#there are many many more examples but i hope this one suffices

[pattern-recognition]

re:the brutalism post, what do you mean when you say "the landscape" of the US? My interpretation is that you're talking in terms of literal landmass and how populations are dispersed, so I'm confused about why that'd present a more significant barrier to successful socialist organizing in the US than it did in other, larger countries like China or Russia that have seen successful large-scale socialist/communist movements. I don't mean this as a gotcha - I really don't feel that I'm educated enough to know why it might be notably different in the US.

Where i was going with that post before it evolved into a discourse about brutalism, which i never really intended, was towards the atomization of American social life. More so than any aesthetics of architecture form and what they mean, I was motioning towards the ways in which the built landscape in the US is specifically designed to isolate people, dehumanize them, and make living as hard as possible for people without the privileges of wealth. The most obvious example is the homelessness crisis and car based infrastructure. it’s true that there are more empty homes in the US than there are homeless people, but even then those homes are of the most deleterious type, even compared to other capitalist nations like Francs, Britain, etc. American zoning laws, in most cities, eschew affordable high-rise apartment buildings for single family, two story at most, housing that forces people into having a vested interest, wether they like it or not, in capitalist real-estate speculation through mortgages and whatnot. The phenomenon of suburbia in the United Stated was specifically an anti-communist one and heavily parallels the Wehrbauer system in Nazi Germany. The latter, should it have come to fruition fallowing Gerneralplan Ost (the mass genocide of all eastern european peoples and subsequent resettlement of eastern europe by Germanic colonizers) would have been structured around a system of semi self reliant small business owners and peasants (and I use this word in the Marxian sense, as in small land owners in control of their own means of production) who would act as a bulwark against both physical reprisals by freedom fighters (the Wehrbauers were intended to be heavily armed) as well as an ideological one because communities where everyone is a petit bourgeois would be resistant to Marxist agitation. The parallels to contemporary American suburbs, as well as the settlement and colonization of the west through manifest destiny, should be obvious.

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

Hi!! This is hopefully a fun question to ask! 💚 What are some of your favourite versions of suguru &/or satoru by your moots/non-moots that you’ve read in their fics ? For example your winter satosugu drabble has my favourite satoru 💅💅💅

🥺🥺🥺 ANONNNN first of all i’m so happy you like that satoru…… i’m really fond of him too!!! he’s very Husband + the implied mommy issues are tasty imo…

but wahhh… this is absolutely a fun question!!!! i doooo wanna preface this by saying that i legitimately love . all my moots’ versions of stsg. they’re all a little different so i go to different moots/other writers depending on what i’m looking for :3 i love love love the fact that fanfic births so many different takes and aus…. it’s one of my favorite parts of reading it!!!

i doooo have some versions of stsg that i’m partial to though!!!! gonna throw them under the cut, i decided to only go with my moots because i’m…… really scatterbrained. there are SO many other sugus and torus that i adore my brain just can’t pull them out at command </3 but i hope this’ll suffice!!

first of all…. my favorite gojos :333

niku’s gojo in general is one of my favorites ever ever ever but i’m specifically adding a link to bten because . bten lives in my brain <3 and i adore both bten!reader & bten!gojo more than anything….. ANYWAY . niku’s gojo is my favorite for many reasons but above all else he just…. feels so real to me . sometimes i have to remind myself that i’m reading a fic and not canon content bc her gojo just FEELS like gojo . it’s a little scary. i read bten and heard kaiji tang’s voice in my ear 😭 i think it’s sooo difficult to capture the balance that canon!gojo has, but niku does it so effortlessly!!! he’s so charming and guarded and annoying and kind beneath it all and i’m just….. in love with him . that’s all. i do want to strangle him just a tiny bit but mostly i want to kiss him.

sel’s col!gojo…. my baby my husband the loml. i adoreeeee sel’s take on gojo and the way he views/approaches love ….. and just like niku her gojo feels so real and so grounded!!!! sel has a way of rounding out her characters and making them feel so human, which i. adore. and it works so well with gojo. col!gojo is canon to me idc. he’s so relatable to me and following his story with col!reader was just so touching 🥹🥹 i . cried . every time he blushed or got flustered i fell to my knees . flustered gojo is really hard to get right i think??? bc it’s just….. such a rare mood from him. but it feels so perfect in her fics. col!gojo reminds me of a plant in the softest, most loving way and i just want him to grow and embrace the sun !!!!!!!! i want him to be happy….

another general pick; alexis’s gojo!!!!!! (link goes straight to my personal fav which is a very bold statement to make but i think abt this fic constantly)…. this is another gojo that just feels. so canon to me somehow???? every time i read her gojo fics i’m just like yeah…. that’s gojo satoru. that’s the gojo satoru that i love and adore. it always reminds me of WHY i love him sm and it’s just….. such a wonderful feeling yk??? alexis rlly captures what i perceive as the core of his character!!!!! i can’t tell you what it is exactly but i feel that so strongly!!!!! he’s my baby and i love him so so bad. he makes me so happy and he feels so human:((((( i just love him…. him and his self-destructive little habits….. also special shoutout to idol!gojo bc he’s just soo. yeah.

then we have io’s flower shop!satoru <333 the fic isn’t out as of rn, but i added a link to a snippet that i’m still swooning over….. i ADORE this concept and it’s so perfect for io’s gorgeous and flowery writing!!!! he was made for her fr…… i just really love the idea of a soft, gentle, smitten satoru 🥺 and him being a flower boy rlly scratches an itch in my brain because of his canon ties to flowers!!! the fact that he kind of views other people as flowers. or at least compared them to flowers in ch. 236….. i just feel like this concept is . genius. nature loves satoru and he loves it back . he’s a nurturing soul at his core imo and that’s not something i see people explore super often, but this au captures it perfectly <33

NOW. SUGU TIME.

moss’s knight!suguru…. my beloved. not a day goes by where i don’t think about him. there isn’t a single language on this earth that could properly convey the physical reaction i had when i read this drabble . this is . The most attractive suguru in the world. to me. he’s so sexy i’m sorry i need him so bad. we all know how i feel about knights and suguru individually so when you mash em together….. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 yeah. my life was changed. the armour the blood the contrast between his polite exterior and gritty fighting … i’ll be so honest just the idea of knight!suguru fighting using his fists instead of his sword is enough to have me falling to the floor in agony like i NEED him. you don’t understand. you will never understand. it physically pains me to know that he will never beat ts out of me. BUT YEAH HE’S JUST SOOO???? he’s so hot and cool and Doomed and i desire him carnally

then we have mickey’s suguru :3 he’s just….. soooo fucking charming? it’s sickening . i can’t stand him. he’s perfect and i need him. mickey always writes him in a very wolfy way while also making him feel so soft and sweet and i just…. adore it. he’s a loverboy first and foremost and he makes me sooooooo happy it’s insane…… i’m linking my personal fav sugu fic of his but i truly adore them all!!!!!!!!! his suguru is just . theee most charming man alive and that’s all i can really say to properly convey my feelings. this particular fic genuinely wrecked me i got soooooo flustered just reading it 💔💔💔 save me sweaty!sugu…….. save me……….. he’s a wolf he’s a romantic he’s a cooer and most importantly he’s my Wife :33

kairo’s suguru is soooo lovely and so hot but i’m especially in love with black is the colour!suguru….. he’s just. so hot i’m sorry. not really though. tattoo artist sugu 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 with his piercings …. his honeyed voice…… his boundless devotion…… heavy breathing . he’s so mommy in this. but also so Father. that’s the best way i can explain it aaaaaaand i’m terribly weak to it……. he’s just so perfect there are SO many scenes in this fic that made my knees buckle 😔😔 he’s so sweet and doting and complex and just hhhhhhhhhhhHHH kairo if you see this you’ve ruined me for life…… specifically thinking about the scene where he worries he acts more like a dad than a boyfriend sometimes + where he calls reader his dove…… i need him in my life i need him to fix me

lily’s poseidon!suguru stole my heart very recently and i have ….. not stopped thinking of him since. i love any take on suguru as a god and lily’s version is just so genius . suguru being a god of the sea????? it’s perfect….. and the fact that he’s so gentle and coaxing and sweet 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 just the way he speaks in this drabble had me captivated he is truly the god of all time….. and his DESIGN . the concept in itself. i know for a fact that he’s the most stunning man you’ll ever see. he’s so almighty and powerful and he speaks so softly and gently but you hear every word crystal clear because he just has this Presence…… i rlly can’t stop thinking about him.

