#this is a genuine question and issue I feel is often overlooked

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

I don't think a lot of people realize that purity culture often leads directly to racism IRL.

You think explicit graphic violent fics should be censored from AO3? Okay, understandable. But by that logic -

Do you think explicit graphic rap music should be banned from the radio?

Do you think Black people who listen to violent rap music are inherently more violent?

And that the art form is a reflection of them and their behaviors?

Do you think Black people who don't listen to rap music are more stable and deserving of trust than black people who do?

The same way you think people who don't read a certain type of fanfiction are more stable and deserving of trust?

How far does it go?

I listen to rap music that talks about guns, dealing drugs, killing, and gangs.

All my life I've been told that listening to that either 1) reflects a 'true nature' of hidden internal violence or 2) graphic rap music is actively hurting me and should not be played around children.

I grew up with FOX news telling us that rap music should be banned. For being too graphic, too violent, too vulgar.

There are places in the world were black music is restricted and censored for it's vulgarity - drill rappers have been under police surveillance in the past, given court orders that monitor the production and release of their music.

Is that okay? Is that right?

Should this form of black expression not exist? Does it reflect badly on the people who listen to it? Should it be censored, from radios and apps - or even outlawed?

Someone reads and writes graphic, violent, vulgar fanfiction - and you judge them.

I listen to graphic, violent, vulgar rap music - so does everyone else in my neighborhood.

What do you think of us?

Purity culture has been weapon against marginalized communities since the dawn of time.

This isn't a declaration of side, or a show of support on anything. This is not an attack.

This is an invitation and an opportunity for you to reflect on how your views translate to the world IRL.

[bitchy-craft]

What Bridgerton Character You Are | Pick A Pile

Hello and welcome to this Pick A Pile! In here you'll find out what mythological creature you are and what is associated with said creature. I hope you guys enjoy and find this useful. Do make sure to leave comments down below on your experience! I do want to remind you all that this is a General Pick A Pile which means this is for a lot of people; therefore keep what resonates and leave what doesn't.

Masterpost > Questions > Paid Readings

Pick A Pile!

Pile 1:

Daphne Bridgerton is portrayed as poised and graceful, embodying the ideal Regency-era debutante. She is initially naive but possesses a genuine kindness.

Daphne is adept at navigating societal expectations and has a strong sense of loyalty towards her family. But her lack of experience in matters of love and relationships initially makes her somewhat vulnerable.

Throughout the series, Daphne learns to assert herself and understand the complexities of love and marriage, realizing that not everything conforms to societal norms.

Pile 2:

Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, is initially portrayed as brooding and detached, carrying a deep-seated aversion to marriage due to his troubled past.

His intelligence, charisma, and resilience make him stand out. He excels in strategic thinking. Yet Simon struggles with trust issues and the fear of intimacy, which hinders his ability to connect with others emotionally.

Over the course of the series, Simon learns to confront and overcome his past, ultimately embracing love and emotional vulnerability.

Pile 3:

Penelope Featherington is initially portrayed as shy and overlooked, often in the shadow of her more outgoing friends. She is intelligent and observant.

Penelope possesses a sharp wit and is remarkably perceptive, making her an astute observer of the societal dynamics around her. But her self-esteem suffers due to societal expectations and a secret she keeps, contributing to feelings of inadequacy.

As the series progresses, Penelope learns to value herself, gains confidence, and ultimately reveals her true self to those around her.

[rosenotactuallyquartz]

pearl’s character development & her relationship with rose

character development for a complex character is complicated & often nonlinear. pearl has incredible character development, but a lot of her issues are overlooked or misunderstood. as her relationship with rose gets misunderstood, her growth tends to get oversimplified by claims that it’s about “getting over her,” etc. i think that’s not the case & it’s much deeper than that.

early character development

pearl’s character development is seen as early as the now we’re only falling apart flashbacks. she doesn’t see her own growth, & neither does greg who’s the flashback storyteller of the 90s, as they had just met.

but you know who notices pearl’s growth the most? rose. who’s known her the longest, who absolutely loves growth.

“pearl is happy/vacant, will do whatever is asking... no opinion of her own that isn't basic logic. pearl fiercely opinionated by end. bold, ridiculous, shameless, frivolous.” — end of an era

the first time they visit earth, rose says things like, “i couldn’t have done this without you.” she frowns when pearl says, “i could imagine it, if you would like me to.” in contrast, during the rebellion, pearl says she’s imagining things on her own, including a life with rose. she confesses romantic feelings & attempts fusion, which is unheard of & considered “disgusting” on homeworld. rose reacts by saying, “please don’t ever stop!” with a flushed face. pearl + rose are drawn to each other’s happiest & most genuine selves from the start. they encourage one another to embrace who they truly are.

it takes emotional and physical strength, but pearl defies homeworld’s rules & norms. before the war, rose gives her a choice: fight with her or be safe. pearl chooses to rebel with her, protesting that she wants to fight—all while homeworld claims that pearls are not “made” or “built” for fighting. there’s also the argument in sworn to the sword. she stands her ground, when all her life, she couldn’t even have her own opinions—let alone argue.

rose refers to pearl as my pearl, a term used for superiors on homeworld. she looks to her for strength & comfort, clearly admiring her. meanwhile, pearl’s feelings are very protective. on homeworld, she could never have the mindset that she could keep someone safe, especially a gem who’s considered superior. pearls were made to feel weaker, after all.

as time goes on, both pearl & their relationship continue to grow, and that’s evident even in rose’s final years during a more difficult time.

how rose felt about herself

“when a gem is made, it's for a reason. they burst out of the ground already knowing what they're supposed to be, and then... that's what they are. forever.” — rose, greg the babysitter

“self-destruction is a huge theme throughout the show. the struggle of feeling that you shouldn't exist, and what that can do to a person. a lot of the themes of the show exist within rose.” — end of an era

of course rose sees pearl’s growth. she admires it. on a flip side, rose herself feels that she is incapable of growth. in greg the babysitter, rose shows signs of being very deep in thought, with eyes that are noticeably more sad. she says gems can’t grow, but she sees growth in everyone, including the gem she loves so deeply. in this scene, she’s truthfully being self destructive, expressing her belief that she can’t grow. there are many reasons for this, some being that white gave her a colony “only to prove she would fail,” believing pink could never change. with rose’s unbearable guilt & war trauma, she questions whether white diamond is right. as she says this, she hides her pain by generalizing about gems.

rose says this while she’s in front of the ocean, something that pearl is so closely associated with. she admires growth and she sees it happen right in front of her, but she doesn’t think she’s capable of it. this is one of the main reasons why she thinks others are better than her.

so, rose’s pain makes her hide, become withdrawn. she thinks the people she loves are better off without her, as they will live on and continue to grow. she believes she’s stuck because she can’t grow. in reality, she can. she has; managing her destructive powers & becoming a healer, helping many gems who were harmed by homeworld. her mindset really is because of her abusers, & a lot of the things she’s guilty about traces back to their actions. and she has hurt others, but she dwells on it & forgets about positive things she’s done because of her mindset that “she only makes things worse & that’s what she does.”

she’s stuck because she can’t forgive herself & she hasn’t healed from a lot of things. sugar says that how she feels about herself causes pain for those around her. in rose’s final years, pearl can’t quite see or understand just how much rose loves her and all the reasons why. she can’t wrap her head around it, she can’t imagine the possibility that rose thinks she can’t grow the way she has. pearl sees her trying to change & she’s loved everything about her since the beginning. it’s fascinating how similar their feelings are; having so much adoration for each other yet self esteem issues complicate things.

how pearl felt about herself

homeworld’s society devalued pearls, treating them as replaceable servants. this has led to self-worth issues & issues understanding that she is loved for who she is, not just for what she can do. pearl rarely reflects on her trauma because she prioritizes the needs of others. her love for rose, who was often in danger—from being abused to having her identity discovered if she poofs—exacerbated pearl’s tendency to be overly cautious, protective. after all, she is driven by the constant fight-or-flight response they both experienced in their early years & other times they feared they’d be “in trouble” for being themselves. along with anxiety, she is intelligent & likes being in control, leading to perfectionism.

even when pearl makes significant progress, becoming her own person, becoming bold instead of docile, becoming opinionated & standing her ground, forming meaningful relationships, fighting against the environment that traumatized her, finding things she’s passionate about, & defying homeworld’s rules & ideas of pearls, other issues take more time. her perfectionism, ongoing trauma, and focus on others make it hard for her to see her progress.

the setback

pearl’s self-worth & self esteem issues worsen following rose’s death. she feels lost without rose. they’ve never been apart & neither of them ever wanted to be apart. who am i now in this world without her?

