#strictly for exercise purposes of course

[zimzut]

Jade had a pole installed at the old factory

watch out for her lvl 96 thigh grip strength

[starmessngr410]

NCT WISH Scenarios - Types Of Crushes At School

Requested? Yes / No

My Own Idea? Yes / No

Disclaimer: These imagines are in no way depictions of the idols actual personalities, these are strictly for entertainment purposes. In these scenarios, the reader is gender neutral (as much as I can try) and is around the same age as Ryo and Sakuya. This I simply because I'm around that age, and it feels a little difficult to write it any differently. Also, I'll be writing with the mindset of a mix of an American and Japanese school, from what I've experienced and what I've heard from people. Let's also pretend that all of them would be able to go to school together for plot purposes. Also, sorry if some of them are a bit lackluster, I really just wanted to finish this in the time frame I set for myself. But, I hope everyone enjoys!

SION; Your kind upperclassmen - Sion is in your math class and sits near you. Near enough for you to develop a crush on him. But you would never tell him, of course, you would never tell anyone, except for your friend. You walk into math class early in the morning again, and you see Sion there as usual, but he seems a little tired this morning. You sit down at your desk and whisper over if he's alright. He says that he stayed up studying for a test in a different class and ended up forgetting to finish the homework. You tell him that he can look at your homework to get an idea before class starts in 10 minutes, and he asks if you're sure, but you assure him it's okay. You go through the rest of class and have a field day thinking about it all day. The next day, you walk into class and see something in your desk. It's a note and [your favorite fruit] juice, thanking you for the work saying that he would help you with anything you need when you need it. Man, if only he wasn't nicer, you wouldn't keep falling for him...

☆

RIKU; Your cute art partner - First meeting Riku, you never thought that you would get along like you did now. This is because, at first, he seemed to be very much into his own abilities, constantly hyping himself up. This, once you got know him however, was false. He mainly did it as a joke with his friends, and was genuinely just talented at most things. You found yourself being drawn to him more and more, he was also talking to you more, you noticed. You ignored this though, as you've never been so lucky for someone to like you when you like them. The next day in art class, Riku surprises you and asks to be partners for the next project. Though you both aren't extremely close, you aren't strangers to each other. And though Riku always usually pairs up with his friends for projects, he decides to pair with you the one time there's a romantic theme, oh how the universe hates you. You two meet at the library Friday after school so you both can work with extra time. You're already at the library, when you see him walk in with a bunch of art supplies. When he sits down, you tell him you're surprised he chose you for the project and that he brought so much stuff. He tells you first, that he wanted to get to know you more because he's noticed you don't talk a lot in class, and that he just wanted to be prepared with the supplies. This catches you off guard, 'you didn't know he noticed you in class before, had he looked your way without you knowing?'. You nod in acknowledgement, and get to work. Later in the day, you start to get a bit tired because you've been at school all day and it was getting colder, and Riku actually lends you his jacket and drapes it over your shoulders. You're actually able to fall asleep a bit easier now that he was closer. He ended up stopping as well, and taking a nap right next to you...

☆

YUSHI; Your funny but nice P.E. partner - You were never good or confident in physical exercise, so Yushi always offers to be partners or do the exercises with you. Even though you guys only talk to each other during P.E. because of the shared class, you still find your heart fluttering a bit. Whenever he helps you, he's always so nice and patient. Today is no different, as this time your class is learning a new sport for the month. As usual, Yushi steps up next to you and offers to help you again this time. You, of course, agree, and he helps you stretch before the group game starts. You both start doing the activity and and you almost get hit by the ball, but as usual, Yushi hits the ball away from you. You thank him for protecting you and blocking the ball from hitting you, but he stops you and says that it's fine because he wanted to protect you. This made your heart fluttering a bit, but you convinced yourself that he was just being nice as a classmate and that that comment meant nothing. But you kept thinking about it, until the next day. When you get to P.E. the next day, Yushi's not there, but his friend is there before class. He gives you a note from Yushi. It says to meet him behind the bleachers after class!...

☆

JAEHEE; Your caring baking partner - You're new to the school, and you got into baking class. You're excited, but you don't know much about the school. That is until you get put in a group with Jaehee. You used to know Jaehee before when you were both little, but ended up losing track of each other. When you finally meet him again, you guys catch up and start being able to keep in touch again. The next day in class you both talk before you have to start baking. The whole group did a great job working with each other, the baking teacher even said that your pastry was really good! However, the dishes... No one wanted to do them, and sensing this, both you and Jaehee volunteered to do them. You were a bit annoyed at first, but eventually you both start to have fun cleaning. When you both get to the dishes, you decide to wash while he dries. You start talking about how you two were so close when you were little, and how you missed spending time with him. This makes Jaehee pause, 'what did you mean by that?'. He was about to ask you, when one of your other group members walks back into the cooking room, and tells you both to hurry before the bell rings for the next class. You look back at Jaehee one last time and say goodbye before leaving and taking off your coat. You tried messaging him when you got home from school that day to tell him that you were sorry for running out, but he didn't respond or open the messages to show it was read. This made you worried, 'after just getting back in touch again, did you make him upset by leaving early?'. The next day in baking class, you see Jaehee is already waiting for you before class like always, but he looks deep in thought this time. You notice he's holding something in his hand, 'is it for the teacher?', you think to yourself as you make it over to where he's standing. He stops you before you can even answer, and gives you the letter he was holding while looking slightly away from you. You accept the letter but look up at him in confusion, 'is this a confession?'...

☆

RYO; Your friend from childhood - Ever since you and Ryo were young, you've been inseparable. This continued into high school, you both luckily having most of your classes together. You both sit down in science class together and start talking about what you'll do after school. He suggests you both go to the arcade to play games together like you always do. You both look at each other with a glint in your eyes. After school ends, you both basically run to the arcade from the front gate of your school. Ryo beats you through the door of the establishment and brags the whole way to the counter, with a smug look on his face. When you both find a game (a racing one), you both sit down and put your tokens into the machine and choose your cars. When the game starts you both focus so intensely, you almost don't notice the mini crowd gathering around you both as a few minutes pass. As the last couple of laps end, they start to cheer, as you both get up from the seats the mini crowds start to clap and congratulate you both as you move on to the next game. One of them says something about someone beating their boyfriend in the game, and though you did beat Ryo that time in the game, you both aren't dating. And you guys are just best friends, right? But, when you both finally finish playing and walk over to the ticket counter, the person at the counter says that you and your boyfriend did well, to you. This caught you off guard, and you looked towards Ryo who was already looking towards you with a tint to his face. This caught you even more off guard, did...Ryo like you too?...

