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thatpunkmaximoff · 9 months

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[Book 1 of 4]

Story: 5 out of 5 Smut: 4 out of 5

I knew this book was going to be good when Alex admitted being into BDSM lmao.

But for real, the only thing I expected when picking up this book was some relationship drama. I got that, plus some family drama that left my jaw hanging open (looking at you, Mr. Chen). I had an inkling about Alex's family drama, and I hated being proven right. It sucked and I'm glad everyone in the wrong got what they deserved.

As for the main couple, wow. My heart was absolutely broken. I loved seeing them get together, but when reality set in and some things were said.. I cried. Poor Ava.

They do get their happily ever after, but I have a feeling the drama is nowhere near over. On to book 2!

Now enjoy my ramblings..

* Jesus. Her shirt was see through and Alex didn’t even tell her until she had to get off somewhere.

* “You’re not my type, even if you weren’t Josh’s sister.” — Ouch.

* Well.. Alex is into BDSM 😏

* So Josh is entrusting his sister’s well-being to Alex because he knows his friend will never fuck her? This is going to go swimmingly, isn’t it? 😂

* She compared him to Voldemort. Oh no lmao.

* Woo. Alex is pissed! He did not like finding Ava in a black skimpy lace getup with another dude in the room 😏

* Damn. He really threatened her friend like that, huh. Harsh.

* Operation Emotion is not going to end well 😬

* “Don’t play with me unless you want to get hurt.” — SIR! You cannot say that after we all know what you’re into behind closed doors.

* Lmfao 🤣 Ava’s mind being in the gutter when Alex had her innocently straddling one of this thighs..

* Shared bed trope.. 😏 Alex finding out Ava has night terrors.. 🥺

* Nooooo lmfao. She woke up with her hand on his dick. I can’t 🤣🤣🤣

* This fucking parrot lol

* Alex beating the shit out of Liam.. yes 🙌🏻

* Wtf.. her mom pushed her into the lake as a kid?

* And now I’m crying as she unloads her past to Alex and how she feels about it all 😭

* Madeline, you jealous twat!

* Oh shit. They kissed. And he rejected her. Harshly. Fuckkkk.

* Wow. A celibate Alex is a dick 😂 At least he’s happy now after seeing Ava and scaring the shit out of her boss.

* The swimming lesson turned naughty. I knew this was going to happen 😏

* Jesus Christ. That sex marathon.. 🥵

* I’m a fan of his possessiveness and him railing her while taking an important call 😂

* Jesus. In the student health center? Alex is a horndog lmao.

* Wait.. wtf? Her dad!? Her dad was the one who tried to kill her!!!

* This dude is a fucking asshole!

* Josh is back! And he decked his father in the face 😂 Now to get on to him finding out his best friend is banging his sister 👀

* Why do I get the feeling her telling him she loves him is going to cause a strain? 🥺

* Why don’t I trust Alex’s uncle? He knows Ava’s name. He knows she’s distracting Alex. Is he going to do something?

* Wtf did his uncle do?! Did he have something to do with the murder of his family?! Fuck this dude.

* Late to dinner and jealous. And lying about the phone. Smh, Alex. I was rooting for you.

* Oh fuck. He was only in with the Chen’s because he was plotting their downfall? Noooooo. Ava is gonna be so heartbroken.

* And I called it! I knew the uncle was sketchy as shit. Fuck that dude.

* He had the girls kidnapped?! What a fucking asshole. But wait, isn’t Bridget the princess? Where the fuck is her bodyguard?

* Fuckkkkk. And now my heart is broken for Ava. Everything Alex had to say.. ugh 😩

* ..and now I’m crying. I hate it here.

* Two months later.. I never trust these time skips anymore.

* God I love Bridget lol

* “Your enemies are my enemies, your friends are my friends, and if you wanted, I would burn down the world for you.” - Aww. He’s an adorable psycho 🥰

* So you tell me he resigned as CEO and then hit me with that “one year later” bs. Fuck.

* He sang! Oh my god 😩

* They’re together! Fucking finally.

* Blackmail on a future Queen? For fuck’s sake, Alex 😂

* I’ll never look at an apple orchard the same way ever again 👀

#twisted series #book review #twisted love #ana huang #ava chen #alex volkov #booktok #booktok review #booklr

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maceingeweihter · 10 months

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conventional wisdom is the “enjoy yourself” once and a while. meaning sex or masturbation. seems like a good idea, but after these binges, i realize why i should remain celibate. even with the invent of internet, digital nudity / porn doesn’t lead to anywhere. so you get women, who probably out of being spammed say “it’s not a dating site” or “i don’t do meet ups” or “i don’t date fans.” but you play the bullshit meter on them, and you can see it’s not true. tell a prostitute, $250,000 cash for the year monday - friday and two saturdays of the month. i own you after 4pm - midnight sex is required two days a week i own $5 million home, you can stay rent free i pay for dinner and breakfast no errands no children no wife / girlfriend no other contracts (men) during this time contract is pro rated (15% non refundable deposit) oh, and the kicker? no ring at the end.

and OH, it’s not a “meetup” it’s a “collab” for “photography” and “modelling”. take some cheap polaroids once and a while and. bingo. bango. no babies.

yeah. if you don’t do “meet ups” you women do “bullshit.” otherwise tell your friends i’m hiring. bahaha. right??? you know eventually there is a line out of the door and around the block. but let me choose a woman from Persia? contract is $250,000 for life. but they are a sex worker / slave until (or if) i decide to marry them. pretty fucked right? but in both cases, the roleplay is a gentle man...with a small cock like me. haha gg

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eversncenewyork · 1 year

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i’m going crazy i think i rly am. what does it mean when ur FWB of 5 months tells you he might get back together with his ex, or go celibate, but in the absence of either of those options he’ll keep seeing you. but also he’s gonna stop sleeping w other people even if he does keep u around so now you’re the only. then after a couple weeks of leaving him alone to figure it out, he comes back so much more flirty and affectionate and calls you “honey” & “sweetie” and calls to cancel ur plans for an actually valid reason and says “im making you feel second rate and that’s the last thing i want to do.” where?????? where. when i’m 3rd on the list of 1. ex 2. celibacy 3. me. but i’m not even mad that he cancelled!! i’ll see him tomorrow instead!! but ALSO he’s talking about fucking you in every room of the apartment he’s not moving into til january????? and adopting an elderly cat that needs a home. that’s unrelated to me but made me FUCKING LOVE HIM and im mad that it’s so confusing and weird and that he clearly rly likes me but just……….not enough. date me you coward

