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#paradox nerd post
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Utsukushii Kare master post
With Utsukushii Kare: Eternal becoming available on streaming in Japan and rumors of international streaming distribution on the horizon, I thought this might be a good time to do a roundup post of all of my meta writing on the series so far. There's quite a bit of it. Between the complexity of the psychological themes in this series and my capacity for hyperfocus, I ended up with a lot to say.
In case it doesn't go without saying, this post is subject to change as I continue to post on this topic.
The psychological paradoxes of Utsukushii Kare
This is a series of posts (the current plan is to write three installments) about what it says on the tin: paradoxical psychological dynamics in Utsukushii Kare. These are things about the characters that may seem contradictory at first but can be accounted for by digging deeper into some psychological concepts. These posts are focused on the series (both seasons) but will draw from the movie and from the novel and related stories when they illustrate points about the series.
Part 1: Covert grandiosity and finding status through idealization - A pretty deep dive into 1) the subtle ways Hira shows that while his self-image can be highly negative in some ways, in other respects he feels superior to others and 2) how by elevating Kiyoi’s status and humbling himself in comparison, Hira attains a different kind of status.
An addendum of sorts to part 1: Hira's parents and his self-defeating tendencies - Some guesswork about how Hira's parents could have contributed to his self-defeating personality, with some further discussion of specific self-defeating strategies he uses in his relationship with Kiyoi and elsewhere.
Utsukushii Kare through the lens of pursuer-distancer dynamics and related psychological concepts:
The pursuer-distancer dyad & how it applies to the world of BL - a primer on this psychological concept and how it applies to BL generally, with a brief reference to how this concept applies to Utsukare (also touches on Semantic Error and talks in detail about an example from To My Star 2). This one isn't super focused on Utsukushii Kare but is pretty de rigeur for understanding my UK posts on this topic.
Paradoxical roles; or, I think I finally figured out the pursuer-distancer dynamic in Utsukushii Kare - This post comes after some of the posts listed below but I recommend reading it first as this is really where (I think) I cracked the code on this aspect of the story.
Pursuer-distancer roles & attachment style in Utsukushii Kare, Part 1: Hira - In-depth discussion of Hira's role in the pursuer-distancer dyad, his attachment style, and his personality
Pursuer-distancer roles and attachment style in Utsukushii Kare Part 2: Kiyoi - In-depth discussion of Kiyoi's role in the pursuer-distancer dyad, his attachment style, and his personality
Re-evaluating pursuing & distancing in Utsukushii Kare season 1 - super detailed post working out my thoughts about pursuing and distancing in season 1
On the way Sakai Mai (the series' director) uses seme left, uke right framing and its significance in BL and other Japanese media:
Using an example from the s2e1 with the girl who hits on Hira at a party (via a reblog of a gifset from @nanons)
On the way Sakai flips Hira's and Kiyoi's position in the frame in two versions of the same scene and what it tells us about its significance
How the persistent/cute trope plays out in Utsukushii Kare season 2, plus related overanalyses of the big season 2 finale kiss:
The persistent and the cute (how "persistent" and "cute" are code words with specific meanings in BL/yaoi/other drama and manga genres/Japanese culture more broadly)
Analyzing the season 2 finale kiss in light of seme left/uke right framing and the persistent/cute trope (in a reblog of a gif post by @nanons)
Reblogging @bl-bracket to lobby for the season 2 finale kiss, with more overanalysis
Fragrance nerd discussion:
This bittersweet fragrance - on the significance of osmanthus/tea olive in Utsukushii Kare season 2, with additional information on the possible significance of the fragrance of osmanthus and perfumes that are either osmanthus soliflores or feature prominent osmanthus notes
Posts on specific season 2 episodes:
initial thoughts about S2e1
Additional (informal) thoughts on s2e1
S2e1 rundown
Hira's incongruous/misaligned affect at the end of s2e1
S2e2 rundown
on S2e2, including pursuer-distancer dynamics and seme left, uke right
Utsukushii Kare S2E4: “face me straight on” (mostly discussing relationship dynamics pointed out in topic-specific metas)
on Utsukushii Kare: Eternal:
Kiyoi and Anna: on Kiyoi’s friendship with Anna and its significance for his personal growth
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fiveforchibis · 1 year
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Kalluzeb Fic Recs
Updated April 12 2023
Alright Kalluzeb fans new and old. In light of certain… live action revelations, I’ve decided now is the time to put together my own fic rec list for this ship. For new fans who want to know where to get started, and old fans looking to jump back in. I’ve sorted my recommendations by categories to suit any type of mood.
I try my best not to include WIPs or WIP series for this post. Perhaps later I'll do a whole post dedicated to WIPs.
Fic recs under the cut. Be mindful of my warnings for certain fics/categories. 
I just want to read the “required reading” fic for this ship
The Goal is Not to Fall by SneakyBunyip
https://archiveofourown.org/works/8892910/chapters/20383234 
A pseudo-chat fic written very soon after The Honorable Ones premiered. It’s a very well constructed fic that helped to lay the groundwork for many Kalluzeb tropes going forward. It has a bit of an awkward relationship with canon, since it was written while the show was still airing, but its storyline and characterization holds up very well. 
I just want something short and sweet (<5000 words)
I plan on making a more extensive list of short fics in a future post. But here are some of my faves.
That ‘Oh’ Moment by WaitingForMy
https://archiveofourown.org/works/44844433/chapters/112831339
This is just a great little story about Kallus and Zeb falling in love with each other. The author really takes the classic “Oh” moment of any good fanfic and boils it down to its quintessential goodness.
Kallus Family Values by LiterallyThePresident
https://archiveofourown.org/works/34006396
Kalluzeb is more window dressing to this hilarious short fic. I won’t say much else without spoiling, but it always makes me smile.
Chopper’s Gossip Discovery by Pokkit
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30129351
Kalluzeb from Chopper’s pov. I feel as though this is a good intro to the “Chopper hates Zeb and likes Kallus” trope you see in a lot of fanfics. 
It works on you by Kereea
https://archiveofourown.org/works/10610031
Just some fluff and body positivity. Kallus and Zeb observe the physical differences between their species.
Sanctuary by little0bird
https://archiveofourown.org/works/26710906
My personal favorite among the “Zeb patches Kallus up after Zero Hour” genre of fics, but there’s many great ones out there. This one involves some… interesting reactions to pain medication that makes it fluffier than most. 
if only for a night by elleTchj
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24921622
This is an angstier, steamier take on the “Zeb helps Kallus out after Zero Hour” genre. But the sensuality of it cannot be understated. I adore anything that involves Zeb being careful and tender with his humans, particularly Kallus. It’s part of the whole “gentle giant” vibe he’s got going on. 
I want longer fluff
Pen Name: Fulcrum by twoseas
https://archiveofourown.org/works/46149040/chapters/116177803
Kallus takes up writing as a hobby and is surprised to find his anti-Imperial romance novel has really taken off. This is a very fluffy pieces of creator wish fullfilment in the best way possible. I think all/many creators want to be seen through their creative outlets, and that feeling when it happens is so warm and fuzzy. Watching Kallus work out his own feelings through his writing is a very cathartic experience that many of us fanfic nerds relate to.
Good Friends by mudkipwrites
https://archiveofourown.org/works/33942724/chapters/84409582
This is a great fluff fic exploring Kallus and Zeb’s time on Lira San over the years. With the hilarious premise that Kallus is the most romantically oblivious man in the galaxy. 
I like timey wimey stuff
Paradox by 10MileSoul
https://archiveofourown.org/works/29349348/chapters/72090627
This is a great old-fashioned paranormal mystery. I love a good “alternative self” confrontation. Don’t want to spoil much but I highly recommend if you like a good twilight zone style story in your Star Wars universe.
In the Hour it Took Me to Fall in Love with You by HixyStix, whiplashcrash
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24327562/chapters/58654681 
The groundhog day style story where Zeb keeps dying no matter what Kallus does. A classic angst trope and done very very well here. It’s a little bit twisted because it involves two time travel shenanigans, as the Zeb Kallus is trying to save is technically from the past. 
