#i try to look my best and be personable and emphasis my strengths and they still hate me

[palmtreehero]

it may be a bit weird question but could you elaborate on the difference in portrayal between shuake and akeshu? what differences did you notice between the two?

Hi anon, not a weird questions at all!

I can tell you what I've gathered from my beginning stage of getting interested in this ship and what I've experienced the past 8 years...

I've already sorta explained stuff in this post since it's a similar ask, but I think you're probably asking specifically the differences I personally found.

DISCLAIMER: this is just my experience please understand this is just all MY PERSONAL LIKES and what aligns with MY OWN INTERPRETATION- and in no way am I putting down any of the lanes... I must repeat this over and over because otherwise it becomes this meme:

ANOTHER DISCLAIMER: Due to the nature of this ask I must warn you that I will be talking about R18 topics.

Without further ado here's a read more:

When I was still a turtle at sea (reference to this) eating literally anything coming my way, what I found was that the akeshu buffet and the shuake buffet both had their different flavors and strengths..!

Each restaurant seemed to excel in different tropes, different scenarios, different characterization and vibes... It was magical at the beginning just consuming anything and everything as I went.

But I'm a turtle with much fujoshi experience, who already has some favorite tropes and preferences ingrained in her. I like eating certain flavors over other flavors, and actually, they're all explained in this post!

But AHhh, it looks like I'm starting to get a stomachache from eating this food that I thought I'd give a try? I mean, everyone seems to like it, actually, it's like the best restaurant in town apparently!? But just something about their seasoning is not agreeing with my stomach.

It's a shame, maybe it's just not for me, so to investigate what's going on, here's my food diary:

Restaurant Akeshu tropes/vibes/flavors that I've observed:

The obvious diff: Goro is the top and Joker is the bottom.

Goro is portrayed as more handsome and assertive and recently since P5R release, a heavy preference to 3rd Semester. He's often standoffish like a "kuudere". He's the initiator.

Joker is portrayed more soft, gentle, and kind of passive but a sweet guy. He's the reciprocator.

There is an emphasis on Goro's confidence and perseverance. Basically he's portrayed as very cool and figuring things out on his own because he wants to be better for/than Joker. (Their rivalry)

Goro is more reluctant to accept Joker's help, and he does not rely on him emotionally, but eventually he gives in and opens up.

In the self indulgent side: people seem to like making Joker like a cute cat LOL He's like Goro's pet? He's just always spoiled by Goro (at least in the wholesome portrayals~) idk much about the toxic side bc I live in delulu domestic lala land so all I know is Goro can RAVAGE HIM!

There is also a heavy preference to make Goro have a more masculine build, like he's portrayed pretty but there's a delicate balance of his Gap that shows off that despite his feminine traits he is undoubtedly a man.

For Joker, he's very Gender. Thank you punishment cop for my life.

In NSFW media, Goro is very assertive, he takes control, and he's the more reserved one(?) while Joker is more of the shy mess or he's a sexy power bottom trying to rile Goro up. I particularly like Top Goro because I like him being the one to approach Joker, I like him being the one to touch and guide Joker, to love him tenderly. Basically I find that in Akeshu there's an emphasis on Goro thinking of Joker as his treasure (even if reluctantly sometimes haha)

This translates to SFW content where Goro is always the one spoiling Joker or approaching him, making mooooves (or in situations where Joker is the one making mooooves he out mooooves Joker).

There seems to be a more balanced focus on both chars which makes it looks like this Joker >>>>>>LOVE BEAM CLASH<<<<<< Goro. Sometimes it becomes like this though: Goro AGGRESSIVE LOVE BEAM ►►►►►► Joker

Restaurant Shuake tropes/vibes/flavors that I've observed:

The obvious diff: Joker is the top and Goro is the bottom

Joker is portrayed as more suave/charming/a flirt making him more assertive but he can also be really sweet and silly (I really like top joker too hehehe mostly in shukitashu and shusumi :3) He's the initiator.

Goro is portrayed as more pretty/feminine and heavy preference to his Detective Prince persona. He's often a "cool beauty" or a "tsundere" He's the reciprocator.

There seems to be a heavy emphasis on the tragedy of Goro's life, and how he's suffered from it, and how Joker is the one who helps him overcome those insecurities. There's often a lot of exploration regarding his insecurities about that.

There also seems to be a focus on Goro's vulnerabilities and how Joker is the fix for that. He seems to really depend on Joker emotionally.

In the self indulgent side: people seem to really like making Goro a "wife" like those cool yakuza wives (idk if this makes sense) but basically he's like the intimidating "girl boss lady" while Akira is often very much like a kakkoii sparkly ikemen

People also seem to really like Goro's feminine traits, putting emphasis on making him have alluring expressions, or portraying him to have a feminine build

I used to see himbo Joker and tsundere Goro a lot

Based on NSFW media I've read in the past I think people really like to make him be needy or a power bottom. Joker is portrayed as the assertive one taking initiative etc he's a caring top OR sometimes he's all Cool and Chad about it all. Like I mentioned earlier, there's an emphasis of Joker thinking of Goro as his treasure.

A lot of the scenarios often focus on Goro, like Goro whump, or things directly pointing at Goro. It's like Joker LOVE BEAM>>>>>>>>>>> Goro.

Based on my food diary I came to the conclusion that my allergies lie in Goro portrayal.

Which is why I'm now a Fixed Top Goro 左固定 Enthusiast. I don't mind Top Joker (I like it as I said) I personally think Joker is able to be a top and a very caring and loving one, it's just that for me, Goro Akechi is overwhelmingly assertive and if you put them together Joker is going to be a bottom. That's just how the formula works in my brain.

I just personally don't like seeing Goro submissive and I prefer his more handsome 男前 side because I like assertive bishounens.

That's basically it, that's the story of how I became a slug fujoshi for akeshu.

I'm sorry this is so long omg.

[hannahssimblr]

July seeps into August in a yellow haze. The heat has stupefied the village, slowing all movement, the tourists wading through the humid streets with ice creams melting down their hands, the only kind of food it feels acceptable to eat. It hasn’t rained in weeks, since that first storm of summer, and the landscape struggles. The grass in the local pitch has shrivelled, and the earth has become a powdery dust that fills the air every time our football skims it. It keeps sticking to the sun cream on our skin. Every evening I need to wash an extraordinary amount of grit, dirt and sand out of strange places, like the creases in my elbows, and the webbing between my fingers and toes.

I launch the ball down the pitch to where Jen is bouncing foot to foot near the goalpost, and wander towards the sideline to mop sweat from my brow with the t-shirt I stripped off an hour ago. 

“You want water?” Claire O’Gorman holds her pink metal bottle to me. It jangles with the fluffy charms and beads clipped to it. I shake my head. Jen saw her kissing Shane last night at the front door before she left, so at least twenty percent of the backwash already in that water is bound to be his. I don’t tell her this, because if she doesn’t know what backwash is, I’ll have to go through the whole rigamarole of explaining it, and inevitably end up looking stupid, so I just shake my head.

“You’re running like mad out there,” she comments. “I don’t know how you’ve the strength in this weather.”

“You just endure it, I guess.”

“Hm, I couldn’t. I’m like a princess. I just really don’t like sweating and getting all out of breath. Evie is like you, though,” she adds.

I’m careful to arrange my features into a neutral expression. Claire has been hanging around with us every day for the last week, for reasons that nobody has explained to me, not that I have asked, but when I chat with her, I make sure that I never, ever bring up Evie. Teenage girls are detectives. They pick up on the tiniest facial expressions or shift in tone and use it against you.

I’ve been bamboozled before, and the last thing I need is for Claire to go home to Evie in the evenings and tell her, God forbid, that I asked a question about her. The multitudes of ways they could read into my body language makes me feel queasy. 

“Right,” I say in a bored voice, and scratch my armpit. 

“She’s always like, go go go! All the time, you know? Like playing tennis one minute, swimming the next, going on a mad run the next it’s like,” she rolls her eyes for emphasis, “take a break, girl, please, you know?”

“Mm.”

“I’ve been trying my best to convince her to come to that festival too, just to get away from the routine, but I can’t get her to give me any sort of answer about it.”

I frown. “Did you invite her to the festival?”

“Oh, was I not meant to? I kind of thought it’d be fun if she came, you know, so it’s not just me.”

“I didn’t know you were coming either.”

Her face drains. “Oh, well, Shane asked me, and I-”

“No, no, you can. Oh my God, obviously, I didn’t mean-”

“Right! Okay, of course, but like, I don’t want to impose on-”

“Just I didn’t know Evie might come, that’s all.”

“Well, yeah, I thought it’d be nice for me to have a close friend with me, but if you don’t want her to... like, she might not be able to anyway, so.”

“I don’t not want her to come.” God, why does this feel like a conversation two thirteen-year-olds would have? I swear I haven’t felt this juvenile in years, and I cringe, as though some other version of myself, the cooler Jude, is watching me engage in this conversation and groaning into his hands. Sometimes, these days, I feel like the cooler Jude is slipping through my fingers like handfuls of sand.

“She’s actually really nice,” Claire says with an edge of defensiveness. “I know she’s a bit quiet. I thought that when I met her first too, she was kind of known as the weird girl at school, but when you get to know her, she’s a really sweet person.”

“I know,” I say, my face burning. “I mean... she seems nice. I didn’t mean to imply that she isn’t. Please don’t tell her I think she’s quiet, or weird, or that I don’t want her at the festival or anything like that.”

“No, of course.”

“Because I do… like... think she’s nice, and it’d be okay if she came with us. I would even want her to, actually.” Shut up. God, please, shut the fuck up, you dickhead. 

Claire smiles and nods. 

“But don’t tell her I specifically want her to either, just… Don’t tell her anything.” Oh, line me up against a wall and shoot me, execution style. 

“I won’t.”

I bet she will. And I bet she'll tell her about about the smell of desperation off me, too.

“Turner!” Shane bellows. “What are you at? Your team mates are flailing over here.”

“Right, bye,” I tell Claire, and turn around quickly, unable to bear the embarrassment for another second. 

“Bye!”

As I walk back onto the pitch, I screw my eyes shut and thump my fist against my forehead. 

