#religions steal things from each other all the time

[oifaaa]

Girl you’re dumb as shit and that person was too. In case you didn’t know Apollo is an Anatolian god who is already poc. Your little white American author removing everything but Greek from him (which still doesn’t make him white 💀💀💀) only means you need to take more history classes and riordan needs his degree taken away. Please go fucking lords sake learn the difference between representation and black washing.

Friend you need to calm down a bit before you break a blood vessel over something that doesn't matter - I'm no expert your right they didn't teach old religions or mythology in my history class - that being said I do know that a lot of different religions (and even people in those religions) can have different versions of the same god it's how apollo is both a Greek and roman god but that being said the apollo that shows up in rick Riordans book is his version of the god its his character not the god himself it allows Rick to take some libraries with the character and that includes their designs - he's not the only one to do this either a lot of people who use the Greek gods in their books, games, shows will usually give them their own unique design on the characters- rick picturing apollo as white or me picturing him as black isn't a big deal

[solecize]

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 | 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

remember lookin' at this room, we loved it 'cause of the light now, i just sit in the dark and wonder if it's time ten years of being one and the same with jungkook as the country's it couple is the perfect disguise for the reality of a tumultuous relationship hidden behind the scenes. ten years of lies and love and crawling back to one another. once shy, budding first love that blossomed before the weight of fame, the cracks begin to surface amidst your respective rises to stardom and navigation of your twenties. either finding euphoria or the end of the world, there's never any in between in existence for you and jungkook. as you build each other up and break each other down in front of millions of eyes, there is a crossroads ahead with words of "marriage" and "military" looming in the air - all while ignoring the price of fame breathing down your necks. this is the story of love and the lessons learned from the man you made your religion. and i wouldn't marry me either, a pathological people-pleaser who only wanted you to see her

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒: idol!jungkook/female idol!reader and fictional versions of various idols 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄. idol au, on-and-off relationship, angst, i swear there's fluff, (brief) fake dating and themes of first love, growing up, struggles with fame, and marriage (ish) 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒. portrayal of a toxic couple (implications of emotional abuse and control), both main characters are very flawed, addiction, violence, infidelity, foul language, substance use (illegal drugs), underage drinking, mentions of the covid-19 pandemic, sexually suggestive content 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄. based off of "you're losing me" by taylor swift. this is a fictional portrayal of real-life people that implement some aspects of real-life events. the series is told in non-chronological order. note that the main character is a member of a fictional idol group. more warnings may be added as the story is written. join the taglist here!

extra. playlist. one - "the confrontation"    ㅤㅤㅤㅤyou welcome your boyfriend back to the country with a surprise party, just as the clock is ticking to say goodbye again. the big day is almost here and enlistment brings couples either one of two things: a ring or a breakup.  two - "first love in a convenience store"    ㅤㅤㅤㅤback when you were fifteen year old idol trainees, jeon jungkook shares ricecakes with you and steals your heart. as sixteen year old rookies with everything to lose, he steals your first kiss. in present day, these memories fade away until they are no longer recognizable. three - "teenage dreams"    ㅤㅤㅤㅤyoung love blossoms even in the harshest of light, as you and jungkook navigate career milestones together. also known as: the first concert tours, the first time you're put on a variety show together and everyone figures out your relationship, and jungkook's first daesang. four - "hotel azure"    ㅤㅤㅤㅤa party at the notorious hotel azure, the hot-spot for the top names of south korea's entertainment industry, goes awry. in front of everyone, your relationship reaches it's breaking point - except, it doesn't. five - "2017"    ㅤㅤㅤㅤa year of a death of a thousand cuts because, no matter what comes your way, saying goodbye is never an option. 

[faeriekit]

Writing the Occult: quick notes for non-practicing hobby authors and other nerds🕯️

Hey. Real talk. If you're writing about occult rituals, magic, the works, whatever, there are some great ways to clean up your act and get some better, more aware accuracy in there. A lot of stuff in the wider consciousness of pop culture is kind of...not correct, or, uh. Should be something you're aware of. For instance:

G*psy is still a slur! No, Romani people aren't more likely to be fortune tellers than anyone else. Quit it with the weird stereotypes. The "g*psy fortune teller" thing hasnt even been on trend since the early 1900s. Move on.

"Voodoo" dolls are a racist perspective of an African-derived traditional religious practice. Vodun is a religion. It's not even a gone or far away religion either; Vodun and Santería have followers and priests all over the US, as do other ATRs. Since. You know. Slavery. The word you're probably looking for is "poppet", which is the term for the tool itself (tiny cloth doll for magical use) as opposed to, like, a whole religion.

A wendigo isn't a catch-all cannibalistic creature; it's part of a wider religious worldview of the Algonquian peoples. Native people have requested that you Stop Talking Abou That— yes, even asking that one YouTuber to Stop That, not that he seems to care. White people seem to cannibalize other people all the time anyway, so I don't see why there's a huge need for a Native scapegoat... There are other supernatural creatures and shapeshifters that eat humans. Pick anything else.

A lot of higher-level occult rituals as writ are just. Straight up antisemitic! If you're writing rituals and your magical language of choice is in Hebrew...hey. Stop that. Same thing goes for "elites who eat babies/drink blood." A some of it is a clumsily handled metaphor for the cannibalistic nature of having an upper class in a society, but a lot of it really is just dressed-up antisemitism in a trench coat. If you're looking up real rituals for worldbuilding...FYI, you may want to glance again before adding it to your work.

Just because ten dudes are standing next to each other in order to do a weird ritual doesn't make them a cult. That's just a ritual. Cults have more specific requirements; ie, whether or not there's religious abuse going on. You can make your weird spooky org have religious abuse, but if they're just, like, high schoolers, they're probably just novice occultists who occasionally hang out together.

I haven't seen anyone use "spirit animal" in a couple years, so that's great! Native people have also requested that we Stop That. Spirit Animal is a specific religious concept we don't have to tread on. Think of a synonym for the concept you're trying to convey; don't steal a word that's already in use for a religious practice. (Same thing goes for totem FYI.)

Hallucinogens often make you throw up. Like. A lot. People do certainly attribute religious visions to them, but also like drink a lot of water and keep a bucket nearby, because the whole scenario is just super disorienting. Most spiritual circles who utilize similar substances will have a trip sitter (someone sober to call 911 if there's an emergency) if they've got the resources.

Making up rituals for your story is totally cool. People invent new rituals all the time. There isn't a standard to be held to on that front unless you outright name a real life religious or occult group they're meant to be part of; THEN people will want standards. Until then, though, you're probably good.

Most TYPES of rituals have, like, a label, though. A ward prevents something from entering a protected space, an invocation brings something forth from within you, a banishment pushes something away from you, a consecration makes something sacred...A lot of these may be obvious to you from pop culture, but if you're going to try and make a character an expert on magic, adding the vocabulary to their lexicon makes their expertise more believable.

There are a ton of ways to exorcise ghosts! Basically every religion has, like, ten of them. If you want to add a little extra flavor on banishing/preventing evil spirits, google [character's religion/culture] [ghosts/spirits] to see what sort of flavor you can add to their specific person.

Occultists and witches and wizards and priests who do magic argue all the time. ALL the time. Interpersonal drama is real and it can Get You.

It's traditional to do certain specific rituals naked. Just FYI. It's not required. Just traditional. Utilize this knowledge for narrative potential... or don't. I'm not your boss.

Yeah, sometimes there's blood; your mileage may vary narratively. Most people don't go for the whole knife thing —you can get lancets at any drug store—but maybe your character is especially dumb or otherwise desperate. Palms and fingers hurt the most knife-wise; if your character knows what they're doing, it won't be their hands.

The keeping skulls around thing is real too, if legally and financially difficult to arrange in many cases. It's usually animal though. Human remains have a lot of laws in the states and, obviously, relatives want to keep their family close to their family — still, narratively, your mileage may vary.

The "White magic" and "Black magic" dichotomy is racialized. No, seriously. The things people demonize about dark magic— soul magic, necromancy, zombies, love/control spells, etc— are all really warped versions of Ancestor worship and other spiritual practices from African Traditional Religious beliefs. Well, the whole Zombie thing is actually a holdover from slavery and it's more about forcing ex-slaved peoples into performing more labor even after their death while White people are afraid of traditional Black spiritual resistance against colonial religious oppression— I'm going too deep into this, just trust me that if a dichotomy says that White is good and Black is bad, there's probably something hinky going on.

