#Mutable Map

[punksocks]

Astrology Observation: No.24 (18+ Only)

No minors! Adults only pls

Just based on my opinions only take what resonates

-Water moons/mars are the most likely to just say they love you during s*x (they may mean it too !); Can happen to fire moon/mars too but they may not mean it after the moment; Earth Moon/Mars will not be saying anything without planning well in advance (Earth moon AND Mars, you will not catch them slip lmao); I’d assume Air Moon/Mars would be the most likely to tease the other person(s) and say just about anything but I love you

-Venus aspects to Mars/ Taurus/Libra mars/ Venus and/or Mars in 2nd could really enjoy dressing up in lingerie and setting up a s*xy atmosphere in general (and your partner would enjoy this too !)

-1st/2nd /7th/8th house Venus, Scorpio Venus, Venus conjunct Pluto/ sometimes 12th house venus you may get compliments on your genitals from people during s*x (like told you have a pretty p*ssy lol yea fr)

-1st /8th house mars, Aries mars, Scorpio mars/Mars conjunct Pluto/sometimes 12th house mars would also be this for those in their masc energy (instead of pretty someone might admire the aggressive look of your junk instead)

-Imo the easiest sexual partners to discuss boundaries and such with will be partners that have easy (conjunct/trine/Sextile) mars aspects to your Mercury and/or moon

-I know we’d assume that mars in 8th is the most s*xual but I’d argue that mars in 12th is also super s*xual. Intimacy tends to be heavy on the mind, and there’s a higher chance of mirroring s*xual energy back to others. Especially if the native acts out of their masc/mars energy

-i’d think Aries, Leo, and Scorpio mars would be the most into their partner being SO attracted to them they can’t keep their hands off of them and/or finish too fast (least likely with Scorpio unless you’re just really over stimulating them, most likely with Aries- the most veracious Aries mars go rounds imo)

-I’d argue and assume that air mars/3rd house mars are spacing out the hardest during s*x, and I bet it’s not on purpose (just bouncing between thoughts and coming back to what’s going on)(also if you keep their attention, you’re doing something right)

-Water mars could mean you sleep around for emotional validation (…Imma say it… cancer mars has the strongest chances lol)

-I think your Venus and mars together can show if you’re more of a sub or dom imo (like if they’re both cardinal you’re probably a dom, if they’re mutable then you may be a switch/sub, and if they’re fixed I’d think you’d be hard set on being a sub or dom — and then results may vary depending on the combination of signs and how much of your feminine or masculine energy you act out of.)

-I think Scorpio Venus/Mars makes someone more dominant in s*x than Aries mars/Venus imo (they’re not here to win, they’re here to posses you- that’s so intense man)

-Understated praise kink placements? Virgo moon/mars. They need to hear praises for how well they did or they’re gonna overthink it. Libra/Taurus mars also would like this. And Venus square/opposition Mars would too in a tell me how much you want me sort of way (it makes them feel really desired)

-Tumblr ruined me bc now every time I look up a dudes birth chart and see Sagittarius mars/Jupiter positively aspecting mars I’m like damn, do they just have bde or actually have a big d*ck and I feel bad for guessing lmao but now it’s so automatic

-Strong Lilith placements (1st/7th/8th/10th) can show guys pressuring you to perform their like shadow side fantasies (which is not cool, because where’s the consent? We always need to discuss things beforehand and map out a plan otherwise it’s skeezy behavior -unless you’re into being surprised but even then lol)

-Gemini placements (the big 6, but especially mars) make you louder in bed. And more open to trying new things and switching up positions.

-5th house synastry is really s*xy and fun. Some of the best dates and relationships imo. It also allows you to open up and experiment in a way you never have before. Can keep a long term relationship exciting as well depending on the overall synastry. (Be careful bc this is the pregnancy overlay too oml)

-I think north node in 5th can (depending on the sign and aspects ofc) can point to indulging in the senses, partying, breakin hearts and hookin up a bunch— especially if you’re unbalanced/still learning to balance this with your south node energy

-(in sing songy voice) Scorpio synastry is someone telling you s*x with you makes them f*cking crazy (No they are not kidding ! Lilith synastry is this on steroids but it feels more like you’re lighting this fire in the more masc person - and they’re afraid of burning imo (I’m not singing any more lol)

-I hold to the fact that Lilith in 1st/7th/8th/10th can make someone jump into bed with you way faster than they usually would even if they have like an earth or water mars, if you have Lilith synastry with them this is amplified

-Masc folks/Men with Taurus and/or Cancer in their big 6 (especially mars/venus) are very attracted to women/femmes that are curvy and have an hourglass figure. Aries placements tend to be attracted to athletic figures. Leo placements are likely to jump at figures they find attention grabbing. Libra/Scorpio placement men are more likely to be attracted to figures that they’re socialized to find s*xy. I find that Sagittarius/Pisces is the least likely to have a set type. Aquarius and Gemini are also pretty dependent on personality and conversation skills.

[evilminji]

I wonder if Care Taking Reflexes are effected by Core and Obsession.

Like? Obviously? Frostbite keeps HIS patients Warm and gives them medical aid. Because he a Doctor(obsession) and an Ice Core? And when you have an ice core, anyone you meet who need Help is either Like Me-> Freeze Um, or NOT Like Me-> Warm Um Up(because of the snow, Obviously. Why would there not be snow, here, in the Sahara desert? There is ALWAYS snow! WE ARE COLD SO THERE IS SNO-).

Like? Some people will shove you in a stack of books in a dark nook, others bundle you up and force feed you, some try to help you sweat the sickness away. You gotta be careful. Because the reflex is there.

It's probably why Ghost Doctors can absolutely BODY your average ghost. They have to keep prying patients out of their well meaning, but actively in the way, friends/family/neighbors etc.

You can't fight somebody who's SICK! Let them HELP you! THEN we can get back to good, wholesome, old fashioned, family friendly Violence. Like the Zone intended. Now, they got some leeches to balance your humors... *tackled by a yeti*

Why do I bring this up?

Bet Jason's REAL sick. >:Dc

Bet Danny is flying along. Checking his map. Lost AF over what appears to be God's personal punching ground. Trying to find a COMPLETELY different city, to visit Tucker, when? Is... is that a Sick Child(tm)?! Why is he ON THE ROOF!?

WHY ARE PEOPLE SHOOTING AT HIM ON THE ROOF?!!?

Danny just absolutely REINVENTS the term "Death From Above". Jason is impressed. Or, at least, he would be. If a floating twink half his size didn't then IMMEDIATELY proceed to do a brooding chicken impression at him.

Sorry, let him rephrase that for the Bat's at home. Not AT him. ON him. He has a floating twink straight jacket that doubles as a hat. He can't move his arms. Kid has super strength.

Help. Now. Or his vengeance will be both petty and terrible.

So begins the saga of Broody Danny and his quest to sit on the baby. Surround him by space stuff. Should he ACTUALLY be taking him to a doctor? Yes. But give Danny a break! He's basicly a Ghost 5 year old. He's terrible at resisting his impulses!

@hdgnj @hypewinter @ailithnight @mutable-manifestation

[dhampling]

the sunwalker's gift gn!reader, 3.3k

“What is all of this in aid of, anyway?” He asks in a lazy drawl, seemingly unbothered. “The adventuring stuff. Do we have a destination yet?”

inspired by this ask where the reader finds a ring - after a lot of searching - that allows astarion to walk in the sun, and proposes with it. enjoy! wc: 3.3k cw: none. gn reader, fluff, all good stuff. no use of y/n. like one vague reference to sex. that's it. liberties taken with the idea of the sunwalker's gift.

Tardy.

“Here then, yes?”

A gentle dirt path carries to the town boundary, the marker one of dry wood and old brandish. Windows of amber; smoke rising to the stars, a biting chill settling on the ground as gateclose approaches.

You turn the map in hand to compare against the settlement before you.

“Think so.”

Astarion takes your arm in his, leaving the map hanging free in his wake. 

It takes all the will you can muster not to take his hands in yours and spin him in some sleepy glee-bound whirl in the sheer ecstasy at the thought of what you have planned - instead pulling each other something ragged down the slope in a half-step, half-cant; giddy at the thought of Firewine by a fireplace as your breath clouds the air foggy past your heads.

You’re in a position where - maybe for the first time since the Netherbrain fell - you can see the end. 

And it’s close. Ridiculously close. 

