#I mean just say those names out loud and then describe their lives and religions

[i-wear-the-cheese]

Me approaching a random lesbian couple: so uh, which one of you is the dark religious fanatic and which is the brawny two-handed weapon fighter?

[beelzebuddy-catan]

The Not Entirely Human-Human Exchange Student pt.7

Summary: Solomon continues searching for a clue on who Cass is and how she is related to the Nephs while Cass starts to find answers about who the brothers really are. Warnings: Swearing, mentions of death and violence Spoilers: Through Lesson 7, Lilith's status, and a little bit of Nightbringer if you squint. Characters: Cass (OC), Lucifer, Mammon, Levi, Satan, Asmo, Beel, Belphie, Lilith, Solomon, Simeon, Luke, Barbatos, Diavolo, Charon (OC), Preta (OC) and Vas (OC). Notes: Psychopomps are beings in a variety of religions who escort souls to the afterlife. For those not as familiar with Greek Mythology, Charon is a psychopomp and the ferryman of Hades who takes souls buried with Charon’s obol (a coin) across the rivers Acheron and Styx. Nephilim (or as Solomon refers to them, Nephs) translates to "the fallen ones". While there are different beliefs on their identity and origin, they are the offspring of fallen angels (aka demons) and humans in this story. Previous Part • Next Part

Lucifer, who hadn’t joined them for breakfast, had sent a text asking to meet him in the music room. When she excused herself, Mammon, Levi, and Beel all looked like they wanted to stop her. The room only grew more uncomfortable when she told them she’d be fine. In their defense, it probably was too soon for her to say, ‘what’s he going to do, kill me?’ about meeting Lucifer.  

Despite his perfect posture, Lucifer seemed nervous. His arms were crossed, and it felt like he wasn’t really looking at her. Of course, she knew why he’d asked her here. There’s no way he’d move on like the other night had never happened.  

“How I acted the other night was inexcusable. You have my sincerest apology...Sometime in the near future, I’d like to treat you to a meal. To make up for putting you through a frightening experience.”  

“No thank you.” The only indication of his surprise was his eyebrows lifting slightly. “I wasn’t scared last night, so you have nothing to make up for." 

Without giving him time to respond, she turned and walked towards the door. Before exiting, Cass looked over her shoulder. “Next time, if you want to take me on a date, just ask.” With a wink, she left Lucifer standing in the room in a sort of stunned awe.   

Though five rivers flowed from the other realms to the docks where he stood, it was a place existing separate from any realm, much like Reaper’s homes. It’d gone by different names throughout history, but it was something everyone knew. A journey every being would take one day.  

The Aetherworld. 

He hated coming here. Solomon looked out over the swirling waters of the Acheron. The fog that formed above the river wasn’t exactly unsafe, but it always felt suffocating. It reminded him of the basement he’d spent so many years trapped in.  

He disliked the ocean, but he hated the waters that carried souls to their resting places. The confluence of Acheron and Styx was the worst of them. This was the only place that existed that made him crave the sun’s light and warmth.  

There was something here that refused to let go. As if death itself clung to anyone who approached the river. The coldness seeped through everything, making a home wherever warmth remained. And it stayed, long after leaving the docks.  

“This is not a place for the living.” A voice so deep and loud it shook the ground spoke. “Only those guided by a reaper may board. King Solomon the Wise, son of David, you are no exception.”  

“I’m here on behalf of Lord Diavolo, Future King of the Devildom.”  

The lanterns on the gate behind him did little to dispel the darkness. Nor did the lantern hooked to the ferry. He always wondered how Charon was able to navigate the waters. Finally, the faint outline of the speaker could be seen.  

“That means nothing beyond those gates. Titles become as trivial as the positions they describe when that threshold is passed. You should know that better than anyone, King Solomon the Wise, son of David.”  

If names are so meaningless, why do you keep saying them? Solomon wanted to ask, but knew whatever Charon answered would be just as unhelpful as him not saying anything.  

The ferry came to a halt in front of him. He’d forgotten how imposing the psychopomp’s presence was. Despite being only half demon, there were few if any demons that rivaled his stature. His demeanor had changed from the last time they’d met. As if the anger he’d harbored was gone. Yet, those icy grey eyes would never change.  

“It’s about the Nephilim.”  

It was the only chance Solomon had of getting him to talk. He’d tried everything he could think of apart from contacting them directly. Were it not for Diavolo’s request not to involve Cate, that would have been his first choice. Being here was almost as risky.  

Charon didn’t answer. If silence could echo, the Aetherworld would hold the sound. It felt all consuming. As Charon stood before him, Solomon wondered if it was possible for him to go mad from the nothingness he existed in.  

“Psychopomps have no concern or interest with the doings of the living or the dead. We cannot afford to care. Nephilim or not.”  

The answer was just as he expected, but it’d been worth a shot. Solomon pulled out the Obol from his pocket and held it up for Charon to see. Barbatos had given it to him when he mentioned going to the docks. Apparently, Cass had been carrying the coin when she first arrived in the Devildom.  

“I do not require coins for passage. That was a falsehood created then spread by you and your conspirator.”  

“I know. This isn’t just a coin. It’s one of yours. You only created ten of these. I just need to know who you gave them to.”  

“From whom did you steal this?” Charon bellowed. The sound of his voice created waves around him.  

Shit. If Charon became angry enough it, the docks would send out a signal to alert Reapers of an emergency. “I didn’t steal it. There’s a human in the Devildom who arrived with no memories and that coin. I need to know if you gave it to her.”  

“Coins were only given to Nephilim. I do not know how a human obtained it.” Solomon sighed, that was his only lead. “This coin was last used by the Maiden of the Three Realms on the anniversary of the day Styx caught the Lightbringer.”  

“Who’s the Maiden–?”  

“I cannot tell you that.” This fucking guy. “The Nephilim who travelled the Aetherworld is not safe. She has yet to stand the tests of time.”  

Before Solomon had time to ask any other questions, Charon was gone. The ferryman had always been terse, but now he was just being cryptic. What he really needed was to spend time with someone who wasn’t dead.  

Solomon started towards the gates, teleporting to the Demon Lord’s castle once he crossed the threshold. The Maiden of the Three Realms. He’d never heard of that title. It was hard to remember the details of all the Nephs, especially after the stories they’d created reached Greece and humans began adding to the myths.  

Which Nephs were still alive that would receive the title of Maiden. Artemis wouldn’t have accepted a coin from Charon if he’d offered her one. Charon wouldn’t have risked Ares getting his hands on one even if he’d wanted to give one to Athena.  

The only maiden he could remember in mythology being associated with Charon enough to receive a coin was Persephone. But that wasn’t one of the myths Barbatos and he had created. Was it the poet Ovid who first wrote that story? The Neph who inspired Hades hadn’t been married. There was no one it could have been based on. So, who was the Maiden of the Three Realms?  

--- 

“Cass?”  

When she opened her eyes, the only thing she could see was Beel’s face. He was leaning over her, his face so close, it blocked everything else. She’d been certain Lucifer was going to kill her, and no one in the tomb had been strong enough to stop him.  

“You’re alive!” He sighed in relief, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “If Diavolo hadn’t shown up when he did, you’d be dead. I’m so sorry Cass. It’s all my fault.”  

“No, it’s not,” Cass finally managed to speak. “Luke wouldn’t have been there in the first place if it weren’t for me. Besides, I’m the one who stepped in front of Lucifer. That was my choice.”  

Beel was quiet for a moment. “Why did you do it? You’re not an angel or a demon or even some powerful human. Yet, you looked at Lucifer and still stepped between him and Luke and me. Why?”  

“Why wouldn’t I? I think if I only chose to stand up for what I think is right when it’s easy, I’d be betraying a big part of who I am.”  

Even though she didn’t know who she was, she knew that was important. If her memories ever did come back, she hoped that much was true. Beel considered her words for a while. Was he thinking about the war and his choice to save Belphie?  

“I want to make a pact with you.”  

Cass’s eyes widened at the unexpected comment. Never would she have expected one of the brothers to propose making a pact with her. Yet, she could tell Beel was being absolutely sincere. He really trusted her enough to offer that. Which is why... 

“I can’t do that to you.”  

...it was only right not to.  

“It’s not that I wouldn’t, it’s just, I can’t make a pact without being completely honest with you. There’s a chance that you’ll hate me after hearing it, and that’s fine, it’s just somethin–” 

“You don’t have to tell me,” Beel interrupted. “I trust you, Cass. Whatever it is, I know there’s a good reason you haven’t told me. Because you wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t a good reason. So, I’d rather you tell me when you’re ready then because you feel like you have to.”  

“And if you find out and hate me?”  

“I can’t imagine ever hating you, Cass.”  

She wanted to believe him. How could he not hate her for hiding Lilith and Belphie, though? She was tired of keeping secrets that weren’t hers but knew revealing them could cause things to get so much worse.  

“Okay. If that’s really what you want.”  

“Is it okay if I kiss you then?”  

Cass released a breathy laugh and nodded softly. Beel beamed and for a second, any worries she had disappeared. It was hard to believe the gentle giant who seemed to carry the only sunshine in the Devildom was one of the most feared demons in the world. And so, her third pact was made.  

--- 

“I assume you know why I asked to speak with you?” Lucifer asked once Cass closed the door to the music room.  

Breakfast had been tense that morning. Having been asleep for almost 24 hours after Lucifer almost killed her, Cass hardly let herself be bothered by it. If she’d known how rested almost dying could have made her, she might have asked Lucifer to have tried it sooner.  

Lucifer, who hadn’t joined them for breakfast, had sent a text asking to meet him in the music room. When she excused herself, Mammon, Levi, and Beel all looked like they wanted to stop her. The room only grew more uncomfortable when she told them she’d be fine. In their defense, it probably was too soon for her to say, ‘what’s he going to do, kill me?’ about meeting Lucifer.  

Despite his perfect posture, Lucifer seemed nervous. His arms were crossed, and it felt like he wasn’t really looking at her. Of course, she knew why he’d asked her here. There’s no way he’d move on like the other night had never happened.  

“How I acted the other night was inexcusable. You have my sincerest apology.” Lucifer approached her, stopping close enough that he could have a more imposing stance. “Let me make something absolutely clear, however. Your curiosity is leading you down a dangerous path. I believe I told you not to climb the stairs to the attic, and yet you did. 

“I don’t know how you were able to make it up the stairs since there is a spell cast to prevent any human, angel, or demon except me from entering. As you saw, there is nothing up there. Hopefully the other night served as a learning experience, and you’ll stop meddling.”  

Cass made sure not to react to what he said about the attic. He didn’t know she’d found Belphie. Did he cast a second spell on the room? He must have thought it was just a flaw in the spell on the stairs. Things were really working out in her favor lately.  

“I want to add, I am not saying this because of your pack with Beelzebub. As long as my brothers consent to it, I have no issues with you making pacts.” She wasn’t surprised Beel had told him. “Just ensure you don’t interfere with our family’s matters.”  

“Unless asked, I’ll mind my own business,” Cass answered.  

He nodded curtly before taking a step back. “Sometime in the near future, I’d like to treat you to a meal. To make up for putting you through a frightening experience.”  

“No thank you.” The only indication of his surprise was his eyebrows lifting slightly. “I wasn’t scared last night, so you have nothing to make up for. I would like to say one thing. I don’t know what happened between when you arrived in the Devildom and when your brothers did, but I do know this, I’m not the one at risk of truly hurting your brothers.”  

Without giving him time to respond, she turned and walked towards the door. Before exiting, Cass looked over her shoulder. “Next time, if you want to take me on a date, just ask.” With a wink, she left Lucifer standing in the room in a sort of stunned awe.   

--- 

Diavolo had asked them to meet in the Council Chambers before classes. By the time she’d finished speaking with Lucifer, all the other brothers had departed. She now had the choice to either walk with Lucifer or by herself.  

Walking with Lucifer was the safer bet, but after what she'd just said, she’d rather sit through a year of uncomfortable breakfasts than whatever would happen on the walk with Lucifer. She was at risk of being killed without him though.  

As if hearing her concerns, she heard someone sing her name. Preta and Vas crossed the street to join her in front of the House of Lamentation. Preta had to be one of the most social demons she’d met in the Devildom. The two of them had gotten close partially because they always seemed to be around.  

At first, Cass thought the demon was just fond of Beel. Overtime though, she realized that they ended up going to a lot of places together because Preta was quite possibly the only being alive capable of eating as much as Beel. In fact, there were several times Preta had even managed to outeat him.  

Despite their outgoing nature and interest in the human realm, Cass was quick to learn that Preta did not get along well with Diavolo. While Cass found it hard to believe someone didn’t like the prince, she was even more surprised that Preta had grown up with Diavolo. Though Preta was open about disliking Diavolo, they never elaborated why.  

Cass still wasn’t entirely convinced that Vas was actually a demon. She’d never seen Preta completely in their human form and she’d never seen Vas in his demon form. Unlike the other demons she’d been around, he was overly cautious in his actions while always being sympathetic towards Cass.  

The demon also had a knack for knowing when Cass needed something, even before she knew. The café he worked at had become her go to for studying or taking a break away from the House of Lamentation. She’d look up from a book she was engrossed in and see a snack on the table or suddenly her near-empty cup would be full.   

“Aren’t you usually at R.A.D. already?”  

“Yeah, I had to stay behind to talk to Lucifer about something.”  

“Because he tried to kill you?”  

Cass stumbled at the question. How did they know already? How many other people knew? Had Lucifer pulled her aside before class knowing people would be talking about it?  Vas, who seemed to have expected Preta to ask the question and surprise her, caught her elbow and only let go when he was sure she wouldn’t fall.  

“Antichrist, Preta. I thought you weren’t supposed to bring it up.”  

“Only because it’s embarrassing that Dia’s right-hand man couldn’t even kill a human. No offense, Cass.” 

She tried not to laugh at the nickname. Despite him being the ruler of the Devildom, Preta didn’t treat Diavolo with any formalities. It was even more entertaining watching them and Mephisto argue about it. Interactions between the three made their childhood friendship more evident. It also made Cass think Preta’s dislike of Diavolo was more of a childhood grudge or the way siblings hated each other.  

“If only Lord Diavolo hadn’t found out about our death pool.”  

“Yeah, you were one of the few people who thought the human exchange student would make it this far. In my defense, it was before you got here Cass.” 

“It’s cool, I didn’t expect to live this long either.”  

Preta and Vas walked with her until she got to the council chambers. Diavolo had asked the brothers and exchange students to meet there before classes. Vas, ever the psychic, handed her some food for Beel as he was giving Preta something to snack on.  

Using her body weight to open the door, Cass entered the council chambers. Only the brothers had gotten there. Mammon was giving her a hug and whispering ‘you’re alive’ in her hair before the others even processed that she had arrived. Beel quickly followed, checking that her limbs were still attached.  

“You’re still alive? Well, that’s boring,” Asmo said.  

“Just for that, you’re not welcome to my next orgy.”  

“What? Cass, no, I’m sorrrryyyyy,” he whined, finally looking up from his phone.  

The angels and Solomon entered as Asmo started explaining why he should be invited to any and every orgy. Mammon was yelling over Asmo’s reasoning saying if anyone deserved to be invited it would be him. Levi wasn’t hesitating to mock Mammon when he took a pause. Beel was happily eating the snacks Vas had given her and Satan was ignoring everything around him as he read his latest book.  

Cass didn’t bother excusing herself when she stood up to talk to Luke, knowing they wouldn’t hear her anyways. Luke visibly relaxed upon seeing Cass and confirming that Lucifer was not yet in the room. Simeon and Solomon both seemed to mirror the sentiment upon seeing her.  

“Cass! I’m so glad you’re okay.” Luke rushed to her side, pulling her into a hug and mumbling apologizes into her side. 

She often forgot how strong the angel was given his relative height to those around them. It wasn’t that he was short, he was around 5’5. Even four inches taller than him, Cass felt much shorter than she was. Even Solomon, the only other human here, was above average height, somewhere between 6’3 and 6’4. 

Cass was able to assure Luke that she was completely unharmed before Lucifer, Diavolo, and Barbatos entered the council chambers. He didn’t leave her side the entire meeting. Cass wasn’t sure if that was because he was concerned about her or afraid of Lucifer. Either way, she enjoyed his company and wouldn’t complain.  

