#volunteering benefits mental health

[jmtorres]

doomscrolling is not activism

doomscrolling is not activism

doomscrolling is not activism

"don't look away" is a meaningless phrase. who are you benefiting by inundating yourself with misery porn?

DO something about things you care about. Go to a protest for something you believe in, if you can. Donate money to a cause if you have it to spare. Volunteer your time to help people if you have the energy. Write a letter to your political representatives if that's something you can do. These are meaningful ways to try to make change in the world.

And then? don't feel bad about insulating yourself from horrible news. Don't make yourself look at images that make you feel sick. Don't read endless things that depress you. Because frankly it gets harder to actually do the more you doomscroll. Reading constantly about things you can't change because they're happening at a systemic level or on the other side of the world is paralyzing. It makes you less able to help where you can.

I'm not saying be willfully ignorant. I'm not saying pretend horrible things aren't happening. I'm saying don't destroy your mental health going in-depth and cycling through horror after horror on your phone. I'm saying there is no virtue in making yourself experience other people's traumas because mere awareness is not activism. you inflicting suffering on yourself is not activism.

doomscrolling is literally sapping your energy and focus away from doing anything useful to help other people. you can burn yourself out without ever lifting a finger by exposing yourself to all the bad news in the world and who does that help? no one.

#doomscrolling #activism #burnout #volunteer #donate #do SOMETHING

[acourtofthought]

You know what I love about this scene and what comes after?

Lucien found out his mate, who he had never officially met, was engaged to and in love with someone else.

He wants to know if after meeting her, he should fight for a chance to be with her, to possibly put her in a position where she has to choose.

Later he does meet her but he doesn't decide that her hand is the thing worth fighting for, he decides her happiness and well being are worth fighting for.

He sees that she loves Graysen and that she's overwhelmed with sadness over the wedding that would not be taking place in a few days.

So he does not try to fight so that she might care for him instead, he does not try to "woo" her. He respects her feelings for another man.

He does however, fight for her to heal.

He fights for her mental health.

He fights for her to be happy even knowing that it's not him that she wants.

He tells them to take her to the sea, take her to some garden, to get her outside.

He asks them to have a healer look over over.

He volunteers to go on a dangerous mission proving that he sees her and believes in what she's seeing.

He does his best to help bring Elain back to life knowing full well it is not going to benefit him in the end. He's not getting something for his efforts besides knowing she'll be okay.

He fights to bring her back to life knowing she wants Graysen.

I can't think of anything more romantic than that.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #pro lucien vanserra #elucien supremacy

[wendynerdwrites]

A Measured Response: A Measured Response

Above please find the video I'm responding to, "A Measured Response" by James Somerton. If he deletes later (and I suspect he may), I will reblog with an embed of a copy of the video.

Also note: Much of this is taken from comments I made on his video. But I believe he may be deleting them. Or I got caught up in the spam filter because I commented more than once out of sheer frustration with what I was hearing.

James,

Okay, I am going to start off with a couple things I will give you credit for:

1) Acknowledging the shitty effect nuking your channel had on Nick's career and prospects. That's actually something that hasn't been discussed much and it is genuinely good of you to volunteer that to your audience. As someone who once had her own portfolio nuked by former partners, that's a good thing to bring up. No notes there. That was a good move.

2) You actually used the word 'plagiarism' this time.

I would also like to say that I am glad that you are safe and I am glad you are still alive.

I'm hearing lots about insurance, and your mental health struggles, and the move YOU chose to make "disrupting everything" and your mom's death, "not citing things correctly", how ADHD apparently made you plagiarize, and how hard things are for you. And how people harassed and doxxed you. How you totally want to prove yourself!

Here's what I'm not hearing about:

1) The harassment campaign you launched against your accusers that literally caused them to go into hiding. Sorry, but you don't get sympathy points about death threats and doxing without at least expressing remorse when you did that to others. You haven't mentioned it once. you also falsely accused OTHERS of sending harassment your way and have not acknowledged it.

2) The multiple transphobic and misogynistic lies you told.

3) The tangible impact of queer erasure YOU ENGAGED IN. You barely mention any of the people you stole from. Believe it or not, James, but those people? They also had lives, and jobs, and obligations. Some of them also had dead parents. Then there are the queer people you erased the identities of, slandered, and insulted. Becky Abertelli had to deal with YEARS of the same sort of harassment you're complaining about because of people calling her straight. And even after she was FORCED OUT OF THE CLOSET, you perpetuated that lie again. And yes, YOU DID, JAMES. PUTTING HER IN THE 'STRAIGHT AUTHORS' CATEGORY IS CALLING HER STRAIGHT, JAMES. THAT'S HOW CATEGORIES WORK. Then when she briefly corrected you, you lied about her repeatedly and inserted nasty little vague comments about her so that you could bait your audience into asking about it and claim she harassed you on twitter for not liking her show (which never happened once. She didnt even bring up you straight-washing her on twitter. It was in your comments section.). So not only did you lie, you went out of your way to create opportunities to lie about her more.

4) The outright dangerous rhetoric you engaged in. Such as:

a) You lied about the AIDS epidemic and generations of actual queer activists who you claimed didn't care about employment discrimination and just wanted to have "big gay weddings" because they were "boring. This is a false and dangerous retelling of queer history, not only isolating new generations of queer people, but also erasing the tangible benefits of the legal benefits you enjoy now, James. THEY WANTED MARRIAGE SO THEY COULD HOLD THEIR DYING LOVERS' HANDS AS THEY PASSED AND ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS, JAMES. THEY WANTED MARRIAGE SO THEY WEREN'T KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND STRIPPED OF BENEFITS DURING A HEALTH PANDEMIC, JAMES. THEY DID FIGHT FOR EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS, JAMES. THAT'S HOW SEXUALITY BECAME A PROTECTED CLASS. Lying about and downplaying the legal rights these valiant "boring" people fought for misleads current generations of queer people into caring less about their history, the people who have done the most for them, and protecting the legal rights so desperately won.

b) All the gay Nazi shit. I feel like I shouldn't have to explain why inventing facts about all the Nazi secret police and youth counselors being gay and extorting people for sex under the Reich is so insanely dangerous and disgusting, but here's a hint: it casts your own community as being the vile, perverted criminals that THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO WANT YOU DEAD (you know, homophobes? Not people on the internet who noticed you plagiarized the Celluloid Closet) perpetuate in order to sell their draconian policies to the masses.

c) all the misogyny. I get it, you want to erase the discrimination against women (and people you claim are women) have faced, especially as queer women. You wanted to pretend Radcliffe Hall was allowed to "carry on with her happy little life." You wanted your audience to believe that. You wanted your audience to shit on women for moral panics you made up. You wanted to erase the queer identity of a woman who had already been through Hell and then pass it off as justified. With the rising tied of renewed misogyny,, incel attacks, and reproductive rights being stripped from us, you really, really wanted to sell the message of women being whiny, jealous bitches who get handed everything, never deal with consequences, and hate people for not liking their work. (TBH, it feels a bit like projection on your part) thank you for spreading so much incel rhetoric and transphobia and making your audience ignorant of the great contributions women have made to LGBTQIA history.

I'd respect you more if you would just own up to the obvious biases you clearly have.

That's not all, but my hands are getting tired.

5) That you were caught lying about the contents of Hbomb's video in your initial patreon response.

6) The worth of the people you stole from.

7) Using Nick's asexuality as an excuse for your acephobic AF bullshit about how ace people apparently never dealt with institutional oppression when they're the most likely to be sent to conversion camp and have had corrective rape used as a "treatment" throughout history. Like, holy shit, James.

8) How you tried to lay blame for your shitty, stolen work on your own audience because "you didn't wanrt to make them and they were patreon requests." You didn't have to keep video requests as a perk. Those people paid over $300 to you for those wids only for you to throw them under the bus.

9) Your complete refusal to update your Telos backers on anything besides announcing new projects that you were using to replace the projects you promised them. You could have gone on Patreon, Indiegogo, Twitter, or your channel, and explained things. Things like this happen. But instead you ghosted and gaslighted.

10) The shit you pulled about Nebula.

11) The shitsquillion dollars you spent on cameras you didn't need when you were also claiming to your patrons about being on the verge of homelessness.

"It's a documentary, no opinion just cited facts." James, you've cited "facts" like "15% of the Hitler Youth counselors were gay", "Radcliffe Hall didn't get punished for writing a book about lesbians", and "there was no fight against employment discrimination" as "facts."

Then there's the part where you're still insisting that the people who told you that you can't make a short film on 3K were wrong. You insist it's possible because you intended to use non-union labor. then two minutes later you admit a movie you put together ended up going way over-budget because you didn't realize how much things would cost.

So the Telos nay-sayers had a point, James. Why are you still acting like they were wrong. Do you just not want anyone to find Dan Olsen's tweets about your finances?

The fact that you think you have any business coming back when all you've ever managed are lies and theft is so hilariously conceited. I get it. You want to be able to "carry on with your happy little life" (the way Radcliffe Hall DIDN'T). You want to go back to being a big youtuber and for everyone to admire you once you manage to go a whole video without stealing from anyone. That's not how this works. You have no credibility. You have caused a huge amount of damage not just to your immediate audience, but also the queer community overall.

You hurt a lot more people than Jessie Gender, James.

"We weren't trying to lie about things." BULL FUCKING SHIT. YOU NOT ONLY LIED ABOUT BECKY ALBERTALLI MULTIPLE TIMES. YOU EVEN MADE AN INDIRECT DIG AT HER SO YOUR AUDIENCE WOULD ASK ABOUT IT SO YOU COULD LIE ABOUT YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH HER AS WELL. YOU LIED ABOUT WHO ACTUALLY WROTE YOUR VIDEOS. YOU LIED ABOUT YOUR CREDITS. YOU LIED ON PURPOSE. AND YOU LIED IN WAYS THAT HURT PEOPLE.

