#styled much more like baking for fun than a class

[twisted-king]

Hi! Hello! I was wondering if you wrote any platonic hecs in twst? If you do, can you write gn!mc always finding a away to mention/talk about her home world? Maybe add a little bit of homesickness for angst👀.

Platonic hcs with the first years pls:>

Btw I really love you writing style!♡

AAAA oh my gosh thank you so much! I have no idea what im really doing aha...

Absolutely!!! here's a key:

Epel Ace Deuce Sebek Jack You

First year friend group + Reader who talks about home

They love you

they REALLY do

But this is excessive.

"Back at the farm we used to drink hot cider after a long day out in the snow, actually one time we-" "Heh.. like how my mom and I used to..." "Used to what?" "Oh its nothing... Just a tradition. We'd get together every Tuesday and go for bubble tea" "Oh..."

Epel understands feeling far from home, and he wants to try and relate with you but he doesn't know about half the stuff you're saying.

"hahah I got a higher score than you this time. Mayeb you shoulda studied a bit harder like lil ol me~" "Shut up Ace! It's a difference of like... two points!" "Two more points than you!" "oh you-" "My friends and I used to compare scores all the time, she always asked for help studying but.. haha she always got better grades than me."

They feel SO awkward when this happens

Deuce almost feels like he's showing off in some kind of way. He wants to be an honor student AND a good friend to you, so he's trying to creatre new memories with you, he's just having some trouble.

"Hey! I uh- I learned out to make one of Trey's tart! The one from the unbirthday party you liked so much?" "Oh thank you Deuce! It's kind of funny actually-" oh no,,, "My sibling and I used to bake for each other to say sorry."

Ace on the other hand is curious, but he kind of wishes you could be with the group sometimes.

"And then Lucius was like-- On top of Deuce- get this- while he was STILL sleeping" "No way..!" "Seriously?" "Hah- how pathetic, I NEVER fall asleep in Trein's... admittedly dull, lessons." "I used to have a dog, he could sleep anywhere"

And suddenly, it's quiet again...

Jack tries to keep your mind off things

He takes you out on relatively silent runs, he invites you to track meets, you can join or just watch him and Deuce! You've been looking a little down recently so, this makes sens to Jack, Deuce enjoys having you watch him run too, his friends give him extra motivation to beat his last personal best!

But... now you're crying?

Ohnowhatdoido.jpeg

Ace, Epel, and Sebek are on their way too, they wanted to do something nice for you and suprise you and -oh no...

They drop everything.

Your friends rush toward you, maybe you're hurt? you like... NEVER cry around them.

And suprisingly, Sebek can get you through the worst of it

"You're sad. and far from home. and that is hard. Especially for a pu ny huma-" "Sebek!!" "Right, uh... But we are here with you now. And we care for you."

"You're our best friend, I don't think anyone would be 'round here if it weren't for you."

"I don't feel as alone, riding solo just... wasnt it."

"'Sides, class isnt nearly as fun without you in it?"

"We really care about you, Prefect. You're our friend."

They gather around you, peacefully letting you cry after they let you know how muhc you mean to them.

"I just... I miss home so much..!"

[braxlrose]

Heyy i LOVE your writing your my of my favs writers

was wondering if u could do like hc of tom with a reader like childhood bffs to dating only if you can ❤

a/n: i love this trope so much so im so glad someone requested! imo it's one of the best and cutest tropes to ever exist. it's actually the one I'm using for my DR 💀 this is also kind of like a pt 2 for this post except with Tom instead of bill and there's not much mentioned of georg and gustav

childhood friends to lovers w/ tom

tom x fem!reader

• you met tom and bill when your mom moved you to Loitsche when you were 5 years old, right next to tom and bills house. their mother met yours when their mother went over to introduce herself to you guys. that's when she mentioned that she had a daughter the same age as her sons.

• that night, your mom brought you over there for dinner and you played with Tom and Bill. you guys had tons of fun and ended up becoming great friends that night.

• after that, you guys hung out every day and hung out at school. you were their new bestfriend and as I mentioned in this post, you helped them switch back and forth and confuse the teachers.

• the teachers were already used to their antics but with you, it just got worse and more complex. your mom scolded you a ton and ever had a fight with Tom and Bills mom because you kept getting into trouble but there was nothing they could do to stop you guys from hanging out.

• it was really hard to tell them apart when they were younger so you got relieved as they got older and started to have their own style

• you guys went bike riding all the time together and would ride for hours doing random shit

• you, bill, and tom would always go to the pet store to see all the cute little animals

• you would pick flowers for bill and make him a flower crown and even know tom refuses to admit it, he wishes you made him one too.

• both bill and tom were very over protective of you, but tom mostly. if he ever found out that anybody hurt you in anyway, he'd be pissed.

• you went trick or treating with bill and tom every year. (even though it wasn't too popular yet in the 90s in Germany)

• sharing and switching candy with them was a must

• you and tom were a bit closer than you and bill but you were still friends with both of them. it's not like you had a choice anyways.

• you always slept in toms bed whenever slept over (which was pretty much almost every night) and you two were always cuddling.

• bill and tom had bunk beds, so whenever you slept over you guys would put blankets around the edge of the top bunk and then tell scary stories

• you guys would sneak onto the ice cream truck and steal as much as you could. you'd always end up puking after because of how much you ate.

• you and tom would sit next to eachother every time in class and whine whenever you two had to move or got told to move because you guys were talking

• tom has a massive sweet tooth and you guys would steal stuff from the corner store

• you, bill and tom would hang out at the pool tons.

• you and tom would practice playing guitar allllll the time

• you were apart of the original "band" and played for weddings and other gigs with them

• you helped their mom bake a cake for their birthday every year and you always had so much fun with her. she even taught you how to write their names on a cake

• you went cd shopping with Tom for new cds and other old cds he didn't have.

• when tom had his first kiss (WITH A 16 YR OLD GIRL AT 9 YEARS OLD 😨😨😨) you didn't really know what to feel. you weren't even sure what you were feeling but you didn't like that he was kissing another girl

• you never said anything though, what could you even say?

• you and tom started out as just friends, no feelings at all not until you guys were pre-teens.

• as you guys grew older, tom and bill started getting girlfriends. you never dated anybody though; mostly because of your insanely massive crush on Tom.

• you basically just pined for him while he dated other girls. but you did feel nice sometimes. you got to see the side of him other girls didn't. you got to see how sweet and fun and nice he was with you. he was always different with you and if any girl had a problem with that, he'd drop them immediately.

• you got to sleep in his bed and cuddle with him and stay up late and hang out with him 24/7. they didn't get to do that, you did. and that gave you a sense of security.

• when the band started to actually become a band and you guys started getting more gigs, you and tom would always play next to eachother and even created your own style of playing with eachother

• you helped tom pick out his red guitar

• you and tom also have matching stickers on your guitars

• whenever girls flirted with Tom, you'd always get jealous and sometimes even try and steer tom away from them. like if they started flirting, you'd come up to tom and say "we need to get to band practice" or "Bill needs you for something" etc. etc.

• after a while, you'd come to the conclusion you just weren't his type and he'd never have feelings for you like you did for him.

• when tom first told you guys he lost his virginity, your heart dropped. tom, your tom, lost his virginity. you wanted to cry but you couldn't, they wouldn't get it, they wouldn't understand. so you just laughed along with the guys and make jokes.

• when durch den monsun came out, more and more girls were all over tom. but at this point, you'd gotten used to it. when you realized how many girls he was sleeping with, you just shoved all your feelings down and locked them away. feelings would ruin your friendship, right?

• your hotel room was right next to toms so you could hear basically everything they were doing. it was absolute torture. why couldn't tom see your feelings, why didn't he feel the same way?

• tom treated you like a little sister. it was awful. you wanted to cry everytime he called you dude or bro. he would never call you baby, or babe, or sexy. like he does other girls. he'd never see you like that.

• when you guys are at clubs, you try your best not to watch him flirt with other girls. it's easier that way. but along with that, you just end up getting drunk.

• tom would come running into your room at like 11 pm at night asking you for a condom. this became routine, and over time your heart shattered a little bit less only because you'd gotten used to this. used to him liking other girls.

• one night, while you guys were out at a club. you got sloppy. when you were drinking you ended up stumbling over to tom and dragging him to another room. and that's where you confessed to him down you were feeling.

• you ended up bawling your eyes out and saying how stupid it was because you know he'd never feel the same and that he doesn't want a serious relationship but you couldn't "help how you feel".

