#and frustrating when it's difficult or expensive to import

[syncallio]

Excited to get some ink samples this week. I've drooled over Troublemaker Inks for years, but they're based in the Philippines and for a long time nobody in the US carried them. So I was very excited to learn that Vanness stocks them now.

Love love love shading inks. Troublemaker does dual-shaders. Not many brands do. Sailor is another, with their Manyo line. I have Manyo Hinoki and I love it.

[northopalshore]

♱ Mars in the ♱

Union persona chart

Mars in the Union (1585) persona chart tells you how you will pursue your significant other when you first meet. Even if one party shows more effort into the initial courting, it's still important to note that both need to show their interests and effort into forming a relationship as well (or it wouldn't be a relationship!) That is what we'll be looking at in this post. Please check your UPC Mars sign, house & degree.

୨୧ Please do not repost or reupload without consent ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔฅ🔉

⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀

Masterlist | Union persona chart Masterlist

Foreign spouse indicators | Union predictions | Attractive Spouse Indicators

`· . ୨୧⠀

Here are a few things to note before we get into it;

The 0° degree bares no significant meaning on its own but it does enhances (draws more attention to) whatever sign it's in or aspects that it makes.

Retrograde in this scenario can make one more reluctant to make a move, or you may second guess your efforts often, in some cases it may seem like you are avoidant at first or many things are distracting you from pursuing them

Conjuncting Sun you will do a lot to showcase your personality & best traits to them (trying to impress them with how cool you are ). Persistence is also a common theme with you.

Conjuncting Mercury a lot of your efforts may be shown online i.e texting, face time

Conjuncting Moon there may be a lot of emotional back & forth on your end, like emotional crash outs at times or overwhelming feelings, feeling divided

Square Union asteroid meeting up with them may be difficult & may require special (more) effort on your part.

It's not how your spouse will pursue you, but how you will pursue your spouse.

♱ Aries (°1,°13,°25) & The 1st House

With this placement, you are most likely the more active pursuer in this relationship. Being the one to actually go by "Don't chase, attack" (lmaoo). You can crave their attention, and always have a way to intercept yourself into their lives or plans. Tagging along to trips or something. Your whole body will show that you are interested. Trouble comes from personal problems, time management, acting without consent or planning (doing what you want instead of what your partner may want), rivalry, short temper, assuming things according to your desires, lack of patience, selfishness and ignorance.

♱ Taurus (°2,°14,°26) & The 2nd House

Okay, money is definitely something you will be using to get closer to them. You could spend money on them or to get to them (especially if they live away from you), you'll be spending money on your own expenses just to be closer to them for example. Frequenting a place they work (as a customer). Buying them gifts, making sure you look good and attractive when you're going to see them; you want your makeup or outfit to look perfect every time. Looking like a catch to get them to want you more (lol). Arguments or hardships on your end come from money (or a lack of money), stubbornness, selfishness & a sense of responsibility.

note: similar effect if aspecting venus

♱ Gemini (°3,°15,°27) & The 3rd House

Sharing your thoughts, starting conversations, non-stop talking, exploring new topics and asking what they think about it, sharing jokes & memes, asking for their opinion it's like every time you think of something randomly in the day, you'll talk about it with your partner later. This placement makes you especially curious about them; like you want to know what they're made of. You may ask them a lot of questions too or tell them a lot of things they might not know about to make you seem smart lol. Fights or frustrations stem from miscommunication, gossip, language barriers and mistrust or suspicion.

note: similar effect if aspecting mercury

♱ Cancer (°4,°16,°28) & The 4th House

Being more.. submissive in a way? Here, you will be showing them how vulnerable and flawed i.e human you are. You may allow them have some sort of personal view into your life and let them help you or guide you (letting down your walls for them). Showing them a more relaxed and needy part of yourself. You may start to have disagreements or arguments when your emotions go haywire or when you (both) let your personal feelings get the best of you i.e pettiness, emotional attachments, clinginess.

note: similar effect if aspecting moon

♱ Leo (°5,°17,°29) & The 5th House

You could rely on a lot mutual attraction and wild fun when pursuing your partner romantically. A love for the arts and physical thrills; you'll want you partner to associate you with a good time. Seggs. There could be a lot of sex aha, Ya Nasty. (Though it's not completely limited to that sort of fun, there is a natural inclination to be drawn into physical pleasure for the sake of it). If you do argue, it's likely about the things you find enjoyable, children & inflated egos.

note: similar effect if aspecting jupiter

♱ Virgo (°6,°18) & The 6th House

You guessed it. They'll be part of your routine. You may try to find ways to have them in your daily schedule, and really make an effort to get closer to them; keeping promises to meet, making plans. However, with Virgo I find that you are more cautious when pursuing your partner. You will overthink, and be more observant. You might stalk their socials as well lol. Only because you are serious about pursuing something with them. You'll show a lot of effort, and if they show it first you will make sure that it's reciprocated. You reassure your partner, and that's usually what they notice most about you when "pursuing" them! If arguments occur, they will usually be centered around your work i.e having no time to be with them, conflicting schedules.

note: similar effect if aspecting saturn

♱ Libra (°7,°19) & The 7th House

You will charm your partner with your down to earth, high morality, well mannerisms, fairness and poised argumentative qualities. You will always make sure you look good around them, and may keep a certain look (*cough Flyn Rider-esque) that you are sure will knock them straight outta the park. You may also prefer to take them out on traditionally aesthetic but also thought provoking dates often ; movies, museum & galleries. The key for you is debating. What you may argue (or what causes tension) comes from the topic of your debates itself, work or professionalism or marriage & commitment (the idea of it).

note: similar effect if aspecting Venus

♱ Scorpio (°8,°20) & The 8th House

You might be taking a lot of risks for them, or doing something you aren't supposed to just to get closer to your (FS/this ) partner. Illicit affairs, secret rendezvous, disobedience ( going against someone's wishes to be with them) or even meeting up somewhere without telling anyone often. Something about it is quite scandalous. If fights occur, it will be related to jealousy, exes, trauma & petty rivalry (either between the both of you or with someone else).

note: similar effect if aspecting pluto

♱ Sagittarius (°9,°21) & The 9th House

In order to woo your partner, you will likely be taking them out to interesting places that are fun, spontaneous and are able to showcase your intelligence, optimism and reliability. You'll likely be doing a lot to impress them with your broad mindset and talents. You'll want to show your partner that you are both a do-er & a thinker. Perhaps you have many capable qualities that you wish to share with them to make 'em like you more. In terms of arguments that you may face or obstacles it's likely going to be related to your studies, language, passport, citizenship or some sort of seniority (one being older or of a higher status than the other).

note: similar effect if aspecting mercury

♱ Capricorn (°10,°22) & The 10th House

As a means to keep your partners attention on you, you may show them how reliable, stable and useful you are. You could show them a lot of (new) things or take the lead / control when you get together; being the person they can rely on. You could do things for them, purchase things for them or be the one to help them make decisions . Your career, father, control issues or public image may cause friction in your relationship and you may argue or feel reluctant due to it.

note: similar effect if aspecting saturn

♱ Aquarius (°11,°23) & The 11th House

You'll be letting them into your social circle, getting to know their friends and also hanging out with them. Showing them something new. You believe the way to their heart is to know them as a person. You'll enjoy a lot of interesting conversations, calling them, texting them and just hanging out. You'll show them how different you are compared to the people they've dated before for example. Showing them how smart, quirky, fun & genuine you can be. Arguments stem from selfishness, freedom, time spent with friends, erratic feelings, comparison, lack of compassion & disingenuousness.

note: similar effect if aspecting uranus

♱ Pisces (°12,°24) & The 12th House

You might travel to your partner a lot, being the one to come to them or invite them over to you. I find that with this placement, you will do a lot just to be able to be around them or closer to them; sacrificing anything that needs to be sacrificed i.e money, time, energy (usually energy). You'll try your best with this placement. In a way, you want to appear "cool" to them, but on a slower pace compared to Leo. Arguments, frustrations come from misunderstandings, illusions, fears, something being hidden from you, long distance, being ignored or left on read.

note: similar effect if aspecting neptune

˚₊‧꒰ა paid readings available ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

support?

Thank you for reading, hope this helps ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ♡

@northopalshore

@northopalshore union persona chart 2025 all rights reserved. Disclaimer

[what-even-is-thiss]

I’m about to combine my religion posting with my socialist posting for a second.

I’ve never tried to hide on this blog that I’m fairly religious. My faith is a big part of my life. I’m not here to convert anybody but I’m not interested in hiding that aspect of myself either.

Anyways I’ve been thinking about what I want from my life and wealth and how that relates to Christianity and the kind of economic system I live in.

Because in many ways pure capitalism and Christianity are kind of opposed if you really think about it. Any form of hoarding wealth and Christianity are opposed to each other if you really think about it. Yet it’s also been used as a reason to hoard wealth.

Jesus often spoke against hoarding wealth. He encouraged tax collectors to only collect what was due and not skim extra off the top. He said a poor person who gives a little money has given more than a rich person who gives a lot. He said it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than enter the kingdom of heaven. And I’ve heard interpretations that that “eye of the needle” thing was actually in reference to a kind of very small door in city walls or something but point is, it’s difficult.

Then you get the invention of something like prosperity gospel. The idea that if you’re doing well it’s because you’re blessed. You get politicians working for the rich or who themselves are rich making a show of being pious while also harming the poor.

So I’ve been rattling this around in my brain. The culturally dominant religion in the western world teaches against the hoarding of wealth. Yet that same culture also puts the wealthy up on a pedestal and protects them.

I watched this video once about this guy who personally decided to donate half of his earthly wealth to charity because of his Christian faith. He wasn’t trying to tell other people they should do this. Just talking about his own spiritual journey and why he decided to do that. He sold half of his possessions, sold his house and downsized, really went through the wringer figuring out what’s really actually important to him and this guy wasn’t even particularly wealthy. He was maybe middle class. This was a huge sacrifice he made.

