#sim: Damascus

[vapidsims]

Been a bit since I whored out this robot 🫣

[fireflowersims]

"Iran is escalating tensions in the Middle East!"

Okay sure, you can make an argument for that, but like, isn't destroying Iran's consulate in Syria also a huge escalation? Israel essentially attacked two countries at once and nobody is telling them "wtf what r u doing stop escalating shit!" But the minute Iran launches an attack....

Let me be clear: Iran's regime is legit awful and they don't deserve any support for their many many repressive policies and violations of human rights. Still, I totally get where they're coming from with this. You do not bomb other countries' diplomatic posts and get away with it. Unless you're Israel I guess. Then it's okay 😒

Also, now with all eyes on Iran, people are distracted from what's happening in Gaza which may very well be an intentional side effect on Israel's part. But don't forget: PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING KILLED AND STARVED IN THE GAZA STRIP.

Keep your eyes on Gaza

[nepotisim]

𝐸𝓇𝑜𝓈

[tardis-stowaway]

Books I read in 2023

I completely fell down on keeping track of books I read this year as I went, but I decided to try listing my 2023 reading as best as I can remember so I have some record of it. This list includes middle grade, YA, and graphic novels, but not picture books (I have to read a lot of those for professional purposes) or fanfic. Text categories include both print and eBooks. They're alphabetical by author within each section.

New Reads: text

Adult -Borderline by Mishell Baker -Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold -Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold -Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher -The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher -The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune -The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal -Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices. Edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington -My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine -A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske -Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston -Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse -Thirteen Storeys by Jonathan Sims -Witch King by Martha Wells

YA -Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Booth (graphic novel) -In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan -Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton -Nimona by ND Stevenson (graphic novel)

Middle Grade -The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle by Shawn K. Stout -The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaud -Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith (graphic novel)

New reads: audio -Bad Cree by Jessica Johns -Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle -Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Rereads: text -Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire -A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire -An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire -I reread several Murderbot Diaries books at some point within the past year and a half, but I really can’t recall if it was 2022 or 2023.

Rereads: audio -Dracula by Bram Stoker (as performed in Re: Dracula. It may be a podcast but it had the full-length novel text so I'm counting it)

My favorites of the new reads were probably Nettle and Bone, The Hollow Places, Nimona, and In Other Lands. Yes, that's two T. Kingfisher books in my top four. This was my first time reading her books, but I will definitely be seeking out more; she's fantastic. Weirdly, I don't think I read a single nonfiction book this year, which is something I'd like to change next year.

Any of these you're interested in and want to know more about? Or any here you've read and want to chat about? Any books you loved this year that you want to shout about?

[teenageeaglerunner-sims]

Lookbook 11

Howie:

Jody Skin @jaySims (Patreon)Eyelasher @kijiko-sims /Eyebrows 07@sclub-privee /Quadro Eyes @golyhawhaw / Jeremiah Hair @wild-pixel /Clothes @muhari sims / Pants + Earphones EA

Gene:

CarterOwens Skin@claikimsim /Eyebrows @goppolsme / Eyes @remussirion / Clothes +Boots @darte77

Paul:

Corey Skin @claikimsim / Eyes @remussirion /Eyebrows @goppolsme / Joggers @darte77/ Top @darte77 / Shoes EA

Spencer:

Keon Nixon Skin @claikimsim /Eyelashes @kijiko-sims / Eyes @remussirion / Hoodie @zao / Asa Botton @arethabee / Lucas Hair @aladdin-the-simmer

Dan:

Davon Damascus Skin @claikimsim /Hair Nappy Fade @BLS ( sorry not found) / HyunOutfit @bluerose-sims /Boots @storyteller /Glasses EA

Thommes:

Lamont Skin @Verze / Top @belaloallure3 / Clothes @darte77 /Boots + ACC @darte77

you want the Tray Files ? Please ask me

[helions-lighthouse]

I think there is... some degree of inaccuracy in saying that we haven't lost technology from the Gemini or Apollo missions - we have, quite demonstrably, notably the F1 engines of the Saturn V simply can't be built today without a long and expensive program to essentially redesign them from scratch. Why?

Because the skills used to make them were... if not exactly lost (a lot of it is still known atleast in principle), they were superseded by other methods, skills and technology. As such, a lot of the machinists' tricks and minor alterations/tolerancing changes made to the blueprints by the phenomenally skilled machinists who made the parts are just... Not there any more. They were things like "oh you're making that part, just err on the side of too much with that one, it makes it work better" - do that on every component of an engine as large and complex as the F1, and the actual, real world working engine isn't actually the one in the blueprints.

And I seem to recall a few years back, someone did a high-level simulation of the F1 based on the blueprints - and in those sims, the engines simply did not work, and this was tracked down as the reason why.

There are other examples - for instance, damascus steel - yes, we can make steel that looks like damascus, and we have modern super steels that absolutely outperform it - we also (to the best of my knowledge atleast) have as yet no clue why or how, in some damascus steel blades, carbon nanotubes formed and were laced throughout them.

Meanwhile, on the subject of Stradivari violins, those we know we can't make anymore, because their unique characteristics were the product of a mini-ice age - the techniques and methods can be replicated, but the exceptionally close grained timber was specifically the result of several decades of short, cool summers, followed by long cold winters. With climate change, that ah... that ain't happening again.

Happily though, if nothing else, there's been a lot of rumbling about people having cracked replicating roman concrete in the modern world. It's still not able to be steel-reinforced, and so will be weaker, but will likely still last much longer than previous modern concretes. :)

[genderhawk]

I'm unsure what your taste is so I'm including a small summary by everything. the storygraph generally has all triggers listed in their system if you need any content heads up) Unsure if you want non fiction also but I threw a couple of my favorites on there . All of these I got on Libby or hoopla

Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (Salem's Lot but Southern and with some very profound and insightful things about White Womanhood and public perception. Every female character is fleshed out and realistic)

I Lived On Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin (A YA fictionalized memoir about a Chilean girl during Pinochet's regime) Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina (Thriller/Horror novel about an indigenous girl whose sister goes missing. One of the best things I have read this year) The Free People's Village by Sim Kern (Alternate history, what if Al Gore won the election? A fascinating look at how many of the problems we live with today are rooted deeper than simply someone else becoming president.) The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (Set in NYC at the turn of the century, it traces how two beings from two very different religious traditions got there and how they can find a place for themselves. On personhood, the question of fate/free will as it pertains to one's inner nature, and a legitimately emotional story) Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Rumplestiltskin retelling with intricate worldbuilding and wonderful characters) Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (Legitimately creepy but insightful look into heteronormativity as enforced by Evangelical upbringing. I love the way the author handles religion in general here) Lark Ascending by Silas House

(A tragedy with a happy ending. This book was one of the first things I read this year and it has stayed with me since. Cannot recommend it enough) Germinal by Emlie Zola

(One of Suzanne Collins' favorite books, it's the story of the 1890s miners strike in France.)

Soul Full of Coal Dust by Chris Hamby (A journalist's investigation into Black Lung and how it affects Appalachian communities as well as the legal fights to hold mining companies accountable for bucking safety practices and refusing to cover medical care. A harrowing read, but an important one.)

The Most They Ever Had, by Rick Bragg (Sister title to the above, this one covers the history of mill workers in the foothills of Appalachia) Black Reconstruction in America by W E B DuBois

(Long as fuck, and honestly probably best read in print, but if you have even the slightest interest in American history, this is a must read) Finally, the Unofficial Recipes of the Hunger Games, by RockRidge University Press. (Fandom Cookbooks often don't do it for me, but this cookbook is not only textually accurate but it tries the foods mentioned in the book to real-life equivalents or what ingredients may have been available as best they can and it's a legitimately engaging read with many great recipes)

You started out with one of my FAVORITE discovered authors this year, I read that + final girls support club AND how to sell a haunted house this year multiple times 10/10

If you liked that one you've gotta try Devolution by Max Brooks bc like.... Imagine if there was a Tesla village? With some big shoes to fill..... Told as if it were nonfiction post disaster

You might also like Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix which is a YA novel, historic fiction, about three teenage girls who work in and around a very specific shirtwaist factory in 1911

Everything else is stuff that's either new to me or has been only in the edges of my radar, but all sounds really cool.... I should try to snag camp Damascus tbh firstly and add the cook book to my wish list

[torpublishinggroup]

Hey beautiful! Do you have any recommendations for supernatural horror with lesbians? Thank you for considering!

