this-summertimes-sadness

[this-summertimes-sadness]

oc roulette: tag yourselves as my ocs (the gals)

if you identify with any of them, i would like to be your friend-

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this user kins agent orthodox

fear her, or pray that she'd ruin you. or both, if you want.

'these violent delights have violent ends, doll.' • *smudges lipstick with the back of her hand* 'what, do i have something on my face?' • *carries rifles more than half her size with ease* • 'am i supposed to be here? probably not. am i here anyways and ready to set some fires? hell yes.' • 'mistress? is that what they call me now? huh. didn't know low rise cargo pants had this affect on people.' • 'no, i don't want a drink- father. father, i crave violence.'

this user kins agent viper

will kiss you for a 13 million dollar cheque.

'honey, i am nothing if not a snake. it's in my name.' • *has symmetrical dragon tattoos over her shoulder blades and down her spine* • *watches a building crumble to the ground with her arms crossed* '...well that was anti-climactic' • 'would you be a darling and zip me up please?' • 'kill time? sure, what do you wanna do?- ...oh. oh you mean- ...oh.' • *stashes daggers away in her garter* • 'what, never seen a pretty girl drenched in blood?'

this user kins agent lustre

is a sweetheart, don't get her wrong. until you give her a reason to be mean.

*spins loaded gun barrel with safety off* • 'where is she. you better tell me in 2 seconds or it's not going to be only watermelon juice you'll be tasting.' *talking about vila, who had just gone to the bathroom* • 'me? scary? never!' *has also made convicted serial killers cry* • *resting bitch face* • 'did it hurt? when you fell? from the top of that building because your lifelong confidante decided they had enough of your shit and pushed you?'

this user kins agent mirror

ladies and gentlemen, her.

'i will break her dead bones and pay lucifer to break her soul.' • 'what do you mean he got away? *sighs* get my bike ready' • 'oooo, cynical. i like it' • 'oh come on, don't be such a crybaby' • 'oh, believe me, i am itching to gouge your eyes out. these ropes are the only thing that's stopping me.' • 'catch me when i fall' *dives off a 50 story building* • *uses knife as eyeliner guide* • 'you've got a death wish haven't you, honey?'

this user kins agent heaven

don't make her raise her crossbow at you.

'how much longer do you want me to wait for you?' • 'go on, pull a stunt on me. i dare you.' • *sharpens her pencil with her arrows* • 'this place looks like a murder scene' *has just assassinated 5 targets in the very same room* • *keeps hair in dutch braids* • 'you think i'm scared of you?' • *uses a fountain pen that doubles as a weapon* • 'be careful, who knows what other tricks i have up my sleeve?'

this user kins agent apex

kill her and she'd kill you just the same.

'i did not graduate with a masters in psychology and comp sci for you to explain what HTML means, connor.' • *high alcohol tolerance* • *raps Betty by Yung Gravy effortlessly* • 'im so fucking cold-' • 'uGH! AS IF!' • *takes off gloves with her teeth* • 'no sweetheart, no one wants a know-it-all so why don't you just… :)' • *sits and stares at wall making everyone question her mental state - is just thinking about pancakes*

this user kins agent monarch

raising hell all over town.

'i don't want your pity.' • *keeps multiple dagger rings on her fingers at all times* • 'please, yes, assume i'm weak and helpless. that i need you saving me instead of knowing i know exactly how to ruin you' • *wears low ponytails with butterfly hair clamps* • 'do your worst.' • *loops and unloops finger from necklace when she's listening to someone talk* • 'go on. see if you could kill me without it bleeding you out as well.'

this user kins agent genesis

mysterious, wonder where she stands?

'sit still, i don't bite.' • 'i am just as good as you are bad, doll.' • *puts hairtie between her teeth when tying her hair up* • 'fate has entrusted you to me. how unfortunate.' • 'how very naive of you, thinking i can't rip your throat out with my hands' • *holds one's face with thumb on one cheek and other fingers on the other* • 'look at me while you're talking to me.' • 'do you think you'd feel it when i open you up?'

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

salem. -- a painting pending its debut in the louvre

greetings, fair visitors. allow me to introduce to you this unfinished piece of art awaiting its debut next to the mona lisa. - - - - -

- i'm the art bitch -

hi hi <3 i'm salem (you may also know me previously as eris). it's been a while since i first joined, and i'd like to say i've changed mostly for the better, so,,,here we are. an updated meet the writer's post, if you care enough to read past the first page. here's me on a silver platter :3

- about me -

she/her

questioning ??? (i have no idea what emotions even are, i just know they hurt)

16 (i know, im retiring soon)

leo

enfp-t

misty. just misty.

chinese

like,,,4'8

- about me (but more obscure) -

a product of lyrics and memorable book quotes

i've been told i'm grunge. am i? (*opens closet to reveal black clothes taking up 3/4 of the space*)

heiress of lost art

professional over-analysis of literature

electric guitar :D

impostor syndrome is at its worst

major character death doesn't bother me, heavy angst doesn't bother me, i am fucking invincible

- wip -

name : operation : d.o.a.

word count : 6.4 k

genre : thriller, mystery, contemporary, romantic subplots

favourite line (so far) : " it wasn’t fair, how one little event with one single person can change up the whole narrative. "

- what i post -

writing tips (weird ones, the ones that you find under the floorboards of your childhood home)

wip / oc content

original writing

random stuff i want to talk about (a.k.a psychology and other stuff that interests me)

- a me playlist (not that anyone cares) -

the lakes - taylor swift

good looking - suki waterhouse

family line - conan gray

hard feelings - lorde

nothing new - taylor swift ft. pheobe bridgers

luv starved - gayle

everything i wanted - billie eilish

harbour - clairo

immortal - marina and the diamonds

forever - labrinth

the love club - lorde

secrets from a girl (who's seen it all) - lorde

writer in the dark - lorde

without you - lana del rey

infinite - lyn lapid

rubberband - tate mcrae

tear myself apart - tate mcrae

the other side of paradise - glass animals

motion sickness - pheobe bridgers

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

how does one trope?

