#sometimes when your brain works exclusively in associations | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

pebblysand · 1 year ago

Text

i don't claim to have any novel, hot takes on this but i've been going through my 2023 tumblr archive to update my FAQs (linked in pinned post) and the sheer violence of those anons i was receiving last may from trans activists just for being a HP fan is baffling. it's funny how quickly you forget, or how you sit there and wonder if maybe, you overreacted a bit. in hindsight, i don't think i did. those were horrid.

i wrote a couple of pieces at the time (here and here) about how i felt these people (who send hate to strangers on the internet) were harming the cause, which to me, is very much stating the obvious. of course, they are harming the cause. you send people death threats for literally no reason and you sound insane, and thus cheapen the work of all and any activists out there who are supporting the same cause as you. that's how the right wins. by saying: look! these people are violent and insane! and getting away with harmful legislation to "combat" them.

but, i think what's interesting is that this isn't exclusive to trans rights. as we, on the left, have seen the right radicalise (and no, this is not only a US problem) there seems to be this tension that emerges in the question of: how do we react? because the fact of the matter is that whilst the act of sending strangers anonymous death threats on the internet is relatively harmless, the right has fallen into a habit of using increasingly violent methods to get their point across, some of which do work on the masses, the same way all authoritative governments work, by instilling fear.

and, i think, for a lot of people on the left (myself included) there is a real question as to whether we are ready to and/or should, be using similar methods. cancel culture and online death threats and all of these moralising exercises from people who claim a societal moral high ground, is an iteration of that. and, i believe that this is actually not an easy question to solve. because, just like on a playground, there are times when it is actually appropriate to hit back, there may be times where the use of violence and threats is justified. there are people who have been "cancelled" who... deserved it. JKR is probably first in line. and, i don't think that's a particularly shocking take.

i come from a country where most major societal advancements have been won through armed revolution and the spilling of blood, so i'm not someone who actually believes that peaceful protest will always get you where you want to be. sometimes, in the face of violence and oppression, violence has its place. and, i am not a trans person myself, but i can understand the outrage and anger you might feel as one, seeing the violence and the legislation out there, especially in certain american states, or in the uk. so, you see someone on the internet enjoying the work of someone who seems to be threatening your right to exist, and you want to respond in a way that is equally violent. i do see the logic. to be honest, when you look at the harm JKR is being accused of, sending death threats to people who enjoy her work may even seem tame.

at the same time, as i've said above, anyone with more than two brain cells can see that whatever these people are trying to do, aligning with the violence of the right and responding "in kind" is ridiculous. it's going nowhere. it's making other trans activists look crazy by association, because what the fuck are you doing sending death threats to people for writing fanfiction about a book? chill. get off your high horse and understand that we are all navigating the world in shades of grey. it goes beyond lunatic behaviour and is, again, reinforcing the right's legitimacy in imposing laws and sanctions that are preventing people from having basic human rights. just like when the right sends twitter death threats to and doxxes left-wing activists, we, on the left, look at them (rightfully) thinking they are insane and evil.

at the time this happened, i had a conversation with a friend of mine who basically said (i am paraphrasing) "don't use the words 'trans activist' to talk about these people. they are not trans activists, they are harming the cause, and it's hurting me to be grouped with them." so at the time, i didn't. but... i'm not going to lie, this comment really angered me and stuck with me, though. i didn't say anything at the time, because i was not in the mood to get into another argument (especially with a friend - and i kind of know you'll be reading this, and if you are, i'm sorry i didn't say these things to you at the time), but i felt like "hey, you're not on the receiving end of death threats from these people, you don't really get to tell me what to do."

and, now that time has passed, i think i know why i felt like that. because these people, sending death threats on the internet in support of this cause, are trans activists. not only do they identify as such, and act in favour and support of this cause, but also, i'm pretty sure i would agree with most of what they believe in. and, i think, for a lot of us on the left, it's very easy to distance ourselves from this violent fringe that has risen in the past few years, instead of looking at it for what it is, which is an active part of our political spectrum. i think distancing ourself from it helps us avoid the real question of: are we okay with using the right's methods to achieve our aims of protecting human rights?

obviously, in this debate, you also have to weigh in the fact that internet activism is a mostly fake. i'm pretty sure that beyond sending HP fans death threats on the internet, these people have, IRL, actually achieved nothing of substance in the fight for trans rights. which makes their existence and belonging to the movement even more frustrating because not only is their particular brand of activism harming other forms of left-wing activism, but it's not even a net positive. but they are part of this movement and i think recognising them as such is actually pretty important.

i say i don't have any novel takes on this debate because this is a recurring question for the left and it’s been so for decades, and i don't have a solution. i don't really know what my opinion is on these people and their methods, and i, too, am navigating shades of grey. there is a part of me that will always believe that the left should not, actually, respond in kind. ever. that we're better than that. but, should we be?

i think there are things that we believe in, and principles that we uphold, that do not and cannot support idiotic behaviour, such as sending strangers death threats on the internet, regardless of the fact that we are doing this to match the other side's energy. but, other types of more violent action? i don't know. i don't know where the line should be drawn. there is a difference between the potential, debatable legitimacy of armed revolution and, again, a fake form of internet activism which helps literally no one. but, i think we do need to recognise that these two ideas stem from the same root of matching the right blow for blow and using its methods to advance a cause. it is a form of activism, it's just not one that we like to think about.

#musings on nothing at all

8 notes · View notes

shrimpmandan · 2 years ago

Note

i agree that a lot of febfems use the term as a political stance and/or to please rad lesbians and not get outcast for being bi but you're acting like that's the only reason. there are plenty of reasons someone would be febfem and sometimes it really is just personal. attraction preference, trauma with men, etc. just so you know!

Okay anon I'm gonna level with you. I'm bisexual. I have SEVERE complex trauma related to both sexes. By the logic of "oh they're just traumatized", I should not be dating period.

Avoiding trauma triggers WILL make them worse. If you associate certain traits (e.g. gender) with your abusers forever that will make any PTSD/C-PTSD worse. This has been proven.

My issue is not with preferences. Preferences are not exclusivity. My problem is with people thinking it's totally normal to just repress an entire facet of your sexuality-- whether it's because you think that men are inherently evil and abusive, or because you have trauma that you refuse to unpack and work through.

And considering I don't see anyone labeling themselves as a 'mebfem', nor do I see male bisexuals expressing similar exclusivity, I think it's safe to assume that febfems are the odd ones out here. "Trauma with men" is only going to carry you as a counter argument when you're talking to people who aren't traumatized, or who subscribe to the same notion that trauma should be avoided and not dealt with. I'm neither.

Bringing her up again: my mom is bisexual. She also happens to have severe complex trauma with both sexes, but especially men. She's in a happy and healing relationship with a man. All it takes is one good relationship, not even necessarily of a romantic nature, with someone for your brain to realize that not everyone of a particular sex, or race, or hair color, or who has a tattoo is just like your abuser and going to hurt you again.

#anon #asks #anti febfem

5 notes · View notes

fathimasalam · 5 days ago

Text

The Science Behind Why Certain Brands Become Addictive

Have you ever noticed how certain brands seem to have an almost magnetic pull on us? Whether it's the rush of unboxing a new gadget, the familiarity of sipping a favorite coffee, or the thrill of browsing through an app, some brands tap into our minds in a way that keeps us coming back. As the Best Digital Marketer In Kochi , i would say , This isn’t by accident ; there’s actual science behind why some brands become so irresistibly addictive. Let’s dive into the psychology and neuroscience that brands use to win our loyalty, our habits, and sometimes even our hearts.

1. Creating the “Reward Loop”

Brands often use what’s known as the reward loop to keep us engaged. This loop works on the same principle as other rewarding behaviors, like playing a game or even eating something sweet. Here’s the breakdown:

Cue: The cue is what initially grabs your attention—a notification from your favorite app, the logo of your go-to coffee shop, or the sight of a new sneaker ad.

Routine: This is the action you take—scrolling through a feed, entering the store, or placing an order.

Reward: Finally, there’s a reward—a sense of accomplishment, pleasure, or belonging.

When we engage in this loop enough times, our brains release dopamine (the feel-good chemical), which strengthens our desire to repeat the behavior. This is why we find ourselves reaching for our phones automatically or craving our favorite brand products.

2. Building Emotional Connections

Brands that stick with us know how to tap into our emotions. They create connections that go beyond just products and offer experiences, stories, and a sense of belonging. Some brands use nostalgia, while others align with personal values or causes. These elements aren’t accidental; they’re meticulously designed to make us feel good about associating with the brand.

Example: Nike doesn’t just sell shoes—it sells empowerment. Through stories of athletes overcoming challenges and motivational slogans like “Just Do It,” Nike builds a brand that feels like a personal cheerleader. This connection makes customers feel motivated, loyal, and even proud to be part of the Nike community.

3. Mastering the Art of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Brands also use the psychology of scarcity and urgency to make products feel special and exclusive. Limited-edition releases, countdown timers, and “only a few left in stock” prompts all play into our fear of missing out (FOMO). When we think something is rare, it becomes more desirable. Our brains often make the quick decision to buy, just in case it’s not available later.

