#cause I understand the work and time that goes into making it and producing a product!

[anaquariusfox]

No shade towards this user! But I would actually love to address this statement or thought process.

(And its actually £37 for you!)

But nonetheless, there are many things to consider when you’re criticizing an artist for the price of their works and here are a few!

How much time goes into the process of a piece(s)!

For example, I made not only one zine, but two in the span of 7 months. While working a 40+ hour a week active job. So all my free time was consumed with this zine. You may think $43 is a lot for a zine, but I am just one person make a whole NSFW zine. I wasn’t one of 20+ artists and fic writers putting one piece into a whole zine. And I won’t undervalue myself and my time! Also, most of my commissions, for one custom piece, cost more than not only my nsfw zine, but both my zines combined.

How much time goes into the technically side of the piece(s) (I.e. creating the actual zine with printing companies and sizing and resizing, and shipping and handling artists usually handle themselves)

For myself, it was hours and hours of file converting and resizing and in the end it still didn’t look good in zine previews, that’s why I decided to go digital.

The exclusivity of the artwork(s)

You’ll find a lot of things of this nature are either limited time products or exclusive to the product itself! For example, all my pieces in my NSFW zine, are for the zine supporters only, as well as my SFW being half favorite pieces and half new, zine exclusive pieces!

The content of said artwork(s)

My zine for example, is a “taboo” type of artwork, it’s basically a book full of porn. Not a lot of artist draw porn and even less nsfw artist, share it on social media! But here I am, sharing a whole exclusive zine of porn for two lovable characters! Oh, and as trans characters haha. They’re t4t in my zine because I draw the representation I want through my favorite characters!

* And in the end really! *

You’ve got to understand, as artists, we are putting out so much free content on social media. Whether it’s every day, every other day, once a week or once a month. You, as a consumer of our work, get free content (both old and new), all for free! Is that not wild?! For example, people pay $10 a month to see all the porn I’ve ever drawn on Patreon on then get to see the latest porn and sfw stuff I post! Ive been told by so many friends that I should charge more even! But that’s not the point of this post.

Artists could never share again, or put their craft and skills behind a massive paywall, but we love sharing and putting art into the world, cause fuck, a world without art would kill me. I literally love scrolling through my social media and seeing all my mutuals and artists I follow share their work and interests through art. I love seeing their minds work and what they felt so proud of to share it with the world.

And on top of that, if you think something is a bit too high in price, just remember all the free content the artist puts out, remember what art piece you love the most from them and why you followed them in the first place maybe! And by purchasing an item(s) from them, is a way of showing them support for all the joy their art has brought you 🫶😊 and just supporting artists in general vs large corporations who usually underpay their artists or just straight up steal art.

**In the end, I won’t undervalue my time and skill for a quick sale cause I’ve had people happily support me at the prices they are and I’m so grateful te for them.**

*** No artist should undervalue their work! We have a skill and took time to create this skill and study our skill to become better and better 🫶***

I do hope that anyone with the same mind set as this user, might have a new POV on the artists side/ BTS side of an artist and content creator when judging their prices.

[ma1dita]

buddy system

a ‘partners in crime’ installment - luke castellan x dionysus!reader

words: 4.2k

summary: (pre-established relationship) The one where he comes with you to rescue your twin brothers, Pollux and Castor. A weekend 'quest' teaches you a lot about Luke, and about yourself too. Luke Castellan x fem!Dionysus!reader

a/n: um i cant apologize for this word count and ive been looking at this for too long so fuck. Anyways do yall think Luke felt bad when he found out Castor died in battle because of his army in this universe? just me?? okay :) also trouble gets a cool magic item that makes an appearance here, kinda works like polyjuice but with smoke

(posted 2/7/24 betad by lovely ellie @lixzey might edit again when i get some sleep)

—

“No. You might be my father, but you’re crazy, man!”

You’re standing in D’s office at the Big House, and what was supposed to be a short talk before the counselors’ meeting has turned into a full-blown argument. It’s hard to focus on anything other than the words leaving your godrent’s mouth.

You’re going to pick up your little brothers.

“Those two statements are both true, kid. You’re old enough to understand that!”

They need your help.

“You’re really letting your 16-year-old daughter drive down to Florida by herself to pick up some kids she’s never met? Won’t even send me with any quest companions, or like, Grover?” you say exasperatedly, before slumping down into a seat.

“Think of it as family bonding! They’re great from what I remember. You all need to get along anyway.”

Whether it was jealousy or the sudden urge to be petty, you impulsively grab your dad’s Diet Coke and chug it, crushing the can with your fist as a tiny act of rebellion. 

Another one appears on the desk and you chuck it over your shoulder. Mr. D sighs as he conjures another one, to which you do the same thing.

“I can do this all day, kid.”

“So can I, and you know if I do, we’ll be sitting here until I’m 40,” you say expectantly, tapping your fingers on the hardwood surface of his desk.

“What do you want?”

The keys to his car are a start, as well as extra pocket money—but there was something, or rather, someone missing to make sure this weekend goes as smoothly as possible.

Your smirk widens at your father, and he wonders when you’ve gotten good at playing his own game.

It’s like looking into a mirror but his worst nightmare manifested as a teenage girl.

—

There are only two things Luke can think about when he hears the sound of your laughter.

The first is that, unlike your angelic singing that could rival the Muses, your laughter takes after the sound of a maniac, an incredulous crescendo that only something curated by Hades in the deepest pits of Tartarus could produce. It was almost madness-inducing, and it went off in his brain like you were a siren (although he means the kind used for weather advisory, he too gets lured in by your laughter each time he hears it like he’s lost at sea).

Second, as he watches you storm down the lawn of the Big House, your anger brewing something comparable to a Category 5, he raises an eyebrow and thinks, well this ought to be good. Or entertaining at the very least.

“You,” you growl at him, guttural and sharp like the finger you jab into his chest, “we’re going on a quest!”

“Me?” Luke blurts, eyebrows furrowing at you.

A loud groan echoes through the grassy space between the house and the counselors as everyone looks up to see Mr. D dragging his hands down his face at the sheer thought of his daughter causing him more gray hairs. 

“That’s not what we agreed on, kid!” “If you want any of your children to come back to this hellhole in one piece I need backup!” “There’s more of you?”

Both you and your dad glare at Luke now, like he’s interrupting a private conversation.

“Since when do you like asking for help, princess?” 

Mr. D’s arms are crossed over his chest as he speaks to you. Though your height severely differs due to the wooden steps of the Big House, the air is palpable with fear only an Olympian could invoke, reminding the counselors that the man wearing the ugliest Hawaiian shirt known to humankind, is in fact inhuman. You, however, are standing tall in the freshly-cut grass in your combat boots with wrath that could rival Ares’ as you stare your father down like the rest of them wouldn’t get struck into the next lifetime due to your impertinence, as Annabeth loves to call it. She looks up at Luke, with her eyes conveying that she thinks you must be clinically insane, but he knows that already so he shrugs.

“I’m not asking for it, I’m demanding it. Besides, he’s like my ESA,” you say, then taking Luke by surprise as you grab him by the wrist and drag him off the front lawn. You think you can hear Beckendorf and Clarisse bite back chuckles.

“Someone tell Rodriguez he’s in charge of 11!” you yell into the air, and words of affirmation and good luck are muttered in response.

“Don’t I get a say in this, trouble?” Luke says playfully, tugging at your arm lightly but unresisting as you sigh and pull him along. Who in their right mind says no to a long weekend away from this place? Monsters and demigods be damned.

“No. Besides, they’re gonna need more luck than we do.”

“Liam, I don’t know why she trusts you, but if my daughter dies, I’ll make sure you’re next!” Mr. D yells out to your retreating figures, and all of the counselors turn to face him realizing that without you, well… that means he actually has to be in charge.

“So what’s the meeting supposed to be about, Annabelle?” Mr. D says, looking at Annabeth only knowing that she’s supposed to be the smart one—and the small girl sighs.

This is gonna be the longest weekend yet.

—

You’re speeding down I-95 with the windows down and the wind brushing through both of your hair. While Luke watches you from the passenger seat with the road signs blurring past his periphery, he also notices that it’s the first time in a while that he’s seen you this carefree. With both of you taking up counselor positions a few months ago, and your dad appointing you to be in charge of all of them (because why have a counselor for a population of one), there’s a lot about you that’s grown up in the two years you two have known each other. But what type of demigod gets to enjoy their childhood anyway, right? Luke can only remember bits and pieces of his.

“How do you even know where we’re going? I can barely read the signs,” he asks.

“Cool blessing from my stepmom. Ariadne’s chill. We talk sometimes and she likes that I keep D in check, so now I can never get lost,” you grin toothily, violet eyes flickering to meet his.

“Was it true what your dad said? That you trust me?”

His voice is a bit louder than it should be over the wind tunnel that blocks out the sound of the radio as the air whips in and out of the car.

“Well, I wouldn't say trust,” you drag out, leaning back against your seat with your eyes still on the road, “More like if I got abducted by a harpy, I think you could cut its wings off and give me a fighting chance at living.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t invite Mason to come,” he mumbles, and you smirk.

“Who?”

His hands are clenched in his lap as a blush brushes his cheeks, windswept in the rays of the late summer sun.

“Your boyfriend. Wouldn’t he be a better companion?” 

Something about the older son of Apollo always ground his gears. It was even worse that you both would sing Broadway musicals together during his sparring sessions. Your harmonious voices echoing from the amphitheater aside, the repetitive grating feeling in his stomach reminds him not to go see Hamilton if he ever makes it out to the city.

“He’s not…” you huff, tapping your fingers on the steering wheel as you think hard on what to say next, “He’s nothing serious.” You pull the sun visor down as you squint, tilting your head in case he says something else, but you hear nothing. Luke’s staring at your side profile, unable to hide his grin at the new information, biting his cheek.

“Besides, he’s a fucking terrible shot. And you’re supposed to be the best, so I’ve heard. Who else would I want on this trip with me?”

He chuckles at this lightly, your words bolstering his ego.

“So you’ve heard.”

And for a second, the sight of his smile distracts you enough that the car swerves a tiny bit closer to the median. You both ignore it and keep driving.

—-

Hypnos increases his hold on your senses as you finally take a break somewhere in North Carolina, taking refuge in a dimly lit corner of a gas station parking lot. The old car reeks of greasy fast food and all the sugar Luke could get his hands on at rest stops (it was really cute to see him indulge in more normal things like sweets instead of swordsmanship), and both of your seats are leaned back, but it’s hard to get comfortable after having your butt in the same seat for several hours.

You readjust yourself again, making the car shake a bit as you turn over to face Luke. 

“What’s wrong?” he mumbles through closed eyes. His head’s banged against the window one too many times, and it was starting to get annoying.

“Sorry. Just can’t sleep. Thinking too hard.”

He sighs, reaching over to toss your pillow into the backseat, and as you sit up, he rips your blanket off of you too.

“Hey!”

You go silent when you watch him make a makeshift bed for you, turning back with tired eyes as he gestures, “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

“I feel bad, Luke. You’re taller than me and your knees almost hit the dashboard.”

He rubs at his eyes, looking at you impatiently, and you know his body is calling for comfort too.

“I’ve slept in worse conditions, you gotta remember that, trouble.” The stories Annie used to tell you about the both of them sleeping on the streets pull at your heart, and as you crawl towards the back, you move before you think rationally–tugging on his arm.

“Come on over here.”

“You sure?” “Before I change my mind, yeah.”

You both move around trying to find a place both of you can be comfortable in, first starting with your heads at opposite windows, legs tangling in the middle before he laughs a little too hard at your fumbling and you launch your pillow at his face. Awkwardly, you climb over his legs into his outstretched arms, slotting yourself against his side as he pulls your hair up from getting trapped between his shoulder and your back.

It’s deadly quiet, and Luke thinks if you could move any closer to him, you might hear his heart thundering in his chest.

“You smell like french fries,” you grumble into his sweater, and his laughter shakes you like an earthquake, uprooting the faint traces of sleep in your mind. 

“At least the monsters won’t find us. Gonna be harder when the twins get here. A lot of demigod smell to ward off.”

You don’t answer, and he thinks you may have fallen asleep until he notices your hand playing with the frays of his sweater.

“Trouble?”

“They’re really little,” you mumble, so low that he barely hears the hesitance in your voice.

“The monsters? Yeah, I fucking ho–” “Pollux and Castor. My…half-siblings, with really Greek names, and a mom that depends on me getting them to camp safely…” you trail off before your head jerks up to meet his eyes. It’s colder at night now, your bodies and the tiny throw blanket from your trunk providing ample heat even if his socked feet fight their way out from underneath.

“How old are they, nine?” He feels you nod against his chest before he continues, “I was nine when I left home.”

