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mysticheathenn · 28 days

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Messages of Self-Care

Hi, Hexlings!

This pick-a-card reading is all about what kind of self-care you need right now in your life, etc.

This is a general reading, remember to take what resonates and leave what does not. This reading does not supplement your need to seek professional help. Tarot should be used as entertainment and not a for sure answer to your problems but as a guide, a sense of hope, and amusement.

Take your time when choosing your pile. Ask yourself the question and choose the picture that you can’t stop looking at. Listen to your intuition.

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Next Up: What's Your Fairytale Love Story? (Patreon, This Week)

Pile l:

What Kind of Self-Care Do You Need Right Now? Tarot: 2 of Wands, 5 of Pentacles, 3 of Pentacles (reversed), 4 of Swords, 6 of Pentacles

Balance & Courage. Right now in your life, you are lacking balance. This could be in any area of your life but for most of you, there is a misalignment with your finances as you have 3 pentacle cards establishing that this reading is specifically finance-focused. There is a mix in this pile as some of you may possibly have issues with spending money because the way you spend money is a coping mechanism of a way that you can remain in control of your life or feel better when things are going wrong. Others of you finances are tight because of your job not paying enough for you to survive but there are some of you that are being paid enough you just suck at budgeting. The remainder of you are giving away your money to others way too much when they are in need without holding people accountable in paying you back because you don't want "drama." Either way, you are looking for a break financially so you can rest and not stress every second of the day about not having enough money to pay for things you need in order to survive or have a roof over your head. This message of self-care is your cue for most of you who have ideas of plans to do better than what you are doing to chase after those ideas and goals. Now is a better time than never. I am hearing if you start now in implementing your ideas/goals withing 6-8 months you should see some sort of return that will look like the 10 of Cups/Pentacles. Last message for this group has to deal with your mentality around money. I may suggest looking into LOA (law of attraction), Neville Goddard, and other teachings in dealing with your mentality around money if you are a part of the spiritual community (Tumblr has a lot of resources). Others who are religious...pray to your spirit team and god to help move you in the direction or remove things not needed in order to bring in your financial break.

Extra Messages: Similar to how you choose a card. Close your eyes, take a deep breathe, open them, and whatever word stands out to you meditate on that word for a message to come through for you. Too many messages for me to type out.

Freedom, Beauty, Commitment, & Forgiveness

Pile ll:

What Kind of Self-Care Do You Need Right Now? Tarot: The Star (reversed), 8 of Wands, The Moon, 5 of Cups, Knight of Pentacles (reversed)

Release. Healing. Self -Love. There are many messages for you here pile ll. Some of you are dealing with depression, grief, or some sort of emotional loss because you are either have to let go of something or someone who isn't good for you or you are not happy with your current life right now. Others of you are lacking between self-love and self-care. You are not taking care of yourselves but this is more so in a self-love kind of way. You are talking down to yourself and hiding in the shadows not wanting people to see you. I was about to continue that sentence but then I caught myself and realized I was about to list the signs of depression (not a doctor only going off from experience and what I was medically diagnosed). Those who resonate with being unhappy with your life you are unhappy because you are not taking the steps that you are needing to take in order to get to where you want to be. Some of you want your manifestations, wants, and desires to land in your lap and that's not going to happen. You need to put in some sort of work. The wild thing is you know what you need to do and for some of you the thing is simple but you are overthinking it. For others of you the thing is scary and you hate the unknown and fear failure. For those who are dealing with self-esteem issues and insecurities, you is kind. You is beautiful/handsome/a cutie/etc. You is amazing. You need to be your own hype man. Find something that you like and hype yourself up from there and don't tell me you don't have one thing you like about yourself. It can be something as small as you like your left toe. Start there and build yourself up. If you are still stubborn and refuse to see one good thing about yourself ask someone you trust what is one thing they like about you. Don't demean it or cast it assign take the compliment and build off of that.

Passion, Dreams, Protection, Transformation.

Pile lll:

What Kind of Self-Care Do You Need Right Now? Tarot: 3 of Wands (reversed), The Empress, 8 of Swords, 6 of Swords (reversed)

Stuck Energy. Some of you may have kind of been drawn to pile ll but not fully as this message kind of relates to some of that message but not fully. What I am saying is this pile's cards are straight forward when they tell me that you are dimming your light and also not wanting to let go of the old you for the new you because of XYZ reason. Some of you are holding yourself hostage in the same place mentally because either the people around you continuously keep triggering the old you or because you don't want to let go of those around you so you refuse to grow. Overall you are dimming your light to let other people shine and to hold yourself complacent and that's not ...that's not it my love. You are meant to shine bright in the light not hold yourself prisoner to the same song over and over again as if this is looney tunes hell. For those who have seen the original SpaceJam remember when Micahel Jordan agreed to stay stuck in the cartoon world if he lost and he would do the same thing over and over again (lose to basketball, sign autographs, do humiliating things, etc) that is your current energy right now. Break from the prison chains and see yourself for who you are. Step into your most authentic self and be dammed who doesn't like it. Be dammed with who all you lose. Remember that whatever you lose you gain back 10x forward. You lose your friends okay so what better friends who will align more with you are on the way. Don't be too uncomfortable with the idea of shining that you hold yourself so far back that you miss out on life. Not just life but YOUR MOST ABUNDANT LIFE. Sorry for the all caps I just need that for dramatics and to emphasize how much you need to shine your inner light to the world. Someone needs your inner light and now. Maybe it's me. Maybe it's that one family member you thought hated you but doesn't. Who knows either way shine baby shine.

WillPower, Talent, Good Luck, Clarity, Happiness, Peace, Answers.

Pile lV:

What Kind of Self-Care Do You Need Right Now? Tarot: Ace of Swords, 4 of Pentacles, Ace of Cups, 2 of Swords, 9 of Wands (reversed)

Pile lV you remind me of the meme where people make fun of moms and wives when they ask for help and it's not fast enough for you so you do it yourself then complain about having to do everything yourself even though help is right there. I'm getting the sense you don't ask for anything, but for some strange reason end up shocked when you get exactly that.....all for what?? To not be a bother, to be a "cool/easy girl/boy/person". I had a friend like you once...she would complain about something in her life and when I or a solution would come about she would be blind to the shit and get nothing done, just complain because it's easier than doing the work. It's easier than bothering someone. Some of you just like to have a struggle story because you think life hands out I struggled and concurred trophies. Why is that pile lv? Why do you refuse help? Why do you pride yourself in struggling when all you want is peace? Make it make sense...please. I'm not going to lie though for some of you I fall into this trap also of not allowing help because I know I will get it right the first time instead of leaving it up to the possibility of someone messing things up. But even so, there comes a time in your life when you need to ease up and let in help. Let in ease. Let in Peace. Let in this emotional and even mental fulfillment you are seeking. You can't bring that when you are constantly controlling things. I'm getting a specific message for a few of you asking god/universe/etc for help and when you get the help you go.."no not that kind of help" Beggars can't be choosers, my love. You have to give some type of way in order to achieve what your end goal is in life. Whatever that is for you..there are to many of you with different messages so take what resonates and leave what does not.

Manifestation, Protection, Commitment, Lighten Your Load, Freedom, Good Luck, Financial Health.

Thank you for liking and reblogging my readings. I always appreciate you guys on here and on Patreon.

Stay safe and be blessed

#spirituality #tarot reading #witchblr #tarotcommunity #tarotblr #pick a card #tarot cards #pac tarot #pick a pile #pac reading #pick a photo #pick an image

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ottogatto · 9 months

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I would like to submit two ideas because I think I'm poking something but not going in fully, so I would very much like your opinions and additions about it (of course, as long as they remain in good faith *side eyes possible antis viewing my post*).

Marauders and surface-level rebellion

I've finally put to words something that really bothered me with the Marauders, though I don't know the name for it.

It started when I read a reblog that said:

I remember Brennan saying “laws are just structured threats made by the ruling socioeconomic class” during an episode of D20 and we truly just had to stan immediately

This is something dear privileged white woman Rowling didn't realize/understand well, since she held a high socioeconomical status even during her """poverty""" stage. It's known that, despite seeming to be defending ideas of fighting against fascism and "pureblood" supremacy in favor of acceptance of the other, her books reek of colonialism/imperalism. The story of the Marauders, a gang of privileged boys like her, is an in-world replica of that problem where Rowling betrays yet again her actual mindset.

The Marauders adopt the "bad boys who break rules" to get style, while completely losing/staining the moral sense in it.

Let's take piracy.

Some people pirate stuff because they consider that the stuff they'd like to get comes from unethical companies that abuse their employees or use modern slavery, or people who spread harm against certain minorities (like Rowling against trans people and thus the LGBT+ community), so while they may want to access the content, they don't want to give them money and might even encourage pirating their stuff to make them lose money.

Some pirate stuff because otherwise it's lost due to unfortunate "terms of use" -- see video games companies like Ubisoft (deletes gaming account after a while), Nintendo (does not bring back old games), etc.

Others pirate stuff because they just don't have the money but they still want to try the stuff that might make them happy and forget that they're poor -- reasoning that the company isn't losing any money anyway, or not much, since they wouldn't have been able to pay for it in any case.

Others pirate stuff because they consider the price ridiculously high or they consider it shouldn't be something to pay for at all. (Like education stuff -- isn't education supposed to be free for all, so that it can actually uphold everyone's fundamental and unconditional ( = not conditioned by wealth...) right to have an education? Oh and before anyone asks: I've DEFINITELY bought the ~15 expensive books that's roughly worth 500€ in total and that my uni asked I buy to study and get my degree...)

Rowling's Marauders is a group that would pirate stuff just because they'd think it would give them an edge, because they'd think it would make them cool to be seen as "talented" hackers who "defy" companies. Companies... that their own friends and families would own, and as such, would find that kind of behavior funny and entertaining (while they would trash other people around for considering it).