I want a dark adventure, with a sprinkle of Kalluzeb
The Depths by DownToTheSea
https://archiveofourown.org/works/32870755/chapters/81570934
Did you love that one underwater level in Knights of the Old Republic? Do you want more of that except with more Cthulhu style horror and Kalluzeb? Then do I have the fic for you! Please read the tags if you want to know more about the nature of the ending, I don’t want to spoil it for you. But this fic could seriously have been a Rebels arc if Rebels was allowed to be rated R, it just fits so well. 
At Me Too Someone Is Looking by greatunironic
https://archiveofourown.org/works/31014362/chapters/76609937
This fic mostly centers on Kallus during his time as Fulcrum, and then after when he finds himself on the run with a young force sensitive clone in his care. Zeb is mentioned frequently but does not make an appearance until well into the fic. For most of it it’s more of a darker take on Mando and Grogu. I think putting Kallus with a young child is particularly interesting just because it conflicts so heavily with his Imperial, and even Fulcrum persona. It’s also nice to see Zeb interpreted as an inspirational figure, which I believe is what Kallus came to see him as in the show. 
I want stuff involving Lasat culture/Lira San.
The Intricacies of Atonement by ReaperDuckling
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28214736/chapters/69138318
Warning. This fic includes Lasan flashbacks. They are… hard to get through. They are gory to get through. But they are important for providing context in the present timeline. I love the way gender is explored in Lasat society here. I love the way this fics explores what “atonement” looks like for Kallus. This is a dark fic, but it has many heartwarming moments. 
Return by HixyStyx
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28538208/chapters/69934209 
This take on Lasan is actually my personal headcanon. The Lasat OCs in this fic are well fleshed out and interesting. They play off Zeb and Kallus so well. And Lasat cultural practices are explored in detail here.
A Blind Goddess by apocrypha73
https://archiveofourown.org/works/11689575/chapters/26316135
Kallus actually gets put on trial for his crimes in this fic. It’s actually a great reflection of the fandom’s own debate over Kallus’s character. Not only is this fic well written, I think it’s an important read to mindful of when exploring the Kalluzeb relationship.
I want AUs but still set in the Star Wars Universe
The Lighthouse by sempaiko
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27945965/chapters/68440943
Kallus is injured a bit worse on Onderon than he was in the original series. Lasan never happened and the war ends with Zeb going off to explore the edges of known space and beyond. Kallus is a very lonely manager of an outpost between Known Space and the Unknown Regions. This is a lovely exploration of how their personalities would mesh without quite so much history between them. Zeb’s his best self in this work, and Kallus is a much quieter, more introspective version of himself, but you can see the original characters shining through all the same. 
The Jedi and His Ranger by HixyStyx
https://archiveofourown.org/works/32111755/chapters/79553707
Why yes some force sensitive Zeb! The fandom needs more of this tbh. But this is a great place to start. While the above fic explores Zeb’s best qualities (his warmth and courage) this fic explores Zeb’s worst qualities (his hotheadedness and temper). Zeb is a Jedi during the clone wars and Kallus is a ranger, trained especially to work with Jedi from a young age. Order 66 happens about halfway through, as does Lasan, so be prepared, but the early dynamic has a great bickering buddy cop feel. And the end is on the happy side of bittersweet.
I want AUs not set in the Star Wars Universe
Moonshine by mudkipwrites, sempaiko
https://archiveofourown.org/works/25904113/chapters/63698044 
Without spoiling too much I think this fic is the best take on what “The Rebels” would look like in a modern day setting. Kallus’ villain to hero arc is also realistically reimagined as an IRS agent falling in love during an audit. The included fanart of human!Zeb is also a really nice touch. If you like a little western in your romance I highly recommend this fic.
The Heist by HixyStyx
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30759461/chapters/75920279
Have you ever wanted to see a story about thieves stealing from museums to give cultural artifacts back to the people who created them? Well this is the fic for you. Kallus is a museum curator with all the same mindsets of a classic 19th century curator and it works so so well for his character. There’s a bit of a “liar revealed” plot, but it doesn’t work out in the way you usually expect. 
Just give me the coffee shop AU already
Lothal Moonlight by Hixystyx
https://archiveofourown.org/works/34911418/chapters/86932672 
Hera runs a cute little coffee shop near a local college with the ghost crew. Kallus is a frequent customer, Zeb is a barista. Somehow this fic still gives Kallus a villain to hero arc in a way that fits the setting, and includes all the classic trappings of a coffee shop AU. It reads like a warm cup of Lothal Moonlight. 
I want smutty/naughty… but keep it light
If you want to see a miracle watch me get down by shades
https://archiveofourown.org/works/32324074/chapters/80126509
Zeb is a slut in the best way possible. Kallus is a bit of a prude in the “shy blushing” sort of way. They eventually sort out their feelings, but the adventure getting there involves lots of awkward mishaps as Kallus can’t seem to stop walking in on Zeb. This story is from Kallus’s POV but there’s a “sequel” that tells it from Zeb’s. I love the way the author wrote Zeb in this fic. His confidence and open mindedness really draws you in.
The Five Times Zeb Sent Kallus A Horny Comm Message by Horation_Fig
https://archiveofourown.org/works/40327698/chapters/101015967
Warning. If you can’t handle second hand embarrassment you might struggle with this fic. I did, personally, but I’m so glad I got through it. Zeb… isn’t always the most thoughtful about how he communicates over comm, and hilarious mishaps and misunderstandings ensue. Also Kallus gets an adorable pet spider. 
When On Lira San by mudkipwrites
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23488654/chapters/56319586#workskin
Naked Lasat. So, so many naked Lasat. Kallus trying to hold back his own horniness out of respect while navigating these new cultural norms is both hilarious and sexy. 
The Grand Gamble by MossyWrites
https://archiveofourown.org/works/38396527/chapters/95953342 
The classic “fake dating” fic, except instead of “fake boyfriends” it’s more “fake alien crime boss and his expensive piece of arm candy”. Basically an excuse to shove Kallus into as many slutty garments as possible, while dressing Zeb up to the nines. This is like 10 chapters of sweet sweet delicious foreplay/UST. 
I want the smut… but make it dark/feely
How Zeb's Feet Ended The Empire by Horatio_Fig
https://archiveofourown.org/works/46322632/chapters/116626492
In which Sabine is a pimp and Kallus is a simp. For all those readers who love Zeb's prehensile feet.
As a general rule. Please mind the author’s tags/notes for all of these. I’m gonna be blunt about what each of these fics involve so please, please don’t read this section if you find these sorts of things triggering. 
That’s Rebel Blood You’re Bleeding Now by astudyinpanda
https://archiveofourown.org/works/31053374/chapters/76713590
So a lot of smut fics involve a bit of an unhealthy BDSM dynamic between Zeb and Kallus, where they use the kink to work through their feelings of powerlessness and guilt. I’m such a sucker for it, it’s a horrible guilty pleasure of mine. This is the quintessential fic for that category. It’s mostly from Zeb’s POV and Kallus does kind of use him as a form of self flagellation at the start. It’s a good exploration of how a sub can fuck with a dom’s head just as easily as the other way around. It does get better, with Zeb learning how to assert his own needs in the bedroom, but it’s a bumpy ride. 
Someone Like You by ComeChaos
https://archiveofourown.org/works/40205724/chapters/100701363
This fic is like the exact opposite of the one above. Instead of sex to work through their dark history, that history is what gets in the way of their sexual relationship in this one. It’s very emotionally cathartic to see them working through some very dark traumas while trying not to hurt each other. And the smut is a very nice reward for each barrier broken. 
Little Deaths by sempaiko
https://archiveofourown.org/works/34021849/chapters/84621952 
This is another “Kallus and Zeb do BDSM for all the wrong reasons” fic, but it’s much more mutual in this one. Kallus isn’t using Zeb as some sort of perverse punishment, just to work off some steam somewhere safe after traumatizing moments. Zeb is also much more conscious of the fact that he’s taking out his frustrations with the empire on Kallus, that’s part of the appeal for both of them. The sex slowly becomes more affectionate over time as their relationship becomes something more. I will say Kallus’ internal thought process in this fic is a great demonstration of his growth as a person. 
