#henceforth solutions

[radioactive-earthshine]

though I also find brainy and computo's relationship a little comedic if you think about Brainy having a 1,000 year-old supercomputer son

This somehow was eaten from my inbox and it just now appeared... But you are so right.

It's even more comical when you think about Computo's beef with Querl being 90% a misunderstanding because he was unable to TALK to Computo after Iron mentioned they were going to dismantle him - there was no room for Querl to find a solution, no one allowed him to.

Talk about the misunderstandings trope.

[yuesya]

How long has it been?

Far too long, evidently. Imunlaukr stares at the snowy path, barely even recognizable as a proper path up the mountain anymore, with the sheer volume of snow that it is buried beneath. It’s clear that the roads to Sal Vindagnyr are no longer maintained for travel, and that’s… not a good sign.

The deeper into the mountain they go, the more Imunlaukr becomes uneasy. There’s an element of something unnatural to the cold –as if there is some freezing element attempting to dig its way beneath his skin, not just a coldness that exists in their surrounding environment. The people of Sal Vindagnyr are not used to long winters, and Imunlaukr is worried for them. Between the harsh cold and the lack of supplies from any traveling merchants, the survivors of the kingdom would not have had an easy time surviving here while Imunlaukr had been gone, searching for a solution.

… The Divine Nail. Imunlaukr looks towards the center of the mountain, where that gigantic nail had suddenly descended from the heavens, smashing deep into the ground and bringing with it an endless winter upon Sal Vindagnyr.

“The survivors have been living here all this time?” the accompanying knight from Mondstadt murmurs, a faint note of disbelief in those words.

“They have,” Imunlaukr confirms. “The Divine Nail seems to prevent citizens of Sal Vindagnyr from leaving the kingdom, even though things are in this state.”

“So that’s the reason why you, a foreign traveler, were tasked with seeking a way to resolve their predicament,” the knight turns his gaze upon him, silently assessing. “To be entrusted with such a task… they must have great faith in you.”

Something clenches inside Imunlaukr’s chest. They trusted you. What if you’re too late?

“… I can only hope to live up to their faith,” he says eventually.

The knight nods in understanding, and pats Imunlaukr on the shoulder with an armored hand.

“Fear not,” he says. “If you cannot trust in yourself, then trust in the Great Hunter. I do not know how you managed to convince the lord, but if they’ve agreed to lend their strength to you, then there is nothing that you worry about.”

… There is something to be said for the unwavering faith that the people of Mondstadt have in their god. A staunch belief that their god is the greatest of protectors, a bulwark shielding them from the dangers that threatened them.

In the legends, it was said that Lord Decarabian descended from the heavens upon witnessing the pain and suffering that men faced, eking out their survival in a land overrun by countless beasts. The god had been moved by their plight, and henceforth declared that no beast-monster would be permitted to intrude upon their land, granting a safe haven to those who otherwise would’ve been devoured to the bone by bloodthirsty beasts.

Sympathetic towards humanity was a consistent portrayal of the Great Hunter in tales relating to their exploits. It was a deciding factor in Imunlaukr’s decision to travel to Mondstadt and make his plea, although…

I have no reason to leave this land.

…

For a god that was celebrated for their love of humanity, the Great Hunter was… far colder than what Imunlaukr had thought they would be like. Imunlaukr had not seen them interacting closely with their people, not like how the God of Dust smiled and chatted with her people in their bustling marketplaces. If anything, the Great Hunter had appeared to be distant and detached, and was quite difficult to find or even catch a glimpse of.

… But they’d agreed to help. Even though they’d been cold and inexpressive, they were still the only god who agreed to Imunlaukr’s unreasonable request to help the people of Sal Vindagnyr, the kingdom that incurred the ire of Celestia.

I suppose I could make an exception.

Imunlaukr closes his eyes, and for the very first time, inexplicably feels as if he understands the urge to pray.

[thependancer]

Contrarian and his Self-Hate.

So what we know,

1- Contrarian hates himself. "But she's talking about me. That's the worst part of us."

2- The Long Quiet is meant to love itself as technically everything is the LQ aka god.

3- Contrarian's entire route is a journey of self-love and dealing with denial.

Using the above key points, I have a theory.

Contrarian hates himself, because the Long Quiet is meant to love itself. Let me explain!

LQ is basically god when you come down to it. And in this world everything is an extension of god. I.e. everything is the LQ and Shifty. The culmination of these two entities is known as everything.

It is in the Long Quiet's nature to love himself. Whether that be through loving and accepting himself directly (A New and Unending Dawn or slaying Shifty) or by loving every part of him including Shifty (leaving with her or her heart).

Hence, contrary to this idea would be hating yourself. But you can't really hate yourself entirely when you are everything. So what's the solution? Well if you're a god then make a devil to bear all sin. The Contrarian is the devil. He's the part of himself that the LQ thinks is.... well hateable. Maybe the LQ doesn't hate him. But he was literally made to contradict your nature. He was going to hate himself. Because he said it himself,

"I'm the worst part of us."

The part of us that is mockery incarnate. The one who hides himself while we display ourselves proudly. The one who mocks his circumstances because he is a clear mock himself. The one who jokes and jests but knows that the biggest joke of all is its own existance.

The Contrarian is a charlatan of the LQ's least favourite qualities about himself. And so since the vessel bore a hatred for an all loving entity, the vessel is a contradiction to the entity and henceforth,

The Voice of The Contrarian.

[rogerswifesblog]

Never ending story

My Masterlist

Summary: After an accident something happened to you…and the accident was in 1913.

Warnings: accident, character death, brief alcohol drinking, smut, p in v sex, protected sex (i feel like it’s the first time I’m writing a smut with protection lord help me), brief handjob, light fingering, do I need to add anything more?

A/N: Jesus a one shot after such a long time omg I’m actually nervous. 😅 I recommend the movie „Age of Adaline”…it’s pretty much what happens in this oneshot too and it’s also a good movie:) the accident description is from the movie:) thank you @rogersbarber and @jamneuromain for proofreading

Steve and reader have an age gap here, with her being older but let's be honest considering he is like a 100 later on the 8 years difference don’t change a thing😂 besides I’ve probably messed up the ages and many things since it was hard to keep up😂

The story is not 100% accurate with the CA:FA movie.

Accidents often affect people’s life’s, not just from injuries but also because of the aftermath.

Yet you never expect your accident to change your life so dramatically.

In 1913, on your way to your parents house something highly unusual occurred, something almost magical... snow fell in Sonoma County, California.

Distracted from the road by the snow you lost control of your car, driving from the bridge right into a river.

The immersion in the frigid water caused your body to go into an anoxic reflex, instantly stopping your breathing and slowing your heartbeat. Within 2 minutes,

Your core temperature had dropped to 87 degrees... her heart stopped beating.

Then, a bolt of lightning struck the vehicle discharging half a billion volts of electricity producing 60,000 amperes of current.

Its effect was threefold.

First, the charge defibrillated your heart.

Second,

You were jolted out of yoir anoxic state causing you to draw your first breath in 2 minutes.

Third, based on Von Lehman's principle of electron compression in deoxyribonucleic acid, which will be discovered in the year two thousand thirty-five, y/n y/sn will henceforth be immune to the ravages of time...

At first you had never noticed it, but after over ten years you noticed something different-or rather nothing. Not a single wrinkle, not even a little change in your face nor body. Everyday was the same.

You were 36.

