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lanaevyssmoved · 2 years ago

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so i saw this fun post with "otp" questions and i really wanted to answer them for afhiri/gale and instead of asking people to send me asks.. i thought i would answer them all myself in a post :) lots of text under cut!!!!!!

What, specifically, was the catalyst for their physical attraction (if applicable) to the other character? In other words, what in particular had them like “Oh, they’re...hot...”

afhiri likes how confident and charming gale is, they really enjoy (and fall for) the bravado entirely. but it's the magic that afhiri really likes, how controlled it is, how powerful he is (while i'm aware he's nerfed beyond belief, afhiri has never seen stuff like this and it's very cool!), and is completely mesmerised when he casts magic- which is a massive ego boost for the wizard.... oh and he's pretty. obviously

for gale, he likes how afhiri navigates situations. they're very good at talking to people, easy to make friends, can shift into being a manipulative liar when the situation demands it, and then turns to look at him with a wide "i did it!" smile. but when someone needs help, when afhiri knows they can do something to help someone who isn't capable of helping themselves, they'll step in and do the right thing. this is attractive to gale!

Does this change over time? What things do they find “hot” about their partner after they’ve been together for some time, and have had more time to, well, notice and appreciate?

for afhiri it honestly doesn't really change. he just gets more and more powerful as they spend more time together, constantly growing in skill, and it never loses its charm. they just get more fascinated. admittedly afhiri doesn't need to see more to stay interested, but gale likes to provide more because seeing them get even more impressed by him is constantly stroking the ego

the loyalty afhiri showcases, the fact they are entirely, 100%, ride of die, they will do anything for him, if he were to say jump she would say how high. while he's aware of how self destructive this can be and he encourages afhiri to think for herself even in terms of her friends and loved ones, he can't help but be enamoured by this display of devotion and trust, because it's for everyone who shows her even the smallest of kindnesses

By contrast, what was the moment that first made their ~heart~ Soft for the other person? Not necessarily a conscious realization of “I love this person,” but a moment that had them like “Oh...I adore them...”

afhiri was slow on this, which requires some context for her as a character. they are incredibly naive in the ways of the heart, they never had friends growing up, they never experienced a first crush, they never had a doomed teenage relationship. they didn't understand love, romance, sexuality. it wasn't until the events of the game that they started to have these feelings, and needed help understanding them. afhiri's various love affairs (because she doesn't just get involved with gale!) help her understand. so it took afhiri a long time to even understand what 'i love you' is outside of a family dynamic. if you were to ask afhiri, she would say she adored gale from the moment she met him. but since you're asking me, it would be the act 3 boat scene, when she takes his hands in their own, and he looks at her with bright, gentle eyes. that was the moment afhiri realised she would burn the world for him if he asked

gales moment was during act 2, his romance scene. not the confession, but when he had conjured the illusion of his tower at waterdeep, afhiri looked around in wonder. she asked questions about various things, she pet his statues and asked if they had names, she could tell which were his favourite books from the state of them, something that surprised gale greatly. they cared so much, about all the little things, about all the things that make him who he is. they got especially excited about the piano, wanting to learn how to play, wanting to play alongside it for him. she asked desperately if she could perform for him while he read, but he had to encourage her along with a gentle hand in hers to come to the balcony. when they sat together and he looked at her, that was the moment. he was so in love

Does this change over time? What will always reliably make them melt with how much they adore the other character?

with afhiri it's just his gentle kindness. while her attraction comes from his displays of confidence and power and skill, who he is when all that is put aside and there's just gale in his goofy pjs with a soft smile on his face. the way he encourages her, reassures her, the way he makes her feel like a complete person. he's like a guide for her in many ways, a mentor even. while i understand that they do have a natural power imbalance, gale is aware of it too, but never once infantilises her, and reminds her of all the things she does and says that tell the word she is more than a naive, stupid girl who never got to be a person until tragedy struck. that will always make her melt. that he touches her, and is gentle

admittedly it's almost the same. but afhiri is loud, her voice booms and her hands grip so tight her claws dig into him, her sharp teeth shine as she yells to him with furrowed brows how much he is worth. that despite his folly, he is an incredible person who deserves everything. that she will provide everything if he asked. that mystra is stupid bitch who didn't know what she had, and that afhiri knows, afhiri knows what she has and won't ever let him forget that. he is all that's beautiful in this world. afhiri is a lovebomber btw but it never stops, every ounce of mortal love gale has been neglecting in his life poured into him and he's drowning and gasping for air but he doesn't let go. he wants to drown

How do they consciously realize that they like the other character? Does it take them a while?

afhiri kinda needs to be beaten over the head with it. it isn't until gale's silliness in act 2 about near death experiences and how he's horny to get afhiri to go "oh....... so they were right!" because afhiri was already involved with karlach and wyll at this point, and they'd sit up at night holding hands in a circle and they'd tell afhiri "gale likes you. and you like gale." and afhiri would ":)? does he? he is funny. he's my favourite clown." they're just a little silly. and of course they did like gale! he's very pretty

for gale it's quite literally when afhiri hits on him in the act 1 weave scene. afhiri is completely overcome by the intensity of the weave the feeling between them and pictures kissing gale. it just feels right, it just makes sense. that doesn't necessarily mean afhiri was thinking that before, or even after, they were entirely swept away. but that was the moment gale noticed afhiri in that light, and continued to think about it. nonstop

How do they react to the realization that they like the other character? Is it an “oh my god I’m never going to think about this again” thing, or are they pretty comfortable with it?

afhiri is chill. first and foremost. this is a chill clown. the realisation is.. chill, if nothing happens with it? also chill. this is a free spirit who goes with the flow no matter what. karlach and wyll come easy because they are more forward, open characters who make it happen and it flows naturally and easily. gale takes time because gale takes time. afhiri won't make something happen between themselves and another because platonic love is just as good and fulfilling. so, "oh this is nice" and that's about it UNLESS*

gale obsesses. if anything it's a nice distraction from the absolute doom cloud over him, never letting him a moments peace. but thinking about affection? about love? about sex? that's a distraction, and one hell of a distraction. can't do anything about it because everything they have to do is so much more important. i don't think gale would have ever acted on it over the course of the game (except maybe the immediate end) without the acceptance that he is about to die, and needs to do something now or it will never happen. the what if

Do they (or would they) pursue the other character’s affection, and if so, how? Do they tell the other character how they feel? Try to earn their admiration? Woo them with romantic gestures? Flirt with them, skillfully or otherwise?

*afhiri wouldn't unless it naturally came up, if the moment was correct and it just.... happened. much like the weave scene, if the weave didn't dissipate they probably would have tried to kiss gale. they don't change their behaviour with gale consciously, but the others do notice it, paying more attention to him, talking to him first, looking at him for affirmation and reassurance, using him as a moral compass more than she used to, asking him questions over and over an over abundance of curiousity in him, however this can also be attributed to hearing about his condition and relationship with mystra and feeling empathy for him and wanting him to feel wanted

while gale is a gesture man, and would absolutely seek to woo, he doesn't because of the distraction of all that's going on, until as mentioned before, he believes he is going to die. however he absolutely does flirt with afhiri by using a needless amount of magic when she's watching. casting spells just to impress her, upcasting for no reason beyond watching her eyes widen and that toothy grin appear in wonder, an expression he grows addicted to

What do they think about romantic love? Do they have baggage surrounding it? Do they idealize it? Is it an object of longing and wanting, or were they really not thinking about it until they started falling for the other character? What are their expectations like?

i keep lowkey answering stuff before i get to the question huh!

afhiri doesn't think about it at all, it isn't on their mind, and they have no concept of romantic love at all prior to experiencing it for the first time and being told why it's different. it is something they need explained

gale... hhahahah dkjsfdskfhsdkf do i even NEED TO. gale doesn't long for romantic love, but he certainly misses being loved. and it's worth afhiri that he feels true, mortal romantic love for the first time in his life, because i like to think before mystra he only had teen romance, childhood crushes, and then all was mystra, who gave him a love based on power and religious devotion, he worshipped and she gave him tastes of power beyond comprehension. it's with afhiri that he learns what romantic love really is. i think it's safe to say he didn't expect it to feel as good or taste as sweet as it does

What do they think about commitment? Is a long-term partnership the goal? Are they thinking about building a life with their partner, or are they focused on the present?

haha :) ok we're talking about my post-game 3 years later fic for a second bare with me and do not cancel me for enjoying toxic dynamics for a second ok. also this lowkey rewrites canon i know :) i dont care anyway

afhiri and gale are so long term they never want their relationship to end. ever. afhiri is going to outlive gale, and while this is something they are comfortably aware of to start, the more they love, the more they go through, it becomes daunting, especially for gale. he doesn't want afhiri to live without him, to experience life on her own again, to be without someone who will guide and teach her, who will be there to protect her from herself. gale tells them all of this, he holds their hands tight, stares right into their eyes with such intensely it feels like the sun. and afhiri who hadn't had these thoughts at all is suddenly overcome with grief, because gale is sad. they cannot truly comprehend this future, but they can see how much it means to gale. and that's all it takes. gale brings up immortality, talks her into it, which isn't hard because afhiri would say yes to anything gale says. and on his pursuit for immortality, comes divinity, comes ascension. what better way to live together, forever

What scares them about entering a relationship?

afhiri has absolutely zero fear whatsoever. what is there to fear? happiness? huh. don't get it!!!!!!!

i don't think gale fears entering a relationship so much as he fears everything around him, the tadpoles, the orb, the dead three, the elder brain like, there's so much going on and he thinks he's going to die, when he doesn't he still knows he could, same for afhiri, but that fear shouldn't stop anyone from being happy and in love

What fears, past traumas, etc. would be hardest for them to talk about with their partner?

afhiri got nothing. there is no trauma in this clown. there is no fear. there is nothing terrible and bad. one could say their childhood was traumatic in general and another character could be deeply changed by it, afhiri isn't traumatised. this is just a sweet clown who's ready to adore you. i can imagine afhiri like infodumps/loredumps about their own life in an autadhd tangent in the middle of a discussion . where did that come from. anyway and gales like ??? that sounds like a really tough childhood and afhiris like ?????????????? anyway

its actually so easy for gale to open up about the biggest things that have ever happened in his life, which is so funny because he says he's not told another living soul this stuff other than tara, but that goes to show how much he's neglecting his friendships and bonds because it takes you being generally nice and good for him to be like "ok time to trust them with everything!" i don't even think the depths of his relationship with mystra, like Actual Details would be hard to tell either. and afhiri is so open and honest i think it would be encouraging

How much independence do they prefer in a relationship—do they want to share their lives as much as possible with their partner, or do they prefer to mostly do their own thing and let their partner do their own thing?

afhiri is very independent which may be surprising. when gale proposes at the end of the game, afhiri says no, but does go to waterdeep with him because it sounds fun. even when there, afhiri is very slow to officially move in, spending a lot of time there but not quite settling in and making it her own in any way. afhiri also still travels a lot, and disappears for weeks at a time, very rarely months, because adventuring is fun!

this encourages gale to be the same way, going on his own little adventures. seeking hidden artefacts, tomes and magics he reads about, getting tara to sniff out hints of new adventures he could have. sometimes they go together, but more often than not they go on their own, then reunite back at waterdeep with tales to tell.

in my post-game 3 years later fic, afhiri actually proposes to gale, and is still not quite moved in. having never had independence in her life before the events of the game, it is hard to let go of. and gale would never force her to

but also they do miss each other when they're apart.. so its good for their relationship, when they come back together its fresh and exciting and theyre overflowing with love to share

What is their go-to for making a partner feel loved?

gale does acts of clownery for afhiri. dump jokes, crass comments, potty humour, putting on the clown outfit afhiri got for him and doing a little bit where no one could ever possibly walk in on them, afhiri sitting on the groud cross legged clapping away for him like he's a clown at a kids birthday party. literally just lowering himself to her level of comedy and buffoonery dfgl;dkgd

afhiri realises pretty quickly that gale responds best to being validated, having his wants accepted, being encouraged to seek his desires. having his ambitions affirmed and being told that wanting more isn't a bad thing and she will help him get more. that wanting to use his magic to show her beauty is a good thing and he shouldn't have to change. that everything that makes him who he is.. is good. there is nothing wrong with a wizard who uses his skills and his talents, and ever seeks more. if afhiri didn't like these things, why would she have fallen for him in the first place!!!!

What makes them feel loved? Would they build up the courage to ask for it?

since i'm answering for two characters the first part doesn't really make sense so i will only answer the second......

afhiri has no inhibition, if afhiri wants affection they would straight up bluntly ask for it

for gale...... i think he would learn that afhiri responds positively to being asked for love and would get comfortable doing it. it wouldn't come so naturally but seeing afhiri do it to him, gives him the confidence to do it to them, and their eager willingness to provide helps massively

Are they okay with public displays of affection? Do they like them?

i wouldn't say either of them are PDA people

afhiri doesn't act differently with any of their partners when they're adventuring/in public, they're always affection to even their friends so it doesn't feel any different for anyone. they're not going to hold hands, hug, say i love you, in front of anyone, nothing like that. just general attentiveness and soft words when they feel right

i think gale would find it immensely inappropriate to do anything PDA in public, and this is because of my own personal headcanons of his upbringing

When would they say “I love you?” Do they say it first? Do they say it often, or is it reserved for special moments?

gale says it first and they both say it very often, and it multiple ways. it is a well used phrase but it never loses it spark

If sex is something that would be part of a relationship for them, do both or either of them have prior experiences? If not, how do they feel about it?

afhiri's only experience is with karlach prior to gale dlfkgjdfgd i think it's pretty obvious afhiri had no sexual experience based on what i've said prior. and gale had a teen romance, and then mystra, so it's been quite a while for him. two inexperienced at bodily sex dummies

What does sex mean for them? Socially, religiously, what attitudes are they bringing with them? Do they want sexual experiences to occur within a certain “level” of relationship, or does that not really matter so much to them?

now headcanon time, gale is transmasc. gale doesn't have a penis, and has had top surgery. gale uses magic to create a penis when he wants to. afhiri is transfem nonbinary, and has a t-dick. gale also helps afhiri in dick related ways too. WOOHOO *EDIT: AFHIRI IS ALSO INTERSEX

sex for them is extremely trans in experience. the magic sex scene actually encouraged this headcanon for gale in me immensely, the lack of penis in the scene, the desire to experience non-bodily sex and show afhiri what it is like, i think they have more sex this way than bodily.

nothing about their sex life fits into a comfortable 'norm' for people. a lot of body worship is involved, a lot of affirmations, a lot of focusing on trans features and devoting to them. the love of the spirit and the love of the trans experience and the trans body. the love of what magic could do for trans people.

sex for them is acceptance in the purest of forms

in terms of of 'level', afhiri's level is probably 'friend' which is just about anyone whose nice to them so. yeah, but i think gale reserves such a thing as a declaration of love

How comfortable are they talking about, and openly communicating during, sex?

yes for both of them! neither of them are coy individuals and both are comfortable. afhiri might make a crass, immature joke though... when talking about sex and having sex

What would their partner do that would really turn them on, perhaps unintentionally?

uh feel like i made it clear with afhiri that Magic Do Be Doing This.

and gale.. well he kind of tells us in canon that you killing people is hot as hell so. make of that what you will

They accidentally hurt or upset their partner. What happened? How do they respond? What do they do to make their partner feel better?

afhiri upsets gale with her sheer stupidity all the time if i'm honest. he is very patient but they do be doing completely illogical things that are reckless and dangerous, they put themselves in harms way sometimes as a joke with no real understanding of the danger or the risk, afhiri gets scolded a lot and apologies extremely quickly. they don't mean to do things that upset gale, they just..... act. they don't think. there is no plan they just DO and then the consequences of their actions hit like a brick (gale is yelling and crossing his arms)

gale upsets afhiri with his lack of self worth. whenever gale talks in a way that sounds like he doesn't believe he deserves good and that he is good, this upsets afhiri immensely, to the point of tears sometimes. from the moment they met afhiri thought he was the most incredible and amazing person, and this person doesn't think highly of themselves? that's awful. beyond awful. gale pats their head and apologies for talking about himself poorly and it pretty much fixes everything immediately

They have an argument with their partner—what is it about? Do things stay respectful, or is there some shouting and accusing going on?

these two don't fight, they just don't. they don't have arguments, they talk things out. afhiri isn't someone who screams and yells and argues, they helped raise 5 of their 6 siblings, they know how to calmly talk things out and communicate. and without retaliation, gale quickly calms down from angry and frustrated to calmly talking with afhiri too. you cannot get a rise out of this clown

They have to apologize to their partner. Is this difficult for them? How do they approach it?

neither of them find accepting fault and needing to apologise difficult. afhiri is poor at wording apologies and giving detailed apologies, making point of what they did wrong, how they'll change, that stuff, but afhiri is very good at giving sincere "i'm sorry" apologies. gale is extremely good at those like 5 paragraph apologies with a whole ass graph and shit like this man is writing up an entirely new lifeplan around not making this mistake again kind of thing....... but again i don't really see them ever experiencing a situation where this would occur and need to happen. especially when they forgive each other so quickly and easily

How do they feel about the prospect of parenthood? Do they plan on it? How would they react if they suddenly found out they were going to be a parent?

they adopt shovel :)

(afhiri adopted shovel and gale was forced to be father)

What compromises are they making in their relationship?

gale is compromising having a normal, domestic life with someone who loves to read and is intelligent and studies magic and would join in with his experiments and his research.. he's compromising an equal.

afhiri isn't making any compromises, but genuinely recognises gale is. she's not sad about this or thinking gale might want someone else because afhiri would tell him to find another person to have that with and she would be cool with it, this baby can fit so many people in the polycule! but gale has never once implied he wants this and is just happy with her. it's enough, it works

