#this icon is for her human guise

[trans-li-ling]

anyway I think hyde is lying in some ways

[matan4il]

I'm so disappointed in Susan Sarandon right now. How about never ever have a sentence in any context that includes "Jews getting a taste of".

Especially as a woman. Like how do all these women just dismiss the rape of moms. Murdering of children. Putting babies in ovens!!! Ignoring the hostages living in Hell right now. Just I need a sign of humanity right now.

What they did October 7th wasn't warfare. It wasn't against a military. It was barbaric, animal style torture. Anyone not talking about what they did that day is just a soulless monster to me.

Hi Nonnie!

I couldn't agree more. Her antisemitism really jumped out of her there, didn't it? If your response to the Jews of your country being persecuted and scared is, "Good!" I don't care what excuses you use, you're just an antisemite.

Also, saying that "Jews are getting a taste of what Muslims are in this country," like Jews had it coming, only makes sense if you're saying that Jews are somehow responsible for islamophobia in the US? Which is literally the opposite of the truth. An islamophobia Index study found Jews were the least prejudiced in the US against Muslims. But even if it were true, do two wrongs make a right? The very idea that she's using American Islamophobia to justify American antisemitism is also evidence of her just being an antisemite.

But there were many headlines saying she was fired for being pro-Palestinian. Here's a few examples:

Even many of the headlines who didn't call her comment "pro-Palestinian," stated that she was dumped by her agency for comments "at a pro-Palestinian rally" instead of just saying she was dropped for making antisemitic remarks.

It demonstrates exactly how this new antisemitism works. She can say anything antisemitic, no matter how morally wrong, no matter how factually inaccurate, and it just gets cloaked as being "pro-Palestinian." Will American Jews being scared in the US free a single Palestinian in Gaza? No. Did Sarandon speak for Palestinian protesters a few months ago, when they were being killed by Hamas? Also no. Because she doesn't really care about them, they're just a tool for her to be gleeful over Jews being persecuted.

I'm not even gonna talk about her circulating false information about the Jewish state (that Israeli soldiers are the ones responsible for killing Israeli civilians, not Hamas), and that to do so, she retweeted a right wing, white supremacist antisemite. Sarandon, supposedly a human rights, far left activist, amplified the voice of a right wing, white supremacist antisemite. There really is no end to what antisemites are willing to do, or what they think they can get away with under the guise of "just" being anti-Israel, not antisemitic.

I'm glad she got her comeuppance, I'm glad her talent agency dropped her. Not that her acting career has been relevant for decades. She had two iconic roles, which is two more than many actors, but I was looking at her acting credits, and the last time she had an acting role that really made waves at the time is a 1999 movie. And maybe that also explains why she's suddenly so vocally anti-Israeli since 2021, because that's the only way she's made headlines in recent years. IDK to what a degree this also plays a role, but I do think people like Sarandon and Roger Waters are, at least in part, also feeding their own ego, when suddenly their anti-Israel (and antisemitic) comments get them attention, and from certain factions, even praise.

That's a long winded way to say, I totally agree with you. About Sarandon, and about anyone dismissing, ignoring, and especially justifying Oct 7. It was barbaric on levels that are hard to comprehend. I think it's especially telling when hearing forensic examiners, first responders and morgue workers saying that Oct 7 was like none of the other horrors they had witnessed over decades of gruesome work.

I hope you're doing good, lovely, despite how infuriating all of this is. Sending you hugs! xoxox

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[moonmaiden1996]

Summoned Part Three

Discretion Advised 18 ++

Warning smut of minor characters.

In total, eight golden apples had been given, including your own. None of your fellow beings hung around, either insulted by their lack of an apple or not wanting to outstay their welcome. Lord Morpheus had not always been known as the most hospitable of Gods. For most it was the first time that they had be graced with a visit to the dreaming. 

Without the crowds, the palace was empty, isolated. In the distance, the vivid prairies of the Dreaming seemed almost magical, like the time before the first war and every so often, the winds would carry to sounds of the visitors, the pureness of humanity as it had once been. Yet it gave you no comfort. You were trapped out on the edge of billions of dreams, trapped by wolves, vipers and vultures, ready to attack in one swift movement.  

After all, that is what you would do. You had been a Goddess long enough to know how it worked. The King wanted that; of course, he did; how better to discover his new consort than in a thinly veil battle between his chosen candidates. Why you, though? You prided yourself on your skill and knowledge but were humble enough to know you could not compare to the others. So why was it that you received one?  

The apple still tasted sweet in your mouth; even after a few bites, the taste lingered, swelling magic within you. Yet, trapped here, the apple seemed so insignificant. What use of magic against an Endless being? Before you might have used your cauldron to poison the whole court or to bring about the humiliation of some of the snobby upper-ranked Gods or Goddesses but being stuck here with the icons of war and nature was concerning. You had always prided yourself on surviving; it is why you were still here after all. For how much longer, though, was not certain.   

For the most part, you could cling to the outside of the group. It was not too difficult, the others had a way of demanding attention, and when the King graced the assembly with his presence, it was partially easy. Though he never spoke without good need, he seemed content to simply listen to the gushing's of the other deities. And they sort constant attention from the King.  

Tired eyes scanned the current assembly, all dressed in finery.  

Kratos was a figure you had only known by name before this; he was seven feet of God, his face a stoney canvas of cruelty, which certainly lived up to the rumours. Tonight, his outfit covered very little, it was a low toga, which left little to the imagination, but it dominated the room with his bulging muscles. Much to Indra’s chagrin. The King of Davas, Indra, whose dark skin glistened with the rain that followed him; his physical was not as impressive; yet his power made the skies shiver as he sent lightning bolt after lightning bolt into the air. Much to the dismay of the God of Sparta. 

Aphrodite was Aphrodite; even in her previous demised state, she still retained that air of beauty that allowed her a degree of trespass that no ordinary creature might take the liberty of. Olive skin shinning out against the baby pink of her gown, wrapped in a gold lifted crown, but now she had consumed the apple, she gave off a blinding shine, as was the shell she had been draped over. Which was dangerously close to the throne. You did have to give it to her, though; she had to position her just so that it gave her a rather wonderful outline.  

Next to Aphrodite’s shell Bastet, sat tall, will all the regal bearing which one would expect from a cat, slender and aloof, just as you would expect from a God of the Old Kingdom. Unlike their Greek and Roman counterpart. Bastet exuded royalty, much like the Spring Goddess Ostara.   

Ostara was the most well-known to you; after all, she had many guises, like most deities. She had been known as Eostre and often sorted the knowledge of the cauldron from you or your mother. That was after she had been Persephone, of course. She had finally become sick of Hades and his many nymph lovers, Leice, Minthe and, of course, Theophile, the stupid girl who claimed that Hades loved her better than Persephone, which was the finally straw before she completely abandoning the underworld for life as her own goddess, as the Spring Equinox.   

To see all five of the supreme gods together made the remaining choice all the more questionable. They at least had carved a mark on humanity; they had prestige, power and a pedigree. The rest of you did not.  

Spriggan was the strangest choice, stranger than you; they had spent their entire life in the remote lands of the British Isles. It preferred to peak out from one of the pews, and closets to the King, never talking, just watching.  A tree spirit that was neither man nor woman or at least gave the impression of it. Moss covered its skin, making it impossible to tell its age; wizened like an old man or woman, but what skin you could see was smooth like a child.  

Like you, Puck lingered at the side, or as many knew him, Robin Goodfellow. His dark, mischievous eyes darted from side to side as he strummed lazily at his lute, occasionally stopping to tune the strings.  You had been travelling through the pit of desire that had become London when you stumbled upon the sprite teasing Shakespeare. You had been friends; you even helped him make his name with a simple one of your potions. After all, how better to immortalise yourself by putting yourself in a play by the bard himself and becoming the epitome of fairy kind. That had been before he betrayed you. 

