#advice for my future self-- just in case

[kairiaka]

Using Reddit (for Job-Hunting)

As a social media platform, I'd say it's a more chaotic Tumblr. Truthfully, it's like an old-school forum board with a couple of dashes of the worst parts of Twitter.

But you can find yourself doom-scrolling for hours if you're not careful.

Anyway, I was given the advice to check Reddit for commission work. Here were my findings:

Very few jobs are actually posted there- It's mainly artists filling the forums with "Commission Me!" posts. The actual job posts are rare and few in-between. When someone does post a job listing, it's bombarded with dozens -- sometimes hundreds-- of people, like sharks to blood. Sifting through the posts to find those bloated requests is a Herculean effort.

The reading comprehension skills are abysmal- I can't tell if it's attemptive brute-forcing or just willful ignorance, but a lot of the would-be clients get spammed with a bunch of irrelevant comments. It doesn't matter if the artist is uber-talented, it just comes off as annoying and arrogant.

The jobs vary. -- And so do the budgets. Drawing can be a hit-or-miss. But if you can do something else (e.g-- paint, animate, write, sew, make crafts, etc.), your skills will make you stand out. In some cases, you might be the only (capable) artisan applying. And sometimes, you'll fall backwards into a job when you least expect it.

So... is it usable?

For steady income? Not a chance. But to promote your craft? Yes, yes it is. Don't expect commission requests to come by the thousands, but a few might come your way if you promote yourself right.

Promoting Yourself on Reddit

Post to only a handful of subreddits at a single time- And I do mean a handful-- 5 at most. Pick the five that your post will most likely be seen and post there. Allow a cool-down period (at least a few days), then try another five. Also, only post your commission pricing once per subreddit. Posting the same thing multiple times bloats the channel.

Follow the Rules of the Subreddit - If you are in hobby/community subreddits that allow you to promote yourself: by all means, promote yourself. Maybe take some time to tailor your post, or just mention it in passing as you show your craft. [Note: Don't join a community subreddit with the goal of peddling your wares.]

Do NOT Spam! -- For crying out loud: if nothing else, please follow this! If someone wants an oil painting of their pet, don't show them your drawings of busty anime waifus. The only thing that's going to do is get you blocked, and potentially banned from the subreddit. Only comment when your work is relevant.

Refrain from DMing -- Sometimes it works, but most times potential clients think it's a scam.

If you're an NSFW artist, please label your posts accordingly -- Self-explanatory.

Don't give up on your interests & hobbies- If you love doing something (and it's not harming anyone), hone your craft.

[dreamerlynx]

me, still sitting with my laptop open in my lap: okay so you’ve basically. gone over and summarized the instructions for the assignment. good. it’s been all day you want to try actually starting?

me immediately: no

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

OMFGGGGGGG, MY BOIIIIIISSSS😭😭😭

the 26 y/o versions of the first years warmed my heart. do you have any thoughts about the second years, miss raven🥹🥹🥹?

[10 years later headcanons for the first years here!]

What comes after Ever After?

Like Mrs. Rosehearts wished, Riddle has gone on to become a medical mage, just like his parents. More specifically he is a pediatrician (so he works closely with children) and even leads community classes to promote health literacy and independence among the youth. His temper has mellowed out with time, and most patients report that Dr. Rosehearts is stern and by-the-books, but very patient and caring.

As it so happens, he also has a paralegal certification--something he earned in his free time just because there's still a part of him that's so fascinated with the law. Riddle uses that certification to help the hospital he works at navigate complicated cases such as medical malpractice, malfeasance, and negligence--he'll ensure that the perpetrators get their just desserts!

Though unintentional, Riddle ends up being the kind of adult that his young patients can genuinely look up to and confide in. They tell him all kinds of things, like bullying that happens at school, self-esteem issues, uncertainties about the future, or their parents not getting along. He listens and reassures them with a smile, a sticker, and the advice they need--some of these things, he is quite familiar with, and he speaks earnestly and from his own heart.

He has gone low contact with his mother. She threw a hissy fit about it (which scared Riddle and almost made him walk back on his decision), but he was able to move forward with the decision thanks to backing from Trey and Chenya. Riddle still a lot of complex feelings to unpack, and he feels he can better achieve that by living on his own, without his mother looming over him.

Riddle's slowly learning every day, from little things that every adult does to look after themselves (cooking, cleaning his apartment, etc.) to recapturing lost bits of his childhood (gaming more often, having the freedom to meet up with his friends when he wants to). He feels like... with each passing day, he is discovering new sides to himself--and there's something nice about that.

With glowing references from the second prince of the Sunset Savanna himself, Ruggie has the ability to go practically anywhere. He ultimately settled for hospitality--cuz hey, it's a blend of many of the talents he has accrued over the years, and he's got plenty of expertise in looking after others. Ruggie's not just any general manager either, but the general manager of the Sunset Villa, the luxury resort in Dawn City that hosts royals and important guests from all over Twisted Wonderland.

He has this running joke where he pretends to be meeting Leona for the first time ever if he happens to be staying at the Sunset Villa for an event. Ruggie will address him as "stranger" all while shooting him a very knowing look. It mildly annoys Leona, but he lets it slide because, well... it's his old pal Ruggie.

He's the kind of boss that his employees love. Having been at the bottom of the social rung before, Ruggie's known to treat his workers well (free food at the holiday parties!) and is understanding when an issue comes up. If the season is particularly busy, he'll even roll up his sleeves and join them in doing the dirty work himself!

With the fat paycheck he earns, Ruggie is able to reinvest that money into his family. Granny Bucchi has been moved into a nicer house, has a car and walker to help her around, and never has to worry about the fridge being empty ever again. They even hire a housekeeper to do the chores, so Granny Bucchi can happily retire.

Ruggie pours his money back into the community too. The slum children are frequently over for meals or enjoying the new amenities provided for in part by his donations. A new park, a library, a soup kitchen... He's lauded as a local hero, and he deserves every bit of that praise.

Azul has basically double majored in business and law. He now works part time as a partner at his stepfather's firm, but focuses his efforts serving as the CEO to the ever-expanding Mostro Lounge chain. It started off as one location on NRC campus, but there are Mostro Lounges all over Twisted Wonderland now.

Azul likes to humble brag about how he's "self-made", all while not-so-subtly adjusting the expensive watch he wears on his wrist. His insistence on maintaining his appearance and polite person carries over to adulthood. Azul has strict rules about how his hair should be worn, how his clothes should be tailored, and even what kind of cologne he should wear when greeting clients. That meticulousness has played a large part in his booming success.

He's frequently away on business trips to speak with investors, check up on individual locations that may not be performing so well, and to do market research. Azul's always looking for nice cutlery or fancy furniture to furbish his restaurants. Sampling food abroad also grants him the chance to be inspired to introduce new dishes to the menu.

... Still a mama's boy. Behind his tough businessman attitude, Azul's still a family man. He cherishes the precious time he spends with his mom, stepdad, and grandma and is more than happy to share the fruits of his labor with them. His mom will tend to retaliate with piles of his favorite dishes, which Azul finds difficult to refuse.

Azul has Jade and Floyd's contact information in his phone, but he'll deny it if you ask. He only views them as business partners, you understand? Business partners! They only ever talk for important matters. (That's an obvious lie. You can tell from his sudden defensiveness, how he stutters when he speaks his words--and how his eyes light up when he received the notification of a text message from one of the twins.)

Jade tells you he is an “informant” for the Leech family business (which, to this day, remains unspecified). He describes the job to you like that of a private eye—he snoops around, collects information, and solves harmless little mysteries. You see? Nothing suspicious here :))

If NRC Jade was a knife, then older Jade is that same knife but sharpened to a fine point. He seems to be slicker somehow, polite and poised as he was before, but having perfected the art of deceit and able to chameleon his way into any situation as needed. You don’t know if you can fully trust him, not with that smile.

Jade has turned his interest in flora into something… practical. Are you aware that this fungus can be manufactured into a deadly poison? A single drop of it can stop an elephant’s heart. He knows how it is done—would you care for a demonstration?

His wardrobe is a lot of... black? Jade laughs it off and explains that black is simply easier to maintain, as "the stains" don't show as easily. "What stains?" you ask him, but all he says is that "cleaning up" can be such a mess sometimes, especially if Floyd is feels like he doesn't want to help. Is he talking about laundry...?

He keeps a busy schedule (so many clients to meet and greet, you know), but he reserves the same slot of time every few weeks for him and Floyd to reunite with Azul a “special” acquaintance for an octopus dinner. Jade makes it sound so ominous, but it’s also perhaps the most sincere you’ve ever heard him.