☆

SAKUYA; Your generous desk mate - Sakuya sits next to you in history class, and he always eats bread in class, which the teacher never says anything, so you think it's okay. He brings other snacks as well, like chocco cookies, and shares them with you. And since the teacher lets you pick your partners for projects, Sakuya always chooses you because you're not as greedy as your other classmates are with his snacks. When you two arrive at the café near your school early in the morning on Saturday, you already have all the supplies you'll need for the project. You both sit down and order while you work on the project. Sakuya orders a plate of crossiants and a cappuccino, and you order a slice of strawberry shortcake and a strawberry flavored drink. As you wait, Sakuya asks if you want to share his crossiants when they come, but you refuse and say you couldn't take any of his precious bread. When you both get your orders, he gives you a crossiant anyway, and you trade with a piece of your slice of shortcake. He eats the piece, and you eat the crossiant. You both don't say anything about it. The next time you both see each other in class, Sakuya shares his bread with you, and you think nothing of it. You get to the end of class and find out that Sakuya never shares his bread with anyone except you. Sometimes, you hear your classmates talking about how Sakuya might have a crush on you...

☆☆☆☆☆☆

Want More Wish? Click Here!

[inspirationallybored]

Just a little frustration, but mostly confusion.

(This post is about Generative AI, and I am against its use in creative aspects, but I have a question, so please be respectful).

So, my mom, an English language and literature professor, someone who writes for leisure, someone who loves reading and writing, had decided to write a book of her own comprising of short stories, and once she got the hang of it, publish some books for children and teenagers.

Amazing idea, right?

Well, yes actually. I was joyous to hear it.

Until she told me that she would be using ChatGPT to find the ideas and the baseline for the plot. Of course, she would be changing the actual story flow and the language, but the starting point would be generative AI.

And like, I don't know. I was mad initially (I didn't tell her tho), because it's gen AI, and I have always been against that. I'd rather write down my cringe worthy, indulgent, barely coherent fever dream than even look at ChatGPT.

But here's the thing. I also like to use writing prompts on Tumblr and YouTube as a writing exercise when I'm out of inspiration. Sure, the interpretation is all mine, but so is hers. What's the difference between using a writing prompt from Tumblr and using ChatGPT for a story idea?

I usually procrastinate and spend weeks falling into a rabbit hole on language trade because I was naming one small country with no significance whatsoever, or learn how names affect personalities while naming a minor character. But I also know that people use gen AI to look for names to avoid falling into this very same problem. One of my irl writer friends (who has ADHD btw) used gen AI just to start off on finding a name for this Eldritch DnD world. The name he chooses later is his own mix-and-match, and the concept itself, down to the intricate details, are all his. He didn't rely on ChatGPT for anything except for finding the starting point for a name. And I'm ok with that to be fair, in fact I would love to be able to find a starting point instead of roaming around too (it's a different thing that my experience there has been less than satisfactory).

Some people use gen AI to organise their mess of ideas. Some use it to find an exact word. Some use it as their personal stenographer (actually it's just one person who did that, copying from Google Docs is a pain, so she just sent screenshots to ChatGPT and had it type out for easier transferring to other platforms). And I can understand that.

Of course, if you are using AI to write a story, idea and all, and only tweak a couple of things in there, that's just trash, I condemn that. Using AI to write for you is disrespectful to the vast imagination of the human mind, and to the efforts of people who put in the hard work to create and build an idea into a piece of art.

But now I don't know this: Why am I angry at the usage of an idea from ChatGPT to create a story using your own words, when writing inspiration and prompts are fine? Why can't I use gen AI to look for a word even though I am using Google for the exact same purpose? Where do I draw the line between ChatGPT as a tool, and it as a replacement for creativity?

And before anyone says otherwise, I am strictly against AI for usage in creative writing, or any creative work. I just want to understand nuance instead of being steadfastly stuck on a black and white view.

[violettavonviolet]

Multifandom Fic Rec's

Fandoms on the list are Spn, James Bond, Harry Potter, Sherlock and Twilight.

All fics are finished and fantastic, the word count goes up as you scroll and the rating is noted. Def do check the tags though!

James Bond

Dramatic Arts

scioscribe

Summary:

In which Spectre is actually Bond's poorly written attempt at falsifying a mission report. Q wants a flight simulator, Eve wants more lines, and M wants a drink. Everybody's a critic.

2.9k teen 00Q humor

Love and Other Hazardous Materials

luchia

Summary:

"This is just getting ridiculous," M says when he finds Q trying to put motorized circular saw blades into a briefcase.

(Or, Q and James Bond love their jobs so very, very much.)

3.5k 00Q

Employee Relations, Friendly Workplace and Team Building: A Guide to Successful Relationships in the MI6

Rosslyn

Summary:

Because even MI6 isn’t exempt from British administrative features and its assorted exercises.

--

“Ah, bollocks. It says that all departmental heads have to attend or their annual budget won’t get approved. Can they do that?"

R finally sets down the iron and pats Q on the shoulder. “If they can make the Double Os take lessons in health and safety,” she says ominously, “They can do whatever the fuck they want."

6k 00Q crack gen

Q's Favourite

IBegToDreamAndDiffer

Summary:

How the double-ohs found out that James Bond is Q's favourite.

6.6k 00Q teen

Handle With Care

winterhill

Summary:

It’s not exactly a secret that Bond and Q are dating. Most people in the agency give Bond the shovel talk; everyone who doesn’t gives Q the “are you sure you know what you’re doing?” talk. Q and Bond ignore them all and have a lovely time, right up until an exploding pen explodes.

10k 00Q

The Mating Dance of Wolf and Fox**

epithalamium, TheCatOnTheMoon

Summary:

In which Moneypenny despairs of her boys, no one in MI6 is the least bit sane, Bond complains to HR about MI6's workplace policies, Q insists that he is not a fainting maiden, and he might have to sleep with 007.

Strictly for professional purposes, of course.

22k 00Q my favorite

Mistletoe

dhampir72

Summary:

She sits down at her chair, coffee in one hand, folded paper in the other. She is just taking a sip when she opens the paper...and promptly spits her coffee back into the cup. 

The paper reads: 

James Bond

That can’t be right. It’s impossible. It has to be.

Right?

10k 00Q teen

dawn

kiyala

Summary:

Bond honestly doesn't begin with the intention of courting Q.

17k 00Q teen

Yours, J

swtalmnd

Summary:

Bond sends letters. Q is vexed. Q-branch starts a betting pool. There are an appalling amount of sweets. Also, 002 is a bit of an arse.

40k 00Q explicit

 Ordinary Numbers

BootsnBlossoms, Kryptaria

Summary:

More than anything, Mike Taylor wanted to be ordinary. Being a genius, he learned early in life, meant people expected too much. A career at the MI6 Help Desk seemed the perfect way to guarantee a lifetime of obscurity, until he got a very unusual tech support call.

44k 00Q humor

Nodus Tollens

Only_1_Truth

Summary:

Nodus Tollens: the realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore

Q's life at the technical help department of MI6 was decently quiet and paid reasonably well - it even gave him vacation time, although he rarely used it. So when Q was finally coaxed to leave work for a bit and relax, he thought that Paris might be fun. 

Of course, that was before the gunfight, witnessing a shooting, and being kidnapped by a strange, blue-eyed gunman named James Bond.

88k 00Q teen

Ulysses

girlbookwrm

Summary:

“Paperwork for the new head of Q-Branch,” Tanner said.

“Of course.” The words were like glass in his throat. Smoke inhalation was a bitch. His brain felt slow and foggy, like it was full of smoke too. “Who shall I take them to?”

