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hahahafangirl · 8 days ago

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In praise of good martial forms

One thing I alluded to earlier is that Suo has really, really good martial forms. As someone who dabbled with martial arts at various stages of my life, these details jump out. Of course, any martial artist worth their salt must have good forms, unconventional style or not (as Suo described the forms he learned as a "jumble of mixed martial arts"). Wind Breaker is one of the best choreographed manga I have seen, so these details are very much worth analyzing :P

Table of contents:

Martial arts start with good forms

Suo v. Oobiki: Is Discipline Rigidity or Fluidity?

Foundational Grounded-ness: Defense as Offense

Circularity; Yin and Yang

Suo on the Offensive: no_fist.megamind?

I will first go over the basics — how the choreography demonstrates Suo's solid skills, which segue into Suo v. Oobiki's debate about "discipline" (spoiler: Suo wins because he has better forms, i.e. better discipline), then moving on to make more observations about his styles— particularly the circularity and how the narrative is restraining Suo from using his fist to attack.

Martial arts start with good forms

As an introduction, I will note that Suo always sits and stands very properly, with his back straight and his posture supported by his hands behind his back.

Notice also that while Sakura casually leans back against his chair, slumping backward, and Nirei "cowers" -- leaning forward -- Suo sits straight-backed like the epitome of a polite young man :3c

This is another fun contrast between Suo and most other delinquents in the story— in an environment emphasizing rebellion, freedom, and a bit of teenage arrogance mixed in, sparking all sorts of wild and flamboyant self-expressions (dyed hair, undercut, piercings, etc.), Suo alone stands with a very traditional, conservative, and almost a prudent sensibility, in both his clothings and behaviors. Had he not don his Furin jacket, would anyone believe that this gentleman is a delinquent?

That is to say, Suo's trainings are baked into his bones, to the way he holds and moves himself, most likely to even his speech. Good forms from the beginning to end. Suo likely has practiced martial arts for a good while.

The thing that makes me notice how good his form is is from his fist placement in the Kanuma fight:

First, note that Suo's right fist is in the ready position by his hip, ready to hit. It's small, but surprisingly easy to forget when you are starting out. It's somewhat about being ready to punch at anytime (even though we never see Suo actually punching anyone), but more about the discipline of always being ready for your next move.

Similarly, the fist is there during the Oobiki fight. Note that Suo was able to surprise Oobiki and get a hit in because the ready-to-go fist exists as a camouflage, distracting the opponent from his other arm (out of frame— out of Oobiki's visual field). Having the fist there is an excellent basic form, and it allows Suo multiple options of attack.

Let's transition to legwork. One of the most important thing in martial arts is stances. Generally, the deeper your stance is, the lower your center of gravity, hence the more stability you have. This is, of course, at the cost of mobility, which is achievable with narrower, higher stances. An exercise at the advanced (masters') level of karate is to stand in kiba-dachi, the basic horse stance (first thing you'll ever learn) continuously for an hour or more. That's how strong your legs have to be. And practice staying in proper stances is how you hone it. Having a strong, solid stance is essential for balance and power,

Notice the solid, deep (low) stance— and how much power is behind it as Suo very gently seize Kanuma's fist and flips him. We can see the difference in speed (and thus input power) by the blur in both frames.

Again and again, Suo does a lot of "flipping people over" like this (I'm sure there is a proper term for it, in what I assume is Aikido, but that's a martial discipline I haven't flirted with lol). I will labor the point of Suo's moves being primarily circular later, but just to demonstrate the power behind his seemingly-effortless moves:

Note the stance— and the engaged legs muscles

Same here— the deep stance provides a tremendous amount of power required to fling a grown man and knock out two more people. Note again the difference in speed/input momentum (top right panel).

Doing mixed martial arts doesn't means that every move is a hodge-podge of everything. Suo's starting stance is a very basic/common starting form in kungfu:

As a side note, visually this starting form is very representative of Suo as a character/fighter :P He doesn't start (seemingly) looking for a fight; his stance is neutral, relaxed; one hand is inviting the opponent into his space. However, when we look closer, his feet are position such that he is ready to lunge forward (front-facing leg) and a fist is hidden behind his back, also ready to pounce.

It is a basic stance because it is good, and great when done right. If there is one (1) single thing you get from all the ramblings I do, let it be that Suo has very good basics. From his resting stance, fist placement, low stances, to kick— everything is solid.

This brings us to the "debate" between Suo and Oobiki about what "discipline" means.

Discipline: Rigidity or Fluidity?

Suo v. Oobiki is, ultimately, a fight about their philosophy regarding "discipline". (In this manner, we can say that Suo participated in at least one conversation, lol. But more on this later in Crisis of Contact or The Failure of Language (coming soon. at some point.) perhaps.) Firstly, Oobiki brought up discipline with the context of punishment for bad behaviors:

Which suggests that a (rigid) social code was violated here— which is that Suo, the underclassmen, had insulted his superior (in age and school-year). Discipline, here, is a violent mean to "bend" someone back to the appropriate behavior; or, perhaps, discipline means the rigid code of appropriate behaviors itself. Regardless, we get the sense here that "discipline" is rigid, meant to be followed to the letter, and even somewhat hierarchical: the elder enforces discipline onto the younger, not the other way around.

Ironically, this rigidity and hierarchy of discipline is what Oobiki forsook in the first place when he gave up competitive gymnastics:

Rigid routine, rigid rules;

The hierarchy of ranking and rigid scoring system;

And yet, old habits die hard. The brutality of competition and gymnastics is engrained into Oobiki's conception of discipline, and what it means to be, yourself, disciplined, or to discipline somebody else: beating the same stringent routines and rules until submission.

Afterwards, Suo relays a very different view — another definition altogether — of the word:

(Yeehaw! The first visual of Suo's master--- the same narrative role as Akari, yet so much further away...)

Discipline here is not a rigid code of rules or behavior, but rather the transmission of knowledge. This may be due to localization (can somebody please supply me with the Japanese version), but notice that Oobiki uses "discipline" as a noun, while Suo uses it as a verb. One is a thing that you have; the other is an action you impart upon someone else. Already, we see the rigidity of an object without care for whom it affects, versus an action that involves two people at the minimum (the teacher and the student) and widens the possibility of what could be taught. Martial arts is a discipline; so is calligraphy, for example, or tea ceremony, or life philosophy, or math, or science, or literature, etc.

Discipline, to Suo (relayed to him by his Master, by the quote) is a living, mobile thing, means to share knowledge without forcing it upon somebody. You can try to train or teach someone; it doesn't mean they will learn it that exact way, or they may modify your teachings to their needs. Suo is already innovating upon the discipline passed down to him by teaching Nirei to protect himself and fight back at once

It's a living thing in the same sense that humanity is a living thing, as culture and knowledge get passed down and modified generations by generations. It's quite generative, to employ a pun here. It's more philosophical and metaphysical than the concrete, object-like "discipline" that Oobiki wants to impart, or force upon, others.

How do these two views of "discipline" duke it out? By fighting, of course! And, I will argue that Suo wins because he has the better discipline, narratively speaking. Of course, it's nearly impossible for two definitions of the word to duke it out— this is why we have stories and narratives :D The key observation I want to make is that Suo has the more solid and proper forms.

I noted earlier that Suo was able to get a hit into Oobiki with his elbow because of his good ready stance with the fist. The more demonstrative example, I think, is in this sequence here, which immediately follows the aforementioned example:

Oobiki begins with a gymnastic-inspired cartwheel, using one leg to attack and hook Suo's arm down. Note that the force is concentrated on Suo's wrist. With his momentum, Oobiki's arms push upward to complete the cartwheel, and, theoretically, slam Suo's body down by his wrist (a very tiny fraction of Suo's body mass— which is proportional momentum). That's cool and all, but I think Oobiki makes a grave mistake next…

... of attacking with his other leg instead of landing. He expects Suo's whole body to go down with his wrist (which, again, very small fraction of body mass— Suo is a lot stronger physically than Oobiki expected). If that is the case, then Oobiki gets the point. However, I think, giving yourself zero point of contact on the ground — your form and stance not being grounded at all — is a risky gamble. You risk standing on nothing and having no foundation beneath to push you on. While you are falling mid-air, your opponent easily get a grasp on you, and, supplying some (seemingly) minimal amount of force, turns gravity against you. Again, no foundation, nothing solid to land on.

This is, also, the last significant movement in their choreography before the winner is decided. This ending is signified by Oobiki saying, "I can't read you at all..." before the narrative naturally descend to the conclusion of their fight with Suo as the winner. Oobiki's "encore" is merely the last desperate swipe in a conversation already closed.

Foundational Grounded-ness; Defense as Offense

Another observation: throughout the Oobiki fight, most of Suo's stances are low, deep stances, which emphasizes stability and grounded-ness. We see these in the previous examples— in the one immediately above, Suo's stance is so "deep" that he is kneeling on the ground: very stable (which also necessitates no small amount of core strength, mind you) in contrast to Oobiki's ungrounded-ness.

Here, Suo starts from a neutral, high stance, then steps out and down to move his opponent down along with his own center of gravity

Next, a very impressive (holy crap I can't properly express how fucking insane of a move that is) swing: from a low (kicking) stance, which provides the normal force necessary to push, and over

To a solid, whole foot (HEEL FIRST! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT-- note the angle where the heel is closer to the ground) and a forceful slam down.

