#and having the same core values even if you express them in different and better ways now

[bbgatile]

we were meant for more than darkness

[onepiece-polls]

One Piece Shipping War - Round 1 Side B

Propaganda under the cut.

Propaganda for Smoker x Law:

Their interactions on punk hazard are just hhhhnnnggghhhh. First they fight against each other and then they have to team up! The sexual tension is through the roof 👀 and they fight so well together too 👀 also law LITERALLY stole smoker's heart?? Sorry for being incoherent that's just what they do to me

I read it in a fic and it was compelling also it would be cool if they both knew rocinante

Law literally stole Smoker’s heart during the Punk Hazard Arc - they saved each other during the Punk Hazard Arc even if they were enemies - classic “Enemies to lovers” energy - perfect matching personalities (INTP x INTJ) - the thrill of a forbidden love between a marine and a pirate.

They have. SUCH a divorcee dynamic listen. - Law literally stole Smoker’s heart in the Punk Hazard arc. - Even though they were enemies, Smoker fought against Vergo and stole Law’s heart to give it back to him, hurting himself A LOT. - at the same time, Law saved Smoker from Vergo and gave Smoker’s heart back even if he didn’t have to. - the way Law smiles when fighting against him and getting on Smoker’s nerves (a lot of tension here hehe). - Smoker’s a marine and Law a pirate, what’s better than a forbidden relationship? - their personalities match perfectly (INTJ and INTP).

SUCH a divorcee dynamic. - we all love a forbidden romance between marine and pirate - the way they interact with each other on Punk Hazard is at the same time easy but full of tension, they clearly have some familiarity w each other - ...and then later they manage to work together seamlessly despite those tensions and differences, and Smoker trusts Law to pick up the slack where he can't. And Law DOES follow through - after the battle Law TELLS Smoker what he's planning next - yeah it's all purposeful for his plans but it's such a clear and obvious manipulation. And yet Smoker does exactly that. - the guy sent to Dressrosa is Issho (which ok Sakazuki says he sent BUT what a funny coincidence still that it's the one guy who's most likely to help Law rather than hinder hmmmm) - when Doffy shows up after Law&co have left and demands to know things Smoker just straight up stonewalls him and lies to his face, with the full knowledge that it may cost him his life. Which yeah, Smoker hates pirates, but he doesn't actually have any reason to do that - if he really didn't care he wouldn't mind siccing the two warlords on each other and watching them destroy themselves so he at the very least must agree with Law if not outright want to help him - delicious narrative parallels! Bc fundamentally they're two sides of the same coin: both are absolutely driven by their personal moral codes and care DEEPLY about people and things. Law may be driven largely by more self-centered goals and focus his good on the smaller circle he chooses to surround himself with, while Smoker is drawn to more lofty pursuits of greater good and helping even those he will never meet or even know of, but at the core they share very similar ideals and values - and ykno. Law LITERALLY punches Smoker's heart out of his chest - also Law is a scrawny-ass twink and you cannot tell me he doesn't have a thing for buff dilfs who could bench press double his weight.

Propaganda for Doflamingo x Law:

Okay this one's fucked up, i know, but i can't help but feel like doffy wants law for more than just him being his corazon (and for his powers). If things had gone just SLIGHTLY differently in the past, law would've probably been manipulated into being his right-hand man (and maybe more)

*shoots you as an expression of love*

[marshmallowprotection]

Can I request Saeyoung and SE Saeran with an MC who is really good at telling twins apart?

Saeyoung isn't that surprised you can tell the difference between them. You're just that kind of person. Honestly, it's not that hard to tell the two of them apart. It's not like his brother is going to go out of the way to pretend to be him.

They just don't have the same energy levels. Saeran isn't going to put on a front and pretend to be Saeyoung, and Saeyoung, even as a joke of some kind, would never be able to match the dry expression on his brother's safe. It's sweet that you can remind them that you see them as individuals rather than a set.

It certainly helps your relationship with your brother-in-law to make that point because this relationship they have is on uneasy ground, and making sure there's a boundary line between the twins isn't a bad thing. It might make Saeyoung pout, if only because he likes the idea of them being in harmony like that, you are me and I am you.

It's the motto that helped them survive.

That has been tainted, unfortunately, so helping establish that line isn't a bad thing under the context of showing that you value them as individuals. It's more to your brother-in-law's benefit than anything else. Saeran is bound to be more partial to someone who's willing to understand that he wants to be his own person, and he doesn't want to be attached to his brother at the hip.

Sure, he's learning how to live again with his brother, but he doesn't need to be reminded of that fact consistently. He doesn't want to be reminded of it, actually. Remember, he's coming out of two and a half years of brainwashing. He spent all that time hating his brother. He can't stop doing that on instinct. He needs time and you establishing this boundary between them is helpful to his recovery. Doing this is a betterment for his health.

Even in the case of a Saeran MC here, there is nothing but a benefit to acknowledging that the boys don't have to feel like they're a part of a set. Yes, they're twins, but as much as it is a core of their identity and survival, it's important to let them establish separate identities. It is crucial for them at this point in their lives.

Break apart Saeyoung's need to parent his brother, help Saeran establish that he can take care of himself on his own, and let them get a feel for the world on days where they want to try something alone.

[naffeclipse]

So, I was going through the Bounty hunter Eclipse tag because I am very normal about him as we all know, and rereading the alternative reveal of y/n's past, I was wondering how that conversation with him goes? You mentioned it's not pretty, but I imagine by this point Eclipse has shown himself worthy enough of the vigilante's (maybe not complete but most of their) trust, because in this timeline he does eventually earn a chain as a gift as well!

