#they are remembered and given consideration in every interaction after that

[silvreflames]

nesta isn’t necessarily kind to most people initially but she is incredibly thoughtful and will remember everything about that first interaction with a person for the rest of her life

[bestworstcase]

I was rewatching the various instances of the silver eyes and. Maybe it was just stylization, since it was the first instance, but it is interesting to me that the time ruby uses it after being active witness to a death is also the only time (as far as I'm aware) that the light behaves similarly to wings (with how it sort of unfurls from in front of the camera, it's always looked like wings to me)

Could just be stylizing, could be because she watches pyrrha die, idk. It is interesting to me though, since in other instances it's just shown as a circular AoE of light

what interests me abt that is, the glare atop beacon tower is meaningfully, materially different from every other glare we’ve seen in that ruby is in a coma for several days afterward. and then her memory of the incident is “i saw pyrrha… and cinder… and then everything when white. […] i remember… my head hurting,” and when she’s asked how she feels right after waking up she indicates that she’s in pain. “i kind of hurt all over.”

rewatch that moment on the tower again, but don’t look at her eyes. look at her HANDS. there is light coming out of her HANDS.

her whole body is glowing. not only that, but it’s physically strenuous, too! ruby doubles over in anguish as her eyes begin to glow and then her body wrenches upright and she flings her head back in this almost convulsive way—it’s as if the light is ripped out of her. and that hurts her very badly: she remembers her head hurting, and then she’s comatose for several days and wakes up still aching everywhere.

this glare is also much more powerful than any of the others we’ve seen; the leviathan demonstrates that petrification with the gentler-to-the-wielder ‘circular aoe’ kind of glare is temporary, and that tracks with maria’s petrification of the nevermore in midair (so that it falls and shatters before it can break free). but the wyvern is petrified for good, or at least for quite a long time.

given the glare’s interesting relationship with the threshold between life and death (and my ‘floodgate’ theory)—the fact of this visually-unique, extra-powerful, injurious-to-the-wielder glare coinciding with the moment of pyrrha’s death is probably not an accident. especially not when you take into consideration that ruby keeps having flashbacks to pyrrha’s final words—which ruby did not see or hear—and hearing pyrrha cry out in her dreams for months after.

imagine you have a deep bowl filled with water with a little spout near the rim such that you can gently tilt the bowl to pour out a small stream of water in a controlled fashion; imagine what would happen if you began to pour at the exact same moment as someone else dropped a big rock into the bowl. what would happen? the kinetic energy of water displaced by the rock would force more water through the spout much faster than normal, and some water would slosh over the rim too. i think pyrrha’s death interacted with ruby’s glare to similar effect.

[fluorynn]

🩵 — 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 !

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : Valentines Day spent with Ao’nung, Tsireya, and Rotxo !

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬 : @missisaz @lauren1523 @deadgirlrin @faintfill @akariwe @honeycinnamon @dananannanana @aristocolourway @by-bananant @huahuagongzhu @xobridgertonblues @hungrynessforfics @innercreationflower @angie-1306 @cozybubble

𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 : @cafekitsune !!!

a/n : part 2 !! I divided it for the reason being that if I United all 6 of these characters, it wouldn’t fit all the dividers/banners/pictures🥲🥲 These characters are a bit … less mention of Valentines unlike with Neteyam, Kiri, and Lo’ak, and more so on the side of fluff and lovey dovey interactions with them if that makes sense? But I tried and I do hope you enjoy these !! Happy Valentines Day ! <33

Valentines Day with Neteyam, Kiri, and Lo’ak !

— Ao’nung !

“You better watch those five fingered hands of yours when you touch my hair, eh? And do not over decorate it with those beads.” His snarl was anything but harsh, you’ve learned to distinguish between his tones — jesting, venomous, endearing even. You’ve learned to distinguish between his churlish temper he uses with your brothers and the edge of affection he overflowed when in your presence. The affection he conveyed in this moment, allowing it to give you permission in seeing him with his dark coils released from their notorious plaits and up-do while he is seated between your legs, cheek resting over your thigh while fiddling with your songcord. Both just to mess with you and to observe the fine piece.

He had picked you to partake in this for three reasons :

1. His fondness for your touch.

2. He had heard and seen the petite box of trinkets you had brought from the forest, and never found the perfect person to try them on besides him, and he was a tad bit intrigued to see how they’d look on himself, not aware of the ones you’ve made for him.

3. His hair needed a deep, meticulous cleanse and much narrowed rebraid.

“Ao’nung, shut up– stop moving, you skxawng! It would be easier if you didn’t move so often – why’d you even ask me if you’re going to act this way, huh?” He only let out an ‘annoyed’ huff but settled back into his spot. You’ve learned that it was uncommon for Ao’nung to let anyone else care for his hair, the only person ever permitted to was his young sister, Tsireya and his mother, Ronal for the reason being they were brisk with their movements, careful even with the consideration that he was a very tender headed thing. Of course, he’d never admit it to anyone, you included, though you already had the perception of this thanks to his sister and best friend, Rotxo.

To which is why his squirming came with no unrecognition, and internally wondered how is it that he’d given you the opportunity to touch his scalp after weeks of begging him, and why is it that he said his Mother had maintained to rest due to her pregnancy and his sister had been busy yet you had spotted Tsireya simply hanging out with Lo’ak? Why is it that out of nowhere, he approached you and tasked you whether you liked it or not? Why is it that his ears create a flickering motion with every attentive stroke you give his head?

“If I am hurting you, simply say so.” His neck canted back only to see your gold irises peering at him, concerned and punctured. “I don’t like to fully depend on these,” he hissed at the light pinch you gave his ear, “to see if you’re in pain. Speak up, okay?”

He muttered a ‘yes’ before his hand strayed to the beads around your ankle, beads he gifted you, flicking them slightly. He couldn’t help the tiny smile playing on his lips when he remembered gifting them to you, the way he felt his heart double its size the more he kept his gaze on you, so happy with that pretty wide smile, hoisting yourself on your toes and strutting around to let him see how the jewelry piece looked on you, and all he could think was that no piece of jewelry would ever add onto the immense beauty you already carried.

He had already embraced the fact of his liking for you, and wether you admitted it to him or not, he knew you reciprocated his feelings. It was probably obvious already, for the way your anger-less banters were constant, the way minor touches went by, the way he, and you, were always on the look out for one another, to have each other in sight. It gave him assurance, it gave him confidence, peace to see you. To be with you.

A silence overtook him and it slightly concerned you. Silence was not ordinary for Ao’nung, not when he was with you at least. But you didn’t say anything and continued to wash his hair, disentangle, apply the oils his Mother had entrusted you with, and entwine narrowed braids upon his scalp, creating a hair wrap on one twine. That is when you heard the sound his throat made and his shoulders slightly faltered from their broad posture from the air slowly rising from his lungs.

“I…do not entirely dislike the thought of it. Of you, near me, like this. I know that you won’t … hurt me…not with that small strength of yours anyway.” His chin lightly jutted down, and you grinned at the rare meekness edging his tone before he shifted to turn and bore those bright blue depths of his into yours, practically letting them swallow you whole the closer he inclined himself near your face.

Delicate were his features and somehow he managed to perfect the image of boldness and strength as he stared at you, as his long fingers reached with a gentleness he himself didn’t even recognize, curling over the curves of your knees.

“I respond to your touch because I do not dislike you, paysyul.” and there it was, that sly twist of his mouth and head tilt when you leaned forward, and as much as you wanted to roll your eyes at his expression, you didn’t dare avert from the portrait he displayed, the richness of his curls accentuating those lovely features he inherited.

“You like me then?”

He made a ‘tsk’ sound at your mocking use of voice, the flat of his nose tapping lightly against your own once, twice, three times, and the action induced a cute nose scrunch he’d grown accustomed to seeing on each Sully kid, yet yours was far more effective and gorgeous to him. “Is that not the opposite of unlike? Who is the skxawng now, eh?”

Before you can retort the name he had called you, his mouth pressed against yours, and your words disintegrate down your throat and pursed your lips at his stupidly appealing smirk.

“Now come on. Do not distract me with your kissing. You are not finished with my hair just yet. Or else this is the last time I let you—”

“I didn’t even ask you this time! And you kissed me!”

“But you were bound to—ow!” You smirked in triumph from the light tug you gave his hair, only for him to gain vengeance in pinching the skin of your ankle.

“I will stop, don’t tempt me.”

He glared and huffed like a child. “…Proceed. Please.”

After quite some time from braiding his head, with minor jesting banters here and there, you had finally finished; different shades of green and blue wraps and beads adorning those thick locks of his, and Ao’nung didn’t deny the proud smile he carried at your handy work, rewarding you with a playful tug on one of your braids and a swift kiss on the cheek before bolting into the water, away your smack.

— Tsireya !

“Do you…do you like it?”

