#its complicated but also not really. I just have a ot of thoughts about their gender and their journey through self discovery

[eryanlainfa]

Wait hold on what’s Aiden’s gender thingy. Ik this definitely isn’t a cisgender but I’m so confused about there BIOLOGICAL gender yk?

I made them to be confusing no worries-

Aiden is genderfluid, though they mostly present as masc and uses they/them pronouns, sometimes she likes to change things up. Biologically they are intersex and its a bit of a mess.

But I assume you're asking for their assigned gender at birth, which is male. "Aiden" actually is his birthname.

[likeadevils]

was that interview paul mccartney and taylor did together in 2020 a big deal to you

at that time not a super big deal-- i didn't get really into the beatles until like, 2021? i think? but in retrospect routinely drives me insane. like paul mccartney heard my tears ricochet and mirrorball back to back and we just don’t know what he thought about either track. jail.

anyway here's a completely unrequested ranking of how insane it is that paul mccartney heard each song on folklore. also TRIGGER WARNINGS: cancer, death, drugs, infidelity, suicidal ideation

DISCLAIMER: 1) most of what i know about paul is centered around the beatles 2) you can not empathize with paul mccartney the same way you empathize with taylor. the dude is. he’s made some Choices.

songs that i regularly go oh my god paul fucking mccartney heard this song wtf

mirrorball (that’s him! that’s paul!)

mtr (i tried so hard to keep this brief. so. one of the things that lead to the beatles breaking up was like, song publishing drama, and also the other three beatles wanted to sign this fucking awful manager and paul didn’t want to do that and he ended up suing the other three beatles to get out of the contract and between that and various complicated personal stuff paul ended up becoming The Villian of the beatles breakup— or maybe not The Villian cause you know, the yoko of it all, but Villian #2. and then you add in the paul is dead of it all and how john lennon wrote a diss track about paul and one of the lines in it was “those freaks was right when the said you was dead” and it’s like. crazy. also one of paul’s biggest regrets was not getting the masters to the beatles songs and he’s been trying for like fucking decades and it keeps slipping away and michael fucking jackson bought them out from under him once?? it’s a whole thing)

exile (no cause the breakup took for-fucking-ever and was like mostly caused by “you never learned to read my mind” and he just has to endlessly talk about it to this day and reopen that wound and even though half the people involved in it are dead the conversation will just never end and it’ll just always echo throughout his life)

hoax (i feel like i would need a line by line breakdown but like bro. brother. brethren.)

upon reflection i will go oh god paul mccartney heard this but it is not one of the first things i think of when i hear the song

betty (his first name is james, which is just funny, and i would not be at all surprised to learn he said this shit verbatim when he was 17. or really ever kinda. uwu i’m too stupid not to cheat. also it was kinda your fault if you think about it. xoxo take me back please)

the 1 (such a paul song really. i’m doing good -> goes on to slowly reveal the most heartbreaking shit you’ve ever heard)

invisible string (not so fun fact his current wife (nancy) was friends with his first wife (linda) because they met during chemo but it seems like nancy and paul didn’t meet until after linda died which is the most fucking heartbreaking invisible string)

timt (one of the saddest pairs of paul mccartney quotes is this one time he said “i’ll do any drug except heroin, heroin is for suicidal people” (which is also sad because john lennon was like famously addicted to heroin) and then years later he was like “i did heroin after the beatles broke up” and its like jesus christ)

cardigan (like in a overall sense yeah when he was a teenager he did forever bind himself to a deeply inconsistent teenage boy and then that teenage boy found a different partner and left him, and some of the lyrics go hard through the paul and john context, but like overall it’s not like. like mtr and exile HIT when viewed through the beatles breakup lense and cardigan is like. yeah that happened)

august (i mean i guess? see above and see below)

illicit affairs (fuck sir james paul mccartney justice for maggie. i don’t know her last name but justice for maggie. man dated her for like three years while having this whole ass very public other girlfriend that he WAS ENGAGED TO and then that engagement fell apart because he was caught in bed with A THIRD WOMAN and then he keeps dating maggie AND MOVES THE THIRD WOMAN IN TO HIS HOME. and then he starts dating A FOURTH WOMAN and fucking ghosts maggie but then he showed up THE NIGHT BEFORE HE GOT MARRIED, cried at her, then left AND GOT MARRIED AND NEVER SPOKE TO HER AGAIN)

seven (he apparently spent a lot of his childhood just hanging out in trees people/bird watching? which is adorable. you also get the whole perfectionist looking back fondly on children being a peer to go insane. but also he seemed to stay in contact with his childhood friends to a kinda insane degree. but also man has lost a lot of friends)

epiphany (his mom was a fucking nurse who died when he was 14 and then later his wife died of the exact same thing. so i imagine the second verse Hits. aside from that though eh)

the two (2) songs that paul commented on

tlgad (he liked it!! this one gives me bigger george vibes tho. guys george’s house was so fucking cool he had all these weird caves underneath it and sometimes he would give people tours and have someone else lead them into the caves and then jump out and scare them)

peace (again said he liked it!! apparently got a bit hung up on the “give you a child” line which. fair. but also. listen to the song a bit more james i think it would give you mild psychic damage)

no brain damage

mad woman (i would actively avoid having to talk to him about this song. not cause i think he’d say anything particularly harmful (nowadays) i just think i’d be bored out of my mind)

[communitypoolswimlessons]

last July I decided to record my thoughts on the miraculous ladybug movie

, here you go

(prepare for the most massive text block of your life)

Why is the lighting so harsh all the time????Marinette's speaking v singing voice is soooo. Different

AND WHY DID GABRIEL HAVE LONG HAIR AT ONE POINT BURN IT

And also? Why do they have a ginormous portrait of them in MOURNING CLOTHES.

careless whisper playing as chat takes ladybug's hand is the most correct ever

Also, Adrian is me coded fr

Chat is chaos incarnate

WHY TF DOES CHAT LEAP AWAY LIKE THAT

Adrian get your life together why does a girl make you smile this much you JUST met her

stHAP WHY DID THEY MAKE ADRIAN SO BBGGabriel????? Singing?????

STOP it right now (his whole villain song is sendingggggg meede)

You know what I love how Marinette loves her dad

Marinette's emo song goes hard

I know this is, like, a show about magical powers and whatnot but I really like how they show the destruction of the fight and how, even while helping, damage is done

DONT THINK I DIDNT SEE LUKA I DID I WAS CHEERING HIM ON IN ANY SCENE HE WAS IN

HEATHENS. ABSOLUTE HEATHENS. WHY MUST THEY BITE THEIR ICE CREAM

The banter as they fight is killing me oh my god

And before people ask who I ship in the weird love square, it's just the two of them with the banter ladybug and chat noir have.

IDK WHY IT GOT SO COMPLICATED BUT IT DID AND IM CONFUSED. they are LITERALLY the same people, different fonts.

*breath has been stolen from my body* THE WALL OTS LITERALLY FANFICTION WRITING ITSELF

Also, /gen, how old are they? Because I know in the series they're like 14-15, but in the movie the animation really does make them look younger idk. I think it's around the same?

GEEZE when Marinette claps back she does so brilliantly

$$$picture of dead spider, could have been spiderman$$$

If a) chat noir gets akumatized or b) they don't end up together I will riot I have seen both happen and I have already suffered!!!! I've paid my dues!!!

IM SORRY THE WHOLE HAND THING WHERE IT SHOWS THE PROGRESSION THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE I HAVE DIED DEAD OH MY GOODNESS I HAVE PASSED AWAY /VPOS

Chat is so goofy frOH MY GOD NO NOT THE DOIBLE DUMP SHUT UP AND SHOW YOUR SECRET IDENTITY ALREADY

Also the earbuds?? As a symbol for Adrian's mental state??? Pretty smart ngl

There's only half an hour left Marinette needs to stop singing and get this fixed!!!

Why is hawkmoth like that???? He went from some silly goofy villain with a dark past to me angst machine who only cares about joining his wife like, yes that's his motive in the series but it's much more sane? I guess?

NOOOOO CARLESS WHISPER IS HIS RINGTONE?????

adrian oh my god stop being angsty AND DO YOUR JOB

Plagg has my whole heart fr

Sad we didn't get to see a slow transformation for chat tho

the suspense oh my god stop it

THEYRE TOO YOUNG FOR THIS YOUR HONOR GET YOUR GRIMY LITTLE HANDS AWAY FROM MY BABIES

damn got them with the force

OH MY GOD THIS MAN KNOWS THAT THEY ARE CHILDREN AND DOES. NOT. CARE. LIKE SIR???

what the heck oh my god OH MY GOD THE REVEAL ITS TIME

literally only half of the mask is gone when he recognizes adrian this man needs to spend more time with his child.

If hawkmoth has a redemption arc I will be waiting in line to punch him. Take a number I will gladly do so. Just lemme at him.

How does his cat ears stay on?

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD THE REVEAL

why is the wife not in her glass case she's gonna decompose!!!!

[lethiwebhengu]

The Quality of Maternal Health Reveals Societal Problems, Societal Problems Reveal the Quality of Maternal Health

The state of our country is quite troubling. Both our economy and our social status are in poor condition (South African Institute of Race Relations, 2021). This situation arises from a combination of factors, some within our control and others beyond it. While apartheid played a significant role in shaping our current reality, it has been decades since its end, meaning we must also take responsibility for the present state of our nation. And “we” means everyone in South Africa. One particular area where we hold responsibility is maternal and child health.

Healthy mothers are more likely to give birth to and raise healthy children, reducing the risk of complications during childbirth and ensuring better early childhood development (World Health Organization (WHO. 2015). Good maternal health helps prevent conditions that can hinder a child's growth and cognitive development, which are essential for their future education and productivity (Smith, 2019).

Occupational therapists (OTs) typically address the underlying issues that affect a client’s function. In contrast, community OTs seek to identify deeper issues impacting the entire community, regardless of how little the number of people affected within that community are.

From a public health perspective, the well-being of mothers and children is a strong indicator of the overall health of a society (WHO, 2015). In the community of Kenville, I had observed and encountered (although not many) mothers facing financial constraints, particularly those unable to afford necessities or facing unemployment, encounter significant challenges that impact both their own health, babies that are to come after birth and their children who are already present. Poor involvement of fathers, especially prevalent in Black communities, adds to the psychological strain on these mothers. This situation contributes to health difficulties for both the mother and child.

 Financial limitations often force employed mothers to take shorter maternity leaves, further exacerbating their stress. For unemployed mothers, the realities are even more severe, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. These circumstances negatively affect maternal mental health and hinder access to nutritious foods, crucial for both prenatal care and child development. As a result, these children may experience compromised growth and psychological well-being, impacting their overall functioning. This made me understand that when it comes to understanding our community's core issues, maternal health often serves as the canary in the coal mine. It can be used as one of the indicators of not only the overall health of a society but can also indicate whether the social issues within communities are addressed or not. It was just my first week of community fieldwork and the reality of how people live changed my whole perspective about OT. I often thought that OT is all about referrals and doing all we can that our clients can afford but it’s that and more. Community OT is about doing all in your power to try and help our clients’ problems. It’s an act of ‘ubuntu.’ When these clients approach us, they want solutions from us, not “sorry, I can’t help you.” Although, I could not think of solutions for some of them on the spot but when I look back, I should have recruited them for job skills group, looked at the streams of income they have and try work with that. I should have focused on what they have to try reach what they don’t. My heart breaks when I think of solutions when the person has already left. And the funny part is that it does not break because of pity but mainly because as a profession we are taken for granted and people do not really understand what we do therefore they think OT is a luxury profession, like we don’t matter, and I do not like feeling like I don’t matter.

