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neverdoingmuch · 3 years

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a superhero au from this ask.

okay so in this au superheroes join different sects as disciples and go through a superhero training program and then if they pass they become official superheroes for the sect

for the most part things stay the same, your good guys go out and defeat evil and save the day but there’s also a bunch of extra stuff bc they’re in a sect

the extra stuff is mostly legal stuff like if you destroy a building in a fight, who pays for it and what happens if a superhero goes rogue, who stops them?

so the sects are good bc they give that security and also make sure things run smoothly, so you don’t end up with three superheroes in the one area

obviously you still have independent superheroes but they usually get picked up by a sect pretty quickly (or join the wens who are just the bad guys i guess but shh they’re hiding it,, badly)

for the most part though, new heroes realise they can’t cut it and quit

notice the most, because there are a few people who don’t, including people like the yiling patriarch

so, worldbuilding aside, let’s start with lwj

bc we still have sects, lwj and lxc both went through the training program together and even graduated a few years early, meaning they debuted pretty young

they were both way too powerful to actually be needed in the field most of the time so lxc ended up helping his uncle and lwj started teaching at the training program (and even when he is needed, it’s usually enough just to send lxc, so he hasn’t been active in like five years)

life is going pretty okay for lwj but then there’s a fight between some wens and yllz and a building ends up being destroyed - lwj’s apartment building

at first he’s like whatever i’ll just stay at a hotel till it gets fixed but then he gets told that there’s some issue with the building regulations so it’ll be more than a year

lwj goes apartment hunting and ends up finding the perfect apartment. it’s spacious and convenient and looks really nice and the only drawback is his neighbour (spoiler: it’s wwx)

now we have wwx

he used to be a disciple with the jiang sect and was on track to graduate their training program probably even younger than the twin jades but then he dropped out suddenly. no one knows why

what happened was that wwx had befriended wen ning at an intersect meeting thing where the training heroes could compete against each other

when wen ning found out the truth about the wens being evil, he begged wen qing to take their family and leave the wens to get to safety. wen qing refused bc who would they go to? who would risk everything they had to keep them safe?

wei wuxian would.

and he did!! when he found out what the wens had gone through, he immediately quit the jiang sect and spent the next four years helping them go in hiding, making fake identities etc.

the only people who refused to leave were wen qing and wen ning and a-yuan so wwx was like i’ve done my best now we gotta live and ends up buying an apartment for the four of them and gets a job

at night he goes out as yllz and tries to bring the wens down. it’s slow-going at first and he’s just busting minor crimes and not really gathering any useful information but he keeps going bc a-yuan and the others will never be safe for as long as the wens are able to keep hurting people

he works a full-time job during the day and spends his nights fighting crime and he’s always tired and sore but it’s fine because he needs to do this but then one day his new neighbour moves in next door

the first time he meets him, he’s come back from work and by the time he bakes a welcome cake it’s like 10:40 and he goes over and knocks on his neighbour’s door and the guy eventually answers and holy fuck he’s hot (also grumpy bc lwj does not appreciate being woken up)

lwj slams the door in his face without even taking it from him, so wwx just leaves it on his doorstep and goes back home to nap for a few hours before going on patrol

the next day when he gets home from work there’s a letter in front of his door and when he opens it it just says thanks for the cake it was very delicious if unnecessary

wwx writes on the back: it’s all fine! i’m glad you liked it. if you need any help settling in, i’d be more than happy to help. he adds his phone number and then he leaves the note on lwj’s door and that’s where it all starts

the next morning he wakes up to a text from lwj saying that he appreciates the offer & his name. it’s short and kind of rude but wwx is lying there going lan zhan, lan zhaaaan, his name is lan zhan

they run into each other in the morning a few times and take the elevator down together and wwx always chatters at him. lwj doesnt really respond but he doesn’t tell him to shut up either so that’s practically permission

and wwx is no idiot. he knows that hot neighbour + texting ability = potential romance so he makes sure to text lwj a lot

and by a lot, i mean a lot. lwj is sitting in a meeting with his brother and by the time he finishes he has fifty new messages

but that’s okay bc lwj kinda likes the attention he thinks? lwj’s neighbour is funny and cute

and after a while, lwj starts responding properly. it’s not like he’s sending 50 messages back but he’s engaging wwx in conversation and sometimes they call and once, when wwx was coming back from work, lwj had invited him in for tea

when lwj realises that wwx goes to work early and gets home late he starts inviting wwx over for dinner. wwx doesn’t mention that wen ning is more than able to cook dinner (if he ever mentioned that he was living with him at all) and they start having dinner not-dates and sometimes wwx falls asleep on lwj’s couch

the first few times wwx always felt really guilty bc lwj doesn’t want to put up with that and he’s letting down the wens but wen qing is like no, it’s good, you need to take some time for yourself and lwj is like it’s fine so whatever, wwx can sleep on lwj’s couch now

except it’s not just lwj’s couch bc wwx keeps waking up leaning on lwj and it’s very embarrassing bc he’s starting to find that he has difficulties sleeping without being able to hear lwj’s heartbeat

so wwx is falling in love. wen ning is supportive and wen qing is probably laughing at him but wwx is so conflicted

on one hand, wwx’s entire life revolves around the wens and trying to stop them or protect them, and here lwj is, a completely normal man, who has no expectations about wwx. he doesn’t need to be a guardian for lwj, he doesn’t need to be the terrifying yiling patriarch, he can just be wwx

on the other hand, lwj is a civilian and wwx doesn’t want to drag lwj down with him and risk him getting hurt or killed

so he decides to stay as friends. he won’t give lwj up but he won’t tell him he loves him (unless something happens to make wwx need to give lwj up, in which case he will)

around this time lwj gets a call from his uncle asking for help with the yllz

he’s never met him before but lwj does not like the yllz

like yes he’s taking down the wens which probably makes him good but he’s also taking what the wens had stolen for himself

so no one knows whether he’s a villain stealing from the wens or a hero who doesn’t trust the official means

Either way it’s a bad look for lwj & co bc they either look incompetent for not knowing about this guy & not being able to stop him or untrustworthy and maybe even corrupt

but lqr wants lwj to either bring him in as a disciple or as a criminal. whichever is easier

the first time hanguang-jun shows up to a fight wwx is completely shocked bc he vaguely remembers seeing hanguang-jun fight at the practise matches and he was good, definitely on par with wwx so if hanguang-jun were to fight him he isn’t sure that he’d win.

wwx quickly finishes off the wens and then turns to lwj, refusing to let his guard down but hanguang-jun just asks what he’s doing

wwx is cagey at first but eventually reveals the truth (or as much as he can tell) and hanguang-jun is like i don’t like your methods but what you’re doing is just, so i’ll help you and so commences the most awkward team up ever

wwx had expected to have to carry most of the weight but hanguang-jun is there defending him and helping him fight the wens and he can’t help but start to trust hanguang-jun.

hanguang-jun blocks a hit meant for wwx and wwx spends like half an hour carefully cleaning the wound on his arm and bandaging it up and at the end he presses a kiss to it and he immediately goes bright red but it’s okay bc hgj’s ear are red too

wwx slips on a roof and hgj ends up catching him and damn he’s strong and the look of concern on his face is almost making wwx think hgj doesn’t hate him

hgj brings in some intel once and wwx automatically goes damn i could kiss you right now and then decides to just become one with the floor

not only that but wwx talks a lot. when he’s patrolling, when he’s fighting, when he’s waiting,, he never shuts up and hanguang-jun listens to him every time and, just as wwx fell for lwj, he starts falling for hanguang-jun

it’s even worse in this case bc hanguang-jun is all righteous and good and here wwx is using the superhero equivalent of demonic cultivation (has he perverted his own powers or did he always have necromancy powers? up to you)

so here wwx is falling in love with hanguang-jun and lwj and he feels terrible about it

there is definitely a case going on in the background but it’s basically just the sunshot campaign if only lwj and wwx were fighting it for the most part

eventually he complains to wq about his feelings and she’s like just try confessing! so the next time he and hanguang-jun team up he tells him that he loves him

lwj is 100% in love wwx and semi in love with yllz. for the most part, the things he loves about yllz all remind him of wwx so he doesn’t really see it as a crush as much as more yearning for wwx

but lwj is very awkward so he gives this kinda terrible rejection? he’s like im sorry, i don’t return your feelings maybe we should work apart for a while?

from his pov he’s giving yllz room to deal w/ his emotions alone and they’ll team up later but from wwx’s pov hanguang-jun is so disgusted he never wants to work with him again

so they go their separate ways and when wwx gets a tip-off about some weird shit about to go down at nightless city so he sneaks in by himself bc hanguang-jun definitely wouldn’t want to help him and ends up getting captured by wen ruohan

lwj, for his part, is freaking out bc wwx hasn’t responded to his texts in over a week and maybe he’s come on too strong and wwx has figured out his feelings and is letting him down gently? (by disappearing??)

but then wq comes banging on his door and asks to come in. he lets her in and she immediately tells him i know you’re hanguang-jun

lwj is defensive and ready to be blackmailed or something but she just explains that wwx has gone missing and he’d received a tip the day before he disappeared and when lwj sees the message wwx had got he’s just like why is wwx involved with the wens?

because he’s yllz, wen qing tells him and lwj is Buffering

reason 1: yllz wasn’t meant to be someone he liked and lwj had definitely been feeling guilty about the fact that he would need to be brought in bc he is morally dubious on main & he can’t reconcile that with the sweet and kind wwx

reason 2: holy shit does wwx like me?

bc lwj is a disaster he only ends up asking about the latter and wq stares at him, dead-eyed and exhausted, and tells him wwx is in love with lwj and hanguang-jun

commence lwj’s plan to get wwx back and confess to him and hopefully get married but he’ll be happy if they just kiss and/or hold hands

he starts off by explaining most of the stuff to his brother who ends up calling jyl (bc they have to be friends, i’ll cry if they’re not) who is like my brother?!! and decides to help. also probably nhs bc friends who share porn definitely save each other from wen ruohan

so they attack the wens. for most of the heroes it’s bc they finally have proof of wen ruohan being evil (helpfully collated in a colour-coordinated binder by wwx) but lwj is just there for wwx

he finds him in the dungeons or something and wwx is hurt kind of badly and lwj collapses beside him and presses down on the main wound, trying to stop the bleeding

and wwx goes hanguang-jun? what are you doing here? and lwj says nothing just pushing down harder bc he’s losing too much blood and wwx is like oh, do you hate me that much that you won’t even speak to me anymore?

lwj can’t bear it for another second and rips his mask off and wwx just gawks at him. lan zhan? you’re hanguang-jun? wwx stammers and lwj just nods and rips some fabric from his cape (would he have a cape?) and tries to bandage the wound

wwx asks him why he’s here, why he bothered to come for wwx when he doesn’t care for him but he passes out before lwj can actually say anything

he wakes up in hospital and lwj is sleeping in the chair beside him and the second wwx twitches he jolts up and stares at wwx with such relief that wwx wants to blush

i love you, lwj says, not waiting for another second. the reason i didnt accept your confession was because i loved you. i didnt know you were yllz

and wwx is like and i didnt know you were hanguang-jun!! and lwj is like yeah but wen qing did /:

and wwx is like yeah but she’s smart & they kinda fall quiet for a few moments before wwx is like did you know i think hanguang-jun is very handsome and lwj is like yes? and wwx is like good! lwj is also handsome!

and lwj is like yllz and wwx are attractive to me and they finally kiss and it’s not a complete disaster thankfully

after that lwj goes back to his semi-retirement bc he doesn’t need to catch yllz anymore and sometimes wwx comes in to help teach a class with him and they’ll go home to lwj’s apartment after and watch movies together and not once do they comment on the miscommunication between love interests

#i forgot to find a place to include this in the au but lwj's mum was definitely an unaffiliated superhero #and part of the reason lwj is suspicious of wwx #this ended up being very long sorry!#mdzs #modao zushi #mo dao zu shi #wei wuxian #lan wangji #wangxian #cql #the untamed

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ibijau · 3 years

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Deathbed wedding pt2

Wishing you again a happy new year. I’m starting mine with some xisang! :D

Nie Huaisang plots, but isn’t as careful as he’d thought

Nie Huaisang absolutely refused to come out of his room to have dinner that night, no matter how much Nie Zonghui and Meng Yao pleaded for him to be reasonable. For a full shichen, he also refused to have that dinner brought to him in his room, arguing through the door that he refused to eat anything until his brother apologised for what he’d said earlier. Then, because Nie Huaisang saw no reason to be kind to his brother, he also repeated Nie Mingjue’s exact words to them.

He could guess, already, that Nie Zonghui was probably going to have an argument of his own with Nie Mingjue on that subject. After all he’d been the one to personally train Nie Huaisang since he’d decided to finally take an interest in his sabre. Saying that Nie Huaisang hadn’t made any progress in the past year was to insult Nie Zonghui’s skill as a teacher, and being their cousin he shared that volatile temper of theirs. Busy handling two fights at the same time, Nie Mingjue was sure to be quite distracted in the days to come.

More importantly though, Meng Yao was going to be angry at Nie Mingjue too. Considering his background and his late start, he sometimes took it a bit personally when people spoke of someone having low skills. He had been very supportive of Nie Huaisang all along, even sometimes training with him when his other duties allowed, and he would not take kindly to hearing that Nie Mingjue thought some people couldn’t be taught at all. His anger would be less explosive than Nie Zonghui, and Nie Mingjue probably wouldn’t even consciously notice it, but it would still throw off their perfect balance, and that too would play to Nie Huaisang’s advantage when the time came.

Besides, he really was upset over what his brother had said, and so it really did feel good to complain about it.

When Meng Yao and Nie Zonghui gave up on making him eat that evening, Nie Huaisang dug into the secret stash of snacks that existed precisely because of this sort of arguments.

He went to bed early, and rose up again just as early, a habit he had taken up during his time in the Cloud Recesses. While most of the sect slept, Nie Huaisang set to work preparing some talismans.

With Chiwen, his sabre, Nie Huaisang knew that he was exactly as bad as everyone said, if not even worse. Using his spiritual energy directly was no good either, he just didn’t have enough, and it was too weak. But Nie Huaisang had found over the past year that he had a knack for talismans. Calligraphy had always been one of the few things he could focus on, even as a child, and he had a good steady hand when writing. On top of that, he had a great memory and a good eye for detail, which made it easy for him to learn and copy new talismans. It was really a shame that Qinghe Nie had no strong tradition of using those. He hard learned the basic ones everyone knew, but aside from that the few specialised he had found in their library were mostly meant to bait creatures, with very little to actually fight. If Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji hadn’t loaned him a few of their own sects’ talismans to learn, Nie Huaisang’s skill would have been quite useless.

That was the story of his life, of course. Nie Huaisang knew himself to be extremely talented, and in quite a few domains too. If he had been born in a non-cultivating family, he would have been considered a very accomplished and skilled young man fit to go serve the emperor, but alas, in the cultivation world none of the things he was good at mattered.

He had never really cared, until certain events had forced him to.

A good while after he’d woken up, Nie Huaisang heard the rest of his brother’s sect become more active as well. Without surprise, Nie Zonghui and Meng Yao came knocking at his door again. A scene very similar to that of the previous night played out, with Nie Huaisang still refusing to eat anything. Because they both had a lot to do, Nie Zonghui and Meng Yao informed him that they were leaving his breakfast on a tray in front of the door. Nie Huaisang ignored the food, snacking instead on some watermelon seeds while he wrote a letter informing a certain person that he would be at a certain place on a certain day. He gave the letter to one of his better trained birds, crossing his fingers that the animal would carry his message in time, hoping that he would be awaited even if his letter was missed. If he wanted to be at the agreed place in time, he would have to leave that very evening, and to fly faster than he was usually comfortable with. This gave him very little time to prepare everything, but it could be done if he played his cards right.

Between breakfast and lunch time, Nie Huaisang took care of his sabre and practised his forms for a while. Nie Xinfang would be furious if she knew that he was pushing his wounded wrist so much between talismans earlier and the weight of Chiwen now, but it truly wasn’t hurting that bad. Or at least, the pain wasn’t so distracting that he couldn’t bear with it.

At lunch time, Nie Huaisang still refused any food, and also announced he wouldn’t be talking to anyone anymore until Nie Mingjue came in person to apologise. Considering the intensity of the fight, that was unlikely to happen for at least another three days, so he felt quite safe in making that demand.

In the afternoon, Nie Huaisang tried to meditate, only to end up falling asleep. It was fine, he sheepishly decided when he awoke. He needed to be well rested, since he would be flying pretty far.

At dinner time he remained perfectly silent when Meng Yao and Nie Zonghui came to check on him, making no more noise than if he hadn't been there at all. As soon as they left, he brought inside the dinner they'd put on his doorstep and ate the whole thing. This, hopefully, would create the expectation that he was angry enough to skip a few meals, and so his absence would take longer to be noticed.

With this last part of his plan accomplished, Nie Huaisang only had to pack everything he'd be bringing with him and wait for darkness to fall.

A little after the sun had fully set, Nie Huaisang exited his room through a window and, carefully avoiding any patrols, any servants still going around, he made his way to a certain secret passage that led outside of the Unclean Realm.

Meng Yao caught Nie Huaisang at the exit of that secret passage.

