#the flaws making the work shine all the brighter

[mawofthemagnetar]

I get it.

I actually get it.

I went to an art museum today and I got it. For the first time, I actually understood, at least a little.

I left feeling enriched and inspired.

I could see where the rattlecan's spray leaked under the tape.

I could see spatter where the paintbrush touched down a bit too hard.

Lines where the artist's hand trembled.

Almost-perfectly-lined-up woodblock prints.

I could almost hear the waves lapping at the foreshore in the resultant printed work.

I got it. I got the art. I understood.

Usually, I go to an art gallery, I stare at the pieces, and I understand nothing and feel stupid.

This time I got it. This time I could feel the artist shaking my hand.

This time was different.

I get it now.

[yeahspider]

goodnight n go ❄️

a/n- finally finished this draft from 11 months ago. (yeah I suck ik) but then I didn't really finish it bc the ending is a tad abrupt. but that's just kinda how I am. this is a cute lil angst/comfort fic featuring felix (my beloved) very sfw and gn reader. enjoy and feel free to stop by my inbox with requests!! happy reading beloveds <3

Long distance was never easy. You both knew this when you started dating. But Felix was convinced you could make it work.

You met him accidentally. Spending a semester in Korea was turning out to be a more lonely experience than you ever could’ve imagined. You often found yourself counting down the days until you could leave. But then you met Felix, and all of a sudden, you wanted to stop the clock.

But unfortunately, freezing time wasn’t a skill you possessed. So as you packed your final items in your bag you thought about the first time you met him.

It was a warm day. Sun was shining occasionally through the clouds as you leaned your head against the cafe window. Today was going terribly. You were late to your classes because you overslept and then your professor was kind enough to let you know that you were one bad grade away from falling the semester. Not even your favorite green tea latte could brighten your day. Until he asked to sit with you. And all of a sudden you didn’t need the sun . he shined brighter than it ever could. Smile sparkling in the light of the cafe. He was gorgeous, so of course you said yes.

Laptop open you tried to concentrate on your lecture notes but the way he smelt was distracting. Consuming your inner monologue, oranges, and vanilla swirl together in a strikingly pleasant way.

His fingers waved in front of your face snatching your attention. Apparently, he had been talking to you for the past five minutes while you were absorbed in your thoughts about him. Laughing when you gave him a confused look. You had no idea what he had just said. It didn't seem to bother him too much. Restating himself with a smile on his face. His teeth were perfectly white and straight. Did he not own a single flaw?

But that was five months ago. In those months you fell in love with everything that was Lee Felix. You had never known a love so warm and positive. With his help you fixed your grades, even making the dean's list. He took you around Seoul showing you sites you never would've visited on your own. Meeting his friends who welcomed you with open arms. You felt so accepted. You weren't alone anymore.

Zipping up your last suitcase you had five minutes to say goodbye to your apartment that held so many memories for you. The kitchen where you shred your first kiss. That same day you burnt a batch of cookies together. More your fault than anything, but Felix didn't make you feel bad for it. Even taking a bite out of one to make the smile return to your face. The door you crossed so many times with him in tow. Body on body as you fumbled your way to the couch. Laughing when he tripped on the rug.

It was all over, for the foreseeable future at least. Your visa expiring forced you to leave behind the only love you've ever known. Felix wasn't even able to see you off at the airport. He had a strict schedule he couldn't stray from, not that you would let him. He had already done so much for you. You wouldn't risk his job just so you could have a few more moments of comfort. You weren't that selfish.

Stepping on the plane and finding your seat you wondered what would happen if you had never met. Would you be spared from the pain squeezing your heart with every breath? No. You don't regret him. You couldn't, not after all the kindness he showed you. Not after all the love

Closing your eyes, you lay your head back on the seat. The window blinds were closed so the sunlight wouldn't touch you. It reminded you too much of your own sun. Seats all around you filled up, but the two next to you remained empty, just reminding you of how lonely you were becoming again.

Suddenly you felt a dip in the seat beside you. Causing you to jolt up, ready to make room for the newcomer. When you looked you saw the familiar blonde that warmed your days.

"is that seat taken?" Felix asked with the biggest grin on his face. You quickly pulled him down into the seat and hugged him as tight as you could. Not believing it was really him. gently wiping tears from your cheek you didn't even realize were falling. He hushed your cries as he pulled you close.

"I convinced the company to let me work from home. So I can follow you anywhere. You didn't think I was seriously going to let you leave without me were you?"

[windienine]

the best game of 2024 was an hour-long visual novel demo, and i can't tell you how it ends

attack and dethrone god.

okay. oh my god. soul of sovereignty by ggdg (of lady of the shard & deltarune fame) is discounted for only a few more days, so i need to get this one out while the iron's hot.

so: i'm inviting you along on another journey. we're following a polite gentleman of the wizardly inclination (loïc) who is approached by a sickly woman in dire need (ysmé). all she requests, in her plea, is an escort to guide her to the nearby temple. his decision to support her may turn out to be the most important choice he ever makes.

... have you ever enjoyed the kind of narrative that traps two people with heavily contrasting motives and personalities together in an unbreakable contract? do you like stories of absolute devotion?

i could look at this shot forever ngl

... are you compelled by immersive speculative fantasy worlds where the use and study of magic heavily influences the rhythm of people's day-to-day lives?

(really intriguing magical linguistics system going on here)

... do you ever promise too much of yourself to others, sometimes, even when it's a bad idea?

... if it was possible -- if you could -- would you abandon your humanity for the power to change your world forever?

and, whatever you may feel in your heart about the above...

do you want to see behind the eyes of a hot trans girl as she bullshits her way into a truly volatile level of power and influence and gets everything she wants?

(+ her pet dilf lovely assistant)

if even one of these elicited a "yes," i think you'll love this story.

i'll go out of a limb:

i think, if you open up your heart, you'll find yourself falling for both of the leads. It's a game that really wants you to look at it from every angle, take it apart, and ask questions about loïc, ysmé, their stories, and what they believe to be true about the world and one another. subtext -- especially the charged subtext this story throws at you and hopes you'll piece together -- is a beautiful thing.

the number of talksprites in this demo is kind of staggering

the jrpg-inspired world of the mosaic and its surroundings is as vibrant as it is profoundly lonely, color folded into every facet of its character as you move through it. appropriately, it's really invested in a lot of questions that arise not just from high fantasy as a genre, but from the modern fantasy sensibilities of jrpgs and the interrogation of what divinity even means in a world where the gods are forces you can interact with and draw power from, however indirectly.

what can i even say? that gg and toby fox's collab score for the prelude is downright heavenly and made it onto my work playlist right alongside the deltarune ost the day it came out on bandcamp? that gg's art, especially their use of light, conveys every scene with vivid beauty?

i wouldn't be posting so much of it if i didn't want to eat every CG. oh my god. he's so pretty. it's not even fair

beyond all of that, i think the game's main resonance point with people is that gg's writing is genuinely thoughtful. they use art detail and deft character writing to convey everything about the leads, using the limited time you get with it to paint layers and layers of information on who these people are and why they make the decisions they do. soulsov's roughly an-hour-and-change of text, expressive talksprites, and lush CGs is infused with so much heart and so much horror and so much intrigue that it leaves you feeling like you're a part of this world, carried along for the ride right alongside the two leads. gg clearly really adores these two, and that level of passion makes everything loïc and ysmé do shine even brighter. in spite of (or perhaps because of) all their friction and flaws, they're easy to love.