Hey there 😉

tysm tysm for asking this bc do we ever! Okay so literally just off the cuff, if we're talking movies we HAVE to plug Jennifer's Body (2009) and the Fear Street films. If we're talking shows, it might be redundant to call The Haunting of Bly Manor absolutely bone-chillingly haunting, but if by chance you haven't watched yet, it's gorgeous and beautiful and gay, which seems kinda like ur forte!

If you're into graphic novels...one-million-hundred percent please check out Monstress by Sana Takeda & Marjorie Liu! Adventure with hefty horror seasoning. Girl's arm is a monster and likes to eat people. Cruel world, good friends, and not-so-good friends! Chef's kiss of a series. C'est Magnifique~

Audio horror... The Magnus Archives written by Jonny Sims and produced by Rusty Quill has some wlw ships, though the cast doesn't really start pairing off until the later seasons. If you're willing to wait for your gay, check this one out! It's so so so so so so good. Pseudopod is an incredible podcast for short horror fiction and has a dearth of queer stories of every kind, but two recent ones that float to the top of the head are Episode 807: The Bleak Communion of Abandoned Things by M. A. Blanchard, and Episode 775: Miss Mack by Michael McDowell (screen credits include Beetlejuice and collabed on The Nightmare Before Christmas).

Okay. Now books because we are Tor Books lmao. While not expressly horror, more space opera with decidedly horrific elements, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and the entire Locked Tomb series about gay space necromancers kick so much ass! Also check out Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin—it's a gloriously gory genderplague apocalypse story about exhausted, desperate, often despairfully horny trans people fighting zombies and militant terfs.

As for upcoming books?? We are blessed, truly. The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown is horror with space lesbians. Camp Damascus by "World's Greatest Author" / almost black belt / dinosaur erotica extraordinaire Chuck Tingle is a story about a conversion camp designed to help steer those gone-astray queers back to holy God via means truly devilish. Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt is a gay AF story about trans identity and a house haunted by fascism. Good things are coming! And by good things, I mean bloody horror!

Wishing you a big sapphicly gay day 🌈

[venfx]

magnus fic roundup

as tma comes to a close, i thought i'd post some of my favorite fics to come out of this fandom. most of these are classics, listed in no particular order.

A Weather In The Flesh by @cuttoothed​ | 3K | S1-S4 | Jon/Martin | Complete

"There is a span of years where Jon doesn’t touch anyone other than the occasional hand shake. It’s not so bad. He’s never been someone who’s needed physical affection."

Jon has never been any good at making people want to stick around.

↳ this is such a well-done exploration of jon’s character and his relationship with touch, and i’ve re-read it at least five times. sweet and sad and phenomenally well-written.

in the chillest land and on the strangest sea by imperfectcircle, singlecrow | 20K | Safehouse, S1-S4 | Jon & Daisy, Jon/Martin | Complete

Jon remembers a statement he read years ago given by a Jesuit priest, who said that the shortest prayer he knew was, just, fuck it, as in fuck it; it's in God's hands. He takes Daisy's hand and trails on after her.

or; hope is a thing with feathers.

↳ hey, you wanna fuckin..... feel things? read this.

The Magnus Institute vs the 21st Century: a series of emails and IMs by shinyopals | 26K | Series | S3 | Pre-Jon/Martin | Complete

The Magnus Institute hires a Data Protection Officer. He sets about diligently booking in meetings, writing policy documents, and training all the staff in the importance of confidentiality. Now if only he could get hold of the Head Archivist, who seems to have vanished again...

(Jon is only trying to save the world, but apparently some people think he should still be doing his day job.)

↳ i’d be surprised to find people who haven’t read this series, but it’s the definition of “the magnus archives is a workplace comedy”. also, alasdair stuart has actually read some clips of this on Twitch, so that’s a fun bonus.

Bell, Book, and Candle by yellow_caballero | 102K | Series | S3 into S4 | Jon/Martin | Complete 

In accordance with the Ride or Die Pact of 2009, Jonathan Sims can call upon Georgie Barker at any time for aid with no strings attached. Despite their rocky history, their childhood friendship, and Jon’s barely recovered alcoholism, this pact is sacred and must be upheld.

Georgie Barker may regret this. She may regret it when she discovers that the world is full of monsters and eldritch gods and dickhead managers. She may regret it when a punk rocker who should be dead collapses on their doorstep, a teenager again who needs their help. She may regret it when her stupid ex-boyfriend starts selling his soul for knowledge and the ability to keep his new family safe.

But she probably won’t. Georgie isn’t scared of anything - not a Clown’s apocalypse, not the apocalypse that Jon is destined to begin, and not Jon’s own loss of humanity.

Maybe she should be.

↳ if you’re looking for an everyone-lives-no-one-dies-happy-ending fic that also happens to be massively chaotic, look no further. 

The Reverb in These Holy Halls by @wolftraps​ | 98K | AU, S1-S4 | Jon/Martin | Complete

Undoing the apocalypse would have been enough for Jon, if all his people survived. Without them, Jon's only recourse is making it so it never happened in the first place. He's going to do better this time.

↳ quintessential time travel AUs. plot-wise, i feel like these can be difficult to write, but op does a fantastic job of tying things together in a way that makes sense. plus, it’s just fun to read.

jon sims v the nhs by @thoughtsbubble​ | 12K | Series | S3 | Complete

Joan Bright has a new patient. He's carrying an old tape recorder and is covered head to toe in scars. Jonathan Sims looks dangerous, but Dr Bright has dealt with all sorts of atypical individuals. She has no reason to be nervous.

Right?

↳ if you’ve ever thought “hey, jon should probably go to therapy”, then 1) you’re absolutely right and 2) this is... probably what would’ve happened. prior knowledge of The Bright Sessions is not required. also, apparently, this fic is written by the showrunner of The Underwood Collection? wild.

Family, Found by Dribbledscribbles | 9K | S4 | Complete

It’s Basira who catches onto it.

The collective shift that seems to come over them when heading in or out of the Institute. Not just the oppressive sensation of being observed, their every move catalogued for the voyeuristic cravings of some unseen Eye(s). That feeling remained with them even when they left the Institute these days, but it was always stronger inside its walls. That wasn’t the change. Nor was it the point.

The point was: making life worse for Jonathan Sims.

↳ i think being part of the avengers fandom circa 2012 has given me permanent found-family-trope brainrot, but you know what. jonathan sims can have a little happiness, as a treat. 

Road to Damascus by @titanfalling​ | 107K | Series | S4 | Jon & Tim | Complete

n. an important moment of insight, typically one that leads to a dramatic transformation of attitude or belief

Or, in which Tim becomes an avatar for the end of all things.

↳ tim dies and then he doesn’t. there is catharsis and world building. just....read it.

Come, Change Your Ring With Me by @backofthebookshelf​ | 29K | S3 | Peter/Jon, Jon/Martin, Peter/Elias | Complete

The Lukases demand the Archivist marry into the family, and the Institute relies on them too much to say no. Peter is smug. Elias is fuming. Martin is suffering. Jon thinks this might be tolerable if only Peter would hurry up and leave him alone already.

OR, the soap opera we call an Archives revolves around Peter Lukas this time.