4. Appealing to Our Sense of Identity

We all want to feel unique, and some brands skillfully weave this sense of self into their branding. By making customers feel like they belong to a special group, these brands give people a sense of identity. When we wear or use their products, we feel like we’re part of something bigger, something meaningful.

5. Consistency and Familiarity Build Trust

Humans are creatures of habit. When we find something we like, we tend to stick with it. Consistency breeds trust because it creates a sense of reliability. This is why certain brands keep their visual elements and messaging so consistent. They make sure that every experience you have with them, whether it’s online or in-store, feels familiar and trustworthy.

6. Designing Products with the “Hook” Model

Product design itself can also be a big factor in a brand’s addictiveness. Some brands use what’s known as the Hook Model to create products that fit seamlessly into our routines. This model, developed by author Nir Eyal, focuses on four stages:

Trigger: An internal or external prompt that reminds us to engage with the product.

Action: The behavior we perform to get the reward.

Variable Reward: This is where it gets interesting—the reward is sometimes unpredictable, which makes it more engaging (think of social media notifications or new content on a streaming platform).

Investment: Finally, we invest time, data, or money, which strengthens our connection to the product.

Example: Instagram uses this model expertly.

7. Crafting Positive Associations with Sensory Branding

Certain brands go the extra mile by stimulating our senses, creating a memorable experience that keeps us coming back for more. This could be a specific color, sound, scent, or even texture that we associate with the brand.

8. Creating Social Proof and Brand Loyalty

Finally, brands become addictive by cultivating strong communities of loyal followers. When we see others who are passionate about a brand, we’re more likely to develop an interest too. This social proof—seeing people we admire using certain brands—reinforces the idea that we should try them out. Social media plays a huge role here, as influencers, celebrities, and even friends promote products they love.

Final Thoughts: Brand Addiction Isn’t Accidental

The addictive nature of certain brands is a fascinating blend of psychology, neuroscience, and marketing savvy. From creating reward loops and tapping into our emotions to building communities and positive associations, brands use a multi-faceted approach to win our hearts and keep us coming back. As consumers, it’s empowering to understand these tactics—because the more we know, the more mindful we can be about the choices we make.

So next time you feel a pull toward your favorite brand, take a moment to consider the science behind it. After all, recognizing the magic doesn’t make it any less compelling—sometimes, it makes the experience all the more interesting.

#branding #business #economy #design #ecommerce

1 note · View note

theadmiringbog · 25 days ago

Text

Are You Highly Sensitive? A SELF-TEST Answer each question according to the way you feel. Answer true if it is at least somewhat true for you. Answer false if it is not very true or not at all true for you.

Everyone, HSP or not, feels best when neither too bored nor too aroused.

Too little arousal and one is dull, ineffective. To change that underaroused physical state, we drink some coffee, turn on the radio, call a friend, strike up a conversation with a total stranger, change careers—anything! At the other extreme, too much arousal of the nervous system and anyone will become distressed, clumsy, and confused. We cannot think; the body is not coordinated; we feel out of control. Again, we have many ways to correct the situation. Sometimes we rest. Or mentally shut down. Some of us drink alcohol or take a Valium. The

People differ considerably in how much their nervous system is aroused in the same situation, under the same stimulation.

The difference is largely inherited, and is very real and normal.

you notice levels of stimulation that go unobserved by others. This is true whether we are talking about subtle sounds, sights, or physical sensations like pain. It is not that your hearing, vision, or other senses are more acute (plenty of HSPs wear glasses). The difference seems to lie somewhere on the way to the brain or in the brain, in a more careful processing of information. We reflect more on everything. And we sort things into finer distinctions. Like those machines that grade fruit by size—we sort into ten sizes while others sort into two or three.

This greater awareness of the subtle tends to make you more intuitive, which simply means picking up and working through information in a semiconscious or unconscious way.

One general rule is that when we have no control over stimulation, it is more upsetting, even more so if we feel we are someone’s victim. While music played by ourselves may be pleasant, heard from the neighbor’s stereo, it can be annoying,

HSPs are not in a more aroused state all the time. We are not “chronically aroused” in day-to-day life or when asleep. We are just more aroused by new or prolonged stimulation. (Being an HSP is not the same as being “neurotic”—that is, constantly anxious for no apparent reason).

Here are some other psychological methods useful in handling overarousal: • Reframe the situation. • Repeat a phrase, prayer, or mantra that, through daily practice, you have come to associate with deep inner calm. • Witness your overarousal. • Love the situation. • Love your overarousal.

since we are dealing with the body, it can be an equally good idea to try a physical approach. Here’s a list of some purely physical strategies: • Get out of the situation! • Close your eyes to shut out some of the stimulation. • Take frequent breaks. • Go out-of-doors. • Use water to take the stress away. • Take a walk. • Calm your breathing. • Adjust your posture to be more relaxed and confident. • Move! • Smile softly. It’s amazing how often we forget to take action simply to get out of a situation. Or take a break.

HSPs in particular should never underestimate the advantages of deep friendships. They do not have to be so intense, complicated, or exclusive as romantic relationships. Some conflicts can be left to work themselves out. Annoying traits can be ignored a little longer, maybe for the entire life of the relationship. And in friendship you can check out what is possible with another person without such lasting harm being done if you’re rejected or decide to reject the other. Occasionally, a romantic relationship even arises from what started as a friendship.

To deepen a friendship (or family relationship), use a little of what you now know about the healthy reasons people fall in love. Tell the other person you like them. And don’t hesitate to share an intense experience—go through an ordeal together, work on a project, be a team. It’s

you’ll also share self-disclosures. When these are mutual and appropriate, they’re the fastest route to closeness.

Actually, often it’s the non-HSP who finds us.

#books #The Highly Sensitive Person

0 notes

foodvips · 1 year ago

Text

A Therapeutic Coach Tells Us Why Exes Might Appear In Your Dreams (& What To Do About It)

Experts

A Therapeutic Coach Tells Us Why Exes Might Appear In Your Dreams (& What To Do About It)

Static Media / ShutterstockBy A. R. Hopkins|Sept. 22, 2023 11:00 pm ESTWhether you've recently gone through a breakup or haven't seen your ex in a decade, you've probably experienced the ick factor that comes with dreaming about at least one of your former partners. Even if you've managed to have a successful friendship with the ex who's popping up in your subconscious as you sleep, the experience can feel downright uncanny. If you have these dreams regularly, you might find yourself wondering what it all means and whether it reflects on your actual waking feelings.In order to get an accurate breakdown of the meaning of this all-too-common dream scenario, Glam spoke exclusively to Delphi Ellis of Helping You Sparkle. As a therapeutic coach and the author of "Answers in the Dark: Grief, Sleep and How Dreams Can Help You Heal," Ellis has a unique perspective on why people sometimes dream about partners from the past and what it might mean if you can't shake these nocturnal visits from your ex.

What does it mean to dream of an ex?

fizkes/ShutterstockAccording to Delphi Ellis, there's no singular cause of dreams about exes. However, the phenomenon tends to boil down to one of three themes. The first? Not understanding what happened during the relationship or surrounding the breakup. "Unfinished business can sometimes show up in our dreams because we still feel we're owed an apology," she exclusively tells Glam. "Sometimes, our dreams give us the 'sorry' we never got, or we can give the apology we never got the chance to give."Second is the possibility that you were recently exposed to something that your brain still associates with your ex, like a favorite song, movie, or food. Finally, there's the chance that your current relationship is triggering anxieties associated with the previous one. For example, Ellis points out that this could be "a fear that if an ex-partner cheated, it will happen again."

How to process dreams of a former partner

Ahmani Vidal/Getty ImagesThe only person who can truly interpret the dreams of your ex with complete accuracy is you. If you really want to become acquainted with your own subconscious, Delphi Ellis recommends writing down your dreams in a dream journal. "Keeping a dream diary can be key to understanding our dreams because it helps us spot patterns," she exclusively tells us. "If you're able to correlate what happened during the day with what showed up at night, it makes translating them a lot easier."Ellis insists that dreaming about an ex doesn't mean that you aren't happy in your new relationship or that you should reach out to the ex in question. "People sometimes have these dreams because they're so happy," she explains, "but the dream perhaps reflects a fear that something could go wrong." She then reiterates that she doesn't recommend reaching out to an ex just because you've been dreaming about them. "Do the work of understanding why, rather than making it about them," she advises. Ultimately, our dreams appear to be ways of looking out for ourselves, and this is no different when it comes to past relationships. Read the full article

0 notes

godraet · 1 year ago

Text

غُدْرَت

ɢod̪ˈɾæt̪ʰ — ( n. ) power.

padishah ganondorf dragmire of the legend of zelda franchise.

a study of [ . . . ] divinity and kingship in its purest form, endless lifetimes, forging your own soul, breaking the cycle.

by percival (30+, he/him). mutuals only!

affiliated with [ . . . ] @salesduo ╱ @perditos ╱ tba

⎛ ₁ legend. ₂ verses. ₃ dynamics. ⎠

rules under readmore!

