#idk if it’s accurate but i could write essays on this

[the-witch-of-woods-beyond]

i haven’t seen wicked yet but from all the trailers and edits ive seen, it keeps giving me such a big school for good and evil vibe in the best way possible and nobody’s mentioning it!!!!

[practically-an-x-man]

Oh man I was absolutely this student too.

AP English Language and Composition - we were given a list of books for summer reading and told to pick one and write a rhetorical analysis on it. I read In Cold Blood and submitted an essay about how the villains were heavily queer-coded with gay stereotypes. Thought he'd hate it. 20/20, his only comment was "did you know Truman Capote was gay?"

Argued with him about how the list of assigned novels didn't go past the 1960's, and why should there be some novels that are "good literature" and some are "recreational"? If I want to write a rhetorical analysis on Discworld, and I'm able to back it up, I should be able to write a rhetorical analysis on Discworld. In Cold Blood and Silence of the Lambs are basically the same book, but one is "literature" and one is "fun". Had this argument on a Friday. On Monday, he'd opened next year's reading list to any novel :)

Made it a point to duck around every single writing prompt and write some random-ass argument he'd probably never seen before. I could defend them, but they were still weird as hell. Ended the class with a 98 and he wrote me a college recommendation letter

When I got to college I hated my anthropology prof and made it a point to write the most ass-backwards but airtight essays I could. I wanted to write essays she'd suffer through, but were so technically accurate to the rubric that she couldn't do a damn thing about it. Wrote an essay on slow lorises titled "Mother Nature's Toxic Teddy Bear". We were told to write an essay on one species of pre-human hominids and instead I wrote 6 pages on just the Old Man of La Chapelle. I wish I still had my college Google account because these were not the only essays like this. I was a very good, very obnoxious student and I'm proud of it

Oh and when I was in driver's ed, we had to do a "plan a trip" project and calculate everything, even down to picking restaurants to eat and and calculate the cost of the food we would eat. I hated it and hated the teacher so I did my project entirely on fictional towns from Stephen King's books (I called it "A Historical Trip Through Maine"). I got a 98 and my teacher didn't even notice that everything was bullshit (I was lowkey blatant about it too, one of my stops was the Derry town fair and another was a forest cryptozoology tour in Ludlow). I hope he's still using it as an example project and some poor innocent 15-year-old has to tell him he was duped

So, okay, fun fact. When I was a freshman in high school… let me preface by saying my dad sent me to a private school and, like a bad organ transplant, it didn’t take. I was miserable, the student body hated me, I hated them, it was awful.

Okay, so, freshman year, I’m deep in my “everything sucks and I’m stuck with these assholes” mentality. My English teacher was a notorious hard-ass, let’s call him Mr. Hargrove. He was the guy every student prayed they didn’t get. And, on top of ALL OF THE SHIT I WAS ALREADY DEALING WITH, I had him for English.

One of the laborious assignments he gave us was to keep a daily journal. Daily! Not monthly or weekly. Fucking daily. Handwritten. And we had to turn it in every quarter and he fucking graded us. He graded us on a fucking journal.

All of my classmates wrote shit like what they did that day or whatever. But, I did not. No, sir. I decided to give the ol’ middle finger to the assignment and do my own shit.

So, for my daily journal entries, over the course of an entire year, I wrote a serialized story about a horde of man-eating slugs that invaded a small mining town. It was graphic, it was ridiculous, it was an epic feat of rebellion.

And Mr. Hargrove loved it.

It wasn’t just the journal. Every assignment he gave us, I tried to shit all over it. Every reading assignment, everyone gushed about how good it was, but I always had a negative take. Every writing assignment, people wrote boring prose, but I wrote cheesy limericks or pulp horror stories.

Then, one day, he read one of my essays to the class as an example of good writing. When a fellow student asked who wrote it, he said, “Some pipsqueak.”

And that’s when I had a revelation. He wanted to fight. And since all the other students were trying to kiss his ass, I was his only challenger.

Mr. Hargrove and I went head-to-head on every assignment, every conversation, every fucking thing. And he ate it up. And so did I.

One day, he read us a column from the Washington Post and asked the class what was wrong with it. Everyone chimed in with their dumbass takes, but I was the one who landed on Mr. Hargrove’s complaint: The reporter had BRAZENLY added the suffix “ize” to a verb.

That night I wrote a jokey letter to the reporter calling him out on the offense in which I added “ize” to every single verb. I gave it to Mr. Hargrove, who by then had become a friendly adversary, for a chuckle and he SENT IT TO THE REPORTER.

And, people… The reporter wrote back. And he said I was an exceptional student. Mr. Hargrove and I had a giggle about that because we both knew I was just being an asshole, but he and the reporter acknowledged I had a point.

And that was it. That was the moment. Not THAT EXACT moment, but that year with Mr. Hargrove taught me I had a knack for writing. And that knack was based in saying “fuck you” to authority. (The irony that someone in a position of authority helped me realize that is not lost on me.)

So, I can say without qualification that Mr. Hargrove is the reason I am now a professional writer. Yes, I do it for a living. And most of my stuff takes authorities of one kind or another to task.

Mr. Hargrove showed me my dissent was valid, my rebellion was righteous, and that killer slugs could bring a city to its knees. Someone just needs to write it.

[rhaeheartzsquirrelz]

Hiii,

By any chance can you write academic rivals for either Ellie or Abby?? It doesn’t have to have smut but I just need some angst and tension >:)

YES OFC I CAN?! chat idk how to write Abby to the point where it’s accurate so I’ll stick to Ellie (for now). And uhh this is my first time writing this trope cus ive lowkey never really liked it 😕 BUT I HOPE YOU DO!! Also, I hope its not too long 4 u 😇

Paper Thin Hatred

Ellie Williams x FEMALE Reader || Academic Rivals (fluff)

You’re going in blind, no summary needed.

Warning(s): Sexual tension; making out, mentions of drugs and violence (though it’s not described). Use of y/n like once. (blehh).

A/N: I tried my best gn. If you see any mistakes, no you didnt. I’m not the best at writing angst, i hate sad stuff, so Idk if I did a good job lol.

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

You hated her.

Hated how effortlessly smart she was, able to ace every test without the need to lay even a finger on her notes. How she could easily attract everyone and anyone with a single look. How every teacher in your school had this.. bias on her. She was the exception, the favourite. It was unfair and stupid.

No matter how hard you tried, how hard you worked, it was never enough to pass her. There was nothing you could do. Study? Already tried it, ended up two points off from her perfect hundred percentage. Tutoring? Done, but it was never efficient and only wasted the little time you had after school. You had tried everything. But you still came no where near where she was.

Ever since the first grade, you’d been competing with her, butting heads on every test, every assignment, and even every small quizz. From announcing your test scores to the class after realizing you’d topped her to keeping them a secret after finding out you scored lower than her, you’d grown to despise her.

This girl, who you despised, was Ellie Williams, the top student at your school. She was, also, a dickhead to everyone else but her teachers and, surprisingly, you. She’d never think to uttered an insult in your direction, let alone bring your name up in her shit talking sessions. Even so, she was still a stuck-up brat. Thinking she was better than everyone else, demanding respect and attention.