You really wished Puck had kept his mouth shut. Perhaps he wished to deliver you some favour with the King, or perhaps he saw this as an opportunity to direct the other god's attention away from himself and onto you so he could make his move. Either way, it would bring you no end of trouble. You did not like how the burning eyes of Lord Morpheus fell on you so intently they seemed to pierce right into you, more so the way the others glared at you.  

"... it's true...little witchy, tell them it's true," Puck giggled as he twirled around, the material of his ridiculous costume fluttering in the air around him.  

You bristled at the nickname. Narrowing your eyes at this little fiend as he twirled around you.  

"...did the fae really trick this John Dee to allow another man to bed his wife and father her children?" Bastet's voice purred, whiskers twitching in the air.  

"He was only meant to pretend to let the pompous old fool believe he was talking to the angels... but like always, Puck took it too far." You hissed as the fairy pirouetted away.  

"And the meany witch put a stop to it...but I got you back! Did I! I got you back good." You hated the child like glee that filled his voice.  

"If having me hanged as a witch class at that." you snapped.  

"Hung by humans...how quaint." Bastet perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched, amused.  

"That's not the best bit, Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble..." he cackled "I made her and her silly cauldron the centre of Shakespeare's best plays."  

"And in doing so spread the propaganda that condemns many.' You snapped.  

'So, a few little humans died. They breed like rabbits, kill one, and seven more take their place."  

‘’A few....’’ You growled. 50,000 people, men, women and children burned, drowned or hung. 50,103 to be exact. 

‘’This is boring,’’ Aphrodite pouted, ‘’can't we have music? I adore dancing; Fae plays something! I wish to dance for My King."   

The eyes shifted and you were forgot once again as the music filled the air and Aphrodite began to sway. Enticed b the way her hips shimmed. All eyes except Ostara’s, who abandoned her seat to stand next to you. 

"Nicely played, but don’t think this aloof fair maid act will get you somewhere. But it will not work. Watch yourself; those here will not hesitate to get rid of a little thing like you. Watch your back, little one."   

Xx   

The gathering had long since broken up. Ostara's warning, or threat twirled over in your mind. Puck has put you in a stupid position. A dangerous one. One that made walking the halls alone a night dangerous. If they are though you a threat, one that could be easiest gotten rid off, your life would be in peril. But you had grown tired of staring at the four walls of your rooms. You did not want the companionship of the others, not that there was any to take, especially with Ostara and Puck seemingly disserting you. Puck, you could understand, but not Ostara; she had been once your surrogate mother.   

"Good evening, My Lady." the familiar pleasant tone cut through the silence.   

The dark skin elf from the gather stood at the side of the hallway dressed in the same immaculate dress suit. Buttons polished to a soft gleam. The flower still pinned in their buttonhole. 

"What are you still doing here? Will not the King be annoyed that you have not departed with the others?"   

You were aware that some of the Gods had disappeared into the Dreaming to revel in the pleasure of the place a bit longer, but if the King found an unwanted being still lingering in the castle, there might not be a pleasant outcome.  

"I fear he will be even more annoyed if I leave, My Lady; I am Lucienne, the chief librarian and guardian of the Dream realm. Forgive me; I should have introduced myself earlier but did not wish to trespass on the gathering." She smiled.  

Now that was something unexpected. Many creations graced the place, attending to the gods that currently had taken up residence. But not one that was trusted enough to be a Guardian. Now that might be useful information.   

You returned the smile. "You still wear my flower. Has it bloomed yet?"  

"Yes, my lady, it is rather beautiful, and I cannot bear to take it off."  

Pride blossomed within you; you had made it yourself nurtured, tended it, till it was just right before picking it. It was appreciated.   

'Well, with such praise, I hope it inspired you."   

"Indeed, My Lady...it inspired me to start my own account of the King."  

Information that was defiantly intriguing and could be helpful. Any information on the King could make the difference between making it back home or being scavenged for a bit from the vultures that circled above.  

"I am glad; perhaps you can tell me about it again. I do so enjoy seeing the fruit of my inspiration." Even more, if they get me out of here.  

"While you're here, My Lady, could I tempt you to a book? The library is just down the hall, and it has been years since I have had a visitor."  

"I would be honoured."  

xxxxxx  

When you returned to your room sometime later with a book. The missing Shakespeare plays seemed worthy of your reading and apt.   

The leather creaked as you opened the page, your eyes finding the formed ink before a moan halted you. It was not the haunting noise of the wind. Instead, it was gruntal, deep and masculine. Waiting, you heard it again, this time longer, louder, tilting you heard as you listened intently, other noises now filling the air. You knew those sounds, the deep moaning, the rhythmic thud of skin, the groan of furniture bending to the force of thrust.  

Staring out of the balcony, it was dark, as it often was at the palace; even with the shining white stone it was made of, it was hard to decipher where one body ended, and the others started. Your view from your room was obscured by the thicket of ivy clinging to the balcony column, but you could see enough, the giant frame of the Greek god, face twisted in pain and pleasure as he was being pounded from behind. The dark locks of the King Morpheus were just visible in the light. There was another, maybe, it was so hard to tell, thin arms of women, maybe even a sprite, dipping between the two male bodies, roaming and squeezing, and from the shuddering roars that filled the space, they seemed to know what they were doing. As in jerked the God of Strength back and wrapped slender fingers around the thick cock that swayed in the air, jolting with every thrust of the slender but powerful hips of the Dream Lord himself. 

You knew something like this was going to happen. This was very bad. Very. Very. Bad. Gods were jealous beings and power hungry. If the others found out, there would be bloodshed, or God forbid Kratos, and this other being saw you. It didn't even bare thinking about.  

The slick sound of flesh slapping against flesh jolted you directly into the eyes of the Dream King himself; how long the King had his eyes set on you didn't know; his eyes had this strange ability to not be on you but see right through you. His eyes stared across the balcony to where you stood behind the pillar. They were bright but different.... paler somehow than usual.  

His thin lips curved up at the side as his moonlight fingers curled around the thick hips of the Greek God, jolting his back against him, allowing the King to push him down, shoving the war-beat face down and renewing his thrusts with an almost punishing vigour. The muffled cries of the Kratos were all you could hear, and the simpering sighs of the other who wrapped tight around the King’s shoulder as it sucked on his neck.   

You gasped at the sight. Gulping as the eyes shone across at you, you waited for a second for something to happen. You are to be smitted or thrown into the waking world for trespassing on something so intimate. Yet, nothing happened. Instead, the smirk grew to near wolfish proportions.  

Cowering back, you fled down the hall and did not stop till you were safely away from your rooms, but not from those glowing eyes that followed you. 

So what do you think? Got to love dark Morpheus playing games :P I know not everyone is into MxM but I only wanted to use it in this one chapter so to showcase the ambiguous nature of the Gods. Hopeful it was okay. More smut next chapter to come for the reader... maybe ;)

As always please let me know, your comments make my day.

Also- Claiming his Queen fans keep your eyes peels for an epilogue update....