↳ superb evil-bastards-in-love content, feat. martin pining, tim being obnoxious, and jon being... well, tired, mostly. i will literally never get tired of how op writes peter. 

creatures that i briefly move along by @dotsayers​ | 16K | Series | AU, Post-S4 | background Jon/Martin 

Mr Sims was so weird, was the thing. Miss Grant always said calling people weird was rude, and Anna sort of agreed, but she didn’t know what other word to use to describe Mr Sims.

He’d only been in with the class for a few days, really, and half of that he just sat at the back listening, but that didn’t stop her from making a swift judgement. 5BG had had student teachers before, back when they were 3ST, and they’d been uniformly normal.

Mr Sims was… actually, Anna had a better adjective. He was interesting.

↳ i just.... love teacher!jon fics. this series delivers. 

Once Bitten by @apatheticbutterflies | 1K | S4 | Jon & Daisy | Complete

Jon Sims has always been a jumpy kind of guy. Nervous. Twitchy. Daisy used to think it meant he was guilty. Turns out he was. Just not of what she’d thought.

Daisy learns how to peel an orange.

↳ daisy and jon’s relationship is an example of an instance where i’m happy to say “fuck what you wrote mr. jonny ‘chocolate torte of tragedy’ sims, i want them to be friends”.

pins and needles by mutterandmumble | 13K | S1-S4 | Complete

He’s got a reputation to uphold anyways; an uptight, rigid reputation that dictates the way that he interacts and functions and is such an integral part of him that he can’t let go of it anytime soon. He likes his safety nets. He likes his contingencies. He likes his privacy, and everything around this place right down to the walls seems to have ears, so he’ll stay tight-lipped up to and beyond the threat of death.

He’s good at that.

In which Jon takes up embroidery and bumbles through life the best that he can.

↳ out of all the introspective jon pieces i’ve read (and there are many), this one stands out. maybe it’s the symbolism or the characterisation, or maybe it’s the fact that i have an embroidery kit lurking in the back of my closet along with a hundred other half-pursued hyperfixations. whatever. this is excellent.

sleeping in by @ivelostmyspectacles | 5K | S2 | Jon/Tim | Complete

“Who are you trying to convince?”

Jon gives up, letting his head sag against Tim’s shoulder. “I don’t know.”

aka Elias gets tired of Jon and Tim's bickering, sends them away for a "team-building" weekend trip, and is sure to book them a room with only one bed

↳ this has everything you’d need from a “oh no there’s only one bed” fic. someone please get these men therapy.

if you try, sometimes (you get what you knead) by @ajcrawly​ | 3.5K | S1-S4 | Jon/Martin, Tim/Sasha | Complete

It starts with an abundance of boeuf bourguignon and ends up as a team tradition.

Food and love in uncertain times.

↳ more found family fic, this time with a diverse og!archival staff and food as a metaphor for love. hurt in all the right ways. made me hungry in the process.

[vapidsims]

The fashionable fits of my robot overlord and the cyborg theydie who might accidentally spare humanity just by existing UwU

FROM WHAT I COULD FIND:

Damascus clothing cc:

Dansims boots, Cocoa hoodie, strength shirt (<-robe and swim shorts also by Beto), rubber boots, Gantz pants, techwear, Anarchy pants, scarf, Dansims shorts, More pants

Harmony clothing cc:

Techfit top, Earrings, winter hat, winter boots, space cadet boots, bodysuit, accessory sweater, see through top, scarf, sneaker, other sneaker, short boots,

If theres something not listed its because either I couldnt find it or the cc is retired or its creator is retired

[osirisapparel]

Here is my first attempt at 3d clothes modeling. Think it came out pretty decently. Still need to export it and do what is needed for importing into The Sims 4, so I will re-post with download links once I get that completed.

Source: DAMASCUS APPAREL: Diamond Women's Droptail Tank

Download: Available Soon

[shy-magpie]

RQG 157

these things get long and are by definition one spoiler after another, so live blog under the cut

pre episode nonsense:

My hopes for this episode are mostly just the obvious: For Zolf to pull out of his spiral; for Azu to talk to someone about how she's doing; for Hamid to find his footing with the Kobolds (loving that they are devoting a proper arc to using unearned privilege/power rather than pretending it doesn't exist); more Cel lore; a Wug; and for someone to shake answers out of the Brorb. Not sure Alex is going to let us get to know the kids individually which makes sense as juggling 7 new NPCs would seriously cut into everyone else's screen time. I think we will get more of Skraak & Hamid working through their issues, and Skraak's helping the kids through recovery. If we are very lucky maybe Zolf & Skraak will talk rather than just have Zolf resent the Kobolds for putting Hamid in a place to fall into old habits. Okay lets hit play!

Episode live blogging:

Intros are quick: Zolf sounds low, Ben sounds higher energy than he was.

Oh the Brorb drawings come better when the other half is distracted but not thinking about the real topic.

Krakens are through out the globe, unknown numbers, not true instances of Shoin, network is down.

Cel and I both react to having Shoin be the one to come closest to a truly non physical form.*

Krakens are cloned brains in robot bodies. Specifically said Daleks not Jurassic Park.

Shoin thinks he sent a ransom note using the Kraken as a threat against the world.

Does not handle it well when Zolf hones in on that no one knows who he is, much less trembles at his name.**

Hamid follows Zolf's lead and twists it towards boasting about beating the Infection. The talking half doesn't seem to know how he did it as clearly as the drawing bit. Unfortunately its strictly surgical which would be hard to reproduce at scale even before you consider the side effects.

Quick huddle with the rest of the team:

Cel always wanted to go to London?

Zolf wants to ask more about how the infection works so they could prevent infection. Wilde thinks he is suggesting using Shoin's solution, I get Alex has to catch people up but I don't like Wilde being a paragraph behind me or underestimating Zolf.

Bryn wants to review the diary. Alex confirms the diary says he had a possible  way to "end it" as a whole.

They go back and Cel feigns being extremely impressed that Shoin might have a way to stop the infection. I think having time to regroup cut him off from his memory of the infection again. Alex spells out Shoin loses coherence whenever they bring up the infection/the time period around when he was infected.

Heal check time. Zolf crit fails. Azu got a 29 and can see where his theory was better than his surgery. It may be an aphasia (issues to with communication. can't get to certain words, some can't be spoken even if he understands the concept; others he can't understand if he hears them even if he uses the word/concept himself. Brain trauma, memory problems more severe the more recent you get, sounds like unable to store short term memory properly so anything longer ago than a week but after surgery likely lost.)

Cel switches to the simulacrum. He verbally dismisses it as a waste of time. His hand keeps drawing based on the previous question re:stopping the infection.

Alex calls for a sense motive. Zolf & Azu see the latest drawing is a landscape using technical notation. Its a barren mine. Yes! it's the entrance to Svalbard. Cel can see its a circuit. Alex makes us/Lydia wait until after he's done with the simulacrum stuff.

Shoin thinks using humans as your base design to improve from is the wrong approach, gives some credit to Francois Henri for taking a different approach.

The circuit maybe to transmit something, it needs an organic component. Cel couldn't roll much better then that so they probably need to kick it towards the Harlequins to set a team on.

Shoin is moaning about paying the bills. Took on the contract to provide Simulacrum fluidics to Damascus for the money.

Drawings change shape get less technical and focus on the cavern entrance. Ben catches it sounds yonic, Alex was trying to not go there but did he really think you could go from cave imagery to seed imagry without stopping there?

Hamid tries to get more on how he caught the infection.

Bryn and Alex spell out that to get answers you ask a real question he won't answer verbally but will answer with his hand, with a decoy to keep the talking him distracted while the hand answers.

Decoy question is about Harrison Campell.

Concept drawing of a person, overwhelmed by an image of a huge figure with lines going from the small to the large? Is he suggesting they plant someone they prepare to be infected, and have them infect it back?

Proofs? Minor changes between the proofs and published version of early Campbell books.

Another review session upstairs. Hamid's red string wall got cited as being useful! Cult of Hades/Wellington may have been the one to hire Shoin to make parts for Damascus. Zolf and Hamid talk briefly, about work and as dry "stick to the subject" as possible but they are talking productively.