You want nothing more than to drop and do it now. Knees muddied in the dew-thickened dirt clod and breeze heavy with frost under the big pale moon - teeth chittering, looking up to him;-

Gods. You can picture it. His eyes hooplike with uncertainty, the one last drip of doubt teetering on his tongue - is this some kind of cosmic joke? - a quiet whisper under his breath, a little tilt of his head. Hair rippling in the moonlight. A moment of mutability as he reconciles all you are, all you’ve become together. That there’s a future in which sincerity is all he knows moving forward.

No.

Before morning, for sure.

-

The gate welcomes you in one last waning breath as the guards head to their watch turrets until dawn, and it takes a minute to truly come to terms with civilization once more. Your eyes flit to each of the little flickering lanterns and candles in windows; to the railings adorned with browning vines and disused terracotta pots.  

It’s been months since you and Astarion have been somewhat settled anywhere. Since the Absolute fell and you set off for adventures beyond anything you or he could ever imagine. Navigating the Underdark together, treading darkness above ground; wherever, it wasn’t of any real importance. You’d find lodging where you could, eat with whoever welcomed you; and you did it together.

Of course, your ulterior motive has managed to remain a secret. From clandestine discussions with the Society of Brilliance all the way back to the Gate; to fevered exploration in the deepest chasms of Sembia. Nights spent looking over the ferryboats on the Sea of Fallen Stars and discussing so many different futures the two of you could live. 

He is completely disarmed and unsuspecting at your side. Radiant. Hopeful. The world is changed and he wants to see every bit he passes with eyes wide open to good fortune.

“A town called Tardy? Really?” 

He sneers.

You shrug.

“It has a fun ring to it. Tardy.”

The word bounces on your tongue as you taste the mull-soak set between your teeth. 

A wordless mission to stave off the chill now has you settled fireside in the closest inn with mulled Glowfire. The clock ticks and there’s lively chatter a little behind you in the main tavern room.

“The Scoundrel's Cellar, though. Now that’s a good name.’

He takes a small sip. 

‘Why Tardy?”

You turn your head to him with a tight quirk of your upper lip.

“You’re asking me why?”

“Not really.’

Astarion looks at you and smiles.

‘It’s just… nice. To be able to talk at such leisure like this, I think.”

His cheeks are ruddied by the lashings of wind, the hint of a twinkle in his eyes as he reveres you. Hair a little unruly in the mop of curls atop his head but still unbelievably well-kempt for a man who's been on the road for months now. Lost wholly in his sheer exuberance, his joy in living despite the lack of a pulse. His chalice is close to his chest as he warms his hands.

You daren’t linger on your own appearance, thinking a silent prayer that the bathroom has a mirror. 

It’s a long moment before you reply.

“Yes! Yes. Absolutely.”

He throws you a quizzical glance but the smile doesn’t leave his face as he shifts to look down at his drink.

“I sometimes picture having a fireplace, you know. How-’

A brief pause.

‘How nice it’d be to sit by it, on an evening like this. Home.”

Astarion stretches a palm outward to the flame and closes his eyes, basking in the scalding heat. Amber shades. Pallid skin a perfect canvas.

“What would you be doing, by the fire?” You query softly as you watch the gentle flickers of his hand, outstretched.

“I- I’m not sure.”

Something resembling a coy smile creeps onto his face, overrun by a timid quiet uncharacteristic of your long-term lover. You lean over to him and take his nimble fire-warm hand in your own. A small kiss planted firmly on the hot skin.

“Go on.’

The willing smile on your face as you egg him on, chin to palm. He tilts his head coquettishly. 

‘What do you see in that beautiful head of yours? Because I can see it now - a sitting room full of tapestries and hangings; all of your design, of course. Patchwork blankets. Big comfy seats.”

“Ugh. Fine. Yes.’

Any ill-mannered jest fades almost immediately as he looks into your eyes and beams once more. He is safe here. He knows it.

‘I’m thinking big seats. Maybe-’

He brings his arms out wide.

‘Maybe this big? Possibly bigger? Somewhere to lounge, naturally.’

His hand finds yours in the low light once more, a tentative clutch as he maps out the vision in his head. 

‘Soft carpets on stone floors. Incense - none of the dull stuff though, darling; only pure patchouli - and… and lanterns with glass of all colours, so the room glows with light constantly.”

“So we’ve set the scene. Then what?”

Astarion rolls his eyes at you fondly.

“And then… I don’t know. A little cat on the cushions. Books, papers scattered on the carpet as despite the fact we have those big comfy seats; I’m not seeing myself to be inclined to move Her Majesty.”

“After the cat at the Last Light?”

“The very same. But I want a girl cat. Boy cats feel… weird to me. Cats are girls.’

He grimaces and waves his chalice-hand.

‘Anyway. Her Majesty on the lounger, me on the floor. I’m drawing up patterns early into the morning. Big, thick shutters over the windows; but it doesn’t matter because the lantern light is so vivid, and you;-’

There’s a feather-soft look to him when he does look at you.

‘Oh, you.’

You become aware of him drawing small circles with his thumb, eyes unmoving; unblinking. 

‘Always you. My love. Should you decide to join me in long-term domesticity-’

He plants a kiss on your hand as you did his. Your stomach is pure cream as you listen, nodding slowly with lids of honey.

‘Then you. Everywhere. Beside me on the carpet, laughing in that delicious way you do. Astride me in our bed -’

You smirk. He looks at you a little deviously.

‘Well, not just bed. Anywhere, really.”

“Is that what the loungers are for?”

A small grin.

“Maybe.’

You gesture for him to continue with a knowing grin.

‘Anyway. Yes. The future. Us. A townhouse somewhere in the Gate.” He sips slowly while pondering.

“What about younglings? You were fond of Yenna.”

The wine erupts down his pale chin in shock, eyes like saucers.

“I’m sorry?”

“Children.” You repeat, holding his gaze with firm affection. 

He moves to laugh but there’s a wavering indecision in the way his brows crease.

“Is that even possible?”

“I don’t know. But if it is?”

He stops to think for a moment when the call for Grand High Lord Supreme General Admiral Ancunín - his favoured travelling name - comes from the frazzled barmaid at the front of house to signal your rooms are ready, and all discussion overruled by the fact you’re both bone-weary beyond belief.

As your hand moves to your pocket, you feel it.

Sequestered away in the little velvet box you bought from the Night Market months ago and kept for this. 

Later.

-

Hours on and you’re settled. A small room with an adjoining washroom - modest, but surprisingly comfortable; and just as you’d hoped, there’s a balcony. 

Astarion lounges on the bed with a large leatherbound book, looking fondly at you from time to time as you busy yourself with your recent findings, taking inventory and stashing bits away in their respectively labelled bags of holding.

“What is all of this in aid of, anyway?” He asks in a lazy drawl, seemingly unbothered.

“What?”

“This. The adventuring stuff. Do we have a destination yet?”

“No, not in particular.’ You turn to look at him over your shoulder.

‘Why? You’ve not been bothered before?”

“And I’m not now. But I am curious.’

He grins devilishly on the bed and flips the book closed, placing it next to him and sitting straight - legs crossed. 

‘What’s the plan, lover?”

“Who says there’s a plan?”

He’s got you right where he wants you. 

You feel yourself becoming giddy again - heart wholly aflutter. You’re aware that he’s attuned to the regular pitter-patter between your ribs and despite the conscious attempt to regulate yourself back to calm; you almost want him to find you out this way. 

“Nothing. I’m just wondering where we’re - well, wandering. It’s beginning to feel a little aimless”

There’s a moment of silence, prolonged as you fiddle further with your trinkets.

“I-’

You reach for the box in your pocket and run a thumb over it reactively.

‘I’ll tell you later. I promise.”

He looks at you with a curious furrow, trying to eke out a little more information in the quiet din but you’re wise to it at this point in your relationship. You simply yield into his glance with a pleading smile. 

“Okay. Okay. I’ll leave it with you. But I do expect answers!”

You heave a sigh of relief. He’s definitely picked up on it.

Once all of your spoils are packed away you take a trip downstairs to purchase more wine and request a bath to be drawn - after all, you’ve been on the road with rivers as your only source of cleanliness for gods know how long.

There are nerves. Of course there are nerves, small pins prickling from within and setting you ablaze with each new thought of him beside you for life, threads weaving a rich tableau life together. Lilting violins and piano sonatas. Finery for days. Some small townhouse, just as he’d described it downstairs. 

But you found the thing you’d set out to find on your adventures. Where you head next is entirely up to the both of you.

Provided he says yes, that is.

You imagine the worst possible rejection he could give you - “No, darling. Let’s keep things as they are for now.” - and yet the thought of him calling you darling in that syrupy murmur is rousing enough to keep you afloat. 

The bath is tepid, door open whilst Astarion watches from the bed between pages.

“More wine, love?”