“everything i ever did, i did for her. and now she’s gone! but i’m still here.” —pearl, rose’s scabbard

now, more than ever, she can’t see her strength. she had worked so hard to keep rose safe so that this absolute nightmare wouldn’t happen. her whole life was about protecting rose from death. the loss is following a situation throughout the late 90s that involved confusion & a lack of communication. she also can’t understand why rose chose to leave a life that she dreamed of having with pearl, so she questions rose’s love for her. lastly, she’s so clouded by the pain of her grief that everything feels dark and confusing.

losing rose (not loving rose) brings about lots of setbacks in pearl’s growth. it’s painful, traumatic.

present character development

there’s significant growth when pearl slowly opens up about everything. the people around her begin to really understand pearl, her trauma, & the relationship she had with rose. she opens up to people who aren’t as close to her and therefore cannot be biased; she opens up to people who knew her + rose very well.

while pearl reminds us of the importance of letting people in & opening up about everything, it’s important to note that a lot of her growth is done without help from anyone else. so, when she can see her growth, she can understand just how strong & independent she is. another significant change happens when she returns to homeworld. from the perspective of the person she wasn’t allowed to be, after living in a safer environment for thousands of years, she sees how horrific homeworld is. she realizes just how strong she is; having so much trauma, becoming someone, & building a life that’s so different after leaving.

loving (and missing) rose

pearl: sometimes, i wonder if she can see me through your eyes. what would she think of me now?

steven: well, i think you’re pretty great.

the title of the song after steven says this is i’m still here. rose has passed, but there’s little pieces of her that are still here. eventually, pearl does see herself through rose’s eyes.

in sworn to the sword, connie + steven help pearl realize that the biggest argument between her + rose actually demonstrated how much rose loved her. she sees rose’s side, and then in mr. greg, pearl revisits the end of her relationship with rose, and she finds closure. in now we’re only falling apart, she revisits the beginning of her relationship with rose. this is extra significant because two of her closest loved ones (one who has a personality that is very similar to rose’s & one who lived with her and rose) help her see everything more clearly. she sometimes focused so much on the relief of rose being safe that she overlooked the incredible things she did.

but when pearl becomes more confident, she recognizes her own strength, courage, & importance. when she opens up & processes things, she is given an outside perspective, helping pearl see her value & worth to both rose and the world. she understands how much rose loved her & what she meant to her—she sees herself through rose’s eyes! & through rose’s eyes, she sees it a second time: her strength, her courage, her importance.

it was possible for rose to see herself through pearl’s eyes, too. that part of the story is incredibly tragic. while their trauma is not (all) the same, both pearl + rose demonstrate the importance of opening up & as connie said, “being honest about how bad it feels so that you can move on.” they both dealt with self worth, & self esteem issues, personal wounds.

on the bright side, pearl is beginning to understand that rose loved her just as much as she loves rose. now, she can see her own worth & strength, things rose saw all along. she can finally understand how rose was feeling—rose’s life was difficult, but she felt so, so loved by someone she deeply admired and appreciated. if only she could understand that she deserved that love.

pearl’s growth isn’t about “getting over” rose. she’ll always love her, but loving rose doesn’t “stunt” her growth. it’s so much more complicated than that. her growth starts long before steven’s time & rose sees it, even though it takes time for pearl to recognize it as well.

pearl was always strong, but she grows significantly when she realizes it.

[sketch-guardian]

Imagine the students with an mc who’s like a middle aged man and has a beer belly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone write about a loud middle aged man in obey me

You're right, I guess I haven't seen many headcanons about such theme either🤔so I'll do my best to fix it☺For my headcanons, however, I usually use a gender neutral MC to make everyone feel included, so I hope this small change won't bother you too much🙈(I also apologize for the delay😥classes have started in uni again and I'll have less and less time to reply to asks, I might need to close the askbox for headcanons soon😭):

"RAD CLASSMATES+NEW EXCHANGE STUDENTS WITH A MIDDLE AGED MC WHO HAS A BEER BELLY"

DEMYA

Demya loves a bit of meat on bones, she can appreciate the thinnest or most muscular physiques too, however she would find a bit of plumpness charming, because it would make her mouth water. Middle Aged MC however wouldn't have to fear being mauled, because as Demya's mate, they would be off limits and have privileges that others would not be granted. Demya may nibble or kiss Middle Aged MC's beer belly out of affection while liying down on it during cuddle sessions in her soft nest, so hopefully Middle Aged MC doesn't mind having some marks, in easy-to-hide spots. Since Demya and Middle Aged MC are both troublemakers and food lovers, they would likely be a loud and occasionally chaotic couple, but still very much in love

DOMNRA/MOBIM

Domnra is a pretty fit and sporty demon, however he wouldn't force Middle Aged MC to follow his training regime, he would leave the choice up to them, depending on how they feel, Domnra would joke about Middle Aged MC deciding to settle down with a demon of all the available options though, at such an age too. Domnra could become Middle Aged MC's drinking buddy, celebrating with glasses of alcohol and getting angry at TV, shouting and breaking havoc, Domnra would mostly be a depressed drunk though, as if Demonus eased his anger issues. In quieter moments, Domnra would hold Mobim in his arms and rest his back on Middle Aged MC's soft beer belly, playing some music to listen to together, making sure to satisfy both of their tastes in music

AZUL

Azul is a twink, so the idea of ​​carrying Middle Aged MC in his arms or holding them on his lap without using magic would be quite out of the question, at least for Middle Aged MC at first, because they wouldn't want to risk hurting Azul with their weight, however he would likely be into such stuff and, as a demon, he would still be rather resistant, so as far as he is concerned, Azul would let Middle Aged MC crush him, hell he would even thank them. Being quite eccentric, Azul wouldn't care if Middle Aged MC made a racket, to be fair he's chaotic too so they would be one of the wildest couples at parties, and if they were to suffer from insecurity due to their age or chubbiness, Azul would remind Middle Aged MC of their beauty through drawings and photographs, or straight up physical intimacy such as kisses and hugs, if the first options didn't work. Azul would like Middle Aged MC to feel confident in their own body and if they wished to lose weight, he would support them, suggesting dancing as a fun exercise

ZURI

Many demons would wonder how the hell Middle Aged MC managed to woo an ethereal and elegant woman like Zuri, the answer probably being their charm and genuine feelings winning the demon over somehow, making her overlook their appearance for a while, their relationship could almost remind a bit of the one between Morticia and Gomez, in a certain sense. The occasional loud mess might upset Zuri, who often gets migraines due to her hectic work, therefore she would appreciate if they could spend some quiet quality time together, while occasionally sharing a glass of Demonus. However, Zuri would still attempt at helping Middle Aged MC with their drinking problem and would try to clean them up a bit, by buying them expensive suitable clothes that compliment their figure and curves