• tom took you back home that night and cuddled you and rubbed your back until you fell asleep. little did you know he felt the exact same way about you...

edit: I'm super tired and wanna go to bed, but let me know if you want dating headcanons for this bc I will do it, I'm just so tired.

taglist: @hearts4kaulitz @burntb4bydoll @spelaelamela @bored0writer @fishinaband @billsleftnutt @tokiiohot @bluepoptartwithsprinkles @saumspam @5hyslv7 @killed-kiss @memog1rl @80s-tingz @billybabeskaulitz @victryzvv9 @banshailey

[rassberrylips]

I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE MATCHMAKING STUFF? if its not i apologize 🙏 if you could match me with any of hayden’s characters i would jump with joy

looks wise information about me is that i’m like 5’10, so im definitely tall 😭 i tend to change my aesthetics a lot, mainly going between mall goth, y2k, and coquette. i tend to change my hairstyle very often alongside this, i keep the length the same/let it grow but i cut and regrow bangs every so often

personality wise, i’d say im the perfect mix of an ambivert, i enjoy being around people but only on my own terms. if someone else can, i’d prefer they talk to strangers for me though if i’m with someone else who’s introverted i have no problem talking to strangers for them. i’m trusting to a fault, i get called naive pretty often which is why i usually need someone with me so i don’t get myself into something stupid, though because i trust so easily it causes me to love very intensely. i really enjoy helping other people, i would consider it one of my passions, i want to become a therapist so i can help other people and am looking into majoring in counseling to pursue it, as well as wanting to take some classes on communications and politics. alongside that passion comes with a wanting to make everyone feel loved and valued

i HEAVILYYY enjoy fashion and makeup, trying out different looks is something fun for me, buying and trying to style different outfits is a major hobby of mine, its the main thing that stands out about me irl when people first see me. i enjoy baking as well, i like to share things with other people, food included. ive always really been into sci-fi and musicals as well

SORRY THAT WAS INCREDIBLY LONG thank you so much ahead of time 🤍

these are kinda gonna be different now like more scattered and headcannon-y than story-y

your match is ... scott barringer !!

♡ your his pretty little therapist

♡ he wouldn't admit it but he likes the amount of effort you put into your outfits because he puts in zero effort

♡ his favorite style on you is y2k because everything is low-waisted and sometimes he can see your underwear 👀

♡ scott is willing to order food for you, talk to your friends, and be mean to people for you so you don't have to say anything

♡ but when your alone he'll let you talk for hours 'cause he loves the sound of your voice

♡ laying on his bed with you telling him whatever's happening in your group-chat and playing with his hair

♡ every few minutes he will shoot up and gasp when something really crazy happens in your friend group

♡ he loves to cuddle like he is gripping you like a koala you have to beg him to get up and pee

♡ he's lowkey a jerk but we ignore red flags here 🤫

♡ scott loves when you bake for him, he thinks its so hot when you bring him a plate of special brownies in some low waisted jeans and a lace tank

♡ he lets you do the trend where you tie a ribbon around ur bf's bicep, you also tie one around his torso and thigh then you guys have to shut the door

♡ he loves to give hickeys and make sure everyone knows your his

♡ sometimes he gets annoyed by how friendly you are because he just wants to go home and cuddle and watch a movie

♡ he loves physical touch and to have his hand resting on your waist all the time

a glimpse into your relationship ...

a/n: hope you liked it you seem very polite anyways i got a little freaky sorry queen 🫶 still manifesting the boyfriend im desperate

[thetentaclecommander]

Thaks for the tag @damadisangue! Lesse:

When did you start writing?

I remeber as a lil tentacle in human 3rd grade writing this meandering, long, just where was this boat going like 25+ page story for English class and just had a ball in making up the story. I didn't care that the story was a hot mess, I unknowingly realized I liked lore building. But, I realized that after I wrote it one, I went way over what the class wanted cause of my overachieving tentacle tendency and two, that I hated editing, grammar and all the boring English stuff. I didn't try to write a story again till many years later and realized the story itch had come back to me.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading than what you write?

I actually, genuinely like slice-of-life and very inspirational/good vibes type of stories. But I simply like writing drama and assholes too much to write that sort of stuff often.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

My writing style recently got compared to the book House of Leaves. I need to read this but considering the few pages I've seen, I'm honored and can see the comparison at points.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

My big black desk with a standing desk attachment to force my tendriled self to get up, covered in paper that sometimes gets neatened only to get it ruined again due to time or my cat familar. Headset, dual monitors, pc w normal tentacle ergonomic peripherals, crystals, eldritch symbols covered in dark purple black ichor. Normal desk set up.

What's your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Do a ritual seance with burnt wormwood and channel into Nemesis' headspace. Find myself mentally projecting on the 56th astral plane with spoitify playing something dank and bizarre to mortal ears and chant ioioioioioio-

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

sheding of human fear sheding of human loss yet knowing such removal only brings more weakness to the fore the loneliness of being the only one the question of faith both internal and external to want is to long to love is to harm until you become one's true self free from greed, from selfish power games and inflicted misery and living in truth not lies strength in finding self not fighting for a control that isn't yours to demand no gods but us  no masters but us utter the lies the waking profane io io io

What is your reason for writing?

breathe and become as we only can bring you hope-

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

- oh and we're back. Sorry, I had a walk about and forgot to finish this. But I hope to be known as a trolly, yet fun author that challenges your sense of taste, and makes you question what is. Though, being known as that fucking persistant Nemesis and Jill shipper is good enough, lol.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Um, I can make up shit on the fly and not need drugs to do so, ig?

How do you feel about your own writing?

Eh, my pre 2010 stuff I think are lame but meaningful as my baby steps as one has to start from somewhere in this dimension?. I think I hit my stride in 2020 when I entered my erie sacrilegious era but so far, I'm pleased that my writing is passable and singularly me.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely for yourself, or a mix of both?

Pfft I've never given a damn about what is popular in the greater fandom or fleeting reading trends. Readers will get from me stories under my terms as I've had to fight tooth and nail to get to where I'm at and so, this tentacle writes for themself first and foremost and secondarily to entertain. I am a showtentacle at heart after all. I do enjoy when readers read, mind, but love it most when they take this betentacled offering from me and savor it, like really eat into it and see the wormy layers of plot and intricacy I've baked into there. Just envisioning them consuming, ingesting my work, feeling the trailing of my worms down their throat, into their belly to really get what I'm putting down is wonderful. Hoy, my minions! Feel free to join in! @naerwenia @vopecata @coiled-dragon @s-dei @lmshady

@depraveddove​ @the-bar-sinister​ @unchartedperils​ @sweet7simple​ @meltic-daze​

@misch3fbunni3​ @autistichalsin​ @villaindevotee​ @coffinliqueur​ @scroggles​

@goth-automaton​ @azulas-daddy-kink​ @katophoenix​

and whoever else wants to I'm not your parental aid (edit: what is with tumblr not tagging ppl ahhh)

[fatestln]

grace van dien.  29,  cis woman,  she / her   𐫱 ›   hey, isn’t that eliana finch ? rumor has it that they can be rather self-sacrificing and distrustful but hey, that’s just in their nature as a werewolf. they totally make up for it by being resilient and compassionate. if you’re looking for them, you can probably find them at their work as a cashier/barista at hallowed grounds.

🐺 BACKSTORY 🌻 MUSINGS 📌 PINTEREST 🌿 EST CONNECTS

I. THE ESSENTIALS.

NAME: eliana finch NICKNAMES: ellie GENDER: cisgender female. PRONOUNS: she/her. PLACE OF BIRTH: manchester, england SEXUAL ORIENTATION: undetermined – eliana has had male lovers, but with everything else taking her focus, she’s never given her sexuality much thought. ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: undetermined – potentially panromantic. SPOKEN LANGUAGES: english AGE: twenty-nine BIRTHDAY: october 25th, 1995. ZODIAC: scorpio EMPLOYMENT: cashier and barista in training SUPERNATURAL SPECIES: bitten werewolf FINANCIAL STATUS: lower middle class

II. APPEARANCE.

HAIR COLOUR: light brown hair HAIR STYLE: long, past her shoulders, can often be found in some sort of braid ( type 1C )  EYE COLOUR: dark blue IMPORTANT PHYSICAL FEATURES: scar on the back of her neck from where her father bit her as a toddler HEIGHT: 5'3 ( 160 cm ) BUILD: slim and slender PIERCINGS: both ears TATTOOS: none

III. FUN FACTS.

ONE. eliana has a HUGE sweet tooth. she can’t bake to save her life, but loves cakes, cookies and everything in between. TWO. while she is capable in her wolf form, her sense of smell has always been weaker than her siblings. THREE. eliana has an interest in gardening. she kept a tiny herb garden in the window sill of their new york apartment, and she’s always been interested in trying her hand at a larger flower garden.

