#like what fucking adjectives they would have been using etc etc

[acheronist]

original seaman's papers scan i found -> zoom in on the description info -> after i stared at it for hours trying to read the incredibly faded + loopy script.

@bridglars 🤝 insane people alert

#which i think he would have been 36 in 1848. so i presume this paper is probably from when he first enlisted or joined up or whatever #and he was just keeping all his official papers folded together in his wallet forever so he didnt lose anything #also for the record i'm pretty sure 'sallow' isn't correct but i don't know enough about which terms to describe complexion were popular #amongst circa 1820s british navy papers #like what fucking adjectives they would have been using etc etc #so if anyones more familiar w that feel free to lmk your thoughts i guess #but if he was pale and exhausted (as white british victorian dudes generally tended to be) then 'sallow' makes sense to me at least #but the W also looks like it could be a G #like complexion: Sall_gh_ #but idk what the fuck word that could be #'sallough'

[bakubunny]

praise kink dialogue

here’s a list of various phrases i’ve found and reference often split into praises and what I would consider encouragements. i keep them together for ease of use. i’ve also broken down my process a little bit below that. these have been accumulated over time (and too much time reading through r/bdsmadvice). many are fem! gendered because that’s what i write most often, but that’s easy to change.

praise

“Good girl.”/“good fucking girl.”

“You sound so pretty when you cum.”

“I adore your obedience.”

“You make me so proud.”

“I’m so proud of you.”/“proud of you for taking my cock so well/(insert action.)”

“You’re a pleasure to use.”

“You know how to make your [dom title] feel so good.”

“You’re so beautiful when you struggle for me” (or pick an action)

“You’re the most valuable thing I own.”

"You open up so nicely for me."

“Quiet my love, I want to hear how wet you are for me, it’s intoxicating.”

“That never gets old, baby/(nickname).”

“Trying to buck up, kitten? Okay, baby. Take the reins.”

“You know just how to please me.”

“You love being a good (nickname/title) for me/(dom title), don’t you?”

"Those are such pretty sounds/I love hearing your voice."

"You're such a polite slut when I [whatever feels so good she stops bratting]."

"It makes me smile when you drip like this before I've even touched you."

"You look so silly and cute squirming like that."

“Such a good little listener.”

“You’re so smart.”/“That’s my smart (nickname).”

“There she is.”

“I love it when you cum for me/(insert action).”

"I think if you beg a little more sweetly, I might be convinced." (This one presents an opportunity for bratting so caveat orator)

"I'm sure you can get out of that restraint; such a big strong little toy."

"What you're doing with your [hips/eyes/voice/whatever] is so deliciously slutty."

“I love the way you look when you’re on your knees.”

“You’re the best good girl.”

“I love the effect I have on you.”

“I’ve been waiting all day to put my cock in you.”

“You’re a treasure.”

“You look absolutely perfect, all for me.”

“Look at you. Such a good little/pretty little (insert title or whatever).”

“You’ve waited so patiently.”

“You look so precious/(insert adjective) when you’re needy.”

“I love how eager you are.”

“You’re so good to let me take what i want from you/(insert action).”

“How could I say no when you asked so nicely?”/“How could I say no to my sweet girl?”

“Fuck, you’re so tight/big/wet/hard/etc.”

“That’s my girl”/“Atta girl”

“That feels nice, baby? Good. You deserve it.”

encouragement

“That’s it, just let go. Let yourself feel good, (nickname).”

“Good girls/boys don’t cum. Can you be a good girl/boy for me? I know you can do it.”

“You’re safe with me.”

“Say it/Do it. [dom name or title] wants to hear/see you.”

“Try again.”

“Ask for/tell me what you want.”

“Come on, you can do it.”

“Don’t be shy.”

“Use your words.”

on degradation: it’s also pretty easy to take a praise and make it humiliating or degrading if that’s what you’re going for. adding a degrading nickname/title is the most obvious way to do it, but some of my favorite ways are more subtle. using a condescending tone of voice, an aptly timed praise when the receiver is doing something gross/typically seen as humiliating or degrading, etc.

don’t like how something is worded? take it apart and rephrase it the way your character might say it.

phrase i found:

“Quiet my love, I want to hear how wet you are for me, it’s intoxicating.”

used for different characters or whatever:

bakugo: “shut your fuckin’ mouth, wanna hear how wet you are for me. ‘s perfect, princess.”

kirishima: “be quiet angel, you sound so pretty and i wanna hear it. fuck, you’re so wet, baby. i can’t get enough of you.”

aizawa: “hush, sweetheart. let me hear your pretty little pussy. it’s fucking intoxicating.”

daddy kink: “shh, shh. quiet, sweet pea. i want to hear how wet you are for me… it’s such a pretty sound.”

praise & degradation: “shut the fuck up. let me hear how much your pussy loves it when i use you. that’s a good whore, listen to how wet you are. such a nasty slut, getting off on this.”

etc. etc. etc.

i hope this is helpful for some of you! i threw this together pretty quickly, so if there are any really good ones i missed, feel free to add them.

tagging @dcsiremc because you were interested in seeing this <3

#bnha #mha #boku no hero academia #praise #dialogue inspiration #resources #millennialmagicalgirl #smut #smut resources #writing resources #fic resources

[flymmsy]

I'll send you a whole bunch of numbers for the meme at once so I don't have to keep scrolling the list on mobile haha - 11, 21, 56 and 59. Ideally for Lyra AND Gortash, but if one of them isn't keen to answer, that's fair. Or if you want to answer for default Durge! But I do love Lyra!

Aww thank you for the Lyra love, as always!!! I'll answer for her after Gort :)

→ Gortash

11. How would they describe their sexuality using only adjectives (describing words–busy, fluffy, squishy, etc.) The phrasing of this question is so interesting because it’s how GORTASH would describe it himself hmmm. I think he’d say useful, selective, and when describing it to someone he needs something from - very enjoyable. 21. Are they happy with their body? Answered here! 56. Do they find it easier to orgasm with another person, or through masturbation? Definitely through masturbation. He’s very guarded, so being on his own would allow him to feel more relaxed and therefore be more successful. I think he’s fairly successful with others but I definitely think he could struggle to either orgasm or get hard in certain scenarios. (If he had - or has if you’d like - a cunt, he’d be the KING of faking it.) 59. What’s the best orgasm they’ve ever had? Fighting The Breeding Urge in this answer but I actually think it would be the first time Durge blows him. It’s way before they establish any kind of trust, and it’s definitely right after Durge has eviscerated someone. His life is in SO MUCH danger and his cock is in EVEN MORE danger and he is SO FUCKING INTO IT that he practically blacks out.

→ Lyra (My Durge)

11. How would they describe their sexuality using only adjectives (describing words–busy, fluffy, squishy, etc.) Messy, violent, and dangerous - but when using the word dangerous she means to herself, and not others. It /is/ dangerous to others, but she sees it as more dangerous to herself. Fear of losing control, even if she’s doing it to indulge in bloodlust. There’s always the fear of “what if she goes too far and falls under Bhaal’s influence forever” whenever she indulges in sex or violence, it’s just that sometimes the desire overrides that fear, or The Urge doesn’t give her much of a choice. 21. Are they happy with their body? Yes - to the point where she doesn’t even think about it. She’s specifically crafted to be the perfect physical weapon in every way. She’s beyond worrying about it (freaking demigods and their confidence 🙄) . The only thing she does think on is that she’s jealous of Orin’s changeling abilities. 56. Do they find it easier to orgasm with another person, or through masturbation? With another person. First of all, most of her encounters outside of Gortash are extremely violent if not straight up murders - so she gets the added bonus of ‘The Ecstasy of Murder’. Secondly, when she is along and touching herself, her warring intrusive thoughts make it very difficult to bring herself to orgasm. I imagine before they sleep together, she touches herself to Gortash A LOT, but is never actually able to orgasm - poor girl. 59. What’s the best orgasm they’ve ever had? So this is a little sneak peek of the breeding fic I’m writing - but I have this very, very specific scenario in my head where Lyra and Gortash - who have otherwise been very careful in their encounters because they know the consequences - get so worked up about it because inside they are both just really breeding freaks - that they throw caution to the wind and just go for it. THAT orgasm is her strongest one because it is simultaneously extremely in line with Bhaal’s will while also being EXTREMELY against his will. It is the most “her” she could ever be.

