#strong candidate for best title ever

[gawayne]

is the lancelot bdsm paper real this is crucial

Cohen, Jeffrey Jerome. “Masoch / Lancelotism.” New Literary History, vol. 28, no. 2, 1997, pp. 231–60. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20057415. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.

"In bed or in life, it's one and the same." Depeche Mode, "Master and Servant"

[biscuitswithroy]

Just to Know You’re Alive

Jamie Tartt x Reader

You are tasked with writing an article about Jamie and you gain an understanding of him that nobody else ever has

Note: Hello! This is my first Ted Lasso fic. I’m so excited to share it with y’all!

When you were first assigned to write an article on Jamie Tartt, you weren’t exactly thrilled.

All you had heard about, and seen on the pitch, was that he was an egotistical man who would do anything to win.

But when you met him for the first time, all of your prior opinions on him changed.

It was after the devastating loss to Manchester City. You knew that it was the best chance you had to get the best content for your article. After all, it was the first game against his old team that had all but erased his career.

You made your way towards the press room, but were soon told that Jamie wouldn’t be a part of the interviews. Respecting his privacy, you accepted that you weren’t going to get that conversation that you needed.

But then there he was in the hallway as you were leaving. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes notably red. He’s been crying, there was no doubt in your mind about that.

“Are you alright?” You asked him, deciding that you didn’t want to miss a chance to ensure that he’s okay.

“Fine, yeah,” he mumbled. And then he turned and looked at you. His eyes found the press lanyard around your neck. “You’re a reporter?”

“Oh,” you said, taking your lanyard and off and placing it in your bag. “Right now I’m just a person who wants to make sure you’re okay.”

Jamie looked at you a little suspiciously but didn’t try to fight how you might feel.

“No one gets me,” he said. “Not even my family.”

“I see. Family can somehow be the best people and the worst people in your life,” you said.

Jamie nodded to that statement. He didn’t know why he was opening up to you, but he didn’t stop. You two sat on the floor against the wall.

He told you about the locker room incident. You told him that he was valid in his feelings. No one had ever said that to him before.

“I’m y/n, by the way,” you told him after the conversation had come to a halt.

“You already know me,” he said. “You do now, at least.” He looked almost shy as he said his next words. “Are you going to use this conversation against me?”

“Of course not,” you said. “But to be perfectly candid, I am supposed to write an article about you.”

Jamie chuckled a little, but it wasn’t one of pleasure. You think he was nervous, perhaps even worried that you were going to use it against him anyway and paint him as weak.

“Tomorrow,” he said randomly. “I’ll do your interview tomorrow. Meet me at The Crown & Anchor.”

“Oh, okay. Are you sure?” You asked him.

“Just be there,” a little bit of his coined impatience came through.

And with that he disappeared into the locker room. The next day you stood outside the pub as you waited for Jamie.

When he got there, he asked you to join him for a walk. You didn’t expect him to take you to his favorite places around the area.

But he spent the entire day talking you about pretty much everything except for the game.

“Thank you for today, Jamie,” you told him as you walked back to your car. “I do hope you’ll enjoy the article I write.”

“See ya,” Jamie said as he watched you drive away.

As you sit at your computer now reading over the article you wrote, you title it and publish it.

Jamie’s phone dings along with the rest of the teams’.

“The Jamie Tartt You Don’t See,” Ted reads the article title aloud. “Oh this should be like reading that your favorite book is being adapted into a movie!”

The team cheers and pokes a little fun at Jamie before they leave to start training.

Jamie sits at his locker and reads through the article. It reveals his vulnerabilities while also making him appear as strong as he is.

He realizes that from the beginning he wanted you to see him as he is, not as the rest of the world does.

Something in him longs for more conversations with you. And he desperately wants to see you again.

[prezaki]

Marianne's Past

I went and read the Marianne vi Britannia chapter from Mamoru Iwasa's "Knights of the Round" short story anthology that was released as a bonus volume to his Code Geass R2 novel series.

I am 80% sure that this image that is often seen floating around online was made to promote this specific short story (or maybe accompany a serialized release?), but the illustration itself is not included in the tankobon release.

I'll provide summary of the short here here, but please be aware I am reading with machine TL and there may be errors even despite the best of my double-checking. If you want these details for, idk, academic reasons please go to the source text first!

Anyway this story rules, here it is. Italics mark direct quotes.

We start off strong with Charles thinking "I had no reservations about wasting my own life." Standing in the middle of a battlefield, he laments that Britannia is a dying country structured around a bloodthirsty elite. No dreams, no hope.

"Born into such a world, why would you desperately try and such a small thing as your own life?" he thinks, but then Marianne's voice cuts through to him. Marianne waltzes into the room where Charles stands surrounded by soldiers pointing guns at him. Injured, in her bloodstained white uniform, she fights her way through to him with unbelievable competence and elegance. She beheads all the men as the narration describes the beautiful glisten of her sword and the flow of her hair.

Marianne, the Knight of Six at this point, sheathes her sword and bends the knee before Charles, in the middle of corpses and with both of them splattered over and over in blood.

"I sincerely apologize for any trouble I've caused you by being late," she says.

Marianne tells Charles to evacuate, but he remains stoic and only looks at her arm, which is rendered unmoving by her injury.

"That wound. You've killed, Knight of Six. You've killed the Empire's most powerful knight, the Knight of One."

Only he would have been able to hurt her this badly, Charles reasons.

The Knight of One turns out to be the person who staged this rebellion in the first place and Marianne did indeed kill him before coming to find Charles.

We learn that Charles' reign is being questioned by conservatives because he was such a distant candidate for the throne originally and ascended mostly due to the past emperor's insistence.

"There is external trouble, and the internal anxieties are becoming more and more serious. This a country on the verge of ruin. Don't you agree? Knight of Six," says Charles who is feeling talkative.

Marianne disagrees. After all, she's here and so is Waldstein, still Knight of Five at that time. They won't let it come to that.

"Then, will you come to my side, Marianne?" It's the first time he's ever called her by name and not title and she blushes.

(Here we briefly learn Marianne had a normal military career before being promoted to the Knights of the Round.)

Before she can ask what he means, Marianne realizes the truth for herself and blushes harder. Through a whirlwind of emotion she finds unwavering determination within herself.

"I humbly accept your offer."

He looks at her with eyes that seem almost sad.

"You might regret it."

The narration suggests he may be trying to make sure she knows he isn't going to force her.

Marianne denies the possibility. She won't come to regret this, because as long as she's by his side she will prevent all causes for regret from occurring.

"So you're saying your own happiness depends solely on yourself." Charles finally smiles faintly. "You're bragging, Marianne. Show humility."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Amidst the smell of gunpowder and blood, a man's hand was slowly held out. The girl's hand rested on top of his, a little awkwardly, but with a certain intent.

We then learn that this rebellion, the Blood Crest Incident, took place May 6th 1997 so a bit less than three years before Lelouch is born. Most of the Knights of Rounds were murdered in it or executed for being complicit.

The narration spends some time discussing whether Charles should be seen as a good or bad ruler, coming out conflicted.

Arguments for being a good ruler: Britannia was on the verge of collapsing and being divided between the other two super-powers before Charles revived it. Arguments for being a bad ruler: ... well, about that bloody conquest though.

Fun side details: leader of Charles' political opponents was his uncle the Archduke Louis. Anyway, we skip forward 5 years, and the civil war and unrest has now ended.

Marianne is the 5th Empress. We are treated to her in the Aries villa garden, sparring with three young teen girls from the military academy: Cornelia, Beatrice and Nonette.

None of the girls stand a chance and Marianne harshly critiques their swordplay, but she ends with saying they're getting better and she's looking forward to the next vacation. She winks at them.

We briefly learn that Cornelia's mom comes from a pretty traditional family and wanted her to be more of a palace lady but Cornelia's own wish was to enter the military. Whenever she has time off from school she comes to the Aries villa to let Marianne train her.

As Marianne talks to the girls about their training later, a small kid looks out from under her skirt.

Barely 3year old Lelouch enters the scene! He's entered a shy phase and has to be coaxed to say hi to Cornelia. (But he does do a proper bow and greets her as 'elder sister'!)