“Please.”

Calm. Rain on the thatch roof. 

He perches on the side of the washtub, one leg crossed over the other as he passes you a glass full of red. Hums absent-mindedly as he swirls the perfumed waters with a dainty hand. 

Your mind drifts to the ring. How beautiful it’ll look in place.

He looks at you with that curious glint in his eye, and you roll your head to the back of the tub in an attempt at meek avoidance.

“Pretty.” He quips. 

You laugh quietly.

“Hm?”

“You. Pretty. Hair all mussed like a siren. A vision.”

He lifts your wrist from the water and kisses the back of your hand a few times over, while you squirm in jest. He only retaliates by kissing you harder with a fiendish giggle. 

“You’re one to talk.”

The lantern by the mirror lights the tips of his curls from behind. Angelic.

“Yes, I am beautiful. So are you. My darling.”

It must be late now. Maybe late enough.

As you lift from the water - assisted by your lover’s hand - and enrobe once more, you feel it.

Now.

-

Astarion begins his usual routine of light-proofing the room and blocking the shutters as the threat of sunrise looms on the horizon.

Well. Light.

The rain doesn’t show any sign of ceasing.

Nonetheless, you feel ready. A habit you can’t wait for him to break, checking the shutters for cracks.

“C’mere.” 

He turns to you and looks you over.

“Hm?”

“Come here! Please! I’ve got something for you and it simply can’t wait any longer.”

The box is light in hand, soft. You’ve checked it multiple times for the ring and all is in place.

The way he steps to you is cautious. Catlike.

“Is this the thing? Is it finally time?’

You pull him in next to you on the edge of the bed, taking both hands in yours.

‘I can see that little box. Hopefully a trinket worth the hours of agony I’ve endured waiting for you to reveal your secrets.” He grins, pulling you in for a gentle kiss.

You don’t say anything, freeing one hand to take the box.

“This is-’

A sharp inhale.

‘This is it. Wherever we go from here, it’s mutually agreed. All of it. But this is what I’ve been looking for, hence my leadership skills taking forefront again.”

“Don’t tell me. It’s a Bracing Band!’

You shove him gently and he giggles, reinforcing his clutch on your hand. 

‘Okay, okay. I’m done. Show me.”

He waggles his fingers around your palm and grins expectantly. Gods. You rip the bandage off and open the box to him.

He’s seen a picture of it before - it’s in one of his books, that’s where you got the initial idea - but you know he hasn’t read it or he’d onto you weeks ago.

And he doesn’t recognise it. 

“I- What is this?”

A gentle whisper as his eyes run over the golden rays cast with aged enamel. 

“A ring.’

Astarion’s death glare takes a new form, this time wholly inhibited by the uncertainty in his frozen hunch.

You stand and spin to a kneel on the floor in front of him.

‘A special ring. Really, really special; in fact.’

Plucking it from the velvet, you hover the band over his fingertip.

‘Firstly though. Marry me?”

You don’t think you’ve ever seen him so completely and utterly shocked. 

Mouth firmly agape as red round eyes attempt to scan yours for any sign of deceit, jowls trembling a little in the yellow lantern glow. A small gulp as his lips meet once more.

“You picked an inn called The Scoundrel's Cellar, in a town called Tardy, in the middle of a thunderstorm; to propose marriage to me?”

“Had to be here, had to be now. Couldn’t wait any longer. You’ll understand in a minute, I promise.’

You rise a little to cup his jaw in hand, sinking into a chaste kiss. 

‘Astarion Ancunín, will you marry me?”

“Gods!’

There’s a brief tremor as his lips wobble, then a practised breath as he speaks. One hand reaches for your flushed cheek to mirror the gesture. 

‘Of course I will, you brute. Maybe you could’ve done with a better choice in ring, of course; but I can learn to love it, I’m sur-”

“You are beyond insufferable, Astarion. Kiss me right now.”

The immediately resulting kiss is brimming with yearning. A cup full to spilling as he takes the ring in your hand whilst you put it on him. 

He hunches all the way over to meet you on raised knees, grabbing at body-warmed bedclothes for one another; tenderly, in peals of quiet laughter between breaths and silent shouts.

“Wait. I’m not done.’

He’s giddy now, too. Knee bouncing. 

‘There’s a reason it had to be that ring.”

“It’s hideous, pet. Give me a reason to love it.”

You spin to your feet and to the furthest shutters, opening them a slight as he watches on in guarded curiosity with the biggest smile lingering on his face. 

The first hint of light. 

“C’mere.”

“You’re bossing me around an awful lot today, my darling betrothed.”

The weight of the moment is colossal, ocean deep. Despite his sheer joy he won’t come willingly. The burns from the dock the day the Absolute fell were molten for weeks and you still both have night terrors ringing loud with the sound of his agonising yells. 

A gentle hand extends to him. 

“The Sunwalker’s Gift.”

Then it clicks. Slowly. The final puzzle piece.

“No. Surely.”

“Yes.”

“It can’t be.”

“It had to be.”

“What if it isn’t?”

“Then we have a wedding to plan in the Underdark. But I wouldn’t traipse across the realms on just an inkling, you know.”

“I know you wouldn’t.”

“Well then.’

Your hand waits expectantly, fingers mimicking his waggle.

‘Just a finger. Please.”

He sits on the bed, spinning the ring mindlessly; before he looks at you with a resolute nod.

“I’ve trusted you with far worse, all things considered.”

Astarion approaches slowly and meets your hand, interlinking your ring fingers together and waiting for your word as you position yourself within the light.

“On three?”

Three arrives and nothing happens.

Hands raised, fingers lit in a single low beam of early light. Frozen.

“Astarion? All good?”

He moves your hands wholly into the light. Nothing. Twists the tangled fingers as if examining for damage. Rain careens into the window.

“I- Yes. Yes. All good.”

Dumbfounded.

You erupt into a bubbling grin, pulling him to the balcony doors and planting another soft kiss onto bewildered lips. Looking to the worn bronze handles with a brief head tilt.

A simple, overwhelmed nod. Brows knitted together in a milky daze, mouth slack. He looks like he’s going to collapse. 

The doors edge open and you cautiously step to lead him by arm.

Nothing. Not a single sizzle, no cinders. Forearm, arm, body; head.

No tug on your hand as he races back indoors. No wretched cries of pain nor gasps of hurt.

It’s a few seconds before he speaks. The sun now burns bright enough to see the streets below with razor clarity.

“The rain. My- my hair-’

Barely above a whisper.

‘Looks perfect. As it always does.’

Your eyes don’t leave him. Not once. He’s completely floored, gazing into the middle distance mindlessly. 

‘Love, sit.”

You gently tug an iron-wrought balconette chair over to him and help him to find purchase atop it amongst his overwhelm.

“I- I love you. Thank you.”

“Anything. Anything for you.”

He shakes from his haze once wet through, lightning on the horizon awakening the Astarion you recognise best. Closes his eyes with a soft smile.

“You’re going to catch your death out here, you know.”

His grip on your hand is vicelike, clutching it to his chest with zealous reverence.

“Then we’ll have to have a hot bath later. Right now though, I think a celebration is in order.”

You free yourself from his grasp for two moments, barreling back inside for the last of the wine and the large bedsheet. You place both chalices on the iron table and sit beside Astarion outside in fits of laughter whilst wrapping the sheet over both of your heads. He snatches your hand back and kisses it for an age. Devoted.

“To Tardy?”

He lifts his chalice in his free hand, and you do the same in yours.

“Tardy!”

[theplotmage]

Hi, I was wondering if you could so some sort of rule set for time travel? I'm finding it hard to describe, and what rules there are on the subject.

Thanks!

Hello, I'm also writing a time traveling sci-fi fiction with a fantasy blend to it and here are some things that I find that could help us out!

Rule Set for Creating Believable Time-Traveling Fiction

1. Time Travel Mechanics

Mechanism Description

- Clearly explain how time travel works in your story. Is it a machine, a natural phenomenon, a magical object, or an innate ability?

Scientific Basis

- Incorporate real scientific theories, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity, wormholes, or quantum mechanics, to ground your story in plausible science.

Limitations and Costs

- Define the limitations of time travel, such as distance in time, frequency, energy requirements, or physical toll on the traveler.

2. World-Building

Historical Accuracy

- Research and accurately depict the time periods your characters travel to. Include cultural norms, language, technology, and major events of those eras.

Parallel Worlds and Timelines

- Decide if time travel in your story creates alternate timelines or if it follows a single, mutable timeline. Consistency is key.

Temporal Organization

- Consider the existence of a governing body or organization that regulates time travel. Define its structure, rules, and purpose.