honestly,,,who even knows-

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right person, not enough time

show the chemistry — don’t just say they’re in love, show us how they talk to each other, how they refuse to leave each other’s side, show how they interact with each other, show us they’re meant to be → this has to be done very well [even more so than other romance tropes] in order for the seperation to be truly devestating

define ‘not enough time’ — most common scenarios are unexpected/fated death of either party, other scenarios may include parallel universes, time travel, anything you can logically fit into the story will do

goodbyes — do they get one? do they have the luxury of one? show the turmoil that comes with a proper goodbye or the agony that comes without one

show the full extent of the collateral damage — show how the protagonist lives without them, and how it affects them; show how they grieve for what they have, and show them wishing they had more time

oblivious mutual pining

why are they oblivious that they’re in love? — past experience, misunderstanding the feeling as purely platonic, first time, confusion about romance : all of these can be factored in as to why both parties do not realise they’re in love

show all signs of pining on both ends — if they both have a crush on each other, act like it; show them very blatantly having feelings for each other (don’t hold back on the descriptiond and internal monologue about the feels)

their friends — they may be oblivious, but their friends aren’t stupid : show them thrid wheeling, show them matchmaking for them, show them banging their head on the table because its so damn obvious they like you what do you mean you think they have reservations about you-

what got them together? — as endearing is all the pining is, it can’t last on forever; give them a resolution, a.k.a a confession of some sorts → show the realisation to the reciprocation of affection, show the shock melting to joy and insurmountable amounts of love as they embrace each other and k i s s

friends with benefits

‘no feelings’ shouldn’t be one of the rules in a friends-with-benefits relationship — a friends-with-benefits relationship is built apon mutual trust, respect, friendship, affection and sexual attraction, very different from what romace is → instead of there being a no-feelings rule, prioritise, emphasise and flesh out the bond of friendship between them before mentioning the sexual relationship that comes with it

does it develop? — if it does eventually blossom into something more, take care in how the feelings develope into romance → is it one sided? how would each character deal with it? is it mutual? will they take it a step further? how will they take it further?

communication — a relationship like this needs a lot of checking in, a lot of talking about their dynamic → show this process of them navigating their relationship as friends-with-benefits and show each step of the way, the good and the bad

academic rivals to lovers

they are not enemies — they do not have to necessarily hate each other’s guts; they can merely be competitive, maybe sometimes aggressively so, but they still hold respect for one another and their capabilities in the things they do and achieve

what makes them rivals? — grades? overall academic achievement? certain sports or extracurricular activities? give them a reason to compete, and when they do, give them chances to communicate — let them interact, however small, and slowly build up their relationship with each exchange

competition to love — are they still competitive after they fall for one another? would they do anything about their feelings? show their course of action and show their rivals reaction to it — do they figure it out? or do they take it as mere, more intense competition? (remember that the tension can’t just build forever — give them a moment to confess and give the building dramatics a release)

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

some oc facts you may or may not need to know (pt.2)

here we go again.

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agent mirror

she has a favourite knife, and on the handle of that knife hangs a queen chess piece — it has a past that mirror cannot let go of and she will tear the world apart if she ever loses it

she hates the phrase ‘ it runs in the family ‘ — family has never treated her well, and she refuses to have anything in common with them

she learned to handle firearms and self defence at the ripe old age of 7 — her first encounter with firearms and fighting occured when she was 4

agent lustre (leoni)

she originally was not meant to join the organisation — she only joined because the once love of her life said they found home in it

the girls of the speakeasy call her name with the title of ‘miss’ (like how they address vila, who is basically their boss) because they want the two of them to start dating

she is known to be the lucky charm of the team: luck always seems to be on her side — if she wished something hard enough, it would come to fruition, whether it be an escape route or a battle strategy

agent heaven

her work in the organisiation, like it or not, helped a lot with her sketches and art studies — she always aimed to kill, he not torture, and it forces her to study the human anatomy with higher amounts of scrutintiy than she needed to before

she has a ritual of doodling on her arms before she reaches the site of a mission — it helps to calm her nerves and ground her when she made her kills and is running purely on adrenaline

she is a novel finatic — if she isn’t at work, she’s in her suite (housing provided by the organisation) reading novels from all genres and making annotations on her books

agent monarch

she could easily be placed into other organisations as a spy — people tend to underestimate what she is capable of + let their guard down easier around her, combined with her friendliness reserved for all, she can weed out any information from anyone (mainly because shes 4’10 and looks like a child)

she has had a long past with who she held close to her heart — now she just tends to bottle all of it up and hope the bottle doesn’t chose today to pop

she tries to be civil with all her targets, starting with just negotiations — violence is her absolute last resort : no blood needs to be spilled until there is no other possible way to solve it

agent angel

him and apex were highschool sweethearts — this was the only reason why he was okay when gemini said he was working with an ex : he was going to work with his too

he has a masters in psychology and is a psychiatrist — he also took up dance as a hobby when he had spare time (and somehow became a professional at it)

he has a cat called cherry (it’s his first child) — she hisses at people she knows angel doesn’t like

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

some oc facts you may or may not need to know (pt.1)

because i just love making up random details about them.