Your eyes get glassy at the thought of a smaller version of Luke, one who’s not all gangly legs and lean muscle—one much softer and innocent than the boy you lean your weight upon, running away from home to find a place he can belong. 

“I didn’t know that. I’m sorry.”

He shrugs, the arm propped against the headrest wrapping around you and resting on your hip, tapping you to continue your previous thought.

“I don’t know how to do this, I guess. I’m ripping them from their home and I—” “You’re not some kind of monster y’know? You put yourself down too much sometimes,” he sighs, and he watches the windows slowly start to fog up, “What don’t you know how to do?”

Ignoring his question, you change the subject hoping to talk about something lighter, and far less revealing to the thoughts inside your head.

“Do you remember all of that? Going to school and chalking up the sidewalks on the way home, hopscotch and ice cream trucks… I don’t want to take them away from that.”

Luke ponders, digging through his brain for anything happy from his childhood, but through the years his memories started to collect dust in the back of his mind.

“I don’t remember much.”

“Gods, I’m sorry…” 

Mason had told you of your habit of putting your foot in your mouth. You dealt in extremes, giving too much or too little, always saying the wrong thing—and it was the reason why things didn’t go further with the son of Apollo. As well as with the daughter of Aphrodite you saw briefly that told you you didn’t know how to love, not if you didn’t know how to share yourself with others (yeah that one hurt a lot).

Sharing. 

That’s what you’re hesitant about.

“Don’t be. It was a long time ago now,” Luke mumbles, a beat of silence passing before he redirects the conversation like you did, “What don’t you know how to do, trouble?”

“How to share. Be a sibling. Someone likeable.”

Luke doesn’t mean to laugh at your expense, but he does, and you punch his stomach hard enough he gasps for air.

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Everyone likes you.”

“Everyone’s usually scared of me because of D, or hates me because I take dessert privileges and write them up,” you say matter-of-factly, staring out the window above his head at the gentle shine of the moon on his features. It’s a crime for him to look so soft under the low light, and you realize you’re staring when he calls your name.

“No, you don’t get it—you’re the most selfless person I know. You give up sleep to sing to kids before bed, conjure juice boxes so they don’t pass out during training—I’ve seen you carry a kid almost as tall as you across camp because they broke their ankle. You’ve got a lot of love in that twisted heart of yours. I’d know… I mean—I have to share a lot… I’m basically an expert.”

You blink at him as if seeing him in a new light, and you realize then why you picked him to go on this weekend quest with you. Your heartbeat slows despite the show of vulnerability in front of him, and you understand now that Luke makes you feel safe. Biting your lip to hold back a sigh, you decide to just unload the rest of your thoughts, knowing that you’re in the hands of someone who wants to hold the weight. “I’m just used to being alone, I think. I mean who knows what we're like when we're alone but us, right? What a terrifying thought,” you deflect, and Luke closely watches the slope of your nose, down to the smoothness of your lips, unable to put the right words to how he’s feeling.

 I know you, he thinks, and it's not as all bad as you make it seem.

“We’re never truly alone, y’know. Besides, even if you are, you still have me,” he says nonchalantly, and the warmth on your cheeks could generate enough heat to run the car for miles. Chuckling lightly as your eyes flutter closed, you know you need to rest before morning comes since you’re the only one between the two of you that can drive. You reckon you’ll teach Luke by the end of the year if he wants to.

“We’re getting pretty terrible at this enemies thing, Castellan,” you jest with nothing hard to back it, and a smile falls onto both of your lips.

“We were never really enemies, trouble. I just like getting on your nerves.”

Your laughs fall silent, settling into a comfortable silence, until his next words send you off into slumber as you listen.

“I remember my mom singing in the kitchen as she put peanut butter on my sandwiches. She'd act like she left the dishes out for me to wash, but let me lick the knife clean every time and I’d put too much soap and the sink would be filled with bubbles. I don't remember much else but that. Her kitchen. She smelled like…chamomile.”

A wandering hand pulls his free one into yours, holding it until sunrise.

—-

You push Pollux and Castor out the door before the sun rises after a short stay at their mother’s house, and as the engine heats up, you and Luke watch them say goodbye to her with the both of you thinking of last words with your own. The both of you ward off the hellhounds biting off at your heels for a few hours like how you deceived the police the day previous, a purple Zippo lighter in hand whose smoke grants temporary illusions wafting through the car, and it smells like grapes (thanks D!). The kids sleep most of the way, none the wiser and heavy with sleep and their emotions of leaving everything they’ve ever known. Your eyes flicker to their sleeping heads in the rearview mirror, ready to take them home.

Hours later, Luke decides to make you stop at a diner to get you a bit of rest, get actual food, and let the twins pee, and your head is bobbing slightly in front of your plate of food once he brings them back from the bathroom.

“You wash your hands?” you say tiredly, both Pollux and Castor shaking wet hands in your face in response, making you giggle before sipping at your coffee. Luke cut you off from Redbull yesterday, saying he was scared for your liver and saying you needed to drink something else for a bit. He bristles at the sight of you drinking more caffeine, and you smile as the mug touches your lips.

“You’re gonna kill yourself one day. At least your dad drinks Diet Coke.”

“Not by choice, though what a way to go!” you joke, and the twins giggle as the both of them gulp down root beer like it’s essential to their being. Luke sighs at the idea of you having two minions under your belt, who you’ll most definitely train to raise hell on Camp Half-Blood now that you’ve taken more of the administrative side of things.

“Is he your boyfriend, sissy?” Pollux, or maybe it’s Castor pipes up, swinging his legs under the table and you smile at the sound of the nickname, noticing the dimple in his cheek. Luke chokes on his burger, coughing until you elbow him.

“He’s more of my ESA,” you remark, and he still doesn’t know what that is, so he raises an eyebrow like your brothers do as they peer up at you from across the table.

“What’s an ESA?” Castor, you realize, who has no dimples, spits out behind munches of a pickle.

“Luke’s my emotional support animal.”

He eats the rest of your fries despite your confidence in that response, grumbling exactly how a resistant dog would.

As you’re paying the bill, a large shadow looms over the sunny disposition of everyone at your table—and then Luke shouts for everyone to cover their eyes. Glass shatters over you, revealing a hellhound the size of a minivan, and it pounces toward the twins, large teeth bared at their throats. Before Luke can pull his sword out, you whistle sharply and the sound whizzes through the air like a bullet as you toss the Zippo lighter at him as he’s pushing the kids to the car. Though he’s reluctant to lose sight of you, he wards them with an illusion, locking the doors despite their cries and he runs headfirst back into battle, you with your thyrsus and him with his sword, back to back.

“They okay?” you heave, jabbing at the red-eyed canine between the eyes as Luke pulls around to slash it across the neck, coming out of the tussle unscathed as you both watch it keel over at your feet into golden dust minutes later.

“Yeah. Are you?”

Though you originally found it funny, Luke does perform his job well, getting you to calm down as he holds you to his chest until you can breathe normally again.

“Mhm. Just scared me.”

The two of you run out of the destroyed diner and into the warded-off car before the police show up hand in hand as you escape without detection. As he falls asleep, Castor dreams that you two are Bonnie and Clyde like in an old Western movie he was definitely not old enough to watch.

—-

You’re finally back on the Island now, only an hour away from Montauk and Luke is getting restless in the passenger seat. He pulls apples out of his backpack, wiping them off with his shirt as you sing along to a Taylor Swift song playing on the radio.

And maybe someday when we’re older, this is something we’ll laugh about…. Foolish one… you hum, tapping the wheel to fight off your exhaustion.

Pollux and Castor are using their fingers to pretend to hop over obstacles in the smudged windows, babbling about something they did in class last week. The son of Hermes pulls out a pocketknife he nicked from a gas station this morning as he starts to cut the apples into pieces, putting some into a ziploc bag for the boys to share, and you smile at him, wistful at your trip nearing its finish line. If you weren’t enemies before this like he said, it’s crazy to consider him your closest friend. But he is, isn’t he?

His knuckles nudge yours over the console, pressing an apple slice into your palm.

“You know, Castellan, you’re sweet when you want to be. Shame you and that sister of Annie’s didn’t work out.”

Luke scoffs at the reminder of his ex, slicing another piece off for you to eat. She did say he had wandering eyes…always looking for you. He’s not going to admit that though.

“I just know you like your apples cut. Saw you battling it out with a butter knife last week. Couldn’t help but notice,” he says lowly like it’s normal for people to be that considerate about others, normal for him to care about you like that, a constant push and pull between you two. 

“Hurts my teeth,” you mutter, and Luke chortles like you’ve told him something life-changing. Your hand bumps into his again, feeling nothing but his calloused fingers, and when you look up his cheek protrudes with the last slice.

“Tax,” he winks, and you’re delirious with this feeling that only he can bring you, almost comparable to being high.

The popstar’s voice continues to trill in the background, with my head in my hands, saying “How could I not see the signs?”

You both don’t realize you’ve stopped singing until Pollux pipes up asking for you to play Fireball by Mr. 305 himself.

—-

The car finally pulls into the driveway of the forest path and you’re all greeted by the campers holding blazing lanterns. Chiron, your father, and the nymphs are waving as the twins marvel at the fairy lights strung up along the way for a warm welcome.

“You’re alive,” your dad remarks, and this time he doesn’t say it in jest, sounding more relieved.

“I was in good hands,” you affirm, looking up at Luke amongst the noise of your cheering friends and the feeling that comes with calling this place home.

The boys are tucked in at your side, shyly looking at the crowd, Pollux holding your hand while Castor holds onto Luke’s, and Chiron calls your attention.

“I know you didn’t get your official announcement,” he starts, and you laugh at that, remembering the bubbles in the lake.

“Because I pulled a fast one on D.”

“Nonetheless, I would love for you to get recognized for your efforts. Dionysus. Storyteller, Herald of Chaos,” he continues by announcing your name, and then,” Pollux, and Castor– children of the grapevine, the God of Wine!”

The campers are kneeling and you look at Luke, who’s smiling from the ground beside you.

“Take a picture, trouble, it’ll last longer.”

“My children are home safe. And thank you, Castellan, for being a formidable companion. My deepest appreciation.” Mr. D sounds serious for once, pulling Luke up as he nods in respect.

It’s a crazy feeling to finally feel at home though you’ve been here for two years now. But you remind yourself quickly of why that is when you see Luke carrying Pollux on his shoulders as Castor latches onto his legs.

“You know, your family is a nightmare. You two hellions will fit right in,” he grins.

You can’t help but agree.

—

“I hadn’t told them about you, but they saw you bathing in my eyes. I hadn’t told them about you, but they saw you in my written words. The perfume of love cannot be concealed.” -Nizar Qabbani

ask to be added to general/luke taglists!

luke taglist (some won't let me tag, turn on my post notifs?): @kissingyourgrl @dorcas4meadowes @lorarri @andrewgarfldsgf @noodlesketchbook @10ava01 @poppysrin @ashisabitgay @timhalamet @liv1104 @leeknows-wife @mxtokko @bugcuti3 @luvvfromme @midmourn @2hiigh2cry @yuminako @niktwazny303 @lukecastellandefender @intergalactic-padawan @iliketopgun @annybah @dangelnleif @thegrinningghost @alyssajunelle @obxstiles @m00ng4z3r @visndcaitswhore @b0ok-lover @elegant-face-tree @this-barbie-is-having-breakdowns @amortencjja @idonevenknow1359 @maliaaaa @targaryenluvs @sakyira @dhdjdjjdhsjdiri @number-onekidqueen @nininehaaa @bradynoonswife @stevenknightmarc @hoodedhavok @happy-mushrooms @homebyeleven @anotherblackreader @too-deviant @liviessun @lilacspider @theadventuresofanartist @sucker4seresin @simpforsunwoo @zanzie @starrystormwritings

[surprisebitch]

the more i learn about mariah over the years, the more i can see she is one of the most disrespected artists and i understand why it pushed her to having a shady or "diva" persona since the media wants to push it so much and she just played with it for her sense of humor

like the media pushed mariah was shading ariana when it really happened because media was calling ariana the "next mariah" which was really disrespectful considering mariah was still actively writing and making and releasing music. it really just discredits everything she built and with madonna constantly disrespecting and dissing mariah since the 90s. like i totally understand why mariah refuses to acknowledge madonna for that reason. and the jlo "i dont know her" cause of tommy mottola stealing mariah's unreleased work and giving to jlo

and then american idol trying to create this feud between mariah and nicki when the two have worked together in the past. even mariah called out idol for really making that a toxic environment for them and pushed that as the highlight of the show instead of the music

and then interviews in the 00s and 10s onwards just asking mariah things about celebs INSTEAD of things about her music. thinking she peaked in the 90s when We Belong Together and Touch My Body proved her longevity. her interview with Genius really showed music is her passion

it's like she's constantly had to prove herself as worthy of being a songwriter, producer, and vocalist because the media would reduce her to being a product of shady memes and being a diva when like how else was she supposed to answer disrespectful sensational questions

anyway consider me part of the lamb defense squad. mariah really deserves more recognition and respect as time goes. she has done so much and has broken so many barriers like there are so many things she did as a biracial (half black) woman in music

she also cares so much for her fans and the lgbtq. like she has written songs that really show the struggles she felt facing discrimination and marginalization. always been a championing that voice ever since the beginning of her career. she really is a beautiful and talented woman inside and out

[jenscx]

FATE — huh yunjin x f!reader

it’s been two years since yunjin had broken up with you, but fate brings you to korea, and into yunjin’s arms.

