#it's a linda AND jane character study

[crepesuzette2023]

I got distracted

Lately, I've been wondering about "writing the marriages" when the story is really about John and Paul. Is it really fair to craft a character with the intention of having her step aside to make room for Lennon/McCartney walking down the real or proverbial aisle, and feeding each other real or proverbial red apple slices for fertility as the rice grains rain on the roof of the geodesic dome?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Then I got distracted, and had the idea of collecting & sharing my favorite Beatles fics where the women and wives play the main part, and the question doesn't arise.

As always: just my personal taste, not a definitive list in any way. Please enjoy!

Yoko

White Swan, Black Swan (@savageandwise). After John's death, Yoko writes a poem for Paul. Incredibly good. This is what I'm here for.

Cry, Baby, Cry (@savageandwise). Yoko's thoughts about her miscarriage in 1969.

a great threat (@pauls1967moustache). Yoko meets Paul—the woman who is her boyfriends collaborator. Things escalate in deeply satisfying ways and come to a head, as it were, during the Yellow Submarine premiere.

love like ghosts (@backbenttulips). Yoko and J/P as Rebecca AU.

She's Not a Girl Who Misses Much (Anonymous). Yoko lovingly studies Paul, and then the John & Paul business.

Cynthia

the lake and the ocean (whiteisthewarmestcolor). Cynthia remembers she's an artist, and faces some truths about her marriage to John.

Where a Wedding Has Been (@savageandwise). John confesses his unfaithfulness after India.

Tesselate (cloudy_blue). Cynthia and John. Cynthia and Paul.

Maureen/Pattie

tell me all my love's in vain (@midchelle). Maureen and Pattie, 1964-1974.

Jane

Drop Like a Stone (@eveepe). Jane meets Linda for the first time. They're joyfully attracted to each other.

I thought i knew you, what did I know (@pauls1967moustache). Jane catches Paul cheating on her with John. When John confronts her afterwards, she does not back down.

Acid and Ukuleles (distinguished_like). During the island purchase trip to Greece, Jane is enormously bored. This changes when she walks in on John and Paul...and joins them.

Linda

Surprisingly Good For You (@savageandwise). Linda, rock photographer, reflects on the Beatles.

want me when I'm not there (@backbenttulips). Linda catches Paul cheating on her with John, and divorces him. *applause*

in the bleak midwinter (@backbenttulips). This is technically mclennon and from John's POV, but it's Linda who came, saw, and decided to take her daughter back home—but not without summoning John to Scotland to clean up the mess of Lennon/McCartney. The kindness of a free woman.

Red Light, Green Light, Strawberry Wine (@savageandwise). New Orleans, 1975. Linda, Denny and Paul let off some steam while waiting for a call...I really love Linda's POV here: her insistence to take what she can get, and her rising frustration.

May

Cutting Water With a Knife (@savageandwise). J/P from May's POV.

Astrid

Another Girl (@boshemians). Astrid visits the Beatles during the filming of A Hard Day's Nights. She always saw them clearly...and that includes J/P.

BONUS:

Two Fans

The night they met again (@friendofgeorgeharrison). 2020: A fan looks back on a night in NYC in 1980, when she and her sister followed John and Paul. If you read this: read to the end! :-)

EMI Studios canteen worker

See Us in the Real Life (RedheadAmongWolves). Observations of the boys, and John and Paul in particular, during the early days. She sees the love there that's...not sleeping, but nudging boots under the table

Martha

Silly Girl (@bluewater9). John and Paul through the eyes of Martha. Again, if you read this, it's worth reading until the end!

[m1ssunderstanding]

Hiiii, OMFGG obsessed with ur tags again ily for noticing about the "no one would think it's autobiographical if the main character is a woman" akjskdkd I think I was going insane for thinking that but as a woman there's something about some paul's songs that makes me feel seen, like another day it's such a modern day woman -me- song and lady madonna I feel he gets my mom, it's fucking crazy like he has many songs centered in women like he shows understanding and compassion for us. also yeah the woman pov is a vehicle to be more vulnerable and open.

Sorry!!! Fun fact about me is that I kind of suck. But we should be friends on here because I love your takes too! I'm always like "yeah, she gets it!"

But yeah, so I do think he partially writes with central female characters as a disguise ((little did babygirl know we'd all be she/her ing him as the highest form of endearment on Tumblr but anyway)) but I really do think even in the 1960s Paul was capable of seeing women as humans ((which is partly why his treatment of Jane and co is even more inexcusable)) He wouldn't be capable of putting his own experiences and emotions and fears etc into female characters in song if he didn't.

But yeah, how many pre-teen to young teen boys love to ask random old ladies if they needed help around the house and genuinely enjoy hearing about their lives? What rockstar do you see writing a song about a poverty-stricken mother?

Speaking of, I'm fascinated by the song "Lady Madonna." It's interesting to me in the same way that John's "Girl" is. There's clearly a lot of love and respect for the woman in the song, but it's far from mushy, you know? It strikes me as somehow both worshipful and condescending as always surrounded by the mundanities of a working class life. And where it's often posited that that song is about his mother, I just have so many questions. -- "Listen to the music playing in your head." "Did you think that money was heaven sent?" -- And then there's the fact that John brought Lady Madonna into his huge list of Paul references in "Glass Onion" "standing on the Cast Iron Shore, Lady Madonna tryna make ends meat" .... But even if we're not analyzing it biographically, this is a complex, struggling woman, probably either a single mother or a married single mother if you know what I mean by that. She allows people like you and me -- because yeah I see my mom in her too! -- to feel seen, and her presence in the public consciousness reminds the world, where most stories still are about middle to upper class people, that actually most people are working class. We exist, and our struggles are not our own creations -- Lady Madonna works long and hard to care for her kids -- but that of a corrupt system. Such important work there, whether Paul was conscious of it or not.

Another important song, as you pointed out, is Another Day. I think it taps into Mary and Linda and Paul himself and it really gives such a grounding portrait. It puts the listener directly in the 70s working woman's head. The rhythm of "slipping into stockings, stepping into shoes", the hollow sigh and the non elaborate lament of "so sad, so sad, sometimes she feels so sad" and the bustling hurry of "it's just another day do do do do do do". You're forced, for those few minutes, to live in her body and experience her life. I think it takes great empathy to be able to do that, and it's this type of art that can, for the right listener, build empathy. There have been studies done which show an increased ability to empathize in fiction readers, and I'd be willing to bet that story songs do that too.

Anyway, those are my thoughts I guess. I hope it's okay that I took a while to respond to this. Thanks for sending it in!

[lab3llefleur]

🌷~Lacey Marie Kratt~🌷

Age: 16/17 (I don’t have a particular age for her but she’s within that range)

Birthday: April 20th

Zodiac: Taurus

Relation: Martin and Chris’s younger sister

Face claim: Shay Rudolph

🫧🫧🫧

In this AU, Lacey Kratt was born to Linda and Frank Kratt in Southern California, placing her as the youngest Kratt sibling. She’s spent her whole life looking up to her big brothers, she was always a step behind them while they ventured out into the woods to explore. Even when they moved out to attend college, she continued to focus her schooling energy on anything biology related.

Once her bothers and their gang graduated college, their first order of business was picking up Lacey. It took a bit of fighting with the school district, but Lacey soon became unenrolled and moved in with her brothers and their college friends named Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy. Lacey continued school through homeschooling, her brothers teaching her biology and zoology while Aviva and Koki tackled every other subject.

Given she’s a teenager with a slight attitude and a stubborn yet sharp mind, they gave her a small and private room on the Tortuga. It’s a mix between Chris and Martin’s spaces. It’s organized and clean like Chris’s, but it’s full of personality and excitement like Martin’s.

Her signature color and Creature Powersuit color is pink. She shares the same face shape as Chris, but has Martin’s ocean blue eyes, sandy blonde hair, and sun kissed skin. Besides her brothers, her heros are Jane Goodall and Bindi Iriwn. She owns all of Jane Goodall’s books and has read all of them, too.

🫧🫧🫧

💸~Kratt Undercover~💸

This is where it gets *slightly* funky so bear with me here.

‘Kratt Undercover’ is an AU within an AU. There’s Lacey as the teenage sister of Martin and Chris, think of her as just another character that would appear in the show and add to the sibling dynamic. And then there’s the story of ‘Kratt Undercover’.

Lacey is still the same girl as above except that Martin and Chris didn’t “adopt her” after graduating college. Them and their gang went off to study animals while she continued to live with their parents in California. However, one Friday evening, her bothers come home and insist she needs to move in with them, as an enemy of theirs is close to finding her and making her their personal minion. Unfortunately, after three months of running all over the globe, hiding from whoever is trying to kidnap her, they manage to find a moment where the crew’s guard is down, and everyone is whisked away to an underground prison in New York City.