 --- 

“Rise and shine, cowboy.” Cass banged on the door of the attic.   

“What the fuck did you just call me?” Belphie’s drowsy voice drifted from the bed. He rolled over, squinting at her.  

“You heard me, bitch.”  

“EXCUSE ME?”  

Within the blink of an eye, Belphie was at the door. Whether he had been in his demon form when he woke up or after her comment was unclear. But there was no hiding the fact he was a demon now. He towered over her. It may have been intimidating if it hadn’t happened so often with his brothers.  

“Weird, I’ve never seen a human with horns and tail.”  

Belphie’s eyes widened as he realized that in his overreaction, he’d lost any upper hand he thought he’d had. She hadn’t noticed before, but he had the same color eyes as Beel, apart from that there were little similarities. Beel really wasn’t kidding when he said they were practically opposites.  

“How long have you known?”  

“That you’re Belphegor? Like the moment I saw you.”  

“How?”  

“There are literally pictures of you all over the place. You’re one of the most famous beings in the Devildom. Did you really think I didn’t’ know what you looked like?” Belphie didn’t answer, appraising her. Unlike the times Lucifer had given her the same look, it didn’t seem like a favorable assessment. “Why bother lying about it? I’d be more inclined to help you if you were honest with me.”  

“Is that so?” There was something annoyingly cocky about the way he said it. As if he knew she’d help him no matter what. “Why is it that you already made a pact with Beel then?”  

How the hell did he know that? Cass tried not to show her surprise, hands going to rest on her hips where Beel’s pact mark had appeared. Maybe she should have asked Beel more about Belphie and their relationship.  

“Because he asked me to.”  

Despite his attitude, it was the second time she’d said anything in such a short time that left him speechless. She thought back to what Lilith had said. He definitely didn’t act like he loved humans. At times, it seemed like he could barely stand looking at her. So, what happened?  

“What’d you do to trick him?” 

“Well first,” Cass said leaning in, Belphie mirrored her action unconsciously. “I treated him with basic empathy. Then, you’re not going to believe it, I respected him.” Belphie scoffed in response, leaning back. “I get it, you don’t like humans. I’m not too fond of you either. But I need you to know that I am going to help you.”  

“Why?”  

Cass didn’t answer right away. Why was she helping him? She’d promised Lilith to help, but had she ever had a real reason? There wasn’t anything in it for her. Lucifer had told her several times now, let sleeping dogs lie and returned to the Human Realm at the end of the year. It reminded her of the question Satan had asked her outside the bookstore. Why do you care so much though? 

Her time at the House of Lamentation over the last few months flashed before her. All the times she’d seen the side of the residents here that they tried to keep hidden. How she knew all of them craved a connection that they were too afraid to share with one another.   

There were times Satan showed vulnerability about his relationship to Lucifer, how something he could never escape became so all-consuming he couldn’t see past it. The wrath he couldn’t run from had been with him for his entire life. And he hated it. He hated it so much and he struggled to fight against it. Something he chose to do alone.    

Yet, the demon was so much more than that. He’d become so much more than that. Because he wasn’t just wrath. He was smart and driven and understanding in ways his brothers never had to be. They knew who they were without their sins, they grew into them. But if he imagined existing without his sin, he was imagining Lucifer.  

Perhaps that’s where his compassion came from. He would look at something as small as a cat and realize they couldn’t do it alone. Because he had done so much alone and no one and nothing should go through that. Even when that anger builds inside, he knows what he needs most is the care he was willing to give so freely.  

There were the times Asmo woke her up after a night out begging her to just lay with him. His drunken pleas to still love him that only faded when sleep overtook him always sounded louder than the demon could possibly speak. How even in the silence that followed, she knew he wasn’t craving company, but acceptance. He was always running from the idea that without the perfect, beautiful image he presented, he would be unlovable.  

She’d lost track of the times his smile would fall when he thought nobody was looking. When he looked in the mirror, he always saw something different than everyone else. He saw the former Jewel of the Heavens. But he wasn’t that anymore, so what was he? His distant stares seemed to call out for someone to remind him that his worth was independent of his beauty.  

There was Lilith, who, despite wandering the halls of the House of Lamentation alone for centuries, asked for Cass to help her brothers only, not herself. Cass would never forget the way the ghost’s voice broke when she asked if she was a bad person. Lilith, whose biggest regret was that she was the root of her brothers’ unhappiness, never worried about her own desires or troubles.  

Beel, who lost not only Lilith during the war but Belphie because of the exchange program, continued to open his heart to people. She couldn’t help but smile thinking about the warmth the demon exuded and the overarching trust he’d given her. He carried the weight of all the decisions he thought he should regret but couldn’t bring himself to.  

She remembered the hopelessness when he told her about the war and how he couldn’t save the people he cared most about. How she’d woken up by chance to hear him tell her about the nightmares he was plagued with. The nightmares that ended with him alone in darkness. The nightmares that lead him to holding her hand to remind him he wasn’t alone.  

The demon was just like the pact marks he’d left behind, etched into her sides where he’d left bruises from catching her not so long ago. The patterns matching his birth marks were bold without being overpowering and reminded her of battle scars, as if the marks were a physical manifestation of the emotional scars he carried.  

Her thoughts drifted to Levi and the blush that appeared whenever someone correctly guessed his feelings, how he would light up when talking about something he loved. She couldn’t remember her past, but she was almost certain she’d never met someone harboring that much passion. That very passion Levi was so afraid to share with someone because he thought it’d only lead to him being rejected.  

If anyone bothered sticking around, he thought they’d only find what he saw in himself, that he wasn’t worth it. Because how could they see what Levi couldn’t, that he was worth love because of his quirks and not in spite of them. The fear that made him think no one would dare consider making a pact with him.  

Then there was Mammon, the demon so afraid that he couldn’t live up to the expectations Lucifer set for him, that he pretended he didn’t care. He let his brothers push all their insecurities and worries onto him because, at the very least, he could carry the things they couldn’t.  

He’d still follow Lucifer to hell because Lucifer needed him. And Lucifer trusted Mammon with things he trusted no one else with because he knew Mammon could handle it. Because despite his shortcomings, he was there when nobody else was, when nothing else was.  

When Cass was scared or felt alone, Mammon was there. All the false bravado was done both for himself but others as well. Because no matter how worried they might be, Mammon was willing to be a fool to bring them comfort. He’d been doing it for so long, he’d forgotten what it was like to not be put down. Because he cared so much, he always put the people he loved first.  

So, when she finally answered Belphie, she repeated what she’d said to Beel, “Why wouldn’t I?”, because she was willing to do whatever she could for the demons she’d come to love. As Belphie pondered her response, she added, “but don’t think for a second, it’s because of you.”  

After contemplating her decision, he began asking questions about how she got past Lucifer and how she could see the room if he’d cursed it. She tried answering the questions the best she could, but she didn’t know much more than him.  

“What’s so special about you? Why did Lord Diavolo choose you of all people? I mean, you’re below average at best.”  

“I’m really starting to enjoy your company, you know that? Too bad you’re stuck, or we’d have a blast at the formal dance Diavolo’s hosting.”  

“Dance?” Belphie scoffed.  

“All the exchange students and student council members are having an exchange party at the castle.”  

“Kind of grateful I’m stuck in here for the moment.”  

Cass rolled her eyes at Belphie’s comment. “Oh, I forgot, I brought you something.”  

She slid a few pieces of paper under the door for him. Initially, she’d considered giving him a phone, but she didn’t get service in the attic. She’d decided to print off some pictures of his brothers since he’d last seen them to decorate his space.  

Belphie’s eyebrows furrowed as he picked up the papers and flipped through them. The mask he’d been wearing melted, if only briefly, as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. She’d considered telling him about Lilith, but after the ghost’s warning, decided against it.  

“Why?” Contempt returned to his voice as he glanced up from the pictures, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Cass shrugged, not having an answer that he would believe. “What do you want?”  

“Not everything has an ulterior motive.” Belphie didn’t answer, just muttered an insult under his breath before looking at the pictures again “Sometimes people do things just to do them.”  

Maybe that’s why she decided to help them in the first place, even before she felt this way. Because sometimes people do things just to do them. Because humans do things just to do them. And she was, if nothing else, still human.  

[thecomfywriter]

Complex Worldbuilding pt 2

So! We’re at part 3 of this series. Hot damn. I swear I’ll try and keep this one a bit shorter. I’m not sure if I have much to ramble on in culture, to be honest, because a lot of it is based on your own interpretation and creativity. But, per usual, if you like this post, make sure to like this post. Reblog to show some ~spicy love~ and comment for any specifics or anything you have to say. Here are my plugs:

Insta: @tovwriter

Tumblr: @thecomfywriter​

Wattpad: @GKM075

Pinterest: @GKM075

And without further ado, let’s get into it.

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OKAY! So culture is one of my favourite aspects of worldbuilding because history. It is the aspect of worldbuilding that actually makes the world feel like home for your characters. It brings it to life, in my opinion, so nailing and detailing this part is probably the most important. Unfortunately, that also means a lot of that comes from you, so imma do my best to outline some things to make it a bit easier. 

Arts: 

How do people express their thoughts through art?

Is positive art more valued or more negative vibes? 

Is realism more valued or abstract art? 

Do people require creativity and originality in art or do they think it should capture the essence of the moment?

Landscapes? Portraits? Murals? Sculptures? Holograms? Moving imagery? Movies, if they exist? Abstract? Geometric? Retro? Animated? Cartoon? What’s the popular style?

What do different colours represent?

This sounds like a super specific and tedious question, but if you set colours up as symbols, you can actually do a lot with it

i.e. a variety colours are more expensive in my society because the dyes are harder to access (from another region), so only royalty wears a wide range of colour; the rest of society wear the cheaper colours, or none at all

Colours are used to show the wealth gap between the rich and the poor, as the main character in the book is a prince who changes his outfit every day to vibrant, beautifully coloured clothing. It is only when he makes an offhand remark about why everyone around him chooses to dress so dull that he realizes they all don’t have the same access to things he does 

Colours can also represent emotions

The first book in my series had colours expressing Aura’s. So when a person’s Aura was described as yellow, they were curious, cheerful, happy, filled with positivity, or bubbling with irritancy. When they were red, they were passionate, angry, remorseful, lustful, etc. Blue was guarded and secretive, etc. Grey was wisdom, etc. Depending on the shade and context, sometimes the readers were set out to figure what the colour meant on their own 

Colours can be used for history and culturally present/significant things!

Consider the name of colours. Navy blue because it was used in the navy. Wine red because that’s the colour of wine if the grapes are red. Army green because— you guess it! — the army. 

Adding historical significance to colours is honestly not at all necessary but it is fun

i.e. in my book, there is a shade of this electric, buzzing indigo, passionate and elegant and royal, and it is reserved only for royalty. Why? Because the colour is named after a gem, which is named after the first queen who wore that gem on her crown. Both the gem and that colour now have history, and there is now an emotion and power attached to both of those objects

What is art used for? What is its purpose in society?

In my book, art is used to express history, emotions and primarily religion 

You’ll find sculptures and frescos of the gods from the mythologies, or murals of the royals

It is used to honour something in society, and to give it significance and value 

ALSO, art is considered necessary because of religion 

There is a belief that art must be blessed from the temples and kept within each person’s home in order to please the gods. If there is a home without art, the gods will take offense and bring misfortune to that household

Whether it's true or not does not take the value of art away. It might even be a scam for the religious and artist sector to profit more, but regardless, that's what the people in that faith believe in, so that is the purpose decor plays in society 

Music: 

Is it considered art? 

What genres?

When is it played?

Who is it for? 

What is the difference of music between populations?

Fashion: 

Current trends? 

Past trends?

Fashion statements?

Difference based on socio-economic class?

Different fashion articles?

Pant styles 

Top styles 

Accessories 

Tattoos and piercings?

Other important articles 

Language: 

I was actually gonna do an entire post on how to make a fictional language… but anyways! 

What language do they speak? Is it real or fake?

Develop a little bit of a lexicon for you to refer back to 

What grammar style do they use?

What’s their sentence structure (SVO?)

Common words?

How is language different amongst different populations?

Socio-economic status? 

Education levels 

Dialects?

Regional accents? 

Slang?

Is slang considered bad or rude?

What is profanity like? Does it exist? Is it frowned upon 

As a Punjabi, LOL profanity is so much fun 

You get to swear in your accent and it rolls off the tongue better than any other dialect, I feel, just because Punjabi’s already have such loud voices and passionate tones, so to everyone else it sounds like we’re always angry, when in fact we’re not 

Profanity is sometimes used in languages as terms of endearment or casual names ; differentiate between the two or whether that difference even exists 

How has this language evolved over time?

Again, this is totally extra LOL but its fun 

In my book, the official language of the kingdom is called Gich, but Galka is the tongue of magic and dragons, so it has outlasted Gich

The evolution of language goes as follows: Old Galka —> Modern Galka —> Gich 

Therefore, the alphabets and some words are different 

Sciences: 

What are different branches of science?

Biology?

Chemistry?

Physics? (there are your big three)

Magic?

Medical Sciences?

Social Sciences?

Psych

Anthro

Socio

Geography?

Quantum Physics?

Space Science! 

Interrelated branches of science?

Technological sciences?

Who studies these sciences?

How specialized are they?

Are they valued in society?

How educated do they have to be, if at all?

How credited are they?

Are they supported by society?

The government?

Religion?

What is the role of science in society?

How does it play a part in culture?

In history?

In faith?

In daily life + practices (i.e. hygiene)?

In technological advancements?

In expansion??

To the environment?

Technology:

Types of technology 

military / weaponized technology 

Research and informational 

Internet 

Communication 

Innovative (daily life use i.e electric toothbrushes) 

transportation

Technology and magic— are they integrated?

How does this affect the world?

What is the consequence of these advancements?

Is it more destructive or assisting?

Who develops this technology?

How accessible is it?

Is it only for some classes or is it accessible to all?

History:

AHHH i’m so excited for this 

How did this civilization come to be?

What are their origins? 

How does mythology/faith play a role in this 

How have they evolved/expanded?

What are some significant events from history?

How does that affect the current (political) climate of the world today 

How is history remembered/recorded 

Oral history

Music

Storytelling (+who tells these stories? Do they have a specific role or it it a familial thing)

Written history 

Transcripts 

Records 

Books

History books

Pictures 

How is history different in the eyes of different perspectives?

Biases 

Winners vs loser 

Patriotism 

Include alliances, enemies, wars, battles, forging/rising civilizations, innovative technology, trade, expansion etc

i.e. in one of my books, there is a huge world war that happened that forged all of the current politics and laws and magic of their current world 

Originally, magic was outcasted and punished with death if caught, but during this war, the supernaturals of the world rose up and overthrew many weak government when they were vulnerable, and instead started executing humans 

For this reason, the world no longer has humans in it, and humans are banned as a whole; only supernaturals can live here 

Also, the alliances that were formed in this war dictate the trade systems and thus the resources of each country; it also dictates the political power and the subtle animosity within different countries 

When the plague occurred in one country, it spread to all the nations it was trading with, thus crippling all their economies and nations 

Okay, imma cut it off now, but I will do the last part soon! Bye all! 