And, finally:

Ouija boards are sold at Barnes and Noble by Hasbro for $25, and a tarot deck can retail for as little as $20 from Spirit Halloween or Spencer's. No, they can't summon demons from the astral into your house. Can they talk to ghosts? Up to you; it's your story. Are cheap paper board and plastic planchette powerful enough to murder people, though...? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ My magic 8 ball says that the odds are unlikely.

Obviously, you can do whatever you want with your work— I'm not your dad and I can't stop you, but if you're the kind of person who's like, hey, maybe I do want to prune out accidental racial slurs from my vocabulary...hey! This list is for you! Halloween is a time to get spooky! Get scary! Get booped, even; still, if you want to have an underlying thread of what the occult looks like in practice, you might want to dust off a couple of mid Magic/Witchcraft/Spiritual/Occult books from your local library and flip through 'em for ideas. There's some fun stuff in there.

Like the sacred blowtorch ;)

Happy Halloween, everyone! 👻

[flightyquinn]

So, I was reading about the Streets Oracle mystery for Pathfinder (shoutout to @dailycharacteroption), and I had this idea.

What happens when playground rumor and organized religion converge?

In a certain city, there was a group of children. Orphans and outcasts, they lived on the streets, with no one to watch over them. No one but each other. The older kids did what they could to take care of the younger, and when they found new children that had been abandoned they took them in. They were a family, not a cult. It all changed with an innocent question, "Where did you get that?" Of course, the older children did what they must. Whether it was food, medicine, or clothing, if their family needed it, they would steal if they had to...but they didn't want the little ones to know that. So when a girl told her little siblings that "Mother Magpie" had given her coin and food, the others were quick to play along. Going out to steal became "asking Mother Magpie for gifts." When the time came to teach some of the young ones to steal, they were told that they must always give all the credit to Mother Magpie, and no one else, or She would stop providing them with things to take. One boy even had the idea to teach the young children to pray aloud to Mother Magpie for what they wanted, so that the older members of the group would know things to be looking for. Another in the group started making charm necklaces for everyone when one of the little ones pointed out that real gods had holy symbols. Of course, it was just a way to keep the little ones quiet. A fun game, but not much more. At least...until one of the children started having visions. At first it was just a flash here and there. An idea of where to find some desperately needed item. Insight into when shop storerooms and mansions' kitchens might be unwatched. Then it was bigger things, like warning the group the night before their hiding place was to be raided by the guards. However, it was the first time their gifted friend cast a cure spell that the whisper spread like wildfire among the older children...Mother Magpie was real.

Mother Magpie is a Chaotic Good deity whose true identity is unknown.

She is a goddess of thieving and trickery, but also of providence, compassion, and protecting children.

Her associated domains are Chaos, Community, Good, Luck, Protection, and Trickery.

Her subdomains are Whimsy, Family, Friendship, Imagination, and Thievery.

Although her most sacred animal is the magpie, she also favors any animals which scavenge from the leavings of society, such as crows, pigeons, racoons, and opossums.

Her holy symbol is a crude rendition of a black and white bird, which is sometimes depicted clutching a rolling pin, or other symbol of maternal status.

[sfehvn]

new religion part 2

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Description: AU- Things have gone too far between you and Astarion and he's not sure he'd ever be able to give you what you truly want. Rating: M (18+ minors DNI) Word count: 1,804 Characters: soft!ascended!Astarion x fem!au!Tav

━─━────༺༻────━─━

  Luxurious fur blessed your fingertips, stroking absently at the feline across your lap. You hummed a sweet tune as you continued your project. Astarion had the finest oil paints in Faerûn imported to nourish your new hobby. Looking at the canvas, well, it was very much a mess of colors. So much so that he would not have been able to make out what the picture was intended to be if he had not known. He would praise you all the same regardless. As a token of thanks, you had requested he sit for you in the garden while you paint him. 

  “You will be the first to have an original Tav piece. You can show it off when I’m a famous painter.” You joked as he assisted with setting up the easel.

  The kitten that purred against your touch was also a gift. One comment was made about how you had always wanted a cat but never had the room for one; it was just another opportunity to shower you with all of the gifts you had so deserved. The joy on your face when he presented you with the tiny feline made his heart swoon. Astarion would admit he had yet to think that offering through, though. When you were not present, which was most of the time, he had to care for the wretched little thing. His feigned attitude towards the kitten, which you had so ominously named Georgie, was a facade. He had grown to find comfort in the furball curling up to him in bed in your absence. He even caught himself cooing to the blasted little creature on occasion.

  Astarion sat in the wrought iron chair across from you, a forgotten book propped open on his forearm as he admired the tenacity on your face, tongue jutting ever-so-slightly from between succulent lips as you struggled to work with the paints. How could you be so blissfully oblivious to the beauty you are? He wondered, his head resting in the palm of his unoccupied hand. He had a burning fire in his chest, demanding he show you not only your beauty but that you deserved much more than the small cottage you shared with seven other occupants. Your rightful position was right next to him in his palace. You deserved to have everybody else waiting at your beck and call, not the other way around. You insisted you could not leave your family, nevertheless.

-

  “Stay here with me. I promise I’ll make it worth your while, my pet.” The two of you lay bare, entangled in silk sheets and each other’s arms. Astarion stroked the delicate pink skin of your cheek with the careful tips of his fingers, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His words caused you to let out an amused giggle at his bequest. His eyebrows knitted together, and a slight frown played at the edges of his lips. He was serious.

  Your smile dropped, and an apologetic look graced your features. “Oh, Astarion.” You sighed wistfully. “I just can’t. Not right now. Papa’s not doing well; I can’t just abandon him. Lillian needs a lot of guidance at this time, and with Alan having just moved into his own home now that he’s married, there’s no one to take care of our younger sisters.” You sputtered out. Astarion noted the stress that marred your face and decided to drop the matter for now.

  “Sh, my treasure.” He coaxed, pulling your head into his chest. “We can address it later.”

-

  Astarion pondered on when he had gone so soft, for lack of better words. Before you, there was no hesitation to steal what he wanted. Much easier it would have been to just bite you, keeping you to himself for all of eternity. He had thought about it when the disdain of being apart grew too great. This was after you, though. You had brought a bright light into his world of darkness, and he knew you would never be the same if he made such a decision on your behalf. 

  Guilt regularly gnawed at a conscious he wasn’t even aware he’d had. He still hadn’t found the courage to tell you of his true nature. You often called the raised tissue on his neck his vampire bite, and he’d always panic at the joke, wondering if he’d been found out. Inwardly, of course, he ensured he remained calm and collected on appearance. Soon, he told himself. He’d let you enjoy the normalcy of your current relationship for just a while longer.

  Your groan fractured him from his thoughts. “Okay, it’s actually terrible. Please don’t laugh at me.” You pouted. 

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, darling.” Astarion assured, setting his book down on the table before him, pushing back his chair, and standing up. He bent down to get a better look at the canvas. “My, that’s a beautifully eclectic rendition of yours truly.” He hums, resting his hands on your shoulders, squeezing in encouragement. He meant it. It was something you had created; of course he would love it.

  “Okay, you are officially the biggest liar I know.” You grinned, patting his hand softly as he shifted away. Georgie stretched in your lap. You placed him down, smiling as he hurried away into the open door of the manor.

  “Your words wound me.” He holds his hands to his chest dramatically. “I’ll display it in the foyer.” His finger reaches to tap the tip of your nose playfully.

  “I guess it must truly be Astarion approved then.” You hummed, recalling how tumultuous he had acted when replacing the art in his foyer. It must be perfect, he had said; first impressions are everything, my dear. “I don’t think your guests would be in agreeance with you.” At this point, you had stood on your tip-toes, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

  He dismissed your presumption with a wave of his hand. “Nonsense, my love. You question my tastes? When I’ve got you on my arm? I’ve already won.” His index finger taps the underside of your chin, encouraging your mouth to his. You oblige, and Astarion lets out a delighted laugh against your lips. He would never grow tired of how easily you unraveled for him and him only. Without breaking contact, he reaches down to grip the backs of your thighs, lifting you from the ground and setting you on the garden table.

