#there's fierce competition but i do think it's his most iconic moment

[kurainvillages]

phoenix wright ripping a locket with his daughter's picture in it off a dead man's neck and then openly wearing it on the stand at a trial where he's facing the death penalty for the murder of said man

[yourlunarspice]

First! For you -> 💙

Second, Monoma Neito for the ask game?

Awwwww, thanks so much, Kiya! For you -> 💜!

Icons from this post

First impression

My first impression of Monoma was, similar to most people, that he was a jackass. Sure, he wasn't as loud or obnoxious as he is now, but he still looked down on Bakugou and Kirishima, stealing both of their Quirks and making them look like fools.

Impression now

As @persona4fantasy likes to put it, Monoma is everyone's favorite bastard. He's the guy who you love to hate, mainly because his antics are always hilarious, even if he doesn't see it like that. He's like the designated asshole in any story that needs a quick antagonist, because he's always so smug and arrogant around Class A.

Favorite moment

10000% the reference-fest play that Class B put on in Season 4! Monoma's acting was on point, and I couldn't stop laughing at all the major fandoms being referenced.

Idea for a story

Gahhhh, I just scoured my ideas GoogleDoc and could not find any mention of Monoma anywhere!! :( Thinking on the fly, maybe a story where he accidentally copies the wrong Quirk? idk

Unpopular opinion

I am a huge fan of Monoma's loyalty! He may act like a jerk and a jackass, but he always has the feelings of his friends at heart. And this is loosely paraphrased from a Twitter thread (that I was so disappointed to see had gotten deleted!) I read a while ago. It told how the reason behind Monoma always putting down Class A was to bolster his own classmates in B. In one of Monoma's first scenes, right at the beginning of the cavalry battle, he turns to Tetsutetsu and asks him something along the lines of 'No hard feelings, right?', making sure that his friend knows that him being competitive has no bearing on their friendship. Similarly, during the joint training arc, he bundled Shinsou in with his own classmates and supported him just the same, even going out of his way to give his own version of a pep talk. In the same battle, he drew Uraraka and Midoriya's attentions so that he could give Shinsou an advantage (and gave him another advantage when he used Twin Impact on Midoriya). While so many people see Monoma as a guy they love to hate (believe me, I do too), deep down, I believe that he's someone who's fiercely loyal and dependent. It's really admirable.

Favorite relationship

Going back to Monoma's loyalty, I think that my favorite relationship of his is with Kendo. I don't ship them, but I think they have great friend chemistry. Monoma is fiercely loyal to his class and defends them with everything he's got, while Kendo keeps him in check (and apologizes) if he crosses any line. They have a great rapport and seem like really good friends.

Favorite headcanon

My favorite headcanon about Monoma is that he grew up in an abusive situation similar to Shinsou's. Except, I believe that Monoma was severely touch-deprived as a child, since everyone was afraid he'd steal (instead of simply copying) their Quirks from them and turn their own power against them. As such, I think this is why he talks about how he needs to reach into the "more evil" side of him in order to be a proper hero, just like Shinsou needs to as well. I think that not receiving adequate attention as a child severely stunted his emotional growth, which is why he sometimes crosses the line when ridiculing Class A. On the more positive side of that, I headcanon that Monoma sees Class B as his new family; a group of kids his own age that don't look down on him or fear him. Kids who willingly let him copy their Quirks so their team can have the advantage in a fight. While his story may have started out really sad, I think he's happy where he is.

From this ask game!

[br-disaster]

Nie Huaisang’s outfits appreciation post

After the terrible loss of our second best dressed cultivator and fashion icon Nie Mingjue, the cultivation world now lacks one of it’s pillars. But little did they know, our fashion king had a disciple, someone capable of honoring his legacy in many ways.

While we all grief, a new icon rises.

And I’m here to prove that Nie Huaisang deserves his late brother’s title not only because Mingjue’s no longer serving looks -may his fashionable soul rest in peace-, but because Huaisang has always been a stylish icon on his own.

I mean, this look right here is enough proof:

 Huaisang has quite a lot of robes, and they are all so different, I decided to compile them chronologically:

1. the “assigned fashionable at birth”one

Look at this small bean with his cream-colored robes. Whoever chose this color for him did a great job, though it’s a bit weird that they looked at baby Mingjue and went “all you’ll wear is dark gray from now on” and then Huaisang was born and “cream it is!” And we don’t really see anybody else from the Nie sect wearing this color, I wonder if it has anything to do with Huaisang’s mom, or if it’s just for the dark\light color contrast,  the two young masters can’t possibly wear the same colors, it would ruin the aesthetic.

 It looks just like his main-possibly-stay-at-home-robes, like he just really loved this especific set and had a lot of other robes that looked just the same growing up.

Really small, really cute, makes you want to carry him around saying: look at my baby, he’s so stylish!

2. the “good old Gusu days” one

This is like a uniform, there’s nothing really special about it. But I’d like to point out two things:

One: the silver embroidery on the shoulders and the silver on his waist belt matches the pristine white of his robes really well.

Two: look how wide his shouders look, there you go, Huaisang, keeping the Nie shoulder game strong!

3. The “it’s called fashion, dage” one

Cream-colored again! It embodies teen!Huaisang’s aesthetic perfectly: it’s expensive, it’s pretty, it looks comfortable, but it’s minimalistic.

I mean, I have no idea if it is actually expensive, but it surely looks expensive.

It has no discernable patterns, but the fabric just looks so good, look at the texture. It looks warm and heavy (rip Ji Li). And it’s pleated, look at him! Everything about this one screams rich-carefree-spoiled-delicate-pretty-gongzi.

And well, we see him strolling around and getting in trouble instead of going straight home in this robes, then on Fatal Journey we see him painting landscapes instead of practicing and claiming he doesn’t want to become the Nie sect leader in this very set of robes. Maybe he has indeed been wearing similar robes since his childhood and wants to, you know, go back to when things were as simple as taking the long way home coming back from Gusu.

4. the “didn’t really engage on the war but needed to look good regardless” one

This one is so pretty, y’all. It’s silver and white and gray, the brothers  are matching with their disciples’ robes, you won’t find a Sect with a superior fashion sense.

I can totally understand why he didn’t change to some post-Sunshot robes. Imagine looking this good at home, with none of your friends or disciples or brother to see you. Nope. This robes belong to a banquet, even one as unpleasing and akward as this one.

(They technically saw him, since he wore the same robes while they were planning the whole Sunshot thing, but no one was paying attention to it, right? And you can’t let such a nice look go to waste)

One of my favorites, for sure. It even matches his fan. It’s peak aesthetic.

5. the “I’m only here for the food and the drama” one

I didn’t really like this one at first. It looked kinda futuristic in my head, you know? It’s probably just the really structured fabric and the color, but It was a bit too much.

But now, looking at it as I take screenshots, I like them. It’s bold and fierce and remember the shoulder accessories being a code for battle? Well, I doubt Huaisang shot a single arrow that day, but he was supposed to be competing, so it makes a lot of sense that he’s dressed like this while his brother is wearing his pretty, dark yet lighter civillian robes to watch him.

He’s even wearing epaulettes (well, I trust that that’s the name) that matches the ones Mingjue wore with his Sunshot robes! Are they the same pair? Did he borrow it? Or do they secretly comission the same robes and accessories  and wear them on alternate occasions?

These are the most battle-coded (and at the same time is not battle-coded at all, it’s too ostentatious) robes we see him wearing until now, and he is representing his sect at the hunt, he has to look like a proper heir that is capable of fighting, whether he likes it or not - and judging by how unenthusiastic he was during the opening shoot-the-wen-prisioners ceremony, I’d say he was not enjoying it at all-.

But it’s such a cool look, I really like it now.

6. the “he will throw hands with a non-corporeal entity while giving his big brother all the love and understanding he deserves” one

 This may look like the same robes we usually wears at home, but they lack the pleated part and I don’t think his long sleeves would fit inside his wirst thingy, which I now know it’s called a vambrace or a bracer,  they were quite wide sleeves.

Anyway, we again have his minimalistic aesthetic. No patterns, the only addition being the outer robe that realy looks like the one Mingjue wears with his stay-at-home robes, except with no sleeves; and the bracers\vambraces.

But look how different this looks in comparison with the previous one; he wasn’t fighting shit in those pompous silver robes, but he was so determined here, ready to face anything. This is the difference between a battle-coded look and a battle-codded Huaisang.

It’s practical, it’s pretty, looks comfortable and it’s perfect for scolding your older brother then comforting him because he gets emotional when people argue with him, ok?

Huaisang is the best younger brother, fight me

8.the “sad, sad” one

I’ll just say that the inner robes are really similar to the one Mingjue wears with his stay-at-home robes, though they are not the same. Perhaps my theory that they did comission a lot of similar itens is correct after all.

I don’t think this look is particularly good, and the context surely doesn’t help at all, but it’s interesting to see him in gray and black.

 Overall, I hate it here.

9. the “somehow even worse” one

Look, if I had to compile all his outfits, I had to include this one. But there’s nothing to say about it except just looking at him wearing it makes me sad.

10. the “you didn’t see that coming, did you?” one

This one here is a trick, ok? At this point of the story we have no idea of what’s going on and if this misterious person is important or not; all we know is that he is quite fond of patterns and dark clothing. And that he has some money.

But damn, once we find out who this is, it instantly becomes something else entirely. 

It’s so fucking DARK!! It’s Wei Wuxian’s kind of dark, it’s crazy to think our boy Huaisang, who’s been wearing light grays, white and cream all his life would come up with something like that. It doesn’t even look Nie, and that’s probably what he was going for, y’know, so no one could recognize him and all of that.

But jesus, this look is just wow.  It’s perfect for a scheming mastermind, even though we don’t really know about it yet. The scales pattern is really nice and I love when he wears this sort of robe, with the fitted sleeves and the extra fabric at the shoulders. The flame (I think) pattern is nice too, though it’s a bit too much here, just a bit. But he seems to like this pattern a lot, so let him have it

And the craziest part is: we know these robes. And i’ve seen a couple of posts about them, it’s the same inner robe he wore at the Phoenix Mountain night hunt competition, almost 16 years ago. 

Like what are these robes made of??

11. the “sneaky, sneaky” one

The famous Nie pattern, am I right?

I love all theories about this one and as I took the screenshots, I noticed how his inner robe is the same as robe number 8. Huaisang says no to excessive buying, please reuse your clothes!

I’m particularly fond of the theory that Nie Mingjue comissioned robes for both his didi and his boyfriend Xichen, but I can accept that Huaisang just inherited his brother’s robes, though the flame pattern (once again proving we won’t guess Huaisang is behind everything not even after seeing him wearing the same patterns as in episode one twice) at the bottom is definetly a Huaisang thing.

I really like how heavy it looks, and the black thin stripe.We know it’s the same pattern as Xichen’s robe but seeing it combined with the back and light gray of the Nies really gives it a distinct identity.

12. the “and the oscar goes to...” one

Look at him, all innocent-looking placing all the chess pieces on their right places. Gotta love director Nie.  And it makes so much sense that he would wear something as light as this robes for this moment. He wore light colors for most of his youth, when he was carefree and naive and harmless; he cultivated a reputation of being dependent, fearful and stupid even. In this moment, more than ever, he needs people to believe this is exactly who he is, and what’s the best way of doing it?

Yes, reminding them of your old self. All he does is pretend and lie while he cries and faints.  A director and an actor too!

Throw yourself at your brother’s sworn brothers trying to look harmless while annoying the hell out of them? check.

Faint conveniently as your brother’s murderer lies at your face about killing said brother because even you have limits and you can’t watch that fuckery and not want to murder him right there? check.

Pretend to be stupid while conducting the protagonist and pretty much everybody else to ask the right questions and therefore unmask the terrible things your nemesis did?  also check.

And the robes are really pretty, look at the texture at the bottom right!! Silver and white go really well together. Wide, wide sleeves and this heavy-looking fabric. Superb, really, one of my favorites again.

And look at him carrying his saber (which he  probably left at Pier Lotus later)!

13. the “...and cut!” one

Look at these robes and tell me they don’t absolutely look like something Nie Mingjue would wear. You know he would. 

And it’s such a contrast to his previous robes. The white and silver one for looking innocent and lost and funny; the dark gray to look like a serious sect leader who will endorse the accusations against his enemy (Ok, he did act confused and lost and innocent in these robes, but he also showed real shock and grief and sadness, he did show his true feelings too)

He’s honoring his brother here, he did it, he brought justice to him, he defeated his brother’s murderer.  He spent years wanting and waiting for this moment, it’s only fair he would do so while looking so much like his beloved older brother.

I love everything about this look. The color palette is almost the same as the one robe his brother wore to the post-Sunshot campaign banquet. The dark,shining gray, the black, the thin bronze\golden stripe at the collar. Even that extra overlaid fabric at the bottom front of his robes is the same as Mingjue used to wear. Beautiful, really.

He would be really proud of you, I hope you know that, Huaisang.

14. the “I may or may not steal your chief cultivator status, watch out Wangji” one

I know he would never steal Wangji’s post, cql!NHS doesn’t even want it; but like, we deserved Chief cultivator!Huaisang, right? So it was worth the joke, I think.