#enver gortash #durgetash #durge #the dark urge #bg3 #lyrathedarkurge #Flymmsy asks #cw breeding

[grishaverse-chaos]

The Darkling

why I like them: could have been SO GOOD in theory okay? I will never shut up about this because "character who everyone thinks is evil is actually just the victim of a smear campaign and some really bigoted propaganda" is SUCH a good character concept and I wish darkling fans were right about him because it would be so fucking cool and aesthetic

why I don't: he uh. he isn't that. he could have been so fucking iconic and instead he was just a vicious murderer. who grooms teenage girls.

favourite episode/scene: LOVE the bit where alina stabs his hand in s1e8. tbf that's more of a fav alina moment than anything else lmao, let me think... okay fr I love the "fine. make me your villain" scene bc it just really showcases who he is as a character and how he sees himself (hint: those two things are not the same)

favourite season/movie: imo he's better written in s1 of the show than in s2, idk though. and I do love his story in the kos duology lmao

favourite line: that one bit in rule of wolves where he says "everything I have done has been for ravka" because it's so clearly Not True and yet.... he clearly thinks it is.... so where does intent stop and impact begin...... it's deep okay

favourite outfit: purely for shits and giggles I'm going to say his black kefta in s2 where there's bits of gold bc I loveeee people being haunted by those they've wronged and I think alina haunting him really fits into that theme

otp: no thank you! in all honesty he prob could have been Fixed™ if he'd had a genuine relationship at an earlier age but he didn't so I refuse to inflict him on any other character. darkolai is interesting to consider though bc I feel like the ways they see themselves clash so heavily.... it's about self image and it's about villainy and law and justice and power and and and. they would Not be a good relationship but I think they should interact more for the Narrative

brotp: his sister ulla! they'd have such a fun sibling dynamic lmao I think it'd be sweet

headcanon: tbh I don't tend to think about him much beyond the big narrative stuff so I'm struggling to think of something that fits the genre of "headcanon".... but let's humanise him a little! I bet he reads really literary fiction and gets ever-so-slightly pretentious about it lmao

unpopular opinion: is it unpopular to say that despite his original good intentions he's a bit of a dickhead and not as smart as he thinks he is? in some corners of the fandom it totally is but idk

a wish: at this point there's not much more that could be done with his character beyond what's already been set up (him being mercy killed so he's not suffering in the thorn wood for all eternity) so I'm going to say that I hope his stans get better reading comprehension bc dear GOD some of the takes I see (posted in the alina tag btw I'm not deliberately seeking them out) are absolutely horrendous. is that too salty? perhaps. idc though it's my blog and darkling stans are free to block me if they don't like my takes

an oh-god-please-don't-ever-happen: I swear if he goes NEAR alina genya or zoya again I will reach through the fourth wall to kill him myself. only half joking btw I'd be so pissed. imo they've all had the closure they need narratively and for him to seek them out again would be a dick move of the highest degree

5 words to best describe them: used to have good intentions. that might be cheating but idk if I can pick 5 random adjectives lmao

my nickname for them: I call him darkles sometimes (bc it's funny and also I think it'd piss him off if people called him that in-universe) also a lot of less positive nicknames ("that prick", "shithead" etc) but idk if that counts

#anyways sorry this took FOREVER it's been sitting in my drafts for weeks #but this was fun to think about! he's not my fav character as a person but holy shit is he interesting to analyse #anti darkling #<- just to be on the safe side #mayhem.txt #answered

[blood-choke]

Thanks for saying the bit about butch being identity more than presentation. I'm aware it is, like I'm not dumb, but I never feel like I show the fact that I'm butch enough, even if I'm soft butch. Like wearing androgynous clothes means fuck all in modern day since women's fashion is androgynous at a base line currently, plus I have very long hair and tend to keep my nails somewhat long so my identity doesn't show at all and it makes me constantly feel like I'm appropriating the label. But like if I were cis, I'd probably take testosterone for a bit like she/her Lea did; that idea is super enticing. As is I like being trans because it gives some masculinity to my physicality. If it were the past where women wore dresses, I'd definitely wear men's clothes (probably mixed with some parts of women's stuff). Just modern day doesn't let me visibly defy social norms as much as I want. My leather jacket and boots just isn't enough to show my identity.

Sorry for the ranble. Just made me feel way better, seeing confirmation that it's largely identity. Even if I don't have anyone to truly express it with.

you're welcome!

it was definitely something i had to unlearn; especially now with so much of lesbian bar culture having been pushed out and forgotten, a lot of younger people just.. don't know what these words mean, and when i was their age, butch and lesbian both were Bad Words that you never said at all except to demean someone.

reading older lesbian literature helped me overcome that and learning about all of the people that came before us; both about butches and femmes. digging through archives and putting myself into butch/femme spaces online has been hugely beneficial to me. i used to feel the same & like i could never "claim the label" because i didn't look a certain way, but that's just simply not true.

and this is especially not true for lesbians and other women who are already having other labels forced upon them by society; for not being white, for not being skinny, for not being hyper feminine, for not being cis, etc.

one of the things that made it really click for me was picture archives, specifically these kinds of pictures:

(pride, nyc, 1977 by meryl meisler)

this one is nancy tucker & her partner, and the two of them would switch shirts throughout the march. (1970 by kay tobin lahusen)

you can see how similar butches and femmes can look, and this is also what i mean when i say femmes are just as sanitized in popular media. butch and femme can be adjectives, but they are also nouns, they are genders and they are roles that people fill within lesbian relationships and within their community; how they move through the world, interact with society and how they interact with other lesbians and other women romantically and sexually.

this quote is one of my favorites:

“Butch is a trickster gender—and so, in a similar way, is femme. Lesbian gender expressions do not emulate heteropatriarchy, they subvert it. Femme removes femininity from the discursive shadow of masculinity and thereby strips from it any connotation of subordination or inferiority. Butch takes markers of “masculinity” and divests them of their association with maleness or manhood. Butchness works against the gender binary—the masculine/feminine paradigm—and reclaims for women the full breadth of possibilities when it comes to gender expression.”

— Caroline Narby, “On My Butchness”

#anyways. i'll get off my soapbox lmfao #im reluctant sometimes to discuss this stuff outside of lesbian circles just cus it very quickly devolves into like.... #silly goofy 'let women be feminine' kind of takes #which is simply not something we need to say. women are Forced to be feminine #so when i talk abt it publicly i do tend to focus on the gender nonconformity part #and like i said earlier thats why i chose to lock the mc into a specific presentation #but femmes are just as gnc as butches too #it's complicated. and it's more than just how they look #ask #and-the-wind-i-know-its-cold

[h2-so-4]

AIT or Aryan Invasion Theory (debunked): A superior "race" of white, horse-riding Aryans invaded the areas of the inferior and primitive Indus Valley population, which included the Dravidians (but actually no one said that the IVC was a pure, dark-skinned Dravidian civilization so idk where that idea came from), and civilized them.

AMT or Aryan Migration Theory: A group of usually horse and chariot-riding nomads and pastoralists usually called the Aryans migrated from the Indo-Iranian region to India and mingled PEACEFULLY with the population of the late Indus Valley population (who were already highly advanced, as we know), by which time the IVC was beginning to collapse, possibly due to change of climate and rain patterns (still not sure yet), and hence the people were abandoning these settlements spreading across the subcontinent. These Indo-Aryans on arriving mixed with this population and shared their genetics, art and culture with each other, which led to the introduction of Sanskrit and Vedic culture in India.

To any leftist who keep regurgitating the former busted myth, please stop. You look stupid. And to any rightist who keep using AMT as AIT to debunk it, they're not the same. These two theories have a sky-ground difference.

The previous one makes Aryans look evil. That they were some high-level royalty who invaded India. But, in fact, they were regular people, regular migrants, just how every migration used to happen 3000-4000 years ago. Like I said, most of them were nomadic settlers.

Sure, later on, the varna system came into existence and this was the beginning of a hierarchical structure in India for the first time (since during the IVC there wasn't any sort of social hierarchy according to current sources). But who's to say it was ONLY the Aryans? Remember. They're NOT a race. They're a particular group of people. And by the time the varna system was introduced already a hell lotta intermixing had happened. Hence it wasn't JUST the Aryans (history and especially anthropological and genetic history is not that black and white LMFAO), because it was a term for 'noble', not some kinda "righteous clan" or something. Idk why people keep thinking of it as a race lol. I thought that was already debunked with the AIT.

As for the indigeneity of the Aryans, technically no one is indigenous. Many of the adivasi and non-adivasi tribes came AFTER the Indus Valley Civilization. So the "who came first" logic doesn't really work at all. (There might've been many that came before as well, who knows. Point is, again, it's all a migration salad at the end of the day)

adjective

indigenous (adjective)

originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native:

This is the Google definition of indigenous. If we take THIS into account, there would be SEVERAL groups of people involved, instead of just one, like the IVC people, a few of the oldest nomadic tribes, mixed Indo-Aryans, etc. But I'm not gonna call ANYONE indigenous, or not indigenous. Because guess what, none of the humans are really indigenous to any place apart from the African continent. Also the Aryan migration led to the rise of a LOT of genetic subgroups, which was a key factor in leading to the most confusing anthropological history of the Indian subcontinent. It has a fuck ton of genetic markers and groups and subgroups, it's wildly confusing and historians are still trying to figure out every kind of intermixing that has happened. So STOP fighting over who is indigenous or not LMAO. Because guess what, we can never truly assert the indigeneity of a migrant species such as humans. (Yes we do call Native Americans the indigenous people of Americas, or the aboriginals the indigenous people of Australia and the Australasian archipelago, but they were also migrants at some point of time. Now before anyone says I'm disregarding the indigeneity of these groups, I'm not. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't CARE who's indigenous and who's not, because unlike the case of Americas and the Australasian islands, Aryans didn't INVADE India. They were simply another set of migrants, JUST like the IVC people, who also came from the middle-eastern region, and JUST like the adivasi tribes, who migrated from mostly the African and Australasian regions, probably, not sure again.)

I'll link the genetic studies done below because they explain it all way better than I can (and these research papers may also correct some of the incorrect statements I might've unnoticeably or ignorantly made in my own paragraphs so yeah):

Hence, at the end of the day, idk why we're banging our heads on the walls over ONE SIMPLE MIGRATION, which was NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER MIGRATION. Migrations happen ALL THE TIME. Get over it, BOTH the sides of the political wings, and live in harmony lmao. The Aryans and Dravidians AREN'T RACES. They were just certain groups of REGULAR ass people jeez.

History is a complex subject, and the more evidence we find, the more we would know about our past. I have literally nothing against any of the political wings, but I do want to keep the current theories (which are NOT synonymous to hypotheses btw) and facts straight. I'm once again not saying these facts will never change, because that's not how history works. Maybe in the future, we might find out something completely different about India's past. But remember, whenever we talk about our country's past, we should keep it unbiased, unopinionated, and definitely factual and objective, without including our own views (both political and personal) into it. Interpretations? Sure. But they should remain at ONLY interpretations at best, and only the solid evidences should be claimed as facts.