But, even with all these reasons you hate her for, you couldn’t help but admire her carefree spirit. Holding a blunt in the bathroom and smoking it through with her group of friends. Who all, by the way, were assholes. Bullies, to be frank. You didn’t understand why Ellie hung out with a bunch of losers when she could easily make friends with someone like her, someone as smart and collected. She didn’t care. And, sometimes, you wished you didn’t either. The two of you were opposites. You wanted to forget about the grudge you’d been holding against her but you just.. couldn’t. Not when you your competitive nature shook it’s ugly head everytime you were near the auburn girl.

You cared too much, you couldn’t just flip a switch and change that?

It was none of your business, is what you’d tell yourself everytime you found your thoughts wandering off to her. And, either way, having her hang out with those kinds of people meant she would be sure to slack off. Peer pressure was a real deal, and you silently wished it’d throw Ellie down from the title of being the school’s number one student.

You were practically praying for it.

⊹₊⟡⋆

With a push on the doors, you enter the library. Backpack over your shoulders, hands stuffed in the pockets of your jacket, you look for a good place to sit. Choosing an empty corner, you got to work; Pages flipping, pen writing, and keys typing, you were almost finished with an essay of yours.

That was, until Williams showed up. A strong push on the doors you’d just came from, she confidently walked in with her hands in her pockets. She looked around to find herself, and the crowd of fans behind her, a seat. Fans, as in her loser friends. They only hung out with her because she was relevant. And she only hung out with them for free cigarettes, weed, and whatever the hell she had going on. She wore a dark blue hoodie with her usual grey sweatpants. As confident as she was, she looked fucking homeless; even though you found yourself raked over her figure.

She was lean, well built, and, clearly, visited the gym frequently. You’d never seen her flex though, only on her social media did she show off those biceps of her. Not that you cared.

When Ellie’s green eyes spotted you, she let out a devilish grin before walking over to you. Her friend group followed behind like a bunch of dogs.

“Hey, sweet thing.” Leaning a hand on your table she played with one of your pens. Without hesitation, you snatched it from her hand and gave her the dirtiest look on the face of earth. “What do you want? You know the library isn’t for fucking around, right?” With your voice as hostile as ever, all you wanted was for Ellie to fuck off. More so her friends. “I’m whispering.” She was, matter of fact she was being pretty respectful. Quiet and polite, yet so bold and confident. It pissed you off. Everything the bitch did had your blood boiling. “Anyways, what are you up to? Saw you all by yourself, need some company?” She was mocking you, evident in the way she looked down at you. As if to keep you in your place. You wanted to shove a fist in her smug little face. “I’m good.”

No way Ellie would listen to you. So, with a motion to her friends she pulled a chair beside you and sat down. Her sorry-ass friend-group walked away with a bitter chuckle. How unlucky could you get? Legs spread with her arms inbetween them she gave you a smile. Her eyes roamed over your form and then the table infront of you. Everything was neatly organized, perfectly arranged. “Need help with that essay? Or ya’ just gonna be stubborn?” You chose being stubborn. “I don’t need your help, nor do I need you to be near me.” Turning your attention back to the computer, you hoped she’d just get bored and leave. But it seemed like your annoyance only fueled her amusement, because she couldn’t keep herself from leaning closer and resting her chin on your shoulder. “Stay still.”

Like hell you would. Recoiling, you sigh in frustration. “Why the—“ An arm interrupted and pulled you back into position and she, again, rested her chin on your shoulder. Ellie was fucking strong. And, you’d only just now realized the physical power she had over you. She not only had the smarts, but she had the body. God damn it, she was better than you at everything. “Let me help.” Who the hell did she think she was? Helping you? Just because she aced every test? That didn’t mean shit. She had no right to tell you what to do, make you do what she wanted you to. Clenching your jaw, you faught the urge to push her off you and instead opted for a less obnoxious way to escape; to leave.

“I don’t need your help, like I said before I’m good.” Shrugging her off of you, you stuff everything back into your backpack with organization being the last thing on your mind. “I was trying to be nice, why the hell are you so damn stuck-up?” Scoffing and leaning back against her chair, the auburn haired girl crossed her arms and looked you up and down. The quiet action had your nerves on edge, causing a fire of insecurity to spread through your body.

She’s judging you, probably thinks you’re stupid. Maybe even thinks you’re overreacting. Is it your body she’s quietly examining or your mind? Is she noticing the curves or the faults of your figure? Either way, you needed to get the fuck out of there.

Without a word, you pull your backpack over a shoulder and bolt towards the door. The door that looked heavenly as you pushed it open. The outside air felt so much better, so much more comfortable. Your body wasn’t tense anymore, nor was your breathing shaky and stiff. The cool breeze entered your nose and you took your time to relax. Just when you were beginning to cool down, you hear this agitating voice from behind.

“Will you listen?!” You felt a tug at your wrist in which you were turned you around to face Ellie. Who was now infront of you with furrowed brows, a narrowing gaze, and that.. look on her face. The subtle expression she had was too difficult to decipher, so you gave up on even bothering to put energy into her. Especially right now. She was staring down at you, probably trying to coax out a response. “I wasn’t trying to piss you off, alright? I just..” Your heart felt like it could practically jump out your chest the more she stood there. So close yet so far. “I didn’t think you’d get mad. I.. I’m sorry for being all up in your space.” Maybe her apology was your last straw because the next thing that came out your mouth left her feeling rejected— as you’d describe it.

“You think walking around with straight A’s makes you all that?” Your furrowed brows meet her, now, raised ones, she looks confused. “I don’t give a damn about how you feel, never have never will. You’re some stuck-up wannabe and I’d rather stay the hell away from you. Got that, Williams?” You were speaking your truth, telling her what you’d been wanting to since the day you first met her. “I don’t need anything from you. I’m fine by myself.” The hostility in your words made Ellie take a step back, her expression showing just how surprised she was. The tension was thick in the cool autumn air. The breeze blew past you and you had to force yourself to meet her eyes— Her eyes that has this look of disappointment within them. Why? You wanted to ask. But, then again, you didn’t really care.

“Yeah. Alright.” Was her response, her voice quiet and low as she looked down and fidgeted with her two hands. Intertwining her fingers, picking on her nails, and even squeezing her thumb. Her jaw clenched and she averted you completely. “I’m sorry..”

You’d just bruised her ego.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

The week before spring break, you were in class worrying your pretty ass off about all the busy work your teachers had given you. You’re talkin’ stacks of assignments and essays. Videos to watch, quizzes to answer, and books to read. With a sigh of exhaustion, you wait impatiently for class to begin. It was a typical monday, everyone was sleep deprived and already knocked out with their heads on their desks. It was a depressing sight.

But, one thing that was nagging at you all weekend was Ellie. Ironic or not, you had a heavy heart ever since you walked away from her that friday afternoon. The way she looked down, her brows furrowed with embarrassment, and her hands fidgeting with one another. The moment replayed in your head every night, causing you to loose focus on sleep and studying. Since when had you been so soft?

You hated her. So why would you feel bad? Especially after she practically mocked you because, apparently, she knows it all.

You shake the freckled girl out of your mind and focus on the lecture as class began. Weirdly enough, Ellie wasn’t present. She never missed a day of school. Was she skipping? Probably out smoking with her friends, or even snorting god knows what up her nose. You couldn’t care less, especially when you now had the advantage of attending the lecture. You were learning a new unit and were now ahead of Ellie. It was perfect. Too perfect. —

Class had ended and you were packing yourself up before your professor approached your desk. Papers in his hand, she placed them down infront of you. You looked down to find the notes from today printed onto them, they were neatly organized and well prepared. Your professor had reallyyy had made sure to make it look good.