(it's really fun to read aloud as a script, too! ysmé's a hoot.)

i hope you experience it with high expectations and an open heart. i don't think it will disappoint. it is, perhaps, just a little bit magical.

i hope you see it through to the end!

[thisblogisaboutabook]

When the Lightsinger Calls (I Hear a Symphony)

An Azriel Drabble

Azriel daydreams of his mate -Inspired by ‘I Hear a Symphony’ by Cody Fry

I used to hear a simple song.

The warm winds of summer blew through the Illyrian mountains as Azriel sat sprawled on a thick branch fifty feet in the air, one leather covered leg dangling as the other stretched across the branch, his back resting against the trunk of an old Oak tree.

Cassian had been butting heads with Devlon for hours. Same shit, different day as they heatedly negotiated new terms for the training of Illyrian females. Devlon, of course, remained as stubborn as an ass. Even after decades of his bullshit, it never failed to chafe Azriel’s nerves that they were under the regime of the most powerful High Lord in Prythian’s history yet had to make nice with stuck-in-their-ways pricks like him. Today in particular had left Azriel feeling less than giving.

Cassian booted Azriel out of negotiations in record time, which admittedly, was likely for the best. Azriel’s dominant stance, deadly gaze, and violent whirling shadows were not best suited for these futile attempts of ��sweet talking” Devlon out of his deeply rooted misogyny. If Azriel had his way Truth Teller would do all the talking, but diplomacy unfortunately took precedence.

He may have put up more of a fight when storming out of the Camp Lord’s office had Cassian’s weapon of choice today not had a unique way of toeing that line between diplomacy and force in a way that even Truth Teller could not. No blood spillage necessary, though, Azriel thought with a smirk, the weapon could do just that as well.

The warmth of the suns rays shining through the rustling leaves and the scratch of bark lightly grazing the sensitive membranes of his wings - hitting those spots he could never quite reach - had Azriel drifting off into a light dream state.

As he began to doze, shadows hummed around him, the whistling breeze mixing in with their whirring as they sensed for any incoming threats.

Blending in with their simple song, the creek nearby babbled with the sounds of trickling water, crickets chirped beneath rocks below.

His thoughts became more vivid as his conscience drifted deeper into sleep.

His jaw ticked, wings jerking slightly as he dreamed glimpses of deep red coating his marred skin from the countless souls he’d drawn blood from, lifeless bodies scattered across bloody battlefields, dark cells, the bright flare of roaring fire scalding a child’s hands, his shadows melody becoming broken as they attempted to soothe their master.

The melody became lighter as the flame in his dreams became flashes of light, blurred glimpses of a lovely face appearing in and out of his dreams. A soft laugh intertwined itself with his shadows, the solemn hymn becoming lighter, with vibrant bursts of energy leaving his heart fluttering. More images of the ethereal face flickered through his mind, soft blush dusted cheeks, a radiant white smile, supple fingers tracing the muscles of his chest, plush lips on bare skin, all appearing to the beat of the rising staccato. His lips quirked upward in his sleep as his guard dropped lower and lower and the melody continued growing louder, building into the crescendo of the loveliest symphony he’d heard yet, even in Prythian’s most renowned concert halls.

The music filled Azriel’s entire being, leaving him light as shadow, his flaws forging themselves from ugly into something beautiful, something worthy, as the melody carried his soul toward the light.

Just as his body began to slump out of the tree a sing-song voice brighter than day awoke him. “Careful, Shadowsinger. One might think you’re sleeping on the job.”

He looked down to his beautiful mate, the face his dream had called him to. “My little Lightsinger, did you give Devlon hell?”

She beamed. “Worked a little on him. The girls get seven more hours per week and Cass or I can do spot checks whenever we please. I’ll push for more when we meet again in a few months.”

“That’s my girl.” His eyes shone with the pride filling his chest as he launched out of the tree and swept her off her feet.

“Let’s go home.” She whispered, pressing a kiss to his nose. Azriel only blushed and did just as his lady said, the two falling into companionable silence as her light and his shadow mingled in harmony the entire flight back to Velaris.

And now I hear a symphony.

———————————————-

[vibratingskull]

Hi! Can I make a request of Thrawn xF!reader with some angst.

They are chiss abroad the chimaera and she feels insecure that Thrawn would rather a chiss partner over her.

reader is very emotional either she she just found out she is pregnant or she has recently given birth.

She tries to avoid showing this to Thrawn but he figures it out.

What's nice when you are in a couple with Thrawn and feeling down is that Thrawn will do everything in his power to lift you up and soothe you 😩😩😩😩 And that's the best truly...

Thrawn x F!reader

Tags: Chiss being haughty, early pregnancy, morning sickness, Thrawn being supportive and loving

You look over your shoulder and feel your heart constrict painfully. 

Thrawn is smiling, speaking Cheuhn with other Chiss.  

He seems so... relaxed and peaceful. In a way you rarely saw in the intimacy of your suite.  

With you, his own wife... 

You try to focus on your console but the notes of his lyrical voice reach your ears and with it his soft chuckle. His eyes gleam brighter to be around his fellows, to be home for some moments before their departure. They seem to exchange some jokes and pleasant words as they all smile tightly. They sometimes look around the bridge, clearly judging the crew with their ruby eyes. 

You do not understand Cheuhn, but it doesn’t take a genius to understand that they are criticizing your works, comparing them to their Chiss standards. Thrawn doesn’t seem to correct them.  

Is he... displeased with all of you? 

Did he only just pretend to be satisfied by his crew but secretly judge everyone, regretting his former navy of Chiss officers and warriors? 

That doesn’t sound like him, but if he is good at something it’s hiding his true thoughts and feelings. Even you have difficulties guessing his true mood some days. 

You wipe a drop of sweat off your temple as you feel nausea rising again... 

Erk. 