You also lie in your video saying "in the beginning, I thought it was enough to put people's names in the opening credits." No you didn't. You started using those opening credits well after the accusations came rolling in. You even admitted on twitter that in the beginning you weren't "citing my sources yet."

Do I believe much of your bullshit was pure laziness? Certainly. But there can be more than one reason for it. There's no way you knew who Radcliffe Hall was and actually thought she face no repercussions. No one who has ever heard of The Well of Loneliness DOESN'T know all the prints were destroyed. It being a lesbian book that was destroyed by the courts is THE STORY.

You lied when you said you didn't call Becky Albertalli straight. EVEN THOUGH YOU ADMIT TO PUTTING HER IN THE STRAIGHT CATEGORY.

You lied about your "adaptation" of Evil Queens and tinker Bells and the citation and schedule of when you got approval. You got approval after the fact and claiming you got it from the beginning. your own email screenshot proves it.

You lied saying the Evil Queens video was "a direct adaptation of the books" despite half the video being plagiarized from completely different works. You lied about your plagiarism accusations and HBomb's video rehashing old "debunked" accusations on Patreon. You lied about Alexander Avila. You lied about reading/watching a bunch of the media you were "critiquing." you lied about when you started with your opening credits.

These were ALL LIES YOU TOLD ON PURPOSE.

You don't "research", "write", shoot, edit, and post a video with shit like that in it and say it wasn't malicious or intentional. You put these videos out there with scores of lies, many of which were directed at various marginalized groups, and CHOSE to never check if anything you said was true. You don't invent entire fake moral panics "by accident." You don't plagiarize by accident.

Please don't spend forty minutes reciting excuses and then claim "these are not excuses." You're not fooling us.

Also - Leave your poor mother out of this. She already had to die of cancer. Let the poor woman rest.

But thank you for linking your new patreon and telling us all about your upcoming videos! I am glad you have your priorities straight. (that was sarcasm)

Just leave the internet, James. Not LIFE, OBVIOUSLY. Stay alive. But your time as a content creator is done. You have no viability in that area. The fact that you think you can just do this is equal parts entitled and delusional. That you think you can come back so soon makes it even worse. Tell you what: you can try again after it's verified that the people you stole from have been compensated and you properly apologize for everything else.

I will not believe you're truly sorry until you can actually apologize without caveats, excuses, and, yes, lies. Saying you're sorry for "not citing things correctly" is not apologizing for what you did. It's cushioning the actual facts and downplaying your transgression. You have not apologized for the misogyny, acephobia, or transphobia, which, yes, YOU DID. I don't care if you want to claim it wasn't intentional YOU STILL DID IT. You haven't apologized for harassing and slandering your critics.

So no, James, I don't really believe you're sorry. I think you're sorry this blew up and that you have to make a new patreon. I don't trust that you won't continue being misogynistic. I don't trust that if you ever see this comment, that you will actually read it instead of crying homophobia and cancel culture and "wanting you dead."

Admit that you harassed people and that it was awful. Admit the extent. Admit you lied about Becky Albertalli and apologize to her. Admit that, yes, YOU HAVE SOME REAL ISSUES WITH WOMEN and that you are ready to confront them.

I don't trust you to do the right thing here. But maybe this comment will be read by someone who might have otherwise fallen for this and it'll be easier for them to see through manipulation like this in the future.

Just log off, Bro.

#james somerton #response #plagiarism

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

March 15th

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1. Looking for a post 1st seige burial mounds fic on ao3. It was a wip but it's been awhile so may no longer be the case. In it jc only participated in the siege as a cover to get close enough to his brother w/out endangering lotus pier. Since he leads the charge he finds wwx first and when wwx passes out after destroying the seal jc fakes wwx's death and smuggle him back to lotus pier & hides/kinda imprison him. But the longer they're together the more jc realizes a lot of the things he blamed wwx for aren't adding up (seeing through Jin manipulations).

Jc also forgot/didn't know about ayuan so when wwx wakes up he freaks out about where his baby adopted son is, but by the time jc gets back to bm yuan is no where to be found (implied lz had already got him) but jc and wwx think this means yuan is dead. Wwx is very depressed and becomes Jin ling's secret nanny whenever the kid is at lotus pier. In the most recent updates (at the time) a baby xue yang was introduced.

He saw a disguised wwx in a hidden area by lotus pier playing in the water and is basically like 'I'm cute and small too' and plots how to get himself adopted so he can also be pampered like the wealthy kid. I think there were some alternating povs. Might of been a Lan pov too, creating dramatic irony since both yuan and wwx are alive but neither side knows? Was setting up yunmeng bro reconciliation.

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2. I'm looking for a specific fic, it was modern, WWX took LWJ to a concert of post modern, like synth? Chinese music and I think NHS told WWX about it?? It had some good song recs and I'm mainly looking for the the songs- if you guys could help me out? Thank you!!!! @recombinantdna

NOT FOUND! The Quiet Room by trickybonmot (M, 39k, WangXian, Modern AU, 1990s, Goth LWJ, Cellist LWJ, College Student WWX, House Hunting, Dating, Clubbing, San Francisco, Implied/Referenced Past Child Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Academic Disaster Aftermath, Getting Together, Repressed Teen Crushes to Strangers to Lovers, Homelessness, in the form of couch surfing, background NieLan) in which WWX finds LWJ being a DJ in a goth club in the 90s and it talks a lot about music. NHS is totally an enabler.

FOUND! show me a quiver, give me tonight by spookykingdomstarlight (E, 115k, wangxian, lwj/others, communication failure, mutual pining, artists, demisexual wwx, angst w/ happy ending) WY surprised LZ by bringing him to a performance of an artist LZ likes, H i d d e n f r a g r a n c e who plays electronic guqin. The sample songs can be found in the author notes in Chapter 10

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3. hi! im looking for a fic and the only thing i remember from it was wangxian (canon divergence, maybe arranged marriage but im not sure) in maybe caiyi?? sitting down at a noodle place, and there was a thing about how wwx loved the gusu dialect and kept pestering lwj to say something in the dialect, and he knew enough of the dialect to flirt or haggle so when lwj said an endearment term (i think it was something like sweetheart?) he froze and got all panicky about wwx recognising the word because he froze too, but then wwx just asks if he swore?? THANK YOU SO MUCH IF YOU FIND IT ive been combing my bookmarks and history for almost weeks now and im so close to thinking i made it all up

FOUND? Your Hand in Mine by cerbykerby (T, 20k, WangXian, Humor, Comedy, Pining, cursed to hold hands, Light Angst, Sharing a Bed, First Dates, Embarrassment, Fluff, bathing together, wwx is a menace to society, and lwj Suffers A Lot, Canon Compliant)

FOUND? Fentao-laoshi’s Guide to Cut-Sleeve Pleasures by occultings (microcomets) (E, 31k, wangxian, canon divergence, pining while fucking, friends with benefits, first time, cloud recesses study arc, practice kissing, sharing a bed, jealousy, getting together, confessions, happy ending)

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4. For fic finder: I have lost a modern-au fic where Lan Zhan is in the hospital, in a children’s wing, and Wei Wuxian visits a lot/volunteers there. Wei Wuxian has prosthetic legs and he gets a new red pair around the point I lost the fic. I am pretty sure I found the rec through this blog but I can’t find it again TT Help please!

FOUND? 🔒 some things go forward by everythingispoetry (T, 73k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hospitals, Teenage Drama, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Happy Ending)

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5. First, thank you for everything that you do ! Your posts and recommendations and "I'm in the mood for" collections have kept my heart and soul busy for years now! I am honestly in awe of all the hard work and time you dedicate to both pages! 🥰

Unfortunately I don't remember much of the summary of the fic I'm searching for, but I wanted to try my luck. 🙈 It was a light modern dom/sub fic where WY accidentally sort of turned LZ into a sub. I think by giving him indirect orders all the time? And nobody noticed until WQ pointed it out? I searched through Ao3 with the light dom/sub tag for ages and then eventually gave up.

Maybe it rings a bell for you? 🙏🤞❤️ @papperlapapp1

FOUND? And They Were Roommates! or The Accidental Domming of Lan Wangji by DizziDreams (E, 21k, wangxian, Dom WWX, Sub LWJ, inexperienced BDSM practices, un-/under- negotiated kink, horny climbing, horny cohabitation, horny on main except by main I mean at a party surrounded by innocent bystanders, Praise Kink, Masturbation, Bondage, Lingerie, Orgasm Delay/Denial, omg they were roommates, Modern, BDSM, debatably a bit of dom drop, Public Masturbation, Edging, Getting Together, WQ has to come in and straighten this shit out)

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6. Okay so looking for a fic where lwj or wwx accidentally summon incubus/succubus wwx or lwj. (I can't remember who was the sex demon or who was the human but it is a wangxian fic)

So, the succubus needs food and it is, unsurprisingly, cum. As in they have to literally eat cum to survive. So the human is followed by this succubus/incubus everywhere they go to including his university.

The human does love feeding the sex demon and even lets him feed in the uni bathroom during breaks.

Does a fic like this exist? Does it ring any bell?

FOUND? An Array of Good Decisions by celerydragon (E, 11k, WangXian, Demon Sex Size Kink, Size Difference, Consensual Non-Consent, dubcon, Tongue Sex, Omegaverse, Humiliation, Mild Breeding Kink)

FOUND? Lan Wangji's Fullproof Guide on How (NOT) to Summon a Demon by fardimensions (E, 3k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Porn With Plot, but not a lot of plot, Incubus WWX, Demons, wwx has a tail, Wings, Interspecies Sex, Bottom LWJ/Top WWX, Anal Sex, Crack, Filthy, size queen LWJ)

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7. for the fic finder: it's a fic (dom/sub canon au?) where wei wuxian gave lan wangji a collar before he died. lan wangji keeps the collar for as long as he can but eventually the leather is too old and it breaks. there's a bunch of sadness but all is well when wei wuxian resurrects.

thank you for all you do!!

