#and that also involves figuring out how the two groups would exist together

[theninthdoor]

✮ pac || what area/aspect of yourself or your life needs attention right now? ˚✧

🗝️ take 3 deep breaths, ground yourself, and then pick one of the 5 options below! this PAC is about what area/aspect of your life or of yourself needs a little more attention at the moment. 🗝️ take only what resonates and leave the rest! if you feel like the pile you’ve initially picked doesn’t really apply or resonate with you, it’s OK to pick another one. just really try to use your intuition + your discernment. 🗝️ remember that this is all for entertainment purposes and that free will still exists. don’t feel pressured to do anything you don’t want to or to make a pile/answer fit you situation, ok? 🗝️ enjoy, my friends!

before I begin, I would just like to say: This pick a card/pile was very interesting because before I even had the chance to get both my decks on the table, I was already getting downloads about all kinds of things, and then I was scrambling, trying to figure out where it all fit. And then I also intended on this being a shorter reading type of thing, but, well… when am I ever able to do that? lol. Seems like this one wasn't meant to be that way either. 🫠

Pile 1 || ✮

cards: two of swords reversed, three of wands, six of swords, Malkuth - Ground - The Kingdom

As I was shuffling, I heard very clearly "socializing", so there is something about your social life that needs attention right now, my dear group 1. You either aren't socializing enough by chance or choice, and/or there is some conflict in that area, which needs to be resolved soon. I see you needing to detach before you reconnect, though, and so before going back to socializing or taking any action towards anyone else or anything, spend some time by yourself and do some introspection about the current state of your life + yourself, how you are & truly feel. "Why am I being called to focus on my social life right now?"; "Am I ignoring something important?"; "Am genuinely I satisfied with how things have been going lately?" - seem like relevant questions right now, that you should look to answer.

If you have been avoiding conflict, though, this might be the right time for you to make up your mind about whatever situation has been calling for it, so afterwards you can decide on how to approach it with the other people involved, and then take action, either by yourself or together with them. The Tower reversed + Nine of Cups reversed are at the bottom of the deck, which is suggesting to me that, if you don't fix things now, or start attempting to, it will blow up in your face in the future. You are better of facing the issues now, than avoiding them and "letting them fix themselves".

The oracle card here also is making me feel like I should remind you that you have a lot of power and influence yourself, for better or worse. You are strong. You have a voice. You have the power of choice. If this is a matter of you feeling left out of a group, for example, then say it or go find a new one - nothing is stopping you! You are not limited to a connection or a group of people. And don't let others ever make you feel like you don't have what it takes to build new connections! Even if you are more introverted, there is still something in you that is of great value, and that someone will love to welcome into their life. Alternatively, if this is about you avoiding someone or pushing them out of your circle, for some reason, you have the right to do so, of course, but maybe you should ask yourself if that is the wisest thing to do here? If there was conflict between you two, for example, wouldn't it be easier to talk it out instead of taking a more passive agressive approach? Or, if it this is someone you want to keep away from you, can't you make it clearer, by telling them directly or cutting contact completely (either by blocking them, for example, or have someone else help you)?

Either way, it is your social life that needs attention right now, no doubt. Whatever is out of balance in it, needs to be acknowledged and stabilized. You, youself, could do well with some grounding exercises in the meantime! So whatever works for you, if you have time, please do them!

Pile 2 || ✮

cards: four of swords, ten of pentacles reversed, five of wands reversed, queen of wands, Leliel - Angel of Night

Why did I hear that this is the "brat pile"??? lmao. And I mean "brat" as in bratty, literally... ��� If someone here hasn't been doing what they are being told, and/or have been fighting a lot with teachers, parents, bosses, etc., you need to get it together! Work and finances are highlighted here - that's the part of your life that needs attention right now. And so, if you have been causing conflict in that area, you might suffer some consequences, naturally…

Also, for some of you: watch out for anyone who's trying to get you in trouble! Watch out for any managers, coworkers or classmates who might be willing to throw you under the bus to get ahead themselves. I just feel like some of the people who chose this pile, besides being feisty on their own, are also surrounded by some snakes, and so I can understand why I am and you are feeling so agitated. For others (or even the same people as before, if it applies), if you are planning something important in the work/finances/studies area, I would advise you to keep it to yourself completely, or to avoid talking about it unless it's absolutely necessary. Some people simply don't want to see us thrive, and so we need to protect ourselves from their ill-wishes and evil eye!

Finally, but going back to those first bratty few that I was picking up on: try to tone it down for a little bit now, ok? Just so you don't get into trouble. You might also realize, then, that you were/are overracting or that you were/are building a massive misunderstanding by being overly emotional. Or, if this is actually about those "snakes" that have been getting on your nerves, don't let them get the best of you, dears! Either way, don't put yourself in such a vulnerable position where others can bring you down so easily, and, also… think of the consequences of your current actions! Use your mind. Stay calm. Logic before emotion - that's so important here!

Pile 3 || ✮

The part that goes 'sacred silence and sleep' in System of a Down's Toxicity keeps repeating in my head, and I'm only just setting up my work station to start these readings. So that is telling me that this is the group that needs rest!! You guys need to slow down and rest. Slow down your mind and/or your schedule, or you are risking a burnout. Another thing that I feeling here is: procrastination and avoidance, in general, too, which I think comes mostly from a place of you feeling overwhelmed. My general advice here is then, again, to take it slow. Making a list of priorities and/or to-dos should also help you not only organize your time, but also your mind. Organization is key! You desperately need to find grounding and balance.

cards: two of cups, five of wands reversed, the moon, Shateiel - Angel of Silence

Are you kidding??? Out of 33 cards, the one that came out was the Angel of Silence?? After what I just said?? Alright… Loving it. Anyway.

Yeah, this very much carries the same message I was feeling before. We also have The Devil reversed at the bottom of the deck, which to me suggests a need to cleanse from chaos and bad habits. But what I will add here, though, is that this Two of Cups is making me feel like most of you would benefit a lot from either asking somebody for help to deal with whatever it is that is happening in your life, or that opening up to someone would perhaps help ease and clear your mind, as it is much needed. It's OK to reach out and accept help from others, alright? If you have too much on your plate, or you bit off more than you could chew and are only now realizing it, saying it out loud is also OK. It's much better to admit that you miscalculated your capacity to carry a commitment, and find a solution for it, than to fail yourself and to fail on your commitment, both, if it comes to that.

At last, I am also feeling like I should remind you guys that you need to take better care of your physical health, in particular. Make sure you are eating enough, drinking enough water, and have all that you need to stay in good condition. If there is something that has been bothering you about you health, this is the time to get it checked by a professional, too!

Pile 4 || ✮

As I was looking at this group's image and preparing for this reading, I kept feeling like I should call upon Divine protection and give it thanks. So, for some of you, that might be something that you should do, or you should take some time to show more gratitude and love for those who are protecting you from the other side - be it Angels, ancestors, etc. If you have pets, too, make sure you are giving them enough love these days, and be open to receive it back from them. For those who believe, or might actually feel it or know it: it could happen that your pets are spirit guides themselves, or could be currently connected to a loved one who passed away. As we know, animals are often more sensitive to the spirit world than humans, and so if someone is trying to communicate with us from the other side, they might catch it before we do. And, if you encounter a stray black cat, as well, you should take it as confirmation that you are being watched and protected spiritually - plus, if that does happen, please show you gratitude for it! (I am taking this pile's picture, which I chose over 2 weeks ago, as a sign of it!)

some extra messages that came through: If you are looking for confirmation of a date or timing, too, and perhaps have even been asking Spirit/God/the Universe/etc. for it, the numbers 2 and 5 might be relevant - and this is a message just for a select few only, I trust. May is important, and May born people as well. Pisces and Taurus placements, or the seasons of those zodiacs.

cards: king of swords, nine of swords, temperance reersed, Uriel - Angel of Flame

Alright, so this adds some context to that first part that I got… What this pile needs to focus on right now is the spiritual side of yourself. I think you also need to pay attention to your spiritual hygiene, and perhaps do some more research about it. For some, and only a few: if you starting to dabble in spiritual pratices (witchcraft? spell work?), please make sure you are well educated on the matter, and that you are taking not only the needed precautions, but also the correct approach (practice-wise, and mindset-wise, too).

I just see a lot of fire here, so not only may this pile be the one with the most Fire Signs choosing it, but it should also serve as confirmation to some, in a way, that this is your pile? (Fire, I mean) I also saw tattoos of fire and matches, or someone playing with fire and matches. Oh, "If you play with fire you get burned", isn't that what they say? - !!!

Finally, to those who are finding themselves being overly focused on the messages they get from "psychics" on social media: use your discernment, loves! Please, please, please make sure you are being rational and are not letting yourself be lead by lies and illusions. For example, most of those TikTok videos with "This message was meant to find you" captions or whatever, are absolute bullshit - and I'm sorry to say it. Many could even tell ME that this is bullshit, and I would take it... But I know my intentions, the bottom line of my practices, and have made them very clear here. Still, if you are following a "psychic" online (or even irl), please make sure they are a reliable source of information and guidance, but either way… again, always use your discernment and don't forget about one very important thing: free will!

Pile 5 || ✮

Pile 2 and 5 were the ones I got absolutely 0 downloads for beforehand, and even as I am getting ready to begin the readings, it was crickets… complete silence. So, not only may you have felt guided towards both groups, but also... You guys either are the biggest introverts or the most stubborn people here, I swear. 😶 You might be the most resistant to accepting other people's opinions or advice, too - and perhaps even more than you realize (or you don't even realize it, I mean… you tell me 👀)

cards: queen of wands, four of pentacles, four of wands reversed, knight of swords reversed, Hod - Left Leg - Submission

That first card jumped out and I literally said out loud "now I get it"… lol. This is all about yourselves, as a whole, & your self-esteem. There's either too much or too little in that cup, and you guys need to solve that issue right now.

For those who might be finding themselves being a little too bossy or acting a little conceited, please watch yourself. You can be confident, respected and have a strong, beautiful presence, without messing with others - and I think that's what's happening here: Your attitude may be getting on some people's nerves, and soon you will know it, if you don't already. And, also, remember that you can shine without taking the light from others, and you can speak without silencing others as well. Please make sure that you are acting correctly and being fair with everyone around you. There might be someone around who is getting screwed over, too, and perhaps that's not even your intention and you have no idea that your actions or attitude are causing them harm. If you have a friend who's more quiet or timid, for example, check with them, and see if there's anything they want or need to say to you - and this should be a message for only a select few.