On one hand, the vigilante being furious is a given, because it made them panic pretty bad and it wasn't his secret to tell, as much as it wasn't actually a secret. On the other hand it obviously brings to light something that Eclipse is obviously struggling with as well. Clearly it's not the exact same, as he actually enjoys the violence and still craves power, but he is trying to make sure to not cross a certain line to not comlpletely lose what he values even above power: his brothers. In contrast, y/n's motivation is clearly a sense of justice and a desire to make up for the harm they caused, with keeping the detectives coming as a priority shortly after too.

There's lots to discuss on that front! Like y/n exclaiming how it's clear they can't trust him after all, and they knew it (despite that anger towards him probably being in part from a sense of betrayal), and also y/n demanding to know how exactly he knew about that. Or Eclipse asking why it's so different with them? Why are y/n's actions so much more forgivable to his brothers, when arguably they did much worse than him, and they still are on the other side of the law when although violent and admittedly a bit sadistic, he is technically doing things legally (Though I'm sure he toes or crosses the line frequently XD). Which is why he brought it up in the first place in the original argument. Their work is still rather similar even! Because it's not that y/n stopped slaughtering people, as they are capable of gunning down entire gangs almost single handedly. They just now do so with the objective of bettering the city instead of following the lead of the man that would have it rot to its core. Y/n might get even more heated about that because unlike Eclipse, they didn't even have an illusion of a choice. For years it was that or death. (Though they know there were some very mixed feelings about it, with how much anger they used to harbor and that might get mentioned too).

I can see that conversation going south very quickly between them, before it gets better. Maybe they sort of reach an understanding right then, or maybe they end on a sour note and have to rebuild what they had managed from the start? I feel like in this version Eclipse has more ground to claim similarities in their situations, because their ARE some very clear ones between the both of them even in the main SJ (though we know how blind Mafia Boss Eclipse was to the very crucial differences), and that would be an uncomfortable thing to have to confront for y/n I think. Even through their very justified anger towards Eclipse.

Oh and a little off topic, but I also wanted to ask! You mention that y/n does end up stealing one of Eclipse's bells to tie with the others (which I've already expressed how much I love that as symbolism heh X3) but I was curious as to what does he do with those or where he keeps them? I somehow don't see him as the type to wear them, and in main SJ he uses it as a symbol of who is not to be messed with by his gang (or rather who he considers his property which sends the same message). But as a Bounty Hunter, does he keep the ribbons tucked away in a drawer in a safehouse of his (or wherever he lives)? Or would he keep them on his person in a pocket or something as a way to keep his brothers in mind, maybe to remind himself not to go too far again lest he lose them? I'm very curious when and how exactly vigilante manages to snatch one of those haha

This got so much longer than I was expecting but what else is new XD Just goes to show how much I love the way you built these characters heh <3

Oh yesss! I have been mulling this ask over and over in my brain for a few days now, and oh, I'm so excited to get into it!

The conversation is anything but civil. Y/N is whirling from the panic and fear of almost losing their two favorite detectives and devastated by this twisted reveal of their past without their consent. Eclipse is still frustrated and bitter over the fact that his brothers still welcome Y/N with open arms.

That goes as well as you might expect, dissolving into violence and shouting. Before Y/N can run away from him, again, Eclipse catches them in his arms as they struggle to kick and punch but can't really do much but squirm and curse at him. He explains in quick, growling words that he doesn't understand. It's driving him mad that Sunny and Moonie cherish them while his brothers only look at him like a monster. It slowly stalls Y/N's struggle, but not their aching heart.

Y/N doesn't understand either. Not the detectives love for them, and not how Eclipse could give up their past so easily. Y/N is sharp and cruel when they congratulate Eclipse—he fooled them. Round of applause for him. They'll take exit stage left now and let him keep the show he stole and leave with what they can of their misplaced trust.

Eclipse doesn't want this. It hits how much he doesn't want to lose them or this tentative bridge they've built but only now does he see the blaze he just set to it.

He lets them go, without bruise or blood, and Y/N is not settled nor fine, but before they can disappear, Eclipse begs for forgiveness. His plea stops Y/N dead. They look back to him, not believing him, but they have never seen him so contrite. It... it isn't him, but here he is.

Y/N tells him no. He can't have their forgiveness, and in sharp retort just to make sure it hurts a little more, Y/N informs him that they're going to see Sun and Moon because that's still something they're struggling to come to terms with and they desperately need reassurance from those they trust wholeheartedly.

Eclipse is left standing there, boiling in place, but he is frantic in his head while watching them slip away before he can catch and squeeze them.

He doesn't know how to fix this. He doesn't know what to do. He's losing control.

He wants Y/N back but he can't do it with his previous methods of barely withheld bloodlust and his crushing grasp.

But that's a conversation for after wounds are less tender, and a more valiant effort is placed into proving his change of heart, or rather, celestial wire. He needs to gain control, and that begins with himself.

A less angsty answer here for what Eclipse does with his burgundy ribbons and bells, he has one stashed away in his inner suit jacket pocket—a cruel connection to his brothers and a grim reminder of what he's gained freedom from. The other is in his safehouse, tucked away. Y/N steals the one he keeps in his safehouse once he's truly changed for the better (a rare moment when he's caught off guard by their antics) but Eclipse does allow Y/N to have that other bell as well.

Ahhh, thank you so much and thank you for the lovely questions!!!

[acceleracers-baby]

Acceleracers HC’s! Core Memories! Metal Maniacs Edition!

Metal Maniacs

(Taro Kitano, Tork Maddox, Monkey McClurg, Porkchop Riggs & Mark Wylde)

————

Metal Maniacs

Taro Kitano - The Kitano family strongly follows Bushido. Bushido is the samurai code of ethics, and Taro has always taken the tenants very seriously. Even as a boy, he was always taught to act with those core values in mind. He was expected to serve his purpose with honor and benevolence. With that in mind, he found that when his family was gossiping about the other boys his age, they always pointed out how chatty they were. Those who were criticized the most were often the loudest of the group. That’s why Taro has trouble communicating. He associates expressing his boundaries and needs with being accused of lacking wisdom and humility. His stoic persona is his way of proving to himself that he is worthy, so when that inevitably ends up getting in the way of his relationships with the people he cares most about, he’s not sure how to react.

