#and also good luck to the people who live in a country that celebrates it and are deathly afraid of loud noises and fireworks

[alan-without-the-an]

happy eid al-fitr to those who celebrate it :D

[batshit-auspol]

have we talked about the woolworths debacle yet?

Sigh.

Alright kids strap in, because the culture wars are back and stupider than ever.

So there are two characters you need to be familiar with in this story before we continue:

Woolies (i.e. Woolworths) - One of two supermarket chains in Australia. Not related to the giant Woolworths chain that used to exist overseas, other than the Aussie one swiped the name because the original forgot to trademark the name 'Woolworths' here. Biggest company in Aus, and also the biggest employer. Not a brand anyone with more than two braincells would pick a fight with.

Peter Dutton - Man with less than two braincells, and current leader of the political opposition in Australia. Best known for bearing a passing resemblance to a potato and once demanding that a homophobic song get played for balance when a football halftime show performed 'Same Love'. His reputation is so bad that if you told an Australian that Dutton's favorite pastime was drowning puppies, they probably would believe you.

And to prove our point, here's the best headline a friendly newspaper could come up with to try spin his image:

The third thing you need to know is that in Australia we have a national holiday called "Australia Day" which is basically a scheduled day for everyone to get into a giant argument.

This is because for the last 30ish years it has been held on the anniversary of the British claiming the land around Sydney as a colony which was:

a) More the founding of an English prison then the founding of Australia, and more importantly

b) from the perspective of the people who were already living here, kindof a very shit day

Now not everyone agrees on this, and even those that don't 'celebrate' will often still have a get together with friends, but it can't be denied that we've shifted a long way from the days when the country used to celebrate Australia Day by kitting ourselves out in Aussie flag budgie smugglers, drinking enough beer to drown Harold Holt, and partying like it's 1789.

(Now a brief break for a real photo of Peter Dutton at a press conference)

Good luck sleeping tonight. Anyway back to the story.

As a result of this shift away from the trend of showing your patriotism by wearing Australian flag underpants, this year Woolworths decided that they were no longer going to be rolling out their box of southern cross thongs - on the grounds that "this kitschy shit never sells" and they are far too busy with more important things like blaming price gouging on inflation and installing self-checkout machines that think your canvas bag is a crime against humanity.

Never a man to miss an opportunity to act like a massive twat, upon hearing that Woolies had dumped their flag merch, Peter Dutton rushed onto the airwaves to declare that Woolworths had "gone woke" (paging 4chan circa 2009) and called for the country to boycott the store, a story which Australia's media have gleefully put on loudhale for over a week now in order to drive outrage clicks.

We at this point remind you that Woolworths is a company which, as we previously mentioned, basically has a monopoly on selling food in this country. Not exactly something you can boycott.

(Another real Dutton photo break)

Needless to say Dutton's dumbass plan did not immediately put Woolies out of business, however the relentless media campaign by Rupert Murdoch's minions did result in a bunch of innocent low-wage floor staff being harrassed by The Dark Lord's fanboys and a few Woolies stores were graffitied.

Allegedly being the 'free market' guy, Dutton also kindof snookered himself by demanding the free market not decide the fate of Australia day, but logic was never one of his strong suits.

Anyway, in the end we're just going to keep having this dumb circular argument every year, fulled by a media who love fanning the flames, until a politician has the guts to shift the date to May 8 (pronounced m8), and everyone promptly forgets this was ever a thing.

All in all, that's the long and the short of it. As a final touch we'll leave you with this real tweet by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, in all its batshit glory.

We look forward to the absolute dumpster fire of comments this post is going to generate - as is the Australia Day tradition.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! Would you happen to know if there are any widespread festivities in Twisted Wonderland other than Halloween?

I thought to compile the holidays celebrated in Twisted Wonderland (both internationally and locally) into a single post :> Hopefully this can serve as a useful resource to you~

Internationally Celebrated Holidays:

***Note: I will elaborate on how NRC celebrates some specific holidays here, but the holidays themselves are celebrated beyond the school and Sage's Island.***

Halloween (Oct 31) - One of the biggest events held in Twsted Wonderland. It is the one day of the year when the dead are able to return and visit the living world. People prepare candy and decorations to welcome the ghosts as their honored guests. If a ghost tries to pull a prank on you, you can easily placate them by offering a treat. However, evil spirits might mix in with friendly ghosts, so the living also dress in scary costumes to trick them and ward them off. Every race and country has their own traditions, but NRC makes Halloween an event in which they open their campus to the Sage’s Island locals to thank them for their support the whole year. They also hold a big party on Halloween night.

New Year (Jan 1) - Pretty much the same thing as irl new year’s. At NRC, Sam holds an annual New Year's Sale; he puts interested students' names into a hat and draws them at random as temporary helpers for this sale. He also incorporates many design elements and games taken from the Eastern branches of the Mystery Shop.

Beanfest (mid-Feb) - A holiday inspired by the story of a giant who stole a harp from Happy Valley; a farmer found magical beans which grew into a beanstalk, allowing the robbed to ascend and take back their harp. This restored peace and prosperity to the land. In honor of that past, people dress as farmers and "slay" those in monster costumes by throwing beans at them. At NRC, they hold a Beanfest themed athletic event in which they split the students into a Monster Team and a Farmer Team, the former defending a harp and the latter tasked with stealing it back. This mirrors the irl Japanese holiday Setsubun, which also often includes bean-throwing (mamemaki) to cast out bad luck/demons and to welcome good fortune.

Starsending (unknown) - A holiday inspired by the "Wish Upon a Star" story, which tells the tale of a toymaker who wished for a puppet he made to become a real boy. Nowadays, people send their wishes to the stars on the same day that the toymarker did. This is done via Wishing Stars, which are magestones that glow once you make a wish on them. (However, Idia remarks that this is untrue and is more likely just the magestones that glow once they come in contact with someone's body heat and a trace of magic.) Once the wish is made, the glowing Wising Stars are then hung up on a tree. At NRC, Crowley uses astrology to select three students to serve as Stargazers that collect the wishes of the entire student body. Each student gets to make one wish, which has to be done in the presence of a Stargazer. On the day of Starsending, the Stargazers bang drums and dance in front of the entire school; the Wishing Stars then rise up into the sky and fall down as shooting stars, which have to be collected off the ground the day after. This holiday mirrors the irl Japanese Tanabata festival, typically held on July 7.

Unnamed winter holidays (December-ish?) - Some characters vaguely use the term "the holidays" after returning from winter break, but never explicitly name anything.

Locally Celebrated Holidays:

Night Raven College Founding Day (Mar 18 in JP, Jan 20 in EN; celebrated only at NRC) - Exactly what the name says. This is the day the students and staff celebrate the founding of Night Raven College. There is a special ceremony and, if the Anniversary events are anything to believe, they put up decorations, eat good food, and just party together.

Unbirthday Parties (any day when there is no birthday; celebrated only in Heartslabyul dorm) - The students of Heartslabyul assemble on days when no one has a birthday (it is unclear if this is only within the dorm or in the general student population) and have a tea party + play croquet in the rose garden.

Malleus's birthday (Jan 18; celebrated only in Briar Valley) - Malleus's birthday is considered a national holiday in his kingdom. This may be because he is the crown prince, but it may also be because, according to historical events, his birth is considered miraculous. Malleus has to attend several ceremonies on this day if he were back home.

White Rabbit Fest (unknown but presumed to be in spring; celebrated only in Clock Town) - A festival which pays homage to the White Rabbit that worked for the Queen of Hearts and wad always rushing around. The locals like to dress up as rabbits for the holiday. Businesses set up stalls to sell their wares and they hold a relay race known as the Rabbit Run. You must wear rabbit ears during it and pass along a bugle. The Rabbit Run takes place in a hedge maze riddled with traps.

Mount Moln Sledathon (unknown but presumed to be in winter; celebrated only in Harveston) - Contestants form teams of four and race all night long on Mt. Moln to the finish line. Instead of live animals, racers infuse magic into stuffed animals to pull their sleds. Different animals have different attributes, such as speed, endurance, etc. Though there is no prize, it's considered an honor to win, and it's said that the winners are granted good luck for a whole year. It is done in honor of the animals that rushed to help a damsel in distress.

Tamashina Mina/Cloudcalling Festival ("near the start of the rainy season"; celebrated only in Sunset Savanna) - This is a rainmaking festival held at the start of the monsoon season. During the Cloudcalling, there is a Catch the Tail/Bead Brawl competition held which attracts formidable players, both locals and foreigners. Players adorn their heads with beads, and the aim is to wrestle and remove the beads from one's opponent. This is a game played without weapons or magic and serves as a test of physical prowess. Teams are three members each and members of the royal family are not allowed to participate, as it would be unfair. It is considered a great honor to be crowned the victors of Catch the Tail/Bead Brawl competition, and the winners are granted special Sunset Warrior lessons, traditionally led by the second prince.

Fairy Gala (beginning of spring, lasts three months to the end of spring; celebrated only by Faelanders) - Small fae from Faeland come to Twisted Wonderland and seek out a venue to hold the Fairy Gala. It is a fashion show to commemorate the spring, with a different theme every year. If the Fairy Gala does not occur, it may throw Twisted Wonderland into eternal winter. Non-diurnal fae are typically not welcome in the festivities.

Al'ab Nariya/Yasamina River Fireworks Fest (unknown; celebrated only in the Scalding Sands) - The noble families of the Scalding Sands take turns hosting this festival. Al'ab Nariya attracts many international and domestic tourists every year. The local stalls sell lots of interesting things, and it's all capped off by a spectacular fireworks show at the end of the day. The fireworks are lit up to honor the story of a genie celebrating the union of a princess and a kind pauper.

Topsy-Turvy Day/Topsy-Turvy Fest (around Halloween; celebrated only in Fleur City/the City of Flowers) - This is a holiday in which participants' social standings are flipped around, so people do not need to worry about title or status. Masks are sold so participants may use them to conceal their faces while they mingle. There are performers in fluttery costumes that use scarves and magic-infused tambourines. In this way, even non-mages can have a part in the festivities. The Kindly Bell Ringer supposedly loved this holiday and was once crowned King of Topsy-Turvy Day. Historically, this celebration may draw inspiration from the irl medieval Feast of Fools, typically held on Jan 1. The Feast of Fools, like Topsy-Turvy Day, reverses social hierarchies.

Port Fest (unknown; celebrated only in Crane Port on Sage's Island) - This festival commemorates the construction of Crane Port. Local businesses run their own stalls and it's a good way to promote them. In recent years, Port Fest has been attracting fewer and fewer people. However, with some help from the NRC boys, they were able to run many popular food stalls and put on a musical performance that restores the festival to its former glory.

