#single-mindedness to the point of rudeness

[lurkingismypastime]

Hello ghost of Tsushima fandom.

I’m here to announce that Jin Sakai is autistic.

Why? Various reasons, but mostly

Because I Said So 😌

[chaoticrebels]

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑯𝑬𝑬𝑻

𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 !

FULL NAME. Ji-Woon Hak NICKNAME. Ji ALIAS. The Trickster GENDER. Male HEIGHT. 5′8″ AGE. 21 - 26 ZODIAC. Aries SPOKEN LANGUAGES.  Korean, Japanese, English

𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 !

HAIR COLOR. Dyed quite often, naturally black. EYE COLOR. Wears contacts to change his eyes, naturally dark brown SKIN TONE. White BODY TYPE. Athletic DOMINANT HAND. Right POSTURE. Straight SCARS. None TATTOOS. A few PIERCINGS. Several BIRTHMARKS. None MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE(S).  His impeccable fashion sense

𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 !

PLACE OF BIRTH. South Korea HOMETOWN. South Korea SIBLINGS. None PARENTS. Yi-Jun Hak ❪ Father ❫ and Chae-Yeong Hak ❪ Mother ❫

𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 !

OCCUPATION. Musician, Serial Killer, Restaurant worker ❪ Formally ❫ CURRENT RESIDENCE. The Entity’s Realm, Korea, Travels CLOSE FRIENDS. They all deceased, Yun Jin-Lee ❪ Formally ❫ RELATIONSHIP STATUS. Single FINANCIAL STATUS.  Rich DRIVER’S LICENSE. Yeah CRIMINAL RECORD. Disappeared before arrested VICES. Flirty, Sarcasm, Stubborn, Egotistical

𝐬𝐞𝐱 & 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 !

SEXUAL ORIENTATION. Bisexual PREFERRED SEXUAL ROLE. Versatile but leans more towards dominant, will only be submissive if he really loves someone. LIBIDO. High TURN ON’S. Lip biting, neck kissing, being pushed up against a wall and kissed, dirty talk, sexual teasing, mystery, knife play, bondage, chocking, being in control, hair pulling, spanking, being called daddy, foreplay, begging, exhibitionism TURN OFF’S. Lack of foreplay, boredom, narrow-mindedness, someone playing dumb to get attention, being disobeyed, smokers, drunks, druggies, poor hygiene, being ignored, rudeness, not being taken seriously RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES. When he is in a relationship he is devoted to his partner, he also very spontaneous and playful. Definitely loves keeping his partner on their toes, he finds excitement in the mystery so he keeps a bit of a mystery to his relationship. However he gets highly jealous to the point he is possessive

𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 !

CHARACTER’S THEME SONG. Dangerous - Royal Deluxe , Sweet but Psycho - Ava Max HOBBIES TO PASS TIME. Causing mischief, making music, listening to music, flirting, messes around with his blades, making sure he looks perfect LEFT OR RIGHT BRAINED. Both PHOBIAS. Being upstaged, not being good enough SELF CONFIDENCE LEVEL. Extremely High VULNERABILITIES. His insecurities

[kamelopardaleis]

Outtake2 - 20-year-old drunk Viktor the arrogant jerk :))

Another long-ish outtake of the YOI age reversal AU Something to Give on Ice - Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime) [Archive of Our Own]. Basically how Viktor remembered the sudden ascendance of Yuuri to the top of figure skating when they were still competing together. (i.e. POV Viktor of him being rude to Yuuri when he first won - the incidence Yuuri uses to embarrass him at the end of Chapter 3)

>>here it goes<<

When Viktor was 20, Katsuki Yuuri was a surprise to him.

He knew that name, but he had never thought much about it. When Katsuki re-emerged after almost a silence of two years, no one expected him to become the new king of figure skating; all the bets were on Viktor.

Viktor did not assume the top podium his rightful place. Even he was not so arrogant. But he lost by fractions of a point to a no-body. And then, the Olympics, the whole season.

Katsuki Yuuri was the arrogant jerk, not Viktor. Katsuki Yuuri deigned not to talk to anyone, letting no one into his secret of success.

Maybe Viktor was the arrogant one, and the jealous one, instead of Katsuki. But hey, Viktor was drunk, and drunk Viktor wanted to win. Drunk Viktor wanted to talk.

So drunk Viktor went up to the Cold and Aloof Katsuki and told him Viktor was to have all the golds next season, not him. (Now, that is something even Viktor Nikiforov wants to forget, hopefully along with the fact that Katsuki had all the gold later instead of Viktor. Unfortunately, Viktor Nikiforov is Russian, holds his liquor and does not forget.)

Katsuki was shocked into stutters at first, Viktor observed triumphantly. He acknowledged Viktor’ superiority –  the raw talent that none of them could dream of – and Viktor would surpass them all. But then something shifted in Katsuki. He drew himself to his full height (Viktor was the taller one, but Katsuki could be scary, mind you), and told Viktor:

“But I am not going to let you. Not without a fight.”

Sober Viktor was fairer in his assessment of Katsuki than drunk Viktor. 

Katsuki was polite and proper to a default, and probably not cold or arrogant (according to rumours). 

On ice, he was talented, graceful, and ultimately, legendary. Viktor loved watching him, chasing him, with exhilaration, with joy, ambition, and jealousy. With a single-mindedness the 28-year-old Viktor can only marvel at.

Through the years, Viktor saw Katsuki Yuuri, always standing above him, inches but also miles away. Katsuki Yuuri, the skater Viktor aimed to surpass.

Katsuki Yuuri, the skater Viktor did surpass.

The next moment, Katsuki Yuuri disappeared.

[forgottenluck]

[ META ] || Julius & Koun C:

♢      —        send  [ META ] + a word / phrase / person / etc  and i will write a head  canon around it.

Contrary to how he acts, his biting words, his blunt responses....Koun does not hate Julius. While he can come off as extremely rude and sometimes down right callous.....he cannot hate Julius.

He sees too much of himself in Julius to be able to hate the man.

Koun knows...that if his path had been slightly different. If he'd had someone....anyone...that he could care for, and be cared for in return, he would have turned into the man Julius is today. Overprotective, but not willing to bend. Stubborn, but well-meaning. Absolutely set in his ways. Koun sees it all in him....and knows that at some point, that could have been him.

Had Kaena lived. Had it just been them two. Had he been smarter about his power, his blessings.

And despite Koun not hating Julius....

He absolutely hates what he sees in Julius.

He sees a man, so very stuck in the past that he refuses to look towards the future. He sees a brother who has smothered the life of his sibling to the point where it was unlikely that Ludger would ever be able to survive without Julius.

He hates it. Despises it. Because he sees himself in another point in time.

He hates it because he knows that no matter how he explains himself, Julius will never really understand. He's too locked into his own mindset to even consider an outside perspective. So bent on pushing off the inevitable, instead of preparing for it.

He hates it because he hates himself.

Yet, Koun does not fault Julius for his flaws....despite his biting words. Koun takes it in stride, moving forward. He does not hate Julius...for Julius' flaws, his stubbornness and single mindedness......remind Koun that Julius is human. Sure, the man's body may be breaking down...his mind may be shattered in many aspects....but he is still human. He reminds himself of that every day. That Julius will make mistakes. That Julius has his own personality, and Koun cannot control that.

In the end, Koun knows he likely will never stand on equal ground as the other. He knows that they will never completely see eye to eye. So he's striving for a middle ground, something they can both agree on, both work together for, at least in the sense of cohabitation. That's all he wants

He's putting in the effort, even if it doesn't seem like it. Subtle changes, habits broken.....it takes time. And through this, Koun still does not hate Julius.

Annoyed. Bitter. A need for distance, maybe......but not hate.

Because in this world, the only thing Koun hates is himself.

[servin-up-surveys]

survey #178

What was the last big change through which you went? Do you deal well with change, typically? Have you always? The very obvious answer is how much my legs have improved. Walking is usually more uncomfortable than fucking agony nowadays, and after being so used to the extreme weakness in my legs, I've come leaps and bounds. Change can still stress me out, but I've definitely gotten friendlier towards it.

What is something fun you have done within the past week? I watched Girt finish Nier; it's his all-time favorite game so I loved watching him be all enthusiastic about it and share interesting stuff. I'd actually already seen him play it once, MANY years ago, but I completely didn't remember the plot (he finished the game when I was so done and VERY much barely conscious lol), and this time he played the "Replicant" remake, so the quality of everything was improved. I thought it was great, its soundtrack is especially astounding.

Have you ever read any self-help books? Nah, I'm not nearly interested enough in the genre to get past a couple pages.

Do you thank the bus driver? Yes, you should thank any person that serves the public; bus drivers, waiters, everything. That's just common sense to me, like it's so rude to not show appreciation for someone serving YOUR needs. "But it's their job to ____," I don't give a fuck say thank you you ungrateful shit.

Are you scared of needles? Only very long needles that penetrate very deeply.

Do you know anyone who is/was a drug addict? Yes.

Do you tend to cave into peer pressure? No.

Do you still talk to the person you last made out with? Yes.

Who was the last person you went to the movies with? Girt. I'm TRYING to talk him into seeing Barbie now lmfao, I don't think it's happening though. It kinda surprised me how unwilling he is, and I do kiiiinda worry he's fallen into the "it shits on men too hard" crowd, but I don't know.

Do you ever fear falling asleep? Well yes, for some reason no doctor has been able to confidently figure out, I have severe nightmares/terrors nearly any time I fall asleep. This has been going on for years though so by THIS point it's not so much fear, but annoyance.

What do you think is the youngest age someone should lose their virginity? I'd personally be very nervous if I knew my kid was having sex before 16, but I'm completely aware that it's not very realistic; teens developing a genuine libido is gonna happen and they're gonna do what teens do. I feel like this would, for the most part, vary with the person and their level of maturity and self-discipline, but what do I know.

Do you believe in abstaining from sex until marriage? That's a personal choice that isn't mine to make for anyone but me, HOWEVER I do see how waiting until you're legally bound to see how sexually compatible you are may not be a great idea. That's very important to some people so you should know this before you get married, in my own personal opinion.

What is your sexual orientation? Pansexual.

What is something you have acquired with age? TOLERANCE, open-mindedness, the ability to see what's right and wrong is almost never black and white and those also aren't the same thing for every single person, and that's okay. I've definitely learned to see that the world isn't experienced only through my own eyes and my moral compass.

