#person. slowing down my ability to follow the advice

[mejomonster]

My mean brain is cycling on "you should look up how to find love" again. Despite knowing ill see 200 articles ive read before, 10 books ive read before, and probably 20 new ones to depress me

[norel-ravenclaw]

Aro/Ace Spectrum x Hazbin

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Featured characters: All x aro/ace spec reader

Rating: 18

Genre: FLUFFIEST OF FLUFF and aro/ace SOUL HEALING romance

Word count: 2500

Description: Dating the Hazbins as an aro/ace. These are based on my personal experience, what friends and the internet have told me, and I tried to keep things generic and up to interpretation - whether you want to see it as 100% non sexual or otherwise is up to you. Gotta say, this turned out better than I thought it would, hope you like it!

WARNINGS: | gender neutral reader | suggestive content that can be interpreted in mutiple ways | mild angst? | Valentino and Adam are included | slight yandere vibes here and there (Sera, Lilith esp) | i bully vox, mostly bc I still can’t believe I like this mf |

“Love is choice, after all. And they will choose you every day for the rest of eternity.”

Alastor -

Connection over drinks, spontaneous dances, occasional murder, and a lack of desire for the normal things brought you together. But as your odd friendship grows, you find yourselves drawn to domestic habits and more comfortable touch. It’s Alastor who proposes that you make your relationship something more official. He’d never wanted one before, but with you, it’s easy. Whatever the both of you are or aren’t feeling like is fine, when it comes to dinner or intimacy. Touch is to feel good, lounging in the bath is for simple warmth and company. You become as comfortable in your skin as you are with each other. While emotion and urges are largely lacking, the comfort of constancy together is everything. And more than enough for you both.

Lucifer -

To be honest, all of his exes were a bit emotionally unavailable, so when you tell him that you can’t feel much (if anything at all) it nearly sends him spiralling for a moment. But with a strained smile and a few drinks, he listens to you and realises, maybe this is exactly what he needs. Your honesty is a refreshing change after millennia of mind games, lies, and dancing around expectations. Whether you want touch or not is fine with him - he is happy to take care of you in any way you need (and himself, in any way you’re comfortable with). All he wants is to be with you - the person that has restored his hope and the colour to his life.

Sir Pentious -

While he may never have had the words to describe such things, they were just as common in his century as they are now. So when you first tell him, his first response is worry that he’s accidentally broken your boundaries. He adores you, and he’s willing to do anything to be worthy to be by your side. If he can be the one to make you happy, simply say the word of how you want to be courted! Of course he’s happy to invent things to make your life easier. Flowers, food, romantic sightseeing flights in his warship. His egg boys are quickly at your beck and call. If you’re comfortable with cuddling, he’ll wrap himself around you and make you feel so safe and cosy.

Husk -

Mr. ‘I lost the ability to love ages ago’ certainly understands, well, more or less. But then you start breaking all his rules and walls down. He knows your boundaries and will follow them respectfully. To be honest, he does want to touch you, as much as you’ll allow. But even if you don’t want that, just having you by his side is enough to clear his head and make him happy to live in the present again. He can be as romantic or as casual as you like, make a fuss over things or keep is cool. Praise and support for everything you do, advice when you need it. Just help him take care of his wings and help bring him back down to earth when he gets lost in his head and he’ll be your ride or die for the rest of your afterlife.

Angel Dust -

Touch and over the top sexual energy is the only way he really knows to act when it comes to lovers. So when you come into his life, suddenly he’s able to slow down, step back, and just… be. And there’s something so liberating about that. If you’re okay to cuddle, he’d love intimate touch that has no sexual expectations. If you want to be more comfortable with things, he’d go so slowly and praise you all the way. No performing, no rush, just the two of you together. He’d love to joke with you, take you around town. Buy you the most fashionable clothes, maybe jump into turf wars for kicks now and then. But he’ll be as tender and supportive as you need, no matter what. If ever you may feel like it, he has plenty of hands available to hold.

Charlie -

The most supportive and understanding of them all. Everything you are is what she needs and loves and hoped for. So whatever you want life to look like, she’ll do whatever it takes to make it reality. From pancakes in bed to renovating your own space in the hotel, your happiness is hers. Whatever touch you’re comfortable with, she’ll work really hard to never make you feel crowded or overwhelmed. Tucking hair behind your ear or holding hands, candlelight dinners or dates to the best spots in hell. (Her credit card is loaded and ready to be used for you.) No matter how much you can feel, you can be sure she’ll feel enough love and affection for you both.

Vaggie -

She was a soldier, and having seen all types of personalities in that role, there’s no discrepancy in her mind between lack of feeling and a desire to love and protect. Her love is steady and calm, as attached or distant as you need it. Hell is never a safe place, so she’ll protect you from anything that could hurt you, emotionally or otherwise. Have enemies that will be arriving in hell? She’ll keep her info network on the lookout for them so she can take care of it for you. The hotel is safest place she knows of and will work to make it a sanctuary for you both. Whatever makes you happy, feel safe, and… want to stay with her. She thought she knew what salvation was, but it wasn’t until she met you that she truly experienced it for herself.

Cherri Bomb -

Sure she’s met a few aro/aces over the years, but it never really made sense to her. How can you not be obsessed with sex and drugs?? But when you come into the picture, all she knows is that you are what she needs. Whatever you need her to be or do, she’ll do it. Over time, she learns about you and why you are the way that you are, and any hesitations she may have had in loving you vanish. All that matters is that you’re happy, and safe, and by her side. You have to have an adrenaline junkie side to hang out with her. (But how hilarious if you don’t. Maybe she can introduce you to the less explosive joys of pyromaniacy? Burning pine needles is fun.) Maybe love with you is less passionate and fiery than she would have imagined, but finally hell can be home, as long as you’re there.

Vox -

This ass. He will definitely try to persuade you to try sexy things. And either you will and he’ll have to deal with any limitations you have, or the answer is still no. And he’s left questioning everything as he realises he can’t live without you. His ego (see: crippling insecurity) is threatened when he realises you may or may not be able to feel the way he does about you. He’d need you to reassure him and show that even if you can’t feel (or do) the usual things people expect in love, you do love his dumb tv-shark ass. Once he’s more convinced that you aren’t going to leave, and you really do love him in your own way, be prepared to be spoiled in every conceivable way. Want the heart of your enemy on a platter? The best writers and costume makers to make your fave book into the perfect movie? Cuddles? Money? His soul?? It’s yours.

Velvette -

She doesn’t have time for nonsense, and tbh your way of being is just easier for her. Feelings are more straightforward with you, in theory at least, and sex comes with easy to understand rules. (Maybe the rule is simply ‘no’.) If you at all have a love for design or fashion, she’ll have you on priority contact to send you pics and concepts to get your opinion. Maybe people even start to notice her style shifts a bit after meeting you. She’s a busy woman, so either hold a clipboard and be her assistant or be a good little lover and wait for her at home, dinner and bath salts ready to help her unwind from hectic days. But whatever your dynamic ends up being like, all she knows is hell is way fucking better with you.

Valentino -

Sure he knows people can be ace, but it’s still inconceivable to him that you are. How the fuck did this even happen, him falling for someone who isn’t a nympho?? Oh now there’s a possibility, maybe hypersexuality is a thing for you, and even though it doesn’t come with attraction, he can be your outlet. No matter how much or little you’re into sex in general, he can’t help but want to dote on you. The best restaurants, clothes, shows, and drinks. No one would ever dare to mess with you, and if they did, well, consider it taken care of. (Vees PR may have to do clean up, but whatever.) Pet names, talking to you in Spanish, and generally gushing over your existence is his M.O. Whether you want to fix him or make himself worse, he’s on your leash now.

Rosie -

If anyone is going to be understanding and accommodating of you, it’s Rosie. Gossip over her breaks, strolls around Cannibal Town, getting you the perfect wardrobe. She’ll spoil you as much as you can handle while still encouraging you to stand tall and be your best. Domestic bliss with a dash of community leadership (or manipulation, same thing) and psycho thrill is what she does best. Whatever you can or can’t give is fine with her, she’s a secure woman after all. All that matters to her is that you’re safe and strong enough to handle whatever hell may throw at you. And she, for one, is stronger with you beside her.

Adam -

Oh boy. This bastard can’t fathom anyone feeling differently about sex than he does. He hates that you can’t love him the same way, but as time goes on (and several breakups later) he finally gets it through his thick head that he loves you no matter what. So, clumsily, begrudgingly, he starts to learn what you really want and need. Having things different than it was with anyone before makes him slow down and appreciate other things about you, about spending time with you. Finally he settles into your lines, and his softer side can come out more. Not that that’s the only thing that drew you to him, of course. As he falls deeper and harder than ever before, he realises that you’re perfect just the way you are.

Lute -

Is she the type to be annoyed at first? Sure there are other ways to let off steam than sex, but having it not be an option with you initially makes her want to avoid you. But she keeps coming back. Shit. She’s not exactly romantic, so it’s fine if you aren’t either. As she falls harder and harder, it bothers her that she can’t show you. Until you finally talk about it and she’s shown all the other ways you want to be loved. Suddenly it’s not so hard, and the distance between you is closed at last. Protecting you and keeping you with her are all that matter anymore. Even heaven would suck without you.

Emily -

Her job is literally ensuring the joy of souls, so of course she’s learned all about aro and ace people and how to fulfill their needs. So she’s unfazed when you tell her, overwhelming you with questions about what you like, how to make you happy. Acts of service, gifts, words of affirmation, quality time, is touch okay??? She loves you, and all she needs for heaven to fulfil the measure of its creation is to see your smile. Of course she wants to be as close to you as you’ll let her be. She’ll show you all over heaven, take you to all the best places in creation. Packed snacks in your bag, mending your clothes. Ask her to hold your hand and her wings flutter adorably.

Sera -

Now catching her attention may well be the most difficult of all. But your soul is so radiant, so captivating, it doesn’t matter what your preferences and needs are, she will move heaven and earth to have you beside her. An angel in need of a promotion? Done. A human soul that earned their wings? No problem. Even if you were a demon, she would find a way to twist your horns into a halo. Her low energy nature makes her a good match for someone with lesser passions. All she wants is you, just as you are.

Lilith -

She is a woman of fierce desire for freedom, to make her own choices - and when she meets you, she knows that you will be the one she chooses. Even if she wants to resist at first, she can’t help but want you. And what she wants, she gets. When she learns that you’re aro/ace, she’s honestly relived. Maybe things will be a little less complicated. She knows she can keep you with her no matter what you can or can’t feel, and as for touch, she’s fine with whatever you want. She’s a big girl, worst comes to worst she can take care of herself. Her only worry is making sure you’re happy and safe, because she has no tolerance for losing what she needs.

Zestial -

This demon is ancient, and while he finds a great many passions in life, having a partner like you is more welcome. Not having to worry about meeting your expectations in bed is a relief. Not that he wouldn’t give his best if you needed such attention, but he was never much preoccupied with such pastimes. His love is quiet but intense, his influence visible in every part of your life. From his protection, using his power as leverage to get you whatever you want, clearing out restaurants so you can have a private experience. As gentle as he is dangerous, he wants nothing more than to keep you safe and as close to him as you can bear to be.

Carmilla -

She is a busy woman, powerful and confident. Nothing fazes her. She knew you were aro/ace spec from the first moment she laid eyes on you. But what she didn’t expect was how important you would become to her. As soon as Odette and Clara start teasing her about it, she knew something has started that she couldn’t stop if she wanted to - for the precise reason that she doesn’t want to. It doesn’t matter to her if you don’t want to be touched, or only sometimes. She can see that your love for her is real, no matter what emotions may or may not be present. Love is choice, after all. And she will choose you every day for the rest of eternity.

Here’s the full flag if you want it 🩶

[windvexer]

Do you have any advice/opinion in cord cutting?

My advice is that you should examine your beliefs about cords, and what exactly cutting them will do.

This is crudely summarized, but I believe energy cords basically just describe the current relationship between two things.

Cords can be manipulated to change the relationship between two things. (And it's pertinent to note, this does not mean interpersonal relationship. This means, how two things exist in relation to each other.)

But a relationship cord is not the last word in how two things exist in relation to each other.

The relationship cord didn't make two friends start talking. Two people started talking, and therefore the cord grew between them.

So you can cut a relationship cord to halt the energetic exchange between two people.

But if they keep talking, the cord will just regrow. And probably it'll regrow pretty rapidly, especially if one or more of them is sending a lot of energy towards the other person. This is not energy in the "ball of white light energy exercise" sense. This is sending of any energy: attention, communication, gifts, memes, etc.

In fact, if one party is obsessive, more likely than not they will "sense" that there is a disruption in "closeness" and may redouble efforts to reconnect.