IV. LIKES & DISLIKES.

LIKES: gardening, reading, making friends, learning new things, warm drinks, animals DISLIKES: loud voices, violence, isolation, conflict amongst her loved ones

V. ADDITIONAL.

HOBBIES: gardening, helping others DRINKING / SMOKING / DRUG USAGE: yes/no/no SOFT SPOT: her siblings FEARS: sudden loud noises, overly aggressive personalities COMFORTS: puppy piles, warm blankets, reading books by a fire or a bay window

VI. WANTED CONNECTIONS

the mentor - someone to take eliana under her wing as she transitions to her new life in portum and discovers what she wants to do with her newfound freedom. the teacher - eliana truly loves learning about the world around her and getting to better understand others. she has had little exposure to other supernatural creatures so now living in portum, she would want to learn as much as she could about the other supernatural species. the optimist - she’s a very positive person herself, and this would be a local that has a very similar outlook on life that she does. who chooses to see the bright side of life instead of focusing on the dark. a fast friend that makes eliana feel at home. (ronan) the rogue - someone that’s a little rough around the edges, but still has a heart of gold. they enjoy pushing eliana’s buttons, and she enjoys that they challenge her into expanding her horizons.  the past - after maren broke out of their new york apartment, eliana immediately took off in search of her. it took her almost 3 months before the town of portum revealed itself to her. this could be someone that she met during that time, or could be the person that brought her into town. this connection is open to multiple. the spark - they’re drawn to each other for reasons neither can explain. what it all means, eliana couldn’t even begin to say, but she finds herself in their orbit more times than she can count (kanda)

( next page )

[reliquiaen]

Alrighty! A bit late, but here's my gaming roundup of 2024. All the games I played (or, well, most of them, the important ones) and my general thoughts on each. You can see last year's here!

--

GAMES I LOVED!

Shadow Gambit The Cursed Crew:

This game was utterly magnificent. I didn’t have time to play it when it released in 2023 but it was so so worth it. The characters were so charming (I did not expect them to all be fully voiced but the whole game was! Outstanding!) and all their abilities were so much fun. I was consistently in a position where I was doing a mission and thinking ‘damn wish I had X character with me, that one ability of theirs would be helpful’ and it didn’t matter who I took with me, this was a constant thing. The levels were gorgeous and well laid-out, I do so enjoy this kind of stealth puzzle game, really I have no notes. Gameplay, art style, the fun quick save mechanic to rewind time, the characters, the story, the whole thing, top to bottom was a 10/10 from me. Might be my first real foray into this genre and it’s absolutely one of my faves, I’m keeping my eyes out for other games like it going forward. (2024 gave me Sumerian Six which I haven’t had a chance to play yet but it’s first cab off the rank 2025, you better believe.)

Planet of Lana:

Nice short little game – I enjoy those in between longer ones – with a delightful art style, Mui is there (love that guy). I’m not usually big on platformers, I find many of them require such precise inputs that they stop being fun and start being work, but Planet of Lana was more of a puzzle/platformer than a hardcore struggle. The visuals and world were so pretty, as well, I would love to know more about the world. Fully recommend this one if you’ve got a bit of time on your hands. (The achievements are 99% fine and cool to get but the not dying at all one is ROUGH buddy, avoid.)

Dragon’s Dogma II:

Game of the year for me. I know a lot of the criticisms about this one were for the microtransactions (which are absolutely pointless, you can earn it all in-game), the lack of monster variety (it’s about the same as the original base game, I do hope they add more in a DLC like they did with the first game), and the story being half-baked (a fair point, it was no better done than the first one, though they did seem to try at the start to have more plot). Oh, and the constant back-tracking, tedium of traversal and limited fast travel, which is like… half the point of the game anyway. Idk, I loved it because it was more of what I loved most about the first game. I enjoyed the hell out of its impenetrable mess of a story and the philosophical nonsense and it had a much chunkier end game with the Unmoored World (though I do wish you could hang out there longer and weren’t at the mercy of the time limit). Great character customisation, great classes, great combat, the pawn system was much improved. I had a blast with this one; DD2 and Shadow Gambit were the only two games this year I kept playing after 100%ing.

Kamaeru A Frog Refuge:

Cozy city builder wetlands repairer with adorable colourful frogs? Literally what the fuck that’s amazing! The story wasn’t anything amazing but lbr you’re not playing this for a deep and meaningful tale, you’re here for the fabulous art style and that really was the star of the show. The frog breeding was surprisingly not as tedious and horrible as I was expecting and decorating the areas was like… so satisfying? Without being super annoying and frustrating and grindy? Absolute gem of a game.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor:

Waited ages for this one to be in a playable state and I still wasn’t entirely sure my computer would run it or that it would be optimised enough not to crash all the time. But I risked it when it was on sale and it ran fine. Was definitely worth avoiding spoilers for, this was an improvement on the first game in every sense. The traversal challenge tears were annoying as all hell, and the sheer number of collectibles was… trying, but when movement is that satisfying it’s not the most annoying thing in the world. Exploring was a good time, the side quests were charming, combat was way more flexible with the different stances (I thought for sure that’d annoy the shit out of me but no, it was just really cool to be able to have these focused ways to build Cal out.) I’m not sure how it’ll run on most systems, but my laptop is getting long in the tooth so I’d say if you can grab it cheap, you might as well, the story was rock solid.

Dredge The Iron Rig DLC:

This was more of the exact awesomeness from the last two instalments. I’m really enjoying how they’re expanding the world out and I will keep devouring each new section as long as they’re willing to provide more. More creepy fish, more relaxing minigames, more variety in biomes, more eldritch monstrosities. This game is honestly such a masterpiece that was made special just for me, I love it.

Still Wakes The Deep:

Banger of a game. Walking simulator, yes. But the atmosphere, the horrors, the creeping around to avoid the tentacle beasts, the weird pulsating flesh plant. The not knowing how much is real and how much is the Dread sinking in already. Is Caz an unreliable narrator because he’s hallucinating from the horrors? Are we experiencing things accurately? Is the ending literal or is there room for interpretation? Who knows! Really fucking enjoyed this. Normal ass person versus incomprehensible horrors the sneaking simulator is a genre I’m really starting to believe we need to embrace as a culture. (I’m hoping to try Nobody Wants To Die at some point in 2025 solely because Still Wakes The Deep was so good and convinced me to try it.)

Sea of Solitude:

This was a lovely little 3d platformer about depression and moving on and forgiveness. It was cute and sweet and felt very personal since you were unravelling all the traumas and issues the main character has with her family. There’s this huge idea that loneliness/isolation turns you into a monster and that plays out visually in some wonderful ways. Definitely have a look at it if you’ve got a few spare hours and enjoy that style of game.

Duck Detective The Secret Salami:

Gruff duck solves silly crime in an office building? Charming characters, you get to decide the outcome. I am literally so chuffed to find out there’s a sequel coming 2025. I will be all over that when it releases.

Alien Isolation:

Can you believe I preordered this and then spent an entire decade procrastinating actually playing it? Because that’s the truth. I have the Scout xenomorph items in TF2 to prove it. I was such a fucking scaredy cat about playing this game but I finally got my shit together and played it this year and omg. 1) I was right to be piss scared, and 2) I am SO GLAD I finally played it, what a masterpiece. The alien is my best friend and the working joes can fucking die. Nina Taylor deserved better. I need to know if Verlaine survived (I would also like to own her shirt, something I would unironically wear). Literally this game is a masterpiece I have no notes. As a fan of everything Alien, this was the exact game I have always wanted. Now I just need a game that lets me properly live out the fantasy of being the xenomorph and murder hoboing my way through a settlement or something and worshipping my queen mother. I think it’s my favourite kind of horror game when the combat is pretty minimal and you’re encouraged to avoid the big bad rather than confront it. I know there’s a Jurassic Park game in this style coming and an Isolation 2 which I will hopefully not put off for a decade this time.

Tiny Glade:

Haven’t played very much of this game yet but it’s absolutely charming and delightful. The building mechanics are so smooth and the 1.0 build does a lot that I felt was missing in the beta (I did play a lot of the beta). This is gonna be a very important relaxation game this year after work I can feel it.

Dragon Age Inquisition:

This is a replay; when this released originally back in 2014 I played it and vigorously disliked it. I didn’t really like Inquisition in comparison to Origins or II, I liked the characters less, the story felt fairly uninteresting, and the combat was more action-focused which I bounced off of at the time. Replaying it in 2024 and 100% all the achievements and DLC (which I didn’t have the first time round and didn’t go back to when they dropped), I’m having a more positive experience but I do still think of this as the weakest Dragon Age game.

I still don’t feel as invested in any of the characters like I was in Origins or II – returning characters are bringing baggage with them, the version of Leliana and Morrigan I left in Origins are not quite the same as the ones I’m meeting here and although I love them both, it’s a weird feeling to be interacting with them again like this. Cullen has annoyed me for 10 years and the more heroic version of him presented here compounds that, I will never forgive him. Varric and Cassandra are fine. I enjoy Vivienne and Dorian and Sera and Blackwall a moderate amount. I enjoy having them on my squad to hear them banter, but I otherwise have very little interest in them. I think Blackwall had a really interesting personal story but I don’t think enough has been done with it and that’s a shame. I find Sera a bit one-note in that she’s defined by her humour and “incomprehensibility” which bugs me because I find it hard to imagine how friendships work with her outside a very limited sort of personality match (and how come she’s the only character we’ve ever met who talks like that?). My point is I don’t feel like these characters were afforded quite the same depth as previous sets of companions and that’s where I derive the majority of my enjoyment in these sorts of games. If I’m not invested in the characters around me and I can’t picture my protagonist being friends with them (regardless of, or in spite of, personality differences) then you’ve lost me. I have romanced Sera, Blackwall, and Josephine in various playthroughs and at no point did I feel like this was… important to my character, let’s say.

