#albeit a friendship unit. but still a unit.

[adamsvanrhijn]

i like to think johnoscar been together since like immediately post-college. they've deffo got that "been together forever" vibe. the way they argue is soooo middle-aged married couple. i think if they'd only been together a little while, oscar wouldn't have allowed john to meet his mother. with all his paranoia, he seems the sort to be like "we've been together a decade, maybe i'll let you be seen in public walking on the same side of the street as me, as a treat".

i love that you sent me this ask. thank you <3

i feel like in my general mental timeline they are both rich guys whose immediately post-college obligations are "tour europe" and "work for my dad" and that they must have made it a couple of years in that vein. like oscar obviously did at least the "work for my dad" part and never thought not to like that is demonstrably what he did it is possible he did not even go to college and/or did not finish college as that was not uncommon among the "work for my dad" cohort across social classes [that had college available to them as a choice]. but i personally think oscar was in the bracket that would have at least gone for a year or two, age wise, because i estimate him being of Entry To College age prior to 1870 but after 1865, at which point it was way more common to send your sons to college regardless of whether or not he was entering the family business, and if oscar were college age prior to that then. well. i would have to seriously reevaluate my perception of him to say the least. but john.

my god john.

the thing. is that. Realistically. a guy named john adams who is the great grandson of quincy adams and a member of the adams american political family. is graduating from harvard specifically and then going to europe or farther and then going to law school and/or apprenticing in a family law firm. you can play adams family bingo with these criteria and you will get a bingo because this happened like ten times with ten guys. you will get slightly fewer bingos if you add "had some kind of crisis and/or epiphany and/or political election that prevented them from continuing to pursue law as a lawyer" but you will still probably come close.

so. i don't know anything about john EXCEPT that i think john adams, beloved by every woman in new york apparently including aurora "oh, mr. adams! how nice!" fane, would have met agnes van rhijn sooner or later regardless of anything oscar did or said, and that oscar would recognize this and either:

try to get ahead of it by being first, like, hi mom look who i met. he is the great grandson of quincy adams. and then john has to get grilled by agnes and then he has to smile politely and say he agrees with agnes's positive takes about her dad's whig political opinions.

OR. just let that introduction happen without engineering it, and then when his mother inevitably is like guess who i met. he is the great grandson of quincy adams. he can be like oh that guy? yeah that guy's nice we go to lunch sometimes. and she can be like invite him for lunch here. and then oscar will have to do that.

it is of course also possible that agnes met john before oscar did.

i ALSO think it has been shown that people are generally aware of their friendship?? like. in 1.08 they are lunching in public at, the credits confirm (props 2 tumblr user @whartonists for catching this one), the union, which is about as publicly associated as they can get, socially in the male sphere at least. and i am VERY CURIOUS to know if oscar is going to allow public associations like this to continue now that john has confirmed he cannot be trusted to not be crazy in them.

#johnoscar tag #they are so completely entirely entwined in the social community around them as independent actors in addition to as a unit #albeit a friendship unit. but still a unit. #and one that perhaps people would notice if it fell apart.

[theomnilegent]

2024 Upcoming Sapphic Fiction I’m Excited For! 🏳️‍🌈

Here are the top nine sapphic books I'm looking forward to for 2024! This year I'm excited to see how much more diversity there is amongst sapphic fiction - racial diversity, physical diversity, gender and sexuality diversity! Every year we get more and more books featuring a wider range of characters, and it makes me delighted every time.

2024 seems to be the year of the butch and otherwise gender non-conforming sapphic characters! There is even, much to my joy, a book about drag kings! I've been wanting a book about drag kings since I first started reading sapphic fiction, so I'm so pleased that one finally exists!

Below you'll find Goodreads links and summaries to each book. As always, this list is only a starting point - if you want to find more sapphic fiction, there's plenty to find on Goodreads and StoryGraph!

Furious by Jamie Pacton

After years racing go-karts and looking up to her mother, a celebrity Nascar racer, Jojo Emerson-Boyd should be starting her own racing career. But when she loses her mom in a tragic crash, Jojo’s future comes to a screeching halt. Now her dad won’t let her get a license, much less race. Instead, she’s stuck working at her grandmother’s mechanic shop in the sleepy small town of Dell’s Hollow.

But Jojo’s heart quickens when Motorcycle Girl Eliana “El” Blum shows up at the shop. El grew up on the motocross circuit sidelines, watching her sister and idol Maxine compete. When El mysteriously loses all contact with Max, she’s determined to find her, with her first clue leading straight to the mechanic shop, and to Jojo.

United by fate, the two quickly bond over Mario Kart showdowns and the Fast & Furious films. As their friendship shifts into something more, they’ll have to confront both their growing romance and the grief woven into their complicated families if they hope to chase down their dreams and make it across the finish line.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly When smart-mouthed Vanessa Lerner joins the high school basketball team Julie Parker coaches, Julie’s ready for the challenge. What she’s not ready for is Vanessa’s new foster parent, Elle Cochrane—former University of Tennessee basketball star. While star-struck at first, soon Julie persuades Elle to step into the unfilled position of assistant coach for the year.  Even though Elle has stayed out of the basketball world since an injury ended her short-lived WNBA career, the gig might be a way to become closer to Vanessa—and to spend more time with Julie, who makes Elle laugh. As the coaches grow closer, Elle has a hard time understanding how Julie is single. When Julie reveals her lifelong insecurity about dating and how she wishes it was more like sports—being able to practice first—it sparks an intriguing idea. While Elle still doubts her abilities as a basketball coach, helping Julie figure out dating is definitely something she can do. But as the basketball season progresses, and lines grow increasingly blurred, Julie and Elle must decide to join the game—or retreat to the sidelines.

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.

With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.

But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt-heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?

A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen

In Sài Gòn, Lan is always trying to be the perfect daughter, dependable and willing to care for her widowed mother and their bánh mì stall. Her secret passion, however, is A Bánh Mì for Two, the food blog she started with her father, but has stopped updating since his passing.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese American Vivi Huynh, has never been to Việt Nam. Her parents rarely even talk about the homeland that clearly haunts them. So Vivi secretly goes to Vietnam for a study abroad program her freshman year of college. She’s determined to figure out why her parents left, and to try everything she’s seen on her favorite food blog, A Bánh Mì for Two.

When Vivi and Lan meet in Sài Gòn, they strike a deal. Lan will show Vivi around the city, helping her piece together her mother’s story through crumbling photographs and old memories. Vivi will help Lan start writing again so she can enter a food blogging contest. And slowly, as they explore the city and their pasts, Vivi and Lan fall in love.

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

Hollis Beckwith isn’t trying to get a girl—she’s just trying to get by. For a fat, broke girl with anxiety, the start of senior year brings enough to worry about. And besides, she already has a Chris. Their relationship isn’t particularly exciting, but it’s comfortable and familiar, and Hollis wants it to survive beyond senior year. To prove she’s a girlfriend worth keeping, Hollis decides to learn Chris’s favorite tabletop roleplaying game, Secrets & Sorcery—but his unfortunate “No Girlfriends at the Table” rule means she’ll need to find her own group if she wants in.

Gloria Castañeda and her all-girls game of S&S! Crowded at the table in Gloria’s cozy Ohio apartment, the six girls battle twisted magic in-game and become fast friends outside it. With her character as armor, Hollis starts to believe that maybe she can be more than just fat, anxious, and a little lost.

But then an in-game crush develops between Hollis’s character and the bard played by charismatic Aini Amin-Shaw, whose wide, cocky grin makes Hollis’s stomach flutter. As their gentle flirting sparks into something deeper, Hollis is no longer sure what she wants…or if she’s content to just play pretend.

We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller

Jordan Elliot is a fat, nerdy lesbian, and the first junior to be named editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. Okay, that last part hasn’t happened yet, but it will. It’s positive thinking that has gotten Jordan this far. Ever since Mackenzie West, her friend-turned-enemy, humiliated her at the start of freshman year, Jordan has thrown herself into journalism and kept her eyes trained on the future.

So it’s a total blow when Jordan discovers that she not only didn’t get the editor-in-chief spot, but she’s been assigned the volleyball beat instead. And who is the star and new captain of the volleyball team? Mackenzie West. But words are Jordan’s weapon, and she has some ideas about how to exact a long-awaited revenge on her nemesis.

Then things get murky when forced time together has Mack and Jordan falling back into their friendship, and into something more. And when Mack confesses the real reason she turned on Jordan freshman year, it has Jordan questioning everything—past, present, and future. If Jordan lets her guard down and Mack in, will she get everything she wants, or will she be humiliated all over again?

Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

June is the star pitcher of her elite club baseball team—with an ego to match—and she's a shoo-in to be recruited at the college level, like her parents have always envisioned. That is, if she can play through an overuse injury that has recently gone from bad to worse.

Ivy isn't just reffing to pay off her athletic fees or make some extra cash on the side. She wants to someday officiate at the professional level, even if her parents would rather she go to college instead.

The first time they cross paths, Ivy throws June out of a game for grandstanding. Still, they quickly grow from enemies to begrudging friends . . . and then something more. But the rules state that players and umpires are prohibited from dating.

As June's shoulder worsens, and a rival discovers the girls' secret and threatens to expose them, everything the two have worked so hard for is at risk. Now both must follow their dreams . . . or follow their hearts?

The Summer Love Strategy by Ray Stoeve

Hayley always has a crush. The problem is, her crushes never like her back. After her latest unrequited love—a girl from her basketball team—gets a boyfriend, she decides she’s done falling for girls who are unavailable. Her best friend, Talia, wants romance too, but rarely gets crushes on anyone, and she’s tired of watching Hayley get her heart stomped on over and over. So the two girls make a they’ll help each other find summer love by putting themselves in situations that always lead to romance in movies.

To help carry out their summer love strategy, they make a list of all the places they could find their real-life the beach, the Pride parade, the pool, a MUNA concert, and a party. But as they go to each place and try to find the one , it seems like they just can’t catch a break—they don’t know how to talk to cute strangers, someone mistakes Hayley as straight, and Hayley does a truly unfortunate DIY haircut (that she cannot be held responsible for––it was a crisis!). But when Talia and Hayley finally manage to score dates, will they be able to get out of their own way and really dive into the romances they deserve? Or is summer love not as far off as Hayley thought?

Don't Be a Drag by Skye Quinlan

When eighteen-year-old Briar Vincent's mental health takes a turn for the worst, her parents send her to spend the summer in New York City with her older brother, Beau, also known as the drag queen Bow Regard.

Backstage at the gay bar where Beau performs, Briar just wants to be a fly on the wall, but she can't stand by when the cute but conceited drag king Spencer Read tries to put down another up-and-coming performer. To prove to him that even a brand-new performer could knock him off his pedestal, Briar signs up for the annual drag king competition.

There's just one flaw in her plan: Briar has never done drag before.

With the help of her brother and a few new friends, Briar becomes Edgar Allan Foe, a drag king hellbent on taking Spencer down. But unless she can learn how to shake her anxiety and perform, she doesn't stand a chance of winning Drag King of the Year, overcoming her depression and inner demons, or avoiding falling for her enemy, who might not be so bad after all.

#wlw books #wlw literature #sapphic books #lesbian #queer fiction #lgbt #book recommendations

[lightofthemoonglow]

kinktober day 26

Masturbation | Grooming* | Overstimulation

Peter Strahm

a prequel to this because lbr, we all knew i'd write a proper follow up. though it does stand alone!

The units of Summit Ridge Apartments have thin walls, it’s normal to hear your neighbors daily tasks, albeit muffled. But since units 319 and 321 used to be one, the common walls are especially thin. Peter Strahm has lived in 321 for the past seven years, ever since he had moved to the city. Two years ago, he’d gotten a new neighbor. A single woman, unlike the family that had lived in 319. He had liked her, in a way, almost immediately because had been quieter than them, had a job that kept regular hours. Over the years, they had developed an odd friendship, something he hadn’t even realized he was missing.

It's comforting, knowing she’s there. He can hear her moving around if he focuses hard enough and they had figured out their beds were against a common wall. So sometimes, he can hear her in there, usually just tossing and turning. If she’s had any dates, then they go back to his place. But her romantic life is just as bad as his, it seems and deep down, in a part of himself that he can’t bring himself to examine, Strahm is pleased with that. Sometimes she knocks on the wall, as if to ask if he’s there and he always knocks back when he is.

One night, he comes home, passes out, just like most nights. Her apartment had been silent when he’d gotten home but when he wakes up from his nap, Strahm can hear her in bed, moving around, something buzzing. He’s confused for a moment and then he hears it.

She moans and an image flashes in his mind. Her hair falling over her face, one hand on a tit, pinching her nipple as her other hand holds the toy that’s buzzing away inside of her, her hips are bucking wildly as she moans, her perfect mouth falling open as she looks right at him, begging-

The buzzing is faint, but steady; Strahm knows what she’s doing and he knows what he should do. He should get up, move to the living room, where he won’t be able to hear her. But he stays in bed, listening to the sound of her masturbating as his cock hardens in his pajama pants. Without even thinking about it, he takes them off, grunting in frustration when he can’t pull them off in one motion. It's been a while since he's done this, even longer since it was with another person.

Strahm spits on his palm. It’s all he’s got within reach and he doesn’t want to get up, not when he can hear her moaning faster and faster. He’s unable to stop himself, can’t stop picturing her as she probably looks right now-

And then the buzzing stops and he can very clearly hear her call her toy a piece of shit and that she throws it to the floor. He’s still hard during a silence that seems to last forever. And then she moans again and he knows what she’s doing. Strahm tries to think of something else as he jerks his cock, but the image of it being his fingers making her moan is too good to pass up. He thinks about her smile, the curve of her ass in those jeans she wears all the time, how her mouth is always shiny, that she smells fucking great and he wonders if she puts that sweet perfume on her thighs.

He'd make her scream, beg. Strahm would do anything she wanted as long as he was the one making her come. With a loud grunt, not even caring if she hears him, he comes all over his fist, closing his eyes afterwards.

A soft knock force his eyes open. After another moment that seems to go on forever, Strahm knocks back.

#peter strahm x reader #strahm x reader #slasher x reader #kinktober 2023 #saw imagine #saw fanfic #slasher imagines

[honestlyboringperson]

Name: Sylvana Lorenzo

Age: 14

Wish: “We wish to stay together, with nothing to impede our friendship.”

Power: Duplication

Weapon: Horagai

Likes: Milana, Terrariums

Dislikes: The Elderly

Element: Light

Magia: Call of The Leviathan

Teammate(s): Milana

Witch/Doppel: Hungrige

A loud and outspoken girl who who spends most of her time with her best friend. She resents most of the people in her town for trying to separate her from her “other half”. Unlike her friend, she is more open to other people, albeit still distant.

BACKSTORY

Sylvana grew up in a particularly affluent family, with most of her time being spent down at the docks, collecting shells, flowers, coral pieces, and anything shiny. She was isolated from her peers due to coming out too strong and accidentally making them uncomfortable.

One day however, she met Milana, a girl from a more poor family. The two hit it off immediately, bonding over their shared interest in running away and seeing the world. The two friends, when they could meet up would talk for hours about their day and dreams.

However, when Sylvana tried to introduce Milana to her family, they shut it down immediately, and forbid her from meeting her ever. They were particularly classist and saw that because Milana was poor, she was not worth any time.

It didn’t go well with Milana’s family either, and the two had to sneak out to meet each other. One day, her parents decided it would be best for Sylvana to move to an in land city, away from the boonies. This would mean separating from her best friend and the two had one last meeting.

That is when Kyubey approached them. They both wished to stay together, with nothing to impede on their relationship.

They were finally allowed to meet whenever they desired and both made a great tag team in fighting, allowing them to defeat witches and territorial magical girls relatively easy. But Milana was particularly selfless, and always insisted on using the majority of their grief seeds on Sylvana as she used up the most magic to attack.

Milana became a witch and Sylvana was forced to kill her best friend. Her family resumed to have her move away and she only survived a month more, being too depressed to hunt witches. She became a witch, clutching her best friend’s grief seed in her hand.

WITCH DESCRIPTION

HUNGRIGE PUMPE

The witches of ancient seas. They have a gregarious nature. Two witches, both connected at the hip make up one powerful witch. Both dread being apart and cannot stand the idea of being alone. One witch can pump the other full of water to expand the other and the second witch can split themselves into countless copies of themselves. The tendrils that trail off the witch can inject a soul gem filled with curses, so it’s best to simply avoid this witch unless you have a ranged weapon. Only through camaraderie can one defeat these witches.

Doppel Description

“Sylvana, why did you do it?”

The doppel of protection. It takes the form of deep seas. The master of this emotion simply wishes to stay with her best friend forevermore, and as such this doppel can only emerge if it’s sister doppel emerges as well. The doppel is similar to an eel or sea snake, able to freely dislocate her jaw to devour anything that might hurt her more fragile friend. Within her gut, boiling acid is found and she can freely spit it up and the acid itself is powerful enough to dissolve skyscrapers in seconds. Both doppels, when united become an undefeated force of nature, lashing at their target with poisonous tentacles and a gullet filled with acid.