#but no #honestly i don’t think we’d be good together #but i want it anyway #i don’t know how to feel both at the same time without going crazy #i think he’s too busy for me and im too idle for him #he’s too stubborn and im too idealistic #i’m too insecure and he’s too not over his ex #but also to counter #we both love books but different books so we don’t talk in circles #we are both introspective and reflective #we…..frankly love to fuck #i think he could bring me out of my shell #i think i could be a source of comfort for him #i think he could use my idealism and i think i could use his realism #but he doesn’t like to spoon #but he’s rly nice to my friends #he’s noble but noble enough to only say ‘if that’s what you want’ if i ended things #and i’ll go nuts trying to read him for what he actually feels #he is determined and exacting #what he Knows he will do does not change with how he Feels #what i Feel is all i Know #anyway good fucking night im both devastated and elated

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libbyalien · 2 years

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5 months celibate in like 1.5 hrs. I don’t even miss it like I thought I would. I’m just existing with less distractions. Paving my way to financial freedom. Manifesting abundance in every arena. It’s coming. I know that it’s almost here. I’m on a brink of influential. Stay tuned for miraculous miracles.

#wonder #supernatural #nosex

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nerdygaymormon · 3 years

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uhhhh david have you gotten the liahona yet bc idk how to feel about an article i found in there yesterday. it was pretty comforting and basic, but did use ssa the whole time. BUT the youth one was pretty crappy, it used ssa to the max and gave no real hope, was pretty bland and annoying about oh itll be find just believe and jesus and get hatecrimed <3 i would like to hear your thoughts on it, its the first time ive seen any queer topics in church magazines

Thanks for bringing these to my attention.

"Same-sex attraction" (SSA) is the preferred term of Church leaders. They say it's a way of not making it your identity, that this isn't part of who I am but rather is something I'm dealing with. In other words, people "have" same-sex attraction, not that they "are" gay or lesbian or bi.

There have been a few leaks from behind-the-scenes where the apostles say they use "same-sex attraction" because it's the term that people like least. People like it less that same-gender attraction or gay/lesbian. SSA includes the word "sex" and I guess the idea is it gets people to think of sexual acts and feel queasy.

SSA is the term normally used in Church magazines because they follow the lead of the First Presidency and apostles.

There's 3 items in the Church magazines this month about queer people! That's a lot for one month.

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The first is a bishop talking about how to understand and include LGBT people at church. After becoming bishop, 3 sets of parents contacted him distressed that their child is gay or transgender (I note that the parents used "gay." He also mentions contacting someone who 'identifies as gay").

His first recommendation is to follow the living apostles. (which explains why the bishop uses "SSA" even though everyone else around him used "gay"). It's a good idea for a local leader to find what the current leaders are saying because it's changed. He also says to read the Church's websites titled “Same-Sex Attraction” and “Transgender.” He provides two lovely quotes from those pages about diversity at church and being loving to people who are different.

His second recommendation is to not be afraid to talk to people who identify as gay, but instead try to have love for them and then let the Spirit guide you in what to say. We're just people, it shouldn't be scary to talk to us, that shows how different he thinks we are from the other people he interacts with in his ward.

The bishop's third suggestion is to speak to people who are familiar with LGBT "issues," share your testimony, and apologize for hurtful things you say. His list of people to contact for help understanding was a little disheartening because he starts with his stake leaders, ward leaders, other bishops, and so on, actual queer people were the last people on his list.

He continues by saying to pull aside members who are saying homophobic or transphobic things and give them some personal guidance, don't share private information that a member shares with the bishop, and just because someone has these "attractions" doesn't mean they're acting on them, and if they aren't "acting" on them then you can let them have a calling.

I have a few comments about the last few things. If no one corrects the homophobic/transphobic comments in public but instead privately suggests the person do better, every one who heard those comments thinks they stand unchallenged. The atmosphere created by the comments is unchanged. Especially if the bishop was present to hear those words, if they go uncontested then people think this is what is acceptable.

You'd think bishops know not to share private information a member shares with them. I've been around long enough to know that when a bishop is unsure what to do, he starts contacting his network (stake presidency, other bishops) asking for advice. Some bishops are discreet when doing this and others name the individuals.

While it seems basic, I recently had a counselor in a bishopric who didn't think gay people could get a temple recommend, that there's a zero-tolerance policy. That is an attitude that is outdated by a couple of decades, but it shows that people need to learn that simply existing as a gay or trans person doesn't automatically mean we are committing great sins.

I do find it interesting there appears to have been quite a few queer individuals in his ward, at least 4 or 5, and reading between the lines it seems they all stopped attending.

The bishop's heart is in the right place. I get he's following the Church leaders and that limits some of what he can do for queer people in his ward. I think his perspective primarily is of making the parents feel more welcome in the ward and not ostracized for having queer kids.

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The second article in the Liahona is written by a person with same-sex attraction and his work to overcome the shame he felt.

It's a much better article than the one written by the bishop. This person shares about the shame they felt at having gay feelings and working with a therapist to overcome that shame. He shares 3 lessons that helped him with this process.

1) God and Jesus love and accept him as he is. This is a message that doesn't often get conveyed to queer members and it's important they know this.

2) The Atonement of Jesus Christ offers healing. At first he was wanting the Atonement to cure him of being gay, but instead it helped him be healed of the shame he felt. I hear so many members who think the Atonement can change us from gay to straight, and that's not true. I'm glad he made this distinction. Our Heavenly Parents don't view being gay or trans as something that needs to be cured. I wish that message was taught more openly in the Church.

3) Build deeper connections and show compassion. Loneliness and feeling like you don't belong at church are two of the most troubling aspects an LGBTQ+ person has to deal with if they are active in the LDS Church. Developing close friendships will help with that. Also, queer people tend to be more compassionate than the average person and I believe it's because of the experiences we had to deal with of living in a heteronormative world that isn't made for us.

He includes a few useful tips at the end on how to engage with queer people.

All in all, a much better story than the one written by the bishop. He shared part of how it feels to be a gay member of this church, the idea that he should be ashamed for who he is, that being gay isn’t a burden, that he doesn't fit in.

I appreciated he said this is part of his layers of identity and at the core of his identity is that we're children of heavenly parents. That's more nuanced than the apostles who reject being gay has anything to do with identity and our only identity should be a child of God.

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The final story is from For the Strength of Youth. This piece seems like it's written by a queer person, but it's anonymous and given as general advice to show that people with same-sex attraction belong at church.