3. Language and Communication

Temporal Dialects

- Characters from different time periods should speak differently. Use historical dialects, slang, and accents appropriate to each era.

Temporal Jargon

- Create specific terms and jargon for time travelers and the technology they use, such as “temporal jump,” “chrononaut,” or “time anchor.”

Code of Conduct

- Develop a code of conduct or set of guidelines that time travelers must follow, including how they communicate with each other and with people from different eras.

4. Character Development

Motivations and Goals

- Clearly define why characters want to time travel. Is it for adventure, to change a personal event, or for scientific exploration?

Personal Growth

- Show how time travel affects characters emotionally and psychologically. Do they struggle with the ethics of their actions or the loneliness of being out of their time?

Conflict and Tension

- Use the potential for paradoxes, rival time travelers, and moral dilemmas to create conflict and tension.

5. Ethical and Moral Implications

Paradox Prevention

- Address how your story handles paradoxes, such as the grandfather paradox. Use concepts like self-healing timelines or fixed points in time to explain inconsistencies.

Ethical Dilemmas

- Explore the moral implications of time travel. Should characters intervene in historical events? What are the consequences of changing the past Responsibility

- Emphasize the responsibility that comes with the power to alter time. Characters should consider the broader implications of their actions.

6. Plot Structure

Non-Linear Narrative

- Use non-linear storytelling techniques to enhance complexity and intrigue. Flashbacks, flash-forwards, and parallel timelines can create a rich narrative.

Foreshadowing and Payoff

- Plant clues and foreshadowing that pay off later in the story. Ensure that all plot threads are resolved by the end.

Multiple Perspectives

- Consider telling the story from multiple viewpoints to show the impact of time travel from different angles.

7. Integrating Science Fiction and Fantasy Elements

Scientific Plausibility

- Ground your time travel mechanics in plausible science, even if you incorporate fantastical elements. Use pseudo-scientific explanations to bridge the gap.

Imaginative Enhancements

- Blend scientific theories with imaginative elements, such as ancient artifacts, alien technology, or supernatural forces.

Explanatory Dialogue

- Use character dialogue to explain complex concepts in an accessible way without overwhelming the reader with technical details.

8. World-Building Consistency

Timeline Integrity

- Map out key events in your story’s timeline to avoid inconsistencies and plot holes.

Cultural and Societal Impact

- Consider how time travel affects society. Is it a well-known and regulated practice, or a secret known only to a few?

Technological and Historical Changes

- Explore how changes in the past affect technology and history in the present and future. Ensure these changes are logically consistent.

9. Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Avoid Overcomplication

- Keep the rules of time travel simple enough for readers to follow without getting bogged down in excessive technical detail.

Plot Holes

- Be vigilant about potential plot holes and inconsistencies that can arise from complex time travel mechanics.

Exposition Balance

- Balance the need to explain time travel mechanics with maintaining the story’s pace and engagement. Avoid info-dumping.

Rules for Time Traveling

1. One-Way Trips Only

Restriction

- Time travelers can only move forward or backward in time once without the possibility of a return journey.

Explanation

- This rule ensures that the timeline remains linear and prevents paradoxes caused by multiple interactions with the same time period.

Effect

- Limits interference with historical events and reduces the chance of creating alternate realities.

2. The Observer Effect

Restriction

- Time travelers cannot interact with their past selves or directly influence their previous actions.

Explanation

- Direct interaction with one’s past self could create paradoxes, such as the “grandfather paradox,” where altering past events prevents the traveler’s existence.

Effect

- Maintains the integrity of the timeline and ensures personal history remains consistent.

3. Fixed Points in Time

Restriction

- Certain historical events, known as fixed points, cannot be changed or altered in any way.

Explanation

- These events are crucial for the stability of the timeline and the universe’s structure.

Effect

- Prevents catastrophic changes to reality, ensuring key moments in history remain intact.

4. Memory Corruption

Restriction

- Excessive time travel can lead to memory corruption, where the traveler starts forgetting crucial details of their original timeline.

Explanation

- The brain struggles to handle multiple versions of events, leading to cognitive dissonance and memory loss.

Effect

- Ensures travelers use time travel sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.

5. Temporal Anchor

Restriction

- Time travelers must establish a temporal anchor, a fixed point in time to which they can return or stabilize themselves.

Explanation

- This anchor serves as a safeguard against getting lost in time or drifting uncontrollably through different periods.

Effect

- Provides a safety net for travelers, ensuring they have a way back to their original timeline or a stable reference point.

6. Butterfly Effect

Restriction

- Minor changes in the past can have significant, unforeseen consequences in the future.

Explanation

- The butterfly effect illustrates how small actions can ripple through time, drastically altering future events.

Effect

- Encourages travelers to be cautious and minimize their impact on past events to avoid unintended consequences.

7. Temporal Energy Consumption

Restriction

- Time travel requires a significant amount of energy, often depleting the traveler’s resources or affecting the environment.

Explanation

- The energy needed to manipulate time is immense, and its usage can lead to resource shortages or environmental damage.

Effect

- Ensures time travel is not undertaken lightly and that travelers consider the environmental and resource costs.

8. Chrono-Sickness

Restriction

- Prolonged exposure to different time periods can cause physical and mental ailments, known as chrono-sickness.

Explanation

- The human body and mind are not designed to handle the stress of moving through time, leading to disorientation, nausea, and psychological effects.

Effect

- Limits the duration and frequency of time travel, encouraging travelers to minimize their trips.

9. Temporal Interference

Restriction

- Time travelers must avoid interfering with major historical figures or events.

Explanation

- Interfering with significant events or individuals can drastically alter the course of history, leading to unpredictable outcomes.

Effect

- Preserves the natural flow of history and ensures major events occur as intended.

10. Temporal Paradoxes

Restriction

- Travelers must avoid creating paradoxes, situations where actions in the past contradict the present or future.

Explanation

- Paradoxes can destabilize the timeline, potentially leading to its collapse or the creation of alternate realities.

Effect

- Ensures travelers act responsibly and with caution, preventing actions that could lead to paradoxical situations.

***

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[incorrectmahabharatquotes]

I see so many hindutva wadis arguing that caste system is a foreign concept and hinduism only had the varna system. As if the varna system was fair? Also isn't caste derived from the varna system? Like brahmins and Kshatriyas became upper castes, vaishyas became obc and shudra were dalits?

I had the impression that the caste system was the documentation of people who already belonged to the varna system. Do correct me if I'm wrong.

It's a little more complicated than that. Currently, we live under the jaati(or jāti) system broadly speaking. When people talk about the caste system in modern India, it is this system superimposed on the varna system that they are referring to. Functionally, the caste system now is a hybrid of the two systems.

The Varna system and the Jaati System are both systems of social hierarchy.

As everyone is already aware, under the varna system, the society is divided into four categories(i.e. brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras) which are hierarchical in nature and mentioned in the various ancient religious texts. Crucially important to this system is the existence of a fifth category, the untouchables(I assume you're already aware of the practice of untouchability) and the outsiders(often termed as "mlechhas", which is now a derogatory xenophobic{and casteist!} slur coming back into popular use thanks to the resurgence of regressive ideas under hindutva politics). These are important to mention because the marginalization of these people was based on them being an out-group i.e. not part of the varna system. People claim the varnas were mutable based on a handful of examples in said texts but I would like to point out that those examples are said to be exceptions rather than the rule.

The Jaati System would be more familiar to you in terms of lived experience. Under this system, society is divided into socio-ethnic endogamous groups or communities and each of the groups have different socio-economic standing in society. The practice of endogamy(marriage limited to within a social group) is important to this system as there is emphasis on one's birth. This is why people say that intermarriage is the most significant step towards dismantling the entire system, but I digress. Prior to the colonization of India, these groups worked on a purely social basis of privilege and exclusion. Villages and cities were(and still are!) segregated based on these jatis. One's occupation was defined by their birth as long as they lived in their specific society.

I would like to emphasize that this system existed and thrived even before the colonisers ever came knocking on the subcontinent's doors. We can find mentions of the system in the historical accounts of both people of the subcontinent and travellers from outside. A study of people's DNA by some scholars claims that the endogamous groups can be traced back to as far as the Gupta Empire(mid 3rd century to mid 6th century CE).

The assertion that the caste system is a purely colonial fabrication is absurd. People point to the term "caste" as being of foreign origin but the term "jaati" already existed and was in use. "Caste" is just another way of referring to jaatis.

Now on to some legitimacy hidden in the nonsensical claims, in the 1901 census of the subcontinent, the British bureaucracy fit the various jatis under the broad classification of the four varnas. It was not a clean fit, leaving many in an awkward position of having been classified wrongly. This is their fault. Not the construction of the system but rather the wrongful categorisation of it.