M lifted one white brow. “They’re for you, Quartermaster.”

Bond and Q are drawn together by names, work, and a certain Aston Martin. In which Q is kidnapped once, Bond is poisoned twice, and Eve is a badass on at least three occasions. AKA that time I tripped and wrote 80,000 words of 00Q.

All titles unapologetically stolen from Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

89k 00Q teen

Twilight

you woke the lion up

Tsume_Yuki

Summary:

Travelling through England and attempting to adjust to this 'vegetarian diet' that Peter had heard about, Jasper Whitlock comes across a pretty girl abandoned in the woods with far more despair than should be appropriate.

And really, as a Southern Gentleman, he can hardly leave her on her lonesome, can he?

20k Jasper/Harry Potter

The Future Mrs Jacob Black.

JessalynMichele

Summary:

Nobody told Jacob how utterly perfect it would be when he finally imprinted on his soulmate...

“I could kill you in ten seconds flat.”

... or how the moment could be completely ruined the moment she opened her mouth.

27k jacob black/harry potter

The Boyfriend

AverageFish

Summary:

"I like the trees here," Harry said, his accent placing him far from home. "They keep my wrackspurts away." It was twilight, and he wasn't wearing any shoes.

"You can stay at my place," Charlie said.

One night turned into teaching Harry to use the coffee machine, and then he grew used to fresh pancakes every Sunday.

Until Charlie realized one day, while calling Harry down from the old oak out back, that he didn't want the man to leave.

29k Charlie/Harry Potter

Green & Gold

JessalynMichele

Summary:

Harry Potter is a traumatized war veteran in a body that won’t die and a mind that won’t rest.

Jasper Hale is intrigued by this new student who looks so vulnerable but sends off such overwhelming waves of angst.

Everyone else is just concerned.

Set post Battle of Hogwarts, starting in the summer before Bella Swans junior year.

144k Harry/Jasper

Harry Potter

will you walk into my parlor (and ne’er come out again?)

Ellory

Summary:

Heiress Pleione Potter is sure she will not get entangled in the web Mister Mycroft Holmes weaves about himself. He proves her wrong.

11k mycroft holmes/harry potter

Magnificent

esama

Summary:

The birth of the Ministry of Magic and his relationship with the British Government.

20k harry/microft holmes teen

to refuse the givens

snark

Summary:

Daphne Greengrass makes a tidy sum selling contraband at Hogwarts, and a nihilistic Harry Potter wants to buy cigarettes.

33k Daphne/Harry

In Evidence of Magical Theory

bixgirl1

Summary:

When a hex meant for Draco accidentally catches Harry as well, they're forced to learn to understand each other in ways they previously might have thought impossible.

In which Harry and Draco can't fight, so they fall in love instead.

43k drarry explicit

Whispers in Corners

esama

Summary:

Everything started with a stumble - his new life in a new world as well as his surprisingly successful career as a medium.

64k mycroft holmes/harry potter teen

Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run

waspabi

Summary:

'You're a wizard, Harry' is easier to hear from a half-giant when you're eleven, rather than from some kids on a tube platform when you're seventeen and late for work.

93k drarry teen

Harry Potter and the Welcome to the World of Grey

sobsicles

Summary:

When Harry fails to keep his anger at bay and Voldemort possesses his mind, the events that follow lead him down a long road to realizing the world isn't as black and white as it seems. 

Chaos, hilarity, and tragedy ensue with a Dark Lord being honest all the time, a rival becoming something else, and a world demanding to be saved. Featuring frightened Death Eaters, deep conversations with a monster, Pureblood traditions being ridiculous, and the fight to do the right thing with no true options. 

