#salty conjuration professor

[fuckingeviljerseybitch]

the fucking huevos Phinis Gestor has, talking 'bout some "Is he dead?" in a tone that even i can understand as "smug."

TF you mean, "Is he dead"? bitch, you the whole conjuration professor on this campus. the only two mage-mortician ass MFers who know more about what the fuck dead is live in Morthal and Falkreath, and you know that shit, too. ain't nobody fooled about how happy you are to see best friend dead as shit outside the front door, salty ass bitch. you ain't never liked the MF; just say that, or shut TF up. damn.

[froghat1745]

Percy's wiped viciously at the salty tears streaming down his freckled cheeks, he sniffled back the emotion collecting in his throat. Most people would have considered him dramatic, he could hear the faint sound of the boys in the common room telling him to grow a set of bullocks and man up, but Neville, Neville just flashed him a tender smile complete with a set of dimples percy had never noticed before, he passed him a cup of steaming hot chocolate, his soft brown eyes were comfortingly sympathetic.

"Don't worry Percy"

He smiled as he sipped at his own mug. Percy looked down at the mug in his hands, the choclate liquid swirling around inside, the steam fogging you his glasses. Neville noticed his guilt and rested a hand on his back.

"The Bogart lesson is always tough mate"

He assured. Most students saw huge spiders, creepy clowns, and even terrifying death eaters. But percy had seen his father, plain old arthur weasley in his old brown work suit. Percy had always been rather good at spells, there wasn't a charm he couldn't conjure and yet, in that moment, as he locked eyes with his father, the words slipping so easily from his lips, be forgot to utter the 1 word that would save him from shame. He just stood there as professor lupin closed the cabinet and dismissed him back into the configuration of students who now were whispering about how the cocky percy weasleys' greatest fear is his own dad.

"I saw my grandma the first time I tried...

Nearly shat myself where I stood if it weren't for Luna casting the charm for me"

Neville admitted. Percy turned to the boy and spoke, his usually guarded voice was soft and tired.

"Wood must have thought i was a right sissy"

Was all he could muster. Neville shrugged.

"Plenty think I'm a sissy.. only makes me feel more human"

He said. Discarding the cup by his feet. It was true of course, that even percy had once considered shivering little longbottom to be quite girly.

"Professor lupin said I failed and I have to retake the test"

Percy mumbled. He hated failing, it just reminded him that his grades were all he had to show for himself, well his siblings had many talents to rest on.

"Frankly I think you ought to be glad you failed..

It just means you have another chance to face your fears.. grandma says that people rarely get over a fear in one lesson"

He said. The sentiment felt so unfortunate to percy, but he had to admit, for one of Ron's little pals, this kid seemed to mature. Suddenly Neville smirked a smile that only meant bad things.

"I have the perfect way to cheer you up mate... I know where the hufflepuffs stash their special cookies"

He said and stood to depart from the tower, holding out a hand to help percy up.

Something told percy he was in for an interesting night.

[silvrtcngue]

𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝟎𝟎𝟏  /  𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐄

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒:

full  name  :  draco  lucius  malfoy

label  : the  boy  with  no  choice

nicknames  :  people mostly refer to him by his last name  ,  only  very  few  people  refer  to  him  by  his  actual  first  name. 

birthday  :  june  5th  ,  1980

birth  place  :  great  britain

gender  :  cismale

sexual  orientation  :  unsure

occupation  :  hogwarts  student

alignment:  the  neutrals

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑:

blood  status  :  pureblood  (  sacred 28  )

house  :  slytherin 

wand  :  10″ , hawthorn , unicorn hair

boggart  :   disappointment  from  his  family.  later  it  would  shift  to  the  image  of  their  death  ,  somehow  draco’s  fault.

patronus:  draco  hasn’t  learned  the  patronus  charm  ,  but  even  if  he  did  he  would  not  be  able  to  conjure  a  corporeal  patronus  since  he  lacks  the  happy  memories  to  do  so.

pets  :  an  owl  by  the  name  of  tyto

moral  alignment  : neutral  /  in  the  past  he  would  be  considered  more  lawful  neutral  ,  but  now  he’s  still  trying  to  figure  out  his  place  &  is  aligned  as  simply  neutral.

tarot  card  :  ( test here )  : the  moon

goals  /  desires  :  freedom  from  his  family’s  expectations  ,  to  be  someone  who  can  think  &  feel  freely.

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋:

height  :  5′11″

weight  :  181 lbs

eye  color  :  gray

hair  color  :  silver - blond

clothing  style  :  dark  attire  ,  mostly  dresses  elegantly  in  button  downs  &  slacks.  he  always  has  an  enchanted  wristwatch  on  his  left  wrist  ,  similar  to  the  weasley  family  clock  ,  but  instead  it’s  used  to  keep  track  of  his  class schedule.

left  handed  or  right  handed  :  right 

distinguishing  features  :  his  pale  hair  that  marks  him  as  a  malfoy  ,  along  with  a  striking  jawline  &  piercing  gray  eyes.

tattoos  or  scars  :  no  tattoos  ,  a  minor  scar  on  his  forearm  from  buckbeak  (  which  by  the  way  ,  he’s  still salty  about  )  ,  &  a  few  other  minor  ones  along  his  arms  &  legs  from  playing  quidditch. 

𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘:

parents  :  lucius  &   narcissa  malfoy

siblings  :  n / a.

children  :  n / a.

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄:

book  :  draco  is  partial  to  potions  &  will spend  his  spare  time  studying  many  various  potions  outside  the  class  level  he’s  currently  at.  however  ,  he’ll  occassionally  pick  up  a  fictional  book  when  in  the  library.  his  favorites  are  mysteries  ,  such  as  sherlock  holmes  (  even  though  it  revolves  around  muggles  ,  &  to  him  are  completely   ridiculous  )

movie  :  although  he  does  know  what  a  movie  is  ,  he’s  never  actually  seen  one  himself.  muggle  items  have  always  been  forbidden  to  him.  if  he  had  ,  it’d  probably  be  some  some  cheesy  comedy  or  something.

food  :  pumpkin pasties 

flower  :  belladonna  

season  :  winter.

animal  :  fox

memory  : his  first  time  entering  the  hogwarts  castle.