Floyd calls himself the “muscle” of the Leech family business. Again, what they specifically do is never quite defined. He says it’s like being a bodyguard; he’s paid to be beat up people that threaten their operations. Just don’t ask what those operations are and he won’t have to squeeze you too! :))

He retains the same flippant attitude he had in his student era. Floyd never quite settles or plants his roots, he just hops from place to place, partakes in whatever interests him, then peaces out to the next exciting thing. And if anyone gets in his way?? Well, I hope they’re prepared to deal with one angry eel. It’s like he hasn’t matured much from his school days 💦

Some days Floyd doesn’t even bother showing up for work, meaning that Jade (whom Floyd works with) has to dirty his own hands. He gets a scolding for it later, but it doesn’t really bother Floyd. It’s not like his job is in danger, no matter how many times he flakes. (Perks of working for his dad, lol)

There’s a strange rack of shoes in Floyd’s room. None of them match, and they’re of varying sizes too. Surely they’re not his? Floyd claims it’s a miscellaneous collection, kind of like a trophy case to keep a record of all your wins. He doesn’t elaborate further when pressed about the matter.

For his special dinners with Azul and Jade, Floyd likes to make them play Russian roulette with him! He’ll prepare takoyaki with mystery fillings and then bring them in, daring the other two to take turns eating them until they come upon the one with the ghost pepper center. These nights are frequently filled with thrills, chills, and borderline kills—he looks forward to them!

In the past several years, Kalim has been working hard to help with the daily operations of the Asim trading company. Through this, Kalim has wizened up and developed various skills: negotiation, hosting, general business acumen, etc. Now he has succeeded his father as the president of the trading company.

Getting out into the real world exposes Kalim to many harsh realities. Poverty, illness, death. It unnerved him at first, made him want to pull away—but he forces himself to stand his ground and look. These experiences have shaped him to be less extravagant and more mindful. Parades just to share wealth, sneaking out in a worn shawl to buy bread for the local children, etc. He’s never really come to terms with the wealth disparity that exists between him and others, and all of that is just now hitting him. (Quarter life crisis?) Kalim teaches his siblings about this too, hoping that they'll show the same kindness to the world when they're his age.

Life somehow has still not managed to squeeze the cheer out of Kalim. He's still as sunny and as trusting as ever, but now that upbeat disposition and slight airheadedness belies such a sharp mind. Kalim knows how to wield his empathy well, using it to easily worm his way into people's hearts and capture them. Soon you'll find yourself laughing with him, cup of tea in hand, and nodding along to his proposals.

He tries his very best to be more independent! In his free time, he's heading out to try new things or to hone skills to take better care of himself. One day, Kalim would like to be self-sufficient! Cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting... These are all things he wants to be able to do for himself!

Kalim’s not so foolish as to believe he can free the Vipers as soon as he steps into power. A generations-long relationship like theirs can’t be dissolved overnight, and certainly not without facing opposition from both sides. Instead, he and Jamil reach an agreement to work together and gradually sever the ties between their families. Little by little, they'll drift apart... until, at long last, that bond snaps. If I really care about him, I'll let him go, Kalim tells himself.

For now, Jamil continues to serve as Kalim's personal attendant and aide. (And taste tester... and chef... and bodyguard... and...) Of course, if he had the choice, he would have ditched the Asims as soon as possible--but he's not so stupid as to do such a thing. He has a plan, but it's steady like poison slowly releasing in his veins. Tough it out now, enjoy the freedom later.

He's even more protective of Najma than ever. She'll remind him that she's not a little kid anymore, but Jamil can't help but still "mom" her... especially now that she, too, has joined the family trade of looking after the Asims. When Jamil looks at all, all he thinks of is their parents and all the Vipers before them. It reignites that fierce fire within him to not allow himself and his sister to fall to the same fate. (He communicates none of this to Najma.)

With Kalim gradually becoming more independent and throwing more restrained banquets (they're more elegant, formal affairs, not wild), there's less work for Jamil to do. These days, he mainly manages the main Asim household and accompanies Kalim on outings (since he can't be left alone). It's a quaint, domestic life--except, you know, those continued attempts on Kalim's life.

In his down time, Jamil finds himself admiring the patterns in the clothing and tapestries around the Asim manor. He sometimes daydreams about being a merchant that curates fine fabrics, or perhaps a stylist who tends to hair outside of his own. There's many what-ifs to fill in that space between this day and the next.

Jamil has the opportunity to travel abroad on several occasions due to Kalim's business trips. Kalim tends to bring others with him in his entourage (including the Viper parents), then dismiss Jamil early claiming he "doesn't need his services" at the moment. Really, that's just Kalim excuse to grant him free time to explore the local area. Jamil at first insisted he didn't need this "charity", but eventually he decided to just take advantage of it. It's time away from Kalim, time to clear his mind, time to do all the things he wishes he could.

Like Sebek, Silver has been sworn in as a knight of Briar Valley and serves as the other half of Malleus's personal retinue. Silver is also a foreign emissary. He works wonderfully as a peacekeeper between fae and humans.

There was outcry from the senators when Silver was recommended for such important positions. Sebek at least has fae heritage, but Silver? Silver is 100% human, and the adopted son of that accursed Lilia Vanrouge!! It took a heartfelt speech from Silver, shouting from Sebek, a stoic defense from Lilia, and the icy insistence of Malleus to get Silver pushed through. He doesn't hold any ill will toward the senators--Silver just looked them all in the face and swore that he would do his best to earn their approval.

He puts his natural affinity with animals to good use, establishing Briar Valley's first ever animal battalion. Silver trains woodland critters that are willing and able to aid their efforts: avians that transmit letters over long distances, horses for riding into battle, deer, rabbits, mice, bears, and more to chomp and bash their way to victory in a fight.

Silver has formally taken on Lilia's surname as his own. They signed off on the official documents and everything. (Please call him Silver Vanrouge from now on!) At this point, Lilia has retired and lives far from him, but Silver makes it a point to speak with him as often as he can, whether it's via call or text. He has to remind his father how much he loves him. Once a year, Silver embarks on a trip to the abandoned Castle Wildrose to pay respects to where his biological father fell. He brings flowers with him and stories of how fae and human relations are progressing. He’s sure the Dawn Knight would be pleased.

The magic-induced narcolepsy that plagued him in his youth seems to have worn away with time. True love broke the spell... Now it only ever really hits him when he's already feeling tired to begin with or under some intense stress. Silver's able to go about his daily life and patrol without a problem!

[a-d-nox]

pac/pap: your 2026 self's advice for 2025

take what resonates leave what doesn't - nothing is 100% for you because these aren't personalized so please no angry comments or dms about what i am saying not being a good fit for you or that you "don't claim" just keep scrolling if that is the case. be kind, self reflect, and have fun.

last pac/pap: creature feature: ghost - longing and lingering

return to the masterlist of pap/pac posts

paid reading options: astrology menu & cartomancy menu

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pile one

allow yourself to be curious and have new beginnings. your 2026 self urges you to explore the opportunities that ignite your passion and creativity in 2025. trust the process and remain open to learning. small steps will set you up for big transformations.

focus on finding emotional fulfillment and building meaningful relationships. your 2026 self encourages you to cherish and nurture your connections in 2025 - this will be a year where love, family, and/or community brings you immense joy. don’t take any moments for granted...

celebrate your milestones, no matter how small. your future self reminds you that 2025 will bring accomplishments and reasons to feel proud. take time to acknowledge your hard work and enjoy life’s moments of stability and harmony. whether it’s a literal homecoming or a metaphorical one, find peace in your achievements.

let go of past disappointments. your future self acknowledges that 2025 will come with emotional challenges, but advises you to not dwell on losses/mistakes. look for the silver lining in difficult situations and shift your focus to what you can still build and/or salvage. healing is key to moving forward.

balance celebration with responsibility. your 2026 self may be warning against overindulgence or leaning too heavily on social distractions. evaluate your friendships and avoid gossip / superficial connections. focus on meaningful interactions and prioritize your personal growth.

pile two

prioritize balance and adaptability. your 2026 self reminds you that 2025 will be a year of juggling multiple responsibilities, whether in work, personal life, and/or both. time management and knowing when to set boundaries is crucial. stay flexible and focus on what truly matters - don’t stretch yourself too thin.

reconnect with your inner wisdom. your future self cautions that in 2025, you may feel disconnected from your intuition / inner truth. perhaps you’ll rely too much on external validation or suppress your instincts. make time for introspection and trust the quiet, subtle messages within you. avoid ignoring red flags, both in yourself and others.