Another example. In society, in history, it's been proven time and again that breaking rules -- going against the law -- is an eventuality that's important for everyone to consider, if they want to defend their rights. Anti-racism, feminism, LGBT Pride, etc, advanced because people broke rules. In USA states where abortion is currently being banned, women and minors (+ their close ones) must now consider breaking the rules to get an abortion. (Privileged people don't give a fuck about those people, and if they suddenly decide that (moral) rules don't apply to them and they will get an abortion, they will just take a plane ticket to a country where abortion is legal, fiddling with legal stuff if necessary thanks to the lawyers their fortunes can afford and the lobbies that they're instituting.)

Revolutions happened because people broke rules too. I particularly like the 1793 Constitution in France Because it asserts that the people have the right to break rules and riot if the power in place threatens their fundamental rights:

Article 35. - Quand le gouvernement viole les droits du peuple, l'insurrection est, pour le peuple et pour chaque portion du peuple, le plus sacré des droits et le plus indispensable des devoirs. Article 35. - When the government violates the people's rights, insurrection is, for the people and for each portion of the people, the most sacred of rights and the most essential of duties.

(Of course the power in place would state and enforce and make use of propaganda to say that it's completely illegal and illegetimate and that those who riot for legitimate rights are terrorists!)

Breaking rules is at the core of anti-fascism, anti-dictatorship, anti-totalitarianism. Breaking rules is essential when those rules are abusive. Too often, those who put those rules in place really are only setting their rules of the game to establish their power over the others. Or as the reblog says: "laws are just structured threats made by the ruling socioeconomic class".

Rowling's Marauders break rules because they are the socioeconomical class in power. As such, no one can do anything about it, no one will really tell them down for it. They get excused and justified and romanticized by their peers, just like billionaires & politicians are excused by their peers and notably mainstream media (which is owned... by other billionaires). They break rules -- not because they think it's necessary and the morally right thing to do despite the dangers it puts them in -- but because it makes them feel powerful, important, invincible, which for them is very fun. As Snape says: James and his cronies broke rules because they thought themselves above them:

“Your father didn’t set much store by rules either,” Snape went on, pressing his advantage, his thin face full of malice. “Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. [...]”

They break rules because they're allowed to.

Which is why, in reality, the Marauders aren't really breaking rules or defying anything or opposing an actual big threat. They're a bunch of jocks who are having fun in the playground that's been attributed to them thanks to their status and family heritage (others wouldn't get the same indulgence because they don't get that privilege).

They break rules because they want to look cool, to be the "bad boys". The message has been compleyely botched. Especially with Lily actually finding this hot.

Because Rowling finds this hot:

[...] I shook hands with a woman who leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, 'Sirius Black is sexy, right?' And yes, of course she was right, as the Immeritus club know. The best-looking, most rebellious, most dangerous of the four marauders... and to answer one burning question on the discussion boards, his eyes are grey.

(Anyone has an eyes washing station?)

Another quote:

"Sirius was too busy being a big rebel to get married."

(Nevermind the eyes washing, anyone's got some bleach instead?)

Stanning James Potter for being the leader of a gang that prides itself on breaking rules and always getting away with it -- it feels like stanning Elon Musk for being "innovative" and "a daring entrepreneur" despite being a manchild who exploits workers and modern-world slavery to play with his billions while always getting away with it.

They're not being "rebels" -- they're being bullies and flexing the fact they can get away with it thanks to abundance of privilege. Those are the tastes of a posh British white woman. She wanted the facade -- not the substance (that is, if she ever understood it).

You might say that they did oppose a big threat, the Death Eaters, but again, it's botched because:

they target a lonely, unpopular boy who's best friends with a Muggleborn Gryffindor, rather than baby Death Eaters like Mulciber, Lucius, Rosier, Avery, Regulus, etc.

The leader sexually harasses the Muggleborn Gryffindor because he's sexually jealous of the unpopular boy who dared not take the insult about his chosen House and shut up. Lily is treated as an object, they don't listen to her, and they barely speak about her later. (Lots to say to show that, which I won't do here because this is not the main subject.)

When the Marauders do join the Order, they do it... because they primarily want to adopt a rock-n-roll style and play the "bad boys" again. Or at least that's the message that's given to the reader:

They seemed to be in their late teens. The one who had been driving had long black hair; his insolent good looks reminded Fisher unpleasantly of his daughter's guitar-playing, layabout boyfriend. The second boy also had black hair, though his was short and stuck up in all directions; he wore glasses and a broad grin. Both were dressed in T-shirts emblazoned with a large golden bird; the emblem, no doubt, of some deafening, tuneless rock band.

(God, the Prequel is so cringy.)

They don't choose Dumbledore as the Secret Keeper, they don't tell him they changed to Pettigrew -- even though he literally was their war leader -- James uses the Cape to fuck around even though he was supposed to be hiding with Lily and then Harry (until Dumbledore takes the Cape from him)... and eventually, their group exploded, with James killed off, Sirius thrown to Azkaban, Peter (the traitor) hiding as a rat and Lupin going off to find jobs to survive.

Why did that happen? Because they thought of playing their part in the Order like going on a teenage adventure rather than engaging in a resistance organization. It was, first and foremost, about playing "the bad boys" and having fun.

(Harry half-inherits this. While he doesn't break rules just to look cool, and actually has several moments where he does break rules because it's the right thing to do -- like under Umbridge or, of course, when Voldemort takes power -- he does often get pampered when he breaks them in his earlier years. By Dumbledore, but also McGonagall, however much Rowling tries to sell her as a "strict but fair" teacher. Or by Slughorn, now that I think about it. That's something that enraged Snape, as it brought up memories of Harry's father -- Snape's own bully -- getting the same treatment.)

It's not a coincidence that Rowling not only failed to properly convey through the Marauders the true value of breaking rules, but also lusted over them for adopting that "bad boys" trope. It speaks to her own privilege -- she who never had to put herself in danger and go against the law in a risky attempt to protect herself or other less privileged people.

(Here's a useful read to expand on those worldbuilding issues.)

2. Dark Magic, obscurantism and conservatism

For context: Opinion: The Dark Magic/Light Magic Dichotomy is Nonsense (by pet_genius).

The idea of "Dark Magic" as something that's repeatedly told to be "evil" magic and where you cross the line of the forbidden, while hardly putting in question that notion that was (for some reason) enforced by wizard society, is another blatant example of Rowling betraying her mindset of privileged British white woman.

Rowling couldn't put herself in the minds of a society of "outcasts (witches & wizards) deeply enough to consider they would not see any magic as "Dark" at all (being a ""Muggle"" concept), or that Dark magic is only magic that requires something unvaluable to be traded off -- like one's soul or health or life or sanity. Instead, she has Dark Magic defined as "evil" magic, even though her own books show that you can do evil stuff with normal magic, and that you can do morally good stuff with Dark magic. This thing happened because Rowling could not think past her own little world and instead she poured a conservatist mentality (+ typical "Muggle", anti-witch prejudice) into the HP (wizard society) worldbuilding without considering that there could, in fact, be fundamental differences between the two worlds that include thinking of magic differently. (This has a lot to do with Rowling's wizard world being a pro-imperalism fest.)

"Dark Magic" feels like a lazy, badly-executed plot device to tell the reader who's a good guy and who is not. Because of course, that's how things work in real-life, huh… (Did she ever hear of "don't tell, show"?) It's used as an excuse to define who's evil (teen Severus) or not (James), who's worthy or not -- not how their magic was used. Which is a BIG problem:

“I’m just trying to show you they’re not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are.” The intensity of his gaze made her blush. “They don’t use Dark Magic, though.” / “Scourgify!” Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape’s mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him —

Even worse, Rowling doesn't follow her own in-world moral framework. Dark magic is acceptable for some people (Rowling's partial self-inserts: Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione to Marietta...) but not for those that Rowling hates (Snape, who ironically represents the closest thing to rebelling by unapologetically obsessing over the Dark Arts). Again, this is at best unadressed in-world hypocrisy, at worst an expression of in-world and out-universe privilege (I get to do this and stay a good guy, but you don't).

There could have easily been rightful criticism of whatever could be defined as "Dark Magic". What if Dark magic was just something defined as "Dark" usually because the power in place doesn't want the people to touch it? Is abortion or contraception or a sex-altering or a goverment-threatening spell, Dark Magic? Is foreign or ethnicity-specific or female-centered or queer-centered magic, "Dark"? How about showing why (Muggle-raised but also neurodivergent) Severus thought Dark magic was so great, showing his point of view, while also establishing where the true limits are? If Lily can't be the one who sees past the "fear-mongering anti-intellectualism/propaganda", how about Harry being the one who does, thanks to him relating to Snape on a personal level? How about making Hermione go from someone who condems Dark Magic, to someone who entirely changes her point of view and understands that this is all bullshit -- effectively showing the dangers of only following what the books say, without putting them into question or thinking by yourself? How about a nuanced view of Dark magic as something that requires a significant sacrifice, which is conceivable for something they see as equally or even more important [Lily's life for Harry; Snape's soul integrity for Dumbledore]? How about making the Death Eaters, people who deviate that legitimate interest, rather than just evil guys who thrive in Dark magic for its supposed added evilness? How about showing that Dark magic was just a notion invented by Muggles to throw "witches" (real or not) to the burning stakes -- later taken by the witches and wizards in power to define, in the magical community, what was okay or definitely forbidden because it's the trademark of those who represent a threat to the magical community (understand: people who riot or strike or protest against the ruling socioeconomical class' politics)?

But there was none of that.

"Dark" magic in HP merely seems to be a weird concept that at best accidentally takes the form of an in-world obscurantism, at worst is just the trademark of someone who cannot imagine a "hunted, ostracized" community with a different culture and mindset than her own. Aggravating is the fact that she used "Dark magic" as a plot device to magically cast some people as good and others as never bad – again, probably reflecting her own questionable mentality.