The inner light gray robe yet AGAIN, I suspect this is his favorite inner robe.

We have some bold patterns here, so elegant. I really like when he wears this kind of outer robe, accentuating his shoulders, suits him really well, And this is such a Nie color palette, just like the previous one. In fact, Huaisang wears way more dark colors than we give him credit for. Especially after becoming sect leader. 

Sleeve game on point too, really long. And it matches his fan as well.

Lovely look, I wish we could have seen more.

In conclusion: 

King of versatility, resusing 16 year-old robes AND looking damn good while doing it! He looks good scheming, he looks good lying, he looks good fainting, he even looks good tricking people into stabbing other people!

 Name a more iconic king, I’ll wait.

[scoobysurfers]

My Analysis of Mystery Incorporated and Hogwarts Houses

I want to start by saying that I don’t believe The Sorting Hat chooses your house based on your personality. There is no clear-cut definition to each house. Every one of us exhibits traits of all four of the houses. So I like to believe The Sorting Hat chooses your house based on your values. This is why entire wizarding families are in the same house - they have the same values, but they don’t necessarily have the same personalities. This is why classifying can be controversial. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to classify the gang because everyone has different interpretations of them depending on what they’ve read/watched. This is my take where I explore some different perspectives, so hear me out :)

Fred.

I feel like this is going to be smallest discussion by far because there’s literally nothing to discuss; Fred is a Gryffindor through and through. He’s the textbook definition of brave, he’s a do-er and he has a strong moral compass and sense of justice. He can be a little bit reckless and heroic, and I definitely see Harry’s personality within Fred’s. The only other house I’d possibly consider for him is Hufflepuff because he has a heart of gold and is so loyally devoted to his friends. But his competitive nature and tendency to act without thinking make him far more suited to...

GRYFFINDOR !

Daphne.

Looking at all the Scooby Gang in Hogwarts interpretations online, I have discovered that Daphne is the most controversial. I’ve seen her portrayed as all four, but I think there’s definitely more of a case for Slytherin and Gryffindor. For starters, while Daphne is very smart, she isn’t the type to think before acting, and she isn’t always logical (she’s a firm believer in the supernatural in many series). So she isn’t Ravenclaw, but what about Hufflepuff? I think Hufflepuff fits her, but she also has other qualities that are better exhibited in the more ‘extroverted’ houses, so to speak. Just like Fred, Daphne is far too competitive and ambitious to be a true Hufflepuff.

Something that a lot of people miss about Daphne’s character, particularly if you’ve only watched the older series, is her bravery. She can be heroic too, and as Scooby Apocalypse showed us, she can be a fierce leader too. An argument for Daphne being Gryffindor over Slytherin is that she is more passionate than reasonable. In my opinion, Gryffindors tend to be guided by their passion, whereas Slytherins are driven by their reason. At first glance, she may look like a Gryffindor because of her confidence and sense of adventure. But I think there are a couple of key reasons as to why she is not a Gryffindor.

To decipher the problem as to why she is not a Gryffindor, I simply compared her to Fred. She has a tough exterior, but I think inside, she is vulnerable and afraid of rejection and perhaps, at times, uncertain of her morals. This wavers from the fundamental definition of a Gryffindor.

Daphne likes to get her own way, and uses a variety of means to get it, whether it be her looks or smarts. That leads on to another thing - I just think she’s too smart for Gryffindor. Of course, you can have smart Gryffindors (hello Hermione), but she’s a different sort of smart. Hermione is book smart, but Daphne is more street smart. In that sense, she can also be manipulative and does have the potential to use this to her own advantage, whether it be good or bad. I believe that Daphne’s influential capacity makes her different from a Gryffindor, who has a strong sense of justice. She also highly values her reputation and appearance. In many incarnations, Daphne has been shown to be extremely resourceful and quick-witted. Gryffindors are more socially orientated and tend to do things for the ‘greater good’, governed by their own morality. Slytherins on the other hand, are more individually focused and I definitely think many of Daphne’s actions are for her own individual sense of self satisfaction. For all these reasons, Daphne is a...

SLYTHERIN !

Velma.

Okay, so the obvious thing here would be to say she’s a Ravenclaw because she’s smart. But there’s so much more to Velma than being ‘smart’ and Ravenclaws value more than just intelligence. Also remember there are people in Gryffindor, Slytherin and Hufflepuff who are highly intelligent.

Let’s do this by a process of elimination. First off, she’s not a Hufflepuff. I see Hufflepuffs as affectionate, caring people, and while Velma has an undeniable loyalty to her friends and family, she’s not open about it. Hufflepuffs are fair and modest people, but Velma never misses an opportunity to outshine a rival with her wits.

Gryffindor. *exhales* Velma is a brave person, but she’s not recklessly brave. You may argue that Velma is similar to Hermione, but I think the key thing that differentiates them is their thought process. Hermione is more of a doer, and has little time for planning, whereas Velma likes having a plan, especially during a trap. There are many episodes throughout the franchise where she gets frustrated with Fred’s lack of plan. This is Fred’s Gryffindor shining through, and I think in moments like these, the difference between their values becomes plain.

You may think by now that I’m pushing Velma towards Ravenclaw, especially since it’s clearly Hermione’s secondary house. Consider Slytherin. This is an interesting debate - in my opinion, Slytherin and Ravenclaw are the generally the smartest houses, and I can see Velma in both of them.

Overall, I think she is a Ravenclaw. This is because she has a constantly active mind and a love of learning and books. The defining trait of a Ravenclaw is their confidence in their own knowledge. Without a doubt, Velma has this to the point where she actually comes across as arrogant and a know-it-all. And she is probably the most introverted and independent character in the gang.

But I also want to present the lesser discussed notion of Velma being a Slytherin.

Velma is a detective with an incredible ability to read and understand the criminal mind. This in itself makes her a clever, calculating person, which are qualities of Slytherin. She is also ambitious and highly competitive, especially in the academic world. And she has a small group of close friends who she is very loyal to. Remember that SDMI episode where she hacks the monster biker’s computer to save Scooby’s life? *loyalty* I also think she demands a certain level of respect from the people that she meets. She wants to project herself as a smart, capable person and she gives me the feeling that first impressions matter to her.

As for the distinction between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, I think the key thing is this: Ravenclaws are both logical and abstract thinkers who think outside the box. Ravenclaw Luna Lovegood gave such insightful answers to enter the Ravenclaw common room, eg, a circle has no end or beginning. I just don’t think Velma is an abstract thinker. She’s a very practical person who likes to be in control of the facts of the mysteries. She freaks out whenever something is slightly off, like that BCSD episode when she got so caught up on why the monster was a Yeti instead of actually solving the mystery. In my opinion, Slytherins are more practical minded, they can have a nasty streak and they’re highly self reliant. Oh, and Velma is a sarcastic QUEEN.

In conclusion, Velma could easily be in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. I think she has elements of Slytherin (especially in SDMI), but at heart, I declare Velma to be...

RAVENCLAW !

Shaggy and Scooby.

The go-to for our iconic duo is Hufflepuff. They’re obviously not Slytherin or Ravenclaw (if you need further convincing, read Velma’s section above), but Gryffindor isn’t completely out of the question. Perhaps the polar opposites of primary and secondary houses is why Shelma, in my opinion, are incompatible.

It is widely known and played upon in all of Scooby Doo how cowardly Shaggy and Scooby are. But like, they’re not??? Their courage is seriously overlooked. They’re always placed in the most dangerous positions, and that requires a lot of bravery to overcome. They’re often the heroes who save their friends. If they were placed in Gryffindor, I’d see them as being very similar to Neville Longbottom.

But there are a few reasons as to why they are not true Gryffindors, and are, in fact, Hufflepuffs. Shaggy and Scooby are not at all competitive (where it matters - excluding sports or races) or tempered in nature. They hate conflict, and Shaggy is often the mediator between the gang’s arguments.

They are Hufflepuffs because of their loyalty, fairness and open-mindedness. Just like Cedric Diggory in the Triwizard Tournament who suggests Harry takes the cup, Shaggy and Scooby value people over individual glory. Shaggy is a very inclusive person and obviously an animal lover. Also, they obviously love to eat. There is a reason why the Hufflepuff common room is right beside the kitchens, and if Shaggy and Scooby got wind of this, they wouldn’t give the other houses a thought. So without further discussion...

HUFFLEPUFF !

Me!!!

I got Gryffindor in Pottermore but my values and personality are more suited to Ravenclaw. If I had to choose, I’d say RAVENCLAW, but my hybrid house feels the most accurate for me and it’s GRIFFINCLAW !!!

Anyway, I hope I sparked up some new thoughts/perspectives you hadn’t considered before.

What house are you?

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

as we are exchanging asks, something you asked me once: 10 favorite characters from 10 different operas and what you like about them?

an extremely delayed response, all apologies, and also it’s past midnight right now so perhaps I should be sleeping and I’ll try to keep this somewhat short (and probably fail), but anyway, to answer your question:

1. Don Carlo(s): I love just about everyone in this opera (except you, Grand Inquisitor. you can go die) but if I had to choose one, I’d go with the absolute icon that is Princess Éboli. The thing I love about her most, I think, is how wonderfully complicated and real she is. I mean, she loves life, she’s a fierce badass, she does some horrible things for...lots of different reasons, but she does her absolute best to set things right again. In short, an extremely relatable, amazing, gorgeous Disaster Bi. Also: Verdi mezzo, so epic-as-hell music.

2. La traviata: Violetta Valéry. She doesn’t have much in the way of competition within her opera, but I’m still putting her on here because she’s one of my favorite characters in anything ever, and one of the first fictional ladies on whom I developed a hardcore crush. Something people forget about courtesans is that they were more than just...sex objects. They were smart ladies who oftentimes set the pace for upper-class life even as they were privately scorned for their position. And Marie Duplessis (on whom Violetta is based) is pretty much your ultimate rags-to-riches story (although we know how it ultimately ends). So Violetta goes from having nothing to teaching herself the ways of the world, climbs to the top of Parisian society, then decides she wants to give it all up for true love and fulfillment. While she didn’t choose the right guy IMO, she’s incredibly brave and bold and sensitive and she cares so much about everyone and she gives up her happiness so many times and I can’t and I love her so much and also her music is amazing and excuse me while I go cry. Also I need to make these shorter.

3. Simon Boccanegra: There’s my boy, Simon! One: I am a sucker for Good Baritones. Two: I am particularly a sucker for Good or Good-at-Heart Tormented Verdi Baritones. Three: THIS GUY. All he wants is to have peace and be with his family. That’s it. He’s so good and kind and amazing but also he is taking exactly no one’s BS (just listen to that Council Chamber scene!). He takes a position he didn’t want in the hope that he’ll be able to win Maria, but then she dies, but then he still uses his position to try to reconcile the factions anyway (and surprisingly enough, he’s pretty successful?). And him as a dad MY HEART. 

4. Falstaff: Alice Ford, aka area 15th-century mistress of the house who has the mind of a 21st-century woman and is absolutely iconic for it. She’s incredibly smart and funny and clever and such a sweet person and great mom. She takes no one’s crap whatsoever and she outsmarts both Ford and Falstaff at every turn. She’s the ultimate ‘girls supporting girls’ lady and she gives the middle finger to the concepts of women just being good for being men’s playthings and of arranged marriage. And she knows how to have fun with it all. My one complaint: VERDI WHAT WERE YOU THINKING NOT GIVING HER A BADASS ARIA. That’s all.

5. Carmen: Carmen, my first love...I fell in love with her Habañera and her sheer confidence when I was 7 (and not realizing what it was about, may or may not have attempted to sing it on the playground at school, much to everyone’s confusion, but that’s a story for another time) and I’ve loved her since. I love her freedom, her huge self-confidence, her devil-may-care attitude, and every last note of her music. I just love her as a person. And of course, the iconic ‘‘Free was I born, and free I will die!” That right there is a life motto.

6. Eugene Onegin: My fellow book-loving, perpetually-dreaming nerd Tatyana Larina. Of course, I love her because of how sheerly relatable she is but there are so many other reasons as well. Like her and her sister’s dynamic. And the way she grows up and matures. And the way she’s not afraid to set some damn boundaries with Onegin, indeed, tell him no. That’s a strong girl right there, and while I wish she’d been able to get Onegin and true happiness...I’m not sure a relationship with Onegin would’ve worked out, and I’m proud of her for realizing that such a relationship (and perpetually fantasizing about it) could be extremely unhealthy and moving on. And oh God, her music. Especially the letter scene, which is every writer on an inspiration binge. And the final scene. Anyway.

7. Guillaume Tell: This is another ‘I love just about all the characters in this opera but welp I have to choose just one’ opera, and my choice is Guillaume Tell himself. First off: see #4. Second off: He’s just??? such an incredible person in every way like how is it possible to be that great of a human being??? He’s brave, he sticks up for what he believes in, he’s always willing to give others a helping hand, he’s super-enthusiastic, he’s a great husband/dad/friend, he’ll do anything for the people he cares about, he will readily call those who need it out on their BS...anyway we STAN him on this blog. Also, Rossini. And that incredibly gorgeous aria ‘Sois immobile’. I die.