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agent orthodox

she inherited the whole organisation from her father — everyone thought she was only there for daddy’s money until she single-handedly saved an entire operation with a pistol, 3 throwing knives and her bare fists

everyone in the organisation calls her mistress — no one knows if they should be scared of her, be aroused by her, or both

she displays somewhat overtly violent behaviour (with prompt or under threat, but when it happens things get extremely gory) — her relatives has once asked her parents to get her exorcised because they were convinced she was possessed by some spirit of hate

agent gemini

he does not use a smart phone and mainly live off of burner phones and nokias (because hes old and does not get the appeal of smart phones)

he taught heaven how to drive a tank — heaven didn’t ask to learn, he just taught her for the hell of it

he paints — not people, not scenery, not emotive pieces, gore (it’s his coping mechanism [i have no idea how painting the scenes of death and gore he has witnessed helps with coping but,,,you go girl-])

agent viper (vila)

she was once an active agent of the organisation — major injuries (three knives to her right thigh/hip) from a past mission put her out of comission to the point where the doctors said she was lucky to be able to walk again, which prompted her to make the proposition of starting the playground (the speakeasy that serves as the front of the organisation base)

she never had much luck with romance — all the girls in the speakeasy tease her for it given she is so good at seduction and flirtation

she likes to cuss people out in cantoese, which only gemini could partially understands after hearing her do it so many times (she is fully chinese and speaks fluent cantonese, english and mandarin)

agent dynamite

he was a rebel top gun pilot before his recruit to the organisation — he refused to join the navy due to witnessing how the government brushed off accidents and fallen aviators like they meant nothing

he fought in an underground fight club for a bit after he quit top gun academy to pay for his sister’s medical bills — he still hadn’t stopped fighting there even after his contract was signed with the organisation, where he was making more than enough to pay for the bills

he keeps his fists bandaged, even when they weren’t bruised — he uses the bandages to hide the scar on the palm of his lelft hand (he got that from protecting his sister from their parents)

agent apex

she has been dead legally for 7 minutes — she got hit by a bus while conducting a stakeout

she owns a collection of vintage suede suits, and an equal amount of dresses

she had a dog named libby — it got taken by one of their targets before the mission as a warning for her not to attack because they knew she was coming for their throat — she still had to do the mission, which costed libby her life

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

the curious case of main character syndrome

ah yes. main characters always live forever don’t they.

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main character syndrome (dubbed by yours truly)

formally known known as ‘plot armour’, ‘script immunity’ or ‘character shield’

a common phenomenon in fiction where a main character's life and health are safeguarded by the fact that they are the one person (or one of several) who can't be removed from the story — meaning, they can’t die because they are the protagonist (and the plot unravels without them)

however, if time was to come where the protagonist is destined to die, there is nothing that can stop them from meeting their fate — however many other situations they have made it out of before unscathed (sometimes more dangerous than the event that costed them their life) cannot save the protagonist now

the cure to the madness (how to avoid accidentally giving characters plot armour)

characters are (generally, unless specified) not immortal — they are not all gods of violence, they are bound to get hurt, somehow some way → however well trained or seasoned in the art a character may be, they make mistakes

show them missing, show them letting their guard down for a split second and getting a knife in the throat the next, show them failing certain manoeuvres — show them failing

show them in a cast, show them getting stitches, show them incapacitated after a fight where they were almost killed — show them getting hurt because of their human mistakes

the same shots / blows should inflict the same damage on all characters equally — avoid showing protagonists one-shotting their enemies of the same level as they are, especially when they’re outnumbered — they should not be able to walk out from a fight 1:15 without major collateral damage (if they’re not dead already)

even if a character is immortal, has seen every possible catastrophe and are the masters of wielding weaponry — give them a reason why they are immune to injury and other life threatening shenanigans that is logical and explained

a character is more than allowed to make it out alive — the escape they make just has to be believable and phrased in a way that makes sense to the settings and capabilities of the characters themselves

if a character’s death is more logical to the trajectory of the plot than keeping them alive, kill them (with a justified reason + in a way that satisfies the plot and the character’s arc)

(definitions of plot armour — https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlotArmor)

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

meet the protagonists of my wip -- operation : d.o.a.

meet the hotties.

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agent gemini

alias: alejandro buenvenida

real name: briar fairechild

age: 27

gender: cis male

sexuality: omnisexual

rank: first lieutenant

a random fact about them: has been on the most missions in the agency (roughly 170 [estimated])

agent viper

alias: vila song

real name: luxanna royce

age: 23

gender: cis female

sexuality: lesbian

rank: third lieutenant (information [speakeasy] division)

a random fact about them: hates alcohol, gets severely hungover the next day (which is shitty, because it is literally her job to talk to visitors and drink with them)

agent dynamite

alias: brooklyn montefalco

real name: zachary rhysand

age: 25

gender: demiboy

sexuality: bisexual

rank: third lieutenant (air forces division)

a random fact about them: has read 5 novels in his 25 years of living (excluding work/academic books)

agent apex

alias: augustine st. james

real name: ophelia grey

age: 26

gender: cis female

sexuality: bisexual

rank: sergeant

a random fact about them: can’t ride a bike

agent mirror

alias: sierra rhode

real name: scarlette bond

age: 25

gender: cis female

sexuality: polysexual

rank: senior agent

a random fact about them: got shot in the left butt cheek, turned the scar into a tattoo

agent lustre

alias: leoni everett

real name: isabella brynn

age: 24

gender: cis female

sexuality: bisexual

rank: senior agent

a random fact about them: names all of her daggers (has a knife called fluffy)

agent heaven

alias: delia vaughn

real name: adora davis

age: 25

gender: cis female

sexuality: pansexual

rank: senior agent

a random fact about them: falls asleep everywhere, espcially in gemini’s office (she’s one of the few people allowed in)

agent monarch

alias: giselle xiao

real name: marina darklight

age: 24

gender: cis female

sexuality: questioning

rank: senior agent

a random fact about them: has her walls built too high to have any genuine friends

agent angel

alias: louis flores

real name: astrid blair

age: 26

gender: cis male

sexuality: bisexual

rank: junior agent

a random fact about them: was originally going to name himself ‘agent daffodil’, changed it to angel because that’s what a sPeCiAl SoMeOnE calls him

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

anatomy class - venous system

time to revisit some IGCSE biology.