People cut cords and then don't understand why it wasn't the same thing as a banishment. It is not a banishment. A relationship cord is not a tether keeping an astronaut moored to your spaceship. All it is doing is describing the current nature of your relationship.

Yes, you can magically cut it to halt energetic flow. You can also magically slow down the ability for that person's energy to reach you, or speed it up, or suck energy out of it like a vampire, or whatever you like.

Cord cutting can be a magically helpful action. But I do not believe it constitutes banishing, binding, or protection.

I think that if a person wants to do a cord cutting to get a person out of their lives, that cord cutting should perhaps be an aspect of a greater banishing ritual. Spells of neutralization and banishing, followed by protection, is IMO a much safer bet than cutting a cord and calling it a day.

As a final note: I have seen some sources suggest that a cord-cutting should stop you from thinking about another person. I do not believe this is true.

The cord may enable unhealthy thinking patterns, the way a DoorDash app enables someone to over-spend on takeout. However, cutting the cord and deleting the app do not stop you from thinking about the person or fast food. All it does is remove the most convenient place for you to put that unhealthy energy.

If cord-cutting could actually stop a person from thinking thoughts, it would be one of the most popular and ubiquitous methods of magic. Every witch would doubtless be performing it a dozen times a day.

So I think that cord-cutting can be a useful tool, but it isn't the "permanently delete this person from your life and your thoughts" cheat code I think it is sometimes advertised as.

[krewekreep]

Y/N x Nicolas: Gangsta Drabble

Drabble From Nov 2016, hope you enjoy. (Cleaning out my notes app 😭)

Nicolas leaned against the wall of an alley; arms crossed and head down with his eyes closed. Anybody who passed and happened to peer his way assessed he was taking a nap. He almost was if it wasn't for his need to be aware of when a certain somebody would pass his way. With two senses off, touch was amplified significantly; he felt the impact of foot against unleveled concrete recognizing the way the boot heel met the ground. He opened his eyes, peering into the open street to see a strand of wavy hair pass his sight before the adjacent building cut his view. He moved himself from his post onto the street watching the body of a girl gallop happily laughing. He watched as her hands were inadvertently touching the kitana tucked in her denim jeans. Today she wore a basic white tee, jeans and brown boots. Her accessories were bandages rolled around both her arms and a dog chain that was backwards lightly hitting her chest. He knew she would find it creepy if she turned to see him following her, she'd berate him with words he couldn't hear about how odd it is to be followed in the middle of the day. But something about seeing her undisturbed, unbothered kept him at a distance. Whenever they were around each other he'd find a way to agitate her: pluck her ear, tug her hair, grab her weapon and run; all ways to get him attention. Childish, he knew but it worked.

She continued on laughing in conversation with a friend gesturing a part of the story with her hands. Her friend he knew from their visits, she was short and mean which Worick was attracted too. Most times he'd attempt to get his girl to chase after to him to not catch second hand embarrassment from Worick flirting. Alex would just laugh advising Worick to leave her alone but he would neglect the advice and continue his flirtatious advances. Nicolas recalled a day where he had run away with her weapon, leaping along rooftops with her not far behind him. She was not as fast as him as he knew his enhanced abilities were to blame but he loved, which took him a while to admit, how she as a human could surpass all normal ability; he had to admit it aroused him beyond belief. This day however, he found the temperature satisfying. Clouds littered the sky, the air was not humid and clingy, it wasn't stark hot. He lowed his pace for her to catch up, he turned and teased her by sticking his tongue out. She returned the gesture and sped up. He laughed deciding to halt immediately in his tracks. She, running full speed, hadn't commanded her body to stop and went right into his body. They collided but Nic had put a firm grip on her shoulders slowing her crash into his frame; in the end he fell to the ground with her chest against his. His breathing hitched as he looked down and saw in her shirt. He covered his eyes and fell back on the roof with a chuckle. She didnt know what was funny and decided to berate him about playing games with her. Her weapon was on the corner of the building much closer to Nicolas but she saw a chance and jumped for her kitana. Quickly, Nic went for the weapon too. He knew he was too far away to reach the weapon but not to reach her so he looped a finger in her belt and pulled her back. She huffed before landing backwards on his lap sideways. She fussed at him again and all he did was recline down with his hands behind his head extended to a relaxed position.

She laid on his chest watching him sign a children's story he memorized as a kid. Informing her about his difficulty to read at a young age. His least favorite story was the ugly duckling because of how he related to it. She told him he wasn't an ugly duckling, blushing she admitted he was pretty cute which made him smile crookedly.  He saw an opportunity to open his personal borders, telling her a bit about his childhood. He told her his love of libraries, how much reading meant to him. He especially loved children's books for the pictures as they assisted in his comprehension of the tale. Half-way through his story telling he quit signing and spoke outwardly. Usually he chose not to as he was unconfident in his speaking voice but she had asked him multiple times to speak freely with her and with constant jeering he eventually did. Short words became phrases that then matured into sentences and conversation. She knew sign language and could understand him fine when he spoke aloud. The sun began to disappear and those hours alone they shared stories with each other, Nic would have never had the courage to and was secretly elated when she grabbed his hand to hold. She wrote her name and other things on his arm with her fingers. She noticed his arms lacked hair but made up for it in veins, they were all over his arms and when he exerted they pulsated which turned her on although she would never confess. By the time they returned Worick had boxes of take out and Alex cooked the remainder of the food. The rest of the night was riddled with light hearted jest and story telling, leading to the eventual departure of who Nicolas considered was his  significant other, even if he hadn't talked to her about it.

Nicolas found himself lost in memories and didnt notice her enter walking towards him. It was all a blur as he ended up falling asleep. It all cleared when somebody hit him on the head with something hard and flat. He focused and saw her in front of him arms raised with an object in her hand. When she removed it from his head she handed it to him to read the cover.  "Wonder by R. J. Palacio" he said aloud. She felt the urge to suddenly kiss him because he looked like a child the way his eyes widened and how slowly he read the title. She knew he was shocked she remembered and had seen his figure disappear into an alley anytime she turned around. His grogginess made him slower than he realized. He looked up at her stunned, mouth agape and she couldn't help but place a kiss to the corner of his mouth. His fatigue combined with his surprise made him a sight to see: his eyes faltered ever so slightly, his jaw looked to be permanently open, and his big calloused hands were wrapped around the book with childlike tenderness. She signed your welcome and he embraced her with one his arms the book touching both their bodies in his other palm. Her friend had leaned herself against a wall out of earshot and out of their space but snuck a glance their way once in a while to capture a glimpse of adorable manifested. Nicolas said, "Thank you." and she smiled beaming at him.

[chronic-escapixt]

His Rose ~ Part 2

(Kai Parker x Bennett OC fanfiction)

content warnings/tags ~ Dark fiction, CNC, dubcon, yandere, murder, abuse, trauma, smut, innocence kink, mutual attraction, slow burn, manipulation, childhood trauma mentioned. Minors DNI

I don't claim ownership of The Vampire Diaries or its characters. All credits go to the rightful owner(s). I only own my original character(s).

Word count: 1.7k

K.P. Masterlist

Burning candles lined each side of the table where Rose and Kai sat across from each other with a map between them. He suggested they use Portland, Oregon as a starting point to locate the ascendant. He told her it was the hometown of the Gemini leader. He lifted the dagger and dragged the jagged edge across his palm to draw blood before dripping it on the map. In turn, Rose started the incantation: “Phasmatos Tribum, Nas Ex Veras, Sequitas Sanguinem…”

He watched, waiting for the location to reveal itself but nothing happened. Even the flames kept a consistent burn, failing to rise as they should in reaction to magical energy. She continued the chant, her voice wavering until he stopped her. “What are you thinking about right now?” he asked.

“I don’t know… I just don’t want to mess this up.” 

“That’s your problem. If you keep imagining yourself failing, then that’s what will manifest in your spells. Magic draws on your energy and emotions.” She nodded and took a deep breath to settle her nerves before beginning again. The crimson droplets twitched before they conjoined into one surging arrow as the candle fire erupted into a light roar. Rose peaked down at the map. “Keep going. You’re almost there.”

She continued until the blood gathered in one spot, the candle flames dying out in unison. “Oh. my. god. It worked…” she whispered as soon as her eyes opened.

“Don’t sound so shocked. You’re a Bennett witch. You know, my coven has a long history with Bennetts. Your magic has to be one of the most powerful of any coven, that’s why they seal prison worlds with it.” He searched her eyes, detecting insecurity, “you doubt yourself too much.”

Her face warmed, but she didn’t avert her eyes from his. “Thank you.. for the advice.” 

“Don’t mention it.”

Without wasting time, they got on the road to Oregon, with Kai taking the first turn behind the wheel. After only half an hour on the road the silence unnerved him, prompting him to strike up a conversation.

“You never told me how you ended up here.” He glanced at her.

“The truth is, my sister Bonnie was supposed to, not me. Her life was bound to the Other Side but it was falling apart and I couldn’t sit back and let her die... again.”

“So, you sacrificed yourself for her?”

“Yeah.. I guess I did. I was looking for any way to help, then this spell practically fell into my lap. It let me switch places with her and time was running out so… I just did it.”

Confusion contorted his face “But why?”

She turned sharply, “Because she’s my sister and she always puts everyone before herself, especially me. But more than that, she’s the smartest and most beautiful person I know. If anyone deserves life, it's her,” she frowned, “if I had more time, I would have told her that.”

He wanted to ask more questions because truthfully, the idea of loving someone, let alone a sibling that much was.. odd, but he saw how emotional it made her, so he went the reassuring route. "You can tell her everything you need to when we get you back home."

She nodded.

After a day and a half, it neared midnight when they arrived in Portland. Rose snored softly beside him having been asleep for the better part of an hour. Kai took over the last stretch of driving, glad that she was sleeping so he wouldn’t have to pretend to follow the map. He didn’t need the locator spell in the first place. The ascendant was exactly where he left it. The spell was a test that showed him she had the ability to do magic. Her low confidence and inconsistency could be an obstacle but he hoped that wouldn't be an issue come the eclipse.

They pulled up to a large white house at the end of a gravel road surrounded by a modest expanse of field and woodland. He nudged her awake before they got out and approached the house.

“The ascendant is here?” she asked, staring back at the facade.

“The spell led us to this address,” he confirmed.

An odd feeling took hold of her. Maybe it was dread, but she couldn’t quite place it. Whatever it was left her feet stationary at the cobblestone just before the porch steps. “Rose… Roseee, are you.. coming?”

She nodded and followed him, pushing down the indiscernible feeling.

Little did she know, this place had unpleasant memories for many, especially those familiar with its bloody history. Having grew to befriend his demons, Kai found a twisted comfort with the place that nurtured them through a childhood of abuse and depravation.

They searched the house together, starting with the ground floor and moving deeper until they reached the study. Her eyes locked onto the brown trunk against the far wall. She removed the heavy grimoires stacked on top and fumbled with the lock.

“I have a feeling it’s in here but the trunk is locked,” she stated. Kai searched the desk, opening drawers until he found a small key. He crouched down beside her and put the key in the lock, turning until the subtle click sounded. She reached inside, pulling out a circular piece of metal with a small reflective crystal in the center. 

Before the night ended, Kai brought her down to the nearby caverns which he said would be an ideal location to access direct moonlight for the spell. Rose followed in silent awe, tracing her fingers along the granite walls that glistened in hues of blue. They stopped below the skylight which granted direct access to the moon above. “It’s beautiful,” she remarked breathlessly. He turned to her, immediately noticing the way her eyes sparkled, taking on a silvery color in place of their usual hazel hue. Her gaze met his just before he could look away and pretend he wasn’t staring.

“We should head back and get some rest. It’s been a long day,” he finished with a stretch and a yawn. 

Bubbles rose to the surface as he topped her glass with Pinot Grigio. Kai insisted she relax while he made dinner in exchange for the meal she made him the other night. She complied despite her desire to help, not only because she knew her way around a kitchen but also just to be close to him. His energy, his scent, the slightest physical contact gave her full body goosebumps.  

Sip after sip had her inhibitions waning until her eyes shamelessly traced his body, the contour of his back, the ever moving muscles that bulged along his arms as he worked with his hands. He was saying something, but it all faded into the background. His broad shoulders were strained by his tight t-shirt, sleeves clinging to his biceps. She silently thanked him for taking off that hoodie before cooking. He poured some wine into the hot pan before bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a generous sip.

She watched with baited breath.

He swallowed then turned to her suddenly, “Do you like shellfish?”

“Yes!” She blurted out loud. If her face could get any hotter it would have, “I mean, yeah… shellfish is fine,” she murmured quietly. Kai turned back to the stove, stifling a chuckle.