Happy Writing :)

[janellion]

pretty lips

pairing: kiyoko shimizu x f!reader

genre: fluff, suggestive, slight nsfw at the end 

wc: ~2.7k

song recommendations: religion (you can lay your hands on me) - shura x | i wanna be your girlfriend - girl in red x | pussy is god - king princess x

a/n: written for @writeiolite / @seijoh ♡ happy happy happy birthday io! words cannot describe how appreciative i am of you and how much love i have in my heart for you. you are a truly amazing, talented, kind, funny, compassionate, enthusiastic, and lovely person. you share so much with all of us, from your kind words to your passion for writing, to your vibrant personality. this fandom and community truly wouldn’t be the same without you, thank you so much for being you. i am so blessed to call you my friend, and you mean so much to me. i wouldn’t want anyone else in the world to be my kink soulmate. i hope you have an amazing birthday, because you truly do deserve the the world. i love you so so much, happy birthday! ♡

summary: glimpses into your life with your roommate, Kiyoko

Your first day at your new school starts with you walking into what looked like a large apartment building

Hefting your bag over your shoulder and pulling the other behind you, you make your way up the steps, taking in the excited chatter and general sense of excitement around you

As you walk towards the elevator, you check your phone again to make sure you got your apartment number right before you embarrass yourself knocking on some random person’s door

You finally get to your floor after what feels like ages in the rickety old elevator and make your way down the hall towards apartment 212

You steel yourself, taking a deep breath and exhaling it, before knocking on the door

You aren’t really sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen— her hair so dark it was almost blue, eyes the color of the sky right after the sun sets, supple pink lips shiny with what had to be lipgloss, fair skin that looked soft to the touch

and your name on her lips

“I was wondering when you’d get here,” she says, voice more delicate than you expected, as she tucks an errant strand of those midnight locks behind her ear, delicate fingers lingering tangled in the strands before drifting back down to her side as she continues, “I’m Kiyoko Shimizu, your roommate”

You continue to stare for a moment, eyes trailing the movement, before snapping your gaze back up to catch a faint blush coloring her cheeks, the same shade as the rosy pink of her lips, as she brings her hand up to her face to stifle a laugh, her eyes twinkling in amusement

“Oh—“ You start before realizing that your mouth is probably gaping open, before straightening your posture and schooling your face into as nonchalant of an expression as you can manage

“Yeah, I’m your new roommate, [Name],” you say, a tentative smile on your face as you return her steady eye contact, her eyebrow quirked up slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips  

“It’s nice to meet you,” she says in that delicate but firm voice as she extends her hand out towards you, which you stare at momentarily before realizing oh, she’s offering to take one of your bags

You sigh quietly to yourself, wondering if this level of confusion is going to be your constant state of existence before lifting the bag from your shoulder and placing the handle in her awaiting palm

Your eyes widen by a fraction as you see her grip the handle, arm not lowering an inch, as she holds the heavy bag between you before turning to walk through the open door of the apartment  

Wow, I wish I was that strong, you think to yourself, calling out a “Oh, uh thank you!” to her retreating figure, eyes drifting down to the slope of her back, taking in her graceful stride, before stepping through the threshold and into your new apartment

You look around, taking in the cream colored walls, the tasteful art, and the smell of freshly brewed tea drifting from the kitchen before walking over to Kiyoko, who’s standing in the center of the living room

She looks over at you, small smile on her face, before setting the bag down on the couch behind her, gesturing for you to do the same

As you place the bag down, she reaches toward you, graceful but strong fingers gripping your wrist, before pulling you down the hall

You freeze at the contact, not expecting her to be the sort of person to initiate contact with someone who is, for all intents and purposes, a stranger, but you can’t find it in yourself to mind it

She pulls you to a stop at the end of the hallway, in front of an open doorway, to reveal a room with walls painted white, an undressed bed and undecorated dresser the only pieces of furniture in the space

“This is your room,” she says, turning to you with that same small smile on her face, another strand of hair slipping past her ear that she quickly tucks back, in what you’re noticing is a cute habit, before she extends her arm, gesturing for you to walk in front of her

You cross the threshold, taking in the large window and the natural light that illuminates the room, before turning around to see Kiyoko looking at you, the deep blue of her eyes lightened by the soft light of the window, and feel your breath hitch in your throat

“Where’s your room?” you ask over your shoulder, not wanting to turn around as you try to regulate your breathing

The air must be thinner here or something, you think to yourself, as you feel Kiyoko pass you, her arm brushing against yours as she walks past you to point to the door next to yours

“This one is mine!”, she says with a small smile, before heading back to the living room, you following behind her

She grabs your bags, one hefted over her shoulder with little difficulty, and the other she pulls behind her, as she makes her way to your room

Kiyoko drops them on your bed before turning to look at you, face framed by dark hair and a smile on her face, “I’ll let you get settled in, OK?” she says, before straightening up, and walking past you out the door

The faint scent of vanilla lingers behind her, and as you turn around you’re only able to catch the tips of her hair as she walks back down the hallway

After you’re completely settled in, unpacked to the best of your ability, and gotten your bed somewhat passable to sleep in for the night, you decide it’s probably time to shower, gathering up your toiletries to move them into the bathroom

As you’re approaching the bathroom door, focused on holding the multitude of bottles in your arms, the door opens, and a cloud of steam rushes out, framing the figure of Kiyoko, dark hair wrapped up in a messy bun, a few strands slipping out to frame her face, and a small white towel held in place by her hand

She looks up at you, face flushed from the shower, cheeks red and hair dripping, before laughing softly as she tucks another errand strand of hair behind her ear

“It’s all yours,” she says over her shoulder, retreating into her room, the faint smell of vanilla wafting behind her

You barely have time to process the way your eyes drift down to the sway of her hips as she walks before the door is closing behind her

After you’ve been living together for a few weeks, and have figured out each other’s daily habits and schedules (shower times included), you find yourself sitting on the couch, working on a project on your laptop, only to see Kiyoko heading out the door

“Where are you going?” you call over to her, taking in the way she reaches back to tie her hair up, the silky strands slipping through her fingers as she pulls it back, and the way her shirt stretches over her chest before your eyes snap back up at the sound of her voice

“I’m heading to the gym,” she replies, crouching down to retie one of her shoes before standing again, your eyes tracing the curves of her legs as she straightens

“Want to come?” she asks, looking at you with a twinkle in her eyes, easier to see now that she’s removed her glasses

Would I ever want to—you cut off that thought as you turn back to her, shaking your head with a smile, “That’s okay, I really have to finish up this project,” you say, gesturing to your computer and shrugging your shoulders

Kiyoko throws an “Okay!” over her shoulder as she opens the front door to head out

You glance over just in time to take in the way her leggings cup the curve of her ass before she’s out the door

One day, you’re sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea as you hear clamoring coming from down the hall, getting louder and louder as you hear two steps of footsteps, one soft and light and the other bounding and aggressive, approaching the door

As soon as the key turns in the lock, the door swings open to reveal Kiyoko followed by a tall guy with a shaved head and a large grin on his face

“Kiyoko! You got some nice digs!” he exclaims, looking around the apartment, eyes finally landing on you

His smile morphs into a mischievous grin as he raises his eyebrows at Kiyoko, who has returned from her room with her school materials, “OH SO THIS IS —“

He’s cut off by a notebook hitting him in the face as Kiyoko walks toward him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears as a light blush colors her cheeks

She turns to face you, “I’m so sorry about him, he’s obnoxious. We’re just going to go work on a project now”

But you’re captivated by the way her lips look when she speaks, the shine of the lipgloss on her lower lip, the way the corners crook up when she gives you that soft smile that feels like it’s only for you, and the way her tongue flicks out to wet her lips between sentences

As you bring your eyes back up to hers, you give her a warm smile, trying to ignore the ache in your chest and the heat in your gut as you watch the guy grab Kiyoko’s wrist and pull her out the door, his loud laugh echoing down the wall and through the closing door

Coming back one night from a late study session, you quietly tun the key in the lock, swinging the door open as silently as possible, before taking your shoes off and padding into your room

As you go to set down your bag at the foot of your bed, you swear you hear the sound of your name through the walls, the voice faint and high and breathy

Curious, you press your ear against the wall your room shares with Kiyoko’s and you’re met with the sound of breathy pants and whimpers, your name interspersed between “please” and “more”

You push off from the wall, trying to ignore the pulsing between your legs and the sound of your heartbeat in your ears, before lying down on your bed, staring at the ceiling, images of what’s happening inches away from you on the other side of the wall filling your mind

One night, to celebrate the end of the semester, Kiyoko convinces you to join her and Yachi for a girl’s night out on the town. You get dressed up and ready together before setting out to the local bar

When you get there, Yachi sees someone she knows, waving at her to join them for a game of darts, leaving you and Kiyoko alone at the bar

You’re about to wave down the bartender, but before you can, a large forearm snakes its way into your vision, accompanied by a greasy grin

“What can I get you ladies?” rings in your ear as you feel the man to your side press into you, invading your space

Just as you’re about to tell him off, you catch a whiff of vanilla through the musky smell of the bar as Kiyoko firmly pushes the larger man away, causing him to stumble back, as she presses in behind you, your back to her chest and her arm at your side

“We’re fine, thank you,” she says in her delicate but firm voice, before turning to look at you, the glow from the lights above twinkling in her deep blue eyes

“Are you alright?” she asks, the colorful lights dancing off her face as she leans in to squeeze your arm, her face inches from yours

You glance down at her lips, soft pink and shining in the dim lighting, before giving her a smile, “Yeah I’m fine, thank you for dealing with him”

You give her a shoulder a small and affectionate push, smile growing as you say, “I could have handled him on my own, you know?”

Kiyoko returns the smile, the deep blue of her eyes searching yours before she pulls away

“Let’s get that drink, shall we?” she says, grabbing your hand and pulling you up to the bar with her to order your drinks.

Later that night, the two of you are stumbling back to your shared apartment, giggling and shushing each other, fingers intertwined and arms slung around waists for “balance”

As soon as you get the door open, you both collapse onto the ground, you falling on your back, giggling as you push the hair from your face, causing it to fan around your head

Kiyoko lands on top of you, arms poised on either side of you, her midnight hair falling down from behind her ears, the inky blue of her eyes focused on you, and you notice the way they flit from your lips to your eyes and back

You can’t help but take in the way she looks above you, her plump lips shining, a pink flush on her cheeks, the smooth expanse of her throat begging to be touched

Before you know what you’re doing, you’re reaching a hand up, brushing her hair behind her ear as you’ve seen her done countless times before

But this time, your hand lingers, tangles itself in those midnight locks, and you pull her down to you, rising up on your elbow to meet her halfway

Her lips are soft, softer than any you’ve ever felt before, and she tastes like the maraschino cherries from the drink she had earlier

You try to rise up further to deepen the kiss, only to find her pushing you down, her lips chasing yours as she does, her hands coming to tangle in your hair as you feel the swell of her breasts pushing against yours

You smile into the kiss, causing her to pull away briefly, chest heaving and face flushed

“What is it?” she asks, breathlessly, her voice soft

“I was wondering when this was finally going to happen”,  you say smiling up at her, before grabbing her hand and pulling her down again

Your hands grip at the sheets at your sides, clenching your fists to try and ground yourself from the pleasure wracking through your body

You arch your back, stifling a loud moan as your eyes roll back to meet the headboard of your new bed

You try and kick your legs in an attempt to end the rampant overstimulation and and pleasure spreading from between your legs, but they’re held firmly in place by two strong but delicate hands, the fingertips digging into the flesh of your thighs as they spread them apart

Finally, you’re given a reprieve as the talented tongue of your lover ceases its ministrations

You gasp, breath returning to your lungs as you come down from your high, and take in the sight of Kiyoko, her gaze full of love and lust as it focuses on you, midnight hair matted down to the sides of her face, and her lips shining (but this time not with gloss) as they pull into a sweet smile that betrays the the glint in her inky blue eyes

“I know you can give me another one, pretty girl,” she says, her hand finding yours in the sheets, intertwining your fingers together before burying herself once more in your heat

=====

☽

my faves 🥰(also taglist): @softkatsuki @cosmictooru @oyakags @over5feettall @kaidasen @achoohq @kuronekomama @anianimol @strawbirb @spriteandnicotine​

note: tysm for reading this!! i hope you liked it ♡ i’m open to writing & playlist requests (i’m slow but i WILL get to all of them)

also a BIG THANK YOU to lexee @oyakags, molly @anianimol, and temmie @kuronekomama for reading this & for all your love and support 💗

divider from: writeyourmindaway

[chikkou]

I'd ask this on your Lisa sideblog but you don't have anon on and I'm shy lol, but do you have any headcanons relating to Lisa the First? Like Lisa's views on religion, her relationship with her mother, if any of the various worlds we see mean anything?

hoh man i didnt even know anon wasnt on LMAO... ill turn it on after i post this!

also fuck YEAH i do holy shit i fucking LOVE lisa the first!! i know its sort of the black sheep of the lisa series, since it is a completely different type of game and was clearly austins first game, but i fucking ADORE it dude. the music - which he made ENTIRELY IN THE FREE TRIAL OF FL STUDIO BY THE WAY - is FANTASTIC, the art direction is actually pretty fucking incredible for an rpgmaker game that uses a good deal of basic assets, and the gameplay.... ok yeah that part is a bit lacking but its a yume nikki-style game be nice it was his first time LMAO

ANYWAY back to ur question. first and foremost, i think this is not even a headcanon so much as straight up canon, but lisa DESPISES christianity. marty is christian, probably catholic given the golden crosses everywhere, and he is a fucking scumbag hypocrite. lisa likely associates all of christianity with this line of thinking, as there is one room in the bile area where the melted martys (although i suppose we can just call them joy mutants now LMAO) simply stand in a circle surrounding one big cross. the role of the melted martys is up for interpretation of course, as is everything, but after playing the painful and seeing them described as “mindless sheep,” i think this is how lisa viewed them. so they likely represent other people that, to lisa, are probably just as sick and disgusting as marty

lisas relationship with her mother... i go back and forth on this one a lot. i can never decide if i prefer the headcanon that lisas mom died in childbirth, and so lisa never met her, or if i prefer that lisas mom was around for a very short time and then either left or died. the fact that she says “i didnt want to leave” at the end of the first leads me to believe that she most likely died. in either case, the memory of her mother was clearly important to lisa, as she wears her pendant through the entire game and its explicitly noted as being a gift from her. in either case, i think that the death/absence of the mother is heavily implied to be the primary cause behind martys descent into alcoholism and lisas abuse, since the white room strongly implies that marty did at one time sincerely love and care for her as a father properly should 

as for the meaning of each of the rooms, i think most of them are fairly self explanatory, but some of them are a bit more vague, so ill break it down in terms of how i see it (and ill put them under the cut because its long as hell):

martys house - this is the most literal one. pretty self-explanatory. the dark, yet vibrant colors and the ear-bleedingly loud tv are pure sensory overload, something lisa probably deals with on a regular basis. when lisa goes outside and it turns into a sky of marty faces, i think this is the transition into the psychological part of the game

the lobby - this is honestly just pure yume nikki ripoff LMAO... but if i had to ascribe a symbolic meaning to it, i think its probably a quiet and safe area for lisa to retreat to in her mind when she needs it, but even that eventually gets sullied as tricky rick makes his way there, too (and tells her hes “just waiting” when she talks to him). the majority of gameplay is lisa searching for items with which to kill tricky rick, who always abuses and disparages her whenever she talks to him, telling her she’ll never forget. as for the reason why... well, take one look at him and its pretty clear whats going on there. (the name is also a reference to richard nixon, whose nickname was... well, you can figure it out!)

the town - the bar area is 100% my favorite from this world; lisa clearly hates alcohol and anyone who drinks it, associating them all with marty, and that music... all i can say is YUCK. the entire section also consists of lisa having to give up something in exchange for what she needs to move on, and usually getting the raw end of the deal out of it (she gives one marty a banana, he gives her a banana peel in return). she does all that while avoiding a marty following her outside who repeatedly tells her “you cant escape,” and upon reaching tricky rick (who is atop a narrow, columnar, PINK mountain), it becomes pretty clear whats happening to her. 

the sea room - fucking marty spiders man. im assuming they represent the sickly feeling of crawling skin she gets when she looks at him or is anywhere near him, but holy GOD they are annoying to deal with. she kills tricky rick with pills here - we dont know what kind of pills these are, but i interpret them as sleeping pills, and given the rumbling music and the rapid cycling marty background, i wonder if he forced her to take these. marty is everywhere here, but the only one she can speak to is seen chilling on a raft of some kind. marty likely spent much of his time recreationally, i.e. drinking, so it makes sense why this would be here

the rope room - theres no symbolism here this is just pure comedy (LMAO). if i HAD to assign some meaning to this area, it would be that lisa likely is so despondent at this point that putting in effort to do anything feels utterly pointless, much like climbing this long-ass rope was

the white room - as i mentioned earlier, i personally believe that this area depicts the previous relationship between marty and lisa (and also has one of my favorite songs in the game). he is shown doing traditional fatherly things - he is no longer wearing sunglasses and is wearing a suit, meaning he was likely employed, and is actually smiling. he also spends time with her in a completely platonic, familial way. when she interacts with him, there is a little heart over his head. after lisa walks through the golden statues (which will reappear later), the entire world becomes filled with bile, and martys appearance returns to that of the other martys, but with an extremely warped, grotesque face. the item she needs in this area to kill tricky rick is found between two golden crosses.

