#or i might expose mi new blog

[airbendertendou]

lonely heart ♡ danny johnson

soulmate au where the first time you have skin to skin contact, your body glows & is stamped w their handprint - it looks like a birthmark.

cw ; typical dbd warnings [blood n gore] ; reader offers ghostie a nude pic in exchange for freedom ; might b ooc but idc <3 ; how danny looks is up to you!

if you have a blank blog [no bio, no user, no header or profile pic, nothing reblogged, etc] do not interact with my content. you will be blocked.

——♡——

The heat of the campfire brushes against your face, warming your skin just enough to forget the biting wind. Nancy is beside you, falling asleep where she sits, nodding her head forward before she snaps out of it. Across the fire, Feng is chatting idly with Dwight and Steve, Leon chiming in when he felt like it. 

The bench-like-log you’re sitting on shifts as Nea takes a seat, letting out a huff as she settles. “It’s been quiet recently,” she says, “too quiet if you ask me.”

“I’m a little wary,” you agree. Your eyes scope the woods surrounding the survivors as if someone is going to pop out any second. They wouldn’t, though — the killers kept away from the light of the fire and never wandered any closer than they were allowed. “I wonder if something’s happened.”

Nea rolls her eyes, “we wouldn’t be so lucky.” 

You grin at her pessimism, shoving her lightly with your left shoulder. Nea snickers as Nancy jumps awake once more, jolting in her sleep before yawning. A faded, gray fog settles over the camp and with it, five more survivors make their way around the campfire. You know what that means — a new trial is bound to start at any second.

Readying yourself, your muscles tense and your heart rate picks up, preparing to sprint when the time comes. A darkened, indigo-tinted fog wraps around you — it’s cold and loud as it grasps you from the campfire. You blink and then you’re in Haddonfield. 

Taking in a deep breath, you shuffle quickly to the nearest generator. Feng smiles as she passes by you stealthily, clicking her flashlight at you a few times. The area is terrifyingly quiet — it must mean your killer this round is a watcher. You puff up your cheeks as you mis-wire something, moving away from the generator that’s popped.

A scream echoes in the distance — it sounds too close, so you take off.

Momentarily, you hide in a dusty bedroom. You peek from the walls, not spotting anyone other than the back of Leon’s bulletproof vest. Another look from the room — another scream hits the air. 

Finding another generator was easy enough, but trying to stay hidden was a little more difficult. Your fingers curl and tug on wires, the smell of oil and burning wires hitting you the more you twiddle with them. Claudette hovers beside you, checking to see if you need any healing. Deeming you healthy, she flops to the other side of the generator.

“It’s Ghostface,” she breathes. Looking over her shoulder warily, she gulps as she looks back to you. “Already got Feng and Dwight. Only one gen’s done ; I’ve been hooked.”

You pause your wiring, confusion building up in you. “I haven’t even seen him yet.”

Claudette pauses too, looking over you with a furrowed eyebrow. “If we don’t make it, then win for us. Yeah?”

The generator pops with completion, lighting up for a second and exposing your location. You take off in the opposite direction Claudette did, hopping through a window and out through the backdoor. A flash of black catches your eye — your killer has finally shown himself.

You decide to buy everyone else some time. Hopefully, with a little distraction, a few more generator’s could be fixed.

Sneaking behind him, you let out a small “psst!” and wait for his attention to fall on you. He whips around, white mask greeting you. Walking towards a closet, you point to it a few times. Ghostface looks from the closet, to you, and back again. You wiggle your hand, insisting, “someone’s in there!”

Curiously, the closet door creaks open and Ghostface sees it’s empty. He turns to face you slowly and you’re already holding back giggles. A chase is pursued — something you struggle to do with all of your laughter. He swings his knife haphazardly, not really aiming at you, but not allowing you to get away with your joke either.

“Heheh—ah!” After a successful swing, a cut slashes across your arm. Blood seeps from it as you fall to the ground, laughter still spilling from your lips as you roll around. Ghostface shakes his head down at you — as if he’s disappointed in your joke — before he saunters off to find his next victim. You frown as your laughter comes to a stop, “well, now what?”

Another generator pops and you think this is it. We’re so close to going home — well, what you call home now. Letting out a sigh, you sit up and wrap your new cut with a bandage. You hear a squeal, then a scream. Seems our Ghostie is agitated now ; ready to get the trial over with. 

Chills flow up your spine, a cold sweat breaking out on your forehead as the feeling of being watched overpowers you. That can’t be good. You stiffen, looking through the corner of your eyes without turning your head. Hopefully, you’ll see him with your peripheral vision if he’s near. Otherwise— you didn’t want to think of the other option.

Sneakily, you tip-toe into a nearby house, hoping to wait out the feeling. But, you know you won’t. One thing about Ghostface is once his eyes are set on you, you’re not escaping. A noise catches your attention in the silence — the sound of a latch unlocking. 

The hatch — you must be the only one left. 

Your breath catches in your throat as you creep along the street, keeping an eye out for the hatch. You see it — it’s right in your sights and your heart rate picks up. Shaky breaths escape your parted lips as you glance around the empty street. Coast is clear — time to make a run for it.

Until a white mask phases in out of nowhere, directly on the other side of the hatch.

“Oh, come on,” you whine. Ghostface tilts his head at you, waving his knife teasingly. Your arm stings with the shine of it, bandage now being colored a deep red. “I’m so close to ending this!” He continues to stare your way silently. “Don’t you think this is a little unfair?”

“That’s the game, doll.” You’ve never heard him speak before now. A static-y, modulated voice isn’t what you expect to hear. He creeps closer, no longer directly across from you. “That’s what makes this fun.”

You purse your lips, fingers knotting together at the edge of your edge. “Okay, how about this? You let me take hatch, and I’ll let you take a shirtless picture of me. My face isn’t allowed to be in it, though!”

Ghostface bounced where he stood, an excited giggle echoing in his mask as he immediately agreed. Puffing up your cheeks, you let out a breath before nodding to yourself in encouragement. A polaroid camera has replaced the blood-soaked knife in his hand — even with the weapon gone from sight, dread flushes through you.

“Okay,” you say to yourself, “this is no big deal.”

Without another thought, your fingers clench the end of your shirt and raise it to cover your face. Your skin prickles with the wind, goosebumps raising at the new sensation. With bated breath, you wait to hear the shutter go off — a click, another giggle, the hatch closing ; anything. All that’s there is silence.

And then a leather glove is wrapped around your wrist.

Jumping at the sudden touch, your shirt falls back into place as you take a step back. Only a sliver of skin is free from the glove — just enough for his skin to brush against yours.

A golden sheen takes over you, settling where your bodies meet. In a panic induced state, you’re pushed to the ground as Ghostface hovers over top of you. Shaky, shallow breaths hit his mask as his camera is settled to the right of your head. Slowly, he peels a glove off and reaches for you.

Where his now bare hand meets, a light follows. Right on your wrist, the shape of his fingers is imprinted forever, as if it were a birthmark you were born with. It was supposed to be a myth — a tale shared between hopeless romantic’s. Soulmates weren’t supposed to actually exist.

Except, yours apparently did. In a realm you couldn’t escape ; killing you and your fellow survivors on a continuous loop. You were stuck there — stuck with a murderer as your soulmate until forevermore. 

Ruffled hair is exposed to the wind as Ghostface unmasks himself, his pupils practically hearts as he stares down at you. His eyes search your face, never settling on one particular spot as he drinks you in entirely. You feel as he lets out a breath ; feel his shoulders sag with some kind of relief as he grabs one of your hands. He leads it to his face and lets out another sigh when his skin glows, the shape of your hand left on the left side of his face.

“Mine,” his voice is soft. You can’t stop looking at him — can’t stop staring at your hand that’s been imprinted onto his cheek. “You’re all mine. Made just for me.”

You can’t tell if the feeling swelling inside of you is dread or excitement. But, you let him pull you closer anyways ; allow him to hug you as he pleases. This could come in handy, after all. Maybe.

——♡—— lets ignore that valentines day is over already teehee <3 i hope my version of ghostie is okay, idk how well i write him </3 airbendertendou © do not copy, plagiarize, repost, or translate my content on any platform. if you see my content under any other name than my own, let me know. i only have this tumblr and an ao3 account under the same name.

#danny johnson x reader #danny johnson imagines #jed olsen x reader #jed olsen imagines #danny johnson ghostface #ghostface x reader #ghostface x you #ghostface imagine #dbd imagine #dbd x reader #dbd ghostface #dead by daylight imagines #dead by daylight x reader #dead by daylight imagine #dead by daylight ghostface #💝 : soulmate au’s

[juanjoltaire]

Learning to Let Go

I was heartbroken when I realized that I was letting my goals slip away from me. For the past seven+ years, I've made it my mission to have at least one good personal art piece to show per month so I can do my end of year summary, and it's been honestly one of my favorite things to do: to gather up my best pieces of the year and see how far I've come. You'll notice this year is half as short and has no monthly labels, and that's because I didn't end up doing one nice art piece a month. And it's hard for me to let myself be okay with 'failing' at something I wanted so badly to keep up with. But I'm envious of everyone else posting their nice pretty summaries so I thought I might as well be proud of the few that I did end up making and do half a chart.

I work as a professional illustrator for a company, so it's not that I don't do any other art at all, but the stuff that I post here online is the stuff that is for me, and I want to be able to do that, not just for keeping up an artist blog but for my own fulfillment. But there are things that get in the way of that, factors including my chronic hand pain, my lack of inspiration, and my medication which keeps me very sedate. Most of the time I spend my evenings playing video games because it's an activity that requires less will power and creates less hand pain than doing art. My inspiration well has been dry for quite some time and often it's hard for me to think of things that feel worth the effort of creation. If I try to draw without an idea I just end up with another three-quarter face that just...has no appeal whatsoever.

I've been trying to remedy this by buying lots of classes. I've bought classes from Class101, Domestika, and a subscription to Schoolism, and I've been working my way very slowly through a few of them this year. Certainly not as much as I would like to get through but I'm trying, trying to stretch myself and do new things to practice illustration, which is good. The truth is though that I don't think I'll ever get back to the point of being super active like I once was, especially, particularly, with how volatile the art industry has become in the last year. I frankly don't want to expose myself to the rampant theft the community has been dealing with day in and day out now.

Over the past few months, after I knew I wasn't gonna make my goal, I've started to try to make peace with that. To stop pressuring myself to make art on a regular basis and just let myself be. Is it okay that I just want to play video games? Yeah, that's okay. (Is it?) Yeah. Is it okay not to feel inspired? Yeah. Is it okay that I didn't make enough art to keep up a monthly journey that I've been tracking for years? Yeah. It's okay. You still have something to show, even if it's just half.

And I did do something that I'm really proud of, which is finishing the Les Mis Zombie illustration that I've been holding onto as a sketch for years. Just accomplishing that, making an eight-character full color illustration in a time when I'm really struggling, is worth the weight of several finished drawings. Good job, me. That was a long haul and you got it done.

Anyway, if you read all this, thanks. And if you're suffering from the same creative problems, then I hope you feel less alone. I'm tired, we're all tired, and that's okay. Treat yourself nicer, and maybe things will feel better next year. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway. Cheers.

Previous Art Summaries

#art summary #art summary 2021 #year in review

[nashibirne]

Please don't stop the music

Pairing: Clark × y/n / reader

Summary: Clark Kent is your neighbour and good friend but over the last months you've fallen in love with him. Clark has no clue because you're way too shy to make a move on him. So you yearn for him secretly. Until today...

Credits: This was inspired by @fuckoffbard 's fantastic playlists for some of Henry's characters. Check them out, there's such a lot of great, inspiring music to discover!

Warnings: pure fluff, lots of kissing and smut too, virgin reader, deflowering, first time, sex, unprotected sex, all vanilla and sweet, friends to lovers, nsfw, 18+

Unbeta'ed! English is not my mother tongue, so read with caution. 

This is my first try to write from reader's perspective. There's a lot of "you" and "he" in it but I hope it's okay.

Tags:

@agniavateira @lunedelorient @inlovewithhisblueeyes @willkatfanfromasia @hell1129-blog @mis-lil-red

So...let's get the party started

"That was delicious, Clark. The best chicken pot pie I've ever had." You lean back in your chair with a satisfied sigh, placing a hand on your belly. "Thanks. It's my mum's recipe. I'm glad you liked it." "I did. It will take some beating to make something better next friday."

You have established kind of a habit over the last few weeks. Every Friday night you cook for each other and watch Netflix together afterwards. This week it's been Clark's turn to cook for you in your apartment. Those nights are heaven and hell at the same time for you. It's heavenly to spend so much time with him, to be close to him but the constant secret craving is dreadful. You could do something about it, sure, but that would mean to lower your guard, to expose yourself, to run the risk of getting rejected and hurt and even worse of losing Clark as a friend. 