This article makes 3 main points. The first is that God loves you. That's true, although accompanying quotes to back up this principle aren't specifically about queer people.

The second point is "you belong." All sorts of people attend church, and God is no respecter of persons. Then they have a quote from Elder L. Whitney Clayton that people with same-sex attraction are welcome to come to church. To me, he's an odd choice to give this message as he led the Church's fight in California on Prop 8 to make gay marriage illegal again. Words aren't enough. Saying I'm welcome is not the same as making a welcoming climate.

The third point is that God will help you. They include a quote from Laura F. who experiences same-sex attraction. She writes about prayer, scripture study, temple and church attendance. However, she also says she doesn't know what her life will look like in 20 years, she seems to be leaving open the possibility her journey with God will lead her to romance and out of the church. I thought that was very honest and important.

————————————————————

I found it noteworthy that nowhere in these 3 articles does it say being alone and celibate is good and what God wants.

I appreciate the idea that we can make our local congregations less homophobic/transphobic. The suggestions from the bishops shows that the bar is pretty low and it doesn't take much to make an improvement from how things are now.

The voices of the two gay members was important, what they shared was useful but nuanced, didn't make commitments to staying in the church long-term or testify that what the church requires is what God wants for them.

Even so, it's clear the publisher is very careful. They use "same-sex attraction" so often, I think readers would be surprised the preferred term of most same-sex attracted people would be gay, bi or lesbian. While they addressed some things, like homophobic/transphobic comments, feeling shame & not fitting in, I think they largely skated past the things that make queer people decide that this church isn't for them.

There's a part of me that says I'm glad we're having this conversation in the Church magazines, but another part that says this is too sanitized and doesn't get at the heart of things. These are very hopeful messages that make it seem that queer people could easily choose to stay in church if a few adjustments were made and if they only understood God loves them, which avoids the "doctrine" that excludes queer people from the highest blessings and joys and makes us essentially second-class citizens in the kingdom of God, at least according to our church.

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aliciazamfroma2z · 2 years

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Sharing a few of my poems to jump start my tumblr participation;)

The Power of a demisexual

Appearing prudish, she manifests into a wildfire burning at a festival.

Love is her addiction, describes herself as a demisexual.

When she gets her manicured claws into you,

Your appetite for her spreads faster than the 24-hour flu.

What can we expect a defenseless man to do!

She ignores you until you prove to her that you're a worthy delicacy.

Bringing out emotions w/words that haven't been discovered even through entelechies.

Once the fasting ends, she offers the unquenchable feast of feasts.

What drives you mad is how this little woman has you doing backflips.

No one has had that power over your heart cuz you've held such a firm grip.

Hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

At this point, you will hand over a paper bag filled with your pride.

Things in the rearview mirror may be further than u dream or closer than u dare

The closer I get to home, the further away i feel.

The more money they have, the less they pay for-You know the deal.

The puppy is so ugly, that he's cute.

He's so impatient that it's no longer worth the commute.

His mistress is too dirty for a Golden Shower.

He's too clean to tell her off with profanity.fucking coward.

Baby it feels so wrong that it must be right.

Either way I'm gonna keep it tight and write it out til two wrongs make us right.

My directional skills are bad so if I say go right, you should go left

And you'll be surprised to know that left is right all along. R u deaf?

I study you so much that I don’t need to cheat.

If I'm with u,don't insult me by assuming I'm capable of deceit.

Your silent treatment is giving me a headache.

But silence is better than the alternative if it's going to be fake.

Why do you need to hate me to love me?

Is this your version of fight or flee?

Are you afraid that you will love me so much that I’ll hate you?

You want me so bad,I think I'll just rape you.

SO tired that I can’t sleep.

Yet, 8 hours in bed awake with you, I feel Ive aged beyond 70.

I’m smart enough to know when they think I'm stupid.

So don't treat me like I'm a new kid.

In fact, by letting them think they are smarter

I'm in the position of power.

They think I'm so sweet that they are unprepared for sour.

Pity Sex?

Is this the new way to get sex

from "your complicated ex"?

Or is this the guilt u put on the naive girl that's next?

"I haven't had sex in months, I'm going to explode!

The girls aren't giving out,

maybe it's the corona virus over load.

Or am I so ugly that they overlook the depth in my soul?"

"No, you're cute until you open your mouth.

With your lack of chivalry, you'd be shot if you tried that down south.

I have been celibate for years and I'm proud.

It'll be a true gentleman to get inside of me.

Reserved for someone who's kind, stimulates my mind,

connecting spiritually.

I keep it real, you call me a tease.

I'm blunt after I roll one, u say I'm mean.

If you want the truth,

in all honesty,

Don't mistake it for the third degree...

I politely suggest that you keep your shenanigans where they ought to be.

I don't do small talk since you can't acknowledge that I'm out of your league..

My advice is priceless but I'll give it to you on sale, for a small fee.

5 minutes for just $100 plus tip please.

Most importantly,

After im done,ill be quick to leave.

No copyright or you will be bargaining more than just a plea.

Peace, love and hopefully a new residency

in a town far, far away from me. "

Sincerely, your barking up the wrong tree. 🌴

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likeawildthing · 3 years

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TW breast cancer, imaging, medical system

I’m sharing because this happened to me this week, and I didn’t know what to expect, and I’m hoping it can help someone.

My PCP found a lump on Monday which concerned her, plus it was tender to touch. I haven’t been doing monthly exams mostly because I don’t know how and because I’ve had so much going on. No more of that!

Every clinic handles this differently but I went specifically to a breast cancer clinic. I didn’t see a single cis man, which I mention only because I was naked. TERFS, go to hell and DNI.

The intake paperwork included the date of my last period and said if it was greater than 10 days I would need a belly apron. I wrote on the sheet that I was celibate and no one questioned it. It saved me the embarrassment of having to talk about it to a stranger so that may help someone. Just wanted to include this as an FYI for people with uteruses.

After doing intake paperwork I was brought back by my mammography technician. She explained my three outcomes for today’s visit:

No significant findings — no follow up requires

Return for repeat maging in 3-6 months

Schedule a biopsy within the next 7-10 days

Although my sister came with me, she waited in the waiting room. I’m not sure she could have come back with me, had I been super anxious, because COVID, but it’s worth asking.

It was her job to answer questions and she was super patient about it. We were in a private consult room for this which was great.

