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pandawritesmanythings · 4 years

Text

Loki x Reader (Medieval AU)

Chapter Summary: Your adventure continues! But is the future as clear as it seems?

Warnings: None, I think!

Word Count: 2,2k

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry about not posting last week, I just needed to recharge and finish this chapter in a way that I was satisfied with. But I’m back. Don’t worry about it! Thanks for being patient!

Masterlist

"I do believe that I've never tried this type of food."

There was something that smelled awfully like fish but didn't look like it on a stick in your hand. It had been deep-fried, that was for sure.

"This is our typical street food, your majesty." Sigyn explained.

"Is it now?" You turned to Wanda who carried on her arms a basket of gifts for many of her friends, her boyfriend, and her brother. "Wanda, how much does it differ from the food of the streets of Europe?" You spoke referring to the territory that she was from.

"Well, our food is definitely more sophisticated. I would compare it more to the food of Southern America or Asia if I had to."

"You've traveled Midgard, m' lady?" Sigyn asked Wanda, her curiosity piqued.

"Yes, when I was younger we would get thrown around, me and my brother. Finally, we found a home in Northern America, where the capital is." She explained. "But I've seen most of our country!"

Sigyn was deeply invested. You could easily read it on her face. "Do you have a preference as to which place is better?"

Wanda seemed to think for a while... "Well, I am biased to say that the state of Europe is wonderful. After all, I spent most of my childhood in different provinces of the state, like Sokovia, Denmark, and Russia." She began, you rolled your eyes since you knew she was about to go off, "However, I must admit that the South is also quite lovely!"

"And what about the capital?" Sigyn asked, luckily, since it was sure that Wanda was about to go on about the South and they would be in town until sunset if that was the case.

She thought about it for a moment, hand on her chin thinking, wracking her brain for an answer.

"It is just a city. Nothing truly that magnificent."

Sigyn's eyes widened to a comical size, she then turned to look at you quickly, which made you burst into laughter.

"Do not worry my dear! Wanda has the tendency to speak her mind when she feels comfortable." You laughed, hand in your stomach because of Sigyn's bewildered expression.

"Oh.. Heh..." She chuckled and slowly relaxed. "Then, what do you think, your majesty? Do you agree?"

You let your laughter die down and answered with a teasing smile. "I do agree that compared to the luscious jungle of the south and the cold mountains of the north the capital is most underwhelming." You gently shoved Wanda's arm. "However, you sell us short Wanda! The capital is still a wonderful place! Especially during the season's festivals!"

You looked back down at your hand which held the snack you had bought for the afternoon and after taking a deep breath as you bit into it.

Yeah, definitely not ladylike.

However, the taste made up for your lack of manners. "This is fantastic! May I ask what this is?"

"Octopus your majesty."

"I've heard of it, but they only use it in some European provinces that are closer to Asgard." You spoke, the flavors of the meal still dancing in your tongue, making you take another undignified bite.

"Forgive me, I would have thought that you would have a large variety of supplies in the palace."

"Travel distances are too long. Uncooked food would spoil since we are in the center, we always encourage each state to instead give the food among the people. After all, as monarchs we are here to serve them, are we not?"

It was amazing to Sigyn how much you repeated that in the short time you had been together. Did you really believe that, or were you just trying to convince her? Corrupt monarchs were not something new for her. Could she believe the word of another one? Especially of the one who had been selected to separate her and her beloved?

"Princess, look!" Wand suddenly pointed towards a group of girls who were braiding ladies' hair with flowers in exchange for some coins.

"Ah! That looks lovely, shall we try?"

Sigyn looked unsure, but after pulling her along she had no other choice but to follow.

After a couple of minutes, her blonde hair had been braided with white and blue forget-me-not's. Wanda had a crown of Marigolds on top of her head. And the girls had made a crown of various flowers for you, including some very beautiful orchids. You completed your transaction and gave the girls a little extra, to which they squealed in joy and continued to call and attend customers.

The three of you continued your way downtown, the mood light from the darling experience. Your hearts felt light, and you spent the rest of the day running around and discovering the rest of the city.

"Oh my! I almost forgot something." Sigyn said while stopping in front of a small bakery. "Forgive me, your majesty, I must pick up an order here. Would you give me a minute?"

She knew that Kassian, the baker's son, would keep the bread for her family safe, but she really needed to take it back home. And for some reason, she felt like you wouldn't be rude about it.

"Of course! We'll wait out here!" You nodded with a bright smile while Sigyn rushed inside.

"She's very sweet," Wanda spoke as soon as Sigyn was out of earshot.

"Indeed. Quite the worker, and very attentive."

"Do you think it would be a good idea to bring her back to Midgard as part of the help?"

"As much as I'd like that, she must have family and friends here. I wouldn't want to impose anything on her, less on a warring country."

"Makes sense..."

"So, is Vision thinking about the next step?" You nudged her.

"Oh hush! We still haven't even told Pietro."

"I would have thought he knew!" You almost gasped, but it came out more like a laugh.

"Well, he doesn't. And until he does, I know Vis is too much of a gentleman to propose." She laughed, and in her eyes, you could see the wistfulness, the joy...

That feeling...

"Wanda?"

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Not at all..." She turned to pay full attention to you.

"How does it feel to be in love?"

Her smile dropped... She knew why you were asking. "Oh, my dear friend..." You felt her arms surround you in a hug. "I'm sorry..."

"It's fine. I ask because I wish to at least imagine... Now I know that I'll never truly be in love, so might as well get a picture of it, right?" You shrugged, trying to shake off the sadness that was in your voice.

"I suppose..." She paused, hesitantly, clearly at a loss for words. "Do you know when during a summer night we used to go out and dance with our friends? How our dresses would twirl and it seemed like there was nothing else in the world but our little group?"

"I remember... It felt like a high, a bliss. The warmth of the summer nights helped that effect..."

"I would think that being in love is similar... It is two people who when they are together nothing else matters. Because you two are so comfortable, and trust each other so much, that it seems like the world has frozen around you..." Her mind seemed to turn back to those years, an unspoken yearning palpable. "At least that's how I can best describe it..."

"Thank you, Wanda... That's a beautiful sentiment..."

The door of the small bakery opened and Sigyn came out carrying a basket with some loaves of bread. "Thank you, Kassian!"

"Wait, Lady Sigyn!" A young man handed her something and the blonde placed it on her basket and walked towards you and Wanda.

"Is that the baker?" You asked with curiosity.

"That is the baker's son. Kassian is a fine gentleman." She answered with her passive expression back on.

"Oh, he's fine alright. If you don't mind, what did he give you?" Wanda asked, teasing her.

"I actually don't know," Sigyn answered fetching the container that he had handed to her. She opened it and found pantries inside. Pastries she knew that she would never be able to afford on a weekly, maybe not even monthly basis.

"Oh my! So sweet!" You smiled at the tiny, but delicious-looking gift.

"Looks like you have an admirer Sigyn!" Wanda squealed playfully.

"Oh no! I already have my heart promised to... Someone else..." She said, her tone slightly embarrassed and hesitant.

"Alright Wanda, leave her alone." You nudged Wanda with a smirk after sensing Sigyn's discomfort. It was obviously a sensitive topic, so you respected her boundaries.

The golden rays of the sun began to lower, bathing everything with an orange glow.

"We should go ladies. Everyone will worry otherwise."

"Agreed." You nodded. "Let's make haste."

The three of you dashed through the crowded pathways all the way into the castle, and like it were providence, you found no one obstructing your way.

When you approached the back door to the kitchens, Sigyn stopped you.

"Yes, what is it dear?"

Although the last bit of your conversation had been sensitive, the look on her face at the moment was different from this morning, way more relaxed, a lot more carefree. "I just wanted to say... I understand why you're here. And I'd be glad to help you..."

"Really?" You wanted her to accept, you just didn't know if she would. "Thank you, dear. Do you already know what you want in return?"

"Not yet." She bit her lip, Sigyn's mind was going a mile minute without your knowledge. If her plan was going to work, she needed to still seem aloof about it. "But as soon as I can I will let you know."

"Remember, anything you ask for I will find a way and help you."

"Thank you..." she said, taking your hands on hers. "I really appreciate it."

The three of you sneaked into the palace, all acting like children who had gotten away with something. Which to be honest, you had.

The palace halls were surprisingly empty, which made sneaking back towards your room that much easier.

On the way, you found Astrid, the palace baker, whose face was relieved as soon as she caught sight of the three of you.

"Your majesty! You're back! And safely, thank heavens!" She whispered excitedly.

"You kept your mouth shut, right Astrid?" Sigyn asked, with a teasing smile.

"Of course! Well..." She nervously responded.

"Well?" Suddenly a pit began forming on Sigyn's stomach.

"I was beginning to get worried when the sun got so low... I was going to tell prince Loki, but..."

You and Sigyn both perked up at the mention of the man's name. And most worryingly, at the uncertainty of her tone.

"What is it Astrid, dear?" You asked softly, urging her to speak.

She took in a deep breath. "The court has been called to session. Apparently, Jotuns have been sighted near the junction border between Midgard and Alfheim."

It felt like your whole body had been frozen. The Jotuns had managed to sneak unsuspecting through the many provinces and border security? They were genetically taller than all of you were. The tallest man of Midgard only reached their shoulders! How were they able to sneak past undetected?!

"Do you think they'll allow me to be there?" The cogs of your mind were turning. With your brother coming soon, you couldn't spare his security while traveling.

"No. They will consider this an in-land security issue. They won't let a foreigner inside, not even if she is to be the king's daughter-in-law..." Sigyn replied, hand on her chin. Thoughts also swirled on her head, what could she do?

"I need to know what happens at that meeting." You said.

"Well, you could ask Prince Loki..." Sigyn began, "But if you are still unsure about his words being true-"

"I will trust what he says."

"However, just as an extra precaution. I could sneak in with a pretext and hear as much information as I can. After all, these meetings don't stop just because the staff is shuffling around." Sigyn insisted, taking advantage of the deal...

You gave it a moment, thinking in your head about the best course of action. If you asked Loki maybe he would tell you about it. But what if...

"Alright, do what you must, but do not take any unnecessary risks. Understood?"

"Yes, your majesty." She bowed and quickly strutted away towards the court hall.

"Let us go to your room, princess," Wanda suggested, unclasping the hood and taking it from you.

"I must take my leave too, your majesty. Forgive me." Astrid added, and you nodded your approval as she bowed and shuffled away.

The rest of your walk to your room was filled with tense silence. Your brain was working, and Wanda knew better than to disturb you with reassurance.

Your life had never been easy, and you were aware of that. The roughness of your hands was proof enough.

"Wanda?" You called as she helped you get out of your dress.

"Yes?"

"Do you think I...?" You wanted the words to come out naturally, but they had become stuck to your throat. Your insecurities, your fears, your past... All of it was like boiling water in a teapot. Boiling, hot, bubbling, looking for a way out... But finding none.

You knew that if you let it out too fast it would explode. And even if you trusted Wanda, breaking down in front of her wasn't top of your priorities list.

"Nothing... Nevermind."

TAG LIST (OPEN):

@chxrryycola - @midnightmystic - @deathkat657 - @thatonefangirl111

#loki of asgard #loki odinson #loki #loki fic #loki fanfic #loki x reader #loki x sigyn #steve rogers x reader #medieval!au #medieval au

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cobraonthecob · 4 years

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list of my anti-LoK feelings

Excluding the Gaang’s treatment and trying to be spoiler free so that i can tell my brother about this, let’s go:

oh no it got long

none of this is in chronological order

- Poor mishandling of the concepts/conflicts (the Equalists being led by a bender)

- K/ya and Bum/i being treated poorly by the Air Acolytes simply because they aren’t airbenders

- Bloodbending being the only bending subset art that’s demonized (meanwhile lightningbending gets to power Republic City)

- Harmonic Convergence - just random people getting airbending instead of people discovering they have airbending because Air Nomads are nomads and are likely to have descendants everywhere and it’s quite possible that the reason why Air Nomads are the only nation with a population that’s made up of 100% benders is because they gave nonbending children away to other nations, those kids carry on the genes but noooo it’s the most spiritual art or some random bs.

- the name of Republic City - whyyyyyyy you could’ve named it the People’s City in Chinese or something

- Bu/mi getting airbending and apologizing to a statue of his dad for not being enough

- Te/nzin being the only Cloud kid with a family - because apparently airbending can only be passed down if there’s an airbending parent instead of bending being a wheel spin, coin toss, and draw of the hat chance combined with genetics so both Bumi and Kya could’ve had kids,,,but they didn’t.

- “There’s LGBTQ+ rep!!!” yeah one of them is in the Fog of Lost Souls and a terrible person, Ky/a’s sexuality was confirmed in a comic that a good majority of the fandom doesn’t read bc the ATLA comics are notoriously abysmal, while Korra and Asami were shoved in last minute

- Kor/rasa/mi being shoved in last minute and that’s not because Nickolodean wouldn’t let Br/yke do it, they literally had no endgame ship until the last minute.

- the Spirit portals. Ah yes, make the Spirit World more accessible and make the Northern Water Tribe have an easy way to invade the Southern Water Tribe

- Water Tribe War of Why Would the North Want the South Except for an Ego Boost - oh stars i could write an essay on this: first of all there’s no reason for the two to unite - they’re on opposite ends of the world, two nations are between the two tribes so the constant travel between the two tribes is just too much. Secondly, we don’t do colonization in this household but apparently the North wanted to be like So/zin-Azul/on-O/zai’s Fire Nation. Thirdly: why. just why.

- The Western fashions and architecture - why is there a big ol’ statue of Aang in Republic City waters a la Statue of Liberty style -_- and why is there Western fashion asfjakjfkdj give me qipaos and i’ll shut up about it. (literally if everyone was wearing a qipao to be fancy i would give LoK less grief except for like “kind of boring but at least you tried”)

- As/ami is treated as a side character instead of one of the main four because she’s “Not a bender” (being removed from major fight scenes)

- Asa/mi being everyone’s emotional support and no one gives support back (sounds like someone we know...coughkataracough)

- non-benders having their roles being downplayed, and I don’t mean the Equalists being scary and then poofing out of existence after the first season. Benders get to be in all the action, but non-benders are mainly left out and only brought in to prop up the benders

- immemorable/bad lines/immemorable characters (I can’t remember who was in what spot lol)

- the Spirit World looking more like Spirited Away rather than what it originally was (someone drew a bunch of Spirited Away LoK AU and I thought it was a bunch of Spirited Away screencaps until I saw little kid!Ko/rra and was like “????”)

- “spirits should live in harmony with humans” - world proceeds to get invaded with “spirit vines” along with ATLA fans going “wait what about spirits like Koh the Face-Stealer or an angry Hei Bai”

- non-con kisses. love triangles. didn’t need that but okay

- WHO PUT A WESTERN WEDDING IN AN ASIAN WORLD. WHY ARE YOU WEARING WHITE. DID SOMEONE DIE.

- wait i just looked up the screenshots for that wedding and now i’m mad again

- WHY IS THERE A EUROPEAN DRESS HERE. GET THIS OUT OF HERE BEFORE I CRACK MY KNUCKLES AND REDESIGN A WHOLE DRESS FOR Z/HU LI

- I do not care if they’re Water Tribe. This world was inspired by China, we’re applying the full-on white outfit = mourning color to all nations because I can and I will do that.

