#nonfiction could be a good compromise

[toerrishumansodont]

me: I dont even like christianity, cannot tolerate a single christian thought, imagery or sentence uttered in my vicinity,

my downloads folder rn:

[lord-squiggletits]

One of my least favorite parts of how JRO wrote Optimus is that he wanted so badly to continue his dark and gritty world building making the Autobots problematic, but evidently couldn't reconcile this with Optimus being a Heroic Paragon, so instead he leaned way too hard into "oh Prowl was the one who did this and it was behind Optimus' back" which if anything I think makes Optimus look worse, not better. Because then it's like, okay I know Optimus trusted Prowl a lot as his friend but you CANNOT TELL ME that over the course of 4 million years, Optimus as the leader of the Autobot army who literally would have access to 99.9% of all the records they produce, would never notice or question where some of these odd/inconsistent details were pointing. It just seems really inconsistent with how a real military would actually function, especially regarding Optimus' character, who is incredibly thorough and responsible and wouldn't neglect to keep up with all the details of his army.

Hell, Optimus knows who the Wreckers are and had them on call for tricky operations when he needed them (Stormbringer) so he's literally not at all ignorant of/averse to the use of special wartime units composed of dubious individuals. He's the fucking commander of an entire army, of course he knows that War Is Hell (TM) and no one's hands are clean. That's not even getting into all the stuff he got up to in phase 2/3, I mean everything from the annexation of Earth to OP breaking humans out of prison against Council orders shows that Optimus is no stranger to immoral and/or unlawful means.

It also leads to a lot of annoying fanon where people write Optimus (sometimes unintentionally, sometimes not) as like some sort of ignorant fool who's unaware of the machinations of his own army or has some sort of naiveté of "b-but we can't use bad tactics against the enemy! I would never condone the use of morally gray means in war!" No, IDW Optimus knows perfectly well all of the bullshit he's enacted/condoned for the sake of trying to win the war. Some stuff is definitely out of character for him and was only machinated because of Prowl, but I think this fandom REALLY underestimates Optimus' personal agency/responsibility as the commander of a whole ass army and ESPECIALLY underestimates Optimus' capacity to condone morally gray Bullshit Of War while still being a good person individually as well as, comparatively, the lesser evil compared to Megatron/the Decepticons.

Anyways what I'm saying is JRO may be a good writer but he's really hesitant to make Optimus morally gray and does some asspulls sometimes to justify most of the bad things the Autobots did as "Optimus just didn't know," and since the majority of the IDW1 fandom only reads JRO's stuff they go running with this premise of ignorant/uninformed Optimus when there's evidence elsewhere in canon to show that Optimus is, in fact, very highly aware of the bullshit he's allowed "for the greater good" and the only stuff he was "unaware of" was the stuff he would literally never agree to the ethics of, like bombing innocent neutrals disguised as Decepticons to get them to join the Autobots.

[thebookcases]

My Rating: 2/5 Stars

I always feel bad when I dislike a book that by most metrics is perfectly fine.

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson is a contemporary fiction book about a woman named Nora who once dreamed of working with books but is now burnt out and underappreciated in her dead-end job at a small nonfiction publisher. When her pay is cut and she's left unable to afford her bills, she decides to pick up a freelancing job to make ends meet...at a rival publisher. And to make matters worse, she's beginning to fall for Andrew Santos, an author who she must convince to sign a book deal...but which publisher should she push him towards?

Reading the description you'd be tempted to think this is a romance novel, but it's really not. While the relationship development is a major factor, the true story centers Nora as she tries (and often fails) to figure out where her life is going.

I enjoyed Shauna Robinson's sophomore book, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, and I empathize heavily with any book loving introverted character that finds themself stuck in their job, unsure what they're doing with their life (aka, just Me in 2022), so I was expecting to, if not love this book, then to really enjoy it.

Sadly, I just couldn't get into this one. Nora is a well written character, with very real and human struggles, but unfortunately I really didn't enjoy my time with her. I found her choices frustrating; not in a fun to watch way, but in a "cringing from second hand embarrassment/anxiety" way. The "liar revealed" plot is one that can be tricky to pull off, and it unfortunately didn't work for me here.

*The next few paragraphs contain very minor spoilers, scroll to the last paragraph to avoid*

There were also a few little story structure things that betray this as a debut novel. For instance, at roughly the fifty percent mark, the book suddenly starts discussing some serious mental health issues without mentioning at any point prior to this that Nora is dealing with anything more serious than burnout. I wouldn't say that these flaws would be enough to detract from your enjoyment if you're otherwise having a good time, but since I was already growing frustrated with the book due to personal taste reasons, they were very noticeable to me.

I was actually so frustrated by the whole "dancing around the truth and trying to avoid getting caught" portion of the book in the middle that I switched from audio to ebook so I could start skimming up until her secret is found out (which, of course, also doubles as the third act breakup) and read about how she handles that situation. I normally don't skim books, but I was at a point where I didn't want to keep reading, but also didn't want to DNF it, so I compromised by skimming *just until* I was interested again. I did find the direction that Nora went after her secret is revealed to be satisfying, though the ending did feel a bit abrupt.

*Minor Spoiler section over, you may continue here:*

Despite my low rating, I do think this is a good book for what it is, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction and contemporary romance. The 2/5 stars is much more a reflection of how much I personally did/didn't enjoy the book rather than of its quality. Still, I can't help but feel that every aspect of this book-- from feeling directionless in your life/career to the whiteness of publishing/the literary canon to the potentially unprofessional but oh-so-alluring romance-- was all executed better in The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, so if you're looking for a relatable millennial protagonist in a story about books and booklovers, I'd recommend you read that instead.

[datura-tea]

Tell us more about Gabe please, he's so cute!

well if you insist :)

he's the youngest of three - his older brothers are michael (mikey; a mechanic who's responsible for the town's water filter and the like) and raphael (pael; the town doctor and general surgeon)

a grade-a nerd who loves reading! he will read whatever he could get his hands on, but he loves nonfiction books and technical books the most. moz always brings him some whenever she comes home

he once read the dictionary cover to cover. consequently, he has a large vocabulary

he's a quiet, thoughtful dude who likes to keep to himself. only really socializes with moz, her family, and his brothers and cousins. doesn't have a lot of close friends, but can put on a friendly face for his repair shop customers

doesn't like violence, but will help defend his town if needed. weapon of choice is a pistol and his father's balisong

has a really nice singing voice. when it's his turn at the karaoke machine, everyone listens. he always used to sing to moz :)

he was a short kid, but got a growth spurt - he's 5'11" tall and was quite lanky as a teen, but has since filled out as an adult

didn't know he was bisexual until after moz told him that she was bisexual, not because of any internalized bullshit but because the thought of being with anyone other than moz was so alien... he's since experimented with other people and realized what he likes

is absolutely not good at flirting but he is so charming and sincere in his interest that you can't help but fall in love with him

speaking of love, he and moz were head over heels for each other, but ultimately they wanted different things out of life - moz wanted to explore the wide wild wasteland and see what was out there, and gabe wanted to stay in town, where it was relatively safe, and eventually start a family once they were older. it was a mismatch, and neither of them wanted to stand down or compromise. it's why they broke up the first time

wow this got long so that's all for now!!! thank you for asking about gabe, i've only had him for a month but i love him a lot :')

[iceeericeee]

A Birthday? In This Economy?