The gameplay has grown on me. I miss spirit healer for mages, but the variety of new stuff for archers and melee characters is very satisfying, and as I’ve played a wider variety of games with a breadth of different combat styles, I find myself appreciating Inquisition’s combat more. That’s really all I have to say. It’s more engaging in a moment-to-moment way, it’s a bit more hands-on when you try out companion skillsets, and being able to respec skill points to try out new things is always my preference. I played a rogue (leaning heavily into bow and arrow) and a mage (knight enchanter) and had a lot of fun with both.

The story still isn’t much to write about. Corypheus reminds me a lot of the hoop-headed guy from Andromeda whose name I always forget: I’ve played Inquisition twice now and I’m still not sure why they made him the villain when there were plenty of other things to focus on. The fallout of Anders’ actions not the least of them. I enjoyed the world-ending threat of the Blight in Origins, and I enjoyed the more grounded people-driven conflict of II, Inquisition felt like it was trying to have the best of both and failed because of its indecision. At least to me. I know Corypheus was set up in II and that his lore was clarified and all that and it’s interesting in its own way (Sera’s reaction to elf gods and the Maker both being real is the highlight, I think) but for the most part Corypheus felt – TO ME – like a sort of unnecessary stepping stone on the way to something else.

Replaying it, I enjoyed it more, but a lot of my original gripes haven’t changed. I still think the story was a disservice to the set up from DA2, I still think Corypheus was a villain with very little to compel him, I didn’t fall in love with any of the new characters. The regions were large and empty and the crafting was tedious because of how much farming you had to do. In the ten years since it released, I have come around on a few points, there are some subtle narrative beats that have merit, I like the Inquisitor themselves as a protagonist more than I did initially, and so forth.

Dragon Age Veilguard:

Is DAI still the weakest now that Veilguard is out? Idk to be quite honest. I enjoyed the characters, traversal, and combat in this game way more than DAI’s offering. But the story and writing was much weaker overall. The art style is not the problem I have with the game, I think it’s fine, actually; but the intense therapy-speak and lack of any real depth and nuance is a real slap in the face. None of the characters are actually allowed to be stupid or mean or make mistakes on screen. Sometimes they refer to mistakes they’ve made or bad things they’ve done, but it’s all filed back and polished to a marketable shine that really peeves me. I don’t need Dragon Age to look gritty and dark, but I would love to see it return some of that complex grey morality that so defined it in the first two games. I miss being able to encourage my teammates (or myself) to make horrible choices, to be horrible people. I miss the ‘no right choices’ of DA2 in that nothing you do really matters it all sucks in the end; and I miss the ‘no right choices’ of DAO in which there’s no black and white to be seen only shades of grey and the justifications you tell yourself to help you sleep at night. I enjoyed Veilguard, but it’s not the Dragon Age game I wanted and I’m starting to think we’ll never get another one.

I feel like I have more to say about DATV, but not the energy or interest to really bother. Most things have been said already and more eloquently by other people. I wasn't as disappointed with the game as I was afraid I would be, but it also didn't exactly blow me away. It was a solid 6/10 RPG game, but a pretty lousy 1/10 as far as Dragon Age goes.

Jurassic World Evolution 2:

I now have all the many, many DLCs for this so I started it before Christmas but haven’t finished it yet. So far it’s a lot of improvements on the first game, a lot more dinosaurs and a few of my faves added. I’m absolutely loving the aquatic environments and the greater flexibility the aviaries/lagoons have in this one. The lagoon decorations still suck though and there are a lot of little design things I wish were added. But overall it’s just more dinosaurs and that’s all I’m here for.

--

GAMES I’M MIXED ON!

Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth:

I think this might’ve been my most played game of the year? Weirdly? Ended up with 200+ hrs in it and I STILL didn’t even finish both halves of the story. I finished Cyber Sleuth but not Hacker’s Memory and at this point I don’t know if I have the strength to go back and do it. I love Digimon and I love this game. I love doing all the work to evolve-devolve-evolve my Digimon into the perfect fighting machine. I love having my faves follow me around everywhere. But MAN the grinding to get anywhere is rough buddy and idk if I have it in me to do that again for Hacker’s Memory. We’ll see. Cyber Sleuth was a blast though and if nothing else I’m glad to have finished it finally.

Horizon Forbidden West:

I wrote about all my many mixed feelings on HFW here earlier so if you wanna read more specifically, have a look. Otherwise, the gameplay improvements, QOL additions (bottomless storage my beloved), and new machines were fantastic. I enjoyed Aloy’s story arc this time around and liked (to various degrees) the new characters that were introduced. The overarching story was a massive whump for me though, just didn’t hit right. Read my other post for the nitty gritty. I’m not as excited about the inevitable sequel as I might’ve been before playing but I’ll still watch out for it with cautious… No, that’s it. I’ll watch cautiously. Maybe they can make part 3 something more narratively enjoyable but I won’t hold my breath.

The Shore:

Another walking sim but not as good by far as SWTD. It was obviously made with a much smaller team and budget, but it still tells an interesting story through a Lovecraftian lens and has a good ocean horror vibe. Some parts were frustrating due to the clunky mechanics and lack of any kind of explanation as to what needs to be done, but it was fine, not a waste of two hours or anything.

--

GAMES I DIDN’T ENJOY!

Pyre:

It was nice. Really pretty art style and I love the animation, Supergiant always makes such good looking games. I simply did not vibe with the weird soccer gameplay. As my brother so wisely put it: “Supergiant just ain’t the dev for [me].”

Grime:

Look. Listen. Buddy. This is a metroidvania and I’ve LEARNED that they are not the genre for me. I know that. But the VIBES!! I had to give it a go and I enjoyed what I played! The art style is excellent, the combat was chunky and satisfying, the biomes were delightfully weird and grotesque. It was great. Just not for me.

Sunless Sea:

You see, I didn’t realise this was going to be sorta rogue-like in nature, I thought it was story driven, a slow adventure with detailed management mechanics. But no. It’s a live, die, repeat from the beginning deal and I am just not interested in that gameplay loop.

--

Onward to 2025! I've already got about 8 games ready to go and I want to finish JWE2 in January so wish me luck!

[basedkikuenjoyer]

I wanted to take a brief pause after VII, just to talk about hallmarks of Dragon Quest as a series. Because we are leaving the era where these games are a driving force in developing the JRPG genre. Like...I know when I do the final ranking I'm going to put II much higher than most. Because I earnestly feel II is one of those very special games that developed so many things that became ubiquitous you take it for granted. This does not mean VIII, IX, and XI are bad by any stretch. I'd compare it to The Simpsons; your purpose has changed in a world full of imitators. What was revolutionary is not comforting and timeless.

Sadly this does mean we'll lose a few elements that didn't translate into the next generation. Eventually the designers behind the series started following norms competitors innovated. So before we go on to VIII and it's massive legacy, a few favorite hallmarks I didn't get to cover:

One of the most iconic features here since the first that's just as fun in XI. Metal Slimes. So many have tried this and none work as well as the original. Rare version of a weak enemy that nets massive experience. The catch? They're quick to flee and while they have only 3-4 HP their defense is maxed out. Enough you might do 1 damage on a hit. Then later games introduce different, stronger varieties. If you need to grind, the metal slime family always feels like a fun little mini-game to shorten it. And the developers are smart about where their hotspots are usually. If you see one in a new area, it's worth it to try and bag a few first pass.

Dungeon Philosophy. I hate this has fallen by the wayside in favor of following Final Fantasy's style. Early on, you had to approach dungeons like an old school D&D module. You're not doing it first try. It's all part of the fun baked into what happens on a loss. You just go back to the last King/Priest you saved at and lose half your money. The dungeons are designed around this, if it's a tower you can just hop off and go back to town. But you'll have to make a few runs at the labyrinth to figure everything out and learn the optimal path. Especially with...

Random encounters having some teeth to them. This has diminished over time but game design in general has gotten easier so I don't fault DQ for it. But in those early ones, yeah random encounters can be brutal. You need to consider spells like sleep or fog that'll spare you some hits cheaply. If you flee and fail you lose a turn like a lot of RPGs but not every monster will go so it's more viable sometimes. All together, simple but tight design. A dungeon in early Dragon Quest feels like a real challenge of balancing resources like MP. This is why I love III so much, the class system plus peak design philosophy makes everything work so well as a total package. Your party comp will determine which parts are hard or easy.

Decisions on equipment. This is subtle but very cool in practice. Unlike a lot of JRPGs, in these early Dragon Quest games you're going to have to grind a lot to get every new piece of equipment you can buy immediately. Which will feel even worse if something is rendered obsolete with a dungeon treasure. You're not expected to. When you first get to town you decide what felt like it needed to be bolstered the most, then go on and start taking on the dungeon expecting to need a few trips. When you're ready to leave, decide if you want to polish it off here or try your luck with a headstart on the next town. Later games have replaced this with a crafting element I like, so it's more of a lateral move.

