#only downside it's it's complicated and boring

[invisiblesketches]

I was born to do paperwork

[gatorlovebot]

continuation of this blurb here. also important to read this blurb. read the rest of my king!simon blurbs here.

you needed an escape, a moment of reprieve from all the political talk. one of the downsides of accompanying simon everywhere was that you had to sit in on every single one of his boring meetings with his advisors and court members. land negotiations, peace treaties, civil disputes, blah, blah, blah. you didn’t understand most of it, words going in one ear and out the other. you needed just a moment outside of this suffocating room.

it’s almost as if the universe was listening to you, or maybe it was just simon wanting to put you out of your suffering for a moment. he nudged his empty tea cup towards you and you jumped at the opportunity to leave. you excuse yourself quietly and gingerly walk down the corridors to the kitchen, taking your time. 

you go through the motions of making simon’s tea just as he likes it, something that had become muscle memory to you years ago. you rub at your shoulders as you let the tea bag steep, soothing out tension from sitting in an uncomfortable chair for hours. simon would be wanting lunch soon, the meeting wouldn’t go on for much longer, you tried to convince yourself as you made the walk back to the grand hall. 

as you made your way to the door, you spotted simon’s new secretary leaving the room. when he spotted you approaching, a timid smile appeared across his lips. “i was hoping to catch you.”

you two hadn’t really gotten off on the right foot, him making a witless joke about your relationship to simon right in front of you. but you didn’t have the energy to continue to be angry at him, you were still reeling from the visit by the southern royals, who had only left a few days prior. you had all these complicated feelings towards simon and that fucking princess, you hadn’t really had time to think or care about simon’s new secretary. 

you did have to admit though, that despite his poor attempt at a joke, he was doing a much better job than simon’s previous secretary. the duties of a secretary were quite simple and mostly involved writing, not talking. so far, during the meeting, he had kept his few comments quick and concise. unlike simon’s former secretary, who could ramble on and on until someone stopped him. 

you plastered on a pleasant and polite smile, “and what can i do for you, secretary?”

“just a moment of your time, perhaps,” you nodded for him to continue, “i ,again, just wanted to apologize for my derogatory comment when we first met. i had let an ignorant assumption of you cloud my judgment and for that i’m very sorry.”

you had to admit that he seemed genuine and that it may do you a bit of good to accept the apology so as to create a pleasant working relationship between the two of you. the secretary had been brought on to staff right before the arrival of the southern king, so you two had not worked as closely because of the visit. but now with the southern royals gone you and the secretary would be consulting about simon’s affairs regularly. 

“i appreciate your apology, sir, it means a lot for you to admit your poor judgment.” you replied, genuinely. it did mean a lot to you, having to endure years and years of rumors spread around the castle about you without anyone taking into consideration you or your feelings. it was refreshing to hear someone state so clearly that they were wrong about you.

all he did was give you a subtle nod, moving out of the way of the doors before responding, “i’m looking forward to working more closely with you, my dear.” and with that he walked past you down the corridor. 

you made your way back into the room, back into your chair to the right of simon. you quietly placed the tea cup in front of him and as he reached for it your fingers touched for just a moment. it was your first moment of physical contact with him since he had taken out the princess. you pulled your hand back abruptly and tried to casually sit back down. 

“thank you, love.” simon remarked, taking a sip.

the meeting hadn’t gone that much longer, simon wrapping everything up with a simple declaration that he was craving lunch. as you gathered your’s and his things you were again approached by the secretary.

his voice was quiet, “another moment of your time, my dear?”

you noticed the documents in his hand, not too excited to talk business after hours of mind numbing discussion over the king’s affairs. before you could respond you heard simon’s booming voice from the door.

“ay, it’s lunch time, love.” love. you wanted to roll your eyes at him. he was standing in the threshold of the room, impatiently waiting for you to join him so you could accompany him to lunch. he didn’t even wait for you to gather your things and yet he’s standing there demanding you join him? 

“oh, your majesty, i was just hoping to go over the itinerary for your upcoming trip with her.” the secretary explained, gesturing to the documents in his hand as explanation. 

simon looked perturbed, his brows furrowed. you couldn’t help but find it humorous, how easily he was irritated by someone pushing back against his wishes even just a little bit. 

“just small details, your highness, it will just take a few minutes. i promise she’ll be joining you soon.” the secretary reassured and you didn’t think it would work on simon. he hasn’t wanted you out of his sight as of late, much to your dismay. 

simon gave you a long, hard look before finally shrugging his shoulders. “don’t complain to me when your food is cold.” and with that he turns down the corridor. 

and this is how he’s been for the past few days, hot and cold. one minute he’s complimenting you and the next he’s being a right prick. you roll your eyes and try to relax the tension out of your shoulders. “sorry for him.” you don’t know why you’re apologizing on simon’s behalf, somewhat of a reflex at this point when simon is in one of his moods.

“no need for apologies, dear.” he assures you with a charming smile. shuffles the papers in his hands and considers them for a moment before setting them back down on the table. “i must admit my intentions are not to go over some itinerary with you.”

your brows furrow in confusion, what else could he possibly need from you then? 

“i wanted to get you alone to ask you something,” he reveals. the rest of the room had cleared out, the rest of simon’s men either going to lunch or other meetings. if it was any of simon’s other men you might have been nervous to be left alone, but you wanted to give simon’s new secretary a chance. “you take care of the king, and you do it very well, but who takes care of you?”

you don’t even understand the question at first, who takes care of you? what’s there to take care of? “myself, i’d suppose.” you finally settle on.

“so, there’s no one that picks out your clothes in the morning? or washes your hair at night?” of course not, you want to say but you’re so unsure of the situation now that you just shake your head. “so,” he lowers his voice, deep. “even at night there’s no one in your bed to take care of you?”

it’s an obvious come on, something that doesn’t happen very often to you but when it does you usually feel an awful pit in your stomach afterwards. but, right now you don’t feel dread or disgust. but his dark eyes and sultry voice are definitely making you feel something. you barely whisper out a, “no” at his question, almost stunned at the situation you’ve found yourself in. 

he moves, minutely, to stand in front of you, your back coming into contact with the edge of the table behind you. he reaches up and touches his fingertips along your dress, tracing your hips, a whisper of a touch. “would you like there to be someone to take care of you, dear?”

you desperately want to say yes, want to fall easily into your own desires. you’d never felt wanted before and you didn’t want this overwhelming feeling of want to go away. but then your mind betrayed you and made you think of the one reason why you had never allowed yourself to be propositioned in the past: simon. there was a cruel part of you that wanted, no needed, to be loyal to your king. a part that would never understand that you could never have him. in this moment you hated that part, but ultimately you listened to it. 

you also had to think about the potential of your little rendezvous with the secretary getting around the castle, getting back to simon. you couldn’t even begin to imagine how that would change your relationship. “i need you to understand that i would, i would like that,” you stressed to him, “but i can’t.” 

his face falls and so do his hands from your body. he takes a small step back, making some distance between the two of you. he takes a long look at your face, “i understand completely.” he affirms and with that you feel even worse. it would have been easier if he was an asshole about it, then you could get upset with and storm off. but now you were just left to look at the disappointment he was trying to hide from his face. 

“i’m sorry-” you begin but he raises a hand, stopping you.

“no, no, no,” he tuts, “nothing to be sorry for, you have your reasons and i accept them.” he takes one of your hands, just long enough to give it a gentle squeeze, “the offer still stands, don’t hesitate to call for me.” 

maybe you would. maybe at some point you would gather up the courage to finally do something for yourself for once and not stress yourself out over the potential consequences. you gave him a gracious smile before making your way out the doors again, knowing that simon would be getting rather impatient.

“i thought you said my food would be cold by the time i got here.” you stated flatly as the maid laid out a hot try of food in front of you after you sat down at the dining table, next to simon. he was already halfway through his meal and barely paid you any mind when you finally made your way to the table, instead reading over some documents. his little mood swings were getting to you.

“i said not to complain if your food was cold," he corrected, not taking his eyes off the document in hand, “not that it would be cold.”

you decide not to bring up the fact that he had to command one of the maids to wait until you had arrived to serve you, not wanting to start a petty little argument about how he actually cared. instead you just dug into your meal, feeling famished after a long morning. you wouldn’t describe the silence between you two as being comfortable, as it usually was, but you didn’t allow it to get to you. sitting up from your chair to reach across the table to grab the salt, opting to do it yourself instead of asking simon for help.

the silent tension of the room is cut by the unexpected arrival of simon’s secretary. your cheeks burn at his presence, your mind playing his words over again from just a few moments ago.

“your royal highness, i’m so sorry to interrupt,” he declared, making his way over to the dining table where you still stood. “but i just need your signature on one of these documents from earlier before i take it down to the post.” 

he stands between you and simon, handing the document over to simon along with a fountain pen. it only took simon a moment to scrawl his signature along the parchment, before he was passing the paper and pen back to the secretary with only a grunt in response. “thank you for your time, much appreciated, your highness.” he bows his head, something that he does ironically now, and as he passes you to leave, his hand momentarily caresses your waist.

just a small touch, but somehow simon notices it. “ay,” he barks, “no need to touch the fucking lady.”

the secretary’s eyes widened in shock before stuttering out an apology, “you’re right, your majesty, so sorry to the both of you.” and with that he makes a quick exit from the dining room. 

you huff before sitting again, cutting simon an incredulous look. “you didn’t have to bite the man’s head off, your highness.” you scolded.

his eyes furrow in indignation, “oh, what, should i just let all my men touch on you like that?”

