#there are only two options: success or growth

[magicaldragons]

writing.

things i've learned throughout the years

speaking from personal experience, writing, whether it's for a fic or an original work, is a process that comes to everyone very differently. which is also why it took me a WHILE to figure out what worked for me.

you've definitely heard this one before, but: 1. do not worry about making your first draft perfect. it will seem terrible, and that's ok.

it's the most common writing advice i've always heard as well, and i always understood what it meant, logically, but it was a piece of advice that was very hard to follow.

the second i gave myself permission to suck, though – the moment i said "i'm going to write trash," is when everything started flowing so much more easily.

it helps IMMENSELY to just push ahead and write whatever comes to you in the moment. do not start searching up synonyms. (yeah, i see you) and if you hate a word or phrase, put a *** next to it and come back later. chances are, you'll change your mind after seeing it from a new perspective, or be able to come up with something to replace it with.

it's always easier to edit than write from scratch, so give yourself material you can edit.

2. write for yourself. write what you love – what you would read.

it definitely draws people in more than any formula you think works or a piece you deliberately craft for a specific audience.

3. as long as your writing is comprehensible, grammar means little in front of the emotion your work conveys

i've read so many works that have left such a profound effect on me, solely because i could feel the amount of heart the author poured into it, it's always easy to look past minor mistakes, as long as what the writer says makes sense.

4. most importantly, when you're starting on that path of developing your writing skills, don't show your work to anybody. hear me out:

i've written about seven stories (for various fandoms) that will never see the light of day – not because i dislike them, but because i now realize, i had to write them for me.

and these stories (and the evident progress in my storytelling skils across all of them) are what give me the most confidence when i doubt my skills.

you can always share your works in the future, but the first couple of times you venture out with a vision in mind, make yourself your audience, it prevents you from diluting your ideas with expectations of other people's perceptions.

+ and finally, a bonus point:

a lot of the writing process, is just discovering yourself, in various ways

i always used to hear writers say:

"my characters did this on their own" or "the story just wrote itself like this"

and i never understood, because MY characters never did anything of their volition, in fact, they refused to do what i intended for them to and it would be a struggle to write a scene sometimes

and again recently i had that same problem, where i couldn't for the life of me, figure out how to describe a character performing a particular action. i waited for days for any sort of inspiration or logic to strike me, but it wasn't working.

i surprised even myself though, when i highlighted the whole section and deleted it.

but as soon as i let go of writing that one scene the way i'd planned it, a completely new option presented itself, and writing THAT scene was so much easier.

so no. my characters never tell me what to do, but they tell me what they don't want to do, and the realization that common experiences in writing will manifest differently in different people, really made me realize that writing is something you should follow your instincts in.

technicality-wise, you will always keep learning and improving. growth never stops.

so it's important to do what feels true to you, and do it in a way that makes YOU feel comfortable, whether that includes taking risks, being spontaneous, or starting small.

that's when some of the best things are created.

[reasonsforhope]

"A team at Northwestern University has come up with the term “dancing molecules” to describe an invention of synthetic nanofibers which they say have the potential to quicken the regeneration of cartilage damage beyond what our body is capable of.

The moniker was coined back in November 2021, when the same team introduced an injection of these molecules to repair tissues and reverse paralysis after severe spinal cord injuries in mice.

Now they’ve applied the same therapeutic strategy to damaged human cartilage cells. In a new study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the treatment activated the gene expression necessary to regenerate cartilage within just four hours.

And, after only three days, the human cells produced protein components needed for cartilage regeneration, something humans can’t do in adulthood.

The conceptual mechanisms of the dancing molecules work through cellular receptors located on the exterior of the cell membrane. These receptors are the gateways for thousands of compounds that run a myriad of processes in biology, but they exist in dense crowds constantly moving about on the cell membrane.

The dancing molecules quickly form synthetic nanofibers that move according to their chemical structure. They mimic the extracellular matrix of the surrounding tissue, and by ‘dancing’ these fibers can keep up with the movement of the cell receptors. By adding biological signaling receptors, the whole assemblage can functionally move and communicate with cells like natural biology.

“Cellular receptors constantly move around,” said Northwestern Professor of Materials Sciences Samuel Stupp, who led the study. “By making our molecules move, ‘dance’ or even leap temporarily out of these structures, known as supramolecular polymers, they are able to connect more effectively with receptors.”

The target of their work is the nearly 530 million people around the globe living with osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease in which tissues in joints break down over time, resulting in one of the most common forms of morbidity and disability.

“Current treatments aim to slow disease progression or postpone inevitable joint replacement,” Stupp said. “There are no regenerative options because humans do not have an inherent capacity to regenerate cartilage in adulthood.”

In the new study, Stupp and his team looked to the receptors for a specific protein critical for cartilage formation and maintenance. To target this receptor, the team developed a new circular peptide that mimics the bioactive signal of the protein, which is called transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFb-1).

Northwestern U. Press then reported that the researchers incorporated this peptide into two different molecules that interact to form supramolecular polymers in water, each with the same ability to mimic TGFb-1...

“With the success of the study in human cartilage cells, we predict that cartilage regeneration will be greatly enhanced when used in highly translational pre-clinical models,” Stupp said. “It should develop into a novel bioactive material for regeneration of cartilage tissue in joints.”

“We are beginning to see the tremendous breadth of conditions that this fundamental discovery on ‘dancing molecules’ could apply to,” Stupp said. “Controlling supramolecular motion through chemical design appears to be a powerful tool to increase efficacy for a range of regenerative therapies.”"

-via Good News Network, August 5, 2024

[brujamala-aka-gigi]

⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁pac reading ｡⋆｡ ﾟ

ೄྀ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆

ʚ 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒕 ೄྀ 𓏲༄

some short tarot readings aiming to provide information that could be useful if you're going thru hard times. this is completely random, take what resonates leave what doesn't, hopefully there's something useful in here <3 .

{ pngs by @20sk-smoke }{dividers by @d-oie & @cafekitsune}

pile one pile two pile three

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.‧͙˚ *༓ scroll down for the readings ⋆ִ ‧͙⁺˚

.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋ ✧ pile number one ˚.⋆

You are facing a moment of imbalance due to a certain sense of harmony getting lost among the overwhelming feelings of chaos and uncertainty. You are almost aware of the new emotionally constructive opportunities on the horizon, but you also fear that you won't make it out of whatever situation is blocking your path towards abundance. Progress might not be happening at the speed you desire, but it's certain that your achievements are not meant to be easily seen by yourself, you need to allow yourself to be grateful now instead of only allowing gratitude when you reach what could be seen as a “fully achieved” goal. Absolute success is not something that's eternal, it's a feeling that lasts too little. This reality shouldn't put you down as the opportunity for constant evolution gives depth to personal experiences. When possible, try to find comfort in the spiritual growth opportunities, don't hyperfixate on what's not available for you to do at the moment as there's help coming your way. There's no shame in letting others care for you when you need assistance to get back on your feet, specially during this moment where you might be drawn to seeking deeper connections with people who are on the same path you are.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋ ✧ pile number two ˚.⋆

You might be feeling overly pressured to react to abrupt changes in your routine or new demands that exceed the limits of your comfort zone. It seems as if you feel that life is asking for too much and you have to options other than to give up on your ideals or your habits and surrender to these new expectations. Your confidence is not meant to be shattered because of such demands and situations, it’s meant to become stronger by creating new ways of asserting yourself as the determined and hard working person you are. It would be completely understandable if you became defensive, but this defensiveness will become a tiring part of yourself if you are not able to pick your battles more wisely. You have the mental strength and the creativity to adapt into different ways of channeling your energy, but it will take you some time and persistence to get a sense of how exactly you are meant to do so. This is a great moment to trust in your resilience. If you are not feeling confident enough, you need to trust yourself and your ability to rebuild your life even in situations where you are overwhelmed by all sorts of demands that might seem unrealistic now, but you are quite capable of finding the right tools to face them.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋ ✧ pile number three ˚.⋆

During this moment of your journey, there’s still a lot of hard work to do in regards to your inner world, your ideals, your values and the hard questions on why you are actually persisting and doing said hard work. You are already quite far in terms of your personal development and in your experiences, but at this point you are facing doubts that do not require knowledge that comes from outside of yourself, you need to have more moments of introspection in your life. So far, you have a lot of good tools and foundations for material success, yet your mindset needs further development in order for these tools to bring material abundance and spiritual fulfillment. Most of the confusion and feelings of disorientation  you could be facing right now, are meant to guide you towards getting the ability to make sure your thoughts, your feelings and your actions are properly aligned with your goals. You are probably amazing at knowing what to do, but you need your actions to also serve your intellectual and emotional needs as much as they serve your goals, by taking this into consideration, your journey towards success and fulfillment will become more satisfactory, as you will reach your goals and actually feel a whole sense of achievement that goes beyond just doing the thing in question.

masterpost ✶ pac readings ✶ ko-fi page

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[ange11icyuri]

HOLIDAY PICK A PILE 🎄🎁👼🏻

(What is going to happen around the holidays for you??)