Cornelia mentions that Lelouch's shy phase is the total opposite of Euphy who is currently following everyone around 24/7 and being SUPER social no matter the person.

Then, Bismarck comes in. He is holding a crying baby Nunnally and is locked in a vicious circle of trying to get her to stop crying by smiling but having a smile that is too scary to comfort the poor baby. Cornelia laughs at the Knight of One in such a predicament.

Of course, Marianne was the one who forced him to hold the baby despite all his protest that he, who's not even married, would be shit at it. She appears remorseless.

Marianne says she was trying to teach him the stress of a mother who has some maternity nerves due to taking care of two kids, and he's just like. Ma'am the nannies take care of your kids, there is no way you are that exhausted. (He does not say this out loud.)

Beatrice, who has many younger siblings, saves Bismarck and calms down baby Nunnally. Nonette, who likes throwing babies in the air, is banned from approaching the bappy.

Marianne tells the girls to watch the kids for a bit and walks off to talk with Bismarck about serious matters. There's a cute paragraph about the girls helping Lelouch do his first tumble roll and him being really happy about it.

Bismarck muses that not too long ago it would have been unthinkable for there to be the laughter of children in the palace. Marianne teases him that continuing to ensure this is possible is why he's here, isn't he?

Bismarck is Knight of One and also the ONLY Knight of Rounds at this moment. Marianne left the Knights after becoming Empress and the others all died due to the Blood Crest Incident. No new ones have been appointed since.

Bismarck tells Marianne that he thinks she is more suitable to be Knight of One than him.

Marianne doesn't entertain the thought. Bismarck wants more Knights appointed but Marianne says that Charles was ambivalent to the suggestion, being not really concerned about his own safety. Also there are no promising candidates right now.

Anyway, the main reason Bismarck dropped by is because the current Chinese Emperor passed away. This unrest and uncertainty has Charles setting his sides on border expansion and conquering more territory.

Marianne grows pensive. Is Charles good or evil? She's wondered often. We launch into a flashback:

“Your Majesty--do you aspire to be a conqueror?”

Marianne asked him one day, and Charles, laughed happily, which was unusual.

"Hmm...Is that what you see, Marianne?"

"Yes. At least in my eyes."

"Conqueror, huh? If that's what you want, that's not bad either," Charles muttered, an even more amused smile appearing on his handsome face.

When Marianne heard this, her expression turned grim.

“If you are serious about such things, I will refuse to touch His Majesty from now on. Please do not enter my sleeping quarters again. I will immediately decapitate myself.

"I thought you'd say that. But, Marianne, there's one thing you forgot to mention. In that case, you would only kill yourself after beheading this emperor, right? ”

......

"Is it untrue………?"

"Mhm."

"You are a person who never compromises on yourself. Just like me. Therefore, your wings are something that even this emperor cannot control, and the way you flap your wings nobly captures his heart." Marianne couldn't help but smile crookedly as the truth was whispered to her from an unexpected source. Seeing this, Charles also laughed.

"Marianne. My desire is not to conquer the world. It is to strip away the lies of the world. In the process, I hope for the world. I will rid the world of lies. That is my oath. ...But let me promise you this, Marianne. The inside of your heart that you never show to others. That emptiness that cannot be wiped away. Even that, I will make up for it.”

Marianne's expression returned to normal and she fell silent.

Then she said, "If His Majesty truly thinks so, I will create a 'vessel' for His Majesty. His oath, the power to approach it. The path - an army strong enough to conquer the world."

The emperor laughed loudly this time.

"That means you're joining forces with the worst sinner in history, Marianne. Your children and grandchildren will continue to be accused of being witches who assisted the most evil king in the world."

Marianne smiled too.

"Of course, I am prepared. Your Majesty does remember what I am called, right?"

"The Flash. It sounds good, but a flashing light burns people's eyes out. Moreover, your light is by no means the halo of a saint..."

"A bloody hero's death. I have never wielded a sword for anyone other than myself.

"Even when you protected me... that's why I wanted you. Would you like to see the world together, Marianne?''

“Even if it costs me my life.”

Since then she knew.

This person was planning to spread his wings even bigger someday.

Britannia, a continental country. However, this person cannot fit into such a small container. He has to involve many countries and puts the world under its control. Even if he was called a tyrant, or the king of Hades with the sickle of death. Moreover, his motivation was never ambition. Nor was it vigor. Instead it was because of the tears of blood that this person shed when he was young. To fulfill the vow he made. In that case, what she can do after deciding to walk with this person is--

With this cut-off phrase we go back to the present.

In the evening of her meeting with Bismarck, Marianne calls the three girls to meet her. She appears wearing her old Knights of Round uniform and tells them she won't be able to accompany them in their training for a while, so they should use this opportunity to come at her like they mean it because she also won't hold back. For the first time in their sparring, she is dual wielding which was her preferred mode of combat during her active days.

We skip the combat and go right to Marianne coming back out to talk to Bismarck. He remarks that this was quick. The girls stood no chance, though Beatrice held out slightly longer than the others. Marianne asserts that a Knight of the Emperor needs no naivety or kindness so she tried to knock that out of the girls here. She expects they will be changing bit by bit from here on out. Marianne and Bismarck begin to leave for the capital.

Marianne: "Then let's go, Bismarck. To help the king commit the worst crime in history."

Bismarck: "And so it's the return of the empress general."

As they are about to leave a nanny and a crying baby Lelouch stop them. Lelouch had a scary dream during nap time and needed to see his mommy. He had a dream his mother was going very far away.

Marianne tells Lelouch that she isn't going anywhere. But her eyes are cold, as if she was looking at a wooden dummy. Bismarck has seen this expression on her many times before - it's the face she makes before cutting somebody down on the battlefield.

Bismarck is so used to this expression signifying killing intent that his body almost intuitively moves to protect Lelouch - but Marianne just hugs him.

"Lelouch and Nunnally are mother's treasures. I will always be with them and protect them. Forever and ever."

In her heart, Marianne adds: 'However, this is only true so long as you do not stand in the way of he and I.' She suddenly finds baby Nunnally staring at her - she smiles, and Nunnally suddenly trembles as if frightened.

All she can do is stare at her mother's smiling face.

Six months later the Britannian Empire starts its massive expansion campaign, with Marianne The Flash serving as Charles' greatest support.

[kaeyx]

OMG YESS! but in my AU Dazai and Chuuya actually have a chance to become ruler!reader concubines, yes Dazai is a royal advisor and since his job is to advise the monarch on political decisions and in one of the meet up let's say some dude brought up about how a ruler must have concubines or consort in order to promote diplomacy and to keep the ruler in check! so ruler!reader just goes along with it, while dazai was basically shocked, how could you! after you spent your childhood growing up with him and chuuya, he expected for you to be so uptight about it or maybe finding a reason that you don't need a consort!

but of course that mf is slick so like after the royal meet up thingy, Dazai proposes to find the perfect candidate for you saying stuff like "you'll need candidates that's not only someone who can keep you in check but also a knowledgeable and strong enough person who can actually help the kingdom" so since ruler!reader only wants what is best for the kingdom that actually sounded good for them

that until ruler!reader realised the situation when they found Dazai and Chuuya's proposal on their desk along with the other candidates, but Dazai and Chuuya can help the kingdom so of course they're on the list but ruler!reader will have to ask them again, like. really seriously. i mean they still can do their job but the titles will have to go since they'll be a concubine and probably be a mock to society since they will have to lower their rank (especially chuuya since i make him a captain of the imperial guard, so it'll be a little though for him to be a concubine lol, i love chuuya but it's for the plot😔)

but it can't only be two concubines, five is the minimum.

though a certain jester and especially a man from the cold neighbouring land also caught your eyes, why would a man with powers like him want to become your concubine? that doesn't make sense you'll have to keep an eye on him.