TAGS — fluff, angst, exes to lovers, cursing, wanted to write a super angsty one but felt bad for my wife yunjin :((

WORDCOUNT — 2.6k

yunjin breaks up with you through a phone call. it’s embarrassing, her voice sounding through your phone explaining and rambling while you try your best not to cry in a random starbucks.

“—and it’s not you, like seriously, it’s just our time differences and i can’t be in a relationship if i want to debut.” you grip your phone a little tighter.

“you told me you were going there to visit family. not to debut or even train again,” memories of yunjin reassuring you flash through your head and you can just hear the grimace in her voice.

your girlfriend continues, “i know what i said, it’s just, they asked and this is all i’ve ever wanted.”

“so that text from yesterday was a lie? telling me that you missed me so much and couldn’t wait to come back?” you hiss as quietly as possible, feeling more furious rather than sad at this point.

yunjin goes quiet for a second before sighing, “i do miss you and i miss new york too but i can’t give up on my dream. i’m sorry, y/n.”

you think of your girlfriend’s past endearing words and they only fan the flames burning inside you. ( “y/n? are you still there?” ) and at that moment, you no longer feel any sort of affection for huh yunjin, only disappointment that she lied to you and then broke up with you through a two minute phone call.

“i hope i never see you again, jennifer. bye.”

it’s been two years since the breakup and you glared at anyone who brought it up. it was a sensitive subject and you would rather spend your time thinking of anything else but yunjin. yet, you feel exhilarated. a sample of your mix had somehow worked its way to hybe and the producers there had reached out to you, an opportunity anyone would give anything for.

a ticket headed to south korea was booked and you stood in the airport, giving your teary goodbyes to your family. you had tried to build up your korean a few weeks beforehand and maybe, you could understand it more than the average foreigner.

after all, if you were to potentially be signed to hybe, you might just end up migrating there and a little korean could help you out.

“be good, i don't want to see my only daughter ending up a prisoner,” your dad says.

you laugh, affronted, “why would i do anything that would warrant jail time?”

he shrugs and you give your parents one final hug before departing for the gates.

excitement fills your veins and you are soon jittering with nervousness. as soon as they announce boarding, you rush onto the plane, a newfound enthusiasm for your future.

maybe you could meet blackpink there, but yg and hybe don’t really collaborate often, you thought.

or maybe if the whole hybe thing doesn’t work out, you could try for the black label and end up producing for somi. that would be fun.

your fantasies entertain you for the rest of the flight and sleep overtakes you at the later part. it is a 14 hour flight after all. you dream of soft brown eyes and even softer black hair.

it’s around 10 o’clock in the morning when your plane lands and surprisingly, you feel well-rested. it’s surreal that you were finally in korea and as you wait for the designated driver to pick you up, a crowd of fans rushes past you, camera flashes going off at lightning speed.

“ah, isn’t that lesserafim? they just came back from japan,” a stranger remarked while passing by. you tense up. the group, lesserafim, familiar yet painful at the same time. you clench your eyes shut, not willing to make any sort of contact with one particular member.

however, your body gravitates towards the crowd and the sight of the group’s success before you grips your heart painfully.

she left for a good cause.

“kazuha! look here!”

“chaewon! chaewon! do a heart with sakura!”

“eunchae-ssi, do a heart!”

just as you’re about to leave, someone calls out.

“yunjin! look here!”

unfortunately, the person who had yelled stood next to you and even though your head was screaming at you to run, your legs stayed rooted and you’re forced to face the girl who had broken your heart.

“y/n?” she mouthed, eyes widening. you pulled the cap on your head downwards and gulped. should i just run and hope she thinks i’m just her hallucination?

unluckily (or luckily for future you), neither you nor yunjin move away and you’re stuck in a staring contest with your ex.

she did nothing and snapped her smiling façade back on her face but her gaze wandered to you occasionally.

you thought back to your words, “i never want to see you again.” yeah, that was how it should be and your body finally cooperated as you pulled yourself out of her trance, away from the crowd.

you stare at the building, a modern, skyscraper corporate building that spoke of the company’s success.

“hello,” you greet the bodyguards stationed at the front and head in. it was pristine and honestly, you would die to work here every day. there was a cafe and everything, you promised yourself to get a snack later.

“oh, you’re the producer that no joohwan has a meeting with,” the receptionist says, “the twelfth floor, i think he’s in the studio.”

you nod and express your thanks before making your way up. despite the fact that you were about to talk to a hybe producer, your head was filled with thoughts of a particular idol under hybe. her blonde hair and bright eyes… why did she dye her hair? you frowned as the elevator dinged.

you’re greeted with a hallway and multiple doors. the sign above most reading, ‘practice room’ while the door at the end is a different colour.

you knocked and waited a couple seconds before opening it slightly.

a man sat before a layout of buttons and mixers that you were well familiar with and inside the recording booth, a sole girl looking at the lyric sheet.

“oh, hello, i wasn’t expecting you to be so early but come on in. you can take a seat there first while i finish up,” the producer, no joohwan, smiles. you nod and do so, not before recognising the girl inside as lesserafim’s chaewon.

“chaewon-ssi, let’s do the last verse, okay?”

“yes.”

you’re amazed at her voice and the way joohwan moves so fluidly around the mixer. it feels like it’s his second home and it probably was. it was like a performance artwork.

“i think that was good, we can wrap up here today,” joohwan says, “tell yunjin to drop by later, we need to record her verse too.”

even her name urges some sort of reaction out of you and maybe chaewon notices since she raises a questioning eyebrow but doesn’t say anything.

“okay,” joohwan turns to you when chaewon leaves the room, “so, i heard your mix and i think you’re just what our team needs. i think that you bring something new and i want you to work for hybe, or more specifically, source music.”

source music, the company lesserafim is under. you’re now in some dilemma because if you were to reach joohwan’s level, you would have to see the members during recording. the members, including yunjin. your head spins at the opportunity presented, either let your past relationship affect your future or forget about it.

you feel slightly bitter. yunjin chose her work over your relationship. she didn’t let you, no matter how much she loved you, affect her dreams.

“i would love to work for source music.”

you think you’ve made the right choice when joohwan takes your hand into a firm handshake, “i’m glad you chose our company! when i’m done recording with the girls, we can sign you to source music and draft up a contract.”

“okay, i’ll come in next week then?”

“yes, that would be great.” you don’t lie through your teeth when you tell him how much you appreciate the opportunity and joohwan seems genuinely excited for new ideas and samples.

as soon as you open the door however, your smile fades away as a blonde blocks your way.

“oh. you’re… here,” yunjin blinks. seeing her in close proximity brings up a lot of things you want to say to her. for example, you’re still so pretty ranging to i hate you and your stinking guts. but you don’t say any of those. you nod and then try to manoeuvre past her but she’s so much taller and stronger than you that your wrist just ends up in her grip. she drags you away while you struggle in her grasp and only stops when you two are both in an empty practice room, the door swiftly locked by yunjin.

“what are you doing!” you shriek, backing away from your ex-girlfriend but it seems, she has other plans that prevent your escape.

“no, what are you doing in korea?” yunjin retorts, “aren’t you meant to be in new york?”

“i’m here for a job, dumbass, so can i leave now?” you frown, not liking the way yunjin rests her gaze on you.

a moment of silence befalls the two of you, and of course, your temper runs short and it’s another episode of you trying to reach the locked door but yunjin’s arms reach you before you do.

her arms wrap around your waist and you writhe uncontrollably.

“jennifer! let. me. go!”

“no!”

you gasp, “what the hell do you mean, ‘no’!”

“i just wanna talk to you!”

“and i don’t want to talk to you!”

your ex-girlfriend pointedly ignores you until you stop trying to escape, too tired to fight back against the once comfortable embrace you wished for.

you pant, “what?”

“what?”

“what do you want to say? and it’s not nice just grabbing your ex— or anyone, like that!” you scoff.

yunjin releases her grip slightly but not enough for your body to wiggle out. she sits you both on the wooden floor and sighs.

“i…”

“what, jennifer? you wrestle me and then have nothing to say? you better start talking if not i’m leaving in five seconds.”

“okay, this isn’t how i envisioned our first meeting.”

“and i didn’t envision this at all,” you whisper under your breath, rolling your eyes. who the hell fantasises about meeting their ex again?

“can you stop saying shit and just listen?”

“no, jennifer, because you literally just kidnapped me!”

yunjin groans loudly, “oh my god, stop calling me jennifer!” her shout falters you and you stay quiet. a part of you is scared of her anger and another part wants to cry. cry that yunjin’s hold is so, so warm.

you hear yunjin take a deep breath.

“i regret breaking up with you.”

and it’s crazy that you don’t have a snarky remark to bite back. you don’t have any words at all because… well, why would yunjin ever regret that?

it got her famous, rich and her dream that she desired.

you feel her embrace you a little tighter again. at this point, your back was to her chest and she rested her head against your shoulder. it was like you two were cuddling, only that you were deathly upright and still. suddenly you hear sniffles and your shoulder getting wet.

“it was fine at first. i liked being an idol but i just… i’m sorry for leaving you. i was an idiot and i can’t tell you how much i’ve missed you,” yunjin cries into your shoulder, “i was so stupid to break up with the only person that supported me then… and i’m so sorry for being such a dumbass to ever let you go. i wanted to go back to new york and beg for you to take me back—”

“so why didn’t you?” you interrupt.

“i was scared, scared that i might see you with someone new and scared to face you again, but now that you’re here, all these emotions just rush out and fuck, i can’t stop crying. please, please let me try again, i won’t be the same idiot that breaks up with you. i’ll do anything for you, y/n.”

yunjin just sobs into your shoulder and there’s some mumbles that you can’t make out.

“jen,” you mutter softly, “i was so broken when you left me. you lied and then just broke up with me on the spot, and there’s still a little bit of my heart that hates you for it.” your ex-girlfriend’s body tenses up.

“the days after, i waited for any contact with you. maybe you would call, apologise and come back to new york, but a part of me knew that you would never. but i stayed, hoping,” you chuckle, “so much for wistful thinking. you haven’t changed much. but i did.”

yunjin inhales sharply.

“have you… moved on?” you can tell her cheeks are burning red at her curiosity despite her hair hiding her face.

“i could never move on, you know that right? i just had to change to become someone who would survive without you,” you turn around, facing the one that left you heartbroken in a starbucks two years ago. “you left so abruptly and… i can’t just forgive you instantly. also, i meant it when i said it wasn’t nice of you to just drag me in here.”

yunjin pouts, cheeks reddening further, “you would have ran away.”

you pinch her cheeks, “then you can chase me properly this time, instead of leaving again.”

she sighs into her hands.

“i wish i could turn back time and never leave you.”

you shake your head, “i’m still pissed at you. i think i had to change pillowcases every day since i cried into my pillow every time i thought of you.”

yunjin lets out a watery laugh.

“i’m sorry.”

“it’s okay. i became okay.”

“i just,” yunjin stutters, “missed you… way more than i thought. i love you, so much. fuck, why’d i ever think of leaving you?” she says the last part more to herself than you.

“let’s start slow, yunjin,” you offer the girl, who raises her eyebrows.

“yunjin?”

“everyone here calls you yunjin, shouldn’t i do the same?”

“but i like jen…”

you giggle, “okay jen, i’ll give you another chance.”

you swear that yunjin’s face brightens up tenfold when you let those words out.

lesserafim’s dating ban is lifted after five years. yunjin is more mature and so are you. you had recently celebrated your 27th birthday by flying back to new york (with yunjin tagging along) to visit your family.

after reaching incheon international airport, yunjin takes ahold of your hand and laughs, “this is the first time i saw you since we broke up. it’s so crazy that fate brought you here with me.”

you roll your eyes at her.

“you mean, you broke up with me, don’t make it into a mutual agreement,” you sass.

“yeah yeah, but i wanted to ask you something,” yunjin shifted uncomfortably, “y/n.”

“yes, jen?”

“we should start dating.”

“yeah? that’s not really asking anyway, more like stating,” you say.

yunjin is now the one rolling her eyes.

“is that a yes because i might just start crying.”

you give her silence before bursting into laughter at her worried expression.

“yes, you doofus.”