She then sent into a changing room to change out of my bra and top and put on a hospital gown with the opening facing front. I washed the deodorant from my armpits because that can affect the results, and also removed my jewelry. They recommend no lotions, body glitter, deoderant, etc. I left my purse and pretty much everything except my phone in the locker. Then I waited in a private waiting room with a few other women next to our lockers. I think they even heated the gowns for us?

After just a few minutes my tech took me back to to mammography room. My machine looked like this:

She asked if I knew where the lump was and marked it with a piece of clear medical tape. The bumpy kind so be aware of that texture although I’m sure that varies. She explained every step before we started. If you tech does not do this, ask them to. Also ask them to prompt or explain each step as they do it.

I opened half my gown and she gently manhandled my breast, and me, into place. It was awkward positioning but she kept asking if I was comfortable so modifications could have been made if I was in pain. It wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn’t like having my boob run over like I’d been told to expect? A very, very firm pressure. It was tight but I could breathe and talk. The glass plate is cold!

I was asked not to move, to breathe normally, t breathe in deeply, hold, exhale, hold. This is for I believe the vertical series. Then the machine pivots, my breast was smashed at like a 45 degree angle and, after repositioning, the horizontal series is completed.

Then we repeated this for the other breast even though there wasn’t a lump. I retied my gown, put my glasses back on, and went back to the waiting room.

The whole imaging took 5-10 minutes. Two positions each. Both breasts.

I waited maybe 15 minutes and a different tech brought me into the sonogram room. This is standard practice at this clinic — both a mammogram and an ultrasound.

I laid on my side leaned back on a wedge. It wasn’t super comfortable, but it was ok. Anyone with hip or back problems or wheelchair bound will/may need modifications.

I was alone in this dark room less than five minutes, but this is where my anxiety spiked big time. Possibly because I was prone, or because it was dark, or because I kept staring at the mammogram results which were on the screen. The doctor came in, introduced herself, and reviewed my mammography results. She explained what they showed her and walked me through the process.

I lifted my arm over my head like Rose in Titanic. Instead of being drawn by Leo though, my boob got covered in warm goop and the u/s scanner moved around the boob. It took less than five minutes. She did not do the entire boob, just the area around the tape. I think it would have been more if they had found something super concerning. My other breast did not have a sonogram.

My results were fine, I was told immediately no follow up was required but I would need to come at 40 for a regular preventative maintenance mammography.

All in all this took less than an hour, but had they been busy I could have expected it to be longer. Everyone was so kind and it was a consent based clinic.

I don’t know how much choice you would have if you ever find yourself in this position, but I wanted to share my experience because, for once, it was a good one.

Everyone introduced themselves.

The clinic was patient-centered.

Explanations and consent were given every step of the way to align my expectations with what was about to happen.

My results were clearly explained.

Every provider asked if I had questions and then paused and made eye contact and to wait for me to give a verbal response.

They did their best to preserve my dignity/modesty.

This? This is my new standard of care.

A few years ago I fired my PCP because he was a condescending twat who told me my chronic sleep problems were emotional. Yes, I had to argue with the office manager, but she made an exception and switched me to a PCP who I love. Fire providers who don’t treat you like a human being!

#mammography #breast cancer #tw breast cancer #tw medical

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woman-loving · 4 years

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I don’t identity as a “bi lesbian,” but I feel there is room for a woman to identify as both bisexual and gay/lesbian, and I don’t agree with the arguments I’ve seen against “bi lesbian” identity.

One thing that annoys me about detractors of the identity is the occasional claim that it is basically an internet phenomenon that arose within the last five years or so. Actually, women have been claiming both bisexual and lesbian identities for decades. There have constantly been debates about how bi women fit within lesbianism, lesbian identity, and lesbian community since the gay/lesbian movements have been active. This isn’t something that has ever been universally agreed upon, and there never will be universal agreement on it.

Just for reference and historical interest, I’ve compiled a few selections from articles and books, mostly from the 80s and 90s, that are by or about lesbian-identified (or gay-identified) bisexual woman, or that at least mention them. Inclusion doesn’t indicate my approval of the author’s perspective or argument; this is to provide a bit of history on the discourse.

What is a Lesbian? To me, a lesbian is a woman-oriented woman; bisexuals can be lesbians. A lesbian does not have to be exclusively woman oriented, she does not have to prove herself in bed, she does not have to hate men, she does not have to be sexually active at all times, she does not have to be a radical feminist. She does not have to like bars, like gay culture, or like being gay. When lesbians degrade other lesbians for not going to bars, not coming out, being bisexual or not sexually active, and so on, we oppress each other.

--Trish Miller, "Bisexuality," Lavender Woman, Vol 2 Issue 5, August 1973.

The definition of lesbian that I suggest, one that conforms to the two methodological considerations above, is the following:

5. Lesbian is a woman who has sexual and erotic-emotional ties primarily with women or who sees herself as centrally involved with a community of self-identified lesbians whose sexual and erotic-emotional ties are primarily with women; and who is herself a self-identifed lesbian.

My definition is a sociopolitical one; that is, it attempts to include in the term lesbian the contemporary sense of lesbianism as connected with a subcultural community, many members of which are opposed to defining themselves as dependent on or subordinate to men. It defines both bisexual and celibate women as lesbians as long as they identify themselves as such and have their primary emotional identification with a community of self-defined lesbians. Furthermore, for reasons I will outline shortly, there was no lesbian community in which to ground a sense of self before the twentieth century, a fact which distinguishes the male homosexual community from the lesbian community. Finally, it is arguable that not until this particular stage in the second wave of the women’s movement and in the lesbian-feminist movement has it been politically feasible to include self-defined lesbian bisexual women into the lesbian community.

Many lesbian feminists may not agree with this inclusion. But it may be argued that to exclude lesbian bisexuals from the community on the grounds that “they give energy to men” is overly defensive at this point. After all, a strong women’s community does not have to operate on a scarcity theory of nurturant energy! On feminist principles the criterion for membership in the community should be a woman’s commitment to giving positive erotic-emotional energy to women. Whether women who give such energy to women can also give energy to individual men (friends, fathers, sons, lovers) is not the community’s concern.

--Ann Ferguson, “Patriarchy, Sexual Identity, and the Sexual Revolution,” Signs, Autumn 1981.

Individuals who came together a month ago to discuss bisexuality and its relationship to radical feminism decided recently to begin a serious, regular study group on human sexuality and its social/political/psychological manifestations in our culture.