I’ve been tossing around in my brain how the same belief system could could create both that guy and prosperity gospel.

We get stories all the time about how the real treasure was the friends we made along the way, right? About letting go, about being happy with less, about sharing, about the dangers of greed. Sometimes we even get those stories from the organizations and people looking to hoard more and more. Disney comes to mind. The real treasure is family. And also all this money we made off of toy sales.

I feel like society is trying to push us towards a very specific definition of “success” while also wrestling with the reality that even if you aren’t Christian you live in a society with Christian ideals and one of those big Christian ideals is supposed to be charity. Not hoarding wealth at the expense of others.

Like this idea of being happy with just enough is supposed to be a message for the rich, right? Yet it seems to have been twisted around the other way. If you’re sick it’s your fault, you didn’t try hard enough, you didn’t rise and grind hard enough. Even though Jesus helped those who were suffering whether their suffering was their own fault or not, and often he rejected the notion that a person’s suffering was their own fault.

I know the answer to this disconnect is that the rich can afford to twist the narrative in their favor. That religion is a tool that can be used for both great good and great harm.

It’s still frustrating though. That I feel like I’m socialist partially because of my faith but those same messages that inspire people who aren’t even that well off to give away half of their earthly possessions are used as an excuse by others to justify bleeding the poor dry.

It’s something I’ve been sitting with when it comes to what I want with my life. It’s a cliche I guess in some Christian circles that you shouldn’t want what society wants but I’m starting to think that’s true. At least to some extent. I think I don’t want success by society’s definition of it. God asks you to not hoard your wealth. God instructs you to make time for rest. Yet society has told you to climb that ladder of success and never rest, never sleep until you get there.

Yeah, I think I’m going to rest. I think I reject the idea that success needs to involve money. I think that hoarding wealth is bad. And you don’t need to be Christian to think those things obviously but my faith leads me at least to these conclusions. However it hasn’t lead everyone to them, clearly. It’s a contradiction of values we all have to live with for now, unfortunately. Hopefully one day we can all live out the things we preach but for now that day seems very far away.

[gingerteafairy]

𝖿𝗅𝗂𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 (𝗅𝗎𝗄𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋)

Luke Cooper called you for a date, and you have no idea why you agreed—except maybe because he's ridiculously charming in that annoying way. Honestly? Pretty privilege was real, and Luke was a living proof.

tags n warnings: fluff, teasing. word count: +800 request by @ikkyfics, loved to write it<3

"Have you chosen something?" Luke asked, his eyes wide with playful innocence, framed by the mess of curls that always seemed to tumble over his forehead. He had a way of looking at you like you were the most important thing in the world, even in moments as trivial as this.

You glanced up from the menu, still trying to make sense of the mountain of choices. "Not yet," you replied, your voice soft, eyes scanning the options. "There’s so many to choose from." You frowned slightly, feeling the weight of the prices. Damn, the food here was expensive. Did he even have money to pay for it? Like, he literally does absolutely nothing on his job.

Luke shifted in his seat, his leg bouncing lightly under the table as if his impatience had a rhythm of its own. "Uh… okay," he said, looking away for a brief moment, before his eyes darted back to you with mischief in them. "How about now?"

"No, Luke. I didn’t," you sighed, rubbing your temples as if the decision were the most difficult one you’d ever had to make. "I’m between chicken and fries, or salad and beef. They're both good options," you explained, your voice trailing off as you pondered the choices. You could feel his eyes on you, waiting for an answer that wouldn’t come easily.

"Oh, right. Take your time." He smiled, his lips curling upward into a grin that was equal parts charming and annoying, like he knew exactly how to test your patience.

You had met Luke Cooper a month ago at the office, and from the moment he opened his mouth, you knew he was going to be trouble. He was relentless with his jokes, particularly pranking Angela and Kevin, and while you’d never admit it to anyone, those pranks made him a kind of sunshine in the office chaos. The way he spoke with that hint of mischief, the little glint of humor in his eyes—it was hard to resist. His messy brown curls framed his face just right, and his pink plump lips always curled into that crooked smile. Honestly? Pretty privilege was real, and Luke was living proof.

"How about now?" he asked again, a soft giggle escaping his lips. His eyes sparkled with a familiar mischief, knowing full well that you were probably getting annoyed.

"God’s sake, Luke," you huffed, frustration slipping into your tone. "Can you just let me choose? Jesus, You're so annoying."

For a moment, the playful energy between you two vanished. Luke, usually quick to laugh at your reactions, fell quiet. His lips pressed together in a soft line, and the giggle that had been bubbling in him seemed to fade. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice unexpectedly serious.

You blinked, taken aback by his sudden change in tone. He rarely apologized, especially not when he’d been the one causing the chaos. You reached out, your fingers lightly brushing his knuckles in an attempt to reassure him. "It’s okay, Luke," you said, your voice gentler now. "Sorry about the… the scream, okay? You’re not annoying."

He looked at you with those big eyes, nodding slowly. A small, sheepish smile returned to his face. "But hey," he said, a bit of his old playful energy creeping back. "You got your options now?"

You sighed and stared at the menu, trying to decide between the same two items again. Luke watches you, his brow furrowed. "You know… I think you’re gonna choose the chicken and fries," he says, eyes gleaming.

"You think so?"

"I just feel like it’s the kind of thing that speaks to you," he says, leaning back in his chair dramatically.

You pause, looking over at him. "Yeah, well, I think you’re right," you say slowly, before glancing at him with a mischievous grin.

"You always do know how to pick out the obvious ones." Luke smirks back. "You ate the same lunch for a month, miss chicken salad and orange juice."

“Have you decided?" the waiter asks, looking between you both.

You glance at Luke, who's already holding up two fingers in the air. "Chicken and fries. But also… salad?" Luke grins, "We'll take everything. Just bring us all the things and we’ll figure it out." The waiter laughs nervously, unsure whether Luke's joking or not, before walking off.

"See? Problem solved," Luke says with a wink.

"You’re lucky I'm not paying for this," you tease, shaking your head.

Luke leans in slightly, his grin turning a little softer, more sincere. "Well, if you were, I’d still be happy to let you treat me," he says, his voice low and playful. "But don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you with the best company you've ever had."

He gives you that smile again—the one that always seems to make everything a little brighter. You can’t help but roll your eyes, but there's warmth in your chest as you meet his gaze.

"You're really something else," you murmur, your smile gentle.

"And you're the best part of my evening."

taglist:

@cafekitsune divider

@ikkyfics

[creatingblackcharacters]

For a few years now, since I became aware of the concept, I've tried to impress upon my white friends that the culture-less state of being American whiteness relies on is A, a sad way to live; B, something that can and does lead to harm, including but not limited to cultural appropriation, and especially at the expense of Black people and culture; and C, something that is in their interest to try to escape from without performing said harm.

This has been a somewhat difficult idea to explain, but Sinners does it so flawlessly. It really gives white viewers the tools they need to understand not only that this type of harm exists, but also that they are quite capable of it. I'm often the friend who has to take people aside and be like, "heyy, you actually do capitalize the first letter of Indigenous, yes even in this context," and movies like Sinners make that kind of work so much easier.

This is not to say it is the responsibility of movies and such to educate audiences in this way of course, but when such a piece does come around, it can be a lot more accessible and thus more effective than, say, a textbook. To that end, do you know any other media that do a similar job of giving audiences the tools to make race and racism easier (if not less heavy or painful) to talk about?

Thank you for your help, and for running another accessible resource for learning about this stuff! I really appreciate what you do here.

Btw, while I am in your inbox--do you have any other media you want to hype up, whether or not they have to do with the topic at hand?

There is plenty of media about real world figures suffering under the violence of racism- Malcolm X, Fruitvale Station, When They See Us, Jasper, TX, 12 Years a Slave, Selma. None of those things are "easier" watches, but it does put the brutality in your face. I'm not sure how you could watch them and not get it. There are also documentaries- look up documentaries of the Black experience! Grass is Greener, Stamped, 13th, I Am Not Your Negro, LA 92.

I am averse to saying that fiction movies would necessarily make it easier or more accessible than a documentary telling you the facts straight up. Because even for Sinners, the movie didn't give you the tools, it gave you the symbolism- if you lacked the tools walking in (media comprehension and the base understanding of antiblackness and manifestations of white racism), then no, you didn't understand the movie- and a LOT of people have shown that they did not understand Sinners!

I will say that I have mixed feelings about this. A lot of Black people are very tired of Black trauma movies. Now, I do think it's important to recognize the violence in our history- it is CLEAR that we need to know and remember these things, to show that they happened and that we saw them! But I understand their frustration when it comes to questions like yours, where you want people to understand racism through being- and I hate to say it this way- entertained by our suffering. Because it's like... How many of these movies do we have to make, where we bleed and suffer and die on screen, and y'all still don't do anything after watching it? Why do you have to see fictional people suffering to understand, when the real ones don't move you? Why does it take a movie to enforce our humanity?

That's why you can show them these movies, but if they're not willing to watch the documentaries or do the reading, their efforts at antiracism will only go so far. Make sure you tell them that last bit I said, because it's something y'all need to think about.