- relationships having drama and I mean the type of drama that makes you groan and turn off the TV

- Bo/leska being played for laughs (switch the genders and this whole ship is a nightmare upon nightmare)

- Tenzi/n looking like an A/ang clone and doesn’t even have a hint of anything to suggest he’s half SWT - would it have killed the designers to give him Water Tribe arm wrappings????

- okay I said i wasn’t going to talk about the Gaang but I’m talking about Tenz/in so whatever. anyways neither T/enzin nor any of his kids look like they have SWT heritage and like. skin color can skip a generation and get into another. One of the Cloud grandkids could at least be a little tan instead of the entire family being the same skin tone. Ik/ki could’ve had hair loopies. Me/elo could’ve had a SWT name, and R/ohan could’ve been a waterbender.

- Ko/rra going to confront Zah/eer with Mak/o, everyone thinks that because Ma/ko was with her for a very emotional time that they’re probably going to get together because that makes sense, right? Heck, both of them are there for each other in the Big Emotional Scenes.

- The framing of the K/orra-Za/heer confrontation - Zahee/r is higher than her/is equal to her height, visually symbolizing that he still has power over her. This is very different from TSR where Ka/tara faces down her demon (Y/on Rha), all cards are in her hands, he’s sitting on the ground while she’s standing tall.

there’s probably more but I’ve salted enough for now

#nightfalcon posts #nightfalcon rants #anti lok #lok salt #lok critical #long post

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ofcloudsandstars · 4 years

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Hey, dear! I've missed seeing you on my dash, how are you doing? What would you say your summer has been like? Sending lots of love and good vibes!

Ahhh this is so kind! I hope you have been well too. I am working on September’s forecast but I have been a bit slow since I am tired with some stuff going on. I am working on a sacred geometry virtual gallery for the plant alchemist mentor so I have been dizzy with motion sickness throwing this gallery together before the full moon haha.

Last week I just got back from the most insane adventure that I may probably get around to writing another endlessly long post about haha. (editing this post, it turns out that THIS has become the endlessly long post about it haha so I am having a read more added). CW: sex details. It may be TMI but I added a warning before lol

Anyway I was having this mutual attraction with this italian guy I met through work who ALSO has a venus in Scorpio like me. We were going to go on a date but the world succumbed to The Plague. He returned to Puglia to be with his family as he quit the company and his apartment so he can just chill and live for free while he figures stuff out, but he was flirting with me through text all throughout lockdown and begging me to visit him when it was safer to travel so I was like: Oh yeah?!?!?! And I booked a 5 day long first date/vacation to Puglia to be with him lmaoo. Venus in Scorpio is intense as hell but we just be like that. My close aries witch friend moved to Southern Italy with her BF too for the time being so I was like ok if stuff goes south she can come save me but this guy like took me FARRR AWAY on the southern coast like 3 hours from her omg. He booked beautiful places like old medieval stone villas (omg one place had a wooden four poster bed, a stone fireplace with a cauldron and a huge color-changing hot tub jacuzzi next to the bed lmaoooo) and we ate endless seafood and went to the beach everyday. Only set back is we were NOT SEXUALLY COMPATIBLE at ALL and it’s really sad cause yeah I got his star chart and over analyzed it before going over there but sometimes I doubt myself like ohh not everyone is their starchart to a T, like you should give people a chance. But he was e x a c t l y like his star chart.

First he has A LOT of trines like a lot of fire energy which is great. He’s super passionate, but the trines means he is too chill and positive which is nice but it means he has little motivation to do anything. (Think when there are great trine transits happening, it’s FANTASTIC for doing magic and manifesting things but those days the energy is so chill and harmonious you don’t even want to do anything and they can easily pass you by.) Meanwhile my chart?? It’s fucking SQUARES ALL DAY BABEY like Squares, Oppositions and more Squares. I have something called the grand cross on my fucking chart lmao. So that means I overthink, I can get stressed easily, my life soundtrack is just this long anxiety ridden drum and base background music as I fucking parkour through endless obstacles of racism, sexism, gender identity, fleeing the states cause it’s becoming a totalitarian government, learning a bunch of european languages and skills in case I gotta flee england next, thinking about the future, thinking about my actions in the present, thinking about how I can learn from the wounds of my past, lmao everything is thought about at least 1000 times. I also have a lot of Saturn energy my chart is Saturn dominant so there is a lot of planning, structure and organizing to me. Meanwhile since he is hosting he never has a plan and is always ‘go with the flow’ so sometimes it makes me nervous cause the first place he booked was some GHETTO sex motel that looked like sex traffic was happening in there and I was in the middle of no where with him and I was nervous like praying to the Spirits of Nature and Venus to help me work this out haha. But it was ok.

His life is so easy cause he’s like a handsome italian man with a mom that wants him to live at home with her until he finds a wife to mommy him. He never has to do any house work or really any work at all cause his parents will support him cause that’s normal in Italy. Honestly if I got with him I would never get that same treatment I would also be hauling ass in the background to cater to him and our kids until the day I die. He also doesn’t really understand what it’s like to be of a group of people ostracized by society. He is a hot cishet white man and has a whole community of good friends and a mom to support him with whatever he does.

He’s also like really traditional and was raised Christian. I told him I was a witch and he was like ohhhhhhhmyGOddddddd and thought it was fucking weird haha and I was like: YOU NEVER NOTICED ME AND ROXANNE (my aries witch friend who moved to Italy who literally wears massive metal pentagrams everyday) ARE WITCHES?! And he was like: I do not know about this haha.

Lastly about his starchart which worried me when I first reviewed it is that our natal mars are at a square. I mean I have had sex with someone’s Mars in Aries before and it was great but his sex?? Was TERRIBLEEEE!!!!!!!!! TERRIBLEEEEEEEE OHHHH MY GOD. I am going to add a CW for some sex details in case you want to scroll but like:

My Mars is in Cancer so I do like it to be sensual and cuddly with some oral action but he was like so terrible and disgusting and I feel like he probably only slept with girls in his country who may have been traditional like him and never said anything to him cause I am like I dunno how you got away with this for so long having terrible sex like this. Like so grabby and aggressive it fucking hurts like he would have left bruises and I hate that shit like sex is supposed to feel good!! I don’t mind if you grab my ass cause it’s just sacks of fat lol but my boobs have shit in them like glands you can’t be grabbing that!! And sorry this may be TMI but like I’d communicate with him all the spots I’d like him to go to cause they are the most sensitive ones and he’d just ATTACK THEM like some type of police dog sniffing hidden cocaine I am like BITCH CALM DOWN I literally would have to stop him so many times so he wouldn’t hurt me. And he once said: Oh but I like that (being aggressive in bed) and that annoyed me so much I was like: Oh so if you like aggression do you want me to grab and twist your balls in the same way? And he was like: no. lol

And then his kissing was tErrible. He wouldn’t even start out sensual he would literally just shove his whole tongue in my mouth and it’d be slimy and terrible and tastes like the ash from the weed he’s always smoking and once during sex I bent down to make out with him and he literally just stuck his tongue out in preparation I paused like: NO!!! Like omg he got me so heated I am so heated just typing this lmao. I am also really sensitive with like sensory things and have misophonia so sometimes if certain stimulations are stimulating me the wrong way I get more put off than the usual person and sex is so intimate like every time he grabbed a sensitive part of me I wanted to slap him the fuck back haha. The funniest part though is when I’d give up on him trying to pleasure me (everything was terrible, the fingering was like someone who is in a rush to get the elevator and is jamming the button impatiently; the actual fucking was like.. off beat?? And he could NEVER LAST; he gave me head once but that was interesting I felt like he was trying to karate chop my clit with his tongue lmao I was like please stop omg) I was like fine ok just lie down and I will give you head and we can get this over with.. And when I gave him head for the first time he did not moan or anything he would just say: Mamma Mia!!; and FUCKING HELL it would kill the mood but also I couldn’t concentrate cause I’d be fucking laughing just choking on him laughing like I could NOT.

-- End sex detail mention lol

Anyway I am always wary of sex with Mars in Aries people but this experience is going to make me avoid them and have trust issues haha. Anyway I got a lovely free vacation in a beautiful region with incredible food. His friends were nice though my Italian is really terrible and nonexistent (omg also speaking about communication, he forgot most of his english so it was a challenge speaking to him haha). We were both wild as hell to do this even though we didn’t really know each other but whatever that’s the Scorpio in Venus. And in a perfect Scorpio fashion we may never see each other ever again because he may not return to London, I mean we pretty much fell out of infatuation with each other cause of the terrible sex chemistry and the only reason I have to return to that region of Italy is to see my witch friend there but there is a chance she is going to move to London again and she lives in a different city from him lol.

So yeah I have been quiet over here but this is my current life. If you want to look at the gallery I am working on it’s in it’s rough draft form but you can find it here!

https://www.artsteps.com/view/5f4946b290389d2f7d705e86

#personal #seiokona #back at it again with me never having a moment of chill lol

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rayfive · 3 years

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The American idea of default “Korean face”:

-Narrow eyes, round face, huge cheekbones, low nose bridge. Always this particular face type. It is kind of obligatory.

-Tan

-Shittiest possible makeup that makes your eyes look as swollen as possible & your overall face like a burning sweet potato. Literally the shittiest makeup you can humanly come up with

-Bad fashion sense

-Long pin-straight hairstyle regardless of your face type because you’re Korean or something. As if it is a symbol for “Korean”.

And when actual Koreans, who often do not look like this nor do this to our faces, get out of this box of arbitrary-af racist stereotype, they call us “whitewashed”.

This applies not just to white people but also (or even mainly) to POC who want to throw shit in our direction for all sorts of petty, competitive, misguided, or straight up malevolent racist reasons.

This is one of many reasons why I oftentimes don’t sympathize much with Asian Americans (...along with other Americans, not just them to be fair lol). They sort of act as if this is the ‘correct representation’, otherwise it’s “toxic beauty standards”.

This notion is racist as hell.

When an American company had a chance to present a Korean female skater from South Korea, they used this shitty makeup method and made her face look manifestly darker than she actually is to fit her into their racist box. It is not too much unlike an Asian equivalent of ‘blackface’ except they did it on her own face. Needless to say they were not successful with their business here.

In their region, I think it is lowkey considered obligatory to distance an Asian person’s look and representation as far away as Caucasians as possible just for the sake of affirmative action. The result is that only the polar-opposite of the so-called “Caucasian face type (I have a problem with this term)” is allowed to be represented as a positive and proper Asian face. Another result is that the overlapping elements (a high nose bridge or light skin for instance) are obligatorily assigned to the white race, giving them a monopoly over these facial features. Asians are not allowed to have those features because it is supposed to primarily belong to white people and to represent Asians with that kind of look would be considered catering to “Eurocentric / toxic beauty standards”.

From white people’s point of view, they do the same thing because they accentuate the aspects of Asian face that are different or polar-opposite from their own as much as possible with a self-centered tendency. This can be seen especially clearly from the way they oftentimes draw Asians. They tend to draw in accordance with a series of fixed codified notions on what Asians are supposed to look like, and these codified notions tend to revolve around ‘what is opposite from them’. The result includes things like unnatural tan skin tone or selectively un-stylized eyes portion of the picture (just to accentuate on their notion of what it should be) that would’ve otherwise just equally be stylized as the rest of the image. A stylistic choice in and of itself is not problematic, just that it is worth pointing out their particular way of stylizing Asian image shows that their notion revolves around what is ‘Not Caucasian’.

I wouldn’t be as lowkey disgusted by the repetition of this selective race-agenda-driven representation if it wasn’t for them getting out of their way to call us walking toxic beauty standards just for existing with better makeup, fashion sense, and in a different climate, where ice-fishing exists in the winter, with a highly sedentary lifestyle. We are not bound by the political necessity to ‘distance our representation as much as possible from Caucasians’ appearance’ either. The result is we don’t give a fuck whether it “overlaps with white people or not” we don’t care and we don’t think about white people much. We are not obsessed with white people nor race in general. The result is we don’t have the same agenda as them, and these race-obsessed Americans blame us for our skin color or facial features or the representation thereof calling it an incorrect or toxic representation for all the wrong (and highly regional) reasons. When they can’t call it that because it’s just a passer-by and not a tv representation, their next step is to call it fake or bleached, debating on whether that person faked their skin color. (Because they can’t call a regular, accidental passer-by a “toxic” “REPRESENTATION” anymore.) They take away elements of natural spectrum of Korean appearance from its rightful ethnicity by dismissing them as white features at the slightest resemblence and call them products of cosmetic surgeries aimed at looking like white people. Never have I seen such thorough, all-out, un-reserved pathological white worshippers as these people, yet they throw around this accusation that squarely belongs to themselves. What they are doing is elevating white people on a pedestal while putting us under their feet by stealing Korean facial features and offering their ownership to white people. I couldn’t think of a better real-life manifestation of white-worshipping than this even if I tried on purpose. My grandfather is not “whitewashed” for having a nose bridge as high as Caucasians. He is fully, thoroughly Korean. My entire family is not “whitewashed” for having double eyelids. I’m not “whitewashed” for having a skin lighter than a huge chunk of Southern Europeans.

So when it comes to this image agenda, both groups (POC and white) basically see us as a ‘race’ before humans or individuals. They see us either as a tool for their regional agenda, or the burning sweet potato stereotype rather than humans or individuals. It is disgusting.

I was already aware of this racist flow before a black American IRL asked me to fill out a survey on “beauty standards in South Korea”. Which sort of worked like a last drop in the bucket for me and I started to lash out on this issue, frankly with full justification. I know they have unique political needs in their region so I didn’t criticize anything in this regard in the past, but the story changes when they get all up on our faces telling us we are walking toxic beauty standards.

Multiculturalism is a failure and they don’t just stay as a regional failure but bleed onto my country as well. They go racist on us, attacking us with their regionally-generated pathological viewpoint.

I am not a walking “toxic beauty standard”. You are racist.

You can’t call people “white washed” or “bleached” for being “whiter than whites” when they are born this way, and this is simply not debatable. If you have a problem with living people’s skin colour, there is a simple solution for you : Jump off a bridge, or quit living on this planet. That way you can avoid dealing with this ‘problem’.

#ray5text #long post #Cherry on top: The ‘Asian hair streak’ cliche which comes from the white viewpoint.#That’s kinda another issue but there’s that also in this particular image #No offense to this actress I’m just commenting on the patterned representation and what’s behind it

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lululawrence · 4 years

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lululawrence’s Fics Posted in 2019

Master Fic Masterpost / Buy me a Coffee?

2019 was a bit crazy, but I’m so proud of the fics that I’ve been able to write and publish this year! There were quite a few of them, so here they are in order of when they were published. I hope you enjoy!

Hey Look, Ma (9k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

“I’m so sorry,” a deep voice said.

Louis made sure he’d only dropped his hat, reached down to pick it up, and was dusting it off when he finally looked up.

“It’s alright...mate…” Louis had seen this man before. He was gorgeous. He lived somewhere in the area, because Louis would often pass him on the street heading home from the tube or the nearest bus stop.

And now, here he was. Standing in all his fluffy, curly haired glory in front of Louis, apologising for nearly bowling him over.

“I really am sorry, though. Let me get you a coffee to make up for it?”

Or the one where Louis is a hybrid who agrees to go on a blind date with his neighbour's colleague's son the same night he literally runs into his dream man. Surely this isn't going to end well... or is it?

