#Power of Adversity

[goodoldbandit]

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine.

Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo. skm.stayingalive.in Life Isn’t Flat. It Rises With Every Obstacle. A powerful post on why challenges are not just unavoidable, but necessary. Growth happens when we climb. 🌟 Why Do We Keep Waiting for Life to Get Easier? Every time we say, “Once this is over, I’ll finally have peace,” we’re tricking ourselves. That next phase won’t be easier.…

[reality-detective]

Dr David Martin: Monkey Pox is just a cover up for Covid jab adverse effects 🤔

[v1ct0r1an]

A little doodle page of some magnus hornets au stuff

[dangermousie]

On the benefits of dating a high up in secret police

Watching The Glory and a convo with @biochemjess made me realize that this is a fourth cdrama I've seen where dreamboat ML is a high up in the secret police/judicial torturer club - Under the Power, A Dream of Splendor, Blossoms in Adversity and now The Glory.

Why such a preponderance of these dudes? Either this is because it's an easily approved way to get yourself an unhinged ML or because some high up censor has a cousin in the Ministry of State Security who is super lonely and asked for a favor, thinking portraying his profession in a positive light will improve his chances in the dating world.

But you know what? While normally I'd recommend against dating a man who drives needles under fingernails as part of his job duties and can tell different kinds of whips apart by sound, if you are a typical period cdrama FL, you can do a hell of a lot worse. In fact, being some sort of long haired costumed Chinese KGB type is pretty damn desirable in a partner.

It's been very long since I've watched Under the Power and I was honestly bored so I can't discuss it, but let's take the other three.

For a FL of Splendor, whose ex is hellbent on wrecking her life and who meets more psychopaths per square meter than there are in a maximum security prison, having a man who can threaten to skin offenders alive and mean it is def a bonus. FL of Blossoms? Remember when her aunt tried to create trouble by hanging herself in front of her house and ML just calmly moved the body, framed someone else, and then went to sleep like a baby and FL never even knew? That is freaking useful!

And look at the FL of The Glory? One can always hope ML will have a bad day and murder her whole awful family; not to mention he's always only the third most psychotic person in the room when her clan gathers.

Sure, the MLs of Splendor and Blossoms have powerful families that cause issues for FLs (too early to know about The Glory ML) but let's face it, it's a cdrama - there were always going to be horrid family issues for FL one way or another - at least these FLs have men who know how to bury the bodies if things get out of hand!

In conclusion, long live Murder MLs, I guess!

[thepersonalwords]

A diamond is just a rock that refused to break under heat and pressure.

Matshona Dhliwayo

[candycryptids]

I’m actually so terrible at giving my ocs tragic pasts or sad backstories or whatever like is there not already enough pain in this world

I mean sure yeah but the catharsis if they survived it and you can too, or something. Much to think about.

[blossominthewoods]

Everyone can shine on a sunny day; there’s not much skill needed for that. It’s those that manage to push out a ray of light in the midst of a midnight thunderstorm that reveal true strength.

[minimalist-quotes]

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

-Abraham Lincoln

[newagevictorianorphan]

um i’m convinced none of u have actually recently watched an older disney princess movie. as somebody raised by 2 disney elders and rewatches sleeping beauty every saturday night, snow whites abuse in no way contributes to her character besides her fleeing the huntsman, it’s actually never addressed past that, im afraid, the girl doesnt even bring it up

[quotelr]

Life’s challenges are inevitable. We have to prepare mentally by renewing our mind with inspiration daily to be able to cope when the situation arise.

Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

[elegantzombielite]

"Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power."

Robert Green Ingersoll, lawyer and orator (1833-1899)

[danwhobrowses]

nothing to see here just a crazy shipper guy going crazy over Callowmoore under the bit, if that's not for you then go about your business

So fellow Callowmoores how we feelin' this morning/evening? Because it's evening right now and I'm still bouncing off the walls in my mind

The one post could not keep me contained! No seriously the amount of tags I put in hit a limit and doesn't show them all

I mean yes we didn't get a kiss (yet) but goddamn we got so much, it has possessed me, deranged me, it's leaking outta my brain I gotta talk about it, so either jump out or buckle up because this overflow is gonna be long

First off I just gotta talk about how so many things almost lined up how I imagined them because it just makes it feel like they looked into my head and thought 'hey that's kinda good'. Like, I wanted Fearne to take the shard at Mori's, it was a safer space for her than the Ziggurat which is tainted by bad memories (this and other campaigns), I just didn't expect it so soon, thought they'd at least have a full rest first. In fact I had a whole scene in my mind where in a desperate gambit Delilah took over Laudna while she slept and just knocked on Ashton's door in a form of dread going 'where's the shard Ashton?'. It's key to this I promise not only because I enjoyed the idea of Ashton not taking any of Delilah's shit (plus for you Imodnas out there the mental scene involves Ashton whispering 'Imogen's in danger' to wake her, they also ask where Paté is because they still have that 'Paté is Delilah' theory) but it also expanded on the possible helplessness Ashton would have being unable to assist Fearne with taking the shard

'You're a child, Ashton. A blunt instrument that charges blindly into harm, would you really risk Fearne's life to earn her forgiveness? You know what it can do, what happens when you can't protect her from it?'