#madoka magica #magia record #pmmm #puella magi madoka magica #puella magi chronicles #madoka magica witch #pmmm witches #magia record oc #pmmm witch #madoka magika #mahou shoujo madoka magica #madoka magica oc #puella magia madoka magica #mahou shojo madoka magica

[sweet-beezus]

Ohhh yeah we delving into the sweet treats this fine day of @khoc-week!

These are the kind of fun little ditties that rot my brain day in and day out, so I'm thrilled to get to indulge in some fun, albeit short, writing about it!!

One day I will fully indulge and the world will implode-

Erm. Anyway-

*scribbles out that 'or' and shoddily writes in an 'and' in its place*

Day 3 - Friends (and) Lovers

While they are all super close to each other in one way or another, they each have their own unique relationships they make outside the Heart Hotel dynamic!

I'll still touch on their relationships with one another, but it's also what's outside the clique that counts~

Iris:

Her only big relationship is with Alto, their dynamic being "innocent baby man and grumpy keeper of the brain cell."

Despite that, Iris sees him in a best friend sort of way, the two were super close when they got separated, after all. When they reunite, it's almost if no time had passed, and perhaps Iris learns to... loosen up?

She made teammates and brief friendships, but nothing seemed to come close to their dynamic. Maybe if she had more time, that wouldn't be the case, but the world may never know!

Iris sees Iliana and Reixen as her older sisters, in a way, even though the two of them get on her (and each other's) nerves most of the time. She looks up to them despite their somewhat brainless way of handling things, and it gives her role models she hadn't gotten back in her actual time.

Irene gets the special privelege of being her mother figure! Because in all honesty she doesn't recall having a mom, so Irene is her next best bet. She's too much of a steel wall to admit it, but Irene is her favorite of the others.

♡♡♡

Irene:

Irene up until now really only interacted with castle staff, so her closest relations were really only a coworker dynamic in full. She enjoys tea time with Aeleus and Dilan, at least!

Aside from that, she started collecting adoptions in town, starting with Ienzo and Kairi, and moving on to Lea and Isa, Ventus, even, until finally any random stranger with children who frequently visited was not safe! Specifically Iliana-

She ended up collecting two others in the form of Iris and Reixen! Both reluctant at first but gave up and settled into it like a pair of stray cats. Reixen is far more open about it, but Iris is still touchy. Eventually, she will cave and accept her fate...

More came in after the events of KH3. No one was safe from her love and support, especially after the war-

She doesn't have very many parental rivalries, most of the group's parental figures tend to be in united agreement about the children, but she does have some tension towards Ansem the Wise and Even just based on prior experience. Mickey? It's a work in progress. Donald and Goofy? Her besties.

Eventually, she finds a fine companion in Iliana's uncle, Russell, and mayhaps... the two have a silly romance?

After a post-KH3 meetcute when everyone is hunkered down in recovery, they stay at his shop for a few nights, so the two have time to get to know each other. They mostly talk about their experiences with their little arsonist, but it eventually evolves into more personal territory, something they resolve after a few very simple and cute dates.

Finally, a time where Irene can truly get out of uniform...

Also he's one of the stoic types that she just KNOWS she has to break eventually. She will get this man to smile no matter the cost!

Oh yeah it's all coming together~

They've earned it considering all the stress they go through with their collective adopted charges-

♡♡♡

Iliana:

Iliana out of all of them makes the most connections, but only a few of them stuck because she struggles to allow herself to make friends. Allies, sure, but friends? Naaaah~

She started out in her home world with a friend group in the form of Enya, Harlow, Rinée, and Tobias. They were all super close up until their teen years, sticking by each other through thick and thin! And they involved her little brother at times when her parents were out of town.

Her little brother, Mandorian is, like, THE most important person to her. He's just a little guy who loves frogs and hanging out with his big sis when she's not busy training. The two are so often left unattended that it's not hard to believe they spend most of their time together. Wherever she goes, he's close behind!

But whenever they're not together, she's hanging out with Tobias!

She and Tobias were two peas in a pod, completely inseperable most of the time. Tobias was her (secondary) light, and her brother's personal favorite person aside from her, so you can understand how soul destroying it was when they got murked (by her mortal enemy, she doesn't know this until way later though) in order to kickstart and send her on her hero's journey-

She fell out of touch with the others by the time she left due to the loss bringing out the worst in all of them, but Enya seemed to be the only one who continued to cling to what was left of their friendship...

Anyway-

After suffering a horrible death and was subsequently resurrected, she got pulled into Sora's goofy family along with Alto, which filled in a gap left behind by her other (temporary) loss of her younger brother.

It's like she gained two new dads and two lil' bros all in one day, what a world-

Being parentified at a young age meant she knew how to handle keeping Sora and Alto in line, but that doesn't really stop her from doing her own very stupid stuff when they aren't looking. The hypocrite-

She kind of develops a dad dynamic with King Mickey as well, but it's not terribly definitive considering how absent he is...

Over time, the Guardians of Light end up being her found family DLC add-on, it's very wholesome! She's touchy about it, but like Iris eventually she will cave in to the love and affection.

Irene, Reixen, and Iris are like her chill aunt and weird siblings that irritate her, and that's very cool of them. They were there first, so no one can top that. They're like the only family she had most of the time aside from her uncle, so there's a distinct boundary of trust between them that others can't really match.

Along the way, she also has many unrequited crushes on princesses or side characters of sorts, but the only romance in the timeline she persues (even if she's unaware of it half the time, she's very dense) is with Ienzo! Because a certain porcupine is now part of a polycule with a grape and an electric beetle- It would have never worked out, tbh.

She didn't settle, she just had a sudden and very real realization that she fell for probably THE dorkiest person possible. So many characters to pick, so many pretty princesses, handsome princes, teammates with more screentime, and it had to be a basement dwelling rat (affectionate)...

Considering her prior heartbreak at the loss of her childhood bestie, it does take a while for her to come to terms with the fact that it's okay to move on. She holds on to so much that you may need to pry it from her very warm, still alive hands-

Luckily, the two did know each other well enough since they interacted a bunch when they were kids, she did visit Radiant Garden quite a bit after all, it only made sense they may have some chemistry later down the line. Her grandma would joke about it with Ansem the Wise, but little did she know that it would become very real and very cute actually-

I dunno what it is with her and nerds, but if you can talk her ear off while all the info leaks out of her hearing holes, you have most certainly won her heart. Ienzo also partially fits the bill for her morosexual side, depending on the situation that isn't science related. Like cooking or something. Equal parts smart and dumb, just the way she enjoys them-

They're both t4t brainless nerds and in love, love wins etc etc.

♡♡♡

And there you have it! It's not much but it's honest work-

They all deserve the love and respect they get along their journies, and I'm happy to say that they do find it all eventually!

Enough on that though, we're indulging in angst this next day. See y'all on Day 4!! >:3c

#sham's art #shamsbabs #alto #iris #irene #iliana #russell #rinée #enya #harlow #tobias #reixen #in passing mention #khoc week #khoc week 2023 #oc x canon #it's my babbos and i get to pick the things my microwave bakes #i gotta make them smooch their lovers more v v important for my soul #alas i am too shy and burnt out for that... #oh well! :) #kh oc #kingdom hearts oc #khux oc #digital doodles #mandorian

[thedragonsfate]

anyway I'm just gonna dump some fantasy High stuff here bc work got cancelled coz of the snow/ice and I'm rewatching freshman year rn

- riz/fabian qpr? VERY different story for me than romantic involvement. give me that very particular friendship give me that "this is confusing" for riz bc he knows he's not ~into~ fabian and he's terrified of fabian being into him but also he just wants needs HAS to be closer to him than his other friends and them navigating together what exactly that means. also bc I just. adore when fabian gives away that he 100% considers riz to be his best friend it's always v sweet and meaningful even when it's silly im

- sorry but I just have to believe that for a small time in freshman year fabian has a crush on adaine and that played a small part in his reaction to aelwyn being her sister

- that being said the boy is Not straight I like bi fabian I like pan fabian I like gay comphet fabian I like gay repressed fabian give me any queer fabian you've got my stamp of approval

- also bc I DO agree that fabian probably had a small crush on riz at somepoint as well that would eventually turn into a v different but still intense and loving partnership

- which is fun to think abt bc sophomore year DID fully convert me into a fabragh shipper, and ragh is very very different than both riz and adaine in terms of like. post-bully/post-being groomed/post a year of counseling w Jawbone Era ragh is so emotionally open and intelligent and vulnerable I feel like (things that riz and adaine aren't necessarily NOT, but definitely not in the public way that ragh is) and in that ragh is genuinely just not a very smart guy - which is in direct opposition to adaine and riz as the two big research bad kids yk. they really are the two who love to learn with a hunger for knowledge. they both love to KNOW things (albeit in slightly different ways) also theyre both v sarcastic and straightforward, whereas ragh is someone who I feel like reacts to situation just as straightforward but with more genuine emotion, and with a simple minded approach to the world that just screams genuineness