notice that all of the items she kills tricky rick with - a razor, pills, and now a plastic bag - are things that a child could plausibly get their hands on; none of them are explicitly weapons. i think this shows both her age and how often she must have considered using those things against him. 

the bile room - probably my favorite area in the game, and also features what i consider the quintessential lisa song. this area really drives home lisas disgust with marty and with christianity as a whole - it almost certainly has the highest concentration of crosses, and it is also quite literally covered in wall-to-wall bile, dirty water, and disgusting houses. a lot of the most graphic sights, like the melting martys and the pond martys (no idea what to call them LMAO) are here, so i think this is pretty much the lowest circle of hell for lisa. marty gives lisa a freshly cut finger in exchange for a napkin here; im not necessarily sure what that represents, but i think the napkin was used by marty to masturbate (as he says “i needed that” after he takes it), so perhaps the finger is martys?

lisa kills tricky rick here in a cave that is not-so-subtly shaped like a penis, and gets a vhs tape in which he pretty explicitly states what is going on in the game; he even pretends like he doesnt know who lisa is at first, which somehow makes it even more disgusting. the fact that vhs tapes play a role here sort of makes me wonder if marty really WAS filming some of what he was doing, and given that lisa the joyful confirms that brad was forced to somehow participate in lisas abuse, that is.... horrific to think about, honestly

the marty tape - this tape just has the player (as marty) walk up to lisa and suited marty, who are having a tea party with a plastic tea set. they both get hearts over their heads if you talk to them. i think this drives home that he and lisa did once have a normal relationship, and perhaps theres some part of marty who misses that? theres a LOT of ways you can interpret this; having the player become marty really calls a lot into question.

the mansion - the room leading here has a marty staring directly at the player who informs lisa that she needs a sword to progress. unsubtly, the sword must be placed into the crotch of a womans statue. the mansion inside is beautiful and ornate, and easily the most gorgeous area in the game - and it all leads to what appears to be a proto-joy mutant marty, sort of looking like jabba the hutt. i dont doubt that this is intentional, given that jabba the hutt is associated with slave leia, and its not at all a far leap to call lisa martys slave. the golden statues of women, as well as many golden crosses, are everywhere in this area. its actually quite a large space with a lot of thought put into it, so im really upset that i cant figure out more of what it represents LMAO

the final area - lisa seems to go back to her actual house, but upon leaving her room and entering whether the living room would be, the whole area changes. she encounters herself in a blood red room, but when she talks to the other lisa, she turns into marty. i think this represents a clear question - who is lisa without him? IS she anyone? or is she just a vessel for him to do with what he pleases? she encounters a naked marty telling her to give up shortly after, and flees from him, but is followed by voices repeatedly telling her that she must accept her fate. i think this clearly show the mental state of lisas last days. she was tormented, eternally. she truly felt there was no escape from marty. even the background becomes nothing but martys face, over and over again, as the end screen flashes.

at the end text, she finds a video tape, and in the tape sees someone who is ostensibly her mother from behind. she apologizes for not being there for her, but when that figure turns out, its martys face that she sees. the sky turns into marty. the music becomes corrupted and overrun with pretty fucked up laughter. she tries to run, but marty is already everywhere. theres nowhere for her to run. and then the game is over.

note that the video tape comes AFTER the games end screen, which stops not long after the appearance of the naked marty. so i personally believe that the “game over” represents her deciding to take her own life, rather than just give up and accept her fate. by running from him into the blackness, she got away from marty the only way she could have. it is sad and horrible, but that is honestly the best ending that she could have gotten in this game.

the first is definitely not as good as the painful in terms of gameplay, that much i can agree on, but i really think people miss out on a lot by not playing it. i think its really crucial to see lisas life from her own perspective before you can see it from brads - after all, brad may have known more than anyone else about what was going on, but he did not experience it like lisa did. for brad, lisa is a symbol of his own regrets and failures, but lisa was a PERSON (well, in-universe anyway LMAO). she suffered on her own, with pretty much no one to help her, and then she suffered so much that she couldnt take another second of it. 

[the-end-of-art]

Sewn into his jacket an incoherent note

How to Make Love, Write Poetry, & Believe in God by Nin Andrews

A few weeks ago, I was part of a Hamilton-Kirkland College alumnae poetry reading, and after the reading a woman asked a simple question: “How do you write a poem?” I didn’t have an answer so I suggested a few books by poets like John Hollander, Mary Oliver, and Billy Collins. The woman said she had read books like that, but they didn’t help. She wanted something else, like a genuine operating manual—a step by step explanation.

I, too, love instruction manuals, especially those manuals on how to perform magic: write a poem or know God or make love, if only love were something that could be made. Manuals offer such promise. Yes, you, too, can enter the bee-loud glade and the Promised Land and have an orgasm.

I love the idea that my mind could be programmed like a computer to spit out poems on demand—poems with just the right number of lines, syllables, metaphors, meanings, similes, images . . . And with no clichés, no matter how much I love those Tom, Dick and Harry’s with their lovely wives, as fresh as daisies. I can set them in any novel or town in America, and they will have sex twice a week, always before ten at night, never at the eleventh hour, and it will not take long,time being of the essence.

I love sex manuals, too: those books that suggest our bodies are like cars. If only we could learn to drive them properly, bliss would be a simple matter of inserting a key, mastering the steering wheel, signaling our next moves, knowing the difference between the brakes and the gas pedal, and of course, following the speed limit.

A depressive person by nature, I am also a fan of how-to books on God, faith, happiness, the soul, books that suggest a divine presence is always here. I just need to find it, or wake up to it, or turn off my doubting brain. That even now, my soul is like a bird in a cage. If I could sit still long enough and listen closely, it might rest on my open palm and sing me a song.

God, poetry, sex, they offer brief moments of bliss, glimpses of the ineffable, and occasional insights into that which does not translate easily into daily experience, or loses its magic when explained.

In college, I took classes in religion, philosophy and poetry, and I studied sex in my spare time—my first roommate and I staying up late, pondering the pages of The Joy of Sex. As a freshman, I auditioned my way into an advanced poetry writing class by composing the single decent poem I wrote in my college years. The poem, an ode to cottage cheese, came to me in a flash as a vision nestled on a crisp bed of iceberg lettuce. Does cottage cheese nestle? I don’t know, but the professor kept admiring that poem. He said all my other poems paled by comparison.

This was in the era of the sexual revolution,long before political correctness and the Me-Too movement. My roommate, obsessed with getting laid, said we women should have been given a compass to navigate the sexual landscape. She liked to complain that she’d had only one orgasm in her entire life, and she wanted another. “What if I am a one-orgasm wonder?” she worried. The subject of orgasms kept us awake, night after night.

In religion class, my professor told the famous story about Blaise Pascal who had a vision of God that was so profound, his life seemed dull and meaningless forever afterwards. He never had another vision. But he had sewn into his jacket an incoherent note to remind him of the singular luminous experience.

The next day in religion class, a student stood up and announced that the professor was wrong—about Pascal, God, everything. The student knew this because he was God’s friend. He even knew His first name, and what God was thinking. The professor smiled sadly, put his arm around the student, and led him out of the classroom, down the steps and into the counselor’s office. When the professor returned, he warned us that if we ever thought we knew God, we should check ourselves into a mental institution. Lots of insane people know God intimately.

But, I wondered, what would God (or the transcendent—or whatever word you might choose for it: the muse, love, the orgasm, the soul, the higher self) think of us? For example, what would a muse think of a writer trying, begging, praying to enter the creative flow? All writers know it—that moment when inspiration happens. The incredible high. And the opposite, when words cling to the wall of the mind like sticky notes but never make it onto your tongue or the page.

What would an orgasm think of all the people seeking it so fervently yet considering it dirty, embarrassing, unmentionable? And then lying about it. “Did you have one?” a man might ask. “Yes,” his lover nods. But every orgasm knows it cannot be had. Or possessed. Or sewn into the lining of a coat. No one “has” an orgasm. At least not for long.

What did God think of Martin Luther, calling out to him in terror when a lightning bolt struck near his horse, “Help! I’ll become a monk!” And later, when he sought relief from his chronic constipation and gave birth to the Protestant Reformation on the lavatory—a lavatory you can visit today in Wittenberg, Germany.

I don’t want to evaluate Luther’s source of inspiration. But I do want to ponder the question: How do you write a poem? Is there a way to begin?

I think John Ashbery gave away one secret in his poem, “The Instruction Manual:” that it begins with daydreaming. Imagination. And the revelation that the mind contains its own magical city, its own Guadalajara, complete with a public square and bands and parading couples that you can visit this enchanted town for a limited time before you must turn your gaze back to the humdrum world.  

But a student of Ashbery’s might cringe at the suggestion that poetry is merely an act of the imagination. In order to master the dance, one must know the steps. And Ashbery was a master. So many of his poems follow a kind of Hegelian progression, traveling from the concrete to the abstract to the absolute. Or what Fichte described as a dialectical movement from thesis to antithesis to synthesis. Fichte also wrote that consciousness itself has no basis in reality. I wonder if Ashbery would have agreed.

In college I wrote an inane paper, comparing Ashbery’s poetry to a form of philosophical gardening in which the poet arranges the concrete, meaning the plants or words, in such an appealing order that they create the abstract, or the beauty, desired. Thus, the reader experiences the absolute, or a sense of wonder at the creation as the whole thing sways in the wind of her mind.

Is there a basis in reality for wonder? Or poetry? I asked. Or are we only admiring illusions, the beautiful illusions the poet has created?  How I loved questions like that. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of Fichte and Hegel and Ashbery and write mystical and incomprehensible books. I complained to my mother that no matter how hard I tried, I could not compose an actual poem or philosophical treatise—I was trying to write treatises, too. “That’s good,” she said. “Poets and philosophers are too much in their heads, and not enough in the world.”

I didn’t argue with her and tell her that not all poets are like Emily Dickinson. Or say that Socrates was put to death for being too much in the world, for angering the public with his Socratic method of challenging social mores, and earning himself the title, “the gadfly of Athens.”  

Instead, I thought, That’s it! If I want to be a poet, I just need to separate my head from the world. Or at least turn off the noise of the world. And seek solitude, as Wordsworth suggested, in order to recollect in tranquility. I imagined myself going on a retreat or living in a cave, studying the shadows on the wall. Letting them speak to me or seduce me or dance with me.

The shadows, I discovered, are not nice guests. Sometimes they kept me awake all night, talking loudly, making rude comments, using all the words I never said aloud. “Hush,” I told them. “No one wants to hear that.” Sometimes they took on the voices of the dead and complained I hadn’t told their stories yet or right. Sometimes they sulked and bossed me about like a maid, asking for a cup of tea, a biscuit, a little brandy, a nap. One nap was never enough. When I obeyed and closed my eyes, they recited the poems I wanted to write down. “You can’t open your eyes until we’re done,” they said, as if poetry were a game of memory, or hide and seek in the mind. Other times they wandered away and down the dirt road of my past, or lay down in the orchard and counted the peaches overhead. Whatever they did or said, I watched and listened.

That’s how I began writing my first real poems. I knew not to disobey the shadows. I knew not toturn my back on them and look towards the light as Plato suggested—Plato who wanted to banish the poets and poetry from his Republic.I knew to not answer the door if the man from Porlock came knocking.

To this day I am grateful for the darkness. For the shadows it creates in my mind. It is thanks to them I have written another book, The Last Orgasm, a book whose title might make people cringe. But isn’t that what shadows do? And much of poetry, too? Dwell on topics we are afraid to look at in the light?

(https://blog.bestamericanpoetry.com/the_best_american_poetry/2020/09/how-to-make-love-write-poetry-believe-in-god-by-nin-andrews.html)

Five prose poems by Nin Andrews (formatting better at http://newflashfiction.com/5-prose-poems-by-nin-andrews/)

Duplicity

after Henri Michaux “Simplicity”

When I was just a young thing, my life was as simple as a sunrise. And as predictable. Day after day I went about doing exactly as I pleased. If I saw a lovely man or women, or beauty in any of its shapes and forms and flavors, well, I simply had to have it. So I did. Just like that. Boom! I didn’t even need a room.

Slowly, I matured. I learned a bit of etiquette.  Manners, I discovered can have promising side effects. I even began carrying a bottle of champagne wherever I went, and a bed. Not that the beds lasted long. I wasn’t the kind to go easy on the alcohol or the furnishings, nor was I interested in sleep. It never ceased to amaze me how quickly men drift off. Women, many of them, kept me going night after night. You know how inspiring  women are.

But then, alas, I grew tired of them as well. I began to envy those folks who curl up into balls each night, their bodies as heavy as tombstones. I tried curling up with them, slowing my breath, entering into their dreams. What dreams! To think I had been missing out all along! That’s when I became a Zen master, at one with the night. Now I teach classes on peace, love, abstinence. At last I have found bliss, I tell my followers. The young, they don’t believe it. But really, I ask you. Would I lie?

The Broken Promise

after Heberto Padilla, “The Promise”

There was a time when I promised to write you a thousand love poems. When I said every day is a poem, and every poem is in love with you. But then the poems rebelled. They became a junta of angry women, impossible to calm or translate, each more vivid, sultry, seductive than the next. Some stayed inside and sulked for weeks, demanding chocolates, separate rooms, maid service. Others wanted to be carted around like queens. Still others took lovers and kept the neighbors up, moaning at all hours of the day and night. One skinny girl (remember her? the one with flame-colored hair?) moved away. She went back to that shack down the road where we first met. At night she lay down in the orchard behind the house and let the dark crawl over her arms and legs. In the end even her dreams turned to ash and blew away in a sudden gust of wind.

Little Big Man

after Russell Edson “Sleep”

There was once an orgasm that could not stop shrinking. Little big man, his friend called him, watching as he grew smaller and smaller with each passing night, first before making love, then before even the mention of making love, then before even the mention of the mention of making love. Oh, what a pathetic little thing he was.

One night he tried reading, Think and Grow Big, but it only caused him to shrink further inside himself. Oh, to grow large and tall as I once was, he sighed. What he needed, he knew, was a trainer with a whip and chains. Someone to teach him to jump through hoops and swing from a trapeze and swallow fire until he blazed ever higher into the night. Yes, he shuddered. Yes! as he imagined it. A tiny wisp of smoke escaped his lips.

Questions to Determine if You Are Washed Up

after Charles Baudelaire, “Get Drunk!”

Do you feel washed up lost, all alone? Do you fear that time is passing you by like a train for which you have no ticket, no seat? That you have lived too long in the solitude of your room and empty mind,  that now you are but a slave of sorrow? Or is it regret? Do you no longer taste the wine of life on your lips, tongue, throat? Is there not even even a chance of intoxication? Bliss? No poetry or song above or below the hips? No love in the wind, the waves, in every  or any fleeting and floating thing? No castles in your air? No pearls in your oysters? Are you wearing a pair of drawstring pants?

Remembering Her

after Herberto Padilla

This is the house where she first met you. This is the room where she first said your name as if it were a song.  This is the table where she undressed you, stripping away your petals, leaves, your filmy white roots and sorrows. And there on the floor is the stone you picked up each morning, the stone you clung to night after night. Sometimes she kicked it aside. Sometimes she placed in on the sill and blew it out the window as her presence filled you like a glow, and you thought for an instant, I, too, can fly.