I’m toast. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

[allyaloe]

What Magic Is Coming Towards You Right Now? PICK AN IMAGE

All image credit goes to Pinterest! Links are attached to each image.

This reading is concerned with what magic are you attracting into your life right now and what area of life is being filled with magic? Messages will not resonate for everyone, so use discernment. Go with the image you feel drawn to most or have an intuitive "nudge" about. You can scroll down to see the reading for your chosen image. If this resonates and you feel called, you can purchase a paid reading on my Ko-Fi shop here.

You can also check out all my links, including my website/FAQ and YouTube channel, here.

Many blessings and thanks! :)

IMAGE 1

You are finding strength in the strangest of places. You may be an Aquarius or have Aquarius placements in your birth chart. You may find that you have the strength to overcome obstacles you never thought possible and quite literally manifesting the impossible into thin air. You are finding that the magic you seek in life is being attracted to you through you. Some people or a person in this group could have an H initial in your name. I almost thought of Harry Potter, so that could resonate for you, even the character of Snape could be significant to some of you, or even a snake. 

This is a group for my manifestors or even those into the law of assumption. Some of you really are master manifestors and you need to believe in your own inner magic and creativity. You need to cater to your mental health, which may have been on the back burner as of late, and find and reclaim your strength to keep on going. Some of you may think that the world is a bitter and cruel place, but I promise you, you really can do anything! You have to keep the promises you made for yourself and keep on pushing!

 Some of you may be looking for a new job opportunity, and it’s important you don’t give up the search. The time was 1:11 as I wrote this, so take it as divine confirmation that everything is going to be okay! You have to believe things will be different this time, “no matter what the world throws at you,” I heard. Some of you may have Scorpio placements and the letter L in your name too, so take it if it resonates! I wish you the very best of luck!

IMAGE 2

So for this group, I’m hearing your magic will come from something external, a pre-established job, or something that is handed to you. Some of you could have Lucifer or Apollo as your deities and be into Roman and Greek mythology and culture, or be descended from that culture. Some of you could be lighting candles. I see someone lighting dark blue candles and feel this sense of praying on an altar, so please take this if it resonates! 

I feel like your magic will come more from spellwork and rituals you perform, with an emphasis on maintaining your safety if you are new to this practice! Some of you could be witches and use sage, herbs, oils and incense to grant you your desires and witches. Respectfully, some of you could be Christian and trying to break out and explore other avenues of spirituality. I feel it will be really good for you to see what’s out there, and empower your growth. Only take it if it resonates, and leave the rest. 222 and 444 could be relevant angel numbers for you. The more you set and cast your intention, the more it will come to life in your reality. Also, if you are having any family issues, these will be resolved, so do not worry so much, okay? The colour yellow and palo santo could be significant too.

In essence, this is a time of growth and for your career to level up, being “elevated to the next level,” so take the reigns and seize the opportunity! Good luck!

IMAGE 3

Your magic could come from learning to value yourself in a soulmate connection and not putting anyone on a pedestal. I know this will induce some eye-rolling for some, but this does feel like a karmic tie and connection with a lot to teach you. You may feel drawn to the ocean and sea life. You could be a Taurus sun, moon, rising or this person could be. Someone could be a Libra sun, moon, rising or Venus. Take it how it resonates!

You may feel like you’ve known this person before, and have a sense of precognition or deja vu surrounding this connection. You will see the numbers 222 and 555 to confirm you’re on the right path. You and this person could be involved in sports, like soccer or netball, or work in an athletic wear shop. Someone could have a grey cat. The magic will come from sparking something with this like minded individual and, like I stated previously, learning to love yourself through how they love you! A song came through for you by Wolf Alice which may resonate for you, called Smile. In that song, lyrics that stood out to me were “I am what I am, and I’m good at it/Lost souls congregate at the bar, take a minute and remember who you are.” This once again ties into the theme of rediscovering yourself. 

This may also resonate overall with having to find yourself before seriously committing to another person, not letting the trauma of the past weigh you down, but becoming actively involved in your own life and reclaiming your power and strength. This also feels tied to the first group, so feel free to check that one out too, if you feel called! Overall, the magic of love whether it be through yourself, a new partner, friendships or family - chosen or otherwise - is strong here. I wish you all the very best!

Thank you for checking out my work and I'll see you next time!

[great20sworld]

LIVING THE DREAM

A Viktor x Reader fanfiction

Author's note: Chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7 and chapters 8 are available in my Tumblr page along with summary.

⚠️ Disclaimer ⚠️: Societal aspects appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real world aspects are purely coincidental.

Chapter 9: Not You

________________________

"You have to leave."

Viktor says in one breath, his gaze travelling anywhere but meeting yours. After you, Jayce and him defied gravity by charging up the 'Hexcrystals' (as per Jayce's method of nomenclature) Heimerdinger had given permission for Jayce to transfer his research materials into a new workspace where he could proceed to investigate the potential of the crystals. Jayce had been overjoyed, and overwhelmed so much so that he had to resist the urge to show tears of joy in front of his new friends.

However, even the exhilaration of discovery and development wasn't enough to tackle the exhaustion which had come hand in hand with the time, energy and effort put into your frantic work. Afterall, even great minds require rest- more than the layperson sometimes (or so Heimerdinger said). With the final promise that his equipments and research would be safely preserved until used again, Jayce and you were allowed to leave. However, Viktor was detained by his old professor.

He looked like a deer caught in headlights when Heimerdinger called him back into his office. Even though Jayce and you immediately backtracked at the professor's words because you feared Viktor may get punished, you were both sent on your merry way, you back to Gina's house and Jayce back to his (although you spent some time in the astronomy department with someone you found very interesting).

Nothing could hinder Viktor's giddy attitude from last night- or so you thought.

Oh, how innocently wrong you were.

The next day when you sauntered you way into the academy, (recieving looks full of admiration and awe from some students and researchers who were passing by, some who knew you from your immense strength to carry huge cartons, and some who heard scarce rumours from yesterday), you did not expect to get yanked into Viktor's office by the man himself.

"Woah- there are better ways to ask for an autograph, Vikt-..."

Your grin immediately fades at the sight of Viktor's expression.

Well, you can now say you've seen your favourite character's "displeased to the umpteenth degree" expression in the first person. Also, conflicted.

Which brings you to the present moment.

"What do you mean I need to leave?" You furrowed your brows as Viktor closes the door behind you, to avoid the students trying to peek in. Your bewilderment was being greatly distracted at the sight of Viktor's small cozy office, though you try your best to keep up with his seriousness.

"You know exactly what I mean." Viktor says, turning back to you, not a hint of a smile on his handsome face.

"You need to leave...the academy, the project, whatever you're involved with...associated with me. We cannot keep this up."

Your eyes widen, eyebrows shooting up your forehead, as your lips part in an incredulous scowl. "What...! I can't leave! You said it yourself, I'm your...."

"You're not my assistant." He interrupts, tapping on his desk for emphasis. "I don't know what I was thinking when I said that to Medarda- but I'm taking it back now. You're not. Overlooking the fact that you don't even work here!" You couldn't help but notice slight hesitation in between his sentences, as if he was drilling himself to say it. Not to mention the discomfort he felt in addressing you like a disobedient student under his tutoring.

As he was searching for words, you interfere, your tone measured and your countenance sober for once, arms folded over your chest, leaning forward.

"What did Heimerdinger say to you yesterday?"

He stops, his gaze finally settling on yours. A glimmer of dither played in his eyes before he snaps back at you.

"This is not about-"

"What. Did. He say?" You emphasise your point, mimicking him and tapping on his desk with your forefinger, ignoring the delirious way your mind fixates upon the way his hair seems to be defying the laws of physics whenever his head moved.

After a heavy sigh, he presses his forefinger and thumb over his eyes rubbing them lightly. "He was agitated. Well, despite us inventing something chaotically phenomenal overnight, he was upset about all the academy codes I, as his assitant had broken. Stealing one of the confiscated items, sneaking into his office, bringing someone who is banned from the academy with me into said office...." He counts of on his slender fingers as he lists of his "crimes".

Another shaky sigh leaves his chest.

"...and, where do I come in on this?" You ask nonchalantly.

That only irritated him further. "Didn't you hear me? I've broken enough academy rules already and gotten myself two weekends worth of extra work as repercussion, an unregistered assistant... shouldn't be one of the rules I've broken."

"Ha! Well too late!" You hit the table lightly, grinning triumphantly. "Jayce already accepted me for hextech work, and technically, he is the one I should be listening to on that matter."

Without missing a beat, he says, "Jayce didn't say that."

"Yes he did!"

"Not officially - not legally. You are still someone who is completely unrelated- In the eyes of the academy."

"Well then tell him to add me legally..." You raise one eyebrow.

Viktor facepalms, shaking his head (you repress the urge to tuck a strand of errand hair behind his ear gently). "It is not so simple! Were you a student of the academy?"

"...No."

"Are you in training here?"

"Uh..."

"Are you involved in any research here?"

"Well...um-"

"Ignoring all that..." Viktor gestures vaguely, "you haven't even undergone the apprenticeship process, not given the interview! Haven't been assessed properly by me! I'd know, I haven't seen you in the list."

To say you were defeated seemed like an understatement. You found your arms dangling at your sides helplessly, mind wandering.

"I'm sorry..." Viktor's gaze lifts from you, fixing on splotches of dried old ink on his desk. "But if anyone, Heimerdinger being the worse case- notices that you are... Unidentified regarding the documents, you could meet worse fates than being told off from my office."

"I helped you guys..."

"Y/N..."

"You're supposed to be thanking me or even getting my legal documents taken care of, for what I did yesterday..."

"Y/N I am not going to get you into troubling territories just because you're capable of helping us, with work!" Viktor's voice hardens, his hands gesturing palms open in stressed undertones.

Your lips adjust themselves into a scowl, but deep inside you were desperate.

"Why do you even care so much about the rules, anyways? You are from the undercity and..."

The sudden commanding impact of the metal on the end of his cane with the tiles beneath you, silences you so suddenly that you flinch at the noise.