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓:

cats  or  dogs  :  cats

mornings  or  nights  :  nights

war  or  love  :  in  front  of  his  family  &  certain  friends  ,  he’d  claim  war.  However  ,  he  hates  the  thought  of  it  &  would  take  love  any  day.

smoke  or  drink  :  drink

coffee  or  tea  ?  coffee

writing  or  reading  ?  reading

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:

death  eater  coming  back  :  he’s  not  particularly  fond  ,   especially  with  him  living  with  one.  draco  is  uneasy  about  it  all  ,  &  is  afraid  for  the  day  when  he’ll  most  likely  be  expected  to  become  one  himself.

enemies  coming  back  :  he’s  a  fan  of  the  idea  ,  especially  voldemort.  he  wants  a  simple  life  ,  one  where  he  doesn’t  have  to  hide  underneath  a  mask  ,  &  voldemort  (  or  any  enemies  ,  really  )  would  be  a  threat  to  that.  

loved  ones  coming  back  :  he’s  indifferent  ,  mostly  because  he  hasn’t  lost  anyone  that  was  close  to  him.

love  at  first  sight  :  he  thinks  it’s  a  ridiculous  notion  ,  something  the  muggles  came  up  with  surely.   he  can’t  imagine  just  looking  at  someone  &  being  in  love  ,  he  has  to  get  to  know  a  person  first.

one  true  love  /  someone  you  will  always  love  :  again  ,  he’s  not  sure  if  the  idea  of  only  having  ‘one  true  love’  ,  but  it’s  a  nice  idea.  draco  believes  there’s  not  just   one  person  designed  specifically  to  be  with  one  person.  

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒:

what  is  their  family  history  like  ?  how  does  it  affect  them  ?  how  do  they  feel  about  their  family  ?  how  does  their  family  feel  about  them  ?

the  malfoy  family  tree  is  quite  long  ,  &  full  of  history.  the  malfoys  are  part  of  the  sacred  28  ,  &  take  pride  of  the  fact.  draco  adores  his  mother  ,  however  him  &  his  father  have  a  more  strained  relationship.  he  wants  to  believe  that  his  family  has  the  best  in  mind  for  him  ,  but  worries  that  they’ll  force  him  to  take  the  dark  mark.

who  were  their  first  love  and  do  they  feel  the  same  now  as  they  did  then  ?

his  first  love  was  a  ravenclaw  girl  a  few  years  ahead  of  him.  obviously  he  did  nothing  to  win  her  affection  ,  &  after  she  graduated  he  was  glad  he  didn’t.  he  obviously  has  moved  on  since  then.

do  they  believe  that  a  person  can  redeem  themselves  from  mistakes  of  the  past  ?

he  wants  to  believe  ,  mostly  for  himself  ,  however  his  insecurity  causes  him  to  doubt  it’s  possible.

what  scares  them  ?

war  ,  death  ,  loss  of  freedom  &  control.

how  do  they  feel  about  death  ?  have  they  been  significantly  affected  by  it  ?

he  hasn’t  known  anyone  personally  who  died  ,  except  for  some  distant  relatives.  however  ,  cedric’s  death  did  affect  him  ,  flipping  a  switch  &  making  him  realize  that  his  life  doesn’t  feel  quite  like  his  anymore.

what  is  one  thing  in  their  past  they’re  ashamed  of  ?  one  thing  they’re  proud  of  ?

he’s  ashamed  of  being  so  harsh  with  certain  peers  of  his.  however  , he’s  proud  of  his  grades  ,  &  becoming  a  prefect. 

pride  ,  envy  ,  gluttony  ,  lust  ,  anger  ,  greed  and  sloth. if  your  character  was  a  seven  deadly  sin  ,  what  would  they  be  and  why  ?

pride  ,  due  to  his  history  of  bullying  because  of  his  “superiority”  ,  that’s  all  thanks  to  his  family  name.

what  is  their  goal  ?

security  &  survival  mostly  ,  it’s  why  he  acts  the  way  he  does.  he  wants  to  make  sure  his  status  remains.

do  they  believe  voldemort  is  back ?  

his  father  hasn’t  mentioned  anything  about  the  subject  ,  &  draco  hasn’t  asked.  but  yes  ,  he  believes  he  is  back  &  that  his  father  was  present  when  it  happened.

𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄:

lyrics  that  describes  your  character  best�� :                                                

❛    might  go  to  hell  &  there  ain't  no  stopping

 might  be  a  sinner  &  i  might  be  a  saint

i'd  like  to  be  proud  but  somehow  i'm  ashamed.    ❜   

                   -  r.i.p.  to  my  youth  by  the  neighborhood

quotes  that  your  character  lives  by  :

❛     don't  ever  stop  believing  in  your  own  transformation.  it  is  still  happening  even  on  days  you  may  not  realize  it  or  feel  like  it.    ❜

❛     the  key  to  happiness  -  or  that  even  more  desired  thing  ,  calmness  -  lies  not  in   always  thinking  happy  thoughts.  no.  that  is  impossible.  no  mind  on  earth  with  any  kind  of  intelligence  could  spend  a  lifetime  enjoying  only  happy  thoughts.  they  key  is  in  accepting  your  thoughts  ,  all  of  them  ,  even  the  bad  ones.  accept  thoughts  ,  but  don't  become  them.    ❜

❛     if  life  were  predictable  it  would  cease  to  be  life  ,  &  be  without  flavor.    ❜

fictional  characters  that  your  character  can  relate  to  :  (  ngl  this  was  rlly  hard  )

.fitzwilliam  darcy  -  pride  &  prejudice  (  rich  ,  arrogant  ,   &  unapproachable  )

theodore  ❛   laurie   ❜   laurence  -  little  women  (  wealthy  ,  moody  ,  &  bored  ,  who  wants  to  travel  a  different  path  from  his  parents  )   

holden caulfield  -  catcher  in  the  rye (  struggles  with  family  ,  class  expectations  ,  &  seeks  escape  )   

people  who  have  changed  your  character’s  life  immensely  :

his  parents  ,  lord  voldemort  ,  &  professor  severus  snape

[filmstruck]

Learning the Ropes: Early Scorsese by R. Emmet Sweeney

Martin Scorsese is not just a name, but a phrase that conjures a world of lower east side street corners, Italian-American toughs and mob rituals. He has built a remarkable resume over 50 years of filmmaking and preservation work that has managed to retain outsized artistic ambitions as Hollywood’s continues to shrink. He has become a living institution, which can sometimes obscure some of the work that built that reputation. FilmStruck is programming three early Scorsese films to re-acquaint ourselves with a portrait of Scorsese as a young director: WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR (’67), MEAN STREETS (’73) and ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (’74). Today I am writing about the two lesser-known films, WHO’S THAT KNOCKING and ALICE, which show Scorsese inhabiting and reaching beyond his roots.

WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR took four years for Scorsese to make and get into theaters, first conceived in 1965 while he was still an undergrad at NYU. He received $5,000 in seed money from his professor Haig Manoogian (listed as a producer). It was intended to be the second part of a trilogy in which MEAN STREETS would be the conclusion. The first being the never-produced JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM. The trilogy was to be a semi-autobiographical story of a lower east side NYC striver named J.R. (Harvey Keitel in his first feature – he was making a living as a court stenographer), hanging out in social clubs in between short-term jobs, hoping for a break. The film went through many variations, first as a short film called Bring on the Dancing Girls, which was then incorporated into a feature called I Call First (where it premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival and was positively reviewed by Roger Ebert).