Oh Ben finally gets in that the interrogation is hard on Zolf's knees because he has to keep his legs out of the cell. He snaps a little at Cel when they comment on cell vs Cel. Carter suggests "naughty box" which nicely derails that point of tension. Cel refers to Shoin as being more pleasant to talk to than Carter. Not sure if that undermines the tiny Cel/Carter ship or fuels it with tension.

Cel asks who hired Shoin to make Sim parts. He can answer directly. Well directly for him, it seems to be mostly justifying stealing Tesla's work on the basis that Tesla wasn't going to implement his theory. Hamid snipes him with a shot praising Edison to get him back on topic. Shoin says Edison was being backed by a big investor. Is it to much to hope this is Alex finally consolidating the factions? If Hades is Edison's investor (leaving Edison & co as effectively their minions, rather than a faction of their own) and the factory owners we can cut down on sides considerably.

He goes on about how he spied on Henri, religion as money maker. Shoin was directly approached by Hades lot. Shoin made sure his bits won't work since he didn't want competition. Wellington was his contact with Hades. Wellington always had a pair of cloaked figures.  Vinegar + squizard = funny? Could be useful.

Do not follow what is going on with the hand.

Shoin is still unstuck in time and thinks he is going to connect them. Cel unplugs the speaker on his villain speech. Cel induces a dream state by powering him down

~break~

Cel suggests  painlessly killing him. Zolf seconds the idea because its immoral to keep him like that.   Hamid points out the longer the keep him around the more likely it is for someone to be infected. Wilde rules they should kill and seal it off.

Cel & Zolf have an argument about having the Kobolds handle the remains. Cel calls Zolf out on his inconstant stance on whether the Kobolds can be infected because if he doesn't believe that then he is risking them.

Wilde is moving on? Cel suggests letting the Brorb die, putting it in a bag of holding, keeping the bag in the anti magic field.

They can't just call Einstein because using unofficial channels is bad when irregular behavior is a sign of infection(?)

Alex's unhealthy attitudes about productivity are called out when he refers to the time Wilde spends thinking/planning before getting their transport arranged as "working" (with the inverted commas) rather than considering it part of the work.

They work out possible paths if teleporting is off the table.

And the boys are snapping at each other again. Zolf, you can't flip out every time you are reminded that Hamid doesn't have the experience or expertise of a seasoned sailor. Yeah you did leave the team without your skills and maybe the kid was a bit green for a field promotion; but you know what? He did a fine job, and the other choices were Sasha, who wouldn't lead, and Bertie, who shouldn't. Just because stepping down was the right thing to do, doesn't mean you get to lose it when you are confronted with the mere allusion to the idea it had consequences.

Barnes tells Hamid why going over the pole is a really bad idea. That Azu's suggestion is carrying Hamid has troubling symbolism.

Zolf actually comes more or less to Hamid's defense by pointing out that all their options are bad options, so having a go at Hamid's idea in particular is unwarranted.

I'm not going to bother listing out options. They will pick one or won't need to pick one. If we have been a very good fandom Alex may reward us with Earhart coming back as their preferred transport.

There we go, Hamid suggests her, Zolf seizes on the idea compliments Hamid on it, and immediately takes it to Wilde. Thank God he isn't so far down he can't do that. If he isn't compulsively shooting down any hope (especially from Hamid) then he really is on the upswing from the low brought on by quarantine stress.

Lydia isn't happy that there isn't going to be an American chapter. Then again we wrote off Svalbard, so don't give up!

Its the Northwest Passage and its so weird realizing that not everyone has it as a cultural reference. Wonder if it's an Oregon thing or a US thing.

Yes it would have been cool, but I think Alex is not going to let us have cool new story arcs when we haven't played with the ones we have at home.

Einstein and Earhart are our two best transport options. I am a happy fan. Especially if Zolf has to use his family and Earhart’s reaching out to him near the end of the journey to appeal to her. I mean we did get more on Zolf's relationship with his family than I expected after Paris, so I'm not going to sulk if they don't pursue this, but it would be nice.

Conflicted as a fan, its hard to remember that this taking months extra is a bad thing when the end of the series is feeling too close for comfort.

Zolf, look at you leveraging your experience with moving even when things feel hopeless!

Cel I love you, kraken as submarine is brilliant. Air kraken is suggested by Carter.

Hamid plays with the ideas while Alex goes "why?". Because you are going to have to work a hell of a lot harder than that if you want Hamid to see it as a no win situation rather than proof he needs to redouble on cheerful creativity. Feeling like he had no options led to the worst parts of Hamid's life, the things he is truly ashamed of; having few losses outside of those, he is going to make Kirk's Kobayashi Maru hang ups look amateur.

Zolf is heading to the beach.

Cel is checking on their village.

Hamid wants to contact Einstein himself, Zolf says he should talk to Wilde about that. Hamid wants Zolf with him for that meeting. Zolf either doesn't want to be a safety blanket, wants Hamid to get used to dealing with Wilde directly, or completely missed Hamid offering a chance to work together because he is incapable of seeing Wilde as an opponent. He does say some nice things about being a team.

Hamid tells Cel to say hi to Jasper for them. He is good at the people side of leadership. Remembering names and relationships, knowing how to show he cares because it's important to Cel without overstepping. If Zolf can learn to let go of the rank stuff, they could be an unbeatable team of co leaders.

Zolf nods at Azu. Azu smiles proudly back. Alex jokes about not liking giving them time to heal because they coordinate.

Hamid offers hugs to both Cel and Zolf. Because this entire character is a "fuck you" to toxic masculinity and he is not afraid to openly show affection to his friends.

Cel gives him a great hug.

Zolf hesitates but gives him a pat on the shoulder. Hamid's has high enough charisma to make that not awkward. Good kid, accepting that Zolf is reaching out as far as he can.

Hamid talks to Skraak. Hamid is worried about taking the kids. Maybe Skraak can convince them to stay & help Jasper with science. Because RQG loves us and wants us to be happy, they are considering a fantasy some of us harbored since "science" as a serious possibility. Could solve the issue with Alex not wanting the kids to take up too much screen time too. Skraak is the perfect character for Hamid to have as his second. He believes in Hamid, and can be confided in, but isn't going to take an ounce of self pity or bullshit.

Alex that village better be okay. Smoke? Controlled burn. Ben lightens the mood. The tank is still guarding the village. The barricade is up but they are guarding about as well as a village of level 0(1?) characters can be expected to.

They are having a party and there is a bon fire. Because Alex knows we wouldn't have trusted him if there wasn't a little scare with the smoke. !puns

The village is visibly healing since the weather is fixed. They thank Cel but know better than to ask.

Jasper! Jasper is looking good. He stepped in as a leader of the village. Cel and I could burst with pride. Jasper thinks Cel is coming to stay, Cel tries to explain they are going to help save the other villages around the world and mentions that Jasper would like the Kobolds.

!puns

* One day I need to hunt down the right corner of SF because there has got to be a decent amount of trans humanist fiction for trans humans out there somewhere.

**Not sure if I should feel bad for hoping this gives him a safe target for his destructive tendencies. Ideally Zolf would get past that point without indulging his dark side lest he reinforce bad coping mechanisms. Ideally Zolf would have weekly therapy without the fate of the world on his shoulders too. Its the more personal version of looking forward to a fight after Hamid's been stressed because he seems to find cooking baddies cathartic.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: Muslim Culture and Character: Morals And Manners: Studying and Learning (Part 1)

The basis of acquiring knowledge is reading and studying. The first revelation of God’s Word to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the first command of his Prophethood, began with the command, “Read!” This announced a fundamental principle. Let us revisit these verses in Sura Alaq, the first verses of the Qur’an to be revealed:

(1) Read in and with the Name of your Lord, Who has created–

(2) created man from a clot clinging (to the wall of the womb)!

