#like.. i have at least one rare phobia

[yohyagisawa]

i wish rare phobias were talked about more and i wish i could find more rare phobia positivity

[revvethasmythh]

tbh, one of the things I can't wait to be over with this campaign is the idea that any real person's engagement with feminism is somehow tethered to whether or not/how much they like imogen and laudna (and additionally, having the concept of lesbophobia attached to whether you enjoy the ship between them). i feel like every single time there's been a word of criticism about their behavior or development, it's immediately been met with a cry (in certain circles) that anyone being critical isn't feminist and doesn't support sapphic relationships, which has been a WILD experience on my end as a stan blog for a female character who has notable sapphic ships. but none of that has mattered in the wake of these two SPECIFIC characters. like they're the linchpins of feminism and all sapphics around the world, and to dislike or even just be mildly critical of them proves you have disavowed your rights to be a feminist. or queer yourself. if i am eager for ANYTHING to be over, it is that

[phagodyke]

I was on the wikipedia page for phobias just for fun but just discovered theres an actual word for a fear of being touched.. 🥹

[pigfacedbitch]

Phobia

idea : your phobia relates to your boyfriend's gifted godly abilities.

word count : 0.8k

type : headcanons

pairing/s involved : Jason Grace / Percy Jackson / Leo Valdez / Frank Zhang / Nico Di Angelo x Reader

warning/s : phobia speaks for itself. personally, it's thalassophobia for me. 😓

here is my masterlist!

Jason Grace | Acrophobia (Fear of Heights)

Due to having the same fear as his sister, Jason is completely aware of the dos and dont's when you're an acrophobic.

If you two are forced in situations where you need to be in high places, he always attempts to distract you with anything he can think of.

He prefers embarrassing stories over jokes. His delivery is too deadass and his 'i'm-trying-hard-here-it's-not-funny' look makes you laugh before the punchline.

Knowing that it can be associated with the fear of falling, Jason will reassure you every time that he's going to catch you.

If you did fall, during some battle for example, he will asks you to close your eyes and hold you tighter before slowly bringing you down.

He really lives up to that Superman nickname so much, the others started calling you Lois Lane.

Percy Jackson | Thalassophobia (Fear of Deep Bodies of Water)

Percy would be bummed out. Being the son of Poseidon, he loves to be in the water.

Everything about him— from his favorite hobbies to his happiest of memories, revolves around it and he wants to share that with you.

He plans on taking you on trips underwater; introduce you to the majestic marine creatures nobody else has seen before, unravel mysteries the sea has to offer, and form a big bubble where you can do whatever you want without being interrupted (ehem👀).

But how can he make all of it possible when your fear is literally all of those?

Percy would want to help you get over it. He wouldn't force you but he will at least try convince you.

If you refuse, he will respect that.

But if you accept his help, he'll try to take it one step at a time. Probably by starting to show you how the sea, no matter terrifying it is, is also beautiful place.

Leo Valdez | Pyrophobia (Fear of Fire)

Initially, Leo will laugh. I mean, who wouldn't?

You're a pyrophobic yet you're dating someone who is actually made out of fire?

After he notices that you're not joking, he will begin to be terrified for you. Expect that Leo will be extra careful when you are with him, especially when he is working on something.

His contraptions deemed too dangerous like explosives, will be kept somewhere far away.

As much as he thinks your presence will make Bunker 9 a lovelier workspace, he will understand if you don't want to go there. The essense of it is from the god of fire himself— I mean you need a blast of fire to enter.

He also will refrain himself from using his fire abilities in a fight, making do with his inventions instead.

While pyrophobia doesn't have specific causes, it may be possible that you had some traumatic experience relating to fire. Leo doesn't want to hurt you or make you feel worse.

Frank Zhang | Zoophobia (Fear of Animals)

Frank is confused. He doesn't know that the fear of animals is a thing and would wonder why you agreed on dating him in the first place.

He will ask you tons of questions; what caused your phobia? Are you afraid of all animals, a few, or just one? What can I do? After your conversation, he's going to search more information.

If you're afraid of one animal only, Frank will forget it ever existed. He will never talk of that animal again even when you're not around.

The others will joke about it. Example, if you're scared of snakes—

"What is a snake, Frank?"

"What's that, Leo? I have no idea, so let's never speak of it again."

In the case that you're afraid of all animals (this is a rare condition), he will not use his abilities and will train harder in combat.

When he really doesn't have a choice but to shapeshift in a fight, you two will separate with your friends' assurance that they got your back.

Frank is a nice guy but if someone made an offensive comment about your phobia or hardcore pranks involving that animal? Expect the wrath and rage of Mars.

Nico Di Angelo | Phasmophobia (Fear of Ghosts)

I'm sorry but Nico will slightly judge you. Really, a ghost? What are you, five?

Like Frank, he will ask you what caused your phobia.

He will feel terrible and comfort you if you have the same experience as Reina and Jason, who's loved ones turned into a mania. If it's because of horror movies, he will awkwardly pet your head.

You may think the subject is dropped but Nico will make sure that no ghost will ever come near you.

Having the infamous title 'Ghost King', he will not hesitate to torment and threaten the spirits who try to approach, scare, or talk to you.

He will take you on dates to McDonalds but he will not bring you to any 'ghost business'.

If you want to get rid of your phobia, Nico will summon ghosts who can entertain you; like singers, dancers, those that can do tricks, and stand up comedians.

He will also show you how easily he can bend any ghost to his will, proving to you that there's nothing to be afraid of.

[cottoncandyafterdark]

Senku SFW Alphabet

Tags: SFW, alphabet meme, fluff, headcanons

Warnings: None

Notes: Originally posted on ao3 here

A: Affection (How affectionate are they with a s/o?)

He's not a very touchy person, so not very. Not physically, at least. He's a little more likely to express affection through his words.

B: Breath (What can their s/o do to take their breath away)

He appreciates the hell out of it if you take interest in what he does and what he's interested in, and likewise, he loves seeing you flex what you know and what you're good at.

C: Cuddle (Do they cuddle? If they do, how and when do they cuddle?)

Again, not really. Physical touch is a "sometimes" thing for Senku. When you're falling asleep together, he'll hold you, and when he's in the right mood, he can appreciate a good cuddle, but most of the time he'd rather not.

D: Dream (What do they dream of doing with their s/o?)

Saving the world, obviously. That's all he's ever wanted to do, right? What exactly that entails might change, but he wants to do it all by your side.

E: Effort (How much effort do they put into a relationship?)

So much. You're definitely his first partner, so early on, he's straight up doing research to figure out how to make this relationship work as well as possible... And then it's a whole other deal making what he learned actually work with his personality and style of showing love. He is putting WORK into this. Please be patient with him. Later on, the basic stuff comes a bit more naturally, but he's still putting his all into making sure you feel loved and happy with him, regardless of how distant he might sometimes come off.

F: Fear (What do they do if their s/o is scared? How do they handle it?)

