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shields68shields · 2 years

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Cats make excellent pets, even so, they can also be a bit finicky. From nail clippings to unique eating plans, there are a lot of matters you should take into account. This report will give you suggestions on how to properly treatment for your cat.

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#Informatica b2b data transformation

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paimon-rambles · 3 years

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Alphabet Fluff

Characters: Aether

A gift to my sister cause she never stops thirsting 😒 @katsukiibug

Doing all of them ;-;

Icon credit: Leheia

A ctivities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Aether is opened to any activities his partner throws at him. He's not very picky.

But he does enjoy some dinner dates and strolls around the city, wheater it is Liyue or Mondstadt. He pays for all meals and snacks with the Mora he got from his travels.

Be warned, however, cause Paimon ain't gonna shut up about the food. Regardless it's comforting, followed by a nice walk through the city basked in moonlight.

Aether also in general likes to travel with you, other than Paimon you're his companion. He likes to take you to the forest to pick berries or other essential resources, beneficial for future endeavors.

Stories from his travels? Aether could ramble about for hours. Describing the little mishaps and mischief he and his sister found themselves in. Though he gets really sad whenever his sister is brought up.....oofles

He's traveled from world to world was introduced to many hobbies and games of variety, he's happy to introduce you to some of them if your willing to try something new out.

B eauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

Your patience

Aether has a bit of a packed schedule; assisting with commissions and dealing with hilichrul attacks. Not to mention his mind is set on finding the 7 archons in the hope to find his sister. He's incredibly busy most of the times

He doesn't ignore you on purpose, but he's dragged everywhere. Poor guy:(

But he admires that you don't fuss about it and always hold patience. Of course, Aether will find a way to make it up to you eventually. He tends to send small souvenirs from his travels as a form of apology.

Your comfort

He recently lost his sister and is overhwaled by all these tasks placed on his heavy and tired shoulders. He leans on you when he needs that moment of peace or comfort.

He loves that you try to soothe him whenever he's in his worst moments. With your words or simple touches of comfort, he adores it all.

Your eyes

Aether loves to stare into your eyes. He finds them really beautiful and finds himself smiling whenever looking in your eyes.

He's memorized by how they lightly sparkle or glimmer depending on your emotions. Or how they light up whenever you laugh or smile.

He finds it soothing to just lean your foreheads against each other and stare endlessly at your eyes, his worries and concerns being carried away.

C omfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

He's a brother and understands when his partner is under stress or feeling down. Similar to how he notices the small gestures Lumine has that show her emotions are swirling in her head.

He picks up on the small hints and notices right away the shift in your behavior. You can say you're fine but he ain't falling for it, he's seen the signs.

But Aether does give the space you want. He recognizes its benefits and understands it himself; He's lost his kin, there are times Aether wants to push everyone away.

So patient, he's not pushing you into anything instead he's letting you describe what's bothering you at your pace. You can break down sobbing and he would wait while comfortably drawing stars on your back. He even has his shoulder to cry on if you want, softly running his hand through her hair in comforting motions.

He tries his best to give advice from his own experience. He makes a promise to cheer you later. He's just trying to make you happy again cause he hurting inside if you're not :(

D reams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

Aether pictures the future from time to time. Mainly thinking about finding his sibling. He pictures two outcomes the good now and the one he dreads dearly.

Of course, since you are his s/o, you do play role in some of the scenarios he plays on his head.

He wonders what will be of the relationship after he finds his sibling, would they continue to travel worlds as they had done previously?

It was his sister and himself life's work of jumping planet to planet and learning of the different kingdoms and such.

Teyvat is your home, you have all your plans for the future in this world, he couldn't force you to leave.

So he rather hears of your views on the future instead, listening closely as you explain everything you have planned while his heart slowly aches as he debates for his future.

E qual - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

He sees you as his equal. Nothing less or more- though he looks to up you a lot

He doesn't let any status you may hold hinder the relationship, and he wishes the same. He may be a traveler from another world, praised for his achievements, and his reputation in the nation's placed his name high. But Aether doesn't want that to affect his relationship with his lover.

So yee equals =

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

He hates fighting :(

Soft boy can't handle arguing with his s/o. It breaks his heart every time. Instantly feels guilty, even if he wasn't in the wrong.

Because of this arguments are incredibly rare. He's not an angry person in general and tends to stay positive most of the time. It will only occur if he's incredibly pent up about a situation. He'd bottle up those emotions before the string being pulled and he snaps.

Easy to forgive, the moment he notices he's angry he's apologizing for lashing out. Poor boy can't handle you being scared, upset, and disappointed with him.

After a fight, he gives you the space needed before checking on you and asking if you're alright. Aether would pull you into a hug, and probably sob depending on how bad the fight was. Cuddles until your both happy again or unless you really don't want to be in his presence at the moment.

If the fight was really bad he gives you some space to think for a bit and try to get it off his head. Afterward, he goes to apologize to you, to where you either sob together or things go back to normal right after

Apologizes repeatedly to you, you could say you've forgiven him but he's gonna continue apologizing for another hour or so.

G ratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

Incredibly grateful for every little act his s/o does for him. Ever since losing his sister, he's been in a void and his s/o has been the light helping him back to his feet. Cheesy I know-

But he truly appreciates everything you do for him, it always brings a smile to his face whenever his s/o does the most simple little acts that go a long way for him. He acknowledges even the smallest of things

Simple acts such as setting up his stuff before he goes to complete commissions or cooking him some food. It always makes his day better.

H onesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Aether tells his partner pretty much everything, he dislikes keeping you in the dark. He would be really upset and heartbroken if he found out his s/o was hiding anything from him

He relies on you a lot, he tells you everything because you always put him at ease.

However, there are a few things that he would hide for a short time. He would tell his partner eventually but needs some time to plan out how to tell them. But those moments are rare and in between.

If he did find out that his s/o was hiding something from him, he'd be so torn :< feels betrayed a in way that you hid something from him.

Of course, he would listen to your reasoning as to why you kept secrets, but he starts to distance himself for a bit.

I nspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Aether works harder for you. In other words, he's constantly trying to impress you. He tries to act heroically around you to make you smile and all.

He learned to not always feel so down because of his sister and take time to be happy as well

He for sure helps you overcome any problems or barriers that have been holding you back, taking one step at a time. You work it out together and he's patient with the process

He's always inspired by you, he works harder for you and tries to complete his commissions at a faster rate so he can spend the rest of the day work you.

J ealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Can go both ways. On one hand, Aether isn't really one to get jealous, as he has complete trust in his partner but on the other hand, there are times when he gets insecure or jealous over somethings

But for the most part he isn't jealous, there are moments where he's scared to lose you like he lost his sister, to be left alone again :<<

In the moments where he is jealous, he would tell his s/o that he's feeling envious. Getting it off his chest and hoping his S/o would help calm down his worries

If he's feeling really envious, which are incredibly rare, he would avoid you for a bit trying to let his jealousy die away before confronting you

He'd feel really bad if he accidentally made you feel jealous instead. He would remind you that all his love is reserved for you and only you.

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Something like that done here

An average kisser, a bit inexperienced when it comes to kissing, you're his first boyfriend/girlfriend but he caught on really fast.

But because of this, your first kiss ended up being really awkward and Aether got incredibly flustered cause he believed he did something wrong

He's still really shy whenever he kisses you, he grows flustered whenever you intimate the kiss.

His kisses are really gentle, pressing his lips against yours softly. Each kiss is filled with emotions, all his love into each one. Very gentle boi

L ove Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

A mess

Poor boi is stuttering and fumbling over his words. He a nervous wreck but he's trying his best.

He planned everything out but when the moment came he tripped over his words.

He invites you over for a nice dinner, nothing too fancy and nothing too cheap, just right. He pays for food, slowly bringing the conversation to an idea of a relationship. Of course, he's hella flustered and trying not to show(which he does) it.

Then he kinda blurts out that he has a crush on you and wants to try out a relationship

If you say yes he's gonna have a huge smile on his face for the rest day, it's really adorable TwT

If you say no, however, he freezes in place for a while, the whole thing repeating in his head up to the point where you rejected him. He apologizes and excuses himself. You don't see him for a couple of days, since aether is avoiding you, he's really embarrassed to talk to you. Oh and congratulations you get a nasty nickname from Paimon :D

M arriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

He thought about it at least once when your relationship was growing. Similar to dreams, he had different scenarios in this head for the future and how they could play out.

He would like to get married one day, yes, but it isn't something he sees doing anytime soon as his primary goal is to find his sister, afterward however he will look into it more and suggest the idea to his s/o.

In terms of how he proposes, he takes you on a little adventure that highlights some your adventures you had together near the beginning of your friendship, before getting on one knee and popping the question.

Kind of that nostalgic feeling you get as you reminisce on some of the old memories you created together

The both of you plan the ceremony and incorporate your ideas into one. It's gonna be a big wedding though since pretty much all of Mondstadt, Liyue, and other nations that are yet to be explored will be attending.

Of course, if you wish for a smaller wedding, he doesn't mind at all and will plan out something smaller. He personally likes a small wedding too :)

N icknames - What do they call their s/o?

Aether isn't too keen on nicknames for his s/o but he does have a few. But for the most part, he calls you y/n, especially in public

He calls you sometimes a shorter version of your name. Or a flower that reminds him of you.

Really depends on your personality as well and which flower it associates with, or he might have a silly nickname for you that he called you once and it stuck with him. However, those types of nicknames are used rarely depending on the circumstance.

O n Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

Blush blush blush blush

He might be a little oblivious to it since your his first, he doesn't realize it until someone cough venti cough points out to him.

He's in denial at first, swirling over his words while his face reveals the truth. He's crushing hard

Aether tries to mask his little crush from you and he does pretty well minus a few moments where he's got off guard, que flustering soft boi

But when he's in love, he has a smile on his whenever speaking to the person that makes his heart skip a beat. It's pretty prominent to others once you notice the behavior shift from someone random to you.

He expresses his love in a little of everything; kisses and little hugs along with serenading you in words or perhaps gifting you something. A little mix of all of them

His favorite way to express his love is to have his hand intertwine with yours. It's simple but it comforts him knowing you're close. He loves it whenever you give him a slight squeeze of reassurance; it never fails to put a smile on his face

P DA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Shy boy gets flustered in private, he gets really flustered showing PDA in public.

Don't get me wrong he loves showering you in affection but he gets easily flushed at the idea of people watching him kiss his s/o or giving them a comforting hug.

His PDA is average, he's open to hand-holding in public because it comforts him without having to do anything too affectionate in the public eye

He doesn't brag either, most people already know the existence of your relationship.

Although for the most part, he's trying to keep it a secret because of the Fatui and the threat it could place on you. You don't want La Signora chasing after you.

Q uirk - Some random ability they have that's beneficial in a relationship.

Paimon is usual around Aether meaning that whenever your feeling hungry, Paimon can point out the best places to sit down and have a delicious meal

An expert treasure hunter is in your area, and you're dating him! He knows where to find hints and little clues for treasures and can open any lock or seal. Many fortunes

He has so many stories to tell from his previous travels. It helps you connect more as you listen to him tell you every memory he can remember from the worlds he visited. You never get bored by his stories either.