Tork Maddox - Tork’s core memory stems from that small scar he has just above his eyebrow. Before becoming the leader of the Metal Maniacs, he worked on cars and occasionally contract welding. Due to all the heavy lifting and long hours, he built up muscle fast. So when he gets burned during a freak welding accident, people begin to find him…intimidating. Tork’s a big guy, and between all the other cuts and bruises he gets working jobs, people, unfortunately, automatically assume the worst when they see him. It’s a HUGE hit to his confidence. He looks tough, but back then he didn’t have the same no nonsense attitude towards life. It takes about a week of Tork avoiding his friends, family, coworkers…and everyone else for his uncle to approach him about it. Tork confides that he doesn’t want people to be afraid of him, but his uncle suggests that maybe it’s not such a bad thing. Maybe that knee jerk reaction people have could weed out the ones who aren’t worth welding himself too. That’s where he gets “we’re welded” from.

Monkey McClurg - Monkey’s first engine is something he will never forget. He always liked puzzles growing up and an engine was just a bigger and better version of that. Every second at home was spent experimenting with different solutions for every problem that junkyard relic had to offer. It was genuinely in shambles when he had picked it up from the dump- but in his opinion, that was half the fun. It took a solid year for him to even be able to get it to run for more than five minutes before ripping itself apart. Every step forward always seemed to be followed by three steps back, but with every problem he ran into, he gained that much more knowledge on what worked and what didn’t. Truly, failure was his greatest teacher. He basically learned everything there is to know just from messing around in the town junkyard.

Porkchop Riggs - Sometimes core memories are grand events that change a person for the rest of their life. Other times it just something small somebody did for you when you were just big enough to remember. Porkchop’s core memory is just that. He wasn’t even big enough to see over the dash of his momma’s rig yet, but that didn’t stop him from being the best little helper he could possibly be. Between swapping out the music and handing her the ham radio when asked, he almost felt like a genuine trucker. Almost. For some reason, in his tiny child mind, you weren’t a real trucker until you blew the horn. The day he gets to was the end of a full week trip. They traveled from one end of the states to the other and it had taken them about 40 hours of driving time with stops along the way. He’d been so good the whole way there, Momma Chop let him blow the horn for as long as he wanted on a long strip of empty highway. It was glorious.

Mark Wylde - Like I mentioned in the Teku Edition of this series, I like to imagine that Kurt & Mark’s dad was the one to get them into racing. However, before they could drive, he wanted to get their hand eye coordination up to par via sports. Kurt chose baseball, and Mark, idolizing his big brother at the time, followed suit. At the time, they were too young to really start having a sibling rivalry yet, so both boys were just excited to be doing something together with their old man. The best part, however, were the shitty concession stand hot dogs they got after every game. They were always prepared on one of those gas station style roll cookers and the buns were usually just slightly stale, but that never mattered to Markie. Especially, as they grew up and a wedge started to form between them, no argument couldn’t be solved with a good old fashioned hot dog. It was like their form of a peace treaty. It’s the first thing Kurt offers him once they get back from the drone headquarters.

[sol-consort]

Do you think it confused the other species that the turians of all people are the ones humans bonded with best? First Contact and the minority of humans who hate aliens aside, the most emotional species in the galaxy latched right onto the most emotionally constipated species.

Oh, it definitely confused them. Because other species have had attempts at bonding with the turians before.

The salarians were too hesitant and cautious for them.

The asari acting superior and looking for their own interest.

The krogans are fun to wrestle with, but their core beliefs are just too different for them to work together.

So what's better than the galaxy equivalent of overly curious animals who just can't sit still without packbonding with something around them?

Don't forget that even on earth, humans have this weird relationship with birds. They tend to accidentally mate with us because we pet them so much. Hell pigeons have been in a symbiotic relationship with us for so long that they can't leave our cities anymore. It's their jungle now.

And turians like any other birds would probably latch onto the humans giving them chin scratches and dextro seeds.

Much like how talented bartenders take it as a challenge to make non-alcholic versions of cocktails. I feel like human chefs and scientists would try their best to create dextro versions of our food just so the Turians could eat it. Humans made wine suitable for cats. Why wouldn't they make dextro chocolate ice cream for their beloved turians' neighbour?

We're loud, expressive with our emotions, blunt with our flirting, and very, very ready to latch onto an alien for eternity. Turians gotta respect our loyalty and countless attempts to understand their culture, truly understand it and not just an on papers clinical documentation.

We're also relentless. We fail at something and keep trying. We had so many people die when we first discovered the artics, but we still kept sending researchers over to figure it out. No, like it was voluntary, we were so interested in this cold freezing hell that talented people kept agreeing to go there even if it cost their life.

I bet you every turians have met at least one human they admire, we're stubborn and petty, but use these traits to accomplish something and as fuel for our passions.

Look at how fast the humans bounced back after first contact war. Dude, if it was the asari or hanar, I bet you, my liver, that they'd never let their war with turians go and always hold a grudge.

Not that humanity didn't hold a grudge, but when all the new generations are seeing are friendly adorable featherless birds who are so fun to poke and tease until they come out of their shell, it's hard to remember the grudge from a war you weren't even old to participate in.

We've had countless wars with ourselves, the turians aren't special. And when an entire race is raised upon public service and discipline like them, they must be so repressed for a wild human to come along and be a bad influence on them.

Like live a little! Make bad choices, take risks, and be a little more selfish. Likewise, there are humans who will come along and help strengthen their core values, give your best to others, stay honest and loyal, and help people without looking for payback.

Turian and human duos become far too common that they're excluded from the galaxy program to integrate every race into each other's military and jobs.