If it's some kind of actual physical threat scaring you, unfortunately he's not going to be the most helpful. Like, he'll do his best to get you out of harm's way, but dude isn't exactly a knight in shining armor. Otherwise, he'd do his best to calm you down, maybe talk you through a breathing exercise or just talk to you to distract you or something. If it's a case of an irrational phobia, he'd probably try to tell you the facts about whatever it is you're scared of, i.e. telling you that a spider isn't venomous, and there's no way it could hurt you.

G: Gifts (What type of gifts do they give their s/o? Do they want a gift in return?)

Senku's gifts are usually given in the neurodivergent style of "I found a cool rock I thought you'd like while I was out today" and that's all he wants in return, really. For bigger gifts, he'd both give and want to receive something practical, something actually useful.

H: Hugs (Do they hug their s/o? How often?)

He'll accept hugs from you, and might even reciprocate them. However, he'll rarely be the first to hug you, and it's not his preferred way of showing affection.

I: Intimacy (How romantic are they? Do they have problems with intimacy?)

Senku isn't romantic in the traditional sense. He might try at first, but it just isn't how he works. But if you're willing to meet him on his level, and accept how he does show his love, you'll find he's more romantic than most would give him credit for.

J: Jealous (Do they get jealous? How do they act when jealous?)

He'll tell you he doesn't get jealous, but that isn't quite true. He only gets jealous if you flirt with or show attraction to someone else, not the other way around, and he just gets a little irritated and tries to redirect your attention. It's pretty subtle, he might not even realize he's acting jealous at all.

K: Kiss (Are they a good kisser? Do they like to kiss? How often do they try to kiss you?)

So, Senku doesn't mind kissing, but he won't usually be the one to initiate it. At first, he's... Not the best kisser- he just doesn't have any experience, but he'll get better at it with time. As he gets used to it and to being in a relationship in general, he'll also kiss you more often.

L: Love (When do they say they love you? How often do they say it? Do they prefer to say it or show it?)

He doesn't say it much, he prefers to show it; and he shows it every time he kisses you, every time lets you casually touch him, every time he just hangs out with you and wants you to be near him.

M: Marriage (Do they want to get married? If so, what kind of ceremony?)

He'd be happy to get married eventually. He'd prefer a low-key ceremony and reception, not a lot of pomp and circumstance, just your close friends in attendance- if even that, he'd be perfectly happy to just elope- and not letting it get too sappy.

N: Night out (What type of dates do they like to go on? How often do they like to go on them?)

Does hanging out in the lab count as a date? If it were before the petrification, he'd probably take you to a museum, or maybe a library, if you wanted to go out. Otherwise, he'd be content to just hang out at home with you, and that's probably what you'll end up doing most of the time.

O: Out of the Ordinary (What’s something they don’t normally do for/with their s/o?)

I think I've established by now that he's not a fan of physical affection. Don't expect a lot of hugs and cuddles.

P: Playful (Are they playful in a relationship? If so, how do they play around/mess with their s/o?)

Nothing worse than anyone else gets from him. He has a dry sense of humor, so it's not always clear when he's joking, but he does joke around a fair bit. He likes to tease you a bit as well. Just some lighthearted ribbing.

Q: Questions (Do they ask their s/o their opinion on things? Do they share theirs?)

He asks for your opinion if it's about something that affects you or is in your area of expertise, and expects you to do the same for him. He's definitely not shy about sharing his opinion if you don't ask, though.

R: Random (How spontaneous is their relationship? Do they do things on the spot or plan ahead?)

He'd definitely prefer to plan things ahead. He's just not a super spontaneous person when he can help it, he likes to have things planned out. He wouldn't turn you down if you wanted to do something on the spot, though.

S: Sleep (How do they sleep with their s/o?)

While you're falling asleep together is one of the few contexts in which he's okay with a bit of cuddling. Admittedly, he'll probably wriggle out of your grasp once you fall asleep, but the warmth and pressure can be kinda nice when he's tired.

T: Trust (How much do they trust their s/o?)

Completely. End of sentence.

U: Unique (What makes them unique as a s/o?)

His intelligence, his immense kindness (whether or not he wants to admit it's there) add a little something to your relationship that you couldn't get with pretty much anyone else. His brain goes a mile a minute and it can be hard to keep up, but his brilliance and compassion are what make him so endearing.

V: Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like in this state?)

After you've been together for a while, you'll start to see cracks in the facade sometimes when you're alone with him. What he does is exhausting. He believes in his cause wholeheartedly, but it's not always as easy as he makes it look, and it gets to him sometimes. When he's alone with you, he starts to feel comfortable enough to show that.

W: Wild Card (Random domestic headcanon)

Senku is a surprisingly good cook- or maybe it's not such a surprise. I mean, he managed to make some decent ramen out of foxtail millet, with the proper ingredients and a good recipe, his food will be great.

X: X-Ray (What would they do if their s/o got injured?)

First, of course, he'd administer first aid. He's not a medical expert, exactly, but there's a good chance he's the person present with the most medical knowledge, so he might even be the person taking care of you throughout your recovery... And even if there was a more experienced medic around, he might just insist on helping. He wants to make sure you're okay.

Y: Yuck (Do they have any pet peeves about their s/o? Are there any habits that might bother their s/o?)

I think Senku doesn't really fuck with religion or mystical/unscientific stuff so while he probably wouldn't outright say anything derogatory or argue about it if you're a believer (unless your beliefs are really anti-science), it might still cause some conflict if that's something that's important to you.

Z: Zeal (Are they passionate as a s/o? Do they want or like passion?)

A lot of things you'd associate with a "passionate" relationship just aren't going to be there with Senku- he doesn't like most forms of physical touch, he doesn't outwardly emote a lot or express his feelings very well- but when he cares about something, he puts everything he has into it. You are no exception. The question isn't if Senku is passionate in your relationship, but if you'll recognize his passion.

[gemsofgreece]

You really should know about Storm "Daniel"

Unlike how much all of us Greek blogs notify our tumblr communities about the regular (at this point) arsons wildfires afflicting Greece, we did not say much about the floods the country has been suffering from right now. There was a mention here and there and I even made a joke post as the storm was starting but not a lot of stuff in general. So, I think there's a couple of things you should know and I feel like I could address about it and actually it's not just about Greece. So I believe this could interest a lot of people and it should be something known worldwide.

In the beginning of September there was an alarm about an extreme weather phenomenon forming above the Ionian Sea at the west of mainland Greece. In truth, the phenomenon was not caused by the climate change. It was just a very rare occurence where a high pressure atmosheric system was sandwiched between two currents of low pressure. Low pressure systems are the ones resposible for stormy weather while high pressure systems generally create stable weather. As the low currents encircled the high pressure system, the storm that had started forming became unusually stable for a storm. As a result, the storm moved northeast above Thessaly and other regions of the central part of Greece and... just decided to stay there for an indefinite amount of time. Furthermore, because it's September and the Ionian Sea had warmed up throughout the summer, the medicane (Mediterranean cyclone) gained tropical features as it was forming, pushing its intensity to extremes unknown to this area.

