#it’s interesting how both have a deep connection to dreams in particular

[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF movie Mike and Michael compare nightmares,,

[rafecamerons-national-anthem]

𝐻𝐸𝒜𝒟𝒞𝒜𝒩𝒪𝒩-𝒩𝐼𝒞𝐻𝒪𝐿𝒜𝒮 𝒜𝐿𝐸𝒳𝒜𝒩𝒟𝐸𝑅 𝒞𝐻𝒜𝒱𝐸𝒵 𝒜𝒮 𝒜 𝐵𝒪𝒴𝐹𝑅𝐼𝐸𝒩𝒟

Boyfriend!Nicholas seems to value genuine connections and would likely be the kind of boyfriend who truly listens. He’d remember the small things, your favorite coffee order, a random story you told, or a passing comment about something you love. Whether you’re having a tough day or celebrating a big achievement, he'd be right there with you, offering his full attention.

Boyfriend!Nicholas seems like he enjoys trying new things and living in the moment. He’d want to plan spontaneous weekend getaways or try out new activities together, from hiking to going to concerts. He’d probably be open to exploring both your interests and his, making life feel exciting and unpredictable.

While he may come across as laid back in real life, I imagine Boyfriend!Nicholas as a boyfriend would have a romantic side. He’d surprise you with handwritten notes, flowers "just because," or plan cozy nights where you can binge watch your favorite shows together. The little gestures would mean a lot to him.

Despite his growing fame, he seems pretty grounded and humble. In a relationship, he’d value honesty and clear communication. Boyfriend!Nicholas wouldn’t play games or leave you guessing how he feels; instead, he’d be direct but kind, always working to build a strong foundation of trust.

Boyfriend!Nicholas would be the type of boyfriend who encourages you to chase your dreams and passions. Whether it's supporting your career goals, a personal project, or a hobby, he’d be your biggest cheerleader, helping you stay motivated and believing in you when you doubt yourself.

Boyfriend!Nicholas strikes me as someone who balances being serious and having fun. There would be deep, late night conversations about life and what you both want out of it, but there would also be moments where he just makes you laugh, doing silly impressions or cracking inside jokes.

While not overbearing, Boyfriend!Nicholas would be protective of you in a thoughtful way. He’d be the kind of boyfriend who makes sure you feel safe and respected, standing up for you if needed but never smothering you.

Beyond emotional support, Boyfriend!Nicholas would value meaningful conversations. He’d enjoy discussing books, films, and philosophies that provoke deep thought. He’d ask about your perspectives on things, showing genuine interest in how you see the world. Whether it's debating a plot twist in a show or discussing current events, your intellectual bond would be just as strong as your emotional one.

Boyfriend!Nicholas would definitely have a playful side, teasing you in a lighthearted, affectionate way. He’d make silly bets or jokingly challenge you to random games, like seeing who can cook the best meal or who’s better at a particular sport. He’d probably have a mischievous smile when he’s trying to get you to laugh, making the relationship feel lively and fun.

Boyfriend!Nicholas seems like someone who deeply values family. He’d be the kind of boyfriend who’s excited for you to meet his family and would take an active interest in getting to know yours. He'd likely enjoy spending time at family gatherings and might even get involved in family traditions, showing respect for what’s important to you.

Boyfriend!Nicholas might express his love through acts of service. Whether it’s picking up your favorite snacks after a long day, helping with something you're stressed about, or offering to take care of a task you’ve been dreading, he’d find small ways to make your life easier. His kindness would often show up in practical ways.

Because Boyfriend!Nicholas is artistic and has a background in acting, he’d probably enjoy adding a creative flair to the relationship. Maybe he’d write you a poem, record a cute video message when you’re apart, or plan a surprise date that’s inspired by a favorite movie or shared memory. His creativity would keep the relationship exciting and unpredictable.

Boyfriend!Nicholas would be the kind of boyfriend who fully supports your independence. He’d encourage you to take time for yourself and pursue your own interests and friendships outside of the relationship. He’d understand the importance of maintaining individuality while also building something strong together, never wanting to make you feel smothered or confined.

Boyfriend!Nicholas would likely approach conflict with a calm and patient demeanor. If you ever argued, he’d want to talk things through thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively. He’d make sure that both sides are heard and understood, always striving for a resolution that makes you both feel good about the relationship.

Being someone who seems focused on self care, he’d probably be a positive influence when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. Boyfriend!Nicholas wouldn’t push it on you but might encourage activities like working out together, eating well, or practicing mindfulness. He’d want you to feel good, physically and mentally, and would be there to support you in that journey.

Though Boyfriend!Nicholas might have a bit of an adventurous streak, suggesting hikes, spontaneous road trips, or trying out new experiences, he’d also have a soft, homebody side. He’d enjoy the balance of adventure and quiet nights in, where you could unwind together with a good movie or book, showing that he doesn’t always need excitement to feel connected.

Boyfriend!Nicholas would likely be someone who fully respects and supports your ambitions. He’d understand if you have busy schedules or demanding projects, and he’d never want to hold you back. In fact, he’d be there to remind you of your strengths when you feel uncertain and would always celebrate your achievements as if they were his own.

[mintsuwu]

Took a lil break from the asks in order to cook some ✨SMILING CRITTERS FAMILY TIME✨ with @rexmk0153universe-blog because why the hell not??? I might have to divide it in two parts though-

(1/2)

DogDay

DogDay's journey begins when a stork delivers him to the wrong family of wolves, leading him to be adopted by Big Bad's parents. However, his presence triggers jealousy in Big Bad, his adopted older brother, who resents the attention their parents give to the newcomer.

Despite the pack's focus on abilities related to weather phenomena, Dogday stands out due to his unique qualities and talents. As he grows older, he feels a deep longing for a sense of purpose and identity beyond his wolf upbringing. Seeking to find his true self, he leaves the pack and ventures to Jolly Valley, where he encounters the Smiling Critters and forms close bonds with them. Over time, Dogday becomes a leader among the Smiling Critters, embodying their values of friendship and unity.

Big Bad, driven by pride and a mix of emotions, followed Dogday to Jolly Valley, intending to both antagonize his little brother and secretly monitor his progress. Despite his outward bravado and mischievous nature causing ocassional trouble, Dogday remains welcoming towards his older brother, except when his antics go too far. Hus unwavering cheerfulness and open-heartedness serve as a beacon of hope for both the Smiling Critters and his troubled older brother.

BONUS: "Big Bad" is actually a nickname! His actual name is "WindWolf"... Dogday usually calls him "Big Bro", but the rest of the critters "misheard" it and began calling him "Big Bad", much to his dismay.

CatNap

Catnap shares a unique connection with a deity known as SandMan, who reigns over the Dream Realm, a distinct reality separate from the main universe. The origin of Catnap traces back to a moment when Dogday, as a young member of his pack, made a wish upon a shooting star for a friend, and this wish brought Catnap into existence.

SandMan took particular interest in Catnap due to his remarkable qualities, leading to a special father-son dynamic between them, despite Catnap starting off as just another creation of SandMan like many others.

Catnap, however, felt a strong pull to leave the Dream Realm in search of Dogday, the source of his creation. Eventually, the feline succeeded in finding Dogday and chose to remain by his side, along with the other Smiling Critters. Despite Catnap's origin in the Dream Realm and his connection to SandMan, his loyalty lies with Dogday and their companions, forging a lasting bond beyond the confines of the Dream Realm.

Kickin'Chicken

Kickin'Chicken comes from a predominantly female family, consisting of his mother, sisters, and himself as the middle sibling. His father, known as "Rockin'Rooster," is a famous singer, an example that Kickin' aspires to follow. However, Rockin'Rooster's focus on his career leaves little time for family, causing conflicting emotions for Kickin'. Despite his admiration for his father's success, Kickin' yearns for more attention and connection within the family... Yet he hides it under his "cool and tough guy" persona.

However, among his family members Kickin' has a strong bond with his older sister, Pecky. She is level-headed compared to Kickin', but shares his adventurous spirit and openness to new experiences and people.

BONUS: Kickin's family is quite fond of Bubba Bubbaphant, given how he was Kickin's first friend and all of them consider him another member of the family.

CraftyCorn

Craftycorn, born in a magical kingdom governed by four elemental monarchs (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades) was raised as the daughter of the Queen of Spades, destined to become a warrior. However, Crafty harbored a distaste for violence, finding joy in art and nature instead.

Despite her mother's attempts to grant her freedom to choose her path within the elemental realms, the other rulers disapproved, doubting Crafty's suitability for the throne. When Craftycorn was to receive her royal Merry Charm, symbolizing her assigned role, she unexpectedly manifested her own charm—the flower. Fearing disappointment from her mother and influenced by the other monarchs, Craftycorn fled her home, unaware of the devastation her departure caused her mother.

Their relationship is complicated, marked by love and care, yet tinged with Crafty's mixed feelings towards her mother.

LoolaLamb

Loola is a special sheep born into a flock known as the "Sleep Sheep" or "Slumbering Guardians." These sheep have the unique role of wandering through villages, signaling to people that it's time to sleep and seek safety from the dangers of the night. Once their task is complete, SandMan, a mystical entity who the sheep "worship" due to its previous helps toward the flock, can traverse their realm to ensure everyone enjoys peaceful dreams and restful sleep.

She's the daughter of the flock's leader, tasked with protecting the sheep, particularly during the day when they're less vigilant due to needing rest after their nightly duties. However, Loola lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father, who prepared her to take on a similar role in the future.

Despite her upbringing, Loola yearns for adventure and exploration beyond the confines of her flock's duties. After much persuasion, her father allows her to leave, although they maintain communication through letters.

The lamb often travels alone, but occasionally spends time with the Smiling Critters in Jolly Valley for extended periods of time.

[brokenwinebox]

Marcus, Mikey, Sydney, & Claire

This will be talking about Marcus, Mikey, Sydney, And Claire. It’s a deep dive on the song [Nice Dream] by Radiohead. This is the second part to my meta, “What’s Your Character’s Theme Song?” Highly recommend reading that before this one!

What’s Your Character’s Theme Song?

Text / Spoilers for s3 below

In this commentary of the Legacy episode with Lionel Boyce, he talks about Marcus following the ghost of Carmy's footsteps. I've had thoughts on Carmy being the older brother to Marcus but hearing him talk about this episode really solidified it for me.

I quote tweeted the post on Twitter that involved this particular video with this:

This is so interesting. This definitely feels like Carmy is the older brother to Marcus. How insane is it to say he could even heal from a dynamic that’s similar to Mikey and his relationship? Only this time, Carmy is at the other side of it and wants to do the opposite?

Then, I remembered after the scene between Marcus and Carmy (3x01), They had a song play as the credit rolled that talked about being loved like a brother.

I went back to reconfirm this and did some research on the song, [Nice Dream].

They love me like I was a brother They protect me, listen to me They dug me my very own garden Gave me sunshine, made me happy Nice dream Nice dream Nice dream I call up my friend, the good angel But she's out with her answerphone She says that she'd love to come help but The sea would electrocute us all

Marcus And Mikey

On one analysis of the song, they talk about how Radiohead describes being loved like a brother as someone protecting you, listening to you, and giving you a garden and sunshine.

Mikey had struggled deeply with addiction and his connection with Carmy. We even understand that Mikey felt resentment towards Carmy for being able to go and explore his dreams to which Mikey pushed him to do.

It feels like because of it, the resentment goes both ways. Carmy didn’t really care about being in high prestige restaurants. It was always his family; more specifically Mikey, that he dreamed about. Mikey himself, being shackled to The Beef, would dream the things he pushed Carmy to do, if he allowed it.

I’ve always wondered if Carmy would’ve been happy staying at The Beef or feel adrift to doing something bigger than the family restaurant.