ODON

Not gonna lie, the first thing that came to mind when thinking about a couple made of a middle-aged human and a horror beyond comprehension was Gravity Falls, specifically Stanford Pines and Bill Cipher, even if the dynamic would definitely be different. For Odon, most people, both on Earth and in Devildom, are quite young when compared to them, even Lord Diavolo, so they wouldn't really pay too much mind to Middle Aged MC's age, only if pointed out, it wouldn't make any difference though, especially because Middle Aged MC would still remain the youngest, even compared to the only other human in the exchange program (Solomon). Odon wouldn't care about Middle Aged MC's appearance, considering that the form in which they technically presents themselves doesn't correspond to their true monstrous appearance, so Odon would love Middle Aged MC no matter what and their messing around wouldn't even bother the eldritch horror, on the contrary it would amuse them, plus Odon would keep Middle Aged MC company while they drink, to make sure they're okay, drinking a cup of green tea instead of alcohol. Odon and Middle Aged MC would often lounge together, like an old married couple, on a couch covered in a flannel blanket while reading books, in the comfort of Odon's cabin in the woods. It would be cute to imagine such a domestic life

REMIEL

Remiel is aware of how fragile and short life can be, she considers it precious and would get quite concerned over Middle Aged MC's health status, from a logical and medical point of view. Their age would also remind Remiel of how little time she has left with Middle Aged MC and therefore, despite some somberness, she would try to enjoy as many moments as possible with Middle Aged MC, kindly trying to help them change their harmful habits, not wanting the day in which she will have to assist their soul in reaching the afterlife to approach so soon. Remiel, apart from her wings, has cold skin, so being in Middle Aged MC's arms, pressed against their soft and warm beer belly, would certainly be a new, but pleasant experience, a source of heat, perhaps enough to lull the angel of death into a light nap, which she would honestly need, as she often attends to her celestial duty. Middle Aged MC being loud would surprise Remiel, since she is more used to a calm and isolated environment, however it wouldn't bother her too much, since she literally has two uncles and an aunt, who don't know much about the concept of being quiet, whether it's because of her powerful voice (Fury), his heavy step (War) or his shenanigans (Strife)

NATHANIEL

Nathaniel would notice Middle Aged MC's age and size, however he wouldn't give too much weight to such details and would focus more on their affinity and how to spend time together. Nathaniel would be quite capable of handling Middle Aged MC being loud, after all he isn't the Archangel of Patience for nothing, however if Middle Aged MC bothered him too many times during his meditation sessions, then Nathaniel might decide to take revenge, it would be unclear how or when and Middle Aged MC would live for a while with anxiety, not knowing what to expect and when the angel would strike, usually it would just be a little tease anyway, because he's lenient. Being very chill, sometimes, Nathaniel would let Middle Aged MC sit on his lap while he meditates or while they rest like, playing with their belly as if it were a stress reliever and resting his head on their shoulder, finding the act very therapeutic. As for drinking, Nathaniel would just make sure Middle Aged MC doesn't overdo it

URIEL

Even Uriel would have no idea how Middle Aged MC managed to capture her heart and yet, much to her embarrassment, they still somehow accomplished such feat, however, due to having a reputation, the warrior angel would appreciate if Middle Aged MC avoided being loud or messy while she's busy with important celestial matters. Uriel knows how fragile humans can be and how many things can contribute to a premature death, therefore, not considering Middle Aged MC's lifestyle healthy, she would try to help them exercise, stop drinking and eat healthy, at least Uriel would do her best to not turn the experience into military training. One thing Uriel would be able to do with ease would be lifting Middle Aged MC in her arms, without effort or trouble, no matter their height or how big their beer belly is, Uriel is strong and Middle Aged MC would be like featherweight to her, so that would probably make them feel like royalty. Uriel would also enjoy the contrast between her sturdy body and Middle Aged MC's soft one

[racefortheironthrone]

So! I was planning on writing a Batman fan fic and had a question about the urban facing side I was wondering if you could help on. I suppose this can intersect with other super hero / billionaire figures. Interested in exploring urban development in the setting but trying to avoid pitfalls , but ofc no worries if this isn’t something in your purview or interest

I feel like Gotham, so deeply realized as a fictional setting and riddled with its issues as a city, would be a great template to explore these urbanist issues. And while Batman treats symptoms - protecting people from acts of violence, and also pursuing those who are responsible for the corrupt systems who have put themselves above conventional pursuit. But Bruce Wayne I feel like by a lot of fans can he overlooked as an agent of improvement in Gotham - he can use his political and economic clout to both publically and privately improve the systemic conditions of the city, like his famous hiring program for ex cons. And I would like to explore this side a lot deeper, however I’m wary of showing a billionaire as the only solution , or even the best solution to a city’s issues and basically recreating public policies privately.

Since showing a privatized solution to be the answer to all these problems isn’t the sentiment I want to give, as often private corporations are the ones exploiting / building up this cult of personality around millionaires is already troublesome. But ofc, Bruce Wayne is fictional and can be an example of how a CEO ought to act, but would like to show these solutions are achievable and to be sought after in the public sphere - we shouldn’t expect CEO to hire ex cons, build free transit, eliminate all these zoning issues by buying half the city because 1) unrealistic and 2) can institute a dangerous mindset where it’s like “just give everything to billionaires and they’ll fix things!” (See, the cult of musk)

So my question is, do you have any recomendations on how to achieve this balance of using Wayne as a championing workers rights, urban development , reform etc. without just shilling for billionaires? Because, after all, billionaires have been opponents and don’t want to diminish that. Perhaps using his influence to give away his infouence to others , if that makes sense. or even better - historical examples of figures of privilege utilizing their position to advocate for the public sector and go all in as earnest urban Allies as a roadmap to model this after?

This is a really interesting question, and I think points to some of the limitations of what can be done with the Bruce Wayne archetype.

As I've said before, I think what can be done to make Wayne an enlightened person without falling prey to the mentality that "the billionaires will save us!" (looking at you, RALPH) is to really explore the limitations of top-down reform.

Because if there is one genuine weaknesses both to the Batman and Bruce Wayne, it's that he has a well, "heroic" mindset in which he thinks that if he's just smart enough, prepared enough, tough enough, that he can win a one-man-war on crime and other social evils - but you don't really see him engaging in movement-building in either his vigilante or civilian sides.

In the former, even if we leave aside his more "lone wolf" depictions, Batman has issues with trust and working well in groups. At best, he cultivates a small number of people (the Robins, the JLA), and he tends to keep people at arm's length. In the latter, even when Bruce is trying to make systemic, social interventions in transportation or housing or health care or social welfare, it's usually done through a top-down approach - build this project here, support this politician there - rather than sitting down and doing an analysis of how he could build a sustainable majority coalition with the muscle to change Gotham on its own.

Realistically, an honest, militant, and strategic Waynetech union (albeit assisted from the shadows to keep the mob and the supervillain gangs at bay) could do more to change Gotham for good than any Foundation that has ever or could ever exist.

[hchollym]

I have a question about Fleur. You and a lot of other people act like she is this unfairly victimized character, but if I remember correctly, wasn't she really rude in canon?

It seems like you're genuinely asking and not just bashing the character, so I'll give you an honest answer.

I feel like Fleur tends to be treated by her stans in a similar way that Percy is (see this post). She's an interesting character because she is flawed, but then antis will go so far overboard with criticism that it causes a knee-jerk reaction to just say, "You know what? Forget it. She's perfect."

She has a lot of great qualities that are often overlooked. She is brave, fiercely loyal to the people she loves, and willing to forgive others (such as Molly & Ginny).

