that can be considered:

The first is that the ego works on its banal cause to make you believe that you are really alone, that you are joined to others, in order to feel protagonist of life and find recognition, on every level you imagine, in the family, in the partner, in friendship group, at work and in society.

The second option is that the Spirit wants you to remember that you are part of a Wholeness. That you are always connected to the integrating energy of God, which manifests itself in an inner flame you possess, a light that you must expand.

When you give strength to that inner light, you begin to look with the eyes of your heart and begin to realize that you always have company. It is the company with your inner being and with your Supreme Creator.

You will come to understand that loneliness is a wonderful opportunity of life to share with yourself; and just at this moment, those people who will vibrate with the same tune and intensity will begin to appear.

🌀 FEAR OF SHORTAGE

Overcoming the fear of being scarce, without money or opportunities to be more and more abundant, requires working on yourself.

You must give yourself the opportunity to consider your emotions to feel that “desire to deserve the best for your life.” The feeling of victim, is a sign that the ghost of fear is invading you.

There is a seven letter word that, when you repeat it, begins to give clarity to the state of abundance you have today. This word is “THANK YOU”.

When you’re grateful for all that you have right now and for what’s to come, you begin to become noticeable of all the things God offers you every day. Thank you God for opening my eyes this day, for being able to breathe another day. Thank you for the bed where I sleep, for the situations that seem adverse; but they leave me wisdom. Thank you God for the smile you give me that person I don't know. Thank God for having work, for hot food, for cup of coffee. Be thankful and in no time all your wishes will start materializing.

🌀 FEAR OF ILLNESS

Illness is an imbalance of your state of consciousness. When you start feeling weak, it's clear that you've lost your inner strength. “Illness,” is a compound word from the Latin “in-firmus,” which means “Without Firmness.”

If you begin eradicating self-blame, you will be leaving the prisons of mental sabotage and free yourself from these chains.

The philosopher Plato said, “a healthy mind in a healthy body.”. Think positive about yourself.

The disease is contagious, harming another being, how can you infect health.

Reconcile with the past, sincerely forgive in your heart all painful events and fill your heart with joy, forgiveness and peace.

Be silent too, for God will speak to you in this space of meditation.

The remedy for illness is Love. Do you realize that, of all drugs, love also creates addiction. Become a "love addict", fill yourself with love, since no one can grant what he does not have, give love and you will receive love in return.

You will be healthier and full of vitality. The world needs you to be healthy, to be able to fulfill your role of being a change manager on this planet, which needs to heal your soul.

If there's anything we can be sure of is that, when God wills, we will depart from this life, not sooner or later. When the doctor gives us the first slap to start breathing, the countdown is activated; that tic-tac indicating we’re heading towards the day we must “stop.” That’s why life is a constant “Pre-Stop”, that is, an invitation to transcend in every moment lived, until it’s your turn to “Stop”.

🌀 FEAR OF DEATH

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a week ago you died and you're in the cemetery visiting your own grave. You look at your tombstone and read your name, your dates of birth and departure from this world. Then, think about what sentence mankind would write about you, on your own tombstone:

What would they say about you? What have you failed in many areas of your life? ; That people be grateful that you left, because you made their life bitter? ; or How deeply do they feel your departure and that you left an empty space in humanity, that no one can ever fill?

What did you give? What have you given up? What did you donate? Who did you help ? What have you deprived yourself of?

Write on a paper what you wish to be etched in stone, when you leave this world. Work, day after day, to move closer to this statement you declare.

The fear of death is overcome, when your goal is to project yourself in the Transcendence of your delivery, kindness, generosity, selflessness, love of neighbor, ability to undress, without conditions, without expecting rewards, which will live in the memory and hearts of those you made contact in life and made happy.

Myriam Susana Gast Porras

[sendpseuds]

The people must know: What are your favorite sandwiches???

Ah, sandwiches. What a magical food.

Since you graced us all with a whole dissertation I feel like I owe you the same level of detail, let’s see what we can do here.

While I am not actually vegetarian, I LOVE a veggie sandwich. One of my all time favorites to make at home is seeded rye with hummus on one side and homemade herby cream cheese on the other [usually parsley, green onion, mint, dill, and fresh garlic. Also sometimes this is chèvre instead of cream cheese]. Between the bread we have sliced cucumbers [seasoned with salt, pepper, and lemon juice], big slices of tomato, and arugula [sprouts if I can get my hands on them]. This whole ordeal is fabulous with turkey or bacon if you want more protein, I’ve also done smashed chickpeas in place of the hummus for a heartier option.

Another veggie sandwich I love is from a local bakery and if I knew exactly how they made it I would tell you, but it’s fresh crusty sourdough liberally coated in amazing olive oil, with this incredible carrot purée, thinly sliced fennel, Calabrian chilis, and arugula. So fucking good.

Okay, let’s talk about something less “healthy”

If you’ve ever been to Buffalo, New York [Go Bills] there are TWO sandwiches that I think about all the time.