They ate a shrimp pasta with a white wine reduction and finished off the bottle of Pinot. Perhaps it was the wine or the way he looked at her like she was the most interesting person alive but she felt open enough to tell him all about her life back in Mystic Falls.

Although he liked to talk, Kai was attentive to her stories, vampires, love-triangles, originals and travelers. He took particular interest when she mentioned a pair of twins, Liv and Luke Parker. “Bonnie met Liv in her occult studies class. She’s really powerful. She gave me a few lessons in channeling.”

Kai looked up from his wine glass, “what about the guy... Luke?”

Rose thought for a second, “Oh, I only met him once. He was nice and I heard he was even more powerful than Liv.”

As the meal wrapped up, he asked if she enjoyed it. “It was delicious. Where did you learn to cook like this?” 

He chuckled. “I’ve had to cook for myself for almost 20 years now, so I’ve picked up a few things along the way.” 

“How did you do it? Spending so many years alone without anyone to talk to must have been difficult,” she inquired.

Kai offered a strained smile, “Loneliness isn’t new to me. I've always been by myself for as long as I can remember.” 

“Why?” she asked. 

“My dad kept me away from my family. He said I was an abomination. In his defense, I’m not like other witches in my coven.. I can’t make my own magic. I can only siphon it from others. Ever since I was little, he forced me to stay away from everyone else or face whatever punishment he felt like doling out. Early on, I wanted to be around them, but I quickly realized it was safer to just stay to myself.”

“Kai, that’s horrible. He couldn't be more wrong about you.”

He raised his hand, “If I touched you right now, I could siphon your magic right out of your body. Doesn’t that scare you?” 

Rose stared back unwavering, “I’m not afraid of you.” She closed the distance between their hands brushing her fingers against his. “I trust you and I’d let you have some if you asked, I'm not that good with magic anyway.” 

For the first time, she did something he didn't expect. He could almost get lost in her soft touch and genuine eyes but couldn’t afford to. Reminding himself of his plan in which her purpose did not include making him vulnerable. His hand slid away and he rose from the table.

“I should get started on the dishes.” 

“I’ll help you,” she chirped after him. 

“No-no, I got it,” he insisted. 

She frowned, suddenly noticing his mood change. Whether she had crossed a boundary she wasn't supposed to or the topic of his childhood made him uncomfortable (or both), she didn't push it any further, hoping that by giving him space, he would feel more at ease and open up to her about his past but clearly, that wouldn't happen tonight. Rose stood up and said goodnight before heading upstairs.

[itertarot]

Hi Darling💌

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2: FINANCIAL

3: LOVE LIFE

4: FAMILY

5: SPIRITUALITY

6: OBSTACLES

7: ADVICE

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WHO ARE YOU? $10.10

1. HEAD: WHAT MOTIVATES YOUR DECISIONS

2. SHOULDERS: THE BURDENS YOU CARRY

3. HEART: YOUR ESSENCE

4. WHAT BLOCKS THE HEART

5. SPINE: WHAT HOLDS YOU UP, WHAT SUPPORTS YOU

6. HANDS: WHAT ARE YOU CAPABLE OF

7. GROIN: DESIRES/WANTS

8. FEET: THE PATH YOU WILL FOLLOW / YOUR FUTURE

9. FLOOR: YOUR FOUNDATION

10. EXTERNAL FORCES: THINGS THAT HAVE AFFECTED YOU

11. HOW EXTERNAL FORCES HAVE AFFECTED YOU

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2 WHAT IT DEVELOPS IN ME

3 MY MISSION ALONGSIDE

4 INNATE ABILITIES THAT HELP ME

5 DIFFICULTIES I HAVE THAT SLOW ME DOWN, WHERE I NEED TO FOCUS

6 WHERE THIS WILL LEAD ME POSITIVELY

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8-WILL YOU HAVE CHILDREN?

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10-HOW OTHERS WILL VIEW YOUR RELATIONSHIP

11-SEXUAL LIFE TOGETHER

12-A MESSAGE FROM THEM TO YOU

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[sinisterexaggerator]

Tech and Hondo Ohnaka ( Part 2 )

Rated: Teen and up (a rare general audiences fic on my part.)

Warning: Violence, death, injury, all comparable to what we see in The Bad Batch, pain mention, broken bones mention, attack by a wild animal, blaster fire.

Fic Summary: Tech is plummeting toward death, yet he is spared, all thanks to a Weequay pirate who was simply in the wrong place at the right time, depending.

Word count: 2.9k

Notes: This is a kind of crack / AU scenario. I like the idea of Hondo being the one to encounter Tech after his fall. The idea was definitely inspired my Phee's line at the end of season 2: "Well, don't go running off with any pirates or smugglers while you're gone,." :) Don't take this too seriously, though at the same time I tried to make it plausible. The main point of this was to have fun with Tech and Hondo ribbing each other in their own way. I love both of these characters, and I am excited to see what you guys think.

Chapter 1 | Read on Ao3

“Could you keep et down?”

“I have not said anything.”

“You are breathing much tuu loudly.”

“I cannot help it,” Tech argued. It was true, his breathing was labored. Though they had taken their time, the trip was slow-going, and his broken ribs were making it difficult for him to absorb lungfuls of oxygen.

“Perhaps… ef you took dat helmet off,” Hondo suggested, “den et would not be like listening tu an orbak chuffing en my ear.”

“Then I would not be able to see,” Tech reminded him, adjusting the weight of his pack. It felt heavier than normal. He was sure it was because he needed rest though now was an inopportune time.

“And you du see dat overgrown tooka, yes? De big blue one de size of a landspeeder who es currently feasting on de carcass of some nasty, six-legged vermin?”

Tech could not understand why he would ask this question. “I was the one to point it out when I saw it on my thermal readout,” he was quick to answer, the Weequay’s eyes constricting into two tight diagonal lines.

“Den you should know he will be able tu hear you!” Hondo emphasized, the feline in question at once perking up its ears.

Tech already did not appreciate the pirate’s boisterous personality, despite having dealt with so many others like him in the past. The clone’s brow creased beneath his visor as he lowered his voice to a whisper, all too aware of the current situation they had found themselves in. “Then perhaps you should be following your own advice,” Tech shot back evenly.

Hondo grumbled a closed-mouth complaint, turning his head slowly back toward the apex predator, sizing up their options as it was currently blocking their forward path. “We must find a way tu skirt past dis furry monstrosity; he es en our way,” Hondo stated, Tech assuming that had been quite obvious from the start.

“The best course of action may be to wait it out. Once the animal has consumed enough sustenance to—”

Tech paused, jerking back as Hondo rounded to face him. They were stationed on the ground, camouflaged behind a fallen tree trunk and copious amounts of shrubbery and grass. “What is it?” he questioned brusquely.

Evolving under rather merciless conditions, Weequay were adept at many things to ensure survival, one being the ability to detect sounds that were of a suspicious origin (should they quiet down long enough to listen in Hondo’s case). While most of his species communicated silently through the use of pheromones, Hondo preferred spoken language, yet even he knew when it was time to take things a little more seriously; he had not survived this long by being stupid.

“Footsteps,” he muttered, voice deeply resonate. “Et appears we du not have time tu, how you say, ‘wait et out.’”

Tech repositioned himself just enough to glance back over his shoulder, catching the outline of something warm, and alive. Many somethings, as it was another squad of TK troopers hot on their trail.

“They have yet to spot us,” Tech informed him, realizing they were now sandwiched between a deadly carnivore and half a dozen soldiers who were hellbent on finding and most likely killing them, if not something far worse than that; being a prisoner of war was not something Tech was looking forward to, nor was being shredded to bits in the jaws of a ferocious beast.

“Let us make haste! De mining facility es tu de northeast of here—"

“—I do not think we should make any sudden movements. It is best to give the feline a wide berth, as we do not know if—”

“—I du not intend tu die tuday, so unless you wish for me tu leave you behind,”  Hondo gave him a sidelong look, “you will follow closely, hm?”

Tech did not have time to offer anything more in the way of protest, watching as the pirate crept to the edge of their hiding place. Ohnaka stood halfway, keeping low to the ground, advancing in the direction of a more heavily wooded area.

Tech sighed, exasperated by the whole ordeal, and still in quite a lot of pain; it felt as if his entire being had been run over with a HAVw A6 Juggernaut turbo tank, yet he was not a quitter. He would keep pushing forward until his body decided to give out, whenever that might be.

He followed the Weequay’s heat signature; it ran hot in comparison to other species, much like his own, Hondo’s outline burning brightly through the cracks in his head-up display, not to mention his gaudy red coat would easily give him away. Tech wondered why he did not dispose of it if he was so worried about being found. It would be like wearing a large bullseye across your back -  very conspicuous.

For a moment, Tech thought they might be in the clear, both men having made it to the edge of the tree line, the clone unable to help glancing behind himself at intervals. He only realized something was amiss once he had turned back around, hearing the pirate speak, and not to him.

“Uh—hello,” Hondo said dumbly, Tech’s eyes widening at the appearance of a lone TK, his blaster poised and ready to shoot, though for the moment he seemed to be caught off guard just as much as they had been, the trooper not moving a muscle for several precious seconds.

Then, he called for help to his squad mates, or attempted to, via his comm; his transmission was cut short as Tech himself took the soldier out. Hondo watched as his armored form hit the forest floor like a sack of Corellian potatoes with a dull and lifeless thud, the Weequay speaking in low notes with a hint of indifference lacing his voice. “Eh… so much for stealth,” he shrugged.

Tech whisked back around, knowing his comrades would soon be on their way. It did not take long for bolts of plasma to scorch the trunks of trees surrounding them, thankfully these new troopers being unable to aim properly to save their lives.

“Iiiiii am not sure ef we should fight dem,” Hondo interjected between the pew pew sounds of laser fire, Tech having held his ground until this point, both men zigzagging between obstacles to find much needed cover.

“Please, explain what you think we should do,” Tech sardonically retorted, both of his DC-17’s withdrawn from their holsters as he prepared to engage the enemy.

“I tink we should wait for—”

At that very moment, the colossal, azure feline had been roused from its meal, considering these newcomers a threat to its territory and to the kill it had worked so hard to slay. Blaster fire only seemed to irritate it further, as the white-clad soldier’s attention had been diverted from the pursual of their quarry to the idea of staying alive.

“—dat,” Hondo finally finished.

Screams echoed through the forest as teeth and claw bore into plastoid, easily penetrating the TK’s armor as if it was nothing more than flimsiplast. Blood spurted as limbs were shredded and torn apart, the angry beast leaving a trail of viscera in its wake. Tech stood stock-still, riveted by the scene before him. “Fascinating,” he admitted beneath his breath.

“Now we go, ah?” Hondo asked, shooting Tech a quizzical look infused with mild disgust. He was not sure what he found so “fascinating,” and Tech’s only regret was not having his recording device at the ready to immortalize the ferocious, guttural sounds the beast was making as it mowed through nearly a dozen men.

Tech only snapped to attention when Hondo rapped his knuckles on the outside of his helmet. “Wake up en dere!” he growled, at once beginning his journey in the opposite direction, the one that was now a straight shot toward the general area of the lommite mine, Tech surmised, and he was content to follow, as he did not want to be next on the menu should the feline tire of its current entertainment.

“So nice of you tu join m—” Hondo stopped short, another TK Trooper having dropped before them from his hiding spot in the trees, blaster rifle held high and a smug tone permeating his voice as he gave his demands.

“Drop your weapons, and put your hands in the air!”

Both men glanced to one another, this being a rather unfortunate turn of events. Tech obeyed, but Hondo knew better; he had never withdrawn any in the first place. His lip curved just slightly; he could hear a rustling sound coming from a patch of nearby brush.

“My friend, we are de least of your worries,” Hondo relayed dryly. “I would put dat blaster away, ef you value your life, hm?”

Tech’s eyes darted as he registered the thermal readout of the very large feline stalking their way, calculating the odds of their survival mentally, which presently did not appear to be very good.

“Shut your mouth, Quay, and get on the ground!”

“Ef you insist,” Hondo replied, the pirate taking his time in bending first one leg, and then the other, his knees dropping onto the soft dirt below as if kneeling in prayer.

“You too, traitor,” the TK snapped, his blaster aimed loosely at Tech as the clone was forced to abide this man’s orders. He lowered himself beside Hondo, keeping his eyes trained not on the weapon’s barrel, but on the animal that was slowly creeping forward toward the unsuspecting soldier. He thought to warn him, but what would be the point? To face death head-on was not a privilege afforded to all. Sometimes, it was a surprise.

“Hands behind your head,” he barked. His “prisoners” obliged, the TK calling for assitance on his comm. “Found the terrorists a kilometer down from the mine, requesting back up.”