𝐨𝐧𝐞. #GODRAET is an independent, private, highly selective and mutuals exclusive writing blog for ganondorf dragmire of the legend of zelda franchise. its my sacred duty now to rewrite TotK and also cherrypick from every other iteration so i am doing just that!

this blog is 18+. please do not follow me if you are under 18!

on this note, this blog will feature dark and triggering themes. gan's entire story is a whole mess and he chooses violence very often! i will make sure to tag these things with the format of #trigger so that they can be filtered out!

𝐭𝐰𝐨. shipping is not the priority here- but for reference, gan likes women or fem-leaning individuals; in general what he likes is femme because he associates femme with familiarity and also strength, for real what else would anyone expect.

if shipping happens, it will require a LOT of plotting and will not be with any mun or muse under the age of 21.

i am very open to other sorts of bonds, though! because it isn't just romance when people talk about ships- i am open to seeing how things go nonetheless!

i should also note that i will accept mains and exclusives!

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞. please DO tag #trypophobia for me, it makes my brain do big bad.

𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫. i am known for writing metas across the blogs i have. in the wise words of a friend:

with this in mind, the metas i write are portrayal specific to this blog, so please give them a read! i know i can be rather wordy- anyone who has followed me elsewhere may know this, but for my first time followers, worldbuilding is one of my favorite things to do. i am particularly fond of analysis of character psychology.

𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞. to the point above, i do have other blogs! and i have no organizational skill so im all over the place ... and i have a job that steals my energy

and by this, i mean i work 32-40 hours as a registered nurse in an inpatient psychiatric unit. i am busy, i am tired, and i can't keep letting my focus go all over the place. inevitably, it still may do that because i have a tendency to be scattered, so if i don't get to something immediately, it isn't you, it's me!

also related to that, i do love communication! i struggle with reading the room (it's the Autism tm) and so if something's up or if you're bothered, please be direct with me! i will not take offense, i quite appreciate feedback so that i can be better as a person! in return, i will communicate back! i am learning to curate my space (after 10+ years of being on tumblr).

𝐬𝐢𝐱. there are people i won't interact with due to various reasons- my dni list is on the carrd of my other blogs. i won't interact with genderbent versions of characters, people who are Real Life Individuals (not counting fictional depictions like in the typemoon franchise or whatnot because those really have nothing to do with the actual individual they're supposedly based on?).

please stay far away from me if you fall under the following categories (i'm censoring things because god knows tumblr just picks shit up idk): proshipping, writing inc*st, p*dophilia, r*pe/n*ncon, are transphobic/homophobic- the usual gross behavior! use your moral compass!

on top of that, i am a firm believer that we learn from the media around us. full censorship is just as dangerous as the aforementioned things- the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows! please refer to this post which essentially summarizes the gist of what i'm trying to explain.

𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧. anyway, hello, i'm percival. i am 30+ and use he/him pronouns exclusively! i am a hobby artist (it's my side-gig from nursing) and sometimes i post my art, tagged #whats my art tag considering i constantly forget my art tag if it's fancy. please do not repost my art without my permission.

mutuals, feel free to ask me for my discord, since i am much easier to reach there!

i look forward to writing with you!

#pinned

1 note · View note

darkwing-ramblings · 4 months ago

Text

@iamnmbr3 Hello! You've reliably proved the approachable sort and as such I thought expansion on this post would likely be tolerated, if not welcomed, and I had enough thoughts to offer I figured I may as well. Also, since it's my first use of Harry Potter as a tag it feels worth mentioning I have no problems with people being transgender, a sadly somewhat necessary disclaimer even when interacting with almost exclusively fandom content as here is. (also to give context for myself, I am @darkwinganimus by another name, since this is a side blog and I just remembered it may be worth informing you as we have some previous adjacency)

To not lose your tags in the reblog: #Alphard Black#Tho I like beech as well esp bc I think they grow near yew trees. And my Tom/Alphie shipper brain likes that#And also likes unicorn hair bc the Irony

Now to properly begin! The most in depth expansion on wandlore we have is on Pottermore, and it interestingly has no note under C of Cyprus just Cypress, is your mention above just a mistake in spelling or a significant deviation from this? To start off with establishing the reasons you chose it.

Cypress, at least, is granted lore of: Cypress wands are associated with nobility. The great medieval wandmaker, Geraint Ollivander, wrote that he was always honoured to match a cypress wand, for he knew he was meeting a witch or wizard who would die a heroic death. Fortunately, in these less blood-thirsty times, the possessors of cypress wands are rarely called upon to lay down their lives, though doubtless many of them would do so if required. Wands of cypress find their soul mates among the brave, the bold and the self-sacrificing: those who are unafraid to confront the shadows in their own and others’ natures.

Now while the nobility aspect is technically true of Alphard lineage wise, I’d be more inclined to read it as a mark of character in the above passage and as such less undeniably applicable. There’s the unwillingness to abandon family drawn from Alphard leaving inheritance to Sirius, whatever his political opinions are aside, that shows a willingness to throw away good opinion of him after his death per Alphard’s beliefs/care for family/lineage which could be seen that way but again, it’s a view that needs to be actively adopted.

Now, interestingly, Alphard is dead per canon- which this lore would support for a character possessing this wand wood in times of strife is normal- but there’s little indication of it being for any reasons related to particular heroism/grand action for any faction we see.

As per @therealvinelle and @thecarnivorousmuffinmeta’s written Alphard (links included to direct credit where it's deserved) he consistently has his romance with Tom of course, who would certainly fall into “brave” and “bold” as categories, Voldemort is hardly shy or prone to indecision that we see and plenty confrontational if not self-sacrificing alongside it. “Unafraid to confront the shadows in their own and others’ nature” also fits Tom, as in no way does that imply a rejection of such traits.

In any case that’s my attempt at trying to work out your thought process there, which I’d be interested in hearing what you have to say in return.

Phoenix feathers, core wise, we have, also from Pottermore: This is the rarest core type. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike.

Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won.

Now this says more of the wand’s potential than the witch/wizard and much of the phoenix they’re taken from- I would preface that “rarest core type” should be consistently kept true but obviously someone must have some of them. Fawkes only providing two feathers despite Dumbledore’s vested interest in Hogwarts students having good wands as headmaster etc does speak to what I think should be a much more emphasised rarity to them, however, as an additional point. But alright, in relation to Alphard the core would translate to allowing a wide breadth of magic/using magical knowledge and also some time slowly winning over his hand/a stand out incident in which he went from struggling to fully paired with his wand in its hypothetical variation.

Now, combining the above two materials would result in a wand of, essentially, no limitations once paired up to the wizard- which is of note that as a Black he’d not have problems with the wand rejecting dark magic/esoteric spells so I can see it being desirable but am curious what specifics of wandlore landed you where you’re at? (also, give me a few minutes please to reblog this with further notes of the other listed materials)

Per your tags you also mention, Beech, which again Pottermore gives us: The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant. Such wizards and witches, having obtained a beech wand without having been suitably matched (yet coveting this most desirable, richly hued and highly prized wand wood), have often presented themselves at the homes of learned wandmakers such as myself, demanding to know the reason for their handsome wand’s lack of power. When properly matched, the beech wand is capable of a subtlety and artistry rarely seen in any other wood, hence its lustrous reputation.

This one I find a more interesting suggestion. Alphard, per Amulette d’amour’s characterisation which I’m assuming we’re mainly going off/accounting for, would fall into the category of more informed than your average wizard and canny in the ways of society and people’s motivations due to his upbringing but also his watchfulness. Hence, since wisdom can be paired with all manner of traits, which I feel matches well enough. But the note of performing weakly for “the narrow-minded and intolerant” is fascinating. It either allows for character development pairing with increasing power (a fun physical consequence shown) or else to a degree has some complexity of clash with Alphard’s character I’d argue. Now, by pureblood standards, Alphard is looking comparatively fine- he leaves his blood traitor nephew money because Sirius is family still darn it other issues aside as less important/could arguably not be that prejudiced over the whole muggles are inferior entrenched stance. Per Amulette he’s also uncommonly up to date on prejudices faced by halfbloods/muggleborns and of the nepotism in his society, polite even when he dislikes a person, somewhat sympathetic in his recognition the wizarding world isn’t liable to change and open to reading a wide range of literature from non magical authors too. But he’s still very much both classist and racist, unsurprisingly, so not someone I would without caveats place adjacent to not “intolerant”, even if the law itself seems to be of higher import than just blood supremacy and crimes overlooked because of status etc he’s not fond of.

Open minded, Alphard, per this story, I would say is easier to classify as, in that while he’s stubborn over his beliefs and won’t renounce his family for their association with them etc he is willing to hear out multiple sides to a debate- a rare skill in the wizarding world- and doesn’t draw lines in the sand of women whose blood stop them qualifying as being treated with basic decency when escorted etc. Beech when matched being capable of “subtlety and artistry” would suit with his characterisation as discussed at least as he’s never portrayed as being a particular powerhouse magically- just very particular and practised in the spells he does use which neatly work as expected.

Unicorn hair, Potermore says on: Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard.

Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may ‘die’ and need replacing.