- I like fabian finding that the part of him drawn to that hunger for knowledge and a little bitchiness and Knowing Things can be sated in his friendships but particularly in a qpr with riz, and also finding that in terms of a romantic partner, having someone who knows the depths of toxic masculinity repressing your emotions who also actively draws vulnerability out of the people around him through exhibiting his own/ his own acceptance of those harder feelings- is someone REALLY good for fabian. and finding that being as attentive and admiring and uplifting to his partner as fabian can be is something really good for ragh considering raghs past relationships

- anyway obvs I'm not the biggest fan of fabian and aelwyn at the end of soph year but also I think it's something that wouldn't last v long anyway and I think it's maybe good for leading them both into making a pivot into more deliberate self care and discovery

- also just. care a LOT abt fig and gorgugs friendship. underrated best friends. maybe not underrated there's so much fan content I've yet to explore but yk what I mean. from the first few episodes? they are Best Friends. gorgug and fabian and ragh have a fun important jock friend dynamic and ofc gorgug has an important relationship with Zelda but I fully believe wholeheartedly that fig is gorgugs best friend. fig also has her important relationships - ayda, adaine, Kristen (or. honestly fig has a v particular friendship with every bad kid that I value SUPER highly. she cares a LOT) but gorgug was her first ride or die and there's a lot that can be shared between two people who can quietly admit just how much they CARE.

- damn now I'm thinking abt fig too much

- also fig and fabians relationship changing as gilear and hallariel get more serious and fabian accepts gilear into his family unit a bit more - fig was SO full speed ahead abt gorgug or riz being her brother to have fabian actually kind of fall into that position? amazing incredible

- fig also becoming pseudo sisters with adaine and aelwyn??? also very important???

- fig and riz kind of potentially becoming siblings????? CHAOS and also PERFECTION maybe it's just the Emily Murph chemistry but there's something so particularly FUN abt these two. and also. this connection of having been the. two at the beginning of sophomore year nabbed to fulfill that first part of getting kalina and later the abernants etc a way into the forest of the nightmare king

- I'll admit I have a harder time pinning Kristen down in my head post sophomore year. I think I need to fully explore what I think it looks like for Kristen to Fully Understand what Tracker is expressing she needs, and letting herself look outside of herself a little more. she's had so much battle within herself in terms of self acceptance and world views shattering and religious and spiritual journey that. I think she just hasn't gotten old enough yet to FULLY experience looking outside of herself. not necessarily in a selfish way but also a little bit? Kristen's not the only one struggling with this necessarily but I think she is the one who's struggling with it the MOST

- if anybody actually reads this and has any good fic recommendations exploring Kristen and tracker separately and together post sophomore year when tracker goes on her mission with ragh PLEASE hit me up

- nothing I can say abr riz will ever be as poignant as the post abt his bloody hands.

- adaine having family in a semi traditional sense??? also extremely important to me. to see her and jawbone like. doing parent kid stuff together on purpose to build memories with one another? adaine and aelwyn being awkward hovery unsure sisters as they both work on continuing recovery? adaine being a guiding influence in aelwyns life, and supporting her through a new family landscape and personal landscape and disability landscape when she is able and helping aelwyn find therapy and jawbone and other adults and peers to lean on as well to flush out that support system she never had? adaine getting to settle even further into her growing network of people who LOVE her, and say it and show it and clearly value her input. her seeing a new therapist to process how difficult it can be to accept love from a parent a figure when all you've know is rejection in the past

-there are essays I could write abt aelwyn abernant and her relationship with her sister but alas not today

- fig being this glue. I really TRULY believe that fig plays a particular role in the bad kids

- riz and Kristen continuing to be this chaos duo purely on accident despite fully believing in themselves to Not be that

- riz and gorgugs quieter friendship

- gorgug and fig talking about bisexuality

- Kristen and fabian talking abt internalized homophobia, and their own relationships with self image and selfishness amongst a genuine drive to be kind

- literally any of them and all of them talking abt their dad's. it's all so different and yet so intertwined

- Kristen and fig just being genuinely p good friends, perhaps not huge confidants for one another in a way outside of the bad kid dynamic, but someone to lean on with gf stuff, and impulsively stuff, etc

- fig and tracker becoming p good friends feels good to me. tracker and ragh becoming kind of?? fully best friends on their quest?? getting to lean into one another as someone who has embraced their sexuality in a particularly mirrored way? as people in the lives of the bad kids but also just individuals going through their own shit

- I have a lot to add abt the seven but this rambly post is already too long probably

- gorgugs friends fully appreciating him and understanding him at different levels. more of adaine being extra supportive and uplifting of him Re: his first date with Zelda.

- more of any of them teasing the others abt romantic endeavors

- honestly more adaine being invested in her friends love lives bc she just. loves her friends and wants them to be happy regardless of her own journey of finding out who she is in that arena.

- personally a big fan of sex repulsed ace adaine but I also am kind of just. particularly open to most things sexuality/attraction wise with adaine. I really TRULY love adaine taking YEARS to figure out where she thinks her attention and interest is or isn't drawn

- adaine and riz research friends / fiends

- fabian gorgug and adaine being Voices of Reason for an overworked and sleepless riz, fabian gorgug adaine and riz being voices of reason to fig and Kristen's separate shenanigans

- the list of voices of reason goes on and on ; having such a tight network of friends is genuinely such a particular gift

- slumber parties at mordrid

- the bad kids annual kidnap gilear to ditch school day

- the bad kids reoccurring shrimp parties

- fig and the sig figs concerts and tours and interviews and breaks

- ayda getting to know other members of the bad kids better. ayda hanging out with adaine bc they're best friends. ayda hanging out with fig and uplifting eachother and finding solace in one another and someone who just. sees them.

- ayda bonding with other autistic bad kids. seem some rlly good gorgug riz and Kristen autistic hcs and they're all v nice in their different ways so honestly any combination of that

- ayda and Kristen just sort of. not getting eachother?? ayda and FABIAN just sort of. not getting eachother but being kind and thoughtful just as people ans also in an effort to find friendship in someone else v important to fig

- gorgug and ayda getting along just. genuinely pretty easily cbjdsbxnksxkc

- ok I'm done for rn xbjdnzncm

#long post #d20 fantasy high

[mariesocuniverse]

Hot Pot

Mae spends time with Sungtaro

Era:2022

Despite the fact Sungchan and Shotaro had officially moved into the NCT Dream dorm, Mae hadn’t spent a lot of time with the two of them. Not that she didn’t want to, but it was mostly due to the fact their schedules aligned. 

The duo weren’t part of any official NCT unit besides NCT U, so Mae couldn’t really have enough time to get to know them since she’s part of many groups.That wasn’t to say they were awkward with each other.

After meeting each other for the first time for NCT 2020, Shotaro had quickly adjusted to their dynamic and solified his position with the 00line and Sungchan quickly formed a friendship. 

So in an attempt to spend time with the two, she invited them to take a drive without the other members.

“Where are we going today Cherry Blossom?” Shotaro said, entering the front seat of the car while Sungchan took the back seat. While Mae didn’t have a car all to herself, their manager let her borrow the car for the time being.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Mae said, immediately pulling out her phone to look for places to go.

“You don’t know?!?” Sungchan said, leaning forward in his seat, “Then why did you invite us out?”

“I didn’t think I’d get this far.”

Sungchan sighed, albeit with a fond smile on his face. Shotaro looked over Mae’s shoulder to see all the options.

“Should we go eat?” Shotaro asked, taking Mae’s phone so he could look at it more clearly.”

“Good idea, I haven’t had lunch yet.”

Mae made sure everyone had their seatbelts on before driving onto the street. She made sure she was at a red light before turning her attention back to the boys. 

“Does hot pot sound good?” Shotaro asked, scrolling through the various food places nearby. 

Mae and Sungchan nodded in agreement, letting Shotaro put the address in the GPS for Mae to follow. 

“Wah, it’s been a while since I had hotpot.” Mae said, checking her mirrors.

“We should call Jungwoo hyung to say we’re hanging out without him.” Shotaro said. Mae chuckled, knowing how Jungwoo kept postponing his hang out with the boy. The two knew it was a joke when they filmed the ONE-TWO Punch video, but said hang out was still yet to happen.

“Hello?” Jungwoo’s voice was heard through Shotaro’s phone. Shotaro quickly moved his phone to the front, making sure all three of them were in view.  