[studestael]

Hello! ❄️

I'm Toni and I've been your Santa! This is my main blog (since you can't send asks from side blogs), but I participate in SRS with my personal/multifandom blog @thespiritualmultinerd !

I've been enjoying being your santa, and I'm glad to hear it was mutual!

To answer your last reply:

Yes, writing stupid things are great! :'D

I would love to see your drawings if you want to show them 😊

And oh my, that's you in the photos?? Talk about stylish!! I love the vibes ✨ My own style can vary quite a lot depending on my mood and the season, but it tends to be along those lines too! If I'm dressing up in the winter it tends to be a nice pair of trousers, buttoned up shirt and dress shoes, possibly with suspenders and my trustworthy pocket watch. For casual I might wear a band T-shirt and trousers, and I have a dramatically long brown cardigan that is awesome for the winter season. And then I have two nice wool coats for outerwear, a brown felt hat and one brown leather cap (wonderful when it's cold!), dark brown leather gloves and leather boots. I wear almost exclusively warm colours, lots of brown and green but I also love rust, red and petrol! In the summer I tend to dress a bit more hippy-ish, and for Christmas eve I rock a red rockabilly dress and high heel sparkling ruby slippers! I love the quote by Algernon from Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest: "If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being always immensely over-educated" 😄

Your job sounds like a lot of fun! At least you're in the right line of work, it sounds like, and that is good. (I currently study half time and work the rest as a substitute teacher, and though I feel like I'm being useful and do learn a lot, I also so very much feel that I don't belong there most days and very much miss being around artsy people). I've also been rather lost (haven't had a professional acting gig in years for example, and miss it so much), but one thing I've found regarding life and work is that, you know... you don't have to pick one thing to do. You can do so many different things, and you can always change path. In my experience, focussing on things that you enjoy doing and being patient tends to lead you along the right path ^^ If you miss performing, perhaps it's a good idea to focus on finding a way to perform again, whether it's on a professional level or not? Roads that other people have paved are not always right for us, and sometimes it takes some letting go of those made up rules to find our own paths. That's my advice - that you didn't really ask for, so take it or leave it, hehe! But I hope you will find your place eventually (I think you will).

Well! I'm finishing writing this at nearly three at night - there never seems to be enough time during the christmas days! I baked a cake today (with ginger, cinnamon and banana) and my best friend came over and we exchanged gifts. I hope that you are having a great and relaxing time, whatever you've been doing today and are doing tomorrow! ❄️🎄

hello toni :^) so happy to finally meet you!! sorry for answering this late, i was traveling with my parents for the holidays. i went to spain and then to my grandparents in the south-west of france!

i'll send you a message right after answering this ask to show you the drawings!

thank you very much <3 haha i totally get your style, sounds pretty class! i also dress differently in the summer btw, i tend to wear hawaiian shirts, a bucket hat, a cowrie necklace and stuff like that. i like to say i'm a cowboy in winter and a surfer in summer, which makes me an hawaiian cowboy :^)

thank you for the advice, that's very nice and comforting! i am more and more reconsidering this career cause i know i need more time to do things; working monday-friday for 35h/week isn't for me. i'd rather work less in a shitty job (that would pay more than the one i have anyway) AND have time to perform or at least practice, than working and getting too tired to do anything once at home

anyway as i said, i'm going to send you a private message so see you in a second!

[inconsideratekidney]

10/22/24

good evening y'all,

question (/hot take?): do you prefer toaster ovens or air fryers?

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i'm curious why people put stickers on poles and other public structures. why do they waste good stickers on public spaces? sure i don't want a furry sticker or an anime one, but someone does, so why do people throw them up everywhere? i'd say keep them if you bought them! i know some are advertisements, but i see the same furry wolf sticker every week and do not need to see it. if you like it, keep it or advertise it on your own belongings, not on a public space.

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can you get along with someone who is very similar to you? do you just get someone that is very similar to you or do you clash and butt heads often? for me it depends on the person and the differences (wow, no shit!) but like seriously, yeah.. if our differences are that we both share the same trait, but in different ways, then yeah we're bound to actually be more different, but when we both have the same personality and humor is works out nicely. it's either water and oil or bread and butter. now i want some bread and butter, ooooh, no i want garlic bread.

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how does one achieve that tomboy aesthetic, while also maintaining femininity? i've had this problem since elementary school, believe it or not. i can't tell if people think i have it all together fashion-wise cuz i don't. i often see people wear similar things every day and have a general style--even if that style is extraordinary and extravagant or if they're gender fluid--i still see somewhat of a pattern, but what do they think in their heads? i'm constantly annoyed when a fit doesn't eat and also isn't comfy. it irks me that a fit is just mid and plain and stupid. when i put effort into it and it just looks like i did nothing or like i cant match a style to my body type. i still don't know what my body type is and what style would look best.

i did actually find myself recently thinking of friends and others i see on a regular basis and what clothing i would put them in or what i think would look best on them and it's honestly so much fun, until i can't focus on it for very long. i cannot daydream or fantasize on purpose which is rough when i actually have cool ideas. i wish my brain let me focus on one thing, then i'd have more to write about in this section. womp womp.

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one second i crave chocolate, and the next i crave cheese. what is up with that?? i really want one of those cheddar baked-on bagels ever since i saw someone eat it yesterday. i know i won't like it, but i want to have it. i also really love brie now. has anyone else been getting those cooking videos where all they do basically is bake garlic and smear it on bread with brie or make pesto and smear that on, drizzle a shit ton of olive oil at like every step and tons of salt and pepper at the end. crazy how at one point i saw so many of those videos and they just stick with me. love them, but they do bamboozle me. one account can just label themself as a cooking channel, but mostly post the same garlic recipe five thousand times. i will like every single one they post, but will still be annoyed they know how to get people like me. i am still shaking my fist at the stupid good algorithm.

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i wrote something yesterday while walking to class and added a bit more to it:

something about the warmth of the wind and the liveliness of the swaying flora around summoned her attention to the auburn leaves and singing fronds about. suddenly the depths of the internet mattered no more than benign particles floating just out of sight. her gaze traveled to the earth around calling out for one glimpse of recognition. one existence waiting peacefully to be noticed and appreciated by the bumbling folks who don't often pay any mind to the beauty around them. only then when her breath come back into her body did she realize she had forgotten everything prior to this moment. she took it all in, breathed in and out, and continued about her day.

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it is a struggle for me to not pick up leaves off of the ground lately. i'm kinda addicted to leaves rn. got a whole bunch of them sitting on my window sill..i'm not kidding, there's probably at least 20 or 30. and i love them all. all so beautiful in their own ways even with their "imperfections" which are totally perfect to me. i love every leaf i see on the ground, but especially the vivid orange and red ones. i do love a good brown and green leaf as well tho, gotta represent my favorite colors.

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anyshways, i felt like this was a good blog. it felt genuine and not over the top ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

tldr?: it didn't feel that long, but there's always someone who thinks it is

toaster oven or air fryer?

stickers in public

opposite persons

tomboy/feminine style

food...

something i wrote

leaves!!!

idk if these tldr's are useful or not, but i like summarizing and it keeps me on track knowing i gotta write one so i don't go on and on. maybe i should put these at the beginning, but i don't wanna. >:(

guten tag,

kD >:p

[canichangemyblogname]

As a trans person who simply exists on the internet, sometimes I run into posts by desperate closeted trans people asking for advice like “I don’t want to be trans; can I fix myself” “How do I stop thinking trans thoughts” “How can I make my trans go away” etc.

When they ask other trans people, the answers are usually very empathetic. Starting with things like “I know this is hard” and often including suggestions that someone see a therapist, telling them they may not be ready to address their dysphoria, but talking to someone about their struggle with identity helps. It also helps for them to seek help for suicidality or self-harm, as a professional can help start treating their depression and anxiety. They’ll also provide practical advice for people who don’t want to transition, understanding that not all trans people do, or who cannot transition due to life circumstances. Things like:

Remember to eat fruits and veggies. Seriously. Well rounded and full meals will help your brain :)

It might be hard to leave your house, but try to go outside. Find somewhere private and soak in some sun and listen to the wind. (But don’t forget the sunscreen!)

It you can afford to, run your shower before getting in to let the mirrors fog up.

Get a haircut or style; it’ll help, honest.

Don’t forget to go for walks, it relieves stress.

Ask people to call you a nickname, you can do that without outing yourself or degendering yourself -> “Mr. Smith is my grandfather, call me [insert nickname].” “Ma’am is far too formal, just call me [insert nickname].”

Try to stay off the internet. There are a lot of cruel people on here. But do try to join a hobby class, if you can, or classes at a local community/fitness center. (If I’m exercising, I only shower and change at home. I also use the bathroom before I leave my house.) If you're a resident, some things may be free!

Replace suicidal thoughts with silly goofy or fun ones. Rather than, “I’m gonna off myself,” say “I’m gonna… sing the ABCs” or “I’m gonna… bake cupcakes,” and then do it.