Tsireya felt your heartbeat, racketing and soaring against the flat of her palm, your ilu creating a sound that indicated the distress you felt with every second passing of her silence. Her ears keenly picked up every inhale, the sharpness of the air slicing down your bobbing throat. You felt as she slowly descended from the ilu and gracefully swam through the water and to the land that resonated mere inches in front of you. You were quick to follow after her with a quick mutter of a ‘thank you’ to your new companion, your body lacking its stability in water from your fidgeting but managed to stand upon shore right across from you two.

Overtime, Tsireya learned that you were an impatient overthinker, and she had no doubt bursting conclusions now consumed that head of yours the longer she contemplated your question. With all the sincerity she held in her heart, she knew the answer already. Normally, she’d already grant it to you with so much enthusiasm, but something halted her from doing so. Awestruck she was, and it should have been evident from the way her sapphire irises glimmered, and the words she wished to say stayed trapped in her throat while one of her hands tightly held the small gift she had for you and the sun lily you’d gifted her with. The sun lily you happened to pick from the innumerable amount of glowing ones across the ground.

Your growing spiral of waiting made the guilt crawl within her, surrendering her body to release a soft exhale and give you an eager nod. “I adore it, ma tanhi.” Her pretty smile adorned with those dimples were enough to flare the ember stars within your eyes that resembled the nickname she’d given you and her smile widened. Your frozen demeanor thawed away when you reached for her hand, leading her deeper into the small-like forest.

A fort made of lengthy green leaves and stabled sticks entangled with lovely vines stood above both your laying forms. She’d never been surrounded by Pandora’s grassy plains, she’d never had the chance to visit farther than Awa’atlu for her People thought why would she ever want to leave her home when she has everything right where she is?

But the chance given and assisted by you was worth enough, because as your arms engulfed her cozily, she was reminded that this right here was everything she needed, was everything you needed.

The length of your blue arms tightened around her body as she laid atop of you, the elegant space between her shoulders becoming the spot your chin resided in. The roseate colors of her nose affectionately nuzzled across your cheekbone, and you grinned knowingly at how she traced the deep contoured markings etched into your complexion. You basked in the way her touch strayed to your hair, fingertips grazing over your braids and admiring how they were adorned with the jeweled spirals she had made for you, a trinket of a small shell dangling from it.

The purity of drifting into all of what one another was and will become came freely to you both; she allowed you to card your fingers through the long cascades of her curls as you styled them while she fiddled with the single twist swaying over your temple, and you’d occasionally ask if everything was to her liking. You loved to take care of her, you loved providing for her with nothing in return besides her grand love for you. You were hers, and you knew when the time came, when you had the blessing of her mother, the Tsahik and most importantly, Eywa’s, she was to be your mate, and you both eternally longed for that day.

Nestling her back against your chest eased her mind, and the ocean’s breeze ruffled through the night serenely, and your body only added onto that as your warmth embraced her. Her eyes rose to the fort’s canopy, smiling at the glittering beads woven within the vines.

Round hues shimmered and lit your heart up. A light kiss brushed your cheek and your eyes widened in surprise. Your broad grin soon followed however, stirring her insides, and you would admit that just by existing, she managed to stir your own heart.

“Would you like to see what I got you?” She giggled at the way your eyes widened and gave her a nod. “Yeah.”

Your eyes fell over a multilayered arm bracelet with beads, its colors having the familiar pattern your brother, Neteyam once wore. Though she didn’t want to emit tears, she knew the dam was bound to happen, tears pearling your lashes. “I know how high you thought of him and deeply you loved your brother. Your mama helped me recreate this, with the same beads he once wore.” The pads of your trembling fingers smoothed over each bead, each color that once and forever will symbolize Neteyam.

You kissed her cheek, then her lips with a soft laugh. “You are amazing, y’know that?”

“I wish to stay here, with you forever under this fortress. I really like the way you made this.”

You laughed once more, lips falling over her dimpled cheek and pulled her even deeper into you. “One day, we’ll have our own fortress and stay together forever, beautiful girl.”

“I see you, Y/N.” Everything you were, are, and bound to become will forever be eternally accepted by her soul. She leaned in to sweetly kiss you right before you could even return her words because she already knew, and there was something strong about already knowing.

— Rotxo !

You fell in love with one of the sweetest, most attentive and caring souls on the planet; Rotxo. Sweetest for the way he conveyed his immense love for you. Attentive, even when you think he doesn’t notice the smallest of things, from physical to emotional, or when your presence wasn’t anywhere near him; “Where is your sister? Where is Y/N? I thought she would be here?” And caring as to awareness of your well-being, of how you feel, of just wanting to smother you with his love and have you approach it as well.

That attentiveness and care was always right around the corner when he knew you needed it, or when he simply wanted to bathe you in his affections. A lace of thin beads ornamented your torso, glimmering and clashing astonishingly with your tones, a pretty shelled necklace sitting over your collarbones. The lace of beads and shelled necklace that happened to be made by Rotxo himself, along with the chest piece he had patched back together for you for when you were training on your ilu, it slightly tore. Rotxo never thought something too feminine or too masculine for anyone, so he didn’t pay no mind when his close friend, Ao’nung had teased him of making accessories and loincloths for you and ask him if he was comfortable with your height differences ( you were a tad bit taller than the Reef boy…tad) , or the way Lo’ak, your brother would make remarks of his ‘straightness’, and instead absorbed the way Tsireya would cheer him on, absorbed the way Kiri and Tuk would help him pick the best of pieces that suited their sister, absorbed how your oldest brother approved of him to be with you.

Proud he was to be able to make such things for you, and to be gifted with the way your face would brighten so prettily because of his acts. Rotxo thought the teasing he’d received had been so worth it as he watched you in amazement, a smile appealing his face. “Thank you, my sweet boy! Thank you, thank you!”

“It suits you, sevin. Very pretty…too pretty for me.” Your hands curl around his cheeks, mushing them slightly between your hold as he beamed up at you. “I am too pretty because of you. You add on to my prettiness. Just look at that face of yours!”

You adored the way his eyes crinkled crescent-like, the way the crystal blue brimmed from them before they disappeared behind closed eyelids, the way those lush lips smile so softly, so completely love-struck by you.

Your lower lip then so very subtly pronounced, and it was immediate the way his smile fell and the worry dawning upon him. “You say I’m too pretty for you when you’re too good for me.” Your fingers slid down his face and climbed up the nape of his neck before letting them stray into his bundle of thick locks. “You take very good care of me…you constantly gift me things. And while I adore it, it makes me feel bad for not keeping up with it–”

“But you do by gifting me with your time! –”

“Which is why I made you something!” You grinned at the way he tilted his head and one of his ears flitted against his head. His face contained intrigue while his tail very lightly moved. “Really? And what exactly did you make for me….?”

Quickly pecking his forehead, you pulled him by the arm near your family’s marui. “Wait here, okay?”

“Sevin, you did not have to get me anything—” He tried protesting though vehement glare dissolved his words; not taking no for an answer and he sighed. With a shrug and nod, you grinned and quickly rushed in and grabbed ahold of the gifts, returning with a wide smile that made his own form. “Give me your arm, love.”

He complied, head tilting as his brow line quirked. Your giggle reverberated through him when you slid the band with a blue sea glass stone up the length of his arm, stopping right above his bicep. “This stone glows under the night sky.” Another piece of jewelry was in your hold, three necklaces, similar in color to the single one you wore. “Each of the three carry the same beads you have used for me.”

His happiness was apparent despite the efforts to maintain a serious demeanor, a warmth erupting in his chest at your actions. The little squirm his mouth made did not go unnoticed by you when you told him about the beads. He finally gave in, a beam stretched across his face and you bathed in it as you clasped each necklace around his neck. “Sevin…irayo ( thank you ) Y/N!”

His soft sounds of giggles floated in your ears as firm pecks sweetly assaulted every part of his face and his arms winded around you. He took slight steps back, steps that soon became a full plummet of both your bodies into the water with a loud splash. You said nothing, simply stared at each other, damped with Awa’atlu’s waters, before giggling.

Your arms remained around his neck, hands reaching up and smiled softly at the way the wet wisps of his locks immediately curled around your digits.

“You, Rotxo, deserve many, many good things.” You reminded, tracing circles into his damp cheek with the pad of your thumb. “ I want you to know that I acknowledge everything you do for me. That I appreciate it. So thank you, my sweet boy, for all you do for me.”

His cheeks flushed at your words, throat closing in what could be seen as emotion and a soft laugh emitted from your throat as his head dipped into your neck. His fingertips brushing over the beads around you and a purr-like sound rumbling through his chest. A sound you felt to the center of your being, and crooned down at the smiling boy as he continued thanking you and holding you in his arms, promising to never discard these gifts you’ve given him ever, unaware of the 5 pair of eyes watching from afar.

…

“…I told you the beads he gave her were a good idea.”

“Ao’nung, shut up. I never doubted Rotxo for a second.”

“You thought he was gay, Lo’ak. Neteyam was most supportive.”

“Gross.”

“…they have been holding together for too long.”

“Kiri, Teyam, you’re gonna ruin the moment !!”

