#i should definitely say that these are estimates from me trying to get a general number from a youtube walkthrough

[kris-shinnie-pride]

Thought I'd support @jar1nza with the 2.1 criticism-

[enderlovez]

Snow

Spencer Reid x Female Reader WORD COUNT: 719

Summary: To say he's worried when he wakes up alone in the middle of the night, only to see you laying in the snow outside, is an understatement.

Content Warning: mentions of hypothermia and being cold in general, mentions of people dying from hypothermia

────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ──────

It's not often that you and Spencer spend the night without one another. Either he's staying with you in your apartment, or you're sleeping with him in his apartment — the latter is, of course, the more common occurrence, as you prefer the calmer feel of his place.

Which is why, as Spencer groans tiredly and reaches his hand across to your side of the bed, he's surprised to find that the sheets there are cold, and you're most definitely not there.

At first, it's not much of a big deal — it's not the first time you've woken in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get a glass of water from the kitchen, and it's definitely not the first time he's woken up while you were gone. But as the minutes drag on and you still don't come back to bed, worry begins to prick at his mind.

Spencer pushes the blanket off himself and scuffs his feet on the floor as he makes his way out of the room, padding through the apartment in search of you. But it's as though you've vanished into thin air, because you are nowhere to be found.

At least, that's until he's back in his room with his phone in hand, seconds away from calling you to make sure you're alright, when he glances offhandedly out the window and sees a pile of clothes in the show — one that looks distinctly you shaped, horrifyingly enough.

Panic surges through his body as he rushes out of the apartment, not bothering to grab more than a coat and a pair of shoes on the way out, as he moves as fast as his feet will take him.

If you're out in the freezing cold, laying in the even colder snow, why should it matter if he's cold, anyway.

Except, by the time he himself is standing out in the bitter cold, eyes searching the snow-covered ground for you, you seem completely fine, bundled up in what must be all of your clothes and humming a little tune to yourself.

"An estimated two thousand people in the United States are diagnosed with hypothermia a year," he says as way of greeting, standing over your face and looking down disapprovingly, "and of which, there are approximately seven hundred deaths a year."

Your eyes glitter in the pale moonlight as you shift your gaze from the sky to your boyfriend. "You're supposed to be asleep in bed," you reply quietly, ignoring his very morbid greeting as your eyes skim over what he's wearing. "Or at the very least, dressed warmer! Oh darling, you must be freezing out here!"

You're already getting to your feet, throwing one last glance at the sky as you take his trembling hand in your own glove-covered ones and pull him back into the building. Neither of you say a word until you're both safely back in his apartment.

"Why'd you even come out?" you demand, shrugging all your clothes off until you're left in just a pair of plaid pajama pants and a black tank top. There's a small frown on your face as you take his ice-cold hands into yours, rubbing them to try and warm them up faster.

"Saw you outside when I woke up. Thought you were hurt," he replies in a quiet voice, leaning forward and down so he can rest his forehead on your shoulder, tired again now that the adrenaline is wearing off. "Why were you out there?"

"Woke up and couldn't go back to sleep," you whisper into his ear, pressing a kiss to the chilled skin of his neck and rubbing your hands up and down his back. "I tried reading one of your books, but got really bored after a few minutes."

He scoffs as if that's the most stupid thing you've ever said in your life. "Could've woken me up, so I could keep you company," he argues gently, and despite the lighthearted tone he's using, you know he's not joking. He would much rather be woken up than risk your health.

You shake your head against him, chuckling as he begins pulling you back to the bedroom, likely so you can both go back to sleep.

"And my books are, most definitely not boring."

[originalleftist]

Ran across a Deppie post on Reddit, claiming Amber Heard's Instagram account had followed JD Vance.

They were of course spinning wild conspiracy theories, claiming it was some plot by her to get to Musk, etc. The usual bullshit.

Still, the basic claim seemed easy enough to fact-check. I logged into Instagram, checked Heard's follow list, and... yup. Vice President Vance.

Well, that was disheartening, to say the least. If she turned out to be yet another white person who went full Nazi, it wouldn't change my opinion of the trial- even bad people have rights, and can be abused, and her OpEd flatly wasn't defamatory by any reasonable definition. But it would have forced me to lower my estimation of her as a person considerably, and stop supporting her work.

Still, it seemed odd- Despite her past relationship with Musk (before he became openly fascist), her politics has been mostly Left-leaning for years, particularly on feminism and LGBTQ rights as well as voting rights. Vance seemed an out-character choice for her to follow.

And then it occurred to me.

A few weeks back I saw a post reminding people to unfollow the official POTUS, VP accounts, etc, because those accounts changed hands after the election. I checked my Facebook, and sure enough, I was unwittingly following the Orange Felon.

Heard followed Vice President Harris on Instagram. It got some mean-spirited media coverage gossiping about Harris not following her back. Sure enough, the Harris account is gone from her follows list. So, assuming she was following the official VP account, it may simply be that Amber Heard hasn't updated her Instagram follows since before Inauguration Day (she posts about twice a year now).

Which feels like a weird thing to know about someone I've never met, but also kind of humanizing, for lack of a better word- the sort of simple mistake that any regular person could make (myself included).

Anyway, this is your reminder for the day that:

a) You should check your social media post-election to make sure you aren't accidentally following Nazis now.

b) Most of what people say about Amber Heard is probably bullshit.

c) It never hurts to dig a little deeper with your fact-checking before jumping to conclusions. I could have just read the Reddit post, or hell just checked her Instagram page, and impulsively denounced her as a turncoat and a Nazi. I probably would have, if it had been someone else I hadn't spent the last three years publicly supporting.

(It also is possible, of course, that she's suddenly decided to follow Vance (and no other notable MAGA figures) for whatever reason. Vance is the top of her follow list, which might suggest a recent follow, but I really don't know how that works if an account you were following before changed hands, and Instagram's algorithm for ranking follows is... obscure. Nor would I put it past Meta to tweak the algorithm to boost Regime accounts, given how hard they've been sucking the Regime's dick lately (try posting the Felon's mugshot to Facebook if you want to see this in action- every time I do, Facebook falsely labels it an AI-generated image.))

[thetrexartist]

OK that's it I'm making a post about this-

To all those who think the thirteenth doctor is not a good doctor i have some points I want to say to counter.

I'll get this out if the way first if any of yall try to put down Jodie- get the fuck off of my post and account. She did the best with what she got.

Moving on, the few episodes I see people talking about as proof of her being bad are the spydoc p2, kerblam, and Rosa parks episodes.

Now don't get me wrong I definitely see why people get upset at these episodes.

Let's start with the spydoc episode, the doctor left the master, who is a person of color with the Nazi's. HE WAS THE ONE TO SIDE WITH THEM IN THE FIRST POINT. some of yall are acting like this isn't the MASTER, out of anyone you should know he would have taken something like this into account.

He was literally playing with fire, even the doctor mentioned how he doesn't usually hang around that type of crowd. In her defense she was also in a actual time crunch as well. she does not under estimate the master and had to get things rolling.

Kerblam episode.

In this specific circumstance the system WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. Someone was actively ABUSEING THE SYSTEM. In that matter it honestly was not the problem, hell it was even the thing to send out and ask for help.

twelfth doctor was the doctor to point out how bad capitalism is: " that human progress is measured by the value placed on a life, especially an unimportant or unprivileged life". The system in question was reaching out for help because it valued the lives that were being killed in its warehouse.

Sure its a kick in the gut because the villain is a image of gen z. Especially with the job market for the younger generation. but truthfully i'm from this generation and? we are so fucking mean at sometimes.

I have seen my teachers quit their jobs because of us, we are human we are fallible. In that episode a younger person was abusing the system. It happens today as well.

Rosa Parks.

For a lot of people this is a sensitive episode/topic. So i wont go to far into detail as i'm not the absolute best person.

The doctor did not put down rosa parks, she was even in awe about Rosa. But the episode is literally about how someone was trying to change history. So they had to stage the exact circumstances that got Rosa parks arrested. its even shown to be emotional and honestly? i teared up at the scene because it hurts to watch someone be discriminated against. But it had to be done.

I thought about this while rewatching thin ice. The doctor punched that racist because the guy was unimportant in the long run. He was able to punch him- and rightfully so imo. But with Rosa the timeline was at stake, so the doctor couldn't do anything like that but was able to recognize how wrong everything that was going on was.

one things all of these have in common are the politics behind them for us. Is our real world system corrupt? Most definitely i will not say that it isn't as that is ignorant. We have a real problem with racism in our world that i hope will one day not be as big of a problem.

But isn't that what doctor who is about? Politics and showing sides to our society and making us ask questions. That's what makes doctor who one of the greatest shows personally.

Anyways, this is all rushed. But i just wanted to say my piece and please, if anyone sees this and wants to talk about it. even if you don't agree with me. reblog or reply, i want to see all sides. I'm getting really pissed at people who will not even attempt to see the other side, even if you share my views^

[lemonthepotato]

A Rant About YouTube Video Laziness That Somehow Devolved Into The Meaning Of Art & Also Umineko Is Mentioned A Lot For Some Reason

Oh my god. I am SO SICK of seeing YouTube videos CLEARLY scripted by AI. At LEAST try to hide it. At first, my first exposure was when someone called out a sims lore YouTuber for getting AI to assist them, which I didn’t pick up on. Was kinda a bummer but I moved on, because it’s just sims content- y’know? But then, I discovered this channel by an older woman (50’s, yes, am young adult) who was giving life lessons and the such, and it felt heartwarming at first, kinda comforting, like I was getting a chance to learn things and prepare for them (the plague of the 20’s overpreppers; join the club. I’m forming one. We will definitely ace this totally real test.) but then I began getting suspicious.

In one video, she straight up made allusions to people who use AI to generate YT videos and how that was bad. Okay. A bit suspicious. Then, she did it again. Was she chatting with chatGPT and then got her own ethical qualms? Lol. It’s really disheartening to see someone be self-aware of the dishonesty they’re showing, but continue on with it. I mean, sure, no one’s fully honest, and formerly, it was just a sims channel- but when you’re giving coaching and ‘life lessons’ to people you should at least be transparent on if you’re using AI assistance.

Anyway, I dropped that channel from my playlists and moved on. Then, I got recommended a few videos. I quickly realised so many of them were AI. Tell-tale signs, the beloved emdash and bullet point lists telling you exactly what is in it (why would I watch the video if I can just read the description? Lol), etc. My breaking point was today, when I got a “why most writers quit” video in my rec, about how it’s due to a lack of belief in the value of their writing (…not relatable at all /j), clicked it,

IT WAS FUCKING AI AGAIN.

Yeah, what a way to make writers feel valued- telling us we’re worthy through chatGPT. Tip? You know if people wanted chatGPT to glaze them, they’d just use chatGPT, right? These people seem incapable of understanding ART, that it’s PEOPLE we want to hear. Maybe even little Fido if he learns to speak and become a… idk, gourmet YouTuber…

Like, okay, running video ideas past chatGPT is one thing, but using it to make entire videos?? I don’t get people who BECOME artists SOLELY for money. Like, not just monetising it, but as a primary, starting force. There has to be easier ways. Like, I don’t get it. Ironically, I’m asking chatGPT “Why do people get into art just for money?” Okay, some understandable reasons but then there’s “perceived ease of making money.” Again, good luck with that. It’s not that easy. Less than 1% make enough money to thrive on on YT, it’s estimated that 90% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies, and many sell less than 10. While I haven’t done digital art in quite a few years, (even despite a random commenter commenting on my old art from 2018 and asking if I still did art giving me some fleeting motivation), google says what I suspect: it’s not easy to make money from commissions at all. And I know from experience art takes a LONG time.

