#it's the evolved form of bookworm
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Soulmate-if
Summary:
"Soulmate" is an interactive fiction story that follows the journey of Reyan, a high school girl who has recently been transferred to a new school. Eager to find love and belonging in this unfamiliar place, she encounters five potential romantic interests: Ava, an artistic girl with a unique sense of style; Daniel, the charismatic jock known for his athletic prowess; Gea, the popular girl who seems to have it all; Robert, the brilliant nerd who's passionate about academics; and Maxine, the troublemaker known as Max, who has a rebellious edge. Amidst navigating high school drama, friendships, and secrets, players will help Reyan make choices that shape her future, leading her towards her one true soulmate.
Decision-Making:
Players will face a variety of choices throughout the story, allowing them to guide Reyan's actions and shape her destiny. These decisions will impact her relationships, friendships, and ultimately determine her soulmate.
Character Interaction:
Interact with the five romantic interests, Ava, Daniel, Gea, Robert, and Max, through engaging dialogues and choices. Get to know them better, uncover their personalities, and discover shared interests.
Character Development:
Each romantic interest has a unique character arc and growth throughout the story. Players will witness their personal development as they navigate the challenges of high school life.
Multiple Endings:
"Soulmate" features multiple endings based on the choices made throughout the game. Players can experience different outcomes, including finding Reyan's true soulmate or exploring various paths of her high school life.
Relationship Status:
Keep track of Reyan's evolving relationships with the romantic interests. The game provides a relationship status tracker, allowing players to see how close they are to each character.
Backstory Unveiling:
Delve into the pasts of each romantic interest as Reyan gets to know them better. Uncover their secrets, dreams, and insecurities, leading to a deeper emotional connection.
Emotional Engagement:
"Soulmate" aims to evoke a range of emotions, from joy and laughter to heartbreak and empathy. Players will become emotionally invested in Reyan's journey as she seeks love and belonging.
Meeting Other Characters:
In addition to the romantic interests, players will interact with a cast of supporting characters, including friends, teachers, and rivals. These interactions will shape Reyan's overall high school experience and influence her choices.
Ava - The Artistic Soul
Ava is a free spirit with an artistic soul. She's imaginative, creative, and has a deep appreciation for beauty in all forms. She's also known for her kindness and compassion.
Appearance: Ava has long, wavy auburn hair that falls gracefully down her back, complemented by emerald green eyes that seem to hold entire galaxies within them. Her skin is porcelain-pale, and she often wears bohemian-style clothing, adorned with vibrant colors and flowing fabrics.
Daniel - The Jock with a Heart of Gold
Daniel is the jock with a heart of gold. He's confident, outgoing, and passionate about sports. Despite his popularity, he's down-to-earth and approachable.
Appearance: Daniel has a tall, athletic build, with short, sandy blond hair that matches his striking blue eyes. His sun-kissed skin reflects his time spent on the field, and he typically wears his sports team's jersey.
Gea - The Popular Queen Bee
Gea is the epitome of popularity. She's charismatic, social, and always the center of attention. Beneath her confident exterior, she harbors insecurities and secrets.
Appearance: Gea has long, flowing black hair that cascades down her back, framing her enchanting hazel eyes. Her complexion is a warm olive tone, and she's often seen wearing the latest fashion trends that accentuate her natural beauty.
Robert - The Nerd with a Brilliant Mind
Robert is the school's intellectual powerhouse. He's a bookworm, tech genius, and excels in academics. He's shy, introverted, but incredibly kind-hearted.
Appearance: Robert has messy, chestnut-brown hair and wears thick-rimmed glasses that emphasize his intelligent gaze. His skin is fair, and he dresses in comfortable, casual attire, often sporting graphic tees and jeans.
Maxine (Max) - The Troublemaker with a Rebellious Streak
Max is the enigmatic troublemaker, known for her fearless attitude and rebellious spirit. She's a bit of a mystery, with a tough exterior hiding a softer side.
Appearance: Max has a punk-rock style, with short, jet-black hair and intense, stormy gray eyes. Her dark skin adds to her edgy appeal, and she's usually seen in leather jackets, ripped jeans, and combat boots.
demo: https://dashingdon.com/go/15340 (01.01.2024)
forum: https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/soulmate-wip/147221
Tumblr: Soulmate-If , TBFamily-If
others:
#interactive fiction#if wip#wip#demo#romance#school#interactive novel#interactive game#interactive story#soulmate
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❍ the 2k event: jeonghan + jellyfish
vote for this fic in the poll!
alternative title: down here in the deep blue sea
pairing: siren prince!jeonghan x selkie!gn!reader
genre: mythical au, siren au, friends to lovers
word count: 1130
warnings: none
event taglist (send ask to be added): @slytherinshua @rubywonu @pepperonijem @amxlia-stars @weird-bookworm @my-moarmy-heart @hannyoontify @suminsfav @minhui896 @haocovr @lockburn-castle @sweet-like-caramel @horanghae8 @graybaeismytae @karionice @hopetiger10
The bottom of the ocean is dark and cold and unpleasant. There is little light, and the creatures that live here are fierce, hardened by the harsh environment they’ve evolved to survive in. Here in his palace, Jeonghan is shielded from the worst of it, but even he understands that the never-ending abyss that makes up his family’s kingdom is nothing like the glittering, lively seas that their distant mermaid cousins live in.
But it’s all that Jeonghan has ever known.
That is, until he met you.
“Jeonghan! Jeonghan, Jeonghan, I’m here!”
Jeonghan doesn't have time to look up before a selkie comes crashing into him, all sleek, soft fur and big eyes. He laughs, because he's used to this by now, and pushes away your head slightly so that you're not squishing your cheek against his.
"Get away from me, you rascal, you're going to mess up my hair," he says, but he's smiling, and you beam at him in return, all twinkling irises and bubbling laughter.
"Yeah, yeah, it's gonna get messed up anyway," you say, ruffling his hair just to prove your point. "Anyway. Ready to go?"
Jeonghan cocks his head, smiling. "Maybe. Where are we going this time?"
You tap your lips secretively. "It's a secret. You ready to come or not?"
He rolls his eyes, pretending to give a long-suffering sigh. "Alright. Let's go." He looks around the darkened sea garden, peering into the bushes. "Shua!"
Another siren pops his head up above a cluster of bioluminescent sea flowers. "Yes, sire?"
"I'm gonna leave," Jeonghan says, pointing to you. "Y/N's taking me hostage. Don't expect me back until at least supper time."
Joshua crosses his arms and swims towards where you and Jeonghan are sitting. "Jeonghan, I can't keep covering for you forever," he protests. "I think there are only so many times I can pretend you got lost in the Royal Seaweed Maze before someone realises I'm lying about the Crown Prince's whereabouts."
"Then just this one last time, Shuji," Jeonghan says easily, grinning. "I'll bring you along next time Y/N and I go somewhere. How about that?"
Joshua wrinkles his nose, the scales on his cheeks glowing neon pink in the light of the flowers. "Hmph. Just go. Tomorrow, I'm resigning as your personal guard."
"You do that," Jeonghan says with a smile, because they both know that Joshua would never leave him. "See you tonight, Shua!"
"Yes!" you cheer. "Let's go!" You ruffle Joshua's hair in consolation before grabbing Jeonghan's hand, sending a bright grin over to the siren prince and then swimming upwards, up, up, away from the kingdom down in the abyss.
———————————— 🪼
"Are you really not going to tell me where we're going?"
You look over at Jeonghan, whiskers twitching, and reply with a chirrup, bubbles escaping your mouth.
He sighs at you, smiling, flicking his tail and swimming faster so he's beside you. You slap at him with a seal flipper when he attempts to poke your cheek, making more seal noises before he laughs and holds his hands up in surrender.
"Okay, okay. But seriously, where are we going?"
You morph out of your seal form into one that's slightly more conversation-able, the faintest whiskers still on your cheeks and the sleekness of your selkie fur blending into something resembling human skin. You grin, and point upwards. "Not a where. A what."
Jeonghan looks up, and his eyes widen.
You've led him so far away from the depths of the ocean, and with just a few miles of swimming he'd be able to break the surface of the water. But that's not what he's looking at.
Above you both, there's a swarm of transparent, floaty things, tinted in pretty pinks and oranges with what looks like long, thin threads dancing in the movement of the sea.