Meanwhile, Tsireya is carrying a wide smile while trying NOT to shed some happy tears for her dear friends.

[nina-ya]

im obsessed with the law that plays guitar 😍😍

UM so like basicslly my idra was so law is users guitar teacher but user is lowk like REALLY nervous around law bc DAMN hes hot 😭…

also js some random shit (because i play guitar and NEED to add this) bro the reader/me idk gets unmotivated easily cause burnout (😓😓) but once she gets some praise or acknowledgment thats motivation for the next MONTH bro

I LOVE READING UR FICS RAAGGHFHGGF 🫶🫶

A/N: Oh my goddddd you are making me remember the various Law as a guitar player art that ive seen and I simply don’t think I can recover from these thougts

Pairing: Guitar teacher!Law x reader CW: Nothing really, gets suggestive at the end. WC: 1313

You had dabbled with the guitar for a while on your own, trying to teach yourself through youtube videos and various apps, but it was clear that you couldn’t do it on your own and you needed some professional guidancel. The idea of having a guitar teacher had always intrigued you, but when you looked into the options available, it quickly became apparent that the established instructors came with a high price tag. That's when you discovered a newer face at the local music shop: Trafalgar Law. His rates were considerably more reasonable, given his limited reputation. It seemed like an excellent opportunity to learn without breaking the bank. You decided to sign up for weekly lessons on the spot.

The first lesson finally arrived, and as you entered the small room where your lessons were to take place, your eyes fell upon Trafalgar Law, and you felt your heartbeat quicken, and an unexplainable wave of flustered nerves washed over you. Was it stage fright, the fear of messing up, or the anticipation of embarrassing yourself in front of your new teacher? These were the excuses you tried to convince yourself with, but deep down, you knew there was something else at play. 

It wasn't just the usual nerves one might experience when meeting a new instructor. No, it was something more. Trafalgar Law was not just any teacher; he was, to put it mildly, extremely good-looking. His charming attitude and striking features made it impossible for you to deny that his presence had left you feeling more than a little flustered. You tried to focus on the task at hand, convincing yourself that it was merely a case of first-day jitters.

As you settled in for your first lesson, you couldn't help but notice the effortless way his fingers moved across the fretboard, coaxing out gorgeous melodies and tunes. You hung on to his every word, absorbing the knowledge he gave to you like a sponge. 

You desperately clung to the hope that your attraction to your guitar teacher was a temporary thing, a mere crush that would dissipate over time. After all, you were there to learn music, not to fall for your instructor. Or so you tried to tell yourself.

The weekly lessons persisted, and to your frustration, the initial infatuation with Law had not dissipated. His presence remained a constant distraction, making it challenging to concentrate on the music. Despite your internal struggles, the two of you gradually developed a small friendship, exchanging stories and getting to know each other beyond the realm of music. While the interactions were enjoyable, the persistent thoughts about Law continued to linger in the back of your mind.

On this particular day, you found yourself in the lesson room, tuning your guitar, running through different chords and riffs as a warm-up while waiting for Law to arrive. The sound of rain tapping against the windowpane outside added a calming ambiance to the room. When Law finally rushed in, apologizing for his tardiness, he swiftly peeled off his rain-soaked hoodie, revealing a sight you hadn't witnessed before. As the fabric caught on his shirt, it rode up just enough to expose an almost teasing glimpse of his well-defined abs and the faint happy trail leading down his stomach, not to mention the v-lines that subtly drew your attention. Typically obscured by his hoodies during lessons, now you were granted an unexpected visual feast, taking in not just the ink decorating his hands but also the tattoos covering his arms and the one teasingly peeking from the collar of his shirt across his chest. The eyeful you had just observed made your face flush with heat and your heart rate quicken. How were you supposed to concentrate on the music now? As Law set his sweater aside, he shot a sly look in your direction, a subtle smirk playing on his lips as he seemed to catch on to your flustered state, evidently aware of the effect his unintentional exposure had on you.

Law continued the lesson, attempting to maintain a semblance of normalcy despite the obvious distraction. However, this time, you couldn't seem to get your act together. It was as though all your prior knowledge of the guitar had simply vanished, leaving you in a constant state of disarray. Frustration and fluster took hold of you as you fumbled through chords and riffs, repeatedly missing the mark. It was a struggle to concentrate, and your attempts to impress your exceptionally attractive teacher were continually ruined, leaving you feeling like a hopeless mess in his presence.

Law's perceptive nature became evident as he sensed your growing frustration. Setting aside his guitar, he rose from his seat and crossed the room to where a piano bench was located. He dragged it closer to both of you, taking a seat on it, his legs straddling each side of the bench. "Come here," he beckoned, tapping the space in front of him. Confusion flickered across your face, but you complied, rising from your seat and making your way over to the piano bench. He gestured for you to sit down, and as you did, he corrected you, "Backwards, sit so that your back is facing me."

Making the adjustment, you settled in, and as you did, you couldn't help but notice Law subtly shifting closer until your back was pressed against his chest. The proximity was closer than you'd ever expected, and as if this lesson couldn't become any more complicated, you found yourself in this incredibly intimate position, your mind racing as the lines between the professional and personal blurred further as the lesson went on.

Your thoughts were abruptly halted as Law's arms wound around you. His took control of your hands, positioning your fingers on the frets and guiding the pick into the correct grip His touch gentle yet firm, as he navigated you through the challenging passages. Yet, amidst the guidance, your focus shifted away from the music, your attention caught by his closeness and the feeling of Law's hands enveloping yours. The overwhelming feelings seemed to dominate your thoughts, distracting you from the task at hand.

Coming back to reality when Law released your hands, he encouraged you to attempt the passage once more. You followed his instructions, albeit with a slightly trembling start, but as you persisted, the notes began to flow more smoothly. A smirk slowly spread across his face, accompanied by an encouraging comment, "Good job, you're improving." The praise raised a surge of confidence within you, a genuine smile gracing your lips as you replayed the passage once again. Law's smirk grew, his words of affirmation continuing to fall from his lips.

A bold idea took root in your mind, and you decided to make a daring move. Pointing to a particular riff, you claimed that you needed help with it. You had played that riff numerous times before without issue, and Law was undoubtedly aware of this, yet, he didn't hesitate to oblige, his arms once again snaking around your body, his chest pressing firmly against your back. As his hands guided yours over the strings, his lips inched closer to your ear, his voice taking on a sultry and intimate tone. He whispered a string of phrases that transitioned from the typical encouragements like 'you've got this' and 'you're doing very well' to something far more provocative, like 'you're doing so well for me,' 'such a good, good student' and ‘you’re so lucky to have me as your teacher.’ The boundary between professionalism and personal attraction blurred even further.

The increasingly intimate moment was interrupted by the chime of an alarm, signaling the end of your lesson and the start of Law's next appointment. As you made your way home, your guitar teacher's presence continued to occupy your mind, leaving you eagerly anticipating next week's lesson.

[certifiablyinsanez]

In the Job minisode, the conversation at the end between Aziraphale and Crowley has so much more depth than people are giving it credit for. Let’s take it from the top.

Aziraphale is sitting by the edge of the ocean. We can only imagine how long he’s been sitting there and what he’s feeling. Because from everything we can tell that Aziraphale feels extremely deeply. His expressions betray that. Imagine how he must’ve been feeling in that moment, that any minute he’s going to Fall. They don’t know what it’s like. Crowley does but he would never dare ask. He’s probably imagining all kinds of horrors that will happen to him, not just in the Fall but what would come after. He doesn’t have it in him to be an agent of Hell. He can’t possible assume that he could be like Crowley, just “evil” enough to avoid suspicion because he’s not like Crowley. He didn’t fall with the others. He would be a target. Imagine if you were the new kid at an eternal school of manipulators, cruel people, and even killers? He is trying to force himself to the conclusion that this is his fate, grappling that any second it��ll happen. You’ve ever anticipated something horrible about to happen? That feeling is unbearable.

So when Crowley saunters over, probably to check on Aziraphale, Azi thinks that it’s time. What breaks my heart is that beneath all the anguish, there’s a hint of relief to see that it’s Crowley who has come to take him and not some hellish monster. When he says it’s time to be taken to Hell, he is being extremely brave because Aziraphale is perhaps braver than anyone else in the series. The way he breaks down that he is now “a demon”, “a fallen Angel”, we can’t help but chuckle along with Crowley because many of us are like Crowley. We see how silly that is. That someone who does something like thwart a bet to save the lives of children and lying to your (asshole) coworkers about it is definitely something that would not constitute damnation. But is it as ridiculous as it sounds? After all, Crowley was just a sweet little star maker who loved her art and had a pension for questions. Aziraphale has been around the angels for a long time. Every interaction with them is pins and needles, constantly trying to dance around the subjects and the (drum roll) questions. It’s agonizing to watch because what is clearly toxic and abusive to us (and Crowley) is just “the way things are” for Azi. These pricks would absolutely cast Aziraphale out for this. I think Crowley remembers this because he quickly stops joking about his curly white hair and robes.