Inexorable by Anath_Tsurugi
https://archiveofourown.org/works/15858831/chapters/36941646 
Sex pollen, fuck or die, and Lasat sex is deadly to humans. If you’re just looking for something debauched, this fic is really good at scratching that itch. 
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marinesocks · 2 years
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writeblr intro!!
hi hi!! i'm helena/danger (she/her) and i'm new to tumblr but i saw a bunch of people doing writeblr introductions and wanted to join in!! i'm a bit shy when it comes to reaching out but if you interact with me at all i will like. 100% respond!!! ok here goes!!
about me
i am a:
adult,
lesbian,
ADD haver,
third culture kid,
hobbyist reader,
psych major,
avid dog enthusiast,
wannabe artist,
horror movie fan,
ecology nerd,
and, as you might have guessed,
a writer!!
i'm not incredible at it but for some reason i cant stop doing it so here i am!!
favorite genres/niches
fantasy mostly!!!
i like to think i like plot but honestly i'll like anything if the characters are good enough
HUGE mythology and folktale fan!! i have very strong opinions on how to incorporate those into a novel tho, so only ask about that if you dare!!
surprise creepy concepts and crapsaccharine worlds are like my favorite of all time. i 100% support lying about the contents of a project to keep that twist extra shocking!!
romcoms might not be my favorite but im a sucker for cute couples, especially if they are LGBTQ+
psychological horror is excellent, one of my favorites (even if i'd never dare to write it)
depictions and representations of mental health is probably the thing that's most consistent throughout my work? maybe its just the psych major talking but i find that stuff endlessly fascinating
i've lived in various places overseas for most of my life, so i enjoy stories set in unique locations absolutely DRENCHED in culture!!
current projects
i feel a bit awkward sharing these because again, i'm not a great writer, but i like reading about other writeblr's projects so i figured i'd give other people the option of seeing mine! warning for pretentious titles for very straightforward and basic concepts
WIP - flowers that mean "we'd miss you" - a short story I wrote while testing out subtext, character dynamics and prose!! the basic run-down is that a boy wakes up in the hospital and now he and his friends have to navigate a very difficult conversation. the subject matter definitely requires a content warning, and it has a few gaps i still need to fill, but overall i really like the direction it's headed!! out of all of these projects, it's probably the one i have the least issues with.
in the ataraxis of aftermath - this one is a novel i wrote for NaNoWriMo 2020! it is post-apocalyptic with elements of fantasy, slice-of-life, and romance, specifically lgbtq+ romance. it's about a girl exploring what remains of her flooded city when she suddenly finds another survivor. despite the genre, this novel is very slow-paced and calm, relying more on the character dynamics and emotional journey of the protagonist instead of traditional story beats and plotlines!! i finished the whole first draft that november (and without any real outline to guide me, so altogether it's a bit of a mess), and i plan on rewriting it after i finish the two following projects!!
WIP - the owl's wish - originally intended as a short story for just a friend and i, this project is quickly expanding into a full-on novel!! it's a haikyuu!! fanfic, but i've been told that the story is well enough removed from the show that it can work even if you don't that context. the only summary i can give without spoilers is that it's about an owl spirit with amnesia who finds a friend, and together they set off to get their wishes granted by the mysterious Lady of the Yellow Springs (but it's about more than that, i promise ;) ). it's set in ancient japan, and i referenced a few traditional fairytales when drawing up the outline, but otherwise it's a completely original folktale that can hopefully be accessible to anyone who picks it up!!
WIP - currently titled ouroboros paradox - this is a novel i am currently plotting, so honestly i'm not so sure how much i can say!! this is a fantasy novel coming from my intense passion for large creatures, horror elements, and norse mythology. as far as i know now, the story will follow two protagonists in the city of jörmungandr - one from the past and one in the present - as they try to navigate life, religion and ethics in a world where murdering living beings lengthens your lifespan. i plan on finishing my outline before this november, so i can try to hit 50K for nanowrimo this year!!
where to find me
Instagram, Wattpad, Art Fight, AO3, & Toyhouse! If you would like to read my writing but don't have a Wattpad account, i've linked the google docs directly to the titles :)
and that should be it!! if you read this far imagine i am giving you a very firm handshake with very watery eyes. if you'd like to reach out, ask questions, or share some of your story tidbits with me, please do!! i'd be so happy to reciprocate however you'd like :) have a great day!! drink some water!!!
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siriuslysatorusimping · 6 months
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I CAN'T NOT SHARE THIS BECAUSE IT MADE MY HEART HAPPY TO WRITE
IDK EXACTLY WHEN THIS WILL FALL IN TERMS OF WHEN IT'LL BE POSTED BUT HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK OF A FUTURE PIECE FOR PHYSICAL PARADOX BELOW THE CUT:
You can read Physical Paradox on AO3 💕
“Didn’t realize that we were being taken over by the physics department today!” Touma’s voice called as he entered from the other side of the room. “Everyone out! Quick! We’re being invaded. The hard science nerds are coming in to usurp us and take our nicer building!”
Gojo snorted and jerked his head toward the drink carrier behind him.
“Pretty sure you do more hard research than I do, kid,” he countered, watching Touma grin as he grabbed his coffee. His hand went to his back pocket, and Gojo rolled his eyes. “Put your fuckin money away. It’s a damn coffee.”
“Oh, so sorry,” Touma joked, taking a sip of his drink. “My mistake for thinking a coffee could break your bank account.”
He plopped down behind the desk and propped his feet up before calling out.
“Kurisaki is running a bit behind, but she’ll be here soon. So just hang in there, guys. I’m your TA, Yoshido Touma, by the way. Nice to meet you. I’m amazing, Kurisaki sings my praises daily. She is also great.”
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auroracycle-enjoyer · 4 months
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Do you think any of the squad would have any kids? If so, how many?
alr here we goooo
tydii: obviously they canonically have lae in the Bad Universe, and they probably have her in the good universe too. I have a Lot of opinions about Saedii and her relationships with her parents, but i'll spare y'all (unles you really want to hear it 👀 then hmu) i hc syldrathi culture as focusing really intensely on the nuclear family (no big family reunions or whatever) so she really just starts fixating on Lae, and on Lae having the best possible most supportive childhood, to the point where she and Tyler don't even really think about having another kid until Lae's in her twenties. i go back and forth on whether or not they do - i think it all depends on Lae's relationship with her parents as an adult, but they probably have a son when she's like 19, and he's endlessly babied by the rest of the squadfam. like all things, though, tydii attacks parenting like the powerhouse they are. they probably have spreadsheets for everything. fuckin nerds.
aurikal: they have like three ish children. we see in the books that Kal idolizes his mother, and we know Auri had a little sister. Ergo: aurikal parents. i forget who i'm stealing this from (I think it's @saedii-gilwraeth-simp? but I can't find the post) but they totally name one kid Evaa-Callie. my addition: when she's like three weeks old it becomes increasingly evident that it is in fact Incredibly Awkward to name your kid after a dead planet, so they wind up shortening it to Evalie. she TOTALLY becomes a musician (kinda like AURORA in our world? she probably just goes by EVALIE). aurikal probably adopts a kid too - maybe the kid of someone Kal knows? anyway hes either an author or a scientist, in general he does nerdy things. there's also that one daughter who winds up becoming an expert handler for a species of syldrathi mammals used historically in battle but nowadays as guard dogs or service animals. she really bonds with her baby girl, named Seredii, which literally just means "Muscles", this is like naming a pitbull "Brutus", this is the Most Stereotypical name ever, her siblings tease her Endlessly.
finlett: i feel like they don't have kids? they're too busy being awesome and they both have issues with the parenting they got growing up, so there might be a lil insecurity there as well? anyway they turn into the Number One fun aunt and uncle and they spoil the tydii and aurikal kids endlessly.
zinari: Zila can't find Magellan's actual code, protected by layers and layers of encryption, so she has to make him again from scratch. (She realizes at the end of the process that the was to stop herself from making a time paradox - if Zila copied it, where did she get it from? she encrypts the code she writes so tightly she knows no one, not even Fin, could decrypt it.) This takes Many Many iterations of prototype AI's with VERY distinct personalities. Nari feels bad for the programs to be stuck in the cloud and puts them into robots, and Zila sees no issue with this. End result: they have 15-20 robot pseudo-children Magellan prototypes, all named after different explorers. (unpopular opinion but idk if zila would be a good parent but nari deserves kids so here is the solution)
DAMN i had no idea that would get this long ! hmu for elaboration on any part of this 🙏
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Introduction Post
Howdy hi! I'm Elijah and welcome to my classpecting blog! I've been looking into Homestuck classpects for years, reading and touching up on various resources and looking at the characters to best understand what classes and Aspects are, what they do, and how they influence and are influenced by who they are assigned to. I used to have a classpect analysis going on Wattpad years ago, but had deleted it out of insecurity. Now, thanks to the support of some friends, I'm opening it up fresh and new here on the silly hellsite of Tumblr.com.