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veins v.s. arteries

veins

have valves — little flaps that helps to prevent the backflow of blood → the blood pressure in veins are lower than the blood pressure in arteries because it carries deoxygenated blood, which means the speed and force of bloodflow in a vein is comparably weaker and slower than the arteries

have a larger lumen (the hole in the middle of a blood vessel in which the blood passes through) and thinner walls

irregular in shape

in dissection, they usually appear white-ish in colour

arteries

have a smaller lumen (the hole in the middle of a blood vessel in which the blood passes through) and thicker walls — to withstand the high blood pressure and travel speed of oxygenated blood + ensures blood can reach every cell in the body with needed oxygen

regular in shape (somewhat perfectly circular)

in dissection, they look similar to surrounding muscle tissues, slightly darker in colour (red)

blood components + blood type

blood components

45% blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells [lymphocytes + phagocytes], platelets), 55% plasma

blood types

a (positive / negative)

b (positive / negative)

ab (positive / negative)

o (positive / negative)

when blood types mix (symptoms would most likely occur within a few minutes of the transfusion)

a strong feeling that something bad is about to happen

fever and chills

breathing difficulties

muscle aches

nausea

chest, abdominal, or back pain

blood in your urine

jaundice (yellow skin)

blood clotting may occur throughout your body, shutting off the blood supply to vital organs or causing a stroke → too much blood clotting can use up clotting factors and leave you at risk of excessive bleeding

can be life-threatening unless your doctor successfully treats it right away

blood loss in adults (unique to each individual — based on age, size and general health)

up to 14% — no side effects

15% - 30% — mild side effects (nausea, increases in heart and respiratory rates, decrease in urine output and blood pressure, anxiousness or unease, cooler and pale skin)

undefined

30% - 40% — unconsciousness (traumatic reaction to body — blood pressure further decreases, heart rate further increases, signs of obvious confusion or disorientation, rapid and shallow breathing)

about 50% — death (heart stops pumping, other organs shuts down in order to protect the heart)

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

fictional things that hit in just the right places

because who doesn't love emotional damage.

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when character a calls character b ‘my (their name)’

when character a remembers and describes in detail about fond memories they have with character b (bonus points if character b is somehow, some way out of the picture)

when character a realises just how much they love character b when they’re not there (coming back or not)

on the contrary, when character a realises just how much they love character b at the most random times

when characters break the fourth wall as though they’re lost and seeking guidance

when character a is struggling with existence and character b couldn’t do anything but watch the love of their life fall apart

when character b wakes up to an empty bed and contemplates or begin to spiral (we see a lot of flashbacks, memories overwhelming, panic, all the good stuff)

back hugs (bonus if they were sleepy or otherwise not fully conscious)

‘don’t go…please…’

when character a confesses to character b when they are asleep/unconscious

when a big blowup fight is expected but what came out was tired confessions and tears and time spent apart and eventual reconciliation and-

when the readers see a life of character a before and after the arrival/departure of character b

when character a shows up at character b’s door in the middle of the night (bonus if it’s raining and it’s cold and they’re crying and they need a hug and-)

when characters beg (in context of torture)

when character a sits down next to character b and just wordlessly holds their hand/leans on their shoulder

one bed trope, but character a was sleeping on the couch until they woke up to character b cuddling them

when all seemed hopeless for character a (all communications failed/betrayal/hostage, basically just no hope) and character b bursts in just before the killing shot was delivered

when characters accidentally kiss

when character a presses their cheek against character b to check if they are running a fever

when character a stares at character b with utmost adoration in their eyes (bonus if character a is a rougher, more masculine-inclined character)

‘they don’t deserve you…’

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

my ocs (boys edition) as popular fanfiction tropes

because yes, i would like to see people write fanfic about my ocs.

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arranged marriage - austin donovan

people talk, rumours echo through kingdoms while the truth wanders in abandoned wastelands — is this prince you’re marrying really what they say he is?

fit to be heaven’s heir, they say he was. a mind brighter than diamonds, a voice laced with the sweetest wine. you weren’t sure how much of it was true.

this was a contract. a wordless promise of alliance between kingdoms on the verge of warfront. a last-ditch attempt to preserve security in both nations. the involvement of emotional affairs are unnecessary.

but then you saw him. how he drew close to you, bowing deeper to you than he had even to kings and queens; how his smile was not forced but sunlit when he greeted you every morning to walk you to the dining hall; how he purposely walks closer to you, during councils and war meetings and strolls along the multiple terraces surrounding the castle, fingers always lightly brushing over yours if not holding your hand outright.

this marriage, this agreement, this prince…may not be as bad as you think it all would be.

red string soulmate au, near death experience - jaxon santiago

a red string. 25 years. when seemingly everyone had untied theirs from their pinkies and framed it up as remembrance of youthful years, yours still hung loose on your finger, lifeless, a piece of yarn with no apparent end.

it was hard to unlearn the habit of hiding your hands behind your back when some friend, some family comes to exchange conversations with you, arm around their soulmate as if they feared the sky would fall and separate them once again, a ring around where the crimson thread should’ve been.

‘your time will come.’ they’d say, pitiful glance following the empty promise of the line that reaches out into the unknown.

and it did. on a dreary, storm-ridden summer night, you met him.

‘miss, please stay awake!’ his fingers traced each valley, each curve of your throat, lightly trembling as they struggled to find a prominent pulsation in your veins.

the red string that once laid slumped over your finger had now found its new home on the doctor’s pinkie, begging for the first time to be noticed.

fake dating, famous au - astrid blair

he was supposed to be your body guard. it was supposed to stay strictly that. it was what was written on the contract when your manager hired him, and it was supposed to stay just that.

but alas, no one in the world is resilient to the allure of fresh, new scandal.