Do you enjoy history? I really don't, I do believe it's important to know history to be aware of what's been tried and failed + why, but I'm just not interested, man. I also was so bad at dates and names and I just found it all boring.

Have you ever changed religions? Haha three times I guess; OG was Roman Catholic just because I was raised that way from birth, but it quickly turned to Christianity, in my earlier 20s I felt the most connection to Neo-Paganism, now I'm an agnostic/atheist of sorts. Got very high doubts that's ever changing.

Have you ever lied about your gender? Nah.

Have you ever designed your own Facebook timeline cover? I've EDITED pictures for that purpose, but I've never like, made some sort of collage or anything for this purpose.

What is one site that closed down that you wish would come back? Give me back my kabam.com Dragons of Atlantis game please I want it back the app is not the same

Are you a fan of the Saw movies? I've never really watched them, honestly, and I'm not very interested just because of the SHEER level of "you don't want to picture this" the traps are. It's not the gore that gets me, I just don't want to imagine going through that stuff; physically seeing it in movie form is anxiety-inducing.

Do you ever forget how old your siblings are? Only my half-siblings; I have none of their ages memorized. It's not that I care less because they're "just half," instead it's that they're not regulars in my life, like I see them once every good few years for a few days at most.

Who last talked about kissing you? Girt, I'm sure.

Did you speak to your father today? No, I haven't for a while. And I'm sure I won't until my nephew's birthday party on the 19th.

Would you ever get gauged ears? The first holes in my earlobes are; they're only 4mm and I don't plan on going any larger because one ear in particular will almost certainly tear if I push it any further.

Do you believe in moving in together before engagement or marriage? That's MY preference, like I definitely think it's wise to see how you exist in the same home before you tie the knot.

Did you ever give a hickey to the last person you kissed or you guys didn’t go that far? Yes.

List five of your favorite YouTubers. Markiplier (I don't really watch his content anymore but he as a person I still adore), GameGrumps, Rhett & Link (I haven't watched their stuff in many years now, but like Mark, I still adore them as individuals), John Wolfe, and Snake Discovery are all up there, but I definitely love more than five.

What pet names do you use with your significant other? All the usual ones I can think of, some far more than others.

Who is your best online friend? Mazzy and Tez aren't just my best online friends, they're my closest friends out of anyone if you're not counting my boyfriend and mother.

Who knows more about you: online friends or offline? HAHAHAHA ONLINE, I have ALWAYS been WAY more open about myself online, especially in terms of hobbies and interests and artistic stuff I do.

What’s something you find unconventionally romantic? Someone teaching you about something they're passionate about. Like how sweet is it that they wanna share that joy with you. YES you can overdo this and be overbearing about it, but in willing doses, I think this is very cute to share your passions.

List 3-10 things in nature you find amazing. Sentient existence itself (hell, even non-aware organisms are fucking fascinating), outer space, evolution, life and death and how it goes back into life in an everlasting cycle, mountains and volcanoes, canyons where you can see time right in front of your face in the layers of rock, fossils, really clear water, love and affection being exhibited beyond just the human species, and the deep ocean. I could go on for a LONG time, nature is endlessly fascinating.

What is one song that you've been listening to on repeat lately? "Platz Eins" by Lindemann is one.

Do you enjoy creative writing? Yes, very much.

Do you sleep with just a sheet in summer when it's hot? No, I change out blankets. Thicker comforter in the cold months, a thin blanket when it's hot.

Do you get bursts of creative energy or is it more consistent? I feel like I definitely have this baseline creativity going on, like I get especially artistic ideas so regularly (I have ongoing lists of a variety of art-based projects I wanna get to some day), however I absolutely do have bursts of increased creative drive. I fucking love those.

Have you ever been chased by a dog? Not by one that had any intention of hurting me; just pets chasing while playing.

Is your voice high, low, or somewhere in the middle? It's definitely lower than your average woman's.

What's the next friend or family birthday coming up? Will you buy them a present? Mom's is the 5th. And no, I have literally no source of income so I physically can't even buy her a candy bar or some shit, and it's fucking embarrassing and honestly agonizing to be That Person who goes into her bday empty-handed. I could write or draw something, but I haven't been able to think of what yet...

What was the last book you read? I'm currently reading Wings of Fire: Darkness of Dragons by Tui T. Sutherland. I've gotten into the habit of reading before bed and I'm enjoying it.

What are your plans for tomorrow? Nothing.

Is there a gang problem in your area? Not in my very specific area, but this city absolutely does, no one likes this place.

Do you make your Starbucks order more complicated if it isn't busy? I don't even go to Starbucks.

Would you date an already attached person? Hell no. In MY romantic relationships, you're picking me or them, and there's no in-between.

When you marry, will you wear white? I doubt it, I think I'm probably gonna wear black. But white is still possible.

Is there anything significant happening this month? Mom's and Ryder's birthdays, and I know Ryder will have a party. This weekend I'm going to Girt's sister's new place for the first time; I know that's not really "significant," but dude, anything that breaks my daily routine is worthwhile to mention in my world lol.

What are your grandfathers’ names? I only remember my mom's dad's name, which was William.

Have you ever seen a snake in real life? Living to 27 and not seeing a single snake, at least here, would be extremely odd. Yeah, I've seen plenty, I have a pet snake in my own house.

Do you know anyone that has been held hostage before? Oh yikes, not that I know of.

Can you ever hear dogs barking from your house? Does it annoy you? Yes, and admittedly yeah, it does. Our next-door neighbor particularly has a big dog named Kira, and she is CONSTANTLY barking, and she's not an indoor dog (she's behind a proper fence, calm down), so you certainly hear her. It doesn't annoy me to the point I'm gonna go bitch about it, but dogs barking is a noise I just do not like.

What's your main reason for booking taxis? I've never been in a legit taxi; they're not really a thing around here. I've taken an Uber with my mother literally once in my entire life, because of car problems.

When was the last time you saw your partner (or your best friend)? He was here yesterday; we finished Silent Hill 2 finally and that was fun, I was glad he liked it. It was nice, the last visit we played his favorite game of all time, and this time we closed off mine.

How did you sleep last night? Surprisingly very good.

Do you like candy corn? No, it's disgusting to me.

Are you bored right now? Yes; my anhedonia has been VERY severe the past few weeks. We're in the process of adjusting meds because I'm pretty sure I've reached the point of developing an immunity to something. It's happened with my psych meds many times before, so I expected it to happen again.

Do your grandparents speak English as a first language? Yeah, to my knowledge they all only spoke English.

Do you remember to turn lights off in the rooms you're not actively using? Yes, when you live in a family that actually has to worry about their bills you learn this shit quick lmfao.

Do you have many snacks in your house right now? No, Mom and I avoid that because we're very "out of sight, out of mind" with food, and if unhealthy shit is here, we're gonna eat it. It's just healthier for us to not have stuff available to us.

Do you keep alcohol in your house? Not regularly, no. I uh, think. Maybe Mom has alcohol somewhere, but I doubt it; both of us only drink usually for holidays, and never a lot.

Did you have a bunk bed when you were a kid? Yes, for me and my younger sister. I started off in the top bunk, but in my pre-teen years before Ashley moved out and I got her room, I preferred the bottom bunk.

[zodiactalks]

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AQUARIUS ZODIAC SIGN

Known for their curiosity, truthfulness, intelligence, and unpredictability, Aquarians are quite the character, and they can be some of the most interesting signs you'll know.

Here are some facts that make them even more interesting:

#1. They forgive, but they never forget.

Aquarius have good hearts and can be very forgiving people, but they never forgive a slight; If you hurt them, you can be sure they'll remember it.

Not only that, but they'll keep that slight in mind in all your future interactions. They might be willing to forgive, but that doesn't mean they want to be hurt again.

#2. They have incredibly high standards.

Aquarians have very high standards for themselves and others, which can be very frustrating to them, but usually leads to amazing results.

They're miracle workers, but they're often angry and frustrated with themselves when things don't immediately go their way, particularly if they're to blame.

#3. They're very protective of those they love.

Aquarians will do anything for those they love, no matter the circumstances; Hell hath no fury like an Aquarius whose loved ones have been hurt.

#4. Their minds are always working at full speed.

Aquarians are big thinkers and are always thinking about a variety of subjects. There's never a moment in their day when they're not thinking about several things at once.

#5. They will always speak their mind.

Aquarius men and women are tremendously outspoken and practically incapable of keeping things to themselves.

If they have an opinion about something, they'll make sure you know it, and they often don't care who they insult with it.

#6. They can convince anyone of anything.

Their active minds and ease of word make them incredibly convincing people, which often translates into getting their way even in situations where they were at a disadvantage.

Watching an Aquarius talk their way out of (or into) any situation can be a sight to behold.

#7. They can be incredibly rude when they want to.

Unlike other big thinkers, Aquarians know how to avoid being accidentally rude, which means when they want to act rudely, they can do so in very creative ways.

If an Aquarius is hurting your feelings, you can be sure it's on purpose.

#8. They're great at predicting if they'll get along with someone.

They don't even need to interact with them directly. Let them watch a group of people, and they'll know without a doubt if they'll be able to get along.

Word of advice, don't push them on this. Just take their word for it.

#9. They hate narrow-mindedness.

Aquarians love looking at the world from as many perspectives as possible, and they love it when people do the same.

People who refuse to change their minds about a subject rarely get along with Aquarius. What's the fun in talking with someone whose opinion you can't sway?

#10. They love a good discussion.

As the big thinkers they are, Aquarians love a stimulating conversation, and arguments and discussions count as that to them, as long as the person they're talking to puts in the effort to make it enjoyable.

You don't even need to agree with them; you just need to be willing to defend your point.

#11. They're friendlier than they look.

Because of their direct personalities and logical minds, Aquarians can be very intimidating, but they're actually pretty friendly people who love getting to know others.

Talk to them without fear, and you might just make a new friend.

#12. They'll treat you how you treat them.

Aquarians are very fair, and they'll treat you with the same level of kindness and respect you give to them, so make sure to treat them how you wish to be treated.

#13. They have horrible sleeping habits.

Though they love sleeping, Aquarians find it very hard to keep a healthy sleep schedule, since their minds are hectic, and their thoughts and ideas often keep them awake.

If you want to stay on their good side, never wake them from a nap.