[ropuszysko]

i am back to bitching and moaning bc holy fuck!!! i hate consumerism so much i will explode and die

whyyy every time i see some cool piece of clothing/jewellry, the first 2137 comments are "omg where did you buy it" or "liiink". when and where did we lost the ability to diy holy fuck, why people's first reaction is "i want to purchase this item". its been at least 7 years (and im only approaxhing 22) since i started to alter clothes/make accessories/thrift, minding my consumption of fashion and being vocal abt why its important, sending people tutorial, telling them how to do things, making things for them and i know a lot of my friends do the same. and yet. like come on, i teach diy to teenagers as a seasonal job. AND YET.

i want to bang my head against the wall, when i see yet another baby alt say things like "well, i dont have money to be goth/punk/whatever" and the first solution they think abt is "i will buy my whole closet off of shein/temu then" and not "hmmm ok im gonna try and make it". and no matter how many times you have the "hey actually buying shein is not only not really alt, but also bad for basically everyone involved and here's why and what to do instead" talk, SO MANY MORE COME UP. which like. dont get me wrong, i am not angry at these kids and hell, i do love teaching. but the sheer size of this phenomenon is just so frustrating to me.

especially that these AREN'T difficult skills. like if my mum and grandma were able to teach me how to sew and crochet at age 6 and by 18 i was able to mend most my clothes, use like 10 different creative technics, use a sewing machine and just look up resources online, if i needed them, im sure this isnt so out of reach for people. sewing machines maybe, as if you dont have someone close in your family to give you their vintage one (or like any other source ro get one), the market now is completely shit, but even these, there ARE classes and community centers (and if there arent hey, maybe its your call to action to try and establish something?).

and honestly these all are rhetorical questions, i do know the root causes and that really the only way to overcome this is to do what i do already but even louder and reach out even further. but i am SO tired and frankly frustrated. i hate late stage capitalism and the fact that this is literally one of the least important problems caused by it (tho it fuels a lot of the more urgent ones, bc for instance this shein shit comes from somewhere and is so cheap at someones expense yk).

[waywardstation]

PHIONE AKARI AU MASTERPOST

ABOUT THE AU:

On a solo expedition to find Manaphy gone wrong, Akari ends up being heart swapped with a phione. Stuck in this new, strange body, Akari finds her way back to Ingo and does her best to try and explain what happened, and that she needs his help... somehow. It's difficult to do so when trapped in the body of an incredibly limited Pokémon that's under a foot tall though, and Ingo's far too preoccupied with trying to find her that he doesn't even realize she’s right there with him.

WRITINGS:

>>AO3 COLLECTION HERE<<

Strange Passenger - 1k words

Ingo goes looking for Akari in the coastlands after she’s declared missing. A strange Pokémon accompanies him, one Ingo doesn’t yet notice is awfully similar to Akari herself.

Bucket - 1.3k words

Ingo needs a bucket to carry his small passenger around in. Zisu helps him find one.

Out There Somewhere - 4k words

Akari is frustrated that she can't seem to communicate with Ingo, no matter how hard she tries.

Forgot - 9k words

Ingo is pushing himself too hard and forgetting important responsibilities. Kana is not happy dealing with this.

Snatched - 4k words

A flock of persistent Murkrow go after Akari when both herself and Ingo's guards are down.

Cold to the Touch - 2.4k words

As a phione, it's hard for Akari to find anything fun or entertaining to do. But she still manages, even if it's at Ingo's expense.

[slaythebirdman]

does the peanut choir in Quiets head become too much? Does he ever just stare into space engaging in the latest nonsensep while the princess can only wonder what is going on in there? and conversely does the princess ever have times when all of her facets pulling in different directions become too much?

💗 the times where the princess interrupts the voices because birdie has been silent for a really long time were sooo funny. i understand that the game can't make that joke every single time the voices go on and on, but the peanut choir really cannot keep quiet, can they?

(as a side note, what the hell is going on with the poll? why is smitten so popular? i honestly cannot stand him. yellow and i will be posting our individual tier lists for the voices at some point, and smitten is easy at the very bottom for me. if anyone could explain the hype, i'd appreciate it)

The voices can be... distracting.

- The Voices™ are great, really, don't get him wrong. They all mean the best, even if they have wildly different opinions on pretty much everything. But with those differing opinions comes many, many, many arguments, and while it's possible for the Quiet to tune them all out, he feels kind of bad about leaving them alone.

- Sometimes he can't help but engage in the conversation, especially when they often involve himself or an important decision. Usually nowadays it's all trivial matters, and the Quiet finds silent entertainment in sitting back and listening to them all bicker about proper grammar or music tastes.

-The Quiet is pretty decent at responding to the voices in his head, though he will sometimes slip up. He might be washing the dishes and the Princess will walk by and hear him mutter, "This plate was too expensive, I'm not turning it into a shiv."

- There are times when he doesn't realize, however, that the Princess is standing nearby--often right in front of him--with a questioning look, playing her game of "How Long Will it Take for the Bird to Notice Me." The Quiet has before emerged from his own head to a hand waving in his face, to a card game being all set up and ready to go, to hats being stacked on his head. The Princess finds it entertaining at least and doesn't seem to mind too much when he spaces out mid-conversation.

- Sometimes she asks what was going on in there. Sometimes the Quiet can't answer without hours and hours of context. When that's the case, the Princess tells him that she's lost interest.

- The few times where the arguing becomes too much and he can't help but shut them out, he feels awful. It's just too much for his head to handle sometimes. The Princess knows that the Quiet needs some dim lights, cuddles, soft kisses, and whispered reassurances. The voices are all pretty apologetic when he finally tunes back into them and are quieter for a while after.

- A few of the voices have gotten to know the signs of the Quiet reaching his breaking point. Usually it's the Narrator who notices first, though there are times when he's too caught up in an argument to realize. The Paranoid or the Cold are the most likely to notice after the Narrator. The Hero is... bad at realizing, but once he's made aware, he is one of the most active in getting everyone to cool down or at least be quieter.

The facets can be overwhelming.

- The Princess does sometimes experience something similar, though instead of voices in her head, she gets strong, conflicting emotions. She has to sit out and take a breather lest she blow up at the Quiet out of frustration like she used to, allow herself to listen to and feel all of her emotions, understand what they're trying to tell her. It's exhausting and takes a lot of mental energy.

- Some facets will overtake others. It's easier for the Quiet to tell if facets like the Beast or the Witch are the most dominating, and he's quickly able to advise the Princess to take a deep breath and take some time to herself. Ones like the Prisoner and the Damsel, though, are more difficult to detect and are scary in their own right.

- She'll often disappear into the bedroom and close all the curtains to lay in the darkness in silence. The Quiet knows not to disturb her, waiting for her to come back on her own time, offering a hug, a cup of tea, a game, or an ear if she needs it.

- The Princess still loses her cool sometimes, angry tears streaming down her cheeks as she races to the bedroom and slams the door shut. She's incredibly ashamed and apologetic after she's taken time to collect herself, and the Quiet is understanding and reassuring.

...

- They're both aware of what each other needs by now, able to offer the right kind of support without really needing to ask. It's not always easy, but it's them.

[gryficowa]

The most difficult thing about boycotting Google is that it is everywhere, seriously, it has bought YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, but if we do not use these platforms, the chance that someone will find out about the genocide that is taking place is too small, so unfortunately, we have to accept that there are things that cannot be boycotted, no matter how much we want to boycott them, alternatives to, for example, YouTube almost do not exist, or they are based on cryptocurrencies, because if social networking sites exist as alternatives, then we have a problem, YouTube is the dominant platform, so any information about Israel's crimes has a greater chance of getting through, unfortunately, YouTube was bought by Google at the very beginning of its existence, so Google gets something and that's the worst

The second problem is Intel, because it is usually found in cheaper devices (Notebooks), unfortunately, only those who have money can afford an alternative, seriously, many alternatives are expensive as hell, because even when buying smartphones you have more options to choose from, in notebooks it uses mainly Intel, which can be frustrating, because the Intel company is in the occupied Palestinian lands, so yes, the colonizers get money and that's the worst

Unfortunately, these two are the most difficult to boycott due to many factors, because in the case of food and smartphones you have a lot of alternatives, but here there are few of them, do you want to talk about Palestine so that people know about what Israel is doing? Use YouTube, you have a greater chance of reaching, you want to play and have equipment for e.g. graphics, but you can't afford it? Laptop with Intel

Seriously, many things can be boycotted, but these two are the hardest (Okay, Intel may be easier, but Google? Well, not so much)

I mainly use laptops (Because smartphones irritate me, yes, writing is a nightmare), so that's why I say I have a problem with Intel, I use a laptop, I listen to music on it, I look for information, etc…

People who use smartphones may think my problem is stupid, I know, it's strange, but I seriously don't like touch screens (phones used to have keyboards, I'm a zoomer), every time I write, I keep pressing the wrong letter and so on endlessly, which for me is irritating (I have ASD, risk of meltdown), so I prefer to avoid this type of problem, laptops, at least they haven't lost their keyboards, unfortunately, as I mentioned, the problem starts when you use notebooks, and they use Intel, alternatives almost do not exist, and when they do, they are expensive, which can be a big limitation, because if you don't want to use Intel, you can't , and laptops have a built-in graphics card, so you're screwed, I have laptops because I don't have room for a PC, so even if I wanted to build a computer, it's impossible

Unfortunately, I am doomed to Intel, especially when the laptop starts to die, which will force me to buy a new one (Because not everything can be replaced), and therefore, give money to Intel, which, as I mentioned, is in occupied territories, standard laptops are not enough, because I draw in digital and play games, something that an ordinary laptop cannot handle (I had it, so I know)

So if you can boycott it's ok, if you can't boycott it's ok too, these two are at the top of the hardest things to boycott, so it's nothing bad that you can't do it, the most important thing is that you boycott everything else (Including Eurovision where the tumblr people failed)

[weirdmarioenemies]

I am going to rank even more of the Super Mario Galaxies and none of you can stop me

Yeah! There's a lot of these things!

Welcome to part 3/6 of me ranking all of the Super Mario Galaxies! Today we're gonna start tackling the A-tier galaxies, and since this is the biggest tier, we're splitting it into two parts, with one half this week and the other half the next! If you missed the previous posts, here's the low tiers, and here's the B-tiers!

I feel obligated to remind everyone this series is happening Every Sunday until we run out of galaxies to talk about, and also that the opinions in this post are my own and do not necessarily reflect my employer or coworkers. Spikey cried when I put Gold Leaf Galaxy in the B-tier. I'm sorry, Spikey. I didn't mean it personally, I swear!

Per usual, rankings begin below the cut!

