#idk if it's actually a great method but sometimes it's like. idk what to do

[aro-culture-is]

Aro culture is knowing EXACTLY who has a crush on you and pretending to be clueless and unresponsive every time they test the waters long enough that they get over it without ever making a move. And no one's feelings get hurt because they got over it themselves and not thru rejection yippee!!!! 🎉🎊 💚🤍🖤 friend kept, romance avoided ✌😎👍

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[astrobydalia]

Aquamarine. Gold. Lavender.Colors of summer... Astro Observations

work by astrobydalia

Your 9th house rules your gandchildren! 9th house is 5th from 5th so your kids' kids.

Also, if you are any of your parent's first kid look at their 11th house to get a glimpse at how they will perceive your fs. (11th house is 7th from 5th, so your first kid's spouse)

^^these are derivative astrology methods so you gotta use whole sign system

The scorpion actually represents the underdeveloped/young version of Scorpio while the developed version of Scorpio is represented by the eagle which to me is analogous to the phoenix. That's why you see an eagle representing Scorpio in the The World card (cause this card signifies fulfillment or completion in tarot)

I think the song 'Part of Me' by Katy Perry really illustrates developed Scorpio energy. Is not resentful or vengeful but rather transformative and empowering, you can't end their spirit just like you can't end a phoenix. Underdeveloped Scorpio energy allows pain, trauma and resentment to ultimately k!ll their soul which turns into self-destruction, think how scorpion's stinger actually points at them (and fun fact: scorpions can actually k!ll themselves when they feel cornered)

Being "different" or an "outcast" is not an Aquarius trait, it's a Leo trait. Leo is all about being yourself, being unique, the one and only and main character energy. Aquarius rules inclusivity, equality, social cohesion, FRIENDSHIP (aka people who get you) and public validation, that's why it is a strong fame indicator. Aquarius energy is relatable to others, its new and fresh, Leo it not relatable because it is unique, it shines among the crowd and burns just like the Sun. Aquarius can be unique too but the main difference is Leos feel ultimately they only have themselves while Aquarius will always have people.

Leos are meant to experience feeling "different" or outcasted because they need to learn to accept and express themselves no matter what, that's why it rules bravery and courage. They often either feel alone in their "greatness" or feel like nobody accepts their real self. Either way its more common for them than for Aquarius to experience loneliness and rejection just like the sun can't never have anything come too close to it

Aquarius does not rule uniqueness per se it rules innovation, authenticity and detachment from the ego. Aquarians that try hard to be different and separated from "most" people are underdeveloped because they're still attached to their ego and this is the n1 thing that kills their innovative potential. Aquarius doesn't do things to validate the self like Leo, it generates ideas on how humanity can better express itself and develop, that's why it rules over technology, science and activism and that's why they're known to be trend setters. Air signs are all about finding common ground, aquarians are not meant to be different from communities or groups but rather find new and authentic new ways to represent them (hence the inclusivity).

All the Gemini Venus I've met were very loyal in their relationships idk what you guys are talking about. They are the golden retriever person that is head over heals obsessed with their partner. It's not easy to get them to commit cus they need someone who has that perfect blend between goofy and mysterious, too much of either bores them quickly. They love in a playful and child-like way so I see how they can be flighty and non-commital sometimes but if they're genuinely intrigued by you oh boy they'll be ALL over you in every way pretty consistently

Harsh aspects (esp square) between Mercury-Mercury in synastry are a no-go when it comes to compatibility. The two people can get along well and like each other if the rest of the synastry supports it but they likely have NOTHING in common. Efforts to try and find shared interests or ideas might be misunderstood or feel forced because there's none 😭. Even if you do have shared ideas or interests, you will have vastly different ways of looking at them because the way in which you both think/communicate always clash so you never really see eye to eye. You can get away with having unharmonious connections between venus or mars in synastry but mercury? Nah.

When it comes to predictions specially, you need to have AT LEAST three indicators for an energy to stick. For example, having just one planet at 29�� doesn't mean you're gonna be famous, you need to have at least three fame indicators to even consider fame in chart. Also, I can't stress this enough, you REALLY shouldn't need to dig too hard to find the indicators, they're usually evident and fit into the context of the chart, meaning there are no other things contradicting or neutralizing said energy.

Even though we often look at 7th house for marriage, you are most likely to consider marrying and settling down with people who have their placements in your 4th house and/or 10th house, or you just see them as marriage potential in general. 4th house creates a sense of home, security and familiarity while 10th house synastry points to shared goals, seeing a future together, etc. That's how you'll feel tho, to see if that would happen you gotta check composite chart

If you have fire in your big 3 I just know you love being unhinged and a little wild once you get comfortable

Natives with Venus-Chiron aspects tend to have... questionable taste in lovers or get in relationships that are not so promising (forbidden love, etc). Their love life is always a struggle, they feel like they can't find someone that truly loves them and when they do it's always "complicated". With hard aspects they tend to date people who blatantly suck (abusers, psychos, players, etc). With easy aspects this can happen too but I've noticed they are more prone to attracting people who are alright however deep down are very troubled and/or unavailable individuals so the native tends to be the one to heal or sooth their lover.

Scorpio Mars can have sadistic tendencies... It obviously does NOT have to go that far for everyone, in fact most of them are pretty tame but this placement really gets off on the reactions of others I've noticed. Their n1 superpower is catching you off guard and poking at you psychologically. They know exactly what strings to pull and are very aware of how anything they do or say can trigger and affect others. This can manifest as smart and punchy humor, teasing... or really toxic behaviors. Oh and you do NOT wanna see them genuinely angry 😶 If you have this placement im gonna kindly ask you to please use your powers for good 😭💀

Females with Libra placements could have experienced being 'the other woman' I've seen this a lotttt. Either that or they constantly attract situatioships. They have a tendency to not be taken seriously by the opposite sex, only being seen as a trophy or a pretty face kinda vibe. Unless they also have Cancer energy

Which is interesting to see cause even though Libra rules marriage, the kind of women who are mostly perceived as marriage material by men are Cancer placements not Libra. If you think about it, it makes sense tho cause cancer rules family and motherhood

Water venus people have a very approachable and understanding aura. Very diplomatic and tactful, they'll effortlessly make you feel comfortable around them. Equally accepting of others both in public and in privet, but you'll automatically lose them if you make them feel invaded

Fire venus motto is "it's impossible to impress me.... but let's see you try😏". They purposefully market themselves as hard to get cause they want to see what you got. Will constantly crave interactions with some fun and friction

Earth venus are a lot more harsh, they haven't even talked to you yet but somehow have already decided you didn't make the cut 🥱 Silent observers, they'll have a mental spread sheet of what they like and don't like about you

With air venus you don't want to come off too strong otherwise you'll activate their fight or flight response 🏃‍♀️ You'll never know where you stand with them but if you wanna get closer you need to keep it playful and give them space

Virgo Sun/Mars/ASC like to help others but they do it in such way that is also indirectly self-serving to themselves. Virgos are sidereal Leos, they secretly want recognition for their modesty and want their actions and efforts to ultimately shine back on them

Underdeveloped Pisces Moons are selfish and out of touch. I’ve noticed this placement is painted in a way too innocent light but they can have a nasty shadow too. They will not accept anything that does not conform to their delusional expectations about life and when things don't go their way they’ll isolate in melancholy and victimize themselves using the ‘misunderstood’ card. They can have a really twisted perception of reality, confusing the lines between right and wrong to accommodate their own narrative. Think Thanos from MCU, that character is a perfect example of underdeveloped Pisces Moon fr!! They tend to be very aloof and weaponize their empathy to appear innocent . Can use the “I can understand the world but the world doesn’t understand me” mentality to justify everything they do without ever feeling bad about it.