While Suo adeptly utilizes high, middle, and low stances, I want to point out that in this fight, all of his move begins from a low stance. Narratively, Suo is focusing on stability, grounded-ness (purpose-wise, Furin's job is to hold their ground, too), and defense — which is his specialty. Suo rarely initialize attacks as offense; here, he relies on the same grounded-ness of his defensive practice as offense. You have heard "the best defense is offense" before, now, welcome to "the best offense is defense" :P.

Combing through the manga, I am struck with how solid Suo's stances are, which I'm sure I have more than adequately emphasized by now. He is agile, mobile, and responsive, yes, but he agilely steps into a sturdy defensive stance in every fight, as demonstrated above in the Kiryuu introductory fight as well as in Roppo Ichiza.

I think this does say something about Suo as a character; just as Sakura's agility, adaptability, creativity, and ferocity says about his, or Tsugeura's high-spirited, principled (even if seemingly odd) virtues being supported by his muscular sturdiness— emphasize the simplicity of pure force, or, Sugishita's long-armed, forceful, but single-trajectory attacks says about his single-minded determination. It doesn't have to be anything too deep lest we step too close into Backstory Speculations territory (though I would not blame us for that, seeing that that is the #1 mystery right now, lol). But, to me, there seems to be an interesting contrast between Suo's image as a lighthearted, blithe, socially-adaptable child and his principled and grounded stances, which are primarily employed to protect or defend someone else.

(Suo's return to the group post-Oobiki is blithe and lightfooted. At this moment, his return is more to a social effect, reconnecting with the rest of the class before the fight resume. Note that, in contrast to his earlier heel-first landing, toe-first landing is used for very light landing— a spirit of windless calm, as I love to say these days. His first impact is this lightness — relieving Nirei from his post, signifying a victory, like a balm upon the toiling soldiers.)

There is, still, a hidden sternness and practicality underneath such a light and humorous character. We caught glimpses of it: Suo who, on the first day of class, "fact-and-logic"'ed Sakura and Sugishita into resolving their conflicts:

Suo who represents the foundational philosophy of fighting as a group to Sakura:

Suo is also teaching Nirei the foundation of fighting, etc. etc.

These roles fit perfectly into his motif as a "teacher" in the narrative, conveniently also as the narrative mouthpiece: I discussed in another analysis Suo's role as the one delivering "conclusive remarks" — the final deliverer of message to Sakura's journey. Just like his conception of discipline as "passing down teachings" — passing down something fundamental, grounding, upon which new innovations can be made — Suo provides the elementary, foundational "bricks" to the story, upon which Nirei, Sakura, the audience, and whomever else he will teach next, can build up their unique substances. It all starts with a good basics— that’s the thing that struck me with Suo’s fighting styles: it’s graceful and simple, based on strong and solid foundational skills.

Circularity; Yin and Yang

By now, it's clear that Suo's fighting motif is primarily circular: he twists and flips his opponents both parallel to and perpendicular to the plane of his body

@darkersolstice and I briefly discussed this point earlier, here, where they insightfully compare Suo to the eye of a hurricane. Inspired by this, I remarked that the philosophical basis of Suo's style is something to the effect of "A steadfast heart amidst the ever-turbulent circumstances" (In Vietnamese, "Tâm bất biến giữa dòng đời vạn biến"). As the calm in the eye of the storm — the central, unmoving axis of rotation — Suo controls himself and the vortex of life such that they all pass by him. He sees and acknowledges the turbulence; but he remains unperturbed and untouched by them.

There is a nuance between what I argue here versus what I argued by Suo's evasiveness, in that it is not the fighting style that is the evasive one, but Suo is. The evasiveness — the "letting life flows by" physical philosophy — is just one of the many possible motivator for his evasion. The bulk of Suo's dodging, I think now, is social rather than physical; the physical aspect just further enforces the motif. (Or, I may argue, the physical aspect may hints towards a deeper motivation for the habitual deflection, without it being the main culprit of the evading act.)

Coming back to the circularity itself; the perfect circle has been symbolically important, throughout many culture, as a symbol of perfection and completeness. The Aristotelian view of the universe was that of a series of enclosing sphere, because circles — and spheres — are perfect. In Chinese philosophy, the same ideal is reflected in yin and yang

There is light in darkness, darkness in light, as circular force and motion rotate in the universe. This is the total encapsulation of everything. Suo's circular form, where he controls the sum total of his force and the opponent's momentum to his advantage, symbolize this philosophical totality. By Suo's association with a heavily Chinese motif, this could be the intended basis of his form.

Suo on the Offensive? no_fist.megamind?

Another thing that is apparent is that Suo has yet to (actually) attack with his fist; both time, against Kanuma or KEEL, he was thwarted from doing so:

Both time, Suo going for the punch was considered an excessive use of force— explicitly so in the KEEL's case, where it was considered the wrong and overly-aggressive choice. There, it also marked a break from his serene and mature characterization.

Suo does attack— but it is always with his legs, palms, or elbow (in the Oobiki fight).

Never the fist. Why?

I, to be honest, still have to ponder more what this means in relation to the rest of his defensive, circular (yin-yang), and deflective (utilizing the opponent's momentum) fighting style. An oath of non-violence, perhaps?— an oath to respond to your environment, to defend as the need arise, to seek not violence but repel it? These are compelling statements. Why kicks and push, but not fist? Perhaps there is an "excuse" of repelling and deflecting in kicking away, pushing away that does not exist in punch in, punch at, punch through. With its various prepositions, punching is rarely away, but always offensive, violating, stepping inside in a sense. Suo's discipline seems to be that of pacifism or at least, minimal violence. Violence cannot touch him, and he cannot exude violence with the discipline he was taught— handed down to? constrained in?

There are still so many interesting thoughts to extrapolate on, so many narrative trajectories wide open for Suo (and his backstory) to take— but that shall be the story for another day.

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k1ddiecat · 2 months ago

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Littling tips from experience

I don't know if anyone who follows me needs this but it's been a few years now that I've embraced my small side and I've been thinking of compiling a list of things I've learned from experience (I'm ND and have a hard time doing things without knowing why). Especially for those of us who don't have an external caregiver (EC)

-Look at references for inspiration on how you can dress to feel more childish. Find a style and then chase it slowly as budget permits.

>Clothes

-Accessories and add-ons go a long way. Sometimes it's better to focus on finding clothes that fit and are comfy even though theyre simple. Simple is very fixable later with things like patches and other clothing layers

-Mind the materials of clothes. Figure out what feels the best and what you want to avoid.

-Get a meaauring tape and make and keep a record of your measurements for online clothes ordering.

>Pacifiers and Teethers

-Pacifier wipes make it much easier to keep them clean and clean before use. Worth it if affordable.

-Have something to keep them in thats easy to access ESPECIALLY if you live with unsupportives. I use a mug that has some paper towel or pacifier wipes at the bottom. I keep it on my nightstand and toss my paci in there when Im done using it and any passers by wouldn't get close enough to notice whats inside the mug. For more stealth get a taller cup.

-Try not to bite or chew on your pacifier. This is hard for me as I'm a stim chewer and silicone is my favorite :V but they really arent that durable.

-Maybe this is basic but make sure the size is right for you or your mouth will tire faster. A lot of the common adult size ones from Etsy run big due to the goals of the seller. I use Pacifierfixx pretty exclusively for their modest but adult size nipples and small sheilds which interfere less with my breathing

- Overalls have front pockets which are awesome for tucking pacis in. Excellent for those that live with unsupportives for a quick hiding place.

-You can also very easily get away with taking a pacifier with you into the movie theater by the way. If it's not crowded no one will see you with the lights off in there. Bonus; bring a teddy to sit with you and hold during the show.

>Bedtime

-Invest time into compiling audio to help sleep. Playlists and CD's of lullabyes, soft music are worth putting together. Peaceful visuals too.

-Create bedtime riutals and bother to keep them. Link bedtime subconciously with these rituals and not only will it help you sleep, it will help you go into bedtime with a positive attitude. Still working on this one myself.

>Diapers

-Diaper materials vary. I used to be clothback only due to them being better for my environment (hot weather, not very well climate controlled living space, close quarters with unsupportive people) and because I didn't like the crinkly shiny texture of the plasticbacks I'd encountered thus far. Now (more climate controlled living space, less tight quarters but still with unsupportives) I kinda lean towards plastic because I've found ones whose texture I enjoy. Also the level of crinkle varies between not only brand but model of diaper. Research beforehand is helpful along with ordering samples if you've got the money and patience.

-Get a changing mat. If you're not incontinent it doesn't need to be a "proper" waterproof one but you should have something you can use. Reason: it catches remnants of oil, cream, or powder if using and, if you lack an EC to change you, it's good to have under your feet or your bum when you take the diaper off.

-Whoever is changing you should wash hands after using a cream,oil, or powder BEFORE attatching the tapes. Tapes are finnicky. They will often only work once.

-If you do mess up the tapes, regular clear packing tape will help you. If it's still not totally secure I'd reccomend adding breif type underwear on top to keep it in place, obviously training pants will be your easiest to clean in case of a leak second to nylon and cotton last.