Apart from the fact that you are almost pathologically shy you wouldn't even know how to make a move on him because you've never done something like this before. You have never confessed your feelings for someone, you've never made the first step. You've never been in a relationship. You have never done more than kissing. You are a grown up woman and still a virgin.

At least in real life. In your fantasy you are an experienced badass of a woman, in your dreams you are a self-confident bomb shell, in the short stories you secretly write you do all the naughty things you've never done in reality though you'd love to. Your fictional alter ego does all the things you yearn for. She's straight forward, extroverted, sexy. The hottest guys fall for her as soon as they lay eyes on her. She knows how to please a man and how to make a man please her. She knows no limits, no taboos, no coyness. 

And thanks to internet research, porn, fan fiction and masturbation you know everything about sex - technique, positions, kinks, toys, language. You're a pro in theory and clueless in real life. 

"So what about some music." Clark interrupts your thoughts. Still a little absent you point at your mobile. "Sure, just choose a playlist. The app should be opened."

You regret your words as soon as they've left your mouth.

Shit.

Clark grabs your phone and starts scrolling through the music app.

Please, don't see it. Please, don't see it. Please, don't see it.

"You have a playlist called Clark?"

Fuck!

"Umm...yes?"

He chuckles and gives you a funny look. His beautiful blue eyes find yours and your heart starts racing.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? Just because." How can you ever explain to him that this playlist includes all the cheesy, steamy, sad and cheerful songs that make you think about him. That you listen to when you daydream about him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Clark laughs, leaning forward, cocking his head. "You make a playlist and name it after me for no reason?"

Ground swallow me up...

"Who says I named it after you?" You cross your arms in front of your chest defensively.

"So there's another man called Clark in your life? Who's he?"

Think for heaven's sake. Think.

"Well...um..."

"Yes?" Clark grins, obviously having fun watching your attempt to wriggle out of this situation.

"Well, if you must know...you're right. It is named after you. It was supposed to be a surprise. I put all the songs in it, I think you might like. I planned to send you the link for your birthday."

Good...badass move.

You sigh with relief a little too loud.

"Oh really? That's nice. Great idea actually."

"Thanks."

"Can we listen to it?"

"No! Of course not. You'd spoil the surprise!"

"Oh, come on, y/n. You have seven months left to add new songs."

Shit.

Without waiting for permission Clark starts the playlist and you're horrified when you hear 'Addicted' by Saving Abel. Of all songs he's chosen one of the sexiest. Heaven help!

"Never heard of this one. Sounds great. I like Rock." Clark says, listening to the lyrics carefully.

I'm so addicted to

All the things you do

When you're going down on me In between the sheets

Oh the sounds you make With every breath you take

It's unlike anything When you're loving me

"Interesting choice." he mumbles with a smirk and a wink that makes you blush.

"Yeah...now give me my phone."

"No way." Clark laughs and skips to the next song. You smile when 'Chicken Fried' by the Zac Brown Band starts playing. This song feels like home for you and you love imagining you and Clark visiting a bar that plays country music where you have a beer and dance all night long.

You know I like my chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night

A pair of jeans that fit just right

And the radio up

You can't help but nod your head to the rhythm, humming along. Clark raises an eyebrow, watching you curiously, a smile playing on his lips. "So what's next?" 

'I wanna kiss you all over' by Exile sounds from the little Bluetooth speaker on the table now.

I wanna kiss you all over

And over again

I wanna kiss you all over

Till the night closes in

"Oohh..." Clark wiggles his eyebrows. "Seventies rock...really?"

"Yes. Really." you snap and grab for your phone but Clark's too fast. He grabs it first and presses it to his broad chest. 

"Come on, Kent. Choose another playlist. That's stupid." You are really annoyed and embarrassed now.

"Why? It's pretty interesting which kind of songs you've chosen for me. Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, Jeff Bates..seems I strike you as a country guy." He scrolls through the playlist with a big grin. "And what's that?" He starts laughing again, skipping to the next song. "Barry Manilow?" 

'Can't smile without you' That's maybe the cheesiest song ever but you love it so so  much. Every single word of the lyrics expresses what you feel for Clark so accurately. The melody makes you so happy, everytime you hear it you picture yourself and Clark as a happy, loving couple, spending a wonderful day in the park. Just like the couples in chick flicks do it all the time. Kissing and laughing and holding hands, making a little picnic on the lawn beside a lake, drinking champagne and eating strawberries from each other's hands. 

And you see I can't smile without you

I can't smile without you

I can't laugh and I can't sing

I'm finding it hard to do anything

You see I feel glad when you're glad

I feel sad when you're sad

If you only knew what I'm going through

I just can't smile without you

You sigh thinking about it but Clark is close to a laughing fit. "Please, y/n. Tell me you don't seriously think I like that kind of music." He wipes away a tear from the corner of his eye. You press your lips together unable to say anything. You realize you're on the brink of bursting into tears and you get up from your chair quickly.

"Just delete the songs you don't like, there's no need to make fun of me." You turn around and stare out of the window, no longer able to hold back tears.

"Hey, y/n. What the hell...." Clark is by your side within seconds. He looks at you with a worried and confused expression. "Hey." he says softly again. "What's up, why are you crying?" He takes you by your shoulders gently and turns you around to make you look at him. "I'm sorry. I was just teasing you. Please...don't cry."

You sob and rub your eyes to stop the tears from falling.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm being ridiculous. It's just...that stupid playlist. You weren't supposed to see it..."

"It's not really a birthday surprise, is it?"

You shake your head.

"So what is it." 

You don't dare to look at him. You just stare at your feet without saying a word.

"Y/n?" He touches your shoulder and a shiver runs down your spine.

"I can't tell you." you whisper.

"Why not?"

"It's silly."

"I'm sure it's not. Just tell me, okay?"

You lift your head to look at him. You gulp when you realize how close he's standing to you. His eyes meet yours and he gives you an encouraging nod. "Okay. I'm going to tell you under one condition."

"Yes?"

"Promise me not to say anything about it. I tell you what the playlist is about and you won't say a word, okay? We will never talk about this again."

Clark stares at you for several seconds. "Okay." He finally agrees with a frown.

You swallow hard, closing your eyes, taking a deep breath before you open them again. Clark takes your hands in his. "Whatever it is. You can tell me." You know he wants to reassure you but to feel your hands in his makes you even more nervous. At the same time you would never  want to let go because the sensation of closeness and intimacy is so incredible. You clear your throat, knowing full well that it's too late to back down.

You can do this. 

"The playlist... It's not for you it's more...about you." You look him in the eyes and he smiles at you, nodding slightly, indicating to you to go on. "All these songs, they are somehow connected to you. They remind me of you. They make me think about you. They make me dream about you." Your voice fades into a whisper. "Because I'm in love with you."

You lower your eyes and stare at your feet. Several seconds pass before you feel his finger under your chin. Clark lifts your head gently and makes you look at him. He keeps his promise and doesn't say a word. Instead he brings his lips close to yours and you look at him with surprise. In his eyes you see happiness and lust and you gasp when you realize that he's about to kiss you. 

When his lips touch yours, time seems to stand still. When he starts kissing you tenderly the world stops turning for a moment. The kiss intensifies and you feel like you're melting in his embrace, in his strong arms. You feel his hands on your waist, sliding under your blouse and you mirror his actions, following his lead. When he feels your touch he moans softly into your mouth.

Clark pulls away and breaks the kiss, he's just as breathless as you.  "Am I allowed to say something? Not related to the...you know what." he asks with a smirk.

You giggle and nod your head. "Sure."

He cups your face with his big hands and looks you deep in the eyes.

"I'm in love with you too, y/n. More than you can imagine maybe. More than I could have imagined before I met you."

"Clark..." You kiss him again and things heat up quickly. You can feel his fingers all over your body, his lips all over your skin. You can tell how aroused he is by the huge bulge in his jeans that presses against you. His moans are so incredibly sexy, the way he whispers naughty little things into your ear makes you shiver. Your panties are soaked and you wonder if this is normal or if he's going to be disgusted when he finds out.

You get your answer only seconds later. Clarks hand is between your thighs now, wandering higher, underneath your skirt, until it reaches your crotch. It slides over your panties between your legs with light pressure which causes you to sigh with lust and desire.

"You're all wet for me." Clark whispers in your ear. "So sexy..." He's heavily breathing now and you get turned on even more. "I want you. I want you so much" he moans into your neck, his hands on your breasts playing with your nipples.

"I want you too, Clark." You groan loudly, when sucks on the sensitive spot above your collarbone.

He pulls away, gives you a smirk and takes your hand, leading you to your bed, that is placed in the corner of your one-room-apartment.

You're about to lay down but he stops you.

"Not so fast." He kisses you again and then he begins to take off his clothes. When he's done and you finally dare to take a look, you can't help but let out a little whistle. "Wow. You're shredded...and...big." You're amazed and scared at the same time.

Jesus. How's this supposed to fit?

Clark seems to read your mind. "Don't worry, you're gonna like it." He gives you a sexy lopsided smile and pulls you close. The next round of hot, passionate kisses follows and he starts to unbutton the light summer blouse you're wearing and strips it off you body. You take off your skirt and feel very self-conscious when you stand so close to him in only your underwear. 

"Look at you. You're beautiful." Clark whispers in your ear while he unclasps your bra. Only seconds later it lands beside the bed together with your panties.

"You're beautiful." He repeats and you blush. You reach out your hand and touch his chest. He grabs your hand and presses it on the spot above his racing heart. You're relieved that he seems to be a little nervous too. He grins and gives you a light, playful push and you fall on your bed, landing on your back. When you smile at him he plops down on the bed right by your side and kisses you again. Your hands start exploring your naked bodies. You touch Clark's cock shyly and caress it carefully. It feels wonderful, smooth like velvet and hard as a rock.

"Fuck, y/n. That's great. So hot..." Clark growls in a dark voice full of arousal and he starts stroking your pussy. His fingers run through your wet folds and he rubs your clit, making you whimper with pleasure.

"Oh god." you sigh. This feels so much better than you could ever have imagined. So much better than doing it yourself. He's rough and gentle at the same time and you love it.

When you feel one of his fingers at your entrance you flinch. 

"Clark, wait!" You make him stop before he pushes in.

"What's wrong?"

"I've never done this before." 

"This?" He's visibly confused.

"Sex." you say, giving him a sheepish smile.

Clark sits up straight, taken by surprise.

Shit...Mood killer

"You're a virgin?" he asks with an amazed frown.

"Yes. I'm sorry..."

"There's no reason to be sorry, babe. I just wasn't expecting that. It's okay." He gives you a tender little kiss. "We don't have to do it tonight, if you don't want to. We can wait. Do it another time."

Nope. Not gonna happen.

"No! I've waited long enough. I want this. I want to sleep with you. Tonight. Now." You say insistently. "I just wanted you to know why I'm so clumsy and insecure." 

"You're not clumsy. You are doing this perfectly." 

"Okay." You sigh with relief.

"So do you want me to go on?" You feel his fingers on your pussy again.

"Yes." You moan.

Clarks starts pleasuring you with his hand again. He stimulates your clit, strokes your folds and gently fingers you, finding your g-spot without problems and soon you're a panting, whimpering mess.

"Clark...fuck..."

"You like that, y/n?"

"I do. I'm close..."

"Then come for me, babe." 

And that's what you do. You close your eyes and a powerful orgasm runs through your body, causing you to convulse with loud shrieks and long, lustful moans. When you look at Clark again he smirks and carefully climbs on top of you.

"Are you ready for me?"

"Yes." You nod eagerly.

"Sure? I need to hear that you want this, angel."

"I want it. Fuck me, Clark." You hiss when you feel the tip of his huge dick press against your entrance.

"I'll be careful. I promise." He smiles and strokes your cheek. "Whenever you feel uncomfortable just tell me and I'll stop, okay?"

"Okay." 

Clark kisses a trail from your mouth down your neck to your tits where he sucks your nipples, gently biting them. You sigh and you can't wait to feel him inside of you. You lift your hips and Clark slowly pushes his cock into your pussy, bit by bit he enters you carefully and it feels sensational. He stops when he reaches your hymen and then he quickly pushes through. The pain you feel is sharp but it's over in the blink of an eye and all you feel afterwards is pleasure. The pleasure of Clarks dick stretching you to the max, filling you completely. 

"You're ok?" He looks at you, searching your eyes for any sign of pain or disapproval. 