This oneshot is for @matxhstixkers. Happy birthday bestie!!!

(Also, so sorry if this is ooc, I haven’t seen Good Omens in a hot sec lololol) (also, I made up a random last name cos I don’t know what urs actually is fjdjdjs)

It was quiet in the bookshop, until Aziraphale burst through the door and started frantically scanning his mini calendar he kept on his desk. Apparently, he hadn't noticed Crowley lounging on his armchair, and who was now lying on the floor because he had fallen out from Aziraphale’s loud entrance.

"Angel, what's going on? Does it have something to do with heaven?"

His eyes finally landing on a specific date, he replied to Crowley, "Oh no, nothing that terrible. It's just... it's someone's birthday today, someone special, and I had forgotten."

“Well, what do you propose we do about it, then?”

“Oh, I don’t know… I had been thinking maybe we could pop over, and wish him a happy birthday!”

“Right, yeah. We should just waltz on over, unannounced, to tell some random human that they’re getting older. Fantastic, Angel.”

“But it’s not just someone random, Crowley! His great-grandmother was a dear friend of mine, back when heaven had an assignment for me across the pond. The Smith family is very important to me.”

“Oh, well now, that’s different.”

“Don’t be so sarcastic, dear.”

He raised his hands in defense.

“Anyway, I need to get him a gift, something special. Something he’d really like.”

“How about we get him a book, eh? If you somehow know him, then there’s a pretty darn good chance he’s likes books.” Crowley suggested.

Aziraphale bristled a bit at the idea. “You aren’t suggesting giving him one of my books, are you?”

“No, Angel. I’m saying we get him a brand new book.”

He settled a bit at that. “Oh, well, that’s a good idea then. What do you think he’d like? Should we get him something nonfiction? Or maybe something more fantastical?”

“I don’t know. You’re the one who knows him, not me!”

They scratched the idea, and thought some more.

———

Aziraphale’s head popped up. “What if we got him a video game? All the kids nowadays love that sort of thing, don’t they?”

Crowley shrugged. “Yeah, sure. But what game would he want?”

He thought for a moment. “Oh! What about that newer one! ‘Fourteen days’, I think?”

“You mean ‘Fortnite’?”

Aziraphale nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s the one!”

“No. It’s… how do I say this. It’s not exactly, new, anymore.”

“What do you mean? It came out only 7 years ago.”

Crowey sighed. “Look, Angel. These humans move fast. Like, ridiculously fast. Seven years ago to them might as well be a hundred years ago.”

———

“Aziraphale, we’re not getting anywhere. Why don’t we compromise.”

He paused at that. “Well, alright. What did you have in mind?”

“How about, we send a card, yeah? A nice, simple, card. We’ll sign it, maybe put a bit of cash inside.”

He slowly nodded. “I guess.”

“Then we’ve come to an agreement.” With a small wave of his hand, a small, cheesy, happy birthday card and envelope appeared. With a flourish, Crowley wrote out a short happy birthday wish, and handed the card to Aziraphale. He, instead of something small, wrote out a long note, with more thoughtful undertones.

Aziraphale snapped his fingers, and there appeared a large sum of money — in pounds, of course.

“Nono, Angel. He’s American, remember?”

