#soul axiom

[psychosynchrony]

The Unfinished and Abandoned

Kind of the opposite of standout games (which aren't necessarily amazing games so much as games that left a strong impression on me), we have here the games that didn't work for me.

Soul Axiom (2016) This year was my second attempt at playing this game. I generally like puzzles, and existential ponderings aren't a turn-off for me, which is why I bought this game years ago. I can't remember why I stopped playing it the first time, but 3 hours into my second attempt I was just irritated at the entire setting. Sometimes a game just doesn't click.

Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) This one's not the game's fault. I've mentioned before that I'm bad at platforming? Well, Ori drove home just how bad I am. When I'm stuck on an area for 90 minutes unable to progress because I can't make the jumps with a keyboard or a controller... it's time for me to walk away.

The Outer Worlds (2019) I remember people being really excited about this when it first came out, but I missed the hype and only just picked it up on sale earlier this year. At first I was engrossed (It definitely has a great opening), but as the hours dragged on I noticed that its entire plot boiled down to its setting, best described as "crony capitalism is bad." With mediocre characters, a bland story, uninteresting combat, and no real benefit to exploration, I slogged halfway through Monarch before admitting that I hadn't been enjoying myself for a couple hours and just uninstalled the game.

[2beaut02wolf]

[yunalai]

I see Project L talk and if Qiyana is not there when she was inspired by AN ACTUAL FIGHTING GAME CHARACTER I will develop rabies and bite every riot employee

[aethon-recs]

Tomarrymort Starter Pack: 10 Recs for Getting Started in Tomarrymort

I've compiled a list of 10 medium to longfic recs that I think represent a great on-ramp to the Tomarrymort ship, as inspired by @sitp-recs’ Drarry for Beginners rec list. These are the fics that I would use to on-board people to the ship — gorgeous writing, superb characterization, and just as enjoyable on the first read as the 20th reread. 

As always, I am stunned by the talent in this ship! I tried to pick a good mix of different themes/tropes/settings, with a focus on elements that make for a good introductory work: the characters are recognizable; the setting skews more recognizable; both characters in the ship are a meaningful part of the story; the ship is central to the story; and the fics are for the most part complete (or updated within the last year). 

(Standard rec list disclaimers apply: please mind all tags and warnings on AO3 before reading; this blog abides by the age-old fandom axiom of don’t like; don’t read; recs are in alphabetical order by title.)

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series — I also have an Intermediate reading list and Advanced reading list coming up for readers who have been with the ship for a longer time.

For now, please enjoy these 1.3 million words of absolutely brilliant Tomarrymort reads that I hope will keep you hooked until the very last word:

*

Tomarrymort Starter Pack Recs

A Dangerous Game by @cybrid (E, 284k, WIP)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 5 Premise: If Tom’s diary horcrux gains a body at the end of Harry’s 5th year (instead of his 2nd), and then promptly kidnaps Harry and holds him captive over the summer. Lots of smut ensues. Why I rec it: The characterization is truly stunning — Tom Riddle is undoubtedly a psychopath — manipulative, thrill-seeking, kind of an irredeemable shithead — but he’s also dazzlingly charming when he chooses to be, someone whose presence Harry quickly grows addicted to. Their relationship can get incredibly toxic and fucked-up at times, but Harry has top-notch instincts and can hold his own against Tom. The plot is absolutely gripping, with the threat of (the main) Voldemort, who has set his sights on reclaiming his wayward horcrux, looming in the background. 

A Future Without a Face by @dividawrites (E, 115k, complete)

Setting: Time-Travel (1940s) Premise: If Harry travels back in time to Tom’s 5th year at Hogwarts, and Tom becomes obsessed with the new transfer student and wants nothing more than to possess him every way. Why I rec it: A 1940s time travel fic told entirely from Tom Riddle POV! Divida absolutely nails psychopath Tom — how he quickly gets singlemindedly focused on Harry, how the idea of possessing Harry consumes him, how he has no compunctions about doing completely fucked-up and destructive things to achieve his goals. There is so much tension between them from the start, so there’s not much of a wait to see some hot Harry & Tom action — and the conflict and tension only continues to build and build in dramatic fashion throughout the rest of the fic.

Either must die at the hand of the other by @metalomagnetic (E, 260k, complete)

Setting: Post-Canon Premise: If Voldemort survives the Battle of Hogwarts and is initially kept prisoner in Azkaban, until Harry takes him into Grimmauld Place under house arrest. Why I rec it: This fic is an incredible exploration of Voldemort at his most terrifying. Even if he starts off the fic with his magic temporarily blocked, he is no less powerful without his magic. The force of his personality is powerful enough for him to chip away at Harry’s initial resistance — @metalomagnetic manages to write one of the most charismatic, brilliantly manipulative, and psychologically devastating versions of Voldemort I’ve ever read. Harry ends up in a good place by the end of the fic, but the journey to get there is a roller-coaster of emotions that have permanently imprinted onto my soul.

In Somno Veritas by ladyoflilacs and @lordansketil (M, 158k, complete)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 6 Premise: If Harry starts appearing in Voldemort’s nightly dreams during Book 6, and Voldemort becomes obsessed with Harry after realizing he’s his horcrux. Why I rec it: This is one of the most unique fics I’ve ever read in this ship! Every scene is told in alternating POV between Harry’s POV and Voldemort’s POV, so you get to see how every scene unfolds from both of their perspectives. Voldemort is so intense and just as terrible as he is in canon, so his character is not at all sugarcoated, and Harry has so much compassion and heart and manages to fall in love with Voldemort anyway. The writing style is gorgeous, with richly detailed and emotionally-laden prose. Also, one thing that pleasantly surprised me is how funny their banter is! There were definitely a number of times where I laughed out loud in the middle of an otherwise really intense scene. Bonus content: also comes with a lovely sequel that made me melt.

Inevitabilities by @shadow-of-the-eclipse (T, 103k, complete)

Setting: Same-Age AU Premise: If Harry and Tom attend Hogwarts together and go traveling around the world after they graduate. A betrayal leads to their break-up, but after many years, Harry returns to find Tom in Britain, and the two of them are drawn back together again. Why I rec it: An excellent same-age AU with unhinged dark Harry and just-as-unhinged Tom. Their relationship starts out quite dark and twisted and unhealthy — and only devolves from there. The fic ends with the two of them as equals — utterly devoted to each other — but in an incredibly fucked-up way: “He loves Tom like a forest fire; wild and all-consuming, he wants to devour Tom, to claim him, to mark him, break him.” Isn’t that absolutely breathtaking?

love is touching souls (surely you touched mine) by @toast-ranger-to-a-stranger (M, 34k, complete)

Setting: Time-Travel (1940s) Premise: If Harry gets thrown back into the mid-1940s and meets Tom Riddle as a young man just graduated from Hogwarts working at Borgin and Burkes. Why I rec it: When Harry accidentally travels back in time and chances upon Tom Riddle as a fresh graduate, he realizes this is his chance to make a difference. While Harry is only in the past for a brief interlude, he leaves enough of an impression to change the trajectory of Tom’s life. The dynamic between Harry and Tom is rife with tension and witty dialogue, and the story is set during Christmastime, which lends a very festive and heartwarming atmosphere for falling in love with each other.

No Glory by @obsidianpen (E, 254k, WIP)

Setting: Voldemort Wins AU  Premise: If Voldemort figures out Harry is his horcrux when Harry surrenders in the Forbidden Forest, and decides to keep Harry instead of killing him.  Why I rec it: This fic showcases the absolute, terrifying genius side of Voldemort, in a universe where he wins the war and captures Harry at the end of book 7. I am stunned at how skillfully @obsidianpen portrays Voldemort as a brilliant political strategist — the courtroom scene where he manipulates the story and the audience so well stands out as a top 10 fanfic moment in my mind. Harry and Voldemort’s relationship is chilling from the very start, and grows even more unhealthy as Voldemort gets addicted to Harry’s touch due to the presence of the horcrux, but Harry later learns to turn that to his advantage.

