#and accessibility is better for everyone

[itsatorchwoodthing]

90% of the time im just pretending i understand what aliens say in big finish audios, and 50% of the time i just have no clue what’s going on - man it’s hard out there for non-native speakers

[technically-human]

An honor

[scrixels]

i made a zine! all about how to make a lil guy™️!! with a fun poster on the reverse!

if you feel inspired: i would *love* to see any lil guys! here is one I made to test my instructions:

[youngchronicpain]

It is okay to need pain medication to function with your chronic pain. It is okay. I promise. I know everywhere you turn pain medication is demonized. I know that it is scary to talk about. It is okay to be grateful that you have access to pain medication. Pain meds have greatly improved my quality of life and I wouldn't be able to live my life outside of my bed without them. And that's okay!!!

[sleepyorchidmonster]

Soo, remember in Glorious Masquerade, when Malleus came up with the story that the cause of the Crimson Lotus was unknown, and Rollo was actually trying to save everyone alongside the NRC students?

What if that's another bit of foreshadowing for the end of Book 7?

Briar Valley is in a really precarious position now, still recovering from the Silver Owls, with the Senate mostly taking over while Maleficia grieves, so Malleus overblotting is just another blow to the fae, even if students like Leona, Kalim, Vil and Idia manage to advocate on his behalf.

So why not spin the tale of how there was an unnamed threat on the island that was so Dire (pun intended for Crowley) and all-encompassing that Malleus had to go all out?

To avoid collateral damage and prevent the issue from reaching the rest of the globe, he had no choice but to use his UM to cover the whole island, keeping everyone safe in a peaceful slumber while the threat was dealt with. Luckily, STYX coordinated efforts with the rest of Briar Valley and they managed to subdue the threat both inside and outside the barrier, and everyone is safe now!

That way, the world can see Malleus not as an uncontrollable monster, but as a fierce protector who might go a bit overboard, but means well (also he's a dragon and his remaining family was on the island, so his protectiveness is understandable). Therefore, it's best to befriend the fae and Briar Valley than make enemies out of them!

The only problem is the rest of the student body and staff that saw the overblot at Lillia's farewell party, but I'm pretty sure STYX's Lethe program is back on to deal with the mobs, while the rest of the cast can be sworn to secrecy in exchange for having Malleus owe them a favour (they can use Azul's UM for the NDA).

As for the problem, NRC has been dealing with overblots at least once a month, not to mention the STYX invasion, and the Phantom Dwarves back in the mines, and how Book 7 might introduce the true mastermind and that's what we have to deal with in Book 8... They just have to pick ONE of the options above.

As a sidenote, having Sunset Savanna become Briar Valley's fiercest allies because Leona told his brother that Malleus is his friend would be so funny. Falena sees his depressed brother going to the trouble of making a whole Power Point presentation to convince the council on the benefits of allying to Briar Valley, all to save a school friend, and just decides that Malleus Draconia will have his unending support. Kifaji too.

(Leona has been ignored and belittled so many times that he prepared for the worst and made a whole slide presentation in hopes of defending his point well enough. Shoud've just led with "Malleus Draconia is a friend of mine who just went through a very traumatic experience and I want to help him" Kifaji and Falena would accept in a heartbeat).

BONUS:

Leona: *Practicing his Power Point presentation at 2AM*

Cheka: Unca, what are you doing in the middle of the night?

Leona: I'm just practicing, no one (my dormmates aside) ever likes my ideas and I have to make sure this works...

Cheka: Why?

Leona: Well you see... [starts explaining the inportance of supporting Briar Valley at theur moment of need and the benefits an alliance may bring to the table] ... also the Lizard would love if-

Cheka: Why do you keep calling Malleus Draconia "Lizard"? Is he your friend? Do you want to help him?

Leona, sighing: Yeah kiddo, he is my friend. He's been going though some tough times, almost lost his father and brother, and as much as we butt heads, well, no one deserves that...

Cheka: So why don't you just say that he's your friend and you wanna help him instead of talking about those "tweatwies"?

Leona: First of all, it's "treaties", and second, well, Briar Valley is in trouble, and helping them might get us in trouble too. Also I'm just the accursed second prince, people never listen to me, I need to back up my proposal with facts.

*random noise that sounds like a mix between a growl and a sob (Falena and Kifaji are eavesdropping lol)*

Leona: What's that?!

Cheka, panicking: Probably the wind....

*THE NEXT DAY*

Leona, finishing the presentation: And that's my proposal, any questions?