Every turian ship has had at least one human working on it. Some even develop a taste for dextro food and cut any risk of contamination by never bringing other foods onboard. Teaching the other turians fun games or showing them human music. The humans proved they could keep up with the turians, even join in on their wrestling matches just for fun.

and while the humans didn't have the same thing because of how much we outnumber them, every human ship at least has met a turian ship and sent them a hello or told them their ship is very pretty then moved on their way.

And it's not all sunshine or rainbows. There are incidents where turians and humans just could never agree or meet eye to eye. Especially with how blind turian loyality to their group can be and how individualistic humans are. Turians are used to accepting orders from highers above without questions, while humans are used to having a vote and a say in every important decision.

We think giving up our individuality is basically the same as dying since you are truly alive if you're not free to be yourself? Nothing defines you in this life but you, doesn't matter what group you leave behind.

they think giving up their clan is basically the same as dying. Because exile must have meant death for them before, if someone isn't loyal to their group, how can they be loyal to anyone?

Some humans and turians just could never get along, but the majority of them proved their ability to overlook the differences and work together despite all.

Turians who become close to humans learn how addicting the taste of freedom is. Humans who are close to them learn how reassuring being a part of a community is.

There is a reason why C-Sec is mainly made out of humans and turians. We both are looking to make a difference in our own way, prove a point, or find a purpose.

I like the idea of humans and turians being the first races to ever look past each other's different appearance and actually see each other's spirits. The first two races to pass the test of the universe and work together and start relationships despite knowing they can't have children, fall in love, and grow old together.

The novelty of an alien falls off very quickly. It takes a human 3 months to develop a habit. After 3 months, you'd stop introducing your friend as Viteponia the turian and just start introducing them as Via, my pal.

You'd even forget the fact they were a turian, like they obviously are, duh, but you just don't think about it anymore. To you, they're Via, the person who held you back from texting your ex and the person who you share your dextro snacks with. You bring them over to your family and forget to mention the fact they're a turian.

I think at some point, turians would try to get you to wear face paint because they forgot you're human and got sad over the fact you don't have any clans. That you're such a good and loyal person, you don't deserve to be bare faced, so here, let them paint your face with their clan colours.

Also I think they're very curious about human hair. Birds love human hair, pulling at it, sitting in it like a next, even using it to build their nest. Turians must have looked at human hair and felt a very weird primal urge to touch it and test how it feels.

[hael987]

VegasPete Colour Thoughts - Opening Credits

Not the colour of the shots (I’m sure there’s plenty to analyse though) but the colour of the credit blocks.

I believe these colours speak to the connections between Vegas and Pete. Unlike the obvious and clear polarisation/contrasting of Kinn+Porsche with Red+Blue [which shows they come from different worlds, with different values and priorities, and different understandings] these colours are more similar - the separation isn’t so distinct. 

Similarities.

These colours are of a similar spectrum. It’s the pre-existing overlap of their worlds and similar ways they’ve experienced life.

They have similar origins, the abuse that’s shaped their world views. They both live in a world of violence, both in the past and also present. 

There's a similar fascination or interest with torture, engaged in it, the inability to look away from it.

They both use lies and masks and present the persona they think is required for the specific situation. They present what’s needed to protect themselves. 

They share a willingness to commit to their goals 100%. Pete believes and commits to his trust in Porsche and his bodyguarding duties so much that he’s willing to risk death to accomplish what he sets out to do. Likewise, Vegas fully embodies whatever plan he sets out on, as we’ve seen, he’ll do whatever it takes to accomplish it.

As I've said before, there's the same emotional pain, rage and vulnerability beneath their masks. On some level, they're not so different. There’s understanding from shared experience. There's recognition of self within the other.

But while they're similar, they’re not the same – there are key differences.

Differences.

Whilst they both experience a world of violence, how they navigate/approach that world is different.

Pete’s colour is brighter, more vibrant and more distinct. It’s a purer colour, with not as many tones mixed in. It’s a warmer colour.

Pete escaped/overcame his father's abuse, he's in a better place where he’s obtained the freedom to think for himself [lighter colour]. He can see the truth behind the abuse, that he himself is not the one to be blamed. He gained clarity [purer colour]. 

His approach to the world is more optimistic [brighter colour], he experiences the joys where he can.

He developed his own ideas and approaches that he expresses [vibrant colour].  

Pete chose a lighter way to deal with his abuse, he directed and focused that rage at appropriate targets. The violence in Pete's life is focused, directed [distinct colour]. It’s a purposeful use of violence. A directed sense of duty. His focus is his duty and loyalty to the Main Family.

He’s also capable of genuine compassion and kindness [warmer colour].

Vegas’ colour is darker. It’s “muddier”, with more tones present in it. A colder colour.

He doesn’t have the same clarity that Pete has obtained [muddier colour]. He’s still clouded, lost in the abuse. It’s his father’s influence that shapes his ideas [I’ve said before about my stance on the influence from his father]. Vegas is between himself, his own person, ideas and wants and the ones born from his father. [Browner colour. To get brown you need two colours on the opposite side of the colour wheel, two opposing colours (him versus his father).]

Vegas is still rooted in the abuse [darker colour]. He also chose a darker path to deal with the abuse. He doesn't have a clear direction, his main guide to making decisions stems from abuse. His violence seems more unfocused, for now, wielded against anyone he can when he's able to. He uses violence even when it might not be the most appropriate or efficient course of action.

Before Pete, I don’t think we’ve seen Vegas be compassionate or kind without ulterior motives [colder colour]. 

VegasPete and their worlds are not as polarised as KinnPorsche were/are. There's a core of similarity - that recognition of self within and understanding - that allows them to connect but also those key differences that keep them distinct, and maybe even apart (for now at least).

Also a thank you to @ellaspore whose discussion with me helped solidify and enlighten some of my understanding of Vegas and Pete 🌸

[KimChay version]

[liaromancewriter]

Roses Are Red

Premise: Chief Ramsey receives a surprise delivery from a secret admirer.