  Your breathing hitched as his hands wrought at the bottom of your dress, pushing the hem up until it pooled around your waist. His fingers brushed your mound over already-soaked underwear. He clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth. “So ready for me already, pet? I’ve barely touched you.” Spoken like a purr, causing goosebumps to bloom over your skin. He buried his nose into your neck and breathed your scent in deeply. Chamomile and lavender had become distinctively you. His eyes close as your fingers tread over his scalp, hooking into his hair. “Keep touching me like that, treasure. I’ll fuck you right here.” 

  “Please. It’s been too long.” You murmur. It had indeed, he thought. This was your first day together after being apart for ten long, agonizing days. His fingers push your underwear to the side, the tips hardly swiping over your drenched core. The contact motivated your body further against him. Your breasts pressed to his firm chest, and he brought his unoccupied hand to sit atop them, thumb stroking delicious skin.

  Greedy hands moved to the front of his trousers and at the feeling of his bulge, you ached to feel him inside of you. He pressed a kiss to your forehead and tenderly pushed your hands away. Your expression was one of rejection that panged Astarion’s undead heart, but his demeanor was one of significance. He took your hands in his as he stared deeply into your eyes. “Stay with me, Tav. The manor has never been this airy without you. I mean- I understand you have responsibilities you believe are your own, but I could give you everything.”

  With a furrowed brow, you sluggishly pull away from him. “These responsibilities are my own. This is my family, Astarion.” You pursed your lips, looking everywhere but at the man before you.

  “Pet, don’t be silly. They are holding you back. I recognize you love them, but you cannot put your needs on hold to protect them forever.” He reaches out to brush the hair from your face, but you quickly dodge the touch, pressing him aside so you can stand from your position on the table. His jaw clenches in annoyance, but he allows you your space.

  “So, what? My father will be buried beside my mother soon, and you are so selfish that you can’t even give me the grace to spend his last days with him.” He had never seen the fire on your face; your usual demeanor dissolved.

  Astarion’s jaw slackens, and he shakes his head in response. “I’m just thinking big picture. Where will your sisters go when the time comes, Tav? Are you to give your entire life to them? How is it fair to you?”

  “If that is what must be done, then so be it.” Astarion noted how heavy your chest heaved, your body shaking from anger. You were angry with him.

  “And what of me?” He was mindful of how needy and, as you said, selfish he sounded but couldn’t hold back. “What do you want with me if not forever?” Indeed, you couldn’t expect him to house the entire cavalry that was your family.

  You froze and gulped in a large breath to calm your nerves. Maybe you have been negligent of his feelings as things grew more serious between you two. “I want you, Astarion. I want everything with you. I want to take your last name. I want to bear your children. I want to care for you until we’re both old and gray.” There’s a crack in your voice as you stifle back tears. Astarion’s stare softens, his stomach plunging at the knowledge of only ever being able to gift you one of those things. “I’ve always dreamt of creating a family of my own. Of being a mother to children created with the man I love.” You pause to swipe at your eyes with the back of your hand. “But I can’t leave my sisters to fend for themselves. I won’t.” 

  Astarion observes you as you collect your shawl, exiting the garden without another word. He’d let things go too far. He’d led you to believe this future you dreamed of could be achieved with him and even encouraged the delusions in his own way. Perhaps you would be better off if this relationship came to a close.

[sclerites]

one of my main gripes with the DC cinematic adaptations is that they don’t capture how absolutely FUCKING INSANE the world is. In the background of superman and lex beating each other up and/ or kissing or whatever, Constantine rolled a blunt made from swamp thing plant stuff to spite the swamp thing who had grown in his flat out of Constantine’s ash tray, only to get possessed by the swamp thing so that he could fuck his wife so they could have a kid or something, while etrigan, a centuries old man possessed by a demon (I think) and the phantom stranger, who is apparently the reincarnation (I think) of fucking Judas from The Bible, watch them. Meanwhile in the 25th century a man who named himself Booster steals some superhero shit from a museum, travels back in time and becomes famous by saving fucking president Ronald Reagan from dying. It is at least heavily implied that magaret thatcher (or at least conservatives, generally) are Actual demons from Actual hell. Actually, scratch that. Fucking Margaret thatcher canonically exists in the same universe as the flash, period. Also, on that topic: the flash, a man who possesses the superhuman ability of speed, as gifted to him by the speed force, one of the seven cosmic forces of the universe which also includes: the emotional electromagnetic spectrum, life force, the sphere of gods, dimensional superstructure, collective unconscious, and faithfulness. And that’s not even starting on the seven hidden forces. Also I might have skipped past it but also fucking god and satan exist, and so does probably every other god from every pantheon and religion but that’s all kinda brushed over except when it isn’t. And that isn’t even scratching the fucking surface, good god.

Big shoutout to DC for being just absolutely goddamn bizarre please never change 💛

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

Hi! Could you answer a question regarding your SAGAU world? How do Teyvatians, the Souverigns, and Celestia view the Creator? What are their stances when the real Creator hasn't left? Why do the Tsaritsa and Souverigns hate Celestia? I appreciate your work and effort in writing them, take your time.

Take care!

Hi!

Thanks for your kind words. And, of course, I can answer questions about SAGAU world.

Things to note! I have no intention to offend any real world religions. I didn't try to slander anyone or paint someone in a bad light.

One more thing. That "lore" are only relevant to Self-Aware BSD AU x SAGAU Crossover. Creator lore from Tired Creator AU is different. If the question was about Tired Creator AU, please, send that question in that blog.

__________

To the question.

__________

All groups worship Creator. However, all groups worship different aspects of a Creator.

Teyvatians and Sovereigns worship Creator themselves. They pray and make offerings to make Creator happy. And they will burn Teyvat, if they think, it will make Creator happy.

Celestia worship Creator's laws and rules. They want everyone to follow that rules. No exceptions, to breaking the rules. Creator gave them to Teyvat. People must respect them.

In a nutshell, Teyvatians and Sovereigns will shave a person’s head in order to present a wig from their hair to the Creator.

Celestia will put both a Treasure Hoarder (for stealing) and their victim (for hurting them), into a jail. Because Original Creator were kind, didn't like thieves and when people hit each other.

________

"You have begun to matter more

Then the things you say"

_________

That's why Tsaritsa and Sovereigns hate Celestia, and, in return, Celestia despise them.

To be fair, both sides have a point.

Celestia likes to get their noses into other's business and can be quite brutal, if they think someone is breaking Creator's laws. And their punishment will end in disproportion retribution (in Teyvatians' eyes).

Tsaritsa and Sovereigns are going overboard with their worshiping of Creator. Crucabena will offer House of Hearth children to be sacrificed to Creator. Sovereigns will enslave humans to train them into obedient servants of Creator.

When Fake Creator destroyed Celestia, Tsaritsa saw it as a sign of Creator's approval of their way of worship.

________

And, if Original Creator stayed in Teyvat... It won't end well.

Original Creator aren't a human. And I mean in a bad way. While non-human races from Teyvat (youkais, aranaras, melusines), vishaps, dragons, Sovereigns, abyssal monsters and even common monsters can understand human emotions and reasons. Original Creator can't do that.

They can't understand, why people wanted to do something, or why they will try to reach some goals.

But they still love their creations.

They are like a parent, who love their kid, who want them to have dreams, for them to follow that dreams. And who would hide all toy musical instruments, will edit music from any media and will make sure their child will never want to be a musician, because the parent can't see a purpose in being a musician, and are afraid for their child to end up as an addict and alcoholic.

Original Creator didn't want to rule over Teyvat. They wanted people to be free.

However, they would still look after them. They won't let Akasha be created, because they don't see a point in them.

Creator would change humans, taking away their ability to grief, because they won't understand, why people wanted to be sad.

One by one, Original Creator would take something important from humans. They would stall progress, emotionally cripple people.

All because they love their creations. In a very twisted, for a human, sort of way.

_______

Tag list: @myluckymoon @cocodrilofeliz @c4xcocoa @vvyeislazzy @whisperingwinters @nervousinfluencertidalwave @ayameshu @izzieg3987

[nynyhaha]

Thinking about the way Chrollo represents apathy and passion.