Of course, Ashton would never give Delilah the shard, which would frustrate Delilah since she can't manipulate them, but the comment weighs on Ashton a little. Which is when the whole waking Laudna happens and she leaves, but Fearne is in his room (the Vox Machina bathtub scene being inspiration), having asked to sleep there for comfort and asks them if it worries them. Which is where I often got to use this quote

'I don't believe in fate, but I believe in you'

And it sticks with me because it's super romantic, but also on-brand for Ashton, there were variations like the longer 'things only affect our path if we choose to believe they do; fate is complicated, the gods don't give a fuck, and I don't wanna even think about legacy anymore, I don't believe in them, but I believe in you' but then the next morning comes and Ashton gives her the ring, since I forgot about attunement there were instances where it was a sneaky sleight of hand thing, and Fearne completes the process. Of course, with weeks to go on there were a lot more scenarios like Fearne pickpocketing the Ashton doll to practice talking to and putting it back, Ashton seeking Mori for advice, herbal tea visions where Ashton entered their own mind and encounters the empress while on the outside Delilah possesses Laudna to try and drain the power from them, one where the shard having been reshaped through Ashton is less intense on Fearne for the first 4 rounds (since they blew up on the fifth) because Ashton's essence is containing and dissipating the hostile energy, and one where the group secretly vote against Ashton being there for Fearne taking the shard (Imogen, Laudna, and Chetney 3 to 2 against Orym and FCG) but Fearne as the decider pulls them over because she needs them there, stuff like that I'm sure fanfic writers could consume to their heart's content (and are free to, go nuts). But these scenes stood out because it had elements of stuff that are linked to or actually happened in the episode; Fearne does take the shard, Ashton endorses that Fearne is the only one who can take it, Ashton gives her the ring and Shattered Vigor is apparently a thing where Ashton is practically taking Fearne's pain to protect her, that alone is enough to go insane over.

And can we talk about the ring for a moment, because like THE RING. I'm not talking about generically either I mean that this ring has been significant to the shard saga ever since Ashton claimed it. It was found on the corpse of someone infused into stone, into the earth, right between the whole eidolons stuff where Ashton connected with an Earth elemental and then the Grau Dashari stuff with the crystals they merged with their hammer and then the Bor'dor incident, that could've easily been a titan-based punishment. Also, Ring of Volcanic Flesh, like Ashton's stone arm? And if that wasn't enough, what was the first thing Fearne stole from Ashton when they reunited? The ring, the act that broke down Ashton's walls as they let out a most heartfelt 'I missed you, so much' the ring that Fearne stole right off of Ashton's fingers only for them to willingly put in her hand to protect her, because just as they said at the clock tower, everything they have belongs to her. And while legacy and hubris had a part in the shard incident, part of it was also for Fearne. I don't believe there's any situation where if Fearne said she wanted the shard at the clock tower Ashton would've said no; Ashton knows that Fearne was key to the shard dislodging in the lava, they sensed it was in a way key to both of them, but there was no reality where Ashton was gonna force Fearne to take the shard if she didn't want it. And yes it blew up in their face, much like Fearne they saw an image of themselves they didn't want to be, their soul broke with the realisation that they hurt the one person they never wanted to hurt, but thanks to Percy they also realised that they had to change. It wasn't enough to see everyone else having someone at the reunion and internalizing 'if someone has to not come back it's gotta be me' they had to make steps towards being the person the Hells needs them to be, someone who can come back with them.

Which is where last episode started setting it up, and I didn't speak much about it at the time because other than the pretty plain 'I would've rather died than hurt Fearne' insinuation (which in turn was confessed to save Fearne from falling) there was only crumbs that could be interpreted other ways; for instance Birdie's tale with Athion and Olly being somewhat of a parallel to Tevan and Ashton, the formers wooing Birdie and Fearne with temptations of indulgence while the latters drawing their attention by being subjects of intrigue, defiance and kindness, plus they saved the latters (Birdie literally via escaping the prisons and Fearne emotionally and literally), or before the Orym conversation when Ashton takes 'one last look' Taliesin looks towards Ashley last. But I knew there was poetic significance to Ashton failing the communication trial, Marisha sensed the vibe too, but even though Fearne was nervous about guiding Ashton, the fault fell to poor dice rolls (and Liam not keeping shtum and summoning thunderwasps) and once again Ashton in an attempt to prove themselves falls flat on their ass in front of the person they most want to prove it to. And that did break my heart a little I must admit because as poetic as it was who hasn't been there? Ashton's journey of proving themselves has been laden with failure too; being unable to protect anyone from Otohan led to them almost being TPK'd, being unable to keep the group together at the Malleus Key led to the group being scattered, and then Team Trauma's stuff - Orym was despondent and Laudna's a wreck, got a random 'shepherd's boy', a powerful Cobalt Soul teen prodding about the solstice and all of Deni$e here added as mainly combat support, loners but no leaders, Dawnfather angel thinks them insignificant, dark spirits trying to consume their only leads about the Hishari - and the moment Ashton started to trust Bor'dor after the pipe vision what happens? Betrayal, Hunger of the Shadow and Delilah is let back in, Ashton couldn't even keep Laudna safe from herself, they reunite, try to sort out their shit with their past, discover that they might have a destiny to fulfill and end up being too willing to die in place of others, and unable to protect their new family from themselves, because of these recent failures it was important that Ashton proved themselves in the trust trial.