You had morning sickness for a month now, and get really tired of it. You swallow with difficulty, trying to chase away the sick feeling. 

The last weeks were pretty turbulent with the Grysk’s threat, you didn’t find the time nor the energy to announce your pregnancy to him... 

 You cannot help but keep giving discreet sideglances at the Chiss group.  

Thrawn is among his people.  

At peace.  

Smiling.  

Visibly satisifed. 

He even playfully pinches the cheek of the young Chiss girl. 

His eyes shine with a new light that you never saw.  

His voice is slightly higher than usual, more light and musical... 

You never saw him like that with anyone. 

Not even you... 

You thought you had access to all his visages but you realize at this instant that he took care to hide some from you. Only revealing them to his compatriots. 

Are you not... Good enough to know all of him? All of his facets? 

Do you not deserve it as his lover and wife? 

Apparently not... 

You gulp, lowering your gaze to your keyboard, the acidic waves of your stomach rising dangerously. You shake your head and type your commands on the screen. The very least you can do right now is perform the best you can at your job to not humiliate the Empire in the eyes of Thrawn’s fellows. 

The Empire... Or yourself. 

“Captain (F/n).” Thrawn calls your name. 

You sigh, gathering your strength before standing up. You approach the Chiss group that looks at you up and down like hungry predators. They are looking for any signs of weakness and flaws, watching if you will stumble and fall in any type of way.  

Anything that would prove that they are the superior species. 

You feel cold sweat rolling down your neck and your vision starts to double slightly. Thrawn turns his head to his compatriots when you reach their vicinity. 

“This is the Chimaera’s Captain, (Y/n) (F/n). A lot of my operations rest on her shoulders.” He explains. 

‘The Chimaera’s Captain’... 

Not ‘my Captain.’ 

Not ‘my wife’... 

‘The Chimaera’s Captain’ 

Plain and simple. 

No bounds, no link to him. 

Is he ashamed of you? Is that why he took care not to associate himself with you in the eyes of the Chiss? 

Did he feel like he failed by marrying you? 

Are you a stain on his Chiss pride? A course’s error in his perfect ascension? Something to be corrected in the future? 

Would he have preferred to wed a Chiss rather than a mere human? 

“Can you show the results of your task, Captain?” Thrawn asks formally, “I prophetized some interesting variables in the Grysk’s route, but I want to be certain.” 

You take your datapad to invoke your data on the screen, scrolling to search for Thrawn’s demanded result.  

“I found some... interesting...” You start before falling silent. 

You slowly blink, feeling the light getting brighter and the acidic waves rising in your esophagus. 

Without any warning, you shove your datapad in Thrawn’s hand and run to the door of the bridge. You only hear some outraged exclamations in Cheuhn as the door closes back behind you. 

You sprint and barge into the first bathroom on your way and throw yourself on your knees before the toilet bowl to vomit your tripes out. 

You gag, shaken by nausea, sweat dripping from your temples, your stomach contracting painfully. You spit and cough, at a loss for air. You pant, holding the bowl with your trembling hands. You fall on your ankles with a sigh, wiping the sweat off your forehead. 

You sniff, wiping a single tear from your cheek. You are tired and tense, you just want a nap or a full good night's sleep. 

That would be nice... 

“Are you feeling better?” Thrawn’s voice rises behind your back making you jump on the spot. 

“Maker!” You curse. 

You immediately flush to not impose such a view or odor on him. You are embarrassed enough like that. You lose your balance in the motion and as you are about to hit the floor you feel Thrawn’s powerful hands grabbing you delicately, preventing you from hurting yourself. 

“Sit, Ch’acah.” He invites softly, “Do not hurt yourself.” 

He helps you sit before wetting a handkerchief to pat your forehead, kneeling before you. 

You cannot look him in the eyes. Your head is low as he presses the wet fabric on the back of your neck to lower your body temperature. 

“What happened, Ch’acah?” He asks gently. 

You sniff, silent. 

His hand comes to hold your chin delicately to force you to look at him, his shiny red eyes investigating yours. 

You gulp. 

“Speak to me. Do not stay alone in your discomfort.” 

“Nothing. Just some nausea, it will pass.” You brush it under the rug, not ready to confront him. 

“You appeared displeased earlier. Is something bothering you?” He continues softly. 

“No.” You lie. 

His hand releases your chin to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing your skin tenderly. 

“I know when you lie to me, Ch’acah.” He simply informs you. 

You bite your lower lips, your throat dry. 

“I... I just never realized how much you missed your people. To the point...” You cannot finish your sentence. 

“To the point?” 

“... Of regretting getting with me.” 

You fidget your fingers with apprehension. 

It was said, no backing down now... 

He blinks, questions flashing in his red eyes before disappearing, replaced by absolute determination. 

“What are you talking about, (Y/n)?” He demands. 

The tone is still soft but more pressing. 

“That you clearly feel more at ease with other Chiss. Which I understand completely!” You assure, “It’s just that... It was clear to me that you would have preferred a Chiss companion rather than a human.” 

“Rather than you?” He clarifies. 

You shrug, pursing your lips. What difference does it make in the end? 

His other hand cup your second cheek as he bores his eyes into yours, commanding your attention. 

“Where does that idea come from? Why do you think I regret marrying you?” He demands again. 

“I never saw you so... Bubbly before. You are so much more relaxed with them than with us. Or with me for that matters.” 

He considers you, an air of slight confusion dancing on his gorgeous face. 

“Cha’cah... How could I ever regret marrying you? You are the best decision of my life.” He finally says, “I never regretted saying ‘yes’ to you.” 

You raise your gaze to meet his, still unsure. 

“I was simply pleased to cross paths with a young girl I met when she was still only 12. Seeing them thrive is so rare and I was pleased to see how far she’s gone.” 

You wipe another single tear. 

“I am sorry Thrawn, I'm just...” And you explode in tears. 

You’re too tired, too tense, too hormonal, too stressed to think straight in this instant. You only wish to sleep for several hours in peace. 

“(Y/n), (Y/n), (Y/n)...” Thrawn calls in a murmur, “I would never leave you for any possible reason. You are my wife, my partner, my lover, cheo Cha’cah. Dry your tears my sweet, I am with you always.” 

“It’s stupid but when you didn’t introduce me as your wife to them I thought you had enough of me.” You sob, realizing how stupid it might sound. 

“Of course, I did not present you as my wife: You deserve to be known for your accomplishments and hard work, not for any bond you have with me. Do not define yourself by me, you earned your rank of Captain and are worthy to be known as such.” 

“I was afraid you were ashamed of me!” You keep sobbing hard, trying to get back your breath. 

He takes you in his arms, pressing you tight against himself. 