She's also more relatable than people tend to realize. Yes, she's this gorgeous part veela character, but some of her experiences are pretty consistent with any other person on the planet.

For example, look at this scene from Book 4 after the Second Task:

“Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points.” Applause from the stands. “I deserved zero,” said Fleur throatily, shaking her magnificent head.

Most of us have felt self-critical and disappointed in ourselves at one point or another.

In that same book, it's clear that Fleur has a crush on Cedric & is constantly trying to flirt with him, yet when she asks him to the Yule Ball, he turns her down to go with Cho instead.

Again, most of us know what rejection feels like, so we can see ourselves in that situation.

Is Fleur flawed as well? Of course. Everyone is.

She can definitely be arrogant and rude:

“She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn’t even answer..."

&

Meanwhile Fleur Delacour was criticizing the Hogwarts decorations to Roger Davies. “Zis is nothing,” she said dismissively, looking around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. “At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we ’ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course . . . zey are like ’uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we ’ave choirs of wood nymphs, ’oo serenade us as we eat. We ’ave none of zis ugly armor in ze ’alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, ’e would be expelled like zat.” She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.

&

'No, no, silly boy,’ said Fleur with a tinkling laugh, ‘I mean next summer, when we – but do you not know?’ Her great blue eyes widened and she looked reproachfully at Mrs Weasley, who said, ‘We hadn’t got around to telling him yet.’ Fleur turned back to Harry, swinging her silvery sheet of hair so that it whipped Mrs Weasley across the face. ���Bill and I are going to be married!’

&

‘She ’as let ’erself go, zat Tonks,’ mused Fleur, examining her own stunning reflection in the back of a teaspoon. ‘A big mistake, if you ask –’

&

Celestina ended her song on a very long, high-pitched note and loud applause issued out of the wireless, which Mrs Weasley joined in with enthusiastically. ‘Eez eet over?’ said Fleur loudly. ‘Thank goodness, what an ’orrible –’

&

‘Yes, isn’t it?’ said Ron. ‘Gravy, Fleur?’ In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy boat flying; Bill waved his wand and the gravy soared up in the air and returned meekly to the boat. ‘You are as bad as zat Tonks,’ said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in thanks. ‘She is always knocking –’

So clearly, Fleur is not perfect, but one of the major problems is that JKR seems to constantly exaggerate secondary female character's flaws (like Fleur, Lavender, Parvati, etc.) to fit in with the negative stereotype of feminine women.

Plus, it's very frustrating that Fleur is the only female competitor in the Triwizard Tournament, and yet she consistently does worse than her male counterparts on each task. That's misogyny and absolute BS on JKR's part.

So to summarize, Fleur fans do tend to be very protective of her (to the point of erasing her flaws), but it's a direct result/backlash of fandom's/society's opinion on the worth of feminine women.

Thanks for the ask! 😊

[xantchaslegacy]

All jokes aside, and acknowledging most of the MoM story has been highly enjoyable so far, it's a terrible waste what was done with Lukka.

Speaking from the minority position here, I found Lukka to be a pretty interesting character in The Sundered Bond. Here you have a character with a very earnest and dedicated nature, made hard by the necessity of the plane/world he was born into. You then have that character forcibly thrust into a position where, as a bonder, he must now question the life he's led up to that point, leave behind everything he knows, and survive against the hostilities of the very society he once protected.

And he screws up! He screws up big time! He comes close to making positive decisions that could have brought him to a more sympathetic relationship with the creatures of Ikoria, but events, the aforementioned hostilities, and (often overlooked, I think) direct manipulation by the voice in the Ozolith put him in a situation where he makes horrible decisions and hurts people. And he does so while, and I think this is very important, genuinely thinking he is acting in the best interest of the people and place he calls home.

The man himself has a lot of issues, and flaws aplenty, but I was excited to see him show up again in future stories, to see where this complex take on the monored character would go, and how he would bump up against the rest of the multiverse. He had a lot of growing to do, but that journey of growth was off to an interesting start.

Instead, I get the impression the creative decision was to look at the general backlash against Lukka following The Sundered Bond, throw up hands, and go "hey look! we're in on the joke too; look at this idiot and how bad he sucks!"

And the result, quite frankly was...some pretty weak storytelling? Lukka's Strixhaven storyline (like the villains he aligned with) was sort of a big nothing - a really awful act of violence against an institution of children and young adults with poorly explored motivation and no real follow-up in any subsequent plotlines. His compleation story was interesting enough, but then gets followed up on by a story that seems to exist purely to kill him off in he most humiliating way possible, every character in-universe acting with a very deliberate disdain for him before he can get two sentences out of his mouth.

I absolutely understand why Lukka wasn't a popular character. His motivations and worldview are entirely too self-centered, and he didn't win any fans by being much less sympathetic to his animal bonds in the novelization of the Ikoria set than appeared to be on the cards.

Still, wouldn't it have been more interesting to GIVE us something to care about in regard to Lukka rather than swing him around a bit like a rag and toss him in the bin just because his introduction to the story was a mis-fire? Isn't the magic story better served by an attempt to make something enjoyable out of him than just shit-can him for a (if I may be so bold, not even particularly witty) laugh?

I think so, fwiw.

PS - I write all of the above well aware that, for any of the compleated and killed walkers so far, one could make the argument they've been done narratively dirty. Personally, I would argue that so far those walkers have all been given a depth of previous stories Lukka has not, and that they, notably, have been granted POV sections in the stories where they are either killed or presumed killed. I would also not for a moment mean to diminish the negative feelings folks have about other walkers dying in the MoM story. The above critique is all ultimately very subjective, and I hope is taken as such.

PPS - Majorly telling, imho, that Lukka gets written off as a moron for trying to use his SOLE magical ability to bond with Phyrexians in order to survive and save others in ONE, but Wrenn bonding with Realmbreaker gets no such scrutiny, because the narrative rewards one and not the other

[in-dire-read]

Imogen, Obviously (Book Review)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.75 Stars)

Information

Author: Becky Albertalli

Genre: YA LGBTQIA+ Romance

Format: Hardcover

Number of Pages: 416

Summary

Imogen Scott might seem straight, but she’s the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest Ally. She’s active in the Pride Alliance, well-versed in queer media, and has two queer best friends: Gretchen, who keeps her in check, and Lili, who’s thriving with her new college friends. When Imogen visits Lili on campus, she’s ready to support her, but Lili has told her friends that she and Imogen used to date, hiding Imogen’s heterosexuality. As Imogen spends more time with Tessa, Lili’s best friend, she starts to question her own sexuality and wonder if she’s really as straight as she thought.

Thoughts

This is a great book for high school students questioning their sexuality. It addresses important issues within the queer community, such as biphobia, which is often overlooked. The character Gretchen, a lesbian, feels compelled to act as a gatekeeper for the community due to her own experiences. She believes her lived experience gives her the right to dictate who can be part of the community and who cannot. While Gretchen’s perspective is understandable given the challenges she’s faced, it raises significant questions about inclusivity and acceptance within the LGBTQIA+ community.

The book thoughtfully examines the harmful impact of forcing others to conform to rigid definitions of identity. It highlights that such gatekeeping can be just as damaging as the external discrimination that the LGBTQIA+ community has fought against for so long. The story underscores the importance of allowing individuals to define their own identities without fear of judgment or exclusion from within their own community.

The author skillfully navigates these complex issues, presenting both sides of the argument in a balanced and comprehensive manner. This nuanced exploration helps readers understand the importance of empathy and open-mindedness. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions are filled with witty banter that brings a light-hearted touch to the story. Their humor and authenticity make the book an engaging read, providing moments of genuine laughter and warmth.