@crispyduckpirate @musemaniac42 @aralezinspace @boofy1998 @cipher-needs-2-sleep @avatar4eva (couldn't tag) @sassenach-the-pie-maker @ella33 @suszanne @ladyredstar1991 @alexander-arcturus-black @maripositanoctruna @xushisuxi @imaginovator @dotieeee @honeybeezgobzzzzz @cryban6 @lonelyladyghost @isitstilldarkout

[lunar-eclipse-bunnies]

My piece is about a Japanese boatwoman navigating the sea surrounding Mount Oyamaand meeting the nature spirit responsible for the waves there. The boatwoman is grieving, as every fiancé she’s had has perished in some way, leaving her an outcast in her village, and considered a bad-luck charm for the young men there. In her grief, and to leave her village, the woman cut her hair, stole her father’s hakama and joined a fishing boat’s crew under the guise of being a man. Her presence continued to cause unlucky accidents for her male coworkers, until she was the only fisherman left on the ship. She decided to sail until the sea took her life as well, but instead of a watery grave the woman found a chaotic and bored nature spirit, responsible for the choppy waters and waves she had purposefully sailed into. The spirit’s kimono was made of the sea, her otaiko the Mount Oyama itself, her crescent hair stick is the moon. Her kimono sleeves frothed at the edges, flinging pearls into the sky. The woman saw as the spirit apathetically transformed random pearls into swirling balls of light that floated lazily up into the sky and past the clouds. She realized that those must have been the souls of those who died at sea, and some of them must have been her fellow fishermen. She stood in awe on her boat, just watching, waiting for her own turn to become a pearl. My piece was heavily inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night as well as the Japanese woodblock that inspired it, Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa. One of my personal interests is the effect of Japanese woodblock prints on the western art world, especially the on the post-impressionists (some, including van Gogh, were so into Japanese culture that they were called the newly-coined French term, “Japonisme.”), and I especially adore Hokusai’s work. I took the iconic moon and stars from van Gogh’s piece and the composition, boats, mountain, and wave from Hokusai’s print, molding them to fit together. Instead of a cypress tree in the foreground, like in van Gogh’s piece, I instead drew in a human form holding some oars, putting it in the same place in the foreground as van Gogh’s cypress tree; both are meant as symbols of death and mourning.

my art history prof gave me 100 for this and the essay i turned in with it :3c her class is the only one im not dying in this quarter lmao

[transgenderer]

the voodoo thing of representing the loa with saint icons is very cool to me conceptually, one god hiding under the guise of another BUT it seems to have prevented voodoo from developing much of their own artistic style (except for the symbols, which are cool but nonrepresnetative) which sucks because it feels so rich with imagery when metraux describes it. ezili freda dahomey feels just as conceptually evocative as aphrodite, it feels like she...idk, deserves statues or paintings. or that statues or paintings of her would "work", would compel

metraux connects the lack of visual depictions to the (afaik, unique in its frequency/importance) possession aspect. which i hadnt considered but makes total sense, like, if youre already seeing the god in human form when you go to church you dont need a big statue, he's right there, hes walking and talking, why would you make a painting or statue.

[vo-kopen]

Hey comic mutuals and followers, just heard that Zip has a kickstarter for a second issue. I missed the kickstarter for issue one, so I am excited to finally get the chance to get it and the upcoming issue two. I just hope they make their goal, they are only a little over a fourth of the way there and they only have seventeen more days.

For those interested, Zip is described in the kickstarter synopsis as “a British comic about imperfect superhumans (secretly about disability)” and it further notes that it will explore the more passive side of prejudice, rather than blunt and simplistic hatred. That might be honestly tough for me to read, physical fist fights are easy, societal conflict and systematic oppression are what I fear. Still it definitely has me interested, and it’s good to get challenged sometimes. Zip is also a speedster, so a part of me wonders if this will touch on the details that made some of my friend group love Impulse. Like if they go through an ADHD route, though the book is going to be a bit grungy, and I have never read Impulse so I do not know Bart’s tone.

I personally have a real fondness for disabilities in superheroes, for those who know of my personal projects I have a ton of short stories about original superheroes who are Autistic and often disabled in other ways. One for instance is a Hulk/the Thing pastiche who can hardly breathe or speak because of the metal grafted to their skin, and their fat fingers make it impossible to use sign language and write without disability aids. Another is a astral projecting werewolf that is distrusted by everyone not because he’s a werewolf, but because as an Autistic he verges into their idea of the uncanny value. Another is a swan maiden who cannot grab things or talk in swan form, so her ability to help or communicate is limited. Yet people are less hostile to the wild (and cranky) animal shape than they are to the unhoused and physically ugly human guise she also has. And almost every Autistic superhero of mine also has a heaping dose of anxiety. It’s a concept that I find really interesting, so I m so excited to have the chance to help this exist, and to get the prior issue.

So for those of you with money to spare and who want to support independent comics, as well takes on superheroes that are not just by the big two and that are about disabilities, consider donating. I have only donated a little so far, but I will get paid before it ends so I plan to bump up my donation a bit when I know I can. Also Gail Simone tweeted about this comic I think so you know, those of you who like her might enjoy this. It’s pictured up in the kickstarter, though I do not use tweeter so I cannot comment on it.

Tagging @thefingerfuckingfemalefury @nitpickrider @renaroo @akirakan @paulsebert @majingojira @littlemissonewhoisall @espanolbot2 and anyone else in my friend group who might want to check this out. Fair warning, I did not watch the video yet (if that’s what the header thing on the page is, I think it has a play icon) but I never do that on kickstarter because the neurons won’t link. I do not know why, but I can’t do it. Still read the whole page and the endorsements, so I am intrigued.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this press release from the Center for Biological Diversity:

wenty-three wildlife conservation groups today urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department not to remove a family of endangered Mexican gray wolves from just south of the Grand Canyon National Park. The agencies have announced they intended to capture and re-release the pack elsewhere.

In early July agency trappers captured and released a female wolf with a radio collar, intending to track her to capture another wolf she was seen with and move both wolves south of Interstate 40. Neither wolf has been reported as causing any problems. This week students in Arizona voted to name her “Hope” and her family the Kendrick Peak pack.

“What a blessing that Hope safely crossed the freeway and found this national forest land teeming with deer and elk, where she and her family can thrive if we let them,” said Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Now it’s urgent that wildlife agencies halt their plan to move the Kendrick Peak pack and instead let these wolves live in peace and contribute to the natural balance and the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon.”

“These incredible wolves should be allowed to be wild and free,” said Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. “The Interstate 40 boundary makes no scientific sense, and that’s what these wolves are showing to the world.”

“As humans, we often feel we should make all the decisions rather than letting wolves show us what they need,” said Claire Musser, executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. “Each wolf has a unique personality, and wolves like Hope and the Kendrick Peak pack are showing us that ideal habitat exists north of I-40, where the wolves want to be. If we are serious about wolf recovery, it's time to let our lobos lead.”

“The agencies justify their plans to remove the Kendrick Peak pack under the guise of keeping the wolves safe, but they could instead help to keep the wolves safe by educating the public, promoting livestock management that reduces conflict, and celebrating the return of these iconic animals to northern Arizona,” said Greta Anderson, deputy director of Western Watersheds Project. “We hope they change their plans and embrace this restoration opportunity.”

[the-river-carrion]

The World of Hemaia

Welcome to Hemaia, the land of dyads.

I figured, what better way to start worldbuilding than to introduce the world in which I'm building! Briefly, about the map, I drew it in a tiny notebook at work so it's not the full world; primarily there's the rest of the main continent and the odd, small island missing, and the dotted lines indicating ocean borders are a work in progress, but this is my base.

So, Hemaia is made up of two primary land masses/land collections. You have Therrera, the biggest landmass, inspired by supercontinents like Pangea and Rodinia, and The Kosmene Isles, a collection of islands where the story of the Seafarers trilogy takes place. It has two moons, two primary Gods, and pairs and dyads are this land's bread and butter.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Therrera ↴

Talking about this first because it's not the focus of Seafarers and is inherently less developed, most of its details right now come from wanting it to feel real, especially in relation to TKI.

Anyway, literally named 'the land of beasts', Therrera is the birthplace of the mountains and the thirchainum. It spans across the better part of Hemaia and is split into dozens of regions with a deeply diverse array of people but rigid and unyielding Kingdom lines.

While those at the coast often worship both Gods, the closer you travel to the centre of the land, the more faith skews towards the sky god Caelumann. Every set of mountains has a shrine and/or monastery as they're considered deeply holy places, and those who wish to climb the mountains must receive a blessing first.

It's very common for the lower class in more landlocked areas to have never seen the ocean before, some outright even considering it a myth or not knowing it exists at all.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The Kosmene Isles ↴

The woman of the hour. The icon herself. The girl I could talk about for hours. Our setting for the Seafarers Trilogy.