8. Les Huguenots: Yet another grand opéra where I love the vast majority of the characters, and while I am 99% sure you already know the answer to this, I’ll say it again: it’s the only, the only Valentine de Saint-Bris, who just so happens to be incredibly amazing. She’s so...real and expressive and she’s someone I just personally feel like I get, like I see a little (okay more than that) of myself in her because of how real and relatable she is (I wrote a few posts a while back about why I headcanon that she has a severe undiagnosed anxiety disorder, which was...a major part of the story of my life for a while and to a lesser extent still is, but I digress) and also how amazing of a person she is. She’s not willing to just sit idly by while the world around her falls apart and the people she loves turn on each other (and eventually her). She’s one of the few people on either side of the aisle who’s like ‘this whole religious war thing is stupid and y’all need to stop’ and when things go from bad to worse, she puts herself out there in the middle of it all to save the people she cares about most (oh, also, remember how she just. stormed into the royal palace, demanded an interview with the Queen Mother, got it, and then used said interview to get a way to save Raoul and Marcel? yeah me too), and then when that fails, she literally renounces her own faith rather than belong to a religion that is committing actual crimes against humanity. and while she still fights to the bitter end, she still believes there’s a way to redemption for everyone and forgives her dad and JUST...I die. Also her music’s great but like. I love her mostly for her story.

9. Benvenuto Cellini: I am falling in love with this opera and literally all of its characters more and more every day, but my favorite character is probably Benvenuto Cellini himself, who is a) one of the few Not-Dumb tenors in opera and b) is a (mostly) Good Tenor. He loves life, he loves his art, he loves Teresa, and there are so many times where he is just such a Mood (see pretty much his entire second-act aria). Also, dude is GUTSY as hell. I mean, he literally gets the Pope to give him...pretty much everything he wants in exchange for the statue. That right there is an iconic moment. I don’t have a whole lot else to say about the character because it’s still kind of a new opera to me, but anyway he’s super-cool and I love him.

10. Les contes d’Hoffmann: Nicklausse! (Also his incarnation as the Muse, but mostly Nicklausse) He gets some of the best music in the whole thing (the Violin Aria anyone? or the Barcarolle with Giulietta?) and also he’s one of my favorite trouser roles. He’s super-ambiguous— is he really Hoffmann’s buddy or is he actually secretly working for Lindorf or is he going back and forth or is he somehow trying to help Hoffmann through working with Lindorf??? But one thing’s for sure: he’s by turns funny, serious, caring, devious...and I love him all the time. And his Musely work...ugh, the Muse gets me every time. Also, I invariably picture Kate Lindsey in the Sher production and that is a LOOK.

That’s all, sorry about the wait, and here you go! ❤️

[wildefiction]

Of Course...Mr. Collins

PAIRING: Misha x Reader x Vicki x Norman Reedus

CHAPTERS: 27/?

SUMMARY: Reader lost her job and finds a new one as personal assistant to Misha Collins. Travel, busy schedules and an obscenely attractive boss might be the best thing to ever happen to the reader, but certainly not the easiest.

SERIES WARNINGS: Personal Assistant/Employer Relationship, Angst, Fluff, Poly Relationship, Swearing, Drinking, Competitiveness, Smut (Oral Sex, Dom/Sub Relationships, Multiple Partners, Rough Sex, Unprotected Sex)

ONE

Steam rose languidly from the mug in your hands, disappearing into the frigid autumn air.  When you were called into the office by your boss, the conversation had been unexpected; “So...here's the thing…”

You'd worked for the small, independent pet store for nearly five years, building a steady clientele with repeat customers and forming relationships with the owners. You'd watched their children grow up and had formed a close bond with the shop cats, local celebrities in their own right.

“I can't afford you anymore. I'm sorry, but the business just can't support your position here at this time. It's nothing personal..”

Your mind was still reeling a week later. While you'd worked for substantially less than what similar positions in the area were paying, you'd stayed out of loyalty. You'd been comfortable in your position and while you'd consistently told everyone that you were looking for new opportunities, you hadn't been in a particular hurry to do so.

With a resigned sigh, you turned from the balcony of your third-floor apartment, closing the sliding glass door just in time to prevent the cat from slipping out. “Don't give me that look, you'd freeze your tail off out there.” Stooping to lift the disgruntled animal into your arms, you ran your hands through the silky grey fur, pausing to scratch under her chin. Your efforts were rewarded with a look of indignation as she clambered up your shoulder onto her carpeted perch.

Refilling your tea, you pulled out the chair of your desk, determined to find a job. Sure, you'd had a few interviews, but there had also been just as many emails informing you that the employer had decided to pursue other candidates.

“Ms. [Y/L/N],

Thank you for applying to our internship program. There were a record number of applicants this year and the competition was fierce. At this time, we've decided to move forward with other candidates. Please keep Dark Jackal Studios in mind should you be looking for illustration opportunities in the future.

Kind Regards,

Kimberly Roberts

Dark Jackal Recruiting Division”

“Well, I'm looking for work now, so you telling me to re-apply in the future doesn't exactly do me any good, now does it?!”

Deleting the message, you began sifting through the hundreds of job listings of a local online directory. “Drive with Swift and earn $2,000 your first month...guaranteed!” “Medical research study needs participants, apply now!” “Hot girls wanted for bikini barista position…” “Personal Assistant.”

Intrigued, you click the link, images of a stuffy tech mogul in a sweater vest ranting about his latte danced through your mind.

Personal assistant needed to accompany local philanthropist to meetings, schedule appointments, run errands, and fetch tea. Must enjoy helping others and be able to work well under pressure. Experience with social media preferred. Traveling required.

“Huh, that sounds interesting. Pretty sure I can handle being someone's gopher for awhile.”

Copying the contact information, you compose a new email. After attaching your resume and a including a brief message on why you think you'd be a good fit for the position you hit the send button.

After another hour of applications read and resumes sent, you push back from your seat, arms stretched above your head, a groan of fatigue startling the cat perched on your knee. “I think we've earned a break, don't you?” Golden-green eyes stared up at you from the toffee colored face, a slow blink and rumbling purr all the affirmation you needed. “Whoever says their job is the hardest thing they've done has clearly never been out of work during the holidays.”

Unplugging your phone from the kitchen wall, you wander into the living room, flopping down on the dilapidated couch. Flicking open the lock screen you smile at the wallpaper. Taken on vacation in Norway, the Scandinavian coastline stretched for miles, your sister and best friend stretched their arms around your fluffy blue parka, the black faux fur of the hood blowing into your face.

Scrolling through your social media accounts distracted you for awhile, and when you became bored with that, there were plenty of games you had to tend to. Cheap thrills were the only entertainment you could afford at the moment. You had to admit, planting rows of corn and milking pixelated cows amused you.

The sound of breaking blocks was interrupted as the melodic anthem from Game of Thrones pierced the relative quiet of your evening activities. Glancing at the unfamiliar phone number, you very nearly sent it to voicemail. The last thing you wanted to deal with was someone asking for money that you were running desperately low on.

Swiping the green icon pulsing insistently on the screen, you raised the phone to your ear, the idea that people still used phones for their original purpose something of an anomaly to you.

“Hello?” 

“Hello, could I please speak to Ms. [Y/L/N]?” The smooth voice on the other side of the phone was deep, and oddly familiar. 

“This is [Y/F/N], may I ask who's calling?” 

“Hello Ms. [Y/L/N], you recently responded to my ad, the one for the personal assistant? Do you have a moment to chat?”

Sitting up a little too fast, you dump the cat reclining in your lap to the ground. 

“Yes!” 

Clearing your throat, you take a deep breath, calmly trying to convince yourself that first impressions are important.. “Yes, now works just fine.” A deep chuckle rumbled through the line, the sound similar to an approaching thunderstorm. “Well, why don't you tell me about yourself and what you're looking for in this position?”

Summoning your best professional demeanor, you explained your qualifications and reiterated why you felt you'd be good for the job.

“I see...and what do you like to do for fun?” 

“Uh..excuse me?” 

“Fun. You know..what do you geek out over? It can't possibly be trying to convince some stranger that you need a job. While the demands of this position are extensive, I value personal time to recharge. Work hard, play hard and all of that.”

You wondered briefly if you were applying to be a glorified babysitter. Tracing your thumb over the pewter band wrapped around your left ring finger, you smiled at the intersecting wings. Not typically one for jewelry, it had reminded you of your favorite character on Supernatural. While you wore the ring where a wedding band would traditionally sit, it had been a gift and was instead a comforting reminder of the angel who had unceremoniously waltzed into your life and ruined everything.

“Ms. [Y/L/N]?” “Are you still there?”  

“Hmm? Oh, yes, of course. I’m sorry.” More laughter. “No need to apologize.  Without much thought, you off-handedly mention your enjoyment for writing stories and traveling, especially to conventions, which was true, though not something you necessarily thought much of. “Hmm, that does seem fun. What genre do you write?” You blush, but realizing he wouldn’t be able to see it over the phone - managed to clarify your love of fiction. “Tell me, what's one strength you possess and one weakness?” You could hear the man scribbling notes in the background.

Several canned responses invade your thoughts, but you decide instead to opt for an honest answer. “Well, I'm very proud of my organizational skills, but I'm afraid I'm a bit of a day-dreamer.” As soon as the words left your mouth, you grimaced. A busy entrepreneur and philanthropist wasn't going to hire someone who dreamed about hunting monsters with prohibitively handsome fictional men.

“Well Ms. [Y/L/N], I feel like this conversation has gone well. Would you be interested in a second interview?”

“I understa.., wait...really?” “Certainly. I've spoken with several applicants, but you seem the most genuine of the group. While I'd have preferred someone with more experience, if things go well when we meet at my home office in Bellingham, I feel like you might be a good fit.”

“Bellingham?” 

“Yes, Ms. [Y/L/N], I live in Bellingham. Will that be a problem?”

The advertisement did say that travel would be required of you, though this wasn’t what you had had in mind. Cringing at the concept of a brutally long commute each day, this was the first offer for a second interview you'd received and you couldn’t pass on the opportunity simply because you despised driving.

“No sir, that will be just fine.” 

“Good. It's settled then.”

CHAPTER TWO

TAGS: @jamielea81 @wings-of-a-raven

[hyperfixation-loto]

Do not go gentle into that good night

I decided to write my own fics thanks to @corvo-bianco-lilacs who inspired me with her amazing writings. 

Thanks to @yennefer-of-rivia for helping me correct it and @wolkovk for this brilliant idea. 

@witchaddiction since you’re a fan of Sheala/Philippa, I hope you enjoy it too 

Here’s the first chapter of this mafia AU, enjoy !

Chapter One :

Berlin, Germany, December 4th, 21h05 :

« What was that, Radovid ? »

A woman with fierce amber eyes asked the man who was tied up to a chair, in the middle of the abandoned building. She looked at him with disdain written all over her face. She was a woman of incredible beauty and everything about her screamed power.

 « I didn’t want to do it ! I swear ! Please Philippa, you have to believe me ! »

 The man named Radovid looked pleadingly at the woman in front of him, sweaty and bloodied from all the beating he had received. Not from Philippa herself of course, she wouldn’t dirty her hands with the like of him, but from her men. One men in particular who had already retreated back to the HQ.

 « Philippa, please, it wasn’t me ! »

Philippa looked at him with cold eyes, not letting any emotion show on her face. After a silent moment, she turned her head towards her men. She considered them pawns, never taking count of their safety or well being. After all, they were only just men crawling before her to sooth their need for money. And oh boy, did she have money.

 « See that ? » Philippa gestured her revolver towards the trembling boy. « That, is what I call a treacherous little cockroach, who wouldn’t hesitate to betray me the minute I turn my back. »

 She scoffed, her red painted lips contorting into a smile of pure hatred and glared at him again while her men fidgeted but said nothing in fear of awakening a deeper and much more dangerous.

 « I never took you for a beggar, really. It’s pathetic. I taught you better than that. »

She let out a disappointed sighed and softly shook her head, putting on a fake sad look, staring at Radovid who sank deeper into the uncomfortable wooden chair.

 « Nothing to say boy ? What a shame. »

Philippa extended her arm, pressing the silver revolver into Radovid’s forehead, which only made him tremble more. The thought that tonight would probably be his last filled him with fear.

 « Wait ! Please wait ! » he yelled, with a trembling voice, cracking under the pressure. Philippa slightly relaxed her arm and cocked one perfect eyebrow at him. « I can tell you who ordered me to do it ! I know who wants you dead ! »

 « Oh really, you know ? You decided that just now, huh ? Just before my finger touched the trigger. How convenient. » Philippa said with sarcasm clearly present in her voice. Seeing that Radovid still said nothing, she pressed her high heeled boot into his groin. He let out a painful yelp. « Well speak, dog, I’m getting really impatient. »

 « It’s Sheala ! »

The revelation was followed by a deadly silence. Philippa retreated her foot, clenching her jaw. Conflict was apparent in her eyes but she said nothing.

A woman with long wavy blond hair walks out of the shadow, placing herself beside Philippa, with a look of disbelief. Philippa glanced at her, still silent and nodded towards her before placing herself behind Radovid. He whimpered while the other woman advanced before him. He knew her of course, who would not. The associate of Philippa Eilhart, Margarita Laux-Antilles.