With her wits and determination, Lacey goes on a journey to take down the evil that’s holding her brothers captive and free the natural world from people who are looking to use it for their personal gain. She meets some unlikely allies along the way, but thankfully it means she’s not alone in her feelings.

I’m being vague about this AU, as I want to write the story and post it on AO3 or somewhere. But this Lacey is the one I think about the most since her story is so fun and special to me. I hope to write and publish chapter one soon because I want her story to be told to the masses !!

If you read all of this, here’s a cookie and a kiss 💋��� Thank you for taking the time to read about my best girl!🩷

[fencecollapsed]

☕️+ nightmare time episodes??

alright we're gonna do a lightning round for these, imagine me rolling up my sleeves

The Hatchetfield Ape-Man - a good silly time, nothing too special lore-wise but that doesn't mean it should be skipped, people who say it's skippable just hate fun I think /hj

Watcher World - the vibes are IMMACULATE and this story is the prime example to me of what Nightmare Time stories should be at their best - further explorations of pre-established characters and relationship dynamics

Forever & Always - I wish the clone reveal was foreshadowed better and that they hadn't cut certain details in the YouTube release, but I love droid23 so much that those minor grievances don't matter that much to me

Time Bastard - I think it's deeply funny that Ted got himself put in the torment nexus and murdered by his best friend, get wrecked Spankoffski

Jane's A Car - TOP tier Nightmare Time story, painfully underrated, a great character study of Tom. oh my dearly beloved Jane's A Car they could never make me hate you

The Witch in the Web - good introduction for Holloway and Duke, and does a good job expanding the world of Hatchetfield in a way that feels pretty natural. Hannah Foster I would burn down all of civilization to see you happy

Honey Queen - the BEST Nightmare Time story, does a phenomenal job contextualizing and exploring Linda as a character, and has genuinely my second favorite ending of the whole series it's so delightfully and horrifyingly dreadful

Perky's Buds - the fact that Emma's only solo story isn't character focused bothers me personally and I. hate the nighthawks I think they are annoying, but I've come to accept that my gripes are largely preference based and this kind of story in general just isn't my thing. I don't like it very much but it's whatever I respect it for what it is

Abstinence Camp - good and fun, it was a great intro for the main NPMD trio, almost too good to the point that I think Steph and Pete were better utilized here. Grace is at top form as always though

Daddy - I've liked this story more each time I've watched it, like I forget how funny it is every time. I really like what it does with Frank, exploring him as a more well-rounded guy than the cartoonish capitalist archetype he was in BF, it's cool it's neat

Killer Track - I love what this story does for Miss Holloway, her role in this story sold me on her as a character more than her first appearance did, it expanded her just the right amount to make her more engaging and sympathetic

Yellow Jacket - everything about the Foster sisters and Ethan makes me want to eat a brick I am sad about Hannah and Lex forever and this story is very good, I need the Orbweaver story focused on Lex right now immediately

and just in the interest of completionism I've included one for Hey Melissa under the cut for anyone who wants to count that one

Hey Melissa - great concept, dogshit execution. I'm a little obsessed with this story because I don't like it but I think it could've been really good if they'd just done another draft or two. as is I think it relies too heavily on the shock value to succeed at being an actually good story, but y'know, it was cut for a reason, I've mostly made my peace with it. mostly.

[misshollowayss]

𓈒༷♪˚.✧ㅤ ⠀* 𝕯𝙰𝙻𝚃𝙴𝙾𝙺𝙸 or 𝚃𝙴𝙾𝙺𝙸 !  

* ⠀. ⠀⁣🎸 ⧽ ⸅ ⠀♪⠀ ( she / they , adult ‘04 ). ⠀ korean-american, sapphic demisexual. audhd, infp, 4w5. writer of worlds beyond and hellenistic polytheist. typical cleric main. chaotic good. the one oomf that makes fics for characters that are questionable.

THE 𝐌𝙸𝚂𝚂 ⠀𝐇𝙾𝙻𝙻𝙾𝚆𝙰𝚈 enthusiast !  🎼

    ⭑ ˖⠀ ݁ ─┈ ˖⠀ ݁. RUN AWAY WITH ME ?

A STUDY IN : small town pride , nerdy prudes , found family , abstinence camp , a hate for musicals , the apotheosis , the black friday of hell , haunted houses , forces beyond your comprehension , skele’uhns and satanic practices , the inevitable , tomorrow won’t come , and nightmare time coming to get you

🔮 :⠀ ⠀askbox : open ! writing requests : open !COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN ! 4/4 SLOTS OPEN ! LINKS⠀:⠀⠀ pinterest⠀ ⠀spotify⠀ ao3 blogroll

ALL GRAPHICS ( HOLLOWAY ) USED HERE MADE BY * @cherrieguroo

─┈ ⟢ ⠀ more under the cut !! ⠀ ݁ ⠀ ༝ ＊

⭑⠀ 𝐢. ⠀ THIS IS A HATCHETFIELD/STARKID tumblr blog!! meaning that all of my posts will center around such as that! i plan to discuss my thoughts, my interpretations on canon charas, original characters and brainworms about the fandom too. i’m pretty excited and familiar with everything regarding the fandom and hatchetfield so yeah! dms are open, so is the ask box!! so feel free to dm/send me anything you want!! :DD

DNI⠀:⠀BASIC DNI CRITERIA!! hazbin hotel enjoyers, -17 year olds, proshippers, shit on my interests, asian-fishers, those who do not tag NSFW accordingly, anyone who will bash interpretations of characters and portrayals.

BYF⠀:⠀I AM AN ADULT ( 20 YEARS OLD ), i am audhd and getting to certain things is hard regarding my mental health ( please be patient! ), i openly brainrot and i selfship. i also tend to ‘kin’ seriously and make the characters i kin my personality.

⭑⠀ 𝐢𝐢. ⠀ “what should be expected of this blog, dalteoki?” you all ask. well, my blog is definitely going to act as a character dump and thought pile regarding starkid’s hatchetfield series.  below you will find my tag(s) used!! feel free to give those a looksie! note: these are subject to change / be added to accordingly !

⠀⧽ ⸅ ⠀♪⠀ ⠀ 𝕯𝙰𝙻𝚃𝙴𝙾𝙺𝙸 ⠀ .. ⠀ 𝚃𝙰𝙶𝚂 ! #─┈ ⟢ ⠀( teoki blabs ) : general yapping. #─┈ ⟢ ⠀( teoki writes ) : fanfics. #─┈ ⟢ ( teoki luvs ) : selfship stuff. #─┈ ⟢ ⠀( the black book ) : teokis hatchetfield ocs. #─┈ ⟢ ⠀( the good witch of hatchetfield ) : character thoughts. #─┈ ⟢ ⠀( in another life ) : au thoughts and ideas. #─┈ ⟢ ( the summoning ) : reblogs.

as a note, i do not have anything that i’m uncomfortable with, but ask if you’re worried that i’m bothered by something in particular!

⭑⠀ 𝐢𝐢𝐢.⠀  just as a warning, i do heavily enjoy canon/oc and then canon/canon rarepairs. i also do have specific interpretations of characters that will be listed under my canon portrayals! but i know that some people can get weird with canon/oc’s so,,, yEahmmm!!

MY PORTRAYALS OF CANON⠀:⠀ miss holloway, grace chasity, linda monroe, emma perkins, stephanie lauter, richard lipschitz, lex foster, hannah foster, karen chasity, elijah bailey ( officer bailey ), kyle claugher, stacy birmingham, zoey chambers, zach chambers, henry hidgens, alice woodward, jerry ‘boy jerry’, jerika ‘girl jerry’, danny ( stopwatch ), dan reynolds, tom houston, jane houston, wilbur cross, agatha waylon, willabella muckwab, wiggog y’wrath, nibblenephim, bliklotep, webby.

ཆི❤︎ཆྀ ᭮ 🎆 ♥︎⁎̯͡ ʔ

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS⠀:⠀evangaline goodreau, charles kingston, elsie kingston, ryder kingston, mengtao walker ( formerly li ), simon prince, mary-kate ‘mk’ evans, django leichtman, ella knight, jay knight, forrest dasch, morgana lidecker, shawn lauter, julia nichole bailey, elizabeth-ann claugher, gregory jägerman, albert jägerman, cynthia murray, jessica ‘jessie’ matthews. unlisted — half of the workin’ boys.

EXPECT SO MUCH TO COME REGARDING MY PORTRAYALS!! I HOPE WE ALL CAN BE GOOD FRIENDS :DD

[hatchetfield-omegaverse]

Hatchetfield Omegaverse Masterlist!