Another Return that brings a lot of karmic lessons aside from Saturn Return is your North Node return which happens every 18 years (Ages 18, 36, 54, etc)

Gemini risings have a fabricated or fragmented personality. They're often attracted to things like astrology, personality stuff, psychology, etc because it helps them make sense of themselves through abstract concepts. They also tent to define themselves through imitation or comparison like "I do that too", etc. It's very easy for them to convince themselves they're something they're not (gemini rules lies and deception), that's why they're often good actors (Pisces 10th house). They come across as very air-headed cause who they present themselves to be is based on who they THINK and SAY they are vs. how that translates in reality

Based on my life experience and also the responses in astro/observation posts, I've observed Scorpio placements respond relatively well to criticism. Not saying they don't care, but they can handle being villainized quite well because when developed they can have a really healthy acceptance of their shadow side and toxic traits. They also don't mind being misunderstood cause that means people can't pry on their business

CANCER, Libra, Leo and Virgo placements on the other hand are the most sensitive to criticism.... They can't handle not being seen as "the good one" all the time

Most Pisces suns I've met gave off huge xNTJ vibes for some reason like very deep thinkers, silent, sarcastic with a low-key threatening and unapproachable aura. Also VERY elusive and protective their personal stuff, they embodied the "mysterious" Scorpio stereotype fr.

However Pisces sun+pisces venus combo gives much softer vibe, more quiet and doormat-like, you'd think they're high 24/7.

The other bunch of Pisces suns Ive met had a very bubbly and dramatic personality. Can be emotional in a really performative way

Libra Mars people are SMOOOOOTH. Not only with their words but also their mannerisms, how they move and do things in general. You'll never see them triggered or stressed, they make everything look so effortless

The Pluto in Scorpio generation (millennials mostly) were the ones who started this mental health awareness wave. All this concern with anxiety, depression, mental and personality disorders was started by them. They’re the ones who started putting focus on the deeper effects of the dark psychology (Scorpio).

All the people that have scared me and traumatized me deeply for life had planets in my 12th house with no 8th house synastry in sight whatsoever…

>>> In my experience 8th house synastry is only intense in the moment but eventually you get over it fast once you stop entertaining the person/situation. It might be hard to let it go tho cause the connection is intense and this person will leave a lasting impression, but once it’s done that person is forever dead to you. 12th house synastry on the other hand is giving "I fight with you in my sleep", 12th house feels harmless at first but it deals with themes of sorrow and shame. It lingers and haunts you fr. Let’s remember that Saturn, the planet of permanece and lessons, finds its joy in the 12th house…

8th house venus/juno is NOT a sugar baby indicator imo. As per my observation, it is actually the 8th house native that ends up making a lot of money and their spouse/partner benefits from the native's income and success. I swear every person I've seen with these placements had "we could hang out in my yacht if you want😉" as their main flirting technique LMAO. Their own power (8th house) is their main source of seduction and attraction (Venus/Juno)

I believe 2nd house Venus/Juno is more indicative of sugar baby energy. They want that spoiled good life with little effort even if that means being financially dependent on someone else or using family's money

In contrast I've noticed 8th house placements are not really like that, they have a HEAVY entrepreneurial spirit. Super ambitious individuals

With that being said, be careful if your have natal 8th house placements (specially Venus, Moon, Juno, 7th house ruler), cause the people you bond with WILL benefit from YOUR income and success. That's why these natives are prone to experiencing betrayal, cause if you surround yourself with the wrong people they'll take what they want from you or cause chaos in your life and then leave, so use your intuition!!

With 2nd house energy you are good at keeping your resources and income safe, but this means they can lose value if you don't use or invest them eventually just like food goes bad if it just sits in the fridge. With 8th house energy you are prone to loss, debt, loans and other financial risks where you either lose it all or gain lots and lots of money, the all or nothing nature of plutonic energy.

I bet any virgo placement can relate to being a little bit of mess but something I’ve seen in particular with Virgo risings is they are surprisingly sloppy?? You really wouldn't in a million years think so given how they always end up presenting good results but once you know them deeply you notice they often miss out on important details in the process or get so caught up with short-term things that they miss the big picture. Either way, they often look like they got it all together but they constantly improvise a lot more that what it looks like in the surface

Aquarius Mars is a placement I've seen A LOT in celebrities, specially well-liked ones. They attract people to them just by existing, they don't even have to try too hard

I’ve noticed a lot of critically acclaimed actors have air moons

Sagittarius Part of Fortune have a vibrant and fun spirit, you can’t never kill their vibes but they can tend to be immature. It’s like they’re completely oblivious to anything serious 

Libras are people pleasers due to a hidden inferiority complex (sidereal virgo)

work by astrobydalia

[crypt1dcorv1dae]

Do we think Johnny is an example of a common story with bullies where, they're bullied or abused or made to feel small, weak, insignificant, so they then go out and make others feel that way so THEY get to feel strong, powerful, important...

Bc the way his dad talks to him and treats him (insulting him, threatening to kick him out at 12 years old bc he thinks he's stealing a beer (he wasn't) not bothering keeping food in the house and not really caring if Johnny is safe or where he is, leaving him to fend for himself past dark just because he got detention) is definitely verbally abusive and neglectful at LEAST... I do think that Johnny (like Ed said) is mostly a bully for the reaction and the approval of his friends (who have different but similar enough situations to be in the same boat) but... The reaction is the whole thing. You're made to feel small and insignificant and worthless, so you want to feel big and powerful and important, and the only way you've been TAUGHT BY EXAMPLE to do that is to do the same thing, more or less, that was done to you to others. It's how the cycle of abuse WORKS and bullying is just one of many forms of abuse out there...

Honestly, I think if someone said to Johnny "hey by being a bully you're acting a lot like your old man" he would stop immediately. Because I know, I KNOW, in my heart that the thing he wants LEAST is to be ANYTHING like that guy.

I know because I've BEEN THERE. My dad is... Similar, not exactly the same, I know he does love me and shit and doesn't like actively berate me like he does to... most people who mildly inconvenience him, (really HES a bit of a bully, you should see him deal with customer service workers...) he did threaten to throw me out once but he was drunk and didn't even remember the next day, so... Idk if he meant it or not. But. Similar enough. To the point where as soon as I saw Johnny's dad and his behavior I was like oh god it's MY dad but small and red ... Shivers....

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME. POINT IS. JOHNNY DOESNT WANNA BE LIKE HIS DAD. I KNOW HE DOESNT. BUT HES ALSO YOUNG AND A LIL STUPID AND DOESNT RECOGNIZE THE PATTERNS IN HIS BEHAVIOR AS BASICALLY DOING THE SAME THING AS HIS DAD BUT WITH A DIFFERENT METHOD. I don't think his dad like hits him or anything (I feel like that would be a bit dark for the tone of the comic, but it does get dark in other ways sometimes so... Idk) so I think his "rough em up for their pocket change" bullying method isn't necessarily learned from his dad, but the METHOD isn't really the point... The point is making someone feel small so you feel bigger.

And tbh I really don't think Johnny is like... INHERENTLY a bully, he's not a BAD kid, nobody is purely bad at all, he's a kind, protective, supportive and loving friend to anyone he decides is One Of His... We know that from THE TEXT. His little "gang" is theost important thing to him, his friends are what he cares about most, and they always are there for him and support him when he needs it to. That's his family.

I think... Honestly... Realizing his behavior is stemming from his dad's, and maybe broadening who he considers "one of his", just a lil change of perspective, is all he would need to go from the school bully to like... A fierce protector. With great power and all that. I think he's already on his way there tbh!!

And I know it's .. complicated, cus forge has his own agenda and plans, but I feel like forge will be overall helpful with that development as well. Forge isn't a bully. He fights with a purpose. His whole deal is SEEKING a purpose to fight right now... And I think Johnny is kind of in a similar boat. He's on his way to realizing maybe being a bully isn't all that great, actually, but he's a FIGHTER, always has been, he needs a reason to fight.