Carmy and Marcus having a potential similar dynamic to his and Mikey’s relationship makes me feel very hopeful about what season four can bring. Especially if Carmy wants his dynamic with Marcus to be more healthy than what Mikey let it be.

Since we didn’t really have that much of an arc for Marcus in season three, it would be so nice to have Marcus fully hitting his stride for season four if it’s the last of the series.

“Take us there, Bear,” could be the significant moment for Carmy and us, making the audience realize that he’s in the role of being an older brother like Mikey. It’s a beautiful thought that Carmy would heal from a similar dynamic he has with Marcus because he has the opportunity to understand his older brother and change the choices Mikey made.

Desperately wanting to be connected to his older brother but Carmy ultimately found out he didn’t even really know Mikey at all. Only after becoming an older brother does he have more of a grasp on who Mikey is than he initially thought and embraces Marcus in the way Carmy wished Mikey did him.

A full circle moment.

Sydney And Claire

Doesn’t this feel like the discussion they had on legacy? In this meta about the best meal Sydney ever had, it talks about how the restaurant is a metaphor for family with Sydney even having a “family tree” behind her.

What gets me the most about this is how they talk about the importance of listening. How it’s a key aspect for a loving relationship.

I did a deep dive on a forum and there’s so many different type of thoughts about the potential meaning for the song!

Essentially I find this to be the most evidently sarcastic song in the history of Radiohead releases. We all know the feeling of being discarded under the false pretense of , " I'm not ready for a relationship," or " We are such good friends...wouldn't want to spoil it." And now here is a song about this scenario. The " Nice Dream" in this song is the presented illusion from a girl-friend who has given many excuses to why a relationship will not work, a diversion from the truth. the last two lines, "...if you think that you're strong enough/if you think you belong enough." are in reference to the personal strength and honesty one must have to realize all of the excuses, are lies. ....and so it's a nice dream, when you don't know.... (x)

Another interpretation of the song’s meaning is certainly interesting. (X)

It’s already been talked about how Carmy said Claire is peace and I’ve been pondering over that for a while. I’ve always been very sure that Claire isn’t Carmy’s peace but what if she is really his peace to some extent? After it said peace, it said security.

Security doesn’t necessarily have to mean good things. I’ve been navigating if comfortability (settling) and peace align in meaning for the sake of this show.

Security is about the things you’ve already known, so could Claire be his peace?Sydney are new emotions and something that demands change from him but Carmy has been fairly consistent in not doing that. Instead, he’ll change the menu, a substitute, to deny himself the opportunity to love someone who doesn’t invoke emotions from the past.

I’ve also heard discussion around Carmy being self aware in his feelings for Sydney, which is why he puts himself in that fridge to apologize to Claire out of guilt. Burying himself in this fantasy of Claire to attempt to ignore his feelings for Sydney makes sense in this context then.

He’s willing to change the menu/change his thoughts of Sydney to Claire.

Another thing is that Carmy is used to his dynamic with his family. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that the dysfunction of his family is what gives him some sense of “comfort” because it’s quite literally the only thing he knows. He talks about how he hates surprises and I think it extends to his love life as well. He gave Claire a fake number but once she had his number and basically invaded in his comfort zone, it could’ve reached to a point of understanding that Claire has the familiarity of breaching his protective barrier like his family. (I could be wrong about this though.)

A Sea Apart

I actually made a prediction of the water between Carmy and Sydney and how they are a sea/lake apart. This part of the article is so fascinating because it discusses that if the narrator gets shocked out of their fantasy, they’ll realize that the friend can’t help them in the way the narrator wants. I try to flip alot between Claire and Sydney when it refers to this friend in the article to see what makes more sense.

With the recent thought I’ve had in my meta about Carmy and how he could run away from kindness, would he also run away from it because he’s cemented in a strange fantasy?

I briefly discussed how season three’s theme is about isolation, guilt, and regression. Carmy felt fairly isolated from the whole group. It was so strange. Carmy was basically this roaming ghost that could talk, touch, and feel but was stuck inside the shackles of his own mind. A prisoner of his own creation.

It’s important to note the analysis talks about how the narrator desires to be nurtured by loved ones because of a potential worsening mental illness.

Carmy’s potential desire to be taken care of makes me think of the metas that we’ve discussed before.

I’ve explained before that Carmy may want to be taken care of but perhaps he feels like he needs to be fixed first. The tumultuous emotions could be a lot of things he’s been dealing with internally. It’s quite sad to think that Carmy might believe that his worsening mental illness could be alleviated but instead of reaching out, he isolates himself with it.

Hopefully in season four, Carmy tries to be more open to being vulnerable to his loved ones.

Carmy [Nice Dream]

As a person in my twenties, I’ve tried to be more introspective and have come to learn that certain situations should’ve been handled with more care and consideration. All of that to say, I’ve thought about how Carmy thinking that Claire is peace shouldn’t be fully shut down just yet.

Comfort, peace, and security could also have negative connotations. I did some research to see if anybody could describe it better than my constant struggle with pinning my thoughts and putting it all together in coherent sentences. I ended up finding something that I instantly thought of Carmy and Claire in an aspect.

Ever heard of the saying, “I’ve made my peace with it.” ? What if this is what’s going on?

make (one's) peace with (someone or something) - To reconcile or come to terms with a person or thing that was a previous source of stress, conflict, regret, etc.

Carmy could be resigned to any dynamic that’s similar to his family. With that growing comfort, it’s interesting to think about how going into the fridge could be his prison from reaching out. It’s making me think that Claire might be his bridge to preventing himself from truly connecting to others. Was he also getting comfortable in his guilt in season three?

Season four might have that answer.

I have one more part to this to tie it all together and I’ll be done making this series! Thanks to whoever read this and I’m very sorry it took so long to make lol! Feel free to disagree with any of these thoughts!!

I would absolutely love to hear your personal interpretation of this song! I wrote most of this back in August.

[zenkindoflove]

Elain Archeron and Sansa Stark: A Comparison

I’ve been wanting to make this post for a while because I have seen a lot of similarities between Elain’s character and Sansa Stark (ASOIAF/GOT), not only in their mannerisms and narrative but the way that the fandom unfairly undermines and outright despises them. So, this post is going to be a bit of an exploration of both of their characters, speaking mostly to the ACOTAR fandom, to try and give some predictions I have about Elain’s narrative journey and lessons learned from Sansa’s narrative.

Elain and Sansa fit a very similar female character archetype in fantasy (and other fiction genres), which is that they are more traditionally feminine characters that conform to their roles as women in their patriarchal societies as compared to their counterparts who buck gender norms often by learning to fight. In particular, Elain and Sansa are often directly compared to their sisters who fit the more beloved sword-fighting, sassy, smart-mouthed heroines. What is important to this post, is that these characters are almost always heavily maligned and criticized by fandoms at large with critiques that are often rooted in misogyny, which fundamentally undervalues expressions of femininity and feminine roles. 

Both characters also have a lot of other similarities when it comes to their personalities, characteristics, and narratives. Both Elain and Sansa are obedient daughters who are described as sociable and make friends easily. They both are well-skilled in navigating courtly politics, and they begin their journeys as deep romantics, dreaming and wishing to fall in love. They’re both betrothed to men for political gain, and both undergo tragic and heartbreaking violations to their bodily autonomy. They are also both frequently undermined by characters’ in their stories, often underestimated in their strengths and abilities, and in both stories, those assumptions are proven wrong.

Now, we do not know where Elain’s journey is going, but we do Sansa’s, at least from the show. Sansa eventually finds her independence and her strength, taking back her ancestral home and being declared Queen in the North. She did not do this by becoming a warrior or a great battle commander. No, she did this by leaning into her political skills, inspiring nobles and armies to fight for her because of her name and what it represents. And when she had some power, leading her people and putting their care first, a narrative journey I hope to see for Elain coming into her own leadership position one day. 

One of the ways I wanted to outline drawing some of these parallels, is to break down some of the criticisms that Elain faces now that Sansa Stark also faced by fans. And if you are reading this and these criticisms are ones you have expressed, hopefully you reconsider your assumptions about Elain and where her story is going. 

Elain is boring. 

This accusation is often ascribed to Elain based on her interests and hobbies and refusal to participate in more traditionally masculine roles in the narrative (fighting, swordplay). Elain is often described as gardening, baking, helping with domestic duties, and purposely kept away from the political and adventurous parts of the narrative. And yet, this does not mean that in order for Elain to be interesting, she suddenly needs to be thrust into her own version of a training montage to start learning to use swords and daggers. Elain is a powerful Made Fae. She has one of the rarest abilities, being a Seer. She is deeply connected with the Koschei plot, as she was the one to see a vision of him, Vassa, and the other cursed women, which brought about Lucien’s journey to the continent and connecting that overall plot to what is happening in Prythian. It’s very likely her story will focus on her exploring her magic more, likely with Lucien, to figure out how to break Vassa’s curse and destroy Koschei once and for all - none of which requires her to actually become a warrior. 

Sansa too was often criticized as being boring by fans. They saw her struggles, being passed from cruel husband to cruel husband, as signs she was weak. Sansa was often directly compared to her sister Arya who was learning to fight with a sword and training as an assassin. But Sansa was undergoing a very different sort of training. We see her shed her sheltered POV of the world, and instead, became deeply involved in the politics of the game of thrones. She learns from several characters how to play the game and play it right, as she is one of the few characters to survive until the end, having a true hero’s journey of ascension. We see that she uses people’s assumptions that she is stupid and naive to their disadvantage, allowing their underestimation of her abilities to make them turn away from how she outsmarts them in the end. Elain is also hinted at being deeply intelligent, in ways that even her sisters seem to ignore. She is also described several times in ACOSF as being sneaky, foreshadowing that she will surprise her family based on their assumptions of her. Ultimately, I foresee Elain leaning into her courtly knowledge and social skills, much like Sansa, to push forward her own journey.

Elain and Sansa are also both very inward characters. When they are struggling, they are more quiet and unassuming, to disarm others and draw attention away from them. As we know from Sansa's POV chapters, she was constantly strategizing her pretty words to save her skin. And I think Elain similarly shows the world one side of her, but hides a rich and complex inner world that we won't see until we get her POV.

Elain will become evil. 

This critique - which is also not always presented as a critique but sometimes as a wish for Elain to become a villain so she might be more interesting to those who find her boring - is one that I really dislike. And one of the biggest reasons I dislike it is because I saw the exact same predictions thrown at Sansa crash and burn. Often fans would revel in the idea that “finally, Sansa can become interesting” if she were to turn into the next Cersei or Littlefinger. But we did not see that happen. Instead, we saw that Sansa clung to her compassion, empathy, and her Stark morality, while shedding the blind trust that put her father and brothers into so much danger. She took lessons from Cersei and Littlefinger, but rather than becoming them, she bested them. Especially Littlefinger, where she outsmarted him when he tried to turn her and her sister against each other, and ultimately is the one who passed his execution sentence, achieving justice for all the crimes he committed against her family and Westeros. Sansa did not let the brutalization of her body and spirit turn her against her family. She never betrayed them, even when she was wed to their worst enemies. Instead, she made it her priority to serve and represent the North and its interest in all things, including standing up to Dany, because she understood to hold the North, she must not bend to other rulers and respect all that the North had sacrificed for the Starks. 

Similarly, I do not see Elain betraying her family. There are several times she asserts her loyalty and insists that she wants to help them and their interests. I think her story will be more about being underestimated by her family and overlooked for leadership roles and her insight (as was Sansa) and this will push her to branch out on her own to discover who she is outside of her family and the expectations they have of her. But I do not think she will become the antagonist to them. Instead, I see her using her own strength to “save” them too in ways they would have never imagined that Elain can do. Sansa was not an outright antagonist to Jon, for example, though she often challenged him (which upset many fans, more on that later) because she believed her perspective was valuable. I see Elain's difference in how she sees the world and what she values being in similar disagreement with the Night Court, and her having to "prove" herself to them that she needs to be taken seriously.

