#i regret not getting a 9/11 one too but the importer wanted a $100 plus per so-

[once-and-future-alaskan]

I own one of this sort of rug.

Afghan rugs

[skittidyne]

fifty questions for commander shepard

og post by @spookyvalentine​! (i also could’ve sworn i’ve done this before but i cannot find it bc i don’t tag things so now i am officially making a tag for my shepard i guess)

these are all about my canon shepard, aka the star of my mass effect fic series. her name is elyse shepard! :’3

1. Why did Shepard enlist? Any regrets?

she enlisted immediately at 16 out of a desire to show her gratitude to the alliance & anderson for saving her on mindoir, and out of some survivor’s guilt (she has to make herself useful). she regrets that cerberus pulled at her & anderson’s relationship, but she doesn’t regret joining the alliance, nor leaving it.

2. How does your Shepard feel about having a yeoman assigned to them in 2? And in 3?

super awkward at first! she’d never been “important” enough to have someone to delegate to, though of course she’d complained about wanting one on the SR1. but kelly was friendly (and pushy) enough that shepard relaxed into having a kind of assistant, and now she’s very grateful.

3. What’s their relationship with Anderson?

DAD. it’s a mix of hero worship and father figure, but he views her as a daughter figure, though they’re both a little too emotionally stunted to acknowledge it.

4. Is your Shepard any good at poker?

nope! she has a decent poker face, but she also has tells. she also has strangely bad luck with cards, too.

5. How well does Shepard know their crew? Not just the companions, but the folks making up the Normandy

very well! she makes a point to get to know everyone on her ship, especially after it became her ship in me2. these people are hers.

6. Initial reaction to EDI? Does it change? 

leery, thinking she was a cerberus spy or spyware, but not too bothered about the AI thing. immediately thought it was funny how offended joker was by EDI, however, and how they bickered, so that actually helped soften shepard’s feelings toward her before she got unshackled and started to become herself. plus, AI are super convenient for doing all sorts of small tasks that shepard can’t be assed to think about!

7. Does their love interest move into their quarters?

pretty much! she has a big bed, after all. :3c

8. What is their reaction to the Alchera mission? And after?

She Doesn’t Want To Talk About It. afterward was a lot of drinking. after a certain point of drunkenness, she allowed others to come drink with her, at least.

9. What type of fighter is your shepard? Do they fight with honor, or do they fight dirty

elyse is a paradoxical mix of goody-two-shoes alliance girl scout and “i will kick you in the quads, throw dirt in your eyes, and spit on your grave”. a lot of her tactics and moves are very textbook (but she’s very good at them), but then she’ll do stuff like “let’s all focus on blowing up that one leg off that colossus just to watch it skitter around”. she doesn’t mind collateral damage and absolutely does not mind gore.

it’s probably for the best that her sniper rifle is so strong it usually kills in one shot. you wouldn’t want to catch her in a mood where she wants to play with her kills, after all.

10. Does Shepard keep any pets? The hamster, fish, something else?

she does keep fish, albeit not with a 100% living rate. she adores her hamster and fully adopted urz, too!

11. What order does Shepard pick up companions in me2?

miranda & jacob, kasumi, zaeed, mordin, garrus, jack, grunt, thane, tali, samara, legion

12. Does Shepard have any nicknames? What do they think of em?

she staunchly refuses nicknames or shortened forms of her first name. she’ll accept “shep” from kasumi/squadmates who are close to her.

13. How does your Shep react to teasing/ribbing?

she can usually give as good as she gets! however, she has a very pale complexion, and humans blush quite brilliantly. she hates that part.

14. Any good at flirting?

better than Certain Squadmates, but ultimately about average. she’s never had much interest in doing it; there’s always bigger things to do.

she’s better if it’s banter-y, though. she likes banter.

15. What colors does Shepard prefer for their armor?

she uses the iconic black with the white and red stripe! she worked hard to earn that n7 designation, damn it, and at this point, she’s known for it. she wears it like a flag to warn her enemies.

16. Is Shepard a drinker? History of other substances? Do they struggle with sobriety

she’s definitely a drinker! her cerberus-remade body can handle it faster than she can usually down booze, though, so she technically does not struggle with sobriety. she knows how to get drunk by this point, but can’t stay drunk for very long. she drinks more than she should.

she tried smoking in basic because she thought it looked cool. she was the kid who choked and almost died the first time.

17. How does Shepard react to attention? Do they enjoy it?

depends on the type of attention - if it’s the hero-worship-y type that random people (especially alliance grunts) have for her, she’ll roll her eyes and try to avoid. but she adores attention from anyone she actually likes. giving and receiving attention are her #1 love language.

(she especially loves it from the gruffer teammates, like jack or zaeed, because it means they’re really trying to friendship.)

18. Who’s the dream team? Which companions does Shepard fight best with and why?

those are two VERY different answers!

shepard loves taking Team Sexy Sniper (garrus & thane) out, and they’re all skilled enough to complete a mission, but... she’s an infiltrator, so you’re looking at three snipers. this is not very strategically sound.

she works best with someone tank-y (grunt, usually) to let her actually be a sniper instead of trying to shoot people at close range with her black widow. she also works spectacularly well with liara, because when you’ve shared brainwaves with someone, you speedrun learning how to fight as a team.

19. Are there any companions your Shepard just absolutely cannot vibe with or relate to

she tries her damnedest! (and her success at friendshipping with jack may have lent her too much hubris on the subject.) but she struggles to get along with javik - which is strange, because if they’re only talking shop/tactics, they get along really well. but then one of them will say something that’s apparently “wrong” for the other, and then they’re back to growling at each other.

she respects that he’s a soldier, through and through, and she definitely understands grieving. but he’s arrogant and prickly and unsociable past that, and that’s what she fights with.

20. Does Shepard enjoy looking for resources and upgrading gear, or do they see it as a chore?

elyse shepard is a HOARDER and she will leave NO STONE UNTURNED. everyone else sees it as a chore to let her pick through everything possible.

21. Do you have any AUs for your shepard?

i wrote an entire thing here! it’s currently in a me3 rewrite/fix-it because bioware be tempting me to write better than them.

22. What’s the last thing Shepard ate before the final reaper showdown?

i don’t think she could’ve eaten anything. garrus might’ve forced a protein bar down her, but she definitely sat in her quarters and drank.

24. Who does Shepard turn to for advice? For comfort? Who do they like to gossip with

liara is the only one who fits all three of those!

for advice: depending on the subject, shepard will seek out samara or thane, and sometimes (grudgingly) kelly if it’s something emotional. she doesn’t seek it out from him, but mordin gives her a lot of unprompted advice. usually on her sex life.

for comfort: she’s close enough to her crew that she could probably go to most of them (or whoever’s closest at the time, if it’s bad), but she especially prioritizes those who were on the SR1 with her and have served with her the longest. joker is absolutely included in this, to his sometimes embarrassment. (extra funny if you imagine her calling up wrex on tuchanka and he’s like “wtf do i do with an upset human”)

gossip: TALI AND KASUMI. also chakwas, shockingly enough.

25. How emotionally articulate is your Shepard? Do they emote well?

she’s good with happiness and anger and professionalism. she’s technically good at grieving, but her grieving process also involves hiding from others, so i’m not sure it counts as “emoting well”. but she knows how to get through it.

she flusters easily if caught off guard by flirting/affection/romance, though, and she is very awkward around serious injuries or dying. death, she can handle. blood and wounds, she can handle. the process in getting better? not so much.

26. Does your Shepard have a romance? Who are they, and what drew Shep to them?

romancing both thane & garrus! :3c

garrus - she immediately went “that’s gonna be my friend” when meeting him, and they rapidly fell in like with each other on the SR1, though both were oblivious to it outside of “gee i sure do trust and admire this person, i love spending time with them, this is a normal best friendship”. thankfully, especially for tali and liara’s sanity, on the SR2, they realized their feelings were best friendship AND romantic.

thane - elyse was IMMEDIATELY like “oh boy /eye emoji” when thane dropped out of that vent. she did not, however, know what to do with instant attraction, nor did she know what to do with thane “i read poetry for fun and am soft and sentimental and religious and also i will give you a very meaningful and borderline worshipful pet name” krios after she got to know him. thankfully, he was equally enamored with her, because if left to her own devices, she would’ve just gone “i will sit here consumed with lust” and never actually act on it. (she was kind of intimidated by her own immediate attraction.)

also, she has a voice kink. she’s a happy camper with those two.

27. Do they have any pet peeves?

others not cleaning their weapons, having to talk to politicians, having those politicians pretend she is somehow a politician, and everything to do with conrad verner.

28. What about hyperfixations? What’s the topic that will get Shepard rolling no matter the person or place

she’s a long-time and semi-secret fan of horror vids, specifically old human genres. but she’s very :O about learning about alien subgenres, too.

also SNIPER RIFLES.

29. How active is Shepard? Are they hitting the gym, playing sports, or do they prefer quieter downtime?

to miranda’s undying irritation, shepard has gotten very lax after becoming accustomed to her new body. she still spars (though more for the adrenaline and bragging rights) and does basic workout routines, but she’s now aware of what her new muscles can do - and hey, synthetic weave doesn’t atrophy. she doesn’t have to try anymore, so she doesn’t. (she has, however, lost a lot of flexibility that miranda gave her; that much can fade without maintenance.)

she’s the type of person who gives you a blank look and goes “uh, reading?” when asked what her non-fighting hobbies are. she’s lying. she doesn’t read. she doesn’t have hobbies outside of saving the galaxy, though she probably should.

30. What will always make them laugh?

anything to do with irritating or dragging the council. she probably has a very specific old in-joke with joker that will always make her clutch her sides and almost die, too, and both of them refuse to explain it.

31. Who can always make them laugh?

garrus, joker, and EDI - the latter because her humor protocols are so bad it’s usually a laugh of surprise. but still counts.

32. What do they do when they have hit their limit angry, just incandescent with rage

physically lashes out. usually she’ll drag someone into the sparring ring, but heaven help you if it’s in the middle of a battle, because she is not above ripping things apart with her hands. (she does not have biotics. this is sheer rage and cybernetically enhanced muscle.)

33. What skills do they have that are a surprise to the people around them?

she really is good with other people. a lot of her detractors would assume that a lot of her team/supporters have been intimidated by her, or are just going with who’s powerful, but nah. she’s friends.

she’s also got a good memory for wartime tactics. she wrote a thesis on napoleon bonaparte in n7 school.

34. Got any tattoos?

nope!

35. Which companions have they lost? How do they cope with it?

virmire was bad - she lost kaidan and nearly lost wrex. time has dampened it, and elyse is very good at grief by this point in her life. she soldiers on.

36. Do they like to style their hair, wear makeup and jewlery? How do they feel about getting dressed up?

she usually wears her hair in a short braid, and used to do buns for the alliance (before she got important enough she didn’t have to care about regs). she also wears eyeliner. (gave her SR1 alien crew a heart attack the first time she sweated it off so it looked like she was crying black.)

the only jewelry she wears are her old dogtags, and that sort of depends on her mood. not so much anymore.

37. Got any bad habits?

thinking too many alien creatures are cute and trying to adopt them. while also forgetting to feed her fish. she also likes to strip out of her armor and drop the hardsuit pieces like a trail leading to her bed after particularly long missions. (she’ll clean it up after she wakes, but others have also picked up after her.)

38. Does Shepard do any activities with the companions and crew during downtime?

she does drink socially with them, and can usually be cajoled into playing various card games, but only if she thinks she has time for the latter. she enjoys eating together with others, though.

and she LOVES sparring with others. EDI keeps score of wins and losses for the normandy crew.

39. Do they keep around any sentimental items?

her main gun is a comfort item by this point. she’s lost everything too many times in the past to have many other things.

40. Does your Shepard actually like to collect model ships? If not, what do they display?

she does like model ships!

41. How is Shepard with a gun? What about hand to hand?

she’s a beast with her sniper rifle, both for its heavily modded power and her skill at range. but despite being an infiltrator, she’s good at hand to hand, too; n7 training demands nothing less. (those new to her crew usually have heart attacks the first time they see her charge into battle rather than pick a sniping perch. it’s a rite of passage for others to get used to her doing that.)

42. Favorite weapon?

HER BLACK WIDOW. and her widow, before that. she loves her sniper rifle.

43. Which version of the Normandy do they like best?

the SR2 is bigger and feels more like hers, rather than something she took from anderson.

44. Do they like to rotate out companions for quests? Who do they bring the most?

she does rotate out! elyse is very particular about taking those best suited for it - but she does have a couple of defaults if she deems the mission too easy or not specific enough to require certain crew. she does like using garrus and thane a lot, mostly because they compete for best sniper shot on each mission.

45. Do they approve of curing the genophage?

yes, as a personal opinion. she doesn’t like that others ask her about it, though; she doesn’t think she should have any official opinion, given that she’s human (newcomer to the galaxy) and not part of any of the fraught history.

46. Does Shepard allow the rachni to live in me1?

she absolutely does! it is not a popular choice.

47. Does Shepard practice any kind of self-care?

shooting things and drinking are her self-care.

48. What abilities do they rely on the most in a fight?

she uses her tactical cloak if needed - getting in close or navigating a tricky spot - but adores incinerate if she’s close enough. no one should have let her set things on fire.

49. What is Shepard’s happy ending? What’s the dream that keeps em going

she doesn’t think she has one - she fully believes she’s going to fight against the reapers until she’s dead, but hopefully it’s at the end by that point, because she doesn’t like the thought of others having to clean up after her.

BUT. a HAPPY ending for her would involve a lot of complicated, opposite things that she doesn’t care to rationalize, because dreams don’t have to make sense! elyse would want a permanent home on a planet, on dirt, some place with a lot of open space and sky. somewhere where people wouldn’t call her “commander”. but she’s also super accustomed to starships and like hell she would ever give up the normandy.

50. Is your Shepard indoctrinated

nope! the rachni queen even checked for her.

(+1: what does Shepard smell like?)

gun oil and sweat. clean laundry if she actually bothered to change her clothes.

(humans smell sweet, according to most aliens, though.)

[third-rail-vip]

20 OTP Questions

Tagged by @tarberrymentats​ thank you so much for the tag! <3

I’m going to tag @minuteminx​ @asaara-writes​  @pchberrytea​ @mayihavethisdanse​ @potatocrab​ @laurelsofhighever​ and anyone else who wants to, tag me because I’d love to see your OTPs!!

I might have gone a bit overboard, so I’ll put most of this under the cut…

Mac x Ivy

1. Who can outdrink the other?

Oh, definitely Mac.  They learnt that the first night they met, not that she was trying to keep up it’s just Ivy is a thorough lightweight.  He didn’t like questions, she can’t help but ask them, so the deal was one shot per question.  She is smol and cannot hold her booze.  Two centuries on ice and she seems to have lost some of the tolerance she built up in college.  Magnolia had to tell Mac to make sure she got to the Rexford ok.  Of course, en route she picked up multiple jobs and talked Fred into giving them 500 caps for going to Hallucigen.  Mac was gobsmacked, it was the beginning of a beautiful if unexpected friendship.  