then we have rem’s suguru!!!! who is the acts of service king of All Time. and i’m obsessed with him. i love chatting with rem because i love her but also because we always agree on suguru and her thoughts always make me feel insane….. he NEEDS you to need him. he needs to take care of you. or he’ll literally explode. he’s such a caretaker and i can’t get enough of him….. that’s really the Core of suguru’s character imo!!!! his desperation to take care of others. he wants to take care of you more than he ever takes care of himself because doing that makes Him happy. and rem just captures that so, so perfectly, yknow?????? oughhhh her sugu is just so Mommy i need him to coddle me :(((((

aaaaand finally!!!!! last but not least!!!!!!!! rheya’s vamp!sashisu :33 i know you asked for stsg specifically but i’m throwing in shoko as a bonus bc they’re All characterized so well in this. they live rent free in my silly little brain . there’s not a single person on this planet that i trust to write poly sashisu more than rheya bc she just Gets them!!!!! and….. vamp!sashisu..,… lord save me…….. they could drain me like a capri sun idec. I LOVE THEM!!!!!! their preferred biting spots just feel soooo in character and the fact that they’re all so gentle makes me emotional 🥺🥺 generally speaking i’m not super into vamps but rheya entered my life and i was changed forever . i need them so bad

i wasn’t gonna tag anyone originally, but i want you guys to know how much i love you and think abt your silly little guys actually... thank u for letting me read abt them 🥹

@stellamancer @seiwas @kissxcore @neptuneblue

@mossmotif @dollsuguru @teddybeartoji

@storiesoflilies @hayakawalove @satoruxx

[hellhoundmaggie]

wait whats the big SH headcanon you aren't into? I love SH but haven't interacted with the fandom a ton

Thank you for asking!

The theory I can’t agree with is that Wayne is a sentient fungus colony occupying Sam’s body. I do agree that there’s something inhuman puppeteering Sam Wayne’s body, but there isn’t any clear textual evidence suggesting the something is fungal.

There’s a couple of supporting arguments people tend to make for Fungus Theory, but I find them weak and tenuous:

Wayne’s body is rotting at a fast pace. Fungus is a cause of decomposition. Therefore the body must be colonized by a fungus.

Fungus may be a cause of decomp, but it’s not the only cause. Many kinds of organisms contribute to decomposition — insects, scavenger animals, microbes, etc. — and fungus is not necessary to the process. I’m not completely ruling out the possibility that the rapid rot is caused by fungus, but in the absence of concrete evidence, there’s no reason to assume this has to be the case.

Sybil is helping Wayne in some unspecified way. Sybil specializes in folk medicine, which has potent magical effects in her hands. Sybil specifically uses chaga, a fungus, to make a mind-control tea. According to the homeopathic principle of “like cures like,” Sybil must be using chaga or a similar fungal ingredient to support the fungus in Wayne.

This argument might be more convincing if Sybil used fungal cures exclusively, but she doesn’t. In fact, chaga is the only fungal cure she is shown to cultivate or use. The castor beans she gives Doc come from a plant. She grows poison flowers in her tea nook. Even the unspecified blend she gives to Tabitha is herbal, not fungal. Also, one of the effects of the chaga is to make the drinker trust Sybil, even to the point of not registering information that makes her look bad. If Wayne is drinking the chaga, then shouldn’t he trust her? Why does he assume she would hurt an aged MC? It doesn’t make sense to assume Sybil’s giving him chaga.

Wayne zaps Reese with what appears to be a set of yellow tendrils slithering out of his wrist; there are yellow fractal networks in a couple of Reese’s paintings. Some fungi are fractal networks, some fungi conduct electricity. The thing in Wayne’s arm must be part of a fungal network!

I can think of something else that zaps people with electricity: lightning. I plan to elaborate on this more in a series of theory-posts, but suffice it to say that I find my theory about lightning to have more textual support than the fungus theory while requiring fewer assumptions. Occam’s Razor, baby!

Abby Howard tends to take inspiration for her monster designs from her study of evolutionary biology. Reese’s monster design is an excellent example of how biology influences Abby’s art: he is a chimera of several real animals, both living and extinct. It would only make sense for her to have based Wayne on something biological too — like fungi!

This makes sense to me as a meta-textual argument. But again, there’s no textual evidence that Wayne is fungal, so there’s no reason to accept that Abby took inspiration from fungi when designing Wayne.

Again, I plan to write up my own pet theory — which not only explains what Wayne is, but also helps explain Reese’s origins, the nature of the Seals, the influence the Scarlets had over the town’s past, and the parts MC and Tabitha have to play in the town’s future — someday soon. But I hope this post helped convince you that, despite Wayne’s sense of humor, he is not a Fun Guy. Have a good one!

[evelynpr]

Arlecchino Demo Music Analysis

DISCLAIMER: I am no musical expert in any way, just a massive fan of the Genshin soundtrack and learned music theory as a hobby.

One of my favorite things about Genshin is its music. It is not just that it sounds amazing, but each element, style, and motif has meaning and purpose- while being orchestrated and mixed to create a truly magnificent and unique musical experience. It is no exaggeration that this soundtrack is one of a kind.

Arlecchino's Character Demo has just been released, so I want to make a musical breakdown of it because I think it is a stellar example of how Genshin uses music to signify its themes and present its story. Before we get into that, there are ideas that I must detail for you to get the full picture, so I hope you enjoy!

Genshin uses musical elements to signify certain ideas (places, characters, elements, etc.). For example, Chinese and Japanese instrumentation signify Liyue and Fontaine respectively, but it goes beyond this.

"Travelers' Reverie" — Behind the Scenes of the Music of Sumeru | Genshin Impact

You may have noticed that a majority of Genshin's environmental music consists of real world instruments. There are even videos showcasing the orchestras and instruments of each nation (Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine), and using orchestral/live instruments even applies to other regions such as Enkanomiya, The Chasm, Golden Apple Archipelago, and etc. This gives each region a distinct musical identity, but all together it establishes them as places that are grounded and real.

During the final act of Fontaine's archon quest, we have been introduced to a new musical identity. This is Genshin's dubstep, and it has been used to signify otherworldly power. This genre not made by a real orchestra or real instruments, but through sampling (using existing sounds/music) and technology.

This is the identity in its most blatant form: (Shadow phase of the All Devouring Narwal boss fight)

This entire track symbolizes this. No other track within Genshin's world sounds remotely like it, symbolizing its otherworldly nature. It does not belong here- not with the live orchestras and melodic symphonies of Genshin's world.

Simply put, hardcore dubstep = otherworldly

Note: I am aware that many character demos and other tracks also use dubstep/EDM, but for the purposes of this post I think it should be left separate. Only if someone openly disputes this conclusion then I would happily oblige in presenting more evidence to this thru a reply or rb. Essentially, dubstep IS used in other tracks, but only in Silhouette of Catastrophe and Arlecchino's demo is the dubstep used as a"main idea", while also accompanied by heavy bass and "smaller intricate" sounds. This specific form of dubstep is what signifies being otherworldly.