Introspection has always been fascinating and important to me. Starting with a vast interest in personality quizzes, it has expanded into a desire to understand the self and the roller-coaster ride that is. But when understanding oneself through their favorite fandom? Well, that's too fun of an opportunity to pass up! Not to mention the applications of it when making characters and stories!
What you can expect to find here are analyses on Classes and Aspects separately, as well as analyses for when they are paired together. You may even find some classpecting over different fandom characters! However, my word is not gospel; you are free to interpret things in a way that makes better sense to you and can differ from what is said here. No one's word is law, after all!
Read more about this blog under the cut!
How Do You Do It?
My method of analyzing follows around a central or core idea of that class or aspect and expanding upon it based on what has been observed. I cross reference many different sources, from what other classpecting blogs think, to enneagrams, source material, and more in order to best study the subject at hand. I do not, however, include the following media in my analyses unless requested otherwise:
-Hiveswap -Friendsim -The Homestuck epilogues -Pesterquest -Any current or future post-canon content after Act 7 of Homestuck.
These sources are considered dubiously canon and thus will not be taken into consideration when profiling each Class, Aspect, and character. However, requests to profile characters from these sources are welcomed.
My takes on classpects may differ from what may be generally accepted as fanon, and additionally may differ from what is considered canon. While I do take canon Homestuck explanations and testimonials into account, Homestuck altogether is a coming of age story and the involved characters' understandings and explanations may be biased or contradictory to their personality, experiences, and actions-- which creates a paradoxical circle between influencing classpect and being influenced by classpect. As such, though a character may say one thing, I may interpret it differently. Exploration isn't about following what has already been laid out and rehearsed 100 times, but is about the experiences and things you learn by acknowledging what has been said while keeping an open mind to find the answers you are personally looking for.
As this blog gets fleshed out, I will be updating my side bar and this post to serve as a directory to various key posts and profiles. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading, and welcome to the blog ya nerd <3
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A Theatrical Performance of An Intimate Moment
A/N: okay, so, this isn’t exactly fanfiction, lol. It’s simply me rambling on about my thoughts on atpoaim. I’ve been seduced by the series and I can’t help myself. I also just wanted to use it as a thinking exercise to reflect on where the band is at, what they’re currently doing artistically, etc. So, I totally understand if you decide to skip reading it. But I would love for this to be an opportunity for those who are interested to share their thoughts as well. It’s basically a bunch of questions I’m wondering about! So come talk to me about it if you’d like cuz I’m a nerd for this kind of thing!
Warnings: hella pretentious. I’m a PhD student in English Literature. Pretentious is my middle name.
The Title: the series title presents us with our first paradox. How can something intimate become theatrical, let alone a performance? Intimacy usually implies authenticity, genuineness, connection. Whereas theatricality is often associated with artifice and drama. The 1975 attempt to bring the two together, but is that even possible? Also, how is labeling this series as a “theatrical performance of an intimate moment,” change our perception of it? Like, is it different from watching a vlog? If Matty had announced this as a “behind the scenes document-series” or a “day in my life” we wouldn’t have the same level of distance and suspicion of what we are seeing on screen as we do now. What’s the purpose of creating that kind of experience for the audience?
The cinematography: the way that it’s filmed does two primary things for me: first, it emphasizes artificiality, I.e. constantly reminds us that this is a curated piece of media, edited in such a way that presents us with only PART of the truth (which, again, creates tension with this idea of ‘intimacy’). Through the black-and-white aesthetic that it’s referencing and using, through the humor, through the way that it’s cut and edited. So, what’s it saying to us? That Matty has to perform a certain version of himself to the cameras? If so, why do it at all? What is this series trying to accomplish?
The Performance: while I think that Matty is, here, building on the themes of BFIAFL, he seems to also be interested in exploring larger questions about art/ identity. We could see this as an extension of the mission of ATVB. His onstage persona shares some similar characteristics with the atpoaim series. He’s exaggerating, performing, pretending to be a version of himself to critique certain aspects of culture, consumption, our relationship with art and entertainment. It’s one thing to do so onstage as part of the gig because it offers us a “frame” to view the music/ concert experience. It’s another thing entirely to extend this into his personal life. What’s he saying about identity? That when get so used to performing a version of yourself to the world, it gets so stuck with you that you can’t quite shake it off even when you are alone? That he is constantly trying to mediate between his “real” self and a version of himself that he strives to be? And, of course, the age-old question: if he’s performing all the damn time, doesn’t that performance, at some point, BECOME the real him?
The Time Line: just a quick note that, in typical post-modernist fashion, the series is non-linear in terms of time. It seemed like the first episode was pre-SNL. And it dropped right before SNL so it made sense. Created this illusion of immediacy. We’re seeing things “in real time” if you will. BUT episode two was kind of vague. We see him watching SNL at on screen, so clearly it’s supposed to be AFTER, right? Except that mirror scene might suggest otherwise. He’s practicing “thinkin’ this through” so it might be that he’s preparing to do SNL? Or it could be a clip from episode 1’s mirror scene that is inserted into episode 2. Meaning, it actually happened BEFORE we got to see it. Of course, he’s picking up on the fan jokes that he said “finkin this frue” on SNL, so he’s reacting to something that happened AFTER. Also, as this anon has pointed out, it’s in the context of wiping the mirror, and perhaps suggesting that he’s perfecting an exterior version of himself/ working out flaws.
The Episodes: the first one seems to be primarily about establishing expectations with the audience while the second one is about undermining/ ruining those expectations. Ep 1 gives us the sense that we are getting a glimpse of what Matty is ‘really like’ behind the scenes as he goes about doing mundane things that we all do in life. We might not all be stopped on the street for selfies, but we all have to perform a certain version of ourselves for the world. Ep. 2 on the other hand, highlights the difference between performance and reality when Matty gets caught up in the celebrity status and does ridiculous things such as hide in a suitcase, etc. the definition of “taking the piss” lmao. Also, I couldn’t help but note the ending of episode 2 where Matty meets with an artist who does the same thing but to a ridiculous extent. They have that debate about “what’s more important? Art or people?” Matty seems to come down firmly on the side of people. Is this his ethos, so to speak? Is this a reaction to the way he’s publicly perceived and criticized? Is this him saying that art has limits? If so, what do these limits mean to him as an artist? And how does the fact that this conversation is, in itself, happening INSIDE a piece of art affect its meaning. Like, is that also a performance? Is the conversation about art also art? What’s he trying to say?
That’s all for now….LET ME KNOW WHAT YALL THINK, IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON ANY OF THIS / HOW YOU INTERPRET THE SERIES!!!
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rddykilowatt · 5 months
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Once again I am here to post my mindless ramblings about Yona of The Dawn.
So enjoy this outrageously long post I've written simply because of a characters name and me being a massive loser who reads Wikipedia pages like it's the morning paper.
SPOILERS FOR CHAPTERS 100-MOST RECENT CHAPTER !!!
As a renowned Zeno enjoyer, and lover of over-analyzing media. I will finally ramble about his name (fyi if this makes me sound smart, then please reduce your expectations to zero because it's not true I am just a nerd obsessed with a silly little animanga).
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So to preface I have a very odd itty bitty fixation on quantum physics/mechanics & in the discussions of probability, quantum leaps, paradoxes, and just overall the big brain stuff. There's a thought experiment called Schrodinger's cat which is used to illustrate a paradox of quantum superstition. In which there is a box & in the box is a cat w/ a vile of toxic gas/poison.