50. Bowser's Star Reactor

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: A

This is just a really solid Bowser Galaxy, you know? I think what makes this one stand out to me is just how well I feel it takes advantage of Super Mario Galaxy's game mechanics. The beginning segment with the winding multicolor path around a Black Hole always stood out to me as a really memorable sequence, and this is actually the first Galaxy we're covering that utilizes Gravity Walls! Yippee! I like Gravity Walls a lot. Makes for memorable 2D platforming sections. Expect to see more of them in this tier.

I think the atmosphere in this Galaxy is pretty top-notch. Something all the Bowser Galaxies have in this game that I really, really like is the crumbling staircase you have to jump up as you approach Bowser, especially with how the stairs are just a little too big to walk, and especially with the optional health upgrades you can grab at the expense of your time. Really good sequence. I think for being the first Bowser Galaxy in these games, it stands out to me a bit more in this galaxy in particular. First impressions can be important, people!

That being said, I will be upfront and say I might've overrated this one a little bit when making the list. But give me a break! There's 91 of these things! Do you think I'm gonna have an easy time putting each and every one in the exact correct place? My gut told me this belongs in A-tier, and by the time I was re-assessing it, the B-tier post was already on the blog. But I'll also say that if my gut told me this belongs in A-tier, then that probably says this galaxy is doing something right.

49. Rolling Coaster Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

You know, it's weird that for being such an Iconic Mario Location, Rainbow Road pretty much never shows up in the mainline games. There's usually some sort of Star World or Special Zone, but rarely are they actually Rainbow Road Like The One From Mario Kart.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the rare exceptions, though, bringing us Rainbow Road in the form of a Star Ball level! Personally, I like this a bit more as a final, challenging version of the minigame more than Rolling Gizmo Galaxy, because it leans a bit harder into what makes these levels fun. Not only are you going to be building momentum, it's almost essential that you keep that momentum to make some of these really sharp turns! Plus it also offers more challenging side paths For Super Players, which happen to be where the Comet Medal goes because of course it is.

On the subject of the Comet Medal: the Purple Coin star here is BRUTAL and I'm not sure whether I like it or not, but I think it makes sense for it to be given this is one of the last galaxies in the game. You're given a little leeway, but not much, since you have to grab 100 and there's 110 coins total! It's really difficult, and sometimes frustrating because of the control scheme (there's a reason this is towards the bottom of A-tier), but I don't know if I'd say it's unfair, and otherwise this galaxy gives me a lot to like.

48. Honeybloom Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Now this is what I'm talking about! A galaxy that takes advantages of the Bee Mushroom's mechanics while also having a solid identity of its own beyond "Honeyhive but different", I like it!

I think it was a really smart idea to make a 2D platforming level with the Bee Mushroom. Its mechanics work surprisingly well in 2D, and it serves as a nice way to familiarize the player with the Bee Mushroom before letting them use it in 3D a bit later on. I do think the powerup is better suited to 3D gameplay, but Honeybloom Galaxy is a fun change of pace I can always appreciate.

Lots of fun segments here, too! I especially love the segment with all the Spindleburrs and Trapdragons at the end (both enemies I feel like this blog should cover at some point if we haven't already). Creates this fun feeling of urgency. The bits where you bounce around on the giant grapes are also pretty good, and a fun way to show off the Bee Mushroom's flight mechanics.

Shoutout to the one mission in this galaxy where you just wall jump for a minute to grab a star. I think it's one of the easiest missions in the entire series but it is funny so it's okay.

I only realized in hindsight that I never made a "Bee-Tier" joke for Honeyhop Galaxy or Gold Leaf Galaxy so uhhhh Hey, what's this Galaxy doing here? It clearly belongs in Bee-Tier!

There. Nailed it. (I stand by it being an A-Tier galaxy don't worry)

47. Throwback Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

waow... so freaken retro...

I know I've been a bit harsh on recycled content, and trust me, I'll go ahead and say that's probably why this one didn't land highter, but I also feel like a one-to-one remake of a mission from Super Mario 64 has a bit of a different vibe, you know? Feels less like filler, more like a fun homage to a previous game. Helps that Whomp's Fortress is just a really good level in general, that fits pretty well in this game. Something like Bob-omb Battlefield might have been more iconic, but Whomp's Fortress was already basically a floating planet! It fits right in!

Though that raises an important question, are Throwback Galaxy and Whomp's Fortress one and the same? People have always asked what the paintings in Super Mario 64 represent like, in-universe, if they're paintings of real locations that warp you to those places, or if the worlds only exist in the context of the paintings, which transport you to a sort of fantasy land... Is the painting of Whomp's Fortress a portal to a far-away galaxy? Or is Mario set in an infinite universe where this sort of oddity is merely inevitable? These are the questions that keep us Weird Mario Scholars up at night.

I think the new additions to Throwback are really neat too, the new-and-improved Whomp King boss fight is such a fun way to make a fight that's both familiar and fresh, and the second mission with the Silver Stars manages to create a fun new experience in this familiar location. It's not like they just ported over Whomp's Fortress and called it a day, the extra level of care put into Throwback Galaxy ends up elevating it quite a bit, to me.

46. Sky Station Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

We're halfway through the rankings! Are you enjoying this? You're probably enjoying this if you bothered to read this far. But if you're not... please find something better to do with your time! Life is better when you're doing things you actually enjoy doing! Mod Hooligon's Tip!

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah, Super Mario Galaxies. This is the first galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and it's a pretty good one. It's no Good Egg Galaxy, but I still enjoy it, I think it's solid as an introduction to the game's mechanics with some memorable segments, like those asteroids with the weird gravity, the rolling stone platforms around the cylindrical planet, and the part where you get to destroy all the Banzai Bills with a star. It also has the boss fight against Peewee Piranha! Which First Boss Piranha Plant is your favorite? Petey Piranha vs. Dino Piranha vs. Peewee Piranha Splatfest, coming soon!

This galaxy's music from the first mission is like, the main theme of Super Mario Galaxy 2, but honestly I like the music in the second mission way more. Feels grander and more cohesive to me. Actually, the second mission feels more cohesive in general... Really leans into that "Sky Station" theme. I like it!

45. Spin-Dig Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Lots of the early-game galaxies in Super Mario Galaxy 2 are dedicated to introducing the game's new power-ups, and Spin-Dig Galaxy is one of such galaxies, built around the Spin Drill. Here's a Joke for you: Why did the Mario use the Spin Drill to dig through a planetoid? To get to the other side! Yeah, I don't get it either.

The Spin Drill might not be the strongest addition of Galaxy 2's new power-ups due to its limited moveset (dig hole), but it does do a pretty good job taking advantage of these games' existing gravity mechanics, which Spin-Dig Galaxy is more than happy to lean into. It makes for fun tests of your spacial awareness, building puzzles around having you figure out where you'll end up after tunneling straight through each planet's surface, (though the game usually has some well-placed dirt blocks or craters to help you figure it out). Unlike Earth, there's no water here so the answer will never be "The Ocean".

The missions here are pretty solid too. Digga-Leg is no Megaleg, but still makes for a fun boss built around using your drill at the right place with the right timing, and I like the Silver Star mission here quite a bit, where they're all buried underground on a large, rectangular planet. Consistently fun all around!

44. Yoshi Star Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Yoshi! Everyone loves Yoshi except for the people who don't. But I'm not "people who don't" so needless to say, I like his galaxy. Yoshi is one of the big New Features in Galaxy 2, so it makes sense they'd design one of the first galaxies in the game around showing him off.

And to that extent, I think they do a pretty good job! The first planet is one of the bigger planets in Galaxy 2, and it has all the stuff you need to get acquainted with Yoshi. Lots of fruits and enemies to eat, mud that slows down Mario but not Yoshi, a Smeech (so you know that there's enemies that specifically target Yoshi), etc. I feel like I'm saying Yoshi a lot in this section. Almost as much as The Dinosaur Himself. Yoshi Yoshi.

Anything not shown off in the first planet is generally explored in the rest of the galaxy, like enemies that Yoshi needs to pull back to eat, those weird flower things you lick to gain height, and enemies you can fire back as projectiles. They don't show off the Yoshi Power-ups here, but those get their own galaxies generally.

Really, I appreciate Yoshi Star for balancing being a good tutorial, while also still just being plain fun if you're already familiar with the game. It plays a really nice balancing act of showing off all the intricacies of Yoshi's moveset without being too handholdy, meaning it accomplishes all of its goals without ever feeling like a drag on replays.

43. Haunty Halls Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

There are g-g-g-ghosts in this g-g-g-galaxy, and I gotta say, I think that's g-g-g-great! I'll stop now. Haunty Halls is a galaxy that sorta ends up living in the shadow of the Cooler Ghost Galaxies, because there's a few of them and the others get really good, but it's still a pretty great time in its own right. What can I say? "Ghost" as it turns out is just a really solid theme to build a galaxy around.

Compared to the other ghost galaxies, Haunty Halls is a bit more linear, which I think knocks it down a little in my book, but it's not like the galaxy doesn't take advantage of that fact. The galaxy has some nice platforming challenges along moving floors, where you have to keep on pace with the path and avoid hitting the dark matter walls, and when you're being chased by Big Boos or Cosmic Clones, it means there's not a lot of room to hide, which lets this galaxy keep up the tension a bit.

This is also the introduction of the Bulb Berry and not the introduction of Mattermouths, both facts you would be familiar with if you read the last post. Everything I said about the Bulb Berry there still applies here, though as its introduction, this one tends to be a bit more forgiving. There's Bulb Berries all over the place in that mansion! That being said, I still appreciate the optional question mark blocks you can try and hit while worrying about the timer. Fun optional challenges like that are always appreciated here!