This was an example of how being favoured benefited the stuck-up, freckled girl you called Ellie.

“Hey, y/n, would you mind handing today’s notes to Ellie?” The tall, blond, middle aged man gave you a smile. “I know you two share dorms in the same building.”

Why was that your problem? It was her job to make sure she attended class, why the hell were you chosen to do such a task? But, you couldn’t say no to your professor, not when he clearly favorited Ellie.

“No, I don’t mind. But, uhm.. what room is she in?” Your luck was so sore that you wished you’d skipped class yourself.

“Dorm four-o-eight.” He patted the papers before stuffing his hands in the pocket of her pants and walking back to the front of class.

Sometimes, you swore the universe was working overtime to make you suffer. Punish you for whatever you’d done in your past life. You never understood why you and Ellie always, somehow, ended up in the same classes, same hallways— Hell, the two you saw each other everywhere. Malls? Restaurants? It was like you were being followed.

୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ

With a loud knock, you awkwardly wait infront of Ellie’s dorm room. It felt weird standing there, mostly because of the argument you had with her a few days back. What would you even say to her? Would she even open the door? Maybe she’d shut it in your face to get back at you. All you knew was that you a task; give her the notes from class and leave. It’s not anything would go wrong, right?

The door clicked unlocked and Ellie swung it open. You were greeted with her tired expression. She stood tall, a hand on the door knob with the other scratching the back of her head. She wore a tanktop and this was the first time you’d seen her muscles. Of course, without realizing it, your eyes were practically glued to them. They were toned and stood out like a sore thumb. For a second, you wondered what else she was hiding under that tank of hers. She looked.. pretty attractive and you’d be lying if you said she didn’t. No wonder almost every girl was fanning over the 5’6 nerdy auburn.

Snapping out of your trance you meet her gaze and notice the bruise on her left eye. It was purple with a hint red. And, it definitely looked like it hurt. Did she really get into a fight? You called it. Maybe with one of her friends. Or because of her friends. That’s probably why she wasn’t in class— Either way, all you needed to do was hand her the notes and leave.

Holding out the stack of papers, you met her green eyes before she grabbed it from your hands. Her fingers, seemingly intentionally, brushed against yours for a brief moment. She flashed a smug grin as she read over it and shook her head with amusement. “Notes, huh? You makin’ sure I’m caught up, princess?” How the hell was she so.. playful after that argument, especially after that fat black eye. Did she even care? My god, was she even bothered as much as you were?

“Mr. Nunez told me to give them to you. It was against my will.” You corrected, hands dropping to your side, you turn your head to find an appropriate way to leave. Ellie, somehow, caught onto that, “Hey, you wanna come inside? I uh.. I wanted to.. talk to you. I guess?” The freckled girl, shrugging with a sheepish expression, stepped asife and motioned for you come in. The invitation was friendly, but the sight of her fucked up room made you rethink your decision. Clothes everywhere, clouded air, probably from smoking, and.. were those her fucking boxers hanging from her bed frame?!

“Ignore the mess, I’ve been.. a bit busy.” Yeah, she looked busy with that fucked up eye of hers. You took a second to think. It wouldn’t hurt, right? Plus, you’d get to see her “secret” to being the top student. Was it the way she studied? Did she cheat?

“Fine. But I’m not staying for long.” Oh, you’d be leaving the second Ellie let slip something even close to condescending. You weren’t having it with her anymore, not when she acted like royalty.

Entering her dorm, you plop yourself down onto her bed. Staying away from her clothes, which you were sure smelled, your hands stayed in your lap. You looked around, as Ellie placed the notes down onto a nearby surface, raking over the candid photos on her wall, the trinkets on her desk, and the collection of gum wrappers stamped on her dresser. She had a life, a fun one at that. But, you spotted no sign of school work.

You hadn’t realized she was sat beside you, her hands fidgeting with the strings of her pajamas shorts as she looked down. “On.. friday.” Ellie began, clearing her throat before taking a second to collect her breath; which was shaky. “I genuinely wasn’t trying to make you mad. I’m not as.. stuck-up as you think I am, I really wanted to help. Considering I’ve never even.. uhm had a proper conversation with you? I thought I’d be nice and do something good.” She shrugged out her explanation, and it make sense. You were even considering it. She looked genuine enough, maybe she was telling the truth. But the hate in you only made you see the bad.

What was the “bad” in the current situation? You didn’t really know.

“I know you.. have this grudge against me. You hate me. And, I don’t really know why.” The hint of vulnerability in her tone had your walls came crumbling down. Maybe you were naive for it but you shake your head and furrow your brows. “Hate is a strong word..” And its exactly how you had described your feelings towards Ellie since the day you two had met. “Maybe I’m just.. jealous.” Why were you being honest? You didn’t really know. You seemed to know absolutely nothing when it came to the auburn haired girl. Everytime you opened your mouth your thoughts immediately began slipping from your mouth. “You get good grades without even trying. I mean, all you do is smoke and.. fuck around.”

All you got in response with a scoff and a soft, “is that what you think?” What else were you supposed to think? “Well, I guess I do smoke. But I study. Not as hard as you, of course, but I do my best and.. well, I guess it pays off.” Leaning back on her arms, she gave you a smile. “Your anger’s justified, I don’t blame you, Princess.” And right when you were about to give her a smile back, though it’d be an awkward one, you watch as her hand shifted to resting ontop of yours.

She was making a move on you.

Flinching at the touch, you pull your hand away with an averting gaze. Was this what she wanted this whole time?

“Sorry.” Ellie shifted to pull away from you, giving you space on the bed. Your heart was racing at the small touch, not to mention you were so damn close to her. Your thighs were a shift away from touching and you suddenly felt hot. The room held a loud silence, a piercing one at that. It was awkward, uncomfortable. Both of you waited for eachother to say something, to utter a word and lighten the mood.

“I’ve always found you.. interesting.” Ellie chose to step up, placing her hand on your thigh and swallowing her nervousness down. “You’re smart, y’know? Even though you’re extra sometimes, I’ve always.. wanted your attention on me.”

For a second, you took a second to process her words, process the hand on your thigh. Her? Ellie Williams? Interested in you?

“If I’m being honest, I don’t even care about school, nor do I give a damn about my grades. I just.. ever since I realized you noticed me whenever I get a better grade than you.. I guess that’s been my goal. I don’t care about the stupid assignments, the fuckass tests, all I seem to want is for you to just.. look at me.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck. What was the hell is going on? Is she confessing some sort of.. love for you? Did she like you? Why the hell would she like you?

You couldn’t keep your reaction in check. You held your breath in shock, unable to really.. think of something to say. You felt stuck, unable to move and unable to say anything that would make the situation better. It’s like everything you thought of only seemed to make the situation.. more awkward and complicated.

After a good second of just staring at her, you clear the lump from your dry throat and try not to focus on the hand resting on your thigh. She was getting real bold, and it made you nervous. “I uhm.. that’s.. Ellie, that’s a lot to.. process..”— “So don’t.” So don’t? What in the world was this bitch on? Molly? “I’m being completely honest. Kiss me. If you like it then.. then things won’t be as complicated anymore. You’ll know—“ “Kiss you? Are you.. high or something?” Green eyes widening, you assumed her confidence was bruised by the way she slumped down and flickered her eyes away. You didn’t need her being all upset, she had no reason to be. “I’m not high.. I’m being honest. Can you really not tell?”