"I'm good. This feels great." you whisper and when he starts moving carefully with slow, short thrusts you moan his name again and again.

"Fuck, you are so tight...this is...spectacular." Clarks voice is raspy and he picks up speed a little. "You take me so well, babe." He moans out of breath. "I'm close." 

His thrusts get harder and faster but he's still careful and gentle. It doesn't take him long to cum hard with a loud growl. He collapses on top of you and you kiss passionately, hugging each other tightly while his dick is still inside of you. When he finally pulls out and rolls off  you both sigh in unison.

"That was wonderful, Clark."

"Did it hurt?" He looks at you with a worried expression on his handsome face.

"Just a tiny little bit." You say and rest your head on his chest, playing with his chest hair.

You giggle when you hear 'Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton sounding from the speaker.

"The playlist is still running. Maybe I should stop it." you say, ready to get up and look for your phone but Clark stops you.

"Don't" he murmurs. "Your playlist is perfect. So please don't stop the music." 

"Sure?"

"Sure. Can't wait to make love to you to every single song." And with a smirk on his lips he falls asleep and you close your eyes too, feeling immensely happy, satisfied and loved.

#henry cavill #henry cavill fandom #cavillry #clark kent #clark x reader #clark kent x y/n #smut

[miraculouscontent]

Didn’t Need Burrow (April 11th-16th)

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: After the Truth episode occurs, Luka will either not appear nor be talked about(not even by Marinette, Juleka, Sass, or Anarka) at all, or, if he does appear, he'll avoid Marinette like the Black Plague. Guess who's fault it'll be(Kagami will still appear and be on good terms with Adrien, though, since anything that makes Marinette happy needs to be either ruined or gotten rid of, while anything that makes her miserable needs to stay around just to be rubbed into her face.).

I s2g if they have Adrien and Kagami patch things up immediately just to make Marinette feel awkward--

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: The idea that Nino's hat is a keepsake from his late brother comes up during an episode where it inevitably gets damaged and/or destroyed. Marinette is somehow responsible/blamed for this, and/or is forced to try and repair it regardless of feasibility, while being guilt-tripped/ridden every inch of the way. Bonus points for Adrien making some clueless comment about buying a replacement and STILL being treated as more empathetic to Nino's feelings even while ignoring them.

“Bonus” if everyone pressures her over the hat, which eventually leads to Marinette realizes that it can’t be fixed to be the exact same way, so she hides it and lies about it, leading to the episode blaming her for hiding things from her “totally understanding friends” (who are suddenly “totally understanding” and are only upset that she lied to them/”thought so lowly of them”) instead of her friends for making her feel like she had to be perfect.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: A Sleeping Beauty-inspired akuma will ensnare Ladybug, 'forcing' Chat Noir to kiss her awake. While Adrien/Chat naturally claims that he would 'never take advantage of his lady', he is openly gleeful at the prospect and taunts her afterwards, complete with a call back to Oblivio as he tells her to 'check the LadyBlog' to find out what happened. Her dismay over this is played entirely for laughs.

*flashbacks to the “jokes” in “Prime Queen”*

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Just like in countless Salt Fics, Alya will get upset at Ladybug for claiming that it's 'too dangerous' for her to be Rena Rouge anymore after Miracle Queen. Regardless of what she does/how she lashes out, Marinette will be held 100% responsible for the fallout, with Su-Han criticizing her for selecting Alya/the others in the first place AND for 'allowing' their identities to be exposed.

That’s what you get for trusting people, Marinette (apparently).

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will expose more Miraculous-related secrets on the LadyBlog, such as posting the identities of the heroes who were 'already outed' by Miracle Queen. Marinette will be blamed for this, with Su-Han reading her the riot act for every single choice she's made.

And also, Alya will get no flack for this because “she’s a journalist!! she’s just doing what she’s supposed to do!”

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: After spending most of the season taking the piss out of Marinette at every available opportunity, Su-Han will start warming up to her just in time to be taken out of the equation by something like Alya posting another 'big scoop' on her blog revealing his existence to the villains. Marinette will be left with even less support and all of the guilt, while Alya learns absolutely nothing from the experience because why would she?

Considering “Truth,” I just automatically presume that characters who support Marinette lovingly/unconditionally will either be abused or kicked to the curb.

Anonymous said:

Don't need Burrow: "Queen Banana" will be like typical episode with Chloe akumatization. 90% Chloe drama and angst, 10% akumatized Chloe (and probably 0% sense)

Show, I’m begging you, just let this character’s focus die already. We are SO tired...

Anonymous said:

didnt need burrow: the show ends with hawkmoth (now shadowmoth i guess) being defeated, heavy implications that the LS will be canon, but no solid proof, any other plot holes disappear in the cheery end music and all fans are left annoyed at the open ending filled with plot holes (bonus: That Guy says smin like "you would know if you watched carefully" to anyone that asks wtf happened)

Fun for us love square salters at least so there’s that? :P

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Trixx wants to return to Alya despite the danger/her past exposure, and ignores Marinette's concerns, leaving/reuniting with Alya over her protests. This is either played as 'It's fine, and Marinette should have trusted Alya more' or 'It's not fine, and it's all Marinette's fault for trusting Alya in the first place and letting Trixx get so attached'. Or both.

Astruc would totally use the opportunity to brag about the whole, “She’s already taken!” line in “Truth” being foreshadowing.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Bunnix reveals that there is an alternate, 'better' future in which Lila never worked with Hawkmoth and became a heroine instead. The turning point was, naturally, that Ladybug never called her out for lying/stealing from Adrien. (Possibly because Adrien never snooped in the safe in this timeline, yet it's still depicted as Marinette's fault.) May couple with confirming she's the future Hawkmoth and that it's all Mari's fault the heroes are still fighting her years later.

Which means that Chat makes the “reversible” mistakes (i.e: Cataclysming Bunnyx’s miraculous) while Ladybug makes the “permanent” ones.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette/Ladybug will get accused of being a selfish glory hound who needs to learn how to share the credit and 'be a team player'... after Adrien/Chat slacks off during a fight and refuses to help. Bonus points if this is tied into the exposed heroes' predicament somehow, implying that the REAL reason she won't give them 'their' Miraculi back is that she's selfish/short-sighted/not good at working with others/insert other bullshit excuse here.

T_T

I’m so tired.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will do something unbelievably selfless and self-sacrificing, only to promptly be slammed by the narrative and treated as though her decision was incredibly selfish.

Honestly you could just ad lib that.

“Marinette will do [something positive], only to promptly be slammed by the narrative and treated as though her decision was [negative].”

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Su-Han will pressure, belittle and berate Marinette until she breaks and agrees to give up being Ladybug/the Guardian. This is naturally treated as the worst thing she could possibly do, with everyone (including Su-Han) ripping into her for it. There is no equivalent of Plagg's 'I've had many holders, but nobody can replace you, Adrien' shilling, beyond Marinette being informed that she MUST continue and deal with her many inadequacies by becoming BETTER. She has no choice.

“You’re the worst Ladybug!”

“Okay I’ll stop being Ladybug.”

“HOW DARE YOU”

“?!?!?!”

Anonymous said:

Don’t need Burrow to know that the writers will retcon Marinette allowing Adrien to BORROW her lucky charm so that Marinette actually GAVE it to him instead.

Bonus: of course, the birthday scarf issue/secret is never addressed. RIP in piece, Marinette gift number xxx0

Technically, this has already happened even back in “Befana,” so I don’t count it. Adrien has said that Marinette gave him that lucky charm forever.

Definitely adding that scarf one though.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get Love Square scenes (shipping fuel) in the next episode (even though Maribug and Adrichat just broke up with Luka and Kagami).

I mean, we got love square shipping fuel in the Adrimi and Lukanette episodes, so :|

I’ve just come to expect inappropriate timing at this point.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: In a future episode Chat Noir will be even worse than he was in Lies and still be portrayed sympathetically. I don't know how you can get that low, but I have faith that the writers will be able to pull it off and that's not a good thing

“I don't know how you can get that low“

they’ll find a way, I’m sure

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Kagami will become an antagonist/team up with Shadow Moth post-Adrimi breakup for the plot twist "the main villain has been in the show all along." ((This is based on the end card for Lies. I really hope they don't do this because Kagami is one of the only reasons I'm still watching the show.))

I’d only be here for that if her endgoal is getting Luka and Marinette as far away from the plot as possible.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: We STILL don't know how the Peacock Miraculous got damaged and how Emilie Agreste fell sick. Bonus points, we find out in the season/series finale or on social media.

Double bonus if Astruc claims that the decision is good and they did it on purpose (probably to keep people talking).

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: Zoe debuts as the new Bee holder on the same episode Chloé is akumatized.

I’m 100% expecting Chloe to be salty at all the adoration that Zoe gets.

Anonymous said:

Didn't Need Burrow: if Adrien is ever in the wrong about something, it will only be for about five minutes and it will ultimately be blamed on Marinette.

Marinette: *breathes*

writers: Yes! Something we can blame on her!

Anonymous said:

Didn't need burrow: The relationship between the Couffaines and Jagged will not be explored. They might perform a song together and that's all, Luka forgives Jagged for abandoning him (his daddy issues just magically disappear so he doesn't bring it up anymore) while Juleka doesn't interact with Jagged at all

I’m torn between, “Luka will basically never appear again,” and, “Luka will suddenly appear much more often now that he’s no longer a ‘threat’ to the love square (Marinette didn’t break up with him because of Adrien but sure).”

Anonymous said:

Didn't need Burrow: "Gabriel Agreste" will be all about how he's not really evil just misunderstood. He had a lonely childhood or some garbage and we should feel totally sad for him you guys.

wow i hate it

#Didn't Need Burrow

[vaingloriosa]

the ultimate tagged masterpost

so, i have been slacking in returning y’all’s tagged games and i felt really bad because some of them were writing tag games...and i had nothing to show for. HOWEVER! i have made a sort of bounce back with a lot of friends supporting me :)

let’s kick things off, huh?

1) “ six sentence snippet tag” tagged by @thedragonkween (im love u!) and @the-darklings (CHILE love u as well!)

here’s y’all’s king quentin beck!! also, i think this is...six sentences...

Quentin isn’t sure why he continues to twiddle with the gold band around his ring finger while he’s not performing in front of an audience.

After every debriefing, he takes a bow as the curtain draws before him, the spotlight diminishing from his view, he can’t help but reach for it. The ring acts like some sort of tether, bound somewhere between the role Quentin plays and something far fetched...a yearning feeling that breaks his own heart at times. He can’t quite find the words to express how he feels but he knows to ignore such foolish longing.

Focus, Beck.

Focus.

2) “author questionnaire tag” tagged by @veanery (gracias, mi amiga!!) and @deviantramblings (MISS. LAUREN!! MWAH!!)

fandoms you write for: bruh moment, it changes almost every single day or sumn. i predominately write for marvel and star wars however i have written for john wick, devil may cry 5, stranger things, and d*troit: b*come h*man in the past. i thought about writing for rdr2 hehe

where you post: if you don’t find my work here, you can find me at ao3 under the pseudo “zebracakes”. fair warning, i do not upload all my stories there unless it’s a personal story that i think my readers over there will appreciate as well. so, if u think u see my work on wattpad or whatever y’all mfs use, that ain’t me!

most popular one-shot: Under the Twinkling Stars is a fake wedding date!john wick x reader story that honestly never thought would take off the way that it did. nearly 2k notes! it was originally a request...like wow kudos to op

most popular multi-chapter story: haha....ahh, i accidentally deleted my multi-series story but it was my one and only so there ain’t no answer here

favorite story you’ve wrote: hands down it’s νοσταλγία. this loki x reader story is something that was written in the spur of the moment and it’s about my favorite trope of all time (soulmate au). i tried a new approaching to writing and i am really happy with the outcome!! sometimes i forget that i actually wrote it sjdsajlda

a story you were nervous to post: like hannah said, all of them. authors always tend to be their own worst critics and i am no different. funny enough, i’ve actually taken down some stories i felt were just...not my strongest because they were a little embarrassing to have them up on display. 

how do you choose your titles: hmm, great question! i know a lot of authors use lyrics as their titles nd like...i wish i had that kinda brand. most of the times, the title ties into the story and though it’s never stated in the story, it relates to what the story is about. some of my more “adventurous” titles revolve around foreign languages and sometimes inspired by song titles.

do you outline: HELL NAH! i have a vague concept, open up an empty text post, and ROLL WITH IT. however, with some stories, i do take a little bit of time to pinpoint crucial moments of the story but other than that...i just wing it, bro.

complete: what the fuck does this mean?? how many stories i’ve completed?? umm on this blog it’s 53? i think? i was counting fast. i did have more pero i deleted a lot of them during a spiral lmaoo

in-progress: according to my drafts, it’s 15 and they are all OVER the place. however, i do not plan on writing all of them. big sad let’s pour one out

coming soon: i know i piqued some of y’all’s interests when i said i’m stepping into the mysterio x reader fic world so i got sumn in the kitchen for y’all. surprisingly...if anyone is up to it....there’s some dbh leftovers in the fridge...

do you accept prompts: of course i always do! though motivation has been a fickle thing so...bear with me and understand if i don’t take your request.

upcoming story you are most excited to write: quentin x reader angst that has me waking up sometimes to write sumn down for it. without giving too much away, it deals with grief, heartache, longing, and...time travel? brooOo i’m the only one excited like it’s just me, omi, nur, and dori shrieking in the woodlands

3) “10 things tag” tagged by @deviantramblings (thank u, madame!)

list 10 things that make me happy :)

good music to dance to

air conditioning

cats

kind words

cold water

ibuprofen

soft blankets

pdf files

keanu reeves

finding money that you forgot u had

4) “last line tag” tagged by @deviantramblings (thank u again, ma’am), @the-darklings (*tips fedora*), and @veanery (u tagged me so LONG ago EYE)

this is for that one quentin beck x reader story i was talking about.

