#about it and if they show interest in learning | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

twstedwonders · 2 days ago

Text

SFW Alphabet - Malleus Draconia

A/N: First Post! I do eventually want to do this with all the boys, this just took an unbelievable about of time to write.

I still can't tell when to properly use a comma, semicolon, or hyphen. Pls help.

Warnings: Mention of hair in "Q". Reader may or may not be M/C, up to you, hon.

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

In public, Malleus is a little more reserved with his affections. Being the heir to Briar Valley, he does have to be conscious of public opinion. A kiss to the back of your hand, guiding you through a crowd with a hand on your back, walking around with your arm looped around his. Almost a classy type of affection.

In private, he's constantly touching you. Hand holding as he reads with you doing your own thing beside him, your legs dangling over his lap as you share a pot of tea- his hand caressing your calf, he presses kisses to your head often- even in passing if there aren't too many witnesses. He enjoys your presence and soaking in your warmth.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

You would have to approach him first. Malleus is often regarded with caution and met with distance from his peers, and to an extent- even his citizens. Once you show him you're interested in knowing him and don't have that trepidation, he's ecstatic and will seek you out, the friendship growing with time.

As his best friend, you have an incredible privilege many others don't get. You see his genuine enjoyment in life. You see the spark in his eyes as he speaks of his passions, you get to hear his laughter as you regale him with silly tales about your day.

He often will gift you little trinkets he finds, and for your birthday, he gives you a replica of your favorite gargoyle he handcrafted himself. You're a very dear person to him, and he holds your opinions very high.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

At the start of your relationship, he's very stiff during any type of cuddling. The Fae has incredible strength, physically and magically. He's overly cautious when handling your much more frail in comparison form.

Once he gets over his fear, and learns to trust himself, he's a cuddlebug. Mentioned in 'Affection', Malleus enjoys being in constant contact with you. Cuddling is a way to relax and have yourself wrapped around him, being as close as possible. He enjoys you laying across his chest, getting to stroke your head and back, and in a way, it feels like he is protecting you from anything and everything the world can throw at you when you're in his arms.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Malleus does wish to marry you one day. You're the perfect partner for him, and he knows with time you can grow to be a wonderful leader beside him. Ideally, a child or 2 (or more) would be included.

Malleus is competent at cooking and cleaning, but he doesn't have to do it much. He was privileged enough to have attendants do those things for him growing up, but he is more than capable at cooking something for you two and keeping a tidy space.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

It's hard to imagine Malleus choosing to get romantically involved with someone who isn't completely compatible with him. I kinda feel once he is romantically involved with someone, you are his forever. But let's imagine otherwise, for the sake of writing.

He would take you out for a stroll around the castle at night, enjoying your presence for one last time before he would grab ahold of your hands and turn to face you. With a heavy heart, he would confess how although he still adores you, he believes it to be best if you two were no longer romantically involved. He would likely still keep track of you through life, with how important of a person you were to him.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Malleus is not the type of Fae who would enter a relationship if he didn't imagine the possibility of marriage one day. As the heir to the throne, it is encouraged he find a life partner one day. And incredibly enough, he's found you.

Once you two reach a stage of comfortable affection and mutual understanding, he imagines you're already bound for life. It would likely be a few years after that first moment together that you would marry, when he ascends the throne and is proud to have you beside him as his (queen/king).

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Physically, Malleus is incredibly gentle with you. As stated before, he has incredible strength and fears hurting you, no matter how strong and durable you may be. Even with time, when his touches grow more confident, they're still very gentle. Malleus for all his power and wisdom, is gentle for you. Gentle with you.

Emotionally, he may have some hurdles as he's never been emotionally open with anyone before like this, but he still tries his best to be gentle. You may have to speak up if he is ever unintentionally harsh in his wording- and this usually comes from his isolated upbringing, never from a place of animosity.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Similar to 'Cuddles', Malleus loves having you in his arms. It's a way to feel like he can protect you from the world and its harshness. He also just enjoys holding you, embracing your form and breathing in your scent. His hugs are secure, but of course, gentle. He wraps his arms around you, and cradles your head into him. His chest, his neck, wherever you can comfortably reach. And if you're somehow even larger than he is, he would like to bury his head in your neck, but is worried about his horns.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

You know his love for you long before he actually states it. He likely even needs assistance from Lilia to recognize the actual term for it before he tells you. He shows his love for you practically everyday, in both subtle and major ways. He always wishes to be with you, he shares his hobbies with you, he's always mindful of your state of being, checking in on you and how you're doing. He's affectionate with you, when he's usually a reserved person, and he finds solace with you.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Now in the beginning, Malleus is rather jealous. He's jealous when you spend time with others, wishing to spend and experience moments together. He's jealous when he hears your laughter across the hall, wishing to be the one bringing you such joy. He's jealous when you touch another person, even in the most innocent ways, wanting to be the one who feels your touch. He's very.. pouty when jealous, as his jealousy is a more innocent and pure form. He's not insecure, he just wishes to be the one experiencing these things with you instead of others. With time, he learns to control his silly jealousy, and grows confident in his status as your one and only.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

As most things are when involving Malleus, his kisses are often soft, but consuming. When he kisses you, it's easy to get lost in them, get lost in him. He will delicately press his lips to yours, tilting your head to the side as he cups your cheek, caressing your skin with his thumb. He merely loves kissing you. Placing a kiss to your forehead as you part ways for the day, or to your hand if you're in a crowded place. He kisses your neck when he's feeling a bit cheeky and wants a little more attention from you. He kisses your head often when you cuddle, merely getting the urge to press his lips to you and acting on it. In the same vein, he just enjoys getting kisses from you, but his favorite kiss is when you come up to him as he's sitting, sweeping aside the bangs covering his forehead and placing your soft lips to his scales that rest there. You pull away with a smile and gaze into his eyes, such warmth and love reflected in them he feels like he will combust.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Now as someone so reserved and elegant, Malleus can be awkward around the more rambunctious and energetic children. But those quiet ones? The ones who perhaps are off by themselves enjoying the peace, or are a little shy? He's a sight to behold. He will lower himself to their height with a small smile and speak to them in a soft voice. Asking them "what do you have there little one?", and "my, what a lovely spot you've found. Can I join you?" Somehow, he can make even the most shy child come out of their shell and watching their interaction makes you melt.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

While attending the College, you and Malleus may have completely different daily schedules, so mornings and nights are very dear to you two. You wake up to the ceaseless motion of a hand trailing along your back, Malleus waking you slowly and softly. He is almost always awake before you, as a Dragon Fae, he doesn't require as much sleep as others. You spend a serene few moments encased in each other's arms, enjoying the rays of light trailing in through the window before you have to separate and get ready for the day. He will try to walk you to your first destination, but if he cannot, he bestows upon you a sweet and tender kiss.