Anyway, my point is that if you’re using chatGPT for your video scripts, books or (ai in general) for art pieces, why? I’ve heard many arguments at this point, all the classics and more, but one I find absurd is “I just use it to assist me! Why do you draw the line at ChatGPT but not Grammarly?” Because Grammarly (which, iirc, has a pro-AI book stance now. Hence why I don’t use it anymore.) is for checking typos and strange wording. We could do the whole Ship Of Theseus at-what-point-is-it-AI-or-you thing, but, look, the point is that writing isn’t easy. I don’t think anyone expects it to be easy, but that’s part of the joy in it. If writing is so debilitating to the point where you don’t even want to do it yourself… don’t do it. Or, if you do, at least fucking be HONEST. “Hey, I made this book with AI.” My problem with so many AI books/art/YouTube videos is the DISHONESTY. If someone said they used AI, I’d be like, “oh, okay, not for me, thanks, bye,” and click off or stop reading/following that artist. And these people KNOW that, so that’s why they lie. But that’s the thing!! People click off BECAUSE we want YOUR perspective, not ChatGPT’s. YOUR writing, YOUR art, YOUR YouTube videos. We want YOU.

It’s sad that people can’t believe in themselves. I mean, even I struggle to, but every writer, artist or YouTuber struggles, even the successful ones! That’s what you HAVE to remember. There are so many writers, artists and YouTubers who have disabilities or mental illnesses and push through. Heck, maybe they don’t. Maybe they have a strong support network or are just lucky and more inclined towards independence/not needing to prove themselves (both usually go together). And if you don’t have those things, of course it’ll be difficult, but that’s why it’s important to HAVE a strong support network. And if writing/art/being a YouTuber is genuinely, again, so debilitating for you that you don’t even want to do it yourself, why are you doing it? To make something ‘pretty’ or aesthetic? I mean, sure, but at least be transparent. Personally, I’m still inclined to cringe at AI writing or art when I spot it- as a lot of people are- but we can appreciate honesty. Sure, some people take it too far with harassment, and that’s not okay, but I’d like to think most people wouldn’t take it that far. Art isn’t just about beauty or aesthetics. That’s one reason, a surface reason why people enjoy it, but did my deep love of Higurashi growing up, and deep love of Umineko in my teens come from “oh, cool, crazy (/pos) girls!” and “no way, cool witch woman!” Well, yes, partially. But I STAYED because of the deeper themes that resonated with me. Being a lonely kid, Higurashi, and, ironically, My Little Pony, were things I loved because of the themes of friendship & community and trust- things I lacked. And, Umineko is an interesting case because when I finished it in 2022, it was around the time my dog got a cancer diagnosis. In fact, I think I finished it the day after she died.

At the time, when I finished Umineko, I teared up. No piece of media had made me feel that way in years. I didn’t understand quite why. I didn’t even understand the message, but I knew I would. Erika was my favourite character, and she still is, but I also understood the bad ending, in my mind, to be the good one, even when I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel that way. ‘Why?’ I thought. ‘Why do I not get the point?’ And it’s because I lacked love and trust- in myself, others, in the characters. Of course, the characters of Umineko are fictional, and it’s a mystery story- one that plays homage to the genre and the works of Agatha Christie specifically- but Ryukishi07 plays with the genre conventions in interesting ways, including dissecting the genre itself & even the nature of truth. I didn’t understand this until, due to medication mix-ups and high restriction, I had a deep existential spiral that lasted weeks.

It was not pretty. I experienced “ego death,” or at least came close, at some point. I was anxious, afraid, going in circles asking myself what the meaning of anything was, what truth meant, if I was good or worthy, and by what basis? Can I prevent all suffering, especially to animals? Can I not? Does that mean I simply… shouldn’t be? Would the world be better off- you can see where this went. I won’t speak further on this. It was not a good place to be. Remember: philosophy isn’t rumination, philosophy is dialogue. Art is dialogue. Mystery is a question.

The story of Umineko is the dialogue, a meta-analysis of mystery stories. The answer we get is not the typical one you’d expect- and some may say it’s not even an answer at all. Until you read the manga. But, well, that’s the thing. Ange’s truth about what happened on the island is her truth, even if we, as the reader, ‘know’ the truth, no one really ‘knows’ what happened on Rokkenjima. I won’t get into specifics for spoiler reasons, but I highly recommend Umineko. I’ve seen one negative critique of it recently, and I think it’s the type of story where you either resonate with it, or you don’t. At the time, there was a part of me that wanted to believe in people, but I couldn’t. Don’t get me wrong, Umineko did, arguably, take this message quite far. Whether it was justified is up to personal interpretation, and I do understand why Ryukishi07 did it, but, uh… Kinzo’s characterisation in ch8 (or was it 7?) still feels… off to me. Maybe it’s the lack of precedent lol, or the extent of his crimes, or a personal thing. Probably all three.

Anyway, I went on about fifty tangents & ended on Umineko. In fact, I’m pretty sure I never shut up about this series despite only reading it once in its entirety. God, I would love a friend to force-read this story to, but, surprisingly, people aren’t really interested when I tell them “it’s 100 hours, yes, but trust me, it’s totally worth it, man.” I guess, if you want to get into Higurashi or Umineko, start with the manga versions of either. There are also anime and other media- even novelisations? I didn’t know Higurashi had a novelisation until recently, but I think it’s in Japanese and idk about translations.

Personally, I got into Higurashi way back in the day through the anime clips I saw and then the anime. I had to watch YouTube reactors and ignore their commentary though as it was so hard to find the anime, and I wasn’t going to buy a DVD (…though, I do sometimes yearn for those days… am I getting old?), so. Then, for Umineko, I saw the ch2(?) table scene with Rosa & Beatrice (you know the one lol), and looked up more. I learned the anime was frowned upon, so I just skipped to reading the VN. I actually ended up finishing Umineko’s VN before Higurashi, due to the Higurashi anime having a better rep, so despite being a Higurashi fan since 2018, I only finished the original arcs in 2023? And, I’ve been going through the bonus arcs since.

I want to re-read Kuradashi (again, please help.) & then I need to finish Outbreak, Kamikashimashi & Mehagashi, and then I think I’m done. I couldn’t find Niesagashi/Kokorokuzushi, Hashiwatashi/Nashikuzushi, Higurashi Radio (there are translations but they’re hard to navigate/incomplete), Matsuri Ura (only Omote), the drama CD’s (Murakuzushi, Kotoushi, Yumekawashi), and I don’t remember if I’ve read Kokoroiyashi-hen. Don’t think I could find it. Also didn’t play Jan or read the manga (Tsubamegaeshi, Kokorokuzushi), Teiryuujou (the manga. I LOVED the VN version though and recommend it to those who don’t want to invest in Higurashi entirely but want to dip their toes in… except, I think around the last 30 minutes is when it gets REALLY spoilery so maybe not?? Unless you’re totally fine with being spoiled on literally everything in the plot.), and, uh… Mawarimusubushi… yeah, couldn’t find that captivating story /j. I want to eventually read all the manga versions of every arc… even the daybreak one and the dreaded… batsukoishi. I’m a completionist (autistic). Yeah… reading the VN of Batsukoishi was the worst 30 minutes of my life. Btw, I know a lot of people dislike Meguri, but personally, I loved it over Sotsu until the ending. Don’t remember why. Anyway, most people aren’t reading this, and I’m rambling, but if there’s any else I hope I don’t forget them. Thank god for the Higurashi fandom wiki, just in case I need to consult it. I used Bess & Jedharend’s guides previously. Oh, also, I forgot I was watching a retrospective by someone called SnicketySlice 7 months ago? Whoops. Thanks for reminding me YouTube search bar. AND THANKS FOR REMINDING ME I SPENT 9 HOURS ON AVERAGE ON MY PHONE LAST WEEK, PHONE. Personally, I recommend the latter guide as I found it more comprehensive and wished I had used it sooner, but Bess’ guide is still pretty good and less overwhelming for beginners. So, take your pick lol. The wiki is also good.

As for Umineko, until consulting the wiki I honestly had no idea there was bonus content beyond Our Confession & Last Note Of The Golden Witch… and I don’t even remember if I read Our Confession.

Anyway, to get to the point, what drew me in, ultimately, was A) the aesthetics & surface-level “wtf” factors, yes. But also: the mystery, fleshed-out characters, themes, and, you know, the fact it’s a Ryukishi07 work. In fact, I find that some of the arcs I liked least were when they were by a different writer. Not that it’s inherently a bad thing to bring different writers onto a project, and not that Ryukishi’s writing is, you know, perfect, but there’s a certain style to every writer on Earth, informed by previous styles. Same for any art.

Art, YouTube, writing- all artists take inspiration. In a way, art is humanness (…unless, again, Fido learns how to paint and express himself) That’s why sometimes we look at art and think it’s hideous, but why we also look at art and think it’s beautiful. We have a love-hate relationship with ourselves, our humanity, us. Art is confusion, but not without purpose. ChatGPT does not have intent with its art. ChatGPT does not have a story to tell. It takes your story and adjusts it based on the criteria you give, but if you tell chatGPT to “improve” your story, you know what it’s going to do? Rely on cliches, overused tropes, popularity. And popularity isn’t inherently bad, but are you trying to be ‘just like every other writer,’ or are you trying to stand out?

It won’t make you stand out, but you won’t blend in, unless you go out of your way to disguise your writing, remove your style and leave only what chatGPT has to say, with fragments of your work in with it. Ask yourself, do you want chatGPT, or do you want your writing? Whatever you decide, ultimately, I hope you at least choose honesty. I also don’t think it’s fair to charge money for work made with chatGPT. People pay for a book because they believe you spent your time writing a story worthy of being told. But… you didn’t. Again, we can get into the nitty gritty, but I’m talking about getting AI to do the majority of the story. Even using it for ‘editing’ isn’t a great idea, because a major part of editing is developmental, where you go back and adjust the story to figure out if the story being conveyed is what best fits, and that’s something so subjective that I think… people just lose a bit of themselves, the more AI is involved. ChatGPT doesn’t know what story you want to tell. It knows what’s considered “objectively” good writing, AKA, what’s popular with people.

The discussion of “good” writing and “le popular = le bad” is a pretentious one, but ultimately, good writing is subjective and so is bad writing. And same with storytelling. You have to decide for yourself and your audience what scenes, characters & arcs work best for what you’re trying to intend & what your audience expects from you, and whether you want to subvert it or not. ChatGPT can only do so much. It takes time and mulling, yes, but it’s a cathartic part of the process, even if tedious sometimes. Again, if it’s not something you enjoy, then maybe short stories or serialisation is more your jam, or less traditional routes. Or maybe you’re burned out or at a low point. That doesn’t mean you should give the keys of the proverbial castle to our AI overlords, it means you need some rest. And that’s fine. As indie or self authors, taking breaks is perfectly normal. In fact, all authors take breaks. And if you just don’t like the process at all, maybe it’s just not for you. Maybe you want to share your work, without all the editing & perfection. But if perfection is what you’re aiming for, you’ll fall short every time. Trust me, I’ve tried.

Hey, some advice? If you call yourself a “good enough-“ist you’re probably a perfectionist in denial. Just saying. I know from experience lol. At least, I became one.

All this to say that I understand why it might be tempting to use AI for writing, or art, or YouTube, and I may have gone off topic… slightly… to Umineko and mainly writing. Sorry, personal experience. But as for art and YouTube, there are reasons for that, too. I’ve played Devil’s Advocate for AI art before, actually getting some pushback once, even though I wasn’t intending to defend it. It was a silly argument though, in retrospect, not because my logic was wrong, but because I was ignorant to one little fact.

You see, I made the fair use argument. That doesn’t apply. For writing? I would’ve said ‘maybe’ until I found out AI just spits out chunks of actual author’s writing. For art? No, not really. It does the same thing. I don’t know about videos, but even besides that, using art/writing/videos without people’s consent, while it may in some cases fall under “fair use,” is wrong, even if it’s not illegal, in my opinion, when it comes to just putting it into a machine. But here’s the thing: scrapers don’t ask permission. They just do. Because if they did?

“Hey, how do you feel about your hard work being put into a machine and spitting out something far quicker than you can?” It’s not jealousy. I mean, okay, yeah, sure, if I could pump out the perfect book each time, that would be… nice? But it would kill any dialogue.

I could go in circles, but ultimately, art is expression. Until AI becomes sentient, I don’t see how it can express beyond a fractured, fragmented (badum chh) version of your story. Even if you write something atrocious, something so bad that the worst writer of the world laughs at you, someone out there will like it. I actually googled “worst writer ever” out of curiosity, knowing its subjectivity.