R omance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

He's can be really creative in his antic when it comes to making his s/o happy, but he also sticks to some more cliche methods as well

As mentioned previously he's visited many worlds and has seen the various ways people would do to cheer up their partners.

He uses that to his advantage when trying something to get that smile he loves dearly on your face

But the also likes to take some classic routes, little gifts, or acts of affection to make you happy

Perhaps a rose banquet one day and something new and really imaginative the next. He can be a wild card when deciding

One time he jokingly asked Paimon for advice, of course, she suggested having sticky honey roast as a nice evening lunch date. Which he ended up taking you to that afternoon

He's willing to do anything-within reasonable terms- to make his s/o happy. If just point something out or specify on what would make you really happy; chances are he's going to do it for you

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

100% support in you

He wants to see your goals accomplished as well. Just like your helping him find his sister, he helps you achieve your goal

If you allow him, he's willing to put aside some of his commissions to help you plan and get a better roadmap to obtain your goal

Aether helps keep you motivated whenever you're feeling down, reminding you of what you have accomplished so far. Cooking you food or bringing you some water to get your brain flowing again. As well as some encouragement from Paimon, although she tends to over exaggerate most of the time

He is also sure to help you take breaks whenever you're pushing yourself too much. He takes you outside to pick plants or berries, but it's really soothing and distracting

T hrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

It's an adventure every day with Aether

At the beginning of the relationship, he tried to follow a more classical relationship routine. Since he was so new to affection, e mimicked what he saw other couples do thinking it was the correct way to go. But after spending more time with you he strayed away from that, adding his own ideas along with yours

He's constantly traveling the world, meeting archons and other powerful beings. There always a battle to be fought or a harbinger to run from. A lot can happen in one day

And you're his trusty and equal companion, he likes to bring you along through the chaos that is Teyvat

In other words, there is always a thrill in your relationship, plus Aether is always open to trying something new occasionally. Never a dull moment except for that one lazy Sunday where you cuddle all day, but it's really wholesome

U nderstanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Aether picks up on the little things that signal a behavior shift within you. With these notices he acts quickly to be sure your alright and accesses if he needs to shower you in more affection in order to make you happy >:0

He tries to sympathize with his partner, trying to understand the emotions they're going through. He understands grief and anger, as he had experienced it with the loss of his kin, and knows how to help alleviate his s/o

But he does try his best to help cheer you up regardless of the emotions you are feeling. Paimon is even there to cheer you with her own words

V alue - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

Aether's relationship with you is something he holds close to his heart. It's incredibly important to him, and he is sure to voice how important you are to him.

His s/o is that last speck of hope and happiness in his life after being filled with pain for so long. He'd be devastated without you

Unfortunately, his sister is his first priority, his family comes close. Lumine is the only kin he has. But your also really important to him, and so he tries to shower you with affection daily

W ild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Your Paimon's close friend, you get to hear her ramble about food- a lot. But she's also really supportive of your relationship, she's noticed how much happier Aether had become since then.

Aether likes it whenever you braid his hair. Finding it soothing as your fingers gently comb through his golden locks

X OXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

A shy boy wanting to shower his s/o in affection. He's not the most affectionate person out there but he does try to be romantic and such

He adores hugs more than kisses, he finds it further comforting to hold his partner close and reassured that there beside him. He wishes he could cuddle with you for hours however commissions among other tasks that always pull him back

He also likes kisses, there always gentle and soft and he mainly kisses you on the cheek, forehead, or lips.

So overall he is pretty affectionate and he tries his best to make you feel loved

Y earning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

He can handle it for a few days, he has trust in you and your abilities. But he does think about you whenever you have to leave, wishing he could go with you. He's already missing your presence the moment you kissed him goodbye before venturing off to whatever.

Then he starts to become worried, his head is racing even though you're fine. He's trying to stay calm in the situation, which he does pretty well but it's clear something is troubling the traveler from another world. Nonetheless, he doesn't act out that worry

He starts to take up more commissions in hopes it will put his mind off It, overworking himself just a tad too much until he finds himself exhausted and turns in to rest for the night.

He refrains from any thoughts involving you being in a dangerous circumstance, he's trying to stay positive and counting down the days until your arrival back to Mondstadt or Liyue. But he has had that one thought or two, dreading over his shoulders

When you do return, the moment he spots your familiar figure; his mind is washed with relief as he makes his way towards you. He approaches with a soft, kind smile as he engulfs you into a hug. He asks you how the journey or task went and if you hit any roadblocks or difficulties.

He takes you to dinner that afternoon to talk some more, he misses you dearly :(

Z eal - Are they willing to go to great lenghts for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

As mentioned before Aether tries his best to make you happy, he'll try somethings out but he won't cross any unnecessary lines or ones that shouldn't be crossed

Listen- he's stolen a Gods Lyre, angered the cryo God, fought a Harbinger, and almost destroyed a nation- oh and he's a garden thief. He's willing to go to some extra lengths to make you happy-he just doesn't want to add on to the list of chaos that had occurred already

But as mentioned previously, his main goal is finding his sister and he tries not to stray from it too much. But yes, he does care about your relationship and he is sure to remind you that you always hold a special place in his heart :)

I'm done omg, yay

#genshin impact #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact headcanons #aether x reader #genshin aether #genshin aether x reader

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turtle-paced · 3 years

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Revisiting Chapters: Jon IX, ADWD

It’s been a while!

The story so far…

Stannis might have left Castle Black to campaign for Winterfell, but the problems he’s brought to the Wall are sticking around. Plus there’s that pesky ongoing humanitarian crisis with the Free Folk for Jon to deal with too.

Royal Newcomers

The chapter begins with Selyse Baratheon’s arrival at Castle Black, her particular faction in tow. Jon’s not taking chances here, as he brings along his own retinue for the introductions just to make sure Selyse doesn’t mistake him for a stableboy. Sure enough, the first thing she does is mistake him for a functionary. Jon’s prepared for this, having read some reports from Cotter Pyke at Eastwatch. It seems that the folks at Eastwatch did not much like Selyse or her retinue. Axell Florent was highlighted as being standout unpleasant. Shireen, poor thing, blushes when Jon offers her some basic courtesy. Patchface is not officially introduced, but Jon’s got Cotter Pyke’s notes on him anyway.

Finally, there’s the other “curious member” of Selyse’s entourage: a man dressed like the Mad Hatter, Tycho Nestoris, representative of the Iron Bank. Jon’s prepared for that too, considering the banker “more welcome than this queen.” We’ll talk about him in a bit.

Before Jon can deal with the guest he wants, though, he has to deal with the guests he doesn’t. He leads Selyse and company to their assigned quarters, and their exchange as Jon escorts her to the prepared quarters reads like barely-veiled impoliteness judo.

“How kind of you to make room for us.” The queen’s words were courteous enough, though her tone said, It is no more than your duty, and you had best hope these quarters please me.

For his part, Jon wastes no time hinting that Selyse should maybe, you know…not be here.

“Your Grace,” said Jon Snow, “my builders have done all they can to make the Nightfort ready to receive you…yet much of it remains in ruins. […] You might be more comfortable back at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.”

He hits the point again, too, in about two sentences. Message received - neither party wants Selyse and company to be here and neither party likes it.

It’s also worth noting that despite Jon’s observation that Selyse’s party must be cold and hungry, Selyse wants to go see Melisandre first. First, keeping in mind all the things in this very storyline about who’s waiting upon whom…who’s waiting upon whom, here? Who is queen here? Second, this does indeed show us Selyse’s priorities. Religion first. Third, since Selyse’s party must follow her, it’s a bit of an asshole move for her to go seek out her spiritual advisor while the rest of her cold and hungry party is delayed in receiving the warmth and food of the Night’s Watch common room.

The basic upshot of this is that Selyse refuses to return to Eastwatch, but the Nightfort is uninhabitable, which means that she’s stuck at Castle Black for the forseeable future. As they head towards Selyse’s new quarters, however, there is an interruption.

An enormous shadow emerged from behind the shell of the Lord Commander’s Tower. Princess Shireen gave a shriek, and three of the queen’s knights gasped in harmony. Another swore. “Seven save us,” he said, quite forgetting his new red god in his shock.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jon told them. “There’s no harm in him, Your Grace. This is Wun Wun.”

Jon introduces Wun Wun politely, explaining the language barrier and the context in which Wun Wun has found himself at Castle Black. His compassion is clear as he remembers that Ygritte cried for the deaths of the giants. He makes it clear that Wun Wun is his guest. In response, what he gets from the queen’s party is…less tolerant. Selyse describes Wun Wun as “bestial”, Axell Florent is disgusted that Jon would afford Wun Wun guest right, and when Wun Wun laughs at Patchface, another knight draws his sword.

That last knight is Ser Patrek of King’s Mountain. Jon sternly tells the man that in the north, guest right is sacred - and Wun Wun is Jon’s guest. For the reminder, Ser Patrek takes over escorting Selyse to quarters. Jon allows it.

This doesn’t mean he’s done with Selyse’s entourage for the day. After the interlude with Tycho Nestoris I’ll discuss in just a bit, he encounters Axell Florent. Jon’s inclined to dislike him just on what he’s heard.

If he is not a kinslayer, he is the next best thing. Axell Florent’s brother had been burned by Melisandre, Maester Aemon had informed him, yet Ser Axell had done little and less to stop it. What sort of man can stand idly by and watch his own brother being burned alive?

Asks Jon, who later finds himself utterly unable to stand by while he believes his sister is in Ramsay Snow’s clutches.

Axell’s got an agenda. He wants to know where ‘the wildling princess’ is. Jon dodges the question by informing Axell, accurately, that the Free Folk do not see Val as any sort of princess. Another cultural misunderstanding that Selyse’s entourage have no intention of remedying. Axell is persistent, though, and presses Jon to ‘bring her out’. Jon leans heavily on etiquette to dodge that one - I mean, he’s right, Val’s not a horse to be paraded for inspection, but this gets nasty.

“Must I speak to the queen? A word from Her Grace and I can have this wildling girl delivered naked to the hall for our inspection.”

[…]

“The queen would never presume upon our hospitality,” Jon said, hoping that was true. Now I fear I must take my leave, before I forget the duties of a host.”

Tell me how you want to punch a guy in the mouth without telling me you want to punch a guy in the mouth, Jon. Anyway, Axell’s complete lack of class left it open for Jon to decline with a mild to moderate amount of grace, if without any plausible deniability.

Surely, these guests will be nothing but pleasant, and relations continue smoothly between them.

Debt or Death

But Jon does not let Selyse’s party go without a word to another of Selyse’s guests. As Jon’s internal narration mentioned earlier:

Jon Snow had thought of little since.

First up on the agenda are the ships that Tycho Nestoris came with. Three, because the Iron Bank likes redundancy. Plus the storms are getting worse out there. With that said, Jon promptly asks Tycho if he would like to see the top of the Wall. Which Jon also admits is freezing cold and that men have been blown off the top. Tycho declines.

So instead the meeting between Jon and the representative of the Iron Bank takes place in Jon’s solar. There’s some background to be done first. For instance, why is a representative of the Iron Bank even here?