The article “Social factors determining maternal and neonatal mortality in South Africa” is about a study that aimed at identifying social determinants of maternal and neonatal mortality in South Africa. The findings revealed that poverty was an underlying factor to the vulnerability to illness and death of the mothers and their neonates. Other determinants were found to be the nutritional inadequacies, neglect and abuse by male partners, HIV or AIDS, inattention to reproductive health and violation of reproductive rights, and powerlessness of women and health system issues such as poor quality and incompetent health care ( Mmusi-Phetoe. M. 2016). This also emphasizes that poor maternal health leads to other social issues and worsens the state of the present social issues, highlighting the importance of maternal health.

Maternal and child health issues often stem from broader socio-economic factors. OT interventions also include community education about the importance of nutrition and avoiding substance abuse, which impacts both the mother and the unborn child. Reinforcing these messages can significantly benefit community health. However, lack of education is not the sole issue. Poverty plays a substantial role in maternal and child health.

OTs can address poverty's impact on maternal and child health by empowering communities through education and skill-building, advocating for social policies that support economic stability, and fostering cultural sensitivity to effectively engage with diverse populations and their unique challenges. This holistic approach helps OTs to collaboratively tackle systemic barriers and promote sustainable health outcomes.

By tackling both individual and community-level factors, OTs can create comprehensive interventions that support mental health and reduce environmental risks, leading to a safer and economically secure society.

In public healthcare, resource limitations can lead to complications, increasing the risk of disabilities such as cerebral palsy (Perinatal Problem Identification Program, 2014). In public healthcare, resource limitations can lead to complications, increasing the risk of disabilities such as cerebral palsy. Often, due to these constraints, it is student doctors who assist with childbirth in public hospitals, which can affect the quality of care provided (Perinatal Problem Identification Program, 2014).

Another aspect OTs work on to address is how we can work to prevent disabilities. With a lower number of disabled people, we make a society that has more functional people thus improving the health of our society. Quality of care during childbirth also affects maternal and child health. There are various factors that contribute to disabilities, impacting function across different areas of occupation and ultimately affecting our society and economy. Ensuring good maternal and child health is the foundation for improving the overall well-being of our nation.

In conclusion, while OTs play a crucial role in advocating and providing support, achieving optimal maternal health requires collective effort. Poor maternal health not only affects individual well-being but also generates broader social issues, which in turn perpetuate cycles of health disparities. By fostering a society where everyone contributes to supporting maternal health through policies, healthcare access, education, and community initiatives, we can mitigate these challenges. Addressing maternal health comprehensively not only improves individual outcomes but also promotes social equity and strengthens our communities.

References

Mmusi-Phetoe.M. (2016). Social Factors Determining Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in South Africa. Sabinet, Vol.39,No.1

Perinatal Problem Identification Program. (2014). Saving Babies 2012-2013: Ninth report on perinatal care in South Africa. Pretoria: Tshepesa Press. Retrieved from: https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/717/PPIP/Saving%20Babies%20Reports/report-9-saving-babies-2012-2013.zp194901.pdf

Smith, L. (2019). The psychosocial impacts of single motherhood. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(1), 45-59.

VectorStock. (2024). Pregnant woman feeling stressed and overwhelmed vector image. Retrieved from: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/pregnant-woman-feeling-stressed-and-overwhelmed-vector-41837276

World Health Organization. (2015). Nutrition: Key to development. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/nutrition_key_development/en/

[pyotan]

Menyou and Hebhis

Menyou Kazuma (めん羊 応真) was once Hebhis. (Heb-hees)

Heb = へび his = from the word Ophis which means the serpent 

So this is really just a lot I know. But it’s weirdly become it’s own thing in my head and I hope I can word it out decent enough

So yeah, Menyou is a dead constellation. The reason he is actually so cold to touch and everything rots isn’t simply because he’s dead, it’s because dead stars are cold. And I think it’s like things can’t survive in space or being touched by a star? It’s also why he doesn’t need ot really eat (but i mean he’s raised human so he’s conditioned to it).

So what’s a dead constellation??? A cluster of dead stars that once formed a constellation. This is where it’s like AU shit, it’s literally an entirely other galaxy of life and shit. I can do that ok….

But anyways, long long long ago Menyou had been the Serpens constellation.

Literally just post the wiki paragraph this is the vibe:

In Greek mythology, Serpens represents a snake held by the healer Asclepius. Represented in the sky by the constellation Ophiuchus, Asclepius once killed a snake, but the animal was subsequently resurrected after a second snake placed a revival herb on it before its death.  As snakes shed their skin every year, they were known as the symbol of rebirth in ancient Greek society, and legend says Asclepius would revive dead humans using the same technique he witnessed. Although this is likely the logic for Serpens' presence with Ophiuchus, the true reason is still not fully known. Sometimes, Serpens was depicted as coiling around Ophiuchus, but the majority of atlases showed Serpens passing either behind Ophiuchus' body or between his legs

This is why Menyou’s scales heal oiwjf ;__; 

As a constellation, he was a healer deity that was prayed to often. In this AU, it’s constellations are deities. The sun and moon are an entirely different thing, more like GOD i guess. Lmfao and yeah you know what Ive been slowly thinking about in that regard. /vomits gijs.

Anyways. Deities are allowed interactions but only to a certain extent, it can’t go beyond offering guidance. Well, Hebhis fell in love with one of his diviners and broke that sacred vow to /not/ go beyond. 

It’s all secret at first but that certainly does not last long and as punishment, the diviner is killed. 

But Hebhis does not take this well and kills one of the Sun’s and Moon’s precious stars (LMFAO) and uses that light and his scales to bring the diviner back to life.

Furious, he is completely snuffed out by the Sun’s rage… or so he THOUGHT.  because the Sun was so angered, it was forgotten that this is a deity of reincarnation.. So with that 1% of scale and soul left, a minuscule star had been formed to protect what little is left. Over time, it grows as memories and soul reincarnate anew. 

A weird thing I guess, but I think that this process is a bit of a struggle. It just takes a really long time and a bit of soul seeps out which is how it goes wandering off.. Then it gets pulled in by a mother’s magic and prayers and thus Menyou Kazuma is born anew.

In the time span that Menyou is struggling and suffering, growing and all that, the star that is mostly him is now on the search for what little oozed out… and eventually the last piece of soul is just Menyou himself. But it’s complicated now that he has a body and emotions so the rest of Hebhis takes shape as a star-shaped minion/doll. Menyou had just woken up one day with this thing and since it hovers about, it’s not left his side.

But there is no genuine interaction with it. You can be mean to it, poke or stab it. You could speak to it, embrace it. But nothing will make it react. And it is not like it protects Menyou from anything, it literally just follows him like a shadow. Waiting. 

Menyou was taken in by Ramm at this point when the Star appeared, so it was just accepted. But if it had shown up much earlier, it would have probably gotten Menyou in a lot of trouble. Luckily, Ramm had grown calmer about ridiculous things considering his life choices so.. ‘Cool, a thing follows you whatever. I’ve had a haunted boy that i’m still in love with.. ANYWAYS.’

Uhmmm! I did consider making Naoh the diviner reincarnate but eh I think that might be a little too much?? At least for it to be naoh so i think he just has a lot of similar traits to them. Which is why Menyou is so enamored but SHRUG.

As for whatever triggers all of this to go to shit and have Menyou become Hebhis as a primal again well… I don’t quite know. I think it really really will have to do with Ramm though, I think it will be a like closing chapter on Ramm. maybe he possesses Menyou since he’s stronger, but Hebhis is finally triggered into opening himself to gather what last percent of soul there is so tht Ramm can’t take it.. And maybe that just brings forth a lot of weird shit with dead spirits and stars and like vengeance.. 

Before all that though I really want Menyou to have like memories with others. He really just needs a /strong/ will to fight Ramm at all and just that’s his character to be moments and memories. 

I really really appreciate if you read this far, I do apologize if this makes no sense LOL but I really wanted it typed out o_O

[rawliverandcigarettes]

Our discussion on turians made me wonder: how do you imagine the culture of the Salarian Union? (I'm sorry, you probably talked about this elsewhere, but I was too lazy to look for that, if so feel free to refer me to that post.) I find that there are surprisingly little elements about it in canon, though there are a few hints, like the fact that the planets in the Pranas system all have modern names, the previous names having been discarded, presumably, because they evoke "bygone superstition"?

Hello! Sorry I took some time. I actually rarely packaged my thoughts on salarian culture in a digestible way, so you gave me a great opportunity to give it a recap! I will go more indepth in the future for sure, but I might do a lil' overarching presentation of my general thoughts.

First, I have written an exploration/explanation of some of my headcanons regarding salarian reproduction, and it can be found here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18872515

It is sliightly out of date and I need to do a pass to adjust some of my thoughts, but I still go by the general idea.

I also agree that there is very little things in the OT canon. I think there might be slightly more in Andromeda maybe, but I still haven't played the game so who knows!

I even believe the games kind of give up on salarian culture past ME1, where they are arguably given the most importance; we get more depth to it in ME2 through the sole and lonely perspective of Mordin; and in ME3 they are barely worth more than somewhat cheap antagonism and a couple of questionable jokes. Even right now during the promo of MELE, I felt like salarians keep being characterized as weird-cute-gross, and more like the butt of a joke than people. Even the promo for Director Tann in MEA had this "haha you get a role for a mass effect character and you thought you'd be sexy and cool TOO BAD" vibe to it, which makes me think part of the devteam (or at least the marketing side of it) don't think too highly of their very own space frogs :'(((

But to get on my actual thoughts (under the cut and the nice gif, because it won't be as long as it could be, but it's still somewhat long):

So first off, I'm trying to keep in mind how indescribably huge the Salarian Union is: we're talking about a conglomerate of planet-sized communities, moons, artificial stations, plus appendages in every large-scaled, cosmopolitan communities in Council space and possibly beyond. Just like it would be hard to talk about any united "human culture", I think the same could be true for any Mass Effect species --even though, for the sake of both narrative convenience and the tendency for globalization once communities get connected and break down communication barriers, shortcuts have to be made (and that helps make Points, and I like stories to have Points so yee).

For this reason, I have identified organizational tendencies within these communities, based both on baseline of natural grouping emerging off salarian biology (clan-based structures with matriarchal figures) and where I speculated breakdowns would happen in the modern, multicultural setting of the ME universe. To brutally over-simplify: there would be the "traditional" political organization of Sur'kesh (that I will briefly cover later), the "colonial" style (a derivation of the Sur'kesh style with more centralization), and the growing influence of ultraliberalism creeping from Council space back unto these communities, creating a myriad of variations depending on how much the communities are willing to adapt to production being controlled by corporations.