"We're here to see the jellyfish," you say, and he mouths the word to himself in wonder.
He watches as the jellyfish bob around, following the movement of the current. They look almost like mysterious spirits, with elusive purposes and elusive aims and elusive goals.
It's fascinating.
Their transparent bodies filter the rays of sunlight right through them, and it's a kind of glittering, crystalline wonder that Jeonghan has never been able to see before in the near-pitch black darkness of his kingdom. He finds himself awed, unable to take his eyes away even as you take his hand and draw him closer to the shoal.
"Jellyfish have no brains, no hearts, bones, or eyes," you say.
"Aw. That's actually really sad," Jeonghan says. "Imagine not having a heart." He pauses. "Oh, and no brain, too."
You smile.
"They're actually mostly made of fluid and transparent muscles, which are the bell parts that you can see," you carry on, pointing to one jellyfish. "And these thin tentacles? They help the jellyfish catch their prey."
"How do they eat?" Jeonghan asks, confused.
"They trap their prey in their tentacles, and then eat through the opening in the middle of their bell body," you say. "See? It's like their mouth is in the center."
"Huh."
"Do you wanna touch them? They're dangerous for humans, apparently, but I found out that they're pretty much harmless for us to touch."
Before you came into his life, Jeonghan lived almost entirely within the walls of his palace, surrounded by darkness, knowing and going no further than the surrounding cities. It was a miserable existence, to always be held on a leash, unable to stretch his fins and breathe in new water into his gills.
But then came you. You stumbled into the palace gardens one day, all twitching whiskers and bright selkie eyes and a smile and an outstetched hand that promised new, bright, wonderful, fascinating.
Jeonghan had grown up being told not to take risks, but taking your hand?
That felt like coming home.
You come to him randomly, with new facts and new adventures and every day he's with you feels like living a new life, witnessing the shimmer of aquamarine seas and vibrant coral reefs with his own eyes. It's exhilarating, makes the blood in Jeonghan's veins sing. And listening to your voice, filled with such eagerness and fondness, is more mesmerising than any siren song that even his father could conjure.
"—not actually fish, you know? And they're pretty much harmless. Okay, maybe not totally harmless, but they don't bother you if you don't bother them."
You pause, then, because one jellyfish chooses that moment to bob upwards in a swirl of translucent jelly right into your face, and you scrunch your nose with a barking laugh.
Jeonghan watches you, the smile widening on his face, before he pauses.
Oh.
He might be just a tiny bit in love with you.
#fairyhaos.works#k-labels#the 2k event -- fairyhaos#svt#seventeen#jeonghan#seventeen fic#jeonghan fic#svt fic#svt jeonghan#svt x reader#jeonghan x reader#yoon jeonghan#jeonghan x you#seventeen x you#jeonghan x y/n#seventeen x y/n#seventeen x reader#seventeen jeonghan#seventeen yoon jeonghan#svt yoon jeonghan#svt fluff#seventeen fluff#jeonghan fluff#jeonghan imagines#seventeen imagines#seventeen fanfic
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With the rise of Instagram Reels and TikTok videos, it seems as though blogging has become a thing of the past... or has it? Let's see if blogging is still relevant in the age of Instagram and Tiktok.
The Early Days:
Blogging first became a thing when Justin Hall created what he called his "personal homepage" on Links.net, where he reviewed HTML examples from other online links (Zantal-Wiener 2020). 3 years later, Jon Barger, a fellow blogger, coins the term "weblog", reflecting the process of logging the web. Another 2 years later, Peter Merholz, a programmer, shortens the term "weblog" into "blog", to which Merriam-Webster would declare as the word of the year in 2004 (NDMU 2018).
~ TLDR ~
1994 - Justin Hall's "personal homepage" on Links.net
1997 - Jon Barger coins the term weblog
1999 - Peter Merholz shortens "weblog" -> "blog"
2004 - Merriam-Webster declares "blog" as their word of the year
The prime time of internet exploration (for the masses) between the late-90s and early-00s are also home to the births of iconic blogging platforms such as Blogger and WordPress (NDMU 2018).
These early days were the chance for the readers and writers of the world to digitalise their bibliophilic habits as they ventured new ways to connect with bookworms across the globe.
The Evolution:
Right in the midst of blogging's mainstreaming years, the public launching of YouTube in 2005 sparked the evolution of blogging. With that, the wonders of blogging were no longer confined to the wordsmiths of the world.
YouTube's culture of video blogging, or vlogging, appealed to those who preferred audio and visual stimulation, thus continuing the reach of blogging as a whole (Maslanka 2017). This video blogging culture brought forth most of the blogging cultures still in tact today, such as the aforementioned Instagram Reels and TikTok videos, which are forms of blogging that invoke creativity in a different medium than what blogging first started as.
The Question:
lyrics captured from Spotify
So blogging evolved from choosing the right writing style to choosing the right background music, but what does that mean? Does no one do the former anymore? Is everyone just trying to accomplish the latter?
Take, for instance, you feel like cooking something new. Some people would turn to a cooking channel on YouTube, while some prefer clicking on the recipe blogs that their search engine compiles for them. My friend would rather watch a video about the newest technology, whereas I would like to read about it in a blog post instead.
It all comes down to personal preference.
Numerous blog platforms are still around and are home to a growing number of blog accounts that cater to different genres of digital communities; because just as many people there are on this planet, exists a vast range of interests, preferences, and personalities. These aspects result in the creation of digital communities that almost anyone can find a seat in. These different groups then evolve within themselves to create their own set of cultures, norms, as well as trends.
So perhaps someone who spends their days watching Instagram Stories and TikTok Lives may seem to think that blogging is a dying flame, but to someone who replies to tweets and writes fantasy fiction on Tumblr, would disagree. In fact, posting short snippets of your day or sharing your thoughts in a tweet is a form of blogging in itself, specifically known as microblogging. Microblogging is an example of blogging cultures trickling down to make room for the readers and writers of the world who enjoy doing so, but in a more casual setting.
It is also important to note that personalities are not a black and white thing. Preferences are not an either or situation. There are many people who enjoy both reading blogs and watching videos.
・・・・・・
Besides leisure pursuits, blog accounts can also be used professionally. Setting up a portfolio blog could serve as a digital gallery of one's work (ThemesKingdom 2019). For example, a programmer's portfolio blog could include the programs they have coded or their experiences with different programming languages. The inclusion of a portfolio blog to a resume helps future employers grasp the personalities, morals, and ethics of the potential employee.
And along the lines of career-oriented blogs are money-making blogs; a solid option for the adventurers who seek a non-conventional career path. These type of blogs often rake in revenue through brand partnerships, affiliate links, premium content or private consultations (Polner & Bottorff 2023).
The Answer:
Definitely! I would confidently say that blogging is still relevant in the midst of Instagram and TikTok's uprising.
While there is no denying that Instagram and TikTok may be more popular amongst certain demographics, the future of blogging continues to march on, because as long as there are bookworms around, blogging will remain relevant ⋆｡⋆☂˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆
︵‿︵‿ References ‿︵‿︵
Maslanka, M 2017, The Vlog Blog: History of Vlogging, MotionSource, 28 July, viewed 27 September 2023, <https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/history-of-blogging>.
NDMU 2018, History of Blogging, Notre Dame of Maryland University, 22 March, viewed 27 September 2023, <https://online.ndm.edu/news/communication/history-of-blogging/>.
Polner, M & Bottorff, C 2023, How To Start A Blog And Make Money In 2023, Forbes, 31 July, viewed 29 September 2023, <https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/start-a-blog/#:~:text=Blogging%20Is%20a%20Fast%20Way,can%20start%20earning%20any%20money.>.
ThemesKingdom 2019, 5 reasons why you should include a blog in your online portfolio, ThemesKingdom, 29 May, viewed 29 September 2023, <https://themeskingdom.com/blog/reasons-to-include-a-blog-in-online-portfolio/>.
Zantal-Wiener, A 2020, A Brief Timeline of the History of Blogging, HubSpot, 19 October, viewed 29 September 2023, <https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/history-of-blogging>.
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Got tagged by @zoroarkthief for a "9 people you'd like to get to know better" game, so, here I go!
Three Ships:
MariHilda (Fire Emblem Three Houses) - Got tagged by a FE fan, so I'm starting with a FE ship, lol. Anyway, IntSys are cowards for not giving Marianne a can9n monster form and I owe every artist who gives her one my life. UPBEAT POWERFUL WARRIOR × TIMID MONSTER GIRL MY BELOVED!!!