It received its final form after sex film distributor Joseph Brenner agreed to pick it up if Scorsese would add some nudity. Scorsese described to Anthony DeCurtis in 1991: “We shot it in Holland, because I was up in Amsterdam doing some commercials for a friend of mine. We flew Harvey [Keitel] over and we got the young ladies there and we did this nude scene. I came back, kind of smuggled it back into the country in my raincoat, put it in the middle of the film and then the film was released. But it was still a rough sketch to me…ah, it’s the old story: if I knew then what I know now it would be different.”

The film follows J.R. as he kills time with his buddies at their social club and at bars drinking the hours away. But there is also a flashback to J.R.’s fractured relationship with a girl (Zina Bethune) he picks up while waiting for the Staten Island Ferry. She reads F. Scott Fitzgerald while he is an expert in Westerns. Their first conversation revolves around John Ford’s THE SEARCHERS (’56), since there is a photo of John Wayne in the French magazine she is reading. They swiftly fall in love, but J.R. is still something of a child, prone to outbursts and totally uncomprehending that a woman can have an inner life of her own. When she reveals that she has been sexually assaulted, instead of offering solace, J.R. is repulsed, his Roman Catholic upbringing thumping in his brain, telling him she must have brought it upon herself.

Scorsese, deeply under the spell of the French New Wave, proceeds with a heavy use of jump cuts, though here it feels like less of a rhythmic element and more of a way to stitch together disparate footage shot years apart. He was lucky enough to hire Thelma Schoonmaker right off the bat, but here was a reclamation job she could not entirely succeed at. But there is remarkable skill and daring on display here, especially in the use of slow motion, superimposition, and especially in the use of music. The closing montage is a quick-cut portrait of a Roman Catholic church, with The Genies’ “Who’s That Knocking” plastered on the soundtrack, forcefully displaying J.R.’s inculcated roots in the church, the source of his warped views on women, as well as his interest in breaking free. Early on he begs his social club boss Joey (Lennard Kuras) to go get a drink in the Village, and is rebuffed. The Village, and later, the Girl played by Zina Bethune, are symbols of escape. But he doesn’t really understand either. He is shocked when the Girl is upset when he “forgives” her for being assaulted, and retreats back to the cocoon of Joey and his neighborhood pals. There is an extended take at the end of a bar – where J.R., Joey and a young kid they dismissively call Sally Gaga (Michael Scala) sit and laugh. They toss napkins at each other, like high-school kids at lunch having spitball wars. They are still, for all intents and purposes, children. And yet they have been loosed upon the adult world and the poor women who will have to suffer their notions of Catholic guilt.

After MEAN STREETS, Scorsese was a hot commodity and instead of doubling down on small time NYC crime stories, he shifted gears into a sweetly romantic road movie – ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE. Instead of NYC, it’s the sunbaked climes of New Mexico and Arizona, where a struggling single mom and singer (Ellen Burstyn) is trying to make her way to California to make a living for her son. Opening with credits in Academy ratio and a booming Miklos Rozsa-esque score, it’s clear this is Scorsese’s attempt at a Hollywood melodrama in the Douglas Sirk mode, only filtered through the New Hollywood sensibility.

Ellen Burstyn approached Scorsese to take on the project. According to the AFI Catalog, she had received the script by Robert Getchell from Warner Bros. president John Calley, and though it had been passed over many times, Burstyn was attracted by the character of Alice. Coming off of THE EXORCIST (’73), she was given her choice of director, as well as final script approval (she also advocated for more women to be hired on the crew, including editor Marcia Lucas and art director Toby Carr Rafelson). MEAN STREETS had not been released yet, but it was getting strong early reviews and the two hit it off. They worked on improving the script together and participated in extensive rehearsals and improvisations (the bit about Alice’s first stage act was Burstyn’s improvisation, drawing on her real-life act with her brother).

The movie begins with a fairytale, WIZARD OF OZ-like back lot set, a pigtailed girl walking down a lane to her clapboard house, only this time with way more cursing. It’s a cutesy way to introduce the character of Alice, who is a combination of sweetness and a salty mouth. The film is really a showcase for Burstyn, who appears in nearly every scene, giving a performance of gallows humor and deep pathos. She establishes a natural rapport with Alfred Lutter, who plays her son Tommy. Their relationship is one of mutual needling and teasing, one that can ratchet up to anger at moments of extreme stress. At one of Alice’s low ebbs, when she has to postpone her singing career to take a job as a waitress, they let off steam by getting into a water fight. It escalates from a little joke into a full-blown soaking for both, a diversion of stress into play violence. The duo become expert at coming up with games to lessen the anxiety of their tenuous economic existence. And like on WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR, the soundtrack provides not just a backbeat but insight into the characters’ lives, from Tommy’s blasting of Mott the Hoople to sensitive-boyfriend type Kris Kristofferson’s mellow take on “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

Where WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR provides the doomed tough guy Scorsese template that he would elaborate on for the decades to come, ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE shows he could apply his talents just as skillfully to the melodrama, as he would occasionally detour to explore again in films like THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (’93, newly out on Blu-ray from Criterion). So while the crime films will always be synonymous with Scorsese, the TAXI DRIVER (’76) and GOODFELLAS (’90), we should expand that association to include ALICE right alongside them.

[vermiculus-incipiens]

OOC INFORMATION:

What’s your name? Winter

Preferred pronouns: She/Her

Timezone: Eastern

IC INFORMATION:

Character Name: Minerva Mcgonagall

What’s a hobby or pastime that your character enjoys? In her youth, Minerva participated in several events and hobbies, including dueling and quidditch, but though she excelled in both, Quidditch was something she truly felt passion for. It initially began as something to blow off steam with her friends during her off hours, she was a sort of jack of all trades, being decent at nearly every position in the games they played between themselves, but her particular talent had been the Seeker. With her sharp, feline reflexes and her quick mind. But she never took it further than a hobby. That isn’t to say, however, that she stopped loving the game. Though she may no longer play it and though she never went professional or even officially tried out, she has a hell of a passion. Anyone that knows her, hell, anyone in the house of Gryffindor can tell you that when it comes to Quidditch, you’d be hard pressed to find a more vehement supporter.