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Pile One. ❤️

Around the holidays, you might find yourself feeling a bit impatient about something you’re looking forward to. Is there a gift, a moment, or perhaps someone you’re waiting for? This sense of anticipation could bring some doubt, as if you’re uncertain whether what you’re hoping for will truly happen. I sense that during this time, your strength may be tested. You might experience a mix of emotions, including resentment or confusion, as you navigate a situation that feels complex and unresolved.

This holiday season, it’s important to find balance in your life, especially as you prepare for the new year. Don’t settle for anything that doesn’t bring you happiness or peace. Reflect on how you can create harmony in your relationships—both romantic and platonic—and work on aligning your life with what truly matters to you. It might not be an easy process, but it will be worth it.

You may also feel a strong sense of desire, but trust your intuition during this time. Be cautious of anyone who might stir up feelings or make promises they can’t keep. Stay grounded and listen to yourself first and foremost. As the holidays approach, I see you reflecting on your goals—what you’ve accomplished and what’s still left to achieve. You’ll likely use this time to plan and set intentions for the new year. This reflection will help you focus on what’s truly necessary and meaningful.

Remember, you have the freedom to choose your path and the power to shift your perspective. Don’t limit yourself to one option or outcome. Make the decisions that feel right for you, and establish boundaries where needed. This will be a time of growth and self-discovery.

The number 10 stands out—a symbol of completion. By the end of the year, you’ll feel a greater sense of wholeness, with a renewed sense of security as the new year begins. Although delays might test your patience, they are often necessary to prepare you for better things ahead. In the new year, I see clarity, fairness, and balance entering your life. You’re close to achieving your goals, and everything will fall into place in time. Stay focused, trust yourself, and know that success is within reach.

Pile Two.❄️

Around the holidays, I see you striving to stay grounded and realistic. You may also find yourself surrounded by people who embody steadiness and reliability—someone you can count on. If this resonates with your energy, it’s a reminder from spirit to continue addressing challenges in a practical, mature way. You have the wisdom to resolve issues thoughtfully, and this approach will serve you well not only during the holidays but also as you move into the new year.

However, I sense that you may be holding back a lot of emotions, perhaps feeling overwhelmed or unable to express yourself as fully as you’d like. The holidays often bring a flurry of tasks and responsibilities, and it’s easy to feel stretched thin. For some, this time may even bring feelings of emptiness, as though you’re going through the motions without truly feeling joy. The stress and constant activity could be taking a toll on your mental health, leaving you exhausted and stuck in a routine that feels draining.

There may also be a sense of betrayal or dishonesty around you. Someone in your life might not have the best intentions, and their actions could be manipulative or deceitful. Whether this has already happened or is yet to come, it’s essential to trust your intuition and be cautious about who you place your trust in. Not everyone around you has good morals or honest intentions, and it’s important to protect your energy.

The holidays might bring a shift—a time of deep reflection and ambition. You could feel pressure to accomplish goals that have been on your mind, but the overwhelming pace of life might leave you worried and uncertain. If this resonates, take it as a sign to slow down and approach things with care. Balance is key, and prioritizing your well-being is just as important as achieving your ambitions.

There’s also an energy of envy here—whether it’s you comparing yourself to others or someone else feeling jealous of you. If you find yourself envying others’ happiness during the holidays, remember that everyone faces their own challenges, even if they aren’t visible. Conversely, if someone else seems envious of you, it could be because they don’t see the struggles you’re carrying internally. You might be skilled at hiding your emotions, but bottling them up can lead to repression and frustration.

Delays or setbacks may be contributing to your feelings of doubt and anxiety. You might feel like your life is stuck in a state of chaos, or you could be navigating an unsettling change or conflict. This could leave you feeling closed off, disheartened, or unwilling to take risks. If this resonates, it’s crucial not to let these challenges close you off from others or from new possibilities. Staying open, even during difficult times, will help you find your way forward.

Though your strength may be tested this holiday season, know that you are capable of overcoming anything. Reframe your perspective, seek healthy coping mechanisms, and focus on maintaining a positive mindset. Manifest your goals and desires for the new year, and trust that good things are on the horizon. Even if things feel overwhelming now, you have the resilience to face your challenges head-on. In the end, your strength and perseverance will bring rewards and brighter days.

Pille Three ☃️

You might be finding yourself isolating more lately, especially around the holidays. Socializing or being in big crowds may feel overwhelming or uncomfortable for you, and that’s okay. It’s important to honor your feelings and take the space you need. However, I see a determination within you—perhaps you’re considering stepping out of your comfort zone a bit as the new year approaches. You’re trying to embrace independence, or you may have already reached a strong level of it, which is a wonderful foundation for growth.

There’s a promising new beginning ahead. This could signify the start of a romantic relationship, the deepening of an existing connection, or even a new friendship. Whatever it is, it feels like something that will inspire self-love and reflection, helping you care for yourself in a way you might not have before. Around this time, you may start to feel a sense of peace and balance, finally experiencing the serenity you’ve been craving.

This positive shift may be supported by the presence of someone special—a person whose energy aligns with yours and encourages you to move forward into a brighter chapter. However, don’t let comfort make you complacent. Even when things are going well, it’s important to stay motivated and keep putting in the effort. Remember, success and joy are maintained by consistent energy and dedication.

That said, there’s also a message here about letting go of something—or someone—that no longer serves you. You might be holding onto a connection or situation out of fear or habit, but it’s only weighing you down. Spirit urges you to release what isn’t meant for you to make room for the blessings ahead. Be mindful of manipulative or unreliable people in your life. No matter how good things might seem on the surface, trust your intuition and protect your energy. You deserve authentic, supportive connections.

Change can be intimidating, but embracing it will lead you to fulfillment and happiness. Even if the journey feels challenging, know that every step forward is bringing you closer to a better version of your life. Trust in yourself, focus on what truly matters, and don’t let intrusive or negative thoughts hold you back. Once you overcome these obstacles, you’ll step into a place of optimism, achievement, and inner peace.

Your journey is one of resilience, and as you push through the difficulties, you’ll find that everything you’ve worked toward will finally come together. Keep going—beautiful things are waiting for you.

Pile Four 🎁

I see someone here who is deeply thankful—not just because it’s the holiday season, but because gratitude is a part of who you are. You appreciate every blessing that comes your way. You’re also someone who embodies forgiveness. Perhaps you’ve recently forgiven someone and are ready to start fresh, clearing the air as you move into the new year. This decision might mark a new beginning, whether it’s with yourself or others. You may also be striving to grow as a person, embracing positive changes to build a better future.

However, caution is needed. I sense some envy and irresponsibility lingering in your energy. While forgiveness is powerful, it’s essential to ensure those you forgive are genuinely taking responsibility for their actions. Be mindful not to trust too easily, as some may mask their true intentions behind lies. Trust yourself above all else.

This holiday season, I see a partnership forming—whether for work, a project, or simply sharing experiences with someone. There’s talent involved here, possibly related to something creative or entertaining. It will bring joy and freedom, with no limits holding you back. Remember to stay fair, open-minded, and consider all perspectives. Also, try to manage your spending wisely during this time, as there’s a warning about the potential for overspending and falling into debt.

There may be lingering anxiety, perhaps tied to past conflicts or fears of failure with someone. Despite these worries, know that you’ve earned every bit of your success. Recognition is coming your way—possibly even publicly. People will finally know your name, and you’ll feel the triumph and victory you’ve longed for. Progress is on the horizon, and with it, a newfound confidence.

You’re preparing for something bigger—an exciting opportunity that’s just within reach. Honesty and openness will play a role, and your efforts will lead to stability and success. Still, you might experience moments of doubt or feel like you’re revisiting old challenges, leading to a sense of loss or disappointment. This could make you question your path, but these feelings will pass. You’ll find forgiveness once again, and through distractions, you’ll begin to heal.

As you move into the new year, I see a shift. If you’ve felt trapped or restricted in the past, that energy is fading. Healing will take place, and your situation will improve. In the end, everything you’ve been striving for will come together. You’ll reach a place of completion, where you feel whole, content, and deeply grateful for all that you’ve achieved.

You’ve come such a long way, and your hard work is paying off. The new year holds so much promise—success, happiness, and fulfillment. Trust in your journey, and enjoy the rewards you’ve earned.



[kajaono]

A+ Writing: Character growth done right

AKA: How the Netflix show "The Law According to Lidia Poët" wrote one of the best character growth-arcs I ever witnessed on screen

AKA: The long promised: Enrico Poët character meta

I think many shows centering around feminism - and especially period pieces - struggle to write feminism and the situation women lived - and still live in - a realisitic and relatable way. You either have male character saying stuff like: "Women belong in the kitchen" or male character being absolutly pro-women. Nothing in between. And even when sexism is addressed... a real character arc where a male person grows into realizing what women suffer from... often in silence... is hardly anywhere to be found. In a way thats not staged, but just human. Flawed and raw and relatable

And then Enrico Poet walzed in and just delievered. Its insane.

Short summary: The Law according to Lidia Poet is a show about the first female italian lawyer who had to fight against alot of prejudice, as well as a occupational ban. Enrico is her brother.

When we meet Enrico he is a mirror of the society surrounding him.

Whats really interesting about the way he is written is: He is more nuanced then your typical period piece sexist: "Go and bear babies." Instead he respects her intelligence and her intellect. He respects her wish to work... but not as a lawyer. If his sister really wants to work and earn her own money why not in a traditional female job?