When I first saw him,he gave the impression of someone who is both very serious about his occupation and on some kind of mission,and someone who just lets things happen.

The reason he seemed so enigmatic compared to other troupe members is because we couldn’t grasp what he actually values, besides obviously the spider.This whole line of his about not caring for money,glory or fame.The fact that he sells the loot soon after stealing it.

It doesn’t make sense for a thief to be this indifferent towards the treasures he steals.And while the troupe risked their lives trying to steal from the auction,when things went wrong the loot was the last thing they considered.I always wondered what happened to all the boxes at their hideout.I hope they didn’t just leave it there??But it was never the main focus,

I think he occasionally finds something that fascinates him,just to discard it afterwards.It’s almost like he tries very hard to,excuse me, “fill the emptiness inside him”,with material possessions but is painfully aware that it’s not possible.The troupe are primarily known as thieves but it seems obtaining stuff can’t be that satisfying,at least not to Chrollo. Even if he tells everyone to “just steal” in his character song.

The scarlet eyes might’ve caught his attention at some point but again,he’s very dismissive of the whole kurta theme even when Kurapika demands some response.

So I don’t believe it’s greed that drives him.In fact,he doesn’t know what drives him.

And the reason he’s able to commit all those horrible deeds is because of his disconnection with PEOPLE. Being the leader,he’s somewhat set apart from the rest of the spiders.And there are rules that put the good of the organisation before the well-being of the members.That’s supposed to prevent members from caring as much for one another.Which is tragic.

It all only started because they all cared.

How are characters humanised in hunter x hunter? Trough forming bonds with other characters.

Killua and meruem are excellent examples.Both of them grew to care more about humans in general trough meeting a particular person.

Chrollo lost someone important and that very personal grief lead him to stop caring about human lives.Not just his own,but the ones of his fellow troupe members.

Obviously it didn’t work and they still feel very strongly for each other.The whole yorknew arc focuses on those repressed feelings of camaraderie that aren’t allowed to be experienced fully as that would interfere with the Spider.Pakunoda has to break the rules if she wants to save the life of her friend.

Chrollo can’t do that because the Spider with its rules is all he has.He’s very good at “severing ties” with things like living a save life,the authorities,possibly religion,connections with other people,seeing dead bodies as something to be respected and not as objects.He’s willing to give up everything that made him who he was,but what does he have in turn? Nothing.

The Spider needs to have a purpose but it seems that purpose is lost.Chrollo is lost,all his sacrifices lead to nothing.

He doesn’t even feel hate or anger at the world.He rarely takes things personally.

I think there was some revenge based reason for murdering the kurta clan.The troupe seem like they’d have some reason,even tho it could never be good enough.

But my thesis is that Chrollo’s biggest sin isn’t greed,pride,anger or whatever.It’s apathy.

Nothing prevents him from hurting people who have nothing to do with him,therefore he does.

He’s afraid that things will start mattering again,but at the same time we see him constantly searching for that something.He is scared of it,but he really strives to strive for something so that he can break out of this indifference he feels for everything.

So maybe Hisoka will awake some of this rage buried inside and with it make Chrollo once again seem like a very distressed human.

[traegorn]

Hey-o! Tis the season for people to talk about how the holidays were "actually pagan" and I'm on the hunt for sources about how that's really not the case, if you have any you'd recommend!

Okay, so the problem is there are so many weird "Christmas is stolen!" bullshit memes going around, it's so hard to just give you a comprehensive list of sources. Christmas celebrations have evolved as the religion has spread, and different things come from different times...

The key here is to go for academic sources. This is a question of history, and a well supported historical research is going to tell you whether they're operating from primary, secondary or tertiary sources.

So while I can't give you a simple list, let me give you a couple of examples off the top of my head and give you tips on how to investigate any the dumb claims that get passed around.

Christmas being in December: So a lot of people go for the "Christmas is in December so it can steal from [INSERT SOLSTICE CELBRATION]" is ahistorical... because we know exactly why Christmas is in December. Because the guys who made the decision argued with each other and left behind written documentation. The two big names you need to look up are  Clement of Alexandria (who pitched January 6th) and Hippolytus of Rome (who proposed December 25th). This is around the turn of the third century, and you can find both of their writings. Some folks have questioned the authenticity of some of Hippolytus of Rome's writings, but Clement of Alexandria's seem well supported. These were internal arguments about when the birth of Christ took place within the early church, and when they settled on late December. There are reasons for this, and you can read their arguments (it largely has to do with the importance of when Jesus was conceived -- they wanted that to be an important date and then added nine months to it). Importantly though, because linear time is a thing, this means Christmas was set in December before the Christianization of the Germanic and Norse tribes... so anyone who says Christmas was set to December to correspond with Yule doesn't understand the concept of "coincidences."

The Christmas Tree: The Christmas tree was invented in 16th century Germany. That's... that's just written down all over the place. Now, there are legends about Martin Luther being the first who did it -- but I'm pretty certain that's just an embellishment that got added on. There are preceding traditions where part of an evergreen was brought into the home as a part of solstice traditions (though some will claim the Egyptians did this? Which is wild -- likely misinterpreting their use of palm fronds as the same thing), but the act of taking a whole ass tree, cutting it down, putting it in your house, and decorating it? That's 16th century Germany all the way. You can rabbit hole so many sources on that one, but honestly just pick apart the citations on the Wikipedia page. Putting a branch in your house and dragging a whole tree in are very different acts.

Jesus's story is copied from [INSERT RANDOM GOD]: There are so many of these, and some are just downright disrespectful to major world religions (the Krishna version of the meme especially). The answer is... just see if what the meme is saying about the god is supported by the mythology. Like I've seen ones that says Dionysus was "born of a virgin." If you know anything about the Greek gods, you're probably already laughing on the floor. Horus gets dragged into this too, because Gerald Massey was trying to pull a "White Goddess but with Dudes." But any serious research on Horus will tell you the supposed parallels aren't supported by the mythology.

So sorry, this wasn't so much sources you can use as it is how to look for them to begin with. Because there's just so, so much. This isn't even covering cases of syncretism, where pre-existing cultural traditions got continued post-Christianization. Because it's almost always the case that if a pre-Christian practice endured post Christianization, it's because people decided to keep doing it -- not because the church was trying to "steal" it. The latter means there was some mustache twirling plan behind it, when the former means (usually) the church went "Well, they're paying their tithes and saying it's for Jesus, so who gives a shit?"

I'm just going to finish this off with linking to my podcast episode on this, along with Ocean Keltoi's great Yule video on the topic. Hopefully that helps.

[cooking-with-hailstones]

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A post shared by Bisan Owda (@wizard_bisan1)

In case you were wondering: are the campus protests even important? Do they matter? Are they making a difference?

Yes, yes. They are making a difference.

Video description: Bisan, a young Palestinian woman, is speaking directly to the camera. She is wearing a black shirt and a keffiyeh.

Video transcript (I did my best but missed a few words)

I’m 25 years old. I’ve lived my whole life in Gaza Strip. I’ve never felt hope like now. Never. I mean it’s magical feelings running in my veins right now. In my head, I’m in Gaza city, in the north of Gaza Strip rebuilding my city after this genocide has ended. Even started to dream that my friends from Yafa, Haifa (unsure), majdal, are returning to their cities after being displaced for 75 years. These young heroes in universities at America and around the world are stronger than the last occupation in history. And for the first time in our lives as Palestinians, we hear a voice louder than their voices and the sound of their bombs and even stronger than their control in all aspects of our lives. 

In the 70s, the occupation, Prime Minister said, after decades of killing Palestinians, stealing the lands, establishing the state of Israel over the lands that “the adults will die, and children will definitely forget.” 

Wait. Is that the greatest (unsure) in history? Because it’s children and youth who are leading the movement for a free Palestine. everything they have on the line to demand justice and end of the genocide, and a new era of the world, not based on oppression, exploitation or colonialism. 

Do you know what the best part is? demonstrations and calls for boycott in the academic institutions are not limited to a certain people from certain religion, culture, color, religion, race, or maybe economic level. We are all different so we can no longer be accused of anti-Semitism, serving some agendas from outside, we are just different people calling for the same thing. People to people and people to justice. 