“Is he currently sleep walking?“

this is the last thing i typed on my draft. however, on my notes app....she is just all over the place...idk where she begins and ends. it’s utter chaos

5) “21 questions” tagged by @thefvlcon (thnak u, kayla!!)

Name / Nickname: it’s anjelica but i go by my nickname “angel”

Sign: scorpio sun, aquarius moon, scorpio rising (?) aka i’m all sorts of dumbass

Height: 5 ft 4

Hogwarts House: i’m only interested in y’all’s hufflepuff bc the mascot is cute and apparently they live near the kitchen??

Last thing I Googled: .....electric shaver....don’t @ me bro only omi knows

Favourite musician/s: bro :// umm, mitski, kshmr, lil nas x, bastille, megan thee stallion, foxes, the killers

Last song I listened to: 10,000 nights by alphabeat! such an old school bop y’all BEST listen to it

Song stuck in my head: it ranges from strawberry blond by mitski or barbed wire by rogue

Following: 78

Followers: on this writing blog, 1,861. my main blog has 1,464

Do you get asks: once in awhile hehe

Amount of Sleep: fluctuates from nine hours to straight up four hours asjkdsalk WHEW

Lucky Number: 7? it’s always been 7

What I’m Wearing: my pajamas aka a ratty light blue avengers shirt from walmart with holes and weird stains and pajama shorts with lil stars and moons from walmart as well lmaooo

Dream Trip: PUMPKIN SOUP WORLD TOUR

Instruments: flute and piano...i am a Lady

Languages: english and spanish because i’m basic and unoriginal

Favourite Song/s: of all time?? BABA YETU!!!!!!!!!!

Random Fact: wild how some of y’all don’t know that i have a twin sister. we ain’t look alike pero u came out from the same mom so

Aesthetic: exposed brick, warm tones, neon lighting, pink sunsets, matte, possums

6) “find the word tag” tagged by @deviantramblings (gosh it’s just u nd me and these tag games huh!!)

rules are you are given a set of words to search them in your wips. my set of challenge words are:  tear(s), snow, sun, laugh

omg...i couldn’t....find any of those words in any of my wips asjkdsajkldsa WHEW this was quite....uneventful lmao sorry to disappoint :(( however, i did find some with the word “laughter”...does that count?

start from the beginning (connor x reader)

Hank can’t contain his laughter as he wraps his arms across his chest and shakes his graying hair. He knows that when Connor whips out his formal title out, it’s all in a joking, familial matter. “Oh, and you’re gonna use me as well? Shit, kid, might as well take my house while you’re at it.”

untitled bucky x reader

Your laughter sounds like a sweet melody, one he’s heard over and over again yet he never gets tired of hearing it. Bucky watches as you stand up and walk towards him to take the mason jars out of his hands. His eyes look down to observe a golden wedding band around your finger which prompts him to look at his own left hand. Lo and behold, gold.

oh hold up i found “laugh” lmaooo

untitled connor x reader

“Hello? Is anyone home?” He waves his hand over your face to snap you out of your daze. Your reaction makes Connor’s whole body shake as he laughs with his entire being. A shy smile grows as you lick the seam of your lips and giggle softly to yourself. The candles on the cake flicker, the flames creating a hypnotic trance as they dance to and fro.

(if it sounds ooc, there’s a reason for that that you’ll find out IF I EVER PUBLISH IT LMAOO)

WAIT! I FOUND “TEAR(S)”!!

untitled bucky x reader

Tears prickle at the edge of your eyes but you must not show the fear, the exact physiological response they’re anticipating. You slow down your erratic breathing, trying your best to calm your racing heart. Your eyes shift from your boots to the containment they are keeping your Bucky in. He is sound asleep, a false sense of peace and equilibrium. You want to caress his face and to press your body against him once again to remember the feeling you’ve lost years ago.

7) “ writing style alignment tag” tagged by @deviantramblings (u a real one)

most definitely a chaotic planster! defined by:

has an idea for a plot when they start

who writes things down??

has to assemble scenes into a frankendraft

my method is incredibly messy when it comes to writing. usually there is an idea (thanks, nick fury), which is usually triggered by a scene i want to develop. sometimes all i have is a scene but no plot. sometimes i have a concept of a plot with no real direction. AM I VALID??

8) “ playlist shuffling tag” tagged by @the-darklings (*jenna marbles voice* oh hell yeah) and @veanery (oh my gosh this tag is from many MOONS ago)

since my main playlist only has like five songs, i will go into my general playlist where it’s a literal...what even is it...

oriana by roger zarzour

focus by blackcode

superhuman by crystal knives

adios by ricky martin

take me (not your dope remix) by jikay

all you need to know by gryffin

this is love by hardwell

can’t hear a word you’re saying by x-change

kay gayi chull by the kapoor & sons cast

music del corazon by josh groban

9) “about me tag” tagged by @veanery (brooo thank u), @pointedly-foolish (ayy lmaoo suh dude), @deviantramblings (this was a popular game huh), and @wrinkledparchment (miss. lexi said rights!)

name: angel

gender: female

birthday: november 10th

relationship status: single

favorite color: sunflower yellow

top 3 ships: besides my usual self-ships, let’s do some...actual ships. finnrey, thorkyrie, finnpoe

last song: 学園天国 by clc

last movie: *checks letterboxd* spider-man: far from home lmaooo asjkdsjakl

10) “OTP challenge “ tagged by @reyskywclker (thank u for my rights, miss. parker)

besides the ones that i said in the previous tag, here’s ten more

john/abigail

han/leia

rey/jessika

sam/bucky

thor/bruce

carol/maria

t’challa/nakia

connor/north

peter/mj (mcu)

fuck i literally don’t ship a lot omg i am running on FUMES uhhhh....tiana/prince naveen

11) “about me” tagged by @reyskywclker (this is literally from earlier this year eye...)

Q1. Relationship status?

single and printing out boyfriend applications as we speak

Q2. Favourite colour?

right now it’s yellow :) it definitely fluctuates with what’s going tf on with my life. real life mood ring

Q3. Top 3 ships?

i’m going self-ships because it’s MY sleepover!! loki/me but two more times

Q4. Lipstick or chapstick?

MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOOOO

Q5. Last song I listened to?

came here for love by sigala

Q6. Last movie I watched?

spidey far from homie

12) “aesthetics tag” tagged by @deviantramblings (mwah!)

honey and lemon or milk and sugar // musicals or plays // lemonade or iced tea //strawberries or raspberries // winter or summer // beaches or forests // diners or cafés //unicorns or dragons // gemstones or crystals // hummingbirds or owls // fireworks or sparklers // brunch or happy hour // sweet or sour // rome or amsterdam // classic or modern art // sushi or ramen // sun or moon // polka dots or stripes // macaroon or croissants // glitter or matte //degas or seurat // aquariums or planetariums // road trip or camping trip //colouring books or water colour // fairy lights or candles

13) “about tag” tagged by @obsiidio (o hy mgosdhashdja HELLLLOOO!!)

name: angel, formally known as anjelica age: 24 lmaooo favourite colour: yellow!! when you made this account: may 26, 2010 at 8:40:44 PM follower count: 1,861?? i think? superpower: night owl favourite drink: ICE COLD WATER, BABEYY! a song(s) you love right now: devil inside me by kshmr dream career: for now....doing something fun while getting paid dream vacation: tokyo and seoul aka just the pumpkin soup world tour hogwarts house: hufflemfpuff fuck jk rowlings for sorting me into gryffindor favourite character this week: DR. JOHNNY WILCOX!!!! HELL YEAH!! christmas or halloween: halloweem

and THAT’S THAT ON THAT! whew, that was...a lot of energy. this took me two days to finish. for those who have not been tagged in these challenges, feel free to tag me in any of these :) you do NOT have to do each and everyone of them ajskdjsal 

#about me

[ti-bae-rius]

Alec as Consul - oneshot

From the headcanon of @sweetcabbageprince that I answered a week or so ago. It was so fun writing this and I adore writing the malec family dynamic. I haven’t written any malec in a while - though they used to be my main muses. It’s nice writing them again. I’ve missed it. 

“Chin up, darling.”

Alec sighed and smoothed his jacket. It was so strange, Magnus thought, to see Alec in a suit. Objectively, the blazer looked far better than his usual ratty sweaters. However, it did mean he lost a little Alec-ness that Magnus missed. But he looked formal and his hair was neat. Well, mostly neat. 

“Come here,” Magnus said, shaking his head fondly and smoothing down the cowlick at the back of his boyfriend’s head. “There.” He put a hand under Alec’s chin gently. “Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he whispered and Alec looked up at him.

“They’re going to hate me,” Alec replied and Magnus looked uneasy.

He couldn’t deny it. The Cohort were going to throw a fit. The amount of fuss they’d kicked up when Jace voted Alec forward for Consul had shut down the meeting for the rest of the day.  Now that he was actually up for election, there was going to be a whole world of chaos for their family. For a long time, the two of them had discussed whether or not Alec should run. Magnus had always said he thought Alec should do it, but he’d listened to Alec’s 2 a.m. monologues about all the problems with it regardless. He was mostly terrified it would expose the children to scrutiny. (’Like their lives haven’t been hard enough, Magnus’). They were just children, Alec argued. They didn’t deserve to be put under the Clave’s microscope just because Alec was selfish enough to want to run for Consul. He’d eventually been convinced to at least attend the meeting by a strong barrage of arguments from his friends that, if he refused to stand, they’d end up with another Cohort member in leadership. That settled it. The past month with Horace Dearborn in the role of Inquisitor, had been pure hell on earth. Max and Rafael had been kept firmly away from Idris. As much as Magnus and Alec wanted to help everyone in Alicante, they were obviously far more dedicated to their children. The couple had lived in permanent fear since adopting their sons that the Clave would force them apart. When Jia Penhallow and Alec’s father had been in charge, that fear was less of a reality and more a nervous parental worry. Now, with Horace Dearborn and his sycophants, all harbouring views that vilified the couple, the fear their children might be taken away felt more and more rational by the day. 

Magnus never would’ve expected he’d become a family-oriented man, but here he was. His apartment which had once been the notorious hub of New York’s party scene was now decorated not in half-empty liquor bottles and glitter but in toys and books with the thick cardboard pages with bright, round writing. 

“Maybe they will,” Magnus said softly, pressing his lips to Alec’s cheek briefly. “You’ll still have two sons who adore you. And you’ll still have me.”

Alec smiled a little, the air behind Magnus’s words stirring his hair. “Well, that does sound good,” he murmured. “I’d better go. I wish you could come with me,” Alec added, and in that moment he sounded for all the world like the 18 year old boy Magnus had first met, insecure and nervous and shy.

“I can try and arrange for someone to look after the boys,” Magnus offered but Alec shook his head, his resolve firmly set again. All trace of vulnerability left his face. Well, all that anyone else might see. Magnus could still see the waves of self-doubt swimming in Alec’s blue eyes. 

“It won’t be as bad as I expect,” Alec said, injecting fake confidence into his voice. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Magnus lingered in the doorway as Alec went into the boys’ bedroom, kissing each of his sons in turn on their foreheads. Max started fussing as Alec pulled back and Magnus swooped in to pick the boy up. He gave Alec one last smile as he left and sat down on the carpet beside Rafael, joining in their pretend game. He hoped Alec was right, that it wouldn’t be as bad as they were predicting. The swan dive his stomach took as soon as the door closed made him think otherwise. 