The Kosmene Isles was named as such for the way the moons reflect on the ocean, appearing as though made of crystal; it's made up of six primary islands with a handful of small pieces of land dotted amongst them (usually inhabited by smaller trade villages but a few providing a home for the less accepted folk). While the populace of the Isles come from many different backgrounds and mingle quite easily, the overarching culture of this region is affected by The Murex Crown, who reside on the smallest island in the archipelago but whose influence has morphed into an empire.

While the Kosmenians live on the land, they share their oceans with the merfolk, Cayotia's children, creatures of the water who are said to eat the hearts of those that slip beneath their waves. While a handful of thirchainum species have been brought over to the Isles by Therreran traders, the main source of magic in this region is the merfolk; humans are not born with magic unless there is some ocean in their bloodline.

The Kosmene Isles fear magic. They fear the sea and her people, and they hunt them under the guise of protection. They can hide in plain sight, growing legs, teaching themselves to speak, and choosing names any normal person might use; a hint of magic, a slip in their step, or not quite fitting the binary, and a pyre is where they'll find themselves.

King Nicolas is the only human capable of using magic unscathed.

The Murex Crown, while building their empire, have perpetuated this need to hunt and kill, and never has a greater divide been created. Hunters are employed by the royals, paid a handsome sum for tails or heads they must get before these creatures die, and use ships made of trees only born underwater that have long been driven to extinction.

Where there are Hunters, there are always Pirates; outcasts, rebels, and self-proclaimed free-thinkers. They cause trouble where they can, disrupting trade routes or hunts, and some say every pirate ship must come with a mermaid, a blessing from Cayotia herself. Pirate ships are not made of long-lost, unsinkable trees, they are made up of every place a crew has been, and the lives they've left behind; the bottom of the ocean is lined with ships like theirs because Pirates do not fear what lives in the sea quite as much as Hunters do.

Cayotia, the Goddess of the sea, is as worshipped as she is feared. The myths say she gave the Kosmenians their land, and they thank her for that; they thank her for water, coastal air, and all the beauty the sea has to offer. But she is still the mother of the creatures they fear, and they do not think themselves loved enough to pray for them to disappear into foam.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Miscellaneous ↴

I've mentioned Gods and faith briefly here, but there is a much longer rant I could go on regarding the High vs Low faith in Hemaia because there is very much a difference. Cayotia and Calumann are deities whose existence is reliant on a person's belief, their myths are bizarre and contradicting, they differ based on culture and location, and I enjoy them a lot, but they are beings a lot less tangible than some other god-like entities we actually meet.

Thirchainum is my world-specific word for dinosaurs lmao. Much like the merfolk (who they may or may not be connected to depending on what you believe), they are creatures of magic; each species has its own name determined primarily by either appearance or magic type, and they have different values to people depending on which culture you find yourself in as some locations view them as dangerous beasts while others integrate them into working life.

I plan to go on slightly extensive talks regarding my magic systems, and different elements of the merfolk in the future, but if you do have any burning questions about anything, feel free to ask them!

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Taglist ↴

@outpost51, @writernopal

Requests to be added are welcome in the tags, replies or inbox ♡

[prestochange]

A month after the tournament ended, Saffron’s streets became ghost-riddled again, with the lackluster crosswalks and half-full trains the symptoms of the much bigger problem.

She didn’t anticipate she would be in this situation at all, flung unceremoniously across the floor hard enough to slice her back open, and forced to teleport outside the building walls to get out of the subsequent explosive blast. 

Masuda Jr. is worse than his father.

She remembers saying that to Giovanni, now, levitating hundreds of feet off the ground, outside of Silph’s glowing icon sign. 

It’s then, the Mewtwo follows her. It’s paler than her partner from toes to tail. It looks skeletal, and too human. The spine of the thing is puncturing its connection column. Its bones are too large for the skin its in. 

They had been in a board meeting. Sabrina had been elected recently, as a generous donor and co-conspirator. She had been sitting at the table, surrounded by the twelve other investors and their leader, Masuda, a wiry man in a black suit and loose red cravat. Masuda was explaining his next business venture, desperately.

Because eleven out of twelve of his table had asked for his resignation.

In unprecedented news, Silph Co’s stock had absolutely plummeted. Supplies to create products were just... gone. There was no revenue. The demand from buyers was not being met and layoffs had escalated to damaging degrees. It was apocalyptic for the corporation. 

And thus? Sabrina, without compunction, nominated herself.

Everyone at the table had complicated relationships with money, and secrets. And not a single one was willing to have her divulge a single one of them. So the motion was seconded, thirded.

And it was then Masuda revealed his true colors, and the single vote to keep him on the board turned with him to look down the table.

The man who voted to keep him? His body trembled once, and snapped at places, and she watched the guise of an old gentleman melt away into ....

“Archer- This can-”

He pulled a gun, and shot, five times.

And five of the investors were downed.

She braced her arms above her head when he emptied the rest of the clip at her, hitting a barrier of force, while people started screaming, and running to the doors to escape.

Masuda snapped his head to both exits from the fancy room, and one by one, they filled with purple fire, and his disguise too, sifted into dust.

Oh no.

It’s not a man. It’s a Pokémon. A Mewtwo.

‘You just wouldn’t go down with the city.’

She kept her barrier up, and her heels hit the tile when she stood, stepping backwards.

Mewtwo raised a hand and grabbed her by the ankle the moment she dropped it. It threw her.

And she stood, mid-air, facing the creature, her back cut open and dripping to the city below.

Mewtwo- Help.

She reached out for her partner.

And heard a response.

The battle over Saffron is horrific, and recorded. 

And she’s hit down from the sky, and unconscious before she sees the end of it.

[pagebypagereviews]

In the vibrant tapestry of modern literature, few novels capture the allure and complexity of Old Hollywood with as much panache as Taylor Jenkins Reid's "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo." This enthralling saga unravels the enigmatic life of a fictional silver screen icon, whose tumultuous journey through fame, fortune, and heartbreak is as captivating as the era itself. Through the guise of a tell-all biography, Reid explores the intoxicating, yet ruthless world of celebrity culture, peeling back the layers of public persona to reveal the raw and often painful realities hidden beneath. As we delve into the intricacies of Evelyn's marriages, each one a vivid vignette into her soul's landscape, the novel becomes an intricate dissection of human identity, love, and the high price of stardom. "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" stands tall not just as a riveting piece of fiction, but as a poignant commentary on the social and personal issues that are as relevant today as they were in the golden age of Hollywood. Reid's masterful characterization of Evelyn Hugo addresses the pressing themes of sexuality, gender roles, and racial identity, tapping into the zeitgeist of contemporary conversations while remaining grounded in historical authenticity. The story's immersive narrative acts as a mirror, reflecting society's own obsession with fame and the pursuit of an often unattainable ideal—a mirror that also reveals the profound loneliness and sacrifice sewn into the fabric of a public figure's life. In blending the glitter of celebrity with acute human dilemmas, Reid's novel offers both an escape and a confrontation, revealing the enduring power and problems nestled in the heart of human aspiration. Plot The plot of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a complex and emotionally charged narrative that unfolds through a series of flashbacks and present-day interviews. The story centers around an aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, who decides to tell her truth to an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant. Elevating the intrigue, the reason behind Evelyn's choice of Monique becomes a plot point that unfolds parallel to Evelyn's life story. As Evelyn recounts her past, the readers are taken on a journey through her rise to fame in the 1950s, her experiences on the silver screen, and her personal life, including her relationships with her seven husbands. Each husband serves as a milestone that marks different phases in Evelyn's career and personal evolution. The book delves into the glamour and the pressures of Hollywood life, touching on themes of sexuality, race, and the cost of fame. The narrative is rich in twists and reveals, particularly when it comes to the true love of Evelyn's life and the secrets that she has guarded so fiercely. Characters The characters in "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" are deeply developed, each serving a vital role in the unfolding of the story. At the heart of the novel is Evelyn Hugo herself, a multifaceted protagonist who is at once determined, intelligent, and ruthlessly ambitious. Yet, Evelyn is also vulnerable, her actions often driven by a deep need for love and belonging. Supporting characters, especially the seven husbands—Ernie Diaz, Don Adler, Mick Riva, Rex North, Harry Cameron, Max Girard, and Robert Jamison—act as foils and catalysts to Evelyn's character, allowing readers to see different aspects of her personality and how she navigates the various challenges they present. Each husband character encapsulates their era's attitudes and provides insights into the norms and expectations of the time, contributing to Evelyn's continuous struggle for autonomy and self-definition. Monique Grant, the journalist chosen by Evelyn to write her biography, has a story arc that intertwases with Evelyn's. Initially presented as an outsider to Evelyn's world, her own development and emerging backstory become critically relevant as secrets are revealed, raising questions about fate, coincidence, and connection.