Additionally, the book is a delightful representation of gay and bi awakenings, offering a heartfelt and relatable journey for anyone exploring their own identity. The characters are lovable and their stories are compelling, making it easy for readers to become invested in their journeys. The book not only entertains but also educates, making it a valuable read for both LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a charming, thought-provoking story about self-discovery and acceptance. It's an excellent choice for readers who enjoy character-driven narratives with meaningful themes and delightful humor.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read cute gay/bi awakening story with loveable characters!

[northwest-cryptid]

Local amnesiac clockman in dystopian city gets hired/abducted by the 12 complete messes based on literature, the lamest badass in the setting and his funny amnesiac daughter. Gets told to give therapy to said messes by looking for branches in ruined scp facilities while occasionally incurring on the wrath of capitalism and the little prince for some reason.

Said total messes are:

Straight up the korean poet Yi Sang because his most known poem had a character named "I"

Autism filled woman who is technically the actual boss of everyone

Woman don quixote

Fucked up japanese artist except her art is violence

Autistic french man with gap moe

Sheltered chinese man with the most fucked up family ever

A brit with a bat named revenge

Fish bisexual obsessed with murdering a metaphorical whale

Mommy Russian with only food and no hindsight in her head

Closeted young man with a fuckload of trauma involving ableist cultists

Straight up fucking Odysseus but in woman

And our ptsd riddled cockroach: Greg

See on one hand I genuinely appreciate the attempt here.

On the other hand this is extremely fandomized and I can't really learn anything from it as a result, especially considering that this covered stuff I already sorta know from just having played through the first major part of the game before having issues with it but more specifically from the fact that it's on the website for the game.

I need to reiterate my first bit here, I genuinely appreciate the attempt and I do not seek to belittle or insult the sender or anyone in question for attempting to enlighten me on the game but hear me out if you will...

All the information provided can be obtained from the website for the game or the first 10 minutes of the game; however it is only partially factual.

I am interested in Limbus Company, the game; not "Limbus Company The Abridged Version As Seen by the Fandom." When people go on and on about character analysis and plot depth and why it's so cool and interesting and deep and fun I want to jump in and engage with them on the narrative and such, but I can't because I'm not: A. Financially well off to Gacha for shit. B. Good enough at the game to get very far. And as a website that talks a lot about accessibility in games I feel like if anyone is going to shoot me down with a "git gud" it'd be kinda dumb, like sir/ma'am/individual of non-specific gender identity; you are on the "games should let you experience the story even if you're bad" website, please sit down.

I was honestly kind of hopeful that I would get some serious answers; and while some people have given me more serious answers than others; a lot of what I get is either specifically the start of the game which ignores/overlooks/doesn't mention the folks Dante is having an encounter with at the start, the fact they can use their clock head powers to turn back time and revive the sinners; or even the fact that they have no idea why any of it can happen. Like no one has even mentioned the whole star thing? I think it was a star? Something like that, anyways that thing was pretty cool and no one talks about it.

What I do often hear is how cooky and ku-ray-zee the main cast of silly little guys is; which I feel massively takes away from who they actually are.

"And our ptsd riddled cockroach: Greg" Alright since I've actually played through the first bit of the game so I know just enough about Gregor's story, why do we summarize a man who literally was a child experiment; who was betrayed by the only parental figure he knew; who was made to kill and murder without understanding of it literally like drugged or some shit to think he was just cutting apples; and who's body literally mutates into a cockroach down to just "lol he's a silly little guy with ptsd" ptsd from what exactly? Oh you mean the fucking Smoke Wars? One of the if not the biggest event in the PM Universe?

Like okay I understand I said "hey maybe don't send me entire documentary style paragraphs of text because my ADHD brain will not let me read them" and that's true, but I also really don't vibe with this whole concept of "this person doesn't know the characters at all so I'm going to call one bisexual, I'm going to call one a mommy, I'm going to call one a ptsd riddled cockroach named greg lol" Like I don't know how much of this is fandom and how much of this is real anymore. I know that some characters in PM's universe ARE LGBT so the idea of one of the Sinners maybe being Bisexual isn't too far fetched, but is that completely fandom interpretation or is it real? I sure as hell don't know when characters like Gregor who have deeper meaningful stories that tie into the world as a whole are boiled down to a one line joke about, I guess his name being Greg?

Like again I have nothing against the person who sent this or anything, I'm sure you meant well and I'm glad you're excited enough about the game that you reached out to me; that's all great and such, but I can't help but need to point out that you're talking to someone who knows almost nothing, but not nothing; about this game

and you're choosing to represent it in such a way that might be factual or might be fandomized and I can't tell the difference when the things I know are fandomized are present or when it mostly consists of jokes.

"Local amnesiac clockman in dystopian city gets hired/abducted by the 12 complete messes based on literature, the lamest badass in the setting and his funny amnesiac daughter."

Kind of not really. Like I'm not even going to get into the fact that technically speaking Dante is a Clock Person not necessarily confirmed Clock Man. I AM however going to get into the fact that they come to Dante's rescue(?) during what is essentially an execution; Dante is going to die and these 12 sinners jump in to fight for them for seemingly some reason we don't get to know yet. Hired is a much better word than abducted in this sense. Don't even get me started on "the lamest badass" because like, that entirely ignores the fact you're talking about who I can only assume is Vergilius AKA The Red Gaze, which is sorta huge considering what we've seen of Color Fixers, and you know; the entirety of the Comic/Light Novel Leviathan released prior to the game. What would a color fixer be doing with the sinners? What is his connection with Dante? Even having read Leviathan these sorts of questions are interesting and they create interest as someone who wants to question and explore the setting and it's themes.

AND I'M SORRY BUT "HIS DAUGHTER"??? Has that been confirmed because I highly doubt that unless there's some dialogue somewhere in the game that shows he adopted her or something, I mean yea he clearly cares about the orphans, but like I don't recall him ever adopting her and if he did I can't tell if you're telling me a fact or a fandom here because of everything else you've stated.

Are you beginning to see the problem here?

I literally have to wave off everything you just told me as no more than "lol silly jokes man lol" and I don't mean to be some asshole about it either but this isn't really going to help anyone get into a game or a story or anything because I don't really KNOW anything about it.

Again I'm not mad, I'm not trying to be rude; I've got nothing against Alex or anything! I appreciate someone taking the time out of their day to send me this but it ultimately doesn't tell me anything I'm just as much in the dark as I was.

This is specifically why it's so hard for me to interact with a lot of larger communities, a lot of the information I want is factual, from the source material; but I'm perhaps not skilled enough at the games to obtain it myself, so I turn to the community for information since people tend to enjoy talking about the things they like, and instead of getting actual information I get in-jokes I don't yet have context for, and fandomization that isn't actually true to the source material.

I understand I may come off a little harsh here, so for that I do apologize if I've come across rude. That being said, please do try to refrain from sending people who know next to nothing about your interests, a ton of fandomized in-jokes they won't understand, it feeds into the misinformation loop. Can you imagine if I went around telling everyone that Charon was Vergil's daughter when in reality he treats her as "something of a daughter" according to the publicly editable and horrible "fandom wiki" which is the only place that I could find information about it.

This isn't the same thing as say a biological daughter, or even an adoptive one. Which could be an interesting plot dynamic. I mean do you guys remember what happened last time a Color Fixer had a kid? Or rather I should say, last time a Color Fixer WAS GOING to have a kid? That was kind of a big deal. It's not really a shocker to learn that the guy who really likes orphans would be nice to the child.

anyways sorry for the lengthy explanation of "this isn't really what I'm looking for" but I've literally spoke on this whole "fandomization of characters bothers me a lot" topic before several times for literally this exact reason.