"And what...?" The voice you so loved wasn't warm nor agitated. It was cold, harsh, chilling you to the bone. "Yes, I'm from the undercity, does that equal rebellious and uncaring of propriety? Perhaps I could only achieve by breaking the rules?" The way his eyes narrowed piercing your soul with those amber eyes were beyond disconcerting, you would have felt better if he had punched you.

"Viktor no- I....that is not what I meant, I meant you are rebellious in the umm...good way...?"

You should shut up.

"Leave. I have another assistant, someone who won't question me! Dismissed." You could tell those jaws we're clenched as he spoke between gritted teeth.

You wanted to run. But your steps seemed unhurried as if still being pulled towards the man you admired. The slam of the door behind you almost brought tears to your eyes. To escape the staring of startled passerby students, you walk outside, your adventure over even before it began, your heart beating fast as the shameful shade of red took over your cheeks and eyes filled with tears.

______________________________

The cacophonous symphony of the metal laden machinery ploughing its way into the thick groves in the backside of the academy in an attempt of destructive progress was somewhat succeeding in the duty you assigned it to do in your own mind- drowning out the words echoing in your brain spoken from hatred you didn't deserve. Your mind subconsciously lingered on the plumes of dust and smoke rising as gravel was crushed beneath the machinery- each a part of a bigger boulder once upon a time, now flecks of stone, your gaze travelling up and above the skeletal framework of the buildings.

You had contemplated rushing straight to Gina's, but then stopped yourself at the self depreciating voice clawing at the back of your head for being a burden; pulling that poor soul away to lament about your inconsequential attempts at accompanying the one you admired in his works and passions. No, you couldn't disturb Gina. You had already done your duties for the day, helped her out with the big crates from the factories which supplied the raw materials, did most of the cleaning, taken her son to his school and even tried helping with the baking (keyword being "try" here, but she was kind enough to complement you).

So you had lost your way in wandering around the huge localities covered by academy buildings. If anyone asked though, you would say it's intentional, to be poetic about it in your own stinging loneliness. You had tried talking with the super intelligence tied to your wrist, it's mechanical monotone not reaching anywhere near to human comfort.

What would machines know of the heart?

Strangely, you were glad this wasn't the only instance where you found yourselves by yourselves though. It was clearly obvious that you preferred your own company more than anyone else's. That didn't make the memories of your own failed experiments and rejected theory proposals along with unpleasant lab accidents any less embarassing or painless. You had tried your level best to not create mistakes in the much more technologically and scientifically developed world- where you came from. You loathed the fact that most of them still lead to debacles, but you prides yourself on the fact that none of those blunders seemed to make you love science any less, no matter who criticized you.

Why was criticism from Viktor any different?

You scold your foolish heart in being so tender to the cuts inflicted on it by the one it yearns for. He wouldn't even have noticed, you were sure. No, his heart was promised to progress and the depths upto which he could plough into wisdom of sciences.

Weren't yours too?

You didn't know. Not anymore.

A sudden tap on your shoulder snaps you out of your reverie. Startled, you turn, to be met with the silhouette of a massive man standing right behind you. You stumble forward, craning your neck to catch a glimpse of his face as he stood blocking the sun. At this angle, he looked powerful, his arms huge with muscles, face scarred and marked with such strange marks that you wouldn't dare to venture into the tales of how they came to be. The man was practically glowering down at your smaller form like you were his deadly enemy.

Suddenly, your eyes catch sight of the veins throbbing in his temples and arms. There was no mistaking it. It was imprints of something which had flowed through his veins, a testament to endless torture from where he served the monsters. The veins were....

Dangerously purple.

______________________________

SLAM!

Sky Young winces, her shoulders raising nearly upto the tips of her ear when the loud sound rings out in the hallway.

Was that Viktor's office door?

Who just left?

She quickens up her pace on her way to his office. Viktor had asked her to meet him. She sees you walking outside, rather briskly.

"Y/N....?" She calls out, but her call did nothing to slow her down, as she walked out. Maybe she didn't hear her? Her gaze darts to Viktor's office.

What happened?

Sky enters Viktor's office, slowly swinging the door open partially as if something will jump out- to see him sitting hunched over in his desk, his head in her hands.

The creak of the door alerts him,

"I told you to get out- oh!" Sky is taken aback by the uncharacteristic grimace resting on his face until he catches sight of her, to which he quickly adjusts his expression to an agitated smile.

No. Not smile. A stretch of the lips.

"Um...good morning?" Sky smiles softly, walking in.

"Good morning Sky..." Viktor says quickly, sitting up straighter.

"...Is everything alright?" She asks cautiously.

"Yes, ofcourse everything's fine. Please, sit down, I have something to ask of you." Viktor says, his hand quickly searching in the desk to draw out some papers from files.

Sky sits down, placing her own clipboard on the desk. It contained information of the latest interviews and examination details of the new training researchers to be recruited into the academy. Something about it bothered her extremely to the point where she decided she must discuss it with her trusted friend, Viktor. However, since he had called her here first, she lets him speak first.

"So, me and Jayce Talice..." He began, a bit unsure on how to go about the news.

"Oh! Yes, I've heard!" Sky suddenly says, grinning. "Hextech...right?"

"How did you know?"

"Word travels fast..." She chuckles, looking at him. "Although, you could have contacted me to handle lab safety procedures before you began... experimentation. I was still working in the astronomy tower..." She smiles kind naturedly.

"Y-yes, about that... I, I'm sorry that I didn't contact you sooner for this but, I need your help now."

"Ofcourse Viktor, I'm your assistant." She says, and dismisses the slight flinch from him as a result of sleep deprivation.

"Well, you are also... assistant to many others. Around the academy. You work in different departments for lab procedures and measurement system controls..." Viktor says, pulling out a sheet of paper titled "Lab Assistant Transfer certificates". Sky's eyes scans the paper.

"This field, that has newly opened up now, and with many possibilities, some of which we are sure of and some of which we are still exploring is bound to get hectic and very busy for us to handle without a... permenant assistant in the field. Might I ask you to be...that assistant?" He smiles, politely handing her the page. "I can assure you this would be worth your time and effort!" He adds.

Sky beams. "Yes! I'd be more than happy to help!" She exclaims.

As Viktor smiles, reaching out for the pen for her to sign the document with, she suddenly asks, "what about Y/N? She'll be there too, right?"

"W-what?" Viktor stutters.

"Y/N, She'd be working with me then, right?" Sky smiles, looking for an affirmation.

"Sky...what are you saying!" Viktor says, as if shocked. "I just send her away!"

"Send her away?! Why?" Sky asks, surprised.

"She is not from the academy! Neither is she in training, she cannot..."

"But she did help you both, didn't she?" Sky interferes, confused.

She could see viktor's lips tremble slightly. Nervous, was he?

"Sky, no, not you too! You don't understand..." He rambles, running a hand through his hair. "Heimerdinger, if he found out... For heaven's sake, we would be going against the academy laws if we let her stay!"

Sky chuckles, looking at him incredulously. Viktor hesistates.

"What's so funny?" He asks, irritated.

"Viktor take a look at this." Sky slides her clipboard with the names of the newly recruited assistants towards Viktor, along with their qualifications listed on the side.

"The majority of the people chosen here in order to research and work in their respective fields in the academy, are from Piltover. Now, if you look here..." She taps the qualification papers. "And study it closely, you can clearly see that many from the undercity have been turned down, even when they are obviously more qualified to be studying and working here. They don't offer them the opportunity to grow and prosper with knowledge...." Sky says, her brilliant mind outraged.

"....because they're from the undercity." Viktor finishes her sentence in a murmur, as if his head is afloat amoungst the clouds. He felt lied to. Betrayed.

"Yes. Upon closer inspection, Viktor I was able to recognise that a lion's portion of these people who have been accepted have been accepted by financial support alone. There's even special priority for people who are in Piltover as per this special category, for crying out loud!" Sky's frustration only grew.

Viktor hadn't paid much attention to this before. The academy of piltover had posed as a prestigious central sector of knowledge and opportunities for all. The all coming with "some terms and conditions apply" dulled the beauty and glory with which the academy had stood- for him atleast.

"Viktor... Do you remember?" Sky continues, her voice hushed and gentle, as she remembers a painful memory. "When you helped me prepare my own resume to enter the academy research sectors, there were... Countless other piltovian competitors. You encouraged me still in this path and you stood up for me when the time came."

Ofcourse Viktor remembers it. How he had spent hours consoling Sky about what she had to face during her interviews, enraged at the system itself, and standing by her side for open defense of her proposals to the research fields, which took weeks, his voice was heard those days. Defending the undercity in whatever minute ways he could, however fast on his mind he had to be, was one of his passions even in his soft spoken tongue.

That endeavour had turned out to be fruitful and Sky had been accepted, immediately offering to be part time assitant to him. His lips gently lift upwards at the memory.

"All I'm saying is, the people who actually need the opportunity to continue on the path of knowledge, to seek discoveries and those who actually have the intellect and passion to do so, atleast the passion to learn are pushed away in the name of prejudice; you know that. Why fuel a system which is already deteriorating because of its own posion? Why obey their rules?" Sky questions him.

He had no answer.

"Viktor, we are from the undercity- we know what it felt like to have our chances ripped away from us, we won't stand for this, would we?"

Viktor remembers your words. "you're from the undercity...!" You had said passionately to him, and he had pushed you away, with the false notion that your words would contain nothing but disdain and prejudice.

How could he? He drove away a bright soul...

"Please... Please call her back, I didn't know that was what had happened before but, we can still fix this!" Sky says desperately.

Truthfully, she had met the starry eyed young woman who had turned around the fate of piltovian technology last night in the astronomy tower. You were the one who had told her everything, who had enthusiastically hinted that Viktor would indeed call upon her to transfer her various department jobs into a singular, better one (and how accurate you had been!).

She had found a kindred spirit last night in the tower, one who liked to eccentrically mess around with the rules governing natural philosophy until something strikes and changes the perspectives of everything. Hextech being only one of them, sky truly believed. Sky was ecstatic to know that she would also be working with them, on this new unfamiliar but exciting path of discovery. To hear that Viktor had send her away was equivalent to having something shatter inside her- something she needed the most.

A friend. Someone who understood.