Yet you looked 25. Not a day older.

And people started to notice it, especially when you started to look very similar to your daughter. When she was 17, but both of you looked like sisters.

Even your husband noticed the lack of differences in your appearance. Luckily soon after he was drafted-of course it broke your heart to see him go, but considering your other problem, it was easier to think of a solution.

Moving. Running away.

So when the question started, you had to move, not expecting this would be your future from now on.

During the war it wasn’t hard to lay down, especially since everyone tried to do so, most people helped each other, while others just avoided most people.

A sigh escaped your lips as you walked around the World Exposition of Tomorrow, many people, not knowing you, nor your daughter. It was her birthday and you both decided to spend it somewhere special.

After getting some snacks you wanted to go to the front to watch the presentation of the new ‚flying car’. „I’ll go powder my nose, Y/N”, your daughter informed you. Y/N. She had stopped calling you ‘mom’ when she was 15. Sometimes, at home, but rarely. Especially now that you looked so close to the same age. You were 24 years older but…it didn’t look this way.

„Watch out-“, You called after a man that had hit your shoulder, making your purse drop, a couple of things falling out.

When you wanted to bend down someone was already holding up your purse.

His soft blue eyes looked you over once, before stopping to meet your gaze. „Ma’am, your purse”, said the gentleman, still holding the purse with a shaky hand. „Thank you, Sir”, you smiled at the young man.

He was slightly shorter, especially with the shoes you were wearing, giving you two or so inches more. His hair blond, looking soft but frail, like his frame. The jacket hanging rather loose around his shoulders, the pants held up by a belt tightly buckled around his slim hips, you could see there was an extra hole made for the belt to fit him.

„I’m…I’m Steve Rogers”, said the young man, holding out his hand. You shook it, introducing yourself to him, but just then your daughter walked back up to you.

When Steve’s friend walked up to you two, with two other dames who seemed to be rather interested in the friend himself than Steve, but that was the cue for you to go.

Besides, why were you even interested in spending time with this man? You were a married woman-and older. It might not look like that but you definitely were older than him by a couple of years.

Yet a bit of fantasizing wasn’t a crime, right? His blue eyes were probably the prettiest thing you’ve seen in a while.

During the expo you saw Steve a few more times, small smiles and gazes were exchanged before you had to leave, not expecting to ever see that man again.

Two years later you had to move again after the police accused you of having forged documents and a false ID.

But you were alone this time.

Your daughter had a husband, only married for a few months but she decided to stay with him-which you understood.

Nevertheless it didn’t break your heart any less. Especially since you knew your husband was also dead, after receiving the condolences letter.

That’s how you found yourself sitting at the small bar in Italy, a completely new country where nobody was looking for you. Briefly you’ve heard about the Captain America creation and other things, but you weren’t too interested in it, not with the heartbreak after being completely alone.

Heartbroken and alone.

Funny enough Steve felt the same way, walking into the bar, sulking and making his shoulders as small as possible, not wanting the attention of other people.

He really thought Peggy might like him-but he got it all wrong, she was seeing someone and just moments after this information he also found out Bucky's unit was missing.

Tomorrow he planned to look for them, waiting for Stark to arrange everything needed.

But tonight.

Tonight he was alone and heartbroken.

Steve wasn’t that type to flirt with random women or ‚hook up’, but tonight…he just wanted to be someone else, not the heartbroken little boy from Brooklyn, even though usually he’d be proud to be that.

But he felt like he let his friend down.

The woman he fell in love embarrassed him, which wouldn’t be the first time but it felt worse than ever before.

„Whisky”, he ordered, sitting next to you, making you lift your head at the slightly familiar voice. It’s like you’ve heard him before-but you shook it off for now.

Sipping on your cocktail, your gaze was glued to the many pictures at the wall, people smiling at the camera, while others looked away or at their friends.

The man next to you cleared his throat. „How…how is your evening ma’am?”, when you looked over at the man, your voice seemed to be stuck in your throat. He was handsome, yes, but it wasn’t what made your breath hitch. It’s his eyes. The blue eyes that you were never able to forget.

„Steve”, you said quietly, a sad smile creeping on your face as you looked at him over again. He furrowed his eyebrows a bit, before sighing. “Yeah, it’s me, Steve Rogers, the captain-“‘“wait, no Steve it’s…I mean, yeah, I’ve heard about it but I didn’t know it was you but-yeah, I can see the change”, you chuckled, placing your hand on his bicep and squeezing, before pulling away. That felt quite rude.

“We met years ago…At the…the world exposition of tomorrow-about the future flying car? You were-well, smaller-and with a friend, I was there with my da-“, you cleared your throat. “-dearest friend.”

It didn’t take long for him to remember the time you two met. After some catching up you ordered yourself another drink, Steve got another one too.

Minutes turned to hours…

“…I’m moving a bit around. I lost my husband-the war took him….”

“….Bucky was drafted…his unit…”

“….Buck always said I was stubborn and would either get enlisted or died trying, since I surely wouldn’t stop or…”

“….I wish we could just have a quiet life without wars…”

“..I remember when I was a kid…”

“…There was a time when I….”

The conversation kept going, skipping from one topping to the other, first the usual talk about what was going on, then sharing some memories and comforting words.

When the barkeeper informed you it was already time to close the place, you looked down at the drink you were still sipping. It was still the second one you had ordered, mostly untouched.

Steve helped you put on your jacket, you knew you didn’t want the evening to end.

Without saying a word you just wrapped your hand around his arm, walking with him along the streets, only a few minutes before entering your apartment building.

Steve followed. He wanted to be with you that night. He wanted to feel you close. He wanted to feel…needed….loved…cared after…

He wanted to forget about all the horrors around him.

So did you.

When entering the small apartment you took off your shoes and jacket, Steve hanging up his own and yours, before looking back at you, a nervous smile creeping on his lips.

“I don’t….usually do such things”, he started, making you take his hands. “Me neither Steve”, whispering you let your hands roam to his neck, slowly pulling him down as he placed his hands on your waist to pull you closer as you kissed.

Gentle, yet passionate. So full of…feelings. You couldn’t call it love but…but it was still close to it. It was shared pain.

And you knew the line between love and pain was so small it barely made a difference.

A quiet gasp escaped your lips when Steve wrapped his hands around the back of your thighs and lifted you onto his hips. “Where is the bedroom-“ “the couch is fine”, but Steve only clicked his tongue.

“I don’t…I don’t want it to…be rushed and meaningless”, he mumbled against your lips, making you smile a little. Not that you thought about it…you didn’t want to rush it yourself.

So you told him where to go, before being placed onto the bed, Steve carefully climbing over you, kissing your neck.

Slowly he undressed you, making sure to kiss every inch of your skin he uncovered. Your shoulders, your arms, hands…your stomach…before having you only in your underwear.

“You…you’re beautiful”, he whispered, before slowly taking the rest of your clothes off. A blush crept on your cheeks when you felt his eyes on your body, especially with him being still dressed. “Steve, come on let me help you with those…”, you chuckled, making him also smile a bit, as he sat back and started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing the white, tight undershirt beneath it.

A grin crept on your lips, sitting up, you let your hands roam over his chest and arm, before quickly grabbing the undershirt and pulling over his head. Your lips find its way to his neck, down to his pecks, making him moan quietly and letting you push him down onto the bed.