 « And how exactly can we believe you ? We know you have always hated Philippa, since the day she took you in as a child. The meeting with the other gangs was just the perfect opportunity for you to make a move on Philippa’s life. And now you suddenly claim to know who wanted her dead ? Do you take us for fools ? »

 It’s true, Radovid had always hated Philippa. She was a vindictive woman who only cared about her business and the means to achieve her rise to power. But it was not that part that bothered him, it was the fact that he knew, deep inside him, that Philippa killed his father in her ascension to power. She had then taught him everything when he was a child, from business to killing.

 « It’s alright Rita, he will tell me the truth. »

 She harshly put her two hands on his shoulders, squeezed him and whispered viciously in his ear. « He has a strong desire to live after all. Look at him, all sweaty and begging. So, tell me Radovid, why would you do that, hmmm ? What could push a coward such as yourself, to betray me ? You knew that if you failed, the consequences would be terrible. »

   Berlin, Germany, two days before, city’s underground :

 The entire big shots of the mob were meeting in Berlin’s underground for an assembly. The Yakuza, the Italian, Sicilian, Russian mafia and many others were there. Everyone was reunited in a big underground concert like room, with tables everywhere around. The different members of the mob sat at their own table, waiting for the meeting to begin.

 Each table family had her guards posted besides their table, all ready to jump into action if someone tried something. They were all waiting for the opening speech which would be given by none other than the ex counselor of Vizimir, Sigismund Dijkstra.

 « I heard the Lodge will be here tonight, Eilhart might even make an appearance. »

A Japanese man wearing black clothes whispered to this his partner. They were from the Yakuza mafia, the tattoos giving them away.

« Wait… She actually exists? I thought she was some spooky legend since we never saw her at a meeting. » the other murmured.

« Of course she exists, dumbass. How could you think that all she has done could be a legend ? Damn, she’s an icon. I think i’m gonna ask her an autograph. »

 His partner looked at him with wide eyes « You do that and you’ll probably get shot before you can say ‘Eilhart-sama !’ » he chuckled while the other punched him in the shoulder.

 The door to the room opened, emitting a strident sound. Everyone stopped talking to see who came in.

 « Talk about being discreet. » One of the newly arrived woman said. It was Triss Merigold, member of the inner circle of the Lodge. She was wearing a long green dress that fitted her form, her red hair tied in a loose bun. She scanned the room with her green eyes.

 The room began to whisper their astonishment.

 « Eilhart, she’s here ! » whispered a man.

« Heh, she finally makes her big entrance. » said another.

 The whispers kept on until a single grave voice rose in the room.

« Everyone quiet down, you starting to piss me of. »

 Sigismund Dijkstra rose from his seat and walked towards the scene.

 « Now that everyone has calmed the fuck down, we can begin. »

Philippa Eilhart, wearing a long fur coat, shot a smirk at Dijkstra and went towards her table, followed by two other women. Margarita was the one dressed with a long dark blue dress. The other woman had dirty blonde hair and was wearing jeans and a leather jacket. She was quite a sight amongst suits and dresses, not caring a bit about them.

 The last one who followed was Radovid walking anxiously behind them, wearing a black suit. He didn’t seem well and couldn’t stop sweating. Triss shot him a disgusted look.

 « Radovid, Triss, go sit at the table, I will join you in a moment. » Philippa spoke sternly. Triss sighed and looked dejectedly at Radovid who directed his eyes to the dirty ground. 

 « Why do I have to babysit baldy ? »

 Triss didn’t like Radovid. Well, nobody from the inner circle liked Radovid. He was considered a weakling and a coward, despite what Philippa taught him as a child. They never understood the motives behind his ‘adoption’ but never said a word to Philippa, concluding that if she had done this, it was for clear reasons. And none of them doubted Philippa’s decisions.

 « Because I said so. Now go. »

 Triss mumbled and moved towards their table followed straight by Radovid. Philippa watched them go with an unreadable look on her face. 

 « What is it Phil ? »

 Margarita looked at Philippa with concern.

 « Not to be a downer but the speech began, shouldn’t we sit down ? » Assire, the one with the leather jacket asked. She was the quiet type, never talking to say nothing. And she certainly hated those gatherings, she just wanted to go back to the manor to take care of her cat. Why did Philippa have chose her for this ? She sighed.

 « Not yet. I have reason to believe tonight is the night someone will try to kill me. »

 « Is that why you send Radovid and Triss away ? You believe it’s one of them ? » asked Margarita.

 Philippa just scoffed. « No. Well not Triss at least, I send her with him to keep an eye on him. He seems suspiciously angsty tonight, and I know for sure he still holds a grudge against me. Not to mention he- »

 The door of the room opened, cutting her mid-sentence.

 Memories came flooding back in Philippa’s head upon seeing the new arrivant. A woman in her thirties, hair cut just below her ears, sharp eyes looking right at her. Sheala de Tancarville, just as beautiful as she remembered, her soft features not betraying her manipulative nature.

 She was the leader of the Kovir Organization, created five years ago, a few months after everything had collapsed around Philippa. They were quickly rising to power and were feared and respected by everyone, but still not nearly as much as the Lodge was.

 The two women knew each other way before they both were big names in the mafia. Rivalry between the two was always there and most of the time it was violent and deadly.

 They stared at each other with intensity while Margarita, Assire and Sheala’s men stood there awkwardly, observing the exchange.

 « Damn, I could cut the sexual tension in this room with a knife. » said Assire earning her a sharp glare by both Philippa and Sheala, quickly shutting her up.

 « Philippa. » Sheala broke the silence « I am surprised you found the time to come to this meeting, you’re always so busy killing competition. » The snarky remark came with a smirk.

 Philippa returned the smirk. « You know how business is, killing, money, making an appearance so men shit their fancy pants. » Sheala just narrowed her eyes. « Well if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go take my seat now. » With those words, Sheala turned her back and walked to the nearest free table.

 « Let’s go. » Philippa, Margarita and Assire joined Triss and Radovid at their own table.

 « Took you long enough, this one’s no fun! » said an exasperated Triss « What took you so long anyway ? ».

 « Nothing important. Now keep your mouth shut, the idiot in charge’s about to speak. » said Philippa, already bored with this meeting, and seeing Dijkstra didn’t appease her mood. 

 Dijkstra continued speaking, and servers passed between tables to distribute drinks. Philippa took a glass of red wine and sipped it, she then placed it on the table and turned to look at the man on the scene.

 He was speaking about the recent treaty signed between the different family’s, forbidding any violence between them in the city of Berlin, the current “Peace City” of the mob.

 While everyone was looking away, Radovid nervously opened the tiny bottle he had in hand and put the liquid in Philippa’s drink. He gulped down his own drink and slightly relaxed. The task was done, now all he had to do was to wait. He was sure his plan would be successful, simple but deadly, no one had seen him.

 Philippa stared at her drink with a blank expression, making Radovid tense. She suspected something, of course she did, her paranoid nature always saving her. She took her drink in hand, twirling the content. Then she hummed and made a gesture towards one of the guard, indicating for him to come closer.

 « Drink that, darling. »

 He was a young boy in his twenties. He wasn’t sure what to do, why was she offering him her drink ? He hesitated, so Triss spoke, without looking at him.

 « You heard her. »

 Philippa set her eyes on him, waiting. Radovid watched the whole scene, preparing himself to run. He was fucked, completely and entirely fucked. The minute the boy drank, Philippa would know it was him. Never would she suspect one of her inner circle, the only suspect here was him. He knew that. Before the young guard could take a sip, Radovid stood abruptly and made a run towards the exit.

 Philippa watched him go, bored and disappointed. Rita, Assire and Triss scoffed, looking at him running like he thought he had a chance.

 « So it’s like that. » she clapped her hands twice. The guards were ready to run after him « Catch him. I want him alive. »

 « Yes ma’am ! »

 They ran with their guns out, like dogs after a rabbit. The entire room stood, ready to make a move, all whispering.

 « The fuck’s going on ? »

Dijkstra, still on stage, exasperate at the display glared at Philippa.

 « Stop frowning Sigi, it makes you even uglier. » Philippa said, smirking at him while he threw her his most deadly look.

 Meanwhile Sheala eclipsed herself from the room. She watched Radovid running at her.

 « Help me ! You paid me to do this, not ? Help me ! » he yelled desperately, the guards catching up.

 « Yes I did, just so I could see you fail and be removed from Philippa’s family. »

 He looked at her in disbelief. He prepared to take out his gun, but he had no time as Sheala knocked him unconscious with hers.

 « Boys, he’s all yours. »

 Berlin, Germany, present day :

 « She-she paid me ! She paid me to do it ! » Radovid yelled, trembling like a leaf in Philippa’s grip.

 « Why ? »

 « I don’t know ! I swear to God I don’t know ! Revenge ? Sport ? I don’t fucking know ! »

 Philippa chuckled. She placed herself in front of him again.

 « Leave God out of this, Radovid. I want everybody back at the manor, except for you two » she pointed at two massive guards. « Rita, you too, go back. I’ll deal with him. »

 Margarita nodded « As you wish, I’ll see you later. » She walked out of the building and rode off with the rest of the men.

 The two guards posted themselves beside Philippa.

 Radovid stared at her, fear written all over his face.

 « Well, you’ve really been nothing but a disappointment to me.»

« Plea- please… »

 « Oh you can beg all you want. » she circles him like a lioness circles her prey. « No one will come to save you tonight. And you screwed up the chances you had with me. » She pointed her gun at his head. « Such a shame. » she pouted.

 « Philippa, do-don’t do this ! We can come to an arrangement ! »

 He desperately tugged at his robes.

« Sure, sure Radovid, once you’re dead. »

 He yelped and then a defeating sound was heard in the building. She looked at the dead corpse, no emotion showing. The two guards gulped.

 « A good thing done. Now, let’s go back to the manor, I’m starving. »

 She walked out of the building, followed by the two and entered her black BWM. One of the guards took the wheel while the other sat beside him.

They rode off on the main road, unaware that a car was following them.

« Don’t lose her. »

 Sheala de Tancarville sat at the back row of the car, looking straight ahead at Philippa’s car. They came at a descent and the car before them was going faster instead of slowing down.

« What’s going on ? »

  Back in Philippa’s car, she noticed this too.

 « What are you doing you dimwit ? Slow down ! »

 The guard panicked and put his foot on the breaks.

 « Ma’am ! I think someone trafficked the breaks ! »

 « For fuck’s sake! » she deadpanned.

 They were arriving at a crossroad, driving way too fast, with a truck coming from their right. Philippa was seriously starting to panic, but she hadn’t much time for that before the truck hit their car creating a deadly shock.

 Sheala jumped of her seat, scared for Philippa. She shouldn’t, she shouldn’t be scared like that. Not for her. Not after all that has happened. But she couldn’t stop. She couldn’t stop looking at how the car spin until it crashed in a building.

 « Go ! At the car right now ! We have to-» save her. She stopped herself, but her men understood and sped up towards the car. Once it had stopped, Sheala ran to the car, fast as lightning.

« Philippa ! » she cried in anguish. « Philippa can you hear me ?! »

The car was on it’s hood, oil leaking out of it. Sheala cursed and kneeled to look inside, not caring about the two guards who were probably dead. She saw Philippa, unconscious and bleeding.

 « Lads ! Help me get her out, quickly! The car’s about the explode ! »

 « But, ma’am, shouldn’t we leave her there? Didn’t you wanted her dead? » asked one of them.

 No, no. She wouldn’t let her die like that, she couldn’t.

 « It was not a question. » she said, voice deadly.

 They hurried at her side, slowly pulling Philippa out of the car. One of the men took her in his arms and carried her to their own car. Sheala followed and sat down, taking Philippa’s bloodied body in her arms, gripping her as if she was going to vanish in thin air.

 Don’t die. Please don’t die. Why? Why was she thinking like this? The whole purpose of her gang was to take Philippa’s seat of power, it was about revenge. But now, seeing her like that, it revived bad memories. Memories she had sworn to forget. Tears welled up in her eyes but she didn’t let them escape.

 « Where to ma’am ? »

 Sheala thought about the one person who wasn’t affiliated with any gang. She had no choice, it was that or letting her Phil die. Her Phil ? What the fuck am I thinking.

 « Yennefer. Go to Yennefer. »

 If Phil made it out alive, she would probably hate her more than she already did.

[news4usonline]

Kobe Bryant's legacy is a Hall of Fame celebration

The accolades are many but they don't quite tell the whole story of greatness. There are a lot of reasons Kobe Bryant deserves to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Bryant is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. During his 20-year career before he retired, Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, NBA Finals MPVP twice and picked up a regular season honor. It makes you wonder, though, for all the greatness Bryant treated fans to on the court for two decades, he should have had more league MVPs.    For 20 years, Bryant was NBA basketball. He led the way. He was a slam dunk champion in 1997. Both of the numbers (8, 24)he wore on the back of a Los Angeles Lakers uniform are retired. That's why he's one of the best ever!  "No amount of words can fully describe what Kobe Bryant meant to the Los Angeles Lakers,” Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss said. “Kobe was not only a proven winner and a champion, he gave everything he had to the game of basketball. His fierce competitiveness, work ethic and drive were unmatched. Those qualities helped Kobe lead us to five titles – and have now brought him to the Hall of Fame, where he will be enshrined with the greatest to have ever played the game. No one deserves it more.” Bryant deserves the Hall of Fame because he won five NBA titles. Before Bryant's tragic passing in 2019, he was one of the influential human beings ever. He deserves to be treated with respect no matter what happens. 

Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant with his former coach Phil Jackson at Shaquille O'Neal's statute ceremony in front of STAPLES Center in 2017. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline When Bryant was in high school, he was one of the most highly touted high school wing players in the nation. He was also one of the best players in high school. When you combine what he did during his prep career and his NBA portfolio, this shows why he deserves to be part of the Hall of Fame with the other NBA players that also won in the past. Think about it: Bryant once scored 81 points in an NBA basketball game (Toronto Raptors), which is the second-highest scoring mark in the history of the game. Bryant's 81 points make him the only Laker to score 80 points and over in one game.     The Hall of Fame ceremony was emotional with Bryant's wife, Vanessa, giving a moving tribute to her late husband. When she concluded her nearly 13-minute speech, Mrs. Bryant effectively brought out the humanity of her Kobe as she received a standing ovation for reminding all of us of the man No. 24 was. The sadness of not Bryant not being present to be part of his big night seemed to be overwhelming to all.   On Saturday, May 15, this day will go down as one of the biggest days in the history of the Lakers franchise.  It will also be remembered in the hearts of those who bleed Purple and Gold because those fans have been waiting to see Bryant inducted into the Hall of Fame since the day he retired. That day could not come fast enough, especially for those who witnessed Bryant dropped 60 points on the Utah Jazz at STAPLES Center in the very last game he ever played. Bryant was the best player of his generation, and arguably the best ever! Kobe Bryant is now officially an enshrined member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/oJkVZEZAV0 — Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) May 16, 2021 It's unfortunate that due to Bryant's untimely passing from a helicopter crash that also took the life of his daughter Gianna and seven other people, that fans will not have the opportunity to see and hear the Black Mamba talk about his accomplishments. I believe that everybody really wants Bryant to get the Hall of Fame honor even if they aren't Kobe fans. The debate will linger if Bryant or Michael Jordan are the two best players. It is sad to note that Bryant was not able to be in the Hall of Fame ceremony with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, his two chief contemporaries and rivals.  As great as both Duncan and Garnett were during their heyday, Bryant will be remembered as the best of the 2020 Hall of Fame Class. Indeed, it is a sad occasion. But it is also a time to appreciate Bryant as both an iconic basketball star as well as what he meant to so many people worldwide. Let's start with the basketball side.    Bryant showed lots of improvement in his game during his playing career. He went from a hotshot talent to a world champion. He was just about everyone's hero. He could make plays that only Bryant could. He was special. He was one of us. Bryant was the epitome of Los Angeles: grit, glamour and greatness.  Kobe Bryant: Hall of Famer pic.twitter.com/dk8rtjX8b4 — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 15, 2021 People wanted to see Bryant get into the Hall of Fame because of what he meant to the game. He never cheated the fan out of their hard-earned money. Think about all of the awards and honors he picked up while he played? Bryant deserves the Hall of Fame because he gave us moments that will always be embedded into the back of our memory. He played with such ferocity that his will to win outdid his will not to lose.  He may not be here, but he is here with us in spirit.  It is good that Bryant gets to have his Hall of Fame moment five years (actually four years) after he announced his retirement from playing the NBA. The ceremony for the annual Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 was supposed to take place last year but was moved to this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Bryant is a legend. His legacy was captivated nicely by Vanessa, who battled back emotions of her own. This was indeed a sad moment with Vanessa and Michael Jordan honoring Bryant. I do think that Vanessa and Jordan should have been allowed to honor Bryant first before Duncan and Garnett received their accolades because of the unfortunate way the world lost the two-time Olympic gold medal winner and Oscar achiever.        Bryant broke barriers across the board in basketball and off the court. Now it's time to do our part. If we want to truly pay homage to the best basketball player in the world then we should celebrate his legacy. “Kobe was always one to downplay his professional accomplishments – MVPs, NBA championships, gold medals, Oscars, and on and on and on,” said Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and general manager Rob Pelinka. “But all of us can trust that this Basketball Hall of Fame honor is one Kobe would, and will, deeply appreciate. The highest of congratulations to you, dear friend. This one is so well deserved -- for all the hard work, sweat and toil. Now, a part of you will live in the Hall with the rest of the all-time greats, where your legend and spirit will continue to grow forever.” Read the full article

[mysticseasons]

Chan, Virtue & Moir will stick the landing at Canadian championships

Figure skating icons look to go out on top, build Olympic momentum at their final nationals

This is the end of an era.

Ten years ago, in 2008, Patrick Chan and the ice dance duo of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir each captured their first national figure skating titles. It marked the beginning of legendary careers that would result in three world titles apiece, an Olympic gold medal for Virtue and Moir, a silver for Chan and a shared silver in the team event. Now, they're getting ready to compete in what will likely be their final Canadian championships.

I fully expect Chan and Virtue and Moir to headline the Canadian Olympic figure skating team headed to Pyeongchang, South Korea next month, and the next step in that journey will be claiming their latest national titles in Vancouver this weekend.

Here's what to watch for in each of the four disciplines:

Men: Chan has record in sight

Chan is aiming for his Canadian record-setting 10th national men's title. There's no doubt that he's a legend and will go down as one of the best of the best in his sport, but Chan has been trying to find his footing since returning to competition a couple of seasons ago. He seems to be over-thinking in his quest to get back on top. My suggestion would be to have him just skate and let his feet do the thinking. Chan's passion for his material is his best feature. Combined with enough technical nuts and bolts, that can put him right back in the winning sweet spot. With two spots available for Canadian men at the Olympic Games, who will join Chan remains a mystery. In competition, Keegan Messing has been the most consistent this season, but Olympian Kevin Reynolds and former Canadian champion Nam Nguyen are both hungry to make the cut. One thing is for sure: with this many talented skaters in the field, there's no room for error in the men's competition.

Dance: Virtue and Moir can set the tone

For Virtue and Moir, capturing an eighth national title is important, but not as important as getting the judges to support their programs in the way that the French team of Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron were supported at their recent national championships. An appropriately high score, which Virtue and Moir should earn regardless, would send signals internationally that Canada sees them as the team to beat at the Olympics. Make no mistake, it will still come down to the skating in Pyeongchang. But an easy win at nationals is important when it comes to creating pre-Olympic buzz. Canadian ice dancers have three spots in the Olympics. They're the strongest arm of the national team. Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje have two national titles and two world medals, while Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are consistent top-10 finishers at the world championships.

Pairs: Duhamel & Radford get the job done

I'm really interested to see what happens in the pairs' event. Like in the men's competition, there are more good teams than available Olympic spots. Canada secured the maximum three Olympic pairs entries based on its performances at worlds last year, and the top spot will undoubtedly be reserved for two-time world champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford. It's true that Duhamel and Radford's performances have been lukewarm so far this season. It's also true that there is nobody who is more adept at taking the hard knocks and then doing what needs to be done to succeed. I definitely see this team as a medal contender in Korea, by way of a record-setting seventh Canadian title.

Women: Dress rehearsal for Olympics

Last year's world championships included a double flash of brilliance that resulted in a silver and bronze medal for Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman, respectively. It was the first time two Canadian women appeared on the world podium at the same time, ensuring three spots for the Olympic Games. The nationals are a valuable competition opportunity for these women. Osmond is the defending and three-time champion, but Daleman and rival Alaine Chartrand have also won the national title once each. At its best, the journey to the women's national title could serve as a simulation with the kind of elite and fierce competition that will happen in a month in Korea. I hope to see the skaters seize the moment.

Pj's title picks

Men: Patrick Chan

Dance: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

Pairs: Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford

Women: Kaetlyn Osmond

- PJ Kwong, CBC Sports

[ajokeformur-ray]

For the matchup thing

I want to request for Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter, Hannibal and Sherlock, if it’s not too much of a trouble. I just started following your blog and I am absolutely smitten. I’ve already read all of your imagines, and I can’t wait for more to come.

Anyway, I identity as female, I’m pansexual and I’m a Gemini ENTP Slytherclaw.

Appearance: Well, my icon is actually me. I’m Asian, around 5’ (153 cm), I’m pretty thin(ish), but athletically built with some muscle. I have really dark brown eyes (near black), and black hair. I look very intimidating when I’m not smiling, I also smirk a lot.

Interests: Reading, mostly science or historical fiction, also a few classic literature and philosophy books. I love to draw too, I’m better at pattern stuff than realistic sketches. I also write, mostly fanfc for my friends, but I enjoy writing essays and poetry about topics that I’m interested in. Likes: Making people laugh, crying over videos of dogs, dogs, cats, animals in general. Intellectually stimulating conversation, late night talks about philosophy, physics, space, debates. Aesthetically pleasing stuff, making people happy, feminism, spreading love. Sassing people, punching Nazis, surprise people by my strength.

Dislikes: Nazis, racists, homophobes, sexist etc. Random people touching me (friends are totally fine), mean and rude people (especially those who shout at servers in restaurant). People who say things that are contradictory, people who bully others. Look for in a relationship: cuddles, people who feel strong, solid, and steadfast. Reliability and trustworthiness are pretty important to me. Preferably older than me, because I like feeling safe and having protection. Someone I could go on adventures with, or teach me new things. Also a bit of possessiveness and jealousy.

A little more about me: I speak Cantonese, Mandarin and English fluently. I have been learning French and self teaching Latin. I’m going to start German classes soon. I love singing, I’ve been in many choirs, for around 8 years. I’m a first soprano, and going to a choir festival/competition in Germany last month was the best time of my life. I have been fencing semi professionally for around 10 years. I fence epee and foil. When I get angry, I sometimes cry. Like that time in primary school I saw some guys bullying a lower grade boy, and I got into a fight with them, and I was so pissed I started tearing up.

Sorry if it’s too long, I tend to start babbling on and on. Thanks for doing this!!! 😻😻😻

Thank you for such kind words! :) I saw you in my notifications and I was a bit surprised by how much you read, but flattered. Also - ohmygoodness thank you so much for the tip! It was incredibly generous of you! <3

Edit: You asked me to make your matchups longer. Pieces I’ve added on are in italics, to make it easier to see where I’ve gone from. Hope you like this length! :)

Hannibal - Alana Bloom

- You’re a bibliophile who reads a lot of different genres of books. You’re artistic and your hobbies are relaxing but self-expressive. Alana would likely want to read some of the essays you write, though she wouldn’t go behind your back to read them if you said no, and she’d encourage any academic interests you have. If you ever got curious about the field that she works in, she’d probably pull a few strings with Jack to be able to take you to her workplace and show you around, though it would be on a day when it’s relatively quiet and they don’t have any immediate cases or paperwork to attend to. If there are any book/cafe fusion places near you, it’d be your most popular place for a lunch date, even if there’s a drive to get there.

- After a day working, I think Alana would enjoy coming home to you, a bottle of wine and any pets the two of you would have. You’d curl up on the couch together, knees touching, and talk about the subjects you’re both interested in or even anything and nothing all at once, and just bond over the deep conversations you have. She would want to hear your views on everything, even taboo subjects that some people don’t like to talk about, such as Death Row (this is also linked into her field so she can gauge how much you agree with or disagree with her profession). Anything you disagreed with would become a lightly-heated debate, both of you respecting the others’ point of view. If you couldn’t at least calm the debate then you’d agree to disagree and leave it as it is.

- She’s compassionate, strong, and sometimes stubborn in her opinion when she thinks she’s right. She’s perceptive so I think to begin with, she’d ask you if she can touch you but as you get closer, she’d stop asking and go off of body language. Alana is a fast learner and the two of you would quickly and easily fall into a pattern of touching each other casually - a hand on the shoulder when you walk past, a hand on the small of the back as you pass through a door to a shop or restaurant... It’d be very relaxed and low-key, especially in public.

- Alana is so strong and she’s more than capable of looking out for herself and others. She’s fiercely protective of those she loves, like you, and she goes kinda cold when she’s angry, a contrast to your tears. She’s incredibly trustworthy and would be willing to teach you things, if you asked her to, though it’d depend on the subject and how much you want to know. But either way, she would do her best to teach you or show you whatever it is that you wanted to learn. She would also be really good at encouraging you to stick to a goal or deadline, either for educational or personal matters.

- You can speak some of the hardest languages to learn and that’s pretty damn impressive and shows only a sliver of your intellect. During the competition in Germany last month, Alana would have been one of your biggest supporters. You probably bond over how the both of you will defend those who are vulnerable. There’s no way that Alana would ever allow anyone to hurt you. The two of you would be invited to every one of Hannibal’s dinner parties and he’d come to see you as a respected friend, like Alana. When things went down and the truth came out, she’d flee the country with you if she had to, going anywhere at all to guarantee your mutual safety. Either way, her home is with you.