#14. They only chase what they think it's worth it.

Aquarians don't like wasting their time and energy on things that don't matter to them, so if they don't seem interested, chances are they're not.

This applies to people as well, so keep that in mind.

#15. They do as they please.

Nothing can stand in the way of an Aquarius with a goal, and nothing can convince an Aquarius to pretend to be something they're not.

They're honest to themselves to the very core.

#16. They're ridiculously passive-aggressive.

Though they have no problem telling off people they don't like, they don't want to be too rude to those they love, so they tend to fall into passive-aggressiveness.

#17. They're either faithful or single.

Aquarians don't take relationships lightly. When they enter one, they go all out, and that includes faithfulness, so don't jump in a relationship with an Aquarius unless you mean it.

#18. Music is their life.

Aquarians love music, and it's not uncommon to see them listening to all kinds of genres throughout the day.

#19. They won't admit they're wrong unless you force them to.

Aquarians hate it when they're wrong, so they'll often pretend they haven't made a mistake and hope they can get away with it.

They will only admit they were wrong when called out on it. Otherwise, they'll choose to overlook their mistakes.

#20. If they're with you, they want to be with you.

Aquarius doesn't suffer fools nor people they don't want to be with, which means that if an Aquarius wants to spend time with you, it's because they seriously like you.

#21. They can keep secrets like a champ.

Though they're always sharing their opinion and talking about their days, Aquarians are surprisingly good at keeping secrets and even better at providing advice.

#22. They work best under pressure.

Aquarians are good workers when things are going exactly as they should, but they're even better when they're under pressure, as their overactive minds can focus on several things at once.

#23. They're always trying out new things.

Aquarians get bored easily, so they're always exploring the world around them, looking for new ways to have fun and unique experiences to enjoy.

Give them new, fun things to do, and they will love you.

#24. They need to be comfortable in their environment to be themselves.

Though Aquarians will never pretend to be something they're not, they can tone themselves down considerably if they're somewhere they don't feel at home in.

It's only in places that they feel comfortable where they can fully express themselves.

[femboysai]

flirting

[b. katsuki]

"For someone who's meant to be smart, you're pretty dumb."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that last word and pretend you said I was pretty."

"Dumb," he emphasises, reaching over to flick your forehead. Making a noise of displeasure, you lean back with your hand cupped over the spot he had targeted. A devilish grin stretches across his face, and you quickly come to realise he’s something of a sadist.

"Gross pervert," you mutter under your breath.

"What was that?"

"I said — you're a pervert."

You expect a quip retort. However he just stares back at you. Katsuki blinks calmly, face unmoving, until he shifts his elbow onto the countertop to rest his chin in his palm. "What's there to perv on, pancake-chan?"

Without meaning to, your jaw drops ajar. "Panca—" you go to repeat, practically spluttering in disbelief— recalling that you are most certainly carrying a bigger truckload of chunk than he‘s giving you credit for, not necessarily missing all the times you have caught him staring— "Now that's just rude!"

You are certainly lacking in the chest department however your mother's genetics guarantee fat specifically in the thigh region. He can’t play off like he doesn’t have eyes, as if his vermillion gaze doesn’t subtly flick down to stare at your — you know — assets—

You open your mouth to give back some sort of retort about how he isn’t exactly anything to perv at either however somehow you know that would be adding gasoline to the fire you have started. Your phone starts to violently ringing before you can twist out a single syllable of an insult. Eyes pointed, he’s saved by the bell almost quite literally, and you bring the device to your ear, greeting the recipient with something resembling a huff.

Katsuki’s eyes remain transfixed on you; not exactly missing the feminine curve of your neck, the wisps of hair that curled against your skin, your thick lower lash line that kisses your skin every time you blink. You are pretty, there’s no doubt about that, but he would never admit it to himself, or to you.

And then you turn your head, eyes gazing out the cafe window to spot your friend passing by. Pupils lighting up, you jump and chatter against your phone, soft laughs like hiccups, your hand blindly reaching for your bag.

"Yeah— I'm coming, just wait for me! No, I'm just with Bakugou and Kirishima's ordering— what? I don't want to study?"

Bakugou hastily picks up the wide open zip of your bag and draws it closed before you can sling its contents everywhere with your absent mindedness. You don’t notice, hiking your tote over your shoulder and laughing at something your friend says.

Hanging up the phone, you turn to face him. "I'll see you tomorrow," you say, and then peering over his head, you flash a smile, "See you, Kirishima!"

"Leaving already?" the red-haired man says as he sets down his iced espresso, a bottle of water for his blonde friend.

"Got plans. Besides, if I keep looking at Bakugou's ugly mug, my eyeballs might fall out."

"Nah. I'm handsome," comes Katsuki’s reply — completely unexpected, by the way. You had predicted perhaps a snarl, or a bite, or even a jab back at you. Pancake, remember?

Kirishima snorts, hand slapping over his mouth to stop a potential laugh from slipping out. His eyes fly wide, not quite believing what his rather grumpy friend has said. His gaze flits over to you— and to his disbelief, your cheeks are a very obvious brazen red. Your expression is placid but the pink heating your face betrays your thoughts. Wait a second—

"Does your okaa-chan tell you that?" you retort, wicked smile contradicting your fluster.

"Daily."

By God, is Bakugou flirting?

"That's sad. Real sad." But you are boiling on the inside. Of course it isn’t really sad. Bakugou is most definitely handsome — very much so, even despite that ugly personality of his. "I'm really going now. I'm losing braincells listening to you."

"We wouldn't want that—"

"Goodbye!" you cut him off, solidly, and turn to escape via the nearest exit before your face completely sizzles off the bone.

Katsuki follows your back with his eyes until you truly have left, and absolutely unannounced — he laughs. Kirishima's eyebrows shoot up into his hairline, silence humbling him. Shaking his head, Katsuki settles with a small smile creasing his lips, vermillion gaze catching Kirishima's stares in the corner of his eye—

"What?" he demands.

"You— you were checking her out."

Yes, Kirishima hadn't missed it. The way Bakugou's eye travel, wander, and then burn holes through your shoulder blades until he physically can’t look anymore.

Katsuki’s face drops into a sullen scowl, immediately denying— "I was not, dumbass."

Kirishima comes to a further revelation. "Oh jeez. You like her."

The blonde's eyes round for a millisecond before he lets out a sound of utter disbelief. "No I don't. Who would like that brat?"

"You were flirting with her—"

"—I was making fun of her—"

"You were smiling even after she left—"

"— I was laughing at her terrible personality—"

"That's not very manly of you, Bakugou."

The blonde is livid. He feels attacked— fists clenching as he snatches up the bottle of water to gulp it down and soothe the fire poking in his stomach.

"Get off my back, Kirishima. I don't like her, I lo—"

"Love her," red finishes.

"Loathe her."

[perpetual-stories]

Character Archetypes: Part One

hello, hello! hopefully everyone had a wonderful week! I know a lot of people were / are excited for Shadow and Bone on Netflix.

I personally don’t care. I’m just happy I’m playing the Last of Us Part 2 after being so upset about the developers making play as ABBY. Ugh.

PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT OR MENTION TLOUP2 SPOILERS. I HAVE NOT FINISHED THE GAME.

I avoided spoilers for a whole year, I deserve to play the game at my own pace!

whew... sorry ya’ll idk what came over me.

anyways, without further ado let’s dive right in!

As mentioned in a post before:

archetype characters are archetypes or character types or emotions that are very familiar and recurrent across novels. these archetypes are known to create a sense of familiarity among the readers.

it allows the readers to relate to the characters or events without wondering why exactly they can relate.

Every character written in a story has a unique set of traits and characteristics that make them them. They have their own strengths, flaws, and desires which propels your story forward.

Yet despite the differences writers have for their characters, there are foundational and recurring strengths and flaws certain character types have.

That’s where archetypes come in:

1. The Hero / The Warrior:

the character who rises to the occasion and has a plan and of course saves the day.

they have a particular skill set and string will power.

they will conquer the enemy.

these characters often suffer a crisis of confidence at their lowest point.

strengths: Courage, strength (physical or mental), and ability, and honor.

weakness: overconfidence, hubris

examples: Achilles (The Iliad), Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman), Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), Hercules, Odysseus, Aragorn from Lord of the Rings

2. The Child / Innocent:

morally pure character, often seen as a child. only has good intentions.

often times, not always, the writer can make the child see the world through rose coloured tints until they don’t — facing reality.

of course they child / innocent doesn’t have to grow up. it’s up to the writer and the story they chose to tell.

strengths: Optimism, enthusiasm, imagination, morality, kindness, sincerity

weakness: Naivete, physical powerlessness, rarely skilled

desires: To be happy (or happier)

examples: Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol), Lennie Small (Of Mice and Men), Cio-Cio-san (Madame Butterfly), Buddy the Elf (Elf)

3. The Orphan:

these characters are plucked from obscurity and elevated to prominence.

these characters not always are orphans, but are in search of a “found family.”

strengths: Survival instinct, empathy, perseverance.

weakness: Lack of confidence, willingness to please others.

desires: To thrive and connect with others.

examples: Harry Potter, Oliver Twist, Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

4. The Creator:

is a character that is a motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative.

nothing is more important than the need to make something.

in many — not all — the creator is willing to sacrifice their own well beings and relationships in pursuit of a greater goal.

their single minded vision often leads them to pay the price.

strengths: Creativity, drive, the ability to execute their vision,

weakness: self-involvement, single-mindedness, lack of practical skills, personal sacrifice, perfectionism,

desires: To create something of value to cement their legacy.

examples: Remy from Ratatouille, Alexander Hamilton from Hamilton, Dr Jekyll from Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Willy Wonka, Zeus (The Iliad), Dr. Emmett Brown (Back to the Future), Dr. Moreau (The Island of Dr. Moreau), Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein)

5. The Caregiver:

A character who continually supports others and makes sacrifices on their behalf.

They might be a mother, father, wife, husband, or best friend — whoever they are, they’ll do anything to protect their child, ward, lover, or best bud.