Find queer spaces to exist in. You don’t have to be out nor do you have to out yourself. Non-queer people—allies—accompany queer friends or partners into these spaces all the time.

Find friends who don’t judge people who transgress certain rules of gender. You’ll feel a lot shittier among people who make fun of (cis) women with short hair or (cis) men with painted nails. The more strict they are about gender, the worse you’ll likely feel.

If you’re comfortable doing it, bind or pack. Wear clothes you feel comfortable and confident in, and try not to think too much about what others want of you. Remember: you’re not the problem, the way larger society views non-conformity is.

Read a good book. Listen to your favorite album. Try to do things you genuinely enjoy. Try not to let others’ perception of you rob you of joy.

The advice is often about prioritizing taking care of oneself and trying to make life a little easier with the understanding that queerness can be hard. Or about finding spaces that aren’t hostile to people’s differences. A lot of the suggestions come from exercises they themselves learned in therapy. They’ll provide the asker with mindfulness tips and tips on showing themselves compassion, patience, and gentleness.

But when they ask these same questions of cis people or predominantly cis spaces, they receive genuinely and incredibly harmful suggestions like:

pray three times a day <- this will help no one deal with their distress, no offense, and only encourages stigmatization

get off TikTok and Tumblr and stop hanging out with the people in your life <- this advocates for total isolation, which WILL NOT help someone’s mental health

something suggesting some form of avoidance learning or negative-reinforcement, like “every time you have these thoughts, slap yourself on the hand or wrist or arm to stop them” <- this encourages self-harm, something we should not encourage in anyone who reports struggling with anxiety or depression, while other suggestions under this group often encourage people to seek out literal torture, like electro-shock.

Some advice on extreme dieting and exercise <- this often encourages body-image issues, eating disorders, and starvation.

Some advice that recommends/encourages conforming to sex-assigned (at birth) gender norms, like “you’re a female, so start wearing dresses again; you’ll learn to love them in time” or “become a mother; you’ll find your true calling and happiness.” <- not only does this category often encourage sex segregation and discrimination, but also regressive views about women

^^^These are also ALL suggestions that have been PROVEN not to work through decades of studies. It’s literal quackery. And a lot of these answers from cis people are also often accompanied by some reductive assumption about gender, like “if you’re a MAN but you never played with Barbies as a kid, then you were clearly never a girl 😤🙄.” Hello??? Playing with dolls does not “make” a girl. And yet these same people would call a (cis) boy who does play with dolls a “girl” or a “sissy.” If a cis boy plays with dolls, he’s a girl, but if a trans girl plays with dolls, she’s a boy and reinforcing gender norms. Yet if a cis girl plays with dolls, she’s “just being a girl” and is a “girl’s girl.” OR “My daughter thinks she’s a boy, but she never liked Hotwheelz.” WHAT??? Huh? Boy is when Hotwheelz? This is how y’all live life? It’s almost as if… only trans people are held to this impossible standard and only kids who transgress sex-assigned gender norms are consistently degendered in an attempt to force gender conformity and current power structures.

But, sometimes, instead of harmful advice, these individuals receive general (and often still harmful, as they encourage stigmatization) platitudes like:

You’re just depressed and unhappy with your lot in life. Learn to accept what you got <- cool? how? How do they go about addressing their depression and accepting their lot in life? Real solutions, please.

Just ignore it <- They’re asking because they, can’t, Janet. What sort of advice is this?

“Man up” <- this is a completely useless and meaningless phrase

“Don’t normalize thoughts like this” <- okay??? This is literally another version of “just don’t think about it.” There is no real solution here for the individual.

“You’ll grow out of it.” <- How? They have come to your forum asking how because they haven’t. The same goes with any platitude like “It’s just a fad.”

“You’re just weird, embrace that instead” <- There’s another word for that: queer. If they’re embracing their “weirdness,” that means accepting they’re trans and likely transitioning. Despite the way you’ve phrased this, it is not the anti-Trans advice you think it is.

“Sex is an immutable biological and body reality. You’re lying to yourself, just accept who you really are” <- this is absolutely a platitude because, again, how? What advice do you have outside regressive views on women and literal torture? Sometimes you might get, “A girl can have short hair and still be a girl,” as a follow up. And… okay. The person who has come to your forum for advice *is* going to roll their eyes at this because they don’t believe what you’re assuming they believe. They’re going to understand that just as long hair did not make me a girl, short hair does not make me a man. I’m just a man. You’re arguing with a strawman. Your statement is ultimately meaningless.

“Good therapy doesn’t seek to change the body to conform to the mind, but change the mind to accept a simple reality: your gender (sex) is inherent and natural.” <- And what does this therapy look like? Getting antidepressants? Okay. Trans people get that through gender-affirming therapy, too. How is yours better? What do you do differently that is supposedly “superior” to current practices? Once you help them work through their childhood trauma and their CPTSD with “talk therapy” or CBT or DBT, and they’re also managing their depression and anxiety through meds and therapy (all of which is addressed and provided in affirming therapy, btw), and yet they are STILL dysphoric— the last thing (and likely primary thing) on the list driving their distress— and still having “trans thoughts,” would you then consider transition as the next step in their therapy? Or would you continue to insist that there is something wrong with their “brain,” because at that point, then, you’re admitting that you see transness as the mental illness that needs to be “cured” through “therapy,” as opposed to the depression that’s being treated. And do you know what this form of “therapy” is called? Conversion therapy. And it’s literal quackery. Meaning, you also aren’t providing anything outside a platitude and the suggestion of undergoing torture and humiliation.

“Gender is not immutable; it’s a social construct.” <- Yes, and? Are you just repeating things simply to repeat things? The same goes for sexuality and sex. Are you operating under the assumption that we humans can exist socially and in a society without social meaning or constructs? Because that’s quite the contradictory and unsustainable ideology as even a hermit is defined by a relationship to society. Or are you operating under a strawman assumption that holds Trans people believe gender isn’t social? Either which way, this is meaningless in the context and unhelpful.

Just the dichotomy in advice and solutions for trans people in distress should be enough evidence of who is engaging in good faith and who is operating from bigotry. 💁‍♂️

[erin-gilberts]

Getting to know you asks 🤗....

1. What's your go-to treat/snack (coffee/tea, cake/ muffins/cookies, etc)?

2. Would you rather hang out with friends indoors (shopping, arcade, hanging out at home, etc) or outdoors (goof off at the park, take a hike and chat, go to flea markets, etc)?

3. What are 5 of your favorite movies?

4. What are some artists you can listen to on repeat?

5. What's a fun/interesting fact about you?

Sincerely that drive-in mutual 😌👻🚫🎟

Hello @wanderingnelipot! I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to answer your lovely ask. It's been a particularly rough couple of months, but I would still love to chat and get to know you better if you're interested!

1. My go-to treat is an iced latte! I used to have a pretty regular routine that on Fridays, I would always go to a local cafe after spin class and have an iced latte and an avocado toast. Cookies are always a good cozy snack for me, and I'm also partial to niche baked goods...whatever a cafe or restaurant considers their specialty and is really proud to be known for. I'm back in my hometown now and my favorite lil place currently has some phenomenal seven-layer bars.

2. I'm down for all kinds but I definitely love adventures. This week, I had a friend over and we made friendship bracelets while marathoning the Ghostbusters movies, which was lovely but a little more stationary than I usually am on my own. Wandering the woods and chatting, exploring a flea market, or goofing off at the park all provide a great opportunity to leave the house and have new experiences in new settings.

It's why I was delighted to see Frozen Empire for the first time in a place far from home - it felt like an adventure!

3. Ghostbusters Answer the Call

Jurassic Park

Bridesmaids

Titanic

Both of the live-action Scooby Doo movies - I think they're such a spiritual ancestor of Answer the Call 😂 I love them unironically; they are so goofy and were so panned but so much fun.

4. I'd most accurately describe my style of music as "crooning lesbians" lol. MUNA has been a staple in my playlist for years. I also associate a fair lot of Taylor Swift's songs with Erin Gilbert / ATC so she gets replayed often, too!

Best introduction to MUNA: "What I Want," "Home by Now," "Everything"

Most Erin songs by Taylor Swift: "Antihero," "All Too Well," "Cassandra"

5. I'm a pretty bold person who has a storied history of doing super wild things to really meaningful ends.

As a young hate crime survivor, I decided to unlearn my fear of the woods and the violence that happens to women within it by making an emotional trek 15 miles into the mountains to the site where another lesbian hate crime victim was killed.

The next year, I drove 12 hours to Toronto to see a 15 minute short film at its premiere. The short film was about the above woman's ^ story, following her partner who survived the attack, and I gambled that the director would be present. He was - his crew actually found the cairn of stones I left at the site. He was moved as hell that I came so far to see the film, and called me out on stage.

In 2022, Paul Feig was launching his cocktail book in the barely post-pandemic landscape, and on about three weeks notice, I impulsively booked a trip to NYC to attend his talk. Again, it was a gamble I'd get to meet him - they weren't announcing he'd be signing books; I just assumed and took the chance. He was! And I got to emphasize to him exactly how much GB: ATC meant to women and queer people, and he was so absolutely moved and chuffed that I brought a copy of Erin and Abby's book for him to sign.