Phantom - The Phantom/Erik

- Your vast intellect makes a refreshing change from “those fools who run my theatre” and he’s only too happy to supply you with books from his expansive library. You both draw so Erik ends up putting more string along the walls to accommodate your drawings as well as his. When you’re writing, he tends to go off composing so his home would be filled with the sounds of chords, mutterings, and two sets of quills scribbling furiously on expensive parchment. You’re both quite peaceful, quiet souls and this would show in your home, too. You would have your own room and Erik would have his, though they’re connected by a door that he has the key to.

- You definitely have intellectually stimulating conversations - when Erik is in the right mood. He doesn’t have a bedtime per se so tbh neither do you; you both just run off naps (Erik) or sleep when you’re tired (you). Rarely are you sleeping at the same time but wait for the right moment and you might be able to persuade a so-tired-he’s-swaying-on-his-feet Erik to come cuddle with you! Despite his own lack of bedtime, Erik does try to get you to go to bed at a set time, just because he doesn’t want you to become too much like him (this is an inside joke in your relationship but to him, it’s a real worry). You’re both very sassy and would probably let off steam in this way. Most of your conversations, serious or not, are filled with sarcastic comments, dry quips, sly smirks and chuckles. On the occasions when Nadir comes over, he leaves thoroughly entertained by how the two of you talk to each other, his heart lighter at the sight and realisaton that his dear Erik is - at last - truly happy.

- Erik would treat you with the highest of respect, as you’re his long-time friend and eventual s/o. His actions are never excusable but they’re explainable and going off on a chance here, but I think your love for him would make him want to be the kind of man you think he is so he would tone down the bullying he does towards others when he’s after something, though if they attack you or his loved ones then it’s no holds barred, I’m afraid. He would quite literally kill for you and this isn’t something you’d ever be able to stop him from doing - it’s too ingrained in him, too much a part of who he is. Everything he does used to be to protect hinself, but now he has you - even if you don’t live with him, he considers you in every decision he makes - and so he’s a little less reckless and a lot more careful, though he still takes calculated risks when he has to.

- Cuddles would take time to develop in the relationship but they’d definitely be there, usually after you practically plead for him to break away from his music for just five minutes. Once he’s lying down with you, no worries - he’s not moving, having decided he quite likes the way you hold him. He’s strong, independent and answers to no one (apart from Nadir from time to time). He’s a lot older than you (I think he’s meant to be in his forties, maybe fifties) and would be able to protect you, physically and otherwise. He’d be happy to teach you things you’re interested in and is definitely quite possessive - enough to kill, as in canon. When you sing, he calls you his “little songbird”. He doesn’t mean it to be derogatory or offensive, but you sing and you’re shorter than he is so in his head it makes sense. Sometimes he’s worried that you being with him means that you’re caged and he wonders if he should set you free. One day he brought this up and your reaction was enough to steel his resolve - you weren’t caged. In being with him, you were free. He became a little more confident in the relationship after that discussion.

- You know so many languages that it’s admirable tbh, and you sing. I daresay it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for him to want to become your teacher. If you agreed, at set times each day he wouldn’t be your partner, he’d be your teacher and he wouldn’t go easy on you. Then when the lesson is over, Erik takes the Phantom’s place and he becomes your partner again. An easy, smooth transition. He might even teach you how to properly swordfight or at the very least, use a proper dagger. He appreciates how angry you get over social injustices and how fiercely you defend those who cannot defend themselves. I think your protective fierceness would show him that the world, or, his world, can show compassion - you’re his world and you’re full of compassion, towards him and others who are vulnerable.

HP - Lily Potter

- Lily is an exceptionally-gifted witch with Muggle parents, so I think she’d know your favourite authors and would be able to discuss them with you. Overhearing your conversation would be Remus; he tried not to listen but you’re talking about books so really, what did you expect? Sometimes though, Lily wants to be alone with you so she’d ask the Marauders to buzz off. She likes to sit there and watch you draw patterns on the sides of your parchments when you’re in class and Lily would likely charm a few of them to move around and make you giggle in the middle of class. You’d be very close with the Marauders but Lily would always be sure to get time away from them so that she can spend quality time with you. It’d never feel like a juggling act, though. That’s the last thing ever of them would ever want to put you through.

- You spread happiness like it’s going out of fashion and it’s one of the many things that Lily loves about you. The two of you would almost pull people in with how much you’re laughing and joking together - put in the same room as the Marauders, and it’s practically a party! Late at night, if you’re in the same dorm room, you lay cuddled up on one of your beds, gazing up at the canopy where Lily has made it look like the night sky, talking about anything that comes to mind. If you’re in different dorm rooms - you gotta sneak around for a bit but with James’ invisibility cloak, anything’s possible! You’d steal away little moments during the day together, sneaking into corridor alcoves for quick kisses, notes pressed into palms as you pass each other in the corridor on the way to class, hand holding under the desk when you have a class together and have managed to snag a seat next to each other... It’d be safe, secure, with each other. The closer war looms over your heads, the closer the two of you get.

- You share a lot of the same dislikes so if anyone offends either of you or anyone in your vicinity, they better watch out because they’ll be sassed by two different people at the same time. You’d spend most of your time together in the library, surrounded by books. I think for a lot of the younger students, you’d become some kind of after-class tutor club where they’d come and ask questions or even study with you. You’d definitely become some kind of role model couple for the younger students, and even some of the students in your year have a betting pool going for what time the two of you will get engaged etc. Sirius started that betting pool but ssssh xD

- Lily would probably be a few months or even a year older than you and she’d definitely look after you and protect you. If you trimmed your hair by even a millimetre, she’d notice and comment on it, elbowing one of the Marauders so they’d chirp in with compliments, too. She’d be more than happy to teach you things and you could easily go off with the Marauders on nightly adventures, dragging Lily along with you. You’d be a more relaxed influence on Lily, getting her to loosen up a little and break out some of those mischievous thoughts she has, betrayed only by that glint in her eye, and she’d be a more disciplined influence on you as far as academics go, not that you need it.

- I headcanon that Lily angry-cries too so when you’re both angry, it’s dangerous to be near either of you. You would easily defend anyone who looks like they need it, even from themselves if that was the case. You’d be each other’s best friend, comfort place, and would be sources of laughter and happiness for those lucky enough to be around you. You’d become a source of strength for others, particularly those in your inner circles, as the War looms closer. Just by being yourselves, you’d remind others that love is right there if one only looks, just like Dumbledore said.

Sherlock - John Watson

- John blogs and you draw and write so the two of you could easily spend an entire day doing your own things in each other’s company, occasionally getting up to make tea or get takeaway if John is too lazy to cook. He would be the type of s/o to come home with a new book every time he leaves the flat, just to see you smile. He would ask to read the poems or essays you write but wouldn’t be mad if you said no - just curious. If he was kept up late with a case and couldn’t make it home to you, when he did come back he’d have flowers, chocolates, a book... He’d curl up on the couch beside you with an arm slung over your shoulder, holding you close as you snuggle in while watching a crapy TV re-run bothh of you have seen ten times or more but are too lazy to change it over, much to Sherlock’s chagrin.

- You’re also the couple to cuddle up in bed and watch cat videos for about six hours even though you boh have things to do. You talk about anything, from Sherlock to the latest case, to your childhoods and your futures. Anything and everything would be spoken about and one of you would fall asleep, the other to follow soon after. John always wakes up first and is usually pretty content to let you sleep in, but when you need to be awake early for whatever reason or if John just wants you to get up, he’d sit on the side of your be, with a hot cup of tea on your bedside table and lull you awake with forehead kisses and maybe wandering hands if you’re into that.

- You dislike the same type of people and as far as rudeness goes, Sherlock sometimes goes over or close to the mark but John just glares at him or says, “Bit not good” and Sherlock would apologise to you, even if you hadn’t been spoken to by him directly but were affronted by what he’d said to someone else. You’re both very protective so those who know you, yourselves and each other are always well looked after, even if there isn’t much time for love in your lives. You’d make time, for certain, because there’s no-one more important than you in John’s life, though Sherlock comes in close at second. 

- Cuddles are a must with John, especially when he’s having a nightmare. On those nights, he’ll curl into your back and sob quietly for all those he couldn’t save… Including himself. He would protect you with his life and each case provides several adventures so you’d get all the adrenaline rushes you need! John doesn’t really get jealous but if anyone tried to make a move towards you, he’d stalk across the room and kiss you soundly, telling the other person in no uncertain terms that you’re taken. He’s not really possessive, though, he’s more... Set in his relationship with you and he wouldn’t let anyone or anything get in the way of that. If you ever wanted to break up, he’d have a hard time letting you go, for sure.

- He’s impressed by the sheer number of languages that you speak and loves your singing voice, going to every performance if you do those. If you ever got angry at him, the sight of your tears would kill any anger he has and he’d have to come over and pull you into a hug. His resolve is strong but his love for you is even stronger and he’s never really mad at you. He’s just worried, I suppose. He’s very forgiving, after a time, but don’t push him. He’d treat you with so much respect and love and you’d have such a tight, strong relationship with him.

[dwtspd]

DWTS S24 W6: Boy Bands and Girl Groups

They should call this throwback music week because that’s what it was for me. Backstreet Boy and former contestant Nick Carter guest judged. I liked the opening montage where they posed with the covers of the bands/groups whose songs they were using but I wish DWTS gave us more long openings with actual dancing.

Simone and Sasha Destiny’s Child Samba Hmm that sandy floor projection looks familiar, but I can’t really remember where we’ve seen that before. Simone doesn’t have a lot of experience with being sexy and she starts off a bit more cutesy (maybe it’s just her smile). Once the singing started though I think she got more into it. The chorus of the song isn’t very samba-y but I think the verse part was okay. The spin looked better in the rehearsal video... I think Nick’s 8 would have been a 9 if she didn’t go first. Fair score though. 9-8-9-9 T35

Bonner and Sharna Backstreet Boy Rumba Because Nick was Sharna’s old partner whoop. I think Bonner was more comfortable with the rumba because it’s a slower dance, so he is more willing to project his dancing and movements. I thought he tried pretty hard to show hip movement when dancing on his own, but when he was with Sharna his legs sometimes looked a bit suspect. Could have also been more fluid - rumba is a very flowy dance. Decent effort though. Not the best song fit. Nick you gonna give Simone and Bonner the same score? 8-8-7-7 T30

Why does your rumba bumper have a lift...Len and CAI must be screaming internally.

Nancy and Artem En Vogue Paso Doble Nancy got herself extra stressed out because this same song was Mel B’s iconic paso doble. Nancy had a bobble around the start and she looked a bit thrown off from then on. But she eventually crawled back - the part in the middle with the extra guys was pretty cool. Nick made a pretty bad pun. It was nice seeing Nancy being fierce instead of sweet and happy. I thought the cage thing could have worked better if the cage was wider so the camera angle could be a bit less awkward. I agree with Bruno - shaping was not consistent. 9-8-8-8 T33

Nick and Peta Beach Boys Jive “I feel like having a coffee makes me relatable.” Haha Nick you basic Tumblr female. I think that was my favourite part of his package - Nick holding his coffee cup LOL. Then - “I like the jive. I’ve been looking forward to it. It seems...fun.” “Yeah but it’s REALLY HARD and there are a LOT OF STEPS and it’s REALLY FAST.” That instant change in Nick’s reaction should be a reaction meme. “I’m already nervous.” Hahaha. Later: “The competition is about personality and the journey.” Peta says facts only. I definitely like their rehearsal reel better than the dance. The song was a bit slow for the style and Nick’s feet were floppy. His timing was fine though - but he might have struggled with a song with actual jive tempo. He has a decent carlton though - where’s Alfonso this week? Their costumes remind me of those pastel sorbet marble nail stick-ons. 7-7-7-7 T28 I thought he was better than Bonner though.

Normani and Val Pussycat Dolls Salsa I wish Val would stop putting so many leg kick into Normani’s routines because her technique when doing them is totally wrong - her supporting leg always bends or shifts when she does that. I knew Len wasn’t gonna like the hip hop section in the middle - plus it was longer than Heather’s in the jive. Like yeah Normani looked great doing it but if you guys wanna put hip hop into dance at least try to INTEGRATE it with the content steps instead of having a whole section specifically for it. That makes it really obvious that you’re deviating from your assigned style. The steam coming out of the potholes was nice though. I thought the actual salsa parts was pretty good. Normani had better turns this week than last week. The somersault lift looked better in the rehearsal video though - Normani’s body was kinda twisted when she was landing so it wasn’t as smooth. I thought this was definitely better than her paso, but it’s not 39-worthy yet. 10-10-9-10 T39

David and Lindsay NSYNC Argentine Tango Argentine tango is the least boy bandy dance there could ever be honestly. David is definitely no Calvin Johnson when it comes to lifts. I feel like he got quite shaken after nearly dropping Lindsay. There were moments where both David and Lindsay looked unbalanced. There was waaaay more AT than I thought could be put into this song. Nick asking “NSYNC or Backstreet Boys” and saying “I promise it won’t affect your score” LOL. This, like Nick’s dance, I feel should have gotten better scores than Bonner. 7-8-7-7 T29

Rashad and Emma Four Tops Tango I LOOOOVEEEE THIS SONG. Probably my favourite of the songs used tonight. The beginning section with the other guys was perfect 60s choreography! My only complain is that Rashad could have been a bit sharper when they first got into hold and get his frame right immediately. I would have given this a 9.5 so I think he should have gotten one more 10. 9-10-9-9 T37

Heather and Maks TLC Rumba Maks: Rumba is very adult. Heather: this dance makes me feel young. Maks: adult stuff going on. So which is the lie? Anyway, I kind of laughed in embarrassment every time Maks said “adult” because it just sounded like such a weird way to describe a dance. This dance definitely had one of the better song matches but it could have been better still if they could have found an acoustic version. Some of the movements were too sharp for a rumba but it suited the song. Maks finally gave Heather GOOD CHOREOGRAPHY that shows what she can do with her professional dance background. There was an accidental lift. Also, Heather’s dress is really nice! 10-10-10-10 T40

And now for the team dances!