The fact Rowlnig invented the notion of Dark Magic and had her world consider it seriously as an evil thing instead of being open-minded seems to be less telling of her wishes to show a wizard society that can be as prejudiced as the muggle one, and more of her own bizarre world where you must be evil if you are knowledgeable in or interested in certain "taboo" things (RIP neurodivergents).

Rowling glorifies the Trio and the Marauders for breaking rules. Yet when it comes to actually breaking expectations and norms, notably in the wizarding society -- like the use of another magical species as slaves, or the blatant anti-Muggle prejudice held by everyone including "good guys" (or anti-centaur while we're at it), or stupid anti-knowledge prejudice like "Dark magic is evil" -- there is none of that. At best, it's surface-level opposition that comes out as white savior syndrome. At worst, the protagonists make it their noble code to enforce those norms, and "sinful" characters (Snape, for one) are punished for not conforming. Too often, those sinful characters are punished by the "good guys" with the very thing that they apparently oppose so fervently.

Without ever adressing the fact that those characters were ("morally") allowed to do that because it was just, in the end, a matter of who gets the privilege to do that, and who does not.

There.

Do you have anything to say to develop on those ideas? I feel like I'm reaching my knowledge limit and I'd like to see if those ideas can be expanded.

#pro snape #severus snape #harry potter #dark magic #sectumsempra #anti marauders #anti jkr #fuck jkr #classism #imperalism #colonialism #hp #hp books #hp prequel #obscurantism #bad boys #piracy #virtue signaling

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mynonclicheblog · 10 months

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One final Never Have I Ever love triangle thematic analysis

I've said this in one of my posts before, but the narrative is always going to favor what is best for Devi. A lot of what makes this show so juicy to dive into is because so much of its meaning is rooted in symbolism and higher concepts, not just the individual interactions you're looking at onscreen!

I think that's what doesn't work for some (not all) pro-Dxton anti-Ben folks. They see Paxton being respectful and kind to Devi, they see that he's the attractive object of her desire from day 1, and they see that the two of them genuinely do help each other in certain ways. But when these same people look at Benvi, they only see Ben making obnoxious comments to Devi (+ others), they see childish behavior and mistakes being made, and they see them frequently butting heads due to their shared competitive nature.

And honestly? I get it. These conclusions are easy to come to when you're looking at the surface, but they don't take into account the full story that's being told.

Let's get into it. 😎👇

So I mentioned earlier the idea of what is best for Devi. Not what is best for any regular person out there -- what is best for Devi Vishwakumar! Our girl expresses in no uncertain terms that she enjoys her hypercompetitive rivalry-turned-bond with Ben ("Ben's smart and we talk- mostly argue- for hours!" // "I don't want to break up with Ben. He really pushes me.") The fact that they fight and compete is not a detriment to their compatibility, it is actually the thing that makes him most desirable in her mind. She would not have wanted to be with him in the first place if this were not true. Their sharp-tongued communication style may not be the standard picture of a 'healthy' relationship for most people, but, well. Devi and Ben are far from most people.

Devi is an incredibly emotional, dynamic person who's always searching for another high. The competitive nature of her relationship with Ben is enough to satisfy her itch for novelty/excitement (her differences with Paxton don't hit this box), yet Ben's presence also provides a comforting long-term consistency in her life. He's seen the very best and the very worst of her and he always comes back. He frequently brings Devi back to herself, too, when she loses sight of what matters (friendships, family, sense of self, her goals, etc).

Then there's the dream vs. reality dichotomy that very much applies to this love triangle. Simple as it may be, it's accurate. I believe it was built that way on purpose because of how well it reflects Devi's relationships to Mohan and Nalini, which is the beating heart of what NHIE is all about. One (Mo/Pax) is more outwardly palatable than the other and provides an easygoing, self-soothing escapism that she needs in order to work through her grief. This person represents youth and the rose-colored past; Devi's tendency to idealize and indulge. The other person (Nal/Ben) is sharper around the edges, a bit harder to swallow, but pushes Devi to do better and supplies the support she needs. This person represents Devi's grounded reality; her time in the present and the woman she is growing into.

They are both important pieces of Devi's journey, but the themes of past vs. present speak for themselves. The past is something we keep in our heart; in this case, it's someone who has impacted us and we'll always carry with us -- but the ultimate goal is to move forward from that. The central relationship of Never Have I Ever is that of Devi & Nalini as they heal and grow together. In terms of Devi's romantic life (which is what this analysis is about), her relationship with Ben is the one that more closely shadows the series arc between her & Nalini.

I'd like to address some things by the individual season now. One of my observations watching s1 for the first time was that Paxton was usually aligned with bad things in Devi's life, whereas Ben was aligned with the good. ie, Paxton was the root cause of Devi's falling out with Elfab and Nalini // Ben is the one who repaired those relationships. These things aren't Paxton's fault, nor do I place any blame on him. They're just subtle narrative choices that send up unspoken flags saying, hey look, this isn't the right person for her. This theme remained in s1 for the most part, but given that it was NHIE's debut season, it planted several seeds for me about who the boys were for Devi and how they fit into her world.

Season 2 does a lot to sort out the difference in what Devi thinks she wants (Paxton) and what her heart truly wants (Ben). Yes, I'm going there, too: head vs heart. Devi's underlying preference for Ben > Paxton should be easy to spot as early as 2x01 -- if only for the fact that Devi finally bagged the hot guy of her dreams, yet, choosing to be with him isn't easy for her. In fact, as both Devi and Eleanor confirm later, she wanted to choose Ben in the first place. Like... that's crazy when you think about it!!! Despite all the pieces falling into place for her and Paxton, and against her friends' shallow advice, she decides that she won't let go of Ben. Instead, she makes the misguided decision to date both. This isn't the kind of mistake she'll ever make again. It isn't Devi acting out because of Ben -- it signals a profound attachment to him when, all things considered, picking Paxton should have been a no brainer. That revealed everything I needed to know in order to understand that being with Paxton wasn't what she wanted in her heart of hearts.

Then, of course, 3x10 brings that all home with the stomach knots comparison. It tells us that since Devi and Paxton have moved into a place of friendship, with him no longer on a pedestal, those romantic feelings (particularly on her part) have dissipated. As a bonus, Devi even explicitly states that Paxton was a dream! Ben, however -- her flawed reality -- is the one who still gives her butterflies. This is the result of Devi's slow awakening to her true inner self, the Devi who values realness and authenticity and loving through imperfection. It's a step closer to the complete acceptance of herself. (Notice as well that right after this point, it becomes more undeniable than ever that Ben is who she wants to be with.)

As long as Paxton was a romantic possibility for Devi, their relationship was tied to her feelings of insecurity and inferiority. Again this is not Paxton's fault -- he assures her of the opposite all the time -- but this is Devi's story, and we are shown over and over that Devi fears true vulnerability with Paxton (both sexually and emotionally). Compare this to the way she has always felt confident, seen, driven, and unabashedly herself in her relationship with Ben, even when they were enemies. At a glance Devi may appear to act more immature in Ben's orbit, but the truth is that she grows with him more than anyone else (besides Nalini) thanks to Ben's penchant for encouraging accountability and showing her that actions can have consequences.

Anyway, TLDR version:

Paxton = Devi's youth, Mohan, grief, distraction, the past, idealism, and the head (constructed ideas).

Ben = Devi's future, Nalini, healing, confrontation, the present, reality, and the heart (authentic truths).

Never Have I Ever's romantic story structure rests on the premise of these symbolic definitions. They are gospel, and while the characters will grow and change and become better versions of themselves, they will do so within the lines that are already drawn. The lines exist for a reason -- they are a narrative tool! These characters cannot and should not 'grow out' of their roles because those roles are their identities within the show's framework. Character development isn't getting wasted, because the characters are exactly who they are meant to be right through to the end. They are symbols. If that's not your cup of tea then so be it! But there's nothing wrong with this writing style. In fact it's one of my personal favorites because everything is so neatly defined, yet fascinating to read into 🥰

The imperfect Ben had to be Devi's true love because her love interests are, in a way, reflections of herself. By no fault of his own, Devi always felt the need to be "perfect" for Paxton because that's how she viewed him; a false paragon of everything she wanted to be. That is the point of their story together. Her acceptance of the deep love she has for Ben (and Nalini!), despite his sometimes off-putting demeanor, is aligned with Devi's acceptance of her own imperfections -- that she is hot-headed, she can be self-absorbed, she makes mistakes -- but that she is also brilliant and driven and caring and radiant, and she is equally worthy of receiving the love that she has to offer others.

Narratively speaking, it was never truly a competition.

#never have i ever #benvi #devi vishwakumar #ben gross #ben x devi #devi x ben #bevi #nhie spoilers #nhie #analysis post #*success

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itwasthereaminuteago · 10 months

Text

|| Engagement ||

Matt Murdock x gn reader

Tags/warnings: mild angst, mild smut, meta, sorry not sorry I had to!!! 😂

As always, I adore and appreciate any comments, reblogs, etc and I'm extremely thankful to you for reading my fics!

Matt's arms tighten around you as you lie snuggled up together in bed. He can pick up on your disconnected mood from your elevated heart rate and the way he hears your breathing change every time you think about saying something and then stop yourself.

"You know you can talk to me, if something's wrong." He says quietly.

You take a deep inhale, sighing it out as you nuzzle into his t-shirt at his shoulder. "I know," you reply, choosing to ignore the invitation to unload.

He pushes a little harder in response. "Sweetie, you've been off for a while now, you think I hadn't noticed?"

"Urgh. It's stupid."

He turns his head to kiss you on the top of your head, giving you another squeeze. "I'm sure it's not, and talking about might help? If you want."

You huff out another sigh. "I dunno, I've kind of talked it over with others but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I'm not sure it's something I can fix."

Concern washes over Matt's features. "Is– is it something I've done? Or not done?" He gently takes your face in his hands. "Sweetheart, you'd tell me if it was me wouldn't you? I'd want you to."