Now it was your turn to leave kisses along his body, lowering yourself till you were level with his zipper, opening it. Steve helped you push down his pants and underwear, his cock immediately slapping against his abdomen, hard and leaking.

Before you could get your mouth on him he pulled you up and once again on your back, his hands once again all over your body, spreading your legs apart, as he sat back on his heels and looked at you, especially your crotch. “You look so good…”, he mumbled, gently sliding his fingers through your wet folds.

A soft moan escaped your lips as Steve slowly pushed two of his fingers into your wet hole, wettly squelching as he pulled out again, watching his finger being covered in wetness.

You let your head drop into your neck, moaning quietly with every time he pushed his fingers back in. “Steve…I need you…”, you gasped.

It immediately made Steve’s heartbeat quicken to hear those words, hovering over you and reaching into his pants pocket, pulling out a metal condom tin and opening it, taking the condom out. “Already prepared?” “The captain has to be responsible”, Steve smirked teasingly.

You felt yourself blush at that, rolling your eyes with a grin on your lips.

Then, you watched as Steve slowly put the condom on, stroking his dick a few times, before letting it slide between your folds, brushing over your clit. You weren’t sure if he was purposefully teasing you or just doing it to…well, considering his grin he was doing it on purpose.

“Steve please-“, before you could finish, Steve leaned back down again, kissing you passionately, as he slowly pushed his cock into your pussy. A quiet and slightly surprised gasp escaped your lips, the stretch feeling more than expected.

You wrapped your arms tightly around his neck, one hand buried in his hair, while he was covering you with his wide frame-which didn’t feel intimidating in any way- it was rather comforting. Feeling his warmth and the weight of his body made you feel like you were in the right place.

The rest of the night was spent in a tight embrace, skin to skin, soft pleas and moans reaching your ears and the smell of sex lingered in the air.

When the sun started to rise you fell asleep in Steve’s arms, after having spent the best evening you could imagine together.

You woke up to a kiss on your temple and a soft whisper, “I hope we see each other soon.”

But you didn’t.

After saving Bucky and his unit Steve had many other missions following, which he had written about in a letter. One letter, with a lot of explaining and apologies and…an invitation for a date, after he’d be back.

But this also never came. You waited months. Years.

And then he flew the plane into the ocean, falling to his death.

Only then did one thing occur to you.

Were you able to die? Or specifically, from old age? If you’d ever meet a man, would you be able to spend your life with him? The idea of falling in love and watching your partner die broke your heart-you had already buried your husband, then Steve died and…oh god, you would watch your own child die.

Once again you got yourself a whisky, this time just at home not wanting to meet any new people, especially since that was how you had found Steve again. You swore you’d never get close to another person again, never get your feelings involved in something. There was a voice at the back of your head, it had been there for some time now, that always reminded you of Steve but now…you knew you needed to forget about him,

….definitely not expecting to ever see him ever again.

The years passed by, every ten years you moved, illegally bought a new passport, ID…a whole new life, whole new person. You wrote letters with your daughter, meeting up with her twice a year on your and her birthday.

You watched her age.

You watched her birth children.

You watched them grow up.

And you watched your daughter die.

At the age of 86 in 1998.

While you still haven’t changed since 1913.

Her funeral was beautiful. Many people were there-even though nobody knew you-or at least not as who you were. A family's friend. Her nurse. Kid from a friend…many different ways. But not as her mom. Her mom went missing in 1943, during the war, probably killed…yeah, that was the story people knew.

So you continued living, year after year.

Until 2012 arrived.

Two unexpected things happened.

An alien attacked you.

And you saw those beautiful blue eyes again.

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Taglist: @rogersbarber @inlovewithchrisevans

Flood my inbox with HC, Drabble/OS ideas or questions! Just whatever you want to leave there! Anons welcome 😋

[purlturtle]

I have a toothache.

i have a headache.

I am exhausted.

So far in this rehab, I've had 6 out of 8 days be godawful, with migraines, overwhelm, meltdowns.

I also have the shits.

My neck and shoulders are hard as granite from tension; they crackle and groan constantly, and the bed here is shit.

I have tinnitus, both constant and stress-induced spikes.

No one can tell me what is going on with me; my bloodworks are clear, my blood pressure is fine, my EKG is fine, my lungs are fine; there's nothing "physically wrong" with me.

And yet I lasted only fifteen minutes in aqua gymnastics today because it was so so so so much too loud. (I have since spoken with the doctor to see that aqua gym is taken off my schedule henceforth.)

And yet every single meal in this place's food hall makes me feel like a hunted animal because it is so so so much too loud. (I have since learned that I can take my meals back to my room, but for that I still have to go in there and grab them.) (Food can make me so happy, but the food here? Is not happy-making.)

And yet art therapy is literally grating on my nerves because people work with soapstone and that means: grating. Constantly. Sometimes drilling, too. (I'd love to do more art and there's free workshop use that you can sign up for but so far I haven't been up to it.)

And yet half of the other gym and yoga classes I've been able to take so far (I had to cancel so many already because of "feel like shit" disease), have given me muscle cramps and soreness that led directly to yet another migraine. I *kinda* have an idea which exercises in particular are bad, but when there's a new one on the list, obviously I only know it was bad for me when I'm in bed with another migraine. I don't even know if that aqua gym fiasco described above is gonna be worth anything or if *that* is gonna give me a migraine too. And I can't relax in bed because bed uncomfy. You feel me?

And yet group therapy is counterproductive because, one, I *already know* all that stuff and feel like I'm in a language 101 class except my skill in that language is like 401. And two, seeing as I am a social worker and also hyper empathic, listening to the others means my brain analyzes and commiserates and comes up with ideas for solutions and diagnoses and that is not my fucking job!!! But it's also not something I can just stop doing!!! (I've since talked with the therapist that it doesn't make sense for me to go to group therapy anymore.) (Also, I get 1 session of 30 minutes per week of individual therapy, which is the only thing that I feel helps but is obviously nowhere near enough.)

I'm here to find help, to destress and *learn* how to destress, to hopefully handle my life better because right now I can just about handle everyday things if I don't have to work, but working is kinda a prerequisite for life, because with no diagnosis whatsoever I also have no chance to be eligible for disability pay.

And yeah it's only been one week out of five but GOD I am tired. I am so done. And it's hard to keep up hope in the face of all of the above.

(I don't think it's Chronic Fatigue; I have no PEM that I'm aware of. Two separate doctor's practices have ruled out ADHD. I've seen several therapists and psychiatrists and have gotten a different diagnosis from each of them, with the rider of "doesn't really fit but we have to put *something*." I have no idea what's wrong with me or what to do about it or how to get better, and that is no help at all whatsoever, either. If I at least had *something* to go on, but nope. My best guess is that this is a prolongued high stress situation that's out of control and impacting all kinds of bodily systems and balances, but that is not a diagnosis either. I feel like I don't even have any straws to grasp, honestly.)

Someone give me 5 million dollars so that I just don't have to work anymore; I think that would be a start.

[prettycottonmouthlamia]

There's a really unfortunate cycle characters tend to go through in long-running games that personally makes me quite sad as someone who tends to really like new characters and designs.

A game starts up, gets a surge of interest and players and henceforth a lot of the earlier characters are very popular. Sometimes if a game is lucky, this will go on for quite a while (such as Arknights), and a lot of fanart gets made of a ton of characters for one reason or another. Maybe they're a really good character, maybe they are one person's blorbo, or maybe they're just hot.