The cat is simultaneously both dead and alive until the box is opened blah blah blah massive brain probability stuff. But tied to this thought experiment is also another part of this topic. It's called the quantum Zeno effect and to put it in simpler terms it refers to a slowing down of the evolution of a quantum state under the limit that the state/it is consistently observed or in much MUCH simpler terms a watched pot never boils.
If you as a reader apply that to Zeno as a character and his powers it's such a clever thing to come up with. An immortal character that can't age, can't get sick, can't die, and can't physically change named Zeno after the quantum paradox about how something won't change under constant observation essentially. It's just,,, wow.
The whole part with the dragons crest never leaving Zeno after Hiryuu bestowed it upon him knowing his "fate" and being the only thing that keeps him sated for long periods just screams the Zeno effect to me beyond the obvious immortality, not aging, ect.
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I know at this point in my fixation with this series that Kusanagi never misses a detail, let's be honest, so I feel like the part with the crest is her waggling the actual nature of Zeno's powers in our faces. Given that his name may not be an obvious reference to his power(s) unless someone knows a single thing about quantum physics/mechanics. Like Kusanagi is shoving the details at us.
Kinda like, 'you guys aren't nerds enough to just google his name by itself so here's this little guide for you about his powers in a super duper simplified story-relevant way'.
However, this all leads me to wonder what/who specifically is watching Zeno then? If a watched pot never boils & Zeno can't die/change whilst being observed or a continuous outer force is always there then what would happen if this "watcher" stopped observing/happening? Is it the Yelllow Dragon up in the Heavens? Is it the Crimson Dragon King? So many questions.
I have no idea if Kusanagi did this intentionally, or with the thought that anyone would even find out. But I sure hope she did because it's just pure genius & adds even more depth to what's already there. It feels so intentional it'd hurt if it turned out not to be.
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eraserror404 · 2 years
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autistic headcanons about aizawa (detailed post):
• showed many typical signs of autism since childhood, but was diagnosed only in his older teens due to the neglect of his parents
• the first or one of the first special interests was quirks. he could study the open state register for hours, memorizing the names, descriptions and registration numbers of quirks. this was very useful to them in their heroic work in the future
• the next special interest was astrophysics. he was always fascinated by space, he was delighted with the paradoxical nature of the universe and could have infodumped about it for hours if someone had agreed to listen
• (no one agreed. the first really interested interlocutor on this topic was thirteen. they began to communicate on the basis of a passion for space)
• trying to better understand the principles of the universe, shota began to study higher mathematics. soon it became an independent special interest. they is especially fond of limits, derivatives and progressions
• interest in quirks gradually developed into interest in heroics in general, and with the addition of mathanalysis skills, aizawa became a good analyst. in middle school, he took additional classes in higher mathematics. in yuuei there were additional classes in mathematical statistics and a club of heroic analytics. of course, aizawa immediately signed up for both clubs as soon as the opportunity arose
• (he was very excited when he found out about midoriya's analytical interests. sometimes they have discussions right during the lesson. at such moments, 1-a acutely feels the lack of popcorn)
• shota has difficulty making eye contact. they literally can't even look in the direction of the face of the person they bewares. as he gets closer to a person, his gaze gradually moves from "somewhere in the corner near the interlocutor" to the approximate direction of the face. aizawa can only look straight into the eyes with very close people
• until the age of 14, shota was a walking disaster. hit all the corners and door jambs on the way? yes. drop all your stuff because you got tangled in your limbs? give me two. tripping over your own foot and smashing your face? hold my beer
• his verbal skills were also very poor before entering yuuei. his classmates literally had to teach him to talk
• despite significant progress, they still easily becomes nonverbal during sensory overload. but now shota knows sign language and is mostly surrounded by understanding people
• his biggest sensory vulnerability is sounds. he doesn't tolerate noise very well. while still a student of yuuei, he accidentally stole noise-canceling headphones from the support course, and this was one of the best acquisitions in his entire life
• the second worst thing in the world after noise is a flashing light. ever since aizawa got a job at yuuei, they always change faulty light bulbs on time
• shota also hates the feeling of clothes that fit snugly to the body, so he always wears an oversize made of the softest fabric possible. even as a hero costume. especially as a hero costume
• returning to his special interests, his fascination with mathematics and statistics flowed into an interest in programming. in his second year at yuuei shota abandoned the matanalysis club in favor of the programming one and was almost the only student there not from the support course. at first they looked at him askance, but then they accepted him into a family of nerds. this gave aizawa quite a lot of useful acquaintances
• in addition, even in middle school, he was fond of edged weapons, and in the third year this interest was renewed
• versatile, albeit non-standard education + problems with verbality = complex formulations using terms mixed with slang. students find his manner of speech quite funny. and yes, he really thinks using _these_ words
• aizawa loves terms because he thinks they are very rational. he admires the ability to fit into one word the essence and description of the whole phenomenon
• logic is not just a value for them — it is their anchor and guide in the complex world of social conventions that they does not understand
• due to his being blunt, he can be rude, while observing all the norms of etiquette. and sincerely wonder what they said wrong
• his favorite stims are walking, solving "hand puzzles", combing the scalp, stroking cats, sharpening knives, swinging his legs
• they loves the tactile sensations of their capture weapon. the rough fabric feels very nice under your fingers, and since the tapes are quite heavy, this is a very good pressure stim
• his comfortable space is a sleeping bag
• shota does not like too bright or complex tastes in food, preferring something fairly simple and unambiguous. they likes spicy, salty and sweet
• aizawa is that type of autistic children who sort food into its constituent ingredients and eat them separately. they is still skeptical about most salads
• he has a complicated relationship with purees. until they found their jelly bags, they hated any products of this consistency. fortunately, these particular purees turned out to be quite liquid and became one of his comfort foods.
• his sensory overload rarely flows brightly, although this has happened. most often, he has either shutdowns, at the peak of which he cannot speak or move for several minutes, or he simply becomes very irritable or sleepy
• the best way to get out of sensory overload for shota is to pretend that everything is normal (of course, after they gets rid of the stimulus that led to the overload). attempts to start moving or talking as quickly as possible only aggravate everything. someone else's anxiety, too. therefore, they prefers to retire in an empty room or at least in their sleeping bag and just wait
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spinning-feeling · 1 month
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(I suppose since Susie was recently mentioned in a reblog of my sister's art, it's only fair i should make a post talking about the goobers lmfao)
Monster Prom AU; Starring Trifecta and Susie
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Lore under the cut!
Trifecta was once human, ages upon ages ago - he became God thanks to a ritual which ended in suicide, which one could dub a "Hatchet Incident" - Through this ritual, he was an Existential Blasphemy, something that should not be, but is, thus through that paradox, he is both as Old as reality itself, and merely a young adult. For a while, he lived in old ruined buildings before moving in with Kiah (@fishy-moirails's Sona) and becoming roommates, and in time becoming as close as Siblings - said bond also leading to a Pact made with Kiah's Partner, Oz/Calculester, as to make sure she cannot Die; her soul being under the protection from whatever outside forces seek her, be it heaven, hell, other Gods, or even Father Death himself. As time passes, his powers grow, and deeper does the paradox go; now having an entire interdimensional mansion to himself, and being able to summon Eldritch Servants; all these powers serving as proper preparation for that which he'll save all those within his favor from: The End of The World, by the Trumpeteer's clarion call.
Susie Stiles is part of a rich family of, funnily enough, Dollmaking Dolls; each member crafted with the utmost care and attention, given special abbillities and powers exclusive to them, and fit with a pristine little gemstone on their chest, one that best represents them - Susie was created from stretchy fabric and a special plastic, her abillity being to stretch her arms and legs, and her gemstone being a heart-shaped spinel; beautifully crafted by a one of the four matriarchs of the family... who turned out not to care for her at all, despite taking all this effort, time, and care into making her. And despite her pristine form, because of her maker and caretaker, and her dissappearance, she didnt see herself as too good looking - Trauma gave her self and body image issues. And yet, despite all That, she still tried to go her own way, make her own lot in life, and see where it takes her - That, and she really enjoys being a Punk, gives her a sense that she has some control over her life after so many years, not to mention the aesthetic really fit her.