“Ohh yes. Thank you, dear boy.” And with another snap, it turned into American dollars.

~~~~~~~~~~

It’s a sunny Tuesday morning when Charlie’s mother has a strange feeling, the need to check the mail, even though it wasn’t due to come until midday. And when she opened the mailbox, there, sitting neatly in the very middle, was a letter addressed to the birthday boy. But, strangely, it had no return address. There weren’t even any stamps.

You can imagine, then, the surprise on Charlie’s face when he not only saw it, but also the excitement when he opened the wonderful card. The card in which he promptly hung up on his wall, displayed for him to see every morning.

[ohhoneato]

Hey ya'll! I've had my writing commissions open for a while, but I wanted to reiterate that I have them open.

As much as I like working Uber, Ubereats and now Lyft, what I really want to do with my life has always been to write. And with how long I have to be out on the road to earn enough money for bills, I haven't had much time to write.

This is why I keep my commissions open. Getting a commission could mean that my bills get paid and I get a day of rest along with it.

I've also realized, I haven't really specified what I'm willing to write. I don't have many limits, I can write fighting scenes, passionate sex scenes, emotional death scenes, etc... long or short, any characters. If you'd like an OC story, just tell me a bit about them and I'll be on my way with it, so I can properly write them. I do fanfiction, original content, nonfiction if you're into that, poetry. You can request first, second or third person. I'm quite versatile.

And I've posted a few of my writings on here before, though they're short, I believe they give a good measure of some of what I'm capable of.

I'm willing to discuss pricing depending on length and content. Only limit I have on sexuality is an age limit, please don't ask me to write underage porn, I will block and report you. Everything else is pretty much free game. (I'd also like to mention that if you are planning on publicly sharing the writing I make for you, I'd rather not write about a real person in compromising situations. That'd be really creepy for them to possibly find someday, keep your kinks to yourself when it comes to real life people please.)

My cashapp is $beanthestring, please feel free to message me with requests!

[mickmundy]

a masterpost of some of my sniper headcanons! just some of my personal thoughts on his character and things he'd like, dislike, hobbies, etc!

while he prefers nonfiction, he also enjoys reading fiction and poetry. he used to read all of his mom's old books cover to cover and there would almost always be a book stashed somewhere outside that he could read between chores (or if/when he had a minute to himself).... thrashed paperback books shoved under hay bales or left to fade in the sun in the back of his old man's truckbed etc...

enjoys old movies and does Not shy away from romances, dramas, etc. he has memories of staying up late with his mom and watching them or listening to radio serials with her. they just Hit The Spot for him and while its maybe not something he'd Openly Admit, he's definitely not ashamed of it!

he loves the ocean. loves to surf, is an incredible swimmer. never really sought the ocean out but once he visited he was like Ohhh I Love This. is fascinated by marine life and learning about it! can hold his breath for a really long time too. sniping/shooting breathing control practice, y'know!

very knowledgeable about medicine. my love for medic/sniper aside, i think it only makes practical sense that he'd have a pretty extensive knowledge of herbs, remedies and medicines that he could easily craft/make/use on himself! he'd also know how to suture and dress wounds. he survived on his own for a long time before medic and his medigun came along, after all!

made money in his youth between jobs at being a pretty good taxidermist. big game hunting was an easy and fun hobby to do and his knowledge and appreciation for animals led him to being interested in the preservation of them. still enjoys doing it now too!

has a surprising(?) lack of knowledge about vehicles. knows where to shoot to sabotage them, but little about the upkeep of his own. knows he should just let engineer look at his van and fix her up, but his home is very personal to him so that is not something that comes easy!

doesn't like asking for help. was raised Not to ask for help, "because you're only as capable as you teach yourself to be". if you do help him, he'll thank you and genuinely mean it, but he won't go out of his way to ask you for assistance unless it's something minor or he's Extremely desperate.

would literally you rather see him naked than have an emotionally-compromising conversation with you. you'll see his whole tacklebox before he tells you how he's really feeling!

despite his stoic/silent nature, he is not very... emotionally mature. has trouble articulating his feelings. this does not mean he's devoid of them by any means! just has trouble getting them out there in a way that would make sense to others. lots of repression lots of internalized things he has to work out... hopefully someday!

enjoys classical, jazz, blues, and country (think Outside of the american genre lmao) music. plays the saxophone along to his cassettes when he has a minute! he has rhythm and is quite good!

he has a collection of kitschy mugs/cups and t-shirts that he'd picked up/somehow just Amassed in his travels... he uses the mugs for planters and other purposes besides drinking, mostly to house the herbs, vegetables and fruits he grows in his van!

installed a rack above the sink in his van that he hooks mugs/planters to and grows his own herbs/veggies/fruits. he does canning, keeps preserves and enjoys keeping his hands busy in a way that's practical and, you know, old habits die hard! he doesn't like to be wasteful.

loves being naked. hates underwear and clothes. if he's in his van he's Probably Naked. loves laying on top of his camper and Basking in the sun totally nude if he can get away with it. infinitely prefers the heat to the cold. he hates the colder bases, but you still won't hear him complain!

no matter how much he "tans", he still has Eternal tanlines from his glasses, glove, watch and hat. the right half of him is a bit more tanned than his left* because of the sun blaring on him when he drives. as someone who does a lot of driving this is just a given to me lol

*i reject the notion that his steering wheel would be on the left side lol. no way he got his van in america... i dont believe that for a second.. i dont Care what the canon model says... s;dlkfsd!

is a very clean person. being a survivalist doesn't allow for poor hygiene! getting dirty on the job is just the reality of it; he doesn't mind, but he'll never turn down a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes! wounds, clothes, and body should always be clean when possible.

likes clutter, hates messes. i don't think he's a hoarder but i enjoy the idea of him hanging on to Some stuff. tries to tell himself that everything he owns has Practical Purpose bc he was raised to believe its not worth keeping if it doesn't, but some things he just Enjoys keeping around!

one of the most flattering things you could do for him would be to make him a home-cooked meal. it isn't a gesture he would take lightly! he'd appreciate it a lot, no matter how good or bad it was. personal things like this go a long way with him!

absolutely Not a lightweight. enjoys having drinks after a long shift at work, but his days of getting sloppy are pretty much behind him. enjoys a couple of beers on a quiet night where he can hang out with his owl and decompress.

loves to grill and cook! baking not so much, but he's still decently savvy at it. used to bake with his mom so it's sometimes still a bit of an emotional sore spot. typically makes jams, jellies, sauces, marinades and whatnot with his preserves for meat he cooks.

greatly enjoys birdwatching and knows a myriad of animal calls. has an old worn beat to shit birdwatching/flora/fauna pocket book that he keeps in his back pocket when he goes Out so that he can mark off species he's seen!

adores horses. loves to ride them, take care of them. can stay on one no matter how much it bucks. also has a soft spot for sheep and chickens, too. i think as someone who lives off of the land he just has great appreciation for everything animals can do for people!

can understand quite a few languages from traveling, but doesn't know how to speak them fluently. he did like surprising spy with some... colorful french after letting the other mercenary think he was an illiterate bushman for a couple months, though!

[millennialgrandma]

October Wrap Up

Ok, but where in the ever-loving hell did October go? Between the continued house hunt (entering month 7 of this endeavor), work, and unexpectedly busy weekends this month, I feel like I didn't read as much as I wanted to - and I definitely didn't write as much as I wanted to.

Things I Wrote

Look at me, a non-writer, still sort of writing things. Somehow every single one of my weekends this month ended up filled with other commitments so I didn't really get much of any writing done. The untitled 8th-year dreomione remains at a sad 1,200 words, but I have managed to flesh out the timeline and finish mapping defining moments so...there's that.