You smile, bringing your hand up to stroke through his soft, messy hair. "Of course I would, and no it's nothing you've done, so don't fret."

The worry melts from his brow. "Alright, but c'mon, try me. I'm sure we can do something about whatever it is that's got you down."

"Well… it's work related. I'm not getting anywhere near as much feedback on my stuff as I used to. You know how in the creative sector we kinda thrive on others sharing our work to bring it to the attention of others? I've been feeling for a while now that the sense of community that we had has just sort of disappeared. People don't seem to want to interact that much with what we make."

Matt groans. "Baby, is this about the lack of reblogs on Tumblr again? "

You can't help frowning. "It is." You admit.

He smiles and rolls over to cage you underneath him. "I could make you forget about it, for a while at least?"

"Matty!" You push him off with a frustrated sigh. "Are you honestly trying to distract me with sex? You know how important this is to me."

"I know, I'm sorry. I don't mean to trivialise the issue, I just thought I could take your mind off it, maybe make you feel better."

"So kind and selfless of you…" you smirk as he starts to kiss along the column of your neck.

"I try." He smiles. "Anyway, you were saying? And I'm gonna keep kissing you."

"Fine. Okay, so I know that I should create for myself and not for other people…"

"But it's nice to get some recognition, right?" You nod as Matt holds himself over you again continuing to make his way down your neck towards your collarbones.

"Right. I really do appreciate the likes, but if people are just 'liking' my work without sharing it, that means it just ends up dead in the water. No-one else really gets the chance to enjoy it."

"Any idea why they are not sharing?" Matt asks, lightly stroking your side.

"I dunno, maybe they're not familiar with how the site works, that it doesn't have an algorithm? Maybe they're embarrassed to let other people see what they're looking at? Especially if it's something a bit risqué."

Matt hums. "Yeah but didn't you tell me before that they could just create a sideblog that's not associated with their main account, and reblog things they like using that and no one would be any wiser?'

"Exactly! And anyway, it's not like everyone doesn't enjoy looking at and reading porn…"

Matt lifts his head up, a slight sly smile pulling up the corner of his mouth. "Mm true. So what else are you sad about?"

You sigh again. You can't seem to stop yourself.

"Well, people aren't commenting on works either. There's rarely any discussion, I mean even just a manic keyboard smash would be amazing for an artist to see in their notifications, but there's barely even that anymore. Commenting on a stranger's fan works is so much fun, it can really bring people together!"

"That's how a great community grows isn't it?" Matt asks you.

"Yep, and you end up making so many friends you would never have thought. I miss that aspect of it a lot."

Matt's swiftly moving down to lavish attention over your chest, and you momentarily lose your train of thought as his lips brush over your nipple. "And have you brought people's attention to this problem?"

"Of course! Many other creators have explained why reblogs and sharing are so important in eloquently written PSAs, but I guess that the target audience must not see them because they're perhaps only looking at the stories and fanart from tags and they maybe don't see the other dashboard posts. I dunno."

Matt starts to lick an achingly slow intimate path down your stomach and you feel heat spreading throughout your body, your heart rate now elevated for quite a different reason. Then suddenly, he stops.

"Have you thought about maybe incorporating the message into one of your creations? Maybe that might reach the intended audience better."

You close your eyes as you consider the idea. He shifts further down the bed and you allow him to spread your thighs apart and slot his shoulders inbetween.

"Mm, well… that's- actually that's a good idea. I mean, it can't hurt to try, can it? You're the devil on my shoulder Matty."

"Exactly. But leave it till tomorrow sweetheart. Right now this devil wants to make you feel good."

You bite down on your lip as he flashes you a smoldering look before ducking down to make good on his promise.

#matt murdock x you #matt murdock x gender neutral reader #matt murdock x reader #daredevil x reader #matt murdock smut #reblog fics and art!!!#comment on stuff!#make friends and keep the community going! 😊#thank you thank you!

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the-au-thor · 3 months

Note

hi !

if you’re still taking blurbs how about a spencer x tall!reader where reader is insecure about their height but spencer finds it attractive and likes that their taller and reassures them

love ya <3

Dear one; thanks for your request, I am the smallest person I know tho. But I tried my best cause I understand what someone feels when they're being judge all the time by their height and how it is to feel so self conscious about it.

I hope you like this one. Is dedicate to all the tall ones; you are so freaking amazing, you are stars and you should never feel embarrassed. Stand tall and proud my loves!

On my Knees | Spencer Reid x tall!reader

Word: 1k.

"And well? What do you think?" You asked, stepping out of the store's fitting room.

Spencer saw you and almost lost his breath. You looked stunning; you were choosing the outfit you would wear that night at David's party.

Annually, Rossi orchestrated one of the best parties at the BAU. He invited technicians, analysts, and agents from the office who had worked with them throughout the year, along with their families. You were his, so it was natural for you to accompany him tonight.

Normally, Spencer felt somewhat awkward at parties; the only thing that helped him endure was his friends who always managed to convince him to eventually dance with them. This time would be different, and he sensed it because he had you. He had never had someone to bring to parties, never had many parties to attend to, and even in college, he was too young to be taken into account for it.

"You look fabulous," he finally spoke, taking a step closer to you just in time for you to turn around, giving him your back and studying yourself in the mirror. You stretched the fabric of your clothes and looked at yourself with doubt while nervously bending your legs. Spencer could see the discomfort in your expression and furrowed his brow in concern.

"What if I don't go? Would I be an asshole for it? Yes. Don't answer. Sorry"

Spencer sighed.

"Darling..."

You interrupted him, "It's just that I don't know everyone, just your team. What if the rest don't like me? What if, I don't know, I embarrass you because everyone is too brilliant?" You asked, biting your lips.

Spencer raised his eyebrows surprised. "I can assure you that everyone there will love you, and besides, really? You're in charge of the speech and language pathology department, specializing in rehabilitation and therapy. What brilliance do they have that you don't?"

You looked at him through the mirror skeptically.

Once, a bomb exploded two meters away from Spencer; they were chasing a serial bomber who wanted to explode the Capitol. Upon reaching the emergency room, the specialist noticed damage to his eardrum, gave him treatment, and suggested rehabilitation with the best speech therapist in the hospital: you.

Spencer never thought he would meet the love of his life in a hospital, but there he was. Frustrated because he couldn't work or communicate normally with people. He couldn't hear, he wasn't very patient, was grumpy and pessimistic, but you were kind enough to help him through it and put him in his place in sign language when you discovered that he was fluent in that language.

It was a matter of time before Spencer asked you out, it took a lot of courage on his part and a lot of confidence on your part. But they had made it work perfectly for the last year and a half.

"I do not lock up psychopaths with speech therapy" Spencer hugged you slowly from behind, wrapping his arms around your waist and leaning a little to rest his chin on your shoulders. He felt you lower your shoulders slightly.

"No, but you make the world better by helping people" he replied softly, kissing your shoulder tenderly. "What's wrong? I know it's not about this, love; tell me," he pleaded.

You looked at him through the mirror and then turned to face him because the truth was that there was no one else you could look directly in the eyes when you felt vulnerable other than Spencer.

"Don't laugh," you asked, even though you knew Spencer wasn't cruel. "I know there are much worse things, believe me, I'm aware, but..."

"Dear, I won't judge you, just tell me," he asked, taking your hands in his to give you confidence.

You saw him hesitate but finally mustered the courage to be honest with him.

"Do you know why I am specializing in pediatric rehabilitation now?"

"You love children."

Another thing you and Spencer shared.

"Yes, that's true because children don't judge. If they say something, it's not out of malice or bad intention. They are pure and pleasant, and usually, if there's anything wrong with them, it's probably because of the adults around them," you clarified, looking at him embarrassed through your lashes. Spencer frowned somewhat disoriented; he still couldn't grasp your point.

"Why would you feel defective?"

You looked at him somewhat impatiently and sighed.

"Look at me," you whispered, "I've always seen people from above. I always have to bend down to get on a bus, a car or even to walk through a door, and I was usually excluded from dances because my height made people uncomfortable."

Spencer still frowned when you gave that explanation. He looked you up and down without understanding how being tall could be considered a defect. To him, you were a unique blend of strength and grace, not damaged or something like it. His face changed with realization.

"Is that why you always slouch with your hair over your face?"

You bit your inner cheek uncomfortably and nodded.

"I know there are more significant tragedies. That others have a much harder life, but I grew up with people around me who loved to remind me every moment how different I was just because of that, as if I were not aware and needed others to tell me. I couldn't date because who would want get on their tiptoes to give me a kiss? It was embarrassing and tiresome, and basically, I just... isolated myself."

Spencer let you speak; he knew you needed to get it out of your system because never for a moment was the topic of your height an issue for him. Nor had it been a discussion, and for him, the fact that you felt bad about it is news. He knew you were taller and he didn't care he was shorter, he was on his knees for you anyway. He had never noticed how insecure you felt about your height though, and he regretted not noticing it earlier to give you the help you needed.

"You have no idea of the prejudices and clichés that come with this. Always being the tallest in class; everyone assumed I must be athletic and sturdy because my height was a blessing," you added, rolling your eyes, "or my mother's friends telling her how great it would be if I joined modeling classes because I shouldn't waste my height," you grunted, recalling years of pigeonholing and hearing opinions that others felt free to say about your body, "Everyone had something to say, and they always made me think that my decisions should revolve around my physique as if I didn't have other valuable things about me, I don't know, emotional qualities or intelligence."

When you let out all your frustration, you seemed more relieved. Spencer nodded, trying to think carefully about his words before saying them.

"Normally, I would say something interesting about the benefits of being tall, but the truth is, I can't think of any," he finally said, causing you to lift your gaze to him, taking your chin. He smiled at you, "And it's because a person is not their height; I've met wonderful people whom I have never, even for a second, categorized by how much or how little they measure. It's ridiculous that they do that, and all those people who tried to pigeonhole you just because of your height are stupid. And you've proven to each and every one of them that they were wrong, that you are without a doubt much more than your height, and I'm glad. Anyone who doesn't see how wonderful you are just because of something like your height doesn't deserve your time or concern."