break free from limiting beliefs. your 2026 self acknowledges that you may feel stuck or trapped in 2025, but reminds you that much of this is mental. the power to free yourself lies within - often you are the thing that stops you from feeling free. whether fear, self-doubt, and/or external pressures - and start taking steps to regain control. small acts of courage can dissolve large barriers.

seek structure and wisdom. your future self advises you to lean into tradition, mentorship, and/or a belief system in 2025 to ground yourself. perhaps this means returning to foundational practices, getting guidance from a teacher, and/or establishing a more disciplined approach to life. ensure you’re not blindly following authority either; question what aligns with your values.

embrace endings as a path to renewal. your 2026 self reminds you that while some parts of 2025 may feel difficult or final, these endings are paving the way for new beginnings. release what no longer serves you, even if it’s painful. trust that you’re shedding what’s necessary to step into a stronger, wiser version of yourself.

pile three

take control and stay determined. your 2026 self encourages you to approach 2025 with focus and willpower. even when obstacles arise, remind yourself of your goals and push forward. balance your emotions and logic to maintain control over your direction. success will come when you stay disciplined and driven.

reevaluate what truly makes you happy. your future self warns that in 2025, you may find yourself chasing goals that don’t align with your authentic desires. reflect on what “wish fulfillment” means to you and avoid settling for superficial happiness. true satisfaction comes from within, not from external validation.

proceed with caution and assess risks. your 2026 self advises you to be mindful of impulsive decisions in 2025. while new beginnings are on the horizon, take the time to plan and evaluate. avoid leaping into situations without considering potential consequences. trust in fresh starts but approach them with care.

let go of resistance to change. your future self sees that 2025 may challenge your ability to release old patterns or beliefs. if you find yourself feeling stuck, it’s likely because you’re resisting a necessary shift in perspective. surrender to the process, even if it feels uncomfortable. true growth comes from seeing things in a new light.

seize new opportunities for stability and growth. your 2026 self celebrates the tangible opportunities coming your way in 2025. whether it’s a career, financial, and/or personal project, there is a fresh start with the potential for long-term success. stay grounded, work hard, and nurture this new beginning - it has the power to flourish.

[astrolook]

🌙💞Moon As Darakaraka - Feelings First, Logic Later🌙💞

Note: These are just my personal observations and recurring patterns I've noticed over the years from married clients, relatives and friends. Take what resonates with you and leave the rest. Feel free to share in the comments if any of this hits home. This post is based on Vedic astrology.

Read Sun as DK!

DK: The planet with the lowest degree in your birth chart that holds your deepest desires for a partner like your soul's "Wanted Ad" scribbled in cosmic ink. It shows the kind of spouse you attract and what your heart secretly craves in relationships.

Moon as DK

If your Moon is the Darakaraka, your future partner is going to be someone deeply emotional, loving, and nurturing. They’ll be the type who genuinely cares, maybe even to the point of putting everyone else’s needs before their own. Super sweet, very sentimental, and they’ll probably want to know what’s going on in your life (and everyone else’s too). Yes, they might gossip a bit and can be nosey but with love and bit of drama.

In certain signs or houses, they could get a little possessive. This isn’t just a partner; it’s someone who feels you. They're usually traditional, very home-and-family oriented, and might be super attached to their parents or childhood home. This can be comforting... or occasionally annoying, depending on how much you like unsolicited advice from in-laws.

They’re flexible and adjust easily to situations, but if the Moon is with Rahu (North Node), things get more complicated. They might become too sensitive to what others think, easily influenced by family or friends and in some cases, pulled into bad habits or the wrong crowd. This can really impact the relationship if they start prioritizing others' opinions over yours.

If the Moon is with Saturn or aspected by it, your partner might seem distant or emotionally reserved, but they’ll be steady, loyal, and mature. They might even be older than you.

If the Moon is with Jupiter, expect someone wise, nurturing, and can be over indulgent in food, comfort, shopping, the whole cozy package. They could be having weight fluctuations too.

A Moon-Sun(if Moon is with Sun) combo brings someone determined and confident. They know what they want and won’t settle for less. But if it’s placed in the 1st house, they might come off self-absorbed or too proud. Still, they’re usually well-off and have strong goals, though they might not always be the most giving emotionally or financially.

If Moon with Mercury, your spouse could be a natural storyteller or writer. They're chatty, witty, love to joke around and might dominate conversations, especially if placed in the 5th or 11th house.

Moon with Mars? Now you’re dealing with passion and fire. They're quick-tempered, might get physical (slamming doors, breaking things), but they’re also super sharp and bold. They act fast, sometimes too fast, and could get into trouble because of it and also makes impulsive decisions, overspending, drive /ride vehicles fast, etc.

Moon with retrograde Mercury gives off more introverted energy. Your spouse could be thoughtful but often misunderstood. They might crave emotional space and independence, either deeply understand you without a word or completely misread you. It really depends. They might be quieter or more introspective or possibly stuttering or keeping their thoughts to themselves. Migraines or headaches.

Moon in the 7th house means your spouse mirrors your mood. You’re sad? They’re devastated. You’re glowing? They’re floating. But they might be overly influenced by others too, so external opinions could affect your relationship. Also, major chance of them being a mama’s boy or daddy’s girl, someone who checks in with their parents often and shares everything.

Moon in the 2nd house? This one spoils you. Buys you things, protects you fiercely and might also expect you to take care of your body.

In the 4th house, they’re nurturing, maybe even maternal no matter their gender. If Mars or Sun is there too, expect some arguments at home or emotional clashes.

Moon in the 6th? You’ll likely be the caretaker whether it’s by choice or because your partner struggles to handle daily life.

Moon in the 5th makes them fun, romantic, a dreamer. Not always realistic, but very affectionate. Great with kids, too.

Moon in the 8th means your spouse might have insecurities, could be financial, body image, or even secret phobias. They read people with their x-ray vision but hold back their own feelings and can hold grudges longer than you'd like.

Moon in the 10th? They’ll go out with you everywhere and support your goals fully. You’ll rarely see them without you.

Moon in the 12th? Emotionally private. They hide how they feel to fit in, and sometimes they might play emotional mind games or seem completely different on the inside.

Moon in the 3rd brings creativity, maybe they sing, play instruments, or have a strong connection to their siblings or hometown. They’re outgoing and not the type to sit at home.

Moon in the 9th? Always questioning things. They might change their views a lot or argue just for the sake of debate. They either hoard things or are total minimalists depends on the sign.

Also, if your Moon is in Sagittarius, Aquarius, Pisces or in the 7th, 9th, 11th, or 12th houses, your spouse might be from another country, or at least far from your birthplace.

Next post will be about having Mercury as Darakaraka!

Wanna go deeper into the layers of your placements? DM me for a complete astrology reading or a 5 year/8 year marriage report or synastry reading🌙💬 and check out my pinned post for pricing + details 💫💸

Let’s decode your cosmic chaos together ⭐

[so-i-did-this-thing]

im sorry this might not be the place to ask for advice/help but im doomscrolling about the news and the soon to be president and im seeing so much to be scared shitless about, invasions, removal of vaccines, cost of living increases, revoking of trans rights and how it might make it all the more impossible to get the surgeries i wanted... its just too fucking scary to breathe right now what do i do with myself

Hey, Anon. I'm here. A lot of us are here right with you.

It's scary, to be sure. And I'm not going to sugarcoat the possibilities of things going south very quickly. So, let's jump into some survival tactics.

This post on burnout is a great place to start. There is a lot of overlap with burnout and the anxiety you're feeling.

Allow yourself to slow down and unplug. You are allowed to step away from the news cycle -- events out of your control will unfold regardless.

Don't feel guilty by letting yourself relax. I find it especially helpful to do activities that don't involve the internet -- I've been decorating my house, mending broken crockery, and sketching some embroidery ideas. I try to take the time to get dressed and groomed every day, to remind myself that I matter. I spend more time outdoors.

As you find the ability to relax, you'll be able to focus better on the things you can do to be resilient. Things I have been doing to improve myself and make me a better helper:

Staying on top of my medical appointments and any preventive care I can do

Working to be physically healthier overall to mitigate future medical issues

Getting all my paperwork in order, including passports

Tweaking my financial budget

Researching what estate & family documentation needs to be done to protect my relationship in case my marriage gets dissolved

Brushing up on job skills, getting new certifications to stay competitively employable

Stocking up on my medical and general emergency supplies, especially for bad weather events

Getting in the habit of mindful purchases, curbing my habit of impulse shopping

Selling things I don't want or need anymore to have a little extra money and be able to move house easier, if need be

Building a habit of fixing/maintaining my possessions instead of trashing broken things

Canceling online subscriptions and quitting social networks that make me feel in danger

Getting my personal and any queer-related files out of the cloud and onto redundant solid state drives

Downloading / printing out queer resources and buying queer art that may be banned or monitored in the future

Enjoying physical media again and hunting for old favorites

Keeping in touch with queer friends and allies and making plans in case people (even myself) need to flee

Being visible when I can and knowing when it's best to lay low

Allowing myself the luxury to dig into things Old Me would have saved for "special" events -- aka, wearing the nice clothes and eating off the fine china as an everyday thing

Shutting the fuck up, especially online, when I think my words could be used against me

In a way, I am trying to simply become a better version of myself, one who is calm & self-sufficient, mindful about his actions, and available to help those in need. It sucks that the driving factor is fear, but I intend to use that fear as a catalyst to be stronger and survive.