Once you move into the castle with him, not much changes. He still wakes you softly, wrapped up in his arms, but this time you two get to enjoy a cup of tea together, speaking about your plans for the day. If it's a day off or responsibilities are later in the day, you two will have some pastries with your tea and enjoy a slow morning before changing into appropriate attire and moving on to the dining room to have breakfast.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Regardless whether you're at the College, or the castle, nights are almost always the same. Its the biggest routine you establish within your relationship, spending nights together.

You two will go for a stroll, whether it be around the college, the castle, some ruins, or old architecture. You speak of your day if it was spent apart, or merely what comes to mind. Sharing worries, fears, or concerns to see the others opinion on a bothersome subject, eventually trailing off into a comfortable silence as you enjoy the brisk night air and stars twinkling in the sky.

On days when the weather is too chilly, you spend nights by the fire, cuddled up with a warm drink and reading or doing some simple paperwork. Malleus will always try his best to ensure you fall asleep beside the other, and very rarely has he ever broken his promise.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Most of what you learn about Malleus happens slowly, starting during the stages of your friendship. Malleus can be an open book for those he trusts, but it takes a lot to get there. Once you two take a more romantic turn, he will reveal things of his past that may not be entirely pleasant to remember. The loneliness, his fears, the pain of losing his parents, things that will tear your heart apart now- knowing what he's been through. Things he may hide from many others, or refuses to be vulnerable with anyone other than you.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

With all his years of life and being secluded, Malleus has gained incredible patience. He doesn't get frustrated or irritated easily. But the rare times he is angered? Its a terrifying sight. You can feel his anger as it's practically radiating off him. Green lightning flashes across the sky as thunder booms nearby. His words are sharp, voice strong, leaving no place for discussion. He has never been angry at you, hardly ever does he raise his voice at you. Only when he is very passionate about what he's saying will his voice grow louder, and often it is a pleasant thing to see. You're far too precious to Malleus for him to ever grow irate with you.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Malleus is the kind of lover who will remember the tiniest details about you. You're wearing a new perfume/cologne? You've changed how you style your hair? New cozy clothing item you practically live in? He's mentioning and complimenting it within seconds of seeing you. If you're out viewing shops, he will observe everything your eyes linger on and will buy it or something similar at a later date. He always listens intently when you're speaking, and if you mention even the slightest preference for something it's being saved in his memory forever.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Oh, there are so many moments Malleus remembers fondly. The first time he made you laugh so hard you practically crumbled over with tears in your eyes, the first time you laid your head upon his shoulder, when you invited him to spend time with you, your first embrace, first kiss.

But his favorite moment may have to be the time you both were spending time with Silver, Sebek, and Lilia at the dorm and Sebek was telling an obviously hyped up tale trying to impress Malleus and Lilia, whereas Silver was dozing off and Lilia was fondly watching on as you humored Sebek. He felt so complete. This little family was missing something before you, and now with you here, it's perfect.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Malleus is so very protective over you. Perhaps even a little excessively so. He hasn't had a lot in life he's treasured as much as you, and certainly nothing as frail, so he's a little extreme at times.

He hates to see any sort of harm come to you, he would heal a simple bruise in the beginning of your relationship, and Seven forbid anything made you bleed or cry.

He tries his best to shield you from the cruelty of the world, something he knows all too well. He thinks you're safest beside him-another reason he wishes to spend so much time with you, to protect you from everything. And if somehow he fails that, well, he'll fix it and do more in the future.

As one of the most powerful magi in the world, it's a little unnecessary to protect him. At least, that's what he thinks. You often try to protect him emotionally. You know he gets upset when he is forgotten, and when other students give him a wide berth. You try your best to invite him to school functions, and distract him from other students by getting him to focus on you, something that is very easy to do, with how much he loves you.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Dates are often simple with you two. You consider your nightly strolls as a date of sorts. Merely enjoying one another's presence in solitude, getting to be affectionate without prying eyes.

Anniversaries, he tries to do something special if your schedules are willing. In the very least, he gifts you something extravagant that you've had your eye on.

For gifts, its been previously mentioned hes very attentive to what your likes are, and he enjoys giving you little things that remind you of his love.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

A bad habit of his is how protective and cautious he is, especially in the beginning. It comes from a good place, but you often have to remind him you're not made of glass and won't break if he's a little more firm in his touches.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Malleus has to be well kept, due to his high status. He's not overly concerned, as he has a well refined and elegant style, and he has been gifted with gorgeous looks.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Before he met you, he often felt something was missing, but was unaware of what that thing was. Once he befriended you, he knew you were someone important to him, and he felt a bit saddened when you spent long times apart. Now, as lovers, he knows he can't be without you. You've become so ingrained in his being, if he were to ever lose you, he would lose a part of himself. He hates to think of how long Dragon Fae lifespans can be compared to others. It's something he tries to push aside.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

You learned early on about Malleus' dislike for whole cakes from Lilia, and already knew by spending time with him that he likes ice cream. For a big celebration of his, you got him a mini ice cream cake. He was hesitant when you revealed the tiny cake, but it was adorable just how excited he got once he cut into it and discovered the ice cream, unaware that the delicacy existed. It was one of the first times you saw genuine elation from him, and you knew you were in deep.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

In a partner, he wouldn't like someone who is petty or seeks out sympathy. Being the heir to the throne, his partner will have to rule beside him, and you need to have a certain maturity to you. You will have eyes from around the world on you, and need to act a certain way. Malleus isn't expecting perfection from you, and he's very willing to help you grow into a person fit for the crown, but there are some personality traits that are very unattractive, and many that are childish and immature are turn offs.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Before you began to share a bed, he almost dreaded going to sleep. Although he may not need as much rest as most, it's very easy for him to get lost in his thoughts and dwell on unfavorable things as he tries to drift off to sleep. With you- he focuses instead on you. He absentmindedly trails his fingers along your spine as he soaks in your warmth, your scent. He focuses on your breathing and is able to eventually fall asleep to pleasant thoughts of you and your future together.