Writing Style Taylor Jenkins Reid employs a distinctive writing style in "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" that melds old-Hollywood allure with a modern, introspective narrative voice. Reid's prose is evocative and rich, capable of transporting readers to the glitzy, tumultuous world of mid-century Hollywood. She writes with a precise rhythmic quality that mirrors the tempestuous ebb and flow of Evelyn's life. The novel is structured in a non-linear fashion, interweaving Evelyn's recollections with Monique's present-day experience, creating dramatic irony and building suspense. Dialogues are sharp, concise, and often laden with subtext, revealing the characters' hidden fears, desires, and motivations. Interspersed with the narrative are authentic-feeling magazine articles, gossip columns, and tabloid headlines that enhance the realism of the Hollywood setting and further blur the line between fiction and reality. Setting The setting of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is a character in itself, shifting from the glittering lights of old Hollywood to the more contemporary backdrop of modern-day Los Angeles. The novel's historical settings are meticulously researched and richly described, from the luxuries of Beverly Hills mansions to the backstage hustle of movie sets, mirroring the opulence and the artifice of the world Evelyn inhabits. The contrast between the golden age of Hollywood and the present day is a stark one, emphasizing the seismic shifts in social attitudes, industry norms, and personal freedoms that have occurred over time. Reid further uses the setting to explore themes of sexual and racial identity, with the restrictive societal expectations of the past clashing against the more open, albeit still complicated, environment of the present. Unique Aspects One of the unique aspects of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is its examination of the fluidity of sexuality and the concept of a public versus private self. Evelyn's bisexuality and her struggles with her identity are portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, challenging the often simplified narratives of classic Hollywood figures and offering a more inclusive and realistic portrayal of human complexity. Moreover, the novel's exploration of the sacrifices women make in pursuit of their ambitions provides profound commentary on gender politics and the double standards prevalent in the entertainment industry. Through Evelyn's character, Reid showcases the ways in which women have historically maneuvered through patriarchal systems to gain agency in both their careers and personal lives. Another distinctive feature is Reid's approach to blending fact with fiction, weaving in real historical events and figures into Evelyn's life story in a manner that feels genuine and plausible. The interplay between truth and fabrication raises questions about the nature of celebrity, the ownership of stories, and the manipulation of personal narratives in the public eye, inviting readers to consider the reliability of narrators and the stories they tell. Similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Sure, below is an example of how you might structure the HTML to present a thorough analysis of the pros or cons of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" using tables with solid borders for formatting: ```html table width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; table, th, td border: 1px solid black; th, td padding: 10px; text-align: left; .pros background-color: #e8f5e9; .cons background-color: #ffebee; th background-color: #f0f0f0; Pros of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Aspect Details Character Depth Evelyn Hugo is a complex character whose life story contains richly told triumphs and tragedies that make her relatable and memorable. Diversity Representation The novel includes a diversity of characters in terms of sexuality, race, and gender identity, which adds to the authenticity of the narrative and promotes inclusivity. Plot Twists

Unexpected Plot Twists keep readers engaged and provide an element of surprise that enhances the reading experience. Cons of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Aspect Details Pace Variability Some readers may find the pacing inconsistent, with certain parts of the novel dragging while others progress rapidly. Romanticization of Hollywood The glorification of the old Hollywood lifestyle may detract from the underlying issues of the era and can misrepresent the harsh realities of the time. Triggering Content The narrative includes themes of abuse, alcoholism, and infidelity, which could be potentially triggering for some readers. ``` The `th` elements are used to define header cells, which give a title to the following details. Each pro and con is given its own `tr` and the relevant `td` elements to describe the aspect and its details. The CSS styles designate the appearance of all the table elements, and classes are used to style rows for pros and cons differently for enhanced visual distinction. The use of background color on `th` and alternating `tr` row classes (like `.pros` and `.cons`) helps make sections stand out, improving the readability and overall user experience. Edition Types When considering a purchase of "The Seven Husbaths of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, it's important to be aware of the different editions available. You'll find that this book comes in various formats such as hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and e-book. Hardcover editions are suitable for those who want a durable and collectible version. Paperback versions are convenient for easy transportation and are often more affordable. Audiobooks offer the advantage of listening on-the-go, narrated usually by professionals who can add depth to the characters with their voice acting skills. Finally, e-books provide a digital option that is perfect for tech-savvy readers with e-readers or reading apps. Book Condition Especially relevant to physical copies is the condition of the book. If you're looking for something brand new, purchasing from a reputable retailer is important to ensure you receive a pristine copy. However, many readers opt for pre-owned copies that can be found through secondhand bookstores or online marketplaces. While these copies can be cheaper, ensure that you check the description of the book's condition. Look for terms like "Like New," "Very Good," "Good," and "Acceptable" which can give you a sense of what to expect in terms of wear and tear. Price Comparison To make an informed purchase decision, comparing prices across different vendors can be highly beneficial. Prices can vary significantly between retailers, both online and offline. Also, consider that some bookstores offer discounts, have loyalty programs, or provide seasonal sales. It could be advantageous to sign up for newsletters from your favorite bookstores to stay informed on deals that might apply to "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and similar books. Additionally, checking out price comparison websites can save you both time and money. Retailer Reputation and Return Policy Where you buy your book matters. Purchasing from a reputable retailer is vital to ensure that the transaction is secure and that you receive the product in expected condition. Look into the retailer's return policy before making a purchase. This will be critical if you need to return the book for any reason, such as receiving the wrong edition or a damaged copy. Reliable customer service is equally important, so consider retailers that are known for their customer satisfaction and support. Author and Genre Considerations "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, an author who has gained acclaim for her unique storytelling style. If you enjoy character-driven narratives with complex relationships and a touch of historical fiction, this could be the right book for you. Additionally, consider if you are interested in themes like Hollywood's golden age, LGBTQ+ representation, and ambitious female protagonists.