“A debt.” What else could it be?

We are talking about a banker, after all. So whose debt? Jon asks about Stannis’ debt. Tycho Nestoris refuses to either confirm or deny. That leaves the national debt. And that, Tycho is willing to talk to him about. Jon here receives confirmation from what we’ve learned from Cersei chapters - the Lannisters are no longer paying the debt they owe to the Iron Bank. So the Iron Bank has sent a representative to a war zone in the frozen ass end of nowhere to track down Stannis and see what he wants to do about said debts.

From the interplay here, it looks like Jon picked up that the Iron Bank was looking to see if Stannis would be, ah, less obdurate. The new info for Jon appears to be that the Lannisters defaulted entirely.

Jon points Tycho in the direction of Stannis. It’s a big cold war zone out there; in order to get to Stannis, Tycho most definitely needs Jon’s directions. Before that, however, Jon has his own agenda.

“There is always a price, is there not?” The Braavosi smiled. “What does the Watch require?”

“Your ships, for a start.”

The first request is the odd one. The second is a loan, which is a more usual thing to negotiate with a banker. The loan is quickly explained on the page. Jon just doesn’t have the resources to feed his people until spring. So gold is the answer, enough to pay for food and the transport of food. Jon’s thinking years ahead with this. What’s missing from the discussion is any talk of amounts, any talk at all. Part of this is GRRM’s maths-aversion. Good call - we don’t need the exact details of principal, interest rates and repayment plans to get the gist, here. But also this is because the numbers are irrelevant to Jon himself, in many ways. Jon just doesn’t have the resources to feed his people until spring. He needs to get them. It’s that simple.

Jon’s compassion also explains the first request, which was the use of Tycho’s ships to mount a rescue mission to Hardhome. Jon’s not stopping at protecting the Wall and the people already there; he’s actively planning to search out more people to rescue. He knows he’s on a hard time limit.

Eleven ships was not wise enough, but if he waited any longer, the free folk at Hardhome would be dead by the time the rescue fleet arrived. Sail now or not at all.

The knowledge of this time limit is an important thing in Jon’s storyline. He does not believe he has the luxury of extended consideration. He’s aware that he’s running out of time until winter sets in. He’s constantly making decisions under that time pressure. He’s also aware he’s making decisions for the short term, as he narrates for us when he reviews the agreeement.

A long hard winter will leave the Watch so deep in debt that we will never climb out, Jon reminded himself, but when the choice is debt or death, best borrow.

He did not have to like it, though, and come spring, when the time came to repay all that gold, he would like it even less.

The entire process leaves Jon “uneasy”, because he thinks it happened far too easily. His take on the broader implications of the Iron Bank seeking out Stannis continues to be that this is bad news for the Lannisters.

A Grey Girl

No sooner has Jon fallen asleep at his desk than he’s being woken up again to deal with more problems. Specifically, a highborn girl on a lame and lathered horse, as predicted. So, not Val. Jon’s mind then goes immediately to Arya, with a rush of rather painful thoughts in the light of what Jon’s lost in the past few books and in-universe years.

Jon felt fifteen years old again. Little sister.

Jon’s seventeen at this point, I believe.

He wanted to believe it would be Arya. He wanted to see her face again, to smile at her and muss her hair, to tell her she was safe. She won’t be safe, though. Winterfell is burned and broken and there are no more safe places.

He cannot even fully commit to this moment of wishful thinking. He only wants to believe. The reality of his situation and what would have to happen with Arya immediately intrude. Jon truly struggles to allow himself to be happy. At the same time, this is also a selfless sibling love here:

He could not keep her with him, however much he might want to.

[…]

Wherever he might send her, though, Arya would need silver to support her, a roof above her head, someone to protect her. She was only a child.

Whatever illusions he might have about what Arya’s been through and how it’s affected her - and who could blame him not wanting to think about what might have happened to her between being reported missing in AGoT and reportedly ending up with Ramsey Snow - Jon is thinking of Arya’s wellbeing first, above his own emotional (and political) wants and needs. It’s pure GRRM irony that Jon thinks of sending Arya to Braavos. Where the reader knows she already is.

Sure enough, the girl now at the Wall is not Arya. And because Jon didn’t really get his hopes up all that far, he’s not all that disappointed when he realises it’s not Arya. The girl wakes up, slightly confused, but that’s quickly resolved.

“I am told you have been asking after me. I am -“

“- Jon Snow.” The girl tossed her braid back. “My house and yours are bound in blood and honour. Hear me, kinsman My uncle Cregan is hard upon my trail. You must not let him take me back to Karhold.”

This is Alys Karstark, and I think she’s one of the most impressive minor characters in ADWD. In this scene alone, she’s naked, exhausted, starving, fleeing a marriage to her abusive uncle, and she’s ridden hard in the North’s late autumn to seek help on the very thinnest of possibilities. (I really don’t think the “Stark and Karstark are kin” thing holds up any more.) There’s still a bit of casual prejudice against bastards thrown in there, though, when Jon and Alys recall their last meeting about a decade ago, when Alys was brought to Winterfell in the hopes that Rickard Karstark could arrange a marriage between her and Robb:

“[Robb] was very courteous and said that I danced beautifully. You were sullen. My father said that was to be expected in a bastard.”

“I remember.” […]

“You’re still a little sullen,” the girl said, “but I will forgive you that if you will save me from my uncle.”

She’s pretty free with repeating negative stereotypes for someone who really, really needs Jon’s help. Doesn’t even seem to see how a reminder of those stereotypes (and the reasons for them) might be a sore spot with Jon. Bold move, Alys.

She gives Jon the rundown of internal Karstark politics. She knew her uncles were pieces of shit and begged her father to leave one of her brothers behind to run Karhold. Her brothers weren’t interested in missing out on a war and her father didn’t listen. So of her three brothers, two are dead and the third was taken prisoner, all the info she’s got on him a year out of date. Her father is also dead, killed by Robb for reasons she doesn’t initially understand but accepts when they’re explained to her. She’s got nowhere to go but the last son of Ned Stark, she says (another example of Ned’s legacy).

Jon asks the obvious question.

“Why not the king? Karhold declared for Stannis.”

Before Alys gives the reveal, notice that Jon’s not referring to Stannis as “King Stannis”. He’s referring to him as “the king”. The king. Sole and singular. Subtle, but it’s well ingrained into the storyline that Jon has well and truly picked a side in the War of Five Kings. It’s a very human thing - he cannot put aside his biases that easily - but it’s still got its impact on the politics around him.

And speaking of those, Alys reveals that her uncle, one of the few to declare for Stannis, is leading him into a trap. The fate of Stannis’ campaign to take the North and win the Iron Throne is in the balance here. Its importance to this campaign is obvious on its face.

But because this isn’t a story about who wins the throne in the end, it takes a backseat to Jon’s ethical dilemma.

Rewinding just a bit, Jon explicitly notes that “marriages and inheritances are matters for the king.” In other words, in assisting Alys, Jon’s doing the king’s job. Not the job of the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. It does not have to be pointed out to him. He knows this already. Helping Alys, no matter how much she needs it, is breaking his vows.

The reveal also goes to show that if Alys is to receive assistance, it must be Jon who provides it. Stannis is going to be betrayed and led into a trap, which means he can’t help. Jon is literally the only person in all the North in a position to help Alys Karstark. So what does he do?

That’s where we leave him for the chapter.

Chapter Function

Well, Jon’s still prepping for the zombie apocalypse. This time he’s just taking out loans for it.

While Stannis is off page, this chapter also works hard to show his campaign’s prospects. Jon’s financial conversations show how Stannis can remain funded. His conversation with Alys gives the reveal that there are traitors in his camp and a trap being set up at Winterfell. Stuff to get back to when Asha’s PoV becomes the vantage point on Stannis.

In introducing Selyse & Co, we’re seeing the introduction of another important faction at the Wall. Stannis might be uncomfortable and demanding, but Selyse is uncomfortable, demanding, and intolerant. These individuals are no less a burden on Jon’s resources, but also far less gracious about working with him - and less gracious than Stannis is a serious problem. In Axell’s case, he’s an all-round jerk, objectifying Val in her absence and behaving so boorishly Jon has to just end any further conversation there. Most notably for ADWD’s arc, we also have the set-up of hostilities between Selyse’s faction and the stranger of the Free Folk. Wun Wun in particular. This tension will, by the end of Jon’s arc, result in bloody violence. With Ser Patrek, who drew steel on Wun Wun, no less.

I’ve read some criticism of Jon’s ADWD arc that in a series full of moral grey, it’s super, super clear he’s The Good Guy when it comes to the humanitarian issues of handling the migration of the Free Folk. And yes. He is. Jon is indisputably on the right side of this particular conflict, and also treating the Free Folk with the sort of tolerance and respect that appeals to the modern reader, especially in contrast to Axell fucking Florent. But as with Ned in AGoT and most especially Dany elsewhere in ADWD, so with Jon - he can be right all he wants, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a just outcome. While we’re cheering for Jon showing human decency and compassion, politics continues in the background. It’s the same structure. Get the reader on side with Jon’s character and overall objectives, set up for the punch.

In terms of Jon’s book-long arc, the exchange of note is this one:

Tycho bowed his head. “We who serve the Iron Bank face death full as often as you who serve the Iron Throne.”

Is that whom I serve? Jon Snow was no longer certain.

Miscellany

For all Selyse still desperately wants sons, for the moment she’s got no problems calling Shireen Stannis’ true heir, who “will one day sit the Iron Throne and rule the Seven Kingdoms,” explicitly seeing Shireen rule in her own right.

From farther east, the Braavosi hear queer talk of dragons. Jon wants one at the Wall. The Braavosi aren’t laughing. Neither part of this exchange is at all important.

Also from Tycho Nestoris’ news of places that aren’t the Wall, he reports that “strange ships” have been seen amongst the Stepstones. This is JonCon!

Would you believe it? Selyse has queen’s ladies and a bunch of maids.

It amuses me greatly how Jon thinks “no doubt the Lannisters had good reason not to honour King Robert’s debts.” I mean, there are good reasons for the Lannisters to be worried about their capacity to pay off state debts…but those weren’t the ones Cersei was using.

Clothing Porn

Clothing porn arrives at the Wall! Selyse wears a red gold crown with points in the shape of flames. Patchface has an antlered hat hung with cowbells and squirrel-fur flaps, plus a motley cloak in beaver pelt, sheepskin, and rabbit fur. Nesto Tychoris has a three-tiered purple felt hat. Tychoris accentuates this with a high-collared, ermine-trimmed robe in a purple described as ‘somber’. Ser Patrek’s wearing a white fur cloak over a cloth-of-silver surcoat with a five-pointed star. In a hairstyle note, Alys Karstark’s braid is bound with strips of leather.

You may safely assume everyone else is in black.

Food Porn

Mulled wine for negotiations. A brace of capons for the queen’s men. Sausages made mostly of “grease and salt and things that did not bear thinking about,” but which look a bit more palatable in the context of Frey Pie.