Then the game starts to stabilize in terms of interest. Players either remain steady or leave and newer additions are slower. Newer characters don't generate as much interest. People still really like the older characters, and hence the cycle begins.

New characters don't have much fan creations made of them as earlier ones, signaling to other people a general lack of interest, even if new fan creations for older characters are also slowing. This results in older characters getting the majority of the attention, further creating the effect that newer characters simply aren't popular, resulting in less fan creations than before.

Often times the only characters that survive this as characters connected to other, older characters (Degenbrecher, Viviana, Shu) or characters who are different versions of their older counterparts (Wis'adel for instance). But it means a ton of different characters basically stop existing at large. If you like Valarqvin or Coldshot or Santalla, or even some of the newer 6-stars like Ascalon (this one baffles me) or Narantuya or Zuo Le don't get anywhere near as much attention. A lot of the time you are looking for content of these characters in the hands of a few enthusiasts. This might surprise you, but Coldshot is pretty unpopular outside of the handful of really big enthusiasts for her.

This is to say nothing of like, NPCs either. If you're someone who likes NPCs like me you're just guaranteed to be suffering.

I don't know if I posting this out of a desire for a solution or anything, it just makes me kind of sad. It's a product of our human brains working overtime but I really wish sometimes I could find more good content of the characters I enjoy, and not just the same characters from 3-4 years ago.

[littlekiara96]

I did my own translation of Hugo's EP (also posted it on HoYoLab earlier today) because, though the english subtitles for the song are beautiful, I'm like "I see what you did there. I really like what you did there. But that's not what's being sung." And some refs I deem important are lost, mostly the "wearing the hat" part, which means "bearing responsibility for a bad thing" and now I want to ramble about every ref in the french lyrics and jhwfsaelihslphgw BRAINROT.

Thus, here goes a more "accurate" translation. :D

Destin et Malédiction | Fate and Curse My life is dull like the dust. My inner demon never gives me respite. Malicious words leave deep scars that stay open. What can I do about it? My life boils down to being scorned and to survive in suffering. Why must I wear the hat when I’m not at fault? Nobility and misery could it be luck? What will be my choice between the path of thorns and that of roses? And at the throw of this coin, will I submit or will I resist? If I am merely the puppet of my fate, what is my role in this plot where hope is vain (is vain)? Life or death, I own my fate Life or death, I own my fate My life is only suffering. Am I worthy enough of fleeting happiness and warmth? Life manhandles souls with vehemence, but it sometimes gives coins out of clemency. I should not exist. What will be my choice between the path of thorns and that of roses? (With me, you will have all you desire.) And at the throw of this coin, will I submit or will I resist? (What naivete.) To escape from its threads is mere utopia for a puppet. (It’s impossible for me to break these cold chains.) Follow your heart and the blood of the Ravenlock shall bring you the solution. (I am ready to pay the full price.) I refuse to hear the sound of the knell. I want thoughts to turn towards me. I believe in myself, I will be my own master. I shall leave it to fate for it’s my will incarnate. What will be my choice between the path of thorns and that of roses? And at the throw of this coin, will I submit or will I resist? Down with all these pretentious precepts. I will turn and tear off the page of my past. What will be my choice between the path of thorns and that of roses? And at the throw of this coin, will I submit or will I resist? My fate shall submit to my will. As for me, I am henceforth my own master (own master). Life or death, I own my fate Life or death, I set my fate

[sacredfixation]

Mobius files a report on the misuse of the metaphor kit he gave Loki

TVA REPORT – INCIDENT #58738:

Distribution and misuse of Dedicated Metaphor Kit, a Post-Incident Analysis

Filed by: Agent Mobius M. Mobius

Date: [REDACTED]

Subject: Laufeyson, Loki

Incident Summary:

Following a series of disruptions, including but not limited to the unauthorized confiscation of my lunch (henceforth referred to as The Salad Incident), a decision was made to provide Loki with a “Metaphor Kit.” The kit was intended as a pedagogical tool, designed to aid the Variant in understanding abstract concepts without resorting to the destruction of personal property. Items included:

• One (1) foam apple (temptation)

• One (1) rubber frog (chaotic leaps into action)

• One (1) small sand timer (time management and consequences)

• One (1) rubber chicken (disruption and disorder)

The kit was presented to the Variant under strict guidelines for appropriate use, which were immediately ignored.

Immediate Outcome:

• Loki expressed initial amusement, followed by sustained misuse of the provided materials.

• The foam apple became a recurring prop during mission debriefs, often accompanied by sarcastic monologues.

• The sand timer was repeatedly flipped during tense moments, exacerbating existing tensions in high-pressure situations.

• The rubber chicken was deployed in multiple inappropriate contexts, including as a distraction during a classified briefing.

• The rubber frog was used symbolically to mock my efforts at maintaining order, culminating in an unauthorized “leap” onto my desk during work hours.

Impact on Agent Mobius:

• Emotional Toll: Elevated stress levels resulting from constant ridicule and prop-related disruptions.

• Workplace Disruption: Significant time lost attempting to refocus Loki after metaphor kit-related antics.

• Personal Well-being: Persistent headaches reported, likely caused by repeated interactions with the rubber chicken.

Recommendations:

1. Discontinue the use of metaphor kits with Loki

2. Institute a stricter no-prop policy during debriefings.

3. Consider mandatory “Respecting Personal Space and Property” workshops for Loki.

4. Implement mandatory approval process for new teaching methods

Any future attempts to introduce non-standard educational tools or methods to Loki should require pre-approval from senior TVA staff, preferably after thorough risk assessment.

5. Establish designated metaphor-free zones

Common areas such as the cafeteria, briefing rooms, and hallways should be designated as metaphor-free zones to prevent Loki from staging impromptu ‘lessons.’

6. Introduce a post-incident recovery protocol for affected agents

Several agents expressed confusion and mild existential distress following Loki’s metaphor lessons. Consider introducing a support group or brief counseling sessions for agents exposed to prolonged philosophical ramblings.

7. Avoid future attempts to teach Loki lessons through tangible items, this approach is prone to backfire in unpredictable and highly irritating ways.

Agent Commentary:

I initially believed that providing Loki with a non-consumable, symbolic toolset would curb his tendency to disrupt order. Instead, I inadvertently handed him an arsenal of chaos disguised as learning aids. Loki now considers himself a ‘Master of Metaphors’ and insists on offering unsolicited ‘lessons’ to fellow agents, turning the office into something resembling a chaotic philosophy seminar. In hindsight, expecting Loki to handle anything with seriousness was a lapse in judgment. I regret everything.

Conclusion:

This experiment has proven that attempting to outsmart Loki Laufeyson with symbolic gestures or educational tools is futile. Future containment strategies should prioritize direct action over clever solutions. Attempts at intellectual engagement will inevitably lead to frustration, chaos, and, in my case, severe metaphor-induced migraines.

End of Report

[sedia-starcrow]

Hey there, folks! I don't really post much as I don't have much to post about, but this one is important to me.

My closest friend has been writing over the past few months. And personally, I find it to be extremely good. It's verbose and detailed even for the few chapters few currently out, but it's enthralling and grips you so quickly. Their characters have such great interactions with each other, their world feels mysterious and somewhat unknown, their ideas and universal mechanics are just downright exhilirating!!

So what exactly is it? We'll, let's get into that!