These days if you give her too much, you’ll find her sat on the floor in the corner of Railroad parties with Tinker Tom talking conspiracy theories.  

2. Who says “i love you” more?

Probably Mac, but not because he loves more, but because he’s definitely the more vocal of the two of them.  Words are one of his main love languages.  Plus, he’s lost a partner before (which Ivy hasn’t) and there were things unsaid in that relationship that he’ll always regret, so he knows the importance of telling the people you love how you feel, and telling them often.  Ivy is more of a show than tell, even though she’s the type to fall first, she’s been hurt before by exactly that so she’s slower to use the words and breaks them out less often.  She shows she loves him through her actions.

3. Who has trouble sleeping alone?

Very much Ivy, not that Mac doesn’t to some degree, but this is a scary new world for Ivy and she feels very much safer having someone there.  She was a wreck when he was away in the Capital Wasteland and really struggled to sleep at all.  She is more likely to not be able to get to sleep if she’s alone.  Mac is more likely to have a disturbed night, waking up feeling an absence.  

4. Who swears more?

Ivy.  She may look sweet but she really can have a foul mouth.  She will basically swear for Mac as well.  He’ll cut himself off and she’ll fill in the blank.  She resists the urge, or at least desperately tries to pick other words at the last second when the kids are about.  It doesn’t always work well.

5. Who does more of the housework?

It’s shared.  Ivy makes more mess though, she’s clean but untidy.  She seems accumulate way more stuff than Mac does, and boy does she spread it around the house.  She’s also very distractible, so he can get back and find a half-risen loaf in the kitchen, which she’ll have left, having had a thought about something she wanted to draw while it was still in her mind.  So, the sketchbooks are out in the living room, but then she’ll see a sketch of Mac and remember she was going to fix the arm on his duster again.  And so on and so forth.  Mac isn’t without guilt, there are always comics on various surfaces, left open (taking up maximum room) to show Ivy or the boys the best bits.  If Codsworth had lungs, he’d hyperventilate.  She will tidy up after herself though, when she realises she’s left everything all over.  I mean, nobody wants to hear a Mr Handy cry pre-recorded tears.

6. Who forgets their anniversary?

They don’t technically have an anniversary, actually getting together was a bit of a messy and protracted process.  The easiest date to remember is Halloween when they first met in Goodneighbour.  Maybe one day they’ll have an official anniversary for something else, but for now.

7. Who steals the duvet in their sleep?

Sometimes they can have a bit of blanket tug of war going on depending on who got into bed first.  Ivy was nesh even before the war, but two hundred years on ice has done her no favours.  She gets criminally cold hands and feet.  If they were just sharing a bed before they got together, Ivy would 100% steal that duvet, but these days she just wraps around her mercenary and they sleep like a little two person blanket burrito.  

8. Who keeps the other awake at night with their snoring?

Neither keeps the other awake.  Mac is the one who snores, but they are little damn kitten snores, like his sneezes.  If anything is going to keep Ivy awake, it’s him falling asleep first and her just silently going “awwwwww” at her adorable boyfriend.  

9. Who finds stray animals and begs the other to let them keep them?

This is totally Ivy and cats.  They have dogmeat of course, but he’s his own man and he’s always welcome with them, but he’s not really theirs.  Ivy love cats, she will sneak off to play with settlement cats when she should be doing far more minutemen type activities.  They are definitely slowly accumulating cats at their most regularly visited settlements.

10. Who usually makes dinner?

Ivy enjoys cooking most out of the two of them, and she’s rather good at it.  Getting better all the time as well since her and Codsworth are doing their best to remember and collect pre-war recipes, or at least work out how to make equivalents.  Mac is a reasonable cook, but over the years he’s generally been happy to exist on pre-war ‘just add water’ kind of food, rather than cooking from scratch, which is definitely Ivy’s jurisdiction.  But if she’s cooking, and if he can persuade Codsworth to leave them to it, he loves to cook with Ivy.  Even more so when the kids want to get involves too.  

11. Who plays their music out loud?

Oh god, they both do.  The pipboy radio is always going.  Turning it right up and singing along is almost mandatory. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might catch Ivy playing the guitar or the piano and singing.  She’s usually shy about it, but she’s good.  She’s performed once at The Third Rail as a birthday present.

12. Who hogs the bathroom?

Given the opportunity of a hot shower in Vault 81, you will lose Ivy for so long you’d think she’d drowned.  Drenching herself in enough scolding hot water to supply a minor settlement, truly is the most self-indulgent of self-care.  Mac isn’t the biggest fan but he can be persuaded.  The only time he’ll hog the bathroom is when it’s time to keep that goatee in tiptop condition.  He’s very particular about it.  

13. Who gives the most compliments?

Like with saying ‘I love you’ most, Mac is definitely the one who lays on the compliments.  He learned early on that Ivy isn’t used to being complimented like that, or at least, it’s been a very long time since she was treated that way.  He’s almost made it a personal mission to set that right.  How easily she blushes at them is just an added bonus.  

14. Who usually starts/causes arguments between them?

They aren’t an argumentative couple, from past experience, Ivy does not cope well with that kind of confrontation within a relationship.  They are more likely to snark if something has annoyed them, but are actually really good at reading each other’s body language for when something they’ve done has upset the other.  But if it comes down to it, Mac is more likely to be the one to get into a more heated discussion about something that’s upset him.  Ivy is the one to calm a situation.  The only time they’ve had an actual stand up row was during Blind Betrayal.

15. Who isn’t afraid to embarrass the other in public?

They aren’t afraid of a bit of public bantering, and will definitely play up for an audience if they’re in the right mood.  Ivy is a little more inclined to publicly tease Mac in one way or another, but that might be more because Mac suspects she can deal it out better than she can take it, rather than her being the more equipped to do it.  Although when it comes to quietly flustering her in public, that is very much Mac’s jurisdiction.  

16. Who gives the other cringeworthy pet names?

There’s a definite teasing edge to most of the nicknames they call each other, they’re both more comfortable with being called them when there isn’t too big of an audience around.  But I guess Mac would be more embarrassed by Ivy’s habit of calling him anything beginning with ‘sweet’ – it’s not good for his tough mercenary image, you know.  Mac doesn’t care who hears him call Ivy ‘angel’, he’s being calling her it for so long (way longer than they’ve been together) but he might draw the line at shouting ‘kitten’ across Diamond City marketplace.  Most other names they call each other are more along the lines of compliments or abbreviations of their names.  

17. Who fusses over the other when they get sick?

Ivy is definitely the more diligent medic, and a very well qualified worrier.  So when Mac is hurt, she’s all over that, and he regularly jokes that she carries enough gear to set up a small field hospital with her at all times.  Not that that habit hasn’t saved their asses on multiple occasions.  Mac is more likely to get genuinely scared if Ivy is badly hurt or sick because of past experience.  When it comes to just being a little bit poorly, Mac will milk it like an absolute drama queen.  Ivy is a soft touch and will let him.  But she’s also very good at telling when he’s better and is just looking for extra attention.  She’ll make up ‘treatments’ to see if he’ll keep up the charade and how committed he is to being waited on hand and foot.

18. Who finds it impossible to stay angry at the other for long?

For a guy who can mature a grudge like a fine wine, Mac has never ever been able to stay mad at Ivy.  Not even in those early days when she was ‘useless’ and they barely knew each other.  Mac melts at those big brown eyes, even if he tries to keep the frowns on the surface, all the anger goes in an instant.  It’s rare for her to get angry at him, but if the hurt is real then she can hang onto it until he’s shown that he’s earned back her trust.  It took him a while to win her back after coming back from the Capital Wasteland having not sent word at all since he left.

19. Who clings to the other for comfort when they’re sad or scared?

Ivy would be the first to cling to Mac when she’s scared, in fact she was, after very early close call.  That experience rather reinforced Mac as a safe place for her, bearing in mind she’s known him from just a week after escaping the vault, he’s definitely been a grounding presence for her.  When something is wrong, the first place she will seek comfort is in his arms, even from long before they were together.  Mac doesn’t break down until they’ve known each other for a lot longer, but he feels safe enough by then being that vulnerable with Ivy – it’s difficult because he has always had a habit of putting himself in a protector role in so many of his relationship with people that allowing himself to be seen as scared or even sad is difficult for him.  But once those floodgates are open, nothing would stop him from seeking comfort from her, even when things are awkward between them.

20. Who is more ‘physically passionate’? (hugs, kisses, or maybe more…)

When it comes to big public displays, it would probably be Mac (not in the early days though, he was definitely more private then) but he likes it known that they’re together – especially to that one dude from diamond city security who keeps hitting on her.  Ivy is more for subtle displays in public; holding hands, cheek kisses etc.  Although there was one incident…anyway.  Privately they are equally likely to be all over each other.  

[annakie]

An Annotated Mass Effect Playthrough, Part Thirteen

List of Posts: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Last Time: We arrived on Feros, helped the struggling colony, and headed across the Skybridge.

This Time: Falling metal bugs, capitalism, and gas grenades.

Let’s keep moving across the skybridge.

Oh we’re picking up radio transmissions that there’s some people in the area looking for some loot?  Should probably help those idiots out.

Whoops, too late.  Man I hope you sacrificed yourself to the Geth for some truly great loot.

*sad trumpet sounds*  Annnnd.... all reduced straight to Omnigel.

Finally, across the skybridge, and time for a pretty fun battle getting into the facility!  Boom!

During my last playthrough, I remembered I’d made a post on tumblr about the really f’d up textures down in the hallway on the way into the facility, so I was like “Hey, I wonder if the textures are still like that?

Guess who decided to jump down here before getting the dialog at the blue door OR going into the fight behind the locked door?

Guess who hadn’t saved since leaving the colony tower?

Guess who had to do the entire skybridge again?

Anyway, good to know that ALOT fixed the textures in the hallway!

I love this fight.  It’s just dropped in on you then you can watch the varren running at you QUICKLY and it’s so easy to get overwhelmed if you don’t use some well-placed biotics very quickly, and also it’s great for short-ranged weapons, which often fights in this game are not.

Also, flying varren!

Maybe one of the best comical moments from ME1, a particularly dumb Krogan arguing with a VI.

Honestly, krogan aren’t dumb?  At least not any more dumb than most humans.  I’m glad they got out of that mindset. We have Wrex, starting to get to know him and see how he’s survived so long and later becomes a great leader.  Ryder has Drack, and a whole colony of Krogan using their ingenuity to survive.  

Obviously by now we know that things are super F’d up, but throwing something called The Thorian at us WHILE we’re in a tower full of geth and hostile Krogan is like a whole other level of scary.  

I mean thanks for the security clearance and all, but Lizbeth should have given us the rundown ahead of time. Did she think we weren’t going to find out??  Lizbeth, c’mon, we’re here to save you, and your mom is pretty cool.  

Anyway, thanks for the info, VI!  Moving on...

Oh neat, GIANT CLAWS STICKING THROUGH THE BUILDING.  All of this is very Normal.

This fight is like, so easy with a well-placed Singularity!

But seriously, what IS the deal with the orb? We never really find out.  It’s one of those dropped threads that never gets picked up again, and I don’t think we see another orb.  

This hallway fight against THREE CHARGING KROGAN is definitely not terrifying, or impossible feeling on Insanity when I played.  Nope.

Real glad I’m still wearing armor with all of 20 shields on it!  Thank you, Niftu Cal for Barrier.

Believe it or not, Tali survived.

Of course, fighting through the Krogan was totally worth it for Gavin’s data.  Or more like, the very eventual results of said data.

Mmm... yeah.  Awesome.

Now that’s what I call teamwork!

Thanks, ExoGeni and Geth for leaving important data just laying around for me to find out!

Oh no... math.  Nobody told me there’d be math in this game!

Actually, it’s pretty easy to figure out, and there’s two right answers!  But still a decent small puzzle.

And the conclusion is so, SO satisfying.

Buh-bye!

Annnd... done here!  Back to Tower One!

Plus, we can talk to Joker again!  Oh, Zombies, pounding on the Normandy door?  You’re FINE, Joker!   Uhh don’t we have like, Wrex, Garrus, Liara and Ashley just hanging out in there? Should tell them to suit up and clear that out!  Don’t want zombies putting scratches and dents into my ship!!

This guy doesn’t trust Cerberus, eh?  And they’re doing something shady?  I’m sure it’s fine and we can totally trust them and NOT ever be mad at someone who doesn’t want to join them!!

Time to go.

Aw, right.  Lizbeth.  FINE.

Hey, I’ve only ever written five Mass Effect fics, and they’re all pretty short, and it’s been a long time and my writing has gotten somewhat better since I wrote this, but one of the five fics I’ve written is about this moment, right here!  Link: AO3, Four’s A Crowd. The drive back with Lizbeth in the Mako! (Except in the fic, I brought Wrex along to amp up the reasons why things had to happen like they did.) It’s all Shenko, and 2500 words.

(Nevermind the typo in the gif.)

Thanks game, for keeping the mako as we parked it and forcing a u-turn and then putting big blocks and mounds of rock in the way.  Very cool of you.

100% expert Mako driving here, y’all.

Believe it or not, I didn’t fall off the edge.

Yes, Lizbeth.  Run out of the protection of the Mako WITHOUT your highly-trained military escort.  Good thinking.

Have we said fuck you to Jeong lately? No?  Jeong, fuck you for holding Juliana at gunpoint.  Bootlicker.

Let me explain to you how this is gonna go.

Honestly, I’m kind of regretting my decision here to let Jeong live.  Not letting ExoGeni purge the colony is the only reason you get to live.

Annnd... done!  Now to not think about you again for like, fifty hours.

Time to get back to the colony!

Ummm.... 

Well... that’s not great.

Glad we’ve got that clear, now let’s kill some zombies!

FUN!

Now time to kindly put some colonists to sleep, saving their lives.

*cough*

Time to REMEMBER TO EQUIP THE GAS GRENADE and put some colonists to sleep, saving their lives!!!!

That’s better.

No that’s cool, just keep shooting at me.  My 20 shields can take it.  YOU’RE WELCOME.

Believe it or not... all 16 colonists saved on only the second try!

.

So lets’s find the secret, hidden staircase and...

Damn.

I’m truly sorry things went down like that, Fai Dan.  I wish I could have saved you.

I was going to try and finish up Feros in this update, but this feels like a good place to end it.  Next time... the Thorian, and back to the ship.

[muhammadshahrozkhan]

How to Lose Weight Faster, But Safely

https://linktr.ee/fitness1234

Lose 5 pounds in one week! It's a trope we see everywhere. And while it’s possible that someone can lose that much (if not more) in that time period, it really depends on your metabolism and loads of other factors, including physical activity and body composition, all of which are entirely unique to you.