Another musical element is children's singing!

In terms of the in-game ost, children's singing is used most prominently in Dragonspine's soundtrack in Genshin's world- and I will admit that I am not sure why that is. Perhaps Dragonspine has themes relating to innocence? Childhood? Tranquility? Whatever it is, I am not sure of. (If you have an idea, I would love to know!)

Instead, we can look at a certain character demo:

Nahida's! The beatdrop of her demo begins with children's singing. I believe this represents her innocent nature, status as a young archon, and the children of the forest that surround her- the Aranara.

Not only that, but the only other people in her demo are all children. Suffice to say, Genshin pays very close attention to using their music to reflect the themes and attributes of their characters in their demos (I could make more posts about this- breaking down more demo music...I think that'd be fun)

It's fairly straightforward, but essentially children's singing = children, innocence, and childhood

Now let's (finally) look at Arlecchino's demo

Let's first review each of the main musical elements and what they represent:

Dubstep and distortion: Otherworldly power. For Arlecchino: her curse, power, and dominance. "A spark cannot shatter all shadows until it sets all ablaze"

Children's voices and music box: Children. For Arlecchino: a lullaby; possibly protectiveness/care or tainted innocence (depending on how you interpret how she sees her children)

The music begins with a solo piano- lonely, melancholic, and mysterious. This is how she is after the death of Clervie and the rest of the children of the HotH.

Afterwards, the piano gets distorted- then replaced with harsh artificial beats and musical turmoil. This may be reflected on how she defeated her "mother" using her otherworldly power- her curse.

Following this is the anticipated beatdrop. Fascinatingly, it is not actually lead by dubstep, but by a distorted music box with a creeping melody. Not only that, but it is accompanied by a children's choir and a drum beat together.

The dubstep then ramps up- completely overtaking the track. But one it has reached its height, it is interrupted by the music box and singing children.

One can interpret this as her children holding her back from unleashing her true power. When she is most ruthless and violent, she is reminded of their playfulness and innocence.

The choir ends abruptly- but afterwards, the children's voices and music box lead the melody, while the dubstep and distortions accompany it harmoniously to create one whole piece.

This is who Arlecchino is. A Father and Harbringer defined by "caring" for her children and her otherworldly power. A love that nurtures and neglects- a power that frees and destroys. A wolf in sheep's clothing, or a sheep in wolf's clothing?

However the demo doesn't end there- the solo piano returns once again.

"Its flame is no longer needed, for you have the strength to defend yourselves"

This is going into speculative territory, but perhaps after she passes on her title as "king", she is once again lonely, left without a family. After all, she may no longer be needed or wanted at all- not after all that she has done, not after all that she has failed to do.

Conclusion

I love Genshin's music from the bottom of my heart. One reason why is the attention, detail, and beauty put into each track. Each piece is not only an experience, but also a story, an idea, a character, a place, whatever the artists wish to portray.

Arlecchino's Character Demo is one but many pieces that showcase this. In this track, we are able to discern Arlecchino's two core ideas, her relationship with her children and otherworldly power, through an incredible combination of singing, a music box, and dubstep. One can even theorize the course of her story through its visuals and music, in the end creating a beautiful and encompassing display of "Arlecchino".

[cosmicanemoia]

Lovey-dovey

Amelia Shepherd x Reader

Love Me Till You Leave Me part 8

Y/N and Amelia have been together for six months now, and their relationship is strong and stable.

You move in with Amelia after a week of seeing and dating each other.

Ever since you and Amelia got together, anyone in the hospital can tell that Dr. Shepherd is getting better. Good moods are now frequent, and she speaks more kindly. Amelia is at the top of her game.

Every morning, y/n would cook breakfast after they have sex with each other. Yes. Right after they wake up, they would have sex before they have actual food for breakfast. You love morning sex and Amelia is just as happy to comply with your needs.

If y/n wake up first, she would wait for Amelia to wake up. Y/n loves watching Amelia while she's sleeping. If Amelia wakes up first, she would wake y/n by massaging her breasts, slipping her fingers to her folds, sometimes giving her cunnilingus.

Amelia loves eating the breakfast y/n have prepared, but sometimes she would get page to the hospital, which she didn't like. Y/n doesn't just cook breakfast. She can also make lunch and dinner. Though, they would just order in sometimes because y/n's knowledge in cooking is still limited.

One evening, you look at Amelia. She was drying the dishes with a piece of cloth while she looked out the window. You walk over to her and give her a back hug, and you planted a kiss on her head full of hair. "What was that about?" Amelia inquired."I just think I'm so lucky to have you, " you answered.

You and Amelia would cuddle for hours sometimes. Y/n making Amelia watch her favourite movies and shows, which Amelia has grown to love. You singing to Amelia, love and romantic songs even though you're not a very good singer, Amelia still loves it when you do. You would sometimes make poems from the top of your head and recite it to Amelia.

For example:

• I wish we were pictures in a frame

So we would be frozen in time

I wish we were pictures in a frame

So we would be forever

Cause if you leave me or I you

A part of us have tasted eternity

We've been frozen in time

And a little of our hearts

Became a picture in a frame

And yet, I hope

We don't end up to be

Just another picture on a frame

That you'll hide in a cabinet

Cause it might help you forget

And when it did not

Our picture on the frame

Became just another picture to burn

• I'm not the greatest poet

I'm not even great

But you make me

And I am made

And that's enough for me

• Whatever you want me to be, I'll be

You be the master pulling the strings

I can be your puppet, order me around

Wherever you guide me, I'll follow

One night after, you both finished many times. You pulled Amelia closer to you to whisper something in her ear. "I am so grateful to be the person you went home to. The person you call home." *you kissed her forehead and held her closer.*

The day started with sunshines, and no one would think that it was going to rain. But, it was Seattle, and rain is unstoppable.

You love the rain and your girlfriend is about too as well. A few hours later, and here comes the rain.

You were standing in front of the glass windows, and you called Amelia to stand next to you so you could both appreciate the rain. You look over to her, and an idea planted itself onto your brain.

You took her hand and dragged her outside.

A: What are we doing?

Y/N: I'm taking you dancing and rain should suffice as our music. we are going to shower and dance in the rain.

A: You're crazy! *she chuckles*

Y/N: Thanks for the compliment, babe. *winks at her*

You played in the rain like children, you giggled, chuckled, and laughed at each other. You thought Amelia's laughter in the rain was such a sweet melody, a beautiful sound paired with the pattering of the rain. That sound became your favourite music, one of the reasons you'd drag Amelia in the rain, just so you could hear that sound again.

Both of your bodies are now drenched in the rain. You pulled her closer to you, and you kissed her all over her face, which made her giggle. You moved your mouth to her ear and bit it, you took a deep breath and exhaled, she felt your warm breath in her ear. "Every time you look at me, I melt. Anytime you talk to me, I'm frozen, only for your touch to burn me to the core. Your smile shatters my heart, only to be put together by your laugh." You said, even in the cold rain, Amelia felt warm because of those words, "You're so cheesy" Amelia blushing and giggling "And you love it" you replied and you grinned from ear to ear. She moves her head closer to your face, lips centimetre away from each other. "I do." She admitted after proceeding to kiss you.

Y/N and Amelia danced and kissed, almost like the ones they see in the movies, but it was much more wonderful and much more meaningful because this time, it was the two of them.

Playing, laughing, dancing, and kissing in the rain became their thing.

One time, Y/N got sick. You rarely got sick. Amelia was there to take care of you but also tease you.

A: I told you, one of these days, one of us is gonna catch a cold.

Y/N: I know *sneezes*

A: I never thought you would be the first one to get sick.