“no, but you don’t-”

he’s quick to interrupt you, “well, i already know you let the guard touch up on you.”

you jaw drops in shock at his accusation. you knew that he had spotted you and the guard arm and arm when you two were accompanying him and the princess, but for him to imply that there was more to it? you were shocked, you were hurt. “it wasn’t like that and you know it.” you snipe back, letting your devastation at his words manifest in disdain. “and besides, why do you even care? shouldn’t you be more worried about your little princess?”

you knew the words are too revealing the moment they leave your mouth, but you’re too incensed to even care. why was he being so cruel? why was he pushing you like this? you never liked to fight with him because he could be so mean.

“oh, the princess? well, i said ‘fuck you’ to that princess the day she said that if i were to ever wed her i would have to cut you loss.” he snarls before sinking back into his chair with a frustrated huff. 

your anger deflates at his confession. earlier that day, during the meeting, he had claimed that a courtship between him and the princess would not be possible, but he never gave a reason. you had never imagined that reason being you. it wasn’t a confession of his feelings for you, but it was an allusion to them. 

you both are quiet for a long moment, bodies sagging as the adrenaline from the sudden fight drains out of you two. you awkwardly push around food on your plate, suddenly not hungry anymore, as you try to come up with words to say to him. 

“after that little display, i put that guard on night duty.” simon reveals quietly, out of nowhere, eyes still on his plate.

you had made a mental note, the day after the garden walk, that simon’s guard had been replaced with one that you hadn’t known as well. it was frustrating, to say the least. the new guard wasn’t as talkative, took his job too seriously. he wasn’t any kind of reprieve from having to follow around simon and the princess for days. but the petty move wasn’t surprising, simon had all the power and he liked to use it as he pleased. 

“why?” you questioned, curious as to what kind of answer he’d give you.

his dark eyes met yours, face open and honest as he reaches across the table to grab one of your hands. his grip is loose, you could easily pull your hand away, but you can’t find it in yourself too. his hands are warm, fingertips calloused against your soft skin, you can’t tell if he’s stalling. he finally opens his mouth, “when it comes to you, i don’t know how to stop being a jealous prick.”

his words don’t bring you as much comfort as you were hoping, jealousy doesn’t mean love. “simon,” you take a moment to collect yourself when your voice begins to waver. “you can’t be jealous and controlling of someone who you won’t even claim as yours.”

shock flashes across his face, seemingly not prepared for you to say something like that. you wiggle your hand from out of his grasp before standing up from the table. “you don’t have anything else planned today besides dinner later tonight, i think it might be for the best if we spent the time between now and then apart.” you declare, holding your ground.

he chuckles, hollowly, “distance isn't the answer to our problem, love.”

“you’re right, but the only one who can answer our problem is you, your highness.” you had devoted yourself to simon years ago, and now it was his turn to decide if he was devoted to you. 

[magicmindless]

A HC List but it’s just Chuck

For that one anon who also asked for him along with Taylor

- Laidback, charming personality, but can also bite with dry sarcasm

- Despite the title as a “ladies man” he’s very bisexual

- Has a lot of dating experience. His first date ever was with a girl back in middle school, though they only lasted for about a month and a half, but stayed friends for a while. He’s also dated other guys and girls

- He had a complicated home life growing up. It’s like the awkward middle where he wasn’t exactly abused but

- Was a business major in college (boooooooo/j)

- He doesn’t consider doing modeling as a serious job long-term. He only does it to pay off his tuition, plus it gives him some body image issues

- Despite the downsides, modeling isn’t so bad. He’s learned some decent styling skills, mainly for summer looks which is why he’s always wear Hawaiian shirts

- Not a huge fan of winter because he finds the season harder to style for. He’s not a fan of layers

- Had a phase where he plunked his eyebrows very thin, to the point where you couldn’t see them. He still plucks his eyebrows but only to shape them

- Is very sensitive to colognes, perfumes and essential oils. He can’t wear any or he’ll start sneezing and coughing a lot. He refuses any jobs which require him to wear it and stays FAR away from Cherrisa and her stand

- Also gets hay fever during spring. Since Taylor has zero allergies whatsoever he likes to remind Chuck of his “skill issue”

- He can be rather… interesting when he’s drunk. If you thought he was blunt before, well, just wait til he has a bottle. Yet he’s very euphoric despite being so mean when he’s drunk

- His main plan was to open his own bar/night club since he’s pretty good at mixing cocktails, and he still wants to whenever he gets bored of his wingeria job

- He claims himself as “the straight man” between him and Taylor but the truth is he’s not any better. They both share exactly one brain cell together. They stoopid

- Has been lended a lot of designer brand clothes from previous modeling gigs he has done though he rarely wears them since he thinks they’re tacky

- Owns way too many stainless steel water bottles. He has a whole cabinet dedicated to them, but at least he’s never dehydrated

- Was an avid smoker when he was a teen. He still occasionally smokes or vapes but does it a lot less, and if he does it’s not around Taylor because he doesn’t approve of it

- Always smells like wing sauce because of his wingeria job, and the type depends on whichever sauce people order the most, though he usually smells citrusy

- His puka shell accessories were gifts from Nevada when he offered to model jewelry made by her to advertise her business

- He and Taylor both have a memory of watching a cartoon series when they were both super young called “Freezing Pointe”. Neither remember the channel but remembered how much the main duo resembled them in current day. Yet, whenever they anyone else about it, they have no idea what they’re talking about and searching on the internet never brought any results either. It’s like they’re the only 2 in the world who know about it…

[rorywritesalot]

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.

Prologue: Welcome to Pandora

Warnings: cursing

Ensley's POV

When you’re 20 years old, you’re usually in college, or moving out of your parents house or whatever. Not me! No, I’m on a different planet to learn more about the wildlife and the natives. I like to think that I’m pretty lucky. I get to do what I love and be mentored by the best of the best, Dr. Grace Augustine. I arrived on Pandora just after I turned 18. I’m the first of the Sully siblings to be here. My brother Tom is supposed to join me here soon. I haven’t seen my family in two long years. I miss my parents and above all, I miss my big brothers. They are only a little over a year older than me. Our parents loved to say that I was a perfect mix of both Jake and Tom. I had the wit and humor of Jake and the smarts and curiosity of Tom. Jake and I were the troublemaking duo. We would taunt the kids of the neighborhood and play pranks on our family. Tom was the brother I could seek out for guidance. He and I could sit and talk about theories forever. It was him who got me extremely interested in the Avatar Program and I studied as hard as I could in order to be considered for the program. Growing up, they were the perfect brothers. They still are. 

When I started my process to get my own avatar, there were some complications with my DNA and it was denied. So I do not have an avatar. My brother Tom does, and he’s here waiting for Tom’s arrival. I work directly under Grace kind of as her right hand. I will be honest, I thought Grace hated me when I first showed up here. She probably did because I was so young and she “didn’t want to be a babysitter”, and I quote. Once she realized what I could do, she started to come around. Since my arrival, Grace has taught me so much and helped me grow as a scientist. She has taken me under her wing and has very much become like a mother figure to me. 

Above all, working with Grace has its perks, but it definitely has its downside. One of those is being her runner. Grace will send me on coffee runs at random hours of the day. She also likes to have me run errands for her too. I get tasked with taking files to Selfridge or sitting in on the boring meetings that she refuses to go to. I didn’t mind running her errands in the end because that was how I met him.

I’ve only ever heard of Colonel Miles Quaritch, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting the well known Head of Security, until now. The first thing I noticed about the man, other than his piercing blue eyes, was the trio of scars on the right side of his head. If the story is true, he was attacked one his very first day on Pandora by a viperwolf, because he decided it was a good idea to go check out the forest. What an idiot. 

On a trip to one of the breakrooms to get Grace her coffee, I space out. My mind is running rampant, thinking of all the things I have to get done that day. In the middle of running down my mental to-do list, I fail to pay attention to how I turn a corner and run right into a muscular chest and take a tumble to the floor, landing flat on my ass.

“Geez, you need to watch where you’re going cupcake. You okay?” The man says as he reaches down for my hand and hoists me up to my feet. 

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I guess I was just really out of it.” I say, visibly embarrassed. He lets out a soft laugh.

“It’s fine. Hey, I can’t say I’ve ever met you before. What’s your name?” He flashes his little smirk at me. This man is so devilishly handsome and I think he knows it. With his tan and defined arms, his silver hair and those damn blue eyes. He knows he’s attractive.

“Um, ha, I’m Ensley, Dr. Ensley Sully. I’m a botanist.” I put my hand out for him. He takes it.

“Ah you’re one of those science pukes ain’tcha?” He says, his smirk replaced with a neutral expression. I can’t tell if he now has a sudden distaste for me or something. Since I've been here, I’ve quickly come to understand that the soldier and scientist have never fully seen eye to eye. All because of their different views and since the important people in RDA favor soldiers over scientists. 

“Yeah I am," I say, going into defense mode. "I don’t believe I know your name either.”

“Oh yes, I’m Colonel Quaritch. You might know me as the head of security.” Why, he’s very modest isn’t he. I mentally roll my eyes.