Weight loss ultimately comes back to the concept of calories in, calories out: Eat less than you burn and you’ll lose weight. And while it’s possible to lose water weight quickly on a low-carb diet, I certainly wouldn’t advocate for it. The diet itself can trick you into thinking that this eating style is working — when really, you might gain back what you lost as soon as you eat carbs again. That can feel incredibly dispiriting if you want results that last longer than a week.

Based on my experience in nutrition counseling, most of us tend to snack on foods that aren’t nutrient-dense, but are high in calories. For example, skipping sugary beverages is often the easiest way to lose weight faster. You don’t feel full from drinks — even the ones that do contain calories — so swapping those out for sparkling water or unsweetened tea and coffee is the best place to start. Other major culprits often come in refined grains like cereals, chips, crackers, and cookies.

If you're looking to speed up weight loss, I'd also encourage you to be mindful of the foods you eat that you don't choose for yourself. Think: food pushers at work or your kids’ leftovers. Noticing where your extra calories actually come from is another step to making better choices in the short and long term.

In my experience, there are a few other tips that hold true for almost all of us across the board — and they’re concepts that we can put into practice beginning right now.

So, here’s where to start:

1. Eat more vegetables, all of the time.

It’s that simple, I promise! If you think about making any meal mostly veggies (at least 50% of anything that you’re having), you’re on the right track to better health and weight loss.

2. Build a better breakfast.

All meals are important, but breakfast is what helps you start your day on the right track. The best, heartiest breakfasts are ones that will fill you up, keep you satisfied, and stave off cravings later in the day. Aim to eat anywhere between 400 and 500 calories for your morning meal, and make sure you're including a source of lean protein plus filling fat (e.g., eggs, unsweetened Greek yogurt, nuts, or nut butters) and fiber (veggies, fruit, or 100% whole grains). Starting your day with a blood sugar-stabilizing blend of nutrients will help you slim down without sacrifice.

3. Know your limits with salt.

Since salt is a preservative, packaged and processed foods are often highest in sodium — something to keep in mind when planning your meals. When it comes by buying snacks, a "low sodium" product has to be 140 mg or less per serving — so if you're REALLY in a bind, you can follow that guideline for what to put in your cart.

4. Drink more coffee.

Start your day with a cup of joe. Caffeine is a natural diuretic and an excellent source of antioxidants, which protect your cells from damage. You can have up to 400 mg — about a venti Starbucks coffee — daily, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Not much of a coffee drinker? Tea is also a natural diuretic, and types of herbal tea such as dandelion or fennel root can also lend a hand. In fact: When a recent study compared the metabolic effect of green tea (in extract) with that of a placebo, researchers found that the green-tea drinkers burned about 70 additional calories in a 24-hour period.

5. Skip sugary beverages.

We just don't feel full by liquid calories in quite the same way as we do real food. Drinking a juice or caramel coffee drink just isn't as satisfying as eating a bowl of veggie- and protein-packed stir-fry. So monitor your intake of juice, soda, sweetened coffee and tea, and alcoholic beverages. If you consume each of those beverages during the day, you'll have taken in at least 800 extra calories by nighttime — and you'll still be hungry. (Incidentally, alcohol may suppress the metabolism of fat, making it tougher for you to burn those calories.)

6. Buy a set of 5-pound weights.

5-Pound Dumbbells (Pair)CAP Barbellamazon.com$31.99

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It's a one-time investment you'll never regret. Here's why: Strength training builds lean muscle tissue, which burns more calories — at work or at rest — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The more lean muscle you have, the faster you'll slim down. How do you start strength training? Try some push-ups or a few squats or lunges. Use your free weights to perform simple bicep curls or tricep pulls right in your home or office. Do these exercises three to four times per week, and you'll soon see a rapid improvement.

7. Eat spicy foods — seriously!

It can actually help you cut back on calories. That's because capsaicin, a compound found in jalapeño and cayenne peppers, may (slightly) increase your body's release of stress hormones such as adrenaline, which can speed up your ability to burn calories. What's more, eating hot peppers may help slow you down. You're less likely to wolfed down that plate of spicy spaghetti — and therefore stay more mindful of when you're full. Some great adds besides hot peppers: ginger and turmeric.

8. Go to bed.

There's tons of research that demonstrates getting less than the desired amount — about 7 hours — of sleep per night can slow down your metabolism. Plus, when you're awake for longer, you're naturally more likely to snack on midnight munchies. So don't skimp on your ZZZ's, and you'll be rewarded with an extra edge when it comes to losing weight.

9. Keep a food journal.

Loads of research demonstrates people who log everything they eat — especially those who log while they're eating — are more likely to lose weight and keep it off for the long haul. The habit also takes less than 15 minutes per day on average when you do it regularly, according to a 2019 study published in Obesity.

Start tracking on an app like MyFitnessPal or use a regular notebook. It'll help you stay accountable for what you've eaten. Plus, you can easily identify some other areas of your daily eats that could use a little improvement when it's written out in front of you.

10. Take a walk!

Don't get me wrong — exercising at any time is good for you. But evening activity may be particularly beneficial because many people's metabolism slows down toward the end of the day. Thirty minutes of aerobic activity before dinner increases your metabolic rate and may keep it elevated for another two or three hours, even after you've stopped moving. Plus, it'll help you relax post-meal so you won't be tempted by stress-induced grazing that can rack up calories.

11. Resist the urge to skip a meal.

Skipping meals will not make you lose weight faster. If a hectic day makes a sit-down meal impossible, stash a piece of fruit and pack of nut butter in your car or purse and keep snacks in your office desk drawer — anything that will keep you from going hungry!

Going long periods of time without food does double-duty harm on our healthy eating efforts by both slowing down your metabolism, and priming you for another binge later in the day. (Think: You've skipped breakfast and lunch, so you're ready to takedown a whole turkey by dinner!) Make it your mission to eat three meals and two snacks every day, and don't wait longer than three to four hours without eating. Set a "snack alarm" on your phone if needed.

12. Eat your H2O.

Sure, you certainly need to drink plenty of water to help combat bloating, you can (and should!) also consume high-water content foods. Reach for cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, asparagus, grapes, celery, artichokes, pineapple, and cranberries — all of which contain diuretic properties that will also help you stay full due to their higher fiber content.

13. Munch on mineral-rich foods.

Potassium, magnesium, and calcium can help to serve as a counter-balance for sodium. Foods that are rich in potassium include leafy greens, most "orange" foods (oranges, sweet potatoes, carrots, melon), bananas, tomatoes, and cruciferous veggies — especially cauliflower. Low-fat dairy, plus nuts, and seeds can also help give you a bloat-busting boost. They've also been linked to a whole host of additional health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, and reducing risk of chronic disease overall.

14. Ignore the gimmicks.

Dressing on the Side (and Other Diet Myths Debunked)amazon.com$26.00 $11.99 (54% off)

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At any given time, there are dozens of weight-loss hypes in the marketplace that claim to take off 10 pounds in 10 days, or whatever. Desperation can tempt us to try anything — from "clean eating" to cutting out food groups entirely. Keep in mind: Just because an avocado-kale-salad dripping in coconut oil is deemed "clean" by a so-called "expert" on your Instagram feed does not make it an unlimited food. Moral of the story? Avoid fads, eat real food, watch some Netflix, and unwind (perhaps with a glass of wine in hand). Now that's my kind of detox.

15. Let yourself off the hook.

You already know that a perfect diet doesn't exist, but many of us still can't resist the urge to kick ourselves when we indulge, eat too much, or get thrown off course from restrictive diets. The problem: This only makes it more difficult, stressful, and downright impossible to lose weight. So rather than beating yourself up for eating foods you think you shouldn't, let it go. Treating yourself to about 200 calories worth of deliciousness each day — something that feels indulgent to you — can help you stay on track for the long haul, so allow yourself to eat, breathe, and indulge. Food should be joyful, not agonizing!

16. Look for our emblem on food labels.

Ultimately, long-term weight loss requires some short-term behavior change and healthier habit formation. That's why we created our Good Housekeeping Nutritionist Approved Emblem, which exists to help turn smart food choices into healthier eating habits. All GHNA foods and drinks make it easier to find — and eat — good-for-you foods without additional time, effort, and cost. We target the lifestyle-related factors that make healthier eating hard, and find simple but creative solutions that actually work! Look for the emblem on labels wherever you shop for food.

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Learn More Weight Loss fast

Click HERE: https://linktr.ee/fitness1234

[eldritchsurveys]

804.

1. When was the last time you swam in a pool? >> The last time I was in a pool was probably over 5 years ago, at Easton Mountain. I’m not fond of the way pool water smells. 2. Do you like to party? >> I like gatherings, and get-togethers, and barbecues, and casual social events at someone’s house with food and booze and games. I don’t really care for anything more hectic than that. 3. If your ex suddenly kissed you right now, what would you do? >> --- 4. Are you a virgin? >> No. 5. What are your parents views on your relationships? >> There could never be a relationship that my father would have approved of.

6. If you ran into your current boyfriend/crush in 10 years, would you marry them? >> --- 7. Is your best friend dating anyone? >> --- 8. Describe the shirt you’re wearing? >> It’s black and has the design from the Endless Night Vampire Ball of 2019 on it. 9. Do people who wear Hollister and Abrerbrombie every day bother you? >> Why would that bother me? 10. Could you go out in public without wearing make-up? >> Of course, I do it all the time. 11. What is one feature that you don’t like? >> --- 12. Would people describe you as happy? >> I don’t know how people would describe me. It’s not like I make a habit of asking, and most people don’t make a habit of volunteering that information out of the blue. 13. Are you single? >> No. 14. Does it bother you that pretty much every survey you take asks if you’re single? >> Eh, whatever. For some reason, romantic relationships are of the most pressing importance to a lot of people, and I’ve gotten used to it. 15. Do you have Tumblr? >> Heh. Wouldn’t you like to know.

16. What about Xanga? >> Damn.... RIP. 17. Have you ever babysat before? >> Nope. 18. Is there a teacher who you absolutely hate? >> Well, no, I’m not even in school. 19. Ever shopped at Sephora? >> Yeah, many times. 20. If your current boyfriend/crush suddenly moved away, what would you do? >> The thing about having a spouse whomst you live with is that this kind of thing is way less likely to happen. 21. Do you have any university plans? >> No. 22. If your best friend revealed she was a homosexual, what would you do? >> --- 23. What are your views on sex? >> I don’t have “views” on sex. That’s such a broad question, lmao... 24. Do sexual questions bother you? >> Nah. 25. Would you rather have sex with your boyfriend or break up? >> Wh.................. 26. Have you ever dreamed about your wedding? >> Nah, I was never much into the idea of having a wedding. And then I had one, so you know. Life is like that. 27. Does it bother you when people TYpe 1yk dis’? >> I haven’t seen anyone type like that in almost a decade. The world has moved on. 28. Do you delete pictures of you and your exes off of Facebook? >> --- 29. Would you ever date a friends Ex? >> This is one of those situations that I just can’t at all imagine myself navigating. 30. What’s the last book you read? >> The last book I finished was The King in Yellow. That’s going to be my answer for a while, because the book I’m (re-)reading right now is fucking long. 31. Ready for 10 simple questions? >> Nope. 32. What is your last name? >> Hmm. 33. What grade are you in? >> I’m not in a grade. 34. What school do you go to? >> --- 35. Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring? >> Spring. 36. Favorite Color? >> Gold. 37. Are your parents together? >> No. 38. Any siblings? >> Not worth mention. 39. Favorite subject? >> I don’t have a favourite subject.

40. Least favorite subject? >> Or a least favourite subject. 41. Favorite song? >> People who can choose one favourite song are cryptids. 42. Okay. Simple questions are over. Happy? >> Hopefully I can stop giving such simple answers, too. 43. How many friends do you have on Facebook? >> Thirteen. 44. Ever been requested by some old guy from another country? >> Nope. 45. Have you ever googled yourself? >> Yeah. It’d be a lot harder to google myself now, because I have a fictional character’s name. 46. Have a Formspring? >> Well, no, considering that site is defunct. 47. You’re offered free tickets to a Justin Bieber concert. What do you do? >> Tell whoever it is to give the tickets to someone else? I’m completely uninterested in Justin Bieber. 48. Would you rather spend the day at an amusement park or a water park? >> Amusement park, if I must. 49. Been to Disney world? >> No. 50. If someone posts their status “9 Inches :(” do you know what they mean? >> No. 51. Ever had a boyfriend? >> Yes.