Welcome to:

Intermenides

Intermenides is an urban fantasy web novel focused around the story of August, Nadir, and Lawry trying to navigate a world beyond the veil of typical human understanding, one full of mystical beings and gods beyond comprehension, and the intersecting pair Silas and Rayne as they track down supernatural (henceforth referred to as Housefolk) dangers underneath the orders of the shadowy and questionable Ministry of Natural Law. A couple sources of inspiration include Paradox's World of Darkness and Weather Factory's Secret Histories games, but ultimately it was spawned from a writing prompt and grew into something larger due to passion and love of writing.

August Hall and Nadir Ruiz are on the run after a shapeshifter of some type took on Nadir's guise and attempted to kill him. Nadir, not knowing who else to go to, ran to August for help and resulted in her awakening to her latent spellcasting abilities and status as a witch. The mimic has not given up its search though, it continues to track and attack the pair seemingly regardless of where they go, for reasons they do not understand as of yet. The duo stumbled into Lawry, a disabled spellblade and former authority figure amongst the world of the Housefolk, and have been staying on the road with her in order to find a solution to their mimic issue; supposedly within a strange and magical book titled Intermenides XIV.

July Lawson, AKA Lawry, is a hard to read, closed off individual. She is often obfuscating information, if not outright lying about topics she believes the duo is not ready to be exposed to. She was once a noteworthy and recognized figure amongst the Housefolk, and a spellblade of borderline legendary status, yet somehow all traces of knowledge on her vanished years ago. Lawry has a strange demeanor to her; she seems distant and cold at times, sometimes even fearful of what might occur around her. Something appears to have scarred her both emotionally and magically, causing her to be unable to control spells without injuring herself and unable to find comfort in people. August and Nadir intend to try and help her heal.

Silas Everett is an overly professional and strict detective within the Ministry of Natural Law, at least on the surface. His jobs are often dangerous, his quarries often violent, and his handling must shift to match. But beneath that he has a genuine care for the Housefolk and merely wishes to keep their world from spiraling. He is known as a Ministry lap dog, doing anything and everything he is told without question, however that couldn't be further from the truth. He is aware that something within the Ministry isn't right, something has rotten it to the very core, and it's up to him and those he puts his trust in to figure out what. And who knows, maybe the Ministry isn't the only thing that isn't quite what it seems...

Rayne Harper! My gods, how I love Rayne. Rayne is a bubbly, sweet, and mildly mischievous lycanthrope under the handling of Silas after being taken in by the Ministry for crimes she had no part in. A little bit of a tease, she is one of the few that Silas lets his guard down around, she knows how he actually operates and relishes every moment away from the eyes of the Ministry. Rayne is one of the many Housefolk who are unjustly oppressed by the Ministry, being forced onto medication that suppress her abilities to shift forms and read emotions. She may be a nobody to the world at large, but her work at Silas' side will prove revolutionary.

I know that was a lot! I know I'm also not great at pitching things but I am earnestly trying my best and I promise that it's written exponentially better than my blurbs about it. I just love what Wren's doing with it, and I want them to continue because I can see how much it matters to them. They're trying to get a chapter out every week to two weeks. Mind you the chapters are quite long. So please, if it seems at all interesting to you, even the slightest bit, please go give it a try. It'd mean the world to both of us.

Thank you for reading!!

[maslows-pyramid-scheme]

A male author spends 270 pages discussing the various ways that 'man'kind have adversely affected the environment, yet unironically still insists that controlling women's reproduction is the solution -

The intelligent solution would require the courage and the wisdom to put our knowledge to the test. It would be poignant and distressing in many ways, but not fatal. It would henceforth limit every human female on Earth capable of bearing children to one.

If we're pretending that overpopulation is the problem (it's not, it's actually over-consumption and our shameless disregard for the environment), wouldn't it make more sense to require males to give sperm samples as soon as they start producing sperm, then sterilise them?

It's a stupid, throwaway paragraph, but it makes me think just how reliant male 'legacy' and male 'culture' are on violence, control, and sexual coercion: if women had their pick, then they might not pick ugly males, or balding males, or stupid males, or overweight males, or disabled males; and, as males think humanity's 'purpose' is to reproduce, and that they themselves are defined by the patrilineal inheritence of whatever worthless things they acquire in their short lifetimes, then their failure to be picked makes them an evolutionary end point, a biological failure?

It's hard to see this as fundamentally unrelated to those male predators who swap sperm samples for their own, or those misogynists who hate a woman's kid/s simply because the kid/s come/s from another male, or those (religious, atheist) incels who insist that women are biologically and chemically 'marked' by male sperm.

[henceforthsolutions]

On-Demand Revolution: Exploring the Pinnacle of Pickup & Delivery App Trends

Exploring the On-Demand Revolution: Unveiling Pickup & Delivery App Trends

With the arrival of on-demand technologies, pickup and delivery services have undergone a profound transformation. Led by pickup and delivery apps, this revolution has revolutionized how businesses and consumers approach logistics - ushering in an age of unprecedented convenience and efficiency. This article delves into key trends within these apps to demonstrate how on-demand technology is altering last-mile logistics in America.

1. The Origins of On-Demand Services: Shifting Consumer Expectations

On-demand services were developed as a response to consumer expectations in an age characterized by digital connectivity and instant gratification. Smartphones and high-speed internet paved the way for on-demand services, changing how individuals access goods and services. Pickup/delivery apps emerged as drivers behind this revolution by connecting directly with consumers while streamlining delivery processes.

1. The Growth of Instant Gratification

On-demand services thrive off consumers' desire for instant gratification. Consumers accustomed to digital experiences sought the same level of convenience in offline interactions; pick-and-delivery apps became the catalyst to fulfill this demand by offering an effortless means for individuals to access goods and services quickly via smartphones.

2. Shifting Consumer Behavior

The on-demand revolution saw a dramatic transformation in consumer behavior. Traditional models of purchasing and waiting for deliveries gave way to an expectation of instantaneous goods delivery; consumers no longer accepted long delivery windows or complex ordering processes as normal; pick-and-delivery apps addressed these expectations directly, giving access to various services instantly at consumers' fingertips.

II. Key Phrases Denoting On-Demand Excellence

Understanding the key phrases defining the on-demand revolution is paramount to understanding its effect. These terms capture the essence of on-demand services while reflecting their interaction between businesses and consumers seamlessly.

1. Pickup Delivery: Instantaneous Fulfillment

"Pick up delivery" captures the spirit of on-demand services: instantaneous fulfillment. It signifies the swift transport of goods between locations to meet consumers' expectations for on-demand fulfillment services. In an on-demand paradigm, "pick up delivery" is not just a service; it represents our dedication to providing immediate solutions for consumer needs.

2. Pickup App: An Essential Tool for Convenient On-Demand Ordering

Pickup apps provide consumers with access to on-demand convenience. Individuals use them to connect with businesses, place orders, and receive deliveries quickly. Their user-friendly interfaces further contribute to an easy on-demand experience - making pickup apps indispensable tools in modern consumers' arsenals.

3. On-Demand Delivery Service: Meeting Immediate Needs

"On-demand delivery service" captures the core concept of satisfying immediate consumer needs. Businesses leveraging on-demand delivery services transcend traditional models by meeting instantaneous consumer expectations for food delivery or other essential items. Thanks to on-demand innovation, business capabilities have expanded considerably in terms of meeting instant needs.

Technology Powering On-Demand Excellence

At the core of the on-demand revolution is technology powering pickup and delivery apps. Not only has it made on-demand services possible, but its advancement has enhanced user experiences to unprecedented heights.

