#Not being accessible for one. Leading to some families having to relocate because of it. Or for a general divide to be happening

[chaosandcrimson]

no way is that NEVE RIORDAN.. they're a 25-year-old HUMAN notoriously known for being UNASSUMING & INEXORABLE but there are some people who have seen them being DOWN-TO-EARTH & STEADFAST. if you ask me, they remind me a lot of a wholesome playfulness, being one of the boys, and the stubborn inability to let go of past love, but that could just be because they're considered the GIRL NEXT DOOR around town. just keep an eye on them & see if their true colors shine through..

And I hope the sun shines and it's a beautiful day And something reminds you you wish you had stayed You can plan for a change in the weather and time But I never planned on you changing your mind

OVERVIEW

Name: Niamh (Neve) Róisín Riordan

Nickname(s): Nevie, Evie, Eve

DOB: June 30, 2100

Age: 25

FC: Rain Spencer

Height: 5'5"

Pronouns: They/Them

Sexuality: Pansexual

Occupation: Bartender at The Obelisk / Drummer in Haunted Doll Watch

Relationship Status: Single (Closed)

[+] accessible, down-to-earth, steadfast [–] unassuming, inexorable, ruminating

BIOGRAPHY

tw: death

Neve was born and raised in the outskirts of Dublin by their mom and stepdad. The 'step' label was entirely a formality; their mother got married when they were still a child, and their biological father was never in the picture.

The three of them were as loving and close-knit as a family could be. Sadly, life isn't fair, and they only got a handful of years together before Neve's mom got sick. At the end, she was more calm and accepting of her fate than the other two, making them promise to hold on to each other after she was gone.

Luckily, the loss brought them even closer together and they managed to stay true to their word. Even now that they're an adult, if you ask Neve who their best friend in the world is, they will say it's their dad without a second thought.

Their mom had left an extensive vintage record collection behind, and when Neve started showing an interest in music, their dad supported them fully. He even went as far as remodelling their garage to serve as a practice space.

Neve shared their interest in music with their friend and eventual boyfriend (and bandmate) Zayne. The two started dating back in middle school, and if you asked Neve later on how long they'd been together, their answer was always the same: "For as long as I can remember. So basically forever."

They formed a band with people in their shared social circle, and while they were all close friends and had fun playing together, the thing that drove them was that they were also all serious about pursuing music professionally. After playing for years, they were finally gaining some traction locally when the death of Zayne's brother brought everything to a screeching halt.

Because of how important his brother was to the family, Zayne agreed to step back from pursuing music, relocate to the United States, and even have himself reprogrammed with his brother's personality. Neve was angry, distraught, and utterly heartbroken, even when he offered for them to stay together. What would be the point? He would be Zayne in name only. He wouldn't be their Zanny.

Nobody in the band wanted to replace him, and they couldn't really make it work without him, leading to them splitting up. Losing both their partner and their band at the same time was hard on Neve. They couldn't even distract themselves with university, because they had chosen to get a degree in Music Performance, and now the thought of performing made them recoil.

It wasn't until they met Kelly and Prince, whom had also been through the loss of their previous band, that Neve could even entertain the idea of performing with a group again. With a friendly push from their dad, they joined the two in forming Haunted Doll Watch and eventually toured around Ireland and the UK. It was exactly what Neve needed to slowly start feeling like themselves again.

They may have gotten over the heartbreak of losing their previous band, but what they couldn't get over was losing their boyfriend, even after years had passed. When Kelly brought up moving to Dallas, it was partially to support him and partially wanting to reconnect with Zanny that made Neve agree.

Neve has always been the typical girl (but not a girl) next door; friendly, speaks their mind, cute in an approachable way, and loyal to a fault. They are working as a bartender at The Obelisk and mostly thriving in their new life in spite of Zanny remaining... Well, not Zanny. But they haven't given up on him yet.

MISC

Their name was originally spelled the Irish way—Niamh. However, they started spelling it Neve when they moved to the US to avoid people saying it wrong.

[acgenvs3000f24]

Unit 5 Blog Post: Citizen Science and Conservation Practices

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Given that this week’s blog prompt is open, I wanted to share some thoughts inspired by our course content so far.

While watching Washington Wachira’s TED Talk "For the Love of Birds," I began reflecting on the role of citizen science. Apps like iNaturalist, which is widely used in Guelph, offer a powerful tool to connect people with nature by allowing users to log observations. However, they also inadvertently filter participation.

For instance, I’ve spoken with older individuals who possess immense knowledge of local flora and fauna but do not engage with these apps. Their insights are invaluable, yet their observations remain undocumented in digital platforms. This raises a concern: Are we excluding certain demographics from contributing to citizen science simply because of a technological barrier?

This issue highlights the need to design more inclusive citizen science initiatives. If older generations or non-tech-savvy individuals struggle to access these platforms, we may miss crucial knowledge. Digital platforms should be complemented with physical or analog extensions—perhaps logbooks or community-led observation notebooks that can be collected and digitized by volunteers.

            During my time in Kenya, I witnessed how citizens live in harmony with their natural environment. Kenya’s incredible biodiversity, which spans savannahs, tropical forests, deserts, and highlands, surpasses that of Canada. Yet, despite this richness, much of the local knowledge remains undocumented in apps or digital tools. Conservation in Kenya requires more than just technological solutions—it depends on community engagement and biocultural conservation. One of my professors, Carol Muriuki, a conservationist with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), shared insights that transformed my understanding of conservation. She emphasized that conservation cannot follow a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Community stewardship and biocultural conservation is crucial for designing conservation initiatives that have a lasting positive impact. Instead of crafting a conservation plan that looks good on paper but is not feasible in the real world. Each initiative must account for ecological, economic, and cultural realities.

            A compelling example is the Lake Naivasha region, where rising water levels—likely caused by climate change—are displacing communities that rely on the lake for food and income. As Carol explained, simply forcing people to relocate isn’t a viable solution. Instead, NEMA is working on a more holistic approach, such as restructuring hydrological infrastructure, planting mangrove trees, and compensating displaced families. This approach integrates the needs of both people and the environment, exemplifying how inclusive conservation practices can lead to sustainable outcomes.

        Figure 1. Blurry view of Lake Naivasha from the campground in Kenya (Griffiths, 2024)

I see Carol’s work as a model for future conservation efforts, where citizen science plays a central role in shaping projects rather than just being a tool for data collection. For citizen science to be effective, it must evolve beyond passive contributions. It should foster continuous dialogue between scientists and the public, ensuring citizens actively participate in research and conservation initiatives. This approach could help address the issue of bias in scientific sampling. Scientists often focus on charismatic species—those that are easy to observe or already have a wealth of knowledge available from past studies. As opposed to cryptic or under-studied species. In contrast, citizen observations tend to be more exploratory, as participants are not constrained by preconceptions about which species are significant, enriching scientific understanding in unexpected ways.

            One of the biggest takeaways from this course is the realization that academic science offers only a narrow lens through which to engage with nature. As students, it’s easy to become trapped within the confines of scientific rigor and overlook the many other ways people connect with the natural world. Yet, through this course, I’ve learned that storytelling, art, and lived experiences are equally powerful tools for interpreting the environment. For example, conservation is as much about understanding community needs as it is about protecting ecosystems. Similarly, citizen science is not just about data—it’s about fostering a deeper relationship between people and nature.

            Ultimately, effective conservation requires both emotional and intellectual engagement. Successful initiatives depend on integrating scientific knowledge with community stewardship. Similarly, citizen science can only reach its full potential when it invites participation from all walks of life—from scientists, to tech-savvy citizens, and those more comfortable with traditional forms of engagement. As I reflect on what we’ve covered so far, I believe we are just beginning to scratch the surface of how we can engage an audience with nature. The challenge lies in finding new ways to connect with both people and the environment—whether through technology, community dialogue, or personal storytelling.

[equipels]

How Family Dynamics Shape Real Estate and Moving Decisions

Family dynamics significantly influence real estate and moving decisions. Each family member’s preferences, from parents to children, must be balanced for a harmonious outcome. Key factors include financial considerations, proximity to family and friends, and personal needs. Transition stages, like welcoming a baby or caring for aging parents, often prompt a reassessment of housing needs.

Financial Considerations for Families

Proximity to Extended Family and Social Connections

Housing Needs and Space Requirements

Personal Preferences of Family Members

Impact of Family Transition Stages on Real Estate Choices

Maintenance and Upkeep of a Home

Long-Distance Moving Considerations

Relocation and Emotional Impact on Families

Creating a Sense of Home in New Spaces

The Role of Family Roles in Real Estate Decisions

Finding the Perfect Balance for Your Family’s Needs

Top Information of the Article:Family dynamics play a central role in determining the type of home a family chooses, as well as when and where they move. From financial considerations to the desire for proximity to loved ones, the decision to buy a home or relocate is influenced by various factors that relate to the family’s needs and long-term goals. Family dynamics shape real estate and moving decisions because every family member’s perspective counts, and balancing everyone’s desires often leads to a unique set of priorities.

How Family Dynamics Shape Real Estate and Moving Decisions

Families look for homes that can accommodate their growing needs. Young families, for instance, tend to prioritize access to good schools, parks, and safe neighborhoods. Older families might consider additional space for a home office or a backyard for pets. As each family’s needs change, so do their preferences in real estate. Family dynamics shape real estate and moving decisions by guiding families to homes that match their circumstances.

Financial Considerations for Families

When families decide to buy or rent, budget plays a huge role in the decision-making process. Families with multiple members might need to think about not only finding an affordable family home, but also the cost of upkeep, taxes, and utilities. Some families might prioritize buying a larger home, while others may choose a smaller one to reduce financial strain. Understanding the family’s financial standing and plans is key to making the right decision.

Proximity to Extended Family and Social Connections

Many families factor in proximity to extended family and close friends when selecting a new home. Whether it is to maintain close relationships or have a support system nearby, being near family members or a social network can be a driving factor. This is especially true for families with young children or elderly parents, who may need help with childcare or care-taking responsibilities.

Housing Needs and Space Requirements

Every family has different housing needs. A growing family will need more space, such as additional bedrooms or larger living areas. Single parents may look for homes that offer easy accessibility, such as one-story homes, while multi-generational families might seek properties with separate living areas to accommodate everyone’s needs. Understanding what space is necessary for each family member is a vital aspect of choosing the right home.

Personal Preferences of Family Members

Each family member may have their personal preferences that influence the moving decision. Children may insist on buying near school, while parents might have career or commuting needs that affect their decision. Balancing these diverse opinions requires careful thought and planning. A move is not just about the parents’ needs but also about ensuring that every member is content with the new living situation.

Impact of Family Transition Stages on Real Estate Choices

Impact of Family Transition Stages on Real Estate Choices The arrival of a new baby, a child going off to college, or a teenager preparing for independence can significantly impact real estate decisions. As families evolve, so do their housing needs. Families going through significant transitions may require new homes that align with their updated family structure. This might mean downsizing after children leave the house or upgrading to accommodate aging parents.

Maintenance and Upkeep of a Home

One crucial factor in family dynamics is the level of responsibility each member has for maintaining the home. A property that requires regular upkeep can be a burden, especially for families who are juggling busy schedules. Choosing a home that offers low-maintenance features, or one that is part of a homeowners’ association (HOA) that handles maintenance tasks, can make a big difference in maintaining family harmony. Services such as maintenance, inspections, and snow removal ensure properties are always ready and inviting, enhancing the owner’s peace of mind.