You frowned embarrassed.

"But that's you; others are not equally considerate."

"True, but I can promise you that no one at tonight's party will care about your height or how much or little I have to stand on tiptoes to kiss you," he whispered the last part with tenderness, cradling your face, "You should never bend for anyone, not even for me. I love you, my love, I love you with my life, and I know you're worth whatever height I need to reach for you, and every effort will be enough."

You closed your eyes, moved. Spencer loved you, and he truly showed it; any insecurity you felt was because he didn't stop trying to convince you every day that you were precious to him. With him, everything felt possible because he loved you.

"I love you too, very much," you reminded him of the words you had told him countless times but that never felt like enough, "Seriously, it doesn't bother you?" You furrowed your brow with a final hint of concern.

Spencer rubbed his nose against yours, shaking his head and smiling.

"Not at all, to me, you'll always be the most wonderful person in the world, no matter what."

You opened your eyes and nodded, expecting him to kiss you. This time, you didn't bend, and you waited for Spencer to press his lips to yours briefly, giving you the courage you needed.

"So, Do you really like this one?" You turned to look at yourself in the mirror again, and Spencer observed you once more. Now, you also wore your smile, and it was the best outfit you could have chosen because it was honest. He saw you with appreciation and love, and you knew you couldn't isolate yourself anymore; you had your perfect date, someone who wouldn't be ashamed of you and was secure enough not to be intimidated by something like your height.

"Darling, if everyone stares when we enter Rossi's house tonight, it's because they'll know I've won the jackpot, and there's no way I'm letting you go tonight or any other night" Your cheeks flushed, and you felt warmth inside you.

"You know Spence, I could definitely bend down to kiss you" you said with a smile.

Spencer smiled back

"Let's meet in the middle"

Oh, you loved him so much.

You stood tall, caressing the fabric of your clothes, and nodded confidently.

"I'm buying this "

Spencer smiled proudly. It didn't matter what you wore. He knew you would look good. What mattered, in fact, was that he would be the lucky one taking you to the party tonight and back home afterward.

#criminal minds #spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid fanfic #dr spencer reid #criminal minds fanfic #spencer reid x tall!reader #spencer reid au

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beautifulpersonpeach · 10 months

Note

BPP, sorry if you've answered this question before but what is your best song from Face?

***

Hi @tabbypuppykitty

I’ve had a rethink. I think Face-off is now my favourite song on the album.

Set Me Free Pt 2 is still top 3, but Jimin’s enunciation on Face-off brings a smile to my face every time I hear it because that man is too damn sassy for his own good lool.

In the latest Suchwita episode, Hobi revealed that Jimin practiced live singing six hours everyday before and during FACE promotions.

Six hours. Every day.

That made me pause. I started thinking about everything that happened during FACE. I don't talk about this at all here because I won't ever share personal pictures and I know I was incredibly lucky and many other people here likely deserved to see him before I did, but I saw Jimin live during his very first shows for FACE.

He was so happy. The joy on his face and the way he worked the crowd... like a fish in water. He gave some of the best performances of the year during FACE promotions. The whole project and the thoughtful way he went about promoting the album, is noteworthy.

youtube

(You should watch this if you haven't already)

But then I remembered the BS, the way k-pop stans reacted to the album, to the MVs, to the encore stage, the way BTS akgaes indulged in their sociopathy on his account, how BigHit failed (the anger Jimin biases feel is justified but some of y'all are wallowing in it). I remembered a few of Jimin's Wlives, how so much has been going on for him this year, and then tried to fit 6 hours daily practicing into it...

I have to stop myself when I think about Jimin. He has such latent intensity, like a glamour, a force field around him... it's like a black hole that sucks everything, including you, into him and his world. It scares me.

I know I whine about Jimin biases but y'all amaze me ngl. It takes a special fortitude of heart to bias Jimin. This post already sounds incredibly effusive, but I don't believe I'm exaggerating when I say he's a truly beautiful person. It's almost as though the world does not deserve him. It's impossible to not love him, desire him, care for him... want more sooner for him. I see all that, but I also see that man is stubborn as fuck.

He took his time to start work on his solo album. The middle of the Vegas concerts is when he said he suddenly came to his senses, shook himself out of that trance, and earnestly started putting together the FACE project. He'd written songs before, but FACE was its own thing. The personal stories he chose to communicate, the care in lyricism and production, the quality... Jimin created art in FACE and trusted that those who care for nothing but the best, will love it.

That's sexy, but the way he went about it also betrays a conservatism in him. It's a shadow of the edge in him, that thing about him that causes a tinge of anxiety when you watch him too closely.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense, but what I mean to say is you need a special kind of courage to bias and love Jimin. I recognize that. When I write what I do here, I always remember that. I also have very little respect for solos. And those two sentiments aren't mutually exclusive.

But taking it back to Face-off, my favourite thing about it is Jimin's sense of humour and skill coming through in the song, as well as how he enunciates his words. To really hear the switch in his tone, you need to stream in this order:

Like Crazy > Alone > Set Me Free Pt 2 > Face-off

By the time you get to Face-off, Jimin's voice has already gone through every variation possible, but then he brings out a tone I've heard only one other artist do well (Rihanna), and that tone is disgust.

Pure, refined sass. And he's already got the sauciest voice in k-pop.

youtube

The melodic and tonal choices Jimin makes at these timestamps fucks with my head:

1:53 - 2:08;

2:16 - 2:25;

2:41 - 2:56....

(lol, at this rate you might as well just listen to the whole song again.) Jimin is fantastic in the whole thing.

Europe is where Jimin belongs, but America would eat Jimin up too. The country already does if we're being real, America already loves Jimin. But given the right concept, Jimin would devour because he always does, and the world should get to see it. I hope I get to see more of it. As I've said before, if you feel inclined to communicate that to BigHit, I strongly suggest you do.

During Suchwita, Hobi showed how he's planned content for fans almost years in advance. It's possible Jimin does this too, planning music and content for fans to see months later... (So we might not learn why he went to London, for months...)

Yeah... I don't have the strength of heart to bias Jimin. Good luck to y'all.

...that was kind of a lot lool. So to calm down, Jimin:

Anyway, sorry I rambled. Face-off is a really good song and Jimin did an excellent job on it. The whole project is very good so I can't wait for the next songs we get from him. Shit can't get worse than BB deleting D2C sales so on the bright side, we can only go up from here, and for Jimin who already owns the record as the first soloist in history to debut #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, up will be a good spot to be.

Stream Like Crazy, Seven, All Day, and HUH?!

#jimin #park jimin #jimin face #bts #kpop #bangtan

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dani-ya-dig · 2 months

Text

THOUGHTS ON THE NEW AUDIO WITH WILLIAM

If you like long ass rambles that don’t mean anything boy is this the post for you

FIRST OF ALL SAM AND DARLIN MENTIONED!!! YIPPEE!! (Deadass all I care about)

LET ME TELL YOU WHEN WILLIAM STARTED TALKING ABOUT “it’s a part of being in this clan” or whatever the fuck when he was talking to Vincent about eventually being involved in William’s whole thing of killing people I started swinging at the air.

Like yeah it is a part A PART THAT YOU DIDN’T TELL THEM ABOUT!!! Like do you think Sam and Vincent would have been a part of it from the get go if you told them it would be expected of them?!? No??? THEN YOU SHOULDN’T PUT THAT EXPECTATION ON THEM OVER A DECADE OF THEM BEING INVOLVED IN THIS SHIT. That is so fucking grimy to me and I’m genuinely pissed about it. The only thing that got me reacting that hard I swear to god.

Darlin left the room because they got too mad, very clever way of not having to involve the listener characters at all 👍 /lh (it’s not worth my energy to get too into this tbh)

To make it silly to my brain though, what I imagined what happened, is that Darlin was fucking LIVID that William had shooed off Sam like that and had to be dragged away from the scene while whisper arguing with Sam about it. Once Sam had Darlin outside they go on barely cohesive rant about how that was shitty of William and how he should have to answer to Sam the same as Vincent, and Sam just went “Go take a walk Darlin”. And on their way out they just scream “UGH!” And punch a support beam (it absolutely could be heard from inside)

Anyways, Sam was so level headed. Love him so bad. But like… we all already kind of knew what the outcome of this was going to be, I feel like. One of the first character descriptions we got of Sam was that everyone says he is a “good man” and he is. He wouldn’t want to be involved in murder point blank.

BUT the more interesting thing to think about is what Vincent is going to do here. Because like Lovely had said, they have a lot to think about. Vincent also definitely is not just chill with murder, but leaving the clan is going to be a harder decision for him than Sam because of how much closer he is to it all.

Sam has expressed on multiple occasions that, though he loves Vincent like a brother, he doesn’t feel close or tied to the rest of the clan at all, he also isn’t very comfortable in Vampire society, it’s just not him. On top of all of that, he is part of the Shaw Pack, not in just an honorary way, him being Darlin’s mate makes him pack, and he is comfortable and happy in the pack, he has found community outside of the clan.

Vincent can’t say the same. Of course he has hung out with the pack, and no doubt David would accept him and Lovely as pack in a heartbeat if it came down to it. But Vincent isn’t as close in the pack as Sam is, and I don’t even know how comfortable he would be with being a part of the Shaw pack. And he doesn’t have the issue that Sam does with the clan. He feels a part of it. It was a sense of community, a family, for him. It definitely makes the decision far more difficult than it was for Sam, where Sam asked one question got his answer and made his decision, it’s not gonna be that easy for him.

I think Vincent is seriously going to be taking Lovely’s opinion into account with this, because while him still being part of the clan doesn’t inherently mean that Lovely has to be, I don’t think he would want to bring something like that into his and Lovely’s life if they weren’t comfortable with it all.