(this is so long, tumblr please don't eat this up)

Ajfkskvsi imagine having a meeting where someone brings up how weird it is that you're not taking a spouse but also have no concubines, and they're pretty annoying. You give your reasons for not wanting to but it's too late, Dazai put two and two together, it's over for you. He immediately turns up the charm to 11 and starts suggesting you get a lover, just someone to keep you company, sate your urges, warm your bed! Yeah he loves being an advisor to the crown but this is even better, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

It takes Dazai approximately 5 seconds to get Chuuya on board. He's captain of the guard and desperately wants to be closer to you and it's not like being a concubine would stop him from protecting you, which is what he wants most in the world. If anything he could be even closer, he could keep you safe in your sleep. A few other lords also offer themselves up, and maybe some neighbouring kingdoms send in a candidate or two as a peace gift! A bright, slightly creepy, strangely magnetic young man with dark hair who always seems to know what you're thinking. A spunky young lord from the next kingdom over who's clearly smart, but too.... strange to ever fit the knight or monastic life. Or Nikolai could be a stowaway/thief/street performer. Or an assassin.....

Also if anyone wants to include Mori and Fukuzawa in this au they could also be knights! More senior ones covered in knotted scars, aching shoulders and backs from years of training and wielding weapons, who you can convince to retire because like this they still get to serve you without risking themselves.

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group B Round 2: #B1 vs #B2

#B1: Coming-of-age story set in a “utopia”

#B2: High school performers

Titles, propagandas, trailers, and poll under the cut!

#B1: From the New World (Shinsekai Yori)

Summary:

In the town of Kamisu 66, 12-year-old Saki Watanabe has just awakened to her psychic powers and is relieved to rejoin her friends—the mischievous Satoru Asahina, the shy Mamoru Itou, the cheerful Maria Akizuki, and Shun Aonuma, a mysterious boy whom Saki admires—at Sage Academy, a special school for psychics. However, unease looms as Saki begins to question the fate of those unable to awaken to their powers, and the children begin to get involved with secretive matters such as the rumored Tainted Cats said to abduct children. Shinsekai yori tells the unique coming-of-age story of Saki and her friends as they journey to grow into their roles in the supposed utopia. Accepting these roles, however, might not come easy when faced with the dark and shocking truths of society, and the impending havoc born from the new world.

Propaganda:

Shinsekai Yori is not the flashiest show, or the fastest pace, but the slow and steady build of the horror and mystery will keep you entranced from beginning to end.

At its heart, this show is a coming-of-age story. We follow the protagonist from her childhood to adulthood, with all the messiness in between. From puberty and discovering sexuality, to learning the darker truths of society and having to live with unwanted knowledge, we see through Saki’s eyes. The setting of this world is a post apocalyptic future, and what society has been rebuilt as is one of the main mysteries we discovered.

This show is very complex and dark and sad, but it’s absolutely beautiful. The visuals, backgrounds, character expressions, music all come together to create something truly unique. The only show I know to compare it to might be Psycho-Pass, for it’s similarly deep deconstruction of society. However, whereas Psycho Pass is one of the most praised anime of all time, Shinsekai Yori is barely known. This is a shame, because it truly has something special to say that everyone can relate to. How hard growing up can be, fighting against your own hormones, traditions, adults, family, friends, your moral code.

This is not a happy story; it’s a bittersweet, cautionary tale.

Trigger Warnings: Animal Cruelty or Death, Graphic Depictions of Cruelty/Violence/Gore, Suicide

#B2: Kageki Shoujo!!

Summary:

After being forced to graduate from JPX48 following a controversial incident with a male fan, Ai Narata swears to never interact with another man ever again. Using her talents and strong desire to get away from men, Ai auditions for the exclusive all-female Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts. The school is renowned for producing the best actresses that go on to perform in the famous all-female Kouka Theatre Troupe. Coming from the idol industry, Ai is the perfect candidate for the school's hundredth generation class, but her aloof demeanor alienates her from her classmates. The eccentric Sarasa Watanabe is the only person who wishes to become Ai's friend. She enters Kouka with the goal of becoming a top "otokoyaku" performer—an actress that plays traditionally male roles. After seeing a Kouka performance of The Rose of Versailles when she was younger, Sarasa dreams of performing as Lady Oscar one day. Unfortunately, Sarasa's inability to read a room causes friction between her and her classmates, including Ai, who reluctantly becomes her roommate and partner in many of their classes. Succeeding at Kouka will involve more than just raw talent for these young girls as jealousy, deceit, and the harsh realities of show business put their mental fortitude to the test. Will Sarasa and Ai be able to rise to the top and stand on the silver bridge?

Propaganda:

If theatre setting/schools is your thing, you’re probably going to love this series! We follow our protagonists and their schoolmates following their dreams to become actresses for the prestigious Kouka Revue. Not an easy road as they will have to face and overcome many challenges, the hardest ones coming from themselves. Indeed, the story is not afraid to address sensitive topics and their resulting traumas (see TW list) always rightfully handed. These episodes may be a bit hard to see if you’re sensitive to these topics, but the show never leaves you in discomfort: everything is properly addressed, and characters are cared for realistically.

The characters are all very well-written, portraying individuals with way more depth than they may appear at first glance. We follow their growth—or its start—during the series. Sarasa is a walking sunbeam, and her blooming friendship with the withdrawn Ai is a delight to watch. We learn to know—and love—all their classmates as well, as episodes switch focus to one or the other.

The OST is really good, with a catchy opening, and no less than five different versions of the ending song, a fabulous duet voiced by the cast! The animation features really pretty art with iconic details like the stars in Sarasa’s eyes. The series is a homage to Takarazuka and scatter references to famous real-life Revues and older famous shôujo manga series like “Versailles no Bara” or “Glass no Kamen”. Actually, it feels like a modernized version of their essence: roses, sparkles, spotlight, drama, all while staying safe!

This anime is like candy for eyes and soul, and I really hope we'll get a season 2 to explore the girls' voices further!

Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Pedophilia, Self-Harm

Nothing is too graphical nor explicit, just the right amount to let the unsettling situations be clear enough to watchers, and they’re always addressed correctly.

Child abuse/ Pedophilia: episode 3 (+4), about Ai’s traumas

Self-harm: episode 5 focuses on a girl with an eating disorder, forcing herself to vomit (not sure if that really counts as TW?)

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how they’re presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form, where you can submit revisions for taglines, propaganda, trigger warnings, and/or video.

[avaisnerdytoo]

RICK AND MORTY SEASON 7 FINALE

*I TYPED THIS WHEN IT CAME OUT AND NEVER POSTED IT CAUSE PERFECTIONISM IM SORRY BUT IT'S KINDA COOL ALTHOUGH ITS BEEN LOW KEY SAID ALREADY

Read Chapter Titles for Easy navigation:

There is a lot to unpack, I want to cover some character insights, some connections to philosophical concepts I found neat, and some implications I feel the show gives regarding future seasons!

I'll write a lot, so I recommend reading the chapter titles to see if something catches your eye, I understand why you may be less interested in reading a whole thing.

Let's jump in.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION:

This has the foundations to be one of my favorite episodes they have ever made. It is like a therapy session made an episode.

I feel this single-handedly pays for the lack of Morty we saw in other sections of the season.

I think even with most of it being a simulation, the episode still has a lot to say about other characters too. Even if it was all through Morty.

Nevertheless I won't drop the fact that this is an episode of Morty, where his mind, his feelings, and his unconscious are the narrators, which means that the way it speaks of Rick may not be quite accurate, but I'll get there*

Cause I do think the writers are still consistent with Rick for a good portion*

MORTY'S DEFENSIVE LAYERS: short chapter

Dr. Wong once pointed out that the whole Smith family uses rationality to avoid emotion (a fact I sometimes really identify with btw), and this is best shown here, where the layers of Morty's ability to resist the simulation and to place protective barriers over what he feels, is a lot stronger than we realize.

You coooould argue that's simply the way the hole works, but I personally interpreted it as more...

I think we are being told that Morty has also learned (if not mastered) the ability to build the same protective walls as the rest of the family, however his ability to defeat the simulation is also not to be understated, especially if only like 3 people have survived it in years.

RICK AND DIANE (WHAT IS A REAL DIANE LIKE?): Short to Medium Chapter*

It is made clear that this representation of their relationship is not to be taken at face value, but I somewhat doubt the writers are interested in truly making Diane a part of the show. I hope I am proven wrong, but if I assume this is one of the very few instances of her we will see, then I am willing to take a leap and assume some of what we saw, could make sense within their relationship.