Elain and Sansa are also very similar in that they both are described as abhorring violence. Sansa, in the end, does sometimes use violence as a means to an end, and even is shown enjoying Ramsey’s brutal execution by being eaten by his own dogs. Yet, Sansa is never shown to enjoy moments like these again (and of course this moment is most understandable given all the torture Ramsey put her and others through). Sansa does not lead with anger or brutality like Cersei. Rather, she shifts from a bright, sunny girl to an authoritative woman who ices out her enemies and shows kindness and warmth to her friends and subjects. To me, in keeping with character archetypes, I do not see Elain straying from this core feature of herself as well. I don’t see her desiring to follow in the footsteps of others who use torture and violence to extract information or to hurt others who have hurt her. I do think should Elain come into a position of political leadership, that like Sansa, she will care for the people (as she is already shown to do in Velaris and was known to do in the human lands) and when needed, show her steely, authoritative voice that is unbending (much like the infamous quote from Sansa in the books ���my skin has turned from porcelain, to ivory, to steel”). 

Basically, female characters do not have to be either warriors or evil villains to be interesting. Sometimes, female characters who are kind, compassionate, intelligent, and full of hope can still have badass stories and stand as heroines in their own right while maintaining all of those characteristics. 

Elain is two-faced/bitchy/spoiled/selfish. 

Of course, the classic, when the feminine character does anything SLIGHTLY unsettling to the reader, she is hated and tons of stereotypically misogynistic insults are thrown at her. 

I will first off start by saying that when people say this about Elain, it is when she is essentially displaying behaviors that counter their first argument - that Elain is boring. When Elain is being compliant and nice to the other characters, she is called boring. When she very briefly, pushes back on them at all, these insults are hurled at her. I don’t even want to waste time breaking down why these are just comically unfair. Because the fact of the matter is is that every character in the book displays moments of being two-faced/bitchy/spoiled/selfish. And yet, it is Elain who is given these monikers as if they are core features of who she is. Other female characters in ACOTAR are also called these names. However, Elain faces the unique situation of only ever being boring or bitchy to those who dislike her. She can't win either way.

Sansa, of course, had all these insults hurled at her too. She was a traitor and two-faced for having a girlish crush on Joffrey when she was 13 (11 in the books) and literally betrothed, by her father, to a prince. When Sansa at all stands up to characters like Jon or Dany and disagrees with them or argues with their logic about how to handle different choices, she is bitchy, even though Sansa is often proved to be correct in her logic, hesitancy, and how she thinks politically. And of course, in line with the previous point about becoming evil, it was assumed that Sansa would be two-faced with her family. And yet, we saw time and time again that Sansa was loyal to House Stark. Even the ultimate “sin” of Cersei guilting her to write to Robb about their Father being a “traitor” to the crown - Sansa did it because she thought it was one way she could save her father’s life. Basically, Sansa’s crime was being a girl who didn’t win the audience over by being spunky like her sister. Sansa’s crime was her naivete early on when she was only a child, and it haunted her throughout the entire series and how fans saw her. Even though out of every character in the books/show Sansa at her core is the one who represents the audience the most. She is the most removed from the magical storylines. The way she lives her life is closer to our own modern way of living than any of the warriors or magical characters in their world. Sansa represents who we would be if we were suddenly thrust into a fantasy story - defenseless and easily abused. But most readers and watchers want to see who they are not rather than follow a story of who they actually could be and what strength might follow. 

What I want to see from Elain’s story:

Following the lessons of staying true to my girl Sansa, I hope that Elain, like Sansa, finds her own way in the empathy, kindness, and social skills that she has - along with exploring her powers. Now, as Elain is in a romance and not a dystopian fantasy like Sansa is, her ending will have a HEA with her love interest. Sansa became Queen in the North, but she has no love interest. Her family is all scattered, and there is a bit of a coldness to her now. Many suspect that she will play more of a Queen Elizabeth I role in her rule and never marry, as to keep House Stark as House Stark. But if she were to marry, it will likely be a political alliance, though, my hope is she will find love in it. Because while Sansa might have had her dreams dashed at an early age, I truly hope for the sake of that little romantic girl, she can find love after all the hurt she had to experience. 

Elain will end up with a romance at the end of her story. And I think harkening to her character archetype and who suits her narrative best it will of course be with her mate Lucien who mirrors her characteristics, values, and morals the most. I imagine for them a story where they act as courtiers, helping piece back together Spring, working on alliances with the human lands, and eventually, once Lucien learns of his heritage, finding another home in the Day Court (though I do imagine them to be life-long travelers, making many friends and allies across Prythian and the continent together - as Elain always wanted to travel). Similar to how Sansa used her political intelligence and compassion for her people, I see Elain and Lucien as well using their courtier/emissary skills and knowledge and devotion to serving the people of the courts, putting diplomacy first, to heal a broken and divided world. I think especially the alliance with humans will be so important for Elain’s journey. Where Elain has struggled the most with no longer being human, Lucien has been immersing himself in human culture and political interests. And once they are ready to start their journey, I think putting their heads together will be invaluable in representing the interests of the Fae and the humans. I also think Lucien has more invested interest, as her mate, to push her to explore her powers rather than dismiss her ever exploring them like those in the Night Court do. Lucien’s connections through the world can also help her find ways to find the information she needs to learn more about being a Seer and whatever else is going on with her. He also has his own personal experience with exploring and learning of his multitude of powers as well, including what it means to suppress and hide them, as I suspect Elain has been doing. Where Sansa had to prove herself to every character in the story to take her seriously and respect her, I think the one person who has always and will always believe in Elain is the person who has a soul-to-soul connection with her. Who puts her and her needs before his own, and will serve as her devoted sworn shield (cries in Sansan) to fight for her if need be. 

Also maybe I wish and hope for the unlikely Lucien and Elain as High King and High Queen narrative which would fit so perfectly to Sansa’s own rise, but I suspect SJM won’t go in that direction.

Anyways, if you made it to the end, thanks for reading my desperate need to get all these parallels out of my head. I have adored Sansa since I first watched the show in 2011 and fell even more in love with her when I read the books in 2013. I have been defending her to nasty people ever since, and when I joined the ACOTAR fandom, the way people criticized Elain felt SO familiar. Which of course it did. These kinds of criticisms do not stop with Sansa and Elain. Most characters like them are disliked for being soft women with big hearts who are vulnerable to cruel people in their worlds.  

[basedkikuenjoyer]

The Rose and the Thorn

We're back! 1143 is a chapter that really shows how much things are falling apart on Elbaph. We have a lot of things happening all up and down the tree and what should have been a joyous party has descended into utter chaos. It starts here with Saul being somewhat on top of things and catching up with the kids. Leading to the reveal of Summers's Thorn-Thorn fruit, which is an utterly dastardly ability.

Anyone trying to help the kids are assaulted by the thorns, proportional to how much they care about the children. This power makes good on the ethos its user espoused. Love hurts. There's a lot of thematic weight there, the people we care about and care for the most are capable of hurting us in ways strangers cannot. Which of course is very much in line with that quieter side of Wano I've had a lot to say about.

So of course I can't help but notice that this power blends well with his allies and doubles down on those thematic connections. We already had the idea of Gunko's power fitting this framework and now you have this nice single panel giving you two more connections. The idea we've already established this is all a game but also Killingham's power being fleshed out a little more through a very interesting use.

Pulling salt out of a dream to make the perfect meal instantly reminds you of both Tama and Streusen. All pretty cool stuff. What's really scary is how well these three powers work together and how carefree the Knights are about potentially losing a batch of kids. This is a really tricky situation to deal with and they struck at just the right time. Which makes it pretty intriguing what Gunko points out. They weren't prepared for an Emperor...but that Emperor's arrival and the resulting party are exactly why this plan is going off so well. Especially when the stuff with Loki down below led to the fires.

Speaking of, we catch up with Loki's story and the group around him. He's a raging and a ranting as he's freed but this was a moment that caught my eye. Looks a lot like how we tend to show future sight being used. Which would make perfect sense for Loki to have. He's quite powerful and something about the bandages over his eyes makes me a lot more comfortable assuming that about him. It's kinda like Fujitora, that blind warrior is such a strong trope in Japanese media and all.

Either way, Luffy does make good on taking responsibility here. Which was of course what all that with Gaban was about. Doesn't take much to bring down the weakened giant but Luffy's quick to ask Gerd to tend to him. Even if Hajrudin's angry about the whole situation.

Speaking of, we get a bit more context for these two brothers. Loki doesn't come off looking great, honestly he's quite the little shit about Hajrudin's mother. But we end off playing with this question of how much of a hand he really had in their father's murder. I'll give credit where it's due; cold-blooded regicide doesn't actually jive with that particular gripe towards Hajrudin.

At this point I am wondering a bit more about Loki. His motives might actually have something more understandable to them. But I still don't like this bent a lot of fans have towards assuming he's a secret good guy because Luffy would only want to free someone who was good deep down. Even in this chapter Luffy's laying out that he doesn't really know or care one way or the other. Which is my big bone to pick with all this. It's still that subversion of a plot we'd typically see with a new island when the giants are established allies and you're throwing a huge curveball into an already dramatic situation in the boughs above.

[teatraps]

Can’t believe I haven’t talked about Edgar’s letter on here yet

Anyway, here’s a bullet point list of things I found interesting or notable and some theories as to what some of the stuff could mean

Edgar says the games strip people of their human nature which is basically the exact opposite of what Orpheus says, especially in the context of game 5 where Orpheus said in Patricia’s experiment file that this game in particular was only because of the participants and that the game had little effect on their actions because there was no drug administered

In general, Edgar keeps a close eye on the game and the way it functions. This has been foreshadowed before with basically every event and essence Edgar is in. He’s always very weary of his surroundings and how it affects the others around him (see runaway with man in red, simple toad skin description, censer’s disdain of bai ze, etc.). I’d argue he’s usually more concerned with the environment than his peers most of the time, and it seems that carried over to canon

While I know everyone is hype about Edpat (me too) it’s also important to note that all of his teammates, save Kevin, also offered him a color. Edgar usually assigns people he likes/feels connected to colors, so it can be assumed he has connected with all three remaining participants

Mauve, Vera’s color, is usually symbolic of youth, sentimentality, creativity, and nostalgia—all fitting for Vera’s character. His mention of dimming twilight grabbed my attention given Vera’s s tier is starlight. That and because symbolically twilight usually means things coming to an end, but it can also mean a period of deep reflection. Given Vera’s “lingering conscience” mentioned in her experiment file and her realization that her true nature is opposite to what she dreamed of (5th letter), the mention of twilight is probably important

Indigo, Jose’s color, is usually symbolic of wisdom, intuition, and perception which fit for Jose given his hypnotism stuff and whatnot.

I thought it was interesting that Kevin didn’t get a color, esp since Edgar has been explicitly friendly with Kevin based on the relations chart. Maybe friendly, but not connected? Like similar to his Valentine’s Day event where his rejection is technically friendlier than his acceptance. I dunno…

Orpheus talks about Edgar’s paintings having an effect on his teammates and that’s shown a little in this letter when he mentions Patricia being mesmerized by his draft. He seems shocked that she is tho. As it based on this letter, his paintings are meant to be a reflection of his soul, so maybe his soul just resonates with the others (similar to how the things Vera sees from his painting are ideas both of them hold). It makes me wonder if he doesn’t mean to cause such deep emotional responses in his team when he makes those paintings.