Officially, there are over 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India. Take these numbers with a grain of salt because there are many unregistered castes and sub-castes to this day fighting their own battles of legal recognition.

The castes do not cleanly map onto the varnas. There are many castes who are in the upper strata of the hierarchy in one region and the lower strata in different regions. The system is incredibly nuanced and complex and our current legal systems have not caught up to the sophistication required to deal with it because of the people in power's adamant insistence of ignoring the system simply because they profit off of the oppression of others.

I don't want to add to the miscategorization but I feel like I should correct you on the fact that broadly speaking shudras are classified more under OBCs. (Please keep in mind that this not a clear category and there can be some castes who are said to be shudra who can be other categories as well.) There's much to be said about that because there's no distinction made between the land owner castes and the landless castes. And no, the creamy layer is not a good marker either.

There are some castes(1,108 of them to be exact) who were listed as scheduled castes(SC) in the Constitution of India for affirmative action. This was done to socially reform the country and help those in the marginalized sections of society to gain social mobility. The hope was to remove caste discrimination. As we know, it wasn't successful because caste discrimination still exists and caste based violence is on the rise again.

The term dalit is a contemporary word for the untouchable castes who were and are subjected to despicable discrimination in society.

The reason that I say that we now function under a hybrid of the two systems is that the superimposition of the varna system over the jaati system has been accepted and in many cases, embraced by the people now. You will find many a "upper caste" people proudly flaunting their Brahmin or kshatriya identities. The varna system is now interlinked with the jaati or the caste system whether we like it or not.

The system is complicated and fucked. We should get rid of it, guys. And with your help, you can make that dream a reality.

-Mod S

[aglennco]

Constellations from our group's game of The Prophet's Path for our campaign, Post Solar. Transcriptions of the text plus the image of the star map are under the cut:

Prelapsarian: A Prelapsarian will believe themself capable of anything, enabling them to look past antiquated perspectives to usher in new ideas, but they must take care not to reach for the sun. When working alone they often find themselves in over their head.

Compatible: Commitment Avoid: Redeemed Lucky Numbers: 2, 22, 36, 48, 52 Notable figures: Stele of the Compassion, Jack of Guts, Eschaton Elegy

Embrace: Embrace wants nothing more than to keep the world safe in its arms. They make noble leaders who will devote themselves to building a more just world, sometimes at the cost of their own happiness. A too tight Embrace is painful for everyone involved.

Compatible: Harlequin Avoid: Prelapsarian Lucky Numbers: 4, 8, 10, 12, 44 Notable Figures: Mercadier de Nulle, Mortis of the Blood, Anthem Rebis, Oranges-for-Breakfast

Chase: Children born in the grip of the Chase are masters of their field. They seek to endlessly improve at their chosen work, but they never forget to have a bit of fun in the process. Other Constellations may mistake gaiety for a lack of responsibility if the Chase mixes work and play.

Compatible: Prelapsarian Avoid: Succession Lucky Numbers: 6, 22, 33, 44, 66 Notable Figures: Juni of the Compassion, Abacus the Weasel, Dr. Temple Shrine, The Prophet's Sister

Flight: Flight cannot abide standing still for too long. There is always something to do and somewhere to be. They may be quick to flee but they are always the first to discover something new. If they forget to rest, it is easy for them to overlook what they love.

Compatible: Chase Avoid: Prelapsarian Lucky Numbers: 8, 9, 14, 55, 69 Notable Figures: Conifer of the Miracle, Captain Ache, Wing and a Prayer

Harlequin: The Harlequin has a pronounced sense of duty that allows them to patiently pursue their goals. While they are often a gregarious Constellation, they are not good communicators. They must learn to choose their words carefully to avoid misunderstandings.

Compatible: Embrace Avoid: Chase Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 4, 16, 18 Notable Figures: Hart, The Miracle, Cardinal Meridian

Succession: Change follows Succession wherever they go. They don’t seek revolution, but they won’t follow old rules for tradition’s sake. Following their own path might hurt those they love most if they do not take care to explain themselves.

Compatible: Triskelion Avoid: Burr Lucky Numbers: 24, 30, 40, 48, 60 Notable Figures: Jori, Captain Montmercy, Mourning, Glory

Redeemed: Redeemed knows its time will always come, if they can weather their opposition. They know what the world needs before the world itself realizes it. If they restrain themselves from carrying grudges they will eventually find themselves with like minded companions.

Compatible: Loss Avoid: Triskelion Lucky Numbers: 4, 9, 13, 17, 39 Notable Figures: Juri of the Compassion, Syllophane

Triskelion: The Triskelion is known for its wicked heart, but it is not doomed to tyranny. The Triskelion is three hearts made one: the traitor, the lover, and the lost. If they can find balance between their natures, their heart will allow them to achieve many noble deeds in the face of disbelief.

Compatible: Flight Avoid: Serpent Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 21, 30, 52 Notable Figures: Jaci of the Compassion, Old Bones

Commitment: Those born under Commitment devote themselves to their beliefs. They are unshakable and loyal, but struggle to respect those who do not share their outlook. They must take care not to commit themselves to that which would never let them free.

Compatible: Serpent Avoid: Embrace Lucky Numbers: 5, 23, 34, 41, 53 Notable Figures: The Lost Angel, Solstice Sixtine, Joli of the Compassion

Serpent: The most mutable of the Constellations, the playful Serpents desire companionship and warmth. They trust those in their embrace to always have their best interests at heart. When that trust is broken, they repay the deepest wounds with the sharpest bite.

Compatible: Serpent Avoid: Loss Lucky Numbers: 2, 8, 15, 38, 65 Notable Figures: Hercif of the Miracle, Hercun of the Miracle, Estell Manor

Loss: Those born under the sign of Loss start the world with nothing, but they have everything to gain. The children of Loss will do anything to obtain more than the Constellations ever dreamed of achieving. A Loss is never a setback: it can only sharpen their desire.

Compatible: Harlequin Avoid: Loss Lucky Numbers: 0, 1, 31, 68, 70 Notable Figures: For Felinus, Valentine Egress, Lorelei, The Prophet, Kotowari

Burr: The Burr is stubborn and ambitious, seeking an indulgent life of their own making. They pursue their goals with single minded focus and must take care to pay attention to the schemes of those who might take advantage of their drive.

Compatible: Loss Avoid: Commitment Lucky Numbers: 7, 13, 19, 37, 55 Notable Figures: Iola, Sophia, Captain Hardwood, King Burr, Errol Clay Frick

[personastrologyhub]

Career and Purpose Series - 9th Degree Sagittarius

When I think of the 9th degree, I think of the spark that drove Chris McCandless in Into the Wild. It’s the thrill of leaving, a map folded in the back pocket and a bag packed with nothing more than a few tattered books, a notebook thick with musings, and a passport heavy with the weight of a hundred foreign stamps.

It hums with the spirit of wanderlust and the quest for truth,—a promise of places untold, cultures to be immersed in, and revelations still to be uncovered. It's the energy of turning nothing into something.

This degree is the soul of the seeker. It’s the call of a mountain’s summit, whispering of heights yet to be reached and sights yet to be seen. It doesn’t settle, doesn’t bind itself to tradition or commitment but favors the freedom to move, to shift, and to grow. Like a breeze that changes direction, Sagittarius’ mutable nature ensures that this energy is always in motion, always curious, and never quite satisfied. It has an adventurous mindset, It’s the gaze that lingers just a second longer on a road sign, wondering, Where could this lead?

In its purest form, this energy favors teachers, guides, and spiritual wanderers—even life coaches. Those unafraid to cast their nets far and wide in the search for meaning, eager to share what they gather along the way.

Every barrier faced is met with the silent mantra, Teach me the way, with the understanding that each obstacle is simply a lesson in disguise. They are the ones who willingly step into new worlds, thriving in lands where language is different, the customs unfamiliar, and the faces tell stories of places yet unknown. For them, there’s beauty in the discomfort of newness, in the unspoken knowledge that growth requires stepping outside what’s known.

Careers

Preacher

Life Coach

Teachers

Spiritual Leaders

Entrepreneur in the Wellness Industry

Researcher or Anthropologist

Archeologist or Historian

Philosophical Writer or Spiritual Guide

Publisher / Publishing House

Marketing

Media Correspondent or Journalist

Law Enforcement Officer

Travel-Based Careers (e.g., Flight Attendant, Pilot)

Judge

University Professor

International Relations Specialist or Diplomat

Travel Blogger or Tour Guide

Multiple Professions.