Charisma (5k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Harry was smiling, and maybe blushing a little as well, as he accepted the phone back. “Thank you,” he glanced down at his phone and then said, “Louis.”

Smiling happily at the way Harry had said his name, Louis watched him leave the room. The further away he got, the more confused Louis was. Yes, Harry was gorgeous, but how the hell had he forgotten that Harry was also the man who had caused him to almost have a major accident earlier because of his haphazard driving? How had he allowed Harry to distract him with his charm to the extent that instead of giving the man a lecture, Louis accepted the offer of a date?

Well. Whatever the reason was, Louis wouldn’t forget when Harry called. Louis would give him a piece of his mind then and see if Harry still wanted to go out with him at that point. Because yeah, Louis was not mad enough about his overreaction to Harry, both on the road and at the event tonight, to turn that opportunity for a date down. He wasn’t stupid.

Or the one where Harry feeds on awesomeness (possibly literally). Louis is awesome and also angry. They’re probably going to fall in love.

Drabbles for Harry's Birthday Drive 2019 (25k) - Various Pairings

Each chapter is a different drabble dedicated to a person who donated to Harry's birthday drive! The prompt requested as well as the pairing are in the author’s note for each chapter as well. There are multiple pairings due to various pairings being requested by the donors, so please pay attention to that information in each chapter! Pairings include Harry/Louis, Zayn/Liam,, Grimmy/Louis, Greg/Louis, Zayn/Louis, and Niall/Shawn.

It’s the Climb (25k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Louis stretched out his back and turned around, startled to see the most beautiful man he’d ever encountered in his life riding towards him on a horse.

He had to still be asleep. This was one of those super weird dreams people had where the knight in shining armor (or in this case, red sleeveless flannel) literally rode up to them calling their name.

The Hannah Montana AU where Louis is a world famous punk rock singer with a stage name of William and Jay drags him back to Tennessee for the summer. In her attempt for Louis to get back to his roots, he just so happens to reconnect with Harry, and things never go quite as Louis expects them to.

It Was Only a Kiss (16k) - Various Pairings

I participated in a kiss prompt drabble challenge on Tumblr, and ended up writing thirty-three drabbles! Because of the amount all for one challenge, I decided to post them on AO3 to save them. Each prompt exists on its own without relation to others, so pick and choose as you like.

If You Want To Be Loved (0.5k) - Greg James/Louis Tomlinson

Greg can't sleep. For once, he doesn't really mind.

(Something’s Been) Hiding In My Heart (26k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

“My eyes must be deceiving me,” Harry said in his slow drawl. His voice was deeper than Louis remembered. Maybe some things had changed after all.

“They aren’t deceiving you. I’m here because I need you to finally sign these papers,” Louis said before he dropped the stack of paper on the hood of the car and held out a pen to Harry. “Just do it, Harry. Get it over with and then I’ll be out of your life forever, alright?”

Face blank of all emotion outside of a sneer Harry said, “You’ve gotta be shitting me.”

“God,” Louis groaned. Harry just couldn’t let this be easy. His pride wouldn’t allow it. “You know, I never really understood that phrase, but no. I am not ‘shitting’ you. Just sign the damn papers.”

“Ya know, I don’t think I will,” Harry said before turning back to the front door.

When the screen door slammed behind him, Louis realized Harry didn’t have anything else to say.

Or a Sweet Home Alabama AU where Louis comes home to finally get his divorce from Harry finalized so he can move on with his life. Alderford holds its own set of challenges when he returns, but by facing his past maybe he can find the healing he so desperately needs.

You Try To Be Everything (I Need) (36k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Wars, and rumours of wars, were nothing new for the world in the twenty-fourth century. The fighting had evolved over the years, and rarely did it involve traditional weapons. A group most widely known as the Southern Powers gained strength amongst portions of the western European continent and spread quickly.

There was a fight the Southern Powers didn’t expect coming from the north of England, though. Resistance came in the form of an organised underground; a group comprised of people with the Touch that did the best they could to enforce a line that would not be crossed. Slowly, that line was moved from the Channel to boundaries further and further north. It seemed only a matter of time before the Southern Powers took over everywhere.

Until that time, people did the best they could to live their lives in some semblance of normality. For Louis Tomlinson, that sense of normality was about to change when his best friend, Harry Styles, goes missing.

Louis embarks on the journey of a lifetime where he uses his newly developed abilities to search for his friend, even when it takes him to places he never thought he would see while surmounting trials he never could have imagined.

You Turned Up (Like a Friend of Mine) (10k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Louis padded downstairs, feeling incredibly thirsty. He filled up a glass of water and was about to take a drink when a loud knock sounded at the door accompanied by some yelling and ringing of the doorbell.

“What the hell?” Louis muttered, setting his glass on the counter and rushing towards the door.

As he got closer to the door, though, his mind stopped whirling because the voice was one that was etched forever in his mind, but one that he never thought he would ever hear again.

“Why’s the door locked? Did you seriously go without me? And who’s car is in the driveway? Lou, I knew you’d be late to get me. We’re going to miss-”

Louis whipped the door open, sure that he was just imagining things. There was no way…

Except there was. Standing on the front step was the curly haired, boy-faced Harry Louis had last seen ten years ago today.

Or the one where Harry disappears on graduation day only to show up on Louis' door looking exactly the same ten years later. Through a series of strange events, maybe they can finally figure out that they're destined to be together, no matter what.

Stealing Flowers (4k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

When Louis finally arrived, he walked in and grabbed an apron. Without even saying hello, he immediately approached Jesy and said, “Sexy Stranger steals flowers.”

She kept pouring the Tanqueray shots she had lined up in front of her, but her face screwed up in confusion. “I’m sorry, he what? Did you finally talk to him and that was what you learned?”

He nodded to another couple of tourists and welcomed them to the Way Station as they eagerly made their way to the Tardis restroom.

“No, I didn’t actually talk to him, but—”

“Then how do you know he steals flowers?”

She was wiping down the bar and stacking the empty glasses to take back to the dishwasher when Louis realized maybe he should help too. After all, he was there to work, not just talk to her about his maybe crush.

“I saw a poster.”

Or the one where Louis pines after the Sexy Stranger on the Subway and almost asks him out. That's when the strange posters start showing up around Brooklyn.

Yellow, Is It Me You’re Looking For? (3k) - Greg James/Louis Tomlinson

Standing in the mess Greg’s shift had left behind, Louis decided he would start small. He’d organise the paint colour cards that displayed the names and then get started on the sample tins. It wasn’t until he started opening the boxes of colour cards that Louis started to wonder whether Nick had been the one to name the paint after all.

Yellow, Is It Me You’re Looking For? was along the top left corner of a mustard yellow card. Nick was as big a fan of puns and music as anyone, so while it was unorthodox, Louis didn’t think too much of it. Part of the appeal of Annie’s Hardware was that they didn’t take things too seriously while always maintaining professionalism.

The names that followed did leave Louis to wonder if Annie knew exactly what the chosen paint names were, though. The Colour Of My Tears When ‘FRIENDS’ Ended for a soft white, Barneys Blood for a pale purple, and Blond. James Blond. for a sand tone had Louis convinced that it was a different co-worker who had renamed the colours.

Or the one where Louis has pined after Greg for what seems like ages, but when Greg renames the company's paint colors, something might finally be ready to give.

Like a Lighthouse On The Coast (I Need You) (19k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Louis placed his order with the server and was about to type up some possible lyrics when he heard the music being piped in go silent and a throat was cleared into a mic.

Oh God no. If Louis had known there was going to be live music, he would have chosen somewhere else. Why did they have to ruin what was truly the perfect ambiance for Louis with some sub-par wannabe singer-songwriter?

“Hello, I’m going to sing some songs for you tonight. I hope you like them.”

The voice was deep and smooth, slower than Louis had expected. It made him want to look up at the singer rather than cower into the corner of his booth.

So he did. The man didn’t look nervous at all, but he didn’t look like the cocky asshole Louis had been expecting either. Louis continued to brace himself as he took in the simple Ramones shirt and jeans the man was wearing, when something Louis hadn’t been expecting happened.

The man began to play his guitar, and he was good.

And then, the man began to sing.

Or the one where Louis has all the pressure of his sophomore album and none of the inspiration, but maybe all he needs is someone like Harry Styles to turn all that around.

Oh Honey, Honey (4k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Louis hated honey. He didn’t like the flavour, he didn’t understand why some liked it in their tea, he hated when it was put on sandwiches or cake or anything really. But, standing stock still in front of a rather large display of honey in that 24-hour Tesco, Louis found himself grabbing the largest jar of “100% pure London-local honey” and adding it to his trolley, simply because he knew it would make Harry smile.

Louis always wanted to make Harry smile.

Or the one where Louis pines after Harry, Harry is passionate about helping save the bees, and a late night shopping trip gone wrong doesn't end quite as horribly as Louis imagines.

You Don’t Care About Me (One More Night) (60k) - Nick Grimshaw/Louis Tomlinson

“Nick. You’re into guys. What should I do?”

Nick snorted. “You think just ‘cause I’m gay, I know what you should do?”

Louis blinked at him and Nick admired his eyelashes against his will. “Well. Kind of, yeah.”

“That is not how this works,” Nick said. “Besides, it’s not like you can just go and suck someone’s dick to be sure you like it the way I did. You’re too famous to try it my way.”

Louis’ expression changed to one of awe. “That’s how you figured it out? You sucked some random’s dick?”

Nick shrugged. “Yeah. Basically. I mean, I knew for pretty damn sure before that, mind you, but that did solidify the matter for me.”

“I need to suck a dick,” Louis said, turning to look at the wall of Nick’s room.

“You could suck mine, if it would help,” Nick offered before he could stop himself.

Or the one where Louis pines for Harry and Nick helps ease his way into figuring himself out through a friends with benefits sort of arrangement. Things quickly turn complicated.

A Taste of Honey (3k) - Greg James/Louis Tomlinson

Louis opened the door expecting someone with Deliveroo. Instead his gaze lifted so he could look at a very frazzled, incredibly fluffy haired Greg James who was inexplicably holding out a very large jar of honey.

“Hello, Gregory,” Louis said slowly.

Shifting around, Greg stepped forward and held the honey out towards Louis again. “This is for you.”

“Erm, alright,” Louis said before carefully taking the heavy jar from him. “Thank you?”

Greg flashed a wide grin, nodded, and then without another word walked back out the front door of the building.

Or the one where Louis has been pining after Greg ever since he started his job. Greg randomly showing up at his flat with a jar of honey might be just the push Louis needs to finally talk to the man.

Just Like Honey (3k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Louis opened the door and he looked so soft and beautiful. He was in a ratty pair of grey joggers and that was it. Harry had never seen him look so good.

When Harry finally raised his eyes from Louis’ chest, he realised Louis had likely said something.

“Uh,” Harry said, clearing his throat. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Smirking a little, Louis crossed his arms and popped his hip. “I said, ‘Hello, Harry. What brings you here so late on a Saturday?’”

Then his brain kicked in.

“Right, fuck. Hi, Louis. I just wanted to give you this.”

Louis’ brows creased as Harry held the honey out to him. Taking the jar from Harry, he said, “Honey?”

Nodding, Harry said, “Yep. Hope you have a great night!”

Fisting his hands at his sides in frustration, Harry left the building as quickly as he could.

Honey, Honey, How You Thrill Me (3k) - Greg James/Harry Styles

Harry knocked once more before coming to the conclusion that knocking for longer than that was rude.

He’d just decided to leave when the door opened.

“Fuck, you were asleep, weren’t you?”

“Well, it’s past 8, so yeah, basically,” Greg said with a yawn.

God, he’d been asleep for over an hour. Harry was the worst.

“I’m so sorry. Here. Take this and get back to sleep. I’m so incredibly sorry for waking you up,” Harry babbled, shoving the jar of honey into Greg’s hands.

Greg looked at the jar then back up at Harry, still not saying anything. Probably because his brain was still asleep just like his body would’ve been if Harry hadn’t been a fucking idiot.

“Sorry again!” Harry said before giving a lame wave and rushing off to the nearest tube station.

Or the one where Harry pines after fellow Radio 1 DJ Greg James but doesn't know how to start a conversation with him...until he gets the needed inspiration.

Our Love is Timeless (6k) - Niall Horan/Shawn Mendes

He rinsed out his shampoo and began to scrub at his body. Turning around to rinse his back and wash his front, Shawn was not prepared to be met with a cursing blond Irishman.

Letting out a rather loud, high pitched scream and covering himself as best he could, Shawn backed up into the wall behind him, which also turned off the shower.

“Thanks, mate. Was hoping not to get my clothes entirely soaked,” the man said as he began stepping out of the shower stall. “Say, what year is it?”

“I...what?” Shawn sputtered. “You just show up, fully clothed, in a stranger’s shower and your first question is what year it is? How the fuck did you get in here? Why my shower? Who are you?”

“Well, yeah. I guess so. I’ve not quite got a handle of the whole time traveling thing yet.”

Or the one where Shawn falls for Niall, who just happens to be a time traveler. The course of true love never did run smooth.

Like Honey to the Bee (3k) - Nick Grimshaw/Louis Tomlinson

Nick didn’t even remember knocking, but suddenly the door he also didn’t realise he was leaning on opened and he started falling inside Louis and Harry’s flat.

“Fuck,” Nick blurted as he tried to right himself. He was caught by Louis, which was great because he was exactly who he wanted to see and he didn’t really fancy dropping a massive jar of honey on his doorstep.

“Nicholas?” Louis asked.

Nick couldn’t help it. Hearing Louis call him by his full name made him shiver. He usually hated it, but there was something magical about Louis Tomlinson that made the usual negative association suddenly become an incredibly positive one.

“I brought you honey,” Nick blurted as he handed Louis the jar.

“I can see that,” Louis said, sounding confused. “Thanks?”

“Of course! It’s what friends do, yeah?”

Or the one where Nick has been trying to find a way to get past the banter stage with Louis for ages, and honey might be just what he needs to finally do so.

Rings and Things (2k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Niall: I know you’re a lesbian and all, but this is fast even for you

Or the one where Harry wakes up after a night of drinking to find her bed isn't empty and there's a ring she's never seen before on a very important finger.

The Only Thing That Keeps Me Grounded (28k) - Nick Grimshaw/Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

“Shit, I definitely missed the last train.”

“Oh no,” Louis lamented. “I’d offer a ride, but I’m part of a carpool and we’re full already. I’m so sorry.”

“Really, it’s fine.” Then, what Louis said sank in. “Wait, I thought you were here alone?”

“Oh, I am. I’m the only one dancing here tonight. The others were working. In fact, here’s Nick now.”

It felt like slow motion as a tall, lanky man with incredible hair came walking over towards Louis. He smiled before pulling Louis into him and giving him a quick kiss.

“Nick, this is my new friend Harry. He just moved to the area and he’s amazing at swing. Harry, this is my husband, Nick.”

Fuck.

Or the one where Harry moves to Washington DC to be a nanny and never expects that his past struggles with love will be brought to a head. He definitely never expects the solution to it all will be the man of his dreams that just so happens to be married to the other man of his dreams.

A Halloween M(ass)hap (1k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Harry was never going to forgive Niall. He’d been so distracted by his roommate’s cleaning and fussing while he had been looking for the perfect trousers for Liam’s annual Halloween fancy dress party that he’d not realised the black leather trousers he’d chosen to complete his vampire look were arseless.

