#she uses her physical space to strengthen her points

[sirdolraan]

Old Ghosts

(( DWC August 2024 Day 2, Violence/Tenderness, CW: guns, death, murder, blood; @daily-writing-challenge ))

As he did every year around this time, Drogar sat in his study, examining his old, trusty revolver, surrounded by old ghosts.

"NO!" Moira screamed, as Drogar emptied his pistol into the Dark Iron Emperor, finally avenging his clan's suffering from Dagran's plotting. Far from breaking free of the control, Drogar watched, dumbfounded, as she fell to her knees, cradling the un-moving form of Dagran Thaurissan. "Thaurissan was a great and honorable dwarf," she sobbed, "You ruined my life and the life of my unborn child!"

With a sigh, he tenderly and methodically disassembled the pistol piece by piece, giving each component a proper cleaning and oiling. Lorellai had used it extensively in her adventures, and taken fine care of it, but it had been one of his first successes in gun-making, and had accompanied him throughout his adventuring career. He'd made other, more effective and ornate weapons, but this one bore the weight of history. It was important that he be the one to give it a proper deep clean.

"Drogar, reinforcements are coming in, and they've got more of those fire lizards at their back, we have to go!" the mage had yelled, beginning to cast his portal.

Moira had looked at him with hate in her eyes, Thaurissan's blood staining her dress as it pooled beneath him. "Return to Ironforge and tell my father that the heir to the Kingdom of Ironforge will be a Dark Iron dwarf. Whether he approves or not, it shall be."

Piece by piece, he restored the pistol to its functional state, clean and ready to be loaded and used again. It felt heavier in recent years, though he knew nothing had changed physically.

Some weights weren't physical.

The blue light of the teleportation spell surrounded Drogar and his allies as they made good their escape ahead of the howling cries of the dark iron soldiers and their fiery masters. Moira stared daggers at Drogar, helpless to do anything but cradle her beloved husband's corpse. Everyone else was looking elsewhere, but their gazes were fixed on each other as Drogar raised the pistol once more, pointing it at Moira.

Click.

And they were back in Ironforge, mission complete, if not successful. Thaurissan was dead, but Moira had not been rescued. "We're going to need to tell the King what happened, come on everyone," his friends had said, as Drogar lowered the pistol, staring at the empty space where moments ago and miles away he'd seen Moira Thaurissan.

Drogar set the pistol on the table, and sighed. In hindsight, it had been damn lucky the weapon had been empty. Despite his hatred for the dark irons, and the difficulties of the Cataclysm, Moira and her loyalists had not only saved Ironforge, but strengthened his home. The Council of Three Hammers had done well by his people, and their future was bright. He'd done what he was commanded to do. He'd assassinated the ruler of the enemy who warred against them. He'd avenged his uncles, aunts, cousins and more who had died to Dark Iron machinations. And only now, with success and family and everything he'd ever have wanted, was he able to appreciate the cost of what he'd done.

"Th' Butcher of Blackrock. Cannae believe I used t' take pride in it, eh boy?" he asked, gently scratching behind Balinore's ears. The great bear huffed at the disturbance, but leaned into the attention.

A noise from the stairs interrupted his reverie. He turned to see Lorellai coming down the stairs, holding her pack in one hand and looking worried. "Hey Da', do yeh have a minute t' talk?"

Hours later, the sun had risen over icy Dun Morogh, and Lorellai was saying her goodbyes. That minute had turned into hours as they'd learned that Lorellai wasn't the only meddler having the visions, and the decision had been made for those hearing the call to join Dolraan in Dalaran to lend their aid to Khadgar.

"Lass, one last thing," Drogar said, holding his daughter's hand as he drew forth the pistol. "Got it all cleaned up for yeh. May it continue t' keep yeh safe. I love yeh, lass."

Lorellai took the pistol and casually slid it into her her shoulder holster, under her coat. "Thanks Da', we'll both be back before you know it, I'm sure!" she declared, giving her dad a kiss on the nose before hoisting her pack and stepping towards the portal. Moments later, Drogar stood in a smaller crowd that began to break up and return to their work.

"Titans, if yer listenin', keep her safe. And let her give that tool a better destiny than I did."

[huntershowl-moving]

miscellaneous bnha verse headcanons.

thanks to @bcdomens for prompting a lot of these!!!

seph's chosen hero name would've been nightwalker, had she not been pulled out of UA before they could graduate. ( laughs in 'doesn't have a hero verse for seph because life & bad choices always lead them to villainy' )

her hero fighting style is a balance between range fighting (sniper rifle, pistols, throwing knives) and wrecking shop in close combat with high-velocity martial arts and dirty street fighting.

much of her hero fighting relies on precise hits (to vulnerable spots and pressure points), agility, and speed rather than brute force. this is a pretty stark contrast to the way they fight as a villain: high-damage blows, breaking bones, really brutal stuff.

seph carves extra time out of her schedule to train while purposefully not utilizing her quirk. it's extremely important to her sense of identity to be able to hold her own against quirk users without needing its assistance (it's a pride thing). if other members of class 1-A notice and ask her about it, she'll try to rope them into training quirkless too.

during current-gen verse, they intern with snipe!! :)

quirk-related notes. (cut for long.)

seph's voidsmoke quirk allows her to create large swaths of darkness within an area (a move called veil). inside that particular darkness, within which one is surrounded by faint and glimmering stars, she can sense where people and objects are, aka where the smoke's mass is displaced. this puts her at a huge advantage when fighting within a veil.

while fighting back-to-back or side by side with a partner, she'll usually not pull down the veil unless they have some kind of night vision. when the veil is active, it's safe to assume seph is fighting alone. not to worry! they can take on quite a few people in that fucked-up little space.

in brightly-lit areas, it takes double or triple the amount of physical effort to create and maintain a veil, as it is a patch of complete darkness — blocking more light puts an extra strain on her. if it's bright enough (ie direct sunlight with no shade) it's not possible at all. in addition, if a fire is started or explosions/flashbangs go off inside the veil, it tires her out much faster to continually re-strengthen it.

in general, voidsmoke counters — and is countered by — light/fire. because she can control the molecular structure of the smoke, it can be used to smother or dampen flames within its space, at the cost of an exponentially higher energy usage from seph's body. enough light can overpower the voidsmoke and shatter a veil prematurely.

congealing the smoke's molecules can very briefly solidify parts of it. this is how they can make an emergency bullet on the fly, hold someone down, or shield a fatal blow so that part of the damage is absorbed before it hits her. the longer she keeps up the solidification (ie after like 1-3 seconds), the more brittle the shadow becomes. this is the main offensive feature of the quirk, and by far the most taxing.

one of the later-learned upgrade features to their quirk is that, by manipulating the molecular structure of the voidsmoke in a very, very precise way, it can be used to filter out unwanted molecules from the air. this has only happened to her once unconsciously: it's how they survive a house fire a year or two after they get pulled out of UA, unable to move from the floor and bleeding out. the smoke acted on orders from their subconscious: survive, survive, survive. filtered the air, absorbed and redirected the heat before it could roast their body. doing this consciously is thus far impossible.

[callsign-rogueone]

Directors cut for Letters From Samara? I know you’ve already talked about my favorite love birds a couple of times, so if you don’t want to dive into them again, I completely understand. That one just had me in the worst emotional chokehold, and the way you balanced the sadness of them being separated with the goodness that is their relationship was 🤌🤌

-fw-gt

@fw-gt you know I’m always happy to talk about my og’s!!

I was so nervous to post this one because I was worried this would be ooc for Gare since he’s this cocky sassy ladies’ man in the books — but I think that makes him being a total sap for Angel even more impactful. that’s what I tell myself to help me sleep at night, at least 😅💗

I will start with what I know you’re most worried about: I am alive, I am safe, and so is X. He’s brooding in the corner of the room right now -- he’s not taking it well being apart from Vi, but command has allowed them visits every two weeks for Tairn and Sgaeyl’s sakes. 

-> he knows that she’s an anxious girl and that she’d probably be scared to open it for fear of bad news, so he’s soothing that worry first before saying anything else 🥺

I’m sure the gardens would appreciate your attention as well; I swear you could make roses grow in dry sand as long as you smiled at them every day. 

-> he’s giving her ideas of things to do to pass time time apart and to keep herself from being depressed. roses in dry sand is a nod to her signet (remember that I wrote these out of order, so they don’t know about the full extent of it right now) she has a green thumb, because she’s attentive and careful and loving with all beings, including plants, but there’s just something about her presence that makes flowers grow even in poor conditions.

-> this line is also a nod to her nurturing capability, with Sweets and the youngins, but also with Gare and Xaden. she provides that safe, loving space for her big tough boys to be soft and vulnerable.

I just got off a 12-hour patrol shift, and I’m exhausted, but it’s hard to sleep without you here. I don’t think we’ve ever been apart this long in our lives. Being without either of you has never even felt like a possibility before; it’s always been us three together through the good and the bad. Someday it’ll be like that again, I know it will.