I headcanon the culture, however, to be at once: very collectivist yet an oligarchy (because dalatrasses have a right to power by virtue of existence basically), extremely eugenist to the point of having created literal, biological races that are genetically distinct from each other and cultivated to remain as such by some clans (and therefore can be very cruel towards the disabled/the imperfect at birth too), misandrist (I believe being a male salarian from a shitty clan/baronny is one of the lower forms of political existence that can be in this universe, hence why their lives in the working force are so goddamn disposable), but also designed to protect its members and have the community take care of their basic needs (so homelessness is almost not a thing, or at least used to not be a thing). I also believe the culture to be consistently young and vibrant, with lots of energy (for better and for worse). And during the time of ME, to be under economical and social duress (even gender duress!) as it sits at a crossroad regarding its future, and everyone has a lots of ideas on what this future should look like, including people gawking the outside with economical or political interests in the outcome (this basically the plot of The Empire of Preys, which is technically a prequel to Halfway Home but will be written after HH because I love chronologies that make sense and are easy to understand :) :) ).

So concerning the OG, Sur'kesh style: I have contorted a weird economical/diplomatic/land planning system into quasi-existence, that is based around a unit called the "symposium". This is a *relatively* young system in their history (still milleniums old, it really solidified in the middle of the Rachni Wars as a reaction/adaptation after several waves of imperialism that didn't really look like ours but had the same effect of flattening local cultures into a more aggressive semi-ethnostate), but central into dividing resources, workers, affect. I will not go into too much details because this is quite complicated, but these are basically commitees that will take democratic decisions among its members, based on how many clan members are appointed in both this symposium and and adjacent symposiums that might be helpful to this one --it's a system explicitely based on bribes and social influence, and getting the partial control of key symposiums is absolutely essential for Dalatrasses to maintain the influence and relevance of their respective clans. It's also a system that has, traditionally, very little use for money (it exists, but as a token of exchange that doesn't carry inherent value --if you have only access to money as a clan, you are basically worthless and won't get access to good matches or good symposium seats, or at least you used to until capitalism knocked at the doooooor and that kinda fucked things uppppppp and the society is not recovering and the gaps are getting extreeeeeme this is the plot of TEOP basically).

Oh and on the subject of the transition to more capitalist values and the decay of clans that cannot keep up, I wrote The Leftovers a couple of years ago, which talks about a young dalatrass-to-be discovering she might be sterile, right here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15854244

I have a ton more things to say on the subject (and salarian culture as a whole), buuut this is getting quite long already haha.

And in regards to your question: I headcanon that salarians from one specific continent -that then became the "cultural norm" over imperialism and complications- were confronted, in a continental way, to a huge hurricane that led to incredible floods and then stagnant water and diseases, which really soured their relationship to water that was previously quite holy. This led to a very bitter enlightenment; their "Renaissance" came out of spite against nature rather than anything else, and a lot of previous ideas were abandoned for a time -then reclaimed, then abandoned again, then warped... It's complicated. :D

[flamingo-writes]

Mixtape Track 03

Humility by Gorillaz (feat. George Benson)

Summary: Even though he's a big city boy himself, Josuke Higashikata still agreed to go camping with you and your dad. Learning in the process that camping isn't as easy as you usually make it sound. However, its during the trip that he discovers something. A new set of feelings for you start clouding his mind.

A/N: this was also inspired by the recent camping trip I had with a fre friends a few weeks back.

Warnings: none.

People were usually surprised by how close Josuke and you were. Considering the both of you were so different. Sure, for two people who basically grew up together, you were very different.

Growing up, you constantly went camping with your father, since he was a botanist. Even though now a days he worked as a teacher in City S's University, he missed his researcher days when he'd go on field trips to research plants. And so, during school breaks, he'd go camping for a few days and take you along into the most recondite places in the middle of nowhere.

While you grew up spending a lot of time in the wild, you grew to be a bit feral and adventurous. Curious of the tiny details nature had to offer, with a lot of knowledge about plants, how to light a fire, how to climb, you were very much like a wild animal yourself. You kept your appereance always simple and practical and despite liking being clean, you didn't really mind if you got dirty.

Josuke on the contrary, was a city boy, despite living in the small town of Morioh. Always looked after his appereance, always clean, always smelling nice. Josuke was a smart kid, no doubt, but when it came to survival skills, he had none, since he usually took many things for granted because he was raised always withing the limits of Morioh.

In the summer before starting highschool, as per usual, your dad planned out a camping trip with a couple of his friends from college. They usually brought their kids along, with whom you got along with, but neither of them lived in Morioh. However, this time, your father told you you could bring a friend with you.

But boy, poor Josuke Higashikata didn't know what he had gotten himself into. He though it was gonna be different, considering how you always spoke so excitedly about your camping trips with your dad.

Its not that he didn't have fun. But it was all too complicated. Sleeping on the floor, not having a mirror and having to style his hair from muscle memory. The cold at night was something he never had lived through, his hands freezing as he tried to eat his very simple dinner, as the small group of people gathered around a small fire.

"So, what's the plan for tomorrow?" You asked your father, sitting next to you as he took a big sip of his beer.

"We're gonna go to Sendai, we want to visit the Tama River, probably take a swim there" Your dad said.

"Oh nice!" Kenta, a boy around your age sighed. "I love the Tama river!"

"Sendai? Oh gee, where are we?" Josuke whispered low enough so only you could listen.

"Not sure. But it doesn't matter. When we go to Sendai, we stay a night in some cabins with hot water and beds"

"Oh thank god. I really need a shower. And a roof above my head" Josuke sighed relieved.

"Youre such a city boy" you giggled as Josuke felt a blush creep on his cheeks.

"Yeah, camping its not my thing. I am having fun though" Josuke admitted.

"Thank you for coming here. And I'm sorry I dragged you out of the city" You muttered back, looking at your friend underneath your lashes.

"Hey, don't apologise. I am having fun. You dont get to see landscapes this beautiful in Morioh. Besides, I get to spend time with you, thats ways fun" Josike added apologetically, windering if you felt offended in some way.

It wasnt all that bad, he thought. The cold weather had him sharing a blanket with you. The two of you snuggled together, sharing a blanket. And for the first time, Josuke noticed a different glow in your face.

"Thank you, Josuke" You spoke after a few seconds of silence, resting your cheek on his shoulder and snuggling closer to him as he swore he felt you shiver and tightening the blanket around your shoulder.

Josuke mirrored your movements, getting closer together so the warmth between your bodies helped you stop shivering.

The way you seemed so comfortable in nature, how you breathed in so deeply l every now and then, and how you were quick to day dream while staring at the landscape. He always thought you were objectively a pretty girl, but seeing you like this, he wondered if you had always being this pretty.

Josuke's favorite part of the camping trip was indeed spending the night at a cabin your dad and his friends rented. The first thing he did was take a hot shower while everyone else gathered around a fire outside the cabin exchanging stories of all natures while a friend of your dad cooked dinner.

However, the hot shower was nowhere near close his new favorite experience of the trip compared to when you swam in the river.

The city boy felt slightly intimidated by the idea of swiming in a river. What if something happened to him? Was it really safe to swim in river? It took a little convincing for Josuke to get in there. But nothing you couldn't do.

"C'mon, you know how to swim!" You cheered.

"Its cold!" Josuke whined as he got a si gle foot inside and thought ofnhow the temperature was going to feel in his whole body.

"I know, but as long as you keep moving, you wont feel cold"  You added.

"Its easy for you to say it, you're already in there"

"Come on! I'll buy you lunch when were back if you get in here and swim towards me!"

Josuke looked at you as you slowly swam on your back towards the centre of the river.

"You're gonna be fine! I promise!"

Josuke took a deep breath before jumping into the river and swiming towards you. The cold water stinging his skin at first. However, he soon felt the warmth of your skin underwater, as his arm brushed yours.

"Hey you made it!" You said wrapping your arms around his bare shoulders covered in goosebumps due to the cold. You hugged his as he kept moving his legs, brishing his knees with yours every now and then

"I cant feel the bottom, how deep is this river?" Josuke asked.

"Dunno. But it doesnt matter. Just keep swimming!" You cheered.

"I'm going to be honest, Im a bit scared right now" Josuke admitted, a blush painting his cheeks lightly.

"Hey, nothing's going to happen to you. Here" you said holding his hand "Some otters hold hands to keep themselves from drifting away, so, as long as we're holding hands, you're gonna be fine" You squeezed his hand softly as he looked at your uands, oretty visible through the crystal clear water.

"Are we otters now?" Josuke asked.

"You're my otter half" You giggled mischievously as Josuke glared at you at your bad joke.

"Wow" Josuke laughed as he noticed he no longer felt cold anymore "that is the cheesiest joke you ever made"

"Okay fine, you can stop holding my hand now" You joked.

"No! Dont let go! I'll behave, I promise!" Your friend whined.

You laughed, Josuke tightening his grip on your warm hand as the both of you were floating without going anywhere.

You swam together as everyone was enjoying themselves as well swiming in the river. A few hours went by before your dad and his other two friends got off the water and started a fire ready to warm up the food before the sunset.

It a few instances, you had held hands with josuke, without much of a thoight. However, this time ot felt a bit different. It felt a bit more intimate. The time you spent in the river, you were hding hands the entire time. Outside the river, you remained with your fingers entwine despite it not being necessary anymore.

Something in your chest felt different than usual. And you thought you were just being silly, suddenly feeling romantic about holdong hands with your best friend.

However, what you didnt know is that Josuke was having the exact same thoughts. And the same fast heartbeat you were having, as neither of you let gonofneach other's hands as you approached the fire upon being called for dinner.

[Mixtape]

Dont forget to leave feedback! If you want to be tagged in the future, let me know!

Also, have an actual pic from my camping trip. I did swim in a river and even though the water was very cold, I still had a lot of fun

[ultrahpfan5blog]

My thoughts on the Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2

The Mandalorian was yet again another show which I was late to catch up on. I had been meaning to for a while but just kept forgetting. I will admit, I was a little skeptical whether I would like the show. While I enjoy all the movies on some level or another, I am not exactly a big Star Wars guy. My experience with Star Wars is predominantly with the Skywalker saga and the two standalone movies, Solo and Rogue One, which are pretty tied into stories and characters from the Skywalker saga. I have not read any of the books or watched Clone Wars or Rebels or any other animated material apart from maybe a random episode or two. So I really didn't know if this show would entertain me. After finishing both seasons, I will say I was wrong for the most part. The show is fun, but I will also say that its not a complete home run for me and I can imagine its a lot more appealing to those who are more deeply invested in Star Wars lore.

It took me a couple of episodes to really get into the show. Initially, it was a bit tough for me to get invested, which is doubly hard with a main character whose face we don't get to see. Chapter 3 is where I started to enjoy the show on an action/adventure spectacle level and you also start to get attached to the bond between the Mandalorian and baby Yoda or Grogu as we find out in season 2. There is no doubt that the strength of this show lies in parent/child relationship between the Mandalorian and Grogu. Grogu is almost impossibly cute and I have to give credit to whomever designed the puppet and its movements because that was done perfectly. Because he is so adorable, its easy for us to connect with the Mandalorian's protective instinct and therefore develop a connection with him. Also, the scale and scope of the show is impressive. We get different environments, big fight set pieces, and lots of different creatures, all movie quality or at least close to movie quality. The only wonky SFX moment is Luke's appearance at the end of season 2. Initially its impressive, but the blank expression on his face makes the CGI more noticeable especially given the scene pans between Pedro Pascal's face and Hamill's CGI face and there is distinct difference.