Diane was shown as fun, decisive, adventurous and challenging, to me, she showed a lot of Summer traits, which fits right in line with Rick's observations of her.

On the opposite end, I do think there is a big layer of Morty's own bias regarding how he'd assume someone capable of keeping up with Rick's style of character should be, and with the rest of the episode in mind, it is of no surprise he followed them across the main montage.

I feel Diane was an enabler to Rick, I doubt young Rick could be described as pathetic though, more like responsible. And Diane would probably be as well, but I do see a scenario where someone that grabs Rick's attention and respect has the resourcefulness of Summer and the courage to jump into action.

MORTY IS ALONE ALONE, A-FREAKING-LONE + an observation for Evil Morty* Long Chapter*

We know this already of course, Morty is a kid neglected by his parents pretty much, not out of malice but out of immaturity and naivety. The bond between Summer and Morty is good, and has improved, but I do not think there is a world (nor there should be), where Summer should take care of Morty more than how a sister can. (In another dimension bro would be a strong candidate to get Fairly Odd Parents)

This evidently leaves Rick as the only figure in his life with any room to provide protection, love, advice and all the things adults should do.

Which is a very shitty deal... Because Rick is far from equipped at any of these.

His experience, even in the crazy sci-fi multiverse he lives in feels very real, I consider Morty as the most complex character, and he was designed from the start to be the closest thing we -as the audience - can have to a surrogate.

It hurts to see him so adrift, of realizing day by day that there are a lot of challenges he will have to conquer alone, we know he can, but it doesn't mean it is nice to have to do so. (I may be half projecting here though cause I big time identified with him here).

It is clear Morty is really holding back to the scary world out there, he wants Rick to protect him, he wants to be looked after, he wants what we all do, to be loved and heard. Acceptance is necessary for growth, and at this moment, it is clear Morty believes no one will be there for him. (Hopefully that is proven wrong but more of that below).

I think I may now understand what Evil Morty argued when he sympathized with Rick over achieving his goal of ending Rick Prime, and still feeling unsatisfied. (that's a theory*).

MORTY'S PERCEPTION OF RICK

+ the struggles of adapting to a changing family member or friend

+ will it have an impact on the next Season?

Long chapter

Actions speak louder than words, but words matter too, and when those necessary actions come sparingly, expecting anything from the person who's bringing you conflict becomes harder.

That's the best way I can describe how Morty feels about Rick, I'm sure he values that time in Season 2 when Rick sacrificed himself for him, but there are also hundreds of variations of that event where Rick belittled Morty, and that has pretty much been the pattern since then, there are objectively worse things Rick has done than good ones...

It's unfortunate this is all Morty has, he clearly genuinely loves Rick, but I feel this episode, if followed upon through the Canon is a big eye opening for Morty.

This whole episode was a therapy session, like any process, it has to be explored through analysis, brought to the conscious mind, and peeled slowly across the stages of grief...

...

Actually, this episode was more like an Ayahuasca Trip, because it surfaced key aspects of Morty's psyche and feelings, but it only did that, unlike therapy which would keep exploring them to find how to coexist/diffuse.

There is soooo much left on the table, and the worst part is that I think this realization is incompatible with who Rick is becoming, which is reallyyyy unfortunate timing.

But completely understandable, and arguably real, on Morty's part, I feel they are being set up to be on distinct emotional paths which WILL require Rick to take more direct action.

If the idea that your closest family member can shatter the illusion of reality by saying that which you want to hear... Fuuuuck

If you ever watched Lucifer (the TV Show) there's a similar moment there that reminds me to this 🤔

SIMULATION THEORY MADE FUNNY, BUT STILL VEEEERY REAL

not character exploration just a comment on the episode

As a small comment one of my favorite tropes explored in the episode is the whole looped, "Are we out of the hole yet?", because that is the very foundation of the paradox of simulation theory, they technically explored it back in Season one, but the weight of it felt more significant here.

If you're told you live in a simulation, and then given the option to escape, all Matrix style, you don't become Neo, you instead become eternally unaware of when you're in the real world, you aren't shown the truth, it shatters your perceptions completely.

It's not that kind of show of course, but imagine the weight of experiencing, in this case, growing up, going to college, possibly losing a family member (with the worrying lack of Jerry in those scenes), getting a job, forming a life that is ripped away...

I love the running gag at this point of this occurring... The Roy Game, The Vat Of Acid Episode, The Beth and Space Beth Lesbian Simulator (my fav), and now this.

Only this one is given that weight though, even Morty begins to wonder whether he was just outright born there...

---

NO WAY I WAS DONE ALL THIS TIME

I'm sorry I didn't post this when I typed it, I had more ideas and I wanted more photos but I maxed out what I could use and my perfectionism got the better of me.

Hope there is still something here for you all 🥺🥺🥺😖

[cupiditas-and-ao3]

Day 10 Kinks-Your-Tober: Rabid Curiousity | Cum inflation, Pervertibles, and Cigar Play

When you applied for the position, you weren’t certain what “research assistant” fully entailed. Especially not for a necromancer. You understood that the one you were applying to assist was one of the best necromancers of the age. She resurrected vampires, summoned zombies, controlled revenants. He had surpassed the concepts of gender ages ago, and people simply guessed at xir pronouns in any given sentence. The only appropriately complete term of address was their professional title and name; Dr. Frankenstein. 

You didn’t quite understand what the job entailed all through your interview either. They asked the normal interview questions: do you have reliable transportation, what do you do when you’ve finished a task, how proficient are you at the relevant software. But then there were others that you didn’t quite know how to answer. “How do you feel about working with the recently resurrected?” “How do you feel about interacting with rotting flesh?” “How willing are you to be present for experiments on the undead, dead, and various stages of decomposition and awareness in between those states?” “Can you take notes in a laboratory setting? How well can you take notes in the dark? How well can you take notes by candlelight in cemeteries?” Things you’d generally never had to think for very long about, and you certainly didn’t have time to think about them now. “No strong feelings” was your default answer throughout the interview process, and when that didn’t work you just reiterated your dedication and commitment to learning. 

It wasn’t that you particularly wanted to work in necromancy. You needed the job and it was offering a higher pay than you’d ever seen at entry level. Benefits and 401 K matching starting on the first day of the job. And you really needed insurance to get your persistent loss of smell checked out. They told you at the end of the interview that it was the lack of sense of smell that made you an ideal candidate. 

And aside from what they’d asked about - note taking and being in the laboratory - you still weren’t certain what you were going to be doing. Why the job paid so highly. You were too scared to ask and be turned down for the job because of your curiosity. Or worse, decide you couldn’t do whatever they expected. 

And when you thought about it hard enough, digging up bodies and washing cadavers didn’t sound too bad. 

For the first week, all you did was take dictation. Dr. Frankenstein would come to your desk, sit on the edge of it, light a cigar, and describe the events of the day. You were expected to write them in a notebook in shorthand and then type your notes and save them in an encrypted file folder. Your notebook was locked in Dr. Frankenstein’s office every night and in the morning ze escorted you to the office with zir key so you could continue your work. The first week it was mundane. A log of body parts cleaned and categorized with their measurements rattled off from the top of her head. It was a little mesmerizing to listen to her list the measurements of 24 femurs, 37 radius and ulnas, and over a hundred metacarpals. He rattled them off so quickly that your hand cramped and then fae was gone. You were alone with your desk and your computer and your notebook full of esoteric numbers. 

The second week you went into the laboratory with hir. It wasn’t what you expected. Cadavers and corpses lay out on cold metal slabs, looking - for all their various forms of rotting - like they were asleep. It was crisp. It was clean. It was colder than the walk in at your last job. You made a note to bring a sweater the next time. 

Dr. Frankenstein stood at a control panel behind plexiglass, muttered some calculations, threw a switch, and motioned for you to notetake. The time between the switch and standing, the time between sitting and standing, the time between standing and walking, and the speed of their pace all went into the notebook. After lunch you typed up the findings, the good doctor warned you that you would be in the lab again the next day, and that was that. 