Pearlina (Splatoon 2) - I have very generic feelings about this ship, but they're basically my OTP, so I couldn't not include them. They're just...SO damn cute 😭😭😭
Ninten × Lloyd (Mother 1) - OKAY, this one's gonna take some explaining, fjsbbsbsbdbshsh. This is kind of a crackship I started thinking about for a really random reason. I thought up this idea of Lloyd being a trans woman when he gets older and that eventually evolved into a whole ass AU in my head about the Mother gang as adults and Ninten and Lloyd catching up and falling in love and yeah hfvdgdgvdhsbshshd. Idk if this ship counts since I don't really ship the canon ones, just the versions of them I imagined in my head, but, yeag, gender affirming childhood friends to lovers slowburn fic coming...never, but just imagine it, okay?
First ship ever: Depends on what you count as a ship. First time I shipped two characters genuinely knowing what shipping is was prooooobably Lapidot? But my memory's real bad, so maybe not. If we're counting dumb childhood stuff, it was probs, like, Mario and Peach, lmao.
Last Song: Eternal Nausea by Black Dresses. Weirdly enough, that song calms me down when I'm feeling anxious.
Currently Reading: Just finished a book I picked up back in highschool and never read for whatever reason, Dreadnought by April Daniels. It was really good, though got way more intense than I was expecting, but in a good way! Not sure what to read next, I'm not much of a bookworm. If y'all have recommendations, lemme know!
Currently Watching: Uhhhh, nothing, haven't watched tv much at all lately. Just watched an hour long youtube video on Steven Universe: The Movie earlier today, that was nice.
Currently consuming: Lemonade, yummy :3
Currently craving: MORE LEMONADE
I'll tag @transmasckirby @quaintpanic @florrrfauna @metroid-fusion @baconator-deluxe @malicious-face @swagtomomo @thethirdstrongestsylvi aaaaaaand anyone else who wants to join in. Also, apologies if any of y'all don't like being tagged and also no pressure to join in, wawawaw
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First fully original work, this one’s gonna be a little violent and disturbing, so be warned.
Twilight Circumstance
The dusty tomes that filled this place barely got used. It had existed for so long, yet only the rare college student or eccentric bookworm ever came here anymore…
Despite the “ancient” nature of the place, the dust and age to Vex was just a child’s amount of time compared to how ancient she was. It felt..calming, being in the presence of books like this. Like them she was a thing of vast depth, knowledge, and power, yet hardly anyone ever got close enough, or lived long enough, to open her and read her pages. It was nice to know she wasn’t alone in being forgotten, she wasn’t alone in being unknown. Then again, some of these books probably told her story incorrectly. Her eyes, those horrid pits of abyssal black overlaid with cracking, spiderwebbing lines of orange hellfire flicked down to the spine of one of these tomes. “Gods of Greek Mythology, a Compendium.” It read. Ahhhhh…Greece. What a beautiful place. She could only enjoy its beaches and ancient civilization during the nighttime, but surely humans would think the Mediterranean Sunshine a most gorgeous sensation. To her it was abhorrent. The Greeks had given her one of her favorite names: Nyx. A being so ancient that even Zeus feared her wrath and displeasure. How charming! They clearly thought highly of her.
Vex never did anything that Nyx did, all that had occurred were the few glimpses the ancients had gotten of her. Moving in a forest, spying her orange eyes around pillars, and on the rare, rarest of occasions, either helping or killing their number as fancy took her. It felt good to be revered, or feared, by a society en-masse. She was a superior being to them after all, maybe not in thought or morally, but most definitely in physical prowess.
That had been stolen from her, that reversion, in the modern era. No longer could her bare feet walk into the center of a nighttime plaza and not fear light around every corner. The lanterns and candles and torches of yore were unbelievably easy to avoid, or stamp out with impunity should they get in her way. In America, every city was a glowing beacon of disgusting accursed poison. It spewed from places it should never naturally spew, humans carried light bricks of the stuff in their pockets, who could make a beam as intense as 5 torches and with great direction. How dare they-
“H-HEL-“ Came the cut off crying of a young woman, piercing through the growing tendrils of dark hate gripping the walls of the abyss that was Vex’s brain. Very calmly putting the book back on its dark shelf, she leisurely took a more physical form.
Prior she was an amalgamation of thick black miasma with her trademark eyes, wallowing in the library aisle who’s lamp above was broken and neglected. In that shadow the miasma solidified, black webs erupting inside itself and violently tearing the darkness together. First came an ebony skinned body of a woman, bare and as gorgeous as the last sunset. The hair bounced into long curls that tended to roll and smoke at the edges, rising back up above her head and invisibly resettling into the mass of curled tendrils. Next the dress, silky and loose, had little style to it and more as if Vex had taken the most beautiful sheet of coal-colored silk, sprinkled stars inside, and tossed it over herself.
The Wraith never wore shoes, for her feet could no longer feel whatever the ground could resist her with, and as she stepped forward near the end of the shadowy aisle only the most observant could notice she walked toe-heel, instead of the modern heel-toe that evolved out of the comfort of shoes. Such was one of the only outward signs of just how ancient her customs were. At the edge of her home material she stopped and looked distastefully up at the working aisle light that thrust its burning curse down the central walkway of the library. Her ears could hear the muffled cries for mercy and gentleness that fell on the deaf ears of two attackers. Human, male, based on the sound of their muscles and the thoughts in the head she could read as easily as that book earlier.
“Hmm..simple as always.”
Sneering at the light she raised her right hand and brutally snapped her wrist in an arc, out of the darkness molded a double bladed dagger she sent into a spin so rapid it blurred. Her machinations could not go through the light, but humanity in their ignorance tended to never light the wires who fed them their power. Into the ceiling the shadowy dagger chewed as if wood were the thinnest of paper. With a great ZZZZT-KHSH the lights in the library went out..
And oh how great was her smile, framing those eyes who burned with tantalizing desire.
As calmly as before Vex walked into the aisle, and into the aisle over where she saw the mugging. A college student, it seemed, with red hair, freckled face, and glasses, had chosen the wrong time to study at night. Holding a knife to her throat, the burlier of the two men pulled her wallet from her pocket.
“Alright, thanks swe-“
Vex cleared her throat impatiently, and the two whipped around, switchblades now drawn on her. The Wraith had closed her eyes and could barely be seen as a normal, humanoid outline. Mentally, she was giggling so loud she couldn’t even hear the thoughts of the would-be muggers. Aloud the burly one growled,
“Hey!! Stay right there..double payday, or this kid gets it.”
Vex smiled wide and shrugged, her voice playful and teasing.
“Pry it from my corpse, little baby.”
The hooded and masked criminal stepped forward threateningly.
“Say it again! To my face!”
He rushed up right in front of Vex and stopped inches from her face, whose eyes were still hidden. The young and wiry bandit was trying to pull him back, whispering to stay quiet and calm down.
But the deed had been done, and Vex’s emotional manipulation had easily bent this man’s mind to one course.
He struck forth with his switchblade-!
It shattered upon her chest.
In a violent flash her eyes opened and she laughed so hard she nearly fell over. In shock both men yelped at her demonic eyes and began running in the dark, flailing for an exit.
“AHhaHA! No no no! Playtime isn’t over!!”
The darkness around the wily one suddenly solidified into tight chains, crushing him lightly and dragging him screaming away from the door outside. The pitiful whimper annoyed Vex’s ears and a dark tendril shut his mouth with such casual force several of his teeth snapped.
The other didn’t last long either, only he simply tripped over himself in his own terror and right into the sharing embrace of solid darkness that dragged him back to her, airborne.
“Now now now…”
Her voice could only be described as the most sweet of coos,
“You’ve both been..despicable, right?”
She giggled lightly at both their floating bodies and turned them upside down and grinned wickedly at the student, who was paralyzed with fear.
“And she seems so nice. What a shame you chose a target I care to defend, I don’t do it much! Unnnnlucky you..”
Vex flung both of them onto the table she had been studying at and strode to the girl, who immediately fell to her knees and started crying. To her credit, the Wraith was offput. When her mood was protective, the tears of the innocent always felt painful to Vex. She’d cried once too. Long, long, long ago, she knew she did it. Her hand gently reached down and patted the red hair.