Edgar says he doesn’t know what was offered to his teammates nor does he understand why they’re so desperate to win. Despite this, Jose’s 2nd letter shows Edgar is still trying to lead them to victory. Kinda reminds me of the recent cny event where Edgar’s key to get home was to help the figures with all of their problems, but that’s just me cornplating

In the emote description, it mentions making eternal brushstrokes. That part reminded me of censer and antique appraiser bc both of them mention their presence existing even after they’re gone. (Censer swearing to bai ze that his wish will live on and the day it comes to fruition exists. Antique appraiser telling the figures that even after he’s gone, he would still be there in spirit)

Patricia says in her 2nd letter that her rituals and stuff are supposed to be secret, and this is backed up by Edgar in his 4th letter. Yet, she still shows him the ritual even though it’s not really supposed to be shared

What Sarai taught Edgar about leaving a part of himself behind goes pretty hand in hand with Patricia’s perception of love mentioned in her 6th letter about love being give and take

Edgar says his inspiration grew as he sat quietly in the conservatory which reminded me of all the times his character mentions stopping to appreciate the beauty of life and everything in it

And that’s about all I’ve got for rn. Loved this letter, and it confirmed a lot of things I always had a feeling about. Idv foreshadowing, ur goated

[tmarshconnors]

Power of Repetition in Public Speaking

After watching "Oscar-winning actor & writer Tom Hanks gives the Oxford Union an acting lesson" on YouTube I felt inspired to write this blog. The link below if interested.

Public speaking is an art that transcends mere words; it involves a deep understanding of human psychology, effective communication techniques, and the strategic use of rhetorical devices. Among these, repetition stands out as a powerful tool that can elevate a speech from ordinary to extraordinary. In this blog, we delve into the Repetition class in speaking, exploring how this technique can captivate audiences, enhance message retention, and leave a lasting impact.

The Basics of Repetition:

Repetition involves the intentional reuse of words, phrases, or ideas within a speech. When employed thoughtfully, it can create emphasis, reinforce key points, and establish a rhythm that resonates with the audience. There are various forms of repetition, each serving a unique purpose:

Anaphora: This involves repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. For example, Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech masterfully uses anaphora with the repetition of "I have a dream."

Epistrophe: In contrast to anaphora, epistrophe repeats a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. Winston Churchill's famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech is a classic example of epistrophe in action.

Anadiplosis: This technique involves repeating the last word of one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next. This creates a seamless connection between ideas and builds momentum. Yoda's sage advice, "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering," is an example of anadiplosis.

The Impact of Repetition:

Emphasis: Repetition serves as a spotlight, directing the audience's attention to specific words or ideas. By repeating a key point, a speaker can emphasize its importance, making it more likely to be remembered.

Rhythm and Flow: A well-crafted repetition adds a musical quality to a speech, creating a rhythmic flow that engages the audience. This cadence can make the message more memorable and enjoyable.

Connection: Repetition helps to establish connections between different parts of a speech. It ties ideas together, creating a cohesive narrative that is easier for the audience to follow.

Persuasion: Through repetition, a speaker can subtly persuade the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take action. The consistent reinforcement of a message can influence attitudes and beliefs.

Practical Tips for Using Repetition Effectively:

Choose Key Points: Identify the core messages you want to convey, and strategically repeat key words or phrases associated with these points.

Consider Your Audience: Tailor your repetition to resonate with your audience. Understanding their preferences, values, and expectations will help you use repetition more effectively.

Vary Your Approach: While repetition is a powerful tool, overusing it can diminish its impact. Vary your repetition techniques to keep the audience engaged and interested.

Practice Pacing: The timing and pacing of repetition are crucial. Practice delivering your speech with the right rhythm to maximize its impact.

In the world of public speaking, the Repetition class is a formidable ally. When wielded with skill and precision, repetition can transform a speech into a compelling, memorable experience for both the speaker and the audience. By understanding the various forms of repetition and practising its implementation, speakers can elevate their communication skills and leave a lasting impression on those who listen.

[semper-legens]

153. This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Owned?: Yes Page count: 198 My summary: Red and Blue, time-travelling agents working for rival agencies, start writing to each other just to gloat. They write in fire, in animals, in plants, in tastes and colours - but what they don’t realise is that they’re growing closer with each letter. If they are caught, they will certainly be killed. But Red and Blue are falling in love… My rating: 5/5 My commentary:

I've spoken about this book before. It took me a long time to read This Is How You Lose The Time War initially - I knew about it as I follow one of the authors, Amal El-Mohtar, on social media thanks to her being featured in a Blake's 7 podcast I was listening to. It's been long enough since my first read-through, however, that a reread would be both an interesting prospect. I remembered some things about the book going into it, but not all of the details, which is always fun when you're reading something like this. Overall, I still really liked it, for many of the reasons I highlighted in my first writeup of the book. So, let's get into it!

First of all, I absolutely love the lyricism and poetry of the prose here. Long-time readers of this blog might remember that I like my prose on the purpler side, and this does not disappoint in that capacity. The words are archaic and modern, teasing and serious, playful and sombre all at once, and the overall impression is of a hazy dream, the kind of thing that would get endlessly quoted online to show how deep and cultured the person doing the quoting is. Not that I think that's a bad thing. It very much fits the tone of the piece and the impression of these two endlessly smart, endlessly devoted women. And I absolutely love how the letters between Red and Blue are themselves written - not just pen and paper or keyboard and screen, but found in smell and touch and taste as much as sight and hearing. It's a very sensual experience, by which I mean that it involves all of the senses. This is a book that you can feel, deep in your soul. (Now who's wanting to sound deep?)

Red and Blue are incredibly engaging protagonists. Blue is from some sort of biopunk flower place, where everything is grown and everyone is supposed to be encompassed in a sort of hive mind, led by the Garden. Red is more cybernetic, with hacking and connecting to computers being her thing, and she's led by the Commandant. Nevertheless, they both employ very similar methods in their fight to change time to favour their particular future, perhaps highlighting the similarities between their two shadowy organisations despite their very different backstories. They're two very similar women, but I found their voices to still be unique and distinguishable, both in the narrative style of their chapters and in the letters they write to one another. And, of course, the fact that this is a love story between two women is a huge selling point for me. We see their relationship go from slightly flirty rivalry to deep and pervasive love, the kind that would have both sides ultimately desert their original function and devote themselves entirely to each other.

Overall, this is still an incredible book, and I would still highly recommend it! I'm sure it'll be popping up on this blog again in due time.

Next up, snapshots of life in Weimar Republic Berlin.

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: Paladin's Faith (Saint of Steel #4)

Author: T. Kingfisher

Genre/s: fantasy, romance, mystery, romantasy

Content/Trigger Warning/s: gore, death, violence, murder, sexual harassment (not explicit)

Summary (from author's website): Marguerite Florian is a spy with two problems. A former employer wants her dead, and one of her new bodyguards is a far too good-looking paladin with a martyr complex.

Shane is a paladin with three problems. His god is dead, his client is much too attractive for his peace of mind, and a powerful organization is trying to have them both killed.

Add in a brilliant artificer with a device that may change the world, a glittering and dangerous court, and a demon-led cult, and Shane and Marguerite will be lucky to escape with their souls intact, never mind their hearts…

Buy Here: https://argyllproductions.com/product/paladins-faith-saint-of-steel-book-4/

Spoiler-Free Review: Kingfisher does it again! As always the romance was on point and delightful. Marguerite is a delight to read, and honestly strikes me as much more…open, I guess? Than the previous protagonists. Which is funny given her line of work, but she read as the one with the least to hide, and was most willing to acknowledge her own feelings and the feelings of others.

And then there is Shane. I was not entirely expecting this storyline for him, but I am IMMENSELY pleased with and delighted by how it went. His connection to the Dreaming God was mentioned in passing in previous books, but now that I know how deep that connection goes, and what the loss of both that connection AND the connection to the Saint of Steel did to him, well… I mean, is it any surprise that his self-doubt runs VERY deep? This facet of his personality plays a lot into his dynamic with Marguerite, and makes for some admittedly squee-worthy moments between the two of them.

Wren is also a delight and a darling in this one. There is an entire subplot going on with her that in some ways was more enjoyable to read than Shane and Marguerite’s, largely because while the beats for the Shane/Marguerite romance were more or less familiar and unsurprising, Wren’s subplot was less predictable.

Speaking of the Dreaming God, it was fun getting to meet more of his paladins! I kind of hope some of them will get books of their own eventually, but given that there are still three more paladins of the Saint of Steel to go before the current series is finished, I suspect it’s going to take a while. And honestly, I’m more interested in seeing more paladins of the Forge God; they seem pretty cool, based on the few glimpses Kingfisher’s shown of them in previous books in this series.

I was also delighted by all the throwbacks to the Clocktaur War duology! Readers who’ve read those books are going to be in for a TREAT, given how many nods and mentions are made in passing to characters and events that happened in that series.

Since there’s a rather heavy Dreaming God presence in this book, it shouldn’t be any surprise that there are demons at play, and the one featured here is VERY interesting. Won’t say more to avoid giving out spoilers, but I think a lot of readers are going to be fascinated by this one - and by the implications that particular plotline has for a whole lot of things in potential future books in this series and in others set in the World of the White Rat.

Overall, this was a great continuation of the series, even if the connection to the bombshell ending of Paladin’s Hope isn’t as direct as some readers might’ve wanted. Then again, that’s been the pattern for this series all along, with each book able to function almost as a standalone and instead lightly referencing previous books instead of being direct sequels. Still, that plot thread in Paladin’s Hope is picked up in this one, though in a highly unexpected way that might leave some readers feeling a bit rabid about the release of the next one.

Rating: five rats

[eikooowie]

Ah, the bond between Senseria Erena (Natalie Sol) and Chris Otoha (Clover Aurora) as sisters! It's a heartwarming aspect of their stories. Here's a glimpse into how that sisterly connection might have developed:

A Foundation of Shared Experiences:

Their bond likely wasn't forged overnight. It would have grown from shared childhood experiences, both within and potentially outside the world of LBX.

* Early Life Together: Imagine a childhood where they navigated the typical ups and downs of siblinghood – playful rivalries, shared secrets, and mutual support during challenging times. These early interactions would have laid the groundwork for a deep and lasting connection. Perhaps they relied on each other for comfort or understanding in situations unique to their family or upbringing.

* Introduction to LBX - A Shared Passion: Their entry into the world of Little Battlers Experience could have been a significant bonding experience. Maybe one sister introduced the other to the hobby, or perhaps it was a shared family interest. Learning the intricacies of customization, battling strategies, and the thrill of competition together would have created strong common ground.

Nurturing Their Unique Personalities While Staying Close:

Despite their individual strengths and approaches to LBX, their sisterly bond would have allowed them to appreciate and support each other's differences.

* Senseria's Quiet Strength and Chris's Bright Spirit: Senseria's more reserved and analytical nature might have been balanced by Chris's outgoing and optimistic personality. They could have learned from each other – Senseria perhaps finding a bit more lightheartedness through Chris, and Chris benefiting from Senseria's thoughtful perspective. Their contrasting styles in LBX battling could have even become a source of mutual respect and learning.

* Supporting Each Other's Goals: Whether Senseria was focused on mastering a particular battling technique or Chris was striving to build stronger team connections, their sisterly support would have been unwavering. They would have been each other's cheerleaders, offering encouragement during victories and comfort during setbacks.

Moments That Deepened Their Bond:

Specific events or challenges likely played a crucial role in solidifying their sisterly connection.

* Overcoming Obstacles Together: Perhaps they faced a significant challenge, either within the LBX world (like a tough tournament or a formidable opponent) or in their personal lives. Navigating these difficulties side-by-side would have strengthened their reliance on each other and deepened their understanding of their shared strength.

* Moments of Vulnerability and Trust: There would have been times when they confided in each other, sharing their fears, dreams, and insecurities. These moments of vulnerability would have built a strong foundation of trust and understanding that only siblings can truly share.