#hindublr #aryan migration theory #indo-aryans #history #indian history #indus valley #indus valley civilization #desiblr #desi tumblr #desiposting #bharat

[r-osehips]

snooped your tags, so: 12 and 16 for the year end book asks? please and thank you!

YESSSS thank you oh my god

12: Any books that disappointed you?

16: What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

THE FUCKING OVERSTORY. Jesus CHRIST. ok, the descriptions of trees and how they communicate with one another and with the wider ecosystem, those descriptions were beautiful, though sometimes they edged into purple prose. but as soon as this man (author Richard Powers) starts trying to write human beings, it all goes to hell. no one is convincing. every attempt at romance is hamfisted and always heterosexual (except for the two bi women who sordidly had sexual histories with women that they never dared speak of and which the men around them found arousing). the way he describes the character who uses a wheelchair it is some of the most jaw-droppingly ableist language I have read in a modern novel, and also sooo so repetitive and hitting you over the head with the same adjectives every time. and then there's this female character who he has a huge boner for, which, great, i can support that in general, but unforch for him this resulted in weird objectifying language and ridiculous situations, such as, for example, the scene where this girl (who briefly was dead and soaking wet and naked, he described that vividly) -- this girl has been living in a redwood sequoia for months. no shower, no soap, no haircuts, no nothing. she's filthy. and she's, canonically, 200 feet in the air. and this logger who wants to kill the tree, he's shouting up at her and the guy she's with (and they are, i cannot emphasize this enough, 200 feet up). she leans over the railing of the treehouse to yell back at him. he says "WOAH you're GORGEOUS what are you doing up there when you could have any man you wanted!" and she's like "aw ha ha you should see me up close" and it's like. HE CAN'T SEE HER. HE LITERALLY CAN'T SEE HER. YOUR OBSESSION WITH HAVING YOUR MALE PROXIES HIT ON HER AND OBJECTIFY HER HAS LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF YOUR LAST SHREDS OF PLAUSIBILITY. SOOOO FUCKING STUPID in a good book this would have been ENDEARING but no -- no, not here! because this, despite its countless awards and accolades, IS NOT A GOOD FUCKING BOOK. and yet it is so long. and it drags so much. and for what.

(from this prompt list if anyone wants to ask more)

EDITING TO ADD: WAIT. I forgot the thing I ACTUALLY hated the most about it!!!!!!!!!!!!! which is that. ok. so there's a refrain that happens throughout the book where a mysterious voice inside a character's head intones something like the most miraculous beings in 4 billion years of existence need our help. and the characters understand this to mean that the trees need the help of humans, because, like. deforestation. climate change. rampant destruction of forest ecosystems. etc. and that would be very fitting because the whole premise of the book is about the wonder of trees.

BUT NO. it turns out that the voice was THE TREES TALKING ABOUT HUMANS. as in: the trees are saying that WE need THEIR help and they feel soooooooo bad for us and they're simply begging for us to LET THEM SAVE US because it's ALL ABOUT US and the trees only matter because they're important TO US.

and I just think that if you are good at writing trees and shit at writing humans, and you're trying to write a sweeping novel about the glory and genius of nature, and you purport to be critiquing the destructive self-centeredness of much of modern humanity, then maybe you shouldn't undercut your entire fucking narrative by putting humans at the center of the universe. GOD. it's so stupid.

#THANK YOU for asking these ones i had to get that out of my system. my god #asks #tortoisesshells #reading #me

[americangirlstar]

Kaya’aton’my’s Series – Nimiipuu Names

While we have a pretty good shot at guessing Two Hawks’s name, I wanted to make a list of the most likely names for the Nimiipuu/Nez Perce characters in Kaya’s series, as a few Nimiipuutímt dictionaries are available.

Even as a kid, I always wondered what everyone’s name was in their actual language, as all but Kaya’s names are translated to their English meaning. I see why this was done– the English-speaking children that make up the target audience would likely be confused by an abundance of names they’d have trouble pronouncing– but even then I do wish to know the names of the characters we all hold so dear.

This is the dictionary I was able to use. I’ll also cite it properly at the bottom of the post. I also utilized nimipuutimt.org, which was incredibly helpful and includes video lessons as well as grammar lessons.

However,

Disclaimer: I am an English-speaking white girl. While I’m using as many official dictionaries as I can, I will likely fuck up grammar on occasion.

Most importantly I will likely fuck up grammar/sentence structure due to my low education in this field; I also have trouble deciphering how (or if) one changes a word when it switches structure; for instance, a verb becoming an adjective. There is information on this on nimiipuutimt.org, but I’m afraid I have not been very good at translating it from English properly.

As such, I will provide each word separately, but not make any definitive claims on word order. I have everything under the cut so that I can keep everything updated should new information come in or should I become more confident in translation.

If anyone who can speak Nimiipuutímt would like to add anything, please for the love of everything do so, your input would obviously be way more useful than mine.

So. Let’s begin.

First off– pronunciation guide.

Ck = the same as a double K

S as in she

A U accented or preceeded by a consonant should be pronounced as normal in English; however, if it is followed by an A, E, or I without a consonant prior, it’s to be pronounced like W.

Y as in yellow.

Extra information on pronunciation, simple phrases, etc. can be found at https://nezperce.org/about/language/ or https://www.nimipuutimt.org/.

Now that we got that out of the way,

Bear Blanket

Kaya’s medicine woman.

There are multiple words depending on the type of bear we are discussing. A black, reddish or yellowish bear would be “Yáka”; a grizzy, white or brown would be either “Gagáz” or “Iyúmie.” The bear constellation in the northern hemisphere would also be “Iyúmes,” with its tail being “Pitaikin.”

The noun for blanket, meanwhile, is Zizkan. [the verb form is Zizkanisa.]

Beaver Tail

One of Tall Branch’s relatives.

The noun for beaver is “Tákzpul,” while tail is “Túinu.”

Bent Bow

An orphan boy in Kaya’s village.

So. “Bent” is where my anglophonic issues arise, since I’m not quite sure what the adjective form of this verb is. The simple verb form, I can say, is “Zepékillikse,” but there’s a few other uses– to curve by pulling is “Nikékillikse,” to curve in a circle is “Zepezilkse,” to bend as if bending a tree branch is “Nikézipitkse.”

“Bow,” meanwhile, is much easier, with “Timúni.” Alternatively spelled “tim’úuni”, this word in modern times can also mean “gun.”

Brown Deer

Kaya’s elder sister.

There are two words for brown in Nimiiputímt; the dictionary I have says it denotes “two degrees” of the same color, though it doesn’t specify beyond that. The two words are “Sukúisukúi” and “Siuiusiuiu.”

There are actually several words for “deer,” depending on different species. “Ímes” (’ímes) is used for the general species, with specific deer having different words depending on gender– a female red deer would be “Yémes”, reindeer would be Tatápai, elk would be Tisipg, and moose deer would be Sákslas (sáaslaqs).

Claw Necklace

Swan Circling’s husband.

“Claw” is “Kipzuz.”

“Necklace” is “Ueéikt.” [A bead necklace would be Kaláun.]

Crane Song

Cut Cheek’s aunt.

Crane would be “Yétiin.”

Song would be “Uenipt,” though I do wonder if this part of her name may be something more like Crane Call or Sound of a Crane rather than a direct comparison to a song...

Cut Cheek

Kaya’s brother-in-law.

There are quite a few verbs for “cut”, but his name appears to use that word in adjective form. So let’s try this out.

First, the verbs:

Trigger Warning: There is a self-harm mention among these, third to last bullet point.

Cut by striking (ex: axe): “Uekíukse.”

Cut, as with a knife, saw or scissors: “Isekíukse.”

Cut, as in dislimbing or quartering an animal: “Isiueze.”

Cut, as in paring or clipping: “Uesúpse”

Making a small cut: “Izetíkise.”

Wounding via cutting: “Iseuéize.”

Cutting self: “Iné-seuéize.”

Cutting into two parts: “Izepékse.”

Cutting into several parts: “Izipékse.”

End of TW.

It’s likely that the verbs could be used in past tense, but again, I’m having trouble finding differing tenses. I will say that I feel the most likely would be Isekíukse (cut as with a knife), Izetíkse or Iseuéize (small cut / wound).

As for adjectives,

Lacerated, torn, as in a rope: “Getílgetil”

As well as noun/verbs:

To hurt physically: “Komáiz.”

Wound via stabbing: “Iptéye” (n) “Iptéyeze” (v)

Wound via shooting: “Éutes” (n) “Euise” (v)

Wound via dashing against something: “Ueíptet” (n) “Ueiptése” (v)

And finally, scars:

Scar as a noun: “Kaskásuit”

As an adjective: “Kaskasuin.”

So after all that, I feel like the most likely is “Kaskasuin” (scarred).

And then cheek is just “Mástai.” That was way easier.

Finger Cakes

In Meet Kaya, Kaya’s Aalah tells her of her own cruel childhood nickname, “Finger Cakes,” when she was caught stealing some from her brother.

I wasn’t able to find the specific word for Nimiipuu finger cakes, but “Cake” in general is “tam’áamin’.”

Flaming Stick

A member of Kaya’s village from The Roar of the Falls.

I was unable to find an adjective for flaming. The noun is “Liun” (burning), “Ilakáuit” (shining) or “Álla” (fire). “Liun” is probably the most likely. The verb is “Liuze” (with rising/steaming fire) or Ilepilikse (when the flame breaks forth).