[coffeeandchemicals]

tag game: 50 Qs

was tagged by @yogurtfordinner​! Thank you!!

what is the color of your hairbrush? My hair is so short that I don’t use one...

name a food you never eat: That’s tough, I’ll eat almost anything, especially if someone is making me food. But I am not a fan of ketchup as part of sauces - it’s way too sweet. 

are you typically too warm or too cold? Usually I am too cold, unless I’ve been moving a lot, then too warm

what were you doing 45 mins ago? Eating a very late lunch.

what’s your favorite candy bar? Coffee crisp!

have you ever been to a professional sports game? It’s been years, but I know I went to a baseball game as a kid 

what is the last thing you said out loud? Probably “ummmmm” 

what is your favorite ice cream? Love cookies and cream or mint chocolate chip!

what was the last thing you had to drink? water

do you like your wallet? I don’t have strong feelings about it either way

what is the last thing you ate? Salad

did you buy any new clothes last weekend? Nope, I hate clothes shopping. 

what’s the last sporting event you watched? I think there was a hockey game on at a pub I went to somewhat recently. I watched bits of it. 

what is your favorite flavor of popcorn? With butter? I’m not a huge popcorn fan.

who is the last person you sent a text message to? My husband

ever been camping? Yeah, but not for a year or so

do you take vitamins? Not regularly - I should take D to help with the mood issues

do you regularly attend a place of worship? Noooooooo. I find organized religion alarming. 

do you have a tan? Only after I’ve burned 5000 times first. 

do you prefer Chinese or pizza? Pizza 

do you drink your soda through a straw? If I get it at a restaurant, otherwise right from the can

what color socks do you usually wear? just white, it’s not something I worry about usually

do you ever drive above the speed limit? I almost always drive like 5k over the speed limit. I’m that asshole. 

what terrifies you? Many many things - death being the main one. 

look to your left, what do you see? my phone and a clipboard full of paper as I am STILL trying to get past my writer’s block. 

what chore do you hate most? does cooking count as a chore? I hate cooking. HATE IT.

what do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? Tourist or someone who’s come here to work at a ski-resort (I dunno why). 

what’s your favorite soda? Diet coke - and where I live we call it pop....

do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Usually drive-thru

what’s your favorite number? 2

who’s the last person you talked to? My mom - we complained about people

favorite cut of beef? Um. I honestly don’t know. Although I did have some delicious brisket recently

last song you listened to? Red Eyes by The War on Drugs

last book you read? I just finished The Boys graphic novel series - so good but so violent and uncomfortable to read.

favorite day of the week? The days don’t have any meaning for me as I am unemployed... 

can you say the alphabet backwards? Probably, if I thought about it, maybe. 

how do you like your coffee? I’m boring. If I make it myself, I’ll have nothing in it. 

favorite pair of shoes? My navy Converse high-tops (got them with my twin for our 30th birthday and then we got tattoos together). 

time you normally get up? It varies. Especially because I don’t have anything to get up for. I really wish I was one of those people that just get up in the morning. 

what do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets? Sunrises, because I feel like I have my whole day ahead of me to do things. 

how many blankets on your bed? Two, but one is mostly for decoration

describe your kitchen plates. I dunno. They’re like stoneware? And cream with brown edges? Or white with blue edges? I have two different kinds because we broke too many of the first set

describe your kitchen at the moment. It definitely needs to be cleaned. 

do you have a favorite alcoholic drink? Like mixed drink? If so, rum and coke (preferably George Street Spiced Rum, because I miss Newfoundland). If not mixed then... cider? or dark beer? Or radler? Or scotch? (clearly I might have a problem).

do you play cards? I’ve actually played solitaire with real cards lately (not on an app) because my eyes were healing and I was supposed to limit my screen time. I grew up playing euchre with my grandparents and crib. But I haven’t played any of those games recently. 

what color is your car? It’s silver. 

can you change a tire? I should know! I’ll put it my list of things to learn before it gets too cold

your favorite country? Scotland. Hands down. 

favorite job you’ve had? I worked at a bookstore, that was pretty good. I’d really like to get an actual job as a chemical engineer and love it to validate the past six years of my life. 

I tag: @redplaid-on-redplaid, @introvertia, @passivenovember, @gideongrace, and @peachypunk22 and anyone who wants to! (Or not, this was pretty time consuming, but fun!)

[impractical-matters]

Tag Game: Dig a Little Deeper

tagged by @mollyweasly - thank you steph!! 💕💕

1. do you prefer writing with a black pen or a blue pen? both

2. would you prefer to live in the country or in the city? country

3. if you could learn a new skill, what would it be? I’ve always wanted to learn to drive stick/manual

4. do you drink your tea/coffee with sugar? both, and yes

5. what was your favorite book as a child? I always loved, The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle

6. do you prefer baths or showers? I love both, but I like to unwind in the tub whenever possible

7. if you could be a mythical creature, which one would you be? An elemental witch

8. paper or electronic books? paper, always, unless it’s fanfiction 

9. what is your favorite item of clothing? I have a couple plaid shirts that were my grandfather’s that I love

10. do you like your name? would you like to change it? My mother chose my name and it’s spelling because it was her favorite, and I have always liked it. 

11. who is a mentor to you? I have some successful psychologists/psychiatrists in my family who I really admire and would like to follow in their footsteps

12. would you like to be famous? if so, what for? I think we’ve all imagined what it would be like, I did some singing competitions and it was scary but it was also really nice to be recognized afterwards and complimented, but then again celebrities have zero privacy, so I don’t think I would be able to combat that. You have to be seriously dedicated to your craft to be willing to put up with the whole world, and I think I’m a bit too shy for all that...

13. are you a restless sleeper? When I was in camp, I had the nickname ‘sleeping beauty’ because I always slept flat on my back and never moved. That was when I had no stress in my life tho, so nowadays it’s a bit rougher sometimes. 

14. do you consider yourself to be a romantic person? I like to think so, but I haven’t had anyone to express that with recently

15. which element best represents you? I can see how they all play a part for me, but I think fire might be the most appropriate 

16. who do you want to be closer to? my friends, this quarantine has been hard on all of us

17. do you miss someone at the moment? my brother (oops, brothers I mean haha) 

18. tell us about an early childhood memory. there was a swingset in my backyard that faced my mother’s office, and in the summer when I had off from school, I would sometimes go out there and swing for hours, waving at her and just trying to catch her attention. I also spent a lot of time “rock hunting” in the backyard, which was just me digging for pretty rocks, mostly quartz

19. what is the strangest thing you have eaten? honestly I don’t think I’ve eaten that many weird things, religion kinda gets in the way of that. I did try a raw quails egg once

20. what are you most thankful for? my family and their continuous support 

21. do you like spicy food? I like some spicy foods, like Japanese and Korean, and sometimes Mexican, but I gotta be careful with those peppers 

22. have you ever met someone famous? yes, i met Matthew McConaughey outside a bathroom in JFK, I met Chris Allen in Disney World, and my friends cousin is Ricky Ullman, so I saw him around a few times for family events. 

23. do you keep a diary or journal? I used to have a song folder, which is the closest I ever got, and then of course there’s all my writing journals, but those are mostly stories, not strictly personal thoughts. I did try once in camp, but someone stole it, so clearly that was a bad idea, and I never tried again. 

24. do you prefer to use pen or pencil? pen

25. what is your star sign? gemini

26. do you like your cereal crunchy or soggy? mostly crunchy, but I like pops to be a big soggy

27. what would you want your legacy to be? I just want to be remembered, not really sure what for at this moment...

28. do you like reading? What was the last book you read? I do love to read, I recently re-read The Call of the Wild by Jack London 

29. how do you show someone you love them? Being there for them, showing my support when they’re down or if they need help. also just saying it, getting them little gifts that remind me of them 

30. do you like ice in your drinks? sometimes, but never in juice or milk 

31. what are you afraid of? sharks, starvation, being deserted in the middle of the ocean and being alone 

32. what is your favorite scent? ooooh that’s a tough one, I like fresh scents, like rain, ocean water, the forest, and other natural and seasonal scents like herbs and spices, flowers, sandalwood, vanilla, etc. 

33. do you address older people by their name or surname? Depends who they are, family I’ve been trying to keep their titles in there, like Aunt & Uncle because they told me they like that, if it’s someone at work I use their first name with them and their surnames when discussing them with outside clients. 

34. if money was not a factor, how would you live your life? I would probably travel a lot, visit all the places I wanted to go and visit my family around the world, pay off all my debts, pay for medical bills...and I would buy back my family home. 

35. do you prefer swimming in pools or the ocean? I love the idea of the ocean, but it’s big and scary and covers the majority of our planet so we can never really uncover everything that’s out there, so I prefer the safety of a landlocked pool. 

36. what would you do if you found $50 in the ground? Depends on the context. If I found $50 on the ground but I know that someone has lost it, I give the money back to the person. If I don’t know whose money is that, I keep it to myself. (keeping this answer bc same- also same!)

37. have you ever seen a shooting star? did you make a wish? yes and yes

38. what is one thing you would want to teach your children? your anger does not control you and while violence might seem like a convenient answer, it is never the solution to your problems; using your words is a much smarter and efficient tactic to defeating your issues/enemies etc. And you should treat others the way you would like to be treated and always protect your family. 

39. if you had to have a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it? I’ve always liked the idea of triskelion because of the many different things it represents (plus teen wolf), and I would put it on my wrist because I’m cliche 

40. what can you hear now? the air conditioning is really loud in this basement

41. where do you feel the safest? under the covers with my cat 

42. what is one thing you want to overcome/conquer? I wish I was more confident and could overcome my stage fright, I get nervous talking in front of anyone and it’s just so frustrating to trip over my words so much when I know exactly what I want  to say, but my mouth won’t speak the words 

43. if you could travel back to any era, what would it be? I always liked the fashion of the Victorian Era, but the treatment of women was terrible, which is mostly true for most points in history, so...idk 

44. what is your most used emoji? 💕 because I love these hearts, and one is just never enough

45. describe yourself using one word. tenacious

46. what do you regret the most? not being there when my father died

47. last movie you saw? I just watched Knives Out last night! 

48. last tv show you watched? currently have Derry Girls s2 queued up 

49. invent a word and its meaning. dude, come on, I have no idea

Welp that was a lot of questions, but it was a nice break from work 😂 Seriously no pressure, this was a long one! Tagging: @mercheswan @superdanys @clotpolesonly @tinanewt @anduril @buckleydiazs @lightfiretomypaperwings @lovelyhufflepuff38 @when-she-writes-stuff @mysnflower @hecthledgers @dannneelackles @nighttimemachinery @theproblemwithstardust @tabbytabbytabby

[itsclydebitches]

Lovely Good Omens fandom! Many of you have asked for/mentioned having a text version of the Yelp reviews, which if I were a better person I would have remembered to include in the first place. Better late than never? So here’s a version below and I also threw this up on AO3 so there are options. For the record, I’m not at all trained in transcribing visual media, so if anyone wants to add to/edit/do whatever to this post, especially to make it more accessible, you have carte blanche to do so 👍

Also I typed this up in a hurry so, as always, apologies for any typos. 

Tagging: @lethargicdolphin, @marithlizard, @pearwaldorf

A.Z. Fell and Co. Antiquarian and Unusual Books 

Recommended Reviews 

Lindsay F. 

London, United Kingdom 

71 friends

3000 reviews

9874 photos

So I slipped into this place because I spotted my ex across the street and would have rather chugged a cocktail of bleach, lighter fluid, and a condensed solution of all my middle school years then talk to that asshole. Owner was on me the second I walked through the door and I thought he was gonna be one of those ‘Either buy something or get out’ types. Nah. I spilled the story, said I really wasn’t looking to purchase anything, and he LIT UP like nobody’s business. He gave me tea and promised I’d never run into my ex again. Which is a super sketchy promise on its own and also should have been hilarious coming from a guy a century behind in style.

...Kinda believed him though. 

Marina G. 

London, United Kingdom 

0 friends

33 reviews

48 photos

Pretty sure this guy wants a library, not a bookshop. I mean, he’s nice and all when you first come in, but trying to actually buy a book? Good fucking luck. He’s too busy to see you right now (for the record he’s super bad at pretending to be busy). Or claims that this book has already been put on reserve (then why wasn’t it in the reserve pile...?). Or the price suddenly jumped an obscene amount. Or he just straight up hems and haws until you get fed up and leave. I watched him pull a novel straight out of a woman’s hands once when she claimed that price was no object and she wouldn’t be leaving the store until she’d purchased it. You’d think she was trying to kidnap one of the guy’s kids!

So yeah. Feel like popping in to browse, maybe take pictures for your research, all while making quiet conversation with someone who quite frankly knows his stuff? This is the place for you. Want to actually buy something? Go elsewhere. Pretty sure Fell doesn’t even own a cash register. At least I’ve never seen one. 

He wants a library and I’d honestly tell him as much if he didn’t scare me just a little bit...

Aaron S. 

New York, NY

68 friends

212 reviews 

337 photos

I stayed here for three days once. Found a bathroom off the romance section and a chair hidden away in the back. Way comfier than my mattress at home. Mostly played iPhone games and kept real quiet at night. Experiment ended when I popped out for breakfast and didn’t make it back before a random 10:00am closing. Don’t think the owner ever realized what was up. 

Hana S. 

London, United Kingdom 

112 friends

115 reviews

208 photos

I really love this place. I’ve been coming here since I moved to London, about twelve years ago, and it’s one of the most soothing bookstores I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. Yeah, you hear talk of weird things going on at Fell’s, but really? We could all do with a bit more quirky in our lives. And Fell provides that in spades: Annual plants that never seem to wither, let alone die. The smell of incense mixing with cocoa. Strange books tucked horizontally into the shelves, feeling like they have a touch of magic to them. Nonsensical conversations taking place in dark corners (I’m talking candid chats about the apocalypse and whether angels could actually bless all the rains down in Africa. I swear Fell and his boyfriend are the religion Mythbusters or something.) I’m going to sound like a total nerd here for a moment, but it feels like some sort of liminal space. You know when you were a kid and you were just desperate to receive your Hogwarts letter? Or find your own wardrobe to Narnia? That’s what walking into Fell’s feels like. Like you’ve finally found that portal and can stay as long as you like, provided you don’t try to take anything back with you into the ‘real’ world. Hell, maybe that’s why he won’t let anyone buy his books. 

Robert T. 

Union City, CA

4 friends

26 reviews

3 photos

There’s a snake?? In this shop?? A reALLY MASSIVE SNAKE????? What are y’all doing talkin’ about your meet cutes and shit someone call pest control!

Malini D. 

London, United Kingdom 

0 friends

48 reviews

99 photos

I’m not gonna pretend I have anything to say about whether this is a good bookstore or not, but if you ever want knitting help you should definitely stop by. Mr. Fell knows an absurd amount about crafts for a guy who looks like my grandpa and he’s now replaced Youtube as my go-to for alleviating “Omg please fix this how the hell did I manage to reverse the pattern??” panic. For the record, I didn’t just wander up to a random bookseller one day and demand that he help me salvage the ruins of my first sweater. I’d taken a seat inside to wait out a storm, had my messy sleeve stuffed into my purse, and he’d offered the help. Bit of a bastard about things like gauge and color--not everyone wants to wear tartan, dude--but you get used to that. He means well. Said I should come back to show him the finished piece, which I did. Things just kind of spiraled from there. He’s an absolute treasure trove of knowledge once you get him talking and a muffin to boot. If he were twenty years younger and in any way straight I would have asked him out in a heartbeat. As it is I’m considering setting him up with Grandpa. 

Tiffany L. 

London, United Kingdom 

132 friends

312 reviews

34 photos

I’m not really a book person myself but I followed my wife in with our seventh-month old and was kinda embarrassed when he started making a fuss. Normally I’m full Badass Mom mode while in public--I’ve got a kid to feed, change, sooth, and you all can damn well deal with it--but this place was so quiet Liam seemed extra loud in comparison. I was about to take him back out when a man appeared out of nowhere. The owner I guess, based on how some of these other reviews describe him. Older gentleman with clothes out of some period piece. Anyway, he scoops Liam into his arms like he was born for it and started bouncing. Our fussy, temperamental, drama queen Liam settled in an instant and my wife got to browse to her heart’s content. I don’t know how he did it, but that man is an absolute angel. Full stars for that moment alone. 

Gillian L. 

The Hague, The Netherlands

283 friends

256 reviews

60 photos

Anyone know if the old Bentley parked out front is for sale? 

Update: It’s really, really, really not 

Billy H. 

Austen, TX

40 friends

2073 reviews

774 photos

QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS QUEER BOOKS SO MANY QUEER BOOKS!!!