-Invest in suitable wipes especially if using your diaper. These are sold at drugstores with names like disposable washcloth/ cloth towel/ etc. Flushable wipes are not actually septic safe in quantities greater than one at a time and on top of that will fall apart more easily.

-Dispose of worn diapers with double bagging. Special medical disposal bags like those from Northshore make a great first layer bag especially if using, if you can spring for it. Otherwise this is a great time to use plastic grocery bags. Once double bagged try to get them to a dumpster asap. If you plan on starting diapers at all while living with unsupportives figure out before you even buy them where and when you can safely get them to a dumpster/bin that gets emptied into the truck directly

>Kitchen and Bathroom

-Invest in Bottle soap. If there is only one thing from this guide that you spring for, make it this. I think non littles should get some too. Not only is it unparalleled for breaking up milk and other hard to clean drink substances, but the gentle formula makes it much better than dish soap at washing out of the cup/bottle/etc without leaving a soapy taste. It's like 5 dollars and can last you a while.

-Keep a container or have a dedicated spot to keep dirty dishes/ bottles/ anything you don't want to leave in the dishwasher where unsuportives can see it. A designated spot makes it essier to remember to clean and all together means that when you get around to cleaning one thing, you'll likely clean them all.

- If you don't already, having foods that can help you take meds are a good idea. Pre-packaged is convenient and therefore motivating.

-If you have a little extra change, children's medicine and hygene products are good to keep on hand. Feeling little often combines with a desire to avoid adult stuff/adult life. Being able to choose the kid version will encourage you to take better care of yourself. Sometimes the kid's version is less effective at treating adult bodies but if it gets you to use it, it's better than nothing and, during times when you need to use the grown up stuff bribing with yummy food and drink via the last tip is a good way to 'trick' yourself into it.

-Look into what kids around the world eat and maybe find some new recipes that make you feel small while keeping things interesting.

>Recreation

- Make it easier. Go for the big crayons. Go for the simple crafts. Try the accessible versions of things whether you think you need it or not.

-Make it harder. Practice an alphabet or a language you aren't fluent in. Learn a more advanced version of something that interested you as a kid. It may not seem to be very regressive to work hard but bio kids try their best generally speaking. Sometimes it's good to remember what it was like to be new at things.

-Interact with other littles. This is a big one. Many irl events for littles are completely sfw, not hookup or dating spaces, and almost every single person I've met through these spaces are in it primarily or exclusively as a lifestyle aka they are age regressors by a different name. The practice of being a sfw little predates the internet 'age regression' subculture by a long while. There are a lot more of us out there than you may realize.

-Moodboards are good but it's healthy to see people of all shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds etc. embracing their inner child. Especially if you have body dysmorphia about having a grown up body. Intentionally expose yourself to photos of other littles making the best of the body they have.

#sfw agere #sfw age regression #sfw babyfur #sfw littlespace #sfw babyre #sfw padded agere

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coven-of-genesis · 7 months ago

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Beginner in witchcraft tips? Like where should I start?

Beginner witchcraft tips

Part one : where & how do I start

1. Research and Respect Open Practices

• What Are Open Practices?

Open practices are spiritual or magical systems that do not require initiation, cultural heritage, or permission to engage in. Examples include eclectic witchcraft, kitchen witchcraft, green witchcraft, hedge witchcraft, and secular witchcraft.

• Avoiding Cultural Appropriation:

Practices like smudging (specific to Indigenous cultures), Hoodoo, and Voodoo are closed practices unless you are properly initiated or invited. Instead, use general terms like “smoke cleansing” with herbs like rosemary or lavender.

2. Build a Foundation of Knowledge

• History and Ethics of Witchcraft

Study the historical persecution of witches, modern witchcraft movements like Wicca, and the ethical principles (e.g., Wiccan Rede, the Threefold Law, or personal moral codes).

• Learn the Basics of Magic:

• Correspondences: Study how herbs, crystals, colors, and moon phases align with magical intentions.

• Intentions: Understand that intention is the core of magical practice. Clarity and focus are vital.

3. Start with Simple Tools and Techniques

• Common Tools:

You don’t need expensive or elaborate items to begin. Everyday objects like candles, notebooks, or kitchen herbs work just as well as specialized tools.

• Candles for fire energy (tea lights are excellent for beginners).

• Herbs like rosemary (cleansing and protection), basil (prosperity), and chamomile (calming).

• Salt for purification.

• Crystals like clear quartz (amplification), amethyst (calm), or rose quartz (love).

• DIY Approach:

Craft your own tools or collect items from nature (leaves, stones, feathers) for more personal meaning.

4. Create a Sacred Space

• Physical Space:

Choose a small area for your altar or sacred space. This can be a shelf, a table, or even a portable box. Include items like:

• A candle for focus and light.

• Representations of the elements (e.g., a bowl of water, stones, a feather).

• Personal objects that bring comfort or inspiration.

• Energetic Space:

Use cleansing techniques to clear your space, such as sprinkling salt, using sound (bells or clapping), or wafting incense.

5. Practice Energy Work

• Grounding:

This helps connect you to the earth and stabilize your energy. A simple method:

• Sit or stand barefoot. Imagine roots growing from your feet deep into the ground. Visualize excess energy flowing down these roots into the earth.

• Centering:

Gather scattered energy into your core. Visualize a glowing ball of light in your chest or belly, representing your personal power.

• Shielding:

Protect your energy by visualizing a protective bubble or shield of light around you.

6. Explore Divination

• Tarot or Oracle Cards:

• Start by pulling a single card daily to learn its meaning and connect with your intuition.

• Many decks come with guidebooks to help beginners.

• Pendulums:

Use a pendulum for yes/no questions. Practice by asking simple, clear questions and observing the swing (e.g., clockwise for yes, counterclockwise for no).

• Scrying:

Try gazing into a bowl of water, a mirror, or a candle flame to receive intuitive insights.

7. Learn Magical Timing

• Lunar Phases:

• New Moon: Set intentions and start new projects.

• Waxing Moon: Build energy and take action.

• Full Moon: Amplify power, perform gratitude rituals.

• Waning Moon: Release and banish unwanted energies.

• Days of the Week:

• Example: Thursday is associated with abundance and success.

• Seasons and Sabbats:

Research the Wheel of the Year (e.g., Yule, Beltane) and celebrate the seasons in ways that resonate with you.

8. Work With Nature and the Elements

• Earth: Grow plants, use crystals, or walk barefoot outside.

• Air: Burn incense, write affirmations, or meditate on your breath.

• Fire: Light candles, work with fire-safe herbs, or set intentions during sunsets.

• Water: Take ritual baths, work with moon water, or meditate near a body of water.

9. Keep a Grimoire or Book of Shadows

• Document your spells, rituals, and experiences.

• Include correspondences (e.g., herbs, colors, moon phases), affirmations, and journal entries about your practice.

• This will help you reflect on your progress and refine your methods over time.

10. Develop Your Own Path

• Personalize Your Practice:

Use what resonates with you and leave out what doesn’t. Witchcraft is a flexible and personal journey.

• Be Patient:

Progress takes time. Focus on consistency rather than perfection.

• Stay Open-Minded:

Connect with other practitioners to exchange ideas, but always critically evaluate what you incorporate into your practice.

#witchblr #witchcore #witchcraft #witchlife #white witch #beginner witch #witch tips #grimoire #spirituality #green witch #candle magic #herb magick #book of shadows

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sonicenvy · 5 months ago

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[Megapost] Online Resources For Fiber Arts

Hi y'all! Local crazy lady librarian n' crafter here! I am one of those people who loves collecting resources and to that end I created my Weird Wonderful Web spreadsheet many moons back (which is an ever updating project btw) which is a spreadsheet of useful, interesting, wacky, old school, unique, or just plain delightful gems on the internet. For the purposes of this post I decided to pull out all of the fiber arts related resources (+ I added some new stuff just for this post that will make it on the sheet eventually)

Today, I am here to share with you collection of useful resources online for embroidery, cross stitch, sewing, knitting, and crochet. If you have any useful sites that you know of that I didn't share here I'd love to know! Reblog or comment and share!

Without further ado:

Sewing

@fatmasc’s google drive of sewing resources –– lots of sewing resources in one gDrive folder

Dagraeve’s Jedi Robe Pattern –– sew a simple jedi robe for a costume!

Vincent Briggs’ tutorials on making fabric covered buttons (18th century style!) –– what it says on the tin. These are very thorough video tutorials on this topic from a dude is extremely knowledgeable about sewing 18th century men’s clothing. Check out his whole YT channel for more 18th sewing content and his blog @ vincentbriggs.tumblr.com for more excellent content!

@wastelesscrafts basic circle skirt tutorial –– learn how to design and sew a basic circle skirt

Google WeWearCulture Project –– browse a huge collection of images and information about fashion around the world and throughout history.

Embroidery/Needlepoint/Cross Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials –– a complete visual dictionary of embroidery stitches with tutorial videos for each stitch. Super thorough and informative!

Lord Libidian’s Cross Stitch Blog –– lots and lots of useful resources for cross stitch and embroidery, including the extremely handy downloadable DMC thread color chart spreadsheet for helping you organize your thread hoard. Lots of reviews of products and free patterns as well.

ThreadColors –– DMC thread colors to html hex codes. Excellent resource for selecting matching colors from your reference image to color block your next project. Note that some of the color names on this site are older names that DMC no longer uses, but the number codes and the colors themselves remain unchanged.