Google told me ‘Amanda McKittrick Ros’ was… and she was an Irish writer, becoming Northern Irish later in her lifetime due to the formation of NI in 1921. Already feeling sympathy for her due to the relatability of being from a place I can’t even name without at least SOMEONE being offended no matter what I say, I investigated further. Amanda was strongly influenced by the works of Marie Corelli, who despite having her own controversies, was a best-selling author with a wide readership.

Amanda, from my deep (/s) research (a Wikipedia page), despite being critically panned (citation needed), still had her followers, including big names such as C.S Lewis & Mark Twain. Direct quote from a direct quote that has a citation that’s probably a quote, if I bothered to check, “Twain considered Irene "one of the greatest unintentionally humorous novels of all time.”

Again, Amanda was criticised. Probably didn’t help her case by calling her critics ‘lacking in sufficient intellect to appreciate her talent,’ but, does that mean she was a ‘bad writer?’

I actually found myself finding many things about Amanda rather interesting, and let’s just say I’m doing an ongoing investigation into if I actually ‘know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knew someone who might’ve potentially known someone who knew her.’ That kinda deal. But that’s besides the point. Was Amanda a bad writer? (Update; getting leads on this)

Her novel, Irene Iddesleigh, a romantic drama, was financed in 1897 as a gift. According to Wikipedia, “The plot centers around an adopted Canterbury noblewoman named Irene, her marriage to nobleman Sir John Dunfern, and her subsequent affair and elopement with her tutor. It has been widely considered one of the worst books of all time since its publication, and has been panned by critics for its excessive purple prose and poorly constructed plot.”

Skimming a few pages myself, but that I mean the short chapter 1, I found it hard to focus on the story. Not only were my expectations low, thanks to reputation, but I was too fascinated by it. How could something be considered so bad? What was so outrageous about the book? It made me want to read it, analyse it, understand why she thought it was so good and why everyone else seemed to dislike it so. And, honestly, that’s all I really need for now. Unless any fangirls or fanboys or fanpeople of this book want to defend its honour and explain why it’s actually a masterpiece to me, I’m not particularly drawn in… except, I am.

Due to its infamy, due to its ‘terrible’ reputation, at least from what I’ve heard of, I want to understand it. With AI, there is nothing to understand, really. I mean, I understand why the work exists. The AI was told to write a story. In a way, every piece of art reflects a piece of the author. Their experiences. Their past. Or maybe not even their ones, but their friends, the stories they hear by word of mouth and even then of those people, their past, and the past then, and the past. It’s a collection of our experiences. AI, sure, can churn out a collection of experiences, of works, but only what’s fed to it.

And, AI can’t truly be an amalgamation of every piece of writing in existence. Not only is that not feasible, but it would be problematic to do so without consent of as many parties as possible. Not that every art piece should reflect every experience ever, but the fact that art connects with people is what is so beautiful about it. For your art to connect with others, to communicate, to be understood and understand others in your and their art, your art has to reflect you, not AI.

I mean, it doesn’t “have to.” You don’t “have to” do anything, I guess. I mean, except maybe being a decent human, and some may argue that I’m not being a fair person by being so vehemently against AI writing. But… I’m not saying this because I hate AI writers. I’m saying this because it makes me, as a writer, feel undervalued. And sure, that’s vulnerable to admit, but vulnerability is a part of art, sometimes. And it’s not just my experience. It’s the experience of many people. I just don’t understand why people would continue to do this when it makes others feel so degraded. That, much like AI, feels inhuman, anti-human, even. Anti-self. If art is communication, why stifle that communication?

I’m not saying abandon editing, abandon feedback, I’m actually saying the opposite. Art is communication, going from your inside work to “what do you think of this?” to back. Of course, that doesn’t mean blindly going with what others want, either. Art is expression. Look, you get what I’m trying to say, I don’t need to repeat art is expression over and over, and this post is long enough.

You know, when I start tumblr drafts, I almost always write long posts and then delete them before posting wondering why I even bothered. It’s easy to feel that way about my writing, too. What’s the point? What makes me special? I’m just one of many writers who will never mean anything to anyone. I’m not special. But… I’m a person, a person who likes writing. That is what makes us writers. If you don’t… I just don’t get it.

But, anyway, I went from a quick “grrr, why YouTube AI slop!!!” post to a whole fucking thesis paper on AI writing, Umineko, IRELANDDDD and trying to uplift other writers and myself but probably failing. Oh well.

:) If you read this far, I hope you’re having a good day, even if we don’t agree on this subject. I just wish the world was a happier place for everyone. Sorry, been going through a rough patch, since, uh… since I was born.

Edit: This should be obvious but dnfi w this if you are one of these people who lie & deceive, I can see through it.

Edit 2: NO WAY. WE STAY WINNING.

[ceescedasticity]

Unforsaken, 11b

(All sections on tumblr)

(AO3, lagging behind but more polished)

As rattling as this development is, there isn't much they can do with it until the Geese condescend to approach them.

So: Wizard's Clay demonstration.

Celegorm has dug an impressively deep hole considering the limited time involved and his lack of proper tools.

Celeborn bites his tongue on a 'at the bottom of a hole, keeps digging' joke, only for Turgon to make the exact same joke. Celegorm throws a rock at him.

Gimli and Dyn direct the others in placing the Wizard's Clay carefully in the hole and laying fuses back up out of it. Legolas directs the others in stopping up their ears.

…The elves can get by with ósanwë, but they'll probably want to come up with some hand signals.

The ensuing explosion is loud and moderately impressive, but would be more impressive in rock.

Estimated sticks of Wizard's Clay left behind to threaten the peace of Middle-earth (counting the 25 left in Emyn Arnen): 5574

They repeat a few times, so everyone can get a chance handling the fuses, and Dyn demonstrates joining fuses for multiple emplacements.

"Although these are so close they'd set each other off anyway."

Estimated sticks of Wizard's Clay left behind to threaten the peace of Middle-earth (counting the 25 left in Emyn Arnen): 5560

Elrohir asks about the possibility of lighting a fuse from farther away with fire-arrows? Okay, good idea; more Wizard's Clay, more fuses — shorter this time, though they back up even farther.

The first attempt severs the fuse rather than lighting it. The second one lights the fuse, but also a small grassfire. (Fortunately the grass is green and the fire easily extinguished, even though they have to wait until after the explosion to rush forward and deal with it.) The experiment is tentatively declared a success.

Estimated sticks of Wizard's Clay left behind to threaten the peace of Middle-earth (counting the 25 left in Emyn Arnen): 5552

Gimli hopes they come across some exposed rock so he can run everyone through boring holes to place the explosives.

Risyind asks how concerned they should be about the warden coming out and attacking them as soon as they start boring holes in its house.

No one is sure. However, Glorfindel is of the opinion that if there's an umaia in there and it didn't make an appearance at any point in the Second or Third Ages when Sauron needed backup, there's probably a reason for that — maybe it can't leave without breaking something.

"Or it just didn't like Sauron," Elladan suggests.

Celeborn is of the opinion that per their palantír viewing the physical outside of the the Crucible has been weathered, so it can be weathered, so crude physical impacts short of explosives should hopefully pass as more weathering. At least assuming there aren't any windows.

The orcs agree there are definitely no windows.

****

The Geese continue to hang back.

"Do you think they're planning to fight as swans?" Elrohir asks, as they try to catch a glimpse of their great-uncles.

"…Maybe?"

Neither of them has been attacked by a swan — as with geese, it's about respecting them — but they have witnessed a few unfortunate incidents among the Dúnedain.

A large swan could probably inflict some moderate-to-serious bludgeoning damage? Which doesn't sound like the right thing to fight an umaia, but then, they've never heard anything about umaia in general being immune to blunt force, they're just… presumably durable.

"I mean, it's likely any battle with an umaia wouldn't be entirely physical, anyway…"

"Would they know how to do that instinctively?"

(Elladan and Elrohir definitely don't.)

*****

After being quieter than usual for most of a morning, Maglor guides his horse to walk beside the wagon Turgon is driving and says, grimly, "I need you to tell me more details."

"Meaning…?"

"If I'm supposed to sing to free orcs or fight an orc-warden, I need more to build on than what I know now. Tell me about Bellow, tell me about Squint — tell me about Goblin-town."

Turgon can see how that would make sense. "I can, but — when you say details—"

"None of the editing I'm sure you're doing for Glorfindel," Maglor says. "All the awful things you want to leave out to spare me."

"Maglor—"

"If I can't handle it from you, I won't be able to handle it from Celegorm, and I need to do that, so I will handle it."

Honestly Turgon would just as soon leave some things out to spare himself, but when Maglor puts it that way… "Fine. But we have to make sure Glorfindel and the kids don't hear it."

(By "kids" he means everyone born in the Third Age. Maglor considers pointing out that Elladan, Elrohir, Khitwê, and Risyind are all older than Turgon was when he died in Gondolin. Then he feels sick at the thought that Turgon and Celegorm and Curufin have all spent so much longer trapped as orcs than they got to live—)

The discussion takes up the entire rest of the day and into the night, and leaves them both rattled.

Everyone else courteously does not listen, but there is a lot of intense staring.

The next day Maglor talks to Sharlinnu.

*****

(An incomplete list of things Turgon has been editing out when speaking to Glorfindel:

Squint's suicides when he remembers the truth.

Bellow's suicides-by-orcs-or-whatever's-handy.

The cannibalism. Bellow discouraged it in Goblin-town and it was rarely anyone's first choice, but it was unavoidable in the armies — and orclings get fed dead orclings before they're old enough to make their own choices.

(The opinion that as long as you're scavenging a battlefield and they're all already dead anyway, Men are more nutritious than orcs, so.)

Knowing your body is not your own. Starting out in a shape like an elven child and growing those bone spurs and permanent bruises and painful scars.

Knowing your mind is not your own. The burn of the Shadow's influence in your mind, subtle until it isn't, calling you to serve, calling you to kill, calling you to hate, seeking to consume every other thought or feeling…

The ugly mockery of desire that summons orcs to multiplication duties. There's no pleasure. It's just an unpleasant itch. The horror of facing it with your memory intact — and how the horror fades away, because at least it doesn't make you feel anything.

That he's almost as sad about the fall of Goblin-town as he is for the fall of Gondolin. Possibly more so at this point, actually, because even if Gondolin hadn't fallen to Morgoth it would have fallen literally with the rest of Beleriand, and there have been and are many other perfectly acceptable large elven communities. Goblin-town was one-of-a-kind.

Just not caring anymore, sometimes.

Talking to Celegorm is going to be a challenge.)

[1moreff-creator]

Hey, it’s me again. As I’m finishing up the script for the LGI analysis video I’m working on (which I’ve been writing as I edit), I’ve come to a point where I have to make a decision. And I want Tumblr’s input, since a lot of you are way more passionate about this stuff than I am.

The issue is, what should I do with tally 5?

Because obviously I have to talk about it, but I don’t know how far I should go. There are two things I’m sure of. I won’t put the image in the video, if nothing else so no one gets spoiled by hovering over the runtime bar, and I’ll give hints so anyone who wants to try to figure it out themselves can try.

After that comes the big question: after giving the hints, and after giving people a moment to pause and go try to figure out the code themselves, should I just say the solution? As in, just tell people how to do it step by step, and show the final string of characters you get when doing that?

Now, I’m aware the creators didn’t want us leaking the image or the code, but here’s the thing. If someone really doesn’t want to or can’t decipher the code themselves, they’re just going to look up the image, which has already been leaked in a few places. If I explain the solution in the video, at least they’ll know how we got the answer we got, instead of just pasting a code on the website or seeing the image without the reasoning.

And the people on Youtube, from what I’ve seen, generally aren’t as… obsessive, as the people on Tumblr. The most recent comments on the LGI MV video are still talking about extremely elementary stuff, and youtuber Ocean Unknown (who I love and whose videos I definitely recommend) recently claimed the “correct/incorrect” code hadn’t even been solved yet, to give you an idea of the disconnect. Most of the people there either don’t want to or don’t have the time to figure out the code.