Of course there was a no return policy, so he’d done the only thing he could do in order to not waste the money he’d already forked out online for the damn things: he added a cape.

Surely, nothing could go wrong.

I Wanna Love (Like You Made Me Feel) (28k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

By the time Harry and Louis are eighteen years old, they've known each other all four years of high school. Through those years, they never have a real chance to spend time together just the two of them. The summer after graduation gives them that chance, and it changes just about everything.

Ten years later, Louis returns home feeling like a failure after losing his job and not knowing where to go next. He never expects to run into Harry again, much less rekindle their friendship. Could this finally be their chance to finish what they started all those years ago, or did they really miss their chance at love?

Swipe Right for a Clean Flat (3k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Harry was done. He was over this shit. He literally only asked his flatmate to do one chore, and that was the washing up. He couldn’t even handle a few plates and cups. Harry obviously overestimated him.

Louis wasn’t that bad. It was just that he only did the washing if he was going out to pull and wanted to bring someone home. If the dishes were put away, that was how Harry knew to vacate the premises. There was no way he was going to listen to yet another girl moan Louis’ name while Harry laid in bed and wondered what it might be like if only Louis liked men.

Glaring at the full sink and debating washing up himself - again - Harry finally turned and stalked to his room.

“Dire circumstances,” Harry muttered as he picked up his phone and unlocked it.

Or the one where Harry and Louis are flatmates and Harry is tired of Louis not doing the washing up. He figures signing up on Tinder as a hot girl might be just the fix for this issue.

You’re a Nightmare, I’m a Disaster (7k) - Nick Grimshaw/Louis Tomlinson

As Nick scanned the shelves, his eyes caught on a bright blue binding. Snooki, it read, A Shore Thing.

“Oh my God,” Nick mumbled, trying not to laugh as he picked it up. He’d watched bits and pieces of Jersey Shore way back in the day.

Without bothering to look any further around the store, he headed up to the counter where Blue eyes was watching him. Nick cleared his throat nervously and set the book on the counter and the man immediately flashed him a look of disdain.

“Seriously? Out of everything we have available, you chose the book we special ordered for a customer?”

“Well, it can’t be that bad if someone specifically requested it, right?” Nick said, trying to keep a teasing tone.

“Why do you think we still have it if it was a special order?” the man asked with a scoff. “They returned it after reading something like three pages.”

Nick frowned at the book. “Well that doesn’t seem very fair.”

Or the one where Nick is a writer, Louis works in a bookshop, and things don't exactly start off on the right foot, but they might just end on it.

The Goat Guy of Bethlehem (26k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

“What a pretty little thing!” a voice cried, catching Harry's attention.

Harry looked up, assuming it was a merchant talking to Gemma or some other “citizen” of Bethlehem, but when he did, he found a woman with bright eyes and long dark hair walking over to him.

“Me?” He wasn’t sure what to expect from any of this since she wasn’t a merchant he had met before.

“Yes, you! I think you’d make a very good husband for my son. Are these your parents?”

“Uh, yes?” Harry said, almost like a question. Robin and his mom just watched on with amusement, much to his chagrin.

Turning to Anne and Robin, the merchant woman said, “I’ll give you six goats for the marriage of your son to mine.”

Or every year, Harry and his family attend a church festival called Bethlehem. Harry's freshman year of high school Bethlehem expands, bringing in new vendors, including one that just might change everything for Harry. But first, he has to see if Anne and Robin are willing to part with him for the price of a few goats.

#mine #my fic masterpost #yearly masterpost #2019 masterpost #my fic #my fic rec #fic rec

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

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Survey #303

“if i can’t be loved, then i’ll be hated”

What color are your glasses, if applicable? Black. Candy corn or conversation hearts? They're both gross, don't make me pick between garbage. Do you own a lot of earrings? Not really after I weeded them out before moving. What did your backpack in high school look like? I dare say I had the dopest backpack of them all. It looked like a massive Ouija board, and the zipper was the planchet (sp?). Have you ever been to a rave? Nah. What is your favorite art medium? I have a particular fondness of oil paintings. They tend to look so smooth, and you can achieve incredible realism with them. How far away is the nearest hospital from you? Not even five minutes, I think. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital? My mom. What is your favorite car color? Pink, duh. How did you learn to type? We actually had a class specifically for typing in middle school. What style of wedding dress do you want? I don't have that set in stone yet, but I really do love ballgown dresses with long trains as well as a-lines with a moderate train. I love a lot, except really for mermaid dresses. Do you fit into any stereotype, or are you non-stereotypical? I don't know if I fit perfectly into any and really don't care. Would you want your first child to have your hair color? ???? I don't care about their hair lol?????? It would depend on the hypothetical father, in which case I'd probably find it cute, but this is so, so unimportant. Do you enjoy writing in cursive? Yeah, it just feels good and flowy to me. What is your favorite hair color? Natural? Probably blonde with natural darker undertones throughout. I like blonde hair because it's far easier to dye, haha. Now, if we're including DYED hair, rose gold or pastel pink is *chefs kiss* What is your favorite eye color? Sapphire blue, probz. Would you put your birthday on a different day if you could? Nah, it's fine where it is. What holiday is your birthday closest to? Valentine's. Do you vent on social media a lot? NOOOOOOOO. I barely post ANYTHING about myself on social media because I feel like I'm being annoying, self-absorbed, find anything I do actually interesting, or don't want people to think I'm a whiner. All I ever really do on social media is share or reblog funny shit, things I love, stuff I find relatable or inspirational, educational, important for whatever reason, etc... Do you have abusive parents? I am very thankful to say no. Is your house haunted? Doesn't seem like it. What's your favorite thing to watch on YouTube? I'm in a real WoW-related phase lately... Watching my favorite streamers, gold farming guides, and other various aspects of the game. What are five health problems that you have? I talk about the mental issues enough, so I guess I'll talk about physical stuff here. Uhhh I have very low blood pressure (it's a med side effect), I have extremely weak legs following muscle atrophy, I have bad tremors, especially in my hands (amplified by medication once again), maybe TMI but we're adults here and it's a legit issue that I have chronic and severe conspitation, aaaand then of course I have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) to a fucking outrageous and also humiliating degree. Ooooonce again as a prescription side effect. This answer made meds sound kinda bad, I know, but really, I'd rather have the will to live and just have to deal with these than want to die everyday and not. Do you have surgery coming up? No, let's keep it that way until I lose enough weight and when I am 110% getting loose skin removal. Which family member(s) do you look the most like? My sisters, ig. People say my mom also, but I honestly don't see it. Have you ever cried while watching a YouTube video? Yeah, usually just in let's plays, but it's happened for other reasons. Are you missing a website that just shut down? Nah, none that I know of. NO. FUCKING WAIT. So, when my laptop was fixed, a LOT of shit was wiped from it, and that included all of my goddamn Lightroom editing presets. The site they were from no longer exists, so I had to use a different, pretty sub-par one to install at least a few because it helps me get a start on editing the photograph and leaning towards the "vibe" I want before spending like 15+ minutes tuning it myself. Would you be a barefoot bride? No. Which would you rather name your daughter: Eliana, Echo, Emerald, or Ellery? Ohhh, I like these. I think I prefer "Eliana," but "Echo" is a close second. "Ellery" is nice, but it sounds too much like "celery" to name my kid that lmao. Which would you rather name your son: Maverick, Matthew, or Moses? Ugh, none, honestly. But "Matthew" wins. When was the last time you gave a speech? Like a *legit" speech? Probably not since uhhh... I guess when I argued my disability case at court? Does that even count? Have you ever been in a stampede? Well, never seen this'n in a survey before, so good job, lol. No. If you were a fairy, what color would you like your wings to be? It would depend on what I wore, really. And my hair. But probably light pink. Would you rather name your son Storm, Skylar, Sorin, or Solomon? "Sorin." "Skylar" is SO Southern, and "Solomon" sounds like the creepy kid all his classmates avoid and I ain't putting my kid through that. Did you read a devotional this morning? Not my jam. Would you rather be named Arizona, Alaska, Cali, or Georgia? Hm... "Alaska" is actually kinda cool???? And I'm white as fuck so lol????? I wouldn't mind to nickname of "Ally," anyway. Are you repulsed by ugly reptiles? lololol bro get out Did all your friends know about your first crush or was it a secret? I was definitely secretive and shy about it when I first started getting crushes. Do you ever feel insecure about going out without makeup? I feel insecure either way, so... How many different natural hair colors are there in your immediate family? So, this is a hard question to answer. My mom was born with brown hair, but it darkened to almost black; only her daughter Katie inherited that. By some genetic magic, Dad had blond hair as a kid, but it also turned black. Like... how?????? I was born with dirty blonde hair like him, and mine turned an average brown with age. My immediate sisters have always had brown hair. What is your favorite online game? World of Warcraft is ballin'. Would you ever want to be famous and sign autographs? Ha, the idea of signing autographs is awful... I can't physically write very long without my carpal tunnel flaring up. Do you like your shirt to be loose or tight? LOOSE. Especially as a bigger person, tight shirts are just really uncomfortable. What is your favorite Spanish name? I don't know nearly enough to answer this. Would you rather visit Asia or Europe? I think Asia is, in general, more interesting and prettier as a whole, but I guess I'm drawn to European culture being more like my own and there are specific locations I'm interested in, like Germany or Scotland. So to answer the question, I guess Europe wins. Are there any Asians in your family? I don't believe so. Have you ever had colored braces? Haha yeah, I did that when I had them. Do you take birth control pills? Yes, just for period cramps. Without them, they can be immobilizing for me. If you live in the USA: do you feel free and safe? Ha, no. Well, not *entirely*. Have you ever been sick on your birthday? I was recovering from the stomach virus, if that counts. As in I still got sick the day before and felt iffy on my actual bday. 17th, I think? Is talking about your past painful for you? Yes. Are you a member of any support groups online? I'm a member of The Mighty site, if that counts. When I'm feeling very, very sound of mind and helpful without all the negativity being a detriment to myself, I do like going on there and trying to help or comfort people. Have you ever called a suicide hotline? Yes, and the line was busy, and that's when I decided I was a goner. Do you ever fantasize about revenge? I uhhhhh... sometimes. What's a movie you would recommend to someone who never watches movies? Ohhh, that's hard. I don't really watch movies either, and I'm trying to think of one that essentially anyone would like, so hm. Oh, Coco is absolutely a possibility. That movie touched me so, so deeply and is high on my favorites list. It's impossible to not feel the emotions. Do you want to have grandkids? Hell, I don't want kids. Do you want to be an aunt or uncle? I already am one, and I love being an aunt. Who was your favorite Spice Girl? I don't remember their names or characters in general. Did you make a lot of home videos growing up? I mean *I* didn't, but Mom filmed quite a few. Do you enjoy babysitting? NO. What's an unpopular opinion that you have? Avoiding some political ones, uhhhh. OH. HERE'S ONE. THE SCENE AESTHETIC IS FUCKING CUTE AND NOT CRINGEY AND YOU CAN FIGHT ME ABOUT IT. Are you attracted to the opposite gender, same gender, or both? Both are A+. Was your first crush on someone of the same gender or opposite? Opposite. As a kid, I didn't even fathom the concept that women could date women. What is something you'll never eat again? Why? Brussel sprouts. Fucking disgusting. What is currently happening that is scaring you? Besides the very obvious answer of "Covid," I worry about my mom a lot. She's so weakened after all the chemo and meds and can do literally less than I can without heavily breathing and sweating. I just worry a lot that cancer will return sooner than we hope; I don't want it to EVER come back, but doctors say it is very, very likely at one point or another because she was so very close to Stage 4. What would be your personal hell? Being completely and entirely isolated forever while somewhere hot and humid, lol. And play one of my trigger songs on repeat eternally. What made the "weird kid" at your school weird? There was this poor guy named Alfred that was VERY clearly depressed out of his mind, and I heard him speak maybe once through all of high school, and the entire class couldn't believe it. He always sat way in the back and never smiled. I wonder how he is nowadays. What is a word you personally find offensive? "Retarded" personally offends me the most when misused and spoken as an insult. What instantly puts you to sleep? Now that is HARD to do; I have a ridiculously hard time going to sleep. The easiest way though would probably be me being drained from an emotional breakdown. That is so exhausting that I'm capable of crashing pretty fast and hard. What song is in a language you don't speak, but you love it anyway? I adore Rammstein, so there's plenty. I'll probably say "Donaukinder" is their best. What is something you would like to do if you weren’t judged for doing it? I keep that I RP a complete secret in my "real" life for this reason unless it's like, pried out of me. What's a movie you think everyone should watch? Why that one? Johnny Got His Gun. See how goddamn disgusting war is. What was the most unexpected good thing that's ever happened to you? Ha, realizing I was bisexual after once being homophobic. What is the funniest fact you know? Oh man, I know a lot of random trivia shit, really, so it's hard to say. Maybe that quokkas throw their offspring at predators to distract and escape from them... As awful as that is, c'mon, you gotta admit it's funny and shocking with just how adorable they are. What was your 'mic drop' moment? Oh, I don't know. Possibly when I publicly came out as bi on Facebook and made it abundantly clear that I gave no shits about some homophobic friends and family & I was beyond willing to let anyone's ass go over it. What's the kindest way a stranger has treated you? I remember as a kid at McDonald's, the woman in front of our car paid for our food; apparently seeing a mom, dad, and three kids in a van was enough that she wanted to just be kind and give us a smile. We have no idea who she was, never saw her face or anything, she was just a sweet woman. What is the biggest design flaw of your body? Okay, I'm going to let go of all hatred for my body weight-wise and just think of this as from a strictly natural design perspective, in which case I'd say my toes are too small. What age are you afraid of turning and why? 30, because I'm terrified of getting there and seeing I've possibly gone nowhere. What is the strangest thing you have ever felt? I'm keeping this question in just because I think there could be some interesting answers for others, but I'm witholding my answer because nobody wants or needs to know lmao. What makes someone immediately unlikable? Acting better than others and belittling. Who's a villain you sympathize with and why? D A R K I P L I E R because of his origins and overall purpose and just simply existing. What is something you regret to NOT have done? I have this oddly weird regret of not going like, all-all the way with He Who Shall Not Be Named????? Idk why though????? Considering I loved him way too much and I was a reckless and impulsive person who probably at some point would have wound up accidentally pregs????? What a fuckin trip that woulda been. What movie changed your life for the better? None have really "changed my life." What book you think should be directed as a film? Oh, idk. Most I can think of have been. Of all the decades you've lived in, which one have you liked best? The 2000s, probably. A carefree kid. How are you doing today? I'm exhausted. While out with Mom and my sisters yesterday, we got behind a van whose driver was obviously drunk or high off his goddamn ass, and he was swerving EVERYWHERE, nearly shoving so many cars off the road. Mom called 911 to get in contact with highway patrol to report his dumb fucking ass in. I was having an absolute panic attack and cried quietly like the entire 45 or so minute drive home. I was just so, so upset because this is why I don't fucking drive, and I felt like I'd made my sister (who was driving) mad because she had to firmly tell me I had to calm down (I was hyperventilating and talking to myself to try to calm down) if she was going to focus and keep us safe. She later ensured me she wasn't mad, but I still wasn't the same the entire rest of the day. Anyway, I slept hard last night but had two nightmares, so I'm still really tired today. I'm trying to keep myself really distracted. What's something your relatives don't know about you? A whole lot really, considering beyond my very immediate family, I see almost nobody because they live many states away. What's something your parents did, which you have sworn never to do? Mom would spank us or slap an arm pretty hard if my sisters or I misbehaved or "disrespected" her by "talking back." I'm not having kids, but I would never, ever, ever, put my hands on them in any way that isn't loving. You do not teach children via inflicting fear. I also have this probably overly strong aversion to beer because that's what Dad always drank as an alcoholic. I'll probably never try it, not that I really want to because it smells awful. What's the most annoying thing your pet does? I feel like "annoying" is the wrong word for this, but Roman (my cat) can be incredibly demanding of attention and to lie on me when I'm on the laptop in bed, and sometimes I just want space and be able to clearly see the screen, haha. He will legit meow like a baby and gently swat my arm sometimes if I try to keep him back. Heeee usually gets his way. As for Venus (snek), she does nothing "annoying" either, but rather a bit concerning to a snake mom: she is usually very slow to find and strike her food. I feed her frozen/thawed mice, and she will first slither around her entire cage, tongue flicking and clearly looking for her food, even though I always place it atop the same spot on her hide, and she can have her head RIGHT beside it and still do nothing. She ultimately generally eats (as a ball python though, she's a picky eater and will occasionally reject a meal), but I of course wonder why she's odd about dinnertime... As a champagne, she does have the notorious "spider gene" in her, which can cause neurological issues, but idk if something like this could be related.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''rise rebel resist'' by otep

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drasnianfrank · 3 years

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So to pick up from my previous post, on what the Toll by Cherie Priest, could’ve written instead of and start by focusing on the two cousins who raise a seventeen year old boy and eventual become ghosts that murder monster ghosts. (I wrote some more and I’m not sorry about how it got a little long

So let’s just start by outright changing it that Cee and Dee are lesbians, childhood sweethearts even! Sure the town can say they’re “cousins”, but everyone knows they’ve been married since they finished college and every year they do a “small party, just for a few friends” which is totally not celebrating their wedding. If the author is feeling particularly progressive, they both should be black, with long descriptions of their awesome hair and what kind of skin lotion they use (both have very different answers). Obviously, they would still be witches, voodoo practitioners, shamans, herbalists and the occasional exorcist or at least ghost rustlers. They’re known as the Aunties in the community.