“Don’t weep, Angel, it’s alright. I-“
Breaking down into sobs the student asked, begging an answer,
“W-w-wh-what-what are-are y-you?!”
Vex smiled ear to ear and crouched down so she could look eye to eye with the one she saved.
“The same thing you are, only fallen. Long, long, so long ago.”
Her fear was so delicious to the dark hungry shadows of her mind, but Vex tried to not enjoy it too much. She didn’t feel like killing this one too tonight.
“Run along now, and carry some protection, Maeve.”
Confused and terrified the thing knew her name, she sprinted away and out the door to freedom.
Turning back to the two bandits strapped onto the table, that charming, confident smile kept its confidence but abandoned charm in favor of wicked pleasure. She ran her hand along the burly one’s chest.
“Hm, you’re quite a buffoon, but I can admire the rage in your..”
Her hand gripped with enough strength to instantly shatter his ribs and his screams were muffled by the shadowy tendrils holding him down as Vex’s hand began to plunge into his chest, brute force enough to destroy flesh and muscle under its weight as he began to concave inwards.
“Awww, that’s a pretty sound…and poetically ironic, given you made that girl cry in a similar manner.”
The screams turned to bloody gurgles as her hand clamped around his beating heart, and with a vicious tear a fountain of blood exploded into the air, as it did, the crimson turned black, and thick with a horrible cursed ichor from being touched by the Wraith. The body convulsed and trembled as the curse spread throughout every vein and artery that remained, until the flesh had rotted away into a saggy grey skin over bones. Swiping it aside it crunched against the ground as a second Wraith formed out of the shadows along the ground in its place. It was the man, except with his horrible wound and a death mask covering his whole face. Instead of a hoodie and jeans he now wore a tattered medieval cloak and robe that hid his insides from view.
“…..Mistressssssss”
The wiry bandit was sweating bullets and struggling against the chains as he screamed through his shattered teeth. Vex floated upwards, feet trailing down, and her arms spread out wide with palms up like a cursed parody of Jesus, with a playful and cruel smirk.
“Kill your friend, make it entertaining.”
The puppet-wraith’s ghastly head tilted and let out a croaking hiss.
“Yesssssssssss…Misssssssstresssss…”
With the croaking and creaking of bones it stumbled forward and pulled upon what was once his partner in crime. Soon enough his muffled screams too turned to choking gurgles as Vex laughed at the mortal body getting torn apart in front of her. When the last chunk of meat had fallen off the table the Goddess clapped and descended back to the ground lightly.
“Thank you. Kneel.”
She smirked as the thing obeyed without question.
“While you were very fun, I prefer more.. worthy servants. Die, for now.”
“Yessssss Missstressss…Thannnnkkk Youuuuu.”
She shrugged as the soul fell apart and was consumed by the hungry darkness in her heart.
“Now..it would be so rude to leave a mess.”
With the many tendrils of darkness at her bidding they cleaned the scene as best they could, even filling the ink back in with her own ichor before placing the books Maeve had been studying back on the shelf, exactly where they belonged in the organized rows. In a burst of black miasma Vex became one with the Darkness of the world at large, and this library was abandoned and dusty once more.
Thank you so much for reading, or even just scrolling, if you made this far. I’m happy to finally have a place to share my work with the world. I’m very new to real fictional writing and trying my best. As always, criticism and feedback are always appreciated. Thank you again, and until next time: May the stars guide you.
-Eden
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Character inspiration tag
Tagged by @writernopal here, @elshells here and @thewardenofwinter here. Thank you all💜
Leaving this as an open tag - I've got no idea which of you haven't done it yet.
Rules: List your OCs and the characters that inspired them!
But like, all of them!?
I've done this tag before here, listing very early inspirations for the characters, but they have since evolved a lot, so. Here we go, this is more of who they remind me of when I write them now:
Days of Dusk:
Lissan
-d'Artagnan (The Three Musketeers) - at least he starts off this way. Young, a bit too confident, forms fast bonds with new friends.
- Korra (Legend of Korra) - learning about responsibility and consequences, while also wielding all Elements.
- Jed Bartlett (The West Wing) - this is more applicable later on, when Lissan is put in a leadership position. I'm striving to show him as a level-headed force of nature like the President.
Ianim
- Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach) - the younger sibling looking up to the older one, living in their shadow, always feeling like they're not good enough. At the same time, lets their hair loose around their friends, relaxes, and enjoys themselves.
- Renarin Kholin (The Stormlight Archive) - again, the younger prince, overshadowed by his sibling, but also perceived as physically weaker, more melancholic and quieter.
Gullin
- Jadzia Dax (Deep Space 9) - ok, hear me out: flirty✅ smart (and knowledgeable about new developments in science) ✅ will kick your ass ✅
- Gray Fullbuster (Fairy Tail) - snarky, laid back friend who will banter with others, but insanely loyal when things start to heat up. Also, will kick your ass✅
Anthea
- Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist) - a fearsome commander with a distinct presence about her. And also, ice-themed.
- ...? Look, Anthea started off as a 'chessmaster' archetype. I can't think of any other character in particular that can be considered an 'inspiration'.
Erya
- Odoo (Deep Space Nine) - the person in charge of security/peacekeeping force who knows when it's sensible to turn a blind eye. Admittedly, Erya is also willing to break the rules a lot more after duty.
- similarly to Anthea, she's more of an archetype - spymaster
Varré
- Izumi Curtis (Fullmetal Alchemist) - I'm not saying their teaching methods are cruel, but... Izumi is 'just a passing housewife' who taught Ed and Al a lot about alchemy, and acts as a parental figure for them. This is particularly applicable to Varré's relationship with Gullin
- Zahel (The Stormlight Archive) - a swordmaster with a philosopher's streak.
The Truth Teller:
Rilna
- Shallan Davar (The Stormlight Archive) - the person who knows what it means to be hurt, so she chooses kindness. Rilna doesn't have quite as dark a past, but nevertheless it applies.
- Belle (Beauty and the Beast) - bookworm✅ self-sacrificial✅ possesses strength that isn't physical ✅
Sieran
- Joe Blake (The Man in the High Castle) - although no romantic arc is involved, there's a bit of 'a conventionally good looking guy infiltrates a resistance group' going on, though Sieran's motivations are more complicated than Joe's.
Lady Night
- Lord Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Game of Thrones) - manipulator✅ uses brothels to obtain information ✅ politicking✅
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The promised ones – 4. Who The Promised Ones are.
As I told you in the previous post, a few months ago I came up with something more robust as a base from which to explore what I wanted to do with this game –this sort of simple and flexible system that I already created for Summer Myth Hunt (to which, as a side note, I will add a map and a Spanish version in a couple of weeks)– and also I had an idea for a setting and its cosmology as I vaguely sketched on the first post of this game design log.
But with these two things now settled as ground, I still had to answer the question, “What is this game about?”.
Although I had this vague idea of a world scarred by a calamity (where the remnants of it created regions of ever-changing reality) what focused the idea was an experience I had as a player that I found myself falling into every time I designed or thought about games; the archetype of the outsider, the cursed one, the one who has been bestowed by a sign that others look at with a certain wariness, suspicion, and even fear (perhaps having had my first ttrpg experience with VTM is to blame).
In fact, I fall into these themes over and over again, and they are present in both of my games, SMH (Summer Myth Hunt) and The bookworm Circle –one about hunters of the myths created by the imagination of humans who have to be careful of being caught by the human-world, and the other about a group of birds that take human bodies to infiltrate human society and to stop the destruction that humans will cause to their native forest.
But for The promised Ones this idea began to grow from one of the strokes of the setting sketch I already had on my mind; that the remnants created by the calamity were pockets of reality ruled by some kind of being or deity.
From there the train of thought began; what if these beings can give favors? Maybe the PC (player characters) had their favor? No, wait. What if the PC's progenitors took the favor of these beings, and what they gave in return for their gift was their unborn child?
That's how The promised Ones manifest themselves, and what they will do in the game, or in a more precise way, what players will do as promised ones, is what will ultimately answer the question “What is the game about?”.
And this is when setting, characters, and character sheet began to merge, to form new things.
I saw from the character sheet (and its slots to collect things from the world) that PC's could “hunt” for something (as characters in SMH did), and then characters came into play, to show me that this hunting was a task entrusted to them by the being they were promised to, and then setting presented itself, telling me that “this” they are entrusted to hunt is something that was a consequence of the event that created the pockets of realities that these beings govern.