As soon as the front door opened that night, Magnus knew something was wrong. There was a tension in Alec’s stance that put him immediately on guard. He didn’t say a word before heading to the bedroom. 

“One second, mi lindo,” Magnus said to Rafael who gave his father an imploring look as he put down the book they’d been reading together. Magnus knocked the back of his hand gently against the wood of the bedroom door. 

“Give me a minute,” Alec said tightly. Magnus pushed the door open in response. “I said give me a minute,” Alec repeated tersely. 

He was sat on the bed, tie in his hands and shirt collar askew. He held up a hand when Magnus began to ask if he was okay, which Magnus took carefully and lowered onto his knee as he sat beside his boyfriend. The Lightwood ring gleamed on his hand and Magnus stroked a thumb over the signet softly. 

“What’s wrong?” Magnus asked and Alec put his head against the other man’s shoulder in defeat.

“I won. I’m the new Consul.”

“Alec!” Magnus exclaimed. “That’s amazing!” When Alec didn’t say anything, he looked across in confusion. “Isn’t it? What’s up?”

“They hate me.”

“What happened?”

“There was a picket line, Magnus,” Alec said, voice strained. “I had to cross a picket line to get to my own meeting.”

“A picket...?” Magnus trailed off, shocked into a rare moment of silence. 

“Some of the signs...” Alec looked broken. “Some of the signs were awful. They weren’t just angry with me, they were protesting against you and the kids and gay shadowhunters and mixed Nephilim-Downworlder families and...”

“The Cohort are assholes.”

“Some of them weren’t even Cohort members,” Alec replied. “Some were just normal shadowhunters who don’t like us. I feel like...like I’m doing more damage than good. I’ve never seen protests like this over a Consul election. Before now, maybe those complaints were still there, but they weren’t voiced so publicly. Having me in charge is just adding fuel to the fire, giving them a platform to spread their hate. The stuff on those signs...” Alec swallowed hard. “It honestly made me feel sick. I guess I’d kind of tried to forget that people actually still thought like that. I thought it was better now. I can't just think about myself anymore. There are young gay shadowhunters to consider. If I’d seen those kind of riots when I was still in the closet, I don’t know if I’d have ever come out.”

“But think how much it would’ve meant to you to see a shadowhunter in power who was like you,” Magnus said, tugging on Alec’s arm. His eyes were gleaming with earnest. “And not just any shadowhunter, but the Consul, the highest Clave member. Think how much that would’ve meant. You said it couldn’t be all about you, and you’re right. You have to do this for the kids like you, the adults like you. Besides, think what it would mean to the Downworld. Which shadowhunter would understand them better than you? Not only are you dating an infamous warlock -” At that, Alec cracked a smile and squeezed Magnus’s hand. “- and you have a warlock son but you know what it’s like to be ostracized by the Clave. You know what it’s like to be treated differently for who you are, for something you can’t change. You already founded the shadowhunter-downworlder alliance. And, not to brag, I do have a certain amount of clout in the Downworld.”

Alec brought their hands to his lips and kissed Magnus’s knuckles. “Thank you.”

“What’s next?” Magnus asked.

“There’s an inauguration dinner together and then I move into my new office in the Gard on Monday.”

“Do you happen to have a plus-one?” Magnus asked, and Alec looked uncertain. 

“I do. But I don't know whether it’s wise.”

“Alec, darling, I don’t want to panic you, but I think they all know you have a boyfriend,” Magnus whispered jokingly. “I think you can come out now.”

Alec shoved him gently in the shoulder. “I just meant that it might make things worse. Besides, I don’t want them to say anything to you.”

“I’m a big warlock, Alec. I can handle it,” he said, kissing him gently. 

“Papa!”

They exchanged a look and Magnus stood up. “Coming, muru!” he called. 

The handle of the bedroom door turned and Rafael’s face peeked into the room, his hand clutching Max’s, pulling his little brother along impatiently. Alec bent down and Rafael dropped Max’s hand to run into Alec’s outstretched arms. Max toddled over, not wanting to be left out.

“How are you?” Alec asked, burying his face in Rafael’s black hair and kissing the boy’s head. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Nope. We were waiting for you,” Magnus said, and Rafael scrambled up onto the bed and into Magnus’s lap. Max barrelled forward into Alec’s chest enthusiastically and Alec carefully untangled a ringlet of blue hair from where it was caught on his son’s budding horns. They were coming through. It was like teething again but without the resources of ten Google pages of parenting blogs to consult for advice. 

“Well, let’s go get dinner. This little blueberry looks hungry,” Alec said, and hitched Max onto his hip. “Let’s see what we have, Max.”

Magnus watched him go, their son on his arm, and pulled Rafael closer. Maybe some bigoted shadowhunters thought their family was wrong. Who could argue that their family - their beautiful children, his boyfriend who sung lullabies vaguely out of tune, the way Rafael’s hand curled around his thumb - was anything less than any other family? Who out there was protesting against the families who threw out their downworlder children? Who was protesting Horace Dearborn forcing his warped ideals onto his daughter, Zara? No one.

“Papa?”

Magnus looked down at Rafael and smiled. “Come on, let’s go and see what Dad and Max are doing.”

“Do you really think we can bring the kids to Idris?” 

Magnus rolled over and looked at Alec, laid flat on his back, hands resting on his stomach over the bed covers. 

“I don’t see why not. The dinner tonight was okay, minus some passive aggressive commentary from a Cohort members. Besides, I doubt anyone will really be there tomorrow. You’re just moving into the office, right?”

“I guess that’s true,” Alec said, and turned to look at Magnus. “Am I being crazy?”

“No more than usual.”

Alec shoved him in the shoulder, laughing quietly. “Shut up! I’m just worried. I don’t want the kids to get caught up in this. I don’t want to drag them into this mess. I don’t even want to drag you into it, but I don’t think I have a choice in that one.” He smiled and Magnus nodded. 

“You’re right. There’s nothing I love more.” Magnus pulled Alec toward him and rolled over, his back flush to Alec’s bare chest. “Mmm,” he said sleepily. “We’re coming with you, Alexander - all of us. I’m proud of you, darling. I’m not going to be scared away by some Clave assholes. They’re going to have to raise hell to drive us apart.”

“That didn’t work so well last time we went to hell,” Alec teased, kissing along Magnus’s neck gently. The warlock gave a mumble of pleasure and leaned back into Alec’s arms.

“Exactly. So Horace Dearboring isn’t going to have a chance,” Magnus said, wrapping his feet around Alec’s ankles. “Sleep, love. We need to be up early.”

“Can’t you distract me instead?” Alec asked and Magnus rolled over, eyes glinting. 

“And suddenly I’m awake.”

Alec laughed.

“So, how would you propose I distract you, Consul Lightwood?”

Alec grinned. “I’ll leave that up to you.”

“Say no more.”

“I’m exhausted.”

“Yeah? And whose fault is that?” Magnus laughed, scrambling eggs.

“Well, I mean, technically yours,” Alec said, kissing his boyfriend’s cheek from over the warlock’s shoulder. “I’m going to go get the kids ready.”

Magnus watched Alec go, watched his shoulders move under the light grey t-shirt he slept in. When he’d made his breakfast, Magnus took the bowl into the boys’ room where Alec was simultaneously trying to stop Rafael getting toys out to play right before they left and wrestle Max’s feet into light-up sneakers.

“Why are you fighting me? You like these shoes,” Alec said in exasperation. “Rafey, no toys now. We’re setting off soon.” He glanced up at Magnus and sighed. “Oh well, I’m glad you got your eggs.”

“They’re great,” Magnus teased. “I’d go as far as to say they’re even better than reasoning with a three year old - and everyone knows that’s my favourite pastime.” 

Alec rolled his eyes fondly and turned to Rafael and Max. “Okay, both of you come here. I need you to listen really hard.” When he’d managed to get both boys sat on Rafael’s bed, he bent down in front of them. “I need you to stay close to Papa when we’re in Idris. If you can’t see Dad or Papa, stay exactly where you are and we will come and find you. Don’t talk to anyone you don’t recognise. We’re going to use our very best manners. And if anyone asks who you are, you are Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood’s sons, okay?” The boys nodded solemnly and Alec smiled. “No, no, don’t be nervous. It’s fine. Dad’s just worrying. It’s all going to be just fine.”

He straightened up and picked Max up to carry him through the portal. Magnus took Rafael’s hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Well, it was now or never. He pulled Rafael gently after him through the portal and into the whirling abyss. 

The portal spat them out at the base of the hill on which the Gard sat. Max wriggled to be put down and Alec placed him gently on the grass, compliant. 

“Race!” Max declared and set off running, Rafael a beat behind, though he easily overtook his little brother. When he dramatically slowed, Magnus raised his voice.

“No slowing charms, Max! No using magic on your brother!” he called and Max stopped and reluctantly reversed spell on his brother.

Rafael scowled and sprinted after Max, who was now motivated both by the prospect of winning and a desire not to be wrestled to the ground by his older brother. Magnus gave Alec a despairing look, but Alec looked nervous. 

“It’s fine. They’re fine,” Magnus said and Alec nodded, sighing.

“Sorry. I’m just a bit tense.”

“You’re always tense. You’re on a goddamn knife’s edge, Alexander. Just breathe. It’s going to be alright.”

Alec nodded and exhaled slowly. “Okay. I’m good, I’m fine. Let’s go after them.”

Before they’d even got fifteen feet though, a familiar voice called out: “Papa! Dad!”

Rafael. Magnus and Alec exchanged a look at the tone of his voice and set off running. When they crested the hill, the two froze in unison. Rafael and Max were there, hand in hand, facing the Gard. Alec walked over to them and put a hand on Rafael’s shoulder gently.

“Come on, let’s go in,” he prompted and Max looked up.

“But...”

“I know, blueberry. Just...just keep walking.”

Alec could see the small crowd gathered around the door to the Gard, every person accompanied by a picket sign. He hoped his sons couldn’t understand them, but both were strong readers and the look on Rafael’s face said that he understood more than Alec would’ve wished. Magnus followed behind, one hand on Max’s head and the other on the small of Alec’s back. Some signs hurt more than others - Alec was far less offended by the ‘Not my Consul’ signs than the ‘Register your “son”‘ ones. Alec curled his hands into fists. What did those quotes imply? Max was his son. Rafael was his son. He didn’t care about blood, about magical race. He couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than his sons. Alec pulled the boys along quickly and ignored the shouts and chants. As soon as the doors to the Gard shut behind them Alec breathed out. Max and Rafael looked at their dads, confused. 

“Why are they mad?” Max asked. 

Magnus started telling them not to worry, but Alec sighed and pulled his sons into his new office. He lifted them both onto the big oak desk in the middle of the room, their legs dangling, and bent down in front of them. 

“Okay, firstly, I need you to know that you’re both perfect exactly as you are and you shouldn’t ever change for anyone. Those people out there are from a teeny tiny minority of shadowhunters. It’s a silly thing to think, because everyone is the same, regardless of what kind of blood they have. They don’t like me and Papa very much because they don’t think shadowhunters and warlocks should love each other - and some of them think you should have a mommy and a daddy, not two daddies.”

“Why?” Rafael asked. 

Alec shrugged. “It’s just what they think, but that doesn’t make it true.” He took one hand from each boy in one of his own and smiled. “You have an exciting chance to prove to them that they are wrong. You get to show them that it doesn’t matter that you have two dads, or that one of them is a warlock and one is a shadowhunter, or that you two aren’t exactly the same. What matters is what we have in common, and that’s that we love each other, that we’re family. What matters is that we’re happy, and I am happy. You have dads who love you - and each other - more than anything. Don’t listen to them; make them listen to you.” Alec stood up and kissed their heads softly. “Right, go and explore. Don’t go too far, and stay in this wing.”

Rafael jumped down off the desk and Alec lifted Max down too. Once the door closed, he leaned against the desk and looked at Magnus. 

“Well that sucked,” Alec said, rubbing a hand over his brow. “I really didn’t think we’d be having that conversation with them that early. Sorry I kinda monopolised it.”

Magnus kissed his cheek gently. “You did great. Close your eyes.”

Alec obeyed and when he opened his eyes again, Magnus had moved all the things they’d boxed up last night into the office. On the desk, nestled with the pens and pencils was a small rainbow flag. Photo frames with pictures of Alec’s siblings and Magnus with the kids littered the desk. Alec grinned and sat down in the desk chair, meeting Magnus halfway across the desk to kiss him. 

“Wow, the Consul and the warlock representative. What a scandalous power couple,” Magnus grinned. “I’m gonna go find the boys, check they aren’t vandalising Clave property or whatever.”