* Celebrating Each Other's Successes: Their bond wouldn't just be about support during tough times. They would have genuinely celebrated each other's achievements, big or small, fostering a sense of shared joy and pride in their accomplishments.

The "Natalie Sol" and "Clover Aurora" Aspects:

Their alternate names might even hold a clue to their sisterly dynamic. Perhaps these names emerged during a period where they were exploring their individual identities within the LBX scene, but their underlying connection as sisters remained a constant. It's possible they even subtly supported each other's endeavors under these different monikers.

Ultimately, the sisterly bond between Senseria and Chris would be a source of strength, comfort, and unwavering support in their lives as LBX battlers. It would be a relationship that enriches their individual journeys and provides a powerful foundation for whatever challenges they might face.

[ggomanii-fancy-you]

@redheavenwater

hello friend!

apologies for the extreme delay on this, there was so so so much context and variables in this reading and I wanted to do this justice and try to get the nature of the relationship across in its entirety. this was truly such an interesting synastry ship to do and i really hope you get a good read out of it!

also....

just note I put quincunx under cons since it's like a more mild, slight version of a square and it definitely as more negative connotations in this synastry reading.

~idol~ hongjoong (ateez)

~aspects~

~pros~

trine jupiter~ jupiter: Your relationship is built on a sense of knowledge, however, it relates more to being spiritually in tune and aware of deeper knowledges. As a result of this your philosophies harmonize in such a beautiful manner, there is also mutual respect and a sense of generosity that completely infects your relationship in the best of ways. Together you have dreams of making a big difference in this world, you inspire each other's noble character which seems to align with what you think is your life purpose. This is a relationship for the dreamers with a strong sense of identity and dignity. You are both speeding down the same path of success wherein you share valuable life lessons with each other as a means of helping each other grow. Challenges will almost always go straight past the two of you as a result of the wisdom that you and Hongjoong possess.

I'd also like to note that your relationship is full of the most cheerful excitement in the world. You also nurture each other's inner child and you both motivate each other with optimism and while you work to keep hope alive in your relationship.

trine sun~ moon: See this aspect as a continuation of what was mentioned in the Jupiter trine Jupiter aspect. There is a natural flow of emotional understanding and support between the two of you. You share a very deep connection that also gifts you with a deeper understanding of each other's emotional needs. Additionally you have a natural ability to tune in to your partner's emotions, this is mutual. You are able to provide each other with overwhelming comfort and support. You have this innate desire to care for one another which naturally indicates that there is great emotional stability in this relationship. Having this support encourages both of you to explore your creative potential and allows you to express yourselves in the most authentic way possible. Another thing to note is that you have a way of energizing and inspiring Hongjoong.

Your partnership is characterized by a harmonious environment, where you effortlessly create a balance in each other's emotional states. This fosters a deep sense of security and trust, allowing both of you to feel safe and accepted. This aspect also provides a strong foundation for a long-lasting, fulfilling relationship since you have that mutual understanding and acceptance of each other's emotional well-being.

sextile neptune~ mercury: It is apparent that your emotional connection is very strong, in a sense it flows like a steady stream, you're always able to exchange something valuable with the other person which is what creates that cohesive bond that the two of you possess. This is something worth remembering as this is the basis for how effortlessly your communication flows in general. You have a natural ability to understand each other's thoughts and feelings. It is far too easy for both of you to pick up on both verbal and non-verbal cues when communicating with one another. This drastically aids in establishing a cooperative and spiritually evolving relationship, another thing is that your strong bond is a result of shared ideals and interests.

sextile mars~ chiron: This aspect holds a particular flavour of intimacy that isn't seen in many relationships, you are so close and familiar with one another that it sparks intense healing and growth relating to both of your personal desires and ambitions. From this comes the opportunity for you to help Hongjoong find a more constructive outlet to help him self-soothe when he is confronted by any pain or emotional wounds that may have developed in the past. If you choose to hold his hand through it it would help him to develop a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence.

Even if you don't do this Hongjoong will feel that he is receiving the deepest of understanding and empathy from you, in short you create a safe space for him to express his vulnerabilities and explore his healing journey. You encourage him to take action towards his own personal growth, empowering him to confront his past and use it to be a source of great strength.

trine chiron~ saturn: There is a very distinct difference between the you before and after meeting Hongjoong, and he feels that too just in a way quite different to yours. When you are together you are able to put your struggles into perspective so that you can gain a unique awareness of your inner gifts and emotional healing capabilities. Hongjoong helps you to fulfil your responsibilities and commitment to helping and healing yourself and those around you. On the other hand you help Hongjoong find the deeper meanings in the challenges and traumas from his past. There is a high likelihood that there is a karmic connection in your relationship and it will feel supportive and grounding. This especially rings true for Hongjoong.

trine moon~ jupiter: There is a natural harmony and positivity that exists between you and Hongjoong, you both bring out the best in each other creating an atmosphere of happiness, luck and optimism. Just being around each other uplifts both of your spirits and encourages you to take risks and explore new horizons together. Your philosophies and your love of love and romance are identical, this allows you to easily understand and support each other's needs and desires. As mentioned before it's the mutual admiration and trust that forms the foundation of your relationship. You have the deepest and most true appreciation of each other's qualities and this admiration of each other and your qualities fuels your connection.

This aspect also enhances your sense of openness, tolerance, and generosity towards one another. You are willing to embrace each other's uniqueness and encourage personal growth in each other. This encourages a deep sense of emotional security and a strong bond between you.

trine venus~ neptune: This is a short one, most of the qualities of this aspect have already been mentioned but you both have a very high tolerance for each other's qualities. In particular you are willing to overlook Hongjoong's faults or flaws. Hongjoong is very pleased to be loved in such a genuine and tolerated manner, like he is so sure that this is the relationship for him. This aspect also indicates that you two coming together creates such a dreamy and romantic atmosphere where you both feel like the other enhances your life in a way that just has to be spiritual. The relationship moves you in ways you didn't think possible.

trine uranus~ moon: I'm mentioning this specific trait again since it is something that frequently comes up in your synastry ship. There is a harmonious flow of emotional energy and a sense of liberation within the relationship. Both of you feel a sense of freedom and spontaneity in expressing your emotions, allowing both of you to fully embrace your unique and unconventional natures. Your relationship brings with it an environment where both of you can break away from traditional societal expectations and create your own rules and relationship dynamics. You think outside of the box practically ditching the metaphorical relationship textbook. It's silently agreed upon that neither of you need to conform to conventional norms, so that you can focus on being a source of inspiration and individuality for the other person.

Hongjoong is naturally receptive to your unconventional ideas and perspectives. The fact that you are so open and receptive to each other allows for a non-possessive and emotionally liberating friendship to develop, basically you're that couple that are practically best friends who are dating. Both of you are able to explore your true selves within the relationship without fear of judgement or constraint.

Additionally, this aspect gifts both of you with emotional adaptability that enables both of you to navigate unexpected changes in life together. You're both willing to embrace the unknown, be it sudden shifts in circumstances or personal growth, as you now understand that change is an inherent part of life's journey.

trine jupiter~ venus: There is such a distinct, magical bond between the two of you. This aspect enhances warmth and affection, creating a harmonious connection that brings out the best in each other. Your relationship also fosters a sense of joy and optimism. This aspect strengthens the romantic bond and deepens the friendship between the two of you- See! It's that friends to lover thing that keeps coming back! The act of appreciating each other's qualities as great friends and loving partners fosters trust and understanding. You feel a strong sense of cooperation and shared interests, bringing wisdom, happiness, and prosperity into your lives. Your love radiates outward, attracting positivity and blessings to yourselves and those around you as you embrace the positive aspects of life.

trine jupiter~ sun: Again I want to mention this because it's literally so precious and wholesome, but this aspect also creates a harmonious and uplifting dynamic between the two of you. This connection fosters a shared passion for growth and expansion, encouraging both of you to reach for your highest potentials. So really, it's not a surprise that the connection you have brings a sense of optimism and enthusiasm to your relationship, as both of you appreciate and enjoy each other's company. In this instance Hongjoong is a very strong person, he is the ideal of someone living their truth and being themselves. This quality that he has somehow lines up with your need to expand and the endless energy that you possess. You act like a source of inspiration for Hongjoong, uplifting him and instilling a sense of confidence in his own abilities.

This aspect points towards there being a mutual understanding and respect for each other's independence and desires for personal growth. Since you both respect each other so much, you want to keep your independence and desire for personal growth. You both want to live your best lives together, you actually encourage and motivate each other to explore new horizons and to embrace opportunities for expansion.

~cons~

quincunx saturn~ sun: This particular aspect signifies there being the chance of a clash occurring between your desires for personal fulfilment and your sense of responsibility and duty. Both of you may feel limited or restricted when you are in pursuit of your goals, this mainly occurs since you both struggle to grapple with the demands and expectations of the other person. Though it is inconjunct, or quincunx it can bring serious or even burdensome energy into your relationship which may result in discomfort or unease in each other's presence. This is just an example, but Hongjoong may feel weighed down by your constant need for structure and discipline, and since he is such a creative and spontaneous guy he may feel like this is stifling him. On the other hand, you may view him as being a little irresponsible or unreliable. To cope with this you may resort to pushing him to conform to your idea of what order and stability is.

This relates to the need for independence that you both have. You want Hongjoong to be able to express himself whilst wanting his expression to adhere to your idea of what it is, hence the structure. It's like letting him feel his feeling but only in a certain way. This results in you both being so sure that what you both need is autonomy and independence, yet you are confronted by the other's expectations and limitations. Hongjoong may resist your attempts to control or restrict him, while you may struggle to loosen your grip and allow for more freedom and self-expression.

square saturn~ mars: This aspect also touches on potential struggles in asserting oneself and experiencing personal freedom. Hongjoong may find that his efforts to express his desires or take initiative is met with limitations and discouragement. Now, this is so personal but while he can dismiss some criticism of his character, there is something that sticks with him. That is, he may feel like you criticise or judge his approach to intimacy or his sexual technique. This could lead to some type of performance anxiety that has negative effects on his sexual fulfilment. Frustrations could arise from disappointing sexual experiences which then go on to create a cycle of mental blockages.

If you want to look on the bright side of things this aspect does offer an opportunity for growth and a deeper understanding of each other. By acknowledging and addressing his perceived limitations and criticisms you can work together to find healthier ways of expressing your desires, building trust, and overcoming obstacles.

square saturn~ jupiter: The timing is off with something in your relationship, it relates more to the way you both approach business but whatever it is results in conflicting actions and decisions. I think one of you was in a different place mentally when you both started your relationship. Stemming from this deep unrest one of you may see the other as self-centred, focused on material possessions and overly concerned with social status. Meanwhile the other person may see the former as lacking ambition, practicality and common sense, while also perceiving themselves as being rigid, aloof and unsympathetic. These differing perspectives and values can lead to frequent disagreements and conflicts when it comes to business matters. Both of your energies and approach to expanding or holding back may clash, which hinders your ability to work effectively together.

opposition sun~ saturn: In the earlier stages of your relationship you find that you feel attracted to the mature, steady, disciplined, and responsible qualities of Hongjoong. But over time these same qualities can begin to feel restrictive, limiting, even oppressive. Hongjoong easily falls into the role of being the parent, teacher, or taskmaster of you, causing you to feel confined by his seriousness and inflexibility.

opposition chiron~ moon: Unforeseen tension can lead to deeper emotional healing but can also trigger old insecurities and much anxiety. Hongjoong is hypersensitive to your attempts at revealing his old wounds, meaning that he will be triggered by your attitudes and words when you talk about his past. Even without trying you awaken his vulnerabilities, and if Hongjoong isn't ready for this he rebel by becoming defensive or displacing his pain and anger.