The storm remained above all of central Greece for about 4-5 days but at the meantime it was causing side-storms in neighbouring countries, such as Bulgaria and Turkey. Both countries suffered from floods causing damages and deaths.

Istanbul, Turkey (CNN).

Tsarevo, Bulgaria (CNN).

Four people died in Bulgaria and seven in Turkey.

But like I told you the core of this was exactly on top of Greece's central mainland and islands. So what happened there? I happened to experience this shit first hand. My recollection of it is that it was unlike any other storm I had experienced before. My knowledge on meteorology is not very advanced, however I believe due to the high pressure part, there were actually no winds at all - or they were insignificant, so it wasn't like what you might have in mind as a conventional cyclone. It was a rainstorm but it was like a rainstorm from hell. The crucial part is that in Greece summer violent rainstorms may last for about five minutes but certainly not for five days nonstop. There was no pause, not even for a second. It kept pouring and pouring in indescribable volumes, without decreasing or slowing down, not for a moment. The fourth day it started taking short breaks.

As a person with a phobia of lightnings since childhood, I kept wearing earplugs throughout all these days. For four days, ten seconds did not pass without at least one lightning shrieking exactly on top of our heads. In the end, I am dead serious, I think my lifelong phobia has been cured somewhat due to this extreme exposure that eventually had a numbing effect. I think only the first day there was a record of 7,000 lightnings. I believe there must have been dozens of thousands overall. The lightnings also caused fires but the downpour was so overwhelming no fire could ever stand a chance.

Whether during or after the rains, what I was seeing outside was post-apocalyptic. The only thing missing was the zombies. It really looked like a background from a videogame, including a constantly lit up sky. I was not in danger though people dear to me were. The worst for me was a huge fall in the quality of living but that doesn't matter. The rains caused severe destructions across cities and villages. They caused floods, they broke bridges, they broke a massive number of roads, they made walls collapse, they destroyed springs, they damaged water and electricity outlets entirely, they drowned flocks and flocks of animals, they destroyed mountainous and coastal villages alike, they made cars float and fly over each other and they uprooted houses.

Village in Mount Pelion, Greece.

But that's not the end of it. Four days later, the storm moved southwest towards the Ionian sea, basically to the place of its original formation. It side-swept over Athens in the meantime, flooding the city, but that doesn't mean much since I could cry and Athens would still flood with my tears. Anyway. AFTER the storm left, the floods caused by it started multiplying and expanding. Picture that: a crystal clear sky, a bright sun and your phone screaming state alerts about evacuating your village or town because a lake has launched at you! Here's the thing: Thessaly is a massive plain surrounded by a ring of mountains. Half of those downpours fell right on the lowlands causing floods and destructions the first days. The other half however fell on the mountains, filled the streams heading down and they all met up and filled the lakes and the large river of Thessaly, Pineios and they all basically exploded the next days. Pineios especially exploded both in its western and eastern part, sinking the entirety of Thessaly's plains under water. As a result, floods were actively taking place days after the storm had ended and the weather was good. The phenomena have only started subduing since yesterday.

The overflowing of the river, trapped by the mountains.

Farmers won't be able to work this year and next year is questionable as well. There are huge concerns about various epidemics breaking out as more and more dead animals are found in the waters. Entire villages are under the water. There are estimations that some villages in west Thessaly might have been lost forever and their residents will have to move elsewhere. Sixteen people have died from the rainstorm and the floods.

Actual villages in Karditsa, Greece.

A more longterm danger is that the ground received such an unnatural amount of water that it might have been severely eroded and destablised, making it vulnerable to natural disasters I don't want to utter. Many roads are either broken or bloated and Thessaly has been cut out from communication and transportation with the rest of the country. To this day, there are maps guiding people how to drive from North to South Greece and vice versa by entirely skipping Central Greece! (Hint: they will have to drive through Epirus, aka western Greece.) The first days there was also complete isolation from what was happening in the country and the world and also the very regions we were in as we had no electricity and our only chance was getting a call from somebody being elsewhere and telling us what is going on.

Volos, Greece (CNN)

Many regions have received within 2-4 days 55 times their monthly amount of rain or more than twice the yearly amount. Greek meteorologist Christos Zerefos estimated that such a phenomenon occurs every 300-400 years. Meteorologists were alarmed internationally - with Germans and Americans reportedly saying they hadn't studied such a phenomenon again in their career. Its intensity was record high in the history of Greece and right in the top of Europe's as well. They also agreed that such a phenomenon would be devastating even if it had hit the most advanced and prepared country.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE END. The weakened Daniel seemed to slowly move towards South Italy but it decided to take a turn and headed south towards Libya and Egypt. Quite possibly, as the storm was once again travelling across the warm Mediterranean Sea, it was rejuvenated and gained even more tropical traits. Eventually, the medicane hit Libya with unprecedented force.

The cyclone travelling from Greece to Libya.

The toll it took on Libya is unspeakable. As I am writing this,

More than 5,226 people are killed and more than 10,000 are currently missing.

Like, can you wrap your head around what I am talking about? I don't see this shit being acknowledged enough across the world. I am checking this again and again, to ensure I am reading this correctly.

Daniel has officially become the deadliest medicane on record.

Eastern Libya, from Al Jazeera.

In the meantime, Greeks found opportunities to practice their favourite sport: political infighting. People who weren't even here when hell broke loose say that if this or that was properly done, we would not have problems at all. I even saw an idiotic Greek expat comment how "we got drowned in a little bit of rain". The truth is we should bloody thank our lucky stars and I say this with the entire awareness of half of Thessaly being currently underwater. It is true that Greek governments and people have done so many things badly, like building on top of streams and rivers, changing rivers' natural route, drying up natural lakes and all that shit that guarantees you are going to have massive problems once a serious storm breaks out. Also, the disaster revealed that there was once more a very questionable management of all the money given by the EU for anti-flooding measures after a previous flood (Ianos). Of course, I would be happy if at last we viewed this disaster as an opportunity to improve ourselves and the management of our land, however whatever happened these days wasn't the fault of anyone in particular. On the contrary, A LOT worse could have happened. A lot. Maybe Libya is not an indication because if Greece is not used to such extreme rain phenomena, then Libya is probably ten times less used to them, however we should not forget that this monster was STUCK at least five days over the heartland of Greece. For this alone we should damn be thankful we did not get it any worse and that the land endured in any way and of course now we have to correct old mistakes as well but let's do it united and determined and without wasting time once more in pointless infighting, which in this case might even be unfair. (In fact I think the thing we should blame the state the most about was not making it clear beforehand that this was going to be unprecedented, not just "very severe". They probably didn't want to cause panic and mayhem but still. We should know.) Of course I am not talking about how the state will treat the afflicted regions from now on, which is entirely its responsibility. And we should stand next to Libya. Greece has its wounds to mend but it should absolutely provide support to Libya. We know what this freak phenomenon was like.