Yes, I know this whole thread is a bit chaotic, but I just wanted to try to convey to you how these ideas became something in my mind and in my notebook, how things blend and stick together to become something new.
But maybe it's better if I show you the first page of the game, so you can all see the result (It's still in the process of finding its right shape, which will probably take a little more time because I want to give this game time to develop on its own, and me to find nooks and crannies and depth within it).
So here it is, the first ideas, maybe the basis of what this game is about. I hope you found something interesting in here, perhaps something that inspires you, or at least makes you want to see what else is in here. In the next post I will show you how the character sheet evolves and what other interesting things I have found along the way exploring how the setting, the character sheet and the character interconnect and enhance each other.
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“I will see you in the stars, Tyler Jones.”
Aurora’s End. And what an end it was.
This has got to be the first book to have me flat out sobbing over a freaking pen. If you know you know. But damn it. That moment had me in tears of joy/heartache/relief. Gah.
Finian is probably my favorite character in the end. His sarcasm, his wit, his confusion about the Hippos. I adore him. Zila is an excellent character too and definitely doesn’t get enough credit.
And this book as a whole was, an emotional journey. And I think it ended pretty damn perfectly. And as Zila says, “I am not feeling nothing.”
I felt each character grew and evolved from the beginning of the series to the end. They were never stagnant and it was a pleasure and a half to read. Each POV voice was so unique.
The plot surprised me, and with every twist and new danger I was captivated and anxious and excited to see where it would lead.
I’ll be honest though, I stopped really caring about Aurora by the end. I cared about her for Kal’s sake, but otherwise she was just…too…hmm…power-flated? I dunno. But here were six other characters to care about and I didn’t feel much for her.
This series has definitely become one of my favorites and I can’t recommend it enough. If you enjoy Sci-Fi, strong characters, and a well formed plot that may or may not involve time travel, read this trilogy. You won’t regret it.
🏷 #auroracycle #aurorasend #favoritebooks #bookreview #bookthoughts #bookworm #fivestarreads #readingrecommendations #scifibooks #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks
#bookish thoughts#books & libraries#booklr#book thoughts#bookish#fiction#bookstagram#book quotes#amreading#bookish quotes#auroras end#aurora cycle#finian de karran de seel#five star reads#book reviews#book review#books and coffee#rainy reviews
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Embarking on a Literary Odyssey: A Guide on How to Become a Bookworm
Becoming a bookworm is not merely about reading; it's a transformative journey into the vast and enchanting world of literature. Whether you're a novice reader or looking to reignite your passion for books, this guide provides practical insights and tips on how to become a bona fide bookworm.
Cultivate a Reading Habit
The foundation of becoming a bookworm lies in cultivating a consistent reading habit. Start small, dedicating a specific time each day to reading. Gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable. By making reading a routine, you'll find it becomes a natural and enjoyable part of your day.
Set Realistic Reading Goals
Establishing achievable reading goals is crucial to your bookworm journey. Consider setting both short-term and long-term goals, such as finishing a certain number of books per month or exploring a specific genre. These goals provide direction and motivation, turning your reading habit into a purposeful endeavor.
Create a Comfortable Reading Space
Designate a cozy reading nook where you can immerse yourself in books without distractions. Ensure good lighting and comfortable seating to enhance your reading experience. A personalized reading space sets the stage for a focused and enjoyable journey through the pages of your chosen books.
Diversify Your Reading List
A true bookworm embraces diversity in reading. Explore various genres, authors, and literary forms to broaden your literary horizons. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone; you might discover unexpected gems in genres you haven't explored before.
Join a Book Club or Online Reading Community
Engaging with fellow readers provides a sense of community and enriches your reading experience. Joining a book club or participating in online reading communities allows you to share thoughts, recommendations, and insights with like-minded individuals. The exchange of ideas enhances your understanding of books and exposes you to diverse perspectives.
To join Bookworm Bangladesh, Connect with fellow bibliophiles, share your favorite reads, and discover new literary treasures. Join us on a literary journey, fostering a vibrant community of book enthusiasts in Bangladesh. Embrace the joy of reading with Bookworm Bangladesh!
Keep a Reading Journal
Maintain a reading journal to document your literary journey. Record your thoughts, reflections, and favorite quotes from each book. A reading journal serves as a personal archive, enabling you to track your progress, revisit cherished moments in literature, and gain a deeper understanding of your evolving reading tastes.
Limit Screen Time
In the digital age, it's easy to succumb to the allure of screens, diverting attention from the pages of a book. To become a dedicated bookworm, establish designated periods free from electronic devices. Disconnecting from screens allows you to fully engage with the written word and fosters a deeper connection to the narrative.
Utilize Audiobooks and E-books
Embrace the versatility of audiobooks and e-books, especially during hectic periods. Incorporate these formats into your routine, such as listening to audiobooks during commutes or enjoying e-books on electronic devices. This flexibility ensures that you can continue your literary exploration even when traditional reading might be challenging.
Visit Libraries and Bookstores
Immerse yourself in the tangible allure of physical books by frequenting libraries and bookstores. The scent of books, the sight of shelves lined with literary treasures, and the opportunity to browse without a specific agenda contribute to the joy of being a bookworm. Explore different sections and allow serendipity to guide your book choices.
Prioritize Self-Care Through Reading
View reading as an act of self-care. Dedicate time for reading as a form of relaxation and rejuvenation. Whether it's escaping into a fictional world or delving into informative non-fiction, prioritize your mental well-being by carving out moments for reading amidst the demands of daily life.
Embrace the Joy of Rereading
Revisit cherished books from your past and embrace the joy of rereading. Each encounter with a well-loved book offers new insights and perspectives. The familiarity of a beloved story provides comfort and adds depth to your understanding of the narrative.
Share Your Passion for Reading
Becoming a bookworm is a fulfilling journey that can be enhanced by sharing your passion with others. Recommend books to friends and family, engage in conversations about literature, and consider starting a book club. Sharing the joy of reading not only enriches your own experience but also fosters a culture of appreciation for books.
Stay Open-Minded and Curious
A bookworm is inherently curious, always seeking new knowledge and perspectives. Cultivate an open mind as you encounter diverse genres, authors, and themes. Embrace the uncertainty of where your literary journey might lead, and allow each book to be a stepping stone to the next captivating adventure.
Conclusion
Becoming a bookworm is a personal and enriching journey that transcends the act of reading. It involves creating a dedicated space for literature in your life, setting goals, and embracing the diverse worlds that books offer. By cultivating a reading habit, joining communities, and staying open-minded, you embark on a literary odyssey that brings joy, knowledge, and a profound connection to the written word. The world of books awaits—immerse yourself and let the transformative power of literature unfold.
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Unlocking Tiny Tongues: Engaging Exercises to Supercharge Your Baby's Speech Development
The gurgle, the coo, the infectious giggle – your baby's early vocalizations are pure musical magic. But as weeks turn into months, the yearning for more than just adorable murmurs sets in. Every parent eagerly awaits the moment their little one's babbles transform into meaningful words, the first stepping stone on the exciting journey of communication. While every child develops at their own pace, exercises to help baby talk can sprinkle a little linguistic enchantment on this fascinating process.
Sing Along, Talk Along, Play Along: Nursery rhymes and simple songs are more than just catchy tunes; they're potent exercises to help baby talk. The rhythmic patterns and repetitive verses expose your baby to the music of language, priming their ears for speech sounds and syllable structure. Sing with gusto, exaggerate your mouth movements, and watch as your tiny mimic gets captivated by the vocal ballet. Remember, every "baa baa black sheep" and "twinkle, twinkle little star" is paving the way for future conversations.
The Power of Play: Turn playtime into a language laboratory! Narrate your actions while building blocks, naming each piece as you stack them. Describe the colors and textures of toys as you explore them together. Engage in peek-a-boo, using animated voices and exaggerated expressions to elicit those delightful squeals. Remember, babies learn through interaction. Every playful exchange is an exercises to help baby talk in disguise.
Bookworms in the Making: Board books bursting with vibrant pictures and simple stories are your baby's first literary playgrounds. Point to familiar objects, animals, and people on the pages, labeling them clearly. Read with enthusiasm, varying your intonation to keep your little listener engaged. Encourage babbling responses, playfully echoing their sounds and building on them. Soon, those babbles will transform into hesitant "da-da"s and "ma-ma"s, the first brushstrokes in their own storytelling adventures.