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #malleus #malleus draconia #malleus x reader #malleus draconia x reader #sfw alphabet

188 notes · View notes

emily-escott · 3 days ago

Text

Jedi Master Lene Kostana

I’ll admit, the format of Dooku: Jedi Lost was really hard for me to engage with. Because it reads like a script, it felt to me like all the characters were going 😐 at each other the whole time. I know I probably should have listened to it to get the full effect, but I have a really hard time locking in for audiobooks, even if it’s a whole production ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it’s one of my flaws. But anyway! Lene is so fascinating to me because she really is cut from the same disaster cloth as Yoda’s lineage. Almost every decision she made had me going “why would you do that�� or “thats just going to make things worse” but we really do love to watch someone who’s technically not wrong about the fate of the galaxy continuously make questionable choices that harm the ones they care for and undermine their reputation with the Council. It’s an age-old tradition.

Here’s my headcanons for her -

- After getting to know Thame Cerulian through their shared interest in the Sith, she initially viewed him as an irritating, pseudo-intellectual bother. His belief that the Sith could return comes more from a place of (by her estimation) frivolous academic conjecture rather than actionable concern. However, when he’s offered a seat on the High Council, she realizes it could be advantageous to involve him in her research. He is incredibly knowledgeable, and as long as she puts up with him, he can intercept most of the prying questions from the Council. (To be clear, I don’t ship these two - Thame likes guys)

- She watches as Dooku, Sifo, and Jocasta all develop a big stupid crush on each other and goes out of her way to foster whatever that is. She does this largely because she thinks it’s cute, but also to confuse Thame and spite Yoda. Thame isn’t sure why these boys are always hanging out in his apartment, but he doesn’t really mind. Yoda knows exactly what’s going on, but is frankly relieved Dooku even has friends.

- While training Sifo, she quickly learns her words carry a lot of weight and anything she says could potentially end up being extremely impactful to her apprentice. This is advantageous most of the time - Sifo only needs to be told something once for the lesson to stick, and it warms her heart to see him basking in her praise, even over something small. The downside? Lene is horribly foul-mouthed, and Sifo is a sponge.

In terms of visual references, there’s obviously not much to go on. The book basically says she’s purple, she’s got a shaved head, and she has a curl of hair behind her right ear… The lil baby version of her in that one comic I haven’t read at least shows what the species looks like. @ junchan_nyan_art has a couple gorgeous drawings of younger Lene on insta, and @bolithesenate more or less captured how she looks in my mind! idk what the curl of hair behind her left ear is supposed to mean or look like. So I’m giving her a sick faux hawk. idc. I was pretty much happy with her design right off the bat, it just took a few drawings to really nail her features. What do we think, is this something?? I feel so late to the party. She’s been on my to draw list foreverrrrr but I just wasn’t getting around to reading the source material 💀 we’re really in serious blorbo territory now, this ain’t an entry level Star Wars blog anymore, if it ever was

#lene kostana #thame cerulian #he’s in here a tiny bit too #they are not being shipped I cannot stress this enough lol #finally committing to a design #until they decide to release official art of her that is #I wasn’t worried about coming up with a Thame Cerulian design #they’re never going to put him in anything else #watch - next month a huge Lene Kostana lore comic will come out and she’ll look like some majestic eight foot tall elf #and I will look like a fool #jk #too late Star Wars she’s mine now #jedi #pre-prequels #star wars #fan art #sw fan art #digital art

167 notes · View notes

rivereverie · 1 day ago

Text

Just some observations on Astarion learning to see that he is loved

I just saw a clip of Astarion's response to his partner cheating on him with Mizora and it got me thinking. While his entire reaction is very telling and meaningful in its entirety, one line stood out to me:

"I really thought there was more to you. That you were better than other people"

This was striking because it immediately reminded me of something else he says, in the scene after his siblings attempt to capture and return him to Cazador:

"You're the only one. Other people don't have a heart like you. You're you. No one is like that."

These lines feel a little odd at first, because Astarion isn't known for putting the PC on a pedestal. I don't think that's exactly what he's doing here. I think these lines are just capturing the inner chaos and contradiction that naturally come with the gradual unraveling of a long-held worldview. At this point, Astarion is able to process that one person cares for and accepts him, but only one. They must be an outlier: an exception to the rule. Surely they're something special.

Obviously this isn't true, though, and the next step is for him to learn that the PC isn't actually unique in their ability to accept and care for him him. In fact, Astarion is already loved by others and just doesn't see it. This line of his is beautifully contrasted by Karlach's reaction to Astarion's near-abduction. She is righteously angry and protective because she loves Astarion too.

"I dare Cazador to sent more lackeys our way. This is our territory. I'll crack anyone who tries to come into my house and hurt my people."

Earlier in the story, we get a similar moment during the confession scene, showing again how Astarion isn't always able to see the truth of what others feel for him.

When he says this, he sounds surprised. Like the idea of a friend is a revelation. This kind of broke my heart when I first heard it, because I thought it was obvious to him that he already had friends, in both the other companions and my character. But I think a part of him genuinely was stuck in that old thought pattern of assuming that anyone who showed interest in him just wanted to use him. This also makes it clear just how divorced sex is from affection in his mind and experience. Though they've slept together at least several times and grown more emotionally intimate too, Astarion still needs confirmation that the PC actually cares for him.