Next Three Chapters

The Princess in the Tower, AFFC - Dany X, AGoT - Eddard XII, AGoT

#ASoIaF #valyrianscrolls #revisiting chapters #jon snow #a dance with dragons

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honeysuckle-venom · 2 years

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I’m so incredibly grateful that Sprocket is 5 years old today. I’ve had him for almost 4 years (3 years and 11 months). By all rights and purposes I should never have had him at all. When looking to adopt a cat I met several cats at two different shelters, but once I met him I knew he was The One. So I asked for his paperwork so I could adopt him. The shelter worker came back and said that she was so sorry, but she had made a mistake introducing him to us. He was never supposed to be up for adoption until they had run more tests because he had a heart murmur.

She said that if I still wanted him I was welcome to have him, but she recommended they do a few tests first. We paid for his blood test, which didn’t turn back anything. That was bad news; if it had been something easily fixable it would likely have been in the blood test. Since it wasn’t, the odds were it was an underlying physical problem with his heart. I took a few days to think, but I already knew deep down that I was going to adopt him. A week or so after meeting him I brought him home.

We got him an echocardiogram. It turns out he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the walls of his heart are thicker than normal, and will become even thicker over time, making it harder to circulate blood and keep everything oxygenated. He was born with it. He’s at significant risk for heart failure and sudden death from blood clots. I was told he could die at any time. The shelter worker told us that if I hadn’t adopted him he would have been euthanized because of this condition, and I don’t blame them; there are only so many resources to go around.

But instead he’s home with me, and I do my best to give him the best life I can for as long as he has. I expected him to die in the first year. And then I expected him to die this fall wen he got so sick. But today he’s active and happy and engaged and playful, he runs and jumps and eats and drinks, and his murmur is about the same as when we adopted him. He’s still always going to be at elevated risk, and he could still die at any time. But for now he’s as healthy as he can be. And he’s the best companion I could ever ask for.

He’s sweet, and funny, and playful, and I love him so much. His tail wags constantly like a dog. He’s unreasonably obsessed with pipe cleaners, and no other toy will ever measure up according to him. He’s very very talkative, I’d estimate I hear upwards of 50 meows a day (most of them begging for food or to go on a walk). He’s annoyingly smart, and good at opening drawers and cabinets. He’s a little shy and skittish, but so am I. We’re well matched that way. He trusts me. He didn’t sit in my lap even once in the first year; now he does almost every day. He’s the best part of my day-to-day life, and I’m so glad that the shelter worker made a mistake and introduced him to me that day. And I’m so astonished and grateful for his continued health and presence in my life.

Happy birthday Sprocket. Thank you for being my friend.

#my post #long post #medical cw #animal illness cw #kind of?#idk how to tag this #also there he is!#I just took that picture #he’s curling up for a nap after busily attempting to destroy his new toy

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imaginationmess · 3 years

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TAKE MY HAND (ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE) [BAKUGOU KATSUKI X READER]; TWO

Bakugou Katsuki X Reader

AGED UP AU!

Summary: When you take on the burden to keep the ones living safe, which causes you to become a traitor, but you had to pick a decision, and it cost their trust in you. You reverted to your old violent self. Months later, you find yourself face to face with your old friends. They want you to help them because they know you can handle yourself in this current state of the world. They are still ignorant of the state the world is. They have no idea how more dangerous it has become.

“We are still fucking fighting and won’t stop fighting. If you fucking give up, we lose!”

BEFORE READING! PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER!

Previously Chapter ONE; Masterlist

Chapter TWO

Word Count: 1,600+

Spoiler Alert for Anime watchers: There will be mention of Midoirya’s new quirks that haven’t been introduced in the anime.

Once the four of them have taken a shower and had time to discuss with each other weighing the pros and cons of trusting you. You did have a good record of keeping up with your promises before the incident where you betrayed all of their trust. It’s a tie between trusting you or not trusting you over a deal.

They are gonna reconsider the vote about it, later at night. They are all curious how you became a Mafia boss from just an original teenager who wanted to become a hero. To only become a cold killer and making a name for yourself years later.

They only have heard stories and rumors of the alias you go by.

Glitch.

A masked individual who is widely known for their cold,calculated mind and a heartless killer who didn’t care who gets caught in the crossfire. A leader who rapidly climbing up the ladder in the mafia world during the time of the apocalypse. A leader who became to hold more territory and killing off of other leaders to take their territory and expand their army.

A name alone made your enemies tremble in their boots.

They are hoping to get better judgment, seeing how things are run here.

The young boy that goes by the alias Speedy gave them a quick tour, but didn’t show the whole building due to being confidential from outsiders. He is just following orders. He was taking them to the cafeteria to grab something to eat to only notice where the children were eating all together were pointing at them. Most of them have eyes of admiration and pure awe looking at them.

“They are fans of you guys. They have seen the old video recording of previous sports festivals. We had to keep them somewhat entertained. Glitch got her hands on those old videos.” Speedy explains to continue to eat his soup.

The boys nod, understanding why the kids are so excited to see them in the flesh. It was weird, but somewhat comforting that the younger generation isn’t taught to hate heroes.

“I would keep those degrading comments of Miss Glitch to yourselves because the people who live here aren’t fans of heroes, much less of outsides. I heard you guys arguing earlier outside the room. You weren’t very quiet.” He looks at Bakugou in a way saying you are the loud one, before adding, “Everyone here would not agree on whatever image you decide to picture her.”

“Why wouldn’t they agree? Isn’t she a killer though?” Todoroki is just addressing the tension in the air. Midoriya and Kirishima choked on their food before coughing. They forgot Todoroki still struggles to read the social situations.

“Yes, she has killed many, but it is done to keep everyone safe. At the state of the world, it isn’t run by heroes who never got their hands dirty. It is run by killers because prison doesn’t exist. Who is gonna be the one to put those low lives underneath the ground? You guys never faced the true danger of the current state of the world. You are always protected just because you attend a prestigious school before the apocalypse hit.” Speedy spits out before taking a deep breath and just continues eating his food. His left hand was

“I apologized for his comment. We just have a history of them. It didn’t end on a good note. I know yo-.”

Speedy interrupts Midoriya by slams his spoon on the table before taking a deep breath to recollect himself.

“You don’t know any of our experiences. It was hell before Miss Glitch came to save us and took us in with no judgment. She taught us how to freaking survive by teaching us numerous tools such as self-defense and weapon handling. She never expected anything in return, unlike other mafia groups.”

The sound of a clap pauses the tension being created by five of them. The ex heroes in training look up to see meet the emotionless man covered with tattoos and scars. The same man who was within the room left to the minor from earlier. He placed a hand on top of Speedy head to ruffle his hair.

“Go ahead, eat with your sibling. Take a breather. I will take over making sure these little shits behave.” He removes his hand from his head before taking a seat beside the teenager.

“But-” Speedy was hesitant on leaving his position.

“It’s an order. Spend time with your sibling. Enjoy the night off.” The older man takes out a red apple from his pocket. Speedy stares at the four outside and gives a quick nod before taking his leave.

Bakugou Katsuki was staring at the man with suspicion as if he saw him before this mission. He wasn’t the only one who was thought so. Midoriya recalls those same tattoos, but it must have been a long time ago. He couldn’t easily recall. They were eating quietly until they finished.

“Let’s start ny introducing myself. I am Daichi. I am usually the one who runs this base when Miss Glitch isn’t present. It must have been your lucky day because you would have been tortured to death for trespassing.” The hairs behind their neck rise and getting goosebumps.

They sense malicious by the way he is sounding. Midoriya’s danger senses were activating and going crazy causing him to want to step away from him. It takes him back to when All For One and Stain’s presence.

Daichi’s yellow eyes stare at every one of them as he takes out a pocket knife directs it at Midoriya who was sitting in front of him. “The only reason you four are alive and even getting treated with special treatment is because of Miss Glitch. Step out of line, I wouldn’t hesitate to beat the shit of you wannabe heroes. That’s the only thing. I am allowed to do.” He swiftly put his pocket knife after cutting his apple into six pieces which fall on the napkin. He claps his hands together cutting through the tension for him to drop the act to replace it with a fake smile.

“Anyways comes to my question. What did you talk about with the young boy making them lose their composure?”

He was oblivious enjoying tormenting these wannabe heroes.

_______________________________________

Meanwhile, inside the hero’s refuge base where there is a tall metal barrier that runs underneath 20 feet underground.

There was a young man with black hair with his signature scarf, looking at a map looking where to travel to get more food and other resources. They are running out of places to investigate. The last 2 locations were a complete bust. It has been cleaned out completely. He is one of the leaders of the camp where they have stayed safe since the beginning of the apocalypse.

There was a knock on the wall, before someone coming in through the curtains. They pull a chair across from him, before taking a seat. They are twirling it around for them to rest their arms on the top of the chair.

“Aizawa, I can’t believe you took my suggestion seriously.” The young male with the purple bed hair as if he just rolled out of bed, comments. He has a small scar above his eyebrow. He has a few scars on his arms that have grown muscular.

“It was insane, but not outside of the possibilities.” Aizawa laid back in his chair and stares at his former student who is now somewhat a version copy of himself when it comes to fighting styles.

“Do you tell the trio? Whom they are gonna be meeting?” The purple-haired questions, not seeing they would be willing to see a former classmate that so-called became a traitor in their eyes.

“No. They wouldn’t be willing to do it despite us being a tight spot right now when it comes to resources.” Aizawa answers, before ruffling his hair and keeping his eyes closed. He is stressed out and not having a lot of options. They are running low on adults that were pro heroes. They have lost many throughout the apocalypse. Many of them abandon their original mission to save themselves.

The apocalypse revealed the true heroes who aren’t for the money. They are a good amount of pro heroes who got captured by mafia groups to have power. Some of them show over time randomly at their doorstep after being spared by the mask individual Glitch. That’s the only information they are allowed to share about their interaction with Glitch.

Aizawa and the other leaders of the camp believe the individual took them close enough for them to walk to their camp. Aizawa suspects it is one of his former students whom he didn’t have any contract ever since the infamous incident. Majorly of his students calls them to be traitors.

“I still don’t get why we never told the truth about what actually happened that day.” The purple-haired male looks to the side to see Eri outside away from any harm playing with Kota.

“Hitoshi, It was a quick agreement exchange of keeping our mouths close and follow whatever story they want to make up. She swore to keep her word on securing your guys safe within her presence.” Aizawa applies pressure on his forehead to relieve the headache.

Aizawa remembering back to the U.A dorms where you are smiling and being a normal teenager. The image of that student whom he watched over for months became dark. She was no longer a child, but an emotionless shell of what she should be.

The lifeless eyes staring back at him, covered in bruises and blood that wasn’t her own. She was carrying unconscious Eri. You were bathed by your enemy’s blood. The remaining light of innocence in your eyes had vanished from existence. It only reveals just cold, calculated eyes that were staring at his soul.

“Aizawa.”

💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣-💥-💣

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

Any thoughts/Feelings/Predictions that you have while out reading this chapter.

I would love to hear them! <3

If you wish to be tagged, do comment down below.

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bfpnola · 3 years

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She/they and he/they pronouns! I use them. Many of my followers use them (I love y’all). Maybe some of your friends use them. But what are they? Read to find out and let me know if y’all want a future post on neopronouns, by the way!