Y/N: *sneezes* I know *you watch as amelia laughs at you. Not in a bad way kind of laugh, more like amused kind of laugh*

A: *smirking* I guess we won't be going out in the rain as much after, huh

Y/N: *sneezes* Hah! You wish! *sneezes*

A: And to think you would have learned your lesson by now

Y/N: Which is what? If anything this has taught me, it just makes me want to get out in the rain more and get sick more often. Just so you could take care of me and spend more time with me.

A: You just always know what to say, huh. Do you think you're so clever? *she took a step away from you and started to take off her shirt, and her pants*

Y/N was wide-eyed and a little thirsty. "Like what you see?" Amelia asked, and you responded with a nod, and you gulped at the sight of her now moving seductively. "You're not getting any until you get better." She stated, and you groaned with frustration. You moved your head from side to side and smiled. "So, that is the lesson I was supposed to learn. I get it now. Please. Put some clothes on." Amelia smirked and replied."Nope, no, can't do. I'm feeling a little hot, so..." You rolled your eyes and bit your lip."What if someone comes knocking at our door?" You said trying to convince her one last time, but Amelia rebutted. "I'm not expecting anyone. Were you expecting someone?" She moved closer to you, checking your temperature. You let out a sigh and said "well played. Well played." She chuckled and smiled. Amelia was proud of herself.

You end up cuddled together and fall asleep in each other's embrace. In the morning you will get your surprise because you finally got better.

[marshallpupfan]

What do you like the most out of Paw Patrol? What are your favorite moments from the TV series?

Well, I dare say everyone know what I like the most about PAW Patrol! But if I were to point out other things...

Right off the bat, it's certainly the fact it's about a bunch of pups. I've got a big love for dogs, so a cartoon like this is right up my alley. I guess this is why I often don't mind it when they add more canines to the cast, since in some ways, the more pups, the merrier!

In fact, despite my issues with the modern seasons, they gave us two more pups that quickly became very memorable, imo. It's my hope we see them both again, and outside of their respective subseries, too.

I grew up watching a lot of Looney Tunes, so I'm really big on physical humor and such. Marshall's obviously a good example of this, which is one of the many reasons why he's my favorite. Say what you will, but I love his clumsy antics, and I always look forward to his "Ryder needs us" wipeouts that happen in each episode (sure, the newer ones aren't as good as they were in the older seasons, but honestly, I still enjoy them nonetheless).

"I'm good!"

And I'm often glad when the other pups get involved in this stuff, such as this part with Rocky, which is still one of my favorite moments of his to this day. That look on his face is perfect. lol

And given that Chase is my second favorite, it's especially great when he finds himself caught up in moments like this, especially given he often tries to (or used to) be the most serious of the group.

"Now I know how Marshall feels!" "It's kind of fun, isn't it!"

Beyond all that, the cartoon just has so many cute/fun moments that I just really enjoy. In fact, many of these become favorite moments of mine. Seeing Marshall dress up as a sheep to help solve a mystery at Al's farm is one that comes to mind right away. And given my love of wolves, seeing him become pack leader is another that really stands out. Ah, I could no doubt list so many of my other favorite moments involving him, but I don't want to make this post too long.

And while I could list some for the other pups, I'd like to take a moment to point out some favorites of mine from other characters. Take this moment in season 5, involving the Kitten Catastrophe Crew. This is the kind of humor I wish we could see more often, and it's something I saw early on that convinced me to keep watching.

Even Mayor Humdinger, himself has given me a good laugh from time-to-time, which is why he's still my favorite of the human villains. Kidnapping those royal kittens and dressing them up to look like Everest and Tracker so his crew would match the PAW Patrol's numbers (at the time) instantly made me a fan of him.

I'll wrap this up before this post gets any longer. Suffice to say, there's a whole lot to the cartoon that appeals to me. Again, despite my grievances with the modern seasons, I still consider myself a fan, and there's still a whole lot I enjoy about PAW Patrol, which is why I stick with it. And as you can imagine, I'm still just as crazy about Marshall as ever, so there's that, too. :)

[bsdndprplplld]

tips for studying math

I thought I could share what I learned about studying math so far. it will be very subjective with no scientific sources, pure personal experience, hence one shouldn't expect all of this to work, I merely hope to give some ideas

1. note taking

some time ago I stopped caring about making my notes pretty and it was a great decision – they are supposed to be useful. moreover, I try to write as little as possible. this way my notes contain only crucial information and I might actually use them later because finding things becomes much easier. there is no point in writing down everything, a lot of the time it suffices to know where to find things in the textbook later. also, I noticed that taking notes doesn't actually help me remember, I use it to process information that I'm reading, and if I write down too many details it becomes very chaotic. when I'm trying to process as much as possible in the spot while reading I'm better at structuring the information. so my suggestion would be to stop caring about the aesthetics and try to write down only what is the most important (such as definitions, statements of theorems, useful facts)

2. active learning

do not write down the proof as is, instead write down general steps and then try to fill in the details. it would be perfect to prove everything from scratch, but that's rarely realistic, especially when the exam is in a few days. breaking the proof down into steps and describing the general idea of each step naturally raises questions such as "why is this part important, what is the goal of this calculation, how to describe this reasoning in one sentence, what are we actually doing here". sometimes it's possible to give the proof purely in words, that's also a good idea. it's also much more engaging and creative than passively writing things down. another thing that makes learning more active is trying to come up with examples for the definitions

3. exercises

many textbooks give exercises between definitions and theorem, doing them right away is generally a good idea, that's another way to make studying more active. I also like to take a look at the exercises at the end of the chapter (if that's the case) once in a while to see which ones I could do with what I already learned and try to do them. sometimes it's really hard to solve problems freshly after studying the theory and that's what worked out examples are for, it helps. mamy textbooks offer solutions of exercises, I like to compare the "official" ones with mine. it's obviously better than reading the solution before solving the problem on my own, but when I'm stuck for a long time I check if my idea for the solution at least makes sense. if it's similar to the solution from the book then I know I should just keep going

4. textbooks and other sources

finding the right book is so important. I don't even want to think about all the time I wasted trying to work with a book that just wasn't it. when I need a textbook for something I google "best textbooks for [topic]" and usually there is already a discussion on MSE where people recommend sources and explain why they think that source is a good one, which also gives the idea of how it's written and what to expect. a lot of professors share their lecture/class notes online, which contain user-friendly explenations, examples, exercises chosen by experienced teachers to do in their class, sometimes you can even find exercises with solutions. using the internet is such an important skill

5. studying for exams

do not study the material in a linear order, instead do it by layers. skim everything to get the general idea of which topics need the most work, which can be skipped, then study by priority. other than that it's usually better to know the sketch of every proof than to know a half of them in great detail and the rest not at all. it's similar when it comes to practice problems, do not spend half of your time on easy stuff that could easily be skipped, it's better to practice a bit of everything than to be an expert in half of the topics and unable to solve easy problems from the rest. if the past papers are available they can be a good tool to take a "mock exam" after studying for some time, it gives an opoortunity to see, again, which topics need the most work

6. examples and counterexamples

there are those theorems with statements that take up half of the page because there are just so many assumptions. finding counterexamples for each assumption usually helps with that. when I have a lot of definitions to learn, thinking of examples for them makes everything more specific therefore easier to remember

7. motivation

and by that I mean motivation of concepts. learning something new is much easier if it's motivated with an interesting example, a question, or application. it's easier to learn something when I know that it will be useful later, it's worth it to try to make things more interesting

8. studying for exams vs studying longterm

oftentimes it is the case that the exam itself requires learning some specific types of problems, which do not really matter in the long run. of course, preparing for exams is important, but keep in mind that what really matters is learning things that will be useful in the future especially when they are relevant to the field of choice. just because "this will not be on the test" doesn't always mean it can be skipped

ok I think that's all I have for now. I hope someone will find these helpful and feel free to share yours

[ask-the-four-lords]

This is a question for each of the four lords. It’s not one I’ve ever seen asked before. Though I feel it can tell you a lot about a person.