The Fire, Burning by @parsimmony (E, 35k, complete)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 6 Premise: If Voldemort discovers Harry is his horcrux after Book 6, and kidnaps him to keep him captive by his side in his bed, inside of a lovely greenhouse setting full of friendly snakes on the grounds of Malfoy Manor. Why I rec it: The prose!! I am swooning over the prose! Harry is Voldemort’s captive in this fic, but he is so much more than that — and the emotions that gradually blossom between them have so much richness and depth and are utterly moving that I’m still drowning in the depths of intimacy that were portrayed. Their relationship unfolds in such a gorgeous and unrushed way, and the setting is so unique too — a lush and overgrown greenhouse that’s exploding with exotic plants and friendly snakes around every corner that imbues the fic with a very romantic, dreamy quality.

the pleasure, the privilege by @being-luminous (M, 20k, complete)

Setting: Canon Divergence – Book 6 Premise: If Voldemort is doused with Amortentia keyed to Harry, and starts sending Harry bizarre and gruesome courting gifts, like the bodies of the Dursleys.  Why I rec it: Breathtaking prose! Voldemort somehow ends up more terrifying when he’s trying to woo Harry than when he’s trying to kill him. Every single sentence had me on the edge of my seat, as Voldemort’s ‘gifts’ become more elaborate and devastatingly dramatic, until Harry basically has no choice but to respond to his overtures. The ending is incredibly clever in how it parallels certain plot elements of book 6, with an added Harrymort twist. 

The Untouchable by @treacleteacups (M, 75k, complete)

Setting: Canon Rewrite (Books 1-7) Premise: If Harry starts out his first year a little bit more suspicious and a little less wide-eyed and guileless, and subsequently gets sorted into Slytherin. He has many of the same encounters with Voldemort along the way as he does in canon, but his interactions with Voldemort will end up leading him down quite a different path. Why I rec it: A snappy, fast-paced full canon rewrite that still manages to fit in all the essential Tomarrymort plot points, between Horcruxes and Hallows and the major events of books 1-7, in a compact 75k words that doesn’t at all feel rushed. It’s a delightful journey following Harry’s character evolution from an overlooked, peculiar child who relies on wishy-washy wish magic to a confident (and still endearingly peculiar) young man who can challenge and hold his own against the great Lord Voldemort. Voldemort’s obsession with Harry deepens with every encounter that they have, as he finds ways to continually insinuate himself in Harry’s life and his mind and his dreams.

*

[anika-ann]

Ocaruj me (Bewitch Me) - S.R.

Type: medieval/fantasy/fairy tale AU; drabbl-ish; a part of this pseudo-medieval-fantasy AU

Pairing: knight Steve Rogers x reader   Word Count: 2k

Summary: Knight Steven Rogers is a man with love. That love is you. His beautiful lady who bewitched his soul even without the supernatural powers you possess. He'll follow you anywhere.

It that means bathing in a lake in a moonlight, so be it.

Warnings: 18+, nsfw, smut, unprotected sex (shocking in medieval times huh), bit of angst, fluff, knight Steve ‘cause he’s a warning, Slovak language ‘cause I can

A/N: Actual title is Očaruj mě (Bewitch Me) ...tumblr cannot handle a "č" and an “ě“ in their title 🙃 DIVIDER by @firefly-graphics; inspired by THIS ask (you can find headcanons and a playlist there)

A/N 2: Chronologically fits before the events of Pomiluj mě, but if you read this first, you will spoil some of the reveals.

Magic is a dark evil thing; that is what all knights of the kingdom are reminded during their studies and training.

Magic is the wicked twine that curls around your wrist when you reach out a hand, grips you tight and drags you towards perdition.

Magic takes face of a twisted beauty, a temptress, and leads you down the path of sin with a smile worth of the Devil himself.

Magic only knows curses and wrongs.

Sir Steven Rogers knows these axioms by heart.

Steve knows they are horseshit; or at least fail to fulfil the basic rule of an axiom, which is supposed to be universality.

In Steve’s eyes, people are corrupted by many things, amongst which there is the power that comes with magic. That much is true. But the nature of magic itself is pure; t reveals the person wielding it and amplifies who they already are.

Steve would only agree with part of the axiom second to last, assured whenever he sees you. He would now too, standing near the bank of a lake, still fully clothed, his gaze inevitably drawn to the enticing image in front of him.

You, standing to the waist in the water, dressed in but the luxurious robe of moonlight caressing your skin and wearing the lake like the richest skirt; your hair cascading down freely like an elaborate veil, the commonly dark ink of your tattoo reaching from the side of your neck down your shoulder shinning bright.

When you glance over your shoulder, eyes glimmering more entrancingly than the moon and the stars combined, lips curling in a smile, the last thing Steve would compare you to would be the Devil, a dark evil thing.

The truth, however, is that if you did decide to drag him towards his end, he would follow voluntarily, heart pounding just as hard as it is now, with warmth in his chest and searing heat in is gut.  

When you speak his name, a sweet ‘rytier moj’, you indeed are every bit of a temptress, the seductress steering him toward the most beautiful of sins; but not in the name of evil.

In the name of love.

“How is it that you are not cold, bosorka moja? And by gods, remind me, love, why is it that I should follow?” he asks with a grin on his lips, as if he does not feel every ounce of his body being pulled to you by the alluring image of you alone, by the promise of the feel of your skin under his fingertips, of the taste of your lips, of your wickedly delicate hands touching him in ways no unwed lovers should.

You have told him there was a deeper meaning in bathing in that particular lake on this very night, but as fascinated as he always is by your faiths and magic, you have been convincing him with your lips whispering to his own, causing his memory to be considerably less reliable, his mind much more pliant.

You turn around to face him fully, your watery skirt swirling; Steve’s mouth turns dry at the sight of your stiff nipples and plump breasts, his last reservations dispersing as his pants become uncomfortably tight.

“For this lake is believed to possess supernatural properties, rytier moj. For I know it does,” you remind him gently, your gaze trailing down his body in appreciation as he sheds his cloak, his tunic and pants.

You once told him what you saw when he did and have aided him in recalling it quite frequently.

Beauty.

Strength.

Goodness.

Safety.

Home.

And desires personified.

Steve is only a man; all these are virtues in his mind, privileges, and the one that is not makes him preen all the more.

Dark eyes glimmering in the moonlight, your smile earns a teasing edge even as your words begin with gravity.

“Bathing in the light of the full moon nearest to the summer solstice makes one stronger. Something my knight might appreciate. I know I for sure would, since he insists on recklessly risking his life.”

His own lips curl up, heart humming with tenderness; he is cared for. He is worried about. He is loved. He is not the only one who has the comfort of a lover on their mind. Perhaps it is for ‘lovers’ is not quite the word fit for where his heart quivers in the matter of you and him. Not the only word.

Desire personified.

Gorgeous temptress.

But also beloved.

Láska moja.

Bosorka moja.

Home.

“All knights do, bosorka moja,” he says as he steps into the water, the liquid welcoming him with an unexpected sensation of cold and warmth combined.

Where his skin meets the water, immersed deeper with each tentative step on the invisible rocky floor, he is enveloped with an unfamiliar sensation, the warmth seeping into his skin almost violently, leaving gentle tingling in its wake.

His lungs expand. His heart thunders. His muscles ache until they feel as light as a feather. His large bones seem to harden, his joints feel stronger but pliant. His blood pumps vigorously, forcing a shuddering breath out of his chest.

Well, he’ll be damned; he would be if he wasn’t so blessed. He would never doubt you again. Not that he ever truly did.

You watch him, a hypnotic and hypnotizing gaze, soaked in the satisfaction and desire having thickened your tenderness. Your skin almost glows and Steve understands that his eyes were not deceiving him earlier. He is not the only one absorbing power; yours might be different in nature from his, so different and ethereal, a true force of nature, but a power nevertheless. And as you soaked in the water, your immense power grew further.

“And yet, I have not seen any knight, soldier or mercenary, nor the clumsiest commoner with as many scars, nor I saved them from so many,” you oppose him, still playful; yet, your voice has earned a husky quality Steve is drawn to like a mot to a flame, his steps growing confident.

For almost every step he takes, you take one back, away from him, sinking deeper, hiding your tempting body from his hungry sight. A delightful feigned chase begins, one of which you both know will only end in bodies intertwined. A dance Steve knows, for he has felt its thrill before, for he has danced with you before; he has danced lips to lips, hands to hips, hips to hips, lips attached to your mound with hooded eyes too, senses enveloped with heady primal need, laced with love both corporal and intangible.

It all hums within him, pounds with force bolstered by the magic surrounding him. You feel it too; he reads as much in your features.

“You haven’t seen them naked either,” he notes, a slight smile remaining.

The conversation continues even as it fades.

You hum with a smile of your own, stopping at last as takes three long strides and catches up with you, gazing up at him with a sweet challenge he cannot refuse. “That is true, rytier moj.”

But that is not what your body whispers, already miles ahead when only inches from him.

Touch me, it coaxes him instead.

Hold me.

Love me.

Have me.

Fill me.

Make me sing for you. Only for you.

Do as you crave; I crave the same, just as much.

Who is he to deny a lady? Who is he to deny you, especially when the wordless pleas entice him, please him, echo his own?

The slight prickle of strength reborn, one unknown to ordinary men, still heats his very core, his lips speaking on their own even as his fingers wander with purpose, over the skin of your waist, down your hip, over your belly button, to your sternum, over the swell of your breast, stepping closer to feel your hardened peaks brush against his chest, eliciting a breathy sound of his name amongst his questions.