Stick is a bit easier I think. The only word for stick was referring to a walking-stick, which might be what his name refers to? That word is “Túkes.” If they’re referring to a random stick, branch is probably more likely a translation, which makes it “Pátoi.”

Fox Tail

Kaya’s cousin, a young boy in her village.

Fox is “Telipe.”

Tail is “Túinu.”

Jumps Back

A young man in Kaya’s village.

This one is a bit hard. If we presume his name is “jumping backwards”, there are a lot of terms for jumping. A lot of them refer to jumping on a horse, so if we presume that that is not what his name means...

"To jump, as in trying to get above the ground” is “Ualásasa”, and “to go about jumping” is “Ualasáiksa.” I think the latter is probably likely.

The word for back in terms of direction is “Elekinike.” However, backward specifically is “Élekipg.”

I think the most likely is Ualasáiksa + Élekipg, but it could be any combo of the above.

Light on the Water

Kaya’s baby cousin, the daughter of Running Alone. She is saved by Swan Circling at the beginning of Kaya’s Hero.

Okay, so light is “Hawkáuit.”

The on preposition is already contained in many verbs and expressed by the removal of the –zese in the root of verbs. So first we need a verb for the light being on the water. To sit on is “Ueksilikézese,” and to fall upon in drops is “Isiséulizése.” So whether her name has Ueksilik or Isiséuli depends on whether her name is light sitting upon the water or light falling upon the water.

Water specifically is “Kus.” Considering her name isn’t “light on the river” or “ocean” or whatever, “Kus” is probably correct.

Little Branch

Rushing Brook’s infant daughter, from The Roar of the Falls.

Little is “Kúzkuz.”

Branch would be “Pátoi.”

Little Fawn

A girl in Kaya’s village. In Kaya’s Hero she is hurt jumping out of a tree, and she’s often noted to play Shinny with Kaya.

Little is “Kúzkuz.”

According to nimipuutimt.org, a general term for a fawn would be “tatx.”

Lone Dog

The lone wolf that Kaya helps and the mother of Tatlo.

Lone as an adjective is used by putting -zuàtg at the end of the personal pronoun. Ipzuàtg is “they (singular) lone,” but I think we can just add it at the end of the word “dog”? I may be wrong tho.

A normal dog is a “Zikámkal.” There are two names for wolf meanwhile; “Izeyéi” is small and “Ímiin” is large. I’d say lone dog’s name is likely Zikámkal, as she seems to be less of a wolf and more of a dog if you know what I mean.

So her name could potentially be Zikámkalzuàtg.

Magpie

Kaya’s despised nickname.

This one is very simple: Ékeg.

Many Deer

A temperamental man in Kaya’s village.

Many is “Illégi” as an adjective. As a pronoun for persons only, it’s “Illegniue.”

Now we get to talk about the words for male deer yay!! Once again, Ímes is for the general word. The male red deer is Téuisin, reindeer is Tipitéuisin, elk is Ueúkie, and moose deer is Sákslas.

Rabbit

A daring girl in Kaya’s village a little older than her.

Another simple one: rabbit is Éyukz.

Raven

Kaya’s older cousin who lives in her village.

Raven is Kókog.

Red Duck

Kaya’s aunt in her village.

For red: bright red / vermilion would be “Hilpilp”, while a deep red / crimson would be “Lemtlémt.”

A wild duck would be “Kétket.” A tame duck would be “Éutet.”

Red Stone

Tall Branch’s relative.

For red: bright red / vermilion would be “Hilpilp”, while a deep red / crimson would be “Lemtlémt.”

There are a couple words for stone colors but haven’t found one for red, only yellow, white and black. So the normal word for stone is “Pisue.”

Runner

Kaya’s father’s horse.

Ulekeiktípez.

Running Alone

Kaya’s young aunt, mother of Light on the Water.

We got a couple words for “run.”

To move swiftly: “Ulékeikse.”

To make [another] run: “Seulekéikse”

To run suddenly: “Tekekéikse”

To run to help somebody: “Tekékeikezése”

To run in a race: “Uléluikize”

To run after someone else: “Tiuekikze”

Alone, meanwhile, is “Inzuáty” as a noun. As an adjective, it is used by putting -zuàtg at the end of the personal pronoun. Ipzuàtg is “they (singular) lone,” with “Inzuátg” as I lone and “Imzuátg” as you lone.

Runs Home

A young man in Kaya’s village, the one who taught Two Hawks to make and play the flute.

We got a couple words for “run.”

To move swiftly: “Ulékeikse.”

To make [another] run: “Seulekéikse”

To run suddenly: “Tekekéikse”

To run to help somebody: “Tekékeikezése”

To run in a race: “Uléluikize”

To run after someone else: “Tiuekikze”

Home is “Init.”

Rushing Brook

A young mother in Kaya’s village.

"Rushing” is a bit hard to find. Looking at different versions of flow, though,

“Uéleze” is basic flowing,

 “Uelétze” is to come out flowing,

“Tekeuéleze” is to flow suddenly/falling down,

“Uelikze” is to rise flowing.

As with other words, fast as an adjective is “Ámtiz,” and I’ve already copy-pasted the words for run up above.

A small stream (brook) would be “Póol.”

Snow Paws

A dog in Kaya’s village.

Snow as a noun is “Méke.” Paw would be “Kípzuz.”

Sparks Flying

Kaya’s horse’s colt, named for the fire he, his mother and Kaya escaped.

“Sparks” is a bit hard to figure out.

The noun for fire is “Álliksa” or “Álla”, but I don’t think it would just be fire, but specifically the sparks.

“Líuze” (to burn with rising, steaming fire) or “Ilepílikse” (to burn as when a flame breaks forth) could work, though it is a verb and Sparks is a noun here...

Another verb/adjective instead of a noun, but glitter as a verb would be “Ilapáiksa” or “Ilapáikin” as an adjective.

Verb for sparkle is “Itgolizása”, adjective sparkling is “Pítgolzatipaz.” I wasn’t able to find a word just for a Spark.

We got a couple options for “fly” too:

To fly: “Ueikze”

To fly about: “Ueinikse”

To go about flying: “Ueikéikse”

To fly upward, as on a tree: “Ueletiekse”

To fly upward, to soar / float: “Iyalásasa”

To flee, run away: “Ulelikze”

I think the most likely in context for Sparks Flying would be “Ueinikse” (fly about) or “Ulelikze” (flee). Also to note: the nouns for flight are “Ulelikin” for running away and “Ueíkin” for soaring.

Sparrow

One of Kaya’s twin brothers.

Uekiukíun.

Speaking Rain

Kaya’s beloved sister; she is biologically her second cousin, but was adopted by Kaya’s immediate family after her parents’ death.

So, there are a lot of words to be used for “speaking.” These are the most likely for her name:

“Tennése”: direct translation of “speak.” If her name means “rain that talks,” this is probably the word.

“Pitenuése”: to speak mutually. If her name means “rain talking amongst themselves”, this is the word. [”Pitáutennése” is also this word for specifically speaking at night.]

“Ueuise”: to begin speaking.

“Uainakasa”: to cease speaking.

The second part of her name is much easier: Uéket means “rain!”

Squirrel

A young boy in Kaya’s village, mentioned in The Roar of the Falls.

Zilmii.

Steps High

Kaya’s beloved horse.

If we assume that the steps is a verb, the first word is either “Uetikise” (to advance) or “Uatikzása” (to set the foot upon). [Noun would be “Uetikt”]

Now there’s a couple words for “high” as well. “Tústi” means being in elevated place. “Kuhét” means of a tall statue.

Swan Circling

Kaya’s hero; this will also be Kaya’s name as an adult.

A swan is “Tákaisin.”

Circling, meanwhile? Difficult, but I believe it’s “Temepéise,” which is to encircle.

Tall Branch

Kaya’s maternal aunt.

With tall, we have to wonder if this would be referring to actual height, or simply length; the good news is, the first word we have can mean both “tall” and “long!” Our options are “Kuhét” or “Imékes”; Kuhét is used for more slender items, with Imékes for large-framed.

Branch would be “Pátoi.”

To Soar Like an Eagle

Kaya’s village chief.

As stated with Sparks Flying, to soar is “Iyalásasa.”

Like as in denoting similarity is to add –uàkos to the end of the noun.

As for eagle, a bald eagle is “Sakantáig,” and other fully-red eagles are “Kaspaaláya.” So either Sakantáiguàkos or Kaspaaláyauàkos.

Two Crows

Tall Branch’s relative.

Two is “Lepit.” “Lepú” is used as a pronoun for persons only.

A crow is “Áa”, though a jackdaw or blackbird would be “Kuóskuós.”

So it’s likely Lepit Áa.

Wing Feather

One of Kaya’s twin brothers.

Large/Quill feathers are “Uéptes,” and Down/Small feathers are “Kótkot.” I believe Wing Feather’s name would thus be Kótkot but I do not know a ton about birds.

Yellow Flower

A young mother in Kaya’s village.

Yellow as an adjective is “Maksmáks,” (maqsmáqs) though yellowish would be “Keugkéug.”

A flower is “Látis.”

Another thing to note: specifically “the flower becomes yellow” is translated as “Látis imkasiza,” so this could be her name as well.

Yellow Sky

An elderly storyteller in Kaya’s village.

Yellow as an adjective is “Maksmáks,” (maqsmáqs) though yellowish would be “Keugkéug.” 

Sky is a word that depends on whether it is cloudy or clear. Cloudy sky is “Ipelikt,” while a clear sky is “Aikát.”

BONUS: Non-Nimiipuu Characters

Gift from the Stick People

The Nimiipuu name given to Hawk Rising’s baby after Crane Song found her.

A gift would be “Ínit.” (though “Pinit” would be a mutual gift, which I believe means a traded item? I think Ínit would be most appropriate here.)