Idk. Idk if this makes any sense, I'm just rambling and spewing my thoughts everywhere like some kinda thought barf, as I usually do with thoughts and words, but I just... Idk. I just really really love Johnny and love to overthink about him. And to do amateur psychoanalysis on him and his behavior with whatever bits and pieces of lore we get for him. As everyone seems to do with him (looking at you, Max and Ed)

[mywitchyblog]

I love ur posts! But I need your help! I’m a witch as well and I’ve been trying to shift since 2019 😭 only successfully shifting to a parrarel reality (lol ken in my or was Ryan Reynolds not Ryan gosling)

But the thing is I have adhd, sleep methods never worked, so awake methods are my go to. When I’m trying to shift I get that pain in my 3rd eye and yeah I can feel myself floating etc etc changing stuff but it never actually gets to the point I shift.

I have also an issue with being grateful and accomplished in my CR cause why would I be since in my dr I have everything I’ve ever wished for?

So idk what could actually help me to get and finally get away from this place. I don’t want to be here, war, onlyfans women getting more money than educated ppl, environment dying, sicknesses etc etc.

Idk I just wanna be in my house at the beach with my horse and boyfriend xx

Sometimes I am thinking of giving up but tbh Illl never will cause I am not letting go of that cute dream. Just I had one year break and Ifk what to do. I am doing shadow work, go to therapy etc but still

Hey love, first off, I want to say you're totally on the right track—you're still here, fighting for your dream, and that speaks volumes about your resilience! 🙌 And trust me, I see you, I hear you. The frustration is REAL, especially when you’ve been working at it for so long. But we're about to unpack this and help you get back on track, alright?

Let’s break this down, one step at a time:

1. ADHD & Sleep Methods:

I get it, sleep methods can be a nightmare when ADHD is in the mix. But here's the thing: shifting doesn’t have to be reliant on sleep methods at all. Since you’ve already tapped into awake methods, that's your strength, so let’s lean into that. Instead of pushing yourself to follow traditional “shifting scripts” or methods that might not be working for you, try to make your own. A big part of shifting is creating the right mindset and energy for it, so don’t stress about following someone else’s blueprint. Adapt it to your needs.

The floating sensation and third-eye pressure are great signs—you’re tapping into the energy, but it sounds like you’re getting stuck at the point of full immersion. This might be due to a lack of full mental "release" or that subconscious resistance. Have you tried visualization combined with sensory engagement? Like, imagine your beach house in full detail—not just seeing it, but feeling it. Get your whole body involved—feel the breeze, hear the waves, smell the ocean air. You’re trying to move from a “thought” to a “feeling.” Really experience it as if it’s already happening.

2. Gratitude & Accomplishment in the CR:

This is a tough one, but you can definitely work through it. The reason you feel no gratitude in your CR is because it’s based on comparison. In your DR, you have everything—so how could the CR compare, right? But here's the twist: you don’t need to have everything in your CR to still find value in your current life. It’s about switching your perspective. Instead of focusing on the lack, try to focus on what you do have and what you’ve accomplished. That doesn’t mean you need to be totally satisfied with your CR. You’re shifting to a place of abundance, so you’re allowed to dream, but still—find small moments of appreciation for what you have right now. This helps raise your frequency and opens you up to attracting more. Gratitude isn’t just a vibe, it’s a frequency. If you’re struggling with it, I recommend doing a quick gratitude list every day, even for small things.

3. Emotional Blocks—Letting Go of CR:

I hear you on wanting to escape the chaos of the world. Believe me, the current reality sucks, and it’s hard to keep holding onto hope when it feels like you’re just waiting for the world to change. But—before you even think about letting go—let me ask you something: Are you ready to let go of all the comfort of the CR to fully embrace the DR? Because shifting isn't just about escaping this reality; it’s about stepping into your dream reality and embracing the life you truly want. And if there’s any doubt or hesitancy about leaving behind the old reality, it’s going to make it harder for you to completely shift. The key is mental and emotional letting go. It’s like pulling the trigger, but you can’t hesitate when you do it. So, if you find yourself thinking “this isn’t working,” pause and reflect: Am I still holding on to the CR, emotionally or mentally?

4. Don't Let the Doubt Win!

I see that little voice creeping in, trying to make you give up. But listen closely: doubt is the enemy. You’re already so close, and I promise, giving up is NOT an option. You’ve got a clear vision of your DR, and that’s gold. Most people can't even visualize what they want. The fact that you're clear about what you want is half the battle won! Trust in your ability to manifest it into existence. If it’s been years, it might just be that the timing isn’t right yet, but I promise, that doesn’t mean it never will be. Just keep going—little shifts lead to big results.

You’re already doing amazing work with shadow work and therapy, so keep that up. But also give yourself permission to rest from the process if it’s starting to feel overwhelming. You’ve got this. 🌟

Quick Tips:

Ground yourself before shifting. Centering your energy with some deep breaths, meditation, or even some physical movement (a quick walk, a stretch) can really help.

Use affirmations: "I am shifting now, I am ready to experience my dream reality." Say them with feeling.

Set a clear intention for your shift: don't just wish to go to your beach house, visualize the full experience with all your senses, like it's happening right now.

I believe in you, seriously. Keep going. You’re not letting go of your dream—you're just taking a brief pause to come back stronger. 💪 Your beach house, your horse, your perfect boyfriend? They're all waiting for you. Just take it one step at a time and trust that the shift is already in motion. ✨🌊

Stay strong and don’t forget to give yourself credit for how far you’ve come already. You got this! 💅🔥

[letteredlettered]

I remember reading a post from a while back you wrote about being an acerbic prickly person who at the same time was sensitive & would need to be with someone who could be gentle with you when you were like that and not be acerbic back. I think about it a lot because i feel i am that way too and it’s made me think more about my own issues in this area and also who is a good fit for me and i was wondering if you remember that post and know where it is. i often lately think about how grateful i am to have people who can be nice and gentle with me when i need it and realize i am not being prickly because i am mean or hate them but because of other complicated emotional things i probably don’t understand in the moment and i can say these days often , i know i am being prickly, you’re great, please be nice to me. anyway you might not remember but i couldn’t find the post so if you happen to know where it is i would like to read it again. if you don’t know what i am talking about you can delete this.

Anon, I looked for this and cannot find it. I vaguely remember the post, but I remember the sentiment 100%, because I am still very much this way.

Basically, I need to be around people who manage anger differently than I do. I get really angry and yell. If I'm annoyed or idk, tired, I snap. And I felt like maybe I only deserved people who yelled and snapped at me, because it's bad to yell and snap, and I think I'm bad for yelling and snapping, and I don't deserve better.

But it turns out, not everyone finds being yelled and snapped at the end of the world. It sucks, yes, but some people prefer it to other methods of dealing with anger: silent treatment, passive aggression, tears, gossip.

None of these behaviors are actually bad, or at least, they don't make you a bad person. If you need to be quiet because you're angry, that's fine. If you need to make some catty remarks instead of saying what you're angry about, that's fine. If you need to cry, that's fine. If you need to tell someone else your feelings before you tell your partner/friend, that's fine. And if you need to yell, it really can be okay for some people.

But none of these things are fine if that's all you do, if you never communicate about what upset you and work on fixing it. People talk about passive aggression like it's the worst thing in the world, but honestly it works better for me a lot of the time, because I can see that someone is upset; I can prepare for it; I can ask them what's up at a time that works for both of us. I don't get yelled at; horrible things aren't said. The only thing that's wrong with it is if they never tell me what the problem was--either because they lied when I asked, or I didn't ask because I didn't notice, and they just decided not to say anything.

I don't like yelling or snapping. I work really hard not to do it. But in the end, there's only so much about myself I can control. I've worked on my anger problems all my life; I can't decide I'm broken just because I can't change myself completely; I can't hate myself because I can't perfectly fix myself. What I can do is work as hard as possible, which involves trying to resolve anger in myself and trying not to hurt others with it, but also involves communicating clearly with those around me.

So, it's great to be able to say to others, "I know I'm being prickly right now." But I also take the time to a) try to understand why I'm being prickly, b) try to figure out what will make me not prickly. A lot of times I'm tired or stressed, and just time by myself, away from people, will help give me a calmer state of mind, preventing prickliness. But sometimes something about the person is bothering me, and I need to tell them, and instead of snapping at them, I need to have a clear and open conversation about it. But another step is c) acknowledging what might've been hurtful in my behavior, asking how the other person feels, explaining myself, and apologizing.