Some might also need to accept that, at times, you have to take a step back and let others lead, even if you feel like you'd do a better job than them or that you know better than them. And here's another thing: Maybe you are or will actually self-sabotage, and ruin good connections and opportunities with that kind of stance, even without meaning to.

If, on the other hand, you are someone whose self-esteem is lacking, you may be finding yourself acting the exact same way as the people whose self-esteem is breaking the charts… and that's called over-compensating, my dear pile 5. It might come in waves or be a more momentary, reactive thing, but it's likely that you are also having some attitudes that aren't too nice, and which could not only hurt you but also those around you.

So here I need both groups of people to sit down by themselves and really think about how they might be acting as of late: Have you been correct with your actions? Is there anything that you might've done or said that wasn't all that nice, and might've caused someone to get hurt? And how are you feeling about yourself? Do you think you might, at times, be acting a little too cocky or, alternatively, feeling insecure and then acting defensive?

[And, by the way, I don't mean to call anyone out or come off as rude to anybody! I am writing all of this with absolute respect for everyone, and wishing only to provide you with some guidance. 🤍]

decks used || Tarot of the New Vision + Angelarium: Oracle of Emanations

(Disclaimer: Based on current energies. All is alleged and for entertainment purposes only. None of the original images are my own - only the edits!)

[winterpower98]

After watching season 5, I've made some adjustment to the Cursed AU. None of these are final and I'll probably have to change something else down the line, but for now, this is all I could come up with.

- How is Ao Lie in the AU

Ao Lie is still in the AU and his body is still made out of the Samadhi Fire. But much like Red pointed out during Season 5, Mei does still have some leftover power after having the fire for her entire life. So after helping Red deal with his little experiment, she gets trained by both Ao Lie and Red to try and fan the flames of her new powers while also making sure to keep it under control.

- Ba and Beng return and Ma and Zan’s backstory

- Ba, Beng and Bai He

Season 5 happens after this point

- Inky in the AU

During the events of Season 5, Macaque and Wukong have reconciled a bit and are still together, but after what happened with Azure Lion and what they both saw in the scroll things become tense again between the two immortals so they start bickering and fighting again.

Macaque looks into who could have manipulated Azure into overthrowing the Jade Emperor while Wukong keeps training and (failing) to talk to MK. But he also uses Inky to help figure out what memories he's missing since he got 'brought back' by the Lady Bone Demon. Neither of them is happy about the arrangement, and Wukong doesn't even know about Inky's involvement until they are captured by the 10 kings and Inky freaks out about being trapped in Diyu (Macaque had kept them in a jar hidden in his hanfu).

- The arrival of the Eclipse

The Eclipse Twins will still be part of the AU but their arrival will be different.

They were inside Li Jing's pagoda, the celestial had captured them when he was moved to power to make sure that none of Lady Bone Demon's "loose threads" would cause problems.

Macaque met them while he was trapped and the three stayed together to better survive against the 100 Eyes Demon.

After they were all freed from the pagoda, the twins ran away from the group and hid away for some time.

Nuwa in the AU

After the stones get shattered and the power to hold the pillar gets shared, the Goddess is free from her confines and she goes out in the world. She's worried at first that everything is going to collapse again, but after a few weeks spent in the human realm, she slowly accepts how things have settled and even starts to enjoy walking around the mortals disguised as a human.

She wasn't originally going to look for MK since her main worry was the existence of everything she had created, but after watching him fight the demon of the week he decided to go talk to him. Mostly to let him know she was in the real world now and to compliment him (in an unidentifiable way) about how he handled the situation.

She was going to just leave after that, see what else she had missed in the eons she wasn't alive, but MK was the one to suggest she stay Wan Qian Cheng (part of it was the kid's good heart, but part of it was also his desire to connect with the being that had created him).

Obviously enough, the rest of MK's friends weren't too excited about that, but it's not like they were going to argue against the Goddess of Creation.

[bonefall]

Hi! How would you draw a tool-evolved cat paw?

Aeons ago I wrote some speculative biology thoughts on what a tool-focused cat would begin to look like, and mentioned the way that a caw's paw might evolve. I can try to draw it out as a sketch; but fair warning that I put my art style points into cartoony anime stuff SO you're not gonna get a realistic drawing lmao

Evolution doesn't "think." It's many changes over generations that snowball into bigger ones. So I tried to look at WHAT exactly is happening between an animal with less sophisticated tool use (chimp) and one that COMPLETELY relies on tools (human) to predict where the cat's paw would end up in a few thousand generations.

Please note! My paw would still be a "link" between the ancestor, and something even more reliant on tool use. This proposed species would still be 100% capable of doing what the cats in-canon do, like hunt alone. It's for a feline species that is tool-ADAPTED, not tool-RELIANT.

(In that way, it's more comparable to, say, a lemur and a chimp. But lemur palm refs were hard to find and I did this quick because I've already thought about it.)

This paw would exist in-tandem with a "tool tooth;" A V-shaped gap in the jawline that a single fang would nestle into. Early tool-using felines would likely use their mouth to "break" or "shear" their crafts, leading to broken teeth that would make them less successful. So there would be a lot of evolutionary pressure to have better, stronger teeth.

Evolution doesn't do "one thing at a time," so if you happened to port yourself into a group of these cats and watch them craft stuff, you'd see them using their mouths as well as their paws!

Finger Size + Tool Claw

When you see real cats batting stuff around and manipulating things, and when you look at canon where they like to "hook things on a claw," it's usually the index "finger" they favor. In fact, they do a LOT of "poking," even when a cat bats at something they seem to mostly explore with the tip of their paw.

So I figure that would actually be a big difference between this species and humans.

Unlike us, who usually have our middle finger as the longest (though there are exceptions) so we can "stabilize" the things we grab, I'd give these guys a "Tool Claw" which is not involved in grappling at all. It's longer, more deeply grooved, but also more fragile than the "hunting" claws.

When at rest, the Tool Claw would stick out from the rest of the foot, straight upwards. The fur is able to "sheathe" the other three, but the index's would be too long to be fully hidden.

Because one of those fingers is now mostly taken out of combat, the pinkie would probably thicken up to compensate. Another difference from the human hand. I can imagine that if the trend continues, they might end up supporting their full frontal weight on the pinkie pad to free up the other fingers for tool use.

(But evolution's not always predictable! They might end up becoming more "back heavy" like raccoons, or rely on the invention of shoe/gloves, or just abandon silent hunting all together to become tool-reliant.)

Paw Pad Changes

Cats use the pads on their paws to move silently. As long as the species is relying on silently stalking prey, they will need to have these pads in contact with the ground to be good hunters.

So instead of the digital pads sliding down to create the "top" of the palm, I figured the metacarpal pad would split in two. So now there's a snug, dipped "shape" with which they could nestle an object into as they work with it, but also there is ALWAYS still pad in contact with the ground.

The amount of fur in-between the bottom (metacarpal) and top (supercarpal) pads probably just depends on culture and genetics. It wouldn't really have enough of an impact on the paw to be selected for to be furry or hairless.

I can imagine some groups being weird about it and thinking it should be shaved or braided or something, lmao. Or cats who live in muddy environments clipping it for hygiene reasons.

[dreamingkatfish]

Am drunk enough to ramble about idea. So, I love timeloops and more specifically I love NG+ timeloops. Persona 3, NG+ timeloop. It's occurring b/c the Abyss of Time and just running on idea that Yukari and Mitsuru keep winning the fight to go back in time.

Except, no one but Minato remembers, mostly b/c he'd be fucked over by the whole not knowing why time is looping thing.

And I want a fix-it (it's just what I do) and more specifically I want more unethical science experiments to be the solution. (It's just not something that's done often from what I could glean and I think it'd be an interesting way of going about trying to do a Everyone Lives scenario for P3.) That's the jist of it, under read-more will be current thoughts.

It begins with Minato being, rightfully, confused. With it having him slowly try to work through figuring out why the loop is occurring. Eventually remembering how the whole goal of the initial experiments by the Kirjio Group was time manipulation, he goes to find the old research.

With a lot of looking he learns about the abyss, but still doesn't know how to stop it. Only thing he manages on his own is figuring out how to get other people to remember. I'm thinking there should be limits like has to be able to be aware during the Dark Hour ofc, but also a very mean one of: cannot have been present when time goes back. Meaning only two people he can get to help is Ryoji and Shinjiro. Also means, still no one knows why exactly time is looping. However, with Ryoji present, Minato can get the confirmation that it isn't b/c he fucked making The Seal somehow.

So, progress.

I think it'd be Shinjiro who'd suggest trying something else to stop Nyx. Like yeah, okay, The Seal isn't fucked up. But clearly it's caused some other problem, so maybe try something else. Except what to do instead? Because all they really have is information about experiments with shadows to work with. So unless they want to try fighting fire with fire, it's not very helpful.

They try fighting fire with fire. OR well, actually consider it. Problem is none of them are scientists who spent a large amount of time researching shadows, so now they got learn the science behind that. (This au is all in the name of seeing these three interacting. I hadn't originally intended it to be a ship-focused au, but here we are. (What would be the ship name for these three anyway? Guess I'm gonna invent one for the tags later, lmao.)) (Their time together in the timeloop creates an unshakable trust that the others are their ride or dies. It's the mad science which is where the inherent homoeroticism comes from.)

They ofc know there's no killing Nyx permanently, so what are the options? Idea, balancing it out with life. Life and death are meant to exist in cycles, but by having only Nyx and Erebus for death and no one for life, the balance is thrown off and the cycle grinds to a halt. Mind you, Nyx and Erebus are the personifications of night and darkness respectively in Greek mythology. In it they have counterparts for the day and (well kind of but not fully) light in Hemera and Aether. So, why not simply counteract them.

It's not the most reasonable solution ever. However, I think it's an interesting one to consider. Made more tense by the time crunch they'd be under to get that done before needing to just do The Seal anyway in order to ensure the loop continues so that they would have another chance at it.