The show is pretty thin on plot. There is not much to it. Season 1 is the Mandalorian going from place to place to protect Grogu from hunters until he encounters Moss Gideon by season end, and season 2 is the Mandalorian going from place to place to find the Jedi so that he can return Grogu to them while he is pursued by Gideon. There's not really much else to the show so far. Its basically all about individual adventures he has each episode and the characters he meets with and interacts with. There is a bit of repetitiveness to it that does get a bit tiring. But mostly the show is able to give enough interesting characters and big action set pieces to feel fairly involved. Where the show gets into a bit of problem for me is in season 2 where it takes the audience's knowledge for granted. Season 1 feels like its own thing for the most part. It doesn't feel like you need to know anything or anyone else from the Star Wars universe other than what is introduced. Not completely the case with season 2. I accept that this is a "me" problem, but I was lost when they introduced Ahsoka Tano until I later read who she was. For an outsider, that episode reads like a pure spinoff setup because nothing happens in the episode from the perspective of the Mandalorian. I don't know who Thrax is so I have no idea what Ahsoka is hunting. Mando goes looking for a Jedi, and then he is pointed to yet another location where he might find a Jedi. Also, I felt lost regarding Bo-Katan, whose pursuit for Gideon and the dark saber is an important part, but unless you know who Bo-Katan is from prior source material, you do feel a bit lost as I was until I read up who she was. Nothing against Rosario Dawson and Katie Sackhoff. Both are excellent but the show clearly expects that the audience already knows and cares about these characters. Boba Fett I knew from the movies, although I admit I have always found that character's popularity rather funny since he's really not a particularly big part of the OT. How he survives being eaten alive is still a big mystery to me, but not one that bothers me too much.

The performances are all solid. Pedro Pascal only shows his face 3 times across 2 seasons, but he certainly nails the goodbye scene with Grogu. He does a lot of emoting through his voice even though he is supposed to be this badass warrior. You feel the softening of his voice when he is interacting with Grogu or a few of his friends. It was lovely to see carl Weathers again. He has always had a very likable presence. Gina Carano is pretty good as Cara Dune. Min-Na Wen is always welcome in her couple of appearances. Despite my disconnect with the characters, Rosario Dawson and Katie Sackhoff are excellent in their roles. Giancarlo Esposito is excellent as he always is as Moss Gideon. Timothy Olyphant shows up for an episode. Michael Biehn is also in an episode. Billy Burke shows up for a couple of episodes and does a nice job, particularly in the season 2 episode. Nobody here is winning any emmys but all the actors are doing a strong job.

In the end, the first 2 seasons are enjoyable but not necessary a show that I have loved. Good but not great seems appropriate. I'm sure more hardcore Star Wars fans would get a lot more out of it. What the show does have is heart and the central relationship between Mando and Grogu really works. Which also makes me wonder what the show will be moving forward. I think it was a bold, but correct move, to seemingly end the story of Grogu. There is only so long you can do Mando carrying around Grogu from place to place. But what is the Mandalorian going to do now. I assume this will connect with Bo-Katan and the fight to restore the planet of Mandalore and the complication that arises since Mando is the owner of the Dark Saber by defeating Gideon. I guess we will see when it comes out. Overall, the show is about a 7.5/10.

[lazuli-sm]

My own headcanon on Oscar's semblance is more passive and it has something to do with fear, or just his emotions, rather than a time semblance.

Its just that out of everything we know about Oscar, fear and being afraid has been the most consistent topic/part of his character rather than anything to do with time. Time is more of a Ozpin/Ozma thing. And imo, if it was a time related semblance, while it would still be cool, and I know everyone things it will be, i would rather it not be, because his semblance is supposed to show who HE is as an individual, not who show the person who he is binded to is. Plus Oscar already has abilities related to Ozpin (magic) to show that Ozpin is present/apart of him. I don't see the point of also making his semblance related to Oz too rather than being related to who Oscar is as a person. Plus magic is so Op already I don't think he needs a super op semblance.

(Side speculation time, if it is a time semblance, how could a semblance predict being paired with an immortal soul long before it happens?(yeah I know ots a time semblance bust still lol) Unless a semblance constantly changes and then once its unlocked thats the smblance you are stuck with which could a cool time travel story idea and have one's semblance unlocked at a different time)

I also want to see the process of a person finding out their semblance is passive. Like how does one figure that out? Does one just connect the dots eventually, Are there scientists who research passive semblances and can figure out if a person has a passive semblance and what it is? I wanna find out.

I don't recall who said this, but i heard a headcanon where someone thought of a passive semblance for Oscar for Always finding a way out of a fearful/stressful/deadly situation. And that sounds really cool to me.

Imo passive semblances don't get nearly enough love they deserve, they are far more complicated than non-passive, and they effect their character in ways a normal semblance can't. Just because its not flashy and seen by the naked eye doesn't means its dumb or wasted potential. And it could be cool to see how Oscar could find it and work with it.

But don't get me wrong. A time semblance still sounds cool, i just don't think it fits who Oscar is as a person. A semblance around fear or other negative emotions sounds a lot more plausable to me.

Anyways there'a my 3am rambles. I'm just bored waiting to start work. I really don't wanna go to work in an hour. I'm not a morning person at all and waking up this morning jaut to go to work sucks lol rip. At least when Rwby starts airing i'll have motivated to get up at 3am(in Australia 3am/4am aroundish is when rwby episodes come out lol)

[tortadecuchufli]

The Ultimate Poll: Results!

Ok. after sharing the link in a couple of places, I’ve decided to close it and show what I found. Eveyrhting will be under a cut since this is kind of long. I’ll put top 3 answers for some of them, and highlights.

Saying that, let’s start!.

Note: a total of 79 people answered this, including myself.

Q1: Cats or Dogs?

#1. Both: 35 (44,3%)

#2. Cats: 32 (40.5%)

#3: Dogs: 10 (12,7%)

#4. None: 2 (2,5%)

So, a total of 67 people like cats, while 45 people like dogs (regardless of preference), and i think its pretty great to see how they both overlap in preference!

Q2: Age

#1: 16-18 y/o: 34 (43%)

#2: 13-15 y/o: 32 (40.5%)

#3: 19-21 y/o: 11 (13.9)

And the other two people were someone younger than twelve and another person between 25 and 30 years old. 

Mostly teenagers and a few young adults.

Q3: How many siblings do you have?

note: I said that adoptive siblings were counted, but I let people determine their own case.

#1: 2: 31 (39.2%) 

#2 1: 27 (34.2%)

#3 0: 6 (7.6%)

12 people had more than 3 siblings and other 3 people didnt know an exact number.

Honestly, i’m not that surprised by these results, but god have mercy upon the people who have a lot of siblings. it can be chaotic.

Q4: regarding siblings, which one describes you?

#1: Oldest child: 26 (32.9%)

#2: Youngest child: 20 (25.3%)

#3: Middle child: 18 (22,8%)

#4: Only child: 9 (11,4%)

The other 6 (7.6) aren’t sure. I just wonder, How are there people without siblings that arent Only children? Only they know.

Q5 What is your Zodiac sign?

#1: Aquarius and Sagittarius: each one having 10 votes (equal to 12.7%)

#2: Leo, Virgo, Taurus, Pisces and Aries: with 7 votes each (equal to 8.9%)

#3: Cancer and Scorpio: 5 votes each (6.3%)

The least common sign was Libra with only 2 votes. There were in fact more people who weren’t sure (4)

I would say it was pretty even since i expected to get about 6 or 7 votes considering total votes.

thx for the person who put their big three lol

Q6:  How many chairs are in the place you live in?

#1: 10-12 and 16 or more: Each option got 19 votes (24.1%)

#:2: 7-9 and 13-15: Each option got 15 votes (19%) 

This is the most well distributed question so far. Oh, and I’m really sorry for the person who doesnt have a single chair.

Q7: What’s your eye color?

#1: Brown:  34 (43%)

#2: Blue: 22 (27.8%)

#3: Hazel: 9 (11.4%)

Fun fact: there was a time where blue was almost tied with brown, must be the influence of majorly white servers, or my own bias becuase i know like 5 people IRL with blue eyes at most.

Q8:  Have you ever eaten pineapple on pizza?

#1: Yes: 52 (65.8%) 

#2: No: 25 (31.6%)

Highlights: The person who said “other” just to write “Hell no”

Q9: Is you said yes, did you like it?

note: i dont trust this question in particular because the answers don’t add up accordinfg to the previous question. Regardless:

#1: Yes: 33 (56.9%)

#2: No: 21 (36.2%)

#3: Various ways of being neutral: 4 (6.9%)

Q10:  What's the color and/or pattern of your current blanket?

Highlights!:

At least six people having plain blue  (I’m one of them) plain gray and white shows up as well.

Floral patterns are pretty common! I counted 10

“r”

I saw about 7 people with circle patterns.

Stripes and wawes are less common than I expected but still present.

Some of these are so cool! Where did they get the map one? I love it.

I loved with question and I might copy all the answers if I wasnt lazy.

Q11:  Coffee or tea?

#1: Tea: 28 (35.4%)

#2: Both: 24 (30.4%)

#3: None: 10 (12.7%)

#4: Coffee: 8 (10.1%)

Highlights: 

7 people said Hot chocolate 

The person who drinks mate! Good choice!

Q12:  Name a type of food you used to hate but you like now

Highlights:

Definitely the most diverse section. there are all kind of things here, but the most common are tomatoes, asparagus, mushrooms and vegetables.overall

“Rocks”

Shout out to he person who hated gnocchis and gave a full rant about their family making them eat them for tradition

“Butter...its a complicated story”

Q13:  What's the percentage of battery in your current device?

#1: 81-100% and 41-60%: 19 votes each (24,1%) (counting the person who thought it was on topic to tell me they have an iPhone 7)

#2: 61-80%: 18 votes (22.8%)

Q14: What time is it now?

Highlights:

4:28 AM

There were two cases of different people answering at the same time with the same timezone. One occured at 22:40 and the other at 14:33 (i think it was when i released it in the first Discord server)

The range with the most answers is 14:00-14:59

It was evenly distributed  with some peaks between 12:00 and 17:00 and past 20:00

Q15: Cereal or Milk first?

#1: Cereal: 58 (73.4%)

#2: I don’t like cereal and milk together: 16 (20.3%)

#3 Milk: 4 (5.1%)

#4: cereal only: 1 (1.3%)

If we remove from the equation those without a preference, we have 62 people left. Making Cereal equivaent to 93.5% and Milk to 6.5%

Q16:  Write the first word or phrase that comes to your mind?

Highlights:

5 answers contain the word “gay”, and as many answers contain the word fuck

“ Why was there a question mark at the end of that last question?” I don’t know man, don’t call me out like this.

"yo quería ma' :("  [I wanted more] Me too lol...

“Piss off“ ...but not everyone thought the same :c

“Epäjärjestelmällistyttämättömyydellänsäkäänköhän.” (it’ s a Finhish word without translation in English

“Yes” and “No” (also “ no❤ “)

Words of wisdom “ A society of complete tolerance must be intolerant of intolerance, thus causing a paradox, but it can be overriden by exempting intolerance intolerance. “

song lyrics

This has been all! I hope you enjoyed reading through this. We learnt a lot of things, found out about preferences, and most people answering it got ot have a little fun. See you!

[tcthetouch]

@mapleviewstarters​

𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 – 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘣𝘺-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 – 𝘪'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵). 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.