Click here for over 1,000 free social justice, mental health, and academic resources. Please share so everyone has equal and equitable access to education and activism.

Image Description Below!!!

Explaining She/They and He/They Pronouns

What are personal pronouns?

Personal pronouns are words that we use to refer to a person in place of their name. Most of the time, people go by pronouns that are based on the binary gender assigned to them at birth. BUT, nowadays, it is becoming more common for people to go by different pronouns.

Examples of Commonly Used Pronouns

She/Her

He/Him

They/Them

She/They/He

She/They

He/They

What are she/they and he/they pronouns?

People that use these pronouns are comfortable with having a gendered pronoun (she or he) and also a gender-neutral pronoun (they). You may use either or both of the mentioned pronouns while addressing them or talking about them. Some individuals may also go by she/he/they pronouns and you can use any or all of these!

Gender identity doesn’t equal gender expression

Do not assume anyone’s gender identity based on their pronouns. Sure, pronouns can act as a medium of gender expression for some people, but that is not always the case. For example, people who go by “they/them” pronouns could be a man, woman, both, or neither, any or all of these pronouns to address them.

Why do people use she/her or he/they pronouns?

It’s all a matter of what the individual feels comfortable with! Sometimes, certain pronouns can be gender affirming for some people but there can be all kinds of other reasons too, such as:

If someone identifies as a man/woman as well as non-binary

If someone is predominately non-binary but wants their masculinity/femininity to be acknowledged or recognized in spaces where strict gender binaries are present

If someone doesn’t identify with their assigned gender at birth but use these pronouns for simplicity’s sake

How do I find out someone’s pronouns?

Ask them! Never be afraid to ask for clarification. You should never assume someone’s pronouns based on their physical appearance.

When you introduce yourself to new people, try to add your pronouns as well. (Ex. “Hi! My name is _________ and my pronouns are ___/___”

Look in social media handles and profiles (not everyone has their pronouns in their social media bios, but many people have started doing this!)

What if I accidentally use the wrong pronouns for someone? That’s okay! Sometimes people slip, but ensure that you keep these things in mind:

Make sure that you apologize and correct yourself. For example, an appropriate apology can sound like: “Sam said she...sorry, they prefer winter over summer.”

Don’t make a big fuss about it! By saying something such as “Omg, I’m a horrible person. I swear I didn’t mean to do it...”, not only does it make the situation all about you, it also puts the other person in an uncomfortable position where they have to reassure you.

If you can hear someone else calling you or another person the wrong pronouns, be sure to correct them.

How do I stop repeatedly messing up someone’s pronouns? If you often find yourself using the wrong pronouns for someone, practice by saying different sentence out loud with the right pronouns while in a private space to get used to it.

For example: “Tom went to the grocery store. They bought some apples. Their mom wants them to eat healthy food.”

Sources

UWM Resource Center

Duke Edu Student Affairs

NewsCenter SDSU

Minnesota Nonprofits Gender Pronouns One Pager

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picturejasper20 · 3 years

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Infinity Train and Cults

One of the most interesting aspects in Infinity Train's story is how humans passengers start cults and the process of recruitment. This theme is very prevelent during the second half of Book 2 and all Book 3.

This theme is represented with "The Apex": a group commopsed of very young passengers who go from car to car harrassing citizens of the train and stealing their goods. They are first introduced in the series in the episode "The Lucky Cat Car" in Book 2.

In this post i'm going to write a detailed analysis explaining what is a cult, why the Apex could be considered a cult and the reasons why passengers would join the group in first place.

To do this i'm going to cite a few sources about cults and the psychology behind cult recruitment, which you'll find at the end of this post.

Let's start:

1) The definition of the word "Cult".

According to Sociologist Janja Lalich who speciales in cults the definition of a cult is:

¨A cult can be either a sharply-bounded social group or a diffusely-bounded social movement held together through shared commitment to a charismatic leader. It upholds a transcendent belief system (often but not always religious in nature) that includes a call for a personal transformation. It also requires a high level of personal commitment from its members in words and deeds.¨

Another details she talks about in her article are:

¨This definition is not meant to be evaluative in the sense of implying that a group is good, bad, benign, or harmful. Rather it is meant to convey a systemic view of such a group, which is comprised of a charismatic relationship, a promise of fulfillment, and a methodology by which to achieve it.¨

¨Each group must be observed and judged on its own merits and its own practices and behaviors as to whether it falls within this category type, which is not meant to be dismissive or one-sided¨

The Ted-Ed video: ¨Why Do People Join Cults?¨ gives a similar definition:

¨Broadly speaking, a cult is a group or movement with a shared commitment to a usually extreme ideology that's typically embodied in a charismatic leader. A typical cult requires a high level of commitment from its members and maintains a strict hierarchy, separating unsuspecting supporters and recruits from the inner workings. It claims to provide answers to life's biggest questions through its doctrine, along with the required recipe for change that shapes a new member into a true believer.¨

To put it in simpler words: A cult by definition is a social group which has a very strong belief system (this doesn´t mean it is religious), it’s controlled by a charismatic leader whose followers rarely question. The members of the group have to obey an specific set of rules that are usually created by the leaders of the cult. Critical thinking is very often discouraged between the members.

The word cult isn´t meant to be good or bad. It’s just a way to describe a social group with specific characteristics. The definition itself isn´t exact, one has to learn about the group first before labeling it as a cult.

Now, how do the Apex from Infinity Train fall in this category?

2) The Apex as a cult.

For this part of the analysis I’m going to cite common characteristics of cults and how they do apply to the Apex. I’m going to add multiple examples of how the Apex members behave, how they interact with their leaders (Grace and Simon) and their ideology.

¨The group displays an excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.¨

In the series, the Apex members consider Grace and Simon as unquestionable leaders. They follow their commands including those that are indicate to hurt train citiziens.

When Grace snaps her fingers in one of the kids immediately listens to her and goes to her side, kneeling when he meets her. (The Lucky Cat Car).

Simon also kneels before Grace in next episode since he is supposed to be second in command.

In ¨The Music Car¨ all the members pledge to the leaders and salute them:

¨Apex!

May our spirits be high!

And our numbers higher!

Down with the false Conductor!¨

Both Grace and Simon appear to have a special status within the group as they are given gifts by the kids when the raid a car as seen in the first episode. It’s not stated if this is part of their routine as way for each member to prove they are worthy of being a Apex but considering the rules of the group it is very possible assumption.

¨Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.¨

In ¨The Mall Car¨ after Jesse refuses to follow Grace orders and stands up for Lake and Alan, Grace responds by telling him he made a big mistake and uses her mirror to let the flecks catch Lake.

This is a huge contrast with how she was very friendly with Jesse at the start of the episode. Grace´s sudden change of behavior comes from how Jesse didn´t accept her authority and realized how he was being manipulated.

This is another example of The Apex behaving as a cult: In the moment someone doesn´t want to follow Grace or Simon´s orders, they are seen as an enemy who opposes the Apex and there before must be punished. Disagreement is very discouraged in cults groups. Those who show any sign of disagreement or doubt are mocked, guilt tripped and called out.

A more subtle case of this happening when one of the kids,Lucy, calls a train citizen a ¨person¨. Grace corrects him by telling him that the train citizen is ¨another toy the train made to amuse us.¨ She makes Lucy feel ashamed for doubting the Apex ideology by mocking her in front of Simon: ¨Aw, that's cute. Lucy thinks it's a person¨ (The Music Car).

¨The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity.¨

The Apex believe that they are entitled to their car. They are above the train citizens, they are allowed to take and hurt them as much as they want because for the Apex the citizens aren’t real and they don’t experience emotions.

¨She doesn't even have a number. (..) ¨She's not a passenger¨.(..) Exactly, she's a null. Null, it means nothing, not even a zero.¨ Grace talking about Lake in ¨The Mall Car¨

¨I've got a number, and you don't. You two are only as good as you are useful.¨ Simon referring to Alan Dracula and Lake.

The group itself refers to the old conductor as their as divine figure, who inspires them everyday and has been stolen from his true place by the ¨false conductor¨, who is One-One. It’s almost as the old conductor is their god because it has the highest number in the train.

Grace mentions multiple times in Book 3 how she was saved by the conductor. It´s heavily implied she believes she has been chosen and how she´s the only one that who knows how the conductor looks like.

In Apex ideology, the numbers are very important: They determine your status in the community. The higher the number, the more powerful you are. To increase your number you have to do the tasks the leaders give to you. These tasks involve destroying, stealing and hurting citizens. The person with the highest number is the leader of the group.

¨The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group¨

While wrecking the car in the episode ¨The Lucky Cat Car¨ Grace mentions how the Apex are just doing what they must to survive. This shows a very explicit example of ¨the the end justify the means¨ that is common to find in cults. Grace and the other Apex kids are clear they don´t care about stealing and hurting citizens as long as they are able to increase their numbers and get resources.

Another example of this is when Grace and Simon plan to getting rid of Tuba to take Hazel with them in Book 3. This implies they don’t care about separating kids from their train companions to make them join the Apex. It wouldn´t be farfetched to think they have done this before with other young passengers to isolate them and persuade them into staying with the group.

In case of Jesse in Book 2, Grace tries to convince him to participate in a raid by breaking a cube from a train car. She tries making Jesse believe that those without numbers aren´t real and lack capacity to experience actual pain. Before that she told him to throw food under the train by saying he is ¨free to do whatever he wants¨. This case is more about how members make non-members commit morally questionable actions before they become full members.

¨Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.¨

Very often when joining a cult members are asked to keep distance from their close relationships (family and friends). Applying different methods, the leaders seek to isolate the new members from their family to control them more easily and thus making doubt less of the orders they are following.

In Infinity Train, the apex often try to separate kids and teenagers from their train companions. To do this, they manipulate the passengers into believing that their companions are just ¨toys to play with¨ and that the Apex are going to give them a home to live.

In ¨The Mall Car¨ Grace asks Lake to stay to look for Alan Dracula while Jesse goes with the Apex kids. Grace did this on purpose to be alone with Jesse and cause problems between him and Lake’s relationship.

After Lake stays behind, Grace starts talking about how Lake is getting Jesse into trouble and how the train is a ¨scary and lonely place¨. By giving Jesse all these negative thoughts she intends to giving him more reasons to not continue his journey and be part of the group.

In Book 3, Grace and Simon try applying something similar with Hazel and Tuba. They try to make Hazel to leave Tuba’s side and getting rid of the citizen. Much like Lake and Jesse, Tuba and Habel have a very strong bond which means they are going to have a hard time encouraging Hazel to ditch her friend.

One detail worth of adding is that they considered Tuba a threat because of her huge muscular form which made her look really intimidating. Someone like her was a obstacle that was impeding them to recruit Hazel.

¨Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.¨

The Apex believe there was a conspiracy against the old conductor and the new conductor (One-One) is the false conductor. They seem to hold into this idea that old conductor was overthrown and their true place is being in charge the train.

When Amelia is explaining them that she used to be the old conductor and she isn´t prisoner of One-On, Simon keeps accusing her of spreading false propaganda and insist Grace that she is trying to trick them. In this scenario, it makes some sense for someone to be skeptical, especially if they held a very strong belief system like Grace and Simon do.