Harry's life just gets more and more bizarre with each passing moment. 

~~~

Or, the one where Harry's life gets split in half, and he has to figure out how to bring it back together.

456k drarry explicit

Sherlock

Illusory Correlation and Confirmation Bias

VanillaBegonias

Summary:

Looking back, there were a few things that should’ve tipped Greg off long before that night at the pub. A few things Sherlock left fairly obvious, that on reflection, made Greg question how he’d gotten his job in the first place.

10k johnlock

Son of Mine

simoneallen

Summary:

Wilson shrugged. “Well, you’ve met him,” he pointed out. “What do you think House’s kid would be like, if House had a kid?”

13k crossover house md johnlock explicit

Working on the Edges

earlgreytea68

Summary:

No matter where you put Sherlock and John, they click. Including the Winter Olympics.

56k johnlock mature

Nature and Nurture

earlgreytea68

Summary:

The British Government accidentally clones Sherlock Holmes. Which brings a baby to 221B Baker Street.

203k johnlock

Supernatural

I Like Batman

DarcyDelaney

Summary:

Dean's got enough on his plate, what with doing his damnedest to make sure that Sam has the best Christmas possible; the last thing he needs is to figure out a Secret Santa gift for another kid in Sam's class on top of it all.

3.2k weechesters angst

At the bottom of his glass

Mademoiselle_A

Summary:

It was perfectly normal for a Hunter to drink. John's sons were worried for nothing.

At least, that's what John Winchester thought at first.

3.7k genfic angst

Thumbnail Ridges

whiteraven1606

Summary:

As a child, Dean made sure Sammy got feed, even if that meant Dean didn't eat. It was hard work, right up until it wasn't anymore.

4k genfic angst

i drew our car for you

Septembers_coda

Summary:

Nothing kindergarten teacher April Huxley has ever learned can tell her what to do when adorable, troubled little Dean Winchester falls into her life—or when he vanishes abruptly back out of it.

5k angst weechesters

Runaways

keerawa

Summary:

We lost seven teenage boys from the shelter in the summer of '97. The last were a pair of brothers so wrapped up in each other that I never had a chance to save them. Their names were Sam and Dean.

10k gen angst

"I Need a Favor"

alas_horatio

Summary:

Sam agrees to drive a stranger across the country to join Cas while their brother is in the hospital, only to find out that his new road trip companion isn't so much a stranger as the most haunting one night stand of his life.

15k Destiel Sam/Gabriel teen

Neighborly

Spooks, thesuninside

Summary:

There are two kids living next door. They gotta be surviving off ramen noodles by now, and Christ, but it's none of Frank's business.

22k weechesters crossover

Dies Irae, or Something

AlchemyAlice

Summary:

It starts with headaches, and it ends in a clusterfuck. So, business as usual, Apocalypse-wise.

51k Sam/Gabriel Destiel teen

Angels, Alcohol, and Marriage: Awesome

Akira_of_the_Twilight

Summary:

For Sam waking up next to a supposedly dead archangel was shocking enough, then he learned that aforementioned angel doesn't remember him, and they may have gotten married. From there everything spiraled.

78k Sam/gabriel accidental marraige, mature

[garak]

id be so happy to hear more about your thoughts on Gai, I've been trying to picture him outside of the wooby fandom lens more o7 regarding the breathing exercise example I can imagine he'd perhaps even yell at Kakashi to get a hold of himself ( could be out of panic reasons but also bc of gais standards for excellence. gestures )

ok this is gonna get long and jumbled so its going under the cut

first off in regards to the panic attack thing lets be real here he would punch him in the face. if he was willing to do it to 12 year old lee to snap him out of distraction he would be more than willing to do it to kakashi.

this leads to my first point of contention with gai's characterization in fandom which is that hes like a well adjusted person. gai is not necessarily better adjusted, its just that he (ironically) is able to channel most of his frustration and anger into things that are more socially acceptable, or rather, things that benefit the status quo. i'm not going to get too deep in the reeds on ninja society and its evils because i assume anyone who follows this blog is already well aware of what i think about the village system and the necessity of violence to keep it going. gai is not in any way exempt from his role in that. i think that what people fail to understand is that while kks and gai are very obviously opposites and foils to each other, they are also very similar especially in their relationships to the village. gai honestly is worse than kks in this way because hes an 8 gates user which is explicitly a suicide jutsu, but both of them have committed themselves to being weapons first and foremost which is an inherently unhealthy relationship to have to one's own body. gai's obsession with training and pushing himself past the limit as well as the whole idea of the self rule (literally self-imposed punishment) is unhealthy! him pushing these same ideas onto lee to turn him into a weapon as well is unhealthy!

his relationship with his father and with lee i think give us the best idea of gai's true character and beliefs. i'll go over lee first because i think he gives us the best sense of how gai thinks about himself. gai obviously sees lee as a mini version of himself, and thus we can assume the things that he tells lee are generally the same things he tells himself. this is most important in regards to his self-worth and reason to live being directly tied to physical ability and rank as a shinobi. gais insistence that lee get the surgery after the chuunin exams despite it possibly being a death sentence reinforces the idea that it's better to be dead than be disabled or even just not a shinobi (the first part he eventually rescinds while the second seems to still trouble him). while he does positively reinforce his students at times and does not punish them for their failures, he does feed lee the idea of the self rule which means lee will automatically punish himself for failure without gai's intervention, and he does physically punish at least lee when he steps out of line or disobeys him. this is played for laughs but still shouldnt be disregarded as an important part of the way gai's entire life revolves around physicality and violence as well as his belief in hierarchy and obedience (like i said, reproduction of the values of the shinobi system). he also teaches lee the 8 gates which is such an obviously crazy thing to do that even kakashi (who famously taught his friend killing jutsu to sasuke and then got mad when sasuke tried to use it to kill his friends) calls him out on it being reckless, saying he lost respect for gai because of it. gai sticks to his guns, of course, because self sacrifice is gais whole thing even when not strictly necessary.

this brings us to dai and the 8 gates more broadly, which also ties back into his parallels with kks. i think people often gloss over the fact that both of their fathers killed themselves, albeit in very different ways, because naruto often frames purposeful self-sacrifice as noble in a way that suicide is not when those are effectively the same thing. but the 8 gates is a suicide jutsu there is no way around that, it is a technique that allows you to become powerful at the expense of your health up until it kills you and you have to choose to open the 8th gate thus choosing to die. this is the technique gai's father teaches to him and that he teaches to his (surrogate) son. dai i think plays a big role in gai's whole ethos of silent suffering since he teaches gai at a very young age to respond to any detraction with a smile. i do think that gai is a genuinely upbeat and high-energy person, but some of that exuberance and positivity is def an act (or at this point an automatic response in the face of a world that still doesn't respect him). gai comes off as very confident, but we can see through his rivalry with kakashi that a lot of that is just bluster and that he really does desire approval and recognition, which is in part because of his father's reputation and also because of his own shortcomings in ninjutsu and taijutsu. i wouldn't say that gai is insecure, because i think in general he is very proud of himself and sure in his abilities, but rather it's that he never stops feeling the need to improve himself because even as a jounin people still don't really respect him. he's sort of like naruto in this way.

okay this is getting out of hand i've lost the plot of what i was trying to talk about. as an easier way of formatting my thoughts HERE is a list of important gai traits:

competitive

dramatic

emotional

loyal

off-putting to most people

self-sacrificing and self-punishing

dislikes showing negative emotion (crying not included)

strict with his subordinates

determined past the point of reason

poetic and verbose

obsessive over improvement

will disagree with kakashi whenever possible

kills people with his hands for a living

here is a list of things that gai is not:

unaware of how he is perceived

always positive

always honest

emotionally intelligent or perceptive

stupid

impatient

good at talking to people in a way that reaches them

well-adjusted

insecure (especially about his body lol)

a quitter