Other Significant Annual Events:

International Film Festival Film Convention (unknown; held in Fairest City) - This is considered the most famous cinema convention in Twisted Wonderland, with over 80 years of operation. It serves as an event to gather famous actors, creators, and celebrities. To even have a work nominated here is an honor, and it is difficult for normal people to obtain an invitation to go.

Ghost Bride hunts for a potential groom (unknown) - This is an occurrence that happens around the same time every year. The princess of a fallen kingdom died before she could marry a handsome prince. Because of that unfulfilled desire, her spirit is chained to this world. She returns to Twisted Wonderland in search of her perfect groom and uses Ramshackle as their base of operations. As of the end of the Ghost Marriage event story, the Ghost Bride has found her true love, but she promises to visit again "next year".

Interscholastic Magift/Spelldrive Tournament (May) - A sporting tournament featuring teams from notable arcane academies; Royal Sword Academy has apparently beaten NRC for 99 years in a row.

National Arcane Academy Culture Fair (mid-Feb) - A different school hosts the Culture Fair every year. The fair has students representing magic schools from across the country and lasts for two days. It includes fine art, music, magic research showcases, speech contests, displays from cultural clubs, and more. At NRC, this is a time when the fourth-year students come back from their internships and share their findings.

Diamond Movie Awards (unknown, held in Fairest City/Maquillaville) - An event held every year to further develop the Shaftlands’ film industry. It’s a prestigious movie awards event to recognize exceptional cinema and the creatives who make it. It’s held in the Queen’s Palace in Maquillaville. Films from all over the world are nominated, and it is considered a great honor to win an award here. The most attractive award is for Best Actor, which Neige won at 14 years old (as its youngest recipient).

Unnamed anime convention(s) (unknown; presumably held in various countries) - Idia sometimes mentions these.

[alwayslurkinginthebackground]

Lucky - A Pedrotober Drabble

Day 8 of Pedrotober: Corona Pedrotober hosted by @norththelemon and @alyssamariag. View the full prompt list HERE and view my entire Pedrotober drabble catalog HERE.

Pairing: Frankie Morales x f!reader

Rating: THIS IS FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN LOVE. The briefest of mentions of unwanted advances in a bar setting.

Word Count: 2268

a/n: This is for @alyssamariag and she knows it. I legitimately blacked out writing this one and somehow it's now here.

"You'll find someone eventually, sweetie," your mom reminds you for what feels like the millionth time. "You just have to put yourself out there."

It's exhausting, really, these weekly phone calls where you're reminded time and time again that your brother is getting married. Five years younger and he was beating you to the alter the same way every one of your friends has. But he was lucky. He met his future wife in college when they sat next to one another in class. An organic meet cute that spawned into a flourishing relationship.

Meanwhile, your college boyfriend cheated on you the first chance he got.

"I have to go, Mom," you cut her off as Frankie walks through the front door. He gives you a knowing look when he realizes you're on the phone, moving through your house like he lives there. And these days, he basically does.

As the only single members of your friend group, you spend your time together while the others spend theirs with their partners. It was, at times, perhaps a little concerning how co-dependent the two of you were becoming, but seeing Frankie each evening was much better than the alternative of being alone.

And it wasn't like the two of you hadn't tried to find partners. You'd just never been in the right place at the right time. Frankie was fresh out of a long-term relationship when you met him, and starting a flight school had kept him far too busy for far too long. For you, moving across the country hadn't helped much. You'd had to start fresh. New city, new job, new home, new friends, all built from the ground up. Where the move had done little for your love life, it had brought you a sense of accomplishment, a wealth of new experiences, and, most importantly, your boys.

Which, you suppose, was a bit of good fortune. The way you just happened to walk into the same bar on the same night that they were already seated around a table celebrating Benny's latest win. The way your coworker ditched you early on, leaving you alone at the bar nursing a once-cold bottle of Corona. The way all four of them had jumped to your defense when a man tried to slip his arm around your waist.

But even they had found people to share their lives with while you and Frankie sat on the sidelines, doing your due diligence by downloading dating apps. You even dragged him along to a speed dating event that Santi had signed you up for, but the world wasn't what it once was. You couldn't just attend a cooking class and expect to meet your soulmate while roasting a turkey. And if you did manage to secure your significant other one side dish at a time, it was still because of luck.

"Your Mom again?" Frankie asks when you step into your kitchen, already feeling the urge to rant boiling in your veins.

You nod. "She's on me again. Reminding me that my biological clock is ticking and that I have to get serious about this before she's too old to play with her grandchildren."

Frankie scoffs, "You don't want kids though."

"That's what I keep telling her, but I don't know that it'll ever stick in your brain," you bite out as you help him unbag the Chinese food he's brought you for dinner. "But," you continue, conceding a bit, "she is also kind of right."

He pauses, staring at you with wide eyes until the heat permeating through the thin cardboard of the box of rice he's holding threatens to burn his fingers. He sets it on the counter with a wince and turns to you. "Don't tell me you're letting her get in your head."

You shrug, avoiding his gaze as you grab plates. "I don't know." You exhale heavily as you set the dishes down next to him, turning to lean back against the counter. "I just wish I could skip this whole dating thing and get to the happy ending part. It's just unfair, you know? How we're supposed to put ourselves out there on these apps when all anyone is looking for there is a good fuck. And if you don't rely on the apps, you're not trying hard enough. And if none of that worked, it's entirely up to fate to put you in the right place at the right time."

There's a beat of silence before he responds, his voice dripping with understanding. "I know what you mean." Of course, he does. Of anyone, he's the only one that does.

"It's like playing the lottery and losing every time," you sigh again, scooping rice onto one of the dishes. "Maybe I should just have Benny set me up on that blind date he keeps talking about or something."

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

You hand him his own plate of food. "It's better than not trying, isn't it?"

Frankie says nothing.

If you were serious about the blind date, I have someone I could set you up with. Better than Benny's guy.

His text feels like it comes out of nowhere. You're on your way home from work when you see it pop up on your car's notification system, and you swear you feel your stomach drop a little at the suggestion. You'd mostly been kidding when you said it, overwhelmed by the lecture you'd just been given by your mother, and there's something about Frankie making the offer that doesn't sit right with you. Sitll, you're curious.

Who is it? You text back once you've put the car in park, grabbing your phone as you head inside.

He replies instantly, doesn't that defeat the point of a blind date??

You roll your eyes and call him instead and he picks up on the second ring. "It does not defeat the purpose," you explain, "I just want to know what I'm getting into before I say yes."

Your best friend chuckles on the other end of the line. "It's just someone I work with. Nice guy, recently out of a relationship, tall," Frankie explains, well aware of your type.

"Is he a scruffy-looking nerfherder, too?" you ask, quoting The Empire Strikes Back. You'd once told him that that was your type. Harrison Ford saving Carrie Fisher from an icy planet.

"Maybe."

You ponder your options for a moment. You'd never actually texted Benny about the idea, but having it come out of left field on Frankie's part feels a little like a sign. Maybe this is the stroke of luck you need. A random introduction that would lead to a fairytale romance.

"I'll do it," you tell him, "on one condition. I get to set you up with someone, too."

Frankie's quiet, and you wish you could see his face right now because you can picture the panic you know is written on it. But you aren't about to find your true love and leave him in the dust. "Who is it?" he asks, imitating your earlier questioning.

"A friend from work," you reply sarcastically, even if it isn't a lie. "You'll like her. She's smart, a little quiet, and brunette."

"I really think you'll like her," you explain to Frankie as the two of you walk through the grocery store, a weekly trip you take together. "She works in finance, she actually knows something about how to fix a car, and she loves to travel." He nods along, pushing the cart as you grab things from both of your lists. "But what about my prince charming?" you inquire, setting a box of Cap'n Crunch in the basket. For all you've told him about his date, he's told you very little.

"He...." Frankie pauses for a second, "...he's..."

You tilt your head. "You're really selling him here, Morales."

He shrugs, "What am I supposed to say? He's the most attractive man I've ever met? You'll definitely be satisfied by him? I'm sure he has a big..."

A mother passing by with her daughter in the cart coughs before he can finish the sentence and you struggle to hold in a laugh as he apologizes. The two of you move further down the aisle, "Okay, maybe not that, but what's he like as a person? What does he do for fun?"

Frankie sucks in a breath. "He likes a lot of the same things I do, I guess. He's...nurturing?"

Your eyebrows raise as you lead him down another aisle. "Nurturing?"

"Yeah," he grunts softly. "Nurturing. Like, he's loyal. Cares about the people in his life. The kind of person that will take care of you when you're sick or watch that dumb Tom Hanks movie you love so much."

"You've Got Mail," you supply, causing him to roll his eyes before continuing, but it's obvious that he chooses his next words carefully.

"He's the kind of person who will be there for you even when it's two in the morning and you're up because it's storming. I guess he can be a little stubborn, but it's usually just because he cares too much." He pauses, and you open your mouth to respond, but then he keeps going and you can do nothing but listen, transfixed. "Loves movies and has his pilot's license like me. Quiet sometimes, but he can be a little mischievous, too. It's all in good fun, though. It just means he loves you."

You've stopped next to the pasta and are staring at him, eyes wide. "Is that all?"

He nods. "That good enough for you?"

"Yeah, that's good."

Your date comes faster than you anticipated. Frankie has you set up at a local bar to meet with his coworker, although per your agreement, you didn't even know his name. He'd be sitting, Frankie explained, at a table near the back and would be drinking a Corona. When you insisted that you needed more information, he asked if you'd prefer a rose in a book, but you'd simply hit his arm and grudgingly agreed to his plan.

His date, meanwhile, was set for the following evening. Your coworker hadn't stopped talking about it all week, excited about the prospect of meeting someone new. For someone who was usually quiet, she was obnoxiously loud when it came to Frankie, and you couldn't help but wince every time she brought him up. It wasn't that you were jealous, because you weren't. You and Frankie were never meant to be more than friends, and that was lucky enough.

So why didn't it feel that way?

As you check your makeup in the rearview mirror, you debate driving back home. It would be easy to leave. Easy to call Frankie on the way and tell him you didn't feel a spark and ask if he'd pick up a pizza and come over for a movie night. Cancel the whole thing and go back to your simple single life.

Your phone lights up on the passenger seat with a text from Frankie, as if he's heard your thoughts somehow. Have fun tonight.

Well, now you have to go inside. And maybe this wouldn't work out. Maybe Frankie was wrong and this guy wasn't for you, but you have to go for him. Because your best friend put in the time and effort to set you up with someone he genuinely thought you would like. And you trust his judgement wholeheartedly.

With one last breath, you step from your car, finding your confidence in your heels as you make your way toward the same bar you'd met the boys at all those years ago. It's crowded inside, more so than usual, and you have to apologize a few times as you weave your way through the mass of people. You can feel your heart pounding in your chest and your stomach feels like throwing up might be a preferable activity right now, but you press on until you can see someone sitting at a table near the back.