“Well, it’s nice to finally put a face to the name.” I say and he chuckles. He locks his eyes with my brown ones and he looks almost as if he’s analyzing my face. I feel my confidence cracking under his gaze. Part of me wants to run and hide and another part of me wants to fall to the floor and cry. But I don’t. I stand there until I feel like I’m done with the situation.

“I should probably get going. My boss is probably wondering where I am.” I say as I step around him. He turns his body to keep me in sight. 

“Yes, don’t want to keep them waiting.”

“Mhmm, it was nice meeting you.” I say as I turn and continue my trip to the breakroom for Grace’s coffee. As I walk away, I have the feeling that eyes are on me. As I round the corner to the breakroom, I glance back and see the colonel still looking at me. I hesitantly stop and gaze back at him. I softly smile and wave my fingers at him. He subtly nobs and turns to continue to where he was going. 

I turn on the coffee machine so I can make Grace’s drink as well as making a cup of tea for myself. I’m not a big fan of coffee. I hate the bitterness of it as well as the after taste. So I don’t drink caffeine or anything, I just run off of sheer willpower. 

As I’m doing what I’m doing, I think back to the encounter I just had with the colonel. Everyone made him out to be so mean and cold. He didn’t seem that way with me. Maybe everyone only ever met him as the colonel and I just got to meet him as just him. 

I finish making the drinks and I make my way back to the lab. Upon my arrival, I look around to find Grace. I find her hunched over a microscope. I set her mug down by the scope and she shoots her eyes to look at me.

“Jesus E, what took you so goddamn long.” She says, visibly irritated that she had to wait longer for her precious coffee. She takes a sip and looks back at me signaling that she wants to know what happened to me.

“I just ran into someone and I got to talking to them. It's not that big of a deal.” I say turning my back to her and heading to my desk.

“Who did you run into?”

“Fuck Grace, why do you care?”

“I want to know.”

“If I tell you, will you stop pestering me?” I grumble. She nods her head.

“I ran into Quaritch.” I say and Grace's face slightly drops.

“Oh, are you okay? He didn’t give you any shit did he?” She asks and I shake my head. She seems relieved. She and Quaritch have always had it out for each other and couldn’t be in the same room as each other without wanting to bite the other's head off. So I understand why she doesn't want him to give me or any of her scientists shit or anything.

“Okay well, let's get back to work. There are some Mist Blooms I want you to analyze and make some reports about. Okay?” Grace motions to the pile of papers and files sitting on my desk. I take a seat, sip my tea and dive back into my work.

Note: This is my first ever fanfic and I'm so happy to share this with you. Most of my titles are going to be based off Taylor Swift title tracks. So if there are any swifties here, I hope you enjoy that. Chapter 1 will be out soon!

[dreamofmetoday]

CHISA IN DEPTH PERSONALITY READING

profile: the pursuer ♡

chisa is someone with a very active energy - someone who finds enjoyment in a lot of things but is also easily bored, so she keeps herself busy with a wide range of interests. new hobbies will attract her quite easily and she will have a lot of phases, i wouldn’t be surprised if further into her career this is what she’s known for by fans. for example, she could have things like, a lego building phase, an oil pastels art phase, an origami phase, a knitting phase, a baking phase etc. she will be quite invested and enthusiastic while her interest is piqued and can become quite skilled in most of her hobbies. even if she is only interested in some of them for short periods, she always wants to be trying something. 

this also extends to her interests and overall activeness in general, she wants to be doing a lot of things and finds a lot of things enjoyable. for example, if she likes reading it is unlikely she sticks to one or even two genres, she might have phases, but she will always want variety or, if she likes movies, then she watches all kinds. she can also usually adapt to what others want to do because she likes doing most things. for example, she can enjoy going to a party at 1am as much as she enjoys waking up at 6am to do yoga - she actually feels she needs these varied activities as time passes (she can’t stick to one way of living for too long).

chisa is pretty chatty and is the person in group settings who keeps everyone in a good mood and wants people laughing, even as i was doing this reading chisa was very happy and excited to do it, eager to talk and form a connection. she is a witty, charming conversationalist and storyteller. she tries to be understanding of different personality types and is a reliable figure in her loved one’s lives. on the downside, she can compromise too easily - others are able to appeal to her emotions rather easily, and if she happens to be dealing with particularly dominating personality types, she can be walked over and behave in a way she doesn’t truly agree with (will change her opinion to fit theirs, change some of her behaviours etc.). being too idealistic about people in general can also cause her problems (more so when relationships become closer, when she sees you pretty often) - when people go against what she believed of them she can be unforgiving (leaving the other person shocked since they feel they did nothing wrong), but she can also give way too much to people who wouldn’t give her the same energy in return. 

chisa wants to be someone who believes in true love, she wants to wooed and have a fairytale romance. however, there’s a few reasons why this is complicated for her. one, when relationships get difficult or past the honeymoon stage she has the tendency to run away (and then reminisce on the relationship and wonder why it went “wrong”). two, she has a lot of needs and desires, meaning what she seeks in a partner is prone to fluctuation - her ideal type changes frequently, when in a relationship she can suddenly switch up and go, “actually, i don’t want the practical and steady type anymore. i need someone more spontaneous”. three, she can be far too compromising too quickly (trying to adapt herself to her partners wants and needs), so she sometimes needs to end (or at least take a break from) the relationship in order to regain her independence.

she should also be aware of beginning to undermine people (especially women) she views as competition. even if someone isn't necessarily a threat, when her insecurities are getting the best of her she can start to lash out (just underhandedly) - she looks at what other women have and can do and compares it to what she doesn’t have and can’t do.

chisa also likes attention and money a lot. this is good for her career because she genuinely enjoys being in the type of position where she can be admired, looked at and praised and if it all goes to plan, her job is also high-paying. this is negative because as her career progresses she has the ability to become more and more materialistic and out of touch (especially as she experiences romantic and friendship failures). this will cause her to become less open and cheery and her focus will become very, almost solely, oriented on career and acquiring wealth. this is an area where she should really put in an active effort to keep herself in check. but overall, she is very hardworking and consistent in order to achieve her goals and material wants. she will even work when she doesn’t have to.

lastly, chisa is someone who can understand a lot of information. she can understand different points of view and also has an innate understanding of how life works in general. in this sense, she is highly independent - “we’re born alone and we die alone” vibes. she wants to be loyal to others and for others to be loyal to her but she knows that at the end of the day, we only have ourselves and no one can hold her hand in life - she must make the proactive effort to be her own person and do what she wants, so she does this to the best of her ability and tries to make the most out of what life has to offer.

[caitylove]

Hii!! 10, 15, and 23 for the asks please! 🌷

Thanks for the ask! The downside of my husband driving all the time for work and us only having 1 car, is I often get stuck at home bored out of my skull. So these entertain me.

10: How tall are you? I'm 5''7''.

15:What’s your favorite season? Easily fall. I love that last blazing gasp that nature does in all its beautiful colorful leaves, before winter.

23: Do you believe in aliens? Thats a complicated question. Do I believe that some form of intelligent life is out there SOMEWHERE we just don't have the technology or skills to contact them? Yes. Its pretty statistically unlikely that we are completely alone in the universe. Do I believe in little gray men coming down in their saucers and abducting people? On MOST days I'd say no. Sometimes I am curious though since theres all these sightings over water.

[connectionterminated13]

May I request mr Emily for the headcannon thingy :]]]]

A: Henry absolutely loves science fiction. Like he has a giant bookcase filled with weird science fiction novels. He used to read one to Charlie before bed every night.

B: Whenever Henry sad he just builds another robot. Like his house is filled with half-finished endos skeletons and blueprints for robots he got bored of building. By pizza simulator his house is just filled with depression robot

C: Henry never moved out of the house that His family had lived in. Sometimes he gets up and pretends like nothing happened and Charlie and Sammy will just run down the stairs for breakfast and all of it will have been just one big bad dream

D: Henry is the only one to ever achieve "perfect immortality". Like he looks like a normal dude, Nothing can kill him (he's tried) and He doesn't need to eat or sleep. You're the only downside is he still ages so he looks very old but has none of the health complications that would happen with getting older.

[alex31624]

Duck Comic Reading Club Week 10: Paperinik New Adventures: Invasion!

No, I haven't forgot about Ducks on the Road. I was the one who suggest that one. But, I want to have PK up to day.

The only downside is that, this is has Angus as one of the main characters.

The kiwi is traveling to New Zealand, his birthplace.

This guy hates anything that can be consider fun.

The arrival of Fangus became big news, as the airport worker quickly give notice. Looks like the no-one-favorite reporter is in some dirty business.

That's the face of a corrupt businessman.

Meanwhile, Donald and Uno are working to find all the Evronians' spores. Otherwise, we may be facing extinction.

Just another day in PK's life.

I love their friendship.

Back to Angus, who's in full infiltration mode. How a fatass, ugly as a sin, kinda tall kiwi can infiltrate anywhere is beyond me.

But, hey, comic book magic.

But he didn't expect to be face to face with the worst kind of villain, the rich. This guy Cook, really hates Angus. And, you know, who can blame him?

Looks like Angus had information on Cook, in a disc. Does anyone remember discs? 240 MB of capacity, enough to take over the world.

Ok, let's be real here, as much I mock Angus, he's not dumb. He knows his job. That make me wonder, why he hide the disc in a mask, instead of having on him the whole time. Its a really flawed plan.

Back to PK, who arrives to Cape Dominion. And the plot complicates when we meet the clan leader, Nebula Faraday.