There is a lot to be done, but there was always going to be work, new regime or not. But please, start with that burnout article so you can jump into your own plans with new hope and energy. ❤️

[starryknight-tarot]

𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓯𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮

pile 1 -- > pile 2 pile 3 -- > pile 4

masterlist<3 . paid readings

Hello beautiful souls and Happy Halloween🎃✨ Today we will be looking into some signs that someone may be your future spouse! Remember to meditate, take a deep breath, and pick whatever pile calls to you the most. My readings are meant for everyone, no matter what sexuality or identity you are. Since this is a general reading, make sure to take what resonates and leave what doesn't. In case anyone is curious, the characters are from the mobile game Tears of Themis.

Pile 1 Cards: The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Moon, Page of Cups, Four of Swords, Page of Pentacles rx, King of Wands rx, The Lovers Back of the Deck: Five of Pentacles

Holy cow Pile 1, your fs has very strong energy and you will be able to feel this energy very powerfully. It's almost like you will feel a wave of their energy as they pass by or a shiver down your spine, the hair on your arms will stand. Your fs seems to be influencial in a way, almost like they have people wrapped around their finger. Your fs might even be quite wealthy. They may be some sort of performer or entertainer, something that would make them the center of attention quite often. Your fs may be surrounded by people or always seem to have someone around them. You may usually see them at social events or you could even meet them for the first time at a big event. For some of you, you will meet your fs super soon, at a Halloween party or something like that (if you are reading this after Halloween, it may just be a holiday party). A strong sign that they are your future spouse is if they appear like someone who has something to hide. The energy they put out seems really playful and almost innocent, but there is something about them that feels like they aren't being entirely themselves. There is also going to be a romantic attraction to each other that will be felt really strongly and quickly. For some of y'all, this is a love-at first sight-kind of deal, you are gonna think to yourself "Holy shit that person is so hot". They may also get really close to you around the time you first meet, for example putting their arm around you. The eye contact between y'all is really strong, they may have really intense or unique eyes. Although I do feel like some of you are gonna be pretty intimidated by your fs at first either because of all the people around them or the strong energy surrounding them. When you guys see your fs, you may pretty easily see past the happy-go-lucky front they put up, to you, they may seem quite depressed or distressed, and they may even have obvious dark circles under their eyes. It may not be that extreme, you may just notice that they are not as energetic and instead more calm and collected. You may notice this about them in the moments you see them away from people. This is going to be something you will feel spiritually, spirit may show you some signs right before you meet them, I am getting a blue butterfly, a bunny, a crow, or an eagle. (Also a little shout out to my lesbian and bi queens reading, a little confirmation that this is your pile)

Advice Cards:

Be adventurous. It's time to go for it! In harmony with your inner self, you are free to do or be whatever you choose Physically and/or mentally, shape up Make your presence felt It is important to ask for help Practice the pause

Channeled Songs:

Pile 2 Cards: Eight of Wands rx, Seven of Cups, The Moon, Queen of Swords rx, The Hanged Man rx, Knight of Cups, Seven of Pentacles, Five of Swords Back of the Deck: Five of Cups

Honestly, I am getting a kind of enemies-to-lovers vibe from this pile lol. It might be more of a rivals to lovers but ya get the idea. If you find yourself bickering and teasing each other in a playful way, that's a good sign they are your fs. Your fs seems like a nerd or just very studious. I am getting they may have a very particular or unique way of speaking, like overly polite or a lisp, something like that. Also for a small amount of you, they may be deaf or partially deaf. Your fs also seems to always have their head stuck in the clouds, they may daydream and get distracted easily. Your fs may have ADHD or something like that. They seem to be someone that gets flustered easily and may be very easy to tease. But your fs has a very cute energy, like they seem very nervous and worried, but they can be really passionate about certain things. I think a sign that they are your fs, is when you find yourself missing this person often. If you don't see them for a prolonged amount of time, when you find yourself missing this person, wanting to see them, you may even feel a little empty without seeing them for a long time. I also feel like your fs will actually be the one to approach you and subtly try to send hints that they like you. They may also give the cutest compliments ever. Compliments you have never heard before and you can tell they come from the heart. You may not usually believe the compliments you get but the way they compliment you, there is no doubt they meant it and it came from their heart. Double points if it came from nowhere and they don't usually say compliments to people. A sign they are your fs is if you can't imagine your future without them, I feel like one day you are going to be sitting and thinking about what your future looks like, and no matter what, they are somewhere in your future. I actually feel like it might take a while for you guys to realize that you both like each other. It may even be the kind of situation where everyone around you realizes that you have a crush on each other except you guys, who are oblivious because you can't get out of your head about the connection. A sign they are your fs is when you find yourself staring at them for a little longer than you realize. You may start to see them and they may seem to light up the room a little. Y'alls connection is so cute I can't lol.

Advice Cards:

Look closely at what is going on around you

You are greater than your story

Things might not be they seem

Reflect on one of your blessing

Act on what you know

You are healing at cellular level

Channeled Songs:

Pile 3 Cards: Five of Swords, The Fool, Ace of Pentacles rx, Four of Swords, Seven of Wands, King of Swords rx, Nine of Wands, Eight of Swords Back of the Deck: Queen of Wands

For my beautiful Pile 3, a sign that they are your fs is if they are really silly and childlike. This childlike energy isn't like irresponsible or unsophisticated, but more like airhead or bimbo/himbo energy. They are enjoyable to be around and can light up a room. Your fs is really connected to their inner child so if they just seem to have a lot of energy. I am getting they may really like video games, especially competitive ones like Smash, Street Fighters, League of Legends, and stuff like that. Your fs has a strong competitive soul and likes a challenge. I was also seeing painted nails, specially black and pink nails. For some of you, you are going to meet your fs during a partially hard moment in your life, you may be going through a tower moment when you first meet. You and your fs may not be talking right now or for some of you, you may not have met yet. Some of y'all may also want to read Pile 1 if you feel called since I am picking up on some similar energy. I am also hearing for some of you, your fs has a strong connection to cars, they may be a car mechanic or race car driver or something like that. I was also hearing that your fs has absolutely amazing fashion, a sign may be that they tend to wear clothes or colors that really compliment your style. Also, I heard that a sign they are your fs is if you often get shocked when touching them, like those moments when you get a little zapped when you walk on a rug or something (I really don't know how to describe this lol) I feel like if you notice that you are getting zapped by someone often, that may be spirits way of showing you they are your fs. They also may either curse like a sailor or have a very dirty mouth, if you notice they make a lot of suggestive jokes, this may be a sign for y'all. There also may be some people around you saying that this person is a red flag. Now now, this doesn't mean we should ignore red flags, however, if you know someone is judging this person unfairly, for some of you, this is a sign they are your fs. There also may be some difficulty in conversing, they may have a speech impediment, mumble a lot when they talk, or just tend to walk around with a lot of anxiety, and they may seem like they can't stand still.

Advice Cards:

Release unhelpful influences and fears

You are greater than your story

Your spirit wings are unfolding. It is time to take flight!

Learn through reversals. Hold the opposing viewpoint for insight

You are much stronger than you think

Release all that keeps you in the past. Forgive and liberate yourself!