( “hey jen, you were kind of like joe jonas breaking up with taylor swift when you broke up with me.”

“oh my god, i was joe jonas.” )

[mikaikaika]

Dude at this point it really feels like qTubbo is doomed by the narrative Greek mythology Cassandra style. qTubbo goes into anything and everything he does with an idea in his head and full faith in himself in wanting to execute it and even though he makes mistakes, he learns from them and always ends up producing the result way better than he imagined in his head.

However, much like how the populace did not believe in Cassandra and her words - I feel like no one at this point even wants to give qTubbo a benefit of the doubt. The moment they see him working on something (be it his hole or now the newly found parenting), people immediately go off their first perceptions and just accept it as fact that qTubbo is doing a bad job and is set to fail and then through these conceived notions they themselves begin being a catalyst to the doom they pictured .

Everyone on the server says to Tubbo's face how Sunny is spoiled and how she's got Tubbo wrapped around her finger to the extent she wouldn't listen to him ever but we also have to understand this is a person who's barely stepped into adulthood himself and thrusting him a child is obviously a big responsibility. As someone who is still navigating and figuring out the world around him, it is obvious it'd take Tubbo a little time to figure out being a parent as well. It will take time and he will make mistakes but he will figure it out along the way. It's really disheartening to see the islanders just straight up diminish Tubbo when it hasn't even been a proper week to all of this.

All in all, qTubbo is already undermined a lot on the server cause he is viewed as reckless and impulsive because he's the youngest and his inputs are often ignored without even an addressal of their relevance or importance. He is never given that benefit of doubt or margin of the error and instead everyone just directly assumes the worst of him. So picturing him going down a slippery slope of self-esteem issues and as a result overcompensate as a method of gaining respect and even love would not be a far reaching conclusion. But it just seems oh so disheartening especially knowing how much potential he holds and the output he delivers when he actually does have unbridled faith in himself.

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug watches 'The Bad Batch': The Outpost

As per many people's requests, I've collected a series of texts and Facebook messages from Doug when he watched certain episodes of everyone's favorite Copy Paste Boi show.

Some he was quite pithy on ('Ryan-from-Accounting goes fast but not fast enough to get away from the Bitch Wife Laura'), and others...well, he got excitable, to put it mildly.

Here's one of the more deranged ones, Season 2, Episode 12, 'The Outpost'. Or as Doug calls it: "The Daddy Warcrimes Christmas Special."

CW for Language like you wouldn't believe. Doug says "you'll need a permission slip from your momma to read this, I guess."

-----

Daddy Warcrimes is waiting by the Empire's equivalent of a windowless van, because comfort is just not his thing and he really wants the experience of smuggling cocaine across the border one of these days.

Some bitch who looks like she works at a bank is telling these clones that their extended warranty is up. I wanna bring her a bag of pennies and make her count it before I deposit it because I'm sick like that.

So here comes in SOME BLOND JACKASS. Mother of Hell do I hate this guy. Can I just tell you how much I hate him? I hate him like I hate the Crimson Tide, like I hate February, like I hate my mother-in-law. Hate hate hate. 

So Daddy Warcrimes, SOME BLOND JACKASS, and some homies get into Floating Probable Cause to lay waste to an unsuspecting Third World country or whatever.

Well, I was wrong! Looks like Elsa and her frozen fingers took over this dump. Disney owns both, so why not. The cold never bothered them anyway. Nope, they’re at somebody’s nasty old storage shed. Why does this remind me of visiting my sister in Wyoming?

Oh, who is this no-frills, salt-of-the-earth, son-of-a-bitch? Is that tanned Kurt Russell? No? It’s Sassy Park Ranger! I like him already. If he was my boss I’d actually show up to work on time and sober, or late and hung over, either way, it’d be a good time with the man. He just seems cool and chill and a nice dude. I bet he’s got homemade beef jerky in his locker and his beard always smells like cigar smoke. 

OH SHUT UP STUPID BLOND JACKASS, Jesus Christ I’ve never wanted to hit someone with a folding chair so hard in my life. CALL HIM COMMANDER.

Aw, Sassy Park Ranger’s being nice to Daddy Warcrimes, maybe Daddy Warcrimes will share the Columbian nose candy in the back of the van with Sassy Park Ranger, and Sassy Park Ranger won’t ask about the sobbing family Daddy Warcrimes is probably holding for ransom in the back. It’s all about understanding each other. 

This is truly the Daddy Warcrimes Christmas special, snow and friendship and stuff. I hope this doesn’t end up with Daddy Warcrimes 86’ing Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer from the sky, that would traumatize the children. But this is the same studio that produced Bambi so who knows. Didn't he try killing a kid the first episode?

Oh man, Sassy Park Ranger’s lost a lot of his men, that’s real sad. Only two left, Jesus. SHUT UP BLOND JACKASS SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP.

(I won’t repeat it, but the amount of times that SHUT UP was texted was….something else- Dr. MM)

Sassy Park Ranger��s taking Daddy Warcrimes on a hike around the place in the middle of a blizzard, probably going to say hi to the yeti hooker they all frequent and show him how to write his name in the snow with pee. He’s such a good guy. If they go sledding I’d be so happy.

Oh, shit! Daddy Warcrimes remembers that he has a job and proceeds to cop some poor bastard in the leg so he can follow the trail of blood in the snow. What in the Fargo am I watching here, does Steve Buschemi show up at one point now. No sledding in this one, I guess.

Well there goes Sassy Park Ranger and Daddy Warcrimes on a heartwarming romp following a crippled burglar in the snow as he bleeds to death. Kevin McCallister would be so proud. Well, now, they found a dead body already. You know, at this point, if Daddy Warcrimes capped Santa in the head this show wouldn’t be less wholesome. 

Aw shit Daddy Warcrimes stepped on a landmine, but Sassy Park Ranger watched his training videos that HR made them sit through and disarms it. They’re having a nice convo, I really, really like Sassy Park Ranger. If he dies I’ll be so freaking mad. 

(I said nothing, FYI - Dr. MM)

Aw shit, they found the bunker of crazy white people with guns in the snow. It’s confirmed: the Daddy Warcrimes Christmas Special takes place in Wyoming. Are Daddy Warcrimes and Sassy Park Ranger facing off my brother-in-law and his branch of the VFW near Laramie? Those guys need hobbies besides doomsday prepping and getting drunk in the snow. It ain’t right. 

“After all we sacrificed”…man. I feel right here. Is this the child friendly version of Enemy at the Gate? Shit. Please these two bastards need to survive. I need a beer and I wanna hug my wife.  

Dr. Meat Muffin, please don't tell me you're letting your babies watch this show. They need that dog from Australia who has fun with her daddy, not this.

Oh shit, avalanche! 

Oh no, Sassy Park Ranger. Oh no, oh no. Oh, Daddy Warcrimes.

Thank Christ they made it! They’re gonna save him! They’re gonna save him.

Wait. What. 

WHAT THE FUCK, BLOND ASSHOLE. 

I HATE THIS JACKASS SO GODDAMNED MUCH, SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE, I WANNER SHOVE MY SOLDIER UP YOUR EMPIRE YOU STUPID DICK. 

FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU

Yay! Daddy Warcrimes finally took out his gun and 86’d that FUCK. CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY!! YAAAAAAY!!!!!

Man...I hope this ends okay for Daddy Warcrimes. I hope his brothers aren't just dicking around somewhere warm while he and the other bros are out dying.

Guess that'll be next episode?"

....Doug snapped SO HARD watching 'Pabu'. Brace yourselves.

[bloodymiso]

jump shot!!!

hobie brown x gn!basketball player!reader hcs mentions of injury, some swear words, sfw

i had a competition yesterday and thoughts ensued. ig reader just plays basketball for fun as a college sport, not professionally or anything. reader started playing in hs and continued through college:) pavitr ver coming soon!

hes so supportive like babygirl goes to ALL of your games

he tried to understand the rules of basketball so he wouldnt be shouting “FOUL!” all the time like a dumbass

h. “youre telling me you cant move while givin’ a screen?” r. “yeah so you arent the first to make contact with the opponent, if you do its a foul.” h. “that’s stupid”

ofc games are kinda rare cause who tf wants to hold college sports competitions

when he met your team, they lowkey BEGGED him to join(as if he could) because of his body proportions

long arms, long legs, bro was perfect

ygs like making bottlecap pins together so he made you one w a silly lil basketball

now its your goodluck charm:3

assuming youre pretty much his height and size, sometimes he’d wear your jerseys

if youre bigger than him, he doesnt really care he’ll wear them anyway

if youre smaller than him(and it wont fit) its okay he’ll hug it to sleep when you arent there

whenever you win a game he literally carries you and twirls you around like a prince/princess/whatever you prefer

he’d probably join you in after parties

wrapping his arms around your waist as he rested his chin on your shoulder/head while you talked with your team mates

one time he couldnt see one of your games because ew spiderman duties and he ended up getting injured after

he didnt want to interrupt you so he just climbed through your window and waited in your apartment

when you got home you tended to his injuries and scolded his dumb ass

r. “ugdhAGSH youre so stupid why didnt you call me or go to the hospital” h. “hospitals are concepts produced by the government to earn money through overpriced treatments.” r. “why am i dating you.”

whenever youre the one who gets injured, he tends to you himself

idk my angsty ass is thinking he probably had some sort of hospital trauma as a kid or just in general

whenever basketball and studies start to pile up he’ll bring you to some sort of secret spotty spot and just cuddle w you

whenever you need to rant about a teammate(or just anything tbh) he’ll listen to you

like literally he’ll memorize every bit of gossip you spat out whenever ranting

r. “yeah so anyway, ___ was such an ass today” h. “aye, isnt that the one who ate your biscuits?”

gwen and miles thinks youre cool asf like damn

you and pavitr are literal besties

he’ll bring you some vegetable samosas from his earth

eventually you stocked up on them to eat after practice

okay bye:3 want to support? reblog pookies!! i swear ill work on the matchups soon..

[notyour-valentine]

I thought you mig appreciate this brainrot and I CANNOT remove it from my head so I shall shove it in your asks

Little Aemond having a friend-a lady friend, but just a friend. They meet sometimes, hidden away, both from the ones trying to tear them down, commiserate and share company.

Because they have eachother, it makes life better.

And one day the girl is grumbling, crying, upset, because she was told she'll never find a husband. She doesn't even fully understand what it means to have a husband, yet, only that it's vitally important for a woman to have one. And Aemond clasps her hands and swears that he'll marry her, he promises. He swears it.

And she giggled, and promises to marry him-the two forging a little pact-their own engagement.

But time tears them apart-and when she returns, they are both grown, and have changed.

But Aemond hasn't forgotten. And he plans to uphold his promise.

I know this isn't what you asked for, but I loved the idea so much I ran with it and created a little headcanon - I hope you don't mind and I hope you enjoy🤍

Your Protector ~ Aemond Targaryen x childhood friend! Reader Headcanon

[Navigation] [Moonboard Masterlist] [House of the Dragon Masterlist]

All my writing is produced by an adult and created with an adult audience in mind (18/21+). You are responsible for your own media consumption. I do not consent to my work being translated, copied or posted elsewhere on this platform or any other.

Warnings: implication of sexual assault, bedding ceremony, body insecurity, expect canon confirming tone and mention of violence

Words: 1508

If you were his friend back then, when he had little to no friends, before he was respected for his dragon, he would never forget it and your friendship

Of course, after gaining Vhagar, he'd be respected more, also by his brother, but he'd always be loyal to you

Woe to Aegon if he started talking poorly about you, and to anyone else

Before he'd have found sneaky ways to exact revenge on the people who caused your tears but now, with Vhagar, he is downright terrifying. 

But dragon or not, when your family moved away from Court, he cannot stop them. Years pass, but his memory still remains

Politics is a cruel game, and before long he hears whispers that you are to return to court only to be engaged to another Lord's heir. It is a good match, securing you a title and position, but at the same time it is a name Aemond is all too familiar with - one of Aegon's oldest companions

He has visited the brothels on the street of silk more than the sept- loud, demanding, uneducated, greedy and sloppy, the kind of man Aemond had taken good care to stay away from. 

He drops his name to Aegon, who is more than happy to share details of years of escapades, detailing in great length the fun they had out drinking and whoring.

One story is enough for Aemond to make up his mind that he is unworthy of you, three cements the fear that a marriage to a brute like that would break your spirit before the year was out. By the fifth tale, he is certain that he cannot allow this wedding to take place under any circumstances. 