『 dev patel. twenty-nine. cis man. he/him. 』 oh heavens, is that LOUIS BHATT from CHESTNUT DRIVE i see roaming around mapleview? minnie may’s always calling them -OBSESSIVE & -IMPATIENT. i happen to think they’re not that bad! they’re a pretty cool ARCHIVIST at MAPLEVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY and every time i’ve seen them, they’ve always been +ORGANIZED & +RATIONAL. i hope i see them around again! 『 may. 21. est. she/her. 』

hello hello ! after some delay,, i am here,, w information on louis ! while my roommate’s boyfriend makes the weirdest noises i hate it !

backstory:

triggers: near-death/death, something that’s suicide attempt -adjacent but... not directly a suicide attempt because the end goal wasn’t actually death, terminal illness ( cystic fibrosis - but no, not 5 feet apart )

Louis was born and raised in Mapleview, NC. His parents had moved to the Carolinas after years in LA, finding that… maybe the reason they were having trouble conceiving was because of the stress of city life? 

Perhaps that was true. Perhaps that wasn’t. It probably wasn’t. Indeed, it was probably just dumb luck that they finally succeeded when his mother was 36, a late pregnancy which prompted them to keep a close eye on little Louis’s health. 

When he came out perfectly healthy on the 7th of December, they simply could not have been more joyous. So they celebrated him, born on a lucky day. 

He started his life as a fun-loving guy! A kid who played with everyone turned into a teenager who had no shortage of friends. Being a bit of a stoner, he wormed his way into a tight-knit group… that was pretty much full of other stoners.

However, his fun-loving nature changed on a fateful day when he and his friends found a man, so close to death. They managed to get him to the hospital in time to save his life, but Louis was changed that day. Their hometown hero status didn’t mean much to Louis – no, he just wanted to become acquaintances with the man and figure out what it was he saw during those moments of half-death.

And so acquaintances they became. The man telling Louis that he saw nothing, recalled nothing, felt nothing… it brought both terror and peace to the young man.

It also brought morbid curiosity. He began withdrawing from his friends and family, really only continuing to speak to Adrien and their other friend (wc on main!) as they had actually been there. They’d shared that experience that Louis’s therapist called ‘trauma.’

A few months after the incident, his curiosity got the better of him. He didn’t hope to die – not really – but he hoped to come close. He stuck a knife into an electrical socket and… saw nothing until his parents found him – thank goodness – just in time.

And yet, he’d never been more at peace.

However, no one in his family was necessarily ‘good’ at dealing with problems. Instead ot talking about it, instead of sending him to a therapist, they all just pretended it never happened after they paid off the hospital bill. He wasn’t suicidal, just curious! 

So he began applying to colleges – all was well! Although he was accepted into the Carolinas’ more prestigious universities, such as Duke and Wake Forest, he wound up attending his safety school out of adoration for its campus: University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA, s/o to myself because this is where I go!)

He began his studies with the intended double-major of Literature and History and he was doing well. He was shining in college, too distracted by Whitman’s ego to worry about the concept of death.

Until he met his college girlfriend, that is.

A victim of cystic fibrosis, Louis knew their time was likely limited to perhaps another decade and a half (unless scientific advancements were made – you see, he would’ve switched majors, but he wasn’t STEM-minded in the slightest). They decided they’d make the most of their time together and, as Louis was taught to do, largely ignore the elephant in the room.

To receive a Masters in Library Science (MLIS), he transferred to Appalachian State University (“App”) with his girlfriend by his side, earning her own Masters.

Things were simply beautiful. Everything was looking up. He felt just as much peace as he had in half-death, but it was in life! 

But… complications got complicated!

A clinic had his girlfriend getting special treatment… but it also had her near other CF patients. And they couldn’t even be sure she wasn’t on the placebo! So, after a few treatments and instances of getting a bit too close with some of the other patients, her condition worsened and things… were not looking spectacular.

This was around the time Louis completed his degree at 25 (did I do the math right?). They initially had plans to marry after they completed their courses, but gave up any ideas for large weddings and were officiated by a friend who signed up online. Their plans of moving somewhere bigger – still in state, so as to make travel easier, but bigger, nonetheless – were also cut short. Louis’s parents advised him to do what they had done and return to Mapleview, a calm life that they thought had allowed them their pregnancy.

Louis figured it was an idea worth trying. It wasn’t as though it would improve her condition, but it would improve her overall quality of life, right? 

When he was 27, she succumbed a bit early to her illness. And he was at peace with that. He missed her – dear god, he missed her – but she’d returned to the night sky, the stars that he could see. 

However, his life has since become incredibly rigid and routine. His obsessions worsened after her death, as did his craving for cleanliness and overall order. Being an archivist was perfect for that, but was terrible for most other aspects of his life. 

Yes, yes, his quality of life deteriorated.

He’s essentially become Jane Kerkovich-Williams from the iconic Happy Endings, suggesting better organization systems… in stores dedicated to organization. He no longer attends therapy, refusing to agree with their diagnoses. Because he’s fine. There are no problems. Indeed, quite the Type A.

But also on a sliding scale that could put him in a very Judah Mannowdog from the Bojack Horseman (why do I keep taking inspiration from this show-) box. Depends on the day.

tl;dr:

was a sociable kid and teenager. withdrew after finding a man on the brink of death with his friends and became lowkey obsessed with death. (suicide attempt-ish tw) stuck a knife in an electrical socket because he had to know what was beyond life, but not necessarily bc he wanted to die (end tw). everyone ignored that. went to unca and fell in luv w a girl who had cf. went to app state to gain an mlis. her disease worsened during a clinic. moved back to mapleview. she died. rip ip. wasn’t the typical Grieving Widower™ bc he figured he knew what was on the other side and it was nice! but,, his mental state did worsen and his obsessions, need for organization, and overall type-a demeanor amplified. 

connection ideas:

** all are open to any gender

childhood friends (0/??)

high school friends (0/??)

his other bff (wc on main!) (0/1)

high school girlfriend/boyfriend/partner (0/2)

ppl he went to college (unca + app) with (0/??)

ppl who knew his wife before she yeet’d into another plane of nonexistence (according to louis, at least) (0/??)

overall there’s more potential w past connections on louis than on judith aflhskdj

feel free to like or hmu if you’d like to plot!

[shortstories123]

THE SOUL CONTRACTS

Manasvi was a simple girl. Simple yet blessed. She was blessed with everything, a girl of her age would ever desire. A beautiful family with understanding in-laws, a lover of a husband, Anshuman, who would guide and protect her in times of need. Everything seemed to be pretty amazing in both of their lives until, a new wave of happiness knocked at their door. Yes, she found out that the pregnancy test kit in her hand was showing a doble tick mark, which clearly meant the beginning of a new life inside her.

She was beyond happy, no doubt, with all those tears glistening on her pretty face but at the same time, the practical side of her was exhaustively jittery, assuming and analyzing Anshuman’s reaction to this entire volcano of a news. Will he be as happy as her? Will he welcome this pregnancy news with open arms? He was always found in his comfort zone around children but will he be ready for this huge responsibility? Manasvi has never felt so nervous in her entire life like the way she was feeling currently. To her, Anshuman was her abode, her love, her life, her everything! She feared the circumstances, if Anshuman will not be willing to accept this blessing in their lives.

Taking its course of sweet time, the day went by and Anshuman was back home. Fulfilling his daily routine, he instantly got freshen up and was ready to discuss the entire day’s events with her. But on the other hand, Manasvi looked pale and lost. Anshuman was now worried, he simply asked her about the thing that has been troubling her. He was already aware of her morning sickness and dehydration since last few days, but what left him off guard was her nonstop weeping, when asked about the problem. He very gently, took a hold of her face and said, “You can tell me anything Manasvi, we are not two individuals living together, rather we are a part of our soul contract as one! Now tell me, what has been bothering my beautiful wife?”

“I AM PREGNANT!”, came the straight, to the point and firm reply. Anshuman was stunned to the core. His face showed the hint of no emotion. All the doubts, that has been troubling Manasvi, came true. She assumed, how fool of a person she is. Anshuman was hardly 27 years old and it is very conveniently, no desired age to be a parent and moreover, she herself was just 25. A lot has to be achieved before they can even think of raising their children. All these thoughts were running at the maximum pace in her mind, when Anshuman, all of a sudden hugged her. He hugged her like his life depended on this hug. She can clearly make out his tears at her back. He very slowly loosened up and asked, “Why the hell are you worried about such a great news? Oh, I can’t even express my gratitude Manasvi, I am beyond thrilled to know that you’re pregnant and we will soon be having a part of both us in our hands. Do you even realize, how happy and blessed you have made me feel?”

Manasvi didn’t know what to predicate out of all of this. The entire day she has been making plans to make Anshuman understand the gravity of the situation but, here the opposite of it was happening. He was making her believe about the reality of this blessing. This time, she hugged him and thanked him for this beautiful phase of their life which was about to begin.

……………..

Next day, they got an appointment from a wellknown gynecologist and Manasvi was undergone all the necessary tests and was now advised with full new eating plan for the upcoming nine months. Both of them were really excited and were very consciously listening to each and every detail prescribed by the doctor. Everything was done smoothly and both of them retired back to their sweet home. Though, now the new tension has taken a home in both of their heads, whether or not the reports will turn out to be normal or not, as the way Manasvi’s body has been responding to this new found pregnancy was anything but normal. She, for the last one week has feeling really unwell and perturbed. They had anyway decided to consult a doctor with her degrading condition.

Two days later, Anshuman received a call from Dr Bakshi and was asked to visit her with Manasvi for the reports. Unfortunately, their biggest nightmare turned out to be true and Manasvi’s reports came out with a significant set of complications and troubles for the mother to be. It was a crucial situation for both of them and unfortunately, this very time they had no clue how to deal with it. Dr Bakshi, on the other hand advised the couple to think about all the pros and cons of this pregnancy and if in case they are still willing to go for it, it shall take every ounce of faith and determination from both of their sides to endure this period of 9 months, which also meant accepting all the risks involved with the baby’s birth.

Sitting on a bench, just outside the doctor’s cabin, both of them were in deep thoughts. On one side, Anshuman was worried about Manasvi and her health and he knew that nothing in this life is more important to him more her love, her Manasvi. Whereas, Manasvi on the other side, was worried about the baby, the new life which she was carrying inside her womb. Nothing mattered to her more, than their child! She was set clear, that she will be bringing their baby to life, even if it meant to sacrifice her own. Very clearly, she told Anshuman what she wanted and promised him that nothing bad is going to happen to the three of them because it was her firm belief that God has tied this the three of them in this serene soul contract and till the time the almighty is protecting them, nothing worse is going to make them apart in this lifetime.

Anshuman had no other option that to agree with her and also, he had always been the support system for her, whenever needed. So, how can he let her down, at this particular phase of time, when she needed him the most. The period of her first trimester began and both of them took every possible precaution and prescription given by the doctor. Anshuman even organized a private yoga instructor for Manasvi, which was a great move according to Dr Bakshi. It helped Manasvi, to keep her body flexible and the baby in proper motion. Both of them left no alternative to be foreseen for the betterment of Manasvi and the baby. Manasvi even followed the strict and to the point diet chart advised to her, inspite of being a brat when it comes to healthy eating and indulgence of green veggies.