FOUND? Breathe Again by Sheehan_sidhe (E, 4k, wangxian, Grief/Mourning, Depression, Breathplay, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, POV LWJ, LWJ Has Feelings, Submissive LWJ, Crying LWJ, Grieving LWJ, Collars, Angst with an Eventual Happy Ending)

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8. for fic finder: my heart tells me it was a modern/modern with cultivation au, but my searches have been fruitless. i just remember our beloved wangxian dancing around each other, and the juniors being there with a similar problem. specifically, jin ling being tested at archery, and sizhui Totally Only There For Emotional Support And No Other Reason.

FOUND? with you, I am home by tellthemstories (M, 47k, wangxian, Modern Cultivation, fake dating for reasons, Meeting the Family, There Was Only One Bed, Casual Domesticity, wwx is oblivious in more ways than one, 'this fic is like emotional edging', this comment sums up the entire fic)

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9. heyI've been looking for a fic for a while.WWX and LWJ were in the turtle's cave of slaughter... they had no energy to fight and decided to do double cultivation.

When it comes to the part where WWX donates the golden core to JC.... during the surgery, WQ discovers WWX is pregnant, the double cultivation generated a uterus.

He is still captured by the Wen clan and thrown into the grave hill.He believes he lost the baby because of this and uses his resentful energy to survive and get revenge.

When he reaches the part at the end of the campaign where the sun falls, he goes into labor without knowing that he is still pregnant.

It's not Omegaverse.

Sorry if my writing is bad, english is not my first language @crazy-tai

FOUND? Impermanence, Transience, Permanence by Best Bepsy (BepsyGray) (E, 39k, wangxian, canon divergence, unplanned pregnancy, mpreg, gore, sunshot campaign, assumed miscarriage, medical procedures, childbirth, golden core reveal)

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10. Hello! I was wondering if anyone here knew of a fic that took place during the Wen Indoctrination? If I remember right, it was only one chapter, set mostly in the Untamed universe because Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning had worked together to make it seem like he was dead for the Wens after being locked in with that dog, but he was grabbed too early and basically paraded in front of the other disciples under the belief that he was dead. If anyone else has seen this fic, I'd be extremely grateful!

FOUND!🔒💖 the universe would turn to a mighty stranger by RavenclawLoki (T, 11k, wangxian, Angst, Eventual Fluff, Some mentions of blood, it looks like someone is dead but!!, it is okay, everything is going to be okay i promise, First Kiss, Canon Divergence, Wwx and lwj know they're in love, They just don't know the other loves them back, Everyone Lives AU, Hurt WWX, Hurt LWJ)

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11. For your next fic finder, I'm looking for a modern wangxian dating reality tv au. It's omegaverse and in the first half of the show, everyone is paired up, but in the second half of the show, it's wilderness survival with the alphas trying to catch the omegas. Wwx is a career omega who is trying to get a cash prize instead of an alpha. @leahlisabeth

FOUND? 🧡 shoot your shot – hot or knot by defractum (nyargles) (E, 51k, WangXian, Modern AU, A/B/O Dynamics, Reality Show, Hunger Games Setting, Canon-Typical Violence, Extremely Dubious Consent, Getting Together, Happy Ending, Humor, Additional Warnings In Author’s Notes)

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12. Guys I need help finding this story. So it’s about Wei ying being hit by this memory yao. And he is in pain. So lan zhan, lan yuan, lan qiren, lan huan, Jin rulan, and jiang cheng. They use this spell to take Wei ying bad memories. They hold onto this bad memories because they don’t want Wei ying to go through all of that and remember. Ofc they are traumatized but they love him, etc. sooo please if you know the name write in comments. I have been looking for it for DAYS @zodime101

FOUND? Window of the Waking Mind by mrcformoso (M, 8k, wangxian, LSZ & WWX, JC & WWX, Graphic depictions of violence, Major Character Death, Heavy Angst with a Happy Ending, Sad with a Happy Ending, Post-Canon, Torture, Golden Core Transfer, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, Hurt WWX, WWX Needs a Hug, WWX Needs a Break, Flashbacks, Curses, Night Hunts, Suicide, Starvation, Canonical Child Abuse, Canonical Character Death, Cannibalism, Although it was forced by the situation to survive, Healing, Hurt/Comfort, lots of comfort, Soft LQR, Learning To Communicate, Zidian Spiritual Tool, JC Tries, Reaction)

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13. hi! for the next fic finder — it was sizhui centered! him being raised by lwj but also wwx, but wwx is a ghost. and wwx has no recollection of his death and there was this one scene where he curls up around ayuans body and falls asleep and he wakes in the cloud recesses and i think he thinks he's being ignored? and then there was the whole realizing he was a ghost thing. and also lwj burying his body at the bm. pls help me T^T its Not "the dark doesnt frighten me, its mine" btw!

NOT FOUND! the moon, grown full by Deinde (T, 22k, LSZ & WWX, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Spirits, Identity Reveal, discussion of war crimes, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Hopeful Ending, Homecoming, reclaiming your name and identity, Names, Families of Choice)

FOUND! The Intervening Years by rosemu (G, 11k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, LSZ centric, Parent-Child Relationship, Wangxian is background, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort)

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14. Hi! For fic finder: I am looking for a canon-era fic where cultivators have golden blood and regular people have red blood. When Wei Wuxian loses his core his blood fades to red, which means he has to work harder to hide his wounds or they will give away his core-less state. I particularly remember the scene where Jiang Cheng stabs him in their “mock” fight WWX hides his wound with a cloak. He takes to covering up his body fully from head to toe to avoid showing any scrapes. Then after he is revived and Jiang Cheng whips him he purposefully shows the red blood to “prove” he isn’t WWX, then I think the core reveal happens when Jin Ling stabs him and everyone knows its him and they see the red blood too. Thank you!!

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15. I need help finding a fic, I didn’t get too far into it but I really want to finish it. I think it was a longer fic and I think it’s well known and/or already in a comp or itmf answer. I i remember is that the summary put wwx as a temporary head of the Jiang Clan, from the first few chapters I think he’s tricked/strong armed into this position by JC. He had some Buisness at koi tower or a conference that would take a while so he needed a filler and wanted WWX. I think it’s post-cannon and it had someone insulting WWX in the summary and something along the lines of a statement of spite and a declaration to prove said person wrong.

This is likely a terrible description but it’s all I have. I know I got the og link from this site so someone should recognize it… Help would be greatly appreciated.

FOUND? Twelve Moons and a Fortnight by stiltonbasket (M, 290k, WangXian, Humor, Slow Burn, Post-Canon Fix-It, Long-Distance Relationship, Epistolary, Love Letters, Family Feels, a-qing lives, teenage romance, Adoption, Romantic Comedy, Happy Ending, Weddings, Case Fic, Parenthood, Politics)

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16. Hello! For the next fic finder I have two fics:

A) the only thing I remember about this fic is that it deals with the "do not speak with Wei Ying" rule. Lan Wangji was really angry when he found out and was about to go yell at his uncle, but Wei Wuxian kept trying to stop him. I remember Wwx threw himself into a pond or down a hill or something to snap Lwj out of it? I don't remember anything else about the fic unfortunately.

B) vampire au where Wwx was a vampire and the lans hunted the supernatural I think? Wangxian had to work together to stop some evil thing. I remember Wwx's backstory was something like: Wen Chao captured him and locked him in a room with a vampire, thinking it would result in Wwx dying (cultivators couldn't be turned into vampires, they would just die). But Wwx had given up his core so he got turned and Wen Chao locked him in a house with Wen Ning. There was a fire and Wwx turned Wen Ning to save his life. I also remember a scene where Wwx tried to go into Cloud Recesses, but the wards wouldn't let him. He thought this meant Lwj wanted nothing to do with him, but it was just Lan Xichen updating the wards or something.

Thank you!

16A)

FOUND?🔒Scenes From Three Winters by LtLJ (G, 12k, wangxian, post-canon, romance, family feels, family issues, family drama, PTSD, body horror, bad parent LQR, happy ending) Wei Ying throwing himself in a pond and down a hill to snap LWJ out of anger at his uncle sounds a lot like what happens at the end of Scenes from Three Winters by LtLJ but it's not specifically the 'do not speak to Wei Ying' rule that's the problem (will probably need to read other fics in the series for context)

16B)

FOUND?🔒hear the monsters calling home by sundiscus (M, 8k, wangxian, Modern Cultivation, Vampires, Misunderstandings, Angst with a Happy Ending, blood drinking (romantic))

FOUND? And you must keep your soul/ Like a secret in your throat by athena_crikey (E, 48k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Vampire WWX, Cultivator LWJ, Case Fic, h/c Angst, Falling In Love, First Time, Reference to Torture)

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17. Hi!! for the next fic finder, I was hoping of you guys could help me find a fic where it takes place in post canon: lwj cultivates to immortality even though he didn’t want to be and wwx tried hard to catch up to him but later on passes away bc he was never able to. Lwj was so devastated and during wwx’s funeral, jc came to pay respects and lwj found out that jc has also become an immortal. lwj says something along the lines of “how dare you cultivate to immortality with his core?” it might be a reincarnation fic but that’s about all i can remember from it. Thank you so much! @makkachiin

FOUND!🔒Closer Than Eternity by Netrixie (T, 26k, WangXian, Modern AU, Reincarnation, an unhealthy addiction to starbucks, Immortals, Self-Doubt, POV Alternating, Minor Original Character(s), Canon Compliant, Post-Canon, Temporary Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, not for jc fans, This is not a reconciliation fic) The scene at WY's funeral is in Chapter 3.