You try to make out his features through the dim light, but he's turned away from you. You know it's him though because the light above his table illuminates the Corona he's holding with one hand. When the song changes on the radio, Harry Nilsson's Somewhere Over the Rainbow playing through the speakers, you realize you've been standing there for too long.

That, actually, you don't want to go through with this.

What you want is to go home. You want to call Frankie. You want to curl up in his arms. You want...

"Frankie," you breathe out because he's there in front of you as he turns. Like you've summoned him.

He leaves the Corona on the table as he stands and takes a step toward you. He says nothing as he invades your space. You feel like crying, and maybe you are because he tells you not to, wiping the tears from your cheeks with his thumb.

"I wanted it to be you," you say softly, quoting Meg Ryan because, you realize, this is what it feels like to be lucky. "How did you..."

Frankie smiles. "You didn't think I'd actually let you end up with someone else, did you?"

"No," you tell him tearfully, "you're too stubborn for that." It's easy to melt into his embrace as he draws you closer. "And mischievous," you add, repeating what he told you at the grocery store, "but I guess that just means he loves me."

He nods, his lips a breath from yours. "He does."

[macsimagines]

Hello again dearest! I hope you’ve been doing well and that life has been treating you kindly ♡

With my second and third Uni midterms looming over me, I would like to request Yan! Izana, Ran, & Shin with a foreign darling~ One who is an international university student in Japan on a student visa

And if it’s not too long, I’d like a follow up of their darling taking them to visit their home country for the holidays since the Yan’s can’t bear to be apart from their darling especially when they would be overseas alone without them ♡♡

I've actually had foreign japanese students at my old school and uni though we weren't' close wish i couldve interacted more and maybe learned something from them hah

TW: YANDERE BEHAVIOR, MINORS DNI, BABY TRAPPING, SCUM BAG BEHAVIOR

Yandere! Izana Kurokawa

He was attracted to you right away, not even romantically or physically, just having been of mixed decent and then seeing someone who might relate to his own experiences interested him.

Became very romantically interested after a few interactions however, you had such a fresh perspective as a foreigner and some of the things he's had to live through seemed to resonate with you.

"Your step-mom was straightup evil. No kid should have to go through that, and I hope your kingdom is as beautiful as you make it out to be."

Hooked for life right away. And also distraught at the thought of you leaving, would constantly try to convince you to get a citizenship and just live here forever with him.

"Why even go back if I'm here?" Is one thousand percent serious, you've become such a huge part of his entire being so it must be the same for you right?

When you convince him to come with you on holiday home to meet your family though, something changes. You don't have to stay in Japan, you just have to stay with him.

As long as you're together than everything will work out. It wasn't like you could so much as leave his place without him being glued to your hip, good luck getting out of the country without him tagging along.

Yandere! Ran Haitani

He is sooo enamored by you. Fetishizing people because of their race is so goddamn gross but the fact that you're foreign definitely is what attracts him to you to begin with.

Ran is so toxic with it to. Calls you exotic like its some kind of compliment, tells you you're accent is soooo cute when you're doing your best to sound natural, makes fun of you for every mispronunciation.

But you don't know anyone in Japan and he's 6'1 so you put up with it. He's just so tall and pretty and he knows all the best spots in roppongi so of course you choose to suck it up.

Afterall, its not like it's forever. He's just your heavy and hot fling that you can go home and brag to your friends about, right? Wrong. He's sprung bitch and you're stuck with him.

"Hey, when are we going to your neck of the woods for this holiday?" "...We?" "Ya, I gotta pack and get my ticket soon, right?"

Hope you're ready to disappoint your folks now that you're bringing home this freak show. Don't forget his dream is to become a foreign celebrity so he wants to experience it all when he visits with you.

"Man, this trip is so much fun. I can't wait for next year."

Yandere!Shinichiro Sano

Worships you. He can't spit game for shit, but thankfully you don't understand him too well to begin with. It's a match made in heaven!

He doesn't make fun of you when you get your words wrong or fumble a sentence, but he does think its so cute. Shinichiro doesn't try to infantilize you but it does come off like that.

God the fact that you want him and you stick with him even though he's such a dork makes him love you so much, he doesn't even think he deserves you.

Hates it when you go home the first time. He can't even talk to you on the phone because of service issues, and trust me this dude was ready to take out loans for collect call just to hear your voice.

Bombards you with all kinds of questions like "Who did you see? Who were you with? Are you going back!?"

So my big headcanon is that he's a baby trapper. So when you talk about going next season he's already trying to figure out how knock you up.

Ends up fucking you with busted condoms (he poked holes) a few weeks before your trip because he needed to give you a VERY good reason to come back.

Just tells you "It's cause I'm going to miss you so much baby, I gotta get as much of you as I can. :)"

You end up surprising him with a ticket for him to come with you. He honestly could cry tears of joy, but he'll save it for when you discover his own little surprise.

[leosasha2025]

Kennechenko【Disabilities】Buddy's reply

Please let me participate For @rerarepairmonth Week 3 - Education/Teaching, Disabilities, Time Travel - May 13th to May 18th

Buddy writes a reply to Leon.

This sequel/Buddy version

━━ I usually speak Japanese. I translated it using Google Translate. It's a bit strange in places, but please look at it with one eye gently. I'll fix it if I can after looking at the folds. Sorry if the English is weird because it's Google translation ━━

[Reply from Buddy, first letter]

To the American who saved me

Thank you for the letter and magazine. I'm sorry for the late reply to you. When I received your letter in my hospital room, I was still under the control of painkillers and was not in a position to write a reply.

I don't know your address, but I found someone in your country who has connections with your unit, so I will entrust this letter to him. His name is XXX. When I said, "One eye covered hairstyle, good-looking American man, blue eyes, nosy, I don't know his real name but he called himself Leon, probably likes alcohol," he seemed to know who you were right away. Are you a celebrity?

Anyway, after I regained consciousness, the hospital room was boring and I didn't know anyone except for rehabilitation. Your letter and movie magazines helped me to heal that. To be honest, I didn't expect your letter. For you, it may have been just a whim, just like what you did to help me.

I won't say that I don't have any thoughts, including the fact that you shot me for a reason other than my intention. But you did everything you could. As the pain fades, so will my resentment towards you. If this is the last time, I would like to end by thanking you. Thank you.

Alexander Kozachenko

[Reply from Buddy, 7rd letter]

To my friend Leon

Thank you for your letter.

I like writing letters. Please send as many as you like. I remembered that I used to write many letters and used to exchange diaries with friends. They all burned and I don't have them anymore, but they remind me of precious happy memories.

My health is fine now. I'm in no pain and my rehabilitation went well. The doctor has given me the stamp of approval, so please rest assured.

By the way, I had applied for a room in a wheelchair-accessible condominium without knowing it, and I was going to move there. That's why I decided to write this letter in a hurry.

You will deny your involvement as before. But I think this is your consideration, and you would like to know the results, right? I've started to thank you more often.

You will be able to come to my room any time and enjoy my hospitality. I promise.

Alexander Kozachenko

[Reply from Buddy, 10rd letter]

Dear Leon

Thank you for coming to my home.

After your last visit, I was thinking about what I should have done. If that present thing made you so happy, I wanted to give you something better…etc.

I am not used to expressing my emotions. My upbringing... No, talking about the past is not going to help. But, when I calm down and think about the past, I regret not expressing my love and gratitude to the people I care about, and the times when I hesitated because I was busy with my daily life.

I was taught that expressing my feelings is free and is the most effortless expression of affection. So, I decided to write this letter.

You are a very important person to me. I will think about what it means later. At the very least, I can say that you are the closest friend I have now, after losing everything in the civil war.

I wish you luck and peace.

Sasha

[Reply from Buddy, 20rd letter]

Mr. Leon S. Kennedy

I'm going to let you know what happened. I have been appointed to work as a teacher in a new school building renovated with the aid of the United States.

I have been thinking about you. I have been living as a guerrilla for many years now. That is why I am also anxious. You know what kind of man I was, right?

And I can no longer just wait for you and relax. I have cried in front of you, and your kindness and passion up until now……there were times when I thought I could keep waiting for you like this forever.

It is very difficult to say this, but I think our relationship has become too complicated.

I am not in a position to build a new relationship. Not only emotionally, but also physically and environmentally. Your position is not typical either. It is very painful to admit that I am dysfunctional.

I cannot say any more in a letter. Please guess. I don't know if I want to see you now. Who can refuse when you beg me?

I am not saying that I cannot trust you. I am always truly grateful for your support and warm friendship. You will always be my benefactor and friend.

From Sasha

[Reply from Buddy, 32rd letter]

Моє сонечко(My sunshine)

I am really glad that you are happy. When I think of you with that contented smile on your face, I also feel happy. I am looking forward to the new you coming to my house.

But I have said before that you write too much. You should think about me, who received that postcard from the postman the other day.

кохання, саша

Japanese↓

バディの返事

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【バディからの返信、一通目】

私を救ってくれたアメリカ人へ

手紙と雑誌をありがとう。 返事が遅くなってすみません。 病室に届いたあなたの手紙を受け取った時、まだ俺は鎮痛剤の支配下にあって手紙の返事を書くどころではありませんでした。

あなたの住所が分からず、あなたの国であなたの部隊と関わりがある人を見付けたので、その人にこの手紙を託します。○○○という名の人です。 「片目を隠したヘアスタイル、美形のアメリカ人男性、お節介で、本名は分からないが呼び名はレオン、多分酒好き」と言ったら、誰なのか分かったようです。あなたはもしかして有名人なのでしょうか？

とにかく、意識がはっきりしたあとは、リハビリテーション以外、病室は退屈で私には知り合いもいません。 あなたの手紙と映画雑誌はそれを癒してくれました。 正直に言うと、あなたからの手紙は予想外です。 あなたにとっては私を助けたことと同じ、気まぐれの一つかもしれませんね。

あなたが私の意図とは別の理由で撃ったことを含め、思うところがないとは言いません。 ですが、あなたは出来ること全てをしてくれました。痛みが薄れれば、あなたへのわだかまりも薄れるでしょう。 これが最後なら、お礼を言って終わりにしたいと思います。ありがとう。

アレクサンドル・コザチェンコ

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【バディからの返信、七通目】

私の友人レオンへ

御手紙ありがとう。 手紙は好きです。いくらでも送ってください。

かつて、何通も書きましたし、友人達と交換日記を書いていたことを思い出しました。全て燃えてしまって手元にはありませんが、貴重な幸せな記憶を思い出します。

私の体調はもう大丈夫のようです。痛みはなく、リハビリテーションもうまくいきました。

ところで、私はいつのまにか、車椅子仕様のマンションの一室に入居できることになっていました。そこで、急遽この手紙を書くことにしたのです。

あなたは今まで同様関与を否定するでしょう。でも、これはあなたの配慮だと考えていますし、あなたも結果が知りたいはず。 またお礼を言うことが増えました。

あなたはいつでもこの部屋に来て、私のもてなしを受けることが出来るでしょう。約束します。

アレクサンドル・コザチェンコ

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【バディからの返信、十通目】

レオンへ

先日我が家へ来てくれてありがとう。 あなたの来訪のあと、反省点を考えていました。あの贈り物であんなに喜ぶなら、もっと良いものをプレゼントすれば良かった、とか……。