Do you have any preferred ships or anti-ships? I ship Minerva with chemistry. That said I would love to delve into this part of her, her sensual side.. her emotional side when it comes to her heart and not her maternal instincts. She may be considered a spinster but she’s passionate and bold and though she never married there’s no way in hell she never had any other lovers. I’d love to see her in a predicament where the person she’s with/her lover is on the opposite side. Either the Ministry or even a Death Eater or Death Eater sympathizer and she doesn’t know it. Or even other scenarios

What do you think your character’s Boggart would be? If their greatest fear isn’t something that could easily take a solid form, what is it? Why? Minerva’s Boggart would be, without a doubt, the image of her rendered completely helpless. With no control over her actions, her emotions, her future. No control over helping those she feels responsible for. The terrifying aspect of being useless and out of control is Minerva’s biggest fear.

What’s your character’s biggest pet peeve? Without a doubt, Minerva’s biggest pet peeve is being ignored, not listened to, or not taken seriously. It’s something she has to deal with often when it comes to her students, and quite frankly, when it comes to some of the higher up men in the wizarding world. [Goddamn Patriarchy D: <]. But particularly with her students. Aside from the infuriating aspect of not being taken seriously, her line of work and her craft is something dangerous. Something that leaves little to no room for mistakes or changes, and it’s for the safety of her students that they need to pay attention, that they need to take her, and her craft seriously.

What would you consider to be an eccentricity of your character? Ok so one thing, not really a huge eccentricity, I feel like she’s just way on her way of being a cat lady x]. However, I feel that her control issues rear their ugly head when she’s under stress or duress. It’s the only way she tends to feel safe or in control of any situation, even if she clearly isn’t. So when stressed out, or upset, she tends to become overly controlling of her own surrounding or the surrounding and situations of others. While usually her collected and analytical mind tends to help those she’s offering advice to, the more stressed out or upset she becomes, the less logical her decisions and choices are.

What is/was your character’s favorite subject in school? Why? Minerva’s favorite subject was, without a doubt, Transfiguration. She and her parents learned from a young age that she had a particular ingrained talent for this particular form of magic. Shifting and transfiguring things from an incredibly young age. It was one of the first glimpses of the precise, scientific and mathematic mind Minerva would develop. Delving into such a dangerous and distinct subject at such a young age meant she had to hone her abilities and education. Taking classes that were considerably more advanced than most her age. Her avid interest in Transfiguration as she got older became something more when she decided to become an Animagus, and was a sole reason for pulling her attention from other subjects and hobbies. Now, as the recent Professor of the subject itself, she not only utilizes this talent in what she needs to do for the Order, but she spends her days teaching students and those in the Order about Transfigurations many dangers, intricacies, and benefits.

What time of day is your character’s favorite? What time of year? True to her alternate feline form, Minerva finds twilight, and evening to be the most invigorating. She gets her best work done at night, whether it’s in the solitude of her own home or working with others of the Order under the cover of darkness. As well as winter.

What’s your character’s Patronus? If they can’t conjure one, what would it be if they could? Why? Minerva’s Patronus is the same creature that she transforms into as an Animagus. The Maine Coone. This particular breed of feline is well known for it’s high intelligence, hunting skills and ability to defend itself, and loyalty to those it cares for. A large, fluffy feline with distinctive tabby markings.

What is your character’s biggest vice (bad habit or immoral craving)? Aside from the occasionally ‘strange’ craving she gets for a mixture of chocolate and salty foods [often fudge brownie mixed with some type of chip], she has a fondness for Single Malt Whiskey, and smoking. She is often seen lighting up a cigarette, and when incredibly stressed out, succumbs to a glass of whiskey. Not many have seen her drunk, but those close to her that have say it’s something they aren’t likely to soon forget.

Is your character an introvert or extrovert? How well do they handle social situations? Minerva seems to be somewhat in the middle. While she has little to no tolerance for fools, bigots, and ignorant people.. she is an incredible teacher. I feel that in her youth in particular, she was an extrovert. Participating in activities such as Quidditch, Dueling and even some extra curricular such as Ancient Studies. As she got older, she began to have far less interest in dealing with people that didn’t want to learn or listen. Currently, she’s more extroverted than introverted, at her prime in her teaching career as well as an incredibly active member of the Order. This, in particular, involves the ability to deal with several young.. intelligent and rebellious members. Often impulsive and naturally inclined to question everything. Something she accepts as par for the course, it takes a particular brand of person to be courageous enough, and strong enough to fight powers as strong as what is threatening to overcome them. She has every intention of doing her part in honing that strength and skill for good.

What is your character’s diet like? What’s his or her favorite food? Minerva doesn’t always have time or really the inclination to pay close attention to her diet or really focus on eating healthy. Her favorite food is Bangers and Mash, as she has a particular craving for salty, starchy foods when she gets stressed out or needs a comfort food. When it comes to sweets, she tends to enjoy white chocolate walnut bark.

How do you think your character’s psychological issues have manifested and changed your character up to this point? I feel Minerva’s need for control rears it’s ugly head when she is stressed, and under such pressure that she experiences as a part of The Order, it’s become more apparent with her habits such as smoking and drinking in particular. I’d like to see her have to cope with something that really pushes her to the brink on that level.

Give us a headcanon for your character. Anything is acceptable. Minerva’s parents named her after the Roman goddess of of wisdom and strategic warfare.. and it seemed they knew she’d live up to that name. Minerva is well known as a fierce woman, a force to be reckoned with, and was one of the very first to join Albus when he founded the order. What many don’t know is that she is responsible for many of the strategies and plans that the Order carries out against their enemies. She often uses her Animagus abilities to get her hands dirty, and rarely settles for being simply behind the scenes.

[thedefinitionofbts]

Our First and Last (Ch. 12 Final)

Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | 

Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 (Final)

Pairings: Jeon Jungkook x Reader (MAIN) | Park Jimin x Kim Taehyung | Jung Hoseok x Min Yoongi | Kim Namjoon x Kim Seokjin

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Soulmate Au, Scifi

Words: 3.5K

So this famous Kim Seokjin guy works in an astronomy lab by the ocean that’s located in an observatory on top of a forest covered hill.

The morning before your departure, Jungkook had come and picked you up at your quaint little apartment, a suggestion he brought up the day before, because “it would be much more convenient than meeting up at lab and leaving from there” (or so he had worded it). Your thoughts had been chaotic the night before; keeping you awake into the late hours and pulling you away from sound slumber. Would tomorrow bring new answers or would it lead to finding out things that you might be better off not knowing?

By 7am, you were almost two tired to feel nervous when you saw him pull up to the driveway in his black Audi SUV. Your morning routine had all been a blur, but as soon as you open the door to the passengers side all the traces of drowsiness vanishes when Jungkook greets you with a smile that makes the world come alive. He was dressed casually once again, which shouldn't be surprising because that’s how he’s always dressed outside of lab. But his oversized white t-shirt and distressed black jeans, brings you back into another dimension, almost quite literally too.