-> case in point. he needs her and can’t rest without her being there 🥺 and this is the first time they’ve been truly separated — they were always together as little kids, and then the two of them were fostered together but they visited Xaden frequently. they’ve never been this far apart, ever.

Brennan is the best mender I have ever known. If you choose, he can help you strengthen your ability, but please don’t push yourself too far. I need you to be in one piece when I get back. 

-> he knows that she hasn’t had good experiences with Carr and Nolon in the infirmary at Basgiath, but they both know and trust Brennan, so he would be a better option, IF she wants to work on it. he knows it‘s physically difficult for her to use her signet (but he doesn’t know the full extent of that difficulty), and that it’s a point of insecurity and anxiety for her, being a third year who is still struggling to get it to work.

-> also, Gare definitely gave the man a talking to about taking care of Angel in his absence. Brennan may be older and wiser and outrank him, but all that goes out the window when it comes to Angel and her safety.

You realize what an incredible risk it was to write to you at all. It wouldn’t take a genius to put together that X is Xaden, that you’re hiding in Aretia, that you’d faked your death, or rather that your friends had faked it for you. How many hands did these pages pass through to reach you? How many others out there are on your side? 

-> because of their situation, something as simple as writing a letter is a risk, but he took it, for her — and Xaden even put a letter of his own in there that you didn’t get to see. he’s endorsed this risk fully, because he knows how much his two best friends need each other, especially right now.

You set the letters aside for a moment, stacking up the books that you’d found in the house’s library about mending and placing them in a neat pile in the corner of the table you’ve been sitting at every evening for the last week. You fold the black cotton into quarters, setting it atop the pile -- you’ll try again tomorrow.

-> Angel is literally just that, an angel. it was important to me that she clean up after herself — as a courtesy to the other occupants of Riorson house, but also because she doesn’t like to take up space. she’s sequestered herself in a little corner out of everyone’s way, so she can do her thing without bothering anyone, and she’s still stacking everything up all nice for tomorrow despite being super tired.

Garrick is right, this is the longest you’ve ever been apart, but as you gaze out the window into the starry sky, holding the letters he’d written you, the distance between you doesn’t seem that far.

-> I wanted to add something here about how they’re looking at the same constellations, her in the library in Aretia and him across the country in his barracks room in Samara, but I couldn’t get it right. I’m now realizing that this continent is probably big enough to require multiple time zones, so he might be asleep… whatever. just know that they’re both sitting quietly and thinking about each other 🥺

.

that’s all I’ve got for now, since my brain has been reduced to strawberry jello by this mystery illness. but I hope it gave you some feels and a little more insight into your faves 💗

[owlbeastly]

Lilith's classes

Odalia used everything in her power to get Amity a place under a Coven Head's training. Though she would've preferred someone else, Lilith was the Emperor's Coven leader. Personal history or not, that was the best for the family. However, her ideas of rigid, ruthless training were a bit off...

Lilith's training was indeed tough, but when Amity got admitted, she was just a five-year-old and way under the age limit. The Head Witch knew she couldn't just use the same methods. So she got in contact with Bump to talk with some of Hexside's teachers and learn a bit from them.

Clawthorne's plan was to follow the school's curriculum, focusing on really reinforcing the basics so the child could build upon it steadily and faster, later. So, while Odalia hoped they were forcing her daughter to sit still and recite the Magic Law, something else was going on... Something like:

Nursery Rhymes! Lilith knew a thousand Nursery Rhymes that taught kids the basics of magic, history, and science. She picked the ones she considered best and would always sing them with Amity at the beginning of class, teaching her the hand gestures and what they meant. It was heartwarming to see the child learning the lyrics and following her excitedly. Lilith was scared she would be too embarrassed to do the dances and that Amity wouldn't join her, but the little girl watched her teacher with her eyes glistening and a big smile.

Drawing and painting! Lilith would bring images of the Isles for them to draw and color. She first focused on the whole Titan, then on specific parts of their body to help Amity get a better understanding of their geography and Titan biology. She also knew, as a future Abomination Coven member, Amity needed to develop geometrical and observation skills to correctly summon and build golems that looked the way she wanted them to look. It was a challenge, and most of the little girl's first drawings were an abstract mess. Lilith toned down the requirements and asked Amity to focus on basic shapes first. This helped the child greatly and soon she memorized the looks of many geographical spaces and demons.

Physical games! Body Awareness and Balance were the only subjects outside of the common school curriculum that Lilith taught, going hard on extra teachings. As someone who never had this type of specialized learning in her youth and had to teach herself later on to survive the Coven's training, she intended to make sure every student of hers would be prepared, and Amity was the first one that would grow up with such nurturing. There were plenty of physical exercises whose intent was to strengthen the witches' bodies and prepare them to endure magical attacks from others and themselves. Specific knowledge ensured that the individual could work smarter with her stamina, reserving as much of it as possible to keep their bile sack from exhausting itself. For most people, it would've seen like senseless training, but every crazy-looking exercise had a point. Amity loved the time they spend doing the exercises and was the only moment she was actually allowed to roll on the grass and be under the sun. Odalia wasn't happy when she found her child dirty and pink from the heat, but Lilith did notice an increase in Ames' immunological system after they began 'playing' outside.

[mischief-and-tea-by-the-sea]

🤡😈🛒

Fanfic writer emoji asks!

🤡 What’s a line, scene, or exchange you’ve written that made you laugh?

This scene's beginning and end from All lost in a wonderland:

He looked at Carol and Kitty. Well, Kate now. She’d chosen a more grown up sobriquet to use these days, and he applauded her for the change. Steve pulled down a cup, one of his, and set it by the kettle, which he filled and turned on. He grabbed the sugar bowl, caught the way Carol and Kate brushed hands and exchanged smirks, and spooned in what he guessed would be ‘sweet but not too sweet’ to the cup, set the sugar aside. On the way to the fridge, his eyes flicked over to see the way their eyes met, peeked at him, then met again. He grabbed the half and half, headed back to set it by the cup, and set an Assam teabag inside.

Then he turned and leaned back against the counter, bracing his hands on it near his hips.

“Captain,” he greeted Carol. Then to Kate, “Captain.”

Carol turned her eyes to Steve.

“Captain,” she responded with a nod then spared a look at Kate.

“Captain,” Kate acknowledged, giving him a smile.

A silence hung between them, making Steve feel weird in his gut. He heard soft giggles from the ladies.

Kate peered across the island to look at Steve’s mug – a generic white vessel with Captain America’s shield on it, only the center of the shield, instead of a star, it’s a heart.

(...)

Before he walked out of the kitchen, he looked back at the two women, who were now cuddling closer, smiling, sneaking glances at each other until they realized they were being watched. They looked up at Steve, who just smiled and nodded.

“Captains,” he said and laughed softly when that made them giggle.

“Captain,” Carol answered.

“Captain,” Kate mirrored.

😈 Has there been a point in a story where you did something just to be playfully mean to your readers?

Pretty much the entirety of To eat that burning heart out of his hand because if you know the actors/characters - and you know the OTHER characters the actors have played, you get all the inside Easter Eggy cannibal/Lord of the Rings/Hannibal humor.

🛒 What are some common things you incorporate in your fics? Themes, feels, scenes, imagery, etc.

Humor, Easter Egg-inside joke-references to characters' actors and the other movies/TV shows they've been in, flirting, terms of endearment (nicknames), a lot of geology/stone references to enhance color descriptions or feelings, found family is big for me, romance, hurt/comfort is HUGE, physical touch as a love language, characters being bisexual (as opposed to one or the other), food - oh yeah, food is a Big Fucking Thing I swear if people don't walk away hungry from a lot of my fics I'd wonder what was wrong, feels - yeah, let's see, there's all the feels of acceptance, being enough, being loved, making amends/building new friendships, strengthening bonds, desire. Themes: a lot the same, characters finding where they truly belong and who they belong with (as romantic/sexual partners but also as friends/found family), bonding (friendship, team, romantic), building each other up. Scenes - rooms are very important, I think, and what is taking place in them. Obviously kitchens are a big thing, living rooms big enough and comfy enough for big group movie nights and lying around together eating and cuddling, outdoors spaces for feelings of freedom and connections. I feel like description of surroundings is important, whether it's symbolic or not, I would rather the reader be able to picture clearly what the characters are surrounded by - though maybe sometimes that is metaphoric of their moods.

Thank you for the asks!

Writer Emoji Asks.

[that-one-loth-cat]

Legacy Post - The Knightwolf AU: Timeline

TLDR: shin and marrok grew up together but got separated for 10 years and are a couple during ahsoka. He comes back after the dusting. They have a redemption arc and settle down somewhere with a tooka to heal.

Notes: At the start of Ahsoka (9ABY), Marrok is 29 and Shin is 27.

>14 BBY

Shin and Marrok both grew up poor on a planet in the outer rim. They got lucky and found or stole or made the money to send Marrok off world to an imperial academy. The plan was that, once he had graduated and made enough money, he would come back for her and their families.

He got picked up by the inquisitor program, but his family was told he was killed in some sort of accident. Everyone was devastated, but life had to go on.