No, you couldn’t!

“Ellie.. that’s an insane thing to.”— “Just once won’t kill you. It’s a kiss. One simpe press on the lips.” First of all, where did this even come from? The whole kissing thing? And.. why did she have that fat bruise on her eye? Sighing, you pinch the bridge of your nose. The hell were you supposed to do? Negotiation always worked? There was no way you could kiss her, you hated her. All your life you’ve only wanted one thing; to was crush her. But, knowing all she’d ever wanted was.. well, your attention.. it had you sort of baffled. How could that be possible, seriously?

“What happened to your eye?” You avoided the subject of kissing, knowing you’d probably give up and let her do whatever she wanted to. Now, you were expecting a simple answer. Straightforward and easy to understand. You were tired of thinking.

“I beat up a kid for.. uhm, well.. talking about you?” She shrugged out, averting your gaze with a sheepish smile playing on her lips. “It’s stupid, I know. But, it didn’t happen in school so I’m not like.. suspended or.. something.” She took a second to clear her throat, “and, I didn’t wanna come to class with this fat thing around my eye.”

It was beyond stupid. Completely insane! Maybe all that smoking really had fucked up that brain of hers. It was the fact that she’d done it for you that had you taken aback. She had no reason to defend you after you’d practically told her to fuck off. Not to mention the fact that she knew you hated her. It didn’t make sense. But, maybe that black eye was enough proof that she actually might care. Actually might like you. But, could you really be sure? What if she was lying and all of this was just some sick prank?

You tilt your head to get a better look at her eye as it seemed like it was beginning to swell. “Right.. and uh, what was that kid saying?” Your question wasn’t a hard one, not for anyone but Ellie. Ellie who seemed to be struggling to find her words. Her fidgeting fingers gave it all away, not to mention her averting gaze.

It was.. sort of cute.

“Just how you were—.. I don’t wanna think about it.” She was, clearly, still bothered by the incident. She cared more about what some kid said about you than what you’d said about her. But, why? You seriously couldn’t wrap your head around it.

“Are you mad?” The green eyed girl gave you a glance before going back to fiddling with her fingers. Her hair covering most of her face as she had it down. “No, I don’t think so?” As truthful as your words were, they had you, yourself, confused. Why weren’t you mad? Usually, you’d blow up on her if she even tried talking to you. Maybe her confession had made you all mushy.

“I don’t get it, Ellie. You beat up a kid for me?” She raised her head and turned to yoy, her expression was clear then. Slightly furrowed brows with parted lips, she was still upset over the whole situation. She really must be with that bruised eye. You decided to drop the questions for now and shifted on her bed. “Can I get my kiss now?” By the time you’d leaned back against your two arms, Ellie had turned to face you. She had this look of determination and it, honest to god, had you considered her question.

“You’re not getting a kiss..”— “Alright, give me a good reason why.” Stubborn as hell. She’d never quit, you knew that. If she’d gone years just getting your attention what else could she have up her sleeve. It was just a kiss.. right? “For one, I’ve known you since the first grade. It’d be weird. Second of all, you’re Ellie. It just doesn’t make sense.” Kissing her would only cause complications, you didn’t need that. And, it’s not like you wanted a girlfriend, you had studying to do. “Those are all the reasons why you should kiss me. I don’t want some.. french kiss, just give me a press on the lips.” A small press on the lips was too much to ask for.

“What do I get in return?” Was your final question, knowing the right answer would probably lead to you making an irrational decision and kissing the girl you hated most. “Your feelings figured out. You want that, right? I’ll show you how you feel about me, please.” This bitch really was crazy. Pleading for a small kiss? She could have anyone else on the campas kiss her at an instant, so why was she asking you?

But, then again, you didn’t want to feel confused anymore. One small press on her lips as you could finally tell her you didn’t feel anything for her, then she could leave you alone. Without the need for your attention, Ellie would be sure to slack off and let her grades drop.

With a deep inhale, you lean closer. Your heart, somehow, was racing in your chest, almost going to jump out. You didn’t understand why but, your palms were suddenly sweaty and it was growing hotter in the room. The sight of Ellie staring at your lips had your mind going fuzzy, your throat goong dry. Her warm, calloused hand came to rest on your cheek as she finally pressed her lips against yours. Your mind probably went numb for a second because it took you a good while to process it all. She didn’t pull away after a peck on the lips and continued tapping kisses on your lips. It had your hands shaking, face warm, and eyes fluttering shut. She was a good kisser, the way her lips tasted, the way her thumb ran over your cheek, even the way her breath tickled your heated skin. She was damn charming and you couldn’t help but kiss back.

Before you knew it, the auburn haired girl’s hand had came to rest under your shirt and on your waist. She felt around your skin as her tongue entered your mouth and began exploring. Your stomach was fluttering like crazy, you could feel it flip everytime Ellie let slip a noise you’d never even thought you’d be able to hear. Not to mention the sound of the kiss, it was embarrassingly clumsy. Maybe because both of you were a nervous wreck. All you could think about was being in the moment, not what would happen after the kiss, not what you could do to get score higher than Ellie. Everything else seemed to disappear around you, leaving only you and the girl you were kissing relevant.

With a slight smile, she pulled away and made her way to your jaw. Placing open mouthed kisses there and, occasionally, sucking on your sensitive skin. You bit back a moan but it only backfired when she fully wrapped her arms around your waist and pulled you against her chest. “I wanna hear it, Princess..” Oh, hear she did. Your lips couldn’t contain the lewd moans and whines that dared, and succeeded, to escape. They were, undoubtedly, music to Ellie’s ears. She was enjoying all of it. “You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do this..” She whispered inbetween marking you up, her hands roaming over the bare skin of your back with a hint of desperation. As if she wanted to feel all of you, have you skin-to-skin with her. “Ellie..” Was all you could really moan out, which had her flecked cheeks red. Completely and utterly red.

And, in that moment, you’d realized just how wrong you’d gotten Ellie. She was never competing against you, all she wanted was you. Sure, you still hated how effortlessly smart she was, but, to be frank, you were willing to let your walls crumble down. Her silent confidence made you completely and utterly weak, your hate was as paper thin when it came to her. She was able to crumple it up before easily tearing it down. With a few words Ellie was able to get you to melt into her. Into the kiss.

Maybe, just maybe, you didn’t hate her as much anymore.

[folkwhore1998]

I just don't understand...

how you don't miss me in the black dog

I had no idea what to expect with this album. Taylor's brand is "never let them know your next move"

So, was it going to be more of a folklore/evermore/red vibe? Or was it going to be pop in the way midnights was? I did not think it was going to be straight up pop, but you just never know. I don't have cable so it can be really hard for me to watch award shows in real time, so I pulled a few strings so I could stream the grammys and thank god I did. I could not believe the album announcement and I was honestly gagged about the whole thing.

Now... This is a devastatingly beautiful album and is so vulnerable and raw.

The Prophecy... she literally said "I will go bankrupt. I will give up everything because I am hurting so much I need someone to tell me things are going to be okay and I don't care what I have to do to get this confirmation/assurance. I just want someone to love me the way I love them and I don't care about the superficial things." and she was so real for that.