Sag carries with it, BIG marketing energy.

People with Sag or 9H placements tend to be great people to utilize for marketing campaigns.

Career & Purpose of the 9th Degree:

Worldly Respect and Recognition There’s an innate magnetism in those influenced by the 9th degree—a quiet authority that draws admiration and respect. They become seekers, masters in the knowledge they pursue, often casting their influence far beyond their immediate circle. With time, their lives read like stories of expansive knowledge, ever-growing influence, and answers to questions that many dare not even ask. These individuals are often called to serve a greater purpose, to inspire, to uplift, and to lead by example.

Celebrity Energy with Humble Influence

If you’re gonna be internationally famous you HAVE to have a Sag, 9H, or strong Jupiter influence in the chart. These things represent energy that expands beyond the homeland, represents things that are “global”

The 9th degree radiates a quiet fame, the kind of recognition rooted not in performance, but in authenticity. There’s a natural relatability in their pursuits that inspires and uplifts those around them. They invite connection, share openly, and exude the type of wisdom that resonates deeply. Like Oprah’s Saturn at the 9th degree, they carry a grounding humility that amplifies their reach without losing the warmth that drew others to them in the first place.

Global or Cross-Cultural Impact At the heart of the 9th degree is the desire to bridge divides, to seek out and celebrate the wisdom of diverse perspectives, and to find commonality across borders. This degree is a natural fit for roles that traverse nations, languages, and traditions, pushing them to share, connect, and give back on a global scale. They often find themselves drawn to international work, humanitarian efforts, and social justice, where they can bring people together and spark change.

Leveraging the 9th Degree’s Influence:

Engage with diverse communities: Explore beyond your comfort zone and seek out cross-cultural exchanges. Your purpose often blossoms when challenged by new perspectives.

Stay true to your vision: Growth is gradual, and your impact grows with consistent dedication. Don’t let obstacles or doubt divert you from the path.

Embrace the journey of discovery: Challenges are a part of the adventure. Each one offers a new horizon, a fresh possibility, and the thrill of growth.

With planets at the 9th degree, your path isn’t a straight line but an unfolding adventure. Embrace each turn, for every step widens your world, connecting you to the wisdom of the ages, the thrill of new horizons, and the call to live expansively and freely. This is the 9th degree—fueled by wonder, lit by discovery, and bound to inspire.

[crossdreamers]

On the Trump-administration's absurd and unscientific definitions of sex and gender

Over at Bluesky Ethel Weapon makes sense of the Trump-administration's arguments about there being only two "sexes":

She writes:

//This site includes the "clear guidance" that Trump's EO 14168 mandated should be produced within 30 days to expand on the definition of sex in that order. This is what the policies of the US Government will be based on. Let's take a walk through...

Sex based definitions

The document is called "Sex-Based Definitions". The definitions are at the end, and notably exclude some of the terms that were in the EO. We'll get back to that. The bulk of the document is the section about "Defining Sex" itself.

First of all, we start with a declaration that there are only two sexes *because* there are only two kinds of gametes. Transphobes start from this premise because all other sex-related biological characteristics (anatomy, genetics) have various expressions that lie on a continuum.

Asserting binary sex as a definition requires ignoring most or all of the characteristics of sex that are *actually* expressed in favour of focusing on a single characteristic that may not be. Many people don't produce gametes.

No motivation is provided for focusing on this single, patchily expressed, characteristic of biology. It's clear that the idea is to impose a binary classification, but even if "sex" is reductively defined in terms of gamete production alone, that doesn't mandate a binary model.

For example, here is a paper by Paul E. Griffiths that uses gamete production to define "biological sex" which characterizes sex as therefore being a transient, mutable characteristic tied to particular life stages of an organism.

Function of the reproductive system

Back to the first paragraph of "Defining Sex". We see that because gametes are not always produced by an organism, a much more nebulous characteristic is put forwarded, which relies on divining what the *function* of the reproductive system is.

But as I've already said, anatomy can lie on a continuum. For example, androgen insensitivity can result in a variety of anatomies that range between (typical) male and female types. You can see what this means in this description of the "Quigley scale"

Attributing a specific *function* of gamete production to each of the range of different anatomies that exist is not something that can be done in a principled way. The definition falls apart on this basis alone. But also on other grounds.

Attributing function to biology

Another weak point is that the definition relies on attributing "function" to biology. But the word "function" conflates two different notions: a. The purpose for which an object was designed b. An operation which an object carries out The first of those notions is not applicable to biology, which was the central insight that Darwin had.

There is no design in biology. Evolution is blind, and does not design towards goals: there is no teleology in biology. When we say an organ has a function, what we are characterizing is simply what it *does*, not what it is *supposed* to do, thus, "the heart has the function of pumping blood" means that this is what the heart *does*, not that this is what the heart is *supposed* to do. Biology is not designed, it is evolved.

The definition of sex put forwarded on this page, however, thinks that biological structures inherently have purposes. Thus it stipulates that even if a body does not function to produce gametes, it *ought* to. This is, at core, scientifically illiterate and certainly doesn't give a clear operational definition that maps from the continuum of expressed sex characteristics to a binary definition.

Thus we end up with the scrambled nonsense of "Having the biological function to produce eggs or sperm does not require that eggs or sperm are ever produced" as a core part of this definition. It's palpably weak.

Genetics

Genetics is also thrown into the mix to try and reinforce things, but the genome at conception doesn't neatly map to a "function" of gamete production in this way. Not just because phenotypes can be continuous, but also because genotype itself can be affected after conception, with conditions such as mosaicism affecting sex characteristics.

The definition moves on to stipulating that "sex" cannot be changed because "function" cannot be changed. Thus hormonal or surgical interventions - things that actually change a body physically - are deemed irrelevant, because they don't change what the body *is supposed to do* , which, in this worldview, is to assume a reproductive role which is somehow immanent in the body, regardless of the possibility of fulfilling such a role. This is, somehow, "objective biology". The physical effects of hormones and surgery are, I guess, just "subjective" in this world view.

This is the topsy-turvy place that this definition takes us to, where a hypothetical (and in practice undecideable) purpose of the body can be deemed to be "objective biology" whereas the actual physical state of a body is declared irrelevant.

The third gamete

This also goes to a favourite assertion of anti-trans thought, that the lack of a "third gamete" means that there is no "third sex", which is a strawman entirely.

Noting that a binary definition of sex does not adequately characterize the range of physical variations that exist in the sexual characteristics of bodies is not an argument that a "third sex" exists. It's just a call for "sex" to be accurately modeled.

But this is all about imposing a crude classification for political purposes. Partly it aims to eradicate the social reality that trans and intersex people exist. More broadly, it is part of imposing a complementarian "biology is destiny" ideology which defines who you can be in terms of "sex".

Protecting women

Thus we see a statement that "biological differences" require "sex-specific practices" in medicine which will, I predict, be broadly used to enforce gendered practices of all kinds under the banner of "health".

The broad nature of enforcement this implies is spelled out in the last paragraph, with the mantra of "protecting women" in place, which in practice will be very much "protection" in the vein of "we had to destroy the village in order to save it."

"Recognising the immutable and biological nature of sex" as something determined by genome at conception requires denying that everything after conception is relevant... that genetic mutation does not occur, that genetic expression is deterministic, that biology determines who we are entirely.

It is a scientifically and socially illiterate declaration, nothing more than a thin sprinkle of "sciencey" words being used incorrectly as a cover for brutal repression.

Female and male as functions

Almost forgot the "Definitions" themselves. They rely on defining "female" and "male" solely as nouns that relate to the "function" of the reproductive system, which as we've seen is an incoherent notion. The other definitions hinge on this idea: woman, girl, man, boy, mother, father.

Unsurprisingly, just a reiteration of the "adult human female" sloganeering of gender-critical fascism. What isn't included are definitions of "gender identity" or "gender ideology", which were included in the EO.

There's no need for defining "gender ideology" minutely. It is more useful to retain it as a floating signifier, a pejorative term that can be applied wherever it is needed. A precise definition of the boogeyman isn't needed - he just needs to be scary.

But as we've seen, in reality there are no precise definitions of any kind supplied in this document. It's foolishness throughout. Is it therefore important to dismantle it? Yeah, ability to do so is part of how pushing back against these EOs. We're already seeing that.

(Link)

Anyhow, hope this was useful. If you're interested, here is a deeper dive into some of the ideas in this thread, back from when we first saw such "gamete" based definitions of sex emerging in state laws.//

Bluesky thread here.