Interestingly, and very telling for his character, is what he says next

He hesitates before he says that. And he doesn't look at Lidia. He looks at his daughter. So yes... he considers marrying a valid option for a woman. But not for Lidia, because Lidia is not "normal". Nowhere in the whole show he tells Lidia to marry. He maybe not agrees with her, but he always shows a certian kind of respect for her wishes.

Later he says:

So does he says all those things because he truely believes them... or because his father - a higher male authority - used to say the same things and he just repeats them?

But Lidia insists on being a lawyer so Enrico eventually agrees that she can be his assistent (he is a lawyer himself) and help with cases, but only if:

So already here the show overcomes the boring cliché trope of: "Women belong in the kitchen"-sexist. No, Enrico is much more nuanced then this. Already in the short conversation we see that there two sides: What Enrico was taught to say and what he really believes.

When we enter episode 2 Lidia starts working for Enrico. The power dynamic is clear. He is in the leading position. Nevertheless Lidia is taking every opportunity she gets to keep on working as a lawyer, independet from her brother. When Enrico finds out about her "side business" he is angry. But interestingly he doesn't try to stop her.

After Lidia solved the ep1 case really sucessfully a certain kind of trust grew between these two. Enrico doesn't want to get involved in trouble, but he trust his sisters abilitiy to solve the case.

But then - from one moment to the next - the really real danger occurrs that the public might find out that he is working with his sister, his sister who is not allowed to work in law anymore. And he snaps:

Here he only thinks about himself. Every trust between them is lost. In this moment Enrico only thinks about his career. This moment Lidias professional success is not to him... because she will not have any anyway.

But you don't think the show lets him get away with that, right? Oh our boy will learn his lesson.

He and Lidia meet a lesbian who had to hide her relationship with another woman. The following conversation takes place.

THIS! This is the first time he has to look into a mirror and realize he is part of the problem. Until this point he probably thought that he is a good guy. He lets his sister work with him, he lets her solve her own cases. But now he is forced to realize that he also judged his sister, every day. He has to realize that his sister suffers and he is one of many reasons. He is not one of the good guys. We see him being ashamed and he starts to think.

The show ends with Lidia not being allowed to ever work as a lawyer or lawyer assistent ever again.

When Enrico and Lidia are called to court, Enrico says this to Lidia:

But his tone has changed. He doesn't try to muzzle her anymore. He tries to protect her. Because he knows that whatever she will say, it will become worse... for him, but also for her.

And when the judge announce the sentence, Enrico shortly looks to her sister. Checking how this sentence will effect her. He starts caring. Because the conversation with the lesbian character - him being forced to look in the mirror - slowly starts changing him.

Episode 3 marks a turning point in Enricos character development

In epsiode 3 Lidia is solving a murder. The victim is the father of a guy she was supposed to marry when she was younger. The engagement was arranged and Lidia ran away because she didn't wanted to marry him. While she is solving the murder Lidia finds a letter from her own father to the father of her arranged-ex-fiancé.

It turns out that Lidia was only supposed to marry so that her father gets his debts canceled. Lidia shows Enrico the letter. He is horrified.

While he is reading the letter he is so ashamed he can not even look into Lidias eyes.

His voice breaks while he keeps on reading, he panics and is still not able to lock eyes with Lidia.

And now comes the quote that - imo - shows his character growth: "Thats a cattle market".

In this moment he realizes that the life of his sister, a woman, is worth nothing. That she can be easily auctioned off like a cow. That she is at the mercy of her own family... men... who can drop her any moment and cause harm to her. Because legally she has no protection and can not speak for herself. A cattle market indeed.

When Enrico hears how calm Lidia is... sad, broken... but super calm like she isn't surprised, Enrico is horrified. Because he realizes that this is what Lidia is confronted with every day. For him thats shocking, for her? thats the reality of her every day life. And being confronted with that, changes Enrico. He realizes that he can not longer close his eyes and pretend that his sister is some kind of "freak" for wanting to make her own voice heard

Its time for him to step up, to do something. To fix all the injustice that happened to Lidia, just because she is woman. Not standing in her way, but standing alongside her.

And Lidia smiles, with hope in her eyes, because it is the first time a man stood up for her and fights for her rights alongside her.

Because Enrico now knows what it means to be a woman. He saw the injustice and he can not be quiet anymore.

He grew so much. We came from Enrico telling Lidia that she shouldn't work in law to him seeing them as equal.

To him eventually waiting outside her house, neither saying goodbye to her nor trying to stop her from leaving to America. Just respecting whatever choice she will make.

This is character growth doen right!

TL:DR

This show takes a really raw and human approach to Enrico character growth: want to work along side a woman? Then you have to face the reality women are suffering from. And eventually this reality will change also your perception of the reality surrounding you. Is this character growth idealized? Sure but that’s not the point.

The point is too show how the reality of women can effect and change a male character, in a positive way, that’s also human and relatable. And they just nailed it

[tomorrowusa]

Those cheap clothes at Shein have a big price tag which few consumers are able to see.

This is the sound of Panyu, the neighbourhood known as the "Shein village", a warren of factories that power the world's largest fast fashion retailer. "If there are 31 days in a month, I will work 31 days," one worker told the BBC. Most said they only have one day off a month. The BBC spent several days here: we visited 10 factories, spoke to four owners and more than 20 workers. We also spent time at labour markets and textile suppliers. We found that the beating heart of this empire is a workforce sitting behind sewing machines for around 75 hours a week in contravention of Chinese labour laws. [ ... ] But even past 22:00, the sewing machines - and the people hunched over them - don't stop as more fabric arrives, in trucks so full that bolts of colour sometimes tumble onto the factory floor. "We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less." She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards. They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it. [ ... ] The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option. "We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents. "We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour."

Let's do a little math. One Chinese Yuan = 13.81 US cents (or $0.1381) as of Monday. So if the migrant worker from Jiangxi earns CN¥ 2.00 per t-shirt (US$0.2762) and does a dozen in one hour, she is effectively earning US$3.31 per hour. For comparison, the US minimum wage was US$3.35 per hour in between 01 January 1981 and 01 April 1990.

The working hours at Shein factories are as miserable as the pay. A "standard" working day is 14 hours.

Standard working hours appear to be from 08:00 to well past 22:00, the BBC found. This is consistent with a report from the Swiss advocacy group Public Eye, which was based on interviews with 13 textile workers at factories producing clothes for Shein. They found that a number of staff were working excessive overtime. It noted the basic wage without overtime was 2,400 yuan (£265; $327) - below the 6,512 yuan the Asia Floor Wage Alliance says is needed for a "living wage". But the workers we spoke to managed to earn anywhere between 4,000 and 10,000 yuan a month. "These hours are not unusual, but it's clear that it's illegal and it violates basic human rights," said David Hachfield from the group. "It's an extreme form of exploitation and this needs to be visible." The average working week should not exceed 44 hours, according to Chinese labour laws, which also state that employers should ensure workers have at least one rest day a week.

There are other issues mentioned in the article such as the sourcing of cotton from Xinjiang where the Chinese Communist Party is committing genocide against the Uighur people.

Don't buy clothing made in sweatshops from ANY country. In the US it was sweatshop conditions at clothing manufacturers which were one of the spurs for the growth of labor unions in the early 20th century.

I would add that "fast fashion" is generally wasteful and bad for the environment. Buy clothes which are not likely to quickly become unfashionable and those which are sturdy enough to last for a while.

[scribblesofagoonerr]

WIPS | © scribblesofagoonerr

Disclosure: all fic titles are subject to change

last updated: 29/12/2024

chaos fc | reader!monkey

getaway racecar driver - monkey attends the f1 with leah and as usual it's very chaotic

standing ovation - monkey scores a goal during a big tournament and decides to celebrate with the fans much to leah's disagreement about it not being safe

rehab mischief - when it comes to monkey being injured along with vic it's a sure reciepe for distaster

pests are back in town! - monkey and kyra attempt to do a tiktok trend and it epically fails

buddy & monkey: double the trouble | reader!buddy x reader!monkey

header coming soon...

i'm nothing but a burden - overhearing a conversation between some of the girls, monkey has self doubt that she's nothing but a problem to leah and jordan

new adjustments - a flashback of life adjusting to a house with a newborn and teenager

copycat haircut - buddy decides she wants to try and cut her own hair much to leah's horror while jordan finds the whole thing amusing

s'appin girl, ya alright? - monkey decides to try and teach buddy a new tiktok trend

bittersweet sixteen - monkey has never liked to celebrate her birthday and unfortunately, leah and jordan find that out the hard way

header coming soon...

chronical yapper - it's the opening game of the 2024/25 season, arsenal v city game and buddy's overjoyed to sit with keira and her family for it, and of course she doesn't miss the opportunity to spend time with keira and yap her ear off

separate | leah williamson x reader!buddy x jordan nobbs

separate IIII - there's another challenge when it comes to going to bed

acting out | lia walti x teen reader x caitlin foord

fifth installment - there's improvement at the school after the bully is dealt with but there's still ongoing issues with reader

inner demons | leah williamson x teen reader

Leave me alone - aftermath of reader going to katie's after hearing what leah said