How his brother’s deputy had managed to find that exit and to get there before him was a mystery, and one Nie Huaisang would need to solve… some other time.

“I swear I’ll fight you if you try to stop me,” he hissed. “Wen Chao invited me to a Night Hunt, I have to go. You know he always organises the best Night Hunts, they’ve got a bunch of awful monsters on their lands. I can’t let that chance pass me by! So let me go, or I’ll...”

“There’s little glory to be found in fighting me,” Meng Yao retorted calmly. “So don't even bother. And Nie gongzi needs to learn a little patience.”

Nie Huaisang huffed. “Not you too. You know they won’t let him have me even when he’s of age, not if I can’t prove I’m good enough! He’s too nice to go against his elders if they say no again, and then we’ll both be miserable for ever, and…”

Meng Yao laughed softly.

“This humble servant only meant that if you had waited another shichen to sneak away, he would not have seen you go out,” he explained, looking far too amused in the face of Nie Huaisang's despair. “Nie gongzi should have checked that nobody was still awake. Nie gongzi also should be aware that I’ll have this passage condemned, now that I know it. It’s a security hazard.”

“It’s not. Da-ge is aware it exists, there’s a bunch of protections over it.”

“Then I will have to warn Nie zongzhu that the protections must be strengthened, since that did not stop me from guessing where it leads.”

Nie Huaisang gritted his teeth, so frustrated that he felt tears prickling at the corner of his eyes. He'd been so close to getting away with this.

And it wasn’t just about the Night Hunt itself. He knew that Lan Wangji was going, which meant a chance to finally get news from Lan Xichen, since they hadn’t been allowed to write to each other since that day. Nie Huaisang wanted to know how the boy he loved was doing, if Lan Xichen missed him too, if he hadn’t been forgotten, if his efforts to prove himself were working at all…

“Meng Yao, you have to let me go,” Nie Huaisang ordered, gripping the handle of his sabre in what he hoped would seem like a threat, even when they both knew Meng Yao had more skill than him. “It’ll be different this time, I’ll be more careful, but I really have to go. I don’t know how much more time I have!”

Pity flashed across Meng Yao’s face. He’d heard those worrying rumours too, of course. Meng Yao always kept track of all the gossip, he must have heard about this long before Nie Huaisang had.

Hopefully, none of it was true anyway.

“I’m not here to stop Nie gongzi,” Meng Yao announced. “I just wanted to make sure there was no breach to our defence, and to warn you it’ll be harder for you to leave next time. And did you take food?”

Relaxing a little, Nie Huaisang nodded, allowing himself a weak smile.

“Of course. Food, warning signals in case I get in trouble, a bunch of talismans… Da-ge taught me well. How much of an advance are you giving me?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t see you leave, and unless your brother decides to visit you, I won’t ‘discover’ you’re gone until tomorrow afternoon. But you will owe me,” Meng Yao warned with a pleasant smile. “And next time, if I catch you, I will alert your brother.”

From anyone else, it would have been a threat to stop disobeying his brother already. Coming from Meng Yao though, Nie Huaisang took it more as advice to improve his sneakiness.

“There won’t be a next time,” Nie Huaisang promised, throwing himself at his brother’s deputy to hug him. “I’ll show them for sure this time, and then I’ll never have to go on a stupid Night Hunt again!”

Meng Yao huffed, clearly unconvinced, but allowed the hug for once in spite of his usual dislike for displays of affection. Nie Huaisang figured he must have looked pretty pathetic if Meng Yao was acting so nice.

He certainly felt very pathetic. It had been over a year since he had last seen Lan Xichen, and he had made so little progress toward proving himself.

This time really needed to be different. He couldn’t keep failing, or else Lan Xichen might start to share his father’s opinion.

Nie Huaisang had to show he was capable of more than anyone expected, no matter the cost.

#xisang #nie huaisang #lan xichen #jin guangyao #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #deathbed wedding au #jau writes

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mahkaria · 4 years

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MDZS : No blinding pride AU

Is Madam Yu a good mother and person in the novel? Not really. Am I going to ignore it and write about her being a good teacher for Wei Ying? You get it.

No one would dare to argue that Yu Ziyuan isn’t a proud person. It’s in the way she stands, how she glares at all those who tries to contradict her and how she defends her children with a lionness’ viciousness.

They expect her to ignore the child, to forsake and be violent toward him, she knows it and in the darkest nights, she thinks maybe it would be for the best. She can deal with people making fun of her.

Look at the Lady of Lotus Pier, so violent even her own husband does not wish to share her bed.

Why care about their opinions of her? It is not as if she has ever needed someone’s else validation. She is the Purple Spider, a cultivator who once brought the Core Melting Hand to his knees and still had enough energy to keep fighting.

However, she can’t remain blind to how Jiang Fengmian entirely favours the boy, how he ignores her son and instead focuses on the crying kid. He has to be his bastard, people whisper.

Fool, all of them. She might never have been friend with Wei Changze, but everything in the boy’s face reminds her of the dead man.

She sees how the servants laugh at him when they think he isn’t listening. How their “Young Master Wei” are filled with poison and saccharine mockery. So does he. He might appear meek and weak but the light in his eyes betray an intelligence as sharp as her anger. He smiles and pretends he doesn’t see it, stands high in front of her children in order not to worry them and jokes about something when it appears they might ask questions.

When the time comes for them to start learning the art of the sword, she watches as he staggers and falls as he tries to replicate Yunmeng’s style. It doesn’t work. It is well past noon and yet, the boy still can’t manage the easiest position.

Behind her, she hears the servants laugh as the boy stands up, tries yet still fails. Once again, those silver eyes closes and pretends not to notice. She advices her son on how to improve, glares at those who didn’t try enough then leaves. During the meal, her sweet A-Li keeps asking them how their training went. A-Cheng boasts about his progresses. Her pride in his accomplishments stops her from snarling at him.

The boy praises Jiang Cheng but otherwise says nothing.

They go to bed and as Yu Ziyuan is on the verge of falling asleep, groans extract her from the sleepiness. It is coming from the training ground. She stands up, ready to tear down the disciple which dares to cause mayhem at this hour. When she arrives, a small silhouette is holding a training sword, going through the moves she went over she showed only a few hours sooner.

“What do you think you are doing, boy?”

He freezes and turns toward her.

“M-madam Yu? I’m so-”

“Do not waste with apologies !” She sneers. “Do you think it is the right time to train?”

“No, but-”

“But what ?” The boy looks as if he’s ready to bury himself on the ground. As he should.

Mumbles escape his mouth. It does nothing to subside her temper. “Disciples of Yunmeng Jiang does not mumble ! If you something to say, say it out loud !”

“It doesn’t work !” He screams with far more frustration than his small body should hold.

“Are you stupid enough to belive you’ll master the sword in only one day?” So much like his mother, she thinks. Immediately, regrets come. Cangse Sanren used to be nothing courteous toward her. She won’t let her bitterness and a man’s rejection clouds her view on the woman.

“Of course not, but-”

“What did I say about mumbling, boy?”

“The balance is all wrong.” He starts, his agitation less evident now that he is focusing on putting his thoughts into words. “You move your arms and then adapt your feet so it follows but it’s just weird. Shouldn’t you do the contrary? Focus first on how your feet and then on the offensive?”

She can’t help but agree. That’s the problem with bigger sect, she believes. As focused as they are on impressing commoners, they often forget you have to be able to stand before being able to win.

But they are Yunmeng and that’s the style will have to learn.

Maybe not, a little voice whispers in the back of her head.

She hesitates but decides to try. After all, who cares if this boy uses a different style? He isn’t the heir. “Give me the sword.” There is still fear in the boy’s eyes but he obeys nonetheless. A good point.

She catches the fake sword. She doesn’t have to ask the boy to pay attention, he is staring at her like a rabbit does at a fox. She moves away her feet and focuses on her centre of gravity and on the air which fills her lungs. She hasn’t used her original style in a long time. For a brief instant she fears she won’t be able to reproduce it perfectly. It’s been years after all. Maybe she had forgotten it like one forgets a language if he doesn’t practise it enough. Her body, however, is quick to reassure her. It moves and soon she’s going through all the techniques she had first learnt. No obstacle here to hinder her.

When she stops, the boy is gaping at her. “Could- Could you do it again?” His entire frame is shaking with excitement. Something which suits him better than his usual anxiety.

She glares at him. “Where are your manners?”

“Please, Madam Yu !” He bows. She sighs but indulges him. He asks her to demonstrate twice more and then almost begs her to give him back the sword.

She does and then watches. The boy inhales and exhales, she watches as the muscles under his uniform tighten. And then he starts moving. His movements are clumsy but it doesn’t hide the control he has over his own body. They are precise and controled almost calculated. There is a bud of elegance. Nothing too obvious. Yet. But she can still see it. When he is done, the boy still doesn’t say anything. Only smile until his mouth almost splits his face.

“Not too bad.” She concludes.

He jolts and once again, those two grey orbs are back on her. The fear has left, only warmth remains. At this moment, she understands she made the right choice. She can’t make those parasites stop making fun of her family. Even if she tries, they’ll soon another reason to make fun of her. They always do. Stabbing water would be more productive.

However, this fragile connection she has just created? This she can work with. She won’t allow them to turn her into the cruel woman they portray her as. Never.

Better to stand with another of their victims than to also turn against him. Yu Ziyuan is proud but not stupid. What good would it do to spend her rage on such a young kid? “Well? What are you waiting for? Do it again, Wei Ying.”

#mo dao su zhi #wei ying #yu ziyuan #No blinding pride Au #It's one AM let me sleep brain please #mdzs

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satonthelotuspier · 4 years

Text

How Shall We Stop Dreams - Part 2

Second fic post of the night.

This fic now has a title. This is a continuation of the AU I posted a sneak peak of a couple of days ago. I’ll go back and pop the AU tag and title on Part 1 so click the tags if u missed etc.

I made Wen Qing talk so much but exposition.

Wei Wuxian stretched out in delightful relief as his muscles, tight and aching from the journey from Yunmeng, slowly relaxed.

“This was the best idea I’ve ever had” he sighed resting his head back against a rock on the side of the large pool.

“Whilst I admit it was a very good idea, it’s hardly had much competition” Jiang Cheng mocked him, mirroring his pose in relaxation.

It was only then Wei Wuxian noticed the boy that was perhaps a little younger than Jiang Cheng huddling at the other end of the pool; he must have been here when they entered but neither had noticed him. He was slim and graceful, perhaps a little shorter than either of them and from what Wei Wuxian could see above the water his fair skin was littered with bruises in varying states of healing.

“I’m Wei Wuxian, this is Jiang Cheng, I’m sorry we didn’t notice you before”

They waved off any attempts he made at formality so he eventually introduced himself without fuss. “I’m Mo Xuanyu”

“Which Sect are you from? We’ve only seen the Lans so far” Wei Wuxian asked him curiously.

Mo Xuanyu’s eyes darted away, “I’m not with any sect. I have no aptitude for cultivation”

Whilst he was intelligent enough to know that was probably not the whole truth Wei Wuxian changed the subject, not wanting to upset him when he already looked so sad. Wei Wuxian had been blessed with a talkative, embracing nature and other people naturally wanted to be his friend; as time passed the younger man seemed to relax in their company a little, even giggling at some of the bickering Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng engaged in and joining into some of their conversation.

The happy relaxed atmosphere was brought to a swift close with the arrival of an unwelcome figure.

Wei Wuxian curled his lip as his Shijie’s fiance entered the hot spring. Surprisingly it was the young Mo Xuanyu who climbed out of the pool and left quickly at Jin Zixuan’s appearance.

That answered some of the mystery of Mo Xuanyu, Wei Wuxian thought; he had to have a link to the Lanling Jins.

That man scaring his new friend away also made him even less disposed to give the peacock Jin Zixuan the time of day; sensing this and wanting to cause as little trouble as possible Jiang Cheng grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the pool too. “It’s time we went back” he informed Wei Wuxian firmly.

***

Lan Wangji closed the door of the house he and his brother had been assigned behind the Wen Sect servants who had come to clear away after their dinner. His enquiries had informed him each lodging house was supplied separately at mealtimes for the moment with the intention of a large gathering presently when it was judged everyone who wished to answer the Wen Sect’s decree had arrived.

He reached into his sleeves to withdraw several silence talismans which he placed at the doors and windows and should easily override any listening talismans the Wen Sect may have placed in the lodgings of their guests. He judged it was overcautious but no one ever suffered from overcaution.

He moved to join his brother at the table as Lan Xichen prepared tea.

“Xiongzhang-”

“I’m fine Wangji” he placed a cup in front of Lan Wangji then poured one for himself. “I’ve done a little casting but there’s nothing much of note. I’m not here as an empath after all, I didn’t expect to find it particularly useful” he raised the cup to take a drink, “Wen Qing is worried. But I suspect she is being used as a pawn in whatever the main branch Wen’s are planning. There’s something I can’t quite recognise too; its not human but it is sentient so it’s very faint. It’s…hungry. Not like a man at a feast. More like...something empty, it wants to connect, to feel, to-” he broke off and pinched at the bridge of his nose in an attempt to settle his mind. Lan Wangji had summoned his guqin, removed the disguising talisman he’d placed on it back at Cloud Recesses and begun the soft, soothing tones of Song of Cleansing at the first sign of Lan Xichen’s distress and the other allowed the cascades of sound to wash over him and clear his mind.

Having already pushed his brother on the issue of how dangerous it was for him Lan Wangji held his tongue on the worry that something that he had claimed was so faint had caused him such disquiet. He would have to increase his own watchfulness.

“Xiongzhang should use only conventional Lan cultivation now”

Lan Xichen didn’t dispute his advice.

***

It was several days later when they were invited to a large feast to discuss the Wen Sect’s plans with regards to what was happening.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng had spent the days between exploring, night hunting out in the Qishan forests, practising their archery and sword forms and generally horsing around. They saw little of any of the other Sects in the interim, although their fellows must be undertaking the same kinds of activities to pass the time.

Wei Wuxian made the point of visiting Mo Xuanyu and inviting him along on their various adventures. Sometimes he agreed and would accompany them, other times he declined and seemed set on spending the day in his lodgings.

Mo Xuanyu was a strange young man, sometimes melancholic and sometimes lively and engaging; Wei Wuxian thought he probably suffered a lot at home, especially when he thought about the bruises he’d seen in the hot springs, so he was determined to make the boy’s time here in the Nightless City better. He had also discussed with Jiang Cheng the subject of sending a message to Jiang Fengmian, Jiang Cheng’s father and the Jiang Sect head, to enquire whether it would be possible to invite Mo Xuanyu to be an outer disciple of the Jiang Sect.

Jiang Cheng had blustered as was his usual reaction but he did have a kind heart under all that sarcastic defence he projected, and he agreed.

It was true Mo Xuanyu had no innate aptitude for cultivation; that being he didn’t have the same natural ability as Wei Wuxian or Jiang Cheng, but few did, certainly no one else in their Sect came close to matching either of them. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be a worthy addition and be able to progress at his own speed given time and effort.

That night at the feast they saved a spot at their table for Mo Xuanyu. They were also joined by a young female cultivator who wore a pink outer robe. She introduced herself as Luo Qingyang.

Mo Xuanyu was able to see first hand what a terrible flirt Wei Wuxian was over the evening meal; Luo Qingyang was less than impressed and Jiang Cheng just ignored it as usual behaviour for Wei Wuxian.

The conversation went well enough between the bouts of flirting, but Jiang Cheng noticed the cold looks one of the Two Jade’s occasionally threw their way. Although considering his default look was cold and aloof, it probably didn’t mean anything.

Wen Qing, who seemed to be acting as the Wen’s public face in this matter spoke to the assembled guests that night.

“As you know we’re eager to find out the cause of what’s happening with the nightmares affecting cultivators all across the sects as we speak. The Wen Sect has invited you all here in the hopes that by studying this together, collecting all the information we can from you all, who are suffering just as our own disciples are, we’ll be able to find answers and solutions to this unprecedented happening.

“We ask that if you do experience one of these nightmares you make note of what you can remember when you wake up, the people you dream about for example, what happened in the dream, how you felt, how you felt when waking, did it make you nauseous, anything it strikes you should be noted down. All your lodgings are fully equipped with writing materials which will be kept well stocked during your stay” she began to pace, and Wei Wuxian thought that while she was very eloquent and seemed to speak genuinely, her pacing was to channel some negative emotion, maybe she was worried about a relative who was experiencing the nightmares too.

“I’ve identified some questions I’d like to ask you all so we may identify any similarities which we might be able to draw links from, and there are some tests I’d like people to take part in. They’re nothing harmful, and our own Wen disciples have already undergone them. However, everyone is here voluntarily so if you’re uncomfortable with anything you are under no obligation to submit. Similarly, if I judge the stress of the tests too much for you I will request you return to your home Sect for your safety.

“As this is obviously a very large undertaking and I will be overseeing it personally as the Wen Sect’s head physician I request that you please be patient with us. We will provide food and lodging for as long as needed to achieve everything we hope.

“Finally, thank you all for making the journey, I do believe that with your help we can all get the answers we so dearly need”

Luo Qingyang turned back to her companions after Wen Qing had finished, “The Wen Sect are putting a lot of time, effort and gold into this”

Wei Wuxian agreed and emptied his wine cup.

“I wonder if they’re really acting purely out of altruism” Jiang Cheng murmured softly, so only their table could hear.