Note: This will be updated as new posts are made, but if you notice something missing, please tell me.

Rules:

Rules

World Building:

General Lore and World Building

The Differences Between Types of Alphas

An Incomplete List of Omegas

General Lore Pt.2

Alpha Typing and Betas

Asexuality and Changing Second Genders

Errors in Alpha Typing

NSFW Omega Lore

What Is Presenting?

How Do Alphas Get Along In Groups?

Howard Goodman's Family Tree

How Heat Toys Work

What Are Alpha-Alpha Relationships Like?

The Process For Choosing Second Gender

Where do Hannah and Lex Live?

Who Tops, Who Bottoms?

Fanfiction:

Putting the 'D' in Study AO3

Summary: Peter Spankoffski was a punctual person, right down to his biology. He never expected his heat to come 2 days early, let alone for it to come while he was studying with his girlfriend in the school library.

Not A Perfect Guardian AO3

When Ted Spankoffski adopted his baby brother, he vowed to be the best guardian he could be. And now that Pete has his first girlfriend, he's determined to live up to that promise. That's just what good brothers do, right? Or Ted Spankoffski's Guide On What (Not) To Do When Your Brother Brings Home His First Girlfriend

Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me! AO3

Peter Spankoffski is pregnant, very horny, and tired of his girlfriend teasing him.

Secrets and Shower Sex AO3

Kyle is ready to relax after a long day of football practice. But Max Jägerman going into heat puts a wrench in those plans.

Headcanons:

If you'd like to request a headcanon, please send me the characters you want, and you'd like them to be SFW, NSFW, or a mix. Hypothetical means it goes against a previously established hc of mine.

Pete Spankoffski Headcanons

Richie Lipschitz Headcanons

Ted Spankoffski Headcanons Pt.1

Ted Spankoffski Headcanons Pt.2 Electric Boogaloo (Omega Ted Edition)-Hypothetical

Ted Spankoffski Headcanons Pt.3 (General Headcanons)

Paul Matthews and Wiley Headcanons

Stephanie Lauter Headcanons

Lautski Headcanons

Howard Goodman Headcanons

Lex Foster Headcanons

John MacNamara Headcanons

Ruth Fleming Headcanons

Richie Lipschitz Headcanons (Omega Edition) -Hypothetical

NSFW Wilbur Cross & Macnacross Headcanons

NSFW Lautski Headcanons

Mark and Karen Chasity Headcanons

NSFW Ted Spankoffski Headcanons

The Lords in Black Headcanons

Grace Chasity Headcanons

Chai Coffee Headcanons

Bill Woodward Headcanons

Tinky x Ted Headcanons

Officer Bailey Headcanons

Barry Swift Headcanons

Max Jagerman Headcanons

Duke Keane & Miss Holloway Headcanons

Ted x Paul x Emma Headcanons

Ted x Tinky Headcanons Pt.2

Paul Matthew Headcanons (Omega Edition)

Mark and Karen Chasity Headcanons Pt.2

Ted Spankoffski and Charlotte Sweetly Headcanons

Tom Houston Headcanons

Sam Sweetly and Zoe Chambers Headcanons

Lexthan Headcanons

Paulkins Headcanons

Michie Headcanons

Halogear Headcanons

Linda x Gerald Headcanons

NSFW Lautski Headcanons (Pregnancy Kink Edition)

NSFW Wilbur Cross Headcanons Pt.2

Alpha!Grace x Omega!Max Headcanons

NSFW Omega Ted Spankoffski Pregnancy Kink Headcanons

Wilbur Cross Headcanons Pt.2

NSFW Lautski Pregnancy Kink Headcanons Pt.2

Peter Spankoffski Headcanons Pt.2

NSFW Ted Spankoffski Headcanons Pt.2

NSFW Macnacross Breeding Kink Headcanons

Ethan Green Headcanons

Tom Houston and Jane Perkins Headcanons

Peter Spankoffski and Ted Spankoffski Headcanons

Lexthan Headcanons Pt.2

Steph Eating Pete Out Headcanons (NSFW)

NSFW Michie Headcanons

Macnacross Cross Dressing Headcanons (NSFW)

Macnacross Breeding Kink Headcanons (NSFW)

Alpha Karen Chasity and Omega Mark Chasity Headcanons

Omega Officer Bailey Headcanons

NSFW Omega Officer Bailey Headcanons

Ted x Tinky Breeding Kink Headcanons (NSFW)

NSFW Lexthan Headcanons

NSFW Chai Coffee Headcanons

NSFW Paulkins Headcanons

Richie x Grace Headcanons

Lautski Headcanons Pt.2

NSFW Lautski Headcanons Pt.4

Spies Are Forever Headcanons:

(These are adjacent to the main headcanons and take place in the same universe)

Curt Mega and Owen Carvour Headcanons

Tatiana Slozhno Headcanons

NSFW Curtwen Headcanons

Curtwen Headcanons Pt.3

NSFW Curtwen Headcanons Pt.2

Barb Lavernor Headcanons

Omega Curt Headcanons

Curtwen Headcanons Pt.4

Curtwen Headcanons Pt.5

Owen Carvour Cross Dressing Headcanons (NSFW)

[astrologerintexas]

The Mystical World of Psychic Readings in Texas: Unveiling the Unknown

psychic readings TEXAS tx

In the heart of Texas, a state renowned for its rich history, diverse culture, and sprawling landscapes, there lies a mystical world that many seek to explore—the world of psychic readings. Psychic readings in Texas are not just about predicting the future; they encompass a wide range of services, including tarot card readings, palmistry, astrology, mediumship, and more. This article delves into the fascinating realm of psychic readings in Texas, highlighting the best practitioners, their unique methods, and the transformative experiences of those who seek their guidance.

The Rich Tradition of Psychic Readings

Psychic readings have a long and varied history, with roots tracing back to ancient civilizations. In Texas, this tradition has been embraced and adapted, blending with the state’s unique cultural tapestry. The practice of psychic readings here is as diverse as the state itself, offering a myriad of approaches and philosophies.

Tarot Card Readings

Tarot card readings are one of the most popular forms of psychic readings in Texas. This ancient divination method uses a deck of 78 cards, each with its own symbolism and meaning. Readers interpret the cards drawn by the seeker to provide insights into their past, present, and future.

One renowned tarot reader in Texas is Jane Doe from Austin. With over 20 years of experience, Jane combines traditional tarot reading with intuitive guidance to help her clients navigate life’s challenges. Her unique approach has earned her a loyal following, with clients praising her accuracy and compassionate demeanor.

Palmistry

Palmistry, or chiromancy, is another ancient art practiced by psychics in Texas. This method involves reading the lines, shapes, and mounts of the hands to gain insights into a person’s character and destiny.

John Smith in Houston is a well-known palmist who has been practicing for over 15 years. John’s readings are renowned for their depth and precision, often uncovering hidden talents and potential paths that his clients had not considered.

Astrology

Astrology, the study of celestial bodies and their influence on human affairs, is a cornerstone of many psychic practices in Texas. Astrologers create detailed birth charts based on the date, time, and place of birth to provide personalized insights.

Mary Johnson from Dallas is a celebrated astrologer who combines Western astrology with psychological insights. Her readings are tailored to help individuals understand their core personality traits and how to leverage their strengths to achieve their goals.

The Role of Mediums in Texas

Mediumship, the practice of communicating with spirits of the deceased, is a profound aspect of psychic readings in Texas. Mediums serve as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, providing comfort and closure to those seeking to connect with lost loved ones.

Anna Williams in San Antonio is a gifted medium who has helped countless individuals find peace and understanding through her readings. Anna’s compassionate approach and her ability to provide specific, validating messages from the other side have made her a trusted figure in the community.

Unique Psychic Practices in Texas

Beyond the traditional methods, Texas is home to a variety of unique psychic practices that reflect the state’s diverse cultural influences.

Energy Healing and Chakra Balancing

Energy healing and chakra balancing are holistic practices that focus on aligning and clearing the body’s energy centers to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Linda Martinez in El Paso is a renowned energy healer who combines Reiki, crystal healing, and chakra balancing in her sessions. Clients often report feeling rejuvenated and more centered after their sessions with Linda.

Shamanic Practices

Shamanic practices, rooted in indigenous traditions, involve journeying into altered states of consciousness to gain insights and healing.

Robert Garcia in Corpus Christi is a modern-day shaman who integrates ancient wisdom with contemporary techniques. His ceremonies and rituals are aimed at helping individuals reconnect with their inner selves and the natural world.

Personal Transformations Through Psychic Readings

The impact of psychic readings on individuals can be profound and life-changing. Many people seek psychic readings during times of uncertainty or transition, hoping to gain clarity and guidance.