(3) Read, and your Lord is the All-Munificent,

(4) Who has taught (man) by the pen–

(5) taught man what he did not know! (96:1–5)

The first revelation begins with the command to read the miracle of creation through faith in God and knowledge of Him. Then it refers to the creation of human beings, encouraging con- templation on this miraculous occurrence in the second verse. It continues with another directive to “read,” and refers to “the pen,” “teaching/learning” (between God and people), “knowing” and “knowledge.” It is one of God’s great blessings that man, at first an insignificant being, was given knowledge that elevated hu- mankind to the highest level over all other creatures. Being taught not only knowledge, but also the use of the pen, humankind has thus been entrusted with the duty of spreading this knowledge far and wide, using it for development and progress, and preserving it for future generations. If it were not for the revelation of God and the blessings of abilities that are represented by “the pen” and “the book,” humanity could not have accomplished all the achieve- ments that have been constructed on the accumulated wisdom of centuries.

The basic state of humanity was unenlightened until God blessed us, allowing us to grow in knowledge. At every stage knowledge was given as a blessing and the doors of learning were opened by God. That which people thought they themselves had developed, in truth was given to them by their Creator without their realizing it. For this reason, everyone who has some knowl- edge should recognize the true Source of such blessings, praising and turning to the One Who granted them, and employing them in a manner that is pleasing to God. This will ensure that knowl- edge will never separate a person from God or cause them to for- get Him.

Any “knowledge” that distances a person from their Creator is divorced from its basic purpose. It can never be of benefit to peo- ple or make them happy, for it can produce only evil, depression, or destruction. As such knowledge has deviated from the Source of knowledge it has lost its direction and no longer leads to the Path of God. Therefore, it is crucial that someone who attains knowledge not forget, even for a moment, that the power and au- thority the knowledge has brought can be used for right or for wrong, and all persons will be responsible to the Originator of that knowledge for the way it is used.

“Knowledge is power,” or as the Qur’an says, “…whoever is granted the Wisdom has indeed been granted much good” (Baqara 2:269). In this verse, the word al-hikma—often translated as “the Wisdom”—means “beneficial knowledge.” Knowledge that is bene-ficial to people will also elevate the status of the person who knows. The Qur’an also says that those who know God cannot be on the same level with those who do not: “Is he who worships God devoutly in the watches of the night prostrating and standing, who fears the Hereafter and hopesfor the mercy of his Lord (to be likened to that other)? Say: ‘Are they ever equal, those who know and those who do not know?’ Only the people ofdiscernment will reflect on (the distinction between knowledge and ignorance, and obedience to God and disobedience,) and be mindful” (Zumar 39:9). This last verse makes it clear that knowledge must be used together with the ability to reason, drawing particular at- tention to the fact that any knowledge based on knowledge of God is true knowledge and beneficial to those who possess it. In fact, knowledge has a potentially destructive power in the hands of those who do not use their reason, merely acting in sheer ignorance of God. Beyond this basic adab of knowledge, let us now examine the further sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be up- on him, on this topic.

At every opportunity, the Prophet drew attention to the im- portance of knowledge. One day he said to Abu Dharr, “O Abu Dharr, if you leave your home in the morning to go out to learn a verse of the Qur’an, this holds more blessings for you than per- forming a hundred rakats of supererogatory prayer. And if you leave your home in the morning to go out to acquire knowledge, this holds more benefit for you than performing a thousandrakats of supererogatory prayer.”1 In another hadith God’s Messenger said, “When God wills blessings for someone, He makes them knowledgeable in religion.”2

Moreover, keeping knowledge from people, unless one is forced to by circumstances, is not a desirable act. This was made clear by the Prophet, who said, “If someone is asked to share their knowledge but they hide it and do not speak, they will be bridled with a bridle of fire (on the Judgment Day).”3

The Prophet also made it known that spiritual knowledge, which puts a person on the right path and leads to righteousness, is more valuable than the greatest worldly treasures: “By God, it is better for you that God should give guidance to a single person on the right path through you than that you should acquire a whole herd of red camels.”4 At this time, red camels were very precious, and a person who owned such a camel was rich; extremely few people owned an entire herd of red camels. This comparison, therefore, clearly shows the value of knowledge that leads to good, and of leading others to good.

Yazid ibn Balama once asked, “O Messenger of God! I have memorized many of your sayings. But I am afraid that those I memorize later will make me forget those I memorized earlier. Tell me a word that will help me retain all the things I have learned without forgetting the others!” The Prophet replied, “Stay upright before God in what you have learned (and that is enough for you)!”5

One of the most esteemed Companions of the Prophet, Ibn Abbas, gave the following advice: “Tell people one hadith per week. If this does not seem enough, recount two or three. And never cause people to become bored with the Qur’an! When peo- ple are talking amongst themselves, never let me see you walk up and interrupt them to teach them something. When they are speaking, be quiet and listen. If they come to you and ask you to talk, then you should teach them on their request.”6

In addition to choosing the appropriate time, it is also impor- tant when teaching ethical principles or religious knowledge to choose a level that can be understood by one’s audience. Some people try to appear knowledgeable by using a style and manner which is not clear or understandable. This is wrong, as it goes against the proper manners of speaking to people in a way that makes sense to them. No less a person than Ali ibn Abu Talib said, “Tell people things they can understand. Do you want to be re- sponsible for making God and His Messenger misunderstood?”7 He meant that plain and clear speech should be used, especially when speaking of spiritual matters. Ibn Mas’ud also said, “If you say something to a gathering which is above their intellectual ca- pacity, it will certainly lead some of them into mischief.”8

Someone who lives an exemplary life and tries to please God by teaching other people and sharing knowledge is on the Path of God, and God is indeed pleased by such a person. Kathir ibn Qays explains, “I was in the Mosque at Damascus sitting beside Abu al- Darda. A man came and said, ‘O Abu al-Darda, I came from the Prophet’s city of Medina to ask about a hadith that I have heard you are relating.’ Abu al-Darda, in order to find out whether this was really the man’s intention, asked, ‘Could you also have come to do business (trade)?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘I did not come to do any such thing.’ He asked again, ‘So you did not come for any- thing else other than to hear a hadith?’ The man replied, ‘No, I came only because I heard that you know hadith.’ Only when he had established that the man had truly come to win God’s pleasure did Abu al-Darda say, ‘I heard the Prophet of God say, “God will make the path to Heaven easy to anyone who takes to the road looking for knowledge. Angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. All the creatures in the earth and sky, even the fish in the sea, pray for God’s help and forgiveness for those who acquire knowledge. The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the moon over the stars (i.e., in brightness). Scholars are the heirs to the Prophets. For the Prophets left neither dinar nor dirham (units of money) but knowledge as their inheritance. Therefore he who acquires knowledge has in fact acquired an abundant portion.”’”9

The following points can be deduced from the hadith:

Any effort or endeavor that is expended on acquiring knowledge is counted as effort or struggle made on God’s way, and this leads a person to Paradise. To put it simply, the path of knowledge is the path to Heaven; what a beautiful path it is. The angels come to the aid of one who is on this path, and all creation offers prayers for them.

The difference between the scholar and the follower is like the difference between the moon and stars, for knowledge is a light that illuminates a person’s whole surroundings and the community of the knowledgeable person. It shows the right path to everyone. However, a person who sim- ply follows, even if they perform a great deal of super- erogatory worship, does not benefit others in the same way. Their worship benefits only themselves. Those who choose knowledge, on the other hand, bring blessings down upon themselves and all those around them.