And yeah, there’s still something weird about the bridges. Only, you have to cross them in the right order and there’s a toll. It’s usually not a life, though. Like a whole a person doesn’t just disappear after walking the seventh bridge. A whole life is usually too much, even for an insatiable, metaphysical maw of darkness. People lose other things, limbs, body parts, memories, the ability to smell roses, because, here’s the Key, there’s a reward for what’s taken. Equivalent Exchange You cross the seventh bridge and you lose something and you get something in return. Sometimes it’s money, a better position at work, an object that you always wanted, a person you’ve hated finally receives his just reward, the perfect slice of key lime pie, you know the usual. At least that’s what’s the rumors concerning the Toll.

Now the Aunties, they are gatekeepers, the protectors, the keepers of Lore. If you want to walk to the Toll, you gotta talk to to them. They know the walk and ways and the trades. But you know that doesn’t sit right with other families in the town. Doesn’t matter how pale one of them looks, doesn’t matter that the other has helped with love matches and births of nearly every family member, they’re too damn ‘uppity’ (now you begin to understand why it’s important to talk about skin color in the south). So they send the oldest boy to learn the secrets of the Toll, with the Lore the Family has gathered. He goes to bargain, goes down the right bridges during the right time, with a companion to help. His cousin, butter couldn’t melt in her mouth, sweet Jessie, follows. Only, when the dawn breaks the next day, he’s not back, only Jessie. Jessie doesn’t say what happened, cries in her family’s house and then, dry-eyed, goes to the Aunties, and demands pleads to be an apprentice.

Dee and Cee, they see that this wisp of a girl with blonde hair and cold eyes, is ambitious and mean and cruel and they should say no. But they can’t because they don’t own their house, or the land surrounding them, and their family and friends don’t own their houses or land. But you know who does? (Remember, racism is a theme in Southern Horror, its invasive in everything). And they agree, because what else can they do but agree? After all, any person who sacrifices their own cousin for ambition needs to be carefully dealt with. They also know they need an heir, and really, ambition is not a sin in their eyes for a girl. Ambition can be a good thing if used properly and they think, they hope, they can use it to help others. So they promise to teach her magic, the power of “voodoo”, and birth control, and herbs, and secrets of the swamp.

Years pass, as they do. Jessie goes off to college and spends breaks with the Aunties. She still keeps that sweet smile and that vicious ambitious streak seems to have entirely disappeared. Dee and Cee start to relax, teach her a bit more of the darker shades of magic, mild curses and love “potions”. Jessie leaves for a year abroad, a whirlwind affair in Paris, London, European hotspots.

A week later, Cee finds a baby in the swamp. The baby is almost hidden in a willow tree, almost as dark as the shadows she’s sleeping in. No boy but a little girl, barely a day or two old. These things happen in the swamp, people abandon trash and unwanted items. It even isn’t the first time Cee has found a baby, though usually they’re near dead, about to become part of the ghostly parade around the swamp. (Did I not mention the ghosts? No creepy dollhouse full of ghosts here, there’s ghosts in the Swamp, lynched men and drowned women, lost souls who never found their way out, you know the usual). This little baby though, whether luck or some kindness by the mother, was washed and swaddled and somehow still alive by the time Cee found her. The baby opens her big eyes and Cee gets the same feeling she had when she saw a long-limbed girl jump down from a tree and gave her the biggest, toothiest grin, like it’s love and destiny rolled into one.

So Cee and Dee raise their swamp baby, Cameron. And they love her but also, raising a baby is hard! There’s doctor’s appointments and diapers and toys and outfits. Family and friends bring food and advice (a mix of helpful, impractical and bizarre). Cameron grows up and things get a little easier. She’s regularly underfoot though, helping in her own way, and once she starts talking, is always asking questions. Ten years pass, then another five. Cameron is almost eighteen and Jessie returns.

And now, now, we get to heart of the plot. Jessie has spent almost twenty years in Europe, honing her spite and malice under a sweet disposition. She knows old magic, older than any the old Aunties that still stuck in a dying swamp have. But oh how she wants still. For all her searching, The Toll is the only on that will give the most for what she wants for the least, at least if she can finally find out it’s secret.

Cameron, though, does not want power. Okay, well yes, she does because really she’s almost an adult and curfew is for babies. She has been trailing her Aunties since she was able to carry stuff, watching them help people in the town, black and white, human and animal. Of course she’s a little odd too. Many of her friends were ghosts, she has an affinity to math, and has absolutely no belief in a higher Power. Sunday mornings before church become regular spectacles.

So Jessie Returns. She assumes she will resume her rightful place as apprentice and instead there’s this small, pudgy girl, running roughshod over the property, knowing more about voodoo and magic and curses than she does. This little tramp, with no family to her name, a trash baby that no one wanted. How could the Aunties pick her over Jessie?

But they do because Cameron has ambitions, personal, but also ambitions for her community, to make it better, healthier, happier, but Jessie has only had ambition for herself. And the Aunties care less about an heir and more about a guardian, someone who will tend their garden when they leave.

The Aunties refuse to let admit Jessie as their apprentice, after all she learned all this high falautin magic in Europe, what does she need for a pair of backwater hicks? There is some truth to that but Jessie does not care for someone else telling her no. And Jessie, who is not the leader of the Family (if she had married the boy who disappeared those oh so many years ago, she might have been), still uses her persuasion and her privilege to let loose a much personal, much more chilling, set of of horrors. Fiery crosses appear on lawns, debts are called to people who can’t afford, jobs are suddenly terminated without warning or payment. The Aunties’ community begins to fracture.

But, eventually, when it looks like the Aunties will have to give in or leave their home, something Changes. An operative from the The Family, not under Jessie’s orders, asks for a Deal. The Family’s business is suffering. A quiet boycott against the family has finally started to impact them and for every fired employee, five more have quit and no one else will work. Jobs aren’t getting done. Lawyers and officers and news people keep calling.

A deal is made and Jessie is told to back down, to wait and let people stop getting so riled up.

Jessie does not care for this decision and rages against. She begs, bargains, then threatens her own family, calling them cowards. They remain unmoving. Money is stronger than blood in this regard.

Jessie, full of rage, decides that damn the Aunties, she will call on the Toll herself. On rainy, dark night, the last night of Mardi Gras, she begins to cross the bridges. The Aunties sense Jessie going on The Walk but they have their own troubles. Magic eventually calls for it’s payment, as does age, and Dee has found a lump on her breast. She and Cee go to the hospital, leaving Cameron to take care of the Toll. Cameron knows how the Toll works, even before the Aunties told her. It’s just math after all. 2=2. 6x3=3x6. And so she too, walks the bridges.

Each sees a different type of nightmare as they walk. The monsters are the easiest, twisted monstrosities for all that they are. For Jessie, the worst is her the ghost of her cousin, looking at her with that same dumb, shocked expression when she bargained using his life. Cameron walks past fiery crosses, dead bodies, grieving families.

Both arrive before the Seventh Bridge at the same time. There is a conversation. It lasts three sentences. “What an interesting viewpoint” and “bless your heart” might have been said. Then they run.

Jessie knows she will win this. She’s tough and mean and stronger and older. But no matter how fast she races over the land, it is Cameron who is always ahead of her (with her dreadlocks flowing her behind). It is Cameron who crosses the bridge first.

Cameron feels the pull of the Toll, the tantalizing taste of power, of ambition, of taking what should be rightfully hers. There’s the offer. Have what your heart desires and loss only a small thing, an insignificant thing, you’ll barely notice that it’s gone. Cameron, though, her goal, her desire, is for her family to be safe. She wants the lump in her Auntie to not be cancerous, she wants her Aunties to feel safe at home, she wants her family not to be afraid anymore when a group walks by their houses. And oh, does she want too, she wants to be famous and be powerful and make sure nothing ever hurts her community again. But the price for such an ask is one she can’t take. She instead, she wants an answer to a question she had been reading about in one of the math books.

For her, the Toll is a gentle breeze, the sound of cicadas, the smell of sparklers and the taste of home made pecan pie.

Jessie enters and Wants And Wants And Wants. She craves the power and ambition. At seventeen, she only had the broad shape of what she wanted. As an adult, she can describe the form and material of her desire, down to perfect detail. She bargains that her childhood memories, her emotions, hell, even her right leg, one of those should cover her desires.

The Toll goes silent.

It is the silence before a storm, the inhaled breath. And for once, Jessie realizes that she has made A Mistake.

See, here is the trick about the Toll. It only gives what you didn’t have. Jessie wanted Power and Ambition and Everything. She already had it. So, the Toll took, and took, and took. Jessie asked and what she was given was a new body, a stone body. She became a solid rock. Helpless, powerless and part of nothing. She will the spend the rest of her days howling inside a rock that only she could hear.

Cameron went home, bruised and a little bloody because she slipped and fell on the road and scrapped her knees. She got an answer to a question but forgot what the question was.

Dee’s lump was benign. Cee declares it was a high Power, Cameron argues that most lumps are benign anyway. The community slowly rebuilds itself, though the power from the boycott remains. And eventually, Cameron faces the real choice. Become the next gatekeeper of the Toll or move to a different life, a different place. And that’s where you, dear reader, get to decide on what choice she should make.

Anyway, so that’s what’s The Toll should’ve been about.

#The Toll #Reimagined #This got a bit long #I haven't written this much for fiction #in ages #horror #Southern gothic horror #book criticism #it's long and wordy #now I want pecan pie

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lyfestile · 4 years

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U.S. Congressperson and former civil rights activist/organizer John Lewis was laid to rest today. His service took place at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. The ministerial home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 50s and 60s, Ebenezer has a long history with African people’s struggle for freedom and justice. That’s why its surreal that we find ourselves in a place today where someone like Bill Clinton can be welcomed into the pulpit at Ebenezer to offer an opinion on the correct path African people must take to achieve our forward progress. Clinton, of course, was the 42nd president of the U.S. empire. His claim to fame while being president was fooling scores of Africans into believing that he was our friend. It wasn’t until Obama was elected in 2008 that some African people stopped referring to Clinton as “our first Black president.” Underneath the superficial character presentation of Clinton existed a politician who built, along with his wife and many other opportunists a colossal industry based on imprisoning African people in this country. The Omnibus Crime bill, passed during Clinton’s tenure in 1994, proliferated incarceration rates, primarily of poor and African and/or Indigenous peoples, at record rates. And, yet, despite that clear legacy of harm caused against our people, we still invite someone like this to speak in one of our most storied and respected churches.

As a result, it should come as no surprise that Clinton used his opportunity to honor Lewis by taking a swipe at the legacy of Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael). Ture, was the organizer within the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who unseated Lewis as chairperson of SNCC in 1966, thus signaling SNCC’s turn towards much more militant politics. In Clinton’s words, this nation is in such a better place because Lewis refused to continue within SNCC after “Stokely.”

Of course, the position advanced by Clinton should surprise no one who has studied the history of this man. And, it was ironic that Clinton reminisced during his Lewis speech about “being with Jesse Jackson” because it was Jackson who was at the center of one of Clinton’s first clear indications of what type of snake he really was. During his 1992 presidential campaign against George H.W. Bush (the first Bush president), Clinton used a traditional Southern Strategy race baiting tactic to call out Jesse Jackson, who at that time was considered one of the leading civil rights leaders in the U.S. Clinton did this by making a public reference to Jackson having some type of political comradery with then so-called “Blacktivist”, rapper, Sista Souljah who had made a name for herself by calling out white supremacy in uncompromising terms. Clinton, in a direct appeal to bourgeoisie voters, primarily European ones, attacked Jackson at that time as pandering to racist African militancy.

In some ways, what Clinton said today about Kwame Ture is a continuation of those politics of respectability and accommodation. That the only right way we could ever advance our struggle for justice is by adopting positions that did not challenge the very existence of the power structure. Instead, the “responsible” way to struggle is always that of waiting, being patient, and working within the very system that keeps us oppressed. Clinton’s comments were opportunistic and designed to send a message to our people at a time when the very foundation of this system is being questioned in many ways. Clinton’s message? Don’t stray too far away from the master. Stay within this system and you will be rewarded. Resist, and you will be punished. It would be hard to find much fundamental difference between what Clinton said today and what Trump says every-day. Plus, its highly doubtful that Lewis himself would have agreed with the characterization that Clinton gave regarding SNCC’s direction in 1966. Now, I doubt there is even 2% of what Lewis believed that I agree with, but one thing I do know is that even after an initial period of distance after that 1966 election, Lewis evolved to a place where he eventually had a positive relationship with Kwame Ture. He even came and participated directly in the dinner honoring Kwame’s life shortly before Kwame made his own physical transition back in 1997.