“What could they hope to achieve if not?” Mo Xuanyu asked quietly, a frown on his face.

“I don’t know” Jiang Cheng shook his head, then drank up the dregs of his own wine cup, “We should get some sleep, it’s getting late” none of them noticed the Two Jades spare them quick looks.

***

Lan Wangji went through the process of placing silence talismans through their house again as he did whenever they had things they wished to discuss related to the Purpose.

Once assured their speech would be sealed away he returned to sit across from his brother again, who poured tea.

“The young lady is, I believe, Luo Qingyang, a member of the Lin Sect” he informed, “She seems careful and calm like late spring. The boy I know nothing of, I heard him introduce himself to Luo Qingyang as Mo Xuanyu”

Lan Wangji, “Was there not a guest cultivator at Lanling Jin a few years ago of that name? An illegitimate child of Jin Guangshan’s?”

Lan Xichen thought back and nodded slowly, “It’s very possible. He is kindling, raw and dry and ready to ignite at the right spark. The two young lords are of the Jiang Clan and exceptionally talented young cultivators, the man in purple with the burning eyes is Jiang Fengmian’s son Jiang Wanyin, he is fire and ice in equal parts, touch either and he will burn you”

Lan Wangji was about to question his brother what he meant by burning eyes when Lan Xichen’s next words shocked him to silence.

“The young man in black is Jiang Fengmian’s ward, son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, Wei Wuxian”

Wei Wuxian the name washed over him like the incoming tide; all powerful and trying to suck him down into the undercurrents.

Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian.

The name echoed through the vaults of his mind, a name he had heard whispered all his life in his dreams.

How could that be Wei Wuxian? So frivolous and a shameless flirt.

He didn’t need Lan Xichen’s special ability to read people to know how he’d describe Wei Wuxian, a dancing flame, bright and illuminating and warming. The mirror opposite of Lan Wangji.

And the man he’d mourned for thirteen years in his dreams.

“Wangji?” of course his brother picked up on his unusually chaotic emotions.

It was a terrifying effort to calm and centre himself again, but he did manage it.

“It’s nothing, Xiongzhang, just a name I dream of often” Lan Wangji dismissed. There were things he didn’t wish to discuss with his brother; as he was sure was the same for Lan Xichen. “Jiang Wanyin is starting to doubt. Do you believe they will interfere with our Purpose?”

“Who can say? They seem intelligent, curious and adventuresome young men. If it appears like they will, we shall have to try and lead them away from doing so. I have heard stubbornness is a strong trait of Jiang Fengmian’s son, however, who is to say his adopted brother is any different”

***

Wen Ruohan sat patiently waiting for Wen Qing’s return.

She was as punctual as expected; his shining star, so accomplished and gifted, bringing honour and renown to his clan through her excellence in all she turned her mind and ability to.

She offered him the expected bow, “Sect Leader Wen, I’ve spoken to our guests. Everything is ready. We have about forty cultivators arrived so far”

“How many from the large Sects?”

“I counted ten. Lan, Jiang and Jin representatives have come. Qinghe Nie have sent no one”

“Perhaps that is to be expected, even if some of his disciples were experiencing the nightmares Nie Mingjue is distrustful of outside influences, and he protects that brother of his like a mother tiger with her cub” his fingers drummed on the arm of his throne-like chair.

“Wen Zhuliu” he raised the same hand to summon his subordinate after a few moments of reflection.

“Sect Leader Wen” Wen Zhuliu, tall and broad-shouldered, stepped forward and bowed before Wen Ruohan.

“Let’s begin. I think three nights, three thirds, is an acceptable ratio”

“Yes, Sect Leader Wen” Wen Zhuliu bowed again and left the inner palace.

“We are so lucky to have acquired Wen Zhuliu’s special talents” Wen Ruohan commented, exceptionally pleased.

Wen Qing murmured her agreement and excused herself as having many things to prepare for the morning and the second phase of their plan.

#How Shall We Stop Dreams AU #Wei Wuxian #Lan Wangji #Lan Xichen #Jiang Cheng #mdzs fic #mdzd fanfic #mdzs #Shay's stuff #Mo Xuanyu

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bae-leth · 5 years

Text

Oh wow that’s a really detailed dream? I enjoyed reading about it! I’m thinking that Lorenz has more of a playful rivalry with Claude than an actual hatred, since FE Facebook talks of him, Dedue and Hubert all being loyal to their lords, but it’d be interesting if he turned on him later on in the story.

(I had only one 3H dream since that last anon, and in mine all that happened was that Claude and Dimitri had a shouting match. I don’t even remember what it was about. le sigh.)

About headcanons - I think I’ll expand a bit on the students we already know, more than the students we don’t. As much as I want to talk about Lysithea, Marianne etc, there’s literally nothing to glean tidbits from, so I’ll hold off from headcanons until we learn something, at least.

…I predict that most of these will end up being friendship-related anyway, haha. Headcanons under the read more:

Edelgard:

- A perfectionist, excelling in all her studies/training/etc from a young age.

- However this led to other people looking up to her, rather than seeing her as an equal - this led to some loneliness growing up.

- She wanted proper friends, not just people who saw her solely as a prospective ruler, but eh. What can you do when you have an certain image to cultivate?

- (spoilers: friendships attained at the monastery later on, and this secretly makes her very happy)

- Edel always looked like a hard person to approach, but really she was just a kind soul underneath

- Siblings: I keep thinking that she might have a half-sibling who tries to usurp her position as heir apparent midway through the game lmao. Other than that though, she seems like the only-child type to me.

- Kids want to BE her, because she’s super cool. This makes Edelgard super mushy inside (she’ll try to deny it), so she has a soft spot for the kids that run up to her in excitement whenever she travels around the Empire

Dimitri:

- I wonder what his tinge of darkness is? Intsys might go for the standard ‘he is forced to follow his bloodthirsty father in committing atrocities in the name of the Church’

- Or perhaps he witnesses something horrific as a child, and is powerless to stop it, leading to immense guilt up to adulthood?

- Or maybe it’s an inherent character trait. Maybe Dimitri was the villain all along 😔 and childhood circumstances exacerbated this villainy.

- Apart from theorising about his darkness, I headcanon that he was a bit of a wild child who mellowed out when he got older and attained more responsibilities. A bit like BotW Link, but more outwardly cheerful/expressive. Chivalrous from the very beginning. A good boi

- I still reeeeally want him and Ingrid to be siblings… If this is the case, then you can bet all your money that Ingrid had the best puppy face as a kid, and got away with everything. Dimitri was blamed for eeeeverything, and Ingrid still teases him about it now

- (they’re the ultimate power-siblings tho. Could kill you easily)

Claude:

- Has a few little sisters - THAT’S how he became so sneaky, lmao

- Actually listened in on the council meetings when he was younger, while pretending that he found them boring. He gained a good grasp of the politics of Fodlan from a young age as a result, and used this to his advantage to gain the upper hand in Alliance discussions (to the chagrin of his fellow nobles). He was always very sharp

- Always enjoyed winding up Dimitri as a kid, since the young prince got comically mad very easily. However, this became more difficult once Dimitri mellowed out and grew into a far milder young man. (Difficult, but not impossible…)

- Tried winding up Edelgard as a kid, too, before very quickly giving up. The heir to the Adrestian Empire knew how to use an axe VERY well from a VERY young age, and she wasn’t afraid to use it.

-Pulled a lot of pranks as a youngster, and still does now. Got away with it before because he was cute, gets away with it now because he’s charismatic (and HOt). Lorenz cries everytime, because he can’t get away with anything, apparently…

Hubert:

- Oh gosh, this man. He’s probably the first student at the monastery to go grey, he worries over Edelgard and the future of her position so much

- Has had the loyal retainer trope down to a T since, well, forever.

- He was always the best at giving Edelgard advice, making her tea, cheering her up etc, so much so that castle maids would ask him for pointers when they wanted to do the same.

Dorothea:

- We know that she’s looked up to Manuela for ages, but consider this: she has Manuela merch.

- And she isn’t afraid to show it.

- A painting of Manuela, beautiful and absolutely massive, hangs in her dorm room, and she refuses to take it down. (To be fair, it’s a beautiful painting)

- AHAHAH but honestly? We already know he accepting she is of everyone, no matter their class, so I’m certain she was the same with her fans at the opera house.

- She always treated them kindly, despite how tired she might have been after that particular performance.

- She managed to attain a stellar reputation as a result - people loooooooved her.

- So it’s a bit of a shock when she goes from the eccentric, lovable people who adore her and who she has connections with at the opera house to the snobby noble NPCs at the monastery, but she does what she’s always done, and kills them with kindness.

- And sass, accordingly.

- And her voice. (She probably has Chords of Steel ✊)

Ferdinand:

- His pride in his family's status has landed him a lot of dislike amongst the other noble families.

- Not that he ever cared, though; as long as his family were thriving, he could care less about what others say

- Diligent in his training since a young age. He has to be, in order to keep up with Edelgard

- ... even if she doesn't notice that he's trying to form a rivalry with her

- (oops)

Bernadetta:

- Spent all social occasions in her room, making no noise and pretending she didn’t exist.

- Depending on her parents’ attitudes, her shy nature either landed her sympathy or scorn. If they scorned her, this would explain why she prefers to practise her hobbies in the comfort of her own room.

- (It would also mean that I would leap into my switch to punch her parents herself)

- Felt much pressure to be conform to the typical self-assured noble role, which was a constant blow to her self esteem - especially because the ‘perfect’ noble, Edelgard, was right there, and easily comparable to her

- I’m pretty sure that she grows into her own throughout the course of the game, but since we’re talking about her past only, I can’t imagine that all the pressures of nobility would be good for her :(

Mercedes:

- MY GOOOOORL

- Why did she leave the Empire as a noble to settle as a commoner in the Kingdom?

- Methinks her family angered the nobles at court, and were forced to flee as a result. They didn’t agree with their methods/ideologies/etc, dared to speak out about it, and were threatened as a result

- It meant that Mercedes lost a lot of privilege and status as a result, but she didn’t mind. She could still heal others, and that was enough.

- She was initially lonely at the mage school before meeting Annette, although she was rather reluctant to admit it. However, the two of them soon became fast friends, and the rest is history

- (I headcanon that she only vaguely remembers Lorenz, which is a sucker punch to his ego lmao)

- Well-liked at court before her family’s fall to disgrace.

- Holds little ill-will towards those noble families that turned on her own - was only disturbed that they were that corrupt in the first place

Felix:

- He and Dimitri had a bit of a personality swap through the years.

- As children, Dimitri was the wild, reckless hooligan, while Felix was the one desperately trying to reign him in, for fear of losing the prince of Faerghus to some tragic accident (i.e. he tried taming a bear) under his watch

- As they grew older, Dimitri became more responsible. Felix, on the other hand, went 'fuck it’ and went absolutely ham. By this I mean that he starts his little challenging rituals

- which lands him in a lot of trouble, sometimes, because as it turns out, challenging a fifty year old senior knight at the tender age of fifteen doesn’t tend to turn out very well

- Dimitri ends up being the one to exasperatedly chase after him.

- Despite his 'lone wolf’ proclamations, the main reason Felix fights alone because he wants to look cool.

- The others (except Ashe) don’t buy this for a second. They haven’t done so in YEARS.

Dedue:

- Dimitri earned Dedue's respect ever since the prince defended one of his younger siblings from a drunkard in the marketplace

- As repayment, he offered to serve as a retainer for a period of time. Ended up being permanent, because his respect for Dimitri grew exponentially the more he spent time with him

- Green fingered. Probably worked wonders with the plants in his hometown.

- Dimitri once asked if he could tend to the palace gardens. Once Dedue realised that it was either him or Felix armed with a scythe, he quickly took up the offer.

- Since then, as well as being a retainer, Dedue often oversees the upkeep of the gardens. It's hard work, but he enjoys it. He makes sure to leave the plants in capable hands before the Blue Lions set off for the monastery

Ashe:

- Ok yes I know that we technically know nothing about Ashe either, but... my boy. I must headcanon him

- Ever since he joined the Blue Lions, Ashe had always been seen as the 'baby' of the group. The little brother. The one to look out for.

- It's just his face, y'know? Gotta protect that smile. Even Felix has a soft spot for him

- It exasperated Ashe to no end, because he KNEW he was capable enough to hold his own. He was just... short, okay??

- (His protests don't stop the rest of the Blue Lions affectionately doting on him. Currently, it's become a bit of a running gag between the members)

- Ashe, fists clenched: fight me!

- The rest of the Blue Lions, shaking their heads, drawing lances and mouthing softly: do not

- They all know he's capable, really, but it's always been funny to wind him up like this, so they all continue to do so.

- Everyone else knows that fighting Ashe is futile. You try and duel him, and suddenly there's a gang of 8 absolute b e a s t s tearing you to shreds. It's not fun

- Seeing as he doesn't have a crest, Ashe is probably a commoner.

- How did he end up with the Blue Lions? Either his own skill at the time, or him having a lot of potential, or both. I'm leaning towards the latter

Lorenz:

- Has horribly embarrassing anecdotes from his time at the mage school, which is why he is half thankful that Mercedes doesn't remember most of his blunders

- Annette remembers all of them, however.

- All of them.

- She uses these stories as blackmail material.

- Has always had a playful rivalry with Claude, but ultimately respects him. They play up their rivalry sometimes around the other nobles in the Alliance, just to create confusion

- Has an older sister who is infinitely more stylish and romantically successful than him. It pains him to even think about her success compared to his

- (doesn't stop him from knocking on her door for advice, though)

Hilda:

- Canonically spoilt by her father and older brother, yes. However, if you touch her family, and she will k i l l you

- s l o w l y

- so don't even think about it.

- Goes shopping and uses her poor brother as a shopping basket. The boy's groaning after five minutes. She smiles and adds more clothes onto his arm

- Her family can't resist her pleas... which caused quite a few petty squabbles. Imagine being Hilda's brother and getting a mug for Christmas, while you watch her get the cutest lil puppy, or something

- Despite this, she genuinely would do anything for her family. (even poison for them, if it came down to it...)

Raphael:

- His parents were killed in an accident, but for a long time Raphael felt guilty for not being able to do anything to save them, especially since he was so strong in the first place.

- What's the use of all his strength if he can't even protect his loved ones properly?

- Eventually, he pulls himself out of his slump. It takes a long time, but he realises that there's nothing he can do now except move forward and use his strength to protect those still living

- which is what he does! He gets Stronger, and uses his strength to protect his house.

- the others all admire how optimistic he is. His energy has always been infectious, and always draws out laughter from even the most despondent of people

- however, his constant training has always brought about shortages of training dummies for the Deer. Sometimes they go out to train, but there's just ... straw, in a heap on the floor.

- Raphael's optimism can't save him then 😤

#i'll check this tomorrow bc I'm really tired rn #but i rly hope the read more works on mobile lmao #will tag just in case #fire emblem three houses #fe16 #long post #headcanons #anon #ask

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samuelcarveraccidentman · 5 years

Text

homily

“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” “A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again’.” Indeed, my dear brothers and sisters, if our soul is troubled or sad that our brother Lee Kuan Yew has left us, let it be clear that this sadness is on our part, not his. For Lee Kuan Yew, his departure is his liberation and, most of all, his time of reckoning; a time to be glorified by the Father. Although we mourn his passing, we are relieved that the suffering he experienced because of his illness and the loss of his beloved wife has come to an end.

In truth, we do not mourn for him as if we have lost someone. Rather, we are filled with thanksgiving for what we have gained. Ninety-one years of life on earth is a very long time. The bible considers 70 years as a blessed life already. Not many people are blessed with such a long life. But a blessed life is not determined by its length. It depends on whether we have lived it well. We should rejoice with him that he has completed his journey on earth. He had run the race and fought the good fight till the end. Thus, this Mass is celebrated not only in memory of him but as a thanksgiving for the gift of Mr Lee Kuan Yew to the nation, and to pray that his soul will find rest and peace in God. Indeed, our country has been blessed with a great, strong and visionary leader with foresight, wisdom and intelligence. Not only did he have a vision for Singapore but, just as importantly, he had fortitude. Otherwise, no vision is enough to see Singapore through without perseverance. Enthusiasm without commitment will not bring us very far. He came at a time when Singapore needed a strong leader. Like St Michael who defended the people of God during the “time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence”, so, too, Mr Lee defended Singapore at a time when the young nation was in danger of both internal and external threats.

In many ways, LKY is our founding father in a true sense of the word. He gave birth to Singapore. Without him Singapore would never have become a nation. Singapore was like his child. He sacrificed everything for the children of Singapore. He fought for them and at all cost, warded off those he perceived as enemies to the existence and progress of Singapore. As a father, he ensured that Singaporeans were provided with the basic needs, luxuries, amenities and infrastructure for living, such as a clean/green city, free education, affordable healthcare, an efficient public transport and decent housing. Economically, he ensured that Singaporeans have jobs by promoting free trade, making Singapore into one of the busiest seaports in the world, and Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines the best airport and airline in the world. In international affairs, he made Singapore known all over the world and earned his place as a respected statesman. Politically, he ensured that the government is clean, honest and accountable to the people. He ensured that there is political succession. Indeed, he transformed Singapore from a fishing village into a modern city. He has made us proud to be Singaporeans. We are grateful to God for sending us a great statesman at a time when Singapore needed a leader to lead us out of poverty, economic crisis and racial disharmony.