And my video is meant to be for everyone, even the people who have remained completely separated from this kind of speculation.

Again, I will give hints first, and I will encourage people to figure out the puzzle themselves. But realistically, not everyone will. So I feel it’s better to at least explain the solution, instead of having them go and find the image with no further context.

It’s also important to keep in mind, the video won’t be out for a while. I can’t give an estimate on how long it’s gonna take, but at the very earliest it would be released at the middle/end of September, more likely around October. I’ve never been part of this type of ARG-adjacent stuff, but usually people, like, stop being secretive about this stuff at some point, right? Again, don’t know how it works, or what the time frame is to go from “don’t leak the solution” to “talk openly about the solution” usually is, so please correct me if I’m wrong.

So yeah, I’m indecisive. Just because other people leaked the code, doesn’t mean I get free reign to do it. I personally feel it’s a good compromise to give hints, encourage looking for the solution, then and only then give the reasoning for the answer, but again, I don’t feel qualified to make the final call, since I wasn’t as passionate about the code back when everyone was still trying to figure it out.

The other option is to not give the answer at all, only give the hints. And that comes with the other question: should I even talk about the image? If I give the answer, obviously yes, but even if I don’t, I feel like I still would have to talk about the image. I’ve already talked about it in other posts. But that sort of makes the whole “hiding the answer” sort of redundant, if I then just talk about it.

So I’m leaving it up for a poll. Here’s how it’s gonna work.

•Option 1 is to only give hints, don’t give the solution, and don’t even talk about the image.

•Option 2 is to give hints, but not the solution, yet still talk about the image.

•Option 3 is to first give hints, then explain the solution, then talk about the image. For this one to win, it needs to get over 50% of the vote. So I’ll only talk about the solution if most people want me to, and if they don’t, then I’ll decide what to do based on the percentages of the first two options.

So, uh, here’s the poll. Take care!

[rav-inked]

They say teaching is the best way to make sure you’ve fully understood the material so let’s learn about perspective in drawing! Specifically, the horizon line, cone of vision, and a brief description of the different types of perspective.

I may do more in depth posts about the different types of perspective later, as well as tips and tricks to elevate your use of it (cast shadows, elevations, creating a perfect square, etc.). If you’re curious about these thing before I get around to them, I would recommend the Perspective Drawing Handbook by Joseph D’Amelio, who I will reference periodically.

Without further ado~

Some definitions first:

Horizon line: the imaginary line where your vanishing point sits in one- and two-point perspective. Can also be referred to as eye level. Knowing where this line hits is important for both composition and scale.

Cone of vision: literally, the conical view the human eye has from the center of our vision to the periphery. Hold both arms out straight in front of you at shoulder level. Choose a central point to focus on as you slowly move your arms to your left/right, one arm at a time. Take notice of when your arm reaches the edge of your peripheral vision. D’Amelio estimates the range to fall between 45°-60° for most people, which matches the outer limits of my range. Why is this important? Because it helps us to determine where to place the frame of our drawing based on the central point.

One point perspective: perspective where there is only one vanishing point. My hot take? I don’t think this should be anyone’s go to choice for most compositions. This goes back to my comment about intent on my warm-up post. A lot of people use one-point perspective as a crutch of sorts, so that they don’t have to learn the more complex rules of two-point. Others use it because it matches their more cartoony art style, which I don’t take issue with. If you’re working in any style based in realism, I would save one-point perspective for compositions where you have a strong central point and your goal is to continually redirect the eye to it. It is also useful when it comes to casting shadows and turning objects in space.

Two point perspective: Perspective where there are two vanishing points on the horizon line. This type of perspective generally feels more grounded in reality as it more closely resembles what we see in life. The horizon line is typically parallel to the frame, though it doesn’t have to be. I prefer to set up my vanishing points with one point inside my field of vision and one outside, which has to do with the angle of the cone of vision. When setting my horizon line in two-point perspective, I try not to go lower than 3 feet off the ground or higher than 30 feet (approximately the peak of the roof of a 2 story house). While it’s not a hard and fast rule, instinct tells me that any higher or lower than that will necessitate slightly warped perspective. Which leads us to~

Three point perspective: Perspective where there are two vanishing points on the horizon line, and another above or below the horizon line between the two points. If the third vanishing point is placed below the horizon line, you have something called a birds eye view. If you place it above the horizon line, you have a worms eye view. Where you place the third point is somewhat subjective and will largely be impacted by whether you want the focus to be in the foreground or background.

Five point perspective: equidistant from a center point, place a point at the left, right, top and bottom. I feel the name is a slight misnomer and that it’s more helpful to think of it as a gridded sphere that you’re carving into to create shapes and depth. While it is very cool as a visual, it’s rarely used. Successful application can give a fish eye lens effect where the edges are heavily distorted. I don’t have enough experience with the technique to give advice beyond the basic set up. For examples, please reference MC Escher’s Hand with Reflection and Posuka Demizu’s illustrations.

[charlenasaxen]

Ghosts of the Shadow Market Quotes

“Alec Lightwood was napping because he and his parabatai had been out fighting Croucher demons all last night, and Jace Herondale, famed among the Nephilim as a master strategist, apparently thought “about a dozen demons” was a fair estimate for “definitely thirty-seven demons.” Alec had gone around counting them out of spite.”

“Meow,” Chairman Meow protested”

“Don’t interrupt me when I’m promising you dark demonic delights”

“Uncle Jace says we will kill all the demins,” he reported with joy”

“have you considered that your uncle Jace is a hurtful person?” said the demon. “Always rudely stabbing everyone, and sarcastic.”

“Max scowled. “Love Uncle Jace. Hate demins.”

“Alec always got the same enthusiastic greeting, whether he was back from a trip, back from patrolling, or had simply been in the other room for five minutes”

“Alec used to marvel at how neatly his little body fit into the crook of Alec’s arm. He’d scarcely been able to imagine Max getting bigger.”

“chipped in Elyaas the tentacle demon. “I don’t have much luck with romance. Everyone I meet is treacherous and heartless.”

“Unfortunately, Alec wasn’t great at languages. He was able to read them, but when he was talking he found words difficult”

“Magnus had forestalled the question by yelling, “Not getting a baby, going to Sephora. There are no babies at Sephora!”

“the mundane mother thought it was a rogue gust of wind rather than Alec’s little rogue”

“Alec blamed Max’s attitude on his aunt Isabelle, who kept telling him his bedtime was never.

They were saved by Jace’s signal”

“Max proposed. “I be a Shadowhunter.”

Max said that a lot too, for which Alec blamed Max’s uncle Jace.”

“he tried to say them whenever he was going on a mission. Just in case they were the last words.

Jace was waiting for him on the sidewalk”

“Alec assumed Max wanted to get a glimpse of his magnificent uncle Jace”

“He wanted to come patrolling.”

Jace’s face softened. “My good boy! He should—”

“nobody will let you have your own kid until you stop putting other people’s kids in bags meant for axes and trying to smuggle them out on patrol.”

“Jace reluctantly. “I guess three other fighters are an acceptable substitute for me.”

“the Clave would look at her with those disappointed blue eyes. Your eyes are very blue.”

“Alec averted his eyes and headed for the parlor, Jace falling in behind him.”

“Alec subjected him to a judgmental stare. “So this disaster could have happened to anyone with a regular selkie booty call.”

“One of them found the other’s sealskin in my wardrobe. There was a scene. You know how it is with selkies.”

“When someone dies, it takes us a while to process. You think to yourself: I wonder when I’ll see him again. Then you remember”

“You have to keep reminding yourself, until you believe it: I’ll never see him again.”

“Hey, Mr. Head of the Institute, you’re a leader! How about it? I make you a vampire, you help lead the clan, you stay gorgeous forever.”

“That would be a gift to future generations,” Jace remarked thoughtfully. “But no.”

“they were delighted to be told off. Raphael Santiago had really left a mark on these people.”

“rushing to the aid of gorgeous damsel-in-distress Jem I’d-love-to-climb-’em Carstairs?”

“This was the only room in the Hotel Dumort Lily hadn’t redecorated. She was sleeping in Raphael’s room again.”

“Elliott wailed. “Please be a vampire and lead us, Jace! Please!”

“I used to walk in here and have to fight for my life as the place fell down around me,” Jace mused. “Now it’s all velvet cushions and insistent offers of immortal beauty.”

“Lily brightened. “I’m very curious to see how the hottest Shadowhunter in the world is doing.”

“I’m great,” said Jace.”

“Jace didn’t just pull the pigtails of people he had crushes on. He pulled the pigtails of everyone in the world he liked.”

“There are a lot of hot Shadowhunters,” said Elliott. “That’s the point of them, isn’t it?”

“No,” said Alec.”

“I don’t mean to brag. I’m just saying that if they made a book of hot Shadowhunters, my illustration would be on every page,” Jace said serenely”

“Sometimes I write postscripts to Clary’s letters and tell Emma handy knife tricks. Emma’s very good.”

“Bless the Come-and-Stare family. They never fail me.”

“I’m off to admire the views in Buenos Aires.”

“Jem is married, you know,” said Alec.”

“Every day, he felt the same urge he’d felt on his first mission, when he saw Jace and Isabelle charge into a fight. Protect them”

“Finally, there might be rest. He might see his parabatai again.”

“Her voice, no longer soft, made the walls ring with his name”

“he was squinting at them suspiciously.

“Um,” said Alec. “Bonjour? Wait, that’s French.”

“I can speak English,” the guard told Alec hastily”

“I won’t stay here. To hell with this place. I’m going with you.”

“You fought demons on the Orient Express?” Lily asked with interest.

“I fight demons in lots of places,” said Alec. “It was all very normal.”

“Then Alec took out every demon he saw. He was soaking wet, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt.”

Alec didn’t see how that was relevant.”

“My Rosey and I have been together ever since.”

“Rose flushed green.

“Maman. Do not embarrass me in front of Alec Lightwood!”

“She’d been about the same age as his baby brother, whom Max was named for. Unlike his brother, she had lived to be older.”

“the constant worry of the oldest in the family, the knowledge that you were responsible for the younger ones”

“Will you help me? One more time?”

“As many times as you need me”

“I heard the man was handsome.”

“Boy, did you hear right,” said Lily.

Juliette’s smile spread. “There really are some very handsome Nephilim around.”

“We can’t be all business all the time,” said Lily, who was seldom all business for five minutes”

“So no other crushes besides Jace? Even a teeny tiny one?”

“Every cell in his body sparked with shock. “Is this boy a Shadowhunter?”

“Rafael bolted backward with the speed of a wild animal. He gave Alec a filthy look, as if he might bite if Alec tried that again.”

“children were paying the price”

“that child hates everybody,” said the faerie cobbler. “Watch out. He bites.”

“You’re telling him not to worry in German,” Lily reported gleefully”

“he lifted both his arms in a commanding gesture. Alec was so used to that gesture from Max that he moved without even thinking and scooped Rafael up”

“Rafael was much too thin. Alec could feel the knobbly bones of his back. Rafael held himself very stiffly”

“It was like holding a small statue, if you felt desperately sorry for the statue and unsure what to do”

“that’s all right. I’m glad you’re coming with us. You’re safe now. I have you.”

“Against barbed wire and starlight they saw a tall man, his black head bowed and his tender blue eyes fixed on the child in his arms. Will, thought Jem, and grasped Tessa’s hand tight.”

“If it isn’t the former Brother Snackariah.”

“Raphael’s Lily,” she said. “How nice to see you. Forgive me, I feel like I know you better than I do. He talked about you often.”

“elbow propped on Alec’s knee, to be near the child”

“It’s good that you’re helping us, but it’s very bad to steal wallets generally. Don’t do it again.”

“his tone suggested that he wasn’t planning to understand Alec on this topic anytime soon”

“Whoever their enemies are, they are mine, too.”

Because the Carstairs owe the Herondales.”

“Rafael turned his face into Alec’s bicep and screamed. Alec automatically put his arm around the child.”

“I appreciate this,” said Jem. “I truly do. Please don’t tell Jace yet.”