I made a post once about the two triggers for Astarion's confession here, which further reveal his mindset: going out of your way and into danger to get his scars translated, or choosing not to force him into complying with Araj's dehumanizing demands. Both of these things are concrete demonstrations of respect and care for him and what he wants. Astarion knows very well how empty words can be, so actions are what finally help him believe that the PC cares about him, and gives him the impetus to confess.

Later, If you break up with Astarion, his reaction is extremely telling in that he regresses slightly from this healthier mindset he had developed:

"I can hardly blame you. I don't exactly have much to offer right now, beyond new burdens to carry."

Typically, we witness any traces of Astarion's self-deprecation filtered through irony or dark humor, so his vulnerability in this moment is stark.

He claims that he has very little to offer, but that just isn't true. He may be going through a bit of a crisis, but he is still a shockingly good partner given the circumstances. He is unwaveringly supportive, caring, and clearly tries to lighten his partner's emotional load when they begin to feel the strain of responsibility. Not to mention, just being himself still makes him perfectly worthy of being loved. In any relationship, there will be times when one person needs more support than they themself can give, and that doesn't mean that they aren't enough. We're seeing, yet again, that he sometimes just doesn’t recognize how deeply he is valued by others. At this point, maybe a part of him still feels like he needs to be of service in order to be accepted, let alone loved. I also personally interpret this line as partially concerning his insecurity around not "providing" his partner with sex at this time, reiterating this deeply internalized belief that he needs to perform in order to be valued.

All of these little moments add so much subtly and humanity to his character, and make his development feel natural and earned. The payoff is clear after Cazador's death, when we get to see his new confidence:

He doesn't have to ask "really?" this time.

"You believed in me - believed I was enough just the way I am."

He truly knows now that he is loved.

#sorry for the bad screenshots lol and the chaotic formatting #loathed every second of getting the ones of his reaction to cheating / breaking up #astarion #bg3 astarion #astarion ancunin #bg3 spoilers #baldurs gate 3 #bg3

136 notes · View notes

fatehbaz · 10 hours ago

Text

pondering some stuff on refrigeration. (just woke up and have to go straight to work [on what was supposed to be my one day off], so couldn't round-up all the other good stuff on refrigerated ocean liners and bananas/fruit, maritime shipping, canal in Panama, and other turn-of-the-century US plantation interests in Latin America. sorry. go check out some images of United Fruit Company print advertisements for luxury leisure cruise tours in the Caribbean aboard their Great White Fleet circa 1915 to 1930.)

It took a lot of effort to get ice around the globe. […] This guy Frederic Tudor, he basically dominates the American ice trade across the nineteenth century. He develops technologies for insulating ice in the hulls of ships […]. So he’s harvesting pond water from the American northeast in Massachusetts and Maine. Typically, he’s using sawdust as just a byproduct of the Maine lumber industry […].

The majority of the ice trade goes to cool down sweltering British colonialists who are in Bombay and Calcutta and really desiring a nice cold drink. Speculative shipments go off to South America, to the Caribbean, to the American South. [...] But what really blows my mind about these particular shipments and these journeys is that you kind of think that they would be going through all of this effort to preserve something, right? To keep maybe a particular product cold and fresh on the way across. No. They were going there to make cocktails. […] So basically, it’s arriving speculatively. […] Tudor, when he first came up with this business idea, he was trying to send it down to places in the Caribbean, particularly Cuba. And sending it to, like, bars and saloons to be served. [...] So he had to bribe bartenders to automatically start putting it in peoples’ drinks [...]. So we have these ideas that, like, it’s inherently refreshing to have these things, but it was actually a learned social practice [...]. [T]he consumption of cold, alcoholic drinks really got attached to ideas of leisure and implicity, and adversely, race and labor. [...]

So ice kind of shows up to this particular social landscape of elite businessmen […]. So ice becomes shipped to Hawai’i in the 1850s and 1860s. […] And not very much time later, freezing and refrigeration technology starts to emerge. […] And then we’ve got these Western ideas of coldness and purity and refreshment. And so we have Native Hawaiian foods that are sour and salty. Room temperature kinds of things. And then we’ve got these Western prized tastes that are sweet and cold […]. We have annexation in 1898. A bunch of American military backed businessmen depose the queen in 1893 […]. And with annexation came the importation of a lot of American legal frameworks […]. So in 1906, we have the Wylie Act, which is the Pure Food and Drug Act, which essentially aimed at regulating product labeling […] in terms of ideas of purity, quality. Right? [...] [T]he US kind of had a little checklist of, “Is it ice cream? Is it not ice cream?” [...] [or] clos[ing] down all of the poi vendors in Honolulu [...]. One place that you can really track changing tastes is through institutions, right? Hospitals, schools, training centers, whatever it is that has a kind of food program, you can look at what's on the menu [...].

Words above from Hi’ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart. As interviewed by Jonathan Van Ness. “What’s The Cold, Hard Truth About Ice in Hawai’i? with Hi’ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart.” An episode of Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. 7 December 2022.

Fencing became a primary mode of seizure of […] land and resources for the benefit of individual ranching enterprises in the West. […] Estimates are that 100,000 bovine animals roamed Texas by 1830. Three decades later, on the eve of the Civil War, that number had increased to an estimated 3.5-5 million. […] In the boom years of the 1870s and 1880s, the cattle barons enjoyed “near hegemony” […]. Thus, part and parcel of the American colonial project was this type of land acquisition […]. As the railroads began to extend and connect to rural outposts in the Plains states, entrepreneurs in the new cow towns such as Abilene, Kansas, sought out Texas livestock trails […]. The most-well-known [...] [f]rom 1867 until 1871, the 1,000-mile-long Chisholm Trail was the main livestock trail from Texas, a trail that ran from San Antonio […] and ended at Abilene. […] They collectively drove 600,000-700,000 [cows] north from Texas during 1871 alone, all eventually bound for abattoirs in St. Louis and Chicago. […]

Infrastructural and technological developments at towns such as Abilene […] also represent a singularly important carceral phenomenon of the nineteenth-century United States innovations in transportation, specifically, the “cattle car” (and by 1869, the refrigerated car that hauled dead animal carcasses) […].