Faimyxstitch’s embroidery blog posts –– embroiderer Kseniia Guseva, who is well known for her stunning embroideries of scenes of various cities around the world has a variety of freely available posts with information about getting started with embroidery, including a very thorough post on the supplies you might need. She also sells patterns on her etsy and teaches a class (paid).

Free Patterns on the Official DMC site –– DMC has a lot of free to download patterns for cross stitch and embroidery.

DMC thread conversion charts –– convert DMC colors to other brands and vice versa using these handy charts.

reddit’s embroidery community r/embroidery –– lots of great, talented people, many of whom very kindly offer tips when asked!

Needle n’ Thread embroidery tutorials –– lots of posts and videos for beginners!

Knitting/Crochet

Ravelry –– if you’re not new to crochet or knitting you probably have already heard of Ravelry, but I figured I’d stick it here because if you’re brand spanking new you might not have heard of it. You need to create an account but you can download free patterns or purchase patterns on Ravelry. The other main thing you can do with your Ravelry account is to use it to keep track of your projects in your “journal” where you can put notes, a list of the yarns used, the hooks/needles you used, etc. and continue to update the project as you go along. Because I am a person who starts a project and completely forgets about it for like 2 months, I love my Ravelry journal because I put down the yarn I used, the hook I used and the stitch counts for the last row that I crocheted. Nifty!

Left handed Knitting from LeftyKnits –– short, sweet videos on knitting for lefties posted 16 years ago. All are less than 2 minutes long and cover a single micro topic!

Rowbot’s Knitting Videos –– similarly old knitting videos that are short, sweet and to the point from 10+ years ago.

thecrochetside crocheting videos –– short, sweet and to the point crochet videos from 15+ years ago. Right handed mostly.

Internet Archive’s Collection of Knitting Magazines –– collection of knitting magazines that can be viewed online via IA from a variety of time periods. Some magazines also contain crochet and a few crochet magazines are buried in the mix. Magazines contain patterns and project ideas.

Bella Dia’s “vintage” style vertical stripe crochet blanket pattern –– photo tutorial for crocheting a vertical striped multi-color blanket.

General:

findoldvideo.com –– for those who weren’t on YouTube 12+ years ago, you might not know this but there were a TON of super useful fiber arts tutorial videos that were short, sweet and to the point that were all over YouTube, but since the YT search algorithm heavily weights new content you’d never be able to find them now …. unless you use this site! findoldvideo allows you to search YouTube videos from a particular year and sort your results chronologically. A good example search would be “crochet” year: 2008 Boom! Now you have tutorial videos that are less than 2 minutes long and have no promos, random extra talking, title cards, or other fancy shit because they were posted 17 years ago before YouTube was awash in “content”. You’re welcome.

Degraeve Color Palette Generator –– generate a color palette from any image on the web and get hex codes. Good for graphic design, but could also be useful for coming up with “inspired by” color palettes for your projects.

Kleki –– digital painting in your browser for free. Includes a wide range of brushes and the ability to use layers. If you need to do some drawings for your project, Kleki is a good free alternative if you don’t have paid software on your computer or tablet.

Library of Congress Digital Collections –– Free to use reference images of a wide range of items, including images of historical fashions!

ManualsLib –– did you just buy a second hand sewing machine, digital embroidery machine, or knitting machine that doesn’t have a manual? You might be able to download a free copy here on the internet’s most comprehensive catalog of product manuals.

Stitch Fiddle –– A site/tool for designing patterns for knitting, crochet, cross stitch, needle punch and more.

The Smithsonian Image Archive –– Free to use images of a massive amount of things! If you like designing embroidery or cross stitch images of botanicals, insects, animals, etc. you can find high quality images of these here and download them for free and use them for anything.

Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont (1890) –– Dillmont’s Encyclopedia of Needlework contains tutorials for sewing, embroidery, cross stitch, lace making, knitting, macrame and more. Originally published in 1890, it was an extremely popular work on the topic and is still being reprinted today. The link takes you to a free online copy on Project Gutenberg. It unfortunately doesn’t seem to have included the Table of Contents so you’ll need to pop a ctrl + f (cmd + if you’re on mac) and search your desired terminology. If you get it in print it is HUGE!

The Dictionary of Needlework by Sophia Frances Ann Caulfeild (1885) –– Read another popular book stitching, with the delightful subtitle: “an encyclopaedia of artistic, plain, and fancy needlework. Dealing fully with the details of all the stitches employed, the method of working, the materials used, the meaning of technical terms, and, where necessary, tracing the origin and history of the various works described. Illustrated with upwards of 800 wood engravings, and coloured plates. Plain sewing, textiles, dressmaking, appliances, and terms”

Volunteering Opportunities:

Project Linus –– Project Linus seeks to “Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer blanketeers.” Knit, crochet, or quilt blankets that will be donated to NICU babies, Peds Oncology kids, and more. My grandma quilted for Linus for many years. I think that this post is a great encapsulation of the impact of Linus and similar orgs that donate blankets to kids in need.

Loose Ends Project –– “Loose Ends is an everyone-is-welcome movement that aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with textile projects people have left undone due to death or disability.”

#fiber arts #crochet #knitting #embroidery #sewing #resources #masterlist #megapost #reference #mine #help #please please tell me what resources YOU know about! I'd love to hear about them!!!

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cometcon · 6 months ago

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I saw a post recently with someone saying they couldn't believe we were actually right about Harrow being put in Pip and escaping his death because I guess the show finally decided to wrap up the thing they very blatantly set up, which ok so first of all:

But then the OP said they'd thought it was one of the more far fetched theories from Season One and I just...

Far fetched??

F A R F E T C H E D????

F a R f e T c H E d????????

...Uh huh...

Ok.

Let me teach you something about media literacy, because it's apparently been dead for a while.

This is a double-headed soulfang serpent.

It's VERY PROMINENTLY introduced in Episode Two. Viren teaches us about it through introducing it to the other characters, who are until that point unfamiliar with its existence. There is no reason to have an entire scene dedicated to it if it won't become important later.

This is called a Chekhov's Gun. In Stagecraft and play writing, this is referring to a rule laid down by Anton Chekhov, a famous and excellent playwright who is most known for teaching that if a gun is prominently displayed in a scene which otherwise didn't need one, then that gun had better by fired by the next act (I personally believe it's ok to fire whenever so long as it's done before the story ends and is relevant to the plot). This has been a base rule of visual storytelling and building audience expectation for a long time.

Let me break down for you how they continued setting up this Gun and executed its full establishment including Pip's part in it throughout the set up episodes of Season One.

That's a very prominent well-drawn gorgeous bird being focused on by the 'camera' for seemingly no reason in an animated show which needs to focus only on important things because animation is fucking expensive... Then that bird sure is very frequently placed on that prominent character's shoulder...

Damn. I sure hope plot relevance doesn't happen to this very prominent bird and very prominent fucking snake Viren BRINGS INTO THE BEDROOM WITH HIM BEFORE THE ATTACK.

OH LOOK WHO ELSE IS THERE IN A FOREGROUND SHOT FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. Gee, I wonder why the animators CHOSE to put Pip in frame in a very otherwise unconventional and unnecessary way if it didn't have the purpose of subtly reminding us he's there???? Why would they need to keep nodding to that???? I wonder why he's so damn important????

Oh hello Pip you sure are right there in reach next to Harrow right at the pivotal moment of this very heated argument about dark magic and Viren's place in the pecking order. Sure would be awful if, say, an increasingly hurt and angry powerful dark magic practitioner threw a

DOUBLE-HEADED SOULFANG SNAKE

at you within the next minute in a fit of rage...

AND THEN

Viren talking to Pip just before his coronation like he's gloating at a fucking bird for some reason while the SONGBIRD DOES NOT SING is RIGHT FUCKING THERE. That sure is a significant amount of time spent on Harrow's weirdly prominent pet bird. Damn, that sure is a lot of beef to have with a fucking bird, Viren. I WONDER IF MAYBE THAT ISN'T PIP AT ALL???? WOW. WHAT A WILD THOUGHT.

Pip BEING AROUND AND PROMINENT BEFORE THE ATTACK and then going missing later in the story after we've established Ezran can fucking talk to animals is RIGHT FUCKING THERE.

The reason why we called this all the way back in Season One is because it was BEAUTIFULLY set up by whoever actually knew how to do visual storytelling and write well on the show before I assume they got fired and Season 4 dropped and caused me physical pain trying to watch it hammer shit hamfistedly into our heads like we're all 3 years old or something.

One of the reasons media is bad now is that things like Chekhov's Gun, along with numerous other basics of story writing, have been thrown out the door with all the expensive experienced writers who capitalist dickheads didn't want to pay/any new people coming in who do care but who don't get the room to actually learn and execute this stuff because we always need to have the next new thing out the door yesterday regardless of its quality or lack thereof. And as a result, way too many audience members aren't developing and maintaining media literacy and then complaining when they don't get spoon-fed shit because that's what they're used to, so writers are instructed to dumb it down even further and hit you over the head with shit like "Oh I can't believe it's been T W O Y E A R S! (No one could tell just by the fact everyone is clearly older and there's no way we could do this stupid retcon in some less hamfisted way elsewhere with more nuanced imparting of that information. Shove it in and hope they don't care. Quick, distract them with a fart joke!!)"