I have some dubious considerations for how involved with the unethical science the rest of SEES will be. B/c on one hand, Dead Boys Club. On the other, that's gonna be a fuck ton of work for them to do. There's zero shot no one notices that they're doing things. So very much, hmmmmmmm for the role the rest of SEES will play. (Tbh rest of the entire game's cast really.)

But yes, NG+ timeloop au, now with 86% unethical science.

Sober edits to expand upon details added. Primarily after this point (Though one joke addition in brackets above.)

Re:Shinjiro never sticking around long enough to learn about the rest of SEES getting stuck in the Abyss of Time. There's just no world where he doesn't agree to Ken's request and tries to save him. Sure he could try to talk to Ken before that, but this is Shinjiro and man has guilt carved into his bones that the timeloop starting from after Ken's mother's death isn't helping.

But also that requires him knowing what the fuck to say in that situation while he's not dying. And I don't think he'd know. I think part of what gave his words so much meaning before was that he had the action of him protecting Ken to back it up. But without that, he would look like he's all talk. Which wouldn't help either one of them in trying to move on from what happened.

Additionally, even if it did work out he'd just forget that loop entirely bc the cant remember if present when the decision to go back was made. So, him living would not help matters and he'd only become more inclined to let himself die so that he would be able to remember all of the loops and not start forgetting the progress they made. (The alternative I just briefly considered is him forgetting everything but it made me sad, so it's only him forgetting the loop if he makes it to the abyss of time in the end.)

Also the more I think about a ship with the 3 of them, the more insane I get. The 3 people who (want to) die for the sake of others. The way it would bring only them any degree of peace but emotionally devastates everyone else who cares for them. But also then, 3 boys who were happy to give their lives for others now having to learn how to live and look towards a future they never thought they'd get to see, let alone have.

But also how in all versions of the game, in the male route these 3 are the ones who no matter what choices you make, you can never save. (I know there's also Akinari but his situation is one where there is no universe where any choice could be made to save him. Only advancements in medical science would. Meanwhile, the other 3 could technically be saved, but only really by basically abandoning the story playing out and acting as an outside party to it. Or by being someone other than themselves. And i mean you can see it happen in canon even with the femc route. So, while I love him, his death is an outlier among these 3 even if he also is someone who can't be saved in canon.)

And all I can think about is the post about love in tragedies and how it doesn't save anyone, but it was still there and that matters. It was still important even if it never helped. Which I think does a good job at like emphasizing the messages of the game. And I really love relationships that end up embodying the work they're from. (Also means interestingly I don't care as much for Shinjiro and the femc's relationship bc in that case love does succeed. Which while nice isn't quite as thematically satisfying even though it is narratively satisfying.)

[acourtofladydeath]

3, 4, and 12? 🍀💕

Hello Anon! So nice to hear from you.

3. What’s your favorite thing about writing CNM relationships?'

I love the complexities and interpersonal nuances that come with writing CNM. There's so much emotional depth to these relationships and it really helps you explore characters in a new light.

4. What’s a poly+ fic you haven’t written that you want to? Why?

There are two, AND I'M NOT GIVING UP ON THEM. First: my modern AU Falsettos inspired fic "Lovers Live & Die, Fortissimo" featuring Feytamsand. There's SO much angsty goodness in this one, but it's a very long, complex fic (there are 41 chapters) that handles a lot of religious concepts. I want to make sure I have all the different relationships/plots woven together correctly and do my research properly on these religions that are so integral to the plot. The second is my Nesta Archeron reverse harem fic involving Azriel, Cassian, Eris, and Lucien. Azris is a couple within the larger group as well. Again, this is another really complex idea. Each of her mates represents a piece of the trove, which they are using to try and defeat Koschei. The romance is the B plot here, and I need to figure out the A plot before I can weave them together properly.

12. In a canon-compliant world, how might different cities/locations (Night Court, Autumn Court, Adarlan, Lunathion) culturally view or regulate poly+ relationships? How would that impact your characters? Bonus points if your characters cross the Maasverse.

So this is VERY specific to my fic. i feel like Neve is going to have a harder time in the Winter Court with her father than she will in the Autumn Court, but ONLY because of the ritual. I think this will be a really interesting conversation for Beron, Conleth, and Fintan to have featuring side commentary from Eris and Lucien, who only exist to be menaces in this fic. The Autumn Court is founded deeply in ritual and tradition, so I think because this mating bond is blessed by both (Mother blessed and blessed in the ritual), people will accept it, though some may be begrudging. Winter wants people to love and be loved, and may struggle more with the fact that Neve's mate's are Beron's sons than the fact that there are two. I feel like Winter is also very respectful of and in love with tradition, but loves making new one and isn't set in the old as much. But the POLITICS. To be mated and in love with Beron's second and third sons? That may take some getting use to. All that to say, it might take a minute but people will struggle more with the inter-court politics than the intra-court tradition and Winter especially wants Neve to be happy (once they know she's safe).

These were such fun questions! that last one deflinitely had me thinking botu what will occur in chapter 3 of my new "To Become A Vanserra" fic 👀. Keep the questions coming! You can ask from the list here, or any other burning question!

[cowboyellies]

august e.w. (1)

summary/ author’s note: hello! this is my first tumblr fanfic (also my first post because I’m not really sure yet how this website functions lol) I decided since it’s august to write an ellie fic inspired by the taylor swift song! (and the folklore love triangle in general) for those already aware of the story, ellie is supposed to be james, dina is betty, and the reader is augustine.  the characters are all supposed to be in the summer before they start college (18) so a slight difference from taylors lyrics. other than that the story is pretty much the same (aka angsty with a sad ending for poor reader </3) this is gonna be a multiple part fic so buckle up!

for those not knowledgeable in the folklore cinematic universe: after an awful fight with dina right before the start of summer (and dina’s three month long summer trip) ellie is left with unanswered questions about her and dina’s relationship and their future. ellie then meets you and pretty soon you begin a summer fling, leaving you questioning whether she was ever yours to lose?

warnings/themes: angst!!lots of it, cheating (womp womp), ellie is stupid and kind of a dick, reader is delusional and a little pathetic (me core), alcohol and weed use, eventual sexual themes (prob not in great detail because i suck at writing smut) talk of non consensual groping, homophobia (fun!)

word count: 2.1k

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you decided to leave the prom an hour and a half early. the music was lame, the tacky decorations didn’t do nearly enough to mask your public school’s moldy gym, and your date, who you had made sure to inform multiple times that you were just going as friends, tried to stick his tongue down your throat in the middle of the dance floor. you said goodbye to your small group of friends who were still partying with their dates, and made it to the exit of the sweaty gym, making sure to toss the lame corsage you had been given in the trash on the way out. since your debt ridden public school had cheapened out at the last minute and moved the prom’s venue from a nice event hall two towns over to the gymnasium, your friends decided to skip the whole overly expensive limo thing and just take your cars. you made your way to your old but lovable station wagon and began driving the opposite way from your house. you knew if you came home this early your mom would bother you with questions so you figured you’d stop and get a slurpee to pass the time.

and that’s when you saw her, the girl you had seen earlier in the night awkwardly standing near the punch bowl fiddling with her thumbs while her date danced energetically with her friends. you had seen ellie williams before but never paid much attention to her. she had a famously close friendship with dina woodward, probably the most beloved girl in your small town yet she herself kind of flew under the radar. It wasn’t until tonight when you saw ellie in her black suit, arms linked with dina as they entered the dance that you realized they were definitely together. given your small town’s outdated views and ridiculously rampant gossip mill they could obviously never label themselves as together publicly, but you could tell. you knew the small town closeted lesbian look all too well. 

you noticed now as you approached the reddened stop light where you both would be waiting for the next minute that she looked really sad. her posture crumpled as she trudged along the broken cobblestone, a look one could only describe as heart broken across her face. Impulsively you felt your fingers moving to roll down the car window. you weren’t the type of person to involve yourself in anyone’s personal problems, but the mixture of your own shitty night and ellie's grim expression moved something in you to open up that window. 

“hey!” you called out to her across the sidewalk. her saddened daze broke and she looked up at you surprised, so lost in thought she forgot anyone else in the world existed. “get in!” you yelled, shocking yourself in the process. you watched as her face changed from confusion to wariness. you watched as she mulled the proposition over in head, registering your prom dress as a sign you had come from the same place as her and therefore most likely were not trying to murder her, only give her a ride home. she hurried over to your car before the light could turn green, shutting the door with intense force behind her making the both of you slightly jump. soon after the light turned green and you began driving to the 7-11 which was only a couple of minutes away, a 90s song quietly played in the background as you nervously tapped your fingers on the wheel, starting to regret your decision as you weren’t sure what to say. 

Ellie opened up her mouth a few times to talk, but realized she wasn’t sure what to say either. This night had worn her down to exhaustion and for the first time in hours sitting silently in your car provided her with a surprising sense of calm. as your car finally pulled into the neon lit 7-11 parking lot you finally turned to look at her. her expression while still sad had lightened a little and you noticed now under the intense lighting how pretty her freckles were. 

“do you want a slurpee?” 

—

you and ellie sat on the hood of your car quietly sipping your slurpees, yours a mixture of cherry and coke, her’s blue raspberry. the parking lot where you sat was vacant, the only other car there was likely the worker of the 7-11 behind you. 

“so…” you began to speak, putting an end to the comfortable silence. “prom was pretty great huh” you joked. she shook her head and smiled lightly, turning to look at you the first time that night. she noticed quickly that you were very beautiful, a fact that hadn’t crossed her mind in the midst of her heartache. she wondered suddenly why you had left the prom as early as her, another thought that hadn’t crossed her mind. 

“so um, dina, was she your date?” you asked, trying to keep your voice as nonchalant as possible, already knowing the weight behind your words. you noticed her body stiffen and soon regretted bringing it up. 

“sort of yeah,” she replied, her voice harsh. an awkward silence rested between you two until she began to speak again. “what about you, no date?”

“I wish, I had a date, jamie dawson. I thought we were just going as friends until he tried to grope me during the cha cha slide,” you cringed, taking another slip of your slurpee.