52. Ever had a huge crush on someone who still doesn’t know? >> I don’t know, maybe. 53. Have you done something in the last week that you regret? >> No. 54. Ever drank alcohol? >> Certainly. 55. Know anyone who’s currently doing drugs? >> Sure. 56. Ever watched The Hills? >> No. 57. What about Jersey Shore? >> No. 58. Ever called someone a slut? >> Not seriously. I’ve said it in a joking way to friends who appreciate that sort of banter. 59. What do you think of short shorts? >> I don’t want to wear them. 60. Does it bother you if people swear around you? >> Of course not. 61. Have you ever gotten an A in a subject? >> Yes. 62. What about a B? >> Argh..... yes to all. NEXT 63. And a C? 64. How about a D? 65. Ever skived? >> I don’t know what that is. 66. Would you consider yourself popular and outcast or somewhere in the middle? >> These dynamics don’t really apply to adult life... well, not in my experience. Maybe if I had a more structured social life? 67. Are most of your friends older or younger than you? >> --- 68. Ever been stabbed in the back by a close friend? >> Nah. 69. Do you think it’s immature when people laugh at the number 69? >> I don’t make any judgements about it. 70. Ever watched porn? >> Yep. 71. How many laws do you think you’ve broken in the past month? >> I don’t think I’ve broken any, considering I barely even go outside except to take walks. 72. Do you wake up with an alarm clock? >> No. 73. Do you prefer Wednesdays or Thursdays? >> All days of the week are pretty much interchangeable to me. 74. If your school had a Glee Club would you join? >> --- 75. Ever performed in a talent show? >> Probably. I don’t remember. 76. Have you ever cried in public? >> Yeah. I used to be homeless in a metropolis, privacy wasn’t something I had access to. Guess that might be part of why I’m so big on it now. 77. Do you have a favorite between your Mom and your Dad? >> --- 78. Would you audition for a reality talent competition? >> Fuck no. 79. How many celebrity crushes have you had? >> *shrug* 80. How many non-celebrity crushes have you had? >> *shrug* 81. Name 5 male celebrities who you think are attractive. >> Matthew McConaughey, Peter Mensah, Jeremy Irons, Denzel Washington, Oscar Isaac. 82. Name 5 female celebrities who you think are attractive. >> Sandra Oh, Aisha Hinds, Normani Kordei, Gillian Anderson, Helen Mirren. 83. Ever been compared to a celebrity? >> Yeah, a couple of times. 84. Have any embarrassing pictures on Facebook? >> I only have one photo of myself on facebook. 85. Do you think spending £20 on Lip Gloss is a waste of money? >> It’s not a waste of money for whoever buys it. That person just wouldn’t be me, I have no interest in lip gloss. 86. Are you opinionated? >> Not especially. 87. Do you have a favorite store? >> Nope. 88. Would you ever wear Flare Jeans? >> I did when I was younger, but I doubt I’d be into them now. 89. Do you own jeans that aren’t skinny? >> No. I can’t really fit into any jeans that aren’t stretchy (and the stretchy ones are usually skinny jeans). 90. Have you ever worn the same outfit twice in one week? >> Many times. 91. What’s the longest period of time you’ve been away from school? >> A couple of months, when I was in the psych ward. 92. Do you google abbreviations you don’t understand? >> Yeah. I google almost anything I don’t understand, unless I just have zero interest in understanding. 93. Does it bother you when people have cats as their profile picture? >> Why... would that bother me... 94. Own a pair of converse? >> Nope. I can’t wear any shoe without arch support. 95. Is there a teacher at your school who has obvious favorites? >> --- 96. If yes, are you one of them? >> --- 97. Do you text in class? >> --- 98. What brand of jeans do you wear the most? >> The only pairs of jeans I have are from Old Navy. 99. At what point do you think sizes are “Plus Sized?” >> I don’t know what sizes are plus-sized and I’m not interested in finding out right now. 100. Do you want to lose weight? >> Yes. 101. Ever seen a therapist? >> Yes. 102. Ever watched porn? >> This is a repeat question and I would delete it if the questions weren’t numbered. 103. Ever purposely ignored a text? >> Yeah. 104. A facebook message? >> Yeah. 105. A poke? >> God, when did they finally get rid of those? I haven’t heard about pokes in years. 106. A friend request? >> Yeah. 107. Would you say you read into things too much? >> I don’t know if I read into things too much or not. 108. Is your best friend more likely to be the one suggesting something stupid or refusing to do something stupid? >> --- 109. Do you have a “fun friend?” (A friend who you have tons of fun with but you never really have deep conversations?) >> No. 110. Ever been called a bully? >> No. 111. Ever purposely hurt yourself? >> Many times. 112. Ever gone to church? >> Many times. I think I’ve gotten the gist of it by now. 113. Would you call either of your parents screw ups? >> One of them was certainly a screw-up in caring for their child... 114. If you turned out exactly like your mom would you be pleased? >> Absolutely not, considering that’s the parent I was talking about in the previous question. 115. What do you want to do with your life? >> I don’t have any specific goals for my life. I’m pretty content just living it.

116. Let me guess… You have brown hair? >> Yeah. 117. Already know what you’re being for Halloween? >> I don’t know if I’m ever going to get to dress up for Halloween. We’ll see. 118. Do you still go Trick or Treating? >> I’ve never been and I am way too old for it now. 119. Ever liked someone WAY older than you? >> Like 80% of the celebrities I named in those two questions about attractive celebrities are way older than me. 120. Does it bother you when people have really loud conversations on the bus? >> Only when I don’t have my headphones with me, which is... just about never. I know I have sensory issues, so I come prepared. 121. When you have sunglasses on, do you stare at people? >> Fuck no. 122. Ever had a credit card denied? >> Yeah. 123. What’s the last movie you watched? >> The Lovebirds. 124. Last TV Show? >> Patriot Act. 125. You see your Ex making out with one of your friends. What do you do? >> I can’t imagine this being bothersome to me. Or even significant, honestly. 126. Ever been called a whore? >> No. 127. Are you american? >> Yeah. 128. Ever made yourself throw up? >> Yeah. 129. Have you ever kissed someone who wasn’t your boyfriend? >> Yeah. 130. Are you Cute or Gross? >> What...??? 131. Does it bother you when people say “LOOK HOW MUCH YOU’VE GROWN!”? >> It would bother me if that was a situation I’d ever find myself in. 132. Can you say intelligent things around the guy you like? >> --- 133. Ever had the lead in a play? >> Nope. 134. What about a solo in a concert? >> Nope. 135. What kind of a student are you? >> I’m not a student. 136. Worst subject? >> --- 137. Best subject? >> --- 138. Ever had a crush on a teacher? >> Something like that. 139. Would it bother you if you found out that your mother was pregnant? >> --- 140. How late do you sleep in? >> 9a seems to be my limit. 141. Do you edit your profile pictures before posting them? >> --- 142. Be 100% honest. Do you have any friends who are uglier than you? >> This is so fucking rude. 143. Do you believe in love? >> Yawn. 144. Would you consider yourself a good student? >> --- 145. Does it bother you when Surveys ask “Did you like this survey?” >> Not really, I usually just delete that question because, like... the survey-maker is definitely not going to see it, so what’s the point. 146. Salty, Sweet, Sour or Spicy? >> Salty + sweet, spicy + sweet, spicy + salty, or any of them alone except for sweet. 147. Are you going into High School this year? >> Fuck no lmao 148. What about Junior High? >> Double fuck no lmao 149. What is one thing someone could say to you right now that would make you cry? >> I don’t know, man. That’s usually contextual, anyway. 150. Where did you find this note? >> I got this survey from another survey-taker on tumblr. 151. Last question. How many unread messages are in your phone? >> Zero.

[artemis-crimson]

@onewhoturns tagged me!

1.) Real name: Clara 2.) Nicknames: Arty? 3.) Zodiac Sign: Capricorn! 4.) Gender: Female? 5.) Nursery: Dunno what this mean, it’s a solid word though I guess? 6/10 6.) Primary School: Oh! It’s about what happened when we went to school! Fucking miserable but hey figured out I was bi as all hell  7.) Secondary School: Gee I sure hope so 8.) Hair Color: Dark brown 9.) Long or Short: Short but I’m growing it out again 10.) Loud or Quiet: Loud but it’s funny to walk around for hours and nobody notices you’re there or if you where there and now you’ve been missing for ages 11.) Sweats or Jeans: Fuck pants dude, skirts. I wear skirts 12.) Phone or Camera: Phone! My camera is old and fills up fast 13.) Health Freak: I’m here for a good time not a long time 14.) Drink or Smoke: Unfortunately 15.) Do You Have A Crush On Someone: Yeah! I have a girlfriend, I love her! 16.) Political orientation: Left? Society is to serve humanity, governments exists to protect their people, everyone deserves a fair chance, ect? 17.) Piercings: I’ve just got my ears pierced but microdermal piercings are kinda really pretty too 18.) Tattoos: Also pretty but piercings are better cause they fucking sparkle, look at that there’s fucking metal in your skin and you can have cute things or fucking gems attached  HAVE YOU EVER [BEEN IN]: 19.) Airplane: Fuck yeah! And a helicopter! I love flying! 20.) Car *Accident*: A truck bumped me once? 21.) Fist Fight: Several! Many? More sanctioned ones than just brawling and I think that’s rather mature of me FIRSTS: 22.) First piercing: Ears 23.) First Best Friend: A girl named Olivia! I’ve known her since kindergarten and we’re still friends 24.) First Instrument played: I played the xylaphone and glockenspiel at school and I was the worst at it 25.) First award: I won a medal for the best grades in the worst class in high school, I’m only counting the things I actually worked for and not participation or consolation prizes cause y’know, they don’t count 26.) First Crush: In retrospect probably one of my friends from when I was little and clueless but first one from post oh shit I’m queer realization is said girlfriend 27.) First Language: English. 28.) First Big Vacation: I went to Hawaii with my whole family on my mums side (and my dad) for my oma and opa’s anniversary  LASTS: 29.) Last Person you talked to: My little sister! 30.) Last Person You Texted: Ana! who is the girlfriend I keep mentioning 31.) Last Person You Watched: I was watching Prey stuff to reference something earlier? Last human would also be my sister who I watched get a blanket for the plus nineteen degrees celsius heat the absolute madwoman 32.) Last Food You Ate: Pizza! meaty meat pizza 32.) Last Movie You Watched: Infinity war unfortunately, I wanted to see the moon throwing scene so I skipped through everything for that. 34.) Last Song You listened to: Bad Believer by St Vincent 35.) Last Thing You Bought: Poutine and bubble tea 36.) Last Person You Hugged: This is depressing, I don’t know. Does my PC count? I needed to adjust it again and that’s the last thing of any importance I’ve touched in a while now soooo FAVES: 37.) Food: Chocolate! Fish! Meat! Bread! Sugar! Curry! Ice cream! 38.) Drinks: TEA! Hot Chocolate! Milk! Horchata! Bubble tea! Soda! Port! 39.) Clothing: Comfortable skirts and t shirts with hoodies/sweaters and fuzzy leggings and scarves but it’s too warm for that 40.) Book: Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci 41.) Color: Purple! especially lavender 42.) Flower: Also lavender  43.) Music: Miracle of Sound! he’s got lots of different genres, Hozier and Seeming are great too and a bunch of video game soundtracks are great too 44.) Movie: Pacific Rim I think 46.) Subjects: Science! I want to know how everything and everyone works and then I want to help all of it

IN THE PAST YEAR I… 47.) [ ] Kissed in the rain 48.) [ ] Celebrated Halloween. 49.) [ ] Had Your Heart Broken 50.) [x] Went Over the Minutes on Your Cell Phone  51.) [x] Someone Questioned Your Sexual Orientation. It’s a constant state of denial babe 52.) [x] Used a Weapon Technically 53.) [x] Breathed fire I inhaled a candle flame that count? 54.) [ ] Had an Abortion 55.) [x] Done something you’ve Regretted   56.) [ ] Broke a Promise 57.) [x] Kept a Secret 58.) [x] Pretended To Be Happy 59.) [ ] Met Someone Who Changed Your Life 60.) [ ] Pretended To Be Sick 61.) [ ] Left The Country 62.) [ ] Tried something you normally wouldn’t like, and liked it. 63.) [x] Cried Over The Silliest Thing 64.) [x] Ran a Mile 65.) [ ] Went To the Beach 66.) [ ] Stayed Single CURRENTLY: 67.) Eating: Avoiding sleep 68.) Drinking: Oolong tea 69.) Getting Ready To: Sleep 70.) Listening To: I did forget to change this whoops, I’m listening to this https://youtu.be/4MN8gw6S4kM 71.) Plans For Tomorrow/Today: Berry farm trip! 72.) Waiting For: Sleep YOUR FUTURE: 73.) Want Kids: Not especially? I don’t think I’d be good at it 74.) Want To Get Married: Yeah! I’m sappy and it’s useful incase someone is hospitalized or for taxes or wills or visas which is less sappy and more practical but is there anything more romantic than making sure your partner has safety nets and an easier life? Huh? 75.) Careers in minds: I want to help people, I just don't know how yet? WHICH IS BETTER ON A GIRL/GUY: (again blatant nb/gq/ag exclusion) ON A PERSON/PARTNER: 76.) Lips or Eyes: ...Eyes? 77.) Shorter or Taller: All the same to me? 78.) Romantic or Spontaneous: This is vague and weird really, like what if you think romance is spontaneity? however since it’s capitalized I’m assuming you mean like the Romance period and I think that’s pretty good 79.) Nice Stomach or Nice Arms: Also weird! who wants their partner to get sick? I don’t want them to get sick? Arms are for holding, stomachs are for eating these things are not related  80.) Sensitive or Loud: None of these questions make any fucking sense 81.) Hook-up Or Relationship: Relationship? 82.) Troublemaker or Hesitant: These things are not mutually exclusive either HAVE YOU EVER: 83.) Lost Glasses/Contacts: My glasses once got smacked off my face with a boom and into a reservoir 84.) Ran Away From Home: Nope 85.) Held A Weapon, For Self Defense: I do not believe it has been self defence technically no 86.) Killed Somebody: I’m onto you you dirty cops 87.) Broken Someone’s Heart: Sure hope not! 88.) Been Arrested: Can’t catch meeeeee DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 90.) Yourself: I am here, I am trying, I am failing, I will try again or I will die, there’s no belief involved 91.) Miracles: Sort of? Not really? I don’t think the universe is going to make anything happen for a reason kind or cruel 92.) Love at First Sight: No, love needs you to know someone 93.) Heaven: Nope! 94.) Santa Claus: Nope? Never have, wrong cultures for Santa  95.) Easter Bunny: Nope, wrong cultures again 96.) Magic: I’m not sure, insufficient evidence ANSWER TRUTHFULLY: 97.) Is There One Person You Wanna Be With, Right Now: Yes! Cause I’m taken! Am dating! Have girlfriend, I’m girlfriend! It’s great! 98.) Are You Seriously Happy With Where You Are, In Life: Nope! Can’t remember ever being truly seriously happy but that’s alright though cause nothing lasts forever and either I’ll get around to it eventually or I just won’t? No point in worrying 99.) Are You Happy With The Person You’re With: Also yes! Incredibly! I try to not get started cause I’m told I can be insufferable about it but so very very happy 100.) Post as 100 Truths and Tag five People: this is more 99 truths ain’t it, so here’s the last one, I am constantly terrified my plants will die but act tough in front of them cause someone has to not wilt under pressure 

@alienhazy, @nightcoreapologist, @kajafrompluto, @criticalrolo, @elvenorc

[kisstheashes]

👀👀👀 Got anything you can tell us about SP?

OH BOY! Alright. Since you didn’t ask for any particular chapter, you’re getting a SHITTON of info. *cracks knuckles* Let’s get started.

This ended up being long af so there needed to be a cut!

1) When I first had the idea for SP, I was heavily inspired not only by SAW in general but SAW II in particular. SAW II takes place in an abandoned house (SP takes place in an abandoned warehouse for the first 8 chapters), and every person had an individual trap made specifically for them (the first 8 chapters are split up by person, and Anti has unique methods for all of them).

2) SP was the first story I’ve planned out for years. And still YET, it’s not what it was supposed to be. The original ending for SP was basically…nearly everyone dies.

2.5) What almost became the real ending (not the original ending, a different idea) was something like this: Anti kills Chase and has Schneep, but that’s where the similarities end. (suicide TW ahead) Anti was supposed to take Marvin and make him a puppet. And Jackie, traumatized and desperate to find his brothers, leaves a barely functional JJ alone and without help. So JJ ends up killing himself with Chase’s old gun while Jackie is looking for Anti’s hideout. Jackie comes back and sees a dead JJ and loses it. He can’t cope. It was supposed to end with Jackie standing by JJ’s grave, feeling like an utter failure, and Anti approaches him, tells him that since there’s nothing left for him here, what’s he to lose by becoming a puppet? And Jackie goes with him. I can’t tell whether that’s more or less tragic than the real ending.