What is the earliest memory you have? For example, I remember visiting a waterfall with my family. It can be super vague, as those memories usually are.

Thank you!

- 🦇

Blog auth here; I know this is a lot I just really liked this question. I know it's mostly HC but I hope it suffices. I also ended up only doing their earliest clear-as-day, perfectly intact memories because I felt like they'd be more interesting than the vague ones even if the vague ones were earlier, so presume there are earlier memories but these are the first really clear, solidified, intact ones.

Salvatore Moreau: M-my first mem-glugkg-memory *acid in mouth, swallowed after about 30 sec* was the day I went out on the wadder for the firrrsst time. The smell ah' the lake... there-there was nothing like it... 'st-still isn't. I n-never spent more than three deys without going oud' on the water after that, even if I' *gags* I'll never smel it straight again, I'll never forget the exac' smell of that afternoon. *he cries softly at the memory of his long since departed father and his dulled sense of smell since implantation*

Donna Beneviento: *she pauses, building the courage, sniffling at the thoughts* My earliest memory was the day my dad gave me Angie... I felt ever so safe with her. I couldn't sleep that night. I took Angie with me, snuck out of the manor and went to watch the waterfall... it was ever so beautiful... they... they, it was only *breaks down crying* a week later, they, they did... no, please. *manages to push the thoughts down* But it was like Angie spoke to me, like a friend, the other kids all thought I was a freak, they said I was sick, broken. Then, then my eye, after the Cadou it was so much worse! *quietly* I hate me. Evil, repulsive, freak! Monster! *cries, hits self although lightly* But out by the waterfall Angie seemed to come alive and she seemed to care. I'm so grateful I got make her come alive for real, and it's been a little better since, my only friend, they thought she was sooo weird but she was and is... a friend. I don't ever want her to leave me, I-I don't know what I'd do. *holds onto Angie, with desperation*

Alcina Dimitrescu: I was only ten, maybe eleven, I can't remember exactly, poor girl that I was. I had never really gotten to leave home due to that *with vitriol* miserable illness that ruined my old life, all of it. They had sat me in bed, it had been so long... it blended together, many months at a time usually. But mother brought me so many books, always enough, I never ran out. I loved them. They were all I had. All the distractions in bed never made it any better in truth, but I remember losing myself in the stories. More than anything, most importantly, I remember *in spellbound awe* hearing the jazz, Louis Armstrong, his crooked croon, gave things a color that they hadn't had before. Mother brought the albums in, all the masters, the greats, I always knew I'd end taking my place among them, and I did. Mother, she had been something of a socialite in those days, after jazz made it to Europe, she was hooked, and thus, so was I.

Karl Heisenberg: Old uncle Heisenberg... that fuck raised me, after my parents kicked the ol' bucket. He was a mechanist, 'damn good one too. He taught me the tricks of tha trade, how to wield a wrench, how to hit something in the right places 'till it *sarcastically aggressive* fucking worked, how to weld, the tools, the method, all of it. The dirty bastard wanted me to be a mechanic, mechanist, whatever, when I grew up, 'guess I was in the end. He was a scurvy old motherfucker, but 'e loved me in 'is own way, he was a drunk too. *scoffs a little, amused* But anyways, *back to point* my earliest memory, clear-as-day memory that is, I still got a lotta vague shit alongside it, was me and Uncle Heisenberg, I smelled like motor oil, I'd smell like motor oil there on out. He said I was old enough, passed a smoke and a whiskey. 'Whole day we'd been workin' on one of 'is projects, one of the less stupid ones, it was right when we said we'd go to sleep and then didn't, he ran into me when we both went to hit the workshop. He believed in me, at least more than the others ever would. That night, the smoke wafted from the cigar, he passed it. I took a drag. It felt right, and more or less felt alright. He said I was a "man now" who knows whatever the fuck that means but it meant somethin' to me, always will. *Laughs* If he knew I mainly called him a scurvy old bastard, he'd be proud, he was a asshole, drunk, and all-around sonofabitch, but he was a damn good man, 'loved 'im.

[m1ckeyb3rry]

hi!!! i love love LOVE your glass princess series :D how many parts are you expecting it to reach?

hiii i’m so glad you love it!! i wish i could give you an estimate but honestly my stories tend to get away from me 😭 for example i thought that the ursa arc + ba sing se arc would get us to maybe ten chapters max?? and they ended up being 16 chapters and about 95k words. so i don’t want to make any guesses and let anyone down.

i do think i have a rough idea of how many arcs are left though!! we’ve gotten through two so far (ursa and ba sing se), so counting the one we just started w chapter seventeen i’m estimating about two to three more?? not sure how long each will be and as always that’s subject to change but as of right now that sounds right to me.

i’m sorry this is such an unclear answer 😭 but suffice to say there’s plenty more left!! we still have to get through almost everything that happens in season 3 plus post finale stuff which i’m excited to write. i’m hoping it doesn’t take too long for me to finish though!! may is a pretty busy month for me but then things clear up again so fingers crossed i can get the story finished by julyish (again no promises i feel like my will to write is so spotty that i really can’t say anything for sure)

[devsgames]

The Art of Feedback

(This post cross-posted from my Patreon. Please consider supporting for access to my unreleased game prototypes, devlogs and blog posts just like this one. It helps me pay rent and supports the work I do!)

The biggest, most important ability anyone working (or hoping to work) collaboratively in gamedev should have is giving targeted feedback.

I'm not saying "you should be able to honestly tell people that their work sucks", but rather you should be able to elegantly and politely express in what specific ways their work could use improvement and, most importantly, why you believe the feedback to be valid.

In my opinion this is a lifeline skill anyone working in games needs to have.

Not being able to give polite and targeted feedback is something that sets apart an amazing dev from a competent one, and generally will make your critiques feel less like an opinion and more like a fair and specific analysis of a feature. It's what separates A Random Gamer Online complaining about a video game apart from an actual dev identifying pain points on a piece of work.

So how do you do it?

Consent

By far, the biggest thing to remember about feedback in my opinion is that feedback is all about consent.

When giving feedback you need to be positive that all parties are aware and on the same page about the feedback and its role in the conversation, and that the party receiving the feedback even wants it in the first place.

There's been countless times I've had conversations in the industry where it was obvious someone was receiving feedback that was not wanted and didn't consent to it - whether it was way too premature, focusing on the wrong part of the feature, not wanted in the first place or coming from someone who may not have been desirable to hear feedback from.

How do you navigate this? Simply ask for consent first.

A simple "Are you interested in feedback on [x] feature?", or "Is there anything you want me to focus my feedback on?" should usually suffice. If yes, give feedback. If no, don't bother!

Not only does this establish a clear line of consent, it also ensures your feedback is useful and you're not giving feedback that will fall on ears that don't want to hear it.

Empathy

Receiving feedback for many people can be intimately personal. Everyone has things about their work that aren't satisfactory, and entering into territory where you're pointing out these flaws can be devastating if not done correctly. There's an assumption that "honest" feedback is the way to go, but "honesty" can be a double edged sword and there's a lot of devs who deal real damage to others under the guide of "just being honest about feedback". Good feedback should be presented in a way that the recipient can take it to heart without feeling hurt. These are not mutually exclusive ideas.

To avoid this situation, the "compliment sandwich" is a time-tested method. Soften the blow of critical feedback by pairing it with compliments before and after, which allows you to deliver the feedback without it feeling like a direct attack. It's rather soulless to say "you should always talk like this", so of course this is not the end-all-be-all, but it's a good starting point for understanding how to deliver feedback in a way that doesn't harm.