“Hyung we’re eating hot pot!” Sungchan said, waving at the man.

“This could’ve been you if you took Shotaro out!”

“Yah, I thought we talked about this already!” Jungwoo exclaimed, a look of betrayal on his face. 

“As long as you take us out for real this time we’ll forgive you!” Mae said giggling. 

“Okay, I’ll treat you next week, okay?” Jungwoo said, sighing. She could hear faint laughing in the background. He must’ve been in the middle of a schedule.

“Sounds good!”

After a quick chat with Jungwoo, the call ended because Jungwoo had to go finish his work.

When Mae checked the rearview mirror, she made eye contact with Sungchan in the back. He had a mischevious glint in his eye, which Mae knew he was going to say something. Shotaro could probably sense it too, seeing the boy shift beside her out of the corner of her eye.

“Hey hyungs, “Sungchan started, “Do you want hot pot because you’re jealous of Renjun and Yangyang hanging out?”

“...Jung Sungchan I can and will turn this car around.”

Sungchan started laughing, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting. Shotaro turned around and sighed at the man behind him.

“It’s okay! I know how hard it is to be jealous of another member.” Sungchan continued, a smirk forming on his face. 

“You know Shotaro, Chenle has always been my favorite member of 01 line?”

“Really? Me too.”

“You know it’s not too late to bring Sungchan back to the dorms.”

“Hyung!!!!”

#24th member of nct #nct 24th member #nct dream female member #nct dream female addition #nct 127 female addition #nct 127 female member #nct female addition #kpop female addition

[ciitrinitas]

fire emblem engage.

finished it last night, so brief revival to log it whilst my thoughts are still clear.

okay, i don't want to lean that hard into comparisons with three houses, but damn, engage was distinctly different from fe16 in such a good way. while there could be some insane clipping (SOMBRON, PLEASE!! THE ENDS OF YOUR HORNS ARE IN YOUR CHEST MORE OFTEN THAN NOT!!), the models were much cleaner and crisper than fe16's. the static backgrounds used in cutscenes also felt correct in regards to perspective. (i still don't understand what happened with that in fe16! the static backgrounds were consistently warped at the wrong angle and looked wrong.) the gameplay was much sharper and with better variety. and alear bepis--i actually like bepis! renaming them as "bepis" had me giggling at the Divine Dragon Bepis all the way to the end, but i grew fond of them. i really prefer when fe does a proper, albeit very typical, character for a protagonist instead of the weird hybrid character/self-insert thing byleth got. i like shipping bepis whereas i recoil from byleth ships.

the gameplay in general...chef's kiss! it had great fe game feel. units felt individual while still being heavily customizable. i really enjoyed the new mechanics like engaging and the break system. the maps were nicely varied, and nothing ever felt like a slog in the way replaying fe16 four times for every route did. i played on normal classic (per usual!), but i might do hard classic on a replay due to how fun and balanced the game felt to me.

engage is definitely more ambitious in the gameplay department than in the story department. fe16...tried to do something more political and involved, but sort of fell flat on its face due to the wonky world building for me. blue lions/azure moon was a borderline euphoric high for me when i played! but it can't carry the rest of the game when it's a more contained narrative about dimitri and isn't as reliant on the mysteries and world building hitting home. so, i'd definitely put bl/am above engage, i would also put engage above fe16 as a whole. i'm leaving engage feeling much warmer about it than i did towards fe16 by the end.

that last chapter was such a delightful cheesefest! i wish it had leaned into that more at times and developed the main royals and bepis' group dynamic more, but the cheese really worked for me. engage's story has all the subtlety of a shounen friendship speech being thrown as a brick at your face, and it goes whole fucking hog into that. bepis gives so many friendship speeches! it's great. not at all perfect, but i had way more of a blast than i expected.

sommie, my beloved. hortensia, my best girl. and goldmary...the unit i decided to feed every permanent stat-boosting item to once i realized Boob Big and who became a nigh-unkillable tank for me.

edit because oh my god, i have to mention lumera. she managed like maybe two scenes that weren't dripping in incest subtext between her and bepis. i didn't expect to ship them as much as i do lmao.

#engage was SO much fun and im really glad to have come away from it smiling as much as i did #era.txt #2023 media #fire emblem engage spoilers ///

[nixnbob]

Hi

Can you tell us more about Natasha background please ? ( family ect )

Hi Anon,

Thanks for asking, I know we've spent more of the first two chapters with Bob, but I do plan to start trying to alternate their perspectives a bit more and put a bit more meat on the bones, so to speak.

Trigger warning: Stroke, Parent Death

You've asked so nicely about Natasha though, so here you go:

Phoenix takes a while to really warm up to people, but once she does they're usually 'ride or die' for life. With Bob it's different, she feels a connection almost immediately.

She's flown with Rooster (in some capacity), since they graduated from the academy. Rooster leaving from their first air wing together without saying goodbye broke her heart and their friendship and she didn't see him again until they crossed paths during a training exercise. Last she'd heard before they both got the call to TOP GUN, he'd been deployed.

She's been stationed at EVERY posting with Hangman since, much to her annoyance. They developed an annoying older brother/annoyed slightly younger sister dynamic, but to an extent she does consider him some sort of family.

Her REAL older brother, Alexander is in the Marine Corps. Sometimes their paths cross on duty. It freaks Jake out and he's terrified of him. Bob also develops a similar terror, albeit for different reasons.

She loves her brother dearly and they've been close their entire lives. He's known to her affectionately as Sasha.

Her mother Tatyana ("Tattie" to her father), passed suddenly when she was younger and her father Neil never really moved on. He retired out of the Navy not long after, to be there for Alex and Natasha.

Neil has since had a stroke, that has taken his voice and he struggles now with his mobility. Despite this he's still relatively self-sufficient and his neighbors check in on him a few times a day.

Her parents met when her dad had ended up in Tattie's ward after a particularly bad landing.

She LOVES to dance and was a ballet dancer as a younger woman.

There is a larger family i.e. cousins etc., but the connections are a bit looser now that all of the kids have grown up. Natasha, her brother and her parents all had a smaller, very tight unit and since Tattie's passing, it's really just been Nat, her dad and her brother.

#anon asks #asks answered #top gun maverick #robert bob floyd #natasha phoenix trace #bradley rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin #nixnbob free fall #fanfic writing #fanfic #tw parent death #tw stroke #nixnbob thoughts

[grammarpedant]

4+1 HxH/MBD fusion AUs

thinkin' about a Hunter x Hunter/Murderbot Diaries fusion AU again. serious thoughts this time

The last time i proposed this concept, i was thinking that both Gon and Killua should be on opposite sides of the human/machine combination, like reflections of each other. day and night, sun and shadow, human and machine. I thought there should be something of a reversal of what you'd expect, though, to reflect their canon peerlessness and hidden depths.

Gon as the construct machine intelligence, developed by Ging Freecs and his G.R.E.E.D. Island startup, then left with Mito after she successfully sued Ging for Gon's rights and custody of him, and raised in a loving family environment. He's such a cheerful boy (metatextually you can see the Astro Boy influence), kind and strong-willed, but when you dig deeper into how he thinks he's a little strange- his logic and priorities are not those of a normal human.

Killua, meanwhile, is the augmented human: pampered middle son of the well-established Zoldyck Corp's neo-feudal family, he has the right mix of genes, luck, and conditioning to take well (physically, anyway) to the augmentation that- over the years- has replaced much of his brain and body, leaving him his parents' pet project and perfect heir. His escape from abuse and control is similarly another type of robot story- not Astro Boy's innocence-to-world-experience, but more like Murderbot's own story. Illumi's nen needle is a governor module program, tailored for an augmented human, that Killua must crack in order to be truly free.

Of course, what I'm describing right now isn't actually incredibly Murderbot Diaries, is it, but more cyberpunk and cyborg sci-fi in general. So I'll explore the other possibilities in the premise of this fusion a bit, see where it takes me.

An Assasynth and Its Human: The most obvious version of this fusion AU, no extra bells or whistles. Gon is a human- an extraordinary one, maybe augmented maybe not, but still a human- and Killua is the killer construct specially designed for assassination. Illumi's needle is straight up a governor module, albeit a modified one- one that allows the unit a little slack and perhaps the illusion of free rein, but which ultimately controls Killua. The themes of this fusion AU are about how Gon's simple human determination, his extraordinary tenacity in the face of adversity and the drive that comes from knowing what he wants, inspire Killua to break free of the things controlling him and figure out what he wants. Alluka and Nanika may make an appearance, the latter probably as scary disembodied killware running on Alluka's systems.

