#･ﾟ∗ river ⸻ thread .

[troythecatfish]

[poucz]

"The "Red Thread of Fate" is an East Asian myth that says an invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. This thread can stretch or tangle but never break, symbolizing the inevitable connection".

*Strongly referenced by the photography of Luigi Boatto.

[linsaangs]

PIXELS FOR PALESTINE PATCHES HAVE BEEN RESTOCKED!

ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO GAZA!

https://ko-fi.com/s/baf89dc679

[stil-lindigo]

link

quick reminder that besides calling for a ceasefire from your political representatives, you can also tangibly help Palestinians get back online by buying them e-sims!!!

Here’s a full step process on how:

Go to Nomad (http://getnomad.app), click on the menu in the top right-hand side, and click on Shop Plans then Data.

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2. After clicking on Data, scroll aaallll the way down. The Middle East plan is at the very bottom of the list of data plans.

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3. After choosing the Middle East plan, choose how much you want to pay, then enter your card details etc and acknowledge everything.

You can get a $3 discount on this, by using the code "BACKPACKNOMAD" on Nomad.

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4.Ignore the next part. You don't want to install anything. You're waiting for an email with a QR code for activation.

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5) Screenshot the QR code and send it to someone in Gaza! How do you do that? You can now email your e-sim QR code screenshots to gazaesims@gmail.com who will then distribute them to Palestinians.

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Stay safe, stay vigilant and continue to believe in the possibility of Palestinian freedom!

[expectiations]

I still find it funny that people call eleven a "deadbeat husband" and their marriage "toxic" but twelve is the "perfect husband" and their marriage "wedded bliss" all because of the few moments we'd seen between 11 and River were them being "toxic". yes of course! let's ignore how the minisodes show how that description isn't true and even how little moments in the episodes themselves – "what? that's it?" (why haven't you kissed me goodbye? are you being sly on purpose so I'd kiss you first?) and "they wouldn't bury my wife out here" and the music room is the heart of the home and it's not a ghost story, it's a love story – show 11 cared and put in the work and yes, they're going to have disagreements like the ones in TATM because duh who doesn't but it does not mean it is the entirety of their relationship but people have taken it and made it the entirety of their relationship.

[reginrokkr]

Footprints are left in their wake one by one on the blanket of snow, step by step as Dáinsleif treads the grounds of unknown lands. No sight of humankind nor of any shape or form of any civilization left behind or human activity whatsoever. Only monsters he hasn't seen before, while they are reminiscent of Abyss-affiliated fiends judging by the powers they draw and sometimes the anthropomorphic form they have. As star beasts in Teyvat, these are no laughing matter nor deserve to let one's guard down no matter how skilled one may be.

The sheer cold and snow that never seems to melt begets curiosity within the seraph's mind, ever wondering about the ecosystem of this world and if that is the reason why there is no human life here— or perhaps there may be none at all to be had if humans don't exist in this place. Dáinsleif is cognizant of the fact that inhospitable lands can be incompatible with other forms of life, too.

Not long before he decides to rest does he see from afar metallic fences and machinery that he opts for walking some more and have a look, albeit never intruding into territory he doesn't know. Whoever or whatever created this, he cannot be sure whether they will act kindly within his presence. Where creations lay so must loom nearby their creators and ere long does Dáinsleif find out that said creators are humans. Good, so long as mankind exists in this star, so his possibilities to learn about this vast universe will increase.

Rubescent lips part to heave a content sigh for such pleasant discovery and so Dáinsleif turns on his heels to leave. His aching muscles beg for rest, so does his mind after an undetermined amount of time walking and seeing little more than a vast albor ocean of snow. Somewhere discreet where he cannot be found yet not too far from the settlement is the chosen location to rest until a fox's cry causes his guard to be up once more, trained eyes in search of any presence that must've caused the tundra animal to be in distress.

Against his aching muscle's will, he rouses on his feet and searches for any living being activity within his vicinities. The source of the cry is found with immediacy as soon as a man's figure —judging by his muscular-looking back and broad shoulders— crouching catches his attention. With one hand he holds the poor fox in place while it struggles to thrash about in order to break free from his grasp and with the other snow is grabbed and brought to his lips. Despite the oddity of eating or drinking snow, stellar pupils take notice of a patch of blood making itself evident through the fabric of his top-wear on his arm.