“gross. he’s a dick.” she replied. he was a dick, ellie had thought so ever since she caught him looking at dina’s ass while she cheered at last year’s fall pep rally. she wanted so badly in that moment to yell at him, inform him she was taken. but of course she couldn’t.

a similar situation is what led to her current shitty mood. she showed up to dina’s that night, crumpled corsage in hand as she nervously knocked on her door. she was greeted by dina’s dad. mr. woodward had always scared ellie since the first time she had met him in eighth grade. he made his disdain for ellie clear to his daughter, as he disapproved dina having such a close relationship with a girl like her, a girl who skateboarded around town in her dirty converse and boyish clothes. he hated how close they were and even though they had always done their best to hide the real nature of their relationship, he always suspected something was going on between them. when mr. woodward saw her at the door standing in her thrifted suit, his face crumpled in contempt, the first hindering in ellie’s confidence that night. 

she brushed past that as she made her way into the woodward’s foyer where dina and her friends resided. ellie knew most of the girls due to cheer performances and all the time’s dina had dragged her along to events like this, but she was never really close with any of them. along with dina’s friends stood their dates, most of them douchey football players who were among the bunch of boys who found pleasure in shouting homophobic insults at her in the school halls. the one nice one among them she recognized was jesse. ellie knew him from her astronomy class and had always liked partnering up with him for group projects, his sense of humor was similar to hers and they always found themselves being scolded by the teacher for laughing during lectures. 

she creeped inside awkwardly waving as the crowd eyed her entrance. dina wasn’t in the room and she quickly began to panic until jesse snapped her out of it by dapping her up. 

“ELLIE!!!” he shouted as he wrapped her in a bro hug. she found herself being thankful to whichever cheer girl brought him as her date. 

soon after dina descended from the stairs, scanning the room to see if ellie arrived yet. when her eyes landed on the auburn haired girl she broke out into one of her signature bright smiles. when she reached ellie she quickly wrapped ellie in a hug, making sure not to let the gesture linger considering her parents were in the corner setting up their fancy digital camera. “took you long enough,” she teased

“sorry I forgot your corsage and had to go ba-” 

“I’m just teasing you, I don't care,” she replied gently, reaching down to grab the plastic corsage container. ellie blushed, noticing since she’d arrived all of dina’s friends sporting much fancier corsages. “I love it!” dina beamed. opening the box for ellie to put it on her. dina’s parents eyed them from the side of the room, suspicious of the intimate gesture. The only reason they allowed dina to go as ellie’s “date” was because dina told them no one had asked her. that was a blatant lie, there was a day the week before prom where three boys had asked her in one lunch period. 

the group lined up for group pictures and ellie stood nervously, trying to look as platonic as possible posing next to her girlfriend of almost two years. soon when people began branching off to do couples pics, dina’s parents beckoned her over. ellie stood in her original position but could clearly hear the whole conversation. 

“we noticed that nice boy jesse is going stag, why don’t you two pose for some pictures together?” dina’s mom prodded, stroking dina’s hair. ellie tensed. 

“mom n-” 

“come on sweetie, when you're older don’t you want to show your kids pictures of your date from your senior prom? not pictures of you and your friend,” her voice hardening on the word friend. dina began protesting more but suddenly mrs. woodward was calling jesse over to them. ellie watched in the corner as the woodward’s began posing the two of them together. dina sported a tense smile while jesse, confused by the situation but happy he got to be in that close of a vicinity to a hot girl smiled brightly. 

after the pictures the group made their way into the big limo dina’s parents had rented. dina linked arms with ellie and quickly noticed her tense nature. “hey, i'm sorry about that,” she whispered softly. 

“s’ okay” ellie replied, forcing a small smile. she knew dina wasn’t at fault for her parents' insane actions, but that didn’t stop her from hurting whenever they pulled stuff like that. 

the rest of the night continued on regularly. ellie still felt awkward amongst dina’s friends but tried her best to put on a front for her. as she and her friends danced energetically to early 2000s hits, ellie stayed to the side, letting her girlfriend enjoy the night without having to subject her to her awkward dancing. she figured she would pop in during the slow songs, the light swaying they required being the only move she could handle. that’s why when the ridiculously corny ed sheeran song that for some reason dina loved came on, ellie began making her way to the dance floor. she stopped suddenly at the edge of the floor when she saw dina smiling as she swayed with jesse. ellie’s heart dropped when she saw their joyful expressions, jesse spinning dina at a completely different tempo than what the song called for, both of them laughing hysterically

in retrospect ellie should have known this supposed act of intimacy she had walked in on was just jesse dicking around and trying to ruin the slow song for the rest of the couples on the dance floor, but seeing her laughing and holding onto his hands made ellie want to hurl. so much so, she quickly exited the gym. trudging alone in the dark scraping her doc martens on the rundown cobblestone street until you came along, offering her a ride.

you watched as ellie finished her slurpee, her face bitter as she recalled the night's events. you didn’t press her on it any further, knowing by her expression whatever had happened was bad. 

“where do you live? I’ll give you a ride. I have to kill time before I get home anyway,” you said as you slid off your car's hood and began unlocking it.

“thanks,” she replied, mimicking your actions. after she got in the car she began thinking back to your last sentence. “why can’t you go home?”

“don’t want my mom asking annoying questions. you know, worrying about me and shit,” 

“I get that,” she thought of what joel would say when she returned home, all bleary eyed and disheveled looking. she realized she should probably wait to go home until she knew he was asleep. “actually, um if you don’t have anywhere to be… could we just drive around for a bit?” 

you smiled softly and placed your hand on the ignition, “sure.”

—

authors note: sorry not much happens in this chapter I promise it will get good in the next one I just wanted to introduce the story a little and try to explain ellie and dina’s relationship before I got into writing more about the reader and ellie🫶

[magnolia-sunrise]

also!! 1, 8, 9, and 18 for élise !!

LETS GO ÉLISE NATION

What was the original thought that led to the creation of this character?

i needed Bastien to have someone helping him in the clinic! Bastien is more of a surgeon, so Élise came in on the software part of things. and then basically me and my girlfriend sat together and came up with what would like a classic, cool hacker trans-themme archetype look like and that's them :D

8. What is the origin of their personality? And let's be honest - how much of it is projecting?

HFHSDF zero projection!... i think! their personality basically came together with their visual design, they were always baked as a 20s nonbinary transfem wannabe cyberpunk type character stuck in a very different story, but still dressing for cyberpunk (or sort of like, zoomer punky dyke?) and with Bastien and Wolfgang both being a bit older, i wanted that youthful energy around that would poke fun at whatever the hell is going on there while having different dynamic with each of them.

9. How big is their role in the story? Do they make a frequent appearance or are they a character with little "screentime" but big influence? Or are they just a favourite background guy?

fortunately for Élise their role is more of a background character! because anyone who gets more important roles Suffers !! so they get to hang around the edges of the story due to being in the clinic, but not having too direct involvement with much plot (this is also thanks to their personality being very I Don't Care and Don't Wanna Know). i hope it stays that way but i havent figured out the plot for the last part of the story, so its a bit up in the air ?

18. Does the character have other characters connected to them? Do you have a family tree and "offscreen" connections made up for them or do they exist in a vacuum purely for the purpose of the story?

ooughh ok not a family tree, but i have the background of their social life sort of mapped out, ie their usual friend group? mostly thanks to Wolfgang sometimes being dragged to some of their parties and then meeting their friends and feeling simultaneously very out of place and a bit flattered. their friend group is all largely trans and queer, around their early 20s, and a bunch of them also do sex work and throw together kink parties where Élise hides in the bathroom because two of their ex girlfriends just came in and they can't face them. y'know.

[sxskavrp]

Hello! I'm looking for some long term rp partners for Drarry. I'm 31 F, in the EST timezone. I try to be active, definitely literate, but not a stickler on length. I'm okay playing either character, I'm okay with NSFW but it's not required. Please no ABO, mpreg, or dark characters.

I have a couple of prompts I can share to see if you're interested. If you like the idea of one but want to play the opposite character, I'm totally fine with switching it up! If you don't like any of these, we can always come up with something together!

((Prince and Knight AU))

Harry kicked at the dirt with his boot as he waited idly for the Prince to arrive. He wasn't sure how well this was going to go, based on the stories he'd heard from his fellow knights. According to them, the Prince was even more of a spoiled weakling than he appeared when on the throne, and he'd already gone through five tutors so far. This was bound to be a ^^long^^ afternoon, but Harry was going to do his best to be patient. After all, he'd trained plenty of men he'd thought were hopeless, only for them to become great warriors. Surely he could teach the Prince at least some basic moves. He glanced up when he heard footsteps approaching, the very young man he'd been thinking of walking his way, the sun gleaming off his white-blonde hair.

((8th year))

So far, coming back to Hogwarts for a make up year had been unpleasant to say the least. No one wanted Draco here besides Pansy and Blaise. Even some of the professors were giving him a wide berth because of his involvement in the war. Unfortunately, he hadn't been given a choice in the matter, as finishing his education was part of his deal to avoid Azkaban. That didn’t mean he had to be happy about it. He'd done his best to lay low, but today the universe had other plans. The new Defense professor, who clearly didn't have any idea about certain social histories between the students, had just decided to pair him with Potter of all people for a project. Of course, Draco didn't hold ill feelings towards him anymore. After all, if it wasn't for him, he would be dead or imprisoned right now. But there was no way to avoid attention when someone went anywhere near Potter, and by the way the rest of the class hushed when their names were announced together, he knew this was only going to cause problems. Reluctantly, he moved to sit next to the Gryffindor so that they could start discussing their project, feeling rather awkward as they’d barely spoken a word to each other all term.

((8th year))

Harry had mixed feelings about being back at Hogwarts. On one hand, Hogwarts was his true home, and the place where he'd had some of the best times of his life, so going back was always a comfort. But it was also where he'd experienced some of his worst memories, and was the site where so many people he knew had died. Not to mention that it wasn't the same without Dumbledore, or even Professor Snape. Yet he came anyway, because Hermione and Ron were going, and he didn't know what else to do with himself. All his plans had gone topsy-turvy when he'd actually managed to survive the war, and now he was just kind of…existing, trying to figure out his next step.

It was a few weeks into term now, and he was going between classes when he spotted a group of 6th years crowding around something. No, ^^someone^^, and they were making quite a racket. He hurried over to see what was happening when he caught a glimpse of platinum blonde hair between two sets of legs. “Hey!” Harry ripped the boys away, revealing Malfoy on the ground, bruised and bleeding. Blood boiling, he put himself between the group and Malfoy protectively. “Get back, all of you!” he snapped, pulling out his wand. He knew there were a lot of people that weren’t happy Malfoy was back at Hogwarts with them, but he hadn’t realized it was this bad.