Jem still thought about Jace, that fierce helpless child he’d met on a dark sea”

“the young man burning with heavenly fire. He’d imagined a hundred scenarios where he did better by Jace.”

“Jace was happy in New York, though Jem had not helped him be so. He had his love and his parabatai and his Institute.”

“Jem had seen how Jace looked at Maryse Lightwood. Maryse was Jace’s mother.”

“Entreat me not to leave thee, idiot,” Jem had said, and Will had put his head down on Jem’s shoulder”

“You have a parabatai. Once, so did I. Can you imagine fighting without him?”

“felt her grin against his mouth. “Brother Snackariah,” she murmured. “Come here.”

“The smile, slow and warm and sweet, altered his whole face.

Alec’s hand dropped. Rafael turned a suddenly bright countenance up”

“only knew that he knew because he was sweet to me for a few nights. In his way.”

“They all died, except one. He always did what he set out to do. He killed the monster. He was my Raphael.”

“as he went he said, ‘Sleep, Lily. I’ll watch the doors.’ I never slept peacefully before then.”

“He never wavered, no matter what anyone else did. I thought he’d be there forever. Then he was taken.”

“Just until Raphael came back. Only Raphael never came back.”

“The night we knew he was gone, and every night since, I watch my vampires in the home he guarded. I watch the mundanes in the streets he loved.”

“Sleep, Lily,” Alec said gently. “I’ll watch the doors.”

“He’d had all sorts of plans to teach his little brother, when he got older, but his baby brother hadn’t lived to be older”

“Magnus, Jace, and Isabelle went to dance, the brightest points in the crowd”

“This is fine,” Clary told him, nodding bravely.

“This is terrible,” said Alec. “Let’s go for tacos.”

“His eyes traveled from Clary’s guilty face to Alec’s.

“You went for tacos again?” Simon lamented.

Alec grinned. “They were great.”

“Alec’s friends were gathered all around him, and his family, and it was one of those moments when he remembered the desperate loneliness of when he was younger”

“felt a small incredulous starburst of happiness in his chest: that he could have all this.”

“Tacos again next time?” Alec had whispered as they left, and Clary nodded”

“That was how Alec had come to love her, after resenting her so much at first”

“She hadn’t failed him now. She’d sent a picture saying WE HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED BY THE DREAD PIRATE MAX!”

“corrected, in his small stern voice: “Rafe.”

“cautiously forward, snatched the candy, and retreated behind Alec’s legs”

“We have to trust people, right? Like you were saying. Not just people we love. We have to believe in people”

“there are times I think about—a place that could be home. My parabatai. A child.”

“Magnus might see something good that reminded him of Alec, some way that the world was changed because Alec had lived”

“he could imagine, in some faraway future, the face he loved best”

“What are you looking at, you delicious peanut-butter-and-Jem sandwich?”

Tessa snorted behind Jem.

“I’ve got more names,” Lily told her, encouraged.”

“Rafe clung to Alec’s shirt and glared jealously around”

“Your voice is the music I love best in all the world.”

“You see,” Alec muttered darkly to Lily.

“We do love an eloquent babe”

“They found a solitary campfire, with no children to hear a dark tale save Rafael, solemn faced and silent in the protective curve of Alec’s arm.”

“from that day to this day, the light of her eyes was the only light I wished for”

“The King was murderously angry, and the Queen was terrified, and all the shades and shadows and rushing waters in my land seemed to threaten the girl that I loved”

“He had all the worst eyes of Faerie looking for her. I kept watch for her myself, and love made my eyes the sharpest.”

“Matthew Fairchild had been parabatai to Tessa’s son, James Herondale”

“A faerie can choose the season of their own death. I knew how it would be, when I first beheld them together. I saw her death in his laughing eyes.”

“When Roland Herondale died, she laid down her golden head on the pillow next to her mortal love and never rose again. Their child wept for them both and threw flowers on their grave.”

“I hated Roland from the day he took her from me. I hate all Nephilim for her sake, and the Herondales most of their kind.”

“Of course Tessa’s fine,” said Lily. “You do realize she gets to go to the Jem-nasium anytime she wants?”

“with Jace it was different. Jace, his parabatai, the first person who’d ever chosen him.”

“Alec took a deep breath and tapped out MISS U into his phone.

He immediately received back MISS U TOO”

“Jace was there, waiting for him in New York with the rest of his family”

“R U IN SOME KIND OF TROUBLE?

DID U GET HIT IN UR HEAD!

Then he got a text from Clary.

WHY DID JACE GET A TEXT FROM YOU AND LOOK VERY PLEASED BUT THEN SUDDENLY VERY WORRIED?”

“Rafe certainly understood the gesture of Alec offering his phone. He held out his hands eagerly.

“You’re a good kid, Rafe,” said Alec. “Take that phone away.”

“Alec blinked at her. “No, we’re not. What laundry carts? I’m a straightforward person. I’m going to knock on the door.”

“I see! I’ve heard of you.” He winked. “Fond of warlocks, aren’t you?”

“Too late, he saw the blade in Clive Breakspear’s free hand, aimed for his heart.

Rafael barreled out of the shadows and sank his teeth deep into Breakspear’s wrist.”

“Alec stepped over the flames and seized him by the throat, then lifted him like a doll and smashed the warlock’s skull against Breakspear’s forehead”

“Alec pulled Rafe into his arms, feeling his throat close up”

“Alec took an axe with an electrum head from his belt and struck open the lock”

“Tessa was doing her best to clear a way for them, but Rafael needed Tessa’s help too”

“The man who’d shouted for his leader hit Joaquín across the mouth”

“The doors of the burning house burst open. The Queen of the Shadow Market stood outlined against the smoke.

“Get to Alec!” Juliette shouted”

“Maybe take them alive!” said Alec. “Not that guy, obviously.”

“Bien,” said Juliette. “Show me who to kill. I mean . . . take alive if possible.”

“Lily stumbled for the door under her heavy burden, sobbing”

“The smoke had turned the whole world into a gray hell. He couldn’t see or breathe.”

“you—you have a lot to go back to.”

“he could see them with absolute clarity. But he knew he had to be worthy of going back to them.”

“you can still call yourself a Shadowhunter. But will you be one?”

“It poisoned an unborn child. Does that amuse you?”

The faerie’s mouth went slack.

“That child died, because of you”

“merciless. “It’s too late to save the ones we lost. But this child is not lost yet.”

“asked, in clipped Spanish, “Where is he?”

“He’s in there”

“some different, deeply nervous-looking Shadowhunters tentatively assisting or trying to put out the flames”

“She stared at the house with her arms crossed and her eyes dark with tears”

“Then he dropped to his knees in front of Rafe.

“Hey, my baby,” said Alec. “Are you all right?”

“anyone could have understood the message of Alec on his knees in the rubble, the love and concern”

“Rafael nodded, dust drifting from his curly hair, and walked into Alec’s open arms. Alec folded the little boy against his chest.”

“Alec rose and patted her awkwardly on the back, Rafe held in the circle of his other arm”

“I can’t understand you, fool,” he said sweetly in Spanish, and tucked his head down under Alec’s chin, his arms going around Alec’s neck.”

“a change in his demeanor, his shoulders going back, his face stern. If it weren’t for the child in his arms, he might have been fearsome.

Alec Lightwood, leader of the Alliance, said, “First, I want a word.”

“I mean, your speech is good too, very stern, it makes me want to do everything you say”

“People were always trying to make him head of Institutes, and it made Alec tired”

“I’ll see what is happening. I want to believe in my fellow Shadowhunters. Don’t let me down.”

“he seemed to notice the lack of anyone else with the kids. “Has it been very difficult, ruling the Shadow Market as a single mother?” he asked with sudden transparent hope.”

“Joaquín was already heading toward the kids, on an obvious mission to endear himself to them. Alec hoped he had a lot of candies.”

“endearing of himself seemed to be going very well”

“I think you’ll find all the words you need, Alec,” said Jem.

“Thanks, that’s very helpful.”

“If there was a Herondale in danger, they could not ask for better protection than Jem and Tessa”

“Bye, Jem,” said Lily.

“Oh, no nickname?” Jem sounded pleased. “Bye, Lily”

“Do you like me?” he asked.

Rafe beamed and shook his head, then secured his arms more tightly around Alec’s neck.”

“that you understand,” Alec grumbled. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

“that he might feel better if he could live among the glass towers of Alicante. He hadn’t known home was across the city, waiting for him.”

“He wasn’t scared. He knew that voice.

“Alec,” said Robert Lightwood. “We need to talk.”

“Lily,” said Robert. “I know you know me.”

“Never gonna, don’t wanna.”

“All your other vampires like me,” muttered Robert.

Alec blinked. “My other vampires?”

“He says he feels in need of Lightwood guidance. I visited the Hotel Dumort while you were away, and the vampires had a little dinner just for me”

“I don’t think Jace wants to be Inquisitor, Dad.”

“Alec,” said Robert. “I’m not talking to Jace. I’m talking to you.”

“Do you want it for yourself?”

Alec thought of the power to change the Law from a sword that hurt people into a shield to defend them.”

“Robert blinked. “Your what?”

“Oh, by the Angel,” said Alec. “Please don’t ask me any questions! I have to go!”

“When I had dinner with you three a few weeks ago? I don’t remember the last time I had such a happy day.”

“Sorry if I caused you a lot of paperwork tonight.”

“You saved lives tonight, Alec,” said Robert.

He took an awkward step toward Alec, and his hand lifted”

“He looked into Alec’s face, and his eyes were so sad.

“You’re a good man, Alec,” he said at last. “You’re a better man than I am.”

“he reached out and pulled his father into an awkward hug”

“there’s that smile,” said Lily. “It’s been two days, and I missed it.”

“Alec opened the door and stepped inside his apartment at last. His coffee machine was on the counter; his cat was sleeping on the sofa.”

“Rafe was nodding and nodding, his face wreathed in eager smiles”

“Do you have a last name?”

Rafe shook his head.

“That’s all right. We have two.”

“Don’t cry. Yes, of course we will, my darling.”

“sobbed his heart out. Magnus patted his shaking back until he was quiet.”

“He’s very determined,” Alec explained.

“So, completely unlike any other Shadowhunters of my acquaintance, then”

“around Rafe’s shoulders, wrapping him up so he was a red silk cocoon with a startled face on top”

“the instant instinctive love as Alec had with Max, as Alec learned with Rafael the slow, sweet, and conscious way of love”

“Opening a new door in their familiar beloved home, as if it had always been there.”

“Yes,” Alec said, breathless with laughter and love. “Yes, I want to.”

“The land of lost dreams reclaimed, his first kiss and his last”

“Alec, I know you don’t really care about your clothes, but you don’t usually come home covered in soot.”

“Max, in his triceratops footie pajamas and dragging his fuzzy blankie, regarding Rafe with wide eyes”

“Max, who had never felt threatened by anything in his life, smiled guilelessly up at him. Rafe’s scowl faltered.”

“He padded swiftly over to Alec, and Alec knelt down to embrace him.

“Daddy, Daddy!” Max caroled. “This the brother orra sister?”

“He patted Alec’s shoulder as if to say: great job, Dad, finally”

“He shook his head firmly and attempted to explain the situation.

“He says you’re a warlock,” Magnus translated faithfully.”

“Stay up. Be with Rafe.” He sidled up to a stunned-looking Rafael and gave him a big hug. “I’m love him.”

Rafe hesitated, then hugged Max shyly back.”

“How extremely interesting.”

“What are you saying?” Alec asked Rafe anxiously.”

“Alec was certain at least some of it was Rafe promising to be a spy anytime Magnus wanted”

“Alec recalled a story about a magician with Shadowhunter blood, known as Roland the Astonishing, who had lived a long, happy life”

“showing his sons they could be anything they wanted, including happy.“

“Boys? Follow the moves I make,” said Alec. “Stand with me, now. All together.”

[ultrvmonogamy]

Hey, you don't have to answer but you seem like you give good advice.

I'm not submissive with someone unless I really trust them a lot because the stuff I like could be super dangerous if done with someone who doesn't respect me.