Channeled Songs:

Pile 4 Cards: Judgement rx, Knight of Wands, Nine of Cups, Eight of Wands, Six of Wands, Knight of Cups rx, Three of Cups rx, Queen of Cups Back of the Deck: The Empress

Pile 4, you will know they are fs because they are going to be the most attractive person you have ever seen. With Pile 1, I was getting they are going to find their fs pretty hot, but you my Pile 4? You are going to find your fs absolutely stunning. Like, we have the Empress at the back of the deck and paired with the Nine of Cups, yeah they are beautiful. You have been manifesting these certain traits about a person and using sublimimals, stuff like that to bring your ideal type closer to you and honey, you will succeed. There is also much cup and wands energy so your fs may have a lot of fire and water in their birth chart or I was also picking up that one of you may have heavy water signs in your birth chart and the other has heavy fire signs in their birth charts. For some of you, this person may seem like the complete opposite to you, you may have very different aesthetics and personalities but you know what they say, opposites attract. Your fs comes off with very strong charisma and passion right away. You will notice they have very natural rizz that is so smooth and sexy. For some of y'all, a romantic relationship between the both of you is going to form very early into the relationship. You may never really have a getting to know each other phase of the relationship and really quickly move into the romance. A sign they are your fs is if you feel like you can trust them with anything. You are going to feel a strong sense of safety and loyalty between y'all. Your fs is going to have really balance feminine and masculine energy, but they seem to have especially nutured their feminine side. Also, if you identify as a woman and you are interested in a man, you are going to think yourself "Finally, a man that actually likes women". You are going to think that your person appreciates you and cares deeply for the emotional connection between you two. Your fs is going to check on you often to make sure you are going well physically and mentally. They also have a strong essence of achievement, your fs has achieved a lot in their time and seems very successful.You may also see 444 when you are around them, when you think of them, or before you meet them. I love all of this for your Pile 4.(For thoses of y'all that are Helluva Boss fans, your fs gives me Ozzie vibes which is really everything)

Advice Cards:

Act on what you know

Bring something new into your life

Allow for old memories to come up and be released

The key is in the application. Practice!

Yes, you can . . . Set it in motion!

Make your presence felt

You can manifest your heart's desire

Channeled Songs:

Thanks for tuning in and Happy Halloween for those who celebrate₊‧.°.⋆🫧•˚₊‧⋆.

[elysiansparadise]

Astrology Paid Readings

ꨄ︎ Status of the spots: NO SPOTS LEFT ꨄ︎ || Ko-fi || Back to the masterlist || ꨄ︎

After a couple of years of blogging and continuing to study astrology, I'm pleased to announce that I will finally be offering astrology readings.

🔒 By requesting a reading with me, you agree to the following terms:

You'll first contact me via email (elysiansparadise27@gmail.com) and tell me which reading you're interested in. Once I send you confirmation of the service, you'll send me your information along with a screenshot of the payment made to my PayPal account. (No reading will be done if payment has been made before my confirmation!)

Readings are delivered within 2 to 10 days after receiving payment and all requested information. If there is any delay, you will be notified in advance.

No refunds are offered once the reading has been started or delivered. Only in exceptional cases (such as my inability to deliver the reading) may a partial or full refund be issued.

To write the reading, I need: Date of birth; exact time of birth; city and country of birth; [And depending on the service: name and gender of partner; date, time and city of birth of the other person.]

Astrology is a tool for self-knowledge, not a substitute for therapy, legal advice, or medical advice. The service offered is informative and advisory.

Your personal information and your reading are completely confidential. I don't share your data with anyone.

Feedback is not mandatory, but it will be greatly appreciated. You can choose to keep it anonymous!

Basic Analysis → $30.00 USD (7-9 pages)

An analysis of your Big 6 (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Rising) including sign, house, and aspects.

An analysis about your Retrograde Planets (if you have).

Major Aspects (Conjunctions, Oppositions, Squares, Trines & Sextiles).

Natal Chart Reading → $40.00 USD (10-12 pages)

Modalities, Elements, and Ruling Planets. It also includes an observation about the least present element and how it influences your personality.

An analysis about your Retrograde Planets.

Planets in Signs and Houses.

Major Aspects (Conjunctions, Oppositions, Squares, Trines & Sextiles).

Astrological Signature Sign.

Extensive Natal Chart Reading → $50.00 USD (15-17 pages)

Includes the same points previously mentioned.

Asteroids analysis (Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, Chiron).

North Node and Lilith analysis.

Solar or Lunar Return Chart → $40.00 USD (10-12 pages)

A detailed reading of the chosen return chart, including planetary positions, Chart ruler, and Part of Fortune.

(For any of these I will need you to tell me the city in which you will spend this return, just in case you spend it outside of your place of birth.)

Synastry Reading → $40.00 USD (10-12 pages)

Aspects between planets.

Overlays (your big 6 falling in each other's houses).

Practical solutions that can soften squares or oppositions.

Composite Chart reading → $30.00 USD (8-10 pages)

A look through the planets in the signs and houses.

Analysis of the twelve houses and its rulers.

North Node and Juno in the composite chart.

Rulers of the houses in the houses → $30.00 USD (12 pages)

The state of the ruler (sign & aspects).

The meaning of its position in other house.

Future Spouse Reading → $20.00 USD (4-6 pages)

Deep analysis of the 7th house (sign, planets there and ruler)

Juno reading (placement and aspects)

Derivative house system & the future spouse → $20.00 USD (6-8 pages)

Using the derivative house system, I will explore different aspects of your future spouse (positioning the 1st house in the 7th; I explain this better here).

I deeply appreciate your support over the years. Thank you so much for your love, for sharing, and for learning alongside me. I wish you all a wonderful day.

[agirlwithglam]

hard work? at least put in the work!

as my mom once said to me:

"forget hard work! at least do work"

please, for some of us, talking about "hard work" is far away for us. so forget about working hard. what about just working? not working hard, just doing at least something for your future, yourself, your family. or are you okay with being a huge disappointment to others and yourself?

just doing the bare minimum at least for yourself! you don't have to go over the top or make it so hard for you. at least put in the bare minimum so you don't have to live the worst life. okay?

doing at least 5 pushups + 5 squats a day

studying a bit for exams

saying one affirmation of self-love a day

if someone talks to you, don't try to run away from the convo.

all this isn't hard. its just what every human being should be able to you (not talking about anyone with disabilities, thats a different case). okay?

the first step to this would be to reduce the amount of screentime everyday. i don't care if its "educational" or "self improvement", thats all bs. whats actually gonna make a difference is that instead of tricking your brain into thinking you're doing something or telling yourself "i'll work my hardest tomorrow", you don't work your hardest today but you work.

putting in little effort is still putting in effort.

i know that a lot of you are gonna be like "no but i believe in myself that i can put hard work into something i care about!" so okay. good job for believing in yourself, love that. but... are you actually gonna do it? or are you going to continue to sit and watch "educational" "self improvement" videos because it distracts and tricks you into thinking that this is hard work?*

*don't get me wrong, of course if you used to be a person who scrolled a bunch of nonsense, the first step would of course be to change what you consume into something better. but there comes a limit where you have to actually get up and put in the work. simply changing what you consume isn't all you need to do. theres more steps to improving your life. just like when you start with a new skill; in the beginning you may start with something very simple and easy for you to do. but once that becomes your "comfort zone" (as in very/ much easy to do), you need to move to something that challenges you more. otherwise, you never grow.

sure, believing that you are capable of doing it is certainly the first step of almost anything, but believing isn't just enough. you gotta actually do it. you don't earn my respect by "believing you can do it" (what are you, a toddler?) but by actually executing your plan. and for most of us, it turns out that our definition of "hard work" is actually just watching "self improvement" all day.

so what am i implying here? :

if you believe you can actually do the hard work, then do it. do not waste another second on self improvement videos (remember; those are just meant as a guide, a starter. a place for advice). if however, you find that you finally realise that hard work isnt just watching self improvement videos and having to actually do something, then shut up with the hard work. at least do work.

xoxo, vanilla.

[nicstylus]

I'm rereading Skulduggery Pleasant for the nth time. Here are my newish revelations.

Sceptre of the Ancients Edition!

First (You are here!) || Next

List of artwork links at the bottom.

!! Spoilers for all of Phase 1 and 2 !!

Starting off strong with Gordons advice to Skulduggery ending up being HEAVY foreshadowing for Stephanie instead. "To my good friend and guide Skulduggery Pleasant, I leave the following advice: Your path is your own, and I have no wish to sway you*, but sometimes the greatest enemy we can face is ourselves**, and the greatest battle is against the darkness within***. There is a storm coming, and sometimes the key to safe harbor is hidden from us, and sometimes it is right before our eyes****." * Proven later by Echo Gordon not trying very hard to talk her out of participating in the world of Magic. ** Heavy implication on Darquesse there. *** This is also dripping with Darquesse foreshadowing, but could also be referring to Lord Vile. Hey, we all have a little of both in us don't we? **** In this case he was obviously talking about the brooch, but it could also be referencing to fact that Stephanie was surrounded by her family here. Skulduggery was there, but he is the embodiment of all her future trauma and the danger she'll find herself in. She was safe among family, safe in a mortal life. "Safe Harbor" was indeed, right before her eyes, and she walked away from it.