It’s quite rare for the caregiver to take center stage but such is the nature of one so selfless.

strengths: Generosity, selflessness, honorable, loyal.

weakness: lacking personal ambition or leadership, also selflessness: they are open to exploitation.

desires: To protect and help others.

examples: Eva in We Need to Talk About Kevin, Samwise from The Lord of the Rings, Mary Poppins.

voila! here you go everyone! sorry for not posting for the last few days, I needed a break! and yes how rude of me to split this post in two, as I usually do.

like, comment and reblog if you find this useful! also feel free to follow me for part two! if you like to reblog on Instagram feel free! tag me at perpetualstories

Follow me on tumblr and Instagram for more writing and grammar tips and more!

[spencers-dria]

Lost at Sea

Single Dad Spencer x fem reader

Summary: This is kind of a little Christmas-adjacent fluff peice where Spencer is a single dad, completely clueless while Christmas shopping for his daughter. Reader sees him struggling and decides to help, completely unaware of where it will lead them. I imagined him sometime after the show ended, kinda with his somewhat longer curly hair and glasses. This story is completely fluff and I make no apologies.

Well, that was about the third loud huff from the man standing down the isle from me. This one was so loud it blew his hair around a bit, making it even messier. I try to focus on the task at hand, finding the perfect gift for my best friend’s little girl.

Diana was the closest thing I had to a daughter of my own. Despite Anne’s protesting, I took every opportunity to spoil her daughter rotten. The adorable and precocious little girl had me absolutely wrapped around her finger. I have to fight the urge to buy everything I thought would put a smile on her face, my favorite sight in the world.

But now, I was repeatedly distracted by the clearly frustrated man standing next to me, eyeing the girls toy section like it was an enigma. I decide to approach him, but he’s still to lost in his thoughts to notice.

I clear my throat while giving him a light tap on the shoulder.

“Can I help you with anything?”

“Oh I didn’t realized you worked here.”

“I don’t.” I smile sweetly at him. “You just look like you’re trying to solve the worlds most challenging puzzle over here.”

He meets my eyes with a sheepish smile, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. I try my best to ignore just how attractive this man is. He’s definitely not available.

“I guess in a way I am. I’m trying to buy a Christmas gift for my daughter. It’s safe to say that I know absolutely nothing about girls. I want it to be absolutely perfect, and I just know whatever I get won’t be half of what she deserves.”

“Well I can help with that. How old is she and what does she like?”

He pushes his glasses up his nose, giving me a moment to ogle just how attractive his hands are.

“Her name is Alice, she’s 5. I know she loves Disney princesses. Ariel is her favorite I think... but even once I narrow it down to that, there is still just so much. Who knew shopping for little girls could be so overwhelming.”

I can’t help but giggle a bit at his helplessness. He starts to laugh along with me.

“I’m Spencer by the way.” I see him hesitate a moment before slowly extending a hand. I look at his extended hand with a slight feeling of guilt, knowing he’ll most likely judge me based on my response.

“Oh I’m sorry I hope you don’t think I’m rude but... I don’t really shake hands. It’s not personal it’s just all the germs. I don’t deal so well with them.”

He lets out a soft chuckle, but I can’t imagine why. Is he actually laughing at me? Seems a bit rude.

“You know I used to be the exact same way. I suppose having a kid has changed me more than I realize sometimes.”

I nod, quietly, knowing I can’t really relate.

“I’m sorry you’re probably really busy. Are you shopping for your daughter too?”

Unsure as to the reason why, I’m suddenly embarrassed to admit that I’m not actually a parent. Just a single loner in their mid-thirties, living vicariously through their best friend and their.

“Oh no, just a friend. I’m more than happy to help you out with Alice. If you want my best ideas though, I’ve got to be honest, a lot of it is online. I can show you the links real quick, I’d you’d like?”

“I feel like this would be easier if we just... Would you like to grab coffee? I know a great place just around the corner. You can show me all your ideas and hopefully we can pick out something for her together.”

Up until this point I didn’t want to make assumptions, but it’s becoming more clear that Spencer is most likely a single dad. I don’t want pry, but I can’t help but wonder what happened to her mom.

I try to hide my excitement at his offer.

“You had me at coffee. And I almost forgot, I’m Y/N!”

————————————————

Three hours and several cups of coffee later, I knew a small part of the life story belonging to Spencer Reid. He was an FBI agent, part of a team who hunts down serial killers. A profiler. Or former profiler? He used to work in the field, until he had to raise his daughter alone. He had been fallen hard and fast for someone who left him as soon as another opportunity, or person rather, had presented themselves. They left him a single dad, all alone with his 2 year old daughter, Alice.

Being a single parent, he knew he couldn’t continue a job that put him in harms way on a regular basis. He never had a problem putting his life on the line for others, but Alice had become his number one priority, without question. Switching to a desk job had allowed him to continue as a consult for the team while also teaching at the University.

As I looked over his attire, I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t quite give off professor vibes at first glance. His cozy maroon sweater and glasses, perhaps. But his curly mop of disheveled hair and goofy grin made him look more like a cuddly muppet character. The more I listen to him talk the more I notice his intelligence. I should have known, given his professions. It didn’t take long to realize he was well out of my league, but he was kind enough to give me the time of day for whatever reason.

I keep drowining in his eyes or getting pulled in by the movement of his hands as he speaks. Listening to his voice is like gently floating down like a river. I don’t even notice when he’s stopped talking.

“What about you?”

“Hmm?” I pull myself out of my daze, trying not to look as enchanted by him as I feel.

“Oh uhh, nothing to tell really.” I shrug, picking up my coffe, hoping he’ll change the subject while I sip on my caramel latte.

“I find that hard to believe. What do you do?”

“I just run a small cafe in town.”

I feel as though hearing about my life is about as interesting as watching water boil, but Spencer could have fooled me. He looks genuinely invested as I tell him about how I earned my bachelors and masters in business management, eventually opening up The Cottage. I didn’t have any experience in the food industry, but my friend Nicole had immediately been on board with the idea of coming on as my cook.

“It sounds wonderful. I’ll definitely have to stop by sometime.” He smiles at me before sipping on the last of his second cup of coffee.

“You’re welcome to bring Alice, only if you want to. And Nicole makes a killer risotto!”

“Of course! ...Oh! I knew we were forgetting something. Alice!”

“The entire reason you asked me here, just a minor detail.” I can’t help but snicker at our absent mindedness, how easy it was to be completely swept away in the tide that was Spencer Reid.

His face fades a bit, though I’m not sure why. He simply nods, folding his hands in his lap.

“Sorry if this is weird but umm... can I see a picture of her? It’s just, well, it might help me to get a better idea. You don’t have to, if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Oh yeah!”He pulls out his wallet, unfolding a long strand of small photos, most of just his daughter, a few featuring him as well.

She was beautiful, brown eyed girl with soft, brown locks. She clearly had her fathers curly hair and soft, doe eyes. If it wasn’t obvious from the way he spoke about her, the pictures made it incredibly apparent that this girl was his whole world. Pure joy radiated from the photo of the two of them. I look up to to see the exact same look on his face, with a smile so big that his eyes crinkle.

That is the moment I knew he had me. I would follow this man anywhere, this adorable dad I had met on the toy isle only hours ago. The photos made it evident that she was just as crazy about him. It was almost too adorable for my heart to handle.

I take a deep breath before meeting his gaze, which is much closer now as we lean in over the table to look at the pictures.

“She’s beautiful.”

He looks down at the photos again with glassy eyes. “I know.”

He clears his throat and scoots back into his seat.

“So what did you have in mind?”

“Well, I have seen this online story that makes really pretty hand-made dresses that mimic the ones of each Disney Princess. Maybe a couple of her favorites? They also make knit blankets that look like mermaid tales. Or maybe a stuffed animal of one of her favorite characters? What little kid doesn’t like stuffed animals, right?”

Spencer nods along, absorbing all the suggestions I throw his way. After awhile, I help him settle on ordering a few we both like.

“I can’t wait to give these to her! She always loves Christmas morning. We open presents together and eat the cookies we made the night before while binging as many Christmas movies as possible.”

There was that smile again, the one he got when he talked about her. I wonder if she knows how lucky she is to have a dad that cares so much.

I can’t help but smile as well at the thought, which he quickly interrupted with “So what are your Christmas plans?”

I feel myself turning slightly red at the embarrassment of having to admit that I have none. Nothing much that is.

I shrug, hoping he won’t ask any more about it.

“Do you get to see your family?”

And there it was. The question I was desperately hoping to avoid. I know my inability to meet his gaze and consistent pulling at my fingers would be a dead give away of my uncertainty about speaking on the subject. I search for the best way to answer without seeming like I’m overcome with self pity. To be fair, I wasn’t. I didn’t mind spending the holidays alone. Not anymore. I had grown comfortable with the silence and comfort that comes from living alone.

The soft crackling of the fire, a fuzzy blanket, and a warm cup of hot chocolate had become my closest companions of each winter season. I spent many evenings curled up by the window, watching the snow dust the city as soft music flowed through my drafty, top floor apartment. Sometimes I’d dance and twirl around in my pajamas and socks, slipping and sliding on the wood floors. So yes, it was safe to say I truly enjoyed the time I spent getting to know myself.

“I uh, they’re not really around anymore. I was adopted by my parents when I was still a baby. They didn’t have any family but each other and then, well, me. I lost them to a car crash a few years back.”

I can tell he’s listening, but the one thing I always expect to see isn’t there. Pity. Instead I see kindness and understanding, and my heart welcomes it fully.

“Nicole is on vacation with her family for the holidays so it’s just me. I’m pretty used to it though, I make my own fun.” I give him smile to reinforce my point.

His eyes glaze over and I can tell I’ve lost him to a deep thought, as I see the gears turning in his head. He opens his mouth to speak before closing it again, and finally spouting out: “Come have dinner with us. On Christmas Eve.”

I had half expected a pity invite. A “why don’t you”. A “would you like to”. But Spencer hadn’t asked me. He had told me, in a way that left no room for arguing. I could tell he wasn’t going to budge on the matter. Whether it was the insistent but kind tone or the seriousness in his eyes, I don’t know. But I knew there was no use in fighting it. Not just the invitation, but the feelings quickly flooding my heart. Spencer Reid was like a fast approaching storm, but I didn’t want to outrun the rain. I wanted to dance in it, drenched in the downpour.

And that’s exactly what I did. As soon as I saw the look on his face when I said yes, it crashed over me like a wave, leaving me breathless and lost in the sea of my emotions.