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived... the first time I listened to it was like 12:30 AM on album release night/day, and I was yaknow, chilling, listening. and then we hit the bridge... my jaw hit the floor. I literally shot up in bed and was like "holy fuck." when i thought the song was wrapping up, it just kept going. Obviously I had to listen to it again right after it ended. (and I am NOT mad about it. I feel this song in my bones) ((My fiance was also dead asleep during all of this and I made him listen to it at like 10 AM the following day))

(peace: i'll die for you in secret ➜ TSMWEL: i would have died for your sins) ((actually screaming crying vomiting idk))

My favorite part of when she sings this on the eras tour is when she says "hey.. give this message to the smallest man who ever lived" and then turns to the audience and starts singing the bridge. She's like "Yup- heres this message, and another thing- fuck you!" literally incredible. i have an emotional attachment to this song. I could write an essay and honestly, maybe I will.

It's so funny to me because every time Taylor puts out a new album, there are some songs that I hear where i'm like "WOW. This is it. This is the song. She summed up my entire experience in a way I never could. I don't know how much more accurate she could get." And then she comes out with some insane song that keeps the cycle going.

(it's the cycle that keeps on giving and the cycle that keeps me alive! no, seriously. when i was in the hospital at one point in my life, i was asked everyday "and what is something you want to live for?" my answer: my cat and taylor swift's music")

All of this to say... I am so happy I was/am medicated when this album came out.

Here is my ranking of the Tortured Poets Department! (This was incredibly difficult because all of the songs are just so good. Noting that I don't think that any song is a bad song.)

The Black Dog

The Smallest Man

The Prophecy

How Did It End?

Guilty As Sin

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

loml (but sometimes it changes places- just depends on the day, but it never goes lower)

Fresh Out The Slammer

But, Daddy I Love Him

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

So Long, London

Down Bad

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart

So High School

I Hate It Here

TTPD

Fortnight

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

Peter

Cassandra

Flordia!!!

The Alchemy

The Bolter

thanK you aIMee (thank You aimEe)

Clara Bow

The Albatross

The Manuscript

imgonnagetyouback

I Look In People's Windows

Robin

I Can Fix Him (no really I can)

Honorable mentions:

CHILLS

I was so shocked (I watched on a grainy livestream)

When I say I sobbed, I'm not joking. I texted my sister and said "You need to get on this livestream RIGHT NOW.

Check out these small businesses:

Here is the link to a down bad t-shirt: So good for the gym and its a comfort colors t-shirt!

Direct link to the storefront: They have so many cool items!

Check out the link: It's a TTPD vinyl/cd holder and it is actually the coolest thing I've ever seen (I will be purchasing)

Direct link to the storefront: There are a few different options! Check them out!

@taylorswift @taylornation @taylorswift @taylornation

[jo-the-cosmic-being]

what do u think graves' sun sign is?

Thank u for the question *slams a 🔮 on the nearest horizontal surface*

Divider by kodaswrld

First of all, let’s analyze the question!

A sun sign is equal to your zodiac sign. (So for example I’m an Aquarius, so my sun sign is Aquarius)

After a long research my intuition told me that he was born in fall

And fall sun signs are Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius

(I know a Sagittarius so I immediately crossed that option out)

And as much as I want him to be a Scorpio (I love Scorpio men) I had to eliminate that option too bc I looked it up and it wasn’t the matchyest match tbh

Libra is left, which is kinda accurate imo

Google says that Libra men are:

- diplomatic

- understanding

- romantic

- intellectual (I can see that)

- social

- tactful (idk…)

- loyal

- calm (not quite sure about that one tho)

(Also it says that they can be people pleasers… I think we all know that he is a people please cmon)

So yeah I think he’s a Libra, minus when he’s crazy but we are all a bit on and off with our own signs, right?

I could literally write an essay on this lmaoo

Update: now that’s funny bc I looked it up again and it turns out that people claim that he’s a Sagittarius but I can’t really see that tbh but I was close

[frownyalfred]

okay the extent to which your amazing fucking fics are possibly infecting every corner of my brain now is starting to get legitimately concerning,,, which isn't actually news, but what IS new is the way i looked at that one BvS gif you just blogged yesterday?? and IMMEDIATELY saw the facial expression ben affleck made and went "WOMAN!!!"

....LOOK MAYBE I'M THE CRAZY ONE HERE, I GET IT OKAY but like,, something about that bitchy expression where you just KNOW he's saying the pettiest fucking line just then?!?! i swear on my life i have NEVER seen a cis man's face do that before, with the CLOSEST approximation i possibly would have thought anybody with a Y chromosome was capable of [before seeing that gif] being the sort of expressions drag queens do. (i hope that doesn't sound too weird/dismissive — not to go off on too much of a tangent, but i could probably write At Least one essay on why it's okay to admit that drag as an art form is not really an accurate depiction of femininity, AS LONG AS you acknowledge that drag is still Absolutely a beautifully, passionately written love letter TO the concept of femininity that fully deserves the appreciation it gets; but this is still not what i'm actually here to talk about lol)

okay yeah ANYWAYS that gif just absolutely SOLD me on the concept of bruce as an omega, and i'm saying this as someone who literally already has an omega!bruce WIP!! like, i've always thought the core philosophy behind batman tends to make him unintentionally very female-coded (and i must confess, i'm really curious to see whether you already have an opinion on this lol) in many different ways, but this is the first time i've seen/heard ANY GUY, let alone a batman actor with the right physicality to be batman, pull of this specific look, so i guess i'm just... shocked to be vindicated??? idk lol but i wanted to share so hope u at least enjoyed my manic ramblings a little bit <3 -krish

Batfleck is pretty! I've been saying that for years! He's this very intriguing mix of pure Batman physicality like you mentioned (man is canonically bigger than Clark in BVS) but also so beautiful and downright mesmerizing in certain close-ups on his face. Plush lips, high cheekbones, big, shining eyes? On Batman?? Sign me up!!

People laughed at me when I specifically started a coral room in the BVS universe, because I know most superbat a/b/o fics generally use a smaller, more omega-typical Bruce (which isn't bad!). But I wanted to challenge the trope stereotype by still having large, muscular Bruce lean into those more feminine moments like you mentioned -- it's an interesting contrast, seeing him hold so much space and power yet as soon as he makes eye contact with Clark, it's almost...sensual.

I think there are a lot of interesting stereotypical female roles Batman as a character unintentionally fulfills. He's the head of a family, the emotional center, the one adopting children, the one reassuring them. The fun I'm having with a sky of honey is just letting Bruce name these behaviors for what they are, in universe -- attempts at fulfilling his instincts that he keeps trying to curtail or avert entirely.

(gif in question below for those who are curious)

[cr0ftisprocrastinating]

do you have any recommendations for someone that absolutely loves academia, would love to be going to school to finish a degree, yet can’t for financial and other reasons? Most free classes online center around math/stem/coding. And it doesn’t much feel like studying without a class, discussion, papers, etc! What’s a girl to do?

I love this question! And also, feel for you. I personally worked and saved for five/six years in order to afford my masters!

However, this is not always an option, in which case some other ideas might be:

(possible costs involved) Depending on where you are in the world, check whatever university is local to you to see if they do weekend/short courses. Oxford's Continuing Education department, for example, run weekend/week-long courses on all *kinds* of things, and local institutions might also offer similar things!

If you do a short course somewhere and make friends, you could then see if people are up for a semi-regular study 'group', which might also help fill the need for scholarly debate!