This part is a mirror to episode 6. Aziraphale is offering to go to Hell. Crowley could’ve been selfish. He could’ve been demon-y and accepted. He could’ve seen this as an opportunity to be closer to Azi, to bring him closer to his fold. Surely they could more easily be together on the same side right? It certainly removes a lot of the danger associated with their relationship. Not once does any of that cross Crowley’s mind. He is very firm in denying Aziraphale the passage. He says that he “wouldn’t like it”, but in that phrase was also, “you don’t deserve it”. Crowley would never have brought him to Hell.

Which is why it’s so much more painful when Aziraphale offers him something else. Not only does Crowley refuse *again (something that is not normal in their relationship since it’s usually Azi doing the refusing), this time it’s Crowley who won’t go with Aziraphale. It hurts because Crowley considered Aziraphale in 2,500 BC. Knew he “wouldn’t like it”, but that it was not a place that he belonged, and somewhere he would never in a million years take him because Crowley knows it is a compromise of Azi’s entire identity and soul. And because they don’t communicate and say what they actually mean, it appears to Crowley that Aziraphale has not given him the same courtesy and consideration when he is offered to become an angel again. That, coupled with the whole “of course you said no to Hell *YOU’RE the bad guys” and the misunderstood “nothing lasts forever”, Crowley is left with the conclusion that he just doesn’t mean as much to Aziraphale as he had hoped.

[one-winged-dreams]

Zack vs Adri's Fictional Parents

ship: adriel & zack (platonic) source: final fantasy vii word count: 1091 cw: transphobia, mentions of abuse, implications of physical abuse, parental trauma, you get it by now.

FUCK IIIIIT, I'm so mad right now I'm shaking, posting this before the guilt sets in.

Not tagging anyone bc it's kind of rough and I know I'm gonna feel guilty for it in a few hours but you're free to reblog it.

This takes place a little after Modeoheim.

"And the parents… Well. They're not acknowledging him at all."

As Tseng relayed the situation to him, Zack could only stare incredulously.

The fact of the matter was, Adriel was missing. As with Angeal and Genesis, the most logical course of action was to ask his family if they had any idea where he might have gone. Little context clues began to align. Adriel had dropped hints that his upbringing had been… Unsavory, to say the least.

But an utter disregard for their own child being missing?

"I have to talk to them, please, tell me where I can find them."

-

Tseng had given Zack the address, and he had followed it to a humble residence in Sector 7. As far as homes went, it was simple - perhaps a bit low-class upon further consideration.

"My parents werrre… Shinra wage slaves?" Zack recalled Adriel relaying this information with a tense, forced smile, "They all but sold me off to the SOLDIER program - just desperate, I guess."

Zack's fists tightened.

"Guess even the money wasn't worth keeping me around, after…"

He couldn't afford himself another moment to remember any of the things his friend had told him.

It would only make this all the more difficult.

With a sharp breath, he knocked on the door, immediately following by putting his hands on his hips and kicking the ground as he not-so-patiently awaited it to open.

As if he had been expected, the door opened after only a few moments, the visage of an older woman with a grim expression greeting him.

"Another one?" she sighed, seeming to analyze Zack as she looked him up and down, "A SOLDIER at that."

"The hell do you mean a SOLDIER?" a masculine voice followed from the adjacent room.

Zack didn't bother to speak yet, a tall man with an equally disagreeable face approached the door to presumably judge his merit as well.

And judge he did, quite clearly so, as he scowled at Zack and then at the woman.

"I thought you ran a Turk off earlier, what the hell did they send a SOLDIER here for?"

This time the woman seemed to direct her ire at the tall man, scowling just as forcefully.

"How am I supposed to know? If you're implying I didn't do good enough-"

"What the hell do you want? State your business or get off my doorstep," the tall man interrupted her to address Zack as if the woman were an annoyance and nothing more.

Clearing his throat, Zack crossed his arms. It was his turn to judge, and so far, these two weren't making a good impression in the slightest.

"I'm here to ask about your son-"

"We don't have a son," the woman interrupted now, glaring at Zack with apparent loathing, "We already told that Turk. You people need to correct those records of yours."

Zack let out a tense breath through his lips, steeling himself.

"Adriel. Your son. Your only child?"

The pair looked at each other before the tall man scoffed and shook his head.

"We had a daughter once. Had. Never a son, though."

"Oh are you SERIOUS," Zack exclaimed in exasperation before he could stop himself. He hadn't intended to lose his cool, he'd had every intention of civilly interacting with these unpleasant people to the best of his ability.

Easier said than done.

This obviously displeased the two further, the woman's glare intensifying.

"Watch your mouth, boy. Hadn't anyone ever taught you any respect?"

"Well maybe if you'd taught HER better we wouldn't be dealing with this right now, would we?"

Zack's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together in an attempt to endure the horrific implications that he had been given the misfortune of hearing enough context clues to understand.

"Oh, so it's MY fault she turned into a good for nothing disappointment? I TRIED," the woman directed her statement from the tall man to Zack halfway through her sentence, "She had POTENTIAL, and she squandered it. I did my damned best to keep her on the right path, but she had to go and cast us aside. And for what?"

"PLEASE," Zack managed to keep his volume to a level that was stern but still civil, "He's MISSING. Please. Do you have ANY idea where he could have gone? Just- Just tell me and I'll leave you alone."

Even as Zack's fists clenched, even as he fought the tides of rage that swirled inside him, the pair only scoffed in unison.

"She stopped being our problem years ago. If she wants to disgrace herself further and become a deserter then that's on her."

Zack glared in exasperation at the woman as she disregarded Adriel without an ounce of remorse. He could hardly speak, struggling to keep himself agreeable just for this one instance. Just until he could leave and put these two out of his mind.

"She's become shamless, you know that. She probably doesn't know what to do with herself now that that 1st class she was whoring herself out for is g-"

Zack wasn't even aware that he had moved until his fist had connected with the tall man's face so forcefully that it sent him reeling back. Even as he stepped into the motion to grab the man by the shirt and shake him, his self-awareness was lost entirely. He knew he was speaking, knew that the woman was slapping at his arm and shouting, but still, he processed nothing.

It wasn't until he felt someone grapple him from behind and pull him back that he realized what he'd done, Tseng's voice becoming clear as he called out to him, "Zack!"

Everything rushed back at once - the sound of the woman shrieking at him, the sight of the man slumped against the doorframe, and the feeling of Tseng pulling him off the doorstep before releasing him.

"Zack, that's enough," the Turk spoke sternly, addressing him with equal intensity before looking at the pair in the doorway, "We're heading back, you've caused enough of a mess. We'll have to make a report for this," he sighed, clearly inconvenienced but not with a single ounce of judgment.

Zack's fist felt warm as he glowered at the two people in front of him, stomach heaving at not only having not gotten what he'd come for but for being shown proof of the harsh reality he had only been given glimpses of.

"You're right," he spat, offering one last hateful look before turning away, "He IS no son of yours."

[eowynstwin]

I don't know if this is an overstep so if it is feel free to ignore this but do you have any tips on how to write for Soap? I have a few things down already but i feel like I'm not getting his character right. Thank you <3 (love you work btw hoping things are better for you)

I’m kind of surprised I’m being asked this since I really haven’t written for Soap all that much! I do have a few things I think are important for writing him, which I put into practice when I consider his character and also gravitate toward in reading fic about him. This turned out to be kind of long, sorry lol.

I tend to break Soap down into certain specific traits: he is outgoing, he is provocative, he is compassionate, and he is self-sacrificing.

Outgoing—we see, constantly, that he’s the one offering his hand to shake, that he’s the one asking other people questions about themselves. He does his best to learn Spanish to talk to Rudy and Alejandro. He saves Ghost a seat on the transport in the very first mission of MW2. Soap is warm and friendly, always eager to talk to people and learn about them. He is absolutely the extroverted friend every introvert needs to feel comfortable leaving their safe space to explore the world at large, and he’s happy to be that friend too.

Provocative—Soap likes to push buttons. Nothing shows this more than his interactions with Ghost; “Actually he prefers to be called—”, “The mask…take it off,” “Are you ugly?” And so on. He is willing to say things other people might find less than tactful because of that outgoing nature of his. He isn’t shy about things other people might politely avoid. He does not, of course, cross significant lines; he doesn’t presume to actually tell Ghost what he thinks of the mask. I think this is because Soap is very good at taking the metaphorical temperature of his dynamic with other people—he can see where a boundary might be, and test how permeable that boundary is without outright violating it.

Compassionate—he does not provoke to cause trouble. Soap cares, deeply, both about his comrades and what is right. He’s the one to ask about the families driven out of the cartel compound they search through for Hassan. He’s the one to remember that Alejandro and Los Vaqueros are still on the oil rig before they blow the second missile, and he’s the one to warn them to get clear (I’m pretty sure). Soap likes people very much, and believes in their inherent worth. It’s why he manages to crack through Ghost’s armor; he is not shallow in his efforts to bond with the lieutenant. He actually cares enough to make the effort.