Both end up meeting in Spooky Academy, becoming friends, and in time, even partners - Trifecta helping Susie out through her personal issues, offering her loving solace, and in turn Susie shows him that this "mortal" life isint all that bad, that even as God, he deserves kindness and love.
Not to mention, of course, the fact that just by being with Trifecta, and sharing affection with him, she practically elevated herself to a very high status lmfao - She'll be the very first one saved when the Trumpeteer comes calling, lovingly left in the safety of the interdimensional mansion, while her beloved takes care of the Threat of Heaven, and He-Upon-The-Golden-Throne.
Now, for some Trivia!
Susie and Kiah are very close friends, thanks to Trifecta; so close in fact that they've become an iconic duo in of themselves, "The Godslayer Girls" - they even have matching shirts! As for how they got that name, Kiah once had a playfight with her brother in a parking lot and won, and Susie? Well, let's say she has a certain effect on ol' 'fecta, which causes him to almost literally melt thanks to Susie's flusters lmao
Nenaavi, Trifecta's eldritch "pet" cat, aided as a kind of emotional support when the Eldritch Nerd helped the Punk Doll through her issues - The kitty fed on her emotions, and acted silly as to boost her mood - Funnily enough, Nenaavi's doing the same for Kiah as well
Kiah claims that Trifecta cheekily helping out her relationship with oz/cal is him watching a Soap Opera - Funny then, that kiah as well has a Soap Opera to watch, with Trifecta and Susie, only diffirence is that their's is a hell of a lot more wholesome, and filled with a lot of lovingly teasing flusters lmfao
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torbooks · 1 year
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Tor Books EPIC Holiday Gift Guide For Your Oddball Family
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Hello hello, and welcome back to our annual TOR BOOKS HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE, where we give you what we think are the best gifts for the hyper specific, super chaotic individuals in your life. From your childhood BFF to your mildly traumatized game master, we have a whole slew of bookish picks for you this holiday season. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays, y’all!
by Rachel Taylor and a cat
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For your long suffering GM (Game Master) who just wants a break from your party — via tenor
Anyone who acts as game master for Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG, to be frank) deserves an award for powering through all the shenanigans their party puts them through. From attempting to fight a dragon with a fork to accidentally leading your party off a cliff, your deeply stressed out GM deserves a cozy novel to help them decompress. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is out now and, for an extra little something, you can submit your receipt to get an adorable acrylic charm, a perfect addition to your gift!
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For your cousin who remained loyal and never left Tumblr — via GIPHY
You remember the Tumblr exodus of 2019, and for shame—you were part of it, you fragile soul. But not your cousin. Resolute, they stood by their blog and posted through the long, long night. Three years later, Tumblr is resurging and you need a gift for the one who never lost faith. What’s more Tumblr than magic danger-nerds alternatively hooking up with and hating each other as they conduct research and mainline caffeine and/or alcohol? Redeem your past mistakes with the perfect bookly gifts for your cousin: Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six and thrilling sequel, The Atlas Paradox.
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For the enthusiastic players who got their GM Legends & Lattes — @lookhuman via GIPHY
You love the players at your table, but even after years of collaborative TTRPG storytelling, you’ve never once anticipated the many ways they have conspired to unravel every plot thread you’ve ever written. How then could you ever predict what they might like as a gift? Easy. Just listen to us: Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald is a fantastic epic fantasy about a girl who can A) see ghosts, and B) turn people into them with an expertly placed arrow, if she takes the mind. Of course, if anyone finds out about her power, she’s dead, and circumstances have led her to become a ward in the monastery of the very warrior-magi that would execute her. Oops! What gamesplayer can resist a quick-paced and twisting tale of magic, adventure, and deceit?
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For your ex-boyfriend who’s still blowing up your phone with House of the Dragon TikTok’s — via GIPHY
So your ex-boyfriend (who you’re still friends with, DESPITE THE ADVICE OF OTHERS) just finished House of the Dragon and he won’t stop texting you about how much it sucks to have to wait 2 years for season 2. He’s right, but you can still give him a new epic fantasy to obsess over with The First Binding by R.R. Virdi. At over 800 pages, it’ll keep him busy for quite a while AND it also doubles as a premium bludgeoning weapon for you if he doesn’t appreciate your gift. Win win!
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For your chronically-online uncle who needs to stop doomscrolling for his own health — @dualvoidmania via GIPHY
He’s mister doom-and-gloom. If there’s an upsetting tweet, you’ve seen it because he’s retweeted it. You don’t quite know him well enough to be comfortable with direct intervention. You need to gift him Last Exit by Max Gladstone. It’s a book about the death of idealism and the rot that creeps through the cracks of reality like so many corrosively fecund vines. It’s about a generation who thought they would transform the world and failure’s fallout. He’ll still be very DOOM-ful, but in an artistically fun, yet still scary way.
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For your brother who is OBSESSED with The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime — via GIPHY
So your brother watched The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime and has fallen down the 14+ book-deep rabbithole that is Robert Jordan’s timeless epic fantasy series. Help him delve even further into the lore with Origins of the Wheel of Time by Michael Livingston! He’ll be able to learn even more about all the mythology and legends that inspired Robert Jordan’s universe and you’ll get some peace and quiet while he’s absorbed in his new book.
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For your sister who always has at least 5 open browser tabs of Ao3 fics — via Gfycat
Who among us hasn’t spent some time reading fix-it fics on Ao3? Well, no one compares to your sister, who currently has 30 tabs open on her iPhone filled with her favorite OTP falling in love 30 different ways (IF THE SHOW WON’T GIVE THEM A HAPPILY EVER AFTER, THE INTERNET WILL). You can’t buy her the perfect 100 chapter slow burn coffee shop fix-it fic of her OTP, but you CAN buy her Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell! It features all the choicest tropes like mutual pining, slowburn, and fake dating and will be sure to put a smile on her face for the holidays.
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For your estranged mother, to subtly let her know that your relationship still requires some Conversations — via GIPHY & tenor
Do you want to give your mother a gift that’s also a hint about how you feel about your tumultuous parental relationship? Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey is the gift for her! It’s got great thriller vibes, with a daughter coming back to her family home for the first time after her father was arrested for being a serial killer…which she kind of caused. And mom’s still holding a grudge over a DECADE later. It’s got drama, monsters, and enough parallels to make your mom go ‘Wait, is this f*cking play about US?!’
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For the loved one in your life who waited 2.5 years to finally see My Chemical Romance live in Fall 2022 — @KyleeConriquez via GIPHY
A million years ago (Or two and a half. Whatever. Time is meaningless mush) your loved one planned to attend the My Chemical Romance reunion. A show that would eventually be put off and off and off due to ongoing events until earlier this year. It was epic, but you know what else is? Book of Night by Holly Black. Your loved one won’t have to wait 900~ days for this literary event, and just like an MCR show, they’ll want to acquire (more) goth clothes and tattoos after.
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For the childhood BFF everyone called a ‘voracious reader’ growing up / anyone who was ‘a delight to have in class’ — via Goodreads
Did your childhood BFF simply devour every book in front of her? Is she still That Person whose TBR pile is precariously stacked in the corner of her living room, a threat to anyone who brushes too close? Give her a book to really whet her appetite for reading in The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, where a very special family literally sustains themselves entirely by eating books. Did we bite a book while reading this to see if we were book eaters? Who’s to say.
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For your college best friend with at least one historical quote tattoo — via GIPHY
Does your college best friend have an encyclopedic knowledge of historical retellings? Do they have, at minimum, one historically linked tattoo that prompts a 20 minute lecture whenever someone asks what it means? Do they have five different editions of The Song of Achilles on their shelf? And most importantly, do they crave a new, queer retelling to sink their teeth into? Look no further! Neon Yang has a Joan of Arc inspired, post-apocalyptic sci-fi story for you. Check out The Genesis of Misery, ​​starring a queer and diverse array of pilots, princesses, and prophetic heirs.