Make us proud, kid - reader starts to make her return to training

Not ever alone in this battle - there's a blip in reader's recovery

Only the lonely - reader still continues to struggles but tries to make out like things are fine

Progress is key - reader has an emotional breakthrough

Quitting seems like the easiest option right now - there's yet another setback in readers' recovery and she debates quitting football

Remember how far you've come - reader makes her return to the pitch

Stronger than you know - There's issues that arise when the Media seem to get a hold of information about readers' life

This is your moment to shine - the aftermath of the turmoil in readers past life

Unbelievably proud of you - reader continues to make progress

Vague moment of joy - reader experiences a fleeting but significant moment of happiness that brings a sense of normalcy

We're proud of you - A full year has passed since that night

X marks the spot - there's ups and downs in life but reader discovers' a significant turning point in life

You're gonna go far, kid - there's a minor setback of struggles for reader and it seems all too easy to give in to the temptations

Zooming all over the pitch - In the final part of the alphabet-themed journey, reader experiences a triumphant moment that symbolizes her growth and success

our wonder kid | beth mead x teen reader x vivianne miedema

we've got you, we're here - reader continues with her eating as her training becomes more intense

triumph return - reader makes her comeback after being out 9 months with her acl injury

like mother, like daughter | katie mccabe x child reader

christmas clash of colours - child reader is insistant that she wants a football top for christmas, however it's not the right team

split decisions two approaches, one love school trouble

three parts of child readers life during her teenage years dealing with the ups and downs of her mums' being separated and dealing with general teenage struggles

going pro injured first of many

three parts of child readers life during her adult years dealing with life issues

cookie monster saga | child reader x steph catley

down under in aus - reader and steph arrive in australia ahead of the world cup

mascot - reader gets to be steph's mascot during the opening game of the 2023 world cup although kyra and charli are fighting over reader being there's instead

under pressure | platonic reader x katie mccabe x caitlin foord

second parrt of fic where reader is the next up and coming big thing in women's football and she recieves a lot of media attention and one of the things is a cause of an eating disorder

tiny dancer | third installment of small bump

3 - 5 mini series of 5 five years later and the aftermath of readers' death and how it's taken a toll on leah and the kids' lives

grief is a funny thing sometimes | arsenal wfc x platonic reader

come back soon the weight of the news i'm not ready to say goodbye just yet

reader's brother dies on deployment and she goes through the 5 stages of grief with the support of her fellow team mates

[f1rewalk3r]

I want to listen to some "car seat headrest" to better understand you and henghost. What do you recommend

well first and foremost i would recommend not doing that. if you’re dead set then i must give you the caveat that much of the CSH discography is about 1) going through a homoerotic breakup 2) being a desperate drunk degenerate college student 3) leaving town or 4) all over the above. if none of these apply to you then you may find that CSH doesn’t quite “click.”

Car Seat Headrest is the internet’s indie darling, started in 2010 by Will Toldeo. It was not his first project, but was his most successful. He released 12 projects on bandcamp (including the now delisted “numbered albums” and their outtakes) before being signed to Matador Records in 2015, releasing 4 albums under their label.

Stylistically, CSH can be a bit all over the place. Although they will always fall under the indie umbrella, they’ve gone from experimental lofi “shitgaze” (shitty shoegaze) to experimental electronic tracks, to 90s inspired garage rock to full on electronica pop. They have a little something for everything!

With that said, there are two available routes for you. the first is to start with one of the most popular albums, then work your way backwards in the discography. Alternatively, you can start at the very beginning, experiencing the growth of the lyricism and production quality.

Of the two, I’d recommend the former option, meaning you should start with Teens of Denial (2016), an album about growing up, being a sad addict, and not knowing your place in the world. your other option is to start with the ultra famous Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) (2018). Often considered Will Toledo’s magnum opus, this album is about being gay, falling in love, being a little too fond of drugs, and ultimately ruining things in your relationship due to your inability to see yourself as human/stop idolizing your partner. I am not responsible for any damage listening to this album may do to your relationship. (this warning comes from anecdotal experience)

Whichever album of these two you pick first, your next step on the listening journey should be the other option. My immediate next pick would be to jump all the way back to Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror ) (2011), the original, shittier(?), lofi version of TF. Do not let its production quality deceive you- this album is just as good as its modern remaster.

You could then go to the Living While Starving EP (2013), as MtM has introduced you to the more lofi sound that is iconic to much of the CSH discography. This EP features some classics like “It’s Only Sex” and “Reuse the Cels.”

From there, you should go to the fandom’s favorite album, How to Leave Town (2014). I don’t think words can describe this album properly. It’s like listening to the audio version of a panic attack. It’s indescribably good.

And if you get that far into the discography, well. I’m afraid it’s too late for you then.

I hope this serves as an insightful entry guide into Car Seat Headrest! Show henghost and maybe he can back up my claims/recommendations. Oh, and if you smoke weed at all, I’d highly recommend choosing to smoke while listening to Twin Fantasy. It truly makes the experience, especially if you smoke too much and spiral out of existence during the track “High to Death.”

[quirkwizard]

hey quirk wizard what do you think the top five best quirk users are?? (like the quirk and how they use their quirk)

So there are a lot of factors to this. Because Quirks are so varied, it can be hard to judge who exactly is using their Quirk the best. Though to set up my criteria, I believe that the best Quirk users are the ones that are pushing their Quirks to the absolute limit within the limits given. I also think that people with weaker Quirks are more valid options for this list since they have to work around their Quirk a lot more. Kai is great with his Quirk, but that would be true of anyone with "Overhaul" since it's that good. Skills and equipment can be accounted for as well, but only when they are in service of the Quirk. Like I think Aizawa and Stain are some of the hardest working characters out there, but I wouldn't call them effective Quirks users due to how little of their kit is actually based around using their respective powers. It's more working around the power then with it.

I will given honorable mentions to Geten and Best Jeanist. We're told that their Quirks take a lot of effort to get to the points they are, but those are more informed traits rather then anything we see.

Bakugou: Yes, Bakugou is very skilled with his power. He's arguably done more within Quirk then any Year 1 student. This includes some interesting uses like his complicated flight and usage of support equipment. That being said, he hasn't exactly achieved anything that far out there for his power. A lot of it is just different blasts.

Hawks: Probably the one the fans forget. Hawks has such immense control over dozens upon dozens of feathers, training them to the point where he can use them subconsciously and is borderline omniscient. However, I put him lower on the list because I am not certain if what he has is skill or talent given his feats as a child.

Endeavor: Ah, yes, better Bakugou. Despite having such a straight forward power, he's able to get quite a lot out of it. Stuff like burning footholds, his shaping of the fire, and the myriad of usage is more then proof of it. And while that could be contributed to the Quirk's innate power, the fact that Endeavor is able to punch above his weight class so often really does show his skill with it.

Mirio: Yeah, no surprise here. Mirio took this barely functional power and turned it into something worthy of a hero. The man goes into state of total sensory deprivation where he cannot breath and is still able to molly whop dozens of students all at the same time. He's easily the go to example of a good Quirk user and probably the character you all expected at the number one spot.

Deku/Koichi: This feels like cheating given they both main characters I still think these two have to put in a lot of works to get their Quirks where they are. If anything, their success and growth with their power is even more impressive because they have to deal with such unprecedented handicaps and issues with their powers. Izuku's Quirk was killing him and Koichi had to deal with brain damage.

[ladylooch]

Best Thing I’ll Ever Do - Lio x Savannah (Part 2)

A/N: Since you all asked soooo nicely! Here is the next part of Lio and Sav. I hope you all are having wonderful Sundays. I love you... remember that when you read this next part.... 💀

Word Count: 4k

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 |

January

Since that day in Southern California a year ago, a lot has happened for Savannah and Lio.

First and most exciting, a large 5 carat diamond weighs her left hand down. She still feels like she needs to pinch herself to make sure it isn’t a dream. Savannah Miller is going to marry Lio Meier next Summer. 

Second, she is no longer with the Devils. After the previous season ended, she evaluated her goals and felt like she wanted to do something different than what she had been doing. She wanted to be her own boss and see where her content career could take her rather than being constrained by a team and a league that wanted things done a certain way.

Third, and probably most important of all, she’s been to more doctors visits in the last year than she can count on any of her appendages.

Lio kept his vow to her to utilize the Devils resources to locate an endometriosis specialist who would give Savannah answers and a better direction for her wellbeing.

Dr. Barnes was the first one they met with and Savannah instantly knew things were going to be different this time around. Dr. Barnes had a kind, empathetic, and solutions driven focus that made Savannah feel at ease immediately. She listened to Savannah’s entire story, took down diligent notes, asked follow up questions.  Within the same appointment, Dr. Barnes created a multilayered, holistic care plan, taking into consideration that Savannah did not want to go right to surgery.

The first thing they decided on was to take out Savannah’s IUD and switch her to birth control pills. There was concern the IUD was rubbing against portions of endometriosis which was exacerbating her symptoms. Savannah did feel better for a few months, but by month three, she was back to clutching her abdomen in the fetal position for days. They pivoted the treatment plan to a different kind of pill that other patients had success with, but when Savannah ended up in the ER again early in the summer, throwing up and passing out from the pain, it became clear that surgery was going to be the only option Savannah had for long-term relief. 