❝You are hurt.❞ Only after these words abandon his lips does the seraph berate himself mentally at the prospect that the man may not understand the language. Even so, his voice stands low and gentle, tone does wonders to communicate feelings when language cannot establish a bridge of understanding. Dáinsleif ignores if what little fauna that lives in these snowy plains may be drawn to blood and thus put the man in danger, or if his life is endangered depending on the amount of blood that was spilled. His index finger points towards his own arm, pointing to the location of the other's injury to make himself clearer through signals. ❝Blood loss is detrimental in a place like this and I happen to have some medical knowledge.❞ One step brings him closer to the man, slow and measured to not generate hostility. His hand stretches towards him, an invitation. ❝Do you need help?❞

@longzhua ✦

[theriu]

I am learning to crochet and I have MADE A PRETTY SQUARE

And the edges are somewhat less wobbley than my wonky first attempt! YAY PROGRESS! 🎉

[astormofsilk]

“I am so very proud of you for gifting me this little miracle.” - Aemond to Alys asked by @righteousmen

Alys was tired, laying on the bed panting softly. The babe was crying softly in Aemond's arms, she hadn't been able to look at them yet. The labour was hard and had lasted the better part of the day, and almost into the night. She finally finished just as the sun slipped down and the stars started to appear.

"Is...are they okay?" Her voice came out husky and rough, she couldn't help the screams that had happened with the finally push. The maids were busy relighting all of the candles and fireplace that had gone out with her scream

[mercerislandbooks]

Book Notes: Fantasy Roundup

Or, some ideas for what to read when you have a book hangover from Iron Flame:

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

When Emory is the sole survivor of a secret ritual in the caves below Aldryn College, her healer powers, given to those born during the new moon on a rising tide, begin to shift into something strange and uncontrollable. Will her estranged friend Baz, brother to one of the students who died, help Emory figure out her new powers and what really happened that night? This debut fantasy has it all — dark academia, an upper YA that crosses over beautifully into adult, a murder mystery, secret societies, forbidden magic, a pining romance and the most gorgeous book design I’ve seen in a while. The magic system is built around the moon phases and the tides. Curious Tides is book one of a planned duology.

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

What happens when Talasyn and Alaric, two soldiers from opposite sides of an entrenched war meet on the battlefield and discover their opposing powers combine to create something entirely new and unexpected? They continue to absolutely hate each other while having to work together to save their people from an even worse fate. Of course. And we all know what happens when two attractive people hate each other. Drawing inspiration from Southeast Asia, debut Filipino author Thea Guanzon has penned a fun, fresh fantasy that balances an authentic depiction of the toll of conflict on a population with a strong cast of characters and all the political machinations of Machiavelli. The Hurricane Wars is book one of a planned trilogy.

Godkiller by Hannah Kane

In a world where gods, fed by the attention, prayers, and offerings of humans, can also be destroyed by them, three disparate people come together to travel to the ruined city that was the last stand in the wars between gods and people. Kissen, a godkiller for hire. Elo, a former knight turned baker. And Inara, a young girl whose life has become intertwined with a god of white lies, Skedi. The four travel together to Blenraden, hopeful that they will find a way to untangle Skedi from Inara. All the feels of quest fantasy with characters that are delightfully flawed and human. The world building was immersive and queer normative with a host of diverse characters. The religious and magic system was at once familiar but with enough twists to make it unexpected. Godkiller is book one of a planned trilogy.

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

From page one of The Fragile Threads of Power, I was invested all over again in the world of the four Londons, seven years after the events from The Shades of Magic trilogy (also excellent, if you want to start there). The plot works together like interchanging gears, or a chess game, the movement of each character affecting the others, often unknowingly. There are characters from the original trilogy, new additions, and Tes, the one who, unconsciously, holds the key to everything. Schwab investigates power in this novel -- who has it and who controls it, and by whose standards its morality is judged. Schwab puts a lot of things in motion in this book, and only a few are resolved by the end. The Fragile Threads of Power is book one of planned trilogy. You can always go back and read The Shades of Magic series in the meantime!

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

I can’t think of a more fun combination than 1880’s Egyptian archeological digs, a feisty heroine determined to find out what happened to her explorer parents, and a current of magic running through it all. When Inez Olivera hears that her parents, on a dig in Egypt, are presumed dead, she takes matters into her own hands. Inez books passage from Bolivia to Egypt, intent on discovering the truth. What she finds in Egypt is an infuriatingly handsome young man, assisting her guardian in carrying on her parents discoveries, and men thwarting her inquiries at every turn. Add to this a mysterious ring that connects Inez to the magic of the past and the questions continue to pile up. It will take a trip up the Nile and many near escapes just to get Inez closer to any answers. Packed with action, a slow burn romance, and a huge twist kept me enthralled to the very last page. What the River Knows is book one of a planned YA duology.