3) When I FIRST sat down to start writing the very first lines, I had no idea who my main character would be. It’s such a little moment, but I remember it so so clearly. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, just waiting to see who would wake up first (a la SAW style) and I actually recoiled when it was Marvin. I never paid him any attention before SP. And I just went “Ma…Marvin?? Are you sure brain?? MARVIN??” Yes, my brain was sure XD

4) First chapter. Everything happened as planned, which if you are a writer or know us, you know this is very rare. Everyone woke up, the narration was smooth, the characters were introduced so nicely, and their relationships with Anti were automatically all so different from each other. It went beautifully.

5) Chapter 2: Static Corruption. This chapter gave me issues. I originally wanted Anti to force Schneep to “operate” on one of his brothers, but the pieces weren’t moving in that direction. Then I was like ‘oh, I’ll still keep the operation table there because he’ll likely need it since Anti won’t want his puppets to die.’ That…was supposed to happen but didn’t. The operation table ended up being there simply to mock Schneep. I would 100% go back and redo how I did that so that would come across clearer, since I know it’s purpose was left very vague. 

5.5) I am so SO proud of Schneep’s corruption. To be honest, I had no fucking idea what I was doing. I was still learning about Anti and his powers, how he does things, and honestly I should go back and reread it because it came together so well. And Schneep was the first to go because he had already been corrupted, and weakened. He was an easy target, and Anti KNEW he needed Schneep because he can’t easily heal wounds. Anti’s smart like that.

6) Chapter 3 & 4: Burn Marks. Anti had to take out Marvin early. He knew this like he knew he needed Schneep. Marvin was not only powerful but he was hard to break. He was controlled. He wasn’t easily moved to rash decisions and as long as his breathing was steady, he was in control. Hence the collar in ch 3. Anti also knew that Marvin could not use as much magic if he didn’t have his wand, hence taking it from him in the beginning of the chapter. And he knew Marvin was scared of fire. 

6.5) Character analysis aside though, this chapter was my first true dive into torture. I’d never written torture before this chapter. Never. I surprised myself, honestly. When I wrote Anti sticking the raw blowtorch into the cauterized cut, I was floored. I kinda didn’t know it was happening until it did. XD And Anti forcing Marvin to eat his own flesh was…somehow logical to me? I was like ‘maybe since Anti eats flesh he thinks Marv will like it too.’ Which was wrong. He just wanted to torture my son. But these two chapters are everything to me, being my first delve into torture. Really, these chapters, and especially chapter four, started it all. I was really excited to write more gore. 

7) Ch 5: Consequences. Everyone hates this chapter. When I get new readers now, about half of them who ‘like’ every single chapter will skip ‘liking’ this chapter. Because I was ballsy and killed Chase. In front of his daughter. Not only did I kill Chase, I dismembered him and had Anti eat his organs. That’s ballsy as fuck, but at the time I had no idea it was so ballsy. What I did think might be too much and what I do regret is not killing Jasmine instantly and only making that an illusion. I’ve said this before. I still hate myself for it. I should have just outright killed her. I wrote it to showcase how awful Anti is. I took it out because I ws scared. I regretted it the moment I uploaded it, and that’s when I told myself I’d never censor my writing again. So I don’t. While that’s an awful moment in the series, I did learn a very valuable lesson that I will pass onto every writer I know. When it comes to awful deeds, don’t censor yourself.

8) Ch 6: Questionably Human. First of all, this chapter wasn’t supposed to exist, point blank, period. When I originally wrote SP, this chapter wasn’t there. I added it in because as I edited through and understood Marvin more, I knew Anti would understand he couldn’t leave Marvin alone through dealing with all of the other Septics. He’s too resilient. So I added this chapter in. And it was also my first true delve into psychological toture/manipulation with Anti. Which is very interesting with my Anti, because he can’t lie. Working an entire chapter around half truths and whole truths was tricky. It was a challenge. But y’know, I think it probably helped me be able to do other tricky dialogue, like with Maze. 

8.5) Because writing Schneep as a puppet deserves it’s own bullet. I had NO idea how I was going to do this. Because of how my Anti’s puppets work, I didn’t have a clue how to do this. Anti’s puppets keep their base personality so he can have them out in the world, undercover ect without anyone seeing anything weird. But they also don’t have thoughts of their own, or really wants of their own, besides very basic needs. This is a tricky combination when it comes to the stubborn, mood-swingy, irritable, mind of his own doctor. And honestly, I don’t know how I pulled it off. I can’t remember how I did this so well. It’s just a blank XD

9) Ch 7: Broken Toys. This is my personal favorite chapter. JJ’s chapter was unqiue in so many ways, because he had a legitimate past with Anti. Anti pretended to be his friend, then tortured him for days on end. So we have long flashbacks that portray this, and I was really nervous they weren’t blended well. They have a dialogue where JJ speaks only in his head, which is very unique. And in this chapter, I faced one of my squicks. I hate eye gore. Yet I braved it and took JJ’s eye out with a melonballer, then Anti ate it. That was fuckin gross, tbh. XD The ending of his chapter though. It changed 3 times. The original ending did make use of the operation table, but I hated it bc I didn’t know how to write puppet Schneep and scrapped it. I think the second ending was JJ bleeding out on the floor. The third ending is the meathook ending. Absolutely horrific ending, when you take into account 1) its fucking meathooks and 2) they had to be ripped out of healed muscle and skin. I went balls to the walls for this chapter as well, and it fucking payed off. 

10) Ch 8: Glitched Death. This is the start of the chapters that are like ‘I’m writing it but idk where it’s going.’ I had no idea any of it was going to happen, but damn I’m glad all of it did. And again with the ballsy moves, disabling Jackie was ballsy as fuck. It shocked a lot of people like nothing had before. Though my most proud moment of this chapter was the fight scene. The last time I’d written a fight scene was when I was ten. I didn’t do any research or nothing. I just DID. And I remember a comment was “I didn’t know you could write fight scenes!” I didn’t either. But I remember being really happy to write Marvin as such a badass :D To show that he was ready to kill Anti no matter the cost. The worst part of the chapter was writing Jackie pulling the meathooks out. I hated that. I hated it so much. Listen, I know JJ deserved better. And how many of you caught that Anti was very weak as this chapter ended? ;)

11) Ch. 9: Irrepareable Damage. This chapter was hard to write. I hadn’t jumped time like this for a long time. The first 8 chapters all take place in one night. Ch 9 took place over a month and a half, showcasing the immediate aftermath of what happened. Chase and his daughter were dead. Jackie was wheelchair bound. JJ had limited sight and mobility. Marvin’s panic disorder grew worse, and they all had night terrors. It was endlessly emotional. And then…you get to the end. And it hits you in the fucking gut. Anti carves his name into Marvin’s skin, while essentially having him drugged. And Marvin comes to, and sees the wound, and cries. He’s reaping what he sowed and he hates every minute of it.

12) Ch 10: Torn Stitches. I still don’t care for this chapter. It feels too dull. But you guys seemed to like it, so I guess that means its good, right? This chapter was special to me though, because I’d never touched on Marvin’s backstory much. And it was important to me that you all knew it, for some reason. Plus his old friends just fit into the narrative, so I indulged myself. And that’s the other thing. First chapters with OCs. I don’t care for Silas that much, but I really like Whitney. She’s fun. This chapter was necessary as well, so you could see all of the aftermath slowed down. See how damaged they are, and see the aftermath of the carving. Which I again smack ya’ll in the face with the end. 

13) As closing, this story is my baby. And i’ve got a lot more angst coming for it, even if only 2 chapters are left (supposedly). 42.5k words, 11 chapters, and we ain’t done yet. I’ve got huge plans for the next chapter, so watch out for it. ;)

Author Commentary?

[sassylavellen]

Ranking the (story-driven) Dragon Age DLCs

This is just my own views on the story-driven DLCs

#14 - Golems of Amgarrak (Origins)

This exists. That’s all I got.

#13 - The Darkspawn Chronicles (Origins)

HOW COULD YOU MAKE ME KILL MY FRIENDS! In all fairness I like the idea of this one. But I tried to play it. I tried. I couldn’t finish it. I can’t kill all my companions. I CAN’T KILL SHIANNI. I CAN’T KILL LELIANA. I CAN’T KILL ALISTAIR.

#12 - Warden’s Keep (Origins)

Not much to say here. It’s okay. 

#11 - The Exiled Prince (DA2)

This was the last DLC I ever got for Dragon Age. I don’t know, I never really connected with Sebastian. Maybe it was just because I’ve played DA2 so many times before getting the DLC that he just feels tacked on as an afterthought. Especially the way they put him in during the climax. It just feels like they randomly cut shots of him later and everyone just kinda ignores him being all emotional and dramatic.

#10 - Leliana’s Song (Origins)

I love Leliana, anything with more Leliana is a plus. But this dlc is super short and doesn’t really have a lasting impact on Origins.

#9 - The Descent (Inquisition)

Amazing visuals. Great new characters. Doesn’t really relate to the story. Hardest boss in Inquisition second only to the level 23 Emprise Du Lion dragon.

#8 - Mark of the Assassin (DA2)

Let me be clear: I love this one. I love Tallis. I love her relationship with Hawke. I love that it doesn’t take place in Kirkwall. I love the comedic moments mixed with the serious moments. But I don’t love the stealth parts. Or the puzzle parts. I wanted to put this one higher because of Tallis but I just couldn’t get past those.

#7 - Return to Ostigar (Origins)

This is another one that’s just kinda added afterthoughts that don’t really impact the story. It’s still kinda touching due to the subject matter and you get some great gear.

#6 - Jaws of Hakkon (Inquisition)

We kept hearing about the Avvar throughout the game but this is the first time we ever get to really get to know them. This one has a deep story and amazing visuals that don’t necessarily enhance Inquisition as a whole, but on its own is very good. Also gives us more Scout Harding, which I am 100% okay with.

#5 - Witch Hunt (Origins)

I really love this one, I love the characters, I love the story, and more Morrigan is always a plus.

#4 - Legacy (DA2)

So I started playing Inquisition before knowing this DLC existed, so I was confused when Varric and Hawke kept talking about it. Now that I’ve played it, it is a good one. Bioware knew what they were doing setting Corypheus up for Inquisition.

#3 - The Stone Prisoner (Origins)

Not too much to say about this one, except that Shale is a precious gem. Unlike Mark of the Assassin, I don’t have any regrets ranking a DLC high just because of a character.

#2 - Awakening (Origins)

Technically this one is labeled as an “expansion” to Origins. It even got released on its own separate disc from Origins, and honestly Awakening is like a completely new game. This one has some ambitious storytelling, some familiar faces and some great new characters! Also Awakening Anders is best Anders.

#1 - Trespasser (Inquisition)

A lot of people complain about having to pay for DLCs that only add extra content to the base games, but in all honesty this is the kind of DLC I am okay with paying extra for, because this outing is almost like a whole new game in its own merit. It’s a lot like Awakening in that respect. Trespasser adds way more to the lore of Dragon Age and is such an important and pivotal moment in the franchise thus far. It further builds on the gameplay of the original game and enhances the experience. Not to mention that Trespasser has some of the best music in the entire franchise. Trevor Morris gave us a score that was way better than it needed to be and in my own opinion the main theme alone rivals the entire Skyrim soundtrack for best video game music of all time.

[moldypieceoflasagna]

36 questions that nobody asked me

(except @lollipoppedchainsaw )

(the 36 questions that lead to love or whatever) https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

I hate going out to dinner so much i probably wouldnt be able to enjoy it properly

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

It would be interesting to see what it’s like for a short period of time, but i’d never be able to keep it up; i’d probably have an identity crisis

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

yes i have to mentally prepare myself 100% of the time

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

hanging out with the people i love is enough to keep me happy for a good while tbh. sitting around doing nothing literally nothing with them is endlessly entertaining to me even though sometimes i might make that hard to believe 

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

i sing to myself a lot, not so much to others- although i AM a slut for karaoke

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

body because i feel thats probably what old people complain about most. plus like,, 90 years of life knowledge? sounds great to me

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

probably an accident that’s almost statistically impossible

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

single rn (ladies) but i usually try to find friends with similar music tastes because scream-singing in the car is the most fun one can have

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

im most grateful for my dogs and for my friends! i love them and it means the world to me to have people that i can call family. also i would die without my dog juno, she is my rock (and my therapist)

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

Not rly how i was raised, but i wish i had a closer relationship with my older siblings. Three of them had moved out before i was rly old enough to not be an asshole child, so most of them still see me as an asshole child and they never take me seriously. im glad i have an alright relationship with them, but that’s kinda all it is and i know i could do better

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

Lived in Texas my whole life yeehaw. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters; 2 of them dont like me, and my relationship with the other 2 is,, certainly not bad. Had a lot of physical and mental illness in the past, but 20gayteen is definitely my year, yeet

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

either speaking a different language or playing the piano. im very jealous of good piano players, and at some point i need to be able to speak a more useful language than french because so far in texas it’s proved absolutely useless (other than talking to my mom but that doesnt count)

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

I’d wanna know wtf im supposed to do with my life because sweaty i still have no idea. passion? dont know her please introduce me

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

i wanna go skydiving bitch, no one wants to go with me! pussies!!! the lot of you

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

that one time i did an entire semester’s worth of work in the last three days of the school year

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

being able to put up with my huge fucking mouth. also honesty is super important, even if it’ll make me feel shitty

17. What is your most treasured memory?

when i went camping with a bunch of friends and they were bitter i got to be in the middle of the tent because they were all cold. either that or the time i was getting really bad sleep paralysis and @lonelywaterfall & @skity stayed over so my paranoia didnt render me completely useless,,, also the paramore concert lol ive never been more vulnerable in my life.

18. What is your most terrible memory?

coming out to my mom haha

19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

i’d go on a trip around the world to explore/to see a few people, and i’d put extra effort into my gender expression

20. What does friendship mean to you?

comfortable silence is my kink. also emotional vulnerability and SAD BOY HOURS we cant forget those

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

I’m such a slut for physical affection yall have no idea please hug me as much as possible and play with my hair or my hands

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

i guess ill do the same with previous partners so.. i think being funny is probably the #1 thing i appreciate in someone. when you make me laugh so hard i cry, just know that’s like. peak. also stubbornness is strangely attractive to me, plus like,,, uh having an unexpected soft side? an appreciation of art is super important, too. also SPOON VERSATILITY.

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?

it was probably happier than a lot of people’s but there wasnt much to it. plus being the youngest in my ENTIRE family really sucked during my childhood because everyone picked on me and i think that’s probably what started a lot of my issues lol

24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

better than it could be, but definitely not what i want it to be. we both love each other and i admire her work ethic, but she gave me a lot of anxiety problems (both genetically and not) and she isnt the most understanding person. i have hope though, people change

25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling …

I’m hungry and sitting alone in front of my computer feeling like OVERSHARING ON THIS BEAUTIFUL THURSDAY MORNING, BOYS

26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share …

many, MANY animals and a lighthouse in the middle of nowhere

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

I’m REALLY insecure about my body xd

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.