私は感情を表現することに慣れていません。私の育ちは……いえ、昔のことを言ってもどうにもなりません。 ですが、落ち着いて過去のことを考えてみて、大切な人たちに愛情や感謝を表現してこなかったこと、日常に忙しくてためらった時のこと、これらを後悔しています。

気持ちを伝えるのは無料で、最も手間のかからない親愛の表しかただと教わりました。なので、この手紙を書くことにしました。

あなたは私にとって、とても重要な人間です。どういう意味かは、これから考えるとします。 少なくとも、あなたは、内戦で全て喪った今の私にとって最も親しい友人だと言えるでしょう。

あなたに武運と平穏を祈ります。

サーシャ

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【バディからの返信、二十通目】

Mr. レオン・Ｓ・ケネディ

起きたことをご報告します。 アメリカの支援で改築された新校舎に教師として勤務することが決まりました。

あなたのことを考えていました。 もう何年もゲリラとして生きてきて、不安もあります。あなたは私がどんな男だったかお知りでしょう？

それに、私はただ、あなたを待ってゆっくり過ごしてはいられなくなります。 あなたの前で泣いてしまったこと、これまでのあなたの優しさと情熱……。このままあなたを待っていてもいい、と思ったこともあります。

とても言いにくいのですが、私たちの関係は複雑になりすぎていると思っています。

私は新���い関係を築ける状態にないのです。感情的にはもちろん、肉体的にも、環境的にも。あなたの立場も一般的とは言えません。 自分が機能不全だと認めるのはとても辛いことです。

これ以上は手紙では話せません。どうか推測してください。あなたに会いたいかどうかも、今は分かりません。あなたに懇願されて断れる人がいるでしょうか？

あなたが信用できないと言っているわけではありません。 あなたの応援と温かな友情にはいつも心から感謝しています。あなたはいつまでも私の恩人であり友人です。

サーシャより

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【バディからの返信、三十二通目】

Моє сонечко（私の太陽）

あなたが幸せそうで私も本当に嬉しい。あなたが、あの満ち足りた笑顔を浮かべているところを考えると、私も幸せです。 新しいあなたが私の家にやって来ることを心から待っています。

しかし、あなたは開けっ広げに何でも文字を書きすぎだと前にも言いました。この前の葉書を、郵便配達人から手渡された私のことを考えるべきです。

愛を込めて、サーシャ кохання, саша

[sekhithefops]

Anyone who tells a queer person "Just Move to a Better State" doesn't get it.

So, as some of you know I've got an account on Bluesky, one of the social media websites that arose from the ashes after Elon Musk completely fucked up Twitter beyond how fucked it was even on it's worst day.

Recently I shared this article, hoping to spread some good news to my fellow members of the LGBTQA+ community:

And some smarmy jackass replied with this:

Yeah... anyone who says this is an asshole who doesn't get the realities of these situations.

I grew up in Kentucky. Yes, the state where Mitch "the Lich" McConnell was spawned (we're trying to get rid of him but that asshole hid his phylactery really good okay?) As some of you might guess, my own home state has issues with people who try to push these sorts of laws.

I've been told by others, in the past, to just move to a better state.

I tried it once infact, I moved from the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area (I lived right on the border between Ohio and Kentucky at the time) to another city where I was going to live with a gay couple I met online who were friends with my, at the time, partner.

... you probably see where this is going already, but I'll continue.

The city definitely had a good LGBTQA+ presence, but here's the thing. I stayed there only six months before all but fleeing back to Kentucky.

Why?

Several reasons.

NOBODY wanted to hire "the new kid in town." I had a horrible time finding a job that would satisfy my roommate. They knew I had only worked retail in the past and, at the time, had no college under my belt at all. I tried getting jobs in multiple places. I tried getting hired on as a 911 operator, at several higher end stores, and such. You know where I wound up working? A shitty little Circle K station. It was the ONLY place that would hire me and paid a pittance. I could barely help with bills at all.

My roommate was a judgemental asshole. To quote Sir Terry Pratchett, "Just because someone is part of a minority doesn't mean they can't also be a small minded prick." One of my roommates judged me for EVERYTHING. Nothing I did was good enough, and if he found out something he didn't like he would hang it over my head and never stop giving me shit for it. I hated it. I hated it within weeks of arriving but I didn't want to leave because that would be 'admitting defeat' or some bullshit (it was ten years ago, I forget exactly how I justified it.)

I had to give up all the friends and family I had in the move. The part of the country I moved to was a place that I had never been before. I had no friends there, I had no family there. All I had to rely on was my two roommates. One of them clearly didn't want an extra roommate but went along with it because his boyfriend wanted it (I feel bad for him these days,) the other one... see item 2. This also leads into item four...

Because I had no friends and family there, I had no safety net. Asshole roommate constantly reminded me if I didn't get a 'better job' (and good luck to me on that given the circumstances) I'd be out on my ass, in a totally unfamiliar city. I had no help there besides them and he knew it, and he held that over me every chance he got.

Finally, after six months, I managed to move back in with my mother in Kentucky. This story does have a happy ending though. I wound up splitting up with my at the time partner (who in hindsight really wasn't a good match for me, though I hear they're doing much better these days,) and it was the wake up call I needed to get some college education. That didn't go great, but having even partial college on a resume helped me get a job that was far FAR better than retail work which I've held for over five years now.

I realized too that while Kentucky isn't great on progressiveness as a whole... the part of the state I'm from actually is. We're part of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area (which basically means "if it wasn't for state lines we'd just be part of Cincinnati") and there's actually a really big LGBTQA+ community around here. These days I see Pride bumper stickers everywhere, and there's several houses nearby with Pride flags as well.

In Kentucky. Yes, that Kentucky.

But my point is... even assuming a person CAN move, it doesn't mean that it'll fix everything. In my case those six months were absolutely hellish despite living with a queer couple in a major city. My life only improved AFTER I moved back to Deep-in-the-Red-State Kentucky. Because the part I'm in has a good community, I have friends and family who support me, I have a good job here, and I have a good life here in spite of what some idiot in the state capitol is up to.

In closing, I have this to say: If you hear someone talking about queer issues in their home state and your first instinct is to tell them to just move to California or New York or some other state... just shut the hell up.

[trikis-turntables]

Happy Lunar New Year! It's the Year of the Dragon!!

I've seen the new Dislyte banner and it just reminded me about some fun thing about how we talk about Lunar New Year and some things surrounding it.

So as a primer, the Lunar New Year is based on the Harvest Calendar 农历 (Nong Li) as opposed to the Gregorian calendar that we use in most of the world today. The Nong Li Calender follows the cycles of the moon, hence the reason it's known as the Lunar Calendar in english and other western languages.

So when we mention Spring Festival 春节 Chun Jie it encapsulates the entirety of the first 7 or 15 days of the Lunar New Year (16, if we count New Years Eve). All 15 days are significant and depending on how big or how close your family is, there's slightly differing tradition.

New Year's Eve - 除夕 Chu Xi - Everyone arrives home and we have a big reunion dinner with our immediate family.

New Year's Day - 大年初一 Da Nian Chu Yi - Officially Chinese New Year, we'll go around visiting our eldest relatives to wish them a happy new year bai nian. Families tend to congregate at the home of the eldest living relative (great-grandparents' homes, grandparents' homes, eldest uncles homes) Wearing red, Firecrackers, Dragon Dances and Lion dances are all common parts of the celebration! By legend it is used to scare away the evil monster Nian who used to eat people!

(Lion Dancers will go up to people's homes and businesses as a troupe to usher in the new year! It's also a highly acrobatic sport with its own institutions, definitely check it out!)

Seventh day of New Year - 人日 Ren Ri - Day of Humans - we consider it the day where the first humans were created by Nuwa, so it's everyone's birthday! Festivities for most households tend to end on this day or on the eighth of New Years.

Fifteenth day of New Year - 元宵节 Yuan Xiao Jie - Lantern Festival marks the official end of the New Years/Spring Festival. In Hokkien we call it Chap Goh Mei 初十五 (literally 15th [of the new year])

You can read about the other days of Lunar New Year here: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2021/02/11/15-days-lunar-new-year !

Furthermore in my home city of Johor Bahru we have a special procession on the 21st of the new year's called the Chingay Parade.

So how should I wish people who celebrate Lunar New Year?

Happy Lunar New Year! is good (abbreviating to Happy LNY! is cool too) this is for consideration of for example Koreans, Vietnamese, Hmong, and other diasporic Chinese Lunar New Year celebrators!

In my country of Malaysia, Happy Chinese New Year is the norm because most people that celebrate Lunar New Year happen to be ethnically chinese.

恭喜發財 (Gōng xǐ fā cái) - Wish you wealth and prosperity

身體健康 (Shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) - Wishing you good health

萬事如意 (Wàn shì rú yì) - May everything go well for you

Bonus:

What are Red Packets and how do I get one? (lol) 🧧

It's also generally alright to go visit or 拜年 bai nian with your neighbours that celebrate Lunar New Year during this period of time, remember to bring a pair of mandarin oranges with you! (Remember to always bring mandarin oranges in pairs as it's seen as good luck.) You might want to contact them ahead to see if they're around XD Unmarried folks can get a red packet from the hosting family for wishing them a happy new year. It's kind of like trick-or-treating lol.

新年快乐！！

[hoghtastic]

Hello, everyone! How are you? I've been following this blog for about a year and a half and I was very happy to have a place where we can talk about common topics. 😊 I've been wanting to tell you about something that happened to me in 2022 for a while now, which was somewhat tragicomic. I live in Brazil and I found out that Alex came here in 2019, a year before I became interested in Vikings (bad luck). Even so, at the time I couldn't go because of the distance and also because of my work schedule.