200 days I’ve spent escaping death every single minute were not in vain. And those 40,000 innocent souls were killed during these days were not also in vain. And this is the first time to feel and tell you this. 

Keep going because you are our only hope and we promise we will hold our ground and tell you the truth always. And please, don’t let their violence scare you. In Arabic, we say (Arabic phrase). In English, that means “they don’t have other options, but trying to terrify and silence you” because you are demolishing decades of brainwashing. You are making the change. The real change. Their violence means that we’ve begun to affect them deeply. Believe me, we are in the bottom of this bottle and we’re very very close to the end of this genocide. Maybe even closer than anytime before. Thank you. Thank you for each one of you, because you made us, me and my people feel that we are free. We are heard. We’re going back to our homes, and land. 

(Through tears) I have spent the whole night thinking about every video I see, you shouting for Palestine, you protesting for Palestine, you are dancing, singing for Palestine I feel it here in my head that I am going back. And I am free, and one day, we will celebrate it in, in Gaza together. Keep going and we will too. Salaam. 

(if anyone can help with my transcript, it would be much appreciated!)

[wifelinkmtg]

There's "spaghetti western" and then there's whatever the hell this Chef Boyardee shit is

Hello! and welcome back to Wifelink. We're talking about Outlaws of Thunder Junction today, Magic's second product in a row set in a version of Nevada, and let me tell you something: I am not impressed. The mechanics are uninspired, the setting is undercooked, the story is overstuffed, and to top it all off the whole thing smacks of settler-colonialism. AND they yassified Vraska, the monsters!

WE WILL GET TO THE HOT WOMEN, BELIEVE YOU ME, BUT FIRST I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN SOMEWHAT, AS IS MY RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN, AS A HUMAN BEING, AND AS A GAMER

The mechanics we've discussed elsewhere, and I will skim over the main storyline except to say that very few of this Big Villain Heist Team-Up gets enough spotlight to justify their inclusion here beyond getting recognizable names on cards, and that Rakdos' presence on the plane alone ought to be an apocalyptic calamity. I appreciate Jace & Vraska going full blackpilled accelerationist, stealing a baby, and aiming to destroy the multiverse & start over (a novel hybrid of Raising Arizona and Doctor Strangelove,) but I also know, sure as the sun rises, that whatever happens with their villain arc will be a underwhelming let-down.

What I actually want to complain about, though, is the setting. Thunder Junction ain't real, and I don't mean it's fictional, I mean it's plywood facades on a backlot. It's the set for a cowboy film. You feel me? This ain't a plane, it's a god damned sound stage.

Lemme go over the facts: we know Thunder Junction has been settled for a bit over a year. A year! - and yet there's multiple towns, multiple railways, and an honest-to-god metropolis. Less than two years and we already have ghost towns! This is not the product of a bunch of people on various planes all individually deciding to seek a new life in the off-world colonies. All of this represents a staggering quantity of people, material, wealth, and labor, being moved between planes, directed and organized - but by whom? For what reason? How, even? The story is totally uninterested in these questions.

One of the few silver linings to the way the Phyrexian invasion storyline ended was that the Omenpaths had a lot of interesting potential! Different planes would come into direct contact with each other for the first time ever! Different technologies, different philosophies and religions, different kinds of magic colliding, coming into conflict, adapting and adjusting to each other. And after a couple of sets where the interplanar contact was limited to one or two particularly adventurous individuals, we finally get to see what interplanar contact at scale looks like here in Thunder Junction... and it just looks like a John Wayne flick. Did people not bring their culture with them? Is there a big rack of hats and boots and dusters right where people step off the Omenpath? Shuck off those old Ravnican rags, kid, get changed. You'll spoil the aesthetic. I mean, it's baffling.

Luxurious Locomotive (art by Leon Tukker). This is one of the few man-made parts of this plane that I can look at and know where it came from: this is a Kaladeshi design. More of this sort of thing would have made Thunder Junction feel more like a real place and less like a Sergio Leone joint.

There's a side story, No Tells, by Isaac Fellman, which I quite like actually: it's about guilt and betrayal and the inevitable regrets of having moved into a queer housing co-op, and one of the things that makes it great is that we know where Yuma came from (New Capenna), we know why he left (the limitations of "be gay do crimes" as praxis under capitalism), and we know what he brought to Thunder Junction with him (cocktails, pool tables, and his co-op's emergency funds). Fellman has written nothing else for Wizards and doesn't play Magic, and even so he's done more to make Thunder Junction feel like a real place situated in a real history than the rest of the story team combined - which goes to show, one, that we should only let trans people write magic story for the next decade or so, and two, that what I'm asking for in terms of worldbuilding is not unattainable, or even that difficult.

And all of this ties into the colonialism, right? Thunder Junction is being colonized, and asking questions about who benefits, who's sponsoring this breakneck settlement of the plane, what they're after and so forth would require the story to take a good hard look at the process of colonization itself, and Wizards is flatly unwilling to engage with anything that thorny in their products. So, just as Ixalan involved a limp-wristed slant reenactment of the Spanish conquest of the Americas - but it's fine because they're the bad guys and they're technically not even trying to colonize Ixalan and they don't win anyway so no one gets hurt! - Thunder Junction is attempting to present a Disneyland version of Western colonialism. Untamed wilderness! Bringing civilization to uninhabited deserts! How cool and heroic these hard frontiersmen and -women are! I'm told they brought in Navajo cultural consultants for the Atiin, a fantasy equivalent, and I hope those folks were well compensated! The Atiin seem cool, and the one Atiin character we spend any time with is well-written, but the Atiin are not indigenous to Thunder Junction. They're not being colonized. And if there weren't anybody being colonized, I'd probably still dislike the colonial vision of a wild land inhabited only by animals, just waiting for us to shape it to our will with railways and violence, but there is in fact a native race of sapients on Thunder Junction, and these cactus folk get no voice in the story, so if they have some kind of opinion on the rapid colonization of their home and the clear-cutting of their cactus forests, we don't get to hear about it.

Prickly Pair (art by Brian Valeza) Too much of the extremely-limited presence Thunder Junction's only indigenous sapients have on the cards is devoted to cactus-based puns like this one, which is pretty distasteful given, you know, the colonialism.

I'm talking about colonialism not because I think that replicating colonial myths in fantasy fiction is an unethical thing to do - although it is - but because you can see, right, that Thunder Junction's lack of verisimilitude is intertwined with the colonial vision of the world at play here, yeah? The story wants to have cool cowboy shootouts and train robberies and it does not want its cowboy fantasy to be complicated by uncomfortable realities, so it has to avoid all of the basic worldbuilding questions that would tell us who the colonization benefits and how they're profiting off the plane, and in the end we're left with nothing but an empty aesthetic, like a duster hanging off a scarecrow, blowing in the wind.

ANYWAY SO WOMEN

To be honest, under the circumstances I'm not really feeling like giving the fine women of Thunder Junction my usual more elaborate treatment, so we're going to lightning-round this shit, which is at least thematic.

Blood Hustler (art by Anna Pavleeva)

Vampire MILF.

Rattleback Apothecary (art by Loïc Canavaggia)

Snake MILF.

Wrangler of the Damned (art by Michal Ivan)

Cis lesbian haircut, good with a rope.

Obeka, Splitter of Seconds (art by Ryan Pancoast)

BIG

[girls--complex]

I just came upon your blog and it's given me Lots of Thoughts, even though I don't particularly believe in any God (that is to say, I think there might be something more out there, though I don't think it's God as it's portrayed by any religion and I need some sort of tangible evidence before I can confirm or deny that something like that exists. All that to say I'm agnostic lol), but I do think you have some very good points about a lot of things.

I find it kinda hard to understand some of the things you write since you use a lot of long and complicated words that aren't in my vocabulary since English isn't my first language and I've never left my home country, but I'm doing my best! (With the help of an online dictionary)

Either way, I really love your art and I'm taking some inspiration from your style to practice, if that's okay with you! I just really like how flowy, creative and loose it is and I really need to loosen up a bit about making things instead of constantly adding more detail and perfecting it until I lose interest because it becomes stressful instead of enjoyable to create something.