Plus I'm not rlly even attracted to someone unless they rlly value me & vice versa.

I keep attracting people who are more submissive than me which is definitely not my thing.

I'm algolagnic but lean toward masochism, not in a self harming way, just because I like certain sensations & think it builds trust and intimacy.

Do you have any tips for attracting the right kinda people without having to betray my personality or sense of self preservation?

this anon is from october of 2023, which was right around the time tumblr went from being very welcoming to kinda hellish for me, and i never got around to answering. idk if ur still around or if ur concerns are still relevant, but for whatever reason i just read ur message and started typing.

Hey, you don't have to answer but you seem like you give good advice.

i wonder if u still feel that way.

also, i appreciate u giving me an out, but honestly telling me i don't need to answer is a pretty reliable way to never get an answer from me. i'm just terrible like that bc there r always a zillion things i wanna be doing unless i wanna be doing nothing at all, and both of those conditions benefit from anything being easily eliminated.

i think in general i'm kinda hardwired to brush off or completely let go of anything i don't have to think abt unless i happen to find it compelling in the moment. that works well for me in the short-term but often is detrimental in the long-term. idk if ur familiar w the eisenhower matrix, but this proclivity is particularly bad for the "important but not urgent" quadrant and similar realms. i imagine a whole lot of ppl r similar to me in that manner, and it's rly too bad bc i'll bet that managing that quadrant well is a far far better predictor of success/satisfaction/happiness than smth like IQ or possibly even environment n resources available to us upon spawning in.

enough of me though, wow. not sure why i started going on abt myself in the first place.

I'm not submissive with someone unless I really trust them a lot because the stuff I like could be super dangerous if done with someone who doesn't respect me.

that sounds very healthy to me, and i fully agree w ur assessment re danger and respect.

Plus I'm not rlly even attracted to someone unless they rlly value me & vice versa.

this also strikes me as healthy n considerably so at that. it's unfortunately rare n for most a rather enviable position to be in, i'd think. so u've got that going for u, which is nice..

I keep attracting people who are more submissive than me which is definitely not my thing.

based on how u've described urself combined w the self-awareness implicit in what u've expressed, i am not at all surprised that u find urself attracting ppl more submissive than u. and tbh i wouldn't expect that to stop happening. u sound like u've got strong character, might generally be a strong person, or at the very least have enough of a center that ur own gravity field will inevitably draw in ppl who do not have as established a center or who r looking for one outside of themselves. to be clear, i do not believe or intend to imply that submissive ppl r necessarily meek (see urself in my estimation for a counter-example, in fact), but i do think that ppl who lack a strong center tend to be or act submissive. and ppl who r submissive r by definition drawn to [not all] ppl who've got a more rooted presence.

what i'm rly trying to say (and which u may already know) is that u attracting ppl who r more submissive than u does not necessarily mean ur putting out the wrong signals or giving off the wrong vibes. more succinctly: it's not mutually exclusive to attracting dominant ppl. although it's maybe going to be noise that u'd prefer to avoid, i don't think it's smth u should be discouraged by or is indicative of u not being attractive to the right ppl as well. i dunno if i worded that v clearly, but i hope u get my meaning regardless.

I'm algolagnic but lean toward masochism, not in a self harming way, just because I like certain sensations & think it builds trust and intimacy.

that makes sense to me. btw a year and a half ago when i first read ur message is when i learned the word "algolagnic", so thanks for that :)

Do you have any tips for attracting the right kinda people without having to betray my personality or sense of self preservation?

if I'm to judge from ur message (which is all I've got to go by), i don't see any indication that ur not doing exactly what u need to. for the reasons i mentioned, i don't see that attracting submissives is a bad sign (and if ur true to ur personality and sense of self-preservation, i rly think it's going to be inevitable).

i do think it's probable that by actually having a sense of self and valuing self-preservation, ur driving away a whole host of "dominants" who wouldn't be right for u by virtue of the fact that those qualities r contrary to their desires/ambitions (whether consciously or subconsciously). if u happen to feel like (all other things even) ur getting disproportionately less attention than other subs around u, it rly could be down to exactly that.

i wish i had some kind of actionable advice i could propose to make it easier for u, but i think it can just be rly difficult to find quality ppl if u have standards and value ur own integrity. if u broadcast that u don't care abt urself or that ur fragile enough to be groomed into betraying urself, u'll undoubtedly find urself the target of orders of magnitude more attention, but that would be tragic.

tl;dr: stick to ur guns. be true to urself. if the attention from subs is troubling or bothersome or undesirable to u in and of itself, maybe u can find ways to pre-empt it by making it clear u don't want it. other than that i don't think i've got much more to offer here than to wish u patience and luck. fwiw, i obviously don't know what else u have going on good or bad or in between, but u seem to me like u've got a lot going for u.

maybe someone else reading this has some different perspective to offer?

thank u for the ask. sry abt the ridiculous delay 🫶

[the-crafting-gremlin]

Well, if my estimate is right (which is iffy), I've got about four more rows to go on the sweater vest hem. Yesterday was busy enough to make knitting progress difficult, on top of which I just wasn't feeling great.

I still don't feel too good today. It's just general fatigue and queasiness, which I think has a lot to do with the stupid time change. It gets harder and harder every year. (Plus there's additional stress, between my grandmother's worsening dementia and physical health, my mother's worsening mental health--which gets taken out on me the most--and work getting busier with the warmer weather. And of course the general dumpster fire that is America right now.)

The time for my yearly physical is coming up so I'll probably have a talk with my doctor and see if she has any recommendations to help with...any of it. Honestly, I think if I could just address the fatigue a lot of other things would get better. The fatigue is pretty much always there and now it's worse because the time change screwed with my sleep schedule. Again.

Whining aside, I'm happy with how the sweater vest hem is looking so far. The pattern has me doing twisted 1x1 ribbing and I have to say, I really like it. It's not as loose as a regular 1x1 rib and just feels so much neater and more uniform. I may even add another half inch and make the hem two inches, instead. That might be pushing it with how much yarn I have, but I think it's worth the risk. Worst case, I think I can get away with using a coordinating color in fingering weight yarn for the arm holes and neck. (Or I may just have to order another hank of the yarn, which would allow me to add another inch or two to the length. It's just barely long enough for my tastes, and if I could add length, I would...)

I know I'm trying to destash, but if I'm going through this much trouble to knit a sweater vest out of lace weight yarn, I should make sure it's something I'm happy with. Next paycheck I'll see about getting another hank. If it's available, I'll get it and add the extra length (beyond the additional half inch I've decided I'm definitely adding to the hem), and if not then I'll just make do with what I have. I have a light blue lace-weight that I could double up for the arm holes/neck, and a couple of fingering-weight yarns in blues, purples, and greens that would probably work, too.

The pattern says every extra inch added uses about 60 yards of yarn, so I'd have just enough to add that half inch (hopefully) without having to play yarn chicken at the end.

I've also made a little bit of progress on the arm warmers, but mostly in weaving a bunch of ends in. I'm trying to do it every few color changes to keep it manageable. It definitely helps. And so far I'm pretty happy with how these are coming out.

The little bit of stranded knitting practice I've gotten from them makes me feel more comfortable with trying to knit New Sweater at work, too. I think that's a pattern I need to print out, though. Or at least the charts.

[sweetest-honeybee]

I'm going to be starting my very first commissions soon! I am very excited but do you have any tips on what I should and shouldn't do?

Oh that’s very exciting! Hmm I have a post somewhere but I’ll just answer anyways 😂 This is gonna be insanely long

- Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get a huge amount of people asking at first. It’s all about drawing people in and growing an audience! If you don’t have an audience yet, it’s always worth it to market and advertise pretty well. Multiple social medias, using common tags, promoting in say, is discord server if you’re in one or something, all that jazz

- Pricing is very difficult and it’ll fluctuate and change over time. You’re not gonna get it down first try, and they’ll change with your workflow and what you realize you can and can’t do/handle! Personally, I took the amount of time I take on each canvas and estimated some average times (I.e. a rendered bust takes me 1.5-2 hours) and multiplied that by ah, $30 I think at first? And then doubled my prices later down the road

- Additionally however, pricing in such a way that you make good money for your time is important but, and I can’t stress this enough, PLEASE consider the people you’re advertising your work to and who follows you, what communities you’re in, etc. For myself, I’ve recently began to aim for higher quality clients who can pay more all at once and so I can get more money with less commissions stacked in my queue. Thus why my lowest price is still quite high. If you want more frequent clients, most often it’s best to keep your prices relatively low but still good value for you. Again, it’s all about finding that balance and figuring out your workflow

- Speaking of workflow, there’s no one right way to do commissions. Your process is your own and from my experience, I’ve gone through a bunch of different processes with different people! Haha, I’ve even signed a contract once to really seal the deal on the terms and conditions. Make it your own! Be as professional as you feel the need to or not. Do whatever makes you comfortable as long as it’s not at the expense of the client, of course

- You may or may not be contacted by spam bots and other accounts about your work. Believe me, it’ll happen once or twice that you might be scammed if you’re not careful (it’s happened to me twice) but if I could say, it’s usually accounts with names that don’t match their icons, using little/terrible punctuation and very automated repsonses, requesting work that’s not what you do usually, requesting work of family members/pets, offering very large sums of money, whatever else. Just be safe!

- Hmmm what else….

- Make sure you have plenty of examples of your work and the style of art/coloring that you’re advertising. If you’re offering something new, just get like 3-4 examples in and have a consistent process before having people pay money for it. I love my current rendering style but I had to wait til I had a few to know how I wanted to go about offering it as a new coloring style and how it’s different from what I would typically do

- Some clients are definitely rude and pester. It’s okay to put your foot down and say you’re not comfortable working with them. Personally, I offer up other artists if that’s the case (within reason, I don’t send rude people generally but sometimes clients get frustrated with you because you’re not the kind of artists they’ll end up wanting to work with) or if I’m just not able to do a commission because it’s, for example, out of my skill level or something. Always good to send people to artists who are open for work

- I’m actually learning this myself but if you’re working with someone who’s well known (I.e. I worked with good ol Xisumavoid), having T&Cs is useful for those larger clients. Xisuma actually gave me his terms and conditions to fill out in the invoices so if the client has that as well, it works that way too! And again, if you have questions or you’re uncomfortable by someone else’s T&Cs, say that! Believe me, they’ll work with you if they truly intend to use your work (bless that man, he was so kind and transparent about the whole process)

- Of courses you are just starting out but you never know!