But in 2022, I found out about a post-pandemic event in Paris that would take place in November. I got organized, saved money, talked to my boss at the time and he authorized it (as long as I worked from Paris). That's when I booked flights and a hotel for just one weekend, the weekend of the event, and bought tickets for the meet and greet, plus an autograph session. 💃🏼

I was very excited and anxious, not knowing how I would manage at the airport and explain to immigration that I would be there for ONE weekend just for an event. I made a spreadsheet explaining my work schedule in Paris to my boss, I calculated everything correctly, including that I wouldn't be able to stay at the event until the end due to my work schedule. I also agreed not to post any photos, because no one at work should know that I was outside my country. But it was okay, even with all these restrictions I was happy. One week before my trip, my boss had a meeting with me to tell me that it wouldn't be possible to make the trip, because of the Black Friday work schedule, and that I would have to work on call. I explained all the schedules and alternatives, and even so it wasn't possible, because if my boss covered for me, I could lose my job. I canceled everything, EVERYTHING (and lost 80% of the money). I was sad, but I knew that I couldn't spoil my boss because of my "leisure". 😵‍💫

Well, it was expected that there would be a lot of contact from customers that weekend due to Black Friday sales, hence the on-call service. But no. Contrary to what was imagined, on those days, on the Friday of the trip and Saturday of the event, I did not deal with any cases. No one contacted me, because it was the World Cup season and everyone stopped to watch Brazil's game. As if that were not enough, on Friday my bank decided to block my card because a branch was closed. So I could not make transactions. I went to the bank to resolve the issue during my lunch break and nothing was done. Like in a movie scene, I left the bank frustrated, unable to resolve my problem, got into an Uber car and opened Instagram. He had just posted a story about arriving in Paris, at the same time and day that I would also be arriving. I cried silently the whole way, got home, went to the computer to work and cry, staring at the blank screen, with no work to be done.

Nowadays I laugh when I remember how dramatic that day was and that, sometimes, the universe gives us a lot of hints that we shouldn't insist on things that are already going wrong hahaha. And, reading this blog, I identify with many people who have also started to follow his career less often. Today I see how much he is involved in small productions and, yes, we are happy if he is happy like that. But recently Brazil achieved something incredible for our national cinema, when actress Fernanda Torres won the Golden Globe for best actress for the film "I'm Still Here". You have no idea how much of a celebration that was here, almost like winning a World Cup 🤣

And I was thinking about how cool it would be if Alex, with all his talent and effort to be an excellent actor, acted in bigger productions that could bring more recognition to Danish productions. I am sad that he has been so absent lately.

Well, that was my story. And I apologize if I got too carried away with these reflections. And also sorry for my English. I tried my best 😅

Kisses and have a good week! 😊

Hello, dear anon! 😃

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us! 💖 I can’t imagine how sad and frustrated you might have felt back then! It truly was an unfortunate situation, even if today you can look at it from a different, more positive perspective. 😊

And also thank you for sharing your thoughts on Alex’s career direction and current absence. I personally agree with you!

Congratulations to Brazil on Fernanda Torres winning the Golden Globe! It’s always nice to see true talent being recognised! 😃

I wish you a wonderful week as well! And you’re always welcome to share everything you want here on the blog! 🥰

[aizenat]

I honestly am really done (for now) of caring about other groups of ppl who show time and time again they don’t care about me/us. White women voted for Trump in majority. Latinos voted for him in majority. Other groups; fucking indigenous Americans voted for Trump in overwhelming majority like he wasn’t literally trying to rip land from yall for a pipeline the last time he was in office!

Even black men voted for Kamala in higher numbers than these ppl. More than Latinos (of any gender). More than Asians and other races. The group of men telling women to “be their peace,” telling women to be submissive, and talking about how western (American) women aren’t “feminine” enough so they’re going overseas to find a submissive wife STILL showed up in higher droves to vote for Kamala than the rest of yall hoes.

Like white women especially, let this be the lesson on why Black women tend to side with Black men over yall all the time: because we can count on THEM to stand by us a hell of a lot more than we can YOU. White women are NOT Black women’s sisters. Yall made that loud and clear this year. Every last one of yall.

And in the aftermath, do I see white women coming together to say “what are we doing? We need to do better” and discussing how to organize and be better in the future? Nope. Instead I’m seeing tedious diatribes about how white women just couldn’t help but vote for Trump because they’re indoctrinated with fundamentalist white nationalist propaganda their entire lives, meaning they’re coerced and shouldn’t be held responsible for their voting choices as grown adults 🥺.

Yall don’t support us, so I’m done supporting yall. Immigrants who get deported: sorry for your luck. Sorry natives, but I will be cooking and celebrating thanksgiving this year. Asian girlies, since yall love talking about our pussies so much, I’ll be quiet and not correct creeps who fetishize and tokenize yall. Also, hope you can get into some good PWIs since ivy leagues are starting to be off the table after yall fought so hard to overturn affirmative action. Latinos who were white in their home countries and think voting for trump will make them magically white in America, hope white ppl care about your green cards when they’re chasing your children off their lawn with a gun because they don’t want your children playing with their pure white babies. I’m sure if you flash that, that’ll make them come around, right? White gays? Yall could have beaten the queerios by just being more vocal on your disapproval and finding solidarity and community with the rest of us over them too. You didn’t have to vote for the fascist. I guess it’s fine if you never wanted to get married or have kids, because that’s going to get reversed and we won’t be able to adopt or anything now. So thanks for that.

Yall gonna find out. Black people been here before so we’ll make it through. The rest of yall? Good fucking luck. And don’t look for us for help or assistance the next four years. We ain’t marching for or with yall. We ain’t lobbying for or with yall. We’re not organizing with yall. Get fucking bent.

Yall did it. Yall finally killed my faith in humanity. If you ain’t black, specifically a black WOMAN, especially BLACK LESBIANS, I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to know you. If it ain’t business, keep it hella moving. Fix your own communities and get yall asses together. And until then, stay the fuck away from me and leave me and mines alone. Yall sit in this mess yall created. Black people—BLACK WOMEN—are beyond done trying to fix shit just for you to undermine us at every opportunity. FUCK OFF.

It’s y’all’s season: leave Black women alone and suffer in the new hell yall created.

[freedominthecircus]

To think that all color symbolism would be the same across the board in people’s cultures (and thus, their witchcraft) is laughable. What is anger and vengeance in one culture may just be luck or passion in another - and an individual themselves may have a completely out-of-left-field viewpoint due to their own lived experiences. There are as many different interpretations as there are people in the world. And while there are plenty of witches out there that don’t give a damn about color theory or symbolism and get along just fine without it - there are also plenty that do care and do want to learn, just are caught up in a more euro-centric view of the color spectrum.

Namely using this site as a jumping-off point, here are my personal views on the colors as of now:

RED

A color of passion in North American and European cultures, it is frequently associated with love (seen extensively along with Pink) in Valentine’s Day celebrations. It is also associated with anger or danger and as such I have personally used the color in more aggressive workings where it has worked well. The color red is also used in religious practices in Central and South America as Christianity associates red with the blood of Christ (of course) and the crucifixion. In China - and possibly other East Asian countries - red symbolizes honor and success. While American brides are more used to wearing white on their wedding day, Chinese brides more prefer red for this association. Wanting that success in their marriages as well as a long-lasting love.

As stated before: I use Red in workings where I feel the need to be more aggressive or passionate about what I am trying to convey. Whether that be screaming a warning at someone/something to back the fuck up, or whether the red wax is being used to seal the envelope of Lust Dust. I know some people who are die-hard about using red in their Love workings - but it has never really worked for me unless the end result was an intense romp in the bedroom rather than their heart being touched.

ORANGE

Very frequently associated with Autumn in North America and Europe. Halloween and the agricultural harvests are frequently thought of - as well as the color is known as a more royal color in the Netherlands. Counties in Central and South America view Orange as one of the more primary colors of nature, and it is almost always associated with the earth and sun. China and Japan also view Orange as a color of good things. From financial prosperity to making sure one is in good health - it’s also associated with a general happiness, courage, and other good fortunes. It is also known as a more sacred color in India.

I personally do not work with Orange much as I find it an off-putting color to me. I’ve never gravitated towards it and there have actually been a few times where once Orange was introduced to something - the “vibes” we all off and the spellwork had to have been done for the night. For what reason this may be I do not know.

YELLOW

A mixed bag of correspondences. From being seen as a color of wealth in Africa to being a color of mourning in the Middle East. (And apparently as a color linked to pornography in China - though this is a claim I have not looked into myself yet. In North America and Europe, we tend to associate it with sunshine and good weather which is usually how I personally incorporate it when it does get used - but it is also frequently known as a color of jealousy in Germany and France.

The color of the sun and associated with Summer more than Spring in my mind. Yellow gets used in my practice usually at two points in the year: Either during the Summer to celebrate the moments of sunshine that graces my Seasonal Depression with little pepper-light kisses - or dead in the middle of Winter to try to remind myself of those kisses.

GREEN

The green four-leaf clover did a lot in terms of minds in North American and Western Europe to associate it predominately with good luck. Even with other associations such as envy/jealousy or progress - luck tends to be the go-to correspondence. Even with countries in Asia and the Middle East viewing green with a more natural lens and corresponding it with fertility and prosperity also - it still remains a color of good fortune as well.

Green in the color in my head associated the most with money and financial prosperity. It is the color of the American dollar and is used in many, many, wealth spells and other work along those lines and I have used it exactly as such in the past. While this is the main way I personally use and view green, it should be noted that I have used the color in abundance workings as well.

BLUE

A strong color with the main association across cultures as one to ward off evil, as well as a color of strength thanks to the Hinduism deity Krishna - who is often (if not always) presented with having blue skin. Some other more Asian cultures also recognize blue as a color of long life, healing, and even immortality. That is not to say there are not other - more somber - connotations though. In more western cultures we tend to have a saying of “feeling blue” - which means extreme sadness or even mourning.

To me, Blue is a color associated mostly with a tranquil sadness or melancholy. I use it in a lot of grief work to guide me through and let loose the well of tears inside if I’m having trouble releasing them. I have also used it as a “booster” color of sorts though, usually in conjunction with other colors on the cool color spectrum, as mixing it with warm colors left me feeling very odd afterwards.

PURPLE

A general consensus throughout most of the world is that Purple is the color of wealth, and it’s a color usually reserved for royalty. The exception to this is found in Latin and South America where - in that part of the world - it means death.

This is the association I have with it. I have never fully viewed it as a royal or wealthy color, and instead have always viewed purple as a color of death and frequently use it in works with death.

BLACK

The color of death, mourning, and - curiously - formality in Europe and North America. Western funerals have featured black for centuries for it’s association with death and the dead, and some places in the Middle East also see it as a color of death and evil. India also views black as more evil than good. Other parts of the world have a different take. Black is a positive color in places like China and Japan and is a very popular color amongst young boys and girls. Some African cultures also see it as a symbol of maturity rather than anything associated with death.

Black is probably my most used “color” in my practice. Along with technically being a “color” comprised of all other colors - it’s used as a substitute for a lot in my practice. It’s a color I also use a ton for meditation, and I do use it as one of three colors I associate with death (the others being White and Purple). It’s never been a “bad” or negative color for me.

WHITE

The “color” that is the lack of all other color - its associated heavily with purity throughout most of the world. It is also associated with good luck and prosperity in some pockets of Africa as well. There are other places in Eastern Europe and Asia where it is associated with death in addition to purity. It can also denote bad fortune or general unhappiness.