((Professors AU))

It had taken several years and a lot of soul searching, but Harry had finally realized that he was tired of fighting for a living. It was a major shock to the world, plastered on every front page. ‘The Savior Saves No More: Potter Quits the Aurors’. But Harry stuck to his guns. He wasn't going to try and fit the world's perfect vision for him anymore, and of course his friends had been more than supportive. Turns out the timing couldn't have been better because the position of DADA professor opened up at Hogwarts a few weeks later. He was quick to put in an application, and McGonagall was even quicker to bring him on. Sometimes he wondered if maybe that was a little too coincidental. Either way, he was excited to get started. There was just one caveat; Draco Malfoy was the Potions professor.

He hadn't seen Malfoy since the trials, where they'd parted on a civil but awkward note. He had no idea how it was going to be having to work with him, seeing him every day. Could they get along or would their old rivalry rear its ugly head? Needless to say, he was anxious when September 1st came around. He had decided to take the train in, for nostalgia’s sake, and so he entered with the students, finding most of the Head Table was already full. Of course there was only one seat left. And of course it had to be next to Malfoy himself.

((6th year, TW attempted suicide))

Draco took a deep inhale of the cool night air as he leaned over the railing of the Astronomy Tower. He felt like a shell of himself, as more stress piled on top of him in the transition from winter to spring. Not that it mattered, or that anyone cared. His grades were in the shitter, he barely spoke to anyone anymore, and he had no idea if his mother was alright, trapped in the Manor with his psychotic aunt and ^^him^^. His feeble attempts to kill Dumbeldore indirectly had all been thwarted. As days passed and the end of term approached, he knew he wasn’t going to finish the Vanishing Cabinet in time. It was over. The second he stepped off that train in King’s Cross, he was a dead man. Maybe he should just let Dumbledore kill him. He’d certainly make it quick and as painless as possible compared to the likely torture he’d endure from the Dark Lord. Or maybe it would be better just to get it over with himself. He knew he didn’t have to jump from this high, but he’d always had a fondness for the Astronomy Tower, the way he could see the entire grounds and the Forbidden Forest going on for miles. He could pretend he was flying for a moment, one last time, before the ground reached up to meet him. All he had to do was tip forward just a little more…

If you're interested, like this or message me 😁 I usually rp over discord.

[geraldofallon]

So I promised myself I would talk more about my OCs on here, so this is I guess a lil basic overview starter of each of them, I’ll get more into detail on them later.

Lady A—

Lady A (also known as the Voguish Romantic or by her real name to only her closest confidantes) is my main PC, she’s the one I started the game with and the main one I actually play with. She exists separately to any other OCs, and has her own distinct storyline. As I described her to my bestie cobaltsunflower:

“She’s a dreamer and a romantic, who started as an artistic bohemian but clawed her way up the social ladder until she could pass herself off as aristocracy. But now that she’s there she’s dealing with the weight of what the aristocracy does in order to stay on top and the methods they use to keep others below them, so she’s torn between a love of the lifestyle and basically selling out, making art just for money’s sake and hurting the people who she used to be a part of”

The Crew of the SS Amphitrite and the Moonstone Club

So while Lady A exists separately on her own, all my other OCs belong to the same shared Fallen London universe, though they can be split into two distinct groups/stories and rarely interact with the other.

The Crew of the SS Amphitrite were put together by Emil Enderby, the Rueful Truth-Seeker, in an attempt to find his dearest friend after she mysteriously went missing.

The Moonstone Club formed after various circumstances sent them in each others’ directions. Certain similarities in their lives have begun to feel less like coincidences, and so they meet regularly to discuss and seek advice in their various investigations.

The Crew of the SS Amphitrite

The crew is led by Captain Agnes Plowden, owner of the SS Amphitrite, who has an unusual spiritual connection to the sea, and includes the few who both answered Emil’s notice placed on a board at Wolfstack Docks asking for intrepid adventurers and stuck around to actually hear the mission rather than leaving the pub once he’d bought a round of drinks for everyone who’d shown. This includes:

A tomb colonist of indeterminate age and gender named Zimuandagal (called a variety of nicknames for short, though most commonly “Zimu”) who has spent years? decades? centuries? perfecting their duelling technique.

A devil named Teddy (short for Theodore not Edward, he gets very offended when people presume wrongly) with shady motives that seemingly have nothing to do with souls, along with Cathy Linton. Cathy’s a bohemian who has begun to regret selling her soul, and is trying desperately to track it down, believing Teddy to be involved in some way.

The Leopard Princess Zaya of the Khanate. She occupies the rather enviable position in the royal family of being a high enough rank to warrant all the benefits, while having enough older siblings that she’s not expected to take on any of the responsibilities. This leaves her time and freedom to pursue her passions - notably archaeology and history.

Dr Baudel is one of the more unlikely members of the crew. In fact, none of the rest of them can seem to figure out why he’s there at all. He’s a respectable member of middle class society, with a strong presence in the church and a weak stomach on the zee.

The Cephalopodic Orphan, so called because their real name is unpronounceable (something along the lines of Ssossoffoorooth), is a little bundle of rubber and tentacles. It’s difficult to know how Rubbery Men age, but this one seems to be the equivalent of a nine or ten year old human. They’ve emotionally latched on to various members of the crew, and there seems to be no way of leaving them behind.

Then there’s Emil himself, an investigative journalist who formed a very unlikely friendship with a Third City survivor. The Ajaw was mysteriously involved in the city’s sale, has a mysterious source of immortality, and she has now mysteriously vanished.

Oh and there’s also a pirate rat.

The Moonstone Club

The three founders of the club were the ones to reach out to the current members with an invitation to share their findings, though they mostly leave the work of running the club to Detective Rañjan, an immigrant from Varchas, with the other two preferring to focus their attentions elsewhere.

Professor St Aubert, known also as Miss Annabel to her friends, is the Foremost Correspondent in the Neath and one of the Moonstone Club’s founding members. She spends her time writing papers, giving lectures, putting out her hair when it catches on fire, and taking tea with Mr Pages.

The last founding member is somewhat of a mystery to all. The Shadow Rook was believed to be a legend, except by those that had either been victim to one of its robberies or had benefited from them. Surprisingly, the Shadow is the one who had suggested the formation of the club to the others, despite its reputation for solitude and secrecy.

The other members of the group (italics are to make this easier to read) include Fausta Gryphon, Annabel’s favourite student and the club’s resident madcap; the famed Fabian Silver, renowned for his legendary adventures and escapades; Jezebel of Mahogany Hall, the tattooed magician with silver eyes and an unwanted friends tagging along with her; a Clay Man named Peter, who runs an orphanage and a garden to attempt to heal from his traumatic past; Dotty, a deviless who runs a criminal empire in competition with the Gracious Widow, and is Detective Rañjan’s arch nemesis (she, on the other hand, barely knew he existed prior to the club’s formation); and the Rosy Dream-Walker, a Far-Arbori silverer named Tiye who has come to London on a mission.

[sonicasura]

Not sure if the Kaiju number 8 world is escapism for the characters, or me. Probably both. Somehow I always bring KNACK around to sad/weird.

Lucas looks up to Reno, who is older than him but has similar traits. Lucas is too young to join the Defense Force, but in the meantime, he's likely to hang out more and more in that universe and hear the stories. Reno is kind of like an older brother, which is a role Knack can occupy only sometimes.

Once Reno impresses on Lucas how dangerous Kaiju are and why Kafka's secret is so important to keep, poor Kafka feels teamed on when he gets two earfuls about being reckless instead of one.

Knack gets chewed out, too, because Lucas wants to keep him safe. Though Knack may at some point tell him to 'zip it!' When priorities change.

The safety of his friends and family is more important than Knack's own protection. In that respect, him and Kafka's tendencies align.

He burns through Sunstone energy like fire through gasoline, however, those times he gets involved in battle. Kaiju are *nothing* like humans and goblins. I wonder how he might mess with Kaiju sensors, if at all.

Kafka's fatherly tendencies have interesting effects on the KNACK boys. Lucas finally feels listened-to and valued by an adult, and after the boys figure out how Knack's portals work, Lucas feels less and less inclined to return home every visit. Especially after getting into arguments with the Doctor. I think Kafka recognizes this as a problem, but I'm not sure how he approaches it.

The weirder part might be Knack's temperament. Knack's been alive for less than a few years, and I headcanon that this is his only go around with the whole existing thing. So Knack has always been as he is. Kafka has only been half-kaiju for less than a year, but is in his thirties, as we know.

Knack asks Kafka how he handles being different, mistreated for his looks even though he's human. Knack probably made an assumption that Kafka has had his kaiju powers for longer than he really did. Lucas points out that Knack seemingly implied that Knack is human when he isn't. And Knack shuts down after that, only giving one-word answers or silence for the rest of the talk. That's why it's kinda weird and I'm not sure how to explain Knack's feelings. He likes how he is and the way he looks, so he's not ashamed of himself in that way. But he called himself human for some reason.

This just makes me think back to Knack 1 where the Doctor says that Charlotte was his better half alongside Lucas genuinely being an orphan(lost his mother and no father in the picture). He genuinely cares for the two but sometimes his interests get the better of him. I think that's why Knack alongside Lucas have been exploring on their own while Doctor and Charlotte were at the Monk Temple in Knack 2.

A massive argument which makes the older man realize both his assistants need time to grow as their own individuals while he needs to reflect on himself. They do separate on better terms though when Lucas' group ends up seeking the Doctor for help in Knack 2. Both our younger heroes definitely flourished during their personal journey.

It also makes senses why Lucas ends up losing it later on in Knack 2, he doesn't want to be pushed to the wayside and ignored again especially for his blocky brother figure. An irrational fear as Knack would never dare replace Lucas something reaffirmed once the two are stranded on that island together.

Reno and Kafka sorta just speed up the process of the eventual separation. Both give the younger boys that needed reassurance but also validation. Kafka and Knack cope with not being human alongside learning about themselves better. Lucas gets to really show off his ideas but actually feels seen due to Reno than just our favorite himbo. Both people allow our boys to truly grow into their own individuals.