What completely petty topic (music taste, favorite food) do they find themselves completely at odds with their partner about?

afhiri eats utter shit trash and has all her life, gale has a delicate palette of exquisite tastes. afhiri can't eat his food because it's too difficult and weird and gale would never even try eating what afhiri eats. the compromise is he makes two meals and she steals pieces of his to slowly build up her palette :)

How do their friends react to finding out they’re a couple? Do they have lots of mutual friends? Did their friends know, perhaps before they themselves did?

lmao the Squad is very "FINALLY!!!", and tara and gale's mother are very "FINALLY HE'S NOT DYING ALONE!!!!!" everyone is happy

and i did kind of already state that their friends did, in fact, know before they did fsdgfsdfs

Under what circumstances would they feel jealous?

afhiri might feel a speck of jealousy over gales good childhood and upbringing and love he's experienced but. it wouldn't last long and it would be like a twinge of jealousy. nothing important

gale would feel jealous over afhiri's affections for others and the easiness with which it comes, but it would go away with affirmations and reassurance from afhiri

Under what circumstances would they feel protective?

such a funny question like every situation they're in over the course of game? this is a couple who focus on protecting one another over themselves in the heat of combat! (stupid)

Would they get a pet? What kind? Who brings up the idea, and who takes a little longer to convince?

they literally have scratch :) and gale uses magic to make scratch immortal :) it wasn't either of their ideas they both thought of it :)

#fray.txt #afhiri/gale #bg3 spoilers #WAHHH THIS TOOK ME OVER AN HOUR #i deleted some questions/parts of questions i didnt like #GOD MY WRISTS ARE SORE NOW brb dying

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l0gitex · 2 years ago

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15, 20, 24 for the asks! :>

tis a long one and also from a while ago

15. Biggest artist pet peeve?

LIKE.. IN OTHER ARTISTS? OR AS AN ARTIST? yknow what let me just answer both since i don't know in other artists.. gijinkas tbh sorry i really don't like them outside of few & far between rare cases.. i think it takes out all the wonder and imagination of a nonhuman character and particularly their design to go the most boring route ever and just maek them human IAIU#"/ though also ppl complaining about & being arrogant about not flipping their own canvases like why lol. it helps you. it supports improvement. its just annoying it isnt the boast they act it issss for myself ummmm.. i cant really think of anything so lets just say when my fcking computer freezes & i have to force restart it while im in the middle of drawing

20. What works have you drawn fanart of?

oh my god so fucking many dude fanart is my lifeblood being obsessed with media is 99% of my drive to make anything. i do make art otherwise but nothing activates my drawingbrain the way getting crazy about a new Thing does. sometimes unfortunate and something i feel kinda cringe for but whatevs here's some off the top of my head(...and top of my folder): futurama, sam and max, pinky and the brain, green eggs and ham, osomatsu-san, [REDACTED], yakuza, dan vs, undertale/deltarune, community, trolls, freakazoid, bill and ted, half life but the ai is self aware, regular show, mob psycho 100, count duckula, sonic, time squad, fallout new vegas, also a few obscurer movies or such. & of course some im embarrassed to mention bc they suck bad in some way or another ooor i regret ever liking. plus all the stray bits ive drawn for other people or just because of things im not actually into..

24. How do you deal with artblock?

either byyy just NOT drawing for a while, or messing around trying new / random / weird stuff. sometimes even just going to another medium entirely ie (physical) collage. idk if i fully believe in art block really being a thing but i also dont remember whatever stance i had in much detail so shrug. but like yeah generally if i am struggling with getting myself to make anything or amke anything i'm remotely satisfied with i either take a break or i push through it in whatever way. actually wait one more thing i do like to do is redraws of my own old art or like screencap studies & things like that. it kind of boosts your confidence seeing how you've improved especially when you are not feeling confident in your abilities, and i just find imitating references or others' drawings easier than doing anything from scratch in times like those

> Artist Asks <-

#hi its been a while let me go ahead and dig this out of my drafts to publish it #artist asks #not art #ask memes #i blanked out on the first & last question back whenever i was doing this meme and well #i jsut sort of #worked on it here and there but ultimately forgor

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odukora-lore · 5 months ago

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how about 🌹🤹‍♂️ and of course ✂

Haha almost a month late to this ffs anyways

Most recently written line:

Ngl I actually do have some concept dialogue for Aeris/Barley interactions so you get a tiny snippet of a scene lol

^ this is somewhattt in their youth but also not exactly (think that fun window of post graduation dance and beginning their own careers whilst also attempting to still be involved in each other's lives, alas this is before I even planned the entire Tundra fake death deal so I actually have no idea whether this is before or after that, date in this sense is wholly platonic and Aeris started the idea lol

(I would love to point out how Barley is more fazed over it being a *coffee* date than a coffee *date*, like oh my best friend wants to catch up w me and has invited me to hang out w her on a scheduled time? 🥰 But also wtf Aeri you don't drink coffee 😒 you think I don't know that)

Plot points I'm juggling:

Idk man so much fucking patchnotes for EI lately I think I've ranted to you enough lmaooooo, these days I'm kinda trying to settle whether its gonna end up as a supposed tertiary story tbh, alongside possibly finding another way to categorize my damn stories for once, TEF and POE are very solid in comparison so I'm very ??? on the direction rlly

That said I suppose you can get some bonus notes in my drafts abt some char dynamics I haven't yet spilled:

> Also a fun thing is Sundae is actually suchhhh a big fangirl of Chase (I figured I'm just throwing in the Amy core vibe into her cuz she alrdy looks like her, she's so bisexual core thou cuz... Actually yeah Sundae and Lune are sorta implied endgame lmao albeit not the focus, I'm still ruminating on how to expand their dynamic rlly but I rlly liked the contrast they served, it's a very Whisper wanting a knight in shining armour big time (I've thought abt her crushing on Aaron before just to hint at the original ship prerevamp lmao) before she ends up w Nyx way) this is also Ironic cuz Sundae probs wanted to become a glowlin just to meet Chase.... That's half of her motif anyway... But she eventually finds joy in being a hero anyway and he becomes this sorta inspo for her for how passionate he is abt his role, more abt her burnout arc eventually lol

> Lune meanwhile rlly dislikes Chase cuz she's one of the original recruits of BEYOND and is very wary of his implented dark motifs™ that Aeris initially warned her abt but even Aeris has sorta grown less wary of him seeing him having made a completely new name for himself instead of just solely following her footsteps

> Sparklyn may alsooo be renamed idk tbh so many chars are getting renamed alrdy anyway... I do know she is supposedly the one who Aeris deems to most resemble her in terms of that raw passion™ (you'd think Sundae fits it better but Aeris is actually so aware of her whole thing abt Chase lmao and a part of her is too full of herself to be the leader.... Lune isn't as passionate ofc... Arctic is having way too much fun and Gale is due for a confidence boost ... if anything Sparklyn is the perfect "replacement" for having a tinge of humbleness whilst not being afraid of taking the job seriously, but it also has so much to do w her being from the other dimension and idk when Aeris will eventually figure that out, her origins of humbleness is sorta what sets her apart... She is not exactly destined for greatness the way Chase is...)

> I think the true wack thing is while BEYOND members are aware Aeris has a separate dual life going on as a reporter/journalist (ngl this is probably why she found out abt Chase's having sus origins earlier than anyone else did) nobody is aware that she is Tundra... That's the kicker.... Only Barley knows and he tries very hard to keep it a secret having erased all remaining proof of her being alive, he was very much there to witness the supposed self induced death... Idk whether to call it a suicide fakeout cuz to everyone Tundra dying was her sacrifice from protecting the realm... and very much not self induced... And then she doesn't die anyway she just pretends that she is gone... Barley is very well aware of all this... I think even at the end of the story Sparklyn and Chase are the only ones that find out abt her true identity... If anyone else rllyyyy had to know then maybe Lune but she's the kind to find out and never tell anyone lmao I don't think even Aeris knows of this but she can also sense it w the sudden respect Lune has for her that she previously never had (like Lune does respect Aeris but then they often also buttheads cuz their personalities and motifs are so diff, but Aeris has been in the supposed industry for so long she can never hold it against a youngster who's just trying to survive)

Cut plot points

Idk man EI isn't that developed to have that much cut plot points but so far its probably to make Chase more or a solo hero instead of the initial idea of having him have a team... (Bonus w Nimble being a lil sidekick but their bond is fleshed out enough for me to bother writing them in) Cuz I thought him being Aeris' replacement made more sense if he were to shoulder everything himself, also as an excuse to pretty much reduce the character count lmao I didn't wanna add too much to the point they end up unexplored (a lot of POE chars suffer from this unfortunately and it's something I'm trying to fix as of late, TEF has a more solidified cast where everyone has some sort of relevance and I'm trying to do the same w EI here), in fact a lot of the chars in SF and SD are very underdeveloped lmao whilst TSIAS suffers from a chronically low character count of just six... I need more plot points rlly (I do have something brewing in my head as of late but I'm too EI brainrotted latey to expand on it)

#yay more blorbo lore.......

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educational-travel-blogs · 8 months ago

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Fly-by Learning: The Benefits of Short-Term Study Abroad

Short Term Study Abroad Programs: Expanding Horizons in a Flash

Are you a student dreaming of exploring the world but worried about committing to a full semester or year abroad? Or perhaps you're a faculty member looking to inspire your students with a taste of global education? Short term study abroad programs might be the perfect solution you've been searching for. Let's dive into this exciting world of brief but impactful international experiences.

What Is Short Term Study Abroad Programs?

Short term study abroad programs typically last anywhere from a week to eight weeks. These programs offer a condensed version of the traditional study abroad experience, allowing students to immerse themselves in a new culture, learn intensively, and return home without missing a full academic term.

Visit the website to learn More: https://authentica.com/

The Benefits: More Than Just a Quick Trip

You might be wondering, "Can I really get much out of such a short time abroad?" The answer is a resounding yes! Here's why:

Cultural Immersion: Even in a short period, you can gain significant cultural insights. It's amazing how much you can learn about a country's customs, traditions, and way of life in just a few weeks.

Academic Intensity: Many short term programs offer focused, intensive courses. You might cover as much material in three weeks as you would in a full semester at home.

Career Boost: International experience, no matter how brief, can set you apart in the job market. It shows adaptability, cultural awareness, and a global mindset.

Personal Growth: Stepping out of your comfort zone, even for a short time, can lead to significant personal development. You'll gain confidence, independence, and a broader perspective.

Networking: You'll meet fellow students from around the world, potentially forming lifelong friendships and professional connections.

See the location wise study abroad programs: https://authentica.com/locations/

Types of Short-Term Programs

Short term study abroad comes in various forms to suit different interests and academic needs:

Faculty-Led Programs: These are often organized by your home institution, with a professor leading a group of students abroad.

Language Immersion: Intensively learn or improve a foreign language in its native environment.

Field Studies: Engage in hands-on research or projects in disciplines like archaeology, marine biology, or environmental studies.

International Internships: Gain work experience while exploring a new culture.

Summer or Winter Break Programs: Use your school holidays for an academic adventure abroad.

Upcoming programs: https://authentica.com/programs/

Overcoming Common Concerns

It's natural to have some reservations about studying abroad, even for a short time. Let's address some common concerns:

1. "I'm worried about the cost."

While studying abroad does involve expenses, short term programs can be more affordable than full semesters abroad. Many universities offer scholarships specifically for these programs. Plus, the condensed timeframe means fewer living expenses.

2. "I'm nervous about being in a foreign country."

It's okay to feel nervous! Remember, short term programs often provide more structure and support than longer stays. You'll likely be with a group of fellow students, and program coordinators are there to help you navigate any challenges.

3. "Will it really make a difference in such a short time?"

Absolutely! Many students report that even brief international experiences are life-changing. You'd be surprised how much you can learn and grow in just a few weeks when you're fully immersed in a new environment.

Real-Life Impact: A Student's Perspective

Let me share a quick story about Sarah, a biology major who was hesitant about studying abroad due to her packed schedule. She decided to join a three-week biodiversity program in Costa Rica during summer break. Not only did she earn credits towards her degree, but she also discovered a passion for conservation that shaped her career path. Today, she's working on international conservation projects, a dream she never knew she had before her short-term study abroad experience.

Discipline study abroad programs: https://authentica.com/disciplines/

How to Get Started

Ready to embark on your own short-term study abroad adventure? Here's how to begin:

Visit your university's study abroad office or website to explore available programs.

Talk to your academic advisor to see how a short-term program could fit into your degree plan.

Research scholarship opportunities - many are available specifically for short term programs.

Attend information sessions or talk to students who have participated in similar programs.

Start planning early - even short-term programs require preparation!

Conclusion: Your World Awaits

Short term study abroad programs offer a unique opportunity to expand your horizons, challenge yourself, and gain invaluable international experience without disrupting your entire academic schedule. Whether you're looking to improve language skills, dive deep into a specific subject, or simply experience a new culture, there's likely a short term program that fits your needs.

Remember, the world is vast and full of learning opportunities. Even a few weeks abroad can open you abroadr eyes to new possibilities and perspectives. So why wait? Start exploring your short term study abroad options today. Your future self will thank you for taking this bold step towards becoming a global citizen.

#study abroad

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typhin-hoofbun · 2 years ago

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This is pretty similar to my path in life, except I knew I wasn't truly human inside before I knew I wasn't a guy. They were both pretty early, but I felt the species dysphoria well before I felt the gender dysphoria.

Hoo boy, this turned out to be a LONG one. Soooo, gonna try to use one of those "Keep Reading" breaks and hope it works. (I'm still pretty new to Tumblr. Sorry if this is a giant block of horribleness.) Copy/paste into Google Docs says this is 2648 words after the break.

When I was a little kid, and grown-ups asked "what I wanted to be when I grew up", I answered things like "A mother", "A teacher", and "A programmer". Like, "If I can't be a programmer, I'd want to be a teacher". (Worth noting, I don't think I'd had a single male teacher at that point.) Sure, I was aware I should be a girl, but I wasn't really feeling the pain of it yet.

But at the same time, I was going through every book in the school library I could find on Greek mythology, because of all the transformation stuff in it. I was grabbing any book with a non-human main character, or just prominent ones. I was glued to the TV any time a cartoon was having its "transformation episode", where the main characters get turned into something and have to deal with it. I was daydreaming about getting my hands on Mutagen from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and what I'd do if I was spending life in a form like that. I was reading through Dragonriders of Pern and hoping someone had a way to use that genetic engineering that created the dragons to turn me into one.

The trouble was, I couldn't always be able to tell WHAT species I'm "supposed" to be. I still can't, really. I end up changing every 5-10 years, it seems. There's aspects of several species, contradictory aspects, that seem to "fit" better at different times. Currently, I flip between a few forms on a regular basis, the three I write my stories about. Princess the non-anthro dragoness, Flopsy the Hoofbun, and Vayryn the Yinglet. (While those are the names of the main characters, when it comes to me, they're more like nicknames/pet names. I'm always Typhin, my personality is always me, but the forms tend to highlight different aspects of them, in addition to the physical sensations that they would have.)

At the time, though, I didn't have words for what I wanted. I didn't have "anthro" or "furry" in my vocabulary. I remember around the age of 11, I was seeing a therapist (because the school demanded I be allowed to see one before being allowed to attend 6th grade, because THAT'S such a GREAT thing to boost a kid's self-esteem!) I remember trying to get across the idea of "I want to be a rabbit, I want paws and long ears and fur." And she had no idea what I was talking about, and thought I was looking for a way to not have to do chores. "Oh, you want paws so they can't make you do the dishes." "No, I still want, I dunno, paws that can do things? But they're paws."

"Otherkin", though... That's a loaded term. When I was first finding online communities, when I was first finding out who I was and that I was not alone? I still didn't know what a good "term" for me was. I still don't, really. Back in the early 2000s, "Otherkin" was "People who think they have the reincarnated soul of a faerie/other thing", and, well, I don't really feel like I can confidently profess a belief in "souls". "Therians" were the were-creatures, exceedingly pretentious and loved nothing more than to rehash the same few "philosophical" discussions about why they're the real deal and everyone else is just posing. "You never see ugly species, that's how you know they're just picking things like tigers and wolves and stuff because they're cool instead of because they have a real spiritual connection to their animal. Not like US, we're tigers and wolves and stuff because that's really who we are!" They sneered at the concept of Otherkin, because "They're claiming they're something that's not even real!" (Conspicuously silent on the dragon-wolf who helps run their IRC server.) Just about the only group they were more vocal about in their hatred, however, were "furries".

Now, I had been part of this community of therians for a while, mostly by random chance. But I had not felt comfortable with claiming spiritual beliefs of any kind, of supernatural connections, of any kind of soul. I was still getting a grip on being transgender, I was just breaking through my denial (brought on by the pressure to "be normal" during teenage years, and especially "don't be gay") about that at the time. So I wore the label "Furry" proudly.

(Interlude: At the time, I was a fox. I had recently switched because before, I'd been an anthro dragon, but when I was joining a graphical chat thing and picking my species, I thought "Well, everyone's gonna be a dragon. I'm gonna pick something unique, something nobody else is gonna be: a FOX." I was naive and new to the furry fandom. But fox stuck a lot more than dragon did, possibly because it was smaller, cuter, the graphical chat's version was on all fours, and didn't have the "power fantasy" aspect of a dragon that never fit with me.)