I’m happier with it as apparently one of the main two wand cores used by Ollivander, perhaps Hogwarts and their somewhat friendly unicorn herd help out with supplying them humanely, who knows. Consistency as I mention above would fit, whilst difficulty turning them to dark arts would arguably be less fitted to the Black family library although he’s never shown pushing experimentally dark magic via Amulette and in canon is presumably not a death eater so it’s not contradicted per say if it’s most theoretical knowledge he’s little call to use (Regulus recognising a horcrux and trying to destroy it is not exactly a sign the Blacks knowledge of them equals endorsement).

Faithfulness regardless of a wizard’s strength and them not pushing magical potential in a bureaucrat with a set future and wealth is hardly a big deal, so paired with either suggested wood would turn out a wand with likely mediocre performance but hardly stand out: I think this would be fitting enough given how absolutely nothing Sirius had to say about him as a person despite benign left the money, Alphard as someone very quiet and not thoroughly memorable is a hilarious take after all I’ll happily stand by as a result.

The core being prone to melancholy is unlikely to be seriously relevant as older families with long traditions would presumably have reasonable wand care traditions, as much as there’s an irony in the potential mirroring the pining Amulette’s characterisation picks up with as a quality of Alphard’s own temperament.

But I’m assuming the irony you refer to is that of Draco having a unicorn hair wand as a relative of Alphard’s?

Also, built in disclaimers on cores and woods, per Pottermore exist too, see respectively:

-----Readers should bear in mind that each wand is the composite of its wood, its core and the experience and nature of its owner; that tendencies of each may counterbalance or outweigh the other; so this can only be a very general overview of an immensely complex subject.

-----Every single wand is unique and will depend for its character on the particular tree and magical creature from which it derives its materials. Moreover, each wand, from the moment it finds its ideal owner, will begin to learn from and teach its human partner. Therefore, the following must be seen as general notes on each of the wood types I like to work with best, and ought not to be taken to describe any individual wand.

I’ve put some thought into picking out options to suggest and discuss if you’re interested to further delve into wandlore as a topic, since I’ve obviously added some amount of doubts above in some areas and it’d feel only fair but since this is getting rather long thought to cut myself off at a reasonable place. There's no rush should you decided to respond in any capacity? Well, there's nothing for it but to put it out there now I've gotten this far through the drafting process, I suppose.

Random thought but I like the idea of Cyprus and Phoenix feather as a wand for Alphard.

25 notes · View notes

chdarling · 2 years ago

Note

Hey CH! Is the TLE 2 playlist in a particular sequence (like the fifth song for the fifth chapter) or is it somewhat random?

PS : Is family line from Sirius Or Regulus pov? Father and son is definitely Fleamont. I'm still somewhat confused about Astronomy (It gives me wolfstar vibes)

Hi! The songs are in order of the story progression, but they are not laid out exactly chapter by chapter. Some chapters have more than one song, some chapters don’t have any. And some songs can be interpreted to apply to multiple characters. I think “Family Line” could work for either Black brother, but it was meant for Sirius, and in the track order, it roughly lines up with Chapter 15, Glitter and Gold, when Sirius learns about his inheritance.

Astronomy is an interesting one because I had multiple characters/relationships in mind when I added it. It does have wolfstar vibes! In the context of the track list, it takes place during the Christmas party — specifically Lily sitting on the stairs after overhearing James berating Severus, and Severus coming upon her. (Chapter 33, My Old Friend Felix) In my mind, the song is about Severus and Lily’s dying (dead) friendship.

I love the beginning of the song, two kids against the world:

We drive through the woods, rich neighborhoods to watch

We joked as we looked that they were too good for us

'Cause socially speaking, we were the same

And then of course this part is Severus regretting the demise of their friendship:

From far away, I wish I'd stayed with you

But here, face to face, a stranger that I once knew

And I particularly like the chorus

We've traveled the seas, we've ridden the stars

We've seen everything from Saturn to Mars

As much as it seems like you own my heart

It's astronomy, we're two worlds apart

and how it visually relates to this passage:

Lily looked away, her gaze falling back to the enormous oak doors that dominated the entrance hall directly across the stairs. For the tick of one torturous minute, Severus thought she was going to ignore him entirely, as she’d done for so many months now…but then, without looking at him, she said: “D’you remember the first time we walked through those doors?”

He did. How could he ever forget? It was the most consequential day of his life, the day he finally caught up with destiny. He remembered everything about it. The train ride from London with Lily, the little boats they took across the lake, the riotous stars glittering in their galaxies above…Severus had never seen such stars. The skies over Cokeworth had long been blotted out by industry. He’d thrown his head back as they sailed across the lake, smooth and glassy as obsidian, marveling at the constellations above, as though he might read this day, his destiny, written in the heavens alongside the tales of other great legends and heroes.

But I also like this song for that moment, because the lines “as much as it seems like you own my heart / it’s astronomy, we’re two worlds apart” could also be Lily in that moment reflecting on James. She’s admitted her crush (to herself) but he’s just revealed that he has really shitty classist views towards Severus, which also apply to her and she’s thinking about how different they are, how they will always live in two different worlds, etc…

ANYWAY! I got carried away lmao. I could probably write an essay for every song on that playlist, I’ve thought about this so much 🙈🙈🙈

#ch answers #tle2 #tle2 spoilers #tle soundtrack #sometimes when your brain works exclusively in associations #you get lost in shit like this hahahaha

11 notes · View notes

earnestly-endlessly · 3 years ago

Note

I love your fic recs! Do you have any with Protective!Erik?

Protective! Erik is one of my favourite tropes so I have a TON of fics to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Protective! Erik fic recs

Erik Lehnsherr's Guide to Saving the Universe By Meeting Your Soul-Mate and Falling in Love in Less than 72 Hours – madneto, Pangea

Summary: Army Pilot Erik Lehnsherr is just trying to enjoy his day off when a mostly naked person crashes through the roof of his car. Even more alarming, the strange falling naked person—who goes by Charles Xavier when he's not speaking an ancient dead language—brings tidings of the apparent potential end of the world, and begs Erik to help him put a stop to it.

Well. His mother has been nagging at him to go out and meet new people.

In Sound and Silence – endingthemes

Summary: Erik is assigned to care for the special patient in room 301.

How Not To Meet Your Future Boyfriend – ikeracity

Summary: Erik punches Charles in the face the first time they meet. There isn't anywhere their relationship can go from there but up.

Forgotten – FuryRed

Summary: Charles is having a really bad day. Not only has he woken up in the middle of the afternoon with no idea where he is or how he got there, but when he returns home he’s confronted by a stranger with intense eyes, who insists that he knows Charles rather more intimately than Charles remembers…

Thou Shalt Not Eat Stones – valancysnaith

Summary: Two months after Washington, Raven found Erik in a skeevy motel off the Florida interstate.

“They have Charles, Erik,” she said.

The bedframe shrieked. In the bathroom, the showerhead snapped in half and clattered into the tub.

Demoted – JayPendragon

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is a detective-specialist with the NYPD Mutant Tactical Unit, ready to help out where his skills are needed. Or he would be, if he and his partner hadn’t been demoted. For the next four months, he is patrolling the Lenox Hill precinct with Azazel – if he doesn’t die of boredom first. One night they are called in to investigate a potential case of domestic violence, yet the tenant assures them he is both alone and unharmed. However, there is something about this Charles Xavier that compels Erik to follow up.

Warning: Sensitive material, domestic abuse and dubious consent

Watch Your Back – swoopswoop

Summary: Bodyguard AU where Erik is overly protective and things aren't as simple as they seem.

If We Met Differently – swoopswoop

Summary: Erik wasn't the only mutant 'taken in' by Shaw, Erik learns this the hard way when a new mutant is dropped into his cell. They manage to escape together, but things aren't all roses after that. Erik has a score to settle and needs to make sure Charles is safe.

The Color of Love (Character Swap Remix) – BadLuckBlueEyes

Summary: Nobody sees in color until they meet their soulmates. When your soulmate dies, your vision returns to black and white. What happens when your soulmate only dies for a few minutes?

Omega Online – miss_aphelion

Summary: Newly imprinted Charles is having trouble dealing with his overly protective alpha—so in desperation he seeks advice in an omega chat room. Emma Frost is more than happy to help, Raven isn't helping at all, and Erik can't stand to be out of touch with Charles for more than five minutes at a time.

Cannot be Contained in Words – wallhaditcoming (uvcatastrophe)

Summary: Crime syndicate head Erik Lehnsherr travels to London on business, where he meets oxford student Charles Xavier. Their liaison spawns into a years long transatlantic affair, kept apart by Erik's work and Charles' studies,which Erik chronicles in photographs. When distance ceases to be an issue after four long years, the overlap between Charles' past and Erik's work create a whole new set of complications.

A Pertinent Reminder – ikeracity, Pangea

Summary: Sometimes it's easy to forget that getting involved in Erik's mob business isn't all fine dining and sex on yachts. There's nothing like taking a couple of bullets to remind Charles of the reality.

Part 3 of the Associates series

A Dangerous Game – ikeracity, pangea

Summary: When a familiar enemy of Erik's returns to the city for some old-fashioned revenge, Charles is sucked deeper into the world of the mob than ever before.