The day of her surgery, Lio kissed her in reassurance, then waved goodbye to her as she was wheeled out of pre-op and down the hall.

“I’ll be right here with you when you’re done, baby.” He had called to her before the doors separated them. Savannah nodded, trying to be brave for herself and Lio. Last time, she had to do this virtually alone. Her boyfriend at the time had shown up after she went in for surgery and then dropped her off at home before heading out with his friends for another round of golf. Her recovery was completely isolating except for a neighbor who checked in on Savannah once a day at Savannah’s request.

Lio Meier would never. 

Instead, he had a recovery suite set up in their bedroom for her. A quiet oasis where Savannah could relax and heal in her time. He has been there every step of the way, even at the moments when Savannah has pushed him away. She may be used to dealing with this alone, but Lio won’t let her go through this that way anymore.

Two weeks after her surgery, her and Lio went back to Dr. Barnes to get the findings of the surgery and tissue analysis. The news were mixed results. The good news was the spots they removed were consistent with Savannah’s previous surgery, meaning there was no new or extended growth in her endometriosis. The bad news was this confirmed that surgery is only successful for a limited amount of time, meaning Savannah will likely need several more surgeries down the line if this path continues for her. Dr. Barnes has encouraged Savannah to sit with this news and consider further permanent solutions such as a hysterectomy.

“What are my other options? I’m not ready for that.” She had asked with Lio’s hand tucked tightly against hers. His thumb stroked over the tendons on the top of her hand with assurance. He was here; they would get through this together.

The other recommendation was to go back to birth control, but a Progesterone only option. Dr. Barnes was shocked when Savannah said this was never given to her, even as a first line of treatment. It’s been four months now and Savannah has been feeling better than she could have imagined with her endometriosis. However, a severe drawback is that her pain has moved from her uterus and formulated in her head as three day long migraines when she is at the end of her cycle.

Everything costs something. That’s been the biggest lesson Savannah has learned through this journey.

But this weekend, none of that matters. Because Lio has a whole trip planned to celebrate his beautiful, strong fiancé, finally having answers and support that she deserved all along. He has been wanting to do this for months, but Savannah didn’t want to leave home until she had a clear understanding of how managed her endo was after surgery. The last thing she wanted was him to put together a perfect trip that ended with her in the ER from debilitating pain again.

Savannah is confident that won’t be happening this trip. She grins, feeling grateful for the peace of mind she has going into this fun weekend.

Lio’s Porsche points towards the southern tip of New Jersey. They are 2 hours into their 2.5 hour trip down to Cape May. The vastness of the ocean hints to their left off the Garden State Parkway the closer they get to town. Lio drives, tapping his thumb on the steering wheel to the beat of the pop song coming through Savannah’s Spotify. His other hand is on her thigh where she traces his fingers and the veins of his forearm.

“I wonder how busy it will be.”

“Probably not bad. School is back in session after winter break.” Lio reminds her.

“I’ve never been here in the winter months.”

“My mom took us down here a few times. It was mostly before the twins though.”

“How do you even remember that?” Savannah asks, looking over at him. He shrugs.

“I remember a lot of what we did with my mom. She was great at making it feel like we could still have fun even with how often my dad was gone.” Lio starts to chuckle. “Also I definitely pushed Livy in the ocean and got yelled at by my dad on FaceTime, so it was memorable.”

“Lee!” She chuckles. “You were terrible to her.”

“I know.” Lio cringes. “I’m trying to make up for it, okay?” He says as he takes the exit to head more east into town. 

They pull up to their airbnb, which is modern, but still a cozy cottage right on the ocean. They unpack their things, then walk into town to grab lunch at an all day breakfast diner. Lio needs a heavy, protein packed lunch with how hard he has been grinding this season.

“Did you come here as a kid too?” Savannah asks Lio as he looks over the menu in the blue booth.

“Yeah, but usually when we were with the Hischier’s. Mama and auntie had a hard time getting us all to behave when we were together, so we didn’t go to many upscale places.” 

“So basically you and Lucie would act out.” Savannah fills in the gap.

“Mack would too. She was wild as a kid. It wasn’t just us.”

“But mostly.” Savannah gives him a look like ‘don’t even pretend’. 

“Yeah, it was mostly us.” Lio laughs, then thanks the waitress for both of their coffees.

Lio nudges the bowl of cold cream packets towards Savannah. He likes this shitty, slightly burnt diner coffee black. A smirk stays on his lips as he reminisces on his childhood. He knows he is lucky to have grown up the way he did with such a strong family influence surrounding him. He opens his fingers up towards Savannah, taking her left hand in his. He strokes along her massive engagement ring, satisfied with where their life is going. 

“I’m really happy, babe.” He murmurs to her, then drags his gaze up her body to her stunning blue eyes that still make his heart skip a beat when they’re looking at him. 

“Me too.”

“I can’t wait to marry you.” He smirks.

“Make an honest woman out of me?”

“I think by marrying you, I’m doing the opposite.”

“You’ve cleaned yourself up quite nice, Mr. Meier. I’m proud to be your wife.”

“Only cause I had a good girl on my side.” He strokes his fingers up her forearm, watching the goosebumps that form along her skin at his gentle touch.

“Maybe I’ll be your good girl tonight too.”

“Better be. Didn’t bring you all the way down here to not get lucky.” 

“You’ll be very lucky by the end of this weekend.” She assures him. She grabs his fingers, bringing his wrist up to her mouth. She kisses his pulse, then moves to the side so she can suck some of the meat on his arm into her mouth. 

“You don’t need to eat, right?” He asks her, eyes smoldering across the table like he wants to toss her over his shoulder and walk back. She chuckles.

“I assure you I am hungry.” Lio groans, but so does his stomach, reminding him of the fuel he needs to take care of her the way he wants.

With that in mind, they both order. Savannah gets a classic breakfast- eggs, bacon and a pancake- while Lio gets steak and eggs with a side of hash browns. As she eats her first few bites, Savannah’s mind wanders back to Lio as a child, running through this restaurant with his siblings and cousins, probably driving their mamas crazy. Savannah thinks about how wiggly and impatient Stella Wood has been since she met her. She laughs outwardly.

“What?” Lio asks around a bite.

“Just thinking about how crazy it would be if Stella and our kid was tearing up this place like y’all used to.” Lio pauses mid-chew, looking over his fiancé to check in on how he should react. “I’m okay that we aren’t going to have that.” She says to him truthfully. “I like quiet breakfast with you- here or in bed. And getting to take naps in the afternoons whenever we want to and changing plans last minute to fly somewhere for a two day getaway.” She takes another bite, then continues after she swallows. “This journey has been so hard, Lio. Really hard and a lot of it really is stemming from how bad the physical pain has been. It’s made the emotional pain that much worse.” He nods in understanding.

“It’s exhausting to be in that much pain, babe. Especially with how little the world understands about how debilitating internal conditions can be.” Lio certainly understands that after his past concussion issues.

“Yeah. I feel so at peace right now. I want to live in the joyful moments that we are having without the anger and frustration of the things we are never going to have. Living there means I won’t ever live comfortably in the present. I don’t want to miss a moment of our life because of things I can’t change.” Lio drops his fork, grabbing her hand again and giving it a squeeze.

“I love you, babe. I’m so inspired by you. The way you have been handling all this is admirable. I wanna be as resilient and reflective and accepting as you.” Lio murmurs, then kisses her hand. 

“I was none of these things before you.” Savannah tells him honestly. “You’ve changed me too, Lee.” He smiles, a slight tilt up to the right corner of his mouth. “I believed I was broken and weak. Through the last year, you’ve shown me how strong and whole I am by loving me in every moment, even when I didn’t want to love me. You didn’t advocate to those specialists because you wanted to fix me. All you wanted was to give me back the life Endo had been taking from me.” 

“You’re perfect, baby.” He reminds her as he always does. “All I care about is going through life with you by my side. Everything else is just noise.” 

Savannah grins, then releases his hand so they can both go back to eating.

“Good. Now hurry up and eat. I wanna be your dessert.” 

- - -

March 

“Brrr!” Savannah exclaims as her and Lio shimmy into the lobby of Lucie and Connor’s high-rise condo building in Greenwich Village. “It’s supposed to be spring.” She grumbles as Lio leads them to the bank of elevators. 

“Yeah, what the hell is that?” He mumbles, a shiver rolling his shoulders up tight towards his ears for a moment.

“We should go back to Florida. Sweating my ass off at Disney was better than this.” She mentions, referring to their Allstar vacation from last month with the Woods.

“Your hair was so cute down there. You should do it curly like that more.” He chuckles, throwing an arm around her waist to pull her in for a smooch. “Smelled like coconut every day too. Reminds me of the Bahamas.” Savannah moans in appreciation as Lio sucks a slice of her neck into his mouth.

“Now that was a good trip.”

“Kid free too.” He chuckles against her wet skin.

They love their niece, but having their vacation determined by her schedule is not Lio’s favorite way to unwind in the middle of the season. Savannah and Lio already decided they were going to do their own thing for next Allstar break, granted that Lio isn’t actually at the Allstar game next year. This year the festivities were in Florida, which allowed them for a few extra days in Orlando with the Wood’s. Next year is in Seattle. Not quite the same experience.