Also, you expect nurturing or sensitivity from Hongjoong which he may provide, but there are limits to this and he may not do this in a way that adheres to your unique needs.

square amor~ jupiter: There is conflict when it comes to perception of love and the way you express love in a relationship. I have touched on this throughout the ship and this aspect basically reiterates the fact that you both have differing perspectives of expansion and making the most out of your relationship. You both wish to branch out with your own independence but you still find it difficult to grow together.

square pluto~ jupiter: Now this aspect can be a bit of a red flag when it comes to a mutual interest or participation in anything that is more mystical in nature, yet this aspect also effects financial affairs. Hongjoong may resent the tendency you have of using what Hongjoong considers to be unethical or coercive tactics when it comes to reforming him and his behaviour. On the other hand there is the potential for you to completely reject any forms of indoctrination into his core beliefs or religion. Moving into the more financial side of things there will be differences of opinion in the handling of finances, resource and education as well as potential conflict over inheritance. If one or either of you have occult tendencies or a fascination in the occult there is a chance that one may encourage the other to be involved in dangerous or questionable practices.

square uranus~ chiron: Though this aspect brings with it challenging energy, it also indicates that there is a unique and transformative connection between the two of you. Again, you bring about deep healing and growth through your interactions, which could cause bumps in an otherwise smooth road. You may experience unexpected disruptions, sudden changes or unconventional approaches to healing throughout your time as a couple. The strong Uranus influence may push both of you to break free from old patterns and explore new possibilities for personal and spiritual growth.

This is also another aspect that highlights the potential for both of you to support each other's healing journeys. The unpredictability in the relationship could very well bring deep wounds and insecurities to the surface. Regardless, this can also be seen as an opportunity for healing, self-discovery, and personal evolution.

square uranus~ venus: There exists a strong electrifying attraction between the two of you. However, both of you will have to deal with some kind of inability to truly depend on one another over time. You may come to resent any sign that Hongjoong wants more commitment or structure in the relationship and this opposes how you would structure a relationship. Affection may also be inconsistent at times, or alternatively you find that you are almost always separated from each other at key moments of your lives. This relationship is just a chaotic, emotional roller-coaster ride, this is especially true when it comes to how Hongjoong views things. When he is feeling romantic he may feel like you're just out of reach somehow, whether it's physically or through a form of mental or emotional distancing. Overall, your relationship has this erratic and unstable yet exciting quality to it.

square sun~ neptune: Your relationship holds much enchantment and allure. Both of you may initially be captivated by each other's mystique and the way that you both fit each other's ideal. There is also a high likelihood of a magnetic pull that draws you towards each other, it's also highly fuelled by a strong sense of fascination in each other as well as admiring how glamourous the other person is. However, there are also challenges that arise when it comes to perceiving each other clearly and understanding the true nature and essence of your relationship. The illusions and fantasies created by Hongjoong can cloud reality leading to many misunderstandings and misinterpretations throughout your relationship. Both of you may project your own desires and expectations onto each other, creating a distorted image that may not align with who they truly are.

square pluto~ mars: This aspect directly relates to Hongjoong's hesitance when it comes to sex, but its more from your perspective. You aren't seeing the energy you need from him, this could be sexually, physically, emotionally or mentally. Since this is the case you could start to unconsciously provoke him to get some kind of flaming passion from him. A lot of this aspect is unintentional, you don't realise that you are projecting some past wounds and insecurities onto him which make him two times more likely to pull away and be uncomfortable when it comes to certain acts of intimacy. You may provoke him to act out resist everything you say or do to him, this can create bitterness and resentment if we're thinking about this long-term. It could even cause very volatile arguments to occur. In a way these arguments keep the flame burning in your relationship, to keep the passion alive even if it's quite immature.

At the heart of this overlay is a sexual aspect which is all about the two of you wanting to prove your power so that you come across as being more attractive to the other person so that you can desire each other deeply.

square amor~ mars: Though you both find it easy to be together and to fall into a lustful dance, this aspect is really about the failure of mediating between pleasure and the responsibilities of being in a relationship. Corruption may be a bit too harsh of a word but there is the potential for you to get lost in the darker side of your relationships. To make it short and simple the lines between love and sex are blurred, there is a chance that you will lose sight of what it means to be in a peaceful union. Though this is a squared aspect, it still indicates the strength and power associated with your dedication to one another as well as your need to be in a committed relationship.

~house overlays~

your juno in his 7th house: You both have a strong romantic commitment to each other, even if you don't show it as often as you should. Hongjoong is sensitive to your desire for commitment and reliability, though you both prefer to maintain a sense of independence Hongjoong is romantic and sensitive and craves balance and partnership. He will also reassure you of his intentions to share his devotion and attention, this will add to the security you feel when you are around him. On the other side of things you easily show him that you are trustworthy and committed to the relationship. In the past both of you were on a journey to find your ideal partner, and now you're convinced that you have found them.

his moon in your 8th house: Though your relationship seems very gentle and honest on the surface this overlay suggests that there are some very unattractive aspects that constantly come up. You constantly reach deep into Hongjoong's psyche and stir up and dark desires of "demons" that he keeps hidden in his subconscious. Hongjoong can crave things in the relationship that are normally unacceptable to society. He knows they aren't socially accepted yet he isn't able to control them when he is around you. There may be a compulsive desire for either sexual excess, extreme possessiveness or extreme greed and power.

The two of you have a desire to act out deviant fantasies together. You're also deeply attracted to anything that defies logic, and your love for each other turns into a deep seeded hunger or lust for the other person. You really just want to fall into the other person, or make them yours in a deeper darker sense. Since you both have relative restraint you're able to control these urges, so while the above traits are present having control of it results in the two of you being able to enjoy the deep connection and emotional nurturing that comes with this overlay. There is also a bit of a compulsive desire for each other where even if you broke up you'd still find your way back to each other.

your cupido in his 7th house: Despite the occasional habits of indulging in pleasures to a more extreme degree, there is a balance between the give and take of your relationship in regards to the more sexual side of your relationship. You find it easy to confide in Hongjoong when it comes to self expression in intimacy. Hongjoong is very open minded when it comes to you and he most likely won't enjoy himself if he knows you aren't enjoying yourself as well. There is a high likelihood that over time the two of you will find the perfect balance between romance and beauty, pain and pleasure and intensity and gentleness.

his north node in your 10th house: Though Hongjoong seems like the most active in his career, he is actually an integral part to how your life develops over time, in the past you may have been shying away from your true potential. But Hongjoong inspires you to be honest in all of your endeavours, this is especially true when it comes to your own career. He would even go out of his way to ensure that you had public recognition and were able to be in a position of influence over others, showing off just how talented you are. You may even have limited goals or a sheltered public life until Hongjoong comes along.

his ceres in your 8th house: You both play a powerful role in each other's lives. There is a high chance that Hongjoong will come into your life when you truly need it, during a time where you are seeking release and healing are needed on a deep level. You show your dedication, commitment and loyalty, you may also help him to develop his confidence and power on a profound level. Your relationship may be dramatic and intense but you both mean well, your love and dedication is still far too strong for it to be a negative relationship.

your saturn in his 5th house: This is really an opposites attract situation that we have on our hands, since both of you have such differing views on the act of spending time together. You tend to be quite serious in comparison to Hongjoong, you see work as your fun free time, which actually helps Hongjoong work on his work ethic. However, whenever the two of you work it is light-hearted and creative since you will take priority in blending both of your creative talents.

his saturn in your 6th house: You're a practical couple, your combined ambitions and down to earth nature will lead to the two of you accomplishing all of the goals you set. This isn't to say that you are loud and obnoxious about the achievements, it's quite the opposite. You both prefer to be humble and serve the community in some shape or form, neither of you wish to have over the top, excessive recognition for the good that you do.

your sun in his 9th house: This overlay indicates that you share similar world views. You may have similar philosophies in a variety of areas, whether its your morals when it comes to a piece of art or your opinions on how a person should freely express themselves. You stimulate each other mentally, you teach each other and you influence each other to be more culturally aware. Your similar views ensures that the two of you will have a great and enduring friendship, this obviously led to a committed relationship that has the basis for a great marriage.

your lilith in his 8th house: You both experience deep and intense attraction in your relationship. Part of this occurs since you are drawn to Hongjoong's sense of power and authority, even if this is the case you still don't allow Hongjoong to overwhelm you by making demands or intruding on your freedom. Another layer to this relationship is the fact that Hongjoong recognizes your subconscious wounds and instincts and is drawn to your dark, edgy nature. He is so familiar with your personality that he knows how to completely respect and acknowledge your boundaries.

Both of you will also inspire passion and sexual exploration as well as intense healing and the feeling of being reborn into a better person.

your mercury in his 8th house: Your words cut deep into Hongjoong's psyche, the moral of the story in this situation is for you to learn not to say anything too hurtful since it will really hurt Hongjoong. Just be careful, you don't need to or want to cause permanent damage with the things that you say. In general you are prone to dominating the conversation, perhaps out of a fear of being taken advantage of. Returning back to your words, Hongjoong doesn't take your words lightly. He understands that you mean business when you talk, and he is careful to respond correctly to you with calculated responses.

As a result of this overlay, communication between you always tends to get serious and deep very quickly. Your communication is very clear and precise, this overlay makes you both prone to steering the conversation to serve your own purpose.

his neptune in your 3rd house: Hongjoong inspires you to get in touch with your spiritual side while you help him to articulate and communicate his own mystical beliefs and dreams. There is also a high likelihood that you help him to channel his creativity through spoken and written works. Something that is quite unique about this is that while you put his world into perspective, he may confuse your normally logical world views. He does so by reminding you that some things are supernatural in nature or just can't be explained or understood rationally. While this could throw you off initially he would remind you that you need to connect your heart with your mind. Creativity is also enhanced by this overlay.

your uranus in his 1st house: This overlay indicates that the two of you have an exhilarating and unconventional relationship. Both of you inspire and support each other's desire for personal freedom, adventure, and self-expression. Both of you are very strict in honouring and nurturing each other's autonomy, you both try your hardest to not dominate or control the other person. You significantly contribute to Hongjoong's journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. On the other hand Hongjoong empowers you to assert yourself more boldly and confidently, encouraging you to express your unique and intuitive ideas.

You will find that Hongjoong introduces you to novel experiences and opportunities, pushing you to step out of your comfort zone to embrace exciting possibilities. Together, you both ignite scientific and humanitarian inclinations within each other. You inspire each other to challenge routines and break away from traditional and societal norms, fostering an environment of innovation and progress. Your relationship thrives on embracing the unconventional and embracing change as a catalyst for personal and collective growth.

his uranus in your 3rd house: Conversations with Hongjoong immediately stand apart from your interactions with other people you know. If you are comfortable with the more unconventional ways of thinking or like a lot of mental stimulation this overlay is a really great one. If you aren't like this you may find Hongjoong's ideas a little strange or unpredictable.

your chiron in his 11th house: Both of you play such a vital role in guiding each other through breakthroughs. You help Hongjoong embrace dramatic change and breakthroughs relating to their social networks and groups that he is a part of. He will help you find the right group for you to socialise with so that you can feel apart of something bigger than yourself. A lot of healing will come from these opportunities for you to socialise.

your moon in his 9th house: You idealize Hongjoong. Essentially, you sing such high praise for him and you see him as being worthy of love and adoration. You may see him as being brilliant, inspiration or heroic, a real Greek hero that people need to write lengthy tales about. You put him on a pedestal and you may even feel that he is so great that he is out of your league. Since you so openly admire him Hongjoong is inspired to be that and more, he wants to be better because you think he is so great. That being said, you bring the best out of Hongjoong which he senses, so he may become emotionally attached to you. He may also feel that he can't do anything great without you, or alternatively, he may become dependent on your admiration since it is a great source of inspiration.