“I know it’s early, but the drive is going to take about four hours,” He says, with his eyes focused on the road. You can’t help but notice the way the veins in his arms pop out ever so slightly, as he holds the steering wheel with one hand, expertly maneuvering the vehicle as he drives.

“Oh it’s fine, I’m used to it” You reply lightheartedly, hoping he doesn’t hear the tiredness entangled in your voice. It’s true that you were indeed used to getting up at the early hours of dawn, you have four years of college to thank for that, but even the pending doom of having an exam the next day wasn’t enough to keep you awake as much as you had been last night.

Perhaps it was just the fact that the two of you were outside of lab, but he seemed different today, more relaxed and less professional (and no, not just because of his attire). It made you wonder what he might be thinking about, or if he had been just as restless as you had the night before.

The road trip was filled with small talk and occasional silences that were both natural and comforting. At one point, Jungkook’s eyes leave the road for a moment to look over at you, his brown doe eyes glimmering from the sunlight reflecting off of the rearview mirror and hair ruffling from salty breeze filtering through the open window, it’s a look that makes you realize just being with him now was more than enough, so you cast away the thoughts that had kept you up all night.

The observatory was a building that clearly displayed countless years of history in its weather worn walls, but despite its age being up there and the evident need for remodeling, it was nonetheless awe-inspiring. Its rounded dome peaked out above the trees and overgrown vegetation, overlooking the calm water from a cliff that juts out towards the sea. As the two of you approach the base of the building, you realize it’s much taller up close, rising up from the ground and opening up to the clear blue sky.

“I could smell a couple of love birds from a mile away” You hear a voice echo throughout the dimly lit and overly cluttered base chamber, as you follow closely behind Jungkook who’s eyes are wide, filled with curiosity, and scanning the room, much like the way yours was too. You weren’t sure if that was the voice of Kim Seokjin, and you were trying to convince yourself that the comment was not directed at you and Jungkook, but all of that bites the dust as you see a tall male wearing a white lab coat walk out from behind one of the storage shelves.

“Good morning, Dr. Kim Seokjin, I’m Jeon Jungkook” Jungkook says as he walks over and offers a handshake in greeting.

“Ah yes, the famous MD-PhD neurosurgeon. I’ve heard much about you.” Seokjin accepts the handshake, and continues to not so subtly examine Jungkook from head to toe while occasionally glancing over at you. “I see you’ve come to discuss some topics of research in my field. Or have you come to seek love advice?” Seokjin smirks a little, making you question whether this really is the well-respected physicist that Jungkook has come to admire because this guy seems to be a little too wacky for your taste.

Jungkook clears his throat brushing off the awkwardness brought on by the not so funny dad joke. “Yes, as I’ve expressed earlier, I think your theory could potentially tie into what I’m working on now in my lab.” Jungkook pauses as he watches Seokjin turn and walk over to his desk, which is just a wooden table top covered with books, gadgets, and other unknown objects, it was situated by a set of large glass windows facing the ocean. An arrangement that makes it obvious he likes to enjoy the breathtaking view as he works on whatever new theory his mind is conjuring up at the time. Seokjin signals for Jungkook to have a seat, which Jungkook does obediently, mind probably still swirling with thoughts about how to begin the discussion. “In your recently published paper you stated that theories from quantum mechanics suggest that there are an infinite number of universes out there; just based on the way subatomic particles behave. I was wondering if those universes are completely invisible to us, or if there is a possibility of traversing between them.” Jungkook says as he’s seated across from the physicist.

You had just been casually looking at the objects on the shelves, minding your own business, not wanting to interrupt or get in the way, but you ears perk up at his last sentence. Was Jungkook slowly remembering? Is that why he asked you to come today? The excitement and curiosity builds, but you sternly remind yourself not to get your hopes up too high.

Seokjin chuckles, a response that startles you as the light vibration from his laugh spreads through the room. “I see you’re caught up in the fact that physical laws dictate our perception of the universe.”

“Do they not?” The uncertainty in Jungkook’s voice is more noticeable than you had ever witnessed before. He falls silent, as Seokjin leans back in his chair and crosses his arms.

“Oh, but Dr. Jeon, have you ever considered the idea that our consciousness is not governed by the laws of physics and perhaps that’s why it has never been properly explained.” Seokjin says rather confidently, and it’s the first time your witnessing Jungkook confused by another scientist’s theory. “The fact that consciousness itself is above any limitations in the physical world?”

He sits there, not responding to what the older scientist has just proposed, but seemingly deep in thought. You watch as his eyebrows furrow, and he avoids direct eye contact with the physicist. None of what Seokjin was saying was making any sense to you, but you didn’t think anyone had the power to confuse Jungkook, especially not when it comes to theories of consciousness since that’s always been his forte.

“I may not be an expert neuroscientist like you, but I’ve spent years investigating theories.” Seokjin proceeds. “However, I would’ve never believed the brain has the power to choose which universe to consciously perceive if I hadn’t met him.”

Him? Don’t tell me he’s going to talk about some sort of divine entity…

You look at Seokjin, waiting for him to explain whom this “him” is, hoping that the next thing that come out of his mouth will not cause him to lose credibility in your mind because this guy has certainly left a crazy scientist sort of impression on you so far. You notice the evident fondness in his eyes as he’s clearly recalling an old memory.

“Whenever people ask me why I chose to be an astronomer, I always tell them it’s because I liked looking at stars as a child, but the true reason is because I met a man named Kim Namjoon” Seokjin says in a nostalgic voice.

Kim Namjoon…

The images flash before your eyes. You vaguely recall an empty library and a young professor looking at you from behind a pair of old fashioned spectacles.

“I got really sick one year, when I was five. The doctors didn’t think I would make it and I fell into some sort of coma that lasted for a week or so, and that’s the first time I saw him.” You hear Seokjin’s voice, but it sounds muffled and far away. You feel a bit dizzy and sway a little on your feet, unable to find anything near you to grab onto to maintain balance.

“Y/N, are you ok?” Before you know it, Jungkook is by your side, supporting you so that you don’t fall over. You nod, reassuring Jungkook that you feel fine.

“I don’t want to make this all cheesy and say that it was love at first sight, but that boy was really something” Seokjin is so caught up in his thoughts that he momentarily forgets his surroundings and seems to be lost in his own world of thoughts. “He was extremely intelligent, tall, and had the cutest dimples when he smiled. And boy did he smile a lot.”

“So you’re telling me, you were able to perceive someone in another universe?” You hear Jungkook ask. He’s still standing next to you, holding onto your shoulders even though you had pretty much recovered from your dizzy spell moments ago.