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18. Hi! I hope my request will be clear, since English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance. I really want to read it, but I can't find a fic in which Lan Sizhui dies on a night hunt, saving the distracted Lan Zhan and Wei Ying. I don't remember many details, but I remember how the grief of A-Yuan's family and friends was described, and then A-Yuan was reborn. The fic was on ao3. @amelliss

FOUND? Setting Of The Sun by heartsdesire456 (M, 8k, WangXian , Character Death, Or Is It?, Grief/Mourning, Child Loss, Heavy Angst) i don't think it's reincarnation but this sounds similar to

FOUND? Our Son Reborn by RenaFair (T, 103k, WangXian, Mpreg, Deities, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Slow Build, There's smut, Rollercoaster of Emotions, baby a-yuan)

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19. hi, I’m look for a fic from ao3, I can’t really remember the plot but the end was wwx absorbing the tiger seal and in the process made a SILVER core. It happened in the burial mound (I think after the seal was stolen in Lanling but that might be a different fic)the timeline was before wwx’s first death because wen Qing was still alive @teasong

FOUND? ❤️ kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf, tardigradeschool (T, 75k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Fluff and Angst)

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20. Hello! I am looking for Wangxian fanfiction where Wei Ying and Lan Zhan are lovers before Demonic cultivation and Wei Ying hurt Lan Zhan as in canon later the reunite after 13 years or something like that @abz18699-blog

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#wangxian #mdzs #wangxian fic finder #wangxian fic search #the untamed #wangxianficfinder #long post

[mylittleredgirl]

If you had to choose, who would you want in therapy more: Kathryn Janeway or Margaret Houlihan?

ohhhh interesting!!! both of them would be a whole lotta work for a therapist.

i think there's a real right answer to this though and it's kathryn janeway, because:

a) her mental health has wide ranging consequences for many people under her command as a captain and later an admiral, and margaret's issues really only cause problems for herself and maybe a few dudes who deserve it, and

b) i think janeway would engage with it* and actually benefit!!

*i think that after voyager, janeway is well aware that this journey fucked her up. after the ordeal she went through i imagine starfleet would order her in for counseling support/evaluation if she didn't volunteer for it.

that counselor would have a lot of work ahead of them to unravel the habit of being in charge of everyone/unable to show honest weakness, but i think once trust was established, janeway would actually appreciate it.

i also think she would have made use of a Real Starfleet Counselor if one were on board voyager, because it's their job to counsel the captain and she respects people doing their job. they would meet all the time anyway because of the crew situation, and that would naturally develop into janeway using her as a sounding board. driveby therapy perhaps, but it would make her a little more open to help when she really needs it as opposed to Not Open At All.

meanwhile, from what i've seen of her so far, i don't know that margaret is capable of that level of self-reflection. even if she were in a starfleety situation where she could be ordered into showing up to counseling sessions (which of course she wouldn't be in her us army context unless a mental health crisis made her unable to do her job), would she get anything out of it??

i could be wrong!! but right not it seems like she thinks Nothing Is Wrong With Her, everything is wrong with everybody else. also, the things that caused her the most damage are the things she protects and relies on to get through the day.

in real life i have a lot of bones to pick with the catharsis model of therapy, but for real in her case i think therapy would have to fuck her up more before it could fix her. which could be great fun to do to her in a fanfic context! so yeah if anyone has snapped her in half through Situations and then put her back together i would be interested, and if no one has i might feel obligated someday.

#chatter post #anonymous friend #mashblogging #star trek voyager #so many worrrddddds

[ashlingiswriting]

do i know you? chapter seven

[ 5.4k words ] [ masterlist ] [ prev chapters: one, two, three, four, five, six ] you figure you can be good and still take it a little easier. that’s all you’ve done today, take it a little easier, and it feels really fucking good. richie jerimovich x reader, past mikey berzatto x reader, slow burn

after an eleven-hour stretch of sleep, a three-egg breakfast, and cautious self-reflection, you come to the conclusion that something has to change. and fast. yesterday, richie fucking jerimovich—constant leather jacket tracksuit combo, stab wound, aggravated assault charge, and anxiety and depression diagnoses, that richie—asked you if you were okay. it was a reasonable question for him to ask, and giving him the truthful answer felt like peeling off your own skin.

usually you’d cut and run—you’re not big on torture—but richie’s become as much a fixture in your life as cigarettes themselves. whatever you go through with him, you have a feeling that things would be worse without. so you do the reasonable thing. 

you go to the library and google ‘how to stay mentally healthy.’

sure, it makes you feel like an idiot, but it’s not like you have other options. your health and benefits package consists of stolen medications, a grizzled retired doctor named beth, and weirdly extravagant christmas presents in years when the carusos are doing well. none of these qualify as conducive to mental health.

thus, doctor google. most of the listed mental health tips seem either impossible—you’re not about to make new social connections, you’re not that self destructive—or plain old stupid, as in a stress ball. like a little rubber ball to squeeze. great stuff.

there’s a few things that you think you can tolerate, though. you end up working out every day in your apartment, volunteer stocking the shelves of a food pantry every tuesday morning right before bed, and tackle the miserably unorganized state of your post-michael finances. occasionally you’ll eat a salad, but you’ll curse richie as you do it. 

cultivating mental health for its own sake is not something you’d usually engage in, but mental health as a one-sided competition that you are determined not to lose? it’s a tolerable game.

as for richie, he seems to be holding steady. the new and horrifyingly fancy specter of the bear does seem to freak him out, but at least the bear’s got a future. the beef, as far as you remember, only ever had a past.

though this winter’s turned bitter cold, you never invite him inside, not even past the double doors into the pathetic excuse of a lobby with its single fake potted plant. you had your one little breakdown and that’s fine. but the rules stay strong, and you get a little stronger. he tells you that eva liked the girl who loved horses the best, and you tell him she’s got good taste. there’s still bad nights, but there’s less fear. you haven’t fucked it up, that’s the point. you’re being good.

and then one day he doesn’t come back.

.

.

.

you’re not a fool. you wait for three days before letting yourself go. 

on the third day, you have to wake up to administer alessandera’s iud at the stupidly early hour of eleven in the morning. afterwards, too caffeinated to rest, you decide that you might as well head to the library to check his instagram. 

the most recent picture is from eight days ago, so that’s no help. his two pinned posts catch your attention anyway. in the first picture, eva’s got two blonde ponytails sticking out of opposite sides of her head, and her ponytail holders have huge round sky blue plastic beads on them. the smears of chocolate on her fingers match the ones on richie’s cheek, and they’re both giving the camera a goofy thumbs up. 

in the second picture, it’s him and michael. they’re both grinning, squinting against the evening sun, and staring at something or someone just out of frame. lake michigan spreads out glorious behind their shoulders. it was probably a fishing trip. it’s got to be an old ass photo, cause they’re both wearing shirts that say the original berf of chicago and you stole michael’s in the summer of 2020. you needed to have something of his during quarantine, and you kept it even after quarantine ended. it’s still folded away in your dresser, protected by mothballs. 

michael disappeared on you too. after you broke up, you kept texting him about meeting to give him back some of his things, but he wouldn’t answer. to be fair, all you had to do was ride the elevator up a couple floors and drop off a box by his door. but you kept texting him anyways, texting on into the silence, until finally it occurred to you: he was punishing you. two could play at that game. you stopped texting altogether, and that’s when it happened.

this is no number of push-ups or good deeds or leafy greens in the world that can defend against an experience like that. the silence was supposed to only last a week, a month at most, and then it became forever. 

so yeah, you go to the beef. the bear. whatever.

so much for being good.

.

.

.

the restaurant is closed for renovations, so you go around to the back and find an unusual pair sitting, eating sandwiches off paper plates, and arguing about greta gerwig’s little women. you recognize both of them from richie’s instagram. 

fak breaks off mid-rant and peers up at you from under his baseball hat, as bright-eyed as a squirrel spotting a potential nut. syd, on the other hand, looks neat and cool in an apron, kerchief, and cautious expression. she’s by far the more intimidating of the two to you, though maybe that’s just richie’s influence coming through. she’s on another level and you know it. 

can i help you? syd says.

yeah, you say. where’s richie?

he’s out sick. 

out sick, that makes sense. relief warms you like the first sip of hot coffee on an icy morning, and then you clock the expression on syd’s face. she’s shifted from suspicious to outright dubious.

why, she adds, does he owe you money? 

ah, fuck. you were so worried that you forgot that when you’re wearing your big coat and your stoic face, you look like trouble. 

nah, you say. he doesn’t owe me anything. is he okay?

from the way she stares, syd must think you bizarre, but she humors you. i mean, two days ago he texted me a video of three chimpanzees attacking a gorilla. is that okay? she shrugs. you tell me.

he’s such a fucking weirdo. why?

i don’t know, i told him that one of the restaurants i used worked at was a vegan place and he’s been sending me shit like that ever since. am i vegan? no, i’m not, but why should that make any difference, you know? who knows why richie does what he does.

who knows, you say. it’s fun to grumble about richie, but you don’t actually find him mysterious. one or two scares aside, he’s the easiest person to understand in the whole city. 

i should probably call him, you say. can i borrow your phone? 

sydney looks even more weirded out than before for a second, and then she seems to have a lightbulb moment, just as you see the back door opening. 

he does owe you money, doesn’t he? syd says, exasperated, but not surprised.

quién le debe dinero a quién? says somebody in an undertone, and then tina appears, her curly hair a little shorter than the last time you saw her, but otherwise unchanged. when she sees you, her expression breaks into a smile of welcome while her eyes get complicated. 

hey, julie, she says. how you doing?

usually, you hate it when people ask you that. but with her, you just don’t.

doing okay, tina. you?

oh, we’re doing good, right, chef? she says, with a fond glance at syd that seems to invite her in. 

still fighting for our lives with an auditor, but yeah, syd says. we’re on track.

you want to walk with me? tina says to you, and you nod, grateful that she seems to have instinctively guessed what you need. 

while you’re strolling out of earshot of the others, syd heads inside, which puts you on a ticking clock. the chances of carmy knowing your actual name are slim, but the chances of him coming out into the alley to investigate? those are dangerously high.

tina interrupts your train of thought, stopping by the chain link fence and turning to face you. 

so what’s wrong? she says, and though she’s as warm and genuine as before, you are reminded by the glint in her eyes that she’s perceptive and tough and not to be fucked with. no wonder michael loved her so much. she was one of the few people who knew how to love him back without drowning.