There are eight of us in the group. For all, understanding bisexuality, both in our own lives and and in our society, is a primary goal. To this end, we decided on a format of readings and discussion, with a facilitator for each meeting, that would bring us through the range of sexual options available in the United States today, from male-identified heterosexuality to lesbianism, to a final informed examination of bisexuality in the context of all that we had learned. Throughout our exploration, feminism will provide both a point of departure, and a point of return.

We started by trying to define some terms, specifically "feminism," "gay-identified bisexual," and "bisexual". Alot of us were amazed to see how many different interpretations each term, especially "gay-identified," could have. Is someone "gay-identified" because they devote a majority of their time, energy and emotion to the gay community? Or does an individual's radical critique of heterosexuality make them "gay-identified"? And does "gay-identified" also imply "women-identified"? Some people felt that one could be gay-identified, and still not be woman-identified. And exactly how many Meg Christian concerts make you "lesbian-identified"?

We didn't reach any conclusions, but had fun realizing that being bisexuals, we are dealing with a whole realm of experiences that can be classified in any number of different ways; and that the variety of possible bisexual lifestyles is as varied as the women who are in the Network.

--Barb H, “Study Group,” BBWN, Vol. 2 No. 4, July-Aug 1984

I recognize that homophobia is at the root of biphobia. I came to lesbianism long before my sexuality was clear to me. I lived an open lesbian lifestyle for four years. I cannot deny the importance of this experience, nor do I want to. For me lesbian identity is more than, and/or in addition to sexuality; it is a political awareness which bisexuality doesn't altar or detract from. 10 years ago when I left my husband and full-time role of motherhood, it didn't make me less conscious of what being a mother means. In fact, it gave me a deeper understanding. I am still a mother. That experience cannot be taken away from me. In much the same way, my lesbian awareness isn't lost now that I claim my bisexuality. When I realized my woman-loving-woman feelings, and came out as a lesbian, I had no heterosexual privilege; yet there were important males in my life, including a son. I am bisexual because it's real for me, not in order to acquire or flaunt the privilege that is inherent in being with men. My political consciousness is lesbian but my lifestyle is bisexual. If I keep myself quiet for another's sense of pride and liberation, it is at the cost of my own which isn't healthy--emotionally, politically or medically. Not only is it unhealthy, it's ineffective.

Since I have come out I have triggered many lesbians to blurt in whispered confidence--"I have a man in the closet. You're brave to be so open. What am I going to do?" These are not easy times. AIDS has given biphobia free reign in the lesbian community (and admittedly with much less destructive effect than how AIDS is fueling homophobia in society at large), it is all right to trash bisexuals, not to trust us for fear of AIDS. Bisexuals are untouchable to some lesbians.

We have to deal with oppression in a constructive way or we will be factionalized forever. Time is running out. We have to see the whole and the part we play in it. Forming family communities with people who share your sexual identity is important, but trashing is nonproductive. The sexual choices we make are equally valid for our individual experiences. AIDS is not a gay disease; it is a human tragedy, a plague that doesn't recognize boundaries. I urge bisexuals to take a political stand, and to become a visible, viable energy force. It is important and timely to open this dialogue in each of our communities. Nobody belongs in the closet. The only way to get a sense of "our" community is for us to begin to speak out and identify ourselves. When we verify the connections and the networks of our oppression, we build a unity that avoids the, "I'm more oppressed than you" syndrome

--Lani Kaahumanu, “Bisexuality & Discrimination,” BBWN Vol. 3, No. 6, Dec 1985-Jan 1986; Reprinted from the 1985 Gay Pride March magazine, San Francisco

What makes the Third Annual Northeast Conference on Bisexuality what it is? The breakfasts and dinners--the entertainment--the excitement of meeting others who feel like family. My first event of the conference was stumbling onto a cocktail party just around the corner from the Registration Desk, which turned out to be part of the Woman's History Week! A bit embarrassing after greeting many people with wine glasses in hand, asking them how they heard about the bisexuality conference!

I'll skip now to describe my experiences at the lesbian-identified affinity group and the two workshops I attended. Why do women who identify as lesbians go to a bisexuality conference? There were about 10 of us in the room, each with a different answer. Most of our relationships at the present time were with women; after that the similarity ended. One woman had affairs with men when not seriously involved with women. Another, in a non-monogamous long-term lesbian relationship, had recently begun a sexual involvement with a man. one woman, now involved with a bisexual woman, was here to discuss her feelings about the situation. Some of us had led exclusively lesbian lives for a number of years and were wondering if we'd closed off important parts of ourselves. Whether or not we would act on our sexual attractions for men, acknowledging them were important to us.

Our personal herstories contributed to our diverse opinions. For some, coming out was relaxed and easy and relationships with women refreshingly egalitarian. Others found sexual awakening and coming out difficult, and lesbian relationships fraught with many of the same difficulties as straight ones. We also discussed reasons lesbians don't accept bisexual women, such as fear that she'd leave for a man or desire to preserved woman-only space. We questioned the reality of "heterosexual privilege," wondering whether any women could really have it. We discussed the sorrows in our lives, such as family histories of alcoholism, incest or physical abuse, and the joys of our relationships, our work and our lives.

--Stacie, “Lesbian-identified Affinity Group Workshops: Lesbian Sexuality & Politics of Sexuality,” BBWN, Vol. 4, No. 2, April-May 1986

[Robyn Ochs]: What is your current sexual identity?

[Betty Aubut]: I call myself a "bisexual lesbian." I will always politically identify as bisexual, which to me means opposing restrictive categories. Some days I feel real separatist, and other days I feel that I want to be involved with men. Being bisexual to me means that I see men and women whom I'm attracted to. A man would have to be very special for me to want to get involved with him but I will fight for bisexual rights whether or not I'm sleeping with men. I see the bisexual community and movement as a very important bridge between gays, lesbian and straights. As long as gays and lesbians are considered completely 'other' from the mainstream, we'll never have any power. I consider myself gay. I think bisexuals are gay and gay liberation is our liberation. I don't consider myself 100% straight and 100% gay; I am 100% gay. That doesn't mean I won't sleep with a man every now and then--some lesbians do that. I never used to identify as lesbian out of respect for women who made the lifelong choice never to sleep with men, but then I realized that was a lot of bullshit. Calling yourself lesbian does not necessarily mean you have made that lifelong decision. Now I mostly identify as a lesbian--so I call myself a bisexual lesbian. I don't sleep with men right now, but I have male friends whom I spend time with and cuddle with. I've even become socially involved with some of the men from the men's network. I'm proud of where I am now because it's been so hard for me. People who have known me for a long time can't believe the change.