Long-Distance Moving Considerations

When families decide to move across long distances, there are several dos and don’ts they need to keep in mind. For example, this list of dos and don’ts for moving across long distances includes planning and organizing all necessary documents before the move. On the other hand, rushing the packing process or failing to coordinate moving dates can lead to stress and unforeseen costs. Families often find that hiring professionals helps streamline this process, ensuring that the move goes as smoothly as possible.

Relocation and Emotional Impact on Families

Relocating can be an emotional experience for families, especially when they are leaving behind familiar surroundings. The emotional impact can influence how quickly they adjust to the new home and community. Families may experience stress or anxiety, and it’s important to have resources in place to support each member during the transition. Open communication and time spent together in the new home can help mitigate these effects.

Creating a Sense of Home in New Spaces

When relocating, families must establish a sense of belonging in their new space. Creating a homey environment with familiar décor, family traditions, and shared spaces can help ease the transition. Whether it’s setting up a favorite chair in the living room or organizing a family game night, there are decorating tips that can help you achieve a cozy, homey sense.

The Role of Family Roles in Real Estate Decisions

Family roles significantly impact real estate decisions.

Stay-at-home parents may prioritize accessibility and family-friendly features in a home, such as single-story layouts or proximity to parks and schools.

Working parents might focus on commuting convenience, such as a home near public transportation or closer to their workplace.

Multi-generational families may require separate living spaces to accommodate everyone’s needs, like a guest suite or in-law unit.

Caregivers may look for homes with easy accessibility and close proximity to healthcare facilities.

Family dynamics shape real estate and moving decisions by ensuring the chosen home supports the family’s lifestyle and each member’s responsibilities.

Finding the Perfect Balance for Your Family’s Needs

In conclusion, family dynamics shape real Estate and moving decisions by considering the needs of each family member and the long-term goals of the household. Understanding these dynamics ensures that the right home is chosen, one that provides the space, amenities, and emotional comfort for everyone involved.

[ominternational01]

List of Things People Forget to Pack for a Move

Moving to a new home is both exciting and overwhelming. With so much to think about, it’s easy to forget some important items during the packing process. Imagine this: you’ve arrived at your new home, only to realize you’ve left behind something essential. It’s a scenario that happens all too often. To help you avoid these common pitfalls, we’ve compiled a complete list of items that people frequently forget to pack for a move. Whether you’re using the best packers and movers in Gurgaon, or handling the move yourself, this blog will help you stay organized and ensure that nothing is left behind.

1. Important Documents

When moving, it’s crucial to keep your important documents safe and accessible. Birth certificates, passports, medical records, and other essential paperwork are often overlooked. You may think, “I’ll just pack these at the last minute,” but last-minute tasks can be easily forgotten. It’s a good idea to gather all these documents early and store them in a clearly labeled, secure folder.

2. Medication and First-Aid Kits

It’s surprising how often people forget to pack their medication and first-aid kits. These items are usually kept in easy-to-reach places, which can lead to them being overlooked when packing. Ensure that all necessary medications, as well as a basic first-aid kit, are packed in a carry-on bag, especially if you’re relocating a long distance.

3. Valuables and Jewelry

Jewelry and other valuables are small, making them easy to forget. These items should be packed in a secure, labeled box or bag and kept with you during the move. Remember, out of sight can mean out of mind — don’t let that happen with your precious belongings.

4. Chargers and Electronic Cables

In today’s digital world, chargers and cables are necessities. These items are often scattered around the house, plugged into various outlets, and can easily be forgotten. Before moving, collect all your chargers and cables in a single bag or box. Label it clearly so that you can access it quickly once you’re in your new home.

5. Toiletries and Daily Essentials

Toiletries and daily essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo are often the last things we think about packing. They’re also the first things we miss when we arrive at a new home. Pack a small bag with these items and keep it accessible. This way, you’ll have everything you need to start your first day in your new place on the right foot.

6. Kitchen Essentials

Kitchen essentials such as pots, pans, utensils, and dish soap are often left behind, especially if you’re still using them up until the move. Make sure to pack a box of these items separately and label it so that you can easily find it when you need to cook your first meal in your new home.

7. Spare Keys

It’s easy to forget about spare keys, especially if they’re hidden away in a drawer or under a doormat. Collect all spare keys before you move, and make sure they’re packed safely. You don’t want to find yourself locked out of your new home because you left a crucial key behind.

8. Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies are often forgotten because they’re usually stored away until needed. However, you’ll likely need them for a final clean of your old home or a quick clean-up in your new one. Pack a small box with essential cleaning items like a broom, dustpan, cleaning sprays, and clothes.

9. Items in Storage

Out of sight, out of mind — this is particularly true for items in storage. Whether it’s things in the attic, basement, or a rented storage unit, these items can be easily overlooked. Make a checklist of all storage areas to ensure nothing is forgotten.

10. Children’s Favorite Toys

For families moving with children, it’s easy to forget to pack their favorite toys or comfort items. These items can be a great source of comfort for kids in an unfamiliar new home. Make sure these items are packed in a special box or bag and are easily accessible when you arrive.

11. Pet Supplies

Pet supplies, like food, bowls, leashes, and litter boxes, are crucial for keeping your furry friends happy during a move. Make sure these items are packed in a clearly labeled box and are easy to access when you arrive at your new home.

12. Tools and Hardware

Tools and hardware, such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and nails, are often left behind because they’re kept in garages or sheds. However, they’re essential for assembling furniture and setting up your new home. Pack these items in a toolbox and keep them handy for when you need them.

13. Plants

Plants are living items that can easily be forgotten in the rush of moving. They need special care during a move, so ensure they’re packed safely. Consider placing them in a special box with plenty of cushioning to protect them during transit.

Conclusion

Moving can be a stressful experience, but with a bit of planning, you can avoid the common mistake of forgetting important items. This checklist will help you ensure that nothing is left behind, whether you’re using the best packers and movers in Gurgaon or taking on the move yourself. Remember, the key to a smooth move is preparation.

FAQs

What should I do if I forget something during my move?

If you forget something, contact the new occupants of your old home or your moving company as soon as possible. In many cases, they can help you retrieve the item.

2. How can I keep track of all my belongings during a move?

Creating a detailed checklist and labeling your boxes can help you keep track of all your belongings. Consider using an inventory app to digitally manage your items.

3. Should I pack my valuables or leave them to the movers?

It’s generally recommended to pack your valuables yourself and keep them with you during the move to ensure they are safe and secure.

4. Can plants survive a long-distance move?

Yes, plants can survive a long-distance move if packed carefully. Use sturdy boxes with cushioning, and consider keeping them in a climate-controlled environment if possible.

5. What should I pack in a first-night box?

A first-night box should include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen supplies, and important documents. This will help you settle in comfortably on your first night in your new home.

[themindtalk]

Relocation & your mental health Coping strategies when making a move

Hong Kong is an exhilarating place. Time lapse videos of the city reveal a perpetually lit up skyline with headlights speeding back and forth across a spiderweb city grid. It’s a unique collection of mixed cultures and languages, attracting people from all over the world. Yet the factors that have attracted so many to make a life here hides a common challenge – relocation is difficult. 

For those going through a major move, the experience may be more complex than anticipated. Just because you are excited or elated for the future, it doesn’t mean you won’t deeply miss your past or present. These conflicting emotions may even lead to feeling uncertain about the move. As humans, we like to be settled. For most human beings, the state of uncertainty, especially emotionally, is uncomfortable. Moving is by definition one of the most difficult processes to undertake and see through. 

How can we protect our mental health during a relocation?

Preparation

There are many reasons for moving; we can examine these reasons through the lens of  “push” and “pull”.

Push factors are aspects of your current environment that are leading you to think of leaving or removing yourself, such as unsustainable living conditions, unfulfilling work or career prospects, or insufficient childcare support.

Conversely, pull factors are aspects of a new environment that are attractive to you, such as a work opportunity, preferred climate or locale, better access to support networks and childcare resources. It is important to note down the emotional components of these factors and that they don’t only serve material needs but also the emotional needs important to you.

Ways to check in with yourself and those around you:

Take stock of your current environment and be honest with yourself about the push factors that are truly unique to your environment versus those rooted in emotional circumstances affecting you and your relationships. For example, would relocating actually eliminate recurring conflicts in your workplace or home?

Any move can potentially impact you and your family or loved ones. How can you communicate with and gather honest input from them? What may be beneficial to you may not be unequivocally beneficial for everyone else. Each person may have different push and pull factors. The objective is not for unilateral alignment, but to agree to an approach and decision. Having everyone’s voice heard and considered is important to resolve the decision, particularly emotionally.

Execution

The process of moving can be daunting not just due to logistics, but the uncertainty and emotions it evokes. Even when the physical relocation is simple, there is the emotional process of transitioning from one place to another. This may require bidding farewell to valued friends and family and communities. Feeling strong emotions when visiting locations or specific places that have resonance may be particularly surprising or distressing. Remind yourself this is a natural part of the process. While this alone may not assuage or soothe the distress, it can provide helpful context.

Ways to check in with yourself and those around you:

It is easy to focus on moving logistics and neglect the emotional elements of leaving / moving somewhere new. This could be partly a form of avoidance of distress for some individuals (which is natural – who likes to feel pain or sadness?). There may be surprising benefits from having heartfelt and emotional experiences with key connections (both people and locations) as part of the moving process. While there may not be a ‘resolution’, it may provide a context or frame for you to reshape the connection or memory that you can bring with you to your new environment.

Emotional shifts, or swings even, between excitement and sadness can be disorienting and cause distress. It can be helpful to practise embracing the duality of these dissonant feelings by understanding that one can feel both happy and sad about leaving somewhere meaningful to somewhere new that will also be meaningful. Don’t judge the feelings you experience – they’re all of value and play a role in reminding yourself of what is important to you.

Reorientation 

Upon arriving in a new place, the experience can be both exhilarating and bewildering. You may feel isolated, surrounded by unfamiliar languages and cultural norms, even if you have a support network. Re-engaging and embedding yourself takes time.

It’s natural to start comparing your previous life to the current one, as assumptions and preconceptions are tested. Some turbulence in relationships is also common, as family members may adjust at different paces.

Ways to check in with yourself and those around you:

If work was a key factor for the relocation, it may feel natural to allot more time to this aspect upon arrival. To balance this inclination, one can be more intentional about spending significant time with loved ones and family to check in and be present for challenges they face adjusting. There may not be a direct intervention for you to help with their challenges, but connection and emotional support can be a platform of stability and consistency for them to reach their own ‘normal’.

Look to fill the various aspects of life as soon as you can when you settle. For example, physical fitness activity may be curtailed during the immediate moving period, but resuming and recreating familiar routines can help you settle in. During the transition into a new place, there are often opportunities to bridge the familiarity of the ‘old’ with the excitement of the ‘new’.

As exciting as it may be, a relocation from Hong Kong can impact mental health as one navigates the preparation, execution and reorientation associated with the move. It can feel lonely and isolating as you transition to that new phase in your life.

Throughout the process, it’s important to be attuned to your emotional and mental needs as well as those of loved ones impacted by the relocation. Don’t forget that relocation in Hong Kong is a common challenge and that many around you have very likely gone through similar experiences. You’re joining a larger community through this shared experience!