does there have to be something wrong? you say. 

not necessarily. but historically speaking? she says it almost apologetically.

yeah. 

you only ever met her two times, both in his apartment, once in the dead of night and once in the middle of the day. you remember meeting her, but that’s all. in your mind, each emergency blends into the nexxt, and you don’t probe them for details. all you remember is that one time she was there, you called for an ambulance even though he ordered you not to, and he hated that. tina stood firm and carried on amidst all the shouting, even when you lost it.

it’s a wonder she’s being kind to you now, actually.  

i still carry the narcan in my purse, tina says. 

the nasal spray? you say. the stuff that you gave her after the scare in october ‘21. that’s good. gonna find somebody savable eventually, right? and that comes out way more bitter than you meant it to, but you can’t figure out a way to take it back fast enough.

there’s a hint of steel to tina’s voice, a reminder that she’s deliberately granting you her patience and could revoke it at any time, when she repeats, so what’s wrong?

you take out your burner phone, your sad little nokia, and show it to her.

i busted my old phone, lost all my contacts, and i don’t have the money for a new one right now, so this artifact is all i got. do you have richie’s number? you say meekly.

sure, she says, pulling it up and handing it over so easy that you’re startled. you’re not used to being given something that you need simply because you asked for it.

you take her phone with a quiet thanks and start typing his number and address into your own.

i looked for you at the funeral, she says. it stings, whether she meant it to or not.

well, you say, still typing and glad of the excuse to not look up at tina’s face, i figured i’d spare his mom the fun of having multiple women show up. 

that’s not a fair hit, not the full story, but you don’t bother to clarify. 

to your surprise, she doesn’t give you what you deserve. instead, she says, you still mad at him? 

why even ask. aren’t you?

i was never mad at him.

you have to look up, and not just because you’ve run out of stuff to type. 

never? that’s impossible.

not after, tina says, her brown honest. he was just a kid, you know?

he was a thief and an addict and older than you. but yeah, you know. you really do. he was just a kid.

you want to tell tina that she’s a better woman than you are, that to love and forgive at the same time is a trick that you can only envy. but you don’t know how to say that. 

there’s another version, too, a simpler one, one that doesn’t compare the two of you. she’s sunlight and she’s concrete, the type of kindness that defies the laws of physics, and you can’t figure out how to say that to her either. 

how are you doing? you say instead. you already asked her, but you didn’t really ask her in the way she had asked you. this time you try to do it right.

from the way she smiles, you know you got close.

i’m good, she says. really. all the stuff they’ve got us up to out here? herbs and shit, fucking french. i don’t know, it’s working. and they’re gonna send me to the cia. 

delight looks good on her, and it’s infectious. you say, why not the fbi?

the culinary institute of america, dummy.

oh shit, the level up machine. you’ve heard of it before, of course, because it seems to have turned carmy into a rock star, so that’s gotta be a good thing, right? you gonna come back, kick his ass, and take over?

she grins. girl, you know i could already do that if i felt like it.

true, true. you’re grinning too, and god, it feels good.

and then, glancing over her shoulder at the sudden sound, you can see the back door open.

thank you, tina. you hand her the phone back, quick. if she notices the sudden change in you, she doesn’t let on.

anytime, she says, and presses her wrapped sandwich in your hand. here. 

i can’t take your lunch.

she waves you off. nah, there’s more where that came from.

hey tina, a voice calls. it’s carmy’s, so you keep your eyes trained on tina and hope he doesn't recognize you at that distance.

thanks again, you say, and then you flee, clutching your sandwich.

.

.

.

richie doesn’t pick up and your first call goes to voicemail. you’re wound too tight to enjoy the bill murray of it all, so you just hang up and call again.

he picks up after the third ring. 

what? he growls. 

hey asshole, where are you, you say, just as abruptly, but so pleased to hear his voice. 

richie barely skips a beat. you dont have to kill me, i’m already fucking dying, he says, which is his idea of reassurance.

yeah?

i mean, i’m alive, he says, like it’s a great concession. but for how long?

not much longer. where are you. 

dead silence. this, you did not expect and have no idea what to do with. you snap, richie, where the fuck are you? in a voice that makes a passing woman give you a wide berth on the sidewalk. 

calm your tits, secret agent. i’m on my fucking deathbed with saltines and espn, jesus christ. everything’s fine.

you’d really like to strangle him, but you don’t miss his hint. that’s his way of letting you out of this, secret agent, everything’s fine, so don’t cross a line and then regret it. thoughtful of him, but you’re already a world expert in regret. you’ve weighed your odds, you’ll take your chances.

i’ll be there in twenty, you say, unless you tell me to fuck off.

there’s a split second of hesitation before he says, will you bring me a popsicle? 

no. 

you hang up. then you go and buy some popsicles.

.

.

.

you dig out the ring of keys from your pocket, another inheritance. the gold key is for michael’s old place, the silver is for the beef, and the square-headed one is for richie’s. when you turn it in the lock, the door to his apartment swings open, easy as pie. 

his apartment is a mess. worse, it’s dead dull, with only a few old movie posters hung up over the off-white walls for decoration. at least it doesn’t smell. there’s a kitchenette to your left, one huge and incongruously new ikea wardrobe to your right, and across from you, his bed. it’s shoved up right next to the far window, so the deep windowsill serves as a side table to a tiny succulent and a laptop streaming espn. 

richie’s sprawled out sans blanket and sheets, which are all huddled in a lump at the foot of the bed. he’s not bothering to watch espn and he doesn’t bother to get up at the sound the door opening, either. just looks over and watches you. 

you lock the door behind you and take your shoes off out of habit, even though you know you might have to get out fast. as you walk over to him, you encounter some dirty laundry along the way and kick it into the corner. then you’re at hit bedside, looking down at richie.

he’s lying there in a worn out grey t-shirt, looking up at you muzzy-eyed, sweating, and unsurprised. 

come to finish me off? he says.

after a second, you say, open your mouth. 

he gives you a look that says, i could argue if i fucking felt like it, but then he does open wide with a little aah like a kid getting his tonsils checked. 

you take a quick glance inside, then close your hand to imitate a mouth closing, fingers meeting thumb. 

he does as instructed, but you can tell by the glint in his eye that he’s got a joke locked and loaded, so you lean over and put the back of your hand to his forehead before he can say a thing. 

as you expected, he goes quiet. his skin is hot and damp with sweat. 

after a second, you withdraw and straighten up, touch still echoing on the on the back of your hand.

yeah, you’re fine, you say. dehydrated, low fever, but you’re fine. 

and here i thought i was dying, richie says. he’s not usually subtle, but for once you can’t tell if he’s mocking you or not. is that for me?

he reaches for the plastic bag hanging from your shoulder, and you yank it back out of reach just in time. 

business first. when did you take your last tylenol?

richie slumps sulkily back onto his pillow with a petulant look. you’re no fun when you’re in doctor mode.

then don’t get sick, asshole. tylenol? 

this morning, he says, and then before you can volley a follow-up, he skips ahead. bathroom, behind the mirror. 

as a reward, you sling the plastic grocery bag onto his bed before you go investigate. 

sure enough, there’s a miniature pharmacy on the two small shelves behind the foldable mirror. at first glance, the only prescription stuff is xanax and pravastatin. you grab the tylenol and you’re just about to go when you notice, down at the bottom left corner, a small familiar white box edged in magenta. four milligrams of narcan, nasal spray, your old friend. you gave tina way more of it than she needed and told her to pass it on to anyone at the beef that she trusted, just in case. narcan’s not a cure, it just buys you a little time. that’s all you were doing by then, buying yourselves a little time.

looking at the box now, you suddenly feel sorry for richie. it’s been bad enough for you, and you’ve been living like a fucking vampire, no daylight, barely leaving your lair. richie’s had to go into the outside world, and the outside world fucking sucks. michael’s everywhere out there.

.

.

.

when you get back with the tylenol, richie has a grape popsicle already stuck in his mouth, the extra package of saltines on the windowsill by his side, and your sandwich in his hands. he’s trying to unwrap it when you snatch it away and deposit a tylenol in his palm instead.

with a shrug, he takes the popsicle out of his mouth and swallows the tylenol dry. 

trying not to think too hard about that, you turn away and head to the kitchen.

cups? you say.

upper left. he’s watching you make your way through his space, you can feel it. so you went to the beef, huh.

yup. in the upper cabinet, there’s an assortment of cups, none of them matching. you pick the plastic one with dora the explorer on it, then go fill that with water.

richie says, you talk to carmy? 

no, you say, with just enough edge on it to warn him off the subject. on your way back to his bedside, you pause to peek in his fridge and freezer. fuck me, did nobody ever teach you that man cannot live on microwave burritos alone?

news to me. what are you, some kind of fuckin gourmet?

you complete your circuit, come perch on the edge of his bed with the cup in your hand, and wait for him to sit up. 

woman can live on frozen pizzas alone, that’s a whole different thing, you say.

uh huh. he slumps back against the headboard, then accepts the cup from you and drinks. in the silence, you watch him. the small movements of his throat, the glint of gold slipping out over the nape of his neck. he wears that cross even in his sleep. hopefully it protects him. something should. 

you could sit here for a long time. 

but the cup runs out of water fast, and there goes your excuse. you take it back from him and say, just for the sake of saying something, your interior design is severely lacking.

he scrunches up his nose when he smiles, a wry little smile interrupted by a sniff. thanks.

go back to sleep.

but he doesn’t. instead, he reaches for the remaining half of his grape popsicle, so you go for your sandwich, unwrap, and take a bite. this is as good as the middle of the night to your body clock, so you’re not one bit hungry. but food works just as well as a cigarette, permission for silence. 

you get a sando and i get saltines? he says. talk about a raw deal, man.

mouth full, you say, these are actually pretty good, you know?

what, you didn’t think they would be? he scoffs. c’mon, i know you were never a regular, but the thing with the gun, that wasn’t your first time in. 