I tend to skew towards the latter because of the fact that white is the “color” that is the lack of all others. Giving the general feeling of emptiness where there once was something. I do sometimes also use it to cleanse or purify because of it’s lack of all other color.

[dojae-huh]

I really feel like dy is such cool adult. Very articulate, ambitious, master planner, considerate of others, has steady income, good family, good network, and more and more. Like how is a person so lucky? So lucky to know his passion early on? So lucky to have determination to chase his dream? So lucky ti have good support system in family and friends? 127 are so lucky they find good friends in their colleagues. I know they work hard but don’t you need hard work and luck to be that successful with good people around you? How are some people not have the luck yet? I know we can’t judge a person’s life in a glance but huh… so hard to not be jealous of successful people. I respect, i aspire to be like him especially with his way of working, but so jealous as well 😔😔

I know...

He also has guts. Guts to go against his parents (who didn't support his hobby for singing at the start) and earn money for his vocal lessons himself, guts to drop out of school (in SK it's a big deal), guts to come close to the judges who evaluated trainees weekly, guts to aim high even if he is constantly worried and uncertain about the outcome. His desire to sing pushes him forward.

Psychologists say that if we have false dreams (I want to be rich, I want to be a celebrity - something we picked up from the society), then we won't act because the brain will be content just laying on the sofa and watching YT. A real dream, passion drives people to extremes. Like Tae wanted to debut so much he made other trainees practice till 5 am, while Do survived on raisings to quickly lose weigt after joining SM. And how Ten or Yuta moved to another country and learnt a new language.

Do said several times that his mother taught him (by example) that nothing comes without effort and that it's important to work dilligently.

I think one of the hardest things is to believe in oneself. Do always did, so he dreamt big. You are right about the set of character traits that allowed him to become who he is. Few are born with them. There is a price though. There are people who are happy with everyday mandane life, small things, their families. People like Do would go nuts, they need to channel their energy in achieving things, going places.

I should say that Do wasn't super lucky. That would mean being born with an exeptional voice and song-writing skills to skip the idol phase and go straight to stardom as a soloist. He wasn't chosen into 127 at first, 127 didn't achieve the success as quickly as Exo, he couldn't sing live or perform on festivals with a band for a long time. He worked with what he had, took the longer path. The opportunities that present themselves to him now wouldn't be possible several years ago.

Speaking of his social skills. I've heard many times that building connections is the most important thing for success. Leave a good impression on people, they can call you back in a few years with an offer... heh.

[murky-tannin]

If I had to choose one holiday (of the ones i know, if not celebrate) to be worldwide and something every country celebrated, it would have to be halloween. It's literally just a good time. Only negatives being people who take things to far with jumpscares (esp online) and the amount of unstoppable horror movie ads.

You get to dress up however you want but it's fine if you don't. You can put up fun or scary decorations and it can be as over the top or as minimal as you want. Pumpkins! At least for places that have them! And if you do have access to pumpkins, pumpkin carving and the many meals you can make is so fun. Plus the stuff that happens around halloween. Haunted houses, corn mazes, costume parties with friends, horror stories, hayrides, or the most essential part: trick or treating.

Which is THE BEST as a kid. I was a bit unlucky and people started mistaking me as an adult in daily life by the time i was 12 so I had less luck in more then 1 piece of candy per house. Luckily those in my neighborhood know me but the further i got out the less luck in amount i got 😔some people also refuse to give candy to anyone they perceive as "too old" but fortunately I've only dealt with one of those refusals once in my life cause the area I live in rocks. And now I get to take the kids around myself and sometimes get some extra candy as their guardian!

It's the best day ever as a kid, even for someone like me who was an intensely fearful and anxious child. I remember seeing this incredible yard full of decorations and even moving animatronics (yeah it was wild) that I thought was so impressive as a 5 year old, but the gigantic moving spider over their gateway made me too nervous to go into the yard. I deliberated for multiple minutes because i wanted A: candy and B: to tell whoever owned the yard how amazing it was. The man noticed me from his window after some time, came out in his awesome bigfoot costume to the edge of the fence and personally delivered candy. Got a chance to thank him and praise his yard and even got some extra candy for trying to hype myself up to go in myself for so long.

And like,, that's so cool. Especially since where I live the community is very isolated and we don't have a lot of events or interactions.

Now as an adult I love halloween because. Well duh candy. And to give kids the same fun experience I would have each year, even if i don't have many decorations to put out. I tend to start the night out with handing out candy to kids before joining the kids i babysit while they go trick or treating. And seeing them get excited (while letting them run ahead a bit because I know how it feels to be stuck right by your parent/guardian's hip while trick or treating) is such a good feeling. Halloween is just a blast all around

[filcasual]

Thinking allowed…

It’s been a bad week this time. Some distractions mixed with bad habits resulted in no progress. It’s not even a writing block, but rather being irresponsible. Not a good thing, of course, but I’m not beating myself up about it. In a way it was inevitable and unavoidable this time considering the buildup of the past few months. Change doesn’t come easy even though it’s part of daily life. I know what I want to write, where the story currently is and will go, but I don’t have the… anything to actually do it at the moment. Oh well. Here’s something random. Oh, and I’m not proof-reading.

———

They had made it this far but the real danger was past them. Getting to the border crossing would be the hardest, especially after the capital disaster, but luck was on their side. Although they thought they had planned for all eventualities, what crushed their plans showed them their folly. The encounter would likely haunt them for the rest of their lives, and the courage broken would never be restored. Looking back, it was too good to be true.

The mission was simple; infiltrate the capital, gather the intel, obtain The Book and exfiltrate without being detected. All three of them were the best and had worked together before. Khail was a master thief. No, he was THE master thief. He could get into and out of any place, sometimes inconveniently so. He loved his shenanigans but damn if he wasn’t good at his craft. If you needed it, he would get it, and none would be the wiser. Anyone you wanted eliminated was as good as dead with no evidence. Almost nobody knew who he was or that he even existed except for in rumours and whispered stories.

Jaleen was the secret guild leader of Storfel, the gray mages. Most thought of her as a simple helper in the fortress nestled at the base of the mountains in the east. Far from it, she was more powerful than even the leader of the red mages. It was not only her talent but her knowledge and understanding. None could match her mastery and innovation. It was as if she were born of magic. Whether to cloud the weather, or people’s minds, she was in control. Unless she wanted one to see her face, their memory was a fog. If anyone crossed her, nothing would be left to bury.

Rolaf was the muscle power of the trio. His hidden talents a freakish strength and seemingly unlimited stamina. Brute force was the name of the game and his role when all else failed. Of unknown heritage, there was something almost animalistic in his demeanor, which only grew stronger when his anger slipped its bounds. The warsmith could learn and use any weapon with deadly efficiency, the myth of his skill with a fork was actually a true and bloody story.

With practiced efficiency, intelligent planning and meticulous preparation, the mission was a go. They slipped into the country where none would think possible. Rolaf used his talents to scale the cliff face from the rocky waters below while Jaleen kept the boat safe and steady, safe in a magical cocoon of peace. When Rolaf finally reached the top, Jaleen used his bow and perfect aim to shoot the rope up to him. Their teamwork was immaculate. As Jaleen lightened the weight of herself and the thief, they held onto the rope as Rolaf slowly pulled them up. The boat was also forcefully crashed against the rocks to let it sink, leaving no evidence behind.

Getting into the country was likely the easiest part. For the next week, the trio travelled across the lands on their way to the capital, pretending to be friends looking for work. Jaleen’s magic helped cloud other’s minds to either ignore them, or think them harmless. For some lucky reason, the journey was uneventful and they managed to go over and improve their plan once they reached their destination. It wasn’t perfect timing that resulted in the mission, rather they had waited over a year to enact the plan.

The Centennial Celebration was to commence in the upcoming days. The great nation of Vahnar had lasted through 100 years of peace thanks to the breakthroughs in technology and magic that baffled the neighboring countries. The cause of these advancements was kept secret for decades, until three years ago. This was why the eastern nation of Kourus quietly hired the trio; they learned the secret was The Book. There was no other name, no exact explanation, and no further details. Getting only that had taken almost a decade of careful subterfuge, abductions and interrogations.

The leaders of Kourus wanted The Book. They wanted answers. They wanted power. The trio were the means to that end and the compensation offered left all three of them, without a doubt, agreeing to the mission. So they planned and prepared over the last few years. Now that they had reached the capital, the real fun was to begin. Throngs of people helped them to pass through the city gates, security was overwhelmed but the general atmosphere was pleasant and festive. Jaleen used her magic subtlety to mask their presence while Khail distracted guards and allowed the three to get through locked doors as they made their way through the grand city to the castle estate.

Few setbacks were encountered. Even fewer guards, and it was if the trio were being guided by a hidden hand. Rolaf voiced his worry, “The guards are disappearing. This is too easy.”

“I know. It’s like we’re being watched but I can’t find from where,” agreed Khail.

Jaleen was silent but the men could tell she was focusing her abilities to detect everything around them. They slowed their pace and became more cautious when suddenly the guards stopped conveniently leaving their positions.

“Coincidence?” questioned Jaleen as they waited in position.

Khail shook his head slowly as he looked about to every nook and cranny, “As if someone heard us.”

“Then enough talk,” remarked Rolaf firmly as he gave the others a stern look.

They both agreed before they set off again at the next opportunity, communicating silently through practiced hand signals. It took them longer than planned to make it through the estate grounds, having to backtrack more than once when some areas were too highly guarded for them to get past. By this point they had been on edge for hours and a cold feeling of uncertainty began to creep into them as if to freeze their nerves. Unease clouded their thoughts by the time they made it to the final infiltration point into the west wing of the castle.

Jaleen risked breaking the silence, “I can’t detect anything strange. There are guards where expected inside and the court mages should be at the celebration as we speak. Barring an errant straggler, we’ll be at The Book in a few minutes and then need to get out right away.”

Seeing as their presence still seemed to remain undetected, Khail nodded, “Wings are ready. We get to the tower and you work your magic, Jaleen.”

“I’ll watch our backs,” said Rolaf quietly while scanning his surroundings, “you strap me up and I’ll follow close behind.”

They all nodded and as the others kept vigil into the now dark night, Khail expertly unlocked the door. Once inside the silence was deafening, all three stealthily making their way along a memorized route meant to avoid as many public areas as possible. They managed to make it through, having encountered only two servants celebrating privately and a guard being lax in his duties. They all died swiftly and silently, with Jaleen disposing of the evidence using the least amount of power she could to avoid being detected.