“Newton ended up believing in god because he wasn’t able to explain everything in the universe, as did Einstein when he died without having figured out how to connect quantum mechanics and general relativity after spending the last years of his life researching it. Is it so hard for you to accept the idea of soulmates, Dr. Jeon? ”

Again, Jungkook doesn’t respond. He probably has too many conflicting thoughts swirling around his brain to come up with a composed response, and it was clear that Seokjin’s theories have really hit home.

“The minds of soulmates use their conscious perception to defy the limiting laws of the universe or the boundaries between universes in order to reach each other.” Seokjin finally says.

“What about universes that have different timelines?” You find yourself blurting out before your brain could approve of the action.

Seokjin chuckles again. “Time isn’t linear, everything is happening at once,” He explains. “That’s how people seamlessly traverse between parallel universes, or more accurately how their brains switch from perceiving one universe to perceiving another.” He pauses before making a last comment. “It’s almost like we don’t see reality as it is, but instead we see it how we want to. On a certain level of course, these decisions are obviously not perfectly unaffected by the universe itself, but it goes to show how powerful our brains are or can be. ”

It was all starting to come together, albeit still very difficult to wrap your head around, but everything was at least beginning to make some sense.

“So he was right?” You whip your head around to look at Jungkook who has spoken up after being silent for so long. He laughs and shakes his head. “My professor in grad school.” He explains. “He told me that space-time is not the nature of reality, and that they are more like your desktop computer, and objects in the world are icons on that desktop, hiding the true reality of the universe via this interface we see before our eyes.” He chuckles again. “Made no sense to me at the time, but now….” He shakes his head, still smiling and not really looking at either you or Seokjin.

There goes anything that was starting to make sense. You think to yourself as you hear the words leaves Jungkook’s mouth and mentally sigh.

Suddenly a loud roar of thunder crackles through momentary silence, which makes you almost jump out of your skin. You look over and notice that the previously clear sky is now covered in dark grey clouds. The conversation had caused the three of you to lose track of time, a glance at the old clock hanging on the wall revealed that it was already 4:00 in the afternoon.

“Looks like you two better get going before it starts pouring.” Seokjin says as he looks out the window. The wind was kicking up and you could see the trees swaying from the strong gust, with the sea in the background, dark waves rippling across its surface.

“Thank you, Dr. Kim, I appreciate it” Jungkook says, before the two of you walk out of the observatory.

The rain begins slowly, with just a few sprinkles carried by the wind hitting your face, but it quickly, almost violently begins to downpour. The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves drowns out any hope of having a normal conversation to bring any closure to the information that Seokjin has provided. Jungkook is walking in front of you, not too far ahead, but far enough that you can’t see his expression and that’s when you start to feel a bit of frustration building up in the pit of your stomach. Was he just going to leave it at that? Is he just going to go back to lab and not ever explain why he dragged you along or why he constantly confuses you with all of these theories that you clearly aren’t able to fully understand?

“Jungkook, why did you bring me here today?” You finally lose that last bit of control and restraint, bottled up emotions finally breaking free like the stormy weather you were currently amidst. The pouring rain must’ve given you some sort of magical courage to ask, because that question had been looming there all day, like the elephant in the room that no one seems to want to address.

He stops in his tracks, and slowly turns around, taking a few steps towards you, doe eyes unreadable, dark hair wet and sticking to his forehead.

The next thing you know, his lips are crashing against yours and it’s almost as if someone hit a pause button on the world, and universes decided to stop the flow of time for what feels like an eternity because Jungkook’s lips are softer than the way you used to imagine clouds to be and sweeter than your favorite childhood candy, they move gracefully, conveying endless flower fields of desire and affection. The scent of his cologne mixed with the warmth of his body and the relentless rain, washes away every last doubt that makes you ask questions like will he ever feel the same way about me again? And is it possible for us to be together?

Jungkook’s eyes always emanated light, like a window to his soul or some gateway to heaven, but when he finally pulls away, you can’t tell if it’s the rain or if he’s crying because your own tears are too overwhelming.

“Because I need you,” He whispers, as he pulls you in for a warm embrace.

You don’t know how long he stands there holding you in his arms, but you don’t care because you never want that moment to end. You slowly wrap your arms around him and bury your face into the familiar crevice of his chest, an irreplaceable safety net that only he was ever able to provide for you.

“But Jimin and Taehyung….” You trail off, not knowing why they seem to feel like they’ve lived through several lifetimes together. You were sitting in the car now, drying off your hair with a towel that Jungkook happened to have stored away in his trunk.

“Dreams only last seconds, but when your in them, doesn’t it feel like days or much longer? I think it’s similar to that. ” Jungkook says, as he drives down the mountain. The rain is starting to subside, and the clouds are clearing up. He drives down to the beach; knowing that the worst of the storm has passed and probably not wanting to head back to the city just yet.

Sitting next to him in the wet sand, and gazing at the large body of water in whose surface has now calmed to its resting state, brings back another memory, one that makes your heart race and clench at the same time. Blue waves are splashing gently against the shore, stopping just before receding back into the deep ocean. You look towards the horizon, basking in the salty breeze whose flavor is now tinted ever so slightly with the fresh smell of rain, waiting for a rainbow to appear in the sky that is speckled with only a few grey clouds.

“The feelings are still there, even though they may lack the depth and clarity that full consciousness allows for.” Jungkook says, after taking a deep breath. He turns away from the sky that’s pouring light and faces you.

And you think that he’s preparing to apologize, and that the next thing that comes out of his mouth will be something along the lines of he’s sorry for not being able to remember and that he wishes he could, but what he actually says is something that you don’t think you’ll ever forget, even if you get Alzheimer’s when your 70 or 60 or earlier, even if the end of the world comes before then, and even when you’re lying in your grave and all the neuron’s in your brain are biologically pronounced dead.

“It doesn’t even matter, because I fell in love with you anyways.” Jungkook reaches over and caresses your cheek with his hand, tracing the curve of your jawline and wiping the tear that has slid down your cheek with his thumb. “And it doesn’t matter where you are, because even if I don’t remember you, I will still love you. In this world where our eyelids will one day find their infinite darkness, I will still love you. And when the vast amounts of multiverses revert back to nothingness, I will still love you. ” He leans in, and kisses you, delicately cupping your face in both of his hands, so gentle as if you would shatter under too much force. “We were able to meet even when our chances of doing so defied all odds. Out of all the infinite number of possible collisions of particles in this vast multiverse, we found each other because soulmates are people whose minds choose the same universe to meet in and to fall in love.” His nose is still gently brushing yours as he whispers those words, eyes closed and soft hands still cupping your face.

When a long sentimental moment passes and he finally pulls away, you open your eyes. Looking at him through the tears threatening to blur your vision, he was still beautiful in every way you remember, in every way your mind decides to etch his very being into your heart, a kind of beauty that emanates from his soul, the tender warmth that’s always there no matter what universe.