Photo: Rasi Bhadramani

[patomokaccino]

CH 1 PART 1

November 23rd, 2177 - Eplya, Zloasted

They were running out of resources, but the cause was far more important. They were making giant strides, and it seemed like everything was moving along a path filled with hope.

Every day, more and more people joined. People fed up with that shitty society, where the rich stood at the top and the less fortunate were devoured.

Today, the mission was simple: steal a generator.

They were building mini bazookas and needed to replicate some kind of engine model...

Team 3, a family of five, was in charge of the mission. Their destination? Branch 99 of the GeneSys Biotech Corp.

Jack: Yeah, yeah! I can't go any faster than this!

He kept mashing the buttons on his old laptop like crazy. He was in charge of sabotaging the security of the facility, and at just 16 years old, he had once again managed to outsmart his tough target.

All that was left was to keep the cameras inoperable until the rest of the team got out of there.

Rebecca: You have to keep up!! Who knows if those idiots have a firewall!!

She… well, she was the mother of the young prodigy, and the leader of their squad.

The eldest of her siblings, she had earned the respect of many for her resilience.

Jack: they did

Rebecca: hehehe, that's my boy!

Rebecca: you don't know how lucky we are to have you, Bubu óvò

Jack: yeah, yeah, whatevs u///u

Both their headphones started ringing...

Dean: BECCA!!! BECCA!!!

Rebecca: What’s happening???

Dean: We have a problem!!! There are three more passwords. Can Jack reach our range???

Jack: What's wrong? o.o

Dean: Do you have the map for the second floor?

Jack: Duh, what's the matter?

Dean: We have a door with a Ghost-model screen... It’s asking for three passwords with letters and numbers.

Jack: What the fuck?

Sigh... He started preparing an attack mechanism, trying to generate a mutable code that could crack the obstacle passwords.

After all, there was a pattern. It wouldn’t be too hard. ûvû

Rebecca: Do we have time...?

Dean: Uh... I'd say yes, yes...

Jack: You do. -Rolled his eyes...

"Sigh C'mon, just a little more..."

Rebecca: Is it the storage room door...?

Dean: Yeah, the engine should be in here.

Jack: Try now o.o!

Dean: o.o... -Entered a few digits...-

Dean: HEHE, WE DID IT—

BOOOOOOP

BOOOOOOOOP

BOOOOOOOOOOP

ALERT! UNAUTHORIZED USE!

Dean: Oh fuck. o-o

Jack: Wh-what's going on?

Rebecca: ...

Shit...

Rebecca: It was an antivirus. We’re leaving, NOW!!!

Dean: SIGH—JUDAS, SALEM!!! LET'S GO!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME???

Judas: YEAH, WE’RE ALREADY HEADING OUT!!

Jack: I got it wrong? o-o

Rebecca: N-no, baby!!! You did great—

Officer: STOP RIGHT THERE, INTRUDERS!!! -he pulled a weapon from his belt!!!

Jack: GASP- M-MOM—

Rebecca: RUN!!! MEET US AT THE EXIT, JUST RUN!!! -She pulled out her own weapon as well!

Jack: O-O

He grabbed everything as fast as he could and took off running!!

How could he?? Did he really mess up?? Was GeneSys Biotech too big of a fish?? There was supposed to be no fence in the world he couldn’t jump over!!!

ATTENTION, ATTENTION! ALERT PROTOCOL ACTIVATED! INTRUDERS DETECTED ON FLOORS 1 AND 2, ATTENTION, ALERT!!

Rebecca: FUUUUUCK!!! DEAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME???

Dean: BE- -static- BECC- -cut off

Rebecca: H-huh??? -She smacked her earpiece...- Eh? What the hell???

Officer: HANDS UP!!!!

Judas: O.O -BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

He killed the officer with the first shot!!!

Rebecca: JUDAS!!! SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MY EARPIECE!!!

Judas: There’s static everywhere, we need to get out of range. o.o

Salem: Where’s Jack? o-o

Rebecca: I-I told him to run to the exit!

Rebecca: He has his own map, he’ll make it!

Judas: Then let’s go already. Once we’re out of the static zone, we’ll be able to reconnect. o.o

Salem: M-mh! -he started running toward the back exit!!

Rebecca: L-let’s go then! -She took off running as well!!!!

Meanwhile...

Jack, muttering: Fuck fuck fuck!!

He ran down the stai— GASP!

Jack: o-o -He quickly hid behind the wall...

...

There were too many guards down there. What was he going to do? What should he do? What if he messed up again? What if he went the wrong way? Would he be able to escape? Shit shit shit—

ATTENTION, AREA A AND B. DEFENSE PROTOCOL ACTIVATED. DOORS LOCKING FOR SECURITY MEASURES.

ATTENTION. BIOBOT 4NN13 HAS BEEN RELEASED. REPEAT, BIOBOT 4NN13 HAS BEEN RELEASED.

Jack looked up, listening carefully to the voice.

Jack, muttering: Biobot... what?

One of the gates in the long corridor B slid open... Heavy metallic footsteps echoed through the walls...

ATTENTION!! BIOBOT RELEASED!! EMPLOYEES, REMEMBER: VALUABLE CARGO, DO NOT DAMAGE!! ATTENTION!! BIOBOT RELEASED!!

Jack, whispering: OH FUCK—

NOPE. NOOOOPE. THIS WAS OUT OF HIS JURISDICTION.

Without hesitation, he fired at the grate in the ceiling, using the wall to push himself up, scrambling into the ventilation system!!

...

The heavy metallic footsteps moved forward, slow and deliberate...

That thing... raised one of its arms...

...

And fired straight at the vents.

[transbookoftheday]

Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton

The story of Christine Jorgensen, America’s first prominent transsexual, famously narrated trans embodiment in the postwar era. Her celebrity, however, has obscured other mid-century trans narratives—ones lived by African Americans such as Lucy Hicks Anderson and James McHarris. Their erasure from trans history masks the profound ways race has figured prominently in the construction and representation of transgender subjects. In Black on Both Sides, C. Riley Snorton identifies multiple intersections between blackness and transness from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day anti-black and anti-trans legislation and violence.

Drawing on a deep and varied archive of materials—early sexological texts, fugitive slave narratives, Afro-modernist literature, sensationalist journalism, Hollywood films—Snorton attends to how slavery and the production of racialized gender provided the foundations for an understanding of gender as mutable. In tracing the twinned genealogies of blackness and transness, Snorton follows multiple trajectories, from the medical experiments conducted on enslaved black women by J. Marion Sims, the “father of American gynecology,” to the negation of blackness that makes transnormativity possible.

Revealing instances of personal sovereignty among blacks living in the antebellum North that were mapped in terms of “cross dressing” and canonical black literary works that express black men’s access to the “female within,” Black on Both Sides concludes with a reading of the fate of Phillip DeVine, who was murdered alongside Brandon Teena in 1993, a fact omitted from the film Boys Don’t Cry out of narrative convenience. Reconstructing these theoretical and historical trajectories furthers our imaginative capacities to conceive more livable black and trans worlds.

[alohaastro]

New Moon in Capricorn, Monday, December 30th, highlights the importance of self discipline, responsibility, accountability, and the sometimes daunting task of being true to yourself as you map the course of your future success, as the moon conjunct the sun in Capricorn forms a square aspect to Chiron in Aries, a sesquisquare aspect to Uranus retrograde in Taurus, and a sextile aspect to Capricorn's ruling planet - Saturn - in Pisces. Saturn is the lead star in the show at this New Moon as it participates in a mutable T-square aspect pattern with Mercury in Sagittarius, and Jupiter retrograde in Gemini, as well as a Thor's Hammer of Saturn, Mercury, and Mars retrograde in Leo. Now is the time to ask yourself questions concerning safety, security, wisdom, courage, growth, and integrity. Are the external systems, constructs, routines, and internal patterns or beliefs you align with helping or hindering? What would life look like if you changed something foundational that other people are heavily invested in you maintaining? Venus in Aquarius square to Aquarius's ruler, Uranus, in Taurus, indicates any type of change or break can feel threatening or uncomfortable for all involved but may be necessary for future happiness and growth, while the Thor's Hammer could attract criticism, detractors, and even expulsion from the group if you dare to stray from the beaten path or begin to reveal the fallacies or irrelevance of complacent illusions or arbitrary rules. The various supportive and challenging aspects are complicated, but also present opportunities for shifts and growth. Whatever no longer works will eventually become redundant or must change and adapt. Focus on grounding yourself and finding that inner connection to your creator and the cosmos to guide you. It is better to feel alone and be sure of yourself, than to be lonely because you know you don't belong. The critics or doubters may applaud your success, emulate you, or seek your guidance in the future because of the decisions you make and actions you take at this New Moon.