On the final leg of the main part of the mission, it took both Khail and Jaleen using their talents to break through the barriers and locks of the room holding The Book. Rolaf had already taken care of the guards thanks to Jaleen’s stealth magic keeping him from their view. The bodies were left there, no longer a worry as they would be leaving in a moment. Inside, they found a room filled with various trinkets, artifacts and books. All of it was likely worth more than the kingdom of Vahnar thrice over. One of the many reasons Vahnar pushed for this mission.

The Book sat there, at the side of the room, protected by another barrier and physical traps. It was a strange book, being only a single slab of what seemed like a metal-framed mirror with no pages. Of course they would keep it here rather than take it out for the ceremony. They had fake copies for security reasons. The last time The Book was shown publicly was during the funeral of the late King and at least three groups had attempted to steal it. One of the only reasons they failed was because they ended up fighting amongst themselves which allowed the royal guards to regroup and stop them all.

Khail took care of the traps carefully, though it took time, but the barrier was another matter and not something even Jaleen could handle. This was where the gift came in. Though magical, it required one’s innate strength and abilities to work. Rolaf took out what looked like a six-fingered glove and slipped it onto his right hand. It was covered in ornate patterns connecting thee jewels on the back of the hand, set in a triangle. It made Rolaf think of the thee of them.

Almost imperceptibly, the glove seemed to charge, sucking his strength and vitality into itself. This was the transformation of his physical prowess into the magical equivalent, meant to literally punch through the barrier around The Book. Ding as instructed, Rolaf concentrated and cocked his arm while Khail and Jaleen prepared for what was to come. When the fisted glove slammed into the barrier, it was as if a silent explosion occurred.

The force seemed to pass through them and everything else around, going through walls and shaking the floor, yet not a single sound was made but for the shards of the barrier tinkling like glass on the ground. This was part of the magic of the glove, which also began to fall off Rolaf’s hand like sand. No sound with the force of the explosion absorbed into the glove. Still, it wasn’t perfect and they knew that someone had noticed and they needed to escape.

Jaleen grabbed The Book and stowed it safely in her pack while Khail pulled out the wings in preparation. They all immediately dashed out of the room and down the hall to the appropriate stars leading up to the top of a tower. Silence was no longer a concern and Rolaf, leading the way, cut down anyone in the way, be they innocent staff or defending guards. This was an infiltration and escape, there was no time for even the thought of mercy.

At the top, Khail strapped wings onto Jaleen and himself. They were small wings that were magically tied to the wearer and allowed for a short, gliding flight. As Rolaf guarded the door, Khail strapped wings onto his back, with Jaleen already chanting the spell to empower and enhance the wings. As soon as she was done she shouted for them to go and leaped off the tower as the wings suddenly grew and spread, the other two following. From below it looked like either angels or demons had escaped the tower.

The flight had begun and all seemed well. They glided their way to the outskirts of the city, pushing to reach the tree line just past the city walls. That’s when all hell broke loose. At first there was a whistle that seemed to pass by, followed by another and then more. Arrows were being fired at them from below and above. The towers nearby had archers letting loose at them as well as ones from below.

This was planned, the guards knew the trio were there. Were it not for the darkness of the clouds partially obscuring the moon, they would be easy targets. The fire arrows were almost the nail in the coffin for the gliders. Now having to dodge being set upon, Jaleen did her best to shield them while Khail dropped smoke bombs to at least mask their presence from the archers below. Rolaf had never felt as useless as at that moment. Because of the sudden need to dodge in the air, they couldn’t make it to the tree line and would land in the city.

Although they were hit a few times, there were no serious wounds and after landing on the roof of an inn, Jaleen healed them all.

Rolaf took immediate control, “Looks like we need to fight our way out. They’re already on their way here but likely don’t know what we look like. It might do well to split up and meet at the southern gate.”

“No,” Jaleen said worriedly.

Khail was silent, scanning the darkness around.

“Why not?” Asked Rolaf.

“Something’s wrong. Very wrong. I can’t sense anything other than us. No people, no animals, no guards.”

Rolaf joined Khail in scanning their surroundings but could find nothing, “Fine. Together then.”

With that, they made their way down off the roof into an alley and started to silently move in the direction of the southern gate. Jaleen was right, there was nothing. Not even a rat crosse their path and it felt as if they were the only living things in the world. The sudden realization that he couldn’t even hear the sounds of the celebration made Khail’s blood run cold.

“It’s too silent. We’re in a barrier,” he remarked.

Rolaf didn’t reply and instead unsheathed his weapons. Jaleen downed a renewal drought in preparation and slipped a ring onto each of her middle fingers, a last resort to strengthen here abilities. Khail had his blades prepared to be used at his side and nocked an arrow into his bow for distance engagements. The oppressive silence was the loudest signal of all that they had fallen into a trap. Rolaf swore to himself he would find out how this happened and make someone suffer for it.

It was when the clouds finally broke and let the moon brighten the streets that the trio noticed the shapes. Strange, stick-like figures surrounded them on the rooftops and against walls, at least seven that they could see. They looked like stick insects but didn’t move. It was only the contrast of them against the brick and mortar walls that even made them noticeable. A moment before they had been invisible. They moved only when the trio didn’t look at them directly, like predators stalking their oblivious prey. But the trio were now aware.

Khail made the signal to run on his command and Rolaf signaled back he would take up the rear. They barely made it a two steps before the creatures’ eyes lit up and they attacked. When Rolaf moved to block the swing of the nearest creature’s hand, the sound of steel hitting steel ssurprised him. These creatures were made of metal and not flesh. Abominations moving about. None of them could understand how this was possible.

Jaleen managed to disable one of the creatures, the blazing heat of her flames melting its arms and legs until it fell to the ground. Although it could not attack, she was still shocked it kept moving. Rolaf switched from his blade to a heavy mace and released all his rage to crush two of the creatures’ heads with a flurry of bashes. Though having trouble at first, Khail found he was more nimble than their somewhat halting movements and managed to catch them off-guard, stabbing the backs of their necks in between layered plates of metal.

After the initial encounter, three remained and the trio felt heartened that they would make it out of there safely enough. While Jaleen and Rolaf took care of the remaining three creatures, Khail moved ahead to scout the area. Seeing nothing, he turned back to report to the other two making their way over but was suddenly slammed in the back, sending him flying forward to land as his partners’ feet. He could feel the blood soaking his shirt and running along his back.

Jaleen quickly cast her magic to close his wounds, yelling at him to get up as terror filled her eyes. Khail had never seen her like this. When he looked at Rolaf, the warsmith’s face was ashen as he started behind Khail at whatever had attacked. When Khail finally got up and turned around, a fear he had never felt before gripped him. The thee watched the attacked step further out of the shadows of the buildings into the pale moonlight.

A large, metallic being stepped forward. It was nothing like the stick creatures. This being looked more like a giant suit of armor covered in blades. Rather than a left hand, a large chain dangled from what seemed to be the wrist, holding a spiked ball at the end. The armored right hand held a wicked curved blade. All the typical weak points seemed to be protected by bladed long enough to prevent a human from getting in close to attack. It was as if a suit of armor was sent from hell and gained life to come back and end the world.

When the sockets of the creature’s face began to light up as bright, green flames, the trio moved as if on instinct. Khail started firing off arrows to distract it while Rolaf dropped his blades and took up his shield and mace, moving to cover and protect Jaleen. Though the nation of Kourus sent them on this mission and provided some helpful magics and their gear, the trio had always had a couple of tricks up their sleeves for emergencies. The devil armor in front of them certainly counted as an emergency.

Not wasting time, Jaleen downed another renewal drought and started preparing a scroll. This was a rare gift to have a spell imbued into a scroll. It took effort and talent to do so as not many could not infuse a spell into things without it dissipating quickly. Although they could set a fighter’s sword aflame, the effect lasted at most a few moments and strongly drained the mage the longer the effect lasted. To make something so permanent could even kill the caster. This was one of Jaleen’s secrets and why she was so powerful. She could do it without as much effort but only rarely.

The scroll she was preparing began to glow and that same light reached out from the parchment into her eyes. Khail was knocked back twice while trying to avoid the attacks of the devil armor. The thing was faster than any of them expected and even Rolaf was being pushed back, having suffered a deep cut at his side when the armor’s wrist suddenly spun mid-swing, causing the curved blade to sneak past the shield. Things were going badly and time was running out. Khail pushed past his pain and managed to impale an arrow into one of the eyes of the armor, seeming to be the only weak point.

As the devil armor knocked the arrow out of its own eye, it slowly lit up again. Hope was draining from them as much as their blood as they protected Jaleen.

“Any time now,” coughed Rolaf, the searing pain in his side letting him know he likely had broken ribs.

Khail tossed the remainder of his smoke bombs to obstructs the armor’s view and give Jaleen more time. As the trio regrouped, the armor swung its ball and chain around to attempt to blow away the smoke. Soon enough it worked and it spotted the trio at the other side of the square they had ended up in, and started moving towards them. It didn’t seem to realize what had happened to Jaleen but when it noticed her fiercely glowing eyes, it was too late.

Jaleen released all the stored energy from her eyes. The scroll had been used to store her most powerful spell blast but rather than storing only one, she tired endlessly to store five. Two beams of intense heat and energy fired like spears into the devil armor, pushing it back. Khail kept firing arrows until he ran out, managing to pin the chain on the left hand to a joint on the leg. Rolaf stood behind Jaleen, holding her head firmly so it was pointed at the enemy, pushing his strength to the limits to prevent her from recoiling back and snapping her neck.

It seemed fate was on their side as the spears of energy caused the armor’s chest to glow red hot and start to melt. Seeing this, Jaleen shouted, “The head!”

Rolaf helped her steer the spears to the head of the devil armor as the melted portions of the chest left it nearly immobile. The power of the scroll was running out as the spears began to lessen in intensity but it was enough as by the time the power was spent, the head was nothing more than a glowing pile of metal dripping down the armor’s body. They were all sweating and exhausted from the effort, knowing they had to escape but unsure if they had anything left in them.

Only the sound of cooling metal could and their panting breaths could be heard when Khail suggested they move. Jaleen looked at Rolaf who looked at Khail and then back to her, shaking his head. He knew his ribs were broken and he couldn’t run. Not in that state. Khail was out of arrows and Jaleen was out of energy. Even a renewal drought wouldn’t give her the power to heal him in the slightest. He tilted his head to the southern gate, “Go.”

Khail shook his head and smiled, “I don’t think so, brother,” and took out a scroll from his pack.

Jaleen shouted in shock, “What!? Where did you get that?”

“Nicked it from our benefactors after you traded it to them for that other one. I figured both would be handy. Don’t you?” smiled Khail mischievously.

“What are you two on about, don’t waste time, get out of here!” his side sent a spike of pain when he tried to shout at them.

Jaleen grabbed the scroll and helped him calm down, “It’s the teleport scroll. We’re all getting out of here.”