This crazy lady talks about the Cosmic Lords, and make me think of the Leader in The Simpsons. That was a good one.

The difference is that Nebula actually believe that this aliens are saviors. She has no idea what she's dealing with.

That makes her dangerous.

PK goes to the top on the mountains, and find an Evronians' camp. Spores and everything.

But this time, the numbers game were in their favour. The Evronians took out PK, finally.

Or not…?

God, this guy is an asshole. Lock him up, and throw the key.

We have a flashback when we learn what Angus' deal was with Cook. Cook was polluting the area where Angus and his clan live.

Why I can't understand, why Angus didn't report to the authorities? Why make a underground deal?

But, to be fair, I've never confront any corrupt businessman, so, maybe that's the etiquette.

Back to PK, he was saved by Rangi, the former leader of the clan. She explain all what happened with the Evronians' spore and the crazy Nebula.

Rangi has give up, and wants nothing to do with the clan. But PK made her have a change of heart. That's a hero's job. Light up the heart of the ones in trouble.

And here, things get a bit complicated. Turns out that Cook's big plan was to give financial aid to Nebula to help he take control of the village. Nebula did that because she believed that the Cosmic Lords were the second coming, but Cook did it because he wanted to put Nebula in a zeppelin, where she would make her speach about the Cosmic Lords, and then blow it up, so the clan would look as terrorist, and he can get the land.

Wow…

Anyway, PK tells the village people the truth. Them, fire up by their returnig leader, fight back against the Evronians.

I'm telling you, the only way the Evronians are conquering us is with a army so massive that every human...? duck...? ...being, has to figth against 10 of them. They suck.

PK flights to the zeppelin and save everyone. Even Angus.

I love you PK.

He and Uno send the exploding zeppelin right into the Evronians' ship and that's it. Once again, the world is save by PK.

Ah, and Rangi was Angus mother all along, yey…

This was good. It's not the best nor boring at all, just good. It expands the threat if anything.

[howluckyiamm]

New Year 2023

I guess this will be the first entry for the year 2023, it’s been roughly three months since I moved to Jakarta for a new job, mostly it is a good experience to be able to explore a new city that I think, will be the place for me to spend a large chunk of my lifetime—working (of course haha).  Although it’s been three months,  i can barely explore this city extensively, because lately I’ve started to travel a whole lot more.

Being able to travel is one of the perks of having a hybrid work system and luckily all of my coworker agreed to set the work from home schedule near the weekend (every Thursday and Friday). Since this schedule is implemented I’ve been able to travel a lot to a various locations such as my hometown, Yogyakarta and Bandung. However, extensively traveling also comes with its downside, like spending hours and hours on the train (my only main choice of travel). The longest I’ve spent on a train is about twelve and a half hours, which means more than half a day consist of just sitting and sleeping, it can be really boring. But aside from the boredom that I have to endure, I always enjoy the time I got to spent on each of those cities.

I felt like moving here blesses me with all kind of upgrades from my previous city Surabaya, the hottest city on the planet. Here for the first time, my room got it’s own air conditioning haha, It’s a luxury for me. But sadly I couldn’t smoke in my room as freely as my previous room in Surabaya. Being unable to smoke gives me a ton of headache because usually when my works got complicated, I would lit up one or two cigarettes to ease my mind a bit, and most of the time it helps me to think more clearly. But I guess it is for the better, because it forces me to reduce my this really unhealthy habit hahaha. Other than room upgrades, in this new job, i got to work with Singaporeans and Australians, it’s really fun to work with people from different nationality, it gives me a glimpse of their work cultures and all sorts of other things like their accents, backgrounds, and their life styles.

There are still a ton of other stuffs that I want to explore, food that I want to try, places that I want to visit. Hopefully this experience will only get better from now on.

[rehkkuma]

hey reh!!! i love you’re writing and i was hoping if i could request prompt #8 from the nsfw list with jotaro kujo from diamond is unbreakable??

i hope you have a great day/night!!

hii anon!! i'm glad you like my writing, it means a lot!! <33 i'm sorry this took so long, but i hope you like it!ヽ(^◇^*)/

“quiet it down unless you want the neighbours to hear” w/ jotaro

words: 1.65k. disclaimers/tags: nsfw, fem pronouns, afab reader, brief use of degrading language!

You heard about Morioh before; you recalled having an old friend who used to grow up in the small town, though, you never expected to visit.

Prior to arriving at Morioh, Jotaro told you about a younger uncle he has— one that was still attending high school. You were fairly aware of the Joestar's complicated familial issues, but you didn't expect him to have an uncle who's half his age.

By the time you arrived at your hotel with your lover, he was already busy searching for the young boy Josuke Higashikata. It was a shame, too. You'd hoped to visit one of the famous restaurants in Morioh with Jotaro, possibly for a date.

With each day passing, Jotaro was getting busier. He'd be sending or receiving calls, study suspicious-looking photographs for hours, or not even be in the hotel with you. Compared to his marine biology work, you'd never seen him so focused on anything.

Over on the hotel bed was your phone, ringing loudly. You rushed to pick it and noticed Jotaro's name on the screen.

"Jotaro?" you said, phone in your hand.

"Y/n." Jotaro's voice was raspy— a sign that he was incredibly tired. "I'm on my way to the hotel right now."

A smile formed on your face. "Ah, really?" You looked at the digital clock near the hotel bed, noticing how it was still only the afternoon. "It's pretty early. Finish all your work today?"

"Mmh." Jotaro groaned. "Still haven't had lunch yet. Are you up to go out somewhere?"

"Yeah, sure. What time should I get ready?" you asked.

"I'll be at the hotel room by 2. Just don't do any stupid shit until I get there.

You rolled your eyes and giggled. "I won't."

* * *

From your hotel's window, you could notice how great the weather was today. Because of the probable hot weather, you chose to wear a backless, simple satin dress. It was solid-coloured with your favourite shade of red, and comfortable too. The only downside to the dress was the string straps: they were a bit long for your frame, forcing you to fix their positions so you wouldn't accidentally reveal yourself.

As you waited for Jotaro's return, you fidgeted with the bedsheets, playing with the loose blanket while you sat on the edge of the bed. You were bored, but luckily it was only 10 minutes before 2 o'clock

"Y/n?"

You turned around and looked at the door. Jotaro, who you assumed was on the other side, knocked on it several times.

"The door isn't locked!" you said from across the room.

A quiet grunt came from the door, Jotaro coming out from behind shortly after. He remained as quiet as ever, walking into the room without saying a word.

"Hey, Jotaro." You said, fingers tracing the side of your dress. "You're here earlier than I thought."

Jotaro shrugged, walking to the bed's direction afterwards. "I thought there'd be more traffic," he said in a monotone tone.

"Well, we might as well just head out right now, yeah?" You got up from the bed to stand up to Jotaro's height, but you noticed his lack of eye contact. His eyes were glued to your cleavage.

"Oh-" Jotaro immediately looked up, now locked onto your eyes. Despite believing that he was extremely mature, he still had his urges.

"I guess you like the dress too?" you teased in a flirty pitch. Wanting to rile him up more, you let the dress strap hang lower, allowing him to catch a glimpse of your chest. "Are we ready to go out now?"

Jotaro finally looked away from your body, cursing. "I'm engaged to a whore, aren't I?"

Your eyes rested blissfully as you smiled. "Yes, but I'll always be your whore, Jotaro."

Jotaro scoffed, but still had a smile on his face. His hand moved towards your waist, his thumb slowly rolling across your curves. "Let's see you prove it."

You excitedly rolled up your dress and sat on Jotaro's lap. Your hands glided behind Jotaro's neck before your lips connected with his. It had been such a long time since Jotaro has given you special "treatment," but today was finally the day.

"Mmmh," he grunted into the kiss. His hands were now both on your ass, tongue sliding into your mouth at the same time. It had been so long you've gotten intimate with your lover that you could already feel your panties pool in anticipation.

"Jotaro," you whispered in your kiss. "L-Let's cancel our date. Just fuck me instead here, please."

From hearing your whimpering pleading, he felt his erection grow. He nodded immediately and continued to kiss you. While his mouth was busy, he took one of his hands and placed it on the core of your stomach. His finger slowly made its way lower before rubbing against your clothed clit.

"Ah..." You broke away from Jotaro's mouth as your head swung back. You could feel Jotaro's finger put more pressure on your clit, causing your legs to shake from the feeling. Before long, Jotaro's other hand moved to your thigh. Slowly, it moved closer to the space between your thighs. Once his finger finally made it to your panties, he slid them to the side before dabbing into your entrance.

"You're soaking," he said, revealing the layer of slick coated against his fingers. "Really missed me, huh?" He put his finger back inside you, moving it back and forth in slow motion. Once you were wet enough, Jotaro added in another finger. The more he pumped his finger, the more slick dribbled down his wrist. You were getting so close; only a few pushes and you'd come. Closing your thighs on Jotaro's fingers, you tried your best to hold it in.

"J-Jotaro," you said, voice trembling. "I'm close."

Jotaro let out a satisfied grunt and slowly took his fingers out of you. His digits glistened from the room's light, completely wet and soaked. Jotaro dabbled his fingers, spreading the wetness around before sucking them clean. Any saliva on his fingers was wiped off on his pants.

"Get on your knees," he demanded as he got off below you.

"Yes, sir." As you crawled to the center of the bed, you slipped off your dress and underwear. You were on your hands and knees-- head straight forward. Behind you, the sound of Jotaro unbuckling his belt could be heard. You could practically feel your cunt drip from anticipation. Impatient, you whined his name.