There wasn't any requirement to "Furry", nothing about it made me feel leery about adopting it. So the therians I was with would be "accepting", saying things like "You're one of the good ones." But they'd still get riled up and start bashing on furries every few days. "They're all just sex-obsessed perverts!" With sometimes a hasty "Oh, but not YOU, Typhin" thrown in, but usually not until after my attempts to remind them about how that's an unfair generalization fell on deaf ears, and I ended up leaving the room in protest.

Ah, but there's another side to this story... Now, I'm told the term "Therian" has loosened a lot in the last 20 years. Maybe it has, maybe it hasn't, I don't know. I haven't looked into it. But at the time, or at least in the group I was with, there were a few "key parts" of being a Therian. Specifically, there was Shifting. Can't really be a were-creature without shifting, right? Now, clearly, none of them were going to try to claim they literally, physically transformed into a non-human creature and went for a romp in the woods. But they would have "Phantom Shifts" (or "P-Shifts"), in which they would feel the phantom sensations of tails or paws or other stuff. And in these talks, I would nod along, because finally, THIS was something I understood! I wouldn't claim I "had a soul bonded to a fox due to being one in a past life/had a soul meant for a fox body that got put into a human one by mistake/some other similar reason for my feelings", so I still wasn't calling myself a "Therian" like them.

But the day came when I finally tried to join in on that conversation, and boy was that a mistake. Someone was talking about feeling their phantom tail, and I commented, "Yeah, I know what you mean, it's weird when you don't." What I didn't know was that, for this group, "Phantom Shift" was a rare treat, something they felt for a few minutes once a month. And that they took this as a major sign of the depth of their bond. See, I feel a tail pretty much 90% of the time, and have as far back as I can remember. My brain is utterly convinced there's supposed to be a tail there, and will send signals to move it (which, in the absence of a tail, often get delivered to my right foot/leg) based on all sorts of things, including mood. Well, without tone of voice, I couldn't tell that the room had essentially gone so quiet that one could hear a metaphorical pin drop, so I cheerfully answered the "What do you mean?" question with talking about how I feel the tail more often than not, I can often "bring it into focus" at will, and how if I'm stressed and can't feel the tail for more than a couple days, I start to freak out because it feels like part of me is gone.

And let me tell you, that was precisely the wrong thing to say to them.

They exploded in anger, accused me of mocking and belittling their beliefs, accused me of lying, accused me of, well, everything they could think of. And all those "Oh, we don't mean YOU'RE like that" reassurances were shown to be total lies, as they started accusing me of being "just like the rest of the furries" and saying how much they've always hated me.

...

So, as for labels, I have no idea. I'm "me", that's the best I can really know for sure. I'm a girl but I'm not "girly". I joke that "I'm female in the way a cat is female: it doesn't matter outside of the actual act of sex." In truth, well, I am a pet. It's who I am. Princess is the embodiment of the "pet" side of myself, she's non-anthro, the size of a large dog, she wears a collar and has a cute name, and she's fiercely devoted to her Master/Owner. She loves him, he loves her. Flopsy is the embodiment of my hangup of "I have to be useful to be liked/tolerated/allowed to exist", she was created to be "Like a golem, but better" and was considered property most of her life. She, like me, only really feels like she can "earn" acceptance and love through acts of service. Vayryn, well, the story version of her had to have that "pet" aspect removed, because it would simply be cruel to let her have that when she can never really indulge it. But when I'm "leaning towards yinglet", I'm very much in my boyfriend's lap, cuddly and affectionate, and practically (if not actually) wearing a collar.

I don't really identify "as a person". I can "fulfill the role of a person in public", since I have to, but it's just a mask I wear. My ideal life would be living with my boyfriend, collar on 24/7, giving that unrestrained affection and deep love and pure devotion a pet has for their Owner.

But if some genie or something popped up and said, "Okay, but which body do you want?" ...I couldn't answer. I would be 100% happy to be a scaly blue dragoness on all fours, trotting along at Owner's side, thick tail wagging and a purr rumbling in my chest and internal fire burning hot. I can FEEL all of that in a way that feels more "real" than the body I'm in now. But I would also be 100% happy to be Flopsy the hoofbun, with or without her super strength, walking and running and jumping on a pair of clopping hooves, with thick and soft rabbit fur, and ears that perk up and twist and lay back and put my emotions on display, eager to do any task that might make Owner's life even slightly better, even though I wouldn't have that thick, heavy tail or the wings on my back. And I would be 100% happy to be Vayryn the yinglet, hand-feet plapping along as my entire upper body bobs as I walk, looking up and around at a huge world, tail bouncing with a thick poof at the end to twitch and flick, long stick-arms that can't even touch my own chest and force me to use my feet to work any buttons or similar, clambering up my boyfriend's body to be held in his arms and kept safe from a world of giants that will kick me with no hesitation. All of those are me. And more. I might not be 100% happy, but if said genie said "This is the form I can give you, take it or leave it", there's a lot of forms I would gladly accept.

As a teenager, I went with "anthro dragon", because I absolutely could not stand the idea of being a mountain-sized monster that people feared. As I started doing stuff online, as I mentioned, I went fox. Later, when I started playing Second Life, someone gifted me a skunk avatar that they were working on, one of the first available, and the way it "clicked" was intense. I spent the next ten years being a skunk. In late 2015, with a friend, I ended up trying out various parts and things, and the combination of horse hooves on a rabbit "clicked" in a way that skunk simply hadn't been, and I went hoofbun. During 2021, I found myself gravitating back to dragon, but this time cute and small and non-anthro, and Princess solidified. I hadn't been "ready" to "publicly change my base form", but I was spending almost all my time with my boyfriend as Princess, and (for the first time) developing a character/setting/backstory for her. I started writing in January of 2022 because I wanted to get things down solidly, untangle the jumbled mess that things were becoming when it was all being held in my head. And since I was actually posting chapters online, I went ahead and started switching profile pictures over and stuff. ...And then hoofbun came back, that aspect of myself being neglected caused me to develop a story/character/abilities and such for her as well. (She didn't have any strength or anything before that. I actually was plotting things out as a Metroidvania I wanted to make "some day", but I knew I would never actually be able to get a team I'd need for it, so I ended up recycling it into a second story series for writing. Some of her abilities translated to the new form, such as her strength and her Nowhere - It was going to be her inventory originally. Some got discarded, like the idea that she'd defeat a gryphon boss and gain a feather she'd use to craft a "double-jump" upgrade, the feather she has in her Nowhere in the story is something of an homage to the idea. Her entire plot also got scrapped and remade from scratch, where she's now trapped on Earth and is a cryptid/superhero trying to move past the idea of "being property" and learn to "be a person", worthy of love for who she is instead of for what she can do.) And only a couple months after that, life events really slammed home the feeling of "Small helpless creature, kicked around by uncaring/hateful giants" at the same time I was re-reading the "Out of Placers" archive, and the yinglet form was born. It gets back the "small and cute" aspect that was missing, even with Princess, and it lets me be "silly" in a way even Flopsy (with her less serious "superhero comic book" story) can't provide, and it also lets me feel like... "I can be held and protected and loved even if I can't do the amazing things Princess and Flopsy can do". For who I am instead of what I can do.

...

What am I?

Good question. If I figure it out, I'll let you know. For now, Princess is fine, Flopsy is fine, Vayryn is fine. I am "Typhin", I am "me". I am all those forms, and more. Lazuli the rubber Vaporeon, Sapphire the chocobo, Paws the skunk, Bessie the cow, forms I don't even have names for that all have their uses because they allow certain aspects to shine forth.

Maybe one single form really can't embody the whole of what I am.

But I know one thing: I am not human.

Sure, physically, biologically, whatever, I occupy a human body. I'm not deluded, I don't claim to have anything other than skin. I don't claim to physically have a tail. (But I know it's supposed to be there.)

I am me, and that's all I can be.

I'm a trans woman and I'm otherkin. Both labels describe parts of me, but neither describes all of me. Yet at the same time, they're both closely intertwined, both key parts of my discovery of who I am - and both more alike than one might expect.

I knew I wasn't supposed to be a guy. Even from a young age, I was drawn to feminine things. I wanted to be a girl - I just didn't have the words to say it, didn't understand why I felt the way I did. And as I grew older, that feeling crystalized. I tried to deny it, to pretend it didn't matter. Besides, it was never the conventional picture of dysphoria - I could manage being a guy. It was tolerable. That was enough, right?

But it wasn't what I wanted. I knew I'd be happier as a woman - I knew it with a certainty and clarity I could never put to words. I knew, and the moment I realized there was a path forward, a way to be who I knew I wanted to be, I took it. I transitioned. It cost me a lot - my home, my years spent in college, my friends and stability - and it was all worth it. Having that weight off my chest, getting to live as who I always wanted to be... it made everything else so much easier. It's like a good night's sleep - sure, you can manage without for a while, but it saps your strength, makes everything else so much harder.

But as I transitioned, as I embraced my life as a woman, I realized... I wasn't quite where I wanted to be. I was closer - so much closer - but I wasn't there yet. There were a lot of little things I wanted to change about myself... and one big one.

I wanted to be something other than human.

At first I denied it, pretended it didn't matter. I had done so many things I'd never thought possible - I'd transitioned, I had a good job and was living on my own. I had good friends and the freedom to steer my own life. Wasn't that enough?

And those words were familiar. The feeling was familiar. It didn't take me long to put two and two together. And when, one day, an impulse art commission gave me my first ever picture of myself as a sphinx...

...I knew. I knew that this feeling was the exact same one that drove me to transition. I knew denying it would work about as well as denying that I'm a woman. So I decided not to. I decided to accept who I am.

I'm a woman, and I'm a sphinx. I'm transgender, and I'm otherkin.

Otherkin. Somehow, it's an even more loaded word than transgender. It implies so much, and that made it harder to accept. I don't believe in other realities or reincarnation. I don't believe I was a sphinx in a past life or other world - I'm really not spiritual at all. So how can I call myself a sphinx if, objectively, I know I've got the body of a plain old human?

The same way I knew I was a woman.

I'm not ignorant of my biology. I know what's coded into my DNA and what my body is shaped like. But why should any of that have any say on who I am? I'm more than my body, more than the chance outcome of genetics and evolution. I get to decide who I am - and I choose to be a woman, and I choose to be a sphinx. Why? Because it makes me happy. Because it feels right. Because it's my life to live and I get to live it how I want, so long as that doesn't hurt anyone else. Sure, I can't transition to be a sphinx in real life (not with modern technology, anyway), but when has an inability to transition ever made anyone's identity any less valid? I'll do what I can to make my body more comfortable and live with the rest, because the alternative - pretending what I feel doesn't matter - isn't living.

I'm a transgender woman.

I'm an otherkin sphinx.

And I'm happy.

#long post #furry #otherkin #therian #nonhuman #identity #transgender #life story

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hyenadon · 2 years ago

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I've seen so many trans men just adore the barbie movie and i'm on that team too. And ive seen and heard them talk about how masculinity and patriarchy is this...it's a prison. It's a beautiful golden perfect prison. If you are seen as a cis man, particulalrly a white cis man who has no disability and no neurodivergence, you get everything. Everything. It's just fucking handed to you. You never worry about the pepper spray clipped to your keys. You've never even bought pepper spray. You don't even think about it, you don't have to think about it. And idk something about this movie maybe made me realize that I will never feel like a cis man. I will never feel like a man and maybe that's okay. Maybe I prefer that. But my connection to masculinity will always be through the lense of being trans and gay and having grown up as a little girl. I like my identity. I like who I am. But my identity will always and inextricably be tied to being a little gay and a little fruity. And I shouldn't have to just like. Abandon my history as a woman to call myself by he/him pronouns. I think my history of living life as a girl is important to me. also just tagging this back to barbie - the first experience barbie has in the real world is some hardcore sexual harassment. And I just wanna ask anyone who has ever been perceived as a woman - do you remember the first time you were ever threatened like that?

I do. I was twelve. I was twelve years old and a teenage boy screamed "i'll rape you in your dreams" to me when I was walking home from school. I was TWELVE YEARS OLD. That's wrong. that's just WRONG. jesus christ. can you just imagine offering that violence to a child? and like. I actually can't even imagine being a teenage boy offering that violence to someone. I don't want to be that. I don't like that. I feel deeply viscerally uncomfortable with the fact - the *fact* that men and masculinity are tied along with violence. And so this whole thing is making me think. This stupid little movie about dolls, this stupid, derivative, easy movie, about a fucking doll, it's making me think harder than I have in- god, i swear, years.

The brain is a muscle (it's not, it's an organ, but stay with me for the metaphor) and I am working it out so hard that my brain is so sore. I'm thinking about so much. I'm thinking about my own gender and how gender is inextricably linked to power dynamics. I'm also thinking about men and masculinity. I'm also thinking about how I need to read some more bell hooks. I'm also thinking about feminist pedagogy. i'm also thinking about how like. well. the movie did indeed feature many characters of color, the movie was still incredibly white, and therefore the movie is and will always be about white feminism. I'm thinking about how there is nothing I can do to fix it. The world. I can't fix it. It's wrong and awful and I can't fix it. I can't be a woman enough to fix it and I can't be a good enough man to fix it. There is something so wrong and broken about the world. I want to make it better. I can't.

I don't even know what to do or what to say. This movie gave me a boost in self confidence - that's great - but as I said to my bestie - I don't want that. I don't wanna feel smart. I don't enjoy this. Feeling smart means I am aware of how awful the world is. How incredibly prevalent misogyny is. Every second of every day is misogynist. Every movie. Every tv show. Every book. It's hatred. I mean. I like that I know i'm smart now, my Media Analysis Powers are turned the fuck ON (ive always known that my superpowers are just in analyzing media and writing. even when I am at my worst self hatey self, I know that I can think about fiction, and write)

but I want my media analysis powers turned back off. because it's *painful* to think about this. It hurts too much. Its only been a couple days and I am so, so tired.

being aware of the world and myself and my friends and the systems that oppress us. It sucks. i feel stabbed.

#also this stupid movie made me want to write poetry again

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theambitiouswoman · 2 years ago

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Hey! I don't know if you've done a post on this already, and if you have, I'm sorry for asking again. But how do you practice discipline and self-control? It's something I struggle with a lot :/

I actually want to answer this a bit differently. We always opt to describing habits you need to adopt to be more disciplined, as well as tools and techniques. Things like, setting goals, creating a routine, setting a schedule, prioritizing, etc.

But no one ever talks about the mindset you need to have. It goes back to why we aren't disciplined in the first place.

For example, to be discipline you need:

Commitment: You need to be committed to your goals and the actions necessary to achieve them. This means being willing to make sacrifices and persevere through challenges.

Self-awareness: You need to be aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to recognize when you're losing focus or engaging in self-defeating behaviors. This can help you make conscious choices and adjust your actions accordingly.

Focus on the long-term: Having discipline and self-control often requires sacrificing short-term gratification for long-term gains. You need to be able to keep your eye on the big picture and avoid getting sidetracked by immediate pleasures or distractions.

Positive attitude: A positive attitude can help you stay motivated and resilient, even when facing obstacles or setbacks. Cultivate a growth mindset, embrace challenges as opportunities to learn, and celebrate your successes along the way.

Consistency: Discipline and self-control require consistent effort over time. Establishing a routine and sticking to it can help you build habits that support your goals.

But why aren't we disciplined?

Most people don't really have goals. Or their goals are so high and far from attainable in comparison to where they are now. Discipline is tied to confidence. We achieve a small task, we realize its possible... boosts confidence. Next task is a little bigger etc.

Because most don't do this there is:

Lack of motivation: Without a clear goal or strong motivation, it can be difficult to stay focused and disciplined. People may struggle to find a compelling reason to pursue their goals or to maintain the effort required to achieve them.

Poor time management: Without effective time management skills, it can be challenging to prioritize tasks and avoid distractions. People may struggle to balance competing demands on their time, leading to procrastination or incomplete tasks.

Negative self-talk: Negative self-talk can undermine motivation and confidence, making it difficult to maintain discipline. People may doubt their abilities or focus too much on their shortcomings, leading to feelings of frustration or hopelessness.

To overcome these barriers, people need to learn several key skills, including:

Goal-setting: Setting clear, achievable goals can help people stay motivated and focused. By breaking down larger goals into smaller, achievable steps, people can build momentum and stay engaged in the process.

Time management: Effective time management involves setting priorities, avoiding distractions, and scheduling tasks to maximize productivity. People can learn strategies such as batching tasks, setting deadlines, and using tools like calendars or productivity apps to stay organized and on track.

Positive self-talk: By cultivating a positive attitude and practicing self-compassion, people can develop the resilience needed to maintain discipline. Learning to reframe negative thoughts and focus on strengths and accomplishments can help people stay motivated and maintain their commitment to their goals.

Same goes with lack of self control. We lack self control because we are addicted to dopamine highs. We are quite literally not in control of our own lives, and are fueled by extreme emotions. You need to really want something. Accept delayed gratification. Motivate yourself by the end result and most importantly HOLD yourself accountable. Which will happen once you believe that you are truly able to achieve what you want.

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sordidmusings · 1 year ago

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Started this yesterday but only got a short way when Life was Happening where I was struggling to read. Besides that I def take my time while reading 💀 and I'm glad to have done so so I can fully enjoy the writing instead of just breezing through it. Below are the inane rambles - some of the thoughts/reactions/yada yada yada lol

Comforting Shachi did things to my heart idk man 💀 bring comfort caretaker bring Big Joy 👌🏻 also wish I had the balls to give friendly kisses it’s one of my fav affectionate gestures and Shachi and Penguin need All Of Them

Law being perturbed by sinking to childish showboating and squabbling when in the supernova trio has always been a fav - it just makes it even funnier that he's self-aware but can't help it lol He do also need to know that if he lets it out in bursts when there won't be any true consequences, then it'll be easier to regulate when there are 👌🏻 Also been eternally crying over his need to reclaim a childhood. There are so many charas in One Piece that need this and his case but especially how coping with that lack of childhood manifested in him hits especially hard.