[hridyanshbharath]

[ nikhil parmar, cis-man, he/him ] Hey, isn’t that HRIDYANSH BHARATH. I thought they went away for the summer? Did you hear they might be a HUMAN? What I do know for certain is that they’re 34, and they’re BRIGHT and SKITTISH. They’re originally from MADURAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, and have been in/been back to FENRIRWOOD for 3 YEARS living in WOOD ROAD. I wonder if they still work at FENRIR UNIVERSITY as a PHYSICS PROFESSOR. Best if they stay safe for now.

basics

full name: hridyansh bharath nicknames: tbd age: 34 date of birth: december 29th, 1989 zodiac: capricorn sun, virgo rising, capricorn moon gender & pronouns: cisgender man, he/him relationship status: single sexuality: bisexual with male preference spoken languages: english and tamil occupation: physics professor at fenrir university

appearance

face claim: nikhil parmar height: 5'8"(172.72 cm) dominant hand: right hair color: black eye color: brown distinguishing features: glasses tattoos: n/a

personality

positive traits: intelligent, kind, compassionate, logical, resourceful negative traits: skittish, indecisive, dependent, gullible, shy

mentality

phobias: tbd disorders: anxiety disorder allergies: n/a

background

hometown: madurai, tamil nadu, india birthplace: madurai, tamil nadu, india education level: bachelor's in physics, phd in physics

headcanons

hridyansh is the second oldest child of the bharath family, having been born less than a year after ez. growing up in a family with so many siblings, he often felt a little overlooked, so he tended not to draw very much attention to himself from a young age. this has extended into his adulthood, a lot of the times he feels like his issues aren't really as important as other people's, even if that's not necessarily true. he's always had an aptitude for math, it was his favorite subject in school and when applied with science it only turned into more of an interest for him, hence having a career in physics. besides teaching at the local university he also devotes a decent amount of his time to research, he wants to contribute what he can to figuring out the big questions of the universe. chose to go into teaching specifically because he wants to instill a passion for physics in the younger generation as well. hridyansh places a special amount of importance in appreciating the world around him, he considers his research an extension of this. in his mind science is one of the most valuable tools the world has to offer and he doesn't want this to be lost on younger people. between chellam and ez, hridyansh is definitely the quieter of the siblings. he would say that he grew up closer to ez simply due to their closeness in age and with chellam he's been trying to bond with her more in recent years but isn't really sure how. he doesn't fully understand her career but when she talks to him about it he takes a genuine interest and tries to contribute to the conversation despite his limited information.

[fuzzydreamin]

for the oc details ask: 💯🖊️🤍 💚 💔🤔, for Al, Nora, & anyone else you want to answer these for?

Three lists in one ask? You're killing me.

Snipped for longer post.

💯 HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know.

Nora answered here.

✝ Alberta:

Had a boyfriend before they left the vault - Paul Hannon Jr. Didn't know he died after 'Escape!' until she returned later.

Their first companion was Jericho...

Al didn't get normal periods. She could go months without them but when she did have one it was bad. They've stopped completely in recent years thanks to Al's poor health. A blessing from a curse.

🖊️ BALLPOINT PEN — does your oc have any tattoos? do they want any (more) tattoos?

✪ Nora gets a small heart shaped tattoo around the bullet scar on her collar bone, which was already sort of heart-shaped and why she wanted to define it that way. Nothing else. She's not personally into tattoos on herself, and just does it as a way to own her scar -something she also has some trouble accepting at first.

✝ Alberta has a sentinel rank tattoo on their left upper arm. Maybe more I haven't figured it all out yet.

🎖 I don't think Nate had any, but he wouldn't have been opposed to the idea. It would've been something small that he could hide though.

☣ Calamity probably did but I dunno what, and they'd be hard to see on his ghoulish skin anymore. He probably had friends who did their own work on him -nothing all that much, just a few small tattoos here and there of varying quality.

🏕 Jack does not have any. He might get something for Beckett in the future though, since he'll likely outlive him thanks to mutations. Maybe something for his family, and maybe Sofia too, though they're just friends. Basically, he's the type where if he got one he'd get more, but they would still have to mean something to him. They'd probably represent the people symbolically in some way, so it's not blatantly obvious that they're tributes.

💔 BROKEN HEART — what are three of your oc's negative traits?

✪ Nora:

Doesn't like others questioning her leadership, decisions, or abilities (a genuine "you sure you can do that?" is fine, but not a "there's no way you can do that").

Isn't above sometimes being a little cruel and scaring the pants off people if it gets her point across, especially if they've pissed her off. (She usually does this to 'bad guys' but I'm counting it here anyway.)

Touched on in my previous post but Nora has some issues with control. She was always ambitious but after the bombs and what happened in the vault she gets panicked if she feels like she doesn't have power in a situation.

✝ Alberta:

Will overlook the bad actions of those they care about.

Will do bad actions if it gains the approval of said people - to a point, there are some lines Al won't cross. But they also don't always think before they act, so... Basically they're easily manipulated.

I... dunno. Al's full of bad things but they're all sorta tangled up together so it's hard to just pull them out seperately.

🤍 WHITE HEART — what are three of your oc's neutral/questionable traits?

✪ Nora:

Does not like bugs or 'pest' animals. Like, not a hatred for them, but she thinks they're gross and gets the willies if they're scurrying about.

Has a habit of flirting with people for fun. Often she'll do it just to test a persons reaction, because it can tell her other things about their character.

Can be concerned with her image - like, if she is clean and put together, and presents as capable.

✝ Alberta:

Doesn't trust others easily. Al will tentatively go along with others, but they're always on the watch for being double crossed or the like. She'll still go along though...

Similar line as above, but they don't believe there are that many truly good people out in the world. Regular 'good' people sure, but they all have or will hurt others at some point, and put their own desires above others. It's just nature. Contradictory this also makes her more willing to forgive some slights - because she simply expects them to some degree.

Doesn't give a fuck about their image generally. You want something done or not? No? Fuck off.

💚 GREEN HEART — does your oc prefer being inside or outside?

✝ Alberta: Either? Mostly just whichever will give the most space away from others usually. So probably outside more, travelling from one place to another, but a dark corner where they can fiddle with their tech is also good.

✪ Nora: Inside. Where things are neat and orderly and she can (hopefully) relax and get some work done.

🎖 Nate: Outside. Preferably doing some sports activity or just enjoying the sun and people watching.

☣ Calamity: Inside. Where the people are, causing a ruckus and being the centre of attention. Or just chilling out in a dark corner.

🏕 Jack: Outside. He loves nature.

🤔 THINKING FACE — what are some of your oc's quirks/mannerisms?

Nora answered here.

✝ Alberta plays with their pipboy, or whatever other tech/project they might have on hand. 100% the type to bounce their leg or tap fingers on something if their hands aren't occupied. Generally cannot sit still, unless exhausted.