I might also...be working...on another lil sumthin sumthin...based on the hilariously embarrassing events known forevermore as Naked Presentation Day™.

Things I Read

Would you look at that! Another month where I failed to pick up even one single traditional book. In my meager defense, I have no defense outside of reading some larger fanfics. The internet besties and I finally finished our group-therapyread of Broken. I also read a couple of the parts of the Wait and Hope universe. So between that and WIPs I'm following, I'll just say that a bitch has been emotionally compromised all month long.

This month the internet besties decided we should read some shorter fics together in addition to the longer fics we're doing. As a result, Smut with Friends™ was born. I kicked us off by reading fate and plans to the class and we've read a handful of the Delightful Descent chapters to each other as well. Additionally, we've started doing birthday reads! Missed Connections was for the incomparable queen TLW and the TwilightToMidnight works were read for my little ray of sunshine, Deni.

Fiction:

NonFiction:

Fanfiction:

Complete: (approx. 495k words)

Husband Size by @senlinyu (dramione, M, 4.2k)

Seven Minutes in Hell(ishly Frigid Water) by @echoesofmyfootsteps (dramione, E, 3.3k)

Wait and Hope by @mightbewriting (dramione, M, 94.9k)

Do You Feel It Too? by @viridianatnight (dramione, E, 3.7k)

Rule number one (Chpt. 7) by @veelantina (dramione, E, 2.8k)

Broken by @inadaze22 (dramione, E, 297k)

Sight and Seeing by @mightbewriting (theo/blaise, M, 34k)

Reread: fate and plans by @senlinyu; embedded NSFW art by @elithien (dramione, E, 5.5k)

Arctic Wolf by @sodamnradd (dramione, M, 4.4k)

Missed Connections by @unseenlibrarian (dramione, T, 8k)

A Friendly Wager by @monsterleadmehome; embedded NSFW by @adra-art (dramione, E, 5.7k)

Harry Potter and The Grey Sweatpants Agenda by @im-a-monster-fucking-princess (hansy, E, 3.3k)

Blast from the Past reread: Lock The Door by TwilightToMidnight (dramione, M, 4k)

Blast from the Past reread: Veela And The Perils Of Losing Control by TwilightToMidnight (dramione, M, 5k)

Strangers by @roseharpermaxwell (dramione, M, 3k)

A Delightful Descent into Depravity by @heyjude19-writing, @mightbewriting, and @niffizzle (various pairings, E, 16k)

WIPs: (approx. 95.1k words)

Measure of a Man by @inadaze22 - Chapters 31-33 (dramione, E, 40k)

for the best by @hawthornewhisperer - Chapters 3-7 (dramione, M, 15.5k)

A Season For Setting Fires by @mightbewriting - Chapter 12 (dramione, E, 2.8k)

Let the Dark In by @senlinyuwrites - Chapters 6 & 7 (dramione, M, 10.4k)

Good by @lovesbitca8 - Chapters 1-4 (dramione, E, 26.4k) - only Chpt. 4 is new, but let's be real, who could read the update without rereading the prior chapters? Not me, that's for fucking sure.

Things I'm Currently Reading (Heading into November)

Well, here I am again, reading too many things. Obviously I have not started any of the traditional books I mentioned in August. My friend sent me Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child which sounds like a lovely book to curl up with in November. The internet besties and I are having too much fun reading to each other, so now that we're done with Broken we've picked up Ina's Anchors in a Storm for group read (we're also reading for the best and Let the Dark In together, but those are captured above under WIPs). I'm continuing to read The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy as it is recorded. Lady Vengeance is read at the whims of @they-call-me-megs. I am 7 chapters in to Beginning and End and I haven't had a chance to pick it back up for a few weeks, which is absolutely killing me. And...I think that's it? Good god, it better be it.

[ms-m-astrologer]

Transiting Venus through Cancer

Since I have the time, I thought I'd do a separate post on Venus' entry into Cancer. (It also has been the nonfiction equivalent of a merciless plot bunny.) I'm going to look at her main "areas," then conclude with some words about kicking the transit up a notch.

The Arts

Cancer is a very traditional and sentimental sign, therefore for the next 25 days we can expect a greater appreciation for traditional art forms. In the US, that might be Norman Rockwell paintings (scoff not, check out 1964's "The Problem We All Live With"), Motown songs, older movies - anything that scratches the nostalgia itch, and makes us feel good. Some people may have the opportunity to invest in art (but see "Money" below). If you make art, this is more of an "incubation" stage in the creative process. You'll have some wondrously imaginative ideas to play with, if you're quiet long enough to get them.

Beauty

Well, bosoms. Cancer rules the chest. This may be the time you finally toss out that ratty old brassiere for something a little prettier. Again, we're going to be more conservative under this transit, perhaps checking out some styles from bygone days. (Ms M loves the 1940s, herself, and wishes she had the figure for the 1910s.) We'll want to beautify our homes, with an eye to comfort as well - think a nice snugly crocheted afghan, or some flowers from the garden.

Money

Oh, my goodness, can this sign penny-pinch. Clutching and grasping the coins with both claws, Cancer can out-miser Capricorn when motivated. If we spend money at all, it's going to be on food, security, and the home. And maybe our moms. This is a good time to save, especially since Venus moving through Leo will see us spending more on entertainment.

Relationships

In Cancer, Venus has a tendency to marry the partner's family and not just the partner. There's the need for tribal approval of the chosen one. We want to settle down and cohabit with the partner - Cancer is also a very fertile sign, so if you don't want kids right now (or ever) you need to take precautions. Another possibility with Venus in Cancer is the chance to mend familial relationships. Show some TLC to your tribe.

Kicking it up a notch

Most of the time, Venus transits are limited to having pleasant or unpleasant days. She's more of a "trigger" for what the outer planets are up to. So let's look at those days when she's mixing it up with Saturn etc.:

Between June 12-15, Venus will sextile both Ceres and Uranus in Taurus, but also square Chiron/Aries and inconjunct Saturn Rx/Aquarius.

Since Venus rules Taurus, no doubt these days will amp up the "Venus" parts of Taurus. Given Ceres' association with Cancer, we can probably think of it as a mutual reception, too. This could be a fantastic opportunity for grounding and centering work. It won't be easy, though. The square to Chiron shows some wounds that need to be healed, while the inconjunct from Saturn may indicate some pressure from "the greater good" to deny yourself. We are all slowly coming to the realization that everyone deserves a bare minimum of food and shelter - guaranteed; all you have to do to earn it is wake up in the morning. If you have important placements between 12-15 degrees of any sign (like Ms M's Ascendant at 13+ degrees Scorpio) you'll feel this one particularly strongly.

Between June 20-24, Venus will be trine Pallas Athene and Neptune in Pisces (both of whom are about to station retrograde) - but also opposite Pluto Rx/Capricorn and square Eris/Aries.

Again we have the good mixed in with the bad. And that is one difficult "bad," essentially a cardinal t-square involving Venus opposite Pluto, with Eris square both of them. This isn't a new situation; something comes up which we've failed to deal with in the past. Ms M immediately thinks of the so called "Q Anon" dolts in the US, who continually threaten violent overthrow - which is also known as treason - and who seem to get a free pass. In our personal lives, this can manifest as fighting between partners and/or family members, over some issue(s) where compromise seems impossible. The trine to Neptune offers us some guidance, perhaps by getting in touch with the Divine Feminine - while the trine to Pallas Athene can help with diplomacy (and possibly making some great Art out of the conflict). Placements between 23-27 degrees will get the brunt of the pressure here.

Finally - any transit of Venus is based on your natal Venus position.

Because of natal Venus...

We take action with transiting Venus...

Resulting in effects to the houses ruled by Venus in our natal chart (the ones with Taurus or Libra on the cusp)

My Venus/Taurus/6th House, in other words, is the basis for whatever happens to me during Venus transits - right now, that's through Cancer, and my 8th and 9th Houses - with the effects of that transit coming to my 7th House (Taurus cusp) and 12th House (Libra cusp).

[randomnumbers751650]

Long, unedited text in which I rant about comparative mythology, Joseph Campbell and his monomyth,

Back in 2012 I wanted to improve my fiction writing (and writing in general, because in spite of nuances, themes and audience, writing a fiction and a nonfiction piece shouldn’t be that different) and thus I picked a few writing manuals. Many of them cited the Hero’s Journey, and how important it became for writers – after all Star Wars used and it worked. I believe most of the people reading this like Star Wars, or at least has neutral feelings about it, but one thing that cannot be denied is that became a juggernaut of popular culture.