I know this text is long but please consider reblogging this. We should know what happens on our planet. Thousands of people are dead from a freak phenomenon devastating regions across lands and seas. Also forgive any mistakes I might have made although I believe the information is correct for the most part. I didn't speak more about Libya because I don't know enough to analyze the situation as much. Perhaps there are ways of supporting the country too. As a last note, this phenomenon was not freakish because of the climate change - it was just a very unusual occurence. However, the - otherwise normal - warmth of the sea did feed and intensify the storm and the climate change might in the future cause these super rare, accidental phenomena to become more frequent.

[robin-evry]

Can I request a Salem Witch Yuu? I mean like witches during the Middle Ages how women were accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Whether Yuu is actually a witch or not depends on you

Sure, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐌 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 🧹🌳

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man, Giles Corey, died under torture after refusing to enter a plea, and at least five people died in the disease-ridden jails.

( English is not my first language )

Day 4 : Salem witch!yuu

Okay, I imagine Salem witch!yuu come from a family of witches, but never have the chance to learn about magic due to her family making seems like a curse rather than a gift but their mother teaches them a little magic. At the age of 9 years old their mother was caught using magic to heal their sibling and was sentenced to death by burn in a stake and they had to watch it, and Their father died from an illness. And 3 months later their sibling has died and succumb to starvation.

At the age of 15 they were caught and were tried to be hung, before their last breath a black carriage appeared and everything turned to black. They soon wake up in twisted wonderland at the entrance ceremony. When they see grim, they immediately bolted from the mirror room... And shouting devil, devil, devil

After Crowley managed to calm them down, Crowley explained everything to them. He noticed something weird towards Salem witch!yuu they are thinner than any student, eye bags and there are some red marks from the rope that was hanging them.

The ghost in ramshackle takes pity for the Salem witch! yuu, during the first time they tried food. They literally cried In front of Crowley admitting they rarely ate as well never having anything this delicious before.

Salem witch!yuu is pretty thin and underweight, what's more noticeable about part of them is the scars that the rope left of them, for them this scar is symbolic meaning that they can't escape their past and that will always follow them.

Salem witch!yuu hates magic seeing it as the root of their problems as well a curse that leads into the death of their family members. Originally everyone thought that they were magic less because they never once sense or see any magic come out of them until during riddle overblot where they hit riddle with a magic.

As well I believe they will be paranoid af, and they will easily apologize to people. Afraid of doing something wrong or making a mistake. Or Salem witch!yuu would be pretty nihilistic, like how ironic that the people unable to use magic seemingly look down upon by the world.

Ace and deuce are the very first person they manage to warm up a bit. Salem witch!yuu would be literally afraid of malleus literally screaming and calling him the devil, when malleus asked why they would do that and Lilia responded by saying that they must suffer a lot. So basically when Lilia appears he immediately sees the Salem witch!yuu scars and felt pity over them.

Salem witch!yuu would definitely be clueless how to use magic. Because during the time their lives cameras weren't a thing.

Salem witch!yuu come from a family of magic users but instead of being praised their family members were sentenced to death by hanging or fire, they use a wooden staff that is similar to what fern use from fieren : beyond friend journey anime, but usually after school Salem witch!yuu learn some basic magic from Crowley.

They also might have a phobia of fires due to their mothers and her scream still ringing in her ears. At night grim would wake from Salem witch! Yuu was crying in their sleep having dreams about their family. And he will always be there to comfort them.

Sorry if this was inaccurate or lack of understanding. or short

[gorboble]

So, Meta Flowey. Encore Flowey. whatever you wanna call it. I wanna discuss it rq

I believe I have a pretty solid explanation for the specimens (intentional by the devs or not,) and I've come to one conclusion: They're based on childhood fears. Let me explain each one.

Clay

This one is a bit obvious, at least to me. I think it's based on how kids will see claymation and get scared of it, you know? Like Mabel in that one episode of Gravity Falls. Might have something to do with Uncanny Valley.

Polygonal

Another obvious one. This is based on late 90's games when 3d was becoming a thing. The kind that is mostly good fun until one moment when the scariest enemy known to man comes out and has you quit the game for 6 months. Like Majora's Mask! Every kid was scared of that game, weren't they?

Patchwork

Creepy dolls, and such. Maybe just the slight discomfort you feel when you go into a room in grandma's house, the one where she sews blankets and toys. I always had a slightly unnerving feeling when it came to stuff like that. This one might be a little more personal, but it's valid.

Now, these next ones weren't so obvious. I had to do a little reaching for them.

Mechanical

It just wasn't quite obvious to me at first. This one is based on how heavy machinery may scare children and make them nervous. It's unknown and foreign to them. They don't know anything about it, but they have a feeling that they'll get hurt if they aren't careful with it (and they're right! machinery will kill you if you're not careful!)

Also guns. Guns can be scary to kids. I hope.

Organic

Now, I would say this one is the fear of doctor visits. But... it's gotta be more than that. You hear the beeping and see blood cells and such. You probably won't see that at a check-up. I think it's a bit deeper than that.

I think this is the fear of going to hospitals in general. A bit more serious than the doctor's office. It could be for a serious, painful disease the child has contracted, or... it could be visiting a loved one while they're in medical care, maybe after a horrible accident, or a terminal illness. The song supports this sort of dread regarding the inevitable loss of family. And the beeping at the end... yeah. This one is pretty grim.

Paper

specimen paper was the hardest phase to think about. Mostly because... who the hell out there is afraid of paper? I know there's a phobia for it, but it's rare.

So, I looked further into it. Paper airplanes and paper balls are flying around as attacks. And in the music? Laughter and talking.

I think this is bullying. It doesn't play into the... paper flowey, but I couldn't find any other fitting explanation. At least for this theory. Because, again, paper isn't exactly a common childhood fear that people have. Neither is bullying... but it's a huge issue in schools and is a lot more scarring than something you might find scary as a 6-year-old.

Also, note how Flowey doesn't move in this phase. Along with the organic phase. They feel really empty compared to the others, in a good way. It paints the picture of darker memories than just a scary enemy you encountered in SM64. It could also bring up some questions about Clover's past..

remember this post was entirely theoretical and probably not intended by the devs. i just wanted to write this lol. anyways i think im done. i wanted to make this post for a while now but i just now got to it at like midnight on a Friday ok byeeeee

[spontaneousmusicalnumber]

The Wasp Saga, or, How I Wasted Half my Lunch Break

(Note: If you are rude about wasps on this post you will be blocked. We respect them as important ecosystem members here.)

Yesterday it was super warm, like three months out of season warm, and in order to stave off the climate anxiety I decided to walk to the corner grocery store for lunch, eat outside, and get some rare February vitamin D. In a rare W the grocery counter Chinese food was freshly made, way better quality than usual, and ON SALE so I was riding that high. I ate, I enjoyed the weather. As I was starting to consider saving the rest for the next day's lunch a wasp buzzed up to me and landed. on my leg.

Now one thing about me is that I am trying very hard to overcome a crippling phobia of bees and wasps. From when I was a child through my early 20's I was frequently trapped inside or outside buildings because a wasp was hanging out near the door frame and I would refuse to go within 20 feet of it. Please read the following as if it required the courage of a knight and the patience of a saint.