‘push me against the wall, now!’ you had made the demand out of desperation, in a bar that reeked of hard liquor and perfumed sweat, where multiple fans were making a pursuit for your time eager enough to be labelled assault. no one was looking at you two, it was happy hour and all were drunk on the revel of the lights and burning sounds. it should’ve been fine.

‘don’t question me, just do it!’ hand against his cheek, you stood on your tiptoes and lean in. try as you may, but you cannot put aside how warm his skin felt under the touch of your hand. how his hands traced surprisingly soothing circles on the bare small of your back. how his lips fit up just right against your own.

‘miss-’ it was curious, how when he broke away he seemed to be panting for breath. if it was just a cover, why did both of you stray, lingering, savour each sweet lemon drop and lavender syrup on the other’s lips?

‘sh…’ against all rationale of common sense, you smile at the fireworks sparking up against your chest as you let your lips reunite with one another. you could care about your manager’s phone call about the paparazzi photos taken of you with him making out later.

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[this-summertimes-sadness]

a study on writing women

@/eternitys.firelight on instagram <3 derived from " How ARCANE Writes Women - @/schnee on youtube " + my own little notes

a collection of notes on how to write female characters right, hot and empowered :D

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agency - the ability to make choices that change the course of events + the exercise of that ability

(occasionally) taken away by plot or by the decision of the male presence within the story

many start out with high power/authority —> the same power gets dethroned when:

relationships where a man removes the woman’s initial agency

developing conflicts in the weakness of a character

taken away by a competing strong women

salem's little corner of questionable advice: to maintain the same agency in the character shows growth; it shows how they still have their authority and power to make their own choices when faced with conventional scenarios that tend to bring them down and take that agency away and therefore shows their strength, which draws admiration from fellow readers.

beauty v.s. shallowness of character

salem's little corner of questionable advice: give it a use, but use wisely — the empowerment of femininity using looks and beauty (by women) is still somewhat demonised and seen as negative in this society — connect to intention, make it special to them (how they utilise the advantages of their born traits to accomplish their goals)

tropes

a trope itself isn’t bad, they are only bad if written incorrectly

to fix a character with a conventionally problematic trope:

find a non-(trope oriented) trait, relationship or aspect of character to build on

character wasn’t always like this — maybe they had always been, but maybe there was a turning point in her past

give depth and nuance through organic backstory

salem's little corner of questionable advice: put them in a situation where there is struggle, where there is the need to wrestle and fight and have it get as ugly as it can — the audience believe what they see, and only after characters are given their moment to shine (in a way that shows raw strength, knowledge, durability, quick and critical thinking, or what they’re made of, and not gifted power) is when the audience truly begins to admire, believe and respect them for their positive traits → ‘outer strength that comes from an inner strength’

an example of a problem trope -- action girl

‘man + boobs’

masculine persona + surface-level femininity

‘one of the bros’ ←→ toxic to other women ←→ easy access to awkward romance

female in name only

no actual character/personality (i.e. when ‘man+ boobs’ is the whole character)

cannot be taken for a story’s token woman (usually takes 2nd token woman, the 1st being traditionally more feminine)

‘defined by my gender’

is feminine, but personality is still heavily tied to the men of her life (not accepted by men)

feels defined by the men in her life + one dimensional

gender sometimes become synonymous with the characteristics of that character

salem's little corner of questionable advice: instead of going for ‘i am the only girl in a man’s world’, try to gun for ‘i am in co-existence with the men of the world but i do not need the acceptance of those men around me’ — to have a woman in a world that is pitted against her and can still display her own form of power in her own way is the definition of inspiring

‘auto-overpowered’

stronger, more skilled than all males without any training, without trying, without earning anything a character is required to earn to reach the same place

salem's little corner of questionable advice: shallow strength + does not authentically show the character’s power — they win through pure implanted knowledge, luck, strength or otherwise naturally-provided powers, which does not garner much respect from audience because they are ‘born gifted’ and didn’t understand nor need labour to reach a certain point in a situation that others who are attempting to achieve the same goal needs

femininity + roles of society

gendered stereotypes and tropes can be levelled out / neutralised by being applied to both men and women -> salem's little corner of questionable advice: have a female character being compassionate, kind and caring? show a male character who runs on the same morales. have a male character who is forthcoming with opinions and ideas? have a female character who does the same. no matter how small the detail, it goes into the overall effect of the story and its statement on the perception of male and female within societal bounds.

inherently feminine traits or situations that happen to them don’t have to be necessarily gendered -> salem's little corner of questionable advice: they can be taught to the character by a combination of circumstance and characters of the opposite sex, which evens out the gender playing field, removes gender from the equation and shows the character for simply being themselves instead of their gender

women in traditionally masculine roles → they double as contrasts / oppositions of other characters that are their opposites / compliments and thus showcase their own form of femininity

all characters should demonstrate their own element of femininity -> salem's little corner of questionable advice: other than the traditional feminine of makeup, dresses, expressions of art, domestic roles, there are other (more subtle) ways of expressing femininity: offering parental advice to someone with a daughter, the step-down from competition and the grace of letting others win because they truly deserve it, etc.

submission

salem's little corner of questionable advice: try to avoid overt submission in relationships where the women are the ones backing down from a fight / have an (extreme) emotional dependence — utilising this too much would just feed into the gendered, stereotyped roles of social norms (which could cause some unwanted controversy given the modern ages)

if submission is utilised, do not base it on the gender of the characters and instead base it on their characters — define moments without the gender element: show a similar scene with the same gender to show that this wasn’t a matter of sex

dependence ≠ agency

if the dynamic is to be used, pick a character who is extremely independent + could break the mould in every way possible — character first !