[topfreelistingsiteindelhincr]

How a luxury home is situated in a gated community a good investment strategy?

We have all become more aware of the value of gated community living due to the lockdown followed by COVID-19. People in societies enjoyed their social lives in total security, while no one was permitted to leave their homes due to safety concerns.

Furthermore, the neighborhood itself had everything the members could need. There was no need to leave their homes to get groceries or other necessities because all they needed was nearby, and this is the reason why people should invest their money in a gated community, as investing in a house is a very crucial decision to make in life, personally as well as financially and this decision should be worth of investing your money. Thus, gated community homes do not only provide you security from theft but provide you with a variety of security and make your life more manageable.

In today's scenario, many gated communities are sprouting up, encouraging society living and displacing individual living. These days, most house purchasers are drawn to the many advantages of residing in a gated community and view it as a better choice. Here are some more reasons why an individual should prefer a home in a gated community

·       They make a living in the modern world more accessible.

·       They provide you the chance to live in a miniature metropolis.

·       They provide many forms of comfort.

·       They provide safety.

HERE ARE SOME BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A LUXURY HOME IN A COMMUNITY

Safety

The most important factor of living in a gated community is that it provides good safety. One should never undervalue the value of a safe and secure residence. Therefore, one of the critical factors that make gated communities a better choice for homebuyers is security. The safety of residents is increased in gated communities. Access restrictions stop visitors from driving by or wandering in on foot to check what you have. Your level of privacy and the tranquility of your living space are both naturally increased by this circumstance. The people running or walking their dogs nearby will tell you they are locals.

Beautiful architect

Gated communities are constructed with an organized design incorporating green space and an architectural motif. Thus, you reside in a visually appealing area that provides you access to nature. Standards established by local laws and ordinances guarantee enduring visual attractiveness. You don't have to be concerned about an unsightly building destroying the ambiance. Additionally, those who opt for this lifestyle do so because they value the cleanliness of a well-kept neighborhood.

Privacy as well as togetherness

Gated communities intentionally foster community while providing you with a place to live where you can enjoy privacy when you need it. You have lots of opportunities to interact with other inhabitants in this setting by:

·       Utilizing the same jogging routes

·       Golfing

·       Local events to attend

·       chatting with neighbors at the pool or gym

Purchasing a property in a gated community gives you a head start on developing friends and relationships if you're relocating to a new location. Your general well-being will benefit significantly from the resulting sense of community. Compared to persons who don't have connections to the community, people with a sense of security, belonging, and trust tend to be in better health.

Sustaining lifestyle

Among other gated community features, extensive infrastructure development and maintenance, waste management, a safe environment, and water harvesting may very well be offered to you by gated communities. Every time a family chooses to invest in real estate, they need stability and security to lead contented and stable lives.

Investments according to your expenses

Buying a home in a gated community is a wise decision regarding real estate. Although purchasing a home in a gated community will always cost a little more than certain other types of real estate, doing so can be a wise investment, especially if you get it from a respected builder. Gated community flats and villas are a significant investment in people's increased quality of life because today's people want more than just a house; they want a lifestyle.

We hope you understand the value of luxury houses in a gated community from the above points. However, choosing a home in a gated community is another task, and BRICKSNWALL makes this task easy for you. It provides professional counseling from experts, and you can get a free session today. So book your session now.

More about Bricksnwall

Bricksnwall is a team of outstanding real estate professionals from India committed to helping you with excellent real estate knowledge through a professional real estate advisor and helping every other individual make their life's most expensive choices or investments worth it

[sunset-peril]

Yeah... the stuff horror is made of.... *shudders*

I wonder that too. They had enough descendants that the Royal Family's program didn't have to inbreed any, the extreme amount of inbreeding found in Link was primarily due to the Hateno Region of Exile literally running out of people because they couldn't leave and others couldn't enter (and I wonder how many generations it took to do so/how many generations had to have done so) *shudders again*

Exactly like, how dare thee?? How dare thee take one's human soul and convert them to your pet??

Rinkū's era of Wolfbred were definitely pets, and they came some time before the genetic modification program, so it highly begs the question of "Excuse me? Who did this originally? If the person who made them genetically modified super soldiers didn't make them little puppy pets, who did?" Did a Zonai just scoop one up as a pet one day and no one questioned it because of the "Zonai are gods descended from the sky" thing? Were they already pets prior to the Zonai's arrival?

Ai, twisted entitlement indeed. The idea of Link existing solely to fight the Demon King but taken to the extreme and applied to all his children/descendants. And now, because of all that gene editing in the past, Wolfbred Link and his people are a very codependent and anxious group. They require something (usually each other or livestock) to protect/search for otherwise they destroy themselves. Link's 'something' specifically being Zelda, which only affirms the original belief of entitlement. Hang on, gonna ramble about some genetics.

For instance, some studies believe that over time dogs have been selected for a very specific genetic sequence without realizing. This gene sequence causes something akin to Williams-Beuren syndrome (a syndrome known primarily for causing overt friendliness). (It's been a while since I've read my notes on canine domestication, so I might be a little off on the wording there.)

However, while the Wolfbred are quite a friendly people (who really really like pets, and retain a precise mating season seen in animals and not Hylians) they weren't bred for their friendliness. They were bred specially for violence, hence, the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) [which is known as the 'warrior gene' due to research suggesting it leads to 'increased aggression when provoked'] or a similar gene may have been the specific target of this breeding program, among other things needed to make Hyrule's perfect soldier race.

I forgot where I was going with this, hang on.

It's very likely that Ordona was absorbed into the kingdom specifically for access to Twilight's children/descendants, especially considering how almost no one lives in Faron in BotW/TotK despite how populated Central Hyrule, Necluda and Gerudo all were before the Calamity, which maybe means Faron's original inhabitants (for this case, I'm assuming Wolfbred and Zonai were Faron's ancient inhabitants) were either wiped out or relocated in a way that prevented their return. The Zonai obviously being wiped out and, if Ordona was absorbed specifically for the Wolfbred people, they were probably taken from Faron, put immediately into these programs and then discarded immediately afterwards to Hateno, all of which would prompt a sudden removal from Faron without return. Which would only strengthen Wolfbred Link's desire to reestablish Ordon at some point in his life. And I haven't even brought up the health issues brought on by all this, or the offshoot where the researchers involved started making Wolfbred-Zonai hybrids too.

Woof indeed

I thought too hard about my Werewolf Link lore and all the genetic modification that the Sheikah/Yiga did to make that man, like all the genetic mapping and sequencing and splicing that had to have been happening to make such a large scale project work

Under the cut for people who don't want the transcript of my crisis

Like they probably had the entire genome/genotype, the entire genetic makeup down to every last mutation, of each of Link's ancestors. Talk about identifying information!

They had to have had a list of what genes and traits and mutations were considered Wolfbred or not because obviously Twilight was Hylian and his children are all Hylian so if we're going to classify them as something Other Than Hylian we need to know exactly what makes them Not Hylian.

Like if Purah could access those files and records from 10,000 years ago she could probably recreate a very likely genotype for Link without ever taking a sample from him because the reason he's considered 'pedigreed' is because all this man's ancestors were registered into this system and so even with having no idea who married who after getting exiled, you still know almost exactly what makes up Link, sparing spontaneous mutations that occurred post exile.

Yeah, so, I sent myself into a philosophical/moral crisis

[theinactivefaniguess]

Joel is 11ft tall!

... In the measuring system of his Empire, the Stratos Imperial System (SIS).

Which, while using the exact same terms as the Empires Metric System (EMS) used by every other Empire, is still different.

1 inch in SIS is the equivalent of 0.53 inches in EMS.

So, while in SIS Joel is 132 inches tall, or 11ft...

In EMS, he is 70 inches tall. Or 5'8".

Essentially: all the other Empires are using metric system and Joel's Empire is the USA of the Server and using another system Just Because They Can.

:)

[rebelichor]

Ariadne doesn’t want a huge wedding, but what she means by that is she doesn’t want to take out a loan and pay off for one day for years to come when she would rather invest in her future with Enok.

Her parents end up putting an undisclosed amount of money into the wedding. Xemos and Lazentis want the best for their children, and by extension the partners and future in-laws that their children bring into the family. They work together with Rina and Latov to ensure Ariadne and Enok have a memorable celebration of their love.

The guest list ends up exploding and it’s a massive stress until Enok steps in to trim the outgoing invitations. He has a massive family, she does not, and where she didn’t want to offend anyone by excluding them he is more ruthless about who will have access to his special day.

Her Man Of Honour is her twin brother. Ariadne and Vergil have been through thick and thin and she is adamant that he will be standing there with her even if she goes full Bridezilla. His suit is crimson red with a matching tie and white dress shirt. Her bridesmaids have crimson red dresses. Because red draws the eyes in photographs, this worked out beautifully in terms of framing (and the bride being attention shy).

On that note, Ariadne is a perfectionist. She is terrified that people will think she is being crazy because she is her own wedding planner and she wants everything to go smoothly. Though she doesn’t demand anything outrageous, she does break down into tears a few times from the stress of things not going as planned into the lead-up, and Vergil is the one who takes her schedule book closer to the date and effectively fires her and takes over the stressful parts.

The morning of the wedding both families come together in a small Galahdan ceremony where, after exchanging gifts between the bride and husband’s families as a token of acceptance, the young couple make the ultimate promise and receive their wedding tattoos (often a single band around their finger). Afterwards the families share a meal and the parents take their respective child to finish preparations. 

The actual wedding is held just shy of sunset and Ariadne and Enok agree to have a barefoot beach wedding on the sand. Both agreed that children are allowed to attend which diverted disaster when, at Enok’s request, the children of guests helped relocate soldier crabs that had flooded the beach. Day-of, Ariadne can be seen hopping closer to her mother on the walk down the aisle because of a rogue soldier crab, but thankfully no loudmouth seagulls had any objections and Ariadne and Enok married without a hitch. 

The wedding reception is a short walk from the beach, held outside on the grass beneath a light canopy. Shoes are still optional, as Ariadne was already warned that once some of the Galahdan’s were barefoot there was no wrestling shoes back onto them. Thanks to Vergil there is a portable LED dance floor that knows no rest throughout their reception. Their one lavish decision was to splash out on a sweet treats and desserts bar where guests could collect their wedding favours throughout the night. Rina and Latov graciously organised catering (including starters served with soup, a seafood main or a red meat main and frothy chai lattes to enjoy alongside the dessert bar). The wedding cake was baked by Lazentis (salted caramel, sorry Enok, Ariadne is going full puppy eyes to get her favourite flavour). And yes, Ariadne absolutely cried happy tears when it came time to wedding speeches and she was overwhelmed with attention.

— feat. @enokvirkow / @stratagemichor

[musetta3]

Dragon Age OC as a Companion: Revka Cadash

Trend started by @little-lightning-lavellan it’s an amazing one and I had such fun with it! Thank you for the template!

This will be under a cut, because ohhhhhh my, there’s a lot here <3

This is also on AO3!

Is your OC a Companion in the Dragon Age series? What would it be like for a player to select them to join their party for quests (or romance them, perhaps? 👀) 

You have selected Revka Cadash to join your party!