It does mean often making myself vulnerable, which can be a lot. But there are people whose world doesn't end when you snap at them, who have the understanding and empathy to see where you are coming from, and can forgive you. I'd just say that if you're never hearing about their feelings or dealing with their anger, there is probably some kind of problem there. I've been around people who I felt were just absorbing all of my anger and never talking about the way it made them feel or their own anger (despite my attempts to communicate), and imo, that's a toxic relationship. So, besides someone who expresses their anger in a different way, you also need a great communicator, and to work on communicating yourself, as much as possible.

Sounds like you're doing that, so I hope things work out for you <3

[shutupineedtothink]

More Moiraine & Lan (and the Bond) thoughts, because I really just can’t help myself.

Just thinking about how we know every Aes Sedai and Warder share the Bond, but we don’t see any other AS/Warder teams using it as a form of communication NEARLY as much as Moiraine and Lan do.

Like these mofos are having full conversations with head tilts and tiny eyebrow raises and 3 seconds of eye contact from the jump. Sometimes not even looking at each other. And it’s extra great if you’re a show only like me because you only realize it when you go back later after all the stuff with the Bond is explained in 1x04/1x05. Like I remember thinking when I was first watching the pilot ‘wow, these two are really in sync, clearly they’ve known each other a long time,’ but it’s so much more than that obviously.

Now, one easy explanation for this is that we’re just seeing them the most, they’re main characters, and s1 especially does a lot of work hyping up the Bond and how important it is so that we get the full impact of them being cut off later. Makes sense.

But… idk like even Alanna and Ihvon and Maksim, who are actually in a romantic relationship, don’t seem to prefer the Bond as a way to communicate. We even see them have their little diplomatic discussion before Ihvon goes to follow Tomas. It’s an actual conversation. Maksim even prefers the Bond masked, so I guess in that way they kind of have to talk to each other.

Verin and Tomas are pretty quiet in general, but still it’s not emphasized that they use the Bond to communicate that much. Perhaps this is also highlighted by Tomas’s advice to Lan that the Bond isn’t the only common language they share with their Aes Sedai.

Except for Moiraine and Lan, it’s like AT LEAST 80%. It’s the primary way they communicate. Because 1. they’re both so naturally reserved on the outside (but feel very deeply on the inside), and 2. I imagine it comes in handy to be extra good at it when you’re on the road searching for the Dragon Reborn and you don’t want everyone around you to know what you’re about.

Then there’s Stepin’s comment from s1 to Kerene, “Can you imagine their dinners?” Which is funny but also very telling. To all the other Aes Sedai and Warders, Moiraine and Lan seem pretty cold and distant, to everyone else and each other. But again, that’s by design to protect their mission. They’re just having conversations no one else can see, even other Bonded pairs. It’s like most AS and their Warders use the Bond as insurance, a fail safe even, to understand and communicate with each other, with normal human communication (i.e. TALKING) as the primary method. But for Moiraine and Lan it’s the other way around.

My POINT BEING, that this adds weight to their storyline in S2. Like they are REALLY struggling because on top of everything else, this fundamental piece of their relationship and communication is just gone. And it opens a door for Moiraine to push Lan away, when she NEVER would have been able to before, practically or emotionally. And he reels from her attacks because he’s just not as good at understanding her without the Bond, when he would have seen right through that shit before, just from feeling alone. So Tomas can say to him, you need to really listen, but 20 years of shared emotional mind reading is not that easy to bypass. You don’t learn normal person communication skills overnight. Certainly not when there’s this gaping hole in your head/heart where another person you probably knew better than yourself should be but isn’t.

Anyway, I think it just adds even more credence to why they’re both so lost throughout most of S2, especially Lan. And what makes them so badass with the Bond but so absolutely uncoordinated without it. And why every other Aes Sedai/Warder thinks they’re fuckin weird. And why we love them, because who doesn’t want to be so fundamentally understood like that? Who doesn’t want their own secret language with someone that no one else really gets, but that person gets you on a level so real it can’t be replaced? That’s what we’re all reaching for, and that’s what they have with each other. For better or worse.

[notnights]

your gangle cosplay is really cool, do you have any tips for someone trying to make their own?

Thank you! I appreciate it. And it depends on what you're going for with it! I've seen a lot of different Gangle cosplayers with different interpretations which are creative and fun to make I imagine! So I can't really advise any specifics on crafting etc since I don't know what you're going for.

For me when I cosplay I want to get as "accurate" as I can with the character design. I unfortunately am not very good at sewing and shaping and stuff but you can see that didn't stop me, I made it as well as I could. And Gangle is obviously one of the more difficult characters I've ever decided to cosplay so wasn't ever going to be accurate with her unless I did like... a puppet method or something. (From my understanding this falls under the "creature" cosplay category?)

Idk if these will help at all, but it's good to start with visualizing ideas you want to try for before hand:

Ideas for a Navi, Bill Cipher and Gir from Invader ZIM cosplays that went no where.

Thinking outside the box also helps in the sense of, other forms of crafting, skills or items, you wouldn't think to use might help with what you're making!

Examples:

I used fursuit methods to help build my NiGHTS cosplay, I also used quilting methods to help make Gangle's ribbon limbs.

When making Circus Baby I wanted an exhaust fan that actually spun, turns out there are plenty of tutorials on how to make your own fidget spinners so used that method to make a light weight one out of cardboard and pennies for that piece! When making Gangle 2.0 to keep the shape I wanted to infuse wire into the edges of the ribbon limbs. The best method for this would have been to hand sew floral wire to an extra piece of fabric with fishing wire, then sew that one in with the edges of the the limbs. I however was only 1 and a half week away from a con and still had a ton of pieces to finish so I got a bunch of cheap wired ribbon, and infused those inside the limbs. (Kept the shape well enough but I'm at the point where I want to remake them again lol.)

Instead of using traditional adhesives like hot glue, maybe something like silicon adhesive can be used and other more hardware based unities can be used. Hardware stuff in general helps. Similar stuff they sell at craft stores can often be found cheaper at hardware stores. I've had the benefit that my father is a handyman so I grew up with a lot of that tool usage, and loved going to hardware stores with him because sometimes I'd find something that would make me be like "WAIT I CAN USE THIS For that art project I've been trying to do."

This admittedly also comes from my doll customization hobby, which believe it or not, has a lot of power tool usage to make those pretty little dolls! Some of these things I used for my Gangle. Making cute ribbon outfits or bows for dolls, you have to burn the edges of the ribbon you've cut, least it fray (in Gangle 1.0. each ribbon you see has been lovely burnt by candle LOL) when Gangle 2.0's ribbon fabric it would run after getting snagged on stuff, I made a "sealer" I'd use for making doll wigs. Watered down glue (this case Modge podge because its already watery) and painted it over any places that would receive a lot of friction as the solution admitted made the satin a tiny bit duller so didn't want to paint the whole thing with it.

Sometimes you can use the methods/shapes from existing clothing to help you make what you want. When I made my NiGHTS cosplay I found a little decorative halloween jester hat which I used as a reference to make a pattern for NiGHTS' hat/horns.

Speaking of, and also in relation to that hardware thing. Thrift shops are a great way to find random pieces of stuff you think can help with your project especially if they're going to be items you cut up/modify anyways. I wanted the illusion of floating when making my NiGHTS and musing about a Tatsumaki cosplay so wanted to use tacky clear platform heels to make it happen lol. And thrift shops have a ton of used shoes. I only needed the platform part and remove the straps so didn't need anything brand new. While I didn't find clear ones at the time I did find other platforms that helped with my NiGHTS, the feet were so big on the costume it shadowed the heels anyways and kept the illusion. (bonus concept of that Tatsumaki idea)

When I needed a squeaker for a cosplay piece I just bought a 99 cent dog toy and disemboweled it for one. In the same kind of "cheat" I just got a wielding mask, removed the mask part, and attached my Gangle mask to it to make a way method to take it on and off.