The first is pretty ubiquitous through western New York: Beef on Weck. This is roast beef, dipped in hot jus, and piled on a kimmelweck roll [basically a Kaiser roll with crunchy sea salt and caraway seeds]. That’s it. Personally, I like to add an almost unadvisable amount of horseradish, but that’s it. It’s perfect.

The second is a true drunken indulgence. The Stinger Hoagie from Jim’s Steakout. If you are unfamiliar with Jim’s, most locations are open until 5am [bars in Buffalo close at 4am. A real drinking town] and the employees can often be seen wearing shirts that say “I see drunk people.” The Stinger Hoagie is their beautiful monster. Cheesesteak meets chicken finger sub. Shaved steak, chicken fingers, fried onions, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, Frank’s Red Hot, and Jim’s special sauce. [I am fucking drooling right now, I haven’t had one of these since I was in my twenties.]

When it comes to deli meat, I tend to lean toward turkey, but I want some really soft seeded multigrain bread with crispy Romain and good tomatoes. Thick slices of sharp sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, and Nance’s Sharp and Creamy mustard. I might toss in some cucumber or parsley, maybe apples and bacon if I’m feeling extra, but the specific mustard is very important.

[this isn’t really a sandwich but I’ll often take a big rib of Romaine lettuce and make a little deli boat with turkey, cheese, and Mayo. I’m sure I can blame that on high school, my mother, and all the lovely disordered eating habits I developed as a teen]

Grilled cheese… I’m sort of all over the place with grilled cheese, always experimenting, but for me, the most important thing is using GRATED CHEESE [and to be clear, I mean block cheese that you grate at home, not the pre-grated stuff in the bag, please, this is important, that shit doesn’t melt right] I want the cheese pouring over the sides of the bread, hitting the pan, oozing and bubbling until it’s gold and crispy and perfect.

I’ll give you one fancy grilled cheese: deviled egg grilled cheese. Two hard boiled eggs, whites sliced thin, yolks mixed with mayo, mustard, pepper, paprika, dill. Into the pan goes bread, cheese mixture [gruyere and cheddar, shredded and mixed with a little Mayo and mustard], yolk mixture, sliced whites, more cheese mixture, bread. Done.

This is getting out of control and I haven’t talked about chopped italian sandwiches, or banh mi, or my mom’s famous roast beef and mock Boursin sandwiches, or my obsession with Calabrian chilis [oh! Add those to the mayo on a turkey sandwich], or the time I put an entire meatloaf on an entire loaf of bread and called it a sandwich.

I haven’t even TOUCHED on breakfast sandwiches but if I get into that we’ll be here forever.

So, for now, I’ll cap it there, but there’s plenty of room for a sequel.

Hope that answers your question!

[hashtag-xolo]

It's funny (/sarcasm) how people are so passionately defending how much better off their understimulated, poorly socialized, and emotionally neglected dogs are than well-worked dogs living in climate-correct shelter because their "fur kids" live inside of a house. Kind of like people don't enjoy facing the fact that dogs are not cute robots who are pre-programmed to be obedient and friendly and you know... Actually have complex needs that are different from our own. You know... Just like our own human children.

Like, if these really were your "kids"... Then you would have to actually "parent" them. Meaning you would have to take responsibility and teach rules, boundaries, and skills that will help them be comfortable and successful in life. Such as:

-socializing your dog's properly and in healthy ways, not flooding them. Like how you would teach a child about the world and how to kindly interact with others in their lives.

- giving them clear criteria for behaviors and expectations so dogs have the security of a structure to their lives. Like teaching your own children skills like reading and writing, and setting up daily routines like mealtimes and bedtimes.

- embracing foods that are actually healthy for dogs and have research to back then up, not following the latest fad diet trends. Because malnutrition is bad in kids and dogs and dad diets are bad for both.

- engaging with your dog and allowing your dog to pursue activities that are fulfilling to your dog - even ones that might be kind of inconvenient or boring to you, like letting your dog get some good sniffaris in. Like how you should let a child pursue their own interests and hobbies even though you really wish they'd play football like you did.

The amount of "pet parents" that give their dogs the bare minimum of food, shelter, and some pets and call them well-cared for while ignoring their dog's true needs for interaction and structure... Is a lot. That isn't a good life to exist anxious and without guidance. Trust me, I was raised in a household where I had a roof over my head and food but emotionally was neglectful at best. And all I hear when people say "but my dog is indoors not cruelly outdoors!!!" Is that same sort of logic that as a child I should be grateful for the shitty treatment my parents gave me because I had physical shelter. Or the people who yank their dogs along on a walk instead of letting their dogs fulfill their integral need to sniff at their environment, and then wonder why their dog has developed leash issues and anxiety make me think how children deprived of their own passions develop deep anxieties...