So I bought a copy of the Portuguese translation of The Hero of a Thousand Faces and I fell in love with the style. Campbell had a great way with words and the translation was top notch. For those unaware, The Hero of a Thousand Faces proposes that there is a universal pattern in humanity’s mythologies that involves a person (usually a man) that went out into a journey far away from his home, faced many obstacles, both external and internal, and returned triumphant with a prize, the Grail or the Elixir of Life, back to his home. Campbell’s strength is that he managed to systematize so many different sources into a single cohesive narrative.

At the time I was impressed and decided to study more and write in an interdisciplinary research with economics – by writing an article on how the entrepreneur replaces the mythical hero in today’s capitalism. I had to stop the project in order to focus on more urgent matters (my thesis), but now that I finished I can finally return to this pet project of mine.

If you might have seen previous posts, I ended up having a dismal view of economics. It’s a morally and spiritually failed “science” (I have in my drafts a post on arts and I’m going to rant another day about it). Reading all these books on comparative mythology is so fun because it allows me for a moment to forget I have a degree in economics.

Until I started to realize there was something wrong.

My research had indicated that Campbell and others (such as Mircea Eliade and Carl Gust Jung, who had been on of Campbell’s main influences) weren’t very well respected in academia. At first I thought “fine”, because I’m used to interact with economists who can be considered “heterodox” and I have academic literature that I could use to make my point, besides the fact my colleagues were interested in what I was doing.

The problem is that this massive narrative of the Hero’s Journey/monomyth is an attempt to generalize pretty wide categories, like mythology, into one single model of explanation, it worked because it became a prescription, giving the writer a tool to create a story in a factory-like pace. It has checkboxes that can be filled, professional writers have made it widely available.

But I started to realize his entire understanding of mythology is problematic. First the basics: Campbell ignores when myths don’t fit his scheme. This is fruit of his Jungian influences, who claim that humanity has a collective unconsciousness, that manifest through masks and archetypes. This is the essence of the Persona games (and to a smaller extent of the Fate games) – “I am the Shadow the true self”. So any deviation from the monomyth can be justified by being a faulty translation of the collective unconsciousness.

This is the kind of thing that Karl Popper warned about, when he proposed the “falseability” hypothesis, to demarcate scientific knowledge. The collective unconsciousness isn’t a scientific proposition because it can be falsified. It cannot be observed and it cannot be refuted, because someone who subscribe to this doctrine will always have an explanation to explain why it wasn’t observed. In spite of falseability isn’t favored by philosophers of science anymore, it remains an important piece of the history of philosophy and he aimed his attack on psychoanalysis of Freud and Jung – and, while they helped psychology in the beginning, they’re like what Pythagoras is to math. They were both surpassed by modern science and they are studied more as pieces of history than serious theorists.

But this isn’t the worst. All the three main authors on myths were quite conservatives in the sense of almost being fascists – sometimes dropping the ‘almost’. Some members of the alt-right even look up to them as some sort of “academic’ justification. Not to mention anti-Semitic. Jung had disagreement with Freud and Freud noticed his anti-Semitism. Eliade was a proud supporter of the Iron Guard, a Romanian fascist organization that organized pogroms and wanted to topple the Romanian government. Later Eliade became an ambassador at Salazar’s Fascist Portugal, writing it was a government guided by the love of God. Campbell, with his hero worship, was dangerously close to the ur-fascism described by Umberto Eco (please read here, you won’t regret https://www.pegc.us/archive/Articles/eco_ur-fascism.pdf).

“If you browse in the shelves that, in American bookstores, are labeled as New Age, you can find there even Saint Augustine who, as far as I know, was not a fascist. But combining Saint Augustine and Stonehenge – that is a symptom of Ur-Fascism.”

Campbell did that a lot. He considered the Bible gospels and Gnostic gospels to be on the same level. Any serious student, that is not operating under New Age beliefs and other frivolous theories like the one that says Jesus went to India, will know there’s a difference between them (even Eliade was sure to stress the difference).

But Campbell cared nothing for it. He disliked the “semitic” religions for corrupting the mythic imagination (which is the source of his anti-Semitism), especially Judaism. When I showed him describing the Japanese tea ceremony to a friend who’s minoring in Japanese studies, she wrote “I’m impressed, he’s somehow managed to out-purple prose the original Japanese”. So, it’s also full of orientalism, treating the East as the mystical Other, something for “daring” Westerners to discover and distillate.

What disturbed…no, “disturbed” isn’t the word that I need in the moment, but what made me feel uncomfortable is that, in spite of all his talk of spirituality, the impression I had of Power of Myth is that I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more materialist than him. Not even Karl Marx, founder of the Historical Materialism, was as materialist as Campbell.

At one point in the book, he was asked if he believed in anything and he gave a dismissive reply and said “I want to get experiences.” A man who studied all the myths of the world available, apparently didn’t believe in anything. Is that what spiritual maturity is? A continuous flux of experiences? Being taken by some sort of shamanistic wind like a floating plastic bag?

In nowhere in the interview he talked about virtues. In rebellion with his Catholic childhood, he said that we should go to the confessionary and say “God, I’ve been such a good boy”. Any cursory reading of the Gospel would say otherwise. Wasn’t this exactly Pharisee’s prayer in Luke 18:9-14? While the wasn’t the publican, who went with humility and asked for forgiveness, the one who walked out with an experience? And not only in Christianity, since in Tibetan Buddhism, a tulpa is something you have to kill, not foster like an imaginary friend like in some internet circles, contamined with this obsession with experiences.

The way I came to see Joseph Campbell as a man who was so stuck in his own world that nothing could move him out of it. All he wanted to do was this big experience, but in the end it’s as wide as the ocean, but shallow as a puddle. Even when Campbell speaks about having a “cosmic consciousness”, all that New Age jargon, claiming it’s about people discovering they’re not the center of the universe, it’s still so…self-servicing. It addresses a crowd so obsessed with experiences, but wants nothing to do with anything that requires compromise. He quotes the Hindu concept of maya, that life is an illusion, but I wonder how right he is about it.

I want to share this critique, by a researcher in comic studies: “We do not remember The Night Gwen Stacy Died because Gwen’s death reminds us of our own mortality, ‘the destiny of Everyman’, but because the story exposes the fragility of Spider-Man reader’s fantasies. Even icons can die.”

The exposition of the fragility of myths, especially the Hero’s Journey, never happens in Campbell’s work. It never talks about the potential of myths hindering entire societies, causing strife and causing people who can’t fit to become outcasts. Not even the cruel ones, like the Aztec death cult is treated as sublime, ignoring the fact that the Aztec neighbors helped to Spanish because they had enough of the Aztec myth.

I have changed my article. While I will still write on the hero entrepreneur, I’ll take a more critical view. The focus of the entrepreneur as an individual has many issues, because it ignores the role of public investment (necessary for high risk enterprises, like going to the moon or creating touch screens) and it treats with contempt the worked wage. Cambpell also treated with contempt the ��masses”, who cannot be “heroes”. The theory on the entrepreneur is the same, treating the entrepreneur as a hero and the waged workers as lowlifes who have nothing to do, but to work, obey and be paid – to the point it feels like some economists treat strikes as crimes worse than murder. Not only that, but they can exploit the worker (see a book named “Do what you love and other lies about success and happiness”, it could be replaced with “Follow your bliss…”).

Campbell wrote in a time that there was no Wikipedia. So his book was the introduction of myths to a lot of people. It helped it was well-written. He considering his approach apolitical, but it’s clear that’s it’s not exactly like that (though this is a reason why Jordan Peterson failed to become the next Campbell, since he’s also a Jungian scholar, but he tried to become a conservative guru and this was his downfall). And, nowadays, Campbell is still inevitable in the circles that his themes matter, unlike Freud and Jung. Read it, but be aware of its problems, because it has already influenced what you consume.