Do you have a local library? Check out their resources. Even if they don't have formal study groups/things, you could always assign yourself times of the day/week to go and do some independent study. Not great maybe for the sociable aspect of your q, but definitely could fit the vibes!

Similarly, do you have a local archive? If you are looking for historical stuff to do, then see if your local archive runs groups. Lots of people are interested in tracking their ancestry and undertaking local history projects - you could be one of them! Also, they might need volunteers. This could be boring if not the thing you're looking for, but it might appeal (I love to file, personally)

Set yourself a project. What do you want to know more about, and then what is an interesting way to approach this? Do not be constrained by discipline, because you are not constrained by institution. Make a zine about a little-known environmental policy. Write a fiction book set in a specific period and try to get it as accurate as possible. Contact a small, local museum and see if they want to exhibit your genius portraits of town dogs or something.

Volunteer at a local gallery/museum. This may not be great at first for the scholarly aspect of things, but it might put you in contact with other people who love learning and want to do more of it.

Pretend you are going to *teach* on the thing you are interested in. Put together a reading list and a list of essay questions. How would you structure the course? What form would the exam take? What would the mark scheme be?

Take yourself on a little field trip once a month/term/year/however often you want. Go somewhere you haven't been before, but with a specific focus in mind. Something like: 'I am going to try and find out as much as possible about this place's collection of Greco-Roman statues.' 'I am going to go to this gallery and draw all the things I see that are yellow.' 'I am going to see how many different kinds of daisy there are in these famous daisy gardens.'

Idk if any of these are actually useful or if they veer into the impractical but I hope you find something even vaguely inspiring! Also, I would recommend keeping a record of any outings or things you try. The process of recording the things you do to further your own interests would make a fascinating project in itself!

[chaifootsteps]

Hello Starry Anon ✨ here! I would like to give a huge applause to that one anon sharing a Lackahazbin au (If I am correct-) This overall inspired me to write an idea that explodes my head in 1 sec per min, but this only like my au draft idea:

Warning this is whole long paragraph-

Probably would like to see someone making an idea  putting Helluva boss cast into Lackadaisy and making to cats (That has better designs than Viv) And other people writing them interesting and overall many potentials stuffs, and MORE DEPTH TO THEIR PERSONALITY than Viv's writing.

But enough talking about Viv! Cause today I am sending Octavia (And Stella) to Lackadaisy, yep! Cause she deserves better, better parents than that crappy sack pathetic excuse of an owl Stolas!

I would make Octavia a scottish fold mixed with, cause well their folded ears look similar like other owls. I also had an weird idea to make her as Wick's niece, yes she's now half siamese, Idk to me everytime I look at Wick he reminds of dad friend not really but he could be a uncle. (And he does remind me of my uncle who's really nice, well expect the geology thing.)

As her design, not sure yet. But already imaging her wearing some alt goth outfits, formal or like Lolita, cause yes like cmon sprinkle the girl some goth style Viv! Seriously.. But I still needed to follow the 1920s accurate fashion style If I ever tried to reimagined her as a cat.

Also would maybe put Stella in Lackadaisy universe, I were a writer I would maybe give her a bit of a personality rather than one off mean mom. Stella will still have anger issues, but atleast not screaming all the time, and ain't stoopid cause look how they downgraded her to a idiot >:( , maybe sassy but is a caring mother to Octavia. Lmao I can imagine Stella and Wick being sibblings (Or like half sibblings- but I am all for sibblings dynamics, and yes I like the idea of Grumpy/Sassy big Sister and Clamn little brother.).

This is kinda a excuse wanting the urge to write a fanfic Wick being a uncle to Octavia, and maybe Stella reuniting with Wick again after she divorced Stolas (Who by is sucked by the blackhole cause I said so)  , like he would write some letters and sends gifts to her when his too busy. Will visit Octavia and greet her, about the gifts parts since Octavia likes Astronomy stuffs Wick could show her telescope then the two outside star gazing, they could tag Stella along too, the same Stella would bring Wick in a shopping spree with Octavia. He would comfort Octavia when she's crying, or having a bad day and will give her the space she needed. And many more more, ideas.

As much I love to ramble I am afraid I have no idea what to say. But this isn't really my first idea, the first I had was Octavia being tired of living with her stooped owl Dad and founds out a book about reincarnated to another world, so she's like "screw you Dad I am leaving" and Boom she's in Lackadaisy bit doesn't remember her current life and maybe has a better childhood (If crime in there was practically avoided.).

Overall I am happy with this idea, but you'd only have to agree with if you don't like it, it's okay. I just happened to like sharing ideas in a essay paragraph. Well sorry about that, but that's it today and I hope you have a good day/Night!

-By Starry Anon ✨

Thanks for your ideas, Starry Anon! The owl --> Scottish fold concept is my favorite, and I love what you've done with Stella.

[stressedlawsecretary]

Today's Focus

ft. the ad that has been all over my local news for two days now. Our quarterback is the new face of Gatorade.

09.19.24 - Out of touch Thursday has never been more accurate; in some ways it's a harder day to get through than Monday. I'm tired, the day drags; the only good thing is that I still have the food trucks to visit for another couple of weeks. After that I'm going to use Thursday as my day to go out for lunch instead of eating at my desk; I need an excuse to get up and move around gd it.

Work - SJC asked me yesterday to pull the casefiles for a case going to trial from the storage room, but I stored them at my desk in preparation for this so all I need to do is move those files to the library for her. Then I gotta send a cloud link out to the defendants in the case so they can access the videos the plaintiff is also reviewing. Other than that, I have whatever is asked of me, probably a mailing or an efile at some point today.

Background Noise - Back in the office means I'm back to binging YT. I got off like six hours on the DVR yesterday, along with 17 other YT videos. Again, not meeting the number from the day before, but this number includes a couple of streams over 2 hrs long, at least one stream over an hr long, and a few reaction videos that were nearly an hr long. So that's a good number for the type of content I'm getting off. I got halfway through another stream as well, but that one is seven hours long so 'halfway' means 4+ hrs in.

Study - Thursday is book day and if I do a couple of chapters of Twin Terror I will feel accomplished. There's a hell of a lot else I could also be reading but I'm not feeling very motivated today.

Though yesterday I did good on the 'visual study' front; of the six hrs I got off the DVR, the number included an hr of Jeopardy, and an episode each of my news programs.

Extras - Thursday means I have to take the garbage out of the house and to the curb; dinner is a classic comfort food - baked ziti. Then I settle in for some more Kamen Rider W and season 19 of Whose Line. I did the mini-essay already today, because I'm incredibly mad that the rhetoric surrounding Kamala Harris ignores the fact that she's a stepmom, and that kinda says a lot about how these ppl feel when it comes to non-traditional families including children without a biological connection. Consider it another piece in my series of how we as a society see children as property and not people. Idk if I'll write more today or do anything productively creative; I feel a little bit like arguing with TDIMDMs on my page. We'll see if I can reign my brain in.

[strawberry-shortcakey]

Hey hey Tumblr! Me again back on talking about Caitlyn because I have A LOT to say.

So most people on my page have probably seen my essay on her first arc if not I highly recommend it! Its genuinely a pretty decent analysis in my opinion but then again it's my own writing😭 anyway.