She liked you and she had a transient feeling Viktor did too.

The sound of Viktor's sigh brings her back to the present. He was standing up now, cane clutched nervously in his hand, his fingers tap-tap-tapping away at the handle.

"What if...what if she gets in trouble for this?" A nervous tap on the desk.

"Do you think she would care? Didn't you see her, Viktor..." Sky implores, her eyes wide. "I don't know if you've noticed, but pretty sure she'd be the last person to be frightened about getting into trouble with the academy. Besides, she's strong..." A small chuckle sounds from her. "Quite literally."

She is pleased to see a small smile creeping its way upto Viktor's lips. "She is. Smart too..."

"Then why are we still here?" Says Sky, standing up, as Viktor already makes his way to the door.

"Let's go bring her back!"

_________________________________

Chapter 10 available NOW in my Tumblr page.

[the-blue-eyed-firebender]

Hi!

Have I ever told you this? (Probably! But I'll say it again, ha) It's been an absolute treat reading your Royai fics. Thank you for joining this fandom!

What are your inspirations? 😃 In terms of writing style, but also ideas, etc. Please indulge us all, and please do geek out about your writing process too!

I always love learning about how fan fic writers work and write!

Thank you, and I hope you have a lovely day~

Hey there!

You are so kind. It's hard to put into words how much it means to have had such a lovely reception from the FMA fandom. I used to write a lot when I was a kid, but eventually stopped due to some unfortunate and painful circumstances. Writing for this fandom over the last couple of months has been an incredible journey. It has healed some very intrinsic parts of me that I’d forgotten were wounded, and I have written more in the last few months than I have in 15+ years.

So, first and foremost, thank YOU.

Inspirations: I've always been a lover of fantasy and science fiction. My very first fandom was Star Wars, followed shortly thereafter by Avatar: The Last Airbender. Recently, I've become a huge Sarah J. Maas fan (I read ALL of her books in the year 2023 - minus the new one that came out in January). I've also enjoyed Suzanne Collins and Leigh Bardugo (particularly her Six of Crows duology).

But really, I just love stories. I love adventure, magic, and romance. I look for complex characters, vibrant worlds, strong magic systems, and rich backstories. My favorites always involve women who embody strength (mental, physical, and emotional), capable leadership, and femininity. Characters who are equal parts war-like and compassionate, fearsome yet soft.

But my very best inspiration comes from real-life: my sweet husband. It's going to sound silly, but I feel like I write about true love because I've experienced it. This guy was 100% written by a woman (lol). He's read everything I've written, and provides the most wonderful feedback and encouragement.

As far as style/process, I feel like I am still developing it? Haha! It's only been a minute since I got back into writing. But it usually starts with daydreaming to music (often songs without lyrics; Secession Studies is a favorite), typically while I'm in the car. With my first FMA fic, The Counteroffer, I was listening to "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone on repeat. Something about the way he sings "Please stay / I want you, I need you, oh God" really set the tone for that story. That, combined with inspiration from the infamous Chapter 54 of A Court of Mist and Fury.

There's usually an moment or a line of dialogue that pops into my brain first (for The Counteroffer, it was Hawkeye lifting the discharge paperwork to find Mustang has also given her an unsigned marriage certificate). I write that bit, then the rest of the story sort of fills in around it. I write in disjointed fragments, adding chunks here and there and then connecting them together. Sometimes I shuffle things around, moving chunks to different locations in the story to see how it changes the flow.

Beginnings, endings, and titles are usually the hardest for me to come up with.

And here's a few of my own patterns that I've started to notice:

I love stories that read with a poetic beat to them (I think the best example of this in my own work is Hourglass).

I use line breaks for emphasis a lot.

I am intentional about keeping things concise but impactful. When it comes to word count, my personal rule is quality > quantity, always.

I try not to use "said/says" without other descriptive words.

If a portion of the story is dialogue driven, I'll read it aloud to make sure it actually flows like real conversation.

I often drop "and" from sentences when I feel like it messes with the poetic flow ("She became familiar with the space between heartbeats, the squeeze of the trigger, the wet sound of a bullet finding its mark." - Hourglass).

In the same vein, I use a sort of "rule of threes" quite a bit. I break sentences into three parts, offer three descriptions of a character's observation/sensation/emotion, repeat the same phrase three times, etc. (Oh look, I've done it again.)

I write in third person, present tense, always from the perspective of one character at a time. I feel like this puts myself and the reader right in the middle of the action, as it's happening. I dive deep into the primary character's thoughts and senses, both internal and external.

I re-read/re-watch the original content (i.e. FMAB, the manga) often, even if it's just in small parts. It keeps me grounded to who these characters are, and prevents me from going OOC. It's so easy to lose track of characterization if it's been too long since I watched an episode or read a chapter.

Hoo boy this got long. Thanks so much for the delightful ask! It was a lot of fun to dive into my own writing process and habits.

[lilac-den]

Feverish Understanding.

A snippet of TSR's MC and Benefactor, a year after the tragedy.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Go away." I groan out with difficulty, the scratch at the back of my throat leaving me less than hospitable to whoever is crazy enough to knock on my door.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Jesus fucking Christ. I lift my heavy eyelids open and glare at the wall in front of me.

The knocks on the door are still three, but there is a rhythm to it; the first knock comes out hard, but the second knock is softer than the first.

Then the third is just a vicious bang, like the person put a lot of power to make it as loud as possible.

Only one person knocks this way.

I move out of my bed with my blankets curled around me, my hands gripping the fabric as I waddle my way out of my room to the front door. Using one hand to hold my blanket together and the other to grab the door knob, I swing the door open.

"Hello, little nightlight!"

Of course.

I stare at Benefactor, with zir trademark grin and a plastic bag full of unknown items. Ze is in a suit again, this time with a navy blue color. The tie around zir neck is of a dark green color again, another trademark of zir.

I frown quizzically.

"Benefactor," I start, "I didn't know there's another mission today."

"Oh, there isn't." Ze lifts the bag up as emphasis for...well, something, "But I figured I drop by my favorite beneficiary."

"I'm your only beneficiary."

"And you know I only pick the best." Ze counters my statement off lightheartedly, "Mind if I come in?"

I open my mouth, ready to give a response. But ze doesn't even wait as ze strolls in, easily so given how my body feels like a lump right now. As if ze's aware of it, Benefactor grabs me by the biceps and holds me steady before pursing zir lips together.

"Wow, you really are sick."

I swat zir hands off of me. "I'll manage." Despite my words, Benefactor doesn't seem the least bit interested in leaving my apartment. Rather, ze moves to close the door behind zim before trying to drape one of my arms around zir shoulder.

"Come on, be a good employee and let me handle you."

"Who are you, my-" My words get cut off, something tickling my throat hard enough to unleash a coughing fit.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Really now, nightlight, you should have called."

"Call my boss that I can't do my work because I'm sick?" I scoff. "Unethical in our society, don't you think?"

"But I'm not like other bosses, am I?"

I cough again and the phelgm that has been in my throat for a while gets ejected onto my tongue. I furrow my brows and Benefactor manages to grab a tissue while walking me to my couch. Once I sit down, ze offers the tissue to me. I grab it. "Thanks."

"I already told you that sick days are allowed."

"And I think I told you-Mmph!"

I find myself holding a stick between my lips. I look down, just in time to see the digitized thermometer as the numbers go higher and higher until-

"41 degrees." Benefactor clicks zir tongue and I rip the thermometer out of my mouth.

"You-cough!-Wouldn't it kill you to cool it with the mo-cough!-mother hen act?"

"Oh come now, does it kill you if I have a heart?"

I open my mouth to respond but all that comes out is another series of coughs. I take a moment to glance up at zir face, the way Benefactor has that expression of uncertainty.

"You must rest, nightlight."

"I'm..." The heat on my face and the dizziness seems to increase.

"Nightlight? Oi, nightlight!"