[leefi]

Starira MBTI IV - Rinmeikan

Seisho

Siegfeld

Frontier

Tamao Tomoe: ISFJ

Bitches be like "can't help being an Si Dom!" *Fixates on a past inferiority complex and lets it define her worth until inferior Ne finally snaps and goes full rambo*

I’d put Tamao up there with Akira in terms of characters who have grown the most throughout the game’s arc (+ Maya if we’re including the anime). And you don’t really need me to tell you why. I find her so so relatable because she’s evolved from being a passive observer who feels as if she has no power or agency in her own life to flipping in the COMPLETE opposite direction and, well...going full rambo. She's shot way too far in the other direction, though, and risks burning up upon re-entry if she isn't careful.

Above all the edgelord, though, we know that she's a dork with a big heart who adores her school and friends. That commitment to preserving the past and those who came before her is such a gratuitously Si-dom thing, and we're all rooting for her because we can see how hard it is to go against her sweeter nature and take Kaoruko head-on. But that aux Fe and inferior Ne give her no breathing room to figure out what she's going to be doing after all of this - she's so focused on her mission and what she must achieve, and that single-mindedness slingshotting out of prior passivity is...so scary to see. It reminds me a bit of her extroverted xSFJ sister's arc in the anime - Nana.

Fumi Yumeoji: ISTJ

Now that I’ve thought about it more, her type is pretty clear. Some commenters on her PDB page made REALLY strong arguments for Fumi being an ISFP in a Te grip (Te, extroverted thinking, is ISFP’s weakest function - when they’re caught in its grip, they become overly critical of the world around them and turn into control freaks). But I feel like her Te is just too strong, even if she’s in a grip, for it to be her inferior. And, more importantly, I see zero Se in her. There’s no way it could be her auxiliary function. But I get why people think ISFP! She definitely has a ton of Fi - she left her bright future behind at Siegfeld because of it. She’d compromised a value extremely dear to her (her love for her sister!) in her stress, and that sin was so unforgivable to her that she abandoned Siegfeld completely. That screams Fi. But seeing how the other ISTJ in Revue Starlight (Junna!) uses her Fi, arguments for Fumi being one as well get stronger and stronger.

ISTJs have Fi as their tertiary function. And tertiary functions can be super strong, especially if she was caught in a Si-Fi loop! Here’s what an Si-Fi loop looks like:

“The ISTJ in this loop becomes hyper critical of past events and can see all of the negative things which have occurred and are likely to occur again. Seeing these negative patterns and past events becomes tied to the ISTJs emotions, which makes them fixate on these things and the fears they have of what might happen in the future. Normally logic would present itself for the ISTJ and cause them to reevaluate, but during their loop this becomes impossible...The ISTJ in this loop becomes hyper critical of past events and can see all of the negative things which have occurred and are likely to occur again. Seeing these negative patterns and past events becomes tied to the ISTJs emotions, which makes them fixate on these things and the fears they have of what might happen in the future.”.

Overall, Fumi is strict, incredibly hard on herself, and in a very stressful position for an ISTJ to be - but she also has some of the strongest values and inner sense of integrity in the series, and that can’t go understated.

Ichie Otonashi: ESFP

“Tamao...TAMAO…”

“What is it?”

“Doesn't it seem like Kiryuin-sensei is glaring at me?”

“She’s just looking at us.”

“YOU’RE LYING SHE’S DEFINITELY GLARING AT ME”

The “stereotypical partner” for ISFJs and ISTJs! While I wasn’t thinking about MBTI at the time, this was what I was referring to when I said that Ichie brings the light to Tamao and Fumi’s more serious personalities - they’re very lucky to have her around. Se-dominance shows up less in a jock-way like it does for the other Se-strong girls and more in Ichie’s lackadaisical and fun-loving attitude. She’s like a little puppy, excitable and eager to experience all that life has to offer her. Se-Fi means that she’s quick to get back up on her feet when things go wrong (just like her ExFP cousins Karen, Aruru and Lalafin), but don’t let her easy going personality fool you - she has a strong sense of values that she holds very dearly to her heart (auxiliary introverted Feeling), and we see that lash out when she’s the first to get truly, visibly angry and driven (loud Se dominance supporting passionate Fi aux with tertiary Te leading the charge) over the loss of the department (compare to Tamao’s quieter Si dominance supporting socially-conscious Fe aux with tertiary Ti withdrawing and mulling things over for itself before acting). There is sooo much to Ichie that I love that I’ve already talked about twice and feel like I’m being redundant at this point, haha. But she has such an inner fire to match that outer love and passion, it’s incredible to see. She really is like the sun.

Also - please see this tweet about Rinmeiki and the Rinmeikan seniors. It's such a succinct way of summarizing their worldviews.

Rui Akikaze: ISFP

We really see a more innocent side to Fi dominance with Rui - see how she doesn’t immediately pick up on the cold atmosphere at Rinmeikan during the early AA story because she’s just so excited about the Performance Festival (until Fe-user Yuyuko comes in and gives her a rude awakening). She’s really similar to her IxFP sibling Mahiru! It’s that shared unhealthy Fi not having confidence in her own capabilities that makes her project onto the girl she has a crush on (and not saying her crush is bad or not valid, just as there’s nothing wrong with Mahiru’s for Karen either - it’s just that she has a tendency to chase Tamao as this ideal because she hasn’t embraced herself yet when she really is a phenomenal person in her own right!). But it’s also that dominant Fi that fuels her passion towards catching up to - and keeping up with - (and eventually surpassing, but don’t tell her that) her senpai! It’s so, so strong! IxFPs are their passions! I see stronger evidence for Se over Ne aux, which is why I typed her as ISFP. When you compare her to her extroverted sister Ichie, you actually find quite a few similarities between the two! Rui’s passion and excitability shows up in albeit more awkward ways due to her introversion, but she’s just as powerful beneath the surface! There is so much light and fire there that I think even her senpais fail to pick up on - truly only Yukko so far has seen the full breadth of her potential (that’s the power of lesbianism). Like other Fi doms can tend towards being, Rui sometimes has an issue of getting stuck in her own head and being her own worst enemy (this is typically more common with INFPs, who are “dreamier” than their ISFP siblings, but it isn’t impossible for an ISFP to be feeling the same things). But like Mahiru and Kaoruko, there’s so much untapped potential that she’ll gain access to with time and support!

Yuyuko Tanaka: INTP

“If only I had the Magician’s knowledge...then it’d be so easy.”

Her inferior extroverted Feeling showing up when she and Rui talk in Arcana Arcadia is SO SO PREVALENT - Ne and Fe pick up on the actual dynamics of the situation much faster than Fi-dominant Rui, but that inferior Fe also struggles to communicate that change in a diplomatic way, and she ends up really scaring/basically bullying Rui. We also see it in her ardent refusal to be a burden and immediate initiative to put herself to work, in such a similar way to what I pointed out with INTP sibling LGY in my ORV post:

Yuyuko: We have to be the ones to shoulder it - Tamao-senpai, Fumi-senpai, and Ichie-senpai’s wish.

Rui: …!

Yuyuko: Our seniors have already been shouldering this dream. That’s why they can’t afford to carry you too!!

All of this is INTP inferior Fe. It's also why it was such a surprise to a lot of us when Yukko admitted she had feelings for her because, as I mentioned with Misora, IxTPs have a really, really hard time communicating what they’re actually feeling, even if they have developed Fe!

Yukko really is a hidden genius - she has such a talent for scriptwriting which was kind of easy to miss before AA because INTPs are the champions of being the literal best at a thing...then not advocating for themselves at all (I have to harass my INTP friend into letting me advocate for him all the time because THEY WOULD LITERALLY RATHER DIE THAN ASK FOR HELP). They aren’t really focused on prestige or gaining power like their INTJ cousins might be - what lights their fire is diving fully and wholeheartedly into their passions (like Rakugo), and everything else comes second. Stop distracting them with other things -- who cares if they haven’t eaten in eight hours. They want to keep focusing on their work! But if you catch them in their passions - or working towards anything they’re extremely invested in (like she is with making Rui the lead) - they are unparalleled strategists and geniuses. They throw themselves FULLY into the things they care about and easily become masters in their craft. INTPs are the classic example of asking a stoic person about their special interest and immediately seeing their faces light up (buckle in, too, because they’re about to launch into a two-hour lecture about it).

I’m not familiar with Rakugo so there isn’t much I can say with it, but dominant Ti-auxiliary Ne-tertiary Si is such a wonderful set of functions to have for scriptwriting or visualizing a story, so it’s no wonder that on top of her many talents, she’s already working with her seniors.

I also really love that she’s buds with Nana - they’re polar opposites, too (ESFJ/INTP), and having Fe-dominant Nana to advocate for her talents and genius is really going to help her shine in the future! If they teamed up with Michiru and Misora I think the four of them would be able to take over the world in about twenty minutes.

[the-al-chemist]

What do people like/dislike about all of your lovely kids? And if you feel like a bonus, significant childhood events 💛💛

Ahhh many asks again! Thank you, Bestie 💛

ARTEMIS

I feel like Artemis is a fairly lovable kid, but of course, I’m biased! In terms of what those around her like best about her, it’s her wildness, her fearlessness, and her compassion. What can rub people up the wrong way is how closed off she can be with people she doesn’t know, to the point where she’s almost rude, and her stubborn single-mindedness. She’s obstinate, and that can make some people dislike her.

In terms of significant childhood events, her father’s death, although she was only six and has very few memories of him and time surrounding the event, would be a very significant one. It marks the beginning of things becoming very obviously wrong with the Hexley family, and eventually leads to Sara’s emotional and Jacob’s literal abandonment of Artemis.

ETHEL

Ethel is FUN. She’s always up for a good time, and people like that. She also has a way with words. She loves using words, playing with them, making them do the things she wants and seeing the effect they have on people - making them laugh, persuading them to join her in her antics, getting herself out of trouble with them. It’s impressive and entertaining, but it’s also very tiring and grating. And it never stops. She never stops. Most people do like Ethel, but prefer her in small doses.

The most significant event in Ethel’s childhood was meeting Selene Fraser on her first day at Hogwarts. Ethel took the poor oppressed girl under her wing, and they became best friends, seeing each other through every possible high and low life threw at them. It was through helping Selene that Ethel became interested in law and legislation, and this shaped her future massively, as she later pursued this as a career.