LOVE feeling safe. 

29. Share an embarrassing moment in your life.

probably every time that i’ve ever worn a dress, because i really,, really dont like wearing dresses and that’s it

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

last cried by myself this morning and last cried in front of another person at my friend’s birthday party

31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

no partner but if youre reading this im rly proud of ur attention span. gj buddy

32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

i think most things can be joked about after a certain amount of time, but like,, it has to actually be funny and it has to come from someone i know isnt serious about it. if a joke is made just for the purpose of being offensive and edgy, it’s never funny no tea just truth. 

33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

i’d regret not spending enough time with people that i love, not traveling as much as i should have, and also i’d regret not formally coming out of the closet to my family (they probably already been done knew but like. yknow). i came out to myself & the people closest to me a LONG ass time ago, but i’ve kinda seen what it did to my immediate family so im not too excited to do that to my extended family. if i’m not too much of a pussy, ill probably do it in the summer when i see them next, bc ive been meaning to for a while.

34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

is it bad of me to say my computer? i feel like everyone else has a much more meaningful answer lol. it would probably either be that or the papers i keep on my bulletin board, bc most of them hold a lot of sentimental value (also my prescriptions  would be a pain to get copies of)

35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

either of my parents because i dont want them dying before i reach the point where i can expect them to be happy for me when i marry a girl

36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

personal problems? what’re those lmfao dont have any srry try me again later

 i’m too much of a pussy to tag certain people so if you see this and I've had any sort of conversation with you, do it coward

(also @skity  @drawinintherain )

[allenmendezsr]

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[x-oc-blog-x]

Inside Avas’ OCs

I got a questionnaire from mibba.com for OCs gonna do this for my favorite OCs

Jackson Canmore

Basic

1. What is your full birth name?

Jackson Michael Canmore

2. Any nicknames?

Jack

3. When were you born/how old are you?

November 2. I am 19.

4. If immortal or slow-ageing, what is your apparent age?

I’m not immortal. That’s be cool though

5. Where were you born?

London, England. I moved to the US when I was 2.

6. Who were your parents?

My mom is alive. Her name is Angel. I never knew my dad.

7. Do you have any siblings?

No

8. Where do you live now?

In the US

9. Who do you live with?

I used to live at home with mom but after oli and I finished school we moved in together.

10. Are you right or left-handed?

Right.

11. What words/phrases do you regularly use?

I like to cuss. My favorite word is ass. I don’t know why.

12. Name some habits or strange quirks you have?

Cussing is definitely a habit. I like to play with plus hair. I also like to make him blush

Appearance

13. Height: 5’ 10”

14. Weight: 130 pounds

15. Skin Tone: I’m very pale.

16. Body Shape: I’m kinda tall and skinny

17. Hair: I’m dirty blonde

18. Eyes: green.

19. Face Shape: I don’t know man. What does it look like? Tell me.

20. Everyday Dress Style:usually a white shirt with my black jean jacket. Ripped blue jeans. Converse.

21. Formal Dress Style: i don’t know. I don’t really go to formal events. But probably a casual suit? I don’t do fancy.

22. Any Jewelry? Maybe a neck here or there. I don’t really wear anything but the ring oli bought me

23. Any Scars? No

24. Tattoos? Not yet

Growing Up

25. How would you describe your childhood in general?

I was a pretty weird child actually. I ate play doh. But I was wild. I was always the tough kid. Not really. I talked tough though. And I never had attraction to girls growing up. I always knew I was gay. My mom was super supportive of that. She said she still loved me, which definitely helped make me to supportive and loving person I am. I don’t think I could have done anything without my mom.

26. What is your earliest memory?

My mom and I went out to ice cream and I saw a guy get chased by the cops. I might have been 4.

27. How much schooling have you had?

I just graduated high school.

28. Did you enjoy school?

It wasn’t bad. I wasn’t bullied. I had Oli, Misha, and Collin as friends. And they are all great.

29. Where did you learn most of your skills/abilities?

School, mom, and youtube.

30. Any role models while growing up?

The flash. My mom.

31. What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an astronaut. I now want to just have a job from home. I do commissions for art and photography.

32. What was your favourite thing to do?

Other than being with oli? I like to draw, take pictures, and play video games. I like to watch Netflix too.

33. Were you popular?

No. But I wasn’t an outcast either

34. Who were your friends?

Misha, oli, Collin.

35. When and who was your first kiss?

My first kiss was with a boy named Liam. I was 14.

Past Influences

36. What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?

Moving out with Oli

37. Who has had the most influence on you? My mom.

38. What do you consider is your greatest achievement?

Being confident. I was really insecure in middle school but I worked on my self image a lot. I’m proud of that.

39. What is your greatest regret?

Not asking oli to date me sooner

40. What is the most evil thing you have ever done?

I tripped a kid once with his lunch tray in his hand. He bullied Misha.

41. Do you have a criminal record of any kind?

No

42. When was the time you were the most frightened?

When I got on a plane when I was 14 to visit London with my mom. I hate heights.

43. The most embarrassing moment of your life so far?

I peed my pants in 1st grade. Also being afraid of the Ferris wheel.

44. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be and why?

I want to meet my dad. Would I be different if I knew him? Why did he leave?

45. What is your best memory?

When oli and I had our first kiss. We were sitting in a tree.

46. What is your worst memory?

Definitely watching these homophobes best oli almost to death in a bookstore because we held hands.

Beliefs and Opinions

47. Are you more optimistic or pessimistic?

I’m in the middle I guess.

48. What is your greatest fear?

Heights.

49. What are your religious views?

I don’t believe in god. I’m an atheist.

50. Political views?

I know this is gonna seem like common sense but some people don’t believe the same???

Everyone is equal. Gays, straights. Girls, boys, trans, non binary, etc. I also think people with a uterus should be allowed to have abortions. Immigrants are okay to come in the country. Black lives do matter. Guns are gross. Etc.

51. Views on Sex?

I really like sex. I even one time went to a party with oli and it was a truth or dare party. Let’s just say it was not pg13. It was R.

52. In your own opinion, what is the most evil thing someone could do?

Not accept someone for something they can’t change about themself.

53. Do you believe in Soul Mates/True love?

Kind of. There are different kinds of soul mates that people don’t talk about. There are friend soul mates. Romantic soulmates. Yeah.

54. What do you base success on?

I know this is dumb but how mainstream someone is. Like. Everyone knows we sheeran. So he is successful. Sorry.

55. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings with yourself?

I’ve always been honest with how I felt because I know that negative emotions are okay to feel.

56. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings with others?

I tend to keep how I feel to myself because I don’t want to bother others. I can handle myself.

57. Do you have any biases or prejudices?

Yes. If you don’t respect the lgbt+ community we can’t be friends. If you honesty just can’t respect someone’s existence being different than yours such as ableism and racism and the lgbt+, we can’t get along.

58. Is there anything you would absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances?

Bungi jumping. Sky diving. Nope nope nope.

59. Why would you refuse?

WHAT IF I FALL??? ID DIE.

60. Who or what, if anything, would you die for?

I’d die for my friends. And my mom.

61. What do you feel the most passionate about?

Human rights for the oppressed.

62. What one act are you most proud of?

I went to my first pride parade with my mom at 13. I was so happy that I wasn’t alone and that I was part of something.

63. What one act are you most ashamed of?

Disrespecting my mom when I was a little shit. She is the world. I love you mom.

64. Are you a leader or follower?

Leader.

Relationships

65. In general, how do you treat people you don’t know well?

I treat everyone with respect unless they give me a reason not to.

66. How do you treat people you do know? With love :)

67. Who do you respect the most and why?

My mom. She went through so much shit growing up and she didn’t deserve that. Also Oli. I’m proud of him for surging through all the bullshit he faced getting bullied for being out at school. And he survived getting kicked out by his parents. I’m proud of them both.

68. Who are your friends?

Misha, Collin, oli, Rex, Loni, Alex

69. Who is your best friend?

Oli, Misha, Collin.

70. Ever been in love?

Yes

71. Who do you consider family?

Oli, Misha, collin, and my mom.

72. How close are you to your family?

Very

73. Who do you turn to in desperate times and why?

Oli and mom because they have been there for me through so much.

74. Who do you trust to protect you and why?

I trust that all of my friends would, but I don’t expect them to.

75. Who do you despise the most and why?

That guy who almost killed Oli at the bookstore.

76. Do you tend to argue or avoid conflict?

I argue. I don’t deal with bullshit.

77. Do you care what others think of you?

I don’t in most cases, but I’m afraid to be gay in public because of those guys hurting us again.

Sex and Intimacy

78. Do you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, trans or something else?

Gayyyyyyyy

79. Do you have a significant other?

Yes. Oli.

80. Describe them:

Sweet, loving, kind, supportive, smart, and hot as hell.

81. What is the perfect romantic date?

Dinner at home. Then maybe even sexy sexy time.

82. Best sexual partner?oli

83. Worst sexual partner? Oli has been my only consenual partner. So there isn’t really a worst unless you count my sexual assault.

84. Worst thing you’ve done to someone you love?

I broke Liams heart when we dated. I broke up with him because it didn’t feel right anymore. We both changed. It didn’t work.

Likes and Dislikes

85. What is/are your favourite hobbies/pastimes? Drawing, photography, video games, cuddling.

86. What is your most prized possession?

My ring from Oli.

87. Favourite colour?

Black

88. Favourite food?

Spaghetti

89. Favourite movie?

The fault in our stars

90. Favourite TV show?

The flash.

91. What, if anything, do you like to read?

Young adult dystopian novels

92. What style of music do you like?

Pop and emo

93. What is your idea of good entertainment?

Most media like tv. Music. Any form of expression.

94. Do you smoke?

Ew. No

95. Drink?

Absolutely not.

96. Drugs?

No.

97. Typical Friday night?

Spending the night with Oli

98. What would be the perfect gift for you?

A new camera? I don’t know.

99. Rain or Sun and why?

Rain. The sun burns my skin cause I’m so pale.

100. Day or Night and why?

Night. It’s so calm at night.

101. What makes you laugh?

Jokes. Oli. My friends.

102. What shocks/offends you?

Anyone who does not support equal rights.

103. How do you deal with stress?

I usually go to my room and listen to music.

104. Are you spontaneous, or do you feel you always need a plan?

Spontaneous.

105. Any pet peeves?

I can’t stand when people chew with their mouth open.

Occupation/Study

106. Do you have a job or are you studying? I do commissions on the internet.

107. If so, what is it/what course? Photography, drawing.

108. Do you like it? Yess.

109. If studying/not working, where does your money come from? That is my only income.

110. What is your boss/teacher(s)/agent/publisher ect like? I am my own boss and I’m pretty cool if I say so myself.

111. What are your co-workers/other students like? Nah

112. Do you get along with them? I don’t have any

113. What is something you had to learn that you hated?

DRAWING HAIR. OH MY GOD IT WAS SO HARD.

114. Do you tend to save or spend your money?

Spend

Misc.

115. Describe the routine of a normal day for you: wake up, cuddle, eat, draw, photography, hang with Oli, eat, sleep.

116. What is your greatest strength?

Being a leader and being able to handle hard situations

117. Greatest weakness?

I’m not very smart and I make dumb decisions sometimes

118. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I would want to be a better support for my friends

119. Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert

120. Organised or messy? I’m a bit of both

121. Three things you’re good at:

- drawing

- listening

- photography

122. Three things you’re bad at:

- anything heights

- writing

- math

123. Do you like yourself?

Mostly

124. What is your life goal? To be happy

125. Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully married to oli and a baby

126. If you could choose, how would you want to die? Quickly. I don’t want to suffer. But I want to go in a way that doesn’t hurt everyone as bad. Natural causes.

127. Three things you would do with 24 hours left to live? - marry Oli, spend time with friends and family, and write a will.

128. What is one thing you’d like to be remembered for after your death? Being badass. Just kidding. I want people to remember me for trying my best to be there for those who needed support

129. Three words to describe your personality?

Badass, confident, kind

130. Three words others use to describe your personality?

Extroverted, goofy, and strong

[aquaticsapphic]

Do most of the questions

okay uh, I’m gonna skip all the ones with Evil Numbers and also ones in general I don’t want to answer, but here goes:

1: Do you have a crush at the moment?

Yeah (if anybody wants more info, send “&&1″ to my inbox ;) )

2: Have you ever been deeply in love?I want to say I have? but I’ve only been in one romantic relationship so far, so I’m probably not the best judge

4: Have you ever changed for someone?My personality is inconsistent in general, but I don’t think I have (and if I did, it probably wasn’t bc of a crush)

5: How is your relationship with your ex?👎❌👎❌👎❌👎❌👎

6: Have you ever been cheated on?I’m not 100% sure if that was the reason my first relationship ended, but it definitely seemed like it

8: Would you date someone who’s well known for cheating?No (see 6 and 5)

9: What’s the most important part of a relationship?Being comfortable with being around the other person.

10: Do you like to be in serious relationships or just flings?I’d love to try being a person who just has flings, but as a severely romantically and sexually stunted lesbian, it’s not much of an option for me.

11: When you are dating someone do you believe in going on “breaks”?I would be okay with taking a few days for mental health or if one of us wanted to be left alone for whatever reason, but anything beyond that just feels like breaking up and getting back together, which is a serious no-go for me.

13: What’s one thing you regret saying/doing in a previous relationship?nothing tbh. my last relationship was shitty, and my only regret was that I let her in to my life at all.

15: Do you believe in the phrase “age is just a number”?no no no no no no no no no

16: Do you believe in “love at first sight”?you can have a crush on somebody at first sight, but there’s a strict distinction between crushing on someone and loving someone in my mind.

20: Are you currently in a relationship?I’m in a relationship with *finger guns* depression.Jokes aside, no.

21: Do you think people who have dated can stay friends?Yeah. You just have to have really chill people. I don’t think I could say whether I could or not.

24: Do you think love can last forever?nah. I like the idea though.

25: Do you believe love can conquer all things?In some cases yes, in some cases no. It depends on what you’re trying to conquer.

26: Would you break up with someone your parents didn’t approve of?Hell no. I love my parents, but they don’t dictate my life or my choices.

27: If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice about dating what would it be?anything pre-high school: you gayhigh school: you are literally  never going to see 99% of these people again, please have at least one fling

28: Do you think long distance relationships can work?only if both people are committed and meet as often as possible. I really like the physical aspects of relationships, like cuddling and hand holding, so I couldn’t imagine it would go well if people in a ldr don’t see each other too much.

29: What do you notice first about another person?probably hair. it’s a really expressive part of a person.

40: Have you ever had a valentine?no, but I’m totally okay with that. I love sending cheesy valentines cards to my friends, and just generally having a chill day. I like how I celebrate valentines, and I wouldn’t want to change it.

41: What’s your imagination of a “perfect date”?I like fairs, and beaches so I imagine having a date there would be pretty fun.