Being clear on your literary preferences will help you decide if this book aligns with your reading tastes. Reader Reviews and Ratings Another significant aspect of your buying decision should be the reception of the book by other readers. While you must take reviews with a grain of salt as reading is a highly subjective experience, they can provide insight into the book's strengths and weaknesses. Websites like Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble are platforms where readers leave their ratings and comments. Paying attention to the overall trends in these reviews can help you gauge how well-received the book is by the reading community. Book Clubs and Discussions If you are someone who enjoys being part of a community and discussing books with peers, consider whether "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is being featured or has been chosen by prominent book clubs. This can not only enrich your reading experience but also provide an opportunity for detailed discussion and deeper understanding of the themes within the book. Moreover, some book clubs offer exclusive editions with additional content like reader's guides, author interviews, or even themed cover designs, which might be of interest to aficionado collectors. FAQ for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo What is the genre of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"? The book is considered to be a historical fiction novel with elements of romance and drama. Is "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" based on a true story? No, the novel is a work of fiction and is not based on a true story, though it does take inspiration from the old Hollywood setting and lifestyle. Who is the author of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"? The novel was written by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Do I need to know about Hollywood history to enjoy the book? No, prior knowledge of Hollywood history is not necessary to enjoy the story since the author provides sufficient background within the novel. However, it might enhance your reading experience. Can this book be considered an LGBTQ+ story? Yes, the book includes significant LGBTQ+ themes and characters, and it explores the complexities of sexual identity in the context of historical societal norms. How is the narrative of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" structured? The narrative is structured around the titular character, Evelyn Hugo, as she recounts her life story to a journalist, Monique Grant. It includes flashbacks and perspectives from both Evelyn and Monique. Is "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" suitable for all ages? The novel is best suited for adult readers due to its mature themes, including sexuality, infidelity, and adult relationships. Is there a film or series adaptation of the book? As of the knowledge cutoff date, a film adaptation was in development, but the release date or details may change in the future. It's recommended to check the latest updates for the most current information. Will I need to read other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid before or after this book? No, "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is a standalone novel. You can enjoy it without having read any other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. However, you may choose to explore her other works if you enjoy her writing style. What themes are explored in "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"? The novel explores a variety of themes including ambition, love, identity, fame, success, and the price of stardom, as well as the complex dynamics within relationships and marriages. In summing up the literary tour-de-force that is "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, it's evident that this novel is more than just a glamorous foray into the golden age of Hollywood. It's a profoundly moving tale that delves deep into the complexities of love, identity, ambition, and the facades we curate for the world. Our review has taken you through the enigmatic life of the titular character, Evelyn Hugo, whose journey alongside her seven husbands unfolds a tapestry of emotional depth and human experience that few novels manage to capture.

This book offers invaluable insights into the human condition—addressing themes of sexuality, racial identity, and the price of fame with a candor that is as refreshing as it is rare. The story challenges readers to look beyond the surface glitter to the inner struggles and sacrifices made by those in the limelight. It is a masterclass in character development and storytelling, compelling readers to invest wholeheartedly in the lives within its pages. What makes "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" a valuable choice for your next read is its unique capability to entertain while providing poignant commentary on the societal challenges of past and present. It weaves a narrative that is as much about personal truth as it is about the universal truths we all share, making it a timeless piece that resonates with a diverse audience. By picking up this novel, you not only gain an engaging story but also a mirror to our own lives and choices, underscored by the riveting twists and emotional depth that Taylor Jenkins Reid has skillfully crafted. If you're seeking a narrative that captures the human spirit's resilience and the complicated tapestry of love, then "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" should undoubtedly be on your reading list. Our review assures you that this book is not merely a page-turner but a profound exploration of what it truly means to live and love authentically. Other The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo buying options

[geekhead79]

Long ago, the stranded alien known as Arnus gave up hope of returning to his home planet. Tragically, he'd also realized that his adopted home of Earth was beyond saving. Content to waste away his long life in a human guise, Arnus was past caring…until the day a young woman named Raquel Ervin crashed into his life. Soon she'd convinced him to put his incredible power to work again as the heroic Icon…and to transform her into his sidekick, Rocket! But an innocent question on Rocket's part—“Why can't we do something about the drugs on my corner?”—quickly sets a chain of events in motion leading to the pair becoming the most hunted beings on Earth…and they're not just being pursued by Earthlings, either!

[isabellarosestudio6]

Week 3: Making Ideas

Taking inspiration from Josie Alexandra's film 'Compass in Hand'

How could I create a time-based/filmic work, making use of similar tactics of layered symbolism, choreography/performativity, sound & poetry/spoken word?

Surrealist

Non-linear narrative.

Work within themes of gender/femininity/media/stereotype/cultural icons.

To act as an inspection & subversion of traditional female identity.

Also interested in the idea of retrofuture being an interesting mix-up of culture. Everything old is new. Cyclical

Symbols of traditional femininity:

Female body parts (lips, lashes, breasts, hips, long head hair, no hair anywhere else)

Makeup & beauty tools (razors?)

Flowers, Fruit

Heels

Girl-aesthetic (youth, pastel, pink, flowers, candy, dolls, bows)

Home & home-making

Jewellery (class orientated?)

domestic/household items

natural plants/water bodies/moon

Symbols of sexuality/kink/female pleasure:

fur

red lipstick

heels

latex

feet in a contracted position

fruit/flowers

Lingerie

feathers

Female archetypes:

Femme-Fatale/Seductress

Mother/Caregiver

Good Wife

Spinster (single mature woman, "undesirable")

Mother-Mary (the holy virgin)

similarly, the Maiden (innocent, pure, youthful, historically unwed)

Damsel in Distress

The Final Girl (horror film trope)

Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Matriarch

Dumb Blonde

Girl Next Door

Monstrous Feminine (Medusa, etc.)

Retro/Historical/Mythological Cultural icons objects:

Marilyn Monroe

Coca Cola

Lollypop/bubblegum

1950s Diner

Madonna

Marie Antoinette

Cleopatra

Aphrodite

Burlesque figures: Bettie Page, Tempest Storm, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sally Rand, Lili St. Cyr

Silver Screen Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Swanson, Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly

Reflections:

I think I am most attracted to things associated with 1950s pop-culture, as this time frame represents the boom of the Americanised Western culture. Post-WW2 USA takeover across Europe, Australia, etc.

Also, I have always been made a little uneasy by the lasting image of this time: nuclear family, strict gender roles, sterilized media and hollywood code. It presents a fake picture of humanity. Especially within the female role. In cinema, women take a backseat with the Hayes Code (1934-1968), Falling into archetypal roles with little sexuality unless demonised. They are placid, decorative characters. (Perhaps a narrative that continues to linger in the zeitgeist).

This is also not to mention the civil rights movement, cold war, korean war, campaign against communism, capitalist/consumerist boom, push of suburban narrative, Truman doctrine, etc.

"...the booms of the 1950s had a particularly confining effect on many American women. Advice books and magazine articles (“Don’t Be Afraid to Marry Young,” “Cooking to Me Is Poetry,” “Femininity Begins At Home”) urged women to leave the workforce and embrace their roles as wives and mothers. ... (In her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique, women’s rights advocate Betty Friedan argued that the suburbs were “burying women alive.”) This dissatisfaction, in turn, contributed to the rebirth of the feminist movement in the 1960s." - History.com

You can see potentially how it all boils up, transforming into the 1960s sexual revolution. The confinement of the female role was driving women "crazy".

It's an interesting and unsettling time.

Perhaps what it represents for me most, could be boiled down to a sort of brainwashing of the collective by capitalist power holders (media, business, the state).

Research: Art that comes to mind

Pop Art

'Gold Marilyn Monroe' - Andy Warhol, 1962 - https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79737?sov_referrer=art_term&art_term_slug=pop-art

"Marilyn Monroe, I" - James Rosenquist, 1962. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/80174?sov_referrer=art_term&art_term_slug=pop-art

Cindy Sherman

"Cindy Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills is a suite of seventy black-and-white photographs in which the artist posed in the guises of various generic female film characters, among them, ingénue, working girl, vamp, and lonely housewife. Staged to resemble scenes from 1950s and ’60s Hollywood, film noir, B movies, and European art-house films, the printed images mimic in format, scale, and quality the often-staged “stills” used to promote films. By photographing herself in such roles, Sherman inserts herself into a dialogue about stereotypical portrayals of women. Whether she was the one to release the camera’s shutter or not, she is considered the author of the photographs. However, the works in Untitled Film Stills are not considered self-portraits."

Newsha Tavakolian:

'Listen' Series

Joan Jonas

"Her video-performances Organic Honey's Vertical Roll and Organic Honey's Visual Telepathy date from 1972. Joan Jonas uses mirrors, masks, and costumes in her works to reflect the field of tensions between authenticity and social determinism, as well as the totality and fragmentation of her own experience as a woman."

[angryfaery]

The Development of Children's Stories

The evolution of fairy tales over time and across cultures resulted in the stories' many shapes. They frequently underwent transformations so that the morals and beliefs of the civilizations in which they were recounted may be included into the narratives. A collection of German folktales was assembled and published in the 19th century by the Brothers Grimm, who are known for being one of the most well-known groups of people to collect fairy tales. These stories, like as "Cinderella" and "Snow White," continue to enjoy widespread popularity today.