so he remembered you. even before he knew you had any kind of connection to the beef, he remembered you. 

you pretend not to notice.

i’ve just never had it with the peppers before, you say.

you’ve never had it with the peppers? his voice rises with each word.

i’m not normally a huge peppers girl, you say nonchalantly. 

you’re a fucking heathen is what you are.

for that, you take an extra big bite and chew as loudly and disgustingly as you can. 

it backfires immediately. he gags and presses his fist to his mouth, and you bolt to the sink to grab the trash can from under it, nearly tripping and hoping like hell he doesn’t throw up all over himself because you do not have it in you to do that kind of laundry. trash can in hand, you turn around to find that he’s giving you the thumbs up and grinning. not gagging at all, perfectly fine. 

oh, fuck you. you put the trash can back, stalk over, and drop down onto the bed beside him again, petulantly this time, making the bedsprings squeak. 

he’s still chuckling. you should’ve seen your face.

you know what my problem is? you say.

you think you have only one problem, j? i got news for you. 

that’s not the first time anyone’s used that nickname for you, but you still like it. 

my problem is that you’re not scared of me, you say. i need to make you more scared of me, and then you’ll treat me with the respect i deserve.

okay, well, fyi: you are already the third scariest person in the world to me, richie says.

the third? you echo with mock offense.

third is good, man. there’s stiff competition. like, you realize isis is still out there? his eyebrows raise and he gestures emphatically. and there’s a lot of them?

you snort. isis is not still out there.

i think they are. he tries to tick them off on his fingers. isis, al qaeda. and the other one. what’s the other one?

i think you need to stay well away from middle eastern politics when you’re running a fever, you say, getting up to go.

you said my fever was low! 

and yet you’re fuckin addled. go back to sleep. with that, you head back towards the kitchenette to see what you can do. 

his pantry turns out to be not quite as empty as his fridge, so you pick up a couple things and get to cooking him something basic and nourishing. no sense in trying anything impressive. you’ll be lucky if the result is passably tasty. 

sunlight comes in through the window, throwing a rectangle of warmth on your shoulder. you retrieve a pot, a cutting board, a large knife.

eva’s his number one scariest person in the world, obviously. number two’s probably tiff? donna’s scary, but you get the sense that she’d be worse to her kids, or at least that it’d feel worse to be her kids. richie’s never directly talked about her, though he did made a couple bitter remarks early on about what he did for ‘the family’, and given that sugar hates his ass and carmy wasn’t around, it has to be donna he was trying to take care of. wait, maybe carmy’s number two. no, it’s tiff. it’s definitely tiff.

yo, richie says, what the fuck are you doing? stop.

you look up, bewildered. what? 

he’s sitting at the edge of the bed with his feet flat on the floor, like he’s prepared to stand up and stop you. with the light coming in through the window at his back and the hanging lamp of the kitchenette throwing gold on his front, he really does look like he’s coated in sweat. 

put the knife down, he says. commands from his mouth are usually fruitless protests issued for comedic effect, but not this time. you put the knife down. 

you okay? you say it like a gentle person would, only to have your gesture immediately spoiled.

who taught you to cut onions like that? he says, like you’re physically hurting him. you do not cut onions like that! 

oh my god, fucking stop me. you roll your eyes and pick up the knife again, only to hear a tell-tale grunt from richie. no, that was a joke. don’t—you throw down the knife with an annoyed clatter. i’ll be fine. just watch your baseball or something, okay? sorry i’m not fucking carmy and i can’t go all human food processor on it, but let me do my thing.

after a second, richie says, ‘s gonna taste like shit, isn’t it.

you want me to go? you say, stung.

no, richie says immediately. i just want to know what you’re gonna do with those onions.

you shrug, a touch defensively. i was gonna brown it, add a couple cans of campbell’s beef and barley. something like that. it’s really sad when you say it out loud, just two ingredients: onions and canned soup. 

i don’t hate that, richie says. 

you look at him warily, unsure of whether that’s meant as an insult or the world’s most pathetic compliment. 

just curl your fingers when you cut, right? fuckin—he imitates, to show you how your left hand is supposed to be positioned, while he mimes chopping with his right. it really should not be charming. unfortunately, it kinda is.

yeah, yeah, you mutter, and then you go back to your cutting board and try to practice what he just taught you. 

usually, you have protein bars for snacks, frozen pizzas for meals, takeaway for variety, and pre-bagged salads for your recent attempts at health, so it really has been ages since you cooked like this. 

kind of feels like you’ve been missing out. there’s a peaceful feeling to this simple concentration, a bit like your work but without any of the stress. you take little breaks every now and again to prevent the onion from making you cry. with each break, you take a look at something new: the drawings from eva that he has pinned to the fridge, the poster for the movie white squall, the stack of books that look like somebody’s actually read them. 

when you start shoveling slices of onion into the pot, richie calls over, don’t turn the heat up too high.

i won’t, you say, unbothered.

you get about thirty seconds of peace, stirring your onions as you add some oil, and then richie pipes up again.

seriously, he says, if it doesn’t brown fast enough, don’t turn the heat up, just—

the heat’s at four out of ten, fuck’s sake. your swearing is just for show, because you’re feeling nearly mellow. there’s something so soothing about the crackling sound of the onions in the hot oil. are you drinking your water?

i already drank it all!

not believing him, you walk over, only to find that the cup is indeed empty. you refill it, then linger for a second, trying to make sense of the baseball he’s streaming on his laptop. 

look at this guy, richie says, referring to some player that you’ve never seen before in your life and probably never will again. the guy’s winding up to take a swing. you both watch. the guy hits a foul, and richie shakes his head in disgust. you grunt, noncommittal and happy, and return to your caramelizing onions.

by the time you’re done cooking, he’s asleep. 

.

.

.

you pour out two bowls of soup and put the rest of it in the fridge. that plus the saltines are enough to get him through the night and another day. you doubt the fever will last much longer than that. 

as you do the washing up, you make sure to scrub off every last bit of onion from the bottom of the pot, and then you leave all the clean dishes on the rack to dry.

between soup and saltines, richie should have enough for tonight and tomorrow, and you doubt the fever will last much longer than that. with the cooking and washing up is done, you walk over, sit on the bed beside him, and set down two bowls of soup on the deep windowsill that serves as his side table. his laptop has gone to sleep, and the silence in the absence of baseball is pretty much perfect. so is the sunlight.

you take off your hoodie, finally—you were starting to sweat yourself near the end there, thank goodness he was too sick to notice—and tug down your original berf shirt. it’s safe enough. richie’s out cold, snoring a little. with the tylenol doing its work, he’s not as sweaty as before, so you drag the sheets up from the foot of the bed and make sure they’re tucked over his shoulders.

taking out a sharpie from your coat pocket, you root around in the pile of assorted mail by his bedside until you come up with a pizza flier you can write on. you leave him the phone number of the burner you kept for michael. reason being, it’s the only number you know by heart, and you’re too tired to deal with any more unexplained absences. 

after all, you figure, you can be good and still take it a little easier. that’s all you’ve done today, take it a little easier, and it feels really fucking good.

settling down, you reach over richie again to get your bowl and your spoon. the bowl is warm in your lap, and even though you weren’t hungry before, the act of cooking has worked up your appetite. the soup smells good to you: sweet, savory, a bit like childhood. 

your father used to say grace at the table, and though you never do that anymore, there’s something still left to be said.

you know, you say, you’re the number three scariest person in the world to me too. you sit with that for a moment, and then you add, number two once told me he would shoot me in the face, so. there’s that. 

richie looks completely harmless like this, slumped on his side under the sheets, turned a little towards you with his eyes closed. he’s way easier to talk to when he’s unconscious, go figure. you can't touch him, though.

drink your fucking water, you say quietly. 

and then, still looking at him like he’s a photo to remember, you begin to eat your soup.

.

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[ next chapter ] [ masterlist ]

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@garbinge, @narcolini, @drabbles-mc, @beingalive1, @eternallyvenus, @cerial-junkie, @jackierose902109 — if anyone else wants to be tagged, let me know.

#richie jerimovich x reader #richie jerimovich #the bear fx #the bear fanfiction #the bear fanfic #mine #readerfic #do i know you? #the bear imagine #diky #fluffy h/c in MY readerfic? it's more likely than you think!

[katyspersonal]

Let’s talk about Adeline for once!

1. Do you project onto this character?

11. How did you “fall in love” with this character?

19. Does this character serve as a stress ball/ security blanket for you? Something you run to after a bad day to feel safe or happier?

Her!! 🌊 (Asks from this ( x ) as game)

1) Do you project onto this character?

Kiiiiinda...? a whole lot Although it would be more appropriate to say that I see myself in her than project, because the more relatable bits are "canon", actually xD She is a weird one out amongst the patients to not be scared of horrors of the Deep Sea but desire them, she is guilty of neglecting/not getting Maria's advice of going a more sparing road towards the Stars but then sorta gets it when Kos reveals the same advice to her in inhuman language, and she is so nervous about no longer being in contact with the horrors... I know all of this very intimately. (Mental health TMI warning) Heck, I am the type that gets nervous when hallucinations, voices or 'presences' are absent for a while because I have this deep belief I've failed as a human being and only by being in contact with "horrors" my life can have some meaning :^)

I'd say 'projection' bit comes through how I interpret her motivations! "Grooming" of Blood Saints IS a translation error and in the original the word is used to say "prepare"(as in medical procedure), but it doesn't exclude some sort of emotional manipulation, just makes it a choice rather than direct lore. But nope! I took Adeline as a volunteer in experiments, coming from her own depression (and even insanity), not listening to advices or warnings of people that wished better fate to her and trusting a guy who was obviously full of shit cultist because she is Just Like That and having a good time with horrors not because her sense of self-worth was reduced by Healing Church, but because she never had one.. Blood Saint era, I think, was her willing to sacrifice something about her to help people. Laurence benefitted from that, not created that! I am guilty of all this, so now she is too :> In other words, she has agency because I do.