Race: Dwarf 

Affiliation: Carta 

Gender: Female

Class: Rogue/Archer

Specialization: artificer

 Background

Revka Cordelia Cadash (born 8:95 Blessed) is a dwarven rogue and businesswoman. She is a companion and a potential romance option for a male human, dwarf, or qunari Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Revka is a member of the many-membered Cadash Clan, and daughter of Brygida ‘Cookie’ Cadash and Artur ‘Archie’ Cadash. She has an older brother, Tavi, as well as numerous cousins, including Edric ‘Dasher’ Cadash, the head of the Ferelden Carta.  

Revka grew up in the company of her rambunctious cousins, and thus views them like brothers and sisters. It’s common for Cadashes to play tricks and pull pranks on each other as a way to show affection, as is evidenced in the short story ‘Flapping in the Breeze.’ Some of Revka’s favorite pranks include spiking food with chili oil, switching people’s beverages, hiding belongings, and breaking into ‘private’ things such as journals, desk contents, or that box of cookies under the bed.  

Revka made a name for herself in the Carta accompanying her mother and cousins on patrol as a teen. Her deadly accuracy with a bow earned her the nickname ‘Hawkeye;’ her duties quickly expanded to include ‘problem-solving’ for the Carta, her solutions ranging from assassinations, blackmail, and negotiating contracts, to smuggling, and forgeries. Her successful business plans and battle tactics made her a valuable asset to the Carta.

In 9:13 Dragon, Revka married Iwan Feddic, a member of the merchant caste and a Cadash client in Ostwick. She helped her husband run his international shipping business, a venture she took over after his untimely death. When Dasher’s wife, Darya, died at the hands of the Orlesian Carta, Revka returned to Ferelden to help her cousin raise his five children, turning over the Ostwicker affairs to her brother, Tavi.

When the Cadashes eliminated a rival Carta branch in Kirkwall, they sent Artur Cadash to oversee operations in the city. 22-year-old Revka volunteered to accompany him, becoming her father’s second in command. Once arrived in Kirkwall, she helped him found Graywater Imports, an import/export company functioning as a storefront for both legal and illegal goods. She is a prominent member of the Cadash Carta branch in Kirkwall, often dealing with the Dwarven Merchant Guild and Varric Tethras.

Romance with Varric Tethras

Shortly after Revka arrived in Kirkwall, she met the young Varric Tethras. What began as mixing business with pleasure became a romantic entanglement that lasted until Tethras met the talented smith Bianca Davri, and broke off with Revka for Bianca. As much as Revka wanted to cut all ties with him, she maintained their business relationship… and an unrequited, one-sided love for the deshyr prince.

Involvement

A special mission at the War Table will unlock a quest at Kirkwall’s Docks, ‘Ten Shades of Graywater,’ in which the Inquisitor will receive a mysterious anonymous letter inviting them to the coast to discuss a purveyor/supplier contract for the Inquisition. The Inquisitor will arrive in a seemingly abandoned alley, but is ambushed by Coterie thugs. After the enemies are slain, Revka can be engaged in conversation.

If Varric is in the party, he will be surprised to see Revka. It’s revealed that they know each other through various business ventures, and are old acquaintances… although the weighted, bitter quality of Revka’s answers imply that their relationship is more complicated than Varric had said.

Upon further questioning, Revka pitches her business proposal: wholesale lyrium for the Inquisition’s mages or Templars, with access to the Cadash Family’s network of spies, businesses, and Carta members for Inquisition purposes. Her only condition is that her family obtains an industry monopoly, becoming the sole provider of lyrium for the Inquisition and Southern Thedas.

Revka can be found near the archery targets and training dummies in Haven. Once the Inquisition relocates to Skyhold, Revka spends time training in the courtyard, in Skyhold’s main hall talking to Varric, or in the rookery, spoiling her messenger crow, Cipher, with treats. Dialogue options will reveal that she uses the bird keep in contact with her family and business associates.

 Approval and Romance

Revka can be romanced by a male Inquisitor of any race, and will jokingly comment on the height differences if romanced by a qunari, elf, or human. A Cadash inquisitor of either gender can unlock Carta-specific dialogue. Revka is guarded at first, giving out only generic information about her family, but with some persistent questioning the Inquisitor can wear her down. Depending on dialogue choices, the conversation can end with the Cadashes exchanging stories of ‘colorful’ family members and an approval gain.

   Revka takes a more pragmatic view on politics: she supports whoever pays the most, and sells lyrium to both the Templars and mages without discrimination. Upon learning the truth behind the events Redcliffe, however, she is dismayed to learn what her products enabled. Traveling to Redcliffe with Revka in the party will trigger her personal quest ‘Scales Fall from Her Eyes.’ (this quest will trigger after the Inquisition relocates to Skyhold if the player sided with the Templars)

Revka approves of Inquisitors who are tenacious, calculating/far-sighted, and does what is best for the majority. She believes that the end justifies the mean, sanctioning death only as a last resort. She approves of bold plans, investigating all aspects of a quest before making a decision, and an Inquisitor who makes jokes (especially puns). Her sense of justice changes as the player completes more of her personal quests. She will approve of charitable acts and kindness as the game progresses and her personal beliefs change.

Revka’s romance can be initiated through the conventional method flirting and conversation. During the quest ‘Scales Fall from Her Eyes,’ the Inquisitor has an opportunity to embrace Revka, leading to a kiss.

If Revka is not romanced by an Inquisitor, she can enter a relationship with Varric Tethras, but only if the Inquisitor assists in reconciling the two ex-lovers. Revka’s romantic past with Varric is hinted at in party banter if both are present, the two bickering with each other. This series of quests are available post-arrival at Skyhold, and has conditional dialogue for certain scenarios.

Revka gets along well with Dorian and Cassandra, bonding with them over their mutual love of books. It’s revealed that the three of them have an unofficial ‘book club’ going on, where they read various novels and comment on them in party banter. Revka also gets along well with Sera, bonding over pulling pranks in Haven and Skyhold. She makes a special bond with Leliana over nugs, owning a nug, herself.

Revka does not trust Solas from the moment she meets him, stating he knows too much, and is fond of talking without saying anything. She also suspects Blackwall of hiding something.

Companion Quests

Scales Fall from Her Eyes

After the events of Redcliffe, the Inquisitor will receive a note from Revka to meet her at the abandoned cabin outside Haven. Or, if the player sided with the Templars, this will trigger once the Inquisition relocates to Skyhold. At the meeting, she will share her guilt and horror at what occurred. She questions her personal beliefs, and offers an apology with the promise to amend her family’s business practices. After this quest, Revka is more empathetic, approving of selfless and charitable acts, whereas before she’d disapprove.

At the end of the quest, the Inquisitor has an opportunity to embrace Revka, which can lead to a kiss, if desired.

Varric’s Quest in Valammar

Revka can be found beside the fireplace in the main hall, arguing with Varric over the contents of a particular letter. Upon investigation, the Inquisitor learns that Revka has broken into the locked box in which Varric keeps his correspondence, which she claims he’s done to her on multiple occasions over the years. He neither denies nor confirms the accusation. Revka demands to know why Varric is still in contact with ‘that woman,’ declares she won’t set foot in the main hall until his ‘guest’ is gone, and leaves, demanding the Inquisitor ‘talk some sodding sense into him.’

This leads into Varric’s quests with Bianca Davri, and some cutting comments from Bianca calling Revka a ‘sore loser.’ Varric comes to Revka’s defense, much to the Inquisitor’s surprise.

If the Inquisitor takes Revka to Valammar, she disapproves and will grouse all the way there, cutting snide remarks whenever Varric says something. She becomes jealous during Bianca and Varric’s reminiscing, interjecting and muttering. Her anger only grows as the quest proceeds, Revka calling out Bianca for her selfish, pragmatic methods and carelessness. Once Inquisitor concludes the quest, Revka declares she needs some air, and says she’ll meet the Inquisitor at the nearest inquisition camp later.

Upon arrival at the campsite, a scout reports that Revka never returned to camp. The Inquisitor must search the nearby area; eventually, they find Revka injured after being ambushed by bandits (the Inquisitor and the party must defeat them in order for the quest to proceed).

If Varric is present, he will be upset, demanding to know why she would be so foolish as to wander around alone. Revka half-jokes, claiming how surprised she is that Varric cares about her safety, after all these years. Varric’s expression visibly shifts. The Inquisitor arranges for her immediate medical care, but it’s too serious a wound for her to remain out in the field. After this point, Revka is unavailable as a companion until after the Inquisitor returns to Skyhold.

Once the Inquisitor returns, they will find Varric in the central courtyard, pacing outside the infirmary/medical tents. The medic will inform the Inquisitor that Varric hasn’t left since Revka’s arrival, but refuses to go inside to see her. Selecting Varric for a conversation will show he can’t bear to face her after what happened at Valammar; he feels especially guilty, knowing that she got hurt in an attempt to calm down after the encounter. The Inquisitor can remind Varric that his apology should be to Revka, not them. To trigger their romance, the Inquisitor can encourage him to visit Revka and share his feelings.

If the Inquisitor visits her instead, they will gain high approval with her, and further unlock romance scenes. After the visit in the tent, Revka will invite the Inquisitor to her quarters to personally ‘thank’ him. The Inquisitor can choose to accept her proposition, or refuse. Depending on choice, Revka may sleep with the Inquisitor. There is an option to break relations off with Revka the morning after.

 Revka’s Family

Revka’s war table missions mostly revolve around business opportunities she’s scouted out for the Inquisition throughout Thedas. Some of these are triggered through conversations with Revka in the rookery or throughout Skyhold. Completing quests from her cousin Jon in Tevinter will reveal Venatori camps on all game-maps, and will reduce the cooldown time on war table quests dealing with Venatori in general.

Revka’s cousin, Czibor, can be encountered in the Hissing Wastes hunting Venatori. Accompanying xem in eliminating a Venatori camp can lead to xir recruitment as an Inquisition agent.

The Trouble with Tavi

After the quest Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, Revka will ask to meet the Inquisitor, requesting their assistance in a matter of life or death. She reveals that she’s received a letter from the Orlesian Carta, stating their displeasure at the Inquisitor’s choice of ruler, since they’re encroaching on the Orlesian Carta’s operations. They know Revka and the Cadash family has been helping the Inquisition, and threaten to exact revenge. She’d thought it an empty threat until her brother Tavi stopped replying to her letters. Upon investigation, it’s revealed that the Orlesian Carta kidnapped Tavi and have hid him at their base in Val Royeaux. Revka asks the Inquisitor for assistance.

Should the Inquisitor refuse Revka, she will greatly disapprove, stating that her brother’s more important that the Inquisitor’s ‘sodding principles,’ and leave the Inquisition to save him. She will not be available again until later in the game (post Adamant), when a war table mission will appear from Tavi in Ostwick, stating that Revka saved him and has returned to Kirkwall. She is still very offended, and is considering terminating the Cadash business contracts with the Inquisition. He urges the Inquisitor to please make her reconsider, citing the monetary gain the contracts net him but also Revka’s hurt (note: the letter will also reference a romanced Varric, asking the Inquisitor to enlist his help). The Inquisitor has the choice to make up with Revka and invite her back, or leave her be.  

Should the Inquisitor choose to help Revka, she will greatly approve and travel with the Inquisitor to Val Royeaux. Varric—regardless of the romance status—will also express interest in coming, but bringing him along is not required. Revka will be touched by his offer, regardless.