Alec watched him go and leaned back in his chair, pushing it to swivel with his foot. It had been a rocky journey to his office, but it had been more than worth it to be sat here. Finally. 

#malec #Magnus x Alec #magnus bane #Alec Lightwood #alexander lightwood #tmi #the mortal instruments #malec fic #headcanon #cassandra clare

[visionokra21]

The Fatal Tan Jab

check out melanotan blog post to Melanotan2 In Use Of Harmful Tanning Shot

Content

Melanotan 2 Tanning Shots Available For Sale.

Injectable Water.

Exposed: Illegal Tanning Injections Which Can Cause Heart Troubles Were Being Sold To Uk Clients On Ebay

Countless Women Are Injecting Prohibited Split Second Tan Medicine That Might Trash Their Wellness.

Brits Buy ₤ 17 Unlawful Barbie Sun Tanning Injections That Cause Kidney Failing, Brain Swelling As Well As Hallucinations.

Although used as a treatment for attention deficit disorder in the United States, it is not used clinically in Britain. Things that might suggest someone is making use of Adderall include too much uneasyness and also uncontrollable drinking, specifically of the hands. Cancer Research has actually exposed that rates of cancer malignancy have skyrocketed by 45 per cent considering that 2004, with skin cancer now the fifth most typical cancer in the UK. Sunbeds pelt skin with ultraviolet rays, which are often more powerful than the midday Mediterranean sun - 20 mins on a sunbed is equivalent to four hrs in the sun. There are an estimated 7,000 tanning hair salons in Britain, utilized by around one in 10 young Brits, including some youngsters as young as 8. In 2015, a female was left scarred forever after overdosing 100 tan shots.

" The jab makes moles darker, which can bring about skin cancer cells. The injections have actually not been evaluated for human use and also there are possible negative effects and also risks that might occur. Steroids are powerful treatments which can have extreme adverse effects, consequently steroids area therapy which need to be managed by a physician. These products might seem to function, however the issue is the longer term, severe negative effects they carry if you continue to utilize them. A serious concern with much of these products is that they do not identify their ingredients, so you do not understand if they contain steroids and if so, at what degree. Never ever use an item that does not label its components. This means that it has not been tested for safety, efficiency, or possible negative effects.

Melanotan 2 Tanning Injections To Buy.

In some cases the medicines might not have actually the preferred result due to the fact that the medicine has actually been mis-sold as well as does not include the correct substance. On the various other hand, the purchased compound might be very harmful. For instance, DNP (or 2,4-dinitrophenol) is a hazardous weight-loss/slimming aid, which has actually triggered some deaths recently.

Thin! Tan! Hotter Than Hell! - Wired News

Thin! Tan! Hotter Than Hell!.

Posted: Thu, 08 Sep 2016 17:13:10 GMT [source]

Medical professionals are afraid that due to the fact that the medication is self-injected, users of melanotan are placing themselves at risk of infections such as liver disease or HIV. The drug is offered in 2 forms-- melanotan I, which aids produce a tan, and also melanotan II, which is also recognized to increase libido. In each listing, the vendors stated the medicine gives 'a great warm skin tan for every skin type'. It is unlawful to deliver or offer melanotan, due to the fact that it has no permit as a medicine, but it is not illegal to acquire as well as possess.

Injectable Water.

What's more, the colour loss of the skin may not be even. Along with the threat of leaving cancers cells untreated, black salve is enormously damaging to the skin, with expanded usage causing wounds and also scarring which usually require plastic surgery to repair. On the other hand, surgical treatment is extremely effective at eliminating skin cancer. https://ger.melanotan.eu/product/bac-water/ is a topical item which is in some cases falsely marketed as a remedy for cancer cells, consisting of skin cancers cells.

Several of these drugs can be properly recommended to people, however like all medications there can be undesirable adverse side-effects and risks from use. Sometimes https://www.melanotan.eu/ packaging does not properly define the drugs inside. Image and performance enhancing medicines or 'human improvement drugs' are drugs that can, among other things, alter a person's physical look, or body weight. Sildenafil/Viagra and also other drugs used to boost sexual efficiency-- these are typically blue pills. These medicines typically look genuine, with packaging that makes them resemble a medication and which conceals the truth they have actually been cheaply produced. The artificial hormone used in the jabs raises the degrees of melanin, which creates the skin to dim.

Revealed: Prohibited Tanning Shots Which Can Trigger Heart Troubles Were Being Offered To Uk Consumers On Ebay

Anabolic steroids are medicines additionally controlled as drugs (Course C, timetable 4), which indicates any individual can have them yet they can only be provided by a pharmacist with a doctor's prescription. Individuals are not thought to end up being literally dependent, yet may become addicted en route the medications make them look. Lots of IPEDs are illegally as well as inconsistently manufactured. Some medications might be substituted with others, and mislabelling as well as contamination prevail.

They have actually not been officially examined for security as well as the possible consequences of utilizing them are still unidentified. Nevertheless, irregular skin darkening and the growth of moles, in addition to stomach, heart and also eye issues have actually been speculated. Adderall and Clenbuterol - or "Clen" - are 2 medications that have been related to a string of celebrities over recent years. The previous is amphetamine-based and can assist users reduce weight by enhancing their metabolic rate.

Thousands Of Females Are Infusing Illegal Split Second Tan Medication That Could Ravage Their Health.

It is essential to mention that there is a range of skin lightening products that stick to the lawful requirements that enable them to be marketed in the UK. However, there are likewise unlawful skin lightening products which can have active ingredients such as mercury, steroids, and hydroquinone which are outlawed for use in cosmetics. It is a treatment which promises to leave you tanned, slim and promoted. Melanotan II is claimed to suppress your appetite as well as increases your libido while leaving you bronzed despite the season, writes Science Press reporter Asha Tanna. However this artificial hormone is an unlicensed drug so its high quality, security and efficiency has not been examined. This implies it is prohibited to sell in the UK-- but not to buy online. Yet if you truly wish to change the colour of your skin, it's safer to utilize a fake tan item on your skin than to sunbathe or use a sunbed.

We strongly prompt versus its use and also suggest that individuals utilize phony tan/ self tan instead. Negative effects of Melanotan reported to day consist of nausea or vomiting, exhaustion, purges, and also spontaneous erections. Steroids are readily available on prescription, and are secure if used properly, yet are never recommended for skin lightening. Skin lightening products which contain high dose steroids can cause permanent skin whitening, thinning of skin as well as advancement of visible capillary, called telangiectasia.

Tanning Shots Prior To And Also After.

#melanotan eu #melanotan europe #melanotan products #melanotan for sale

[loststargrazer-blog]

What Good Is Religion after the Lies?

Religion has a great grip on mankind, even though it is obscure, contradictory, full of re- or mis- interpretations. The inconvenient bits are often not discussed except when they come back into fashion after a crackpot fundamentalist revival. There are mysteries, and rebirths, and after lives, enlightenment, earthly torments, love, repudiation, judgements, forgiveness, and damnation. The whole crazy ferris wheel of lies is not going away and barely ever seems to be slowing down. Humans love this stuff. In the same way you have painkillers and heroin, so you have philosophy and religion. There is nothing better than religion for the euphoria of cult psychology, bad metaphysics, and misguided moral righteousness. Even before Christ, if you take a philosopher like Epicurus (who died in 270BC), it is clear that religion is a human failing, but nevertheless, despite being obviously nonsense, religion has permeated just about every society on earth quite completely. So what is it about religion that persists beyond the lies?

I suggest that much religion is based upon an analysis of the good. In blog 2 I looked at the meta-ethics of the good. Previously I have said good is what you want within the context of the greater self, but perhaps not all wants are equal. We have shifted the emphasis from what you should do to what you want to do, but this is incomplete. We can consider what we want to want, for example if I am hungry I want to eat chips, but I want to want salad. I want to want health, but perhaps I want to want to want something like contentment. This moving backwards may have more steps; they may not be consistent; but at the end is your most general and basic narrative want - this want is a prime good. Your prime good motivates your wants with normative statements, with all the little things you should do and want. It is your internal voice that carries the concerns of ethics into the domain of instincts and ways you navigate the world - so into the real you. Religion then, like the stories described in the previous blog 16, effects what you want to want. So religion is effective as a narrative, and, like a narrative, religion does not have to be true to function.

Now we have moved beyond the introduction, let us consider wants a little more. We can divide wants up, first by who has the wants and later by the types of wants. I don't think all the types of want are best discussed as philosophy, or religion for that matter. I would say that philosophy should cover what we should want (or want to want to want), while what others should want is covered by religion. This contrasts with what we actually want, which is psychology, and what others want, which is sociology; or contrasted with how we should get what we want, which is self-help, and how others should get what they want, which might be politics. The reason I think philosophy is so personal on this topic is that the discussion of the good in practice uses personally meaningful truths (see my blog 10 on truth); so philosophy is a bit limited structurally in what it can say about other people's notion of the good.

We can divide wants up by their type. Psychology has created things like Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This has focused on security, hungers, and prestige by putting wants into this list by priority. In reality, due to different narratives (including about the greater self), it is possible to challenge this ordered list. So a brave soldier might risk his security for prestige, or for the perceived good of the greater self with a local focus, like saving the lives of his comrades. Religion usually expresses views about what others should want and how these wants mesh together. For example, for security, protect others, particularly the weak and those in authority. For hungers, generally try to control them rather than be controlled by them. And for prestige, put religion and modesty first. This is a standard narrative, but can we redefine the debate?

While the religious narrative is not destructible, we can add narratives and instincts to it. Some common ones are the importance of helping others, or creating art, or preparing for death, or even becoming an important person. Different narratives might challenge the religious one, but perhaps more often they complement it, or even just blend together in a confused neural soup. The updated narrative may function as the new normal without much underpinnings or need for consistency. Even secular morality has much confused religious debate about concepts such as 'fairness'. Considering the religious narrative behaviour we can see two things. One is that you cannot falsify religion, you can only change it. Falsifying in this sense means proving religion logically wrong by providing a single counter example to reject the whole edifice. Secondly, as the religious narrative is expandable, it covers everything you could want to have views or direction or precedent on.

So religion is the narrative which covers topics beyond science, or even most literature. As religion is not science, to ask what is after the lies misses the point of religion. It is also impolite as religion maintains as part of its mystique an aura of ancient truth and validity, handed down on dusty parchments from the arcane words of mysterious prophets. Religion is the theatre production in the philosophical mind, and you probably cannot get rid of it, even by booing. Religion is a narrative about a narrative, itself, and with it an insinuation that it can solve all issues, desires, problems. There is no magic, but if there was, and it was organised, it would be religion. Religion lives within the fabrications of the hyper real (see my earlier blog 11 on the real); so its magic is tangible within experience. Religion is the lies that shapes your truth, your wants, your sense of the good. As religion manifests, it shapes your notion of the good so it cannot be just lies, even if factually incorrect. The more incredible religion is, the more symbolic it becomes of a deeper personal truth.

This narrative view of religion is post-atheism. I call myself a Secular Animist, and this is a form of post-atheism. There are ancient strands of post-atheism, even within some early strands of thinking in Buddhism and Hinduism, although it died out significantly from the 10th century until surprisingly recently. I am not really expecting too much interest in Secular Animism, but I do think post-atheism could be the way of the future. For post-atheism to flourish, there needs to be an exchange, a swap between theists and the rest. In order to create a harmonious social contract, atheists, agnostics, etc. would need to accept the realness within the hyper real of the personal truths of the religious narrative (see my blogs 10 and 11 on truth and the real); while the religious would need to accept that their religion is personal rather than absolute, also that their narrative is and should be open to change as society develops, including absorbing other narratives, for example like equality and feminism.

The idea of a social contract comes from Rousseau and normally it is a society wide political agreement enforced by the government.  Having a wider post-atheist discussion of the good (or fair) within a society would be helpful if it lead to consensus and a healing of society. Less good would be claims that personal narratives were absolute truth and values, as this has totalitarian overtones and tends to sow discord. Discord is quite common at the moment, so the media and politicians should be discouraged where possible from too much conflicting narrative and instead focus on the solutions to regulatory and social problems that might fit within many narratives' themes (see blog 9 on capitalism for an example). Constitutionally, a clear division between the state and religions, with specific and influential dialogue, would be most helpful for calm post-atheist narrative management. Narrative management should reduce religious and sectarian conflict; so post-atheism could help religious communities work together better.