Anyways that was a lot of examples, but they're times when my dumb dumb brain was like "wait!!! I don't have to do this the hard way and get what I'm looking for!!" and it saved me from said hard way of getting what I wanted.

[izunias-meme-hole]

My Top 10 Batman Villains (Revamped)

(Because I currently need to get this off my chest, also a lot of these are just in my opinion)

Honorable Mention: Bane (Various) - Despite being misrepresented as a dumb brute and the fact that one of the best adaptations of him somehow gets his voice and nationality wrong, Bane is a villain with QUITE the deserving reputation. A walking tank with a luchador mask that has the brains to match his brawn.

Number 10. Scarecrow (Nolan Trilogy) - Crane wasn't a big villain in the grand scheme of the trilogy, but my god Cillian Murphy does a great job with the character. Like I wish that his supervillain outfit wasn't just a bag over his face, but Scarecrow manages to be quite the dangerous and cowardly loon with a mask of sanity in Batman Begins, an active member of the underworld in The Dark Knight, and the guy actively sending folks to their deaths in The Dark Knight Rises. Could we have had more of him? Yes. Did he use up his screen time well? Absolutely. Though his fear toxin could've been infinitely wilder.

Number 9. Mr. Freeze (BTAS: Heart of Ice) - I feel like this is a "to the surprise of absolutely nobody" moment, but this show reinvented Mr Freeze as a tragic and vengeful figure, and his debut was a perfect example of that.

Number 8. The Phantasm (BTAS) - The Phantasm is one of the best darker counterparts to Batman a lot of levels.

Number 7. Harley Quinn (BTAS) - The minor side villainess turned breakout character of the show. If anyone has seen B:TAS and then seen the rest of the media she's in, then you know why this is the best version of her. A good amount of things about the character being based around her actress (R.I.P Arleen Sorkin), her interactions with half the cast, Peak HarIvy content, the best representation of how bad her situation with her abusive ex was, and the perfect mixture between being a not-so-great-person and a precious lil' thing who deserves better.

Number 6. Ra's Al Ghul (Various) - Ra's Al Ghul may be a more international threat in comparison to the other antagonists I've listed, but he's undeniably one of Bruce's greatest foes. A very rich and powerful older man whose mission and persistence is similar to that of the caped crusader. Though unlike Batman, Ra's is willing to do more than just kill, he's willing to commit genocide, and he's willing to use other harsh and controlling methods in order to create his ideal world. Ra's is pretty much the worst elements of Batman shoved into a singular self-righteous figure, and when done well he's easily one of the greats.

Number 5. Two-Face (Various) - Harvey Dent is a man split down the middle, a two-faced dude in more ways than one, and an irredeemably tragic figure no matter the perspective, though funnily enough he's always a victim of chance. He's a victim of the one worst possible outcome that had just as much of an opportunity to be the best possible outcome. It's part of the reason why he makes choices based off a literal coin flip. Chance put Dent in the circumstances to become a villain, and as he surrenders his entire being to chance as Two Face.

Number 4. Oswald "Penguin" Cobblepot (Various) - He's just a pathetic and horrible little man. No I'm serious. Oswald has had various portrayals over the years, but they can all be summed up at "pathetic and horrible little man wanting respect" and its great to see in action because despite the fact that he can be legit menacing and sometimes tragic, Oz is just inherently ridiculous on some level. It's great.

Number 3. Catwoman (Various) - Selina, Selina, Selina... she's cool. Sure she is a classic example of a "femme fatale," but aside from that Selina has always been a thrill seeker in some way or another. Be it as a jewel thief who proudly shows this, or an anti-hero that covers this part of herself with actual justifications, there is always an aspect of Selina that enjoys what she does when she puts that mask on. Mrs Kyle is enjoyable, idk what else to say.

Number 2. The Riddler (Various) - Genuinely impressive intelligence and creativity mixed with an ego as big as 3 Russias and as fragile as a glass bottle. That's what you're always bound to find in Riddler. Be it in the 60's show, BTAS, Batman Forever, The Arkham Series, Gotham, or The Batman, Riddler is a Redditor with the theatrics of a gameshow host and the resources of John Kramer.

Number 1. The Joker (Various) - Come on. We all knew this was gonna happen. The Joker is a crook who fell into a vat of chemicals and got a clownish makeover, who ended up becoming the nemesis of Batman. While the other rouges have their particular danger levels, they all have some type of cause they're fighting for or they're purely out to benefit themselves. Joker just causes chaos, death, and suffering, for the sake of his twisted sense of humor. He is willing to kill and ruin lives in the most creative way possible, so long as he finds it funny. Yet despite how twisted he is, this evil ass clown actually can be funny. Not only that, but he's the most effective contrast to Batman, even more than the other rouges. Batman is a frightening figure with a semi-demonic visage who suffered one bad day in his youth, yet he is a hero dedicated to the cause of justice and protecting the innocent citizens of Gotham City. Joker is a colorful figure with a big 'ol grin on his face and a jovial demeanor, yet he is perfectly okay with causing as much unwarranted harm to others for the sake of artistic chaos. Ultimately, the Clown Prince of Crime is a villain that's managed to last for decades, despite the ever marching clock, for these exact reasons.

[yoccu]

Time for my regularly scheduled post about breathing and stretching apparently. Because I think a really important thing about stretching that I rarely seen talked about is the role of breathing.

TLDR: When stretching try to focus on fully and slowly exhaling DURING the stretch, this is what allows them to actually stretch best. If they’re particularly sore apply ice DURING the stretch as it will allow the stretch to not cause inflammation. I’ve had like five physical therapists tell me this is all accurate but if it sucks for you don’t do it. Many ways to exist in this world are real and I’m not your doctor.

When I started working on my breathing while doing stretches bc I have chronic and pretty severe muscle stiffness in my neck and shoulders that has caused TMJ and migraines for decades, I didn’t realize for a long time I wasn’t breathing like. Normally? I also have pretty constant CPTSD symptoms and I think this was one of them, a subconscious CONSTANT rigidity and inability to relax that crossed into being Medically Significant. I’ve had MULTIPLE physical therapists insist for MINUTES that I was “not relaxing” when I thought it wasn’t possible to relax any further. I figured this out eventually.

Anyway when I’d start working on my breathing like six years ago I’d notice it would like. Catch and feel weird. A lot. Idk what made me realize but eventually I realized I was inhaling deeply but NOT exhaling deeply. So I just always had like too much breath???

So I started doing that “blow out of a straw” kind of breathing because I realized I couldn’t rely on the SENSATION of exhaling to be accurate. That method meant when I stopped feeling air leaving my mouth I was actually done exhaling and it took like. Five times longer or something it’s nuts.

BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT because inhaling and exhaling relate to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems! And if I recall correctly, your muscles relax on the EXHALE.

This is why sometimes if I can’t stretch I literally just sit with my back straight but not rigid and just focus on my posture being self sustaining WHILE relaxing every muscle as best I can. Breathing very deeply and slowly the whole time. It makes a HUGE difference. I did this for like MONTHS before incorporating stretches and exercises when I first started out.

But I can’t stress enough, focusing on breath is the best way to get the most out of stretching, and also stretching for a LONGER time and MORE GENTLY. When you want to stretch some elastic you don’t just tug it a few times and go that’s good enough! Even the mildest stretch held for two or three REALLY deep slow breaths is better than a bigger stretch for less time. Some days I can barely tip my head to the side but I hold it there for a minute or so and over that time I can FEEL the muscle letting up just a little. And that’s exactly the progress you want! Too much progress at once and you’ll cause all sorts of pain and pain is basically backwards progress to your physical body. It wants to avoid that even if your brain is thinking no pain no gain. You can’t help your body by working against it.

So that’s my PSA! Remember to breathe while stretching. If that is difficult, literally just practice breathing fully and deeply in and out (to your ability! I get that ppl have breathing problems and you’ll know yourself better than I can) and then add stretches to that. I’ve lived through a looooot of different physical issues where almost invariably being able to breathe deeply in order to trigger relaxation has helped tremendously. It’s a great skill especially if you have really bad anxiety that affects how you breathe (which was my case and I didn’t even know it until like. My late 20s.)