Gabriela G. 

London, United Kingdom

3 friends

22 reviews

1 photos

Run by this delightfully frumpy guy who sometimes hands out biscuits from a sewing tin like my gran used to. He asked me if I was looking for anything in particular and I told him my name was Jared, I was 19, but sadly I’d never learned how to read. I have NEVER seen a man more confused in my life. 10/10 would meme him again. 

Colie A.

Enola, PA

201 friends

2778 reviews

10382 photos

I’m setting the record straight here since there are a bunch of reviews claiming it’s just London folklore: there is a snake at A.Z. Fell’s. Must be an exotic pet he usually keeps upstairs because I’ve only ever seen it twice. Is it big? Yes. Scary? Fuck yes, but I’ve never seen it do anything more than give a warning hiss at this drunk who wandered in and started yelling. (Are snakes good guard dogs? This one is.) The other time he was just chilling on top of one of the shelves. Snoozing, I guess. I asked Mr. Fell if I could pet him and he said maybe after he woke up, but then I had to get to class and all. 

Afraid of snakes? Steer clear. Otherwise I’d really recommend popping in and seeing if he’s around. Idk, maybe I’m just a snake fan but he looks super sweet and chill. Life is short. Boop the snake snoot. 

Jeremy W. 

London, United Kingdom 

86 friends

409 reviews

12 photos

I live down the street from A.Z. Fell’s and let me tell you, this place is spooky as fuck. All sorts of weird lights and noises coming from it. At all times of the day and night too. Either this bowtie wearing bookworm has one crazy sex life or the place is haunted. Jury’s out on which. 

Heather Ki. 

London, United Kingdom 

0 friends

3852 reviews

1 photos

This shop smells. Not that old book smell either, oh no, but like something is molding. I took my little Johnny in here to try and get him interested in something other than those damned video games and I walk into what smells like a whole cloud of toxic mold! My boy has a weak constitution as it is and if he comes down with anything I will be pressing charges, you mark my words. 

Jo. W. 

London, United Kingdom 

32 friends

410 reviews

61 photos

Hey, does anyone want to talk about the fact that this place burned down last month? As in, completely up in flames, I saw it happen, nothing but a smoking husk afterwards? Does no one else remember this??

Tiggi N. 

London, United Kingdom 

32 friends

33 reviews

24 photos

Has anyone read this guy’s opening hours? I included a photo above: “I open the shop on most days about 9:30AM perhaps 10:AM. While occasionally I have opened the shop as early as 8, I have been known not to open until 1.” Absolutely insane. This guy’s a madman and I love him. If anyone actually manages to get into this place please let me know because I need to shake Fell’s hand. 

Mackenzie J. 

City Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom 

807 friends

2592 reviews

13218 photos

I told my girlfriend this shop’s got a snake named Anthony and she didn’t believe me. Going back for proof next week. 

Update: got the snake selfie!!!!!!!!

Penny O. 

Chicago, IL

87 friends

557 reviews

16 photos

Caught the owner snogging some hot twink behind the cookbooks. Well done, my dude. 

[hualicn]

50 questions tag

okay this was pretty fun!! i was tagged by @gunsatthaphan thanks for tagging me!! i didnt proofread these so good luck lol

1.      what color is your hairbrush?: so my hair is too short to really brush but before I shaved it all off I used a blue hairbrush lol

2.      name a food you never eat: I honestly will eat anything?? Sometimes ill pick out tomatos and not eat those I guess

3.      are you typically too warm or too cold?: I am sweaty 24/7

4.      what were you doing 45 minutes ago?: baking a cake for my friends birthday J 

5.      what’s your favorite candy bar?: I feel like I always choose a different candy bar, last I had was twix 

6.      have you ever been to a professional sports game?: yeah ive sat on the field during an la galaxy game once

7.      what’s the last thing you said out loud?: “by the way theres donuts inside”

8.      what’s your favorite ice cream?: hmm I like mostly any Tillamook brand ice cream rn all im thinking is the marionberry pie one 

9.      what was the last thing you had to drink?: kamboucha it was strawberry coconut flavor

10.    do you like your wallet?: this one is so random haha I mean yeah it’s a simple brown wallet

11.    what’s the last thing you ate?: a donut

12.    did you buy any new clothes last weekend?: just got some shorts from goodwill actually

13.    what’s the last sporting event you watched?: probably the superbowl?? Televised ofc

14.    what is you favorite flavor of popcorn?: kettle corn slaps

15.    who’s the last person you sent a text to?: strictly text and not like snapchat messenger was my sister (about getting donuts)

16.    ever go camping?: god yes I used to all the time and im finally going again soon!! 

17.    do you take vitamins?: vitamin T ;)

18.    do you go to church every sunday?: no I don’t practice religion 

19.    do you have a tan?: actually yeah I tan very easy and live in the desert, my friends look very pale compared to me lol

20.    do you prefer chinese or pizza?: 100% Chinese  

21.    do you drink soda through a straw?: ok listen I don’t drink soda unless its at a restaurant and they always give you straws so yeah almost every time which is wild

22.    what color socks do you usually wear?: black ones for work and then I have a bunch of random neon colors too

23.    do you ever drive above the speed limit?: not as bad as I used to

24.    what terrifies you?: the future

25.    look to your left, what do you see?: my water bottle

26.    what chore do you hate the most?: cleaning my pets cages fo sho

27.    what do you think of when you hear an australian accent?: my coworker who does a really good Australian accent

28.    what’s your favorite soda?: …la croix 

29.    do you go in fast food places or just hit the drive thru?: drive thru always

30.    what’s your favorite number?: ?? idk maybe like 72 idk why

31.    who’s the last person you talked to?: my parents

32.    favorite cut of beef?: tbh don’t eat a whole lot of beef

33.    last song you listened to?: listening to motion sickness by phoebe bridges rn actually

34.    last book you read?: currently re reading its kind of a funny story by ned vizzini 

35.    can you say the alphabet backwards?: maybe if I go super slow haha

36.    favorite day of the week?: hmm maybe tuesdays

37.    how do you like your coffee?: over ice and just a lil bit of sweetener, always very bitter 

38.    favorite pair of shoes?: probably my spiderman vans cuz good mems

39.    time you normally get up?: like 3 am for work and 6/7 am off work

40.    sunrise or sunsets?: sunsrise

41.    how many blankets on your bed?: honestly like for but I only use one at a time

42.    describe your kitchen plates?: paper lol

43.    describe your kitchen at the moment?: cake and donuts on the counter lol 

44.    do you have a favorite alcoholic drink?: vodka cranberries hehe 

45.    do you play cards?: yes all the time!! Its what we do whenever my family gets together

46.    what color is your car?: its like a dark grey and its brand new (to me) and I am in love with him

47.    can you change a tire?: ..maybe if I used youtube… tbh I actually helped my uncle change a tractor tire but they r like bike tires not car tires

48.    your favorite state/province/county/etc.?: that ive been to?? Probably oregon

49.    favorite job you’ve had?: working at a Halloween store was really fun but I also really love my job as a barista rn 

50.    how did you get your biggest scar?: honestly I don’t really have any?? The only on e I can think of I cant really see anymore but the story is we used to have this giant revolving table that was hocky table on one side and pool table the other. Anyways a friend and I decided to spin it super fast and somehow I got my hand stuck in it and uhhh yeh yikes that wasn’t fun haha

im gonna tag... @lovetines cuz she told me to and any of my mutuals who see it do it and tag me love ya mwah

[belle82devart]

73 Question Tag Game

Thank you to the lovey @thewanderer000 ❤

On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about life right now?

I would say a 6 or 7. Life can be so fucking scary (as well as people), but it still has it's charms and quirks that make it enjoyable and something to look forward to.

Describe yourself in a hashtag?

[#scared of everything] or [#justneedsahug]

If you could do a love scene with anyone, who would it be?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He's got the swagger, the sweetness and the salt and pepper look isn't helping sway my opinion at all. Plus he's got strong arms, perfect for cuddles.

If your life was a musical, what would the marquee say?

(I hate to admit this, but I had to look up what a fucking marquee was.) The anxious and the strange.

What’s your wakeup ritual?

Get up, shower, have a little time for self loathing and negative personal views. Then go for the self affirmation card and continue the day.

What’s your favorite time of day?

Morning. Most days, the morning is where it all starts. Where the hikes in the mountains begin or where the next big projects begin.

Your go to for having a good laugh?

Crack videos of whatever fandom I'm obsessed with at the time. Or cat videos.

Dream country to visit?

I know it's not a country, but Europe in general. If it had to be a single place, Poland.

What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had?

Finding out while my mother threw up on the side of the road that 'hey, you're gonna be a big sister'!

Heels or flats/sneakers?

Combat boots. Now I can do heels, and I can do sneakers, but boots, especially combat style are my favorite.

Vintage or new?

Vintage all the way! It's oleasing to be able to experience something old and make it new in your eyes. I guess that's why I own a Polaroid camera and Walkman.

Who do you want to write your obituary?

My family. All of them.

Style icon?

My father. I've basically stolen all his band shirts and old biker vest/jackets. Sooo yeah.

What are three things you can’t live without?

Music, art, and friends/family. What's life without companionship? What's life without some sort of art? The world wouldn't suevibe without music, and I can't survive without any of the listed.

What’s one ingredient you put in everything?

Ketchup for most things, but not all.

What 3 people living or dead would you like to make dinner for?

- Vincent Price

- Bob Ross

- Anyone else who wants to eat my shitty cooking.

What’s your biggest fear in life?

Well, I absoluty am scared to death of spiders, but that's not my biggest fear. Failure and letting those I care for down... That's my biggest fear. I fear that I will never make anyone happy, that I can't do right...

God, this question called me out hard.

Window or aisle seat?

Window all the way. Give me the view !

What’s your current TV obsession?

- The Walking Dead

- The Witcher

- and The Boys

Favorite app?

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro

Secret talent?

For some reason, I can put people to sleep really easy when I pet their hair.

Most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?

Went to Washington D.C. I got to see so many museums and cool little places.

How would you define yourself in three words?

Anxious. Sweet. Creative.

Favourite piece of clothing you own?

My leather jacket.

Must have clothing item everyone should have?

Fuzzy socks. Evwryoje deserves to have warm feet!

Superpower you would want?

Teleportation. I can go anywhere I want but also I can leave undesired sistiations when they get overwhelming.

What’s inspiring you in life right now?

People, music, books, movies/shows/games. You name it, i'll get something out of it.

Best piece of advice you’ve received?

Never give up, even when the odds seem stackwd agaisnt you. Always keep pushing forward and remember that there will always be someone in the world to fall back on when it gets to be too hard.

Best advice you’d give your teenage self?

You'll see and hear a lot of shit in life that'll being you down, that will make everything seem so bad... But it will get better. You'll make it to the next day, and you'll one day see yourself as a good person, even if you need that little push and reminder from your friends.

A book that everyone should read?

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

What would you like to be remembered for?

Being kind and helpful.

How do you define beauty?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it truly can't be defined generally without personal opinion slipping in.

What do you love most about your body?

My eyes. I really don't see anything worth while besides my eyes.

Best way to take a rest/decompress?

Curled up with my cats. I may be allergic but i'll be damned if I don't get a good rest without them.

Favourite place to view art?

Anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes it's fun going to a gallery and seeing the art others have created.

If your life were a song, what would it be?

Ça va ça va - Claudio Capéo

If you could master one instrument, what would it be?

Drums or the marimba.

If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

Upper arm or as a 3/4 sleeve.

What’s your spirit animal?

Maine Coon

Best gift you’ve ever received?

A small box made of cedar from my mother for my birthday. I don't know why but I was a sobbing mess when I got it.

Best gift you’ve ever given?

A 4ft x 6 ft painting in dedication to my aunts and their family after their car crash.

What’s your favourite board game?

Risk, Pandemic (Ha! Ironic), Monopoly, and Sorry!

What’s your favourite colour?

Blue and all shades of blue.

Least favourite colour?

Yellow.

Diamonds or pearls?

Neither. Give me some good old fashioned gemstones like quartz and I'll be happiee than a pig in mud.

Drugstore makeup or designer?

Drugstore. One, I don't have the money for designer makeup. Two, you can use drugstore and dollar store make-up to achieve the same look. And three, I don't wear makeup too often, so what's the point od paying top dollar for something I'll only use here and there?

Blow-dry or air-dry?

Either. Depends on how much time I've got on my hands.

Pilates or yoga?

Haven't done either but I would love to try yoga.

Coffee or tea?

Both!

What’s the weirdest word in the English language?

Hullaballoo.

hullaballoo. noun. 1. Sounds or a sound, especially when loud, confused, or disagreeable: babel, clamor, din, hubbub, noise, pandemonium, racket, rumpus, tumult, uproar.

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Both, but also white chocolate!

Stairs or elevator?

Both

Summer or winter?

Both. I love the storms during the summer, and the snow during the winter. Especially New York winters (Buffalo in particular).

You are stuck on an island, you can pick one food to eat forever without getting tired of it, what would you eat?

Chicken parmigiana

A dessert you don’t like?

Anything with Nutella.

A skill you’re working on mastering?

Welding. This year i'll be starting the rest of my classes to get certified in it.

Best thing to happen to you today?

Nothings really happened yet, but that can always change!

Best compliment you’ve ever received?

"Wow, you've got some talent" when it comes to my art or writing.

Favourite smell?

Rhododendrons and the forest floor after a rain storm.

Hugs or kisses?

Both! And at the same time makes it so much better.

If you made a documentary, what would it be about?

Paranormal locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway or how religion ties in with art.

Last piece of content you consumed that made you cry?

A poem about beauty in death and how the earth always reclaims what has been taken. The poem was truly amazing.

Lipstick or lip gloss?

Both.

Sweet or savory?

Both!!!

Girl crush?

Kate Beckinsale

How you know you’re in love?

I truly have no idea! I mean, I haven't been in love before...

Song you can listen to on repeat?

Fistfight by The Ballroom Thieves

If you could switch lives with someone for a day who would it be?

Mads Mikkelsen. He's classy, he's goofy, and who wouldn't want to?

What are you most excited about at this time in your life?

Persuing my passions. I'm on the road to become a Graphic Designer, and that's just so exciting to me!

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

Tagging: @whitecrawace-mind-palace / @rosadiazbiqueen | @johnlocklover221 | @yancy-trash

[szopenhauer]

What would you call your body type? hourglass? vase? chubby yet underweight? worse version of Juno Temple’s body? petite?

When is the next time you’ll be at work? when I’ll have a job lol

Are you good at wrapping gifts for others? am not, thx for gift bags!

Do you have a dirty clothes hamper in your room? besides pajama I put all my dirty clothes into laundry bin

Do you enjoy big holiday dinners? no

Is your vision good? yes

Is there any piece of jewelry you’re constantly wearing? recently - necklace from my gf

Is your present hair color, natural? it is

What makes you the most angry when it comes to people? where should I start...

Have you ever felt as though you were drifting apart from a best friend? yeah, and I did, more than once/one person

Have you ever worn color contacts? I haven’t worn any contacts

What’s the best thing about a hug? dunno

Do you buy your friends gifts? sure

What color headphones do you own? light blue

Have you ever shopped on Urban Outfitters? I wish but home stuff, not clothes

Would you rather wear necklaces or earrings? my ears ain’t pierced

Do you enjoy watching fights? in action movies?

Have you ever been in a physical fight? I’ve been hit/punched/slapped 

Do you tend to talk badly about people? I complain about people often

Where are your parents as of now? my dad’s working and my mom is calling him from their room, I turned music on to not listen to their conversation even tho my head hurts a bit

Does your computer cooperate most of the time? pfft

Does your family have any cheesy traditions? hmm...

Are you wearing make up at the moment? obviously not

Favorite television channel? I don’t watch TV

Describe the worst day of your life: ugh...

Name something that’s your favorite color: lime, sun, darkness

Do you judge by appearances? kinda

Do you follow a certain religion? Christianity

What are you most self conscious about? I’m insecure in general

Do you have any family members who live out of town? yup

Do you consider yourself short? I am short

Hoodies or jackets? why not both? there ain’t a big difference between those

Are you outside a lot? nope

Have you ever been dumped via text message? I dumped someone via text message

Do you like dreamcatchers? not anymore

What is your favorite letter of the alphabet? T?