--Robyn Ochs, “Bi of the Month: Betty Aubut,” Bi Women Vol. 5, No. 2, April-May, 1987

Sharon Sumpter is a bisexual lesbian activist and psychotherapist who works with women survivors of abuse, institutionalization and sexual oppression. Her book-in-progress, In Pieces, is dedicated to opening the closet doors for former "mental patients." "I went into my work to undo the criminal things that were done to me and that I saw done to other women." She thanks Deena Metzger and Asherah for this, her first published work.

--Contributors' Notes, Sinister Wisdom, Issue 36, Winter 1988/89

Representatives of lesbian-feminist separatism may feel singled out as special targets of our anger and distress. To the extent that this is true, the seeds of anger lie in lesbian separatism as a politic: In this reading of feminism, specific sex acts take on politicized meaning. These are said to have consequences for the consciousness of the person performing them. Lesbian feminism is arguably the most proscriptive gay or lesbian politic, generating in its adherents the greatest tendency to judge others' (especially sexual) behavior. Gay men, for example, seem more likely to cite personal antipathy or simple stereotypes about bisexuals as a source of their chagrin. A great many bisexual women, particularly those who are feminist and lesbian-identified, have felt both personally and politically rejected and judged by the separatist sisters. Even those with no such experience may feel wary having heard of other bisexual women's stories. No one like to feel attacked, even politically.

----Carol A. Queen, "Strangers at Home: Bisexuals in the queer movement," Out/Look, Vol. 4, Issue 4 (16), Spring 1992

Closer to Home successfully deals with these and other problems of self-identification. As most of the writers are "lesbian-identified bisexuals" (one of several labels used for the sake of convenience), the definition of lesbianism is also reevaluated. Is a lesbian a woman who relates emotionally and erotically with women or a woman who does not relate emotionally and erotically with men? Must a woman fit both criteria to be considered a lesbian?

The "Principles and Practice" section expands these main course theories of identity with side dishes of memories and personal feelings--feelings of not being queer enough; of breaking all the rules, even the gay rules; of being dissatisfied with the waste of energy from political infighting. It's odd for lesbian-identified bi's to find themselves viewed as politically incorrect. It's maddening to have one's past feminist work invalidated by the inclusion of a man (or men) in one's life. It's frustrating to find oneself faced with a choice of being honest or potentially losing support of women's groups. It's confusing to work for the freedom to come out of one closet only to be asked to stay in another. As Rebecca Shuster write:

"If we choose a lesbian identity, we are subject to systematic oppression and internalize that oppression in a package that includes marginality; invisibility; isolation...; and countercultural rules about how to relate to women and men. If we choose a bisexual identity, we are subject to systematic oppression and internalize that oppression in a package deal that include a feeling of not belonging or having a home; defensiveness; isolation...; and countercultural rules about how to relate to women and men. Precisely because bisexuality represents freedom of choice, society ensures that the identity comes with its own package of mistreatment and constraints."

----Beth Herrick, "Bisexual Women Pushing the Limits," Sojourner, Vol. 18, Issue 10, June 1993

The first step is to move toward building alliances within our bisexual communities. Many communities are united by a commonality of the oppression. This is not so in our community, partly because of the different ways people identify as bisexual: gay-identified, queer-identified, lesbian-identified, or heterosexual-identified. Some people are bisexual in an affectional manner only; some are bisexual both affectionally and sexually; and some are bisexual only sexually. Since there are so many ways to express our bisexuality, the first step toward alliance-building is to work internally to accept all members of our own community. It is imperative that we build alliances across our own differences; otherwise, alliance-building will fail. Acceptance of the diversity of bisexual labels within our community will allow us to pursue alliance-building with decisive strength in the heterosexual community and what many of us consider our own lesbian/gay community.[3]

--Brenda Blasingame, "Power and Privilege Beyond the Invisible Fence, in Bisexual Politics: Theories, Queries, and Visions, 1995

Personally, I am unable to separate out the various ways that I am oppressed (as a woman, as an African American, as a bisexual lesbian, as an impoverished single mother) and say that one oppression is worse than the other, or that I desire one form of liberation more than another. I do not want to experience threats to my life, my child custody, or my job security because of racism or homophobia. I don't want to be oppressed for any reason!!!

--Dajenya, "Which Part of Me Deserves to Be Free?," in Bisexual Politics: Theories, Queries, & Visions, ed. Naomi Tucker, 1995

A good deal of criticism has been written about heterosexuals who are surprised when they find out the true sexual orientation of someone who they didn't think "looked gay." These criticism assert what is of course true--that there is no such thing as a gay or lesbian "look," since of course, everyone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, looks that way.

Unfortunately, many of my experiences as a lesbian-identified bisexual woman have said to me that having an appearance or demeanor that diverges from the expected means I will not be accepted as truly belonging in the lesbian community. Despite my attendance at gay pride parade, dollars spent at gay resorts and in support of gay causes, and numerous attempts to participate in gay and/or lesbian groups and volunteer events, I have often felt unaccepted by this community.

--Amy Wyeth, "Don't Assume Anything," Bi Women Vol. 13, No. 4, Aug/Sept 1995

Joan Tollifson relays her struggle to make sense of her life and her spiritual awakening in Bare-Bones Meditation. Born with only one hand, she grew up feeling different, found identity and purpose as a bisexual lesbian and a disability rights activist, but struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. She first embraced Zen Buddhism then a very bare-bones form of spirituality that has no form. This exuberant and amazing testament is for the many people who don't fit into the conventional molds of existing religious traditions.

--"And on Publisher's Row," complied by Jenn Tust, Feminist Bookstore News, Vol. 19, Issue 4, Nov-Dec 1996

#bisexuality #bi lesbian

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emofairyprincessofarkansas · 3 years

Text

Throwing Punches at Pride

TITLE: Throwing Punches at Pride PAIRING: Modern!Javier/OC RATING: T CHAPTER: One-shot SUMMARY: Javier surprises his co-worker at the Pride Parade.

[A/N - Written for “Writer’s Wednesday” hosted by @autumnleaves1991-blog and @flightlessangelwings‘s “2k21 Pride Month”. I actually had a fun time writing this one. This is done with an Ace OC. If you have any questions regarding Asexuality, please feel free to DM me or send me an ask.]

Javier rapped his knuckles on Mollie’s desk, startling her. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” he apologized.

“It’s okay. I was just focused on my report,” she told him.

Javier checked his watch. “It’s nearly 5 o’clock. You’re usually gone by now.”

“And what are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for a date or something?”