It was primarily British companies that played a major role in developing the transcontinental railroad in the 1870s and 1880s [...] and who eventually also shipped refrigerated cow carcasses to Britain in ocean steamers. […]

Railroad development actually included an array of ancillary infrastructural developments […] - railroad stations with telegraph facilities, supervisory personnel, and company-owned […] stockyards. […] The first twenty-car shipment of cows from Abilene to Chicago was in September of 1867. […] This north-south cattle complex expanded in the 1870s, as the demand for beef, tallow, and hides greatly expanded amid postwar [conditions]. Concomitantly, one of the most significant instruments […] was the revolutionary invention of wire fencing […]. Netz argues for the critical importance […] [of] the case of barbed wire [in] the violent enclosure […] during colonization of the American West. [J.G.] patented barbed wire in 1874 and opened a small manufacturing plant in DeKalb, Illinois, for its production, with large-scale production and sale eventually located to […] Massachusetts. More than 350 barbed wire patents were issued between 1875 and 1890, although it was the [J.G.] patent that came to monopolize the market […]. One rather infamous early adopter in the Texas Panhandle […] fenced in over 3 million acres of public range with illegal fences while others followed suit […]. Also in the Texas Panhandle, [a] Scottish-backed […] ranch pursued its own 3 million acre fencing project, operating on a grant from the state with an estimated 6,000 miles of fence. […] Such […] activities led to what has been called the “Fence Cutting Wars” […].

Text above by: Karen M. Morin. "Bovine Lives and the Making of a Nineteenth Century American Carceral Archipelago". In: Carceral Logics: Human Incarceration and Animal Captivity edited by Lori Gruen and Justin Marceau, pages 261-275, 2022. Online publication date April 2022. DOI: doi dot org slash 10.1017/9781108919210.018 [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

108 notes · View notes

saphronethaleph · 3 days ago

Text

Love Language

“So, uh… Dad?” Hiccup said, nervously, but that was mostly just normal for him. “I’ve got a… question.”

“What sort of question, Hiccup?” Stoic replied, not unkindly – for him, anyway.

That was sort of how their family relationship went a lot of the time, as it happened. The two of them being at pains to be normal with one another.

“So… how exactly do we know that dragons are, uh… monsters, evil, want to hurt us, want to destroy us?” Hiccup asked, rattling off the normal dragon description from the Book of Dragons. “Extremely dangerous, and so on?”

Stoic blinked, then looked at Hiccup with the sort of look that – normally – would be reserved for a relative who’d said something extremely thick.

He wasn’t used to turning it on Hiccup.

“They keep… attacking us,” he said. “Raiding us. Carrying off our sheep.”

“Yeah, about that,” Hiccup replied. “Because, I’ve been a Viking teenager for a while now and the general impression I get is that that’s how Vikings show that they want to become friends.”

Stoic snorted.

“Not getting on well with your friends?” he asked.

“That plural is assuming a lot, Dad,” Hiccup replied. “That… word is also making some assumptions, actually! Though you did keep telling me that all the punches and stuff were just a way of making friends – but, I wasn’t actually talking about my friends, I didn’t mean them, I was meaning to talk about the dragons.”

“And?” Stoic said.

“The point I’m making, Dad, is that… so, uh, I tried putting myself in the place of the dragons,” Hiccup said, shaking his leg and leaning awkwardly on the door frame. “And I wondered what Vikings would think if we went somewhere and the people there were firing catapults at us and shooting flaming rocks at us, and that sort of thing, and… I’ve met Vikings, dad. I’m pretty sure you’ve met Vikings!”

Stoic paused, to actually consider that.

It was one of the increasingly large number of things about this conversation which was not Normal, but he was willing to give it a go.

“...hm,” he said. “That sounds like a pretty good night out, actually.”

“That’s what I’m getting at!” Hiccup agreed, now leaning over more. “Hold on.”

“What is it?”

“Not you, I mean-” Hiccup said, then gestured at someone Stoic couldn’t see.

Or possibly just nearly fell over, the lad was gangly.

“Anyway – uhm – I think the dragons just want to be friends,” Hiccup went on, speaking very quickly. “And that they’re enough like Vikings that all we’re doing is just making them more interested.”

“Nonsense,” Stoic replied.

“Really?” Hiccup asked. “Because – uh – are you at least going to think about it before you decide that I have to be wrong?”

“I don’t need to think about it to know it’s nonsense,” Stoic said, firmly.

“Yeah, that sounds pretty Viking too,” Hiccup muttered. “Stubborn and unwilling to admit that you might be wrong about something… so, uh… what about an experiment?”

“Is this some of that scientific method stuff Gobber had you learning?” Stoic checked.

It sounded a bit suspect, to him.

“Yeah, actually,” Hiccup agreed. “But if something happens you can’t say it’s impossible, right?”

Stoic carefully considered the question.

If something happens, you can’t say it’s impossible.

“All right, so let’s accept that for the sake of argument,” he allowed. “What kind of thing?”

“So I gave a Terrible Terror a fish,” Hiccup said. “Once. And now I literally cannot get it to stop rubbing against my ankles, making a kind of purring noise, and curling up next to my bed when I go to sleep.”

Stoic blinked, looking Hiccup up and down.

“...there doesn’t seem to be a Terrible Terror rubbing against your ankles,” he said.

“Yeah, because I can’t stop it, but Toothless can,” Hiccup explained. “Because, uh, there’s this Night Fury…”

“A Night Fury?” Stoic repeated, then went back over the conversation and reprocessed this new information through it.

“...are you telling me you befriended a Night Fury?” he asked. “How?”

“I shot it down,” Hiccup replied. “And, uh… since then I’ve kind of been testing the hypothesis, that’s more of the whole science thing, and it took like eight seconds to convince the Monstrous Nightmare in the training pens that I was a cool guy to be around. I just kind of smiled and that was it?”

He shrugged, then finally lost the battle against keeping the Night Fury out of the doorframe, and the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death Itself slowly pushed the leaning Hiccup across the doorframe.