salem's little corner of questionable advice: the ‘male fixing female’ trope is not recommended — this downplays a female character’s power by attributing the successes of them to another male character + again plays into the stereotypes of societal expectations (which we are currently trying to break out of)

men: adventurous action heroes v.s. women: meek + afraid of the action — salem's little corner of questionable advice: this power dynamic is used in films and literature for centuries and is one trope, if wanting to write good female characters, should avoid falling back to

emotion

emotion ≠ hysteria or weakness — comes off as superficial, degrading, uninteresting and unrealistic

two ways emotions and women clash in literature and film:

mocked + played for weakness and fragility → undignified creatures of hysteria

taboo → stoic unemotional robots who are strong because they are devoid of emotion

display dynamic emotional range that are dignified and empathetic — coming in moments of vulnerability or empowerment

empowerment of women, but not at the expense of men

salem's little corner of questionable advice: when a female character accomplishes a goal, succeeds or wins something, it doesn’t mean that it is an opportunity to put down the opposite gender — losing is of course viable, if it’s not a win, it’s a loss, that is the way of the world; however, it does not mean that the man has to be kicked down a level just so that women could succeed on the back of their loss

background > characteristics — make each detail (physical + thinking pattern + habit) authentic + make sense to the character’s past, present and future

salem's little corner of questionable advice: this is how a character becomes realistic and relatable to their audience: what they have been through. all forms of characters are built on fragments of events in their own lives that make up who they are now, just like humans are as well. it is much better to base a character on a solid story of their past rather than their physical traits to avoid writing characters that have no substance and are bland

- - - - -

[this-summertimes-sadness]

eulogy, adulthood. - my entry to @obsessionfragrancee's poetry competition

if yall get what i mean in this, yall also need help-

-

dearest marina. in lieu of celebrating my 18th birthday, i sit on the rooftop alone writing this, and wondering if the stars are shining for me from the skies of rome’s arena. if only i could reach out, marina, feel the heat of them like one would with a midnight lightbulb.

i’m sorry i cannot see the stars anymore. you see, i lost my sight. i put it in a vase of water, for flowers that i didn’t know would drown before, and when the sun rose the next day, the nectar had already long dried.

i’m not who you think i am. i haven’t been for a while. you didn’t cut the cake tonight. you would’ve smiled when you blew out the candles, even if it was just you in that living room. but i wasn’t alone, and i still couldn’t smile because… where have you been? is there a number i could dial to call for you? is there a surgery i could do so that, when i open my eyes, i’ll see you again?

name your prices, please. tomorrow, we leave for malibu; tonight is the only night i have with you. command me, i’ll do anything you ask, there’s no one i wouldn’t displease if it means i’ll see you again. if it means i can be cured of my blindness and welcome you back home to me.

you laid this curse on me. maybe it isn’t that i am blind. maybe you led me to a dark room. took my hand and asked me to stay while you were away. it wasn’t my fault. i had to survive. they say that the light is gentler than the dark, not that black was all i would see. i didn’t mean to, i swear it. i was afraid, believe me. i was going home; my home is only next door to the dark.

i can see the stars again. sometimes. when the night is spotless, when the cities are kind. ophelia, my love, is holding my hand. you’ve heard of her. she was the last person you let into your heart. she may seal the wound you left when you left me, but she can’t cure what you left behind. if i lose sight of myself, it might just be for forever. here’s your happy ever after you’ve always dreamed of.

- - hope you liked it !!! <3333 - -

[this-summertimes-sadness]

Forevermore.

The Fall Of Gods Nourishes The Rise Of Monsters.

synopsis !! when ei became the raiden shogun, on the back of the electro archon's, and her sister's, loss.

category !! angst because i am a m

tw !! major character death and major emotional damage

word count !! 598 (its only ever this little for a competition-)

‘Sister!’

Eternity. A safety net, designated to catch what time would push off of universes. Ei could not fathom when her affinity for the eternal had begun, once shelved away somewhere in her mind’s labyrinth. Never had it ever seemed more imminent than now, resting in her arms, cold and delicate. Her sister. Her dear sister.

Makoto used to pester her on a lot of things. Sister dearest, the gentle one, the Archon who enjoys her stay under the sakura trees with a cup of freshly-brewed tea. She’d often invite her along, standing inches away from the shade with her flower-adorned higasa, awaiting her presence. 

Look sister. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom again. She’d smile, arm wound around Ei’s waist, staring off into the distant skies. What a time to be alive, right?

What a disgrace, time was. It dared to strip the people of Inazuma of their Archon, one that cared for and loved nothing but her people and her land. It dared to strip her sister of her glory, leave her on the battleground, doused in dust and lukewarm blood. It dared to strip her of her sister.

Her sister…

Even covered in mortal blood, she exudes elegance. Eyes closed, body pristine except for the one still-bleeding wound that marred her lilac kimono. Her sister, the watcher of the beloved land of Inazuma, gone.

‘No, please!’ Ei could not bear to be rough with her sister’s face. The coolness of her skin burned her fingertips, and yet Ei foraged on, linking their foreheads together.

I am so sorry, dear sister… I was too late…

A droplet of pearl slipped down Makoto’s neck, and onto her chest. Her chest that now failed to rise and fall. It turned gold, enveloped in her draining blood. 

Why did you leave without me…?

Ei knew her sister like she knew Inazuma on a standstill. She was no fighter; Ei was the violent one of them both. On the walls of their shared house used to hang Makoto’s unsharpened blade, the Musou Isshin, on her side of the room otherwise decorated with flowers and pages of writings. She used to beg for it, just for a single time’s use. Makoto always denied, instead offering her other crafted weapons to train with.

The blade now laid discarded next to her body, silver sword still glistening, like new.

Wholehearted dream, the blade was named.

Carrying a dream Makoto would never live long enough to see.

The air crackled, sparkling with lightning. The tear was lifted, now hovering, above the fallen Archon’s chest. A vapour of amethyst spiraled over it, shielding the gentle glow of gold away. Ei caught the now material gem, safely stowing it away.