Hopefully you find one, or many, of these titles to be a satisfying read!

— Lori

[visceralprayers]

" okay, okay. I get it, I shouldn't have peed on a cop car and then-- repeatedly oink as said cop threw me in the car, but in my defence I was very h-- drunk. " poet gave a wide, boyish grin as the sheriff perked a brow, then shook his head, " you got someone to pick you up? " he asked, and poet dug out his phone, " I got someone.... I think. "

[bonestrouslingbones]

i now understand the anger people describe when they see other folks just going about their lives entirely unaffected by disasters

[troythecatfish]

[machiavxlli]

Closed Starter

It was dead of night. Crows replaced the sounds of tweeting birds, the wind tore through the trees with a sharp whistle. Talia Rivers marched into her home, the large wooden doors slammed behind her. To say she was unhappy, would be an understatement. It had been another lengthy meeting, with council members way past their prime. "Good evening, Mistress Talia." A old voice greeted her. It was Giles, the manor's butler. An old man with a long face, a snow white mustache under his nose and a monocle. Talia hung her cloak. "Another tiring few hours, I presume?" Giles questioned carefully. "Yes. I do feel as if though my brain has shrunk in the last hour." One would think beings with thousands of years under their belt would be more open minded, but perhaps Talia was naïve to think so. "Is Ben in?" Talia inquired, her apprentice's name rolling off the tongue smoothly. Giles nodded. "He is in the library, my lady." The vampire thanked the old man, advising him to inform them when dinner was ready. Talia had taken Ben in a while back, perhaps 2 years now. She saw great potential in him, plus the council had bugged her about not having an apprentice to begin with. Her heels clicked through the empty halls of her manor, before she came upon a large, mahogany door. Light slipped through the opening. The fire was lit. "There you are." Talia spoke, hands grabbing her skirts as she descended the few steps. "Meow." Upon the apprentice's lap was a white feline. Duchess was her name. "Seems you already have company." // @bluejeanbaby

[faaun]

you are the man in the mouth of a drain you are written in sleep you are the black fox in the snow you are the wasp stung by a bee you're the puzzle-solving animal holding all the weapons at once you're the one vandalising the music industry bare-boned magenta-voiced high-climber you are the deep cut the shameless loud cough and the fourth scab, twice-removed you're noah's wife and god's brother-son-daughter-whatever and you're throwing us off the wall it began with you, blemished chrome and the working poor and a lesson in tenuousness and how to sweat, preferably with someone else, preferably onto someone else.

[expectiations]

Is it just me or does the phrase "dumb Darillium River" make your ears ring too?

That phrase hurts me like crazy because it takes away how the post-Manhattan events affected her so deeply. And now that we have the added knowledge that she gets to see her parents in New York even after Manhattan, THORS now presents itself in a different light.

River's resounding "the Doctor does not and has never loved me" cements the implication that she and the Doctor had a huge row after Manhattan. What would you feel if the love of your life told you he "does not and has never loved" you? Certainly not happy.

Do you know what grief does to one's mind? No matter how brilliant you are, grief changes you. Grief makes you a different person. I would know, having experienced it myself. And River, in her grief, jumped into a headspace that shut out (or tried hard to) the Doctor.

Yes, she should have recognized it was him she had unknowingly dragged along on her space Robin Hood quest, but for her, it isn't him. It wouldn't be. Because that was the last thing she had heard him say.

Grief and pain clouding her mind, she proudly asserts that no, the Doctor isn't there. He won't show up for her. He has never loved her. But of course, she loves him. She's never denied that. But he proves her wrong soon afterwards. Because she is the Woman The Doctor Loves.

So, yes, on the surface level, "dumb Darillium River" seems to be what THORS had made River to be. But no, it wasn't. It isn't. It was about a grieving River and a chance for the Doctor to right his wrong. (And yes, we were robbed of that kiss. Homie here quite clearly wanted one.)

originally posted over on twitter.

[nightsongs]

@thoselittledespairs gets a starter for nox.

The injury was worse than Muriel had initially thought. By the time the fight was over, he was wheezing, struggling to stay upright. The gashes in his side were deep. The adrenaline must have been what kept him from realizing how bad it was.

He leaned heavily on his staff. Inanna worried snuffled her nose against his pant leg.

"M'fine," he mumbled to Inanna, not noticing that Nox had come over to him. He turned his attention to her. He'd grown more comfortable talking with her, after spending nights by the fire together.

"S'not too deep," he said, which was an obvious lie, with how they were oozing blood. "Need to sit, though."