Only a few days later, you return to court all grown, the perfect lady. And what a show your supposed intended puts on, an image of gallantry and chivalry, only to debate with Aegon about which ways to have you on your wedding night first, delighting in the fact that you were known for your modesty and thinking about all the ways you could be shocked

How best to break her in, they call it, as if you were nothing more than a horse to tame and breed. It brings bile to Aemond's mouth and it takes all his self restraint not to lash out right then and there

The next day, he goes to you. When you had parted, you were of the same height, maybe even a little taller, but now he towered over you. Never before had he been more self conscious about how intimidating he could appear, not knowing if your quiet nature was fear, or those years of lessons and instructions by your Septa

He tells it to you without sugarcoating it, the reality of the man you were going to be engaged to, the way he spoke of you, the way he would treat you (leaving out only the vilest of plans he had made with Aegon)

To his surprise, you show little to no reaction, before reminding him with a sigh that your house needed allies, that it would be a good and advantageous match for you and your family, a necessary one and the best you could find

It enrages him how little you fight against this marriage, how you didn't seem to mind that your family was leading you like a lamb to slaughter, dooming you to a life of unhappiness

"'Tis the fate of all women, Aemond.", You said, calling him by his name instead of his title for the first time in years

That may be so, but it wouldn't be yours. He wouldn't allow it to be. 

Unlike with you, he makes no attempt to hide how frightening he could be while speaking to your father to inform him of your intended's inadequacies. In his reaction he sees that all this was not new to him. 

Aemond has never killed a man, but he has never felt closer to the deed than in that moment. 

"Of course,", he added, staring at the wine in his cup, "this betrothal would be a sin.", Knowing how gods-fearing your family was

"She has already promised herself to another, swearing on the Seven-Pointed Star in the Royal Sept. Forcing her to break it could well anger the Gods"

Granted, the oath had been taken without any book in the rough vicinity of the building but that wasn't the point, and it was enough to sway his hand

The next step was to deal with his mother. She and his grandfather Otto had already been plotting - a Tyrell, or a Redwyne, maybe a Lannister, but Aemond doesn’t ask. He informs them of his decision, and while he hated seeing his mother cave to the whims of her own father, her husband or even Aegon, he feels relief when she doesn’t fight him on this. 

His grandfather Otto is less than happy, but Aemond is not Aegon, and he cannot intimidate him, and he knows better than to try, after all he is their most important and powerful ally

The final step was the most difficult - you

When informed of the change of circumstance, you fall silent, your face unreadable to him, sending waves of doubt crashing over him. You hadn’t minded his scar as a child, but it was a different thing to accept a deformity as his in a friend and in a husband - what if he indeed frightened or disgusted you? 

It doesn’t matter, Aemond decided, he was doing this to protect you at any means necessary, so he takes your hand and swears to you that he would marry you, giving you more protection and a higher position than any other unmarried man in the Seven Kingdoms could provide. He also swears that he would never make demands of you in any way, even if it meant being husband and wife in name only

Your father’s presence destroys any attempt at an honest response from you

Seven days is the shortest possible gap between a formal betrothal and a wedding in the faith and they are the longest and most aggrevating in Aemond’s life.

The day of the announcement, your intended had a fit of rage, confirming to him that placing extra guards around your rooms was a good idea.

The remaining days are kept up with planning the spectacle that according to his mother and grandfather, the people deserved. 

On the seventh day, you are married, and as he places the red and black cloak of House Targaryen over your shoulders, he glances at the crowd, seeing the disapproving face of his grandfather, and the dark glare in his brother’s and your former intended’s eyes. 

As your husband, he can protect you from most anything, but not the bedding ceremony, no matter how hard he tried beforehand. He doesn’t humour the women and instead finds his bedroom with long strides. He doesn’t like strangers touching him in any case, and a glare of his keeps those that do run after him at bay. 

The relief he feels at finally seeing you is short lived. Your wedding dress is in tatters, your hair dishevelled and your eyes are wide. He doesn’t miss Aegon and his friends in your closest entourage. 

But as soon as you crossed the threshold you are his, and not even that imbecil of a brother and his friends dared to move beyond that. He had half hoped they would try.

You find his side as quickly as possible, and takes note of the way you seem to hide behind his body

When the doors close, you breathe a sigh of relief and lean your head against his back. 

That is when finally, after all these years, Aemond pulls you in for an embrace. The last time you were of a height, now his chin rests easily atop your head. 

For a long while he just holds you in silence, his mind running wild with plans for vengeance, but that could wait until tomorrow

Gently he removes what little remains of your wedding dress and instead helps you into the dressing gown the maids had provided for the next morning. 

Then he sits you in front of him and untangles your hair, removing the remaining pins and combing out the braids.

That is when you begin to talk, about the past, about what happened in the years since your parting. He talks of studies, dragons and Helaena and her children, you talk of your siblings, the gardens, the little green bird you were gifted for your eleventh nameday that you called Vhagar too, who awaits in your chambers

Aemond listens more than he talks, and combs your hair even after it is long untangled

Then, as the hour grows so late it turns early, Aemond pulls back the covers and draws his dagger

“I won’t give them any reason to doubt our marriage.”, he simply announced as he rolled up his sleeve. A cut up there would be more inconspicuous and would not be found easily, providing the blood necessary to prove the loss of your maidenhead

Before he can cut his flesh, your fingers wrap around his wrist, reminding him that there are other ways to ensure the blood on the bedsheets

“We are married now, Aemond,”, you say, “So let us be married.”

End

~

Part II (Wedding Night)

Thank you so much for reading - I hope you enjoyed and would love to hear your thoughts!

[elderberries-and-honey]

𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 "𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘦" 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥

Dear Marmee,

The bitter cold crept in slowly at first but there is no denying winter has arrived here in Wales. Everything is now covered in a sheet of white snow.

Every morning, I wake before the rooster's crow. Our friend Beth has moved in with us and she enjoys knitting very much. She has knitted me two new sweaters before Christmas has even come and they keep me much warmer than my worn-out coat from last Winter. It's a good thing too 'cause there's still much to be done on our farm, though I've made a rather decent amount of progress.

Even so, we hardly had any remaining produce leftover for ourselves after selling what I was able to salvage from our terrible blight. I won't burden you too much with our troubles but things have been rough here for us and I know Winifred is silently troubling herself over it.

You mentioned Jo is trying to get published? Please let me know how that goes for her. I think it might just inspire Winifred who is still glued to her typewriter whenever she has the time to write.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Lawrence

Dear Marmee,

I'm sorry to hear Jo was turned down in her quest to get published. Hopefully it won't discourage her from trying. Have you heard from Amy in Paris? How are Meg and Mr. Brooks? How does Beth like teaching piano?

Many of our animals, including the thorn in my side, Frank the Goose, passed on near the end of November. Without their eggs and milk to sell, money is tighter than ever.

Winifred has begun fretting over how we will make a good Christmas for Ozzy. So I've started working at the pub again to help us make it through the rest of winter and afford a few gifts for him. I'm struggling to come up with an idea on what to get Winifred, after all, how could I top her typewriter? If you have any ideas, please include them in your next letter.

Ozzy is doing quite well, thank you for asking. He likes to "help" me on the farm but mostly he enjoys playing in the snow with the garden shovels and trying to escape to our small pond. You would not believe the tantrums he throws when I have to wrangle him away from the edge. I can almost understand how my Father felt when I was a boy and he would paddle my bottom. The boy is like a fish the way he enjoys the water! Even bathtime seems to be his favorite part about bedtime.

It was a struggle to get him out of his crib and into a real bed but we needed to complete the transition before our new little one arrives. With Beth here to teach us patience, I can proudly declare we have finally succeeded.

Sincerely, Lawrence

Dear Marmee,

We're approaching our due date rather quickly, a little under 3 months now. Millie has been staying with Louise for the Winter (and giving her free cooking lessons) after agreeing to stay and help Winifred deliver the baby, which I'm thankful for. I know this is a huge relief for Winifred. Her last delivery was not without complications and I know she grows uneasy the closer we get.

I know Winifred believes the baby will be a girl but I have my own suspicions we will welcome another son. I'm not wholly certain I could handle another little girl after we lost Flora. Not yet, rather. The pain of losing a child never truly leaves, does it?

I did not mean to ignore your inquiry over how I'm fairing. I must keep a courageous face for my family, and consequently I've grown used to wearing my mask of gallantry. Since you so kindly asked though, I will admit that I am a little worn down as of late.

I spend long hours tending the farm and go to work even longer hours in the pub. Valerie, good hearted as she is, is not the best co-worker, often drinking herself stupid before the nights out. I suppose it's true what they say about you Irish folk.

Most of my trouble comes from myself, I suppose. I watched my father save this very farm many times over and I should want to do the same. But with every plant that refused to sprout, I found myself resentful over having ever inherited it.

I think of my wife, the writer, the poet, and how she is able to read Ozzy her stories. I think of Jackson with his pub, and his son, Patrick, who's becoming a doctor, and you with your bookshop. Even my father who provided my mother and I with food, and a roof over our heads because he cared for the farm so tenderly. All of you, with such passion.

Even if I was as passionate as my father, the farming industry is changing. All these extravagant advancements are putting farmers out of work all over. If the farm were to go under, what would I do? It's all I've ever known.

If I don't have time to write before Christmas Day - I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Send my love to your girls and wish them the same for me as well.

Sincerely, Lawrence

P.S. Don't be cross with me for the joke, I only say it in jest. The Irish could drink me under the table any day of the week and sing a merry tune whilst doing so which is rather remarkable.

next / previous / first

[undead-merman]

This was a Patreon request from Usotsu: “I remembered you once wrote about Bullboy Kylar and a vet pc, may I request a continuation to that, if that's ok? Maybe with the pc having to keep him without much of a choice since Kylar isn't being productive anymore and he also has become violent towards everyone in his farm but it's just a little calmer with pc's presence? Bonus points if pc brings Kylar to Alex's farm and everything gets even worse, lmao. I don't mind if it's goes more towards SFW or NSFW. Thanks in advance.”

The original post

Bullboy Kaylar Moving to Alex’s farm with Vet GN-Reader SFW & NSFW

Taking him off Remy’s hands

It was during your last visit did you hear Remy tell you that they were looking to re-home Kylar. It was too much work and he wasn’t providing enough to stay on the farm. He was running a business, not a charity. Not to mention the little shit had caused a handful of injuries that had some farmhands in the hospital for goring.

You felt bad for the little guy. Constantly nursing some kind of injury, and the farmers were never gentle with him. Harsh and somewhat cruel, you couldn’t just let him leave. You talked with Alex, and they agreed. They were looking for another bull and even if he didn’t give milk he would be cared for at this farm and give the little guy the life he deserves. 

There was a heavy tension between Remy and Alex and you knew that just moving Kylar wasn’t as simple as asking. You had to strike a deal. You had to do some things you weren’t proud of and you would have had to do worse if you weren’t their vet. 

But that day game where Alex grabbed a trailer for him and when he ran into your arms and took him outside of the fence Kylar’s eyes when wide with wonder. His face just right now was worth the trouble you went through. 

You had to sit with him in the trailer he kicked and panicked otherwise. He held onto you so hard, not understanding you were taking him to have a much better life. He was trembling against you, and you certainly noticed his cock poking against you even with how high stress this was. Kylar would be Kylar even when stressed. Your touch did help calm him down a bit. 

You and Alex lead him to the pen for him, lined with extra soft bedding. Kylar was blown away by it and fell asleep almost instantly. Both you and Alex couldn’t help but smile at his sleeping face. It was heartwarming and Alex ruffled your hair and made a nice dinner for the both of you that night. A little bit of both of your favorites.       

Adjusting To The Move

Kylar was shy and meek at first. Only really perking up when you were around and with you appearing every day his mood improved faster than you were expecting. His blood pressure was at an all-time low and he was gaining weight.

He did have that habit of humping you when you did medical checkups on him and they looked painful sometimes. All flushed and painfully hard with precum almost gushing from his slit.

The stones in his hooves gradually got less and he was careful with the bandages. He has gotten a little glow to him, looking so much healthier in this new environment. 

When you finally introduced him to the fields he still seemed rather happy despite it being a smaller plot of land. Though he didn’t seem to get along with any of the others. A little bit of a loner, though you hoped that would change.

After a month or so he finally seemed ready to produce and as both you and Alex stood there attaching the milkers Kylar didn’t take his eyes off you. Mooing and trying to fuck the machine. Even with his smaller testicles and prior neglect, he spewed so much. Even Alex was impressed that this little guy could make so much. He compared to your finest and biggest girl.        

The Quirks Of The Bull

He grew slightly more comfortable around the farm and while he was still a loner, he did always come up to the fence line and wait for you to come out before work. He leaned into the pets you offered and always waited for you to come home. Alex made a joke that he made a little ditch from pacing around the fence waiting for you. 

Kylar did have attachment issues. He was overly possessive of you and would headbutt the other cattle when you did checkups on them or push them over when they were coming to get pet. Though you noticed Kylar always acted pathetic when you or Alex went to scold him. 