Question Time: Curiosity fuels communication. Spark it by asking simple, open-ended questions. Point to a toy and ask, "Do you want to play with the ball?" or "Where's the teddy bear?" Don't be discouraged by the lack of verbal responses yet. Your baby's babbles, gestures, and attentive gaze are all forms of communication. Every question prompts them to think, connect, and eventually, respond. Remember, these silent exchanges are potent exercises to help baby talk bloom.
Mimic, Mirror, Marvel: Babies are adept imitators. Become their vocal chameleon! Mimic their babbles, adding simple words like "Yes, you said baba!" or "That's a big woof!" This playful mirroring validates their efforts and encourages further vocalizations. Make funny faces, stick out your tongue, and watch them copy you with glee. Every giggle and gurgle is a celebration of connection, paving the way for future language acquisition.
Beyond Babbles: Advanced Exercises to Ignite Your Baby's Inner Chatty Cathy
We've laid the groundwork with playful sing-alongs, board book adventures, and peek-a-boo pandemonium. But as your little chatterbox graduates from basic babbles to budding sentences, it's time to up the language learning ante! Here are some advanced exercises to help baby talk evolve into meaningful conversations:
Label the Parade: Turn your daily routine into a whirlwind of wordplay! While changing diapers, name each item you use – "Here's the squishy wipe, now for the comfy onesie!" During mealtimes, describe the textures and flavors – "Mmm, the broccoli is crunchy, and the applesauce is sweet!" Every labeled object, every described sensation, is another brick in your baby's vocabulary castle.
Action, Reaction!: Babies are action heroes in training. Turn their everyday movements into mini-narratives. As they crawl, say, "Look at you go, little explorer!" When they reach for a toy, exclaim, "Aha, you spotted the red truck!" By mirroring their actions with words, you're weaving a tapestry of cause and effect, helping them grasp the relationship between language and experience.
Question Master: Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it fuels language development! Instead of simply naming objects, pose open-ended questions. "What's that furry thing? Is it a dog or a cat?" or "What color is the flower? Red, yellow, or blue?" Every unanswered question plants a seed of thinking, encouraging your baby to formulate their own responses, verbal or non-verbal.
Story Spinners: Bedtime stories aren't just for lullabies; they're interactive language playgrounds! Pause in the narrative and ask simple questions – "What do you think the bunny will do next?" or "Should we help the lost kitten find its way home?" Encourage your baby to chime in with gestures, sounds, or even their own made-up words. Remember, every improvised plot twist is a linguistic adventure!
Puppet Power: Sock puppets, finger puppets, even stuffed animals – unleash the puppet posse! Let these furry (or feathery) friends become your co-stars in impromptu puppet shows. Have them ask your baby questions, sing silly songs, or even engage in mini-arguments. The element of play and the change in voice will captivate your little one, drawing them deeper into the world of conversation.
Remember: Patience is the golden key. Celebrate every milestone, however small. Avoid pressuring your baby or comparing their progress to others. The journey of speech is unique for each child. Embrace the giggles, the babbles, and the messy explorations. With a sprinkle of love, a dash of play, and these playful exercises to help baby talk, you'll be witnessing the wondrous emergence of communication in your little one before you know it.
Bonus Tip: Don't forget the power of real conversations! Talk to your baby about your day, your plans, even the weather. Narrate your chores, describe what you see on walks, sing along to the radio. Even if they don't fully understand yet, your voice is a constant comfort and a steady stream of language input. Every word you speak is a seed planted in their fertile linguistic garden, waiting to blossom in due time.
So, put on your playful hat, stock up on board books, and let the language games begin! Remember, every giggle, every coo, every babble is a step towards that first "mama" or "dada." With a little encouragement and these fun exercises to help baby talk, you'll be cheering on your little linguist as they unlock the magic of communication, one syllable at a time.
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That Time When Printing Press Was Invented
Blog II: Appreciation of Print Publishing
A creative human can immortalize anything and it is indeed a blessing once the art is made as it saves and keeps the whole humanity sane. But the question here is, how can someone preserve the art’s original form that can last for centuries? Keep it hidden somewhere? Write it on a piece of paper? Surely, one’s handwriting can fade and break in the next few years. Or perhaps, carved it on caves and stones? However, an out of date practice will not be an effective solution since we’re already in an era where technology is the lifeline of many. So again, how can humans conserve their precious arts in the easiest way possible?
To our luck and with technology by our side, print publishing was invented. While ancient civilizations grew, humans' way of life evolved as well, resulting in the numerous machines to be created such as Johann Gutenberg’s printing press. This printing press triggered the development of publishing and because of it, the dissemination of knowledge, literacy, and discoveries became much easier. Through this printing press, information about everything quickly spread, it reached a wider audience that made individuals become more intellectual and wiser which helped societies improve and flourished. From hand-written religious manuscripts to printing machines, it certainly contributed to what the world is right now. Imagine a world without books that contains the knowledge we have, do you think we are what we are right now? Wouldn’t that leave us all in misery?
Luckily, books were published and the world of academia expanded dramatically; people got an easier access to education which also bridges the gap between rich and poor since they have the equal chance to learn something from the books they can have once they enter schools or universities. However, discrimination and unfair treatment are still observed even in today’s modern society. Going back to the main topic, print publishing didn’t just grant the public the education they need but it also provided them entertainment and this is where fashion, fictional novels, non-fiction books, and news enters the scene.
First and foremost, print publishing gave many creatives a chance to showcase their talents, practice their creativity, and most importantly bring their arts to life while being able to pay their bills and put food on their tables. But of course, there is no such thing as “easy” in this world. Artists, writers, and other creatives have to put all their best into a single page of a book, magazine, newspaper, etc. For some people, it may come off as a “simple single page” but for them, it is a single page of their blood, sweat, and tears as they went into a difficult process of brainstorming, conceptualizing, editing, and printing before the public consumes it. As someone who is into reading and writing - a bookworm and a writer, I can attest how necessary print publishing is as well as the people who are working behind the scenes because without books, I am not what I am right now.
08/30/23
written by: Pamela Abegail
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Discover the Best iPhone Apps for a Seamless Mobile Experience:
In the modern digital landscape, the iPhone has evolved from a communication device to an essential tool that empowers users to accomplish a wide array of tasks. With the App Store boasting over 2 million apps, finding the right ones to enhance productivity, creativity, and entertainment can be overwhelming. This article aims to highlight a selection of iPhone apps that offer valuable functionality and contribute to a well-rounded and enjoyable mobile experience.
Microsoft Office Suite (Productivity):
For those who require document editing on the go, the Microsoft Office Suite provides mobile versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Seamless integration with cloud services ensures you can work on important projects no matter where you are.
Google Photos (Photography):
Google Photos offers unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos. Its smart search features and automatic organization make it easy to find and cherish your precious memories.
Spotify (Music): Spotify is a music streaming app that provides access to a vast library of songs, playlists, and podcasts. Its personalized recommendations ensure you never run out of tunes to enjoy.
Pocket (Reading): Pocket lets you save articles, videos, and web pages to read or watch later. It's a fantastic tool for curating content that piques your interest.
Uber or Lyft (Travel): For seamless transportation, ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft provide a convenient and efficient way to get around in unfamiliar places.
MyFitnessPal (Health & Fitness): MyFitnessPal helps users track their diet, exercise, and overall health goals. Its barcode scanner and extensive food database simplify the process of monitoring your nutrition.
Waze (Navigation): Waze offers real-time traffic updates and navigation, helping you navigate through busy streets and find the fastest routes to your destination.
TikTok (Entertainment): TikTok has taken the world by storm, offering short-form videos that entertain and engage users with a wide variety of content.
Kindle (Reading): For bookworms, the Kindle app provides access to a vast library of e-books. Its customizable reading settings make it easy to read comfortably for hours.
WhatsApp (Communication): WhatsApp offers free text, voice, and video messaging, making it a popular choice for staying in touch with friends and family around the world.
In conclusion, the iPhone's app ecosystem provides a diverse range of tools and entertainment options to enhance various aspects of your life. Whether you're looking to boost productivity, foster creativity, or simply have fun, there's an app for you. The apps mentioned above are just a starting point; explore the App Store to discover even more gems that align with your interests and needs.