'Far-fetched.'

Jesus christ, this hurts my fucking soul on so many levels.

We're not smarter than you, we just fucking pay attention and then get a hammer to our skulls for our efforts because whoever fired the good writers and wouldn't teach the new ones/didn't know jackshit about the most basic writing rules themself decided not to trust their audience anymore to have the intellectual capacity and attention span of at least a 10 year old. Something something, self-fulfilling prophecy apparently.

(I'm trying to do a compromise of not being a dick while still getting to express my frustration at OP over this by keeping it away from everyone who wouldn't want to see this so I don't rain on their parade/be mean to that OP on their post. Don't come at me if you like the show to the point you can't handle people criticising it or having strong opinions about people not knowing the most basic shit as an audience member anymore. I made my own post and didn't put it in the main fandom tag/tagged it as criticism for a reason.)

#tdp critical #tdp criticism #the dragon prince critical #the dragon prince criticism #writing #media literacy #visual storytelling #chekhov's gun

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mikkypotato · 3 months ago

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Jump Higher, Play Harder: The Journey of a True Competitor

By: Kimberly Macanas | mikkypotato

Sports have a unique way of bringing people together, and volleyball is no exception. Nikko M. Villamiel, a dedicated student at Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and the captain ball of his volleyball team, has proven his passion and leadership on the court through hard work and perseverance. I’ve had the privilege of watching him in action, having been invited to some of his recent matches. Seeing his leadership on the court and the way he inspires his teammates made me even more curious about his journey as an athlete.

Recently, Nikko and his team have achieved remarkable success in various tournaments. They finished as 1st Runner-Up in the Malitbog Himugusa Invitational Volleyball 2025, secured championship titles in Baybay, Inopacan, Carigara, and the Cantilan, Davao Friendship Game, and placed 3rd Runner-Up in another Baybay tournament. These victories reflect his dedication, teamwork, and passion for the game.

In this interview, Nikko shares how he started playing volleyball, the challenges he faces, and his advice for aspiring athletes. Whether you’re a volleyball fan or simply someone striving for excellence in your own field, his story offers valuable lessons in dedication, teamwork, and resilience.

"What inspired you to start playing this sport?"

“This sport was never something I initially considered, but I started playing because of my grandfather, who was a volleyball player in his time. He shared his experiences with me, explaining how volleyball impacted his life and how he managed to balance academics while playing the sport. His passion for the game inspired me to give it a try, and from that moment, I fell in love with it.”

"What made you choose this sport over others?"

“I chose volleyball because it is a team game that requires communication and discipline. It’s a sport that pushes you to work together, strategize, and build strong connections with your teammates. For me, volleyball is the sport I am truly meant to play.”

"What does your training routine look like?"

“As a volleyball player, my training routine is all about consistency and improvement. We always start with a warm-up to prepare our bodies for high-intensity movements. Strength and conditioning exercises follow to build endurance and agility. After practice or a game, cooling down is essential—whether it’s an ice bath or a sports massage—to help the body recover.”

"How do you handle pressure during a big game or event?"

“Pressure is part of the game, and I’ve learned to embrace it. I stay focused by controlling my breathing, visualizing successful plays, and reminding myself to trust my training. Communication with my teammates also helps—it keeps the energy positive and the team locked in. When you trust yourself and your team, pressure becomes motivation.”

"How do you balance sports with personal life?"

“Time management is key. I make sure to plan my schedule ahead, ensuring I get enough rest and downtime with family and friends. School, training, and social life can be overwhelming, but prioritizing and setting boundaries helps keep everything balanced. Finding the right routine makes all the difference.”

"What advice would you give to young athletes trying to make it?"

"First master the fundamentals of volleyball and before anything else perfect the basic ,a solid foundation will take u far ,be humble always ,show up ,work hard, stay consistent even if u don't feel like it , be coachable listen to feedback to ur seniors and always look for a good side and enjoy the process"

Nikko M. Villamiel’s journey as a volleyball player and team captain at EVSU highlights the importance of passion, discipline, and perseverance in achieving success. His dedication to the sport, commitment to continuous improvement, and ability to balance academics and athletics serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes. Whether on the court or in life, his story reminds us that hard work, teamwork, and a positive mindset can lead to great accomplishments. As you take on your own challenges, remember to stay focused, keep learning, and enjoy the journey toward your goals.

#BSTM3201 #volleyball #sports

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itsstarseason · 3 months ago

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RUDA’S OFFICIAL PROFILE ✰

Ogawa Ruda (Japanese: おがわるだ; born March 16, 2001) is a Japanese singer and dancer under SM Entertainment. She is a member of the South Korean co-ed group NCT and its subunits NCT U and NCT WISH.

✰ NCT MENU ✰ RUDA’S MASTERLIST

╭┈──── ◌ೄ◌ྀ ˊˎ

╰┈➤ ❝ BASIC INFO !

BIRTH NAME. Ogawa Ruda (おがわるだ)

NAME MEANING. The name was chosen by her mother. The meaning of the name is unknown.

KOREAN NAME. Oh Luda (오루다)

NAME MEANING. The name she chose for herself after moving to Korea. It's her birth name written in Hangeul.

ENGLISH NAME. Anna Ogawa

NAME MEANING. The name Yushi chose for her.

NICKNAMES. Aru

DATE OF BIRTH. March 16, 2001

PLACE OF BIRTH. Kochi, Japan

HOMETOWN. Kochi, Japan

ETHNICITY. Japanese

NATIONALITY. Japanese

CITIZENSHIP. Japanese

FAMILY. Ogawa Masahiro (father, 1972), Ogawa Chiyo (mother, 1974), Ogawa Kei (sister, 2006)

LANGUAGES. Japanese (native, Tosa dialect), Korean (fluent, Gyeonggi dialect)

BLOOD TYPE. AB+

WESTERN ZODIAC SIGN. Pisces

CHINESE ZODIAC SIGN. Snake

GENDER. female

PRONOUNS. she/her

ROMANTIC AND SEXUAL INTERESTS. undisclosed

EYE COLOR. dark brown

HAIR COLOR. black

HEIGHT. 171cm (5’7”)

DOMINANT HAND. right

PIERCINGS. 2 in total; left earlobe (1), right earlobe (1)

TATTOOS. 0

MEDICAL CONDITIONS. anxiety disorder, depression

ALLERGIES. peanuts, pollen

VOCAL TONE. Kim Sejeong & IVE’s Liz

RAP STYLE. i-dle’s Shuhua

DANCE STYLE. LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha

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╰┈➤ ❝ CAREER !

OCCUPATION. K-pop Idol

STAGE NAME. Ruda (루다, ルダ)

NICKNAMES. Dad, mom, Akkaru

COMPANY. SM Entertainment (2016–present)

TRAINING PERIOD. 4 years 4 months (June 2016–October 2020)

DEBUT DATE. 12 October 2020 (NCT, NCT U), 21 February 2024 (NCT WISH)

YEARS ACTIVE. 2020–present

GROUP. NCT (2020–present)

SUBUNITS. NCT U (2020–present), NCT WISH (2023–present)

POSITIONS. Vocalist (NCT), Main Vocalist, Visual, Center, Face of the Group (NCT WISH)

REPRESENTATIVE EMOJI. 🦆

REPRESENTATIVE COLOR. Crusta

SOLO FANDOM NAME. Daluvs

ROLE MODEL. KARA's Nicole, Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, Sooyoung, and Yuri

SIGNATURE.

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╰┈➤ ❝ RANKING !

10 - outstanding, 9 - excellent, 8 - very good, 7 - good, 6 - above average, 5 - average, 4 - below average, 3 - weak, 2 - very weak, 1 - never learned

STAR QUALITY. 7.5/10

VISUALS (KOREAN BEAUTY STANDARDS). 8.5/10

VISUALS (JAPANESE BEAUTY STANDARDS). 8/10

VOCALS. 2020: 8/10 2024: 9.5/10

RAP. 2020: 4.5/10 2024: 5/10

DANCE. 2020: 6/10 2024: 7.5/10

STAGE PRESENCE. 2020: 7/10 2024: 8/10

VARIETY SHOWS. 2020: 6/10 2024: 7/10

PUBLIC SPEAKING. 2020: 6/10 2024: 8/10

FAN SERVICE. 2020: 8/10 2024: 9/10

MEDIA TRAINING. 2020: 6/10 2024: 7.5/10

SONGWRITING. 2020: 3/10 2024: 3/10

PRODUCING. 2020: 1/10 2024: 1/10

CHOREOGRAPHING. 2020: 3/10 2024: 4.5/10

ACTING. 2020: 4/10 2024: 6/10

MODELING. 2020: 5/10 2024: 7/10

LEADERSHIP. 5.5/10

TEAMWORK. 7.5/10

DISCIPLINE. 9/10

EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE. 6.5/10

TIME MANAGEMENT. 7/10

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╰┈➤ ❝ PERSONALITY !

MBTI TYPE. ENTP

MORAL ALIGNMENT. neutral good

Ruda's first impression is reserved but friendly. She is an introverted extrovert, and although she is quite shy and less talkative than most extroverts, being around people energizes her and she enjoys meeting new people and likes to initiate conversations in social situations.