Brook was definitely not ready to get so much info for once in response to his greetin lol and I love the idea of him struggling to decide if he likes the idea of there being no info cuz there's no panties or if simply a color or style would have been better. Also the fact that he ups the ante immediately 👌🏻 love a man who when given an inch of attention will crave many miles 😩

I love that Penguin and Shachi are just immediately on board with helping reader fuck the skeleton 💀 truly beautiful enablers 👏🏻 Also, was wondering why the relationship with them was so kissy (not a complaint trust me lol) and it being for jealousy of a believably misinterpreted action is a good choice 👌🏻

Dressing nice, both in the outfit part and the lingerie part, for Brook would be so nice because you know for a FACT that man would appreciate the fuck out of it lol an absolute confidence boost is inevitable

It only hit be just now while reading this that Brook basically has a form of pic for the tip of each finger so when he plays guitar he could use them as such. To create the warm sound of finger picking and try to fight the more metalic tones that would come out of the strings with his fingers, he'd probably have to wear something. The first thing that comes to mind is leather gloves but that would still struggle to get the right timbre I think. The best it could be would probably be a thin layer of supple leather lined internally with a thick layer of cloth. My first thought was thick leather, but that would be near impossible to keep from being stiff especially when formed to the shape of fingers. The give of fingertips is really essential to the subtleties you can bring out when fingerpicking and it makes me sad to think of Brook trying to endlessly chase that 😭 Of course, like many of the things Brook does, the being a literal skeleton thing has its paradoxes for the sake of a better and smoother story so it is simply a very pedantic long ramble 💀 His soul or some shit makes it happen, just as it makes his voice possible with neither lips, tongue, nor vocal chords

It's so unbelievably sweet that songs reader adored while learning music and through her life were the work of Brook. I'd give my left leg to meet some of my favorite composers and would also very much fall head over heels if I heard them playing their works firsthand 🫠

Knowing he's playing classical I had to think of what to imagine him playing and ended up with a Basic Ass Choice 💀 It is of course Une barque sur l'océan - the title is broadly fitting for the whole pirate thing but It's also a piece that I think fits Brook well because of the section of struggle and despair towards the end, where the boat is alone and at the mercy of the ocean's whims. Of course the song is long and the harsh parts wouldn't quite fit The Vibe so if he did this one it would be smart as the pianist to just play roughly the fist half, using those flourishing arpeggios across the whole keyboard to create a solid enough final cadence

I HAVE A VERY DEEP NEED TO JOIN IN ON THE BUG GAMES YOU HAVE NO IDEA DUDE. Basically all my spiders would absolutely lose in this game, but I'd at leaast get to sow them off without it being me randomly gushing about arachnids to people 💀 If any are interested, my Colombian curtain web spider, Thigh Highs, is the only one of mine I think wouldn't freeze in terror, move at .0005 mph, or die of fright lol they are all such little Weenie Babies. (Came back up to this paragraph to add that I would simply Die if any of my babies entered the gladitorial matches, they are too precious to risk any harm 😭)

Hurdy-gurdy is such a fun choiiiiiiiiiice I love its sound and it holds its own really well irl in backing someone up

Brook's confession at yearning for lips to just receive a proper little kiss has me achinggggg 😭 My heart goes out to the dear dear man

A therapist using their skills for Evil to manipulate Brook into apologizing has me cackling ngl 💀💀💀

Also adore the mood at the end going back to the fun playfulness with Brook!! I think he's at some of his best when he's like that, it feels really natural and charming 🤍

Wonderful job as always love bug❣️❣️❣️

Parts You Left Behind

Masterlist Here

Word Count: 7,300+

Synopsis: You are the ship’s counselor aboard the Polar Tang. Giving your captain the permission he desires to behave idiotically with the two Nakama captains, you give yourself permission to behave with similar unbridled stupidity. The Soul-King Brook has your romantic attention: you love his energy and decide to reciprocate his flirtations, no matter how crass and distasteful they come across.

Themes: Brook x f!reader, therapist!reader x nakama-musician!brook, skeleton kisses, cheek kisses, platonic kisses, romantic kisses, angst, fluff, crews being themselves, validating feelings, requited love, flirtatious dialogue, talks of panties, heart-pirate!reader

Notes: this was meant to be a small drabble. And the same thing happens every time I try writing a small drabble - we end up with a full fic. Apparently I have a lot of angst inside about the Heart-Pirates that needed to get out, and also skeleton kisses. Posted a day late for the Skele-man's bday. Thank you to @sordidmusings and @since-im-already-here for helping me with boney kisses.

Tag List: @sordidmusings @since-im-already-here @writingmysanity @feral-artistry @gingernut1314 @vespidphoenix @carrotsunshine @cinnbar-bun @i-am-vita @mfreedomstuff (sorry if you're all not into the skeleton. He needed some love)

The air shifted the weight of salt-forward air through the strands of fallen hair which whipped across your face. The docking of the three ships, joined together by ropes and beams, were thrust into the hull by a soft thump. Your crewmate Shachi instinctively reached for your forearm to steady himself on, gritting his teeth as he adjusted to the new altitude above deck.

“You alright there, big boy?” you cocked your head to the side as Shachi balanced himself on your forearm and the metal beam framing the deck. He hid his head from view, shooting you a swift gesture with his thumb to indicate his well being. You smiled at him, shifting his weight on your arm by weaving yourself beneath his shoulder.

Rubbing soothing circles onto his back, you aided him in adjusting to the altitude difference, as he grew accustomed to life above the barrier of the oceanic waves. Being at lower altitude saved Shachi’s sea-sickness from the swell of waves, rocking his body and causing his stomach to lurch with every rise of the ocean surface.

“I got you, sweety,” you cooed at your red-headed crewman, holding him steady as he holds back the rise of bile in his throat: refusing to open the floodgates to expel the contents of his stomach, “Take some deep breaths for me, hun. Big one in,” you breathed with him inwards for three seconds, holding it briefly, “And then out,” you exhaled with him.

“That’s it, sweetheart. Good job,” you praised him, feeling a shudder in his shoulders as he fought back the sickness in his stomach and mouth. You breathed with him a few more times, praising him on every inhale and exhale that he took with you. Once adjusting to the pattern of the swelling ocean, he turned to face you.

“It’s just hard, you know? Being under the water, then over it again,” he commented, leaning into your touch with his back arching beneath your palm, “It’s the rocking that does it for me. Just the constant rocking.”

“I dunno,” you shrugged beneath his shoulders with a bitten-back, downturned smile, “I don’t mind a bit of constant rocking from time to time.”

Shachi expelled a roar of laughter accompanied with your own at your unbridled jest. He hooked his arm over your shoulder and teetered off into a light chuckle. You looked up at your crewmen beneath your shoulder and shot him a winning smile. He reflected the expression on your lips with one of his own.

“There’s a few members of the Straw-Hat and Kid-Pirate crews, hun,” Shachi commented, gesturing to the ship that had docked with your own with the index finger of the hand around your shoulders, “Maybe you could find some constant rocking amongst a few of them.”

Your captain, Trafalgar Law, made you aware of all of the crew that served the Captain of the Thousand Sunny. The ever growing list of occupants never seemed to end: Captain Luffy, First-Mate Zoro, Navigator Nami, Marksman Usopp, Chef Sanji, Doctor Chopper, Archeologist Robin, Shipwright Franky, and finally, the Musician Brook.

Your role as the counselor of the Heart-Pirates, executing your position with the utmost excellence, had you immediately drawn to advise your captain with the Nakama encounters with the Straw-Hat Crew. You knew a few members of the crew, the person you seemed to gravitate towards the most was Nico Robin. Her level-headed dimenure alongside her ability to balance the rapport of the crew was truly admirable.

The other was the playful musician, Brook. The first time you met with the Straw-Hat “Brook,” you were truly ill-prepared for what was to come of it. Where a few people found his straightforward approach of flirting with the opposite sex repulsive, you found it quite endearing. When he performed his melodic compositions, you were entranced by his musicianship. You adored him, and would love to get to know him in the arena of flirtatious engagement.

“We’ll see,” you smirked up at him, pressing a small, friendly kiss on your crewmate’s shoulder before you gave his waist a gentle squeeze, “How are we feeling, Shach?”

“A bit better,” he confirmed with a nod, looking over to the docked ship and their crewmen, “Just gotta focus on not locking my knees, and we’ll be all set.” He turned to look down at you, smirking with his eyes shrouded beneath his glasses. Leaning down, he pressed a small kiss on your forehead before breaking from the embrace.

Shachi, Penguin and you were the closest amongst the Heart-Pirate crew. The seas were incredibly lonely, comfort being scantily found amongst one another aboard the crew. It started one night when the shifts were switching between the ‘am’ and ‘pm’ crews, your body reacting in its exhausted state within changeover.

“Nothing new to report here, just a small blip on the monitor indicating the arrival of a school of fish,” you yawned at Penguin, he nodded in understanding.

“Alright then,” he confirmed, clapping a hand on your shoulder in his own dissociative and sleep-deprived state, “Get some rest. See you in a couple winks, honey.” You hummed in response, cupping his left cheek within your right hand and pulling his right cheek towards you.

“Night-night,” you uttered, pressing a small peck on his left cheek before turning to his redheaded shift-partner beside him, “Happy shift-watching,” you uttered, breaking contact with Penguin’s body before extending the height of your body by standing firmly on the tips of your toes. Grasping Shachi’s cheeks, you tilted his head to give him a gentle peck on his forehead before heading off to crew-quarters without any further explanation.

After that moment, the three of you became as close as close friends could be. Jokes, playfulness and comradery were always openly expressed physically between the three of you. Should Captain Law make port, you would wingman for your special boys, just as they would absolutely reciprocate for you. Each time Law made a Nakama encounter, you would all be on the lookout for appropriate couplings for one another.

“All crew: prepare to board,” your captain’s voice rang over the speakers with a soft crackle, “Reconvene aboard the Straw-Hat vessel. Counselor, to my side.”

Bowing a small nod and giving Shachi a final squeeze, you broke from your position within the arms of Shachi and made your journey to your position beside your captain. Both the Victoria Punk and the Polar Tang bound themselves against the Thousand Sunny: sandwiching the great lion figure between their own figureheads.

Approaching your captain, you cupped your palm over his shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. He huffed out an acknowledgement of your name and title while he bowed his head.

“You wanted to see me, Captain?” you asked him, stepping into his peripheral view. He continued to have his head bowed low, pursing his lips into a straight line. You furrowed your brows, sinking lower to get a better gauge on his emotions.

“I have a confession, Counselor,” he nodded, opening his eyes and looking above his descended brow, “And I need absolutely no judgment other than the highest level of professionalism.”

“Understood, Sir,” you smiled, releasing his shoulder and quarrying your own as a way of depicting your full attention, “You will always have my ears, along with my complete attention.” He sighed in gratitude, tilting his chin to elevate his eyes upwards.

“Being with those two captains makes me-...” he paused with a light scoff in his tone, “...-make awful decisions. It’s as if I am no longer in control of myself: always doing something to prove how much of a man I am to not only them, but to myself.”

Nodding along to his confession, you wordlessly agreed with all points he raised regarding himself. You relaxed your stance, opting to remain more compassionate and empathetic while you listen to your captain speak. As of this moment, your captain was only a man - and one that desired to verbally process with his therapeutic confidant: you.

“I put our very lives at stake with this utter stupidity,” he continued, shaking his head at himself as he uttered his confessions to you, “All I seem to do is share a single, joint brain cell with those two morons each time we meet. There are no intelligible thoughts I can call my own, only competition and idiocy seem to remain.”

After taking several moments pause, Trafalgar D Water-Law waited patiently for you to offer a countenance for his predicament. You suddenly allow a warm smile to begin its rise on your lips.

“May I ask what our purpose is with docking with the Thousand Sunny and the Victoria Punk?” you pose your question as simply as you can. He furrows his brows, clicking his tongue in thought.

“It’s a simple exchange of information,” he confirms with you, eyeing your face as you receive this knowledge, “And to determine if our alliance should remain valid in its longevity.” You hum in response, pursing your lips before allowing that warmth to return to your features once more.

“Then I would suggest leaning into the so-called stupidity, sir,” you shrug, scrunching your nose before looking to the hull of the Thousand Sunny. Cyborg-Franky was tying up the rigging to secure the Polar Tang in position to ensure it didn’t slip away in the swell of water with the dark-haired Nico Robin beside him.

“Excuse me?” Law expressed his concern with a low tone, “Lean into it?” You hum emphatically, returning your gaze to meet with your captain. You shrugged nonchalantly, cocking your head to the side to get a better gauge on the emotions of your captain.

“We’re not in any danger here, sir,” you relay your translation of his objective, “We have no threats posed to us, that is not at the hands of one another. I doubt the other two captains and their crew would make any attack on our vessel here, if we’re all in a similar predicament.”

Law stands quietly, interlacing his hands behind his back as he mulls your words over in his head. He inhales a deep breath, closing his eyes with his brow deeply furrowed in the center of his forehead.

“If I also may, sir,” you add, stepping closer to your captain, “You are only twenty-six years old. You are young,” you dip your head down to capture his gaze, his eyes now reopened, “And from what we’ve discussed in our prior sessions together: the opportunity to behave like a child in your youth was taken from you by illness and cruel, tyrannical hands. You never truly had an opportunity to be stupid, Captain.” His small gasp was barely audible, eyes widening at you giving him permission to behave childishly.

“Then what would you suggest, Counselor?” He questioned you a final time, floating his gaze with the utmost seriousness between your playful eyes.

“Allow the crew of the Polar Tang to switch out of their uniforms, and let us all be stupid together,” you smile at your captain, extending your hand up to clasp his shoulder once more, “You deserve to be stupid amongst friends. Even if it’s just for a little while. If it matters, as one of the few members of your crew you trust with the rank and title to dismiss you from active duty-...”

Law’s eyes never left yours as you softened your playful expression

“...You have my permission to be stupid, sir,” you quip with a small wink, releasing his shoulder from within your grasp and turning back to make eye contact with the Thousand Sunny’s archeologist. You give her a small wave and a broad smile, with a final word to the gloomy man by your side, “But really, the person who’s permission you truly need is your own. Give yourself the luxury of behaving like, as you say, ‘a moron’ for a few moments. See what happens.”

With that final word, Law dismissed himself from his place standing beside you and hurriedly scurried below decks to, presumably, his office. In his sessions with you, he has worked through a few hard truths, all of which resulted in him taking a few moments in isolation to allow the truths to sink in. This appeared to be such a moment as this; which left you, in his absence, to be the welcoming committee to both the Straw-Hat and Kid-Pirate crews and their Captains.

As you walked over the wooden plank used as a makeshift bridge between the vessels, Nico Robin offered you her hand to stabilize your footing as you stepped down onto the deck. Her radiant smile elevated her features, mirrored within your own.

“Counselor,” she addressed you with the smooth hum of her voice.

“Archeologist,” you acknowledged her title with a soft nod in your welcome, “Are we reduced to titles now? Shall I address all of you in such a manner?” Luffy smiled at you, his pearly teeth shining beneath his upturned eyes.

“Where’s Traffy at?” Luffy asked loudly, his voice carrying over to alert the red-headed captain at the other side of the deck, “He not with you?”

“Unfortunately not. My captain is not available to conduct the preliminary introductions of our crews presently,” you relayed your practiced response, “Is there anything I can do to make this first step more comfortable for you while we wait, Captain Luffy?” you asked before turning to the taller man rapidly approaching, “Or you, Captain Kid?” you finished your question with a low bow and awaited their responses.

“Nah,” Luffy shrugged, clapping his hands behind his neck and offering you a tight-lipped smile, “Welcome aboard, Counselor. Tell your crew to get comfy, Sanji has made a whole heap of food for us all.” You rose from your deep stoop, smiling at Luffy before turning to Eustass Kid and awaiting his response.

“Traffy sends his cute little counselor ahead of him to meet us, instead of showing his ugly mug up here,” Kid smirked, his lip paint cracking in the warmth of the sun, “Smart man, that captain of yours.” You chose to remain stoic at his unbridled, backhanded compliment of your captain. You extended your chin into the air, narrowing your eyes at the tall captain.

“I would prefer all compliments coming my way be not at the expense of my captain’s intellect, nor his appearance,” you snarled, arching your brow at him, “If that would be all, Captain Kid.”

“Aye. That’s all, little mouse. Scurry on back to your duties,” he smirked down at you, his narrowed eyes training after you as you turned to direct your crew, now in common clothes, aboard the Thousand Sunny. They all seemed more than joyful at their captain’s lax behavior, depicting their personalities in their own styles rather than in boiler suits. The only member of the Heart-Pirate crew that remained in their uniform was yourself, eagerly awaiting for your captain’s dismissal so you could change into common clothes, yourself.

You felt a presence behind you, your blood running cold as a shudder curled itself up from the base of your spine to the top of your skull. The small rattle of bones indicated the soul which stood behind you, a smile immediately tugging at the corners of your lips.

“Pardon me, miss,” the soft-spoken voice addressed you over your shoulder, “Would you mind terribly if I were to ask you what type of panties you were wearing?” Your tight-lipped grin did very little to stifle your teetered giggle at such an insanely, forward question from the familiar man behind you.

“Soul-King Brook,” you addressed him, turning to meet with the hollowed eyes of the skeletal form which stood before you. He was dressed in a purple, velvet suit, his hair curled and styled in a carefree, circular afro. The beads hanging from his skeletal neck shook and rattled against his exposed ribcage, the perfectly bleached bones secured with a black, leather belt.