42. Battle Belt Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

I'm realizing how much of this post has been dedicated to Super Mario Galaxy 2. As I mentioned, this game is remarkably consistent. Most of its galaxies cluster around the A-tier. In general, compared to the first game's bigger missions, they tend to be a bit less elaborate and more linear, but as a result they also tend to get the most out of their concepts when compared to the smaller ones. Battle Belt is a really good example of this design philosophy, I think. It's simple, it's straightforward, it has an idea and is determined to COMMIT to it.

Battle Belt Galaxy serves as a tour of the game's various Weird Mario Enemies, giving each enemy their own planetoid, and leaving it to you to figure out how to defeat them. It sticks to that concept pretty much to the very end, only maybe deviating for the secret Fire Gobblegut boss fight, and even then, that's still a new spin on a familiar foe so it doesn't really feel out of place here. On one hand, you could argue that Battle Belt feels a bit repetitive because of this, and to some extent it is, but the enemies and their respective planets are varied enough that it rarely ends up feeling dull to me.

I also appreciate how this galaxy is so late in the game. It's not the hardest galaxy in Galaxy 2, but it ends up feeling a bit like a pop quiz, testing your familiarity with each enemy and if you remember how to defeat each one. And on that note, I really love that this galaxy gets a Daredevil Comet. That's usually reserved for boss fights, but using it for a fight against several small foes makes it feel a lot more unique.

41. Shiverburn Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Admittedly, this galaxy kinda always struck me as "Freezeflame Galaxy's less cool younger brother", but I don't know if that's really fair to Shiverburn. I mean, it's not an inaccurate statement of what this galaxy is, but I think it makes this galaxy sound a lot weaker than it actually is, because it certainly brings some fun new ideas to the table even with the shared theme, and unlike Freezeflame, which sort of saves the "Hot and Cold Collide" theme for the final mission, called "Hot and Cold Collide," Shiverburn gives you that theme right out the gate. I appreciate that!

It leads to some fun segments like at the beginning, where you have to carefully traverse around a lava pool before freezing it, turning the whole thing into a skating rink, or the segment where flaming meteors create pools of lava in the ice. I kinda wish the Ice Flower was in this game, I think this galaxy could make good use of it, though we do get the Cloud Flower, which I won't complain about. It gets used for maybe the toughest Green Star in the entire game.

I also really like the Prince Pikante boss fight, which does a lot better as a twist on King Kaliente's fight than the King Kaliente rematch in the first game. The icy floor makes for a unique boss arena, since you're gonna be spinning to deflect the coconuts, which puts you in Ice Skating mode, which is a bit more mobile but also more difficult to control, which makes the fact you're fighting an octopus in a speedy tank that creates lava pools all the more hectic and enjoyable.

And because I feel inclined to mention them, this is the home of the Hell Valley Sky Trees. Apparently they're named after a place in Japan called Hell Valley, which has hot springs surrounded by snow. Neat!

40. Beat Block Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Now THIS is how you do an uncomplicated one-off gimmick galaxy! The first game kinda struggled with these, but I feel the sequel generally fares a lot better in this regard, with more unique gimmicks and more elaborate layouts.

Beat Blocks (also known as Beep Blocks in later installments) are such a fun level gimmick. So fun we apparently have a post on them, but don't ask me where it came from. You can ask me where Beat Blocks come from though, because they come from here! And I think they're a pretty fun gimmick! This is a galaxy that really makes you get in the groove of the music, alternating where the solid ground is every couple measures. As you'd probably expect from a galaxy like this, it slowly becomes more and more elaborate, making the non-Beat Block ground more and more sparse until you're collecting Silver Stars on a pyramid made entirely out of Beat Blocks with no other ground to stand on.

Did Beep Block Skyway in 3D World kinda eat this galaxy's lunch with a cooler take on the same gimmick? Yeah, but all great gimmicks gotta start somewhere. We needed Beat Block Galaxy to run so Beep Block Skyway could run but like, really really fast.

It kinda bothers me that the Comet mission is called "Silver Stars in Double Time" when the Beat Blocks are actually moving four times faster, with only a single beat between alternations instead of two measures. It's a good mission I'm just bothered by the name.

39. Fleet Glide Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Oh yeah this one's BAD ASS!

So much so that I had to drop a PG-rated swear to talk about it! Fleet Glide Galaxy seems to exist to fill the niche that the Trial Galaxies did in the first game, providing a difficult version of an earlier-introduced motion control minigame not for the faint of heart. It even follows the same naming convention in Japanese, being called "Challenge Glider Galaxy"! Neato!

Fleet Glide Galaxy is pretty difficult, but in a way I like, where it feels like a solid test of what you've learned earlier. Lots of narrow obstacles to weave between, enemies like Magmarrghs, Thwomps, and Undergrunt Gunners blocking your way, and much like Wild Glide Galaxy, an optional challenge of gliding through five rings to grab this galaxy's Comet Medal. The whole thing also takes place on a BATTLESTATION ROCKETSHIP, which feels like a pretty wild departure from the serene jungle scenery of the Wild Glide Galaxy.

In particular I love the bit at the end, where you have to make a mad dash for the escape before a large garage door closes in on you, all while narrowly dodging several tall pillars scattered throughout the room. Really, this one mostly made it so high on account of just how cool it feels to play through it. I can sort of give or take gliding with Fluzzard, but it's hard for me to play through Fleet Glide Galaxy without feeling a bit of an endorphin rush.

38. Fluffy Bluff Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

That's right! It's another Early-Game Super Mario Galaxy 2 Galaxy That Introduces A New Power-Up! As I said, there's a few of them. But Fluffy Bluff Galaxy gets a bit of an edge to me, since it introduces the Cloud Flower, which is such a great power-up, I think. Like I've mentioned before how much of a delight I think it is, but the mix of being able to create new platforms at will and the floatier physics makes for some really fun platforming.

Really, Fluffy Bluff Galaxy has a few things going for it. It's the first appearance of the Cloud Flowers, the first appearance of Whittles, the first appearance of The Chimp, lots of Super Mario Galaxy 2 hallmarks make their debut here. Let's be honest with ourselves: Super Mario Galaxy wouldn't be half the game it is if it didn't have a cool monkey wearing sunglasses that challenges you to... challenges.

Fluffy Bluff Galaxy, as you can probably expect, is on the easier side, but takes solid advantage of its new power-up, and is also just like, a really nice Environment. It feels a little more elaborate than a lot of places in Galaxy 2, and I'm chalking it up to the mountains. They're just a little extra set dressing that makes this place feel a lot more Robust to me.

37. Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Here we have what I consider the best of the Star Ball galaxies*, Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy! Is it worthy of the title of Masterpiece? Maybe not quite, but it's still really good. So good I moved it up like ten spots in the process of writing this post! Whenever I go to Rolling Masterpiece, I have a ball!

Rolling Masterpiece ends up feeling like the best of these missions to me, mostly in part to its fun and varied obstacles that take full advantage of the Star Ball's mechanics, and honestly it brings a lot of new things to the table too. Like, writing this made me realize this is the only Star Ball galaxy that has you rolling around a sphere. Feels weird they only did that once, given "running around spheres" is like, one of the main things Super Mario Galaxy does.

Rolling Masterpiece has a lot of fun taking mechanics from other galaxies, but recontextualizing them by using them in a Star Ball mission. Stuff like the Space Junk assembly blocks, the Flipswitches, and the wooden blocks being cut apart by saws aren't unique to this galaxy, but end up making really interesting obstacles here, and I think it helps to use mechanics the players are already familiar with so they have some idea of how to approach them. And even if you want something wholly original, you have the Silver Chomp grudge match at the end to look forward to.

*There is one more galaxy that uses the Star Ball that we haven't talked about yet, but it's not really a "Star Ball" galaxy. It'll be a while before we get to it.

36. Flip-Swap Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: A

Wrapping up today's list, we have another relatively simple galaxy built around a really solid gimmick that would continue to make regular appearances in the 3D Place Games. The sequel's Hungry Luma galaxies generally fare much better than the first game's.

The Red-and-Blue Flip-Swap Tiles are such a cool gimmick. The spin mechanic is so integral to Super Mario Galaxy's level design, that building a level around having to be more careful about where and when you use it ends up feeling brilliant, especially with how it escalates over time. Sure, you might want to spin jump over those electric fences, but be careful, or else you'll be taking the ground out from under you!

As the galaxy goes on, it continues to get better than better, particularly towards the end, which has a memorable segment where Chomps will appear out of portals, alternating between the red and blue tiles, making you time out which path is safer at which moment, and the end sequence, where there's tiles placed far enough apart that you instinctively want to spin jump, but doing so is a bad idea. They did such a good job designing this galaxy around its central gimmick, and I love it for that.

And unlike Beat Block, I think I do generally like this one more than its successors, even if Cakewalk Flip is the absolute funniest stage to do multiplayer on in 3D World. I also like how this galaxy allows for the optional challenge of beating it with only the red or blue tiles active! I've never tried it myself, but I know both are possible, which is really cool.

In conclusion:

And that marks it for today's post! Once again feel free to give your thoughts, as to where you agree and/or disagree! Sorry to that one person that wanted me to put both gliding galaxies in F-Tier. I like Fleet Glide Galaxy too much to do that, I hope you understand.

Next week, we'll cover the rest of the A-Tiers! I'll make sure to link it here when it goes live! Prob... probably.

(EDIT: It took two weeks but here you go!)

[justabirdy]

From the Feeder 5-17 to 5-23

I won't lie, I've had a rough week. Amidst multiple breaks of bad new in my life and getting sick, I've found myself in a funk. There's a chance I may not even have a job in the coming weeks or months, so the bird feeders and the livestream have been a comfort of mine and may even become more important as time progresses. 

But enough about hardship, lets look at some pretty birds and talk shop about the birdfeeder livestream. 

Our first new visitor of the week is in fact our turkey who finally decided it was worth coming all the way to the feeder.

Wild Turkey

I was also finally able to get photos of our House finches who made themselves right at home the past few days. 

House finch

Another exciting visitor that proved difficult to photograph was a Ruby-throated hummingbird that stopped by a few times just before dusk when my camera would have the most challenging time catching it.