“I am not ashamed of you. Quite the contrary, I feel proud and empowered to have you at my arm. The right to hold your hand and call you mine is the greatest privilege of my life. Please Ch’acah; never doubt it.” 

“I am so sorry!” You cry hard, squeezing him back, “Thrawn I am so sorry!” 

“Do not be. Everything is all right, I am here, with you. I am not going anywhere...” 

You bury your face in his neck, digging your nails into the pristine fabric of his white uniform, inhaling his reassuring and familiar scent. 

“I am so sorry...” You repeat like a litany. 

He cradles you gently, caressing your hair and back with his large comforting hands. 

“I love you Ch’acah. Do not doubt my words, my heart only beats for you.” 

You nod against his neck, slowly calming down. 

He parts from you but holds your cheek again with his warm soft palm. 

“Are you feeling better?” He inquires with a whisper. 

You nod again, sniffing away the last remnant of your tears. 

“Do... Do you mind reintroducing me as both your Captain and wife?” You ask, still a bit on edge. 

It may be childish of you, but you want them to know that you are married together. 

Despite what he said, being married to him is part of your pride. 

“Of course I can, if you truly want it Cha’cah. We can meet them again later, I will be delighted to announce them our union.” He presses his forehead against yours, looking straight into your soul. “Do you feel better?” 

You nod, wiping your lips with the back of your hand. You need to brush your teeth. 

“Maybe take one hour of rest in our suite.” He gently proposes. 

“No.” You shake your head assured, “I am the Chimaera’s Captain, I cannot disappear for so long. I do not want to be treated differently than all my colleagues because I married you.” 

“And it is honorable of you. If you feel better come back on the bridge swiftly but do not hesitate to visit the med bay if symptoms persist, I recall you were already sick the week prior.” He declares raising back on his feet. 

Ah yes... You didn’t reveal to him why you were sick so he got the wrong diagnosis, thinking it was a simple flu, and that you would be on your feet in no time! 

“Thrawn.” You grab him by the sleeve to stop him from leaving, “I have something to tell you.”  

He considers you in silence, judging by your body language and tone if he should start to worry about something. 

“A problem perhaps?” He invastigates. 

“No. A news.” You shake your head with a tight grin, “Good news... at least I hope.” 

He looks at you from all his height. Your hand releases his sleeve to hook his fingers with yours. He properly takes your hand to squeeze it in his large one. 

You admire the contrast between your human skin tone and his deep vibrant blue... 

“I am listening Ch’acah.” He invites. 

You breath deeply, gathering your courage. 

“I am pregnant.” 

He remains perfectly still and silent for a moment. You look at him, your lips pressed together, awaiting his judgment with a beating heart. 

“Is that true?” He finally asks, with a slightly tensed voice, “Is it possible?” 

You nod. 

“I am three months in. That’s why I was sick last week and right now.” 

He pulls on your hand, forcing you to stand up from your sitting position. You just have the time to yelp, you are suddenly squeezed tight in his embrace. His long arms are holding you so tight you have difficulty breathing. You hear his comforting purr starting to resonate in the bathroom. 

“Thank you, (Y/n).” He finally whispers in your ear, his face buried in the crook of your neck. “Thank you...” 

You silently hug him back, nuzzling aginst his tall stature with pleasure, feeling your anxiety melt away in his arms. 

“Are you happy?” You ask. 

“Yes. It is marvelous news.” He presses his cheek to yours, “I stopped hoping for a child years ago. But here you are, pregnant with mine. Ch’acah, you have no idea how happy it makes me. You are spoiling me.” 

“You are about to become a father, Thrawn.” You repeat to him, and the more you say it the louder and deeper the purr gets. 

You hug each other in one of those rare moments of intimacy on a warship, feeling like a team again, ready to face anything thrown at you. 

Even those Grysks. 

@bluechiss @Thrawnalani @justanothersadperson93 @al-astakbar @thrawnspetgoose @readinglistfics @elise2174 @debonaire-princess @twilekchiss @pencil_urchin @ineedazeezee @mssbridgerton @dance-like-russia-isnt-watching @Cortisolcosplay @obbicrystaleo @germie2037 @leo4242564 @davesrightshoe @holylonelyponyeatingmacaroni 

[egg-emperor]

Gerald looks so much happier in his photos where he was fat.😍

he does, he looks so much brighter and happier in the journal photos art and I'm so in love 🥰 fat Gerald is happy and jolly healthy Gerald. there's a huge difference in how he was cozy and happy being fat and wearing his cute silly slippers compared to sad skinny look in his normal sad brown shoes:

literally night and day. even his glasses on his in game model are flat and don't have much shine which makes it look like some of the life and light in him is gone which is genius if intentional

it's unethical and cruel for him to malnourished and sad. they clearly weren't feeding him well enough on the ARK. if it was due to his stress someone should've been looking out for him. it's inhumane. this is what people who say they don't like fat Gerald are supporting fhsjgslskgh I don't dislike his new in game model but this is what's right for him

he should be warm and cuddly and soft for all the love and care and good he had in him that drove him, like a big teddy bear. it matches who he is inside. while his grandson is also a bear but more like a fierce dangerous wild bear who was always evil and mean and selfish lol

skinny Gerald works when he's miserable and near the end of life like in his imprisonment and execution but otherwise he should be fat. he looks so handsome in the journal photos artwork. I understand why his sons exist. I understand why Black Doom wanted him

he looks so huggable when he has a happy round appearance, he deserves all the hugs because he was troubled and flawed but still a loving caring sweetheart ahfiabsngsbkg I love him so much

I'm passionate about the subject because I just want what's best for him and for him to at least have been happy in life for as long as possible before his tragic end. I would've done everything in my power to keep him fat and happy if I was there 💜

[doevademe]

Hi! Been re-reading some of your future-fic oneshots. I'm just curious to ask: considering Nico as someone tired and settling for Will and canon Will (uhm, the fandom writes him well sometimes), what do you think would be the last straw (for either of them, or both) for a solangelo break-up? Is it possible even with only a very minor (or none at all) intervention from Percy?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Okay, let's do a deep dive into Will and Nico and their relationship, and how, as they are written, they are already doomed as a couple.

However, if you want the TL;DR: Nico and Will are incompatible from a fundamental level. Their personalities and hobbies require way too much compromise to work together. In my future fics, Percy just sped up the inevitable. There's is no one "last straw" as there is an ever increasing pressure that eventually becomes unsustainable.

First, let's look at the dynamic they develop from their first on-screen interaction in BoO: Will nags Nico, tells him he's wrong about his own feelings of isolation and loneliness, and proceeds to basically gaslight him that people never shunned him and he did it to himself. Nico, who has been alone for so long, takes this as a show of concern and affection, and develops an infatuation with Will.