“What of other blessed nights bathing in this lake? Equinoxes as well?”

Your hands move with purpose too; mapping the constellations of freckles and moles on his body, caressing the planes of strengthened muscle with teasing lightness. Your touch is surprisingly warm, Steve realizes distantly, his head and hands full of you; if he did not know better, if he did not know you were a witch, he would think you an entirely different magical species.   

As you nod and explain, your hand rises above water, stroking over his shoulder – the water follows seemingly effortlessly, swirling and curling around your palm; even as you speak, he shudders under the touch where your hands could not have possibly reached him, not at so many places at once; and yet, every single of these caresses are just as warm, loving and teasing as those of your own fingers.

With how you bended the water to your will, Steve would have thought you were born to do so. He would have thought he found himself a water nymph instead. His breathtaking, enchantingly playful water nymph.

“Bathing in the lake on a new moon nearing the spring equinox breeds rebirth, ridding of all old aches, body and heart,” you explain quietly, intimately, as your fingers tease along the dip along his hips, his own hands grasping your soft flesh with urgency growing. “First new moon after the autumn equinox calls upon the forest spirits, their protection, bringing the wiseness of our ancestors with their blessings.”

Steve’s head is full of you; your words, almost fairy-tale like, but spoken with reverence of a person who knows them true, whose rituals has called upon the forces of nature and has been rewarded for it, blessed by them.

His hands are full of you too and as his heart sings.

The rest of his body vibrates with need, impatient fingers slipping lower, towards your core, teasing alongside your slit. Even as he asks the only natural question, his focus is elsewhere, fingertip dipping into your welcoming heat, his lips whispering against yours, your hips eagerly meeting his touch.

“And what of winter solstice, bosorka moja? Tell me,” he coaxes, revelling in your playful touch turning into a grip on his hip instead, other hand wrapping around his own to urge him to sink his finger deeper, for another to join.

Who is he to deny you again? His bewitching water nymph, whose heat would envelop him just as welcomingly as the water of the lake and fill him with just as much exceptional powerful sensation...

Love her.

Take her.

Protect her.

Make her mine.

“It keeps your heart warm,” you sigh, mouth chasing after his, fingertips finally brushing over his hardness, curling around the length and squeezing and twisting enough for his strained muscles to melt, rushing to lift your leg to wrap around his waist, opening you up for him, your taste, your scent, your husky voice like the most tempting trap he rushes into with vigour and pride. “Keeps your love safe. On the full moon close--- oh Steve— closest to the solstice- preserving it even through the— the harshest of winters----Steven!

The steady movements of his fingers stutter at the needy pulsing grip around them, eliciting another and another, his thumb brushing over your clit, mouth slanting over yours to swallow your cries of ecstasy, cradling your head to his as your hips keep rocking into his hand. You’ll feel like heaven, like you always do, but the burst inside him at feeling your pleasure coaxed by him is almost, almost enough.

“I’ll be here,” he promises against your lips, kissing you again, tipping your head back, your body so gorgeously pliant to his greedy touch. “I will be here, with you, every quarter a year. Every month, every day, love.”

“Ľubim ťa,” you gasp and Steve makes another promise, to not meet you here, but bring you. Bring you from your shared home at last, because even by the damn equinox, he will have done you right, a ring on your finger, his everything made yours, as you deserve.

“Ľubim ťa, bosorka moja,” he whispers back, a chuckle escaping him when his eyes flutter open, offered a sight of soft sprinkles and curls of water rising above the surface and glimmering in the moonlight.

Your magic exploding outside of you as pleasure fills your veins.

Steve is certain it will never cease to amaze him; or spur him to coax something even more fascinating when chasing his own peak and yours together, even as that alone is a gift he cherishes.

Your hands slide to his shoulders for leverage as his fingers leave you empty, moving to your bottom to lift you up, sliding in almost effortlessly.    

No words are needed then. As you connect your bodies and souls alike, the water keeps dancing.

You glow behind Steve’s hooded eyes, tattoo shining as bright as your affection, beauty and goodness, a reminder that no, magic could not be further from the darkness in corporal form. In every waking moment, he would swear he has never seen, nor heard, nor felt anything more beautiful and lighter than you, even with a face and voice of a temptress you embody.

The only sin you have led him to, the only speckle of shame on his honour, is the one he will remedy soon and has nothing do with your magical nature.

No, not the Devil; a goddess in your own right.

And you have not cursed him, no. Sir Steven Rogers, tvoj rytier, entirely bewitched, feels blessed.

Other headcanon and playlist

S.R. masterlist - contains other knight!Steve fics, independent of this universe

Complete masterlist

Terms of endearment from Slovak language: Rytier moj (My knight) Bosorka moja (Witch mine) Láska moja (Love mine) Ľubim ťa (I love you)

I hope you enjoyed, loves 💕 Please consider leaving feedback/reblog/anything if you did 🥰

May April be kind to you 🌼✨

[sirenjose]

The Proof of Azoth's Theorem - (Concept Art) Analysis

(About Philosopher's Stone, Stibnite, Maria's Axiom, Philemon's Altar, Azoth, and a few of the symbols on each of their outfits)

Philosopher’s stone: the goal of turning base metals like iron into precious metals like gold or silver. It was also said to provide the elixir of life, which could cure any illness or bring longevity. It was considered the most pure and perfect of all substances.

Stibnite: an ore that is the primary source of antimony

Described in Basil Valentine's 1st Key (the image Fool's Gold is holding). This depicts purifying gold using melted stibnite.

Impure gold dissolves in melted stibnite. Metals besides gold are turned into sulfides and rise to the surface, while a white allow of antimony and gold sink to the bottom. Roasting this alloy causes the antimony to evaporate, leaving only the purified gold behind.

In the image of the First Key, stibnite is likened to a hungry wolf in the First Key due to how quickly stibnite dissolves (devours) metals.

In German, stibnite is called “spießglanz”, which means “spear shine” due to its shiny “spear” like crystals, thus why the First Key says “on account of his name, is subject to bellicose Mars”, as a spear is a weapon and all weapons are subject to Mars (the god of war).

This is like what is described by Nicholas Flamel, where silver is combined with mercury and antimony then distilled and cohobated (repeatedly distilling a liquid then pouring the distillate back onto the residue to extract more of the desired substance) to produce red power.

Maria’s Axiom: “1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 3, and out of the 3rd comes the 1 as the 4th” (also described as “1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 3, and by means of the 3rd and 4 thachieving unity, thus 2 are but 1”)

Carl Jung uses this as a metaphor to describe the process of “individuation”. This refers to the process of self-discovery to become our true, unique self.

This involves finding your identity outside of the roles and expectations imposed by the outside (society, others, etc…). The goal here being to achieve a sense of “wholeness” and “unity” with yourself.

1 is the 1st matter, or prima materia, containing everything you need. This is then divided (into opposites), with each element purified by itself then united again (reconciliation of opposites) into a complete whole more perfect than the starting matter, the philosopher’s stone.

Philemon’s altar: may refer to Jung’s Philemon, which is based on Philemon and Baucis from Ovid’s Metamorphosis and Goethe’s Faust.

With Ovid, Jupiter and Mercury are disguised knocking on houses but not shown kindness until they meet Philemon and Baucis, an old, poor couple. They let them live while killing everyone else (the wicked), with the couple’s house being transformed into a temple.

With Goeth, Faust is building a city on land reclaimed from the sea and asks the devil Mephistopheles to move Philemon and Baucis, but Faust is horrified to see the demon burn their house down with the couple still inside. Faust then decides he needs to atone for his crime.

Philemon was a figure in a dream of Jung's, a wise old man that represented superior insight and wisdom. For Jung, Philemon symbolized the “artifax” or skilled alchemist, with the goal to purify and perfect materials (transform base materials into noble ones like gold).

On a spiritual level, the goal of the artifax is to purify and perfect the human soul, achieving enlightenment (becoming a higher/whole human being).

Over Jung’s gate he put the inscription: “Philemon’s Shrine – Faust’s Repentance”. This involved integrating the moral questions raised by with the spiritual goal of alchemy via the opposing figures of Philemon and Faust (so acknowledge necessity of confronting evil on the path to individuation, atoning for Faust’s crime, and affirming the goal represented by Philemon).

Azoth: Considered to be a universal cure or Elixir of Life that could be created by the philosopher’s stone.

It is also essential agent of transformation in alchemy.

As the Universal Life Force, it's the energy responsible for the drive towards physical/spiritual perfection

Azoth is called Prima Materia in Latin. This was the first matter, the starting material required for the creation of the philosopher’s stone. It is the primitive formless base of all matter similar to chaos, the quintessence or aether.