1. Real-Time Tracking: Giving Customers Visibility

Real-time tracking features built into pickup and delivery apps offer consumers unprecedented transparency into the status of their deliveries, offering peace of mind in terms of control and assurance during their on-demand experiences. Businesses offering this level of transparency gain consumer trust while improving overall service quality.

2. Artificial Intelligence for Predictive Analytics

Artificial Intelligence plays an integral part in on-demand services through predictive analytics. AI algorithms utilize massive datasets such as past delivery patterns, traffic conditions, and user preferences to accurately forecast demand fluctuations, allowing businesses to allocate resources efficiently while meeting peak hours or special occasions demand spikes efficiently.

3. Seamless User Interfaces: Mastering Simplicity

The success of on-demand services depends heavily on their user interfaces of pickup and delivery apps, which prioritize simplicity to make placing orders, tracking deliveries, providing feedback, and providing information more seamless for users. An intuitive user experience plays an essential part in spreading the adoption of on-demand services; consumers tend to favor platforms that are user-friendly more readily.

IV. On-Demand Delivery within a Business Landscape

The on-demand revolution has far-reaching ramifications for businesses, going well beyond traditional last-mile logistics. Not only is on-demand delivery used to meet immediate consumer needs, but it can also serve as an invaluable strategic asset in today's fast-paced markets.

1. Enhancing Customer Retention and Loyalty

On-demand services provide customers with immediate, convenient services that help build customer retention and loyalty. Businesses that prioritize on-demand delivery build strong relationships with their customers by meeting their expectations for speed and efficiency - an invaluable asset in an increasingly competitive market.

2. Differentiation Strategies in an Overcrowded Market

Industries with numerous players often rely on on-demand services as a major differentiator between themselves and competitors. Businesses that embrace this revolutionary concept stand out by providing unique value propositions - whether that's food delivery via an on-demand restaurant, product deliveries through retail store delivery services, or adopting them to differentiate their business from their competition.

3. Adjust to Shifting Consumer Preferences

Consumer preferences are constantly shifting, and businesses must adapt accordingly in order to stay relevant. The on-demand revolution represents this evolution by increasing expectations towards immediacy and accessibility; businesses that strategically incorporate on-demand delivery into their operations demonstrate their dedication to understanding and meeting shifting consumer preferences.

V. Delivering On Demand Beyond Logistics

The on-demand revolution extends far beyond logistics to encompass every element of delivery services; from customized services to instant communication, businesses using on-demand delivery apps are forging ahead to create an era of customer-centric excellence.

1. Customization: Tailoring Services to Individual Needs

On-demand delivery services excel in personalization. Pickup and delivery apps use data analytics to understand individual preferences and tailor recommendations accordingly, whether that means suggesting menu items from favorite restaurants or offering tailored promotions - businesses can create an unforgettable customer experience for every single one of their customers.

2. Instant Communication: Fostering Transparency

Communication is at the heart of an on-demand experience. Pick-and-delivery apps facilitate instantaneous dialogue between businesses and customers, providing updates on order statuses, estimated delivery times, and any unforeseen delays - building trust and improving overall customer experiences.

3. Contactless Delivery: A Safe and Convenient Approach

Integrating contactless delivery options has become a staple of on-demand services. Businesses offer contactless delivery in response to safety concerns so consumers can receive their orders without direct physical contact from delivery drivers. Not only does this feature match current safety expectations, but it also enhances consumer convenience for on-demand delivery services.

VI. Challenges and Opportunities in the On-Demand Landscape

Although the on-demand revolution offers many opportunities, it also presents its own set of obstacles. Navigating these difficulties successfully requires taking an aggressive and calculated approach while staying abreast of current developments within this fast-evolving field of on-demand services.

1. Balancing Speed and Accuracy

Businesses delivering on-demand services must strike a delicate balance between speed and accuracy when providing orders promptly without compromising service quality and accuracy. Finding this balance will be key to maintaining customer loyalty and satisfaction.

2. Infrastructure and Scalability Adaption

On-demand services frequently experience spikes in demand during peak hours or special events, posing a formidable scalability challenge to businesses. Scalability requires optimizing logistics, increasing delivery fleet capacity, and using technology effectively in order to handle fluctuations in demand effectively.

3. Concerns Related to Data Security and Privacy

Data analytics in on-demand services creates concerns over data security and privacy, prompting businesses to prioritize effective cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive customer data. Addressing these concerns is necessary for regulatory compliance and building consumer trust.

VII. Future Horizons in On-Demand Delivery Services

The on-demand revolution is ever-evolving, with new trends shaping the future of delivery services. From virtual reality applications to eco-friendly practices, these trends offer insight into what lies ahead of on-demand excellence.

Augmented Reality (AR) for Increased User Interaction

Augmented reality (AR) technology promises to revolutionize user interaction. AR features can offer real-time visualizations of consumer orders, interactive elements, and enhanced product information - creating a more immersive and enjoyable user journey than ever before.

2. Sustainable Practices: Eco-Friendly On-Demand Services

With environmental sustainability gaining prominence, on-demand services are exploring eco-friendly practices. These include adopting electric or hybrid delivery vehicles, using eco-friendly packaging materials, and optimizing routes to minimize carbon emissions. Businesses that embrace eco-friendly practices not only contribute to environmental conservation but also attract an increasingly environmentally aware clientele.

3. Integration of 5G Technology for Transformative Connectivity

Integration of 5G technology will radically change the on-demand landscape by providing rapid and dependable connections. Through 5G's faster connections, real-time data transmission, enhanced tracking capabilities, and better communication between businesses, delivery services and consumers will become even faster and more responsive than before - thus elevating overall on-demand service quality and speed.

8. Conclusions: Navigating the Peak of Demand Excellence

The on-demand revolution, powered by pickup and delivery apps, has reached its zenith, completely revolutionizing last-mile logistics and consumer expectations. From instant gratification to cutting-edge technologies, businesses that embrace on-demand services remain at the forefront of an evolving market.

American consumer culture values convenience and efficiency, making the on-demand revolution not just a trend but a major paradigm shift. Businesses integrating on-demand delivery services not only meet immediate consumer needs but also differentiate themselves in an otherwise competitive market by providing personalized services with open communication; on-demand experiences transcend logistics; they represent personalized service commitments as well as a seamless fusion of technology with consumer expectations.

As businesses navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the on-demand landscape, strategic adoption of emerging trends will be integral in maintaining success. Augmented reality, sustainable practices, and 5G connectivity represent emerging frontiers of excellence within this space, offering businesses an opportunity to elevate their services while staying ahead in an on-demand market that redefines convenience and immediacy with each delivery experience. The on-demand revolution isn't simply a moment; rather, it propels businesses towards an era where excellence will be measured by speed, convenience, and personalized touches of delivery experiences.

[satharionsunday]

Welcome to Satharion Sunday! 🧜‍♂️🌸

What is it?

The second Sunday of every month is henceforth dedicated to celebrating Satharion!

What to expect:

3 weeks prior to a Satharion Sunday a prompt will be announced. This is meant to inspire content but content not following the prompt will be accepted as well!

How to participate:

Follow satharionsunday for updates, to participate in voting on prompts, and more!

Post content (art, fics of any length, edits, anything really) and tag satharionsunday directly, or include the tag “#satharion sunday” in your post.