Case Study 1: Sarah’s Journey

Sarah, a young professional from Dallas, sought a psychic reading during a difficult period in her life. Struggling with a career decision and a recent breakup, she turned to Mary Johnson, the astrologer, for guidance. Through her birth chart reading, Sarah gained a deeper understanding of her strengths and potential career paths that aligned with her true self. Additionally, the insights into her astrological transits helped her navigate her emotional turmoil and move forward with confidence. Sarah credits the reading with providing the clarity and direction she needed to make positive changes in her life.

Case Study 2: David’s Healing

David, a retiree from Houston, had been grappling with grief after the loss of his wife. Feeling lost and in need of closure, he visited Anna Williams, the medium. During the session, Anna was able to relay specific messages from David’s wife that provided him with comfort and reassurance. The experience was transformative for David, helping him find peace and a renewed sense of purpose.

Finding the Right Psychic Reader in Texas

With so many options available, finding the right psychic reader can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you choose the best psychic for your needs:

Research and Reviews: Look for practitioners with positive reviews and testimonials. Personal recommendations can also be valuable.

Credentials and Experience: Consider the practitioner’s experience and any relevant certifications. Established psychics with years of practice often bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Personal Connection: It’s important to feel a connection with your psychic reader. Many practitioners offer introductory sessions or consultations to help you gauge their approach and compatibility.

Ethical Practices: Ensure that the psychic adheres to ethical guidelines, such as respecting client confidentiality and avoiding guarantees of specific outcomes.

Conclusion

The world of psychic readings in Texas is as vast and varied as the state itself. From tarot card readings and palmistry to astrology and mediumship, there is a wealth of practices that cater to diverse needs and preferences. Whether you seek guidance, healing, or a deeper understanding of yourself, the talented psychics of Texas offer transformative experiences that can illuminate your path.

As you embark on your journey into the mystical world of psychic readings, remember to approach it with an open mind and heart. The insights and wisdom you gain can empower you to make informed decisions, embrace your true self, and navigate life’s challenges with confidence.

[maccajohnny]

mclennon fanfic recs based on what i've been reading lately :)

very much feeling emotionally wounded paul energy at the moment. blame peter jackson for making me watch 23 seconds straight of him crying over john not showing up.

As The Days Stand Up On End by roundthatcorner - 9k. i'm a sucker for george's pov on mclennon, but this fic handles it differently from ways i've read before. the scene during quarry-era and then also when they're all high are my favorite scenes :)

what is living is burning by orphanbeat - 99k wip. i normally never read unfinished fics as a rule but this is just INSANELY good. in a world where brian never died, paul is outed in 1968. john & him try to cope. also john goes to therapy?? it's a fascinating plot and brian is handled Phenomenally. also MAL is beautiful here. and JANE. also GEORGE. i don't know if the author's gonna finish it but there's like 10 chapters so it's worth it, read this and freak out over it with me LMAO

that which resembles the grave but isn't! by clarinetta - 12k. major tw for an attempt. i keep coming back to this fic over and over and over again. paul doesn't end up with linda so there's no one to pull him out of his darkness when john, george, and ringo team up against him. it's angsty as all hell but it's wonderful hurt/comfort and ends up happy :)

Lennon, Rolling Stone by skeletondance - 5k. okay this made me feral. it's basically written as an excerpt of an interview john gives (prob in the late 70s) where he essentially gives a tell-all about the sexual nature of his relationship with paul. it is SO well-written and in character that i thought it was real for a second. obsessed with the concept of linda mccartney reading this on tour and just walking into the ocean LMAOOO

No More Situations by skeletondance (obsessed with u) - 15k. hamburg fic! one of john's artsy friends has a crush on paul. chaos and dubious consent ensues. it's really good but i felt the need to hold paul after reading it LMAO not really angsty but john kinda bullies paul for a second there </3

Whatever Gets You Through the Night by sleeprettydarling - 13k. AHHHHHH this is INSANE. more hamburg. basically john & paul keep having threesomes with this prostitute as a way of kinda sorta maybe acting on those repressed Gay Thoughts. it's so good, really in character. MAJOR john pining which i'm always game for. obsessed with it.

Tessellate by cloudy_blue - 5k. oh my GOD this fic. cynthia lennon studies! her pov on john & paul. the star of the fic is cyn & paul lamenting john leaving them both. it's just SO good. i'm so happy this fandom is moving away from wife-bashing and embracing them as full-fledged characters.

(where is the lesbian linda fic, i need to write that i guess)

does it worry you to be alone? by clarinetta (obsessed with u) - 12k. FLUFF. the four lads taking care of each other in different occasions <3 but it's so in character and well done. im a sucker for any of the "bigger than jesus" conflict. brian is great here too. made me feel very warm and fuzzy. plus i love men crying LMAOOO

okay that's it for now, send me a message if anyone ever wants like a specific themed rec list. i'm prob gonna put a 70s mclennon list together cause i live for the DIVORCE DRAMA and also prob a george specific mclennon rec list okay goodbye love u all scream with me about these

[janeaustentextposts]

Who is Linda berdoll and what did she do?

She is the author of several written ‘erotic’ sequels to the BBC 1995 Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

I specify the adaptation because she’s said as much and from reading it’s wildly obvious she never did a single deep read-through of the actual novel.

She would have people believe that her haters are just fusspots who don’t like that she sexed up Jane Austen.

I’m mad because the plots, prose, and characterization are absolute shit and the sex? Is boring! SO BORING. It’s Tab A into Slot B and flop around for fifteen seconds until the gates of Heaven yawn because Darcy just has a magic monster cock and Elizabeth has a magic teeny vag. (But this never causes actual physical problems that they have to work to accommodate, no, never actual issues or human flaws of any kind, ever.) Darcy’s pride is back full-force, it’s as if he never changed to be worthy of Elizabeth’s esteem, and she’s just so bonkers in love with him her brain has turned to goo and she defends everything he does because she’s the only one who understaaaands and appreciates him. The drama in their lives is solely due to outside forces at work and never their own misjudging choices or blind errors. Everyone else in their universe is lesser and wrong--pitied by the Darcys, at best, and vilified by them, at worst. The people they dislike always happen to be fat and ugly and stupid but especially fat. (But they must be written this way because the vapid bonkpuppet versions of Darcy and Elizabeth we are presented with do not have the capacity to actually trounce anybody intellectually. We’re just told they do, Elizabeth dunks on people’s physical appearances like it’s middle school gym class, and then everybody who adores her claps. And EVERYBODY adores her.)

It’s the worst kind of telling instead of showing, as writing goes.

I don’t mind a melodramatic soap opera. I don’t mind sexy scenes.

I *do* mind lazy and hollow writing, particularly when you’re supposedly drawing off what are supposed to be some of the most intricate character-studies in classic Western literature.

Also Berdoll felt the need to involve actual historical figures in the narrative and gets basic concrete details about their actual lives completely backwards.

It was the nineties and people were starved for sexy period drama stuff, like the damp white shirt was a revelation for a reason; but times have moved on and JAFF could always have been so much better than this wildly infuriating tripe even just on the basis of prose and plotting and characters, alone. If only the sex scenes had been boring, I probably wouldn’t be as upset by these books as I am. Sex scenes are hard to write, especially for established couples that lack the will-they-won’t-they tension before they reach their HEA. But the CHARACTERS were done so very very dirty by Linda Berdoll, even the Darcy and Elizabeth she loved so much she foisted them onto a pedestal and had them lobotomized.

[thecrabbybarista]

Hatchetfield Fantasy au that I'm working on!!!