Ruda is and has always been very sensitive to her emotions. She has a tendency to worry and overthink in stressful situations, and although she rarely expresses her worries out loud, her emotions are written all over her face. She will only admit her worries to someone she trusts and is close to. She cries easily and is prone to feeling sad/upset, but almost never gets angry.

Ruda’s need for attention developed early in life as a result of not getting enough attention at home. She requires support, validation, and affection, and is a highly affectionate person herself. She expresses affection through physical touch; she often hugs, holds hands, and touches people she is close to. She also shows affection through small actions/gifts, for example, she often buys drinks for the group after a long dance practice, ties their shoelaces, fixes them up, etc. She is very caring, especially towards the people she is close to, however she is more drawn to people who don’t need to rely on others.

Ruda is very curious and imaginative. She first discovered her artistic side in elementary school. She is drawn to art and other creative people; she has the desire to know people's stories and what makes them who they are. She often talks about different ideas (even if it means not realizing them), daydreams, and thinks about the 'what ifs'.

Ruda's biggest flaw is her insecurities. She believes she is never good enough and has a tendency to compare herself to other people. This was the most visible during her training years; she was driven not only by her ambition and determination to debut, but also because she always thinks she isn’t good enough. Even after debut, she often takes extra time to practice and attends extra classes to get better. The same thing applies to her appearance. Because of this, she takes criticism way too seriously and might blame herself when bad things happen, especially at low points in life. However, her insecurities make her extremely hardworking and ambitious.

Her other flaws include indecisiveness and short attention span. She has a difficulty paying attention to a task if something more interesting is present. Because of her indecisiveness, she sometimes makes risky decisions and is willing to take those risks, even if they may change her life or career.

As an idol, Ruda’s personality and appearance present a sweet, warm, and friendly, but also slightly shy girl-next-door image. She gives girlfriend energy and is especially known for her love for fans. She’s always eager to interact with fans in all ways possible and makes sure the fans feel seen by her; it’s common for her to remember fans, accept gifts and letters, and stop by for an autograph if a fan bumps into her on a street. Fans also often mention how hardworking she is. They respect Ruda for always wanting to improve and acknowledge her dedication.

One of Ruda's biggest strengths as an idol is public speaking. Despite her shyness, she is quite charismatic and very well-spoken on camera. She easily handles interviews and speeches and manages to give satisfying responses even in difficult situations. When it comes to variety shows, she is perfect for talk shows.

Her personality blends well with all NCT WISH members (some fans say she is a mix of all members), so she can easily get along with the whole group. Because she is the oldest, many members depend on her during tough times or "first times" and rely on her previous experience in NCT. Also, because of her caring nature, she is often called the mom of the group.

Ruda’s personality also manifests in her performances—Ruda is quite versatile on stage. She fits bright and slightly cute concepts best, but can adjust energy based on the stage. Most of her performances are marked by her signature wide smile that usually appears after she sings her line, a second before a camera moves to someone else. Although she excels in bright concepts, many fans love when she performs dark concepts—she's less skilled in those, but she exudes a tough and sultry-like energy that otherwise can't be seen.

Ruda’s biggest charm is her mix of her genuine ambition and her shy but friendly personality. She is viewed as a sweet, sincere, and even slightly innocent person.

PERSONALITY TRAITS. adaptable, adventurous, affectionate, ambitious, caring, curious, empathetic, hardworking, imaginative, indecisive, insecure, perfectionist, self-critical, sensitive, shy, sociable, supportive

STRENGTHS. makes people feel loved, values meaningful relationships, handles change easily, always works on improving and getting better, sincere about people and her interests

WEAKNESSES. overthinks and worries too much, takes criticism too seriously, struggles with open communication, bottles up her emotions, has people-pleasing tendencies

HABITS. folding hands in her lap, standing with hands placed on her hips, playing with her hands when nervous, listening in on others' conversations, smiling, spacing out, speaking softly, suppressing laughter, clicking pens, not putting things back in place

FEARS. being forgotten, needles

LOVE LANGUAGE (GIVING). quality time > physical touch > acts of service = gift giving > words of affirmation

LOVE LANGUAGE (RECEIVING). quality time > words of affirmation > physical touch > acts of service = gift giving

ATTACHMENT STYLE. anxious-preoccupied

HOBBIES. collecting photocards, shopping, skincare, watching k-dramas

LIKES. cats, conversations, cows, feeling like she belongs, hugs, iced americano, karaokes, meeting people, playing checkers, ramen, sweet flavors, theatres, white clothes

DISLIKES. bugs, cucumbers, drawing, having nothing to do, rain, rivalry, working out

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╰┈➤ ❝ HISTORY !

Ogawa Ruda (Japanese: おがわるだ) was born in March 16, 2001 in Kochi, Japan. She is the first child of bakery owner Ogawa Chiyo and office worker Ogawa Masahiro. She has a sister named Kei born in 2006.

Ruda's childhood was deeply affected by her sister's illness; Kei was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer at age 2. Ruda's parents suddenly shifted all their attention to Kei without any explanation. They began to treat Ruda more like Kei's babysitter and less like their daughter. Ruda stated she felt abandoned, neglected, and unloved as a child. She felt uncomfortable at home and often refused to come home after school. In 2011, Kei beat cancer, but their parents’ different attitude towards the sisters stayed the same.

In elementary school, Ruda's music teacher recognized her singing talent and recommended her to join a music school club. She learned to sing and play piano there and was a part of the school choir. She did the same in middle school.

Ruda's middle school friends were fans of K-pop and eventually Ruda became interested too. She recalled admiring groups like KARA and Girls' Generation. In the last year of middle school, Ruda and her friends decided to try auditioning for different K-pop companies. In March 2016, their graduation month, they attended the 2016 SM Global Audition in Osaka. Ruda was the only one who passed. Despite the initial fights and disagreements with her parents, Ruda moved to South Korea and joined SM Entertainment in June 2016.

Ruda mentioned she struggled to showcase her vocal skills because she couldn't speak Korean. She trained with NCT members Yuming, Ika, Chei, and Sona, aespa members Karina, Winter, and Ningning, and Hearts2Hearts members Jiwoo and Yuha. She was also considered to debut in aespa, but was replaced by Giselle.

Ruda was introduced as a new NCT member on September 23, 2020, during a VLive broadcast held by NCT. She officially debuted as a member of NCT on October 12, 2020, with the release of “NCT RESONANCE Pt.1”.

On May 24, 2023, SM Entertainment released a statement saying Ruda would debut in NCT’s sixth and final unit by participating in a survival show “NCT Universe : LASTART”. The official lineup was revealed during the final episode and the group, tentatively named NCT New Team, released a pre-debut single "Hands Up" on October 8, 2023.

Ruda officially debuted as a vocalist, visual, center, and face of NCT WISH on February 28, 2024 with the release of the group’s first mini album “WISH” and its title track of the same name. She is the most popular member of NCT WISH.

✰ NCT MENU ✰ RUDA’S MASTERLIST

fill in this form to be added to the taglist !

requests are always open! submit a request or ask me anything !

this took me so long… but i’m happy with the result!

thank you for reading <3

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its-murderous-business · 1 year ago

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An Introduction to Nonverbal Learning Disorder

Happy disability pride month! I am celebrating by trying to educate people about my learning disorder, because it is one of the least known learning disabilities and deserves more recognition.

What is Nonverbal Learning Disorder?

Nonverbal Learning Disorder (also called Non-Verbal Learning Disability and other variations on the same name), often shortened to NLD or NVLD, is not a new concept, but the idea of it as its own diagnosis is relatively recent. A common misconception upon hearing the name is that people with NVLD are non-verbal, but this is not the case. The name essentially refers to the fact that people with this disability are affected in almost every area except verbal and language skills, where they often excel.

What areas can NVLD effect?

NVLD can take a lot of forms, and not everyone with it will be affected in every area, and other areas are also able to be affected this is just a general list:

- exceptional skills in the areas of comprehension (understanding) and production (ability to utilize) of verbal language. Basically, we are really good at reading, writing, speech, spelling, and have large vocabularies.

- difficulties with visual spatial processing skills. Fun fact, NVLD was briefly called Visual Spatial Processing Disorder! Visual spatial processing is a term that describes the process of seeing things and then understanding how they relate to one another in space.

- difficulties with understanding non-verbal forms of communication such as tone, facial expressions, gestures, metaphors and exaggerations, and (sometimes) context.

- difficulties with math, including arithmetic, fractions, geometry, telling time, pattern recognition, and much more. This can be very similar to dyscalculia.

- difficulties socializing (often presents similar to the social difficulties faced by autistic people)

- other miscellaneous neurodivergent traits such as hyperfixations, difficulty regulating emotions, distress when faced with change, sensory overload, motor skill and coordination deficits, attention deficits, and executive dysfunction

How does that affect people with NVLD on the day to day?

Let’s use me as the example. I love to talk to people but I often run into issues because I take things very literally, struggle to read social cues, and can have trouble connecting with others. Growing up I was always in advanced English and literature classes, but was in special education for math due to my extreme difficulties with it. I have a lot of trouble dealing with last minute changes in my plans and loud noises bother me A Lot.

I struggle greatly with visual spatial processing skills, specifically for me that can manifest as not knowing where my body is in space (causing me to bump into things a lot), difficulty navigating maps, struggles with knowing left from right, a complete inability to use the knowledge of how an object looks from one angle to visualize how it would look from another angle, and many other things.