You can say exploring the world of Kaiju No. 8 is like finally being able to leave the nest in my opinion.

[coolcattime]

do you think the alts and the pirates would get along? (pirates or like the people of ianerea as a whole)

Oh oh oh oh – I have so many thoughts on this.

So starting with Rupert, Earl, and the general population of the rebuilt Ianerea.

I think their relationship starts off kinda rocky. So, like the people of Ianerea are really barely started rebuilding when the alts first come to the island. They’re relieved that their goddess is restored but they’re still paranoid of another attack when she’s still so weak.

Enter four strangers who apparently plan to relieve Dianite – the god that imprisoned their goddess and sent his followers to destroy their island and wipe them all out. Needless to say, they aren’t thrilled with them.

Thankfully in the alt’s aims of not being chased off the island is met when Rupert and Earl notice Spark and – you know – all his looking like an older version of Jordan-ness. So, they take the four to a private meeting room, mostly to interrogate them, but also to figure out what the hell is going on.

Within the first meeting they get enough of a reassurance to allow the four to do trade though they’re understandably still weary.

Spark ends up helping out a lot with the rebuilding process – man built a city and has the desperate want to help people (because currently he feels lost in what else he could possibly be doing).

I honestly think, despite everything, Mot is the one they would warm up to the fastest. He understands trade and he understands criminals.

But overall, I think there is a relation between the two groups in losing their home and having to rebuild their lives from scratch. Like there’s definitely something there and I think it would be like growing together as a community over time sorta thing.

It’s always been my headcanon that it takes them a while to realise that Redbeard exists. This is my explanation for why he isn’t mentioned by anyone in Season 2. He’s basically gone into self-imposed exile and only interacts with Ianite.

I’ve always thought that Jeriah is the one that sees him first, though I’ve not fully thought out how the interaction goes. But I do think it should be him.

I think Redbeard and Alyssa have very similar vibes. They’re both the sole survivors of their culture (Ianerea is rebuilding, but Red like really isn’t involved in any of that and certainly feels as if he can’t return because of what happened to Capsize). I’ve also given Redbeard the garden in Aethoria, which I can see Alyssa taking an interest in.

And, I do think Jeriah would have an interest in getting him out of his self imposed isolation and on the way to healing from the effects of Season One.

For Capsize, during her beginning as a ghost, she's originally a bit at odds with all of them. She can’t exactly communicate in a regular way, so she appears far more violent than she intends, and she isn’t exactly being friendly as she believes Spark is Jordan.

Now over time she realises Spark isn’t Jordan and starts being friendlier. Though since she can’t speak, it still takes some time to find methods of communication that don’t look outwardly violent.

I think that this makes Jeriah and Mot quite weary of her. Jeriah ends up warming up to her during the period that Mot is in Ruxomar, but Mot is still weary during the whole revival process. Alyssa is a teenager with no sense of danger - she wants to hang out with the ghost when they still think it’s Dianite.

After the revival, when Capsize far more herself, she ends up living with Spark whenever she isn’t at Sonja’s place - which in turn means she’s living with Jeriah. Spark isn’t quite the mentor figure he is to her in a lot of my aus where the casts of the two seasons are more mixed together, but he is definitely trying to help her with coming to grips with her memory loss.

Meanwhile, Jerah is more of the train of seeing her life as a bit more messed up than she does, given how young she was when she became Ianite’s messenger and at the time of her own death. However, he also can’t exactly just state something like that to her when Ianite is still about and… a tad overprotective.

[firediamondsv]

Fighting, Part Four

This is the story of how, 10 years ago today, Valtor and I defeated his creators for the first time.

Part one can be found here.

Part two can be found here.

Part three can be found here.

4's Ever Growing Hatred of FireDiamond

As Valtor unintentionally evoked intense emotion in others during Winx 3, together we caused 4 to feel increasingly strong hatred of us. Because of this hatred, he would eventually make a fatal error in terms of the continued life of his happenings.

To try to break Valtor and I apart once and for all, he planned to find the only beings that hated Valtor more strongly than he did: the Ancestral Witches. Aware that he would not be able to control them but that they'd likely follow his plan anyway, he'd bring them to Naomi, and Valtor and I would be busy dealing with them while 4 attempted to take out Naomi 6.

Through my connection to Naomi, given to me years before by Starana, I was able to look ahead a year before and see that this would happen. 4 would bring Valtor's creators to Naomi in summer 2014. Since I saw that in 2013, we had time to prepare.

Naomi 8

Since we knew we would all have to fight together, the members of Naomi 6 agreed to officially consider Valtor a part of the group. Although he was initially reluctant to join, he eventually agreed only because he wouldn't be able to defeat them on his own. I prefer even numbers, though, so I invited my other friend, Kristiana, to join us as well. (I'll do a whole post for her story eventually.) The first happening of 2014, one of four, was dedicated to the eight of us figuring out how to fight 4 together.

Naomi 8 Working Well Together

By the second happening of 2014, Naomi 8 knew how to work well together. As I also predicted the year before, 4 became overwhelmed by trying to fight eight people at one time and began to find a solution to this problem. The end of this happening saw 4 attempting to find where Valtor's creators were in the multidimensional universe. If Valtor had gone to nonexistence when he was destroyed, could his creators have experienced a similar fate?

The happening ended with all of us believing that he had failed to locate them.

4 Brings Valtor's Creators to Naomi

But 4 was always excellent at lying.

Even though we had a year to prepare, as the day drew nearer, both Valtor and I began to feel anxiety and dread. I didn't blame him for not wanting to face his creators again, especially with how they hurt him at the end of his time in Winx, but we both knew that we had to do this for him to find the comfortable existence that he always deserved.

We'd face them together.

Inevitably, that day came. 4 found them and told them that Valtor had escaped from nonexistence and was existing as happily as he possibly could in another dimension. He brought them to Naomi, and we knew it was time. For the first time since the end of Winx 3, Valtor faced his creators again. This time, however, he had a multidimensional who was very capable of protecting him, both physically and mentally, by his side.

At first, his creators only focused on him, but 4 eventually hinted at my involvement as well. Rather than letting 4 tell them, I told them myself that I had helped Valtor escape from nonexistence. We were friends, and I had given him everything they tried to take away from him. He deserves a better existence, and so we'd fight them together, whatever it took, so that he can have that.

And it took a lot. They tried various ways of hurting Valtor with the eventual goal of sending him back to nonexistence permanently and breaking us apart. They knew how to hurt him, both physically and emotionally. They even turned his own control against him, forcing him to attack the rest of Naomi 8 and other people in Winx they hated. I eventually broke that control. Every time they hurt him, I was there to try to heal that hurt. I didn't know if it would be enough. But I had to keep trying, at least until the happening ended.

And it did. 4 was imprisoned in Naomi jail yet again, and Valtor's creators returned to their dimension, a smaller dimension attached to Winx.

The worst was yet to come.

The Happening to End All Happenings

A few years later, as he had become very skilled at doing, 4 escaped from Naomi jail again, and the final Naomi happening began. He called Valtor's creators back to Naomi. Although this was still an emotionally difficult experience for Valtor, we were now used to dealing with them. We had both helped each other gain confidence. We would need it.

After another month or so of fighting back against their attempts to hurt me and retraumatize Valtor, 4 helped them come up with a plan that could break us apart once and for all. They were going to destroy Naomi.

With the rest of Naomi 8 imprisoned by 4, me stuck in their dimension forced to watch, and Valtor trapped in Naomi, we couldn't stop them. They destroyed the dimension I loved so deeply and that I had a part in creating. I also knew this was coming, so the people had time to evacuate, but everything that Starana and I built together was gone. I was heartbroken. Crushed. I didn't know how to go on. But maybe Valtor survived. I needed to know that, at least.

I returned to the damaged and barren Naomi, sensing Valtor under a pile of debris. He was still conscious somehow, and he helped me move it off of him. I collapsed in his arms, crying. I couldn't fix this. Everything was lost.

But he told me I could. He never stopped believing in me. I had done so many impossible things already: helping him escape from nonexistence, convincing him that I was trustworthy, allowing him to find the better existence he never thought he could have. He told me that I was strong, and that he knew there was a way to fix this.

With my spirits lifted, I began to believe in myself as well. In the main building, there's a crystal that provides all the energy that Naomi needs. Starana created it years ago. I also had some of her energy in the necklace I always wore. Maybe, just maybe, I could use that energy to recreate the dimension.

Valtor told me to run. He would distract his creators. I told him to be careful and moved as quickly as I could to the main building. I made it to that floor, put my hands on either side of the Starana crystal, and hoped. Even if this was technically possible, I had never done anything like this before. I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't reach out to Starana, and even though Valtor was confidently telling them everything he had always wanted to, he was still in danger. They were about to destroy him again. I couldn't do this. I can't do this. I don't have the energy for it. It's impossible.

But you've done the impossible so many times.

With that thought reappearing, deep in my mind, I knew what I had to do. Suddenly, bright light appeared all around me. It was strong enough to push them away from Valtor and force them to leave the dimension. Everything started to rebuild. I was doing it, for Valtor, for the people of Naomi, for all my friends and everything this dimension means to us. Naomi had been saved.

I joined Valtor on the balcony of the main building. We had done it. We defeated them. Naomi was safe, and it would be forever. The worst of this happening was over. I held his hand up in victory as the rest of Naomi 8, also victorious against 4, and the people of Naomi returned to the dimension, happy to see us shining in the light of the Starana crystal. Nothing like this would ever happen again. It was over. We had all made it through. Everything would be okay. And Naomi has been peaceful for 10 years.

Art by the incredibly talented @genesisdrawsofficial.

[youngerfrankenstein]

I was enabled. And somehow this wound up 1700 words long. And it’s still not everything I want to say.

So I have personally been making my way through several Transformers shows over the last few months and sort of doing writeups. Long story short it's a love/hate relationship. But my most recent one was EarthSpark, a show which was a lot weaker than I'd hoped. But in the middle of watching that show I figured "well Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is also on Paramount+. It might be fun to try out the other recent take on an 80's cartoon." And then the show was so much better I almost got angry.

Now, admittedly the shows are not THAT similar, but they are both about groups of non-human characters trying to get by on Earth with the help of human friends, they are both somewhat fresh takes on an 80's classic and they both have family as a central theme. And Rise just works so much better as a show.