The twins and Steph's heights confuse me. The twins are 3 years old, and described as short. Stephanie is described as tall and strong. So. Are they the same height in this book? I refuse to believe 12yo Steph is taller than the 15yo twins. Esp since I picture Beryl as really tall and scrawny, even if Fergus isnt haha

Crepuscular is mentioned as early as book 1. I wonder if Derek actually had a plan for him at this point or if it was just 'eh we'll burn that bridge when we get to it' type of deal. The Shalgoth also appear in this book, and they don't even get a name until phase 2 lol

It could also be interpreted that Darquesse shows up as early as book one. When Vindick Leather rams his car into the Bentley, Valkyrie notes a voice in her head. Obviously this could just be attributed to literally her own voice and instincts, but Darquesse does this a lot in later books:

How the fuck did China and Tanith know where and when to show up at Gordons estate when Serpine finally got the Sceptre. Ghastly wasn't with them. China would have known where the estate was, but why did Tanith come? I can't see China announcing to her library, or anyone really, that she was mounting a rescue out of the kindness of her heart. Tanith and China weren't yet feuding, so maybe Tanith came to her for help? How did Tanith know they were in danger?

The man with the bowtie never gets a name. Hilarious.

Neither does the Administrator, actually. He dies in this book, so it isn't really needed I suppose.

It's funny to me that the Sceptre is Relevant until the very last book. Every time I forget about it when reading through the series, Derek brings it back. It goes through like five different iterations of itself, even eventually being replaced by its alternate dimension self, but its easily the most important 'object' in the SP series. Derek just can't get rid of it.

There are a lot of one-offs in this book, and you can tell that Derek wasn't sure how he wanted his world yet. - He describes strange looking people in the library (which, okay, we definitely see some strange looking people for the rest of the series) - Vindicks fire-proof discipline. We never see anything like that again, even from elementals (Vindick is listed as an adept on the wiki at least) - Skulduggery describes a man who can read minds and a woman who can 'change her shape, become anyone' in chapter 5. Reading minds seems to be a high level sensitive skill but not hugely rare. Shape shifting on the other hand never gets mentioned again and gets replaced by facade sigils. - Family crypts. We see that Ghastly's family has a ton of stuff in the Vault, and then it's never really mentioned again until much much later. - Family crests are also something that only sort of show up a few times. The only two that we know about are Ghastly's (shield and bear) and China's (scorpion and 3 circles), plus whoever has the leopard and crossed swords. Skulduggery does say 'the Scorpion stings the fox' when speaking about China's treachery. This leads me to believe that Skulduggery's crest has something to do with a fox, but it could also just be Skulduggery thinking highly of himself haha - Tanith is introduced by killing a troll. I don't think trolls ever show up again. What was his name? We'll never know. - She also says she has an older brother. Is he ever mentioned again? - Jasper, the 8yo hard of hearing neighbor boy is just. Never mentioned again. Steph waves at him and then he disappears into the ether of Derek's brain. - There's a guy with a porcelain mask in the library in chapter 14. I could be forgetting but I don't think porcelain is ever mentioned anywhere else in the series except when describing China's features. Or maybe some furniture or something. - The Sceptre sings. The Sceptre also breaks at the end of this book, so maybe it broke the singing feature for good, but I don't think it sings at all in later books, in any iteration of the Sceptre. - The 'worst of the worst' criminals are held in the Sanctuary. This is reconned later with Hammer Lane Gaol and Coldheart

Actually, a lot of concepts are set up in this book, which makes sense, it being the first book and all. It's cool to look back and see how long some strings took to tie off though - The Shalgoth didn't even get a name until late phase 2. We even see our good friend 'fleshy mass' two or three times! Rip dogface. - Echo stones get brought back almost immediately through Echo Gordon. Oisin even shows up again in late phase 2 :D - Anthem Mire is mentioned in SotA but doesn't become relevant until book 3 - Stephanie notes that her reflection gives her the creeps. Surely that won't lead to anything nefarious in the future! - The whole 'Last of the Ancients bloodline' plotline gets set up in this book. That will follow Valkyrie for like. All of the books. Crazy. - The Irish Sanctuary having ridiculous amounts of staff that betray them. Shout out to the unnamed Administrator for dying a horrible death without also being a sellout. Disappointed in you Tome. - The White Cleaver, also, hangs around for the entirety of Phase 1.*

Serpine turns the entrance to the caves (what I always imagined to be a stone floor) to dust. We revisit the caves in later books and I'm pretty sure they still have and use the brooch/key- How did they even fix that lo

I forgot that the Canary Car was literally turned to dusk. I seem to remember Skulduggery claiming that one of his cars "set itself on fire." Maybe it was the Purple Menace.

I also completely forgot that Serpine is a zealot here. He just never struck me as religious. I also don't care about him so I never gave it much through I guess

Rereading this book made me realize that we don't see a lot of Hollow Men after the necromancer trilogy. They get replaced by wretchlings in the Darquesse trilogy and then... forgotten about in phase 2 completely. They're also described as 'minions of Serpine' in this book, though thats retconned later on, sort of.

I thought Tomes first name was Sagittarius this whole time. How did I never realize it was Sagacious?

Have I explained how much I love China? Because I really love China. Like a lot. Just so you know. (a lot, guys)

God they could have been such great friends. I love their rivalry because it's hilarious but we were robbed of China/Tanith sisterhood. Can you imagine China and Ghastly working so closely together to get Tanith back from the remnant? I know it doesn't fit China's selfish narrative, and her being protective of Val makes more sense because she watched her grow up, but ahhh

Valkyrie starts to be able to understands Skulduggery's mannerisms and slight movements on like, day 2 or 3 of being around him.

Much much later, I think it's Abyssinia that asks her what its like to spend so much time with someone and not ever be able to know what he's thinking? Abyssinia, honey, were you even trying? This girl is 12.

Once Stephanie chooses a name, Skulduggery spends the rest of the book flip flopping between calling her Valkyrie and Stephanie. I never noticed this before, but it's interesting. When speaking about her to other people, he'll call her Valkyrie. When he's speaking directly to her, or yelling at her because she's in danger, he calls her Stephanie. I'm sure my English teachers would want me to dig deeper into the meanings behind that.

Meritorious is the first death they we whitness from a first hand perspective, which I never realized before. He's also one of five POVs in this book: Stephanie, Serpine, Tanith, Meritorious and the Administrator for a few paragraphs. I think this is the only book in the series with two different POVs in one chapter- here when Meritorious dies, and when Tanith turns to fight the White Cleaver by herself.

We don't see Tanith get angry very often, but she's PISSED when she tells Skulduggery about Tome's betrayal:

Damn girl xD

However, Skulduggery's response to Tanith's anger will heavily shape who Valkyrie becomes.

I think Stephanie internalizes these lines way more than anyone realizes until it's way too late. She will carry this for the rest of the series. Exhibit 1:

Ah, this is probably why Tanith doesn't like China very much xD

The Cleavers were set up to be this super huge and powerful force, and then starting in this book their numbers are so decimated that they don't recover from it for the rest of the series. They just keep getting more and more cannon-foddery and smaller in number xD

* This is actually not my revelation but something that was pointed out to me by @afandomroom, the parallels between Tanith and the White/Black Cleaver. Tanith was supposed to die in this book. Derek instead gives her horrific near death experiences in every book leading up to her possession, but that's besides the point. At the end of this book, Tanith fights the White Cleaver (whom she sent to die, and thus is part of the reason he is created in the first place) and loses horribly. Then, allllll the way at the end of the series she again fights him- this time as the Black Cleaver- where she just barely wins. Full circle, just like the gaping hole in Tanith's back

✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏

Here's my SotA-specific artworks:

Cover Redesign

Fergus Stealing Silverware (Steph design by @neims-skeleton-obsession) Human Fireball

Don't say I didn't warn you

Meeting China Sorrows Version 1 - Version 2 - Extra

Reflection Sigil You Look Lost (ft @staticart)

Warriors gotta stick together Serpine Torturing Skulduggery

That'll Teach Him to Underestimate Stupid People

Bliss' betrayal

"Skulduggery! She's not being Professional!" Version 1 - Version 2 - Clueless

Never Could Fight Worth A Damn Tanith design Bonus collab with @staticart

Jesus did you read all that? Look at you go :]

First (You are here!) || Next

[thewertsearch]

And now we have to deal with this motherfucker.

It’s probable that Scratch knew things would play out like this, which means this message was always intended for Karkat.

...it's probable that that's the case, but there's always a slight possibility that we're in one of his dark pockets. If so, then Karkat wasn't supposed to see this message, and might be about to learn something Scratch doesn't want him to know.

Mr. Vantas.

Dang it.