Eternal…You will be with me, sister…eternally…

With the sleeves of her orchid kimono, Ei ridded her face of sorrow and stood. 

In the distance, sakura petals rained down over the land of Inazuma, in its respect for the fallen almighty.

The bronze fan hairpin that had once rested in Makoto’s hair was now securely pinned over her own accessory of flowers. 

Sheathing the blade, Ei glanced up. She wished to curse at the gods above, but sustained it when the weighed-down clouds began to dissipate away, leaving a grey mist in its wake.

The gods were not the real enemies of hers.

She must learn to harness eternity. If not for the people of her nation, of Inazuma, then for her fallen comrades, her sister. For all who had suffered in the War of Archon.

Let me keep the sakuras ripe for you forevermore, Makoto.

˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊

#genshin angst #genshin ei #genshin raiden shogun #genshin raiden ei #genshin raiden makoto #raiden baal #genshin raiden #raiden shogun #raiden ei #raiden makoto #genshin #genshin impact #ei #makoto #baal #beelzebul #inazuma

[this-summertimes-sadness]

found family of unstable ocs ep. 20 (pt.1) -- therapy

this is just a reflection on how much i need therapy-

-

ophelia grey

takes roughly 6 sessions to get to the point

tries to takes it slow and keep her cool (does it always work? meh.)

very calm and more at ease around her therapist

needs support (either from briar, astrid or rina) but doesn't mind not having any (it stems from her toxic independence)

doesn't skip very often but occasionally does

'is there a reason as to why you wouldn't let yourself go onto a balcony or a roof, or anything near the edge of a building whenever you're near your friends?' the sensation of falling had never been kind to ophelia. into the pool, when she was 4 and barely know how to breathe even on dry land; in dreams, pushed into infinite darkness by an unknown force, falling until eventual awakening. falling was how she had failed to fly in the first place. and failing to fly costed her dearly. 'lia? you alright?' astrid. her dearest friend. who had to be the one who witness her fall from grace. she'd only known how bad she failed him when she saw the tears, speckled like constellations in his ebony eyes, and how they fought to keep in his shadowed eyes. falling. she hated that feeling. 'i...i think i'm ready to talk...'

astrid blair

does not need many sessions to crack him open

takes it slow, can't help but cry a lot when they get to it

uneasy but trusting towards his therapist

needs briar as emotional support

skips most of the sessions

'you've mentioned before that you've had problems with your sexuality, right?' his sexuality. this part of his history, one that he would never be less proud of. '...right...what about it...?' astrid kept his gaze held on the marble tiles. he could already feel the revolt rising in his throat like bile: the confusion, the frustration, the hatred for and of his past and present self toppling out like skeletons from a faulty closet. he could feel briar's fingers against the palm of his hand, soothing circles beginning to slow. he was curious, no doubt; no one had heard or seen this side of him before. what did his demons have to offer? 'what started it all?' he could feel his tear hit the side of his thumb before he could see it. it felt warm, softening the calluses of his fingers as it slid down and dissipated, like thin air. '...t-that day...'

briar fairechild

doesn't take that long (therapist is his adoptive dad)

doesn't open up much about his deeper feelings

very honest and free around his therapist

doesn't need support

doesn't usually skip sessions, so when he skips, it's very worrying

'let's talk about your sister.' 'oh, stella?' 'no. sage.' sage. how could a single name, a word alone, evoke so much...emotion? he couldn't place what he was feeling; he could only tell it didn't feel good. her sister. not the one alive and well, probably nestled in her lover's arms with a cup of hot chocolate and star-glazed azure eyes. the one who laid somewhere in the embrace of a forest, dandelions flourishing over her settled grave. sage. who could've still had a life ahead of her if he was just a little smarter, faster or simply more careful. 'what happened?' he wish he hadn't known. he wish he hadn't been the one to witness it all go to hell. but there was no point in wishing for someone to come back to life. '...it started when i was 10...'

marina darklight

takes a surprisingly long time to open up

is very hesitant to even talk about it, but when the dam opens, theres no stopping it from pouring

talks to her therapist like she talks to a close friend + confidant (very soft voice, relaxed posture, stares off into space while talking)

doesn't need anyone but having someone around would help too

never skips therapy

‘you’ve always had issues with your body, right?’ her body. something moulded from her mother’s own flesh and her father's own blood. half of which she adores, half of which she despises. marina would say this was learnt behaviour. she wouldn’t know what hate was if no one had taught her it’s true colours; she wouldn’t have learnt what imperfection was if she hadn’t been told to sit in front of the mirror and to scrutinise the girl in front of her like she was an outsider. she could’ve been invincible. but of course, teen girls cannot be told they can have the world. ‘it’s…kind of hard not to…’ a case of her oedipus complex. as much as marina would like to believe her hard feelings towards her father was unfortunately innate, he pulled the trigger on her. he taught her power. he taught her control. he taught her fear, discipline, and above all, hatred. even water droplets, given constant reminder, can carve through the hardiest of stones. ‘tell me about it.’ ‘…it’s happened…all my life…’

- - hope you liked it !!! <3333 - -

[this-summertimes-sadness]

fic titles to [crack but simultaneously not] poetry

i wanted to write whacky shit with this but fanfic authors are way too good at their naming game-

[inspired by @coleydoesthings on youtube !!]

-

so basically what i did was:

went on ao3, wattpad and tumblr

look up fanfics (mostly genshin because i am a whore why not)

copy down a grand total of 150 fic titles

put them in a randomiser

picked out 20

rearrange the madness

made a pie :D a sad pie :'D

enjoy this,,,thing i guess-

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

if yesterday never came, when will we ever learn? who am i, darling, to you? star-crossed elegy, one last song, tales of the wind, call down the stars. devil town, a teahouse of eternal sin, you and me against the world, but the world won. love language, love at first punch, how we break, and if you can’t bring yourself to kill?

i miss you (i’ll always be there), all the way home.