JEREMIAH

Jim is just very nice and kind to everyone, and he is just… Jim. He has always been an old soul, and happily so. Most people find it endearing, except for his twin sister, who thinks he’s incredibly dull (although the two do become closer as they get older). What people find infuriating about Jim - although you’d be hard pushed to find someone who actively dislikes him - is that he’s very clumsy and bumbling and awkward. When he’s nervous, he becomes more so. Considering that he’s naturally the sort of bloke who likes to take his time with things and is never in much of a rush, this means that it can take a LONG time if you want anything from him.

He would say that the most significant childhood event would be meeting Héloïse, but actually, it was falling off a broomstick at the age of seven and breaking his left arm and right leg beyond magical repair. While the fractures healed, he was given a sketchbook and set of charcoal pencils to keep him entertained, and the rest, as they say, was history.

HÉLOÏSE

Héloïse is a dreamy type, always thinking about something. She sees endless possibility in everything, loves coming up with new ideas and solving problems, and can become lost in thought for hours at a time. It’s amazing, how her brain works, but that combined with her natural shyness and the fact that she never fully explains her ideas to others can prove a bit difficult for others to deal with. Like Artemis, she’s also very closed off at times. Generally, she’s a bit unnerving. People find her odd. Admirable, but odd.

The most significant moment in her life would be the accident involving her parents. After that, her maternal grandmother (a former Hogwarts professor) became her legal guardian, and she was pulled out of Beauxbatons and sent to Hogwarts, arriving in the January of third year, one month before her fourteenth birthday, not speaking a word of English, changing the course of her life forever. Not the kindest thing to do to a grieving teenager, but it did lead to great things. I mean, we have Artemis, don’t we?

[chaoticrebels]

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑯𝑬𝑬𝑻

𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 !

FULL NAME. Dimitri Nikolaevich Graves-Romanov NICKNAME. Dimi, Riri, Mimi, Niko, Romeo, DR. Graves ALIAS. Romanov Heir GENDER. Male HEIGHT. 6'3" AGE. Roughly around 28 - 30 ZODIAC. Cancer SPOKEN LANGUAGES. English, Russian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian.

𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 !

HAIR COLOR. Brunette EYE COLOR. Brown SKIN TONE. White BODY TYPE. Athletic VOICE. xx

DOMINANT HAND. Right POSTURE. Straight SCARS. None TATTOOS. Several BIRTHMARKS. None MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE(S). His striking features, versatile style, and charismatic demeanor

𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 !

PLACE OF BIRTH. Saint Petersburg, Russia HOMETOWN. Saint Petersburg, Russia SIBLINGS. None PARENTS. Nikolai Alexei Romanov & Anastasia Natasha Graves

𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 !

OCCUPATION. Prince, Streamer, Mafia Leader CURRENT RESIDENCE. Saint Petersburg, Russia CLOSE FRIENDS. Alexsey Solovyov, Maksim Morozov, Iyla Solovyova, Ekaterina Morozova RELATIONSHIP STATUS. Single // Betrothed to Paul ;3<3 FINANCIAL STATUS. Extremely Wealthy DRIVER’S LICENSE. Yes because he has a collection of vehicles he loves to drive CRIMINAL RECORD. None VICES. Flirty, Sarcasm, Stubborn, Impulsive, Spontaneous, Reckless, Charming

𝐬𝐞𝐱 & 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 !

SEXUAL ORIENTATION. Pansexual PREFERRED EMOTIONAL ROLE. Switch PREFERRED SEXUAL ROLE. Versatile LIBIDO. High TURN ON’S. Lip biting, neck kissing, being pushed up against a wall and kissed, dirty talk, sexual teasing, mystery, hair pulling, playing with the hair, spanking, being called daddy, foreplay, begging, exhibitionism, chocking TURN OFF’S.  Lack of foreplay, boredom, narrow-mindedness, poor hygiene, someone playing dumb to get attention, being used, bossy people, being controlled, rudeness, not being taken seriously, liars, bugs, druggies RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES. When he is in a relationship he is loyal and devoted to his partner, he also very spontaneous and playful. He definitely loves keeping his partner on their toes, he finds excitement in the mystery so he keeps a bit of a  mystery to his relationship. However with him, he is like a cat when it comes to affection. And he can get a bit jealous to the point he gets a little possessive, so he definitely doesn't typically like sharing what's his. However he just wants his partner to be happy because they deserve nothing but happiness in his eyes, honestly he can be quite compassionate. He’ll also continue to try to woo his partner even after getting into a relationship with them, hell he'll spoil them because he absolutely loves surprising them. But the main thing is he definitely will love them with everything he has.

𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 !

CHARACTER’S THEME SONG. Love The Way You Hate Me - LIKE A STORM / Sit Still, Look Pretty - Daya { In a male version clearly } / Rules -AViVA / Real One -Smash Into Pieces HOBBIES TO PASS TIME. Causing mischief, listening music, singing, playing the guitar, flirting, going on adventures, rollerblading, skateboarding, hiking, streaming, painting his nails, drawing and coming up for stories, gaming, taking photos of things he finds interesting LEFT OR RIGHT BRAINED. Both. PHOBIAS. Losing people he loves and cares about, not being good enough, messing up beyond repair, being a bother to people he loves and cares about. SELF CONFIDENCE LEVEL. He has high confidence but he still has his insecurities. VULNERABILITIES. His willingness to do anything for the one’s he loves, he has a tendency to over think and doubt himself at times, his inability to choose between his parents, he's allergic to certain things, he's a bit reckless at time

[voiddaysrp]

Name: Days

Gender: Female

Age: … Very old, she lost track long ago (she is however 18 physically like me ooc) 

Species: Human-dragon hybrid Height: 6’2 in/ft | 187 cm

Other measurement things: Wingspan is about 12’3 in/ft or 374 cm (likely varies because i dont know what is actually “accurate”). Tail is about 6 feet long or 182 cm. 

Personality: Quiet and contemplative, Days is not the most social person in the world- she's usually off doing her own thing unless someone else puts her to a task. These things of her own are often building- she’s not great at the creative aspect but she puts focus into practicality at the very least, expect her to have her nose in a book as she makes an exp farm that no one probably actually needs at that point in time. She is also one for experimentation, having a scientific mindset towards things- sometimes she may even go too far without realizing it, she rarely means bad by it but empathy is something that has left her mind long ago. 

Due to her unique circumstances Days is not particularly in tune with her mob traits- she learned things in her time stuck in the End but there are some things that just… happen, for instance she often finds comfort in obsidian pillars, is drawn to end crystals, hates beds and often starts vibing around endermen in the overworld without really thinking. She tries not to think about how she has lost half her humanity, it’s not a pleasant thought. 

Once upon a time she used to be a very adventurous sort of person- prone to going out on long trips and then taking five years to come back, down to earth but enthusiastic nonetheless (basically, my ooc personality). However… after her long fall in the void and then being trapped in the end even longer she has changed considerably, her emotions are incredibly dulled in many aspects which she sometimes tries to overcompensate for (you want melodramatic speeches? That’s how you get melodramatic speeches). She may often come off as rude, when usually she’s just trying to be honest. 

Sometimes she does get the urge to explore though… hey, looking at that mansion may be good research… 

Background: 

Once long ago there was a wandering girl named Days, she lived out on her own- her family was god knows where and boy did she… not think about how to get back to her spawn when she started wandering out. Oops. It’s fine though… eventually she came upon a savanna village and in exchange for helping with basic work she took up one of the empty houses and lived among them (based on my singleplayer world). 

But… that wasn’t enough for her, she wasn’t great at building pretty things, nor was she good in a real fight, and if she ever tried redstone she’d likely fail miserably… yet, there was one thing she knew she was good at. Exploring, seeing the unknown and taking note of it, perhaps bringing riches back home for those around her. 

So she made a habit of it, going out for weeks seeing what lies in one direction of the vast world they lived in- making notes of what she sees, of what others could use and perhaps along the way she could find something to bring home with her…

Along the way she actually begun to see other people, adventurers like her. From them she heard a curious tale, one of “The End”, about how a dragon is said to live there and killing it could bring riches to those present… and what got Days’ attention was a rumor that the dragon’s breath could be collected and used in potions. Now wouldn’t that be something unique to bring home? 

With this in mind she decided to follow a group to a stronghold they had found, they were mainly there for the fight it seems… and that was good, Days had no intention on trying to fight the dragon herself so they could do that for her, she just needed to get close enough to use those bottles she had on hand. 

When they arrived well… Days had no words for the realm, it wasn’t like anything else she had ever seen… and boy was being around that bottomless pit of the void anxiety inducing. This was the hard part, she stuck close to the more combat trained players, as they got in range of the dragon. 

Oh.

Oh that’s a large mob. 

Maybe she had gotten in over her head but it’s fine… right? 

She waited, and waited (maybe she should have also brought a pumpkin)- the opportunity had to come soon… and she saw it, the dragon flew close to the ground and attacks her current comrades with that strange purple breath. 

Okay, there it is. She ran out and got as much of it as she could carry in her arms before running like mad back out of the way. 

She heard a loud noise sometime after, like the crackling of a firecracker. What was that…

Erm. 

Where did everyone go?

Slowly moves out of her hiding spot, no one around aside from a sea of enderman and a… that has to be the portal back yes? 

… And another portal, suspended in air. What is that? Where did that lead? Curiosity overrode the basic sense of safety she should have been following and with some careful building she got up to it. It’s too small to crawl into… a pearl could do the trick though! 

So she did…

But... 

An odd feeling overcame her when she appeared on the other side, on a platform overlooking an expanse of islands. The view wasn’t what was on her mind though… her body was moving on it’s own, like some unknown force had taken control of her limbs and pushed her into the backseat. 

There was no time to truly react until she had already stepped off the edge. 

Like some sort of sick joke it was only at this point did she regain control of her body, when she was face to face with the abyss that surrounded the realm. She tried to in her panic send another pearl but it didn’t land, leaving her without anything she could do. 

This wasn’t… this wasn’t how she wanted to die. What else could she do? She had a few seconds to at least try to see if she had anything else on her…

The bottles… she had never heard of using dragon breath on it’s own, it seemed more like it’d be an ingredient than anything else but… 

She’s desperate, dragons live here right? Maybe it could do something. So she chugged it and hoped for the best. 

Well. 

Death never came to her. 

But, she just kept falling…

...And falling…

...And falling…

...And falling…

Had she just locked herself into a fate worse than death in her attempt to survive? It came to a point where she couldn’t even see land anymore. 