Speaking of Alex, he never seemed to like them. Tolerating them was more the word for it. His face would drop when Alex came in and would huff when you and Alex chatted. If you weren’t separated by a face or gate by the time Alex left he’d knock you over and grab your hips to grind his bare cock into your ass. The precum drenches your pants and his cum coats you, even reaching the back of your neck. 

If you did ever end up bottomless around him he’s on your like glue. Mouth right on your genitals and feverishly shoving his face as close to you as he can as he devours you desperately. Drinking every little drop of fluid you secrete. Or if he hadn’t seen you all day his cock was pressing right at your rim, Pushing in without prep. It would always hurt like hell and it was like he was trying to make up for it with gentle licks of his long tongue, though it never helped as he brutally ruined your hole and stuffed you so full of cum your stomach bloated and it gushed when he popped himself out. 

Should you have ever let him do it willingly, he was gentle. Hands shaking as he held your hips as his cock slipped into you. Both of you are grateful for the lube you used beforehand. His fingers fumbling on your tummy and trying to find his cock inside you and every time he found it he pressed down and mooed so happily. 

He was one to pass out right after cumming so if he ended up catching you bare you were able to squeeze by him without a fuss. 

Alex did seem to like him even if he was a troublemaker. He made some profitable milk. Alex often talked about finding him a nice breeding partner. If only Alex knew.

[therainbowwillow]

I am not by any means someone who has a large platform on the internet, but seeing as my most popular post of all time, seen by tens of thousands of people, was on hbomberguy's Plagiarism and You(Tube), I would like to publicly get my thoughts straight on what has happened since.

I've seen a lot of discussion about who is to blame for James' recent mental health crisis and I would like to firmly state that hbomberguy (and Kat, his producer), others who made good faith videos on the situation (The Ace Couple, Jessie Gender, Todd in the Shadows), and people who commented on the situation in good faith are not to blame in the slightest. At the same time, I understand that the sudden loss of support, friends, and a career undoubtedly harmed James Somerton and that it is upsetting to me to see anyone put in that position, regardless of their actions. I believe that hbomberguy used his platform responsibly. From the beginning, I noticed that he was making clear, intentional choices regarding his treatment of the situation, including framing Nick as a possible victim rather than an accomplice to the plagiarism, reminding his audience not to harass James Somerton, and refusing to stoop to personal attacks in his video. Having seen hbomberguy's professional handling of the situation, I believe that he is a person who has a good understanding of the sway he has online and how to use that power delicately. I'm sure a choice was made weighing the benefit of speaking out against the possible harm and I believe that hbomberguy & crew made the correct decision. The same goes for The Ace Couple, Jessie Gender, and Todd in the Shadows. I think it is a creator's duty to understand that regardless of how professionally they treat a situation, there are bound to be some bad actors in their audience who will attempt to harass others in their name. It seems to me that all of these creators understood that and made an educated decision to speak out publicly. Had they kept quiet, harm would have continued to be done to the authors and artists who had their work stolen and monetized by someone who did not fairly compensate them (or even acknowledge their existence). With this in mind, I do believe that it is important to have empathy for James as well. I understand feeling hurt, betrayed, and skeptical of the legitimacy of everything he says from this point on, knowing what we know now about how he built his career. I have those feelings myself. They are valid. However, there is no situation in which people should be publicly speculating on the legitimacy of his mental health struggles or celebrating his suffering. I do believe that James knew what he was doing, I believe he knew that he was causing some harm (to what extent he understood that, no one but James can say), and I do believe that it was wrong. At this point, the community does as well. I think the best thing for him would've been to step away from the internet, but at the same time, I understand why he did not. He went from being a fairly popular online queer voice to one of the community's most hated content creators. I imagine there was some whiplash and confusion and that it must've been upsetting and scary. James did not make the right decision in trying to come back and that poor choice was his own, but at the same time, I don't think there's much use in rehashing that to him in the comments of his apology or on Twitter.

I don't think it would've been any better to let his actions fade to complete obscurity, but I also believe that trying to hold him immediately accountable was doomed from the start. If there was a path forward as a content creator, James strayed far from it. Regardless, I think the moral thing to do right now is to treat him with grace and not speculate about his honesty or intentions online. I hesitate to invalidate people's concerns, but regardless, they don't belong in the public sphere at this moment.

Ultimately, I wish James the best. I hope he finds safety, comfort, and happiness going forwards. I also wish hbomberguy & team as well as all the other creators and audience members who spoke to their experiences in good faith all the best. These people are not to blame for James' mental health struggles. If we mean to reduce as much harm as possible, I think the ideal path forwards is show empathy for everyone involved and lay the idea of blame to rest.

[gallusrostromegalus]

Hello! I read TPOFATGIF for the first time this week after binge reading your lore posts, and I have a lore question. I get that the home of the main case is a Japan/America amalgamation similar to that of Big Hero 6, but is there any lore reason as to why its like that? Were Japan and America separate places in this world and then fused later or has it always been like this?

I wrote them in a place that is both Japan and California at the same time because of the Animaniacs.

For some additional context, for me, my first exposure to Yugioh was the infamous 4Kids Dub on Kids!WB whch was... weird, to say the least.

YuGiOh was one of the first anime-anime they showed on that network, after Pokemon, and the first cartoon series I recall that had a specific airdate order- everything before then had been episodic in the sense that it didn't really matter what order the season's episodes were shown in- it didn't matter who Batman fought last week, this week he was on another case. Pokemon did reference previous episodes, but was so full of random filler and side-adventures that it didn't really matter when WB showed the first season out of order. One staruday Ash just had a Charmander now and we just rolled with that.

But Yugioh started off with "Previously On Yugioh" flashbacks that really only made sense if you'd seen the previous episode, and as calvinball as the games were, they did have like. A Turn Order that you had to follow consistently, and it was the first time my 5th-grade self had ever seen a show with a sesonal plot and I was BUCKWILD about it.

At the same time, this was still a very Transitional period for KidsWB, going from a lot of cartoons that were produced in-house to a lot of cartoons produced in independent studios or in Japan. One of the most famous In-House cartoons, that was still (barely) running in 2000 when YGO hit, was the cartoon that built the KidsWB Brand: Animaniacs. The Animaniacs, for those of you that were only born this millenium, were a trio of... creatures. The Warner Brothers, Yakko Warner and Wakko Warner, and their sister, Dot who would escape from the water tower where they were lcked up last week, to cause mayhem and make remarkably sharp and adult satirical jokes about current events, until they were caught and locked back up until next week. It was directed by steven speilberg and it was fucking wild.

But a peculiar precept of the Animaniacs universe was that they explicitly, in the canon of their show, lived in the water tower on the Real Life Warner Movie Studios Lot, in Real Life Burbank, CA. The backgrounds were frequently traced photographs of the IRL Studio and surrounding hollywood landmarks. In addition to the show, the Studio also made "Bumps" or micro-episdodes that were like, 30 seconds long, for when the commericals didn't quite fill out the whole half hour. In those, the Animaniacs made jokes like they were actors employed by the studio, playing the role of the Animaniacs, and would complain about the on-site parking or the latest contracts, a meta-joke that goes clean back to the Looney Tunes in the 1950's and probably farther. Bugs and Daffy were there too, threatening to go on strike, but the Animaniacs combined that meta joke with their canon of living on-site to like. Complain about traffic on specific roads in Brubank.

...and then when KidsWB started accepting cartoons from other studios, they KEPT doing those Meta Bumps. Batman and Daffy comisserated about the difficultly of keeping thier black suits black over a cup of coffee. Omi of Xaolin Showdown and Riccochet of Lucha Libre compared the relative amount of workman's comp they were owed for thier stunts behind one of the sets. When Yugioh joined the network, it's characters were also added to the bumps.

One particular bump stood out to me, and unfortunately I haven't ever found a recording of it, but characters were complaining about commute times to work. The Animaniacs kicked off with not understanding how everyone was late to shooting, Come on guys, we're PROFESSIONALS. Uncle from Jackie Chan Adventures told them off- they lived on site, he had to commute all the way from San Francisco's Chinatown! That's nothing, groans Batman, Do you have any idea how much he spends in Batfuel for the Batjet commuting in from Gotham. Chinatown? laughs Omi, try commuting from actual China! Yugi walks in and asks what's going on, and someone asks him how long it takes him to get to work.

"Oh, I just walk over after school." Yugi says, and there is a cut to the expanded scenery with Warner Brothers Studio on one side of the street, and Domino High School on the other side of the street. "It's a good thing school is so close." he adds. "I have to spend like four hours in special FX and makeup to get my hair to do this! If I had to commute, we'd never have time to shoot!"

... And that joke-within-a-joke Micro-universe, that takes place in twelve different cartoon shows and IRL Burbank California, just an hour south of where my grandparents lived, that peculiar metaverse where my childhood nostalgia lives, is the universe where TPOFATGIF takes place. It's in IRL late 90's/early 00's California, because I lived in California in the late 90's and early 00's and that's the context I first experienced YGO in. It's in the IRL parts of Tokyo that Takahashi-sensei put into his Magnum opus. It's in a universe that contain's both Gotham City and Uncle's Antiques. It's Big Hero Six's San Fransokyo, and Ace Attorney's Japanifornia.

But that wasn't actually the question you asked.

Please consider: Tea and Bakura were both born on "Leap Days"- days when the calendar can't be reliably measured, where day repeat or blend together. Mako's dad is lost in the South Pacific Triange, a mysterious place where you can sail east all day and end up west of where you started. Tristan's dad has a job that is basically being a supplier to D&D Adventuerers.

But as far as everyone knows, it's always been like this. Sometimes there are extra days, or wormholes, or monsters. Reality is just like that, as far as anyone can remember.

But.

Not everyone remembers, do they? Mahad knows his king by his face but not how he came to be the Dark Magician, just that he is. Neither Shadi knew where the Millenium Puzzle was until very recently, which seems a odd for the Guardian(s) of the Millenium items. The Spirit of the Ring has memories upon memories upon memories, but neither he nor Yami can even remember their names. in fact, nobody theoretically old enough to remember what happened 5,000 years ago actually remembers.

I wonder what that's all about? :)

[neverwritewhatyouknow]

I was waiting to post this next week when the movie comes out, but I’ll just make a repost if anything changes.

Let’s talk about Nora, Red, White & Royal Blue, and how from the very first meeting there was Jew-erasure.

Book!Nora is 100% Jewish. No debate. She is. Canonically. Fully. She’s a Jew.

Now, when a book is adapted into a movie (or a TV show) it goes through steps. The first is the script adaptation and all the meetings involved with that. Then the pre-production meetings.

When adapting a novel, the screenwriter will read the book and work on writing the physical script. If the author of the book is alive, they will very likely have input. They will go through writing a draft, getting approval, writing another, that will continue on for a while until the production draft is ready to go.

When RWRB went from book to script, Matthew wrote and directed it, with a co-writer Ted Malawer who is a literary agent and a playwrite (who has literally written a gay Hitler rom-com stageplay and some extremely self-hating things about Jews btw, might make another post about how Jews have self-hatred for the sake of comedy or to fit in). With Casey also being credited for their novel and script input. It was here that they thought about what they wanted to keep and what they wanted to get rid of. It was here that they decided that Nora would no longer be Jewish in the movie.

Now, I do want to take this time and say that I was wrong for saying that Rachel (not Jewish) was playing a Jewish role. Because while Nora is Jewish canonically, because they wrongly decided to erase that in early stages, movie!Nora to them was never considered Jewish at all. Therefore they don’t consider the casting of a non-Jew as a Jewish character wrong, since in the movie, they never had Nora as Jewish ever. I was never mad at Rachel, but the circumstances in which I was under the impression that she was playing a Jewish character while not being so herself. I’m not ashamed to say that I was wrong about that, the movie hadn’t come out, I was relying on all the same info we all had. Nora was Jewish in the book, why wouldn’t she be onscreen? But then, it became clear she’s not Jewish and based on the reactions from the cast and crew… She never was to them.

With that being said, the problem still remains. Nora, a canonically Jewish character, had her ethnicity and religion erased. Why? Nora is still in the movie, why not just keep her Jewish? Why during the initial writing phase did they decide to just ignore that and erase her ethnicity completely? And why do they refuse to own up to it? Was it Ted’s self-hatred of all things Jewish? (‘Cause, like, please take care of that, bro). Was it Amazon not wanting a Jewish character? The executive producers wanting a visually diverse cast and not thinking Jews were a minority enough? While completely ignoring Jews of color? Was it Casey not understanding that they wrote a Jewish character that could be important onscreen?

Whatever it was. They decided very early on that to them, Nora wasn’t Jewish.

There won’t be mentions of it in the movie, because Nora isn’t Jewish in this universe.