Characters

Shadow Consumer - Unknown classification - Chaotic evil - Shadow Consumer is some sort of monster, entity, or disease that cannot be explained entirely. Its behavior is wild, and appears to be impulsive. It preys on anything it's able to find, but seems to be very attracted to animals, magic flowers or plants, and mages who are connected to nature (Elves, Druids, ect) it enters their victims through their pores. What happens after that is a mystery. The creature does not appear to be born naturally. It has no consistent appearance, and seems to move like a kind gas that can control its form at will. - Strengths: Too early to say - Weaknesses: too early to say

Emma Perkins - Half-Elven warrior - Chaotic neutral - Emma, who was raised in the Elven city of Lymelona (Thanks name generator) is witty and resourceful, which is perfect for combat. She often outsmarts her foes, or sneaks up on them before getting the kill. She used to work at a potion brewery until she was hired by a group of dragon slayers in Hatchetfield. - Strengths: speedy, intelligent, strong in offensive combat - Weaknesses: pushes others away, susceptible to some types of magic, weak in defensive combat - Friends/allies: Paul, Charlotte, Bill, Nora, Zoey - Neutral: Ted, Professor Hidgens, Jane - Enemies: Linda, Shadow Consumer, Sorcerer Schaeffer

Paul Matthews - Human Healer - Lawful Good - Paul grew up in Hatchetfield and learned how to use his magic there. He could hardly hurt a fly. He lets his emotions control him most of the time, but is able to control his temper often. He doesn't get into fights much, but when his allies get involved he usually supports them from the sidelines, healing their injuries. - Strengths: Caring, Strong control over magic, Loyal - Weaknesses : Weak in combat, acts on emotions immediately, susceptible to overusing magic and hurting themself - Allies: Emma, Ted, Charlotte, Bill, Alice, - Neutral: Deb, Professor Hidgens - Enemies: Shadow Consumer

Ted - Human Warrior - True Neutral - Ted grew up in Hatchetfield, along with Charlotte. He is self taught, which makes him a sometimes dim witted, but unpredictable fighter. He is not the most heroic person, but he has done a good deed every now and then. He lives only for himself and his own ideals, and usually doesn't get attached to others. - Strengths: Confident, strong in offensive combat, unpredictable - Weaknesses - Cowardly, unintelligent, rude - Allies: Charlotte, Bill - Neutral: Paul, Emma - Enemies: N/A or too many to list

Charlotte - Elven Mage (Animist)- Neutral Good - Charlotte was born in Clivesdale, an elven city that appears to be completely normal to commoners, but was moved to Hatchetfield at a very young age. Her abilities with magic are a bit shaky, but she often uses items to help improve her spells. She has a strong connection with felines, and often calls for their aid in battle. Her familiar is a pure white cat, who leads Charlotte when she's lost. She often plays a supporting role in battles, but can and will strike the enemy when the time is right. - Strengths: Aware of nature, Loyal, Strong when least expected. - Weaknesses: Clumsy/messy, uneducated on certain topics, does not question the people around her. - Allies: Ted, Paul, Bill - Neutral: Emma - Enemies: Zoey, Shadow Consumer

Bill - Human Mage (Psychic) - Lawful Good - Bill lived happily in Hatchetfield with his wife, and his daughter, Alice. Over time, their relationships weakened and his wife left to Clivesdale, taking Alice with her. He wants to be there for Alice, but he doesn't know how to connect with her. In battle, he takes a defensive stance. He warns his allies about potential attacks or moves that the enemy can make, and is also able to tell when someone needs healing. Because of this, him and Paul have a great dynamic. - Strengths: Aware of people, caring, strong with magic - Weaknesses: Weak in offensive combat, acts on emotions immediately, susceptible to dark magic - Allies: Paul, Alice, Charlotte, Emma, Ted, Professor Hidgens - Neutral: Deb - Enemies: Shadow Consumer,

Alice - Half-Elven Mage (Creationist) - Chaotic Good - Alice spent a majority of her life in Clivesdale, where she practiced sculpting and bringing her creations to life. She spends a majority of her time in her own world, ignoring the boundaries set by the adults in her life. She does not engage in combat, but her sculptures have wandered off and gotten into some predicaments before. - Strengths: Kind, assertive, creative - Weaknesses: Unaware of surroundings, reckless, easily persuaded - Allies: Bill, Paul, Deb - Neutral: Emma, Charlotte, Ted - Enemies: N/A

Deb - Human Commoner - Lawful Neutral - Deb lives in Hatchetfield, but frequently visits Clivesdale to spend time with Alice. As a painter, she is fascinated by Alice's ability to bring any kind of art to life. She plans on becoming a warrior like her mother when she grows up. She's laid back, and knows exactly how to end an argument. She does not engage in combat, but will someday. - Allies: Alice - Neutral: Bill, Paul - Enemies: N/A

​​​​​​

Professor Hidgens - Human Bard - Lawful Evil - Hidgens isn't exactly a professor anymore, even if he still uses that title. He grew up normally in Hatchetfield, until his fear of a world-ending alien invasion grew too great to ignore. He hid away in a bunker near the edge of town. He gets lonely sometimes, so he writes and sings songs to lift his spirits. He will also sell anyone to satan for one corn chip. - Strengths: Intelligent, strong in magical combat, strong in defensive combat - Weaknesses: Easily persuaded by evil, Not loyal, acts on impulse - Allies: Greg and Steve and Stu and Mark and Leighton and Chad - Neutral: Emma, Shadow Consumer - Enemies: N/A

Sorcerer Schaeffer - Human Mage (Plague Mage) - Neutral Evil - Schaeffer is one of the most powerful mages that makes up PEIP (Paranormal, Extraterrestrial, Interdimensional, Phenomena), and organization set on protecting the world from unearthly beings. Well... Most of it anyways. Schaeffer has her own plans, or perhaps they weren't her plans. It's hard to tell. While she assists on some heroic missions, she's only in it for her reputation. She spends most of her time studying and strengthening her magic. What she doesn't strengthen is her control over it. - Strengths: Powerful, intelligent, unpredictable - Weaknesses: Egotistical, little to no control over magic, loud - Allies: It changes every day - Neutral: Shadow Consumer, Sorcerer McNamara - Enemies: N/A

Sorcerer McNamara - Human Mage (Abjurer) - Lawful Good - McNamara is another mage who works for PEIP. He believes in the universal truth of love, and would do anything to protect the world that he is so lucky to be a part of. He may seem a little strange, or even crazy at first, but he makes friends easily. - Strengths: Brave, Loyal, Caring - Weaknesses: Predictable, Gullible, Weak in Offensive combat - Allies: Sorcerer Schaeffer, Paul - Neutral: N/A - Enemies: Shadow Consumer

Linda Monroe - Human (Cultist) Mage (Channeller) - Neutral Evil - Linda was once just a normal self centered person, but then she pledged herself to a mysterious god of destruction. She calls this being "Wiggly" and describes him as a creature who thrives off of chaos and lives in the shadows. Whether he is connected to Shadow Consumer or not is unknown. She has managed to gather a following, and she plans to spread her exciting new religion all over the world - Strengths: Respected, Powerful, Knows God himself (?) - Weaknesses: Narcissist, Somewhat dim witted, Delusional - Allies: Wiggly and/or Shadow Consumer - Neutral: N/A - Enemies: PEIP (yes all of them),

Wiggly - Wiggly - Wiggly - Your friendy wend - Strengths: Wiggly - Weaknesses: N/A - Allies: Linda - Neutral: N/A - Enemies: Those who dare defy him

Minor Characters

Zoey - Elven Bard - Lawful Neutral

Nora - Elven Commoner - Chaotic Good

Melissa - Human Mage (Illusionist) - Chaotic Evil

Jane Perkins - Ghost - True Neutral

[ao3feed-destiel]

Fight for your Mate

Read it on AO3 here!https://ift.tt/30uXzKW

by lil_lavender_boi

Castiel, youngest heir to Novak corp., now in his third year in college gets to live on his own, well almost. Castiel gets to live with a his best friend Balthazar in on campus housing but Balthazar informs him a tad to late that he had to get extra roommates; a couple Sam and Jessica. Castiel is very unsure about them but when his car breaks down and needs to be fixed, Sam suggests his brother and dad's family company, a auto mechanic shop. Little did Castiel know, the moment he stepped into that shop would change his life forever.

Words: 4288, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Supernatural

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Castiel (Supernatural), Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Alastair (Supernatural), Crowley (Supernatural), Benny Lafitte, Balthazar (Supernatural), Samandriel (Supernatural), Anna Milton, Hannah (Supernatural), John Winchester, Bobby Singer, Ellen Harvelle, Jo Harvelle, Lucifer (Supernatural), Michael (Supernatural), Gabriel (Supernatural), Raphael (Supernatural), Meg Masters (Demon), Charlie Bradbury, Jessica Moore, Naomi (Supernatural), Abaddon (Supernatural), Garth Fitzgerald IV, Kevin Tran, Linda Tran, Chuck Shurley, Jack Kline, Jane (Supernatural), Jody Mills, Alex Jones (Supernatural), Claire Novak, Original Supernatural (TV) Character(s), Original Dog Character(s)

Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Jessica Moore/Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, Ellen Harvelle/Bobby Singer, Alastair/Dean Winchester, Castiel/Meg Masters

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - College/University, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alternate Universe - Human, Students, Studying, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Protective Castiel (Supernatural), Protective Dean Winchester, Possessive Behavior, Possessive Castiel (Supernatural), Possessive Dean Winchester, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, Sexual Assault, Rape/Non-con Elements, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, John Winchester Being an Asshole, Bad Parent John Winchester, Abusive John Winchester, Child Abuse, Drugs, Drug Use, Partying, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt Dean Winchester, Hurt Castiel (Supernatural), Homophobic Language, Bigotry & Prejudice, Mutual Pining, Bad Boy Dean Winchester, Cigarettes, Smoking, Depression, Family Drama, Dysfunctional Family, Awkward Castiel (Supernatural), Explicit Sexual Content, Oral Sex, Top Castiel/Bottom Dean Winchester, Alpha/Omega, Alpha Castiel/Omega Dean Winchester, Anal Sex, Fluff and Smut, Blow Jobs, Frottage, Mutual Masturbation, Masturbation, Hand Jobs, Dry Humping, Anal Fingering, Rimming, Alpha Alastair (Supernatural), Abusive Alastair (Supernatural), Minor Castiel/Meg Masters, Bisexuality, Bisexual Dean Winchester, Gay Castiel (Supernatural), Implied Mpreg, Mpreg

Link: https://ift.tt/30uXzKW

[gotatext]

TASK OO1 / OOC SURVEY.