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For the ambiguously LGBTQ+ niece whose fashion sense you try to understand, but ultimately makes you feel insecure about how fast you’re aging — @yifan via GIPHY
You love them, but no one makes you feel old like your nebulously but definitely queer niece. They’re so cool, and are very helpful in keeping you up to date on the hippest trends, but every time you talk to them, you feel the pent-up years in your joints. Get your niece A. K. Larkwood’s The Serpent Gates series, including The Unspoken Name and The Thousand Eyes. It’s about a gay orc death priestess who rebrands herself as a garbage wizard’s personal assassin and picks up a gods-cursed, magi-baddie mid-adventure. There are cosmic gods, ancient ruins, devious machinations, and a lot of awesome gay stuff.
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For the sibling on their third+ rewatch of The Expanse — via GIPHY
We get it. Your sibling buddy is bummed that The Expanse has finished its TV run and is still hopelessly in love with its marriage of adrenaline-flooding action and introspective parsing of human expansion / empire. Again, we do get it, and what you need to get is Sweep of Stars by Maurice Broaddus.
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For the nephew who you gifted The Way of Kings to last year — via GIPHY
Your nephew reads through books at speeds generally known only to muscle cars and lightning, and he needs long fantasy books now! The time required to produce the next installment in an epic series is often as long as the books themselves, which is unfortunate since it’s time for you to gift your nephew another book. Here’s the good news: Brandon Sanderson writes as fast as your nephew reads, and his long-awaited continuation of the Mistborn series, The Lost Metal, is the perfect gift. And then next year you can get him the next Brando Sando, and the book cycle of giving goes on and on and on.
We hope you and your loves ones have a happy and safe holiday season! Did we miss a super niche friend/family member that you want to see a gift for? Let us know in the comments! 
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taoistimmortal · 8 months
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since you apparently want to talk about the Body Mass Index...
here's a little cut n paste of a popular post from my facebook a couple of years ago...
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin!
Once a upon a time in a land far away, there lived some kind of a maths nerd. One day for some reason, he collected statistics on the heights and weights of all of the people in the land, and found that most of the healthy people fell within a particular weight range, relative to their height.
An equation was created via which you could assess whether or not you fell within that range.
In modern times, we're frequently reminded that considerably more people now fall above, or well above, that historical range in that particular region. And... without looking up the stats I'm prepared to accept that this is probably the case. If you watch old movies, tv, or whatever, people seemed to be quite slender. Even the action heroes of yesteryear weren't always the most heavy-set chaps. Although several Tarzans were actually pretty friggin buff come to think of it.
But I digress.
In modern times more people fall into overweight and obese categories and what that means for the health of the population is... actually not a hell of a lot, man. In fact, if you google "the obesity paradox" you'll learn that people in those "overweight" and "obese" brackets of the BMI actually have better survival & recovery rates for many serious medical conditions than a person of "normal healthy weight" would.
It's really not so much of a "paradox" as it is that some early assumptions about weight and health appear to be simply wrong.
Of course, many medical conditions or general health markers are better managed following what we might call "lifestyle interventions" around eating and exercise which may or may not also result in weight loss. However, it appears that the success of these interventions in improving health is NOT dependent on weight loss also occurring.
So is the BMI completely useless?
No. But it is certainly something that is often misused.
It's good for a couple of things.
One of which is identifying an UNHEALTHY goal, or an UNHEALTHY level of dietary restriction. So that we can reject it in favour of something more appropriate.
For example, the BMI tells us that a BMI of 18 represents the lower end of the "healthy weight" range.
So if someone suggest "I'm on a diet, I'm trying to get down to [X amount of] kilograms" and that amount represents less than BMI18, we know it's an unhealthy goal. If someone says "I'm sticking to [X amount of] calories per day to stay in deficit and lose weight" and we do some maths and find that it would not be enough calories to maintain BMI18 at any level of activity, we know that this is over restriction to a less than sufficient amount of energy intake.
OK, no arguments so far?
What about a goal OF being BMI 18 or a level of caloric intake sufficient to maintain that weight? Would that be a healthy goal and a healthy approach?
In my opinion, in almost all cases I would say no.
While someone might be a naturally petite or slightly built person, and they're in good health and that's just the size they are and the amount of appetite that they have without deliberate restriction... that doesn't mean that it's something that should be considered possible, much less healthy for most of anyone else. It would likely require a level of caloric restriction that is unhealthy and unsustainable, and not to mention being reflective of an unhealthy relationship with body image.
Something else I want to touch on is that often people who are in that lower to middle range around BMI20 or so have the idea that dropping another 3 or another 5kg would see them in very lean, very athletic condition and they'd be a lot happier and feel good about themselves. This is a reasonable thing to imagine, but generally speaking lower BMIs are not reflective of more athletic condition. Because by trying to starve down to a such a low weight, you tend to squander lean mass, sacrifice athletic performance, risk your mental health as well... and even in the unlikely event that you DO come in a couple of kg lighter... you will come in SOFTER, not FIRMER. Pursuit of athletic condition is more likely to mean "fueling up for best performance and condition at THIS weight" or even a few kg heavier.
Let's talk about higher weights and higher BMIs though...
Generally speaking, people do not "need to lose weight for their health".
However... they may be at a higher weight AND need to work on some healthier habits around activity and eating. Doing so is likely to also result in weight loss, but if weight loss doesn't occur, it was still worth doing.
I dislike weight loss goals for that reason. You don't want to be in the position 3 months down the track where it is "I've enjoyed training, I've gotten stronger, I actually have seen changes in my shape and physical condition, I just got my results back from the doc and she says all my markers have improved... but I only lost [this much] weight, and I wanted to lose [this much] weight! Therefore I've failed, I feel bad, and I give up".
A better goal is simply the first part of that statement. To enjoy training, and to enjoy getting stronger.
Non weight specific "improved condition" goals are also fine, but they're best achieved when you're not afraid to push towards levels of intake that are just shy of The Most that you can utilise and benefit from, rather than restricting to as little as possible because you're afraid you mightn't lose weight otherwise.
The end.
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paradoxkinspace · 8 months
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scrolling through this blog i’ve seen a few thing saying canon/source-calls r always open even w/ “requests closed” so!!! going ahead w/ a canoncall
i, ectela beceon, was a gold-blooded troll (gemcer + seer of blood) from a small alternian (alternia? beforus? some other alternative version of the empire?) colony with a society that was pretty religious as a whole. i was the young priestess of the goldblood sect. i had friends! plenty of them! enough to play a game of sgrub, at least, hehe. i don’t remember all of them, but i do remember my best friend, an indigo-blooded girl who had an unrequited redrom crush on me that caused issues in our relationship until we ended up as unofficial kismeses in our duo godtiered eras :> i also remember a smart serious purple-blooded guy who was kinda a nerd and thought my unrelenting optimism was creepy. also ^ ii typed liike thiis v anyway! if any of my friends see this hi it’s me ectela i miss you pls respond
we’re bodily 16 so keep that in mind when responding. this ask is not anonymous so like our blog is right here u can say hi through that if u want or feel to reblog this instead. it’s too late at night for me to function at full capacity and i’m not the most tumblr savvy guy so i apologize if i messed anything up while making this canoncall. have a nice day everyone also this blog (paradox etc etc) is super cool i just came across it and the vibes are immaculate i love how the mods use sprites in posts nd whatnot :>>> enough rambling time to hit send
wishing you lots of luck!!! 💫🃏🍭
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voluptuous-napkin · 4 months
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Goooood morning, sweet man ☺️ Hope last night was chill and lovely and you’ve had enough good sleep to wake up feeling like a million bucks ❤️ So I’ve been meaning to do this ever since i saw that alleged “self burn” post 🤭 but never got around to actually do it and so here we are, big guy 😋 Bear with me, love, this might get long and annoying but i’m taking my chances cause i really wanna get to know you better 🫣😘
So, would you be kind as to entertain me and answer my silly questions, please, darling? 🥹💜
1. Food Smart: does that mean you’re a great cook (i almost typed cock! we’re definitely off to a good start 🤦‍♀️) or that you have an impeccable taste in yummy things? If it’s the former, what’s your favorite dish to cook?
2. Grammar Smart: ngl might have squirmed a little at this fact because you know, fundamentals are the building blocks of fun 😌 What’s the one grammar rule that gets you excited and bouncing with joy as you explain it to someone?