You thought that was as exciting as your days at work would get. You thought that for a month. 

Of course, each new progress point was exciting in its own way. When Dr. Frankenstein raised a zombie that could talk, you celebrated. Cake and coffee from the fancy place down the street for the entire building (which was only five of you, not including the undead, but still). When she raised a vampire during the day and made it walk around, it was another celebration. The vampire, under her own power, celebrated with you in the evening. When thon conjured a ghost and made it speak to the ghosts of the zombies she’d raised, ae took the entire building out to a steak dinner. 

That night Dr. Frankenstein told you that the work would be progressing when you came in the next morning. Asked if you were ready, if you were excited. 

You told them you were. And you thought you were. 

Until you were on the wrong side of the plexiglass in the lab when the dead were rising. 

The good doctor had made sure you’d be comfortable. You didn’t have to write your notes, you would be transcribing them from the tape recorder - incredibly old school, they knew, but classics never failed yet - sat next to your face. 

“Doctor?” Your voice cracked with nerves as they led you to the table with this explanation and told you to strip. 

The table you would be on was in the center of the room. Three separate cameras pointed to it, each you knew routed to a monitor that Dr. Frankenstein would be watching. The zombies and skeletons that were normally awake and aware milled around the room. Some looked questioningly. Some looked hungrily. 

“It’s alright, like the contract stated, I’ll be visible the entire time. You’ll never be in danger. We’ve been preparing for this for nearly a year, now, and I’m so excited.” 

Their hand skidded over your back. 

The contract. You didn’t read the contract. Why would you? It was boilerplate employment stuff. Wasn’t it? You shivered and looked over at them, still standing in front of the slab that you would be laying on for whatever experiment you had already agreed to. They tapped their lit cigar, ash falling to the floor. A skeleton following behind swept up the ash immediately. She looked down at you with those eyes that seemed to flicker between colors and held only one emotion ever: rabid curiosity. 

“I don’t…” 

“Don’t…” he prompted. 

Another tap tap tap. Another brush brush brush. The dustbin clattered against the hand broom, the bones clacked as they bent and stood. 

“I didn’t… I didn’t read the contract.” 

You winced as the words came out. You didn’t want to look up at xim, to see what was on xir face as xe regarded you. But you had to. You had to know. 

Maybe that rabid curiosity was contagious. 

It was disappointment. You knew it would be. You hated that it would be. 

“You didn’t read the contract… all this time preparing and you don’t even know what this is for… What you were expected to…” 

Dr. Frankenstein turned and ground his cigar out on the naked scalp of the skeleton behind them. The skeleton swept that up as well. 

“Find me another one, and make sure they read the fucking contract,” Dr. Frankenstein was barking as they walked out of the room. 

And it hurt. How quickly they disregarded you. How rapidly their curiosity had changed, how easily it  had slipped from regarding you as a part of that fixation. How discarded you were in a moment. 

“But I still want to do it!” You called without knowing what it was. 

That stopped the storm moving away from you. It stopped the stomping of boots and the clatter of the sweeping skeleton running to follow. 

Dr. Frankenstein turned to regard you. Curiosity and… something else in those scientist eyes. Something that was almost like regard, almost like appreciation. 

“You don’t have to,” the doctor was saying. 

But you had already pulled your sweater off. You folded it neatly and placed it on the end of the slab. 

“I believe in the mission,” and you were almost surprised to discover it was true. 

You weren’t here for the pay anymore. You had more than enough in savings to walk away right now. You had made use of the health care benefits and you could find something new at the next job. You were here for them, for the doctor, for the science. For the way their eyes flashed as they talked about the steps they were taking, for the way they bounced on the edge of your desk while they explained the significance of measurements, for the way they looked at you with fascination when you compared numbers that only months ago had been banal data points into actual scientific analysis. 

“Just tell me what to do,” you followed up before you could get too lost in your own head. 

“Well, now there’s a thousand other questions to answer.” But she took a step forward. “And a thousand reasons to postpone this until you at least know what you’re doing.” 

“It’s never taken me long to catch up here,” you said calmly. It occurred to you that you didn’t know how much you were supposed to strip. You took off your sensible shoes and character patterned socks. Skeletons. For Halloween season. You thought you were clever and cute. The necromancer confirmed it verbally. Briefly. Before moving on. 

“And if you understand and don’t want to do it anymore?” Xe pulled their cigar case from the front pocket of xer shirt. 

“That won’t happen.” You shrugged. You pulled a lighter from your pocket and offered the flame to them. They sliced the end with a pocket scalpel as you’d seen them do a hundred times. They lit their cigar without taking their eyes off of you. 

Dr. Frankenstein regarded you with skepticism. You unbuttoned and unzipped your sensible slacks, pulled everything from the pockets as an afterthought as they slid slowly down your thighs. You wished you’d worn sexier underwear. You didn’t own sexier underwear, but you still wished it. 

“The experiment is recording the different ways the undead can have intercourse with a living person. Obviously the skeletons are the most limited, but everything we’ve raised will have the opportunity to engage.” 

You were stepping out of your slacks when you felt the blush coloring you.  

“I see,” you tried to say calmly as you carefully folded your slacks and placed them on the growing pile of your clothes. Your fingers started to work on the buttons of your shirt next, but they were trembling. 

“Hold,” Dr. Frankenstein held out the cigar and your hands switched - faer hands on your buttons and yours holding the cigar up to their lips. 

Dr. Frankenstein’s fingers made short work of the buttons, one and a half puffs that you breathed in their exhaled smoke from, before she took the cigar back from you. 

“Is that still what you want?” xi regarded you once more. And you knew that it was the last time xi’d ask. That it was your last chance to back out. 

“For science,” your toast at every celebration. Over coffee and cake, over red wine, over champagne and steak. 

“For science,” ae repeated. Ae unhooked your bra deftly and took a step back. Then with one last puff, turned and retreated to aer side of the plexiglass shield. “Once you’re ready,” aer voice came over the PA system you hadn’t realized was hooked up, “give any camera a thumbs up and the skeleton will take your clothes. Then we’ll begin.” 

You nodded, struggling to figure out how to take off your underwear with dignity. You gave up, accepted that for science you would sacrifice a little bit of pride, and deposited your underwear on the pile. You fiddled with it for a moment, just long enough that you could still deny you were stalling, and then lay back on the slab. 

You gave the nearest camera a thumbs up. 

The clattering of bones was a familiar sound to you, all but background noise at this point of your employment. But you still shivered as it approached. Everything normal felt anything but now. And then your clothes and belongings were being carried away and you were alone and cold with only a single pillow under your head. It was a nice pillow, you had to admit. 

“Now, it’s very important that you report with specificity and accuracy. Be as specific as you can, especially regarding numbers. I will be making my own notes from here, but yours as the subject experiencing it, will be far more important than my observational ones. There are places for you to place your feet. Right there, yes, good. And you may do anything with your hands except bring yourself pleasure or touch the experiments. If for any reason, at any time, you need the experiment to stop, simply say Prometheus, and I will bring it to a halt. Are you ready to begin?” 

You gave another shaky thumbs up to the camera and weren’t sure if your shake was because of the cold or nerves. 

The first to move were the zombies, which you felt you really should have expected. They were the first things raised. Shuffling feet across the cold tile approached you and they created a single file line across the lab, leading from their containment area straight to your exposed pussy. You didn’t touch yourself, didn’t try to draw the amount of slick that was gathering just from the sheer abject arousal at being on display (and certainly had nothing to do with the way a certain scientist had looked ready to devour you when you lay back on the slab) to your clit or around your quivering hole. That would be against the rules. You did spread your lower lips open, holding yourself wide for the first zombie to properly explore. 

There wasn’t anything resembling foreplay. It didn’t move the slick of your arousal to make entrance easier, it didn’t touch you anywhere sensitive (and in this cold, everywhere was sensitive), just thrust into you as mindlessly as it did anything else. 