The reactions from the cast and crew make so much sense now. For a long time I was calling them out for casting a non-Jewish actress in a Jewish role, but I had it slightly wrongly worded. They erased the Jewish role, period. I should’ve been calling them out on removing the Jewishness from Nora just straight up. Regardless of the actress. Just solely based on the fact that the character isn’t Jewish anymore at all and to them, she never was.

What RWRB did wasn’t okay. They looked at a canonically Jewish character and said “Fuck her, she doesn’t have to be Jewish anymore,” and erased all of her Jewishness. Nora was a badass Jewish girl. But in the movie’s universe she’s not Jewish, never has been, and the cast and crew of the movie have never considered her Jewish at all. Think about how you’d feel if you had your canon representation literally erased without a second thought. Jewish girls never get to see themselves onscreen in a positive light where their Jewishness isn’t the “thing” about them. This was an opportunity to show the world who Jewish people are, how amazing, smart, talented, sexy, and more we are. But nope. RWRB hated that idea from the jump, and Casey cared more about finding the proper ice cream than keeping Jewish rep

That’s shitty. That’s erasure. And based on the reactions of the highest crew members, there’s some hatred and ignorance there as well.

If the movie changes any of this, I’ll update. But, I’m fairly certain it won’t.

[shopcat]

okayy i'll just copy-paste it onto here cuz i don't have a scanner lol.

i used the informed consent model to start hrt for male-oriented transition at 17 and this is the info i was given by my doctor, who is a trans specialist! i figured it could be a helpful resource for transmascs/trans men/etc or even a writing resource as it goes over a lot ^_^

A Guide to Testosterone Therapy for Gender Transition

Hormone therapy can have positive and important effects on trans people's quality of life, but it's important to know about the health risks and know what to expect, so that you can work with your doctor to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.

The purpose of this booklet is to:

Explain how hormones work

Describe the changes to expect from testosterone

Outline possible risks and side effects of testosterone

Give you information about how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks

This booklet is written specifically for people in the FTM* spectrum who are considering taking testosterone. It may also be a helpful resource for partners, family and friends.

* FTM is shorthand for a spectrum that includes not just transsexuals, but anyone who was assigned "female" at birth and who identifies as male, masculine or a man some or all of the time, including non-binary, genderqueer and androgynous people.

How Hormones Work

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by one part of the body to tell cells in another part of the body how to function, when to grow, when to divide, and when to die. They regulate many functions, including growth, sex drive, hunger, thirst, digestion, metabolism, fat burning and storage, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and reproduction.

Sex hormones regulate the development of sex characteristics – including the sex organs that develop before we are born (genitals, ovaries, testicles, etc) and also the secondary sex characteristics that typically develop at puberty (facial/body hair, bone growth, breast growth, voice changes, etc). The three categories of sex hormones that naturally occur are:

androgens: testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

oestrogens: oestradiol, oestriol, oestrone

progestagens: progesterone

Generally, "males"* tend to have higher androgen levels, and "females" tend to have higher levels of ostrogens and progestagens.

Changing the levels of sex hormone in the body will affect hair growth, voice pitch, fat distribution, muscle mass and other features that are associated with sex and gender. This can help make the body look and feel lesrs "feminine" and more "masculine" – making your body more closely match your identity.

* The binary terms male, female, masculine and feminine don't accurately reflect the diversity of trans people's bodies or identities. But it is helpful to understand how hormones work in "typical" (non-trans or cis-gendered) men's bodies, and how ostrogen works in "typical" women's bodies.

What Medications Are Involved in FTM Hormone Therapy?

Testosterone (sometimes called "T") is the main hormone responsible for promoting male physical traits. It works directly on tissues in your body (e.g. stimulating clitoral growth) and also indirectly by suppressing ostrogen production. If your menstrual periods don't stop within 3 months of taking testosterone, a 3 monthly progesterone injection can be given until the testosterone kicks in.

Assigned at birth females who have androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) won't get any effects from taking testosterone. In AIS, the body's receptors don't respond to testosterone (whether produced naturally or taken externally). However speech therapy, chest surgery and genital surgery can still be used in FTMs with AlS.

Testosterone can be taken in different ways:

injection (intramuscular)

skin patch or gel (transdermal)

pill (oral)

The way you take testosterone seems to affect how rapidly the changes happen.

Transdermal application causes the same degree of masculinisation as injection, but takes longer to suppress menstruation and make facial/body hair grow. Oral testosterone is the least effective and most dangerous due to risk to the liver, so is not used.

With Transdermal testosterone, the daily dosing means a more steady blood level of testosterone. With injecting there is a peak right after the injection and a dip at the end of the injection cycle. This can increase side effects at both ends of the cycle (e.g. aggression when testosterone peaks, fatigue and irritability when it dips). This can be reduced by injecting a smaller dose every 7 to 10 days, or by switching to the long-acting injectable testosterone which gives a longer plateau of testosterone lasting up to 3 months.

What's a Typical Dose?

Clinical protocols vary greatly and there is no one right type or dose that is best to use. Deciding what to take depends on your health, what is available locally, and what you can afford. It also depends on how your body reacts when you start taking testosterone.

The right type or dose for you may not be the same as for someone else. Always discuss the pros and cons of different options with your doctor and voice any concerns you have.

This table summarizes the forms of testosterone most commonly used by FTMs in Australia. You may be started on a lower dose if you have chronic health problems or are at risk for specific side effects, or have had your ovaries removed.

Forms of Testosterone Commonly Used

(note from me: use this section more as a general guide, as it is particular to aus almost 5 years ago. still pretty helpful otherwise.)

Intramuscular Injection, short-acting: Brand – Primoteston. 150-250mg fortnightly. $10. Pros – Rapid changes. Cheap. Cons – More side effects at beginning and end of cycle. More injections.

Intramuscular Injection, long-acting: Brand – Reandron. 1000mg every 8 to 12 weeks. $40. Pros – Rapid changes. More stable T levels. Cons – Not able to be self-injected (you will need to see a nurse). (i take this! it's every 15 - 17 weeks now.)

Transdermal: Gel – Testogel, Axiron. Patch – Androderm. 5-10g per day. $30 per month. Pros – More stable levels, less ups and downs. No needles. Cons – Changes take longer to happen when first starting. More expensive. Daily treatment. Risk of gel getting onto partner or pets.

Costs vary depending on pharmacy. These costs are based on PBS subsidy which assumes the person has a Medicare card. Costs are higher without this subsidy.

Every person is different in terms of how their body absorbs, processes and responds to sex hormones. Some people have more changes than others; changes happen more quickly for some people than others. Taking more than the dose you were prescribed – or taking another kind of steroid as well as your prescribed dose (sometimes called "stacking") – is not a good way to speed up changes. Taking a higher dose can actually slow down the changes you want: extra testosterone can be converted to oestrogen by an enzyme in your body called aromatase.

Taking more than your prescribed dose also greatly increases your health risks. If you think your dose is too low, talk to your doctor about your concerns. It may be better to try a different type rather than increase the dose.

Obtaining anabolic steroids through other means (such as through gyms or the internet) is a really bad idea, as these are often veterinary grade steroids which have not gone through the same rigorous quality assurance process that is applied to human pharmaceuticals, and it is very easy to overdose and cause serious liver damage. If you are taking these steroids please tell your doctor so that they can monitor your health.

If you have had your ovaries removed your body will producing a much smaller amount of oestrogen, so the dosage of testosterone is usually reduced. However you will need to stay on testosterone for the rest of your life to preserve bone strength.

What Changes Can I Expect, and How Soon?

Hormone therapy has important psychological benefits, helping to bring the mind and body closer together and easing dysphoria. People often describe feeling less anxious, less depressed, calmer and happier when they start taking hormones. For some people this psychological change happens as soon as they start taking hormones, and for others it happens as physical changes progress.

The degree and rate of change depends on factors that are different for every person, including your age and how sensitive your body is to testosterone. There is no way to predict how you will respond before you start.

Effects and Expected Time Course of Masculinizing Hormones*

Typical changes from testosterone

Skin oiliness/acne. Onset: 1-6 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Facial/body hair growth. Onset: 3-6 mth. Maximum effect: 3-5 yr.

Scalp hair loss. Onset: >12 mth. Maximum effect: variable.

Increased muscle mass. Onset: 6-12 mth. Maximum effect: 2-5 yr.

Body fat redistribution. Onset: 3-6 mth. Maximum effect: 2-5 yr.

Menstruation (period) stops. Onset: 2-6 mth.

Deepened voice. Onset: 3-12 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Clitoral enlargement. Onset: 3-6 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Vaginal dryness. Onset: 1-6 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Testosterone affects the entire body.

It's not possible to pick some changes and not others.

* Adapted from WPATH Standards of Care version 7

(note from me: the onset and "maximum effect" of these changes are not set in stone or fused to a certain timeline. after a certain period of time if you continue hrt your body will take on the characteristics of a typical cis male's and what you are genetically predisposed to. everybody's body changed as they age, like how a 20 year old cis man and his 30 year old self are wildly different, and this will happen to you too! also, for example, i started growing facial hair around 6 months, true, but i'm 5 years in now and it's only just started actually growing in properly, and that's also because i'm... 22 and not a teenager anymore, y'know? my (cis) brother's beard only filled in when he was 26, a lot of it's just genetics!)

Most of the effects of hormones happen in the first two years. During this time, your doctor will want to see you one month after starting hormones, then 3-4 times in the next year, then every 6 months. At appointments in the first two years your doctor will:

order a blood test to check hormone levels, liver function and red cell count

ask you about physical changes

ask you how you feel about the changes that have happened thus far

Are These Changes Permanent?

Most of the noticeable changes caused by taking testosterone are not fully reversible, even if you stop taking the hormone.

Irreversible: deeper voice, male-pattern baldness, facial hair, clitoral growth

Reversible: menstrual periods, muscle/fat/skin changes

The long-term effects on fertility are not fully understood. There is a chance you will be permanently sterile after taking testosterone for some time, in other words, you may not be able to become pregnant if you stop taking testosterone.

What Won't Change?

1. Hormone therapy won't solve all body image problems.

The point of hormone therapy is to make you feel more comfortable with your body which can increase self-esteem and make you feel more confident and attractive. It can be hard to separate out gender dysphoria from body image problems.

Counselling (therapy) can be helpful to sort out your expectations about your appearance, and to work towards greater self-acceptance.

2. Hormone therapy won't make you into somebody else.

Many people experience positive emotional changes with hormone therapy. But after the excitement wears off, and you've incorporated the changes into your daily life, you'll likely find that your personality remains unchanged. Whatever you see as your strengths and weaknesses will still be there. Hopefully you will be happier and more accepting of yourself, but if you re expecting all of your problems to disappear you're probably going to be disappointed.

This extends to mental health concerns as well. People who were depressed because of gender dysphoria may find that taking hormones greatly alleviates their depression. However if you have depression caused by biological factors, the stresses of transphobia, or unresolved personal issues, you may still be depressed after you start hormones.

3. Hormone therapy won't provide you with a perfect community.

For some trans people, hormone therapy is a ritual affirming that they are who they say they are. Making physical changes is a way to bring who you are to the rest of the world so that other people can see it. This process of self-emergence can be very liberating, but it does not guarantee that you will find acceptance or understanding.

When starting hormones there can be a drive to find other people who have gone through similar experiences. There are a lot of very cool trans people to talk with about hormones, but having taken hormones doesn't automatically make trans people welcoming, approachable or sensitive. Being realistic about the likelihood that you will at times feel lonely and alone after you start taking hormones is part of emotionally preparing for hormone therapy.

4. Hormone therapy won't remove all female aspects of your body.

Some physical characteristics aren't changed by hormone therapy, or are only slightly changed. This includes things that have developed before birth (vagina, chromosomes) and also physical changes that occurred during puberty.

Testosterone does make your voice pitch drop, but it does not change intonation and other speech patterns that are associated with gender socialization rather than hormones.

Testosterone does not make breast tissue go away, you will need surgery for this change to occur.

Once your bones have stopped growing after puberty, testosterone won't change the size or shape of your bones. You will not grow taller or get bigger hands or feet.

Since effects on fertility are unpredictable, there is a chance you could still become pregnant. Depending on how you have sex, you may need to use birth control.

Testosterone is toxic to the developing foetus and you cannot take it whilst pregnant.

Testosterone tends to make the vagina drier and the cervix more fragile, so if you have vaginal sex you should add extra lubricant to avoid breaking latex or tearing your vaginal lining.

What are the Possible Side Effects/Risks of Testosterone?

The long-term safety of testosterone is not fully understood. Most of the studies on hormone therapy involve cis-gendered men taking testosterone. There may be long-term risks that are not yet known.