Javier smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Mollie shook her head. “No, I would not.”

“So, got any plans this weekend?”

Mollie bit her bottom lip. “Um, no.”

Javier knew she was lying, but didn’t press her. If she didn’t want to tell him, she didn’t have to. “Well, guess I’ll see you later than. Enjoy your weekend then, cariño. Don’t stay too late.”

Mollie snorted. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

“Night, Mols.”

“Night, Javi.”

Javier pushed off her desk and grabbed his leather jacket before leaving.

Mollie let out a sigh of relief. She did have plans this weekend, but how was she supposed to explain it to him?

He wouldn’t understand.

Mollie’s phone buzzed and a text from her best friend Becca popped up.

Hey, we still on for tomorrow? – Bex

Mollie shot a text back. Yeah. Can’t wait. See you tomorrow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Javier didn’t have any plans for the weekend, so he was just sitting on his couch and scrolling through Instagram. He never posted anything, but he liked to see what his friends were up to. He clicked on Mollie’s profile and saw a picture.

It was of a crowd and many of them were holding rainbow flags.

MollieMechilor: Happy Pride everyone! #AcePride #Asexual #Asexuality

Javier had dated a number of women, so he was vaguely aware of the term. He grabbed his keys and aviators and made his way downtown where the Pride Parade was held each year. It was a slim chance that Javier would be able to find her, so he kept his Instagram app up. He kept refreshing until Mollie posted another picture.

She was near the Asexuality booth.

Javier made his way through the crowd until he found her. He put his hands over her eyes and said, “DEA, you’re under arrest for being adorable.”

Mollie grabbed his hands and spun around. “Javi! What…what are you doing here?”

He held his phone up, showing her.

She put her hands on her hips. “So you stalked me here?”

“I did not. I just used my amazing detective skills. Why didn’t you tell me? I would have listened to you.”

“Because you’re you, Javi. You’re the man-whore of the DEA and everyone knows it. You’d probably die if you couldn’t have sex. So how could your possibly understand someone who doesn’t want to have sex with anyone?”

“That doesn’t matter to me. Sure, sex is a perk, but it’s not the only thing that matters in a relationship.”

Just as Mollie opened her mouth, someone started yelling.

“Asexuality isn’t a real sexuality! You’re just all incels and celibates! You don’t belong here!”

“Hey, you wanna shut the fuck up, man?” Javier snapped.

“Why would you wanna be in a relationship with someone who won’t…”

Javier’s fist collided with the man’s jaw.

“Javier!” Mollie gasped.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about! Mind your own business! If she doesn’t want to have sex with anyone, she doesn’t have to!” Javier was fuming.

Mollie put a hand on his heaving chest and led him away from the scene.

“What an understand boyfriend,” a girl swooned. Her girlfriend rolled her eyes.

“Oh, we’re not…” Mollie tried to say, but she was cut off by Javier’s lips meeting hers. Mollie heard the click of a camera.

When Javier pulled away, Mollie’s eyes were wide. “Javier…”

“I would have understood. All you needed to do was sit down and talk to me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough to tell you.”

Javier chuckled. “If I were in your shoes, I probably would have done the same.”

Mollie’s hands slid from Javier’s chest to his face. “Kiss me again, like you mean it.”

Javier smiled and pressed his lips to hers again.

The picture of her and Javier kissing made it to her Instagram with the caption: Love is Love. Your relationship doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s to be valid. #AcePride #Asexual #Asexuality

#writer wednesday #jey's pride celebration 2k21 #javier pena #javier/oc #javier pena imagines #narcos #narcos imagines #asexual #asexuality #pedro pascal #pedro pascal imagine #modern!javi

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riverdale-retread · 3 years

Text

Riverdale S5 E6 Back To School

5 Things I Loved/ 3 Things To Consider

The S5 Character Resets are underway and I really love them. Let me count the ways.

1. Jughead the adult is someone who rolls with the punches. I love that he grew out of that boy who was willing to DIE to belong or prove a point or save others and was in general so tense and defensive about who he was. He has a new relationship with the word “weird,” going from the high octane emotionality of I’m a weird weirdo and not your project!!! to this casual, Embrace the weird acceptance. He also has a relaxed sense of humor about his writing (I don’t know, but it makes a good story), rather than the white knuckle performance anxiety he used to have about it. Jughead blatantly fishing out money from the tip jar his students have put on his desk in his classroom to mock him was DELIGHTFUL. I loved it SO MUCH.

2. Toni is basically on a mission to correct the things she didn’t like about her childhood before her own baby arrives and I adore that. Her work started last episode with reclaiming what the Serpent Dance (Female) is, making sure that the Serpents are financially solvent, that Sweet Pea and Fangs are gainfully employed, and giving Archie a bunch of homework about how to rehabilitate Riverdale. In this episode she makes the point that cheerleading is a sport and that Archie needs to get over his Football Supremacists nonsense, and works on getting Cheryl out of her doldrums.

3. Cheryl was always a fragile, tender person underneath her mean girl and theatrical exterior, and the adult character reset seems to be that she’s done with pretending that she’s fine that her brother died. She’s supposed to be done grieving, but she isn’t. For personal reasons, I love this. I understand you, Cheryl. Cheryl used to aggressively hide this part of herself - the no-lipstick self - and I’m not sure that Toni is actually doing the right thing by trying to revive the Red Lipstick Cheryl. That tension is delicious though.

4. Archie and Betty have completely stopped trying to be nice, warm, fuzzy people who mean well. They’ve become the people I’ve been tracking in the retread all along - tough, pragmatic, violent, domineering, and not all that interested in anyone else’s issues/agenda/ problems, including each other’s. I guess I’m in the severe minority, but I love anti-heroes, especially women, so I am getting such a kick out of the shitty stuff they do. Archie, knowing what he knows about how Reggie’s father humiliated him on the football field as a child and the tender, boy-bonding they did in the aftermath, goes charging up to Reggie, when he’s the coach, and just punches him in the face with no hesitation. Holy shit. I love Betty enjoying her own beauty (her hair!) and sexuality (she was always the more sexual one in Bughead), approaching sex as a fun sport activity more than anything else. Betty has no qualms about pretending to be FBI and neither actual law enforcement (Tom Keller) nor law enforcement adjacent (Kevin Keller) dare say a peep.