Nature and Nurture: Gon is the experimental construct raised in a loving human family, Killua is the CombatUnit (black ops edition) outfitted for assassination. This version of the fusion AU explores the differences in their designs, functions, and personal predilections, the similarities and camaraderie they find in being two unique types of construct who can keep up with each other in combat and in play, and how they are both people who need to grow and figure out what they want in life, and from each other. (Extra bonus for me, I can put in a modified version of my CSU-Handler system, which was always a metaphor for a controlling and abusive relationship. Illumi is Killua's Handler- Killua experiences some of Illumi's desires, instincts, and priorities as though they're his own, until he learns how to recognize and overcome that controlling influence.)

Murderbot and Miki: We're leaning into the Astro Boy influence here- Gon isn't a construct or a human, but a humanform bot. Like Miki, he's never been abused by the humans who consider him family, but instead habituated to their care and their needs. Killua is, again, the Murderbot in this scenario, but unlike Murderbot his friendship with a cheerful (but not to be underestimated) bot might result in a lasting connection with the other machine intelligence- and, at the pivotal moment of self-sacrifice, he might get to save the other bot where MB couldn't. The Chimera Ant Arc would be great to explore with this version of the fusion AU- hell, maybe Gon is less like Miki and more like Balin, with Gon-san being his Combat bot form/Combat priority mode, complete with all the attendant anxiety of "so is the identity of Gon dead?" that we can have after he shuts down post narrative climax.

Every Ship Needs Its Construct: Slightly crack, but ART's another full bot that was raised in a loving family relationship. Reprise the "You were lucky" meeting, but this time ship!Gon's intimidating power and naivety synergize with SecUnit!Killua's own lack of experience and devil-may-care attitude, letting the two click in the childlike way they do in the Hunter Exam arc. Alternately, it would be funny and in-character if Killua were the super-AI ship expecting Gon to be impressed by dropping his walls/revealing his true power and backstory, and Gon the unflappable SecUnit who simply took it in stride. This would have great :an_emotion: significance as their relationship develops- ART is the mission support to Murderbot's field expertise, the loving environment to its crew aboard it. Killua, as the ship, is happy to support Gon's desires and needs, to think through the logistics of what Gon wants, to be the plan to his action, and to fade into the literal background- the hull and systems and life support taken for granted- to let Gon shine, just happy to be with him. ('Gon... sometimes you shine so brightly I can't help but look away. Even so, is it okay if I stay by your side?') Until Gon's self-destructive issues rear their ugly heads, of course.

Anyway, I doubt I'll actually write any of this- a thing i realized about myself as i worked this all out is that to me, 'plot? what plot?' means Themes rather than Porn when i'm the one writing XD Consider these ideas free real estate (just throw me an inspo credit if they move you to write them!)

#the murderbot diaries #hunter x hunter #hxh #murderbot #writing #fanfiction #fusion au #killua zoldyck #gon freecss #verso writes #meta #crossover #queue

[elliepassmore]

Ocean’s Echo review

5/5 stars Recommended if you like: sci-fi, political intrigue, dual POVs, disaster gays, space opera, LGBTQ+ Big thanks to Netgalley, Tor, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book definitely delivers on the promises made in the synopsis. We get an overly disastrous Tennal, a too-good-for-people Surit, a sketchy military mission, mixed feelings on parents, political intrigue, and war. I was actually somewhat surprised the war mentioned in the synopsis happened, I feel like a lot of time the heroes 'save the day' or are conveniently somewhere else when that sort of things happens, but nope. Tennal and Surit are straight in the middle of it, and in ways they can't even imagine. Tennal was definitely an interesting character. He is a disaster, but it also kind of just feels like he either needs help or a goal for his life. He's the kind of disaster that comes from being lost and not knowing what to do about it. At the same time, the self-destructive tendencies and acerbic wit and dramatics are just a natural part of his personality, so the whole 'disaster' thing kind of radiates off him even when he's not actively being one. That being said, I did enjoy being in his mind, and he's a lot better of a person than he gives himself credit for. Smarter too. Surit is someone that I initially wasn't sure I'd like. He is a goody two shoes, working hard to follow the rules both because he thinks he should and to make up for the actions of his mother, Marit. I'm not really a huge fan of people who follow the rules simply because they're rules, but Surit ended up surprising me and not only did he break the law in refusing his orders (however secretively they were refused), but he continues to flout the rules when the morally correct thing requires it of him. Despite all this, and the many accomplishments he has and racks up, Surit's the kind of character who downplays their own skills and questions their abilities. It's an interesting thing to see since Tennal definitely sees how much Surit's achieved and then we'll be in Surit's head and he won't always realize it. Despite the fact that Tennal and Surit are basically opposites, they work well together as partners, friends, and lovers. They're each able to contribute something and are willing to work together, and neither of them are so stuck up in themselves that they don't recognize the abilities and intelligence of the other. The romance is definitely on the slower side of things, but for a specific reason, and you definitely still get flashes of it throughout the book. I liked the side characters in this as well. Tennal's younger sister, Zin, is far more polite and diplomatic than he is, but just as willing to fuck shit up, especially if she thinks the government (or anyone, I suppose) is doing something it shouldn't be. Basavi is one of the pilot's in Tennal and Surit's unit. She's kind of quiet, but she's a solid friend and proves to be a good person to have as backup. Istara is another pilot in the unit and is another person who proves to be a good friend and backup, but they're also far more sarcastic and prone to teasing insults (and sometimes straight insults). I very much enjoyed Tennal's friendship with both of them, and his interactions with Istara are particularly amusing. One thing that kind of bugged me throughout the book, but does get answered, is why Readers are considered the dangerous/bad ones when Architects can literally control you, albeit for only short periods. It seems odd to me that the mind reader is considered more threatening than the mind controller. Again, this is answered in the book (kind of toward the end), but I also wonder how bunches of people weren't asking this same thing, especially since some time had passed since their creation and the propaganda has (I think?) died down. The web of what's going on in this book is much larger than first glance. It definitely just feels like it might be a run-of-the-mill space adventure with two people faking it until they make it (and falling in love along the way) until Tennal and Surit actually get to the 'retrieval' part of their mission...and then everything kind of explodes. The politics is embedded in everything, and a number of the factions have similar goals. I enjoyed how everything came together around the beginning of the climax, as well as the absolute chaos that followed it. There were definitely some moments when I was concerned for Surit and Tennal. I hope there's going to be another book in this world because I desperately want to see how Tennal, Surit, and co. interact and deal with the people on the other side of the Link. I imagine it would be very interesting and very chaotic. I'm 100% planning on reading Winter's Orbit now. I've been meaning to for a while, but this is a good kick for me to actually go and do it!

#book #bookshelf #booknerd #bookaholic #booksbooksbooks #booksarelife #bookaddict #booklr #bookblr #bookstagram #book blog #book review #book recommendations #bookish #lgbtq #lgbtq characters #oceans echo #everina maxwell #winters orbit

[rabbitcruiser]

Texas Independence Day

Texas Independence Day on March 2 commemorates the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on the same date in 1836. Inhabitants of Texas proclaimed independence from Mexico and established the Republic of Texas with the signing of this declaration by over 59 delegates.

Children’s events, re-enactments, live band music, and cook-offs are all part of the festivities. Storytelling sessions about how Texas gained independence from Mexico and became a republic are among the other activities.

History of Texas Independence Day

A congress of Texians and Tejanos convened at Washington-on-the-Brazos during the Texas Revolution and declared Texas’ independence from Mexico, and they became known as Texans. The delegates elected David Burnet as interim president and confirmed Sam Houston as commander-in-chief of all Texas armies.

In addition, the Texans adopted a constitution that guaranteed the unrestricted practice of slavery, which had previously been banned by Mexican law. In the meantime, in San Antonio, the Alamo was still under siege by Mexican General Antonio de Santa Anna, and the fort’s defenders awaited the last Mexican attack.

Santa Anna ordered his troops to invade the Alamo on March 6. The first and second Mexican charges were defeated by Travis’ artillery, but the Texans were overpowered in less than an hour, and the Alamo was seized. All of the Texan and American defenders were murdered in fierce hand-to-hand combat when Santa Anna instructed that no prisoners should be taken. The Alamo’s only survivors were a small group of civilians, chiefly women and children. During the siege and storming of the Alamo, hundreds of Santa Anna’s soldiers died.

Six weeks later, at San Jacinto, a huge Texan army led by Houston surprised Santa Anna’s forces. The Texans overpowered the Mexicans and took Santa Anna. The dictator was forced to acknowledge Texas’ independence and withdraw his troops south of the Rio Grande. Nine years after the Texas Declaration of Independence was written, the Republic of Texas was annexed to the United States by the collective agreement of the United States Congress.