Ruby-throated hummingbird

And finally, our surprise star visitor, at least in my book was in fact our Pileated woodpecker who decided to swoop in and make his presence known at both our suet blocks. I just happened to be lucky enough to be around and catch him both on a video clip and in photos below! I'm still stunned at how big they are. That also makes 4 species of woodpecker to visit now!

Pileated woodpecker

And of course we had some of our regulars! I'll add those to the bottom of this post. 

----------------------------

Stream Updates

Okay, we only made a few minor updates this week. Here's a rough breakdown of the improvements: 

Added a running timestamp to the stream to better help people look back through the stream to find things people may talk about in the chat. 

Moved the feeders slightly closer to the camera. This should help improve video quality while cameras are zoomed in. 

Investigated ways to lower the latency so there's not a 25 second lag between inputting a command in chat and seeing anything happen. (this frustrates me too since a bird may be gone by the time I zoom in or pull up the audio) 

The first two changes are simple quality of life, the last one is something where I want your feedback and input. The conclusion I've come to is that youtube will only allow ultra-low latency on videos that 1080p or less. If we dropped to 1080p we could have a lag of only 3-5 seconds at the expense of 4k. So which do you prefer? Less lag or 4k video. Please let me know and I'll take it into consideration.

Final Thing

One of these days when I'm not feeling sick, I'm thinking about doing a birdwatching livestream where we can all watch the bird feeders together and talk about the birds and behaviors they are showcasing. I'm by no means an expert, but I would enjoy sending a morning truly birdwatching with y'all. Let me know in a reply as well if this is of interest too

- Birdy

-----------------------------------

Check out the Interactive Livestream Here

Support me on Ko-Fi

-----------------------------------

White-breasted Nuthatch

Common Grackle

Indigo Bunting

Hairy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Mourning Dove

Red-winged Blackbird

Baltimore Oriole

American Goldfinch

Rose-breasted grosbeak

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

Brown Thrasher

Black-capped Chickadee

[cantstoplovingjude]

Underneath the Black Veil: Alfons Sylvatica Ch.2

This is from Ikemen Villains EN, Cybird owns everything.

Alfons: "Why do you think people want to have weddings, anyway?"

Kate: "Hmm?"

Alfons: "If they truly love each other, why go to all the trouble?"

Alfons: "It's expensive, takes a lot of work and causes all manners of frustration, so why bother with it?"

Kate: "That's awfully blunt, isn't it?"

(Still, he's got a point. I've never really thought about the point of having a wedding.)

Kate: "I'm sure there are various reasons."

Kate: "Like wanting to look your best in front of each other, or wanting to share your special day with family and friends."

Kate: "But probably the most important reason is to create happy memories."

Alfons: "What do you mean by that?"

Kate: "Well, there's always sad and painful times in life. No one can avoid that."

Kate: "But when you go through tough times, if you have happy memories to think back on, it can help you move forward."

Kate: "So maybe that's part of it."

Alfons: "Perhaps, but I personally believe that humans are forgetful creatures."

Alfons: "And you know what they say. Sometimes people can only live by forgetting."

It was true that it was difficult to live while carrying around sad and painful things.

That's why time robbed people of their memories. Sometimes gently, and sometimes cruelly.

(But...)

Kate: "I don't think I'd forget something I want to remember forever."

His gaze focused on me, his ash-grey eyes narrowing slightly.

Kate: "Alfons?"

Alfons: "Ah, that's right. There's something I wanted to ask you."

Alfons: "What color was the candy you just wrapped?"

Kate: "Huh? Um..."

Kate: "Red? Or no, maybe it was yellow..."

Alfons: "Ahha!"

Alfons: "You're not very convincing talking about remembering things forever when you forget something that happened just now."

Kate: "That's not..."

Follower: "Ahem."

Kate: "Oh..."

==========

Instead of showing the followers how much we loved each other, we just ended up bickering.

Alfons: "I'm so excited to have our first sleepover, Miss Robin!"

(I never thought we'd be staying overnight...)

(That means they're still suspicious of us.)

I felt bad that things weren't going as smoothly as I expected.

Alfons: "There's only one bed for a loving couple to share. Just what are we to do?"

With a smirk, he pushed my shoulders, making me stumble backwards onto the bed.

Kate: "W-wait a second!"

He brought his lips to my ear as he climbed on top of me.

Alfons: "Hush. There's still someone outside."

(Oh, the followers are still listening...)

Alfons: "Come on and get to work, my dear."

The moment he whispered that to me, I felt a sweet stimulation running down my neck.

The proximity of him and his warmth had my thoughts wandering elsewhere...

Alfons: "Aww, are you feeling nervous because we're not in our usual bed at home? Or does it feel more thrilling?"

Alfons: "You're so cute, my shy little lover."

He wedged his knee between my legs.

Kate: "A-ahh...!"

Alfons: "Yes, that's right... Moan for me like you always do."

Alfons: "And let's love each other as much as we possibly can, hm?"

Despite my better judgment, my body grew hot.

I wondered how long he was going to tease me, because if he kept this up much longer, I might just-

Alfons: "...They're gone."

He let go of me as I gasped, trying to catch my breath.

Alfons: "Ahha. Look at that needy look on your face. How divine... Don't worry, you don't have to act anymore."

Alfons: "Unless you want to continue, of course?"

Kate: "I-I didn't say that-"

Alfons: "I'd like to live up to your expectations, but unfortunately I have other things to do."

Kate: "Like what?"

Alfons: "Like looking for the hidden bodies. Her Majesty told me to make sure to check for evidence."

Alfons: "And although I may not look it, I always do my job properly."

(That means...)

Kate: "...You intentionally did all that so that we'd have to stay overnight, didn't you?"

Alfons: "You can interpret things however you'd like. Tata for now!"

I let out a sigh as Alfons disappeared again.

(He's so ridiculous and dishonest.)

(But...)

-Flashback-

Kate: "I don't think I'd forget something I want to remember forever."

Alfons: "....."

-Flashback Ends-

For some reason, it felt like I caught a glimpse of his true feelings in that moment.

(Or maybe it was just my imagination. Why am I thinking about him so much anyway?)

==========

Alfons: "Kate, Kate. It's time to wake up."

Kate: "Mmm..."

Alfons: "I can't believe you fell asleep just waiting for your lover to come back."

Kate: "Oh, I guess I did fall asleep..."

It was already light outside and a new day had begun.

Alfons: "Well. Would you like the good news or the bad news first?"

Kate: "The bad news."

Alfons: "I found the bodies in a hidden room in the basement."

(Well, I can't say that's surprising.)

Alfons: "Some of them were already skeletons, but when I examined the ones that had recently died, I realized something."

Alfons: "The wounds were clean stab wounds. That must mean they were put to sleep or drugged, and then stabbed to death."

Alfons: "I think it's safe to assume that the followers are helping, but the actual murders are being done by the leader acting alone."

Alfons: "But now, let me tell you the good news."

He took something out of a box next to him.

Kate: "A black dress?"

Alfons: "Thanks to our naughty behavior last night, they've allowed us to get married today."

Alfons: "You'll have to hurry, because our wedding will start in a few hours."

Kate: "A few hours?!"

Alfons: "Yes. Would you like me to help you get ready? I will gladly undress you and all that."

Kate: "N-no, thank you!"

Alfons: "Aw, that's a shame."

==========

I quickly put on my wedding dress and rushed out to Alfons, who was waiting on me.

Kate: "Thanks for waiting."

Alfons: "Hm. That looks rather lovely on you."

Alfons: "Well, that's no surprise given that Victor chose the dress."

Kate: "I was wondering if that was the case."

Alfons: "Haha. Now, let's open the door and start the condemnation. Your hand?"

He put my hand through his arm to escort me inside.

(Even though I know it's just a mission, I'm nervous about the idea of getting married.)

Alfons: "Ah, you might remember today on your real wedding day."

I blinked, looking at him with mild surprise.

Alfons: "But I'm sure I'm the only one who could give you such a thrilling experience."

Alfons: "Shall we go?"

There were no guests in the chapel. Just me and Alfons.

And before we knew it, the person we were waiting for finally appeared at the altar...

End Ch.2

[scribble-dribble-writes]

Pt 5 - And if I loved you any less, I’d be able to talk about it more

<<<prev next>>>

——

Crosshair x female reader

Ex lovers to friends to lovers

——

It was easy to destroy it all, Crosshair was attuned to it, all he needed was one shot, so he took it. Now it had been days since the night he had spent with you and the silence that plagued the two of you had begun to ruin him.

Describing his feelings had always been a struggle and so he chose to pull away, to grow distant because he had witnessed the horrors of the empire and in his nightmares, he saw you in his place.

He sighed, his eyes fluttered open taking in the view of the sea in front of him as he tried his best to live the soft life when it fact he grew frustrated. He could feel the onset of his tremors and that robot telling him that it was possibly linked to whatever that was going on in his mind, he curled his fingers into a fist when he felt the soft touch of a small hand.

“A big part of meditating is letting go, brother.”, Omega’s voice rippled through him and it tightened his chest.

He couldn’t, he wasn’t able to, even now he could feel your eyes on him from up the hill as you stood next to Hunter and Wrecker, the most important people in his life now lacking trust in him.

How could he have the answers to fix the mess he had made and protect them all even at his expense?

“I don’t think this is working.”, he huffed but Omega didn’t let go of his hand.

“Then we’ll try again, together.”, she closed her eyes and looked at the sunset prompting him the do the same.

The sun was pleasant and warming but instead of looking at it, he wanted to look at you.

To try again meant to restart from the basics, to rebuild himself from scratch and that by itself was difficult when applicable to his sniper skills. But to rectify relationships and build back trust? It felt impossible.

Isn’t loyalty lost after a betrayal?

But it was hard not to move away from Omega, from his sister who believed in him, saw the light in his heart that now he was anxious not to prove her wrong. He didn’t want to fail her expectations so he sat straight and closed his eyes to take a deep breath and start the process of letting things go.