“Terrorists?” Hondo thought, meaning to give the man a piece of his mind. Even so, Hondo was privy to something he was not, keeping his mouth closed - if only just this once - as hypnotizing, unnatural yellow eyes shone like two bright suns just behind the soldier’s helmet. The head of the overgrown took’, not to mention its fangs, were both wider and longer than his head and arms. It was as if he was this man’s big, blue shadow, sooo massive in fact, it captured his attention; the sky had appeared to darken as if anticipating a rainstorm, the trooper looking up.

“Huh?” was all he managed to say, the TK’s head tilting for a better vantage just as the fanged maw of the creature enclosed around his throat. There was a terrible crunching sound as the ginormous cat severed through cartilage and bone as if they were nothing more than twigs, leaving both men to stare on in revulsion and awe as his body fell to the ground at their knees.

Hondo could feel Tech itching to rise and fight. Or. Perhaps to flee. “Du not. Move,” he instructed.

Tech decided to listen. He remained still. He was not sure why he had opted to trust the pirate on this matter, but he knew he would not be able to outrun the beast regardless. In other words, what did he have to lose besides his life? It was a kind of running joke at this point, he mused.

Hondo bothered to follow his own advice this time; he kept calm and motionless, even as the feline raised its eyes to look squarely at them. Blood dripped from its elongated eyeteeth like water drops from a leaky faucet, the formidable lifeform beginning to slowly prowl in their direction.

Tech took a breath to speak. Hondo interrupted him.

“Stand your ground. Du not panic, and du not run. Retreat only when I give de signal.”

Tech wanted to ask what the signal was, or explain that tactics that may work on one member of the Felidae family did not necessarily mean they could be employed against every feline they encountered. Still, Tech did not have experience with this particular species and wished to know more about them; perhaps Hondo had dealt with this kind of predator before. It was a shame that his equipment had been so badly damaged as to cease functioning properly, otherwise he may have been of some use.

A low growl emanated from the beast; Tech centered himself and relaxed. If it was his time to die, so be it, though he had not died yet when he had been almost positive he was going to only hours before.

Hondo lowered his head and stared at the creature’s feet; he made note he was so very fluffy, and if he was not so sure that he would get his face torn clean off for doing so, he may have been tempted to stroke its fur.

The cat bared its fangs; it roared only inches away. The wave of hot, stinky breath that followed did not impress Tech, though the Weequay beside him made a point to wrinkle his ridged nose.

Then, its attention turned solely to Hondo. Its snout was close enough to kiss. Hondo lazily lifted his head, the feline snorting out a blast so powerful, it sent one of Weequay’s braids behind his shoulder.

Hondo spoke; his voice was low and soothing. If he was at all afraid, he did not make it known, Tech observed, though he kept his eyes averted toward the wildcat’s legs. “We can be friends… yes?” he whispered huskily.

The behemoth stuck its nose against the Weequay, inhaling sharply to sniff Hondo as if he was a flower growing in some tranquil meadow, not a pirate in a crimson coat. Then the creature nuzzled his oversized head into the crook of Hondo’s jowls just below his frills, its broad, rough tongue brandishing itself to lick a stripe that would inevitably saturate his entire face.

Hondo laughed, a throaty chuckle indicative of something a little more than amusement. It was as if he knew to expect this all along.

“Dat’s right, what a sweet beast you are,” Ohnaka crooned as if talking to a lover, or a child, the pirate having spent many long hours in the fellowship of creatures both great and small, loving each one individually not for what they could do for him, but because, in most cases, animals were far better company than man.

For one, they did not double-cross him. Usually.

Tech thought the creature was giving Hondo a taste before deciding on whether or not to make him a second course, but to his surprise the feline began to produce a sound that was not unlike a purr from the bowels of its throat, it being somewhat reminiscent of the activation of ion engines set to embark on a journey through time and space.

The muscular mammal nearly knocked Ohnaka backward, so strong was the headbutt it administered against the Weequay’s Desevrar Infantry helmet that Hondo teetered on his knees, but managed to keep his place. Then, he did what he had wanted to do without fear of repercussion, placing one striated hand along the feline’s muzzle in a gentle pat. “Such a good boy,” he offered in the way of praise.

Tech was baffled; this was not something he was accustomed to. He had only witnessed Jedi commune with animals. This had occurred once during his time in the field under the leadership of the Republic, and never quite like this.

The scoundrel stood, and the cat allowed it. Hondo had the audacity to scratch it beneath its chin. “Ah, but you remind me of someone else blue with sharp teeth, hm? All hiss and no hunting us, yes?” he asked, as if the thing could speak its mind, and he would be able to understand its meaning.

The fuzzy leviathan seem to agree, circling the pirate to wrap its tail about his waist before releasing him and nudging Tech against his shoulder. Tech withheld a gasp, his body aching, and while the feline seemed not liable to attack them, he would not bother to stand quite yet.

His pack was most definitely weighing him down, Tech feeling as if one hundred duracrete bricks resided inside. He kept his nearly useless eyes fixated on the dead and drying leaves of the forest floor, Hondo speaking to the clone as if he was much more self-assured.

“Animals, beasts, de wily creatures of de forest, dhey love me,” he boasted. “I treat dem with kindness and respect, and dheyyy du not eat me. Isn’t dat right, blue one?” he inquired to the affectionate feline.

Then, the creature’s ears twitched, and his stark, golden eyes narrowed. Hondo withdrew his hand and cocked his head, turning toward the direction the feline was now focused on and asking it another question, never having received an answer to his first. “What es et, my darling? Du you hear someting?”

The varied shades of blue fur along its back bristled; the differences in its coloration formed alternating stripes like waves in a vast ocean. Tech could not help it— he held his breath. The king of Eriadu’s jungle quickly leapt away to disappear amongst the foliage, the distant sound of men screaming echoing through the otherwise peaceful woods.

“Our cue tu leave, no?”

“Affirmative,” was the only thing Tech could think to say, rising to his feet, albeit with great difficulty. He decided not to question the Weeuquay, or his ability to commune with the native fauna. This man was proving to be odd by all definitions of the word, his prowess for taming wild carnivores only one of his unusual traits, Tech suspected.

Tech’s thoughts were interrupted by an ache in his chest as he had bent to gather his blasters; he could not remember ever feeling so exhausted, nor could he recall a time when he had found it this laborius to breathe. Ambulating slowly forward, Hondo once more took the lead, Tech wondering what Phee might say should she learn that he had coincidentally, “run off with pirates.”

--

Unknown feline attacking a young Tarkin:

[courtrecord]

On twitter sometime ago you described your writing habits as something similar to my own (slow, tedious, perfectionist, compulsive, agonizing over getting the words perfect instead of editing later, etc) And you also wrote a lot of dope things like Galactic 2E and Venture that are I hope you dont mind me saying, deeply inspirational. So coming from someone who hasnt Gotten There yet I have to ask, how do you get yourself to get up and just write the damn thing already?

omg thank u so much, that means more than i can possibly say. i wish i had a better set of advice but honestly so much of my creative work is vibes and hyperfixation based, and every time i finish something i look back on it like “how the fuck did i do that”, but here are the things that work for me. they are very much based on my own particular adhd and writing hangups so ur mileage will definitely vary.

start small: i didn’t start writing ttrpgs with big projects like venture & g2e. i started with a 200 word game, then some one-pagers, then kept growing from there. @jdragsky has talked a lot about the importance of building the skill of finishing things, and small projects are a really good way of doing that. hell, even g2e only exists bc i started with the smaller project of galactic, then went back to it a year later to build on it again.

share as u go: when i started working on bigger games, and this year as i’ve been working on longer fics, friends to share screenshots of my wip have been invaluable. that way i can get the immediate validation of someone reading my thing and giving feedback without feeling like i need to Publish it yet. biggest shoutout in the world to my friends who tolerate my writing nonsense.

write in chunks: this is kind of the combination of those first two points. bob games are big piles of little lists. i tend to write fic in short, impactful scenes. i have a wip that’s an sbr game, which is a big pile of little advances. that way, i am constantly getting that feeling of accomplishment when i write something. i can agonize over word choice and vibes and editing but then i actually get to a stopping point, where i like that little bit enough to move on to the next one. it seems crazy looking back that i wrote 36 places & 36 traits for g2e, but i didn’t just sit down and knock them all out. i wrote a few, sent them to some friends, then i wrote a few more. u know?

don’t force it: sometimes, the vibe just isn’t there. sometimes, u spend a year doing barely any writing or game design bc there’s a pandemic and ur brain doesn’t work anymore. etc. i’ve thought a lot the past few years about the difference btwn the feeling of wanting to write bc i want to write the thing, and the feeling of wanting to write bc i like the idea of being the person who wrote the thing. when i realize i’m in that second mindset, i go and think about something else. bc no good writing comes from that (at least ime)

find what u like: this is kinda related to the one above, but it’s another thing i’ve been thinking about lately. i spent a lot of time when i was younger assuming that bc i like writing, i had to write a novel, bc that’s what writers do. i would try to follow writing advice made for people who simply aren’t me. “writers must learn to use description sparingly” lol way ahead of u. that kinda thing. realizing that i love writing fanfiction for its transformativity, and i love writing dialogue bc it’s what i’m good at, was a huge revelation. i can just do that. i don’t have to follow the regular writer mold when i can just write really fucking good dialogue-heavy fanfiction. and in that realization, i’ve been able to grow as a writer by gaining the ability to write things down that i’m happy with, and grow from there.

prescription adderall: i told u this list was a mess. this one has kinda been crucial for me. i realized i had adhd in my first year of college in 2017 and started taking adderall for my second year of college in mid-2018. i started churning out creative projects in 2019. coincidence? absolutely not oh my god are u kidding

[animehouse-moe]

The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2 Episode 2: Birds of A Feather Flock Together

The pressure's off Kafka as they settle into the long run. A sigh of relief is heaved and they put their nose to the grindstone to get the ball rolling on this season's story: Chise and a "normal" school life. The focus shifts far more towards dialogue and exposition, but I wouldn't say creativity is lost to the episode, just that it shrinks behind conversation and interaction. So, how far does it go, and where is it leading viewers?

Well, as explained, it wants to explore Chise's character and personality in a more normal frame of reference. They want to give Chise people around her age, people with similar interests and (not so) similar abilities to provide her with a way to explore and develop herself.

We get to see characters like Philomela (whom we met last episode) and see how Chise's still true to a lot of herself. She's always willing to help those around her, and offers Philomela some tea and a potpourri for her anxiety. Of course, she doesn't leave without another word, but heeds Elias' advice and asks for something in return in very Chise fashion.

This was probably the best directed dialogue scene in the episode, in my opinion. We get a lot of shots focusing on just one character or the other, but we'll still see the back of the head of the other or something similar. The direction very rarely deviates from keeping viewers conscious of the fact that there is two people taking part in it.

Plus, there's some really creative layouts and direction with the characters in general. Stuff like Philomela kicking around when in Chise's arms. Funny enough, even here you can see some of the penchant that Terasawa has for top-down and high angle shots.

And in similar continuation, I really do love how much emotion is placed in the interaction of characters rather than their faces. Seeing a character grasp a bag slightly tighter, or sit with a downward gaze really gives a lot of life to them that facial expressions can't.

Following our introduction to Philomela, we get to visit Alice again as we essentially do the rounds to refresh our memories, and we get a really nice and expressive cut of Alice. I just wish the follow up was at least a little closer in detail haha.

And, while the direction in the first episode for the scene was outstanding, I like that there's a bit of expectation subversion in Chise's hesitation at the door. We don't get the same reflection or anything. Instead, after a pseudo-flashback to her childhood days, Alice shows back up again to introduce Chise to her classroom and set the stage for a later interaction.

But this is also where my major gripes/concerns comes into play. The CGI. They're ambitious I'll give them that much, it's an interesting cut to aim for, but their 3D work just isn't there. It's not polished enough so it comes off clunky and out of place in comparison to the care that's placed in compositing with other scenes.

Anyways, the episode starts to really slow down at this point, as we introduce and hint at new characters, rehash knowledge and information in regards to magic, and establish the nature of the school. It's pretty par for the course for the dense dialogue and conversation going on, but I do wish we could get a little more than just overhead camera angles to spice things up.

Thankfully, some of the conversation and animation take that into their own hands. Despite the confidence that Alice exudes to Chise for starting school, we learn that she has her own problems as well, which is a nice touch.

Of course, those problems are, ahem, incinerated shortly thereafter. As a side note, I really enjoy how well they've preserved the chibi style of art for the series.

Past this point, we get to the goal of the episode, which lies in Chise. Touted as a mage, and someone with impressive ability and power. Someone none of the other people know. She's been asked to show her magic, asked to teach magic, has helped out a classmate and gotten off on the wrong foot with another.

This episode was the culmination of Chise's introduction so that we can start probing her character. How far will she take favors to make friends? How much advice will she take to avoid standing out or being popular? How will she respond to struggles or drama?