gai is one of my favourite characters of all time despite his many shortcomings and the fact that hes mostly comic relief so i apologize for running long but thats how you know i care. theres more that i could say about him especially in regards to how him and kakashi play off each other thematically but i didnt want to go too deep into the kkg stuff because i think sometimes his relationship with kks clouds the way people see him as an independent entity. he also undergoes actual character development multiple times so its important to think about where he is in his life when thinking about how he would act lol. i could go on with more examples but i won't for now because i have actual serious things to work on that need doing but hopefully this serves as a decent survey of some of my thoughts on gai

[shesthespinstersimmer]

I was tagged by @therichantsim (heyyy fren !)

You won the opportunity to be wined and dined by 5 different sims from other storytellers/gameplayers. Respectfully, of course. Name them below.

TJ @astoldbychae

Maeva @kashisun

Pretty much anyone from @afrolatinotrait ‘s camp, but

Kiara @nilonne

And, last, but not least, my very first sim crush here on Tumblr - Tinka @budgie2budgie

( DISCLAIMER: this exercise is strictly for entertainment purposes only; it is in no way to disrespect any relationships/marriages/crushes of any sims of any kind - love is love - utmost respect and all that 🙏🏾 )

Edit: honorable mention: some unnamed sims from @cinamun ‘s Cinnaverse, but I won’t name ‘em, ��cause I don’t want no smoke

[sir-adamus]

... had a thought about the Relic spirits

the Relics were seemingly created after the first humanity was destroyed; creations that had complete free will (and pissed off the gods when they exercised that in a way that the gods didn't like, tale as old as time), so while Remnant was left spinning its wheels and would eventually churn out humanity again without the influence of the gods, the four relics that embody the 'four gifts' the gods allegedly gifted to humanity (creation, knowledge, choice and destruction) wound up on the planet when GoL sent Oz back down there to just fuck up in every conceivable fashion

and knowing what we now know of the Ever After, Jinn and Ambrosius form a big point of contrast to their predecessors as creations of the gods. they are - like Curious - strictly adherent to their purpose and don't deviate outside of it, but are massively limited (because free will would lead to rebellion, of course), Jinn can answer any question but she's limited to three per century. Ambrosius can create anything but needs outside reference and can only make one thing at a time (he can only really exercise his own imagination via loopholes)

each Relic is defined by a purpose, because making creatures that don't strictly have a purpose didn't work out so well the first time and the God of Light is such a control freak he'll bind everything he makes after that in chains and bind them up with restrictive rules to prevent it ever happening again - and he lacks so much in imagination (despite that 'desire to create', everything in Remnant is based on something from the Ever After) that all he can do is replicate what came before

[glossahistorica]

Apologies if you have answered that before, but I´m dealing with a potential etiquette conondrum for a scene set in 1899 in London. For plot reasons, I´d like to have character A sit beside character B during a dinner hosted by character B´s mother (who hopes her son will propose to character A shortly). All advice from the era I can find indicates that the host is supposed to escort the highest ranking lady to dinner - which character A isn´t and therefore I would have a plot problem- but I´m unclear on whether character B would have been considered the host in the first place, as an unmarried son still living under his widowed mother´s roof. If you could point me in the right direction with that question it would be much appreciated!

Anonymous, you are my first asker, ever, and I am equipped to answer your question at present, so I am more than happy to do so.

Let us take Manners and Tone of Good Society (c.1886, and continued being published into the 90s I believe) as our key text on this - and I see no reason why not, although I encourage a pinch of salt with this text as it was produced for a 'common' or at least middle-class audience, not for other elites. But regardless, so far I have found it accords with all my other research, so we will accept it for our purposes.

The relevant chapter, by the way, is Chapter VI, 'Dinner-Parties'. You can find it here.

You are correct that by MaToGS the host would escort the highest ranking lady to dinner, however you're in luck for reasons I will get into in a little bit.

Let us, for the sake of the exercise, call character A, 'Young Lady A'; character B, 'Young Gentleman B'; and character B's mother 'the Hostess'.

On page 61, MaToGS implies that where the hostess is a widow or 'maiden lady', 'a gentleman of the family' would then act as the host. In this case, we're assuming this is Young Gentleman B.

Young Gentleman B would be obliged to accompany the woman of the highest rank to the dining room (his mother, our Hostess, would bring up the rear with the gentleman of highest rank). At the dining table, the woman he accompanied would place herself on his right hand side. He then remains standing at his place at the bottom of the table until all the guests have taken their seats.

Seating places are pre-decided, and while the linked copy of MaToGS (second edition) says that putting a slip of paper with a guest's name upon it is 'old-fashioned' and 'never followed in good society', my version, thirteenth edition and much more likely to be closer to your era, corrects that this custom 'is now somewhat revived in good society'.

The following passage makes clear that the priority in seating guests is not precedency of rank, but rather everyone having a nice time:

Though precedency must be strictly followed in sending guests in to dinner, it may be departed from, in placing the guests at the dinner table, if by adhering strictly to the order of precedence, husbands and wives, or other relatives, would become placed in too close a proximity to one another, as it is not etiquette to place husbands and wives, side by side, neither is it desirable that a brilliant conversationalist, should be seated next to or between two dull and unappreciative persons.

Of course rank precedency should be used as a guide, and is preferable where practicable, but in your instance it seems it could be departed from for the interests of the Hostess.

So Young Gentleman B is seated at the bottom of the table, and to his right is the lady of highest rank. His mother, the Hostess, is seated opposite him at the head of the table, and to her left is the gentleman of the highest rank (I am here assured in the footnote that '"Long tables" are the most fashionable dinner-tables.' Good to know.)

Gentlemen and ladies who have gone in to dinner together are not required to converse with each other - it is purely by inclination.

Your solution would seem to be:

The Hostess has pre-decided seating and marked them with names.

Young Gentleman B is the host, and takes the lady of highest rank in to dinner; he sits at the bottom of the table, her to his right.

Young Lady A is seated as per her pre-designated spot on Young Gentleman B's left-hand side.

A brilliant conversationalist, or someone she knows, is placed to the right of the lady of highest rank to distract her.

And perhaps someone boring to Young Lady A's left to avoid distractions.

The Hostess sits at the top of the table opposite and stares expectantly at our couple wiggling her eyebrows and mouthing ask her! at Young Gentleman B.

I do recommend the linked book. It will take you through a dinner-party from top to bottom, including my favourite line in the whole thing, 'Pines are eaten with both knife and fork.' It will follow, however, here on Glossa Historica, in due time.

Good luck with your scene.

[omniblades-and-stars]

🍌 🍓 🥭 🥥 peas for my ot3 (inonsi/nilea/lou) and korak because im rotating him rn

🍌~ What are your ocs weapon of choice and why? (if applicable).

Inonsi prefers lightweight pistols if she's going to have to use a weapon. She doesn't prefer getting into firefights or taking lives, though she's quite capable of both.

Nilea loves the M-99 Saber. "But Daisy!" You say, "that's a ridiculous fucking gun!" And to that I say shut up! It's a huge fuck off rifle for a tall and strong woman. Let her have her big fuck off rifle. (Yes this is just because I really love that gun in game, don't @ me.)

Lou carries an M5 Phalanx that she modified herself. It's lightweight, it's accurate and it just looks darn sexy strapped to her thigh don't you think?

Korak is a no guns guy. He's not strictly a pacifist, but he has never used a gun and never intends to use a gun.

🍓 ~ What item comforts your oc?

Inonsi I answered more in depth a little early, but the serious answer is a picture of her and Tertus.

Are spreadsheets considered an item for the purposes of this question? Nilea isn't really a comfort items kind of girl. But she does find organizing information and data entry a calming exercise.

Lou's comfort comes in the form of good food and some just downright terrible old harlequin style romance novels.

Korak's comfort comes in the prayers he says and also the insignia of Aumellio's regiment that he has from before the Reaper war.

🥭 ~ What person comforts your oc?