[criticalrolo]

19, 27, and 37 for iris? :0

19. Hobbies

Iris makes her own tea blends! She looks after an herb garden at home and over the years has spent time experimenting with what she likes the best and growing her own herbs. She grows things like peppermint, fennel, coriander, rosehip, chamomile, and lavender. 

She also is a big reader, although she mainly focuses on nonfiction books. She’s very interested in the theory behind why magic works and how to manipulate magic to work for himself, so she does her own research in her free time since she finds it enjoyable. 

She also plays the french horn and the piano. The french horn was a compromise wth her mother and grandmother, who wanted her to play the flute while she wanted to learn euphonium. French horn felt like a middle ground as long as she kept up with the piano. 

27. What’s their family like? Who’s in it? What’s their relationship with them?

Lorai Covenridge (Mother): Lorai is her closest relative for sure. They’ve been through a lot together, so they both feel protective over the other. However, there’s been a growing distance between them ever since Lorai married Iris’s stepfather and started buckling a bit under the pressure from her extended family to maintain Proper Appearances. Iris feels like she needs to succeed and appear Fine all the time to make her mother feel like she hasn’t failed in the eyes of her own family, but she also can sense that there is so much unsaid between the two of them. Iris wishes she could speak more freely with Lorai without feeling like she’ll break her about things like Her Father, how She Feels, and how Lorai has been drinking more frequently as Iris gets older. 

Reuben Cahlir (Father): (redacted) 

Iris doesn’t want anything to do with him, but also wants to know what the fuck he’s up to nowadays. Hasn’t heard from him since she was 12. 

Noren O’Cain (Step Father): Iris thinks he is truly the most bland man she’s ever met. He’s nice enough, sure, but there’s enough that they’ve never spoken about that Iris thinks of him more as Some Guy Who Lives In My House 

Kaitir Covenridge (Aunt) and Marrielle Covenridge (Grandmother): Iris lives her life to impress these people. Kaitir is a Paladin who went to Aelwynn Academy and Marrielle is an influential socialite who has had her fingers in politics, the fashion industry, etc. for decades. After her mother caught so much flack for marrying Reuben, seeing how that turned out, and then the judgmental worry when she married another human man, Iris’s life revolves pretty firmly around keeping herself in the Convenridge’s good graces.

37. Do they have any phobias?

Iris is scared of fire, specifically getting caught in one. She also gets uneasy around Authority Figures and feels the need to Impress in pretty much every way possible. 

[walriding]

–   CHARACTER STUDY.

LAYER 001 :    THE OUTSIDE.

NAME  :        Miles Luis Upshur Ramírez

EYE   COLOUR  :     dark brown

HAIR   STYLE   /   COLOUR  :      thick and curly, usually carefully styled and maintained. black -- dyed more often than not to cover somewhat premature graying. 

HEIGHT  :      5′9″

CLOTHING   STYLE  :    casual / functional for the most part.

BEST   PHYSICAL   FEATURE  :      his smile

LAYER 002 :    THE  INSIDE.

FEARS  :      pre-mount massive: heights, failure in terms of his stories fading into obscurity without anyone caring. post-mount massive: the former + the dark, inescapable spaces, losing control and thereby losing himself, among other general anxieties and paranoias

GUILTY   PLEASURE  :     he usually doesn’t feel guilt over anything that he likes. things like sweets and bubble baths and trendy Starbucks drinks are enjoyed without embarrassment.

BIGGEST   PET   PEEVE  :      willful ignorance in others, especially where injustice is considered. he doesn’t have much tolerance for people who stick their heads in the sand and choose to ignore the problems in the world.

AMBITIONS   FOR   THE   FUTURE  :     take down Murkoff at all costs

LAYER 003 :   THOUGHTS.

FIRST   THOUGHTS   WAKING   UP  :     on the rare nights where he actually sleeps, he’s probably waking up to a bout of sleep paralysis or coming out of a horrific nightmare -- in which case pure panic is the first thing on his mind. otherwise he starts his morning thinking about what he’s going to do for the day -- whether it’s investigating or traveling for the next investigation.

WHAT   THEY   THINK   ABOUT   MOST  :      work, though that’s something of a loose term. he thinks about what his next moves will be in order to work towards his goals, whether that’s something Murkoff related or tied to another story or project.

WHAT   THEY   THINK   ABOUT   BEFORE   BED  :      he doesn’t often sleep in an attempt to stave off the aforementioned nightmares -- plus he doesn’t really need it. but late at night his mind is more apt to wandering to darker places, such as the events of his past and self-criticism for the present.

WHAT   THEY   THINK   THEIR   BEST   QUALITY   IS  :     his moral compass and the fact that he’s unwilling to compromise what he feels to be right.

LAYER 004 :    WHAT’S BETTER ?

SINGLE   OR   GROUP   DATES  :      single. easier to get to know someone that way.

TO   BE   LOVED   OR   RESPECTED  :    respected

BEAUTY   OR   BRAINS  :      brains

DOGS   OR   CATS  :      he says dogs but gets along better with cats, realistically

LAYER 005 :    DO THEY…

LIE  :      only about personal matters

BELIEVE   IN   THEMSELVES  :     he doesn’t know anymore, but tells himself that he does. because if he doesn’t believe in himself at least a little bit, what does he really have left?

BELIEVE   IN   LOVE  :      as a concept, sure -- just not as something that could apply to him in his current state.

WANT   SOMEONE  :      in a perfect world, yes. but in reality, no. well -- deep down he does want someone, even a friend to share some part of his life with, but he’s accepted that he’s unlikely to get that being the way that he is, between the constant moving and Murkoff breathing down his neck and the Walrider. so he’d rather just pretend like he’s fine on his own.

LAYER 006 :    HAVE THEY EVER…

BEEN   ON   STAGE  :      other than for graduation ceremonies, no. he often jokes that he’s a journalist rather than an on-screen reporter for a reason. he suffers no anxiety over public speaking but wouldn’t have the poker face for live interviews and the like.

DONE   DRUGS  :      yes, though nothing that ‘hard.’ he smoked a fair amount of pot in college and might have tried other things at parties here and there but never made habits of them. unless you count standard smoking as drug usage -- a bad habit he hasn’t been able to kick yet.

CHANGED   WHO   THEY   WERE   TO   FIT   IN  :    no. for better or for worse, Miles is always unapologetically himself. of course, he might hide the Walrider thing around most people, but he doesn’t think that counts.

LAYER 007 :    FAVOURITES.

FAVOURITE   COLOURS  :      red, black, earthy browns, gold

FAVOURITE   ANIMAL  :      dogs -- and also cats. deep down he’s a sucker for domesticity and companionship. foxes are cool too, though.

FAVOURITE   BOOK  :      Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly. it was one of the things he read early in his college career as part of a journalism course that shaped the kind of reporter he became -- or at least wanted to be. he gravitates more towards nonfiction works than fiction in terms of books and movies.

FAVOURITE   GAME  :      bejeweled or solitaire or neko atsume -- mindless app games, basically. he isn’t a gamer by any means.

LAYER 008 :    AGE.

DAY   THEIR   NEXT   BIRTHDAY   WILL   BE  :     april 13th

HOW   OLD   WILL   THEY   BE  :      by realtime counts he just turned 38 a few weeks ago, so he’ll be 39 next year

LAYER 010 :    FINISH THE SENTENCE.

I LOVE  :      freedom

I FEEL  :      burdened

I HIDE  :      from myself

I MISS  :      better days

I WISH  :      for a good ending

TAGGED BY :   @finalvlog​ TAGGING : @mslangermann, @iscariotsdeputy, @tenebrescxnce, @mauscleum, steal it

[argumentativeessaystudylabnet114]

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

#1yrago America, Compromised: Lawrence Lessig explains corruption in words small enough for the Supreme Court to understand

Lawrence Lessig was once best-known as the special master in the Microsoft Antitrust Case, then he was best known as the co-founder of Creative Commons, then as a fire-breathing corruption fighter: in America, Compromised, a long essay (or short nonfiction book), Lessig proposes as lucid and devastating a theory of corruption as you'll ever find, a theory whose explanatory power makes today's terrifying news cycle make sense -- and a theory that demands action.

For decades, America has been undoing the great work of history's anti-corruption movements, allowing the wealthy to intervene directly in politics, creating political outcomes that increase their wealth -- lather, rinse repeat.

The courts and their ideological backers -- the Chicago School economists who used shitty math to prove that greed is good and that corruption consists solely of direct quid-pro-quo bribery -- have served as enablers and even cheerleaders for this new Gilded Age, celebrating anonymous political cash contributions as a form of speech protected under the First Amendment and arguing that the Framers of the Constitution would have agreed wholeheartedly with them.