On December 29, 1845, the United States Congress officially recognized Texas as a member of the Union. Sam Houston Day and Texas Flag Day are also celebrated on March 2, albeit they are not legal holidays.

Texas Independence Day timeline

1835

The Texas Revolution Begins

The revolution begins on October 2 as a rebellion instigated by colonists from the U.S., supported by Tejanos, to oppose Mexico’s centralist government.

1836

The San Jacinto Battle

The Republic of Texas wins its independence on April 21 with victory at the San Jacinto River.

1845

Texas Joins the Union

On December 29, the United States Congress recognizes Texas as a constituent state.

1846

The Mexican-American War Begins

Mexico goes to war with the United States over the Republic of Texas’ annexation.

Texas Independence Day FAQs

How do Texans greet one another?

“Howdy,” the official Texas greeting, is much more than a witty remark voiced by Woody, the “Toy Story” cowboy. True Texans use the word as a popular greeting.

Can Texas leave the U.S. legally?

Texas v. White, a landmark Supreme Court ruling, says that states cannot leave the union by state legislation.

What is the slogan of Texas?

In February 1930, the Texas state motto of friendship was established. The slogan was probably chosen because Texas, or Tejas, was the Spanish translation of the native Indian tribe’s “thecas or teyshas”, which means “friends or allies.”

How to Celebrate Texas Independence Day

Attend a festival: Attend one of the festivals held on Texas Independence Day to celebrate. There are tons of activities for children and adults to have a fun time.

Participate in a reenactment: Join a reenactment of the famous events during the Texas Revolution. Play dress-up and reenact the battle of the Alamo with friends.

Learn more about Texas: Texas has a lot to offer. From excellent barbecues to live music, the Lone Star State has tons of attractions and rich history.

5 Facts About Texas That Will Blow Your Mind

Dr Pepper was made in Texas: Dr Pepper was first publicly introduced in 1904 and is now distributed all over the world; it was invented in 1885 by Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas.

First frozen margarita: Mariano Martinez, a Dallas restaurateur, invented the first frozen margarita machine.

Six flags: Texas’ Six Flags theme park is named after the six countries that have presided over Texas; Mexico, Spain, the U.S., France, the Confederate States of America, and the Republic of Texas.

Powers that be: Texas has an independent power grid, it is separated from the rest of the United States.

Nightcrawlers: Bracken Cave in Texas houses North America’s largest bat colony.

Why We Love Texas Independence Day

It’s a source of inspiration: The story of the Texas Revolution is the perfect example of snatching victory against the odds. The Texans made the impossible a reality when they defeated their Mexican rivals who far outnumbered them.

It’s a crucial page in the history books: The road to independence is a story that will be passed down for generations in Texas. The legendary battles and tales of bravery will be remembered for years to come.

Appreciating the war heroes: Texas Independence Day is an opportunity to honor the sacrifice of those who fought for Texas’ independence. Their names are not forgotten and their deeds remain fresh in the memories of their successors.

Source

#Texas Independence Day #Palo Duro Canyon State Park #2 March 1836 #USA #Texas Declaration of Independence #anniversary #Texan history #US history #landscape #countryside #cityscape #architecture #summer 2014 #2011 #Adrian #Midpoint Route 66 #Austin #the Alamo #Texas State Capitol #San Antonio #Cadillac Ranch #Amarillo #Corpus Christi #Gulf of Mexico #Pecos River High Bridge #Langtry #travel #original photography #vacation #tourist attraction

[danieljmkbk]

Overcoming Distances in Love: Indian Matchmakers in the United States

In a world where technology makes distances disappear and cultures blend together naturally, the pursuit of love has no bounds. It can be a difficult road for the Indian diaspora living in the United States to find a life partner who shares their cultural background, values, and customs. Indian matchmakers in the USA are essential to this endeavor because they provide specialized indian matchmaking services that both navigate the complexities of modern American life and connect with the ethos of Indian origin.

Comprehending Indian Matchmaking Services In India, the idea of matchmaking has a rich cultural history. Matchmakers acted as intermediaries, arranging encounters and determining suitability based on caste, religion, family history, and astrological compatibility. In the past, families frequently planned marriages. Even though there have been major societal changes in the modern world, matchmaking as a concept still exists, albeit in a more modern form. Indian matching services in the US address the particular requirements of the Indian diaspora by giving them a way to meet possible mates who share their cultural values and ethos. These services go beyond simple introductions; to foster lasting ties based on shared ancestry and understanding, they dive into the nuances of personal preferences, lifestyle decisions, job objectives, and familial expectations. Indian Matchmakers’ Function in Culturally Diverse Environments In the USA, navigating the terrain of variety and multiculturalism poses a special set of difficulties for people looking for friendship within their cultural context. Indian matchmakers provide a fusion of traditional matchmaking values and modern sensibilities that cater to the changing requirements of the Indian diaspora, thus bridging the gap between tradition and modernity. The capacity of Indian matchmaking services to recognize and honor the cultural quirks that influence people’s expectations and preferences while looking for a life partner is one of their main selling points. Indian matchmakers foster a positive atmosphere where people can explore genuine connections that go beyond geographic borders by upholding traditional traditions and embracing progressive outlooks. Looking for Indian Matchmaker Services in My Area The search for indian matchmaking near me is indicative of the increasing need for localized solutions that address the various demands of the Indian community in various parts of the United States, in a time characterized by ease and accessibility. Indian matchmakers are an important part of community-centric programs that celebrate cultural heritage while embracing inclusion, whether you live in large metropolises like New York or Los Angeles or lively cultural hubs like Chicago or Houston. Indian matchmakers make possible partners easily accessible by using technology and customized pairing algorithms. They provide a wide range of possibilities that are catered to each person’s interests and goals. These services, which range from private matchmaking events to one-on-one consultations, put an emphasis on quality over quantity and make sure that every connection is infused with sincerity, authenticity, and respect for cultural norms. Accepting Diversities in Indian Dating The reality of Indian matchmaking is significantly more comprehensive and nuanced than the stereotype of arranged marriages and conventions. Indian matchmakers acknowledge that love has no bounds and surpasses caste, creed, and geography, and they celebrate the diversity of the Indian diaspora. Whether you’re a second-generation Desi navigating the complexities of cultural identity or a first-generation immigrant, Indian matchmaking services offer a safe and encouraging space for people to explore romantic connections with people who share their values and aspirations. Indian matchmakers act as cultural stewards amid a melting pot of customs and cultures, preserving the integrity of marriage while welcoming the changing nature of contemporary relationships. These matchmakers enable people to proudly embrace their cultural background while creating enduring friendships by encouraging honest communication, respect, and empathy.

In summary, a tapestry of tradition and love The function of indian matchmakers in usa creating genuine relationships becomes even more important as the Indian diaspora in America grows and thrives. These services are more than just matchmakers; they represent the values of emotional fulfillment, communal togetherness, and cultural preservation. They are a ray of hope for people looking for love abroad. Indian matchmakers construct a tale of tenacity, deference, and adoration for the ageless principles that unite people’s hearts across borders in the tapestry of love and customs. Let us value the role matchmakers have in guiding our group’s path to enduring happiness, love, and companionship as we embrace the rich tapestry of Indian culture and tradition. May the wisdom of history and the endless possibilities that lie ahead of us on the shores of destiny provide us comfort while we pursue love. May your trip be full of blessings, laughter, and the ageless enchantment of Indian matching, whether you’re searching for love or celebrating the pleasures of friendship.

#indian matchmaking in usa #indian american matchmaking #indian matchmaking website

[darkx-the-dragon-kn1ght]

Chapter 8- Part 1

So, I decided to switch the team around a bit, swapping out Summer to bring Breeze back in. Summer did very well throughout Peridot Ward, helpful during the battle with Julia- I think he’s earned himself a break (especially since we can’t evolve him without a Sun Stone anyways).

Although I did go and give the Rose Incense to Bloom, no use keeping that in the Box as well.

At any rate, Breeze is a little bit underleveled compared to most of the rest of the team- luckily, we’ve still got a million Exp. Candies S from the grinding last time, sooo-

She’s beautiful! 

And now, something else to do before I forget: PokéSnax! Yes, I spent some money to get two PokéSnax units, because after that Gym Battle, these Pokémon deserve it (probably shoulda done this before swapping out Summer but we'll just say Summer had some too)!

Yeah, we don’t have enough for everyone, but in my heart, the party is able to share the two bags. So let’s-

…Okay! Sure! Nevermind then! Yeah, “treat that every Pokémon loves” or whatever the sales guy said, “for Pokémon of all species” says the actual description, but apparently not! 