There is not just one culture that has a monopoly on telling fairy tales. They may be found in a wide variety of guises all over the world. These tales, which may be found in places as diverse as the Indian "Panchatantra" and the Japanese "Tales of Momotaro," offer an insight into the cultural fabric of humankind.

Fairy tales have been given new life in a variety of types of media with the advent of the digital era. Disney's animated versions of traditional fairy tales, such as "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast," have given a new generation the opportunity to become familiar with these tales.

There is no erasing the imprint that fairy tales have had on contemporary civilization. They are the source of ideas for films, television programs, and even new styles in the fashion industry. Iconic figures such as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty have evolved into icons of everlasting beauty and tenacity in popular culture.

There is much more to fairy tales than meets the eye; they are windows into the human imagination as well as the accumulated knowledge of cultures all across the world. These enthralling stories continue to hold our attention because they provide us with valuable lessons, hours of amusement, and a link to our common cultural past.

The original telling of the story, which was written by Hans Christian Andersen, demonstrates that it is impossible to make another person fall in love with you. When a person falls in love, they have a tendency to stop paying attention to the world around them and to give up on their relationships with their family and friends. Having said that, it is essential that you comprehend that all of these alterations could not be what you had anticipated.

The Little Mermaid presents a more realistic image than other folk tales with lessons, which is one of the reasons why it is one of the most popular essay samples that students use while they are learning how to write essays. The original story of The Little Mermaid is one of the few that shows us how things may not turn out the way our hearts want them to, and it is one of the few stories that teaches us to be alright with this fact. Many modern adaptations conclude with a happy conclusion. This is one of the most grounded and practical lessons that we may take away from fairy tales.

Cinderella has been one of the most well-known and enduring morality stories from the world of fairy tales for a very long time. Cinderella is trapped living with her three stepsisters, all of whom are cruel to her on a regular basis. The other sisters spend their time mingling and partying while she puts in a lot of effort to do the duties around the house. But in the end, she decides to stand up for herself and makes a life for herself.

This reminds us how important it is to speak out for ourselves and not meekly comply with every instruction that is given to us. We also get the ability to take the worst days of our lives and turn them into something extraordinary via this process. A significant takeaway is the need of having trust in the idea that there is good that can come from every terrible.

[babalyn-a]

          thinking   about   babs   in    her    human    guise    .

[a-queer-seminarian]

Madre Juana de la Cruz: a 16th century nun who lived & preached gender-fluidity for humans & for God

During an era infamous for its severe measures against any hint of unorthodoxy, one 16th-century nun managed not only to write about but actually preach sermons on how God — and human beings, as made in the Divine image — both encapsulates and transcends gender.

Madre Juana de la Cruz (1481-1534; note, this is a different figure than the probably more famous & also queer Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz) believed that every person contains both feminine and masculine attributes within themselves; that God the Father and God the Son are pregnant with one another; that Christ comes to us in many forms, be it husband or wife, father or mother, brother or friend; and so much more than I can fit in this post.

I’ll include sources for further reading at the end, but for now, let’s start with Juana’s personal experience of gender.

A PRENATAL TRANSITION

According to her own testimony, Madre Juana experienced a transition in the womb: “God was already forming a male child when the Virgin Mary intervened. Needing a woman who would eventually reform a convent dedicated to her, the Virgin persuaded God to mould the embryonic Juana into a female instead” (Elphick, p. 94).

Surely enough, Juana was assigned female at birth — however, as an adult she had a prominent Adam’s apple and was able to pitch her voice very deep. She would point to her throat as a sign of the miracle of her pre-birth transition.

Many scholars find a parallel here to transgender experience; I believe this story may also resonate with intersex persons, who often naturally develop secondary sexual characteristics that society does not assign to the same binary category as the sex they were assigned at birth.

I can imagine a teenage Juana, upon developing an Adam’s apple and finding her voice lowering in a way her world considered masculine, musing on why such a change was happening to her — and envisioning that prenatal transition to conclude that God simply made her that way. She came to understand her Adam’s apple not as monstrous, but miraculous!

Both trans and intersex persons can be uplifted by Juana’s affirmation that existing outside of binary sex & gender expectations is holy. As Kevin Elphick puts it in his 2021 article “Juana de la Cruz: Gender-Transcendent Prophetess”:

“Mother Juana de la Cruz (d. 1534) offers a medieval model for modern LGBTQ people, exemplifying radical authenticity to the queer and holy truth of her own identity. Juana’s gender combined masculinity and femininity, and she proclaimed the presence of God she found inherent in that identity. Her sermons invited her listeners, too, to discover God in their own experiences of gender” (Elphick, p. 87).

[ID: an icon of Madre Juana by Lewis Williams. Juana wears the brown robes, knotted belt, and habit of a Franciscan, with a halo behind her head. She holds a brown hen in the crook of one arm, which symbolizes St. Francis; with her other hand she points towards her throat. / end id]

FURTHER TRANSITIONS

Her prenatal transition is not the only time Juana experienced gender fluidly: her call story also involves shifting between genders. One day as she prayed before a picture of St. Veronica, Juana witnessed Veronica’s face miraculously shift into that of Jesus. Jesus proposed marriage to her, and then returned “to the former likenesse” of Veronica, reverting “back to a woman’s guise” (Elphick, p. 95).

continued under the readmore...

Inspired by this holy fluctuation from female Saint to Christ and back again, Juana dressed in men’s clothing when she fled the heteronormative life of marriage and motherhood her family planned for her for life in a monastery. When she arrived there, she put women’s clothes back on to introduce herself to the abbess (head nun); but it wouldn’t be long before she put on the outfit she’d wear for the rest of her life: the habit that all Franciscans wear regardless of gender — fitting garb for this gender-fluid figure!

Juana understood all of humanity in this gender-shifting way, in which femininity and masculinity mix and mingle in each person, as opposed to a rigid binary. Playing with gendered elements of language, she once said:

“...With respect to the soul, [men and women] are equals and compeers. Because if a woman has a soul (anima) which is by name female, likewise man too has a soul […] by name female, so that every man and woman can be called female. And conversely, man and woman can be said to be male, because if man has a living and everlasting spirit (espíritu), likewise woman has a living and everlasting spirit.”

As Elphick explains, “For Juana, the grammatically masculine spirit and the grammatically feminine soul transcend gender categories, each indwelling and residing in the other so that the name of each is proper to the other” (p. 90).

A WOMAN PREACHER

Eventually, Juana became abbess of the monastery and preached 72 sermons in the course of 13 years. The fact that she managed to preach as a woman in the midst of the Spanish Inquisition is extraordinary:

“The voices of contemporary religious women in Spain, such as Francisca Hernández and Francisca de los Apóstoles, were silenced by the Inquisition. Juana’s compelling sermons were instead embraced not only by her community and local parishioners, but also attended by both King Charles V and Cardinal Cisneros, Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Friars” (Elphick, p. 88).

I’m not sure what enabled her to preach while other women were forbidden, but I’m glad her sermons are available to us today, for the rich theology of gender found therein. Juana’s sermons support gender equity that was “in marked contrast to the patriarchy of her day,” but not that surprising for a nun of her order:

Franciscan tradition included teachings of “spiritual transcendence of gender boundaries” (ibid.), including various visions of Jesus as a Mother, St. Francis’s self-identification as a Mother Hen, and friars like John of Laverna envisioning themselves as the Bride of Song of Songs with Christ as their spouse (pp. 91-93).

Juana de la Cruz expanded upon this existing Franciscan foundation of “gender liminality,” preaching that “God renders gender-transcendent those He calls, giving them attributes of the opposite binary gender, and ultimately recreating them to be like Him, apophatically transcending gender (Elphick, p. 94).