In fact, I've found the structure of compliments doesn't matter as long as you're keeping the mindset of being constructive and in a 'building up" mindset about your feedback, and not a tearing down one. Usually I aim to incorporate one point of critical feedback with one compliment is often enough to soften the blow in many cases.

As an example, saying "I think your placement of the car needs work" feels colder and tonally more harmful than "I love how your use of trees to direct the player through the space, but I think the placement of the car needs work". See how those could read differently?

Additionally, you can change up your method depending on the person you're speaking to and your relationship to them.

For example, first impressions based around feedback are important. If you're giving feedback to say, a peer or student you've never talked to before, leading with complements is key. If you've been in a feedback session for a while the conversation might naturally veer into being more or less critical at certain stages, and you may find striking a constant balance of compliments may not be necessary. If someone seems defensive or upset, it might be wise to pile on some more compliments to make them feel more at ease. If you're giving feedback to someone you've know for a long time and given feedback to before it's possible you may be comfortable enough together that you may not even need to compliment at all!

TARGET

I really want to emphasize this point because this is how you make giving feedback an efficient task. If you don't know what specifically the person receiving feedback wants to receive feedback on there's a good chance you'll end up giving feedback on absolutely everything about the game, and ignore the elements that need feedback the most by doing so.

I've been in this situation plenty of times: a feature in your game is only half-implemented compared to the rest of the game, and instead of focusing on giving feedback about [x] new feature your playtester instead spends 15 minutes talking about the feature that is lacking despite the fact you already know it's missing. The feedback isn't about the thing that you as a developer need feedback on the most, and instead covers territory you're already well aware of.

As someone giving feedback, consent comes back into this. Ask "Do you need feedback on [x]?", or "What do you need feedback on the most?". This puts the ball in their court to identify what you should look out for, as opposed to you playing through and simply pointing out flaws in everything regardless of context. It also means the feedback session is going to be more effective at targeting what they need help with the most, and will be most beneficial to them in the end. In context like meetings and student feedback sessions where time is limited, this is vital to ensuring you're not wasting anyone's time.

Another way to improve the targeting of your feedback is to ensure you understand your subject's goals, and tie your feedback into that. Without this your feedback can be wildly off-base.

For example, if your subject is making a project to learn new implementation techniques, it's not going to be useful to provide feedback about their game's polish that would be more applicable to someone, say, trying to ship a game. Asking what your feedback subject's goal is with their project - or even just ensuring you address that and have a surface-level understanding about what those goals may be - is going to put you in a position of understanding what kind of feedback to give.

With this knowledge in your pocket you can now give feedback through a narrower filter that will more effectively improve their work.

"Why?"

"Why?" is the single most important question you need to attempt to answer when giving feedback. Answering "why" is how important changes get made.

Anyone can say "I think [x] feature needs to change", but not anyone can identify why it needs to change, or in what capacity. There's nothing worse than receiving feedback where a director says "I didn't like this feature" and they fail to address why they think that way. Especially as a designer, "why" is a fundamental idea needed to back up any approach you might have to changing or implementing designs - and it's why designers are often in a better position to identify changes than the average player.

Before you give a piece of feedback, ask yourself "Why do I think this?", and be prepared to include that with your feedback.

"I don't like the way the movement feels because it makes it hard to keep the enemies in my sights" is vastly more useful than "I don't like the way the movement feels". It gives what you at least believe is an actionable, and the person receiving the feedback now has a problem they may need to consider going forward.

There's truly nothing more aggravating than hearing - "I don't like this thing" without a reason why. That why needs to exist because if it didn't people would simply be making changes for no reason except "the vibes are off", and a vibes-based approach isn't exactly a sustainable one from a development angle.

Conclusion

The best feedback is when it addresses specific targeted points that are relevant to the recipient's context in a way that isn't going to be harmful to them! It's not a matter of simply saying anything that comes to mind however you want, but addressing relevant pain points that will best help them improve their work. ✌️

[moonpile]

The Trouble with Home Tours - ESO U43

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/661795/ - U43 Home Tours - Preemptive Feedback

TL;DR: A description field alone would solve a lot of problems. With the other sub-features, it could've been great.

Intro:

I admire the project this is based on: EHT Housing Hub. Due to clues in datamines and because EHT's creator was hired to work for ZOS (he was on the reveal stream), some of us suspected for months that Home Tours would be the new feature in Update 43. It was not a surprise.

The disappointment is not about what it is. It's not that "we already have an addon" (the feature could've been better for all of us, PC and console alike).

It's that I hoped it would come with more utility and improvements on EHT's Housing Hub,

rather than being an extremely "lite" version. I actually don't use HH much due to UI and UX; official implementation could improve these.

For now, I’m not looking forward to Home Tours. I don’t want to share nor tour builds if there’s no way to share the description or POI.

Feedback:

1. Descriptions:

Anyone who's done housing events knows that descriptions are crucial, both for explaining the build's story and visitor tips/directions.

Two things make me want to visit a build:

Screenshots

Description

HT has neither; tags don't suffice. It will be a mess when there are thousands of listings.

Example from EHT Housing Hub: Hovering over a home in EHT shows the description. Home Tours could improve upon this UI and make it fit the game's aesthetics.

Also with EHT, players can put a custom book containing the house description. This would be a great sub-feature to bring in, keeping things in-game rather than in UI.

Example: custom books

I don't like to use EHT effects: they don't match the in-game aesthetics/UI, show through other objects, and not everyone has them enabled. Official implementation could improve this.

1.5 Weather Control:

Worth mentioning weather control again since it shows up a ton in descriptions: "Please visit in sunny weather or lights don't work!" etc. Dark, low-contrast rain & lightning flashing are physically painful and annoying as a builder, but it's bad for streamers or judges too: they don't have time to wait around for the right conditions or return when it's finally sunny again if they have 50 others to visit.

2. House Nicknames:

Disappointed that titles are not showcase-specific.

I use nicknames with BMU to organize my houses for easy travel. (I constantly change the numbers, so if I'm actively working on a house it might be 00 or 01.)

But I don't want my "Teahouse for Azandar" to show up as "04 ATHFA" for visitors... or worse thanks to the character limit:

3. Point of Interest markers:

Descriptions could be shorter if we could place graphical POI markers, with an option to add short flavor text that would show on interaction. (No slot wasting: these should not be furnishings. Should be able to show/hide so they don't clash with the visuals.)

Example, EHT's POI markers:

Again, style doesn't match and these show through walls and objects. Official implementation could improve upon EHT.

I started making graphics like this to help visitors. The above in-game features would be better.

Since I couldn't include a graphic in-game, and without descriptions (and because of the EHT copy-paste issue!) I’d rather not use the House Tours feature for now. Discord, Reddit, Youtube, etc. are all better ways to find housing inspiration and community.

I'm making my own housing directory, here.

...

From the outside, it appears like there may have been hurdles that tied devs' hands, preventing something more feature-rich.

I know others are disappointed it's not one of many other oft-requested features. But since this is what we got, I hope others will ask for these improvements as well, and that the devs can keep working and expanding on it.

[livia-dovehallow]

Tlh feels so disconnected from the other series. It ignores so many things established already, it's like it's in its own universe. For example:

- We know Cecily's father was an alcoholic and yet none of the adults noticed Matthew's problem.

- Cecily is very active and a fighter but in tlh she's like a stay at home mom and just takes care of Alexander.