I also wanted to ask, since according to your comics you've done shrooms before, how would you recommend going about shrooms to someone who's not used to doing much of any substance? (I barely drink alcohol and I smoke weed so rarely every time I do it I end up extremely disoriented until I manage to calm down no matter how little I smoke).

I'm asking cause a friend of mine whom I've known for years recently told me they have some, and that he'd be willing to share them with me, and I'm curious about trying them out and seeing if I can learn something from that experience, but I wanna stay safe while making the most of it :3

Hi thank you for a long & thoughtful message

YOU ARE ALWAYS ALLOWED TO COPY OR "STEAL" OR WHAT EVER FROM MY DRAWINGS seriously this is so normal and allowed. I do this with other cartoonists and all the cartoonists I know also do this. We do it to each other. "I like how she draws eyes" or whatever and we absorb it into our own style. Or just copying drawings/ paintings/pages. This is good. Do it.

Thank you for taking the time to decipher my words. I know I use lots of large/obscure words N trying to get better at making me language accessible (& maybe use my beloved obscure words in enough context that a reader can figure out the meaning).

I think using psychedelics is something better to talk about with people who know U in person and can respond to your needs and goals. Maybe your friend can give some guidance or knows someone who has a shamanic streak that can. Or you can always go on erowid or reddit whatever kids are using now to do a lil research.

I don't really feel comfortable giving specific advice or even general advice that might color the experience in a certain way, hope u understand...

Thank u for saying Hi

[the-creative-lounge-blog]

The video features custom community emojis by @azuzeldraws

We're ready for you to join The Creative Lounge Discord Community!

Community rules & guidelines are below the cut for anyone who'd like to preview them before joining.

Members must be at least 18 years old.

The Creative Lounge Community Invite

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A good portion of this community is dedicated to content creators who work with different mediums. That's by design. We inspire one another and often collaborate. I hope The Lounge makes it easier to do both!

There's also room in here to play. I'm arranging the ability to stream art and video games in here, as well as host virtual tabletop games (these adventures are fantastic fodder for art, animation, stories, and audio works)!

Art and storytelling have been part of the human experience since our beginnings. They withstand disease, war, natural and unnatural catastrophes, and most impressively, time. Be proud of what you contribute.

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Rule #3: Be Creative. This space was made so that content creators may meet and interact with each other and with fans of transformative works. It is encouraged (but not mandatory) to participate in Lounge events and challenges. Use this space to discuss your content and ideas, share tips, ask questions, etc.

Rule #4: Be Kind. This is meant to be a community. Remember to encourage and support one another. Visible support such as reblogging/retweeting, commenting, giving kudos, etc., ought to be considered part of being a Lounger. Do not simply use this server (or myself) as your marketing platform. Self-promotion is not only encouraged, but expected. However, when you promote your work, stick around to throw some support and encouragement at others.

[gxdsfavgal]

Closet

Pairing: JJ Maybank x Kook!Reader

Warnings: blurb, fluff, slight religion mentioned, OBX3 spoiler, not edited

A/N: I was inspired by this oneshot and also a scene from Ginny and Georgia (I've never watched it I just remember seeing it on TikTok)

-

-

It’s been almost a year since the Pogues came back after finding the treasure of El Dorado, the event to celebrate was close. It was hard for them, coming back from so much trauma.

My arms and home were open for them, especially for JJ. He’s always had a soft spot for me, and me for him.

A few months after they came home from South America, JJ and I decided to keep our relationship a secret. Hidden from the eyes of our parents and the whole Kildare population, except his friends.

Now here we are, JJ and his friends standing as I was in the audience clapping and cheering for them. I am truly happy for them, happy that they have peace after everything they've been through.

After they got away from the attention, the Pogues were all in a group smoking while I was distant from them, not wanting to be by them while my parents were just a few feet away.

I was admiring JJ. I felt so lucky to have him and that he finally lives a safe and healthy life. I was admiring their friendship and how it was life or death with them.

"Are you okay?" JJ asked as I flinched, not knowing he was next to me already. He giggled at my easily frightened state.

"I'm perfect." I said with a wide smile, my eyes found his sharp blue ones immediately.

"Perfect as in you're really feeling good or perfect as in you're hiding your emotions?" he stood back away from me to get a better look at me.

"Jay, I was just admiring you guys." I smiled up as him as I secretly intertwined our fingers.

"You mean admiring me, not them." he teased.

"Whatever Jayj." I playfully rolled my eyes.

"Wanna come with us on the HMS after this?"

"Y'know my parents, they won't let me since we got church in the morning." I pouted as I looked over to my parents who were coincidentally talking to the priest.

JJ threw his head back in a groan, letting out a loud and breathy sigh.

"Come over after?" I lifted my eyebrows in hope. "Through the window of course."

The side of his mouth lifted in a grin. "Yes, I'll come straight after." He gave my forearm a squeeze, knowing that if my parents saw us hug it would end differently.

"Now go." I playfully hissed at him, using my hands to shoo him towards his friends.

"Man I want to kiss you all over your face." He faked grabbing my face in the air, making a playful mad face about no PDA.

"Me too, but go seriously. Have fun." I nodded at him.

He sent me a warm smile, the smile that I knew meant that he will miss me even though it's for a few hours.

We had to get used to it. The whole not being able to hangout together, staying up on the phone all night, and stealing glances at the local restaurants.

But it never made him not want to be with me, he was committed and so was I. He understood the need to hide things from parents.

-

Late last night, JJ snuck through my window with my help. We quietly maneuvered through my room and just watched a movie, enjoying each others presence in our arms.

I fell asleep first, tired from waking up early to help set up for their event earlier in the day.

When I woke up it was already bright outside, the sun just hitting the sky. The warm air coming through my window, and the quiet chirps of the birds made it sound like a movie.

I felt a warm presence behind me and a heavy arm on my shoulder. JJ was sound sleep, his peaceful state made me smile hard.

I turned my head back around to watch the sun rise through my window, but my peace was interrupted once I saw the time on my phone.

"JJ wake up." I sat up quickly and tried to shake him awake but failed.

I quietly cussed as I thought of different ways to wake him up.

"JJ" I shook his body harder. When that didn't work, I pulled the warm blanket off of his body, the now cooler air hugging his skin.

He groaned loud so I rushed to cover his mouth with my hand. His eyes shooting open quickly, his body going into fight mode.

"Jesus." he dragged his hands over his tired eyes.

"JJ, I have to get ready for church." I pointed towards the time, hoping he was conscious enough to understand.

"So?" he settled back into the bed, his eyes already threatening to close.

I heard my parents bedroom door open, the footsteps descending to the kitchen.

"JJ please." I kneeled next to him on the bed, shaking his body again.

"Five more minutes." he mumbled into the pillow.

My patience was running low, and I did not have a lot of time until my parents came into my room to tell me to get ready. I grabbed my pillow and repeatedly hit it against JJ's shoulder, trying not to be so loud.

I heard the footsteps of one of my parents going up the stairs, I knew that their next stop was my room.

"JJ now." I pulled him up by his shirt and pushed him into my closet. His half asleep body was heavy and made a loud thud.

"Hey hun?" I heard a quiet knock on my door.

"Yes?" I pretended to have a raspy morning voice.

The door opened to reveal my dad with two mugs of tea in his hands.

"We're leaving in 30 minutes, I'll set your mug down." He pushed the door a little more to set my tea down into my desk.

"Thank you dad." I smiled at him as I rubbed at my eyes.

"Oh one more thing." He turned his body back towards me.

"Yeah?" I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"JJ, get out of the closet please."

My heart dropped out of my ass when my dad said those words.

JJ opened the door of my closet to reveal his groggy state, but the words of my father scared him awake.

"Good morning sir." JJ said nervously as he stood up straight.

"Morning JJ. Next time, just use the front door." my dad smiled at him and came towards me to leave a kiss on my head.

My dad turning his back away from us to walk out the room, our backs returning to a relaxed slouch.

"Oh and JJ?" he turned back around before reaching my bedroom door. We both straightened up again.

"Yes sir?"

"Would you like to join us at mass today?"

JJ looked at me with wide eyes, not knowing how to answer but I just shook him off; only because I didn't know how to answer.