Random councilman: Well I-

Kijaji, smiling menacingly: I think it's a splendid idea, Leona. Briar Valley has been a longtime friend of ours, so it's only right that we help them in their time of need.

Falena, also smiling menacingly: Agreed! I'm so proud of you, my brother!

Leona: Wait, seriously!?

Falena's wife, smiling and sharpening a knife while subtly observing the other councilmen, marking targets: Of course, Leona! You have a sharp mind and this is a good plan. Briar Valley will have Sunset Savanna's full support for the coming criais, isn't that right, councillors?

Other councillors: Yes Ma'am!! Don't kill us pls

[governmentmandatedryujinstan420]

I FORGOT TO THROW OUT AFTER THE EPISODE RELEASED NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[iidsch]

also more codelyokoposting but I really really dig XANA as a villain. It's not a person with a complex background that led them down the path of evil, it's not a morally grey character you sympathize with but condemn. It's a powerful AI capable of controlling almost anything in the real world. It doesn't have a face or a body, we only know it for its symbol and for the monsters it controls in the virtual world. It's willing not just to kill people through various methods (poisoning, drowning, car crash, fucking space lasers too?) but also Earth as a whole (it tried to blow up a NUCLEAR PLANT and crash two trains with toxic chemicals in them). And we don't even know why it does this, at least not for now. It may not even have a particular reason, just some sort of virus or malware in the form of an AI that seeks nothing but destruction without any goals in mind. This "pure evil" characteristic doesn't come off as childish, like in some children cartoons, it's just kind of scary to think that such an incomprehensible and destructive force exists, almost feels like a natural disaster

[porschesbabydaddy]

Tawan truly is the most relatable character in KinnPorsche, bc who among us wouldn’t get at least a little penis delirious over Vegas?

[bxdtime-ceai]

representation is great but i wish there were more aro/ace/aroace characters who aren't teenagers. i want to see young, middle aged and older adults discover/talk about their aro/ace/aroace identities. there is so much variation! so many stories to tell! but i dont think we can get this kind of representation without addressing the entertainment industry's obsession with youth

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

Misconceptions my family/friends about the food bank at my school:

- "Going to the food bank takes food from other people". The more people go, the more they can demonstrate a need in the student population and apply for more funding.

- "I can afford basic staple groceries, so I wouldn't benefit". The food bank has a variety of food items, including a lot of "treats" and foods you wouldn't expect to see. Even if you can buy what you need to get through the week, having some seasonings, produce, meat, shelf staples, etc. can still go a long way. Coffee, tea, and cocoa packets can make life a lot nicer. And the local grocery stores donate lots of just-past-sell-by baked goods, so if you like donuts with your coffee or lemon cake to brighten your afternoon, the food bank can help you out.

- "Don't they pick out the food for you? I don't want someone else deciding what I eat." The food bank here is like a much smaller grocery store; you're given bags and you fill them with what you need. Even someone like me, who has a lot of dietary restrictions, can benefit.

- "I can afford food, so I don't need anything. Im just struggling to buy other things, like school supplies" The food bank here has a separate care pantry. I've gotten hygiene items (pads, tampons, shampoo/conditioner/body wash, etc), kitchen items (plastic cups, ziplocs, trash bags, etc), toilet paper, and even sexual health items (sex health kits including lube, condoms, sometimes dental dams) from the care pantry. At the start of the semester, they had a back to school kit which included a notebook, a folder, a pen, and a highlighter. They have ESL books for international students. I've gotten gloves and socks from them. One time, I saw three pairs of shoes.

"So you can just take as much as you want?" No. Most food items are limited. All care items are limited, except for sex health kits and period products. The more popular items are, the more likely they are to be limited, bc they run out faster. It's a great day when the food bank gets a large donation of some type of produce like apples or grapefruit, bc that's the one time produce isn't super restricted. The food bank is really good for getting a little bit of a lot of things, not stocking up in bulk.

"So I can just walk in the door and get free stuff?" No. I was surprised how many hoops I had to jump through. I had to present my student ID three times to get to the food, as well as complete a detailed form. I had to give my full name, my employment status, how many people were in my household, my student status, my age, and sign up for a specific day to visit the food bank. That form also included two waivers, which absolve the school and donors of any responsibility for giving you spoiled food.