Also if the therapy breathing techniques don’t work for you don’t worry they don’t fucking work for me either LOL. I figured out what does work for me (the straw breathing so I can feel and hear when I’ve inhaled and exhaled completely) and it’s way better for me that counting in my head which has often made my anxiety much worse.

I’m inspired to stretch before I draw now so that’s a net positive anyway

[sandandlightning]

Hi there! Sorry to bother you, but i have a question: Today I dreamed of Set, where he basically introduced himself and showed me how he slayed a s/na/ke, a myth i was unfamiliar with until I woke up and googled it. I did some divination to make sure it was him i saw, it was affirmative. I wanted to ask how is it to work with him, as i am going through a bad time, stagnant and depressed, i fear more chaos in my life and idk if that would be his method of teaching?? sorry to bother you with this

This isn't a bother at all!! I made this blog to connect with others and share, you're completely fine darling!

The thing about 'chaos' is that it is a very very broad term that encompasses a lot of things, many of which aren't the first things that come to mind when we hear the word in a modern context.

Chaos can be the realm of emotion- something that is distinctly human and illogical by its nature. Set has definitely helped me with understanding that feelings don't need to 'make sense' to be valid, that you are allowed to simply feel your feelings and process them.

Chaos can be whimsy- some thing random, but not bad or negative, not turbulent or jarring. In this sense Set has taught me to enjoy small moments, to do things simply because I can- 'take the back streets' and 'stop to smell the roses'. What's stopping you from wearing a gaudy purple crop top? Because you don't actually like it, or societal expectations?

The greatest aspect of Set's Chaos is a simple understanding that change is a an inevitable part of life. Both good and bad change. You will lose things and life, you will gain others. Sometimes the later is actually harder than the former, especially when dealing with mental health issues. Set seeks to equip his followers with this understanding so they can adapt to both the good and bad.

Set had certainly never thrown me into the water with no further explanation expecting me to miraculously learn how to swim, that is not his method. Chaos has such a negative connotation in a modern world that those are the kinds of images people think of- they accidentally are making chaos synonymous with 'unfair'. But a lack of distinct order is not always cruel, the randomness of nature is something beautiful.

Rather than being thrown into a harsh, unyielding chaos, my work with him has had him encouraged me to become an avatar of positive chaos, of good changes and heartwarming whimsy. Think about how little kids are stricken by awe and wonder when they see things like a person with brightly colored hair- sometimes a small, simple thing can bring so much merriment and joy to the world around you.

He has certainly encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, but he has never shoved me out of it without warning. In my own and other's experiences, battle coded deities like him sometimes flock to the wounded to give them strength and courage. I have no shortage of mental health struggles myself, and he has helped me cope with them through out the years. Your specific choice of the word 'stagnant' say a lot to me about why he reached out to you- I have fallen into that place more than once, and he is a great power to work with to help you to start to move forward again- he will not treat this affliction as some kind of flaw or sin, but as the wound and illness that it is, help you heal from it, not punish you for it.

I don't know your whole story or situation, but I can say with confidence that if your only apprehension with approaching Set after he has reached out to you is a fear he will make things harder for you, add pressure and expect you to struggle out, that will not happen. I have seen him act with such balefulness but never to his followers, rather to those who would seek to harm them and the innocent. Also, if you do reach out and do not feel there is good chemistry, he will not force you to stay or make things difficult for you to move on to another divinity. Gods work in mysterious ways, and I have had my attention grabbed by one just for them to lead me to another more than once.

Hope this was helpful! Sorry it was long.

[johaerys-writes]

Kind of a random ask but okay. I noticed you have a lot of mutuals and my question is do you have any tips on how to socialize in the fandom here? Like I have people that I would love to interact with, but Idk how. Idk if this has happened to you

Hi anon!! I totally get where you're coming from. I never really thought too much about it and I don't know if I have a specific method, but here's what I would do, if I were you:

Don't be afraid to talk and reach out to people. It doesn't have to be sliding in their DMs, which I understand can be awkward if you don't know the person, but routinely commenting on their posts, their fanfic, their art, or reblogging their posts with nice and enthusiastic comments is a great way to make friends! I don't always have the time or the spoons to do that unfortunately, but I try to do it as much as I can. I really appreciate all the creators in fandom and I try to show that.

If you're a creator (but even if you aren't) don't be shy about posting your work and maybe tagging people in WIP memes or tag games or something like that. Not everyone responds, but I feel like tagging ppl sometimes opens the door for more communication, and if they tag you back you can just keep the conversation going.

When you see people reblog a prompt list or ask game, send them asks!!! Please, just send them an ask!!! This is actually a pet peeve of mine tbh, people reblogging an ask list or ask game from someone who obviously wants to get asks lol (why else would they rb it) without sending an ask first. I feel like it's basic fandom etiquette, but it's also a really nice gesture even if you don't know the person that well. Showing that you actively care about what someone has to say is the first step into getting to know them, I think, and it's also just very nice to be included.

Getting into a fandom discord or group chat isn't always easy or intuitive, but if you do find yourself in one, don't be afraid to talk!! I may or may not be suffering from "can't shut the hell up disease" LOL but I'll take any opportunity to talk about my faves that I can get 😅 It may feel like you don't have much to say at first, but sometimes just reacting to what others say and being generally nice and positive can be a good first step.

It can be tempting to lurk around and only look at what others say or post, or to read fics without leaving a comment, or to like art but not reblog it, but it does nothing for helping you meet people. Imo this is actually really pervasive and not good for fandom overall. To each their own, of course, I'm not going to tell anyone how they should engage in fandom, but my best and most lasting friendships were made because we started reading each other's fics for example, or complimenting each other's art, or they reached out to me because this or that meme made them think of me, or we tag each other in games and stuff, or we took part in fandom exchanges, etc etc. It might be hard at first if this isn't something that comes naturally to you, but I do think it's worth it if you want to be part of a community. And, like any community, fandom requires give-and-take to thrive.

TLDR: sometimes seeing ppl in an established fandom interact with each other and having friends can be nerve-wracking and you don't know where to start, but honestly fandom is all about engagement. Basically, talk to people! Compliment their art or their fic! Tag them in games! Send them asks! Be kind! That’s it 😊

[pynkhues]

Hi! I just read an extremely popular Brio fic and it was wonderfully well written but I found I kept losing interest. I realized it’s bc while Rio felt somewhat authentic for the AU, Beth seemed like a completely different character. There wasn’t really much background information on her so the changes didn’t really make sense to me, even in an AU setting.

How do you approach AU settings to make sure the characters feel connected to the originals? Like in your pornstars AU I can still see Beth in there, even if it’s not something I would have ever expected of her! So I’m curious as to how you approach that.

Also why do you think this seems to happen more to Beth versus Rio? Are people just projecting themselves onto her you think? Idk I just feel like she has such a strong personality that I’m curious why I seem to feel that way in some fics.

Anyways, love your work 🩷🩷🩷

Hi! Thanks for your lovely words, although I'm sorry for your experience with that other fic. It can be such a bummer when we're overall enjoying a story - whether fic, or books, or shows - but for whatever reason it's just not quite landing. I know the feeling pretty well, haha.

For me, I find that capturing a character in all writing is basically about distilling two things:

What they want

What they need

These two factors in so many ways embody the main narrative arc of a story. In fact, many author talks I've been to suggest that plot in its entirety is a matter of asking three questions - what does a character want? What's standing in their way stopping them from getting what they want? And how will they overcome this obstacle? I don't entirely agree with this, and it's not a method of plotting that I personally subscribe to these days (although I have used it in the past and still sometimes find it helpful when I'm stuck), but I do think it can be useful to think about in terms of the role character motivation contributes to story overall.

More to the point though, I find dividing a character's wants and needs to be super useful, both in terms of analysis and writing, as to me, it's those wants and needs that really feed into everything when it comes to characterisation.