[goldenwaves]

Hi! I just wanted to say that I really like your builds and can’t wait for you to possibly upload more of them :) Would you happen to have any inspiration for builds in Evergreen Harbor or Copperdale?

hi thank you so much!! hmmm evergreen harbor and copperdale are fairly mutable worlds where i think most american architecture styles would fit. i believe both of those worlds are inspired by the pacific northwest but i tend to gravitate to inspiration from houses from the midwest-northeast

one of my go-to’s for inspiration is going on real estate sites and checking the locations the worlds are inspired by. zillow can filter by 3d tours only to get a better sense of the floor plan even if you can’t do it exactly. google street view/maps can also give a slight look into neighborhoods and streets from the places you’re looking at for inspiration for

i also really like using miniatures and art for building inspiration! especially miniatures! i find most photos for these on pinterest.

[evilminji]

Okay but... Many True King AU?

Think SpiderVerse. Think literally INFINITE Zone. Consider that Danny is probably not the ONLY Danny. But one of many. Consider... They Are King.

Yes, all of them.

They defeated Pariah. Yes, all of them. Did it happen all at the same Time? Yes. Somehow, by Clockwork's will most likely, it did. Were they working together? Aware if each other? Not in the slightest. They are just as shocked as you are.

But Danny is Danny.

Different lives, different species, different parents. All the same soul. Somehow found its way here. A great and terrible moment of Awe. A fixed moment in Creation. Like the Beginning and the End, he was simply? Unavoidable. Inevitable.

Danny.

Some of him are old men. Worn and weary, ground down by life. Some are far too young, confused but brave in a world too big for such small shoulders. There are scars amongst them. Terrible events and stories. But also hopeful ones. Heros. Good men, ready to take the burden.

Doesn't make the confusion any less, of course. When Danny meets... Danny? Who is not a clone. Who came through a portal in his parents basement. Who's exactly the same... except his house's street number is two off. Or is Danny's? Danny 1?

Wait! Why do YOU get to be 1?

Yeah, fair point. Pick a star name and get out your map. Time to figure out how many Danny's there are. And if any need help. But first! Where is YOUR portal? Mine is...*scribbling noises*

@hdgnj @the-witchhunter @mutable-manifestation @hypewinter

[beesmygod]

Bloodborne question from someone who'll probably never play it because it seem 2 hard and 2 stressful- what *is* the Hunter's Dream? Like a literal dream? Does the non-umbilical cord endings have you like wake up? Is the game's settimg real? I half-remember that one Dan Olson video and I'm confused and you like explaining things so I'm not looking it up so you can have a oppurtunity to give lore out.

hee hee hoo hoo!!! you are who these posts are for!!! i would love to try to explain this to you i truly do love doing this. so my answer is: i have no idea.

the dream is definitely a physical place that exists, even if it exists outside of yharnam's physical reality. items that should exist there can be misplaced in yharnam and returned (like the rune tool or the blood gem tool). hunters who are not blood drunk and have not been severed from the dream by gerhman can come and go as they please using the resurrection magic of bells seen throughout the game. note the bells on the lamp you use to get there.

the doll notes that hunters used to visit the dream in droves during hunts long ago, but now those hunters who did chose to sever themselves before they fell to madness or because the hunt was over (it wasnt) are marked with the gravestones peppered throughout the area. if you choose to sever yourself from the dream at the end of your run, then a new tombstone appears representing you in the new game, so its mutable and not static. the flowers in the garden begin to glow after the reveal of the blood moon, so there is some connection to the main world and its progression; it isnt completely isolated and cut off from yharnam.

i think some people mistake the "yharnam sunrise" ending being like "oh it was all a dream" ending when it's not. you are severed from the dream, dawn is breaking, the hunt is over....but we know it happens again. the moon moves in cycles, the last time it turned red they burned old yharnam to the ground, and this time the entire town lost its mind and body. the situation you are in during the "yharnam sunrise" ending is now you are like djura and eileen: you no longer dream, but the hunt will return. worse than it was before.

interesting side note: gehrman severs you from the dream using his burial blade, which is one of two weapons in the same made from siderite which is "said to have fallen from the heavens". the other weapon is eileen's blades of mercy which she utilizes in her position of the hunter of blood drunk hunters. gerhman's blade cuts you off from the dream and eileen's intention is to kill hunters permanently that pose a threat to others. your access to the dream can be removed by being killed with space rock. weird. neat.

curiously i have no idea where the hunter's dream is located. this is only notable because the other nightmares are completely connected to one another. if you look up from the nightmare frontier you can see the castle in the nightmare of mensis. and vis versa looking down.

this lance macdonald tweet datamined what you see when you look down from the nightmare frontier: ship masts from the orphan of kos fight.

and the hunter's nightmare is stacked on top of itself. you can find parts of it where the ocean above is dripping down into the rest of the map lol. plus the infamous part where a snail lady from the map above falls 3000000 feet and nearly smooshes you.

but the hunter's dream is AWOL and surrounded by weird spires that don't look like ship masts or anything really. it's possible it is at the very tip top.

dreams appear to be born through some process involving an umbilical cord and/or the loss of a great one infant, a host, and the sheer power of obsessive madness. when the great one or the host dies, the dream persists regardless. how odd. very mysterious.

[mercysought]

the world’s not only full of bad things, you know. ( for asharen )

   "I have to admit that these past few years haven't necessarily been very validating when it comes to that assessment." Asharen speaks though her eyes are closed, the brass fingers of her prosthetic massage the area behind her right ear. Truthfully, she should have been resting, fully resting, dreamless resting. If the ritual was to hold she should rest far more than she was allowing herself to do, but what choice did she have? In that moment she felt like she had none, not after the information that she had learnt. It was not often that Charter reached out to her directly, but when it happened it often meant that whatever had happened was of dire import.

This time had been no different. Still, that didn't make the headache and soreness in her body any easier to digest.

She would love to be back in her Antiva home. Resting beneath her orange trees, feeling the warm breeze against her shirt and hair, a hat covering her head. The soft swaying of the trees "Still." she pauses, opening one light eye to look at Varric just across from her with a thin, tired smile "I know."

The world was far from full of bad things, Asharen had seen how the world could be. For all the tragedy that she had seen, she had also seen how it could work. And it could, not without work, not without sacrifice, but it could work. Asharen wanted to see that world, and she wanted to see it flourish. She would protect it until she could no longer breathe. Putting her hand down, she smiles to Varric, straightening her back.

   "I am not the one in need of convincing."

Turning to the table, she pulls out a map. Part Thedas, part Crossroads. Looking at it now she wondered how legible it was. It was a thought that only crossed her mind momentarily, before placing it back down between them. Considering how Solas held so much of the Crossroads, she wondered if they could even do anything about that. Plus, as far as she knew, the paths of the Crossroads were mutable, so it was likely best to ignore that part.

   "I spoke with Charter." she gives him a glance, though she does not hold it beyond a few seconds, clearing her throat and getting up from her seat to have a good look at the map "I think we need to adjust our plans. I have" sighing, she waves at the map with the prosthetic "made a map of potential places where Solas or his agents might be. I don't..."

Know how reliable these are. She scratches her forehead softly, sighing and looking at the locations. Doubting herself. Part of it was knowledge she had pierced through the Whispers from the Well of Sorrows. Parsing through that information to find nuggets of knowledge that might apply to this was grueling work. Not to mention the memories of those Sorrows were not necessarily true. She doubted that they'd lie to her, but if they truly believed something that ended up being a lie? She would not be able to tell.

Beyond that, it was part being able to identify patterns - and that was particularly hard. Solas had experience in hiding from figures far more powerful than her and far more intelligent. Taking a deep breath, Asharen looks to Varric with a smile that asks for forgiveness.

   "I wish I had more time to look at this, I feel very close to cracking something but it's... Just beyond me." turning to Varric, she holds his shoulder with her warm hand "Perhaps your people will see something I can't."

BEYOND THE STORM // accepting . @extravagantliar

[homotexas]

meanwhile, i do have PLT gripes with rust. primarily that lifetimes can go out of scope without all destructors within them having been run (this is the old `thread::scoped`×`Rc` issue but it's important to note that memory leaks were never the primary concern here. see: leaking), that mutable references are required to always maintain a valid state even during transient operations (see: unwind (‘exception’) safety), and that there are no ways to actually talk about ‘constants’ (i.e. the `&`/`&mut` system is solely about aliasing. e.g. a proposal to allow compile time allocation in constants hit some issues regarding the fact that limiting them to not be behind an `UnsafeCell` would leak implementation details!)