Scholars are the heirs to the Prophets; the only thing the Prophets left as an inheritance was knowledge. When schol- ars choose the path of learning and the pursuit of knowl- edge, they win the honor of inheriting the legacy of the Prophets. One of the Prophet’s Companions, Abu Hurayra, was almost always at the Prophet’s side. He would listen to all the Prophet’s teachings, carefully memorizing his say- ings. One day in Medina, he spoke aloud to the people milling about on the street: “The Prophet’s inheritance is being divided up; why are you wasting time here? Go and claim your share!” The people said, “Where is it being dis- tributed?” Abu Hurayra said, “In the mosque.” So they ran to the mosque. But soon they turned around and came back, and Abu Hurayra asked, “What’s happened?” They said, “We went to the mosque, but we did not see anything like what you said being distributed.” So he asked, “Was there no one in the mosque?” They answered, “Yes, we saw some people; some of them were praying salat, some were reading the Qur’an, and some were talking about the per- missible and the prohibited.” Hearing this, Abu Hurayra told them, “Shame on you. That was the Prophet’s inheritance.”10

The Qur’an mentions the adab of sitting in the gatherings where a scholar or spiritual guide is teaching to increase one’s faith and knowledge:

O you who believe! When you are told, “Make room in the assemblies (for one another and for new comers),” do make room. God will make room for you (in His grace and Paradise). And when you are told, “Rise up (and leave the assembly),” then do rise up. God will raise (in degree) those of you who truly believe (and act accordingly), and in degrees those who have been granted the knowledge (especially of religious matters). Surely God is fully aware of all that you do. (Mujadila 58:11)

When knowledge, which leads one to greater piety and a bet- ter religious life, and allows others to benefit, is added to faith, God will exalt its owner by many ranks. God commanded the Prophet, “(O Muhammad,) Say, ‘O my Lord, increase me in knowl- edge!’” (TaHa 20:114).

In full submission to this Divine order, the Prophet prayed, “O God, make the knowledge You have taught me benefit me, and continue to teach me knowledge that will benefit me. Increase me in knowledge. God be praised at all times.”11 This prayer in which Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, asks God to make his knowledge beneficial to him is also complement- ed by another prayer in which he sought refuge in God from knowledge that would not prove beneficial.

Why do humans learn? Why should knowledgeable people be so highly regarded above all others? The answer to these questions can be found in the Qur’an: “Of all His servants, only those possessed of true knowledge stand in awe of God…” (Fatir 35:28). So it can be said that one reason for this is that scholars make it possible for others to know God better and to better understand the message of the Prophets of God.

God’s Messenger taught that it was worthwhile to envy two things. One of these is when someone takes the possessions God has bestowed on them and spends them in the way of God. The other is when someone blessed with knowledge and wisdom becomes a teacher and shares that wisdom with others.12 This means that when one acquires knowledge, one should then teach it to others; it is not wrong to “envy” (desire to be like) a person who does this.

The Prophet said the following regarding studying, literacy, education, making our knowledge a source of good for others, and educating others: “It is incumbent upon all Muslims to acquire knowledge.”13 As we can see, studying and learning are of critical importance in Islam. These hadith confirm the Prophet’s teaching,

“Knowledge and wisdom are the common property of every be- liever; wherever they are found, they should be acquired.”14

The technology we have today is without a doubt the product of knowledge. It is easy to understand, looking from the perspec- tive of the heights of knowledge, from the science and technology that have been achieved in the modern world, why Islam empha- sizes knowledge and education so strongly. Is it possible to ignore its importance when we are surrounded by all the useful fruits and products of intellectual inquiry? Certainly we must listen well to the teachings of Islam on this matter and show greater concern for educating the next generation if we are to solve some of the cur- rent harmful trends. Instead of leaving them material possessions, we should spend our money to make sure they receive opportuni- ties to become truly “rich” in knowledge. Ali ibn Abu Talib said, “Someone who has money will have to protect it, whereas a person who has knowledge will be protected by it. Knowledge is a king; possessions are captives. And when possessions are spent they di- minish, while knowledge increases when shared.”15 Highlighting the excellence of knowledge Prophet Muhammad, peace and bless- ings be upon him, said, “Be of those who teach or those who learn, those who listen, or those who love knowledge. If you are not in at least one of these groups, you are headed for destruction.”16

The adab of learning applies not only to those who are teach- ing and learning religious studies but all types of useful knowl- edge. Here we give some details for our younger brothers and sis- ters who are students, regarding the adab of learning to add to what has been quoted above:

If at first you don’t succeed do not lose heart.

Classes should be entered with a mind that is prepared and willing.

Listen to a teacher with your spiritual ears.

When you don’t understand something, always ask.

Try to make friends with successful students and get tips from them.

Always plan and organize your time.

Always try to be the best.

Don’t go on to something else until you have understood what you are working on.

If what you are studying is practically applicable, learn it through application.

Do not maintain ties with people who discourage you from learning or dislike your studying.

Be respectful and humble towards your teachers.

[lilia-faure]

Camélia - turnos gp - 14

[center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/1b51515436cf924d58d23b711c3b21cf/37b310d23ee30d45-4f/s1280x1920/c9aaac81371f33bf35e9d736dc6c5ad7be2ae6b3.gif[/img][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/80b0407c5311f63c830560dcb5cdc595/37b310d23ee30d45-17/s1280x1920/0b661638f52c01d2680ce91bdeb0db86ed785d87.png[/img] [small][small][color=#989f9f][color=#b7807f]⌜ [b]INTERAÇÃO:[/b][/color] [i]detweiller - rue[/i] ⌟   [color=#b7807f]⌜[b]LOCALIZAÇÃO:[/b][/color] [i]lago - fogueira - floresta[/i] ⌟  [color=#b7807f]⌜ [b]SAÚDE:[/b][/color] [i]saudável[/i] ⌟ [color=#b7807f]⌜ [b]HUMOR:[/b][/color] [i]desesperada[/i] ⌟[/color][/small][/small]

[small][small][color=#b7807f][i]original [color=#989f9f][b][u]design[/u][/b][/color][/i] —— por sally[/color][/small][/small]

[color=#989f9f]—————— [color=#b7807f]✹  ✹  ✹[/color] —————— [/color] [/center] [justify][color=#ffffff]___________________[/color][color=#989f9f][big][big]O[/big][/big] que dizer a respeito da Caça Bandeira? Camélia certamente demonstra seriedade com o exercício, e sempre o faz. É claro, há diversos incentivos por trás de sua determinação em manter-se ativa, de não querer atrair o descontentamento de Cass por agir com corpo mole, à principalmente não querer se machucar [i]de graça[/i]. Talvez essa seja a sua real motivação, não é boa guerreira e sabe disso, sua inteligência não reluz com estratégias, ou assim acredita, de toda forma, a ideia de entregar-se de mão beijada não é agradável aos seus olhos, assim, segue a risca as ordens recebidas e evita se colocar no meio do verdadeiro combate. Deste modo, esquiva de uma noite tortuosa dentro da enfermaria, ambiente pouco agradável aos olhos e sentidos da peregrina, o oposto de poder aproveitar um pouco mais da relação estranha estabelecida com a natureza. Com o fim da competição, a vitória de seu time foi motivo para um sorriso largo, mas também para entrelaçar o braço ao de Detweiller e garantir que antes de toda a festa teria a atenção do namorado por alguns minutos, e esses, são preciosos para a britânica. O pedir para vigiar seu banho não é realmente um pedido, o tom manhoso não chega abrir espaço para outra resposta além de sim, a quase súplica ao ser atendida a faz correr em direção à tenda dividida com outras meninas, os dedos se fecham com força ao redor da alça da mochila para logo seguirem até o lago.