The meeting place mentioned in the Carta’s letter is an abandoned oil warehouse at the docks. Inside, the companions note the derelict condition of the place. The further they travel into the warehouse, following a trail of blood, the smell of rancid oil grows stronger. In a storeroom, there is a lone dead dwarf bearing a note, a man Revka recognizes as Tavi’s second in command in Ostwick. If the Inquisitor can find Tavi before time runs out, the note says, they’re welcome to him. As the Inquisitor reads the note aloud, a shadow darts in the periphery; the door slams shut, locking them in. A torch is thrown in through a window, setting the spilled oil on fire.

The Inquisitor may, through a series of dialogue choices, decide to rescue Tavi or leave him to his fate, opting to escape. If the Inquisitor chooses to escape and leave Tavi behind, Revka will greatly disapprove, running off to find him herself. If she is romanced by Varric, he will also greatly disapprove, stating that they should go after Revka. If the Inquisitor chooses this route, they can still save Revka and Tavi. Otherwise, the two Cadashes are not seen again, supposedly perishing in the fire. Revka will then be unavailable as a companion for the remainder of the game.  

The mission to save Tavi is time-sensitive, with several endings: should the Inquisitor take too long to escape or find Tavi, the warehouse will collapse on them, killing everyone. The timer, separated into quarters, is marked by sections of the roof collapsing: escaping by the third collapse will guarantee the party’s safety. Escaping post-third collapse can result in a 50% chance of the roof collapsing on the party: if this occurs, Revka pushes either her love interest or her brother out of the way of a falling beam, sacrificing herself for their safety. The mission then ends with the party barely escaping in time, mourning the loss of their lover and/or friend.

Pranks

Various pranks around Skyhold and Haven are attributed to Revka via ambient dialogue and party banter. If the approval rate is high enough, Inquisitor has an opportunity to join Revka in pulling pranks around Skyhold post-Adamant. She claims that she’d like to cheer everyone up, and would like the Inquisitor’s help.

Prank 1: sneak into the kitchen and switch the sugar out for salt in a cake.

Prank 2: paint a smiley face on the back of a sleeping Solas’s head

Prank 3: Rearrange Vivienne’s furniture

Prank 4: Distract Varric so she can steal his letters and replace them with scrambled riddles

A cutscene follows, showing a crowd standing at the base of a flagpole the morning after. Revka pushes through the crowd, gasping: someone has nailed her frilly blue panties to the pole. Varric is seen leaning against a column, howling with laughter. Revka pulls a face at him and scowls, but eventually ends up laughing, too. (Note: this is inspired by the short story ‘Flapping in the Breeze’)

Trespasser

If Revka left or died during the events of the game, she will not be at the Winter Palace. Otherwise, there are several outcomes as to what she’s been doing…

If she romanced Varric, she returned to Kirkwall and is his lover

If she romanced the Inquisitor, she stayed alongside him as an Inquisition agent

If she did not romance anyone, she returned to Kirkwall

There is an option to marry Revka as a romanced Inquisitor, or urge her to marry Varric. If she marries, her brother Tavi and a recruited cousin Czibor may attend the ceremony.

 Combat comments

Kills an enemy

And stay dead!

Sodding nughumper, good riddance.        

Low Health

A little help would be lovely!

Oh shit. Not good.

Atredum na satolva! Toss me a health potion,     will you?

I’m too old for this…        

Low Health (Companions)

(The Inquisitor) Inquisitor!

(The Inquisitor - if romanced) Hold on, love!

(Varric, unromanced) Varric, you don’t look so     good...

(Varric, if romanced) Oh shit, don’t you dare die on     me.  

(Sera) Can someone check on Sera, please?

(Cassandra) Cass! Wait!

(Dorian) Dorian needs help!

Location comments

(Approaching Camp) Ahhh! Home sweet tent. 

(When collecting a shard) Ooh! I wonder how much it’d fetch at market.

Storm Coast

(sighs) They ought to call this place the ‘Soggy Coast,’ or the ‘Sopping Coast.’  My socks are soaked through to my boots.

Fallow Mire

The bugs will drain you dry before the undead will. Nug-humping bastards keep biting me…

Anyone else feel eyes watching you from the shadows?

Hinterlands

(Laughs) You know, back when I was running jobs for the Carta, I would get so lost here in the Hinterlands. Good to know things haven’t changed.

Don’t go near there; bears love that place. I learned that the hard way…

(at Witchwood) Ah, the Which-Witch-is-Which-Wood. Da would warn my brother and I about this place when were children.

The Hissing Wastes

I have sand in places I never knew existed.

Why my cousin had to choose to hunt Venatori in the ass-end of nowhere is beyond me…

Emprise du Lion

(scoffs) Snow. Snow. More sodding snow. I’m up to my tits in the stuff.

We don’t get snow like this in Kirkwall.

(on seeing a snowfleur) Ooh, look! Fluffy nugs! Can I take one home? Lucky could use a friend.

Emerald Graves

I…I heard the reason why this place is called the Emerald Graves. Such a tragic story.

I didn’t expect such greenery this far south, to be honest.

Exalted Plains

(shivers) You can feel the sorrow in this place.

 Companion Comments

Blackwall: “Rev? She’s a bit… unnerving, to be honest. Never smiles, glares holes in the side of your head. Offered to sell my carvings in Denerim, though: two sovereigns apiece. I swear she could sell water to a fish, that woman…”

Varric: “(Laughs) Hawkeye and I go way back. Don’t let her innocent face fool you: she’ll bleed you dry at Wicked Grace if you let her. Learned some of my best tricks from her—Don’t…erm. Don’t tell her that.”

OR

“Do you know how Hawkeye got her name? She shot a fly from across a room, once. Still don’t know how she did it.”

(If Inquisitor romanced Revka) Hawkeye’s a sweet girl, under all the Carta bullshit. I’m glad she has you; she deserves some happiness in her life.”

(If romances Revka): “I know they say don’t mix business with pleasure, but I get all the best discounts at Graywater Imports, now. You want anything? I think they’re running a sale on Antivan leather, at the moment.”

OR

“She’s probably upstairs feeding Cipher, knowing her. Or taking another order for Dagna; buys crafting supplies like candy, that one.”

Sera: “Rev’s fun, not all stuffy just ‘cause she’s someone back home, yeah? Takes jokes well. Can’t shoot for shit, though…”

Cole: Ash, steel, gray, withering inside at the sight of him smiling at her. Don’t look back, you’re not going that way; old coals don’t rekindle. It bleeds under her armor, but she can’t bandage the wound. I want to help. (if she romances Varric) but he helped her feel whole again. (if she romances the Inquisitor) but you helped her feel whole again.

Solas: “Is it wise to allow a known member of the Carta in our ranks? She actively seeks information and passes it along to her superiors.”

OR

“Do tell Mistress Cadash that if she breaks into my desk one more time, I shall ward the drawers to set her on fire. I can tolerate harmless pranks, but one thing I cannot abide is liars who snoop.”

Iron Bull: “They say still waters run deep, and she’s no exception. She might appear all laughs and smiles, but that woman knows exactly what she’s doing. Don’t underestimate her.”

Dorian: “Ah, my darling Rev: she has excellent taste in literature and baked goods.” (if she romances Varric) “And dwarven merchant princes.”

Cassandra: “I doubted her intentions, at first, but she has proven herself quite useful to the Inquisition. If you see her, tell her to return my book, will you? She ‘borrowed’ a week ago, and I want to know what happens to the poor Guard Captain.”

Vivienne: “Mistress Cadash would do quite well at court; she understands the Game surprisingly well for one who’s not a courtier. Too strong from the onset, however: the idea is to gain a person’s trust, not frighten them into submission.”

Cullen: “I knew Mistress Cadash back in Kirkwall; I’d frequent Graywater Imports often. They carry three kinds of hair pomade there, did you know?”

Josephine: “Mistress Cadash has many useful connections throughout Thedas; I’m pleased she offers them to us so freely. But then, we’re making her a rich woman with all the business contracts. Quid pro quo, as the Tevinters say.”

Leliana: “Rev is a shrewd woman, fierce and good at her craft. Did you know that she has a pet nug in Kirkwall? She always has something for the birds when she comes here; I like her.”

 Trivia

It’s said that the young Varric Tethras wrote his  first novel, The Dasher’s Men, about Edric Cadash, Revka’s cousin. The femme fatale who assists the hero of the tale, Revka, is heavily inspired by Varric’s lover at the time, Revka Cadash. An autographed copy of The Dasher’s Men can be found in the rookery, where Revka sits.  

Revka adores cookies, and has been trying to get the secret brandy snap recipe off of her cousin, Edric, for years. She has tried everything  from recipe book publisher scams to impersonating the Viscount of Kirkwall’s chef to obtain the recipe

In party banter, Revka will mention her nug, Lucky, which, according to the short story, she won  during a rather raucous evening of Wicked Grace.

When Revka isn’t reading, answering correspondence, or training, she enjoys baking, sewing, and embroidery.

Despite being an adept businesswoman, Revka is terrible at bookkeeping, and will often complain about it to Varric… sometimes enlisting him to do it, with a bribe of cookies.

[all-that-jazz-93]

Part of the process of rewriting the Nightmare Trilogy is, obviously, going back and reading the original stories to see what plot points I want to keep or modify, and lemme tell you, the 2007 version of A Treacherous Path was utterly batshit in the best way.

The absolute unfettered chaos of a 13-year-old who had just discovered fanfiction and was super excited to be writing and sharing stories with other fans, without any thought as to whether the narrative actually made any sense, is truly a sight to behold.

Some highlights of the original story:

For some reason Spud is the first person Rose tells about her family, and then he uses his hacking skills to access public records to find them? No idea why I thought that made sense.

I wanted Rose's twin to be a boy (I had a fascination with boy/girl twins because of Luke and Leia in Star Wars, lmao), so I came up with some half-assed explanation for how that could be possible and just went with it. His name was Adam. (I still wanted her twin to be a boy in the rewrite, but this time I just made him trans. Sheltered, religious, teenaged me would have never even thought of that as an option).

Adam is revealed to be a dragon in the chapter where Rose first meets her family. It's mentioned once, has no bearing whatsoever on the overall plot, and is then never brought up again.

The Huntsman finds out about Rose's betrayal because he's watching from a nearby rooftop while Jake and his friends play Frisbee in Central Park, and Jake dragons up to try and catch the Frisbee at one point.

Adam apparently has very strong twin telepathy, and feels pain when Rose takes a blast from a Huntsstaff. This seemed really cool when I wrote it, but I did not think through the horrifying implications, given that I was already planning the next story, which involved Rose being tortured by a rogue Huntsclan member.

The Huntsman decides to relocate to Florida to separate Rose from Jake. This leads to a moment where Rose sings the chorus of a song that I used to hear a lot on the local Christian radio station. The song as a whole is about something completely different, but in my defense, I did acknowledge that in the text.

When they return to New York, the Huntsman declares that the Huntsclan will no longer try to slay the American Dragon, and that no one is allowed to harm Rose either.

This is not at all a comprehensive list of the ridiculousness in that original fic, but you can see why this rewrite has taken me so long to make any progress on—the source material was just so hilariously contrived!