[konstantintreplev]

since i woke up early on today of all days (like...my brain won't let me sleep normal hours this week or sleep much at all)

awards shows are generally pointless

the oscars are often the most pointless of them all

(although not always) (but mostly always) *deep breath*

for example, when they somehow stumble into getting it right:

like when they gave rotk the whole damn ceremony, essentially

last year's BP winner, CODA, which i genuinely love, because it was both an important step and also the most dramatically satisfying movie on the nominated list [maybe it wasn't the most cinematic. however, i'd be a member of the writer's branch, so like. i hold up story like that one pope francis meme -- on a side note. the writer's branch. is always right mofos]

or when they gave moonlight BP over fuckin' la la land [but they botched the actual delivery???]

on the other hand:

claude rains never got an oscar [nominated 4 times]

thelma ritter never got an oscar [nominated 6 times]

judy garland never got an oscar beyond her juvenile one [which was only handed out twelve times] [she only received two nominations... her entire career, for that matter]

al pacino didn't get an oscar until 1992

steve buscemi hasn't even been nominated for an oscar

a woman didn't win best director until 2009 [and before that year, a woman had only appeared in the category as a nominee three times in over seventy years of the damn thing]

there has not been a black directing winner at all yet

did i mention mel fucking gibson has a best director oscar

only 10 genre performances have won an acting award and two of those were for the Joker and another two were part of silence of the lamb's wins

woody allen has more nominations than can maybe be surpassed by anybody else in the original screenplay category [okay so uh...writer's branch you are not always right. sometimes you are really wrong.]

animated pictures, while they have made strides, are still treated as children's fare, not just on a nominations/wins level but on the level of the ceremony itself

a foreign language film! did not! win best picture! until 2019! the world itself has been making films longer than Hollywood and the Academy have existed!

...i could go on.

"but what about [insert living, active actor here who has been nominated but not won]?" you ask. there's at least hope, i say. "but what about [insert person who has never been nominated in the first place]?" you ask. more than likely, their work doesn't fit the academy's "type" in any way, shape, or form, and they're happy about it? but if it does, and they're not happy...yeah like i said the academy sucks???

the oscars are supposed to award craft, but they generally just award whoever either has momentum from the awards season-industrial complex, is an industry fave [sometimes these wins are actually good! and sometimes mel gibson gets an oscar for directing in the 90s when everybody loves him], or goddammit, they've been at this for so long and we feel bad [and sometimes, it is the best nominee in this case who wins! james ivory winning best adapted screenplay for call me by your name at 89 for example after being nominated but never winning].

the "socially relevant" oscar has actually always been a thing, but it's not because they really want to highlight the film/issue in question -- they want to feel self-important and right, most of all [the oscars are so lucky they did not exist when griffith was an active filmmaker]

i usually do watch the oscars. last year was a shit show on so many levels, but it had some moments. i usually enjoy hearing about the nominees, too! but like: the oscars are a highly english-language, live action, fiction narrative snapshot of the year of film that came before.

they're essentially good for one thing: raising awareness of films and film artists, on occasion, who would be overlooked by the movie-viewing public. and they're not even doing that right anymore. [one of the first queer films i remember loving i was introduced to because colin firth got nominated for best actor. a single man for those wondering.]

no guts no glory, though? minority report reunion in best actor, sarah polley grabs her well deserved best director nomination [she's a lock for a best adapted nomination at least], elvis and babylon get shut out [this one is partially delusional but i can Dream]

if you read all this, congrats. you might care more than me. [i just love useless facts, mostly. and i do love films and filmmaking. and these awards are a part of that process, for better or for worse] [for worse]

[rosenotactuallyquartz]

“when she can't trust herself, she can't trust other people, and it makes it impossible for her to be close with anyone. it makes life extremely difficult for her. it makes living difficult for her.” — end of an era

"[rose] couldn't stand herself; self-destruction is a huge theme throughout the show—the struggle of the feeling that you shouldn't exist, & what that can do to a person. a lot of the themes of the show exist within rose." — end of an era

there isn’t just one reason rose planned & ultimately chose to give up her physical form.

(sensitive subject matter before you read further, as this is about rose taking her own life)

some reasons are extremely beautiful & show her sincere, intense love she had for those around her and the person she was creating.

other reasons are extremely tragic & show her self destruction, self hatred, and guilt.

there are many people in the fandom who have no idea (or refuse to believe) that one reason rose gave up her form was because she didn’t want to exist anymore. she knew that she wouldn’t exist anymore & she was just fine with it. when pearl found out she was pregnant, she cried and said, what was rose thinking; she can’t have a baby; i’m going to lose her. rose’s death was a suicide.

/nbh, i just wish more of the fandom, on all platforms, truly understood this about her. it doesn’t lessen her love for steven or others, but it says so much about many aspects of the show. how rose was impacted by people. how she felt about others. why she encouraged others to love themselves. her intentions & so many important themes. many people misunderstand her character in general, with this belief that rose was either a villain or complete perfection. she was a flawed & loving & traumatized & complicated individual. the fandom lacks empathy for her & invalidates all sorts of things. people who are like me, who feel a sense of comfort because they relate to her are often uncomfortable with this. there’s also fans who don’t realize they’re like her because they misunderstand her character. rose’s character being misunderstood is undeniably connected to rose’s self destruction, trauma, & mental health issues getting overlooked by the fandom. if they can’t fully understand her death, they really can’t understand her life, either.

it absolutely breaks my heart when rose is called malicious for her choice to give up her physical form, or when people claim that she left steven to deal with her problems. steven does have moments when he questions his existence, as seen in storm in the room. makes sense for steven, considering his position. the show is from his perspective, but some steven universe fans seem to get caught up in that & they can’t see from the outside perspective that we all have. we’re not steven. steven’s character is someone who i sympathize with, as he is a child who is making sense of things. we only ever see him as a child. but rose & steven can simultaneously be sympathized with. from an outside perspective & from what’s said in books like end of an era, it's clear that rose was genuinely excited for steven to exist all while she no longer wanted to exist.

so, i will never forget pearl’s expression and how she immediately hugged rose after she said, “i can’t exactly shatter myself.”

[bloverr]

Why Every Business Needs a Defined Sales Process

One of the most common issues I encounter when visiting new clients is the absence of a clearly defined sales process. Many businesses overlook this crucial aspect, which often leads to inconsistent results and missed opportunities. A well-mapped sales process ensures that your sales efforts are aligned with your customers' buying journey, making it easier to manage and track progress. Without one, confusion reigns, and selling becomes far more difficult than it needs to be.

The sales process is not just a formality; it’s a roadmap that helps your team stay focused on each stage of the buyer's journey. Without it, the buyer may end up feeling like:

●     “You had a chance to gain my commitment but missed it.”

●     “You didn’t know how to justify the cost of your product or service.”

●     “You’ve taken too long to follow up.”

●     “You’ve talked at me, not with me.”

A well-defined sales process allows you to manage every step with clarity and purpose. It’s a strategic tool to ensure you’re effective, timely, and, most importantly, aligned with what you’re trying to achieve. Let’s break down the stages of an effective sales process.

Step 1: Qualifying Leads

According to the Sales Management Association (SMA), 79% of all marketing leads don’t convert into sales. That’s a huge number and highlights the importance of qualifying leads right from the start. You want to focus on the 2% of leads that are genuinely interested in what you have to offer.

The goal isn’t to convince them to buy immediately, but to determine if they’re a suitable candidate for you to sell to. Ask the tough questions and find out if they are committed to moving forward. If they are, it’s time to move them to the next step.

Step 2: Discovery

Once a prospect is qualified, the next step is to dive deep into understanding their needs and motivations. This is the discovery phase, where you ask open-ended questions to uncover both their business and emotional drivers. You’re not just looking for a problem to solve; you’re looking for the deeper reasons why they would choose your solution over a competitor's.

It’s at this stage that you demonstrate your understanding of their challenges and start showcasing the value your product or service can bring. The key here is to gain their commitment to move to the next stage, ensuring they’re serious about finding a solution that adds value to their organization.

Step 3: Proposal

Now that you understand the prospect’s needs, it’s time to present a solution. This can take the form of an email, a written proposal, or a full presentation, depending on the deal size and the buyer’s expectations. The main objective here is to clearly communicate how your solution meets their needs and offers a compelling value proposition.

The proposal stage is not just about price—it’s about showing your prospect that you’ve listened to their needs and crafted a solution that is tailored specifically for them.