11) How did you "fall in love" with this character?

It actually took me some time! And I actually feel ashamed of how 'selfish' my reasoning was :') I always liked her enough, but she raised so far in the top of my favs when I figured her connection to 'Sea' theme, yeah. Right after I properly analyzed it via Miyazaki's bad post-BB hangover in DS3. Hhhyhhhghj Basically, figuring we did have spiritual connection with this character 'activated' my brain to notice and focus on everything else about her. And I've found soooo many things.. I brought back the "Points of interests about Adeline" analysis just recently and so you probably believe me x)

19) Does this character serve as a stress ball/ security blanket for you? Something you run to after a bad day to feel safe or happier?

Oh, absolutely! Whenever I scrutinize how far I've spiraled and it gives me feelings of self-hatred, I do find comfort in knowing that "I am just like Saint Adeline for reeeeal!!!!!1! XD". ......representation matters....? And comfort character term especially fits, because in most cases I focus on her when I have a bad day! (Don't worry and send me DMs when I do post about her though! Like I said, she DOES make me feel better already!)

#bloodborne #saint adeline #ask replies #there is so much to discuss argh.. I gave myself a headache trying to reply from workplace though #I really should just wait till I get home for other asks gghhhhh #you just activated my monkey brain x) (rip customers 💀💀💀) #personal

[moonsilkwisdom]

Notes on Self-care

I would like to talk about self-care. Some self-care is remembering that you as a human have some of the same needs as a complicated house plant. This means getting good food, water, and sunlight. Yes, humans need sunlight for vitamin production, specifically vitamin d. Beyond a few food sources where modern practices add it in, most of the vitamin d the human body needs, is acquired through sunlight interacting with our skin.  At minimum, please work on feeding your body the food, water, and sunlight it needs to function well. This is the minimum of taking care of yourself. Then there is getting enough physical activity to keep bodies healthy. Good exercise is finding ways to keep moving. Not just bid muscles like arms and legs, but fingers can benefit from being kept busy.

            Health and self-care is more than caring for the physical body. Mental and emotional health is important as well. One reason I keep writing guided meditations, is it helps to exercise and calm your minds. I believe that part of my job as a volunteer minister is to help with mental and emotional health as well as providing space for spiritual work. Puzzles and crafts are great for keeping minds sharp and help with keeping hands flexible and strong. The requirement is materials you can access and something you enjoy. For me that is all kinds of needlework, embroidery, knitting, crochet, mending. You might also try origami, tradition paper folding, gardening/helping with landscaping or cooking as suggestions.   

            Also, I will say it out loud. There is no shame in needing medication for your mental health or your physical health. Some people do not produce enough insulin to keep their blood sugar from getting too high. Others do not produce enough neurotransmitters, chemicals like serotonin that help regulate brain function, to keep their moods balanced. I rather you all take the prescriptions the doctors give you to keep you healthy.

            Finally, personal connections are important. Healthy non-toxic relationships are important to humans as we are a pack creature. It is usually described as tribal, but the meaning is the same. Individualism is a lie designed sold to us, when communities have been the norm since the beginning of civilization. Sharing talents and supporting each other helps us all be better people. This also means being able to say no and set boundaries to what we can and will do for others and having that respected.  

#pagan witch #witchblr #self care #self awareness #self love #self improvement

[compassionatereminders]

Kat random ask, i think you mentioned you aren’t really happy with the group home but also staying at home isn’t possibile for personal reasons (im sorry if im remembering incorrectly), would you prefer living on your own or with your family but with assistance for the cognitive and executive dysfunctions (like having volunteers coming to you for meals or cleaning) or would you prefer to be still in a a group home but with less restrictions? You dont have to reply is just curiosity. Im on disability benefits too for mental health reasons and my psychiatrist sometimes suggests me get a place all for myself but i dont know… im a bit scared of not being able to handle it

I would prefer living in my own place with some degree of in-house support hours. I am no longer convinced that the group home system can do anything worthwhile for me, and I have already tried three different ones. I am SO ready to give up and try the other support system which helps people in their own homes, because it genuinely can't be worse than living in a group home setting, even though I'm sure there are issues in that system too. I just am so fucking done with being institutionalized and still not getting the help I actually need. Maybe I could cope with being institutionalized if the place was functional and I got the support I needed, but this has literally never happened and it has been 10 years

#chat with kat #institutionalization tw #medical neglect tw

[itsnickha]

The Star Wars prequels are about a teenage boy whose profound feelings of love, loss, and abandonment go utterly ignored by a religious organization that instead demanded he repress his emotions rather than validate them and help him work through them... allowing a fascist autocrat to scoop him up, offer him the care and guidance he needed all his life, and sway him into political extremism.

"The prequels are the story of an arrogant religion who get a hold of the Messiah and then hand him over to the Devil." —So Uncivilized

The Jedi may have upheld justice and order, but they also didn't give a damn about your emotional well-being, mental health, self-care, or individuality. The Sith may have sought to commit unspeakable evils, but they won over the aimless and forsaken to their cause by expressing a facsimile of care for your personhood and empowering you to take what you so desperately needed instead of waiting for someone to give it to you.

This is why the Star Wars prequels are important. Even if the movies themselves are hilariously bad, the lessons they're trying to impart through the story they tell are more relevant now than ever before. We are seeing this pattern play out today through GamerGate, Sweet Baby Inc Detected, the Proud Boys, the Incel movement, and countless other extremist causes. We've seen this pattern repeat endlessly throughout history, with violent gangs, religious crusades, and bloodthirsty militaries.

The wellbeing of men matters. We need to take care of them, especially when they break from the hypermasculine mold in some way or haven't benefitted from the privilege that society tends to grant men. If we decide not to give a shit about men in need, then each one we abandon is one we forsake to the wolves. And all the wolves need do to win him over is to give him a pat on the back, a listening ear, and a finger pointed directly at those of us who left him behind to explain all of the ills he's suffered in his life.

Edit:

pulling this out of the tags in case anybody misses the point:

#If you use this to try and clapback against feminism kindly fuck off #Women’s issues are also real as fuck #Instead of invalidating women’s lived experiences of suffering, go volunteer at a men’s shelter or do gang member outreach #There are so many men’s causes that are deserving of your energy more than women deserve your vitriol #The patriarchy oppresses us all and it will not fall as long as we stand divided

#star wars #prequel trilogy #extremism #fascism #men’s issues #patriarchy #religion #gamergate #sweet baby inc #proud boys #incel

[investmentassistant]

Productive ways to spend your new year's break

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the much-anticipated New Year's break. While it's tempting to spend these days lounging on the couch, binge-watching TV shows, and indulging in festive treats, there are plenty of ways to make your New Year's holidays both enjoyable and productive. Here are some tips on how to spend your New Year's break with purpose:

Set goals for the new year

Use this time to reflect on the past year and set achievable goals for the upcoming one. Whether they are related to personal development, career aspirations, or health and fitness, establishing clear objectives can give you a sense of direction and motivation for the year ahead.

Learn something new

Take advantage of the break to acquire a new skill or enhance existing ones. Online courses and tutorials are readily available on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy. Whether it's a new language, coding, or cooking, investing time in learning something new can be both rewarding and intellectually stimulating.

Volunteer and give back

Spread the holiday spirit by giving back to your community. Look for local volunteer opportunities, whether it's helping at a food bank, participating in a charity event, or assisting at a local shelter. Volunteering not only benefits others but also brings a sense of fulfillment and purpose to your own life.

Exercise and stay active

Maintain your well-being by incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. Whether it's a home workout, a jog in the park, or joining a fitness class, staying active during the holidays can help combat the indulgences of festive meals and desserts.

Connect with loved ones

The holiday season is an excellent time to strengthen bonds with family and friends. Plan virtual gatherings or small get-togethers, share stories, and create lasting memories. Building and nurturing relationships contribute significantly to overall well-being.

Organize and declutter

Use the downtime to declutter and organize your living space. Whether it's your closet, kitchen, or workspace, a tidy environment can positively impact your mental well-being. Donate items you no longer need, and start the new year with a clean slate.

Read and expand your mind

Pick up a book you've been meaning to read or explore new genres and authors. Reading is not only a great form of entertainment but also an excellent way to expand your knowledge and perspective.

Plan for relaxation

While productivity is essential, don't forget to allocate time for relaxation. Whether it's a spa day at home, a nature walk, or simply enjoying a good movie, taking moments to unwind is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The New Year's break is a valuable opportunity to recharge, reflect, and set the tone for the year ahead. By combining productivity with enjoyment, you can make the most of your holiday season, fostering personal growth and creating lasting memories. So, this year, consider blending festive cheer with purposeful activities to make your New Year's break truly fulfilling.

[zozo-01]

David As A Business Major/CEO

[Because I'm a business major. <3]

Hehe, soooo I has a lot thoughts about this topic anddd I was enabled by @frenchiefitzhere, @daveyistheloml @starlitangels and @taelonsamada soooo I'm gonna write them down!!!

--

Starting with what everyone wants, CEO! David!!!

Despite not having to come in everyday, David always comes to work because he likes to keep an eye on everything.

Everything he expects from his workers, he expects from himself!! So if he comes in everyday, he expects his workers to do the same.

THAT BEING SAID!!!! HE'S SOOOO LENIENT WITH HIS WORKERS!!!

Like, if someone can't come in because of Mental Health Issues, he'll let them stay at home with no explanation needed, with full pay AND a personal check in from him to make sure his employee is ok!!!

He takes any harassment claims superrrrr seriously. A whole investigation will take place to make sure everything is properly done.

Despite him being dressed to the nines when he comes to work, there is no strict dress code that he imposes on anyone.

Double checks any and all reports to make sure they check out.

Makes sure his employees are paid extremely well and gives them all the benefits.

If there is extra work that needs to be done, instead of asking his workers to stay behind, he'll do it himself.