This wasp was likely a queen that had woken up from hibernation a couple months early and was looking for a place to build a new hive. I respect wasps as important members of the ecosystem despite my deep seated fear and did not wish to kill her. She was the least flappable, most chill wasp I have ever encountered. This worked against me.

You see, she was quite happy to be on my leg. Started meandering down my khakis towards my shoe as if she didn't have a care in the world. As if I wasn't shaking my leg, walking around, stomping my foot, jerking back and forth, and jumping up and down to try and dislodge her. Eventually she walked onto my shoe and I did NOT want her do decide the inside of my pants was an attractive option here. So I bent down and blew on her, which finally bothered her enough to get off this ride. She buzzed away and landed.

On the edge of my lunch.

Now if this were any other day, I might have let her have it. Being on the wrong side of an angry wasp is not pleasant. But today the chinese food was good, and I wanted those leftovers as much as she did. So I decided to fight for it.

Let me set the scene: I am sitting on a concrete ledge, about knee-high. My lunch is inside a container, and the container is still nestled in the plastic bag from the grocery store. The container has a lid, which I managed to get over the food before the wasp could climb onto it. The wasp was on the plastic container, somewhat nestled inside the plastic bag.

Now if this wasp was content on my leg, she was downright ecstatic here on my lunch. She has just discovered a heaven of meat and fat and sugar. Her daughters will feast their whole lifetimes. She is not letting go.

I am trying to figure out how to bother this blissed-out wasp enough that she decides to abandon this nirvana, but not enough for her to decide I am a threat that must be eliminated. The next few minutes are spent nudging and prodding and shifting the container. Not a move. I move the bag. She folds up her wings. I blow on her. Frequently, often, from multiple angles. She's not falling for that trick again.

I try to nudge her off with a fork. Twice. She doesn't even move a leg, just sways sideways. I decide to take more drastic measures. I get up on the seat, take off my overshirt, and gently start flailing it at the bag, hoping to brush her off or make her think she's being swatted.

At this point a dog walker comes by and notices me standing up on a concrete wall, gingerly flapping my henley at a Monday orange chicken special. "Wasp stole my lunch," I explain. She sympathizes and moves on. I realize the wasp also stole my dignity a long while ago.

A gust of wind hits and the wasp seeks shelter under the lip of the container. My lunch break is very nearly over. I seriously begin to consider that I may lose. I realize that leaving my lunch here would be littering, and wildly against my morals. I press on.

I pick up the container out of the bag, wasp and all. I swing it left and right. I shake it up and down. She doesn't even care. I seriously wonder if I should just bring her inside and go about my day. Maybe if I put her in the fridge she would get sleepy enough to capture and release. Or maybe I'd be the idiot who let a wasp loose in the building because they brought it inside on purpose. It's a long walk from the door to the fridge.

I get to the door. Now or never. One last idea. I drop it a few inches. This is the move: Precisely enough to make her lose her grip on the container. My last view of her is on her back, wings not even buzzing, legs flailing as she tries to stand up. I snatch what is now mine by right of combat and flee indoors.

It was 76 degrees that day, yesterday afternoon. Tonight it will get down to 12. That's a normal temperature for February. She should not have been awake yet. I hope that despite all the grief and indignity she caused me, that she found somewhere safe and warm to hide, and that she finds somewhere just as good as my container of chinese food to build a nest.

[xf-cases-solved]

S1E12: Fire

Case: An incel played by Mark Sheppard is lighting people (and things, but we're more concerned about the people) on fire, and they can't figure out how he's doing it. This case is brought to Mulder's attention by his toxic British ex, Phoebe (who, as far as Mulder's exes go, is way more charismatic than Fowley so -shrug emoji-), and the two of them go off to Massachusetts to stop some rich British people from being barbecued. Half the people in this episode are weirdly horny, especially the fire expert guy at the Bureau who sounds like he's in the process of getting off when he describes pictures of fire. Mark Sheppard kicks a dog. Mulder literally says the words, "That's one of the luxuries to hunting down aliens and genetic mutants—you rarely get to press charges," so at least they're self-aware. Also, he's terrified of fire and apparently "cursed" with a photographic memory—I'm pretty sure neither of these things ever come up again. Meanwhile, the only person doing any actual FBI work is Scully. Thank god for her.

Does someone die in the cold open: Ah, yeah. Death by psychic immolation. Not the nicest way to go.

Does Mulder present a slideshow: No, but he does get practical joked into thinking he's about to die in a car bombing. Take note, Youtube pranksters.

Does the evidence survive the investigation: The most damning evidence is Incel Mark Sheppard himself, and while he's definitely a little crispy, he makes it to the end.

Whodunit: Incel Mark Sheppard

Convictions: Incel Mark Sheppard will face prosecution once he's done applying aloe to his burns. They are kind of not sure how to do that given that he can light literally anything flammable on fire with his mind. If it was 2024 they'd just do a Zoom call, but alas.

Did they solve it: Yes!

[how do i determine if an episode is solved? check the scale here: x]

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Forced exposure therapy.

Do you need to suffer from a convenient phobia that is relevant to your current situation in order to provide suspense to your plotline, but you also don't want to have to ever bring it up again in your general narrative arc as a whole? Get rid of it quick with forced exposure therapy!

Forced exposure therapy works by having you speedrun the entire therapy process by putting you in a life or death scenario where you have no choice but to face your fears. Tired of being afraid? Well throw yourself into that burning building and learn to become brave, once and for all!*

*Forced exposure therapy may worsen phobias in some individuals, potentially resulting in the development of moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Do not put yourself into life or death scenarios without first speaking to your doctor to see if forced exposure therapy is right for you.

***

General Total Stats:

(green means stat has changed since last ep; red means new stat added to list)

Total Cases *Definitively* Solved So Far: 5 (that's two in a row! new best streak!!)

Total Number of "Mulder/Scully, it's me" phone calls: 1 (oh man, we were so close two different times. first one Scully goes, "Mulder, it's Scully," and i was like, "damn," and then later she started calling him on her gigantic black box cell phone, and i was like, "ooh, here we go!" but then the call didn't go through :( )

Total Number of Times Scully Has Conveniently Not Seen Something Crucial: 4 (she was kind of the only person paying actual attention to anything this episode)

Total Number of Times Mulder Has Been in Mortal Danger: 5 (the amount of smoke inhalation he got both times he was in the fire probably should have killed him, tbh)

Total Number of Times Scully Has Been in Mortal Danger: 3

Total Number of Sexually Charged and/or Flirty Moments Between Friendly Coworkers: 6 (there's so much weird tension in this episode that i can't even count it all individually)

Total Number of Autopsies Scully Has Performed On Screen: 1

Total Number of Times Scully Plays Doctor: 1

Total Number of Times Mulder Talks to an Informant: 6

Total Number of Nosebleeds: 4

Total Number of Times Mulder Has Tasted/Sniffed/Touched Something Questionable Without Following Proper Safety Procedures: 1

Total Number of Times Someone Says "Trust No One": 1

Total Number of Cigarettes Cigarette Smoking Man Has Smoked: 2

Total Number of Alex Krycek Sightings: 0 :(

Total Number of Times I Had to Look Up What State the Episode Takes Place in Even Though I Literally Just Watched It: 3 ½ (giving myself half-credit bc I knew it happened in Cape Cod, but I didn't know where Cape Cod was lol)

Total Number of Times I Had to Look at an Episode's Wikipedia Page to Fill This Out Because It Was Fucking Confusing and/or Too Boring for Me to Pay Attention: 2 (not this episode, and i can also say with authority that this stat won't go up next episode either, bc next episode is mfing "Beyond the Sea" which is the topest of tiers of first season episodes. get hype!!!)