[kermit voice] hallo.... its me 

YOUR ALIAS & NICKNAMES — nora

AGE — 23

TIMEZONE — gmt

PREFERRED PRONOUNS — she/her

MBTI — enfp-infp border cos im an introvert who Masquerades as an extrovert :)

HP HOUSE — i spent 10 yrs of my life thinkin i was gryffindor.... to find out.... huffle....puff...... 

ARE YOU A STUDENT? WHAT DO YOU STUDY? — i fuckin wish! being a student was dope af i got stressed about essays like once a month and apart from that i was just chillin, surrounded by really intelligent people every day n livin it up on the party scene. adult life fucking sucks no one wants to have fun cos we all work fuckin tonnes of hours so we can afford to eat and get paid peanuts xx

ARE YOU ENJOYING IT? — im really afraid of bein one of those jock types who peaked in high school but i deff peaked in uni like 100% i was way more interesting 2 years ago

LINKS TO OTHER ACCOUNTS & SOCIAL MEDIA — im not showin u my instagram bc im a fuckin embarassment but this is pinterest , this is my personal blog, this is my writing / 1x1 blog i never use any more n this is my trash talking twitter where i mostly just cry about timothee chalamet and bash the tories. 

DISCORD USER — kristine’s forehead vein#8664

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FICTION GENRE? — i dont read fanfiction much but when i do u can be sure it’s slow burn angsty enemies to lovers mutual pining heart attack every time one of them accidentally brushes the other’s hand

TOP FIVE FAVOURITE FILMS — suspiria (2018 luca guadagnino version rogue i kno but i prefer the remake), the lobster, before sunrise, baz luhrmann romeo + juliet, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind,  thoroughbreds (REC!! so underwatched pls watch it. compelling female characters), hunt for the wilderpeople (also so underwatched), swiss army man, call me by your name, atonement, moonrise kingdom, trainspotting, the florida project. i rlly like films ok

A BOOK YOU FEEL “CHANGED” YOU? — the song of achilles by madeline miller n also fen by daisy johnson

A MOVIE YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? — booksmart cos its fuckin dope

WHAT IS YOUR SIGN? — libra

ARE YOU INTO ASTROLOGY? —  i like to pretend im super invested in it mostly to anger my friends but tbh.... i just use it as a rough guide for character creation.... its fun but i dnt .... fully invest in what it has to say..... altho i am the most unbalanced n indecisive bitch on earth so i guess they got that right !! i just live to please baybeyy!

WHAT PLATFORMS HAVE YOU ROLEPLAYED ON? — tumblr for about 8 year (omg) n before tht facebook..... i was very embarassingly in a twilight rp..... i wrote jane..... i also rped as a scene kid oc n when i was like 12 i was on some weird forum harry potter roleplay where i basically played a self insert with georgie henley as the fc......

WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU HAVE? — i used to have so many hobbies but now i jst lie in my bed staring at the ceiling. but before i was workin like a dog i loved reading, writing, acting in theatre productions..... going out on the town getting bevved..... big druggy EDM nights in warehouses tht probably weren’t liscenced for tht many ppl..... gigs... costume-design and making, spoken word poetry, acrylic painting n rollerskating but my sister broke my skates abt two years ago in vengeance and i’ll never forgive her that fuckin bitch

HAVE ANY PETS? IF SO, TALK ABOUT THEM! — no my landlord is a fascist

IS THERE A TV SHOW YOU RECOMMEND A LOT? — i’ll never stop reccing euphoria!! also i was pleasantly surprised by looking for alaska!! but i also rlly like bob’s burgers, parks and rec, good omens.... black mirror, n sharp objects. lovesick on bbciplayer (n netflix i think) is also rlly fun

ANY SHOWS YOU LIKE SOME MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT YOU DO? — maybe love island, idk if i talk abt that much bc i am ashamed but i am so obsessed with it. i even got the love island game n got so invested in my fictional relationship w bobby tht i had to delete it

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT? — god god... i haven’t finished a book in ages.... i recently started reading milkman by anna burns, the bees by laline paull and everything under by daisy johnson.... bt the last book i read cover to cover was probs circe. defs read it. feminist and witchy

CURRENTLY READING? — i jst said this but the bees, everything under and less so milkman cos im finding milkman a bit tough

LAST FILM? REC IT? — i watched ladyworld the lord of the flies all-female remake n even maya hawke could not save it.... dnt get me wrong from an art film point of view i loved it but it felt a bit underdeveloped n a level media studies for me..... apart from tht?? the runaways (yorkshire film not released yet at a preview screening) and threads (also a yorkshire film from the 80s about nuclear apocalypse)

THREE MOVIES YOU NEED TO WATCH — portrait of a lady on fire, i work at an independent cinema n we recently had a preview screening and everyone said it was SICK, uhhhh short term 12, n the new eliza scanlen movie babyteeth

WHAT MOVIE DO YOU THINK YOU’VE SEEN THE MOST TIMES? — madagascar because when i was 12 my parents bought me a little television with a dvd player in it for my birthday and madagascar was the only dvd i owned for like..... the first two years of havin the absolute luxury of a tv in my room so i just used to watch it all the time n i now basically know the script inside out

WHAT ALWAYS PUTS YOU IN A GOOD MOOD? — nothing, life is pointless n i hate fun, let me rot in peace

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICIAN / BAND? LIST IF THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE. — ughhh god probably lcd soundsystem. gorillaz, the streets, tame impala, talking heads, soft hair, i also love lizz tho n also angry twangy guitar girl bands like girlpool, courtney barnett, best coast, cherry glazerr,

WILD NIGHT OUT OR QUIET NIGHT IN? — quiet night in my party days are over i cant even be bothered to go to the shops if its past 4.30pm and dark these days

ANY PHOBIAS? — clowns n rats

DO YOU LIKE BUGS? — absolutely not

BIRDS? — yes but not if they fly in my face

ARE YOU A CAT OR DOG PERSON? BOTH? — i love both i want one 

BIGGEST PET PEEVE? — tory middle aged boomers who treat me like actual shit on their shoe because i work in the service industry like thats my choice and their poor economic decisions didnt mean i have to do a shitty job to afford to live bcos of austerity n cuts to arts funding meaning i cant get a job writing unless i self-fund :)))

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE RPC? — that everyone ive met through rp is a fuckin LAFF

TOP TEN FAVE FCS TO USE? — god .... diana silvers, timothee chalamet, margaret qualley, kristine froseth, froy gutierrez, zendaya, elle fanning, astrid berges frisbey, hunter schafer, leonardo dicaprio

FIVE YOU LIKE WRITING AGAINST? — herman tomeraas, hunter schafer, saoirse ronan, timothee chalamet, froy gutierrez

FAVOURITE TYPE OF FOOD? — linda mccartney 1/2pounder mozzarella veggie burgers, sweet potato wedges, tomato soup, mozzarella sticks, brownies

WORST FOOD? — green things like broccoli n sprouts gross. baked beans cos as a kid ppl used to do baked bean baths for comic relief / red nosed day a lot n i thought when they were finished in the baked bean bath they just put all the cold beans back in the tin. actually anything small that moves around on your plate. peas. spaghetti. sweetcorn. i dont like small things i cant control.

DO YOU PLAY VIDEOGAMES? IF SO, WHAT ONES AND ON WHAT PLATFORM DO YOU PREFER? — last year my housemate had an xbox n i went through a phase of obsessively playin fable 3 it was amazing. i had like 5 husbands and 3 wives and loads of kids but they all ended up leavin me cos i spent so much time out doing quests neglecting them

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE TAG? — this

LASTLY, HOW DID YOU FIND US? — im one of those bitches who was in this grp all the way back when it was swipe... so quirky and original!! i knew the band before u! anyway im goin now this has been sufficiently embarassing..... i am lame

[johnrgordon]

Writing a historical novel #6 – research is intimidating (but has to be done) pt 4 of 4 – breakthrough

(image: ’Black Angels’ by George Barnard)

For the past ten years I have been working on a historical novel, Drapetomania, Or, The Narrative of Cyrus Tyler and Abednego Tyler, lovers, set in slavery times in the American Deep South, and telling of the passionate love between two men, Cyrus and Abednego, and their bid for freedom from bondage – out now! As I worked on a final edit of the 183,000 word manuscript, I began reflecting on the process. These are some of my thoughts.