[inklingofadream]

Regarding your plot bunnies, litarly any of your time traveling daisy stuff sounds like loads of fun, but maybe the gang of feral kids, as a specific one

In response to this lovely ask, a small detail from the feral kids au:

daisy peaces out on her family within a year of ending up in the past, because 13-14 is like almost enough to pass as old enough to work (...that’s 15 here in the states, hopefully it’s the same in the UK. whichever, she probably has at least some idea of where she might find someone willing to hire her under the table from her cop days)

baby daisy heads to london, and decides to get gerry to join her fairly immediately. possibly she starts plotting mary’s death, and then as soon as she enacts it (and gets poor gerry on side lol) the $ and living situation problem is solved bc bookshop + access to Mary’s bank accounts. (mary in this au is also immortal, only instead of being tied to the book its in the sense that they never report the death and she’s remains a legal pretense until at least gerry’s old enough to live on his own and inherit legally)

pretty much everyone else but jon and martin i see as having fairly chill and happy childhoods. so the stokers and the girls mostly end up looped into the gang and hang around the bookshop after school and on weekends, but stay with their parents (until involvement with them leads something nasty to at least one set of parents. everyone thinks it was an unfortunate coincidence except daisy and maybe gerry, who feel deeply guilty). daisy was gonna leave em all alone except basira, but decided jon and martin needed friends

martin is almost as easy to recruit as gerry. it takes long enough to get around to him that his dad’s been gone for at least a year or two, and he’s starting to realize deep down that his mum’s never gonna care about him the way he cares about her, even if he’s not going to come close to admitting it until he’s an adult. daisy and gerry use the money from mary to get martin’s mum into a decent care home- bc even if adult martin was reluctant, kid martin who’s only been at it for a little bit definitely gets that he’s not currently equipped to care for her- and martin gets “lost” in the shuffle, ie relocated to morden. he’s like 10, so he doesn’t quite realize a) that daisy and gerry are not Adults or b) this is Not how foster care works At All. by the time he does, he’ll be too happy and well established with the gang to care. daisy convinced gerry on the grounds that someone should take care of this Small Child, and is v embarrassed when it turns out Martin’s better at cooking than any of them and claims the kitchen for his own.

jon is the first addition post-mary dying, and the hardest sell to gerry. daisy just kinda turned up as another kid who knows all about the entities and wouldn’t share her backstory, so gerry accepted that she had some messed up stuff she was fleeing and grudgingly accepted her presence and friendship. daisy waits a bit until mary’s dead, the bookshop is childproofed (gerry thinks they’re just selling and destroying leitners, but they’re childproofing) and she’s sure they’re not gonna get imminently caught or run out of money. and then she just Straight Up Kidnaps jon. he’s not even from the london area. daisy goes out for the day, as is her wont, and returns with a Crying Child.

gerry: where did he come from??? (assuming she like. found him homeless somewhere and he can sell her on dropping him off somewhere that’ll get him into non-spooky foster care with adults)

jon, sobbing: Bournemouth

gerry: what were you doing in Bournemouth???

daisy: getting jon

jon: i wanna go home!

“jon had an encounter with a leitner” is not enough to sell gerry on the whole situation. he and daisy have a big extended fight over it, and it takes ages to get jon to stop running away. he’s not really happy and secure with them until after Numerous Others have joined the gang willingly and join team “what the hell daisy??” and promise they’ll help him leave if he wants (they outnumber her now!) but most of the child/teen jon kidnapping variants end with his grandmother dying early of stress (im sorry maam but ur inconvenient) and so he can stay with his friends or go into care, and jon chooses his friends

when they finally go after jonah he has even less idea whats happening than in my other daisy time travel aus

[bulletballet-arch]

The Revised [ Full ] History of Eve in Picture Perfect

( until I decide to tweak and edit it some more )

In this verse, Eve’s mother Linda would reside in Brooklyn for three years after the death of her husband, William Littlejohn, his brother Malcolm, and Malcolm’s wife Yvette. Initially, she stays in Brooklyn simply because she feels she is supposed to. Her in-laws, Amos and Liza, want to observe her. Similarly, Linda’s parents want to ensure she is fine after narrowly facing death. Haunted by the massacre, Linda suffers from survivor’s syndrome, but she is never allowed to vocalize the pain felt. In the midst of secretly attending therapy sessions ( while Eve is taken care of by her Grandma Evelyn and Papa Giuseppe ) Linda finds that her lifestyle is stagnant. She feels as though she is a woman who does whatever someone else wants. Therefore, Linda decides to move to Manhattan with the five-year-old Eve in tow. They live in a luxurious apartment and Linda makes her living as a secretary on Wall Street while Eve attends ballet classes.

Linda didn’t have to be a secretary, as the Littlejohns (and her father) provided her with money, but she liked working. It kept her mind off things. Sometimes things would feel great until people asked her was her husband the late William Littlejohn. In time, Linda gets a boyfriend who is a stockbroker. He’s white, he’s a recent divorcee and because she worked so closely with him, Linda knew it would be unprofessional to date him. But she thought to herself, ‘this is my decision. It’s okay because I have some control.’ The idea of control was a myth, though. She became his arm candy, similar to what happened within the Littlejohn Family when she initially became linked with William.

Linda could not complain too much, though. Because her new lover was good to Eve. The overall excellent dynamic caused them to get married. Their marriage lasts for four years. Eve is eight years old when they divorce. It’s a divorce that’s long. Messy. He was going to jail for a pyramid scheme was a part of and Linda didn’t want to stand by him. After the divorce - and the trial - Linda decides she could use a break. She decides that she and Eve should leave the country for a little while. Because why not? She has the money. The first country they go to is England, staying in London.

It was supposed to be a month-long vacation, but she kept putting off returning home. She didn’t want to house hunt back in New York, she didn’t want to be identified with a scandal, she didn’t want to see any family. So they began living in London. When Eve is nine years old, Linda would decide to go to South Africa. Eve experienced cities such as Durban, Ghana, Cape Town. While Linda was really in Africa to become more connected to her ancestors, all and all, she thought the experience would be good for Eve. Her baby girl could have a lot of memories of different buildings, landscapes, cultures. And, this exposure did make Eve happy, however, she had no stable school life or friendships. So on a social level, Eve was miserable. She also tried having pen pals, but that only worked for so long before both parties ceased writing one another.  Eve did feel at home when she was in New York with her extended family during holidays like Christmas. Eve’s maternal grandparents wanted her to live with them, but her mother refused it. Eve has a vivid memory seated in the back of a taxi, crying because she didn’t want to go to the airport. And as for Linda - well, she would never notice this, but whenever she was deeply distressed, her mental desire was to just keep moving.

When Eve was fifteen years old, her mother fell in love with a highly esteemed professor from the University of Cape Town. This would be her mother’s third significant relationship. They all began living together and he begins an inappropriate relationship with Eve. It’s all an act of grooming that Eve isn’t aware of. Linda catches on to it and calls out her boyfriend for his behavior. However, he is offended by the accusations. He moves out, but he still contacts Eve through phone calls and  even picks her up from school at one point without her mother’s consent. Eve remembers her mother always asking her questions, ‘did he touch you?’ ‘What did he do to you?’ Eve was overwhelmed, as she felt her mother didn’t believe her. It caused Eve to give her the silent treatment, which in turn caused Linda to decide to move again. This time, they would leave Africa to live in Europe - France, specifically.

In France, the two moved twice. First to Paris then to Lyon. Eve liked Lyon more than Paris, but was much too stubborn to admit it. Part of Eve was worried that if she was open about her love, then her mother would want to move somewhere else. She attended college with a focus on art conservation. Ultimately, she did not fully complete her apprenticeship because she would meet Alexandre DuBois, a con artist she fell in love with.

He did not expose his true nature to her at first, but she began questioning the source of the jewelry he was continuously giving her. When she reached the conclusion that he was a criminal of some sort, Alexandre kept insisting that it wasn’t as much of an issue that she was making it out to be. To prove this he wanted Eve to come with him to a job wanting Eve to participate as well. Eve declined, she wasn’t trying to get in any legal trouble. However, Alexandre said he didn’t like boring women. Offended, she agreed.  He slicked down his hair so it could appear straight. Wore his best suit. Meanwhile, he instructed Eve to dress as though she was going to attend the most extravagant party. When they stood side by side, Alexandre was looking like a wealthy white man with a young, black mistress. The trick, Alexandre told her, was to always act as though you belong. For days Eve waited for consequences. For the police to knock at her door. Something. It didn’t happen. She told herself never again, but she got addicted to stealing with Alexandre, as it became an adrenaline rush.

Eventually, Eve and Alexandre were apprehended by law enforcement. Linda bailed Eve out and told her that if she was not going to continue reaching for her career goals then she would send her to America. Eve would fight back, insisting that she was an adult, so she doesn’t have to go to America just because she said so. Linda then has enough and states that since Eve is a young adult, she can live with Alexandre.  The relationship that would progress between Eve and Alexandre was not without its faults. Even when Eve moved in with him, Alexandre was cheating on her discreetly. He had his alternate hookups and one-night stands, with Eve simply being his main girlfriend. When women smugly confronted Eve of how Alexandre was nothing but a womanizer and she was his latest victim, she fought for the sheer integrity of his name. Behind closed doors, when Eve confronted Alexandre about his inability to be monogamous: he blackened her eye.

The relationship comes to an end when Alexandre gains access to an elite party. During their fumbled job, they would be acknowledged by someone who would be very influential in Eve’s future, Gisella Agostini of the Corsican Mafia. The two would leave the scene in shame, fiercely arguing in the car about who messed up. Eve brings up how he’s a liar and manipulator, only for Alexandre  to rip the pearls from her neck and kick her out his car. She had to find her way back to safety in the dark of the night.

While Alexandre and Eve are separated, the Agostini family does research on the two. They see that Alexandre has a long history of theft, and even a previous murder charge, while Eve just seems to be a college student who got caught up in the thrill of crime. First, Alexandre is snatched off the street by Agostini goons. In what he deemed as an act of self-preservation, he sells Eve out, claiming it was her idea.

When Eve is abducted by the crime family, Gisella confronts her directly. The old woman states that she could fix everything and spare her from her ‘husband’s wrath.’ But the truth is, Gisella’s husband doesn’t do anything in the crime family any longer due to his age and illnesses, but Gisella uses him as a ‘front’ to reign.  Eve ends up working for the crime family,  and in little moments, she ever so gradually speculates she is in the midst of a female mob boss. As the months go along, Eve’s mother wants to make amends but Eve doesn’t want her mother to know she is now gang-affiliated. Eve is very afraid for her life. This leads to more mother-daughter tension due to the lack of communication.  

As the years pass on, Gisella is progressively attached to Eve. This is reflective of how she has her own passion for the world and the diverse people who live in it (especially those of the African diaspora.) In turn, Eve initially grows to feel like she’s a part of some sort of stable family. Ultimately, their relationship gradually becomes overbearing and toxic. Eve is literally feeling like she’s owned and controlled by an old white woman. Therefore, Eve distances herself from dealing with Gisella personally because it was too much. However, Eve continued working for the crime family in regards to assassinations and heists, but she was not eating at Gisella’s home for dinner or talking over tea. Eve decides to make amends with Gisella by the time she is 31. Little did she know, the woman was on her death bed at this point. They were kind to one another and Gisella lets Eve know she can do whatever she wants now. Later that week, the old woman would die. While Gisella’s death comes as a shock - Eve was also feeling relieved. Afterward, Eve has mild conflict with Gisella’s nephew who feels like she should not be leaving the crime family, but Eve insists Gisella harbored no ill will towards her and wanted her to do whatever she wanted. So, she’s leaving.