3) Why would passengers join the Apex?

After watching how badly the apex treat the train citizens and separate kids from their companions, why would someone join them? It may look like only those who want to commit vandalism and have a extreme prejudice against citizens would but if one analyses how the train operates it makes perfect sense.

When a kid gets on the train, they are completely separated from their family. Unless they find a kind companion, they are going to be completely alone stuck in a unknown place without adults to take care of them. They are very likely going to feel lost and scared not knowing what they have to do and what they should go.

Combine all this factors and they make a very easy target for a cult movement like the Apex to recruit: The members can take care of them, give them a place to belong, have friends and a sense of community. The kid passengers don’t have to worry about anything as long as the follow the rules.

Cults seeks to recruit people who are in a state of extreme vulnerability, who have issues fitting in or may feel lost. The members give these people a new purpose. They say ¨we can be your new home, your family¨ which leads to people to be persuaded into joining.

In the two examples in the series, Hazel and Jesse, Grace talks to them about how great the Apex are: They are going to help them, they will take care of them and keep them safe from the dangers of the train.

With Jesse, Grace tells him ¨how she cares about people¨. She fills his mind with how the Apex are good and they can do whatever they one. She’s very friendly with him and even invites him to jump from car to car.

In the case of Hazel, Grace tells her how they are going to help her with fixing her number. She also mentions how Hazel is going to meet tons of other kids once they reach the Apex car.

She knows that kids like Jesse and Hazel feel confused inside the train and takes advantage of their weaknesses to trick them into becoming Apex members.

In Conclusion:

For the reasons I wrote in this post, one could interpret the Apex from Infinity Train as a cult or a social group that shares characteristics found in cults : They have a very specific type of almost religious ideology, they think having more numbers gives them a special status, they rarely have doubts in their leaders and don´t care about hurting people to get what they want.

I think that the Apex is one of the most interesting themes of the series. It explores what happens when many young passengers start working together and create their own society with its own rules while showing how people come together when they find themselves lost in a place they don´t understand. It’s worth of analyzing the psychological and sociological aspects of this community and how they work.

Sources that were used for this post:

http://cultresearch.org/help/characteristics-associated-with-cults/

http://cultresearch.org/definition-and-explanation-of-the-word-cult/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janja_Lalich

https://www.insider.com/why-people-join-cults-according-to-therapist-who-treats-survivors-2020-9

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion

The video ¨Why do people join cults?¨:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA&ab_channel=TED-Ed

#infinity train #infinity train season 3 #infinity train season 2 #infinity train grace #infinity train simon #it analysis #cults #Animation

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shadow-scenarios · 4 years

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Date Headcanons | Everyone

Thought I’d write something for everyone so that I can get used to it & you can see my style of writing.

- Nexus.

Joker { Akira Kurusu }

✧ Akira is definitely the type of partner who indulges in more casual dates. Although he has the money & resources in order to do something more classy due to his moonlighting as a Phantom Thief, he prefers more quaint locations where both himself & his partner can enjoy each other’s company instead of the location.

✧ He fundamentally believes that if he can enjoy himself around his significant other without needing to spend vast amounts of money, he’s found someone he can rely on for life. His life is naturally very very stressful so he finds solace in moments where he can simply be himself.

✧ During the date itself, he is the epitome of a gentleman { he does have max Charm, after all! }. Offering to pay for the meal; blatantly flirting but not crossing any unspoken boundaries; Casual touches of affection to fluster them. All in all, Akira simply enjoys having company that’s not related to Phantom Thief business & having someone who doesn’t only want to see him in order to seek out comfort.

Skull { Ryuji Sakamoto }

✧ Another one who likes casual dates. However, he is much less formal about it. Although confident on the outside, on the inside he is very nervous about a date. Ryuji is of the opinion that if he cannot be himself during a date, it would not feel natural. So, he takes his significant other places that seem like fun.

✧ Being the athletic type, Ryuji encourages his significant other to run with him. It is rather cathartic and good training. Starting out with shorter routes, they would be encouraged by him all throughout. Afterwards, there’s a high chance that the two of them would head out for ramen together as a ‘ treat ’.

✧ Other ideas would include the arcade or simply heading to his house. Introducing his partner to his mother is a key part of the relationship, since he desperately wants them to like each other { it wouldn’t be difficult, Ryuji’s mother is just as sweet as his son!! }.

Panther { Ann Takamaki }

✧ There are two types of dates with Ann: Food dates & Fashion dates.

✧ Food dates are usually more common. They consist of going to a restaurant she recommends or finding a dessert and ordering two. Ann encourages her significant other to try new things & expand their horizons much like how she’s trying to strengthen her heart.

✧ Fashion dates occur when Ann’s side job as a model comes into play. If she is in need of new clothes for a particular style or wants to try something new, it is likely to be turned into a date.

✧ Ann knows exactly what fits the body type of her partner & clothes that would make them look good. She wants them to be able to express themselves and feel good about it at the same time!!

✧ In return, all that is asked of them is that they honestly critique the clothing choices she has selected out for herself { she looks great in everything though }.

Fox { Yusuke Kitagawa }

✧ Yusuke’s interpretation of dates is... Strange. No matter what, it has to be visually stimulating & help inspire him in his career of art. He would die for art without a second thought and that reflects in his choices of location.

✧ For example, Inokashira Park is a perfect spot. It costs little money, has beautiful scenery & has a relaxing atmosphere. Throughout the entire experience, there is small gestures of casual affection. Not enough for people to be staring but just enough for it to be noticeable by them.

✧{ After his scuffle with searching for true beauty with Akira, he learns a little more about social ettique & how the boat ride they took could have been misinterpreted as a date. }

✧ However... Sometimes he forgets that going to places costs money. If a local art museum has a special showing, Yusuke will buy two tickets impulsively & invite his significant other to the event. Then he’ll be crushed by the reality of the train fares.

Queen { Makoto Niijima }

✧ At first, Makoto has no idea how to plan a date. She would definitely flunk a test about love, so to speak. However, it is very endearing. Study dates would be the most common, where they could go over any material either of them didn’t understand in classes. She prides herself over being able to assist her significant other.

✧ Once she becomes more adapted to stereotypical teenage life, there is a higher likelyhood of more outdoorsy dates. Her favourite spot is Chinatown because of all the vastly different stores and foods.

✧ She finds it a relaxing experience to people watch. Usually it’s done through the window of a cafe where she offhandedly comments about how different people are dressed & how they interact with each other. Makoto is very insightful.

Oracle { Futaba Sakura }

✧ Going anywhere is mostly out of the question. Futaba struggles with socialising & although she is trying her best to open up a little more, it will be an ongoing process.

✧ Playing video games until 3am or talking about the latest manga edition released from the comfort of her bedroom is one of her favourite things to do with a significant other. It is the one time where she feels comfortable to talk & even if they do not quite understand every thing she is saying, she is very happy to go into depth and explain.

✧ However, there would be one or two occasions where Futaba wants to push herself & go out somewhere. Beforehand, Sojiro would be lecturing her partner about keeping her safe & making sure she’s okay but wishes the two of them a good time.

✧ Although there’s moments where Futaba is overstimulated & needs a break, it is a fun experience! Akihabara is definitely a good place to start & buying a game as a reward for braving it will earn them a beaming smile of sunshine.

Noir { Haru Okumura }

✧ Haru has very few qualms about spending extravagant amounts of money on a single date. She thinks like a celebrity & aims to impress her significant other. Just because she spends a lot of money does not mean she is not thoughtful, though. Most dates will be something her significant other has mentioned interest in. She pays attention!!

✧ Throughout the entire outing, she is not afraid to initiate physical contact. Holding hands is a common & subtle gesture that she never really achieved with her previous marriage so she cherishes gentle intimacy.

✧ However, it eventually becomes known that she prefers cheaper & more heart-to-heart style dates. Making a picnic for her partner with the vegetables / fruits from her garden brings unparalleled joy. Especially when they give advice and talk about the taste & how they could improve. Her dream is to run a homegrown café after all!!

Crow { Goro Akechi }

✧ Akechi is either the most gentlemanly man anyone has ever been on a date with or he wants to unwind from a stressful day. Dates are few & far between with his particularly busy schedule, alongside the influence of his female fans bothering him particularly turns him off the idea most of the time.

✧ So, there are two solutions: Dates that are indoors so that no one knows where they are & incredibly extravagant dates that the media cannot gain access to.

✧ Indoor ones usually involve attending the Jazz Club in Kichijoji. It is a relaxing place with few people to bother his significant other, since there are few that know about the place. Throughout the entire occasion, he makes light conversation and is hesitant about accepting physical contact for fear of his reputation but eventually settles on taking his gloves off and interlocking hands with them.

✧ The other solution is usually reserved for special occasions. Although Akechi is wealthy due to his work as a detective, he is more deliberate with his purchases and understands the value of money. In these situations, he intentionally plays up his role as a detective prince & is even more suave than Akira. There is a lot of flirtation in a very polite manner, almost as if testing the waters.

✧ Although he genuinely enjoys these sessions, it is his job to play the role of a prince, even for his significant other. Akechi is practised at pretending.

Violet { Sumire Yoshizawa }

✧ Incredibly flustered at first, no matter what happens. Every step with her is filled with stuttering & a face the same colour as her hair but she’s willing to try her best!!

✧ Absolutely wants her significant other to come to her routines & competitions. If they are not there, she feels incomplete. It throws her game off which in turn creates more issues in the future.

✧{ At some point, her coach comes to speak to them and essentially demands they be at every session so Sumire can achieve her best. }

✧ Sumire also really likes different scenery. The aquarium in Shinagawa is a breathtaking sight from her perspective. No pressure to perform & the ability simply be herself allows for a much more natural date.

{ Yuuki Mishima }

✧ Mishima is much like Futaba in that he would prefer a date indoors. Although he is more confident after everything that happened with Kamoshida, he is still more shocked that he actually has a significant other.

✧ Most of his spare time when not doing schoolwork is spent on running the Phansite so when Mishima wants to spend time with them, he prefers low energy activities at home such as watching a movie with snacks or sitting & talking together.

✧ If he ever attempted to take them out somewhere, it would be adorable. There would be a lot of doting on them and ensuring that they’re having a good time & he needs this validation because of his self esteem issues. { Telling Mishima that the date was fun or that they enjoyed it will result in an adorable smile & red face }.

{ Hifumi Togo }

✧ Much like Yusuke, Hifumi enjoys dates with her significant other that are practical. If there’s a new book on some of the lastest Shogi techniques, she’ll take them to the bookstore in Jinbocho & make a date out of it.

✧ Although she sometimes struggles to articulate her feelings properly, it is often made up for with the purchase of a gift. Nothing expensive since she is still a high school student but instead something deeply personal that will mean a lot, such as a piece of jewellery or a particular book they are interested in.

✧ Also loves going to the church in Kanda for a practice game. Even if they are not very good at Shogi, she’ll teach them how to play and encourages them to develop their own style of play. After each game, she analyses all of the different moves used in that game & how they changed the game.