Now there are a couple of reasons. For one I think the split-episode structure keeps the Turtles episodes flowing at a really brisk pace, and the far more episodic structure allows for more freedom, while EarthSpark feels more like it's trying to tell one story that keeps getting broken up. Rise also just has stronger writing. But I think the main issue for the difference in quality is just that Rise, unlike EarthSpark, knows what it wants to be.

And what exactly I mean by that is hard to pin down. A lot of it just comes down to how something ~feels~ and that's not very helpful. But I think it mostly comes down to two things. Clarity of Theme and Consistency of Tone.

-

Clarity of Theme

Stories have themes. They just do. Themes are what a story is about.

So what is EarthSpark about. Well. The two main themes I've seen people mentioning are Family and Identity. Which are definitely major themes! Don't get me wrong, the show is pretty blatant with them. But those are far from the only themes. We also have things like second chances, racism/xenophobia (handled really poorly in my opinion), growing up (which I would argue overlaps with identity but is still it's own thing) and the fallout of a war. None of these are bad themes inherently! But trying to tackle all of them in one 26 episode season means you can't go into much depth with any of them, so all the lessons come off as pretty shallow with kids just kind of being told what to think about the situation. There are also a few laboured political points (and before you jump me NO. I am not talking about Nightshade. A nonbinary character existing is not political. I'm talking about shit like the "undocumented cybertronians" line that make me want to drown the writers in a kiddie pool.)

Overall it feels like the MAIN concept behind the show is using Transformers as a second-generation immigrant story allegory. Which I actually think is a neat idea! But so much else is going on the concept has no real space to breathe.

And what is Rise's main theme? Family …and that's about it! Yeah there's the episodic morals and such but the over-arcing theme really is just family. Largely brought about just by how the brothers and Splinter interact. You just buy them as a family because of how they interact. They love each other, they get on each other's nerves, they support each other, they argue. You can see Splinter becoming more involved as an actual father as the show goes on. Everyone gets through the trials because they go through them together.

And of course, how the villains tie into this. Now most of the villains in Rise are just there to be silly obstacles, but one does stand out, and that's Shredder. In this version, Shredder is a demonic set of armour and the corrupted soul of Karai's father. His defeat means the two can finally reunite. And his long reach and the feud between the Hamato and Foot clans all tie into the theme of family well. His defeat ties every character together and emphasizes the theme.

Krang is the movie villain, and they made him terrifying by the way, and he ties more into the movie's theme. It's a more character-centric arc of Leo being humbled. Learning he needs to give his ego a break and help and be helped by his brothers. Since Krang is all about personal strength it sets him as a fitting foil, ready to be brought down by self-sacrifice and further humiliated by people working together.

Heck even Draxum ties into the theme. He is technically one of the Turtle's parents and is the reason they and Splinter ever became a family. It all ties into the theme.

So what about the villains of EarthSpark?

Well you have Croft, who is meant to represent the institutional xenophobia aspect. She does not like the robots even as she works with them and wants to get rid of them. Fine. Though it is frustrating that there's things she's not really wrong about, but she's clearly meant to be entirely evil. But sometimes that just happens. The bigger problem is she has no real impact on anything. There's no showdown with her, she just dies (maybe???) to try and up stakes. Also they called her Karen. You can't tell me it wasn't intentional and I HATE it.

And Mandroid! Who… well he doesn't like the robots because he lost an arm in one of their battles? I think? But he also sort of wants to become one? And that ends up driving him insane as he gets really sick? And he's just kind of a dick. …Look Mandroid is just a garbage villain who doesn't really tie into ANY of the themes and that sucks. You could argue he represents hate. On a deeper level you could argue he represents a perversion of the Transformer/Human cooperation dynamic. Or that his portrayal is just kind of ableist. But he just kind of wants to kill robots because he's angry at them, and is very boring.

-

Consistency of Tone

And here's where it doubles down on how it feels, since tone can be harder to pin down. But I'll try.

Rise is fully committed to being utterly absurd. It embraces the stupidity of its own concept and sets about building a setting nominally our own world but honestly nothing like it. Its action is completely over the top. Its villains are rarely taken seriously and their general mayhem blends with the mayhem of the world. No concept too ridiculous, we are in a world with teenage mutant ninja turtles after all! The final episode of season 1 has a sixteen year old girl whack a baseball at a toy left in the head of an ancient evil that a rat had been using as a teapot. And the rest of the series set up the world so that I was 100% willing to buy that.

It also helps with the more ridiculous plot points. Baron Draxum getting forcibly adopted into the family after his defeat is stupid. But the tone of the show makes it work, he's just another silly character silly things happen to. And again, it ties into the themes of family. The tone helps it flow better than say, Starscream or Shockwave's random changes of heart in EarthSpark which are played more seriously and with characters who have little to no build up.

Really the only times Rise stops being silly are the season 2 finale and the movie. Which are still kind of absurd but much darker in tone. And honestly by that point? The show had earned it. I care about these goofs and their world. Seeing all that in genuine peril felt awful.

EarthSpark's tone is a little harder to pin down. What it seems to be going for is a deeply idyllic feel that gets shattered by the darker things in the world when they show up. Which is fine, it could work really well! But, likely in part because of the way it released in batches, the darker points largely seem to come out of nowhere and then things go back to idyllic until the next batch opener or finale. Now on a more personal note, idyllic crosses over fast into cloying for me and a LOT of the show crossed over and never looked back. The attempt at a somewhat more serious tone also makes the goofier moments feel out of place.

I do think in large part it's the execution. If you want to have a tone that keeps swapping you want to balance it better. If you want a tone to shift once you have to earn it. And I think the balance was off.

-

Nostalgia Factor

One other note is harder for me to write about because Rise is the only TMNT show I have watched. So any appeal to the nostalgia factor here would be lost on me. Aside from maybe noticing that the two main Foot Clan members were voiced by Pinky and The Brain. (Side note: The more I look at the cast the more I hope the casting director got paid well) Which means I am kind of biased here. But I will say I know most of the villains were new characters the creators made to mess around with. And they are very fun.

Because ES really needed to ease up on the nostalgia. I think part of its problem is being unwilling to let go of the past, to focus entirely on the new cast rather than hyping up legacy characters. If you wanted to write a story about them, then do that! Again, I have no doubt this show was written by fans. What I doubt is whether that's a good thing in this case.

-

P.S. Rise also has significantly better animation. One of the things I did quite like about ES is the action sequences, but Rise completely blew it out of the water with theirs. And stylisation helped make even the simple scenes feel more energetic. Am I saying that Transformers should go back to 2D animation? YES.

[fagsystem]

Personally we block anti-endos far more often for racism, ableism, and misinformation. The amount of anti-endos who have blatantly said that other culture's spiritual beliefs are made-up bullshit, that think psychiatrists are infallible gods and that psychiatric abuse isn't a big deal, and spread misinformation about how DID forms so that they can gatekeep people is wild

pretty sure this falls under *checks notes* being a dick. which i said i block 8/10 anti endos i see for being.

whats your point here?

well

i think i know what your point is

if i just said that i blocked 8/10 anti endos i see for being a dick, you would agree with that

but when i said i also block 8/10 pro endos i see for ableism, racism, and misinfo, you now dont agree with my previous statement. not because we disagree on many anti endos sucking, but because you think pro endos... are better.

which, well, id ask you take a look at this big long post i made about in group and out group mentality. its based on the stuff i was learning in my psych class.

a quote that sums up what i think about this whole thing youve said here is 'if you engage with pro-endogenics you will see the worst of anti-endogenics, and if you engage with anti-endogenics you will see the worst of pro-endogenics.'

i think everyone sucks because i exist outside of this in group and out group mentality. i engage with people, not labels, i dont care whether someone calls themselves whatever stance provided they arent bitter horrible people. which means, i engage with pro endos and therefore see the worst of anti endos. and i engage with anti endos and therefore see the worst of pro endos

the difference between the 8/10 pro endos i block versus the 8/10 anti endos is the flavour of sucking they tend to do. the common thread here? all of these people are heavily involved in discourse, and that generally makes someone pretty unpleasant.

discourse, in group out group mentalities, and group conformity turns people into fucking horrible people. sure, not all of us, but every single person who is so strongly attached to a discourse position that anyone outside of it is horrible and anyone inside of it isnt are the exact sort of 8/10 i block

just

look

i cooked my dad dinner, ate it with him tonight. he told me how he went to a japanese restaurant last night and wants to try some japanese cooking. we made plans to cook together

after he showed me this tech project he did. he was coding some different speeds for fans for my mom's biltong making. it was his first time using the program c, and he showed me the whole process.

he showed me how he was able to convert some ratios in three lines. i found out that the program he used before, assembler i think, was only able to divide and times by two. we had a laugh as my brain broke, trying to figure out how someone would even begin to tackle that problem

after he was done there and he gave a demo of everything he had explained in practice, i went to my nan's attached granny flat. i asked if she wanted to watch 10 more minutes of that sam i am movie she wanted to watch with me. we decided we're going to take it in chunks

i got us some wine and some cheese and crackers and we ended up watching for about half an hour before i had to tap out. i do think its a beautiful movie-- i just get a lot of second hand embarrassment when watching it and its kind of painful. but i love my nan and i love watching it with her

ive gotten into cooking a lot recently. not been able to do it as much as id like, ive been sick, but ive been falling in love with it. i want to start growing my own veggies soon

tomorrow, my brother's disability support worker is coming for the first shift. hes a chef and i asked my mom if he could ever do a shift with me to teach me how to cook. she said not yet when i brought it up first, because she doesnt want my brother to feel like im taking his support worker from him.

and earlier he was freaking out because he has a five hour shift tomorrow with this guy. he doesnt think he can handle being around someone for five hours. so i suggested that the support worker could teach me how to cook if james doesnt want to do something with him

and my brother calmed down immediately, it was a huge weight off my back, and im so so excited for tomorrow.

why the ramble?

because we all live

every single person around you is also just living a life as vivid and complex as your own. even the people i block because i think theyre stupid and they rub me the wrong way.