- How is it that everyone is so accepting of all the lgbt characters. Like I know shadowhunters don't follow the same social rules as mundanes do but at this point in history being gay is illegal. LIKE YOU COULD GO TO JAIL. And you're telling nobody had a problem. I feel it really undermines Alec's story. He being the first gay consul is a big deal, his fight for himself and his identity is huge and here it's like it's not even a problem for someone being gay. I know history not always improves, so you could say that people got more homophobic with time, but how. How did we go from this generation to the Circle. Like let's pretend Alexander is the Lightwood ancestor, it means Robert is his grandkid, and we know Robert's father was awful. Are you telling me Alexander, Cecily and Gabriel's child, raised a person so badly? Like how? There's no connection.

- Also, how is it so easy for Anna and Ari, and possibly Thomas and Alastair, to adopt a child. Again, it was a huge deal for Alec and Magnus to adopt Max and Rafael, but for the tlh people is this easy?

- Also, we know Alex is the first gay openly gay consul, so should we assume Charles didn't get to be consul? Or he did get to be consul and the historians erased his sexuality?

SECOND TO LAST BULLET IS A MODERATE SPOILER TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT FINISHED CHAIN OF THORNS BUT IT DIDNT MAKE SENSE TO ME TO COPY THIS ALL OVER WHEN IT'S AT THE BOTTOM SO I HOPE YOU SEE THIS WARNING OKAY SORRY

I have seen this sentiment a lot and I do agree with it. Alone (entirely detached from the rest of TSC and ignoring the fact that these characters are the children of my beloved TID characters), it's an all right series. But knowing that it is a TSC book, you're right. Ignores so many established things.

I just try to think of some of the more historically-inaccurate items as intentionally inaccurate so that TLH feels more welcoming and a better version of history than we know truly happened. However, that disconnects from TMI, as we know, because of how much prejudice Alec faced being gay. If TLH truly connected to all established events, I don't think Alec would have been so scared and felt so threatened.

(And, no, I don't think Charles ever became Consul but that's another story entirely).

Given that we know TLH familes are the ancestors of the TMI families (or most of them, at least), it just doesn't connect well. Obviously, big things could have happened between TLH and TMI that made the Lightwoods go back to being assholes for a generation (don't get me started on that either because Gideon and Gabriel would be so disappointed in them).

I get not wanting to feel tied to the family tree to create the TLH story, but CC should have stuck to what she had already established in a main series. Side books I think have more leeway of being retconned or adjusted, but not a main series, especially not the one that started it all.

So yeah, I can overlook historical inaccuracy to a pretty far extent, but stay consistent in your storytelling among the 4/5 published main series, at least. You wrote yourself into that corner; figure it out. Sigh.

TLH would have made a better series if it had been written as an NA series rather than YA and wasn't confined to a trilogy.

Cecily being reduced to a housewife angers me too much to even address it in this already long post but suffice it to say that I ignore that part of canon because Cecily Herondale-Lightwood is not a fucking housewife ksjflkjs

[daily-dose-of-imagines]

Hello, I hope you've had a good day so far :) if it doesn't make any of you uncomfortable, may I request Zhongli (Genshin Impact) with an s/o who cries when given affection? For example, they smile at people just to be polite, but when someone wants to get closer to them, they'll become very quiet, and when someone does something nice for them and genuinely cares for them they end up crying? You can choose the gender of the s/o (but a gender neutral s/o would be preferred so that others can read it (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)) please and thank you! (・∀・) (I'm very sorry if this is too much information..)

Hello hello anon~! It's been quite a day, but nothing too bad~! So sorry that it's been so long, but here is the long awaited request you've made~! I hope it lives to your expectations~! As always, thank you so much for your support to our blog~! We greatly appreciate it~!

» » Admin Ko

ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ | Zhongli x GN!Reader [ONE-SHOT]

»»————-　➴　————-««

To many, the words "I love you." hold a semblance of adoration, love, and adoration, but for some those words can hold the weight of the world. A strong sense and urge of responsibility that not many are quite accustomed to, and for someone who isn't well versed in receiving such terms of affection it can become quite overwhelming.

A sort of stimulant that can have one's mind reeling with overbearing thoughts and emotions. Thus, before a crowd of their closest friends, (y/n) sat meagerly eating their food as the rambunctious sounds from the acclaimed Paimon and Traveler echoed throughout the open dining hall. Beside them sat the renowned Zhongli, a consultant who carried himself as though he ruled over the lands-- and someone whom (y/n) held a strong affection for.

"(Y/n), is the food not to your liking? Does a dish displease you?"

A deep voice whispered into their ears, a flush of red dusting their features as they stiffened in their seat. A sense of urgency captivated their heart at the gentle concern that laced itself within the consultant's voice as amber eyes gazed into their form.

"Ah...yes-- I mean, no... nothing is wrong..."

A forced smile made it's way across (y/n)'s features as they hoped the expression sufficed in alleviating the worry that began to capture the consultant's face.

"...would you like to step aside for some air then? I wish for nothing more than your mind to be at peace..."

Zhongli's brow furrowed as he already made a move to stand up. An arm was already offered out towards the other as the consultant refused to budge from his stance.

Seeing as there was no choice in the matter, (y/n) hesitantly placed their hand on the taller man's forearm. Allowing themselves to be whisked away into the beautiful Liyuen night. The refreshing breeze and the soothing sound of the ocean crashing against the harbor brought a sense of clarity to them as they were able to calm down.

"Before you fret, I let our companions know that we'd momentarily part."

Zhongli offered a small smile, the adoration for (y/n) dripping from his amber hues like honey as he gently rubbed his thumb over the back of their hand that rested on his forearm. At this, (y/n) was suddenly hyperaware of the state that they were in. The close proximity and warmth they felt as Zhongli walked alongside them had their brain working on overdrive as they attempted to quell the raging thoughts and emotions that crossed their mind.

Without even realizing it, their breathing quickened as they felt the pinpricks of tears breach at their eyes as they tried whatever they could to withstand the sudden onslaught of emotions they felt. Suddenly, (y/n) found themselves seated near the docks. The salty sea breeze brushed against their face as Zhongli sat patiently beside them. Never once relinquishing his hold on the other as he could feel the air prickle with unease.

"No need to rush. Take your time, for I am always here awaiting you."

He added with fervor as he let the natural sounds of Liyue whisk the duo into a state of peace. Though they wished to explain themselves, (y/n) found that there was no need. The atmosphere and the silence gave the former archon enough information as the continuous gentle caress to their hand began to slowly dissipate leaving only raised arm hairs.

To (y/n) this was all...so much. With the patience and understanding Zhongli provided, they allowed themselves to be momentarily vulnerable. As they curled within themselves to allow frustrated and overwhelmed tears to shed, the former archon ensured their respect and privacy from those who dared to peek. The strong gaze he held deterred all that dared to even near the duo as the soothing deep rumble of his voice served as a beacon of light to (y/n). A steady anchor that helped ease their rambunctious emotions.

At that moment, as the stars gently watched over the duo; (y/n) knew that despite everything, Zhongli would be there for them. A consistent medium and reminder that it was okay to be overwhelmed. That they would work through it together one step at a time. Step by step, day by day.

[azrielgreen]

Do you have any advice for people in their 20s? Because like I know logically that I have a full plate. I'm going to work full time and I'm on the track to getting into the nursing program and that's not easy and I'm trying to be kind to myself but I can't help but feel angry at myself for not creating like I used to or being able to successfully carve out time for it

Hi lovely, apologies for the delay in answering. So, firstly I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. I absolutely understand this feeling and I think many others can relate to it as well. Having the will and desire to create but not the time is extremely frustrating. It sounds like you have so many things happening in your life and even though they're all leading to good places, it's hard not to resent it.