The bourgeoisie are the spokespersons for the international capitalist/Imperialist network which is led by the U.S. And, Clinton is undoubtedly a member of the bourgeoisie class. Every U.S. president is a member of this class, including Obama. Their roles after leaving the presidential office are to continue to advance the values of capitalism, which cannot happen without also advancing white supremacy, patriarchy, homophobia, and all the forms of injustice that capitalism thrives on. Obama does this routinely as does Clinton. Its their class responsibility. The bigger problem is that so many of us have no understanding of history, and no desire to have an understanding, that when these people distort our history, we don’t have the tools to effectively push back. For example, if someone was to say, as Clinton did today, that SNCC, under Kwame Ture’s leadership (and later Jamil Abdullah al-Amin, formally H. Rap Brown, and then Phil Hutchings), went downhill and Lewis left to preserve some level of dignity while those wild Africans ran the organization into the ground, it would be necessary for you to have the proper understanding of SNCC history to place Clinton’s comments in the garbage can where they belong. You can do that by understanding what happened to SNCC after Kwame became the chairperson of the organization. What happened is the launching of the most recent Black power movement. The bourgeoisie want you to define that era in the late sixties by the hundreds of urban rebellions, but we employ you not to back down from that challenge. Even Dr. King knew that urban rebellions are the voice of the voiceless. In other words, when people are in pain, they lash out. When a child touches a hot stove, they don’t start singing a song and playing. Urban rebellions are reflections of this system’s inability or desire to change oppressive conditions, so people lash out. If people don’t want people lashing out, care more about people unjustly losing their lives than you do about property being attacked as a result of this glaring human contradiction. Besides that, what SNCC actually accomplished through the Black power movement was a mass awakening that we as a people have the right to exist in a manner consistent with our values and culture, regardless of how European society feels or thinks about it. Without that movement, there would be no Black Lives Matter movement. There would probably be no LGBTQ movement or women’s movements. No physically challenged movement. All of those evolved as a result of the Black power movement. And, that developing consciousness led to SNCC taking a revolutionary position against the Vietnam war. In fact, as quiet as its kept, it was SNCC that led the smash the draft movement. They were the ones who popularized the saying “hell no, we won’t go!” (a Kwame classic), and they were the first national organization at the time (with respect to the Nation of Islam) to take a national position against zionism and in support of the Palestinian people. Clearly, all of those things have advanced and evolved to become mainstream elements of the social movements you are seeing in action today and none of this could be happening without the contributions of the more militant SNCC, led in party by Kwame Ture. So, clearly, there was no moral imperative to part “from Stokely” as Clinton implied in his boring and absurd comments earlier today.

#ripjohnlewis #kwame ture #bill clinton #barack obama #sncc #black power

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hips-ter · 4 years

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The 6 Best Trip Planning Apps for Headache Free Travel – Review Geek

Your notice about search engine optimization can also be good, nevertheless, I do suppose that if a weblog stays at the top for a very long time, it is also about high quality and fewer about SEO. Thanks for taking the time and writing such a considerate comment. Research indeed is the important thing however some instant journey plans are tremendous enjoyable. And finding the right travel company is a little headache however i feel it is needed. particularly if you want to journey in a different country where you nearly know nothing.

Who has the best all inclusive vacation packages?

The most common reason why people go all inclusive is the value for money; with food, drinks and snacks catered for, it can be a great way of making your holiday more affordable.

The signature Hard Rock rocker vibe may be seen throughout the resort, whether it's in the music-themed decor or the free guitar leases. On-site amenities corresponding to golf, an arcade middle, and a sprawling health heart assist hold visitors busy. Aruba’s drier local weather and southern location within the Caribbean additionally signifies that it’s rarely hit with hurricanes. In reality, on the time of writing, the last glancing blow was by weak Hurricane Felix back in 2007.

This can also be a good time to go to London and Paris and Central Europe. Barcelona needs no less than two days of your time to see the most effective of it. There are additionally nice day journeys you'll be able to take from Barcelona, corresponding to visiting Montserrat, Girona, Costa Brava, and Tarragona. Florence deserves the largest chunk of time in this itinerary.

Thank you for offering such descriptive and well-elaborated ideas. I would definitely maintain them in mind while planning a trip for me now. You can e-book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most complete inventory. If you want to keep elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most cost effective charges for guesthouses and low-cost hotels. To assist you determine one of the best plan for you and your journey, right here’s my final guide to picking a good insurance firm.

What are the do's and don'ts of itinerary preparation?

Travel Agent Do Not Cost More - Vacationkids never charges services fees. Our services are free to our customers. If their parents want to use miles too book their flights or if there are cheaper rates online, Online Travel companies do charge service fees. They build them into the cost that you pay.

In the publication, UN areas and subregions are ranked by the variety of worldwide customer arrivals, by the income generated by inbound tourism, and by the expenditures of outbound travelers. With a dramatic cliffside setting in Negril, this adults-solely all-inclusive is taken into account certainly one of Jamaica’s most particular resorts — albeit one with high nightly rates. Meals and drinks are included, however the choices right here go above and past typical all-inclusive fare.

Most people need several days in a place where they couldn’t see a museum or take a tour even when they wanted to. A stop within the mountains or on an island, in a pleasant rural city, or at the home of a relative is an effective way to revitalize your vacationer spirit. If you’re passionate about Renaissance art, Florence is a must. England’s Cotswolds beckon to those who fantasize about thatched cottages, time-handed villages, and sheep lazing on inexperienced hillsides. For World War II buffs, there’s no more stirring experience than a go to to Normandy.

We will be arriving in Munich after which plan to cover Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Paris and spend final four-days in London since our return flight is from London. Plus, it’s not just the most affordable cities in Europe. Malta, as an Island, could be comparatively cheap too.

This “General MacArthur” method is a key to touristic happiness.

,” Ed Perkins writes, “An agent is an enormous help if you value your time.

Not positive concerning the place, however either of Spain, UK or Sweden.

Log into any airways' web site a couple of days earlier than your tip and you'll be able to find all of this info.

If you’re feeling nervous, don’t fear — that’s perfectly regular. You’re about to embark on a tremendous journey — and that’s a huge change.

Reading this makes me realise how much planning I don’t do before reserving a trip! You’ve given me some great tips, and plenty to think about before reserving my subsequent travels. I never use a journey agent but I’d take into consideration attempting it out. By the time I get to this a part of planning my holiday, I know that many of the work is done. Now, it's about specializing in the smaller details.

Most travel brokers are paid a fee from resorts, airlines or tour operators after they guide a shopper with them. Some resorts or tour operators pay more fee than others.

Passport photographs will value you about an extra $10, or you possibly can print your own free of charge at ePassportPhoto. Europe has an insane quantity of fine beer and wine — so you should sample all you possibly can.

It lays out every piece of knowledge you may need on your trip so you're by no means left hunting round on the lookout for an tackle or a cellphone quantity. This means you'll be able to spend extra time exploring or enjoyable and fewer time making an attempt to prepare yourself. Do your research about vacation spot prices primarily based in your type of traveling. This goes to help you determine your daily bills and provide you with a every day budget on your trip.

Spend a minimum of one day exploring Florence, after which use your additional days to take day trips into Tuscany, visiting Siena and the other hill towns. You can do this on your own by renting a car or using the public buses (however this was a nightmare in our expertise…we highly recommend renting your own automotive or hiring a driver while in Tuscany!). Ten days is simply sufficient time to get a style of this country.

BARCELONA, SPAIN Travel Costs

There are miles of white-sand seashores (like Rendezvous Bay, overlooking neighboring Saint Martin island), as well as secluded coves reached by boat, similar to at Little Bay. After a day within the solar, hit up nice restaurants, as well as a low-key nightlife with stay music that spans from reggae to string bands. In a nutshell, you have fewer things to fret about with all-inclusive packages.

If you worry about issues that are just out of attain, you gained’t respect what’s in your hand. I’ve taken dozens of European journeys, and I still want more time. It’s a blessing that we can by no means see all of Europe. Alternate intense big cities with villages and countryside.

But in case you are planning on having three drinks or extra per day, plus three meals a day, it might average about $one hundred a day, according to her calculations. Jen Pellerito, journey writer and creator of Jen on the Run, did an analysis using an Expedia seek for resorts in Cancun for seven days (Aug. 24 to Aug. 31, 2018). Many all-inclusive resorts are close to major airports and big cities, stated Ebert. If you’re visiting a spot like the Caribbean, you’ll discover many resorts have private access to the beach. For instance, when you’re traveling alone, traversing a huge space, and spending the vast majority of your time in huge cities, it makes more sense to go by prepare with a rail cross than to mess with a car.

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dandart · 5 years

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I like quizzes...

1. What is you middle name?

Walter. Not kidding.

2. How old are you?

3. When is your birthday?

4th June

4. What is your zodiac sign?

Classical: Gemini

Revised: Taurus

5. What is your favorite color?

Deep purple. Also orange sometimes.

6. What’s your lucky number?

4, 16, 64... powers of 4.

7. Do you have any pets?

1 black cat, 2 lutino cockatiels, a venus fly trap and a "puppy" (shytsumiki is my Chise)

8. Where are you from?

Devon, south west England.

9. How tall are you?

175cm (about 5'9" in ye olde measurements)

10. What shoe size are you?

Like 7... ._. That's tiny. It makes it painful to walk. (EU 41, US 9)

11. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

One that I actually use. But then I occasionally share with my darling Angel shytsumiki, but I also have more impractical ones stashed.

12. What was your last dream about?

Ah fuck now I don't remember... it was interesting though.

13. What talents do you have?

Coding, origami, musical instruments, tech in general and uhmm not a lot else?

14. Are you psychic in any way?

No one's psychic. That's never been proven. I can barely read emotions when I look at faces. I am remarkably imperceptive.

15. Favorite song?

Starset's My Demons, Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb or Focus' Anonymus 2.

16. Favorite movie?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. But I do also enjoy me some others. Ask for my imdb if you're interested.

17. Who would be your ideal partner?

My babygirl shytsumiki was my childhood crush. No one I have ever met has come close to being so magically attractive to me.

18. Do you want children?

No, I have my babygirl shytsumiki and our pets are our babies.

19. Do you want a church wedding?

Noooooooooooo. One in the dead of night in the woods would be just lovely.

20. Are you religious?

In as much as I occasionally personify the world or the universe, but not seriously.

21. Have you ever been to the hospital?

Yeah. I even stayed overnight but only to stay with my little Angel shytsumiki.

22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law?

Umm... once as a kid I didn't know how to do anything nor what I was doing, and punched a teacher after she stopped me stealing and eating broken biscuits and had to talk to a policeman. But other than that, not since I was like 7. Gosh I was a horror.

23. Have you ever met any celebrities?

Yeah, I met the Linux Outlaws and co, I've met the Gadget Show crew, I went to see Biffy Clyro live... of all bands... I've spoken to a few coding legends too... erm... tweeted with Carmack, and Akira, that vfx guy for Star Trek...

24. Baths or showers?

Baths are soothing but I usually shower because I haven't always got the patience.

25. What color socks are you wearing?

Nihilism.

26. Have you ever been famous?

I should hope so. I was known as The Cloud Man by LO, got published in Linux Format, once had a thousand twitter followers and had feedback from strangers on my code. I am also in the OEIS, thrice.

27. Would you like to be a big celebrity?

Not in the classical papparazi pop star sense, but to be a household name who doesn't have to hide his face in public sounds okay. A legacy would be nice, after all.

28. What type of music do you like?

Uber metal and prog rock, usually. Soundtracks too.

29. Have you ever been skinny dipping?

Noooooooo eww.

30. How many pillows do you sleep with?

Two, but I often share two with shytsumiki and iunno if she counts <3

31. What position do you usually sleep in?

Sideways unless my neck hurts (physiological problem) in which case back or front.

32. How big is your house?

Three bedrooms but still pokey. We have too much stuff.

33. What do you typically have for breakfast?

A nothing sandwich with bread made out of thin air with a side of invisible chips.

34. Have you ever fired a gun?

Only a bb and a fairground one.

35. Have you ever tried archery?

Yeah once and I loved it and want to take it up again.

36. Favorite clean word?

Either discombobulate, defenestrate, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis or jam.

37. Favorite swear word?

Fucknugget? Anything which is half swear and half clean is a winner in my book. Shitsticks.

38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?

Around 40 hours I should think.

39. Do you have any scars?

Myes. That's a story which perhaps requires a tw...

40. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

How would I know? If it's secret I wouldn't know. My little darling is my exsecret admirer though apparently.

41. Are you a good liar?

Nope. I am forgetful so I wouldn't even be aligned in the answers I was giving. Plus I just don't like it. It makes me too guilty.

42. Are you a good judge of character?

I hope so but haven't had many chances to find that out just yet.

43. Can you do any other accents other than your own?

Sure. It's-a pizza, italiano! But seriously I am okay at some but terrible at others.

44. Do you have a strong accent?

I wouldn't say so but no one would. I would just say "generic Southern English"

45. What is your favorite accent?

Some Southern hemisphere or east Asian I like a lot, also a few European.

46. What is your personality type?

INTP afaik

47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing?

I don't actually know, I don't go for expensive, nor care for my clothes especially.

48. Can you curl your tongue?

Yes.

49. Are you an innie or an outie?

Innie.

50. Left or right handed?

Right.

51. Are you scared of spiders?

Nope.

52. Favorite food?

Sushi.

53. Favorite foreign food?

...sushi. Alright, different answer? Takoyaki?

54. Are you a clean or messy person?

Extremely messy.

55. Most used phrased?

It changes every so often. Dunno right now.

56. Most used word?

Also changes. Still don't know.

57. How long does it take for you to get ready?

For climbing? Jk like a minute?

58. Do you have much of an ego?

Used to, now I don't.

59. Do you suck or bite lollipops?

Both.

60. Do you talk to yourself?

All the time. I know, right?

61. Do you sing to yourself?

Yup.

62. Are you a good singer?

Only if I try which is rare and even then rarely.

63. Biggest Fear?

Losing my Angel. Or dying.

64. Are you a gossip?

Nope. Not at all.

65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen?

I don't actually know.

66. Do you like long or short hair?

Having? Long. Seeing? Don't mind as long as it's not a buzzcut. So from vaguely short and floofy to massively long.

67. Can you name all 50 states of America?

No I can't, and it would be weird to expect that of me.

68. Favorite school subject?

Maths and physics and IT.

69. Extrovert or Introvert?

Intro now, ex extro

70. Have you ever been scuba diving?

No but it sounds llike good fun.

71. What makes you nervous?

Jealousy and making the wrong moves.

72. Are you scared of the dark?

Nope. Used to be a bit when alone.

73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes?

Sometimes, less than I used to, when it would be useful.

74. Are you ticklish?

A bit. Less than I used to be since being bigger.

75. Have you ever started a rumor?

Nope

76. Have you ever been in a position of authority?

Not official governmently but I have owned projects, and in other places.

77. Have you ever drank underage?

Probably.

78. Have you ever done drugs?

Hasn't everyone done soft ones?

79. Who was your first real crush?

My Angel Baby shytsumiki

80. How many piercings do you have?

None.

81. Can you roll your Rs?“

Yes.

82. How fast can you type?

Reasonably fast I should think.

83. How fast can you run?

Reasonably slow.

84. What color is your hair?

Brown to me, dark blonde to my mum and ginger in an underground coding quiz apparently.

85. What color is your eyes?

Are? Blue.

86. What are you allergic to?

Probably prawns.

87. Do you keep a journal?

No, wish I could remember to.

88. What do your parents do?

My mum's a mosaic artist and my dad's a retired satcom engineer.

89. Do you like your age?

Ummm, it's alright??

90. What makes you angry?

Die hard cruelty and things that make people or animals suffer. Including wars, all of which are inexcusable. Come on people, the best for the most, keep up! I am the judge.

91. Do you like your own name?

It's alright. Better than some, not as cool as others.

92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?

Bob Jim Ted because they are hilarious names. Not that I'm using them for anything but fiction.

93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child?