“The way Stella kept getting you to do the tea cups with her though. That was so cute, babe.”

“I still feel like I’m spinning from that. I don’t know how she was so normal about it.”

“Stella is always twirling around in her own little world. Of course she was fine!” 

The elevator opens on the floor of the Wood’s condo, so Lio and Savannah step out.

“Are Mack and David coming today?”

“No.”

“They hate us?”

“I don’t know. They’ve been shut-ins since Mack returned from home.” Lio gives Savannah a look. 

“I want their life.”

“No you don’t.” Lio laughs. “They’re crazy.” 

They get to the familiar steel door. Lio knocks briefly before grabbing the handle, opening it and walking into the apartment.

“Uncle Lee Lee!” Stella screams as she launches herself head first into his legs. Lio braces himself, putting a hand where it is needed most to avoid the direct head butt to his jewels. 

“Stelly!” He shouts back, swooping her up once it is safe to do so. “How is my favorite Wood?”

“Annnnnnd no steak for Uncle Lee.” Connor jokingly notes at the door where he is wearing his heavy duty, canvas cooking apron. He adjusts the leather neck strap as the couple walks in.

“Steak, eh?”

“Big ol’ Porterhouses for us.” 

“Nice.” Lio grins, bumping knucks with him as he walks into the apartment with Stella. Savannah has already floated in, bringing the two bottles of wine in for her and Lucie to get started on. 

“Good! I brought red wine!” Savannah announces. 

“Can I have some?” Stella asks, never wanting to be excluded ever, even from adult things. Stella and Lio come to rest next to Savannah with Lio leaning a hip into the counter beside her.

“No, silly.” Savannah chuckles, swiping her index finger down the little girl’s nose. “But I did bring you a special drink too.” Savannah pulls out the pink lemonade from Trader Joe’s that Stella loves along with a glittery pink tumbler she had to grab for her from Target’s $5 section.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Can I have some right now?! Mommy please!” Lucie looks over her shoulder from where she is putting together the salad. 

“Sure, baby.” She agrees. 

“Luc, you are working so hard. You absolutely need wine right now.” Savannah exclaims.

“I’m sticking with water tonight.” Lucie chuckles. “But feel free to have a little extra in commiseration with all this hard work I’m doing over here.”

“Yeah, working real hard over here now.” Connor teases as he struts into the kitchen. He pats Lucie’s butt, then kisses her cheek until she turns to kiss his lips. They linger there together, smiling into their kiss like they’re the only ones here. “She forgot to mention the nap she was taking before you two said you were on your way.”

“I am doing important work, Cap.” Lucie swats at his hip as he walks away.

“Yeah, you were the one keeping Stella in line earlier, with drool dripping off your face.”

“Look, she mostly takes after you, so you should have to deal with her.” Lucie grabs the bowl, walking it over to the table. 

“Yeah, sure that rebel phase you had doesn’t show up in our daughter at all. Speaking of taking after me, we better get you into something more comfortable to eat. Otherwise we’re gonna spill all over this pretty dress, huh?” Connor says to Stella, picking her up. 

“No, I’ll be good!”

“You know the rules, baby.” Connor nuzzles his face into the crook of her neck, making Stella squeal at the facial hair tickling her soft skin. They disappear down the hall, Stella’s giggles following the entire way.

“So how are you guys?” Lucie asks as she washes her hands in the island sink. 

“Good! We’ve been busy.”

“I know! I can’t believe we haven’t seen you since Florida.”

“It has been crazy. I have had so many brand meetings and content to film. Plus, Lio was on the road for almost two weeks.”

“Do you miss it?” Lucie asks, walking to where the wine glasses rest in the bar by the dining room table. She comes back with a glass for Savannah

“No way. I like sleeping in my own bed way too much.” Savannah says after pouring herself a bit of wine. “Do you want some?” She asks her husband already knowing his answer.

“No.”

“Lee, do you even drink anymore?” Lucie asks genuinely.

“Not really.” Lio shrugs.

“He will have whiskey when we are out to a fancy dinner, but otherwise, no. I don’t even see you drink beer with your dad anymore.” Savannah says, rubbing at Lio’s back as she talks. He puts a hand on the back of her chair, enclosing her into his body, right where he likes her.

Out of her room, Stella comes running down the hallway to the three adults. Her dad trails behind casually with his hands in his pockets. 

“Look at me! Look at me! I have something to tell you!” Stella yells at her aunt and uncle. 

“Oh, well okay then.” Savannah laughs, turning her legs towards Lio to see her. Lio turns towards the little girl too, taking in her new outfit. She has on jeans, bright purple socks and a pink t-shirt with glittery, bold letters that spell out her new title: Big Sister.

Savannah freezes. Lio fingers drift from the back of the chair to squeeze her left shoulder, even as he grins down at their niece. A silent announcement that he is here for her in this moment.

“What does your shirt say!?” He exclaims. Stella screeches excitedly, then bounces up and down.

“BIG!!!!! SISTER!!!!!!” 

“And that’s you!?” He pokes her belly, making her collapse forward, hands on her belly button as she laughs so hard she can barely breathe.

“YEAH! Mommy is having a baby!”

Unexpected buzzing rings through Savannah’s ears as she attempts to stay grounded in the moment. Her hand falls from around Lio’s waist as he swoops Stella up onto his hip again, giving her a big hug. Savannah’s eyes trail away from Stella to Connor who is sharing an adoring look with his wife. Savannah turns to look at Lucie, the mom to be again, who is holding out an ultrasound picture to place in Lio’s extended hand.

And it hits Savannah all over again, as overwhelming as the first time she felt this.

Her and Lio will never get to have this moment in the other direction.

They will never get to hold up an ultrasound picture with their baby growing in Savannah’s body. 

They will never get to cheer and hug and cry excitedly with them about their baby. It will always be someone else’s. 

Never. Hers. 

A tidal wave of grief Savannah hasn’t experienced in a long time rushes at her. A sob gets caught in her throat. Stella looks over Lio’s shoulder at her, confused.

“Auntie! Did you see!?” Instinctually, Savannah nods, licking her lips. Her eyes drift to Lio and there it is: the pity. And the worry. And the ‘are you okay?’ In his eyes that makes her want to throw up. She looks away quickly. 

“I’m…” Lucie starts then fades off, looking at Lio with concern. “I’m sorry, I know this is probably hard to hear for you. We wanted to tell you privately in consideration…”

“No! What? No, absolutely not! Please don’t apologize. I am so happy for you! We are so happy for you! That’s all I feel right now. So happy.” She finishes with a whisper, rounding the counter to give Lucie a hug. The two women collapse together. Lucie hugs Savannah hard, making it increasingly difficult for Savannah to keep all of her feelings locked away in her chest.

“You’re okay?” Lucie asks quieter, just between the two of them.

“Stop worrying about me. Congratulations! When are you due?” 

“September 3rd.”

“Long, hot summer mama.” Savannah smiles like she can relate somehow. But she can’t and won’t.

“Yeah. I didn’t learn from last time.” 

“How are you feeling?”

“I was so sick until about a week ago. Still tired though. And then as you saw, I have the best support system in my husband, so loving and wonderful, as he makes fun of me for it!” Connor laughs.

“You know I’m teasing you, baby.” 

“I grow his child; he gives me crap for sleeping…” Lucie smirks, watching as Connor narrows his eyes at her.

“You know I take care of you.” He says, pressing his palms flat on the stone of their kitchen island. He sets his gaze on her, challenging his wife to say otherwise in front of company. 

“Yes, you do. Couldn’t do this without you.” She murmurs truthfully. 

“I should have brought champagne.” Savannah says, then looks down at her glass of red wine to continue collecting herself. 

“How about when she is born you bring me some in the hospital? Sneak it in for me.” Lucie smiles assuringly at her. 

“Another girl?” Lio gapes at Connor. “You are so fuc- well you know what.” Lio corrects himself to avoid having to pay up to Stella’s Swear Jar. Connor widens his eyes and nods. He holds up two fingers then circles towards Lucie. Yeah two Lucie’s will be an exciting life for the Wood’s.

The group moves forward, discussing the various topics that come up when you find out a new baby is joining the pack. Other family members don’t know yet, so Lio and Savannah agree to keep it quiet until told otherwise. Savannah tries to participate in the daydreaming about what is to come for their little family, but her heart isn’t in it.

It’s on the floor, shattered like glass, ready for another round of glue and duct tape whenever she can gather the courage to put herself back together again.

[myroseyansim]

Meet the members of the cooking club!

From left to right: Sakamoto Mayuzumi, Shoku Tsuburaya, Arita Odayaka, Kenko Sukoyaka, Ajia Ashitomi, and Seiyo Akanishi!

The cooking club is a fairly popular club with many first-year students applying to the club, but the club only accepts a limited number of members.

Arita is a member of the club, and he is also a rival. His parents run a successful bakery, but the bakery is currently being threatened and sabotaged by a rival bakery. He is Shoku's top candidate for becoming the club's president next school year.

Shoku is the president of the club, and his is the fraternal twin brother of Geiju Tsuburaya (the president of the art club)! He has hopes of opening his own restaurant one day.