But it had been a long year of being so busy at work that you didn’t have time to pursue anything close to an active sex life. You had your hand and your imagination and now you had a hard cock filling you, stretching you, using you. Like your pleasure didn’t matter. Like it’s pleasure didn’t matter. Like all that mattered was the scientist watching you as a camera lens zoomed in on your pussy as it was stuffed. After the first five zombies filled you, fucking you to their completion, you realized that it didn’t matter if they all had moderately sized (or less than average when you were prompted for honesty by the good doctor) cocks. You were getting sore. You were getting tired. And nothing was bringing you pleasure the way that they were getting something that at least categorically seemed to resemble pleasure. 

You screamed, begged, for release. For it to end. For something different. But you didn’t use the word she’d given you. Didn’t make it stop. Only wailed in between cold scientific awareness. You were dripping a puddle of cum onto the table and forced to keep track of how much leaked out in between being fucked. And then, before you even reached the halfway point of the line, Dr. Frankenstein waved for it all to stop. 

They approached, moving next to the line of placid zombies. Rings of smoke blowing into some of the zombies' faces as xe analyzed them as xe walked by. And then fae leaned over you and blew a smoke ring in your face. You coughed, but you were thrilled to have a break from the thrusting, from your tits bouncing with the low effort of your partner, from waiting for a pleasure that would not break. 

‘How are you doing, pet?” They asked, and the pet name washed over you. 

“Please, I just need to come and then… then I’ll be good. I’ll sit through the rest.”

“So they’re not making you cum. That’s a good note, thank you. I’m going to begin your second round shortly.” 

They tapped the warm ash out over your chest and you cried at the heat. It was the first real sensation since this all started, the first thing that felt like it was meant for you. 

You screamed as they walked away, begged and pleaded as the zombies scattered. 

And then it was the ghosts. Or rather you assumed it was the ghosts. Nothing physically touched you but you felt brushes of cold over you and inside you. You felt the memory of pressure on your lap, the memory of pressure pulling open your mouth and thrusting into it. And then one of the ghosts picked up something from a table on the other side of the room. Binder clips, you recognized. It was a moment before you were screaming, your nipples clamped in the clips and too sensitive and raw from the plastic. You were still being touched by that almost pressure, being touched everywhere. And then a magnifying glass floated across the room to you. It spread through your labia, thrusting into your already cum filled pussy handle first. And that almost pressure became real so quickly. You moaned as something fucked into you alongside the handle of the magnifying glass, as something moved inside of you and drove into your most sensitive places. The first place you felt the ghost cum was on your chest. Your tits moved together of their own accord and then a sticky mess of translucent green goop began to leak from the air above you onto your chest. Soon it was spilling out of you as the ghosts rotated who was using your pussy as a fleshlight, who was sharing the space with the thick handle of the magnifying glass, and who was going to fill you up. 

It had to have been hours of screaming and coming and being filled before it stopped. You were panting, your feet off the mark they were supposed to be placed on. And Doctor Frankenstein walked up to you. She pressed on your stomach and watched as the ectoplasm and zombie cum gushed from you, swirled her fingers in it and then drew it across your panting lips. 

“Another round, pet, how are you doing?” They asked. They cut the cap of another cigar. Lit it. Pressed their lips to yours and breathed the smoke into you. They held your nose closed and forced you to breathe the smoke in. You coughed and more cum leaked from you, your swollen inflated stomach shrinking with each gush of liquid. 

You mewled in response beyond words. 

“What’s the word that makes this all stop?” he asked and released your nose. 

“Prometheus,” you whispered, your throat ragged and sore. 

“And do you need this to stop?” 

You shook your head no. 

“Good. Fifteen more rounds to go, pet. Next is the skeletons.”

[twistedtummies2]

Spike (Cowboy Bebop) belch ranking?

God of Gas / Belch King / Burp Factory / Ye Olde Gasbag / No Thanks / Who?

Took me a bit to decide where to rank Spike, but I think this choice is fair. I wouldn't say Spike is one of my absolute biggest crushes, so I don't feel I can give him topmost marks, but when you read the rest of this...well...you'll see. ;)

"Cowboy Bebop" is a candidate for quite possibly the best anime I've ever seen. Not necessarily my favorite, mind you - that title goes to "Moriarty the Patriot" - but certainly one of the BEST. (To be fair, the two terms are NOT mutually exclusive...but I digress.) Naturally, one of the main things that makes it good is its main character, bounty hunter Spike Spiegel. He's also the only really STRONG kink crush I have in the series: throughout the show, Spike's appetite is kind of a constant presence. He and the other characters are frequently worrying about when and what they'll eat, and he's known to be a big eater in general. And considering he'll swallow his own cigarettes without a care in the world, it's pretty fair to say he's not the healthiest eater. I imagine, therefore, first of all, that Spike's belches (and his breath, besides) would have to REEK. Just this ugly stench of smoke and digestive corrosion from all the junk he piles into his stomach at irregular intervals. Naturally, because I am absolutely messed up in the head, this only makes me blush to think about. >///> Spike is another sort of trolling or annoying belcher. I can see him doing it just to irritate people, or even to show off. For example, he and the others on the crew are eating, and suddenly he just ERUPTS in this thick, rumbling, disgusting burp, sighing and lounging back as he rubs his stomach, grateful to FINALLY have a good meal in there...and when Faye comments on how gross that is, Spike just smirks and winks saying it's a compliment to chef. Jet - being the chef - just snorts, rolls his eyes...aaaand lets out a burp of his own to show Spike how it's done. Cue Faye facepalming and Edward giggling like a lunatic, while Spike and Jet try to outdo one another. XD

[iksidaorvali]

❛❛   cyrenna mertyns .  ❜❜   ― 🦄 ― men have never been of any interest to you, despite all efforts to win your favor (thank the gods for your parents support)... being a spare came with it’s blessings, never needing to provide an heir of your own granted you the choice to pursue the woman you loved (a pursuit that has led to twelve years of blissful marriage)... you see your late brother in everything your son does, from his bright eyes to his joy filled laughter (what a gift this connection to your once best friend has been)...

BASICS.

full name : cyrenna jeyne mertyns, née rogers

name meaning :

cyrenna : greek | “strong, powerful”

jeyne : herbrew | “god is gracious”

mertyns : dutch | “son of merten”

rogers : old english | “fame spear”

nicknames : rena

epithets : the unicorn of mistwood

titles : lady of amberly (formerly), lady of mistwood (currently)

gender / pronouns : cis woman / she/her

sexuality : lesbian

date of birth : twenty-ninth day of the fourth moon

age : two and thirty years

zodiac : taurus

place of birth : amberly, the stormlands, westeros

accent : english

languages : common tongue

allegiance : house rogers, house mertyns, house baratheon

religion : the faith of the seven

APPEARANCE.

faceclaim : zhu xudan

height : 5′6″

eye color : very dark brown, almost black

hair color : black

dominant hand : right

glasses : n/a

MEDICAL.

mental : insomnia, adhd

physical : n/a

PERSONALITY.

positive traits : affectionate, spirited, candid

negative traits : boisterous, oblivious, naive

hobbies : dancing, pressing flowers, planning events, caring for and playing with her son

RELATIONSHIPS.

parents :

ruling lord ___ rogers; father [ 60+ ]

ruling lady elenda rogers, née horpe; late mother [ 50, deceased 10 years ]

siblings :

lord heir ___ rogers; eldest brother [ 40-42 ]

lord ___ rogers; elder brother [ 36-39 ]

lord eldon rogers; late elder brother [ 33, deceased 2 years ]

extended family :

lady ___ rogers, née ___; sister-in-law [ 40+ ]

lady ___ rogers; eldest niece [ 22 ]

lord ___ rogers; eldest nephew [ 20-21 ]

lady ___ rogers; youngest niece [ 18-19 ]

house mertyns of mistwood

in-laws

house horpe of death's head

via her mother

spouse : lady ___ mertyns; wife [ 30-34 ]

children :  

lord pearse rogers mertyns [ 3 ]

pets : 

wyrm [ blue eyed lucy ball python ]

ADDITIONAL INFO.

quick facts :

cyrenna adopted her brother eldon's son following his death. she and her wife have been raising pearse as their own ever since.

super in love with her wife and will take any excuse to bring her up

more coming soon. i just wanna write.

biography :

doc coming soon

feel free to ask me anything, as this is a work in progress.