Soon the times past by and it was her 8th month in going. With the passing of each day, Manasvi’s jitteriness started to take an increment proportionally. Due to Manasvi’s complicated case, Dr Bakshi has already revealed the couple about the pre-term birth of the baby, which meant Manasvi will have to encounter the birth pangs latest by the end of 8th month or even before. It was a lovely sunny morning of May 11th, Manasvi after following her regular chores was reading a book on ‘Good Parenting’ by Afboz Cleopha. Anshuman, on the other side was getting ready to leave for office. Suddenly, the day took its turn and Manasvi’s water broke! She just couldn’t fathom the pain that she was experiencing currently. Anshuman too lost his cool and just called for the ambulance, without a second thought. Soon Manasvi was admitted in the hospital and Dr Bakshi took her charge with her team. Taking her complications into consideration, Manasvi was taken to the operation theatre and it was decided to go for a cesarean delivery, in her case. Ever single minute felt like a demise to Anshuman. He called his parents and Manasvi’s parents and informed them about Manasvi’s sudden labor. Everyone in the family was now in constant prayers for the mother and the baby. It took every ounce of strength in Anshuman, not to break down and believe in God for the safety of her Manasvi and the life breathing inside her.

Finally, after three hours Dr Bakshi and her team came out of the OT. Her expressions gave a hope to Anshuman, who was nearly shattered in the past three hours. She chuckled and said, “Congratulations, It’s a daughter! Both, the mother and the baby are pretty safe and fine.” Anshuman couldn’t believe what he heard, his happiness knew no bounds and the tears flowing down his cheeks and the neverending smile on his face clearly gave justice to his current state. He without a pause ran towards the OT. The scene before him nearly made him skip a heartbeat the love of her life, her wife was lying unconscious, but safe with their bundle of joy, their very own blood. The nurse gently took the baby from the cot and handled it to Anshuman. He, with trembling hands took the baby in his secured embrace. Their daughter was an exact replication of his Manasvi. She was just like a tiny little blip, safely and securely wrapped under a white cotton sheet. After a few moments, Manasvi too came into consciousness. She was unable to set her emotions correctly seeing Anshuman holding their daughter. The tears of happiness emerged in both of their eyes and it was nothing but a gratitude shown after have been fighting the biggest battle of their lives and eventually coming out of it with a blissful new feeling of being parents to their baby daughter.

As Manasvi mentioned, it was the Almighty’s fabricated plan to enforce their ‘Soul Contracts’ and bring it into action in 3D for this particular lifetime.

************************

[stainedglasscas]

4, 8, 12 & 10 for the discourse asks 💓

4) Meg!Sam or Lucifer!Sam?

Lucifer!Sam. Very compelling and heartbreaking in the sense that sam has always feared that there is something inherently evil within him and then he finds out that he is destined to be the body for the literal devil and yet he STILL fights it until he cant anymore. and also lucifer sam in the white suit was hot sorry not sorry. 

8) How should the afterlife have been “resolved”? Did the fixing of Heaven work?

okay this is a BIG question that i dont feel that i can fully address well but no i dont think the fixing of heaven really worked. i havent seen the finale so take my opinions about this with a grain of salt bc i am going off what ive read about it on here but like. sam and dean being stuck for eternity with their abusive father, their mother who they had a very complicated relationship with, without any of their other friends or loved ones (besides bobby) and never getting a chance to really live or break from their codependence just..does not seem like paradise to me. plus jack is god now and hes literally 3 which does not seem like a good thing for a variety of reasons. it could have been interesting if the way heaven was set up was framed as a bad thing within the show but its framed as a wonderful happy ending which it is not imo. 

For me the idea of heaven as it is in spn is weird cuz its basically just, a better version of your regular life (and not even THAT much better). Which sort of takes away the preciousness of being alive on Earth. I feel like heaven should, at the very least, be somewhere where you can reunite with ALL your dead loved ones, and it should be somehow different from real life in a way that makes real life significant. I dont know how exactly id set this up though, id need to think it over a lot more. 

12) Favorite season of Sam?

oh this is hard its between 2 and 4...the way sam is struggling this whole season to figure out why he is the way he is and never loses faith in good even when he loses faith in himself is just...i feel like houses of the holy is THEE thesis episode of how i feel about sam in this season. i dont know how else to put it into words. and season 4 sam is compelling becase A. bloodfreak hot demon gf time B. its about giving in to the monstrosity within yourself and hoping that some good can come out of it even if you are destroying yourself, even if you believe theres no hope for you anymore. 

10) What are your thoughts on Dean and Cas’s dynamic/its resolution?

i mean its pretty clear from my blog that i am a destiel person lmao. an angel strayig from heavens path as he falls in love with a very broken and flawed human man...that man learning to have faith agian, not in god but in that angel...literally whats not to love. that being said, it does bother me sometimes how dean treats cas. he really takes him for granted a lot of the time and i think if they were ever to get together dean should have to work on this. im sure cas also has flaws in how he treats dean but im a cas girl so i simply cant see them. (i mean lets be real, all of tfw would need months of therapy before ever being able to have a truly healthy relationship with anyone). 

 so obviously i fucking hated how they resolved their relationship. the confession was beautiful but the way they just completely ignored it, cut out a lot of deans reaction, tried to pretend it didn't happen, and also just completely cut cas out of the story after he died was not only bad writing in universe but also WILDLY homophobic oh my fucking god. it literally just does ot make sense for dean to be completely unaffected by the death of is best friend of 10+ years the way he was in the show, even if, for the sake of argument, he didnt love him back romantically. they really had 12 years of queerbating leading to the fastest bury yours gays i have ever seen. also some people think this is ridiculous but i think deans death was bury your gays. the writers knew that the only significant connection dean had besides sam was with cas and they knew if they had cas confess love they would have to address deans sexuality and feelings for cas in a whole new way and so they just killed him rather than even entertaining the possibility of him being queer. and thats fucked up

[eli-kittim]

How Can Good Exegesis Make Bad Theology?

By Author Eli Kittim

——-

The Canonical Context

This principle suggests that we should read the Books of the Bible not as distinct, individual compositions but rather as parts of a larger *canonical context*, that is, as part of the “canon” of Scripture. In other words, instead of evaluating each book separately in terms of its particular historical, literary, and editorial development, this principle focuses instead on its final canonical format that was legitimized by the various communities of faith. The idea is that since the redacted version or “final cut,” as it were, is considered “authoritative” by the different communities of faith, then this format should hold precedence over all previous versions or drafts.

Moreover, this concept holds that despite the fact that the Biblical Books were written by a number of different authors, at different times, in different places, using different languages, nevertheless the “canonical context” emphasizes the need to read these Books in dialogue with one another, as if they are part of a larger whole. So, the hermeneutical focus is not on the historical but rather on the canonical context. The hermeneutical guidelines of the canon therefore suggest that we might gain a better understanding of the larger message of Scripture by reading these Books as if they were interrelated with all the others, rather than as separate, diverse, and distinct sources. The premise is that the use of this type of context leads to sound Biblical theology.

——-

Theology

Theology is primarily concerned with the synthesis of the diverse voices within Scripture in order to grasp the overarching message of the complete Biblical revelation. It deals with Biblical epistemology and belief, either through systematic analysis and development of passages (systematic theology) or through the running themes of the entire Bible (Biblical theology). It addresses eternity and the transcendent, metaphysical or supernatural world. And it balances individual Scriptural interpretations by placing them within a larger theoretical framework. The premise is that there is a broader theological context in which each and every detailed exegesis coalesces to form a coherent whole! It’s as if the Bible is a single Book that contains a complete and wide-ranging revelation! It is under the auspices of theology, then, that the canonical context comes into play.

——-

Exegesis

The critical interpretation of Scriptural texts is known as “exegesis.” Its task is to use various methods of interpretation so as to arrive at a definitive explanation of Scripture! Exegesis provides the temporal, linguistic, grammatical, and syntactic context, analysis, and meaning of a text. It furnishes us with a critical understanding of the authorial intent, but only in relation to the specific and limited context of the particular text in question. It is the task of theology to further assess it in terms of its relation and compatibility to the overall Biblical revelation! One of the things that exegesis tries to establish is the composition’s historical setting or context, also known as “historical criticism.” This approach inquires about the author and his audience, the occasion and dating of the composition, the unique terms and concepts therein, the meaning of the overall message, and, last but not least, the *style* in which the message is written, otherwise known as the “genre.” While the author’s other writings on the topic are pivotal to understanding what he means, nothing is more important than the *genre* or the form in which his writing is presented.

——-

The Analogy of Scripture

One of the most important hermeneutical principles of exegesis is called “the analogy of Scripture” (Lat. ‘analogia Scripturae’). In short, it means that Scripture should interpret Scripture. This principle requires that the implicit must be explained by the explicit. In other words, the exegesis of unclear or ambiguous parts of Scripture must be explained by clear and didactic ones that address the exact same topic. That means that one Biblical Book could very well explain another. For example, the New Testament (NT) Book of Ephesians 1.9-10 seems to demystify Galatians 4.4. This principle is based on the “revealed” inspiration (Gk. θεόπνευστος) of Scripture:

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful

for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and

for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3.16

NRSV).

As for those scholars who refuse to take the NT’s alleged “pseudepigrapha” seriously because of their *apparent* false attribution, let me remind them that the most renowned textual scholars of the 20th century, Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman, acknowledged that even alleged “forged” works could still be “inspired!” It’s important to realize that just because these works may be written by unknown authors who may have attempted to gain a readership by tacking on the name of famous Biblical characters doesn’t mean that the subject-matter is equally false. The addition of amanuenses (secretaries) further complicates the issue.

So, returning to our subject, the analogy of Scripture allows the Bible to define its own terms, symbols, and phrases. It is via the analogy of Scripture, which defines the many and varied parts, that the broader canonical context is established, namely, the principle that the various Biblical Books form a coherent whole from which a larger theological system can emerge.

And, of course, interdisciplinary studies——such as archaeology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, epistemology, and philosophy——contribute to both systematic and Biblical theology by presenting their particular findings, concepts, and theoretical ideas.

——-

Testing the Legitimacy of these Principles

In explaining how these principles work in tandem, I’d like to put my personal and unique theology to the test. I have raised the following question: “What if the crucifixion of Christ is a future event?” The immediate reaction of Christian apologetics or heresiology would be to revert to “dogmatic theology” (i.e., the dogmas or articles of faith) and the scholarly consensus, which state that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. Really? Let’s consider some historical facts. There are no eyewitnesses! And there are no first-hand accounts! Although the following references were once thought to be multiple attestations or proofs of Jesus’ existence, nevertheless both the Tacitus and Josephus accounts are now considered to be either complete or partial forgeries, and therefore do not shed any light on Jesus’ historicity. One of the staunch proponents of the historical Jesus position is the textual scholar Bart Ehrman, who, surprisingly, said this on his blog:

. . . Paul says almost *NOTHING* about the

events of Jesus’ lifetime. That seems weird

to people, but just read all of his letters.,

Paul never mentions Jesus healing anyone,

casting out a demon, doing any other

miracle, arguing with Pharisees or other

leaders, teaching the multitudes, even

speaking a parable, being baptized, being

transfigured, going to Jerusalem, being

arrested, put on trial, found guilty of

blasphemy, appearing before Pontius Pilate

on charges of calling himself the King of the

Jews, being flogged, etc. etc. etc. It’s a

very, very long list of what he doesn’t tell us

about.