1 BBY - 3 ABY

Baylan found Shin at 17 and she went to train with him. She sent portions of what they earned as mercenaries home to her and Marrok’s families when she could.

4 ABY

Marrok ran into Baylan and Shin after being seriously injured while fleeing the fall of the empire. He stayed with them for about a week or two until he was healed. It had been almost 10 years, so he and Shin didn’t recognize each other.

Stuff happened. Marrok left to go do his own thing but bumped into them a few more times. He started working as a mercenary.

He and Shin weren’t quite close friends, but they would check up on each other every so often over the next year or so. Something felt.. familiar about the other. But they didn’t know how to explain it and never brought it up.

If Baylan and Shin were not already working for Morgan Elsbeth full time, they begin doing so during this year. They still took other jobs, but she always had work for them and she always paid the best.

5 ABY

Marrok was looking for work and Baylan introduced him to Morgan.

After a trial period, Morgan had Marrok sign a contract with some very fine print. She used some sort of Force power to make him “resistant to death” and to strengthen him physically. (He had chronic pain due to nerve damage from that injury.) In return, he would “serve her.” He quickly learned that meant literal headaches if he deliberately disobeyed her, but he didn’t find out what “resistant to death” meant until later.

Morgan did not reveal that she was a nightsister until Ahsoka. Marrok had no idea how she did what she did and his research afterwards wasn’t turning up much.

Marrok and Shin’s skill sets complimented each other’s, and they were frequently assigned on missions together. They became close friends.

They obtained a space Wii. Shin was very competitive when it came to Mario Kart

Time passed. There was a late night “let’s talk about our pasts” bonding session, and they finally realized who the other was. There was a lot of crying. They were basically attached at the hip for a while afterwards.

6 ABY

They fell in love at some point in the first half of the year. It was absolutely adorable.

Shin had a near death experience and Marrok promised her forever if she’d just stay alive. She got better and they had a conversation about it. They agreed they were officially together. (They were basically already partners anyway, but the experience prompted them to actually talk about it instead of just vibing)

Marrok died for the first time. They were on a mission and something went wrong, but he woke up a few hours later at Morgan’s home base. Huh. Guess that’s what “death resistant” meant.

7 ABY

Morgan and Marrok got into a disagreement and she held the fact that his life was in her hands over his head. Marrok and Shin started quietly trying to figure out how to break his enchantment without permanently killing him.

I’m calling it an enchantment here for simplicity’s sake. They don’t know what to call it because they don’t even know what it is.

Marrok began to notice that his body was a tad less corporeal than it should’ve been. He started dropping things occasionally. Every once in a while, Shin’s hair would fall through his fingers unless he was thinking about it.

They finally had enough money to help their families move. Marrok wasn’t ready to see them yet, so Shin went alone. He gave her a pre-recorded message to give to his mom. It let her know he was alive, he didn’t chose to fake his death or to leave, he wasn’t ready to come home or explain what happened, he was safe now, and he still loved her and his dad. (and also that they owed Shin’s parents whatever they’d jokingly bet on them getting together someday when they were younger)

Marrok had a whole angst train when it came to his family. He’d done awful things, but Shin had too so he wasn’t ashamed around her. But them? He’d left. He hadn’t come back. He’d grown up to be someone he was sure his parents would hate. It was one of the things he’d had to bury in order to sleep at night. The inquisitor program had messed him up real hard, and his life with his family felt a whole other world away.

Shin and Marrok had gathered a list of Force traditions whose depictions were similar to whatever Marrok remembered Morgan doing.

The outlook wasn’t great. Most of the cultures that practiced these traditions had disappeared or been destroyed in the last 30 years. Primary research would be difficult.

Nightsisters were on the list. They were hoping that wasn’t them because what little info they could find was old and contradictory. Much like irl info on nightsisters 🤠 (give me the secrets cowboy hat man 😫)

8 ABY

They were getting desperate enough to start taking turns snooping around Morgan’s spaces. Research was still going slowly. They did figure out that Marrok’s soul was connected to one of Morgan’s crystals though.

They ended up at a point where they knew that Morgan knew that they wanted to break the enchantment. She kept the crystal poorly hidden. It would’ve been easy to steal but they didn’t know what to do with it or if Morgan could cancel the enchantment—and kill Marrok—from a distance. Shin swore she was taunting them.

Marrok died a second time and came back visibly transparent. Almost everything phased through him now unless he was wearing it. He didn’t seem to need to eat or sleep anymore. He started wearing his armor almost full time because it was easier for him to concentrate on making it interact with stuff than himself.

It was becoming obvious that Marrok didn’t have a lot of lives left. They’d been trying to break his enchantment for almost 2 years and had made little progress. Marrok still had some hope, but was preparing himself to say goodbye. Shin was absolutely in denial. They were going to figure it out. They had to.

Morgan had them busier than ever. They started having less and less time to devote to researching his enchantment. They didn’t know it yet, but the latter stages of the plan to bring back Thrawn were now in motion

9 ABY

Ahsoka captured Morgan and Shin and Baylan went on the mission to free her.

Episodes 1-4 of Ahsoka happened.

Morgan was having the time of her life being all cryptic and mysterious. Marrok wanted a nap. Baylan was glad they made bank working for her, because listening to her antagonize his daughter Shin at every opportunity would not have been worth it otherwise. Shin was fuming that after all this time Morgan just casually admitted what type of magic she uses and started performing it in front of them. They could have spent the last 2 years looking into nightsisters, maybe found an excuse to slip away to dathomir, but nooo they were breaking into academic libraries and playing nice with village elders to hear old wive’s tales.

When Ahsoka cut his armor in half, Marrok disappeared into a cloud of smoke. This hadn’t happened before. Shin was shocked but didn’t have any time to think about it because she was busy with Sabine. He didn’t show up for a while, and once the adrenaline wore off Shin thought he was well and truly dead. He came back as barely more than a shadow. It was a rough night. [Link to post]

Marrok wasn’t able to make himself show up super consistently and she hadn’t learned how to recognize his new force signature yet. The first few weeks after ep 4 were really angsty.

Post Episode 6

At the time of writing this, episodes 6 and on have not yet aired. I’ve got some ideas for what happens post canon, though I may eventually develop an alternate timeline that better fits what happens in the show.

Marrok embraces his ghost era and pokes around Morgan’s stuff whenever she’s gone. He finds a few key bits of information that become important later.

Marrok and Shin have redemption arcs. Shin apologizes to Sabine for stabbing her. And choking her. And taking her prisoner. It’s super awkward but Sabine appreciates it.

Ezra and Sabine settle down together on Lothal, and absolutely no one is surprised when they’re married before the year is out.

Shin and Marrok do eventually find a way to safely fix his enchantment.

Ezra and Marrok become total bros, but Sabine and Shin are still working through their issues with each other. They agree not to actually try to kill each other anymore, but they still end up fighting in a space-Dennys parking lot like once a month for a while.

The “everything all at once” era begins.

slaps the roof of the metaphorical knightwolf car: “these two can fit so much trauma in them” 🤠

for real though, nothing bad happens to them in this time. They’re just safe and stable for the first time.. ever. So now it’s time to process all that, and even with good professional help that’s going to be messy.

Also Marrok is dealing with chronic pain again now that his body isn’t magically buffed, which is never a good time. He’s in and out of surgery a lot for the first year or two.

Marrok brings home a completely black tooka. Shin is 100% that person who doesn’t want a pet but turns into a cat mom after 2 weeks.

It takes a few years, but Marrok is able to go visit his family. Explaining who he is now and where he’s been is a whole process but it eventually ends well.

[queen-scribbles]

useful/fun development questions 3, 5, 10 and 15’s for Tragen and Jaesa please 🥺

3. what was the moment that first made their ~heart~ Soft for the other person? Not necessarily a conscious realization of “I love this person,” but a moment that had them like “Oh…I adore them…”

I don't think either of them can pinpoint an exact moment, it was more a trend of seeing how they act, treat other, what they'll speak up in defense/condemnation of. The closest to a moment they had before the Wild Space Expedition was probably around Jaesa's final showdown with Cendence. Tragen's confidence in her, his trust not to push for details she didn't want to give afterward, the fact Jaesa proved herself every bit as strong as he knew she was, he was so proud of her and she was so grateful to him... I think if either of them had had any prior romantic experience something might've clicked there. It still strengthened their friendship a lot, gave them an even deeper level of connection.

5. How do they consciously realize that they like the other character? Does it take them a while?

For Jaesa it was 2-3 years post Wild Space Expedition, when people started really nudging that she should give up looking for him, everyone on there is dead, just bc you didn't "Feel him die" doesn't mean it didn't happen and she CAN'T. His absence feels like half her heart got ripped out of her chest and she CANNOT. give up. looking for him. There's this emptiness on his end of their Force bond, but it's not the emptiness of absence, like he's dead, it's the emptiness of a call left open in an unoccupied room, where if you(She) just yell loud enough and long enough someone(He) will hear and answer. that 2-3 year mark, as she starts having to dig in her heels about giving up, she also examines WHY she doesn't want to give up, and realizes it's because she was at least halfway in love with him.