Lessig walks a fine line between academic and activist as he rebuts this argument, drawing on the research produced by the fellows at the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, an interdisciplinary corruption-study center he founded at Harvard and then turning to the rhetoric that made him such an inspirational figure in the Free Culture movement.

Lessig lays out the historic case for the Framers' understanding of corruption as a systemic phenomenon, in which the structure of institutions demand that even the best, most moral people sacrifice their principles to thrive (or just survive) -- a conception at long odds with the Chicago School orthodoxy and the think tanks and ruling elites that back it.

From this historic perspective, Lessig painstakingly builds up an argument about how inequality has fueled corruption, which has fueled inequality -- and how the bankrupt ideology of the Chicago School corrupted every institution, forcing each of us to make one tiny compromise after another, until we arrive at the present moment.

Lessig's use of case-studies alternated with broad statistical and political analysis flips back and forth from the microcosmic to the macrocosmic, from individuals and institutions to the whole society and back again, in a story that is as compelling as it is infuriating.

Lessig is well-known for having formulated the "four forces" theory of social change: that the world is moved by markets (what is profitable), norms (what is considered ethical), code (what is technically possible) and laws (what is legal). In his final section, he presents a set of prescriptions touching on all four factors, from the discussions we need to have with one another about these issues (norms) to the tools that would help us hold the powerful to account (code) to the policies that would reverse the damage (laws) to the kinds of businesses and nonprofits that could help us make a better world (markets). In a moment when the monopolism of Big Tech is replicating itself in every sector from energy to aviation to prisons to finance, these prescriptions are both reasonable and compelling.

This is a short book, but it's full of very big ideas. Lessig's dual identities of "scholar" and "activist" have never been so perfectly merged.

America, Compromised [Lawrence Lessig/University of Chicago]

(Image: Joi Ito, CC-BY)

https://boingboing.net/2018/10/22/structural-corruption.html

[jasperlion]

full name.  Albein Alm Rudolf II pronunciation. Al-bine Alm Rudolf (the) Second nicknames.  Alm, ‘little lion’ (Mordecai and Skrimir on FEH Verse) height. 5ft 7inches -> 5ft 8.5inches (from start of game to feh verse(circa 1.8yrs postgame)) age. 16->nearing 19 (same as above) zodiac. Aries (HC) languages. Valentian, the dragon’s tongue, sign language (Silent King AU only)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

hair colour.  Mossy green eye colour. Green skin tone.  tan body type. fit, lean, some emaciation from the famine still persists accent.  Southern Zofian dominant hand.  Left posture.  like that of a soldier when ‘on duty’, back straight, shoulders back and legs spread enough to have a good center of gravity. His gait is measured but certain, march-like almost. Whenever he’s in a relaxed environment, it tends to be a far more open, loose and slightly leaning forward with a friendly sort of air. scars. There’s a cut under his right eye from Berkut’s lance on one of their encounters, as well as several notable claw marks from a dragon on his chest and left thigh. The most notable magical blast marks are on his left shoulder (and some of his upper arm), at the center of his torso and on his lower back. While there’s several blade slash marks on his lower torso where there was no armor, they’re far less than the multiple  on his back, most gained from opportunistic bandits. His arms are also marred with plenty of these, although they are far less deep and most are fading, obtained from training for the most part. There’s a few from arrows, one on his right leg’s thigh, another in his torso at the bottom left and the last on his back near his right shoulderblade. tattoos.  None, his brand does not count but could be thought of as one most noticeable features. The brand on the back of his left hand, and perhaps the scar under his right cheek. As he’s normally wearing full armor and a gambeson that cover the rest, anything else is likely not noticeable, from his slighter frame to his battle scars.

CHILDHOOD.

place of birth.  Rigel Keep hometown.  While he was born in Rigel’s capital, he considers Ram his hometown. birth weight / height. unknown to him, but according to Mycen he was very small. manner of birth.  natural birth first words.  gapa (attempt at grandpa) siblings.  none

parents.  Emperor Rudolf I (father; deceased), -unknown to him- (mother; deceased) parental involvement.  his father was fairly uninvolved with Alm until the war, only able to impart him final words of advice and truth before passing on from his wounds, given to him by his own son. It could be said the closest the two had ever been was in the midst of a battle Alm never quite felt alright with, for the man never fought back for not wanting to harm his son.

ADULT LIFE

occupation. Emperor of Rigel, later on King of Valentia current residence. Castle Rigel (pre-reunification), Castle Valentia (post reunification) close friends. His childhood friends from Ram, Celica, and most members from what used to be the Deliverance. Celica’s own friends he’d love to get to know relationship status. Probably married/engaged, but can be verse dependant financial status.  Steady once the country gets back on its feet driver’s license. Nonexistant criminal record. Technically, since he’s lead a rebellion, he technically has being a war criminal and traitor on his slate, even if it was washed clean upon the death of Desaix. It is only because death in battle is honorable that he was even forgiven about Rudolf, and it’s probably only because almost no one knows the previous Emperor did not fight back. vices. Wrath (rarely, now), Gluttony (he tries not to, but old habits...)

SEX & ROMANCE.

sexual orientation.  Demisexual romantic orientation. Panromantic preferred emotional role.  submissive | dominant | switch  |  unsure preferred sexual role.  submissive  |  dominant  |  switch  |  sex repulsed | unsure libido. Extremely Low turn on’s. uncertain, no experience turn off’s. uncertain, no experience, but likely anything that pisses him off. love language. he’s fairly physical and tends to stick close to his significant other, as well as offer asistance or otherwise ensure they are alright. He quite enjoys giving gifts, little ones of personal significance that he either made himself or retrieved. He can be very doting, and enjoys close contact like hugs, cuddles, nuzzling and simply holding them close. relationship tendencies. Alm tends to give more than he should, he dotes and cares and tends to his significant other, but with a partner that does not look after for him in turn, he is liable to forget about himself at times. He is strictly open with just about anything with them, and will oft share how he feels with them in an attempt to always be clear and upfront. With them, he wears his heart on his sleeve even more blatantly than with other close friends. His attention may be overbearing should he not be told to hold back or back off a little, especially if he asks and receives no negative response, so it’s always best to be completely upfront with him in turn.

MISCELLANEOUS.

character’s theme song. A distant promise hobbies to pass the time.  Reading stories (and sometimes nonfictional books on politics and the like, even if they bore him immensely at times), training and practicing archery, exercising, riding, singing, trying his hand at landscape paintings, fixing up little things like tables/clothes/fencing as habit from his days as a peasant. mental illnesses. PTSD, situational anxiety physical illnesses. While he is fairly hardy, his emaciation and malnourishment takes a while to treat and go away (plus too many more in SK!AU) left or right brained. Right brained fits a little more fears. Failure (ft not living up to expectations), loss of a loved one, arguing with a loved one to the point of being unable to fix it, another war springing up, reports of further loss of life/crop, waking up in the vault to find what he’s lived is a lie, specific sound or conditions that trigger vivid flashbacks to the ramparts of Castle Rigel and the vault, letting power consume him as it did Duma. self confidence level.  Confidence in his skills in battle, tactics and field medicine are fairly alright, but on the rest of his duties they’re fairly low and he constantly questions himself in an attempt to keep himself in check. vulnerabilities. Arguments spiraling out of control tend to make him anxious and far too eager to make or force a compromise, although he tries to contain it. He has trouble holding Falchion to train against someone else, especially against a certain someone. Prone to nightmares, sometimes he gets little sleep if he’s alone.

tagged by: I STOLE IT........ NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.... tagging: feel free tO STEAL

[archiveddvrpg]