Eagerly awaiting your response, he pressed the tips of his fingers together in anticipation of your response to such an unhinged question. He could not remember if you were the type to yell, if you were the type to respond with violence, nor if you were the type to simply scoff and walk away from him.

“If I were wearing any, I would absolutely inform you of the make and model,” you smirked up at him, before adding a soft wink with a further hushed utterance, “When I am dismissed from duty by my captain to change into more comfortable clothes, I would be more than happy to tell you the exact shade of the ensemble.”

If you had never met this man in encounters prior, you would scoff if anyone ever attempted to convince you that skeletons could blush. But you did know him, and here he was: Brook, the Soul-King, the undead skeleton - blushing red at your words. The cracked cap above the crown of his head popped briefly, to which you almost thought you could see steam rise out of the hollow crevice.

Nami, the straw-hat navigator, noticed the skeletal musician beside you seeming to have a small rush of energy pop out of his cranium. Immediately, she hastily walked to your side to ensure the skeletal man was behaving himself.

“I-If then, it wouldn’t be too much trouble, miss,” he stuttered over his words, tumbling through his teeth without anything to halt them, “Would you mind telling me if the carpet matches the drapes?”

“Brook!” Nami scolded her crewmate with a loud reprimand, “You can’t just go around asking people if-.” You halted her words with a wave of your hand and an enthusiastic giggle.

“-It’s perfectly fine with me, Navigator,” you huffed a laugh at both his poorly held conversational skill, and the response his crewman welcomed him with, “I am more than capable of defending myself if I were ever uncomfortable, but I thank you for your valiance nonetheless.” From the corner of your peripheral, you notice Law’s presence aboard the Thousand Sunny. He gives you a curt nod before elevating his chin sharply to excuse you from active duty to change out of your uniform.

“If I may be excused, Nami, Brook,” you nodded to the two Nakama crew respectfully, which they both reciprocated. You turned and began to take a few steps, casually calling over your shoulder, “To answer your question, Musician: The last time I checked, I wasn’t bald up top.”

The whistle of steam sprung into the air behind you, the rattles of the rotation of excited bones clinked together behind you with the familiar, unhinged laughter you had come to enjoy upon your meetings with the Straw-Hat crew. You couldn’t help but chuckle to yourself as you made your way back to the Polar Tang to redress yourself in more appropriate garb for the encounter.

Brushing your shoulders against Shachi and Penguin as you began to go below deck, Penguin quickly grasped his hand over your wrist and halted your movement. You quickly snapped your head to him as he lent down towards you.

“You keen on the skeleton, honey?” he whispered his hushed question into your ear, “Need a wingman to set something up? We can be on the lookout for something, if you like.” You laugh at his questioning, shaking your head at his enthusiasm at the proposition of a romantic fling amongst the crews. Feeling the loosening of his grip over your wrist, you quickly pressed a small kiss against his cheek in gratitude.

“I think I can manage on my own,” you confirmed with a small teetered laugh, “He is quite easy on the eyes, and I find his unbridled lust for the living flesh endearing.” Shachi joined you with your laughter, both quickly dismissing themselves from your presence as you hopped back on board of the ship you called home.

Hollowed eyes tracked your every movement. From the grip on your wrist, to the kiss on a cheek, to the teetered giggle rising between the three of you. Brook didn’t truly understand how to feel in this moment: a woman of his dreams seemingly reciprocal of his flirtations being more than friendly with her own crewmen. Was this foreign emotion jealousy?

He turned his head from your position, as your silhouette vanished below decks of the Polar Tang. He felt a warm hand tuck itself within his skeletal palm, giving his bones a gentle squeeze in support. Nico Robin offered Brook a smile alongside her affectionate touch, soothing over his scattering nerves.

“She is friendly with those two, Brook,” she hummed up at his tall form, “You, of all people, understand how lonely it is on the seas. She’s blessed to have found friends to offer her a gentle touch and a friendly embrace from time to time.”

“That I do, Robin,” Brook confirmed softly, nodding to himself as he knit his thoughts together, “I just-...” he trailed off, his onyx hollows seeking out the former position you were atop the deck of the Polar Tang, “...I would never dream of ruining that, should I choose to entangle myself with her. She’s wonderful.”

Robin’s gaze floats over to the two crewmen of the Polar Tang you had found a family with, both of which were focussed in deep, private conversation. Their eyes would float up to Brook, as their hushed whispers were scheming in hyper-focussed plotting.

“Something tells me you won’t be ruining anything, Dear,” Robin chuckles before releasing Brook’s hand and giving him a small tap on his shoulder in encouragement.

As you stripped out of your boiler-suit, you hastily made yourself more comfortable in clothes you rarely found yourself donning. You quickly made an appropriate arrangement of your favorite dress: cinched in the waist, accentuating your figure in a perfect hourglass and laid it out on your bed. Before you threw on a plain set of undergarments, your fingers halted on fabrics you had yet to have an opportunity to wear.

A small smile grew into a playful, mischievous grin, as your fingers looped over the lingerie: hastily drawing it up onto your body. You usually wore this garment if you were feeling particularly dull in your boilers uniform: something only for you to wear to make yourself feel more confident. You giggled as you hooked your thumbs over the bottom piece and pulled it up over your thighs to settle on your hips. Hooping your arms through the arm holes of the corseted bodice, you tightened the front of the piece to accentuate your breasts within the cups.

You quickly took a moment to laugh at yourself at your own stupidity, before you reminded yourself: “If I gave the captain permission to allow himself a moment of idiocy, why should I not do the same? Where is the harm?”

Throwing your dress over your head, you took a final glance at yourself in the mirror. Hastily adding a small amount of makeup to accentuate your features, you hurriedly made your way back up to the top deck of the Polar Tang while adjusting your laced ankle boots as you took lengthy strides.

As you made your way back aboard the Thousand Sunny, you truly took the time to notice the assortment of clothes your crewmen were finally allowed the luxury of expressing. You set an internal reminder to put forward a petition to allow the crew to dress casually at least once a month while serving aboard the Polar Tang.

Your eyes quickly found the skeleton, sitting cross legged in front of a checkerboard with the archeologist of the Straw-Hat crew: both drinking jasmine tea and engaging in a game of chess. Approaching slowly, she gazed up at you and wordlessly complimented your chosen casual attire for the day. You gestured with your eyes whether it was an opportune moment to interrupt their game to claim the skeleton’s attention for a moment. She tilted her head with a warm smile, gesturing with her hands to go right ahead.

Brook was confused briefly before he felt a hand press down on his shoulder. He quickly turned his face to glance down at the fingers perched on his right shoulder before his chin was claimed beneath the same warm grip. You tilted his face to gaze into his eyes, taking a moment for Brook’s mind to catch up to what his body was experiencing. You gazed through half-hooded lashes into the darkened recesses of his circular hollows, a playful smile drawn up on your lips.

“Violet and pastel-lavender,” you uttered in a soothing, low voice, “Laced up with a gold ribbon in the front with a gold embellished trim around the hemline.” Brook would have lowered his eyebrows in deep thought, if he had any hair sprouting over his skull. He was confused as to what exactly you were relaying to him before he focussed on who was relaying the information.

His spectral breath was taken from him, no further words were formed within his hollow cranium as steam began to exude from every open orifice. Your half-hooded eyes playfully toyed with him, as a feline would with their freshly caught rodent in their teeth. You held your eyes watching him squirm as you bit your smile back with your teeth, while Robin attempted to contain her chuckle at witnessing her crewman be the center of another’s romantic attention.

“Y-Y-You-...” he choked on his words, the steam rapidly whistling and fuming throughout his skull, “...You’re w-wearing purple panties?” You giggled at his response, pressing your painted lips against the hollow surface where his nose was once located, leaving a perfect pursed circlet of affection painted on the bleached bones.

“Of course I am,” you confirmed with a wink before pulling away from him, releasing him from your hands and beginning to rise from your stoop, “I had to match with my favorite musician.” You gestured to the velvet suit Brook was wearing, prompting his attention to briefly switch to his own clothes before snapping his head back up. His jaw hung comically slack, prompting a giggle to rise in your throat before you turned back to acknowledge the woman opposite to Brook.

“Apologies for my forwardness, Nico Robin,” you bowed your head in respect to the dark-haired woman before returning your attention back to Brook, “Soul-King,” you nodded your head to the musician before walking over to your captain.

Sitting beside Trafalgar Law as he shared a single brain cell with the two Nakama captains was truly a sight to behold. You adored how he finally allowed himself to loosen the tight reins he held himself bound by, his playful stupidity was something you would’ve prescribed as his personal councilor. He needed a holiday, and he was finding one beside the two louder captains.

As the food changed from the savories, to the sweets, to the cheeses and cured meats: you felt hollow eyes fixated upon your form. You were not swayed by the attention in the slightest, it was a welcomed change to your experience aboard the Polar Tang. You embraced the opportunity to express your femininity in a creative way, and it was a bonus that you managed to snag the attention of such a unique individual as-.

“Brookie!” Captain Luffy called over the ramblings of the crowd, “How’s about a song? Somethin’ from the heart while we enjoy being one big crew together?”

His trance broken by the orders of his Captain, Brook snapped out of his bout of hypnotism as he made his way hurriedly to claim the first instrument set aside on the deck. The old guitar had water-swollen cracks in the base, but the strings were all new and freshly tuned. When he played music, he was in his own world: unaware of the life around him as he let the music carry his soul.

As his skeletal fingers began plucking at the strings, his voice relayed a heartfelt melody that held you completely transfixed on his form. Both Shachi and Penguin snickered at your awestruck expression, nudging each other with their elbows as your breath was claimed from you. Law attempted to ask you a question over his shoulder, turning to face you as he didn’t hear a word or utterance of response from your direction.

Law's gaze floated over your starstruck expression, the music fully moving your soul was painted intricately on your face. Your eyes began to become glassy as the swell of Brook’s melody reverberated in your eardrums and shook you to your core.

He smirked at you, uncaring that his question remained unanswered. Your captain reached his hand down, claiming your palms and giving them a gentle squeeze as you remained unresponsive to the world around you.

Nothing existed in this room: just you, and the skeletal man who was singing to every fibre of your very soul. You were entranced, bewitched, captivated and spellbound by his melody.

Brook in his time as a musician in his corporeal form was well renowned for his shanties and musical ensembles. Some of his melodies were taught to you as a child before you decided to embark on a life of piracy.

Nothing could have prepared you to meet the man who influenced your childhood musicianship, especially one on the high seas between all the quarters of the continent. Nor did you ever picture yourself falling in love with him as he finally concluded his performance aboard his vessel, to which you were a welcomed guest aboard.

You were too stunned to offer applause in response to the song’s conclusion, the world suddenly jolting back into existence as calls for an encore were encouraged from the three crews.

Brook’s spectral eyes were held in complete focus against your own, noticing the elevation in your heartbeat flooded to dust your cheeks in a warm flush. Your lips were parted, your eyes never leaving his as you blinked the world back into existence around you. Brook took a brief bow before he extended his boned hand out towards you, nodding to you in a gesture for you to take his hand and join him.

Turning to your captain first, Law nodded his head to excuse you from your position beside him, you rose to your feet and stepped around from the positions the three crews scattered themselves atop the deck, reaching forward and taking Brook’s skeletal hand. He guided you over to the plush stool beneath the piano, taking a seat beside you as he began to perform a classical arrangement that required no vocals.

Enthralled by the melody once more, your eyes focussed on the piano. The ebony and ivory keys dipped and rose beneath skilled fingers, the passion in the melody depicted with each crescendoed element.

“Do you play any instruments?” Brook asked in a low, hushed tone beside you. You snapped out of your brief captivity and looked to his vacant hollows. The empty sockets held firm against your face, focussed on every subtle change in your expression. His fingers continued to clack at the smoothed tips of the keys as he awaited your answer.

“Not since embarking on a life of piracy, much to the disdain of my heritage with my familial title,” you shrugged with a soft smile, his skull now holding your attention rather than the melody, “I did sing in my youth when I was in medical school, which was a long, long time ago.”

“Not as long as my youth was. Of that, I am certain,” Brook jested with you, nudging you playfully with his shoulder, “And I bet you could still sing if given the appropriate circumstances.” You returned the gentle nudge with your bicep before lulling your head over the curvature of his firm shoulder.

“I highly doubt we would find ourselves in those rare circumstances, Bone-Daddy,” you snickered at him, enjoying the subtle hiccup in his tinkering atop the keys at the bestowal of such a title.

“And if I were to ask you to sing with me, Liebchen?” he asked, briefly resting his head atop yours and nuzzling against you. His hair tickled your skin as he rested his undead body against yours. The rambunctious merriment aboard the vessel broke you away from Brook’s question, prompting you to raise your head from its position on his shoulder as you witnessed the stupidity your captain’s were involved in.

Each captain had managed to locate several bugs and beetles aboard the vessel, drawing a chalk circle on the wooden floor of the Thousand Sunny. It seemed that each captain had chosen a bug, beetle or arachnid: those creatures needing to touch the chalk ring of the circle the fastest to determine a clear winner amongst the Nakama.

Shaking your head with a warm, melodical chuckle at how much your captain was letting himself engage with the two other captains in their idiocy, you allowed the warmth to spread up to your cheeks. You were proud of your captain in his vulnerability to engage with them in this way.

Brook concluded his piano concerto to the absence of applause now the attention was on the insects in front of the captains. You turned to Brook and gave him a soft round of kind applause with your hands, to which he bowed his head in response. Cheers and hollers were thrust into the air at the engagement of the insect race, prompting you both to shake your heads as your eyes remained fixed on Brook’s.

“Will you?” Brook asked once more, elevating his hand to capture your own beneath his, “Will you sing with me, Liebchen? Something small and familiar to you?” You sighed in response, upturning your brows and allowing a soft smile to elevate against your lips. He held onto hope, his hand giving yours a small squeeze in eager anticipation of your answer.

“I would adore singing with you, Brook,” you sighed breathlessly, “Lead me in song, and I’ll follow the melody you set.” The skeletal man, should flesh be imagined on his features, would be beaming a broad and enthusiastic smile at your willing participation.

He reached within the opening of the piano, pulling out a small instrument with four strings and a rotating handle at the base. Several indented cogs and keys clacked at the sides beneath his skilled fingers, the music springing from the instrument sounded not so dissimilar to a violin with the dual tonality of piped bags.

“This is a hurdy-gurdy, if you haven’t seen one of its make before,” he informed you with enthusiasm. You nodded down at the instrument as he performed with chords and melody over the clacking and winding, stringed instrument.

“Do you know any melodies to this progression?” he asked as he played a few minor keys in sequence, “I know it would be somber, but I would love to hear you sing something like-.” His words were stolen from him as you began to lilt your voice in a familiar tune from your childhood.

Although over time the lyrics in certain passages became lost to you, the intention was there with each skilled fluttery phrase. This melody was bittersweet and melancholy, the song depicting a foreign land where death and grief would no longer hold purchase over those who flee to its comfort.

There was no mention of a lover, nor whisper of romance within the phrases - yet each lyric fleeing from your lips had the skeletal man falling deeper into the trenches of his adoration and admiration for you. As he learnt the melody and the repetition of the chorus, his voice joined your melody in harmony: skillfully floating in perfect pitch within the realms of your vocal skill.

As the melody ceased, silence once again surrounded you: the world once again free of the colorful atmosphere you were painting with your song. You were in your own little world with the Soul-King, Brook, beside you. Barely comprehending your actions, you leant forward and brushed your painted lips against the bone occupying the space his lips once were.

Drawing up the heels of your palms, you collected his cheekbones within them and held him firmly as you pressed several more, soft kisses against his boned lips. It was an unusual feeling, teeth where lips should be, bones where cheeks should be, cold aura of hollows where the fluttering eyelashes of a lover would belong.

Breaking away your lips from his face, you gazed longingly into the dark sockets of his eyes. No word was spoken between you as you held your breath. He turned his face away from you, shaking his head lightly as if battling an internal argument with himself. Your brows triangulate upwards in the center of your forehead, eyes wide and innocent as you bite at your cheek nervously. Resolving his internal struggle with a huffed breath, he turned back towards you.

Claiming both of your hands within his own, he gently squeezed at your digits.

“I never, in all my days in this skeletal body, have longed to have lips as much as I do now,” he confessed in a dark whisper. You floated your eyes between the hollowed sockets, searching for further insight to his feelings.

His sorrow was depicted within his tone, his face remaining vacant at each uttered confession, “I have no flesh, no muscle, no organ: I am only bone. I have no heart, my soul is all that remains. I have nothing to offer you in this life-.” You had no choice but to break him out of his spiraling thoughts with your own argument.

“-All of those things are untrue, Brook. Aside from the physical attributes, don’t you dare reduce yourself to merely the parts you left behind,” you chastised him with your verbal warning. He was shocked at your passion, feeling the heat radiating off your body as you drew up further arguments to present to him.

“You have no lips? I am more than capable of allowing you to borrow mine,” you spoke with no hint of irony, nor jest within your tone, “No flesh, no muscle, nor organ? Those are just the tangible surroundings for the spirit within all of us. Are we not merely vessels for our souls to use as hosts?”

Brook remained speechless, hanging on your every word as the fire of your passion ignited your tongue with sparks and flashes.

“You are only bone? No heart?” Your anger now truly evident on your features, “How dare you reduce yourself to less than all that you are,” you broke away his grip on your hands, and began to rise to your feet from the position beside him on the stool, “Your heart is your music, your soul is depicted in the care you have for your crew. I feel it, Brook.”