For Tragen, it's probably about the point they reach Odessen and he finally gets a chance to breathe and it really sinks in that Jaesa's not here and there's this... hollow feeling, like he's missing something of the utmost importance not having her around. (I feel like Valkorion would actively work to interfere with their bond, further isolate Tragen from one of his surest sources of hope and strength) IT doesn't take long after that for it to click why it feels hollow without her.

10. What scares them about entering a relationship?

Neither of them know what they're doing in a romantic relationship and they're both afraid they'll mess it up somehow, at first.

15. What, for them, constitutes a level of intimacy that they would only rarely share with someone? This can be physical, emotional, etc.

Well, for Tragen, the complete honesty about his nature, hiding absolutely nothing, is a level of trust and intimacy he's only ever extended to her. Jaesa is more open and plain about her doubts and worries with him than with anyone else.

Couples Asks

[incorrecttowerofgodquotes]

Witch From Mercury: What’s with Suletta and What is Quiet Zero?

As we enter the long three month hiatus, we now all have time to sit down and think. A theory that’s been flooding the fandom ever since the first episode is that Eri and Suletta are NOT the same person, which has also split off into Aerial actually being Eri or that each GUND bit is an Eri clone. With our questions still unanswered but having small clues to go, I present this theory up for review. What this theory will cover is what happened after the Prologue’s events, who Eri and Suletta are, Aerial’s mechanics, what Prospera’s ultimate goal could be, and what Quiet Zero is.

Starting off with the easiest thing, I believe Suletta and Eri are different people, however Suletta is inhabiting Eri’s body. We’ve seen that the use of Permet places an immense physics strain on the body and mind of the user, however unlike everyone else, Eri had blue marks on her face, not red. This may be an indication of her compatibility with Lfrith. Another interesting thing to note is that instead of using the controls, all Eri has to do is point at the screen and the Lfrith moves on its own to attack, almost as if it read her mind and acted on it. That’s why I believe that after they ran away, Eri’s mind fully melded into the Lfrith, leaving her 4 year old body as an empty husk.

With everyone she loves dead and her daughter now a bag of flesh, Elnora (who I will now be referring to as Prospera) started her revenge plan. She put Eri’s body under cryogenic freezing so that it wouldn’t age and sought to recreate her personality artificially. With these attempts, she ended up making multiple failed copies of Eri and imported these “beings” into the GUND bits. While all this is happening, she is also repurposing the Lfrith into Aerial. Unlike other Gundams that take a toll on their user, all of the strain is instead put on Eri’s conscience, leaving the rider burden free.

Then, 8 years after the Vanadis Incident, Prospera finally creates a workable personality to transfer over to her daughter. She implants the personality into Eri’s body and names the child Suletta. Suletta starts playing around with Aerial as soon as she’s born, and the two get along.

I understand the idea of artificially created personalities seem unlikely, but I believe it would greatly connect to one of the series’s themes, transhumanism. Transhumanism is the idea of influencing and strengthening humanity with the use of technological advancements. GUND technology is a proponent of this idea, specifically stated by Dr. Cardo that this technology is needed to allow humans to traverse into space. Elan’s situation is also based on the idea of transhumanism, artificially creating a human that can handle the strain of piloting Gundams. If the artificial personality or Eri=Aerial theory is true, then it tackles one of the biggest discussions surrounding the theme of transhumanism. That is: What exactly makes a human, and at what point does someone become inhuman due to technology.

If Eri’s soul resides inside Aerial, would she still be considered a human? If Suletta’s personality was created in a lab and uploaded into a human body, could she be considered human? If a personality is artificially created, does it have the ability to grow beyond what was originally programmed? Are Suletta’s thoughts and feelings her own? Does she have a human will?

All of these questions delve into the idea of both transhumanism and posthumanism, as well as the question of whether or not humans have free will. (Interestingly about the will, in the first episode Elan is reading a book called The World as Will and Representation which states that will is the root of all suffering and that the universe itself is formed from will)

(Though if you think the whole artificial personality and uploading thing is too far, you can just follow the clone theory and stay consistent with the transhumanism theme)

People have also been speculating over whether or not Suletta is under some form of brainwashing, specifically using the phrase “If you run, you gain one. But if you move forward, you gain two.” as a trigger phrase. The use of this phrase pushes Suletta to act. The short story even mentions the fact that those words are akin to a magic spell. I don’t think Suletta is under a literal form of brainwashing, but a more subtler form. She’s been molded by Prospera into being an obedient child who trusts in her mother no matter what. We see that Prospera uses the phrase to get Suletta to take her shots, subtly manipulating her by linking the phrase with doing what Prospera wants, and the in turn linking that with the praise Prospera gives her after a job well done.

Now about Quiet Zero. We have very little information to go off of, but let’s try to take what we do know and add it to what we can infer. We know it’s currently in development, overseen by Delling, but Prospera also knows what it is. We also know that it’s in some way connected to GUND technology, which is why Aerial was brought to Plant Quetta, where Quiet Zero is supposedly being created. And it also needs data make Aerial’s Permet score 6 abilities. The name “Quiet Zero” implies some sort of device that erases something to zero, specifically erasing things that can make noise such as objects, animals, or even people.

I believe Quiet Zero is a weapon of mass destruction that uses GUND technology to erase whatever’s in its field of influence. Looking at the Aerial, whenever it reaches Permet Score 6, a blue force field is created between all the GUND bits, and these bits can examine and relay information to the user from large distances. With this ability and Aerial’s newly upgraded fire power, it may be possible for the GUND bits to surround an object such as a ship or even an entire base, relay the information it gains to the main robot, and have Aerial destroy everything in the localized area.

Quiet Zero, and GUND technology as a whole, may be an allegory for nuclear technology. When used correctly, nuclear technology can power things very efficiently, but if used wrongly, it cause great harm to people and the environment. In a series that was clearly influenced by World War 2, Quiet Zero could be this universe’s version of the Fat Man and Little Boy that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Such a large use of power would normally any pilot operating the Gundam, however the Aerial is different. Because it takes on all the blowback from the operation, the pilot is able to safely use Quiet Zero as a way to neutralize anything it desires.

Most of this might be a reach, but I’d really enjoy it if this is where the story goes. If this theory of mine does have some semblance of truth, the ultimately the questions ends up being: Will Suletta ever gain her own will and do what she thinks it right or will she continue to listen to her Mom and commit an atrocity. I’m excited to find out

[datestunner]

Why Every Successful Man Needs a Trophy Wife

 The term "trophy wife" often conjures up images of affluence and sophistication, but there is much more to her than looks. A trophy wife can be a major asset for successful men, providing invaluable benefits and enhancing personal and professional lives. The following delves into the three main reasons why every successful man may need a trophy wife, along with practical examples and tips to illustrate these points.

1. Strengthen your social and professional networks

One important note: A trophy wife can greatly enhance her husband's social and professional circle. Her superior social skills and charm often allow her to connect with influential people and open doors to new opportunities.

Support tips:

Attend high-profile events together: Successful men often attend elite events, galas, or charity events. Trophy wives' ability to interact with high-profile guests can lead to valuable connections. If a man is invited to a charity event, his trophy wife may talk to other influential attendees, leading to new business partnerships or collaborative projects.

Develop social skills: The charm and diplomacy of a trophy wife can make social interactions smoother and more productive. This is especially beneficial in industries where relationships are crucial. For a man in a high-stakes industry such as finance or entertainment, his wife's ability to navigate social nuances can help him land important deals or endorsements.

Take advantage of networking opportunities: Successful men can use social gatherings as a platform for business growth. Trophy wives' presence at these events often adds a layer of sophistication to their husbands, thus flattering them. Attending high-profile launches together, her elegant interactions with guests can boost her husband's reputation and lead to potential business tie-ups.

2. Provide emotional and psychological support

Important note: The emotional and psychological support provided by a trophy wife is essential for managing the stress and strain of a high-risk career. Her presence can provide a sense of stability and encouragement.

Support tips:

Be a listener: A trophy wife can act as a confidant and provide a place for her husband to vent his worries and frustrations. After a particularly tough day at work, her supportive listening and thoughtful advice can help a husband work through complex issues and regain focus.

Create a supportive home environment: The home should be a refuge from the stresses of professional life. Trophy wives are usually good at creating a relaxed, nurturing environment. Imagine a successful businessman returning to a carefully furnished and elegantly decorated house where the atmosphere is designed to calm him down and rejuvenate him.

Encouragement and motivation: The trophy wife's encouragement plays an important role in her husband's success. By celebrating accomplishments and giving encouragement during setbacks, she helps keep her husband's confidence and motivation high. Her husband is working on a major project, and her positive encouragement and trust in his abilities can boost his morale and productivity.

3. Create a harmonious and luxurious lifestyle

Important note: A trophy wife helps maintain a luxurious and harmonious lifestyle, which complements her husband's success and improves overall happiness.