And honestly, its not just affection and love that you feel. You have things in common, so that admiration is because you can see the similar attitudes you hold. You may have the same views on politics, religion or socially acceptable behaviour. You basically both look to support the same causes.

your north node in his 5th house: Hongjoong used to be more concerned with the common good and society, in other words he used to primarily get his energy from collective efforts and group identity, rather than pursuing his own things. After being with you he allows himself to invest time and energy learning what brings him joy while focusing on bringing pleasure into his own life. And your romantic relationship is highly sensual and can feel that bit karmic and spiritual at times.

his jupiter in your 5th house: There is a lot of energy, playfulness, creativity and an overall light-hearted mood in your relationship. Sex feels almost spiritual and adventurous. This overlay also indicates that you are optimistic about the possibility of having children with Hongjoong,

your mars in his 12th house: Your relationship is very dream-centric. Whether this be the way you feel about each other on a daily basis, you both going out of your way to make the other persons dreams come true or feeling like life is dreamy when you're together. You both came to realise that it is possible for the two of you to walk besides each other and commit to a life with each other, without feeling like you are weighing each other down. Hongjoong sees the two of you as someone who ensures the safety and structure of the relationship is stable. A big part of this overlay has to do with sexual intimacy and the nature of sex in your relationship. When all hesitance is gone and you are both comfortable in proceeding forward, sex with him feels as if you both exist on another plane, as if there is a separate world that exists just for the two of you. Most of your fantasies come true and you really do achieve such a deep emotional connection that is rare to feel. Like it's some deep intrinsic right, like the world is gifting you the other person so that you can both heal through physical means.

his pluto in your 2nd house: This overlay indicates that there is a very high likelihood that Hongjoong is going to transform your relationship in a way that influences money, self image and values. This can be beneficial to you if Hongjoong has a strong sense of self worth and healthy boundaries. Being completely honest he does have healthy boundaries, however his sense of self worth isn't the most consistent. Regardless, Hongjoong can bring powerful changes by boosting your confidence.

Also I don't know where else to put this but you find his aura and ideas fascinating and may even see him as a role model or a good financial advisor. However, if any negative Pluto energy is present it could result in Hongjoong hiding debts, spending recklessly or being too stingy, demanding control over finances or positions, money driven conflicts- It could even get to the stage that he depletes your self worth and resources.

his juno in your 1st house: This overlay reiterates themes that were mentioned across this ship, that being, you have a powerful connection to each other and the commitment and love in this relationship is obvious. Hongjoong is very giving with his love, when he can be, there is unconditional love and acceptance for the most part. He also helps you to pursue your desires and goals. It is highly likely that Hongjoong recognizes you as his ideal, it may even be a case of love at first sight.

Hongjoong has the right personality and image that makes you feel comfortable and secure and both of you know how to put each other at ease. This gives you an opportunity to demonstrate the understanding, empathy and commitment that you both desire. There is a chance that you had always pictured yourself marrying someone like Hongjoong and Hongjoong is very perceptive and can see and sense just how committed you are to having a long lasting relationship with him.

your neptune in his 1st house: This overlay brings with it a powerful emotional attraction to one another. You feel deeply connected to Hongjoong upon first meeting him, you're attracted to something about his personality or appearance, yet you are unable to put it into words.

his mercury in your 2nd house: There is a form of restriction for Hongjoong, again though he is allowed to be free, have his own thoughts and go about life, there is an underlying impression that he has to do it in a structured way, and more often than not that structure is something you designed. Hongjoong sometimes finds it difficult to see eye-to-eye with you, coming up with words is challenging. This could result in him getting the impression that you don't actually get him, on the other hand you get the impression that you lack common views, even if this is far from reality.

his sun in your 1st house: Upon meeting there was this feeling of familiarity, even before the two of you become friends or start a relationship. Hongjoong really likes you in general. He likes your style, appearance, and approach to life. He feels like he is on the same page as you and that he really understands you. He also finds that he is able to be himself around you in a way that feels very natural. He was able to fully drop his guard around you.

You enjoy the admiration and approval from Hongjoong, it really invigorates you, it sounds cliché but he really brightens up your life.

Overall, this overlay makes both of you feel comfortable and positive about each other. You both drastically increase each other's self-esteem. You bring out the best in each other, this is also another overlay that is common in relationships that lead to marriage.

your jupiter in his 6th house: There is nothing you want more than for Hongjoong to get his practical matters in order. This can be you wanting him to clear out his life or you may just want him to take better care of his health. This is especially true if Hongjoong needs help in his daily life, you can be a great motivator, healer or mentor to him. If Hongjoong's energy is not handled well it could lead to a co-dependent relationship. Instead of being a supportive partner, you might find that you do all the emotional and general health reminders for him.

your pluto in his 11th house: Even if you are aware of how social and outgoing Hongjoong can be, you still have some desire to transform his social circle, companions and friends for the better. You may try and introduce him to friends and groups who have more influence over areas that he wishes to be apart of, if Hongjoong had any issues socializing before he may start to feel more confident and encouraged to expand their circle.

Since you have one negative aspect in your natal chart that relates to Pluto, there is a chance that trying to influence his social life has more of an unpleasant, negative effect on Hongjoong. If this is fact in your relationship, you may try to control and manipulate Hongjoong's friends and colleagues or spread rumours to destroy these relationships. Or at least you tend to obsess over his relationships with other people. If this does occur you may being doing this in an effort to keep Hongjoong all to yourself.

his lilith in your 2nd house: This overlay also indicates that there is a type of indescribable energy in your relationship. Hongjoong refuses to be constrained by your need for security and stability. Regardless he still wants to be in a relationship with you and he is drawn to your strong, enduring energy and personal sense of confidence, but similar to your own views, he doesn't want to feel trapped by his partners wants and needs. At times you can be thrown off by Hongjoong's temperamental personality, but you can also help him find security, healing and stability so that he can unleash his raw emotions.

There is also the possibility that both of you could become excessive in your pursuit of pleasure. Sexuality and materialism could take you two to the extremes for fulfilment or status of some kind.

your venus in his 8th house: If you thought you couldn't be more captivated by Hongjoong than you're wrong. You feel weak at the knees whenever you see him and you want to give in to all of his impulses for pleasure. At the same time you never try to run from him, you actually love all of his requests. You have a gut feeling that he can make you experience the deepest, darkest pleasure you could ever imagine. As mentioned before you find him sexually attractive and you will always make yourself available to him in any shape or form.

Hongjoong is cunning in the sense that he can sense the fact that you are unable to deny him of pleasure, and this empowers him to the highest extent. This also results in him having the most wild and untamed fantasies about the two of you. He is very daring around you and dreams of doing things that he probably would never do if he were in another relationship. This overlay indicates that this isn't a one night stand type of relationship, sex is emotionally deep and affects both of you on a subconscious level.

his venus in your 1st house: Hongjoong is greatly attracted to your qualities as well as your appearance. He also loves being seen with you. This is all well and good but there is a risk of Hongjoong becoming too preoccupied with how good you make him look. He wants to show you off because it reflects well on him.

You are flattered by his admiration of you, he makes you feel beautiful and graceful. However, over time you might start to feel uncomfortable by the shallowness of his admiration for you. This is purely dependant on your own self esteem and perception of image. If you aren't as confident you may love this form of flattery. He gives you a drastic self-image boost that you need, on the other end of the spectrum if you have a healthy level of self-esteem you will want him to admire you for things other than your beauty and appearance.

~final verdict~

Now, the level of passion and beauty in this relationship is actually out of this world, there is pain, love, hate, sadness, happiness, memories and everything in-between. And no matter how much hardship may present itself, the two of you stick together because it feels right. There is such a deep passion that withstands everything, like a solemn rose that is weathering the storm, yet it stays with its petals curled inwards. And the storm isn't wanting to break the flower but it wishes to gift it with rain.

Your definitions of love may go against what others say but it still exists. Why do you love in the way that you do? This question may not get a straight forward answer but it doesn't need one. You and Hongjoong complete each other in a way that is so real and rough, neither of you live in a fairy tale world but you still find beauty in the harder things in life. There is no way that the two of you will be parting ways, you have each other for life and you inspire each other to reach for the stars. You both want to run forward in life and you want to grow but you watch the other run and hope to match pace with them. There is no words to explain how special this connection is just flashes of red and a head hitting a pillow after an exhausting night of love. You really are both meant to be each other's person and it shows.

[ahopkins1965]



Ask Madame Moon 🌌



🌟 Hey there, beautiful soul! 🌟

I’m Madame Moon, your personal Astrologer and cosmic cheerleader! 🎉✨ I’m here to share the magic of the stars, get little hints from the universe, and add some sparkle to your journey. Whether you’re dreaming about love, figuring out career moves, or planning something special, I’ve got you covered!

Just share a few details, and we’ll jump right into the fun stuff! Ready to see what the stars have lined up for you? Let’s go! 🌠💫💖

Do you think I am very intelligent and highly educated?



​While I can't assess personal traits like intelligence or education directly, astrology can offer some insights based on your birth details! Each person's natal chart has unique aspects that can indicate strengths in intellect and learning.

If you’d like, you can share your birth details (date, time, and country), and I can look into your astrological profile to see what it says about your intellectual gifts and potentials! 🌌✨

June 24, 1965 My name is Anthony



​Thank you for sharing, Anthony! 🌟 Now, could you also provide your time of birth (exact time, approximate time, or just say "I don’t know") and the country where you were born? This will help me create a more detailed astrological profile tailored just for you! 🌍✨

I was born at 7:30pm



​Awesome, thank you, Anthony! 🌙 Now, could you please let me know the country where you were born? With all this information, I can dive into your astrological insights! 🌟💫

United States of America! I was born in Dayton Ohio. I was born on Thursday June 24, 1965



​Thank you so much for sharing all your details, Anthony! 🎉 Here’s a quick summary of your birth information:

Date of Birth: June 24, 1965

Time of Birth: 7:30 PM

Place of Birth: Dayton, Ohio, USA

Now, let’s explore some intriguing insights about you! 🌌

Astrological Highlights:

Sun Sign: You are a Cancer, which means you are likely nurturing, intuitive, and highly empathetic. Cancers are known for their emotional intelligence and ability to connect deeply with others.

Moon and Rising Signs: To give you a more detailed analysis, I would typically look at your Moon and Rising signs as well. They can greatly influence your personality and how you express your intelligence.

Intellectual Strengths: Cancers often have a rich inner world and a strong intuition, which can translate into emotional intelligence and creativity. Your education and ability to learn may be shaped by how you connect emotionally to the subjects you study.

Life Path Number: Let’s also look at your Life Path Number in numerology! Adding your birth date (6 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 6 + 5 = 33) gives you a Life Path Number of 33, which is considered a Master Number. This signifies potential for deep insight, compassion, and leadership. People with this number are often drawn to helping others and have a natural ability to inspire.

Overall Insight:

Based on your Cancer Sun and Life Path Number 33, it seems that you possess both emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of human nature, which contributes to your intellectual potential. Your ability to empathize and nurture others can also lead you to be highly educated in matters of the heart and mind. 🌈❤️

If you’re interested, I can provide more specific insights or focus on a particular area, like career, relationships, or personal growth! Just let me know! 🌟✨

[slimybeth69]

Heyyyyyy it is the astrology anon again wow I'm so glad my musings resonated with you because I truly am a pure hobbyist when it comes to this shit, just reading all the popular astrology blogs and hitting up co-star. As the saying goes... Men have sports, I have astrology... I love that the holding onto keepsakes thing resonated (lmao at the tooth), the person who pointed it out to me said something about how like the Virgo rising has archivist energy and then the water sun sign placement attributes emotions to possessions and keepsakes. I don't think it's necessarily even hoarder tendencies but truly just things that have an underlying meaning to you. And it is interesting to me to thinking about being a person with excessive interiority, which I consider myself to be as aa water sign lol, and thinking about how you relate to the material world which is very earth sign/Virgo.