Sakamoto is one of the two lucky students who was chosen, and he is a first-year student. He is one of Ayato's best friends. He had hit a sudden growth spurt the day before school started.

Kenko is a third-year student of the club as well as the substitute president whenever Shoku is gone for family or health related reasons. He is vegetarian and believes that the other members should use meat free options.

Ajia is the second of the two lucky first-year students who were selected to become members of the club. He is deeply connected in his roots and tends to cook more traditional Japanese meals instead of westernized food. He has a small feud with his senpai, Seiyo.

Seiyo is a second-year member of the group. He is obsessed with Western culture and food due to the one time he visited the United States as a pre-teen. He tends to cook more westernized, much to Ajia's discontent.

This painting took me four days and it only took so long because the paper didn't want to dry and cooperate 😔

^ a closer picture!

[imthepunchlord]

Ngl, kinda a major bummer that Marinette’s leading the Bugettes AU Red Ladybug poll, even by only a slim margin. It’s still the first day, and people are obviously free to pick who they want to see, but with the focus on color-coding and the personality and power focus changes made for Bugettes!Tikki, I definitely feel like Marinette is even LESS of a match for Ladybug here than in canon. I almost wonder if she and Rose should’ve only been added to Violet/Butterfly like you mentioned in the last anon’s spread, because I feel like people are just going with what they’re familiar with voting-wise instead of considering the Bugettes AU world or the kwami detail posts that you’re already linking to.

Oh same. Mindful, I am biased to shuffling things up. But from what I've learned doing polls for ML, this fandom largely likes to stick to canon. They don't really like to get experimental. And there are some that do work off the mindset that what they get in canon IS what they're meant to have, that they are, undoubtedly, the best for that Miraculous (which personally I can find to be debatable).

So Marinette has the Ladybug in canon, and Mouse is the first kwami swap to get a lot of focus in canon (aside from her with Cat), so those are the top two picks for Marinette Miraculous wise, never mind if they work for her growth wise or not. They're what happens, so they're what people focus on.

So Marinette leading in the poll for Ladybug isn't a surprise for me. It's a bummer, but not a surprise. If she didn't win Ladybug, I was definitely more intrigued by the other polls she was going to appear in: Dragonfly, Mantis (both working off the bit of blue she has, and Mantis especially has such a small number of choices for it), and Butterfly.

But her being there, I do stand by that pink coded characters should apply for both the Red and Violet poll. And while it's a very small detail in her whole design, she does have spots on her.

But if she does win Ladybug, it is what it is. It will work more off what we get in canon, with Tikki pressuring Marinette to do better, consider others more than herself, always win, always be the leader, ect.. Honestly, only big changes is Tikki being more romantic, which could both help Marinette's crush, as Tikki would have actual advise to share, but also make it worse as she's going to fixate on Marinette's crush on Adrien and help push the agenda cause this is what Marinette wants; and Tikki's not really going to be pro team. Tikki aims for success, and sometimes a team gets in the way of that so you MUST be the leader to make sure things work out as they should.

Which could be interesting as Marinette isn't opposed to working with others, but it also doesn't feel like it's a must. It could definitely feed into her agenda of her Atlas Complex and she must solve everything herself by herself.

And with this, I'll have to think on how to address this. The perk of the Bugettes is there is more than just one partner to work off of, so if Marinette does win and these issues will arise, there would be at least someone to bring this up and address it.

And potentially may have Marianne as the Guardian and mentor of the Bugettes, and potentially she was a prior Ladybug so she knows how Tikki can be.

So if Marinette does get Ladybug, yeah a bit of a bummer, but I do have ideas and options on how to address the issues and make them work. But the poll's not over yet so you never know.

[brujamala-aka-gigi]

sea bunny plushies and random tarot messages

( ( i had to take some time off because life was being too exhausting but now i'm back with my pac readings, missed tumblr so much tbh. ) )

so: pick a sea bunny plushie and let's see what random pieces of advice you can get from the tarot.

number 1 number 2 number 3

number 4 number 5 number 6

꒰ঌ ✦ scroll down for the results ໒꒱ ༘*.ﾟ

-ˋˏ ༻ ❁ Masterpost and Tarot Menu ❁༺ ˎˊ-

images are from pinterest and dividers are by @nicodefresas

reblog if you enjoyed this reading or if you enjoy sea bunny plushies <3

༘⋆♡⸝⸝💌⊹。°˖➴

꒰ BUNNY NUMBER ONE ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Being overly confident and reliant on thoughts that don’t come from healthy spaces is understandable if you’re in a desperate rush to find stability in your life. But sometimes these ideas will make you unable to move further, especially if moving on involves the questioning of such toxic beliefs. It is quite normal to find comfort in what we already know, but just because something is normalized (on the outside world or on your inner world) it doesn’t mean it’s healthy, or that it’s actually genuine to you. Even if your ambitions are coherent, take time to reflect on how you understand and conceptualize your own struggle and your path to success.

꒰ BUNNY NUMBER TWO ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Neglecting healthy conversations about your emotions for the sake of other’s comfort is definitely stunting the development of many unrelated matters, not recognizing the importance of preserving your mental and emotional stability, is taking a toll on other aspects of your life. You’re giving away too much of your energy to people and places that won’t make an effort to comprehend the real complexity and validity of your purest emotions. Even if you feel like you’ve recently been too emotional, that won’t be solved by dissociating yourself from something so human and natural as feelings are.

꒰ BUNNY NUMBER THREE ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

This is a great moment to understand that it’s okay if you are not entirely sure on what to do next with your life. Taking the time to rest or taking an entirely new direction is also part of your own life path. Don’t expect answers that will come from outside yourself, you will find more clarity if you focus on building your own spaces of comfort and growth with the resources and people you already have in your life. Don’t look for things that are not meant to find you yet, find the time to take care and nurture what’s already there for you to help you grow.

꒰ BUNNY NUMBER FOUR ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Even if it is quite undesirable to be in situations where you have to embrace chaos and accept uncertainty, it is helpful to understand that uninterrupted stability eventually begins to feel like stagnation. Situations of conflict are necessary on time to time in order to test the value and strength of anything. It’s key to understand that what’s needed in moment’s of instability is not a toxic sense of optimism and hope, but more so an objective analysis of  what can be done since the problem is giving an opportunity to fix what’s broken and check what could break next.

꒰ BUNNY NUMBER FIVE ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Your decision taking abilities might be affected by a false sense of urgency on time to time. If your mind is moving too quickly and it seems like there’s only few options where you have to go all in, just know that it’s likely that you are not thinking completely straight. Being paralyzed and stuck on unhealthy thought patterns is keeping you away from seeing the full picture. The overly rationalized insecurities and negative self talk might be unperceivable due to it being incorporated as normal and healthy “self criticism”. Is not, and it’ll affect your life negatively.

꒰ BUNNY NUMBER SIX ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

It’s okay to embrace the simple pleasures in life and feel confident in material success, yet being overly fixated on this will take away many opportunities to develop a deeper perspective on many issues you might be wilfully ignoring. Don’t allow yourself to change your core beliefs in order to appease hedonistic needs, as this will bring you to periods of stagnation. Take the time to establish your priorities and keep them in mind whenever anything feels too good to be true, if you don’t care for your success, nobody else will.

Hey hiii, it's me, Gigi. I hope you enjoyed this reading and you found something helpful or entertaining on it. In all honesty, im so so soo obsessed with those plushies like, i couldn't resist the urge to use them as visuals for this post i dont care how unserious it seems.

anyways, i'm back to being cronically online, my bookings are open so check my tarot menu if you're interested. and my masterpost has all my pac readings so far if you're into them.

if you feel like reblogging and liking this post, i appreciate the shit out of that and i love you.

i think i don't have much else to say, other than hi im back, missed this place so much.

so,,, bye <3 much love, gigi.

[zoobus]

you're the new head writer of the obey me series- what's the first thing you're doing?

Assuming time travel to fix these things

Make Nightbringer (NB) Satan like that from the start

KEEP NB Satan like that. Stop giving him emotional growth after two fucking chapters. He wants to be bad!

Drop hints that Diavolo's goofy, male-big-boobed-extrovert energy is a facade. He's so lovable and I want to support every stupid idea he throws out - wouldn't it be great if he knew that? That you're taking the king of hell so lightly?

Make Lilith haunt the narrative. They fought a war against God for her and LOST and she does NOT matter.

^Part of the above. No one holds a grudge against Beel for not protecting the sole reason they went to war, which is bizarre and stupid. ALL of them hate him now. If only there was someone he could rely on...someone who could change their hearts

The dynamic between Barbatos and Solomon is good but the reason is dumb. Make it some The Devil Went Down to Georgia type shit

This is just me but I think it's funny every time they release a Lucifer or Diavolo card and the story makes you third wheel while they hug up on each other. I laugh and laugh and laugh. I would make Lucifer/Diavolo more overt. I would hammer home that you will never have what they share. There's nothing you have to offer that could compare. Go sit in the cuck chair.

Hornier events. I have my team of writers throw darts at the sex page on tvtropes and we work from there.