Now, from is used in this language by the suffix “-kínig.” (IE: from Kaya would be Kaya-kínig).

The Stick People are dwarves in several Indigenous-American traditions, including both the Nimiipuu and the Arapho. The Nimiipuu called them the Its’te-ya-ha, and said that they lived in the deep woods and had the power to make themselves invisible and become incredibly strong.

So Hawk Rising’s baby would be named Ínit + Its’te-ya-ha-kínig.

Hawk Rising

Kaya names the Silent Stranger “Hawk Woman” after she sees her watching a hawk on a cliffside. At the end of the book, she establishes to Kaya that her name is actually “Hawk Rising.”

So Kaya’s name for her:

A hawk that’s often seen in poultry yards: “Pitámianun”

Goshawk: ironically, “Káya”

These were also listed as “various kinds of hawks,” with no specifics. Hopefully I can find specifics later: “Íkeg, Talauyágoz, Káyauákos, Leplépuékos.”

Woman would be “Háyat.” Rising would be...

To come out, as the sun: “Tilétze”

To go up, as the sun: “Tilása”

To come out on a sudden: “Tekétilètze”

To rise from death or unconsciousness: “Utelétze”

To rise, as fog: “Ipalásasa”

To cause to rise (such as standing up and scattering dust): “Tulékoksa”

I feel like the most likely here would be Tilása or Tekétilêtze. However, considering her backstory of escaping a deadly fire, thematically Utelétze would work incredibly well.

But let’s find out what tribe she’s from to find her real name.

From the first chapter of The Silent Stranger:

“Her hair is in one thick braid instead of two, like ours, and the backs of her hands are tattooed.”

“What’s she wearing?” Speaking Rain asked, giving Kaya a nudge.

“Under her bearskin she’s got a cape of woven bark with fur at the throat,” Kaya said. “She’s wearing a necklace of dentalium shells, and abalone ear ornaments, too. She looks like the women who live on the seacoast and come to the Big River to trade.”

Here is her backstory, from pg 99-100:

[...] warriors from up the coast had raided her village. She was taken captive and made a slave. Her captors took her with them to the Big River. There, a man from over the high mountains saw her and made her his wife. He was a good man. She went with him and lived with his people. She was traveling with her husband when a storm stranded them[....]

We also have this description of her baby’s tee-kas:

“[The baby’s] tee-kas is part of my story. It’s not made like ours. It’s made of cedar, with cedar-bark cloth for a wrapping. Women from the coast make their tee-kas like that, and the baby has a pretty necklace of dentalium shells. Why her unfortunate parents were traveling in Nimíipuu country is a mystery, but she’s safe now in Crane Song’s care.” - pg 109

The coast tribes by the Northwest would be Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Kwakiutl, Bella Coola, Nuu-chah-nulth, Coast Salish, and Chinook.

So we gotta find which traded with the Nimiipuu at the Big River. Because there are so many tribes, I could be wrong, but I think it is likely that she is from the Coast Salish; they were known to use cedar bark for weaving many things, including tee-kas. [1, 2] They would have had access to dentalium shells as well, and the very real historical connections between the Nimiipuu and Salish were already established in the mainline series.

Other possibilities include the Haida and Tsminshian, who are noted to have had abalone access, and the Nuu-chah-nulth, who not only would have had access to abalone but were the primary harvesters of dentalium. They were known to dress their high-status unmarried girls in dentalium shell necklaces. While that wouldn’t apply to Hawk Rising, it could apply to her daughter.

There are many, many different dialects of the Salish language, but looking at this map, I think it’s likely that in order to be near Nimiipuu territory, Hawk Rising would be in the Lushootseed or Cowlitz/Chehalis areas.

 We have two options for “Hawk” from the Lushootseed dialect, actually.

Fish Hawk: c̓ix̌c̓ix̌

Redtail Hawk: x̌ibx̌ib

The similar dialect Twulshootseed also uses “x̌ibx̌ib” to mean hawk; I can’t find info on whether or not they use “c̓ix̌c̓ix̌” as well. I will say that I think x̌ibx̌ib is probably more likely.

As for the word for “Rising” or the Cowlitz translation, this is where I kinda. Cannot continue currently. I have not been able to find a dictionary for the Cowlitz. However, when I have the ability I would love to ask native-languages.org once again. If anyone else would like to do so, or take part in their fundraiser, here is a link.

Otter Woman

A woman from “Enemy Country” that held Kaya and Speaking Rain as slaves. “Otter Woman” is only what Kaya calls her, and thus we don’t know her actual name.

First: Kaya’s name for her. Otter is “Tulúlg.” Woman is “Háyat,” with an elderly woman being “Hátuai.”

But onto figuring out her potential tribe, just for fun. From Chapter One of Kaya’s Escape:

She thought they spoke the language of enemies from Buffalo Country[...] they had driven the herd all the way through Nimíipuu country to the northern trail through the Bitterroot Mountains.

Chapter Two also says they go over the Buffalo Trail, and Kaya spots the Lochsa River as they pass. As the Lochsa River is to the west of the Bitterroot Mountains, that means the enemies are traveling west and live in that direction.

I am absolutely useless at Geography, but Google tells me that the Bitterroot Mountains border Idaho and Montana. So if they’re traveling west, that would most likely put them in the areas of Idaho, Washington, Oregon or even Canada, depending on how far their homeland was.

When moving to the Northwestern Plains to hunt buffalo, Wikipedia says that the Nimiipuu enemies there were the Blackfoot Confederacy (Piegan, Kainai, Siksika), Lakota, and Cheyenne. 

Looking at a map of indigenous land, directly west of the Nimiipuu were Coeur D’Alene/Skitswish, Yakima, and Walla Walla. If her tribe were in what is now Montana to hunt Buffalo at the time of Kaya’s Escape, they would be in Flathead Kutenai territory, perhaps even Blackfeet. They could also still be near the Skitswish or Okanagan.

Spotted Owl

Kaya’s Wishram trading partner, from Kaya and the River Girl.

Spotted Owl is a Wishram girl, so she would be speaking Upper Chinook. Using washington.edu’s abridged Chinook dictionary, Spotted would be le kye or tzum, depending on how it’s spotted: calico is tzum and piebald is le kye. I’m not sure which one would refer to the actual spotted owl, perhaps calico?

Owl was a bit harder to find; the anthrosource online library does have a Chinook dictionary that I poured through, and I believe owl may be “qoēl.”

So her name could be le kye + qoēl.

If translated to Nimiipuu: an owl would be “Saglatáma,” while a small owl would be “Púgpukélez.” Spotted would be “Kaskás”; while it specifically refers to dapple-gray pattern, it is used for most spotted things.

Two Hawks

I have a full post here, where I contacted Laura Redish of the Native Languages of the Americas to ask about his name. Here is what she said:

The Salish word for two is “esel.”

A fish hawk/osprey would be c'ixʷc'xʷ.

A red-tailed hawk would be a c'lc'lšmu.

A sparrow hawk/falcon would be aatat.

“So this character's name could have been something like Esel C'ixʷc'xʷ, Esel C'lc'lšmu, or Esel Aatat.”

Considering what English-speakers mainly associate with hawks, I’d say “Esel C'ixʷc'xʷ” is probably the most likely.

Additional information: according to spokanelanguageculture, a redtail hawk could also be “Spya.”

White Braids

Speaking Rain’s Salish adoptive mother.

White Braids would, like Two Hawks, be using the Salish Spokane-Kalispel dialect, as they live in the same tribe.

White would be “piq,” pronounced like the English pick. I have not yet been able to find the specific word for braid– I have been able to find the sentence “they braided their hair.” (čyilya’xʷ qnm) I tried to go through the Kalispel-English dictionary I could find online but could not find “braid”– if anyone else wants to try, the links are here and here. I will also try to ask native-languages.org when I have the ability.

Sources: spokanelanguageculture

Young Uncle

Two Hawks’s maternal uncle. “Young Uncle” probably isn’t his name but it’s the best we have to go on.

A maternal uncle would be “ssiʔ.” Young as a descriptor would be “sk̓ʷu̓k̓ʷiml̓t.”

Dictionary

Morvillo, Anthony. A dictionary of the Numípu or Nez Perce language.    ,    https://doi.org/10.5479/sil.1076821.39088005784111

#american girl #kaya'aton'my #nez perce #nimiipuu #american girl dolls #american girls #beforever #1764 #speaking rain #two hawks #native languages #nimiipuutimt #nimiiputímt #mine

[posallys]

Hi, ive just started writing fanfic for the first time, do you have any tips?

honestly, just writing what makes you happy because who gives a fuck what other people think! if YOU like it, that's all that matters.

also don't be afraid to experiment with sentence structure, etc! rules are made to be broken and i am a staunch believer that breaking grammar rules (intentionally...not just having bad grammar lol) adds so much character to your writing and really gives you your own voice and style. I do it all the time! i love me a good intentional run-on sentence, some comma splices (i am a slut for comma splices i cannot lie to you), some fragments, starting sentences with a conjunction. etc etc etc.

also if you're having trouble getting a feel for your Style or whatever, it's okay to take inspiration from the style of some authors you enjoy (that obviously does NOT mean to copy their work, but look at their sentence structure, at how they piece their puzzle together; my new current sentence structure experiment is based on the way one of my friends wrote a fic, and i'm loving it.)

oh i know people preach active over passive voice, but i am telling you now that passive voice can be used and it adds to your writing sometimes! ESPECIALLY if you're trying to set a more serious, sort of prose-like tone....passive voice my beloved. some of the craziest lines i've written are passive.

use adjectives but dont OVER use them--and if you are overusing them, make sure it's intentional. (intentionality is literally the main thing; if you do something intentionally, it's probably going to come across like that, and your readers are going to understand it the way you wanted them to)

similar to the passive vs. active debate...showing vs. telling. it's a bit tricky to find a good balance sometimes, but you'll learn. but also, it's not as black and white as a lot of people make it seem. "showing" the way i see most people use it is just excessive use of adjectives and verbs, while telling is simply stating something (which i don't necessarily agree with)

Im going to use an example from the fic i'm writing right now:

And so he goes to them, like a ship to a beacon of light, a sailor to a siren. He goes because he cannot possibly stay away for a moment longer, cannot bear to not have them in his arms. He lies beside her and she relaxes into him, and it is too much, this love. Too much for one man to feel, too much for him to hold back. It thrums through his veins, begging to be released.