It is the 1st matter at the beginning as well as its perfected essence (philosopher’s stone).

It relates to unity, wholeness, and synthesis of opposites

Alchemy Symbols:

Philosopher’s Stone:

triangle = fire

triangle in a circle = Wheel of Fire (Ignis Rotae)

entwined snakes = likely Hermes Caduceus (Hermes as Hermes Trismegistus was closely associated with alchemy)

Stibnite

upside down triangle = water

hexagram?() = represented the reconciliation/union of opposites (fire and water)

Philemon:

- triangle with a line through it = air

Maria's Axiom:

- downward triangle with a line through it = earth

- symbols on her dress and floor for Mercury/Quicksilver, Venus/Copper, Moon/Silver, Saturn/Lead, Jupiter/Tin, Mars/Iron, and Sun/Gold

There were several bits that looked like they could be symbols but I haven't been able to identify them yet (I've already spent so long working to identify everything. I'll try to add more if I identify them later).

Also I did notice/wonder how that shadow thing has eyes that appear around it could relate to Hunter Norton's weapon, which almost looks like an eye. Matthias also might have something on his boots but it's hard to be sure.

[talonabraxas]

“A Man who is doing his True Will has the inertia of the Universe to assist him.” ― Aleister Crowley

XXI - The Universe Talon Abraxas The World card points to the presiding wisdom which upholds life on this and all worlds. In most Tarot decks, it is a female figure that has become our standard World image. She originates in Hebrew, Gnostic, and Alchemical lore, and stands between heaven and Earth as the cosmic mother of souls, the wife of God, and our protector from the karmic forces we have set loose upon the Earth in our immaturity and ignorance.

The goddess of The World card invites us into cosmic citizenship — once we come to realize our soul's potential for it. It announces the awakening of the soul's immortal being, accomplished without the necessity of dying.

This card, like the Sun, is reputed to have no negative meaning no matter where or how it appears. If the Hermetic axiom is "Know Thyself", this image represents what becomes known when the true nature of self is followed to creative freedom and its ultimate realization.

[strangelittlestories]

The sound of the harmonica sounded out through the prison, a lonesome warble that sang a song of freedom frustrated.

“I thought,” said the cyber-warden, adjusting her aural implants, “that the forcefields were sound-proofed now? Didn’t we have a whole seminar about insulating the guards from distressing interrogation noise to protect their mental health?”

The strains of a soulful prisoner bemoaning their state via the tickling of sound waves continued.

“Unfortunately, Warden,” replied CAR (the Carceration Automation Robot who administered the prison station), “the sound waves of that instrument vibrate at a frequency that bypasses our fields.”

“That seems unlikely, CAR.”

“If you think that’s unlikely, sir, allow me to play you the readings my drones picked up in an orbit from outside the station.”

A drone dipped into the station’s control centre via an air duct. It proceeded to play a series of muffled-but-maudlin notes that harmonised surprisingly well with the prisoner’s current tune.

“This was echoing through the vacuum of space?” 

The warden’s face was impassive, but her cybernetic eye displayed a single pixelated interrobang.

“Quite so, sir.” CAR had no eyebrows but somehow still managed to arch one. “Impossible, but somehow still so.”

“Okay … how about we confiscate the instrument? We institute a strict instrumental interdict. A musical moratorium. A prison blues ban.”

“We have attempted this, sir. Somehow, the prisoner always finds a new one.”

“How?”

“It defies logic. My working hypothesis is that it is a universal axiom. A certain kind of person, when confined to a cell, will simply *have* an instrument.”

“It’s damaging my calm, CAR.” Without thinking, the cyber-warden casually stress-ordered a new round of mandatory improv classes for all inmates. “They really put the *harm* in harmonica.”

“And yet the prisoner seems to find it quite calming, sir. You could say they find it to be a ‘heal-onica.’”

The warden sighed a sigh that foretold a great deal of distressed prisoner sounds that the guards would, thankfully, be insulated from.

“Find a way to stop the authority-forsaken noise. That’s an order. Or you will find the prisoner is not the only one who can make harm-on-a-CAR appear out of nowhere.”

“Very good, warden.”

In their cell, an entity grinned. This entity always had a harmonica. This entity made music that could always be heard.

And its solitary song sounded out a slice of madness in the key of C.

---

The word ‘harmonica’ was submitted as a pun-seed by a Word of the Month member. To become a member and suggest words for puns of your own, please check out https://ko-fi.com/strangelittlestories

[theflyingpimphat]

May 2024

Falling in Love on Falcon Station - Omnibus (5 books); The Fifth Season; Midnight at the Well of Souls; The Lovers; Strange Relations; Axiom's End; Dogs of War

Falling in Love on Falcon Station, Isla Noir

Consisting of: Galactic Gambling Games, RRRR, Not Afraid of the Wolf, Tentacles and Suckers, Surprise Surprise

Language: English

Synopsis: Gia, a conventionally attractive woman, gambles and fucks aliens. Among them, a poisonous hermaphrodite that lands her in a hospital, an overly-possessive jaguar politician who sees her as his betrothed and can't take no for an answer, a horned yeti-werewolf shapeshifter and an octopod, in the end she marries the shapeshifter.

Review: I liked the first one of those, as the alien featured was pretty imaginative, unfortunately the others were let-downs in comparison. It was also nice to see a book referring to reproductive organs with their proper therms and mostly avoid the cats and the roosters. Outside of the porking and maybe some fairly amusing aspects of the setting, the series had little to offer; there was an above-average amount of typos and a particularly annoying part was how the card game, which is the protagonist's source of income, gets described in a rather repetitive manner, yet there is almost no mention of how it actually works.

The Fifth Season, N. K. Jemisin

Language: English

Synopsis: The book follows three storylines: Damaya, a little girl who is discovered to have orogene powers and gets brought to the Fulcrum, a school that trains such children; Syenite, a young woman tasked to go on a mission with the Fulcrum's most powerful orogene to clear the corals out of a harbour, but ends up activating a damaged obelisk; Essun, a middle-aged woman following her husband and the killer of her son, who has abducted her daughter, all the while a cataclysm from the continent having split consumes the world.

Review: If there is one word to describe this book, it would be "exceptional". This is a perfect example of how a worldbuilding-driven book can work. It is also scientifically pretty solid for a fantasy story with magic; the magic has to extract energy from the surroundings to work and the side effect of the temperature drop is often used for various purposes by itself. The book was especially delightful to read for this Earth Science graduate due to its focus on geology and I would certainly recommend it to anyone involved in geology and being interested in fantasy. My only gripe is the use of second person perspective in Essun's parts, and while there is a reason behind it, it still made reading those sections rather tedious.

Midnight at the Well of Souls, Jack L. Chalker

Language: German (Die Sechseck-Welt)

Synopsis: A spaceship's captain and his passengers end up on the Wellworld, an artificial planet left behind the Markovians, near-omnipotent precursors, which is covered in a grid of hexagons, each containing an unique biome and native intelligent species. Anyone who enters the Wellworld is assigned to a random hexagon and transformed into a member of the intelligent species inhabiting it. The captain and the passengers find each other as well as the two people who had activated the portal to the world in the first place, and travel to the Well of Souls, which is basically the universe's control room, and the only way to leave the planet.

Review: The setting is unusual and the present creatures range from standard fantasy (centaurs) to truly imaginative (a floating crystal bowl communicating with bells and carrying an orb of light that can predict the future). It is one of these "the technology is so advanced that it looks like magic" settings and most of the time, it does indeed read like a fantasy novel. The amount of transformations happening to the characters does raise a few eyebrows, apparently the author had a thing for it.

The Lovers, Philip José Farmer

Language: English

Synopsis: Hal Yarrow gets the offer to take a spaceship to Ozagen, a newly-discovered, inhabited planet as a language expert in a mission to genocide its intelligent species and clear the planet for human colonisation. He encounters an attractive, French-speaking woman there and falls in love with her, unthinkable for someone raised in an insanely strict theocracy as he was. The genocide plot fails because the native species was crazy prepared due to its history with commensals and parasites, the woman is in fact a human mimic of an all-female insectoid species that dies upon birth and Hal had her knocked up because he didn't like her alcohol consumption that works as a contraceptive for them, so he ends up with a litter of larvae that have his face but a dead girlfriend.