My vision turns black soon after.

~~~

Something is stroking my head. There's nothing dangerous about it.

The hand is coarse, but it's also gentle and soothing somehow. I sigh, sinking myself into that warmth.

It's like Ittania is the one stroking me. But this hand is much too large for it to be hers.

The hand disappears but what comes after is something soft covering me. It brings the picture of Maverick tucking me in.

"I'll be right back." Someone tells me. This voice has a soft tone, like Rydigan's. But it is too deep to be his.

A gentle squeeze on my hand. The strength is stronger than Enid's, but no less warm. I fell asleep before I even realize it.

The next time I gain a sense of consciousness, the smell of something boiling forces me awake.

Who's cooking?

I open my eyes wearily and face the ceiling, the setting on one of the light sources in this room on a dim brightness. I still smell the scent.

It reminded me how it's been a year since I lost my sense of smell for food. Or taste.

They all just taste empty to me.

I will my body to move, to sit up from my bed and fight against the fever that plagues me. A heaviness weighs in my mind but I pay no heed.

I raise my eyes and find the figure of Maverick sitting on the lone chair in the room. I can still remember that disapproving gaze of his - a mixture of worry added in.

"I don't need rest." I mumble to him, yet knowing him to be merely a conjured up imagination.

The figure doesn't say a word. I get off my bed and head for the door.

The one standing in my way for it is Ittania now, with her arms crossed and a pout on her face. I move my hand for her.

She slips away from me, leaving me with the cold air instead of her body's warmth.

"[Name]..."

I don't need to turn around to know it's Rydigan. I grab the doorknob and swing the door open.

And Enid is there, staring at me.

A part of me still aches. But I have dance this tune much too often. I close the door behind me, keeping my body away from hers.

I still feel cold from my attempt with Ittania.

I make my way for the kitchen with silent steps, following the source of the smell until I see Benefactor.

Ze's wearing a soft green apron, with hand stirring a pot full of soup and the other holding a bowl.

"Still there?"

I sigh at zir question and step deeper into the room till I'm near zim. "Yeah."

Benefactor nods in understanding. Ze knows I have ghosts hanging onto me, no matter how many therapists, drugs or treatments I get. Whatever therapists that didn't try to scam me for my money usually said this was my survivor's guilt talking, that I was traumatized over being the witness and sole survivor of a tragic tragedy.

Benefactor, who abhorred their assumptions, told me it was simply me not wanting to let them go, that I felt more guilt in not being there for them than outliving them.

I couldn't agree with zim more

"You cook?" I start a conversation with zim and Benefactor doesn't bat an eye.

"The fact you ask me that means I'll have to do so more often." Benefactor pours the soup in a small bowl, the liquid releasing hot steam. Ze passes the soup to me. "Remember to blow before drinking."

"I'm not a child."

Ze chuckles. "Of course not. I'm reminding you as an adult."

I roll my eyes at that and blow on the surface and edges of the liquids before taking the smallest sip. Much to my surprise, the soup tastes...fine.

No, rather than fine-

"How is it?"

"I can taste this."

Benefactor nods, pauses then asks again. "Do you truly?"

"It's not a lot," I start, "but the fact I can taste even the salt is something."

Benefactor chuckles. "I'm not surprised. This had been an old recipe, one of a kind."

"Then how did you learn it?"

Ze stirs zir spoon into the soup, mixing the ingredients and spices within. "Someone taught me to."

I furrow my brows. "That's vague."

"I've always been vague," Ben answers without much to reveal any deeper meaning on that. I watch zim stir, again and again...

"What were they like?"

Ben stops stirring. A stony silence.

I look at zir face but it's an unreadable one, unlike the usually mad grin ze adopts. But zir black eyes remind me of what I see every time I look in the mirror since the incident.

I open my mouth. "It's okay if-"

"They were beautiful."

I stare blankly at the words Ben speaks out. The first set of words to escape zim. But more than that, zir black eyes have softened considerably. It's like the inky, black void turns calm and gleams with a light I've never seen before.

Then ze turns to me and zir gaze darts to my bowl.

"Drink up before it gets cold."

[lostcauses-noregrets]

(Ackerman bond anon here) Thank you for your answer. Going through the references and analysing everything carefully. You amazing for always carrying so much knowledge of our old men yaoi (eruri). PS.: Personal question, how did you interpret "A choice with no regrets" name title? Since the Ackerman Bond is mentioned as a choice. Did you wonder that perhaps choosing Erwin was Levi's own choice without regret? (You can answer as person / headcanon as you wish, 'd love to get your insight).

Thank you Ackerman-bond-anon, you're very welcome ♡

The whole point of Levi's "choice with no regrets" mantra is that the future and the outcome of our choices are unknowable, so the best we can do is make a choice in the present moment that we will least regret.

I think Levi's decision to follow Erwin is very much a choice with no regrets. This comes across most clearly in the ACWNR visual novel (my emphasis):

Erwin: "Of course. That's the duty of those who survived, after all. Well then—will you come along with me now, or run away from here and go home? Decide that on your own." What a man—Levi thought to himself. When he'd gotten caught in the underground, he'd felt humiliated. He had thought that Erwin was brimming with an air of superiority as he looked down at his catch—but now, Levi knew that he'd been mistaken. That kind of quarrel about superiority or inferiority had never concerned Erwin even in the slightest. He was, after all, fighting a more important war against the titans—no, perhaps, it was against something even bigger than that. Fixing his sight on that something, he'd carried on fighting, trying his hardest to defeat it. Levi thought—he'd been obsessed only with his pride, limiting his horizons only to that, and had then lost important friends as a result—with his current self, he definitely had no chance at winning against this man. If that's the case— "All right… It looks like you have something that I lack. Until I know what that 'something' is, I'll go with you." Having made his choice, Levi stood up. And then, catching up to Erwin, he began to trod through the heavy rain that obscured everything before them— Towards the hope surely left somewhere in this broken world, he began to walk.

At the point that Levi chooses to follow Erwin, he doesn't fully understand what Erwin is fighting for. He knows that Erwin is fighting for a higher purpose but he can't ascertain what that is, however he recognises that Erwin has something that he lacks; a vision, a goal, a cause to dedicate his strength to, so he chooses to follow Erwin until he finds out what that something is. Levi doesn't know what the future holds, but in that specific moment, following Erwin is his best bet, not just for survival, but to find purpose and a cause to fight for. That's his choice with no regrets.

This is one of the things I love about Erwin and Levi's relationship. Levi doesn't trust Erwin unconditionally right from the start, his choice to follow him is very much conditional on finding out what drives Erwin to fight. However he recognises immediately that Erwin has something he lacks - a cause to turn his strength to, and that's enough for him to decide to follow him. Their relationship and the Deep Bond of Mutual Trust(TM) grows from that point onwards. Their relationship isn't immutable though, it changes and develops as they face new challenges, as Levi learns more about what that "something" is. This is why Levi chooses to continue following Erwin and fighting for his cause, even after he discovers that Erwin had the "self-interested goal of fulfilling his own dreams" and that he had an "innocent, childish, dream-chasing side to him." Levi still has no regrets about the choice he made.

[mercutiothedestroyer]

Do you have any headcanons on the characters's bodies? I tried to show off some of mine with this lineup of characters (unvoluntarly did all women + hange. But no one is complaining)

Mikasa being the buffest out of all of them is already canon, but I wanted to elaborate. I think her strenght is mostly in her arms and back muscles. Nice arms, large waist.I like to think her training style mostly involved lifting since someone pointed out how since she couldn't lift the beam to save Carla, she didn't want that to happen ever again. And lots of scars because that's just how things are when you're a soldier.

Annie is about the opposite. Her legs are the most developer part of her body in terms of muscles. Those kicks hurt real bad, just ask Reiner's ass. Her limbs are pretty short, that's where her size comes from. I think she would be a little less wide... but I ended up making her chest a big bigger than Mikasa to show the difference between the two.

Sasha my beloved. Her getting a little chubby after being in the scouts is such a dear headcanon to me. I've always thought she used to be a little malnurished from back home since her family is quite large (she has what, 4 siblings???) and they seemed to be on the poorer side. That's where her love for food and abbundance comes from. And honestly? She deserves it. Made her proportion kinda like mine and if ypu look closesly at the picture i added stretch marks. (but the quality is not the greatest)

Historia is the smallest and most petite canonically. I don't know why, but I always imagined her as having short legs but with a long torso and arms. She doesn't have a lot of muscles, but I think her high rank in the scouts comes from her agility and smarts. Do not underrestimate her. I depicted her pre partum but my post partum Historia is totally different... I might share it one day.

Ymir!!! I did the oppisite of Historia and gave her long legs with a shorter torso. I have her very broad shoulders and if she was facing away her back muscles would be nice too. To highlight how she can pick up her gf no problem. Her whole body is covered in freckles because I said so and no can stop me or change my mind.

And lastly Hange. I made their bodytype pretty androgenous. Flat chest, broad shoulders, a little hips but not many. I think they are pretty lanky with long limbs and a smaller torso and they have about a million scars from their various experiments and Levi wrestling them in the bath tub.

These are just some characters but what do you think?

Hello @majestickdoodler,

Thank you very much for the ask, I will say it is a topic I am a bit tentative in answering as I know discussions of physical characteristics are rather a sensitive issue to some and even my self at times. That said, I will try and answer in a way that is respectful and tactful to the best of my abilities.

overall, when discussing the charecters in Attack on Titan, almost all of whom use ODM gear, I imagine that such a device requires a specific muscular training to even begin to use it. personally I have always thought that those who use it need a similar physique and training regime to real world figure skaters with heavy emphasis on core muscles so that their bodies can take the strain of the forces that such a device would incur.

These official artworks seem to show the overall physical characteristics and physiology of the AOT characters. Most of them appear to have significant core musculature but it would seem having six-pack abs and bulging muscles is not a requirement.

honestly I imagine that is why the Paradis military recruites people in their early teens and why the training is roughly 3-4 years, as I imagine they want younger people as to make it easier to cultivate the proper core strength and other musculature required to use ODM gear.

as to much of your speculations I overall concur, with the exception of Sasha, despite her propensity for gluttony, coming from an agrarian community where livestock and hunting are the main sources of food, she is likely quite fit in her own way. Her proficiency with a Bow would also seem to indicate this as people who do use them tend to have notable development in their muscles and skeletal structure.

Over all, I do hope I have provided a sufficient answer for you and one that is also tactful and effective. please let me know if I had said anything uncouth and please know it is not in anyway to cause offense or bad feeling.

[princesssarisa]

Comments about "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" that can and should coexist

I think these comments address every feminist complaint I've ever read about the 1937 Disney classic, though I don't know if they'll all be "addressed" in the live-action remake or not.

"It's an old-fashioned convention for a fictional young girl's dreams to revolve around romance, based in the outdated, patriarchal idea that love and marriage are what female lives 'naturally' revolve around and should revolve around. It's only appropriate that more 'modern,' 'feminist' heroines have different wishes and goals."