I would argue that most, if not all of that paragraph is me telling, not showing. "he goes to them" "he goes because" "he lies" "it is too much" etc etc. i use metaphors and whatnot, but i'm telling nonetheless. (there's another good point, actually: most of this is me telling, but it's also active voice, so they balance each other)

anyway enough of my babbling about grammar lol. just have fun and write whatever makes you happy--and don't feel like it has to be perfect, or like you're obligated to churn out content, because you're not. one of my favorite fics of mine EVER has been rotting in google docs hell since christmas 2022; what matters is that EYE love her and am with her in spirit, not that she's done and produced and perfect.

#i feel as though i'm not a Good Person to give you advice #however you asked and this is what i got for ya #also you get better with practice!! #and writing isn't natural to everyone so dont feel bad if what you write isn't 'perfect' immediately #ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm #yeah #i would elaborate more on the showing not telling thing because it drives me up a fucking wall and all of the sentences they use to 'teach' #it are so fucking bad. #'john was mad' vs 'john stomped his foot' like bro that is for a 1st grader not for someone venturing into creative writing #i find that telling is what i do more of. it's just that i write sentences longer than 5 words long so it doesn't sound like dog shit #ANYWAY #taylor answers #ask tag #anon

[crochetysquare]

Jester’s Hat Pattern

I meant to post this on New Year’s Day. Oops. Hello, all 5 followers that aren’t bots! I typed that sentence and realized I haven’t been checking for bots in my sideblog. To be fair, I haven’t been doing a great job of posting to my crochetblr at all since I started it. Let this be the beginning of a year of more-or-less monthly patterns! More updates on the quilt! More one-off posts! This is the year of crochet!

Some of you may have noticed that I changed this blog's title last year. I felt that "NotUrGrannySquares" didn't fit me. I didn't really like it at the beginning, but it's the all I could think of (and it wasn't too creative, since I only spelt it "Ur" because "NotYourGrannySquares" was taken--not to mention, there are plenty of patterns out there with similar names). As I began to collect a few pieces from my mom and grandma for my quilt, I felt more at odds with the blog name: these are my granny's squares! I posted this one a while ago, but the other two from her are waffle stitch samples. One is incomplete, using a merino wool yarn, and the other she fished out of the kitchen when I asked if I could incorporate the wool one into the quilt, and it’s clearly a polyester because it’s slightly melted in the center where it had been holding hot things. I’m obsessed with the texture that’s resulted.

I landed on “crochety” because I’ve described myself as a crotchety old man, the word “crotchety” shares origins with the word “crochet,” and I liked how Dictionary.com defined it.

crotchety adjective 1. given to odd notions, whims, grouchiness, etc.

I am given to odd notions and whims. That’s the whole thesis of my quilt, isn’t it? That’s why I haven’t been posting patterns. When I’m crocheting, I’m crocheting. I can’t stop every row and write down what I did. Worse, I can’t write it down and then rewrite it in a text document. I tried to teach myself coding last year because I was told it’s “just logic,” and being logically minded, I should be good at it. The thing is, it’s also typing, and I fucking hate typing. (You’re looking up at the past 4 paragraphs skeptically. This is different. Just trust me that it’s different. You’ll see what I mean when you look at the pattern and how poorly I’ve cleaned it up because something about typing shit like, “Ch 3, turn, sk 1st st, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next sc, sc 15, ch 2, sc in next sc, sc 15, ch 3, turn, sk 1st ch, sc in sc in sc in sc in sc in next st and to end,” just itches my brain so uncomfortably. Crocheting is so intuitive for me, and translating it from the physical realm to the written kills me. It’s like when I would finish my geometry proof before everyone else, and the teacher would suggest I help the kid next to me, but I couldn’t put it into words. I don’t know, dude, you just put the things where they go. Just put the hook through the correct stitch. Just make it the shape of one third of a jester’s hat. That’s how you make a pattern. Just do the thing that obviously you should do. This is why I like diagram crochet patterns more, which I would like to get into on here in the future. However, this pattern reflects the madness that is my brain trying to type up patterns. When I started this blog, I thought I would do a bunch of patterns like that, maybe with a horror narrative evolving around the monotony and the separation between typography and craft, and then I realized how much tongue in cheek patterning that would require. Hmm. Maybe someday, though.)

So anyway, this is NOT your granny’s pattern because I bet she has better discipline than I do. She would have cleaned this pattern up to the necessary bits. I’m too damn crotchety for that.

All 3 panels will follow this pattern. I used (most of) 3 skeins of Buttercream Luxe Craft 100% Wool yarn. It is yarn weight 5, recommending 6.0mm crochet hooks, and for once I did what I was told.

It appears that Joann has rebranded it to Knit & Crochet, but it also seems I have moved to an area with mediocre Joanns which carry neither. Which is whatever; I have gift cards to better yarn shops.

You can follow the same scheme of adding stitches with different starting row counts. This ended up being a little more than 25 inches in circumference, which made it just a bit too big for me. I rolled up the brim on the underside when I wore it, which worked fine for me and my 21 inch head since it’s a nice thick yarn.

Key I'm using US terms. ch = Chain sc = Single crochet sk = Skip sc2tog = single crochet 2 together That's all you need. It's easy peasy, you got this, gorgeous.

Ch 31. 1. skip 1st ch. sc 30. ch 1, turn. 2-10. sc 30, ch 1, turn. 11. sc 30, ch 2, turn. 12. sk first ch, sc in second from hook. sc across. Ch 2 again! and turn. 13. sk first ch, sc in second, sc 16, ch 2, sc in next stitch and to end. (32 total, 16 on each side. We're gonna stop keeping count, though. I didn't, and it turned out just fine. You'll be fine, as long as all your panels are Shaped.) Ch 2, and turn. 14. Sk first ch, sc in second, sc 17. In 2 ch space {sc, ch 2, sc}. Sc to end. Ch 2, turn. 15-16. You know what you're doing. Sc to that chain space, and sc, ch 2, sc, and keep going. Ch 2, turn. 17. Now it switches up, but not really. Sk first ch, sc in second. Sc to 2ch space {sc, ch 2, sc}, sc to end. NOW. Chain 3. Turn. 18. Sc in second and third ch from hook. sc to chain space {sc, ch 2, sc}, sc to end. Ch. 3. 19. NOW it switches up. Sc in second and third ch, sc across. You hear me? Single crochet across! Skip that chain space entirely this time 'round! 20-22. In 20, you add the ch space in... um. shoot. This is why people keep track of stitches. Add the ch space above where it was in 18. IDK, you got this. ch 3, turn. 23. Hey, just skip that ch space again, okay. Don't argue (you can argue, change the pattern, idgaf). Ch 3, turn. 24. sc in second and third ch from hook, sc 31, ch 2 without skipping, sc 32. Ch 3, turn. 25-27. Same as 20-22. 28. Do that thing where you omit the ch space. Or don't. I'm not your mother. 29-30. Same as 20-22 and 25-27. 31. This is ittttttttt! Single crochet until that 2 chain space where I need you to use that one stitch in the key you forgot about? The sc2tog? Keep sc'ing to the end and fasten the fuck off, you did it.

Now you just have to do that two more times and probably in different colors. Maybe if you're fancy you could do stripes. Row 31 should have 92 stitches, but, like I said in Row 13, as long as it's Shaped, you're honestly good. As longs as the Shapes are Basically The Same, you are grooving.

Sew them up. I slip stitched them together because I'm more comfortable with a hook than a needle (and I think it looks nice). Don’t forget to affix something that jingle jangles. 🃏

#crochet patterns #my patterns #crochet

[illyanapryde]

Just me talking about how much I hate the MCU and how it’s ruining the comics because bla bla bla capitalism

One very major flaw of recent comics (I’m talking about the last decade-ish) is that, in hopes to benefit from the financial success of the MCU, comics began to change the personalities, looks, backstories, costumes, and aesthetics of their characters to match their MCU counterparts.

Before an MCU fan spouts some bullshit like “Well it shouldn’t matter because it’s still the same character and if you’re a true fan you should love them anyway,” I simply can’t help but struggle to enjoy seeing everything special about my favorite characters be retconned. It’s one thing when the MCU adapts my favorite characters and changes them beyond recognition, but at least I can live with that because I can simply not watch MCU content. It’s another thing when the MCU’s same shitty changes are made in the comics, effectively ruining that character.

A prime example is the terrible jokes. Before 2008, comics would mostly have little to no humor. And if/when they did, it would usually be the focus of the story (Deadpool’s entire character for example). But following the release of Iron Man, comics began to change to mimic MCU!Tony Stark’s silly little one liners that somehow gave Marvel Studios a blockbuster hit. What I’m about to say is just personal opinion, but I honest to god hate the “comedy” in the MCU. A couple movies pull it off by making it the focus of the movie (Thor: Ragnarok and Ant-Man 1+2), but for the most part, the inconsistent dry humor is awkward and boring. I didn’t realize this until The Batman, a movie that consistently maintains its dark aesthetic, came out and my mind was blowed by the cinematography. My best friend @gothictoxicc pointed out to me that that movie was so good because it didn’t ruin every dramatic scene with a dry joke that ruins the vibe. Anyways, I fucking hate that I can’t read a new Avengers comic without finding several random jokes that ruin the seriousness of the situation at hand.