Book: Open Heart (post series) Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff. Words: 910

A/N: This is for @peonierose and her lovely visual prompt ‘you’re always beautiful’. Submission for @choicesmonthlychallengejune2022 Day 24 prompt “Someone left a gift for you.” 

Ethan Ramsey knew it would take him time to adjust to being Chief of Medicine and patience was required. At least that’s what he reminded himself whenever he started to get frustrated by the demands of his new role.

It had only been a month since he had officially become chief even though the transition had started in the summer. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither would the new Edenbrook.

He had never seen himself in administration and wouldn’t be here now if it hadn’t been for Naveen’s faith in him. And Cassie’s. 

Despite his misgivings, he had trusted two of the three most important people in his life, both of whom seemed to know him better than he knew himself, to guide his decision.

As he walked back to his office, he recalled the words Cassie had said to him when Naveen first approached him about the position.

“Someone who puts the patients first, who focuses on how medicine can help people,” she had said pausing until he met her sincere gaze before continuing, “…that’s the kind of leader this hospital needs. The experience, the skillset…it’s all window dressing to your core values. And I know you’ve got the right ones for the job.”

He hadn’t been fully convinced, but she had certainly given him something to think about as he went home that night.

He had faced off against one too many administrators during his tenure as a physician because they saw patients as case files to be billed. And residents as low-cost, replaceable labor that kept the hospital running while they lined their pockets with perks from Big Pharma and insurance companies.

The entire system was designed to favor those at the top while the bottom toiled away. It wasn’t right and he knew he was being given a chance to change the status quo.

He wasn’t naïve enough to think he could solve the problem of healthcare in America. But he could make a difference in this one hospital system. And maybe, just maybe, show others what could be if Administration fought for patients and their doctors instead of against them.

He neared his office, passing workstations and cubicles that were a hive of activity, and his executive assistant Lorraine McKee glanced up from her computer screen. Her severe expression reminded him of his third-grade English teacher, but he had soon learned that it hid a kind heart and an even more organized soul. 

She had been Naveen’s assistant previously and told him she preferred to remain in the role, ‘if he was so inclined’. Ethan had been more than happy with her decision; her knowledge of the hospital’s administration would be invaluable as he navigated this new phase of his career.

“Someone sent a gift for you, Dr. Ramsey,” she said, handing him a stack of messages at the same time. 

When he looked around puzzled, she gestured towards the closed door. 

“I put it inside your office as I didn’t think you would want everyone out here gossiping about it. Not that they won’t anyway,” she said with a sniff of disdain.

Ethan smiled on the inside at the words and her manner. Naveen had been a notorious gossip hound and he knew that Lorraine had fed him tidbits more often than not. But she liked to pretend she was above that, and he let her.

Wondering what he could have received to cause such a reaction, Ethan nodded and walked past her to enter his office.

The strong scent of roses hit his senses before his eyes fell on the large bouquet left on the glass coffee table. There must have been a dozen roses in full bloom wrapped in black and gray paper with a red and gold ribbon holding them together.

Confused, he approached the roses and plucked the small envelope attached to the front of the bouquet. He didn’t know anyone that could have sent him such an extravagant display, and he wondered briefly if the florist had made an error.

Then he saw his full name written across the white envelope and knew it wasn’t a mistake. The card was unsigned except for the drawing of a heart with an arrow running through it and the words ‘You’re always beautiful’.

Remembering Cassie’s reaction to the cupcakes a secret admirer had sent him a couple of years ago, he stared at the roses in trepidation and pondered how he would explain this to his girlfriend.

Even though Lorraine had likely placed the bouquet inside and out of sight immediately, everyone on the floor would have witnessed its arrival—the roses were too lavish to have gone unnoticed—and his assistant signing for them as she took delivery.

Rumors of Chief Ramsey receiving a dozen red roses was probably spreading through the hospital like wildfire, he thought with a loud groan.

He reached for his phone with the aim of getting to Cassie before the gossip mill.

Still bemused, Ethan stared at Cassie’s texts and realized he had a huge grin on his face. He couldn’t recall a single woman of his acquaintance that would have sent him flowers let alone a beautiful bouquet of red roses.

He had sent his fair share of flowers over the years, but this was the first time he’d been on the receiving end of what pundits called the ultimate romantic gesture.

Was it any wonder he had fallen in love with her?

All Fics & Edits: @potionsprefect @trappedinfanfiction @bex-la-get @mysticalgalaxysstuff @genevievemd @choicesaddict5 @jerzwriter @rookiemartin @schnitzelbutterfingers @vi-writes-stuff @coffeeheartaddict2 @quixoticdreamer16 @dorisz @zahrachoices @lucy-268 @a-crepusculo @jamespotterthefirst @crazy-loca-blog @writer-ish @lady-calypso @headoverheelsforramsey @rosebudde @anonymousrookie @sincerelyscarring @beezybean  @takemyopenheart @wanderingamongthewildflowers​ @forallthatitsworth @queencarb

Ethan & Cassie Fics & Edits only: @custaroonie 

@openheartfanfics @choicesficwriterscreations

[sevilemar]

Hi Sevi, anon ranting about media here. I swear I didn't forget or left it on read, I was taking some time to process your words. (This one's long)

First of all, thank you for responding and having this place in the Internet. I really hope it's fun to you and it didn't become something you think you should do, cause that would suck all the fun out of it.

I agree, first season of Witcher is pretty awesome, second season meh, but I still don't get where all of the hate was coming. My problem was them overvaluing Ciri, but oh well.