Then spotted Stoic, groonked something, and sat on his haunches like a giant, attentive dog mixed with a curious cat possessed of a penchant for pushing things off tables.

Stoic spent several seconds contemplating what to do, then – experimentally – threw his hammer at the beast.

It ducked, letting Hiccup topple over with a thump, then loped off after the hammer. A few seconds later, a Terror sat on the prone Hiccup’s side and curled up before visibly and very quickly going to sleep.

“You, uh… see what I mean?” Hiccup asked.

The Night Fury came back, tail swishing from side to side, and deposited the thrown hammer eagerly in front of the door before making a pleased sort of gronk-chirp.

Stoic gave up.

This was now Normal.

Making that new categorization was going to save a lot of time.

“My working theory is that, to dragons, we’re friend shaped,” Hiccup said, still trapped under the snoozing Terror.

#how to train your dragon #httyd #hiccup #stoic #toothless #dragons #friend shaped

80 notes · View notes

hope-for-the-planet · 3 hours ago

Note

I would like to know your thoughts on the increasing frequency that what is happening to our planet is being described as "climate breakdown" or "climate collapse". I find those descriptions to be far more fear inducing than just saying climate change and I assume that's deliberate for many campaigns who want to show the urgency needed in taking action. However I worry about the accuracy of those words, is it really breakdown and collapse? If so we really should be worried. But it is change, and change that we are learning to mitigate and adapt to, right? So why must they say it is collapse and breakdown. There is also the fact the scariness of those phrases will more likely scare people into inaction rather than action. Just interested to hear your thoughts on this

Hi Anon!

This has been a somewhat controversial issue lately, which I’ll briefly get into the reasons for. I personally prefer to use "climate change" for clarity. I'll warn you in advance that this is going to be another long one.

It’s not inaccurate to call the looming crisis a breakdown or collapse. We are taking action--more than a lot of people think and the speed of change is picking up--but if we did nothing the changes would eventually be beyond our ability to adapt. Climate change will wear away at the systems that maintain consistent and predictable weather, that our housing and agricultural systems are built around, and that preserve vital ecosystems.

We need to avert as much climate change as we possibly can to minimize the human suffering and damage to our world. It is also something we are already adapting to and will continue to adapt to since some warming has already happened. We have solutions for adaptation and more are in the works, but communities that don’t have as many resources to devote to adaptation are already and will continue to be hardest hit by climate impacts.

That being said, there is a lot of argument about whether changing the term to something more urgent actually increases the likelihood of action. A recent study showed that using terms like “environmental breakdown” or “climate crisis” increased emotional responses compared to "climate change", but in some demographic subgroups this increased emotion actually produced a negative backlash reaction. A similar study in Taiwan found that overall the terms "climate crisis" and "climate change" had similar reactions but for some demographic subgroups "climate crisis" negatively impacted perception and action.

Another more recent study found that there was less perception of urgency or importance when using terms other than “climate change” that participants weren't as familiar with. Most people more or less understand what climate change is and what the stakes are—changing the term can just confuse them.

There’s also the issue of crisis fatigue—humans can only spend so long in emergency mode before they will burn out on it. Climate change is something everyone living on earth now will need to deal with for the rest of their life—we need to act urgently but hitting people with “this is an emergency if we don’t act now everyone will die” can actually hurt credibility and buy-in as time passes and the crisis worsens but does not deteriorate into everyone dying. We need sustainable support and action, not surges of panic followed by apathy when the apocalypse doesn’t immediately materialize.

I'm personally a big fan of finding ways to talk about climate change and environmental damage without using politicized buzzwords like "climate" or "environment" since that can sidestep the knee-jerk reaction some people have to those topics--either of identity threat or of fearful shutdown.

So that is my two cents. Climate change is scary enough on its own and turning up the emotional volume of the alarm doesn't necessarily actually translate to more action--like you said it can just make people so fearful that they shut down.

This article does a really good job of covering the many different perspectives in this space:

#climate change #climate action #ask #climate collapse #climate breakdown #terminology #climate anxiety #words #research #sources #anonymous

70 notes · View notes

rainrot4me · 3 days ago

Note

NOW THE OPPOSITE

what are the creeps turn offs when it comes to a partner? a huge no or red flag

ANGIE!!!!!!

── .✦

✦ . jeff the killer

Someone who treats violence like a joke or a trend.

Jeff is unhinged, yes. But there’s a difference between someone who kills because they’ve lost their mind—and someone who glamorizes it like a trend. If a partner tried to be “edgy” for clout or treated killing like cosplay, he’d immediately lose interest. There’s nothing showy or fun about killing because you can’t stop yourself.

“You think blood makes you cool? You ever watch a guy cry while you twist his eyeball out? Nah? Then shut the hell up.”

✦ . ticci toby

Mocking his tics or trauma—even as a “joke.”

Toby might play the fool, but the moment someone mocks his stutter, his scars, or anything related to his neurological condition, he’s gone. He’s heard enough cruel laughter in his life to know when someone means it. He won’t fight you. Won’t scream. Just disappears. You’ll never see him again.

“Heard that t-tone before. Not stickin’ around to hear it again.”

✦ . eyeless jack

Lack of boundaries or pushing into private matters without consent.

Jack is a highly guarded, private man. If someone constantly pushes him to unmask, probes into his past without care, or oversteps emotional or physical boundaries, it’ll break all trust.

“If I haven’t told you something, it’s because I’m not going to. Pushing won’t get you closer.”

✦ . masky (tim wright)

Emotional manipulation or passive-aggression.

Tim has been gaslit and manipulated by the Operator for years—he knows the signs. If a partner plays mind games, guilt-trips him, or uses emotional weaponry to get their way, he’ll shut down completely.

“Say what you mean. Don’t twist your words and expect me to read your mind.”

✦ . hoodie (brian thomas)

Someone who refuses to self-reflect or acknowledge faults.

Brian is observant and deeply introspective. If someone constantly blames others, refuses accountability, or dismisses emotional growth, he sees it as a dead-end.

“We’re all messed up, but if you can’t admit it—you’ll never get better.”

✦ . kate the chaser

People who play the victim after starting the fire.