Word Count: 1.7k

Publish Date: 25.09.20

#persona 5 #persona 5 royal #p5r #persona 5 x reader #akira kurusu x reader #ryuji x reader #ann x reader #yusuke x reader #makoto x reader #futaba x reader #haru x reader #akechi x reader #sumire x reader #mishima x reader #hifumi x reader #persona 5 imagines

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rainbowrider1290 · 3 years

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Part 3 of my take on a genshin impact circus AU: Bennett, Fischl, and Razor as a beast-taming trio. Backstory under the cut.

Benny:

Bennett was adopted into a research team of zoologists (what in canon would be the adventurer’s guild). The ones that go out into the world and get their hands dirty in studying animals. He loved interacting with the animals, and though research was interesting, he always spent more time with the animal caretakers and vets than with the researchers so he’s extremely acquainted with their habits, how to feed them, when to keep them in captivity versus the wild, and how to regulate their environment properly when in captivity. He has this knack for interacting with them, even the big ones.

As for how he got into the circus: Well first off he got wind of how poorly these animals are treated in some circuses and got into the circuses for the caretaking purposes. He would hop from circus to circus to take care of the animals and show the performers how to Not Harm Them (like tigers jumping through hoops on fire??? Nuh-uh. Whips, tight collars, and muzzles? We don’t do that here). He certifies himself as a vet after a while of this.

More time passes and he realizes this is a bigger problem than can be solved by himself. He’s been kicked out of a few places and for a while had terrible luck finding work because some of his previous employers didn’t want to spend the extra resources on animal care (lacking funds and lacking planning for it) and spread word of a legal liability of a vet.

Aether and Lumine catch word of this and track him down to a little animal clinic where he works as an intern. They offer him a spot in their circus bc they’ve been wanting to introduce animals into the mix but want to plan correctly (like how many animals they can support properly). Long story short, Bennett gets into the circus and works with Yanfei to actually become a legal liability to the circuses not treating animals correctly, and he himself will take as many of those animals as he can into his corner of the circus and send the rest to his dads (since circus animals tend to be rare breeds and his dads have a branch of research on captive animals). And finally he can take care of his animals and show the world that you don’t have to harm animals for a good show. Mostly big ones like elephants, big cats, and camels.

He’ll do shows more like synchronizing movements between the animals and tricks like they do with marine animals. They do have cages for transport but they’re spacious and they take frequent breaks for physical activity. Benny will only take the animals that have been domesticated their whole lives and will send the ones fit to live in the wild to his dads to set free.

Fischl:

Fischl was born into the circus life and was that kid who would stop people from killing bugs, take them in a glass container, and set them outside. She regularly patches up the birds with broken wings she finds outside.

Def spent more time outside hanging with the birds than with the people in the circus, since birds aren’t technically a circus animal. Oz is an old old vulture (or falcon, I haven’t decided yet. If anyone can pinpoint his species please let me know) that has taken a liking to Fischl and so no matter where her circus goes, she sees Oz there to hang and bring her injured birds.

She once asked if birds could be circus animals and was told that they tried but it didn’t work out. She gets into reading the obscure materials on birds as circus animals and deduces that they just weren’t taking care of them right. She brings up this idea to the circus manager and essentially gets the door slammed in her face. The last time she asks about it, it’s to her parents and is told to find something realistic to do in the circus and forget about the birds.

From then she sees all the other kids her age in the circus training to be in the show in some way or another and hears what they say about her “head in the clouds”. So she starts training with different branches of the circus (gymnastics-based, death-defying stunts, fire, etc.) and she... genuinely considers leaving to pursue another profession.

Then as her circus is about to get on the road, she catches wind of a circus performing in the town they’re just about to leave. One that uses animals, and since her circus never used animals due to lacking funding, she goes for a night out of curiosity and on the off-chance that they use birds. She noticed that this wasn’t anything like she’d heard about or read about circus animals, so she sends them a letter addressed to the person running the animal part of the show asking about birds in the circus.

Benny’s response boils down to “well it’d be a little complicated but what’d you have in mind?” so they start exchanging letters and the next time the two circuses are near each other, she goes on over and brings all her letters after a show and sees how gentle Bennett is with the animals. They get to talking and Benny takes her to meet the animals, telling her about how he does things while she tells him about how she’d go about introducing birds to a circus.

Aether and Lumine hear about this and before she knows it, Fischl’s being told to get her birds ready, she has an audition in a month (spoiler alert: she passes). Her act is made up of all kinds of birds. Very few of them are housed on the circus for very long since she’s never liked the idea of birds in cages. The birds she uses are all the injured ones in the process of rehabilitation brought to her by Oz. She also keeps the ones that won’t fly again or never learned to find food despite her and Oz doing their best to socialize them. Those that don’t perform are excellent at taking care of the newbies and overall helping Fischl out.

At any given point she’ll be seen with about 3-5 birds of different sizes on her and she’ll always smell a bit like worms and seeds of various kinds. She expands on her first-aid abilities from watching Bennett, and in turn offers knowledge on birds and how to deal with smaller animals with different bone structures, metabolisms, and cardiovascular systems.

Razor:

Razor’s story is a lot simpler. Backstory is essentially the same as in canon, except he doesn’t meet Lisa right away, and spends a little more time with Varka learning to read and write at the most basic level and fight hand-to-hand. Instead of an abyss mage attacking them, it’s a group of hunters. During this fight, a lot of the wolves are gravely injured but he takes one of them and runs into town looking for help.

After a show, Bennett and Fischl are on their way to see Bennett’s dads to take some birds that can’t handle the circus life but also aren’t fit to be free. They happen to be in the town where Bennett trained to be a vet and they stop by the clinic to say hello. Inside they see a boy dressed in rags and covered in dirt cradling an unconscious wolf pup, trying to get the attention of one of the clerks. One of the clerks tries to help him but the communication barrier is not helping them and the boy seems distressed on top of that, pointing and growling with the word “help” thrown in here and there, so Bennett steps in bc he knows some of these people in the clinic.

Bennett comes in and he and Fischl follow him out to where the rest of the pack is. Fischl brings her birds bc they’re her babies in case anyone was wondering. They perform first aid the best they can given the conditions, and manage to save a good chunk of the wolves, but a good chunk of them still die.

The pack splits up into two. On the one hand, the older wolves take whoever’s still alive and resume their activities in the forest. On the other, Razor has this opportunity to go and find out whether he’s a human or a wolf, and the little wolf pup he brought to the clinic goes with him because she’s too injured to go with the others. Same for a few other wolves.

So they go and the only place they have to stay is the circus bc Bennett and Fischl want to monitor the wolves a little more, so they spend the night. Next morning, Razor gives Fischl and Bennett a basket of meat, berries, and seeds to feed their respective animals and they realize Razor has some valuable skills, so he ends up staying upon receiving the OK from Lumine and Aether and telling Lisa and Ningguang for administrative purposes.

Because wolves inherently do not do well with loud noises and circus settings, Razor is very off-put by the idea of performance. Not to mention that he himself probs wouldn’t feel comfortable in the performance setting, so he sticks to the background (even learning the basics of tech) and gets really good at gathering resources from food for the animals to helping Oz bring back injured birds and track other injured animals. He and Oz interact a lot, which helps his friendship with Fischl as he was initially closer to Bennett.

His relationship with Lisa after a while can be summarized as “focus up you little monsters. not you Razor. You’re an angel and we’re thrilled you’re here”

#genshin impact #genshin #genshin impact circus AU #genshin circus AU #genshin impact razor #genshin impact bennett #genshin impact fischl #I think this would be set in the late 1800s to early 1900s so there's like very few laws on animal care but they're still sending letters #and it probs wouldn't take bennett as long to become a vet #circus AU #genshin impact headcanons #genshin headcanons

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fitness-founders-007 · 3 years

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Brain Training for Dogs: Fun Exercises to Try

When you think about exercising your dog you probably think about activities like walks, trails, hikes, and games of fetch, but it may come as a surprise to discover that your dog needs brain exercise as well.

Working a dog’s mind is just as important as working the body, and brain games are a great way to do it. And the best part about playing brain games for dogs? Tapping into your dog’s unique cognitive abilities is important enrichment that is easy to do!

What is Brain Training for Dogs?

While standard obedience school can be considered brain training for dogs, true brain training engages your dog’s mind in a slightly different way. The dog training exercises in standard obedience training have a specific goal: your dog learns foundation behaviors like walking politely on a leash, holding a stay, or coming when called.

With brain training the goal is to encourage your dog to think creatively, problem solve, and have fun. Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant, pet radio host, and co-editor of Decoding Your Dog (authored by members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists), suggests that brain training has numerous benefits, including:

Alleviating boredom.

Giving the opportunity to engage in breed-specific behaviors, like digging or searching for resources.

Providing an outlet for anxiety.

Helping to slow the cognitive changes associated with aging.

In addition to behavioral benefits like preventing inappropriate behaviors and keeping your senior sharp, brain training is a fun way to strengthen the bond with your dog. If you’re playing the right kinds of brain training games with your dog, you both should be having fun!

Fun Brain Games for Dogs to Try at Home

While there are many commercially available games for dogs, you can DIY cognition activities as well. Try the following simple dog brain training activities with your pup.

Play Hide the Toy

Teaching your dog to look for a hidden toy taps into their natural scenting ability and it is a fantastic way to burn through excess energy inside the house or out. To begin teaching it, place your dog in a “stay” or have a helper gently hold him. Let him watch you place a toy in an obvious spot a few feet away, like on the edge of a chair, then tell your dog to “find it” in an excited voice and encourage him to grab the toy.

Play together with the toy for a few minutes, then hide the toy in a new obvious spot and repeat the process.

After a few repetitions your dog will start to figure out what “find it” means, at which point you put him in a different room and do a “blind find” by hiding the toy where he can’t see it. Because this game makes your dog rely only on his sense of smell, he’ll be happily worn out at the end of a few rounds!

Make an Indoor Dig Pit

Many dogs love to dig but don’t get enough opportunity to do so. Creating a safe spot to engage in this instinctual behavior is a simple way to address that urge and give your pup’s brain a workout at the same time.

To make a dig pit simply use a box with low sides or a plastic storage container and fill it with dog-safe materials like rags cut into strips or cardboard paper towel rolls and bathroom tissue rolls cut into a variety of lengths. Make sure to select filler material that your dog won’t want to eat!

Then scatter treats or part of your dog’s daily meal ration inside and mix up the filler, or if your dog is toy-driven, hide balls and toys inside. Many toy-driven dogs will enjoy play breaks with you when they uncover them.

Teach Your Dog to Spin

A great way to work your dog’s brain is introducing trick training, which is low-pressure fun-for-fun’s-sake training. “Spin” is one of the easiest (and cutest!) tricks to teach and it doesn’t take long for pups to master it.

To begin the process, place a small treat in front of your dog’s nose so that he has four paws on the ground and doesn’t have to jump up to smell it. Trace a halo-like circle in the air above your dog’s nose so that he follows the treat lure slowly. Then, give your dog the goody once he’s completed the circle. Dogs that are reluctant to follow the lure might need to get the treat at the midpoint as well as at the completion.