More than just a statesman, he lived an exemplary life. He did not simply talk but walked the talk. He was a man of great self-discipline. In all things, he would do his best and did it well. He upheld the fundamental virtues for governance, namely, honesty, integrity, equality, justice, diligence and meritocracy. He did not practise favouritism but ensured that the best man got the job. He could not tolerate corruption and the lack of integrity and discipline. He was also a nurturing person, sharing his learning experiences with others. He never stopped learning and he continued learning Mandarin even in later life. He was truly a public servant. Most of all, he was a dedicated father to his children, a devoted and faithful husband. He was truly a model of family life for many of us. Indeed, “the learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.”

In enumerating his positive and good qualities, let it be clear that we are not canonizing him. We all are very much aware that in spite of his many achievements and virtues, he was not perfect even if he tried to be a perfectionist. We might disagree with some of his policies with regard to family planning, stopping at two, abortion and eugenics. We might feel that he was too harsh towards his political opponents, especially those implicated in the infamous Marxist conspiracy. Yet, we know that it was done not out of personal gain but out of his conviction that that was needed to protect and ensure the survival of this small city state. If we were to fault him, it was his excessive desire to protect the children of Singapore. He had his imperfections and weaknesses but his virtues outshone them. He may not have got all the answers right all the time, but he did what his conscience led him to do for the good of the nation.

Today, we find consolation in the scripture reading, which tells us that God has no favourites. Just as He chose the pagan King Cyrus to free his people from exile, God chose Mr Lee to be His servant for Singapore. St Peter says, “The truth I have now come to realize is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.” In the light of what he has done and how he had lived his life, we can be confident of God’s justice and mercy for him. We too can hope that God in His merciful love will also grant him eternal rest and joy.

Although he professed to be an agnostic, he was a seeker after truth, life and love. Anyone who seeks the truth, life and love, is seeking for God or the ultimate ground of reality. Mr Lee, who is well known for his integrity and honesty, his transparency and objectivity, certainly is loved by God as well. His conscience was his God.

Explicit faith in God of course is a gift. But then Mr Lee respected the role of religions in the country. Although the country is secular, it is not secularized. He encouraged religions to play their role in building the people with strong moral values and to collaborate in building a nation of peace and harmony. What he could not tolerate was when people mixed politics with religion, or when religion is made used of for political purposes, or when religions seek to impose their beliefs on others, causing division and tension. Hence, he actively promoted inter-religious dialogue and collaboration among all religions. He understood the importance of religion for the well-being of the people. In the later part of his life, he began to take a serious interest in meditation. Whether he saw it as a means of relaxation or to find peace, yet his heart exemplified that of the psalmist who was thirsting for God. “Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God. My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life; when can I enter and see the face of God?” He certainly harboured hopes of everlasting love and eternal life; otherwise, it would not have made sense for him to will that his ashes be mixed with that of his late wife’s.

When all is said and done, we cannot but marvel at what Mr Lee had done for Singapore. We owe him much. What is the secret of Mr Lee’s success? It is his self-discipline, a life guided by a deep foundation in ethical and moral principles, devotion to his country and a deep love for the people of Singapore. Above all, he emptied his life for the people. As the gospel says, “Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.” Indeed, Mr Lee has put the interest of the nation before his own. His total devotion to the country has made Singapore a first world nation.

The greatest honour we can give to Mr Lee is to continue the legacy and foundation he has laid down for us. It is not enough to be grateful to Mr Lee but we need to continue to safeguard the unity, peace and progress he had achieved for us. Many of these values are also enshrined in the gospel. Following him, we too must give up our life for public service and for the service of the nation and our fellowmen. No one must live for himself or herself alone. We must live for others. It behooves us to cultivate the right values and principles to guide us through in life; and to build faithful and loving marriages and families. We must imitate his virtues of perseverance, tenacity and courage in the face of adversity and challenges. He had taught us how we must not be overwhelmed by power and money, but to remain simple, devoted and faithful to one’s spouse and children. Finally, like him, we need to be active in mind and body. Even as we age, we must continue to help to nurture the next generation as mentor and not just to be “happy in retirement.”

When we live for others as he did, then Jesus will say to us, “If a man serves me, he must follow me; wherever I am my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.” For a man who has given up his life completely for public service, a man who lived by his conscience, a man who lived a life of integrity and honesty, a man who lived for others, we can hope for God’s abundant mercy and that He will reward him with eternal life, for he has been a good and faithful servant of His people, discharging his responsibilities with total dedication. We pray that he will be united with the Lord and with his dearly beloved wife and share eternal happiness, life and love forever. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. May he rest in peace. Amen.

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factslearnedandshared · 3 years

Text

1. Holiness = Peace.

Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.

– Hebrews 12:14 [ERV]

We are at peace with God when we keep our lives free from sin. A lifestyle of holiness is a lifestyle of peace! No more needs to be said.

2. Watch Your Tongue

Tell them not to speak evil of anyone but to live in peace with others. They should be gentle and polite to everyone.

– Titus 3:2 [ERV]

We can live in peace with others by avoiding quarrels caused through slander. Watch your tongue!

3. Obey The Holy Spirit

But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

– Galatians 5:22 [ERV]

Living in peace with others cannot be done without the help of the Holy Spirit. He alone can produce the real fruit of peace in us and we must obey His guidance when it comes to handling conflicts with others.

4. Fellowship With Like-Minded People.

Stay away from the evil things a young person like you typically wants to do. Do your best to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with others who trust in the Lord with pure hearts.

– 2 Timothy 2:22 [ERV]

We will find that our lives will be filled with peace when we fellowship with like-minded people who engage in right living and pursue a peaceful lifestyle.

5. Exercise Godly Wisdom

But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.

– James 3:17-18 [ERV]

Living in peace with others means exercising godly wisdom, which is peaceful and always ready to help others. When you live at peace with others, you will reap a harvest of righteousness.

6. Think Peace.

Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful.

– Colossians 3:15 [ERV]

A healthy body begins with a mindset of peace. If we are going to live in peace, the peace of Christ must control our thinking. Renew your mind daily with His peace. Especially when it concerns the body of Christ, the church. We should not be divisive in the body. If the foot started a fight with the mouth, all the body would suffer! Endeavour to let the peace of Christ rule your mind, so that it may rule your body.

7. Hold Fast To Peace.

You are joined together with peace through the Spirit. Do all you can to continue as you are, letting peace hold you together.

– Ephesians 4:3 [ERV]

Living a lifestyle of peace means letting peace hold you together through every situation. Upon salvation, we are joined together with peace through the Holy Spirit and we must continue in this manner. Once we think peace, we must hold fast to that thought. Hold fast to your thoughts of peace and let them guide you through the storms of life.

8. Mind Your Business.

Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Mind your own business, and earn your own living, as we told you before.

– 1 Thessalonians 4:11 [ERV]

One way to do all we can to live a peaceful life is to mind our own business. We will find that life is far more peaceful when we tend to the things that concern us rather than poke-nosing into and gossiping about the affairs of others. This does not mean that we should not be good samaritans when the need arises, but that we should stay clear of things that do not concern us and will only lead us into sin.

9. Let Go Of Offences.

“So, what if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that someone has something against you? Leave your gift there and go make peace with that person. Then come and offer your gift.

– Matthew 5:23-25 [ERV]

We cultivate a peaceful lifestyle by resolving conflict with others before coming into the presence of God. We must not carry malice into His presence. Instead, we ought to come with a heart of praise and thankfulness. We work to live at peace with others by practising the principle of unilateral forgiveness, i.e. forgiving others before they ask for it. We must not go around expecting people to be aware they have offended us and need to come begging for forgiveness. One mark of a mature Christian is the ability to forgive those who are not even aware they need forgiveness! So stay peaceful by cultivating the habit of being a forgiving person who lets go of offences quickly and easily!

10. Evangelise.

All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself.

In Christ, God did not hold people guilty of their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God.

– 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 [ERV]

We live in peace with God by carrying out the work of bringing people into peace with Him, through evangelism i.e. preaching the gospel of peace. This is known as the ministry of reconciliation. When we carry out this work, we are at peace with God, ourselves and others because we shared with them the good news and therefore have peace in our hearts that they may receive the gift of salvation!

11. Stay Salty.

“Salt is good. But if it loses its salty taste, you can’t make it good again. So, don’t lose that good quality of salt you have. And live in peace with each other.”

– Mark 9:50 [ERV]

The good quality of salt is its ability to unilaterally influence anything it comes in contact with. Once some salt is added to something, it disperses its qualities to enhance the flavour and taste of the thing it has come in contact with. As my pastor once said, the meat can be salty but the salt can never be meaty. Staying salty, therefore, means staying influential. When we don’t live in peace with those around us, we lose our saltiness towards them, i.e. our ability to influence by evangelising and sharing the gospel of Jesus.

12. Stay Fearless.

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.”

– John 14:27 [ERV]

A person who is at peace has nothing to fear. Similarly, when we live in peace with others, our consciences are guilt free and we have nothing to fear in the world. We bring Jesus into our atmosphere and He eliminates our fears and troubles. This allows us to share the peace we’ve been given with others. So walk in the boldness that comes with a clear conscience and you will be empowered to live peacefully with those around you.

13. Say No To Revenge.

Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them. When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too. Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else. If someone does you wrong, don’t try to pay them back by hurting them. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone. My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures, the Lord says, “I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back.”

– Romans 12: 14–19 [ERV]

To have peace, we must put on an attitude of peace in our relationships with others. An attitude of peace is one that does not seek revenge. It does not seek to hurt those who have hurt them or punish those who do them wrong. Peace waits and trust in God’s justice. To have an attitude of peace is to be loving, understanding, kind and humble. Most importantly, an attitude of peace desires the goal of peace for others i.e. does everything to help others live peacefully!

14. Help Others Grow In Faith.

In God’s kingdom, what we eat and drink is not important. Here is what is important: a right way of life, peace, and joy—all from the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God, and they will be accepted by others. So let’s try as hard as we can to do what will bring peace. Let’s do whatever will help each other grow stronger in faith. Don’t let the eating of food destroy the work of God. All food is right to eat, but it is wrong for anyone to eat something that hurts the faith of another person. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that hurts the faith of your brother or sister.

– Romans 14:17-21 [ERV]

In God’s kingdom, a lifestyle of peace is more important than eating and drinking. We can work towards peace by helping other believers grow stronger in their faith. Avoid doing things that hurt the faith of your brothers and sisters in Christ. When we hurt them, we hurt ourselves and further destroy God’s work. Try as much as possible to do only what will bring peace and strengthen the faith of your brethren rather than things which pull brethren away from God’s grace.

15. Be Gracious.

No, we have already said that those who are Jews, as well as those who are not Jews, are the same. They are all guilty of sin. As the Scriptures say, “There is no one doing what is right, not even one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who is trying to be with God. They have all turned away from him, and now they are of no use to anyone. There is no one who does good, not even one.”

“Their words come from mouths that are like open graves. They use their lying tongues to deceive others.” “Their words are like the poison of snakes.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and angry words.” “They are always ready to kill someone. Everywhere they go they cause trouble and ruin. They don’t know how to live in peace.” “They have no fear or respect for God.”

What the law says is for those who are under the law. It stops anyone from making excuses. And it brings the whole world under God’s judgment because no one can be made right with God by following the law. The law only shows us our sin.

– Romans 3: 9-20 [ERV]

This scripture says those who live under the law do not know how to live in peace. So what do you do when you encounter such people? Be gracious. A key way to live in peace with others is to remember that everyone is in need of grace. To be gracious is to be Christ-like and Christ is a very peaceful person. In fact, He is the Prince of Peace. So be gracious towards everyone, for all are guilty of sin. The knowledge of this should not make us prideful but should humble us. Knowing that we need grace just as much as everyone else, let us endeavour to show grace to those who need it.

Selah!

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February 20, 2018 in Thinking Tuesday. Tags: Balanced Life, Be at Peace, bible, bible study, christian lifestyle, christian living, christianity, Evangelism, Fellowship, Godly Wisdom, grace, holy spirit, jesus, lifestyle, Maintain Peace, obedience, Offences, peace, Peaceful Living, Revenge, Scriptures, Slander, Work at Peace

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12 thoughts on “15 Ways To Live Peacefully With God, Others & Ourselves.”

gossip4jesus

October 16, 2018 at 8:08 AM

Reblogged this on The Gossip 4 Jesus Initiative.

Alexandra Bella

February 17, 2019 at 1:46 PM

Good afternoon everyone and happy new year, I pray and i ask for thy spirit of God to use and control me ,I want to live a holy life.please God help me.

Liked by 1 person

Anonymous

August 16, 2019 at 10:44 AM

this page is soo warming and empowering my God continue blessing his people Amen

Liked by 1 person

gossip4jesus

September 3, 2019 at 6:24 AM

Thank you so much for your kind comment! God bless you too!

0 notes

professionaldevelopmentdy · 3 years

Text

Week 1 - reading

https://www.creativebloq.com/features/are-design-graduates-industry-ready

Vince provided this article for us to read to get the ball rolling. It discusses whether design graduates are industry ready.

The author Lisa Hassell shares her university experience. She states that she graduated in 2005 with “no more than a heavy A3 portfolio, a hideous overdraft and little idea of what to do next.”

She believes that degree courses have changed considerably over the last 13 years and that today’s grads are a lot more informed than they used to be but poses the question “is it enough?”

The report states that ‘A report by creative branding agency Michon released in April 2018 sought to highlight some of these issues, detailing concerns among the design community that recent graduates are leaving higher education with insufficient real-world skills.’ It is then debated who is responsible, is it studios that need to take a more active role or the universities?

the UK Government has pledged £80 million to help businesses and universities work more closely together, promoting collaborative research and creating highly skilled jobs. - This is an encouraging move but is it time for an industry wide rethink?

Experience vs education

Tensions often arise from employers wanting real-world experience and undervaluing the important fundamentals that a practice-led art education is often structured around, observes Manchester-based designer Craig Oldham.

"I think education can make students more aware of certain practicalities of working life, but to nail it down would be misplaced time. They’d be better placed focusing on creative thinking and expressing that using their skills, [as] opposed to getting laboured down in bureaucratic practicality. "For me I think there’s often an over-reliance from the industry on people being able to do these things, and I think we can often lose sight of the fact that we sell creativity as an industry – so that’s of primary importance to me."

"I hate the bun fight that happens between education and industry, with both sides blaming one another," states Oldham. "It's pointless and futile, and each has to bear responsibility and engage in a meaningful dialogue and relationship. We are crippled now by numerous problems in both education and industry – gender, pay, race, class – and both sides have to take an active role in addressing them."

Fuelling the debate, course leader at Ravensbourne University, Derek Yates, is frustrated with how some institutions are failing to tackle the issue. "Education has been a bit lazy in the way it works with industry," states Yates. "We need to develop our relationships more strategically. I've done a lot of industry projects over the years and the ones that work are where both parties get something out of it. Both parties have to benefit for the relationship to work."

Collaborate to drive change

At Ravensbourne University, Yates has developed approaches to working with the industry. In 2012, he initiated and chaired Alt/Shift, a platform to promote meaningful dialogue and constructive collaboration between the creative industries and design education.

Heading up the BA Hons Advertising & Brand Design course, a major part of his role involves facilitating partnerships between education and contemporary creative practice, and over the last 10 years he has instigated projects with internationally recognised organisations such as the O2, Eye Magazine, LBi, Moving Brands, Mother, National Air Traffic Control, De La Rue and ustwo. Earlier this year he broke new ground with Untitled– a one-day networking event delivered in collaboration with Lecture in Progress.

"Our aim is to empower emerging talent with information and first-hand accounts that demystify the day-to-day workings of the creative world," says Will Hudson, who ran a series of workshops with Ravensbourne students.

"By focusing on the people, projects and places that make the industry thrive, we want to deliver greater visibility to how work unfolds, where it happens and the breadth of roles that exist."

"They didn't want a conference that was just lectures, they didn't want a conference that was delivered by white, middle-class men, and they didn't want a conference delivered by people over 30," reveals Yates.

Yates believes students need to be active participants in the way their education develops.

There's an equally important conversation to be had between students and educators. If you give students more responsibility and ask them what they think they can quickly show you what you can do better. They need to question and discover for themselves and we need to incorporate what they are learning into how their course design develops year on year. We need to trust our students more."

“I think all practitioners have a responsibility to teach, to give back” - Craig Oldham

University degree alternatives

Shillington ensures it is relevant to the creative industry by hiring only practising designers who are personable, eager to mentor and share their knowledge with the next generation. "Their expertise guides our curriculum, and their experience allows us to cultivate an authentic 'studio' classroom," explains UK Director Sarah McHugh. "Intensive courses are definitely shaking up education, and we're proud to be one of the original pioneers."

Eleanor Robertson parted from a career in marketing and publicity to pursue her passion for design, enrolling on the full-time course at Shillington. Within a few months of graduating she secured a junior designer role at branding agency Paul Belford Ltd and hasn’t looked back.

"These different experiences meant that people's responses to the same brief were wildly different, which was very inspiring." - Eleanor Robertson

In today's fast-paced world, it's entirely possible that university and intensive courses can actually work really well together, as McHugh attests: "many of our students have already completed degrees and/or worked in a wide variety of industries. Their previous experience and skills can actually benefit them at Shillington to up-skill or completely change their careers."