But first, did anyoen notice when the show came back after commercials before the team dances the little advertisement pop up that said ‘Coming this June: Boy Band’? LOL I see what you’re doing ABC.

As with tradition, they announce one team safe. It’s.....Team Boy Band?! Everyone shrieks.

Team Boy Band Hilarious rehearsals. I think Bonner was the most into the dance he was this whole season. Bruno told them to dance on their own - all guys, 20 seconds, shirtless. They looked really excited for that section but they were pretty out of sync. It wasn’t just Bonner. I thought the first section was the best. I saw Backstreet’s Back moves! The last section looked a bit kiddy - maybe it’s the pop-y 1D song. I’m not the biggest 1D fan, and Best Song Ever is one of my least favourite 1D songs. And the audience crowd made it hard to see what they were doing. Funny how their initials say ‘RNB/D’. 8-9-8-8 T33

Team Girl Group Okay, I wouldn’t say 5H is as iconic as the other two groups, but sure, let Normani dance to her own group’s song. Not as if she’s already being pimped enough already. I rather they throw in a Beyonce song and obligate Heather to get it down and bust her moves but I guess they used Beyonce the last time the did the girls vs boys thing. Sigh. LOL at Simone’s “How do make it not uncomfortable when he’s on you?” whisper then her and Normani turning to look at Sasha like they are a meme. Also Maks’ casual “Don’t call me Mary and I’m not wearing a tutu but that’s the inner me I’m feeling right now.” - say what Maks???? Anyone notice how Heather and Normani were always in the front of the group arrangements? Also, think the girls were definitely more in sync with each other but I agree with CAI - it was underwhelming. They were not WAAAY better than the guys than they should be. Also I feel like the actual dancing only started during ‘No Scrubs’ - before that they were just running around doing girly shimmies. Also the camera crew messed up towards the end. The lighting they could have passed it off as “It was supposed to dim for dramatic effect!” but the camera work was really messy. 8-9-8-9 T34

So with Girl Group in jeopardy: Simone is safe, Normani is safe. And DWTS is not pressed for time for the first time this season so they drag the announcement. Between Nancy and Heather, going home is...Heather. It’s a shame because she finally had a breakout dance. Maks was only here for like two weeks LOL but at least he can focus his energy on his kid now.

Next week is movies night - I heard Tom say something about genres, so I think there might be a bit of an eras thing too? I think we will see some pretty interesting concepts though.

[yeozus]

✞ BELLA.

Bella had to beg Sunny for hunter’s number, promising that this would be her last career change, reluctantly Sunny gave her younger cousin the number. ‘Don’t get all shy and shit. He’s a sweetheart, he really does mean well, and he doesn’t fuck around when it comes to his business and name he’s built for himself, so you better do your fucking best.’ Those were the last words Sunny said to her before dashing off to pick up one of the crying twins.

It took Bella two weeks to actually work up the nerve to call him, she was a stuttering mess between English and Korean that lucky he was able to understand. When he agreed to meet with her, she could hear the fondness in his voice when she mentioned her cousin. He gave her about three weeks to get herself together before she was to present a portfolio of her work. Bella went to work, finishing up some of the discarded pieces and adding a few more. The newer pieces turned out ten times better than older ones, which had Bella going back to fix the older pieces.

The young female was flipping through one of the many older magazines she’d brought with her, leg bouncing while she waited in the office for the male to come back from a meeting. He was busy, so the fact that he actually fit her into his schedule was a bit of a shocker, she could almost hear Sunny’s smug tone ‘It pays when you know good people, make some friends brat.’ Rolling her eyes, she hadn’t heard him slip into the room but instead caught his reflection in the polished wood of the table when she lifted her gaze, adjusting her reading glasses. “I uh, well uh. I was looking at older magazines to kind of get some ideas.” She mumbled out, quickly getting on her feet and turning around to face him, bowing a couple times. “Thank you for such an amazing opportunity, I’m Sunny’s cousin Isabella but you can call me Bella.” Clearing her throat, she straightened up giving him a nervous smile. “So I have my portfolio but I didn’t bring any pieces because I didn’t know how much time you had, I can always bring them to you tomorrow or whenever you’re free but I have some polaroid pictures of them. I currently changed my major to fashion, to brush up on some things, my major before that was graphic design. I worked for two music companies, so I like to think I work pretty well under pressure. I can sew and draw. I prefer to sketch out my looks before I start anything, it’s better for me visually.” Bella trailed off, groaning on the inside as the heat radiated off her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I tend to talk a lot when I get nervous.” She held out the portfolio to him.

『 ✝ 』     IT’S HARDLY ANYTHING UNTYPICAL. if any individual has adapted to consistently scouring every corner of seoul, his name is yeo hunter - the wolf knows well every corner of this city where business could be done, where the little gods of industry pull their marionettes along by the strings. it took  YEARS  to get to a point where finally, he could understand the jumble of mess that success appears to be through the naked or untrained eye - he remembers being barely seventeen, stumbling into the offices of giants like kim gilyoon, karl lagerfeld, donatella versace -  GOD,  despite now being able to brag about his wingspand, he’ll never forget those nerves. which is partly why he’d nearly fallen out of his chair when sunny had mentioned someone wanting to take on an apprenticeship under him. 

                 it is not as though he’s never gotten such a supplication before. however, despite being known as the goldenhearted  BABYBOY  of seoulcity, hunter could be rather cutthroat when it came to business - he  HAS  to be. in a fashion hotspot like seoul - a literal breeding ground of talented models and actors and musicians - the competition is always fierce. he’d learned very quickly that ascending to the top is linked to many sacrifices ... at times, his own sanity, and the preservation of his already-sore heartstrings. but never does he take for granted the honor of being seen as a hometown hero; one of asia’s most beloved personalities and creators alongside names of  LEGENDS  who soon became his very  PEERS.  that same destructive nervousness he’d felt as a teenager having to stare a fashion god in the glare of his chanel shades - having to try desperately to pick apart that pokerface for any  TRACE  of hope ... the fact that  HE  is now the one in the divine chair; wearing the designer shades and determining the future of a young, bright, hopeful soul ... he can’t believe it. he never can ... and how grateful is he to have come this far. 

                 though known for an abrasive side, sunny indeed put honorable words in for her younger cousin. hadn’t she, the icon may not even be here, striding in after his 4-o’clock to make the acquaintance of a college student. and upon his entry, those wolfish eyes take in all he can without getting too close - nearly like a canine stalking its prey, studying its every move to assess whether or not to carry on with the hunt. though, far simpler and slightly less sinister is this scenario, for all he studies is her outfit, her appearance, her posture - the basic aspects of someone wishing to pursue a career in his field. it hadn’t been easy to make time for this - for he wanted to be sure he’d have enough of a window to really garner a feel for her  CHARACTER  - for that is most important; even more so than appearance or taste. all other aspects depend on that cornerstone like a very temple - even if the structure is ornately built and the walls are constructed of solid gold, the windows stained with jewels, even - with a weak base, it would fall to nothing more than  GRAVEL & DUST.

                 then, upon introductions, everything after seems to happen so fast. hunter’s eyes widen, the honeygold hues clinging to the room’s light as the spheres of his eyes are unsheathed by delicate lids. though, within moments that surprised countenance shifts to a familiar smile - he feels as though he’s glancing at a younger version of himself, for a moment. he considers every aspect of the background she’s provided, nodding his head along as though he’s trying to permanently settle the facts into his head. she sounds even more nervous than she had over the phone, but to hunter, that is a valuable sign - for nerves often overshadowed passion ... and while looks can easily  DECEIVE,  the wolf is leaning toward taking a chance. he’s no fan of wasting the inestimable value of his own time, but he  IS  more than willing to put every second into something he believes will flourish. 

                 someone had done that for him, after all. 

                 ❛  well, bella - first of all, it’s my pleasure t’ finally meet you in person. contrary to what you might b’lieve, your cousin put in a good word for you, an’ while i don’t particularly  NEED  a reason to trust sunny since she’s always had my back, so far it seems like she meant what she said.  ❜  his smile is calm, a hand reaching to delicately slip the expensive, tinted spectacles from his eyes, revealing the day’s makeup.  ❛  don’t worry about time, just take what you need. i’ll let you know if somethin’ comes up an’ i gotta jet - i’d love to see what you’ve created for myself, y’no, the physicality’s always better than pictures. in any case.  ❜  despite the rigid nature of a business affair, he seems to maintain a sense of informality - in a becoming, casual sense, that is.   ❛  did you bring a resumé? 'm not an amnesiac but it always helps t’ see it in writin’, ya’no? after that, i’ll take a looksee at your portfolio. sound like a plan?  ❜

@bellsxai.

[duarezjr]

Media Ethics Editorial

Daniel Suarez, Staff Writer February 6, 2020

Every day, the media is battling a fierce competition, a fight that has no rules and no boundaries so long as it circulates hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Internet, TV, radio, social media and print sources are all in constant pursuit of your attention, which is why we should be more mindful of who we pay it to.

Vanessa Bryant lost her husband, Kobe, and 13 year-old daughter, Gianna, in a horrendously tragic helicopter crash early in the morning of Jan. 26. This news was delivered to the Bryant family via a hastily written article by TMZ, whose sources included some of the first responders near the crash site.

This incident quickly became world news receiving coverage on practically every news outlet, headlining the article and displaying TMZ’s watermarked video of the smoking wreckage.

According to a public statement made by L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, the notorious media outlet had published the story before authorities were able to confirm the basketball star’s (or any of the victims’) identity that Sunday morning.

In the the following days, Harvey Levin, a controversial television personality and producer on TMZ, made a series of television appearances to respond to critics saying that his organization acted out of line when publishing the story without official confirmation or alerting the Bryant family.

On Jan. 29, Levin talked on daytime talk show ‘The Real’ where he claimed he did contact the Bryant estate. “We were on the phone with various people from Kobe’s camp for an hour before we posted the story,” he said, “When somebody of that magnitude dies so tragically, this becomes a world-wide, massive story.”

Levin has yet to reveal who exactly he spoke with in ‘Kobe’s camp,’ but Kobe Inc. President Molly Carter released a statement saying “To this point, no one has been authorized to speak on behalf of the family regarding any personal details surrounding Sunday’s tragedy, including stories related to the family’s previous air travel decisions.”

This raises questions on whether or not TMZ’s contact was qualified to confirm sensitive information of that degree. Despite this, the story itself was true, and Levin’s defense suggested that he felt he is being singled out for doing what every media outlet did that Sunday.

That assertion is not exactly warranted, considering that the vast majority of news stations used TMZ’s breaking news coverage for their own stories. TMZ did not have to wait to speak with authorities, or lawyers or any public officials to verify this story because they have never been a reputable source of news in its 16-year history.

This type of sensational journalism is just a side effect of a much bigger issue. Understand that these outlets solely exist to capitalize on our demand for violence, especially when it involves celebrities, regardless of how gorey and graphic the details may be. We possess an intense craving for provocative and shocking news and TMZ satiates that.

Harvey Levin commented that the Kobe crash was the most heavily trafficked article that TMZ has seen, “even bigger than Michael Jackson,” he remarked. Like many sources, they kept reporting on it because it kept receiving views.

TV stations gave the Kobe crash hours of uninterrupted airtime, numbers of casualties fluctuated from 5 to 10 to 9, including one ABC new anchor erroneously reporting that all four of Kobe’s daughters were on the helicopter when it crashed.

It was not long before news outlets resorted to calling and interviewing countless celebrities and journalists to make official comments on the Kobe tragedy. What viewers endured then was the same somber, heart-broken reaction again and again and again.

Many athletes with deep connections to Bryant, such as former teammate Shaq and friend Lebron James, become high value targets for news stations. Their obligatory social media posts became news as well.

The question we must ask ourselves is: how much information is too much?

Kobe Bryant was an important icon to the city of Los Angeles and to basketball fans everywhere, but his celebrity status does not entitle us to each and every detail of his death, or of the current emotional state of his family. The vast majority of people have never been asked to make a public release statement following the death of a loved one.