Support tips:

Managing household chores: Effectively managing household chores allows a husband to focus on his career and not be distracted by chores. You can oversee employee hiring, manage home maintenance, and organize family activities to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Health promotion: Trophy wives often stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle. She may encourage her husband to exercise regularly, maintain a balanced diet, and prioritize self-care. Plan fitness programs and nutritious meal choices to promote their physical health and overall vitality.

Create a refined living space: The home should reflect elegance and refinement, and enhance personal and professional life. Trophy Wife's attention to interior design and aesthetic detail not only creates a beautiful environment but also facilitates relaxation and enjoyment. Tastefully decorated with luxurious furnishings and a peaceful atmosphere, the home is the perfect retreat from the stresses of work.

[caramariafilm]

Creative Exercise 1 - Part Two

Article chosen from Set Décor Magazine - BLACKkKLANSMAN (Fall 2018)

Set Decorator - Cathy T. Marshall SDSA

Production Designer - Curt Beech

Set in the early 1970’s, BlacKkKlansman follows the story of Ron Stallworth, a young, African-American detective set on infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan. 

In the start of the interview Cathy T. Marshall was asked what some of the major aspects of this collaboration were - further asking about director Spike Lee, production designer Curt Beech, as well as Spike Lee’s 360 degree sets.

The first questions mentioned in the interview with Cathy T. Marshall ask about some major points of the collaboration on this set; such as the collaboration process with both Spike Lee and Curt Beech, as well as Lee’s 360 degree sets. Marshall responds with initially her talking about her previous experience with Beech, explaining how the two of them have very similar aesthetics making the process of designing a space a lot more straightforward. Not only this, but Marshall also explains how their communication makes the process a lot more effortless, as they make equal effort to ensure they are on the same page. She proceeds to talk about Beech’s attention to detail and talent to add ‘life to characters’ in the film's world. Marshall then discusses Spike Lee’s decision making process, commenting how it was quick and to the point.

Following on from this, the interviewer asks if the process for designing BlacKkKlansman had any similarities to Marshall’s previous work on the TV series ‘SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT’. Whilst the sets themselves are both very different, one being a period film about the Ku Klux Klan and the other a series exploring more artistic and experimental themes. BlacKkKlansman required a lot more research into the time it was set, trying to get the right feel for the early 1970s. 

Marshall is then asked what experiences she has gained from these multiple-project partnerings and she replies by saying she's been able to develop a deeper trust with her on-set team as well as further her understanding of Spike Lee’s demands.

Previous to BlacKkKlansman, Marshall worked as a TV Commercial Producer before working her way into Production Design - through Prop Master and Set Decorator. These roles allowed her to strengthen her scheduling skills, allowing her to anticipate/prepare for fast changes that can occur on set.

In relation to the “absurdity” of the movie's topic, Marshall is asked if there are any small details to the sets that strengthened this theme. She explains that the final cut of the film's focus is on ignorant belief and flawed thinking - further explaining how Spike showed this perfectly, with use of humour to contrast against the horrific scenes displayed. Marshall also showed this contrast by having regular-looking homes (on the surface), juxtaposed with hidden rooms showing the characters' truer selves. Marshall emphasises these horrific spaces by including weapons, taxidermy animals, etc.

After this discussion, Marshall then goes on to talk about the research undertaken for this film, and how scarring some of the material she saw was. Marshall also talks about how she worked with Ron Stallworth to help design his apartment set, and parts he was able to physically show the production design team to help further their understanding. The interviewer then asks which parts of the film were on location and which were made up entirely of massive sets, with Marshall explaining which locations had to be built and what was filmed on location.

[sixthwater]

I seriously thought Sagittariuses are philosophers, academian, smart intellectual

What is this 💀

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZS84mTnPg/

No fr, is she really Sagittarian..??

I’ll let the Sag’s in chat take the compliment!!

This won’t be the most fun answer, but I’m going to build upon the ask & reblog my mutual added onto about her that’s recent on my page that kinda sums her up

You kind of have to remember to take in people past their signs or even their charts cause it can only speak for so much, especially if it’s not greatly sourced. If they’re not in the best space it’s much more likely that they’ll lean on/fall back on those negative traits under their sign (my mutual listed some specific ones in regards to the ask). Sometimes people are just young and to be frank you will do stupid shit when you’re young, that’s the point. If you’re doing a dive then you have work cut out for you to remember their life story, how it plays out in their chart and how it affects them emotionally/mentally, and then looking at transits to see if those specific weaker placements or aspects are being hit by them to see if it reflects in their actions.

Let me use Cancers as an example cause I used to know like. Ten. It was an inside joke at one point, we all have personal issues but I’ll only disclose some of mine.

I’m sure you all know I talk too much and I come off as a cosmopolitan Libra cause I don’t take sides. I used to have severe insecurity, felt emotions so strong they became physical ailments, and instead of being clingy I pushed people away for protection: Chart Ruler Saturn in 2nd Opposing Mars in 8th, helped overtime due to friends thanks to Jupiter in 11th. I strengthened my Mercury influence and saw how to lean on that positively to navigate the other placements. Friend A had an unrooted childhood where she had to learn how to defend herself & her siblings, pretty hard to get close to despite seeming open when I met her: leaned into Sag elements to help others and herself positively to see life better and fling herself into higher spots. Friend B also hard to get to know, very blunt, hard childhood: Heavy Eighth/Scorpio and used those experiences and is now a mortician that quite frankly is known for her work in her neighborhood at least. Ex-Friend C had an environment that was not helpful to them, but very light-hearted and giving to those around them: (at the time of me knowing them) unable to lean on stronger placements to beat their fears and constantly sought out safer places externally, did fit into some negative stereotypes I’ve seen about us. As far as I’ve heard I think they’re better now.

We all had the chance to fall into the pipeline of being crabby manipulative bitches who fall into pits of depression due to our childhood since cancers are so closely associated and affected by the home. Some of us did, some of us didn’t, some still get dragged down but they handle it better: this is what astrologers mean by the native is not the chart but what they do with the chart. If Hailey’s chart is accurate, I think she could grow into such a mature and beautiful person. Someone has to tell her though, and she has to do the work. It’s going to suck and there’ll be days this comes back up, but this energy doesn’t have to be what it is. I’m not sure what they’re like behind the scenes but considering Justin’s approach either he’ll change during his return and realize what he wants in some aspects or he needs to start…being vocal cause it’s not helpful to her. I don’t like speaking on people/relationships I don’t know so that’s it, but around her saturn return- I forgot where it was LMAO, but I think either something is going to smack her in the face causing a change or the return is gonna knock her on her ass, lovingly.

[flightyquinn]

No.

As much as it pains me to argue on the side of a shit take, this is an even worse take. This is a straw man, and there's no way in hell you don't know it. Framing the argument as "capacity for violence" is disingenuous. Framing the argument as simply about the "status quo" is blatantly disingenuous. You know that's not what people mean when they argue the X-Men is a bad allegory because "mutants are dangerous", because mutants are actually dangerous.

Not simply conceptually, but physically. Not simply consciously, but inherently. Mutants in comics are capable of unintentionally causing harm simply by existing.

If Scott Summers (aka Cyclops), one of the good guys, has his glasses knocked off in a public space, he can't help but emit dangerous beams that hurt people from his eyes. And this has happened before.

Kevin Ford (aka Wither) causes any organic matter in contact with him to decay. He can't control it or turn it off. The day his power manifested, it killed his father. Oh, and also his powers give him a literal compulsion to use them deliberately, regardless of his wishes.

Incidentally, Rogue was also in the "can kill or permanently harm anyone who comes into contact with them even if they don't want to" club for most of her life.

Jenny Takeda is codenamed "Hazmat" because she literally can't help emitting deadly radiation, and has to wear a containment suit to not kill everyone around her.

In "Ultimate X-Men #41" we see an unnamed teen who kills a total of 265 people when his mutant "power" to cause anyone near him to spontaneously combust awakens.

How do the X-Men help him to get his powers under control? They don't. The guy with the healing factor goes in to perform a mercy kill.

The point is, sure, not every character in X-Men is an existential threat, but some of them are. Some of them legitimately can cause harm to others without meaning to, simply by existing. You can't ignore that and try to make it some kind of "all people have a capacity for violence" argument when the point you're trying to counter is that some mutants are inherently dangerous. Nor are they just a threat to social constructs, but threats in a real, physical sense.

That's what people mean when they say it's a bad allegory. Because there's a difference between "LGBT people might experience justified anger" and "a bad result in the genetic lottery could slaughter an entire town." It seems harder to argue against the hand-wringers when they have examples of how someone legitimately could kill or injure people just by existing.

I want to finish up by saying that at the end of the day, it's still a shit take to say that X-Men is a bad allegory for that, though.

First of all, an allegory doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to get the point across. The emotional message is more important than the accuracy of the story, and some things are just there to make readers engaged. Plus, between the need to make a marketable product, executive meddling, and multiple authors working on the property, it's only natural that there'd be inconsistency in the narrative. That doesn't matter if there's a valid lesson to be learned.

If anything, though, I'd say there being genuinely dangerous mutants strengthens the message. It's not as though every person in the real world is stable and well intentioned. Some people choose violence. Some are mentally unstable. Just like the "dangerous" mutants don't represent the entirety of mutantkind, dangerous people in a group don't represent the entirity of that group.