"I- Uh- Yes. I would love to join you and your family." JJ said with a nervous smile.

"I have some clothes that could fit you. Let me get them." my dad left my room with a smile, leaving us to get ready for mass.

I sat down on my bed with my jaw on the floor and my heart pounding so hard.

"What just happened?" I looked up at JJ that stood over me.

"I don't know, but I love it." he had a soft smile on his face.

"I can't believe that happened." I giggled out into his stomach as I wrapped my arms around his hips.

"No more hiding." his palm rubbed over my back.

[weasleycream]

Hello again :)

How about hazbin hotel x male Rosie’s brother reader ?

Y/N was a car lover when he was alive and knew how to fix them and even tried to build engines. His sister was the opposite. The siblings often fought about it. Rosie wanted Y/N to get a proper job and not race all the time, but he didn't want to because racing made him good money. After that, they stopped talking to each other and never spoke to each other again for the rest of their lives. Y/N goes to hell first. He steals a proper car and puts a souped up V8 ( like in mad max) tough tires, he even makes his own thunderpoon and a harpoon to steal stuff, when he first sees himself in the mirror he realizes he looks scary. Pale skin, pointy sharp teeth, black eyes and greyish black hair. He starts working out and walking around half naked (like a warboy in mas max but without the paint) All of which earns him the nickname speed demon. Because he was raised as a decent man and hates violence against women and pimps for this reason he hates Valentino. And he makes fun of him as much as he can, which Valentino hates.

Because he looks like a cannibal, Charlie asks him to go with her and Alastor to Rosie's place ( he and Alastor have a great relationship because they help each other fight VVV). Eventually, the siblings meet

My mind has produced another creation of destruction🤪

. ୭.ᰍㅤ𝅄 ֹ " 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 " 🍥 Ⳋ

ઈઉ ㅤִㅤ𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 ; 𝒯here is no 😞

ઈઉ ݁  ㅤִㅤ𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ; Use of bad words, mentions of blood/death, illegal things, cannibalism, mentions of religion (heaven, hell, atheism, etc.) something short (AND PRETTY bad), Bad grammar in English.

ઈઉ ㅤִㅤ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 ; 2,2k+

ઈઉ ㅤִㅤ𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱

A small group of demons were on their way to the cannibal neighborhood to settle some things with its leader, their sister, Rosie. Although he didn't really like the idea of ​​having to see his 'horrible' sister again, he couldn't refuse Charlie's annoying pleas and insistence and the favor he owed to Alastor, who days ago helped him free himself from the VVV with great humiliation.

Returning to the topic in his mind, he didn't want to see Rosie again, he knew that they were both tycoons from hell, and he shouldn't be afraid, but somehow he was, he never got along with his sister before she died, and the last thing What they did with each other was fighting, which untied the last bond they had left. He was really nervous just thinking about her still being mad at him, because after all, she was her sister and he loved her dearly.

"Oh Come on, Y/N! Nothing bad is going to happen, it's a… Uhm… Peaceful neighborhood?… You have nothing to fear, after all, you're an Overlord!" She appeased Charlie seeing the noticeable nervousness of her 'new friend' of hers wanting to lighten the mood before she too got nervous.

The grayish demon sighed with some annoyance and responded: "I'm not afraid of that disgusting neighborhood, Charlie… I'm nervous about Rosie" he mentioned with some sadness, looking away, seeing how in the distance he could already see the sign that said 'Welcome to the cannibal town!' making him snort resentfully.

"Do you like Rosie?" She blurted out in surprise, seeing how the male stood up straight and was surprised at this.

"Don't be disgusting, Charlie! She's my fucking sister!" She rebuked him angrily, making the blonde more surprised in an innocent way, making her let out a small 'oh' in a soft and low voice, and then see how she opened her eyes in surprise.

"It can't be! Are you the brother of an overlord?!" The demon just snorted tiredly and nodded, listening as Alastor, who had been somewhat quiet, gave an exaggerated and acted laugh, as was typical of him.

"Of course, my dear Charlie! Who else else?! After all, the resemblance is obvious! I can't believe that the princess of hell doesn't even know the relationships between Overlords! It's like asking someone who Lucifer is! " He said charismatic with that distorted voice that brought out humiliations every time he opened his mouth. The blonde only looked away with a nervous laugh, while the blush of embarrassment appeared on his pale skin.

They remained silent for the rest of the trip, until Charlie began to get angry remembering a certain 'Vaggie' and saying that she was a liar, while Alastor had a noticeable twitch in his eye due to the annoyance of the woman next to him. .

They arrived and entered the cannibal plaza, until they reached an elegant white building that looked even bigger on the inside, which was full of demons everywhere. 'Rosie's Emporium' He read the sign before entering, uselessly arranging his hair without taking into account his vulgar clothing, knowing that his sister was going to be dramatically surprised when she saw him, and even more so at those 'facades' as she used to call them years ago.

They went deeper into that place, arriving at what seemed to be the reception that was attended by his sister. It seems like she was a little busy, but she knew how to handle it fluidly without any help, which was something he always admired about her in life.

He was brought out of his thoughts again when he heard the demon scream "Alastor! Where have you been!" She arrived cheerfully without paying attention to her surroundings to greet her dear friend mentioning how gloomy the place was now without her presence. He kept his gaze tightly strained on the scene, wanting the extermination to come now and him to be killed again.

Rosie turned around and spotted Charlie first, making one of her typical cheeky and direct jokes causing the blonde to turn around and roll her eyes in obvious annoyance. When she finished joking, she turned around, finally seeing her brother, causing her smile to drop abruptly, leaving a surprised and annoyed look on her face.

"And it seems that you didn't just refuse to meet me, but also my brother, Al! Long time no see, Y/N, I see that you are still as vulgar as I remember" He mentioned, lowering his gaze as he I looked and 'greeted' him after so many decades.

"Yes… I'm glad to see you too, Ross. You haven't changed a bit either, you're still wearing the same dress they gave you years ago." He responded uncomfortably, keeping his gaze as long as he could, and then looking away, forming a uncomfortable environment [I know I don't believe in you, but… God, help me].

Habían pasado unos minutos desde que se conocieron, y ya estaban en medio de la plaza para que Charlie pudiera dar su gran discurso y ganarse a los caníbales. Pero debido a su tensión y enojo, Rosie se la llevó, dejando a Alastor a cargo. "Bueno, Al, tú estás a cargo mientras yo no estoy, no dejes que la inmundicia haga alboroto en mi territorio" le envió una clara pista a su hermano, para luego arrastrar a Charlie adentro para hablar.

He sighed in defeat. "I don't know why the hell they wanted me here, but I don't know why the hell I agreed to come," he snorted again in annoyance, earning a funny, mocking look from Alastor, who walked up to him and made a sound of 'I don't know,' clearly playing the idiot, bothering the gray-haired boy for the umpteenth time that day. "Look, Alastor, you should know that I don't give a shit that you're the dreaded demon of the Radio, but if you don't stop screwing around I'm going to take care of you may the next person on the air be you"

This made the deer laugh uproariously, who immediately looked back at her. "You know, the reason Rosie hates you is because you never won her heart properly, it's surprising because you're her brother, but I guess in reality every family treats each other the way they want" he received a withering look from Y/N who only grunted, looking straight ahead again.

"I know… It's just that it was always complicated for me, I was never liked by women who weren't my mother. Don't get me wrong, I always treated them well, I grew up with manners and grace, but it's just that, I never had that attitude so refined that they kept in my family, I was always different. Since I can remember, I love illegal racing and everything related to cars, and Rosie was always against them, and I agree with her, all that is dangerous, but Even so, I was passionate about running secretly and achieving my goals and what I was passionate about, something that no one could ever understand." He explained briefly with a gloomy and empty voice, raising his head looking at the ceiling of the central porch and spoke again after giving another sigh "I love Rosie very much, in life she was like my other half, although we have never gotten along, but "I didn't want to be with people who weren't going to support me, and she was never going to do that unless I changed my habits and lifestyle, which I didn't do of my own free will."