——

Wrecker was easy but that was mostly because he had missed Crosshair a lot more that he wished to talk about it. Crosshair knew this because of the sudden hugs and the immediate response to come along to run errands, Wrecker seemed to not hold a grudge.

“Look at you making friends.”, Wrecker laughed heartily when the lady by the docks had thanked Crosshair for his help. It got him to roll his eyes but he had missed this. Missed his brothers and the guilt had eaten up most parts of his spirit when he knew what he had tried to do to them.

He looked over at Wrecker and the words were on the tip of his tongue, an earnest apology but it almost seemed like Wrecker could read his thoughts when he softly jabbed his elbow into Crosshair’s.

“Do you want to try the ice cones from Sally’s shop?”, Wrecker asked.

Crosshair took it in, a small smile breaking across his face.

“I’ve been waiting to take you there, they have your favourite flavour.”, Wrecker added and all Crosshair did was nod which elicited such joy on his brother’s face that he had realised how much he had wanted to have this back.

But you and Hunter were a difficult bunch. He had betrayed one and left the other broken hearted both of which he did not know how to fix.

——

“He needs time.”, you heard Hunter’s reassurance and it confused you.

“He betrayed you and yet you take his side?”, you folded your arms to question to which he smiled.

“He’s my brother.”, Hunter stated with a soft expression as though that was enough of an explanation.

“I’ve always wished for him to come back.”, he shrugged his shoulders when you realised that his intuition about these matters were never wrong. But with Tech’s death still haunting all of you, you understood his forgiveness.

All of them had lost so much already.

“But he does need to explain his actions, I’m not letting him off that easily.”, he smiled at you and you gave a curt nod. At least you were on the same page with one thing.

“He’s much more vulnerable when he’s around you.”, Hunter stated next and your gaze grew sharp.

If he was he wouldn’t have asked you to hide your feelings. But before you could come up with a retort, Wrecker’s thunderous laugh echoed down the Marauder and you heard the sultry tone of Crosshair’s voice.

It angered you, because he had chosen to push you away. You got up to leave, Hunter taking in your discomfort or rather your pain that flashed across your face. You didn’t have to explain your actions to anyone, you wanted to get out before either you or Crosshair saw each other. But that plan had failed as he walked into the cockpit along with Wrecker, his eyes instantly finding yours.

Your heart hammering in your chest, yours eye catching his for a second and staying locked in his gaze for a bit longer before it took all of your strength to look away. Wrecker was oblivious to all of this as he passed the ice cone in his hand to Hunter, who was reading the tension between you and Crosshair like a sensor.

“I had one of every flavour.”, Wrecker chirped as he bit into the ice bar in his hand.

“Crosshair helped a lot today, everyone likes him.”, Wrecker continued to speak with his mouth full.

Hunter hummed but his eyes were on you.

“I’m not too sure of that.”, he said slyly as he took a bite from the ice cone in his hand.

“I’ve got to go help Shep with reading the data from today’s tides and to also find out if there is a way we can keep Pabu hidden from the Empire’s radar.”, you said getting up from the seat which belonged to Crosshair.

“Are you coming to the Harvest festival?”, Hunter asked but you knew him too well to know that just like his brothers, he was concocting a plan.

“I may not.”, you responded growing very aware of Crosshair’s gaze on you, as though he was waiting for your answer.

“You need to come.”, Omega said as she walked into the group. You wanted to say no but she had taken a hold of your hand.

“You promised you would last time if Crosshair was back.”, she said innocently and you heard the sharp breath Crosshair inhaled, his cool demeanour now broken as he tapped his foot.

“Yeah.”, Wrecked echoed in as though he too had just remembered your promise and you knew there was no way of escaping this.

“Ok.”, you said defeated by Omega’s and Wrecker’s enthusiasm, you were doing this for them. To hold the stability of this group to just like when it had been when they had last been on Pabu.

They moved away to chat to Hunter when you took your opportunity to slip away that as you turned you were inches away from bumping into Crosshair’s chest and you froze.

You had to try your best to not look up, it had been days since he had hinted to not wanting you around. You had avoided this proximity and seeing him for so long that all that effort was now destroyed by this moment.

You heard him inhale deeply.

He was crumbling. He wanted to tilt your chin up so you would see him. He had so much to say and he hated himself for not being able to say it.

He refrained from it, the itch in his fingers to hold you. You moved to the side just as he did and he moved to other side just as you did and it got nowhere. You and him were locked in this awkward shuffle.

You wanted to push past him when he held up something to you.

“They said it was mix of berries, fruit and cream.”, Crosshair spoke quietly, the ice cone in his hand stretched towards you, the slightest shake in his wrist as he tried to hold firm.

“I thought you might like it.”, he added and what Hunter had said began to make more sense.

You looked up at him and it squeezed your heart, the way his eyes were wide, his mouth sealed shut as though he was going to let his feelings slip.

You wanted to hurt him but you knew he had been through enough. You took the ice cone and he let his fingers brush against yours.

“Thank you.”, you said to which he nodded.

He needed time, so you were going to be soft with him. It was the least you could do.

He felt the heat creep up to his cheeks at your gesture, maybe there was a way to fix this. But he wasn’t going to force it, he wasn’t going to control the outcome based on his fears. He stepped to the side and let you go.

Crosshair watched you walk away and when he turned to looked at Omega and his brothers. All their attention was on him. But it was Hunter’s look of appreciation that mattered most to him.

Hunter dipped his head as though he was approving of this emotionally improved version of Crosshair that it felt like the best reward. It felt good to be back to where he belonged. So he took his seat and heard the ramble of words as Omega recounted her day to Hunter while Wrecker chipped in.

Crosshair’s anxiety had vained so he could finally admit to himself that he did in fact care for them so much, that now in the temporary safety of this island, he was home

Tags:

@waytoooldforthis78

[louvred]

name.    siobhan, tommy. age.     21+     height.    5′3  /  160 cm orientation.     bisexual / biromantic pronouns.     she / her fandom.     crime

backstory.

born and raised in a small city to two parents. what the public perceived to be a somewhat happy family was nothing as such behind the scenes. her father, physically and emotionally abusive towards both herself and her mother, though her mother endured the abuse for about two years before divorcing and getting as far away from him as she could, with full custody.

tommy gradually lost her hearing after about two years old, though it was difficult for her mother to be taken seriously by doctors, her concerns brushed away with "first - time - mother - paranoia". but she eventually found a doctor to look further into it. starting with hearing aids that eventually lost their efficiency and then later becoming eligible for a cochlear implant after losing 90% at age nine. tommy refused the surgery, already full aware of the financial implications.

from a young age, tommy could understand concepts beyond her years. developed an interest in mathematics and various STEM topics, sought out books and tutors and groups for it. her mother pushed for fine arts and athletics, to which she later grew an appreciation for. by the age of twelve, tommy was fluent in sign language, skilled in ballet and figure skating, with gymnastics a less - competitive hobby. her mother learned sign language so they could communicate, but the spoken language at home was mandarin ( to which polished tommy's lip - reading skills outside of the english language ).

despite her academic success, tommy struggled immensely. whether it was frustration from a lack of accommodations, missing important details, she had constant headaches and grew spiteful of having to accommodate for her hearing counterparts, and later became less and less verbal, caring little for honing her speech. her mother was the only person who could communicate with her properly.

throughout the years up until age thirteen, tommy's father had continued to harass her mother for custody with trivial and wasteful court summons, appointments, and complaints. he continued to intimidate, beyond what tommy was aware of and what her mother would divulge, and during the break of spring when the winter snow was just starting to melt, she lost her mother, unable to take more of his abuse.

her father finally got full custody. he had no way of properly communicating with her, thus resulting in animosity and neglect. only provided the bare minimum of a roof over her head and cash on the table for food, rarely home. despite the lack of family or communith, tommy never sought it out. she focused on her academics, dropped her hobbies from lack of expenses, eager to escape prison that was her life.

graduated with honors and got accepted into one of the top, most prestigious universities, full ride. she majored in computer engineering with elective courses in psychology and criminology.

notes.

because of her hearing loss, she focused on her other senses, primarily sight and touch. she can read people on a deeper level, catching tells and differences in facial expressions to the bare mini - second. noting how long before their next breath, difference in eye contact, twitches in their hand, the pulse in their throat, positioning of their muscles. made her impeccable at getting what she wanted.

developed a robin - hood complex while studying and put together a group of misfits with like - abilities. steal from the rich, give to the poor. she'd find the cases, create the plans, and have it executed seamlessly. multiple heists under their belt, she'd dubbed the alias, silence. silence became infamous across the world, authorities believing the crimes to be a one - man job. silence became most - wanted, while simultaneously growing in public support.

after years of success, tensions arose within the group. whether out of greed, jealousy, tommy grew distrustful of her members as to who would harm her, and after an attempt on her life from an anonymous job assigned by one of her members, she fled. turned herself into the tactical team chasing after her.

after three years in prison, somewhat in content with doing time so long as it meant she could avoid an active target on her back, she was approached for a deal by the same team that'd been chasing her for years. propositioned to live out the rest of her sentence under the supervision of the agency as their criminal consultant, as they were struggling to close a case and figured her expertise would help. it did. she solved it within days.

with every successful case, she gets a week shaved off her sentence. just ten more years to go.

she finessed her way out of the shitty motel they were going to have her in and lives in a penthouse with an older woman who treats her like her grandchild. the rent is the same as it would be for the motel. she wears a bracelet that she has bedazzled.

primarily works with organized crime and non - violent crimes that require coding expertise or advanced knowledge of the arts.

does not like to work within the red - tape, and always finds loopholes. she has connections around the world, and in the underground. restricted to parameters set by her anklet, but she can switch it off if she really wanted to.

appearance.

always has her hair in loose curls, length around the small of her back. dark brown, varying shades. hazel eyes, the green more present than the browns. she stands at 5'3 ( 160 cm ), but has the energy of seven feet.