1. Testosterone can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Testosterone tends to:

Decrease good cholesterol (HDL) and increase bad cholesterol (LDL)

Increase fat deposits around internal organs and in the upper abdomen

Increase blood pressure

Decrease the body's sensitivity to insulin

Cause weight gain

These changes may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The risks are greater for those who smoke, are overweight, or have a family history of heart disease. Many of the contributing factors to these conditions can be reduced by creating a care plan that is tailored to your specific situation. Stopping smoking, exercising, eating well and having periodic blood tests are all key steps in reducing your risks.

2. Testosterone can increase red blood cells and haemoglobin.

The increase is usually only to the average male range, but a higher increase can cause potentially life-threatening problems such as stroke and heart attack.

Blood tests will check on this.

3. Testosterone can cause or worsen headaches and migraines.

If you are getting frequent headaches/migraines or the pain is unusually bad, tell your doctor.

4. Cancer risk is not significantly affected.

Breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer are all sensitive to ostrogen, and there is evidence that some testosterone is converted to ostrogen. Studies have not however found a definite increase in rate of cancers in trans men on testosterone. However risk is likely to be increased if you have a family history of these cancers, are aged >50, or are overweight. It is important to discuss screening tests that may be appropriate.

5. Testosterone can negatively affect mental health.

In some people testosterone can cause increased irritability, frustration and anger. People with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia may be destabilized. Using daily Transdermal testosterone can help with mood swings.

6. There can be social consequences to taking testosterone.

Being visibly trans in a transphobic society carries risks. Harrassment, violence, discrimination, loss of employment, loss of support from loved ones can all occur.

Peer support and counselling can be very helpful.

7. Pelvic Pain in Trans Men.

Some people develop pelvic pain after being on testosterone for some time. This can be like period pain and can occur monthly or in a random fashion. If this happens to you be sure to tell your doctor so it may be properly investigated.

Health Checkups While You're Taking Testosterone

As long as you are taking testosterone (possibly for the rest of your life) you need to have regular physical exams and lab tests to monitor your overall health. Initially these checkups will be every few months. Expect your doctor to:

Ask about your overall health

Check your blood pressure, weight, heart rate

Order blood tests to check red blood cells, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver health and hormone levels

Recommend other tests such as bone density tests or heart tests as needed, depending on your health and any signs of problems

Routine breast and cervical cancer checks (mammograms, Pap smears) as per the usual screening guidelines (generally every 2 years)

There are some health problems that make it dangerous to take testosterone (eg uncontrolled heart disease) – your doctor will do everything possible to control the disease so that you are able to take hormones, but may need to change the dose and type of testosterone to protect your health.

Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Risks

What can you do to ensure your therapy is safe and effective?

Be informed. Understanding how testosterone works, what to expect, possible side effects/risks, and guidelines for care gives you the tools to be in charge of your health and make informed decisions.

If you smoke, stop or cut down. Smoking greatly increases risks. If you are a smoker, your testosterone level may have to be kept low. Your doctor can help you to quit.

Find a health care provider you trust and can be honest with. You need to be able to talk openly about what you want, and any concerns or problems. You also need to be able to talk openly about drug and alcohol use, supplements and anything else you are taking.

Deal with problems early on. If caught early most problems can be dealt with so that you don't have to stop your hormones. Waiting can worsen your health to the point where you can't safely take testosterone.

Don't change medication on your own. Check with your doctor if you want to stop, start or change the dose. Taking more frequently or at a higher dose increases health risks and can slow down the effects you want.

Take a holistic approach to your health. Health involves more than just hormone levels.

Know where to go for help. There are peer support groups and counsellors who can play a role in assisting you.

This brochure has been modified from "Hormones: A Guide for FTMs" by Vancouver Coastal Health.

Testosterone Informed Consent Information

Testosterone treatment will cause some permanent and many reversible changes in your body. Some of these changes you may want (like facial hair and a deeper voice) but some you may not (like baldness). Before you start taking testosterone, it is important that you have a good understanding of these effects as well as the risks involved in taking testosterone. If while reading this form you have questions, make sure you discuss them with your doctor so you have a realistic expectation of what will happen and what may happen.

It is also important that you understand that testosterone is not the only way that all FTM transgender patients choose to be treated. Just as chromosomes and genitals do not define your gender identity, neither does which hormones are in your body or what surgeries you choose to have. So it is important that you decide what goals you would like to achieve in your treatment and discuss these with your doctor. Deciding not to take testosterone, to delay taking testosterone, or to take a lower dose than others are all valid choices and do not make you "less trans". Gender identity can only be determined by you based on how you feel inside, not the choices you make about your medical care.

Permanent Changes

These will not go away if you stop taking testosterone:

Will happen:

Increased facial and body hair. Not just on your face, chest and stomach. You may also get hairs on your back, buttocks, and even in your ears.

Deepened voice. How deep your voice will get is variable from one person to the next.

Enlargement of the clitoris to an average of 4-5cm (< 2 inches) after 1-3 years.

May happen:

If you have not finished puberty, you might have a growth spurt and closure of growth plates.

Male pattern baldness (may be partially treatable), genetic.

Changes in your ovaries that may make it difficult or impossible for you to produce eggs or get pregnant even if you stop taking testosterone.

Changes in your uterus (like fibroids) or ovaries (like cysts) that may make hysterectomy (removal of uterus) and oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) more difficult if you eventually choose to have these surgeries.

Rarely, benign or malignant liver tumours or other liver disease (usually only in those who take oral testosterone)

Possible but uncertain increase risk of developing osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of bones) that may become worse after ovary removal or if you stop taking testosterone.

Reversible Changes

These occur with testosterone treatment but generally will go away if you stop taking testosterone:

Increased libido (sex drive) and changes in sexual behaviour.

Increased muscle mass (especially upper body strength)

Redistribution of fat to a more typical male pattern (to the stomach instead of hips and thighs)

Increased sweat and changes in body odour.

Increased appetite, weight gain, and fluid retention.

Acne of the face, back and chest, especially in the first few years of treatment (which if severe, may cause permanent scarring).

Prominence of veins and coarser skin.

Emotional changes (both good and bad).

Worsening of blood cholesterol levels which might increase your risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Increase in red blood count (which rarely if severe and untreated can make you more likely to have strokes, heart attacks or blood clots).

Stopping menstruation (periods). This may take several months or may be immediate.

Vaginal dryness and itching that may make vaginal penetration painful.

Interference with other medications that you may take.

Worsening of or increased risk of getting certain diseases. If you think you have or are developing these diseases, it is important to tell your doctor. They can be treated and having them doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop taking testosterone: Type 2 diabetes, Liver disease, High blood pressure, High cholesterol, Heart disease, Migraine headaches, Sleep apnoea, Epilepsy

[kinaesthetiqueer]

the thing about loving nora so damn much is that i legally have to Make Her Go Through It. sometimes though, it feels so so so mean. however. i have to make my headcanons make sense from top to bottom.

so. per my headcanons on how her semblance works... once she was struck by lightning and her semblance unlocked, her passive ability unlocked too. rather than dissapating the tiny bits of electricity that her body naturally produces, like everyone else does, her body stores them. it's up to nora as to how she can deal with it.

before she gets a handle on it, she's a walking static producer. ever walked around in socks on carpet in the winter? she's like that, all the time. discharging whenever she touches anything that can conduct electricity. some of the less helpful instructors at tocsin (the vale combat school that my ren and nora attended from ages 13-17) force nora to wear rubber gloves when she's in class.

this, of course, doesn't actually help. she's still storing it up. nora copes by energizing herself with the excess electricity and just. Being Hyper. she always has been excitable but now she just bounces off the walls, because she doesn't know how else to spend the energy outside of combat.

ren doesn't know how to help her either. his semblance is strictly defensive/supportive. he has always been under intense stress to make sure he keeps it under control. they aren't on the streets anymore but nora feels compelled to make sure, should they ever end up there again, that she can pull more weight when it comes to keeping them safe.

if nora is worked up or stressed, she starts sparking. arcs of electricity come off her skin and they can hurt whoever gets close. it's a easy way to help her discharge, if you can get a grounded lightning rod close enough.

other lesser signs that she's not quite keeping it under wraps are, in order of increased severity: increased fidgeting/stimming (hilarious as a marker, as she's audhd af), static field as observed by her hair strands lifting up as if rubbed by a balloon, indigestion & nausea (too much energy messing with peristalsis); uncontrollable hiccups (excess electricity causing her diaphragm to spasm), and finally, the sparking.

these first two markers goes pretty much unnoticed by nora herself, though the rest of jnpr is pretty good at noticing when her hair starts going flyaway. ren can tell the difference between normal nora fidgets and too much energy! nora fidgets at a glance. when nora gets so bad that these side effects show, she tends to skip indigestion and nausea and go straight to hiccuping. rarely, like if she's in an argument with someone who doesn't know her well enough to point out her hair, she might reach the indigestion stage (for example, cordovin). however, hiccups come on fast when she's having a breakdown. they are her major sign that she needs to find some way to calm down and rein in her semblance.

she has two choices for doing so: sequestering it for later (a choice she makes when she's likely to be in combat soon) or discharging.

sequestering (storing) it requires her to rein in the electricity and sink it into her muscles. typically this means her thigh and butt muscles, as they are the largest. she creates a circuit of circulating electricity deep in her muscles and they slowly store the energy for later. (don't ask me about the biology here unless you want to be here all night; that is a promise, not a threat). she can also then use it to jump and leap. this is also why she skips so much!

storing/sequestering is what nora refers to as "sinking". it's not a term she really explains to anyone. in fact, she loathes explaining her semblance to people. firstly, no one expects her to understand how her semblance works, because she's hyper and bubbly and girly. secondly, people tend to get weirded out and wary of her when she explains, at least they did at tocsin. ren loves that she knows how both hers and his works.

she gets a lot of confidence and joy from it as jnpr works in private to train for the vytal festival, because jaune and pyrrha think her semblance is super cool. by the time vytal comes around, she's just stoked to be able to show off for the first time, since jaune decided they should keep it a secret until then.

on the other hand, discharging it is exactly what it seems. it's what she does when she doesn't need the extra energy or wants to be sure she's safe to touch others. she can discharge into the air (which causes a thunderclap of varying decibels, depending on how much electricity she discharges) or into the ground or to any grounded source. she can also do this offensively by throwing a bolt or striking something with precision.

after spending most of her time at tocsin wearing gloves, she keeps them in her beacon outfit, though fingerless, because she likes to comfort and the compression, but also she likes to know she's capable of safely touching people.

the mean thing that i was thinking of, which prompted this post, was nora being threatened with, and perhaps once subjected to, tocsin's cruelest 'therapy' which is to forcibly break a student's aura so that their semblance won't hurt anyone until they get it under control. which. may or may not have happened to her when she took a shower while charged, knocking out tocsin's campus water plant and electrocuting anyone who was also taking a shower at the same time. 🙃

anyways. i want to write a series of oneshots and drabbles that contains all my headcanons for the main kids' semblances and how they work and how they've adapted to them over time. im just a big sucker for logistics and after blake's semblance driving me batshit for months, i think it's what i deserve.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

I can’t won’t take army seriously cause it’s a rinse and repeat thing to try and discredit JM and the smeraldo marching band for their work. Rm said something and i don’t think it even brought changes in Face, cause has we have seen it the lyrics written by JM in all positions on that sofa, most of them if not all made it. His melody made it.

I was so in awe of JM process, the way that the producers let him guide them., and take everything he said at heart. All the little input of how he want the track to sound. What to add. I remember once about Lie he said he is someone who can really write about his life experiences and i am so grateful that i witness it. I am extremely happy he went with producers in house after the documentary i don’t think anyone would have work so well with him and understand him well enough and his creativity to give us face as it is. It’s a good album and it’s his first one, i can’t wait to see where he goes next.

Do you think after seeing this creative side of him, when the group get back together they will let him have some input on wtv the group does next: like melody?lyrics?creativity?

Their working process was interesting to witness because they took into consideration every idea Jimin had and they stored it in case it could be of help later. Or they would play with the keyboards and something would come up. It really was like music camp or a months long retreat in which they all channelled their eforts and creativity towards making that album. The producers were also people that knew Jimin beforehand and they worked together for BTS songs and that familiarity must have helped a lot. It was a working relationship but also friendship there.

As to your question, it's not like Jimin didn't have any prior contributions to their concepts and especially melodies, but it's not something that was really highlighted coming from the group. There's always been this thing that the rap line is the more creative one, whereas the vocal line mostly executes and sings, with some changes over time. But just think of the bridges in some BTS songs or some melodies that turned out to be known and appreciated by the fandom and in kpop in general that came from Jimin. Like I said, it's not a secret, but I for one had to find out from their book in 2023 of JM's involvement in Idol and how his decision influenced the changes in the song. Or how after working on Black Swan and that concept, he wanted to go more in that artistic direction with BTS. The information is out there, but it's not common fandom knowledge on a larger scale. And Jimin is also not the type of person to bring up such stuff on his own.