“Our time may be limited, but it’s more than enough.” He says, making you realize that having a limit on the amount of time you could spend with each other, will make you wholeheartedly appreciate the moments you saw the sparkle in his eyes and the endearing smile on his face more than anything else. “This moment right now is the only one that truly matters.”

And because saying “I love you” doesn’t feel like it’s enough to express what you’re feeling, because those simple words could never be enough to describe how you feel about Jeon Jungkook, you smile and hold his hand, gripping him firmly as to never let go. You think of Jimin and Taehyung, Hoseok and Yoongi, and even Namjoon and Seokjin, no matter how or in which universe their minds decide to meet, they all have their own stories where they convey their love, love that transcends physical matter and goes on to last for an eternity.

“Jungkook, I want to tell you a story…” You say, smiling as you gaze at his face and the setting sun in the background. There were dark purple clouds with shiny white peaks, and the canvas that was the sky was a gradient from navy to bright blue, drifting to yellow, orange, red and pink.

“Whenever you’re ready”

You smile.

“It’s called ‘Our First and Last’”

...

[katef-m]

field notes

trying to sink into London as if the city is a deep bath, the ornate kind with feet and bubbles, and busy myself amid its waters - see this Instagram post https://instagram.com/p/BZeOFnSBEhJ/ by way of example - but o it is not good enough, distraction is all it is, work and friends and food and sleep and the overhead stress of final year and the future, all just distractions.

what it boils down to: I would prefer not to. London is my home, but. But. I'd sacrifice all my bursary money, I'd go to French class every day, I'd run miles without music, I'd never listen to Bruce again - no, too far, i need Bruce more than ever - anyhow the point is, I'd do almost anything to rewind a year. A n y t h i n g. how do you transition from sheer happiness to same old greyness. how do you conjure enthusiasm for consultancy and bureaucracy and stupid academic words that mean shit and a university devoid of American studies classes and no professors who inspire you. it hurts. as raw in the heart as the day I left Berkeley.

the past year taught me what happiness actually meant, and how shallow my previous understanding of the word had been. I can't go back to who i was pre-Berkeley, i never want to go back to that glum existence, but nor can i sustain the identity I found in Berkeley. instead, stuck in this weird wormhole, all grey and tepid, and not knowing what to do with myself.

on tHe outside, all smiles. This year in London is going to be so different to all my previous years in London, I beam to Mum. I join in with things, I buy groceries, I go to places. but the whole time there's this lump rubbed raw in m'y throat, a well of tears sloshing just below the surface and willing to spill at any time. it hurts. it's heartbreak. it's exactly so, because I'm grieving for something that can never return, something so transient that flickers in the light and is so lightly gold you don't quite realise how valuable it is until it is gone. I just want to go back. I don't want to coat my skin in salty tears just because I found an old video of us singing along to Abba, from the early days of the year when California was wet, and we made cocktails, and B C and L sing and sing, E is dancing with his wine glass, F is talking about Sinead o Connor, the gin is pink, and they are all so warm and so there: but not there now. it hurts. and when will it stop? is the wash of saltwater swelling as the evenings get darker and the air colder and greyer, as the reality of the situation sets in and I am forced to engage with a life I care little for? when everything that made my heart crackle with happiness happened last year? will it - life - ever feel that good again? when will I stop feeling like a bruise? can I summon the skies of California to temper these blues? (anyway, today I went for a slippy slate run after the rain and then I made coffee for strained freshers for four hours and then tried to soothe my soul with a long slouch round the supermarket buying fancy store cupboard things like Dijon mustard. and I ran into a bunch of money I wasn't expecting to get, and I watched a bad Swedish drama, and that was all.)

[b-leikur]

[W101] OC opinions on their teachers

Garrett: He would be startled for a moment, having not expected to be asked about his thoughts on Professor Baelstrom, a faint colour of pink tainting his cheeks. “E-eh?! Uhm...well...he’s okay.” He’s too remorseful to tell how much he is quite taken aback by his teacher’s sustained enthusiasm.

Jacob: “Alhazred means well for an elderly krok. What he passed onto me all these years, I have kept as a word I could live by.” Jacob, as he is a wizard of Balance, considers his teacher to be correct even if he’s old of age, and that wisdom and knowledge has to be a cherished part of a Sorcerer’s life.

Lionheart: “Hmph. Mrs. Greyrose’s first words when I crossed into her class were that I should’ve been a student of Storm or Fire with such a temperament. How illogical.” He’s salty about his teacher’s initial thought of his hot-tempered behavior, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like her - it’s simply just that he isn’t too used to her making such remarks jokingly.

Hunter: “Cyrus? Haha! To most other Conjurers, he is the worst teacher they could’ve had! Sure, I see him as annoying often times too, but I try my best to make him happy whenever he sends me away for a new spell or pet!” Hunter’s rascality is most tiring for Cyrus, it is difficult for him to fully aknoledge the fact that Hunter would do everything in his will to appear hard-working for a spunky youngster. To him, Cyrus’ annoyance poses as nothing but a practical joke he’d be stiffening his laughter at, but still obey and do his best shot.

Talon: “Ah~ Malorn and Dworgyn? Both were good enough for me! The kid’s been with Malistaire, so there’s quite a lot he taught me~ As for Dworgyn, his humor has my bones rattling in excitement for what he wants me to do.” Talon, please. Talon’s no pushover when it comes to his teachers, whether it’s one of Malistaire’s best students, or a Darkmoor assistant. He would still act cocky and confident, both the young Necromancer (that’s around his age) and the hunchback were pleasing to listen to and learn from, from his point of view at least.

[ntrending]

The complicated, century-long relationship between swimming pools and chlorine

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/the-complicated-century-long-relationship-between-swimming-pools-and-chlorine/

The complicated, century-long relationship between swimming pools and chlorine

Americans love to swim. We’ve won one-third of all Olympic medals for swimming—more than any other country in the world. Founding father Benjamin Franklin is credited as the inventor of swim fins. And the United States has approximately 10.4 million residential pools. Hundreds of thousands more are owned and operated by cities for community use, not to mention the gyms and racket clubs that serve dues-paying members.

But the modern, large-scale, sanitized, and relatively inexpensive swimming pools we know and love today emerged only a century ago, thanks to advances in chemical sanitation and filtering technology. One academic paper (which is, at times, laugh-out-loud funny) from Montclair State University chemist Kevin Olsen went so far as to divide the history of pools into “BC,” or “before chlorine,” and after.

However, pools—and the tools we use to keep them clean—aren’t perfect. Seeking a cleaner, more comfortable swimming experience, the pool industry has tried to innovate in recent decades. The growing trend of “saltwater pools,” which rely on salt chlorinators instead of traditional sources like household bleach, is one byproduct of this continued tinkering. But despite our best efforts, we just can’t seem to quit hypochlorous acid (the chemical name for common pool chlorine).