"I'm almost done, I'm almost done," he reassured. Once the fidgeting sound stopped, you felt the edge of Jotaro's dick hit your ass. You closed your eyes and felt Jotaro insert his cock inside you, causing a groan out of the two of you.

"I missed this feeling so much," Jotaro moaned. "I missed you so much."

You smiled. "Me too. Now, what are you waiting for?"

Jotaro let out a low chuckle and began to move. He slowly pushed his length inside you, moving back once he couldn't reach any further. It was a lot easier for him to pick up the pace considering how wet you already were. Jotaro began to speed up, going to the point where the sound of his dick filling inside you was loud enough to echo in your room.

"A-Ah! J-J-" you moaned, interrupting yourself. "Jotaro! Oh my god, it feels... so good."

Jotaro, being equally lost in pleasure, only replied with a grunt.

Every time Jotaro pulled back, you clenched your jaw, waiting for him to slam himself back into your cunt. Your legs were drenched and dribbling with cum, only making the sound of sex louder.

"Oh my god, oh my god-" you groaned. "Harder, please! Jotaro!"

You suddenly felt Jotaro's hands grip your hips tightly, fucking you harder and faster than before. Jotaro then got close to your ear, breathing heavily before muttering, "Quiet it down unless you want the neighbours to hear. We don't want noise complaints, don't we?"

Like a drunk man, you stole one of the bed pillows and planted your face on it. Any moans that would ring in your hotel room would now stay concealed with a small feather pillow.

"Fuck!" you screamed into the pillow. Your legs started to feel weak, just barely being able to keep your current position. Jotaro, being all too familiar with your patterns, knew what this meant.

"Don't cum yet," he mumbled. "Just- hold on a bit, okay?"

Your eyes began to get watery, tears starting to form in your creases. All you could manage was a quiet, "mhm," back.

"Mmn. That's a good girl." Jotaro continued the speed he was going. After half a minute of continuous movement, you could feel him losing consistency. The fingers that were on your hips began to dig into your skin, his voice began to get louder, and his thrusts began to get erratic.

"J-Jotaro," you said. "I can't hold it! I-I'm gonna cum."

"I- me too."

Jotaro thrusted himself deep into you one last time, releasing himself inside you. You came alongside Jotaro, letting out one final moan. Your mind felt fuzzy, but you slowly felt your consciousness become more clear. Jotaro then pulled out, slumping on the bed beside you.

"That was great," he said.

"Y-Yeah?" You rolled over to lay on your back beside him. "God, you don't know how long I've been waiting to do that."

Jotaro let out a chuckle and took his arm to bring you closer. He pulled you on top of him, letting you rest on top of his bulky chest. Before Jotaro could ask if you needed anything, your stomach growled loudly.

"Still wanna cancel that dinner date?" Jotaro joked.

"No..." you admitted. "Let's go later... After one more round..."

Jotaro didn't say anything, but you could tell he was smirking above you.

"Alright. Just be quieter this time."

[itsclydebitches]

I was recently rewatching Charmed and Phoebe's arc about her empath power reminded me of Ren's semblance upgrade, so my question to you is: How do you think Ren's empathic abilities compare to other empath's in media? despite my preamble I'm even sure I consider Ren's semblance to be empathic. Most empaths feel the emotions of other people but all Ren does is see them, it's a very apathetic approach to the ability imo.

Yeah, it would certainly help if we understood this semblance upgrade better (which is a strange thing to find myself wanting when the same arc already went hard in the opposite direction: giving Ruby’s semblance such a technical explanation that it no longer fits the story’s soft usage). One of my criticisms of the airship scene was that Ren was previously able to mask his and others’ emotions, which is then upgraded to seeing emotions… but then suddenly, through dialogue, he implies that he knows not just what the emotions are, but also the contexts that produced them. Ren doesn’t just see that Harriet is angry and upset, he knows she’s angry and upset about Clover. He doesn’t just see that Marrow and Winter are feeling torn, but that they’re specifically torn about their place at Ironwood’s side. The way it's presented, the ability seems far closer to mind reading than a seeing emotion or empathetic ability.

Which is where Ren lacks the main factors that interest me about those characters. If I’m thinking about someone like Deanna Troi from Star Trek, the conflict surrounding her abilities tends to stem from two places: buckling under the experience of feeling someone else’s emotions, or knowing that a certain emotion exists, but being unable to say who is experiencing it and/or why. In short, the powers—while certainly helpful for the characters in many ways—also complicate situations in interesting ways. So you get problems like, “I disagree with the rest of the crew because I understand our antagonist’s feelings in a way they can’t, leading to me striving for a different outcome,” (what Volume 8 explicitly rejected with Ren), “I know that one of these visitors is being duplicitous, but I’m not sure which one,” or “A friend is feeling angry, an anger that could be dangerous, but knowing they’re experiencing that doesn’t mean I know why.” Ren has none of that complexity. His powerup is used solely as a way to provide solutions that we, apparently, shouldn’t doubt. He’s right about Harriet, about Marrow, about Winter, about Emerald, about Nora. Ren simply announces not just how everyone feels, but why they’re feeling this, following it up with pithy declarations that serve to make him seem wise, mature, and generally all-knowing about their emotional struggles.

Meanwhile, at no point have we seen any compelling downsides to this ability. So not only does Ren fail to grapple with incomplete information (feelings without context), but he apparently doesn’t suffer from experiencing that in the first place. Feeling Nora’s emotions—or however Ren might ‘feel’ things now. Again, it’s really unclear—right on the heels of ignoring his own emotions and thencoming clean to Yang and Jaune only to have his feelings cruelly dismissed could have been one hell of a blow… but the show treats the upgrade like a perfect tool to cut through the complexities of human emotion, rather than working through it. What’s there to struggle with now? Ren simply tells the Ace Ops when they’re in love, where their true loyalties lie, tells the group that Emerald is trustworthy, and approaches Nora as a now reformed teammate and boyfriend because a semblance upgrade made him change all his views on Ironwood, the war, and their iffy decisions lately. That makes sense /s. Not only is it a messy new ability, and a boring one, but it’s also arguably a regression of Ren’s character. The upgrade doesn’t feel like it’s a part of him, but rather a means of simplifying his character to instead provide exposition and plot progression. So yeah, can’t say I’m impressed with this version of an empath.

[dailydnp]

Daniel Howell: "Mental health isn't a mystery"

YouTuber Daniel Howell has written a book aimed at demystifying mental health and offering a toolkit for people who are struggling. He tells us why You Will Get Through This Night.

Dan Howell has a message for the struggling.

Don't suffer in silence. Reach out. Connect.

"It can be hard to ask for help, but you just need to think how you'd feel if a friend did the same," says Howell. "It wouldn't be a burden, you'd feel better that you can help them and it might bring you closer."

The YouTuber has written a book that aims to demystify mental health, a straight-talking missive that offers practical solutions and even a few jokes. He describes You Will Get Through This Night as a "lean, mean, mental health machine" – check out our interview below.

Tell us about your new book – You Will Get Through This Night…

This is the book that I wish I could have read when I needed it. Too many of us go through life not really thinking about our mental health, how we think and how it makes us feel, and if we just learn a few tips (that we should all be taught) it can literally change our lives! Why waste any more time? The book is a lean, mean, mental health machine - there's no fluff or waffle, it gets straight to the point and tells you the practical things you can try in your life right now that will make a difference.

I'm here as the guy that makes it relatable, so you don't feel bad if you see yourself in these struggles, and funny. Because sometimes after a long day the last thing I want to do is 'homework' or read something boring, so if I can make a few inappropriate jokes about my mess of a life to make it enjoyable, I'm happy to.

Are there any books you used as inspiration when writing yours?

I actually really tried to avoid getting influenced by other books out there! A lot of mental health books are either: celeb memoirs that are amazing for relating to and shattering the stigma, but not great advice for you, or serious psychological self help that goes really deep on specific topics and the theory, but are a struggle to get through to the important revelations.

If you only ever buy one book to understand your mind and sort your life out – I want this to be the one. It's like the highlights of the entire library, crammed into 300 pages – designed for you not to just read once, but come back to and refer to as a toolkit for whenever you need it.

Was there a specific incident in your life that spurred you to write it?

Definitely. When I opened up about my struggles with depression, it was incredibly hard – and terrifying. I seriously thought I'd damage my career, people would judge me and think I'm 'crazy' and I'd have to wade through misunderstanding. It was the opposite. People empathised, understood and related.

Some people saw themselves in my story and realised for the first time that their life wasn't supposed to be that way, others finally understood a silent struggle that someone in their life was going through too. It showed me not just the importance of sharing your story to break the stigma that still exists around mental health, but how much incredibly important stuff there is for all of us to know about our minds!

My experience in life has given me a following of passionate people that show me every day the power we all have by telling our stories, the responsibility that comes with a platform, and the good you can do with it. I knew I had to write the book that could have saved me years of struggling – so hopefully someone out there doesn't go through the same.

Great trailer for the book! And really astute point: everyone in the world is alone with their thoughts before they fall asleep. How do you manage your thoughts in that time?

Thank you! I really wanted to show firstly, that mental health is universal. A lot of us only think 'mental health' applies to people with serious anxiety or depression, when it's actually how all of us think and feel all the time – if you are too stressed, have difficulty dealing with anger, or worry too much up in your head and it's holding you back in any way from enjoying life, that's your mental health! You can do something about it.