and

"For a lonely, abused orphan like Snow White, whose only apparent friends at the beginning are birds, it's perfectly natural that she should dream of love."

"Love at First Sight isn't realistic, to portray it in modern media is out of fashion, and in real life, it would be ridiculous at best and disturbing at worst for a young man to just notice a pretty girl singing alone in a courtyard and promptly climb over the wall and sing a love song to her."

and

"Love at First Sight is a storytelling convention, and children can see it in fairy tales without assuming it's real. It won't make your daughter instantly run off with a cute stranger. Snow White and the Prince's romance isn't meant to be realistic – it's a simple, old-fashioned, idealized Romeo and Juliet-style romance, and we should feel free to enjoy it as such."

"Modern feminism doesn't like damsels in distress. It's only natural that in today's media, heroines should show more strength in the face of danger than they did in 1930s media."

and

"It's perfectly natural for Snow White to be petrified with fear when the Huntsman is about to kill her – instead of, say, trying to fight back – and frantic with terror as she runs through the dark forest. Not because 'girls are weak,' but because she's so young. A boy in the same situation would have just as much right to be terrified. Besides, after her initial terror passes, she proves remarkably resilient as she comforts herself by befriending the animals and singing a song. Not all strength looks 'tough,' after all."

"The original Grimms' tale and the 1937 film's emphasis on Snow White's cleaning and cooking reflects an outdated, patriarchal model of ideal femininity. It's probably best for a modern retelling to at least slightly downplay it, or omit it altogether."

and

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a nurturing personality and favoring domestic skills, regardless of gender. It's perfectly fine that as an individual, Snow White enjoys cooking and uses songs and imagination to make housework fun. Especially because of the Cinderella-like life her stepmother forced her into – domestic work is the main skill that she's learned, and it's all she has to offer the dwarfs in exchange for staying in their house."

"The 1937 Snow White is a bit too much of a 'mother hen' to the dwarfs, in a way that arguably borders on ableism. In a modern reimagining, she should remember that they're her elders, not children, and give them due respect."

and

"It's endearing to watch Snow White cajole, gently scold, and tease the dwarfs, and to gain power over a household of seven men in her own soft way."

"As the Queen's only (step)child, Snow White is presumably the heir to the throne. Retellings focuses on her coming into her own as a leader, leading a rebellion against the Queen, and finally becoming queen herself in the end are valid. So are retellings where the Queen is only Snow White's regent and wants to kill her not just for her beauty, but to keep the throne for herself."

and

"Snow White doesn't need to be a leader and her storyline doesn't need to be political in any way. That's not what the tale is about."

"Someday My Prince Will Come isn't a modern feminist song, just like I'm Wishing isn't one. It's out of fashion for a heroine's dreams to revolve around romantic love. The emphasis on the Prince coming to Snow White also places her in a passive role, rather than letting her be active like a more modern heroine and search for him."

and

"Someday My Prince Will Come gets a bad rap. Snow White isn't fantasizing about a prince she's never met. She loves him already, and is singing of her undying hope that they'll meet again, even though it seems unlikely that they will. Nor does she center her whole life around her dreams of him. Apart from the song and her wish on the "wishing apple," she never even mentions him after their meeting: as much as she loves him, she doesn't waste time pining for him, but moves on with her life while holding onto her faith that they'll reunite. Nor can she go looking for him herself, because she's in hiding from the Queen, so of course she dreams that he'll come to her."

"Snow White is painfully naïve to trust the Witch, and to let her in the house and take food from her despite having been warned repeatedly to beware of strangers. This earns her no points as a role model. It's no wonder that modern adaptations tend to make her 'smarter,' and either (a) have the Queen take the shape of someone she already knows and trusts, or (b) have her know the apple is poisoned, but eat it as a self-sacrifice to save the dwarfs' lives or some such thing, or (c) rewrite the story's climax to cut the poisoning altogether."

and

"Snow White isn't stupid, she's just naïve because she's young, and the Witch takes advantage of her kindness and her love. Despite knowing better, she can't bear to refuse a frail old woman's pleas to let her rest in the house. Then when she's told that the apple grants wishes and will bring the Prince to her, when she's been dreaming of him so ardently and still has no way of knowing if they'll meet again, she can't resist. It's a fatal mistake, but aren't heroines allowed to make mistakes? Must she be a role model in every moment? Why can't it be poignant that the Witch takes advantage of her youthful innocence and tender heart to mislead her?"

"The trope of the male hero saving the heroine was overused and outdated long ago. It makes sense for a modern retelling of Snow White to find some way or other for Snow White to save herself."

and

"The Prince waking Snow White isn't a particularly glaring case of 'boy rescues girl.' It's just a matter of love conquering evil. The Prince doesn't do any 'manly' act of heroism; all he does is give Snow White a kiss that he doesn't even know will revive her."

"The Prince kissing the seemingly-dead Snow White's lips has earned so much controversy over the years that it should be no surprise when modern retellings avoid it."

and

"The Prince's kiss isn't 'necrophilia' or 'non-consensual.' He's just giving his 'dead' beloved a sad, affectionate farewell. In later movies, is Belle being 'necrophiliac' or 'non-consensual' when she lays her head on the Beast's lifeless chest while declaring her love, or is Elsa when she hugs Anna's ice statue form in grief? This is no different."

"The Queen can be seen as a misogynistic figure, first of all by vilifying a woman in power, secondly because petty vanity is her motive, and any possible sympathetic explanation for why she's so desperate to be the fairest in the land (e.g. because society ties women's worth too much to their beauty) is ignored. It's understandable that a modern retelling should try to make her a more nuanced figure."

and

"The Queen is still one of Disney's most terrifying villains, despite being the first. She doesn't need more 'depth' or 'nuance' to be an outstanding character."

"Snow White is a passive character in both the original Grimms' tale and the Disney film. She's defined more by what happens to her and how other people feel about her than by anything she does. So of course modern retellings will tend to find ways to make her a more active player and give her more agency."

and

"A character doesn't need to be 'active' or have constant 'agency' to be a good character. We push for heroines to have 'agency' because women have too often been forced to be passive and rely on men, but for an individual character, in and of herself, 'active' doesn't need to be the rule. In the Grimms' tale, Snow White is passive because she's more of a symbol of youth and beauty than a real person: the real (villain) protagonist is the Queen. And in the Disney film, where Snow White is more of a person and more clearly the protagonist, what she does is be warm, friendly, and full of life and joy. In this way she earns others' love, and love saves her life. For some of us, this is wish-fulfillment and central to the story's appeal. Snow White is threatened with the Queen's terrible hatred, but just by being herself she earns a bounty of love, and love proves stronger than hate."

[papsiguesss]

⭐️⭐️

Thanks for the ask! (ask game post)

Okay so... star meant I got to pick myself... I thought for a while and decided I'd pick out a scene from Swap!AU since that AU is closest to my heart! <3 Going with a scene from the very first chapter, which is Lawrence dying/turning (edited some slight things for easier reading):

***

The exhausted vampire hunter struck the wooden stake with his hammer, using his last remaining strength. He was expecting the undead’s ghastly screams to fill his ears, but he would get to hear no such noises. The vampire simply looked at him as the life slowly faded from its eyes, a malicious grin on its face. Blood trickled down its chin as its corpse fell down to the ground.

(In my mind, Van Helsing never enjoys killing a vampire. I didn't put that much emphasis on it in this passage but I did try to get it across with the word choices)

As soon as he saw that he had been successful, Lawrence Van Helsing slumped down against the wall, breathing heavily as he held his hand near his throat. The pain coming from the two small puncture wounds on his neck was getting worse as each second passed. He had been too careless. He should not have let his guard down. He had been subjected to the vampire’s bite. Now, he was going to have to suffer because of his own foolishness. He felt himself starting to get dizzy as he was losing more and more blood. He had to act fast. He had to do something. If not, his soul would be damned for all eternity.

(I think this fic was mostly me whumping the everliving SHIT out of Van Helsing and honestly... yeah it already showed in the first chapter lmfao. Gotta do despicable things to that man and break his psyche.)

With trembling hands, he reached for a small flask in his suit pocket. Falling down onto his knees, he leaned against the wall, trying to use it to support himself. He pulled the cap away from the small bottle of holy water he was holding and slowly raised it up to his neck, uttering a prayer to himself. He had no idea if this was going to work, but this was his best chance.

He took a deep breath. This was it. He was going to save himself… or he was going to discover the fact that he was doomed. “My lord… I beg of you… please, save my soul”, the vampire hunter muttered as he tilted the bottle and let the last remaining drops of holy water fall down onto his skin.

As soon as it came into contact with his bite marks though, a searing pain shot through his entire body. It felt as if something had set him on fire. He let out a gruesome, inhuman wail, which echoed through the halls of the deserted castle he had found himself in. There was not a single person present to hear his horrendous screams. Maybe it was better that way. If someone had heard his shrieks, they would have been haunted by them forever.

The vampire hunter started to shake as he looked at his hands, starting to realise what had just occurred. The infection had spread too much already. His god had just forsaken him. Nothing could save him now. He was going to die here, and no one would be there to notice it. But it would not be an end for him. It would only be a beginning to a new existence. One of torment. “H-help…”, he stammered, trying to get up and walk away from the dead body next to him. “Anyone… please…”

Okay sooooo this was mostly the part I wanted to talk about!

I'm not sure how clearly it got across, but yes this is a Brides of Dracula reference! I always think scars are a really interesting thing for a character to have and I uh... may or may not have been a bit salty at the fact that Lawrence's burn scar after using his bite first aid strategy just instantly faded because HOLY WATER. Lawrence first only has the burn mark on his neck in the Swap!AU, but this scar later gets worse because someone presses a crucifix against his skin there (FUCK that guy. seriously). Pics underneath for reference. I hope that Lawrence's burn mark is clear enough on the drawing of him I made??

I also thought going with the base premise of the Brides bite scene would make sense since this is also Lawrence dealing with the consequences of getting bitten but of course in this AU he's the vampire and Dracula's the human so... it ends less fortunately for him this time.

Honestly I could rant about this AU the entire day because I have lots of blorbo thoughts about these guys but I'll keep my infodump to this for now haha unless people would like to know more ofc!

[ahopkins1965]

The Sinner’s Prayer and What it means to me!!

 

This is an essay about the Sinner’s Prayer and what does it means to me personally.  First, I want to say that I am a Born Again Christian.  I am a 9 year old Christian.  I am a person who has a lot of intuition.  I also have spiritual discernment.  What does this means to me? I would like to say that I am asking God to forgive me of all of my sins.

  I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He died for my sins at calvery.  I ask Him to enter my heart right now.  I confess and forsake all of my sins.  I do not go back to doing the same things that I have done in the past.  I ask Jesus Christ to become my Personal Savior.  I am a brand new person.  

 