NVLD can present in a number of different ways and affect different parts of peoples lives. I have multiple neurodivergent comorbidities which can make it difficult to tease the exact symptoms apart from one another, but there are plenty of articles online where people discuss their own experiences if you look for them.

Is NVLD in the DSM/an official diagnosis?

ehhhhh it’s complicated. NVLD is not currently it’s own differentiated diagnosis within the DSM-5, however it can be diagnosed (as it is with me) under the DSM-5 as Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Mathematics which serves as a sort of catch all for any learning disability that affects math or areas other than reading/writing.

NVLD as its own diagnosis is a relatively new idea, as historically it’s been lumped within other diagnoses (typically autism, adhd, or specific learning disability). However over the last 15 years and especially the last 5 years, there has been a significant increase in academic literature and acknowledgement of NVLD as its own distinct diagnosis. Columbia University has been conducting research on the disorder alongside the NVLD Project, which is the only organization that exclusively does advocacy, education, and research around NVLD. These groups are doing a lot of work to attempt to get NVLD classified as its own diagnosis in future editions of the DSM.

How common is NVLD? What causes it?

NVLD is uncommonly diagnosed due to lack of official DSM recognition, misidentification as other neurodiverse conditions, and lack of awareness of NVLD from neuropsych evaluators. However one study from earlier this year estimated that between 1-8% of children have NVLD depending on what diagnostic criteria is used.

There has been some early evidence that NVLD is the result of dysfunction in the right hemisphere of the brain or more specifically the inability of the right hemisphere of the brain to effectively communicate to the left hemisphere.

Why are you telling me all of this?

The majority of people do not know that NVLD exists, and as such those of us with this condition often get left out of neurodivergent and disability communities. I would like to be included in advocacy and understood by the community since we all face very similar challenges! I really encourage y’all to learn more about Non-Verbal Learning Disability

Here are some links to learn more!

From the Child Mind Institute

Psychology Today article

From ADDitude Magazine

Article from Very Well Mind

Medical News Today article

Learning Disorder Association of America article

From Learning Disability Association of Ontario

And of course the aforementioned NVLD Project website!

#murderous babble #nonverbal learning disorder #non-verbal learning disorder #nonverbal learning disability #non verbal learning disability #NVLD #NLD #autism #actually autistic #learning disorder #learning disability #special Ed #special education #disability pride #disability pride month #ADHD

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thefisherqueen · 7 months ago

Text

The Merry Widow (1968) with Jeremy Brett

I've not been a lot on social media lately because of the complete takeover from US'ers (which - understandable, I'm worried and grieved too, but still there are other countries and issues and the way people often neglect to specify they're talking about the US and assume all their readers are in the US too is kind of obnoxious) so I've directed my very limited time and energy towards something which has given me a lot of joy in recent years and is often freely accessable too: old media. I'm making a valliant effort to actually finish Moby Dick and Les miserables and Raffles, I've read the first collection of Arsène Lupin, I'm trying to get into Hercule Poirot (not entirely convinced yet but we'll see), and last weekend I watched The Merry Window movie of 1968, starring Jeremy Brett. It is entirely on youtube here. Not in the best visual or auditory quality, sadly (it has not been remastered yet), but still very watchable.

I went into this without any knowledge of the story or rich history of this operette, only having heard a few fragments of the songs before. And I was so, so entertained throughout, even though I did not understand everything that was going on.

A summary of my prompt research: The Merry Window (Die Lustige Witwe) was composed by Austrian-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár and first performed on stage in 1905 in Wien, running a very succesful row of almost 500 live performances. It has since been adapted both on screen and stage often, even through this very day. The Metropolitian Opera has a comprehensive synopsis on the story on their website, but more fun is this comic.

The basic story goes as follows: the embassy of a small Balkan country (fictional, but likely to be inspired by Montenegro), situated in Paris, is thrown into merry chaos as they learn that a very rich widow originally from the same Balkan country also is residing in Paris. Shenagans and plotting occur to try and convince her to marry one of their countryman, so her sweet sweet money won't leave the country, which is in dire need of it. There's only a problem: the proposed candidate, a count played by Jeremy Brett, already knows the widow, and the two of them have a History. Avoidant behaviour, sassiness, misunderstandings and other delicious drama ensue.

I did not expect the amount of music and songs in this movie. I think 80% or 90% of the script is in song rather than dialogue. Entire performances are shown, during which the plot just stands still, and honestly? I loved it. Modern movies/shows often move too fast for my sluggish autistic brain to keep up with, and this languid tempo just worked well for me. The folk and, I imagine, quite scandalous can-can dances are a joy. I'm usually not that fond of the more classical technique of singing but I found the music here quite gorgeous, too, a delightful mix of classical sound with fun folk elements. Jeremy Brett's rich voice really stood out of me. You can listen to the entire soundtrack here.

Jeremy Brett is a treat to watch in his role as a bit of a playboy, avoiding responsiblities and commitment and feelings of heartbreak by dancing and drinking at a local nightclub each night instead. Not suprisingly for everyone who has seen him in Granada's Sherlock Holmes: he's really excellent at dramatic posing, lounging on surfaces not meant for that, and 'trying to look cool but actually besotted'. There's a lot of humour in the dialogue and performances of the entire cast, too. For example, there's an entire extramarital affair going on right under the nose of an antirely oblivious baron's nose, and it's pretty hilarious. Further example of some funny lines: "What have you been doing lately?" Absolutely nothing!" "Excellent!" Jeremy's rivalry with the widow (played by Mary Costa) is especially a lot of fun, both really sell that part. I really got quite emotional by the final "Love unspoken, faith unbroken..."

There's an interesting background of historical social context to this operette, too: widows in that time enjoyed an amount of financial freedom denied to either unmarried or married women, and watching high class men competing for a woman's money was, I suppose, a nice bit of social commentary. I also really enjoyed a song by a group of men all wondering what they have to offer women if it isn't money - a question, in my opinion, that may be asked more often. The widow using her relative freedom to protect another woman from scandal at the end was rather sweet, too. The story ends, of course, by not upsetting the status quo too much. But it's such a fun ride.

All in all, very much recommended.

#the merry widow #jeremy brett #old movies

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everlasting-rainfall · 1 year ago

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Hear me out

Animal shifter au but in a jurassic park setting with the beast pirates

Okay so I’m gonna admit that I have actually never seen the Jurassic Park movies like I think I tried once when I was a kid but I was way too scared of them to ever keep watching it and I’ve just never gone back

But I do know the basic premise like nature park tries to revive dinosaurs and things go horribly wrong, yeah?

Also fun fact! In some scenarios, animal shifters were supposed to be the dominant species of earth but they kind of went into hiding and became a lost myth after humans came around and started doing some crazy shit

Typically animal shifters are just waiting for the exact right moment to strike back against the humans and take the earth back as lord knows that they’ll treat it better…

Anywho let’s get into it! Also my sincerest of apologies if this isn’t as good as you hope it would be!

!-MINORS DO NOT INTERACT AT ALL-!

!-POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNINGS-!

Stalking, Kidnapping, Forced (?) Pregnancy, Stockholm Syndrome, Unsafe Work Environments, Apocalyptic Scenario, Implied Murder, Violence

!-POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNINGS-!

!-MINORS DO NOT INTERACT AT ALL-!

So imagine the visual that you’re some kind of person who has managed to land a job at one of the most dangerous but exciting sort of zoos in the world as they’ve managed to bring back the dinosaurs

The job listing states that they need someone to clean things and maybe occasionally play a role in the totally safe dinosaur shows that they put on for entertainment and also occasionally for educating people as well

You were probably reluctant but hey, you need the money and this job pays some good money so what’s the harm in just taking the job for the summer is what you tried to tell yourself at least

First few days go well as you’re mostly just cleaning up around some specific animal areas, you learn some pretty cool stuff about the dinosaurs and even find out that they have some things that were thought to be myths like a giant blue dragon

You even start to like the look of some of the dinosaurs too even if a lot of them just look generally pissed off a lot of the time like you didn’t know it was possible for a triceratops to look both somehow absolutely wasted and angry at his surroundings at the same time

Eventually though after your first week, you’re asked to do an animal show with some of the dinosaurs and this can only go so well is what you think to yourself especially as you’re dressed up in a cave woman’s costume for the show

Basically the dinosaur will be let into the area and it’s your job to get it to move about to do different things for the commentator to tell the audience about like you don’t even realize that you’re being stalked at one point and the commentator is like “Oh! And the great Sabertooth Cat is also an excellent hunter!”