…

She didn’t know how long she had been there, there was no distinction of day or night in the End. Yet… there was a point she felt herself go eerily calm, no panic, no sadness. 

She was just numb. 

The void was an odd thing, at a glance it was only a silent empty space but at some point she heard… things. She didn’t know what it was saying, it was speaking a language she knew nothing of yet whatever presence it represented it seemed to overtime envelope her- not like the force that had forced her off the edge though, something more… benevolent? Was that even accurate? Either way that feeling corruption only grew over time. 

Something had changed. An unfamiliar weight upon her back, an instinct she most certainly didn’t have before. 

Fly. Get out. Home. 

When faced with that after ages seeing nothing but fuzzy black there was no other option but to act right? 

With that she… flew. She had wings. Where did that.. 

…

She can think on this later, her mind was mostly set on finding land. It took a long time, and by the time she managed to grip onto the edge of an island she was utterly exhausted. 

But, she was a step closer to home. 

Or was she already home?

It wasn’t until some hours later did she realize she had passed out, dragging herself up as she properly took in her situation. Not only did she find those wings but also a long tail, distinctly draconic but in colors of white and silver, some scales shining in an almost holographic color. 

… She was no longer entirely human that’s for sure, was it the potion combined with the void that did something? She’ll… have to look into that. For now she had to get out. 

How though? The islands were vast and she had been moving for who knows how long. She past by odd structures (cities?), many endermen and vast amounts of just… nothing. The only thing that kept her remotely grounded were old books she had in her bag, now that she could actually read them without fear of dropping them straight into nothing. 

Years of being alone with creatures that couldn’t understand you was a terrible thing for the mind. She hadn’t realized it but at some point she has practically shut down aside from her singular goal of leaving. 

It was that single mindedness that eventually got her back to the original island (what state was it in? Who knows that’s up to the greater lore people), thankfully the portal was still open for her to get the hell out.

… Uh…

Where--

Is she on a table?

… And that’s several different people just looking at her. 

Oops.  

[ask-runaan-anything]

How can someone be strong when all they want to do is give up?

The answer is simple, but never easy: Don’t give up. Harness all your will into one single focus point of sheer bloody-mindedness and just defy the universe. How dare it try to break you. Rude. You’re clearly too pretty to accept defeat.

It works for me. I see no reason it can’t work for you, too. 

everyone is pretty change my mind oh wait you can’t i’m stubborn

[2ofswords]

Dankovsky ^^

Oh dear! Strap yourselves in, we are going to be here for a while! Also another warning: There is a mention of suicide in “a headcanon about their future”. (Which is probably very telling of said headcanon… Also: There are spoilers!)

their biggest strength

I guess having academic knowledge is a cool thing, but honestly, I would go with determination and willpower. I mean… while it might not be the best or most healthy situation ever, staying alive while having the sandpest out of sheer spite and willpower is still a fucking achievement! I mean to a certain extend all healers share this drive, but for me the way the Bachelor’s determination works is fucking inspiring and just the thing that keeps him going. While being the one who is like not hunted for sport (most of the time) he gets dealt a fucking terrible hand when it comes to dealing with the sandpest (neither any menkhu rights nor any magic, not being allowed to acquire the necessary components or equipment for his area of expertise, being the most distrusted and getting the least information, oh and of course getting told to solve the situation in a specific and completely counterproductive way by multiple parties) and most of his successes come from going through with it despite that, and screaming at people who don’t want to listen. While it can become (or be seen as, depending on perspective and circumstances) rude and insensitive this mindset is what gets the plague acknowledged and at least some of the measures established as a result. His whole thing is seeing an impossible task and going for it anyways, his entire goal of defeating death has that vibe and while he might never live up to his own standards I think there are things to achieve and to get done along the way that are of great value. Also while it might come of as arrogant, I think the mindset of “Yes I can do this, I will make it” when going against great odds is actually very inspiring and useful. Also I think it sometimes gets confused with thinking one is better than other people or just above human limits, with… isn’t always the case and you can actually see in his own route how it is more of an “I need to do this so I will make it.” But I digress and before this ask completely turns into another “Daniil Dankovsky defence squad post” of mine, I will leave it at that and say, that I think the way he moves forward and tries to archive great things by sheer willpower and determination is commendable, inspiring and one of his greatest and most important character traits for me.

their greatest weakness

This is a hard one for me. Definitely not because there are no weaknesses, but more because a lot we see in the game is a bit situational and/or an amalgamation of different things that morph into one single shitfest that I cannot really find a word for. I have thought about using single-mindedness but I actually think it is inaccurate and a word used often for him that while coming close to what I want to say does give of a very different vibe than I am going for and there are definitely aspects, where he isn’t single minded at all and as I said: very situational. Sooo… I would like to introduce my favourite weakness to give a character (seriously like 80 percent of my OCs have this one): tunnel vision. Kind of a downside of determination but also alluding of the fact, that our dear Bachelor likes do dismiss peoples opinions if they don’t match up with his own. But I don’t really think this is because he is generally dismissive of everything (because he shows signs of interest even in the town and it’s culture when it is not interfering with his work and while I wouldn’t dare to say that his handling of the situation is a good one, I think it is largely enhanced of the whole plague thing going on and also of everything getting in his fucking way). Example: getting really weirdly pissed at Lara for telling him that there probably isn’t any (human) source for the disease is not really being “fuck you, I am better, you know nothing” and more “no. There is one, this is my goal so there has to be one”. You know… tunnel vision. Same with most of his rants about the town that are mostly like “why wont you give me the information I need in the terms I could use?” or “why the fuck can I not be an efficient doctor in this town?” It disregards the towns uniqueness in a way that is dangerous and bad for both parties, hinders his work, and damages the town. It can also lead to my first instinctually chosen word, single mindedness, because it leads to this disregard of others peoples opinions but I think it is more of a symptom and it doesn’t mean that he looks down on people all the time (oh, he definitely does sometimes but I would argue not as much as people are saying) but that he is so much in his own mind, that he doesn’t even think about considering! (Which is also bad but in a different way.) It also explains why I feel that most of his downsides are very situational: Because they are! They are a result of him setting himself certain goals and then being very very hard to change his way of looking at the specific problem. It can be helpful and is also kind of a part of his strength but at the same time are his own downfall. (I mean, just look at the letter of “a” and his complete and utter disregard of it! He has his standards and by god he will keep them no matter what anyone is saying.)

a headcanon about their childhood

Not a childhood one and only a pre-canon, but I think, he designed the coat he is wearing in Patho 2 himself. Or at least with like a friend who also creates fashion and either he went to the poor artist with a plan and that guy was like “are you sure..?” and Danko was like “Yes. This is exactly what I want” or the friend was also into weird fashion and they made this horrible thing their own little problem being like “fuck the clothing conventions, we are making everything asymmetric and… horrendous”. Either way it is a deliberate choice. (Also if the designer was up for the project it is the same one who made Andreys pants. ^^) To also have a childhood one: I think Daniil was one of those children who idolize their parents a lot and talk to others about how great they are. I also think he had a falling out with his father at some point, but they had a really good relationship in childhood.

a headcanon about their future (if they have one)

Tbh I have a massive amount of different ideas about the future and it depends on so many things. I absolutely can see him going back to the capital and getting executed and I also can see him seeing to his own death after a different character’s end (oh, old black train! You have tainted my heart with my own tears! Thank you Ned! ^^) In the second game I feel him staying in town a bit more, but in P1 there is really nothing that keeps him in the end. Though I love and follow every fucking story that lets him stay or get a better ending and in my head I also have a “goes into the capital and gets brainwashed and dragged into the inquisition” storyline. That one might be fun… But again I have so many varieties. If he stays I kind of enjoy the thought of giving him an administrative job and not letting him be a slightly shittier doctor then Artemy. Tbh he is more of a scientist and there’s just is no equipment in town even if we disregard the whole problem with him not being a menkhu (something that definitely doesn’t change after the Haruspex ending). So I like to either see him as taking the Kains job after they leave in Patho and either organizing the houses and/or becoming the next judge or picking up Saburov’s job and trying to govern the town. It depends on who lives and who dies and what the political landscape is like. (For example, which part of the town Khan and Capella will regulate, because he sure as hell cannot step into their shit!) I just think it fits him better and plays to his strengths a bit more. Gives him his own thing to do while he tries to re-establish his science things. And as someone who founded an entire lab, he probably has some expertise and it’s the aspect in town he most succeeded in. But yeah, it all strongly depends on game ending and how characters interact with him because he is pretty much broken by the end of it and needs some form of support or opportunity to find his bearings.

a small detail/scene that leaves a great impact

There are so many! And a lot of small lines that people already made great points about! ^^ I already talked about the “do you condemn me?” line so I will use a different one. Let’s go with “What does ‘erdem’ mean? ‘Arrogant fool’, maybe?” because I freaked out about this one in my second playthrough. I was so delighted by Danko showing interest in the steppe language in my first playthrough that I completely disregarded the “arrogant fool” part which… honestly shame on me, it’s now one of my favourite things! Because it is one of the very little moments where Danko actually shows self reflection and I think the reason is less that he doesn’t think of himself as said arrogant fool and more that he is normally not showing it but this little jab allows us to catch a glimpse. (Also I do not think that it only is “you are saying bad thinks about me, right” and more a moment of self-deprecation, just because the insult is way to precise and fitting to be randomly picked. If it would be, he would go with “city quack” or “outsider asshole” or something along these lines. More what is actually said and less concrete.) I already said that I think Daniil is psyching himself up a lot about being able to do things and telling himself again and again that he is in fact capable of all these things, but that also leads to the acknowledgement that one is indeed an arrogant fool. I think he is aware of not being pleasant and arrogant and while there are other sometimes more direct and sometimes more subtle ways this gets addressed (“I am not nice” in Patho one and generally how people talk about him in his own fever dream and are telling him what a piece of shit he is) but this one… also hits close to home because this joking kind of self-deprecation is just so familiar and common to me. It hits close to home while containing a pretty interesting piece of characterization.

their philosophy/worldview (or part of it) described in one neat little sentence

Urgh, I only put this in the meme to torture myself, didn’t I? Um… I really like his “If you bend your mind towards a challenge the skill will follow in your hands.” So I will just steal it from the man himself. It describes his emphasis on the mind as well as the importance of being focused (ha!) on a set goal and following it through. It also makes reaching goals and acquiring said things sound possible no matter what it is, and last but not least: it doesn’t really specify your ability but what kind of person you have to be but a state of mind you should be in. It is universal. And since I am really fascinated by his way of dismissing other people while still having a universal respect for human beings, I like to incorporate this aspect. ^^

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Anonymous asked: Hi! Do you follow some sort of exercise regime? If so, would you mind sharing it? Were you able to stay in shape whilst at university?