Part 6 of the Associates series

You don’t choose the thug life (except when you do) – Anonymous

Summary: Charles is kidnapped and discovers that Erik, the Alpha he has been dating for the past few months and is head-over-heels for, is not just a wealthy businessman but actually the head of a syndicate.

He is rather unhappy about this discovery and Erik gets an earful for lying to him. Then Charles is kidnapped again and really, he hopes mating Erik won't result in weekly kidnapping because he has a thesis to finish and papers to grade.

Marrying a Mob – Ook

Summary: Charles is a teacher at a very exclusive school. When armed men burst in on the trail of two children, of course he stands up to them and gets hurt. The children are Erik Lehnsherr's children (of course); a "prominent businessman" or, less politely, "mobster".

Erik is grateful to Charles for saving his children's lives at the cost of his kneecap. So very grateful.

Naturally he tries to reward Charles for his actions. Equally naturally, Charles will be having none of that.

Azazel finds the whole thing unspeakably hilarious. Naturally.

Rumor Has It – blueink3

Summary: "Did I hear the doorbell earlier?"

"Yeah, but I'd steer clear if I were you. It seemed a little tense. I don't know what's going on, but there's a kid out there who looks freakily like the prof."

Nearly six months after Cuba, Charles' life is turned upside down for the second time. Though he's slowly learning to adapt to the first, he's not sure he can handle the second. Luckily for him, there are a few people out there more than willing to help.

Forward Momentum – AsYouWish

Summary: Six months after Cuba, Charles and Erik find themselves thrown fifty years into the future, where they meet their older selves, the Avengers, and a world that's very different from their own. Faced with the pieces of their broken relationship, an unparalleled adversary, and dealing with Tony Stark on a daily basis, Charles and Erik do their best to adapt while trying to find a way back home -- and to each other.

Runs in the Family – Anonysquirrel (chibirisuchan)

Summary: Alex knew his own reputation. Hell, he'd started some of his own reputation, because it kept some of the smarter thugs off his back. Everyone knew Alex's reputation. There was no way Hank didn't know his reputation, but he'd brought Alex into a house with some really expensive things and a lot of innocent little kids and his too-friendly, too-harmless dad.

But clearly Hank hadn't told his family anything about Alex, just like he hadn't told Alex anything about his family. At least, not about the brain-breaking parts of his family.

"I didn't know where to start," Hank said, for the dozenth time.

Featuring mpreg!Charles in a Kiss The Cook apron, overprotective!Erik in wet black leather, and baked goods. Lots and lots of baked goods.

Round the Corner Waiting – swoopswoop

Summary: When things go so spectacularly wrong during a relationship, Charles - now a single dad - almost makes a big mistake, only to be stopped by a mysterious man who just might turn his life back around.

Hide Your Fires – swoopswoop

Summary: As the sole heir, Prince Charles, had no problem with the roles and responsibility that would come with ruling a kingdom. Though he was the only one who did not see a problem. After years of being shuttled back and forth between kingdoms, his Regent hoping he would find a match more suitable to being King, he is finally sent to Genosha. Though the path has never been less clear than the one to a foreign kingdom with no ties to his native land.

Shaw’s Captive – swoopswoop

Summary: Magneto killed Shaw, it had to be done for the sake of mutant-kind but what he wasn't expecting to find hidden deep with Shaw's complex was a man held captive, obviously tortured, that somehow made Magneto turn into Erik.

Erik now has a potential human in his citadel as he continues the war with the human's.

Mind’s Eye Blind – Sperare

Summary: As far as Erik is concerned, if you want to scare a person into talking, you have to present him with something more compelling than what he stands to lose...

And there is nothing in the world more compelling than Charles.

Chipped – Rosawyn

Summary: Magneto's fledgling Brotherhood find Charles Xavier in a mutations research lab as an apparently willing subject for an experimental suppression device.

Okay, I Feel Better Now – Harleydoll

Summary: The AU in which Erik is sent to a mental health facility after being convicted for Shaw's murder and pleads insanity, and Charles is his paranoid schizophrenic of a roommate. Powers, Hellfire conspiracies, protective!Erik, and of course the inevitable angst.

Five Nights in Nuremberg – FuryRed

Summary: When Charles escapes from the mutant prison he has been held in for the last two years he knows that he’s going to need help to avoid being recaptured.

What he doesn’t expect is that help will come in the form of a mysterious German man who rescues Charles and takes him to his home; a handsome stranger who, frustratingly, doesn’t speak a single word of English…

Five Bullet Points – Sperare

Summary: It was supposed to be Erik locked away in a prison one hundred stories below the ground.

Charles was never supposed to be there with him.

Notes: Unfinished but an excellent read. Highly recommend it.

Stolen – ishipitsobad

Summary: Erik is a miserable, grumpy, cantankerous bastard, and he has every fucking right to be. He drew the short end of the stick when he got the Underworld as his domain, and there isn't very much fun to be had in judging and governing dead souls who would rather be anywhere else but with Erik in the depths of Hell.

So when he meets Charles, brilliant and lovely Charles who is more popularly known amongst the mortals as Persephone, and feels the promise of something wonderful that could make his eternally doomed existence infinitely more bearable... you can bet all your drachmas Erik's not going to let Charles go any fucking time soon.

My Barbaric Darling – baehj2915

Summary: Erik is revivified caveman. Charles is the anthropologist(?) taking care of him. This is as ridiculous as it sounds. Romcom misunderstandings and prehistoric wooing ensues.

Swimming with Sharks – Not_You

Summary: Erik used to be a shark. Now he's not, and has to figure out how to be a good human father to his twins. Charles is willing to help.

Eucalyptus leaf of my soul - kageillusionz, ourgirlfriday

Summary: Zookeeper Raven at Taronga Zoo keeps having ideas on how to capitalize on interest in the zoo mascots, Koala Charles and Drop Bear Erik (the only drop bear in captivity!), who have captured the hearts and minds of the public. First it was to introduce prospective mates (It’ll generate attention, Hank. People are perverts. They’d love to see koala porn.). This idea was not effective the first through fifth attempts, as Erik and Charles seemed to show at best polite interest in the newcomer before resuming whatever marsupial debate they had going. However, the resulting lesbian koala orgies did indeed generate interest. Then Raven unveiled the Hug-A-Koala program, which was successful, as the public showed great interest in hugging Charles, and Charles seemed to enjoy being hugged.

Then Raven unveiled the Hug-A-Drop Bear program, and Hank, not for the first time, wished he had a flask handy.

Notes: Yes, they’re Koalas, yes they’re adorable, and yes, Erik is super protective even as a Drop Bear.

#cherik #cherik fic recs #fic recs #protective Erik #long post

213 notes · View notes

entropy-mephit · 2 years ago

Text

Whole ass story of mostly this one person, in outline. The ending point is "the world where I would drop players in". Well, of course, this isn't only impactful line of events that shaped the surroundings but... yeah, enough of useless writing.

Feilen had, at many points in life, experienced looking back at his decisions and realizing he had, in fact, fucked up. It didn't stop him from doing it again in his chase for knowledge.

He started as a pretty normal elf, top student of the bookworm variety in the magic academy who eagerly stayed at university after finishing his studies, sequestered away from the power plays and fights over titles and influence of mage towers. His cozy position as archivist meant most discoveries made by mages associated with the university would go through his hands. For years it was all he wanted.

And then he got frustrated with how no one seemed eager to check what exactly happened three millennia before. Vague mentions that magic functioned differently, but no solid evidence to go along with what those differences were, nor what could possibly have caused the change. Oh, there were bits of lost technology, defunct, that had been brought. After Feilen pooled all the scattered bits found in one place or another he started working on it properly. Deciding language, figuring out details on what things were supposed to be before they broke. It was slow work, often made harder by missing context. And even worse, by exclusion zones, - strictly regulated areas, that seemed to contain all main ruin sites.

Finally, he decided to travel into one of them. He went alone simply because he couldn't be certain about discretion from mercenaries. And not like he had any adventuring friends.

The meeting with cultists believing in some forgotten ritual was one of the most peculiar accidents. He might have used magic to turn them into allies for a bit, but as they explored ruins with Feilen pointing out the ancient contraptions and talking about most likely ways magic would fail. Reading the directions off the walls and showing the traps, explaining the nature of risks. It would have been just like a school trip if not for lethal danger. When magic wore off cultists just decided to let him keep leading because it looked like this way they might have gained just what they wanted simply by hanging back and letting this strange guy nerd over some stuff.

They weren't particularly worried when he went ahead.

But then there was rumble and Power in the air, a dangerous atmosphere hanging thickly over the area. And when they looked down the corridor he went, into the room, there was the first mass of scales, vaguely like a dragon squeezed into too small space, but then it started to change and shift, and whoever looked fell, catatonic.

But somehow the air shifted again, light and easy to breathe, and Feilen came out clutching notes he told them might be very dangerous to the person looking at them.

And there were enough signs to understand what he meant, that he got something from being that wrecked minds by simple presence near… luckily even two fools who looked eventually woke up.