Self-sacrificing—because of Soap’s wealth of compassion, we see that he’s willing to put himself at risk for the greater good. He volunteers to go into Diego’s manor alone to find El Sin Nombre, and he chases after Hassan in Chicago after nearly getting blown up to stop the missile from reaching DC. He is cavalier with his own personal safety, and I think he might also be a little reckless with his own well-being in favor of getting a job done. After all, almost all of his campaign skins have him wearing a brace on one knee, and let’s not forget that he fucking GOT SHOT and kept going anyway without treatment. I think Soap doesn’t really pay great attention to his own pain, because he thinks outwardly; his main consideration is for others, not himself, even to his own detriment.

So those four things are what I’d consider foundational traits for writing Soap! I think they are excellent lodestones to return to if you get lost in trying to figure out how to characterize him. It’s easy to reduce him to bumbling comic relief (and I think that has, in part, something to do with him being Scottish, as Scot characters often suffer reductive treatment), but he can be richly complex given enough consideration.

[ktenvs3000w24]

Ethics Manifesto

For this final blog post I am willing to risk sounding devout when referring to nature. We have been asked to describe our developing ethics as a nature interpreter. Ethics are something that are constantly guiding my days, as I hope is true with everyone. As described by the Government of Canada; ethics are derived from the Greek word “ethos”, which means “way of living”, ethics is a branch of philosophy that is concerned with human conduct, more specifically the behaviour of individuals in society. Ethics examines the rational justification for our moral judgments; it studies what is morally right or wrong, just or unjust. (Government of Canada, 2015). 

I have always known my love for water, trees, and the Earth with all its magic. In the past few years I have tried to use my inner child to dictate where my life path goes. Some of my most cherished moments were making mud pies and playing in the temporary ponds that the spring floods would bring to the ditches beside the dirt road I grew up on. If I think hard enough I can still smell the mud and see the long yellow grasses swirling in the water. I want to take this feeling and use it as a way to build my nature interpreter ethics, and on a greater scale my life ethics. What is important to me is that I am using my time wisely to be true to the earth and nature as best I can. I want to be respectful of the life I have and the incredible array of life all around me. I strive to be curious and dedicated to the betterment of all. These are my ethics.

Life is a beautiful and precious thing and as an interpreter we are given the gift of encouraging others to discover that. However our modern global society seems hellbent on using up every last resource and causing a wake of destruction in the process. My ethics are tied to the preservation, protection and rehabilitation of the Earth as well as the just and humane treatment of all people. I know that I would not be able to interpret at a site that actively props up industries such as big oil, mining or some forms of forestry. It is part of my responsibilities as a nature interpreter to speak up and protect the Earth.The ethics behind those responsibilities are imperative. Understanding that in order to be a good environmental steward, I am not always able to toe the line. As the textbook states; meaningful and convincing communication also requires belief in the importance of the subject matter. If the interpreter isn’t enthused and truly enthralled by the subject matter then the audience won’t be either (Knudson et al., 2018). This is true for ethics in interpretation as well, if the interpreter does not stand behind the messaging then the message will be lost.

It is important to remember that everyone comes to interpretation sites from different angles and this needs to be taken into consideration when projecting a message. The textbook reveals that a key to interpreting lies in the understanding that different learning processes, stages, and styles can operate, the message may come across to all (Knudson et al., 2018). I think that the interpretive approach which best suits me is the modern constructivist. Modern constructivists often suggest keeping classroom lecturing to a minimum and individual interaction with problems and real objects to a maximum (Knudson et al., 2018). I have found that whenever I have truly learned something, it is from discovering it on my own in nature, and then taking the time to learn about it after the fact. I think that by taking the time to explore the material physically is incredibly important. Yes, audio and other forms of media can get your message across and reach many more people. There is undoubtedly value in that. However, I believe that in order to be tied to an interpretive subject in a truly connected and lasting way we need to interact with it intimately. 

This semester as we developed our podcast scripts I realized my role as a nature interpreter distinctly. When it was needed, I spoke up for the environment. I made sure the wording was correct so that what we were describing was ethical and environmentally sound. I felt protective of those that were listening. This was partially because I knew that I could not show those listening in a tactile way what the key message components were. It simply would have been easier to get the message across in a physical environment instead of creating an audio environment. I recognized edits that needed to be made in order to interpret and educate in a truthful and impactful way. Notably for the children’s podcast, I wanted to instill a dynamic that was not fearful. I made sure that words such as gross, scary, yucky were scrubbed from the script. I do not want messaging that I helped put out into the world to cause fear, instill unjust ideals, or cause harm. For adults, I wanted to engage in a sense of wonder. To bring them back to that moment of awe that we remember from our childhoods. I want to be able to show them that they too have their own swirly waters to pull from. Adults need to be reminded that learning doesn’t have to be painful, that it can be fun and rewarding. Interpretation is a step towards this, and in my mind a bridge between citizens, and scientists. Perhaps good nature interpretation could even develop a future citizen scientist.

In closing, for me sticking to my environmental ethos is incredibly important as a nature interpreter. My responsibilities are to protect both the earth and its inhabitants - including people. My audience is from a variety of backgrounds and come to nature interpretation for all kinds of reasons, and this needs to be taken into account when developing programming for them. I would make the experience meaningful by being passionate, truthful, and allowing for folks to interact with the subjects intimately. I learned a lot from my role as interpreter within this course and look forward to applying it to my future endeavours.

References: 

Government of Canada. (2015, July, 23). What is ethics?  https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/values-ethics/code/what-is-ethics.html

Knudson, L.B.T.T.C.D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669

[st-just]

Wrath of the Righteous Thoughts

Because @self-loving-vampire asked and I can't sleep, scattered and incoherent because it's like 3am

I would have liked this game significantly better if it was somehow a visual novel - started lowering the difficulty in the final dungeon because all the tough-but-contextless demon fights just got tedious

But I did like it! And at 128 hours of playtime for like $40 I really don't have much room to complain tbh

Companions were mostly actually good! To the extent that I'm tempted to ever replay this game, it's to play less of a robotic merciless bitch and get closer to the ones I mostly ignored/ended up killing

Ember and Aru probably had the best personal plots, with the best writing and most, like, relevance. Daeran's seems like it would have been great if I'd really used him at all. Laan and Seelah's arcs were well executed but super generic. Camellia is such an edgy bitch I'm half tempted to do an evil playthrough next entirely to see hers through to the end. Regil and Greybor's companion quests seem to exist entirely because they're expected, and neither really seemed to actually have any sort of arc at all. I don't care about cleric dude or his brother enough to have an opinion on theirs.

Oh also autistic foxgirl wizard was fun but I'm not doing any quest that involves hunting for random masks across the entire map so I can remember to double back and complete an elaborate puzzle, sorry. Hope her plot was cool, though

Generally, I appreciate there must be an audience for all the puzzles strewn around everywhere. I am not one of them. Every time you actually needed to complete one I used a guide, and every other time I ignored them.

Actually a pretty big fan of the crusade managment, but wish it had more depth? And wasn't so trivial - by the time I got any of my cool endgame mythic units, I'd already cleared the entire map with my deathstack of marksmen, signifiers and hellknights. The 'final boss' such as it was - the 15 strength champions of the abyss from hitting mil level 8 - was just kind of pathetic. The level up choices were fun, though!

Wish my being an Aeon had come up more in that area, though - in the acutal plot it was gratifyingly relavent pretty often, but in the NPC interactions in the citadel it was barely ever mentioned. Even after exiling all the failiable corrupt humans form my city and importing axiomites and inevitables to replace them.

Aeon quest was a real highlight generally, tbh, even though it was totally at odds with how the mythic spark was treated by the narrative - demonic corruption, etc, etc - generally. Feel like demon or angel would fit more naturally in the narrative. Not that I'm ever going to do either of those.

Like I can't emphasize enough how there was literally 2-5x more fights than were at all fun or interesting, and I deserve compensation for every time I had to rest and then reapply buffs

My understanding of the actual main plot should probably not be given too much consideration because the game outright scolded me for missing the main villain's backstory exposition in her secret lab and Iz but as a general high fantasy power fantasy thing it was fine? Like, the character writing is the selling point here, not the actual overall plot tbc, but it was well executed and hit the important beats of the genre imo.

It's legitimately hilarious and incredible stupid how many places you can - and indeed often have to - just set up a tent and get a good night's sleep in the middle of raiding some demon lair or enemy fortress with a trail of bloody carnage behind you and just, no one ever has any problem with this. The demons always wait patiently for you to have breakfast and put the ten away before continuing to slaughter them.

[awellboiledicicle]

Timos Mother, very solemn: You might not like your husband at first, and that’s alright! You’ll grow to like him eventually. And you should have a few months before he asks to sleep with you-- though he is a god, so it might be sooner. Just remember it’s your duty as his wife, and only has to last as long as he does. Then once it’s over, take a nice long bath and focus on your weaving.