Creating opportunities for students

Launching Intern with the goal of making the creative industries more diverse, representative and inclusive, Dudson is passionate about providing opportunities to the next generation of creatives.

"I started the project to provide a place where an open dialogue about creative careers could happen, as I was seeing far too many people either trapped in a cycle of unpaid internships, or locked out of potential careers because they simply couldn’t afford to keep working for free."

Valuing creative ideas

The ethos of our course is 'Ideas that work'.

"Everyone is so driven and committed and their priority is nailing the brief for the client, not because they're forced to but because they love it. It was really inspiring to be part of an environment full of talented and motivated people." - Student on work placement for McCann Manchester

Organised visits to agencies such as Mother, Ogilvy and Wieden+Kennedy are vital to the success of the course. "The best part about these visits is that you get to see inside a real agency and the hustle and bustle of it all," enthuses Bailey. "It inspires us to strive for opportunities; it's now our ultimate dream to work in New York."

"Technical skills are easy to pick up. But thinking of ideas is hard. If you can come up with good ideas on demand, you will always be useful."

Nurturing the next generation

"Agencies need to understand with real sincerity the level of the person they are looking to engage with, what responsibilities they can delegate, and be realistic about how that fits into their working schedule," argues Oldham.

Neil Bennett, strategy director at LOVE, recognises that there are many benefits to the gig economy if you are a creative; "Variety, lifestyle control, chance to work on personal projects and if you are very good it can be lucrative."

“Education and industry are two separate things; nobody graduates from a degree in medicine and goes into surgery on day one." - Will Hudson

Employing a team of 31 full-time staff across It's Nice That, Anyways and Lecture in Progress, the HudsonBec Group offers a number of entry-level 10-week roles across editorial and creative, but admits it had to make changes. "We drew the line about five years ago where we changed the language around internship to junior freelance," says Hudson.

Initially offered at National Minimum Wage, these roles are now paid at London Living Wage, which has led to a number of freelance roles joining the team full time, with around six of the current full-time staff coming through this process. "It has given us the opportunity to bring in a number of people over the years, often right at the start of their careers," reflects Hudson.

"There is obviously a baseline skill level and competency relevant to any role, but we have always maintained we are looking for passionate young people, willing to learn, contribute to conversations, aware of the industry and world around them."

"I think it's important for every person to evaluate as much as they can on the outset of undertaking anything – what they want to get from it as an aim, and what they will definitely get from it as a reality."

Having an idea of what you are doing something for, and why, beyond earning money can save a lot of pain down the line, or equally adds to the joy when things turn out better. "There can always be something you can take from any situation, be that a shit one or a great one", says Oldham.

Designing courses fit for the future

Designer and educator Jenny Theolin creates and delivers learning experiences for individuals, schools and businesses within areas such as technology, design thinking, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Designing a course called The Studio for the Digital Media Creative Programme at Hyper Island, Theolin teaches client relations, building teams and project management.

Like Yates, Theolin recognises the value of aligning courses with industry, to ensure students develop the flexibility and empathy needed to work with people. "Graphic design is a people's business," she continues, "you need to learn people skills and build relationships. The industry is very small, and it is much better to create long-lasting friendships than short-term dates."

Using research to develop

Building connections with studios such as ustwo, Sennep and Moving Brands, all of whom have set up research initiatives to ensure their commercial work is constantly evolving, Ravensbourne is able to feed insights from this into the development of its courses.

Research is a necessary part of how our industry is developing.

Yates suggests this could drive new opportunities for research related specifically to the creative disciplines. "I've always felt education needs to respond to its context," concludes Yates. "It needs to change and keep changing, because the world around it keeps on changing."

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sisullasuohon · 6 years

Photo

Alkuperäinen

Käsilaatat master post

Under the cut is some translation notes and some talk about the common access/allman’s right from Finland’s pov.

That font is called Tiresias. It’s a free font and the official subtitle font for YLE (Finland's national public-broadcasting company) since 2012. It’s been designed with the visually impaired in mind to be legible even at small sizes. Finnish subtitles at least in TV are always white with a small black border.

Mato (Malk / worm) Simpsons has been aired in Finland since 1991 (and always with subtitles, it’s not for kids), and this is how ’Malk’ is translated in the episode it first shows up. I guess drinking worms would be normal for a goat-monster who eats snails..?

In Finland we have this thing called ’jokamiehenoikeus’, which allows everyone to freely roam and scavenge certain nature’s products in most public and private land. The rights and responsibilities are quite nicely listed in this Wikipedia article so if you’re not at all familiar with this concept please have a glance at it before continuing. It’s a good read to get the basic idea, I’d rather concentrate on how it works in practise.

It’s called a ’right’, but it’s not really a right in a proper sense here since no written law mentions it, it is however defined by the law (what’s forbidden stays forbidden) combined with common sense. It is not just all freedom to do what you want, you always have the responsibility to abide by the restricting rules too. Anyone legally inside Finland’s borders, even tourists that are just visiting, are entitled to this right. No fees are collected from anyone, and, if an area accessible before is for some reason inaccessible or drastically changed later, you’re not entitled to any compensation. Also, the person responsible for any roaming or eating you do, is you. F.ex. if you get stuck and hurt your ankle in a swamp area, or if you pick mushrooms right next to a highway / a dumping area of dung and get sick eating them, it’s your own fault. (you will not be denied health care or anything, but there’ll not be any neon signs there telling you to use common sense)

The border areas between from what’s allowed to what’s unacceptable and from that to what’s illegal are not always clear and usually depend on the circumstances and people involved. If you’re not sure if the thing you want to do is acceptable, you can always ask permission from the land owner. In conflict, the amount and severity of the harm done is the indicator on whether what you did was ok or not. This is not just physical and property harm, Finland has a law on ’kotirauha’(sanctity of the home), that is the right to be undisturbed and not watched or filmed while you’re at home or areas that are considered part of home or homelike (f.ex. your garden, summer cottage, buildings in your land, the inside your tent even if it’s set up on someone else’s land). The least ’harming’ activity in the allman’s right is just walking from point A to point B, and it’s very rarely justified to limit this right, but there are exceptions.

Areas where this right does not apply are any areas within ’kotirauha’, fields that are currently cultivated (unless otherwise stated), pasture areas if there are animals, nature reserves(unless otherwise stated[*]), some military areas especially at the country borders, highways, construction sites or woodcutting areas (former has forbidden areas clearly marked with signs, with latter don’t get closer than 70 meters to the action), and other specific areas where access is restricted for a really good reason, like when it’s not safe to hang around (f.ex. if a shooting range has been set up in the forest permanently or temporarily), or when even normal walking can cause harm (freshly planted young saplings need to be left as-is until they root properly). Even with these restrictions, approximately 96% of Finland’s land-areas are usable with this right.

[*] Many municipalities have traditionally cultivated some of their ’landscaping fields’(it’s a culture heritage thing) for people to freely pick things for their own use (not to sell). These are usually flowers, such as sunflowers, or peas, and there’s always sign saying what’s allowed. The fields set aside for this each year can be found online and they usually show up in local news too.

’Asiaton oleskelu kielletty’(Hanging around here with no proper business is forbidden) is a very common sign here but it doesn’t really have any base in the law (defining ’business’ is very hard since it’s not defined in any law so it relies on people involved and how they define it). That and any other ’not based on the law’ signs do not need to be followed, but an aggressive handmade sign is a good indicator of a hostile person living in the area, if you want to avoid any conflicts. At the same time, if a sign is backed by a law even a crudely handmade one should be followed by everyone.

The season for collecting food outside starts from spring when the last snow melts and lasts until whenever the first snow comes, if the snow is light or late you can still find some mushrooms even in December, at that point wild herbs and berries aren’t in too good a shape even if you find them. In spring there’s mostly just plants and plant parts available, but the berries start ripening at the end of the summer (approx. end of August), and mushrooms shortly after depending on how much it has rained that year. In northern Finland the growth season is shorter. If you go look for edible things, 100 meters is a good safety zone to avoid any gasoline or other nasty residue from roads or areas where pesticides or manure might have been used. Rule of thumb is to only pick edibles you’re familiar with or bring a friend who knows what they’re doing, Finland has several poisonous mushrooms and berries and some resemble the edible ones.

With non-edibles you can always collect (without having to ask for a permission) some cones, leaves, pine needles, dead twigs and branches, as long as they’re on the ground (any of those still attached to a tree, even a dead one, are not ok to pick without permission), horns, shells, feathers (eggs and even egg shells are never ok to pick), non-protected species of insects and spiders, for whatever art project or collection hobby you have. You can even keep animal corpses you find as long as they’re not endangered species or game species.

If you want to sell natural ( i.e. non-cultivated) berries, mushrooms, cones or plants/plant parts such as flowers you’ve picked as they are (not products made from them), it’s tax free as long as it’s the picker who sells them, and it’s clearly an occasional income and not a profession.

Outside of the picking seasons you can still enjoy the wild herbs, berries and mushrooms, since all extra you’re not eating within a short time from picking can be preserved pickled etc. in jars, or just in a freezer. Some Finns who are really into this usually have their freezer full with surplus to give for anyone who would like to have some, sometimes even trying to give some of them to their guests, so they would have room to go get more from the forest. As an example, on a personal note, the area I like to pick my berries from happened to have a bad year last fall, so a relative who had an extremely good year pitched in from their extras and now I have enough bilberries to last this winter. :)

Just to make it clear, this topic is not brought up now because Asgore picked up some kids he found and kept them (that’s illegal in Finland too), it’s because of those mushrooms in his fridge that are inside some random container instead of a proper plastic store-wrapping, as if they were not bought. I’ve had this topic in mind for a long time now, but this is the first comic I could see as actually related to it, yay!

#zarla-s #translated #finnish #suomeksi #handplates #asgore #alphys #mettaton #papyrus #sans #readmore

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dulcepericulumusings · 3 years

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𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐎 ︰𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏.

‪📁 ︰𝑴𝑨𝑵 𝑰𝑵 𝑹𝑬𝑫.

‪📍 ︰𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒌𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒂.‬

‪𝑻𝑾︰𝑽𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔.

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 ︰Plot illustrated with @VNDON3.

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆.

Five post-meridiem sharp, Valentino had explicitly said to his friend; Han Junxin. Their conversations had predominantly highlighted business-only discussions. For Valentino, that was the standard. An established medical doctor had came to Valentino's aid in the textual form. The model, puzzled, questioned the consummate doctor's intentions, albeit he had better advancements in mind. A fracture to the ribs, it demanded medical attention this evening, yet the mention of his 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 to be under the knife; to be precise, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙣'𝙨 knife. Initially, he had questioned this incessant and persistent need to cajole to the model; linking him to the doctor, yet he had decided to offer business to his friend.

𝟱𝗣𝗠.

Luckily for them, the patron considered was punctual. Of course, he had other businesses to tend to in the concurrent time of the events; fixated on the newfound business that is co-joined with a cemented name in the industry, Valentino had taken the project under his wing; discussing the details of the small enterprise that they are going to undertake. A small cup of coffee, and several files later. Valentino was done with the project details concerning his new project; Eureka.

𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Bleary vision, and tired eyes had encapsulated the model; a certain vibration had knocked him back into the world of waking. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. He reached forward towards his mobile device, one hand rubbing at his face, and the other opening the text-file that he was sent by none other than his exceptional partner. 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙮. Seeing that particular epitaph had consumed the man's expectations. She had never wasted a text, lest it had a weight to it. Tapping his thumb on the touch-screen device, the message had opened, and Valentino's once sunken eyes had flared open.

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁.

Had he known that he had bestowed such a horrendous patron to his friend, ergo a mission had been conjured up at moments pass. He had fallen into great sleep, and the next morning had called for investigations to be considered and executed.

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒄𝒉.

The morning hours had pushed the man off his bed, and a couple of endeavours had been accumulating during the silent-hours of the night. The model had freshened up with a shower, and took a sip from his favourite drink. The bitterness of the coffee had served as a great motivator and energiser for the gent. His partner had shared and complied a list revolving around the man who had gone under the knife for 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙣'𝙨 monetary gain. At face value, the man wanted to be concealed from the public transactions; presumably, to evade the conversations about their illicit work.

Both men were in the medical field. Something that Valentino was well equipped with the knowledge of, although he had not ventured into unearthing details surrounding this precise man. An established man in the surgical department, and well renowned for his exemplary effort; magazines, television programs, and a social media account that cultivated an exciting experience into medicine. Giving the Korean youth some semblance of hope into establishing their own white-collar occupations in some degree.

Although the story would have ended, if that were to be the case. He was not only a pinnacle of perfection towards medicine. A man does not naturally gain fame and populace of dedicated youth to his word just that simply. The man had grown a farm of exceptional and loyal underdogs that mindlessly follow his word just for the taste of extra digits in their bank accounts. Now, Valentino would bat an eye to such practises as he had not been hired to divulge further into the matter.

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁.

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.

Valentino had riddled Junxin's phone with calls and messages, which is something that the man seldom does; unless there was a flair of urgency to be conversed about. Not only had supplied himself with the agency's words and equipment, he had been instructed by his boss to execute the man the very same moment that he had been in his proximity.

An attempt to ruin the economy of Junxin's business due to the competition and clear disadvantages that will bestow upon him, the man had considered the critical path of exposing Junxin's illicit business. Under the guise of being a patron, he had sown seeds, captured leads, and coincidentally had enough information about the man's work to expose him. Soon enough, throw him behind bars just as much.

Of course, with such paramount information, Valentino could not allow himself to remain quiet in times when emergency had specifically called. A decision had been brought up by the two men, although Valentino had already known that it was in 𝙝𝙞𝙨 hands to dispose of this particular entity in the department of medicine.

Soon after he had reached that decision with his friend, he had left to the agency. Collecting his weapon of choice, bayonet, to suit with his 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗲; a gun that he sees himself utilising quite a lot during his last missions.

Disappearing under the faux look of sharing his - behind the scenes - shoots, Valentino had managed to successfully hide behind the radar. Shedding the light onto his target, and thus his plan begins. The process of execution had demanded a couple of factors to be considered, and it was rather difficult to do such thing whilst your friend is on the perimeter of the subject.

He was 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 put into such position before.

A concise discussion, and several rules had been established to reel their target into the premises; Valentino was quite 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 with Junxin's compliance to the task at hand. Lure the man back into Jun's establishment with the company of Valentino - vividly - present. He had expected and predicted that the target would never be by himself at any given moment, thus the second he steps in? His status must be 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗺.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆.

The very promised night of rendezvous. Valentino stood by the door. Awaiting the moment that the door would open, and reveal the face behind it. He could not fail his mission, nor leave his friend by this man's company alone. The texts had revealed numerous disappearances of young and talented surgeons that have yet to make it past thirty-five. This time, he was targeted Junxin. His intentions were to - literally - kill all competition, and there was no other way than to sharpen his knife before it meets epidermis.

His eyes were devoid of emotion, as one would presume they would during such a task at hand, and he had looked at Junxin. The bottles of bleach neatly hidden behind the counters; the clear indication of what was about to happen. A blacklight to remove any fabric that has caught droplets of blood in the process, and a lighter to burn off the excess of evidence. Of course, one could not forget that the disgusting smell of a corpse. Valentino did not forget to remind his friend to 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙥 after the deed had been done.

Once the man had stepped foot into the vaulted room, Valentino forced the door shut right behind him. Giving absolutely no chance for his companions to step foot into the room. Diligently and with experienced hands, Valentino had towered over his target. Holding him by his sternum, and his other hand motioning towards his throat. A sharpened bayonet had delicately sliced the skin; creating for a fountain of blood to seep out of the man in numbers.

Several coughs and desperation of help later, Valentino had declared him dead. Disposing of his body on the floor. Ignoring the clear obsession that his friend is riddled with. Blood had dropped and poured on the floor, and of course, on 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙣. As experienced of a hired-arm as he is, he had absolutely no droplets on his hands, clothes, or any trace of it on him.

Leaving the room in order to rid of any bystanders, although they appeared to have completely ran off. For Valentino this was expected, yet he had not inspired to snap any more necks during this 'holy' night of Halloween. As a man who had grown up in Italy, Halloween was not something to be celebrated. In fact, he had no recollection of it.

Luckily for him, he had created a new memory for Halloween. Two rivalling surgeons, and a laceration before another-yet the sight of blood had deemed too delicious to suit up and stitch the wound. Valentino had other businesses to tend to. Oh. A flight to Paris. His life had never paused for a singular moment.

And that is why he could never see himself in any other place.

𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊: 𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅.

#𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐎 #𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝟗𝟒

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pope-francis-quotes · 6 years

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24th November >> Pope Francis’ message for 2018 World Day of Peace is released (Photo ~ Refugees holding their belongings wait to enter a bus after their arrival at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece. - EPA (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ message for the celebration of the 2018 World Day of Peace was released on Friday during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office. The message entitled Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in search of Peace is divided into six sections with the first offering heartfelt good wishes for peace and inviting people of good will to embrace those fleeing war, hunger and persecution. The message also poses the question, why so many migrants and refugees? Pope Francis answers this by considering the many conflicts forcing people to leave their homelands, but he notes also the desire for a better life. The Holy Father points out that some people consider the growth in migration as a threat.. But, “for my part, he says, I ask you to view it with confidence, as an opportunity to build peace.” Peace points Contained in the 4th section of the message under the theme, “four mileposts for action”, the Pope points out what is needed in order for migrants and refugees to find the peace they seek is a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating. Looking at the situation from an international perspective, Pope Francis expresses the hope that this spirit of welcome and integration, “will guide the process that in the course of 2018 will lead the United Nations to draft and approve two Global Compacts, one for safe, orderly and regular migration and the other for refugees.” Common Home Finally, the Holy Father draws inspiration from Saint John Paul II with these words. “Let us draw inspiration from the words of Saint John Paul II: “If the ‘dream’ of a peaceful world is shared by all, if the refugees’ and migrants’ contribution is properly evaluated, then humanity can become more and more a universal family and our earth a true ‘common home’.” Please find below the message of Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace 1 January 2018 MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES: MEN AND WOMEN IN SEARCH OF PEACE 1. Heartfelt good wishes for peace Peace to all people and to all nations on earth! Peace, which the angels proclaimed to the shepherds on Christmas night,[1] is a profound aspiration for everyone, for each individual and all peoples, and especially for those who most keenly suffer its absence. Among these whom I constantly keep in my thoughts and prayers, I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide, of whom 22.5 million are refugees. Pope Benedict XVI, my beloved predecessor, spoke of them as “men and women, children, young and elderly people, who are searching for somewhere to live in peace.”[2] In order to find that peace, they are willing to risk their lives on a journey that is often long and perilous, to endure hardships and suffering, and to encounter fences and walls built to keep them far from their goal. In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands. We know that it is not enough to open our hearts to the suffering of others. Much more remains to be done before our brothers and sisters can once again live peacefully in a safe home. Welcoming others requires concrete commitment, a network of assistance and goodwill, vigilant and sympathetic attention, the responsible management of new and complex situations that at times compound numerous existing problems, to say nothing of resources, which are always limited. By practising the virtue of prudence, government leaders should take practical measures to welcome, promote, protect, integrate and, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good, to permit [them] to become part of a new society.”[3] Leaders have a clear responsibility towards their own communities, whose legitimate rights and harmonious development they must ensure, lest they become like the rash builder who miscalculated and failed to complete the tower he had begun to construct.[4] 2. Why so many refugees and migrants? As he looked to the Great Jubilee marking the passage of two thousand years since the proclamation of peace by the angels in Bethlehem, Saint John Paul II pointed to the increased numbers of displaced persons as one of the consequences of the “endless and horrifying sequence of wars, conflicts, genocides and ethnic cleansings”[5] that had characterized the twentieth century. To this date, the new century has registered no real breakthrough: armed conflicts and other forms of organized violence continue to trigger the movement of peoples within national borders and beyond. Yet people migrate for other reasons as well, principally because they “desire a better life, and not infrequently try to leave behind the ‘hopelessness’ of an unpromising future.”[6] They set out to join their families or to seek professional or educational opportunities, for those who cannot enjoy these rights do not live in peace. Furthermore, as I noted in the Encyclical Laudato Si’, there has been “a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation”.[7] Most people migrate through regular channels. Some, however, take different routes, mainly out of desperation, when their own countries offer neither safety nor opportunity, and every legal pathway appears impractical, blocked or too slow. Many destination countries have seen the spread of rhetoric decrying the risks posed to national security or the high cost of welcoming new arrivals, and by doing so demeans the human dignity due to all as sons and daughters of God. Those who, for what may be political reasons, foment fear of migrants instead of building peace are sowing violence, racial discrimination and xenophobia, which are matters of great concern for all those concerned for the safety of every human being.[8] All indicators available to the international community suggest that global migration will continue for the future. Some consider this a threat. For my part, I ask you to view it with confidence as an opportunity to build peace. 3. With a contemplative gaze The wisdom of faith fosters a contemplative gaze that recognizes that all of us “belong to one family, migrants and the local populations that welcome them, and all have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth, whose destination is universal, as the social doctrine of the Church teaches. It is here that solidarity and sharing are founded.”[9] These words evoke the biblical image of the new Jerusalem. The book of the prophet Isaiah (chapter 60) and that of Revelation (chapter 21) describe the city with its gates always open to people of every nation, who marvel at it and fill it with riches. Peace is the sovereign that guides it and justice the principle that governs coexistence within it. We must also turn this contemplative gaze to the cities where we live, “a gaze of faith which sees God dwelling in their houses, in their streets and squares, […] fostering solidarity, fraternity, and the desire for goodness, truth and justice”[10] – in other words, fulfilling the promise of peace. When we turn that gaze to migrants and refugees, we discover that they do not arrive empty-handed. They bring their courage, skills, energy and aspirations, as well as the treasures of their own cultures; and in this way, they enrich the lives of the nations that receive them. We also come to see the creativity, tenacity and spirit of sacrifice of the countless individuals, families and communities around the world who open their doors and hearts to migrants and refugees, even where resources are scarce. A contemplative gaze should also guide the discernment of those responsible for the public good, and encourage them to pursue policies of welcome, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good”[11] – bearing in mind, that is, the needs of all members of the human family and the welfare of each. Those who see things in this way will be able to recognize the seeds of peace that are already sprouting and nurture their growth. Our cities, often divided and polarized by conflicts regarding the presence of migrants and refugees, will thus turn into workshops of peace. 4. Four mileposts for action Offering asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking an opportunity to find the peace they seek requires a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.[12] “Welcoming” calls for expanding legal pathways for entry and no longer pushing migrants and displaced people towards countries where they face persecution and violence. It also demands balancing our concerns about national security with concern for fundamental human rights. Scripture reminds us: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”[13] “Protecting” has to do with our duty to recognize and defend the inviolable dignity of those who flee real dangers in search of asylum and security, and to prevent their being exploited. I think in particular of women and children who find themselves in situations that expose them to risks and abuses that can even amount to enslavement. God does not discriminate: “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the orphan and the widow.”[14] “Promoting” entails supporting the integral human development of migrants and refugees. Among many possible means of doing so, I would stress the importance of ensuring access to all levels of education for children and young people. This will enable them not only to cultivate and realize their potential, but also better equip them to encounter others and to foster a spirit of dialogue rather than rejection or confrontation. The Bible teaches that God “loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”[15] “Integrating”, lastly, means allowing refugees and migrants to participate fully in the life of the society that welcomes them, as part of a process of mutual enrichment and fruitful cooperation in service of the integral human development of the local community. Saint Paul expresses it in these words: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.”[16] 5. A proposal for two international compacts It is my heartfelt hope this spirit will guide the process that in the course of 2018 will lead the United Nations to draft and approve two Global Compacts, one for safe, orderly and regular migration and the other for refugees. As shared agreements at a global level, these compacts will provide a framework for policy proposals and practical measures. For this reason, they need to be inspired by compassion, foresight and courage, so as to take advantage of every opportunity to advance the peace-building process. Only in this way can the realism required of international politics avoid surrendering to cynicism and to the globalization of indifference. Dialogue and coordination are a necessity and a specific duty for the international community. Beyond national borders, higher numbers of refugees may be welcomed – or better welcomed – also by less wealthy countries, if international cooperation guarantees them the necessary funding. The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has published a set of twenty action points that provide concrete leads for implementing these four verbs in public policy and in the attitudes and activities of Christian communities.[17] The aim of this and other contributions is to express the interest of the Catholic Church in the process leading to the adoption of the two U.N. Global Compacts. This interest is the sign of a more general pastoral concern that goes back to very origins of Church and has continued in her many works up to the present time. 6. For our common home Let us draw inspiration from the words of Saint John Paul II: “If the ‘dream’ of a peaceful world is shared by all, if the refugees’ and migrants’ contribution is properly evaluated, then humanity can become more and more a universal family and our earth a true ‘common home’.”[18] Throughout history, many have believed in this “dream”, and their achievements are a testament to the fact that it is no mere utopia. Among these, we remember Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in this year that marks the hundredth anniversary of her death. On this thirteenth day of November, many ecclesial communities celebrate her memory. This remarkable woman, who devoted her life to the service of migrants and became their patron saint, taught us to welcome, protect, promote and integrate our brothers and sisters. Through her intercession, may the Lord enable all of us to experience that “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”[19] From the Vatican, 13 November 2017 Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Migrants

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kyberled · 7 years

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Entire infodump under here for anyone who wants to see it \o/ (mostly just my own responses to cut down on length so there’s a lack of context to some of my reactions lmao)

kyberled

sent a post: Doing some warm-u...

they r these friends

I don't have a name for them yet but they helped Braig and vice versa and kept each other safe during the Grau Tessk incident

They don't have a lot of outside contact with the rest of the galaxy and until the war started didn't at all

They r very tall and very furry and have big eyes

But they have a tradition of wearing masks around strangers (they initially thought the clones' helmets were the same thing) (They took their masks off around Braig and the surviving troops after a few weeks in the tunnels and that is a sign of friendship and trust in their culture)

The masks were originally for camouflage when hunting or fighting but came to have cultural significance. Adults have masks of wood, children usually wear leaves or woven grass cause its lighter and also they grow out of them fast

If you are important you are allowed to decorate ur mask with leaves and flowers :0 Different combinations mean different things

The one in the first picture is Goann, an influential Elder, and his flowers and leaves mean that he is very good at negotiating peace between villages

The two fronds on either side represent the villages and the flowers in between show meeting and peace so it's pretty straight forward but there can be some pretty elaborate headdresses

Since they had minimal contact with others they don't actually speak much Basic?? Which means that it was very difficult to send out a call for help when Grau came

And those that were captured didn't even know what they were being asked to do :( Which resulted in a lot of I WILL TALK VERY SLOW AN LOUD BECAUSE THAT MUST HELP and they have sensitive ears so It Did Not

Communication was best done with lots of pointing and drawing pictures

duskisms

is that why braiggo had his notebook out?

kyberled

The ones who were in the tunnels speak the best Basic because of Braig and the clones but it's this weird mix of Posh Jedi and Slang-Filled Soldier jargon

It is!! He was also drawing the things he saw on the planet And once he started learning their language he made a lexicon and would write about what he learned about their culture and planet so he could bring it back to the Temple (and he would read it aloud to them too so they could correct it)

Since they don't show their face to strangers they paint designs on their chests and arms and hands to convey a bit of information about themselves, like where they're from and stuff

it is V Suspicious to meet someone with no paint unless they are a tiny baby

or a Braig

he did not have paint

They thought he was a baby tho because he was so tiny by comparison so nobody really minded

they were wondering where his parents were the entire time

Tried to ask Commander Dash if he was Braig's dad and Dash had 0 idea what they were saying so he just said "sure, yeah, yes"

And they knew what yes meant!! So in the tunnels they offered Braig condolences about his father's death and Braig was like ???????????!?!?!?!?!?

(explaining that he was a good 2-3 years OLDER than Dash was wild to them)

Also they like dancing!!!

Song and dance is how they tell their stories but also a way of them to practise fighting

YEAH THEY JUST THOUGHT DASH WAS BRAIGS ACTUAL BIO FATHER

THEY HAD NEVER SEEN HIM WITHOUT HIS HELMET EITHER SO WHEN THE CLONES ALL HAD THE SAME FACE THEY WERE CONFUSED BUT DIDNT WANNA BE RUDE AND POINT IT OUT

It's also REALLY TABOO in their culture to make negative comments about someone's appearance? (at least facially) cause seeing their face again is a sign of trust

so they were all just. quietly baffled and none of the outsiders knew why

But yes!! they do a lot of dancing in their culture (Braiggo was v excited to learn)

And there are two forms of dance that are most common, called Ta'i'i-Ahé and Ta'olo-Ahé and the Republic citizens assumed it was Women's Dance and Men's Dance because it looked like it was divided that way

It's actually Little Self Dance/Little Body Dance and Big Self/Body Dance

So sure in this species most females are smaller than males but if a tiny lean/slender male like Braig was around he'd to Ta'i'i-Ahé or Little Self Dance and nobody would care

duskisms

!!! :O are they similar or v different?

kyberled

Similarly a taller broader female could do Ta'olo-Ahé and it'd be fine

They don't even have a gender binary they have common pronouns that translate to he/him, she/hers, they/them, and then two sets that don't translate: one for fluidity and one for someone who isn't sure and you would often put a mark on your chest in the paintings that would indicate which one you use

They are! :D it's a way of storytelling, but also practising fighting and hunting manoeuvres, so Little Self dances are made to help cultivate speed and agility and flexibility, which is really important for tiny people who fight

And Big Self focuses more on strength, balance, and using reach to your advantage, which are better for big people

And because of different movements being used they tell stories very differently

Neither one was seen as superior

They were just different and suited for different things, and some of the best dances and stories were made when Big Self dancers and Little Self dancers worked together

And ofc there are different styles from different communities and even in the same one!! Like maybe you're a hunter so your moves and dance reflects that and it would look different from someone who was more focused on being a warrior

At this big annual gathering they had there would be contests for Big Self, Little Self, and mixed dances and there would be like

Elders going IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THAT IN M Y T I M E

And tiny little ones who had never been to the celebration before and hardly recognised the dances from far off communities

and friends would meet up and exchange dance moves from their homes like actual gifts

And they'd have this huge party every year

There's a sacred spot for them on their planet where the trees grow HUGE because of the mineral content in the soil and chemicals in the air due to volcanic vents

And the vents are at the bottom of this MASSIVE ravine/circular canyon and there are so many that there are always some going off

And at the centre of the canyon there's the biggest, oldest tree on the planet; It's massive, and its roots wrapping around the pillar it's on is the only reason the pillar never fell over

And one thing that the people there do as a ritual/rite of passage is take one of the leaves from the big trees on their end and essentially use it like a hang glider

And use the volcanic vents to fly over!! Their big ears let them hear where the next burst of steam will be and help them vent heat, and their fur helps them keep from getting scalded

You can go one at a time or use a big leaf and go two at a time, but you generally only go with family or a very close friend because you have to be really in sync to steer the leaf properly

One thing people do to show off is have one person take a big leaf and jump, and then the second person jumps after them and grabs onto the leaf from there, but this is v dangerous and only practised gliders do it

And people live around the canyon in villages and towns but!! It's against their law to ban someone from going across

And like I said it's a rite of passage, so someone will sail over on their own, grab a fruit or flower depending on season, and sail back

and if you make it the village you left from will celebrate like you're one of their own even if you're not because it's A HUGE DEAL culturally

so lil kiddos come back to crowds gathered along the canyon cheering and celebrating for them and they get a necklace or someth and if they have to travel back home

usually they get given some food too like it's massive for them

They used to use that tree as a meeting place when the species was really young but as their medicine and stuff advanced and their life expectancy increased it got harder and harder for old folks to go across

and they tried for a year or two just sending young people across to have all the communities meet but they all decided it's better to have the older folks present anyway so now they have meetings at towns around the canyon and it cycles through all of them (cause the canyon and tree are also at the centre of their country/land)

If you're the host town you gotta put on a huge feast but everyone else will bring presents pf food or jewellery or blankets or tools or w/e And there are pleasantries and parties and apologies for past wrongs and it's a good time for big treaties and generally a time for peace to be made and friends to be met again

It was basically like a big state fair!! There'd be dance competitions, hunting competitions, sparring matches, different crafts competitions

And also just non-competitive dances that were often used to update people on goings-on with that particular town or whatever

It wasn't uncommon to see friends from different villages trying to make a dance together to tell the story of their meeting up again at that gathering

But due to differing local styles there would be difficulties but that just made it more fun

So there'd be a lot of lil kiddos giggling and stumbling over their own feet trying to mesh what they knew

And old folks with slower creaky movements who could do it fluidly because they'd been dancing together every year since they were that small

Grau Tessk tried to destroy the tree when he came to their planet :(((

At first he wanted to build his palace there, but he couldn't get over there because the vents made a lot of steam and also gave off a lot of magnetic energy that friend ships' nav systems so he could not fly

the droids couldn't hear well enough and didn't have the instincts to predict the steam when they tried to use the leaves and he wasn't going to try himself

And the one time he finally was able to make the locals go over in spite of the jank communication

They just grabbed their leaves sailed over and hid

didn't come back

until some more of their own people came and told them it was safe again months later

So Grau decided he was gonna build his fortress on the other side of the canyon and just have a giant canon built on so he could blast the tree out of existence

But the locals were able to stall production as best as they could, and the Jedi finally came back and destroyed the entire thing before it was finished

So the tree is fine!! And after the Seps were gone all the young people who could go over went and painted the story of the angry lizard man and his strange cold friends on the trunk(they paint stories on it, have for countless generations. They don't carve into its bark ever EVER because they don't want to hurt their tree)

and then they brought back fruit for the old people and the little babies who can't make the trip so they could also feel connected to their tree

and they used the seeds from the fruit to plant more trees to start to heal the damage the separatists caused to their planet

at the next meeting they had they all talked about how well their new trees were growing

And the people who'd been in the tunnels brushed each other up on their Basic and came together to help teach people so they could communicate better in the future and make sure that they could understand the Republic (both out of respect for the Republic and to make sure their own demands would be met and laws honoured irt their planet and affairs)

(Since Braig was probably one of the only people in the Republic who understood their language, aside from the clones he was with, he was sent back to visit [do some mission] once and they gave him a seed from their tree to bring back to the Temple and plant there, as a symbol of friendship between their people and the Jedi)

As a last lil note it's worth mentioning that they'd have Peace Councils, Communal or Internal Affairs Councils,Hunting Councils and War Councils in their governments

And usually all the councils would work together as one big one; The difference was that like. The hunting council was made up of the best hunters, the war council of the best warriors, etc

and each would also manage its own thing but they'd work together

In times of war tho the War and Peace councils would both take the lead; The Peace council's job was to try and find a solution to the fighting as best they could, the war council to prepare the people to fight and make sure their homes were safe

and you can't have one without the other. Like it'd be seen as a HUGE problem if the Peace Council of one community DIDN'T have an equal part in wartime discussions, cause that'd symbolise that you don't want the fighting to end

and while hunters and warriors could, in practise, take each other's jobs/roles with no sweat bc they're similar, there are very different rituals and rules and whatnot for each

They did!! He planted it in his favourite temple garden and got permission for the clones who were there to be allowed in to help

and he'd go back to meditate by that lil sapling a lot whenever he was at the temple

he lovs his smol tree

#i need a grau tessk incident tag #for now #i'll just put it under his #Grau Tessk #&& give the sun a head start; ooc #&& temple archives; headcanons #&& scars reveal us; grau tessk #&& vast and beautiful; the galaxy

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catholicwatertown · 6 years

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Pope's message for 2018 World Day of Peace is released

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ message for the celebration of the 2018 World Day of Peace was released on Friday during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office.