Review: The bad part was that it had none of the promised bug-fucking. Jeanette looked like a conventionally attractive woman with some superstimuli added in and the weirdness only involved the species' evolution and life cycle. Also, compared to the books I have read previously from the author (the Childe duology and Flesh), it was pretty tame. The good part was the imaginative worldbuilding: Earth is politically very different thanks to a global genocide done by the Martian colonies in a distant past and the main species of aliens, while absurdly humanoid in its appearance, still has a fairly fascinating anatomy (it's the only book I've read so far mentioning the hypopharynx) and I really liked the way their species has plenty of commensals, symbiotes and parasites, an element based on ants. It was also unintentionally funny to me, since I couldn't take one of the characters being called 'Pornsen' seriously.

Strange Relations, Philip José Farmer

Language: English

Synopsis: It's 5 stories: first is about a man and his mother being the only survivors of a spaceship crash being captured by the planet's sapient species, sessile, boulder-like organisms communicating through radio signals, with the man becoming essentially one of their son and also mate; the second features one of that organism's offspring growing up and using her "father's" lessons to successfully deal with her species' predator; the third has a spaceship ending up in a location they didn't plan to go, discovering an odd planet where life appears to be perfect and every individual seems to be 100000 years old, everything supervised by a humanoid with god-like powers, who also wants to leave the place and appoint one of the ship's two clerics as his successors; the fourth is about a claustrophobic American captured by an intelligent Russian submarine during the Cold War; the fifth has the last survivor of a Mars mission end up in a hive of its native inhabitants with a researcher from a different star system, learning about both the Martian live as well as the marooned researcher.

Review: I did like stories 1, 2 and 5 quite a lot for the imaginative creatures and their interactions with the human protagonists; 3 was a bit confusing due to me assuming it was a continuation of the second story like the second was a continuation of the first, but had some interesting discussions on religion; 4 was ehh, but at least it was short and to the point.

Axiom's End, Lindsay Ellis

Language: English

Synopsis: Cora's family gets a visit by an alien and she ends up being used as a puppet by said alien, gradually coming to an agreement to cooperate instead of being just used. Contacting her aunt, who was involved in a semi-secret organisation studying and and caring for the alien's conspecifics, who had landed on Earth decades earlier as refugees, they stay for some time at a bunker, where the aliens are held, until the bunker is attacked by an alien group attempting to exterminate the refugees. The bunker's inhabitants flee in different directions, Cora ending up with with one peculiar alien individual and after some time reunites with her companion shortly before the final confrontation with the pursuer, which she barely survives but also plays a crucial role in its resolution.

Review: It can be best described as a classical alien contact story that had been thought through thoroughly, with the consequences of those thoughts leading the events and interactions. The pacing is slow, but it's made up for with the discussions of the concepts behind the story and raises some interesting questions regarding human/alien contact and coexistence. The alien design is solid, too.

Dogs of War, Adrian Tchaikovsky

Language: German (Im Krieg)

Synopsis: Rex, the leader of a bioform pack, genetically-modified and cybernetically enhanced animals serving as war machines, commits war crimes for the company that created them. The war crimes get uncovered, Rex gets captured and ends up on a trial that on one hand exonerated the company's leader due to insufficient evidence, on the other hand gains the bioforms rudimentary rights. The book follows him and the other surviving members of his team as he fights for the UN, and bioforms and the technology related to them evolve.

Review: As usual, Tchaikovsky excels at nonhuman psychology and the way Rex was written was fairly convincing, avoiding many of the dog behaviour clichés. The other bioforms were similarly great, like the literal bee hivemind or the off-model bear who ended up far smarter than originally intended. It starts out as a straightforward story, then more and more turns into a discussion on the ethics and possibilities of the bioform and cybernetic enhancement technologies, like dog bioforms being employed in the medical field to use their superior sense of smell in diagnoses, bioforms' role in colonizing Mars, but also corporations rigging humans with control implants to produce obedient workers.

With me trying to reduce my ever-growing literary pile of shame by finishing at least two books per month, is anyone interested in me doing brief reviews of them? It's sci-fi and fantasy for the most part.

[ivebeensetonfire]

"fuck it, we ball" becomes much more meaningful once we consider the preexisting axiom of "ball is life". because the second fundamentally transforms the first into "fuck it, we live". and what could be more powerful than the soul of that which drives humanity to press on at all costs, to survive, and to hope for a better life for others?

[comicaurora]

Following off the last ask, do you have any advice on how to write a hard magic system? Since it usually has to be cohesive and fit together, how do you start?

First principles. Establish a set of unyielding axioms of How Magic Works and then start asking yourself what the consequences of those axioms are. It's very math-y to me - I think of it the same way as, for instance, defining a group as a set of values and an operation that combines elements of that set according to a specifically defined rule. Like how the integers can be built from the unit value 1, the addition operation + and its inverse. You can proof-by-induction your way through generating every integer from just those first principles, and everything that exists in the integer group follows from those facts. Extrapolating logically from established axioms is how a huge amount of algebraic shenanigans happen. Anyway, math is not necessary for this, but if you happen to be mathematically-minded, this approach of worldbuilding will feel extremely natural.

In ATLA, those first principles are:

There are four elements.

There are people who can "bend" one of those elements, giving them control over it that can be improved through training.

There is an Avatar, who can bend all four elements and is reborn when they die. The Avatar is a fixed point in the world and exists to maintain balance. The Avatar is also uniquely capable of interacting with a "spirit world" that almost nobody else ever directly deals with.

Everything in the magic system extrapolates from one or more of these axioms. What is lightning? Well, axiom 1 says there are 4 elements, so lightning is one of them, making it easiest to see as a form of fire, so we'll say some firebenders can use it. Can we do healing magic? Well, axiom 1 says there are only 4 elements, so the body must be composed of them, so it makes sense someone could manipulate them - and the body is mostly water, so we can suggest that waterbending would allow for healing. Can anyone bend more than one element? Nope, rule 3 says only the avatar can do that. Hey wait, if the human body is mostly water, can a waterbender puppet them? …Huh. Yeah. Well shit. Can anyone control metal? Well, metal is a form of earth, but it's a very pure one, so maybe earthbenders have a lot of trouble with it and it's used to make prisons and stuff, but maybe somebody could figure out a trick to it someday.

In Fullmetal Alchemist, there is only one principle:

Equivalent exchange. To gain something, something of equal value must be lost.

Can an alchemist make gold? Sure, if they have an equivalent amount of some other metal. But they're not supposed to, because it devalues local currency. Can an alchemist make a wall get spiky or turn it into a door? Sure, they're just turning an equal amount of one material into a different shape. Can an alchemist fix a broken device? Sure, if they know what parts of it need to be reshaped or transmuted. Can an alchemist create something from nothing? NO. Something of equal value must be transmuted. If it looks like an alchemist is creating something from nothing, they're draing the power/energy/value from something obscure. Can a philosopher's stone break the law of equivalent exchange? NO. It's providing power/energy/value from the human souls it contains, making it LOOK like the user can break the rules. Can an alchemist bring someone back from the dead? NO. What could equal the value of a human soul? Asking the question gets the attention of The Truth, a godlike entity that seems to exist in the balance of the law of Equivalent Exchange, who isn't exactly pleased when people fuck with it and tends to take its equivalent price out of the alchemist's body. Everything begins and ends with the single axiom.

I tried to build the elemental magic system for Aurora the same way, with only a few key principles:

There are six base elements in the world. They used to be six living primordial beings, one composed of each element. They are now each separated into a physical element and an ambient elemental energy that used to form its soul.

Some people have the latent ability to channel one or more elemental energies into the corresponding element(s), giving them command over them.

Each element has a physical property and a "higher property" that represents something about who the elemental primordial was when they were alive, giving mages abilities beyond just hucking rocks and fireballs at each other.

There is Soul Energy, which is omnipresent and forms structures in living things, does not belong to any primordial and can be used to impede elemental magic's effectiveness.