CONNECTIONS.

wife : idk man they’re just a couple of lovely ladies who are super in love and the proud mommas of a sweet little three year old boy. ➢ 𝐎𝐏𝐄���� 

[liroyalty]

I'm learning more & more that ships with Sue take off better when she feels like she's being chosen by her partner, not settled for. Where the partner sees her for who she is, not for her title or the benefits she would bring to the table, but for herself & have them go 'I like what I see, I want this one'.

That's probably why arrange marriages result in the slowest of slow burns, because she was not selected for who she is, she was selected because she is the only non-heir royal child to the Kingdom of Camellia. She is the most available & easily securable candidate when wanting to ally with a military strong & large nation. In most cases too, she wasn't even selected by the person she was marrying, but by their parents, so any semblance of that person 'falling in love with her' is seen as not real love; but as that person 'settling for what they were given/settling for the good of their country/believing this is the best they will ever get so might as well accept'.

She doesn't want to be settled for, she wants to be someone's first choice. She wants for someone to see all the options they have on their table & have them go 'This is who I want. She's everything I want, flaws & all. Suzanne Ying li Fiorenobila is who I want'.

[infintasmal]

Paimon / Dungeon

Paimon is the djinn of mad love and chaos, attuned to wind magic and reigned over the ninth dungeon.

Each dungeon was designed by the residing djinn as a trial for perspective king candidates, created in the image of the djinn itself and build into the abandoned shell of the djinn's former city in Alma Toran. Each dungeon is different, designed to bring out the djinn's personal ideals.

In Paimon's case, her dungeon is heavily centered around strong winds and the chaos that comes with it. Upon entering, the candidate will be faced with sharp cliff faces, perilously high and trecherous to pass. The wind blows from all directions, threatening to send the challengers toppling off the end. There are windmills scattered about (as seen in her underground city) which signal the winds direction. The dungeon is also inhabited by large, predatory birds, looking for a meal. In addition, there are many beautiful, bird like humanoids living along the cliffs. They sing and dance beautifully, enticing challengers to stray from the path with their hypnotic promises of lust and merriment. But once you're out of sight of your party, softened by wine and sex, they'll lull you into complacency before devouring you completely.

The key to Paimon's dungeon is in her title, love & chaos. In order to bypass the winds, you have to move with them. A tree that stands rigid in a storm is sure to break, but one that bends will survive yet. Not only do you have to take the time to be aware of the patterns through which the winds blow, listening and watching, but you have to navigate with them rather than fighting against it. Let the wind lead you down different paths, even if it seems that the other branch will be easier. If you fight against the gusts and defy it's direction, you're sure to fall. She wants to watch you dance with the wind's song. (think 'be the leaf' from legend of korra)

And if you can survive the winds, the next challenge will be to survive the creatures. The birds will rally if one of their own is injured so finding a way to appease them will work in your favor. Offering food or singing along with their calls are all options. If the challenger watches the birds, they'll notice that they know of safe spaces in the cliffs were they build their nests.

And as for the harpy-like individuals, it's best not to drop your guard. Trying to fight them will only incur their wrath. These people seem flesh and blood, but they're made from the wind and not so easily slain. If you give into your lust, following them off the path, you'll be killed. Their songs and dance are easily hypnotic and many have been driven to walk straight off the cliff without even noticing it. You can try to appease them with a dance of your own, but it's best to avoid them.

The other test you'll face is your determination and love for your companions. Entire battalions have been sent into Paimon's dungeon and none have survived. If you are willing to leave someone behind in favor of forging ahead, you will be targeted. Paimon would not ever pick someone who willingly sacrifices those around them or seeks victory on the backs of their 'friends'. When Hakuei was traversing the dungeon with Seishun, he was injured. Hakuei was given every opportunity to leave him behind in favor of an easier victory but refused to concede. That effort is what truly won Paimon over.

As for what Paimon's looking for in a candidate, she wants someone who's heart is full of love and determination. The love Paimon embodies is a wild sort, the madness of unbridled passion. Love is the warmest essence of chaos and the very best kind. She wants someone who will fight for that love, who is unafraid of the wild world around them. She wants to watch her candidate bloom with her power, who fights with Paimon's magic rather than using her as some unfeeling energy source. Respect is important. And, ultimately, she wants someone who will be fun to watch.

[eurovision-revisited]

2001 Copenhagen - Number 11 - Nuša Derenda - "Energy"

EMA in Slovenia bucked a trend in 2001. It managed to fill its card with quality acts in a variety of musical genres and pick a strong candidate as a winner. That candidate was Nuša Derenda aka Anuška Žnideršič with Energy aka Ne, ni res (No, not really). That's the English translation of the Slovenian titles, not an aside. Got it? Good.

Nuša has been singing since she was two and a half, and playing the accordion for not quite as long. She and her band have been touring Europe throughout the 1990s, but now she's solo and entering EMA. Her first entry in 1999 failed to impression, coming 9th and scoring 0 with an early Slovenian televote.

This second attempt is much more impressive. Energy is a high tempo disco throwback delivered with appropriate power and with two pianos on stage - even though the pianos are well down in the mix until the bridge when really go for it. The song is nearly all chorus. It gets repeated four times with the single verse sandwiched neatly between the second and third choruses. It's a song full of hook repeated until it's been forcefully implanted in your brain.

It's a smart approach and it saw the Slovene language version through a 22 song national final with 100% televote. Given Eurovision is also mostly televote, Energy was almost guaranteed a good result just thanks to this set up. With that and an English language version, it got one. Finishing seventh on the night in Copenhagen, tying with Darja Svajger for Slovenia's best ever result at Eurovision.

Nuša clearly couldn't get enough and went on to enter EMA on five further occasions, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see her again in the future. She also released at least seven albums throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, toured extensively including inviting Johnny Logan on stage at one of her concerts. She's also been a regular at various Slovenian music festivals winning Melodije morja in sonca, Slovenska popevka and Hit festival at least once each.

[luminouslion]

I have been searching for a multi chapter Marx-centric fic for quite a while now and I haven’t found a single one. Either there is none or I just haven’t found them yet (in that case I would be really grateful to anyone that can send me a link to a Marx centered fanfic that doesn’t have Julius and Marx in a romantic relationship together). So I’m writing my own! I hope you guys enjoy this.

Also all chapter titles are lyrics from the son Paralyzed by NF, which is the “theme” song of this fic!

Also important to know, while this is written in a third person pov it’s written from Marx perspective.

Summary : Atelophobia - The fear of not being good enough -

Or

Marx just started his training with the best Magic Knight Squad, the Grey Deers. Follow him through his journey of finding himself and understanding his own worth.

Warnings: Mentions of child neglect

Word Count: 812

Ao3 Link

Chapter 1: I'm Scared To Live, But I'm Scared To Die

The lake is calm today. White mist lays like a blanket above the dark water. Not a single movement is to be seen.

Marx Francois is sitting at the shallow lakeside. To everyone else, the lake may seem scary at this early time of the day, but not to him. To him, this is his safe place. The only place where he can be utterly alone, unbothered by his parents and the responsibilities that come with being a noble. Being the only child of the Francois house, his family has high expectations for him.

Though at the same time, Marx knows they look down on him. In a world where magic is everything, he was born with magic that doesn’t seem to help the general welfare in any way. On top of that, his magic is comparatively weak and no one really knows the true extent of it, not even Marx himself, because he never really uses it. He doesn’t see a reason to, and he is also afraid of what he might accidentally do to one’s memory if he loses control.

So most of the day he spends doing chores given to him by his parents, who are never around much anyway. He can’t really remember a time when they all spent much time together as a family. That’s probably also the reason he learned to love the loneliness. At least he thinks he enjoys being alone. But truthfully, he doesn’t really know what he truly enjoys anymore.

This lakeside is the only place where he feels at peace. But even though Marx starts to stand up from the abandoned dock he was sitting on. He needs to get home before his parents wake up, so he doesn’t get into trouble. He looks over the lake one last time as the mist slowly starts to disappear before he turns around and slowly walks towards the Clover Kingdoms Capital.