My "advice" for anyone in their 20s is a little radical, to the point where I think it's better not to call it advice at all, but rather my own experience. If I could go back now to myself when I was in my 20s, I would say very clearly "find a way to make money that leaves you TIME to live your life and brings you joy in the work. start now. work at it. get good. learn. consume way less sugar. start working out, i know you hate it but do it. you'll fail at first. you won't make sales. no one will read your stuff. but push on because it gets so good." I'd say all these things and my 20s self would probably laugh and sneer (she was a bitch who'd lost all her connection to the earth and magic). It's only when I hit my 30s that I began to come into myself , rediscover who I was, and really feel fucking amazing about myself and prioritise my happiness over doing what other people thought I "should be" doing. Society makes it seem so fucking radical to do that, but it's not and more people should invest in their own happiness, especially where it can stem from simple things; creation, care, nourishment, nature, friendship. We are taught that those things are secondary to having a career and for some, that will work. That'll be enough for them. For others, it's not. I think everyone should ask themselves if they will be happy doing what they're doing forever. If it's enough. I'm not saying everyone en masse quit their jobs, but it should always be an option, lest you stay where you're miserable out of fear.

Anyway - the point. Advice I can definitely give is to invest in your happiness, joy and comfort RIGHT NOW, however you can. Make small changes wherever possible to buy yourself an hour of free time. Romanticise it the fullest extent. Sleep more, buy a slutty water bottle, get folate in your system. You are not a machine. You can't produce art on demand when you're already under pressure/stress. Last year, I installed an app on my phone that tracked how much time I spend on socials and the results were HORRIFYING. Suffice to say, I limit that now. This is not in any way a judgement, BTW, just an example of somewhere I found an extra hour for myself in the morning/evening. Buy yourself a cute coffee mug, play Youtube soundscapes in the background, go for a walk and record yourself thinking out loud about creative ideas. These things are important because then when you DO have an hour, you'll use it.

And finally, being kind to yourself is so fucking hard. I know that. But you HAVE to work on it because creativity is not iron wrought, it's delicate and rare and completely unique to you. It requires nurturing, love and freedom to expand without fear of backlash. I didn't write for about 8 years straight in my 20s. I started back up again in my early 30s and it was as if I'd never stopped. The energy ALWAYS comes back. It's cyclical. It doesn't die or fade, you just have to be in a state to receive and use it, that's what I believe.

I hope this helps even in small ways. You're doing amazingly.

Love, Az.

💜💜💜

[bisexualrapline]

I've seen your blog and you really do seem to love Yoongi a lot. Can I just ask, what are your favourite things about him? ☺️

i woke up to this ask so good morning friend. i’m stumped for words honestly i feel like i’ve tried many times (and failed many times) to articulate exactly how much yoongi means to me in words but choosing my favorite things about him seems like even more of an exercise that i am doomed to fail at 😭 let me just say what follows is an inconclusive list and leave it there before i spend my entire workday philosophizing about the love of my life fkskdkdk

i love how big his heart is. i could provide endless examples of him showing his big heart and i’m sure some of them will come up in points below but it should suffice to say that he thinks and cares so deeply for the people in his life, it genuinely inspires me to do the same for the people in my life

i love how much he loves bangtan. you can just tell with the way his eyes shine when he talks about/to them. the way his mouth quirks up in the slightest smile when he’s fond. the words he says about them too are always so well thought-out and almost like… savored. like he’s turned them over and over in his head and tested them on his tongue so many times. he loves those boys like i can’t imagine loving anyone

i love How he shows love. watch any bangtan content and you’ll see what i mean. in the soop when he made jihope tuna on crackers while they were playing just so he could lie next to them on the couch and be satisfied that they had a snack while they were playing games. the way that he’s been widely seen as this “cold” person has never made sense to me because from what i’ve seen of him, his door is always open to those he loves. and they know it.

i love how much he loves soft and cute things. he’s such a living conundrum of a person. i think sometimes people struggle to fit All of him inside their heads. like yes he can be big bad rapper man AND also love ballads and tangerines and puppies and fluffy cute things and to pout in selfies and wear makeup and skirts and look pretty. i just think the way he’s so comfortable walking the line and sharing different parts of himself with us is soooo like… we’re so privileged to get to see so much of him.

i love how we’ve gotten to see him grow and see his mindsets shift over time and how effusive he is about the members playing a part in that. i talk a lot about how seokjin must have influenced a lot of the ways that yoongi’s feelings about life and the world we live in have shifted over time and it genuinely does warm my heart to know how deeply he processes the things said to him by the people he loves. to affect a mindset change so much to be able to impart wisdom that could literally change someone’s life really requires that level of trust and love to believe so deeply in what someone else says to you about their feelings. idk was this a coherent point? i haven’t taken my meds yet this morning skdkskd

i love the ways in which he expresses himself. i think yoongi is one of the greatest living artists on this earth. no single other artist on earth has ever impacted me so deeply with their music and lyrics before him. leaving aside music and lyrics, even just his words are art to me. i cherish the things he shares with us because i’ve never felt so seen or understood by someone who i will likely never meet.

i will stop there because if i keep going i may start crying and never stop. hope this answered your question somewhat?? 💗

[ethernetmeep]

I really enjoy the way you write/talk/ramble. Very eloquent. Personal but abstract. Transparent but opaque. I hope that doesn't sound too weird for me to say.

Anyway, because of that I wanted to ask: what do you like to read? What are your favourite books?

as soon as i saw this, i felt a bit dizzy— flattered, indefinitely! i write so many anonymous messages, that i forget what its like to get one myself.. i really do appreciate your kind words, i would give you a hug but doing so for an anon feels almost intrusive— so instead i offer a hypothetical little tea party :^)

as for the quote, weirdness factor, never worry about something like that. well.. with me, i mean. it wasn’t weird at all, and even in the offhand chance it was, i quite like the strange. being alive shouldn’t always have to be conforming to a majority, but thats a different discussion..

what do i like to read, huh? hmmmmmm… thats a really good question. (i almost said ‘actually’ which implied the question had any percentage to not be good; this isn’t true! i appreciate all questions) its an odd mix, but i thoroughly enjoy scientific books, whether that be about a broad subject like space or a book dedicated to solely spiders. learning about this world i inhabit means quite a lot to me. i also enjoy books which are a bit complex, although i wouldn’t say i go out of my way to say esoteric; mainly because… i tend to procrastinate many things, especially reading. it would be a lie if i said i read most of the books to fit that supposed genre… i have read house of leaves, though. one of my favorite books ever….

i’ve talked about this in length before, so excuse me if i sound redundant, but the motif of haunted* houses is quite special to me. notice the asterisk on haunted. anatomy by kitty horrorshow, the haunting of hill house, house.wad…. anything in that vein, absolutely enamored with. funnily enough, still have to read the haunting of hill house. thoroughly excited. then again, thats a very specific kind of media, and not a book genre

other favorites include the metamorphosis & innumerable insects. love those… have a photo of franz kafka in my wallet at all times. i also am quite fond of junji ito’s work, although i haven’t read some from my shelf in awhile. i know manga is technically different from the textbook definition of book, but i put it here anyway to be more thorough

to be honest, i like to read anything which seems intriguing and captivates my attention, and that is.. many things. i have more books i want to read then books actually read, i think. for example, ive been wanting to read no longer human, (read the manga version junji ito created; still different, though) but i’ve simply haven’t gotten around to it. its quite silly… and my interest is genuine in them, i should add— i get immensely excited at their ideas & concepts, i just lose track of time quite easily. my lack of reading isn’t because i don’t want to, but because i simply… how do the kids say this… forgor…

thank you very much for the ask— it means quite a lot to me to be able to converse with others ^_^ and, as i said earlier, your compliments are much appreciated.. very much so.. i do hope you’re doing okay, wherever you are & whomever you are. 🫂

(if you do not like a tea party or tea, then maybe hot chocolate will suffice. i know i enjoy hot chocolate, but it varies for everyone..)