Congratulations, JULIE! You’ve been accepted for the role of CASSIUS. Admin Jen: Cassius is multifaceted in every sense of the term, and it was the main reason why we couldn’t wait to receive an app for him -- there are so many aspects of his character that could be explored, so many layers to peel back and expand upon. And you achieved that so brilliantly, Julie. From the intriguing plots to the wonderful writing sample, everything came together so well to project the vision that you have for Cassius and it’s certainly left us thirsting for more! I’m so so glad that you’ll be bringing him to us and I can’t wait to see him on the dash! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Out of Character

Alias | Julie (hi, it’s me again!)

Age | 19

Preferred Pronouns | She/her or they/them works fine!

Activity Level | So this semester isn’t going to be as disastrous as I thought it’d be, but I’m still gonna give myself a 5.5 out of 10, with more activity on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays than any other days of the week.

Timezone | MST!

Current/Past RP Accounts | Orion’s blog is here! I think there’s some halfway decent stuff on there.

In Character

Character | Cassius / Cassian Bhatt. I’m fine with keeping Ranveer!

What drew you to this character? | “But when you dare to look a monster in the eye, when you issue that kind of challenge, when you provoke a man who takes pride in evisceration, one gets exactly what they bargain for: destruction.” This line in particular is really what did it for me - I can draw parallels and lines between Orion and Cassian as much as I want, but Cassian really does have something Orion lacks, and that’s ambition on the large and small scale. He’s conniving, clever, and most importantly, rooted in reality. Cassian is a realist; I think he knows what he lacks and what he has and even then where things can go wrong. He does his best to be a few steps ahead, and when all else fails, at least has some sort of back-up plan in mind. He holds the scales of justice - how could he ever want to be anything besides justified? He’s the interesting sort of aloof that has men and women alike flocking to him, which is key to how he measures his success. If they want him, let them come. If not, then let them keep their distance. He knows by now that people are fickle, but he always keeps them close in spite of their grievances and changing plans - they’re important, and he can use them, and that’s what’s truly important.

And what Cassian uses, he eventually destroys. Individual things can only serve their purpose for so long before they don’t have any purpose at all, and being the pragmatic man he is, Cassian’s quick to discard of them before they get any ideas about ascending beyond where they need to be. Cassian knows he needs to rise, that others need to fall, and some need to stay exactly where they are, and that’s something I think he’s been taught to maintain all his life - not by his father, whom he detests, but by his mother, who taught him everything he knew and more that he has yet to discover. What I’d really like to explore is how Cassian got from point A to point B. How do you go from a boy who loses himself in historical nonfiction to a man who is so bitterly cruel it leaves people breathless? Does it make him sad to know he doesn’t quite feel in the capacity others might? I find him really intriguing, and that’s what drew me to him.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? |

He’s being used in the same way he uses others, at least by Mona, something that has Cassian on edge; he’s unfamiliar with the position that comes with being compromised. He’s not worried, though, and that’s dangerous - he should be worried if he knows any better, but instead of pulling, Cassian pushes. I want to see how this extortion thread unfolds - mostly with how it impacts his relationship with his Captain, with himself, and how the Capulets will see him if they see these photos. Cassian’s technically on a leash, and it might be a long one, but he’s not sure how much give he has left to run ahead, think he’s the one in charge, before it yanks back from the collar.

Marriage is nothing but another tool in his set, and frankly, Cassian doesn’t view Lillian as anything more than that. Sure, she’s a good woman, a respectable woman, had dose her part in acquiescing to the proposal, taking on his name as hers at some point in the future. Her sorrow in being married to a man who, frankly, neither loves nor cares for her isn’t much more than a footnote at the bottom of the page to Cassian. Lillian provides opportunity to make him look all the more golden than he already is. He’ll give her anything she asks for, present it to her wrapped in precious metals and distracting paper, but only because he needs her, and not because he necessarily wants her. A union of necessity is still a union, and I’d love to see the fracturing between Lillian and Cassian, and how that damages Cassian, how long it takes. Not necessarily emotionally, but in terms of his reputation, which is all that matters to him.

Matters of the heart are uncomfortable for Cassian, that’s clear enough. He’s alone, has been alone, and in his mind, will always be alone. He has no issues in isolation, so long as it’s something brought on by his own choices. When love cannot bring happiness, monetary gain and skill will bring pride. Cassian’s a proud man with a black hole for a heart that eats everything it touches without abandon - I’d love to see someone knock him down a peg, either through his work or through emotional investment that he hasn’t really prepared himself for.

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | Yep!

In Depth

In-Character Para Sample:

The first fifteen minutes of dinner are quiet. There’s not much noise beyond shifting in their seats, chewing, the clattering - as little of it as possible - of silverware against intricate-looking plates. Cassian notes that his mother looks exhausted, something not entirely unremarkable, but it’s not something he plans on asking about. He’d learned early on in life that asking Vahina Bhatt about anything she deemed unnecessary was futile. She’d answer with some notion of work, the governance of Verona, how much it grates on her temper and her time, fundraising - that sort of thing. Some off-the-cuff scandal that he might want to look into.

His father, halfway down the table, appears to be chewing not just on food but his words as well. “That Wen girl,” Naadir begins, because of course he would ask about the one topic Cassian has no interest in, “what do you think?”

Cassian gulps down a mouthful of wine in an attempt to both steel himself and delay an answer. He’s not sure what he thinks of her. She’d been relatively meek upon their first meeting, he’d thought, nothing like the diamond in the rough her mothers had made her out to be. But she’d been beautiful. More than beautiful. An effigy of grace, style, composition. She had followed the plans laid out for their first interaction to a T: introduction, dinner, discussion of the future, and a soft goodnight at the door. All in all, it had played out smoothly.

But their personalities don’t mix, and she seems flat. Static. Where Cassian finds himself confrontational, up front, willing to start a conversation on the intricacies and justification of law, social standards, she is reserved, an even line to the set of her mouth. She had smiled, yes, but it hadn’t been genuine. Maybe that’s for the best, Cassian thinks. None of this will be genuine. He has no love for her, she has no love for him, he doesn’t intend on saying anything of the sort. Not even in their vows, for the wedding to come. There will be no declarations of adoration. She’ll look nice with his Versace loafers, he thinks, for dinner parties and galas.

“She’ll be a good wife,” he replies, tone flat. His father hums, unsurprised by the lack of poetry frothing from his son’s mouth. Cassian has never been a romantic, after all, and that’s where their divide has always rested: a crack in the earth, widening from his younger years to where they are now. Vahina watches from the head of the table, glass of cabernet sauvignon in hand, a soft curve to her lips. But she’s looking at Cassian, not her husband, and if he were still a boy, he might as well gleamed with pride.

The ring he’s chosen for her, to announce to the world that she’ll be his, isn’t particularly extravagant. A golden band, with a green diamond atop, surrounded by smaller white cut jewels. It’s flashy - but not too flashy, so as not to imply vanity. He doesn’t say much else on the matter of his newfound fiancee, and his father knows better than to press, so he listens to his mother ask about his new courses at the university, given that it’s a new year. He ponders other things until the meal is done and he’s being nudged towards the door.

The ring is still on his mind as he’s driven home, as he closes the front door behind him, settles in his study for the night to look into the case Cosimo had called him about the other evening: the Bhatts are not a vain bloodline - they are seekers of knowledge, growth. The viridescent tint won’t be for envy, or a mark of ownership, but for nature. An indication of development, he thinks, that she will grow into the person he needs her to be. Isn’t that poetry enough?

Extras: An instrumental playlist, and because it’s a bit corny, but here’s the wedding ring I was looking at for Lillian!