That’s pretty much he main stuff. Just make sure it’s seen and clear, you’re valued and understand your value, and that everything you’ll be doing is all up to you. If you have artists friends (or myself) that you’d ever need input from, give them (or me) a holler! This is all just me, other artists have more or different ways they’d suggest going about things so if you don’t agreed with anything I’ve said, that’s alright 😌

[bolcseszgoblin]

i am SO SORRY that i do this to people. i guess it's the ADHD and it's good friend generalized anxiety. i think (with me) it is mostly about denying that i am unable to prepare and i am getting more and more scared that i'll be late. surely not... oh. i'm almost late. i'm gonna quickly put myself together, and i'm gonna make it. maybe. if i run a bit to catch the bus. and if not, i'll be like 10 minutes late, and i can text my friend once i'm on my way, because i will probably go back 3 times to check for my keys, phone, wallet, if I turned off all the lights. oh shit this tshirt is dirty. but i swear i had another one that's cute. oh. forgot to pull the wet laundry from the washingmachine. shit. now i have to find another shirt, a different necklace, and start the machine again to prevent mold, but put a timer so it won't be too loud for the neighbours, will it finish before 8? shit is it past 5 already? i'm laaate. how long is this programme? let me find the manual. can't find it. lets look on the internet. this is in Polish, i don't speak Polish, but i can compare the pictograms right? they are all in the wrong order. oh it's a slightly different model. close enough though. 5 minutes go by, i finally decipher it and set the timer. hey, the bin is full here. let's clean it up, I've been putting it off for days, and now i am going down anyway. but then i can bring down the recycling too! finally clothed, have everything, ready to go, picking up the trash, walking down the 3 flights of stairs. throw them away. when i walk out to the sunlight, i realize i forgot my sunglasses. should i go back? should i not? it's just a pair of sunglasses. don't be a pussy, you don't need it. but did i bring sunscreen? eh okay. i go back. dermatologist said i should definitely wear some with my skin and moles. this is my health. *going back up* hey, look! i forgot my keys in the door! the more it falls apart, the more i am unable to notify the person. once i am on my way, safely on the bus, or at least out of my street after making sure that this time i have everything i need, i'll text the poor person waiting for me, because then i can say with confidence that i am on my way, and i have an estimated time. before that it is just a lie. i used to text i am sorry i am going to be late, probably 10 minutes - and then fail to leave. multiple times. some friends got around this by telling me an earlier time. i didn't catch on for a while. others were simply tolerant of my bullshit, and them i could message: sorry, being late, trying, i'm gonna text you when i'm on my way. we don't risk notifying people if it is just another failure, and makes it even harder the next time. so i am so sorry. but this was me. i don't go out much anymore and a lot of my friends have the same problems, so we just set and end time, after which it is not viable to leave anymore, and settle in for the undeterminate amount of time we are going to wait for each other. (e.g. you can come over from 3, I'll have to leave to my evening class at 6, so you are welcome till 5, after that we can't really talk, but no worries, we can just reschedule) surprisingly this helps with the anxiety and shortens the delay, by getting rid of nervous running around.

i was prone to the first example more, but i can remember a number of times where it was the 'i am already 2 hours late, but i am on the bus now, and explaining what i was doing instead of being at your party. kind. I never did it when leaving someone alone. i was just in a bad place and had to convince myself that i really like this person, and i want to go celebrate their birthday (all 3 cases i remember clearly were birthday parties. and a new years eve. or 2) even if i am scared shitless of how many people will be there, and ask me how i am, and i am... well. i feel like shit. and i don't want to talk about it. because i don't want to ruin the party. but i hate to lie. but i know i'm gonna.

being vague about what time you're going to be somewhere to meet someone and not saying a WORD until the moment you leave the house (assume this happens every single time, for everything) and also not saying a thing all day even if you're going to be later than the vague time until... after you are already late (assume this happens every single time the person is late/later than normal) is

[delicrieux]

☆ﾐ 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚢 "𝚘𝚑"

PART 8: CAT BOYS 

... it’s late into the night and y/n is streaming with one of her new friends, sykkuno. running on caffeine and redbull is apparently not enough because she falls asleep on his shoulder 45 minutes into their cyberpunk gameplay. at that exact moment, twitter goes up in flames.

─── corpse husband x reader, sykkuno x reader (because i was threatened by thirsty anons) ─── soc. media + written fiction!  ─── word count: 1.8k author’s note: here it is...what yall been asking for. literally had to add a new part for this but i loved this idea sm i couldnt just nOT NOT do it. i tried writing this with the same energy as the smau lmao so expect chaos as always. hope you enjoy it and as always lmk what u think! hopefully yall wont go too feral, but tbh thats prolly too much to ask for xx EDIT: srr for the fucky format tumbler dot com is being lame 

ultimate masterlist.  ҉  myso masterlist   ҉   previous.   ҉   next.

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Such a back and forth continues for the better part of the day as you get ready. Corpse only whines a bit when you forget to text him back - you are packing, and your prestigious cat ears you bought from Amazon for 10$ deserve exquisite care - which only fuels your seemingly bottomless hunger for mischief, leading to you sneakily ignoring him more. When your phone lights up with a message, you giggle, giddy with excitement. Your laughter only gets louder and more erratic, to the point where Rae had busted down your door and threw her Hello Kitty plush at you - one you’d gotten her, mind you! - and told you to just “Shut the fuck up!”

Ungrateful. You know not everyone can appreciate your sense of humor, or stand your hyena like cackle, but that was uncalled for and you told her as much. Noting the mess your room is in (more than usual, that’s for certain), she leans onto the door frame, crossing her arms over her chest, pretty brown eyes twinkling curiously, “Where you off to?”

“So I had this idea-” You start, but are promptly shut down with a raise of her palm.

“Already know it’s a bad one.”

Insulted, and hurt, you clutch your heart. As if she had not mocked you enough today, “Rae...The hell, that’s so mean...” You mutter, face scrunching into a soft frown, “I only wanted to tell you what me and Syk thought of.”

“Oh?” Intrigued, she raises a brow, “Continue.”

“Gee, thanks for letting me this time.” You mumble, rolling your eyes, “So. We thought we’d stream together. The catch? In the same room! We’ll be playing Cyberpunk. Gotta cash in while the hype is still up.” You add, making her snort, “And, ya know, the whole cat boy business...We’ll be wearing matching cat ears. Admit it, I’m a genius.”

She’s quiet for a moment, mulling over your words; you can practically see the gears in her head turning. She glances around the room, then briefly at you, strangely apprehensive. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

Well, that is definitely not what you expected her to say. You figured it’d be more along the lines of you’d be one ugly cat. “Huh?” Is all you manage to stutter, “What do you mean?”

She gives you a look, one all people give when something is so plainly obvious, “Y/n. You do know the stans will go wild, right? And you do remember our conversation involving Corp-”

“Nope!” You exclaim cheerily with a bright smile to match. You don’t want to think about that. The relationship between you and Corpse is strictly platonic, and besides, seeing Twitter loosing their shit is always funny, and you never miss an opportunity to mess with your fans. Sykkuno is also a good friend, albeit a new one. This supposed flirting from Corpse’s end Rae deduced was nothing more than her projecting her feelings onto the situation. She always liked shoujo anime and was probably thinking one was happening right in front of her. Not a chance. Corpse was just being a friendly crackhead. Your energies mesh beautifully.

Like, beautifully in a strictly friend way. Absolutely nothing more than that.

She gives up, naturally, arguing with a wall would be more productive than arguing with you. You’re such a (Zodiac sign).

“Well,” She mumbles, ticking her head to the side, leaning off of the door frame and turning to leave, “Don’t say I didn’t tell you so.”

Your grin melts as soon as she leaves. Glancing at your bag, you shove your last necessities in with newfound hesitance. 

Nothing bad will happen, right?

...Right?

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It is well past the generally set “appropriate” time to hang out, but since quarantine, what is appropriate anymore anyway? You’ve never been in Sykkuno’s apartment, but now that you’re here it’s...strangely him. Every corner seems tailored to his specific requirements. It’s cozy, and pleasantly warm - it’s a bit chilly in LA, as surprising as that is.

He’s even shyer than you remember him being. And a whole lot more awkward, but in an endearing way, a way that makes you want to laugh and try to reassure him that it’s just you and he has nothing to worry about. While you hung out only once, the history you share is rich and tender. From him following you on Twitter and subsequently prematurely ending your stream, to kidnapping a stray cat affectionately named Juan. His long lost brother, Juan (no the Second, just Juan), lives in your Minecraft server. 

His stream room is sadly bare. There’s an appalling lack of merch or fairy lights. Not even led-lights. It’s a good thing you brought your own. As you try to decided which color would be best - his signature lime green, reminiscent of his adorable Among Us astronaut, or, perhaps, mischievous violet? - he boots the game and tweets out a quick “streaming with y/n in ten mins! come one come all!” 

“You should probably tell your fans, too.” He mumbles, looking somewhere above your shoulder. You settle with cherry blossom pink. Glancing at him, you shrug.

“Ah, do it for me, please?”

“Oh!” He hiccups, “Uhm, I wouldn’t want to pry and I don’t know your password and-”

“It doesn’t have a password.” You had removed it, knowing something like this would happen. Bless your foresight, you did not want him to know it was demonspiitinmymouth. Before he could protest further, you rush to the nearest mirror to put on your cat ears and make sure they aren’t crooked. You look absolutely adorable. The cat boys in your dms will go feral. Hell, you might just go feral looking at yourself! Sykkuno is not ready. No one is. This will be a stream to remember.

When you return (with flourish of course), he’s anxiously fidgeting by his computer, his own little cat ears, one’s he wore for the Halloween stream, peaking out from his silky brown hair. You have to suppress a squeal. When he catches you gaze he gives the kindest, sweetest little smile.

“They, uh--” He points at you, then decides it’s rude to point, bringing his hand back to his lap, then clutching his mouse, lastly releasing a sound stuck between a chuckle and a wheeze, “suit you, uhm, a lot!” He finishes with a resolute nod, quickly spinning in his chair and away from you.

This is the reaction you desired. All is going according to plan. Is this what God feels like? If not, then you pity her. She’s missing out.

Taking a seat next to him - he had been gracious enough to haul you a spare chair from the kitchen - you draw closer, and he, instinctively, shrinks away with another nervous chuckle. 

“You have, uhm... I-I didn’t look!” He quickly chimes. You raise a brow, “Uhm, unopened messages? From Corpse? He texted you when I was tweeting! I didn’t mean to look, I’m sorry-”

Instantly, you recall the famous vine with the scandalous “daddy chill” line, though refrain from saying it aloud. You love havoc, but you’re not evil (Rae would ardently disagree with you, though). Instead, you just shrug, “’S fine, don’t worry. I’ll text him back later. Let’s start?”

He nods, but doesn’t look at you. Granted, you don’t think he glanced at you even once since you returned, “...Okay. Ready?”

“Ready!”

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You’re much too immersed into the game and Sykkuno’s twitch chat to even check what’s happening on Twitter, but your estimated guess is that everyone’s going crazy. The stream chat is unruly as well, but missing the signature Twitter spark. Most of the chaos is bravely lead by your fans. Sykkuno’s, much like the man himself, are too nice to scream so unabashedly.

Perhaps you excitement had been a bit too taxing, perhaps drinking 5 coffees and 2 energy drinks today and not enough water are to blame for the sudden drowsiness you’re feeling, but you can’t focus on the swimming chat or the abundance of cut-scenes at the starting point of the game. You steadily draw nearer and he, more composed in front of his audience, doesn’t react. About ten more minutes of hoovering by his shoulder and muttering soft commentary, and you feel yourself slipping.

The last coherent thought you have is a few choice words directed at caffeine itself for having the opposite effect of you at the worst time possible.

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You float in oblivion for perhaps ten minutes at best. Once you awake with a startle, you shower Sykkuno in shy apologies and he quickly reassures you that it’s fine and that he didn’t mind at all!

“Though,” He adds after a thoughtful pause, “not sure if it was very, uh, comfortable?”

His stream chat spams uwu and variations of similar kind. The stream continues for a few more hours before the both of you wish everyone a good night. 

While you planned on wreaking absolute havoc, this sudden falling asleep was unexpected. You pondered the consequences of such an innocent, unplanned act whilst ubering home, fearing to check your phone which by now was blowing up with not only Twitter notifications but also Rae’s angry messages that vaguely read “what the fuck y/n”. Within the past two hours she had left 57 messages on all platforms collectively, including 7 calls. 

Corpse’s last text was over three hours ago.

Now that’s strange. Worry festers quickly. Briefly glancing at your surroundings - the pretty glimmer of passing street lights, neon signs, familiar buildings - you decide that it’s time to check what kind of nuclear explosion you’ve caused.

Your heart drops to the bottom of your stomach as you scroll past the hundreds of tweets and mentions. Scan through Rae’s messages. 

You had failed to prepare ahead. Every explosion of such kind is followed by nuclear winter. And Corpse’s lack of messages feels especially cold.

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Not you smiling like a fucking idiot reading his last message! You shrink into the backseat, afraid the driver will accidentally look into the rear-view mirror and see you a bit too happy before asking questions. Good news? Yeah, but it’s not like it’s his any beeswax! In the words of Rihanna, just shut up and drive. 

This argument had not yet happened, but you’re preparing, just in case. 

As you think up of potential scenarios, your eyes drill into Corpse’s goodnight text. You’ve looked at it enough. Time to turn the phone screen off. Leave the app, at the very least. When the screen dims you instantly press on it to wake it up. This is embarrassing. Maybe the deadly amount of caffeine really did mess you up, big time. Your heart races in your chest, painfully almost. You feel a bit sick. Worst of all, you can’t stop smiling.