And after the encounter Feilen gathered a group, who now decided to follow him, to together search for the unknown, and Feilen was open with them about wanting to reach out again, trying to talk with the same entity. (He had no doubts other ones might not be so gentle and friendly)

He started calling cultists "kids" and never really stopped even as they started working together on reaching out through the veil and trying to contact eldritch powers that be.

His experience with it made him both bolder - because sometimes things beyond human understanding are just curious and will try to help once they see that your brain is not well after being put into a blender - and more cautious - because as well intentioned thing he encountered was, and even helpful, he still had months of awful migraines and sudden bouts of dissociation to go through afterward.

The thing he noted for himself as most important is that the stories about cosmic horror got it wrong. Things on the other side might be just as fascinated by people they find on the other side when their world meets reality as people who date to establish contact with that reality. And that's the knowledge that kept him going for years of research to come.

It didn’t take too long for other groups to start contacting him, in his public archivist persona in search of translations and help in putting fragments together. And he often was eager to help, if just for a chance to get his hands on additional resources. Even if he usually kept up appearances of needing to be threatened into cooperation.

And he helped adventurers hunt dangerous groups just as much if not more whenever he noticed that what they were doing would be too risky, forming friendly relationships with combat freelancers and mercenary bands. Sometimes he even really needed to be rescued and the ragtag groups of thrill seekers always appreciated a friendly face generous with rewards and happy to share information that fell into his hands.

One of the adventurers he found himself cooperating with regularly was a woman called Vanya. She was strong, wild, fearless, and imposing. Sometimes crashing into him and pulling him along to explore and fight and sometimes even drinking and sharing stories. (Feilen found himself nursing a crush, but she was like a storm passing through his life, felt far out of his reach)

But then, as he was already well on his way to reconstructing the chamber that called the thing, taught about 50 people how to handle eldritch writing safely, and collected more knowledge about the extra-dimensional existences, the far realm on fringes of the cosmos…

The one existence that he communed with in the first place called out to him again. It was wearing the mundane disguise of an elven bard, a charming redhead that Feilen could vaguely recall, and underneath that another fake existence of a dragon. Usually, you don't expect a mask underneath a mask like that. The friendly talk later and a few secrets spilled so casually and Feilen was terrified with how likely what he was doing might end with ending the world. Yes, he had gotten impossibly lucky once but the chance another one would be friendly when called was minimal. And even if this thing he talked with seemed to suggest it is territorial and might end up fighting whatever comes. And fights on this scale usually ended up in obliterated planets.

Few other hints at what this being is dropped on him just as casually, in the thing gushing about how different and fun was to think with a biological brain and have emotions and how tricky was making the physical body work for it in the first place, but “worth it”. All of it shared with bright-eyed enthusiasm.

When Feilen chose to contact a group of adventurers again he didn’t expect the abomination to tag along, but it did. Introduced itself as a bard called Ardei. It was friendly and charming and eagerly offered to help.

Vanya seemed to hit it off with “Ardei” right away, their wild joy of life and eagerness to challenge things to fit together (painfully well). Both of them wanted to go directly with Feilen to challenge the cultists and crush them, even if Vanya was greatly entertained with the knowledge that what they are trying WILL blow up in their faces.

Feilen tried to extract himself from an active role, keeping for long the image of non-combatant, but Ardei ratted him out as a powerful wizard with a smile, without missing a beat and Feilen quickly decided it was not a fight he wants to get into. Vanya patted his arm a little too strongly with the assurance that she also tries to be not involved because she likes her smithy more than adventuring, but when crisis calls…(somehow he didn’t know this about her despite all times she dragged him into some trouble)

They, Vanya and Feilen, slipped during the attempt, at least partially because Feilen hesitated, with mixture of not wanting to hurt his friends and worrying about being recognized and ousted. Neither of them expected the massive dragon burrowing underneath to come to their help, and promptly reveal itself as their missing companion. (Vanya challenged a dragon to a duel after all of this settles down)

And the whole subterfuge goes out of the window as Vanya decides to just rampage together with Ardei and Feilen basically just follows and cleans up after them. He was mildly terrified how much she was holding back just for him to keep up with her before that.

At the end of that there was a “good news and bad news” situation since they didn’t manage to contact anything eldritch and Feilen with Ardei dismantled the setup easily, but… there was a signal and *someone* has received it. But there was nothing to do about it as it was.

Feilen decided he had more than enough contact with all magic and occult, pulling back from the academy officially before with some help from Ardei, vanishing and building new identity as the owner of a tavern. He might claim to know better, but not long after he ended up establishing new contacts, fully mundane this time, trading information and gathering secrets from various organizations because, despite all, Feilen always was just too curious for his own good. Both Vanya and Ardei surprised him by deciding to stick close, Ardei insisting that it needs to learn more about people, and how local magic works (and oh, it’s fascinating how it used to, the destruction and change, it launched on topic with as much fervor as Feilen himself used to… and he was back to studying it just like this) Vanya basically just opened blacksmith shop hanging out together with them whenever she felt like, sometimes volunteering as security for tavern because why not.

(I have no idea when in the timeline three of them became A Thing)

At this point, he knew the being made deals with several gods, peace treaties on a cosmic scale for what could otherwise be mutually assured destruction. Those days that was probably the main reason why both Vanya and Feilen avoided divine wrath for consistent and continued blasphemy.

The aliens came a few decades later, a mighty, terrifying cataclysm, especially for Feilen who did not expect Ardei to ever consider something on what looked like a mortal scale a danger. That didn’t stop them from pulling all their adventurer friends, Feilen “convincing” (bribing and blackmailing) multiple crime lords, and whatever the hell Ardei did to get a bunch of dragons involved. It was just one ship, and while it was not anywhere an easy task to tear it apart, it was possible. Even if whatever they could do with bringing forth anti-magic zones was the most inconvenient. Only after all of this, Ardei admitted that full magic removal would definitely kill it since its entire existence was fundamentally metaphysical and magic based, even if it was using what could be considered a mortal body at the time.

The spoils were mostly shared, the technology from the ship was distributed to many hands, and multiple organizations launched into reverse engineering what they got. Ardei helped Vanya fish out the most impactful bits of metals, not much in mass but the bits that were essential to how the ship worked… One was what completely cut off magic, obliterating any magic items, that one she quickly tried to get away from anyone, at least partially because no one knew the exact mechanism of elven longevity. But she understood exactly why she could not ever allow it to reach any third party. It would kill Ardei, it would kill gods. The second one was bending time around it, making a mess out of trying to collect pieces as it randomly shuttered the relative speeds of everything around, applying force that should not exist… but she was pretty confident she got all of it. And it was time to replace her favorite battleaxe with something truly special.

Before she was done there was a change Feilen noticed first, as one most attuned to the structures magic had. It was changing, starting slow, but Feilen knew that it was only the start, and when power becomes unmoored everyone will suffer, ones with a high amount of magic within torn apart by uncontrolled power. He knew it but knew nothing about how he, or anyone could counteract it. Ardei was clearly worried, not for itself but for them likely facing suffering for one and death for the other. Itself was only in danger of becoming detached from the physical body, which might become permanent if it can’t recall reasons why it enjoyed existing like this in the first place.

Vanya decided that Feilen deserved at least a chance, at least a few years more it would bring if he got cut off from magic. And he agreed. It was a sacrifice for how powerful he was as a mage, but also a chance for someone who knew how paths of spellcraft are made, to skip decades to centuries of crawl when society is trying to figure out basics when everyone who knew well enough has been culled.

In the end Ardei not being able to touch him anymore was probably the worst part of the price to pay. Because it succeeded and Feilen lasted for years as if nothing happened, just as unaging as elves with contact with magic. And he was right about the importance of putting the magic back together and not letting research fall apart even when so many of the key personnel ended up being living bombs.

Three centuries later they settled back into what they considered peaceful, quiet life, leaving new generations of mages, and something previous era lacked, scientists with no magic in them, focused on tools and engineering, set promises for a better future, one that would not be so stripped if or when the magic breaks and gets overwritten again.

So: this is a dramatic intro for the character backstory of one of my NPCs. Or maybe the beginning of one of my favorite OCs' stories. Both things conceptually are the same, but I don't know if at this point he is more OC or NPC. Woes of game master I guess.

Feilen Alaris knew full well that what he was doing was illegal, the exclusion zone was such for very good reason. He could loose his job and all previously collected research. But on the other hand he prided himself on not giving any fucks about divine mandates and the lab is worth jack shit without new discoveries to fuel his efforts. As head archivist in Brightshore Magic Academy he was one of few people qualified for ruins delving anyways. Not that stuck up bureaucrats would ever sign permits for such attempt.

It seemed almost peaceful, faint wind barely disturbing surface layer of sand, weak enough that Feilen after moment of thought, pulled onto the weave of arcane to summon larger blast of wind to erase footsteps he left behind. It wouldn't do to let someone see tracks and investigate.

The ruins were mostly buried under the sand, only few broken towers clearly marking the area of interest and Feilen knew well it would take fair amount of digging before he can get to anything remaining in more or less functional state.