Inonsi doesn't currently have like ... a person. Unless I REALLY change some things in PtK (like putting Inonsi in this story at all). It was Tertus. She's not lonely though. She has friends, and finds a life of short, whirlwind romances and flings to be quite satisfying!

For Nilea prior to the events of PtK it is Yaeno. They're very good friends. Yaeno was there for Nilea when her mother died during the geth attack on the Citadel.

Lou's comfort person is her dad. Which is extremely very tragic considering what the whole premise of PtK. As I'm often saying, Sweet Baby Lou, I'm sorry for what I'm doing to you.

Korak's comfort person is his adopted daughter, Trisha, of course. ☺️

🥥 ~ What is your ocs favorite food?

Okay, I'm going to go with real human food that I can go eat right now because I don't have the brain juice for inventing alien cuisine.

Inonsi - Cotton candy.

Nilea - A good, well seasoned steak, rare, with a side of grilled vegetables and a good glass of red wine.

Lou - Bacon and waffles.

Korak - He wants the spiciest curry he can get his hands on please and thank you.

[burnwater13]

“I am IG-11. I am this Child’s nurse droid and require that you remand him to me immediately.” 

The former assassin droid lived up to every expectation Kuiil had for it. It had been reprogrammed with thought and care and Grogu had to agree that its primary functions to nurse and protect were just what he needed at that very moment. 

The two former Imps were being worse than awful to him. They thought he was funny and helpless and could be victimized because they were big and human. They had killed Kuiil and kidnapped Grogu and thought that no one was going to hold them accountable. Wow, were they in for a surprise.

At least IG-11 gave them a chance. If they had just handed Grogu over to the droid they might have lived for a few more minutes. Grogu’s dad, er, other protector, the Mandalorian, wasn’t going to take their behaviors and actions lightly. Nope. Din Djarin, Mandalorian bounty hunter was going to end them just as surely as IG-11 had. It was a credit toss to decide which one of them would have been more humane. 

Of course Grogu had been surprised when the nurse droid told him that he was ‘sorry you had to see that’. Grogu wasn’t sorry about seeing that at all. Both of those troopers had hit him just because he didn’t want to stay with them. That had been completely uncalled for and having his ‘nurse’ defend him, well, that’s what they did right?

Grogu wondered if the troopers could have been re-programmed, like Kuiil had reprogrammed IG-11. With patience and kindness and a deep knowledge of how to motivate humans, was there some way to help the troopers be better? And by better, Grogu meant help them not be mean, mindless, followers of orders that were cruel on their very face. Perhaps they, like IG-11, could be trained to serve tea and perform useful chores around a farm or ranch?

Of course it wouldn’t be easy. Kuiil had saved IG-11 after the Mandalorian pretty much destroyed the droids central processing unit and harness. Kuiil had to build new components and then fix things that were broken and then train, train, train, the droid to be useful. Kuiil had seen the value in not wasting the IG unit. Re-use was always better than recycling according to the folks who managed goods and stores at the Jedi Temple. 

Could you do the same sorts of things with humans? Grogu wasn’t sure. There were some key differences between the two groups. Humans had an organic central processing unit, not a circuit board and harness. Organic systems required specialized equipment for the purpose of physical modification. And… organic systems weren’t strictly reproducible the same way a droid was manufactured. If you made a mistake you couldn’t just send to the factory to get a spare part. Outside of the clones that the Jedi had commissioned, humans were generally made the old fashioned way and that took time.

Grogu did remember that Kuiil had joked that Cara Dune was a clone. Grogu knew that she didn’t find it funny, but she didn’t deny it either. Were there still people cloning humans? And why clone humans? Why not something better? Like frogs, or gorgs, or fathiers? 

He knew he didn’t want anyone to clone him. One Grogu was more than enough. Kuiil had joked about that too. Grogu was too ‘ugly’ to be a clone. Too evolved. Grogu thought he was handsome but maybe Kuiil was be reflective. He looked pretty evolved to Grogu too.

Of course, Grogu might consider his stance on cloning if he ever thought something might happen to the Mandalorian that Din Djarin couldn’t deal with effectively. As long as they were together, Grogu could heal him, make sure he ate his three tiny bite meals a day, and get plenty of exercise. He understood that these were the things that added to human longevity. 

He’d probably need to make sure that IG-11 stuck around with them. The droid was the perfect partner for Grogu in his quest to keep the Mandalorian alive and thumping. Grogu still had a lot to learn from the droid about how to best nurse and protect. Which reminded him that learning was the easiest way to reprogram anyone. The more you knew the more you knew how to live a good life. Yup. This is the Way.

[junipersailor]

MC AU Chapter 2

3/3 Last Masterpost

2011. Japan

Leon, as they finally agreed on the name, became a regular visitor to the dojo courtyard. Karai suddenly had a friend who was her age and even knew the life of ninjas! The little training sessions and duels together increased the girl's motivation, listening to Leon's comments, she improved a lot in a short time. Suddenly, the meditation exercises that she had previously considered boring didn't seem so terrible with Takashi sensei.

Of course, the man noticed the change of heart, and he noted it to Karai, but when the girl gave an evasive answer, he said this in peaceful calm:

" Please, tell me when you're ready, but don't lie until then!"

Karai loved Takashi sensei, she had known him for a long time, and she felt guilty about her betrayal, but she didn't want to betray her new friend. The next day, she told Leon everything, who, to her great surprise, simply didn't see the problem.

"Introduce me to your sensei!" he advised.

That was how Takashi first met Leon. The man was surprised by the boy's turtle nature, but seeing his simple behavior, he quickly got over it.

"You're not human" he stated after introducing himself.

"I'm not completely human" Leon shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

That was all they had left. Gradually, Leon became a frequent visitor not only in the courtyard, but also inside the dojo when he joined Karai during training.

Leon's manner was not nearly as reserved as that of the strictly raised girl. Takashi quickly took a liking to him, which led to several violations of the other's personal space. At first, it was strange and disturbing, but after a while, Takashi got used to it and even liked the strange boy.

When Karai had to go to her father's or somewhere else, she increasingly found herself alone with Leon, who chatted in a relaxed mood about anything that came to mind. Moreover, the turtle was an inestimable warrior. At first, he didn't notice, as he was joking and making deliberate mistakes, but as an experienced teacher, Takashi eventually noticed. One time, when the two of them were in the dojo, he even wanted to fight him.

"You're holding back on purpose," he told Leon, "I want you to give it your all now."

Leon initially deflected the subject, denying the accusations, but still agreed. The duel started in the usual way, but at a much higher level than the average training. The teenager and the sensei were worthy opponents of each other. Swords clashed for a long, long time, attacks and defenses alternated, but there was still something strange in Leon's movements.

"You're still holding yourself back from something!" Takashi said. "If you don't fight with all your heart, you'll offend me!"

"So be it!" Leon shouted, and a blue glow appeared around him.

The man didn't even have time to realize what was happening, the turtle was already attacking from the other side. After a few attacks, he quickly collected himself, but the strange turn surprised him.

Leon was unusual, you could somehow feel a kind of inhuman aura in his mere movements. Takashi didn't expect the kid to cast magic!

The man was positioned firmly in the middle of the dojo, with his knees bent and a katana in his arms, fending off attacks from all directions. He stayed like that for a while, then suddenly jumped away and charged at Leon. Despite the unexpected move, he quickly blocked and then parried a few more attacks.

A duel can take many forms. Takashi and Leon's fight was full of fast, precise movements. When you fight, you have to be careful to parry and attack your opponent at the same time. It's like chess: there are basic moves that both sides can do, but the way they do it is different. If someone is a good fighter, they don't just have strength or beautiful moves, they can also create a strategy. It can be a complex plan, or it can be a quick reaction to a blow, a counterattack, a series of moves that will put an end to the match.

Takashi and Leon fought each other, forgetting about the world, until the turtle, appearing from increasingly unpredictable directions, managed to knock the sensei off balance so much that as he reached the floor, he skillfully knocked the weapon out of his hands. Leon pinned Takashi's right arm to the ground with one foot, and with his other knee leaning against his body, he aimed his blades at the teacher. He clearly won the fight.