And thankfully they did, there was no way to prove that anyone was a Doppelganger and yet, Ashton still trusted Fearne; twice saving her from the flora even when told to leave her behind. And they were close to another failure when the branch was snatched - after their attempts to keep it safe by throwing it in the pool alone - but they trusted Chet and Orym (father/son duo) to cover more ground while they helped Fearne. And even when FCG told Ashton 'I think it's Fearne', and when Imogen was untrusting of Fearne, Ashton abandoned their held action to save FCG from the brambles because they knew Fearne could be trusted. They trusted Imogen to connect to Ruidus and as mentioned endorsed Fearne to take the shard.

And sure, in my mental scenarios Ashton gives her the shard, doing the same she did for them, but I did say almost like how I imagined. And Ashton still did everything they could, plus Imogen comforted their visible worry, but once it's complete they're just in awe, and then their own spark awakens through her touch, a touch they were unafraid of even at the threat of newfound fire, and now for the first time ever they feel whole. She saved them, and now they finally feel complete, and now this time Fearne is agape, Fearne is in awe, and everything she had hoped Ashton would gain from taking the shard before has come to fruition through her, and it's just, joy, pure incorruptible joy, a kindred connection that belongs to just them. Plus a big piece of paper for all the new powers they are excited to learn about from each other, with each other, and while Matt can talk about there being risks to them because you gotta balance the combat the narrative significance is still there.

But dammit they need to kiss, I've yelled it enough times in my head; like the lava, the clock tower, before and after Fearne took the shard, the only times they did kiss was before the solstice (the forehead kiss) and the ziggurat and both preceded bad times, they deserve a proper one, not one at risk of being a goodbye, something precious, irreplaceable and theirs to have, to share. And I don't know if they should use the patented 'can I kiss you?' or take a tip from BeauYasha and use 'I wanna kiss you so bad right now' or find something else to make their own but I desire it so much, had it happened this ep I probably would've melted out of my seat. They're awkward and nervous but they gotta take the leap, Ashton needs to realise they're loved and maybe even be told that they deserve it even when they feel they don't, and Fearne has to take a risk too, the shard put doubt to her decisions but that doesn't mean she can run from her strong emotions. It doesn't fix everything of course, but sometimes people heal better together than apart. As a currently vorbed half-elf once said 'drink the courage first'.

Curiosity continues to send me after the ep, and while some people are attempting to blemish or rain on the parade (I mean, I try not to speak ill of other ships in general, but if you're gonna be negative about it you can at least do it in your lane, your tags not ours) I am still just riding the high of the possibilities. True, the unknown can make me nervous, and I will admit the group has to give Ashton and Fearne space (they're just excited, and with the bloody bridge hinting to be a final moon-based battle there is that sense of urgency) Imodna had nudges sure but they have been a bit heavy-handed and kinda chaperoned around them, Fearne and Ashton seldom get time alone, one can hope they can get that time with each other next episode.

[reality-detective]

Sen. Ron Johnson Shares the Most Censored Chart in Congressional History

Drug Adverse Event Comparison (01/01/1996 - 10/27/23):

Ivermectin - 4,265

HCQ - 28,823

Flu Vaccine - 220,346

Dexamethasone - 110,185

Tylenol - 136,079

Remdesivir - 9,290

COVID Vaccines - 1,605,764

Crazy Huh? 🤔

[cheezyharu]

*Slides into yer ask box*

Mmmmm Saint or Sinner?

The sole reason why I haven't designed this guy yet is because I keep getting 1 lost while trying to PM them (IT'S NOT EVEN A FAR. IT'S L O S T) (And so I still haven't PM SoS yet, welp :V)

[sunsetzer]

Rasmodius totally has the same vibes as Ardyn Izunia and I love that for him

[the-ephemeral-ethereal]

For our worst fears, like our greatest hopes, are not outside our powers, and we can come in the end to triumph over the former and to achieve the latter.

from In Search of Lost Time, Book 7: Finding Time Again by Marcel Proust