Timo, nodding very gravely: Right Timo’s brain: don’t think about climbing him like a tree until after the wedding, don’t think about climbing him like a tree until after the wedding don’t think ab

Timo’s mother: Good, now-- lets try to find a suitable veil. My daughter, marrying a god! He’ll keep you comfortable and safe. But.. so very far away...

Timo: Mother, he’s.. he’s wonderful. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll be the happiest and most cared for woman in any realm.

Timo’s mother: Oh, by the gods i pray so. Now, before i cry, come-- we have to find something that will be well enough for a gathering of the gods. Oh, if only we hadn’t given the latest weaving to Aphrodite!

Timo: Mother, it shall be fine. Anything i’ve made won’t rival the garments of the gods, they won’t expect it to.

Timo’s mother: Still, what kind of mother would i be? Sending my daughter off to her husband’s house unprepared. Maybe this blue..

-

Nyx: It is important you respect your new wife, my child. She will likely be downhearted at giving up the surface, even if she loves you truly. You must give her the space to come to terms. Mortals expect a year of courting after the wedding, though she may not be able to mark time here for longer. Help her acclimate, but do not make yourself over-present. I will ensure she feels welcome, as a mother should. We do not separate the people here in the same way, but she may wish for separate chambers for a time. Do not take this against her.

Hypnos, nodding very seriously: Of course, mom-- er, mother. I’m sure glad i have your help. I’ll take every detail into consideration! I don’t really think adding a new set of chambers will be necessary, though-- you know how long i work these days or nights! She’ll have all the space she needs! Hypnos’ brain: don’t say you picked out a pillow just for her already, don’t say you imagined her hair splayed across it already don’t think about her curled up in your bed, focus focus focus fo--

Nyx, nodding: True enough. Come, let us see to preparing the feast for her arrival. Hera’s presence brings the others upon Olympus, and we must be ready to make a good impression. In truth, the only problem i forsee would be Zeus-- though i doubt he would soil his brother’s hospitality, or Hera’s well mood with trouble making. Regardless, we must plan the seating so as to keep you from interacting too much... I am proud to be planning this with you, my son. You have grown so much, as of late.

Hypnos: I-- Love you too, mother!

Nyx: [shakes her head slightly] There is also the matter of your clothes. Queen Persephone and I have woven you a garment... though you must treat it well. It would not do for your wife to come, only for you to have spilled something on yourself.

Hypnos: Ha! I guess not! Thank you so much! [pause] Really, though, mother. Thank you. I know you’re... Well, *I’m* still not like how Thanatos is, or Charon in terms of being.. on my own? I want you to know this means a lot. It’s a lot easier now, but i know i’m still learning. And with Timo, i’ll be learning even more! I just.. You’re going to love her, mother. I hope i do everything right, here.

Nyx, smiling softly: You shall be fine, my child.

[mystiika]

re; the woman who named Death ' ada ' & why Death chooses to take her form when a form is needed

trigger warning: severe loss of quality of life leading up to major character death other notes: i will capitalise ' Death ' below to help differentiate between the state & ada as a being & a quick reminder that the fc of said woman ( & Death in threads, is a young julie andrews + explanation in another separate post once i make some actual icons & have more than bullet point notes of the topic )

after the thousands of years that had passed, Death no longer remembers her name, nor her voice. Death cannot recall where on this planet she had lived, nor the name of the language she spoke. but Death can never forget the look in her eyes as she took in such a simply beauty as that of a plain & common flower. Death cannot forget how gently she would hold an animal in need of her help from anything to removing a thorn to helping heal a broken wing. Death cannot forget that she'd spoken so tenderly or sung sweetly to any living thing around her. most of all, Death cannot forget the sheer feeling of love & peace that was felt in this woman's presence, & the name she gives Death. & while Death typically interacted with other beings with a wall of distance of sorts in order to avoid interfering too much whenever Death's incorporeal heart wished she would follow through on those thoughts. 

at first, Death took the form of a bird — able to watch on from leafy trees as this strange human went about her day, almost as if keeping track as this woman interfered where Death could not. sure, Death had some control over death, but if she saved every life she could, the world would fall apart. so it brought on such joy to see when one animal took care care of another ( whether it was a human offering water to a tired deer or a humpback whale saving a seal from an orca ) sure, the animal saved will still die another day, but the simple act of saving a life was something beautiful on its own.

as a whole, Death found humans to be quite sympathetic to creatures they identified with ( although often so to inanimate objects, despite the lack of life & for reasons Death had yet to fully understand ). & so Death had seen humans saving others selflessly as much as other animals, but none quite so often — nor as well — as this girl, this woman.

the next time Death came closer to her it was once she reached adulthood & in the form of a common rodent of the time, attempting to lead her to a similar animal caught in a trap set by nature, to see what exactly she would do. & without a second thought, she followed what had ( to her credit ) appeared to be a rather distressed creature. to see if she followed until she saw the injured one & attempted to do what she could. of course, Death knew this creature would die, but it wasn't done in an effort to pain the woman ( althought Death was sure it would ). rather it was to see how she would still attempt to save an animal from a clearly fatal injury, & how she might grieve when she sees she cannot.

& eventually, Death comes to her as a child — appearing no older than 9 or 10. at this point, Death can give no name to offer in introduction for having never been given one & having no reason to have a name for itself until now, nor can Death say where it had come from because how was Death suposed to explain it was as old as time. but, Death knew the language, & so they talked. about nothing, or everything, & most interestingly so, the woman talked about herself. her life, her story, what she does & how she chooses to live. & when after a few days of the human knowing Death had no name & so had asked if Death would like a name. after a few moments of consideration, Death said that it would, & that it would like if she could choose the name herself. & so came the name of ada.

ada was sure the woman knew they weren't human. but it didn't seem to make any difference to her. however, eventually, the woman fell ill shortly after she entered her 30s. it started out as a cold, which then worsened until it developed into pneumonia. a little while later, she was stuck in bed, her breathing worsening until each inhale & outhale came with a shallow wheeze. ada would sit by her bed for hours a day, talking to her anything she wanted to & filling every possible moment so she didn't have to talk only to stop & catch her breath every few words.

during this time, the woman thought about death more & more — something most humans did when having some warning about their future. & ada could hear these thoughts, as they did for any creature capable of such a thing, but ada did their best to block it out. she wasn't in much pain, a fact ada contributed to in some small part. but it was soon to be her time to die & they both knew it.

in most deaths ( a distintion also needing a separate post ), there is a window in which ada could wholly influence the outcome without the world falling into complete chaos, & in most cases it was following something of a prayer or sometimes an unspoken wish. but, if ada communicated to a creature the option, it was possible to trigger a window to appear. most often ada did this when suicide was the would-be cause of death. she might sit & talk with the creature ( mostly humans in recent centuries ), & stopping time in order to do so & opperate within a single second when time continued normally after. or in cases such as with with this one, with this woman, offering the chance to pass peacefully after a long or even short fought battle. ada cannot see the future of what would become of a person if they lived, but ada can see when or what their death will be if they did. it was also in these moments that ada made their identity known, to a degree at least. most often in the form of a wordless feeling & complete understanding in their chest of why ada was there.

so one day, ada asked her what she wanted, if she wanted to die. it took a few moments but she reached a hand forward, taking ada's hand in her own. she gave her a smile, getting out a quiet ❝ oh, my sweet ada... ❞ Death did not often cry physical tears. having spent so long without a physical form, & most of which having no tear ducts, the pain of their heart seldom reached a face. but in this moment, ada gave a large, reassuring smile as tears began to fall. they move to stand. leaning forward ada presses a gentle kiss to the woman's cheek, & so took her soul as lips receded. it was as peaceful & painless as a death could be, ada grateful they could at least do that much.

ada only gets so far as dropping back onto the wooden stool before a wail leaves their lips in a way they hadn't thought possible. frozen in time so there was nothing & no one calling them to their purpose, Death grieves. for wnile freezing time was something they were able, the moving forward or backward in time was one of the few if not the only things Death cannot do — or perhaps, more accurately, it's something even they knew better than to mess with.

it takes an immortal lifetime before ada unstops time, a lifetime sitting at the foot of a grave made for her in the way ada had seen humans make for each other time & time again, telling the freshly dug dirt how wide & beautiful reality was beyond what she'd have been able to comprehend. talking of the day that woman had been born, the aura of her even as an infant was enough to see Death take pause, how Death had watched her grow up as all life around her grew tenfold by her presence. but, when time finally resumes, everything in existance calls out to Death all at once. though to Death that reality was what had always been, had it been anything else god or mortal, it would have been so overwhelmingly & deafeningly loud they'd have gone mad in seconds.

but, despite the pain Death felt at the lost of their only true friend, in a way things still felt a little less lonely than the millenia before, for now they had found a new way to love, &, more than that, Death had been given a name to carry for the rest of time — a sign that there was at least one person who had truly loved them.