Kate has no tolerance for manipulative victims—people who start shit and then cry when they get called out. That’s her trigger. That’s her past. She’ll cut ties fast.

“You lit the match. Don’t act shocked when the fire spreads.”

✦ . ben drowned

Controlling behavior or possessiveness masked as ‘caring’.

Ben doesn’t want a babysitter. If someone tries to dictate his life—who he talks to, what he does, how he acts—it hits a nerve. He’s lived under control before (literally, as a haunted game). Never again.

“Don’t love me like I’m a problem to fix. Love me like a person who knows what they’re doing.”

✦ . clockwork

Dismissive of emotions or mocking vulnerability.

If someone laughs when she opens up or uses her trauma against her in arguments, she’ll harden instantly. Her softness is earned, not owed. And once you cross the line? You’re out.

“I’m not your punching bag for when you feel small. Try that shit again, and we’ll see where we stand.”

✦ . laughing jack

Cruelty toward animals or children.

Jack is chaotic, yes—but if you show unnecessary cruelty to things smaller or more helpless than you, it’s over. He can’t stand people who punch down. It robs him of all amusement.

“You’re not edgy. You’re pathetic. Kick a dog again and see what I do.”

✦ . slenderman

Disrespect for knowledge, history, or the metaphysical.

Slender sees existence through an ancient, almost cosmic lens. If someone is proudly ignorant, refuses to learn, or mocks the concept of deeper thought or reality, he loses all interest.

“Fools who scoff at the unknown often find themselves consumed by it.”

꩜ .ᐟ

137 notes · View notes

bxnfire · 18 hours ago

Text

love island ft. choso kamo

masterlist

loveisland!choso who entered as a bombshell. he had no interest in being something he saw as staged and fake but yuuji signed him up for it so he did it to impress him, but his heart also oddly did not tell him against it

loveisland!choso who doesn’t really open up to most of the islanders. he will engage in small talk, but the other participants will see the most of him in the challenges. these are also the the way he got interested in you in the first place! he didn’t feel anything for no one until you kissed him… too bad he was blindfolded

loveisland!choso who becomes active after you kissed him. he is now trying to talk to everybody, testing the waters and see if he feels a connection with someone, or at least has hopes for who he’d like his secret kisser to be

loveisland!choso who is one of the most honest of the bunch. him and nanami are up there for being straightforward, which is something that drew you to him. he has never once tried to cover up the fact that he's dead set on finding his mystery kisser (which is funny because he has no idea its you!), and you've just always tried to give him some hints here and there but he never seems to take them

loveisland!choso who realizes you were the one he was looking for all along when you chose him as your fourth base for the baseball game and kissed him oh so fucking dirty and, fuck, you put up a damn show. you were grinding on him, pulling his hair, and biting his lower lips like you were eating your last meal on this earth. you’d love to say that you were moaning and getting more aggressive for the camera, but in reality, the obscene bulge you were grinding up against and all the grunts and cusses you were hearing right in your ear were all the audience you needed, and your pussy further confirmed this fact

loveisland!choso who loves cooking/baking dates because he gets to make a mess all over you and clean it up with his tongue. that is what he’d say to you anyway, but his genuine goal is to make a mess right in your cunt. whether it’s sour or salty is ultimately up to you, but the common factor is that so long as it’s you he’s insatiable. at least you're clean now right? besides, he needs to show you just how good he'd be at taking care of you. he's also a big fan of those dates that are surprise performances, because he's deeply into music and wants to see if y'all got similar tastes. now, if after the performance he gets to have his way with you on a hidden corner, bent over some box backstage and putting his fingers with cold silver rings so far up your cunt, with his other hand covering your mouth to suppress your cries of pleasure, that was just a post-performance meet-and-greet right? he just needed to talk to your sweet cunt! wanted to know your clit a little better, learn more about your g-spot and well shit, map ‘em out with his fingers, tongue, nose, cock, thighs, did i say cock? cock, dick, male reproductive organ, oh yeah!! and his dick, not his fault looking at you from different angles, hearing all the sounds you’d make, feeling your pussy here and there and everywhere made new veins pop on his dick, make him so hard and then just a little more! almost like he discovered a whole new inch, with which he just had to tour your sweet cunt

loveisland!choso who never fears re-couplings and challenges, he’s made it abundantly clear to you (and consequently everyone) that he’s only got eyes for you, and even if other guys approach you or you even decide to explore other connections, he’ll patiently wait. you don’t need to see his jealous side just yet, or his little twisted habit of replaying your make out sessions with other guys or attempts at riling them up as he hides away to jerk his big cock off, he can’t help it! when it gets hard at the thought of you not even a cold shower could will it down, so he may as well pump it ‘til his wrist hurts as he thinks of the things he’d do to you once he gets alone with you again

loveisland!choso who didn’t expect to find a genuine connection here, and if anyone’s about deep connection past superficial emotions it’s him. and yes, it was a first for him to fall for someone’s kiss, but it was your easy laugh, your soothing voice, the way your touch felt like it was always meant to be for him, your easy conversations which usually cost him so much with everyone else were the highlight of his day, and just how he could feel safe with you which told him he’d do anything and everything in his will to get you to stay with him off the screen and far from the villa, right into his heart if you’d so desire

#jjk x reader #jjk #jjk smut #smut #bxnfire #jjk fic #fluff #choso kamo #choso x reader #jujutsu kaisen choso #jjk choso #love island #choso x you #choso x y/n

108 notes · View notes

n0tamused · 2 days ago

Note

I have a request!!

Currently watching suits (highly recommend). How about a Lawyer! reader x Dr. Ratio, Sunday, and Aventurine?

₊˚⊹♡ "My partner is a lawyer!"

A/n: This request has been marinating in my inbox for way too long, but regardless, I do hope that whoever reads this enjoys it!<3 I love this request, so please feel free to request more characters for the same prompt! I missed writing Ratio chat </3 Admittedly, I did not watch Suits (shame on me ikik shut up), and so idk really how they talk on the show, so whatever I mentioned here is a dramatized version from my own knowledge in law.