Plowing through 1700pp of slavery narratives, alongside historical accounts, contextualizing information and contemporary fictions (including, belatedly, Huckleberry Finn, which I realised I had never read, and is, it turns out, a post civil war tale of pre-war slavery times and thus a curious, paradoxical exercise in recent nostalgia), was ultimately liberating, and in several ways, some obvious, some less so.

The most basic change was simply this: I had moved from knowing nothing (much) to knowing a great deal about historical representations of slavery experiences and the context in which they arose. Funny how one can internalize ‘not knowing’ as an identity, but I realised that for half a decade I had done so.

While modern history is extremely useful in framing the past, there’s nothing like reading contemporary material to give you a feel for the idiom, for the aesthetic and therefore mental landscape of a period; and allowing some sense of that to enter your writing fairly much automatically creates an authenticity of tone without a need to overdo quaint dialogue or overwork period terms or references (which is very tempting): sometimes a mule cart can just be a mule cart and need not be a barouche or phaeton, and so on.

Behind that commonsense evocation of another time is an interesting – and in its way somewhat liberating – philosophical point: what makes a historical novel feel real to any (non-academic) reader is how far it seems to embody the tone and timbre of novels that were written at the time in which it is set. Yet those novels – that is, those fictions – were and are themselves cultural constructs, informed by the personalities and perceptions, quirks and kinks of their authors, as well as by what was generally permitted at their time of writing. Did real people ever talk as Dickens’ characters talk? Or Jane Austen’s? Probably not. Or maybe yes, kind of. Did they also say shit or cunt? We can’t penetrate very far beyond that essentially literary limit of possible knowledge – we literally cannot know, as there are no other records of direct speech, (beyond court testimonials, themselves generally ‘written up’ by officials who sometimes added literary flourishes of their own, and would have at the least redacted swearing and blasphemy), how people really spoke back then – and so (I believe) the modern writer is free to permit him/herself to improvise around general impressions without being too weighed down by forensic fears about historical accuracy of register once obvious anachronisms have been tidied away.

A further level of literary reflexivity arises in consideration of slave narratives, which, being as they tend to be billed as ‘the true account of’, it’s natural for us to approach initially as if they are simple primary sources. This is to ignore the attention those who escaped slavery paid to ensuring that their autobiographies conformed both to the existing novelistic conventions of the time, and (soon enough) to the evolving (oftentimes best-selling) new genre of The Slave Narrative itself. So these historical artifacts are not simply ‘true’ – they too are literary constructs; and indeed, reading them I was struck by how often they cleaved to conventions of romance novels such as Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre – this is perhaps most strongly evident in the narrative of Harriet Jacobs (Linda Brent), one of the few women to write her story (& she was proprietorial about it too). Ironically, to a modern reader, the flourishes – the ‘Picture if you can, dear reader’ asides – that would have drawn in a nineteenth century reader are somewhat off-putting nowadays: we hope for the unvarnished truth of experience, or a truth that seems unvarnished, anyway.

Helpfully for the fiction writer, the narratives reveal that slaves endured wildly differing conditions synchronically as well as diachronically, and that plantations differed hugely in how they were run, what those enslaved could hope to get away with, what freedoms were allowed or curtailed in terms of movement, what punishments imposed; even such grimly basic matters as whether shoes were available. So as a non-academic I could write my story without too much anxiety that I was failing to capture some single, singular, detailedly true and therefore authentic monolithic account of things only accessible to scholars. There were many experiences, and those we have are only those recorded: other experiences were possible.

Another point to note as far as using slavery narratives as a resource is that the published tales – some ‘as told to’ and therefore mediated to unknown extents by their white amanuenses – were intended to be read by a white audience. Therefore there is behind them of necessity a hidden, largely unspoken version that just occasionally breaks the waterline: the account that might have been written for a black readership, had such a thing then been imaginable. This sense of things unsaid, of things left out, was liberating to me from the point of view of presuming to create a fictional tale: the realization that there was something beyond a greater level of explicitness about the facts of life that might legitimately be added to both historical records and autobiographical writing, something beyond my simple initial impulse to realistically render passionate same-sex love in such a time and place.

While the slave narratives are moving, disturbing and full of insights, they often lack contextualizing detail for the modern reader of 150-200 years later. Writing about my own life now I might say something today like, ‘I topped up my Oyster and got the tube to town’ – perfectly comprehensible to any reader in C21st London. However, in 200 years’ time every element of that statement might be wholly obscure, (‘perhaps he means he ate a heavy meal of shellfish before setting out?’) and it’s certainly lacking in evocative detail – use of money or a payment card, yellow disc on ticket machine, automatic barriers, escalators, sliding doors of carriages, name of tube line etcetera. All this kind of information tends to be absent from primary sources, the more so as their intent was campaigning and therefore contemporary in focus.

Unexpectedly liberating in this regard was the British abolitionist MP J.S. Buckingham’s 1839 Journey through the Southern Slave States. While in many ways a dry read, precisely because he was a tourist (& one critical of slavery, which the British had finally abolished in 1833, to white southern consternation) Buckingham records many details a local would omit, including potted summaries of the economic workings of many of the towns and villages and estates he passed through; competition and lack of competition in stagecoach lines; quality of rooms and food in inns and so on. This – finally – gave me greater confidence in sending my protagonist out into a wider world beyond the plantation’s bounds.

As settings fell into place, the internet was invaluable as an adjunct, of course. What type of pistols were used in 1850; what carriages ridden in; what hats worn? One academic website has assembled advertisements for runaway slaves decade by decade, and you can study the way the phrasing altered over time, and the amounts offered for recapture; and so, without ever stating the year, (because ultimately I felt it would never mean anything to my protagonists), I could embed the tale ever more densely in its period.

All this meant that Cyrus could now leave the wilderness into which he had first run, into which he had been pursued by dogs, and from which he had emerged following a sort of psychic rebirth, and find himself once more among people. And so a break in the writing that lasted nearly five years was ended, and I accelerated forwards.

Buy Drapetomania here (US) & here (UK)

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“If I were asked to explain the Japanese spirit, I would say it is wild cherry blossoms glowing in the morning sun!” — Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801)

Japan’s flower language isn’t as well develop as the West’s. Japan’s stories and theatre focused on humanizing plants as opposed to using them to convey emotions and messages. Victorian Europe took the language of flowers to an extreme, but Japan had its own set of symbols. Because anime has developed into an international medium, I’ll examine both Japan’s flower symbology and the West’s flower language. You will see both styles mixed in anime. 

Japan’s Language of Flowers

A chrysanthemum seller in Japan, ca. 1890, photographer unknown, via Photographic Heritage

During the Heian period, the symbolism of flowers took off, appearing in noh, poetry, and the world’s first novel. However, Japanese language allows for an identification between human emotions and nature that English doesn’t really allow (Poulton, 1997). In Japanese culture, natural phenomena has a spiritual life and power of its own. Noh showcases this in its more than a dozen plays that feature a flower or tree revealing itself as an incarnation of a god or Buddha. Various folk stories feature trees and flower spirits that can marry humans and bear children. The Willow Wife is one of my favorites. This aspect of Japanese culture remains unique. We don’t find many European stories that allow plants to be Christian saints or to marry humans.

Hanami, or flower viewing, was popular during the Heian period. The cherry blossom became a favorite, representing the fleeting moments of life. But each season had its own flower. And not everyone loved the sakura. The poet Saigyo found his hermitage invaded by visitors wanting to see a nearby tree’s blossoms (Poulton, 1997). He doesn’t refuse them when they visit, but he grumbles about it in a poem:

The cherries’ only fault: the crowds that gather when they bloom

Despite its popularity, the cherry blossom wasn’t the most important flower. Chrysanthemums became the symbol of the imperial house soon after they arrived from China. The flower became the imperial crest and the throne of the emperor was even named after it: the Chrysanthemum Throne (Lombardi, 2014). The flower meant the opposite of the cherry blossom: it represented longevity and power as opposed to transient beauty and gentleness.

While most flowers associated with Japanese women, the chrysanthemum directly associated with men. In the story of The Chrysanthemum Spirit, a young woman falls in love with a handsome courtier. She eventually finds out he is an autumn flower–the chrysanthemum–that took the shape of a human. The story “uses visual and poetic imagery traditionally associated with women to reframe reproductive potency in male terms (McCormick, 2013).”