I'm delivering this message through the console of one of my numerous unwitting proteges to give you a word of advice, and then you will not hear from me again.

Characteristically unhelpful - and in fact, it might not refer to either of Eridan's victims. We still have Tavros's corpse to deal with, and I'm sure there'll be more bodies hitting the floor before the day is out.

All of the bodies in the room remain as they were. There is clearly nothing to be concerned about whatsoever.

Feferi has an eldritch connection through the Horrorterrrors, and they could probably pull some dark magical shenanigans to get her body moving again. I think that's unlikely, though, since Feferi's ghost is active in the Dream Bubbles, and I don't think she'd actually want to be revived. After all, she's go a job to do.

I'm still convinced that Kanaya's coming back, but it's hardly going to happen while our back is turned. We're out of Kernelsprites, so she can't be prototyped - and we can't use her Dream Moon Slab, if it even exists, because Prospit's been destroyed by Jack.

Frankly, I can't think of a single realistic way to revive her short of time travel, and that's not a road we want to go down. I'm really trying not to think about what that might mean.

I guess that leaves Tavros.

There's definitely something going on with him that we don't understand. He was about to smooch Vriska before she stopped him, and the Breath symbolism surrounding the act makes me think it was more than just a typical Dream Self revival kiss. He has a hidden power, and that power seems to kick in when someone's dying.

Could Tavros be a little less dead than we've been led to believe? It's possible - his arc doesn't scan as complete to me. He'd only obtained the merest shred of confidence before Vriska brought him fatally down to earth, and I think there are still many interesting places you could take his character.

CG: THERE YOU ARE, YOU HAD ME WORRIED DUDE […] CG: QUIT THE BULLSHIT PARTYCLOWN ANTICS AND GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE. […] TC: shut up. CG: WHAT… TC: I SAID SHUT THE MOTHERFUCK UP, MOTHERFUCKER. TC: honk honk honk :o)

Gamzee’s rocking a new quirk. He’s still swapping cases, but they’re alternating every message rather than every character, as though his mind is less scrambled than it used to be.

Could this be how he talks when he's off the slime? He already seems more aware than before, and his grumpiness evokes a hangover - but he's honking more than he used to, which is the opposite of what I'd expect if he was sober.

CG: SERIOUSLY, GET BACK HERE NOW, AND HAVE A SLIME PIE TO RELAX OR SOMETHING. TC: SLIME? TC: there is no more slime, brother. TC: AND ANYWAY. TC: shit was motherfuckin poison, didn't you know?

Yup. It looks like Gamzee’s gone cold featherbeast.

It's not a great time for this to happen, but it's not like we can stop it now. I highly doubt Gamzee was forward-thinking enough to reproduce his pies through alchemy, and things are a little too tense right now to try getting clever with an Appearifier. For better or worse, his supply has dried up for the foreseeable future.

So now, for the first time, we're interacting with a Gamzee who isn't out of his mind on soporifics. His shift in personality is already pretty drastic, and I'm interested in seeing what the real Gamzee is like.

[dragongirlsweetie]

Regarding your sandwich post (as someone probably egging tf out)

Do you have advice on knowing whether you want to be a woman vs wanting to be intimate (platonic/romantic/sexual) with one?

Bc like I think 95% of my egging is just finding women hot, with the incorporated "idk why the fuck a woman would willingly chose to date a man these days"

Which honestly sounds pretty egg but idk.

well i have two things to say regarding this. first off my sandwich post is just some bullshit i wrote because i was eating a sandwich and had been awake for a grand total of 5 hours, 4 of them at work and another half hour driving to work. second is that if my bullshit meaningless sandwich post is making you question yourself this hard i'm guessing there's probably something to it

now you are on anon and i know next to nothing about you (aside from this ask) so i'm just gonna cover all my bases here: these are concerns i had a lot of in my eggy stages and ultimately i think that if you wanna try giving being a woman a shot, even if just in private with a few trusted friends, you should go ahead and do it. worst case scenario is you get an answer to your question. if you find the idea of being a woman or having people see you as one makes you a bit giddy and bring out some kind of longing ache in your chest that's another good sign. and if you are looking for permission to be a woman, as i really needed before my egg really cracked, then i am officially giving you permission. you are allowed to want to be a woman and you are allowed to be a woman

my final thought is that the lines between a desire for identity and a desire for intimacy can often be very blurry, and i myself often mistook my desire to be a woman as just me being attracted to them. ow that my egg has cracked i know now that the reason i felt that way is because i wanted to be like that too. and i know that there was never really a meaningful distinction between my desire for identity and my desire for intimacy, the two were just different manifestations of the same core feeling that i am not eloquent enough to describe

that last paragraph probably doesn't make a lot of sense right now, and if you transition in the future it might or it might not. we're all fucked in the head in different and beautiful ways. point is don't let yourself get caught up in wondering if what you're feeling is one or the other. take it as slow as you need to but give it a shot. like i said, worst case scenario you find out the answer to your question and can move on with your life. and while i don't know much about you, i do know that cishet men generally don't spend a lot of time wondering if their attraction to women could instead be a desire to be a woman, and they definitely don't get so caught up in those thoughts that a post about trans women staring hungrily at sandwiches would lead them to start asking around for answers. as the saying goes: don't die wondering

sorry i rambled quite a bit there, but i hope i was able to give you the push in the right direction that my younger self desperately needed, or at the very least helped you find an answer to something that was bothering you. and i also don't really know how to end this. uhh byebye! good luck!

[reimeichan]

What Does Healing With DID Mean?

I've seen a few posts recently where people talk about and explore what it means to heal and recover when you have DID. I thought I'd weigh in to that discussion a bit, based on the research I've read, the professionals I've talked to, and my own experiences.

Healing looks different for everyone. But what exactly does that mean? Healing does not inherently mean "achieving normality", as normality is a vague concept that may not even be achievable in some cases. As such, healing needs to be defined individually; what it means to heal and recover will thus naturally differ from person to person, system to system. Someone may wish to have access to all their memories and decrease amnesia. Someone else may wish to fully deprogram and decondition triggers they have instilled in them from years of trauma and abuse. Still another may describe healing for themselves as being able to live in a way that they actually look forward to the future. And these are just small examples of goals that people may have to define their healing experience.

And, similarly, the ways they may reach those goals may look different. One system may wish to fully fuse into a singular self in order to decrease amnesia, while another system may rely more on note-taking and other external ways to help their memory while keeping their parts separate. Or, maybe one system finds it beneficial to treat their alters individually in order to learn how to trust and work together, while another finds that treating themselves as individuals actually increases animosity between each other and prevents cohesion between parts. Or one system finds it beneficial to learn how to be at peace with being multiple and living with dissociation, as dissociation isn't inherently bad, while another strives to minimize dissociation as much as possible so that they do not slip back into maladaptive habits.

Whatever the case may be, it's up to the system and, potentially, their mental health team, to help them define and decide what their recovery goals are and how to achieve them. And that may mean that goals may shift, and tactics may change, as the system discovers what works for them and what they truly want, but it doesn't mean that any one "goal" or "tactic" is any more "correct" than another.

Ultimately, that means that while we as a community can try our best to give advice for what's been helpful for us to try to help others from potentially hurting themselves further, at the end of the day it's up to the individual and to the system to figure out for themselves what's actually beneficial and helpful for them, and what's preventing them from reaching their recovery goals. Instead of condemning each other for "healing incorrectly" or "being anti-recovery", I think it would be more helpful if we uplifted each other instead by encouraging good practices between each other and within ourselves.

[tillichan]

❀˖° Love Triangle Matchup for @alt--er--love °˖❀

The first time Kunikida Doppo met you was when you were involved as a victim in the case of Armed Detective Agency. You spent a lot of time with Agency members, helping them to catch the suspect. Especially with Doppo and Osamu, because these two were assigned to this case. Kunikida Doppo sincerely believed in his ideals, he was sure that his future significant other will meet all the parameters of the section titled "Spouse" in his notebook. But once Doppo met you, his confidence wavered. You were just is perfect the way you are, doing your best to confront your traumas and helping the Agency, that Kunikida began to admire you. And not only as a great person. Of course, this hadn't escaped Dazai's attention.

Dazai: Kunikida-kun, you know, if you look at loved one long enough, this person will fall in love with you too. Kunikida starts staring at you without even blinking. Dazai: It was a lie. Kunikida: DAZAI!!!