It's a great appeal to her character, considering that the first season got her into a "stable" condition. She can now be openly concerned about these types of things, so in a way she's regressed so that she can do it right, and I'm very interested in that. MahoYome's strongest pieces have always been its approach to characters and its approach to magic. So twisting the two into one big blob even more than the first season is a great recipe. I'm very much looking forward to the next episode!

[katz-cradle]

‘ ———･❪ ✮ ❫ ･——— ’

‘ ———･❪ ✮ ❫ ･——— ’

HAHA NEXT GEN KNIGHT V3 >:33 , I decided 2 revamp my fankids 2 make them better in my opinion I also had to remove some ppl bc they didn't add anything,,, but we get a new person :D

Anyways their personalities are under the cut bc it's a lot, read if u wanna but I love them <33

Reize ; “Growing a lot from his younger years, Reize is an ambitious and kindhearted man who does his best to make everyone happy however he can, somebody you can go to for advice or a helping hand. He's very protective due to his past and will go to great lengths to not repeat any mistakes he or his family has made in the past.”

Illusion Knight ; “Growing up only with her mother, Illusion Knight doesn't understand others at all, being unnerving towards most along with her scarily familiar appearance. She's very curious and seems to stay in her own little world most of the time, despite that she's friendly to most folks in her own ways if only a little cautious with them.”

Spear Knight ; “Spear Knight tries his best to be a successor to his parents, being a confident caring person towards those in the Valley. In reality that's a facade, he gets easily nervous and is constantly trying to one up everyone else for his own sake.”

Night Knight ; “Night Knight always seems to be tired, being slow and vacant most of the time; however that doesn't stop her from doing whatever she wants, being energetic when she wants. They're confident yet clumsy in their abilities and is a genuinely good fighter when they're not sleeping.”

Pegasus Knight ; “Pegasus Knight is an energetic performer enjoying being in the spotlight and entertaining the people in the valley, she loves being the joke of it all finding joy in laughing and being laughed at. She's naturally charming and flamboyant doing anything to get attention or else she'll die (not a exaggeration)”

Vamp Knight ; “Vamp Knight is melodramatic and gloomy fitting with his aesthetic he's anti social and likes to brood in public, however most of this is a obvious facade. While she enjoys the persona, in private she's as charming and chatty as her sister.”

Remedy Knight ; “Remedy Knight is a paranoid skittish mess not being made for battle, but due to their caring and gentle nature they try to help others by working on healing potions almost constantly. It keeps to itself and is very careful though that never works due to how easily it gets startled.”

Selkie Knight ; “Selkie Knight is an intimidating and ruthless pirate doing what she wants and when she wants being cold and calculated in everything she does, while she has stronger walls if you manage to break them down she's relatively sweet but protective of those she cares for. Most will never see that side of her.”

Sludge Knight ; “Sludge Knight is an adventurous person being timid but kind hearted, he’s very much a follower and is a quick thinker in most circumstances though his awkwardness can trip him up when it comes to helping people. Despite his hiccups he tries to be as friendly and helpful as possible.”

Ask me about them if u wanna,,, I promise 2 have some more 2 read about them soon!!

[scyllas-revenge]

Hi there! I was reading your Burn Like Cold Iron fic and so far it’s AMAZING!!!! 😁✨ I was wondering if you could tell me, if you’re able, how you were able to figure out your story with the language difference with Beatrice and her only speaking English and being in Middle Earth where they speak literally like, everything else? (I’ve only gotten up to chapter 4 so far.)

I know you were able to use Saruman’s mind using his translation method thingy XD Which was so seamless and cool! I’m wondering what was your process for figuring it out? Did you look into lore or anything? Rn, I’m writing smth with a similar plot of someone modern being thrown into Middle Earth (miraculously, I ran into your fic, which has helped me a ton!) but they’re thrown into Mirkwood instead. I’m stumped on how can I believably have my character communicate with elves? Any ideas, suggestions or somewhere you could point me?

I’d appreciate it a ton and sorry if this question is convoluted!

- Mithril Anon

Oh my gosh thank you so much! I'm so glad you like the fic so far and I'm flattered you reached out to me about yours.

I definitely took the easy way out with the language gap! I wasn't personally very interested in writing extensive translation/language learning scenes, so if I hadn't run into the convenient wizard-needs-her-to-speak-Westron-asap loophole, I probably wouldn't have distinguished them at all.

(Slight spoilers but not really) I did consider later on in my fic that maybe once Saruman loses his powers and Gandalf takes his staff, maybe Bee would lose her innate ability to understand Westron- but again, I didn't really want to go there in my fic, I'm lazy, so that plot twist never came to be.

I can try to offer some advice for how to go about it in your fic- and I know there are people who follow me who read modern-OC-in-middle-earth fics, so if any of y'all read through this enormous answer and have anything to add, please do!

The main ways I've seen authors go about it are

You can have some magical explanation hand-wave it away (what I did). For instance, I've seen authors have the Valar grant the OC language skills to translate between their native language and Westron as they hop over to Middle Earth. Maybe they have a magical amulet or something. Go crazy XD

You can have your character learn Westron from scratch- it's an entirely new Tolkien-approved language and your poor OC knows none of it. Of course that's super time consuming and can slow down a lot of other aspects of your plot (your OC can't rush off to go adventuring or fall in love when they can't communicate with anyone!). But if it's done right, you can develop characters, worldbuilding, and relationships in those scenes. I vaguely remember the fic Home with the Fairies doing this really well.

You can just ignore that Tolkien wrote Westron/Common to be different from English, and just have them be interchangeable. Frankly I like this just fine, I know a lot of other readers who do too- and what Tolkien doesn't know won't hurt him ;) I doubt you'd get any complaints about it from readers (and if you do, you can tell them ol' scylla wants to speak to em)

Since your OC will be interacting with elves, that adds a whole second language into the mix, which is a LOT to deal with. So I'd lean toward option 3, so your OC can at least speak to any of the elves who know Westron (Thranduil and Legolas definitely do, and I'm guessing a lot of other well-educated elves or anyone who has to travel, trade, or go near their borders do too).

So at that point you could have your OC learn elvish at a more comfortable pace, and the plot doesn't have to be on hold while they learn.

If not a lot of the Mirkwood elves your OC meets know Westron or speak it very well, maybe there are resources in Thranduil's library that could help them (you just know he's got a fancy library in those caves). Or maybe an elf your OC befriended could take them to speak to other characters who do know more Westron, like prisoners in the dungeons, border guards, tradesmen in Dale, etc. You could get some good plot development out of that, depending on where you want your fic to go and who you want your OC to interact with.

And of course the way they teach your OC elvish can also help drive the plot forward- I've read tons of fics that have the love interest confess their love knowing that the OC won't understand, or translate a romantic song or tragic poem and oh there's so many parallels between us and the song, isn't it sad?? Maybe the language gap could be used to keep or learn secrets, or give your OC a leg up in Mirkwood society since they'll be able to communicate better with the men of Dale than a lot of the elves can.

Sorry this answer is so long and rambly, but I hope it helps a bit! You'll have to tag me when you start posting your fic so I can read it!!

Omg I just remembered as I was about to hit send that canonically, the spiders in Mirkwood do in fact speak Westron, so if all else fails, your OC can talk with them XD (I'd read the hell out of that fic)

[romilly-jay]

In conversation with Scalzi's 2014 post about enjoying art-stuff that turns out to be problematic (either in itself or by association) Part #1

TLDR - he makes great points and I'm cheered to see how well this advice holds up one decade on - still wanna talk about it, though

And... having done my usual thing of clipping whatever I've come across recently that seems relevant - think this is more than one post

=========================================

Original post is from 19th March 2014 in reply to the following reader question from H. Savinean (reduced version here, emphasis added) which JS /surely correctly/ identifies as a can of worms:

I would like to hear your thoughts on liking problematic things, e.g. media with historically accurate but objectionable portrayals of gender/race/etc., media with no historical excuse for the above, media that ignore women and people of color, comedians/ actors/ writers who plant their feet firmly in their mouths far too often.

First thing I appreciate is that he establishes his definition so that we know the version of the question he's going to examine. Article mentions that he was original a journalist and this framing choice tracks - although/also LOL he notes that "problematic" has meaning in a wider set of contexts. Given the subject matter, this tactical vagueness seems like an excellent survival technique. [Any chance I can match him and stay out of cancellation prison? Can only hope.]

He uses the following as the terms of reference for the piece:

For the purposes of this piece, the word means “work [and/or] people I have issues with for some substantial and to me relevant social/ moral/ ethical reason.”

His TLDR statement is that he believes it's okay to like or value work that is problematic and/or work by a person that is problematic.

[That's not the only thing he says by any means! More nuance below.]

Now that I'm slowing down into the piece, I realise that whatever the case in 2014, this absolutely isn't a cultural given in 2024. Perhaps it never was i.e. when I tell myself that people used to have more flexibility - or ability to hold separate - or capacity for ambiguity - it's nothing more than that, a story I tell myself. Echo chamber thinking.

Calling Orson Welles on Elia Kazan - this image is a still from a video clip where he responds to an audience question about EK.

He says that he can't answer the question, due to his disapproval of EK's collaboration with the McCarthy investigations [rooting out alleged communist sympathisers in the arts], compounded by EK then making On The Waterfront, a movie that celebrates the actions of the informer character. Finally, by way of addendum, he notes:

I have to add - I have to add - that he is a very - good - director.

(It's not a quote about RP - RP is mentioned in the Tweet but the Welles clip is intended as a general example, as I realised on the second time of listening... First time, I was simply intrigued to "discover" that RP had been involved in the movie On The Waterfront. Nope, no he wasn't. That's fake news. He was born in 1933 and that movie was made in 1954, so, possible but unlikely as timelines go.)

OW demonstrates a holding together of contradictory assessments, revulsion at EK's behaviour and yet also an acknowledgement of his directorial talent. Both exist together, though it's quite here, in this clip that for OW, the moral revulsion weighs the more heavily.

IMO this seems like it's probably a good illustration of what John Scalzi goes on to say - I've clipped the entire segment this time:

I think it’s fine to like or recognize the value of problematic people [and/or] things. I think it helps to additionally recognize two things:

One, that the person [and/or] thing is problematic, regardless of the fact that you like it; two, that the fact you like it doesn’t mitigate the fact that it is problematic.

You can hold the two thoughts in your head simultaneously.

JS then goes on to illustrate with two examples, one focused on the person, the other on the work (erm, AND the person TBF).

The example given for where the work is admirable/excellent but the person HIGHLY problematic is China Town (a masterpiece) and Roman Polanski (child rapist). To me, this is famous/infamous - I've heard about the case and I've seen the movie, though I was probably too young to appreciate it as art. I remember finding it very tense.

The other example I hadn't heard of and frankly, I'm not planning to investigate any further. Very clear to me from the context why JS is giving it as an example of problematic work and I don't feel any need to try to see past that to make my own assessment of the quality of the film-making. It's not exactly as though I'm qualified to know, really, at the best of times. For the record, the example is Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahl and this is what JS says about it -

For reasons relating to cinematic technique, one of the major films in cinematic history — echoes of the film pop up everywhere from Star Wars to The Lion King. For subject matter, [as] an unapologetic celebration of the 1934 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg and of Adolf Hitler, it is literally horrifying.

Riefenstahl herself: A brilliant filmmaker and forever (and rightly) tainted by her association with a genocidal regime; one of the first great women directors, who unquestionably lent her considerable talents to the furtherance of evil. Can we appreciate the craft she brought to the film? Absolutely. Should we argue that this craft mitigates the purpose for which it was used? Absolutely not. Should Riefenstahl’s embrace of the Nazi party be excused because of her cinematic talent? Not in a thousand years.