The sand was getting more stable as Feilen approached remnants of buildings. And then he saw in some distance group of eight people. He stopped in his tracks, almost panicking to not have any way to hide. They stopped as well, staring openly before glancing between each other and changing direction. Right towards him.

Feilen took deeper breath before also moving towards them. He knew how he looked, petite elf man, no weapon on hand, coming all alone. If they weren't idiots they should be expecting powerful mage. Not many people were arrogant enough to travel like this, and all of them had power to back up the bravery. Feilen usually wore attitude of archmage like cloak of protection.

"Good travelers," he spoke first, putting in just a tiny bit of power to make his voice carry to them across the distance, "you should be aware that travel within bounds of the Blood Sands Exclusion Zone is strictly forbidden without official permit from Military Affairs Office signed by at least two members of the High Council. You should consider yourself warned and..."

And they were pulling out weapons. Right, pretending to be on official business clearly didn't work.

Feilen huffed, gathering magic as discreetly as possible with level of power he was pulling under his command. They were too far to stab him before he was done, but obscuring spellcasting helps to make it at least harder to counter.

"I would suggest, rather than suffer unnecessary danger of fight, you would consider cooperating with me to benefit mutually for delving into ruins." He rung magic trough the air, imbuing spell into the words. And he felt it hook into the minds, one, two, five... Three of them had slipped past, but also paused as they see their allies seem to have changed their minds.

Feilen smiles at the outcome. He might have just burned the most magic he had, but he knew enough about ancient ruins... There weren't any active dangers waiting inside. He will not need that power.

"Now, you are surely aware that implications of your presence here are dire, but I am willing to provide some assistance, as long you are willing to help with more physically demanding parts. I know enough about the runes of ancient magic to be able to figure out which ones are truly dangerous and which ones merely defunct, which you would surely find a great boon," he offered with light flourish. Of course, depending on what they are there for and who they are he might end up needing to kill them, but he has few hours to figure it with most of the group magically compelled to see his words in positive light.

His presence saved those bumbling cultists from accidents with forgotten arcana on the way. (Kids just want to learn, that's actually kind of adorable. Feilen absolutely can keep them under control and maybe even take them on the next excursion. That could be nice.)

Most of the damaged arcane constructs luckily just didn't work, but about forty percent have a nasty tendency to explode if activated somehow. He felt more than justified in taking charge, guiding them across the ruins and sharply ordering them around to coordinate efforts in gathering bits of a broken, ancient technology for further study. They even found something looking like an office. The fragile scrolls almost cracked with age as their protective spells had fizzled out. Yet another proof that something had happened to mess up the structure of magic that used to be in place, but it's just confirmation of what Feilen knew for years.

Magic was not what it used to be in age of wonders.

He gently brushed the tips of his fingers against the slightly chipped stone wall thoughtfully, scanning the shape of an empty room, the damaged braziers, the black crystal obelisk dominating the very center of the room, and, on the opposite side of the room, carved suggestion of the arch. That was something that must have been significant.

Feilen looked closely at the floor, looking for any possible arcane sigils that might have been twisted from their original purpose by the shift in magic into a deadly trap.

He stepped forward carefully, just a bit deeper into the room to glance at the wall from a better angle, and there he found them, traces of old spellforms. He only glanced over, without trying to read them yet.

Something he could work to reconstruct.

With a faint smile, he reached into his bag, pulling out notes to copy those findings piece by piece.

Careful to not activate anything by errant touch, he examined the rune where the script should be starting, at the very center of the wall. It was dizzying to look at. Somehow just shape of it brought pain on his head in sharp spike then shooting down his spine.

He stumbled backwards. Closed eyes don't help, the image of shape blares, burned into his retinas. The world is echoing with sickening pain and quivering, then lurching like stormy sea.

Smooth cold surface hits his back, edge digging into his fingers somehow.

Personhood. Human. Elf. Person, identify shape. Self. Perception. Selfperception,humanityawarnespersonpersonself society communication. Language. Awareness.

The concept crashes and echoes off itself, bringing up concept in purest form and washing associated images and connections like waves, one after another. Fascinating.

Curious. Question. Fascinating, more. Knowledge, research, data, information, find, examine, know, more more more curious. Fascinating. Know. Find out. Researchexaminecuriousfindquestion. More.

The sentiment echoed, pulled something closer. Existence. Mind, aware, getting tangled with another. The wave of pure... Thoughts, too much to bear.

Mind body person. Person nice like enjoy companion. Idea together. Existence. Self. Aware. Curious. Person.

Echoing across his head, painfully ringing. It felt like his mind was getting crushed under the weight of that attention.

Then the bunch of carnal sensations, touch, pressure, softness of skin with firm muscle underneath, thick hair brushing between his fingers, shades of skin, pleasant timbre of voice, the close look at an eye, blue-green like a sea, the warmth of a body, the roughness of glistening scales and thundering dragon roar echoing in the bones, claws, nails digging in, teeth gently nipping...

Feilen came crashing down on the floor, right by the obelisk, his head feeling like someone scrapped out inside of his brain with sandpaper. He could feel wetness on his face, warmth dripping out of his ear, and dull pain of impact on the back of his head.

He smiled to himself bitterly. Of course, that's where he gets after confidently marching in, convinced he knew how to delve safely.

#my writing #little too much effort put into NPC #long post

3 notes · View notes

rosalesbeausderholle · 2 years ago

Note

I feel like a hypocrite sometimes because even though I’m ftm I utterly loathe the trans community and generally agree with the “drop the T” stuff. I don’t know why I’m both of these things and I have no idea how to talk about it to other people lol. do you think it’s possible to be both or is it just stupid

I don't believe in "drop the T" because the people who say it are usually hateful. And also, I have empathy for the struggles of trans people even when they're different from my own and our struggles are often related (see how conservative backlash against one of us is often backlash against all of us!). Of course, I have my own issues with the way many people today conceptualize gender roles and misogyny and homophobia and say these things are progressive when they're the same old ideas repackaged, but I don't think that's exclusively a symptom of trans people existing within the LGBT community but rather that homophobic and misogynistic values exist all around us in our society and even ostentably leftist people can fall for them. It's also a symptom of the left being widely disorganized and fangless tbh. But, what would "drop the T" have to do with that? It wouldn't stop these ideas from existing?

There's all kinds of people in every letter of the LGBT, there's racists, there's misogynists, there's homophobes but there's also leftist activists, there's anti sex-trafficking activists, there's people who follow feminist ideals. There's rich people, there's working class people. There's bad people and there's good people and there's people with good opinions in one thing and terrible brain dead takes on another.

It's normal that if you've had bad experiences with a specific sub-community that you might be wary later. I've faced a lot of homophobic from other LGBT people, and now I can be wary too, but I don't think it's realistic to say that everyone in a specific sub-community will be like that. You're the best example that not all trans people are like the people you dislike and I don't think it's good for you to think "all trans people are X". I think that can lead to some issues and self-hatred. What's important is that you have your own problems with some people within your community and you should be able to express your criticisms and concern 100%. But I don't think that means that everyone else is like the people you might criticize. At all. I don't think it's good to make this kind of generalization. Probs plenty other trans people share some of your concerns as well! At the end of the day, it's your life and you should choose who you associate with but I think loathing everyone in a community you belong to might not be conductive to the best mental state for you. Know what I mean?

#lgbt stuff

9 notes · View notes

compassionatereminders · 2 years ago

Note

Hi, if you're comfortable sharing, you mentioned the symptoms of your mom's TBI were very similar to your own. I was wondering if you could go into what similarities you noticed, if you're okay with it (apologies if you've already answered this). I've had several concussions/TBIs throughout the years and also struggle with psychosis/psychosis-adjacent symptoms but I had no idea there could be a link. I've never had any official diagnosis for psychotic experiences or schizophrenia, partially because I've always been afraid to discuss it with bad therapists in the past, but much of what I've read from people who experience those things matches what sometimes happens with me and now I'm wondering if it's more related to the TBIs than being schizophrenia "proper", for lack of a better term. No obligations to answer this if of course and I hope your mother recovers as swiftly as she can and without complications. Thanks for all you do here, you're one of my favorite blogs because you don't lean into that toxic positivity BS.

I know most people immediately think of psychosis when they hear the word schizophrenia, but none of the symptoms me and my mom have in common after she aquired her traumatic brain injury are related to psychosis. I actually haven't experienced psychotic symptoms myself in years due to effective antipsychotic treatment and my mom hasn't experienced psychosis at all. So when I say we have experiences in common, I'm exclusively talking about cognitive symptoms. As in struggles with concentration, memory, executive functioning, processing, learning, working memory, etc. Such symptoms are common as a consequence of both TBIs and schizophrenia, even though most people don't associate them with schizophrenia. So that's all I'm referring to when I say we now have many experiences in common. I'm not talking about psychosis.

#chat with kat #psychosis tw

8 notes · View notes

sevensided · 4 years ago

Note

how did you get into writing fic? i'd love to start but idk even where to begin! I loved adats so I was wondering do you have any advice?

Oh my goodness! I am so flattered you’ve asked me this. Yes, I can absolutely help. I’ll throw a bunch of rambling under the cut.