Step 4: Negotiation

Negotiation is not always about price. In many cases, buyers need clarification, or they might want to fine-tune the details of the proposal to better align with their goals. This stage is an opportunity to ensure everything is clearly understood and that the solution perfectly fits their needs.

By taking the time to address any lingering concerns, you build confidence and demonstrate that you are fully committed to delivering value. Don’t skip this stage—it can be the difference between closing the deal or losing the opportunity.

Step 5: Asking for the Business

If you’ve followed the process correctly, asking for the business should feel natural. You don’t need to rely on clever closing techniques if you’ve built a strong relationship with the prospect throughout the process. When you reach this point, they should be expecting you to ask for the sale, and it will feel like the next logical step.

A defined sales process makes this final stage seamless because at each step, you’ve gained their agreement to move forward.

Conclusion

A well-defined sales process aligns your efforts with the customer’s buying journey, resulting in better clarity, focus, and ultimately, success. For businesses in the UK, this structure is especially important to remain competitive in a fast-paced market.

If your business is looking to improve its sales performance, having a structured approach can make all the difference. For more guidance, check out our Sales Mentorship Programme, where we provide tailored sales coaching and mentoring to help you refine your process and close more deals.

By implementing a clear sales process, you not only increase your chances of success but also create a smoother, more engaging experience for your customers.

[psychicnightmareninja]

The Haunting Impact of Requiem for a Dream on my worldview

Requiem for a Dream is one of those films that stays with you long after the credits roll. Directed by Darren Aronofsky and released in 2000, it’s not just a movie. It’s a visceral experience that cuts deep into the psyche. The film’s unflinching portrayal of addiction, the fragility of dreams, and the descent into despair have profoundly influenced my understanding of human vulnerability and the harsh realities of life.

A Window into the Abyss

From the very beginning, Requiem for a Dream immerses you in a world of aspirations and delusions. The characters Harry, Marion, Tyrone, and Sara each have their own dreams and desires. They seek happiness, success, and a sense of fulfillment, but their means of achieving these goals lead them down a path of destruction. The movie doesn't offer any solace or redemption; instead, it shows the stark consequences of addiction, not just to substances, but to dreams and the relentless pursuit of an idealized future.

This depiction of addiction has made me more aware of the many forms it can take. It’s not just about drugs; it’s about the compulsions and obsessions that can consume anyone. Whether it’s the pursuit of fame, wealth, beauty, or even love, the film illustrates how our dreams, when distorted by obsession, can become our greatest downfall.

The Fragility of Dreams

One of the most poignant aspects of the film is how it shatters the idea that dreams are inherently noble or safe. The characters’ dreams are simple, Sara wants to be on television, Harry and Marion dream of opening a boutique, and Tyrone seeks a better life, but the means they use to achieve these dreams ultimately destroy them.

Requiem for a Dream made me question the notion that all dreams are worth pursuing. It forced me to consider the consequences of chasing after something without regard for the cost. The film doesn’t suggest that dreaming is bad, but it does highlight the danger of allowing dreams to blind us to reality. This has led me to approach my own aspirations with a sense of caution and reflection, ensuring that I am not sacrificing my well-being or the well-being of others in the process.

A World of Isolation

The film’s portrayal of isolation is another aspect that deeply resonated with me. Despite being surrounded by people, each character is profoundly alone in their struggles. Their inability to connect with others, to share their burdens, or to seek help contributes to their downfall. This sense of isolation is something I see echoed in the world today, where despite being more connected than ever, many people feel increasingly lonely and disconnected.

Requiem for a Dream has made me more aware of the importance of human connection. It has reminded me that reaching out to others, building genuine relationships, and being open about our struggles are crucial in preventing the kind of isolation that can lead to despair.

A Reflection on Society

Beyond the personal, the film also offers a scathing critique of society. The portrayal of Sara’s addiction to diet pills and her obsession with appearing on a game show highlights the societal pressures placed on individuals, particularly women, to conform to certain standards of beauty and success. This critique extends to how society often overlooks the underlying causes of addiction, focusing instead on punishment rather than understanding and rehabilitation.

The movie has influenced my view of how society deals with issues like addiction, mental health, and poverty. It has made me more critical of the systems in place that often exacerbate these problems rather than solve them. The film’s grim depiction of these realities has pushed me to think more deeply about the need for empathy, understanding, and systemic change in addressing such issues.

A Cautionary Tale

Requiem for a Dream is not an easy film to watch, nor is it one that leaves you with a sense of hope. But it is precisely because of its brutal honesty that it has had such a lasting impact on me. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, the fragility of dreams, and the isolating nature of modern life. More than just a film, it’s a powerful reflection on the human condition and a stark reminder of the importance of balance, connection, and self-awareness in the pursuit of our dreams.

In the end, Requiem for a Dream has influenced my worldview by instilling a deeper understanding of the complexities of addiction, the importance of maintaining perspective in the pursuit of goals, and the necessity of fostering genuine connections in an increasingly disconnected world.

[cyberscribeassistant]

Giving Kids the Mirrors and Windows They Deserve

As both a parent and children's book author, I'm always on the lookout for stories that reflect the diverse world we live in. While progress has been made, there are still too many groups and perspectives underrepresented in kids' books.

We need more mirrors and windows. Mirrors that allow children to see themselves, and windows into the lives of others.

That's why I was thrilled to learn about an initiative highlighting overlooked niches in children's literature. They identified underserved topics that deserve more attention, from stories celebrating neurodiversity to tales exploring non-Western mythologies.

This resonated so strongly with me. Because all kids should be able to find stories they relate to. And all kids need books to teach them about people whose lives seem different from their own. But are not so different after all.

As the mom of a child with ADHD, I get discouraged browsing bookstore shelves dominated by neurotypical characters. I desperately want my son to see positive reflections of himself in stories. And for neurotypical kids to gain an understanding of what being ADHD means.

We also need more everyday portrayals of modern families. Families with same-sex parents. Single parent households. Grandparents as guardians. Friends as chosen family. These nurturing relationships are real for many children today. Let's showcase that diversity.

Equally important are stories that embrace identities too long marginalized. Gender nonconforming kids who shatter norms. Children of color sharing tales steeped in rich cultural traditions. Immigrants and refugees navigating life in new lands. Native voices reclaiming narrative power.

The goal isn't just greater representation. It's genuine, empowering representation. Where marginalized kids are the heroes of their own stories. And communities too often stereotyped are depicted in all their beautiful complexity.

Expanding representation means introducing children to people and places outside their bubbles too. Weaving in diverse cultures, languages, mythologies and histories broadens every child's worldview.

Kids naturally have big questions about life's complexities. Let's give them stories that explore poverty, inequality, incarceration, environmental issues in age-appropriate ways. That teach critical thinking skills for challenging the status quo. The future they'll inherit demands no less.

Of course, the magic of children's literature is its ability to make big ideas tangible and relatable. The best stories speak to universal joys and struggles, even when settings differ. They show how below surface differences, we are all so very human.

The transformation comes when kids realize that truth not only through windows into lives unlike theirs, but mirrors reflecting their own faces staring back. What once seemed foreign now feels familiar.

That is the promise of inclusive children's stories at their best. Not just creating diverse books. But through them, creating bonds of empathy, respect and understanding. Kids see themselves as heroes, and also see the heroes in each other. Our task is to give them those mirrors and windows. The future they'll create together depends on it.

There are still many missing mirrors and windows in children's literature. But when passionate advocates and creators come together, I'm hopeful positive change is on the horizon. Our kids deserve nothing less.

After all, stories have power. The power to reflect each child's reality back to them. The power to nurture openness to new people and ideas. The power to shape young minds and hearts.

Let's keep fighting to fill the gaps, so every child has access to that power.