I like your idea about big thinkers and concrete thinkers. It puts more emphasis on pattern of thought then on how it's result looks like. I also like the change of words as someone who more or less doesn't see myself as having actual ideals, outside of maybe 'boundaries' and 'personal freedom'. But then again I think I would get stuck, as I don't care about affecting the most people, doing the most good etc. I would still vibe with the concrete thinker, what's the most important is in front of you, and how you understand the world sets a system to your actions, what you want to do and what type of person do you want to be. But that might be just me. Maybe I don't believe in affecting the most people and settled down on a few near me, who knows.

I can imagine doing almost everything for my two siblings, I think if I have my people, it's them. I don't even like to think about them doing something really deeply against my core values, I'd better do that myself in their place than watch them do it and then have to figure it out. But what does this fantasy reeking thought have to do with real life and searching for your own place? Not much, huh. What does it matter if I love my cat but don't have the funds to bring him to the vet? Nothing. And you're right about burnt lion secondary, although I'm sometimes wondering about burnt courtier badger as well. It doesn't matter what you value if you have no power to do anything about it.

My mother isn't in my circles, and it brings me a lot of pain to say it, but there's just a number of times you can hurt someone and pretend you are right and you don't see pain. Also, family should be a safe place to discus all kinds of ideas without judgment and fear. Naive, I know.

Why do you think discussing/ defending big picture things against your loved ones and family is used as a tell tale sign for idealists? I know that it's a common idea, but why exactly? To me it was just what people do, we can still disagree and defend our people against the world if needed. It doesn't mean I don't value them or value thoughts more, or that I don't care if I hurt them, but I want them at least to listen, to acknowledge the different side. Sure, it's about validation of my opinions as well. I had to listen to the world constantly telling me how stupid I am, was I the only one and nobody else got to listen to it? No, of course not, it's also emotional as well.

"Roaring truths into a void" such a pretty expression. Can I turn it around and say I'm the void now, and the world is roaring, it sure feels like that sometimes.

Sevi, thank you again for your time and I freaking hope that you find this nonsense interesting. If not, fork this. Have a nice week!

Hi nonny, sorry for leaving your answer for this long. Life happened, as it is wont to do, and I wasn't in the mood for shc.

It's weird for me as well to think about having ideals; I think of them more as behavioural guidelines to make my life easier. Things like 'leave a person or a space the same way you found them or better', or 'be polite/kind when you can', or things like that. It's practical advice to live a more positive life, tested in 30+ years of living, not something that's born out of a need to do good to others. And it's just for me, other people can do what they want. I wouldn't call these things ideals, not really.

I don't think it's helpful to put the standard definitions of ideals/idealist on the shc definitions, because that way, confusion lies. Here are Inky and Cat's defintions again, because I have also forgotten them over the years:

Idealists focus on concepts and truths and what is right and what is good. They are big picture thinkers and have moral drives that closest to what we think of when we think of typical moral drives: this is right because the most people benefit, this is wrong because people get hurt, this is gray so we have to look at the specifics. There is a system of rights and wrongs and in betweens and those things all matter. 

Loyalists care about people. Whether it’s a few people or a whole world of people, at the center of their moral system is to do what is best for those people.

The words they choose for the categories are confusing, and so is the false either/or thinking it often creates. I feel it's easier to think of it as having a different natural focus, hence big picture/concrete. Because big picture people also care very deeply about the people in front of them; they just naturally focus on the big picture to help. And concrete thinkers also see the benefits of big picture help, they just naturally focus on the people right in front of them first.

As for arguing about big picture or idealistic ideas with loved ones, I never felt the need. Why argue when you can learn instead? I know they're good people, so whatever they have thought a lot about and decided to believe in can't be too horribly wrong.

People who are wrong, who hold beliefs that are harmful to me or mine, they will sooner or later be a dick to us anyway, and that's my cue to avoid them. I do not feel the need to convince strangers of anything, and if it happens with my people, I will try if it's important enough, or just agree to disagree if it's not, and avoid the topic in the future. If they hurt me or mine because of it, I will downgrade them, or cast them out if I have to.

Another reason why I do not feel the need to argue about bigger picture things is that I more often than not genuinely don't see how my actions, or those of other people, affect bigger picture ideas/discourse/etc. That's probably just a me thing, but I simply do not see the world from that perspective.

I did not realise that 'leave a person the same or better than you found them and be kind when you can' could make the world a better place if everyone did it. It took a lion friend to point that out. Or how me ranting about my own asexual frustration with romance in media is just one side of a much bigger discourse about who is 'allowed' to even have a sexuality in media. It took a bird friend to show me.

I don't know if that's just me, nonny. But maybe, if you find yourself arguing about big picture things with your family often, then maybe either them, or you, or both have at least some idealist vibes going on. Especially if arguing about it hurts you as much as I think it might, based on your words. Because I know from experience that big picture people can only tolerate so many differences in the really important things. I think it's because disagreeing on these fundamental levels hurts them personally, at the core of who they are.

But then, being forced to argue about things a lot, and feeling like the other people do not even listen to you, would hurt anyone. It's one of the basic ways human beings show respect and appreciation, after all.

That does not mean that you cannot defend them against the world, or value them as a person. Believing in defending your family, no matter how imperfect, is definitely something a lot of people value, idealists and loyalists alike. And you definitely have a snake's exception for your siblings, which I think is incredibly cute, btw.

You're also right, family should be a place where people listen to each other, and where it's safe to try out new ideas if that's a thing you're interested in. But it's often not with the blood family you find this, but rather with a found one.

[funkymbtifiction]

hi! i was wondering about something you said the other day about how we understand people the best who have our fixes as their core. do you think we sometimes understand/relate to people with their core as one of our tritype numbers even better than people who have the same core type? and would it particularly apply to the second tritype number rather than the 3rd or could it be either?

i was also wondering in terms of the feeling functions - do fe and fi differ a lot when it comes to showing people they care? i know fe is generally more expressive of emotions in the moment as they are happening, but can fi be expressive too in that way (like lavishing affection/attention or being inspired to say “i love being here with you!” because they’re feeling that way rn and want to show it) when it comes to their most valued relationships, like closest friends/partner/family (maybe through the lens of “the kind of person i want to be” vs fe “i want to make them happy because it makes me happy”) or would that not be possible, as they’d need to process feelings first?

thanks!!