Staying fit and living a healthy lifestyle is important to me and I do my best to try and sustain that especially as one gets older. Although compared to how sporty I was during my university days and what I do now is a touchy subject as I fall woefully short. Real world demands of of work and the personal keep sabotaging my good intentions. For me being sporty was less about weight loss and fat gain than about the mental side of being physically fit. The release of oxytocin was natural way to fight any stress or anxiety that we all have to deal with at different times in life. It was about challenging my mind through my body to set goals and have the bloody single mindedness to focus to go beyond them. The benefits were for me developing a mental steeliness and emotional resilience.  

As a girl growing up partly in the Far East I learned martial arts which was a very healthy way to keep fit. I did ‘baby’ judo at 4 years onwards which was really about having fun learning to fall over and getting up again. More seriously I then progressed to jiu-jitsu (Japanese and then later in life Brazilian style) and Kendo (I fell in love with the Samurai heritage living in Japan). I dabbled in other forms of martial arts over the subsequent years but nothing too seriously. In India, as a teen, I started to do yoga. Don’t laugh but yoga (not the Californian bohemian kind from the 60s that’s been mainstreamed into the modern Western bourgeois lifestyle) really gets you fit. You can leave aside the more questionable spiritual side of it and still enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of yoga as I still do.

At boarding school I still carried on with martial arts but also did ski-ing (very Swiss) and cross-country ski-ing (very Norwegian). I did do lacrosse and field hockey naturally - partly because we were forced to - but I ended up breaking a few bloody noses and bruised shins because I was overly competitive and I hated losing. I enjoyed the camaraderie but it wasn’t really my métier. Instead I did a lot of fencing and that required focus, agility, speed, and good bum muscles! Mountaineering and hiking were my outdoor escapes from being suffocated inside school walls.

So by the time I reached university I was already somewhat sporty. At university I primarily did field hockey and also modern pentathlon. Modern pentathlon includes the five disciplines of running, shooting, horse riding, fencing, and swimming. I did all five disciplines separately growing up as a girl. I grew up with horses but I would be the first to say I wasn’t a natural rider. Swimming and running I loved to do in the open countryside. Swimming in the sea, river, or a fjord was heaven because I disliked crowded public swimming pools. Running over semi-long distances was really my bread and butter of staying fit and mentally resilient. I also carried on my martial arts of jiu-jitsu and Kendo. University was the only time I ever really went close to hardcore in the gym but out of duty rather than love.

The Norwegian winter sport of Skiskyting (now called biathlons) was something I did from the time I was almost 11 years old. During my university years I did it less because I could only do it in Norway and not in England where I was studying. Skiskyting is simply cross country skiing and rifle shooting (the rifle you carry on your back as you ski) over 12 km or so. Like most Norwegians, I was born with skis, and so I took to Skiskyting like a duck to water. If my father had taught me fencing (very British army), my Norwegian mother is the one who showed me her Norwegian traditions - she’s always had been a very good skier. I love to ski and in Norway we do lots of ski walking which really gets you fit.

Coming up to the present day I have reduced my activity to fit around other demands on my time especially with work and travel. It’s been a constant juggling act because when you live in a big city and you have a demanding career with long hours (as well as travel) then it becomes more tough to adapt and sustain a healthy routine.

I still dislike gyms. Even to this day I try and avoid them if I can. I can’t stand the overflowing testosterone and the social posing. Overhead music is a huge turn off for me. I prefer the solitude of my own thoughts if I can and not listen to blaring music.  

These days my daily routine always begins with morning yoga - partly because I have to. To avoid muscle cramp as a result of of an old back and knee injury from my past Army days I have to keep supple and flexible as much as I can. Even when I travel and I stay in a hotel I’ll do yoga in my hotel room - I won’t do it in the hotel gym and spa - so I’ll steal/liberate a yoga mat from there and stash it in my hotel room.

I try to do a 5 km run every other day. I love doing this because it helps me to release the oxytocin and this puts me in a good mood for the start of my day. I feel free and unbound when I am running. I get my best ideas to solving problems when I am running. It doesn’t matter if I am traveling as I will get out of the cocoon of the hotel and just go out for a run (as I dislike hitting the tread mill inside the hotel gym). To me, a great way to discover a city is by getting lost in it. At home in Paris, the Bois de Boulogne isn’t far for me to do my run. In the park I’ll do sets of crunches and squats. If I have a breakfast meeting then I’ll switch my run to lunch time or after I finish work I will do a late night run. I’m fortunate that I can shower at work if I need to.

Every other day when I’m not running I will cycle into work which gives me an alternative cardio work out. I supplement this by going swimming twice every week but I do that at a private health club and on a day when I haven’t done my 5 km run.  

I continue to keep up my martial arts by joining martial arts club to do Brazilian jui-jitsu and Kendo. I also keep my fencing up by joining a club. I attend when I can, usually weekly. Both martial arts and fencing are a good way to keep fit and mentally alert.  

Every two weeks I’ll play a game of squash with friends at a sports club as we’re part of an informal squash ladder. It’s a fun way to stay healthy and chill out with friends.

Every calendar year I will do a charity half marathon - there are plenty in France such as breast cancer - often with a friend. I’ll do it because it’s firstly for a good cause and secondly it forces me to have a set goal and and so my running and training regime will reflect that.

Every year I set myself a goal of competing in 2-3 amateur/semi-professional triathlons spread out in the calendar year - usually in the middle of rural France. The best way to train on technique is by joining a regional club/team. I enjoy the friendly camaraderie when we travel for the events together. The great thing about this is the age range from super fit teens to avid competitors into their 50s from different walks of life. It’s very down to earth and there’s no peer pressure other than the goals you set for yourself.

Every year I also set a goal of doing 1-2 biathlons in Norway. Again, I do that by joining a semi-professional club in Norway and I’ll go to compete when it fits around my seasonal calendar. I love this because it allows me the rare treat of just being Norwegian and forgetting everything else of being English or thinking like the French. So I love the Norwegian dry humour and the laid back friendly atmosphere of being back even if the food is barely edible!

Speaking of food, as you well know there’s no point going on any exercise regime if you don’t address the other half of the equation: a healthy diet. The truth is you can cut out more calories from what you eat than you can burn with exercise. Exercise and diet go together hand in glove. For me this is an extra challenge. Contrary to what you might think just because you live in Paris doesn’t mean you dine on gourmand food every day. The days of 2 hour lunches with wine are fading away and giving way to grabbing ‘le sandwich’. In fact, there are worrying culinary habits from American culture which is dictating bad eating habits especially amongst the young. The temptation to buy processed food and use the microwave or grab a takeaway is too much for some. It’s also true many young Parisians simply don’t know how to cook.

Speaking personally I love cooking and one of my weekend rituals is to go to a local farmer’s market and buy fresh vegetables, fruit, and lean meat for the week. Cooking helps me to ‘power down’ from the stress of work. I enjoy the ritual of trying out new recipes and putting on small intimate dinner parties or cooking for loved ones at the weekend. To me it’s a lame excuse to say you can’t whip up a quick healthy meal when you come home after a hard day at work. You can. You can buy ingredients and prepare food ahead of time. Make up a rough menu for the week and plan ahead. There are plenty of recipes to healthy eating for the week.

My biggest challenge when it comes to diet is saying no to good food when I dine out. One of the side effects of my work is that I have to attend quite a few business dinners with corporate clients. So it’s nearly always a well regarded restaurant. It would be rude to say no to the fine food. I enjoy good food - one reason why I like living here in Paris - and if I get the opportunity to dine at a great restaurant then I’m not sticking to a celery stick and mineral water. I do try to be sensible about what I eat when I dine out. I’m not a freak in the sense that I’m counting calories in my head but I do reason to myself that if I gorge on cake here then I better make up for it over there, perhaps a few extra laps of the pool. I love wine - as I also like whisky and other drinks - but I limit the number of glasses by also taking mineral water and herbal tea instead. I smoke cigars on occasion so I adjust my exercise routine accordingly.

I am also sometimes guilty of cheating myself out of a good night’s sleep because of meeting some work related deadline or my body clock is off because of travel jet lag. So I try and make it up some where because rest is so important. The point is to know your body and know your limitations. Above all, be reasonable and be kind to yourself.

There’s an old maxim I learned from my army days. No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. This is true in life too. So plan your exercise and diet regime with that in mind. How we stay fit and healthy depends largely on our environment so there is a difference between being a university student in a dorm room with a bad case of the munchies and an essay crisis, and being a harassed mother with kids to feed and who want MacDonalds and candy in the suburbs, or a young person taking first steps in a first job on the career ladder and resorting to late night microwave dinners. Social media environment keeps pushing perfect body memes which again is unrealistic so don’t let that be the benchmark of defining success. The key is get real. Set realistic goals and break it down to a level manageable for you.

One can instil good habits that are healthy and sustainable. If I was in your position I would first see a nutritionist to explain and educate you about food groups. He or she would tell you where you can get your nutritional requirements from a wider variety of foods according to your means and availability. You also can get an idea of where you can have your pizza or your cake and not feel guilty about it.

Get a nutrition plan and take it to your gym - I know, I know, I said I hate gyms and I do but you might not. A good gym will have competent personal trainers on hand.  They can draw up an exercise plan based on the nutrition plan and also listening to your expectations that is hopefully based on realistic goals. I’m not suggesting you have a personal trainer on retainer. But you only need one lesson for him/her to draw up a plan for you to follow. The rest will be up to you and how you motivate yourself. You may find the grind of going to the gym of doing cardio one day and actual gym work the next too much. Fine, find other things outside of the gym that you will enjoy and get you comparatively fit and doesn’t bore you. If you find it hard to motivate yourself then do it with a friend.

Once you start to enjoy it and see the benefits of it, it will no longer feel like a turgid routine but just a growing habit towards leading a more healthy lifestyle.

Thanks for your question