Repeat the process, making the luring motion quicker with each repetition.

When your dog is happily moving in a circle keep the treat in your pocket and make the circle gesture more subtle with each repetition, rewarding after each attempt. Continue until you can twirl a single finger above your dog’s head as if stirring a drink. When your dog is responding to the subtle hand signal you can add a verbal cue like “spin” by saying the word right before you begin to make the gesture.

Teach Your Dog to Focus

A fun brain game that also has real world applications is teaching your dog a “watch” cue to capture eye contact. Not only is this skill fun to practice, it has many real world applications, like helping to refocus anxious dogs by getting them to look at you instead of potential stressors.

It helps to use a clicker to teach this behavior since the initial steps move quickly. To begin simply toss a treat on the ground near your dog and after she eats it and looks up at you hoping for another one, click her for her attention then then throw another treat. Repeat this process, always using the clicker to mark the moment your dog turns to look at you.

Next, ask for your dog to do more. Wait to click until your dog looks up at your eyes, then toss the treat. Extend the length of time your dog holds your gaze by waiting a few seconds before you click and treat. Start naming the behavior by saying “watch” right as your dog swings her eyes up to meet yours.

Practice the behavior in different parts of your house and outside to help generalize it, then try using it in a real-world scenario like during a walk.

Other Ways to Support Your Dog’s Brain Health

Healthy brain function comes from a healthy lifestyle, and diet is a big part of the equation. Feeding your pup a premium dog food with real meats as the primary ingredients and no filler or additives contributes to overall wellness from the inside out.

Additionally, puzzle toys for dogs that keep dogs busy make for great brain boosters when you don’t have time to play with them. Hiding treats in the toys and encouraging dogs to solve the puzzle and find the reward will help boost brainpower.

You can also help to support your dog’s brain health with veterinarian formulated supplements that use natural ingredients to promote cognitive wellness.

Keeping your dog’s mind active, engaged and supported will help to ensure a happy and healthy dog well into his golden years!

learn more : https://bit.ly/3arhsbF

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addicted2escapism · 4 years

Text

Make it Double | JJ Maybank

Pairing: JJ x Reader

Summary: You’re a Kook, who was introduced to JJ by Sarah, and you’re so similar to each other it’s like having two JJ’s around. The Pogues are slowly going insane from your antics.

Warnings: none

Distancing yourself from the Kooks to hang out with the Pogues was probably the best decision of your life. You were so fed up with the stuck up rich kids from your side of the island that meeting new people was like finding gold at the end of a rainbow. Or at the bottom of the ocean. You had always been a bit of an outcast amongst Kooks, only truly getting along with Sarah and managing to maintain civility between everyone else. You just weren’t good at acting prim and proper. Being with the Pogues allowed you to let loose.

They were hesitant to open up to you at first, which was understandable considering all the shit Topper and the other boys continuously put them through. Eventually, though, they came to realize that you were not a spoiled brat who couldn’t get their hands dirty.

The first time they realized this, you were drunk, so it kind of didn’t count. There was a party at The Boneyard, but instead of assuming your usual spot with the Kooks, you were dancing with Sarah and the Pogues. JJ was making sure that your red solo cup stayed full, until he grew a conscious and decided that maybe it wasn’t the best idea to give you alcohol poisoning. So you were throughly drunk, even when the party was beginning to wind down. The Tourons were getting called back to their hotels and the Kooks wanted to hold an after party in the comfort of their three story homes.

Since the Pogues had hosted, it was also their job to clean up, but you were not having it. You wanted the party to go on forever! JJ was closest to you, so you snag him by the arm and dance backwards towards the water. He smirks, letting you pull him away, dancing slightly to your imaginary music.

“JJ!” You begin, and then pause to let out a burp. “Let’s swim!”

JJ’s smirk transforms into a full-fledged grin as you turn around and start running (stumbling) towards the water.

“Little Kook wants to swim in the freezing cold water with all her clothes on?” He questions, but moves his feet to match your speed. “If you say so!”

“No! JJ!” A voice calls out from farther up the beach, which you recognize as Sarah. Her warning is too late, though, because you splash into the water, with JJ right on your heels. You didn’t seem to care that your clothes were going to be absolutely soaked, traveling deeper and deeper into the water until you actually had to swim to keep your head above the surface.

“JJ, she’s drunk! Come back!” Another voice yells, your hazy mind is slowly able to decipher that it’s Kiara. You call her name, your hand shooting out of the water to wave at her, but you couldn’t wave and swim at the same time. The lack of control over your body movements plunges you under the water, but a firm hand grabs your arm and instantly hauls you back up. When you surface, all the Pogues are yelling things like “Jesus, JJ!”, and “come back, now!”.

“She’s fine, I’m holding her up!” JJ hauls you back to shore, making a show of his hand holding onto your arm. You laugh and agree with him, too drunk to fully comprehend why everyone was so concerned.

—

The second time, you were fully sober and could actually attest to your actions.

“Are you sure that she’s gonna be cool with fishing in the marsh?” Pope questions, looking to Sarah for an answer. Everyone was loading up John B’s boat with enough supplies for a full day out on the water. You had texted Sarah earlier that day wanted to hang out, but she had already made plans with the Pogues, so naturally she asked if you could come along.

“Yes, Pope, I am totally confident in that fact that she can handle being on a boat.” Sarah deadpans, staring at him disapprovingly. She understood why the group was reserved towards you, because from the outside you came off as ever Kookier than her. You came from a large family, a descendant of old money, meaning generations have gone by without anyone having to work a single day in their life. You never liked to talk about it, but you were much richer than her. It seemed like after years and years, you were the first one to break the mold of your family and actually care about something other than wealth and reputation. Unfortunately for you, your family’s reputation had tainted yours from the moment you were born.

“We know, we’ve seen her on very expensive boats.” JJ snorts, digging through the cooler of beer that Kiara had brought.

“Then what’s the big deal?” Sarah argues, looking to John B for backup. “You guys accepted me! She’s not really any different.”

“No offense, Sarah, but her house could put yours to shame.” John B adds, extremely unhelpfully.

“You know what? I’m going to invite her, and you can see for yourselves that you’re all being ridiculous.”

After about a half hour of being in the marsh, the Pogues realized that they were being ridiculous. You weren’t grossed out every time John B dumped a net full of fish straight onto the boat, in fact, you were actively helping. Kiara and Pope had taken to reading and listening to music, sprawled out on the back half of the boat, away from where JJ was trying to chase you and Sarah with live fish.

“JJ! Stop! Ew!” Sarah squealed, attempting to use John B as a shield. To her dismay, he reached down and picked up a fish as well, turning on her with a mischievous grin. “No, not you too!”

She called your name for help, but you were too busy being cornered by JJ. You didn’t know what he planned to do to you if he actually caught you, but you weren’t too keen on finding out. So you dart to the left and scoop up a fish of your own, trying not to shiver from the slimy texture of it between your fingers. JJ looks at you in surprise as you discreetly tilt your head towards Sarah, who had resorted to running to Kiara for help. JJ nodded, understanding what you had in mind, and turned towards Sarah as well. With his attention drawn away from you, you released your fish back into the water, feeling a bit bad for keeping the whole net just laying on the deck for so long.

Sarah screams out something about being betrayed, noticing that JJ had let you go, and that you were doing nothing to help. Fortunately for her, you weren’t planning on a single betrayal, but a double. You run across the boat, the fast movement making JJ and John B turn towards you. Sarah takes the opportunity to grab John B and push him off the boat, who latches onto her and drags her into the water with him. When you head for JJ, he already knows what you have in mind, so he captures you in his arms before you can push him and jumps off. When you surface, you can see Pope and Kiara looking at the four of you judgmentally. You laugh them off and start sparring JJ in the water.

—

If you were a bit of a Kook outcast in the beginning, you were completely ostracized now after choosing Pogues over Kooks for months. Even your family started to notice that you would go out with friends and come home “looking like you were from The Cut”, which, to be fair, was exactly where you had been. But you didn’t like their tone, and spent less and less time going to Kook functions. Pogue life had made you a complete wild card.

You couldn’t hide the fact that you were a Kook, though, but you weren’t trying to. It was quite obvious because of your clothes, your phone, and the car that you drove. You simply liked to think about the resources you had access to as a way to help the Pogues if need be.

Once the Pogues looked past your rich-kid exterior, they realized that you were very much like them. And then a certain Pogue started to like you. As in, like you. It was JJ, of course. You both found it easy to be around each other, and more often than not whenever one of you did something a little questionable, it was because the other was spurring them on. When you and JJ were together, you were an unstoppable force that the Pogues struggled to control.

“Guys, please, don’t break anything.” John B sighs, watching you and JJ play fight while he stood in the kitchen, making a peanut butter sandwich.

“We won’t!” You assured him, not wanting to disrespect his house or anything in it. You blocked a “punch” from JJ and swiftly ducked under his arm, laying a “punch” of your own into his abdomen. He gasped and stumbled backwards in fake pain, and you took the opportunity to kick him in the leg. JJ’s leg fights with yours, swiping you off balance. You yelp, realizing that you’re actually going to fall, but JJ reaches out and catches your arm just in time. You open your mouth to thank him, but the only thing that comes out is another yelp when he picks you up and slams you onto the couch.

There’s a loud crack, and suddenly the couch drops out from underneath you, dipping at an unnatural angle.

“Dude!” John B cries out, taking his mediocre sandwich and running over to you. You climb off the couch to assess the damage yourself.

“JJ, why’d you throw me like that!” You accuse, shoving him to the side. He fights you off and annoyingly bats you on the arm.

“I didn’t think you’d break it! How heavy are you?” He retorts, dropping to the ground to look underneath the broken sofa.

“Sorry, John B.” You sigh, squeezing his shoulder. You also take the chance to kick JJ again while he’s down.

—

Kiara’s dad had offered everyone the leftover food from The Wreck, so that��s where you all went to feast for dinner. You’d offered to take them out somewhere for fun, but they all felt strangely about accepting things like that from you. It made sense, but you wished that they wouldn’t view it as a handout. Everyone sat in silence, enjoying their food and each other’s company. The silence was broken when a French fry hit you on the cheek.

“JJ.” You start, not even bothering to look up from your food to see if he really was the culprit. “We’re in a restaurant.”

Quite the hypocrite, you pick up the fry that hit you and throw it back. It hits him right in the forehead.

“Guys, please, don’t start.” Kiara warns, mostly pleading with you since JJ was a complete lost cause. You nod, your days of etiquette training in the Kook academy wasn’t for nothing, and fixed JJ with a glare. He got the message and returned to eating his food, leg pressed snugly against yours.

“You two are going to get us in serious trouble one day.” Pope states, shaking his head as he munches on a carrot stick.

“Hey, at least she has a good effect on JJ. Look at him, he’s quiet as a mouse.” Sarah teases. You snort and JJ rolls his eyes. Both of you have heard this conversation before.

“In my defense, she instigates!” JJ throws you under the bus and you gasp incredulously.

“Me?” You object, ready to argue about who’s the real troublemaker in the relationship. All of the Pogues groan and complain, but the fondness in their eyes show that they’re happy to have you.

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