[thisiswasabis]

וTumblr Artists NoP-ifcitaion, behold ו

I wanted to add more, but I run out of the good ideas and my hands, once again, said "Nope, Vive La la révolution" and refused to cooperate

But anyway–-

Artists on this piece are:

@rusty-courage

@rabid-mercenary16

@endomentendo

@shandzii

And @ladybugkisses

Make sure to check out their blogs, they all have great art!

EDIT: ⚠️Warning⚠️ a lot (and I mean a lot) of reading ahead. If you don't want to, don't read it.

It's okay to skip it

___________________________

Now, to the

Notes on the designs:

Endo and Rabid

• For Endo and Rabid, as I don't know their nationality, I've gone for the mexican/spanish, inspired by this art by Endo

• In this AU/imagery, Rabid is a coulrophobia (fear of clowns) and Endo is hemophobia (fear of blood)

• In this AU Rabid has an ability to make people laugh no matter how un-funny the joke is. She can't really control it, but over the years she learned to make actually funny jokes and recognize when it's good depending on others reaction (ex. gentle smile - not so good, coughing on laughter - nailed it)

• Endo looks like a human, bc they supposed to be one, but with mouth like this, there's no way they're human, oooohhh no

• I gave Endo poncho to represent the "dress" (cloth???) Their sona wears (??? I don't know?. . . What this is?)

• I'm imaging their conversation (on this art) to be like:

Endo: So, you're a clown huh?

Rabid: Emm. . . Yeah, I guess I am (kind of)

Endo: Then you have to be very un-funny one

Rabid: Wha? Why?

Endo: Bc you gone gray out of your saddness

Rabid: ಠ⁠ ⁠೧⁠ ⁠ಠ ExUssmE, I can tell jokes, you little [very creative inslut here]

Endo: Mhm, the real question is - are they making others laugh or cry (⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠)

*moment of silence*

Rabid, very angry: c'mere, I'll give you "un-funny clown"

*10 minutes later*

Rabid: *jokes like a pro in John Mulaney style*

Endo, trying hard not to laugh (rip their dignity and lungs): Rabid, no - that's so baAaaad

Ari

• For Ari I was going for the philophobia (fear of falling in love) and inspired by pics/paintings of the cupids and this art

• "But Wasabi, shouldn't she be a aliurophobia? (fear of cats)" No, she should not. Ari is famous for her lackadaisy art, that true, but, in fact, her blog is self-insert themed. She has a different form depending on her current fixation/crush. So with so much self-ships, it's logical for her to be a fear of love

• I have her this funny hair things (ears? Horns? What are those?) 'cause:

A) she would look identical to her angel sona otherwise

B) I like to think it represents the "evil"/fiery turn love can take

• In this AU, she needs to cover her eyes. She have a power to make anybody obsessed with her just by one glance into her eyes, but this is not something she can control. So she just covers them with a cloth or sunglasses to avoid the trouble

• I feel like she would have her own art gallery, where she shows (and sometimes sells) her paintings

Shandzii

• Secound non-phobia in this set (first is Rusty)

• I couldn't decide if she should be aquaphobia (fear of water) or muso/murophobia (fear of mice/rats) so I made them neither of them!

• But! He, in this AU, has a phobia parents (Aqua– and musophobia)

• "How could this happen? Is that even possible!?" Short answer: yes. Long answer Info dump answer:

In NoP, Phobias are actually some type of genetical anomaly. It's really rare but if at least one of the parents have a recessive gene for it, their kid can be a Phobia.

But that also not the case.

As I said, it's really rare to have a child like that, especially if only one parent have this gene. And, sadly, if a child had bron a Phobia, their parents can get abandoned. many Phobia kids are abandoned by their biological parents, as they don't want to rise a little "freak".

But, what is even less possible, when two phobias with human parents hook up, they can have a human kid instand of the Phobia one.

It's rare, but it can happen

• She dose not have any powers, but have a big weakness for water and sea/ocean. Also is really small and fast (in my NoP headcanon, not generally)

• I gave him a coat instand of a jacket, as I'm pretty sure there was no Red jackets in 1940s

• Also, a lot of pockets and pins, bc they reminds me of mice

Rusty

• Actually, I've already drew NoP!Rusty once. You can find her notes and design here

___________________________

I info dumped more than drew, sorry if it's a problem.

And, once again, check their blogs and art! They all are great!

And now, up to hole I go!

*slithery sounds of little gremlin*

[ghostgirl-22]

Edit: Making this into a rules/info post to avoid spamming.

Rules/Info:

— This blog is generally 18+. Theres a handful of SFW items but it’s easier to assume the opposite. I don’t have the time or energy to police minors or review every blogger for their age. Just know I take no responsibility should you choose to consume content that is labeled as 18+ and NSFW.

—Additionally I warn people where I can but I can’t anticipate every trigger so please use common sense. My writing generally comes from prompts or kinks. If aspects of those things usually bother or offend you don’t read.

— I love all of your asks, legitimately… but I also have a ton of irl responsibilities and I choose to do this during my limited free time because it’s fun. Thank you all for being so respectful and patient with me for that.

— Again, I love your asks and will definitely do my best to answer them all. Even if it takes some time. That said while I’m open to writing most things there are a few things that are hard nos particularly for the challengers trio. Absolutely no hate to anyone who enjoys these things you will just have to find it elsewhere.

Won’t write: rape/non-con, violence/assault, major character death, underage sex ( it’s not always explicitly stated but you can assume all characters I write engaging in nsfw activities are 18+ even in high school), puppy play (not because I don’t enjoy reading it I just can’t write it), gross and blue writing like scat, vomit, blood (piss doesn’t count I was corrupted at a young age so you can send your piss!kink though I won’t promise anything lol). I love to deviate from canon but a full on AU just doesn’t interest me ( i.e. the trio never met, gender-swap, creature fics a la vampires, they play a different sport or have different jobs as in they never played tennis, Lily’s never born, etc).

—FYI I’m a throuple endgame truther and very rarely write x reader particularly when it excludes Tashi (plus I’m not very good at 2nd person). That said I’m not completely closed to the x reader concept and will attempt those prompts if I can.