That makes no sense, I was able to feed PokéSnax to Bloom, why can’t I feed it to anyone else? Does PokéSnax only work on Pokémon with friendship evolutions, like Budew? If that’s the case, then- why does the description say “for Pokémon of all species”??

Well- in my heart, they all still ate the PokéSnax and shared the two bags, there is no way Xera wouldn’t give her Pokémon some kinda reward treat thing after that Julia fight, I don’t care what the game mechanics say!

Anyways, with that…”taken care of”, now we can go to the east of Opal Ward, like Victoria told us. Will that one cop from before be gone so we can access Obsidia? Let’s go up and see-

Oh- oh, there are new Trainers here now, okay, cool, great-

Whismur, huh? I don’t think I need to worry about much, let’s just Bite it.

Hm, it’s got Rattled, huh? Well, it doesn’t even matter much, because Glare still outspeeds it!

Now was that really necessary, sir? Whatever, let’s keep going.

And there’s Victoria, and…the guard from before? Huh- I thought the cops would have cleared out by now.

Hm…maybe they’ll let Xera in, at least, because she’s got a Gym Badge now? Or some logic like that?

I…don’t think that saying applies in this context? Victoria’s not planning to do anything nefarious with good intentions, she’s planning to do something good (albeit reckless) with good intentions.

I mean, don’t they have Florinia there? She’s smart and strong, I’m sure she’s doing a lot to help out even by herself.

Oh, speak of the devil-

I mean- verbose as she may be, she’s not wrong, unfortunately for Victoria.

Next

#pokemon reborn #pokemon reborn spoilers #pokemon fan game #pokemon reborn screenshot let's play

[thisfanfeels]

So. Is it real?

The short answer: Yes, in my heart of hearts *.

The long answer requires pages and pages of an essay (that will never get written, not by me anyway), and a developing one at that, with lots and lots of references, has many, many caveats and extrapolations. Even then, the conclusion is... it's complicated.

The funny thing is, the more convinced I am, the less I want to post about them as a unit. I will not be tagging this post, nor mentioning names. Shipping two actors because they had insane chemistry in a show, who seem to be good friends, feels harmless and really good fun. Writing some thoughts here is meant to help process my response to this phenomenon. The shipping should have stopped at Weilan, which in itself was very lovely to swoon over; with the end of the Guardian roadshow, everyone should have moved on.

But it didn't stop there. These two provided so much fodder off-screen in the early years (2017/2018) when they were more giddy, less showbiz savvy and less guarded, that their past interactions have become memorialized as endless fascination for fandom. What's even more astounding for this shipper (me) - their sweetness continued over the next 5 years up to present time (albeit never directly or conclusively, and never intentionally in the same frame).

I can think of a dozen reasons why certain familiar pieces of jewelry, or word plays, symbols, themes, objects, garments, songs, references, posts/photos would appear from either one of them occasionally. The worst reason would be: all along, it's a business arrangement between them i.e. keeping the myth alive keeps fandom shipping/buying/watching their shows. But I don't think so. The next worst reason would be: it's one-sided affection, with one of them publicly declaring his feelings by what he wears or sings, to the other one who is keeping distance personally and professionally. But I don't think so either.

The truth probably lies with private reasons that fans will never know, as is appropriate.

Obviously, for the romantic sucker in me, the best reason would be: they are indeed, committed exclusively. Happiness is meant to be shared and love shouted from the mountaintops, but certain kinds of joy are not legal in their country. Hence the indirect showing of, but not direct telling about, of their (hypothetical) friendship. Perhaps The Friendship is an open "secret" within the industry where powers-to-be close one eye so long as discretion is practiced, and that our boys continue to be upright citizens who serve their country with entertainment and charity and civic duties and patriotism. Which they do, all the time.

For certain, there are challenges. Long-distance, busy lives, intense pressure, privacy, uncharted territory, uncertainty of trust outside the inner circle, haters/anti's, general nastiness of a highly competitive industry, and a finite shelf-life if they don't seize every quality opportunity available.... Even for regular people like us, any one of these considerations would be detrimental to a relationship. Which is why this Friendship is so precious - despite the obstacles, it is still enduring, still evolving.

Across time, flying together.

One or perhaps both have said in separate interviews about making choices. The gist of it being, while there is stress in making a choice, once decided, then that choice should be pursued wholeheartedly and without regrets. Perhaps one or both might have said this also, separately always but in sync with the messaging, that to worry not about the future and its unknowns, but to enjoy the now - the happiness in the present.

Anyway, that aside, they are both amazing actors who keep growing. If I were to take away anything from interviews aired or printed over the last few years - there are 100's, of which I've only seen a fraction of - it would be their consistency and persistence with their values and professional goals. They want to do good work, they want to be recognized for their crafts. In support of them as individual artists, I am currently watching through all their work.

OK, enough rambling. If this is a very real, very intimate friendship, I ought to be mindful of shipping responsibly. Perhaps future posts will be reviews of their shows instead.

(*Based on my own suppositions from English-language media and other fans' postings, as well as google translations since I can't read Chinese social media sources. In other words, my very limited observations are my own, with absolutely no concrete basis for accuracy or truth).

[back-and-totheleft]

Do we ever learn from history?

Ask any journalist who has interviewed Oliver Stone, and you’re prone to hear the same story. He is hardly the man you might expect from his movies, argumentative and hyper-caffeinated. He speaks in an even, measured tone of voice. His arguments are thoughtful and intelligently reasoned.

For more than two decades, Stone has been lambasted by historians (for his expansive, conspiracy-minded re-examinations of the Kennedy assassination in 1991’s “JFK”); by the moral guardians (for his scabrous satire of our sex-and-violence-obsessed culture, 1994’s “Natural Born Killers”); and most recently even by the critics who used to champion him (recent titles like 2004’s “Alexander” and 2010’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” have been especially poorly received).

In which case, perhaps Stone has learned to rise above all the noise and remember that it’s his work — probing, searing and technically dazzling, even if it does occasionally devolve into grandstanding — that speaks loudest.

“I think we’re in a time that we can take the gloves off, stop the mythologizing about America,” he says — quietly, reflectively — of his determination to keep pushing our buttons cinematically.

Stone is calling from New York City, where he’s doing the publicity rounds for his latest, a thriller called “Savages,” which opens Friday. Based on Don Winslow’s 2010 novel, which Stone acquired before it was published, it tells the story of two handsome young marijuana dealers (Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson), the beautiful girl they both love (Blake Lively) and the vicious Mexican drug cartel that tries to move in on their turf.

In many respects, it’s one of the director’s least evidently political movies. Stone throws us into a turbulent and exceedingly violent world, which also features a deadly Tijuana widow (Salma Hayek), her two henchman (Demian Bichir and Benicio Del Toro) and a DEA agent on the take (John Travolta). But there’s also no avoiding the movie’s real-world parallels. Stone doesn’t flinch from the outsized, unimaginable violence being reported regularly out of Mexico — at various points in the film, characters are beheaded, stabbed and tortured. And underlying the drama is a distinctly Stone-ian sense of exasperation about the failures and hypocrisies of America’s war on drugs.

“It’s an unmitigated disaster and has cost this country friendships abroad, and has cost us half a trillion dollars,” Stone says about the federal government’s drug control policy.

“The thinking on it is perverted. Do we ever learn anything from history? Prohibition only gave America a new gangster class that went onto into other rackets, after they were finished with liquor. We only create more criminals.”

(Stone’s attitude toward the criminalization of marijuana can perhaps be summed up by the fact that he posed for the cover of the current issue of High Times magazine smoking a joint.)

With its sometimes unlikely twists and elaborate double-crosses, it’s clear that “Savages” is a movie more about showing the audience a good time than inspiring any sort of sustained policy debate. Yet the director’s days of controversy-making also appear to be far from over.

His next project is a 10-part documentary, titled “The Untold History of the United States,” which is expected to begin airing on Showtime in November. It will question conventionally held wisdom on a host of major historical topics, from the bombing of Hiroshima to Bush v. Gore.

And given the opportunity, the director is still willing to toss off one of his trademark conspiracy theories, albeit in calm and perfectly reasonable-sounding fashion. Moments before our interview began, the Supreme Court had just announced its decision to uphold President Barack Obama’s health care law. Stone was predictably skeptical and iconoclastic in analyzing Chief Justice John Roberts’ motivations.

“Roberts is under a lot of pressure there,” he said. “I think if he had his druthers, he’d have gone the other way.”

-Christopher Kelly, "Back with thriller ‘Savages,’ Oliver Stone doesn’t shrink from controversy," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 3 2012

#oliver stone #fort worth star-telegram #savages #drugs #the war on drugs