- "The food bank is accessible to everyone on campus". No. The food bank is frustratingly inaccessible. It's located all the way to the north end of campus, as far as possible from all of the dorms. There are two parking spaces; every other space within a quarter mile is metered. The food bank is open for two hours a day, but the hours are different for every day of the week, and they change every semester. The food bank entrance is down a flight of stairs, and there's no clear alternate entrance for people who can't use stairs safely. The first checkpoint to present your ID and proof of form completion is outside, and the building only lets in about ten students at a time; in the winter, this means standing outside in the bitter cold for up to an hour. Many of these students don't have closed toed shoes, gloves, or other cold weather gear. Student IDs can be physical cards, but the form and waivers can only be completed online; if your smartphone dies, you're fucked. The form itself is difficult to navigate to and only in English, despite a disproportionate amount of the students using the food bank speaking English as a second (or third or fourth) language. Worst of all, a lot of these issues aren't clear to students until they try to go.

- "Only the most desperate students use the foodbank; it's shameful/embarrassing to go there". 1 in 3 students use this food bank. Every time I've mentioned going to the food bank in conversation, nobody has reacted negatively. At most, they might ask me how to go there themselves. Even with all the hoops, the food bank massively improves my quality of life; I would keep going even if I were still employed. Do you know how much money I've saved on toilet paper and pads? On shampoo? On dish soap? I'm able to access free lube discreetly, which makes using tampons possible for me. I can get foods I don't strictly *need*, but make eating a joy again. I can get sparkling water, juice boxes, cocoa packets, and coffee. I got bags of apples and an orange this fall and made the best fucking cider in the world for no money at all. I get oil and butter and salt and pepper and eggs and bread. Yeah, they have the cheapest version of everything, and I hve to check the bread loaves for mold. It's still worth it. It's Free Food And Care Items.

[pyrosomatic-metamorphosis]

tbh i think that even unwinnable fights should be winnable. some of the BEST fights i've ever run as a dm were ones i built kill the players (in a fun way. I had some cutscenes prepped so even the loss would be a different flavour of win)- but then they were clever bastards and managed to either win the fights or pull themselves out of trouble. I think it's perfectly fine to plan for a fight that players aren't supposed to win, but you need to let them. if they can't win, they can't lose, and the meaning of that encounter is diminished. do that too many times, and they stop trusting you to give them roleplay prompts and start expecting to sit there waiting while you drive the story for them.

but if they can win... if there is always the chance to win, no matter how impossible the odds, then they ALWAYS have hope. they always get invested. they feel the big emotions of success or the big emotions of failure, and you fucking Win as a dm/roleplay prompter/lead bastard.

[lunarharp]

fwee top 5 things i had fun with this year :-)

[maelancoli]

everyone is more capable of reading books and academia they’re intimidated by than they think they are. it’s like working out a muscle. it takes a little practice but anyone can increase the limits of their reading retention, vocabulary and imagination. it’s an effort worth pursuing and a skill to be coveted as society grows more and more anti intellectual. and i think pursuing more challenging materials actually enriches and adds more value to your lighter reading as well

[simder-talia-blog]

just a friendly reminder that the "reasonable amount of time" for CC early access is and always has been 2-3 weeks

and here is a post on how to report people abusing the community to EA

Getting really sick of the snarky replies when asking about it too. And the "it takes me a long time" okay, well then go sell your models on a 3d model site. All creators spend time. Your time is not worth more than everyone else's. Making a post about it due to how condescending & disingenuous bostyny's replies to me were, to a simple question, and the fact that she lied about something we can easily confirm by checking the dates on her posts.

and this is her actual early access period, it is not "one month":

Furthermore, I don't know if it was mis-worded or something, but it does not take a month to make one package file.

[saraminia]

I just feel that we as a fandom moved on too fast from these pictures...

[eyesoforpheus]

(insert every necessary disclaimer about ability and access and diet culture being bad) but it really is so freeing to find a way to stay active that is fun and motivating for you. i do jazz and modern dance. i do interval cardio to video game music and pretend i'm training for battle. i go on daily (chronic pain/illness permitting) 2+ mile walks around my city listening to audiobooks. i find a 20-30 video to watch and spend that time lifting weights while sitting. i stretch while i'm making breakfast and do squats while i'm cooking dinner.

gym bros and elitists are going to tell you that you have to maximize your fitness into this grueling daily 5 am regiment. it doesn't have to be this way! exercise doesn't have to be miserable. staying active doesn't have to be (and shouldn't be) an exercise in shame around weight or ability. it can be fun! it can be low impact! it can be casual! i'm not going to lie and say it's easy, especially if you've been alienated by fitness culture, but it can feel good.