endomorph body type, though with her previous training and current regimen, she's gained muscle ( sleeper build ). primarily wears business formal or business casual attire when on the job, colors tend to be more muted and neutral, she does not want to stand out.

personality.

appears as though she might lack a personality, either a mirror of everyone or the facade of hers is so preposterous it could not possibly be authentic. comes off as a blank canvas, save for the bluntness and saturated sarcasm that coats every word out of her mouth or in her body language. extremely, extremely reserved and difficult to get close with. considering she prefers not to speak unless necessary, others find her stand - offish and cold, intimidating, judgmental ( she is ). beneath that first layer, she is witty and humorous, impulsive and unserious. dig many, many more layers beneath and she is kind, genuine, and caring. she's over = protective, and extremely cautious.

verses.

general modern, mindhunter, dc, arcane, grishaverse, bsd, jjk, csm, and literally anything else just ask me. her backstory remains the same throughout with small tweaks to fit the universe.

important.

re: silence. tommy's identity as silence is practically nonexistent, as is silence's presence in the main sphere. after she turned herself in, it blew up and disbanded the group. she turned herself under the guise that it was just herself. only those who had worked with her in - person would know that she was silence unless she divulged that. this is struck from her records should anyone do a background check on her and needs high clearance to get it. not so much a secret, but just not discussed.

re: working for the agency. tommy would never reveal this fact upfront without reason. it's not a secret, but she wouldn't prefer to come clean about it unless necessary. she's seen as a traitor by those who'd worked with her before should they find out ( which makes it dangerous for her ).

communication. she, unfortunately, will accommodate for those who don't sign, but she will make it an unpleasant experience. won't speak until she finds it necessary, and will give very short responses. with that being said, verbal communication must be front - facing so she can read lips and catch facial expressions. tommy truly, genuinely despises having to speak verbally. it makes her feel vulnerable. she's mastered changing it to an "i don't talk bc i don't want to" from an "i don't talk because i'm worried how i sound". by muscle memory, her hands will sign lazily at times if she is speaking verbally. it is OKAY for your character to not be aware, to not know sign language, to not accommodate. it wouldn't be realistic if everyone catered to her and i would prefer it that way!

faceclaim. my face claim does not equate to how i envision tommy's build.

yes she was inspired by white collar that show owned my life as a teen

[hylianengineer]

I'm up in arms again about how disabling food allergies, intolerances, and other dietary restrictions are, but are rarely recognized as such. It varies, of course, between people and allergens, but especially with a life-threatening allergy or one to an extremely common food (or both!), it can be incredibly isolating and difficult.

I am excluded from most social events involving food, because if I go I end up in situations like 'sit there awkwardly while other people eat' or 'be forced to explain why I'm not eating, provoking various usually-offensive reactions that make me feel pitied, like a space alien, etc.' Some people can't even do that because just being around the allergen is dangerous!

Do you know how many social events revolve around food? I recently graduated from college, where I would estimate a solid 50-75% of events involved food, and many of those were entirely based around it. Holiday celebrations often center around food. Birthday parties and hang outs over coffee and dinner with friends are all minefields for those of us with food restrictions. Lately I've been dodging workplace events.

I have to cook much more than people without dietary issues, because pre-prepared food which does not contain my allergens is both difficult to find and expensive. I am constantly paying the disability tax on this in terms of both money and time. Even with all that extra effort, I often do not get as much variety or quality in my food compared to people without food restrictions. There are many foods I would love to try but may never get to, because making safe versions is beyond my skill level, would require more time or equipment than I have, etc.

If I go anywhere that expects me to eat their food (e.g. sporting events, some museums, hospitals, college campuses), I get to spend a bunch of extra time and effort planning for that, whether I can find safe food there, bring my own food, or sometimes leave to eat my own food outside if the place does not permit outside food.

I am cut off from many important parts of my culture as I am allergic or intolerant to its two most common food ingredients. Sometimes I can approximate a safe equivalent of culturally important foods but this is not always the case, and even when I can it requires massive amounts of time, energy, and effort. Which I don't always have.

I am constantly having to juggle my needs against the preferences of my family and friends - my local restaurant options are limited to Thai, Indian, a few pizza places, and Chipotle. Want to have dinner together? Sorry, I have a very short list of places I can eat safely so we have to go to one of those. Sometimes I stretch the limits a little bit and do something like eating only a plain baked potato for dinner while my friends have a proper meal, and then scarfing down a protein bar before or after so I'm not so hungry I can't hold a civil conversation. It really hurts to see other people enjoying themselves while I eat my sad, boring, insufficient 'meal.' It feels unfair and frustrating and like my needs aren't being considered or respected. It feels like people don't care enough about me to make sure I get what I need - something as basic as food that won't make me sick.

When I travel, I devote hours of research to finding safe places to obtain food. If I don't have access to a kitchen or at least a microwave, it's even harder. The places I can go are heavily limited by whether safe foods are available there - I've skipped trips I would've loved to go on because I wouldn't have been able to get safe food there, or it was too uncertain and stressful to be worth the trouble.

I have layers of weird trauma about my food issues, including extreme nervousness and reluctance to eat in front of people I don't know very well, because I grew up with other kids insulting whatever I brought for lunch. They all wanted to know what gluten free food tasted like, and then if I let them try it they'd say it was gross. I've met people with much worse trauma than that, though - people who've had family and friends intentionally feed them things that will make them sick in some twisted attempt to prove they don't really need to avoid that food. That would traumatize anyone.

I have multiple disabilities including chronic pain, and I honestly can't decide whether that or my dietary issues upend my life more. I think the pain might be easier, actually.

[mcginnlawfirm]

What happens if I lose my personal injury case?

Losing a personal injury case can be frustrating, especially when dealing with the stress of an injury on top of everything else. It’s natural to feel discouraged, but it’s important to understand that losing your case doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road. There are still options available, and knowing what happens next can help you decide your next steps. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect if your personal injury case doesn’t go your way.

You’re Not Responsible for the Other Side’s Legal Fees

After losing a case, one of the most common worries is whether you’ll be responsible for covering the other party’s legal fees. In personal injury cases, it’s rare for people to be required to pay the opposing side’s lawyer fees. Generally, each side is responsible for its legal expenses, regardless of the case's outcome.

Knowing that losing the case won’t result in an additional financial burden beyond your costs can give you peace of mind. There are some exceptions, so it’s important to consult with your lawyer to understand your situation.

You Can Still Appeal the Decision

Losing a case doesn’t necessarily mean the final decision has been made. If you believe there was a mistake during the trial or the law was not applied correctly, you can appeal the decision. An appeal asks a higher court to review the case and the trial’s proceedings to determine if any legal errors were made.

It’s important to note that an appeal is not a retrial. The appeals court will not look at new evidence or reexamine the facts of your case; instead, it will focus on whether the law was applied correctly. Appeals can be more complicated and may take a long time, so working closely with an experienced lawyer is essential. They can help you decide if appealing is worth pursuing and guide you through the process.

No Legal Fees if Your Lawyer Worked on Contingency

If you hire a personal injury lawyer on a contingency fee basis, common in personal injury cases, you won’t owe them any fees if you lose. Contingency means your lawyer only gets paid if you win your case. If you fail, you aren’t required to pay for their time and services.

This arrangement gives you a sense of security, as you don’t have to worry about covering expensive legal fees after an already difficult outcome. The lawyer takes on the financial risk, and you’re not left with additional financial strain.

Reflect on the Case and Learn from the Experience

Although losing your personal injury case is disappointing, it can be a learning opportunity. The legal process is complex, and navigating a personal injury case can be difficult, especially if it’s your first time. Reflecting on the case can help you understand what worked and what didn’t, which can be helpful if you decide to pursue another legal action.

Maybe there were issues with the evidence, or the case wasn’t presented most effectively. Taking time to understand why the case was lost can give you insight into how to move forward and improve your chances if you pursue another case or appeal the decision.

Options for Negotiating After Losing a Case

Even after losing your case, there may still be room for negotiation. In some cases, the opposing side may be willing to settle, especially if they want to avoid further legal costs from an appeal. A settlement could allow you to recover some of the damages you sought, even if not the full amount.

This option depends heavily on the specifics of your case and the willingness of the other side to negotiate. Consulting with your attorney is key in exploring this option, as they can help you evaluate whether a settlement negotiation might still be on the table.

Exploring Alternative Legal Options

If appealing your case isn’t an option or doesn’t seem viable, it may be worth exploring alternative legal routes. In some instances, you may take other claims or legal actions that were not part of the original lawsuit. This is another area where having an experienced personal injury lawyer can be helpful. They can advise you on any additional legal options based on your case's details.

Protecting Your Financial Future

Losing a personal injury case doesn’t mean you’re left without options for protecting your financial well-being. Depending on the nature of your injury, you might qualify for other types of financial assistance or compensation, such as workers’ compensation or disability benefits. A knowledgeable lawyer can help guide you toward resources that offer financial support while recovering.

Additionally, if you have outstanding medical bills or other debts related to your injury, there may be ways to negotiate with creditors or medical providers to manage your financial obligations.

Seeking Legal Help for Your Next Steps

Losing a case is tough, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Having an experienced legal team on your side can make all the difference. Whether you’re considering an appeal, negotiating a settlement, or exploring other options, having a lawyer who knows personal injury law can guide you through the process.

At McGinn Law Firm, we understand how challenging it can be to navigate a personal injury case, especially if the outcome isn’t what you expected. We’re here to help you determine your next steps and support you as you move forward. Call our personal injury lawyer in Council Bluffs at 712-328-1566 for your free initial consultation. Let us help you explore your options and find the best path forward. We’re dedicated to fighting for you, even when things are unplanned.

Don't hesitate to visit McGinn Law Firm and let our team help you get the legal advice you deserve. We’ll walk you through your case, answer any questions, and help you make informed decisions about your future.