He cowered back against the piano, the hurdy gurdy dropping limply on the floor: discarded and abandoned. No crew spared the two of you a glance in your quarrel, choosing to remain solely fixated on the insect race, now turned into gladiator death-matches within the chalk circle.

Brook was in awe, watching your passion ignite in your eyes as you scold him with your words and bless him with your compliments. In all your encounters together: each time the Polar Tang met with the Thousand Sunny, he was entranced by your rapport and support for your crew. Your soothing words and answers to his unashamed lust presented to you had him blushing, but your attention now has him soaring with the reignition of his absent heartbeat.

From your position now standing, you brushed off your dress and shook your head to rid the prior passion from elevating further. There were no regrets from offering him a kiss, not even the absence of his lips inhibited you from pressing your affection into his bones. At a huff of your breath, you lowered your tone to be in a kinder pitch, softening your features as you turned back towards the skeleton.

“I will not stand for such self-degradation, especially with my occupation serving aboard the Polar Tang,” you extend your hand out to him, a soft smile slowly creeping up against your cheeks, “For what it’s worth, I adore you, Brook. I have always held you in the highest regard.”

“The highest regard? Even with only the parts I’ve left behind?” he uttered his question barely above a whisper, seeking out further explanation within your orbs, “I am only a skeleton, afterall.” You sighed, rotating your neck atop your shoulders and stepped further towards him. Pressing a small kiss on his forehead, your lips lingered for a moment longer against his cranium before you simply walked away from him.

Feeling truly no need to draw out an explanation for your dismissal of his question, you felt your heart break for the Soul King. You had already confessed your admiration for him, uplifted him with your words and then wordlessly expressed your affection for him with a soft kiss. The skeletal face now had several painted hoops from your pursed lips written on his bones, a memorial of love artistically indented into his absent skin.

Staggering in his rigidity, a boney hand reached out for you as you attempted to retreat back towards your crew. His essence was screaming to unify with you, to lead you in more intentional touches against his corporeal form.

“I-I’m sorry. I only meant-...” he circled his boney fingertips around your wrist and gently tugged you to return towards him, “...-I cannot kiss, nor embrace you, in the manner to which I desire most. The others aboard can give that which you seek, commit those acts with you. Why would you choose to engage in this way with me when there are so many others available to you?”

You exhaled slowly from your nose, turning to face the Soul-King. You stood between his parted knees, leaning down while seeking out his chin with your fingertips. Apprehensively cupping his jaw, you leant down to hold your lips a whiskers length away from his pearly teeth.

“Because you’re who I want, Bone-Daddy,” you confessed down to him, smiling as you touched your forehead against his. He reveled in the warmth rolling from your body to his own, feeling your smile mirrored with his spirit. If he had eyelids, he would close them as you did your own within the arms of one another.

Elevating his left hand, his slender fingers cupped your cheek and guided you in towards his skeletal mouth. Following his lead, you pressed your lips tenderly against the cool bones of his teeth, feeling the divots beneath your pursed flesh. He held your cheek against his face, tracing soothing circles over your wrist with the tips of his phalanges in his thumb.

Cheers and an uproar of hooted hollers erupted from the three crews, tearing your attention away from one another as you witnessed an exchange of Berry from Shachi, Killer and Nami. The wagers the crews placed on the variety of small creatures in the gladiator ring were as freely given as the drinks concocted by the skilled hands of the Straw-Hat chef.

Joining your laughs with your crews, you both held each other firmly engulfed within your arms. The Soul-King nestled his head between your breasts as you soothed your hands within his hair. After several moments remaining this way, you felt the tips of Brook’s fingers trailing curiously up your spine.

“Purple, you said?” he hummed coyly against your chest, his fingers brushing with the hem of the back of your dress, “Violet and lavender with a gold trim?” You chuckled warmly, feeling his head turn slightly in your embrace, his chin placed firmly between your breasts as he looked up at you with his jaw seeming to smile up at you.

“And corset-laced, gold ribboning in the cleavage,” you smiled, smoothing over his hair as you collected his cheek within the heel of your palm. You scrunch your nose at him, gazing through half-hooded lashes playfully down into the hollow abyss of his eye sockets.

“Would you like to see them?”

#soul king brook #brook x reader #one piece #x reader #afab reader #one piece fanfiction #one piece x reader #precious moots #Spotify

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ottiliere · 3 years ago

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not sure if you already have been asked this but what specific music do you think dirk would listen to? I'm a firm believer that he would listen to tyler the creator and devi mccallion I feel like he would specifically try to listen to "underrated" and "unknown" songs just to get a boost of confidence from being "cool"

ok he would not like devi m. i cannot understate this he would NOT like that kind of music. at all. i adore her music personally and it's been hugely influential and she is a total genius of course this goes without saying but the way she puts her feelings forward in her work is....not something he would enjoy seeing. it isn't that he can't relate or anything it's that he doesn't even try. think of it like this ok. he's self conscious. he's self aware to ridiculous, self defeating degrees, always. he is self conscious to the point of sickness. he's not going to like hearing someone sit down and sing about the most earnest, intense feelings they've had with a waver in their voice or whatever he'd think it's stupid. he'd demean it. at most he might respect technical skill but he would think very little of any music like that, i think. could see him going to far as to harass bedroom pop / alt artists for this reason in general...he thinks it's lazy stupid and shallow to sit around and sing about your feelings that's dumb weakshit literally anyone could do. if you're satisfied doing that your work is meaningless, because your work is tantamount to public self embarrassment. you know how in kids movies there's a character archetype of like a guy who doesn't know how to express themselves and thinks its stupid and gay to have feelings. he's like that but worse. it isn't even that he's scared of "opening up" or "being honest" with himself or anyone else; it's that the concept disgusts him fundamentally and prevents him from growing or moving on or recovering or coming to terms with himself or blah blah yknow. so yeah no devi sorry bro. tyler is too normal for him too ill be honest.

he probably does listen to niche underground people and all that but i dont think it's an ego stroking thing i think he genuinely likes the shit he listens to. he does think he's better and cooler than everyone else for listening to what he does but he doesn't listen to it with intention to make himself feel this way it's just the way he feels. he'd love captain ahab, raggedy angry, etc. i think i linked uncle outrage on here once.... that type of music i think is so him, not just in terms of sound but the attitude. self loathing and self aggrandizing in the same breath...very mean, very very mean words! lots of shock value offensive type stuff. oh such mean words. yeah he'd dig it. old msi type shit. i dont want to just bind him to that type of stuff though like i think he'd listen to comical amounts of music and could see him getting into mashcore or pisscore with an almost genuine fervor! he would love piss spears...he would crawl around online digging up peoples old shit that no one cares about anymore. even if he doesn't care for what he finds i think he'd do it for sport and for inspiration. can also see him listening to renard actively at basically any point in his life. but who doesn't do that.

#ask #dirk strider #opining #this answer's an exercise for all of you in ghostwriting determination. is this me or dane...?#we mindmeld our dirk opinations become one

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taegyuun · 4 years ago

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biology class

genre: fluff, acquaintances to lovers, highschool au

word count: 2.5k

pairing: jungwon x reader

requested? yes

notes: i hope you like this i really love college/school concepts and i was super excited to write this, also i had to search up topics for biology in highschool so if this seems too easy/hard for a bunch of 16 year olds y’know why. also yes i know in korea they have uniforms but for the sake of this they can wear their own clothes. I've been writing this all day, literally since the second i woke up until now which is 19:05 pm. I'm extremely proud of this so i hope you enjoy! texting is in bold.

yang jungwon.

the campus’ ‘it boy’. everyone knew, loved, hated, or couldn’t decide whether they wanted to be him or with him. people definitely had mixed opinions on him but it was mainly the boys who gave him the glances of evil.

they were jealous.

the kid was known for being easy going, naturally sweet to everyone and academically smart. but one thing that did tick the boys off though, were his talents. sure, there were many boys and girls in school that were nice and pretty and smart but somehow, yang jungwon just had to have it all.

not only could he sing, he could dance too.

not only could he be sweet, he could turn and give the cold glare too.

he was the definition of a perfect boy... and that’s exactly how you got involved with him. let’s just say you were at the brink of being infatuated with him.

but how could you not be? even though you two barely spoke together, when you did - even if it was only about the topic of your class - you felt like he was genuinely interested in what you had to say and it never felt forced. you always felt like he cared; no matter how boring the subject you were talking about was. it had you hooked in a second.

unfortunately, jungwon was popular. infuriatingly popular. and with popularity, the swarm of love letters and beautiful fangirls and fanboys also showed up in the picture. the thoughts of dating him disappeared quicker than you could say, “hello!” to him. it disappointed you, yes. however, who were you to dwell on some highschool boy? sure, he's not exactly the type that you’d quickly forget about the second you graduate but he also never made a real impact on your life other than some minor crush.

well that was up until your biology class.

“y/n and... jungwon.” the sound of mrs. lim’s voice boomed through the filled classroom and knocked you back into reality at the sound of your name. you look up from your hands in confusion and then rendered what she said - you were paired with jungwon for your biology project... that was worth 65% of your grade.

you weren’t exactly worried about getting everything done on time - you knew he would definitely cooperate and do what he was meant to do, but what you were worried about was messing up in front of him. i mean, messing up in front of your crush is the worst second hand embarrassment, no matter how nice they are. you put your thoughts aside and looked around the classroom, trying to find the boy, only to find him already looking at you with a smile and a small wave. you wave back before looking down at your fingers, picking at the skin near your nails. oh boy, you were in for a ride.

as the bell rings, you start to pack your things away, only to be stopped by a finger tapping on your shoulder.

“hey!” you almost feel like you’re in one of the cheesy romcoms, feeling like you had to cover your eyes from how bright his smile was.

“hi jungwon, what’s up?”

“i was wondering how we’re gonna do the project?” you thought about all the possibilities and topics. you could do it at his house, your house, the library and you couldn’t wait to decide on the subject. a small smile appeared on your lips at the thought of working with him.

“uh, what about i’ll give you my number and then we can decide after school?” you words were slightly rushed, as you tried to escape his presence as quickly as possible and get to your next lesson - wanting to hide away from the chilling glares his fangirls were giving you - which you were soon to be late to. he then pulls out a piece of paper and hands it to you before pulling his bag over his shoulder and sending you a pretty smile,

“remember to text me.”

you look at the piece of paper, a few numbers written on it in black ink. you dwell over the thought of having to text him first, but you knew if you didn’t, the project wasn’t going to get done. you thought over it a bit more and realised that your grades were far more important than some stupid crush. you pull out your phone and text a simple,

you: hi it y/n!

you put your phone down, expecting to have to wait a while for a reply and got back to picking at your food with your fork. instead, you're surprised to hear your phone vibrating on the wooden table, a notification with his name already on screen. you place down your utensil and look at the text.

jungwon: hey! so what do u want to do for the project? i think we should decide the topic first before figuring out where we want to do it

you were glad that he was pretty straightforward and didn't beat around the bush, also that he genuinely wanted to get the project done and that it wasn't you doing all the work like the previous times you were partnered up with someone.

you: what do u think about the musculoskeletal system

jungwon: omg i was gonna say lets do smth to do with the skeletal system

jungwon: ok well then the topic is settled where do u wanna do it

you smile brightly at the easy agreement instead of having to scratch at your head for hours to get the other person to agree upon a topic.

you: i mean we can do it at mine if youre ok with that but the library is also an option

jungwon: yours it is then ;)

you look down at your phone in surprise at the “;)”, not expecting him to be so bold.

you: great! tmr after school?

jungwon: cant wait :)

throughout the whole day at school, you kept glancing at the clock, anticipating the final bell to ring so you could meet your project partner at the school entrance and walk home with him. you shake your head at the thought, trying to remind yourself that it was just a project - nothing else. the loud sound of a bell ringing brings you out of your trance, as you excitedly hop out of your seat. “woah, y/n... what's got you in such a good mood? its only lunch, are you that hungry?” you turn around and see jungwon standing with a hand on his bag strap and a few other boys behind him. you lightly laugh and say, “oh I'm just excited to get started on the project... hi guys.” you wave slightly at the boys stood behind him and hear a chorus of “hi y/n!!” following and excited waves.

“ill see you later, alright?” you slightly smile as you start to walk away. your eyes widen at the yelling and hooting behind you as you look over your shoulder and see the rest of the boys shouting and punching jungwon’s arms, one of them yelling out a, “you scored! she's a cute one!”

you smile slightly to yourself and lift your head higher, walking towards the cafeteria.

finally.

the final bell rings and you pack your things into your bag, sighing in delight at the thought of finally being able to leave the building. you walk out the class and instead of being able to walk straight out like usual, you see jungwon standing off to the side and gently waving at you. you raise a brow at him, but continuing to walk over anyway. “what are you doing here? i thought we were meeting at the entrance?”

“i- um, i don't know i thought it be better if i waited for you here, you don't mind right?” he smirks knowingly, already aware of your small crush on him. he didn't find out through you, of course not. you were good at acting neutral around him - not even showing an ounce of adoration. however, one thing you weren't good at hiding, were your thoughts during your sleep. you two shared a free class together, and most of the time you spent it studying or sleeping. you didn't exactly say your thoughts loudly, but jungwon sat close enough to hear some of the things you had to say - him being a common topic of your dreams. he wasn't dumb, he could figure out that you liked him. but he also was a tad stupid - still not acting upon his already existing feelings and asking you out.

thankfully, you being his partner in the project boosted his confidence and had allowed him to create the ‘perfect’ plan of asking him to be your boyfriend.

“i-uh, yeah! i don't mind. shall we go?” you say, slightly flustered. he nods in responses and mulls over what he was going to do. screw it. he grabs your hand and interlaces your fingers together, “so which way to yours?” your eyes widen at his action, looking at him with your mouth dropped open, before getting out a chocked, “uh, t-to the left.”

“lets get going then?” he starts walking and softly smiles down at you. you subconsciously squeeze his hand and smile back, walking hand in hand with him, steps oddly in sync. you hear a “hell yeah jungwon! get it!” and a loud, “ow!” followed after. you turn around and see jay holding his head in pain and sunghoon stood behind him with a smug smile on his face, throwing a thumbs up to both of you. you turn back around and look up at jungwon, seeing his cheeks tinted a light pink and a shy smile residing on his lips. you feel a soft tug at your hand followed by a clearing of his throat.

“come on, lets go.” you follow his step, hands still interlaced as you two walk in a comfortable silence, once in a while telling him which direction to go.

“so what do you think we should start with?” you look up from the ground and see him looking at you, awaiting your response. “oh uhm, i think we should just start with getting all the info into notes and from that start making the project. i think we should leave the creative aspects like making it look nice and what not till the end because that doesn't really impact our grades so it isn't that important.” you feel his thumb rubbing you hand in soft circles and feel yourself getting warmer, completely forgetting his hand holding yours - it just felt so natural. he hums in agreement before speaking up once again.

“I'm honestly so glad i got partnered with you, especially with this being such an important project. every time i had to work with other people who weren't my friends it felt like i either had to do all the work or scratch to the depths of my brain to get them to agree on a topic and on how we should make it work.”

“i totally get that!” your voice slightly raises in happiness at his words, “i feel the exact same way. every time i get partnered with someone, i always have to do all the work and it got so infuriating always having to credit them for something they never did or the bare minimum.” you take out the key from your pocket and twist it into the keyhole, opening the door and hearing the pat of your cats paws coming closer to the door. you both take your shoes off and walk to the kitchen, your cat following behind and waking in between your legs.

“i didn't know you had a cat?” jungwon's voice forces you to look behind and find him to be crouching down and petting howl. “well, mr. yang, there's a lot you don't know about me, he's called howl by the way,”

“like howl from ‘howls moving castle’?” you smile brightly, happy that he got the refence. “yeah! i love that movie, its my comfort film,” you bring two glasses of water with you as you start to walk upstairs, jungwon following your steps. you both get to your room, opening the door wider to let him inside too.

“woah.”

“huh? oh uh, ignore everything - its not the prettiest room,” you say, slightly embarrassed at all the posters and random clutters on your shelves, “no, no! i love it, it reminds me a lot of my own room. its very fitting to you, y/n.” he smiles at you and you simply smile back, handing him the glass of water and hearing a quiet, “thanks,” in response.

“well, should we start?”

“god! finally!” you both groan, falling back onto your soft bed, sighing at the ceiling. you two had been working since the second you got inside your room until the sun had set; your parents even managed to get back from work by the time you were only one third through your note gathering. you spread your arms on the bed, stretching as you did so. your hand then hits something soft and silky. you look to your left and see jungwon smiling brightly as your hand rests on top of is head.

the whole time you two were working on the project, you both subconsciously stayed close to one another, as if you were just drawn to the other with an invisible force. even when you took a food break for 20 minutes and were sat opposite one another, your feet kept kicking the other, smiling and laughing quietly with warm cheeks.

now you laid on your bed, your hand resting on top of his head and staying there with no complaints from the boy.

“i like your outfit,” you observed the comfortable fit he was wearing, oversized black hoodie with some blue text in the corner and loose fitting black trousers. jungwon looks down at what he was wearing before looking back up and smiling, eyes slowly opening and closing, “youre tired, aren't you?” he then opens his mouth, trying to deny your statement but gets cut off by a yawn. he blushes before softly nodding his head and getting more comfortable on your bed, unknowingly bringing you closer to him, eyes already closed.

“take a nap, ill wake you up when it gets late.” he nods once again, barely conscious as he already falls into dreamland, arms wrapped tightly around you. you feel yourself heating up, both from his body heat and at his actions. you try hard as you possibly can to not squeal too loudly as you brush his hair away from his forehead and press a soft kiss in place.

a tiny smile forms on his lips as you get more comfortable and start to drift away yourself. right before being sent away to your dreams, you felt a gentle kiss being pressed to your forehead in return.

he may have not followed his ‘perfect plan’ of becoming your boyfriend but you both got 100% on the project... and a new found love.