What neither of them noticed was the opening of the sliding door of the room, where Saki and Karai had entered a few minutes earlier, along with some clan members. They stood amazed, watching the final moments of the fight. Leon got up exhausted and helped Takashi up, who noticed their spectators.

Saki walked towards them with dignity, then looked down at the turtle, who was much shorter than him, and asked:

"What is your name, boy?"

Leon blinked in surprise, adrenaline had already drained from him and he hadn't expected strangers. He straightened up, panting, but managed to conjure up his charismatic smile.

" Leonardo" he said simply.

Saki looked him over with a searching gaze. His eyes also met Takashi's, who stood behind the turtle, nobly accepting defeat.

"Greetings, Leonardo. I am Oroku Saki, leader of the Swiftfoot Clan. I hope we will see each other a lot more."

Next

[tasmiyakrish]

Mastering Backlinking for SEO: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid

In the realm of search engine optimization (SEO), backlinking holds immense potential to enhance your website's visibility and rankings. However, it is crucial to approach backlinking with a strategic and ethical mindset. In this article, we will delve into the best practices for effective backlinking while highlighting common pitfalls to steer clear of. By mastering these techniques, you can optimize your website's online presence and attract valuable organic traffic.

With a Digital Marketing Course in Bangalore, embracing capabilities is much more approachable and effective.

Best Practices for Backlinking:

Emphasize Quality and Relevance: Prioritize acquiring backlinks from high-quality and relevant websites. Seek out reputable sources that align with your industry or content niche. Links from authoritative websites carry significant weight in terms of SEO value and credibility.

Foster Natural Link Building: One of the most effective approaches to backlinking is to create exceptional content that naturally attracts links. Focus on crafting valuable articles, engaging blog posts, visually appealing infographics, or captivating videos. By consistently delivering high-quality content, you increase the likelihood of other websites linking to your valuable resources.

Cultivate a Diverse Backlink Profile: Aim for diversity in your backlink portfolio. Seek opportunities to acquire links from various domains and different types of websites, including blogs, news sites, forums, and social media platforms. A well-rounded backlink profile demonstrates to search engines that your content is valued by a diverse audience.

Optimize Anchor Text: Exercise caution when utilizing anchor text. Ensure that the anchor text you use is descriptive and relevant to the content of the linked page. Avoid excessive use of keywords or over-optimization, as it may raise concerns with search engines. Strive for a natural and user-friendly approach to anchor text.

Nurture Relationships: Building relationships with influencers, bloggers, and webmasters in your industry can yield fruitful backlinking opportunities. Collaborate on content, engage in guest posting, participate in interviews, or seek out social media mentions. These relationships can lead to valuable backlinks and expand your online reach.

Pitfalls to Avoid:

Steer Clear of Link Farms and Low-Quality Websites: Avoid engaging with link farms, spammy directories, and low-quality websites that exist solely to generate backlinks. These practices can tarnish your website's reputation and have a detrimental impact on your rankings. Instead, prioritize links from reputable and trustworthy sources.

Say No to Link Buying: Resist the temptation to purchase backlinks. Search engines strictly discourage this practice, and it can result in severe penalties. Instead, focus on creating exceptional content that naturally attracts organic backlinks.

Consider enrolling in the Digital Marketing Online Certification Training to fully utilize and become an expert in Digital Marketing.

Exercise Caution with Link Exchanges: While link exchanges with relevant websites can be beneficial, excessive link swapping for the sole purpose of manipulating search rankings should be avoided. Strive for organic relationships and genuine link building opportunities to maintain a healthy backlink profile.

Diversify Anchor Text: Avoid over-reliance on exact match anchor text. Utilize a diverse range of anchor text variations, including branded terms, URLs, generic phrases, and related keywords. This natural variation helps search engines understand the context of your content and avoids any potential red flags.

Steer Clear of Spammy Commenting: Refrain from leaving irrelevant or spammy comments on blogs or forums solely for the purpose of including backlinks. This behavior is not only frowned upon but can also harm your website's reputation. Instead, contribute meaningfully to discussions and engage with the community authentically.

Mastering the art of backlinking is crucial for a successful SEO strategy. By adhering to the best practices outlined in this article and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create a robust backlink profile that elevates your website's visibility and organic rankings. Remember, quality, relevance, and natural link building should be your guiding principles as you navigate the dynamic world of backlinking.

[enspeakingcourse]

Grammar in English speaking course

English Speaking Course in Chandigarh,

Grammar is a foundational component of any English speaking course as it underpins effective communication and ensures clarity in speech and writing. Here are key aspects of grammar instruction in an English speaking course:

Grammar Rules: English speaking courses introduce learners to the essential rules and structures of English grammar, including verb tenses, sentence structure, articles, prepositions, and more.

Grammar Exercises: Learners engage in various exercises and drills designed to reinforce grammar concepts. These exercises include filling in the blanks, error correction, and sentence transformation.

Speaking Practice: Grammar is integrated into speaking practice sessions to help learners apply the rules in real-life conversations. This includes using correct verb forms, word order, and appropriate tenses.

Writing Skills: Proper grammar is emphasized in written assignments, essays, and reports. Learners are taught how to construct grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs, enhancing the quality of their written communication.

Listening Comprehension: Listening exercises include paying attention to correct grammar usage in spoken English, helping learners understand how native speakers use grammar in everyday conversations.

Pronunciation and Intonation: While not strictly grammar, pronunciation and intonation patterns are integral to spoken English. Courses often include lessons on how these aspects interact with grammar to convey meaning effectively.

Common Errors: Learners are made aware of common grammar mistakes made by non-native speakers. By recognizing these errors, they can avoid them in their own speech and writing.

Advanced Grammar: For more advanced learners, courses may delve into complex grammatical concepts, such as conditional sentences, reported speech, and complex sentence structures.

Grammar for Specific Purposes: Depending on learners' goals, courses may include specialized grammar instruction tailored to academic, business, or professional contexts.

Feedback and Correction: Instructors provide feedback on learners' grammar usage, pointing out errors and offering guidance on improvement. This helps learners refine their language skills over time.

Overall, grammar instruction in an English speaking course is essential for building a strong linguistic foundation. It equips learners with the tools to express themselves accurately and confidently, whether in everyday conversations, academic settings, or professional environments.

[wordsandrobots]

*bursts through the door staggering under the weight of an absurdly large stack of screenshots* I come bearing receipts for 'Shino vs the concept of personal space'!

I was going through anyway, capturing scenes containing Tekkadan extras as part of an absolutely insane exercise I want to do, but here are the on-screen moments where Shino attaches himself to people.

Surprisingly, he doesn't actually do this very much during Season 1. The initial establishment of his character emphases his enthusiasm, lack of table manners and general dumbassery, but not a propensity for physical contact. [Side-note: for the purpose of academic rigour, I am excluding moments of action or confined spaces -- we're talking unprompted contact, not touching per se; yes, that nixes a lot of his interactions with Yamagi and, yes, I find that very telling too.]

The first time we see him put his hands on someone when he doesn't strictly need to is when he grips Eugene's shoulder in Pub Someday while enthusing about going out to get some girls.

Spoiler: Eugene is target #1 for Shino-glomping, and reciprocates in anti-kind, because Eugene has a habit of grabbing people when he is angry at them. In this case, over the 'big talk for someone who just got his cherry popped' comment.

Of course, even when Shino is not offering physical contact, he displays affection for his friends in other ways, such as making sure Akihiro is doing OK ahead of the fight with the Brewers.