42: Have you ever read “Romeo & Juliet”?yeah, but I’m a way bigger fan of Hamlet and Horatio.plus I’m gay for all the Rosalines, like my dude, Romeo, what were you thinking??

44: Would you consider yourself “romantic”?not until I get into a relationship, and then I’m a complete pile of mush

45: Could you imagine to date one of your current friends?this is worded weirdly, but if I’m reading this right - yeah

48: What’s your favorite love song?I’m more of a love poem type of person.

49: Have you ever broken someone’s heart?I hope so

50: If you’re single, why do you think you are?I’m gay and I haven’t met any other gay people that interest me or are interested in me. also because I’m extremely shy/awkward so I don’t meet many people and I’m bad at picking up clues.

51: Would you rather date someone who’s rich but a douchebag or someone who’s poor but a nice guy?are they a brony “nice guy”?

52: Are you good at giving other people advice regarding dating/ relationships?I know nothing about romance and relationships my dudes

54: How important is it to make a relationship official (p.e. on facebook)?depends if you’re both out, but generally, not really. I feel like facebook is dying out, so it’s not as much of a Thing

56: Have you ever “destroyed” a relationship?my goal is to have everybody break up with their s/o to pursue mein all seriousness, I honestly don’t know

60: What’s your opinion on open relationships?not a fan

61: Who’s more important: Your partner or your family?They’re both important, but I’d definitely say my partner.

64: Do you think Valentine’s Day is overrated?some critiques are pretty valid, but as stated earlier, I find it to be a pretty fun day.

65: Would you consider yourself a “cuddler”?the cuddly-est

[oldeststoryintheuniverse]

1-100 XD

1. Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? Spotify!2. is your room messy or clean?It depends on my current attitude tbh3. what color are your eyes?they sort of change.4. do you like your name? why?i’m kind of indifferent at this point. i’ve never really felt like it fit me well.5. what is your relationship status?single af6. describe your personality in 3 words or lesscaring, determined, passionate7. what color hair do you have?auburn8. what kind of car do you drive? color?Yellow VW Beetle9. where do you shop?all over the place. i do a lot of shopping.10. how would you describe your style?as cute as possible always.11. favorite social media accountinstagram.12. what size bed do you have?a queen13. any siblings?technically i have one half sister.14. if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why?right where i am. or disneyland. i have a passion for the company and i feel like i have to be contributing to its future.15. favorite snapchat filter?the bat one! when it’s available which is not as often as it should be16. favorite makeup brand(s)i only use kat von d for my foundation and beyond that…i could be flexible.17. how many times a week do you shower?at least 7 because anything less is NASTY. showering daily is extremely important for personal hygene.18. favorite tv show?doctor who but not the newest stuff.19. shoe size?6.520. how tall are you?5′4″21. sandals or sneakers?boots.22. do you go to the gym?i wish i did…i should…23. describe your dream dateHave you heard the song, “Meet Me Down on Mainstreet?” that. plus a parade and then cuddling eventually.24. how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment?like $15 i think25. what color socks are you wearing?i’m not currently wearing socks26. how many pillows do you sleep with?1-227. do you have a job? what do you do?i’m a character attendant at WDW28. how many friends do you have?why on earth would i know a number?29. whats the worst thing you have ever done?That is a very good question…honestly i think it’s being low key salty behind someone’s back when it didn’t even hurt them at all…but my bad attitude contributed to general negativity. at least, that’s what i can think of at the moment.30. whats your favorite candle scent?that christmassy apple/cinnamon scent.31. 3 favorite boy namesI sat here for ages and i have no idea32. 3 favorite girl namesAngelique, Evangeline, and….i dunno.33. favorite actor?i appreciate many people’s talents but i don’t know if i have a favorite.34. favorite actress?^^^^35. who is your celebrity crush?again…don’t really have one.Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? 36. Favorite movie?lots. alice in wonderland. other disney stuff. lord of the rings. zootopia. stuff37. do you read a lot? whats your favorite book?i don’t read as much as i used to. i wish i did. LOVE harry potter. and lots of other books. alice in wonderland. peter pan. stuff.38. money or brains?brains probably.39. do you have a nickname? what is it?a few. Alice, G, old ones that have kind of died out…40. how many times have you been to the hospital?a couple when i was younger. i can’t remember how many.41. top 10 favorite songsIt changes with my mood and how i’m feeling. I love love LOVE Dan Franklin’s music…I love Try Everything, and currently my favorite thing on the radio is 24 Karat Magic. i like almost all music. just not heavy screamo metal.42. do you take any medications daily?just for my allergies lol43. what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc)i think kind of combination44. what is your biggest fear?not achieving my dream job because i have no idea what else i’d do with my life.45. how many kids do you want?no idea. that’s something to discuss with my future husband.46. whats your go to hair style?i usually either straighten it or curl it. if i’m feeling lazy, i don’t have time, or it’s really hot out, i do braided pigtails.47. what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc)townhouse.48. who is your role model?myself, after a complicated relationship with a friend of mine and reflecting on the attitude of those around me. also judy hopps. i’m generally proud enough of my own ideals not to have to look to others. not that i never learn anything from other people, but i don’t think i have one role model. this answer sounded really self centered i apologize.49. what was the last compliment you received?when i was out at dinner a few people said i looked really pretty. and i appreciate them.50. what was the last text you sent?my friend said she was on her way over and i replied, “okie dokie.”51. how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real?this question is bonkers, i literally worked with santa a couple weeks ago and he’s as real as I am.52. what is your dream car?i’d love something old and vintage but that’ll never run well…most newer cars i really don’t like. when mine dies i’m gonna get the final edition new beetle, hopefully.53. opinion on smoking?don’t do it. it’s destructive to you and those around you. 54. do you go to college?yep. almost done. thank goodness. 55. what is your dream job?i want to be best friends with disney characters and help them make magic for our guests. :)56. would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs?probably the suburbs57. do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels?YES I STEAL THEM ALL58. do you have freckles?yep. not my favorite thing but they are inescapable. 59. do you smile for pictures?of course!60. how many pictures do you have on your phone?a couple hundred, i think61. have you ever peed in the woods?honestly i can’t remember if i might’ve done it like once as a child, but if i did i literally can’t remember. 62. do you still watch cartoons?the word “cartoon” is ambiguous. for me it has kind of a negative connotation. but i do watch animated movies and tv and stuff, yes63. do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds?wendy’s if i have to choose, although almost all fast food makes me feel sick.64. Favorite dipping sauce?ketchup or ranch. or that sweet and sour stuff from mcdonald’s but i never eat there anymore.65. what do you wear to bed?pjs.66. have you ever won a spelling bee?i’ve never even been in a spelling bee, but i’d probably lose.67. what are your hobbies?photography (i’m hoping to get to do that again soon…my muscles don’t like me), painting, stuff68. can you draw?i’m mediocre at best.69. do you play an instrument?i mostly remember how to play flute and piccolo from high school and i can do a little piano but not much.70. what was the last concert you saw?i honestly can’t remember. it’s been a really long time since i’ve been to a legitimate concert. i sat here for a while but could not remember.71. tea or coffee?tea!72. Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?that depends entirely on the item i’m purchasing73. do you want to get married?some day74. what is your crush’s first and last initial?n. e. for non-existent amirite75. are you going to change your last name when you get married?YES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YES76. what color looks best on you?blue, in my opinion77. do you miss anyone right now?always78. do you sleep with your door open or closed?usually closed.79. do you believe in ghosts?i don’t have enough evidence to make a decision80. what is your biggest pet peeve?i think working at disney has caused me to develop TOO MANY.81. last person you calledmy mother82. favorite ice cream flavor?chocolate!83. regular oreos or golden oreos?regular. but without the frosting.84. chocolate or rainbow sprinkles?neither i do not like sprinkles85. what shirt are you wearing?a sweatshirt i wear around the house from 2014 wdw86. what is your phone background?for the first time ever i changed my lock screen to a picture of just me, and my home screen is me and Lotso87. are you outgoing or shy?much more on the outgoing side88. do you like it when people play with your hair?yes please89. do you like your neighbors?i don’t really know my neighbors but i know i’m not fond of the ones directly across from me due to their recent choices in lawn decor.90. do you wash your face? at night? in the morning?yes both91. have you ever been high?nope92. have you ever been drunk?nope93. last thing you ate?hello panda94. favorite lyrics right now”So now I’m all run out of my regrets this time. I’ve got nothing left, I’ve got no more tears to cry. Baby turn around, and don’t come back this time. I need to start again, I’m only starting at the finish line.”95. summer or winter?winter96. day or night?night usually97. dark, milk, or white chocolate?milk!98. favorite month?october?99. what is your zodiac signlibra100. who was the last person you cried in front of?i got a little teary last night at work in front of eeyore. last time i cried before that was by myself…i don’t know the true answer to this question

[williamlwolf89]

34 Journal Prompts & Ideas to Unlock Your Writing Creativity

Let me guess…

You’ve been asking Google to help you find journal prompts or journaling ideas, right?

You know that successful writers throughout history have kept a journal for creative writing, thinking, and self-discovery. It was a defining practice in the works and lives of Thoreau, Emerson, Wilde, and many others — and you think maybe, just maybe, it can do the same for you.

And you know what? You’re 100% correct.

All the creativity you need is already inside of you — you just have to tap into it.

And a great way to do it is with journal prompts.

29 Journal Writing Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

Like a fisherman’s fishing rod, the following journal writing prompts will help you fish out your best ideas from the depths of your mind. They will also help you:

Exercise your creative writing skills

Land more writing jobs (if you’re a freelancer)

Learn how to write better

Shift your perspective and access new points of view

Overcome writer’s block

Ready?

Grab a pen and a journal (or open a Google Doc, if you prefer), and let’s start writing.

1. New perspective

What is a topic about which you have changed your opinion recently, and why?

2. Metaphoric feelings

Come up with three metaphors to describe how you feel right now.

3. Answer your “why”

What makes writing such an important part of your life? Why do you want to write in the first place?

4. The big question

What question would you most like to know the answer to?

5. Self-editing

Read through one of your old journal entries or a story/article you wrote a long time ago. Pretend you’re an editor getting it ready for publishing and make it shine.

6. Funny stuff

When was the last time you laughed really hard? Write about that moment.

7. Guaranteed success

If you knew for sure that your next book or article would be successful, what topic would you write about?

8. Make me cry

Think about a sad moment from your past. Write a scene about it that would make anyone cry.

9. Hidden thoughts

What has been on your mind for a long time, but you never gave it the attention it needs?

10. Personal success

What is something at which you have succeeded greatly that others could benefit from learning about? Write a case study about it.

11. Dictionary

Open a dictionary at random and write down the first word that catches your eye. Repeat three times. Then, write a short story that includes those three words.

12. Old friends

Think about a problem you’re currently facing. Write a fake letter to your best friend from high school explaining the situation and asking for advice.

13. Domain name

If you were to start a blog on WordPress documenting your life so far, which domain name would you choose?

14. Life lessons

Think of the five important people in your life (family members, loved ones, role models, friends, etc.) and write a list of lessons you have directly or indirectly learned from each of them.

15. Bucket list

If you knew you were going to die today, what things would you regret the most not having done? Create a to-do list.

16. Happiness

When was the last time you felt truly happy? Describe it in the most sensory way possible.

17. Pitch yourself

Imagine you just wrote an autobiography and you’re trying to get it published, but your chances depend on a short email cold pitch. What would you write?

18. Keeping memories

Which parts of today (moments, ideas, thoughts) would your future self benefit from reading about? Write them down.

19. Embarrassing writing

Write down a really bad joke or a super cheesy poem.

20. Prioritizing

What is the one thing which, if you did it every day, would transform your current life into your best life? How can you start doing it?

21. Perfect day

If money was no object, what would an average ideal day in your life look like? How can you make that happen in your current circumstances?

22. Life chapters

If you were to divide the story of your life into chapters, what would be the titles?

23. 7 Prompts

Come up with a list of seven journaling prompts related to a topic you want to write about, and then complete one prompt for each day of the next week.

24. Eavesdropping

Sit in a coffee place and write down snippets of conversations you hear.

25. No E

Write a whole journal entry without using the letter ‘e’.

26. Literary devices

Describe your day using as many literary devices as possible.

27. Copycat

Choose a passage from one of your favorite books. Copy it into your journal. Then write your own journal entry inspired by the writing style of that author.

28. Favorite things

Make a list of your favorite things. Your favorite songs. Favorite movies. Write about why they’re your favorites.

29. New Year’s Resolutions (5 years from now)

Pretend it’s New Year’s Eve five years from now. What resolutions for the new year would you write?

Editor’s Note: Want a printable copy of these journal prompts you can print, display, and reference, as needed? Here’s a free Google Doc (no opt-in or email address required).

Back to Top

5 Journaling Ideas & Exercises for Writers

Journal prompts are a great way to exercise your writing skills, but if you want to utilize the full potential of journaling to unlock your creativity, the journaling ideas and exercises below will take you one level deeper.

Whereas before you had a fishing rod to bring new ideas to the surface, these journal ideas will give you a scuba diving oxygen tank so you can explore all the treasures that lie at the bottom of your creative mind.

Ready? Let’s dive in (pun intended).

1. “One-inch picture frame”

Let’s face it…

You have so many writing ideas that you don’t even know where to start.

That brilliant plot you came up with while taking a shower. That self-development article that will become viral. The book idea you’ve been dreaming of writing since you were a teenager.

All those pieces of advice, all those short stories, all those scripts that will never become real because…

Well, because you’re too overwhelmed with ideas to actually start writing.

In her book Bird by Bird (Amazon affiliate link), Anne Lamott introduces a framework called “one-inch picture frame” that helps her beat overwhelm and get to work by writing down only “as much as [she] can see through a one-inch frame”.

In other words, you don’t have to aim at writing your whole life story in one go, or putting together a whole “Ultimate Guide on How to Beat Anxiety” in one sitting.

You can start by simply describing that one afternoon from your childhood when your mom bought you your first ice cream and you felt like you were in heaven; or you can start by writing down the main cause of anxiety that your clients tell you about.

I use this trick to make myself journal every day: all I have to do is write about one thought, one idea, or one life event from that day.

Very often, this is enough to spark my motivation and I keep on writing. Other times I don’t, but that’s okay — one little paragraph is better than nothing.

If you’re struggling to get started because the job seems too big, you can always scale it down. What can you see through your one-inch picture frame?

2. Start a public online journal

Writing has been my main job for over three years now, but until recently I still struggled with practicing my craft consistently.

So a few weeks ago I did something that I thought I would never do: I started a public online journal where I publish a daily entry about my life, thoughts, struggles, and ideas.

At first, it felt scary and vulnerable as hell. In fact, it still does.

But it also changed my life.

How?

I only shared it with a few people, but the fact that someone expects to read my entries every morning keeps me accountable and makes me stick with my commitment. It’s the first time in my life that I have published something every single day for over a month.