No. I already have my babygirl shytsumiki.

94. What are you strengths?

Code. Logic. Maths and science. Compassion perhaps.

95. What are your weaknesses?

Memory, communication and showing emotion.

96. How did you get your name?

My folks picked it from a comic. "Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future". Middle name from a great uncle.

97. Were your ancestors royalty?

Everyone's were. I haven't traced exactly how but have traced up to 500 years in some places.

98. Do you have any scars?

Yes, you asked that before.

99. Color of your bedspread?

Colour. Currently red and black.

100. Color of your room?

Colour! Well white as are all of them atm.

These are fun. Thank you.

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oxygenetixfoundation · 5 years

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What Fitzpatrick Skin Type Are You?

The Fitzpatrick Scale is the most widely accepted skin typing method used today. This rating system measures the amount of pigment in the skin and the tolerance to the sun.[2] Founded in 1975 by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, the Fitzpatrick scale is used in Dermatology and the Cosmetic Industry. The FDA has even adopted this classification for evaluating the SPF values of sunscreens. [1]

Cosmetic professionals use the Fitzpatrick scale to accurately produce products for all skin types. Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation and Acne Control Foundation come in 14 shades spread evenly across the Fitzpatrick Scale’s 6 classifications to cater to our global market.

There are two main factors that influence skin type; genetic disposition and reaction to sun exposure and tanning beds. [1] Take Fitzpatrick’s quiz used by Dermatologists below to find out what your Fitzpatrick Skin Type is.

Fitzpatrick Scale Quiz

Instructions: Each answer has a numerical value next to it. Choose one answer to each question and add up the numbers associated with your responses. Scoring is available at the end of the quiz.

What color are your eyes?

0 - Light blue, gray, green

1- Blue, gray, or green

2 - Blue

3 - Dark Brown

4 - Brownish Black

What is the natural color of your hair?

0 - Sandy red

1 - Blonde

2 - Chestnut/ Dark Blonde

3 - Dark brown

4 - Black

What color is your skin (unexposed areas)?

0 - Reddish

1 - Very Pale

2 - Pale with a beige tint

3 - Light brown

4 - Dark brown

Do you have freckles on unexposed areas?

0 - Many

1 - Several

2 - Few

3 - Incidental

4 - None

What happens when you stay too long in the sun?

0 - Painful redness, blistering, peeling

1 - Blistering followed by peeling

2 - Burns sometimes followed by peeling

3 - Rare burns

4 - Never had burns

To what degree do you turn brown?

0 - Hardly or not at all

1 - Light color tan

2 - Reasonable tan

3 - Tan very easily

4 - Turn dark brown quickly

Do you turn brown with several hours of sun exposure?

0 - Never

1 - Seldom

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

How does your face react to the sun?

0 - Very sensitive

1 - Sensitive

2 - Normal

3 - Very resistant

4 - Never had a problem

When did you last expose your body to the sun (or artificial sunlamp/tanning cream)?

1 - More than 3 months ago

2 - 2-3 months ago

3 - 12 months ago

4 - Less than a month ago

5 - Less than 2 weeks ago

Do you expose your face to the sun? (for the purpose of this quiz we have changed this question from the original: Did you expose the area to be treated to the sun?)

1 - Never

2 - Hardly ever

3 - Sometimes

4 - Often

5 - Always

Total up your points and match your score below to find your skin type.

Fitzpatrick Scale Quiz Score

0-7 = Type I

8-16 = Type II

17-25 = Type III

25-30 = Type IV

Over 30 = Type V-VI

Common Characteristics of Fitzpatrick Skin Types

Type I - White skin color, blonde hair, and green eyes, always burns in the sun, has freckles. Common ethnic background: English, Scottish.

Type II - White skin color, blonde hair, and green/blue eyes, always burns, has freckles and is difficult to tan. Common ethnic background: Northern European.

Type III - White skin color, blonde/ brown hair, blue/brown eyes, tans after several burns, and may freckle. Common ethnic background: German.

Type IV - Brown skin color, brown hair, and brown eyes, tans more than average, rarely burns, and rarely freckles. Common ethnic background: Mediterranean, Southern European, Hispanic.

Type V - Dark brown skin color, brown/black hair with brown eyes. Tans with ease, rarely burns, and no freckles. Common ethnic background: Asian, Indian, some African

Type VI - Black skin color, black hair, and brown/black eyes. Tans, never burns, deeply pigmented, and never freckles. Common ethnic background: African.

Oxygenetix Fitzpatrick Shades

Oxygenetix Foundations come in 7 blue based and 7 yellow based shades along the Fitzpatrick scale. See below for shades in your Fitzpatrick type.

Blue Based Shades

Type I - Pearl

Type II - Ivory

Type III - Taupe

Type IV - Walnut/ Coco

Type V - Ebony

Type VI - Mahogany

Yellow Based Shades

Type I - Opal

Type II - Creme

Type III - Beige

Type IV - Almond/ Honey

Type V - Tawny/Chakra

Benefits of Knowing Your Fitzpatrick

By assessing Fitzpatrick skin type medical professionals are able to determine what treatments are best as well as what to be cautious of. Now that you know what Fitzpatrick Skin Type you have, you can more accurately predict your response to different cosmetic procedures and treatments. Skin types IV-VI run a higher risk for pigmentary change with treatments such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, and topical bleaching agents.

Knowing your Fitzpatrick is also important in evaluating your risk for skin cancer. Melanin in the skin absorbs and scatters energy from UV light to protect skin cells from damage. [2] Skin types with less pigmentation have less melanin and therefore less protection against harmful sun rays. Type I - III have the highest risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers and sun damage.

No matter what skin type you have, you are beautiful! Thank you for reading our blog today.

Sources:

1. Fitzpatrick skin typing: Applications in dermatology. Silonie Sachdeva, 2008. http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?dv09029

2. Milady Standard Advanced Esthetics, 2013.

#fitzpatrick #fitzpatrickskintype #oxygenetix #beautyblog #beautyproducts #cosmetics #skincaretips #sunprotection #dermatology

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jagged-edge-and-mess · 5 years

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Hi! I’m doing a sorta pseudo-Nanowrimo and I’m posting it scene by scene so enjoy it if you wanna

Alder Valley is a strange name for a town. Or, rather, it’s a strange name for the town called Alder Valley. Mostly because we don’t have any alder trees. I don’t think that alder trees even live in SoCal. My ma always says that the people who live here want to pretend they live in Cape Cod, and that naming their town after an tree that doesn’t exist here is really just them trying to escape the fact that they live in a desert. Not that you could hide it, no matter how much money you had. And the people of Alder Valley have a lot of money.

Not that it stops them from trying. The town feels like any corner of eastern suburbia—green lawns, rosebushes, the whole white picket, white-skinned American Dream racket. There are tennis courts, parks, a huge mall, even a man-made lake smack-dab in the middle of it all. If the land was flat, you could almost imagine you were somewhere in Massachusetts with unseasonably warm weather. But even the wrath of the country’s most upper upper middle class can’t hide the mountains.

And we do have mountains. The town might not have any alders, but it certainly has plenty of valley. The mountains mark the horizon in every direction, rounded, purple giants covered in all the scrub and brush that California was born with. Stepping out of the city limits is like stepping into another world, one that most citizens thoroughly disapprove of.

Alder Valley. A corner of European paradise, tucked away in the wastes and fed by the highway on the ground, the power lines above it, and the aqueduct below. It’s a forgotten piece of the landscape, a place with too much money to be respected by the rural classes that surround it and too far from the glamour of LA to earn any social capital in Hollywood. I was born here, and I’ve been waiting to leave ever since.

The day is coming. I need to blow through senior year and then I’ll be off to do whatever people do when they escape this polished corner of the desert. But, as Aragorn says, “Today is not that day.”

In fact, today isn’t even shaping up to be a particularly good day. It’s supposed to be fall, but one of the hazards of Southern California is that the temperature can suddenly and viciously spike well into sweltering with no warning. Moreover, my abuse of the snooze button meant that there was little time for any breakfast outside of a few scarfed crackers.

So, sweaty and starving, I walk through the fence of Alder Valley High School, with its iron bars painted a cheery blue to make the whole place feel slightly less prison-like. Slightly. No one’s around yet; the sun still has yet to climb over the mountains, so the sky seems to lighten almost by itself.

The library is a little glass building tucked away in a corner of the school. I’m not sure most of the students even know we have a library, but that suits me fine. No one checking things in or out makes my job easier, and the fewer boys I have to catch looking at porn on the library computers, the better.

I’m fumbling for the key to the library’s employee entrance when a hand taps my folder and I nearly jump out of my skin.

“Whazzat!” I whirl, and my backpack slips off my shoulder and spills its contents across the ground. I barely notice, because I’m suddenly trying not to turn tail and run.

Gawain Kyla is standing inches from me. He’s the school’s resident goth, and from what I’ve seen, he takes his job seriously. Black nails, silver crucifix earring, septum piercing, lipstick, the works. But his hair’s fluorescent pink, which never strikes me as particularly Victorian, and he’s famous for wearing a short, pleated skirt every day. Well, that and attacking people who comment on the former attribute.

He stares at me, and I stare back, suddenly unsure of how exactly to get air into my lungs. Gawain isn’t glaring, exactly, but it’s hard to call the unsmiling stare of someone wearing eyeshadow friendly. Finally, he glances down at my strewn belongings, and I spring back to life.

“Oh, God, sorry, I’m so sorry,” I stammer, bending to stuff papers back into folders and pencils back into bags.

“You’re the librarian, right?” It strikes me that this is the first time I’ve ever heard Gawain speak. It’s reedier than I expect.

“No,” I stutter, before correcting myself. “I mean, yes, I mean, assistant! I’m the assistant librarian.”

“Great.” I’m not sure whether it’s bemusement or annoyance in Gawain’s eyes. I hope it isn’t annoyance. Gawain Kyla has a reputation for smashing annoying people’s faces in. “Then you can assist me. I’m looking for a book.”

“You can read?” I clap a hand over my mouth as Gawain’s face darkens. “Oh my God, oh my God, I’m sorry, that just slipped out, of course you can read, I’m just saying whatever stupid thing pops into my head.”

“How’s this?” Gawain leans forward. He’s only a few inches taller than I am, but at the moment, he seems like one of the mountains. “You help me out, and I’ll forget you said that.”

“Sounds good!” I manage to get the key into the lock, despite my shaky hands.

When I’m nervous, my head latches on to insignificant details. As I lead Gawain Kyla into the dusty back halls of the library, I can really only think about how his lipstick is two different colors. His bottom lip is pure black, but the upper one is a very deep purple. You almost can’t notice it. I wonder where he learned to do his own makeup.

There isn’t anyone in the library, so I don’t turn the lights on. Mrs. Dunwiddy usually doesn’t arrive until just before first period, so I usually get a half an hour or so to myself.

The place isn’t much. Some bookshelves piled with mostly unread books. A few work tables, a line of computers shoved against one wall. There are some reference stacks, too, though no one ever asks for anything. Watery blue sunshine pours in from the skylights.

I start typing into one of the ancient computers at the librarians’ desk, hoping that this won’t be the day they finally give out on me. “So, uh, what book are you looking for?” My voice comes out shrill, and I wince.

Gawain stares out at the darkened library. “It’s a book on plants,” he says, finally. “The Complete Catalogue of Desert Flora. By Eugenie Hatherford.”

“Really? Why?” I catch a dark stare for my efforts and return to the computer. “Right. Desert Flora. Hatherford. On it.”

A couple torturous moments pass as I wait for the library program to load up and find the book, the whole machine wheezing in protest the whole way. But eventually, I stare at a blank screen and frown.

“The program says we don’t have a book by that name in the library.”

“What.” In Gawain’s mouth, the word isn’t a question. It’s a threat. “I was told it was here.”

“Who told you?” I ask. “Mrs. Dunwiddy’s worked for a lot of libraries. Sometimes she forgets—“

“It was someone reliable.” Gawain’s face darkens, and I notice with considerable alarm that his fingers are curling into a fist. I grasp for an explanation and—wonder of wonders—there is one.

“Wait!” I spring up from my seat. “I think I know where we might be able to find it.”

“Explain.” Gawain’s eyes are brown, so brown they’re nearly black. People would call them boring, but they’re not. They blaze with some sort of hidden fire that makes it hard to watch them for too long.

I scatter the thoughts before they get my nose broken. “The library switched over to a digital catalogue a few years ago, before I started here. They didn’t do a very good job, and I’ve been working on fixing it, but sometimes, there are still books that haven’t been input into the computers.”

“Then how do you find them?”

“The old card catalogues.” I smile, hoping it doesn’t look as much like a rabbit staring down a wolf as I think it does. “Dunwiddy keeps them in the back. This way. I mean, I don’t know if it’s going to be in there, but I can check.”

“Fine.” Gawain’s fingers unclench, and so do my lungs. “Lead the way.”

“Right.” I leave my backpack next to the desk and step into the back rooms.

I like the card catalogues. Whoever organized them when the library was built did a much better job than Mrs. Dunwiddy and her computers. Temperamental as the desktops are, the cards are even usually faster. But it’s more than that. There’s something soothing about the process of searching for a book, rifling through all the neatly written cards, and then searching the bookshelves. It has a rhythm and an order, and things are where they’re supposed to be.

The catalogues sit in a dusty row in the printer room, where no one but me ever opens them. They’re supposed to be organized by record number, but whoever moved them in here evidently didn’t have the patience to put them in the right order. By now, though, I’m accustomed to this small piece of chaos, and I pull open a drawer.

“Here,” I mutter, more to myself than Gawain. “The H’s. Hamlet…Halloway…” I search through the cards. Then I search again. Then I reach around underneath in case a card has gotten folded. No Hatherford.

“Oh, that’s not good.” I shut the cabinet.

“It’s not there?” I can feel Gawain’s presence behind me. He seems furious, and I’m suddenly very aware that we are in a back room, and that there’s no one around to help if he attacks me.

With waning hope, I point towards the cabinet at the very end of the row. “It might be in the reference cabinet. It’s mostly just encyclopedias, though.” And then it hits me. “Oh. Right. It is an encyclopedia. I’m an idiot.”

“I’m not sure anyone who understands how all this stuff works is an idiot,” Gawain says, and I glance back at him.

“That was almost nice. You were almost nice to me.”

“Problem?” Gawain’s face twists, like storm clouds rolling over a clear sky, and I whirl back towards the reference catalogue.

“Problem? Course not! I’m just talking to myself. I do that a lot. Talking to myself, I mean.”

“I’ve noticed.”

I slide open the cabinets, then succumb to a sneezing fit as dust flies free. Normally, I don’t look at the references. They’re just encyclopedias. They’re ordered up on the shelves, and no one wants them anyway, so I’ve been saving them for last in my new organizational scheme.

When I’ve recovered, I start looking. And then all the tension goes out of my shoulders.

“The Complete Catalogue of Desert Flora, by Eugenie Hatherford.” I pull the cobwebbed card free, silently commit the reference number to memory, and replace it. “It’s here. This way, please.”

I lead Gawain back into the open part of the library and into the reference stacks. Then I have to return to the desk to turn the lights on, so I can read the reference numbers.

The way Mrs. Dunwiddy taught me, I place my finger against the shelf and drag it sideways, scanning the book numbers as I go.

“Gawain’s an interesting name,” I say as I go. “Are you Welsh?”

“That’s a weird question.”