OMG THIS IS ANOTHER ASPECT I JUST THOUGHT OF!! WHAT THE FUCK IS VINCENT GONNA DO FOR WORK IF HE LEAVES THE CLAN???? Because this is another Area where Sam doesn’t have to worry as much, because Sam lives with Darlin who… I assume has a job. Which gives Sam the options of trying to work at Shaw Security for night gigs, or trying to do something else, or just being a house husband for Darlin (which is so cute lub it so bad).

I don’t think William would ever kick Sam or Vincent out of the houses that he gave them. But housing isn’t the only issue they have to worry about?? Like even if ur undead and survive off blood, you gotta be able to buy stuff sometimes. And I don’t imagine it’s easy for a vampire to get a job. Like you either gotta work night shift or work from home I guess.

Albeit William wouldn’t inherently have to cut off Vincent from his money if he left the clan, in fact William might just try to give him money because he loves Vincent but there is a lot there, that makes things complicated.

Is Vincent going to have to sell some of his fancy ass cars???? (The realest redacted angst)

OH I GUESS BOTH OF THEM COULD STILL WORK FOR THE REALTOR BUSINESS. I don’t why I didn’t think about that. It be really awkward if they did though… ugh… I don’t like that so I’m gonna pretend it’s not even a possibility.

Also it’s at times like these I wish I knew what was up with Fred and Bright. Because I’m my mind, Bright isn’t part of the Solaire Clan. They didn’t wanna be. But I don’t know about Freddy. How would he be handling Sam leaving the clan??

UGH THOUGHTS

#redacted asmr #redacted audio #redacted sam #redacted sam collins #sam collins #redacted darlin #redacted william #redacted william solaire #william solaire #redacted vincent #redacted vincent solaire #vincent solaire #redacted lovely

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gctchell · 19 days

Text

#red is the og. the VIP#one of the safest people I've ever met#spectacular writing and I've the privilege of being able to see the incredible progression#from the day we met to present day.#it's a while! and writing like hers is unforgettable. her Lilith and Niffty are delights#and she's taken what I liked about those two and intensified my love for them#only red can pile on reasons for me to love characters especially ones she takes on#an excitable writer and one of the best people u can meet. even if we're in hell.#and her improv???? I know I can count on her to roll with the punches. -- @jizzlords

#ive known red for some time even WAAAY before HH and they’re a wonderful person#great to communicate with and very loving and kind and open minded#wonderful writer to boot on top of all of that -- @therealricksanchezpleasestandup

i just signed on to the sweetest tags from some of the oldest mutuals i've had across my accounts. what the hell, yall. my darlings..

@jizzlords is wearing ozzie's skin. I mean that in the most complimentary way ever, because hel just pulls that man off with such ease it's like they're sharing the same body and he's just conducting the keyboard, taking down his autobiography online. the voice is crystal clear, you can hear iglehart in everything hel writes - down to the laughter.

hel loves this man and it is clear to see. the love for that muse is in there and the justice is being delivered right to the key. absolutely astounding portrayal, and hel even dives into ozzie being a fallen angel, and still having trauma from all that mess. hel gives him flaws, gives him green flags, brings him to life and makes him the icon of desire that he needs to be. I'm not surprised, though - hel's always knocked it clean out of the park when it comes to glamorous and iconic characters, bc hel is iconic. and just all-together so much fun to hang out with.

also, pssst: hel's writing is absolutely flipping beautiful. I've been lucky to be traveling alongside him for a long time now and watch it bounce from the characters he loves so dearly to the next. he's just gotten better, and he was already great.

@therealricksanchezpleasestandup is rick sanchez. I am not kidding lmao. you go onto that blog and it reads like rick. I've been a mutual of steffu's for.. god, a good few years, now? not even including the time on this account? and I have just watched her kick absolute ASS with this man. it's just like asmodeus and hel, it's another case of 'I think that man just lives in your skin and you're writing everything he tells you to', because damn. excellent portrayal, excellent handling, excellent managing of this man and his emotions, and just how messed up he is.

yeah, rick is a mess and steffu knows exactly how to write that while also making it so abundantly clear why and how it is that he has so many amicable relationships all over the multiverse. man knows how to juggle his personality traits and get those connections, find companionship in others that his family doesn't quite get to see that often - outside of morty. I always thought that was a pretty damn cool thing for her to cover.

because he's a universe jumper, it makes all the sense in the world that he has connects to others down here in hell. easy character to plug in with if you like rick and morty and want a rick to interact with. steffu has the man on lock, I am telling you.

#(( JESUS THAT WAS SUCH A SWEET WAKE-UP CALL.... i love you both. you're sweet as hell. thank you. ))#jizzlords #therealricksanchezpleasestandup #[ ooc. ]#[ saves. ]#long post

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witchconnectingdotes · 2 years

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✿｡PAC : Why do people fall in love with you ｡✿

Hello everyone ✿ !! How are you guys doing? Personally I have been doing just fine. Happy Eid to all the Muslim people celebrating it I hope you all had a great time.

Since I just got out of school I decided to get back to this account and retry this pick a card thingy (it's my second so far) because I find it to be really entertaining !

Keep in my that this is a general reading for entertainment purposes only, take what resonates leave what doesn't of course, if you want a personal reading hit my ask box I am reopening my free readings ^^ !

Without further due here are the piles :

Pile 1

Hello Pile one, welcome to your reading! Let me start off by saying that you guys have options. That message is loud and clear, and most of you know you do. This pile also feels like the pile of people who have a social media following or are very active on social media/ their community. You people know that you are the shit and no one can tell you otherwise. People love that in you, they can see how much love you have for yourselves and that you know your worth, and at the same time you are playful and fun.

When I think of you I have the word royalty in mind. You guys are quick to cut out people who are not up to your standards and you tend to treat people fairly. As I said you might be the pile who has a lot of suitors but that doesn't make you a player, quite the contrary you might be the type to only and exclusively focus on your love interest despite having other people begging for your attention. You guys are very selective with who you give your attention to and that makes your lover feel extremely special.

Your intelligence is also very attractive, people love how well read and articulate you are, it adds to your air of confidence and majesty. Your lovers are in awe of having such a diamond.

Literal bad bitches keep it up !!

I just want to say as a note that for a first pull your energy was just wow I aspire to be as confident and hot as you pile 1

Song : Sure Thing - Miguel

Pile 2

Hello Pile two, welcome to your reading! So this pile's message came clearly too. This is the life lover material pile. People fall in love with how tranformative your energy is, your love brings healing and peace to your lover when they treat you right but it also brings chaos when there is healing that needs to be done. Your energy is not for the weak let me tell you that lmao. But I can tell you that your love is very strong.

Your love feels like a divine union to them. People might see you and think we're meant to be together, you are the one I want to be with forever. Your energy feels stable and unstable at the same time because I feel like you can be a very devoted lover but that doesn't mean you don't want your partner to evolve and grow. You triggrer in them the desire to change and heal, you trigger your lovers' growth.

You can also be the kind of person who doesn't surround themselves with a ton of people, you might appear alone in a crowded room and that draws your lovers in, they discover that under your colder exterior or more aloof exterior there is a very loving and giving person. People can tell you that you don't talk a lot put that just makes them want to know what in lying under your calmness. They want to read your mind.

Song : Lotus Flower Bomb - Wale

Pile 3

Hello Pile three, welcome to your reading! I am going to be honest, I had more difficulty with this pile because I feel like some of you tend to attract disappointing lovers. You guys are often seen as very feisty and exciting, you might be a flirt, some see you as a temptation even, but many of the people who come talk to you fail to understand that you guys can have a more traditional view of relationships. You want commitment yet attract those who aren't capable of providing it. Which can create a sense of frustration in the relationship.

I think it's a bit weird from the people who come to you but most are imediately sexually attracted to you. You guys have very focused minds especially in conflicts, you tend to know exactly what to say, and it sounds weird but people love that, they love to create tension between you two, I am sorry it's a very bizarre energy.

Those lovers tend to look back at you and feel a sense of incompletion, they feel as though they took you for granted, which I think they did to be honest, they themselves feel incomplete, they go to you hoping that you will fill the void or be the missing part in their puzzle. You appear to have your shit together and can fix their lives or at least give them a great time but you are worth more than that.

I really want to tell you guys that you are enough, you are great and lovable, you don't need those kinds of people in your life.

Song : Love - Keyshia Cole

Pile 4

Hello Pile four, welcome to your reading! For you guys I think people fall in love with trying to figure you out. They like the challenge that comes with learning who you are. And I think for most you really test your lovers, you are the kind of person who won’t shy away from giving someone the silent treatment if they wrong you. I don’t know why I hear that they know you can leave them eventually? or they already see you leaving?

There is something that makes them feel like they can’t fully trust you, you might attract people with an anxious attachment style, and they are scared of you leaving at some point. They might think that you are strategic and discrete when it comes to achieving your goals. you also appear to be a very goal oriented person.

Most of your lovers see great potential in you and can see that you are the type of person who isn’t afraid of changing to plan B if plan A isn’t working. They admire your way of handling crisis and difficulty and would try to overcome everything to get to you.

Song : Clouded - Brent Fayez

Pile 5

Hello Pile five, welcome to your reading! Hey heartbreakers, how are you doing?;)?

Most people fall in love with how you break their hearts lmao. I think for most of you people

your suitors think they can depend on you, you might appear dependable. People have this idea on their mind that you are going to be someone they can get attached to but you refuse their codependency. Those people might get addicted to your energy even, it’s weird but your lack of commitment drives them mad?

Some people really think that they can “have you”? And I mean in the way of always being able to rely on you and come back to you whenever they want, but you don’t follow through with the script they made. You are not the one to stay and wait for someone to come back to everytime they feel like it. You seperate from those who project their expectation onto you and leave them hurt.