Eve relocates to New York to begin a new, stable life. It’s what she wants. It’s what she needs. Or so she thinks. She thought New York would have her feel at home and content as it did when she was a child, but she didn't feel this way at all. She felt like a stranger among her family, like a guest or something.  Eve proceeds to sell the art she makes for a living and gains recognition from it. Admittedly, she’s bored with a quiet life. It is entering a relationship with Salvatore Scozzari that sparks her passion for crime, although he would much rather her marry him and live a quiet but glamorous life. But in the end? Eve can’t do it. Breaking up with Sal by claiming she’ll be working at a gallery in California, she travels to another state. Her life as a thief starting up a second time.

[radishleaf]

Hello this is sort of a request but also an ask anyway I was wondering what you think Beruka did after the war because her ending isn't very descriptive and thank you for answering my question I really love Nina x Forrest but a lot of people don't so I wanted to make sure you liked before asking about it sorry this long oh and sorry any mistake in the spelling my autocorrect is nightmare

it's np! always glad to get asks from a fan of a rarepair i also share, haha. nina x forrest is really so good, too, and it's a shame you don't see a lot of people shipping them either. u_u

it's a damn shame so little was written with the endings; if we had gotten unique endings like with 3h, it would've been great, but i guess i can't fault them since there were so many pairings possible. ngl it's been a long time since i've ruminated on beruka's possible motivations after the war (especially in line with fates canon), so sorry if any of this seems ooc or goes against some established facts:

due to the tenacious air after the war and their hand in it, i like to think the first thing beruka did with niles is relocate to someplace remote and quiet so that they might be able to establish a life first. as not just retainers, but also close confidantes to the royals of nohr, they had large targets on their backs and many detractors who would wish to see them dead. their home was located in a remote, but thickly-forested area you'd have to know thoroughly to venture through. i like to think it was located along the border between hoshido and nohr with access to nearby villages for supplies should the need arise.

for a time, beruka withdrew from most of society to acquaint herself with a mundane life. thus, she'd be alone most of her time; since niles is still attending to leo's requests across the criminal underground, she spends her days trying to adjust to a life she never knew in tandem with finding peace of mind from the terrors of war that still plague her. this isn't to say it is an unfortunate life, as niles still comes home to her in the evenings.

the villages she visits for supplies--sometimes with niles--look to them both with suspicion since they just sorta appeared one day. they're known as the couple that laughs too loud (beruka is still adjusting to her emotions, okay), and as a result, most tend to avoid the two and/or keep their interactions with them as short as possible. despite the unfortunate point of view their appearance hold and how it continues to niggle within beruka since she's always had a complex about it, she comes to accept it's inevitability considering their sudden appearances.

once she has established herself with some semblance of comfort, camilla, like leo, requests her help in bringing order to the underbelly of nohr--not with criminal activity, however, as leo has a foothold there, but with the slums' orphans. considering she was once an orphan herself, she knows the pains such children go through growing up in such an desolate world, and is given the mission to establish rapport with them so that she might help them find families.

unsurprisingly, she ends up being very good at the task, as her empathy and gentleness leads her to establishing an orphanage in the slums for wayward children who either lost parents to the war or criminal activity in the slums. rumors float about how the gentle but stern matron who barely comes up to people's shoulders once used to be a merciless assassin, but they're quickly dismissed, as there absolutely no way they're true. why beruka is so accurate with tossing chalk at kids who don't pay attention during class is just something to think about, though.

this is just a vague idea of what i think beruka did after the war! while it might not be in line completely with what might've gone done, i stick to the HC that beruka is very good with children, and would have a hand in helping the slums' orphans one way or another. :')))

[topfreelistingsiteindelhincr]

How a luxury home is situated in a gated community a good investment strategy?

We have all become more aware of the value of gated community living due to the lockdown followed by COVID-19. People in societies enjoyed their social lives in total security, while no one was permitted to leave their homes due to safety concerns.

Furthermore, the neighborhood itself had everything the members could need. There was no need to leave their homes to get groceries or other necessities because all they needed was nearby, and this is the reason why people should invest their money in a gated community, as investing in a house is a very crucial decision to make in life, personally as well as financially and this decision should be worth of investing your money. Thus, gated community homes do not only provide you security from theft but provide you with a variety of security and make your life more manageable.

In today's scenario, many gated communities are sprouting up, encouraging society living and displacing individual living. These days, most house purchasers are drawn to the many advantages of residing in a gated community and view it as a better choice. Here are some more reasons why an individual should prefer a home in a gated community

·       They make a living in the modern world more accessible.

·       They provide you the chance to live in a miniature metropolis.

·       They provide many forms of comfort.

·       They provide safety.

HERE ARE SOME BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A LUXURY HOME IN A COMMUNITY

Safety

The most important factor of living in a gated community is that it provides good safety. One should never undervalue the value of a safe and secure residence. Therefore, one of the critical factors that make gated communities a better choice for homebuyers is security. The safety of residents is increased in gated communities. Access restrictions stop visitors from driving by or wandering in on foot to check what you have. Your level of privacy and the tranquility of your living space are both naturally increased by this circumstance. The people running or walking their dogs nearby will tell you they are locals.

Beautiful architect

Gated communities are constructed with an organized design incorporating green space and an architectural motif. Thus, you reside in a visually appealing area that provides you access to nature. Standards established by local laws and ordinances guarantee enduring visual attractiveness. You don't have to be concerned about an unsightly building destroying the ambiance. Additionally, those who opt for this lifestyle do so because they value the cleanliness of a well-kept neighborhood.

Privacy as well as togetherness

Gated communities intentionally foster community while providing you with a place to live where you can enjoy privacy when you need it. You have lots of opportunities to interact with other inhabitants in this setting by:

·       Utilizing the same jogging routes

·       Golfing

·       Local events to attend

·       chatting with neighbors at the pool or gym

Purchasing a property in a gated community gives you a head start on developing friends and relationships if you're relocating to a new location. Your general well-being will benefit significantly from the resulting sense of community. Compared to persons who don't have connections to the community, people with a sense of security, belonging, and trust tend to be in better health.

Sustaining lifestyle

Among other gated community features, extensive infrastructure development and maintenance, waste management, a safe environment, and water harvesting may very well be offered to you by gated communities. Every time a family chooses to invest in real estate, they need stability and security to lead contented and stable lives.

Investments according to your expenses

Buying a home in a gated community is a wise decision regarding real estate. Although purchasing a home in a gated community will always cost a little more than certain other types of real estate, doing so can be a wise investment, especially if you get it from a respected builder. Gated community flats and villas are a significant investment in people's increased quality of life because today's people want more than just a house; they want a lifestyle.

We hope you understand the value of luxury houses in a gated community from the above points. However, choosing a home in a gated community is another task, and BRICKSNWALL makes this task easy for you. It provides professional counseling from experts, and you can get a free session today. So book your session now.

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[ask-professor-laurel]

Shiverwood Facilities

(This is a WIP, will probably be updated fairly frequently!)

PREFACE

This blog is a headcanon blog- it is not run as canon, and everything said is my own personal headcanons. The goal of this blog is just to explore the Pokemon world and the lore in ways that canon does not, I don’t claim anything I say to be canon or superior to anybody else’s headcanons.

This blog ignores game mechanics, as they don’t apply to the more realistic approach I’m taking here. I’m operating more under a blend of manga and anime mechanics. Storylines in the games may be acknowledged, but game mechanics (level up system, IVs and EVs, etc) are not canon to this blog.

A note from the person who runs this blog: I am by no means a medical expert, or an expert in real life animals. This is all for fun, and is just my fun way of having a blog for a self-indulgent Pokemon OC. Do not take anything I see here as real-life medical or animal handling advice- I am not a professional in any way.

(I also want to note- I was inspired by the Professor Peach blog to start my own, so shoutout to them for giving me the idea!!)

—————

What do we do?

Shiverwood Facilities itself is dedicated both to Pokemon research and Pokemon care. Our work is primarily based on Pokemon behaviour rather than on any specific Pokemon type, with our primary work being researching into a broad spectrum of Pokemon behaviours, and the care of Pokemon sent to us for care or rehabilitation. We also act as an in-between for Pokemon that need more intensive rehabilitation we can’t offer and we can often take in Pokemon that need to be removed from situations, but who don’t have someone to take them in quite yet. 

On the research side of things, I (Professor Laurel) am in charge of most aspects of it. My research is centralized on Pokemon variants, the environmental causes, and the behavioural aspects. I’m also a behaviouralist myself, with a background in that sort of research, so I’m a bit of an encyclopedia on Pokemon behaviour and the habits of various species. I’m most familiar with Dragon, Grass, and Bug type Pokemon, but I can help with pretty much any typing. 

Our site is equipped to deal with Pokemon that need care or minimal rehabilitation- anything more intensive we offer to just hold onto the Pokemon in question until someone more qualified can come and pick them up. Pokemon care here covers mental wellbeing and physical health- we have several behaviouralists onsite, including myself, who can get to the root of the problem and help a Pokemon emotionally, as well as trained medical staff who can deal with anything physical, be it injuries or something chronic. Our medical facilities are equivalent to a Pokemon Centre, and we often take in injured wild Pokemon for short stays before releasing them, but we’ll also help out trainers who pass by, or anyone who needs to bring in their Pokemon for a longer stay, free of charge. Any Pokemon left with us, whether found after being abandoned or being surrendered from bad situations, will most likely be rehomed, if not taken in by someone on staff. 

We offer tours of the facility, as well as tours of the local habitat. These are both guided either by myself or another staff member with a capable team, just in case. Public areas are clearly marked with signs, same with warning signs for any areas that might be dangerous, and areas closed to the public. We also host a couple of events every season that serve to raise awareness of our work, Pokemon care, Pokemon wellbeing, etc for the public. 

—————

Who are you sending your questions to?

Professor Arthur Laurel! That’s me- you can call me Arthur if you want, I’m not big on formalities. I’ve talked about myself already, but I’m the person who will be receiving and answering all of your questions.

I have a smaller team of Pokemon from my trainer days, and all three of them are my trusted partners and some of my very best friends.

Cloudhopper - My Dragonite. She’s been with me the longest and is my partner, gifted to me as a starter as a Dratini when I was going to set out on my Gym Challenge. She’s also a certified service Pokemon, as well as a flying Ride Pokemon. Known for being very protective, usually the one to get me out of trouble, but also very sweet and loving. She does have a wicked sense of humour, though, watch out for if she feels mischievous.

Honeybite - My Appletun. He’s larger than the average Appletun, standing at over 3 feet tall, and known for being the sweetest cuddles there ever was. He’s been with me nearly as long as Cloudhopper. Honeybite’s famous for his cuddles, but don’t underestimate him for his sweet face, he’s quite the little powerhouse when he wants to be, but luckily for us he chooses peace.

Sweetbug - My Vespiquen. She was the last addition to my team, but it’s still been a good decade of having her by my side. She’s a mother hen type between myself and her Combee hive, with a fierce protective streak that has us keeping her hive closed to the public. She often offers honey as a gift to those she cares about, so you can always tell someone’s having a good day when they’ve got a little jar of honey that they didn’t get from me.