[color=#ffffff]___________________[/color]A água gelada do lago é bem vinda graças ao calor e suor impregnado em sua pele, de qualquer maneira, não chega à a aproveitar verdadeiramente, o nervosismo gerado por pensar em qualquer outra pessoa a vendo ali a faz acelerar o processo de limpeza. Ao mesmo tempo, inicia um falatório ansioso, necessário apenas e exclusivamente para ouvir a voz de [i]Ciprian[/i] e ter certeza de o rapaz estar vigiando e não… distraído. Sair do lago significa uma nova provação, se secar e conseguir vestir roupa enrolada na toalha a deixa com o rosto vermelho em uma mistura de timidez e ódio ao encontrar dificuldade para colocar o jeans, alguns palavrões escapam com um crispar de dentes, enfim terminar lhe traz um riso satisfeito por conseguir repetir o mesmo feito do mês anterior. A liberdade de poder se trocar e colocar roupas limpas é extremamente agradável, o rubor diminui conforme a alegria se espalha, as mãos alcançam o rosto do moreno, ao ficar nas pontas dos pés, recobra parte da diferença de altura entre eles, os lábios tocam os seus num selinho manso. Após enrolar seus pertences e os colocar dentro da mochila, passa a alça pelo ombro, em seguida a palma de sua mão dá uma batidinha inofensiva na bunda de Detweiller ao começarem a refazer o caminho de volta ao acampamento. Os dedos se enlaçam aos do peregrino enquanto sussurra um obrigado.

[color=#ffffff]___________________[/color]Separou-se do rapaz ao alcançarem a clareira, assim, seguiu sozinha de volta para a tenda, local onde levou alguns minutos com a insistência de desembaraçar o cabelo, porém, conforme a escova tenta resolver o problema dos nós mais os fios aparentam se enroscar e tornar o procedimento dolorido, não demora para abandonar o objeto por cima de seu colchonete, um elástico resolve o problema ao prender todo o cabelo em um coque alto e apertado. Direcionou-se para as mesas em busca de alimento, o aperto em seu estômago se faz determinado ao ter as narinas invadidas com o cheiro da comida, conforme começou a montar um prato, um sorriso despontou em sua expressão sem se dar conta do mesmo. Uniu-se à fogueira junto de alguns colegas, atenta-se aos assuntos paralelos como uma tentativa de se juntar em alguns deles, a voz de Rue se sobressai, tenta se lembrar de algum jogo ou qualquer atividade minimamente segura para ser executada na clareira, não conseguir pensar em nada a leva à oferecer o que sabe fazer de melhor: contar histórias. A sugestão é feita em um tom empolgado ainda que não se lembre de nenhum acontecido exatamente feliz para relatar, até porque, sua cabeça começa a trabalhar rápido em a lembrar de algumas [i]catástrofes[/i] acontecidas dentro da propriedade do Instituto Damascus, certamente, ao serem narradas pela Flamel tal característica pode ser suprimida pela voz vibrante.

[color=#ffffff]___________________[/color][color=#b7807f]— Conhecem alguma história da floresta? Quer dizer, além dos desastres que já ocorreram por aqui.[/color] — Obriga-se a manter uma pausa de alguns segundos esperando a resposta de algum de seus colegas, logo depois, o falatório irrompe ansioso. [color=#b7807f]— Já ouvi dizerem que parte da propriedade do Instituto foi construída em torno de uma passagem para o Mundo Inferior, um grupo foi atacado por um bando de quimeras, teoricamente o ataque foi desencadeado por alguém se perder próximo à tal abertura. [/color]— Os olhos observam com cautela as chamas da fogueira, o calor é bem vindo, mas não é isso que a agrada mais, conforme fala, observa o tremular do fogo, as brasas e como o crepitar lhe alcança. [color=#b7807f]— Algumas lendas locais contam sobre a floresta abrigar [i]alguma coisa[/i] capaz de fazer os outros se perderem para depois serem devorados, mas outras também falam sobre a persuasão ser justamente para afastar os mortais daquilo que eles realmente não podem lidar. [/color]— O fogo dança frente aos seus olhos, sem nenhuma resposta ao que fala, mesmo já esperando por isso, o vinco entre suas sobrancelhas demonstram um pouco de frustração perante a ausência de um retorno místico.

[color=#ffffff]___________________[/color][color=#b7807f]— Camélia, você consegue deixar o treinamento de campo ainda mais preocupante. [/color]— O comentário de Bazzi a leva erguer os olhos até o garoto, o sorriso em seu rosto parece descontraído.

[color=#ffffff]___________________[/color]Estava pronta para rebater sobre como vivem em um universo com seus próprios misticismos e do quanto é errado que a maior parte dos peregrinos tenham se distanciado disso, porém sua linha de raciocínio é quebrada ao ouvir a voz de Caspian em um brado. O arrepio que sobe por sua espinha é acompanhado de um nó em sua garganta, no segundo seguinte, força as pernas a se erguerem, o prato antes equilibrado em seu colo, vai para o chão, por instinto, procura por Detweiller, ao alcançá-lo com os olhos, sua mente precisa de rédea mental para a relembrar quanto ao que deve fazer: procurar por abrigo, se esconder o quanto antes. O frenesi toma conta de tudo à sua volta, tentar se esconder por ali não parece adequado ou mesmo eficiente, como se manter segura no acampamento? A pergunta ecoa em sua mente, as mãos apertadas uma à outra, a falta de iniciativa rompe apenas ao ter Bazzi gritando próximo ao seu ouvido, não entende uma única palavra, todavia, é o suficiente para se mover. Segura-se ao braço de Rue, sua intuição diz para ir em direção à floresta, sua vontade é de saltar, a razão por outro lado, a proíbe de fazer qualquer uma dessas coisas.

[color=#ffffff]___________________[/color]Não pode confiar na floresta, muito menos arriscar um salto sem conseguir focar sua mente. Ninguém consegue correr para a direção certa quando está desorientado, tentar um salto seria o mesmo que acabar desintegrada e arremessada nas mais diferentes direções do espaço. Dessa forma, seu corpo a guia para a única possibilidade aparente: move-se para longe das formações das legiões, com os olhos resplandecendo seu temor, trata de colocar a maior distância possível entre elas e a batalha, aos poucos a mão escorrega até alcançar a de Rue, seus dedos se enlaçam aos dela como forma de se assegurar que não se separará da amiga. [color=#b7807f]— Precisamos achar uma trilha, um caminho, qualquer coisa. [/color] — A fala é embolada graças à respiração pesada devida ao apavoramento e ansiedade, sem se dar conta, adentra a floresta, o escuro não parece aterrorizante agora, a folhagem tocando seu rosto pouco causa estranhamento, os olhos se mantém em busca de qualquer [i]caminho[/i] capaz de as levar de volta ao Instituto. Não [i]deveria[/i] depositar suas esperanças nela, mas não há nenhum plano ou mesmo ideia à se seguir, não há nada além do próprio desespero.[/color][/justify][center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/4f80f793540442bc543149d1f612fcd4/37b310d23ee30d45-53/s1280x1920/d605f051235be9e1b751e69dbf1b48ced8e4394c.png[/img][/center]

[ao3feed-themagnusarchives]

Sit Vigil

by renwhit

“You wanna sit?”

“On— on your grave?”

Tim cracked an eye open to look up at Martin. “I’m already sitting on my own grave, I don’t think you can get better permission than that.”

“I—” Martin cut himself off with a short laugh. “I guess that’s true. Sure.”

Or, in which Tim has some quiet conversation and makes a quiet gamble.

Words: 7716, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 6 of Road to Damascus

Fandoms: The Magnus Archives (Podcast)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Tim Stoker (The Magnus Archives), Martin Blackwood, Peter Lukas, Basira Hussain (mentioned), jon sims (mentioned)

Relationships: Danny Stoker & Tim Stoker, Martin Blackwood & Tim Stoker, Background Jon Sims & Tim Stoker, Background Basira Hussain & Tim Stoker

Additional Tags: End!Tim, Ghost!Tim, Canonical Character Death, Non-Canonical Character Undeath, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Discussions of Canonical Child Abuse, Discussions of Homophobia, Elias's job requirements are 1. Be some flavor of LGBT and 2. Be pre-traumatized, Manipulation, Canon-typical Peter Awfulness, Ship Teasing, Angst, And a bit of fluff but not much!

source http://archiveofourown.org/works/22992823

[ganzeer-reviews]

THE BEST OF MILLIGAN & MCCARTHY By Peter Milligan and Brendan McCarthy o-o-o-c

Madness. Sheer and utter madness.