Support the event by reblogging, commenting, or otherwise engaging with the submitted content!

Rules:

Please, no AI Generated content. If you want to participate but aren’t sure how to participate without AI, please reach out to us at satharionsunday directly to discuss a solution.

Be respectful and be kind! The golden rule is still golden, even behind computer screens.

Mark your calendars, the first official Satharion Sunday will be September 8th!

[maniculum]

Bestiaryposting Plan

So the poll is still running, but I think I'm safe in saying there's sufficient interest, so I'm going ahead and typing up a "how we're going to do this" thing, which I will schedule to post after the poll ends properly. As of the time I'm writing this, over 500 people have voted for the "yes I want to draw things" option, and I had been expecting to get maybe a dozen, so we definitely have enough participants. Let's get started then:

Our Source

I had originally planned to translate an Old or Middle English bestiary, but haven't been able to find a good one -- the best option I was able to dig up only has thirteen critters, which I feel like isn't enough to really have fun with. I was debating the idea of translating a Latin one -- this would have been far more time-consuming since my Latin is terrible, but also I do need to practice it, so I figured it evens out -- when I found a solution that doesn't involve me spending hours and hours on translating.

It seems that when Aberdeen University created their digitized version of the famous Aberdeen Bestiary, they released it under a Creative Commons license. (Assuming I'm reading their copyright policy correctly; I'm not a lawyer.) It does not seem to specify whether the transcriptions and translations they attach to the scanned images are also covered by Creative Commons, but since all of those are already freely available online through their website, I can't imagine they would have a problem with me posting them here as long as I provide attribution (which I am hereby doing right here on this post) and am not using it for commercial purposes (which I am not).

The Aberdeen Bestiary is missing a few pages, but there exists a very similar manuscript, the Ashmole Bestiary (they're sometimes called "sister" manuscripts), which is not missing those pages. And I happen to have a translation of the Ashmole Bestiary in hardcopy on my bookshelf, so I can just use it to fill in the gaps. Edit: whoops, the one I have is the Bodley Bestiary. They are in the same bestiary "family", though, so it still works well enough. (I think that should qualify as "fair use", since I'm only taking excerpts and not using them commercially.)

The upside of using the Aberdeen Bestiary is that it means when I round up all the art of each critter, I can include their very nice illustrations alongside the reveal of what animal was being described.

The downside of using the Aberdeen Bestiary is that since it already is free online, people might be tempted to "cheat" by looking up the entries and finding out what animal they describe. For that, please see the next section...

Guessing the Animal

Guessing what animal is being described is not the point of the exercise. (Feel free to have theories and whatnot, but please keep them to yourself so as not to influence the artists.) If you see an entry and think, e.g., "oh that's describing a raccoon"*, and then you create a picture of a raccoon... well, you could have done a perfectly good raccoon at any point and didn't need this framework to do it. So just don't worry about what animal is meant, and do your best to draw (or paint or stitch or whatever else) based on the description! You're not getting ranked on accuracy and there are no prizes forthcoming, so... just have fun with it.

*Example chosen as something that will, for obvious reasons, definitely not be in a 13th-century European bestiary.

Edit after starting to type these things up: some of these are going to be super easy to guess, though, to the point where I don't know how possible it'll be to block out prior knowledge. Sorry about that.

General Procedure

I'm going to schedule a post every Monday (I'm thinking of queuing them for 6pm Eastern Time) with a new entry. It will be the translation of an entry from the Aberdeen Bestiary with all references to the animal's name replaced by a randomly-generated nonsense word. (Henceforth to be referred to as "nonsense-names". I'm Googling* each one before using them so I don't accidentally generate one that actually means something.) These posts will all be tagged maniculum bestiaryposting, so you can follow that tag if you want to make sure you see them.'

*Later Note: Did you know that if you search dozens of nonsense words within a short span of time, Google makes you prove you're not a robot? Repeatedly?

Anyone who wants to draw the critter being described should do so. (You are encouraged to describe your thought process re: why you've depicted it the way you have.) You can put it in its own post, or reblog the description with an image, or however you want to do it. Then tag your art with the nonsense-name I've given to the animal.This will let me and others find it. (You should probably employ copy/paste there to make sure the spelling is the same, since nonsense words are hard to spellcheck.)

A week after posting the bestiary entry, I'll go through that tag and round up all of the art contributed. Then I'll put the images in a big post (or series thereof, considering how many people might participate), along with an @ and a link to your original post.

If you want...

to not have your work included in the round-up post

to have only a link to your post included and not an image

to have me include a link to your website / other social media / etsy shop in addition to or instead of your tumblr

to have other information included alongside your work

anything else along those lines

... then just say so in your post and I will follow your instructions to the best of my ability.

I will also include, at the end of the round-up post, an image of the creature as depicted in the Aberdeen Bestiary and what it is actually called.

All posts I make on this will be collected at https://maniculum.tumblr.com/bestiaryposting so that people can look at previous ones without scrolling through the tag.

Various Notes

I'm going to trim out any religious digressions in the original entries -- bestiary authors had a habit of adding stuff like "and the raccoon is symbolic of god in such-and-such fashion, which teaches us...", and I just don't think that's relevant here.

The entries will also be presented in a random order. This is because they're sorted into categories in the original text, so if I don't change the order we're going to get stuck with, e.g., a few months of All Birds All The Time.

You should all be aware that the animals described are not guaranteed to be, you know, real. There are several entries describing animals that straight up do not exist -- some of which are mythical creatures familiar to most people, others of which are extremely obscure.

Explanations of the animal's name within the entries will be redacted.

If other animals are mentioned within the entries, they will not get replaced with nonsense-names. Originally, I was going to make the switch globally, so that if, e.g., the entry for "raccoon" read "a raccoon is about the size of a possum", and the random generator had decided that a raccoon was a balzikhear and a possum was a flunggrish, the "raccoon" entry would now read "a balzikhear is about the size of a flunggrish". However, I decided that it will cause more problems than it solves to obscure any comparisons to other animals -- so the name-switch is now localized only to the specific entry. A possum is a flunggrish only in its own entry, and remains a possum everywhere else.

I was originally going to do one post for every single entry, but there are a lot of them and they vary wildly in length & quality. So I've cut it down to exactly 52 posts, meaning that if I queue them up for once a week, this will run for roughly a full year.

Most of that cutting-down mentioned above was done by combining a bunch of the really short entries into categories -- the last half-dozen posts in this series will be group entries. You can choose to make art of any of them that strike your fancy, or do a group portrait, or just ignore them --I dunno, I'm not a cop, do what you want.

I did also directly cut some, mostly domesticated animals because there's a somewhat different approach to them based on author and audience familiarity.

So yeah, that should cover everything.

[byaahrs]

Locked up with Rafe Cameron

Warning! If you still haven’t watched season 3 of Outer Banks, and you’re planning to soon, I advise you not to read this fanfiction, as it could contain major spoilers of that season.

Word count : ~3000 SFW From Aahrs, Love ! 🌴🌺🌴

Contextualization : Rafe Cameron had been keeping you locked in his house for days. Basically, he was using you — a friend of Sarah’s — to gather valuable information about the Pogues and their upcoming plan. Ever since they had met in South America and discovered El Dorado, Rafe was furious; the only person he ever cared about - and above all, the only one he admired - had just passed away. Indeed, his father, by trying to save his daughter Sarah, died, Rayan’s bullet passing through his heart. And even though he was trying to hide it as best he could, Rafe found himself shaken. Traumatized to say the least. As payback, he had taken you, the first Pogue whom he got his hands on. While waiting for your friends to come and save you from him, you had to obey him. But most importantly, you had to be wise. After all, in the past, Sarah had told you about her brother's wild and cruel nature; Rafe was mentally unstable. One wrong move, and he could easily end your life. If you wanted to live, you had to play it safe. 