The one part of astrology I haven't gotten super into (...YET) is the aspects/transits (so like whenever you hear someone talk about Saturn being conjunct Uranus or w/e the fuck) and aspects/transits also get into ~degrees~ and whatnot. That's that real deal dedicated astrologer shit. But I mention that because I honestly do not know for sure what the common opinion is on being June Cancer versus July Cancer. BUT... I am 99.999% sure it has to do with that. My understanding is like it depends on the degrees how "much" you are that sign or a particular manifestation of that sign or something, and that is contingent on when during your respective season you were born. Like I've heard someone say once that people born on the last day of the season are actually the *most intense* version of that respective sign (e.g., last day of Cancer, the most Cancer) and it relates to degrees. But I think it's just an opinion thing, you know people debating on the merits of astrology.

Last thing (these messages have been too long) but on the whole I have heard people talk about things like June Cancer vs July Cancer or Feb Pisces versus March Pisces. Idk if you relate to the one for Cancer (like more calm and inward) but I do to what I Hear for Pisces. I'm Feb Pisces. Literally like on Reddit I saw someone say Feb Pisces = more connected with dreams, introspective, mystical and March care more about their environment, express themselves outwardly, are more intense or deep. I kinda find that to be true. But idk what common the astro opinion is technically, perhaps it is all fake and there is no God or greater universal meaning and we're just flesh sacks hurdling through space toward death :-)

Phew anon, I got this earlier and was so sick I thought that I might actually be hurdling towards death--

Heyyyyyyy!! I'm glad you came back!! I was low-key waiting for you but not in a weird way, I promise.

I've gotten better about keeping things, I used to be really bad with it and not want to throw anything away because I was like "This has a memory attached to it," but then those things just collect dust and make me anxious lmao. So now I try to only keep things that really bring me joy.

And what you're saying about the signs being *the most intense* of the sign when they're born at the end of the month makes so much sense, honestly. It's like both months seep into you somehow? Idk if that makes sense?

The only reason that it makes so much sense to me is because I feel June and July cancer traits all the time. I am an emotional, sensitive, rage filled and intense most of the time and it's exhausting.

Like hello, i'm sad and also almost always angry. Give me a break, please. I'm suffering.

lmao jk i'm a well adjusted individual..

I do not know what I'm talking about when it comes to astrology (or anything, really. I just be yappin'), but I love to hear what you have to say about all of this. You seem to know what you're talking about and have a lot of really interesting insight!!

Please don't ever, ever apologize about the length of your messages because I re-read this like ten thousand times while I was laying in bed trying not to throw up.

[rise-my-angel]

I'm going insane rn. I made the mistake of visiting the asoiaf subreddit, I want to bleach my eyes. Why are secret Targ theories everywhere? Why does everyone need to be a Targaryen? Why are some people so convinced that Mance Rayder is actuay Rhaegar? That secret Targ theory, in particular, infuriates me, mainly because not everything has to be about the damn Targaryens, they interpret every single plotline to ever exist in this series to have something to do with the Targs and none of them are spared, appadently- But also because Mance Rayder is much, much more interesting, as a character, than Rhaegar can ever dream of being.

Like, I consider this an insult to the time and effort grrm spent to write about Mance and develop him into a well fleshed out character. He is a brute, tough guy and leader of the Free Folk but he's also a trickster type bard who loves his bawdy songs, He's a Night's Watchman and a Wildling but also neither, Qhorin Halfhand was his enemy but also a dear friend once- All of these show an active effort by the author to create a complex character, to not leave him as a generic cardboard cutout but flesh him out into an actual, believably realistic person, and I find it kinda rude to look at all that effort and artistic intention, and just go 'Actually, no, it's this other guy instead.'

Why take an already interesting character and make him a secret Targ? Is nobody in this universe allowed to be interesting and important without having some sort of connection to that fucking house?

Also, just because they both play music doesn't mean that they're literally the same fucking person, and I can't believe that's a sentence this fandom has made me have to say. I never would have thought I'd have to explain how two people having the same hobby doesn't make them the same people, to whom I assume are grown adults. I'm starting to think these people live in a planet where only a single person is allowed to specialise in a particular field, and the guy who does music is called 'Greg Musicman' or something, and that's what they base these theories off of.

I HATE the "everyone is a secret targ" theories. It's so uncreative and pointless. It's as dumb to me as the "everyone is secretly a faceless man" theory. The whole reason why there are so few Targaryeans left is because the house basically cannibalized itself, leaving how few there are today. There are no secret targs besides Jon, because Jon being a secret Targ is actually extremely relevant to multiple characters major plotlines (Ned for example).

Everyone else being a secret targ is so stupid. HOW ON EARTH WOULD RHAEGAR DISGUISE HIMSELF AS MANCE RAYDER. MANCE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE HIM.

From the wiki for reference:

"Mance is a slender man and of middling height, but broader in the chest and shoulders and taller than Rattleshirt. His long brown hair has gone mostly to gray, and laughter lines appear at the corners of his mouth. Mance has a sharp face with shrewd brown eyes."

"The beautiful Rhaegar had deep purple or indigo colored eyes. He had long, elegant fingers, and was taller than his younger brother, Viserys would be in his adulthood. Rhaegar's hair was similar to the silver-blond of Viserys and their sister Daenerys."

Yeah, I can see how people could possibly mix the two up. Like, Mance is such an interesting character and by making him secretly Rhaegar it just diminishes his interesting backstory. It feels literally like a cheap ploy for theorists to have Rhaegar actually alive to interact with his secret son.

They have this for everyone though. Tyrion is secretly a Targaryean. Melisandre is secretly a Targaryean. Samwell Tarly is a secret Targaryean. Craster is a secret Targaryean. I'VE DEAD ASS HEARD PEOPLE THEORIZE LYANNA STARK WAS A SECRET TARGARYEAN.

It's exhausting these people are so fucking obsessed with this house that everyone has to connect back to it when it literally makes no sense for a single one they;ve ever come up with and a reveal of them being a secret Targaryean would add up to literally no relevance. The entire point of Jons parentage is because he is the one person whose reveal would be impactful. It would effect multiple characters and stories, thats the point. Its so unthinkable to happen, and yet it is the truth Ned Stark hid for Jons entire life to protect him.

To have this be casual for anyone else, means that Ned risked jack shit to protect his son because apparently its easy to hide secret Targaryean lineage.

The brain rot amongst Targ stans is honestly baffling. They are just delusional at this point it feels like. Like, I'm sorry to say this, but...

The Targaryeans aren't actually that interesting in the first place.

[vadvis]

Listen I agree with the general sentiment happening here and I get where you're coming from but there are 2 factors missing from this conversation a lot of the time: Which is the understanding of the evolution of communication, and also (more specific to like, right now, and more based on observation rather than history) this deep need for escapism in children right now.

The first part of what I'm talking about is that a lot of what op has mentioned here and what I see brought up a *lot* in similar sentiments is a heavy emphasis on media consumption, and the mediums which that consumption takes place. Yes, children are absolutely not flipping through channels to find random movies. But this is because children don't *have* television right now. Television is an actively dying medium of communication. This has nothing to do with a lack of curiosity or desire to learn in children - it is a natural progression of communication channels changing. As they always have. When television was first introduced, elder generations who had only known radio had extremely similar criticisms and feared that sitting in front of moving pictures would also create a lack of imagination. Hell, I remember reading a story in one of my classes of the fear of the use of typewriters leading to a loss of the ability to write anything by hand in children of the time. This is just how communication medium changes are. One of my communication professors tried to argue recently that communication was "dying" because her students (currently mostly older millennials) were turning in essays with less formal academic speech than in years prior. She failed to understand that language is simply transforming, not dying. Now, you *can* make the argument that the digital age (and rapidly approaching artificial intelligence age) of communication demands less "creativity" to make the active choice to pick up a particular interest in something without the influence of advertisments and algorithms, but this leads into my second point.

This is anecdotal and based also on my own observation of my mother as an educator for over 30 years. She is less concerned with the lack of reading in her kids, and instead the lack of general interest in *anything* in kids right now. She describes a deep apathy in the classroom and also a general seeming lack of any sort of social norms that are common for certain age groups. She theorizes that a combination of living through intensely traumatic community events (especially covid), financial hardship at home manifesting in malnourishment, lack of parental attention, etc., and an over saturation of distressing information via unfiltered internet access are to blame. It is a deeply, deeply scary time to be a child right now.

However, there are positives to *both* of these things. The first is more obvious, which is that digital communication channels create more rapid connections with people that we really did not have 20-30 years ago. There was a time VERY recently where ever communicating with someone in a different country was something people never did in their entire lives. We do this daily now. Of course this has so many benefits to children. Cultural connections that a lot of kids could never dream of having several decades ago are the norm right now. That's amazing. As fun as reading Warrior Cats in the school library was, there is just as much value in reading a poem someone posted to a trending song on tiktok, or sharing jokes with friends that were found on tiktok, or picking up a form of art like crocheting from watching a tutorial on tiktok. There are plenty of terrible things on tiktok, but there are also plenty of terrible books, films, TV shows, etc. It's not an inherently *bad* communication channel. It's just a different one. One that steals a lot more data from you, sure, but again this is a natural progression that is not inherently discouraging creative thinking.

In the same breath that my mother speaks of her worries about apathy in her classrooms, she also expressed excitement about how incredibly motivated children are to express themselves. Learning to hold strong opinions online has translated into real life for a lot of these kids. Student walk-outs organized on social media are *routine* in many districts now. I think the closest I ever saw when I was in high school were a handful of kids (including me) wearing masks to school to protest don't ask, don't tell. I can't even properly picture the idea of *dozens* of kids organizing themselves to speak up about issues they care about.

My point is: Yeah, the kids really are not alright right now. But the reason isn't the existence of social media or other digital communication channels. It isn't even directly the fault of the algorithms or advertisements somehow taking away a desire to learn or be creative. It's a horrible mixture of trauma, physical illness, starvation, unstable housing, lack of parental attention, crumbling education infrastructure, and an overload of deeply troubling information at their fingertips at all time. Of course they'd prefer to just watch whatever movie someone recommended on letterboxd for the explicit *desire* to turn off their brains and indulge in escapism for a little while. But by no means are children losing their creativity, or their curiosity. In many ways they are communicating these traits in more profound ways than previous generations have ever been allowed to. So don't worry so much about what's going on in their heads - worry more about what's going on in their homes and communities to drive them to feel apathetic and unmotivated.

(sorry for making this super long I just really worry about the bleak outlook in conversations like this - I can literally source my examples in communication history if someone asks lol)

Sometimes. I’m struck by how. Incurious. The Kids are these days. A 2022 Pew survey showed that 2/3 people under 25 preferred tiktok to any other form of media. If something is not on their tiktok fyp they simply don’t care to know it exists. And even when something *is* on the fyp, they stick to just that one thing and don’t use it as a stepping stone for discovery. Like. Streams of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams and Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill shot up exponentially after they were featured on that tiktok and Stranger Things, respectively. But *just* those songs. It never occurred to them to. Listen to the rest of their discographies. Even just the rest of the album each was from. They’ll watch a movie if a clip goes viral but not seek out any other works in the lead actor/director’s filmography. Especially if it’s something from before 2001 that isn’t a constant on the letterboxd “popular this week” list. A buddy of mine who is a middle school teacher said that, of the 120 kids she teaches, just 3 of her students read for pleasure. None of them watch movies or shows that aren’t fed to them through tiktok. They don’t spend time in the library just taking in as much as they can. They don’t flip channels and land on a movie made before they were born. They don’t seek. Whatever is going on. It’s only getting worse. I don’t know what to do about it.