and i think people are worthy of compassion and respect and care regardless of what judgements you make about them

its not that people cant be bad or you have to have them in your life or that its wrong to debate or argue or vent about what they do. its just

i dont know

i find it kinda ridiculous youre in here defending pro endos by saying you generally see anti endos who are worse. of course you do, youre pro endo, youre surrounded by many pro endos because thats your community. you see a lot more of them than i do, i only really see the assholes that get 5 minutes of fame in syscourse. same with anti endos. theres probably a lot, lot more pro/anti endos that did not make it into my 8/10 statistic because i dont even know theyre pro or anti endo, because it doesnt come up and theyre not insufferable people

i just

i just find syscourse so ridiculous now

[alyjojo]

Past Life 🗿 Karmic Spread August 2023 - Gemini

Gender I’m Picking Up On (in the past life): Female

Who You Were: The Sun

What You Did: Knight of Pentacles & Page of Wands

How It Ended: 10 Wands rev, The Tower rev, The World

What Karma Was Brought With You: Page of Swords

Who You Brought With You: King of Cups

Additional energy: King of Wands

Past Life Oracle: Food & Hunger, Orphan, Authority Figures

Dreaming Way: Moon, Birds, Lilies

Charm:

Angel 😇 on 6 Wands

Nursing Scrubs 👩🏻‍⚕️ on The Sun

After pulling your cards, I went to shake up my charms to pick some out, and said out loud “well, they’re an Angel, that’s who they are”, and sure enough. Just two, and one is an Angel 👼 You really were, and in different ways, you still are, your soul still holds your same essence from life to life as you evolve as a soul, and you show up as The Sun & 6 Wands in both, you could have some dominant Leo placements, or you just bring the sunshine with you everywhere you go, you’re a very happy person with infectious good vibes ☀️

This life does not feel that old at all, it’s definitely your most recent, and it doesn’t feel like much time went by at all before you came right back. Idk how any of that works, yours is the first I’ve gotten that vibe. In the past, you worked with kids in bad situations. Orphan is here, and they’re included, food & health, lacking money, all of these things played a role in the lives and situations of the children you were around, but I don’t get it’s any one specific story - like an orphanage or a hospital. I get a CPS or social worker vibe, kids weren’t being loved enough or provided for, and they came to you. Some form of charity was involved in this, like donations, or you could’ve been involved with getting donations, running charity drives, you name it, you were one of the main faces of this organization and had your hand in just about everything with running it, but especially interactions with the kids themselves. I don’t think you had any of your own.

There are two here that were near and dear to your heart, one of them has come with you, but is attached to a King of Wands that’s also come with you. Could be a fire sign. They are together, so this could be your child with this person, or someone you’re dating/married/will that has a child before you came along…something like that. In the past, you were very good at creating an environment of happiness and celebration, where it would make sense for sadness, mourning, helplessness, and grief to exist more often. You made kids very happy, cheered them up, they loved to be around you. Your death was a fatal injury while traveling, and I don’t pick up on a car or specifics, so I’m not sure what exactly. It happened very quickly, there was no time to think on it. I get “pulling the plug” as the death itself. I don’t know the history of life support specifically, it does and doesn’t feel like that at the same time. Something was keeping you alive, you were breathing, but you weren’t able to actually come back, you were gone. 7 Pentacles shows there was waiting and deliberating before a decision was made. Had you come back, there would’ve been enormous pain & The World shows this ending being for your highest good.

Personality wise, in this life you’re very chatty, observant, gossiping, love to be in everyone’s business & drama, especially within your family group. You’re also an avid learner of everything, self-taught in a wide range of interesting subjects and probably have a brain that just goes & never fully shuts off. Page of Swords is Gemini/air energy, that would make sense. Your love language is probably words of affirmation, and you show this when those close to you are going through difficulties. You keep a mature mentality surrounding drama and are a fan of talking things out, helping people work through their issues. You could literally be a counselor or on a similar path, maybe went to school to study psychology or taught yourself a lot of tips & tricks. You don’t like family or relationship squabbles, you’re the one calling people immediately to set it straight.

You’ve brought two Kings with you. I’m not sure who King of Cups is to you, could be a Scorpio/water sign. They’re very closed off, protective, independent, and money focused. Even kind of greedy to an extent, but responsible nonetheless. They’re not the most open with their emotions, especially with 4 Pentacles clarifying, they can be wound up tighter than an old clock, but when they do let their emotions out it’s genuine and they do have a lot of love for the people in their life…though it’s not obvious. You just have to know them to know how they work, and I get you do.

King of Wands feels like your partner, a marriage even, Knight of Wands shows a commitment being RUSHED into like a whirlwind of passion, love, excitement. Someone could’ve said “let’s get married” and the other person was like “okay!”. Or if you had a child together, you both may have been young & impulsive when that happened. This can also instead show two children, one before marriage and one after, and both were close to you in this past life. One or two, you’ve got kiddos here. You were their mother then too, in a way, or they wanted you to be. Whether you actually are blood related in this life or not, I’m not sure, but they include you as a mom (step mom?) regardless. Moon & Birds describe this King as very charming & magnetic, they’re probably an amazing storyteller and able to captivate an audience with little to no effort, they attract people everywhere they go and probably can make a friend in the grocery line 😆 Lilies shows a family connection as beautiful, as traditional as it is fun, and long lasting, there is a soft purity in the love shown within your family 💚

[fandom-geek]

i finished act 1 of awakening last night. i have many thoughts. and even more theories.

FENRING!!!!!!!!! just needed to get that out of my system, we'll get back to him later. darin de paul is such a fun va.

so. i bum-rushed the last three trials last night during the pre-coriolis storm, which was very fun and atmosphere, especially in the depths of the chasm. not much to say about the first two, but the last one...

ari! my beloved! "freebooting scholar" my arse, she's such a nerd. and the codex confirms that she's working for the bene gesserit and sent them a report with her theories that the fremen aren't dead? that's very intriguing. given she rejected feyd-rautha's proposal, i wonder if she was unaware that the bene gesserit wanted her to marry him (unlikely) or if that was her own rebellion, jessica-having-paul style. and if it was, is she outright rogue or a defector now, like irulan in children of dune? but it was really great hearing her talk about the sietch and having those little dialogue spots.

we have an unknown predecessor, who incidentally also has fremen blood... so the bene gesserit and ix are working together to find the fremen, presumably by creating gholas with fremen blood so their agents can break into the surviving sietches. and before you say, oh, but gholas are from the bene tleilax, not ix - well, isn't it interesting that the bene tleilax tradepost has one of their number say you remind them of "something mother would make". it's a different timeline and several millennia too early, but the bene tleilax and ix were both involved in creating hwi noree to bring about leto ii's downfall. i definitely think all three groups are involved here, and another aspect of the sleeper's... condition fits with the bene tleilax's methodology a bit too well. but more on that later.

interesting that ariste sends us to harko village, only for her known associate zantara to "accidentally" get us arrested via noctua. as much as i'd like to believe him that noctua was just excited to see us (which would be adorable)... press x to doubt. ariste knows she can't figure out the ix encryption, and zantara's not-intervention leads us to meeting count fenring, who just so happens to be the trigger of a compulsion for the sleeper to kill themselves if they see his face in the flesh. and guess who is a known dealer in "compulsions that enact someone to violence"? it's the bene tleilax! (hayt, how i miss you.)

i don't think ariste and zantara knew about the compulsion, but if anyone's going to know what the fuck the sleeper's deal is, it's fenring. he's the emperor's right-hand man, after all. and what a specific compulsion! if whoever created us didn't want us talking to him, why is the compulsion only in effect when they're face-to-face? he also seemed to have a suspicion that the compulsion existed, given the mask that is never mentioned in the books, so what does he think the sleeper's deal is?

also, the reveal that the sleeper seemingly didn't exist before the first cutscene is fascinating. we know from the codex note (which does say it might be "planted misinformation") that ariste apparently had a vision on the plain where zantara crashed our ship, and that's why he did it there. but now that we know that ariste works/worked with the bene gesserit as a member specifically on matters of the fremen, that the sleeper didn't exist on the ship manifest whatsoever, that zantara knew to drag them out of the ship (and it didn't seem like ariste had dreamt of their face)... i have the suspicion that zantara and ariste are the arrakis' arms of this conspiracy. alternatively, ariste learnt a bit about this conspiracy in the past and is now working with zantara as rogue agents with their own plans.

and now we're working as an assassin for fenring. not quite sure how we're going to escape that role, but my sleeper was honest about it with zantara and basically got his permission to do it. "plans within plans", he bloody said. yeah, i'm bloody sure you have plans within plans, zantara!

though, out of all this, it's least clear why zantara is involved. ariste? yeah, she's either current or former bene gesserit. zantara is a fremen, so... if they are working with the bg/ix/bt, they've found at least one fremen and it seems damn unlikely that zantara doesn't know where more are. so again, either they're working separately to those three groups, or the purpose of "find the fremen, awaken the sleeper" isn't just to find the fremen. like how hayt's compulsion to kill paul wasn't just to kill paul, it was to see whether the bene tleilax could achieve ghola immortality. that doesn't seem like the ploy here, though it's interesting to note that basically all the trainers complain/are surprised by how the sleeper seems like they're remembering things, rather than learning.

but at the same time, hm. i had a bit of a crack theory that the sleeper was a candidate for ariste/feyd-rautha (depending on your gender) to have a kid with to create the kwisatz haderach, since we know the bene gesserit love their backups. i had thought it was crack because the timeline didn't work - unless the sleeper is a ghola with accelerated aging. i'm still pretty dubious about that theory, as amusing as it is, but could they instead be an artifical kwisatz haderach candidate? after all, paul says in the intro cutscene that this path involves less bloodshed (despite the fremen genocide).

so presumably someone's got to be the KH in this timeline since ariste isn't stepping up to the plate. yeah, the kh is meant to be a man so he can unlock his male ancestors' memories, but alia manages that too so i'm writing that off as bene gesserits being bene gesserits. (yes, that was only the case because she was preborn, but it still proves that the bene gesserits were fundamentally wrong about only men being able to access both lines of memory.) and we know that, in the books, the bene tleilax created an artificial kwisatz haderach, who ended up killing themselves. is "the sleeper" programme, for lack of a better term, another attempt at this with a wider support base?

which is to say, all of this makes the fact my character started with some bene gesserit training already even funnier. "training outside of the chapterhouse" my fucking arse, reverend mother. if it was outside of the chapterhouse, that's only because the bene gesserit wanted it that way.