I'm someone that has real trouble getting to sleep if I'm worrying about stuff and the book deals with this in so many ways: from learning mindfulness to get perspective on your thoughts, to being present and using your senses and body to change how your brain operates, to the practical side of sorting out your problems so they don't go bump in the night.

Deep question – but why do you think night often brings out our darker thoughts and emotions? (No pun intended.)

'The Night' is such an important metaphor, not just for the dark times, but that literally we spend all our days pushing our fears to the back of our minds (to be distracted by the activities of the day), but when night comes and it's just you and your thoughts – they suddenly appear and you have to confront the truth.

We're all great at lying to ourselves about what bothers us and how we really feel, whether that's a day to day problem on your mind or a huge skeleton in the closet (for me literally my own skeleton) that is having a huge effect on your life.

The good news is – you can 'be your own light'. Mental health isn't a mystery or something set in stone, it's something you can influence and shape to make yourself healthier and happier.

As a YouTuber, how would you describe the relationship between your mental health and social media? Presumably it must be complicated…

I am definitely trapped in a digital nightmare that I created, haha! Social media has its good sides, from finding communities and support, to having fun and even learning about things that you might not get from a classroom or in your real world environment.

The downside is that the internet brings out the worst in people, from trolls hiding behind screens, to social media beaming us with addictive algorithms that force us to compare ourselves to the highlight reels of our friends' lives and the world's most perfect and successful celebrities.

Even just the information overload of our social lives and the 24 hour news cycle is too much for our primitive brains to handle, no wonder it's so bloody stressful!

How would you recommend people use social media for the benefit of their mental health? And negate its potentially harmful effects?

I do a whole deep dive on social media and how to manage it. From 'muting' that annoying friend, to curating the content on your timeline to take it from stressful and upsetting, to inspirational and mood boosting! It's important to get perspective on why people act differently on the internet and how to interpret the sometimes extreme actions we see (that someone would never do in real life).

We have this incredible power in our hands, connecting us to the whole world all the time, we just need to know how to make it work for us.

Is there a piece of advice or mantra that you’ve found helpful? Either someone else’s or one of your own?

I'll spoil it now: the number one tip for managing your mental health and general emotional wellbeing is support from others. I say this as the biggest introvert in the world that needs a two week holiday alone in a cave after going to a party for five minutes – but sharing what you're thinking and feeling with another person can be a lifesaver.

Even if they don't have magical advice, just feeling seen, heard, acknowledged and getting what's going on up in your head out into the world and onto the table can give you perspective and feel less alone. It can be hard to ask for help, but you just need to think how you'd feel if a friend did the same – it wouldn't be a burden, you'd feel better that you can help them and it might bring you closer!

Don't suffer in silence. You've got this. You will get through this night.

[sugar-petals]

Tarot Reading Practice: Why Using Lenormand Cards Is Amazing

they’re originally from france and gorgeously vintage — what more does a card reader want?

it’s like tarot’s major arcana, but simplified and with cottagecore imagery. the nostalgia factor is off the charts, too.

the cards have an even longer tradition than the rider-waite tarot, going back to the 18th century. that means: plenty of material out there.

it is excellent to predict timing. each card is numbered and has a specific set time range, even season. you can pinpoint your prediction down to the day.

lenormand’s accuracy even has a historical anecdote. all of napoleon’s battle victories and losses were correctly predicted by madame lenormand, the inventor of the deck herself. who was looking fly as hell by the way.👌

there are only 36 cards to learn. if you buy oracle cards, it’s usually 44 cards or more to study, with tarot it’s 78 cards plus reversals. especially if you’ve already learned the tarot, this is peanuts.

and yes, no reversals in lenormand. god bless.

some decks have the meanings printed as little poems onto the cards themselves. that’s classy, that’s clever, and extremely handy for beginners. it’s brilliantly written and still open-ended enough to allow a different interpretation each session. it changes depending on what other cards it comes with, you’ll never be bored.

in other decks, they also have classic playing cards on them. 

buying lenormand cards is incredibly inexpensive. five bucks and you’re good to go, whereas other decks cost you 20 or more. and even if the price is low and the cards are a bit smaller (e.g. mine are 9 x 5.5 cm), the value you get out of those is... wow. i’ve even seen quality decks as cheap as two euros. 

there’s only one thing going on at a time on the card. no complicated symbolism, it can speak to you more instantly. the downside: with tarot, you can draw a story out of one card already. with lenormand, you need say a 2-card spread and benefit from knowing more about what card means what. 

which again is an advantage though. lenormand needs less intuition, you can squarely, shamelessly learn it by the book. whereas tarot, you know how it is. the card wants to tell you something specific that might not be the standard definition. while lenormand is like haha boom, you will travel next month! you will move in with your partner! you have beef with a colleague if you write email XYZ!

astrological signs and houses are associated with specific cards. i repeat, lenormand and the zodiac go hand in hand just like the tarot. do i even have to go on?!

the cards are petite but sturdy. you can carry them anywhere or create gigantic spreads. shuffling and storing will never be a problem. 

nothing is wishy-washy. the card is either positive, negative, or neutral. you can get a clear yes or no.

the querent has their own set card to symbolize them. let that sink in! if you have clients, they will love this. and it’s so easy for you to create spreads with that, too. if you read for yourself, same thing, the querent cards are one of lenormand’s coolest features. the ‘gentleman’ or ‘lady’ can stand in for the person who’s asking, two friends, or a couple. lenormand is THE deck for love questions. PS: not to worry, you can use it for non-heterosexual couples with ease. the querent cards can be whoever you want, the reading results will not be impacted.

because of their simple imagery, card names are easy to memorize. tarot has spreads like ‘THE HANGED MAN in reverse + THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE + THE HIGH PRIESTESS in reverse + TEN OF WANDS in reverse’. meanwhile, lenormand spreads are like ‘ship - dog - fox - fish - whip’ and that’s it. you don’t even have to know the card’s name, it’s so self-explanatory. you can learn this in one day.

the deck is not the most wide-spread among popular readers, but there are still a lot of websites with information online. simply because it’s such a strong tradition. 

solid, quick lenormand skills are the sign of a seasoned tarotist. you can recognize a trustworthy pro by it. if someone claims they are a veteran but they haven’t heard of lenormand... especially if your tarot reader is european, this is the go-to branch of cartomancy they should have heard about.

similarly, it’s a sign your cartomancy knowledge is about to climb to the next level if you got these pretty french cards on your hands and become naturally invested. it’s one of those cases where the deck finds you at the right time.

niche bonus: lenormand will be the #1 ace up your sleeve.

they’re so decorative and available for any visual taste you can think of. steampunk lenormand, fantasy lenormand, history lenormand, romantic lenormand, the list goes on. you will find whatever style is precious to you very fast. all while the classic vintage cards are a staple you can purchase very easily.

levelling up is possible to no end. you can use one, two, three, five, nine, or even all cards at once. customized spreads on top of that. you can have fast success with the helpful 9-card layout, or really get into it going big. 

lenormand’s 36-card ‘grand tableau’ (great table) reading is infamous and the one and only final boss. not one card will be redundant, their interconnection is what the interpretation is built on in the first place.

once you have the card meanings down, you learn the grand tableau principle faster than you assumed. you will be able to expound your answer by looking at the distances between cards, that’s the whole idea.

example. if the ring card is far away from the querent card, that means to wedding in sight. if the ring is next to the querent card, that means marriage. pretty simple. if the ring is surrounded by positive cards, even better. you can tell how easily you can answer a question this way.

or: if the dog (=card for friendship) is next to the child which is next to the heart, that means: possibility of falling in love with your childhood friend. it’s literally that straightforward. lenormand can’t leave you hanging, it never plays games. it gives you every concise warning (with concrete ways to prevent the outcome) and chance for a blessing.

the grand tableau is as powerful as tarot’s classic spread, the celtic cross. you have something to work towards/work on and get an impressive, highly informative spread that will leave not one question unanswered. this shit is amazing. lenormand is one of the most worthwhile essentials for card readers, i did not once regret learning about it.

[spockandawe]

I'll be boring and ask about xuexiao? I just can't decide if it's more fun for them to be happy or tragically canon

Xuexiao!!!!!!!!

Downsides: 

The biggest downside is that xue yang Fucked Up in a nearly-irrecoverable fashion before things could even get going, but him taking out Song Lan’s eyes was the only reason they were able to get to know each other later to begin with, and you know what, I haven’t talked about this ship in a while, and I forgot how much it hurts ;u;

Upsides: 

Literally everything. Even the massive Fucking Up. God, I just tabbed away from this and stared at my dashboard for like five minutes just thinking about everything I love about them, let me try to think about where to even begin, without just repeating my whole xuexiao tag, haha

Xiao Xingchen is horribly lonely, and deeply, quietly miserable. I want him to have a friend who is completely irreverent, teases him instead of babies him over being blind, can talk forever, and can make anything into a joke. I want him to have a friend who treats him like just another guy instead of an untouchable immortal or an object of pity. And instead of an easy mark! It’s a friendship where xue yang will casually con him into going to do chores because xiao xingchen can’t see him cheating, but where he’ll also explain the joke and tease him for being so easy to fool, and where he’ll also go out and menace the merchants who take advantage of his blindness to give him shitty goods.