Next, I want to say that I am a new creature right now.  The old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.  This is 2nd Corinthians 5:17.  I want to inform all of you that I feel good about being a brand new creation in Christ Jesus.  Also, I want to say that I have given up drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana 34 years ago.  I have given up chasing after lewd women 14 years ago. 

 I have stopped looking at porn as well.  I got baptized on February 15, 2015.  I have managed to stay out of trouble for the past several years now.  I have to take medication for schizoid affective disorder and bipolar 1.  I have not been in trouble since November 28, 2011.  I have not used any vulgarity in over 6 weeks now.  I have asked Jesus to remove my desire to use vulgarity and look at porn as well.  I have changed for the better.  I know that I have a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to maintaining good behavior.  

Second, I pray for everyone every single day of the week.  I have asked Jesus Christ to please give me a new heart and remove my heart of stone.  I have asked my personal Savior Jesus Christ to cleanse me from all filthiness.  

 

Third, I want to say that I have a brand new heart.  I have asked Jesus to follow me for the rest of my life.  I read the Holy Bible every single day of the week.  I help others on a daily basis.  There are some people who actually think that I am living the life of a sinner.  I am not living trifle.  I have changed for the better.  I have been attending all of my AA Meetings on a regular basis as well.  The AA Meetings keep me on the straight and narrow.  I am also a member of an AA Group of people who are not able to make meetings due to health problems.  I share and express my strength and hope with everyone who is online at the time.

Fourth, I want to say that I have been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for the past 34 years.  I am the type of person who tells the truth about myself.  I share my experience, strength, and hope on a daily basis with everyone who need help.  I also share the Gospel of Peace with everyone as well.  I am placing emphasis on the Sinner’s Prayer because this is where it all start.  It starts with a confession and admission of sins.  

 

Moreover, I want to say that I confess of all of my sins on a daily basis.  I also work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous on a daily basis.  I have to write everything down on paper every single day of the week.  I also make amends with everyone who I have hurt during the day.  I try my best to never go to bed angry.  I want to say that I love everyone.  I want to say that my life has changed since I have confessed all of my sins to Jesus Christ.  The Sinner’s Prayer allows me to talk to Jesus Christ in private.  I also say my prayers every single day as well.  

 

Finally, the Sinner’s Prayer allows me to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  It allows me to express all of my concerns and cares to Jesus Christ.  I feel a lot better when I am able to read His word and allow Him to talk to me.  The words that I read that are inside of the Bible helps me to stay calm and relaxed.  I will admit that I hear voices that are not the Holy Spirit as well.  These voices derived from a source that is unknown to me.  I just know that I have been hearing voices that are not the Holy Spirit for almost 10 years now.  I will admit that God also gives us instructions, even while we are sleeping. 

 

This is what the Sinner’s Prayer means to me as a person.  It gives me an opportunity to run to the Lord instead of dwelling inside of the world that is filled with sin.  I am able to talk with the Lord every time I feel like it.  The Sinner’s Prayer helps me to improve my relationship with Jesus Christ.

[teriwrites]

The Insurgence: Chapter 1

My Live Reactions to Reading Through My 2016 Novel

We open in the snow of the 'Osennas Mountains' with two figures dragging a cart across the landscape

'The second figure spoke impatiently, low voice muffled by the scarf around his face. "Lucile, we cannot keep stopping. We're late as it is." The first figure, Lucile, promised to continue in a thickly accented voice. "If you would only let us stop to rest, we could gather our strength and move more quickly. We're both exhausted, Miles, and don't try to tell me that you're not. We're exhausted, and we need some time to recover." (that doesn't sound like a 'promise to continue' to me, but also - Lucile has an accent, but we have no basis for what a non-accented voice would sound like lol)

'All that could be seen of either were their eyes. Miles - an angry brown - were darting across the snowy terrain, as though expecting to catch sight of someone else in the isolated mountain range. Lucile's, which were hazel and drooping with exhaustion, did not appear to be able to stay open.' i like using only what we could visibly see

Also wow I really loved an isolated mountain range, huh?

So far, this has been in 3rd person objective, which is interesting, especially given that the premise of this story is supposed to be that the 5 main characters are all hiding something. I kinda hope that'll hold up, but we'll see as we actually get going

Like the narrator makes assumptions: 'Miles either did not hear her or was patient enough not to argue, for he made no comment.' but that's not the same as actually knowing why he won't respond to Lucile's grumbling. We don't get his opinion because he's not outright stating it

There's very little dialogue in this so far, which is also interesting, only descriptions that they keep falling into bickering

'Miles was Proven to be wrong, as the destination of their journey was in sight by nightfall.' i love the accidentally capitalized use of proven there lol, i wouldn't have been capitalizing words for Emphasis yet in 2016, but now it just looks like the narrator's being a little shit

My use of epithets was particularly criminal in this, I could not stop referring to them as 'the travelers' or 'the figures' like we know their names now!! Use them!!

So Atlona (the nation they're approaching, as well as the one they're rebelling against) has a border wall... interesting... I wonder what could've inspired 2016!Teri to include that

"Lucile," Miles began with a sigh, as though he had gone over this before. [see! more objective 3rd person!!] "We're going to have to pass through the gate to Atlona. Even if we had the opportunity to climb over the wall, we wouldn't be able to bring the contents of the cart. This cart is the reason for our mission, and we can't fail now. We've been gone for too long to return empty handed." "I don't suppose the guards will actually allow merchants to pass through their gate with half an armory full of weapons?" Lucile asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.' (love a woman with equal measure common sense and sass)

Apparently we're using our calendar, seeing as there was a reference to September

"It claims that we're on a mission for the king. If we act haughty enough, the guards will never question us. They know better than to have the audacity of being rude to a king's servant," Miles explained.' hahahahaha... ... I really keep thinking about how Election Day was like a week later

'[Miles] pulled his hat away, revealing sandy hair that brushed at the nape of his neck.' the way that I was introducing character appearances through such a natural means, rather than a mirror scene or a 'this is what I remember about myself' (tbf, I think the latter was kind of the best way to go about it in BoMI)

'Miles sat leaning against a rock to try to rest some, but he opened his eyes a few times every minute in order to look around and to glance over at Lucile. She was breathing deeply within ten minutes, and a sad smile made its way onto Miles' face. He closed his eyes once more before finally being able to drift off.' oh??

There's truly zero attempt to disguise what it is they're carrying, they just fully have a cartload of weapons stacked under a tarp, and one (1) piece of paper forged to say they have orders from the king

'A tall, thin man wearing a dark green-gray uniform - the national color of Atlona - stepped in front of them, calling out for papers.' ah yes, the national color of Atlona: camouflage

Heyo, the single piece of paper worked!

'As [Lucile] removed her hat, a bun of dark hair was revealed. Half of her raven hair had come loose, tumbling down her back.' wait i thought this bitch was blond???? raven hair????

'[Lucile] was short, but held herself in almost a regal manner, one that made her appear taller than she was. [Miles] was barely taller than Lucile, but few had the audacity to comment on it, as Miles was known for being a scrappy fighter.' i have always been a defender of short kings, and here's the proof

Classic case of a code phrase passed between Miles and this innkeeper

'The back entrance led into a large communal lounge, where a number of couches were pressed against the walls, decorated with plush pillows to hide the rigid frame of the sofa which lay beneath them. The walls were decorated with hanging artwork to cover patches in the wallpaper. And rugs on the floor disguised the squeaking boards below.' okaaaay i love a dingy little inn

Miles fully left Lucile in their room to follow the innkeeper to a bar

'They walked determinedly, but not so quickly as to draw attention to themselves. Being the only two on the street, however, there was little that could disguise them. Their size was the only thing to repel the troublesome street rats that came out at night.' i can't tell if this is about like thugs or literal rats lol

Classic case of a code phrase earning them entrance to a seedy bar

'When the door opened, it was revealed to lead into a small pub. A short, thin man who somewhat resembled a mouse gave the innkeeper and Miles entrance. His eyes raked over the traveler, and a grin lit up his face, revealing several missing teeth. "Well, I'll be damned. Miles Cochran, returned to Newsham at last!" I CURSED??? Teri spends a handful of months out of her parents' house and this is what happens. F in the chat for my dignified vocabulary

"This is a pleasant surprise, Miles," the bartender said, getting to his feet. He had a wide mouth that seemed to stretch across his face when he smiled. "You've been gone so long, I'd half expected that you'd decided to give up your trade." Miles laughed at this. He climbed onto a stool, resting his arms over the bar before he responded. "You know, Ezra, as long as there is a war, I will be fighting it." (ok edgelord)

Cussing AND our main character is properly drinking to get drunk, what has the world come to??? A couple years before this, I was banning all alcohol in the 'proper' parts of my worldbuilding, and now Miles is requesting a MUG of liquor lmao

Lionel (the innkeeper) pieced together that Lucile is Eulovan (the other nation) because, while pretending to be deaf so she wouldn't have to speak (she could've pretended to just be mute but sure), she reacted very slightly and too quickly to something he said

Another use of the word 'damn', we're really cooking with gas over here

Totally random guess because I genuinely don't remember, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the bouncer to this bar is the one feeding information to the Atlonian government

This purely because he asked Miles what he was up to

Delroy was all about propriety, Miles is all about having that 30 passive perception

He also has a superpower called 'not getting a hangover despite having downed a full mug of liquor on an empty stomach'

And they're off, across the farmlands and through the woods to a small cabin off the road

Classic case of a code phrase to gain entry to the secret base

Kinda wild that they require a code phrase when they're literally standing right in front of each other and afaik there's no way to impersonate someone well enough to essentially shapeshift into them, but sure

Anyways, character 4/5: Ross Griffith

'With this, Ross held the door open, and Miles and Lucile stepped into the cabin.' and with this, we end out chapter 1!

Ending Thoughts:

Fun! I can definitely see why 2016 Teri decided to write this story. That year was... overwhelming, for a multitude of reasons, and this WIP served as somewhat both an escape and also vent art for all of those emotions that came with. Arguably, this might be some of the first conscious vent art I created, making direct references regarding country borders, the cult-like hivemind of political ideology. In 2016, I engaged more with looking into current events than perhaps any time since then (I haven't been sticking my head in the ground, but nowadays, a lot of knowledge about current events finds me simply by existing on the internet and some followup fact-checking, rather than having to actually dive into news and forums and things like I did at the time), and I expect to find it color more of the narrative of this story. I will say, writing-quality wise, I think we've hit our first real plateau. Part of that stems from trying new things - 3rd person objective meant that I couldn't exactly jump into my characters' heads the way I did with previous narrators - part likely stems from it being a generically-historic-fantasy, with all of the stilted dialogue and phrasing that comes along with that. But I would definitely say we're still deep in the 'mediocre midsection', comfortable and a little bland. Which is exactly where I needed to be!