Core types know how "cringe" it is to be that way themselves, so yeah, someone with a 2 fix might just enjoy and understand a 2-core character without feeling the "cringe" that comes from seeing "me and all my flaws" reflected in someone else. And you can relate to characters with any of your fixes, yes.

Fe is immediate emotional reactions and expressiveness; Fi is delayed, yes, and sometimes inhibited by going inward to suss out what they are feeling rather than immediately sharing it. They are not "gushy" so much as they are attentive and present ("of course I adore you; I would not be here if I didn't love you!").

[princeescaluswords]

For the same ask game, 4 + 16 + 74?

4. Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?

Strangely enough, I get most of my inspiration from the interplay between different media creations (literature, television, cinema) and the fandoms that exist around them. On the positive side, I am still amazed by the perspectives and the variations that people can bring to a text, even if I don't agree with them. On the negative side, I am quite frankly tasked by the racism, by the misogyny, by obsessive hostility, by the decadence pervasive in the fandom, but it also inspires me to answer it.

I have an imagination, fantastic but also moral. When I read something that I hadn't considered before, such as your excellent Great War AU for Teen Wolf, I can see how you draw a parallel between the established mores of class and patriotism that propelled British youth into Flanders fields. Your versions of the cast are placed into a bloody war not of their own making which served the interests of people above their social and economic level rather than into a supernatural feud not of their own making which served the interests of people above their social and economic level. I wouldn't want to write the same thing, but I am in the initial stages of an AU set in California during the American Civil War, where concepts of human dignity were in direct conflict. After all, I see human dignity as a value in and of itself as a core value of Teen Wolf expressed through its lead protagonist.

And then there is the endless inspiration through negative example (referred to in fandom terms as 'spitefic') where fundamentally corrupt interpretations inspire me to write countering fictions. For example, one that always gets my passion burning is the fanon idea that the primary problem with Teen Wolf is that Scott doesn't kill enough people, conjured in complete disregard of how the very story was predicated on the endless acts of vengeance between Argent and Hale. I can never bring any version of Scott, even the ones I write who do kill, to treat human life cheaply, and there is always scorn for those who do.

16. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Share one of them?

I presently am preparing for publication my final offering in Scottuary 2023, a missing scene from The Wolves of War, but I have four other stories in planning stages. There's a lull, as a lack of WIPs mean that I don't have a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I made a promise of finish that story, so I better finish it.

I won't talk about the one that's going up this Saturday -- people will see that soon enough -- but the one that I'm interested in the most is the one I mentioned above: the Civil War Era story, set in California in 1861 rather than in 2011. It will require a significant amount of reading and research on my part, as there are three significant cultures I want to study -- the indigenous peoples, the remnants of Spanish control, and the American entrepreneurs that dominated the mid-19th century Californian society in the wake of the 40s gold rush. It would be quite a challenge to pull off successfully.

The others are continuations of my MCU fusion and my Game of Thrones fusion along with one that is difficult to write but persistent in hanging around. It's a very dark fiction, an exploration of the consequences if a post-nogitsune Stiles bought into Peter's proposition that you can kill your way to safety, because I've seen too many triumphant Steter-Kills-Anyone-They-Don't-Like-and-Live Happily-Ever-After power fantasies for them not to leave an impression.

74. You’ve posted a fic anonymously. How would someone be able to guess that you’d written it?

Aside from the characteristic typos? For some reason, I tend to leave suffixes off words or leave out necessary words altogether. But mostly I reject the idea that teenage characters don't think about their own actions and that it is boring and presumptuous to spend time wondering if they are doing the right thing. One of the flaws of many properties, including Teen Wolf, is the idea that audiences wouldn't be interested in the why. For example, Scott McCall had many adults mentoring them who demonstrated specific rationality about their behavior. It hurt the story to forbid Scott from talking about it. Empathy and compassion are not just intuitive phenomena. It does give my work a cerebral feel, though I've never posted a fiction anonymously.

[arcaladiwoompa]

HxH Headcanon - Changing Nen Types and Abilities

Headcanon: Since nen is based around your core values and the key formative events that shaped your life and who you are as a person, it stands to reason that major changes to your life and your perspective can cause your nen to change later on.  Some nen abilities may no longer serve a purpose for you.  You may choose to develop new abilities that fit your new life better.  Your entire personality may be dramatically changed to the point that you don’t even have the same nen type anymore.

Throwing some ideas here in case they strike anybody with inspiration:

- A trans character’s nen abilities change after they transition, now that they are more comfortable in their bodies and how they see themselves, how they interact with the world around them, and how people act around them have all changed.  A genderfluid character uses different nen abilities based on how they feel about their gender expression that day.

- A character with depression and anxiety finally finds medication that works for them and it allows them to be energetic and extroverted.  Nen type changes from conjurer without medication to enhancer on medication.  A bipolar character uses different nen abilities when in a manic phase or a depressive phase.

- A character becomes a chimera and and now has a dramatically different body type and fragmented traumatic memories of their past life and how they died.  Their new nen has changed to combine elements of their past life with the abilities of their new ant body.

- A character’s nen gradually changes along with the key milestones of their life as they grow older.  For example after they hit puberty, get married or divorced, have children, are adopted and reconnect with their biological family, undergo a serious illness or injury, go through a midlife crisis, etc.  They may start off solo then later decide to develop combined / complimentary nen abilities with some of the most important people they meet in their lives.