Even at this early hour, the streets of the Capital are already quite busy. Everyone is preparing the city for the Magic Knight Exams, which start in a few days. This year would be the first in which Marx could take part himself. But he doesn’t plan to. Ones a long time ago, he dreamed of becoming a magic knight himself. Defending the Kingdom like all of those strong men and women that seem so invincible. He soon learned that his dream was just that—a dream. Nothing more.

His magic is too weak and potentially too dangerous to ever be of use to the Magic Knights. Even if he tried out, no Captain would ever choose him as a new squad member. He would just make a fool of himself and his family. Besides, the Francois family is quite well known. Therefore, his parents would disown him if he damaged their reputation by failing.

Suddenly, distracted by his own thoughts, Marx bumped into someone, causing him to stumble backwards and crash to the ground. Looking up, he saw a tall man in white-grayish robes and blond hair standing there. His eyes widened in shock as the man turned around. He just ran into the captain of the current best Magic Knight squad, the Grey Deers. Julius Novachrono is well known throughout the entire kingdom for his grandiose actions and for being the most promising candidate for the new Wizard King. And this man is now standing right in front of him with a small, kind smile on his lips.

“Are you okay, kid?” He asked, offering him a hand to stand up.

Marx quickly got up, ignoring the offered hand. “I’m sorry, Sir! I’m fine. Thank you, Sir. I promise it won’t happen again, Sir!”

“It’s all right. Don’t worry about it. But say, what got you so distracted?” The Captain looked at him, squinting his eyes a little bit.

It makes Marx feel a bit uneasy. Like the other man is staring right into his soul. But he tries to ignore the weird feeling rushing through him.

“Nothing really, Sir. I was just lost in thoughts. It won’t happen again.”

“Ah, you are probably worried about the Magic Knight exams, right? Don’t be too nervous. Everything is going to turn out like it should in the end.”

“Oh, I’m not going to take part in the exam. It’s just not something I’m interested in.” Marx explains glumly.

He watches as the Captain's soft smile turns more sorrowful. “That’s quite a shame.”

He turns around and starts to walk away, leaving a confused teen behind.

Looking up at the sun, Marx realizes that it is already way too late and he needs to hurry to get home. On top of that his clothes are dirty from the fall and he most definitely won’t manage to clean himself before his parents see him.

Oh, he is going to be in so much trouble.

[esearchoffpagenew]

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[stephleb]

Your Guide to CNA Training in Bronx, NY: Everything You Need to Know

**Title: Your Guide to CNA Training in Bronx, ‌NY: Everything ⁣You Need to Know**

**Introduction:** Are you considering becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Bronx,​ NY? ‍If so, you’re in the⁤ right‌ place! This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to know⁣ about CNA training in Bronx, NY, including the requirements, benefits, and practical⁤ tips⁢ to help⁣ you succeed in your career. Whether you’re a resident of Bronx or looking to relocate‍ to pursue your dream of becoming a CNA, this‍ guide‌ will give you⁢ the information you need to get started on ⁤the path to‌ a rewarding career in healthcare.

**Benefits of CNA Training in Bronx, NY:** – **High Demand:** The demand for CNAs in Bronx, NY, and ⁢beyond is on the rise, providing ample job opportunities in various healthcare settings. – **Job Security:** As a CNA, you’ll​ enjoy job⁤ security and stability, as healthcare is an essential ‌industry that will always need skilled‍ professionals. – **Career Growth:** With experience and additional training, CNAs can advance their careers⁢ to become⁤ Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)‍ or Registered Nurses (RNs).

**Requirements for CNA Training ⁣in Bronx, NY:** – **Age:** Candidates must be at least ⁤18 years old. – **Education:** A high school diploma⁣ or GED is required. -⁣ **Background ⁤Check:** A clean‍ criminal background check is essential for admission to‍ CNA training programs. – **Health Check:** Candidates must provide proof of immunizations and undergo a physical exam.

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Remember to ​always check with your state department of education or health for the most up to date​ information⁤ on CNA training programs and requirements in Bronx, NY. ​Good luck on your journey to ⁢becoming a CNA!

https://cnatrainingcentral.com/your-guide-to-cna-training-in-bronx-ny-everything-you-need-to-know/

[feufo-search]

In today’s highly competitive and ever-evolving job market, attracting and retaining top talent is one of the greatest challenges companies face. The talent acquisition landscape has undergone significant changes, and businesses must adapt their strategies to stay ahead. Whether you’re a startup, growing company, or an established enterprise, building a skilled and motivated workforce is essential to your success. In this blog, we’ll explore some key strategies for hiring and retaining the best talent. Section 1: Recruitment Trends Shaping the Future of Talent Acquisition 1.1. Embracing Remote and Hybrid Work Models The workplace has transformed drastically in recent years, with remote work and hybrid work models becoming the new norm. Job seekers are increasingly prioritizing flexibility in their job searches, making it crucial for companies to offer options that balance in-office and remote work. Providing flexible work environments not only attracts a broader talent pool but also helps in employee retention, improving overall job satisfaction. 1.2. The Role of Technology in Recruitment With the surge in AI-powered tools and automated recruitment systems, businesses are able to streamline their hiring processes, save time, and enhance efficiency. Tools that assist in candidate sourcing, resume screening, and interview scheduling can help companies identify top talent more effectively. Automation also allows recruiters to focus on personal interactions, building relationships that can lead to long-term success. 1.3. Skills-Based Hiring More businesses are adopting a skills-based hiring approach rather than focusing solely on degrees or prior job titles. Identifying key competencies such as problem-solving, adaptability, and technical skills allows companies to find candidates who may not have traditional qualifications but can excel in the role. Skills assessments and competency tests have become essential tools in evaluating candidates for specific roles. Section 2: Strategies to Attract Top Talent 2.1. Strengthen Employer Branding Your company’s reputation plays a significant role in attracting top talent. A strong employer brand communicates your company’s values, culture, and opportunities for growth. Highlighting employee success stories, maintaining positive workplace reviews, and showcasing a positive corporate culture on social media can help build a reputation that attracts talent. 2.2. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits One of the top factors candidates consider when choosing a job is compensation. Offering competitive salaries, performance-based bonuses, and comprehensive benefits packages, including healthcare, retirement plans, and flexible time off, can make your company more attractive. Additionally, perks like professional development opportunities, wellness programs, and remote work flexibility help set you apart from the competition. 2.3. Develop a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace A workplace that fosters diversity and inclusion is more likely to attract a broad range of talented individuals. Ensuring that your recruitment process is free of bias and creating initiatives that celebrate different backgrounds and perspectives will help you build a more innovative and engaged workforce. Additionally, providing support networks and diversity training further strengthens a company’s appeal to candidates. 2.4. Leverage Employee Referral Programs Employee referrals remain one of the most effective recruitment strategies. High-quality candidates are often referred by existing employees who understand the company culture and requirements. Implementing a referral program with meaningful incentives can help your company tap into a network of skilled professionals and reduce time-to-hire. Section 3: How to Retain Talent in a Competitive Market 3.1. Invest in Employee Development Offering opportunities for professional growth is critical for retaining top talent. Continuous learning programs, leadership

development courses, and career pathing can help employees see a future within your organization. Providing access to mentorship programs and skills training not only improves employee performance but also boosts engagement and loyalty. 3.2. Create a Positive Work Culture A positive work environment plays a pivotal role in employee satisfaction and retention. Prioritizing work-life balance, offering mental health support, and fostering open communication help create a supportive workplace. Regular feedback sessions and recognizing employee achievements can further enhance morale and motivation. 3.3. Recognize and Reward Performance Employee recognition programs are essential to retaining talent. Implementing programs that celebrate employee contributions, whether through monetary rewards, promotions, or public acknowledgment, ensures that your team feels valued. Performance-based rewards encourage employees to go above and beyond, knowing their hard work is appreciated. Conclusion: Attracting and retaining top talent is no longer just about competitive salaries. It’s about building an inclusive, flexible, and supportive work environment where employees can thrive. By leveraging the right technology, promoting a strong employer brand, and investing in employee growth, companies can not only secure the best talent but also keep them engaged and loyal in the long term.