I started writing fic probably when I was... sixteen years old? A lot of my early works were oneshots. I couldn’t figure out how to do anything plot heavy for the life of me, so I just stuck to AUs or whatever I felt like. I wasn’t in any particular fandom -- I really wrote whatever I had ideas for. I remember I tried once to do a plot-heavy story and I received a review absolutely ripping it to shreds. Like, it was so cruel I cried lol. I ended up deleting the fic. Years later, I get what they were trying to say (basically, more substance, less style), but at the time it cut to the quick. Really, it was only when I was in my twenties that I started writing work that was longer and/or better.

The fandom that helped me actually write plot heavy work was a historical-based fandom. As I’m a historian, it was perfect. I got to use my research skills and knowledge to create works that, above all, aimed to feel authentic. I mainly read historical fiction, so I was familiar with how that genre worked. Miraculously, people loved my work. I think I wrote about ~200k in the period of a year? These were several short stories (20-40k) and a few oneshot filler fics. While I was part of this fandom I also helped organise a Big Bang which was a lot of hard work but was extremely rewarding. Along with that, I interacted mainly with other fic writers, so I spent a lot of time chatting to people about ideas and encouraging other writers, and it just created a lovely medley where no concept was impossible or any line of dialogue too difficult. We supported each other and it was truly like a little commune. I gradually stepped away from the fandom mainly because it was just a part of my life at a very specific time, and almost as soon as that time was over, my love for that story/ship faded, but I firmly believe I figured out a lot of how/what I do now purely through that experience.

Regarding ADATS

With ADATS, it stemmed entirely from wanting to “explain” three months in canon (at the end of season three). I was interested in the idea of season four setting up Will/Mike in canon, and I wanted to test the source material to see if I could draw from what already existed to create something authentic. I began with that simple idea: what happened from July to October in 1985? Then I thought about the major themes I wanted to hit -- family, friendship, coming of age, sexuality -- and I nested them around the bigger concept: how do I get Mike from being ostensibly straight to realising he is gay? That meant thinking of two steps: Mike discovering his attraction to guys; Mike discovering his attraction to Will. Those two concepts were separate “arcs” that needed addressing in different ways. Balance was key to weaving them together and making the reader feel like they knew what was coming (and that they felt smart for putting the pieces together) without just rushing through and going “now kiss!” That’s partly why ADATS needs a sequel, lol: because it’s not finished!

Writing process

The first thing I do when I start to get an idea is I write it down. Sounds obvious. But when you have a killer line of dialogue come to you in the shower and you think “I’ll remember that” -- reader, you will not remember it. You gotta get it down ASAP! I do that the whole way through, as generally I’ll be thinking of scenes I’m stuck on and then it’ll just come to me and I’ll quickly jot it down.

The next thing -- or what I do in the meantime -- is start structuring. I plan. I try to plan a lot. Sometimes it’s okay to write “and something happens here to get them here”, because you’ll figure it out later, but for the most part I’ve discovered that planning is like gold and you can’t get enough of it. I break my work up into generally 3-4 parts/sections, and I treat each section like a mini story. So each part needs a conflict and resolution, and it needs to flow into the next section. You need to have a feeling of things evolving and maturing. Once I’ve planned those little bits, I start thinking about the bigger plot arc and how I can drop in hints along the way. I’m probably not a subtle or skilled enough writer to yet pull off that sort of gasping twist you get in really excellent books, but I’m trying to get there. It’s hard, is what I’m trying to say, but that’s okay, because we’re all learning.

Then I generally do aesthetic stuff. Sounds stupid, probably. But nothing helps me get more into a mood than doing a Pinterest board or -- most of all -- making a Spotify mix. I start thinking about the vibe and the general atmosphere, and then I almost exclusively listen to that mix when I’m working. Sort of like muscle memory? Just to get the creative juices associated with that particular selection of songs.

Another thing I’ll do along with plot structure is character structure. This is a biggie. I mean, a story is nothing without characters. So I’ll just jot down a bunch of bullet points of characters and particular aspects that I want to highlight or remember. I hate continuity errors in fiction. Like, if someone says they work on Maple Street but later in the fic they’re working on Pine Street. I hate that. So I keep note of specific things that my main character might notice at repeated points in the story (colours, places, smells, names, sounds -- so they’re all consistent even as the narrative evolves). That’s another thing -- your characters’ motivations. Not everyone is going to be a huge player, but they all do serve a purpose. The most important character is obviously your main character. I personally think it’s important to let your M.C. be an arse at times. They’re going to be mean, they’re going to misinterpret things or fly off the handle... just let ‘em. Let them be wretched humans, and then bring them back and make them realise what they’ve done. Let them learn! I love consequences in fiction, lol.

At the same time, I’ll probably start writing. We’ve already written down some snippets of neat dialogue or descriptions, but now we should start the actual process. For me, I used to start at the beginning. Usually this was the most fleshed out anyway: I’ll have a clear idea of the beginning and the end, but nothing in the middle. These days, if I have a scene in mind that I can’t forget, I’ll just write it. It will possibly get scrapped or rewritten, but that’s okay, because at least you’ve got it down and now you can devote your brain power to something useful (like figuring out what the middle is supposed to be). I’ll have half a dozen of totally out of context scenes just littered in my Word document that I’ll add to as I go along. Eventually, though, you’re going to start writing properly, and that’s when you write your opening scene.

Opening scenes: super important. Every time I write a scene I think: what is the point of this? What do I want the reader to learn or takeaway? Sometimes you do have filler scenes, but they also serve a different purpose (perhaps to establish a group dynamic or to explore/describe a character’s surroundings). Mainly, though, every scene should push something forward in some way, whether it’s character development or a plot point. So, with an opening scene, I always think you have to establish: where you are; who you are; what they are doing; where they’ve come from (in a philosophical and practical sense); and where they’re going (ditto). That doesn’t have to happen in the first paragraph -- that would be silly. But if you sprinkle that information in over time it’ll gradually build up a picture of your character and that way the reader can get an idea of who they are. You basically need to give a snapshot of what your story is about. This also goes back to the character creator stuff: where they are at the start should be different to where they end up. How that happens is, of course, because of plot, and because you’ve structured everything to the nth degree, we’ve got a very clear progression of that character’s growth (/s easier said than done lol).

General advice

Write down everything: every idea, a bit of dialogue, a description, whatever. Write it down. Doesn’t have to be neat. Just has to be on paper. You can’t remember everything, so if you’re spending time trying to hold those things in your head, it’s taking up space for new ideas to come along.

Structure, plan, structure, plan. Sometimes it’s boring and I hate it. Other times, when I’ve not written in a few days and I open the Word doc and think wtf is this supposed to be, I am very grateful for Past Me for leaving such detailed notes. Seriously, it helps so much. Oneshots don’t really need planning, in my experience. You just get those out there. But multi-chaptered stories really do, even ones that “just” focus on a relationship.

Whatever you want to write, commit to it. Space goblins invade Hawkins? Do it. Eleven and Max find themselves in a cult akin to Midsommar (2019) and must escape? Yes. Just... whatever you want to do, remember that you’re writing it for you. Write what most interests you, what makes you when you reread it go AHHHHH I LOVE THIS!! Because that makes it a thousand times easier to actually get on with the writing when you enjoy what you’re doing.

Write a lot. Every day, if you can, or at least at designated times. Occasionally I have a very specific headspace/vibe I have to be in, but sometimes it just hits me and I’ll say to my partner “I need to write now” and just disappear, lol. The more you write the more you write. It’s so, so, so true. Cannot emphasise this enough. When I wrote that ~200k in twelve months? It was because I literally wrote every. day. Or near enough. Remember that some days you’ll write 200 words, and other days you’ll write 20k (this happened to me with ADATS -- part of the reason I finished it so quickly was because I had sprints of writing 10k+ at a time that only happened because I was in the rhythm of it). Write, write, write. Who cares if it’s crap! No one will see it until you are ready. In the meantime, just write!

Probably last of all (although I could go on and on) is connect with other writers. If you’re struggling to start, sometimes just talking about it can help a huge amount. I hope it goes without saying that you can message me whenever you want, anon or not, and I will talk to you. We can talk about ideas or I can beta stuff, whatever you want! Find like-minded people and talk to them about what you want to do. Another thing this helps is in advertising your work when you do publish. I see a lot of first time fic writers get super down because they publish their magnum opus on AO3 but no one comments. Honestly, it’s because no one knows you’ve published! You don’t have to be tooting your own horn every which way, but just actively talking about your work and even collaborating with other content creators with get you hyped and other people too (and the input and encouragement other fandom members give is just... out of this world. Anon messages helped me finish ADATS when I was really worried I wouldn’t [that’s the truth]. Seriously, support is everything). When you have people excited about your work, you get excited. It’s really as simple as that.

I could go on but this is already horrendously long. I hope even a bit of this helps! If you want to chat or have any more questions, just hit me up any time.

#writing tips #writing help #writing advice #answered #i really hope this helps/answers your question!#i can do something more structured if you want #otherwise here are just my initial thoughts #Anonymous

61 notes · View notes