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How does jewelry affect consumerism in society?
Did you know? Since prehistoric times, jewelry was made from shells, stone and bones. This was used as a mark of status or rank; it was also worn as protection from the dangers of life. The most metal used was gold, it was buried with the dead to accompany its owner into the afterlife.
Jewelry has evolved from medieval jewelry (1200-1500) where the jewelry was sorn reflecting an intensely hierarchical and status-conscious society. The metals that were wore the most were gold, silver and precious gems wore by the royalty and nobility. Lower ranks of society wore base metals, like cooper or pewter.
Renaissance jewelry became important in the religion as earthly power and as a display of political strength. Some types of stones were thought to protect against ailments or threats, ranging from toothache to the evil eye, as well as encourage or banish bravery or melancholy. During 17th century to the 18th century, diamonds started to dominate jewelry designs. During the 19th century, the most used design in jewelry were flowers, used to express love and friendship, and foliage, becoming very popular during most of this period.
During the past years, jewelry has undergone big changes in form and techniques, currently the jewelry is fashionable to mix metals, wear different styles of jewelry through the ages together, as well as to wear ancient pieces for protection, spirituality and symbolic meaning as a form of adornment, but how does jewelry affect consumerism in society? Currently, society has been depending on obtaining consumer goods and material possessions to be happy and well-being, this is known as consumerism.
Since the Mediterranean jewelry is used as a rank of status and being precious, society buys it for so many reasons, being a gift the most common reason. Society buys jewelry as an act of consumerism that is costumed as a social pressure.
★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*:★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆
Why is jewelry important in society?
Jewelry is important in society because it enhances natural beauty, makes you feel confident and happy. How many times have you thought that your outfit was boring and then decided to ✨spice it up✨ adding some jewelry and then you realize that it was so much better with those accessories?
I own a lot of rings because of personal value, however, before having a personal value, they once were obtained because of consumerism. I inherited most of my grandmother's jewelry and my mom’s as well. Some jewels that my grandmother and my mother had were jewels that were given to them by suitors or by my father and my grandfather and over time they stopped using them and now they are mine.
When giving a gift, it is almost always jewelry because it is expensive and beautiful, it is also a gift that lasts over time, but hey, *whispering* can I tell you secret? I think that giving jewelry is also the "safe option", but I will talk about it later on. *back to normal* but jewelry it is also easy to show off, and if we all are really honest, I think we all like to show off sometimes and feeling fabulous with whatever new piece of jewelry was given to us, or any gift in general.
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Why do people buy jewelry?
Have you ever seen those TikTok videos were there is this lady that is super fan of Hello Kitty and just buys all the merch, accessories and even toys of Hello Kitty and Friends that she finds in stores? And not just this lady, there are people who are super fans of Anime and buys all the collector's editions of action figures that they can find, or bookworms who buys several copies of the same book just because it has different covers or different bonus chapters depending on the store you are buying it.
None of this is necessary but it is consumerism and it is the same with every material thing on this planet. Just as we already establish, people buys jewelry because of elegance or fashion, wealth or opulence, social status, self-expression, wealth security, religion, etc.
But, did you know that between men and women, about 51% of women buy their own jewelry? It makes sense if we think about it.
Between men and women, the woman has always had this appearance of delicacy and being beautiful, wearing some accessories would only increase that appearance and that had been happing since the medieval era.
However, men also buys jewelry, but, unlike women, men buys jewelry to give as an act of appreciation to the other person, with the goal that the other person remembers their special someone with the gift of jewelry.
This does not take away from the fact that women buy much more jewelry than men, however, women only buy jewelry because they like it and it is an expense that they can afford, however, it is not necessary in their daily lives. *cof cof consumerism cof cof*
Did you know that there is a word for people addicted to jewelry? They are called gemmaphile and I have to admit, I am one of them.
★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*:★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆
Consumerism in society – How does the advertising jewelry affects consumers?
Advertising jewelry affects consumers by raising consumption aspirations and stimulating desires that are not feasible. In the jewelry business, jewelry is a “want” not a “need.”
Some jewelry companies use famous celebrities to promote the jewels, this way, people would buy more. Also, companies use beautiful hand models so that the jewelry can shimmer with the hands and look better and beautiful so people feel the desire to buy them so their hands can look the same.
Did you know? The most famous jewelry store in the actuality is Tiffany & Co. founded in 1873, giving all the purchases on a blue box also referred to as “robin’s-egg blue” or “forget-me-not blue”, this color was chosen because of the popularity of the turquoise gemstone in 19th-century jewelry.
An example of an advertisement that affects consumers is by this jewelry store.
Making commercials and banners, they use a black and white background with the model in it where she seems happy and enthusiastic, and the jewel they are promoting is the only thing that is shown in color. This way, they make the jewel dazzle in contrast to the background waking a desire in people to buy the jewel so they can feel as beautiful and enthusiastic as the model.
★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*:★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆
Social pressure in giving jewelry.
People often give gifts to re-confirm or establish the connection with others and giving jewelry makes people feel beautiful, important and desired. Giving jewelry as a gift in important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc., will create a personal value in the jewel. For example, when proposing, it is a tradition that the fiancé must give a ring to the fiancée as a symbol/promise of a future together.
It is not something new that the fiancé tries to find the “perfect” ring for his special one, however, there is no such thing as “the perfect ring”, because of this, a social pressure is created before he can even propose, because he will try to find the “perfect” ring, even though he does not need to, but because is a tradition, he feels the social pressure of doing it.
With jewelry you can express your feelings and your identity, when gifting a jewel, it can symbolize the love and affection you have for the person. However, because this had been happened for long time, I would consider it a tradition, because people can not think of any other present when it comes to sharing their feelings or trying to say how they feel about that person.
*whispering* psss, remember my secret? Time to talk about it...
Giving jewelry has also become the “safe option” for gifts. Regardless of the gift at all, society has put pressure on giving gifts to people even when they do not need it, and without any ideas, the easiest option would be jewelry.
★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*:★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆。.:*★。、:*:。.:*:・’゜☆
A gemmaphile says goodbye
My journey comes to an end and I would like to say something; Society buys jewelry as an act of consumerism that is costumed as a social pressure. Because jewelry is beautiful, elegant and fashion, it has been used as so many things throughout the years. It has been used as a type of currency, which is still used in some religions. However, between men and women, women buy more jewelries for themselves while men buy it as a gift. This unnecessary expense is the result of advertisement and social pressure in order to increase the consumption in the society.
Advertisement of jewelry almost always use a woman as their model, this is because jewelry companies know that the percentage of women who buy jewelry for themselves is higher than the percentage of men, therefore, when putting a female model in the commercial, women feel the "need" to buy that jewel to look as happy as the model, making these an expense based more on "want" and not on "need." On the other hand, when giving gifts, jewelry has become the “safe option”, but giving jewelry has not only been a tradition for a long time, but now instead of being something with personal value, most of the time it is the response to the social pressure that society feels for having to give a gift. Therefore, jewelry is a safe option that is given as a result of social pressure and consumerism in today’s society.
#jewelry#rings#history#giftsforalloccasions#bracelet#jewellery#tiffany and co#diamond#consumerism#advertising
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Topic: Analytical skill
One of the most required 21st century skills, Decision making skill. It is very necessarily required for leaders, policy makers and stake holders of any kind.
This decision making skill is important, because choices are placed in front of us, varied solutions are available for a single problem. Still we have to choose right choice on right time. If it is failed, total system is failed.
Analytical skill is source of developing decision making skill. Now, What is analytical skill? Is it required at school level, if so, How? How to use it? And finally how to develop it?
All of us are using this skill in our day today situations. But we are not aware of it as how did we use.
We must aware, Research is an analytical skill, Communication is an analytical skill, Creating new things or ways - An analytical skill, Organising is an analytical skill, Developing is an analytical skill, Critical thinking is an analytical skill, Having data and analysing it also an analytical skill.
These are some types of Analytical skills.
Remember: Wrong decision on right time or Right decision on wrong time is source of all kind of pollution. Therefore polluted minded persons are out of this skill. As an example drink and drive drivers cannot take right decision.
• Some examples of good analytical skills:
Here are a few examples of analytical skills and their applications in the work environment.