You were told later that the commentator was trying to warn you without scaring any of the guests and causing a commotion…

The shows always got your heart pumping on max speed as these creatures were terrifying like the dinosaur known as Ulti once tried to crack your skull open when she thought that you were getting too close to her brother for her liking

It was just for the summer though and the park would pay you generous bonuses for anytime that you did one of these shows and got hurt, probably to prevent a lawsuit but regardless…

As time progressed though, you found that the animal shows were becoming easier like Who’s Who the Sabertooth Tiger wouldn’t even try to hunt you during shows with you anymore and King was even pretty chill with you as well like he wouldn’t even bat an eye when you stretched out one of his wings to show the audience just how big his wingspan was

You had even done a show with Kaido the Blue Dragon that they had and although you were writing down your will on some stationary in the dressing room before you were set to head out and you headed out into the area and let the commentator introduce you as the brave cavewoman who knew all about dinosaurs

Part of you was just waiting for Kaido to be released into the area so you could be ripped to shreds already as you had heard horror stories about how dangerous that thing was but when the commentator introduced your guest for the day and released the blue dragon

Oddly enough, he didn’t kill you right away like he stared at you for a good while but he didn’t try to burn you alive with his fire breath or even snap his jaws shut on you like the worst thing that he did was growl at you

The commentator instructed you on what to do like “For most people, dragons are simply a legend but they were oh so very real! They even had bigger teeth than any known dinosaur species! How about you show the audience those teeth, brave cavewoman?” and you would have to lift one of his lips in order to show the audience

Your fear was probably obvious to Kaido as you did your thing as he simply just rested his head on the ground to convey that he was bored, it was weirdly like he was trying to reassure you that he wouldn’t kill you almost

Eventually the show ended and you were able to head back into the dressing room and get changed, you took a long deep breath and just laid on the floor for a while to let the adrenaline wear off. Some of your co-workers probably thought that you were dead in all honesty

Luckily as the months pass by, the dinosaurs and even the dragon get closer with you causing the animal shows to go as smooth as they possibly can like the Mammoth known as Jack straight up lifts you up with his trunk at one point during a show and lets you slide down it onto his back. It was like something straight out of a movie but the audience loved it

As for your job where you clean things? That’s the least stressful part of your job and honestly what you far more prefer to be doing as it just entails going around the park and emptying trash cans along with picking up any litter that you might find

Occasionally acting as a guide as well for lost park goers, this part of your job takes you all around the park to almost all of the enclosures. Some of the dinosaurs don’t pay you any mind while the ones that you’ve done shows with typically come up the viewing windows and follow alongside you until you’re out of sight almost like they’re trying to greet you

The only downsides to this part of the job is that when the bathrooms are filthy then it’s your job to clean it up and the occasional rude customer whose complaining for no good reason but that isn’t too bad as you typically wind up never seeing those guests again if it happened outside one of the enclosures oddly enough

It’s towards the end of the summer that something incredibly weird happens though as you are being brought in to do another show as the brave cavewoman but they want you to work with a dinosaur that you’ve had no prior experience with. Can’t be too bad, right? Especially as they say they’ll even let you bring Sasaki in to feel safer as it’s another triceratops!

This dinosaur acts far more like how you would expect a typical dinosaur to act, it’s much more aggressive with you and you find yourself having to dive out of the way more than once to avoid being speared on its horns as the commentator tries to act natural

Sasaki is somewhat being helpful as he is jerking his head at it like he’s trying to command it to calm down but it’s after one of its horns catches you and injuries you, Sasaki is pissed and a fight breaks out between the two triceratops

Chaos ensues and you find yourself in the middle of a dinosaur fight as Sasaki tries to protect you and this other triceratops is just hellbent on hurting you. The guards can’t rush in as that would cause serious panic and that’s the last thing they need but the commentator is clearly worried about your safety

After what feels like hours, you’re saved from the terrifying show and both triceratops are contained to safely be put back in an enclosure. You get your injury all patched up and the park runners agree to take you off dinosaur shows completely but that wasn’t what was weird

What was weird is that the triceratops who hurt you proceeded to completely disappear from it’s enclosure in the middle of the night… It was there before everyone went home and now it was all gone…

The park of course tried looking for it but they could never find it and there were absolutely no signs of escape or footage of any escape on any of the security cameras… It simply vanished without a trace…

Your last bit of time spent at the park was as a cleaner but after the experience at your last dinosaur show, the dinosaurs and dragon that you typically worked with seemed more protective of you now like if you were cleaning around Who’s Who’s enclosure then he would simply chill out where he could see you and if anyone blocked his vision then he would get up to move then chill out again

Ulti even head butted the protective glass once when she saw someone run into you and nearly knock you over, she looked absolutely pissed too like if you could understand what she was saying then you were pretty sure that she would have been cussing out the park goer

However as nice as this job was, everything has to come to an end eventually as your last day working at the park soon arrived and you were given your last bit of pay before you started working for the day

You said goodbye to all of your co-workers as you passed them by but you also went around and said goodbye to all of the dinosaurs as you felt it was polite, a lot of them almost looked shocked and disappointed that you were leaving with King himself even looking incredibly disappointed and almost angry to hear that

Once your shift had ended, your boss had asked you if you could stay just a little bit longer as someone had made an absolute mess of one area of the park and he would gladly pay you extra if you stayed to clean it up

You said yes before seeing it and instantly regretted it as you were there for the rest of the day just sweeping up trash and cleaning all sorts of things that had been spilled

By the time that you were finally done, it was closing time and all of your co-workers went home so you started to head to tell your boss that it was safe to lock up for the night now as you were finished and heading home

He nodded his head saying that he had some things to take care of so he would still be here for a bit and you started leaving, you were honestly going to miss working here but it wasn’t so bad as now you wouldn’t have to worry about heading home

Just as the exit was coming into view though, you saw something out of the corner of your eye and looked over to find that there was a person in the park. Assuming it was an intruder, you tried to scare them off which proved to be a horrible decision

As soon as you had spoke, they looked at you and rushed you. The next thing that you knew, you were unconscious. You expected to wake up somewhere horrible and indeed you did as you woke up inside of what was clearly one of the dinosaurs enclosures

Your heart sank…

You tried to stand up and hoped to find a way out before whoever was in this enclosure found you and decided you were desert, your legs were wobbly with fear but you did your best to walk slowly and hopefully not draw any attention to yourself

You soon found the edge of the exhibit and followed it until you found a door that you could hopefully escape through but before you could even find out if it was locked or not, spider silk suddenly stuck onto you and you found yourself being dragged off into the darkness

It occurred to you that you were in Black Maria’s enclosure who was a prehistoric spider and you knew that death was likely coming soon as you felt yourself be dragged deeper and deeper into the enclosure by the spider silk until you started being lifted

Here it comes is what you though and you felt your body being wrapped up in spider silk except for your head, you were dangled from a tree branch and expected to feel teeth on your head only for nothing to happen other than a chuckle and a command for you to open your eyes

You briefly cracked them open and found yourself face to face with a giant blonde lady whose lower half was a spider… She smiled at you when she saw you and commented on finally being able to see those eyes that she loved so much at night too

Part of you tried to sputter out a question only for your mouth to get covered in webs, she told you to save your questions for when the others got here and they would surely be here soon now that all the humans were gone

Eventually one by one, they all appeared in the enclosure with some of them being normal human size while others were much bigger. They stared at you like you were a piece of meat hanging inside of the window of a butcher shop and you couldn’t stop the fear that came from it

When the woman removed the webbing from your mouth and the man with the horns told you to ask any questions that you have. The first thing out of your mouth was “Who are you?!”

You would have followed it up with an “And what do you want from me?!” but they spoke as soon as you were finished, some of them looked almost offended that you didn’t recognize them and asked if you truly didn’t

You confirmed that they didn’t so they introduced themselves, they told you that they were the dinosaurs that you had been working with for so long while at the park… And when you tried to point out that they couldn’t be that, they suddenly all transformed right before your eyes…

The shock was so immense that sticking a fork in an electrical socket couldn’t compare, you were told what animal shifters were and told that there were animal shifters wandering around even today. It wasn’t just them and a lot of animal shifters typically seek out a human to entertain themselves with

And what do you know? You were perfect and they weren’t going to let you go…

“…Please don’t hurt me…”

“Don’t worry about that… Hurt is the last thing that you’ll feel with us if you’re good…”

And that’s how a new life begins for you as you wind up wrapped completely in spider silk during the day and hung from one of the trees upsidown almost like you’re in a cocoon but come nighttime…

Black Maria takes you down as soon as all of the humans leave the park and the fun begins as the dinosaurs that you once did shows with made you into the main attraction as they would typically fuck you senseless while the others watched

You never quite became an animal shifter like them but after so many days and nights of the same thing, you oddly began to get used to it as the dinosaurs would use your body and entertain themselves with you just about every night after fulfilling your needs

It was starting to become weirdly enjoyable and you looked forward to seeing which dinosaur would be taking you next… It didn’t even occur to you that this could be Stockholm syndrome…

And when the day came that the dinosaurs told you that you wouldn’t have to be in your web cocoon soon anymore as the animal shifters were soon going to take back the world from the humans, you didn’t care

Not in the slightest bit

Not even when they left you hanging in the web cocoon for safe keeping with a promise to come back as you knew that they would…

The humans didn’t stand a single chance after all and soon the world would once again belong to the animal shifters just like they had told you it used to…

So you remained hanging in your web cocoon from one of Black Maria’s trees in her enclosure… Calm, relaxed, and with all of your needs met…

What could possibly make this better? Oh you knew cause what made this all the more better was your stomach

A stomach full of dinosaur eggs…

#minors dni #the rain talks back #yandere one piece #yandere male #yandere female #reader insert #read the trigger warnings #Yandere Kaido #Yandere Who’s Who #Yandere Sasaki #Yandere Ulti #Yandere Page One #Yandere Beast Pirates #Skin into Fur AU #animal shifter au

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