I must admit that before MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, I hadn't even heard of Brendan McCarthy, which is a damn inexcusable shame. But to be fair, the work of Milligan & McCarthy hasn’t really been part of the dialogue in comix culture. Not even when it comes to talking about the impactful indie work that fell outside of the mainstream; you never hear their work cited alongside that of Frank Miller's SIN CITY (which, before the 2005 film release was only really known in pretty small circles throughout the 1990's) or Eddie Campbell's ALEC or Dave Sim's CEREBUS. But that silence is in no way reflective of the duo's influence.

About a year ago, I listened to an interview with Neil Gaiman for the British Library podcast focused primarily on the RAMAYANA and Gaiman's involvement in adapting it for DreamWorks. When asked if he had a particular style in mind when working on the various [never-produced] treatments, Gaiman was quick to point out Brendan McCarthy's work on ROGAN GOSH, which Gaiman describes as being birthed from Brendan's "Road to Damascus moment, where he ran into a pile of comics in India, and just went 'I love this, there's art stuff here that I've never seen in the West,' and started doing stuff and playing with it." He also goes on to describe ROGAN GOSH as "one of the most interesting moments of fusion between Indian and British and American comix culture."

Naturally, I immediately looked into getting my hands on some ROGAN GOSH and discovered that it was reprinted in the pages of an over-sized hardcover titled THE BEST OF MILLIGAN & MCCARTHY published by Dark Horse Books in 2013 and retailing for only $24.99 (down to $7.19 as I type this). Although a horrendously produced edition (pages are actually falling out in less than a year since purchasing it), I'm still happy to have gotten my hands on it because it has been blowing my mind ever since. Not least because of the work itself, but because it simultaneously exposes a very vital almost secret history of comix lost to... I dunno,an obsession with the founding of Image Comics and the less than negligible work its founders produced? If there was ever a demented, revolutionary punk rock duo in comix, Milligan & McCarthy definitely fit the bill.

ROGAN GOSH first appeared in REVOLVER, a short-lived anthology magazine for mature readers published in the UK between 1990-1991. GOSH was finally collected by DC Comics/Vertigo into a 48-page one shot in 1994. It is perhaps because of the book's modest page-count that it is never mentioned in the same breath as say THE SANDMAN or PREACHER, or THE INVISIBLES or other long-running titles central to the Vertigo imprint's identity. But hey, Aristotle's POETICS is no more than a sodding 44 pages, which is sometimes all you need to jump-start a revolution.

In Milligan and McCarthy's own words, surrounded by "long and bloated 'concept album' comics", they were more interested in "the short, sharp, throwaway pop single. The type you danced to. The type you had sex to."

While the above statement can most be applied to their series PARADAX (also featured in the book), it pretty much hits the nail on the head with the majority of their collaborations, including ROGAN GOSH.

By the duo's own admission, it is not only difficult to describe what ROGAN GOSH is about, it is even pointless to ask. What may have been originally conceived as a “sci-fi Bollywood BLADE RUNNER” rapidly evolved into something far more demented. It starts off with Rudyard Kipling in Lahore en route to a place "where men of all castes come to sleep the sleep of dreams." Essentially, an opium den where "karmanauts can relieve a man of the curses of his sins.” If you think that opening scene will give you any idea of what follows, you are sorely mistaken. Kupling is entered into a "jasmine-scented dream of the future" where we are transported to psychadelic trip after psychadelic trip involving completely different characters:

- A man named Raju Dhawan waiting on another named Dean Cripps at a Tandoori joint called "Star of the East" - The blue-skinned Rogan Gosh on the run from the "bloody-tongued, dark destroyer" Kali together with a small idol of Kipling. - Raju Ghawan as Rogan Gosh together with Dean Cripps on the run from robotic hindu "Karma Kops". - Rogan Gosh as a bull-riding ancient Egyptian cowboy of the future, roaming through the mythic land of Wild Bill Osiris and Horus Thuh Kid.

If none of this makes the slightest bit of coherence, well that's because there is nothing coherent about it. Rather than there being any kind of train of thought, it's more like a train blown to bits upon the detonation of atomic dynamite. Shards of ideas floating around a nebula, jabbing into each other with every turn of the page. It's bizarre stuff, heavy on logic-defying captions almost as much as the explosive visuals. If you, the reader, let yourself go, you'll find that the synergy of text and image in ROGAN GOSH will drag you around a strong relentless current of spicy thought soup. Washing ashore an island of utter confusion is inevitable, but not without a sense of thrill retained from the memories of the surrealist storm that was.

Imagine a comicbook operating along the logic of say, PROMETHEA, 8 years prior to PROMETHEA's publication and without any of the rigorous explanation of the world's mechanics the way PROMETHEA delves into. Instead you're just thrown into it and left to make connections entirely on your own. That's what ROGAN GOSH feels like; a weird transcendental spell cast in comicbook form.

It isn't a coincidence that Milligan & McCarthy share something with Alan Moore other than British citizenship. All three after all did get their start making comix in the indie music paper SOUNDS. Moore with ROSCOE MOSCOW in 1979, and McCarthy et Milligan with THE ELECTRIC HOAX in 1978. This discovery, although new to me, was not at all surprising, as I find that I am typically drawn to creators who cut their teeth in avenues that fall outside of "the mainstream". Where the ones "in charge" understand little about what they’re doing, where anything goes and opportunities for mad experimentalism aren't stifled.

The greatest discovery in THE BEST OF MILLIGAN & MCCARTHY for me has been the duo's work on FREAKWAVE, a comic that, by Brendan's own admission, was directly inspired by MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR which Brendan became obsessed with during his surfing getaway in Australia in 1981. After which Brendan coerced Milligan to co-write a "Mad Max goes surfing" treatment Brendan could pitch to Hollywood. Hollywood didn't bite, but the duo did get to produce it as a backup strip in the pages of VANGUARD ILLUSTRATED published by Pacific Comics in 1983. Pretty straight adventure story initially (well, as straight as Milligan & McCarthy can muster anyway), with the most striking aspect of the strip being character designs and world building.

FREAKWAVE is a post-apocalyptic punk-rock drifter who windsurfs a flooded Earth in search of floating trash he can live off. He battles it out with disease-ridden humanoid "Water-rats" and psychopaths in gasmasks wrapped in old tin cans and the random cultural ephemera of old. FREAKWAVE would later resurface as a punk-absurdist Tibetan Book-of-the-Dead story in 1984's STRANGE DAYS, an anthology showcasing the work of Milligan, McCarthy, and Brett Ewans published by Eclipse Comics. It only ran for 3 issues, but Warren Ellis says it "landed like a hand grenade from another world", which is still exactly what it feels like going through its contents 34 years later today. It is especially in the pages of STRANGE DAYS' feature comic FREAKWAVE that you see Brendan McCarthy and Peter Milligan really rocking out like some kind of alternative comicbook band, the pages crackling with the energetic buzz of an electric guitar. Brendan especially reaches peak McCarthiasm, with 90% of his visionary work on FURY ROAD appearing here first on the page a good 31 years before blowing people's minds on  screen.

Which, by the way, how fucking cool is that? To be asked to work on the sequel to a film that inspired your scarcely read comicbook. And to be asked specifically because of your work on said comicbook?

Not to mention that FREAKWAVE, although given a pass by executives in Hollywood, very likely influenced the movie WATERWORLD in 1995, at the very least in terms of look and production design, which let's face it was the only really good thing about the film.

Nothing will give you that good kick in the balls to go off and make comix (or any ill-advised pursuit) more than looking at the work of Milligan and McCarthy. If a big part of the draw of comix for you is that it is medium void of filters between creator and reader, well then that cannot be more true of Milligan and McCarthy's collaborations. Because there are always editors keeping creators in check, or heck, even self-inflicted inhibition on the creator’s part. Not for Milligan and McCarthy.

Never for Milligan and McCarthy.

[Available on Amazon]

Ganzeer November 23, 2018