& so it was at this point that Death helped the woman live another day in spirit, past the dispersing energy of her soul, & with the understanding that she would have been honoured to see herself & her love staying behind with a being she adored as much as she did ada. & from then on, unless another form was better suited in the moment, ada chose to share that tender touch & warm smile they had loved so much with the infinite creatures as they grow & live their final day.

[cozymochi]

oh nooo... mochi I have just now realized you've combined my childhood and current hyperfixations and

I don't think I can recover 😬😬 ANYWAY I have too many questions about Tia and her life before and after isekai-ing so here's a few

-granma and lottie characters names?

-gramma based off mama Odie?

-how did Tia react to her first culinary crucible?

-her opinion on Crowley?

-and I don't typically like reading character reactions to yuusonas/MCs/OCs, but I genuinely want to know how Tia interacts with the characters? I love her so much ahhh🤩

adios y gracias mochi!

AAAA yay! Well im gonna see if I can address each of these.

-granma and lottie characters names?

Granma’s name is “Eva Dumarais”, from her father’s side. Tia’s middle name is named after her! Granma prefers to be addressed by her name “Eva” or literally anything else. I was intending on including that in practice, but I didn’t want to confuse anybody.

I actually drew up Tia’s friends for my own self reference over HERE!! (The info is still mostly accurate since posting.) But, the blonde girl (that is, yes, very much an intended allusion to Lottie) is named Lisette. A.K.A “Lizzie.” She was Tia’s longest friend. This is them in an old drawing I don’t remember making.

-gramma based off mama Odie?

Not necessarily, however I can see how that allusion can be made. It’s an easy train of thought to have! So, I’m not opposed to it and if anyone thinks that, that’s totally fine. Then I took her eye out for no reason other than it looked cool.

Pretty much every person from Tia’s home-world doesn’t really show up anyway since they’re just people from Tia’s previous life. Not that they don’t have influence on her, but in the grander scheme they aren’t too significant. So I suppose it doesn’t matter either way! I had a drawing of her not in her sleepy time getup but I may have deleted it on accident. WHOOPS!!

-how did Tia react to her first culinary crucible?

SHE ATE IT UP!!!! Probably the most in her element course she’s taken— but Tia always wants to learn new things so I’m sure she went all in. However, she and Grim are counted as a single student. Take that as you will. Total aside, I feel like I’m the only person who takes that into consideration at all 😭.

-her opinion on Crowley?

She screamed and threw a plush monkey at him when first saw his face. As if the talking cat-like monster wasn’t enough. (Context? Who needs it)

Okay AFTER all the initial shock in being transported, magic, coffins, getting shoved into Ramshackle, being the only girl on the entire campus, and god knows what else (which is a story in itself)—-, Tia finds Crowley to be unreliable and capricious.

Tia is a lot more pressing about trying corner the guy about how to get home and question him, but Crowley will usually weasel out of it or pretend not to hear altogether. (It’s sillier in practice)

Besides, he makes her fix issues at the school and deal with it its students, then regularly blackmails, and guilt trips if she has any refusal, so it’s not exactly positive.

On the other hand, Crowley finds Tia really inflexible (and depending on the day, that can be bothersome), but!! On the bright side that can translate into someone just PERFECT for getting these students in line!

Though, because he intentionally gets under her skin for various reasons, that just makes her wanna prove herself more. So in a weird way, she wants to be recognized as capable to him but also is somewhat aware that she’s probably being strung along.

THERE’S A LOT, I FIND TIA AND CROWLEY VERY FUNNY, I just never actively discussed it or showed it much.

-how Tia interacts with the characters?

Given that there’s 20+ characters there’s no way I can feasibly answer this individually in the detail I would like to without making the longest post ever. Cuz, I do have answers!! Pretty much every base universal status quo is still the same, but. Y’know.

But if someone can imagine a generalized Tiana “base” character starting point, and put her near any of these guys— someone could probably make a feasible guess and be mostly on the money, give or take a few details (cuz there are a few things different overall…). There are characters I didn’t think Tia would gel with, but as she came into her own it sorta fell out of my hands, in a way. Lol.

——

As for not being into how other people’s MCs and the sub-categories and how they respond to characters, I just wanna say… I’m the exact same way. It’s exceedingly rare for me to do the same. So don’t worry, I feel you. It’s pretty much why I don’t bring up Tia unless I’m posting a drawing with Grim on it OR if somebody asks first jfjdjdhrub so thank u!!! That just means something resonated enough!!

[ownerofaheavyheart]

A message I really shouldn’t send :

I really need to know what the hell is going on.

I confess my love to you and you tell me I wouldn’t if I knew you..Is that a polite way of telling me you don’t feel the same ?

And if it isn’t, shouldn’t I get to decide?

I so desperately want to know you. You have no idea how crazy i feel when you consume all my waking thoughts. I don’t know you so how could i possibly love you? I love things about you, traits that I know I want the person i spend the rest of my life with to have. Patience and kindness, honesty, humour, considerate and smart…

I don’t bloody know you and it infuriates me. You drive me fucking crazy.

You’re too nice too me, a kind of nice I can’t tell is politeness or pointed. You’re the only person who noticed my hair and that drives me nuts, why mention it right after I told you how I feel.

You’re attractive, far too attractive. Do you know how hard it is not to look at you at any given moment. You’re fucking smart but you pretend you’re not. All I want is to hear your opinion and thoughts and you’re so reluctant to give it. You either think no one cares or you dont care enough to argue your point, either is entirely plausible.

It is absolutely crushing me not knowing where I stand with you.

If you don’t like me, I wish you’d just fucking tell me, because I’m never going to get over you when I read into every interaction we have. Everytime you laugh at my jokes or Tell me I’m smart or just fucking lock eyes with me across the room as if we’re both in on a fucking joke together, I go mad.

I get so angry at myself for liking you, for convincing myself that you could feel the same. Logically I know, a guy like you doesn’t fall in love with a girl like me but logic went out the window the moment I saw you.

And i can try to get over you, remind myself of all your faults and Icks but I don’t think it’s going to happen. You’re good far outweighs your bad..

but how would I know, I don’t know you. remember?

[iskedo]

Transform your Business Era Using Appointment Confirmation Emails in 2024

Seeking prior appointments in every sphere is not only an etiquette but an indispensable need of the hour, gone are the days when people had spare time for sitting in queues. The significance of sending appointment confirmation emails in today’s fast-paced, digitally driven world cannot be emphasized. These emails are essential resources for making sure that scheduling procedures are well-organized, effective, and customer-focused in a variety of industries. Appointment confirmation emails become vital communication tools as companies depend more and more on technology to improve customer experiences and streamline operations. These emails are more than just a simple reminder; they also help lower the number of people who fail to show up, promote efficient two-way communication, and build trust by being dependable and professional. Within this framework, the opening paragraph delves into the pivotal function of emailing appointment confirmations, emphasizing their importance in enhancing correspondence, encouraging client contentment, and bolstering the general prosperity of enterprises within the current dynamic and cutthroat landscape. This blog will throw light on the need to send appointment confirmation emails to customers and how they can be helpful.

Email appointment confirmations satisfy several essential requirements for businesses of all kinds. Here are a few main justifications for why this procedure is crucial:

Reduced No-Shows: If clients are informed in advance or simply given a gentle reminder it will reduce the chances of no-shows to a great extent. Emails confirming appointments work well as reminders, which lowers the amount of no-shows. The recent research done on the reasons for no-shows for booked appointments confirm that most people tend to forget the date and time after scheduling the appointment hence resulting in no-show. People are more likely to remember and show up for appointments when they are given clear information about the appointment, such as the date, time, and place. With the advent of appointment scheduling software, the chances of missing appointments have been reduced to a great extent. 

Improve the Experience for Customers: You will not deny the fact that organizations that prefer the client’s experience and take care of customer needs are always preferred. Similarly, email confirmation or automated SMS reminders of appointments enhances the clientele’s experience. It exhibits professionalism, meticulousness, and a dedication to client fulfillment. Reminding customers is a polite gesture that they value and it can enhance their opinion of the product or service.

Enhance Interaction: Communication and smooth interaction are the essence of any organization. Email confirmations offer clients and service providers an organized and dependable means of communication. It is simple for recipients to confirm, reschedule, or ask questions regarding appointments, promoting effective and convenient two-way communication.

Simplify the Processes: Email notifications can work wonders in the process of simplifying the work culture of the organization. Administrative procedures can be streamlined by sending confirmation emails. By eliminating the need for manual follow-ups and phone calls, automation of appointment confirmations frees up resources so that businesses can concentrate on other crucial duties. 

Establish Credibility and Trust: If you are into a business that involves interacting with clients then you need to have clear communication, it is pertinent to build rapport with your customers for better clientele. Establishing credibility and trust with clients is facilitated by regular communication, which includes confirmations of appointments. It establishes a good rapport with clients that may result in repeat business and recommendations by demonstrating that the company is well-run, dependable, and considerate of their time. 

Get Used to Digital Lives: A lot of people’s preferences and lifestyles are in line with appointment confirmation emails in this day and age of digital communication. They are simple to access on mobile devices, giving the recipients the freedom to check and manage their appointments while they’re out and about.