He's since followed my friends and I as we went on a big trip tracing the footsteps of where all they filmed ATC and now recognizes our wee group by name.

So I'm 100% impulsive as hell, but I think it's always to some pretty incredible ends. 🥰

I'm going to leave you some questions in return xx

[sagiow]

15 questions

tagged by @tough-n-dumb, thanks friend!

Were you named after anyone?

Not “after”, per se, but my dad “discovered” my name after making a new friend in the glorious Montreal Red Light Disco District... who turned out to be an Italian exotic male dancer (he never told my mom that’s where he got the inspiration from until 30-some years later)

My middle name is my mom’s because my frazzled, mid-20s, overwhelmed first-time parents hadn’t thought of one before he went to register my birth so he kinda blanked and went with hers and she was pissed off because she doesn’t  like her name.

0/2, Papa.

When was the last time you cried?

Some time in the last month.

Do you have kids?

Two, elementary school age, although the eldest is solidly in his tweens and giving me a fantastic preview of the fun years ahead.

Do you use sarcasm?

Just did, didn’t I?

Actually, much less than I used to when I was younger. Mostly for joking around  or ranting about our incompetent colleagues with my work wife.

What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Not to sound like a hippie on Main, but I’d say their energy? Their vibe? Some people come off as very warm, and others colder (and some, downright antipathic). Some have this bubbling, crackling energy to them, others are super chill and calm. Some have this spark of intelligence or quick wit about them, and others make you wonder if there’s anybody home. So a bit of all of that.

A smile, greeting and eye contact (can all be super quick, just acknowledge you see the other person) go a long way in giving off good vibes, so we’ll definitely start on the wrong foot if the other person doesn’t do any of those. Be polite.

What’s your eye color?

Brown

Scary movies or happy endings?

I don’t like scary / horror movies with gore and torture. I do enjoy a good ghost story (the Gothicker, the better) and some psychological horror.

Love happy endings although unhappy ones definitely inspire a lot more fanfic.

Any special talents?

I never look at the picture when doing jigsaw puzzles and WILL complete it before you do.

Where were you born?

Province of Québec, Canada

What are your hobbies?

Phew... there’s a few, and they tend to be seasonal. Summer is reading, hiking, baseball, gardening, camping. Other seasons have baking, crochet, watching TV, playing old-school computer games, and getting ready for whatever holiday or birthday is upcoming. Puzzles and writing year-round (if inspiration striked and fellow fans are around!)

Have any pets?

2 cats (and often at least another because we are a foster family to our local rescue), 2 rabbits and 4 3 chicken (found one dead yesterday after that major storm / tornado passed. Her ancient 3 year old heart couldn’t handle it. RIP Matante.)

What sports do/have you played?

Phew... there’s a few there too. I’m always down to play pretty much anything with a ball (beach volleyball! street ball hockey!), but on the other hand, will probably get my Canadian citizenship revoked at some point because I do no winter sport except for snowshoeing and some shitty skating.

I played provincial-level softball and badminton in school. I did recreational synchronized swimming, various styles of dance, varsity basketball. Now, I play softball, tennis (although my dad is aggressively trying to draft me into pickleball), try to get in a game of golf or two per summer (every addition to this sentence makes me feel 10 years older). In non-summer, I practice aikido, and love hiking, especially in the fall.

How tall are you?

5′7″, or 170cm

Favorite subject at school?

History and Drama in High School, Anthropology and some of my Forensics classes in University (���no applied science”, you ask? meh, not really. Science was me playing Life on Safe Mode).

Dream Job?

I would’ve loved to study Anthropology further and become an archeologist (although I did take one Biological / Genetic Anthro class that was absolutely fascinating and made me reconsider Things) but I’d had enough Academia back then. I wanted to get a job, stop being beyond broke, and travel.

Nowadays I get this massive urge to dump everything corporate and move someplace with shorter, kinder winters, ideally not too far from the sea, and get a bunch of goats and chicken, fruit trees and grapevines, grow a shitload of tomatoes and eggplant, bake bread daily, and write in the evenings. Just need to win the lottery first but then I’m makin’ it happen.

tagging (apologies for the double tags if you got them, I lost track) @jomiddlemarch, @tortoisesshells, @fericita-s, @combat-librarian, @divinecomedienne, @luarenah

[mageofseven]

Hello! I saw your match-ups were open and I wanted to submit one! For starters, I'd like all the boys to be inn consideration.

Now, I'm gender fluid and demi romantic, though I typically just say MLM! I tend to present more femininely, but I have my days. I have a head canon that I'd just use magic to present super masc as I wanted too, because it'd be fucking hilarious.

I'm an ENFP, more of an Ambivert really, and I'm a Virgo Sun, Taurus Moon, Scorpio Rising, and Leo Venus. I was born in September!

Now, I'm very excitable, and have a tendency to overreact. It's due to my ADHD and Bipolar Disorder. Though, I'm seen as a really happy person. I'm very kind, and polite! I see myself as a caring and nurturing person who sometimes gets a little weird... but my friends nicknames for me consist mainly of old-man freak! So. I have a tendency to go a little overboard when talking to people I'm comfortable with. I'm also very insecure of my weight and such.

I am absolutely obsessed with yoga. I attend classes and such. I also like to go to the gym, mainly for lifting and cardio. I'm very strong! I also have a huge thing for cooking! I prefer to make meat products due to the overdoing things, as I over season non-meat things sometimes. I also really like baking, I just have a hard time eating so many sweets. Listening to music or trash TV while I do this is so much fun.

I adore kids! Not liking kids would absolutely be a deal breaker for me... I don't want a HUGE family, but I want more than 2 kids! I'm studying to be a teacher as well.

When I get insecure, I tend to absorb mylaef into my interests. I like reading a lot, and I love movies. I'm a huge movie buff, and watch many nostalgic movies! Little Monsters, Drop Dead Fred, ect. I'm not an 80s' kid, but I was raised by my aunt, who was. I watch my comfort shows, my comfort movies, and read my favorite books. Or, I watch a good movie and read the book it's based off! Right now I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo because I watched the movie! I also tend to be into childish things, like cartoon movies.

I dress in a variety of styles, and always try and make it fun. Sometimes, I can be wearing purple spandex shorts and 7 inch sparkly pink platforms with heart buckles, the next I'm running through the woods with no shoes on, and a flowy brown skirt with a orange crop top. I've been described as a Golden Retriever friend, and a free spirt. Many people think I'm stupid, but I'm actually really smart... and I'm terribly jealous of my younger sister because she's everything I'm not.

Sorry if this is a lot! I just really like obey me-

Omg!!!! You actually know your venus!! Thank you for that 🥰🤭💕

So your Venus in Leo tells me you are very lively, devoted, and passionate. When you're in love, you give all of yourself to your lover and expect the same in return.

Your Taurus Moon tells you are very compassionate and determined, but also aren't a big fan of change.

Your Scorpio Rising tells me that you can often find your guard up with new people to some degree, but when lowered, people see just how charming, passionate, and loyal you are. There is so much about you that others have to invest time in to see and it's always worth it.

Your Virgo Sun tells me you are also very practical and want to be helpful to those around you.

The rest of your information tells me you are very family oriented, keep active, and love nostalgia (then again, who doesn't lol)

With all of this in mind, three of the Boys pop up as potential choices, two being Diavolo and Asmodeus. However,

I pair you with...

Beelzebub

He is the ultimate family man. Like, as soon you feel you're ready for it, make this man a Daddy right away! He has so much love to give and he can tell you do too. Even before you two have kids, I can imagine him being so soft and cuddly with you, nuzzling your cheek or neck before whispering in your ear about how beautiful your heart is and that you'd be an amazing parent and how he just can't wait for that day 🥺😭💕💕💕

Outside of that cutesy parent stuff, I can see you two going to the gym together and Beel would even try yoga with you! He'd be pretty clumsy at it in the beginning, but I can see him enjoying it and keeping at it so it can be another activity that you two can do together.