Therefore, there appears to be a literary discrepancy regarding the historicity of Jesus in the canonical context between the gospels and the epistles. And, as I will show in due time, there are many, many passages in the epistles that seem to contradict dogmatic theology’s belief in the historiographical nature of the gospels. So, if they want to have a sound theology, exegetes should give equal attention to the epistles. Why?

First, the epistles precede the gospels by several decades. In fact, they comprise the earliest recorded writings of the NT that circulated among the Christian churches (cf. Col. 4.16).

Second, unlike the gospels——which are essentially *theological* narratives that are largely borrowed from the Old Testament (OT)——the epistles are *expositional* writings that offer real, didactic and practical solutions and discuss spiritual principles and applications within an actual, historical, or eschatological context.

Third, according to Biblical scholarship, the gospels are not historiographical accounts or biographies, even though historical places and figures are sometimes mentioned. That is to say, the gospels are not giving us history proper. For example, the feeding of the 5,000 is a narrative that is borrowed from 2 Kings 4.40-44. The parallels and verbal agreements are virtually identical. And this is a typical example of the rest of the narratives. For instance, when Jesus speaks of the damned and says that “their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched” (Mark 9.48), few people know that this saying is actually derived from Isaiah 66.24. In other words, the gospels demonstrate a literary dependence on the OT that is called, “intertextuality.”

Fourth, the gospels are like watching a Broadway play. They are full of plots, subplots, theatrical devices (e.g. Aristotelian rhetoric; Homeric parallels), literary embellishments, dialogues, characters, and the like. Conversely, the epistles have none of these elements. They are straightforward and matter of fact. That’s why Biblical interpreters are expected to interpret the implicit by the explicit and the narrative by the didactic. In practical terms, the NT epistles——which are the more explicit and didactic portions of Scripture——must clarify the implicit meaning of the gospel literature. As you will see, the epistles are the primary keys to unlocking the actual timeline of Christ’s *one-and-only* visitation!

Fifth, whereas the gospels’ literary genre is mainly •theological•——that is to say, “pseudo-historical”——the genre of the epistolary literature of the NT is chiefly •expositional.• So, the question arises, which of the two genres is giving us the real deal: is it the “theological narrative” or the “expository writing”?

In order to answer this question, we first need to consider some of the differences in both genres. For example, although equally “inspired,” the gospels include certain narratives that are unanimously rejected as “unhistorical” by both Biblical scholars and historians alike. Stories like the slaughter of the innocents, the Magi, the Star of Bethlehem, and so on, are not considered to be historical. By contrast, the epistles never once mention the aforesaid stories, nor is there any mention of the Nativity, the virgin birth, the flight to Egypt, and the like. Why? Because the Epistles are NOT “theological.” They’re expository writings whose intention is to give us the “facts” as they really are!

Bottom line, the epistles give us a far more accurate picture of Jesus’ *visitation* than the gospels.

In conclusion, it appears that the gospels conceal Jesus far more effectively than they reveal him.

——-

Proof-text and Coherence Fallacies

The “proof-text fallacy” comprises the idea of putting together a number of out-of-context passages in order to validate a particular theological point that’s often disparagingly called “a private interpretation.” But, for argument’s sake, let’s turn these principles on their head. Classical Christianity typically determines heresy by assessing the latter’s overall view. If it doesn’t fit within the existing theological schema it is said to be heretical. Thus, dogmatic theology sets the theological standard against which all other theories are measured. They would argue that good exegesis doesn’t necessarily guarantee good theology, and can lead to a “coherence fallacy.” In other words, even if the exegesis of a string of proof-texts is accurate, the conclusion may not be compatible with the overall existing theology. This would be equivalent to a coherence fallacy, that is to say, the illusion of Biblical coherence.

By the same token, I can argue that traditional, historical-Jesus exegesis of certain proof-texts might be accurate but it may not fit the theology of an eschatological Christ, as we find in the epistles (e.g., Heb. 9.26b; 1 Pet. 1.20; Rev. 12.5). That would equally constitute a coherence fallacy. So, these guidelines tend to discourage independent proof-texting apart from a systematic coherency of Scripture. But what if the supposed canonical context is wrong? What if the underlying theological assumption is off? What then? So, the $64,000 question is, who can accurately determine the big picture? And who gets to decide?

For example, I think that we have confused Biblical literature with history, and turned prophecy into biography. In my view, the theological purpose of the gospels is to provide a fitting introduction to the messianic story *beforehand* so that it can be passed down from generation to generation until the time of its fulfillment. It is as though NT history is *written in advance* (cf. מַגִּ֤יד מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֙ אַחֲרִ֔ית [declaring the end from the beginning], Isa. 46.9-10; προεπηγγείλατο [promised beforehand], Rom. 1.2; προγνώσει [foreknowledge], Acts 2.22-23; προκεχειροτονημένοις [to appoint beforehand], Acts 10.40-41; ερχόμενα [things to come], Jn 16.13)!

So, if we exchange the theology of the gospels for that of the epistles we’ll find a completely different theology altogether, one in which the coherence of Scripture revolves around the *end-times*! For example, in 2 Pet. 1.16–21, all the explanations in vv. 16-18 are referring to the future. That’s why verse 19 concludes: “So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed” (cf. 1 Pet. 1.10-11; 1 Jn 2.28).

In response, Dogmatic Theology would probably say that such a conclusion is at odds with the canonical context and that it seems to be based on autonomous proof-texting that is obviously out of touch with the broader theological teaching of Scripture. Really? So the so-called “teaching” of Scripture that Jesus died in Antiquity is a nonnegotiable, foregone conclusion? What if the basis upon which this gospel teaching rests is itself a proof-text fallacy that is out of touch with the teaching of the *epistles*? For example, there are numerous passages in the epistles that place the timeline of Jesus’ life (i.e., his birth, death, and resurrection) in *eschatological* categories (e.g., 2 Thess. 2.1-3; Heb. 1.1-2; 9.26b; 1 Pet. 1.10-11, 20; Rev. 12.5; 19.10d; 22.7). The epistolary authors deviate from the gospel writers in their understanding of the overall importance of •eschatology• in the chronology of Jesus. For them, Scripture comprises revelations and “prophetic writings” (see Rom. 16.25-26; 2 Pet. 1.19-21; Rev. 22.18-19). Therefore, according to the *epistolary literature*, Jesus is not a historical but rather an “eschatological” figure! Given that the NT epistles are part of the Biblical *canon,* their overall message holds equal value with that of the NT gospels, since they, too, are an integral part of the canonical context! To that extent, even the gospels concede that the Son of Man has not yet been revealed (see Lk. 17.30; cf. 1 Cor. 1.7; 1 Pet. 1.7)!

What is more, if the canonical context demands that we coalesce the different Biblical texts as if we’re reading a single Book, then the overall “prophetic” message of Revelation must certainly play an important role therein. The Book of Revelation places not only the timeline (12.5) but also the testimony to Jesus (19.10b) in “prophetic” categories:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the

prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to

them, God will add to that person the

plagues described in this book; if anyone

takes away from the words of the book of

this prophecy, God will take away that

person’s share in the tree of life and in the

holy city, which are described in this book

(Rev. 22.18-19 NRSV).

Incidentally, the Book of Revelation is considered to be an epistle. Thus, it represents, confirms, and validates the overarching *prophetic theme* or eschatological “theology” of the epistolary literature. That is not to say that the •theology• of the epistles stands alone and apart from that of the OT canon. Far from it! Even the *theology* of the OT confirms the earthy, end-time Messiah of the epistles (cf. Job 19.25; Isa. 2.19; Dan. 12.1-2; Zeph. 1.7-9, 15-18; Zech. 12.9-10)! As a matter of fact, mine is the *only* view that appropriately combines the end-time messianic expectations of the Jews with Christian Scripture!

Does this sound like a proof-text or coherence fallacy? If it does, it’s because you’re evaluating it from the theology of the gospels. If, on the other hand, you assess it using the theology of the epistles, it will seem to be in-context or in-sync with it. So, the theological focus and coherency of Scripture will change depending on which angle you view it from.

——-

Visions of the Resurrection

There are quite a few scholars that view the so-called resurrection of Christ not as a historical phenomenon but rather as a visionary experience. And this seems to be the theological message of the NT as well (cf. 2 Tim. 2.17-18; 2 Thess. 2.1-3). For example, Lk. 24.23 explicitly states that the women “had indeed seen a vision.” Lk. 24.31 reads: “he [Jesus] vanished from their sight.” And Lk. 24.37 admits they “thought that they were seeing a ghost.” Here are some of the statements that scholars have made about the resurrection, which do not necessarily disqualify them as believers:

The resurrection itself is not an event of

past history. All that historical criticism can

establish is that the first disciples came to

believe the resurrection (Rudolph

Bultmann, ‘The New Testament and

Mythology,’ in Kerygma and Myth: A

Theological Debate, ed. Hans Werner

Bartsch, trans. Reginald H. Fuller [London:

S.P.C.K, 1953-62], 38, 42).

When the evangelists spoke about the

resurrection of Jesus, they told stories

about apparitions or visions (John Dominic

Crossan, ‘A Long Way from Tipperary: A

Memoir’ [San Francisco:

HarperSanFransisco, 2000], 164-165).

At the heart of the Christian religion lies a

vision described in Greek by Paul as

ophehe—-“he was seen.” And Paul himself,

who claims to have witnessed an

appearance asserted repeatedly “I have

seen the Lord.” So Paul is the main source

of the thesis that a vision is the origin of the

belief in resurrection ... (Gerd Lüdemann,

‘The Resurrection of Jesus: History,

Experience, Theology.’ Translated by John

Bowden. [London: SCM, 1994], 97,

100).

It is undisputable that some of the followers

of Jesus came to think that he had been

raised from the dead, and that something

had to have happened to make them think

so. Our earliest records are consistent on

this point, and I think they provide us with

the historically reliable information in one

key aspect: the disciples’ belief in the

resurrection was based on visionary

experiences. I should stress it was visions,

and nothing else, that led to the first

disciples to believe in the resurrection (Bart

D. Ehrman, ‘How Jesus Became God: The

Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from

Galilee’ [New York: Harper One, 2014],

183-184).

Ehrman sides with the *visionary language* that Luke, Bultmann, Crossan, and Lüdemann use. In the words of NT textual critic Kurt Aland:

It almost then appears as if Jesus were a

mere PHANTOM . . .

——-

Exegetical Application

I deliberately stay away from theology when I exegete Scripture precisely because it will taint the evidence with presuppositions, assumptions, and speculations that are not in the text. Thus, instead of focusing on the authorial intent hermeneutic, it will inevitably superimpose out-of-context meanings and create an eisegesis. All this, of course, is courtesy of confirmation bias.

So, I think one of the reasons why we’ve done so poorly in understanding, for example, the story of Jesus is because we have mixed-up exegesis with theology. When theology drives the exegesis, then the exegesis becomes blind and erroneous.

My method of exegesis is very simple. I see EXACTLY what the text *says,* EXACTLY *how* it says it. I don’t add or subtract anything, and I don’t speculate, guess, or theorize based on existing philosophies or theologies. The minute we go outside *the analogy of scripture,* that’s when we start to speculate. And that’s how we err. In short, let the Scriptures tell you what it means. Thus, the best interpretation is no interpretation at all!