They ruined the potential they set up in arc 1 with the rest of season 2. Once again the dependency on her and vi as a single being instead of as their own characters. The Caitlyn they spent so long on didn't need someone to tell her right and wrong. Her character has always had a strong moral compass she wasn't taught morality by vi she was taught about the undercity and how bad it truly is but that's it the rest was her. She chose to do what she did because she has a strong sense of morality. I understand stripping that from her when she loses her mother gets put in a position where she feels stuck and she snaps pushing the last person she felt vulnerable around away. But I don't think her redemption was handled. We skip a whole year? Suddenly she's just not as strong willed? In what universe does it make sense for Caitlyn to allow herself to be shoved around like that? There's nothing motherly about ambessa either so you can't even be all "well she's lacking a maternal figure" Ambessa isn't anything like Cassandra. They lost her character for the sake of caitvi. I love cannon lesbians as much as any other lesbian but I'm tired of them being dependent characters. Big time Lesbian rep peaked at adventure time and since then I've never seen them do it right again. Anyway. Vi being the one to make cait "snap out of it" is bullshit. What happened to her bond with idk her DAD? ANYONE ELSE OR MAYBE SHE COULD'VE HAD HER OWN "Holy shit im becoming a monster" moment BECAUSE THEY SET HER UP WITH A FUCKING STRONG MORAL COMPASS AND JUST FORGOT??? They handled that like a wattpad Twilight fanfiction and it pissed me off.

How it went down basically

Vi: "C-cait this isn't like you-"

Cait: "shit man you right martial law isn't cool guess we better fuck now 😽"

Vi: "even better let's fuck while my sister is absolutely about to kill herself and I'm completely aware of that and also in a prison cell! Where I spent my youth being violently traumatised! I need to eat pussy now!"

THE WRITERS LOOKED AT THIS AND WENT "yep solid plot best writing we've ever done"

LIKE WHAT????? HELLO???? WHY????

They made an amazing show no question about it but they needed to handle the second season differently. We've seen them do montages that accurately sum up something why couldn't we get that for that massive skip? And I'm talking the montage when the enforcers go to the undercity for jinx not the pitfighter vi montage that was just flat out pointless because they did nothing with that. I was ready for like genuine development but it was lacking. Writers literally cannot write lesbians sadly like they'll never actually be well written.

But yeah love arcane but I could probably write a better season 2 alone given the opportunity they had😽

[lett-them-eatt-cake]

So I watched Priscilla (2023) and have some thoughts…

This post is gonna be a mess, so just be warned. I have a lot of thoughts and opinions about this movie and could write an entire essay about it, but for now I just wanted to jot down some of my initial opinions. So here we go:

This movie was not as horrible as I thought it was going to be, but I still feel quite disappointed in it. I feel like this movie relies too heavily upon aesthetics, rather than the complexities of the story itself. The story itself feels rather flat. Priscilla and Elvis were/are both very complex people and I feel that by not showing their complexities, this does a disservice to both of them. There are so many things that actually happened that was left out of the film that I feel creates a false impression about both Elvis and Priscilla. Sofia Coppola said that this movie is not for Elvis fans, and while it does not have to be because this is Priscilla’s story, I feel like it does not fully depict the true story and gives people who know nothing about Priscilla or Elvis the wrong impression about them both. Neither one of them was a saint, nor were they monsters, but it feels like this movie is not actually interested in diving into Priscilla’s complexities, but rather depicts her as a rather flat character who is there to portray an “young, innocent angel” archetype.

Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of Elvis wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be but I did feel like Elvis, just like Priscilla, was depicted as a rather flat character. In this film he feels a little too cold and distant. Which feels very contradictory to the Elvis I have seen in footage and how people describe him. Like their whole wedding scene was so strange because they both look unhappy, are not smiling, and are standing apart, but if you watch Priscilla and Elvis’ actual wedding footage they both look incredibly happy, are smiling and holding on to each other. The Elvis in this movie feels less personable and more distant. It also didn’t sit right with me that they made Elvis seem to be cold and distant from Lisa Marie. Elvis loved Lisa with all his heart and was always right there helping to take care of and protect his little girl, but the movie makes it seem like he just tolerated her. Idk I thought that was kinda weird 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3. The ending of this movie also just felt entirely too rushed. I feel like they left too much of the story out and ended up just leaving us with more questions than answers. It left a lot to be desired, that’s for sure. I also wished they would have at least showed some of Priscilla’s life after she left Elvis, since the whole point was that she wanted to have her own life, so why didn’t they at least show that? 4. Also the fact that they ended the movie with Dolly Parton’s “I will always love you” was quite the choice considering that was the song Elvis never got to cover like he wanted to 😭.

Anyway, there is so much more I could say about this movie but it’s too long and I am typing this on my phone. Overall, I just encourage everyone out there to go do your own research on both Elvis and Priscilla if you want a more accurate, in depth history of their relationship. Don’t just rely on this movie and use it to form your opinions about either Elvis or Priscilla. I beg you to do your own research. Thanks for reading!

[alatismeni-theitsa]

Hey! Idk if this is the place to put my thoughts but I love your blog and would love to hear your thoughts on this!

(For background, I’m Greek American from two Greek parents who, for many reasons, did not teach me Greek or expose me to a lot of things from our culture. So most of my experiences with the culture come through my Yiayia, who tells me stories about her younger days in Greece, plays Greek music, and cooks Greek food, but her English is not great and I don’t see her very often, so she can only show me so much)

Going off of what someone said about how cool Percy Jackson would be if the characters had Greek influence or were Greek, I think it would make a lot of sense to have many of the characters go through a diaspora character arc

What I mean by that is that diversity can be shown while still respecting Greek traditions and people. For example, one character might be half Honduran half Greek or a child of black people native to Greece (I forget the name for them but you talked about them in a post once). If Rick Riordan wanted to display a diverse cast, that’s completely fine, because there is no one Greek diaspora experience that encapsulates every Greek diaspora experience due to the natural migration of Greeks around the world. He completely missed an opportunity to talk about the experiences of Greek diaspora and represent the many people who feel disconnected from their culture.

Everyone going to the demigod camp would be an amazing time to show the characters enjoying their Greek heritage (music, food, dances, movies, literature, language learning, traditions, etc.) and their frustration with not learning it sooner. It would be beautiful to see how Greek culture can interact with some of the kids’ other cultures and explore the feelings of third-culture kids. The characters’ relationship with the Greek language could also add so much depth! For example, a character might hear Greek and remember their godly parent singing, or they might hear some traumatic event that happened in childhood. They would all probably have an innate connection with Greek, but they may or may not be fluent, which could allow for an interesting exploration into the unique relationship between Greek diaspora and their mother tongue.

I feel like, even though such explorations would focus on Greek culture specifically, many other ethnic diaspora could relate heavily to it, even if they aren’t Greek! It was such a missed opportunity to represent an EXTREMELY underrepresented experience and to accurately and respectfully represent Greek people.

I could write an essay on this but I’ll stop here. Please don’t feel pressured to put this on your blog I just wanted to write it out and have someone else look at it! You’re doing such good things with this blog, bringing comfort to many diaspora like myself, so please keep up the good work (not to your own detriment, though, please be safe and healthy first)!

Ευχαριστώ Θείτσα!

Γεια σου πουλάκι μου! Να σαι καλά!

Actually this is the most AMAZING idea I've heard for improving the pjo story!!

It was extremely bad that Greeks/Hellenismos of diaspora were excluded from the camp. The world saw just the names of gods and not actual Greek culture. They have no idea how it looks like and thus they can also not guess how it looked like. Not even in the recent series we have such representation, from what I know.