Murasaki and Floral Characters

While shapeshifting flowers remained popular in noh and traditional stories, Murasaki took the idea and converted it into indirect story telling in her Tale of Genji. The novel tells its story indirectly through what is left unsaid and it’s imagery. It’s a difficult read because of it’s layers. Murasaki used various flowers to represent character personalities, future events, themes, and more. She relied on the reader to put everything together.

Murasaki weaved the names of flowers into chapter titles to suggest the events that will happen and the characters associated with each chapter. Flower included: evening glory, saffron flower, hollyhock, orange blossoms, lavender, morning glory, plum, cherry blossoms, carnations, and many others. She gives many of the women in Genji’s life the names of flowers. They act as shorthand for the character of each woman and stand in for her.

In one scene, Genji and a woman named Yugao were having an affair. Yugao was a common flower at the time. It blooms only at night and dies soon after. During their trist, Murasaki makes repeated references to a blooming yugao, foreshadowing Yugao’s early death just a few scenes later (Kido, 1988). Murasaki makes other flower references to foreshadow Genji’s other affairs and the fates of each woman. Even Genji’s fall from grace can be seen in these flower symbols. Centuries later, Charlotte Bronte would adopt the same technique for her work.

The Victorian Language of Flowers

A flower is not a flower alone; a thousand thoughts invest it.

During the Victorian period, women often became amateur botanists. They began developing a complete language using flowers, but early dictionaries often contradicted each other (Engelhardt, 2013). Many of the definitions extend deep into history, such as the idea olive branches symbolize peace, roses symbolize love, and so on. Although the Victorian period saw codified symbols and expansion of the language, most of the floral code date to medieval and Renaissance literature (Rothenberg, 2006; Engelhardt, 2013).  But Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot used the symbols to construct a language fairly similar to Murasaki. Jane Eyre used flowers as sexual codes and to describe characters in shorthand as Murasaki did. For example, during a scene when Jane and Rochester take a walk, flowers appear throughout the description.  Engelhardt (2013) drops the emotional associations and meanings of the plants during the walk:

…edged with box [stoicism]; with apple trees [temptation], pear trees [comfort], and cherry trees [deception] on the one side, and a border on the other, full of all sorts of old-fashioned flowers, stocks [lasting beauty], sweet Williams [sensitivity], primroses [first youth; if evening, inconstancy], pansies [thoughts], mingled with southernwood [jest/bantering], sweet-briar [I wound to heal], and various fragrant herbs. (249)

According to Engelhard (2013), Bronte seems to use the flowers to reveal the feelings of the lovers and of Rochester’s mysterious behavior in the scene. He is tempted (apple trees) to open his heart after years of being a stoic, but he realizes this would require deception (cherry trees) and ruining Jane’s beauty (stocks) because of her inexperience with love (primrose) and her sensitivity (sweet Williams). So Rochester jokes with her (southernwood) and hopes he will heal the pain of his marriage to Bertha (sweet-briar).

Most of the time, people used flowers to express embarrassing feelings, on par with what Bronte outlines with Rochester. In these floral dialogues, a lady or gentleman would ask a question or express an emotion by showing a flower. The other would then respond with their own flower. Flowers can be combined to form entire sentences, and the color of the flower can shift the meaning. So to carry Bronte’s illustration:

pink rose + cherry blossom + pink rose = desire to be educated in passion.

Pink roses have three meanings: desire, passion, and joy of life. Cherry blossoms equate with education. So the combination can also mean passion to be educated in desire, which still has the same general meaning.

Flowers and Their Meanings

Because the meanings of flowers were in dispute throughout the Victorian period, you may encounter some dictionaries that contradict what I list there.  As with any language, time and use can change the meanings of words.

Apple blossom “Temptation”

Cherry blossoms “education, fleeting beauty”

Cornflower “delicacy”

Deep red rose “bashful shame”

Daisy “innocence, purity”

Hollyhock “fertility, ambition”

Yugao “fleeting”

Hyacinth “game”

Periwinkle “happy memories”

Sweet William “sensitivity”

Chrysanthemum “longevity, imperial power”

Paulownia “birth, girl, dowry”

  References

Endresak, David, “Girl Power: Feminine Motifs in Japanese Popular Culture” (2006). Senior Honors Teses. 322. htp://commons.emich.edu/honors/322

Hoffman, Michael (2012) Sakura: Soul of Japan. Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/03/25/general/sakura-soul-of-japan/.

Kido, Elissa (1988) Names, Naming, and Nature in the Tale of Genji. Literary Onomastics Studies. 15. Article 4.

Lombardi, Linda (2014) Chrysanthemums are more than just a symbol of autumn. Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/27/national/chrysanthemums-just-symbol-autumn/

McCormick, Melissa. (2013) “Flower Personification and Imperial Regeneration in The Chrysanthemum Spirit.” In Amerika ni wattata monogatari-e. Tokyo: Perikansha.

Poulton, Mark. (1997) The Language of Flowers in the No Theatre. Japan Reveiw. 8. 39-55

Rothenberg, David (2006) The Marian Symbolism of Spring ca. 1200-ca.1500: Two Case Studies. Journal of Musicology Society. 59 (2) 319-398.

Japan and the Language of Flowers “If I were asked to explain the Japanese spirit, I would say it is wild cherry blossoms glowing in the morning sun!”

[monsterfucker-lisa-swallows]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Doctor Who (2005) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Rape/Non-Con Characters: Eleventh Doctor, Jack Harkness Additional Tags: as always there are cameos from characters i didn't mention, because spoilers, wait is saying it that way a spoiler, shhhhhhh, it's gonna start out sad but get lighter i promise, realistic depictions of trauma and mental illness have to have a relapse in order to work, progress isn't linear nor is time, yet it's still progress, i do promise this fic series is about growing and healing, i'm not good at descriptions, there's gonna be alternate universe shenanigans and different expressions of grief, some people go too far to escape feelings Series: Part 2 of Am I...Ginger? Summary:

Picking up right from where season 1 left off.

"The Doctor's dead."

That's where this story left off. Despite many attempts to contact him, he's been nowhere to be found. But DOES that mean he's dead? The ragtag group of misfits he left behind keep having conflicting thoughts on the subject. Is he dead? Held hostage somewhere in need of rescue? Just avoiding them?

Just when they give up hope, the Doctor decides to crash his own funeral. Two funeral crashings in a row, that has to be a record for him. But can he still fit in the world he left behind, or has he changed too much? Is it even a good idea to try?

Set when Amy and Rory are on their honeymoon (between "A Christmas Carol" and "The Impossible Astronaut"). This is also just after "The Death of the Doctor" episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures. As usual, I'm playing fill-in-the-blanks with unexplored parts of canon.

...

Well I’m back from an almost 3 month season break here! We’re really gonna start getting into this now. There are still so many unanswered questions. What happened in the other universes? What are the Gingers really? What’s Cupid’s whole deal? So we’re just hitting the ground running.

...

Season 1

...

"Well would you look who it is," the man who told them to back off said. "And with Torchwood and press on your arm as well. Which does that make you?"

Sarah Jane crossed her arms. "You know who we are?"

"Of course."

"How?" asked Jack.

"We keep tabs on the competition. And sometimes keep tabs on people who think they're the competition, but are really just muckin' about. We thought you'd died during the Miracle or at least fallen in with some bleeding hearts like LINDA or something."

"You're not far off, Andy," Ginger said. "Except in the sense of being not at all in the vacinity."

"Blimey," Andy said. "Almost didn't recognize you. You got sort of hot."

"And you're doing what?" she demanded. "Still trying to kill aliens who didn't do anything to anyone?" She had a horrible thought. "Killed any lately?"

"No," he said, picking up on her tone. "Why?"

She tried to inquire without giving much away. "Have you heard of a man called 'The Doctor'?"

They all laughed.

"Now you do sound like LINDA," said Cam.

"Well?" Ginger demanded. "Have you?"

"Of course we have," the woman said. "Urban legend, isn't he?"

"Only to people without proof, Ainsley," Andy said calmly. "Which we've had for years. We know he exists, but we've never had the pleasure. We've never been first at the scene." He studied her closely. "Have you been one of his girls, Cinna?"

Ginger raised her eyebrows. "One of his what?"

"Girls," Andy replied. "He always has a different one with him, then he throws you away."

Ginger didn't want to give too much away in case they wanted to hurt him in some way. "It's not like that." She mentally kicked herself, knowing this gave away too much.

Andy's smile widened. "I thought so. I never would've guessed he'd pick you, but I guess it makes sense with you looking like that. But tell me: if it isn't like that, then why are you here with Torchwood and the little journalist lady instead of with him? You're his little reject pile. Not good enough to make the cut."