The deer listened attentively, narrowing his eyes after the other finished speaking "Then have me support you now in death, my dear menacing friend!" she taunted him, returning to her upright position by removing all her weight from the porch fence. “Rosie is a lovely, understanding demon, and there's not much of that in hell, you know? You should fix the situation with her, who knows?” "Maybe they'll get together and finally destroy the VVV, they're already mad enough." He blurted out of nowhere, causing the grayish demon's raspy laugh to leave his lips. 'Thank you, Al, I owe you again, again. "But don't get used to it," he thanked quietly, knowing that then he would have to return the favor to the radio demon.

After Charlie came out with a more cheerful Rosie and gave her big 'speech' and everyone, including Sussan, joined her, they all started heading to the hotel to get ready, and before Rosie followed them, he grabbed her wrist. , causing her to turn to him with a smile, which quickly dropped when she saw him.

"Ahg… What do you need, Y/N? I have a client to serve and a neighborhood to guide" she asked him sharply as she jerked out of his grip, turning around completely putting her hands on her hips, remaining in a pose challenging.

"Damn it, Rosie, don't be complicated, okay? I want to talk to you and fix things" He asked with a pleading look, with a quite noticeable blush of embarrassment on his grayish face, standing up straight again, waiting for his sister's response.

The demon snorted and turned her head exhausted, giving a nod and a soft noise, accepting, leading him back to the porch, where there was no one around anymore, they stayed there for a long time in an awkward silence, until the man spoke.

"Look Ross… I'm really, really sorry… I never wanted it to end like this…" he began with a shy look, addressing his dear sister, he turned his head once more, looking at her face to Rosie.

The feminine responded, giving a small smile "It's been a long time since no one called me Ross, you know?" she sighed again, watching as her brother smiled an almost invisible smile "And… I know it was never your intention, I know… "It's just that, I didn't want anything to happen to you, you always left at night and didn't take care of yourself, there were times you came back beaten and I didn't like it… But you couldn't understand that I couldn't support something that hurt you." He snapped again, to see his eyes, finally, they were solving their problems, something he always wanted before he died.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Ross, but it's my passion, I can't leave it like this… But I want you to know that if it's for you, I'll take better care of myself." He responded, getting a little closer to his sister, who She quickly pulled him into a loving strong hug.

"Only if you promise not to dress like a cheap prostitute anymore and come see me often…" She murmured against him, holding him tighter against her lovingly, never wanting to let go.

"I missed you so much Rosie… You don't know how much" He returned the hug immediately, hiding his face in her neck, letting out a small laugh. "You know? I thought it was going to be a lot more complicated.." The woman slowly walked away from her, and she looked at him with a loving smile.

"Well, Charlie wasn't the only one who let off steam and got advice in there… She really is a lovely girl, of course, when she's not so loud and annoying…" She revealed as she let out a small laugh, walking away from him for fin, crossing his arms "I never thought you would be the one to take the initiative in these things, Speed ​​Demon, I didn't have you so sentimental" He mocked, with a victorious laugh as he laughed.

"You're not the only one who received advice when they left, Alastor can be a pain in the ass, but still, he knows how to help when he feels like it" He also said laughing, hugging the female's shoulders, starting to walk next to the group again, which was quite far away.

"Well, that stubborn guy can be a sweetheart when he wants to be," she replied, resting her head on her brother's shoulder as they walked.

"Although he doesn't give such bad advice, you know? He gave me the idea of ​​allying and overthrowing the VVV, and he's right, they really are annoying." He suggested to his sister, remembering Alastor's words, emphasizing the word 'ally' in burlesque way.

She laughed softly, then put her hands on her hips again. "Well, maybe, but first I'm going to get you decent clothes, don't think I'm going to forget your promise, sir." She remembered seriously, receiving a tired snort from her brother. 'Whatever you say, but we'll stop by my workshop and go by car' he responded in a low voice, knowing that his sister had heard, and received a disgusted face in response "Of course not! First exterminated and in heaven praying to Jesus before getting on "That thing of yours, you would kill me again but with a heart attack." He laughed loudly, keeping up with him.

Well… It's not the best thing I've ever done, I apologize, really, I was never very good with reunions 😞💔Likewise, I hope you liked it.🥹

[gayleonofcuy]

Writing Lessons from ASOIAF

The last night fell black and moonless, but for once the sky was clear. "I am going up the hill to look for Ghost," he told the Thenns at the cave mouth, and they grunted and let him pass.

So many stars, he thought as he trudged up the slope through pines and firs and ash. Maester Luwin had taught him his stars as a boy in Winterfell; he had learned the names of the twelve houses of heaven and the rulers of each; he could find the seven wanderers sacred to the Faith; he was old friends with the Ice Dragon, the Shadowcat, the Moonmaid, and the Sword of the Morning. All those he shared with Ygritte, but not some of the others. We look up at the same stars, and see such different things. The King's Crown was the Cradle, to hear her tell it; the Stallion was the Horned Lord; the red wanderer that septons preached was sacred to their Smith up here was called the Thief. And when the Thief was in the Moonmaid, that was a propitious time for a man to steal a woman, Ygritte insisted. "Like the night you stole me. The Thief was bright that night."

-Jon, ASoS

I have this passage marked as 'writing inspiration' and wanted to share why I like it, if (like me) you are an ASOIAF fan and struggling aspiring writer. GRRM does a few things in this passage that I think are helpful 'advice.'

Exposition: When people criticize bad books not set in our world (or even mediocre books that could be better), one of the most common complaints is clunky exposition or info dumping, especially in the first few chapters of the novel.

Here, GRRM is expositing in a way that adds depth and richness to Westerosi and Freefolk societies. Jon lists the stars by talking about his childhood (which we already care about) and compares and contrasts his names with the names by which Ygritte knows them. This is more retainable and interesting for readers than if he had simply looked up at the sky and listed them for us.

Importantly, we are three books into the series, but we are still learning about the world. Everything hasn't been told to us already.

Lesson: Find memorable ways to show your worldbuilding. And you don't need to show everything in the first few chapters.

Cultural similarities: By this point, we've learned that the Freefolk are descendants of the First Men who were kicked on the worse side of the wall. This is one way of reinforcing the point, by having them share names for 'universal' things like stars.

Cultural differences: The influence of the Andals' religion on the common tongue, even among the First Men, is obvious here with the star named the Smith. But the passage is also pointing out at least a couple of other differences between their geographies and cultures.

1. The Fauna of Beyond-the-Wall: At the beginning of ASOS, Chett's prologue notes

It was a rare thing to find even a dozen mounted wildlings, and five hundred...

One of the advantages that the Rangers have over the Freefolk is their properly armed and armored warriors, but it seems clear that horses is another. Jon mentions that most of the people in the column are traveling by foot.

And even more telling, only one in a hundred wildlings was mounted. The Old Bear will go through them like an axe through porridge.

Stallions, while important in both cultures, are perhaps less important to lay people beyond the wall. At the very least, they're not important or perhaps relevant enough to the common person to merit the name of a star. The King's Crown also falls in this category, obviously.

2. The importance of thieving in Freefolk culture: The harshness of the North, especially during winter, has been established many times. This is magnified north of the wall, which is colder and more brutal. Aside from climate, a big reason is because they lack regular commerce with the rest of the Seven Kingdoms due to the Wall. They can't exactly show up to the Vale to buy grain during hard times.

Thus the Freefolk have had to become necessary thieves, and thieving has in turn been raised to a point of respect or reverence, even extending to their courting or mating customs.

We don't know at this point, whether stealing women was part of First Men culture that the Northerners gradually discarded. But, I think we can say that part of the reason the Freefolk have elevated stealing to a virtue is because it's so necessary. Thieves are needed for luxuries, like silks, wine, spices and so on. But they're also crucial for survival, by taking weapons and perhaps food and goods that you can eat or trade for food during their harsh winters.

So the Thief is great name for a major star in their culture, in the way that Jupiter was in western European culture.

Movement: We learn later that Jon is (brooding) on a hill near the wall, a long ways away from The Fist of the First Men where we saw him last. The end of the passage also sets up Jon describing the beginning of his physical relationship with Ygritte, but he does this in post. There is no 'and the next day, and the next day' until we get to the meat (heh) which is the instinct of many newbie writers. We have arrived here without tedious descriptions of progress, while also covering a lot of physical, emotional and narrative ground.