Fast forward to ToA, and it's more of the same. Nico is gloomy, or sarcastic, or a bit morbid, and Will is bothered by it. He's bothered by who Nico is, and decides to "fix him". Nico, meanwhile has grown dependent on Will as his other relationships grow distant (Percy, Hazel, Reyna, and even Hades), and begins feeling jealous of Will even touching others. Needless to say, that's a very toxic basis for a romantic relationship.

When tsats comes around, we get the relationship at its worst. The very first scene is Nico saying he is into fictional bad boys, and Will being disappointed in him. We see that Nico is now watching his every word, glancing constantly at Will to make sure it doesn't displease him, and Will is happier that Nico is "better", though worried he might relapse, lose him to "the darkness" inside him.

Will in tsats is just the worst. He's useless on the quest, he tries to make Nico turn his back on the Underworld (the closest thing he has to a home), he whines, and he simps for Persephone while his boyfriend is right there. Some of it is an intentional flaw, but most of it we're meant to read as romantic and genuinely "sweet".

At the end, Will "learns" that he needs to accept that Nico will always have some darkness in him, and he just needs to "shine brighter" for them both. This doesn't really solve their problems as a couple: They have very little in common, Nico's too dependent on Will and has isolated himself from family and friends, and Will's newfound "acceptance" is tied to seeing Nico as inherently negative.

This relationship is simply not sustainable in the short or long-term, and eventually it will give. Either Will gets tired of having Nico around disrupting his sunny energy, or Nico lashes out over being "the problem" Will has so graciously decided to burden himself with.

A break-up is not only inevitable, it's the healthiest thing either of them can do. People would say to try couple's therapy, but therapy can't make people suddenly like hobbies or personality traits they find repellent. Will is in love with the idea of a "fixed" Nico, and Nico is in love with the idea of a boy that likes and fights for him.

The break-up catalyst can be anything: One nag too far from Will, Nico doing a morbid joke too many, just waking up one day and realizing they were never really in love. Either way, it's not a matter of how, of whether Percy is there or not, it's a matter of when. When does it become too much for them to keep pretending they want the same thing out of this relationship.

[soapoet]

PJO pick-a-card reading

Will Solace; What you need to know right now

01.

Your luck is increasing, and you may even find it suspicious because things rarely go your way. Yet something seems to have shifted. The sun is at last shining and helping your crops grow and bud and bloom, your manifestations popping up like spring flowers. The sun is shining upon you too, and you are glowing. You're attracting people and opportunities alike, and the air feels crisp and fresh like after a fall of rain, and you're finding the motivation to push your projects along. And the push is paying off now, and you have more certainty in the direction you're going in, and perhaps even found a different way to approach matters previously proven to be a hindrance to how you operate. Things feel more natural, not forced.

Dare to ask, because now ye shall receive with ease. You'll feel lighter and brighter, and find charm and beauty in your reflection and your work where previously you saw flaws. You're kinder to yourself and others, place yourself above all as intended without feeling selfish for it. You're finding horizons easier to expand upon and more readily attract what you want and need. You have solutions to problems of both yourself and others, seemingly carrying missing pieces to many puzzles in your pockets. Make use of them now, and do not hesitate to lend a helping hand or encouraging word to those less fortunate.

02.

Thing are taking quite the nose dive, but fret not, for help is on the way. The landing won't be smooth, but there will be survivors. Accept the help when it arrives and stand up for yourself boldly in the face of injustice. You need not carry your burdens all alone, and new or unexpected help is soon to walk in to assist in carrying them onwards. Task management especially will be made easier, and you will have a clearer understanding of what to do and where to go and who to speak to. You may experience a stroke of luck in the most unexpected situation, or when most needed. Try your best to keep your head above water and do not let yourself be dragged down by despair to the depths. There is no need for you to return to rock bottom anymore.

It is always darkest before dawn, so hang in there. You're more resilient than you give yourself credit for. Avoid getting fixated on minute details and ignore any issue that is small in the grand scheme of things. When you feel like you're drowning you must remain calm and focus solely on staying afloat. Preserve your energy for the hardest battles and know that you won't have to struggle on your own for long. Reach out for help in earnest when you cannot move forward, and do not minimise your struggles. Instead be honest in how dire your situation really is so that others can truly understand the urgency. This is not the time to make yourself small or tiptoe around the problem and drop hints like breadcrumbs.

03.

The time has come, which may concern you, though you knew in your heart all along it was inevitable. It's time for a leap of faith, and a new beginning. Sudden shifts and changes are being unleashed, but you're more than capable of navigating these new currents. It can seem as though you're receiving justice, a revisit to a previous chapter left without closure, with words unsaid and actions undone. You have more confidence now, the amount needed to face this. Life may take quite the unexpected turn as a result of your newfound power as you get to rewrite the past and set in motion the next chapter to embark on. Ghosts from the path now walk among the living and you fear them no longer.

Trust your intuition, it won't lead you astray. New beginnings are afoot, some with these very ghosts from your past, and some with people who to you feel otherwise blurry and without edges. Those who you have previously failed to get a hold of and read properly, who left you feeling uncertain or incapable of pursuit. Mixed signals are removed as the frequency of the radio finally aligns and you hear them clearly, enough to judge the situation and say your piece. You're better able to strike and communicate your side, your thoughts and feelings, and set things up to really begin working in your favour after such a long period of stagnation, uncertainty, and indecision.

[jnnul]

work in progresses (iii)

a/n: right...so i'm aware that wip ii is not technically completed yet but i keep outgrowing fics so these wip lists are just going to keep being made until i have the energy to return to older fics and finish them. but please be assured that everything is being written! slowly but surely, everything is being written haha <3

good liars

sum: you are the rebel child - it's a role that you embrace proudly, and one that you've undertaken since childhood. after all, your overachieving and perfect older sister could never be the rebel. no she had the perfect manners, personality, and even the perfect fiancé; one who shone as bright as a star.

but even perfection has its flaws, which you discover when you find out that your sister had died under suspicious circumstances, forcing you into taking over everything she'd represented: being the heir to a long dynasty of wealthy nobles, showing the class difference between haves and have nots, and being the wife to the perfect star.

but the brighter a star shines, the longer the shadow so as you try to discover what truly happened to your sister, you realize just how dangerous power can be - all because of a man named choi soobin.

est. word count: 20k words est. release date: september 2024 status: writing (8.3k written)

DNA.

sum: hong seunghan has everything to become a tennis legend like his father - money, resources, connections, and a passion for the sport. the only thing that he doesn't have is inborn talent; not like his father did, at least. the pressure of being at the top and having everything to lose is something that his father could never understand.