Like, I'm not gonna say that the X-Men and their various imitators are anything like a perfect allegory, but "it's a bad allegory because super powers really are dangerous" has never held water for me. Like, are we really just gonna uncritically accept the implicit assumption lurking in that argument that bigotry is only wrong to the extent that its targets lack the ability to threaten the status quo? Hand-wringing over whether certain minorities are inherently dangerous is – and, critically, always has been – a smoke-screen for the real conversation about who has the right to possess the capacity for violence, and you can't engage with that conversation if your opening move is to concede that the only legitimate victim is a powerless one.

[mygym123stuff]

Why Is Play Important For Your Child?

Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.” – Friedrich Froebel

Play-based learning is not only crucial to children’s creativity, it is also fundamental to their growth and well-being. Through play, parents will be able to unify all domains of a child’s development, including cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical growth.

However, despite its many benefits, statistics show that the amount of time children get to engage in play is on the decline. Tightly structured family schedules, both parents working, fewer safe places for children to play, and high levels of time spent on digital devices are among the primary reasons why play takes a backseat.

We are all guilty of this as we find ourselves deeply engaged with the digital world and relentlessly stare at screens – gaming, texting, and watching favourite movies. This trait often results in a general decline in health and a reduction in physical activities that is necessary for the well-being of young children.

“The right to play is enshrined in the UN Convention and the importance of ensuring children have opportunities and spaces to play where they feel safe and can enjoy themselves”, is seen as a basic necessity.

Every child wants to learn

Your child is unique and what she can do rather than what she cannot, is the starting point for her to begin her learning. This is why participating in physical development in early childhood helps your child to learn by doing things independently and becoming more aware of her own learning. This is why each child deserves to be respected for who they really are, as well as feel valued and rewarded for their efforts.

Physical development in early childhood is actually a preparation for the next stage of learning. This is why childhood is an invaluable period where learning can truly begin and several important skills for relationship building can be acquired and nurtured.

Play helps a child to relate to her inner world of feelings, ideas and lived experiences and takes her to higher levels of thinking, feeling, imagining and creating. It is also a resource a child can draw upon in the future. All you really need to do is offer your child the freedom and guidance to enrich her play and put it in a learning context.

Through play and physical development in early childhood, children get to flex their minds and bodies, instead of just whiling away their time noting down rigid facts and figures. Play is also how children discover new ways of thinking, creating, working together and testing ideas. In effect, a child gets to practice skills she would be needing to thrive throughout her life.

So, the sooner parents bring learning through play into their daily routine at home, the sooner they’ll begin to enable their children to get set for a brighter tomorrow. Whatever that tomorrow may hold for them.

The power of play

A child comes into the world ready to experiment, and use what she discovers, this not only adapts the structure of her brain but also strengthens the skills she’d require to continue to remain engaged, and become a flexible learner throughout her lifetime.

When children play, they have fun, they experiment, and they don’t worry about getting things wrong. Play gives children a safe space that they need to pick up skills that’ll help them thrive today and as they grow up. This in essence is what the joy of learning actually means.

A child’s brain literally changes as she plays and learns. New neural networks are formed, connect, and grow stronger through active usage. It is in essence, all about learning through discovery.

Play sparks the brain’s reward centres, triggering a feel-good chemical called dopamine. Higher levels of dopamine are linked to aiding better memory and increasing attention spans, creativity, and mental flexibility.

Playful learning is meaningful when it links new experiences – such as watching a horse gallop in an open field – to familiar ones, like the horse in a child’s favourite picture book. Making these connections expands a child’s grasp of the world. And it lights up a number of different areas of the brain: motivation, sense-making, reflection and memory.

Holistic skills for a holistic world

Every day we carry out most physical actions without even thinking as these have become second nature to us. From working out how to get from point A to point B, to doing quick mental maths, to simply chatting with friends, colleagues and loved ones. The fact is we use more than one skill to achieve anything we want to do.

It’s the same when it comes to children. Take, for instance, a toddler learning to walk. As well as the physical strength of using her muscles in a new way, she would need the cognitive skills to coordinate her arms and legs, and acquire depth perception to navigate the path ahead of her. What is important to note is our world never stops changing, so the best thing to do is to prepare our children to navigate it efficiently. Play-based learning provides the right opportunities to be able to do just that — think, negotiate, adapt to new rules and try again when things don’t go to plan.

Physical skills:

Involving children in play-based learning activities from an early age ensures the growth of the brain and body as a child develops. It helps in a child’s overall development and growth. Children who are involved in physical activities develop better coordination, balance, and strength. They also learn to understand their own bodies and how they move in space. This can also help improve their self-esteem and confidence.

Physical activities and play-based learning also provide an opportunity for children to practice their gross motor skills such as running, jumping, and crawling, as well as fine motor skills such as manipulating small objects and using their fingers and hands with precision.

Play-based learning has a positive impact on a child’s mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that physical activity can reduce stress and anxiety, and improve mood and overall emotional well-being. Children who engage in physical play also have better sleep and are less likely to suffer from obesity and related health problems.

It is important for parents to encourage their child to participate in physical activities and play, both inside and outside of the home. This will help children to develop physically, mentally and emotionally, and lay the foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle in adulthood.

Language skills:

Language is one of the most important skills children learn as they play. When children play with others, they have the opportunity to practice their social skills, including sharing, cooperation, and negotiation, all of which are essential for later success in life.

Play-based learning also provides a safe and supportive environment for children to experiment with language, try out new words, and make mistakes without the fear of being judged or corrected. This is why it is so important for parents to engage with children during play and provide them with a positive and encouraging atmosphere.

Additionally, parents can support their child’s language development by reading to them, singing songs, and engaging in conversation. It’s also important for parents to respond to their child’s communication efforts, even if they are not fully formed sentences, as this reinforces their efforts and helps build their confidence in speaking and expressing their true feelings and thoughts.

Physical development in early childhood is a powerful tool for language learning and a child’s overall development, and it’s never too early to start engaging with your child and supporting their growth.

Cognitive skills:

Play-based learning is a natural and enjoyable way for children to develop their cognitive skills, and it should be encouraged as part of a well-rounded and balanced childhood. When learning is playful, children would want to stretch and push their imagination to its limits.

Play-based learning helps build a child’s cognitive abilities, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Additionally, play activities improve memory and concentration by challenging your child’s mind to recall information and stay focused for longer periods of time. Through play, children are able to explore their environment, experiment with new ideas, and practice different skills in a fun and engaging way.

Different types of play have different effects on a child’s cognitive development. For instance, imaginative play, when your child acts out scenarios and creates her own stories, you get to help build her creativity and imagination. Games that require strategies, such as board games or card games, can help to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Since we don’t know what the future holds, flexible thinking is what will help children adapt to whatever new careers and life challenges the grown-up world has to offer them. Playing with your child is important as it also helps build a deeper relationship between you and your child.

Creative skills

Creativity is a vital aspect of our lives. It’s not just about artistic expression, but also about innovative thinking and problem-solving. Creativity helps us to approach challenges and tasks with a fresh perspective, and enables us to come up with unique solutions.

Developing creativity in your child will allow her to express herself in a manner that is true to who she truly is, and this can have a profound impact on her sense of identity and self-esteem. By engaging in creative activities, your child will be able to tap into her imagination, explore new ideas, and find fulfillment in the process.

In today’s rapidly changing world, the ability to think creatively is becoming increasingly important, as businesses and organizations look for individuals who can bring new and innovative solutions to the table.

Being creative can help your child to stand out, and leverage the world of opportunities, both personally and professionally. So, it’s never too late to start exploring and developing your child’s creative skills. Start right away!

Social skills

The process of interactions and building relationships during early childhood development is how children learn and develop conflict resolution skills, show empathy towards one another and understand how to effectively work together with their peers.

This is the reason why so many games are better when played with friends and siblings.When children play and work together to solve problems, they learn to think through new ideas, listen to others and even negotiate. Play allows children to explore and understand feelings, learn how to express them, and develop self-control.

Playing together helps build empathy by forcing children to think about their teammates. It’s also an essential skill for grown-up life as well. Being able to collaborate helps children improve their own mental health and well-being too.

Emotional skills

Play is a crucial aspect of children’s development, as it provides opportunities for them to learn valuable life skills. When children play, they have the chance to explore and experiment, to work through challenges, and to develop their emotional and social skills. Through play, they learn how to collaborate, compromise, and communicate with others, all of which are important skills that will serve them well as they grow and mature.

More importantly, losing in a game or project can help children build resilience and develop a growth mindset. They learn that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and that they can overcome obstacles and continue to grow and improve. This experience helps them develop a sense of perseverance and determination, which will be useful to them in many other areas of their lives as well.

In other words, they come to know when their buddies feel happy, annoyed or upset. And, learn how to stay the course together. They also get to learn that play is not just about having fun and enjoying the moment. It’s about developing critical life skills that will help children succeed and thrive in the future.