“Yeah, because I’m the weird one in this exchange,” I mutter under my breath, then start. “Oh my God, I did it again, didn’t I?”

“You’re not used to people hearing you when you talk, are you?” Gawain raises his eyebrows.

“That obvious?” I reach the end of a shelf, start at the next. Slow and steady. “Gawain was King Arthur’s nephew, in those old legends.”

“I know.”

“It’s kind of funny, really. He was supposed to be great with herbs, and here you are, looking for books on plants—“

“I don’t need the narration. Just the book.”

“Oh. Right. Sorry.” I clamp my jaws shut until finally, a thick, tome distinguishes itself from the rest. Its spine is a faded green, and gold letters mark it in cramped type. The Complete Catalogue of Desert Flora. I pull it out, marveling at the size of it. It’s as big as any of the other encyclopedias, but it looks much older.

“Here it is.” I manage a small smile. “You can check it out for two hours at a time, but school will be starting soon—“

“What?” Gawain just holds out his hands. “I’ll return it when I’m done with it.”

“Uh, the thing is, it’s a reference book, so you aren’t really allowed to check it out.” I take a step away as I see Gawain’s fingers curling again.

“I need to read it by myself,” he growls.

“And I like this job, and I want to keep it,” I protest. “Look, if you don’t want to read when other people are around, why don’t you just come back around five? Mrs. Dunwiddy goes home early on Mondays, but I don’t close up till eight. You won’t be completely alone, but it’ll just be me.”

“You’re really not going to just give it to me?” Gawain folds his arms, and I offer him my most apologetic smile.

“Sorry?”

“Whatever. I’ll be back at five.” Gawain turns and stomps away. His boots, big, clomping pieces of black leather, made satisfying clicks on the wood.

I turn to restore the Catalogue to its place, and then I remember, and I sprint after him. “Wait!”

But it’s too late. I emerge from the stacks just in time to see Gawain Kyla walk face-first into the library’s sliding glass doors, which I haven’t turned on yet. With infinite slowness, he turns back to face me, his expression apocalyptic.

“What the fuck, Averill.”

I offer a halfhearted chuckle and scurry over to the librarians’ desk, wondering about why he knows my name. “Sorry!” The doors slide open, comically too late. And Gawain stalks off into the early morning. I wait for them to close, then shut them off again, snatching a bottle of Windex and some paper towels. There is a perfect imprint of Gawain Kyla’s lips on the glass, the top half violet, the bottom half black.

I hyperventilate for next several minutes, because holy fuck Gawain is the scariest person I have ever met. Then I get to work, turning on the dying computers, setting out the chairs, all the quiet things that it takes to keep the library running. The book of the day, I decide, is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I make a mental note to erase that before five o’clock.

#original story #writing #creative writing #nanowrimo #nano 2018 #spilled ink #long post #long reads #arthurian #knight #witch #fiction #gay #gay boy #mlm #trans #lgbtq #queer fiction #high school

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Argentina

Argentina is the quintessential south. Half of the local realities proudly wear the title "the southernmost. To begin with, there's the world's southernmost railroad: Argentina's answer to the bourgeois Orient Express and the harsh domestic Trans-Siberian Railroad - the Patagonian broad gauge, built, by the way, with a continental scope: about 30 years of work and unprecedented for such distant lands amenities - Fiat Concord cars with different twists, like porcelain sinks and carved chairs, and special trailers to transport cars. Then there's the southernmost city on the planet, Ushuaia, on the promenade by the harbor which is so nice to contemplate the summer apricot sunsets. Finally - the southernmost glaciers on Earth (not counting, of course, the pole), with a constant dry crackle sliding down from the mountains to the crystal "silver" lakes of Lago Argentino. An added bonus: Patagonia, immortalized by Monsieur Verne, known to all of us since childhood, is also located here. In general, "he who is merry - he laughs, he who wants - he will achieve, he who seeks - he will always find!" The capital is Buenos Aires.

Resorts in Argentina

Photo by imprintmytravel on Pixabay Argentina has both sea and ski resorts. Interesting cities in terms of tourism are Salta, Cordoba, El Calafate, and the southernmost city of Ushuaia. Natural attractions are Iguazu, Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

Visa to Argentina

Photo by grebmot on Pixabay A visa is not required to visit Argentina if the trip does not exceed 90 days. Learn more about visa to Argentina. However you will need to obtain a medical insurance for the whole trip in advance. Is it possible to extend your Argentine visa, while you are in the country? Customs Import and export of local and foreign currencies is not limited, but the sums over 10 000 USD need to be declared. You can bring into the country up to 400 cigarettes (or 50 cigars), up to 2 liters of liquor, up to 5 kg of canned foods, souvenirs and gifts not exceeding 300 USD and things for personal needs. When importing these items in excess of this amount, a duty of 50% of their value is levied. It is prohibited to import non-canned food products, items and things of historical, artistic or archaeological value (without a special permit), as well as weapons. When exporting wool and leather goods, jewelry and souvenirs must present a receipt of the store where they were purchased. When exporting furs, an export stamp receipt will be required.

A little history

Photo by jstarj on Pixabay Incredible, but true: in the early 20th century Argentina was considered perhaps the richest country in the world. There was even a saying: "As rich as an Argentinean". Thousands of Europeans tried to find prosperity in the picturesque foothills of the Andes - Southern Italians, Basques who moved from the Pyrenees, Galicians and Catalans, Germans and Austrians and Swiss, Irish and Scots, Russians, Ukrainians and Jews. Despite the government's best efforts to repopulate Argentina's empty territories, they did not succeed, as most immigrants eventually settled in or around the capital. Patagonian Indians were exterminated almost to the last, Africans did not survive the wars with Brazil and Paraguay. Thus a "white" country emerged in South America, Catholic in spirit, Spanish in way of thinking, and French in way of life.

Transport in Argentina

Long distances in the country are most convenient and fastest to travel by plane due to the extensive network of airways and the presence of airports in major cities. It is better to book tickets in advance, and you should also keep in mind that there are flight delays. Rail transport in the country is popular, but in some areas is not well developed. Special tourist trains run in the Patagonia and Mesopotamia regions, and urban transport is represented by buses, commuter trains and cabs. Buenos Aires also has a subway. In 1906, the newly elected president of Argentina raised the question of the development of the national territories: thus began the era of the Patagonian Railroad. But only a couple of decades later the operating line finally connected the major center of Bahia Blanca and the southern tip of Buenos Aires province, the city of Carmen de Patagonese, across the river from which lies Viedma, the capital of the neighboring province and the door to Patagonia… International bus routes connect Argentina with neighboring countries: Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. From Jujuy and Salta there are buses to La Chiaqua, from where you can cross the Bolivian border on foot or by cab. From the same cities you can go to the Bolivian town of Jacuibo, located right on the border, where buses go to the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz. With Chilean cities Argentina is connected by routes from Salta to San Pedro de Atacama, from Mendoza to Santiago, from Bariloche to Puerto Montt, from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas. All cabs in Argentina are equipped with meters, which must be turned on when the passenger boards.

Safety in Argentina

Because there are few "Russo tourists" in the country, locals consider them exotic and the attitude is friendly and helpful. However, certain security measures do not cancel it: it is not recommended to leave the tourist centers alone (especially in the evening), you should not carry large sums of money, expensive jewelry and so on. It is recommended to drink bottled or boiled water. Swimming in the ocean can only be strictly in designated areas: in unequipped areas it is dangerous because of the strong coastal currents.

Interesting facts

The "silver country" has a lot to show the world: tango, Evita Perón, soccer and the most beautiful woman president - just the beginning of the list. Argentina offers, in record time, some of the most bizarre experiences the opposite hemisphere has to offer: a glacier that never stops murmuring, a wander through the streets of the southernmost city, a tango lesson in the street (and if you are lucky, even a milonger standing ovation!), a sail to the legendary Cape Horn, or even an Antarctic cruise. With no visa formalities, to get from winter Russia right into the Argentine summer, all you need is spare time and a fair amount of money. Argentina is known as one of the world's leading wine producers, but adherents of tequila, whiskey, vodka or brandy are also not lacking in their favorite beverages.

Climate of Argentina

Argentina's climate is subtropical in the north, humid tropical in the center, and temperate in the south. Don't forget that in the southern hemisphere winter and summer coincide with ours in exactly the opposite way. The Andean region is characterized by rainy weather and frequent flooding in the summer season, intense heat in the summer, snow cover in the mountains in the winter, and frequent dry hot winds, which Argentinians call "zonda". The temperature variations are considerable both between the seasons and within a single day. In the plains, it often rains heavily over impenetrable rainforests and savannahs. The average temperature is +5 ° C in January and +20 to +22 ° C in July. Summer (December to February) is the best time to visit Patagonia and the Southern Andes. Winter (May through September) is the best time to travel through the northern and northwestern parts of the country. Spring and autumn are the perfect time to visit Buenos Aires, the Inter-Mediterranean region and the Cordillera foothills of La Rioja and Catamarca. And fans of skiing can hone their skills on the slopes of snow-capped Argentine Andes from June to October. The best time to visit the country - from October to May. Up-to-date information: weather forecast for the main resorts in Argentina in the coming days. Hotels in Argentina There are two types of hotels in Argentina - local and international "chains". The first are usually inclined to attribute an extra star to themselves undeservedly, while the level of the latter fully comply with the declared. There are few all-inclusive hotels in the country; in general the hotels offer either breakfasts or half board. The mains voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz. There are two-pin plugs and three-pin plugs. You are advised to bring your own plugs. Tango in Argentina

Photo by fsHH on Pixabay Perhaps everyone knows about the Argentine origin of the tango. Of the fact that it has long been considered, say, not too decent even in their own homeland, probably, are well aware of many (it is known that the champions of strict morality considered tango as a prelude to sex, rather than a dance). But one funny nuance, directly connected with the above-mentioned point, remained almost unknown. It turns out that when the tango began to gain popularity among male audience, its first fans faced with a severe shortage of partners during the training: decent girls in any way did not want to do "it", and dancing lessons in brothels were too expensive. However, they found a way out: men simply began to learn tango dancing… with each other! By the way, according to some researchers, this is what gave a strong impetus to the development of dance and enriched it with new movements.

Banks and exchange offices

The currency unit of the country is the Argentinean peso (ARS). 1 peso has 100 centavos. The current exchange rate: 1 ARS = 0.76 RUB (1 USD = 95.77 ARS, 1 EUR = 113.64 ARS). Currency can be exchanged in all banks and large shopping centers, hotels and specialized exchange offices. American Express, Visa, Master Card and Eurocard are accepted at major stores, hotels and restaurants. But in the provinces it is almost impossible to pay with them. You should not take traveler's checks with you. Exchange offices charge high commission for cashing them out, besides, it is almost impossible to exchange them in small towns. Most banks and exchange offices use a ticketing system - instead of standing in line a visitor receives a ticket with a number and then waits until the number is called by a clerk. It must be said that this procedure is more time-consuming than the usual live line.

Shopping and Shops in Argentina

In Argentina, inexpensive and high-quality shopping. From the country you can bring knives, silver mouthpieces, mate tea with a set for its preparation and use (calebasse and metal tubes), sheepskin products, clothing made from vicuña wool, Argentine wines, guitars, art, and quite good furs. When exporting wool and leather goods, you must present a receipt from the store where they were purchased. When leaving the country, you can reclaim VAT on purchases over $70 USD. In Ushuaia, in the free trade zone, purchases will be particularly advantageous. https://vimeo.com/122515337

Cuisine and restaurants

Photo by Mgg Vitchakorn on Unsplash To start with a little advice: forget about fish restaurants in Argentina. It's almost impossible to find them there, and even if you do, you'll regret it. Argentina is meat! One of the best in the world. And wine. Argentine chefs are known for their masterful handling of beef. In addition, after a trip to the country's restaurants, a tourist may well have the impression that he or she has visited almost all of South America - so fond are the local chefs to "borrow" recipes from their neighbors on the continent. The same is true for alcoholic beverages. Argentina is known as one of the world's leading wine producers, but fans of tequila, whiskey, vodka, or brandy are never short of their favourite drinks. Well, the leisure of ideological or unintentional opponents of alcohol will be brightened up by genuine mate in authentic calabas, traditionally drunk through a silver tube. Tipping in Argentina amounts to 5-10% of the bill for service; in expensive establishments it is often already included in the bill. If you decide to treat yourself to a famous restaurant, especially on a weekend, be sure to reserve a table in advance. Otherwise you'll have to stand in a decent line at the entrance. All restaurants on the Atlantic coast prepare excellent dishes of seafood. The "specialty" of Argentina are the "empanadas" pastries, which are considered a Spanish contribution to local cooking. Argentinians have a late dinner, at 9 p.m. at the earliest. Until then, most restaurants serve only light snacks such as pizzas and sandwiches: the "big kitchen" doesn't start until after dark.

Wines of Argentina

Photo by Maja Petric on Unsplash Wine in Argentina is very decent. The local culture of viticulture and winemaking is a kind of symbiosis of European traditions. Even the grape varieties that are grown here seem to have been selected according to the principle "the best from each country. From France - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, from Italy - Sangiovese and Bonarda, from Spain - Cempranillo, from Germany - Riesling. Any wine from 200 ARS and up will be very decent. "Top five": Cheval des Andes 2002 (Terrazas de los Andes), Vistalba Corte A 2004 (Finca y Bodega Vistabla), Iscay 2002 (Trapiche), Luigi Bosca DOC 2003 (Luigi Bosca), Antalogia VIII 2000 (La Rural).

Mate

The Argentines say that yerba mate, the drink number one in all of Latin America, was bestowed upon humanity by the gods who had mercy on mankind. According to the legend, two goddesses came down from heaven to take a walk on the pampas, to gaze at the glaciers, to bathe in the crystal waters of Lago Argentino… In general, everything is like today's tourists. No sooner had the celestials set foot on the "silver" land, than a jaguar appeared out of nowhere, and it was just dinnertime. The ladies were frightened out of their wits - but then an Indian appeared from behind the bushes and drove the bloodthirsty beast away like a real gentleman. In gratitude, the goddesses gave the Indian a calebasse and leaves of an unknown plant and taught him to make a decoction from them, which helps to relieve fatigue, improve health, and generally find all kinds of happiness. Since then, yerba mate has been consumed here on an astronomical scale, and Argentinians, as a consequence, are invariably awake and cheerful.

Active recreation or what to do in Argentina

What to do in Argentina: In Buenos Aires - see numerous generals on horseback, in the stone, bow to Eva Perón, drink mate, take part in a gaucho show, visit a tango show, dance a tango in La Boca and feel free from everything - a real gaucho, see how pre-Hispanic cultures live among stunning landscapes. The obligatory trekking in the National Park of Glaciers and Iguazu Falls, rafting and kayaking in the mountain rivers of Bariloche, Salta and Mendoza; mountain climbing and ascent of Mount Aconcagua; canopying, paragliding, skiing, riding in the salt deserts in the highlands are just some of the options that Argentina has to offer. You can ride horses across the snow-capped Andes, swim alongside seals and whales, walk between penguins in Patagonia, watch birds in the "American Serengeti" or condors in the high Andes, meet animals like llamas, vicuñas, capybara, nyandu, mara-anything to make it a major destination for those with any interest in nature. People come here for the exotic, the great fishing and the special, inherent only in Latin American countries, feeling of a continuous holiday. Read the full article

#Argentina

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