This is a bit of a mouthful for starting principles compared to how streamlined those other two examples were, but it gave me a lot of little details to work with. Can a mage manipulate someone else's body? Not if there's a soul in the way, because rule 4 says that structured soul energy can impede elemental magic, because otherwise it'd be way too easy to kill people and I want there to be cool fight scenes. Can a fire mage throw a super cool fireball at someone? Yes, as long as they have access to fire energy to channel according to rule 2. Can a fire mage channel fire energy into something else, like stone? Not really, because fire energy doesn't belong to the same primordial as physical stone, so they don't mesh according to rule 2. Can I have magic long-distance communication? Yes, because wind involves sound and has the "higher property" of communication, making it usable for sending magical messages according to rule 3. How do I account for weird materials that don't seem to cleanly fit into any of the six base categories? Since according to rule 1 there are six base elements, the things that don't seem to fit those categories must still be accounted for, so the answer we can construct is that most of them are "fused materials" that combine physicality and properties of two or more elements. Can anyone control all six elements? Yes, but let's say it's a rare thing, because those people would be very powerful. Hey, since Life's higher property by rule 3 is "survival and adaptation," is she actually really dead like the others? Huh. Kinda seems like she should be broadly unkillable in a way that matters, so I guess not - it'd be possible for someone to wake her back up. What would that do? Well, according to rule 1, Life is one of the six fundamental building blocks of the world, and according to our "fused materials" corollary, her material is woven into absolutely everything alive. So, waking her up and giving her command over her body again would be…… apocalyptically, catastrophically bad. Oh, but rule 4 says soul energy would help mitigate that a little bit! Enough to stop it from being a problem? No, definitely not, because life magic can be used to brute force mutation because I wanted to worldbuild cool mutant monsters. So that WOULD be bad. Okay, cool. Hey, are there other primordials? There's no reason why there couldn't be, since all these rules cover are the specific arrangement these six guys are in, and they must've come from SOMEWHERE, so yea, sure, there are other primordials. What kinds? Well, [SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS-]

Hard magic systems are great if you like starting from a very simple set of axioms and then just combining them in different ways to see what you can get. This is half the fun of worldbuilding - "what consequences arise from established premises 1 through n" - but it can also be difficult to get the sort of world you want out of a hard magic system, since first principles can extrapolate in unexpected directions. I had to work out the soul energy system because I didn't want it to be ludicrously easy for any mage to just boil someone from the inside out, because that is not the kind of world I wanted to make to play around in, even though it would've been easy to get that from "everyone is made of materials that can be magically manipulated." I worked out higher properties of the primordials because I wanted to have mages that could do weirder, more fun stuff than just slinging fireballs and mudslides at each other. Pure worldbuilding might involve starting from first principles and just seeing where the logic takes you, but I find it's helpful to have at least a few soft aesthetic concepts you want to build towards, and maybe massaging the rules a little until they produce the outcome you're set on seeing.

You can also have more than one magic system in a given world - that's what I did, technically speaking, and it's also what shows like The Owl House have. Owl House really makes it clear when a magic system has specific rules (Luz's runes combining in ways witches aren't sure how to do, but not working outside the Boiling Isles) and when it's a little more fluid and wacky (bard magic, wild witch magic, unique powers like Gus's eye and Hunter's teleportation, Eda's curse), and each individual magic system internally holds together, which is really all that matters for audience immersion.

[nicklloydnow]

“Looking from East to West in the 90s, like Alice through the looking-glass, one could feel as confounded as the residents of Animal Farm. The Russian premier Boris Yeltsin spent the 90s spearheading "shock therapy" for the former Soviet Union. This process of economic liberalization, privatization and asset-stripping led to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of an oligarchic elite, leaving the rest of the country to impoverishment, psychological shock, endemic organized crime and corruption. To the benefit of its leaders and the detriment of its people, the East became a mirror-image of the West's worst excesses. The Manics' critique of Western capitalism and its turbocharged adoption by the East, allied to their lack of faith in the practical application of communist ideology — though not the ideology itself — makes "Revol" an extension of the axiom of post-communist cynicism which states that Soviet leaders "were lying when they told us about communism, but were telling us the truth about capitalism."

The Manics' use of Soviet imagery in a post-Soviet world was not new, but The Holy Bible, with its lyrical preoccupations the band's adoption of military uniforms and the semi-logo of a Soviet war medal, saw it become something more definitive. How much of this was aesthetic opportunism, and how much politically earnest? Like the Manics, I grew up in impeccably Old Labour territory and, way before discussions on how to be a fan of problematic things, remember being starry-eyed about the Soviet Union. Any yearning for the USSR, though, had less to do with the reality of its final days and more to do with its symbolic opposition to a Conservative regime which was then laying siege to the industry, economy and community of my part of the country. I looked East in the way one might look to the stars in the hope of arbitrary rescue by occupants of interplanetary craft, with expectations about as realistic.

What had been a source of fear and fascination in the 1980s was, in the postmodern vacuum of the 90s, safely powerless and therefore kitsch. Fascination with the communist past — dubbed Ostalgie — tended to be denied any political dimension, allowed to manifest only in ironic or mocking forms, and very rarely linked with contemporary anti-capitalist critique (Pyzik, Poor). The Holy Bible's suffusion in Soviet chic, though, had more to it than ironic recuperation. Nicky Wire, when asked, "What do you think makes sense?", responded: "Certain kinds of socialism, where everyone is given a chance. A true egalitarian society where everyone is offered an education." As basic and uncontroversial as this is — and note the cautious "certain kinds" of socialism, pre-empting the conflation of socialism with Stalinism — it highlights the band's commitment to keeping the idea alive in politics and culture. The later Manics' Labourism appears almost uninterestingly mellow in comparison to The Holy Bible's morbid fascination with the extremes of Soviet communism, but neither approach denies the contemporary relevance of political history, or presents it merely as kitsch.” - Rhian E. Jones, ‘Unwritten Diaries: History, Politics and Experience through The Holy Bible’ [p. 76 - 78]

“Ballard, Saville, The Holy Bible all use shock tactics, aesthetics of gorgeous abjection to assault the viewer. Ballard does it with crashed bodies and psychologies smashed to shards; Saville with bloated bodies out of control, tragic flesh of saints, sanctified for their suffering with no meaning, of no purpose beyond the physical carrying-through of their existence. The Holy Bible does it with its ruptured squabbles, soul sores leaking pus of humanity's capitulation to the dark side, rotten missives, accusations, breakdowns and weaknesses, as if it can't stop shaking anymore.

All three want to make their mark on you, perceive their own mission as one of violence upon the spectator: a moral mission because amidst all the white noise and static of the information-entertainment world, the jeering is too loud, and the crying is all but drowned out. In the service of truth, the artist must lacerate, and the profound abjection of the body, the scarification of the self, the breaking of the taboo of the illusion of sanctity of the body as self-contained whole, is a perfectly acceptable way for encroaching on the complacency that allows us to live complicit lives. Aesthetic butchery is thus a moral enterprise. Obscenity, critically modulated, pulls you out of your comfort zone and makes you confront yourself, or at least the parts you hide daily in order to live in polite society and in good conscience with yourself.” - Daniel Lukes, ‘Fragments Against Ruin: The Books of Manic Street Preachers' The Holy Bible’ [p. 226, 227]

“The present absence of Richey endured even through the years immediately following his disappearance, when the band was most vociferously separating from their past. Speaking in 1996, Nicky stated, "We'll never fill that gap. We'll never get anoth er guitarist. James will never go over to that side of the stage" (qtd in Maconie, "We Shall Overcome" 88); the space of stage right became a sacred site of remembrance for the band, but also a heightened, present absence for fans. In the documentary for the tenth anniversary edition of The Holy Bible, James describes his discomfort whilst playing Reading Festival in 1994 as a three-piece (at this time, Richey was hospitalized), which included the fact that some of the fans "were staring at the space of the stage where Richey should be, refusing to look at me." This desire to look at the empty space usually occupied by an object perceived as valuable is arguably an expression of the connection between emptiness as an index of a sign that holds symbolic meaning; the absence ironically brings more meaning to the surface than was originally recognized in the object itself. In his discussion of the spectators who flocked to see the empty space in the Louvre from which the Mona Lisa had been stolen in 1911, Darian Leader posits that this incident makes manifest the split between art and the space it usually occupies, thereby prompting an interrogation of the usually unseen or hidden meaning in the artwork that typically isn't in question. In becoming a signifier of totemic mythologies of tortured genius and martyred rock stars, Richey's absence became an index for that signifier, whereby spectators intuit meaning even by staring into the void of the lost signifier. These mythologies then perpetuate a kind of lovely knowledge because they fit into an already established perspective and narrative of popular culture. Within the last twenty years, the proliferation of music magazine covers featuring Richey have played into this lovely knowledge, rather than confront the difficult knowledge his disappearance evokes.” - Larissa Wodtke, ‘Architecture of Memory: The Holy Bible and the Archive’ [p. 302, 303]

All passages from Triptych: An Examination of the Manic Street Preachers’ Holy Bible (2017)

[mephiles-the-jester]

my favourite part of wall-e is that auto isnt like type of antagonist ai that wants humanity dead,and hes instead the antagonistic ai opposite where he wants humans to keep living on the axiom because he thinks hes the most capable at taking care of them,and even after seeing proof of life starting to grow back on earth he still wont break away from the idea that the passengers will survive better with him,rather than trust that earth can be helped anytime soon,,,,its so peak and i think about it a lot,,hes was built to assist his passengers for the duration of a cruise but was forced by circumstance and bnl to take his job a bit too seriously,,,,like theres the part where he might feel selfish and wants to prevent himself from becoming obsolete if the axiom does land on earth with him still confined to it,,but also theres a reason the dystopic life of the passengers includes the robots taking care of everything for them,,because auto does want to do everything for them,he feels like he has to and has been for 700 years,,even if his methods are a bit soul crushing by human standards,,,, anyway i love auto from wall-e because he has emotional turmoil not yet discovered by humans

[shadystranger]

There's something tragic to me about the way sam (in the first few seasons) was this defiant courageous boy who took the risks, who rebelled against everyone and saw his ideals through to the end, fearless and unrestrained even when the whole world was against him, including heaven and hell. And how in the latter seasons he's different, he's still a hero, but he is weak. His goals and aspirations are not the hanker he rests on. There's something else that punctuates this whole formidable fortitude and makes itself a pillar his entire being rests on instead, and it's Dean.