Contents: Dr. Ratio/Aventurine/Sunday(separate) x GN!Lawyer!Reader, fluff

Ko-Fi | Masterlist

✦ ⋆ ࣪.Veritas Ratio

-As a man of knowledge himself, Veritas certainly holds great appreciation for those that are keen on learning and executing the knowledge they hold, and he is most appreciative of justice - which as a natural course involves admiration for you as well

-He has heard of your achievements far long before he met you. A few times he read the articles you wrote for the local news agencies, but he held most interest for the online educational videos you put out. They were short, concise and aimed to help the people that were not in the financial situation that would allow them to seek out their own lawyer

-So when he did meet you he was full of chitter and chatter for you, all contained in a well crafted box of mannerisms and polite words. But anyone from the outside would notice that he seemed much more tolerable with you than with others

-Many months down the line and with his hand in yours, he wonders how it all came to be - him? Romantically involved with you?

-If you have a haunch over a certain theory or a certain topic, Veritas is there with you to explore it further and give his own input on the topic. Doesn’t matter if it is a subject that’s not the most familiar to him - he is a sponge for knowledge and knows how to research efficiently.

-He respects your privacy which you uphold with your clients -that is only to be suspected of you to do, otherwise if you told him of the “tea” from your clients, he would have begun to raise an eyebrow and question your work ethics

“Dear,” he began with a huff as he came to stand in your doorway, one hand holding up papers which were clearly not his. “I found the documents you were looking for. Be more careful next time with where you put them” he said as he walked inside your shared bedroom, his slippers making the distinct noise across the floor of shliiippp-shloop. “Where were they?” you question, confusion marking your entire face as you reached out to take the documents scribbled with your handwriting. “I found them on my pile” was all he said as he crawled onto his side of the bed... .... “Veritas..” “Hmm,. yes?” “Is this your handwriting?” The answer was clear as day as you noted the long paragraphs underneath the big block of text you wrote about a legal theory you wished to dive deeper in. You had stared at them in your sleepy daze, for a moment thinking it was your writing which you, somehow, forgot about. But no, your eyes did not deceive you. Dr. Ratio clearly spent a lot of time on this document. Did he intentionally take it from your pile? One had to wonder. His greed for knowledge sickened you.. He huffs beside you in feigned denial and you chuckle at him.

✦ ⋆ ࣪.Aventurine

-When Aventurine was served the fact you work in the legal field he gave off a crisp whistle, his first thoughts being “that must be a lot of words”, accompanied by a lighthearted jest that he now has someone who he can rely on should he get in trouble. At that you have to jokingly reprimand him and tell him to not get into any unnecessary trouble

-He might start to tease a little, throwing out little remarks that frame that stereotypical view people have on lawyers, or anyone working in the legal field for that matter

“I have cash on me right now that I’d be more than happy to pass on into your capable hands, should you agree to…pull me out of this sticky situation” he says with a wink as he waltzes into your office, his eyes taking in the shelves stacked with books old and new, as well as the statue of a blindfolded woman holding up the scales. His gloved fingertips touch one of the scales, making it tip down. His answer is a long and tired sigh.

-But one day he surprised you with a box of sweets after a particularly harrowing case, his tone unusually mellow and inviting as he invited you to join him for a walk.

-Aventurine is not the man you go for if you want to have a chat about one legal theory or the other, but if you find yourself in a pinch and could use getting a word with someone out of your reach - Aventurine can make a few calls to help you out

“How do you even have the patience for all this?” he asks incredulously, his pointer finger touching one of the thick files resting on top of your desk. “Don’t tell me you actually read all of this” his figure seemed to deflate, shoulders sagging, face falling, trailing around the table to come up next to you. “I did..” you replied, focusing far too much on the papers before you. “You’re way too boring” he countered, followed by a quick kiss to your cheek.

✦ ⋆ ࣪.Sunday

-Before the Dream shattered, Sunday didn’t think too highly of anyone who wished to uphold justice within Penacony, deeming there was simply no need for it while he was working to set the perfect order. There is no crime, no faulty businesses or people to sue in his world, and there is no place for them either. So why should lawyers and judges exist?

-Of course, this view was nothing but another way he deceived himself into believing that the path he was following was right, just even. This view changed drastically after the shackles on his body were lifted.

-Sunday considers the job rather prestigious. If there were no people like you, or people with the same wish to bring justice and security to your society as you do, the world would be a much darker place

-He is silent in his curiosities and admiration, never directly asking you inquiries, partly due to some guilt still eating away at him from his past

-But he does not shy away entirely if you approach him first

-He knows more about the ways an old monarchy would work, but he welcomes your insight on the society you live in now and strives to build and enhance by giving yourself to this role. A part of him also worries when he sees you haunched over your table instead of resting in your quarters. Not once did you wake up with a blanket drawn up over you or a refreshing drink sat in front of you

-Sunday doesn’t quite believe it once your relationship develops into one of romance. It was most unexpected and it leaves him with more questions than answers. But now, he finally feels at ease to fire them at you

“But why?” One of his wings sags lower than the other, as if burdened by the piercings they hold. “Would that not be counterproductive or unjust, rather?” He is looking down in thought, his brows drawn closer together, although his voice carries no frustration or denial to the wisdom you were sharing. “The ones who set this law down have inspected the longest duration a pregnancy can last, even taking into account any abnormalities that can happen during the same. If the duration for this lawsuit was unlimited, it would risk the position of the man that was suspected to be the father”. A moment passes in silence, but then he nods, his wings raised back up with newfound strength and another question already filtering in through those soft grey feathers

-Conversations with him are mellow, although Sunday spends more time listening than talking himself. He lets you rave on about anything that may be making you happy or frustrated at the moment, and he is at his happiest when you return to him with another successful case under your belt.

-After a little while you may also notice Sunday becoming even more aware of his actions - suddenly he is nitpicking his wording or the actions he takes - what if someone decides to sue him for this small thing? You have to reassure him a few times that the law is not that strict, giggling while you’re at him when you see his almost fearful and alert face, wings puffy and in a cramp

103 notes · View notes