A notification from Rae makes you snap out of it. Ah, one more demon to deal with. 

However, before you talk to her, you really need to tell Twitter that you’re not with Sykkuno. And apologize to Sykkuno as well. 

At least Corpse doesn’t hate you.

Fucking hell, just exit the chat you idiot!

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tags (in italics is those i couldn’t tag! make sure all’s ok w your settings!) : @littlebabysandboxburritos - @fairywriter-oracle - @tsukishimawh0re - @ofstarsanddreams - @bbecc-a - @annshit - @leahh19 - @letsloveimagines - @bellomi-clarke - @wineandionysus - @guiltydols - @onephootinfrontoftheother - @liamakorn - @thirstyfangirl - @lilysdaydreams - @pan-ini - @mxqicshxp - @tanchosanke - @yoshinorecommends - @flightsandfantasy - @liljennyx3 - @slashersdream - @unknown-and-invisible - @sinister-sleep - @fivedicksinatrenchcoat - @mercury–moon - @peterparkerspjsuit - @unstableye - @simonsbluee - @shinyshimaagain - @ppopty - @siriuslystupid - @crapimahuman - @ofthedewthesunlight - @mythicalamphitrite - @artsyally - @corpsesimpp - @corpsewhitetee - @corpse-husbandsimp - @hyp-oh-critical - @roses-and-grasses - @rhyrhy462 - @sparklylandflaplawyer - @charbkgo - @airwaveee - @creativedogs - @kaitlyn2907 - @loxbbg - @afuckingunicornn - @fleurmoon - @yeolliedokai - @truly-dionysus - @multi-fandom-central707

more tags are in the comments bcs tumblr only allows me to tag 50 people max 💙

[twopoppies]

1D Media Ltd: Contingent Liability

So, @towlersnow shared this update about 1D media’s financial statements which included information about the clearing of a contingent liability of £24,7M that has been on the financial statements since 2015.

One of my mutuals who’s an insurance defense attorney messaged me with some detailed explanation of what this means. This is long, but really interesting (IMO) in how it pertains to the band. I’ve bolded the section that’s specifically about 1D, the rest is essentially explanation about what a contingent liability is, and what the clearing means.

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Contingent liabilities are defined as "existing conditions, situations, or circumstances involving uncertainty about possible future liabilities. These uncertainties will be resolved in the future when one or more event occurs or fails to occur." Essentially, a contingent liability is a potential future loss that a company is facing. The contingent liability will not become a present, payable loss until some triggering event happens (or fails to happen).

A really common example of this is a car accident. Driver A and Driver B get into a car accident. Driver A is at fault. Driver B is injured. Driver B's injuries represent a contingent liability to Driver A's insurance company, as under the insurance policy they issued to Driver A, if Driver B makes a claim or brings a lawsuit, the insurance company will be responsible for paying the damages owed to Driver B, and for paying the legal fees Driver A incurs resolving the issue.

Contingent liabilities are categorized as probable, reasonably possible, or remote. A remote contingent liability is one with no more than a slight likelihood of becoming a loss payable. A probable remote contingency is one that is likely to become a loss payable. Reasonably possible contingent possibilities have a likelihood somewhere in between. If a company has a contingent liability that is probable and that the amount of which can be reasonably estimated, the company has to disclose that contingent liability in their financial statements.

The idea is that probable contingent liabilities pose a threat to the company's assets, and without them reflected in the financial statement, the asserted financial stability of the company will be misleading. So in the context of our car accident, at the point Driver A calls their insurance company and says "hey, I got into an accident, the other driver was hurt, we exchanged insurance information but I don't know anything else," that contingent liability is remote and the value of it is not able to be estimated. But if Driver B makes a formal claim, or files a lawsuit, the contingent liability is probable, and the insurance company has to figure out a way to estimate the potential amount and, in most cases, set that money aside so that it is available for payment when the time comes.

Construction contracts are another area where this is common. A general contractor will hire a subcontractor with an agreement to pay the sub a certain amount of money at the end of the job, but with the understanding that construction is unpredictable and prone to problems, so it is likely that the subcontractor will end up incurring costs over and above their contract amount. The general contractor will set aside an additional amount they think is reasonably likely to cover the subcontractor's additional costs. Big companies usually have reserve accounts where they just keep money set aside to cover any and all contingent liabilities that may arise, as opposed to setting aside money for each contingent liability as it comes up.

So in the context of 1D, their financial statement reads "a contingent liability which has been provided and reported for since 2015 continues to exist in relation to a matter in dispute which is the subject of litigation by the company. If the company is unsuccessful in the proposed litigation, the maximum obligation is estimated to be approximately 24.7m including interest. However, the company has indemnity against third parties in relation to such an event and the amount which should be reimbursed to the company is estimated to be approximately 18.4m."

There are a few things that I think are important to note here. (1) the contingent liability definitely involves a lawsuit, but we don't know if someone sued 1D media, or if they sued someone else, their disclosure only vaguely references a matter in dispute which is in litigation. (2) this is a long term contingent liability - 2015 was the first financial statement it appeared on, and it wasn't gone until 2020. That plus the amount (24.7m or $29,174,405 according to the converters I use) tells me this was a big deal, it likely wasn't an issue where a songwriter felt they didn't get their due or something similar.

It's likely this was an ugly, knock down drag out fight (and the timing coinciding with the hiatus raises a few questions for me but that's all speculation so I won't go into it). And (3) the fact that indemnity in the amount of 18.4m exists implicates a third party. It may be an insurance company, but I doubt it. My gut instinct is that there was another industry party involved who has liability to 1D media. God only knows what this third party is, or why they're being dragged into this. But they exist. And that's a pretty significant amount of liability for the third party - it ends up being about 75% of the estimated total. That's a deeply, deeply involved third party.

(my instinct is that this isn't insurance because of the amounts. 18.4m is a pretty specific number, if it was an insurance issue it (a) wouldn't have taken so long to resolve, as an insurance defense attorney I can tell you we never let cases drag that long, because the insurance companies hate it, and (b) the company would likely cover it all, or they'd cover up to a more round number (i.e. a 20m limit of liability). 18.4m is a number that suggests another party exists, has been implicated via potential bad acts, and is under a contract that monetizes their actions in some way with a formula that spit out 18.4m as their share of the liability. All of that, taken together, makes me think that whatever happened was personal and ugly.

On a practical level, the clearance of that liability from the financial statement likely doesn't indicate any real life losses or gains for shareholders of 1D media. The 24.7m has been "provided and reported for since 2015," meaning that money is sitting in reserves somewhere, and if it has to get paid out, the eventual 18.4m they recoup will go back into the reserves account or, if they didn't end up having to pay, the money stays in the account for the next liability that arises. There's no way to know for sure what happened, but I hope you enjoyed this (ridiculously long, god I'm SO SORRY I really wrote you an entire novel) lesson on contingent liabilities.

The end result is that it was resolved somehow. Whether that resolution was 1DM paying some or all of the 24.7m we don’t have any way of knowing. But it kind of doesn’t matter (except that I really want to know) because it doesn’t have THAT big of an impact on the overall financial well-being of the company or the likely payouts or stock values to holders.

The fact that the liability is noted as having been provided for since 2015 means somewhere 1DM had an account that held at least 24.7m, so that money wasn’t really anything they were missing or trying to figure out how to cover. If 1DM ended up paying out some or all of it, they’d turn around and get the 18.4m from the indemnity party and just toss that back into the reserves account, and if the 18.4m wasn’t enough to cover all that they paid they’d just write off the excess and be done. And if the situation resolved in a manner that means 1DM didn’t pay a cent, the money stays in reserves. It still doesn’t become part of their operating capital or anything. When the company is liquidated someday that money will come into play, but for now the fact that this resolved and the fact that we don’t know how it resolved doesn’t actually change the financial landscape of the company much.

[faolanmoon]

oops so sorry yes general hcs for yandere sunny on how he acts in a relationship with his s/o?

Alright , here you go!

~Yandere Sunny x S/o~

Sunny is definitely affectionate and somewhat clingy. He’d definitely be touch starved from being a shut in, also really lonely. He’d straight up cling to you to the point it’s difficult to move sometimes.

Also clingy in the sense that he wouldn’t be ok with you being affectionate with someone else. He wants your affection, all of it, he breathes for it. If he saw you give someone that’s not HIM affection, he’s definitely going to give them a death stare. He’ll rush up to you and suddenly wrap his arms around you in a tight hug, burying his face into your shoulders when you’re looking, but glaring at whoever he’s jealous of when you aren’t looking. Sunny would also definitely nuzzle you like he’s some cat.If you don’t catch up on his hints he’ll slowly become more aggressive towards the person he’s jealous about. Eventually when you finally walk away from whoever Sunny is unfortunate enough to be jealous of he’ll definitely end up hunting them down to kill them.

Sunny is 100% a possessive yandree as well. He believes you are his no matter what, and your affection is on the list for damn sure. “You’re mine “, might not be said a lot but his actions will definitely imply it . The way he’ll hold you is tight, like he’s afraid of losing you , and the way he’s always trying to make sure no one else is falling for you will say it for him.

He will definitely freak out internally if you are sick or hurt. Sickness probably won’t have him freaking out terribly unless you end up in the hospital. Sunny wouldn’t freak out as much as he would about you get hurt as he would about you getting sick, after all a common cold or virus could simply be treated, now if it’s something that leaves you in pain he’d be upset and scared of losing you. Now if you get hurt, it’ll depend on what type of injury. Paper cut? Not really worried, it’ll be gone soon, just be careful. Cuts, burns, or bruises? Yeah, he’ll be more scared especially the cuts and burns, as those can hospitalize you if bad enough. If you receive an injury like a broken bone or are badly burnt, he’ll freak the hell out. He’s becoming a lot more protective of you as he’s now more scared of losing you.

Sunny would lose his shit if someone dared to lay harm on you. He’s pretty protective, and would definitely become aggressive and is definitely going to spill blood if someone had the audacity to harm you. Now if it’s an accident he’s probably going to have to be held by you until he realizes that, it was just an accident, they didn’t mean to hurt you, however he’d still be pissed. If it was on purpose, honey you’ve got a big storm coming. *Snaps fingers*. Sunny will definitely charge at them with a knife and begin to violently stab the shit out of them. Even in front of you, he’s not gonna stop stabbing them until he’s convinced they’re dead, regardless of you freaking out about him killing someone. When he’s done he’ll slowly approach you, likely covered in a lot of blood and if you get scared of him, or try to run he only quickens his pace to get closer to you. When he’s finally at you he just tightly hugs you, likely staining your clothes with the blood of his latest victim before whispering,” I’m gonna need you to help me get rid of the body, I might have snapped at them hurting you”.

Do not, under any circumstances under estimate how much he loves you. He won’t stop showering you in love and affection whenever you feel doubt. Feeling down? He’ll definitely start loving on you and won’t stop praising what he loves about you. You also should never under estimate how protective he is of you, oh you’ll see how protective he can get.

Sunny would definitely not like it if you have a terrible relationship with your family. Now family members are the only ones who’d be getting a pass on him killing if they’re getting more affection then him, he actually understands if you’ve got a very loving and close relationship with your family. Now if it’s the opposite, hell no, those mfs ain’t treating you right! He’d definitely fight with any family member considered abusive, and he’ll do whatever he can to protect you from them, even if he’s got to get his hands dirty, he’s willing to make you happy and make sure you’re safe.

Now if you got an ex, Sunny ain’t gonna like them chief, not a single bit. If they attempt to get back together with you, their ass is grass and they’re gonna die, no hesitation.

If you decide to break up with him for whatever reason, like say you saw him kill someone and now you’re scared of him, he’s definitely going to unhinge and get desperate. He’s going to definitely try to figure out what he did wrong, hell Sunny will cling onto you, grabbing your hands as he starts crying, demanding to know what he did to make him lose your love, demanding another chance and swear he’ll change. If you refuse to well, you’re definitely going to be abducted at that point. Please, just give him your love, it’s all he ever lives for!

He’d definitely think of marriage if you two get close enough. Divorcing Sunny would pretty much go the same way as you breaking up with him.