Swimming for leisure in lakes, rivers, and oceans is probably as old as humanity itself. And man-made pools, often for bathing, date back to ancient Indus River Valley civilizations. But in the late 19th century, people became concerned that bodies of water—natural or artificial—could be plagued with disease. They weren’t wrong, but their methods weren’t necessarily effective. Without a chemical solution, people built pools on downward slopes to drain the water, and frequently replaced the liquids in an attempt to flush out impurities.

That all changed around 1911, according to Olsen, when Brown University tried to sterilize Colgate Hoyt Pool, a heated, marbled crown jewel on the Providence, Rhode Island campus. A chemist added to the pool bleaching powder, which had risen to prominence in recent years as a method for treating drinking water, in the hopes of eliminating the pool’s brownish hue. “The results were spectacular,” Olsen writes. “Bacteria counts went from 700 [parts per million] to 0 in only 15 minutes.”

It didn’t take long for these methods to spread. Laws regulating the sanitation of pools appeared on the books in just a few years. But the modern swimming pool’s other essential component—the filtration system—took a few more decades. It wasn’t until the end of World War II, according to Olsen, that diatomaceous earth filters, which rely on powdered rock to capture fine particles in the pool water, became popular. And skimmers, which are built into the pool and often mimic the appearance of a storm drain, only emerged in 1952; they’ve been trapping bigger pieces of debris like sticks or leaves ever since.

Swimming in carefully managed man-made pools had never been more popular.

But by the 1970s, warning signs started to bubble up. (Or, as Olsen put it, “the first fissures in the summer love affair between chlorine and swimming” eventually emerged.) For one, chlorinating a pool can be gnarly, mind-numbing work, especially if you don’t have an automated system. People with manual pools still mix their own chlorine poolside, then walk the bucket around the perimeter, dumping the liquid cleaner as they go. Depending on usage, temperature, and other factors, homeowners have to repeat this process as often as once a day. They also have to measure algae, pH, and other indicators of pool health—and modify them with a second set of chemicals when things get out of whack. (No wonder it was in the midst of this repetitive task that Olsen came up with the idea for his research paper. “At the time, I had an above-ground pool in my yard,” he says. “And one night, I’m stirring chlorine into it, and I wondered, ‘who invented this?’”)

Even worse, when pool chlorine mixes with urine—as it often does—the chemical interaction generates troublesome compounds. Chloramines form when free chlorine compounds bond with urine or other chemicals. They’re the real source of that chlorine pool smell and can cause skin irritation, burning eyes, and respiratory problems. In fact, frequent swimming in chloramine-saturated pools appears to increase the risk of asthma and some allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The other toxic substance—cyanogen chloride—forms under similar conditions and can disrupt your body’s ability to utilize oxygen.

These risks may seem acceptable, given infectious disease is a possible alternative. But chlorine doesn’t even always do its job. Between 2000 and 2014, there were 493 outbreaks in pools, hot tubs, spas, and water playgrounds in the United States. Eight people died as a result. Norovirus, Shigella, and Cryptosporidium, all of which are found in human poop, caused the majority of these pool-based infections.

Over the years, chlorine alternatives—or at least what seem like chlorine alternatives—have gone to market. In 1919, according to Olsen, at least one luxury hotel was advertising ultraviolet purification. “No Chlorine, no Chemicals,” the ads said. And in the 1920s, pool owners dabbled in ozone, that carefully-regulated gas punching a hole in our stratosphere. But the most successful system is, undoubtedly, the salt chlorinator.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a retired chemistry professor developed a new way to create and release chlorine. Instead of dumping bleach, calcium hypochlorite powder, or related chlorine compounds into the pool, this new system subsisted on salt. It now accounts for 35 percent of automatic sanitation systems in residential pools, according to internal data from the pool products company Hayward.

“As opposed to putting chlorine into your pool every week or every couple days, really the salt water general takes care of that for you,” says Jason Davila, Hayward’s product manager of chemical automation. “Not only does it provide a convenience benefit, but it also provides a more luxurious experience. People note the water feels silkier; you don’t have that chlorine smell or those red eyes that people get from traditional chlorine.”

The name “salt water pool” may conjure up serene, saline memories of the ocean, but Davila says these pools are about as briny as a contact solution. The ocean has a salinity level around 35,000 parts per million. Human tears are about 6,000 parts per million. And a Hayward pool is somewhere between 2,500 and 3,500 parts per million. To achieve the slightest hint of salinity, pool owners add a small amount of salt to the water, tabulated according to the gallonage of their pool. As a result, some proponents mistakenly claim these salty systems offer chemical free filtration. But, Davila says, even salt water pools need chlorine to stay clean.

On the Periodic Table of Elements, basic salt is classified as NaCl, or sodium chloride. When dissolved in water, salt breaks down into salt and chlorine. If you have a salt water filtration system and add salt to your pool, the NaCl is pulled through a special cell made of titanium plates coated in ruthenium, a powerful catalyst. The cell stimulates a chemical reaction, creating chloride ions. When oxidized, these ions form Cl2, or chlorine gas. In a final reaction, the gas dissolves in the pool water as hypochlorous acid, which cleans the pool water. “That’s how you go from traditional table salt to what we in the pool industry consider chlorine,” Davila says.

There are many claims made about the superiority of these salt water systems, but there’s little academic research to back it up, at least for now. Most of what we know comes from user experience. The notion that salt water pools are “silkier” or “softer” doesn’t come from a research paper, but from people swimming in salt water pools at resorts or neighbor’s houses—and, of course, from swimming pool marketing material. According to industry experts, the feel of a salt water pool likely has to do with osmotic gradients. Because the pool water is kept at a saline level similar to the saltiness of the cells in our body, it doesn’t dry us out, making the swimming experience that much more pleasant.

Similarly, saltwater filters are said to be less likely to redden your eyes or irritate your skin. While chlorine is chlorine is chlorine, delivery methods can shape our body’s response to chemicals, according to both Davila and Olsen. Because the sodium chlorinator is regularly producing and evenly distributing the cleaning solution, it’s not as harsh as one big dump of sanitizer every few days the traditional way. And, Davila adds, by continuously churning out chlorine, salt chlorination curbs the formation of irritating chloramines.

Olympic-sized or kidney-shaped, it’s clear that pools intersect with politics and economics, and regularly serve as real-life laboratories. Throughout history, we’ve been easily spooked by both disease outbreaks and the side effects of chemicals made to manage them. And we’ve barely begun to imagine what the pool of the future could be. But at the end of the day, whether you’re in a salt water system or a traditionally chlorinated pool, there’s nothing quite as soothing as a swim.

Written By Eleanor Cummins