Exploring all the facets of Hellenic diaspora would be such a GREAT thing to see! I can't believe the world missed the chance to see it 😭 Sure one writer is not an expert on all diaspora matters but we are so starved for cultural representation that just the basic stuff would be a big improvement and bring happiness to so many of us.

But also...I invite writers to write the thing themselves, since no one is giving it to us. Again, this is such a great idea και δε θέλω να πάει χαμένη 😁

Feel free to send more messages and asks if you like!

[anelaxoxo]

November books review:

• The virgin suicides ☆☆☆☆ : 5 boys obsessed with their 5 teenage neighbors who committed suicide, they couldn't get over them and their story even 25 years later so they keep "digging for answers". The story is written from the boys' pov so there's a lot of objectifying; the boys created a fantasy in their heads and ran with it. I could write a whole essay about this book so In short it's a great one. I watched the movie right after which is directed by sofia Coppola and it's amazing too (obvi).

• No longer human ☆☆☆☆☆ : this novel lowkey messed me up. The story follows a man named yozu who cannot for the life of him understand or connect on a deeper level with humans to the point where he thinks he's just not one of them; he lives his adult life as a faulty man leading what he calls a shameful life. I'm not sure what other types of mental illnesses the character is going through but the obvious one is a lifelong depression that id say is accurately depicted. The genius about this book i think is that although it mentions heavy topics such as addiction and suicide it doesn't feel heavy...if that makes sense, it's sort of written in a way that's casual and almost friendly as if it's gaslighting you into thinking that it's no big deal, which is why i find it disturbing. Easily One of the best books i've read. Also, horiki hate club? Anyone?

• Bunny ☆☆☆☆: Honestly what a trip. I kept thinking wtf is going on the further i got in the story & I definitely did not see that ending coming. Idk how to summarize this because i want you -if you're willing to read this- to go in absolutely clueless. So I'll stick to the basics. Samantha a college student in a prestigious art school or institute with a bunch of pretentious poets and artists including: "the bunnies". A group made of 3 girls that give off major culty vibes, who also happen to take interest in her. When she gets involved with them, all hell break loose. Gotta be one of my fav books; If you like what's considered "weird fiction" (i think) you'll probably like it.

• We have always lived in the castle ☆☆☆☆☆ : idk what about this book that i love so much but i really do; i guess i love it when a book confuses me then leaves me confused lol. I also love the haunting and eery vibes.

[akajustmerry]

unsolicited video essay opinions (because i've been watching a tonne lately and i honestly should probably take a break)

ppl who make 8+ hour retrospectives on tv shows are failing at non-fiction writing and are just looking for attention. if the essay takes longer to watch than the show, you've failed at presenting information in a compelling way

the leftist video essay on jordy peterson has GOT to go. I'm tired.

by the same token, nearly every video essay on the manosphere is just "can you believe men don't view women as people?" as if all of history doesn't exist. also, it's not enough to point to a thing and intellectualize how bad it is. be constructive or die.

an essay is an argued perspective with evidence and discussion, not a personal opinion or recount narrated over clips. a lot of people don't seem to know the difference

the rare very very good video essay could be considered documentary. however, ppl who think all video essays are documentaries clearly don't watch documentaries. video essays are their own medium. it's unnecessary to validate them by comparison to traditional documentaries.

the fact that people are still making video essays about harry potter is disappointing and boring. stop giving jk terfling's work time and energy.

a lot of video essayists just include repeated points because they want to show how much they've researched, rather than refine their work into a concise argument. it's a truly torturous way to present information.

almost all the best video essayists are poc because they know they can't be lazy and self-gratifying the way a lot of white users do. they know they have to be accurate and precise or else people click off.

a lot of video essays made by major white creators were riffed/ripped off smaller creators of colour

a lot of major white lgbt video essayists would do well to remember they're still white and that their one axis of marginalisation doesn't mean they can't be racist. intersectionality should always be considered

idk which video essayist needs to hear this (a lot) but recounting tumblr fandom bullshit from 10 years ago with no real point or substantial discussion isn't clever, it's lazy. it's like if your mum made a 2-hour vlog about a facebook comment thread she disagreed with last week.

[aspd-culture]

Wtf what did the social worker even do? Tell u to knock it off and cast a magic spell to make u think humans are good actually?

Tw s*icide in fiction, panic attacks, ableism

The social worker and me were actually cool, because I'd been seeing her for my panic attacks. Nothing she said helped, but they promised (and lied) that they wouldn't tell my caregiver if I went every week so I did. If nothing else, it was a way to get out of a stressful class when I wanted to.

As for her reaction to that essay, I'm sure they made her read it but I never specifically brought it up myself and when she did she shrugged it off as "not surprising considering you have a long term record of being very smart but having difficulty socializing" and "kind of ridiculous that they sent you to me for this because I'm not in the business of changing anyone's views on humanity". She also said that she was "not sure they actually know what a social worker is or does if they think this is where they should send you for this".

I admit she seemed less supportive of my views than annoyed with their lack of understanding of her job - but it worked out to the same outcome for me of not having to talk about it anymore soooooo I was cool. We spent about 3/4 of that period just venting about them not understanding her job.

But the rest of the year I got looks from that teacher and she refused to call on me after that, when previously and in all my other classes I was the go to student for "no one knows the answer? Ok well I know who does - X you wanna answer this?". It was obvious I challenged that teacher's worldview and she did not like it. But she also tried to tell me she would send me to the office for refusing to read from a book about s*icide with a passage where someone literally has a panic attack (the book is told from inside their head and was VERY accurately written - it caused me a panic attack when I was forced to read it to avoid the write up!) a year before I would start being wheelchaired during panic attacks myself because I could no longer hide them. That was hell, but since she REALLY wanted me to talk to the social worker, I did - about how distressing that entire book was and how the teacher ignored multiple requests to be out of the room for discussions of su*cide and forcing me to read a panic attack in first person perspective out loud to the class. She filed a report. Idk if it went anywhere but ya know, she was right about one thing, talking to the social worker did make me feel better once that teacher got reported lol.

It was an overall -a million/ten experience in her class and I would have happily told that teacher to go fuck herself if I thought it wouldn't ruin my angelic-ly good (in front of adults lol) gifted kid privileges. I was *not* giving up the fact that monitors and admins ignored straight-up excessive PDA, swearing, tardies, missing work, etc. just to tell that teacher off. But I *do* hope she rots in hell and I also hope she thinks about that essay sometimes. I really do think it haunts her haha.

[butmakeitgayblog]

Idk if it's my inner nerd or the fact that its prof elbow patches teaching art history or maybe it's your amazing writing, but I read through and enjoyed every every single word in her lecture. I especially enjoyed the one about Akhenaten, if that was true it was pretty interesting!

Ahhh that's so fun to hear I just wiggled 🥰🥰🥰 and it was true! Listen I dug out my old art history notes, the two survey textbooks that had not been lost to the sands of time and moving several times, and a few of my old essay exams I could still find just to write these damn lectures and have them be accurate 😅 I payed a lot of money to learn this stuff once upon a time (granted a decade later and I find myself re-studying it just to write but that not the point) so I will be forcing you all to sit through Elbow Patches lectures just to get to the parts where these two dorks flirt badly with each other 🥴 this fic is a studious work and reward piece

But don't worry, there'll also be naked study sessions. Lexa's a very hands-on educator after all