Belphegor gets his own rewrite section for reasons fans already know

my sister went to earth and broke a big rule by her own volition, thus I must genocide humanity -> my sister was charmed by a human who turned out to be a cultist that sacrificed her in an attempt to achieve immortality, thus I must genocide humanity*

Belphie murders you in front of the people who said they love you and they’re not mad at him once you’re all better -> Belphie murders you and they're still mad at him once you’re all better

The immediate conflict post Belphie-murdering-you-with-no-consequences is the brothers feeling kinda awkward and you have to help clear the air -> The immediate conflict post Belphie-murdering-you is the brothers giving him the cold shoulder. Belphie comes groveling to you to help clear the air (you will be railroaded into doing so, I'm fine with that)

You get one (1) dialogue option where you can mildly rebuke Belphie for successfully killing you -> You can tell Belphie to kill himself multiple times throughout the story if you so wish

Belphie drops the manipulative, homicidal psycho act for snarky, youngest brother and never looks back -> Belphie is a snarky youngest brother who regularly tries to manipulate you, occasionally expresses homicidal thoughts, and possibly leans towards yandere.

Just...stop it with the Anti-Lucifer Force. It's pathetic. We literally went from “successful murder attempt” to “hot sauce in wine” in half a chapter

*Racism is bad but at least let it be based on something?? His motive is like Adam starting a war against apples

[light-wolf]

I want to start doing mini-reviews for games I finish, hopefully to help motivate me to go through my immense backlog. Might also expand it to other media later but for now I'm focused on just videogames. Please keep in mind this will be entirely subjective based on my personal enjoyment with each game and it's not meant to be a "professional" review at all.

So here's the first one!

Title: Murder by Numbers

Platform: Nintendo Switch (also on PC)

Genres: Visual novel, puzzle

Publisher: The Irregular Corporation

Developer: Mediatonic

Release year: 2020

Murder by Numbers is a visual novel set in '90s Los Angeles. You follow Honor Mizrahi, a TV actress who co-starred in a successful detective show before suddenly getting fired for no apparent reason. While struggling to deal with this turn of events, Honor finds herself in the middle of a series of murder mysteries, and partnered up with the amnesiac robot SCOUT, she'll attempt to solve each case as she goes from playing a detective to being a real one.

If you've ever played an Ace Attorney game, the structure of Murder by Numbers will be very familiar to you (except for the lack of courtroom action). You investigate crime scenes, interrogate witnesses, collect evidence and present that evidence to characters to unlock more conversation options and advance the story.

What makes Murder by Numbers unique is that each piece of evidence takes the form of a nonogram puzzle that you need to solve. As a huge fan of nonograms who has wasted hundreds and hundreds of hours of his life in Picross games, this was one of the main reasons I wanted to play this game in the first place. And I have to say that, while it's a strange mix, it somehow works pretty well, at least for me. The puzzles are a bit on the easy side compared to something like the Picross S series on the Switch, but that's understandable since not all visual novel fans are hardcore Picross veterans like I am, lol. I do wish it had some of the QoL features of the Picross S games though, like the ability to count numbers by holding a button, or mass-erasing all marks, but it's not a big deal.

Of course, a visual novel is only as good as its story and cast, so let's vaguely talk about that (no spoilers). The two main characters, Honor and SCOUT, are both great. Each of them has their own struggles and character growth, and I became quite attached to them by the end. The supporting cast is more hit and miss, with some of them being very flat and/or annoying, but there are some very funny characters as well. While none of the cases gets as crazy as something from Ace Attorney (the comparison is inevitable), they're still interesting, with some nice plot twists, and there's an overarching plot across all four cases that also gets quite intense toward the end. The focus on Hollywood means there's a bunch of pop culture references that didn't really do anything for me, but they can just be ignored with no problem.

One thing that I liked about Murder by Numbers is that it touches on some unexpected themes like sexism, divorce, abuse, identity and free will. There's also a big focus on queer characters, with an entire case centered around a gay bar and drag queens. I wouldn't say it's anything groundbreaking, and it felt a bit preachy at times, but overall it was nice to see.

There's one aspect of the game that's very small but I was really bothered by it, and it's that the puzzle music often felt very out of place. The themes themselves aren't bad, but some of them are way too cheerful and often completely kill the mood. Sure, they're fine in the more lighthearted moments, but imagine you're in the middle of a dramatic scene, finding a dead body or something, and then the happiest music possible starts as you get to solve a nonogram puzzle. This doesn't always happen, with a few puzzles at key moments keeping the same music from the previous scene, but that just made me wish that the whole game was like that, or at least had more fitting puzzle music for the more somber and dramatic moments.

My other issue was that the game was quite buggy at times. The game often got locked when trying to access the map screen too quickly and I had to reset it, which usually didn't take too long thanks to autosave but it was annoying that it happened so many times. There was one time though where I went somewhere that I wasn't supposed to go (and the game didn't stop me) and then it wouldn't let me go to the correct area to progress the story, and the damn thing autosaved there so I was completely locked and had to restart the entire case and do all the puzzles again, which was very frustrating.

Despite those issues, I really enjoyed Murder by Numbers. It's basically a hybrid of Ace Attorney and Picross, two things that I love, so it's like it was made for me. The visual novel side isn't as good as Ace Attorney, and the nonogram side isn't as good as Picross, but the game is more than the sum of its parts and the overall package is quite nice and worth playing, especially considering that I got it for like US$5. Honestly it was quite a steal at that price, and I definitely recommend it if you're a fan of visual novels and/or nonogram puzzles.

[sarucane]

OFMD Spiral Parallels 29: Silk Robes and Ed's Self-Identity

Intro: What I love most about how season 2 builds on season 1 of OFMD is the spiral narrative structure. Ground is repeatedly and explicitly re-trod from season 1 to season 2, but in season 2 everything goes deeper than season 1. Symbols appear and reappear, transformed. Meanings are shuffled, emotions are stronger and truer, and transformation is showcased above everything. The first season plucks certain notes, then the second season plucks the same ones--but louder, and then it weaves them together to create a symphony.

---

When Stede dumps Ed in the first season of OFMD, Ed spends most of the next episode wearing Stede's dressing gown. The immediate reason he does this seems to be just wanting to be comfortable: when he gets back, he ransacks Stede's cabin for cushions and blankets, then uses those to make a fort.

It's all pretty explicitly childish, but that's not bad. Ed's childhood was traumatic, and in this episode and the previous one, Ed external maturity level is more closely matching his internal emotional maturity level. Ed didn't get to be a kid, he didn't get to be a cringey teenager in love. He's only been able to access this part of himself through Stede, but even with Stede gone he's using what was left behind to figure stuff out about himself. Surrounded by warmth and kindness, he can wear a comfy pink silk robe and slog through an experience of deep emotional discomfort.

And this starts to have real positive results. Ed sings a cringey song to the crew, then explicitly embraces a new identity within that community. He encourages artistic expression, and the group starts to form up around him (a more successful result than Stede's encouragement of the crew's sewing in the first episode). Then he goes back and starts cleaning up the mess he'd made in the cabin. The whole thing is undignified and awkward, but it's genuine positive growth. Wearing the silk robe is good for him.

And then Izzy destroys it all. He tells Ed changing like this is "a fate worse than death." Ed's defense then exposes the fragility of his new identity: "I am still Blackbeard."

And that's actually true: we all contain multitudes, and Ed's identity can include both "Edward" and "Blackbeard." But Izzy rejects the idea that Ed could be both these things. He flattens Ed into one of two mutually exclusive identities. There's Blackbeard, or there's Edward.

And he attacks Edward, hits Ed right where he knows it'll hurt: in just how undignified and "unmanly" he's being, and in how hurt he is to have lost Stede. And just like the kraken was born so Ed could fight back against his father's hurt, the Blackbeard persona takes over to fight back against Izzy's hurt. And Ed take off the silk robe and puts his leathers back on, to project the image of Blackbeard to the world.

And then a pile of time passes, and Ed does a heap of bad shit that can't be undone (Izzy's lost leg is a constant reminder) as he tries to be Blackbeard or nothing else. Stede comes back, relationship things happen, and Ed is wearing a comfy robe again.

This time, the robe certainly seems to actually be Ed's. And it's presented in direct contrast with Ed's leathers, the symbol of his life as Blackbeard. Last season, he threw all the silks in the sea and donned his leathers; this season, he throws his leathers in the sea. He wants to take away from himself the option of being Blackbeard again, to make sure he won't do things like that again by separating himself entirely from the Blackbeard persona.

In many ways, this is good. This whole episode shows how well Ed's doing compared to his headspace back in S2E2, when his despair at himself was so helpless that he chased death. While he was wearing the pink robe in response to the end of an immature relationship, now he's wearing the blue robe and making breakfast as the result of a mature relationship. He's found that part of himself again, with Stede's help.

That being said, Ed isn't really dealing with what he did in the past, with the deep kraken part of himself that Blackbeard was a manifestation of. This robe is very simple, undecorated except for a few tassels. And throwing away his leathers is trying to run from himself, just like how a few hours later he declares himself "a fisherman," and insists "fishermen and pirates are nothing alike." He's going in a better direction, but he's still operating by Izzy's flawed logic: either he's Blackbeard, or he's Edward. And because of that, he makes what might have become the biggest mistake of his life, leaving Stede to what almost became his death.