Not only do I feel like I am writing my own life’s story, but I also use my old online journal entries for inspiration whenever I need ideas for a new piece of content for my blog. But the biggest benefit of journaling in public is that, unlike what happens with my offline journaling practice, I actually have to put some attention into my daily writing in order to make it readable and enjoyable for other people.

Plus, the daily routine lets me practice being vulnerable and sharing from the heart in front of an audience — a great skill to have as a blogger.

3. Brain dumps

Whenever I want to create a new piece of content, my default is to either begin with an outline or just start writing the whole thing straight away. Word after word, line after line, from beginning to end.

But the thing is, when I just do this, I often hit a wall and get stuck. There are only so many ideas that my brain can access by traditional direct association thinking.

That’s why I started doing brain dumps.

What is a brain dump?

A brain dump is a process of emptying your mind by transposing all your thoughts onto paper. When you hit a wall with your writing, brain dumping is like punching that wall really hard so send all the bricks flying and then get a good glimpse of what’s on the other side.

If you’re stuck or without ideas, stop for a moment. Take a step back and notice all the thoughts going through your mind. What are your worries? What’s taking up all your attention? Is there something you want to write but you feel ashamed because it’s not good enough?

Write it all down. Everything counts. Write it all over the page of your journal, without caring for keeping it organized. The point of brain dumps is not so much to get good ideas, but to relieve your mind of worries and blocks so that creativity can flow freely again.

4. Most Important Question

Sometimes, our best ideas are one night’s sleep away.

It’s true. In his book The Art of Thought (Amazon affiliate link), psychologist Graham Wallas proposes that the creative process happens in four stages:

Preparation (identifying the problem);

Incubation (processing the information on a subconscious level);

Illumination (when everything becomes clear);

Verification (testing if the idea really solves the problem).

Very often, we skip the second step, incubation. We obsess about the problem until we solve it, but what we should do is let it go, allow our subconscious mind to process it, and then come back to it with fresh eyes.

So, how can we start incubating our ideas more?

The technique I’ve been using for months (and it’s been working miracles) is something called Most Important Question (MIQ).

This technique was invented by Josh Waitzkin (he talks about it in this interview) and it goes like this:

In the evening, take some time to reflect and come up with your Most Important Question of the day. Once you’ve got your MIQ, write it down in your journal, and then…

Let it go.

Forget about it.

Take a moment to relax with a good book or a nice walk, and then go to sleep without it on your mind.

Then, in the morning, immediately after you wake up, open your journal, look at the question, and write down the answers you have on your mind.

I have been using this process to help me get ideas for new articles, fix writer’s block, and solve writing problems that I had struggled with for days.

It works like magic.

It’s been proven that our brains are at their most creative immediately after we wake up, and every time I do this I am in awe of the gems that my mind had been hiding.

5. Flip it around

We are so used to writing in a linear way that we fail to make use of the biggest advantage of a good old paper journal: its versatility as a tool for creating ideas.

The main reason why I always buy journals with plain pages is that there are no rules or boundaries for what my writing has to look like. That being said, the last journaling exercise I have for you today is extremely simple:

Flip your journal around.

Yep, that’s it. It’s that simple. Next time you’re in the middle of a journal entry, try rotating the notebook by 90 degrees (or any other number you fancy) and continue the entry at a different angle.

I know this exercise might sound silly or pointless, but it’s not.

Changing the visual representation of our ideas can completely shift the way we create. Rotating your journal in the middle of an entry brings your awareness to how you are using the space on the page, which will inevitably impact the words you choose. It can change your writing speed, the length of your sentences, and it can even inspire you to include a drawing here and there.

Small shifts in perception can make a huge difference to the final results. Don’t be afraid to look at things from a different angle. Spice things up. Open your mind to new ways of being creative.

Think differently.

And most of all, make it fun.

Back to Top

All it Takes is Five Minutes of Journal Prompts to Unlock Your Creativity

A journal is much more than just a few pieces of paper glued together.

It’s a free ticket to the depths of your creativity, and to the brilliant writer that exists inside of you. It’s also one of the best tools to get to know yourself and make sense of your life. Who doesn’t need that?

Whenever you feel stuck, or simply know that there’s something important you have to say but simply can’t find the words, use one of the journal prompts or journaling ideas above.

Sometimes, all it takes is five minutes to become a better writer, or to learn something important about yourself that will change the course of your life forever.

The post 34 Journal Prompts & Ideas to Unlock Your Writing Creativity appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/journal-prompts/

[ronaldsmcrae86]

34 Journal Prompts & Ideas to Unlock Your Writing Creativity

Let me guess…

You’ve been asking Google to help you find journal prompts or journaling ideas, right?

You know that successful writers throughout history have kept a journal for creative writing, thinking, and self-discovery. It was a defining practice in the works and lives of Thoreau, Emerson, Wilde, and many others — and you think maybe, just maybe, it can do the same for you.

And you know what? You’re 100% correct.

All the creativity you need is already inside of you — you just have to tap into it.

And a great way to do it is with journal prompts.

29 Journal Writing Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

Like a fisherman’s fishing rod, the following journal writing prompts will help you fish out your best ideas from the depths of your mind. They will also help you:

Exercise your creative writing skills

Land more writing jobs (if you’re a freelancer)

Learn how to write better

Shift your perspective and access new points of view

Overcome writer’s block

Ready?

Grab a pen and a journal (or open a Google Doc, if you prefer), and let’s start writing.

1. New perspective

What is a topic about which you have changed your opinion recently, and why?

2. Metaphoric feelings

Come up with three metaphors to describe how you feel right now.

3. Answer your “why”

What makes writing such an important part of your life? Why do you want to write in the first place?

4. The big question

What question would you most like to know the answer to?

5. Self-editing

Read through one of your old journal entries or a story/article you wrote a long time ago. Pretend you’re an editor getting it ready for publishing and make it shine.

6. Funny stuff

When was the last time you laughed really hard? Write about that moment.

7. Guaranteed success

If you knew for sure that your next book or article would be successful, what topic would you write about?

8. Make me cry

Think about a sad moment from your past. Write a scene about it that would make anyone cry.

9. Hidden thoughts

What has been on your mind for a long time, but you never gave it the attention it needs?

10. Personal success

What is something at which you have succeeded greatly that others could benefit from learning about? Write a case study about it.

11. Dictionary

Open a dictionary at random and write down the first word that catches your eye. Repeat three times. Then, write a short story that includes those three words.

12. Old friends

Think about a problem you’re currently facing. Write a fake letter to your best friend from high school explaining the situation and asking for advice.

13. Domain name

If you were to start a blog on WordPress documenting your life so far, which domain name would you choose?

14. Life lessons

Think of the five important people in your life (family members, loved ones, role models, friends, etc.) and write a list of lessons you have directly or indirectly learned from each of them.

15. Bucket list

If you knew you were going to die today, what things would you regret the most not having done? Create a to-do list.

16. Happiness

When was the last time you felt truly happy? Describe it in the most sensory way possible.

17. Pitch yourself

Imagine you just wrote an autobiography and you’re trying to get it published, but your chances depend on a short email cold pitch. What would you write?

18. Keeping memories

Which parts of today (moments, ideas, thoughts) would your future self benefit from reading about? Write them down.

19. Embarrassing writing

Write down a really bad joke or a super cheesy poem.

20. Prioritizing

What is the one thing which, if you did it every day, would transform your current life into your best life? How can you start doing it?

21. Perfect day

If money was no object, what would an average ideal day in your life look like? How can you make that happen in your current circumstances?

22. Life chapters

If you were to divide the story of your life into chapters, what would be the titles?

23. 7 Prompts

Come up with a list of seven journaling prompts related to a topic you want to write about, and then complete one prompt for each day of the next week.

24. Eavesdropping

Sit in a coffee place and write down snippets of conversations you hear.

25. No E

Write a whole journal entry without using the letter ‘e’.

26. Literary devices

Describe your day using as many literary devices as possible.

27. Copycat

Choose a passage from one of your favorite books. Copy it into your journal. Then write your own journal entry inspired by the writing style of that author.

28. Favorite things

Make a list of your favorite things. Your favorite songs. Favorite movies. Write about why they’re your favorites.

29. New Year’s Resolutions (5 years from now)

Pretend it’s New Year’s Eve five years from now. What resolutions for the new year would you write?

Editor’s Note: Want a printable copy of these journal prompts you can print, display, and reference, as needed? Here’s a free Google Doc (no opt-in or email address required).

Back to Top

5 Journaling Ideas & Exercises for Writers

Journal prompts are a great way to exercise your writing skills, but if you want to utilize the full potential of journaling to unlock your creativity, the journaling ideas and exercises below will take you one level deeper.

Whereas before you had a fishing rod to bring new ideas to the surface, these journal ideas will give you a scuba diving oxygen tank so you can explore all the treasures that lie at the bottom of your creative mind.

Ready? Let’s dive in (pun intended).

1. “One-inch picture frame”

Let’s face it…

You have so many writing ideas that you don’t even know where to start.

That brilliant plot you came up with while taking a shower. That self-development article that will become viral. The book idea you’ve been dreaming of writing since you were a teenager.

All those pieces of advice, all those short stories, all those scripts that will never become real because…

Well, because you’re too overwhelmed with ideas to actually start writing.

In her book Bird by Bird (Amazon affiliate link), Anne Lamott introduces a framework called “one-inch picture frame” that helps her beat overwhelm and get to work by writing down only “as much as [she] can see through a one-inch frame”.

In other words, you don’t have to aim at writing your whole life story in one go, or putting together a whole “Ultimate Guide on How to Beat Anxiety” in one sitting.

You can start by simply describing that one afternoon from your childhood when your mom bought you your first ice cream and you felt like you were in heaven; or you can start by writing down the main cause of anxiety that your clients tell you about.

I use this trick to make myself journal every day: all I have to do is write about one thought, one idea, or one life event from that day.

Very often, this is enough to spark my motivation and I keep on writing. Other times I don’t, but that’s okay — one little paragraph is better than nothing.

If you’re struggling to get started because the job seems too big, you can always scale it down. What can you see through your one-inch picture frame?

2. Start a public online journal

Writing has been my main job for over three years now, but until recently I still struggled with practicing my craft consistently.

So a few weeks ago I did something that I thought I would never do: I started a public online journal where I publish a daily entry about my life, thoughts, struggles, and ideas.

At first, it felt scary and vulnerable as hell. In fact, it still does.

But it also changed my life.

How?

I only shared it with a few people, but the fact that someone expects to read my entries every morning keeps me accountable and makes me stick with my commitment. It’s the first time in my life that I have published something every single day for over a month.

Not only do I feel like I am writing my own life’s story, but I also use my old online journal entries for inspiration whenever I need ideas for a new piece of content for my blog. But the biggest benefit of journaling in public is that, unlike what happens with my offline journaling practice, I actually have to put some attention into my daily writing in order to make it readable and enjoyable for other people.

Plus, the daily routine lets me practice being vulnerable and sharing from the heart in front of an audience — a great skill to have as a blogger.

3. Brain dumps

Whenever I want to create a new piece of content, my default is to either begin with an outline or just start writing the whole thing straight away. Word after word, line after line, from beginning to end.

But the thing is, when I just do this, I often hit a wall and get stuck. There are only so many ideas that my brain can access by traditional direct association thinking.

That’s why I started doing brain dumps.

What is a brain dump?

A brain dump is a process of emptying your mind by transposing all your thoughts onto paper. When you hit a wall with your writing, brain dumping is like punching that wall really hard so send all the bricks flying and then get a good glimpse of what’s on the other side.

If you’re stuck or without ideas, stop for a moment. Take a step back and notice all the thoughts going through your mind. What are your worries? What’s taking up all your attention? Is there something you want to write but you feel ashamed because it’s not good enough?

Write it all down. Everything counts. Write it all over the page of your journal, without caring for keeping it organized. The point of brain dumps is not so much to get good ideas, but to relieve your mind of worries and blocks so that creativity can flow freely again.

4. Most Important Question

Sometimes, our best ideas are one night’s sleep away.

It’s true. In his book The Art of Thought (Amazon affiliate link), psychologist Graham Wallas proposes that the creative process happens in four stages:

Preparation (identifying the problem);

Incubation (processing the information on a subconscious level);

Illumination (when everything becomes clear);

Verification (testing if the idea really solves the problem).

Very often, we skip the second step, incubation. We obsess about the problem until we solve it, but what we should do is let it go, allow our subconscious mind to process it, and then come back to it with fresh eyes.

So, how can we start incubating our ideas more?

The technique I’ve been using for months (and it’s been working miracles) is something called Most Important Question (MIQ).

This technique was invented by Josh Waitzkin (he talks about it in this interview) and it goes like this:

In the evening, take some time to reflect and come up with your Most Important Question of the day. Once you’ve got your MIQ, write it down in your journal, and then…

Let it go.

Forget about it.

Take a moment to relax with a good book or a nice walk, and then go to sleep without it on your mind.

Then, in the morning, immediately after you wake up, open your journal, look at the question, and write down the answers you have on your mind.

I have been using this process to help me get ideas for new articles, fix writer’s block, and solve writing problems that I had struggled with for days.

It works like magic.

It’s been proven that our brains are at their most creative immediately after we wake up, and every time I do this I am in awe of the gems that my mind had been hiding.

5. Flip it around

We are so used to writing in a linear way that we fail to make use of the biggest advantage of a good old paper journal: its versatility as a tool for creating ideas.

The main reason why I always buy journals with plain pages is that there are no rules or boundaries for what my writing has to look like. That being said, the last journaling exercise I have for you today is extremely simple:

Flip your journal around.

Yep, that’s it. It’s that simple. Next time you’re in the middle of a journal entry, try rotating the notebook by 90 degrees (or any other number you fancy) and continue the entry at a different angle.

I know this exercise might sound silly or pointless, but it’s not.

Changing the visual representation of our ideas can completely shift the way we create. Rotating your journal in the middle of an entry brings your awareness to how you are using the space on the page, which will inevitably impact the words you choose. It can change your writing speed, the length of your sentences, and it can even inspire you to include a drawing here and there.

Small shifts in perception can make a huge difference to the final results. Don’t be afraid to look at things from a different angle. Spice things up. Open your mind to new ways of being creative.

Think differently.

And most of all, make it fun.

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All it Takes is Five Minutes of Journal Prompts to Unlock Your Creativity

A journal is much more than just a few pieces of paper glued together.

It’s a free ticket to the depths of your creativity, and to the brilliant writer that exists inside of you. It’s also one of the best tools to get to know yourself and make sense of your life. Who doesn’t need that?

Whenever you feel stuck, or simply know that there’s something important you have to say but simply can’t find the words, use one of the journal prompts or journaling ideas above.

Sometimes, all it takes is five minutes to become a better writer, or to learn something important about yourself that will change the course of your life forever.

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