— Finally, I’m a black girl. Challengers was made with a black girl as the lead and central character. I won’t write anything to disparage her or downplay her role in the story. She’s not too good for them on some exceptional badass black girl narrative. And they’re not too good for her (idc if she’s mean, just like idc if Art is a snake or if Patrick’s a dick). They made their choices, they’re all messy losers that hate and love each other and I believe they deserve each other.

—So obviously, I won’t condone racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or any other phobia or ism on this blog.

Thank all of y’all for understanding. Challengers fandom is teeny tiny but the vibes are truly immaculate. And coming from lurking in Supernatural and Interview with the Vampire and writing bad marvel fanfic before that, it means so much to chill in such a relaxed fandom with y’all <3

Original post:

Whoa! Realizing I can see the dates on your asks. After this next one I’m finally done with the November set 😅😭

I hope y’all can forgive my tendency to take forever to get back to you and always with some fic where I ramble on too long. I’m trying to control myself but I’ve never met a word I didn’t want to repeat at least 3 times in a row followed by a nonsensical dash or an ellipsis😭.

Also please forgive me if I spam a bit more over the next few days. Gonna try and make the most of winter break and lock in when/if I can…

[mstepenwolf]

ask game: tagged by @godzilla-en-mexico (thank you!)

do you make your bed: very rarely to be honest

what's your favorite number: 3 and 7

current job: behavior technician/special ed aide

if you could go back to school, would you: it's taking me so ridiculously long to finish uni that i will most likely need a big break from everything academia related after.

can you parallel park: barely, i'm still getting used to being on the road daily honestly

a job you had that would surprise people: hmm, maybe a front desk representative at the hotel in a very politically saturated area...

do you think aliens are real: i really hope they are!

can you drive a manual car: nope, and i doubt i'll learn any time soon

guilty pleasure: i used to dislike american rap but it's been growing on me since the start of pole dancing practice

tattoos: zero but i plan on getting at least one some day

favorite color: at the moment dark shades of red and green

favorite music genre: mixture of everything. indie rock, folk, synth-pop, dream pop, r&b... really depends on the mood.

do you like puzzles: i love puzzles, when i have my own place i will frame and put the finished pieces on the walls 🖤

phobias: difficult to answer this one, life feels so unreal at the moment that i genuinely don't know what is rational or not rational to be afraid of. i do feel uneasy around heights though.

favorite childhood sport: i used to play tennis, the feeling of the tennis rocket hitting a ball was very satisfying.

do you talk to yourself: only when i'm super excited or terribly devastated.

favorite movies: Suspiria (2018), It's Only The End of The World (2016), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Mirror (1975). there are definitely more that i'm forgetting.

coffee or tea: hmmm, impossible to pick one. my current favorite is jasmine tea.

first thing you wanted to be when you grew up: children's books writer and illustrator. especially books about faeries.

tagging @dasha1l1 @peachiyyy @obsessioncollector @gabri-el and everyone else who would like to participate 🖤

[welcome-to-sparkys]

As an apology for disappearing, here's a WIP of a project I'm excited for. Sorry about it again, I caught COVID, I'm dealing with college, AND I do live in capitalism.

Also please feel free to send in requests 👀

Tags/CWs: trans!Mike, FTM!Mike, pregnancy mention, mpreg (technically), securitywaiter, dreamtheory, I suppose trans phobia kinda??? It's the early 2000's but Ness is accepting, transvestite mention

This is NOT edited ‼️

No, no this can't be possible, Ness thought. In all reality, it was entirely possible. The couple didn't have a tendency to use protection. Mike never carried it around, never had the funds or the thought to, and Ness was... Ignorant. He knew of people like Mike. Trans... Transvestites? Wait, no. Transgender. That's right, Mike had to correct him often. He didn't care that Mike used to be a woman, Mike was a man where it counts.

He loved and accepted Mike, how could he not? Mike was the light of his world. He was more beautiful than when the sun began to rise, painting the valleys and hills in bright golden sunlight. More breathtaking than the first dusty snowfall on a winter's day. His rich, silky curls, ones Ness had tangled his fingers in tenfold, his sharp jaw and sweet crooked nose. Every inch, every detail, every fine line Ness loved feverishly.

Even now.

Even now as he held a positive pregnancy test. The end was wrapped in a towel, but the two Ruby red lines stared him in the face. Even now, as he glanced up at Mike, the antsy man, lip quivering and nibbling at his jagged fingernails, Ness loved him with every fiber in his being.

He blinked.

"How?" Was the first word to tumble out from Ness's lips.

It jolted Mike back to reality. Back to this very-real moment, despite his bout of disassociation. It didn't feel real. None of this did. Then again, neither did the couple's courting or unlikely relationship feel real from time to time. "Wh-What?" He sputtered out. "What do you mean how?"

"I... Mike-" Ness cleared his throat, shifting a smidge on the edge of the bed. Mike was towering over him for once, standing in the bathroom doorframe, bathing in the artificial warm light. Their gaze met, for just a moment. Ness felt his anxiety melt under Mike's hazel stare. "Don't get me wrong, I, uh... I understand what you are." Ness began, tripping over himself. He shifted more uncomfortably, picking at his hangnails. "I know you're a man, a-and I read plenty of books to... To understand."

Plenty would be an understatement. Ness checked out every single book he could at every library he had access to. He scouted the internet for any traces of people like Mike, for answers to his questions. So many of the resources claimed Mike was broken, wrong. That Mike needed to be "fixed". Hell, some argued sleeping with a man would somehow flip a switch in Mike's head and make him a woman again.

That was evidently false to Ness, especially now. Proof is in the pudding, and Ness had somehow knocked Mike up.

Women becoming men — or rather, men who just happened to be born in a woman's body — was rare. At least to the public eye. Especially so, with the date reading April of 2000. Ness never denied Mike's identity. In fact, he embraced it. Every single day he reminded Mike of who he was, calling him a "big strong man," "handsome fella," or even just "my boyfriend."

"So...?" Mike's voice drew Ness out of his swirling thoughts. His "mind palace" Mike and Abby often called it. His space where he asked far too many questions and investigated as he pleased.

"Oh, um... So, I just. How can you be pregnant? You're a man, Mike. You know that, I know that."

[twig-tea]

Get To Know Me Tag

Tagged by @telomeke @lurkingshan @my-rose-tinted-glasses @he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle and @hyeoni-comb thank you all! 💕

Do you make your bed?

I like a messy bed, it feels more welcoming to me somehow. The only time I make my bed is when I'm without heat and it's winter, then you gotta do it to keep in any residual warmth! But normally I'd rather keep everything loose.

What’s your favorite number?

I....don't think I have one? Is this a thing people have, how do you choose?

What is your job?

I manage a team of Product Owners in the Operations division of a multinational company. In other words, I go to a lot of meetings.

If you could go back to school, would you?

Absolutely not. Beyond the fact that I was formerly a substantive editor of university textbooks, which included both editing the textbook content and sometimes writing their ancillaries (tests, powerpoint slides, etc.) so it feels like I took first-year Sociology at least ten times, I just don't love formalized education. I love learning but on my own terms and at my own pace.

Can you parallel park?

I can't drive at all! Technically I learned how, took lessons and everything, but never got my license.