Beth's actually a great example of this as her want vs need are both complimentary and frequently in conflict with each other:

What Beth wants is to earn enough to save her house, provide for her children and get herself, her sister and her best friend to a point of financial security that doesn't leave them in a state of constant free fall.

What Beth needs is to feel real self worth, to connect with the woman inside of herself beyond wifehood, motherhood and even sisterhood, and to be seen and acknowledged as that woman by people she respects (i.e. Rio, but not just him). She needs to be seen as capable, and to feel autonomous and in control of her future.

Both of these wants and needs have greater implications when filling in the details of a character. In Beth's case, her adultification as a child in raising her sister feeds her lack of identity as an adult at the start of the series and her need to find herself (she's been raising children her whole life!), Dean's cheating compounds those feelings of self-worth, and him losing the family house is what becomes the catalyst for Beth to act. Her wants are created due to the situation Dean forces her into, her needs have been there for a lot longer than that.

When writing fic in general, but especially AUs, I try not to change the wants or needs of the characters. Like I said, I tend to view them as pretty crucial to the character overall, but I also think those wants and needs are what makes me feel connected to them as opposed to other characters or other shows. Those are the things I like! Why would I want to change them?

And anyway, I tend to find it super fun figuring out how those wants and needs might guide characters in a different setting. In both the porn star AU and the pirate AU, I really wanted to use the time period, the industry and the context of those story worlds to see how Beth might navigate her needs and wants, and to see how those factors might influence the shape of her story arc. It was pretty interesting to realise that I didn't think much changed, even in the pirate AU which is set so far in the past. I hope that means I understand her as a character, or at least, I guess, my interpretation of her, haha.

As for other writers - - yeah! I mean, in some ways I do think Rio's probably easier to write because his own wants and needs are more ambiguous on the show and he's therefore a little more malleable in fic. A lot about him can be true when we ultimately saw so little of him, whereas Beth, as you said, has such a strong personality and defined character that to change elements of her voice or her background, or to make certain decisions for her, can leave us with the age old feeling of: 'she wouldn't do / say that'.

I do think that, especially by the end of the series, there was a not insignificant portion of the fandom who didn't like her so ultimately wrote her differently (I personally had issues with the fact that so many people wrote Rio as punishing and Beth as both taking and deserving that punishment, which is why some high profile fics in the fandom aren't of particular interest to me), but I think there are other factors as well.

Yes, some projection, yes, some who mostly wrote her to be able to write about Rio, yes, some who were simply disinterested in her interiority, but I also think GG was a lot of people's first fandom, and a lot of people's first time writing fic, and that ultimately, Beth was a complicated character who only got more complicated over the four seasons of the show. She's not easy to write, and I do think the fandom was chockfull of talented writers, but a lot of talented writers who were still ultimately pretty new to writing.

I've been writing for a long time (man, I think I worked out that I posted my first fic when I was about 13 which was like, twenty years ago now, haha, and I had my first short story published in a journal at 19 too), and ultimately writing is a skill like anything else - you get better the longer you do it. :-)

[connoisseur-of-love]

In the fandom the PPG x RRB colour coded ship names are there colour. But this doesn’t apply fully to all ppg x rrb ships in regards to colour switch ships. Usually instead just being there names.

I have gone ahead and mix each colour together to maybe idk, give ideas for alternative ship names. Really, this is just for fun and it’s nothing serious.

also, ngl, I’m not sure if this method is good enough.

anyway, onto the colour mixing.

Brick x bubbles (Brickubbles)

hex decimal is from the mixing of the colours. this is a colour name finder, which find common names associated with the hex of the colour.

YOU GUYS MIGHT GET DIFF COLOURS IF YOU MIX THEM YOURSELF BTW.

Tbh, an interesting purple colour. Kinda disappointed since Bubbles has such a nice colour.

anyway, names aren’t that great for this ship and is honestly still up for debate internally on which one I like the most. honestly I’m leaning onto the first name “faded purple” cause for me the term “faded” implies brick in the actual ship, and purple being Bubbles as it’s a cool toned hue.

anyway, not a great one to start on, but moving on.

2. Brick x Buttercup (Brickercup)

mocha honestly is such a nice name for any ship, and it sounds better than “leather.”

BUT

brownish as a their ship name is inherently so much funnier, and I’m kinda leaning into that for funsies. And idk, BC being a member in the ship is also the reason why it would be funny.

so tbh, it’s either Mocha or Brownish.

mocha also lowkey fits into my HC that Brick would be a total coffee snob, so, yeah

3. Boomer x Buttercup (Boomercup)

Horizon is such a sick ass name and honestly I’m just imaging them flying across on the horizon.

though Sea also fits. I just prefer Horizon.

4. Boomer x Blossom (Bloomer or Blossomer)

literally I love their colour OMG

sadly both Bickubbles and Blossomer have “faded purple” as their main names. BUT Blossomer has better similar names.

I’m going for Lavender as their ship name.

I think honestly, I should just call Bickubbles Lilac (cause lilac is sometimes considered like that colour) it’s just easier and sounds better.

5. Blossom x Butch (Blossutch??)

THE FACT THAT IT HAS “SPICY PINK” AS A SIMILAR NAME OMG.

AND HONESTLY, IT KINDA FITS LMAO

Serious response:

IDK, tbh Army Brown makes the most sense to me. Something something, the girls and boys can be considered soldiers blah blah.

also, the idea of army brown does give me the picture of a cool tone brown. Which is what it is.

Also one thing that Mocha and Army Brown has as names is that it would be more recognisable on the colours that are mixed, and would have more common thoughts on the colour alone.

last but not least

6. Butch x Bubbles (Butchubbles)

Both Dirty Blue and Dusty Teal are names that I like, mostly due to humour factor for Dirty Blue.

though Wedgewood is interesting, cause its legit just a name for a colour, with no other connotations associated with it. So I’m Really thinking of choosing it.

also, I prefer if a ship name with just one word rather than two words.

idk I like Wedgewood.

anyway, what do yall think? Do you like any of these words, or do you have any that you’d prefer. Or do you just prefer the names as to avoid confusion?

thanks for reading, and also, a quick mix of all the siblings: (I tried to make it look as nice as possible I won’t lie)

The girls

the boys

[a-bucket-in-the-void]

Hey, as someone in the early stages of taking t, I totally feel you on the dysphoria thing. I’m built like a tiny twink myself and I’ve had to come to terms that I will never be tall, or even average height. And for a long time it really sucked. I have had to recreate a vision for myself around what I actually have to work with, instead of keeping an eye on a distant future that might not be possible. And the journey took a long time, but I did eventually come to terms with my body and my presentation! In the end, I’m not a twink. I will never be a twink. I’m a little guy, sure, but I have decided not to place myself in boxes determined by people who will never know me personally. And it has been freeing.

And! And!! Once you kind of come to terms with your body, that’s when the actual fun part begins. Because you can go on testosterone and suddenly it’s not about achieving this One Specific Ending, but its about “Where can I go with this? How much more me can I feel? Who can I become?” It becomes a journey of self discovery rather than a means to an end and its so fucking exciting!! Aaah!!

(Also like, if you do decide to take my advice, know that it is okay to mourn. We’re born into a shitty situation that is out of our control and it fucking sucks!! But there is a way forward and a way to be yourself, and though it may seem far away it is there, it is real, and it is beautiful!!)

Anyway, the “taking stock” method actually helped alleviate some dysphoria for me. Maybe it can do something for you as well <3

thank you so much for this

this is so sweet

dude i started tearing up at the end there

thanks

i just

yeah

it’s so nice to not feel alone in this and its especially nice to hear from people going before me

as i’ve kinda leaned more and more into who i am now (trans queer and also lots of other stuff) i’ve started feeling more and more isolated and lonely and i sometimes have a sense of pride as a like trail blazer but it’s so fucking incredible to hear from people who have been where i am before, that i don’t have to hold the whole weight of this alone

fuck i’m crying

idk

maybe i’m not saying things right

thanks for your words i really really appreciate it

so much

i hope you have a great day

[spamtonratiogeneral]

Proudly not watching NATLA. I don't really care what changes they made, whether it had been entirely the same or another hilarious fuck-up like the non-existent movie. Like whatever they did to fuck up the story I get if you're invested in the adaptation so fair enough

What I actually care about is the fact that it even exists at all. Even with the very rare cases where it actually brings something worthwhile to the work (I hear the Netflix One Piece is good? idk), why bother adapting animation to live action? Because nearly every time there is no artistic motivation to do so at all, merely the blatant cynicism and that sneering reduction of animation in the entertainment industry as just "the means of making cheap children's cartoons" that just refuses to fucking die already.