—————

Where are we and how can you find us?

Shiverwood is a bit of an exaggeration for a name- we’re located just north of Ballonlea, near the mountains surrounding Wyndon. We’re just north of being hot and humid, and just south of being freezing, so we have some cooler weather for most of the year, although summers can get quite hot. There are designated paths through the thick forest outside of Ballonlea that lead to us, so finding your way isn’t too difficult, but for those who don’t want to travel on foot we can also be reached through Corviknight Taxi and easily spotted from the sky on a flying service Pokemon. We don’t have any water access, the only body of water being a nearby lake, as well as no train access. Walking/riding or flight are the only ways to reach us. 

We’re in this area on the standard Galar map.

—————

What kind of facilities do we have?

MAIN LAB - This is the largest building, it’s the main research facility and where you’ll find me if I’m not cooped up in my lab or out in the field. It also contains a smaller medical facility equipped for minor injuries for both people and Pokemon. Mostly open to the public.

LAUREL’S LAB - Within the Main Lab building. I keep it open to the public for the most part, just know that it’s a mess most of the time, because I believe in organized chaos. My team can be interacted with here if they’re in the mood for it, so if you’ve ever wanted to hug a Dragonite, now’s your chance. 

POKEMON CENTER - It’s not an official Pokemon Center, but we call it one because it’s easier. It’s equipped to handle anything from massive medical emergencies to permanent and semi-permanent residents who require more care. Also equipped for human care. We often offer supervised positions to learning medical students so that they can gain experience under the watchful eyes of our doctors. Some of it is open to the public, but the rooms are restricted to trainer and friends and family only, and surgery rooms are completely off limits.

ZEN AREA - This is a combination of a building and a bigger outdoor area. This is where the behaviouralists care for Pokemon’s mental wellbeing- think of it like therapy for Pokemon. The outdoor area is open to the public, but inside the building only the entrance is accessible. This is because inside is where Pokemon who may be volatile or aggressive are cared for, to prevent them from escaping, or harming other patients. We call it the Zen Area because it can be very soothing, patient or not.

CONTAINMENT - Where we hold the Pokemon we’re temporarily holding for someone to come collect. This area is completely closed off to the public due to the usually very aggressive or unpredictable nature of the Pokemon who stay there. This area is meant for temporary stays- it’s a sizeable enough area of the woods right at the base of the mountain, and there’s a pond in there that’s surprisingly deep. This area can handle a wide variety of Pokemon, temporarily, but it can’t handle every single species. In those cases, we relocate them to another facility as quickly as possible.

GREENHOUSES - These are the warmest places in the facility, mostly inhabited by Grass Types, but also home to quite a few Bug Types. Open to the public and plants are available for purchase, with a wide range from leafy greens to berry saplings. The Pokemon here are tamed, and can be adopted. There is one that’s closed off to the public due to the Combee hive in there, but the honey can be bought!

TRAINING FIELD - Most of us are trainers, so we have a standard battlefield set up for battling! It isn’t equipped for Dynamaxing or Gigantamaxing, but that isn’t a worry since we don’t have the means to do so in this area. Trainers are welcome to use the field for practice, and to see if any staff would like to battle with them. I’m usually up for a good battle unless I’m busy (or recovering from something), and it’s great fun to spectate during your breaks!

MIRROR LAKE - Named after the Giant’s Mirror, Mirror Lake hosts numerous Water Types that prefer the colder waters. We have a Lapras who lives there and she’s very friendly, though she’s never been captured and we don’t allow the public to ride on her. She picks and chooses on the staff who she’ll allow to ride on her back and if you try to force it, she throws you into the water. We have other trained ride Pokemon for water rides, and the shallows can be nice to dip your feet in during the hotter summer, though the water never gets above chilly temperatures.

SHIVERWOOD FOREST - Likely named during the colder winter, Shiverwood is the forest we’re built on the edge of. It’s technically still the Glimwood Tangle, but we have stronger wild Pokemon around, as well as some other species you won’t find south of Ballonlea. There are trail tours, but we generally advise not wandering into the dense forest, as it’s very easy to get lost. You’ll often be able to see the wild Sylveon and Umbreon packs, as well as some Deerling and Sawsbuck herds, lots of Impidimps and a few Morgrems and Grimmsnarls, and plenty of Zubats. If you’re lucky, you might spot a Trevenant! 

MOUNTAIN TRAILS - We have several mountain trails to hike on if you don’t mind the chillier weather up there. Most of the caves have danger signs posted in front of them and we often have staff posted near them, but several caves are open and free to explore! We have a Gigalith who lives deep in the caves who comes out every once in a while and is a real sight to behold, and higher up the mountain for more experienced climbers, you may get to see a very friendly Froslass. Other than that you can expect to find Geodudes, Gravellers and Golems, more Zubats, Roggenrolas and Boldores, and most common Rock Types. If you’re very lucky in the winter, and if you’re patient and brave enough to climb up to see the Froslass, you might just see an Aurorus if you wait around long enough. She’s very elusive, but breathtaking to see. Just don’t get on the wrong side of any Abomasnow or Beartics you see up there- keep to the trails and don’t go without staff. 

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You said events?

I did! We host a couple of events every season, raising awareness for our work and for Pokemon in need to the public. The events we host are all free and are open for everyone, and we always put out plenty of notice and signs so everyone knows!

SPRING

Shiverwood Trek - Every year, early in the spring, we put on the annual hike where everyone who shows up early in the morning joins us for a hike through the forest! We do Pokemonspotting throughout, and this is usually the time where you get to interact with a lot of wild Pokemon and see the sights that Shiverwood has to offer. This is also the only event where we go off the trails- since the foliage won’t have fully come in, it’s much easier to get through, so we always explore “new” (we explore before taking random people in for safety reasons) areas. Afterwards, there’s a lunch and then we offer the usual guided tours. I usually lead this one!

Wake-Up Call - A lot of Pokemon come out of hibernation in the spring, and after sleeping for so long, they’re quite hungry! Come on down and make up baskets of food grown here in the Greenhouses, and join us in going through the forest and setting baskets around for anyone who might need it. You’ll often get to see sleepy Pokemon stumbling around, and let me tell you, you haven’t lived till you’ve seen a sleepy Greedent fall asleep eating the basket it found.

SUMMER

Summer Barbecue Bash!! - Just what it says it is! It’s a massive barbecue party we hold from early afternoon to late into the night every summer. We team up with Kabu and other Fire Type experts to bring in Fire Types to help with the cooking, as well as putting on shows of them displaying their talents and powers. It’s a lot of fun, just remember to bring sunscreen! 

Scavenger Hunt - This one’s more meant for the younger ones, but we host a big scavenger hunt in the easy forest trails and the easy mountain trails for people to complete! Everybody gets a prize for finishing, but first free to finish get a bigger prize just as a bit of incentive. This usually brings out the families, a lot like the barbecue bash, and is a lot of fun to set up and help out with. Staff get to be wonderfully cryptic and unhelpful (unless it’s with the little ones- we’re a bit more helpful there) and it’s good to get out into the sun for a bit. We hold this one a couple times throughout the summer.

FALL

Fall Forage - As fall comes in, a lot of local plant life starts to wither for the colder weather. Right at the beginning, we lead people around for foraging, and anything they find they can choose to donate to us or take home for free. There’s a lot of Pokemonspotting to be had, a lot of exploring, and at the end of the day we take some of what we’ve found and we make a big community pot of soup! That’s become a tradition for the forage over the years, and it’s probably my favourite part after spending the whole day gathering plants in the chilly weather. 

Sawsbuck Sendoff - Every year in the fall, the Sawsbuck and Deerling herds that live in the area migrate towards the mountains for the winter. They come through the area in big herds, and this lasts usually 2 - 3 days. This started off as something unofficial, but the popularity of it led to us advertising it as a sendoff, where we all gather and watch the Sawsbuck and Deerling herds migrate. You can also help clearing their way with us if you want, it’s a volunteer operation and we repay you with food, but you basically just help us clear the way and set up food and water stations, plus you might see some early groups come through! Can’t go up to the herds for safety reasons, but watching them is quite beautiful, and very rewarding to see your hard work pay off when they eat the food you set out for them. 

WINTER

Into the Unknown - Named a bit dramatically, because we definitely know where we’re going, but winter’s event is cave exploring! This is the only time of year we open up some of the more restricted caves, and we take people deep into the caves to explore. We check them all out in advance, of course, to ensure safety, but this is the one and only opportunity a year to get into some of these caves and explore deeper into the mountain. This is another one I tend to lead, and it’s great fun, but it’s also got a lot of hands on deck and on standby just in case. A lot of prep goes into this one and honestly, it’s probably my favourite event to host! There’s hidden waterfalls, glittering caves, and this is the only way you’ll see some Pokemon like Noibats, Noiverns, and some elusive Ghost and Dark Types.

Winter Harvest - We do this one a few times throughout the winter. Winter Harvest is when we take what we’ve been growing in the Greenhouses and the public can come help us make food packages that we donate to Pokemon shelters, and to families in need. This one usually has a big turnout and it’s a great environment all around; just people helping each other and drinking hot chocolate. I participate every year, and help with the deliveries along with staff and volunteers. 

Besides those, we also host regular adoption events. People can come through anytime to see if they’d like to adopt any of the Pokemon we hold here, though we do have fairs on a regular basis to promote the facility’s adoption services. 

You can also find some courses here- we offer them to anybody looking to learn, no age limit (just a minimum; 16), but they can be very helpful when applying for certain lines of work. I also offer referrals and letters of recommendation as a professor, and the staff are also qualified to do the same as medical experts and behaviouralists.

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FAQ

Q: What kind of questions can I ask?

A: Anything and everything! I’ll always answer to the best of my ability, be it behaviour, medical, or just you wanting my thoughts on a certain species or concept. I’ll always be sure to be clear when my answers are uncertain, theoretical, or if I just don’t know. But anything you want to ask, ask away!

Q: Can I come to you for medical advice?

A: Within the Pokemon world? Absolutely! If you’re looking for real-life medical advice from the author of this blog, who is an arts student who works part-time retail, you are not going to find anything helpful!

Q: Why is my question taking a while to get answered?

A: I (both myself and Arthur) get very busy! I check this blog whenever I can, but I don’t always answer right away because my answers require time for me to sit down and think it out. I answer every ask I receive (unless it’s really weirdly personal or if there’s clearly something really bad about it- then it’ll be deleted) and I do so as quickly as I can, but I pride myself on quality answers, so it might take me a bit!

Q: Do you hand out starter Pokemon?

A: Not in the way you think! We do adopt Pokemon out, but we’re not like, say Professor Oak. Adopting a Pokemon out here, even to a child, involves a screening process of the adopter (anyone over 18 and if younger than 18, their legal guardian(s)), and a lot of paperwork. We have to make sure everything is going to work out, after all! But we don’t just hand a new trainer a Pokemon, no.

Q: Can I leave my Pokemon there for a short while?

A: Absolutely! We don’t have a designated daycare area, but we will ensure your Pokemon gets the best care and stays in the area best suited to them. Feel free to leave them with us, but we do ask that it not be long, so try to come get them within 10 days unless you give us notice it will be a longer period. While you’re away, your Pokemon will be allowed to roam (with supervision) in any area that best suits it, and I’ll personally assure you that staff are more than happy to keep our Pokemon guests company, haha :)