The message entitled Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in search of Peace is divided into six sections with the first offering heartfelt good wishes for peace and inviting people of good will to embrace those fleeing war, hunger and persecution.

The message also poses the question, why so many migrants and refugees? Pope Francis answers this by considering the many conflicts forcing people to leave their homelands, but he notes also the desire for a better life.

The Holy Father notes that some people consider the growth in migration as a threat.. But, “for my part, he says, I ask you to view it with confidence, as an opportunity to build peace.”

Peace points

Contained in the 4th section of the message under the theme, “four mileposts for action”, the Pope points out what is needed in order for migrants and refugees to find the peace they seek is a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.

Looking at the situation from an international perspective, Pope Francis expresses the hope that this spirit of welcome and integration, “will guide the process that in the course of 2018 will lead the United Nations to draft and approve two Global Compacts, one for safe, orderly and regular migration and the other for refugees.”

Common Home

Finally, the Holy Father draws inspiration from Saint John Paul II with these words. “If the ‘dream’ of a peaceful world is shared by all, if the refugees’ and migrants’ contribution is properly evaluated, then humanity can become more and more a universal family and our earth a true ‘common home’.”

Please find below the message of Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1 January 2018

MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES: MEN AND WOMEN IN SEARCH OF PEACE

1. Heartfelt good wishes for peace

Peace to all people and to all nations on earth! Peace, which the angels proclaimed to the shepherds on Christmas night,[1] is a profound aspiration for everyone, for each individual and all peoples, and especially for those who most keenly suffer its absence. Among these whom I constantly keep in my thoughts and prayers, I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide, of whom 22.5 million are refugees. Pope Benedict XVI, my beloved predecessor, spoke of them as “men and women, children, young and elderly people, who are searching for somewhere to live in peace.”[2] In order to find that peace, they are willing to risk their lives on a journey that is often long and perilous, to endure hardships and suffering, and to encounter fences and walls built to keep them far from their goal.

In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands.

We know that it is not enough to open our hearts to the suffering of others. Much more remains to be done before our brothers and sisters can once again live peacefully in a safe home. Welcoming others requires concrete commitment, a network of assistance and goodwill, vigilant and sympathetic attention, the responsible management of new and complex situations that at times compound numerous existing problems, to say nothing of resources, which are always limited. By practising the virtue of prudence, government leaders should take practical measures to welcome, promote, protect, integrate and, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good, to permit [them] to become part of a new society.”[3] Leaders have a clear responsibility towards their own communities, whose legitimate rights and harmonious development they must ensure, lest they become like the rash builder who miscalculated and failed to complete the tower he had begun to construct.[4]

2. Why so many refugees and migrants?

As he looked to the Great Jubilee marking the passage of two thousand years since the proclamation of peace by the angels in Bethlehem, Saint John Paul II pointed to the increased numbers of displaced persons as one of the consequences of the “endless and horrifying sequence of wars, conflicts, genocides and ethnic cleansings”[5] that had characterized the twentieth century. To this date, the new century has registered no real breakthrough: armed conflicts and other forms of organized violence continue to trigger the movement of peoples within national borders and beyond.

Yet people migrate for other reasons as well, principally because they “desire a better life, and not infrequently try to leave behind the ‘hopelessness’ of an unpromising future.”[6] They set out to join their families or to seek professional or educational opportunities, for those who cannot enjoy these rights do not live in peace. Furthermore, as I noted in the Encyclical Laudato Si’, there has been “a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation”.[7]

Most people migrate through regular channels. Some, however, take different routes, mainly out of desperation, when their own countries offer neither safety nor opportunity, and every legal pathway appears impractical, blocked or too slow.

Many destination countries have seen the spread of rhetoric decrying the risks posed to national security or the high cost of welcoming new arrivals, and by doing so demeans the human dignity due to all as sons and daughters of God. Those who, for what may be political reasons, foment fear of migrants instead of building peace are sowing violence, racial discrimination and xenophobia, which are matters of great concern for all those concerned for the safety of every human being.[8]

All indicators available to the international community suggest that global migration will continue for the future. Some consider this a threat. For my part, I ask you to view it with confidence as an opportunity to build peace.

3. With a contemplative gaze

The wisdom of faith fosters a contemplative gaze that recognizes that all of us “belong to one family, migrants and the local populations that welcome them, and all have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth, whose destination is universal, as the social doctrine of the Church teaches. It is here that solidarity and sharing are founded.”[9] These words evoke the biblical image of the new Jerusalem. The book of the prophet Isaiah (chapter 60) and that of Revelation (chapter 21) describe the city with its gates always open to people of every nation, who marvel at it and fill it with riches. Peace is the sovereign that guides it and justice the principle that governs coexistence within it.

We must also turn this contemplative gaze to the cities where we live, “a gaze of faith which sees God dwelling in their houses, in their streets and squares, […] fostering solidarity, fraternity, and the desire for goodness, truth and justice”[10] – in other words, fulfilling the promise of peace.

When we turn that gaze to migrants and refugees, we discover that they do not arrive empty-handed. They bring their courage, skills, energy and aspirations, as well as the treasures of their own cultures; and in this way, they enrich the lives of the nations that receive them. We also come to see the creativity, tenacity and spirit of sacrifice of the countless individuals, families and communities around the world who open their doors and hearts to migrants and refugees, even where resources are scarce.

A contemplative gaze should also guide the discernment of those responsible for the public good, and encourage them to pursue policies of welcome, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good”[11] – bearing in mind, that is, the needs of all members of the human family and the welfare of each.

Those who see things in this way will be able to recognize the seeds of peace that are already sprouting and nurture their growth. Our cities, often divided and polarized by conflicts regarding the presence of migrants and refugees, will thus turn into workshops of peace.

4. Four mileposts for action

Offering asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking an opportunity to find the peace they seek requires a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.[12]

“Welcoming” calls for expanding legal pathways for entry and no longer pushing migrants and displaced people towards countries where they face persecution and violence. It also demands balancing our concerns about national security with concern for fundamental human rights. Scripture reminds us: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”[13]

“Protecting” has to do with our duty to recognize and defend the inviolable dignity of those who flee real dangers in search of asylum and security, and to prevent their being exploited. I think in particular of women and children who find themselves in situations that expose them to risks and abuses that can even amount to enslavement. God does not discriminate: “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the orphan and the widow.”[14]

“Promoting” entails supporting the integral human development of migrants and refugees. Among many possible means of doing so, I would stress the importance of ensuring access to all levels of education for children and young people. This will enable them not only to cultivate and realize their potential, but also better equip them to encounter others and to foster a spirit of dialogue rather than rejection or confrontation. The Bible teaches that God “loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”[15]

“Integrating”, lastly, means allowing refugees and migrants to participate fully in the life of the society that welcomes them, as part of a process of mutual enrichment and fruitful cooperation in service of the integral human development of the local community. Saint Paul expresses it in these words: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.”[16]

5. A proposal for two international compacts

It is my heartfelt hope this spirit will guide the process that in the course of 2018 will lead the United Nations to draft and approve two Global Compacts, one for safe, orderly and regular migration and the other for refugees. As shared agreements at a global level, these compacts will provide a framework for policy proposals and practical measures. For this reason, they need to be inspired by compassion, foresight and courage, so as to take advantage of every opportunity to advance the peace-building process. Only in this way can the realism required of international politics avoid surrendering to cynicism and to the globalization of indifference.

Dialogue and coordination are a necessity and a specific duty for the international community. Beyond national borders, higher numbers of refugees may be welcomed – or better welcomed – also by less wealthy countries, if international cooperation guarantees them the necessary funding.

The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has published a set of twenty action points that provide concrete leads for implementing these four verbs in public policy and in the attitudes and activities of Christian communities.[17] The aim of this and other contributions is to express the interest of the Catholic Church in the process leading to the adoption of the two U.N. Global Compacts. This interest is the sign of a more general pastoral concern that goes back to very origins of Church and has continued in her many works up to the present time.

6. For our common home

Let us draw inspiration from the words of Saint John Paul II: “If the ‘dream’ of a peaceful world is shared by all, if the refugees’ and migrants’ contribution is properly evaluated, then humanity can become more and more a universal family and our earth a true ‘common home’.”[18] Throughout history, many have believed in this “dream”, and their achievements are a testament to the fact that it is no mere utopia.

Among these, we remember Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in this year that marks the hundredth anniversary of her death. On this thirteenth day of November, many ecclesial communities celebrate her memory. This remarkable woman, who devoted her life to the service of migrants and became their patron saint, taught us to welcome, protect, promote and integrate our brothers and sisters. Through her intercession, may the Lord enable all of us to experience that “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”[19]

From the Vatican, 13 November 2017

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Migrants

(from Vatican Radio)

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years

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‘It’s intoxicating- I became obsessed’: has fitness gone too far?

With seven-day gym classes and unregulated instructors on Instagram, is our desire for practise get hazardous?

Lisa Andrews was looking for a speedy fitness secure. The 34 -year-old had” a bit of load to forget” a year after having her first child and, being both time-poor and on a fund, she decided to do it with the assistance of an online 12 -week training programme she’d seen advertised on Facebook.” There were the thousands of changeovers on there ,” Lisa tells me.” I was so excited to start. The program had several different levels so you could begin at whatever level you thought worked for you. Stupidly, I picked intermediate. It was really defying, with daily establisheds of high-intensity activities, and I would routinely find dog-tired and wholly out of sigh by the end of it- but I was on a high. As I get fitter, I began to really desire the training. I looked forward to it, talked about it all the time, got acquaintances to sign up. I became fairly evangelical. Sometimes I’d even do two sessions a date. I’d bounced other activities to work out- because if I had to miss a discussion, I’d appear depressed and fretted it would thwart my change .”

But when” niggling anguishes” in her feet and ankles developed into something more severe, Lisa was unable to go to work. An X-ray confirmed that she had stress fractures in two places available in her hoof. Bound up in a big boot-like aircast, she struggled to walk for weeks and was told to avoid any weight-bearing training for months, until the bones are absolutely mended.” I had become obsessed ,” she says now.” I was wholly into it and the’ community’ of people online doing the same stuff. I’d be on Instagram all the time, looking at other people’s conversions. I do feel silly. I should know better- but it is psychologically intoxicating .”

Using Instagram, blogs and YouTube to get fit is fast becoming de rigueur. And despite get collectively fatter and more sedentary, the British invest evidence amounts of coin rehearsal. Representations from the 2017 UK State of the Fitness Industry report show that the sector is worth more than PS4. 7bn yearly- up more than 6% on its first year before. A speedy search for the #fitspo hashtag on Instagram draws up almost 47 million images- parties in workout gear promoting weights, close-ups of ultra-defined abs, bulbous biceps, “transformation” word-paintings( taken before and after fat loss)- each one advocating a programme more punishing than the last.

These daytimes, hardcore fitness exchanges. Even Nike, which stimulated its call with that all-inclusive Just Do It tagline, has taken to lambasting joggers in its latest ad blitz:” If You Like It Slow, Jog On”, or” You Prevail Some Or You Acquire Some”, exclaim its new billboards. Gyms guide” extend hard” advertisements, with discounted packs for those taking up inexhaustible classifies for short periods of period, such as 10 classifies in 10 days- the kind of training that numerous dub” binge workouts “.

But nowhere is full-on teach more powerfully advocated than on social media, where inspirational paraphrases such as” Pain is Weakness Leaving The Body” and” Sweat Is Your Fat Crying” are liked and shared billions of occasions. In the age of “wellth”, a well-honed tricep is more desirable than the latest duet of decorator shoes. The so-called world-wide of “fitspo” began as a niche practice for gym nerds to share tips-off and document how their bodies changed, before spreading into a whole lifestyle progress. Instagram’s short videos lend themselves to fitness content; beings started following routines in the gym.

Fitness progress have been around a very long time- think back to Jane Fonda, The Green Goddess and Mr Motivator- but works out has become a lot more complex since the aerobics periods, says Rick Miller, a clinical and plays dietician.” Increasingly, there seems to be this feeling of,’ Why would I go for a soothing 5km trot or a moderate aerobic discussion when I can do a punishing high-intensity set ?'” he tells me over lunch. High-intensity training( mixing all-out outbursts of pleasure with short remainders) goes mixed re-examines from health professionals: some swear by the fast develops, while many believe that unsupervised employ of this kind can cause health problems.

” Many young person I construe are completely preoccupied with Instagram fitness stars ,” Miller says,” and they follow workouts from so-called tutors they don’t know, which may not be right for their own bodies or their levels of fitness. Fitness athletes are adepts online, but their followers often try to instruct at the standard of health professionals player, without the core level of fitness. Following this type of workouts can very often to be translated into injury and burnout. Were I to recommend some of the things that fitness bloggers recommend- levels of practise, nutritional advice- I would get struck off .”

The National Careers Service was pointed out that training to become a fitness teach can only be done on the job at a gym, as an apprentice, or via a college route. Becoming a personal manager( PT) is more advanced. PTs are often self-employed, and they need insurance, first-aid exercise, an awareness of dissection and physiology, and a qualification, which takes anything from six weeks 3 months to achieve. Increasingly, trainers tell me, gyms are looking for another asset in their PTs: they want them to be photogenic, with a big social media following.

Zanna Van Dijk:’ When I look back at my old-time uprights, I cringe .’ Photograph: Getty Images

Some Insta-fitness personalities have personal education suitabilities, but numerous do not. Often, there is no way of telling who is trained and who isn’t, without asking them. Anyone with more than 100,000 followers, nonetheless, irrespective of their qualifications, is deemed an “influencer”, courted by brands eager to reach their adherents. That’s a fact that tempers many offline personal trainers, who was of the view that the unqualified yet famous ones devalue their profession.” Online curricula want people to feel as if they have their own- cheap- personal trainer ,” one tells me.” As some of them are wholly unskilled and the programmes are really’ one length fits all ‘, current realities couldn’t be further from the truth. It realizes reputable personal trainers seem outrageously expensive .”

It is a sentiment resembled by one health and allure magazine writer, who asks to remain anonymous because her ideas don’t tally with that of her bos.” These epoches, a strong Instagram following, good gene reserve and even better spray sunburn can construct you a fitness ace, regardless of what qualifications you have. Not only do many of these’ fitness virtuosoes’ know little about what constitutes safe usage( the truth is that no amount of likes come in handy when you need to solve a gym-induced injury ), they likewise create a inaccurate gumption of what fit and healthy looks like- and it doesn’t ever look 21 and great in a bikini. Include to that the fact that these social media adepts get paid to alter fitness devices, gambits and protein shakes, and you’ve a whole loading of dangerously misguided adherents .”

No one would deny that people becoming more active is anything other than a good event. Millennials claim to enjoy working out as much as going out; gyms have become stylish, social openings where people invest their Friday nights and Saturday mornings, often doing back-to-back first-class. Revolving, boxing and hybrid cardio-barre workouts at city-centre-based studios often have waiting lists for evening or weekend seminars, when people would traditionally be kicking back with a potion( fewer parties aged between 16 and 24 suck than ever before, according to the Office of National Statistics ). Gyms are designed with stylish interiors and high-impact facet walls- all the better to post to Instagram.

And while the rest of the fashion sector strives, activewear- now not so much a category of apparel as a way of life, led by leggings and cultivate tops- has already become big business. Morgan Stanley forecasts the workout clothe sector to be worth $83 bn a year globally over the next three years. Gymwear is no longer age-old jogging posteriors or baggy T-shirts; it’s cut-outs and mesh- robes you can wear all day, seven days a week.

It’s a warm Monday lunchtime and I am sitting next to a dough oven in a sourdough bakery in Battersea, south London. Where else to assemble a 24 -year-old characterized personal trainer and full-time fitness blogger? This is one of Zanna Van Dijk‘s favourite hangouts: when she’s not working out( or “socialing” herself doing so ), Van Dijk and her boyfriend run an Instagram account devote to where to find the best brunch. There is a lot weighing about the type of alternative milk to be served with her americano. Later this afternoon, she tells me, she is getting the representation for Earth tattooed on her wrist because,” I’m a vegetarian for countries around the world .”