I’ll close this post with information from one of Juana’s sermons.

SERMON ON THE INCARNATION: A TRIUNE SEAMSTRESS & A PREGNANT GOD WITH CRAVINGS

In Juana’s sermon on the Incarnation, of God made flesh, we discover a God who is both Father and Mother as well as Son — and a seamstress too!

After emphasizing the necessity of Mary’s consent for the Incarnation to even happen, Juana imagines what it meant for God to “overshadow” Mary. Her sermon depicts “the entire Trinity entering Mary’s womb and beginning the work of making the Second Person of the Trinity incarnate. [Juana] highlights the Second Person [Jesus] as Lady Wisdom/Sophia, using the language of Proverbs 8:12: ‘and then came wisdom and discretion, which are the Son, and gave birth to the Word’.

“Uniquely, Juana herein casts the Trinity in a female guise, as being like a seamstress (‘lavandera’) constructing a shirt, as the Trinity weaves together divinity and the fabric of humanity in the Incarnation. She attributes the actual sewing of this fabric directly to the Holy Spirit. Throughout her sermons, Juana uses these familiar domestic images again and again to convey the Divine to her audiences, counterweighing traditional male images with balancing female metaphors.” (Elphick, p. 99)

After the Trinity sews Divinity into humanity, Father and Spirit leave Mary’s uterus, so that only the Second Person of the Trinity remains. This fetal Christ is “as happy and delighted inside...the vientre of Our Lady as in the seno of the Father.” In Spanish, vientre = belly or womb; meanwhile, seno can be translated either as breast or womb (among other things). Thus Juana envisions Christ either on the breast of the Person of God she calls Father, or even within that Father’s womb! — before being passed down into the womb of Mary.

According to Elphick, Juana is alluding to a much older church doctrine:

“It was the Church Council of Toledo in 675 CE that had declared that the Son was begotten and born ‘from the womb of the Father’ (‘de Patris utero’), on the basis of Psalm 110:3. Juana was clearly evoking this image of the wombed and birthing Father” (p. 99).

Juana also imagines this wombed Father experiencing sympathetic cravings once Jesus enters Mary’s womb: as heaven’s angels celebrate the Annunciation, God surprises them by saying, “I feel like eating now” — something that, the angels proclaim, they’ve never heard God desire before. “Ironically, the Virgin Mary is the one who is pregnant, but it creates in God a sympathetic craving!” (Elphick, p. 100).

In a parallel to the fruit that occasions humanity’s expulsion from Eden in Genesis 3, God craves a fruit — a pear that, Juana eventually reveals, stands for Mary. God tucks the pear/Mary inside God’s own seno or breast/womb, so that:

“Juana leaves her listeners with an image of God reminiscent of nesting Russian dolls. Enclosed in God is the Virgin, and enclosed in the Virgin is the Christ.

...In response to the patriarchal society of her day, Juana crafts a salvation parable in which the story turns upon the actions of the otherwise ‘weaker sex’, and the Almighty is recast in female guise, complete with womb, bosom, and gestational cravings.

...By unsettling the supposed fixity of gender, Juana presents a God who transcends all human boundaries and categories. This vision offers a fluid mode of imitatio Christi, a call to inhabit one’s authentic identity in all its God given complexity.” (Elphick, pp. 100-102)

JUANA IN THE PRESENT DAY

While Juana has been venerated for centuries in her native Spain, she’s yet to be officially recognized as a Saint. However, recent scholarship and new publications of her sermons in the past couple decades have renewed and expanded interest in her. Near the end of his article, Elphick writes,

“In anticipation of her cause for canonization, the Vatican re-examined all her sermons and found them consistent with the Catholic faith, allowing for Pope Francis to declare her ‘Venerable’ in 2015. Mother Juana in turn has gifted the Church with language, metaphor, tradition, and precedent to articulate new understandings of God, the human person, and gender. It is my hope that as her sermons become newly available to the English-speaking world in Boon and Surtz’s translation, and her cause advances toward canonization, she can increasingly become a catalyst for dialogue and convergence on issues of faith and gender” (p. 103).

FURTHER READING:

Sources used here:

The main source used in this post is Kevin Elphick’s “Juana de la Cruz: Gender-Transcendent Prophetess” in the 2021 book Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography. Message me if you’d like a PDF copy.

Another source I drew from is Brother Francis Bell’s Historie of Juana de la Cruz from 1625, translated from Antonio Daza’s Spanish Historia (1613). You can read it free online here.

More on Madre Juana:

Kittredge Cherry has a great article on Madre Juana through a queer lens over on QSpirit

Ronald Surtz’s 1990 text The Guitar of God: Gender, Power, and Authority in the Visionary World of Mother Juana de la Cruz (1481-1534)

Some of Juana’s sermons were translated into English for the first time by Jessica A. Boon and Ronald E. Surtz in 2016

Beyond Juana:

See my website blessedarethebinarybreakers.com for more trans readings of figures throughout Christian history

See this post for more on 16th century understandings of the Divine, featuring a Belgian painting of Jesus with breasts

[gofancyninjaworld]

Changes for the better

When it comes to the way the manga has been developing the story of OPM, there have been some little things I've missed from the webcomic, but there are also some changes that I have absolutely LOVED.

Number 1: King looking at Tatsumaki's panties

Chapter 79 of the webcomic saw Tatsumaki fighting Black Sperm in his many guises and King standing there looking serious while thinking about how he saw her panties.

shitty

Sure, it was meant as a throwaway gag, but I'm glad that ONE reflected that gloating this way said bad things about King. We get a much better action and reflection of the good person he is in the manga, when instead of looking at her panties, he uses his shirt to cover her.

decent

This respect for her dignity means a lot.

But fear not, panty-sniffers! Your true icon has appeared.

Completely fitting for the character

2. Necessary Conflict

In the webcomic, thanks to an unfortunate accident involving being buried under a rock, Bang didn't meet Garou until after it was all over but for the shouting. His hitting Garou was an exercise in futile frustration.

this really was more the old man venting than anything useful

The manga gets them to actually clash and Bang's actions actually mean something. It helps that he's not portrayed as so crazy that Bomb came along to stop him accidentally killing Garou. For the record, that is another change I've been very glad of! More importantly, it makes sense of the urgency with which Bang has dropped everything and has been searching for Garou: it is because he's prepared to put his life on the line to say something to Garou. Before it's too late. With his fists, the way Bomb said something to Bang when he was running out of control all those years ago.

It hurt...

rarely has 'this is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you' been truer

...but it also helped, snapping Garou out of the mindless monstrousness he was sinking into, and not a moment too soon. For now, Garou is back in touch with his humanity and it's giving him opportunity to challenge himself and his principles. How it'll develop, we wait and see, but even if (when) the mask heals back over, Bang's intervention won't have gone to waste.

I'm so glad to see Bang do something meaningful for Garou

3. Easily Breakable Toy

I want to point out that this example isn't of something that was wrong in the context of the webcomic; it was absolutely right. It's an example of the way ONE rewards characters who put in the effort with greater growth, which is something that's dear to his heart.

Black Sperm, with his love of catchy put downs (now that's not changed), lets loose with quite the zinger.

Perfectly understandable under the circumstances, as this is the way things went for Genos

A lot more has happened for the character in the manga, and an enraged Gums couldn't bite through that arm this time.

Just to ram the point home, this isn't armor in good condition. The manga has been at pains to show us that Genos lost most of the armor on his arms due to it melting off as his arms overheated.

When the manga does revisit the scene, it's different. For a breakable toy, it's remarkable how Black Sperm couldn't actually break Genos down any further once he decided to shield Tatsumaki and all the millions of 'him' stomping didn't have the desired effect of putting BS in the lead of the killing heroes race he that he was so keen on. He had to settle for using them as hostages. At least until Puri Puri rescued them.

all those kicks, and yet not one dent in that back

Black Sperm had many insults for Genos but 'easily breakable' was not one of them this time.