Thanks to Osamu, the whole Detective Agency knew that he is in love with you. Doppo realized it fast too and started his attempts to win you over. He was a little awkward, as much as he wanted to cover this up, he couldn't. In his ideal world Doppo imagined himself as a cool gentleman, but reality was cruel. The day he finally decided to ask you out, Doppo stuttered a little, but thanked you and breathed a sigh of relief, as soon as you agreed. This was the first time Agency members saw Doppo that happy. Doppo confessed you at the end of your first date, making sure that everything was perfect. He invited you to the not too crowded art cafe, you mentioned recently, ordered a hearty meal and beverages that reminds you two of the days you spent together, investigating the case and gave you your favorite flowers. He had received a lot of advice from Dazai. Fortunately, he didn't use it. Doppo wanted to show you a seriousness of his purpose, that's why he said: "I have feelings for you. Would you like to be my girlfriend and marry me one day?"

• Doppo acts very gently and considerately towards you. He keeps notes in a separate notebook dedicated to you. Your likes, dislikes, your wishes, special date, all these facts can be found in his notebook. It slowly begins to resemble a diary, not just a notebook with facts about you, because Kunikida tends to get carried away and write notes about your possible future for example. • He works at Armed Detective Agency, it means that he went trough a lot and has seen a lot of bad things. As you do, Doppo wants to get better, so he absolutely loves how you push each other to be better. Your personalities perfectly compliment each other. Doppo tends to be more logical and think first, you're more empathetic and have more social intelligence than him. • You dream about all-consuming love? Well, Doppo maybe isn't the most romantic person, but he's extremely loyal and loving. Rest assured, you're his one and the only, he'll do his best to make you happy. Yes, Doppo is awkward sometimes, you has this power to turn stoic Kunikida into a blushing mess without even trying, much to delight of Dazai. Osamu finds it so enjoyable that his colleague is head over heels, he can't stop teasing him. • Doppo admires you a lot, you're just so talented person, not to mention that you're activist and volunteer. He joins you whatever you do. You have a new design project? Doppo made a note to learn more about it. You painted or wrote something new? He definitely wants to see it! You're reading a new book? Doppo will read it too to discuss it later with you. The new sports seem interesting for Doppo, he doesn't mind to do yoga or figure skating with you, he'd like to teach you some self-defence moves too. • Doppo had planned a perfect propose for month. But he proposed to you at the dock after a hard battle. At that moment he thought he'd never see you again, because you all were close to the end of everything. That's why as soon as he saw you Doppo hugged you tightly and then he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box. "I want to be with you forever. Will you be my wife?" • Your wedding was held in the circle of close relatives and friends. The members of Armed Detective Agency were especially happy, some of them almost cried when you and Doppo spoke your wedding vows, promising to be together forever. Kunikida was very nervous, because he can't believe that this ethereal person agreed to be his wife. Looking at you in your wedding dress, Doppo smiled softly and was ready to cry too. • The members of Armed Detective Agency are happy that you and Kunikida are together. Fukuzawa is the person who encouraged Doppo to ask you out and gave him a lot of advices. He supports your relationships more than anyone. Atsushi, Kyoka and Tanizaki siblings love you as their older sister. "We won't forgive you if you hurt her!", they usually tell Doppo. Dazai mostly enjoys teasing Doppo, but he is jealous too.

Falling in love with you was the last thing Dazai Osamu expected out of his life. You were just a victim and witness in their case, nothing special. But Osamu was drawn to you, because he has always admired kind and empathetic people like you. First time, Osamu flirted with you as with all the other girls just to tease Doppo. But as soon as he realized that he began to develop feelings for you, he closed and distanced himself from you. It's almost impossible to start dating with Osamu, he's too afraid to have a true feelings for someone. He's afraid to lose the person he loves again. That's why nobody will ever know that he had a little crush on you. Osamu did his best to forget about you too. The one thing that gives away Osamu's feelings is that he acts more distantly with you. It's very strange, especially since he flirts with every single girl like there's no tomorrow. But his colleagues attribute it to your relationship with Doppo, that Osamu decided not to ruin your love. And somehow they are right, of course. Osamu truly thinks that Doppo is better significant other for you than him.

[helsensm]

Sorry to bug ya again but my brainstorm is actin up again! Could be writing this on paper, but writers block. Got inspiration thanks to the Kung Lao dies art (all of them are amazing!), but thinking of the events before it happens. Once again on my Liu Kang mess because he's becoming the tragic god figure now. I'm imagining Liu Kang starts getting a pseudo MK9 mess going on. Not that he receives a message from his future self, but a serious case of "wait, this happened before! AND ITS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN!?!?!". Liu Kang starts seeing the signs of Kung Lao potentially dying again in his new timeline. Cue Liu Kang struggling with showing restraint by not interfering with matters, hoping that he's just getting paranoid and seeing things that are not there, and Liu trying to prevent Kung Laos death. He doesn't want to loose his friend again, even though they're not as close as they used to be. Bonus drama if Liu Kang becomes a bit too protective of Kung Lao and Lao starts thinking that Liu Kang does trust him anymore (thinking on the Arcade ending for Kung Lao where his pride nearly cost him his student) and starts getting frustrated. So when the inevitable starts to encroach, Kung Lao ends up getting himself killed as he tries to show that he can be trusted by Raiden and Liu Kang again. I'm sorry if this sounds incoherent and silly, I just got a lot of emotions for Fire God Liu Kang the the potential angst he carries

yes, good, very good, thank you for your food, friend 👁👁

I want to believe that after the Shujinko accident Kung Lao will start to realize, that he don't need to do everything all by himself and always perfect to prove his worth, and it's okay to ask for help, and believe in your friends, and listen to their advices, and- sorry, kinship by the inferiority complex got me. But as far as we know, no one except Cassy goes to therapy in the mk world, so that won't be enough for my man to start his character improvement journey. So yes, Liu Kang's protectiveness will def trigger his "must prove myself, must get approval" response.

The question is - how much Liu Kang will blame himself, when he realizes?.. 🤔 Poor man lost his timeline and just wanted to create one where everyone is happier. but here we are, creating drama and problems for him in our little gay app ggjhhh

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[otomehonyaku]

DIABOLIK LOVERS More,Blood Stellaworth Tokuten Short Story Papers ☽ Ruki ver.

Original title: DIABOLIK LOVERS MORE,BLOOD ルキ ステラワース購入特典SS English translation by @otomehonyaku Scans can be found here (courtesy of @karleksmumskladdkaka!)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

SUMMARY | Taking place right after the end of Ruki's More,Blood drama CD, this short story depicts Ruki pondering his past choices on the rooftop while Yui lay drained and unconscious before him.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

—Even now, I remember the sky that day. It was endlessly high, its azure colour all but burnt into my retina.

We obtained freedom for one brief moment, only to have it brutally snatched away from under our noses the next. I’d always thought that was the natural way of things.

After all, it was clear as day that God had abandoned the four of us.

Wants, needs, freedom… such indulgences were like confectionaries to us. You could live without them.

However, I refused to come to terms with that fact and nevertheless reached for all of these vices as soon as they seemed within reach. Knowing it was unrealistic, I desperately clung to help with all the power I could muster… Foolish as I was, I expected that God might smile down upon me for once if only I wanted it more than anyone else in the world.

In the end, I pledged my subordination to a higher power and resigned myself to my fate. Or, rather, I welcomed it with open arms. I’d been trampled over, abused, and yet I chose to keep on living no matter what. 

Life is suffering. Choosing to live in the face of such adversity was no strange thing to me.

“—When given the choice, humans are always eager to choose the easy way out, after all,” I quietly spoke to her, even though she lay unconscious on the ground before me. 

Was I only whispering life advice to my past self, then? If I’d known back then what I knew now, I wouldn’t have been here. I didn’t know whether that was a good or bad thing.

“In any case, this is the so-called ‘life’ I’ve come to live. I’ll just have to make do with it.”

A small sigh escaped from my lips. I was under the influence of a sentiment I did not understand. I was an immortal man, yet why was I plagued by these kinds of thoughts?

“Perhaps you… No. This is ridiculous. What am I even saying?” 

I had to suppress a scornful laugh. It sounded like I was deceiving myself, considering my ambitions. 

Kindness and compassion were pointless. I was a vampire. I feasted on the blood of humans.

And I would not rest until I had obtained absolute power.

“Maybe I would have been better off if I’d asked Him to wipe my memories as well.”

I gazed up at the sky, steeped in darkness. 

The serene azure sky that I remembered was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a jet black colour had spread across the earth’s atmosphere like ink. It was almost as if it was a harbinger of my future.

There was no going back. I had already bared my fangs. 

There was no other option for me than to sink my teeth into this woman and claim her blood. 

“Until then, I wish you the sweetest of dreams…”

I gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“It’s simply what’s best for you… Ah, yes. It must be… so be a good girl and offer your blood to me. Only me.”

—End.