Van Dijk is towering, about 6ft, and lean. She has long, blond mane, immaculate makeup and more than 180, 000 adherents on Instagram. She learnt speech therapy at Sheffield University, but after graduating went into fitness blogging full era.” For me, fitness started as a lane to lose my’ Fresher’s 15′[ a reference to the heavines first-year university students can gain ]. I documented it, picked up 35,000 partisans and didn’t know what to do with them. So I took a year off, endeavoured to London, started to work as a PT, made an income and forged partnerships with firebrands. I did a six-week intensive route and got it sponsored, as long as I blogged about it. As my online chart grew, I shortened my personal instruct task- now I learn parties one morning a week. Otherwise, I’m editing videos or blogposts- I do three of these each a week. I’ve written a book, I’ve brought out jumpers[ which say’ Coffee and carbs’ on them ], and I’m an Adidas envoy .”

Van Dijk acknowledges occasions were quite different when she was starting out.” When I look back at my age-old berths, I cringe. I reckon:’ Gosh, people know good-for-nothing! You had completely the incorrect outcome of the stick !’ I used to try and be super-lean, and now I certainly don’t care if I am lean or not- I want to be fit .” She violates off to vlog, before we look through her Instagram demographics together.

” My following is 81% dames, 19% beings ,” she says.” The biggest audience is 25- to 34 -year-olds, more older males, more younger women, mostly London, mostly UK .” More older humanities? Isn’t that a bit creepy? Van Dijk doesn’t react. Does she appear a responsibility to her followers?” You want to be 100% honest and share everything, but the other day, I did a video where I indicated my figure. It was all about self-confidence and self-love, which is what I am all about, but person observation:’ I just think this video is drawing attention to different people’s bodies and their appearings .’ That wasn’t its intention, that’s how it’s being comprehended .”

Van Dijk argues that her admirers shouldn’t compare themselves with her.” It’s really hard. I teach four days per week or maybe five ,” she says.” A slew of young girls will look at me and think:’ I want to look like she examines and I want to do what she does ,’ and that’s when I have to be so careful .”

In that gumption, she experiences she has to protect people from themselves.” If you’re someone who has a negative mindset or is in a vulnerable place, you can easily access information that you could use mischievously. If you’re someone with an eating disorder or an infatuation with employ, Instagram is no longer an good home to be .”

Celebrity manager James Duigan( right ):’ There’s no guarantee you’re doing things right online’

How much responsibility do online trainers really make for parties copying the workouts they recommend? Jean-Claude Vacassin, the founder of boutique London gym W10, is not a fan of fitness via social media or, as he expressions it “excer-train-ment”. ” What parties assure on social media is selling ,” he tells me on the phone.” Extreme fitness exchanges, it’s exciting. It used to be that moving a marathon was hardcore. Now, that’s not enough: you have to do a multi-day ultra-marathon. A mint of these online training regimen is directed at millennials who want to buy on the first clink and transform their body on the second- and they push themselves more hard-boiled. No one wants to invest eight weeks moving more and snacking less these days because, sadly, beings don’t believe basic practise, done well, is going to get them anywhere. There’s this idea that it’s boring .” He quotes the case of a developer who got a deal with a complement companionship because he works out a lot and has hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers.” But does that make he knows what he’s doing? No! He’s a make , not a personal coach .”

Vacassin lends:” In our gym, we have gym criteria. Parties undergo an assessment before they get a programme. Hiit[ high intensity] training courses and involved employs under tirednes should not be in 90% of people’s fitness regimes because they don’t have the physical ability. These online reports trick beings into thinking “its so easy”. No one posts a bad exercising. No one posts the exercising they missed. No one posts the depression they have when they get injured or such relationships it expenditure them. All you see is the good stuff .”

Deep squats, lunges, deadlifts and high-intensity cardio are the mainstay of online exercisings, and stop Cameron Tudor, proprietor of West London Physiotherapy, in business.” We’ve seen an increase in the numbers of clients coming to us having disabled themselves doing online workouts ,” he says.” People get hurt predominantly because the theme is:’ This is what I do and there’s no reason it won’t work for you .’ Extrapolated across the population, that’s not going to be good. While it’s a great circumstance that people are being encouraged to be active, if you’ve never elevated a barbell and then start elevating 10 kg, you’ll put your materials at risk .” Part of the problem, Tudor says, is in the age changes.” The coaches are generally in their early 20 s, but a lot of the person or persons use the programmes are mid-to-late 30 s and 40 s. That subjects, because your tissues are far more resilient when you’re under 30.”

All exercise carries specific risks of harm, but the lack of supervision means that online programmes can carry more probability. Cara, 28, from Birmingham, was doing an online squats defy when she damaged her sciatic nerve.” I am sweeping about what happened to me ,” she says,” but I’m not sure what anyone can do about it. It was my decided not to do the programme. I merely didn’t know it wasn’t the right thing for me .”

Natalie Burley, 37, from Chichester, swapped daily hearings on her exercise bike for an online programme to regain some fitness after her second child. In her fifth week, she inaugurated knowing knee anguish.” A physio was just telling me I’d exacerbated the ligaments on the outside of my knee and I had to rest for six weeks. Now I have to wear a knee funding .”

Fitness stars themselves aren’t immune from both physical or psychological traumata as a result of their jobs. Van Dijk tells me she cracked her handwriting doing box jumps last year. Fitness Instagrammer Queen City Sweat( nearly 50,000 adherents) wrote a pole in June admitting she had become “addicted” to activity in 2016, blaming the pressures of social media.” It becomes so simple to start equating yourself to others on here, which led me to develop a mindset of’ How skinny can I get ?’ rather than’ How healthy can I be ?'” she wrote.

According to a 2008 Journal of Health Psychology study, girls reported an ever increasing negative mood, sadnes and nervousnes after merely 30 times of deeming fitness periodicals that promote an” sporting principle “. Social media means you don’t have to buy a publication to discover these likeness; they’re in your newsfeed. The BMJ has identified practise craving as a originating trouble, feigning up to 10% of the employing population. Meanwhile, research from Flinders University in Australia found that online “fitspo” personas predominantly illustrate the thin or sporting principle for women or the muscular ideology for men which, says clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Orban, can lead to mental difficulties, more.” Images considered on Instagram can represent one uniform, idealised standard of attractiveness- one not achievable to most young people .”

I ask celebrity personal trainer James Duigan if he has were part of Instagram’s fitness culture. “Massively,” he says from his gym in western London.” Social media facilitated my business Bodyism, and I admit that. But I think there’s a difference between that and photos of beings publicizing commodities and selling exert and nutrition curricula, which can be physically and emotionally destructive .”

Duigan attained his name grooming the likes of Elle Macpherson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley- both terribly successful simulations, neither with particularly achievable physiques- but “he il be” definite about his issues with online fitness programs.” Too many of these videos peculiarity complex moves and beings get hurt ,” he says.” From a physiological perspective, there’s no guaranty you’re doing things right online .”

Duigan tells me the story of an 18 -year-old client who has just connected his gym, after growing preoccupied with an online workout” advocated by very thin models and reality TV stars “. He sighs:” She developed an anorexia nervosa and was under medical supervision for 18 months. It attains me enraged. Numerous online workouts peculiarity modelings and they examine so compelling, playing into our deepest anxieties. But regular parties won’t achieve the same results.”

Lisa Andrews has now made a full retrieval, but is specified not to succumb to online training a second epoch.” I have removed social media from my phone so I can’t fall back into that vortex. And I’ve connected a gym where they’ve made a programme particularly for me. It’s early days and I know it will take time, but I’m having fun again .”

Some figures have been changed .

* Noting on this article? If you would like your explain to be considered for inclusion on Weekend magazine’s words page in reproduce, please email weekend @theguardian. com, including your name and address( not for pamphlet ).

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In which Passepartout undergoes, at a speed of twenty miles an hour, a course of mormon history

During the night of the 5th of December, the train ran south-easterly for about fifty miles; then rose an equal distance in a north-easterly direction, towards the Great Salt Lake.

Passepartout, about nine o'clock, went out upon the platform to take the air. The weather was cold, the heavens grey, but it was not snowing. The sun's disc, enlarged by the mist, seemed an enormous ring of gold, and Passepartout was amusing himself by calculating its value in pounds sterling, when he was diverted from this interesting study by a strange-looking personage who made his appearance on the platform.

This personage, who had taken the train at Elko, was tall and dark, with black moustache, black stockings, a black silk hat, a black waistcoat, black trousers, a white cravat, and dogskin gloves. He might have been taken for a clergyman. He went from one end of the train to the other, and affixed to the door of each car a notice written in manuscript.

Passepartout approached and read one of these notices, which stated that Elder William Hitch, Mormon missionary, taking advantage of his presence on train No. 48, would deliver a lecture on Mormonism in car No. 117, from eleven to twelve o'clock; and that he invited all who were desirous of being instructed concerning the mysteries of the religion of the "Latter Day Saints" to attend.

"I'll go," said Passepartout to himself. He knew nothing of Mormonism except the custom of polygamy, which is its foundation.

The news quickly spread through the train, which contained about one hundred passengers, thirty of whom, at most, attracted by the notice, ensconced themselves in car No. 117. Passepartout took one of the front seats. Neither Mr. Fogg nor Fix cared to attend.

At the appointed hour Elder William Hitch rose, and, in an irritated voice, as if he had already been contradicted, said, "I tell you that Joe Smith is a martyr, that his brother Hiram is a martyr, and that the persecutions of the United States Government against the prophets will also make a martyr of Brigham Young. Who dares to say the contrary?"

No one ventured to gainsay the missionary, whose excited tone contrasted curiously with his naturally calm visage. No doubt his anger arose from the hardships to which the Mormons were actually subjected. The government had just succeeded, with some difficulty, in reducing these independent fanatics to its rule. It had made itself master of Utah, and subjected that territory to the laws of the Union, after imprisoning Brigham Young on a charge of rebellion and polygamy. The disciples of the prophet had since redoubled their efforts, and resisted, by words at least, the authority of Congress. Elder Hitch, as is seen, was trying to make proselytes on the very railway trains.

Then, emphasising his words with his loud voice and frequent gestures, he related the history of the Mormons from Biblical times: how that, in Israel, a Mormon prophet of the tribe of Joseph published the annals of the new religion, and bequeathed them to his son Mormon; how, many centuries later, a translation of this precious book, which was written in Egyptian, was made by Joseph Smith, junior, a Vermont farmer, who revealed himself as a mystical prophet in 1825; and how, in short, the celestial messenger appeared to him in an illuminated forest, and gave him the annals of the Lord.

Several of the audience, not being much interested in the missionary's narrative, here left the car; but Elder Hitch, continuing his lecture, related how Smith, junior, with his father, two brothers, and a few disciples, founded the church of the "Latter Day Saints," which, adopted not only in America, but in England, Norway and Sweden, and Germany, counts many artisans, as well as men engaged in the liberal professions, among its members; how a colony was established in Ohio, a temple erected there at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars, and a town built at Kirkland; how Smith became an enterprising banker, and received from a simple mummy showman a papyrus scroll written by Abraham and several famous Egyptians.

The Elder's story became somewhat wearisome, and his audience grew gradually less, until it was reduced to twenty passengers. But this did not disconcert the enthusiast, who proceeded with the story of Joseph Smith's bankruptcy in 1837, and how his ruined creditors gave him a coat of tar and feathers; his reappearance some years afterwards, more honourable and honoured than ever, at Independence, Missouri, the chief of a flourishing colony of three thousand disciples, and his pursuit thence by outraged Gentiles, and retirement into the Far West.

Ten hearers only were now left, among them honest Passepartout, who was listening with all his ears. Thus he learned that, after long persecutions, Smith reappeared in Illinois, and in 1839 founded a community at Nauvoo, on the Mississippi, numbering twenty-five thousand souls, of which he became mayor, chief justice, and general-in-chief; that he announced himself, in 1843, as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States; and that finally, being drawn into ambuscade at Carthage, he was thrown into prison, and assassinated by a band of men disguised in masks.

Passepartout was now the only person left in the car, and the Elder, looking him full in the face, reminded him that, two years after the assassination of Joseph Smith, the inspired prophet, Brigham Young, his successor, left Nauvoo for the banks of the Great Salt Lake, where, in the midst of that fertile region, directly on the route of the emigrants who crossed Utah on their way to California, the new colony, thanks to the polygamy practised by the Mormons, had flourished beyond expectations.

"And this," added Elder William Hitch, "this is why the jealousy of Congress has been aroused against us! Why have the soldiers of the Union invaded the soil of Utah? Why has Brigham Young, our chief, been imprisoned, in contempt of all justice? Shall we yield to force? Never! Driven from Vermont, driven from Illinois, driven from Ohio, driven from Missouri, driven from Utah, we shall yet find some independent territory on which to plant our tents. And you, my brother," continued the Elder, fixing his angry eyes upon his single auditor, "will you not plant yours there, too, under the shadow of our flag?"

"No!" replied Passepartout courageously, in his turn retiring from the car, and leaving the Elder to preach to vacancy.

During the lecture the train had been making good progress, and towards half-past twelve it reached the northwest border of the Great Salt Lake. Thence the passengers could observe the vast extent of this interior sea, which is also called the Dead Sea, and into which flows an American Jordan. It is a picturesque expanse, framed in lofty crags in large strata, encrusted with white salt-- a superb sheet of water, which was formerly of larger extent than now, its shores having encroached with the lapse of time, and thus at once reduced its breadth and increased its depth.

The Salt Lake, seventy miles long and thirty-five wide, is situated three miles eight hundred feet above the sea. Quite different from Lake Asphaltite, whose depression is twelve hundred feet below the sea, it contains considerable salt, and one quarter of the weight of its water is solid matter, its specific weight being 1,170, and, after being distilled, 1,000. Fishes are, of course, unable to live in it, and those which descend through the Jordan, the Weber, and other streams soon perish.

The country around the lake was well cultivated, for the Mormons are mostly farmers; while ranches and pens for domesticated animals, fields of wheat, corn, and other cereals, luxuriant prairies, hedges of wild rose, clumps of acacias and milk-wort, would have been seen six months later. Now the ground was covered with a thin powdering of snow.

The train reached Ogden at two o'clock, where it rested for six hours, Mr. Fogg and his party had time to pay a visit to Salt Lake City, connected with Ogden by a branch road; and they spent two hours in this strikingly American town, built on the pattern of other cities of the Union, like a checker-board, "with the sombre sadness of right-angles," as Victor Hugo expresses it. The founder of the City of the Saints could not escape from the taste for symmetry which distinguishes the Anglo-Saxons. In this strange country, where the people are certainly not up to the level of their institutions, everything is done "squarely"--cities, houses, and follies.

The travellers, then, were promenading, at three o'clock, about the streets of the town built between the banks of the Jordan and the spurs of the Wahsatch Range. They saw few or no churches, but the prophet's mansion, the court-house, and the arsenal, blue-brick houses with verandas and porches, surrounded by gardens bordered with acacias, palms, and locusts. A clay and pebble wall, built in 1853, surrounded the town; and in the principal street were the market and several hotels adorned with pavilions. The place did not seem thickly populated. The streets were almost deserted, except in the vicinity of the temple, which they only reached after having traversed several quarters surrounded by palisades. There were many women, which was easily accounted for by the "peculiar institution" of the Mormons; but it must not be supposed that all the Mormons are polygamists. They are free to marry or not, as they please; but it is worth noting that it is mainly the female citizens of Utah who are anxious to marry, as, according to the Mormon religion, maiden ladies are not admitted to the possession of its highest joys. These poor creatures seemed to be neither well off nor happy. Some--the more well-to-do, no doubt-- wore short, open, black silk dresses, under a hood or modest shawl; others were habited in Indian fashion.

Passepartout could not behold without a certain fright these women, charged, in groups, with conferring happiness on a single Mormon. His common sense pitied, above all, the husband. It seemed to him a terrible thing to have to guide so many wives at once across the vicissitudes of life, and to conduct them, as it were, in a body to the Mormon paradise with the prospect of seeing them in the company of the glorious Smith, who doubtless was the chief ornament of that delightful place, to all eternity. He felt decidedly repelled from such a vocation, and he imagined--perhaps he was mistaken-- that the fair ones of Salt Lake City cast rather alarming glances on his person. Happily, his stay there was but brief. At four the party found themselves again at the station, took their places in the train, and the whistle sounded for starting. Just at the moment, however, that the locomotive wheels began to move, cries of "Stop! stop!" were heard.

Trains, like time and tide, stop for no one. The gentleman who uttered the cries was evidently a belated Mormon. He was breathless with running. Happily for him, the station had neither gates nor barriers. He rushed along the track, jumped on the rear platform of the train, and fell, exhausted, into one of the seats.

Passepartout, who had been anxiously watching this amateur gymnast, approached him with lively interest, and learned that he had taken flight after an unpleasant domestic scene.

When the Mormon had recovered his breath, Passepartout ventured to ask him politely how many wives he had; for, from the manner in which he had decamped, it might be thought that he had twenty at least.

"One, sir," replied the Mormon, raising his arms heavenward --"one, and that was enough!"

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