——-

Conclusion

To find the truth, we must consider all the evidence objectively. Evangelicals, for instance, would be biased if they didn’t consider the academic standpoint even if, at times, it seems to be guided by liberal theology. In this way, they will be in a better position to consider objectively all the possibilities and probabilities regarding the correct interpretation of Scripture. That’s because the truth usually touches all points of view . . .

One of the exegetical stumbling blocks is our inability to view the gospels as “inspired metaphors.” Given their literary dependence on the OT, it appears as if the gospels themselves are “inspired parables.”

So, if the epistolary literature, which is both expositional and explicit, seems to contradict these so-called “theological parables,” then it becomes quite obvious that the “theology” of the gospels fails to meet scholarly and academic parameters. And, therefore, the epistolary literature must be given more serious attention and consideration!

Our exegetical shortcomings often stem from forced or anachronistic interpretations that are based on *theological speculation* and conjecture rather than on detailed exegesis. Even the Biblical translations themselves are not immune to the interpretative process, whether they be of dynamic or formal equivalence.

That’s why I have developed an exegetical system and have demonstrated the effectiveness of its approach to the study of the Biblical Christ. Accordingly, I argue that the epistles are the primary *keys* to unlocking the future timeline of Christ’s ***ONLY*** visitation! Hence, I leave you with one final rhetorical question:

What if the crucifixion of Christ is a future

event?

[gffa]

thewillowbends replied to your photoset: I’ve been trying to get a read on Ben Solo through...

The issue is also that Vader wasn’t positioned as a empathetic character in the original trilogy. We didn’t need Anakin’s backstory because Vader was all villain up until ROTJ where Luke’s choices forced both Vader and us as the audience to shift our perspective on evil and its origins. Ben has a MUCH larger character role as an antagonist, so handing us that same requirement of empathy but not telling us WHY is a big problem. Anakin’s story was a bonus to the OT. Ben’s story was a necessity

I mean, you’re not going to get much arguing from me on this!  I do think a lot of this was down to the lack of a more detailed idea of what was going on with the sequels, as well as two competing visions in something of a tug-of-war, so I don’t really get what his motivations were, but I also wonder if it’s not related to something that stuck with me the instant I read it-- The entire sequel trilogy has been about SW, that each movie has been either capitalizing on the nostalgia or deliberately swerving away from it, but all of them have been incredibly aware that there’s this whole cultural phenomenon going on with them, rather than just being a story. So Ben Solo isn’t just Ben Solo, but he’s being written with all these deliberate parallels to Anakin Skywalker in mind.  And, to a degree, that’s fine, hell, that’s what SW does, the echoes and rhymes and all that.  It’s one of my favorite things about the franchise!  But it needs to come with the character still having a story even apart from that, still they have to have motivations even apart from that, and I just don’t get why Ben Solo does the things he does, other than “because he’s being paralleled to/contrasted against Vader”. Like when Adam Driver talked about his initial idea of the character:  "J.J. Abrams told me when I met him for the first time that I should imagine a journey of a character completely opposite to Darth Vader," he said about his role.  The first context Ben Solo has is About Star Wars As A Franchise. Thus, the entire time we’re watching him, we’re waiting for the redemption, because it’s been telegraphed to us, because we know how Vader’s story ended, because we know SW echoes and rhymes.  But if you set that aspect to the side for a moment, why does Ben Solo fall to the dark?  Why does he listen to Snoke over his family?  Is it because he’s angry at his family or because he doesn’t want to control his feelings or is it something else?  Why does he try to force Rey to join the dark side?  Is he justifying his fall in a sunk cost fallacy or does he truly believe in the dark side or some complicated thorny mix of both?  Why does he join the Knights of Ren in the first place? Without the context of the previous movies--without our knowledge of Anakin Skywalker’s story--I’m not sure I really understand or feel like we’ve been given Ben Solo’s story yet. And, honestly, creator commentary isn’t helping me either.  Adam Driver said:  “[Kylo Ren] has a different identity, a different definition of what redemption is,” Driver explained. “He’s already been redeemed in his story. I don’t think there is a thought of redemption. He doesn’t have an outside lens of the events, you know — you know what I mean? That’s more of an outsider’s view of his world.” I have no idea what that means!  He’s already been redeemed in his story?  What does that mean?  He thinks he was justified, right up to the end, in killing the villagers on Jakku, killing Han, standing by while the Hosnian system was obliterated, killing the people of Tah'Nuhna, oppressing countless worlds like Mon Cala and causing more deaths there?  Does he, even to the end, still think that he was right to do those things?  Did he actually return to the light or did he just have a selfless moment again that allowed him to disappear into the Force?  (I mean, fair enough, we can’t really say if Anakin regretted his actions as Vader, either.)  Did he finally let go of all the stuff he had bottled up inside?  Can we square that with Driver’s idea of how he didn’t feel he needed redemption before that, even though we see him order the brutal attack on Kijimi in the movie? I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS CHARACTER, BUT I’M NOT SURE I’M GETTING IT.  Like, I’m ready to embrace this trash bag as I’ve embraced other trash bags in this series, I feel like the potential is there if I could just understand him, but I need something more than this, I need to be able to answer at least some of those questions above.

[resident-beekeeper]

This is a continuation of this post, because that was getting far too long so I thought I'd split it up.

When it gets to autumn it's time to get honey and wax.

Early autumn mind, so the bees have plenty of time to build up depleted stores ready for winter.

Geralt puts bee escapes in the hives they're collecting from (basically 1 way gate things that gets all the bees out of a super so they aren't there when you take it away), but obviously not in all of them because not all the colonies are strong enough to give honey.

Of course Jaskier insists upon helping Geralt carry the supers into their house because there are quite a lot of them.

Only it turns out that honey is very heavy and he doesn't have the upper body strength to lift a super and then carry it any distance. So Geralt takes it off his hands.

In his defence he did try very hard to lift a full super. Definitely gets points for effort, if nothing else.

The kitchen then gets covered in cardboard and sheets are hung up to cover the door frames. It is also thoroughly cleaned so the honey is free of bacteria and stuff.

Now it's time for spinning.

Geralt is old fashioned in his beekeeping and so has a hand powered centrifuge. Which means that he needs to spend a while spinning the honey round and round to get it out of the wax. It's pretty hard work and his muscles look very good.

This is the best picture I could find on the internet of a centrifuge. Mine is a little different and has a lid to help avoid spillages but its currently underneath a lot of stuff because I won't need it for several months. Anyway Geralt would spin the handle that's on the side.

Jaskier is on holding the centrifuge steady duty because he's strong enough for that, and not trusted with a knife. It also gives him a chance to look at Geralt's muscles but shhh.

Yennefer for some reason is trusted with a knife, so she's cutting the caps off the cells. (Honey gets little wax lid things put on it by bees to preserve it, called caps. This needs cutting off so that the centrifuge gets it out properly. A hot knife is best to cut through wax because it melts ot a bit.)

Ciri is in charge of giving Yennefer the honeycomb to cut the caps off, removing the wax that had been spun from the centrifuge from its wooden frames and giving hot water to Yennefer to heat up her knife.

Which sound like a lot but it doesn't take much to move around frames, and the hot water only needs replacing every 15 minutes or so. So it's only 1 proper job really.

This makes it sound a lot calmer than it was. It was highly highly chaotic.

For one thing, honey gets fucking everywhere and is very sticky. But it's also surprisingly slippery when theres above a certain amount in 1 place.

Jaskier keeps eating bits of honeycomb with honey in which slowly makes him feel sick from all the sweetness. But also now hes got beeswax in his mouth and nowhere to put it. And if you chew beeswax for long enough it gets all crumbly.

Ciri, Geralt, and Yennefer's hair gets honey and small bits of wax in it even though its tied back. None of them can go outside in case bees or wasps find them and follow them back inside to where all the honey is.

When all of the honey has been spun, and then transferred into a settling bin (a smaller tub that you put honey in to let bits of wax rise to the top so its easier to get them out of the honey) it's time to deal with the sticky wax.

Geralt and Ciri normally make beeswax candles together, but the wax needs to not have any honey in it otherwise it smells of burnt sugar when it burns and smokes a bit.

So they need to separate out the honey and wax by melting it. (Wax is hydrophobic and less dense than honey so it rises to the top and when it solidifies you can take it off in blocks. This often needs to happen twice.)

They all gather up the wax that Ciri got out of the frames and squash it into some metal dishes that Geralt has for wax melting. (I do not have this sort of thing, but I figured Geralt probably would. Instead I use dishes that are also used for food which are always a massive pain to clean.)

They then get put into the oven which is on very low, and left for a while. Geralt takes them out when the wax has melted because it's a lot of hot liquid that really needs to not be spilled especially because wax is very hard to get off stuff.

There's lots of metal wires in the wax that need taking out with great care, so of course Jaskier underestimates how hot the melted wax actually is, reaches into the wax to get the wires out, and promptly burns himself.

Ciri takes out the wire with a fork so that she doesn't burn herself.

She also takes out the wax that hasn't melted, which is bad for making candles with. (I have no idea why there is wax like that but there always is. Its generally a different colour too.)

Once its cooled down, Ciri takes the wax and cleans it. (Theres always gunk inbetween the honey and wax when it separates.)

Every year as a treat, Geralt lets Ciri choose one extra candle mould when she makes candles. At this point she has about 10, because she started off with more than 1 anyway.

This year she decides on a light house because she doesn't have many tall candle moulds.

Jaskier gets wind of this and decides he wants to get Geralt one. So he gets the THORNE catalogue and looks at the candle moulds. (THORNE is a supplier of bee stuff. There's so much stuff you can buy from them, including a bee suit with knee pads built into it. They sell candle moulds too, along with wicks.)

There are a lot of potential candles for Jaskier to choose from.

He's very tempted by the 'lovers' one because he is giving it to Geralt.

But then he turns the page and sees a candle that has been censored for the magazine.

And it is called '50 shades of wax'. So of course Jaskier has to get it because hes almost certain Geralt's reaction will be priceless. (This particular candle is one that I saw in a THORNE catalogue. I have no idea how many people would ever want to buy it, especially because you couldn't see what was going on because it had a red box covering most of it that said '18+' on it.)

He orders it separately from Ciri's though, because it needs to be a surprise and also he doesn't want to explain to Ciri why he got it for her dad.

When it arrives he shows it to Geralt just before they're about to go to bed.

Geralt isn't really aware of books that have come out even slightly recently, unless it's something that Ciri likes.

So when he sees what it's called, and especially without knowing what it looks like (it's a solid mould and a relatively complicated design so it's difficult to see what it is) hes just really confused.

Because of course you can dye wax so that it's different colours, but those aren't really shades?

And beeswax does come in slightly different colours, but that's normally impurities in the wax, rather than the wax itself being a different shade.

So Geralt just looks at it in confusion for a long time.

Jaskier eventually puts him out of his misery by explaining why it's called that, and roughly what it will look like.

But by this point the mood Jaskier was hoping for has well and truly been spoiled.

But at least he got a laugh out of it, if not how he was expecting to.

That's probably enough for now? I'm definitely gonna add more. They still need to feed the bees and actually make candles. Among other stuff.

(@jaskierisanangel because someone wanted to be tagged so they could see more? Which is wild to me but also makes me so happy)