Thousands of social media posts by fans show them honoring the basketball star by shooting buckets, mourning at the Kobe memorial and preaching his legendary Mamba Mentality, which focuses on the relentless pursuit of self improvement. I think the way we can all truly honor Bryant is by respecting his family’s wishes for privacy, and by remembering this moment in the future, so that we may support the journalists that tell the truth without discarding their decency.

[laurelkrugerr]

The Zero-Sum Mindset: How to Avoid Toxic Thinking in Moments of Crisis

Believing that in order to win, others must fail is a critical mistake in times like these.

April 7, 2020 5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

“It’s not a question of enough, pal. It’s a zero-sum game: somebody wins, somebody loses.”

– Gordon Gekko, Wall Street

In the 1987 Oliver Stone classic Wall Street, Michael Douglas’ role as the brazen corporate raider, Gordon Gekko, not only won the actor an Oscar for his performance but iconized his character as the embodiment of individual excess. Though most often remembered for his frequently quoted monologue praising the virtues of greed, what truly captures the essence of Gordon Gekko’s character can be found in the equally telling, but lesser-known, quote above.

The above quote portrays Gekko as someone whose motivations go beyond rational self-interest, to encompass the mentality that in order to succeed others must fail. And while the character reflects a work of fiction, all too often this sort of zero-sum thinking can take root in people’s mindsets, especially in moments of crisis.

Related: Success In the Workplace Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

For example, the crisis we currently face involving the spread of COVID-19 provides a surfeit of examples of individuals who, rather than coming together to help those in need, have begun to view their interactions with others as zero-sum and behave in ways consistent with such a mindset (such as hoarding thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer).

Yet, adopting such a zero-sum mindset can be detrimental to our success, both at work and in life. Below, I discuss why such a mindset arises in the first place, and how it can be overcome.

In moments of crisis, why do we think in zero-sum terms?

Zero-sum thinking likely arose as a cognitive adaptation within early-human hierarchies, emerging as a defensive response to resource-scarce environments and readying individuals for potential conflict over limited resources. During early human development, when resources were scarce and competition was fierce, gains accumulated by some (e.g., competition for status or mates) often meant others lost out. Such environments would have likely offered a selective advantage to those who viewed transactions with others – such as territorial competitors or sexual rivals – as win or lose.

So now when we find ourselves in dynamic and uncertain environments, such as our current predicament involving the spread of COVID-19, we may fall back on some of our more primitive forms of information processing. The problem, however, is that when we develop a zero-sum mentality, we may apply this type of thinking to situations that are not, in fact, win-or-lose. For example, one study found that within harsh economic environments, employees are likely to view success as zero-sum and apply this heuristic broadly even in specific situations where success for some does not necessarily imply others’ loss, such as helping their fellow coworkers even when it doesn’t come at a cost to themselves.

How can we overcome such zero-sum thinking?

Armed with the knowledge of how we develop zero-sum thinking in the first place, there are steps we can take to avoid the perils associated with its occurrence. Below, I focus on two tips for overcoming such mindsets and how to work together in moments of crisis.

1. Reframe how you view a “gain”

Part of the reason why times of crisis may cause us to think in zero-sum terms is that such situations activate our survival instincts, causing us to narrowly focus on short-term gains. This is why we might see employees reducing their willingness to assist their colleagues during a recession or people hoarding toilet paper in the wake of a pandemic. But it’s important to understand that such thinking may actually be counterproductive to our own well-being because it is in times of crises that we often need the help of others the most. When we help others, rather than viewing them as rivals needing to be vanquished, we are likely to generate feelings of reciprocity, the results of which can far outweigh the short-term gains that often accompany zero-sum competitions.

Related: Zero-Sum Games — How to Play Nice With Your Competitor(s) So Everyone Wins

2. Focus on positive-sum interactions.

Moments of crisis often cause us to perceive that resources in the environment are scarce, even if they are not, in fact, scarce. This is why in such situations we may begin to view transactions with others as zero-sum. But such zero-sum thinking often leads to predation and invites distrust from others. To combat these maladaptive effects, we can remember to remain mindful that there are numerous opportunities for positive-sum interactions with others, such as finding opportunities to exchange surpluses or favors with others. Doing so provides the necessary ingredients for trust and reciprocity to form, which are both necessary for any business or economy to function optimally, in good times and in bad.

Although moments of crisis can bring out the worst in us, we need not succumb to our worse impulses. Rather, we can, as Harvard psychologist and best-selling author, Steven Pinker, suggests, rely on the “better angels of our nature”. The key is to reframe how we think about our relationships with others and remain mindful there are opportunities for positive-sum interactions.

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/the-zero-sum-mindset-how-to-avoid-toxic-thinking-in-moments-of-crisis/ source https://scpie1.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-zero-sum-mindset-how-to-avoid-toxic.html

[riichardwilson]

The Zero-Sum Mindset: How to Avoid Toxic Thinking in Moments of Crisis

Believing that in order to win, others must fail is a critical mistake in times like these.

April 7, 2020 5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

“It’s not a question of enough, pal. It’s a zero-sum game: somebody wins, somebody loses.”

– Gordon Gekko, Wall Street

In the 1987 Oliver Stone classic Wall Street, Michael Douglas’ role as the brazen corporate raider, Gordon Gekko, not only won the actor an Oscar for his performance but iconized his character as the embodiment of individual excess. Though most often remembered for his frequently quoted monologue praising the virtues of greed, what truly captures the essence of Gordon Gekko’s character can be found in the equally telling, but lesser-known, quote above.

The above quote portrays Gekko as someone whose motivations go beyond rational self-interest, to encompass the mentality that in order to succeed others must fail. And while the character reflects a work of fiction, all too often this sort of zero-sum thinking can take root in people’s mindsets, especially in moments of crisis.

Related: Success In the Workplace Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

For example, the crisis we currently face involving the spread of COVID-19 provides a surfeit of examples of individuals who, rather than coming together to help those in need, have begun to view their interactions with others as zero-sum and behave in ways consistent with such a mindset (such as hoarding thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer).

Yet, adopting such a zero-sum mindset can be detrimental to our success, both at work and in life. Below, I discuss why such a mindset arises in the first place, and how it can be overcome.

In moments of crisis, why do we think in zero-sum terms?

Zero-sum thinking likely arose as a cognitive adaptation within early-human hierarchies, emerging as a defensive response to resource-scarce environments and readying individuals for potential conflict over limited resources. During early human development, when resources were scarce and competition was fierce, gains accumulated by some (e.g., competition for status or mates) often meant others lost out. Such environments would have likely offered a selective advantage to those who viewed transactions with others – such as territorial competitors or sexual rivals – as win or lose.

So now when we find ourselves in dynamic and uncertain environments, such as our current predicament involving the spread of COVID-19, we may fall back on some of our more primitive forms of information processing. The problem, however, is that when we develop a zero-sum mentality, we may apply this type of thinking to situations that are not, in fact, win-or-lose. For example, one study found that within harsh economic environments, employees are likely to view success as zero-sum and apply this heuristic broadly even in specific situations where success for some does not necessarily imply others’ loss, such as helping their fellow coworkers even when it doesn’t come at a cost to themselves.

How can we overcome such zero-sum thinking?

Armed with the knowledge of how we develop zero-sum thinking in the first place, there are steps we can take to avoid the perils associated with its occurrence. Below, I focus on two tips for overcoming such mindsets and how to work together in moments of crisis.

1. Reframe how you view a “gain”

Part of the reason why times of crisis may cause us to think in zero-sum terms is that such situations activate our survival instincts, causing us to narrowly focus on short-term gains. This is why we might see employees reducing their willingness to assist their colleagues during a recession or people hoarding toilet paper in the wake of a pandemic. But it’s important to understand that such thinking may actually be counterproductive to our own well-being because it is in times of crises that we often need the help of others the most. When we help others, rather than viewing them as rivals needing to be vanquished, we are likely to generate feelings of reciprocity, the results of which can far outweigh the short-term gains that often accompany zero-sum competitions.

Related: Zero-Sum Games — How to Play Nice With Your Competitor(s) So Everyone Wins

2. Focus on positive-sum interactions.

Moments of crisis often cause us to perceive that resources in the environment are scarce, even if they are not, in fact, scarce. This is why in such situations we may begin to view transactions with others as zero-sum. But such zero-sum thinking often leads to predation and invites distrust from others. To combat these maladaptive effects, we can remember to remain mindful that there are numerous opportunities for positive-sum interactions with others, such as finding opportunities to exchange surpluses or favors with others. Doing so provides the necessary ingredients for trust and reciprocity to form, which are both necessary for any business or economy to function optimally, in good times and in bad.

Although moments of crisis can bring out the worst in us, we need not succumb to our worse impulses. Rather, we can, as Harvard psychologist and best-selling author, Steven Pinker, suggests, rely on the “better angels of our nature”. The key is to reframe how we think about our relationships with others and remain mindful there are opportunities for positive-sum interactions.

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/the-zero-sum-mindset-how-to-avoid-toxic-thinking-in-moments-of-crisis/ source https://scpie.tumblr.com/post/614767717948489728

[scpie]

The Zero-Sum Mindset: How to Avoid Toxic Thinking in Moments of Crisis

Believing that in order to win, others must fail is a critical mistake in times like these.

April 7, 2020 5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

“It’s not a question of enough, pal. It’s a zero-sum game: somebody wins, somebody loses.”

– Gordon Gekko, Wall Street

In the 1987 Oliver Stone classic Wall Street, Michael Douglas’ role as the brazen corporate raider, Gordon Gekko, not only won the actor an Oscar for his performance but iconized his character as the embodiment of individual excess. Though most often remembered for his frequently quoted monologue praising the virtues of greed, what truly captures the essence of Gordon Gekko’s character can be found in the equally telling, but lesser-known, quote above.

The above quote portrays Gekko as someone whose motivations go beyond rational self-interest, to encompass the mentality that in order to succeed others must fail. And while the character reflects a work of fiction, all too often this sort of zero-sum thinking can take root in people’s mindsets, especially in moments of crisis.

Related: Success In the Workplace Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

For example, the crisis we currently face involving the spread of COVID-19 provides a surfeit of examples of individuals who, rather than coming together to help those in need, have begun to view their interactions with others as zero-sum and behave in ways consistent with such a mindset (such as hoarding thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer).

Yet, adopting such a zero-sum mindset can be detrimental to our success, both at work and in life. Below, I discuss why such a mindset arises in the first place, and how it can be overcome.

In moments of crisis, why do we think in zero-sum terms?

Zero-sum thinking likely arose as a cognitive adaptation within early-human hierarchies, emerging as a defensive response to resource-scarce environments and readying individuals for potential conflict over limited resources. During early human development, when resources were scarce and competition was fierce, gains accumulated by some (e.g., competition for status or mates) often meant others lost out. Such environments would have likely offered a selective advantage to those who viewed transactions with others – such as territorial competitors or sexual rivals – as win or lose.

So now when we find ourselves in dynamic and uncertain environments, such as our current predicament involving the spread of COVID-19, we may fall back on some of our more primitive forms of information processing. The problem, however, is that when we develop a zero-sum mentality, we may apply this type of thinking to situations that are not, in fact, win-or-lose. For example, one study found that within harsh economic environments, employees are likely to view success as zero-sum and apply this heuristic broadly even in specific situations where success for some does not necessarily imply others’ loss, such as helping their fellow coworkers even when it doesn’t come at a cost to themselves.

How can we overcome such zero-sum thinking?

Armed with the knowledge of how we develop zero-sum thinking in the first place, there are steps we can take to avoid the perils associated with its occurrence. Below, I focus on two tips for overcoming such mindsets and how to work together in moments of crisis.

1. Reframe how you view a “gain”

Part of the reason why times of crisis may cause us to think in zero-sum terms is that such situations activate our survival instincts, causing us to narrowly focus on short-term gains. This is why we might see employees reducing their willingness to assist their colleagues during a recession or people hoarding toilet paper in the wake of a pandemic. But it’s important to understand that such thinking may actually be counterproductive to our own well-being because it is in times of crises that we often need the help of others the most. When we help others, rather than viewing them as rivals needing to be vanquished, we are likely to generate feelings of reciprocity, the results of which can far outweigh the short-term gains that often accompany zero-sum competitions.

Related: Zero-Sum Games — How to Play Nice With Your Competitor(s) So Everyone Wins

2. Focus on positive-sum interactions.

Moments of crisis often cause us to perceive that resources in the environment are scarce, even if they are not, in fact, scarce. This is why in such situations we may begin to view transactions with others as zero-sum. But such zero-sum thinking often leads to predation and invites distrust from others. To combat these maladaptive effects, we can remember to remain mindful that there are numerous opportunities for positive-sum interactions with others, such as finding opportunities to exchange surpluses or favors with others. Doing so provides the necessary ingredients for trust and reciprocity to form, which are both necessary for any business or economy to function optimally, in good times and in bad.

Although moments of crisis can bring out the worst in us, we need not succumb to our worse impulses. Rather, we can, as Harvard psychologist and best-selling author, Steven Pinker, suggests, rely on the “better angels of our nature”. The key is to reframe how we think about our relationships with others and remain mindful there are opportunities for positive-sum interactions.

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source http://www.scpie.org/the-zero-sum-mindset-how-to-avoid-toxic-thinking-in-moments-of-crisis/