but shin yuna understands him. as an actress and the daughter of a critically acclaimed actress, she understands him better than anyone else can. and seunghan is comfortable in this - in her embrace.

but there you come. you don't have anything seunghan does. you don't have money, resources, or connections. but you have the one thing that seunghan doesn't: natural talent. when the two of you are paired as doubles partners, seunghan is forced to decide between comfortable love and challenging love - one that forces him to push his boundaries, and could potentially make him lose everything. is dna everything?

est. word count: 15k words est. release date: early august 2024 status: writing (2k written)

ten days to fall out of love

sum: you and jaehyun jung just aren't meant to be. that's what your friends think, anyway. and you can't even blame them. you logically know that this is no good for either of you. you fight, and he ignores you for days and you crawl back to him begging and pleading, and then it's sheer bliss of sex, pleasure, and sweet words for two days before it repeats all over again.

so your friends come together to stage an intervention and present the two of you with an ultimatum: ten days to fall out of love. but ten days is a long time to try and figure out how to fall out of love with the one person who sets your skin on fire with his touch and your soul into flames with his love.

maybe ten days is all you need to figure out how to fall back into love. and maybe it's all you need to say goodbye once and for all.

est. word count: 18k words est. release date: end of october 2024 status: writing (1.1k written)

lucky 777

sum: in this edition of seoul searcher magazine, you - y/n l/n - are the main focus! when your editor-in-chief/best friend, julie han, sets you up on seven blind dates with seven different men to bring you out of your dating slump, you find the material you need to bring yourself out of your writing slump as well.

as you navigate love in the 21st century, finding yourself, and pushing the boundaries of everything you ever thought you were, you realize that life is more simple than you'd ever thought it to be.

7 dates with 7 different men but only one of them catches your eye...

est. word count: 12k words est. release date: july 31, 2024 status: writing (800 words written)

blue jeans

sum: you had two big problems in your life: you were in the wrong career and hopelessly single. in a world where soulmates were the norm, the latter issue seemed rather improbable but it was true; you were still single, even though it seemed that everyone seemed to be moving forward in their lives with their love and career, while you were stuck in the same place.

but after a fated encounter with a stranger, you get the chance to switch to the career path of your dreams: modeling. and between struggles at work and your love life struggles with a model named leehan that you keep running into, you discover that the most important love is not the one you have for your career or those around you but the love you have for yourself.

est. word count: 10k words est. release date: september 2024 status: writing (1.3k words written)

beautiful you

sum: hospital life is not easy. as a neurologist, your hours aren't nearly as gruesome as some of your colleagues and your closest friends but the sheer mental pressure is enough to make up the hours - after all, the basis of human life, the brain of your patient, is being put into your capable hands.

as it can be imagined, dealing with patients and their issues is enough of a time commitment; you quite literally do not have the time for love or relationships out of the time that you squeeze out for your friends. but the presence of a new neurosurgeon, hwang intak, somehow seems to affect this strong decision you've made for yourself and somehow, there seems to be more than 24 hours in the day when it comes to thinking of the handsome new surgeon.

est. word count: 12k words est. release date: october 2024status: writing (2k words written)

conceited

sum: it's the olympics and the reigning champions of the olympics, the usa, is back with the intent to clean sweep every cateogry they've been nominated for - as per usual. but even amongst athletes of the same country, everyone seems to have something to prove.

for yudai koga, it's proving that the usa's throne for men's track will never be emptied for another country to sit upon. there's a level of cockiness that comes with being a champion who's never been defeated and somehow, yudai koga wears it beautifully.

for you, on the other hand, it's proving that the golden era of usa's women's swimming team is not over just yet. after a stunning defeat at the olympics four years ago, you and your team is back with vengeance running through your veins.

but that many young, capable, and beautiful people in the prime of their lives, medals aren't the only thing on everyone's minds. and with that, welcome to the olympics! break records, not hearts this season.

est. word count: 20k words est. release date: mid august 2024 status: planning

young doves lay their heads here

sum: three days. that's all the time you had with kim mingyu. he had to go back to korea in three days, even though you didn't know it at the time, to continue fulfilling his duties as one of the members of the biggest boy bands in korea. three days. and in three days, the two of you experienced happiness, sadness, anger, betrayal, love, and heartbreak. all in the span of seventy-two hours.

and then he's gone and you're left with the memories of someone who'd lit your soul with cold flames of passion and soothing touch in a way that only he could balance.

on the other side of the world, mingyu is alone with his memories and he regrets everything. he regrets leaving without saying the three words that had ran through his mind every moment he was with you. he regrets not keeping in contact. and so, mingyu makes the leap of his lifetime to find the dove that had taught him what love was in less than three days.

est. word count: 30k words est. release date: december 2024 status: writing (1.2k words written)

goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!

sum: cha eunwoo was a man of few words. few words, but many thoughts. he'd been cast as the prince in every social setting he'd ever been in, and as though the role was real, he felt the heavy chains of having to be a stoic, perfect, regal person. even his callsign was prince; there was simply no escaping it.

not even at topgun, where cha eunwoo was entering to become the greatest pilot of all time. princes can't be anything less than perfect, after all. turns out, he's not the only one with his eyes on the throne (however reluctantly it may be), and cha eunwoo's life is turned upside down by you (sometimes quite literally) - callsign venus. topgun is the place for unexpected feats, after all.

est. word count: 40k words est. release date: january 2025 status: planning

[moonlit-midnight]

We light up (like the stars in the sky)

Characters: Malleus Draconia.

Genre: AU, Romance, Married life.

Warnings:

Reader is a female and has a daughter.

Tooth rotting fluff and excessive cheesiness.

—

“I showed our daughter our wedding pictures last night. She told me that we’re practically a fairytale.” The dragon fae said, his loving green eyes fixed on you.

“Oh sweetheart, trust me we’re a thousand times better than a fairytale.” You smiled dreamily, earning you a soft chuckle from your husband.

You and Malleus Draconia would never admit that your relationship was a fairytale because it was far from it, and it was never close to a fairytale to begin with.

To you and your husband, this wasn’t happily ever after.

It was more than that. It was so much better than those sickly-sweet made up tales and tacky happy endings.

Your love story surely had flaws and cracks.

You were imperfect, and your man was imperfect too, but all is well at the end of the day because you always team up to make your relationship work and make things right.

You and Malleus pursued happiness in the simplest things, you cherished ordinary moments, and you made each other feel like you were worth a million.

“We’re better than a fairytale indeed.” Malleus lifted your right hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss atop it.

It was a tender gesture of affection that always made your heart fly in delight.