Verify Correctness: The information about the scheduled appointment is documented in writing through confirmation emails. This gives the client and the service provider a clear point of reference while reducing the possibility of miscommunications or mistakes during the scheduling process.

Observe the Rules: It may be mandatory by law to send appointment confirmation emails in some sectors of the economy, like the healthcare industry. Maintaining compliance standards by informing patients about their appointments and safeguarding the rights and interests of the clients and service providers.

Promote Planning: Senders of confirmation emails find it easier to organize their calendars. Receivers can make necessary arrangements, manage their time effectively, and get ready for the appointment with the help of written information, which makes the process run more smoothly.

Accountability and Documentation: Emails that confirm an appointment serve as documentation of the planned meeting. In the event of disagreements or disputes, this paperwork can be helpful because it provides both parties with an accurate and up-to-date record of the terms that were agreed upon. 

Getting Used to Mobile Lives: With appointment scheduling software the lives have become so convenient. They facilitate the appointment scheduling process. Appointment confirmation emails are easily accessible on smartphones in this age of mobile communication, giving recipients convenient access to important information at anytime, anywhere. This flexibility fits in with the mobile lifestyles that many people will lead in 2023.

Customization and Identity Development: In the present times sending reminders will not only save time and resources but will help to retain the identity of the organization and build more clientele by establishing the organization as a brand. Adding branding elements and personalizing confirmation emails with the recipient’s name upholds the company’s polished image. It helps create a unified and identifiable brand identity, which improves customer perception.

Fulfilling Regulatory Needs: As we know lives have become so complex that every single minute is valued. Consequently, many organizations have this policy of sending email confirmation as a way of caring for their clients. Sending email appointment confirmations may be necessary in some industries, like healthcare, to ensure regulatory compliance. It is in line with patient rights and healthcare regulations to make sure that patients are informed about their appointments.

To sum up, the significance of emailing confirmations of appointments in 2023 goes beyond simple prompts. It includes client satisfaction, operational effectiveness, and the development of a reliable and open channel of communication between clients and service providers. These confirmation emails continue to be an essential tool for businesses that prioritize the customer experience to meet their objectives. It will reduce the chances of no-show cases, help to save the precious time and resources of the organization as well as reduce the chances of appointment scheduling mistakes. Some patients end up scheduling appointments for the wrong schedule by mistake, but email or SMS confirmation reminds them and prevents them from making any other commitment on the same day and time. In summary, the importance of emailing confirmations of appointments in 2023 is situated at the nexus of operational effectiveness and customer-centeredness. Fostering positive relationships and organizational success is heavily reliant on the reduction of no-shows, improvement of customer experiences, and streamlined operations that they provide. 

[allbetterapps]

Building Stronger Customer Relationships: Tips for Local Contractors

Do strengthening customer relationships matter for small businesses and local contractors? Yes, it is the most desirable goal; it's crucial for long-term success. Effective customer service management is vital to building relationships with the combination- trust, communication, and a commitment to delivering top-notch service. We will discuss strategies that local contractors can implement to improve customer relationships.

Transparent Communication

Having open and honest communication is crucial to building a strong and healthy customer relationship. It is the essential foundation for effective communication. Local contractors should be transparent about project timelines, costs, and potential challenges. Well-informed clients are more likely to trust your expertise and decisions. Regular updates and the willingness to address questions or concerns promptly can go a long way in building trust.

Active Listening: 

Hearing and understanding your customers is crucial. Find an opportunity to grasp their necessities and assumptions. When the clients are valued and given priority, it attracts them towards you and your services. Uplift them to share their ideas and concerns, and demonstrate that you prioritize their input.

Personalization: 

Giving personalized attention to each customer can have a significant impact. Remember details about their preferences, project history, or any unique considerations. Your commitment to meeting their needs and your appreciation for their business are reflected by personalizing your interactions.

Consistency in Service: 

Building trust and maintaining a good reputation requires consistency. From the initial consultation to the project's completion, ensure your team maintains a consistent level of service. This consistency assists clients with knowing what's in store and assembles trust in their capacities.

Timely Responses: 

Prompt responsiveness is a crucial aspect of customer service. Return calls and emails promptly, especially when clients have questions or concerns. A delay in communication can lead to frustration and erode trust. For your customers, be available and responsive first and foremost.

Quality Workmanship: 

Ultimately, the quality of your work speaks volumes. Conveying the best outcomes is an ideal way to intrigue your clients and acquire their trust. Strive for excellence in every project, and don't cut corners. When clients see that you reliably convey exceptional work, they suggest your services to their near and dear ones.

Exceed Expectations: 

Go the extra mile whenever possible. Surprise your clients with small gestures of appreciation, such as completing a project ahead of schedule, providing a helpful tip, or offering a discount on future services. These extra efforts have a positive impact that lasts.

Professionalism: 

Be professional in all interactions with customers to make them feel highly valued. It includes punctuality, dressing appropriately, and showing courtesy and respect. A professional demeanor reflects positively on your business.

Quality Assurance Checks: 

After completing a project, conduct quality assurance checks to ensure everything meets the agreed-upon standards. This proactive approach demonstrates your commitment to delivering the best possible results and helps address potential issues before the client notices.

Seek Feedback: 

Actively seek feedback from your clients after a project completion. Ask for their input on what went well and where there might be room for improvement. Not only does this show that you value their opinions, but it also provides valuable insights for enhancing your services.

Follow-Up: 

Don't consider the relationship with a customer finished once a project is over. Send follow-up messages or make courtesy calls to check on their satisfaction with the work. It reinforces your commitment to their happiness and offers a chance to address post-project concerns.

Conclusion

Time and effort are vital to build customer relationships, but the rewards are worth it and satisfying. Satisfied customers are more likely to become repeat clients, refer your services to others, and leave positive reviews. 

How about including technology for Customer Service Management like AllBetter Field to enhance your relationship and build a loyal client base? 

It helps you create open communication, deliver consistent quality, and assure commitment to exceeding expectations. As a local contractor, you can foster lasting relationships that contribute to the success and growth of your business. 

[sunriseovergotham]

i love them i love them i love them!!!! i remember first starting wbg and being like aw :( sucks that there aren't any more inserts and ocs for this it would be so cool so seeing your silly little guys made my day!!!!! AND THEN YOUR RESPONSE MADE IT EVEN BETTER!!!

im SO excited to see em 👀 im already so attached you have no idEAAAAA they're soo cool thank you sosos much for sharing them with us!!

- imaginepostingonmain

AWW THANK YOU 💞💞 i think i have a few more wbg ocs if ur interested, i was mildly scared of posting about them but omg im so excited to talk about them!!!!!! OHHH and thinking about how eni's interactions with the rest of base will go is definitely interesting

you know what. rambling time. eni is me but braver with less of a fear of consequences but he still is me to some level, which leads to a pretty serious 'fall limp like a prey animal' response, like i could see him coming clean if he got caught doing something. he definitely would sell others down the river, hes kinda similar to mike in that way. its like. he can live the rest of his life feeling guilty over it as long as he has the rest of his life to live.

(this got. entirely too long. the rest of the post is under the cut)

its interesting to think about how enigma became how he is. yk, years of torture does tend to change a man. i imagine he flipped between defense mechanisms, fight to fawn to freeze to fight, ect ect.

the only reason he got out was because he fought and resisted and was stubborn and inconvenient and all of those things i try very hard not to be. he would be incredibly different from me and i think thats quite fun to think about.

thinking about identity is interesting too. i could see future iterations using different names and pronouns because my identity is a very fluid, changing thing. i could see enigma using different pronouns or perceiving his gender differently then eni or i do. he definitely got top surgery and im so jealous. also probably a few tattoos. oh! maybe he did that to kind of reclaim his body after the compound. i keep imagining him as more feminine then his other iterations for some reason?? i also imagine him with dirty blond hair and very thin. like unhealthily thin. i always tend to associate being super thin with being unhealthy and he is the very opposite of healthy

eni wouldnt have played woe.begone, no way. even if it brought back the most beloved person in my life, i have basic self preservation instincts, something that other characters seem to be significantly lacking in. i mean, i could kind of see enigma doing it but i dont see why he would bother, honestly. he has more of a stomach for pain and violence then i do, i think. its a weird flipflop between self destruction and self preservation, complicated trauma stuff, idk

i keep kind of thinking of me-me getting sent to the wbg universe with all knowledge of the podcast. it probably wouldnt help or improve anything (if i EVER hear the word propagation again im going to commit a crime) considering. you know. time travel. knowledge of the future is considered the norm. but it would be interesting and would affect my actions considerably

enigma rlly needs a partner of some kind because hes me and that means hes self-isolating because 'you cant be hurt if youre alone' bullshit. hes also scared of people. and relationships. and basically everything but he doesnt realize because hes either super dissociated or horrifying present every given moment. i keep torturing this poor guy can i at least give him like. a therapy animal or something. christ

WOAH i wrote considerably more then i intended to oopsies