He has a blanket and pillows in his office because that's how many late nights he spends. T-T

Also has a coffee machine in there toooo. T-T

This poor man has to deal with the most chaotic executive group ever but he loves them to bitsssss!!!

Has a note of everyone's birthday and will either wish them happy birthday or buy a lil somethingggg.

Onto some....... s p i c y t h i n g s.

David looks so sososoososos damn fine in a suit.

And the watches???? Yes pleaseeeeee.

The office has bets on how many people either have a crush on David or have slept with himmm.

He does keep a very important "no sleeping with employees" boundary in place!!!!

I shall now leave you with the mental image of David in his office chair, legs spread and leaning back, his shirt unbuttoned, hand in his hair and a cocky smirk.

I bid you adieu.

Now onto me indulging in Business Major! David Shaw!!!

Hmmmm, I can see David in a few different specialization, but for the sake of simplicity, I'm gonna make him a Management Major (because I am lol).

Does superrrr well in all of his classes. What can he say? He's a diligent student.

Def the one motherfucker who likes Econ. What a monster.

He hatessss Marketing because he finds the class so fucking boringggg.

He fully admits he's a nepo baby, but!! That doesn't deter him from working hard.

He hatesssss it when people slack off because either their parents can cover their asses or "Cs get degrees."

Mainly hangs out with the kids who're disadvantaged in any way (i.e. they're first/second gen immigrants, poor, racialized etc etc)

He adores HR classes because he wants to make any business he works for as safe and healthy as he can.

An ambitious mother fucker. He wants that CEO spot and he'll get it on his own merit and nothing will stop him.

Cries while doing accounting work. (Everyone does.)

Is taking a few languages as electives to differentiate him.

Joined the Management Student Association, The Mentorship Program, Business Comp Clubs, The Tax Volunteer Student Association, is in the COOP program (or the American equivalent) and soooo much moreee!!

Anything to prove that despite his status, he's a damn good leader on his own. [Side note: he is.]

#redacted asmr #redacted david #i love business major david < #333 #he just works for corporate okkkkkk #zo writes tingz #this is zo speaking

[sacrificethemtothesquid]

This is a quick rant because of something I saw in the news and I’m suddenly furious about it. 

“The inmates are running the asylum” is a complete and absolute bullshit gutpunch of a sentence.

First of all, the concept of the asylum is outdated and offensive - asylum versus psych unit or treatment center, inmates versus patients or clients - but that’s not the part I’m mad about. I have a diagnosis of bipolar II, panic disorder and ADHD. I am also a member of a peer-driven mental health organization. What does that mean? It means everyone in my local chapter from the executive board to the weekly group attendees are all peers: people living with mental health challenges. Some of us have professional training, but we do not act in a professional capacity. We are volunteers working side-by-side WITH our peers. 

We are the inmates and we are running the asylum. 

It’s early and I haven’t had my caffeine yet so I don’t have studies to cite or statistics to rattle off, but behavioral health programs benefit greatly from having peers. We understand what it’s like to need those services. We’ve been there. We are capable of advocating for ourselves in a way that allies never can. As the slogan goes: nothing about us without us. We are people with opinions and rights. We are people, full stop.

Gah. I’m sure this is incoherent and there are people around me who are much more articulate. I don’t consider myself an advocate. If my organization were a D&D party, they’re the tanks and fighters, setting themselves out front to bear the brunt of the action. I’m a cleric: I’m a trainer. I’m a support. I’m not the one to give the speeches, but fuck if I’m not mad.  

Bottom line? Don’t use that sentence. It isn’t thoughtful and it isn’t kind. 

#yes it was elongated muskrat who said it #but other people say it too #and they shouldn't #mental health

[bugboymichael]

what really strikes me about getting people into nature is that there's one group that is consistently neglected - teenagers. there is a lot of work put into getting kids into nature, showing them that a chicken is not just a food item on the macdonalds menu and that a lot of the food we buy is grown. but then when it comes to teenagers there's basically zero engagement from as soon as you enter secondary school.

and at some level I understand, with kids its definitely easier to explain to them these concepts and with older kids and teenagers you do have to reframe how you give the information to them but I do not think this is a the full reason for this neglect.

in ways its a self forfilling prophecy, adults (and the adults who run the sort of green spaces that children visit) tend to have this perception that teenagers just despise nature. they just hate getting their nails dirty. which might be the truth for a lot of people, including many adults, but there are teenagers who enjoy engaging with nature.

I know many of my friends engage with nature or want to more. a lot of us recognise how little we have engaged with nature. a lot of us have barriers, especially people who live in cities and don't have gardens. it can be difficult to get out into nature, trains and busses can cost a lot and be inaccessible for a lot of people. teenagers care about the environment and a lot can see the disconnect between themselves and their environment. and it genuinely sucks that the perception of teenagers limits the opportunities that they get to engage with nature.

an example is there is this garden I visit which is a bit of a trek to get to if you don't have a car and the public transport to get there is quite frankly pretty shit. and people are like oh yeah there are only families and old people that go there but they don't see how difficult it is to get there. there are schemes that mean that people can get into the gardens cheaply (for people on low incomes, with disabilities etc.) but it is still difficult to get there. adults see this and assume yeah teenagers don't care about greenspaces, ignoring how easy it is for them to get there and how difficult it would be for someone without access to a car.

it's genuinely quite difficult to engage with at times because this is baked into so much of the greenspaces that exist for the public to access - the idea that teenagers absolutely hate nature so there's no need to create space for them. this actually creates a quite unwelcoming environment for teenagers who genuinely like to engage with nature.

and by all means i'm not saying that all teenagers enjoy working with nature but a significant amount do and there is no consideration for them in any decision making processes. working with nature, volunteering and just being in nature is great for mental health and many other things I could list that and it sucks that there is so very little engagement with teenagers so they can access these benefits as well.

one small thing i just want to add is that the way teenagers are engaged with stuff matters as well, if its done in a way that treats people with dignity and respect as well as them learning about nature. but if its done by the people who already have the perception that teenagers just inherently hate nature and create a hostile environment for teens. you aren't going to engage anyone

#mike talks #nature #i think this is an important discussion that needs to be had tbh

[mpsenvs3000f23]

Blog 5

This week, I am especially grateful for my cat, Lilo. She is just over a year old and still quite small for her age. She is incredibly shy around other people, often running underneath my bed when I invite friends into my room, but when I’m home alone, she’s full of energy and constantly begs for attention. I grew up with cats, but had never considered adopting one of my own when I moved out until I found Lilo as a stray. Ironically enough, she was found as an unwelcome guest on a wildlife sanctuary I was volunteering at. The staff was not pleased to have a kitten ready to unleash her newfound hunting skills on the birds they had just rehabilitated. However, the minute I brought her home, she was welcome in my life. The mental benefits of having an animal are widely discussed as a general topic, but everyone’s specific relationship to their own pet is different. During the busier parts of my semester especially, I find myself feeling increasingly burned out and frustrated by everything. Between work, school, and a busy social life, I often feel that the world is constantly demanding things from me. However, when I come home to Lilo, her only demands are that I spend time with her and care for her. She is excited to see me regardless of whether I’m in a good mood or a bad one. It’s refreshing to experience this type of love when I so often feel that many aspects of my life are transactional, demanding my time, energy, and emotional labour. 

I believe that the biggest part of what makes living with animals so beneficial for mental health is this unconditional, uncomplicated love. There is an inherent understanding between me and my cat; no words are said and yet I understand what she wants perfectly. The way people learn to communicate with their pets despite no common language is quite touching; the understanding and special attention we give to our animals is something I don’t experience in any other aspect of my life. I have plenty of people and activities I enjoy, but there is an undeniable bond between pet and human that I am incredibly grateful for. The mutual understanding between animal and human is a fascinating phenomenon, and it has certainly been a heavy influence on my own relationship with nature and even with wildlife. I feel that having this strong bond with my cat and having learned to pay attention to the ways in which she expresses her needs aided me in my job this summer, where I was working with wildlife. Domesticated animals are quite different from wild animals, of course, but the same attention to body language and determination to understand these cues helped me better understand the wildlife I was working with. My experiences both with wildlife and domesticated animals have shaped my relationship with animals and with nature, as well as encouraging me to reimagine how I communicate.

[camillasgirl]

Queen Camilla’s Patronages

Cornwall Community Foundation (Patron from 12.09.2005)

The Cornwall Community Foundation helps communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by awarding small grants to grassroots, front line, volunteer-led organisations who are making a positive impact in their area, helping to overcome these challenges of disadvantage, exclusion and poverty for all ages.

In 1999 a group of supporters set up the Cornwall Independent Trust, after identifying the need to give those struggling in the community a voice and to establish an independent source of funding of self-help within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. In 2003 the Fund became the Cornwall Community Foundation continuing this work and supporting work to improve education, health – both physical and mental; and the relief of poverty and sickness. CCF has awarded £13m to the community over the last 19 years, over 6000 local projects have benefited in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We want Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to be a great place to live for everyone – a place where people work together to address disadvantage and build strong, resilient communities.

Our mission is to raise sustainable funds from individuals and businesses and distribute them to community and grassroots non-profit organisations who are changing people’s lives across the county.

Individually, the values below describe how and why we do what we do. We are: • Local – for us charity really does start at home, and that’s Cornwall. • Open – we’re an inclusive and adaptable organisation, and believe in sharing, open communication and mutual trust. • Connected – we believe in the power of working together. • Independent – we are an independent charity rooted in the local community that we serve. • Beneficial – we care deeply and want to enable positive change within our local community.

As a foundation, we have the expertise and local knowledge to help donors support the local causes and charities they care about, enabling them to make an impact through their giving. We identify issues of importance to our donors and award small grants to grassroots, front line, volunteer led organisations on their behalf – making a real difference to people’s lives across Cornwall.

As an independent organization, we rely on your donations to fund us and continue to develop, maintain and grow our grant-making capacity for community groups and individuals in Cornwall.

#The Cornwall Community Foundation #queen camilla #queen patronages