1. Programming: Code programs to find expected output.
2. Reporting: Writing the report for an event with effectiveness
3. Process: Creating a workflow or a procedure to carry out a process.
4. Collecting: Information collection and extract required data from it to solve that problem.
5. Problem handling: In the field of education - Handling classes, Managing teachers, Understanding parents, Cooperating with school management......
• How do you identify an analytically strong person?
1. Raise questions:
An analytical person always starts with interrogations before brainstorming the answers. This goes with the famous saying, “it’s better to judge a man with his questions than his answers.”
2. Are liable to context:
On that note, analytic decision-makers can consider the proof in the surroundings at hand. They can assess and separate critical facts.
3. Do not rely on evidence alone
Facts and pieces of evidence may take you to accurate solutions. But these alone do not gain people’s trust. So analytically strong people incorporate their communication and collaborative skills to make a strong picture of their ideas.
4. Enjoy challenges
Analytical people enjoy constructive debates and challenges. They believe that true innovation lies between inside-out and outside approach.
5. No concept of failure
Great leaders and overnight success share one common attribute. They never stopped trying, regardless of the number of times they failed. According to them, there is always learning from good and bad results. The meaning of success according to them is “Rethinking.”
6. You evolve as a person every single day.
Analytical thinkers wake up every day, excited to have every other probability to sharpen their wondering ability. They cause aside from the shackles of their ego and wear an outfit of modesty because they are aware of they still have a lot to learn.
7. You are fascinated by how matters work.
Analyzers have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Their pals may accuse them of being bookworms, information junkies, or academic addicts; but they’re ok with that because they wouldn’t exchange their childlike curiosity for whatever in the world.
• How to develop/improve analytical skill...
Proven ways to improve analytical skills
Like any other skill, analytical skills are inborn. But not innate to everybody. To gain skills, you must have a strong sense of drive, interest, and perseverance.
Forming analytical skills requires consistency and application. So here are some simple but helpful ways to improve analytical skills.
1. Always ask questions
Asking questions will help you develop your retention, memory, and problem-solving skills related to a subject.
2. Think before you decide
Before making decisions, make sure you rationalize your views.
Analyze the pros and cons of the decision.
Asking for an expert opinion and carrying out researches will bring you clarity.
Learning from day-to-day experiences and applying them to problems will improve analytical skills.
3. Brain games to improve analytical skills
Starting with simple brain games like chess, Sudoku, Crosswords will help to think better. So games can add fun and improve analytical skills.
4. Reading Books
Books are the powerhouses of knowledge. Reading books can also improve analytical skills by keeping your mind active.
Active reading involves reading aloud, raising questions on the related subject, and highlighting useful information.
Reading with engagement and concentration will help you improve analytical skills.
5. Learn to observe
Find your interests. Observing people around will help you understand their situations, and therefore you become a better analyzer.
6. Solving math problems
Working out math problems is the most common way to improve analytical skills. Problems based on algebra, long division, and calculus help you develop reasoning skills and therefore improve analytical skills too.
These problems are structured in a way that we are given information, and we ought to use that information or formula to solve those problems.
7. Subscribe to useful knowledge bases
The more you gain knowledge, the more you get to know the world. There are many media to gain knowledge.
Magazines and newspapers are packed with world news. Free educational classes, lectures, conferences, and academic talks help you to improve analytical skills.
8. Make connections
Everything around us is connected, and it’s necessary to understand the connection between plants, animals, food sources. This makes up our food chain. Discovering connections help to develop and improve analytical skills.
9. Be open to new responsibilities
Applying your analytical skills by taking new responsibilities in your academic, professional, and personal life will improve your analytical skills further. In your professional life, applying for more challenging positions will help you sharpen the skills you gained.
10. Be a leader
Helping others to gain kills will increase your confidence. Being a mentor gives you a chance to share your experiences and gives exposure to new and better strategies.
Working with a team improves analytical skills, communication, and collaborative skills.
11. Physical activities
Exercising can be a useful aid in the development of your analytical questioning skills.
12. Journaling
Journalism helps you reflect on your day–it forces you to analyze your movements and research from any triumphs or mistakes.
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My new Kindle has shipped!!
***happy dance***
#Kindle#kindle paperwhite#books#bibliophilia#yes I know I'm a nerd#shut up#bookdragon#it's the evolved form of bookworm
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Hi! I'm sorry to bother you, but I have a question: could you write a fanfic about Elorcan, in which Lorcan finds out he's a father for the first time? Ps: I really like your writings! Have a good day! ♥️
sorry this is on the shorter side, i hope you like it nonetheless!!
A New Chapter
WORD COUNT: 737
SUMMARY: Elide wakes to Lorcan smelling her and checking if she's well. When she realises he's getting closer and closer to figuring out her secret, she decides it's finally time to share her news.
Elide awoke that morning with her husband beneath the covers, his nose travelling along her bare leg. In other situations, this could have been a pleasuring motion, his lips pressing delicate kisses against her sensitive otherwise untouched skin, making his way to her inner thigh and further. But this, oddly, was not that.
"Lorcan?" she chuckled, sitting up on her elbows and watching with utmost amusement as his head popped up beside her, "What exactly are you doing?"
Instead of answering, he just tilted his head, narrowing his eyes at her as his hands came to rest on her cheeks, the back of his palm then pushing against her forehead. "Are you well?" he asked with every ounce of suspicion.
She laughed, unable to stop her smile as she took his hands in hers ad squeezed them, "Yes, baby. Perfectly well. Though I'm rather confused right now, Lord Lorcan Lochan."
He rolled his eyes but settled against her happily, his head on her bare breast as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You smell funny," he grumbled, "I was wondering if you were sick or something."
"Not sick, baby. I'm fine really, I haven't been happier in a while honestly," she replied, running a hand through his hair. Unknown to her husband, she slipped her other hand beneath the covers, resting it on the slight swell only she knew about. She had been dropping hints for days and still nothing, her mate was nothing if not oblivious. She had never called him baby so many times and the fool still hadn't picked up on it. That loveable idiot.
He slipped a hand around her hip, almost brushing her hand where it rested on her tummy, "Maybe it's your cycle, you're late aren't you?"
She froze, praying he wouldn't realise like this, "Uh, yeah. But I've always been a little irregular, you know that."
He just hummed, nodding slowly and turning his mouth to her when she brushed a kiss to his lips. It was now or never. Feeling the spring breeze on her bare skin, she slipped out from under the cover, standing from the bed and turning to her husband. The slight curve of her stomach was clear, but it could easily be mistaken for bloat, especially during her time of the month or after she'd eaten. Lorcan didn't even blink at the gentle roundness of her, more intrigued by other aspects of her body. A pink blush grew on her cheeks as she stood naked before him, taking his hand and pulling him into a sitting position.
"El?" he asked confusingly, "Come back to bed, what are you doing?"
"I wanted to introduce you to someone," she whispered, hands shaking at her sides. Slowly, so painfully slowly, she brought them to her navel, swivelling on her heels so she was stood to the side, proudly showing the growing babe inside her.
His jaw dropped open as he stood, moving toward her and placing a hand over her own. His eyes were wide with disbelief. Dropping to his knees, he brushed his nose against her stomach, deeply inhaling as tears scattered his cheeks. She knew what he was smelling on her now.
Reaching to touch his face, she lifted his chin so his eyes were meeting her own, "Meet Lord Cal Lochan. I have a pretty strong feeling that's him in there."
After pressing a kiss to her stomach, Lorcan was rising on his feet, lifting Elide from her own and holding her so tightly against him. Her legs came up to wrap around his hips, connecting against his back as her hands hooked securely around his neck. She could feel his tears, cold and forthcoming, against her shoulder as he hid his face. His hands were shaking where they rested on her back, legs slowly moving as he sat back down against the bed, her in his lap.
"Baby, look at me," she sniffed, her own tears stinging against her eyes.
He looked up, his mouth barely forming the word, "Baby."
She could only nod, a grin aching her jaw as Lorcan's wet face pressed into her neck, her hands rubbing up and down his muscular back. This was the start of a whole new chapter; their family was growing, a baby was on its way, a possible new Lord of Perranth. Their first child, and a whole new book of memories to make.
* * *
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#my writing#writing#fanfic#fanfiction#ask#prompt#request#sjm#sarah j maas#tog#throne of glass#elorcan#elide x lorcan#elide lochan#lorcan salvaterre#elorcan fic#elorcan baby#elorcan fluff#elorcan au
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