Sam went from occasionally thinking it's a pain how Dean centers his life around him and protects him to actively seek exactly that from Dean, to be relieved his death is Dean's worst nightmare, to going in circles and turn on his principles moved by his feelings (e.g his whole thing with Benny which is inconsistent with how Sam always argues against harming monsters if they kept themselves in check. But with Benny, he blindly wanted to kill him out of jealousy re:dean).

How Sam is notorious for thinking logically and rationally, but the moment Dean is concerned, he loses all sense of reason. His righteous and noble traits being shoved to the side when he goes from being the one to stop the apocalypse (though him breaking the last seal and stopping lucifer were ultimately both for Dean) to unleashing an evil so much worse on the world it could destroy it just to save Dean. Not mentioning the morally fucked up things he does to others in the process.

Up till season 7 or sth, he was relatively still not as unhinged as he is now. But the worst part of it all is the emotional blight he suffers, Dean not approving of him is enough to shake his entire core, not being Dean's priority gets him all yards ugly and petty, he gets mad with jealousy. Disappointing Dean is enough to trigger a desire to die within him. He's the hero and driving axis of this story. He rebels against God, tarnishes fate's axioms, and he lets himself grovel under the guillotine Dean holds over him, completely in Dean's mercy.

When Sam is with Dean, and he says things like 'for me?' Or 'even me?' Like it has been craved into him he's the one exception to every word Dean says and you can't imagine but you know how it could fundmentally break him if the answer was no.

Not even mentioning how Dean inevitably takes even the place of faith/God in Sam's eyes and the whole religious devotion thing of it.

Sam is a character who not only defied the destiny that has been set for him to rule hell before he was even born. He defied lucifer, heaven, God himself, and his plans for him. He's the one character that escaped the all-looming narrative that from episode one promised him doom. But he was ready to toss it all away, to lay his life in Dean's hands, to make him the one who decides whether Sam lives or dies. It's absolutely terrifying and beautiful.

The emotional turmoil Dean invokes in Sam, how he drags Sam from this all-powerful valiant hero to a mortal that gets swayed by emotions, especially someone Else's when Sam's whole arc at the beginning was about him reaching the true freedom, away from outsider influence. The way Sam's story changes from him being deprived of choice to him fighting to get that narrative autonomy back only to lay it in Dean's hands this time. Going from unwillingly being a tool for lucifer/God/author to willingly being Dean's property. Dean gets this treatment because Sam saw him as worthy. Sam puts his full trust and faith and hope in him, and he constantly has seen how not a single other soul treasures Sam as Dean does.

[thedensworld]

Lover | Kim Mingyu

Almost Parted But We Hold On

Lover Series🖤🌼

Pairing: Idol!Mingyu x Fashion Editor!reader (ft. Non biological brother!Joshua)

Genre: angst, fluff, romance, established relationship, series

____________________________________

With every passing year, your love story painted new strokes on the canvas of time. Their journey was a melody that harmonized their lives, a rhythm that resonated with the ebb and flow of their individual pursuits.

As you continued to leave an indelible mark in the world of fashion, your name became an anthem of creativity and innovation. Your artistic direction and editorial finesse turned every project into a masterpiece, and your influence grew like a symphony building to a crescendo. The world applauded her, and the spotlight that once seemed blinding now bathed you in a warm glow of recognition.

On the other hand, Mingyu's acting endeavors flourished with a brilliance that matched the constellations in the night sky. He embraced the challenges of new roles with the same passion that had driven him in his music career. Movie scripts and drama offers fell at his feet like petals, each role a testament to his talent and versatility. His performances moved hearts, and accolades followed him like loyal companions.

In their dynamic world, it could have been simple for their paths to stray, caught in the chaos of their separate fields. The endless demands, high expectations, and fame's allure might have driven them apart. Yet, like stars drawn together, their bond grew stronger. Amidst busy shoots and shows, they found comfort in late-night talks bridging continents. Mingyu's set stories mingled with your fashion triumphs, crafting a shared tale. Your connection was more than a thread; it grounded them amidst success's whirlwind.

Once-daunting distances were now milestones on their journey. Time zones turned to opportunities for intimate confessions and shared laughter. Screens dissolved in their words' warmth, reminding them that love defies space and time. Every milestone deepened their understanding. They celebrated not just achievements, but the sweat and sacrifices behind them. Cheers from fans were joined by their hearts' silent applause, celebrating each other's strength.

Amid fame's waters, you became lighthouses for one another, guiding through storms. Amid camera glimmers, your love remained a steady beacon.

As chapters turned, your love story remained their anchor. Through ups and downs, careers' peaks and valleys, your unity stood firm. Your tale proved that two souls could intertwine journeys with unwavering devotion.

As the world gazed upon your journey with awe, you both continued to ascend to new heights, shattering barriers and kindling inspiration in the hearts of many. Yet, amidst the applause and conquests that surrounded you, the intricate world you had constructed remained hidden—a world woven with threads of love, trust, and mutual understanding. In an era often consumed by the glorification of individual feats, you served as a living embodiment of the axiom that unity is strength. Your story bore witness to the fact that a love tended with unwavering care and devotion could indeed conquer any obstacle.

As the sands of time flowed on, your love story metamorphosed into a beacon of hope and inspiration. Through dazzling splendor and trials that tested your mettle, you emerged not just as partners but as confidantes and soulmates. The symphony of your love, composed of shared triumphs and the sweet strains of mutual growth, continued to resound, each note echoing the commitment that had carried you through every page of your extraordinary journey.

Amidst their bustling world, a sudden twist of fate shattered the tranquility they had woven.

"I'm going to be promoted," you revealed to Mingyu. Your once-muted expression transformed into a radiant smile as his arms enveloped you, embracing not just you but the magnitude of your accomplishments. His eyes reflected your pride, mirroring the years of toil and dedication that had brought you here. His mind raced with plans for your celebration, crafting visions of themes, guest lists, and a carefully curated menu. The promise of your promotion party, resplendent in all its grandeur, enveloped him with excitement.

But then, like a gust of wind altering direction, you dropped another piece of news. "But I have to move."

The euphoria on Mingyu's face wavered as your words sank in. You explained that your new role, that of Chief Executive for South East Asia's branch, demanded your presence at the central office in Singapore. It was a role you had long aspired to, a goal that had consumed your efforts in the fashion realm for over a decade. Mingyu understood this aspiration, this dream carefully nurtured over years, but the reality of your absence hit him hard.

His smile dimmed, the sparkle in his eyes momentarily fading. Behind the veneer of his expression, an internal struggle waged. The facade he wore concealed the emotional turmoil he felt at the prospect of separation. He had tasted the bitterness of missing you during short business trips; how then could he fathom enduring extended absence? Balancing a burgeoning acting career with the challenges of a long-distance relationship loomed as an overwhelming task.

You could discern the subtleties—the smile that failed to reach his eyes, the vulnerability he tried to mask behind his cheerful front. It was a nuanced interplay of emotions—a mix of euphoria over your hard-earned promotion and the heartache of leaving your comfort zone. Your roots had grown deep in Seoul over nearly five years, a tapestry woven with beloved family, cherished friends, and Mingyu—a special presence in your life. Mingyu had probed into the reasons behind your initial move to South Korea, sensing that there was more to your decision than mere education.

"I didn't have strong family ties back in my hometown," you confided. "Leaving them behind was easier. But being here, the warmth from my mother and Josh, it's a different kind of attachment."

His teasing question about his own attachment drew forth an affectionate response—an intimate kiss accompanied by a nod that spoke volumes of your connection. Mingyu's initial bashfulness gave way to a playful protest, his request for a heads-up before future displays of affection revealing his tender nature.

"Say something," you urged, seeking to bridge the gap of his silence after revealing your decision to move. His shrug and the way he nestled against your shoulder hinted at the maelstrom of thoughts within. His lips formed a slight pout, a visual representation of his internal turmoil.

Taking a deep breath, he bared his emotions. "Honestly," he began, "I'm overjoyed for you. Your promotion is a testament to your dedication, and I couldn't be prouder." His fingers found yours, intertwining with them as he conveyed his unwavering support.