[mybookplacenet]

Author Interview: Michelle M. Pillow

Tell us about yourself.: I'm Michelle M. Pillow, a NY Times and USA TODAY bestselling author with over a million books sold. I write across various genres but am best known for my romance and mystery novels. My fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal has always been a driving force in my writing. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I grew up in the Midwest, where the blend of urban life and natural beauty often inspired my storytelling. The region's rich history and diverse culture provided a fertile ground for my imagination, fueling my interest in creating intricate, magical worlds. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I often write late into the night when the world is quiet. My writing setup changes depending on my mood and the stage of the writing process. I use a combination of notebooks, Post-it notes, and digital tools to keep track of ideas and plot points. You’ll often find me writing at my kitchen table or sitting up in bed with the TV on in the background. What authors have influenced you? I grew up in the Midwest, where the blend of urban life and natural beauty often inspired my storytelling. The region's rich history and diverse culture provided a fertile ground for my imagination, fueling my interest in creating intricate, magical worlds. Do you have any advice for new authors? Write consistently and don’t give up. The journey of writing and publishing can be challenging, but persistence and passion are essential. Don’t be afraid to revise and improve your work. Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in your vision, and always stay true to your unique voice and stories. What is the best advice you have ever been given? The best advice I’ve ever received is to trust the process and believe in your unique voice. Writing is a journey, and it's important to embrace both the challenges and triumphs along the way. Persistence and passion are key. What are you reading now? I’m currently reading a mix of genres, including some literary fiction and women's fiction, as well as work by author friends. I believe that reading widely helps to broaden my perspective and inspire new ideas. I'm about to dive into Prince with a Chance of Darkness by Mandy M. Roth. I love her Grimm Cove series. What's your biggest weakness? My biggest weakness is probably my tendency to overthink things. I want my stories to be perfect, and sometimes that can slow me down. But I’ve learned to embrace the process and trust my instincts. What is your favorite book of all time? That’s a tough question! One of my all-time favorites is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The wit, the romance, and the social commentary have always resonated with me. When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and pets. I also enjoy watching my favorite TV shows or movies, reading books, and exploring new places. These activities help me relax and recharge my creative energy. Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? The first story I remember that had an effect on me creatively was Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart. What has inspired you and your writing style? Authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Anne Rice have inspired me to blend romance, fantasy, and supernatural elements seamlessly. Their ability to create expansive, immersive worlds and complex characters has profoundly influenced my writing style. I also draw inspiration from personal experiences, travels, and observations of the world around me. What are you working on now? I’m currently working on the next book in the series following my newly released Urban Fantasy book Merely Mortal, titled Mostly Shattered. It continues the journey of the heroine Tamara and delves deeper into the supernatural world she navigates. What is your favorite method for promoting your work? I love engaging with readers through social media and my newsletter. It’s a great way to share updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and connect with my audience on a more personal level. What's next for you as a writer? Next, I’m looking forward to expanding the series that began with Merely Mortal. I have several exciting projects in the pipeline, including more stories set in the same universe and exploring new genres and themes. How well do you work under pressure? I tend to thrive under pressure. Deadlines can be motivating, pushing me to focus and be productive. While it can be stressful at times, I’ve learned to manage it and use it to my advantage. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? The tone of my writing is usually determined by the story and characters. I try to immerse myself in the world I’m creating and let the tone naturally evolve from the narrative and the emotions of the characters. Whether it’s light-hearted and humorous or dark and intense, the tone must align with the story’s essence. If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? I want to thank my fans for their incredible support and enthusiasm. Your love for my characters and stories means the world to me. Books are a journey we take together, and I’m grateful for each and every one of you who joins me on this adventure. Keep believing in the magic of storytelling and never stop dreaming. Michelle M. Pillow's Author Websites and Profiles Website Amazon Profile Goodreads Profile Smashwords Profile BookBub Profile Author Profile On Barnes & Noble Michelle M. Pillow's Social Media Links Facebook Page Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest YouTube Account Read the full article

[talldarkandroguesome]

2nd of Last Seed, Middas

The Queen continues her generosity. Today a messenger brought by a letter with a small parcel, both stamped with the royal seal.

The letter was just a lovely outpouring of thanks and appreciation and for as little as I have thought of my role in all of this to be, to feel as though the queen does see my contribution as so important is truly humbling.

I have always tried to make a contribution to the greater good. I have always thought of myself as a tool for positive change in society around me. That said, I do not usually expect any thanks for what I have done. It is a job. A duty. Simply to have completed my assigned duty is the expectation. To have done an artistic job or done it more efficiently, that is the pride that i can gain from it. But words of congratulations on my efficiency or method are typically the only positive reaction I expect to find. If any.

To have seen just how much this meant to Khamira, to have her compare me to a legendary hero of her ancestors, that is almost overwhelming. I do not feel of myself that I am a hero. I am not. I am an enhanced mortal with the ability to provide a service that other mortals cannot always manage. I cannot die and so I can go into those more dangerous situations and come out of them again, even if it does cost me a life or two.

The death is painful. It feels awful. I fear that feeling every time I have to go through it. But then I am me again and I am whole and alive. I am naked, reborn of Nirn as I was that day that Mannimarco drove his wretched dagger through my heart, but I am alive. And the only down sides of the process on me are that my hair is short, I have none of my belongings, and I get that much more Daedric influence upon me.

I do not feel so different. I still feel like me. Yet Avon has said that the Daedric influence he has found upon me is not insignificant and that he fears what another five or ten deaths might mean for me.

After seeing the death that falls around me, the way others have given their lives to protect me, me who cannot die, I wonder what the cost of my condition has on those around me. The true cost. People giving their lives in hopes to save me when even were I to die, I would be alive again in as long as it takes to brew a cup of tea. If they died, what would the cost of that life be?

What was the true price of Lolethys and of Hald's lives? Lolethys at least may have helped to protect Tharn from death. But Hald? I do not know that he died for anything at all.

No, I should not dishonor their deaths like that. Hald saved me so that I could be in the fight to distract and ground a dragon that otherwise may have attacked Tharn and Khamira as they worked to close the Moon Gate and set the moons back in their path in the sky.

I must think of it that way. I have no other choice.

I am lucky that Nettle has the same skills as I and was able to survive. His recovery has been slow because there was such severe damage, in particular to his ribs. The House is calling us back to report our progress in person. Or so Nettle tells me.

I have been keeping a close eye on him, for he does not listen to the healers' advice and twice now has pulled something that has caused him to have to go back. As soon as he is healed up enough for travel, we will go back, if for no other reason that to see that he is obedient in getting back into good form.

Oh, speaking of, we have a sort of home here in Rimmen. That was the contents of the parcel. A deed and key to a small building within the palace grounds.

The letter read as follows:

"Five-Clawed Warrior,

In recognition of your service to Anequina and our rightful Queen Khamira, Moon-Bishop Sebizah hereby grants you stewardship over the Hall of the Lunar Champion. Our ancestors dedicated this temple to the legendary hero, Khunzar-ri. Alas, the raking claws of time have reduced it to a shell of its former glory. Even so, some relics remain intact. In ancient times, four enchanted tablets allowed adventurers to walk in the footsteps of Khunzar-ri. Three are lost to history, but one remains. Place this tablet on the Jonelight Altar and take the first step to restoring this hall to its former glory. Moons bless you, Sebizah"

From her letters, Khamira says she and the Speaker had used it when they would come through Rimmen and did not wish to be seen, shielded by the moon-bishop. It has sparse furnishings, but is quite spacious. Khamira says that as I have played the role of Khunzar-ri to her as Anequina, she could think of no better person to entrust the space to. She hopes that when I have time I can do her the favor of trying to recover the last missing tablets, but that she understands that I have other duties as well.

It is a far more generous gift than I deserve, but I am touched and glad for it. To be the hero of such a Queen and to be compared to such a legend, I must repay this kindness somehow. I do not know yet how. But perhaps, just perhaps, this service I have done will allow me some influence in the future that could be useful in my service to my Prince.

Only time will tell.

[thoughtlesssadness]

Hey! I am a narrachara supporter and thought I would respond to this post. It’s a refutation that brings up some good points! 

KA ROUTE NARRATION ISSUES

I think that the “obvious” difference between the (clearly Chara) narrator, and the (normal) narrator is a little blurrier than you present. 

When do we really know that Chara is speaking?

When the narrator uses the first person? 

No matter the route, 3/4 flee texts are in first person: *I’ve got better to do/I’m outta here/Don’t slow me down/Escaped… (I have no idea why this is.)

If you check the presents in Snowdin on a KA, the narration says: *Nothing for you. Which is fairly blunt and “Chara-like”.

Using Chara’s KA items seems to prompt responses from them: Equipping the Real Knife: *About Time. Checking the Real Knife: *Here we are! Equipping The Locket: *Right where it belongs. However, when you check The Locket: *You can feel it beating.

Why can’t Chara narrate in the second person anyway? They use it a lot at the end of a KA route when talking to us, the player. Someone they considered their partner for said run. It’s not like they weren’t aware someone else was there…

When the narrator is blunt?

Checking RG 01 and RG 02 3 times on a KA nets you: *I see two lovers staring over the edge of the cauldron of hell. *Do they both wish for death? That means their love will end in hell. *I couldn’t stop laughing. This is referencing a passage in Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto, and is fairly poetic. It is in the first person.

Checking the snowdecahedron in a KA: *It’s a snowball. A blunt change that might signal Chara, right? However, this text will also show up on a neutral route, if you’ve exhausted the Snowdin kill count (according to the undertale wiki).

Some KA exclusive dry/whimsical humor:

Checking the hole in the wall in the lab: *It’s just here to complete the look.

Checking Sans: *The easiest enemy. Can only deal one damage. Can’t keep dodging forever. Keep attacking. Some irony/sarcasm followed by signature Charrific advice.

Checking the ficus in a KA: *This potted plant is judging you for your sins.

Are we always sure who is saying which lines? 

SYSTEMIC ISSUES WITH NARRACHARA

i)

A point I agree with is that a generic narrator is a harder base to refute than most narrachara theorists seem to give it credit for. For example: *What a comfortable bed! If you laid down here, you might not ever get up. and *Oh! It's a “water sausage”. have been cited together as conclusive evidence that the narrator has to be Chara (rip determinators forever in our hearts). Not knowing what a water sausage is, indicates limited knowledge. Only Chara (Toriel, Asgore, and Flowey accounted for) would have the prerequisite knowledge to make the dark joke about their bed. But maybe Undertale just… likes making jokes that require time/effort/more context to pay off, almost as much as it likes puns. Actually, that sounds a lot like Undertale…

Anyways, you list instances of the narrator knowing things Chara shouldn’t. 

Checking Alphys bed: *(When not in use, this bed folds into an extremely-easy-to-draw box.) 

How would they know it's a bed? Probably because they can look at it closer than we can…

This is also an instance of the narrator breaking the fourth wall. Other instances include checking the south wall in the Sans telescope room: *(It’s a nice thing you can see the southern wall from this angle.) and near the beginning of Asriel’s second phase: *Seems SAVING the game really is impossible. This information is only really relevant if you think Chara CAN’T break the fourth wall.

Reading minds! *Papyrus is thinking about what to wear for his date.

Now THIS is interesting. Why would Chara have the ability to read minds? If they did, It certainly would have been a little more useful in the Sans fight. *Sans is sparing you. How about: *Sans is wondering how gullible you are. Or: *Sans is hoping his plan will work. Or even: *Sans is a bony-bum-ass liar. My response? I�� don’t think they actually read minds. I never did. Instead, I thought they just… made confident educated assumptions?

There are a couple of parts to this.

The narrator has more information than we do about what’s going on in the world of Undertale. That’s why… they narrate. *It’s some sort of checkpoint or sentry station. But there are bottles of ketchup, mustard and relish sitting inside. This includes the ability to relate facial expressions: *Mad Dummy glares into a mirror, then turns to you with the same expression. 

If they can ‘see’ a certain character's expressions, body language, and movements, they can pair this information with given context and extrapolate.

For example, after flirting with Papyrus. NarraChara notices the skeleton pick at his scarf, glance at it, look at Frisk, blush, then begin to look thoughtful. They nudge Frisk. “Bet he’s thinking about what to wear on your date!”

So on and so forth. Woshua is frowning at his wounds. NarraChara guesses that he must find them dirty and disgusting. Undyne pounds the ground with her fists. NarraChara thinks that she must be thinking about her friends, because Undyne is a shonen protagonist. That is what shonen protagonists do.

These sorts of lines pair especially well with instances of the narrator making assumptions that are straight-up wrong in battle encounters. If you check Shyren without humming: *Tone deaf. She's too ashamed to sing her deadly song. Checking Shyren after humming: *A talented singer, with a little help.

Now to be fair. You might say that this is an interesting interpretation, but otherwise mostly speculative. Telepathy is a bit of a long shot. But so is a character confidently assuming they know what is going on in someone else’s head without telepathy. That’s kind of a weird thing to do, right?

Oh. wait.

You think you are above the consequences.

You want to go back. You want to go back to the world you destroyed.

You are wracked with a perverted sentimentality.

Chara does this. 

ii) 

Narration corruption, or lack thereof, has a couple of angles. Here is a highlight rundown:

Narration changes from the Pacifist to Neutral to KA route:

You’ve probably heard of checking the bag of dog food. Kill no one: *(It’s a bag of dog food.) (It’s half full.) Kill at least one enemy: *(It’s a half empty bag of dog food.) Kill 20 enemies and Doggo (by default this appears on the KA run): *(It’s a half empty bag of dog food.) (You just remembered something funny). These changes could indicate the narrator being corrupted. But it could also indicate Frisk being corrupted (it does say you just remembered something funny). Or it could just be a tonal thing.