* * *

Now we can return to what we want, and to discuss what we should want and do want in contrast. I have compiled a list of wants, this list is probably incomplete and I am not going to define the items, but please consider the following for further discussion: Winning, money, power, pleasing authority, prepare for death, make the world a better place, help people, security, celebrity, to destroy things, pleasure, environmentalism, & experience love. It we consider these items, I reject that there is any intrinsic hierarchy or order to them, for example money leads to power, power leads to money, pleasing authority can also lead to money, helping people can lead to power etc. The wants are unstructured, so how we think about the wants may also have strange associations or ordering based on our personal experiences and narratives. So why do we have strong views on the good?

If wants are so chaotic, then it must be our personal narratives that are orderly for us to have an organised sense of what is good: How does this come about? I suggest that, along with the narratives we are exposed to, there is a pragmatic experience of whether approaches are rewarded in the real world. Of course, if for example a parent carries a particular narrative value system, this could be imposed both as a narrative explained to the child and what works with them as controller of the social environment. As social animals we fill niches in our environment, for example if winning is prioritised over caring in our environment, this may bring forward a competitive streak. Another child may not be practising winning at games as a social role, but may be more focused on expressing care and helping. Both of these may lead to a measure of success, as may other behaviours, especially in complex social environments. What we want may be a circular self-reinforcing system like a neural net that both categorises and trains itself at the same time, it gets trained with rewards, but often a success is judged a success because it is similar to a previous success.

What we should want then, and so what is good, may depend on who we are and our role in our social niche within the greater self. Consider the following matrix:

Matrix       Spiritual           Materialistic

Helpful       Saintly              Caring

Selfish       Philosopher       Winner

As a society we need winners; we need people to be caring. The example of saints may not be bad, and even the philosophical can be useful if they become the thinkers in society. So there is no one 'should want'; there is no justified moral totalitarianism and we still have avoided nihilism (the sense there are no values). There are lots of values.

* * *

I shall make a few concluding remarks. The values we hold are our religion, even if we are atheist or humanist. Our views on topics beyond science are likewise often religious depending on the topic. The narratives we hold, including our religious ones, define us. Narratives can be amended with difficulty. The 'should wants' or 'wants to want to want' we have are the good, and these goods are hyper real, but the goods are not each comparable without a personal narrative to interpret them by association.

Our final conclusion is that the good is real, but personal, very personal, and may be at the root of your personality. Your religion is a necessary part of that personality. So, what good is religion after the lies? Your religion makes you, and makes you function, despite the sometimes obvious lies.

#meta-ethics #ethics #philosophy #religion #religious #post-atheism #narrative #philosophical #analytical #postmodernism #nihilism #theism #psychology of religion

[twigmoney32]

Ordinary Strategies to Interact Around Cell Phones

Explore a new track in human relationships happening inside our society thanks in part to the considerable use of cell phones. Just how are some of us transitioning in our public connections with other people? If we want to consider the best inside our conduct we should start researching the small differences taking place regularly. Although mobile phones have been groundbreaking in assisting online public connections, they experienced detrimental effects off-line. Face-to-face interactions have been broken up and we are sharing less real-life encounters, now as part of your.

The environment may be the individual sensitive space we each occupy, shaped by our interactions with the surroundings around us. The significant overlap is a term used to describe the shared environment between two individuals shaped by their shared experiences. It really is these overlaps that type the basis of our relationships. The result smartphones have on this overlap is clear. Our cell phones essentially draw us out of our environment, resulting in less shared experiences during social interactions and therefore a smaller sized overlap. The dynamics of our social connections are also changing. During on the web socializing, we are totally blind to the reaction and real-life feelings of the other person. In face-to-face connections we use cosmetic expressions and various other non-verbal cues as responses to help us understand even more about the other individuals internal monologue Without these physical hints, we should infer cues from any digital response we get. This might lead to misjudgment of others emotions and less distributed experience as we've a smaller understanding of the others personal experience. Phone utilization can also lead to long-lasting problems with offline human relationships. A brand-new study discovered that cell phone usage during an discussion was often interpreted as a form of rejection. Rejection can cause feelings of hurt, anger and resentment - reducing self-esteem and mood. These emotions were related to lower relationship fulfillment and increased conflict. Whilst smart phones can enhance communication, it really is evident that they are interfering with our offline interpersonal interactions and decreasing the quality of our romantic relationships. Rejection within public interactions leads to lower self-esteem and indications of depression. Extreme cellphone use during social relationships, therefore, could be destructive to your mental wellbeing by lowering the quality of interactions. Not only are smart phones affecting our relationships, the constant usage of these devices is causing identity problems. Todays smartphones have loads of applications available to users with app utilization creating 82% of cellular time. Analysis conducted on social media usage found that 67% of time spent on social networking is via cellphone applications. This shows that mobile phones are facilitating the use of social networking applications, which can be damaging to our social identities. Excessive social media usage is normally causing people to derive their self-worth using their social media subsequent and likes. In todays world, people correlate a minimal social media pursuing and less likes with see your face being somewhat boring and unpopular. This way of thinking puts pressure on people to maintain an internet social networking presence by remaining active on their phone and spending excessive time on social media marketing, a vicious cycle. The unfortunate thing about the existing climate is that those that do not make use of their telephone as much are being appeared down upon. Emotions of belonging is a strong and inevitable aspect of human being nature. Regarding to social identity theory, we normally seek owed within groups. Folks are progressively equating a low social media following with a lack of belonging, causing these to feel disconnected. A problem arises when people are consumed by their social media activity but do not receive the identification or appreciation that they expect. Another problem presents itself when those individuals cannot access their social media platforms. For example, a video of the social media influencer just lately went viral soon after her Instagram profile was revoked. comprobar mi blog The user, who boasted over 100,000 supporters, claimed that she actually is nothing without her pursuing which it felt like murder when her accounts was closed. A Medium post explored how cellphones are taking advantage of an evolutionary need for affirmation. The author shows that cell phones consist of various variable praise schedules, such as messages and social networking likes that continuously pull us in. We are progressively seeking benefits from our smartphones, by means of social networking attention. A new study supported the idea that excessive social media marketing use can lead to emotional and mental health issues. Conflict theory could express this effect. Our online existence is supposed to be a representation of our actual self. However, given the fact that we mostly display only our positive characteristics online, our profiles are actually a better representation of our ideal self. Therefore, those who tend to promote themselves more actively through their social media marketing channels may just be showing their high degrees of self-discrepancy. So there you have it. Regular smart phone use can damage our relationships and trigger us to experience as though we dont belong - triggering emotions of low self-esteem and major depression. In addition they facilitate excessive social networking use, which can often lead to differences among our best and real self. These emotions also create a lower self-esteem, mood and opinion of oneself and also increasing our likelihood of feeling depressed. This website post is not an attack on smart phones, as I am one of the many who are guilty of the excessive usage of my phone. Think about this a warning of the risks of excessive smartphone utilization. In future, when you are conversing with someone in person, place the smartphone down! Irrespective of what is usually on your display can wait. We must treasure our face-to-face relationships and be pleased with who we are actually rather than seeking approval through the over-use of our mobile phones. As I discussed earlier, I do not want this post to be considered an attack on smartphones. Digital society has simply up to date me about the prevalence of technology within our everyday lives. Not only regarding smartphones, but especially learning about the web of Points and Smart Metropolitan areas, I now have a better knowledge of the direction where the globe is headed. It is quite clear to see, we are destined towards a future whereby technology can be used in nearly every aspect of lifestyle, from self-service checkouts to driverless vehicles. Whilst these technologies are solving everyday problems for us and making life more convenient, I wish to know how the usage of technology has effects on the way we function as individuals in culture. As a Psychology student, becoming more educated about how the globe is using technology has led myself to ask queries about the result this is having on our mental health. With the entire world becoming controlled by technological devices, that is bound to have an effect on the dynamics of society. site Given the actual fact that clever technology is a comparatively new phenomenon, we do not however know much about how it is impacting our lives. For example, the Digital Engagement topic taught me about how exactly businesses are more and more using our online activity to advertise and advertise services to us. That is undoubtedly a implication of technical use, as we are becoming brain-washed into spending money. Whilst this is a danger of mobile phones, I wanted to breach additional into the psychological effects of technology on people. Smartphones, for me personally, encapsulate the digital culture we reside in. We are linked with one another in culture through a small handheld device that can be taken around wherever we proceed in our pockets. Though the issue is, that a lot of of the time these cellphones are not kept in our wallets and we are spending additional time staring into our mobile phones. As a result, if cellphones represent the online culture, then the problems of phones might tell us more about the implications of living in a digital culture. Studying numerous content, I have been exposed to different ideas and viewpoints. Articles and blogs have helped increase my understanding of technology, that i have been in a position to apply to numerous psychological ideas and tips. Digital Society offers allowed me to modernize my understanding of environmental factors on emotional wellbeing. After all, if the surroundings around us is definitely changing - the way in which we are inspired by the environment will change as well. The main challenge for me was aligning my educative writing technique into a post format. As somebody who can be used to composing in a typical university assignment style, this has opened my eye to a fresh way of writing. Although difficult to adapt to in the beginning, I now enjoy writing blogs and have found that Personally i think much more able to express my personal opinions when writing them. In fact, I look forward to writing more blog posts in the foreseeable future.

#tech news

[brittanyinterviews]

Brenda Ton, Homecook

Brenda Ton, Homecook

---

This interview was conducted via Google Hangouts on May 15, 2020.

---

Brittany: Can you tell me a bit about yourself? 

Brenda: I was born and raised in the Bay Area in the city called Hayward, which is also where I grew up. I've never left the Bay Area and have no desire to because I love it here so much. My heritage background is Vietnamese and I am the first generation born here in the US. I grew up in an average sized family and am one of five kids. I'm currently living in San Pablo with my husband Patrick and our two rescue dogs. Professionally, I am a digital marketer and have my own consulting business. However, I spend most of my time thinking about food and what I'm going to cook next because food is my creative outlet and how I express myself. 

My love for cooking stems from my mom. She cooked for us every single day and made everything from scratch. Food is a big part of the Vietnamese culture. Feelings and emotions were never big in my family and oftentimes they were suppressed. We were never the type of family that hugged, but we were the family who could eat. So, love was always expressed through my mom's cooking, and was how my family bonded. I was actually the kid who hated to cook or help out in the kitchen, but I sucked it up and did it because I wanted to help out my mom. And looking back, I have very fond memories of that. It wasn't until ten years ago that I met Patrick, my husband now, that I really started to enjoy the art of cooking.  

Brittany: It sounds like your family laid the foundation for your love of food and then you really got into cooking with Patrick. I'm wondering if you can describe your first food memory.

Brenda: When I was a kid, my parents would drag me to San Jose to go grocery shopping. Some might think that's crazy to drive over an hour to San Jose from Hayward just to shop for groceries. But back then in the early ‘90s, that was the only city you could go to in order to find the necessary ingredients to make Vietnamese food. So, we did that every single week to get the freshest vegetables, butchered meats, and bread. My favorite memory is picking up a fresh French baguette, being the first to break the bread, and enjoy it during the car ride along our many Vietnamese food stops. From this day, I still make the occasional trip down to San Jose and still stop by the places my parents took me, which are mostly all still in business.

Brittany: Delicious Vietnamese food and San Jose are synonymous in my mind. Moving forward in time a bit, what was your original motivation in starting your food blog and associated Instagram? 

Brenda: I started my food blog (which no longer exists) and my Instagram to really just document my food experiences and share that experience with others. It was like a personal food diary. I was always the person people came to for recommendations on where and what to eat, so it was originally focused mostly on food that I ate at restaurants. But over the last few years, it evolved away from restaurants and turned into a platform where I share my cooking journey and my favorite things to eat, and any personal stories or memories associated with that. 

Steamed Silken Tofu

Brittany: It seems like you experiment with making food across a wide variety of cuisines. Upon a cursory glance at your Instagram, I see homemade bagels with lox, Hakka-style soft tofu, Oxtail quesabirrias, and a Japanese katsu sandwich. How do you approach making food from a new culture?

Brenda: I'm often driven by my own curiosity and love being introduced to new food cultures and flavors that I'm not familiar with. I spend the majority of my free time reading recipes and learning about different foods from all over the world. I read recipes like it's a menu at a restaurant. I approach choosing what I cook based on how much desire I have to want to eat that specific thing. Instead of thinking, "What should I cook?," I think, "What do I want to eat?" This mindset lets me go out of my comfort zone for that reward of tasting something new. I put in that effort because it's worth it to me. 

Oxtail Quesabirrias

Brittany: What ingredients do you get the most excited about? Have you ever met an ingredient you didn't get along with?

Brenda: I get really excited about working with freshly harvested, caught, or butchered ingredients. For people that follow me, it's no secret that I'm in love with live sea urchin from [Stephanie Mutz] @seastephaniefish. When a product is that beautiful, the creativity in my cooking just flows naturally to me: from live uni in its own shell still moving or using uni for handrolls, risotto, or tostadas. I love working with ingredients that can stand and shine on its own; something you can just eat straight up without needing anything else.