5. Veronica’s current liberation from the cult of Archie (even if it’s temporary) is a relief to me. When Chad correctly points out that what Archie is asking for - and has always asked for and gotten - from Veronica is a handout, she doesn’t argue or launch into a speech about how wonderful Archie is and how he’s going to save the town or whatever. She just didn’t want her husband to be rude to an old friend by being so crass. Veronica’s also developed some of Hermione’s sadness (because being in a straight marriage is unhealthy for people, as per the Riverdale thesis), but at the same time it’s given her some emotional directness. She no longer seems to need to find The Perfect, Everyone Wins solution. She just says what she wants and needs, to her husband.

Sidebar: So in addition to being Ethel Muggs and Brett Weston Wallis, I’m also goddamn Chad Gekko because Veronica continually pouring money into everything and anything Archie wanted funding for always irked me SO much. Thanks, Riverdale, for the self-realization I’m getting.

Things to Think About

a) Is Archie capable of having sex only in Riverdale? The Music Room basically became the Archie Andrews Sex Room when he was a student. He says he’s dated no one since leaving the town, which Veronica apparently understood to mean he was practically celibate (which I find unlikely; I mean - HAVE YOU SEEN ARCHIE?). I do feel like Archie Andrews is turned on by the Riverdale High School building itself. Betty says My sister who has gone through long bouts of various kinds of instability and involuntary confinement is missing and his answer is Cool, anyway, let's fuck and just propositions her in the teacher’s lounge.

b) Ms Bell is playing all sides of the game (she calls Cheryl about Toni, and then calls Hiram about the Bulldogs) but I can’t tell what game she’s playing. I love that actress - she’s at Dr. Curdle Jr. / Nana Rose levels of interesting and I’m all for having her have more to do.

c) The Serpents really hating Jughead’s book, and then his next book also being something to do with Riverdale made me remember a tidbit my AP English teacher told us about D.H. Lawrence, who would approach someone who looked sad, look at them with his sad blue eyes and tenderly ask, “Whatever is the matter?” and let them pour their heart out, and then, two or three months later, when that person was ENRAGED at their heartache having been turned into a thinly disguised short story for publication, could not understand what the problem was. I think this may be a commentary about this type of writer from the Riverdale writing team - We are the truly creative creators, and better than this dude, might be what they’re saying, because they invent outlandish events rather than trying to do some sort of ‘slice of life.’

#riverdale positivity #riverdale s5

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porchtart · 2 years

Note

How corrupt is the Church of the Silent? (If Urale is a high priest then I’m assuming it’s gotta be fucked up)

Oh it's EXTREMELY corrupt lol. The Church has a large branch that are literally religious wizard cops, and they fucking suck. Urale also belongs to a particular fucked up religious order that historically did a lot of human (or well.... elf) sacrifice. :^)

I'm currently working on a doc writing up the worldbuilding, but in the mean time this is what I've got typed.

Setting

The story takes place in a fantasy world named Vuliros, on a continent named Kiaperus. Vuliros is a world rife with magic and mythical beasts, but in many ways bears great resemblance to 21st century Earth. Magic is everywhere, but it is highly controlled by the Church of the Silent (Sliasism,) a religious organization that dominates the culture from everything from the arts to policy. The Church controls both the governmental structure on the continent of Kiaperus and the law enforcement - which is mainly concerned with magic use.

Imerial

The main city in which the Church of the Silent operates is Imerial. The real world city which it most resembles is Stockholm, Sweden, with its deep history and the meeting of ancient and modern. Imerial is beautiful and lush, the pavement and buildings interrupted by waterways and green spaces. Automobiles are operated using magic and are therefore limited, so most people use public transit. Small temples and spaces of worship are dotted throughout the city, most of them Sliasistic in nature, but there are some that worship the older gods, the ancient religions largely forgotten in the wake of the Silent. The cultures represented are diverse, so long as they adhere to the Church's law.

Magic

Creatures of Vuliros are gifted with an innate ability to use the magic around them, but not all are talented. In fact, most are not very skilled at all, which means that most innovation in Vuliros is mechanical in nature, using magic inside of engines rather than using the magic generated within. In fact, there are many things that do not use magic at all, as it is highly regulated.

Speaking of regulation…

The Church of the Silent

As stated before, the Church is mainly concerned with the regulation of magic in Kiaperus. Worship of the Silent (three gods which supposedly rule the realms of magic, ground, and death) is of course an element of critical importance in their rule, but in the Church the highest form of worship is through strict order.

Magic is permitted only through use of licenses, which are coded to the specific magical signature of the creature to whom the license is issued. To enforce licenses as well as other laws dictated by the Church, there are specialized priests known as inquisitors that are sent out by the Church to find deviants and criminals to bring in for questioning, and punishment if necessary.

Religious services are held on Fifth days (months on Vuliros are 30 days long, Fifths are the days of the month that are multiples of 5) and consist of a sermon followed by an extended period of silent contemplation, and end with an offering of bread to the congregation.

Priests

Servants of the Silent in the physical realm, priests serve many purposes and follow many different vocations, the two primary ones being Oratory and Inquisition. Priests are all men, although gender roles and presentation are not as strict as is seen in many human societies on Earth. As is the case with many religious orders, priests are commanded to remain celibate - although it is well known inside the church that many priests are in romantic and/or sexual relationships with other priests, and it is largely permitted and even sometimes celebrated if the union brings glory upon the Silent.

In addition to the general perks of being a priest - food, housing, community, status - there is also the gift of Life which is given to priests that perform tremendous acts in service of the Church. If one is selected to receive the gift of Life, their life and time on the mortal plane is extended through powerful magic. Some priests are known to live for well over half a millennium!

This gift makes the priesthood highly sought-after, but as it takes a tremendous amount of discipline and conviction, very few manage to make it all the way to full priesthood, much less into one of the more highly desired vocations.

Orators

Oration is an important vocation in the priesthood, focusing on bringing the wishes of the Silent into a form that can be heard. Orators perform sermons, interpretations, and various other rituals for their congregations. Low-risk and high-reward, Oration is the most desired vocation by new priests.

Inquisitors

The Inquisition is the other most important vocation within the Church, and inquisitors are some of the most powerful members within the faith. Inquisitors are given free reign to use almost any means necessary to weed out illegal magic use and enforce the Will of the Silent upon the population of Kiaperus. Inquisitors are the priests with the lowest life-expectancy (the highest cause of death being assassinations, followed closely by suicide,) but those that survive are given a tremendous amount of power both socially and magically, and the glory of being an inquisitor keeps the vocation popular.

#church of the silent verse #oc tag #asks #anonymous #authoritarian government for ts #religion for ts #imerial tag

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