You being such a lively and passionate person with him always brings a smile to his face, causing him to want to express just as much passion back at you 🥰

Beel will be just as devoted to you as you are to him and I can really see you two being this cute, healthy couple whose always taking caring of one another💕💕💕

But seriously, make this man a Daddy. It's practically a crime that he isn't one already lol

[candy-floss-crazy]

Jacket Potato Cart Hire

Jacket Baked Potato Cart Hire.   Juicy Jackets, When You Need The Food To Be Remembered.   Reputed to have been introduced by Sir Walter Raleigh, if you don't like 'taters' you could always try his other offering, tabacco. but we don't think 'baccy' goes with chilli too well. Everyone remembers what the food was like, poor food can totally ruin your event. Don't offer your guests or colleagues the usual boring platter of sandwiches and a slice of cake. You need something a bit more filling, a baked potato cart is just the ticket. Everything is taken care of for you, preparing and serving the food, and the clean up after the event. Your choice of hot and cold fillings with side salad. to make a perfect late night offering for your guests at a wedding. Although it’s just as good through the day at parties or company fun days. Fancy a Tater, just ask, we don't bite!  Yes PleaseThe menu lists a small selection of what you can choose for your event. If you have something specific in mind let us know and we can put a customised menu together for you. We can also offer veggie and vegan options, so everybody can be happy.You can have the baked potato services on a quirky range of carts, remember nowadays the service needs to look as good as the food tastes. Victorian style pickwick potato ovens are used to cook your juicy jackets to perfection fluffy on the inside, crunchy on the exterior. •Victorian •Alpine •Contemporary •Tikki Hut •Horse Box •Gazebo You have the option of a custom design and build service for promotional events and exhibitions. Check out our carts... Branding For sales promotions and exhibitions your baked potato carts can be branded to suit your theme. This can be as simple as adding a logo to the front, right through to a complete custom design and build, you also have the option of; Custom Branded Napkins. Custom Branded Plates. Custom Signage.The same old buffets are beginning to look a bit stale. Adding a baked potato cart serving a range of healthy options is a sure fire way to keep your guests happy. Add a touch of class your event with our delicious hot fresh spuds and range of both hot and cold toppings. Perfect for private parties, and wedding receptions. In addition to our jackets, we also offer other great savoury options, why dont you check out;  Hot Dogs, Chipstix and Nachos. History Of The Potato The humble potato has become the world’s 4th largest food crop. Quite a feat for a vegetable which was first cultivated in Peru around 8000 to 5000 BC. When Peru was invaded by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1536, they discovered the taste of the potato and carried them to Europe. Sir Walter Raleigh introduced potatoes into Ireland around 1589, planting them on 40,000 acres of land near Cork. It took around 4 decades for the potato to spread to the rest of Europe Did You Know At one point during the Alaskan Klondike gold rush, the potato was worth its weight in gold. They were valued for their vitamin C, and gold at that time was more readily available than nutritious foods! The potato was the first vegetable to be grown in space. NASA and the University of Wisconsin created the technology with the aim of feeding astronauts on long space voyages, and eventually providing a staple crop for future space colonies.DO YOU OFFER VEGGY OPTIONS; Yes, we can provide a range of veggy toppings, or a mixture of both. CAN YOU PROVIDE HALAL OR KOSHER TOPPINGS; Yes we can work up a menu to suit your precise requirements. HOW MUCH IS A JACKET POTATO CART; The price varies depending on where you require the service and how many guests you need us to serve, but expect to pay around £500 for upto 100 servings. WHERE CAN I HIRE A JACKET POTATO CART NEAR ME. We offer a service covering the full U.K. and can provide a cart for you. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JACKET POTATO AND A BAKED POTATO; In reality they are the same thing, basically the English call it a jacket, the Americans baked. U.K’s Premier Traditional jacket potato carts are available to hire throughout the FULL U.K. and Europe. Including the North East, The Midlands, London, Scotland, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and they are perfect for military balls, corporate events, college balls, weddings, parties, university balls, company fundays, barmitzvahs, bat mitzvahs and any other type of public or private event catered for. Hire Jacket Potatoes Near Me. Baked potato food trucks and carts for any event. Waffles make a perfect complement. Read the full article

[history-of-hanover]

A Piece of Hanover's History

Growing up in the small town of Hanover, Massachusetts, history has always been right in my backyard. Located on the South Shore, Hanover was established in 1727 and is now made up of roughly 15,000 people today. Many houses and establishments have been around for hundreds of years, including one of Hanovers oldest houses, the Stetson house. The Stetsons were a big, middle-class family living in Hanover, who opened their house for religious services after the town's church had burned down during the 19th century.

This two and a half story, bright yellow colonial-style house was built by Samuel Stetson himself in 1716, although construction began around roughly 1694. By the 1870s, the family had run out of ownership of the house, after being owned by three successive generations of the Stetsons. The third generation had birthed and raised nineteen children, all fathered by Samuel Stetson. Samuel had been through two marriages, resulting in three children with his first wife and sixteen with his second. Some of his children even served in the Civil War. Inside the house, you will feel welcomed by the large fireplace located in the common room. In fact, this fireplace is one of six located within the house. You can also find the music room, the dining room, which was only used for special occasions, and the cozy kitchen where Mrs. Stetson would occasionally bake. 

“As one of the oldest houses in town, and one of the oldest houses right in the center, the Stetson House has played a role in the development and growth of the town,” says Stephen O’Neil, executive director of the Hanover Historical Society. “Town meetings and church services were being held inside the Stetson House while the church was being built.” O’Neil has been working with the Hanover Historical Society since March of 2016. This private, non-profit organization was founded in 1927 in order to preserve, collect, and interpret Hanover’s history through events, exhibits, photographs, documents, and various other pieces. “I am the Executive Director of the Hanover Historical Society. I have been working in museums, libraries, and archives for almost thirty years, and have curated more than thirty exhibits. I am a published author, and have taught at University level for 15 years,” O’Neil explained. When asked what he likes about working at the Stetson house, he responded, “the most fun is when all ten third grade classes visit the house in May and June, it’s great to tell stories, answer their questions, and share my enthusiasm for history.”

      Stephen O’Neil, Executive Director of The Hanover Historical Society   

One of the Stetson daughters dresses

The house even holds on to some of Hanover’s most historical pieces. Since 1928, the Hanover Historical Society has kept items associated with the history of town inside the Stetson House, such as books, objects, furniture, and many other historical objects. “Much of the house has its original woodwork,” O’Neil described, “you can see where there are little score marks on the mantelpiece from where candle flames burned into the wood over the years.” As far as his favorite part of the house, he said, “there are really no right angles in this house, it is built around the center chimney stack and the doors are made with angles at the top, if you were to drop a marble on the floor it would roll to any other direction.”

Anyone can stop by and check out this important piece of Hanovers history. Tours have been offered to the public ever since 1928. Located at 514 Hanover Street in Hanover, Massachusetts, the Stetson house is open for tours on Saturday afternoons from 12-4pm as well as Wednesdays from 2-4pm for additional tours and research. You also might be able to take a look inside when there are special events or occasions that are taking place in the town. 

[ofbcwties]

welcome to london, BLAINE ANDERSON! did anyone ever tell you that you look just like ANTHONY KEYVAN? well, no matter, we hear that you are 22 and working as a MUSICAL THEATRE STUDENT/PERFORMING ARTS CAMP COUNSELOR. we also hear that you currently HAVE SOME OF your memories from GLEE and have a tendency to be PASSIONATE as well as NAIVE.

STATS.

FULL NAME: Blaine Devon Anderson RELATIVES: unnamed father, Pam Anderson (mother, I wish I made this up but no, it’s canon), Cooper Anderson (brother, 10 years older) AGE & BIRTHDAY: 22, April 5th 1995 ZODIAC SIGN: Aries GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis male, he/him SEXUALITY: Gay RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single HOMETOWN: Westerville, Ohio ETHNICITY: Filipino / Iranian SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English, some Spanish and some Tagalog OCCUPATION: College student (Musical Theatre major and Songwriting minor) and camp counselor at a performing arts camp POSITIVE TRAITS: Passionate, dedicated, charming, driven, enthusiastic, sympathetic NEGATIVE TRAITS: Naive, overdramatic, vulnerable, stubborn, impulsive, gullible

MORE.

tw: homophobia & assault

you can find his wiki here! and please feel free to ask me anything about him.

i’m up for all kinds of connections! (best) friends, neighbours, theatre buddies, people to jam with, maybe even an ex or someone he has a crush on!

blaine grew up in an upperclass family in westerville, ohio, with a very supportive mom, a father with unrealistically high expectations who hasn’t always been very accepting of blaine’s sexuality, and an overcritical older brother who would always shove blaine into the background (sometimes even literally). this has resulted in blaine being a huge perfectionist.

he has always loved performing. he started to sing and dance at a young age, started piano lessons when he was 5 and is a big fan of musicals. becoming a broadway star used to be his dream, but now that he’s in london, he’s determined to make it to west end instead. he also loves to write songs, even though he’s still somewhat insecure about his songwriting abilities.

blaine is slowly regaining his memories, although they’re still a little vague, like they’re just dreams. he remembers transferring to dalton academy after getting beaten up at a school dance, and transferring once again so he could spend more time with his boyfriend kurt. he remembers the absolute chaos of mckinley high and its glee club, how kurt left for new york and how he started to feel a little lost at mckinley, but nothing after that (aka after 4x03). blaine now thinks he broke up with kurt under different circumstances and that he moved to london right after graduation.

almost always wears a bow tie (he has a huge collection) and uses a bit too much hair gel. his style can otherwise be described as somewhat preppy, but colorful and with lots of patterns.

always has a way too busy schedule filled with extracurricular activities, college plays and other performances, additional classes and fun activities with friends

a hopeless romantic, a gentleman, drinks too much coffee and has a cat named freddie (purcurry). he’s always singing, he boxes, loves comics and superheroes, and bakes when he feels stressed

this was more than long enough ig <3