The three noticed that sounds began to return from around them, the barrier seeming to be dissipating. With a smile, Rolaf nodded for Jaleen to get them out of there. She finished off her last renewal drought to be able to use the scroll and immediately used it. The three, holding each other for support, disappeared from the midst of destroyed metal creatures and the devil armor. It was only a moment for them when they suddenly appeared at the edge of a forest.

Checking the stars and the direction of the slowly rising sun to the east, Khail noted where they were and a pained sigh of relief escaped Rolaf’s mouth. They were closer to the border than planned which means they could take time to rest and heal up their wounds enough to be able to travel to the border and cross back into Kourus. Thankfully they couldn’t be followed due to the teleportation being from a scroll and not tied directly to a caster that could be sniffed out by a skilled mage.

They walked enough away only to find a suitable camping ground and set up camp to rest for some time. There wasn’t much discussion, the metal creatures and devil armor had shook them to their core. They stayed only long enough to heal Roluf’s broken ribs so he could travel normally. All their supplies had nearly run out and they desperately needed to get to their rendezvous point across the border. It took them another day to get near the border and their moods had lifted but they were still cautious, knowing this was the time to be the most cautious.

As the trio exited the forest and neared the border where they initially entered, they saw the empty cliff side and finally decided to relax. The mission had been a success and they had The Book. Kourus would reward them handsomely and they could even retire. After that last encounter, that would likely be the best idea. Jaleen, on her last bits of energy, pulled out the shrunken boat they would use to cross back and prepared to enlarge it. She would have just enough to keep up a barrier around the rocks below.

Nearing the cliff side, Rolaf slowed and then stopped, his eyes widening.

Khail also stopped and turned, “What is it?” before also suddenly realizing.

Jaleen was confused and about to speak when she noticed there was no sound. Not even the waves crashing on the rocks below. Tingles shot down her spine and the dread from the capital consumed her. The three saw the devil armors exit the forest, six of them with varying blades and weapons. When Rolaf turned around, about to say something, he stopped and fell to his knees. When Khail and Jaleen turned back to the cliff side, they saw a swarm metal stick creatures climbing up from the edge of the cliff and moving toward them.

Khail shouted at Jaleen to run and she moved. Rolaf was frozen on his knees, lost in his defeat while Khail moved to the creatures to try to distracted them enough to allow Jaleen to get away. The arrow that pierced her ankle ended her escape immediately and in the next moment Khail felt intense pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a large spear from one of the armors, thicker than his thigh, sticking out of his chest. The creatures were upon Jaleen almost right away and Khail was thankful her screams stopped quickly as he looked away.

When he looked back towards Rolaf, his body lay on the ground, headless. That had rolled a few meters away as one of the devil armors stood behind with a bloodied blade. To Khail, the world had ended and they were being invaded by demons. That was the last thought before it all went dark.

[bllsbailey]

Presidents Day Is a Fraud!

Today is Presidents Day. It shouldn’t be.

It’s yet another example of Washington politicians screwing around with important, organic commemorations that celebrate key national figures in our country’s history for superficial contemporary priorities.

Most recently, in 1968 a Democrat Senate, a Democrat House, and a Democrat president eliminated the national celebration of George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 22. The first president was dead, so he couldn’t object.  

Pretty much everyone knows by now that Democrats think they can declare people’s genders simply by recognizing them with signs and executive orders. As he has with many silly things already, President Trump officially eliminated any confusion by officially declaring our government now recognizes only the two biological sexes, male and female.

I’ve grown increasingly suspicious over the years that this persistent federal holiday re-engineering by Democrats was the precursor of DEI. They seem to believe government can order or do anything according to their transient social-engineering bucket lists.

You know, that nothing American is exceptional; it simply can’t be, you understand. That no one is special above others, not even if they work extra for it. Just by being alive, we’re all contributing equally, and equally mediocre is good enough. Anyone who's ever held a real job knows not all work equally hard.

The Declaration of Independence declares everyone is born equal and that everyone has certain inalienable rights, including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Everyone can chase their own happiness. Go for it! But you get no guaranteed outcomes, not even plastic trophies from China just for showing up.

Our government even got away with changing the birth dates of historical figures, which tarnishes the long-lived tradition of celebrating heroes. It dumps everyone into an amorphous blah.

Without George Washington there would be no United States. He was the key element in a magical alignment of people, events, places, and history that spawned an exceptional, enduring experiment in self-governance that will mark its own 250th birthday next year.

Washington had no children, but he became the father of a new country. He organized, held together, inspired, and commanded a ragtag army in the Revolutionary War to defeat the world’s most powerful military. 

And then to get things started right, he reluctantly served two terms by acclamation as the first commander in chief, setting important norms and standards for that office. No. 1 also wisely kept the new country out of foreign entanglements.

News Flash! George Washington was not born today, on Feb. 17. No president was. He was born on Feb. 22, 1732, in Virginia just in time for his historical calling. He reportedly paid little attention to his birthday. No bouncy tent, no clowns and balloon tricks.

But in 1789, a grateful new nation began celebrating Feb. 22 as a government holiday in Washington, along with July 4th. In 1879, that became the official national holiday.

After that date millions of schoolchildren, including me, from scores of generations, including mine, got the day off after class projects learning about his life, accomplishments, crossing the Delaware River, favorite food (bread in warm milk), powdered white wigs, and inability to tell a lie.

If Feb. 22 came on a weekend, tough luck for no classes, but we still did the learning beforehand. And reminded our parents of the important day at dinner that evening.

The same was true for No. 16, Abraham Lincoln, who was born on Feb. 12, 1809, the first president born outside the 13 original colonies (Ky).

Lincoln had little school learning growing up in Indiana and Illinois. But he had an abundance of common sense, worked hard on the home farm, was self-educated, and walked many country miles to return a library book. Only recently did I learn he was an accomplished amateur wrestler in the militia and at county fairs.

I remember one crayoned diorama in seventh grade about his life that covered three whole blackboards, which were actually black in those days. 

We did not learn much about the president’s four sons. I suspect because three of them died as children. That and the Civil War would explain their father’s sad face shortly before his murder in 1865 (on the right above).

I remember reading out loud with classmates the 272 words of the Gettysburg Address(I had to look up what "four score" was)and thinking there must have been more to the speech for something so famous.

As someone who’s written many speeches, mainly for others, I shall forever marvel at the eloquence and economy of the words Lincoln himself wrote.

For many decades then, we separately honored the two greatest presidents -- the one who made the country and the one who kept it a country.

That all seemed appropriate and provided regular reasons like the Pledge of Allegiance each morning to think about things beyond the school room that were important as citizens.

But that all ended in 1968. 

That’s when Congress turned the third Monday in February into Presidents Day. 

Who cares about actual history if you can wrangle another three-day weekend by ignoring it.

The invention of "Presidents Day" from whole cloth has sapped most of the meaning from its observance. Smartly, a few states, mainly Midwestern, still mark Feb. 12.

Now, more than ever, Americans bitterly divided over passing modern issues could use genuine and enduring historic role models to share beliefs in and unite around, beyond just mega-rich pro athletes or celebrities who change spouses like jewelry.

Plus, let’s be honest. In the real world, every player does not deserve a trophy and every president does not deserve a holiday. Some U.S. presidents were good, others adequate. And some were real turkeys. 

So, the historic days and teaching tools marking our two greatest leaders in 249 years were perversely turned into a time for stores to combat dreary winter sales by providing incredible deals on mattresses and pillows.

That’s not worth a holiday either.

Memorial Day originally was called Decoration Day. That’s because even before the Civil War ended, beginning in the South and moving North, mothers on both sides began decorating the graves of the fallen from both sides. President Lincoln proclaimed that annual honor as May 30, which would be a Friday this year.

Once again, in 1968 the urge to change the news from the Vietnam War infected Congress. Members noticed we’ve had numerous wars since the 1860s. So, Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day to honor all the fallen. That’s fine.

But in reality, that was simply cover for changing the date to the last Monday in May because -- you guessed it -- three-day weekend. This year a May 30th Memorial Day would fall on a Friday; instead, it’s Monday the 26th.

It would be hard to change the date of Armistice Day. That was when World War I ended at precisely 11 a.m. on Nov. 11th in 1918. It was supposed to be the war to end all wars. 

It wasn’t. 

An estimated nine million troops died in that conflict, seven million civilians, and eight million horses, mules, and donkeys. The biggest killer was artillery fire, second was poison gas; 2,738 men made it through the war only to die during the last morning’s unnecessary bombardments.

Britain’s Imperial War Museum has constructed a haunting sound-ranging audio recording of the last minute of fighting from the American front on the Moselle River, using primitive battlefield microphones deployed to trace artillery fire.

Since it was not the last war, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans’ Day.

Thanksgiving is another holiday government officials have tinkered with. The Pilgrims had the first Thanksgiving the fall of 1621, sometime between Sept. 21 and Nov. 9. Three days of eating and drinking, so exact memories after were a little foggy.

President Lincoln set Thanksgiving Day nationally as the last Thursday in November, which is where it stood for decades. 

Then in 1931, another Democrat, President Franklin Roosevelt, changed it to the third Thursday. He felt the need to lengthen the holiday-shopping season.

Eight years later, Congress restored the holiday to Lincoln’s choice.

[wildcardagain]

As someone who lived there for half my life i had a very old memory of seeing some kazakh kids play some sort of game w sheep knee bones that this post popped back into my memory

So i decided to do to look deeper into this

Asyk / Assyk [ɑˈsəq] ("eh sick") is a astragalus of the ankle of a sheep or goat that is used for many different things.

The astragalus referred to as here has several names between nomads nations but i will be to it's kazakh name bc i love my homecountry even if i dont know many things about it

They are used for playing traditional different games and are seemed to be the most popular in Central Asia and might just be the 1st dices that humans ever thrown!

They are over 80 different games that could be played with them that i honestly couldn't do justice by explaining them myself so i found this amazing article that explains it better than i ever could

Assyk also known to be one of the popular sports to be played during Naadam [ˈnaːdəm] which is a a traditional festival celebrated in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and Tuva.

Assyk also also known to be used in fortune reading!

On top of it they are exchanged by Mongolians as tokens of friendship amongst each other and can be kept in little pouches!

Also wolves Assyk's seemed to be used as good luck charms amongst Mongolians! Although calcaneus is used instead of astragalus part of the ankle.

All of what i've mentioned seems to be used beyond the countries that i've mentioned so far as well! Sadly it was difficult to find more information about it online, but here's some of the miscellaneous stuff i've found out about them while researching!

Someone an ancient forum where a guy discusses how he made several Assyks for himself and some additional information i couldn't find anywhere else so treat it with a grain of salt.

There is also this photo of people playing Assyk game on ice on the website that mentions that this game of it was shot during EL international ice shagai competition that i couldn't find any info about online or managed to reverse image search to do the same

god forbid 5000 year old girls do anything