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wyked-vibez · 3 years ago

Text

Introduction

PART 1: What is Energy?

-High vibrations & Low vibrations

What do you consider energy? What does it mean to you? Energy is something that surrounds you all of the time, and can affect us in so many ways, positive and negative. As a living being we have 7 main energy centers on our bodies along with a handful of minor ones as well. All living things carry energy, not just humans. Things like animals, plants, and even inanimate objects carry and hold energy! You have probably heard people call those energy centers chakras. I'm just going to refer to them as energy centers. There are people that are very receptive of energy and some that are not receptive at all. The people that are sensitive to energy are called empaths. A fun fact is that some people can drain your energy by just being around you. These are what I refer to as energy vampires!

What is energy?

Energy is considered a vibration and it can range from very low to very high, and everything in between. Higher vibrations are brought out by positive emotions and thoughts; along with good health and a strong spiritual awareness and or belief system.

Lower vibrations are brought about by engaging in negative thought processes and emotions; along with poor health and lack of spirituality and or lack of a belief system that fits your personal morals and idealisms.

There are so many things that can affect the level of your personal vibration, some of those things can be: your emotional state, other people's emotional state that you are directly in contact with, your mental health, your physical health, even your direct environment can all affect the level that your personal vibration/energy is functioning at.

Questions you may be asking yourself at this point are.

“ what does it feel like to have a high vibration energy?”

“ what does it feel like to have a low vibration energy?”

So, having a low vibration can cause you to possibly experience some of the following things:

* Finding happy people annoying

* Feel lost in life

* Convinced your good at nothing

* The future doesn't excite you

* Suffering from depression and anxiety

* Judging or bullying others

* Hate when good things happens to others

* Panic when good things happen to you

* Feel like everyone hates you

* Portray toxic behaviors

* Losing friendships and or relationships left and right

* Resorting to bad habits

* Being closed minded and closed off

* Saying no one gets you

* Always nitpicking people

* Finding the need to fix others/people pleaser

* Stuck in your insecurities

* Feeling attacked by innocent harmless questions

* Struggle with apathy

Having a high vibration can cause you to experience some of the following things:

-You are self aware (conscious of the things you say, do, and feel; and the effect it has on others)

* Being empathetic towards others

* Highly creative often having outbursts of ideas along with inspiration and motivation

* Smiling and laughing become less of what feels to be a fake it til you make it scenario

* Suffer less feelings of disappointment

* Having self discipline

* In tune with your body and its needs

* No need for physical things to provide happiness

* Taking part in self care

* Nurture yourself and others

* Seeing synchronicities more and more

* Live more in the moment vs in the past or focusing too much on your future

* Better organizational skills

* Exercising more frequently

* More forgiving of yourself and others

* Feeling no need to argue

* Patience

* No need to compare yourself to others

* Experiencing boosts in your confidence and abilities

* Highly in touch with your intuition.

#spirituality #spiritual energy #energywork #high vibration #low vibrations #spiritualalignment #spiritualteacher #astrology #tarot

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ariddletobesolved · 5 years ago

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Days We Spend Under the Sun (Ten - End)

Written for @helsa-summer-event ❤

Fandom: Frozen

Genre: Romance, Family, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Whump

Rating: T

Summary: Summer is not her favourite season, but a certain Admiral from the neighbouring kingdom is going to change that.

Brace yourself for a long arse chapter, and maybe a little cheesy (idk). This is the last chapter of this AU (feeling emotional already, lmao). Sorry it took a while, I've been dealing with several things, but here I am. I won't write too much notes, as I've prepared another post just for that. Thanks for reading and supporting this AU. Enjoy!

Prompt 7: Free

—

Chapter Ten

"I don't know if I can do this."

Hans sighed as he put down the small box on the wooden table, pushing it closer to the queen's direction.

From her seat behind the desk, Anna gave him a look. She raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Would you care to elaborate?"

The former prince pinched the bridge of his nose, before turning to face the queen.

"I don't think she'll say yes." He replied, his hands clasped behind his back as he stood up straight. "We haven't been courting for that long, and the past we shared—"

"Yes, yes, I'm aware." Anna calmly interjected. Her hands were in her lap, eyes darting from the box towards him. "But you seemed so eager and determined a week ago, what changes?"

His jaw clenched, for the vivid memory of his dream last night came crashing at him, flooding his senses. It had been two months since the last time the nightmare occurred, about him, standing in the pool of blood on the slowly melting fjord, gazing at a pair of dull blue eyes that stared back at him. Elsa was dead, and he would become king like he wanted. The ice beneath him thawed, and he fell into the cold water. That was when he woke up, gasping for air, only to see Elsa, alive and murmuring sweet nothings to his ear. Realising that it was all just a dream, he pulled Elsa into his embrace, muttering how sorry he was.

It was a vision of what could've been, had he succeeded in ending the Eternal Winter by going for the source of magic. Even after years of punishment and redemption, the guilt was still there, eating him alive. Had it not been for Elsa's comfort, Hans wouldn't have known how to keep going.

"Hans?"

"I was a monster." He gulped. "Maybe I still am, knowing that some people still don't trust me. And for that, I know I'm not worthy of your sister's love, or anyone else's."

"You were." Anna grabbed the small box and a roll of parchment, then getting up from her chair. "Hans, you'd wronged me. I won't sugarcoat it. You left me to die in that room, you deceived me, and you were out to kill my sister. I admit, I took great pleasure when I punched you in the face."

The whole time, Hans didn't even flinch. He knew what he had done wrong, he was aware of that, and he would forever regret it.

"So I've noticed, even after all those dark months, some people still refused to look you in the eye, not wanting to acknowledge you as a person." She walked over and stopped before the tall redhead. "I did that too when you first came here after years. Elsa was the one insisting to lock you up, but I didn't see the point. There was something different about you."

When a roll of parchment was offered to him, Hans frowned. "Why are you doing this, Anna?"

"As much as I'm doing this for Elsa, I also believe you're not the same person who came to Arendelle with an ambition to become king." Anna spoke, her gaze showed kindness. "I can see that now, and it's not only because you won us war.

"That Prince Hans of The Southern Isles, who had a miserable childhood, dying to prove himself to his father and twelve older brothers, who attempted to marry into the throne to become king and was willing to commit a murder to fulfil such an ambition, was a failure. He wasn't born evil, yet he had failed to stop himself from being blinded by ambitions, and his tragic past doesn't excuse what he did." She paused, thrusting the roll onto his grasp. "But the man standing before me right now is not him. I trust you understand what I mean, Vice Admiral." Anna smiled as she mentioned his new title.

There was a beat, before Hans asked in disbelief, "They approved?" He unrolled it and began to read its content, green eyes were scanning the words over and over again.

"It was a long discussion with Captain Larsson, but apparently, some people already accept you as one of us, even Admiral Goran." She was relieved and worried at the same time. She knew Hans doubted himself, at least she had heard Elsa mentioned it to her a couple of times, but she also knew that the two of them—Elsa and Hans were madly in love with each other. All they needed was a little push.

"Hans," Anna called, and immediately, his attention was on her.

"Thank you so much! I don't know what to say, this is," Hans beamed, "does Elsa know?"

"Not yet." The strawberry blonde smiled. "I figured you'll be the one telling her, as planned."

Realisation began to sink in and he pressed his lips in a tight line. "Right."

"You're doubting yourself, aren't you?" The queen studied him closely. "I see how you look at my sister, and how she looks back at you. I know Elsa, and I've never seen her being this happy—different kind of happy. You might not notice it, but she is glowing whenever she is with you. She cares about you, and I know you care about her, a lot, I may add."

"Do you really think so?"

Anna rolled her eyes in a playful manner. "I know so!" She pressed the small box gently on his hand, and gave him a little push. "Now go and propose to my sister. You already have my blessing, and that means you have one less thing to worry about."

The gesture from his, hopefully, future sister in law brought a smile on his face. Hans glanced at her, feeling grateful for her kindness. He firmly held the box in his right hand. The queen was no longer that naive little princess, who would marry a man she just met because she was desperate for love. She had grown into a compassionate and caring Queen of Arendelle, whose prosperous reign was equal to her predecessor, her sister. Whether it was motherhood or her kind nature, he didn't know.

"Thank you, Anna." Hans didn't know if hugging the queen was the best move, so he went to shake her hand. But Anna, sensing his hesitation, pulled him in a quick hug.

"No, thank Elsa." She said, holding him by his shoulders. "I might be the one who opened the door, but she was the one who let you in."

The former prince nodded. The sisters' kindness was obviously contagious, and it was a part of several reasons why he wanted to change for the better.

"But," Anna said, her tone turned dramatically, "if you hurt my sister, I won't hesitate to punch you in the face, again, and I'll make sure that your nose wouldn't be the only thing that's broken."

Hans gulped. Of course he knew better than causing the Snow Queen any pain. He nodded.

"Now, go!" Anna smiled, pushing him towards the door. "You have a date to attend. Also, it's a perfect place for a date in this castle, so might as well, not spoil it."

"Okay, okay."

"Oh, and Hans?" Just when he was about to close the door, she added, "welcome to the family."

—

Hans couldn't stop smiling. A sudden surge of confidence boosted through him, as he made his way towards Elsa's room. With a ring in his pocket, a bouquet of her favourite flowers and a new dress for her in his grasp, he began to think of how their day would proceed. If Anna was right, and Elsa said yes, Hans would be the luckiest man alive, he knew that for sure. Standing before the wooden door, he composed himself. As he turned the bronze handle, he heard voices talking.

"Oh, I don't know what he is planning, but I heard him talking to Anna about dresses and flowers." It was Olaf. "I hope he is not planning something bad."

Hans was frozen on the spot. Did the snowman think that he had a bad intention towards Elsa? He knew Olaf was probably not making any sense, but it was enough to make him think of the worst.

Elsa chuckled. "Olaf, why would he plan something bad with dresses and flowers? It sounds like something romantic, but I can be wrong."

It was a relief, but gone was the confidence he brought along as the next question came up.

"You said he had a nightmare, Elsa, what was that about?"

There was a silence, thick and hostile, from where he was standing. Doubts began to cloud his mind, as he wondered what she might be thinking. Not wanting to wait any longer, he pushed the door open.

Her beautiful smile was the first thing that greeted him. Still dressed in her nightgown, Elsa looked radiant, as she sat on the bed with a breakfast tray in her lap. Olaf beamed and waved at him.

"I wish they would allow me to join you for breakfast, since I'm feeling much better now." Elsa sighed when she saw him walk over. "What do you have there?"

Hans flashed her a smile, settling the neatly folded dress over the chair nearby and put the flowers in her grasp, before leaning in to kiss her lips.

"Presents." He let out, sitting on the bed next to her.

Olaf nudged her, "See? I told you!" The snowman then collected her tray, before getting back on his feet. "I think I'll leave you both to it. See you later!"

Once the bedroom door was closed, Hans put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it lightly. At the gesture, she let out a giggle, before shoving his hand off. "Hans, no!" She smiled gently, cradling the bouquet close to her chest. "Thank you." Fondly, Elsa admired the bouquet, inhaling the familiar scent. "It's lovely."

"I'm actually planning something for the both of us." He stated, tucking her loose blonde strands behind her ear.

Eagerly, her blue eyes widened with interest. "Really, what is it? Are we going to go sailing?"

Sailing was his previous plan, indeed, but since Elsa was only recovering from her fever, Hans decided that they should stay in. He didn't wish to cause her any more harm than he already did, although the rising temperature wasn't exactly his doing. Besides, if Elsa said yes to a lifetime with him, it means that they would sail forever in holy matrimony.

"You'll see," was all his reply.

—

Moments later, Elsa and Hans were standing on the balcony at the back of the castle, facing the perfect view of the open sea. Anna was right, Hans thought, it was a perfect place for a date. A table for two was set up, with cakes, a teapot, two cups, and some boxes of chocolate were served on the table. A bouquet of heathers was placed in the middle.

Elsa could recall how many times she would go there in between meetings when she was queen, just to allow herself to think. She loved the view, the blueness of the ocean, and the gentle caress of the wind, they offered her comfort. It was rather quiet, even during the day, but at least she wasn't alone this time.

Hans held her close from behind, one hand was holding the railing, and the other was around her torso. His mind wandered back to the conversation he had with Anna. He would never forget her generosity in giving him the chance to prove himself that he was capable of growth—the chance not everyone would grant him. She allowed him to stay in Arendelle, to serve in the navy, so he could be close to the love of his life, despite the dark past they shared. Then he began to think of Elsa's silence when the topic about his nightmare was brought up.

"You're quiet." Elsa stirred in his embrace and turned to face him. "What are you thinking about?"

"Things." He said, before letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Elsa, I shouldn't have ruined it for you. We can have some tea and chocolates."

Hans was about to move to the table, when Elsa stopped him. "You didn't ruin anything at all. I was only wondering why you were quiet." She paused, eyes were never leaving his. "Would you like to talk about what's troubling you?"

"What makes you think it's troubling me?" It was a little defensive on his part.

Elsa frowned. "Your reaction right now is what." She blinked. "Is it your nightmare?"

She wondered what made him act so defensive. The past few days, Elsa noticed how he had been acting strange, and she was under the impression that he was hiding something, but what? That couldn't have had anything to do with the recurring nightmare, could it?

"Hans?"

Ignoring her, the redhead let go of her hand, before turning around. He pulled out a box from his pocket, admiring the diamond ring inside. Oh, how he wished everything was easier for him.

"You've been hiding something." It was loud and clear in his ear. "What is it?"

"Nothing." He muttered, still with his back facing her. Putting the box back into his pocket, Hans looked back.

Thoughts were running through her head, and some of them weren't pretty. "Are you doubting us?"

"It's not that." Hans shook his head. The frown on his face deepened.

Elsa, growing frustrated as the second passed, looked away. Her cheeks were flushing as anger began to build up. "I can't believe you don't even trust me, especially with whatever it is you're hiding."

"It's not that simple, Elsa." He took a deep breath, rubbing his face in an equal frustration. "You don't understand."

"Then make me!" Elsa pressed, taking a step closer.

Her fingertips were cold, as she tried to contain her powers from exploding. She breathed heavily, the storm in her chest was raging, but there was something in his emerald eyes—remorseful and sincere—as she held his gaze. Closing her eyes, Elsa tried to calm her mind. Anger was never a solution, and one of them should hold their ground if they wanted to carry on with the conversation. Perhaps what he needed was comfort.

"Hans," The former queen called, after another minute passed with silence. She looked up, staring at him with her blue eyes, while holding one hand out. "Come here."

When Hans took her hand, Elsa immediately pulled him into an embrace. She wounded her arms around his torso, resting her cheek against his shoulder. Gently, he returned the gesture and pressed a kiss on her temple. Nothing could top the feeling of holding each other close, getting lost in the comfort.

Closing his eyes, Hans breathed in her scent. Maybe asking her wouldn't hurt, he thought, and he shouldn't be selfish if he wanted to take their relationship one step ahead. And with a determination, he let out, "Kaere."

A beat.

"Yes?"

He took a deep breath, still holding her hand. "I need to tell you something."

Taking one step back, his knee bended slightly, and Elsa tried to stifle a gasp. Is he going to propose? She thought, is this what he has been hiding from me? Her pulse quickened, anticipating what was about to come. Elsa didn't see that coming, but for some reason, she was glad.

The former queen was no fool, and she frowned when she saw him stand up straight. She put two and two together, and realised that he had been doubting his own self. She knew about his nightmare, and how remorseful he had been. To see him looking unsure brought a pang on her chest. She couldn't wait any longer.

"Marry me." Elsa blurted out.

Stunned. Her words got him frozen on the spot. Hans stood there, dumbfounded. Marry me. Those words echoed in his mind, and he had to blink to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. Did she just—

"Hans?" She whispered, taking a step closer to cradle his head. "Are you—

But before she could continue, Hans captured her lips with his. Gone was the hesitation, the doubts that had been haunting him, as he got lost in the passion. Her lips were firmly pressed against his, as if she tried to give him a proper reassurance. He held her close by the waist, as he deepened the kiss, savouring the taste of her tongue, before they pulled away.

"Is that a yes?" She asked breathlessly, smiling ear to ear, pressing her forehead against his.

"Kaere," Hans couldn't contain the joy. He let go of her waist, and held her hand. With a surge of confidence, he got down on one knee. "Allow me to do it properly."

He pulled out the small diamond ring and held it up.

"Elsa," he began, "I know I'm not worthy of your love," seeing the look of disapproval on her face, Hans gave her hand a gentle tug, "hear me out, please?"

"Okay." Her heart swelled inside her ribcage, and warmth overflowing in her body. She nodded.

"I know I'm not worthy of your love," he repeated, "forgiveness, even a second chance. What I've done in the past is unforgivable, and I'm accepting that.

"But you, Elsa, you have given me the chance to get to know you, and I'm grateful for that. Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and you are the kindest people I know. You have shown me kindness, and for that, I'm forever grateful. I love you, min Kaere, and nothing will ever change that. I've never felt this way before, and you don't know how hard it was to deny it. Because loving you feels so right, but also wrong at the same time. Our union is frowned upon because of our past, but we've proved them wrong."

"Hans," she gasped. Her eyes were glassy with tears at his confession.

"I have nothing grand to offer, and I may be pushing my luck, but," he paused, looking at her with sincerity, "Elisabeth," he gently said, taking her by surprise at her given name. "Will you marry me?"