Then -- does this count? I feel this should count. The boy literally let himself be turned into a climbing frame and then started running up and down a corridor covered in small children.

Next we have another case of Eugene dragging Shino into kissing cussing distance, which devolves into Shino giving him the boot up the arse he desperately needs. Again, not sure if this strictly counts, but it's going in here.

And then the most significant Season 1 instance for Reasons: the first time Shino touches Yamagi just to be friendly.

Thanks to Urdr Hunt, we know that they go from that to this, and I will leave you to draw your own conclusions about what it means.

(It means 'oblivious himbo' and 'torture of defenceless Yamagis'.)

I would also be remiss not to include the shot of him and 598 together, because it shows that he doesn't mind people getting in his space, either.

Moving on to Season 2, this is where we see the majority of Shino taking the initiative with physical contact. It is immediately clear from context that this is perfectly normal. Eugene wears him for a scarf for half a scene and doesn't react once to the fact this huge dude has an arm draped around his shoulders.

Another marginal case, but here are Shino's interactions with Zack before and after the ill-fated brothel trick.

And of course there's Ride's less sanguine reaction to having an arm put around him, because Ride is a big manly-man who doesn't truck with that sort of thing (or Shino's paint choices).

The next time we see Shino grab hold of someone, it's to explain to Akihiro that you don't invite your entire friend group along to a date with the girl who has obviously had the hots for you for the past twenty episodes. An urgent intervention that involves grabbing the big lug by the scruff of the neck, in one of my very favourite sequences.

After that, there's not much to report outside of the scenes with Yamagi, which I shall refrain from reposting on account of the attendant emotional damage. However, I thought it notable that in his last scene with Eugene, Eugene is just hanging out halfway into Flauros' cockpit. Clearly these are two people extremely comfortable in proximity to one another.

Finally, let's end where we started: atrocious table-manners.

So yes. Season 2 provides a lot of evidence for Shino's habit of getting up close to people at the slightest provocation, at least with several people he knows will be OK with that. And I actually have a suggestion for an explanation as to why we so little of this sort of thing in Season 1, which that it's the lingering effects of the CGS First Group's training regimen. I can't see them being the types to encourage overt displays of affection among the Third Group, can you?

But following Maruba and co getting the boot and Tekkadan's official formation, that kind of restriction is gone and we get to see what Shino is like unfettered by domineering ideas of military protocol or toxic-masculinity.

To whit: a large, friendly octopus of a man.

I often think about how much Shino loves PDA, that man really loves draping himself over people, hugging them, hanging his arms off their shoulders. He has no issues whatsoever putting his face in kissing distance from his comrades in arms just to comfort them. Gives me such warm, fuzzy feelings.

[dukeofdogs]

Keira Metz (don’t get fooled this tree lore is just about Yen and Triss)

Chest 1: Many accused Yennefer of deceitful behavior. Admittedly, on a number of occasions the sorceress manipulated, twisted the truth, and made habit of quickly switching her allegiances. Yet in the end, it was revealed that she acted on behalf of a higher purpose. That is, on behalf of those she loved.

Chest 2: The childhood of famed sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg was never destined for happiness. The very fact that she was a quadroon – the daughter of a half-elf and a human – meant that she often fell victim to the contempt of her peers. What's more, Yennefer was born a hunchback, which proved reason enough for her own father to disown her – his little girl a monster in his eyes. Though later, as a pupil of Aretuza, she could at long last remove her aesthetic imperfections... Alas, her memories remained as vivid as ever.

Chest 3: Yennefer was a distinguished expert in the magical arts. Yet, unlike her colleagues, she didn't shy away from the darkest corners of magic. If one believes the rumors, Yennefer even dabbled in the strictly forbidden practice of necromancy. However, any criticism was met with a glowering stare and the same, cold reply: "The ends justify the means."

Scroll 1: Mages and sorceresses are individuals who possess incredible power, knowledge and, as is often the case, great ambition. Alas, their aspirations are rarely limited to the forbidden and arcane magical arts. Mages and sorceresses often indulge in political control through the monarchs they advise. For centuries, the most powerful court mages worked behind the scenes, exercising enormous influence on the Continent's political balance. However, everything changed with the ascendance of King Radovid V, the Stern, of Redania. Schools of magic were closed, and countless scrolls were cast into the flames, their contents forever lost to history.

Scroll 2: When King Radovid V began his murderous hunt for mages, Triss Merigold – like many of her colleagues – sought refuge in Novigrad, a neutral city. In place of a haven, however, she and the others found themselves cornered into a trap. Before long, the bodies of magic-wielders began to pile, their lives extinguished by the fanatical priests from the Church of the Eternal Fire. Those few lucky enough to be spared a gruesome death owe their thanks to Triss – not to mention a certain white-haired witcher.

Scroll 3: Yennefer of Vengerberg was a similarly famed sorceress yet, unlike the more amiable and sociable Triss, she followed no path but her own. She joined the Lodge of Sorceresses, true, though not altogether willingly. What's more, the kings she was to advise she instead habitually treated as mere tools in service of her own goals. And Yennefer's lovers, well... She's always enjoyed her playthings.

Scroll 4: Yet all changed for Yennefer when she met Geralt of Rivia with whom her destiny became intimately intertwined. He was the first person she ever truly loved. Though, of course, that did not mean their relationship wasn't without a few bumps in the road...

[greyplainsttrpg]

I have made goofy nonsense for the sole purpose of the fun of doing research in the game and coming out with a ridiculous combo.

The specific jank that I am most proud of was gambling on getting a ring of water control in combination with a couple of other spells centered around the spell Avoidance in AD&D 2nd. I don't remember the exact combination of spells, but it had something to do with creating a large piece of fabric, casting Avoidance on it, transmuting the object to water, and then controlling that water in a ball that could knock everything over. Something like that. I didn't start with a ring of water control; I had to hope I would get one or this stupid wizard build would be useless. By sheer luck, the party got one, and it allowed me to do some of the most unhinged wizard shit of all time. I did a bunch of real world math before the session to make sure this would work (because for Avoidance to push something back, the object NEEDS to be heavier).

My DM and I both agreed that this specific combo was banned after I did it, because yeah of course it should. But it was a fun exercise to get a generally forgotten spell to become the centerpiece of a ban-worthy combo strictly by the written rules of the game.

Usually I just play oonga-boonga fighters, so this was a fun flex because I rarely get the opportunity to start as a high-level caster.

"Hey DM!"

*sighs* Yes, my least favourite player, who I only allow to play in my campaign because I'm worried what you might do if you didn't have something to occupy yourself with on weekends?

"I'm going to put a huge bunch of peasants in a row, and have them use readied actions to bucket brigade a rock from one end of the line to the other. And since this will only take six seconds, when the last peasant lets go of the rock it will shoot out super fast and do a gazillion points of damage!"

Oh wow, the peasant railgun, never heard that one before. Listen, even if I as the DM were to completely abandon one of my duties, making sure the game simulates a fictional reality by curbing weird unintentional rules interactions, that still wouldn't work. According to a strict reading of the rules, after the rock had arrived in the hands of the final peasant, they would then have to throw it as an improvised weapon, for something like 1d4 damage and probably not a whole lot of range. And even if the rock did somehow reach some ridiculous velocity, there isn't actually a rule for how much damage that would do.

"But the falling damage rules…"

Are for falling damage. Now hush. And secondly, what you're doing here is applying a ludicrously strict reading of the rules until it becomes more advantageous to argue from physics, which just makes you a powergaming jerk at best. So if you still want to try this, go right ahead. But I'm not one of those DMs who rolls over for her players because some theatre kids decided that "yes and" is somehow a rule in D&D.

"I'm going to cry and pee myself."

If it'll make you feel better, just do it outside.