With his other arm, he pulled you nearer, ensconcing you in an embrace that radiated both reassurance and earnestness. "But it's also a bitter realization that you'll be leaving. I believe in you, I truly do. I've seen you manage time and priorities—I've experienced your effort to make space for me even within your packed schedule. Yet, I'm going to miss having you close, being able to hold you like this," he confessed, his arms enveloping you in warmth and security.

You returned his embrace, holding onto the moment as if to freeze time itself. In this shared embrace, a profound kinship blossomed, transcending the need for words. Amidst the uncertainty, you found solace in each other's arms, emotions merging and fears confronting reality.

Sitting together on the couch, a sense of serenity enveloped you. The touch, the warmth, the profound connection—all converged into a singular moment that seemed to stretch infinitely. In a world dominated by ambitions and responsibilities, you treasured these simple, intimate instances. An unexpected intrusion, as Min entered the scene demanding a late-night snack, broke the spell momentarily.

However, the interruption only highlighted the value of these stolen moments. Mingyu's arms remained steadfast around you, embodying the unwavering support and love he had consistently offered through every twist and turn of your intertwined journey. Amidst the unpredictability of life, his embrace remained a constant, reminding you of the enduring strength of your connection.

*

One more captivating aspect of your personality is your boundless love for surprises. It was as if the exhilarating shock of the surprise you pulled off two weeks ago—the revelation of your promotion—wasn't enough. Building on that thrill, your unexpected visit and the subsequent announcement nearly sent Mingyu's heart into overdrive.

"What? You can't be serious!" Mingyu's eyes widened to a comical extent as you nodded, your smile a brilliant testament to your achievement.

The sheer incredulity in his gaze was matched only by the disbelief etched across his features. As you stood there, radiating an undeniable sense of accomplishment, his emotional roller coaster showed no signs of slowing down. With a profound sigh, he surrendered to the weight of the news, his expression a blend of bewilderment and astonishment. It was almost as if he struggled to reconcile the image of you—his girlfriend—being without a job.

Playfully, he attempted to reason away the situation. "Did you hit your head somewhere and accidentally submit that resignation letter?" he joked, attempting to mask the significance of your decision. Your resolute headshake only emphasized that there was no jest involved.

You couldn't help but share an infectious, childlike enthusiasm as you hopped onto his couch. "I'm free!" you exclaimed, your sheer joy contrasting vividly with the undercurrent of concern on Mingyu's face. His arms encircled you, lifting you gently from the couch and allowing you to melt into the cushions beside him. Amidst his own bewilderment, he cherished these lighthearted moments, even if the situation demanded a more serious outlook.

Intriguingly, you had just handed in your resignation letter, willingly departing from a dream you had pursued for over a decade. Yet, your countenance exuded liberation and unbridled happiness. This paradox left Mingyu grappling with a flurry of thoughts—how could you be so carefree about parting with a secure job that you had fought so hard to secure?

His mind raced as he watched you, searching for the essence of your choice in the way your emotions danced across your features. What was the driving force behind this unexpected decision? What profound realization had propelled you to make such a daring move?

In response to his silent inquiries, you began to unveil the intricate web of thoughts that had led you to this pivotal juncture. Weeks of soul-searching, contemplation, and introspection had converged to unveil a poignant truth about your future. The questions you posed to yourself—regarding your genuine desires, cherished values, and dreams yet to be realized—culminated in a singular, resolute conclusion. The once-alluring position of Chief Executive Area was politely declined, a choice that sprang from your longing for fresh horizons and an uncharted chapter beyond the walls of Byoré.

"So, what comes next?" Mingyu inquired, his eyes reflecting a curiosity that matched the gravity of your choice.

An arch of your eyebrow preluded your response. "Me? Oh, I've planned to bask in a state of perpetual slumber, indulging in whatever culinary delights I desire. I envision myself spending leisurely hours snuggled up with Min and making daily visits to this very house," you revealed, a playful glint in your eyes.

Amidst the spectrum of emotions that danced between you, there was one thing about you that never failed to capture Mingyu's heart—your love for surprises. Even after the whirlwind of the past two weeks, where you revealed your promotion and graced him with an unexpected visit, you still had a propensity for catching him off guard.

In that moment, the truth crystallized: you had willingly walked away from a dream job that had been your life's anchor for over a decade. The twist wasn't in the act itself, but in the manner you did it—with an infectious smile and an aura of liberation. This abrupt departure from the norm left Mingyu bewildered, his mind spinning with a whirlwind of questions. What had sparked this transformation within you?

Mingyu's sigh encompassed both amusement and concern. Your plan sent up an SOS signal in his mind—a signal of a plan-less existence that contrasted his own life driven by purpose and ambition. How could someone flourish without a distinct direction? And how could he reconcile being in a relationship with someone who had intentionally relinquished stability to embrace moments of leisure?

Breaking through the light-hearted chatter, you bared your soul with emotional honesty. "I've thought about it deeply, and the idea of leaving you is unbearable. The depth of my love for you makes the mere thought of parting agonizing," you confessed, the sincerity in your voice casting a tender spell.

Mingyu's heart softened visibly, his emotions stirred by your candid sentiment. "Thank you, baby," he murmured, his gratitude palpable. Yet, he couldn't remain passive. "But let's retrieve that resignation letter! You need a job to stay vibrant and passionate. You can't just float through life," he implored, seizing your wrist with an earnest intent to whisk you out of his apartment.

"Noooooo!" Your response was accompanied by a playful whine. Mingyu pressed on, insisting on hearing your plans for the future, while you firmly resisted revealing them. You shared your theory that voicing your goals made them more elusive.

"Tell me!"

With a sigh of reluctant surrender, you relented. "Alright. I've been in discussions with the Dean of Seoul University's Art and Fashion Faculty. They're enthusiastic about supporting me in creating my own magazine, along with the prospect of teaching Fashion Communication and Journalism. I've also confided in my friends about my desire to establish a magazine centered around eco-lifestyle." Your words flowed with conviction, and Mingyu's growing excitement became evident, a testament to his endorsement of your extraordinary plan.

"We're already halfway there, with a team composed of fashion students and my colleagues. We're in the middle of preparing to pitch our proposal to stakeholders," you shared, your voice a blend of determination and unwavering purpose.

Your declaration was charged with confidence, and Mingyu couldn't help but chuckle, amused by the fervor in your voice as he absorbed the intricate details. He had often observed your tendencies toward impulsivity, your innate knack for diving headfirst into uncharted waters. This had previously fueled his apprehensions about your decisions, including your recent resignation.

His supportive stance was articulated in his words. "Count me in, without a doubt. Your plan is compelling, and I'm ready to be your staunchest advocate. Need an investor? I'm all ears. However, don't mistake my involvement for lack of seriousness. Even though I love you, this is still a business," he warned, his playful tone underscored by a hint of solemnity.

Your laughter bubbled forth in response, a joyful expression of your gratitude for his offer. "That's precisely why I hesitated to tell you initially. I genuinely appreciate your offer, sweetheart. However, I'm wary of any misconception that I'm pursuing your financial resources," you explained, addressing his concern with sincerity.

Mingyu's chuckle was accompanied by a gentle rebuke. "Let's look at this from a positive angle—it could potentially become a family enterprise down the line. Enough with worrying about others' opinions. You're no longer just a former fashion editor; you're blossoming into a genuine businesswoman," he asserted, his mentor-like role interwoven with his boundless affection as he gently guided you, his heart brimming with care.

A playful plea found its way to your lips. "Just promise to be our model, alright?"

With a grin, he acquiesced, "Though I must warn you, my rate card might be a bit extravagant."

Laughter mingled with shared affection, filling the space with a harmonious symphony of delight. The twists and turns that destiny had orchestrated were nothing short of remarkable. Mere weeks ago, the specter of a looming long-distance relationship had cast a shadow. Now, you stood on the precipice of a new journey—unemployed yet committed to crafting your own magazine. Through every twist and turn, the common thread remained: your unbreakable devotion to those you held close. In the end, the purest joy was found in the embrace of loved ones, an unchanging constant amidst the ever-shifting tides of life.

[justmescreamingboutbooks]

Back on the road we go again. Now I can read in peace😀

The Axiom Of Equality was a tough part to read. That genuinely left my brain thoughtless and hurt. The fact that things like that happen for real is beyond depressing. I had to literally text a couple of my friends to tell them to never pick this book up knowing they wouldn't be able to take what this book has to offer.

I have always been scared of reading a book like this with broken hearts and broken souls. But I thank the time when I decided to read this. I’m scared to read but I can't help but turn pages and crave more.

The way that I got attached to the characters in this book is out of my knowledge.