As for ingredients that I don't get along with... there's actually nothing that comes to mind. But I'll let you know if something does come to mind for that. I think there is a use for most ingredients and using each one to its strengths.

Uni Risotto

Brittany: How has living in the Bay Area influenced your cooking?

Brenda: I am very fortunate to be living in the Bay Area. It has exposed me to a melting pot of cultures and that's the reason why I can never leave this place. We are spoiled to have access to nearly every type of ingredient to make any type of food. Just a few miles away from us is my favorite grocery store Las Montañas that sells the most amazing flour and corn tortillas, fresh masa, salsa of nearly every kind. A city away from us in Berkeley is Tokyo Fish Market and Yaoya-san, where we get all our fresh Japan-imported fish and koshihikari rice. Those are just two examples of many. Depending on what type of food I'm making, there's a special grocery store I go to just to procure the ingredients I need. 

Brittany: Where are some of your favorite places to eat in the Bay Area?

Brenda: That's a hard one to narrow down. I have a huge list depending on where I'm at and what I'm craving, which I'm happy to share with anyone. If we were hanging out and you asked me to take you around, we'd go to San Jose and hit up the following spots: 1) Huong Lan: The best banh mi deli spot. I've been going here since I was a kid. 2) Hue Restaurant: My favorite restaurant for food from Hue / Central Vietnam. Tapioca dumplings and turmeric noodles. 3) Thanh Son Hien Khanh: Vietnamese sticky rice and dessert heaven.

Brittany: Now I’m craving sticky rice. In normal times, you've done quite a bit of traveling—to Japan and Mexico, for instance—and you consume a lot of local favorites. How do you know what to eat? Do you research and prepare ahead of time or figure it out once you've arrived?

Brenda: It depends on the place we travel. I am an INTJ, so when I can, I plan everything out months in advance before a trip. I do a lot of reading and research and put all my plans in a custom Excel template that lists out exactly where we're going to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert / snacks in between for each day based on where we'll be. Now that's easy for a place like Japan or Italy, where it's mostly restaurant establishments. I usually refer to local review sites.

But for a place like Mexico or Vietnam where the food scene takes place on the streets, it's all based on the senses. It's less about where you want to eat and more about what you want to eat. If there's a crowd and the food looks good, and it smells good, then I'm eating there. This is actually my favorite way to experience the local food scene. Oftentimes, I'll also ask friends who have travelled to the countries I'm going to for recommendations.

Brittany: A lot of people, myself included, are cooking and baking a lot more than usual. Has being in quarantine affected your cooking or baking?

Brenda: Thankfully, our lifestyle hasn’t been impacted much from quarantine. As people who cook every single day, we've always had a full fridge, freezer, and pantry stocked with all our essentials. Patrick works in produce, so we're grateful to be able to get fresh vegetables every day to cook with and also to provide for our families. The one area where I'm seeing the biggest change for us is putting in more effort to make things completely from scratch, like making banh mi bread or bagels. It's an important time to keep social distance and not go out unless it's absolutely necessary, so we are doing our best to work with what we have at home and be creative with it to fulfill any of our food cravings. I really do miss seeing my family and enjoying my mom's cooking. This time has made me realize how much I've taken for granted. I have been learning how to cook a lot of Vietnamese food more recently to fill in the void, and comfort me during this time.

Brittany: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?

Brenda: I am working on launching a YouTube channel to inspire and help people build confidence to cook in the kitchen. In the meantime, you can expect to go down memory lane with me and see more of my Vietnamese cooking over the next several weeks on IG.

---

Photos provided by Brenda Ton.

---

Special thanks to Brenda for discussing her cooking with us. You can follow her on Instagram.

#interview #blogger #cooking #Brenda Ton #Bay Area #East Bay #San Pablo

[tensult]

Cross account and cross region RDS MySQL DB replication: Architecture

In my previous blog, I have discussed various disaster recovery options available for RDS. I recommend you to go through that blog, it makes it easier to understand this blog. Why cross account and cross region replication? Cross region replication helps to quickly recover from AWS region wide failures. Also it will help to serve the customer faster as we can use replica for read traffic and few of them might be closer to replica’s region. Cross account replication helps to recover data from replication account when our master AWS account is compromised and we have lost access to the account completely. Such incidents happened in the past where one of the AWS customer account got hacked and the attacker deleted all the data. AWS provides several mechanisms to protect the data but having separate backup account with very limited access and tighter controls will help in unforeseen circumstances. Before we dive into setup lets understand the overall replication process.

Overall Process

Architecture

ExplanationBoth master and slave databases are not publicly accessible, this is a best practice to keep DB instances accessible from only application servers, hence we need to keep them in the private subnets with proper access restrictions using NACLs.We have connected both VPCs in different accounts and regions using VPC peering so that data never leaves the private network.We have added DMS and Slave DB in separate private subnets, this is another best practice, we need to keep every logically separated components in their own subnets so that we get a better control over network access.We can control DMS access to Slave DB instance using Security Group rules in DB Security Group 2 and NACLs on the subnet (172.20.3.0/24).We can control DMS access to the Master DB instance using NACLs on the subnet (10.0.1.0/24). Here using security group rules to restrict access to only DMS replication instance may not advisable as IP of the replication instance might change if Multi-AZ is enabled and we can’t restrict using DMS Security group id as that is in a different account.We have kept DMS replication instance in DR account than Production account as this instance is for DR purpose only so it is logical to keep in the DR account. This gives better control over overall DR setup and also this reduces attacks to the DR account by not exposing the info in the Production account else attacker may attempt to take down even the DR setup.How does this work? DMS reads Binary logs from Master MySQL DB instance and replays them on the Slve DB instance.

Source: AWSBinary logs (binlogs): MySQL DB keeps binlogs in order to support replication, binlogs are mainly all the modifications on DB, it won’t contain any read queries data. In RDS binlogs are enabled by Default with MIXED format but for DMS to work we need to change then to ROW format. Please note: enabling binlogs might have a slight performance impact so test on the Dev-Setup before using on the production setup. Supported DDL statements (Schema changes): DDL statements are the queries, that are sent to the DB instance to change the DB schema and only the following are supported for MySQL. Create tableAdd columnDrop columnRename columnChange column data typeSupported DB engine versions: MySQL 5.6 or above. Requirements:You must enable automatic backups.“binlog retention hours” should be 24.The binlog_format parameter should be set to ROW.The binlog_checksum parameter should be set to NONE. This will be NONE by default if automatic backups are enabled.Limitations:AUTO_INCREMENT attribute on a column won’t be set on the target instance.By default tables on the target is created with the InnoDB storage engine but this can be avoided if we create table manually on the target DB instance and migrate using do nothing mode.Above are the common ones and there are more limitations.

Preparation

Before we setup the replication process, lets prepare the source (master) DB instance. Check if automated backups are enabled: We can check from RDS console by select the Master DB instance and look for “Automated Back

RDS instance details in the console If this is show Not Enabled then Modify the instance to enable. Using AWS CLI: aws rds describe-db-instances --db-instance-identifier myMasterDBInstanceId# Look for BackupRetentionPeriod and verify that it is a NON-ZERO value.# Incase this is 0 then we can change using following command:aws rds modify-db-instance --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance --backup-retention-period numberofday --preferred-backup-window "hh24:mi-hh24:mi"Check if binlog_format is ROW To change this parameter, we need to use custom Parameter group so first we need to create a Parameter group called replication and then update the binlog_format to ROW, then update the instance’s DB parameter group to replication. After that RDS will take sometime to modify the parameter group and then it will say pending-reboot and then we need to reboot the instance.

Creating Parameter group: replication

Update binlog_format to ROW of replication Parameter group

Modify the DB instance Parameter group to replication

Select appropriate option for When Apply Modifications

It should apply Parameter group changes

It should change to pending-reboot very soon Now we need to reboot the instance, make sure you do this when there is very less traffic to the DB instance else application may fail to connect to the DB. If you have enabled Multi AZ then down time will be quite less and RDS switches traffic to stand by DB instance in another AZ.

After the reboot, it should say in-sync Now our new parameter group is successfully applied to the Master DB instance. AWS CLI instructions: aws rds create-db-parameter-group --db-parameter-group-name replication --db-parameter-group-family MySQL5.7 --description "My DB params for replication"aws rds modify-db-parameter-group --db-parameter-group-name mydbparametergroup --parameters "ParameterName=binlog_format,ParameterValue=ROW,ApplyMethod=immediate"aws rds modify-db-instance --db-instance-identifier myMasterDBInstance --db-parameter-group-name replication# Wait for sometime so that instance finish modification and then reboot the instance.aws rds reboot-db-instance --db-instance-identifier myMasterDBInstanceSet binlog retention hours: Now connect to the instance using MySQL command line or your favourite MySQL client and execute following query to set binlog retention hours. call mysql.rds_set_configuration('binlog retention hours', 24); Now Master instance is ready for replication and we need to setup DMS replication and Slave DB instance. The same procedure works for Master to Master replication and DMS service can be used replicate RDS MySQL DB to on-premise or EC2 MySQL DB instance too. We will explain the complete setup in our next blog. Read the full article

#AWS #DisasterRecovery #Rds #Replication

[bradywade55]

Blog Post #3- Queen of the Damned (2002)

The movie Queen of the Damned, directed by Michael Rymer, takes an interesting approach on Vampires and the gothic culture which surrounds such. This movie was written by Anne Rice, adapted from her famous 3- part novel series, The Vampire Chronicles. It is interesting how the director, Rymer, chooses to portray the Vampire archetypes in this film. One might notice many similarities between the vampire characters in this film a those of earlier films surrounding the 18th century; The obvious ones including the sharp teeth, long finger nails, pale/sickly completions, and even the mis-colored eyes. However, there are some various differences in character and appearance that exist in this 20th century film that were changed from the earlier stereotypes. For example, In Rymer’s film, the skins of the undead vampires are ice cold. Although this detail is used in many other pieces of film and literature pertaining to vampire archetypes, in the 18th century it was more common for these humanoid creatures to take on warm bodied characters. It was theorized that vampires would have skin that was still warm to the touch due to their bodies remaining alive. Another detail that is not typical of an 18th century vampire would be beauty or attractive appearance. The first film to showcase these bizarre creatures was released in 1922 out of Germany and was titled “No Sparatu”. In this film, the director F. W. Murna chose to depict the vampire as an older peasant man. The man is misshapen, has longer fingernails and poor complexion, and appears to be outcast from society. Around this time, vampires held a reputation for being abominations, misfits, and outcasts of communities. Approximately two decades pass until Bram Stroker releases his Film, Dracula, in which completely turns the table for the vampire archetype. Although the character remains mysterious in nature, Bram’s depiction of Dracula is more along the lines of elegant, suave, and sophisticated. With the film taking on a new original, yet authentic approach, Bram’s character for Dracula would set the precedent for future vampires to come. One last peculiar, yet important detail regarding the vampires in The Queen of the Damned in comparison to the previous archetypes is that not only do the character’s break gender stereotypes, but they also step outside of basic racial stereotypes that existed around the time in which this film takes place. Many of the main characters in The Queen of the Damned are male leads including the character of Lestat, the long haired deviant vampire, or even Marius, the older and more structured vampire. These characters imitate the character Dracula from Strokers film in the sense that they are very powerful, very compelling, and very very seductive. Aside from the male leads in this film, we are also exposed to a few female vampires as well, one of which establishes a monumental role. Akasha, the main female Vampire role, is played by Aaliyah. Akasha is an ancient Egyptian queen whom is awaken when bitten by Lestat during a fit of lust. Akashas character completely changes the roles in this movie as she becomes so powerful, she is seemly unstoppable. Not only is it bizarre for a female to hold such power, especially during the time in which this movie is set, but it is also abnormal for woman of color. The implementation of a female lead was a bold move for the director but it was ultimately a smart one. Ultimately, this film was one that broke boundaries. It is my best guess that the reason the author chose to do so was to play around with the idea of “power”. This film really demonstrates the distribution of power and the pursuits people will endure to ensure the proper checks in balances of such, In the film, we see a constant panic amongst various characters concerning the balance of power. Essentially, the rising action of the film involves the characters reaching a solution to managing the power in which the queen begins to gain; power in which the characters felt “She could not be trusted with”. I believe the entire premise of the movie follows the rise and fall of the power of an individual and the outlets in which the power is drawn from. In the case of this film, the power is being accrued by a powerful female an is being drawn through means of murder and seduction.

#ILS4180