You often wondered how the feeling of warmth still gets in your chest even as many years went by.

Then with a smile, you would think: Ah right, it’s the feeling of real and genuine love.

“I love you, my king. I’m blessed to love you and to have you.” You declared, your soul brimming with joy every time you uttered those precious words.

“I’m also blessed to have you, and to be loved by you, darling queen of my heart. I love you too, more than my own life.” Malleus echoed the words back to you, his enchanting eyes shining brighter than the myriad of stars that lit up the skies.

[encrucijada]

infodump abt pathetic man adam

funniest ask i've ever gotten. no context. anonymous. a simple request.

a list of things i think i haven't talked about regarding adam, some that i have, from both the pjoverse and dreamersverse:

adam is actually pretty decent around kids. he was second in command of the apollo cabin for 5ish years before his brother lee fletcher died in the battle of the labyrinth and he was made counsellor for the battle of manhattan. adam is like that cool older brother in a 90s tv show who lets you drink beer when you shouldn't have.

in both verses he works at a bar. both as a bartender and as entertainment, depends on the day of the week. he does gigs elsewhere when he can. forewent university, didn't think he had the brain for it because of his frankly debilitating adhd. adam barely graduated high school.

weapon of choice in the pjoverse is the recurve bow because son of apollo. is capable of fighting melee (with a sword) if the situation demands it, but just barely. in the dreamersverse it's actually the opposite, he doesn't shoot with a bow at all and prefers to have something he can brute force hit things with.

speaking of debilitating adhd. adam is always fidgeting even if just a little, rarely does his leg stop bouncing and he has a clicker toy he carries in his pocket. plays around with rubix cubes not to solve them but just to spin them around. hums songs as a stim (<- he shares this one with piedad). cannot function without caffeine.

has the talent but not the creativity. can sing just about anything but not write any of his own music.

in the pjoverse he avoids singing in uncontrolled environments, because even having control over his powers he never knows if he could cause some weird side effects. only feels truly unrestrained in battle or at camp.

adam is the way he is because i was trying super hard not to make your typical "golden boy" son of apollo. also because i found the loveless cover of middle of the night. my hand accidentally slipped and now... he's this.

my best friend irl called him "cold, cutting, and prideful".

i dunno about pjoverse adam but dreamersverse adam's got a couple of tattoos. including but not limited to: a sun on his forearm, wings from his shoulder blades to the backs of his arms, a hawk eating a rabbit, three stars on his ribs, and my notes says i'm giving him a sleeve tattoo.

he never participated in a proper quest but he was there for every single bead that's on annabeth's camp necklace. was already at camp when luke first arrived.

his fatal flaw is arrogance ("however bright you shine, i shine brighter")

has a substantial collection of scars as every demigod does but of note we've got: on his cheekbone, going down from his collarbone, the stab scar on his gut. these also translate to the dreamersverse.

the only thing he got from apollo appearance-wise are the eyes. adam tends to let his hair get long until he starts considering it obnoxious, then he asks the aphrodite cabin to cut it. if you're in cabin 7 and have had hairclips gone missing, he probably took them.

if you've read pt.1 of pointed north you know candy calls adam "mi príncipe". this means "my prince."

i might be giving him brown eyes in keep staring.

his last names are flipped depending on the verse! pjoverse he's adam rubio guerra, since rubio means "fair-haired" and i thought it sounded like a child of apollo lastname. in the dreamersverse he's adam guerra rubio, guerra means "war".

has always wanted a dog.

having a weighed blanket would cure him but he doesn't know this. what he does know is he sleeps best when piedad lays on top of him.

broke his nose and it never healed quite right.

never dare him to do something while he's drunk. he will do it, no matter how dangerous it might be. the safest thing he could be doing post-break up is making out with whoever gives him attention while inebriated.

[gulaab-jaamun-galaxy]

I find your resemblance in everything. But if I had to describe you in nature, I'd say you're like the warmest sunlight in the coldest winter.

Moon and I no longer speak, the moment I saw her, I thought, what else could be a better replacement than this full moon? I had no second thoughts; I fell for her immediately and didn't even ask if it was too soon. The moon would be ashamed, as it doesn't come out in daylight, but Lord have mercy, she shines brighter than the sun; it doesn't matter if it's morning or afternoon. Moon has this scar in her heart, but I swear I won't let this graceful woman cry, not even a teaspoon.

मैं जब सो जाऊँ इन आँखों पे अपने होंट रख देना

यक़ीं आ जाएगा पलकों तले भी दिल धड़कता है |

My mother once said this beautiful thing to me. She said that there is no objective standard of beauty, and neither perfection nor imperfection truly exist. Instead, anything that is viewed with love is inherently beautiful and flawless. Conversely, if one fails to see with love, flaws will inevitably be found, even in the most perfect of things.

Yesterday, my devi ji asked me what would've happened if she didn't met me in her life...

To her question i simply said, everything would have worked just like now because my destiny wouldn't have been far from me for long... We would've eventually met eachother with regards to any situations or universes...

I was sure about my ardhangini from moment our eyes collided with eachother at the park... a cold breeze ran through my nose making me calm... the calmness a voyager feels after reaching to the place he was destined to be... A quest which has been completed...

@wizardcherryblossom 🧿💕✨ @bareilly-wala-jhumka ♥️🎀❤️‍🩹

My dear Tannu ji,

Before you drift off to sleep, I want to remind you of the love you deserve. Even if I were to give you all the love in the world, it would still feel insufficient. Yet, don’t worry, for I will continue to find ways to shower you with love for as long as I live. If reincarnation exists, I would choose to be reborn in every era, just to give you the love you deserve and more.

- Aapka Janaab (Surajmukhi) ✍🏻🌻

[magicdonuts-supreme]

Hello, this is my first time ever requesting something on here, so I will keep it simple. Could you do something where the reader’s f/o comforts them and reassures them that they’re not a burden and they aren’t too much(personality wise) after people have made them feel that way their entire life? You don’t have to if this is too much :)

Thank you!! p.s. I absolutely love your work, it’s so comforting <333

aww, thank you, anon! /gen and thank you for reading my work. also this is my first request, so at least we’re in this together :P sorry if this took too long, btw

You didn’t understand. Couldn’t fathom it.

Your F/O… well, they’re them. They’re awe-inspiring, the one who hung the moon and stars in the sky yet could make any light seem dull when compared to them. Even if not many see it, just seeing them makes your world sing with Shakespearean rhymes.

Then… there’s you.

The off-key note. Your thoughts summed you up as the screeching in the background that would wake your F/O from their love-filled dreams, not be the star of them. And they’d notice that soon enough, right? That’s what your thoughts told you: Wait and see how the apple of their eye rots. The other shoe will drop. And…

It never did.