(on the one hand, I live for how outraged and upset song lan is when he sees xue yang teasing xiao xingchen over being blind, but also... even though xiao xingchen is a sweetheart, I feel like one of the good ways to genuinely upset him is by treating him like he’s fragile or helpless. xue yang is maybe incredibly shameless for teasing him about it when it’s semi-partially his fault, but it also gives me feelings when I wonder about how many people over the years have been able to just treat xiao xingchen like a person)

And Xue Yang... I do also have a lot of feelings over what a novel and interesting experience it is for him to be liked. Or trusted. And on the one hand, I am positive he thinks Xiao Xingchen is impossibly stupid for trusting him in the first place, and I feel like the whole “fierce corpse” fiasco is at least partially a joke on this subject. But the fierce corpse thing stops, at some point, and Xue Yang stays. He’s a skilled cultivator, even if he has to conceal his identity, and other rogue cultivators have seemed to to pretty well for themselves in the world. But he stays here in this broken-down coffin home with this new family, and I feel completely confident in saying that he liked living there. He tried to hide the Song Lan thing so that he could keep peacefully living there. This was, very possibly, the first home he ever had where he was wanted.

Of course, there’s all that fucking up that xue yang does before he realizes that this is something he wants to preserve and keep and nurture. Which... this is a tragedy that I find very tasty, and the fucking up is an important part of that. But also, I do desperately want to see them actually work things out and struggle forward through the mess (with or without song lan, though a dead song lan really, really makes an already fraught situation extra, extra complicated)

On the tragedy front, my latest thing that hurts me so very deeply is how Xiao Xingchen’s goals and ambitions gradually... shrink over time, until all he wants is to live in this coffin home with his little family, and how Xue Yang ends revealing to him that with even these small goals and small ambitions, that for every important person in Xiao Xingchen’s life, he was either wrong about them (Song Lan) or believed them when they lied to his face (A-Qing and Xue Yang). In a situation where Xiao Xingchen doesn’t die right there, there’s so much potential in these people finding a way to express to Xiao Xingchen how much he’s loved and wanted, and for them to try not to panic in front of him, or overburden him with their needs when he seems so brittle and fragile. But we don’t get that! We get death, and this little family (+song lan) that cared about each other is absolutely shattered, and almost everyone is dead, and the only person who isn’t dead is absolutely miserable.

And it’s both so tasty and so painful just how much Xue Yang regrets things. I’ve talked at length about what he’s trying to communicate as things fall apart, and why he starts reacting badly and lashing out and trying to hurt Xiao Xingchen (*hurt Xiao Xingchen back). There were a lot of ways for things to end....  unhealthily and unhappily, but in an unhealthy and/or unhappy situation, there are ways to fix it, even if it takes time, even if it’s never the same as it was before. Instead, Xiao Xingchen ends up dead, he ends up too shattered to reanimate, and Xue Yang is forced to admit that this is a situation that can’t be fixed-- Not that he ever properly admits that, not that he ever completely surrenders, right up until the day he dies. But it breaks my heart to see him cleaning off Xiao Xingchen’s body and setting out two places for dinner, and seeing him realizing, even if he pulls himself back together and goes back to fighting despite the odds.

I honestly don’t know if I prefer the tragedy or a happy ending, because they’re both so rich in emotions that it’s almost impossible for me to choose one over the other. I do like happy endings much better than sad ones, but the book was never going to put the time into their relationship to take them past the damage that the “fierce corpse” thing did. And the tragedy that we get makes daydreaming about possible happy endings more... intense and tasty. They give me the sharpest, sharpest yearnings for them to experience Happiness, but Xiao Xingchen dies grieving and despairing, and Xue Yang stubbornly holds on, trying to find some way to get him back, until he dies too, holding onto an old piece of candy and the memory of being cared for.

They hurt me a lot, in ways that are good, but also intensely painful! There’s something about a relationship where two characters should be enemies and are enemies, but once that framing is taken away from them, they realize just how intensely they like each other. Of course, in this case, it’s setting Xiao Xingchen up for a miserable time later, and Xue Yang for a miserable time of his own after that, but it’s so deliciously bittersweet to see how happy they made each other, and how happy they could have continued making each other, if things were a little different. And, obviously, it gives me intense cravings where they somehow are given the opportunity to work through all the damage that was done, until they gradually manage to rediscover what it was about the other person that made them so happy to begin with.

[badassbutterfly1987]

Day 15: Soulmate AU, various

(Feeling soulmate’s injuries)

Harry first suspects something during the Nightmare investigation when Murphy is attacked by his doppelganger. The feeling is visceral, like something is trying to burrow inside his head. The pain fades when he puts Murphy into a dreamless sleep. He justifies it with ‘magic senses’ because he doesn’t everything about magic; it’s… easier than what he suspects. The later aches and pains are played off as his own injuries.

He suspects, and he thinks Murphy does too, but they don’t talk about it.

Better not to open that can of worms.

---

(Dreaming of first meeting)

Charity is simultaneously intrigued and unsettled by the dreams. A man in chainmail armor. A glowing sword. A fire-breathing dragon. She does not share them with her parents; they already think her unstable. She thinks the same at first, until she accepts the reality of her magic.

The magic gives her power, until it brings more misery.

It also leads her to her husband. The dreams were accurate at least. Charity rejects her magic and her past but she is grateful that she gains Michael Carpenter in return.

---

(one person’s scar causes matching tattoo on other)

Margaret can’t remember a time before most of her tattoos. Dark, intricate markings scale across her body. A flame-like design along her left side. Little tick marks along both arms. The one that is just a jagged cut across her throat had particularly disturbed her father. Margaret had instead found it intriguing. Such marks meant that her other half was both long-lived and strong enough to survive even dreadful wounds.

The downside to the magical community is that those who are wounded can often heal from nearly fatal wounds without much scarring. She looks for a century among the Fae and does not find her other person. So, she gives up on it. It’s probably for the best; the Fae, as fond as she is of them, are fickle creatures even in their love.

Margaret is not troubled by such thoughts again until she ends up in a vampire king’s bed. It’s not love, of course, she isn’t a child. It’s just a bit of fun and companionship.

She likes how his fingers slide along her back. The feeling is pleasant. It’s comforting in a way, being touched like this. It isn’t overtly sexual or about Feeding. He touches her just for the pleasure of feeling her presence.

Lord Raith examines the tattoos stretched across her body. She doesn’t mind; Margaret had often done the same thing with previous lovers. His gaze is less admiring now, though; it’s become more of a clinical curiosity.

Margaret takes the opportunity to examine his own markings. His are sparser. Burn tattoos on his hands, a slice along his ribs—

Her thoughts falter.

Margaret recalls a spat with one of the fae, being stabbed in the side. She had barely avoided a punctured lung. The wound would have matched with his mark. It could be coincidence, but she’s always been smarter than that.

Well, then.

This certainly complicates things.

---

(only see colors after meeting soulmate)

Justine lives her life in a gray world.

Boring, monotone grays. She envies those who can see other colors. Not only can they see a more beautiful version of the world, but they also have someone they can share it with.

It’s funny in a way, how her world changes. Justine is in a club with a drink in her hand. It’s a familiar place to forget her troubles. She happens to glance across the club, not really looking at anything particular, when she meets his eyes.

The world shifts and blooms. She doesn’t know the names of the colors she sees, just that they’re the most beautiful things she has ever seen. She wants to know the person who’s brought such beauty to her life. Justine doesn’t know the man’s name, but she knows he’s important. She doesn’t have to be alone anymore.

She makes her choice and walks to him and into her new life with Thomas.

[aion-rsa]

15 Best SNES RPGs Ever Made

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SNES games might not be much to look at now, but in many ways, they were a massive improvement over any console games that came before. SNES developers could create massive worlds with detailed sprites that actually looked like what they were intended to represent. New advances in technology also meant that games could take their first real steps toward becoming the kinds of cinematic experiences we arguably take for granted today. And while 4 MB wasn’t even a ton of storage even space back then, it was still more than enough to fit an impressive script for a 40-hour story.

In short, the SNES was almost perfectly set up to be the home for RPGs. While the console RPG scene was still finding its footing at the time of the Super Nintendo’s release, many developers were more than willing to dip their toes into the genre to see what kind of experiences they could craft. That combination of experimentation and all-time great creative voices eventually resulted in some of the most beloved role-playing games ever made.

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the SNES in North America, now feels like a great time to look back at 15 of the best RPGs on the SNES. 

15. Shadowrun

In the early 1990s, console RPGs were synonymous with turn-based combat and medieval settings full of knights, sorcerers, and dragons. So, no one really knew what to make of a cyberpunk game with real-time combat set in a dystopian Seattle. However, those who stuck with Shadowrun found one of the best and grittiest stories of the 16-bit era, as well as some surprisingly innovative conversation and hacking systems.

Shadowrun was truly ahead of its time in almost every way. While it didn’t get that much attention when it was released, games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Ascent proudly carry on its legacy to this day. Even the Shadowrun franchise itself finally got its due with a trilogy of successful PC RPGs released over the last decade.

14. Soul Blazer

Even today, Soul Blazer is a title that not many gamers have heard of. Admittedly, it’s a little rough around the edges. Arriving early in the lifecycle of the SNES, the graphics and music aren’t quite up to par with the best games of its era, but the gameplay makes it a worthy addition to this list. Taking some inspiration from Actraiser, another beloved Quintet game, your goal in this action RPG is to clear out various lairs, rescue various souls (that could take the form of plants, animals, or other humans), and free the land from the evil Deathtoll.