Hitting the dummy in Waterfall prompts different responses from both Frisk and the narrator. LV 1: *(You tap the dummy with your fist.) (You feel bad.) LV 2-4: *(You hit the dummy lightly.) (You don't feel like you learned anything.) LV 5-7: *(You sock the dummy.) (Who cares?) LV 8+ (KA): *(You punch the dummy at full force.) (Feels good.) More evidence of Frisk corruption at least. The asides after describing the punch also change halfway through from second-person to ambiguous.

As noted above. The snowdecahedron text changes not only on a KA route, but also on a neutral route where you wiped out Snowdin (still according to wiki).

Notable changes DURING the KA route:

Kill every enemy in the Ruins. Battle encounters will state: *But nobody came. Save points only show: *Determination. 2 pieces of overworld narration change in Toriel’s house. *It’s me, Chara. And *Where are the knives? Frisk moves normally. Toriel’s bossfight proceeds almost as normal except that trying to talk notes *Not worth talking to (which is true, you must FIGHT or SPARE). And of course, she is killed in one hit. 

Enter Snowdin. Frisk’s body will begin moving during cutscenes in order to act uncooperative, threatening, and generally creepy. Monsters are disturbed by your presence. Before the kill counter is exhausted, save points will note *# left or *That comedian… if you haven’t killed Snowdrake. 4 instances of overworld narration change (snowdecahedron, Christmas presents, an unfinished book in the library, the ball game hole). Snowman pieces can be taken until the snowman is only *A useless pile of snow. Papyrus’s encounter narration is neutral, but his check is *Forgettable. 

Enter Waterfall. Encounters are now marked with a smiley face. Narration is different for hitting the dummy. Glad dummy encounter text is neutral, check yields: *Wipe that smile off your face. Narration will prod you if you haven’t killed every enemy before MK (probably because the Undyne fight comes early): *Strongly felt, # left. Shouldn’t proceed yet. First person finally returns during MK’s encounter with *In my way. Checking yields *Looks like free exp. The narration has nothing negative to say about Undyne the Undying.

Enter Hotland. 4 overworld narration changes (Lab monitor: *It’s me, Chara., hole in the wall, dog food bag, and potted ficus). Checking the RG guards nets you the Kitchen reference. No narration is particularly cold or negative in the Muffet and Mettaton battles. 

Enter New Home. Almost all the narration is changed. Maybe because Chara’s LV has skipped to 19, maybe because this is Chara’s childhood home, and they are uncomfy. It’s only downhill from here.

I’d say there is some sense of escalation. But it seems to happen in discrete steps - in response to visible stimulus - not in a smooth LV corruption curve. Creepy narration begins after we/the narrator/Chara notices that there are no monsters left in RUINs. After killing Toriel and talking to Flowey, there is a large spike in Chara-related phenomena: namely possession(?), kill counting, and generally threatening actions. This is about the level at which Chara operates until New Home. There aren’t increasing instances of possession, or altered narration going into Waterfall or Hotland. The only really notable change is that of the smiley exclamations beginning after Papyrus is killed. Things start really escalating again once you reach Chara’s home (and you are essentially locked in the route).

So in a sense, I agree with you. While LV certainly becomes something Chara covets, whatever corruptive qualities it possesses doesn’t influence them… at least not as much as the certainty that we are going to kill everyone does. 

And looking at the highlight reel, I think we can pinpoint when they discover that certainty. Because there IS a difference between the RUINs and Snowdin, like there is a difference nowhere else.

Flowey: “Hahaha… You're not really human, are you? No. You're empty inside. Just like me. In fact… You're Chara, right? We're still inseparable, after all these years… Listen. I have a plan to become all powerful. Even more powerful than you and your stolen soul. Let's destroy everything in this wretched world. Everyone, everything in these worthless memories… Let's turn 'em all to dust.”

Hint: it's when the remains of their dead brother literally spells it out for them.

Anyway, why would NarraChara have funny flavor text about cacti and boxes in a route where they are 4/5ths of a world-ending maniac?

Here is the explanation I posit: 

Asriel: “I should have laughed it off, like you did.”

This line has been gently butchered by multiple times by the Chara theorist community. After learning about the events of the KA, some Chara antipathizes (I am aware this was never an argument that YOU made) reinterpreted the line to mean: Chara sadistically laughed at Asgore’s poisoning, and Asriel misunderstood. While some Chara sympathizes, in retaliation, argued: Chara felt terribly anxious and guilty, which they covered with laughter, and Asriel misunderstood. 

I am not saying either of these interpretations is wrong. But they both require alternate hypotheses (Chara was sadistic, Chara was a wreck) to alter what we are being directly told.

The simplest, most honest reading of this line: Asriel did not misunderstand. Chara did not take Asgore being poisoned as seriously as Asriel did. They may have even made a joke about it. In retrospect, Asriel wishes he had reacted more like Chara.

From this we might conclude any or all of the following:

Chara is distress tolerant.

Chara does not always take distressing situations as seriously as they should.

Chara thinks levity is important in distressing situations.

Any or all of which could explain jokes being cracked well into a KA. Hell, it could even explain the myriad of jokes in a Neutral run. You are in a cave of monsters trying to kill you after all. Is now really the best time for pomeraisins?

iii)

Chara is uniquely present in the KA route. Uhhhh yeah, can’t argue with that! 

For the purposes of your refutation:

Chara doing uniquely shitty things like (maybe) overriding Frisk's will and story can be explained by this being a uniquely shitty run. A non-KA Chara might simply have the moral capacity to be like: hmmm… possession bad, let’s let the kid have free will. But if their perceived purpose is destroying the whole world, why would they care?

Importantly, LV itself does not seem to greatly affect Chara’s supposed possession ability. Frisk starts moving on their own as soon as Snowdin at LV 6. Possession(?) occurs a total of 4 times in Snowdin. Once (twice?) in Waterfall. And twice in Hotland. No matter how high your LV gets, up to LV 14, aborting a KA run will immediately cancel all creepy frisk moments. If you spare one enemy in the ruins, you can reach high LV without Frisk moving strangely at all. This could support possession(?) being an ability Chara always had.

The KA run being Chara’s run could parallel the True Pacifist run being Asriel’s run (instead of TP being Frisk’s run, even though they show the clear ability to be corrupted as well). Notably this does not mean that Asriel is always a True Pacifist (the opposite really). Also notable, just because TP is Asriel’s run, that doesn’t mean he isn’t extremely relevant to a KA. He even helps us!

I’ll talk about Chara’s relevance in the pacifistic runs in an upcoming section.

RESPONDING TO WEAK EVIDENCE FOR CHARA

You argue that the three Woshua flavor texts are more ambiguous than given credit for.

*You tell a joke about a kid who ate pie with their bare hands. I agree that this can refer to Frisk as well as Chara, since they were given a slice of pie by Toriel, and no utensils we could see. 

*You tell a joke about two kids who played in a muddy flower garden. This lines up much better with Asriel and Chara rather than Frisk. It says two kids.

 *You tell a joke about a kid who slept in the soil. You can pull this line to reference Frisk, who fell on a flower bed. But it still connects with Chara better, whose dead body is actually buried. 

I still think the Chara reference is pretty strong. However, your original point still stands, a generic narrator could make these jokes. Undertale loves setup and payoff. Why not make creepy jokes that you only understand later? Still, I am not sure if any other character is referenced like this…

Chara’s interests in comparison to the narrator’s interest:

A particular interest you examined was botany.

Evidence that Chara was a plant person: Used buttercups instead of cups of butter in a pie. Claimed to have a favorite flower (golden flowers from their village). Made a drawing of a flower. The narration for the Neutral/True Pacifist version of Chara’s Worn Dagger: *Perfect for cutting plants and vines. If the narrator was generic or Chara, either way they would probably know what Chara used it for. So the worn dagger might have been a gardening tool. They were Asgore’s kid after all.

Some instances of the narrator talking about plants: *Oh! It’s a water sausage! When interacting with Typha. Checking the cactus: *Ah, the cactus. Truly the most tsundere of all plants. Checking the other cactus: *(You stop to smell the flowers). Undyne’s fight at low health *Flower pollen drifts in front of you. They actually do call the ficuses by name. Checking the four ficuses in a row yields: *(It’s a platoon of ficuses).

You're right that the narrator’s other interests, like anime and dogs, don’t connect to any information we know about Chara. But that isn’t evidence against the narrator theory, given that we don’t know a lot about Chara’s interests anyway. 

Constant punning would make sense if they were Toriel’s child though. We already know that they introduce themself: Greetings, like she does.

Alright, I am going to combine a couple sections here:

IN-GAME FLASHBACKS/GAME-OVER FLASHBACKS

In my opinion, these points are the weakest in your refutation. Trying to discount all evidence of Chara’s presence in a N/TP run is an overreach, to your argument’s detriment.

There are multiple instances indicating that we/Frisk are accessing Chara’s memories. You argue that these are actually Asriel's memories where you can, and non-canonical where you can’t (the game over screen). That’s already two explanations for the price of one. Furthermore…

Undertale is a game that blends meta-game elements and canonical story beats like a Vitamix. Are Game Overs really too meta that they can’t express canon elements? They are certainly not too meta for Omega Flowey to hijack. And “geeettttttt dunked on!!!” is considered a canonical line Sans says after tricking us, but that’s in the Game Over screen too.

The RUINS bed memories are similar to the Game Over memories, supporting that they occur for similar reasons. Asgore: Chara, please… Wake up! You are the future of humans and monsters… 

While Flowey did say he stayed with Toriel for a bit after first waking up, this was also clearly in a timeline he reset. When we start up the game, Toriel shows no indication of knowing who Flowey is at all. Also, would a flower really sleep in a humanoid bed?

Whenever these memories occur, Frisk is always paralleling Chara. Memories of Chara meeting Asriel after falling into the underground play after Frisk falls into the garbage dump. Memories of Asgore telling Chara on their deathbed to stay determined/wake up when Frisk dies/sleeps.

To me though, the biggest flaw in your argument is that it relies on Frisk picking up Asriel essence at Waterfall flower patch (possible?), and essence on the RUINs bed (mountain-sized stretch). When you’ve already agreed that Frisk must have picked up some of CHARA’s essence at the start of the game, that Chara “went into” Frisk’s soul.

I mean. That’s your answer right there. 

(If you still want to, you can say that Chara had a passive influence on Frisk w/ memories, but wasn’t actively awake. I would argue that is an easier stance to defend.)

Other notes about Chara juice!

It could explain the Woshua texts. 

When choosing a drink during Undyne’s date, hovering over the tea tells you: *Teabox - Blatantly correct choice. However, you aren’t able to choose the type of tea. Frisk chooses golden flower tea of their own volition - Asgore and Chara’s favorite. Undyne herself lampshades this as strange. Lucky coincidence…?

Asgore, if spared after a route where you killed Flowey: Young one, when I look at you... I'm reminded of the human that fell here long ago... You have the same feeling of hope in your eyes.

Might be part of why Asriel keeps thinking Frisk is Chara. (Or he’s one of those, “all humans look the same” types smh.)

Notes about the Asriel Dreemurr fight:

Yeah it could have just been Asriel’s memories.

But Frisk got that Chara febreeze, so maybe it wasn’t.

People saying we call/SAVE Chara, who goes on to SAVE Asriel, are probably talking about this narration: *Strangely, as your friends remembered you... Something else began resonating within the SOUL, stronger and stronger. It seems that there's still one last person that needs to be saved. But who...? ... Suddenly, you realize. You reach out and call their name. At which point you can SAVE [Someone else].

Asriel’s soul has thus far been called ASRIEL’S SOUL. Why the sudden ambiguity? Why “their” instead of “his”? Why “Someone else” instead of “Asriel”?

Alternative thenceforth was offered: we call out to Chara within our own soul.

I find the ambiguity curious, but won’t completely write off the game simply trying to hold out the tension a little more.

FLOWEY EPILOGUE/CHARA DIALOGUE

So let’s examine the non-narrachara evidence that suggests Chara was aware throughout the whole business venture.

In the TP epilogue, Flowey talks to someone who clearly isn’t Frisk, but would care about Frisk and friend’s wellbeing. He thinks this person has the power of resets, but (either now or at some point in the past) was trying to stop the abuse of such. He says he can’t stop them from now abusing the power themselves, but that if they do, they must erase his memory too. He ends his speech with: “Well, that’s all. See you later… Chara.”

You argue that Flowey’s dialogue is just meant for the player, and non-canonical. He uses Chara’s name because we are meant to name Chara after ourselves. 