Not because your F/O is blind to your flaws, but because they accept them. 999 days of misery are worth it to see your smile on the 1,000th day. Even so, they don’t love you for your smile. Not for your looks, nor for a specific aspect of your personality.

After all, if your F/O wanted a “perfect” partner who didn’t do anything but wear a sewed-on smile, they would’ve married the shadow tied to their feet. Your F/O loves you for who you are. From your skin to the marrow of your bones. From your despair to your bursts of hyperactivity.

No one curses the Sun when it’s shrouded by clouds, and it only shines brighter when a new day dawns. So what reason do they have to stop loving you the moment you frown?

What reason do they have to stop loving you the moment you need it most?

[ed-recovery-affirmations]

im pretty sure I gained weight I’m freaking out

Anon, as with the other asks I answered tonight, I'm going to preface this by saying I hope you were able to work through your distress okay at the time you sent this. It's been sitting in my inbox for a bit just because I have not had the spoons to answer asks and am kinda working through them bit by bit.

This is a reminder as always that although I am not always able to answer things instantly, I do want everyone to feel safe venting whatever they need to vent in my inbox if it helps.

Anon, I know for damn sure you're not alone. The society we live in makes us so scared about the progress of time and our changing bodies even though that's really completely normal. People and their bodies have been changed by the course of their progressing lives since the beginning of time, and it's never been a character flaw. But it's so scary to gain weight when you have an eating disorder specifically focused on gaining weight. I'm sure many of us recovering have experienced similar terror of gaining.

So if this is still something you're struggling with, I'd like to invite you to take a breath. Give your body some love. Remember that you're still alive to eat and grow and change and become so much more than what you were told perfection looked like. Remember that bodies fluctuate over time. It's okay to gain weight, there's absolutely nothing bad or wrong about it. In fact, if you're in recovery from restriction, it might be a healthy and positive change, one that allows your brain to shine brighter, your eyes to come alive, your body to engage in your passions with energy and real depth. And even knowing all that, your ED is probably still screaming in your ear that this is really scary. And you know what? You can tell your ED right back that it's okay to feel that way. It's okay to be scared. It's okay to feel however you need to feel to achieve healing, because it's not always radiant and beautiful and awesome. Healing means you learn to tackle the hard parts of life too.

Honestly, acknowledging a changing body is never easy. A new wrinkle, a gray hair, redistribution of body shape, etc...all these things happen in life and represent an era that will not come back. That's terrifying, and guess what? The fear of that is so human and normal. It's okay to experience and acknowledge it. It's understandable that we spend so long struggling to fight it rather than living in the moment and enjoying the life we have now. I hope you're able to do that eventually, anon, even if it's not so easy right now.

[lilaceas]

flavoured beige

give in & fault from whose behave at hollywood hills & all cars are for slavery seen that magazine covers from very famous women that works to keep breathing & to breathe its obligated to moan as cheap 'em can.

man that suffers is even for not being hard on themselves & a whore & trapped at endless of ruins feeling nothing she came & perfection are to be from heels up hair, satanic, right? baby all red liquors are sweetest & blood's money like her the only girl in the hotel;

buying aren't like trips not talking 'bout my addiction controversy, since beggined that killer codaine & if i'd fuck for pain beigé can take a look to what are for body-shape without fashion at centre & colder that second last when you too high a drink clean & fresh. becomimg her in prisions her in public bathrooms & hate on gas stations where richest sound boring ofc that kind of boy didn't kiss & flaw too his narcotic problem dreams of working to be made his cokenose & her clothings want to make it mine & cleaned down her favourite track & fun is spechless never creative & as sad a whore can be a real whore tries & fake is end those things you only learn by dirt.

where you cannot fail because, walking like a ghost almost getting dead & hurt by treasured sacrimony & mystery aching a skeleton of a woman growth in rebellion fire-scene-tragedy-come-on & don't want to be found dead like;

why i'm afraid of my body & mind too pretty.

home i didn't have anything & too beautiful to not be dead & find it yourself because no vacancy shining brighter than sleepwalkin & divin in...

why a road wife eats all that mount of

cherries.

[steeltempura]

Random thoughts about improvement and attaining your goals :

Practicing a new skill is Hard. Improvement is Slow and we tend to give ourselves objectives that seem so far away from everything we're able to do.

Its a mean to motivate us at first, but as we encounter unexpected difficulties along the way we realise the path might be longer or harder than we first thought, and often this ends up being discouraging.

But we're actually chasing chimeras. As we improve at something, our objectives naturally become bigger, we want to be more efficient, faster, better, we want to be just like this artist we look up too, or as fast as that co-worker, etc, etc

This is obviously a natural way too look at things, but it often make us forget about the here and now, and blinds us to the thousands of little steps we take as we climb toward our next objective, shining in the distance.

We can draw satisfaction from individual successes, yes, we can end a day feeling like we did improve, or learn to do something new, but still, we're often blind to the sum of all these nuggets of knowledge, accumulated from overcoming all of the small obstacles in our way. All the muscle memory we build, all the reflexes we acquire, all the methods we learn, all the habits we develop : we often ignore them, or we tend to diminish them. "Oh yeah I can do that, but its only because I've actually a trick, Its not that fancy" or "well I know how to make It, but I don't know how to make it Perfectly" or even "no, I really don't know what I'm doing, I just followed a Tutorial / been in this situation before".

The thing is, it doesn't matter how legitimate you are, where your knowledge comes from or why you can do a particular thing.

What matters is that you can now do things you couldn't previously. Or you may be faster. Or you may be more efficient.

And we don't have many opportunities to look Back instead of looking up - what we know now seems obvious to us, of course its easy now that's its in our grasp, it wasn't even that hard to begin with, and yet we struggled so hard before, we really were pretty bad at this - NO. Everyone has to start somewhere, and you. made. progress. It is undeniable.

But getting the full measure of your incremental progress is hard, of course. Its easy to forget the struggles of the past, its easy to belittle the actual improvements, when we're focusing on our long term goals, shining brighter than any of the sparkles we're able to produce on our own, and illuminating all the flaws in our work, and thats it, we're only able to see them now, and we lost track yet again of the path we climbed to get there.

We're like frogs being slowly boiled alive, except the warming water is our slow progression toward the hot bath we're dreaming of.

So it might help to try, if just for a moment, to try and remember when you started.

To remind yourself that whatever path you took to get where you hard, however easy it was, even if it felt like cheating, you're there now.

To try and explain to a complete beginner, image of what you were, concepts or skills that you now find painfully obvious, and acknowledge that they used not to be.

Because this frog once didn't even know water was wet, before being plunged in it.