Do you believe in any particular curses? I’m afraid

What movie scares you the most? that I watched or don’t wanna see?

Do you work with any close friends? I don’t work

Do you listen to any country music? few songs of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash

Do you still sleep with any stuffed animals? bunch

Are you normally an independent person? I don’t believe you can be totally independent, you can be more or less but never 100% and I wish I wasn’t so dependent

Ever been judged because of your weight? I’ve been told I must have anorexia or bulimia which is a lie

Do you regret meeting any of your exes? obvi

What’s the meanest thing someone’s called you? I’ve heard so many names that it’s hard to choose

Do you own any brown clothing? I might but I can’t remember atm

What is the first digit of your phone number? personal

Do you tend to sleep a lot? wouldn’t say so, especially recently

Silver or gold jewelry? dunno, depends

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? I’ve received lots of goodies

When was the last time you showered? last night

Would you consider yourself attractive? me? r u kidding?...

Has anyone made you mad today? mom - slightly

Favorite smell: sigh...

Are you afraid of insects? dead ones and maggots

Do you have any children? noooo

If so, what are their names? -

Have you ever lived on a farm? been visiting my aunt, I enjoyed it

Ever played any sports? we all had to in PE 

Are you afraid people won’t accept you? I know they won’t

Are you, for the most part, an honest person? I try to be?

Did you make prank phone calls as a child? no way

Do you like to make donations? if I had money... but I donate old stuff at times 

Meet anyone from your past lately? yep

Have you ever called a suicide line? nope and no comment

Have you ever caught something on fire? my fingers 

Have you ever climbed a mountain before? I think it was a hill actually

At what age do you plan to get married? about 30 if at all

Have you kissed anyone on the lips within the past 12 hours? I have not What’s something you need to go shopping for? food tomorrow? How many hours did you sleep last night? fallen asleep before 2 am then woke up twice until 5 am as I felt bad and then finally about 10 am  In the past week have you watched cartoons? She-ra Do/did you do good in school? very then I got worse gradually Who are you most like in your family? look more like mom but have personality and interests more like my dad

Last thing you had to drink? I’m drinkin’ water now Is there any part of your body that hurts? there is Where is your biological mother right now? balcony

If you say “haha”, do you sometimes put space between them? [Ex. Ha ha] then it has a different (sarcastic) meaning

Do you have fruit flies in your house? only sometimes when there are fruits in the kitchen

Have you ever seen a spelling error in a book that you read? yeah and that annoys me 

Do you type “mhm” a lot? mhm hehe

Have you ever tried eating peanut butter to get rid of your hiccups? it helps? :o

Do you have a garage? we don’t as we don’t own a car

Do you think it would be cool if one of your family members was your neighbor? but I live with my parents 

Do you remember the first time you experienced the Internet? not exactly the very first time

Are you still in your pajamas? am not

Is Jiminy the Cricket your favorite Disney character?   sorry but no

If you were Noah, would you procrastinate building the ark?   it made me laugh

Do you know anyone that snores really loud?   my mother

What kind of purse do you have? I own many

If you were only allowed to make one more phone call to a loved one, who would you speak to?   my dad

“Age is nothing but a number.” Is that true? said a pedo

What’s the most interesting thing about you? depends on a perspective?

Have you ever lost someone to suicide? If so, how did you cope? I haven’t

What’s your most prized possession? Why? personal

What’s your favorite part of speech? mic drop, jk

Would you rather have it all or know it all? does have it all means also have all illnesses? then thx but no

Do you actually read privacy policies when signing up for new things? only part about paying, I check if it’s free or else I’m paranoid about it later What’s the most dangerous thing you would like to do now? eat what I can’t Did you invite classmates to your birthday parties? only my best friends Do you like when things are color coordinated? nah

Have you ever participated in one of those “guess how many jelly beans, mints, etc. are in this jar!” contest? if so, have you ever won? I didn’t win Can you juggle? can’t

Have you ever mistaken a ringing phone on TV or in a movie for your own? not only, sometimes there is a sound in a song and I think it was my phone or smth  How often do you use bobby pins? very rarely Are you in a good mood right now? I’m in one of the worst moods actually Who was the last person in your bedroom? my mother Are you listening to music, if so, what song? I’m not in the mood Have you ever taken a picture with Santa when you were little? I wish I had What color is the sky outside? light blue with white clouds Have you ever rolled down a steep, grassy hill for fun? I haven’t

Do any of your neighbors have dogs? some, one of the dogs is barking 24/7 and I hate it

Have you ever bought a fragrance by a celeb because you liked who it was? that’s stupid Do you normally wash your hands in warm or cold water? warm Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? used to Do you think about the way things used to be often? overthink, feel nostalgic, miss stuff Do you know someone who has purple in their hair? Or do you? not anymore Are you a competitive person? competitions are too stressful How often do you get an upset stomach? all the damn time Do you have any ceramic animals in your house or outside? we do :D What’s worse : A clingy person or someone who doesn’t care enough? I prefer someone balanced, in between How many dresses do you own? just a few Do you read instructions? partially Have you ever seen the show Wife Swap? I heard of it

What was the last thing you took a picture of? flowers for my parents

What’s the worse type of weather in your opinion? very cold and snowy Would you rather read or write? depends Growing up, did you see your cousins often? no Where was your first job at? dunno what I can count as my first job Is life a party to you? as a person who doesn’t like parties...  Who are you tired of seeing in the news a lot? I’m tired of news in general When was the last time you flew a kite? as a kid :( How long have you had Facebook? I don’t remember how old I had my first account but this one is new, had it just couple of months  have you ever wanted to be a dentist?:  no way in hell

does your cell phone have a charm hanging from it?:  new cellphones don’t have the spot for that like the older models did and that’s really sad, I had charms on my blackberry

what color was the last thing you drank?: transparent

what was the last game you played online?:  I’m playing Raid shadow legends 

do you have something with your school’s name on it?  not anymore

which one of your friends would make the best roommate?:  my dad as I already live with him 

how old were you when you first learned how to read?: I learned very soon

do you have a favorite cup or mug? if so, describe it: I don’t use my fav ones as I worry I will ruin them

who was on top the last time you had sex?: personal

what color was the last blanket you used?: it’s blue with sun and moon

if you don’t have a car, what is your dream car?: DeLorean or jeep

have you ever wanted a pet chinchilla?:  yep

has gum ever gotten stuck in your hair?:  będąc w lokalnym sklepiku z tatą zauważyłam, że żując miałam włosy w buzi i się wlepiły i powiedziałam ojcu o tym, a ten mnie pociągnął za czuprynę i guma wyskoczyła mi z paszczy i zawisła na tych nieszczęsnych kosmykach i ekspedientka to widziała, chciałam się zapaść pod ziemię, nie pamiętam jednak co się stało potem czyli jak odlepiliśmy to świństwo oraz kiedy właściwie

[sailorsilverladybug]

How To: Create an OC

A new fanfiction writer sent me a message a few days ago, asking for advice on creating an OC (Original Character). I have a lot of OC's, most of them are used repeatedly, so I sat down and gave it some serious thought. How can I teach someone else my process. Because mine is organic. I often talk out loud, either to myself, my husband, or a fellow writer Astraearose-silvermoon. Fortunately, I keep track of my OC's, so I took a good look into them, and found several factors repeated over and over again. You aren't just looking for a name. In fact, for me, that's one of the last things I do. The name has to mean something to my character, so it's important to know who they are first. I tend to ask myself a lot of questions during the process, so I am listing them here for you.

Identity Questions Will this OC be used more than once? What kind of personality does the character have? What does the character look like? Where is this character from? Nationality? City? Who is this character's family? Friends? Love? What is this character's name? How does this character talk? Do they have any quirks?

Motivation Questions What is the purpose of this character? What are the greatest skills and weaknesses of the character? What are the greatest needs and wants of the character? What does this character like and dislike? What does this character fear the most? What does he/she know?

Superhero Questions What is the name of their alternate Identity? What sorts of skills does he/she have? What attacks does he/she have? How did they become a superhero?

It looks a little overwhelming doesn't it? The truth is, most of this stuff writes itself as you add the character to a story, and then another and another. You don't have to answer all the questions right up front. In fact, it's best not to. You want your readers to learn about the character a little at a time. In order to help illustrate this, I wanted to share my answers to these questions in regards to my first, and still favorite, Original Character. Kazuo Haruki. Most of the answers for his came out during the course of putting him into stories, and trying to tie up loose ends. The way he was in his first appearance versus the way he is now has a marked difference. Often I give more information about him up-front now, but his origin story has always been the same.

Identity Questions Will this OC be used more than once? - Absolutely What kind of personality does the character have? - Sunny disposition; happy-go-lucky; sometimes sad because of history, but is able to move past it. Makes friends easily. (Sort of like a male Usagi, except a bit more overprotective and with a few hints of studiousness) What does the character look like? - Total red-head, from the pale skin and freckles on. Muscular but slim. Vivid green eyes, freckles across the nose, appendix scar, about 6'1 Where is this character from? Nationality? City? - The son of a Japanese woman and American man. Until his mother died he lived a few doors down from Usagi. Spent several years in Kofu until his father died. Who is this character's family? Friends? Love? - Usagi and Shingo's very overprotective older cousin; Son of Ikuko's twin sister; the soulmate of Setsuna (Sailor Pluto); Becomes very close friends with Mamoru because of shared personal trauma (becoming orphans); becomes close friends with Motoki because they are so similar in personality. Other information... political leanings, religion, etc. - None listed as yet. How does this character talk? Do they have any quirks? - tends to talk quickly when excited What is this character's name? - Kazuo Haruki. Kazuo means harmonious man, while Haruki means shining brightly. After describing his personality, the name is so much easier!

Motivation Questions What is the purpose of this character? - Haruki's original purpose was a counterbalance for Mamoru and to give Setsuna a soulmate. The thought of leaving her guarding the Time Door all alone for centuries... well, lets just say I wasn't thrilled with that. He also occasionally steps in at the last moment to provide for a need the other characters weren't expecting (Suddenly teaching Mamoru and Usagi to heal in Kidnapping Sailor Moon). What are the greatest skills and weaknesses of the character? - Strength: His kind heart and generous nature - Weakness: Tends to become a little bossy, can be extremely stubborn, impatient with himself when it comes to learning something new. What are the greatest needs and wants of the character? - I would say his greatest need is his Soul-Bonded, Setsuna. His wants are to play pranks, keep his family and friends safe, and to eventually create something incredible. He likes to make new things. I haven't decided on a career for him yet though. What does this character like and dislike? - Like: Coffee; Vanilla milkshakes; pranks - Dislike: rude people, long lines, pushy girls What does this character fear the most? - Losing Setsuna; losing his family; or being forced to fulfil his hidden purpose What does he/she know? - He knows he wasn't supposed to live... that two or three times (depending on the story) he should have died, either with his mother as a child, during a Youma attack in Kofu, or being hit by a car. He is aware of all three, and knows that someone (Usually Setsuna) stepped in somehow to save him. He also knows he has a hidden purpose.

Superhero Questions What is the name of their alternate Identity? - Sun Knight What Crystal (Sailor Moon) does he/she have? - Topaz Sun Crystal (a creation crystal, not originally meant for battle, like the Silver or Golden Crystals) What sorts of skills does he/she have? - Healing - Helping with new relationships - Help in Childbirth What attacks does he/she have? - Solar Flare; Super Nova; Sun Kissed; Star Burst (most attack multiple enemies) How did they become a superhero? - Most stories have him learning when he is attacked by a Youma and suddenly transforms, or when someone he loves is in danger and he suddenly transforms. Sometimes though he is told by either Luna or Usagi.

I would suggest starting with one or two questions from each category and going from there. Don't stress if you can't answer every question. It takes a bit of writing to get there. You'd be surprised how easy those questions were for me to answer as I wrote this. It took less than twenty minutes to answer them, and I barely scratched the surface of what I've written for this character. Start slow. Tell the reader what the character looks like, acts like, and feels. Tell them what the character is capable of. The rest will come during the writing process.

So write on, and good luck! Sailor Silver Ladybug Tori

[naniewithane]

50 QUESTIONS YOU’VE NEVER BEEN ASKED

Guess who tagged me? @thequeenchoices​ <3

1. What is the color of your hairbrush? zebra printed

2. A food you never eat? cinnamon

3. Are you typically too warm or too cold? too warm.

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? cutting fabric to do some masks.

5. What is your favorite candy bar? hershey's cookies and cream

6. Have you ever been to a professional sports event? I don’t remember, so I’ll go with no.

7.  What is the last thing you said out loud? He’s is walking fine now. (my cat’s injured.)

8. What is your favorite ice cream? neapolitan.

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? coke.

10. Do you like your wallet? yes.

11. What was the last thing you ate? cookies.

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend? No.

13. The last sporting event you watched? the 94′ world cup finals which was replayed last week on TV.

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? Sweet - chocolate, condensed milk and grated coconut.

15. Who was the last person you sent a text message to? The very own @thequeenchoices​ on whatsapp.

16. Ever go camping? No, this practice isn’t usual where I live. But I live near the woods of the atlantic forest, does it count?

17. Do you take vitamins? Yes, a medicine to help nails and hair to grow stronger.

18. Do you go to church every Sunday? No. I don’t believe in an specific religion.

19. Do you have a tan? Yes.

20. Do you prefer Chinese food or pizza? Never tried chinese, so Pizza.

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw? Yes. Also I always drink in one of those mason jars.

22. What color socks do you usually wear? always white.

23. Ever drive above the speed limit? No. I don’t have a licence.

24. What terrifies you? people not trusting in me.

25. Look to your left, what do you see? my dog sprawled on the sofa.

26. What chore do you hate? Cleaning dishes.

27. What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? I’ve never heard.

28. What’s your favorite soda? Sprike or any lemon soda. Also a ramune melon soda (that I almost never have the chance to buy because it sells really away from home but I deeply love it).

29. Do you go into a fast food place or just hit the drive through? I mostly ask for delivery.

30. Who’s the last person you talked to? My mother.

31. Favorite cut of beef? Sirloin. (had to research the names in english for this one haha)

32. Last song you listened to? Future Nostalgia from Dua Lipa.

33. Last book you read? Legend by Marie Lu.

34. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.

35. Can you say the alphabet backwards? Probably not.

36. Do you like your coffee? I don’t like but somehow everyone likes.

37. Favorite pair of shoes? a pair of heels that I almost never use but like nonetheless.

38. At what time do you normally go to bed? 2am

39. At what time do you normally get up? work days at 5:30am and weekends around 11am.

40. What do you prefer, sunrises or sunsets? Sunsets, just because where I live there are mountains blocking the sunrise.

41. How many blankets are on your bed? at the moment three.

42. Describe your kitchen plates: White porcelain.

43. Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage? I don’t drink anything with alcohol.

44. Do you play cards? I love to play but it’s been at least 5 years that I haven’t played.

45. What color is your car? I don’t have one.

46. Can you change a tire? Of my imaginary car? of course. haha. But seriously, I know how to change my bike’s tires.

47. What is your favorite province? I’ll go for state. My very own Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

48. Favorite job you’ve ever had? When I covered a runway from Vogue.

49. How did you get your biggest scar? I fell from my bike when it’s brakes broke in the middle of the road. Almost got hit by a bus.

50. What did you do today that made someone else happy? I’ve made a good breakfast this morning? I mean, at my home breakfast don’t have many things since we don’t wake up at the same time. It’s usually black coffe and bread with cheese. But I’ve made waffles and all today. It was nice.

[karmalondon]

#BlackLivesMatter

I'm calling some of you out, with all this madness going on, I wanna share whats on my mind.

I think around 90% of Turks/Turkish Cypriots are racist hypocrites.

Hear me out before you think its not you.

I grew up in Tottenham till i was 12, Now we all know Tottenham has a very large black community.

Why do we all know this?

Because its always been talked about in that way.

Anyway, my childhood was amazing i had alsorts of friends from different backgrounds at school, i loved it there, it was a place i was free to play with whoever i wanted, and i did, i don't have any memories of racism at primary school.