Quintet would go on to hone Soul Blazer‘s best ideas in several other games (including Terranigma, another fantastic action RPG that sadly never made its way to North America). Unfortunately, Quintet shut down in the mid-2000s, and it’s unclear who exactly owns the rights to these games at this point. That sadly makes any official re-releases of these often-overlooked gems unlikely.

13. The 7th Saga

The 7th Saga is an excellent example of a game that had a lot of great ideas that never quite came together. Probably the best thing about the game is the playable characters. You have seven to choose from at the start (including a robot and an alien), and you eventually meet six other characters that you can either fight or recruit. It was also one of the first RPGs that didn’t include completely random combat. Enemies could actually be avoided through an innovative “radar” system.

Unfortunately, The 7th Saga is also unforgivingly difficult, with some enemies always surpassing your stats no matter how much you level up. So, while it may not have aged as gracefully as other games on this list, it’s an utterly fascinating project with incredible ideas that have since been incorporated into numerous genre classics.

12. Breath of Fire II

To be honest, Breath of Fire II doesn’t have a particularly memorable stand-out feature. Sure, there’s a town-building feature that lets you fill a town with various NPCs you meet throughout the game, but it’s easily ignored. Having a giant talking armadillo in your party is also pretty cool, but it’s obviously hard to recommend the game based on that alone. 

So why should you play Breath of Fire II? Well, it’s just a very solidly told fantasy story with a lengthy quest and strong turn-based combat. It’s nothing flashy, but it’s a strong overall entry into the Super Nintendo’s RPG library.

11. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals

The release of Lufia II was overshadowed by the release of the next-gen systems and a SNES library already bursting with classic RPGs. It took a while for a lot of gamers to dig up this hidden gem, and some gamers simply never found it at all. To be fair, the story (which features a typical fantasy hero who has to save the world from the four evil Sinistrals) is a little mechanical, but Lufia II features some of the best graphics and music of any game on the console. Plus, there are tons of puzzles to solve and a 99-level randomized dungeon to eventually tackle. Honestly, Lufia II might feature more “gameplay” than any other Super Nintendo RPG.

While it’s billed as a sequel, Rise of the Sinistrals is actually a prequel to the first game, so you can feel free to dive right into it without playing through the first (though Lufia and the Fortress of Doom is well worth checking out as well). 

10. Harvest Moon

Arriving at the tail end of the SNES’ lifespan, Harvest Moon made a lot of gamers re-examine what an RPG could actually be. There’s no combat and no great quest to save the world. You’re just a simple farmer growing crops and raising livestock on the land you inherited from your grandfather. It sounds boring, but the gameplay loop is remarkably addictive. There’s a reason why the Harvest Moon series continues to this day and has inspired dozens of imitators, spin-offs, and sequels (most notably Stardew Valley).

Admittedly, some of the recent Harvest Moon games haven’t lived up to the series’ standards, but thanks to charming characters, witty writing, and its simple yet deep gameplay, there’s a very good argument that this first Harvest Moon game remains the best in the franchise.

9. Illusion of Gaia

The spiritual sequel to Soul Blazer exchanged the town-building mechanics of its predecessor for more involved combat, which honestly made it a better game overall. Illusion of Gaia also forgoes the traditional leveling of most RPGs for a roguelike system where protagonist Will can choose to increase his attack, defense, or health stats after clearing each room of enemies. As such, how you choose to proceed can make the final bosses of each dungeon significantly easier or much more difficult.

While it’s not technically set in the real world, Illusion of Gaia does incorporate several real-life locations, such as Egyptian pyramids, Incan ruins, and the Great Wall of China, leading to some of the most unique locales in any SNES RPG. It’s also a much better-looking game than Soul Blazer, fixing one of its predecessor’s biggest flaws.

8. Secret of Evermore

Square Enix (then Squaresoft) is primarily a Japanese developer, but after the massive success of multiple titles in the ‘90s, they decided to give an American studio a crack at the Square formula. While the basic gameplay of Secret of Evermore is obviously inspired by the superior Secret of Mana, Evermore mixes things up by restricting combat to just you and your trusty dog. There’s also a new alchemy mechanic that allows you to create potions when battling the game’s many tough bosses. 

For better or worse, Evermore is also graphically a much darker game than other Square titles of the era. It all mostly works here, but Square was ultimately not interested in pursuing Americanized versions of its games and Evermore is now more of a curiosity than anything else.

Read more

Games

25 Best SNES Games of All Time

By Chris Freiberg

Games

25 Best RPGs Ever Made

By Matthew Byrd

7. Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen

More of a military strategy sim than a typical RPG, The March of the Black Queen might be the most demanding game on the SNES. You will spend a lot of time managing units, some of which include ninjas, griffins, and witches. But when you pick just the right strategy, it’s oh so rewarding to watch them take back the continent of Zetegenia from the evil Empress Endora. It also features one of the denser stories of any 16-bit game. Many of the best plot beats may even remind you more of Game of Thrones than Lord of the Rings.

This is actually considered the fifth episode of the Ogre Battle saga, and while several sequels were produced over the years, the first four games that would have presumably featured the rise of Endora were never made. Sadly, though, Square Enix now owns the property, it doesn’t look like the Ogre Battle saga will ever be completed either. 

6. Final Fantasy IV

Plenty of RPGs were released before Final Fantasy IV (also known as Final Fantasy II in North America at the time of its release), but this was the true turning point for the JRPG genre. Of course, the graphics and sound were better with the move to more powerful hardware, but what really set it apart was the distinction of being one of the first RPGs to actually feature a fully fleshed-out plot complete with a complicated love triangle and a sympathetic villain in Golbez. It was also the first Square game to include the Active Time Battle system, which showed that JRPGs didn’t have to just be plodding turn-based affairs.

Honestly, the only downside of playing Final Fantasy IV on the SNES is that the original English translation is a little iffy. That’s been fixed in later ports and remakes, so while it might not be worth checking out on the SNES anymore over other options, it’s still worth playing in some form.

5. Super Mario RPG

Both Nintendo and Square were arguably at the height of their abilities in the mid-90s, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when they finally teamed up, the result was an absolute masterpiece. Super Mario RPG expertly combined the beloved Mushroom Kingdom setting and Mario platforming with Square’s top-tier storytelling abilities and advanced RPG combat systems for a truly epic game. 

Those who have played through Super Mario RPG still yearn for a true sequel developed by Square or, at the very least, the addition of Geno to Super Smash Bros. Given how beloved the game is, it’s surprising that Square and Nintendo still haven’t teamed up for another RPG. The Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi games are good, but none have surpassed this classic.

4. Secret of Mana

Closer to The Legend of Zelda than Final Fantasy in gameplay, Secret of Mana was perhaps the most innovative RPG of the ‘90s. It introduced many gamers to faster, varied combat, three-player multiplayer, and an absolutely massive game world. Even better, it’s all wrapped up with some of the best music and graphics of the generation. While still confined to the 2D limitations of the SNES, Secret of Mana’s systems are closer to what we see today in modern RPGs and action games than anything that came before.

While this game has been ported and remade perhaps more than any other game on this list, none of those versions quite match the first release. The original version of Secret of Mana still looks and feels timeless. 

3. Earthbound

RPGs were generally considered more niche games in the ‘90s. They rarely sold well, but at least did well critically. Earthbound is even more unusual because the initial reviews were rather tepid, yet it’s now considered one of the greatest games of all time. Most gamers just weren’t ready for an RPG set in the modern world that alternated between the cheery enthusiasm of childhood and the ominous alienation of growing up. In that way, Earthbound could be considered a PG-rated South Park that debuted two years before South Park even premiered.

Surreal, satirical, and sometimes just plain weird, Earthbound remains one of the more unique and innovative RPGs ever made. It’s a triumph of the genre that dozens of other games have attempted to emulate, but none have yet surpassed. Now, if Nintendo would just get around to finally putting out an official English localization of the sequel…

2. Final Fantasy VI

Two decades and nine sequels later, there are still some RPG fans who consider Final Fantasy VI to be the pinnacle of the series. That’s debatable, but it’s easily the best of the 2D entries as well as a kind of swan song to the gameplay that introduced many gamers to RPGs for the first time, with its pitch-perfect ATB battles, a huge, varied world to explore, and an epic, apocalyptic story. 

But it’s the cinematic aspects that make Final Fantasy VI stand out. The rousing soundtrack pushes the SNES to its absolute limits, making moments like the famous opera scene and the final battle against Kefka feel especially epic. Square arguably came to rely on CG movies a little too much in later games, but Final Fantasy VI is proof that the developers were master storytellers long before that.

1. Chrono Trigger

Is there really anything to dislike about Chrono Trigger? The time-traveling story that sees our heroes journey across millennia to save the world is simply outstanding. The characters, from Frog to Magus, are among the most memorable in any RPG. While the combat system might be a little simpler than some of the games on this list, letting party members team up to use their “Tech” abilities in different ways is endlessly customizable and entertaining. Of course, all of that occurs before you even dig into the new game plus and dozen different endings.

It’s difficult to label any video game as truly perfect, but Chrono Trigger may be the closest thing to perfection that gaming has ever seen. More than two decades on, it remains a high point in the RPG genre that all gamers need to experience at least once, and it’s easily the very best RPG on the SNES.

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