Her vision got blurry with tears as she stood there. It was too much for her, the love and joy that she felt was overwhelming, but in a good way.

"Yes." She nodded furiously. "God, yes!"

He slid the ring on her finger, and got up to pull her into his arms. He spun her around, burying his face in the crook of her neck. There were sparks in his chest when he heard her giggles, and realisation began to sink in. They're engaged.

"I love you." He put her down, so they were standing face to face. One hand cradled her head, with his thumb rubbing her cheek gently. "I love you so much."

Elsa smiled, giving into his touch. "And I love you too, so very much." She covered his hand with hers, as she pressed a gentle kiss on the heel of his palm. "Don't ever doubt yourself, okay? You are worthy."

Hans nodded slowly. "Forgive me."

"It's okay." Elsa nuzzled his nose. "There's nothing to forgive."

"There's also another thing." He began.

Elsa tilted her head with interest. "Yes?"

"I'm staying." Hans smiled. "This time for good."

"Hans, what?" With her mouth agape, she gazed into his emerald eyes, searching for any hint of mischief, and when she couldn't find any, she blinked. "I don't understand."

He led her to a chair nearby, and helped her sit, before seating himself next to her. Taking her hand in his, Hans pressed his lips over the knuckles.

"So, I might have asked Anna a favour just about last week. I was applying for a vacant spot in the Arendellian Navy."

It did not take her long to guess. "The Vice Admiral?"

The redhead nodded. "Yes."

"And you got it?" This time, she was smiling.

"I did."

Elsa didn't know what to say. The news was another thing she didn't expect to hear, and it seemed as if her day couldn't get any better.

"It's," the former queen paused, "wonderful! I'm so happy for you, truly."

She cupped his face and showered him with kisses, from his forehead to his temple, then his nose, and down to his lips. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Elsa settled on his lap. She nuzzled the crook of his neck as he held her close.

"I'm so glad to have you home, Hans." She murmured.

"Home?"

Elsa nodded, looking up to him, fondly. "You're here now with me. We are home."

Home. He liked the ring of it. Elsa had been his safe haven, and then she was his home. In the end, things were working out just fine, and they were both alright.

"Thank you, Elsa."

"Hmm?" She eyed the new accessory on her ring finger with a smile, before darting her attention back to him. "For what?"

Hans felt his heart swell. He pressed another kiss on her temple. "For letting me in, and giving me a second chance." And he would be forever grateful for that.

Quietly, Elsa settled back in his embrace. Her blue eyes were gazing far ahead at the open sea. Once in a while, she stole glances at the symbol of their union, and she realised that the past few days they spent under the sun were leading up to that very moment. How their story went as the time passed, she would treasure that, and despite the rocky path they had to take to get there, Elsa regretted nothing.

Suddenly the future didn't seem to be uncertain. Hans is staying, and we're getting married, Elsa told herself. That steadiness, something to hold onto, was all she needed. And forever with him, she couldn't wait to spend.

END.

#helsa #days we spend under the sun #elsa x hans #hans x elsa #iceburns #helsa fanfiction #mary's writing #helsa summer event #helsasummerevent2020 #helsasummerevent

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moonshine-and-midnight · 5 years ago

Note

Hello, I have read your disclaimer and really liked it. I'm thinking of offering readings in the future so it was great inspiration. I hope you can answer my question: What can I expect from opening my divination services to the public? It is alright to make this public, I hope it gets you positive recognition.

Hey there, dear. I wish you all the best for your plan. On a side note, I really do not know if I am perceived as positive, dear, but I do hope so 🌻

To answer your question: Personally, I feel like what you can expect is

the chance to grow your skills

Other people face different situations, they have different questions and so you will be asked many different things. If you mostly read for yourself, chances are that not all fields are covered - for me, this would be romance/relationship as I am a single mum of two daughters who is currently not looking for either of that so my self-readings do not connect to this field at all

you get to know your deck better

The RWS deck which I use for these requests is not used for anything else. This is my reading deck so the only time I use it is when I read for others. I had this deck for a long time, actually, but never got around to use it for anything so while it rested in its place, I had minimal interaction with it and thus, didn’t know its own voice, its way of delivering answers, which topics it is open to answer and which it rather doesn’t want to answer. So whatever deck you choose, you will end up getting to know it better

you get to know yourself better

Because reading for others is not the same as reading for yourself - not for me, at least. Reading for others costs me more energy than reading for myself. Where I can easily dish out a dozen readings a day for myself (or work on a creative writing project with one of my decks which requires even more draws), I hit my limit at five readings for others a day.

you have no choice in the matter and develop more confidence

This has two reasons.

The first is that if you truly focus on someone’s request, you will pick up on at least one aspect of their energy. You can never be 100% accurate, but to a degree, you will discover that you can be as accurate as naturally possible (again, not 100%. No one is that accurate and anyone who claims to be is lying). This will boost your motivation to continue learning and you will feel more and more confident in your skill.

The second reason is that you will have to assert yourself. Not everyone is likely to follow your rules (no feedback as agreed to, rude requests, no one reading or paying attention to your rules, someone sending in a dozen love readings - each with a different person, etc.) and while it can become frustrating, you will find that sticking to your own rules will become easier. You will feel more comfortable asserting yourself and putting your rules into action and sooner or later, this will show in your level of confidence. This confidence will not be about your skill but rather that your time is worth something. Your energy is worth something, your effort. Even if it just means reading a disclaimer and leaving feedback - it will raise your confidence.

Especially when it comes to turning down someone because you absolutely dislike their tone, the way the demand things, or just the fact that they disregard something that is important to you or perhaps because your deck is not comfortable with the field their question falls into.

At first, I felt uneasy deleting requests when they were missing initials or the agreement to the disclaimer. I found myself rude. But I am not because this is a shared service - I offer my time and energy for a reading that mostly won’t cost the requester anything as my readings are free of charge, and they agree to leave feedback in return.

as with the confidence, you can’t avoid becoming more patient - it just happens

Things may take time at first. Perhaps there won’t be many requests, perhaps these requests don’t follow your rules or ask about topics you excluded. It will take patience on your side to wait it out but from my experience, that happens fairly quickly. You are also bound to become kinder, more sensitive. Your intuition is likely to develop more and more simply because “you are flexing this muscle regularly”.

not to forget - fun

You will meet the sweetest and kindest people, get to know others and perhaps have conversations about where the apple tree in The Lovers went and why the woman in The Devil card has a grape tail when she is supposed to be the woman from the Lovers card who didn’t have anything to do with grapes but with apples. (I’m aware of why that is, it just came up in a conversation at 2AM with another reader.)

But it will be fun. Putting yourself out there, working on your skill, being kind to others, developing confidence and patience will truly be a fun experience and I can only recommend it 💖

#not a reading #ohmercifulone

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championfrita · 5 years ago

Text

Pokémon Sword and Shield Review

So...I've taken some time to fully play Pokémon Shield. Now, I know this is pretty delayed, and I got the double pack so I wanted to play Sword first to see if how I felt was really accurate or if I was being too harsh. That said, let's talk about my experience with the Galar Region.

Initial Impressions

Overall, I was excited to play Shield at first. Everything was bright and exciting and the characters were easy to recognize and not overly generic.

The first few hours of this game, well it's a slow burn. And I do mean SLOW. Even with the text set to Fast and me taking things at my own pace it took me at least a good couple hours to reach the Wild Area. Furthermore, this game has an infernal amount of handholding, even when given the option to say "I know all this already" it still gives a brief explaination for almost anything and STILL makes you sit ALL THE WAY THROUGH the catch tutorial.

It's 2019 and older players still don't get the option to skip this. Come on GameFreak.

That said, the longer I played the more I began to notice...how should I put this? Blatant laziness?

The Wild Area

Now, the CONCEPT of the Wild Area in theory is amazing. It's still not too bad as is, but there are definitely flaws. For starters, the same tree has been copy pasted all over the place to make up 90% of the foliage.

More than that, though, despite the Wild Area having a good selection of Pokémon and a fairly varietied environment (desert, lakes, forest) it feels oddly...empty. There are no real secrets to speak of, no hidden areas, no easily missed items. Everything is all right out there to see and spread pretty far apart. I don't know if it's a lack of Trainers or the fact that I don't have an Online membership so I played alone, but the Wild Area feels like it just needs something MORE.

Dynamax Raid Battles, even when done alone, are fairly fun and sometimes challenging with the turn limit. Radiant AI Trainers spawn in to assist you if you're playing alone so there's no worries about having to take one on with just one Pokémon.

Camping, which can be done anywhere but is introduced to the player here, is an absolute treat. Have YOU played fetch with a unicorn? I have, and I love it. The wide variety of curries you can make with different ingredients is nice, and your Pokémon even get EXP boosts if you play with and feed them while camping.

The Pokémon

Honestly, I'm really not impressed. The Galar Dex of new Pokémon feels painfully small, so much so that playing Pokémon GO and catching a few Unova Pokémon made me yearn for the days when we used to get regions completely FULL of new Pokémon. Remember when you had to wait until AFTER the main game to start catching Pokémon from past gens? I...well, this might be an unpopular opinion, but I LIKED that.

That said, using a sparse selection of Galar Pokémon and Galar Regional Variants on my team definitely made the Gym Challenge more difficult. I picked Scorbunny, because Fire Types, and honestly didn't really care for it or its evolutions at first. Cinderace has really grown on me though and I like Pyro Ball as a move. It's flashy and powerful and that suits me just fine. Most of the new Pokémon's DESIGNS were good and I liked them, there just really weren't ENOUGH of them.

I'm fairly pleased with the regional variants as well. It was difficult to adjust to Ponyta and Rapidash being Psychic Type, but I really liked having them on my team. At the same time...Meowth not evolving into a Persian doesn't really sit right with me.

I'm all for branch evolutions, but Perrserker honestly just looks more like a giant Galar Meowth than anything. I played this with only the info given in the few scattered trailers I'd seen, so I was genuinely excited to see what a Galarian Persian would look like only to end up with Perrserker. The Typing is phenominal, and I think it's great to see a Steel Type Meowth for a change, but I just don't like where they went with it. Eh. Ces't la vie, moving on.

The Story

It's weak. Straight up, the story in this game is poor. There were so many directions they could have gone. I really liked the idea of Rose being this charismatic chairman hype man for the League and being the bad guy. I saw it coming, but it was a nice change to see just based on his personality. Still, it feels rushed. His motivations are really one dimensional and glossed over. Like, "Oh, here's the bad guy. Go get him." It worked in Gen 1 because Giovanni was a MOBSTER. He was MEANT to be a bad guy straight to the core in general, but Rose just doesn't have that vibe.

Not only that, but the "Bad League Members" are kinda meh. That feels REALLY lazy. They didn't even really get a decent uniform change when they started taking on the name Macro Cosmos in Rose Tower. They got black glasses. That's it. Just that. The fight with Eternatus feels painfully rushed and shoehorned in too, almost like they thought "Oh no, we need to give them a big nasty boss to fight! Let's just throw a random monster at them and say Rose summoned it. Seems like a solid plan."

I DID like the after story with Piers though. It really solidifies that older brother sort of nature with him, even if he tries to hide it most of the time.

The Characters

I liked Hop. As a character he's really fun and I like how they gave him this over excited very grand gestured sort of personality. He's really just happy to be ANYWHERE as long as it's with his Pokémon and you. His admiration for his big bro might come off strong and make him seem a little flat at first, but he's overall portrayed as a good kid and I like him.

Leon on the other hand...well I hated him for most of the game. His design is great and he looks fabulous, but he just has the most cocky, obnoxious, pandering personality 90% of the time. Still, I have to give credit where credit is due and recognize that he IS actually a multifaceted character. He showboats not just because he's too confident but also to give the crowd a show and put people at ease in times of danger. Not only that, but his recognition of his little brother's accomplishments and his graceful acceptance of defeat when you beat him reveals a really well written character.

I don't DISlike Sonia, and I have no problem with Prof. Magnolia sitting on the sidelines, but she can be a little...irritating at times with the way she speaks about and to people. The Gym Leaders, aside from Piers, feel a little...light.

I mean, most Gym Leaders don't have detailed backstories, but these ones feel paper thin personality wise as well. I had to look at the official GUIDE just to be sure what the relationship between Melony and Gordie even WAS because you only seem him in her Special League Card in Shield and that tells you nothing about him. The only real leaders that stood out to me were Piers and Raihan, and while I was iffy about his design at first I LOVE Raihan. He has so much more personality and ferocity than any of the other leaders. And the social commentary about him needing to constantly take and post a selfie, even after losing, is a nice touch.

The Galar Region

Is very linear. Like, VERY linear. Even when you take a branching path it either loops back around or gives you a free ride to wherever you have to backtrack to. I hope you like Hammerlocke, cuz you're gonna be visiting there several times.

I know that the region is based off the UK, and maybe my Americanized idea of cities is different (idk, I've never been to the UK), but a lot of the towns in this game feel really small. Like, almost smaller than some of the towns in Hoenn small. Maybe it's a lack of significant interactable buildings, but despite many of them having multiple floors you typically can only access one and that's kind of a disappointment. The hotel in Wyndon won't even let you get in the elevator, and while I get that Alola also did that, it's kind of jarring when the hotel in Motostoke WILL let you see other floors.

That said, I kind of expected more than ONE Wild Area. The one we DID get is fine, and I appreciate what it is and lets us do, but I honestly thought there would be multiple places to really explore outside the standard straight lines. Pokémon has never been a franchise to shy away from puzzles before so I expected this to not be any different. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Moreover, many of the environment pieces are just UGLY. A lot of the ground textures are reused 3DS assets, and those copy pasted trees I mentioned earlier? Also 3DS assets. How do I know? They're pentagonal instead of round. In other words, they have five sides. Why? Because the 3DS hardware couldn't handle complex environmental shapes that well so they could get away with it, but now that we have nice round berry trees the contrast becomes painful. The Wild Area is so ugly the first time you see it is at NIGHT. They were so aware of what they did they hoped making it darker would hide the lazy flop instead of showing off how bad it was.

It isn't like they COULDN'T fix it either. Look at Ballonlea and Glimwood Tangle. They're absolutely beautiful and very well done. The modeling with them is fantastic and I love the glowing effects. They absolutely could've made the poorly done areas look amazing, but for some reason they didn't and the game suffers some as a result.

Other Thoughts

The Gym Challenges...they were not fun. Like, honestly some were ok. Herding Wooloo was easy, but they really didn't feel like anything I would expect from a Gym. The water puzzle in Nessa's Gym was fine, and I personally liked the spinning cup ride, but the rest just felt like agonizingly long padding because they couldn't come up with anything. Look at Circhester's challenge. It's a dowsing rod gauntlet where you have to avoid falling in pits in an artificial blizzard. It. is. SO. SLOW. That said, Spikemuth having just a Trainer gauntlet instead was kind of awkward. I reached the end and asked myself "Was that it? Is this it? Is this all there is to Spikemuth? Just one giant alleyway and a Pokémon Center?"

Raihan's three trials of worthiness challenge? It was more difficult than the battle AGAINST RAIHAN. Speaking of, I beat Hop, Marnie, Bede, all the Gym Leaders, Rose, Oleana, and Leon on my first try every time. While it was more difficult with my specific Pokémon choices, it really wasn't much. And can I just say that the Gym Badges are kinda lame? I get what they were going for, but the designs of each piece could've been really unique and intricate and instead we got glorified stamps.

I liked a lot of the general features of the game. Camping, clothing shops, League Cards. I love designing League Cards, even if I'm the only one who's ever gonna see em. That said, the clothing choices were really narrow based on what we got in Sun and Moon. The variety of different items was pretty small, though I loved all the punk leather stuff but WOW IS IT EXPENSIVE. Like Lumiose Boutique expensive. AND WHY IS THERE NEVER A REDHEAD HAIR COLOR THAT ISN'T JUST AUBURN RED? There are actually A LOT of redheads with LIGHT RED hair (that's more a personal gripe than anything, I know).

A lot of the music felt almost like rehashes of older BGMs. Like, Postwick, Route 1, and Wedgehurst all sound like they have remixed Hoenn music. A lot of the other music tracks just don't feel fitting for the areas or for Pokémon games in general. I like parts of the Slumbering Weald music and I like the Gym Music, but the opening of Slumbering Weald feels awkward and like it doesn't fit a mysterious forest we're not allowed to be in.

I know I've complained a lot, but there were some things I genuinely liked. A lot of the Pokémon designs, place names, and other radiant decor and parts of the region are actually subtle and not so subtle references to cultural points of the UK. Skwovet and its evolution for example are a gray and red squirrel respectively and are a nod to invasive species, which is neat.

In Conclusion

Is Pokémon Sword and Shield amazing? No. Is it bad? No. Sword and Shield fall into that mediocre middle ground of being ok but nothing to write home about. Could I have done without them? Sure, they aren't some world ending imperitive must play. They're ok, and they make for a fine jumping on point and a fine little adventure if you have spare time. Have other mainline games done it better? Heck yeah, but that doesn't mean Sword and Shield haven't done a few good things too.

Overall, it sort of feels like GameFreak bit off more than they could chew, or were afraid to make changes because of unfamiliarity with the Switch's hardware and software limitations. Pokémon Let's Go had a lot more effort, but it also was much safer and had a much easier to work with art style to everything. Chibi proportions are a lot easier to fake than a more realistic counterpart. Things can be not perfect and it's less noticable than with more realistic proportions, and I think they were afraid to push back the deadline any further for the inevitable backlash despite that being what they likely needed. The DLC may change my mind, but as it stands, just the fact that they feel they can JUSTIFY their laziness with DLC packs really upsets me.

I give Pokémon Sword and Shield a 5/10.

It's just, OK.

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