This blog is originally published on MyGym Blogs

[mylordshesacactus]

Man, the way Robyn’s position in space has been used the past two episodes is PHENOMENAL.

This uh. This REALLY, REALLY got away from me so I’m gonna put it under a cut.

Like, in Cordially Invited it’s REALLY unsubtle and I’ve talked at length about it before so I won’t go over the whole thing again but like. She starts out in plain sight but a lot of people completely missed her on their first watch--she’s wearing muted colors and standing against a shadow, off to the side, unacknowledged by the characters until she announces herself.

She’s also the only one over by the window, back to the dining room, looking out over Mantle. The only one watching over them. 

And then of course she sits in the exact center between Ironwood and the Council, taking neither side. Coincidentally, because the Council has three people and Ironwood’s end of the table has four, as I’ve said before--the person she’s closest to, though they’re on opposite sides of the table, ends up being Penny....the Protector of Mantle.

She argues with both ends, though she is mostly speaking to Ironwood because that’s the purpose of the meeting--to make him answer for his actions.

This week, in a week of EVENTS and awful revelations and blood-freezing moments, this shot was actually one of the most chilling:

She’s physically turned to align herself with the Council against Ironwood, for the first time. This was the part that had me covering my mouth saying Robyn make good choices MAKE GOOD CHOICES.

And then it gets very interesting because, of course, she crosses over to Ironwood’s end of the table.

Now, this is not a friendly moment. She’s standing over him, she’s pissed to hell, she’s challenging him, yes...

But she still got up and moved to his end of the table. Not at all metaphorically, she’s crossing the aisle. That’s something the Council won’t do--they’ve set themselves up on opposite ends of a long expanse, three against one, forcing him to defend himself at arm’s length.

Whereas Robyn leaves her seat and walks up to him. She’s standing over him and not backing down...but she’s also holding out a hand and asking him to take it. She’s angry, she’s no longer asking nicely with so much on the line--but a handshake is a pretty universal gesture of good faith. She’s angry, but she is not framed as his enemy.

And because of that...

...she’s no longer even slightly aligned with Jacques’ faction, when Weiss bursts through the doors. Even before the really damning part, Robyn is framed well within Ironwood’s supporters the moment that tape starts to play.

(Two interesting things about this shot. It, and the visual confirmation of Robyn’s loyalties at the moment, come directly after the line “I’d lay off every worker in Mantle if I wasn’t trying to get their damn votes”. Robyn knows what kind of man Jacques Schnee is. She was focused on trying to hold Ironwood accountable for his very real failures, when the meeting started--that was all it ever was supposed to be about. But she is solidly against Jacques, and we’re reminded of that when he shows his casual disregard for the lives of her people.)

(The second interesting thing--Winter is framed at James’ right hand, as always. Clover serves as a bracket, tucking Robyn inside the group and not on the fringes. Penny is still back flanking the door, dressed in a gentle, muted green--just like Robyn, who is also well behind Ironwood, matching her. Once again--the protectors of Mantle.)

This is about Robyn but I will also note--as Weiss plays that tape and the Council realizes what’s going on, Ironwood crosses to their end of the table. They’re on the same side, and they’re beginning to understand that. And it’s Ironwood who moves. They don’t back away in horror; he gets up, leaves his entourage, and crosses to stand with them in the face of a threat to the kingdom.

And isn’t THIS shit interesting. Everyone standing around Jacques--Winter, in a form of cosmic mockery, is at his right hand, within arm’s reach to stop him. And the others...are Council members (and Clover). She’s not QUITE being framed as the legitimate fourth member of the Council, because there are periphery positions like head of AceOps and Ironwood’s special operative there. But she’s close and getting closer.

And she and Clover ARE directly mirroring the ACTUAL Council members.

this is ALSO a great shot. It comes right after “I only wanted to win the election” which. “Win” is a hell of a word there, you piece of shit. But framing Robyn between an excuse-making Jacques and a coldly furious Ironwood is a really interesting choice. She’s off to the side here; the main power struggle is between the two men.

But Robyn is, in this part of the conversation--the one about the election tampering specifically--the one who was wronged. Her, and the people of Mantle who had their voices stolen from them. That’s being sidelined in the interests of nailing down the details of Jacques’ betrayal, and it’s right that she makes her presence known.

And then she throws a chair. That’s got very little to do with her framing in space, it’s just very valid of her. She flipped her fucking melon and she’s entirely justified in doing so.

And then we learn that the heading grid has been shut down.

Everyone looks at each other in horror, of course; Ironwood is so overwhelmed he backs up and turns away, leaning against the table.

Robyn alone walks toward the window and presses her hand against it, looking out over Mantle. She’s not a fool; she knows she’s where she needs to be, that it’s important she be in this room to help. But that wasn’t a panicked “wait what let me see” reaction, either. it was slow, almost in a daze but not quite.

She’s where she needs to be, but she is not where every bone in her body wants to be.

They all care. Even the Council that consistently fails to prioritize Mantle is clearly horrified and desperate to help in this situation. But Robyn is different. (Interestingly, Ruby is the one we see noticing where Robyn’s head is and following her line of sight. Ruby’s also the first one to step forward and start galvanizing people.)

The only thing that snaps Robyn out of staring down at her dying home is hearing the word “Amity”. 

That is what turns her back toward the room--again, slowly, and only because trying to keep Ironwood in her line of sight physically pulls her body in a circle and away from the window.

At that point she VERY deliberately turns away from the immediate plight of Mantle--despite its near-gravitational pull on her in previous scenes--and advances into his space again. She’s remembered why they were there in the first place.

And again, yes, she’s getting in his face very literally. She’s advancing on him, which is a threatening, dominant move. And...she’s also moving toward him. Crossing the gulf of trust conveniently represented by Team RWBY And Also Penny Polendina over there, all of whom are already in on the secret.

I mean, look at this framing. She is, again, challenging him. They’re literally chest to chest.

But at the same time? This is the first time she’s spoken to him since her first appearance when she hasn’t been angry. Her body language, her advance, her positioning in space are antagonistic and challenging...but her voice is softer this time. She’s challenging him--but not as an adversary. As an ally, urging him to have courage. She’s verbally affirming that she thinks she was wrong about his motivations before, and that she believes he’s trying to protect people on a large scale.

And then they’re interrupted--but her intentions, just due to her framing in space, are pretty clear. That was a challenge, yes, but a challenge in the form of a clarion call. An offer to meet in the middle--no test this time.

And then I LOWKEY LOSE MY MIND OVER THIS SHOT.

First things first--Robyn and Ironwood standing side by side. Receiving a briefing on the Grimm situation in Mantle together.

And also, the color symbolism. Clover is on Ironwood’s side, in his color palate. Ice tones with scarlet highlights. The Secret Police ([weak rimshot]). And Oscar, who has Ozpin’s memories now, who represents a burning desire for honesty and faith--aligned with Robyn, and again, wearing her colors.

Don’t think I don’t notice that before this, the AceOps canonically were only ever really in Mantle to act in ATLAS’ best interests. They nailed the gang because they were investigating a stolen airship, not in response to the Grimm; Pietro is actually shocked that they’re down there. Don’t think I don’t notice that when Clover runs up to report on the situation down there, he’s accompanied by Oscar wearing lincoln green muted earth tones.

Seriously though is there anyone ELSE who’d like to symbolically mirror Robyn’s colors and their association with truth, good faith, and protecting Mantle?

And, in a moment of despair, Ironwood...walks away from her.

Nothing symbolic here, no sir.

And then, this, this shot I love:

Clover--a military man, the head of the AceOps--of course begins insisting that they need ground support, putting together a plan to get the Grimm under control. And that’s good, that’s what he should be doing! But Robyn--

LITERALLY edges her way into the shot in front of him, FORCING herself into focus to change the priorities of the mission. She reminds everyone of the real priority--keeping the citizens of Mantle safe. And she is NOT playing coy about it.

I just. She literally forces her way into the shot and blocks the camera because she disagrees with Clover and I’m in love with this woman.

And of course, the final shot we see of Robyn--after she’s been explicitly brought into the circle of People Who Know About Salem (because she is, after all, probably legally a councilwoman now even if it’s not official yet).

Alone again. The other two are talking it over and Robyn is almost directly in the middle of them and Ironwood, holding herself, having JUST A LITTLE BIT of processing to do. And looking off toward the closed door, where Ironwood is getting his briefing from Oscar. Unclear exactly what’s going through her head.

But right now, here, in this hallway in the Schnee Manor, she’s going through it alone.

[ledstuckatred]

Unpopular thought:

I think that Maura and Daniel have chemistry, and that their relationship / marriage is real. Maybe just at some time-limited point, but I believe he does exist.

Sure, she also has a connection with Eyk, but she hesitated quite a long time to tell him that she also has that letter and that she's seeing things that shouldn't be there.

Having somebody else live through the same things as her could've helped her staying sane throughout all this madness, and yet she decided to play alone as long as possible.

Her main interest seems to be herself, always, and it wouldn't surprise me if she were an antagonist in the end, too. What speaks against this is the fact that she helps Tove early on, but her scientific interest simply might be stronger.