Also like... Dogs like structure and routine. It gives them a strong sense of security actually to know what to expect in their life. People who let their pups do whatever because "oh they're my kid I could never force them to do anything" just tell me they don't know how to teach, only how to bully. LIMA or strictly force-feed, there are plenty of trainers who have never had to use aversives to raise wonderfully behaved dogs. (This is not an invitation to debate training methods or aversive use, just making a statement that training that is minimally aversive to zero aversives actually works.) Setting boundaries and expectations isn't cruel. Refusing to communicate and engage with your dog, though, is neglectful. Just like ignoring your kids and letting them play on an iPad all day is neglectful of your responsibilities as a parent.

A dog who has proper shelter and who gets plenty of social engagement and time with its humans while getting to fulfill its biopsychological need to hunt/herd/pull/work is a really happy, lucky dog. This dog is comfortable, confident, and getting fulfillment on multiple levels beyond what a dog left alone in a house for eight hours a day is getting. This dog is getting proper shelter. Not every single dog wants to sleep on the bed right next to a human. Hell, even my incredibly Velcro dog wants some space at night time because he wants to sleep without getting jostled awake. It's not abusive to give your dog a sleeping place that isn't inside of a house as long as it's properly sheltered.

But ultimately I think the biggest issue is people are having to face that their dog who sleeps inside isn't actually that well taken care of. That leaving a dog bored at home for ten hours a day, taking it on a half hour walk while you ignore it further and check your social media, and only give maybe an half hour of focused engagement total at home really isn't such a good life. But that is a hard thing to admit so it's a lot easier to scapegoat those whose interactions with dogs looks really different. And calling them your kids makes them seem oh so loved while ignoring the fact that like far too many children, these dogs are living in emotionally neglectful and stifling homes because like human children, dog children take work and need teaching, guidance, and social interaction. Dogs have distinct needs from humans. They are not the same as children and nothing I said above is meant to imply they are the same, just that like with children of your own you need to actually take responsibility for the lives in your care. And some of those responsibilities actually are similar.

Now, is every "fur parent" this bad? No. Plenty of people take time to actively spend time with their dogs. And plenty of these people do call their dogs their kids. But, I do think that the people crying the loudest are those who most deeply need to examine the ways they relate to animals and children. And really any disenfranchised populations of humans. Because there's a deep difference between simply existing and living a good life for both humans and animals. Proper shelter takes many forms and is just one piece of a bigger web of needs. It's important, but just having that isn't enough.

[more-than-a-princess]

Closed starter for @hxpelessnurse !

Japan, she felt, had plenty of virtues: convenience stores and vending machines stocked with all sorts of particular items, public transport that was never late (and that she got to use! Once!), and a selection of anime merchandise that made Novoselic's pale in comparison. But where it failed, though by no fault of its own? The eight hour time difference between Towa City and Novoselic, particularly when there was important, live television programs at home that Sonia simply couldn't miss.

Surely it was acceptable, she thought, that without class the following day, she could remain awake at 3 AM. While the rest of the dormitory peacefully slept, she'd crept out of her room with heavy, quick footsteps. A quick walk, she thought, during the commercial breaks and in-between the pre-recorded backstory segments would earn her enough time to reach the student lounge where she could hastily retrieve something caffeinated and a snack before disappearing back into her room. Just as well: she looked rather ridiculous as it was, in an oversized graphic t-shirt, pajama pants outfitted with a screenprint of Jason Voorhees' iconic mask, and fluffy slippers, her long hair plaited back into a messy braid and a thick exfoliating mask spread over her face.

But it was to Sonia's surprise that she was indeed not the only person awake at 3 AM. The lights had already been switched on and Sonia froze, embarrassed for an array of reasons, as she spotted Tsumiki Mikan there. Considering how fast she must have skidded into the room, she likely gave the other girl a fright.

"Mikan-san!" Sonia half-gasped, half-whispered. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, I just didn't think anyone was awake and I just wanted something to keep me awake!"

Which was hardly healthy, something she wondered if her friend would point out. Striding over to the refrigerator, she retrieved a soda, a bottle of milk tea, and a slice of swiss roll on a plate before turning back to Mikan with a shrug and shy smile. Sonia's gaze darted down to her t-shirt by way of explanation.

"Tonight is the national finals in Novoselic for the Eurovision contest," She said, though the bright, colorful logo for the contest printed on her shirt was clear enough. "It's the sort of thing that can divide a country, depending on who wins the vote, and it's the first time in four years that we're going to enter!" After not even placing into the semi-finals four years ago, Novoselic had been too ashamed to give it another go until the Minister of Culture had put forth an undeniably smart proposal that her father couldn't turn down. Besides, if they made it into the semi-finals and further, she'd be quickly sent home right after Golden Week to help support Novoselic's winning entry.

"It's a big continental event," She added, though she couldn't think of a local contest to compare it to. "Why are you awake so late, Mikan-san? Hopefully you're not also watching television with a significant time difference: it does alter your sleep schedule after awhile."