[justashcasual]

Efficiency vs Productivity in leadership

In any good strategy game, if you’re the leader you always find the strengths AND weaknesses to form teams to combat problems.

I have a friend who prioritizes efficiency in group projects, and I prioritize productivity in group projects. Here’s the difference in my mind:

My friend prioritizes efficiency, they identify weaknesses and find the most efficient ways to do things and the most effective people to do them, sometimes a lot of the tasks are things they can do themself. The work is done as quickly and efficiently as possible to achieve the best results.

I prioritize productivity, which means I try to get everyone to participate. I find strengths and gauge how to make people work together towards the same goal. I delegate as much work as I can to other people (admittedly because I don’t want to do a lot, but I still do the work!), and I think more about how to make people work together and try to make it so that it goes as smoothly as possible.

The problem with my friend's method: -not everyone is or looking to be efficient, there are varying levels of skills in each group. -if people are uncooperative or unwilling it’ll be a problem, -not everyone may have a say or have equal roles in the group. -always looking for weaknesses

The problem with my method: -only look at strengths not weaknesses -because I delegate the work based on strengths, I don’t account for weaknesses -and sometimes even if everyone is participating the quality of work isn’t great. -while it may involve everyone, it’s not equal.

When you are looking for efficiency, you are always looking at the weakness of other people, and what'll be the quickest way to finish the work. There's more emphasis on the work, less on the people. When you're looking for productivity, you're looking at their strengths, and how to make it so that everyone can work together as smoothly as possible. There's more emphasis on the people, less on the work.

Efficiency is not a problem, it’s great. But when it comes to working with other people (which’ll happen often) you can’t just think efficiency. You also have to think about the PEOPLE you are working with. Sometimes the people you work with are looking for productivity, they are not usually efficient, or simple, or emotional, they are simply people. A bunch of brains with hands, legs, eyes, ears and mouths. Working together to reach the same goal.

Productivity is not a problem either, it's pretty much a requirement to get people to work together in a group setting. in trying to accommodate everyone's needs and strengths it's a lot of social stress, that quite frankly is usually not efficient at all. It may also affect the quality of work because the mindset is "it's better to have an okay project everyone likes and worked on, than a good project that only a few worked on and causes resentment".

Its why people got to balance it, and sometimes it may not work out. You all have the same goal, that is what you have in common, and that’s what you use to your advantage. The commonality. The best CEOs are not the smartest ones who can do everything themselves, but the ones who know what to do and can make other people work together under said goal.

I also want to say that the fastest way to get to your destination with the whole team. is usually about helping the person who is last/slowest rather than the fastest. (Unrelated quote but I thought it was cool"

[autorepairwater-blog]

IFCA Business Coaching: Real Mentorship for Fitness Coaches

For fitness professionals striving to grow their businesses and make a meaningful impact, the journey can feel overwhelming. Managing clients, creating effective programs, and building a thriving business require more than just passion. That’s where IFCA (Impact Fitness Coaching Academy) steps in, providing a roadmap to success through actionable guidance, tailored strategies, and mentorship designed specifically for fitness coaches.

IFCA - Online Fitness Business Mentor

Unlike generic business coaching programs, IFCA focuses on the unique challenges faced by fitness professionals. Whether you’re an experienced coach looking to expand or someone just stepping into the industry, IFCA offers mentorship tailored to your level and goals. The emphasis is not just on theory but on real-world strategies that work in today’s competitive fitness market.

Many fitness coaches wonder, “How do I take my passion for coaching and turn it into a sustainable income?” or “How do I navigate the business side of things without losing focus on my clients?” These are precisely the challenges IFCA addresses through structured mentorship, teaching you how to position your business, attract the right clients, and create lasting impact—all while increasing your earnings.

How to Make Money in the Coaching Business?

The answer lies in understanding both the art and science of running a business. IFCA guides coaches through this process by helping them:

Define Their Niche: Fitness coaches often try to serve everyone but end up connecting with no one. IFCA helps you identify your unique value proposition and niche market, ensuring your business stands out.

Streamline Operations: From pricing strategies to client management systems, IFCA provides the tools you need to run your business efficiently, so you can focus on what you do best—coaching.

Attract and Retain Clients: Marketing and sales can feel intimidating for coaches. IFCA demystifies these processes, teaching strategies to attract ideal clients and build long-term relationships.

Scale Sustainably: Many fitness coaches hit a plateau in their earnings because they’re trading time for money. IFCA introduces scalable business models, like group programs or digital offerings, that help increase income without compromising work-life balance.

How Much Is Impact Fitness Coaching Academy?

The investment in IFCA varies depending on the level of mentorship and resources you choose. While the exact cost may seem significant upfront, the value lies in the results. Think of it as an investment in your future. For many coaches, the skills and strategies learned through IFCA lead to significant income growth, making the program’s cost a small price to pay for long-term success. Transparency and clarity about the financial commitment are always provided during the onboarding process, ensuring you make an informed decision.

What Is the Value of Business Coaching?

The value of business coaching—particularly one as specialized as IFCA—goes beyond numbers. It’s about confidence, clarity, and a sense of direction. Here’s why fitness coaches who invest in IFCA find it invaluable:

Personalized Guidance: Each coach has different goals, challenges, and strengths. IFCA mentors work closely with you to craft a strategy that aligns with your vision.

Proven Systems: With years of experience helping fitness coaches succeed, IFCA provides tested frameworks, avoiding the trial-and-error process that often costs time and money.

Supportive Community: Entrepreneurship can feel lonely. Through IFCA, you gain access to a network of like-minded coaches who share insights, celebrate wins, and offer support during tough times.

Accountability: Having someone to guide and hold you accountable can be the difference between dreaming of success and actually achieving it.

Why Choose IFCA?

Fitness coaching isn’t just about workouts and meal plans; it’s about creating lasting change for your clients. Similarly, IFCA isn’t just about business—it’s about transforming your approach to coaching, enabling you to impact more lives while building a fulfilling career.

Whether you’re asking, “How do I grow my coaching business?” or “What’s next for my career?” IFCA provides the answers, empowering you to take the next step with confidence. With real mentorship tailored to your needs, it’s not just about growing your business; it’s about shaping the future you’ve always envisioned.

[beyuwol]

DREAMWAVE AUDITIONS ! round two, callback

somehow, yuwol had found himself amidst a panel of judges once more. it’s familiar yet foreign at the same time, the last instance he finds himself in this predicament he’d also been surrounded by an assortment of cameras pointed in his direction. and yet, in this more private setting in a room, the pressure on his shoulders feel a lot more tangible—considerably heavier, too.

why? is it because this feels like his last chance? if he doesn’t make it here, he’d have to face the very real and harsh truth that his parents were, without any shred of doubt, right all along. he doesn’t know what will happen if he moves forward on this path, if this choice he’s making will prove fruitful later down the road. but he doesn’t want to be stuck in this state of helpless and lifeless limbo any longer—he wants to break free out of his cage too, desperate for fresh air, for something that he can learn to love again from the very beginning, without the influence of his parents tainting something he holds dear.

perhaps it’s the sense of desperation that’s spurring him onward, bringing his body back to life in an adrenaline rush pointing towards survival. either way—here yuwol is now, standing before the judges, trying to channel everything that he had learned throughout next gen, and from the trainees that he knew; the people that had helped him in the months leading up to this moment.

he had thought back to next gen, the moments where he receives praise from the judges back then. noticeably, it’s when he makes a change in the musical arrangement, when he completely melts into some sort of ‘concept’ and makes it show in his facial expressions along with the movements of his choreography ( except for this part, he needed to reference things online ).

yuwol remembers when he added an orchestra spin to one of his performances, taking on a more horror or thrilling concept. he does the same here too, showcasing his music composition strengths, weaving a different take to the song. a cover with its own spin. he chooses the song nxde, recording it, creating a more chilling tone to the instrumentals of the song.

he doesn’t have as much skills in choreography, so to showcase the newer take on the song in under sixty seconds, he relies on his voice, the facial expressions he makes, and adding a small spin to his dance movements—lingering in a few steps, to keep the thrilling and elongated vibe of the changed instrumentals. nothing too crazy, knowing that his newly acquired strengths are in the technical aspects of dancing instead of the creativity in choreography. the originally theatrical themes of the song helps emphasize what he’s trying to showcase too, yuwol thinks. yuwol hopes.

yuwol puts emphasis in his vocals too, finding stability in performing live due to his recent experiences. how do i look? put on my beautiful self, he sings, voice steadier than he expected, keeping his expressions in check as he faces the judges, a smirk on his face with his eyes boring into the person in front of him—embodying what he has in mind; a chilling story of a doll trying to break free of its restraints, almost.

something like that. it’s a sixty seconds performance—it’s not a full stage after all; but he does his best in small lapse of time he’s given.

whether his efforts have resonated with the judges… that’s not up to him.

[spritehouse]

Do u take angst hc’s and fic ideas? Like really really dark angst. non-con, torture, kidnapping, Stockholm etc (not romanticized)

I have some pretty angsty ones but I really don’t want to make u uncomfortable and I figured it would be good to ask and get a sense of where ur boundaries are

have a nice day and make sure to drink water<3-🦇

hey, thank you sm for asking!

i have a tendency to ramble a little bit, so here's my short answer:

yes, i do! send them all, i'd love to hear anything you have and give my input! brain dump in my ask box!

and my long answer is:

yes, i'm fine with most topics: if that were to change, i'd try my best to reestablish new boundaries as clearly as possible.

for hc/fic ideas and concepts, send away! say whatever you want! i'll happily give you more than my two cents and then get completely derailed while responding

for fic or writing requests, again, ask away! however, despite my best efforts, i am human and a high school student so i may not be able to fulfill requests very quickly; if there's ever something i can't get to at the moment, or i personally feel i'm taking too long to write something, i'll try to at least acknowledge your request and let you know what's up with it. patience is a wonderful gift for a writer

and finally, there's my writing abilities. my only hard limit is xreader fics, but i do have strengths and weaknesses to writing angst topics. i love writing more emotional/psychological hurt, but i'm always looking to get out of my comfort zone every once in a while. i'd also like to put a special emphasis on my ability to write rape/non-con; im still figuring out sex (conventual)/sex scenes and if i like writing them, so requests for scenes abt that might take a bit, but im willing to give anything a shot