Another example of an MCU fuckup that dripped into the comics is Wanda Maximoff. Oftentimes when a character is adapted to the MCU, their 616 version is subsequently drawn to look exactly like their MCU actor, despite that character clearly looking very differently for decades prior. Now if you’re an MCU fan you may be wondering why this is so frustrating for a comic fan, and I’ll tell you. It’s because of whitewashing and lightwashing. Wanda’s been around since the 1960’s and often has a distinct look (kinky/curly hair that’s either auburn or brown depending on the illustrator, and sometimes other ethnic features such as a hooked nose, tan skin, and dark eyes) yet once Elizabeth Olsen was cast in the role, Wanda began to be drawn like this in the comics. The erasure of Wanda’s ethnic features for the sake of pale skin, straight hair, and green eyes matters because Wanda is Romani. However now, her whitewashing is more easily excusable by MCU fans because “she looks white in the comics anyway.”

Side note for paragraph above: The same thing has happened with many other characters such as Natasha Romanoff, and although it’s not necessarily bigoted in any way to draw Nat like Scarlett Johansson in the comics, it does make me want to cry every time I see it.

While we’re on the subject of things that make me want to cry, let’s talk about Clint Barton. In the comics, he’s rocked a lot of funky (honestly the best adjective for them) and colorful costumes that make him stand out and look easily identifiable in comics. However, since the MCU is goddamn boring, they put Jeremy Renner in all black and called it a day. Following that, 616!Clint started dressing like a boring loser. I personally can never forgive the MCU for stripping Clint of his camp (I’ve never used that word but it feels right) outfits.

MCU influence changing the comics: Honorable mentions:

- The entire GoTG team being changed to fit their MCU counterparts in both looks and personalities. I’m talking Gamora, Peter Quill, Nebula, Groot, etc. Literally all of them.

- A younger Black Nick Fury was introduced to the comics following Samuel L. Jackson’s popularity in the MCU (which I have no problem with because who doesn’t love Samuel L. Jackson)

- Loki is now portrayed as morally grey rather than an evil little slut

- Magneto and the Maximoff twins suffered that atrocious retcon where they were revealed not to be Magneto’s children, nor to be mutants at all. This happened as a result of the dispute between Fox (daddy company of the x-men movies) and Marvel Studios over rights to the Maximoff twins, whose terms were unclear because Fox claimed rights to mutant characters while Marvel Studios claimed rights to Avengers characters, and the Maximoff twins were both. To simplify things, the twins had their origins changed in the comics so Fox wouldn’t be able to claim them. Ultimately, the two companies agreed that Marvel Studios could include both twins but had to kill one off, and Fox could include the twin that would be killed off.

#mcu fans i do think i’m better than you #my pussy is fatter and my brain is bigger #it’s simple facts

[em-writes-stuff-sometimes]

Hi Em! Just dropping by to say I’m so sorry for what you’ve endured with the rampant plagiarizing and gaslighting. No one who has done such amazing work should have to endure such a thing, and I commend you for picking yourself up and carrying on.

One thing I wonder is (and I hope you don’t mind me asking), I know you made a post quite a while back about how to write medieval smut. If I recall right, there was a line in there where you encouraged writers to emulate the style of authors they enjoyed.

I’m just wondering what the line is for you between someone simply emulating a style they enjoy (per your advice) versus plagiarism? I’m not a writer, only a fanfic enthusiast, so forgive my ignorance. I’m just genuinely curious and you’re always so kind and patient when explaining these things, so figured I’d ask. Thanks!!

Hey, nonnie!

Thank you so much for the kind words. It’s been a little frustrating keeping so much of the aftermath to myself (long story short, she’s still maintaining she did nothing wrong and her edits haven’t really removed the things I took issue with, but so long as there’s no fresh content copied from me I’ll let it lie), but I’m coping! I do wish that the people who’ve chosen to take issue in the people I keep around me hadn’t decided to absorb the plagiariser into their group as some kind of petty ‘fuck you’ to me, seeing as I think I only ever had one interaction with each of those individuals personally, but oh well. They’re not going to make me quit, though I’m sure it’s what they’re all hoping for!

You raise a good point with your query!

Firstly, I want to discuss a layman’s definition of plagiarism. Direct plagiarism is when you attempt to pass someone else’s work off as your own - for example, when you copy parts of someone else’s work as-is and neglect to attribute it to the original writer. Mosaic plagiarism occurs when you borrow small phrases here and there or use the same general structure and meaning of someone else’s work, with synonyms substituted. I’ve been a target of both these behaviours.

Now, if I were to be hyper-specific - when it comes to emulating the way someone writes, I definitely mean more grammatically speaking. For example, I tend to write prose that doesn’t feature a lot of contractions; that is “haven’t” = “have not”, etc. I also like to list those adjectives REAL hard (e.g. “she stared dazed and confused, unknowing, wondering what it all meant”). When you’re imitating someone structurally, you aren’t taking their text, their plot or their concepts. You use their style.

Here’s a hypothetical: I’m someone who is about to start a blog for publishing fanfiction for Aemond Targaryen, even though I’ve never done it before. Last time I wrote something was in high school 5 years ago. If my intent is to write fanfiction and post it online, but I’m not confident in writing, I might choose to emulate another writer. However, because the difference between emulation and plagiarism is sometimes hard to discern, it would probably be a bad idea to find someone who also writes Aemond fanfiction and emulate their style. Just in case I cross that boundary and start plagiarising! So, I’m going to think of another fandom in which a writer I’ve read in the past has a writing style that I want to be influenced by. I’m gonna go to the….. hmmm….. The Tudors (2008) fanfiction archive and seek out my favourite writer there! Now, the characters are different, the plot and content is different, but the way they express themselves might be something useful for me. I’ll do a writing exercise where I stop a scene in that fanfic at a particular point and attempt to continue it myself, writing in what I believe is their style. I’ll read all of it together, uninterrupted, to see if it flows well. If yes, then I’ll use the bit I wrote as an exercise to model my writing style off for that Aemond Targaryen fanfiction I want to do. But I’m going to MAKE SURE that the plot, the characters, the concept is completely different!

I… hope this was an answer, nonnie. It might be long. Thank you so much for asking!

#fanfiction writing asks

[tozettastone]

ask for any fandom: what characters would have the most fucked up kid?

I feel like this question needs refining so that we can fully understand it and build the scaffolding upon which to prop up our response.

Courtesy of wiktionary, the most relevant definitions of the adjective "fucked up":

Adjective

fucked up (comparative more fucked up, superlative most fucked up)

(idiomatic, vulgar) Damaged; poorly manufactured; injured. I haven’t been able to get online ’cause my computer's fucked up.

(idiomatic, vulgar) Morally reprehensible; clearly and grossly objectionable. Dude, that’s fucked up; you shouldn’t steal from kids.

(idiomatic, vulgar) In disarray or dishevelment (emotionally or otherwise). Ever since she left me, I’ve been all fucked up.

From this, it seems we are looking at children who have been somehow damaged, who exhibit low moral character, or who are "emotionally disarrayed".

In terms of moral character, I have elected to consider "morality" to form any framework that considers some perspective on "good and evil" or "right and wrong" as important to making daily choices. I would prefer not to adopt a specific universal perspective for this purpose, because morality is highly informed by culture, religion, circumstances, society, etc.,

I think emotional disarray needs some attempt at a framework or definition here, too. For this purpose, I have decided to use attachment theory, which I will very briefly describe here for parties who aren't familiar: it is an idea in psychology (and criminoloy) pioneered by long-dead psychology guy Bowlby in the 60s and added to by a slightly-less-long-dead lady named Ainsworth later.

The theory says that there are 3–4 attachment styles in people: "secure," "anxious" and "avoidant," with "disorganised" added later. This answer is already much too long, so if you want to know more about each you can look them up, but you can assume that people usually want secure attachment. The general idea is that modes of attachment to caregivers in childhood are formative and are reflected in our relationships with others as we grow up. Caregivers can act in ways that encourage or discourage secure attachment.

This is a highly "nurture" focused perspective, as you may see, and there are some criticisms of it. It disregards the possibility of, for e.g., natural temperamental differences. The theory is kind of more relevant in pop psychology in the 2020s (although it is still used!) (and I am, thank God, not a counsellor). Nevertheless, I think for the "emotional disarray" of a hypothetical fictional child, it will do as a lens to be going on with.

So in this case, I put forward that we'd be looking for parents who:

i) physically endanger their child, who

ii) lack the will or capacity to impart moral lessons, and who

iii) would foster... let's say at least not a secure attachment style, in a child (although probably a disorganised one)

Many characters you might think would create a "fucked up" child would not, strictly speaking, fulfil all of these requirements.

For example, while many ninja characters in the Naruto universe might reasonably fill option #1 by forcing a child to engage in combat and simulated combat as a part of education, it is by no means certain that they would fail to impart any moral lessons or even fail to encourage secure attachment. Hidan and Kisame are strange examples, here: both of them have significant moral frameworks for life that they would be very seriously invested in imparting to a child, and there's even indicators that both are capable of forming bonds with other people. So, surprisingly, not the most fucked up.