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

ten thousand, i’ll follow you like father, like daughter, how they show their love for you. hindsight, i’ll keep you safe, to bring down the moon, how the stars mourn your light. if i was dying on my knees, high on you, dew drops on cecilias, bloodstains on the ground, bloodied carnations, old habits die hard.

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

you complete my heart, literally. does it still scare you? you’ve been asleep while i’ve been in hell, the ghost of two brothers, through the warmth, through the cold. shoreline, over time, your words cut deeper, death’s apprentice, waking up is hard to do.

i’ll figure out a title later.

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

the tide rolls in how the light gets in, how to turn back time? exodus 20:3 : you shall have no other god before me. you are a dying god, full of artless jealousy. less than lovers, their first time, what i cannot put into words, i offer you in the weight of gold.

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

steady breathing, fine print, chip and pin in love, in my dreams, i see you, a god among men. stars in your wake, best laid plans, our broken justice, until forever ends. right where you leave me.

- - hope you liked it !!! <3333 - -

[this-summertimes-sadness]

writers as mademoiselle del rey's discography

i'm probably like,,,all of them *forces myself to do all the things i've listed off camera*

-

blue banisters

hands down, god tier storyteller teACH ME YOUR WAYS-

wields simple language like a damn sword

flower child, spring child, all-things-bright-and-beautiful-in-this-world child

the best relationship dynamics, i don't make the rules <3

bittersweet endings + pensive / nostalgia / memories (whatever you want to call them, those little flashback narration thingies) :D

plot plot plot plot and did i mention plot-

kalmest of all dem writers out there

beautiful

writes vulnerability so, so well

exorcising trauma through art

confession scenes + when their characters speak softly and lets their guard down (I L I V E F O R T H A T S H I T)

plots but free-hands it midway because ✨feels✨

hurt / comfort your jam?

impostor's syndrome but yOUR WRITING IS LITERALLY SO GOOD WHAT DO YOU MEAN-

stop writing at 3 a.m. and get some sleep

this is what makes us girls

strong female protagonists >>>

you love bad ideas don't you (for your characters, i cant speak on your behalf-)

no thoughts, just all of your ocs are hot,,, h o W-

outline? never heard of her-

the full teen experience, probably Y/A and contemporary (if they actually are those two categories, please let me read it-)

plot mostly happens because characters are reckless and 16-18

banter, please please please tELL ME HOW-

without you

internal monologues are top tier, enough said

best male characters, argue with the wall (what, no its not because all of them are crafted from your high female standards, what are you talking about-)

feelz driven but has somewhat of an outline

if you don't read/write about vintage hollywood film stars ill cry (because this song S C R E A M S evelyn hugo)

screaming, crying, perfect storms with dem OTPs [and maybe,,,some begging,,,and making up,,,?]

writing flows better than a river does, it straight up just sounds like a song

'right person, wrong time' trope <3333

lust for life

you really like writing about those car scenes where the protagonist and their friends race down an empty highway just living the ideal teen life don't you

foreshadowing + hinting / underlying messages *chef's kiss*

✨glamour✨ is the way you roll

your writing feels like the good parts of life ??? like how ???

grant us that fresh breath of air that is your floofy scenes

writes when you have inspo, does the thing where you have a very loose storyline and bs your way out

those aesthetic cut scene videos of youth with nostalgic music playing in the background? yeah, that's your writing but in cinematics (🛐🛐🛐🛐)

old money

honey, are you okay. like genuinely. i can pay for your therapy-

writing sprints either in the middle of the night or in the middle of a breakdown, no in betweens

best damn imagery + descriptions i can't even- i need a full instruction set on how you write please

writing sometimes trails off into space, through heaven, down to hell and then onto earth again

we can tell you have a lot of feelings about a lot of things, take it slow please, your characters will die very very young at this rate we're going-

you make yourself (and everyone around you) cry with your writing, that's how good and concerning your writing is

oh and also you love putting symbolism in your writings

- - hope you liked it !!! <3333 - -

[this-summertimes-sadness]

venus. - a poem

to my namesake.

-

dearest, i’ve read a book about you once, of how you used to be worshipped when you are nearest to the night sky of our home land. used to. but humanity has become godless, lawless. they think they have it all. the solstices are forgotten, and goddesses like you are mere cautionary tales told in rocking chairs, by the fire.

what’s it like up there? in the sky, watching those statues of yours carted off to museums and monuments like attractions of a fair. there, people see you as what was, not are. it must have been lonely, dearest, when your lovers left for a new psyche. what did you tell yourself? surely you were not fearless, for even goddesses fear the bitter flowers of loneliness.

but of course, you are not alone, not when you’re still wished upon. you are the muse of many before, and many to come. they’re admirers, they sing your song, make sure your legacy lives on, but how many can reach you? hear your words true, as is, not from echoes of abstract art? and of those who manage to walk into your pearly gates, what then? fate cursed you, for you are immortal. it was never a question of when, for those who live in your heart are equally cursed to be mortal.

from the day you rose from the waves of the ocean, you knew that you’d be tortured by the fates, didn’t you? no one remembers you a mother, a friend, a daughter too, your identity is a plethora of your misdeeds. but i’m sure you had your reasons, right? it’s hardly fair, how when love fucks up, it’s your fault too. ’blame it on her, she doesn’t have a brain, she’s jealous, she doesn’t even have in her an ounce of fight.’ is that true? or is it what they think or believe of you?

dearest, i’m just like you. you are my birthright and i am your child. and before you tell me no child of yours would raise hell in mornings and cry their eyes blue, remember. when you were young, you’d do what i do. you’d love, and your lipstick and roses was how love became. you’d cry, and your exes’ burned letters was how heartache became. you’d dream, and your diary was how fantasies became. you’d speak, and your name was how beauty in pain became.

venus.

- - hope you liked it !!! <3333 - -