However i do have memories of my parents' friends (family even) saying stuff to my parents like "Why dont you move, you're surrounded by Blacks" followed by "Why dont you move somewhere with more English?"

My parents would answer them by saying our Black neighbours are nicer to us than the English are. They would say abd describe the English people they knew, as cold and only willing to see you and speak when they feel like it.

We're my parents being racist or just saying it how they saw and experienced it, im not sure,

but what i do know is i personally can't prove them wrong yet, dont get me wrong i love all my friends but if im gonna separate race, like its happening now, i have to agree, with my parents and say to this day my English friends have never been racist to me, but have always kept me at their convenient distance, sorry if you disagree but that is my feelings, how i feel.

Is it because they are racist? or just a general way of English life?

Or is it just the ones God puts on my path? (I have lots of questions) anyway im veering off here, going back to Turks being racist.

As a kid, I remember going on holiday to North Cyprus and making friends with some gypsies that lived across the road, i was told off for this by a lot of my Nans neighbours (you know the ones that came for coffee and woke you up every morning with their chatter and gossip), i was told not to play with them as they were gypsies and black, so that there was my 1st encounter i remember clearly with people not thinking like i did (so what if they were gypsies and black i was having fun with them), It gave me reasons to see these elders as stupid (now I'd say deeply uneducated), as at that time i had no idea what racism was, so i agree 100% when people say racism is taught. So anyway, naturally i had no respect for anything else that came out of their mouths and for this i was given the naughty rebel title from a very young age.

Moving on, we moved from Tottenham to Edmonton when my daddy got a job working for British Telecom, Not because of Black people, but because my parents now had a better income and the houses were nicer and there was more open green space for us to play, they thought they upgraded.

I start a new school and funny enough I'm in really new territory, i was 1 of only 4 turks in my class and i knew it, I felt the foreigner, but found my new friends were more keen to learn about our culture than to bully me or be nasty about it. But none the less i still felt foreign.

Later i made lots Greek Cypriot friends they just seemed to be so similar to us Turks and yet so different, but yet we all clicked and clicked well. I knew a little bit about the Cyprus war, but it wasn't really something that was spoken about in my family. As i was getting older and going out, going round friends houses, thats when i really began to here the stories of the Cyprus war, but it wasn't from my family no, it was my Greek friends parents telling me all about it, every single one i ever met had to bring up the story and educate me.

so now im a confused teen who thinks i got great friends, but every Greek parent still holds a mini grudge against Turks or just wont let go of the past.

It always felt like it was their way of letting me know i was privileged to be in their home. That may not be what they would say, but its how i felt.

Yet again i still wonder was it just the people in my life path? Or is this the Greek Cypriot way of life? Maybe like the English are stereotyped for conversations about the weather, that's just what the old Greek Cypriots do? I mean its still a history story told to tourists in South Cyprus to this day.

Obviously I've gone back home and questioned the stuff, done my own research too and come up with my own decision and that was that this is how deep racism still runs, Its such a small island with such a small population that couldn't (still aint) live in harmony with one another, who cares who had it 1st, (my conclusion is Dinosaurs btw) anyway the Bible says "Love thy neighbour" and one of the fundamental laws of the Quran is Oneness and Unity, so for such a religious island full of Churches, pictures of Mary's and Jesus Christ and Mosque's and with prayer read out loud on speakers 5 times a day and atheism at a low there, I think it's truly hypocritical racism on both parts isn't it?

Why do we live in harmony here but not there?

What made it all different just by crossing an ocean?

Or are we just faking it?

Coz it looks like harmony until one wants to marry the other, and the same again when it comes to the Black community. although this is slowly changing.

We all know finding true love and connection is very rare, every now and then a person blessed to meet and connect with someone on a deep level, someone who gets them, someone who presses all the right buttons in all the right places, someone who wants to be with them always and share a life together, when that happens you don't see that persons Colour, Race or Religion.

But take that relationship outside and all hell breaks loose, everyone has something to say about it, someway to feel about it.

Especially those who have been suffering in fear of loneliness in loveless marriages for years.

God help any Turkish girl that might fall in love with a Black or Greek man, 50% of them today would loose their family.

I have also seen many Turkish girls in multi racial relationships suffer and fail because of the family putting so much pressure of hate on the relationship,

When it does fail its usually because they lost their family support system, shut out in the cold by the ones that once said nobody loved them like they did, then being made to feel like they brought shame on the family. Being made to feel like they were a waste of time being raised.That kinda hurt changes people, its bad, but the guilty party dont accept and usually turn around and say "I told you so", hence enforcing their racist belief was true and so it continues.

I have also come across many Turkish males over the years and still to this day know of many who have many Black friends but would never touch a Turkish girl who has been in bed with a Black male!

Is this not hypocritical racism too?

But i guess it justified because we hear stories on the news of some other races that murder their daughters, to honor the family name, should they run off with a Black man, so i guess Turkish girls are lucky, aren't they?

Then we have the stupid racism against our own, us British Turkish Cypriots have always been treated differently when visiting Cyprus.

And a lot Turkey Turks that act like they're better than everyone. Always teasing the way we speak and always pointing out and saying something like "Ohh you're Cypriot"

Well yeah we speak different, you twat, its mixed in with greek because we used to live together.

Then they act like we still owe them gratitude for helping us get half of Cyprus (not all of you but a lot),

Well I think every Turkish household in North Cyprus has a picture of Ataturk in there home to this day.

The Turkish Cypriot government has even allowed mainland Turks to set up lots of hotels and casinos and brothels and created a safe haven for those with money running away from trials.

How much more gratitude do they want?

Especially as in my eyes all they really did was create a huge divide and caused unnecessary ongoing racism, where it once never existed, instead of helping achieve peace and harmony.

So if we are gonna end racism it starts with you.

Open your eyes every time you mention people by their Race or Religion or Colour?

Ask yourself was it really necessary?

Ask yourself why you think about people of different Race, Religion or Colour the way you do?

See your own racism 1st.

And finally I would like to add no Turk except the Black Turks has ever faced racism like Black People around the world have and still face.

It needs to stop and it needs to stop now.

I'm just having a rant based on my life experiences and this is only my opinion and does not include any real facts other than my personal encounters and experiences.

[purplesurveys]

698

3 words that describe...

Your personality: (A bit) aloof, sensitive, and shy.

Your friends: Loud, laidback, cheeky.

Your family: Emotionally distant, (mostly) religious. I’m cheating so much on this looooool.

Your life: Right now? Put on hold. Thanks, coronavirus.

Your current mood: Hungry, and irritated eyes.

Your dreams/goals in life: Ok three words will be too short for this so I’ll just enumerate three whole phrases: I’d like to have a job that pays well, get a house that doesn’t have to be huge, but it has to come with features I’ve always wanted like cove lights and a yard for the kids and dog to play in, and get settled.

Your partner/boyfriend/girlfriend (if you have one): Funny, intelligent, courageous.

The person you last talked to: Brave, considerate, responsible.

The room that you are currently in: Comfortable, well-lit, homey.

The world in your perspective: Many stupid humans.

Yes/No questions...

Are you creative? Absolutely not. I like doing the logical/rational side of things... I let others take care of creative aspects, if they have to be present.

Do you like spending a sunny day outdoors? NO, unless I’m at the beach then sunny is the only way to go. Otherwise I’d rather be indoors or somewhere air-conditioned thx.

Do you get upset easily or over the littlest things? I can be. It’s usually when I’m already stressed/antsy enough, or if I’m on my period.

Do you dislike any of the people in charge of you (i.e: teachers, bosses)? I don’t particularly dislike my prof in my Rizal course but he sure teaches like he doesn’t want to be there. I just haven’t been getting the enthusiasm off of him, and that’s really important to me when it comes to being interested in my subjects. Oh but my PE coach this sem is a bitch - one time I forgot to wear the shirt color she demands us to follow and she ignored me for the entire period. Quickest way to make me feel shitty. So yeah. Probably her.

Do you like to read books/magazines/newspapers? I like books only if they’re non-fiction. I...don’t really read magazines anymore, and I kinda have to check into newspapers from time to time because I take up journalism.

Are you family-oriented? Towards my girlfriend’s family, yeah. I don’t really care about being family-oriented for my own.

Have you ever been friends with someone in the past out of sympathy? Yeah, this girl named MJ in Grade 7. She was a new-ish student then and no one was approaching her, so Gab and I tried to befriend her for a time. Didn’t really pan out that well - we just didn’t mesh - so we stopped talking not long after.

Do/did you ever get nervous around people you are/were crushing on? I still do.

Do you believe in global warming? Duh.

Are you happy with the way society/the world in general is? I’m typically pessimistic when it comes to people, so no not really. I just feel like the bad news always overweigh the good these days - and while good news can serve as rays of sunshine sometimes, I’d rather face reality than live in my own bubble and choose to be oblivious to all the shitstorms happening around me.

Do you ever question your own religion/beliefs? I did, as early as when I was 10. The Bible just didn’t make sense to me to my frustration, and I’ve always felt disgusted with my school guilt-tripping us to be good people because a man got crowned with thorns and nailed to a giant cross. I figured I can be good simply because I choose to, so I let go of my Catholic roots quickly after. Having no friends that time surely forced me to think hahahahahahaha jk 1/2

This/That...

Do you prefer today's trends/styles, or ones from the past? Both have awesome stuff, there’s no need to pick. I’m really into the mom jeans of the 90s, but I also like the yellow trend that’s been going on recently.

Being too cold or too hot? I’d rather be shivering but be comforted with a thick blanket, than sweat bullets and have absolutely no way to cool myself down.

Uploading music to your iPod, or buying CDs? Depends. I used to buy the CDs of my favorite artists then just download the other music I’m not as passionate about.

Fruits or vegitables? VEGETABLESSSSSSSSSSSS. I hate fruits.

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate, for the most part. Vanilla tastes like nothing to me. Baseball or football? I don’t watch either and I probably won’t enjoy either either lmao, but I have a bias towards football because my girlfriend’s sisters play the sport. The mall with a bunch of little stores, or one single, big store? Malls kinda work differently here... they’re all one big building with a bunch of restaurants, clothing shops, sports shops, novelty stores, etc. Rap music or rock and roll? Not a big fan of either but I’d go with rock and roll I guess. I like some rap but none of them make me feel things, which rock can sometimes do for me. Roller skates or roller blades? I owned a pair of roller blades when I was 10 and had fun memories with it even though I never did learn how to do it properly. Horror movies that give you nightmares, or romance that makes you vomit? Horror for sure. I don’t even like romance-only movies; they have to be laced with a lot of comedy in between for me to enjoy them. Making more friends or making more money? Making more money sorry LMAOOOOOO Living it up and being stupid, or being safe and never pay the price? I’d always rather be safe. I hate getting reprimanded or caught doing something bad or being punished. Doing more of the talking, or more of the listening in a conversation? Listening, please. I don’t like having the attention on me for too long. Giving or receiving? Giving I guess? I always have a pretty good sense of what my loved ones need, and it’s always nice to see how good they feel when I give it to them. Cats or dogs? Dogs. Playing on the swingsets or the slides (as a kid)? Swings. I was traumatized by one slide when I was 6 because it was apparently blistering hot when I slid down from it, and it almost burned my butt off lmao.

Would you rather...

Bolding these because I’m lazy.

Live off of just food for 2 days, or just beverage for 2 days?

Tell a lie and be believable, or tell the truth and still be blamed?

Die at 65 with the love of your life, or live to 85 being single?

Fart and be heard from far away or fart and be smelled from far away?

Be tickled for an hour straight or be woken up by a bucket of cold water?

Have a cabel snap while bunjee jumping or have the bar go up on a coaster?

Have a deadly plague or a nuclear bomb hit your country? (Don't get ideas!) < This is a sick question to ask these days lol. I’m not answering.

Lick a frozen telephone pole or stick your hand in dry ice? Be rejected by your favorite celebrity or by someone you secretly admire? Give up your favorite food for eternity or eat a bowl of dead spiders? Make a lot of money at a job you hate or little money at a job you love? Jump off a bridge or from a moving car? < Another sick question.

Favorites...

Color(s): Pink, sky blue, off-white.

Song(s): I don’t have one at the moment. I haven’t listened to any music in a while, save for lo-fi.

Artist(s): Beyoncé if we’re talking solo, Paramore if you mean bands.

Music genre: I don’t have a favorite one; my taste is pretty scattered.

Movie: Two for the Road or Good Will Hunting

TV show: Breaking Bad, Friends, BoJack Horseman, Queer Eye

Actor and actress: Gregory Peck; Audrey Hepburn or Kristen Stewart

Movie/TV genre: Romantic comedy or drama lmao, I’m a sappy bitch. Suspense and psychological horror are also cool.

Restarant: Yabu, Mendokoro Ramenba, or Silantro

Food: Sushi

Dessert: Macarons

Hobby: Going to museums! Or reading about the history of anything.

Activity to do out of boredom: Scroll my social media feeds orrrrrr do surveys, or watch cooking videos on YouTube heh.

Type of weather: Bleak, rainy, and chilly.

Book: I don’t have a favorite.

Subject in school: History

Item that you own: My car hahahaha

Pastime: Eating out and window shopping. Maybe I’m just saying these because I haven’t been to a mall in a while :/

Site: Palawan

Tourist attraction: I’ve always wanted to go to those towers that lets you go to the top floor and the floor is just literal glass. If I’m gonna be a tourist-y tourist, that’s the first place I’d go to haha.

Random questions in your own words...

If you could have any desired superpower, what would it be?

The history nerd in me would take up time travel in an instant. And I won’t even be using it as a superpower lmao, it’d be like a research pastime for me.

What would be your dream job?

If I wasn’t such an introvert and if I were a lot better in handling crowds, I really would have wanted to be a pro wrestler.

Descibe your dream date:

Museum in the day, cute dinner at night.

What was the best day of your life like?

I don’t know if that has happened yet.

What was the worst day of your life like?

So far my worst day was when I wasn’t accepted into my school paper in high school and I spent like 18 hours crying my eyes out. I liked writing and was accepted for my portfolio, but people thought I was too shy to fit the group’s dynamic and ended up getting booted. There are quiet writers too, assholes.

If you ever have kids one day, what you you name them?

Too early for this lol I’ve only had name picked out - Olivia.

What's one thing that will bring you out of your worst mood no matter what?

My dog. FOR SURE.

Who's the most annoying person you've ever encountered?

Jem, someone from my college who thinks she’s close with me but I really do not like her at all.

If you could grow up to be like anybody, who would it be?

I don’t believe in having role models. I just want to be the best version of myself.

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

My mental health could be mental healthier.

What's your favorite inspirational/famous quote? I don’t depend on these either. Describe your dream ice cream sundae (unlimited toppings): Meh, I don’t like sundaes. Just scoops would be fine with me. What comes to mind first when you think of your favorite color? I have no idea why this is what I remember, but it was the day I went shopping for school supplies and got myself a pink clipboard, pink pencil case, pink expander, and pink highlighters. I think it’s because it was that day where I had to acknowledge that pink was in fact, unironically, my favorite color HAHAHA What's something in your life that you once hated but came to like? ^ The color pink. And chicken curry. What's something in your life that you once liked but came to hate? Cooked salmon. There was one phase my mom made it almost everyday and I just got sick of it. I refuse to eat salmon to this day unless it’s sashimi or in sushi. If you could stop any chaos/problem in our world today, what would it be? This fucking pandemic. 2020 CAN’T CONTINUE BECAUSE OF YOU. What would be the best way to die, in your opinion? Peacefully, in sleep, with no pain. What would be the worst way to die? Falling off a cliff (or anywhere high) and landing on a boulder EUGH I cringe at it. Also getting impaled. AND plane crashes. If you could give your room a free makeover, what would you do to it? I’d make it look spacier by moving the bed to the wall so there’s a lot of free space in the middle. I’d also add a desk, work chair, and a lamp so I can study there. If you could have an unlimited amount of anything, what would it be? The number of years my dog would live. What's one thing that you like that would probably surprise your friends? They know I like punk rock in general but I haven’t shared any of the music with them. It would definitely surprise them. Out of everything in the world, what holds the most meaning to you? Stability.