Girlboss lmao

Song : Wet Dreams - J Cole

#pick a card reading #free readings #tarot cards #free tarot reading #tarot witch #tarot spread #tarot community #witchblr #pac #pick a card #tarot #tarotblr

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neptunes-sol-angel · 4 months

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I've been off here for awhile because I needed a break from this account because I've been fatigued from content creating and I specifically have plans to return for the next few days but before I post anything, I really want to talk about something with this community that's really bothering me. I haven't had any issues with anyone doing this to me, and I'm thankful for those who have been patient with me, but I do have mutuals and people that I follow that I've seen this happen to, and it's the entitlement.

There are way too many posts of people pressuring readers to make their content a certain kind of way, telling them what topics to do, or what topics to do less of and it's extremely disrespectful, unless a reader asks for suggestions/recommendations for ideas, it's rude to slip into their inbox/asks/comments to tell them how they should do their readings because if you take away the notes, it'll be apparent on how this pressure that y'all put on us is the main reason for why so many readers leave. They lose their sense of direction for what to do with their accounts, seeing the value in what they post up here, and enthusiasm for doing readings period. Stop doing it, it's rude. It's like the internet makes a lot of you forget manners and the common courtesy of boundaries because another thing that I want to talk about is these games.

It's getting out of hand how Y'all are treating readers over free content. Unless there was a monetary or reading exchange, there should be no reason for why you feel that it's okay to smother a person for a luxury (NOT A NEED) that they offered to you for free.

I need y'all to understand that the majority of diviners here bring you content because this is a form of escapism, idc who disagrees. A lot of the readers in this community are young, they're exploring and they have the free time to do it. But what all of us have in common, is that we have lives, and that shit changes. At any time. So does our schedules. We have school, work, bills, families, hobbies, issues that we need to take care of related to the things that I mentioned previously, physical health problems, mental health problems, issues with finances, issues with housing, and sometimes it can be that WE ARE JUST TIRED.

It's not to be rude, but if y'all continue to harrass readers like @crystaldivination and @s1ncer3dreams , I really want to remind anybody that posts content up here that's reading this that setting boundaries applies to YOU TOO, you don't have to be scared to defend yourself or feel pressured to explain right away that you're doing what you need to take care of you

I've observed these readers for awhile now, and from what I've seen, THEY ARE ALWAYS giving out free readings and if youve ever picked up a deck and have actually read for people, you would understand how it's actually insane how much taxing it is to even do a fraction of what they do. That post was unfair and vile to make, you didn't even wait to let this person respond to understand what's going on, y'all need to relax because this is concerning.

#pick a card reading #pick a card #divination #intuitive #tarot #spirituality #the tarot community #tarobtlr

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thenightfolknetwork · 5 months

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Sapios are diurnal as more like a suggestion than anything else. My genus though, we literally cannot stay awake once the sun has gone down. (Fun fact, that makes jet lag SO much worse than everything I'd heard about it; next time I have to travel that far, either I'm taking the slowest most gradual method of transportation possible, or I'm arranging to be sedated for a week afterwards.) As such, I kind of hate the name "people of the night" for the creature community, it FEELS like it's an "everyone except for you and all your family specifically" type of thing, even though intellectually I know that's not it. Any advice for dealing with that feeling, or a mental direct to interpret the term? Because I don't WANT to get upset every time I come across that phrase.

You bring up a very good point here, reader. As many of our long-lived followers will know, the language we use to talk about “the creature community” has been through uncountable iterations over the course of history.

It seems like every generation comes to a new conclusion about the most acceptable, inclusive way to talk about people living beyond sapio-normativity. But in all my years, I have yet to find any single term that is entirely inclusive. Even describing ourselves as “beyond sapio-normativity” is problematic – it takes sapio-normativity as its starting point instead of centring liminal experiences.

Every word we have for ourselves runs into some difficulty or another. “The creature community” is rejected because it implies a commonality of experience that is not to be found in reality, because it places too much emphasis on the word “creature”, and because it does not account for the experiences of magic-users or other people who experience liminality without a change to their genus.

“People of the night” does not include obligate diurnality, as experienced in your genus. Moreover, there are plenty of individuals who do not consider themselves “people” at all. And we simply do not have time or space here to discuss all the nuances and different readings of the word “monster”.

Even “liminality” is being scrutinised, especially by younger generations who have grown up feeling largely included in mainstream society and feel the word impresses a sense of difference upon them which does not speak to their lived experience.

There is no single term that effectively sums up the variety of experiences and nuances we are gesturing to when we use these words and phrases. But the alternative is having no way of speaking about ourselves at all – a terrifying thought.

Instead of getting upset when you see “people of the night”, try to interpret it as it is intended. This phrase in particular was developed as an alternative for the earlier “creature community”, and today, it is often used as the most politically correct option short of specifying genuses and experiences.

When you are seeing it in use, you are seeing the choice of people who are very much trying to be respectful. Give them some slack, and save your emotional energy for the issues that really need it.

#answered #monstrous agonies #the nightfolk network

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dearweirdme · 2 months

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(warning, this got way longer than anticipated sorry)

ik this is probably a dead topic to you and i apologize for bringing it up again but i was just rewatching the leaked jk videos of him in his apartment with that girl bc i saw some discourse abt it in another tkk blog’s comments. some jk stan who’s convinced he’s straight, that he was sleeping arnd/had a girlfriend, and that we’re all delusional came in the comments and basically started stirring shit lol. they mentioned they believed he was dating that tattoo artist girl who he was photographed w his arms arnd as well. but i thought she had a bf at the time of that pic being released? idk fs tho and that pic def gave off close friend vibes to me?

anyways, seeing the discourse made me go back and watch the video again and the more i watch it the more conflicted i get. like he is rlly all over her. arms wrapped all around her and walking holding her from behind like that. ofc it’s POSSIBLE that they’re just friends especially if he is gay/queer (ik that kind of physical affection is more typically acceptable between queer men and straight women than when both parties are straight). but to me for some reason it seems improbable and like that’s just an excuse to keep myself believing in tkk ? like really…we’re convincing ourselves him and the girl he had at his apartment at night alone w him are just friends when almost everyone and their mother would see that as clearly romantic and crossing platonic boundaries ? he’s THAT close, comfortable, and affectionate w a girl he’s just friends with ?

lol subconsciously i feel like im probably submitting this to ur account hoping ur response will give me reassurance that the interaction was not romantic even when it’s likely that it was. to me the video is clearly real and it is actually jungkook so that’s not at all the part that im debating about, but just the nature of the interaction ig ? like how long am i going to convince myself he’s queer and w taehyung when theres a lot that implies otherwise…

but then i think back on the reasons why i believe in tkk and that makes me even more confused lol. bc if i tell myself to just accept that jk is straight/not romantically involved w taehyung then idk how to make sense of many of tkk’s interactions either. like the kappa sweethearts tshirt is the one that rlly gets me for some reason. bc there’s no shot it was a coincidence they were wearing such a specific niche tshirt on the same day at the same time too. and why would friends wear matching literal “sweethearts” tshirts? they wouldn’t right? ik other ppl value the dream premiere and other moments more but those tshirts are so unarguable that it’s something i always circle back to. like to me saying their clothes at the dream premiere were intentionally queer coded is not something that is necessarily factually true. it’s more so an assumption after extensively digging into the background of their clothes which they may or may not have even noticed/intended. that to me could be argued as a coincidence but the kappa shirts are 100% the same specific tshirt and it was 100% the same day. that being a coincidence is less likely to me.

the other thing is the way they keep their friendship/relationship so much more under wraps than the others. but maybe that’s something we’ve just convinced ourselves of when maybe they haven’t rlly been that private/secretive abt it? idk i just go round and round in circles. i’ll come to a point where i feel SO sure that tkk are romantically together (especially with how explicit tae is w his support of the queer community) but then i’ll see some shit like that video of jk in his apartment w a girl and the whole thing gets derailed.

sorry i’ve just talked in circles atp and i could probably go back and forth w more examples for forever but yeah idk just wanted to hear your thoughts bc idk how you’re able to stay so secure in believing they are together. and i don’t think u seem like the type to just continuously convince urself of something that is delusional through confirmation bias and disregard of opposing evidence.

Hi anon!

Yeah, you probably ar submitting this because you want me to reassure you 😊 and that’s totally fine honestly. I mean, we are invested in Tae and Jk and stuff can really become complicated and confusing at times. Being confused is never a great feeling and you just want to not feel confused.

I need things to be realistic myself as well. I don’t need Jk and Tae to be together, I basically just think they are. I’m not afraid to step away from them if I feel they’re no longer together (or.. if they never were). And I will definitely let everyone know if/when I ever feel like something is off (and right after that I will hide because Jkkrs and anti’s will come for my head 😂).

To me it is all about the things I know for sure. Like Tae wearing that t-shirt for instance.. on the same day as Jk when he shot that mv. To me that is something strong and real talking in favor of them being together. Same goes for other situations: Tae and Jk at that hotel after/before Dubai, Jk singing that song to Tae, BH acting weird about them (and them alone), the way Tae constantly mentions Jk… and I could go on for a while probably. Those are actual things we have witnessed.. things that are real and when you look at the whole of it.. things that are consistent and that we have witnessed for a prolonged duration of time.

When I look at the footage of supposedly Jk with that girl, I see a person backhugging a girl for a real short amount of time. I have no context, I have no clue about there being more people or not. I can also clearly see that the footage is manipulated. I know it was released at a shady timing, with the purpose of harming him. I know that there’s an actual platform where people who hate him gather and plan stuff like this.

So when I put what I know is true about Jk and Tae next to what I know of that footage… the scale just tips over. I do not trust shady footage more than I trust what I know of Jk and Tae. And I might be wrong.. absolutely. But I just don’t think I am.