A job you had that would surprise people?

Hmm. I was a call center person for half a day, it was terrible and I left without getting paid for the work I did because I was so eager to get out of there I didn't want to fight them for my pay (even though I needed the money which is why I was there in the first place). I hate phone calls, I can't hear well on the phone, and it was clear the call center script was designed to be exploitative. It was one of the worst jobs for me I could have taken lol

Do you think aliens are real?

I think it's extremely likely!

Can you drive a manual car?

Nope, even when I learned, it was only on an automatic.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I'm not guilty about it but I can decimate an entire family size mac and cheese when I'm feeling down.

Tattoos?

I have 3 tattoos; one on each foot and one on the back of my neck. They form a rainbow.

Favorite color?

Blue-green! The shade of preference for any given moment varies, but anything in the region from mint to aqua to teal to turquoise will do; I love them all.

Favorite type of music?

My music taste varies widely but the common denominators are 1) fast tempo or upbeat, 2) solid harmonies, and 3) if there's a tempo or key change I am doubly sold.

Do you like puzzles?

Love puzzles of all kinds. I have a collection of jigsaw puzzles I do regularly, and word puzzles, logic puzzles, sudoku type stuff is all very fun. I don't make a lot of time for them but I do them occasionally and always enjoy it.

Any phobias?

I am afraid of falling. Not heights, but falling. The difference is: I can lean over the railing at the top of a 20-storey building or walk on a glass floor over a big drop and just feel a minor thrill, but am terrified to the point of maybe crying if I have to balance on a single step of a ladder or walk across a patch of ice. I had several brushes with death related to falling when I was a kid, and a few bad falls that caused injury as an adult, so it makes sense. Luckily I am pretty tall so I rarely have to do any kind of ladder-ing!

Favorite childhood sport?

American-style tackle football. We used to play at lunch on the pavement because the soccer kids got the field; we played in all seasons including snow, and we did it for love of the sport. I loved it a lot.

Do you talk to yourself?

Occasionally I'll provide a little commentary on what's happening aloud to myself; but I don't really have fully conversations.

What movies do you adore?

I have loved a lot of movies in my time! A few random ones that come to mind right now because I've been thinking about them for whatever reason are Saving Face (2004), Monster (2023), Practical Magic (1998), Moonlight (2016), and Clue (1985).

Coffee or tea?

Despite my username being a type of tea, in this as in all things I am a perfect Kinsey 3. Love both equally and drink a ton of both (coffee more regularly, tea in greater volume).

First thing you wanted to be growing up?

Lifeguard, I think! And then when I was in elementary school I wanted to edit textbooks (I was that kid who got annoyed whenever there were mistakes), so I did actually get to do my childhood dream job.

No pressure tags just going with vibes based on who I've interacted with recently (if you've done this already tag me in the comments!): @rocketturtle4 @visualtaehyun @sollucets @troubled-mind @jimmysea @ginnymoonbeam

[chiropteracupola]

now that I have finished watching All The Sharpe That There Is, we have made a Tier List of our Very Strong Opinions. behold.

further (condensed) commentary from yours truly and usual partner-in-crime @sailorpants under the readmore:

S: Eagle, Company, Battle

Eagle: 'the plot of this one makes sense,' 'it really does show (well!) that this was the first book,' 'one of the ones we rewatch,' 'a good episode of television!'

Company: 'Pete Postlethwaite is a great actor -- Hakeswill made me want to throw up,' 'the lads and also the horrors,' 'genuine emotions were elicited,' 'well-established team dynamic at this point'

Battle: 'bad men! good men! beautifulest ladies!,' 'if Perkins must die then at least he gets a really cool death and to be bridal-carried by Harper and mourned by everybody,' 'the fucked-up love square,' 'plot hangs together well,' 'this episode has the most women of any Sharpe episode: four,' 'I have watched this episode three times', 'these rewatches were with lust (for the beautifulest ladies)'

A: Enemy

Enemy: 'decently written,' 'all the lads are there,' 'type of enemy Hakeswill becomes isn't as compelling and the inconsistency brings down both his episodes,' 'egregious women-tossing,' 'it is cool that there are other women; however Sharpe would not do That,' 'French people allowed to be interesting as a treat,' 'Sharpe and Teresa SOULMATES quote [screams]'

B: Rifles, Honour, Sword, Siege, Waterloo

Rifles: 'bit of a rough start,' 'the first half is good and then it gets Weird... phobias of sorts are In There', 'TERESA!'

Honour: 'extremely cool fights in this one,' 'Ramona!!,' 'some of the best Chosen Men banter in the whole series,' 'fake-Sharpe's-death plotline is quite well done,' 'unfortunate nonsense'

Sword: 'epic Harris moments cannot earn this episode a better ranking,' 'good casting and the background characters are cool,' 'the Lass deserved much better than this episode gave her'

Siege: 'oh, the chemical warfare episode,' 'they've learned to workshop their plans since Honour,' 'made me believe that Sharpe and Jane's relationship could have worked out, 'plot hangs together well (rare in a Sharpe episode)'

Waterloo: 'the scale of it doesn't quite sit right,' 'pretty good episode,' 'Paul Bettany is uncanny and I don't like whatever it is is going on with him,' 'getting the gang back together for one last Lads Adventure!'

C: Regiment, Mission, Revenge, Justice, Challenge

Regiment: 'more time with the Chosen Men could have saved this,' 'Company was a better 'the army sucks' episode,' 'the wet soupy episode'

Mission: 'it takes me two minutes to remember what happens in this one whenever I think about it,' 'again epic Harris moments cannot save this episode,' 'quite a high SCUM score,' '[impact font] MARK STRONG'

Revenge: 'ehhhhhh,' 'Lucille's nail-gun is the only thing that is cool and fun,' 'weird vibes about it,' 'Ducos' Bond-villain stuff is needless escalation,' 'Frederickson's ending is fun'

Justice: 'he's a cop in this one,' 'don't like Hagman's mustache,' 'Jane plotline no good, '[from sailorpants] when I actually watch this one I'm gonna have THOUGHTS'

Challenge: 'would rank this higher but I do have receipts on the fact that I was having a Bad Time throughout,' 'Toby Stephens makes this worth watching,' 'almost everything else about it is bad,' 'high points in every SCUM category,' 'four whole named plot-relevant speaking-role-having women! haven't had that many since Battle!,' 'TOBY STEPHENS CUNTSERVACIOUS LITTLE OUTFITS'

D: Gold, Peril

Gold: 'we don't need to discuss why we are ranking it like this'

Peril: 'the secret good Peril that lives in my head is so cool but unfortunately it is not real,' 'they are trying to have Themes and it is not working,' 'casting director is now finding conventionally attractive men instead of weirdguys with interesting faces,' 'Daniel Deever should have his own entire show but unfortunately this is a show about Richard Sharpe (I would write about him so much if I felt that I could do him justice but therein lies the Research Pit)' 'most important point is that he has a locket with Antonia's picture but the rest I could take or leave and I will probably leave it'