Now the creator did make an (uncanonized) tweet, claiming that we should name the first human after ourselves, though he was very noncommittal about it. Fair enough it was his first answer, however…

It’s still an odd choice for Flowey to use Chara’s name here. Since by this point in the game, even if we named Chara after ourselves, we still know that this name refers to an actual separate character in the story. The jig is up, so to speak. If this scene was clean meta, if it was just meant for the player, then it would be less confusing to use no name at all.

Alas, now it is very confusing.

As you asserted, Flowey talking to Chara after Asriel concluded that Chara was gone, is a bit odd.

It’s not impossible that Flowey got new information after monsters left for the surface (if Chara’s spirit was able to return and talk to him somehow; if Frisk mentioned something in a visit) - or that he reanalyzed old information and came to a different conclusion (he could have sworn he saw…) - but that’s all speculation.

Yet when Flowey seemingly asserts that Chara has the power to reset everything, that maybe they did the whole adventure. Well. It is their name on the save file, never Frisk’s. Yes, it might be our name, but it is also definitely their name. (Their name of the save files, in the reset menu, the battle menu, and the overworld menu. Their name in flashbacks, and their memories referenced in the flavor text. It all feels too important to just be a red herring for Frisk.) 

Anyway, my favorite flawed-but-funny hypothesis about why Flowey changed his mind is that he remembered when he broke our save file as Omega Flowey… with Chara’s name on it. *Cue Kazoo kid’s: “wait a minute…”*.

Onto Chara’s monologue.

What was the power that awakened Chara from death?

Your power awakened me from death. My ‘human soul’... My ‘determination’... They were not mine, but YOURS.

So we have four sentences here. It’s possible that the first one is expressing a point unrelated to the next three. However, Chara’s KA speech in general is very fragmented, often breaking one idea into smaller sentences.

Consider: *The comedian got away. Failure. As an example of Chara using a second sentence fragment to elaborate on a preceding assertion.

Later on: *I realized the purpose of my reincarnation. Power. Together, we eradicated the enemy and became strong.

They could be defining “power” here as eradicating the enemy, and increasing stats (even if these ideas are in different sentences). They could just be reusing power as a general concept.

Honestly though, there isn’t much to discuss here other than semantics.

The power to bring someone back to life?

It can’t be LV alone that woke up Chara. As mentioned before, they start making their presence known at around LV 4/5 in the RUINs, and will begin possessing(?) and kill counting as soon as Snowdin. Aborting the KA run at any point after this will cease (most) creepy changes, even if your LV is as high as 14/15/16. And of course, you can reach high LV without noticing Chara at all.

It cannot be denied: there is something special about unrelentingly, unceasingly, going after everyone that affects Chara. But it seems that the power/LV/stats that come from this mission doesn’t affect them as much as our demonstrated commitment to the purpose. 

Our determination, I suppose.

Furthermore, determination is the quintessential power that overcomes death in Undertale; that which preserves and returns that (those) which have been lost. Human souls, saves, resets, amalgamates, Undyne and Asriel. 

LV raises our stats. It makes us better killers. It may have something to do with possession. It may even give Chara the ability to erase the world. But they still ask for the soul (which likely houses our determination) in order to bring it back.

I don’t think LV can do everything, I don’t think it can raise the dead.

The power to wake someone up?

You do assert that determination links them to Frisk. But increasing stats the specific demonstrated commitment to eradicate everyone is what woke them up.

But… Why would it work like that?

That’s not how it worked with Flowey, our best parallel for Chara’s situation. After being dead for a century(?), a vessel with his essence is filled with determination and it both brought him back AND woke him up. No LV, or specific purpose necessary. Why wouldn’t this work for Chara?

Here’s another question that has always bugged me with “murder-as-a-bedside-alarm” theories: What happens if you abort a KA run, but don’t reset?

Does Chara just??? Go back to sleep???

Are they banished instantly?

Probably not. If you abort a KA run in Snowdin by failing to kill Snowdrake, Chara definitely sticks around long enough to explain how ya dun goofed at the next save point.

Are they watching to see what you do next?

That’s only a possibility if you think they are capable of hanging around without creepy first-person narration and creepier possession antics… So, what’s stopping them from doing that from the beginning?

Chara’s essence is still there, attached to Frisk. We still get their memories after dying or falling. We still get weird Woshua narration. 

So did they go back to sleep?

What kind of person is Chara?

Is Chara the sort of entity that would only bother to rise (despite plenty of determination being present otherwise), and only deign to stay awake when the eradication of monsters is on the line?

The sort of entity that will not even entertain, isn’t even curious about other paths?

So much so that they will go back to sleep at the very notion of anything that isn't a total erasure of the world?

That might be your conclusion. If “killer-smelling-salts” is what you subscribe to, I’m not sure there is another conclusion.

I could talk about knitting sweaters and drawing and gardening. I could list referencing Japanese novels, eating chocolate, or filling a cup of water to the very brim then spilling it everywhere as fun-recreations-that-aren't-killing Chara theoretically should care to bother with. But maybe Chara just came back different.

Yet from my understanding, this isn’t even how revived!Chara described themselves. 

At first, I was so confused. Our plan had failed, hadn't it? Why was I brought back to life? … You. With your guidance. I realized the purpose of my reincarnation. Power.

To me, the narrative presented is thus: When Chara woke up, they were confused. They had no purpose and no plan. Only after witnessing our actions (and their brother confirming their suspicions) did they come to a decision about their role in returning to the world. 

If Chara is only woken by our killing; if Chara already doesn’t care about anything other than killing, then there isn’t anything to “realize” or be confused about. Our “guidance” wouldn’t be a variable worth mentioning at all.

If our guidance was important to them, could we have guided them to do something else?

I suppose it is possible to interpret “guidance” to mean something like “aid” (in which case I’d think “aid” would be a better word). Possible to interpret “realization” to mean “fulfillment”. However, Chara has just expressed past uncertainty about “why” they were restored - “realized” then likely translates to “figured out”.

In my opinion, Chara’s monologue makes the most sense if they woke up around the moment Frisk fell - giving them the necessary time and experience to come to a conclusion about why they have returned.

One last thing to note

On a second KA run, Chara refers to themself as: The demon that comes when people call it’s name.

This references RPG tropes of naming your protagonist. It could imply that Chara shows up because they were “named/called” at the beginning of the game.

If that’s to meta for you, here is Flowey guessing as to what woke Chara up: What made you wake up? Did you hear me calling you...?

Given that at least Flowey thinks Chara was present from the beginning: When I saw you in the RUINS, I didn't recognize you. I thought I could frighten you, then steal your SOUL. This could be taken as an admission that Flowey was near the entrance, calling Chara’s name around the time the game began.

With my overwhelming powers of analysis, I declare this line: very sad to think about.

CONCLUSIONS

So here is how my Chara theorist brain goes: 

Frisk got that Chara *essence* on them. Because Chara’s name is everywhere in the meta-but-also-canon game elements. Because we keep seeing Chara’s memories. Because of everything that happens in the KA run.

That essence is probably aware throughout the game. Because that’s how determination works. Because Flowey concludes that Chara was present after the pacifist run. Because Chara’s monologue implies this as well.

Are they the narrator? Again, I agree that a generic narrator is difficult to disprove - so I am not certain. However, they certainly can be the narrator on a KA. And if they are around on every run, why can’t they narrate them too?

Maybe they do, at least sometimes.

*Knows best for you. Toriel’s check, no matter the run.

So. Uh. I hope I’ve made points you haven’t considered before. If narrachara is still too much of a stretch for you, that’s valid. Either way, have a good theory day. Is that anything?

In regards to Snowdrake’s Mom: I wanted to make a whole analysis exploring the relationship between our commands, Frisk’s actions, and the resulting narration… and when there is a disconnect… but it would be tangential to the main topic. You made some good points though. Maybe I’ll write it another time.

Narrachara Theory is False: An Attempted Debunk of As Much Evidence As I Could

~CONTENTS~

Disclaimers

Genocide Route Narration Issues | My Narrator/Chara Interpretation

Systemic Issues with Narrachara

Responding to Weak Evidence for Narrachara: References to Chara | Similarities to Chara | In-Story Flashbacks

Responding to Strong Evidence for Narrachara: Snowdrake’s Mom | Game Over Flashbacks | Flowey in True Pacifist Ending

Chara’s Speech in the Genocide Ending

Conclusion

1) DISCLAIMERS

This post is only an attempt at debunking the popular “Narrachara Theory”. It is not meant to make any statements on whether Chara is good or evil, or morally responsible for any aspects of the Genocide Route.

It’s my intention to tackle this issue in a respectful, inoffensive, and kind way towards any Narrachara supporters. I believe you are wrong, and will say so, but want to be nice about it. Feel free to engage in the comments, but please also be considerate of my feelings. I have had a number of discussions about this that were not great, so I don’t want to repeat those mistakes or to argue my stance poorly.

Keep reading

[orlintommas]

The power of decision

I previously wrote about procrastination and its attributes. Of course, the content that I covered was biased toward my own life experiences. As I stated in my previous post, I am writing guidelines to remind myself what procrastination is and how I can beat it. Procrastination is the opposite of decision (indecision to be precise). But where ever there is indecision, doubt and fear soon follow. That is why it’s important to learn how to overcome indecision. The key to eliminating indecision and in turn eliminating procrastination lies in the power of decision.

“Indecision and procrastination are twin brothers. Where one is found, the other may usually be found also. Kill off this pair before they completely “hog-tie” you to the treadmill of FAILURE.”

Napoleon Hill — Think and Grow Rich

Those who wish to obtain the power to overcome procrastination, have to earnestly and persistently seek to master the power of decision. The richest and most successful people have displayed the particular habit of coming to decisions quickly and being very slow in changing those decisions if they ever decide to change them. To beat procrastination, you must be decisive in your decision-making. But this is a skill that will not come by chance, one must constantly and consciously make an effort to acquire and master it.

Think for yourself

Decision-making demands the ability of one to think for themselves. You cannot permit the newspapers, social media, and the neighbors’ gossiping to do the thinking for you. It is very crucial to keep your own counsel. Do not let the opinions of others influence your decisions because it will rob you of your own desires.

“Opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them.”

Napoleon Hill — Think and Grow Rich.

If you want to gain more confidence and have power over your own decisions you must learn to keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open. When you talk too much you do very little of anything else. You reveal sensitive information to those who might envy you and wish to defeat you. And most importantly you display the extent of your knowledge or lack therefore. Do not let just anyone enter your confidence, be very selective about whom you chose to disclose things to. Millions of people walk with their heads down due to inferiority complexes inflicted on them by the advice or ridicule of some ignorant but well-meaning person.

“Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often handicap one through “opinions” and sometimes through ridicule, which is meant to be humorous.”

Napolean Hill — Think and Grow Rich.

Do not be mistaken, making decisions oftentimes calls for great courage. Therefore, I advise you to take at least 2–5 minutes of careful and deep introspection before making decisions. Ensure that you gather adequate information and facts without disclosing too much before making very big decisions. Most importantly, refrain from saying yes to every request for help. This can be tricky but trust me, your peace of mind, sincerity, and decisiveness are largely linked to your ability to say no (this merits an entire post of its own).

You have a brain of your own, use it, shut your mouth, open your eyes and ears and come to decisions for yourself.

Organized planning

Those who want to beat procrastination cannot escape organized planning. You have to learn to not only organize your goals but also learn to organize your day. Decisions become easier when there are not left to chance or “spontaneity” as people love to proclaim. Those who cling to spontaneity must recognize this one fact, organized planning liberates creativity and encourages spontaneity. As paradoxical as that might seem, just slowly let it sink in. When things are planned out you don’t have to worry about running the risk of your mind being clouded by unimportant tasks.

“A schedule defends from chaos and whim. A net for catching days.”

Annie Dillard

Always take the time to plan your day, to plan for that one important task that you must complete in the day to ensure that either your business grows or you grow. It is very important for humans to feel the sensation of accomplishment. Ticking that all-important task from the list is so satisfying and gives your mind room to continue to venture for more creativity and to become more decisive.

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.”

Mitch Albom

The lack of organized planning is also the major cause of people feeling overwhelmed. Big projects and tasks will always seem impossible at first. They will always reveal to you your lack of knowledge and once you fall into the trap of thinking you can’t do it, then it’s over for you. But every big project or task can be broken up into little actionable tasks that even the most unskilled and unknowledged individual can complete. James Clear states that you can break up any habit into 2-minute actionable tasks. The 2-minute rule is a fantastic rule to live by and when you learn to use it correctly, no task will ever seem impossible.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

Deuterononmy 30:19

Life and death are in the power of decision. To defeat humanity’s enemy, old man procrastination, you must call upon the powers of decision. Have the courage to think and make decisions for yourself. Imbue that with organized planning and you will free your mind from senseless worries allowing it to be sharp and ready to make crucial decisions. Remember that the power of decision is not something you can acquire overnight, you must work on it constantly.