So we need to find a real moral sink-hole. Some character who exhibits inconsistent or hypocritical moral behaviour (or who outright rejects moral frameworks of any kind). They need to be okay with child endangerment, so it would be good to have evidence of them either physically hurting a child or attacking people already in their care without provocation or need. And they would need to, ideally, exhibit a bonkers attachment style, themselves.

In conclusion I think a fraccion developed child bred by Nnoitra Gilga and Szayelaporro Granz together would fulfil all three criteria, spectacularly and beyond imagining, based on insecure attachment (✔️), physical endangerment (✔️), and moral decrepitude, even measured against the cultural landscape of hueco mundo (✔️).

(I have not accounted for the babysitting potential of Tesla Lindocruz, who has more mental resilience in his remaining eye than either Nnoitra or Szayel have ever possessed in both their bodies.)

The child would also probably be tall, an emotional train wreck, and quite pretty. They have a large instagram following.

#ask #anon #long post #text post #child endangerment for tw? #bleach #naruto #nnoitra gilga #szayelaporro granz #arrancar

[ioannemos]

wow, fun asks. here: 2, 4, 10, 20, 29, 35, 42, 44, 47, 49, 58, 62, 64, 65

wow, lots of questions haha 😁

talk about a notable time a narrative or character has looked you dead in the eyes and said “fuck your plan, here’s what we’re actually doing.”

the only thing that comes to mind atm is actually the reverse of this. a character told me "i'm not doing that," i said "yes you are," and the character said "no i'm not and your story is DEAD now." it's been about a million years since i worked on it so i don't even remember what it was. the fandom was star wars, i remember that much...

what is the plot bunny you’ve been carrying for the longest? optional bonus question: do you ever wonder why you haven’t written it yet and experience deep existential dread?

i'm not sure, tbh. my foodless bubble city concept has finally been put to use in a fanfic, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ maybe my reverse aladdin plot bunny? had that one for a while. no existential dread bc, like, it's neat, but i'm having fun with other stuff

at what point in the process do you come up with titles, and how easy or hard is that for you?

there must be a title or the story is not written down. period. even if the title is boring or lame or doesn't quite make sense, it Must have a title or it stays in my head

my standards are not high, tho. i'll name it a word in the story's epigraph, a suitable verb/adjective/noun, a phrase from the song that inspired it, etc.

what is your favorite trope to write?

is hurt/comfort a trope?

give us a spoiler for one of your stories.

rodney never recovers

[bc i will wonder later: silence like darkness]

tell us about a character who’s very different than you who you love a whole lot.

jason. thinks books are boring. watches anime. could probably bench press a pick-up truck. works out for fun. enjoys cheap beer and spicy food. could kill you several different ways without even bringing in weaponry other than his body and training but would rather challenge you to dumb stunts like 'who can balance on a chair's two back legs the longest' or. well basically anything in my 'boys will be boys' tag

he is. such a jock. short king. borderline himbo. i love him

describe the aesthetic of a story in 5 words.

exposed, wind, reaching, cowboys, post-apocalypse

[bc i will wonder later: manifest]

any writing advice you want to share?

write what you want, fam. don't worry about being unique or cliche or whether people will like it, or even whether you'll finish it. write for yourself first

what story are you most proud of?

hmm. madonna in orange

do you want to be published some day?

hoo boy. uh. maybe??? idk. it sounds like a lot of work and a lot of time and you have to finish the story... not a realistic dream

what is the last thing that a fic made you google when you were writing it?

don't remember but it was probably how to spell a word, does this word mean what i think it means, or looking up psychosis (again)

what’s the weirdest reason you’ve ever shipped something?

the weirdest one off the top of my head is also probably my weirdest ship, obi-wan/shmi. i started shipping them when i realized they were relatively close in age, had to raise anakin, and never met in canon. it started as, idk, kind of a joke? but now i'm kinda into it

what is your favourite title for a fic you’ve read?

went looking through my bookmarks and ah yes, Nothing Says "Feel Better Soon" Like Grand Theft Larceny (white collar fic)

what is your favourite title for a fic you’ve written?

i am weirdly attached to no such thing as an innocent bystander but i also like manifest, wandering stars, how to be forgiven, the house at the end of the world, laqueus, madonna in orange...

#thank you #morfinwen #let's talk #ask #asked and answered #writing is hard #my muse is a monster #personal #abbie needs a twitter

[symptoms-syndrome]

TW for IDK. Trauma stuff but not any details.

I feel like. I need someone to tell me that what I went through was bad. I know it's the oldest brain trick in the book, the whole "my trauma wasn't bad enough" song and dance. Plus I find it incredibly annoying when other people do it to be honest.

It's just. I don't know. I feel like maybe my judgement of what happened was clouded by emotions maybe. I've been severely mentally ill and unstable and had behavioral problems my whole life. Maybe I just thought things were worse than they were. Maybe I lied at some point, to justify my emotions, and lied so well I believed myself. I can't say I haven't lied before. And I know I'm delusional. Or I think I'm delusional. I guess I wouldn't know for sure, that's sort of the nature of it. What I think is delusion could be true. In which case things are much much worse. Which I don't know how I would feel. Maybe relieved because I could point a finger and use a word instead of vague "trauma" or "abuse." But obviously worse also because it would be a new thing to fucking deal with.

I need someone to sit me down and point at some evidence and tell me exactly what I went through in objective, undeniable terms. No drama no sugarcoating no beating around the bush or leaving breadcrumb trails. But that's not possible. Only I could know what I went through. And I don't. I, and I guess some other people, but they aren't likely to tell me what they did to me, if they're even aware of what they did. Enough of the "I had a shitty childhood" or "I have trauma" or even "I was abused" I need a play-by-play. I need specific words and evidence to support them.

I have people in my life who have told me that the things that happened to me were terrible and awful and abuse etc etc etc. But enough with adjectives. I know how it felt. I need to know what it was. I need a big heavy word that feels as big and as heavy as my feelings but is objective instead of subjective.

I'm just tired of the vague cloud of memory. I need someone to show me some CCTV footage of my childhood so I can look it in the face and not be able to deny it.

I also just. I know what I didn't go through. Or I think I know what I didn't go through. I didn't go through some of the common things listed in the whole. DID risk factor bit. And those things are terrible. I'm glad I didn't. But I can't imagine anything I went through being as bad as those things. I can't picture anything I went through leading me to where I am now. It's like pages or chapters are missing. It's like if I watched someone bake a cake, mix all the ingredients, pour it in a pan, put it in the oven, and then 30 minutes later they take out a cooked turkey.

[twiststreet]

I’ve got Days of Thunder on for noise since it’s sitting on HBO, which means I’m once again thinking about The Only Question I Wish a Journalist Would Ask Tom Cruise.  I don’t want them to ask about his doing stunts-- he’s never going to be honest about the truth because he tried to explain it once (that he has spiritual beliefs that drive him to try to "be exceptional”) and everyone fucking made of him and yelled at him.  He’s not going to be honest about that...

But so, the only question I want someone to ask about:  there was a whole arc to his career, where he started out playing the Callow Young American Man-- that’s a lot of great movies.  That’s Rain Man, Cocktail, Risky Business, the very underrated Color of Money (the best early Cruise?); echoes of it in Magnolia, Jerry Maguire, The Firm, etc., maybe reaching a peak in playing the Kubrick-pathetic character in Eyes Wide Shut. (Or you know, Born on the 4th of July is one that doesn’t come up a lot when people talk about Cruise, but).  He used to really excel playing the guy who’s successful and has it all, but who is trying to skate by on his good looks and cocky attitude-- and who has to address some profound emotional need before the movie wraps up.  

And you could imagine him going and being Michael Douglas-- Michael Douglas was the “American Man Asking What’s the Deal with These Crazy Broads” for a long, long time!  But I think especially after Kubrick broke him over his knee, the kinds of stories Cruise has been telling changed-- his characters now? The adjectives aren’t the same: determined, driven, single-minded; characters in pursuit of excellence who are being held back by their worlds.  That’s Minority Report, Collateral, Ethan Hunt, Jack Reacher, Knight and Day, the dad protecting his kids in War of the Worlds, Oblivion, even the guy in Tropic Thunder.  His cameo as Austin Powers in Goldmember.  Et cetera. (I don’t know where American Made falls because I bounced off that one in the first fifteen minutes, turned it on in the wrong context and never went back).  

I just want someone to ask him about that, how he thinks about that change in his career, if he thinks about that change in his career. There’s things about those characters now that are impossible to imagine in a Tom Cruise movie.  The guy in Days of Thunder makes an ass of himself-- there’s this whole scene where he has to admit to Robert Duvall like “I don’t actually know how cars work, I just like when they go vroom, I just turn the key and the rest is a mystery to me, PS what do boobs feel like I’ve never touched one.”  (It’s a ridiculous movie, just a really lovably ridiculous movie). The character flaws have just been replaced with ... Tom Cruise telling stories about how somebody needs to have their shit together completely, or else things fall into chaos. I just want to know how much of that is intentional, or how he thinks about it...

Maybe he can’t answer that either because it again goes into spiritual beliefs that he knows he can’t talk about now.  But that’s what I’d like someone to talk about with the guy because... Because he worked with Paul Newman.  And he’s talked in interviews with McQuarrie about how they’re both obsessed with Butch & Sundance, and talking constantly about the framing from that movie, and so on. He’s gotta have opinions coming out of his ears about what the audience wants to see from an older star after studying Newman, because Newman was a thing to be reckoned with until the very end, so... 

In conclusion: Days of Thunder is a lot funnier than I remembered it being, though it’s really hard to say how much of it is intentionally funny or how much of it is just colored by watching it post-Talladega Nights.  Early Nicole Kidman, too, so-- hello to that.

#tom cruise