If I had no knowledge about Tae and Jk before seeing that footage.. maybe I wouldn’t have secondguessed it as well. But, I do have that other knowledge and therefore if I see something that goes against that.. I look at what’s fed to me more critically.

I don’t know if this has settled your mind anon. Personally I always feel fine with not having all the answers, but I can also understand that can be real unsettling. Maybe try and land in the ‘I don’t know for now’ zone for a bit?

#taekook #shenanigans #and yes #the topic does get a bit tiring #so i’m not gonna go much further I think #we won’t solve it anyways #since we’re still dealing with the same info as we did before

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batmanfruitloops · 8 months

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Been a while since I did a long text post, so let's discuss Harvey some more!

Harvey was always a polite and energetic boy growing up. He had a lucky silver dollar he kept to flip "heads or tails" for little decisions, like stepping over or onto cracks in the cement, or silly little bets with Gilda or Bruce, who he met at a young age through school and the three became fast friends.

His father was an angry and abusive man, oppressing his power over Harvey and his wife, enforcing a skewed set of rules. This instills Harvey with a strong sense of fair judgment and wanting to right wrongs, even at such a young age. When Harvey was 6, his parents got into a fatal car crash and died, and from this point on the Wayne's did everything they could to help Harvey, now guardians to him.

This incident was hard at first since Harvey felt conflicted about whether or not to be happy that his parents were gone, and he could become angry and aggressive when upset, similar to his father, although Harvey had plenty of support to help him calm down and cope better with stress.

When Bruce's parents were murdered, Harvey comforted him as best he could, mourning his loss and trying to help Bruce continue to take care of himself and talk about how he feels.

Bruce is still fine for the most part after that, if not more distant in word, but good with spending time with Harvey and Gilda.

Over time, Gilda and Harvey spend more time together, as they click better. Bruce participated when offered, but as he was also fine being alone, the two began to see each other more often without Bruce there.

This is how things stay until Bruce leaves at age 18, Harvey having no idea. One day, he tried to call Bruce, then the manor only to find out from Alfred that Bruce had left a couple weeks ago. This cuts Harvey deeply. Had Bruce really not intended to let his best friend know that he was leaving, especially if it was going to be a long trip?

Alfred offered to give Harvey Bruce's current contact information, but Harvey declined, not wanting to bother Bruce and fearing what he might hear if he did call.

At age 22, Harvey and Gilda finally decided to get married. They'd been dating for a few years, and even before then, it was like they were joined at the hip. They're very good at communicating with one another, and as touch is one of their main ways of showing love, that makes it all the easier to express care for one another.

Harvey was quite distraught about Bruce not being in attendance, but again, he didn't feel like he could bother Bruce on his trip. Although had he attended, he would have been Harvey's best man.

After his marriage, Harvey would also get his job as an attourney, something he'd have had as a dream job for years. Over the next 6 years, Harvey earns his way to district attorney, and the hearts of many Gothamites, given he's an easy person to root for; charming, well-spoken, kind, and takes everything and everyone into account.

When Bruce returns, the news is sudden, with him showing up at the Dent's house with no prior notice. Harvey would be happy to see him, if not confused by the odd situation. He'd be happy to catch up, but he's quickly disappointed when Bruce asks more about how Gotham has been since he left, instead of how Harvey and Gilda have been. He doesn't even bring up the bizarre nature of his trip starting and ending so abruptly. He seems perfectly content, as if nothing happened. Bruce is also more physically distant, not trying to hug Harvey or anything while he's over.

Harvey has a hard time bringing up everything that Bruce is doing to hurt his feelings, so he decides to change the subject. He'd be considering running for mayor at the next election, and he'd like Bruce's support. He, of course, says yes and they discuss in detail plans for Harvey's campaign.

Changing Gotham to a better city is a goal that they share, and so fixing things like the Mob run corruption is a main concern, along with the justice system. Most of the police force works with the mob, and one of the few options besides prison to send those mentally unwell is Arkham, which uses outdated treatments and doesn't help anything. So making a proper replacement is another goal that they start working on.

As I hinted at in an answer post, Harvey is a threat to Hill and Falcone, so they plan to take him out of the picture. While not the first rogue to enter the crime scene, Harvey will be the first to appear in some of the comics.

- Sarsee

#batmanfruitloops #dc #batman #anewgothamau #batman villains #batman rogues #gotham rogues #harvey dent #Two-Face #two face #batmanfruitloopslore #sars babbles

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gnc-polls · 2 months

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Hey I really appreciate that this account exists <3

Being GNC (at least for me) often means ending up falling through the cracks of how people discuss and understand gender & sexuality- LGBTQ community included :( [To be clear- I AM a member of the community]

So it's nice to hear about other GNC people's experiences!

(Also, IDK if you want to run the account this way, but if you're considering allowing anons to give themselves an emoji you tag their submissions with: I'd like to request 🦣, the mammoth emoji!)

Thank you and I hope you have a great day :-)

============

Here is a poll idea!

""' GNC people: at what life stage did you first understand yourself to be GNC *and* that it 100% was NOT something you'd 'grow out of' ?

(Exact years are flexible and are offered as guidelines; the submitter is mostly interested in life stages) ""

Options for answers:

* Age 10 and under (young/middle childhood, primary school or younger)

* 11-14 (late childhood/early adolescence, middle school or equivalent)

* 15-18 (secondary school, mid/late teens)

* 18 - 22 (university age/young adulthood)

* mid 20's - early 30's (early-career adulthood)

* later 30's - early 40's (established adulthood)

* mid 40's on up (middle-aged and onward)

* It's complicated ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

* Not GNC button/See results

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad it brings some people joy :) I'll try doing something more with it in the future, maybe even besides just polls. Having so many people similiar to me here brings me such a sense of community, because I don't know that many GNC people in real life (I live in a rather conservative country, so maybe that's why :/). I'm glad other people get to experience the same feeling of community and belonging

I can 100% do the emoji anon thingy if that's what anyone would like!

Ok now for the poll

I hope you don't mind me not typing EVERYTHING in, I'm a little tired and lazy as of now

#🦣 anon #gender non conforming #gender nonconforming #gnc #gnc polls #poll #polls #tumblr poll #tumblr polls #anon polls #gender non-conforming

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togglesbloggle · 10 months

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This is an interesting time in the history of Social, on account of, the entire natural order undergirding our conception of social media has imploded and is taking our modern modes of engagement with it. (Which is to say, bearer bonds are paying interest again. Alas!)

It's a very 'open' moment in that way; there's a huge and well-known appetite for a specific kind of thing, but many of the existing systems designed to serve and exploit that appetite are in retreat. Big potential energy reservoirs with limited competition for resources! If you're feeling more poetic- the old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born.

The challenge, of course, is how to be one of the more successful monsters during the transition. If you play your cards right, they name the new era after you, it's a cushy gig if you can get it.

Many of the initial successor-attempts are trying to learn the lessons of 2005-2020 by emphasizing open protocols; these are common to Bluesky and Mastadon for Twitter refugees, the Matrix protocol for Element and other successors to Discord, and so on. And that's probably one of the more important choices that really are being made right now, in real time. Open, or closed?

Without as much cash flowing through the system, megaprojects and monoliths will be much harder to sustain. That's not necessarily a bad thing! We've gotten used to high-stakes struggles, we're all tangled up with the fates of a small number of huge institutions. Which sucks, right? It brings out the worst in us. Whereas open standards, such as the protocols we achieved for the internet as a whole, make that fight much harder to have at all. It builds a world more ordered towards democratic sensibilities and mutual respect. But there's no easy way to achieve that kind of victory. It takes genius, and good luck, and wisdom, and money, and all the other things.

One of my favorite discoveries from Discord (and, in retrospect, the BBS era) is that I personally really like social environments with a sense of 'place' to them. In my favorite servers, I'll often just hop on an empty voice chat and see if anybody else hops on to say hi, as a way of nucleating conversation. People can come and go at leisure, like being in a particular circle of conversation at a party. It's genuinely like 'hanging out', in a way that can't be replicated by flat and wide platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which in the absence of 'place' become a sort of public-performance status competition by default. Boundaries between small communities often make the difference between being a guy and being a brand; even on Tumblr, it's really more the latter than the former even as we build a sort of proto-community with our mutuals.

When I imagine my sort of 'ideal internet of the future', I think it looks something like a more porous, discoverable, and interconnected Discord: individual mixed-media real-time communication platforms with a specific members list and some ad-hoc internal structure to order conversations. But unlike Discord, these servers could look like something 'on the outside' if they wanted to, capable (though not required) by design of something much like a webpage, including links to other such webpages and other forms of discoverability. Temporary visitors would have free access to any curated digital products of that community placed on the page (including rights to copy, but with attribution baked in to the file format), with a smooth and community-defined onboarding from 'visitor' to 'member' that would vary according to the needs of the community in question. A bit like wordpress, these pages would have basic templates for nontechnical users but give you full access to webdev tools if you wanted them; but they would also give users full control over the entire contents of the server iff the users wanted that level of control, up to and including migrating a server to a member's locally-owned machine. The real-time members-only guts of the server would of course be end-to-end encrypted, such that these communities would have real and meaningful self-ownership.

I kind of like this because it creates a very smooth gradient with "IRC chat room" on one end and "Just A Website" on the other, but with the ability to evolve smoothly between them in real time, and with a very easy 'entry point' for novices and normies that could gradually grow towards a professional programming/webdev level of expertise if interest grows. And there's plenty of room for 'open/flat' curation of content in the manner of traditional Facebooky and Twittery social media, but people would be interacting with it through the intermediary of this 'server' abstraction, which would hopefully blunt the worst of the evils- we'd be individuals in private communities, but fictive mini-institutions when exposed to the wider world. And that same functionality could be used for projects like the Internet Archives or AO3 that are oriented towards the preservation of sometimes controversial materials, as cultures and moderators in individual servers changed.

#I do expect we'll lose Tumblr within a few years #hard to see any way around it #I will sincerely grieve for it

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