Example of a one of my fics based around this headcanon (read if you want to see Kurapika get therapy and find it in his heart to forgive, with a side of Leopika):

York Shin General Hospital

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25809691/chapters/62693920

Example of another fic inspired by the same headcanon (read if you want to see a canon divergence fic featuring Neferpitou and Komugi growing as people after surviving the Chimera Ant arc):

I would Have Cherished Every Single Second by LK713

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29795877/chapters/73301109

This meta is for a Greed Island server challenge :)

[maximuswolf]

i find playing cover music to be more fulfilling than originals. i'm content with this just generally wonder about my fellow musicians opinion about this

i find playing cover music to be more fulfilling than originals. i'm content with this, just generally wonder about my fellow musicians opinion about this i'm saying this despite having written many originals even making a living of that for 4 years. still i find it more enjoyable to play covers. here and there i see a lot of hate from those composing their own stuff towards those playing covers. having worked in the industry professionally, i guess i have a solid understanding what it's like to build your own audience through your own material. coming from a small country, the pandemic easily shattered my career in a jiffy, but now i'm starting to think this might have been the best thing to happen. since then i moved to a different country, i always wanted to, but my love for music persisted (as it always will), but with songs written in a totally different language, which no one speaks, i didn't even bother to try playing my own. i started busking, playing covers and instantly grew into a deep connection with that. on the surface i guess it comes down to the fact, that i relate to my own songs in a different way, than i do to someone else's. and i honestly feel like most of the cover songs i like playing convey feelings better than my songs do. also i've recently grown to the age, where people usually start to analyze themselves, why they do what they do, what they like, what their values are and the like. from a philosophical standpoint, i found that music has always been the most important thing in my life, because i'm not an active follower of any religion or any particular set of values and music kind of became my religion. my core value is what music stands for, which from where i am standing, is communicating, experiencing, internalizing emotions abstractly. when i perform, wherever it should be, on the street, at a festival, in a club, i am communicating and exchanging feelings with those around me, having a shared experience, dedicating time to our emotions, which let's be honest, we rarely do, especially in a group. and there is some magical about this, being at the same place at the same time. that's something you can't replicate in the online space. maybe it's my lack of exhibitionist tendencies or my insecurities, but i keep feeling like others have written better songs than me and move me more than my own tracks. if i'm feeling up and want to express my joy, i think e.g.: don't stop me now by queen describes it way better, than any of my own songs for example, also the people resonate with it, therefore with me, i try to break a piece of my theoretical blissbread and eat it with them together, we share the experience. so, if i can express myself better through playing those songs i can connect to on a deeper level, i really am not fucking willing to apologize for it. performing is a form of art after all. i mean, how many classical musicians do you know who write their own parts? how many actors do you know who write their own pieces? nevertheless, you wouldn't argue they're artists or that they are able to give something valuable for their audience. Submitted April 24, 2024 at 05:39AM by Mountain_Rip_8426 https://ift.tt/k35GsIh via /r/Music

[molakolako-blog]

Hey there! I am using JAMES T. MAKOETLA on Vimeo-https://vimeo.com/user9788526

Providing Entrepreneurs a place to voice their opinions and discuss

hobbies, meet new people, plan events, or just have fun chatting?

A happy community.

We Are A Happy Business Community.

Happy as We Want to Be.

Almost everyone have heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferiin's simple message surely made a lot of people by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for our health. Being happy actually protects us from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well with.

Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which we can do this.

Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.

Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for.

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[21003957]

Burning Man

Burning Man is one of the best examples of a transformative event and in today’s blog we are going to be looking at how Burning Man turns the transactional accepts of an event and makes it transformative, specifically looking at all the amazing added – value experiences you get whilst being at the event.

Normally events have a variety of tickets you can choose from which ultimately decides on what you can afford, with all the different types and prices of tickets, as the pound keeps going up you are apparently meant to receive better experiences or advantages that are to heighten your event experience, For example when at a camping festival you can normally pay more to receive a shower pass or to be closer to the arena or to have access to the VIP area, Burning Man does not work like that (Digital Library, 2006).

Burning Man operates of 10 key principles:

Radical inclusion

Gifting

DE commodification

Radical self - expression

Radical self – reliance

Communal effort

Civic responsibility

Leaving no trace

Participation

Immediacy

Co - founder of Burning Man, Larry Harvey wrote the 10 principles in 2004 as a guideline for the new coming burners and that has been the rules of Burning Man ever since. Burning Man is a very authentic and spiritual event that has constantly stuck to their values and the real core of the event even when the world has kept turning and prices in the event world have increased, Burning Man have never walked away from their morals just for some extra money (Burning Man,2022).

Burning Man have successfully managed to change the transactional accepts into transformative by sticking to one ticket price across the board and everyone receives the same exact treatment and reselling tickets for inflated amount is highly frowned upon and is breaking the core meaning of the event. Which is in comparison to transactional events, as bringing in as much money as possible is their sole purpose Donnelly (2008).

Once you are through the gates it’s not likely to even see a dollar bill as you are expected to share absolutely everything from food to art classes with everyone in your camp and just generally everyone at the event. Transformative events are based on how to transform someone’s life not on how fast you can rinse their bank account and that is the pure beauty of Burning Man, burners have explained their experience to be an escape of reality.

(Burning Man Project, 2022)

Although the event is based in the middle of a desert showers are not available, which is very unusual for an event as that is normally a grantee for money making especially for a camping event Levi (2018). Most burners either rent an RV or a motorhome and they come with built in showers so therefore they aren’t needed. There are a number of people that camp in a tent throughout the event and fellow burners share their access to a shower with them. This is another example as to how the event has changed the transactional side of the event into a transformative way of dealing with it. Looking at this example it pushes the community experience that Burning Man is all about.

Although all events and festivals have transactional accepts does not mean they can’t turn it into a transformative accept and deal with it in a transformative manner. Burning Man sticks to their 10 principles and manages to create a once in life time experience for each burner no matter how many times they attend the event, as not one year is the same (Burning Man Principles, 2022).

(Burning Man, 2022)