I wonder if her connection (if you can call it that) to Elliott is because there is some part in her brain remembering things, or because it's the classic "I was told I can't have children and I suffer from it, so I adopt the first random kid I see"?

Due to being face blind, I still have no idea who's on the ship at the very end. I do believe that they are in space and that this is most likely the actual reality, not another simulation, but the reason remains a mystery to me...

Some say they needed to find a new habitable planet and used the time to work with people's minds to strengthen them, and that her brother was supposed to take care and went mad instead.

But living through this also has a high chance of breaking them, no matter whether the simulation initially was supposed to be a positive experience or not. People usually don't really do well with actually believing in things to be real, only to find out that they weren't...

Also somebody pointed out that the coordinates only have two values, while three being actually needed. But the third might be hidden somewhere throughout the series, who knows.

I think Daniel might be a scientist just like her, but that she went down a path he didn't want to follow her, so he tries his best to get the old, nice Maura back instead by playing the simulation game, and trying to have her make positive decisions.

Elliots room being in a grave and him reacting so emotionally to the "truth" makes me think that he was also real, but died at some point. Maybe he was traveling on the space ship as well, but couldn't survive everything due to being an untrained child.

In the end, Maura feels very emotionally detached to me.

My theory is:

She clings to Eyk because he's a mirror to her mental damages, whatever they have been caused by, and wants to be in the role of a mother because that's generally seen as a positive human quality.

But I think she might not be the person we saw throughout the show so far, and crossed the fine line of scientific research that's still acceptable.

The whole dialogue between her and Daniel about what is the actual reality is mildly concerning to me, because: both are valid in my opinion, but the type of reality around you is the defining part for society and humanity in general.

One can not exist without the other, because the "personal reality" is essential to your mental health, and the "outside reality" is essential for social interaction. We already do have people where these two collide, and we all know how good that works...

I think Maura might be some kind of antagonist in the end, and that Daniel still exists in some form somewhere and tries to save herself from the things she created.

This being said, I also think there's a lot of truth in the words of her father. With him being also part of the simulation, he caused a lot of misery for both Maura and Elliot who she's trying to save, and while horrible things happened on the ship she has never been actually emotionally or physically damaged (unlike everybody else). So why would she build a simulation where she's confronted with her father? Having him tell a lie would have proven her point that she's not crazy, but what he said was indeed proven to be true, at least in parts.

This seems to be a bit odd considered how much control she actually had over everything in the end, except from this truth being brought up. Or maybe not control, you could call it blissful ignorance what others went through. She barely interacts with most of the people suffering after all... Even if Elliot was only part of a simulation, this didn't invalidate her father's words after all.

I'm really looking forward to what the showrunners have planned further on, and I hope that they don't try to make it too complicated and thus too absurd.

I also think that everything we saw so far has happened in reality in some was, with all being realistic enough for every time episode to happen.

[cryptid-killjoy]

He'd not been serious, but when she answered there was something in her tone, a subtext in her manner. He thought he'd been picking up on social cues like this since the burial, like things were changing between them. It was like even though he was completely joking her answer felt earnest and honest. It kept him searching her eyes as they played. Damn, did she have ever lovely eyes.

More compliments. Flirtation.

For as long as he'd known her, or sex as they'd had, he wasn't sure when it started to affect his stomach so much. Lots of little butterflies he was so drawn in by it. The attraction was changing. Strengthening. It was just a guy's hope once upon a time.

This was a man that was starting to get hungry for it. When she spoke about him his mind flashed back to little moments he'd seen her at the dojo out of the corner of his eye while he was teaching. She had a reason to be there for her own classes. He was trying so hard to get her to notice him that he thought he was just hypersensitive to her in the room. By the wall, on the bench, by the support beam, the bag, the garbage can, it kept flashing when it dawned on him maybe he wasn't picking up she was noticing before she thought she did.

The very idea she just implanted, the realization, it heated up the look in his eyes, the space shared between them.

Once he had her down at the foot of the bed and they had peeled down those jeans there used to be a comparison in his mind, this difference of how he could feel a slight moment of heat released when close enough between someone's legs after getting their pants down. He hadn't been with anyone else in some time. It didn't come to mind this time. He just reveled in that open the refridgerator door refreshing feeling Elsa always was. He smoothed his cheek over her panties, his chin next, then hooked his fingers into the edges and pulled those down her lovely legs.

He'd already had his shirt off so he looked down at her as he got up to his knees between her legs and undid the button just under his taught belly. This put the trunk of his body on display and how aroused he was as he unzipped and exposed his lower half. He pushed all the fabrics down to his own knees. He'd pause there and take in the sight of her.

Things were changing inside Koda. Physically, his breathing upped. His chest would swell and broaden his shoulders to a point he had to mindfully focus to pace his breath. When he looked down to admire the image in his bed he wanted her, oh he wanted her, but there was more than a lust. Whatever bond they had formed over time was kicking up the admiration reminding him loudly how stunning, and special this was.

He pulled his jeans off the bottom of his legs and pushed them over the edge while never taking his eyes off her body. It was an image he didn't want to forget. Pink, soft, exposed, and open to him, the most vulnerable position there was, all on the strongest most powerful and dangerous woman he knew. Could he get any harder? Fuck.

He slapped his hand atop her knees and gripped as he smoothed down her thighs and towered back over her. They became chest to chest again. He'd take one hand and push hair back from her face and the other would tuck under her back between the mattress and hook up over her shoulder. They had a tendency for fire and ice foreplay, but he reached for none of his candle flames. He locked his eyes on hers today and pushed right in. The heat would all come from his exression, the exchange in the of his dark eyes. It'd be in the urgency behind his thrust as the friction built stronger needing more of her. It'd be in how the stark contrast of the room's energy difference, silliness vaporated into the great tug-o-war with his focus between her eyes and the contour of her body, His hands kept changing where to touch. The backs of her arms, the length of her ribs, that curve at her hip bone, mm that sweet collar.

He'd finally get hasty with her sensible bra as once described. Never a thought that came to his mind, not with her curves. The younger women were trying too hard. Her curves did all the talking that Koda's body needed. Her body was the art work. He didn't work it off quite as smooth as he could often be. Free the fucking tata's already. The build's urgency fumbled him with hasty hands trying to get to his prize. She'd be able to hear his erractic breathing tell his needy tale. The moment he got her breasts out a little smile of satisfaction would come over his face before hunkering down and getting big mouthful of one side and a handful on the other, all mixed with a moan and a sigh of relief from the struggle.

Then he was fully immersed in Elsa, her scent, the slick thrusting of his hips, the heat in his thighs, clenching muscles, face in curves, taste of skin, sound of her breath, her pulse, her temperature. He'd lift his face, arms astride her, hair swung in front of his shoulders. Before he'd dip back down to tuck into her neck there was only pleasure on Koda's face, pure pleasure.

“There isn’t any competition,” Elsa informed him. And though her voice was lighter, less stern, less harsh, she meant it seriously. Not himself. Not another man. Of that, he at least, could be secure. She didn’t have wandering eyes. It was almost as if she didn’t see other people as people, exactly. She did have some of that mentality from her parents, unfortunately, viewing anyone not in her life as a sort of silent subject. The most handsome man on earth could walk by her and she’d only notice the breeze.

But oh, then she remembered his classes with the kids. She would peek at them, sometimes. She wasn’t above a little bit of watching. The classes that his mothers allowed him to teach with the young ones - his talent had been nearly squandered there. He could have done more. She had always thought so. She had watched the way his body moved when he performed the simple tricks for the children to follow. The muscles of his arms. She didn’t look at men, under most circumstances, but she had looked at him.

“I’ve seen how good you are, please don’t kick your butt,” She said, the corner of her mouth still upwards in a smile.

She herself was still new to touching. She might have been basically on his lap but like a student doing a presentation, she wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands. Those healed hands, only scars of burns, which have not been scalded from anything other than him in years. But now - she rested them carefully in his, gently as if she was scared that she might hurt him. Even through his clothes now, he was so damn warm. Warm enough to make her realize that she was cold.

Her nose skimmed against his cheek while they kissed, making hers feel so warm. Her eyes were closed, a small brushing of eyelashes, as she enjoyed the closeness of the moment. They were in this foreign country, seeing new things, she should be out there enjoying the culture but she was in here enjoying his. Her arms went up to let go of him to let the shirt fly up into the air and be discarded somewhere. Not folded and put into a proper place. But something to be picked up at a later moment, and not thought of until then.

She leaned her head back against the pillow, comfortable, but yet also feeling that excitement that comes with knowing you’re about to have sex. No matter how many times you have it, it still comes on strong. Her gaze on him was gentle, but also deeper with something intimate just behind the surface. She could feel her heartbeat within her ears, as she raised up her hips to help him slide the very pants off of her, leaving her exposed. Vulnerable. Cold again.

The air between them seemed thick with tension, despite knowing what was going to happen. She didn’t give it time to become thicker. She was after his shirt now, so that she could feel the heat, chest to chest, heart to heart.