3. Physics Smart: What got you into loving THAT?
4. Animal Smart: so i know you have kitties that you verbally abuse, albeit affectionately 🤭 and you’ve mentioned wanting to be a veterinarian so bad, what’s stopping you, pumpkin?
5. Technology Smart: such a cute nerd i stg 😅 What kinda tech though? I’m betting space for some reason 🤔
6. Philosophy Smart: Pascal’s Wager has always had a special place in my heart. What’s the one philosophy that’s found its snuggly way into yours?
7. Music Smart: I need the one song that would describe you to a tee like your poor kitties need therapy, please 😊
I know it’s a lot to ask and you don’t have to answer them all, if any. I would just love to see you talk about all the things that make you wonderful, honey bear 🥰
-💋
Mostly just a good cook, and my favorite dish to cook is anything stir fry 😋
There's nothing specific I just know all the rules to the English language, like how where certain letters are placed makes them sound and what version of they're/their/there to use and whatnot. This translates to good spelling too, I can spell just about anything.
I had a natural affinity to understanding the relationship between my body and the world around me (aka spatial awareness), then I found people like Neal Degrasse Tyson who got me into astrophysics and I just keep learning about matter and spacetime and paradoxes. Love a good paradox
I can't go to vet school without money 😔 I've handled animals all my life and they always love me, sometimes more than their owners.
No just general stuff like phones, computers, robots, some programming, some digital model creation (I made a functional train model in CAD once) but I appreciate you aiming high 🤭
I don't remember names of the teachings, but I've started to follow Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche (me? An existentialist? What a surprise 😂) I also wanna add that this spilled into learning about psycology with people like Karl jung
Hmm, that's pretty difficult since I listen to a lot. But I'm gonna throw a curve ball and say Matilda by Harry styles, it made me cry when someone showed it to me cos it reminded them of me 😭
I'm flattered you took the time and effort to comprise this list and I hope it was a fun little jaunt into my mind 🥰
And I think my kitties are fine with being loved aggressively don't you jabba?
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enigmasandepiphanies · 6 months
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Plath isn't questionable lol just because she said one bad thing don't matters, she lived in horrible times and even then she still cared for feminism and women.
okkiee anon here's the thing, you jumped the gun and totally didn't understand my definition of questionable and i really don't wanna explain it to you but I shall cause anon, two things. it will tell you that it's important to look at literary works critically and two, you are kinda gonna be really embarrassed that you jumped the gun cause I came from a totally different place because it's was about me nerding on about plath and her connection with sea, not feminism
I am not calling her questionable because her definition of feminism was not what it is today, neither the questionable thing came from racist connotations about her work. yes, her works are super problematic and they are racist and her feminist attitude is one of a white feminist, that's something we need to as readers look at critically, acknowledge but at the same time not dismiss the fact she has spoken and expressed lot of things that really made a torch bearer for those times. so, we have to look at her work pertaining to her historical context but we have to also acknowledge the criticism
also btw bell jar is one of my most fave books of all time. I acknowledge its blatant racism and it's embodiment of white feminism and also I can't not acknowledge it I read it as a queer person of colour (fucking annoying gotta announce my identity but positioning is important so you can be aware) but I don't hold it on a pedestal for it's literary prowess or shit, neither I believe in cancelling plath (cause cancel culture fucking sucks) and, she has good words in her (ariel, mirror, mad girl's love songs are poems which I actually appreciate)
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in the post I called her questionable was because her definitions of serenity and peace have always paradoxical and covered in layers of meaning about her personal grief and anxiety, especially in her relationship with water cause crossing the water is a poem she wrote where water holds a different meaning so that was a fascinating contrast that she felt beach gave her serenity. moreover in her essay ocean 1212-w her relationship with the ocean is tumultuous. for instance, she talks about the other side of the sea, when the ocean, which has often considered her mother was not so: “The hurricane was nature without her maternal mask on and it revealed the other side of the sea, the womb as a grave” (12).
so please grow up a little and understand that she hasn't done one bad thing, has done many actually and we all in horrible times btw and yes you shouldn't dismiss her horrible times but looking at things critically doesnt equate to me cancelling your fave literary icon and it was not even about her racist white feminist portrayals but my thoughts on her water imagery, which I didn't wanna elaborate on cause my tags are a private inside joke to me only but oh well, since you so asked by taking great pains to write this anon
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Non-traditional family trees: the case of Futurama
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The Farnsworth family tree that he shows to the crew members of Planet Express in "All the Presidents' Heads"
Some time ago, Mary Koeven wrote an interesting article about family history and adoption (if it is taking a long time to load, please read the archived copy), which she defines as "when a child is raised by someone other than their parents, whether or not their last name was changed or any official adoption process was carried out in the court system," with adoptive parents being either "grandparents, aunt and uncle, other family members, or complete strangers," sometimes referred to as "guardianship or fostering rather than adoption." She also went onto say the important part is establishing a timeline of the child's life, saying that "any information you find on relationships and family events should be recorded on your family tree." The article goes onto outline how to add "adoption info in your Ancestry.com tree," specifically focusing on the Harry Potter series as an example, although looking at how this works for Family Search would also be helpful. In this post, I aim to talk about family trees in Futurama, which I briefly mentioned in a post on one of my sister blogs.
Reprinted from my Genealogy in Popular Culture WordPress blog. Originally published on July 27, 2020.
After reading Koeven's post, I responded on Twitter, wondering whether the family tree in Futurama was "non-traditional," adding that "one of the protagonists is his own grandfather," referring to the Fry family. Koeven responded by remarking that "time travel would rewrite a lot of the fundamental rules of genealogy (death always comes after birth, etc.) and make research MUCH more difficult." Be that as it may, I still feel this article is one worth pursuing. Infosphere, the nerd's guide to the Futurama universe, has a very helpful family tree of the Fry family, which explains a lot:
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Courtesy of Infosphere.
In episode 1 of season 4 (Roswell That Ends Well), Fry and the rest of the Planet Express crew inadvertently travel back in time to 1947. In the process, he kills his own grandfather, Enos, leading to all sorts of distortions:
Fry's time travel means that Yancy, Sr's paternal grandmother is Mrs. Fry, his wife and Fry's mother. And not only did Fry become his own grandfather, he made his father his own grandfather as well. An infinite loop results: Fry is his own grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-great-grandfather and so on. This abnormality is the reason Fry lacks the Delta Brainwave.
This disrupts the fundamental rules of genealogy and would make research more difficult. Besides the crew of the Planet Express ship, who else knew that they traveled back to 1947? Those in 1947 cannot testify to anything except that "aliens came," although those "aliens" were people from the future. Later on, in the series, during the first Futurama direct-to-DVD film, Bender's Big Score, Fry again travels back in time, creating the time-paradox duplicate of Lars Fillmore. Again, if he is a duplicate, what is his real birth date then? We can say for certain what his death date is (Dec 31, 3007) but if he has the same birth date as Fry, then doesn't this create another distortion? Some have been bothered by these distortions, saying it throws other parts of the show into question, like the DNA scanner in episode one.
Fry's family, you would think, is the only one that has this phenomenon of distortion. The Waterfall and Turanga families are free of this distortion. But what about the Farnsworth family, which ties into the Fry family? After all, Prof. Farnsworth went back to 1775 and seemed to kill his ancestor, David Farnsworth. The only way the Prof. could still be alive is because "it's possible that although David Farnsworth was a relative of the Professor, he wasn't one of his direct ancestors" as the Infosphere claims. Still, this would create another distortion, as the crew members did "alter history when they travel[led] back in time to the American Revolution," without a doubt.
You could say that makes the episode, "All the President's Heads," even more relevant to genealogy than "Roswell That Goes Well" because Prof. Farnsworth is trying to spruce up "his family tree, eager to show anyone willing to listen - and plenty who aren't - all the amazing people he's descended from," as noted in an approving review by Alasdair Wilkins in Gizmodo. However, other reviews say that in Roswell That Goes Well, Fry "climbs his family tree." Hmm.
What are your thoughts on this? Are there any family trees from other shows you'd like to share?
© 2020-2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.
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