In general I find adaptation to rarely justify itself artistically, especially if the source material was really bloody good already. Of course great adaptations exist, sometimes from elevating/subverting it's source (or in the case of Starship Troopers for example, taking the everliving piss out of a pile of shit), sometimes merely by translating the work into a new medium that lead to interesting new avenues for expression and storytelling provided by the change in medium (and by this I mean wholly different mediums, like between book/videogame/film or show/play), or both.

Changing between live-action and animation as a means of making film/TV is not a big change in medium to provide entirely new storytelling opportunities, BUT 99% of the time, animation is more effective. Casting is never dependent on an actor's irl appearance, the method of animation can even be changed at any point to serve a function, animation (with sufficient time, resources and passion) allows total control over the entire visual presentation of the work. And by such total control over the presentation alone, suddenly you are open to an infinity of possibilities in choreography, character expression, visual comedy, tone, colour, environment etc. etc. You are no longer limited by what can be captured in physical reality on a screen in any one take. You are limited by what you can fit on a 2D screen.

What we call live action today in mainstream media is not really live action, it's in large part a corporate compromise to extend just past the financial and physical limitations of practical effects to achieve whatever the script needs the screen to do via CGI. Which is just 3D animation, but it's completely focused on adhering to a visual realism. Of course extremely good and thoughtfully presented live action works still exists; if it's filmed and/or presented thoughtfully and meticulously enough, then it can be similarly poignant as an excellent work of animation. But outside of like, auteurs, this does not usually happen.

This particular example is not from some troubled source material with lost potential or any severe caveats in visual presentation. This is fucking. ATLA. Like, the animation isn't as massively funded as a Disney Renaissance ig?? But for 2000s cartoons, it was insanely forward and completely holds up today, it's still cherished today. And ATLA in general was a masterpiece. It still IS a masterpiece!! It hasn't gone and fucking died in need of a replacement!!!

So there's just no way I can see it worth my time to dedicate my time to an inferior version of an awesome show that already exists.

It's just obvious that this show only exists so Nickelodeon can boost the profitability of [BRAND]. Love to the good honest crew and actors for the show, love that they're carrying out childhood dreams and getting to do promos with the original VAs and all. Wake me up when the animated ATLA films come out.

[you-remind-me-of-the-babe]

Trope Grading Game

Thank you for the tags @aristocratic-otter and @artsyunderstudy! I really love hearing what y’all are into and why.

Rules: How much do these tropes affect your decision to click on a fic?

-10 -> very dissuaded

0 -> don’t care either way

+10 -> very enticed

nope -> if it’s a hard no and you’d never click on a fic with that tag or or you even have the tag blocked or you’d insta click out of the fic if it wasn’t tagged

Bonus points for explaining the rating and whether it’s conditional.

So the short answer is 0 for everything because I don’t read tags anymore because they never affected my choice to read a story the way a summary, snippet, rec or author gushing about their work would. But! even choosing with these methods the tropes bleed through so here are my rankings

Age gap: -1

I’m not opposed to it per se, I just don’t see the appeal. I just finished a book with side characters in a relationship with a big age gap and I tried to be open minded but it creeped me out a bit. Although I did write Baz as a 200 year old vampire so I guess there’s that! 😅

Codependency: +5

Yeah, give me two people leaning on each other. I think we suffer in silence too much. I think we need human connection. Gimme two people who aren’t afraid to ask for what they want. Yeah sure, it can be problematic but mostly I think it’s nice.

Obsession/possessiveness, jealousy: +5

I fucking love possessive Simon. Sometimes this trope isn’t done well in other stories but with Snowbaz I eat that shit up.

Opposites (grumpy/sunshine etc): +8

I looooove it. Working past your stereotypes? Becoming more open minded? Seeing someone on a deeper level? Grabby hands

Enemies to lovers, Enemies with benefits: +8

This is the majority of Snowbaz so obviously, yes. Sometimes I’m not a fan outside the fandom, but here it’s so good. And enemies with benefits??? Please. Cue me foaming at the mouth reading Restoration Ecology by @captain-aralias or it’s fabulous remix by @royalasstronaut.

Friends with benefits: +8

Yes please. As long as there’s some deep feelings involved, even if they come later, I’m there. And often with friendship you’ve got the platonic love there that sometimes builds to more so yes. More Than Friends by @fatalfangirl is an EXCELLENT example of this where they are just pining idiots from day 1 and I’m obsessed.

Sex to feelings: +10

FUCK YES. I will take it every time. I love sex, I love a good slow burn, I love sex with feelings. Make them earn it? PLEASE. Someone Wicked does this so well. @artsyunderstudy is the queen of sex with feelings.

Fake dating/relationship: +8

Yup, this is a goodie. even just fake friendship a la RWRB. Lovely. But yeah when their dating and they gotta kiss to sell it? And the other thinks they are faking but really that’s how they feel? Mmm hmm. Yummy.

Friends to lovers: +10

Y’all know this is my thing. I’ve written it several times. They love each other SO MUCH but they are too afraid to ruin their friendship so they feel they can’t make a move. The angst is right there and I love it.

Found family: +1

This can be great, but if that’s the whole premise I might pass. Fluff can be fun but if that’s all there is, I usually pass. But! If this is a theme in a longer fic with more complex plot? Then it can be really good.

Hurt/comfort: +1

Idk why but I associate this tag with shorter fics that just doesn’t actually hit that hard. Like, the hurt is little and immediately followed by the comfort. Give me the BIG angst. Hurt me good before you make it better. I looooove angst with a happy ending. So if that’s what we are doing then give it to me good.

Love triangle: -3

Meh. I always feel bad for the odd one out. I don’t like seeing the pining and angst without the pay out. And usually this is how it goes. If the third person is an asshole you just have to nudge out of the way, then maybe.

Poly, open relationship: -3

I’m actually quite curious about this and I bet it can be done right, but I usually go for a single OTP. Give me your recs though, I’d love to be convinced otherwise.

Mistaken/hidden identity: +10

Hell yes. They didn’t know it was that person all along? And they fell for them anyways? Fantastic. Even better is when they fall for the same person twice. Both hidden and not. And then! All is revealed and it’s the same person! Think love letters from a secret admirer, masquerade, etc. I mean there’s a reason network connectivity problems is the highest kudosed fic in the fandom.

Monsterfucking: +10

And bless this fandom for introducing me to it and going whole hog with our boys and their monster parts.

Pregnancy: -3

Been there, done that, don’t find it sexy. There’s some good mpreg fics in this fandom though so there are exceptions! Orange Juice by @orange-peony is a GREAT one that I really adored. This fandom just really delivers in any area.

Second chance: +9

Yes please! Unless own person is truly awful and doesn’t deserve it, but typically I love someone getting a chance to try and learn from their mistakes and try again. Don’t we all wish we could have a second chance at something?

Slow burn: +10

ITS SO SATISFYING! The payoff is so good after they’ve worked for it. My favorite.

Soulmates: +1

I love when characters can choose each other despite their destiny. I need conflict. I don’t know if I’ve read any Snowbaz ones. I think because I like them at odds and assume they won’t be. @artsyunderstudy is giving me recs to help me see the light LOL.

Who hasn’t done this? Tagging those above who haven’t done it plus a few more, if you’re up for it @whogaveyoupermission @iamamythologicalcreature @facewithoutheart @bookish-bogwitch @cutestkilla @thewholelemon @ivelovedhimthroughworse @ileadacharmedlife @raenestee @valeffelees