Behind your kidnapping, Rafe had one goal in mind : kill each of the Pogues to avenge Ward Cameron and save his honor. At the beginning of your captivity, he did not even want to speak to you. In his eyes, you were literally disgusting. If he dared talk to you, it was only to throw insults and threats, when he had drunk way too much. However, as the days passed, certainly very alone in the world, he became more inclined to conversation. While you thought you could get out of this unfortunate situation by creating a bond - a sincere friendship - with him, one night, you heard him talk to Topper in the living room opposite to your bedroom. In order to hear their words correctly, you put your ear against the wall. And when you finally got to perceive them correctly, you let out a gasp. Rafe had just sworn to kill you if you did not reveal the location of the Pogues quickly.

Although you knew he was insane, you were no less shocked. Just when you thought you and he were beginning to get along, he was betraying you. But it was your fault, and yours only. Why would you believe the guy who abducted you in the first place ? Between you and Rafe, maybe you were the most insane. 

That evening, panicked, you couldn't sleep. You thought about the discussion of Topper and Rafe all night. One single solution presented itself to you; if you cared about your life, you’d have to kill him before he had a chance to come after you.

Locked up

Out of breath, it felt impossible to calm the pulse of your pounding heart. What had you done ? You raised your head slowly, to estimate the situation. You peeked at Rafe, who was already staring at you in a hostile manner. Standing, he was not moving an inch. From afar, he did not even seem to be breathing. He was like a corpse in the middle of the room; pale. Livid.

“Damn”, you muttered quietly to yourself. You knew. You knew you had just signed your death warrant. It was only a matter of seconds before Rafe caught up the distance that separated the two of you, and chocked you with his massive thick hands. At the thought of his grip tightening your neck, you swallowed. Rafe was impulsive. He only reacted out of emotion, even more when he was angry. Yes, it was very likely that he ended up strangling you.

Picturing that was not very clever of you. Even though you were already trying to calm down, this thought doubled your anxiety. Your heart was henceforth beating so hard against your chest that you were physically suffering. At this point, it was so loud you wouldn't even be surprised if Rafe, at the other end of the room, could hear it. It was like dying of fear. You were feeling nauseous. Fortunately, the lack of food in your stomach kept you from vomiting. Indeed, you had nothing to throw up but acid. 

Although the last few seconds had passed like hours, Rafe startled you when, in a sudden and beastly gesture, he hit the vase of flowers to his right. He picked it up, and then crushed it on the floor against the hard and cold tiles. The sound of it breaking was bitter. But compared to the tone of his voice, it was nothing. 

“Is that how you want me to react?” Rafe yelled violently.

His words were vibrant with scorn and anger. You could have heard him from outside. He took a step forward.

“Because that is the impression you’re giving me” he continued.

What were you supposed to say in return ? No, instead, how were you supposed to react to that ? At first, indifference seemed to be the best option. That was until Rafe screamed once again. 

“Don’t you dare stay silent! Answer me!”

The vehemence in his tone forced you to face reality: at this very moment, you were so vulnerable. You were nothing more than a hungry young woman, in a room she didn’t know. In a house she didn’t know. If you tried to escape, Rafe, near the frame, would easily stop you. He would grab your wrist before breaking it in a second. The worst part of it was that he wouldn't feel remorse afterwards. 

If you tried jumping over a window, you would also miserably fail. Despite the fall - if your legs were intact, which already seemed impossible -, you would not know where to go to escape from the neighborhood. How would you find the Pogues without your phone? You didn’t even know the way to John B’s house. Or Kiara’s. Rafe would always be one step ahead of you. Even though his father had passed away, he still had Ward’s last name, he was a Cameron. And with it came the benefits. The contacts. One call would be enough to find you and exterminate you for good. Yes, you had no doubt about it; you were trapped with him for good.

To you, it felt atrocious to admit it, but in any case, you would get killed. Wherever you may go, whatever you decided to do, it was over for you. Especially since you had nothing left to protect yourself. If you’d been a little smarter, you might have survived his fists. But no, you had to break your only useful weapon, which now, had become totally useless. What was a knife without its blade ? A minute ago, when Rafe had entered your room in the middle of the night, you literally panicked. Hearing the door crack, the steps approaching the bed… More and more… It had been awful for you. Since you caught his discussion with Topper, you had been making a knife in your spare time, behind Rafe’s back. It had not been no small task. However, with the help of several elements in the room, you had succeeded.

So when you heard Rafe lean towards you, that night, you turned around to jump on him. Unfortunately, you couldn’t even make a move that he broke your weapon in half. As if he had planned each of your actions.

Seriously though, what was going through your head at that moment ? Did you really think you could have gotten rid of Rafe Cameron, the boy who had chased the Pogues to the other side of the world ? It was stupid. You were so stupid, to go after him. For thinking you actually had a chance to beat him. Anf from now on, you would have to face the consequences. Even after your death, you would regret that night. 

“No.” You wanted your answer to be simple, only because you did not know what to respond. “Because you deserve it.”

Rafe’s eyes slowly widened. In fact, he was as astonished as you were. Where did you get the strength to come up with such a response ? The nerves you had !

The moment you opened your mouth, you regretted it. In one simple step, Rafe swallowed the few inches that separated you from him. Good job ! Thanks to your answer, the little sense of security your had — if any remained at all — just disappeared for good. 

Rafe was making you shiver, and in the wrong meaning of the word. He was unbelievably big… Much taller than you, he made you feel dominated. It was like you were a thing he was toying with, and it scared you to death. Fear had paralyzed you, prevented you from raising your chin again and challenging him. You could not physically face him by looking at him in the eyes.

However, on the contrary, Rafe did not stop devouring you with his eyes. As if he was looking one last time at his prey before eating it, you could feel his gaze burning your skin. His heart throbbed intensely too. The attack you had planned on him must have startled him. Right ? He was sulking; taking in deep breaths, so deep that you could clearly hear them. Was it intentional ?

“You saw what I did to that vase a second ago, right ?” Rafe asked. 

And again, you couldn’t react.

Hoping he could force you to reply, Rafe imprisoned your jaw with his venous hand. If he lifted it a little high, he could have blocked your mouth without any difficulty.

“...I must have heard you wrong. What did you just say?”

“Yes, I have seen what you’ve done, Rafe.” Your voice was getting increasingly weak.

“Well I could do a thousand times worse. To you.”

That was it. It was the end. Rafe was going to tighten his grip until he blew your face out.

You chuckled nervously. “Really?”

Rafe gave a simple laugh. A hearty, loud laugh. A bitter one too. As if you suddenly regained your assurance, you scanned the room from left to right. You were looking for a shelter, an object that would allow you to face Rafe without putting yourself in danger.

Not knowing how, Rafe guessed your intentions the second your gaze left his. Cursing, he grabbed your arm aggressively. It was so painful that a guttural sound escaped your throat.

“Now, tell me where the fucking money is!” Rafe barked, furious. “I’m running out of time. And out of patience.”

Just like a dog, he showed the fangs.

“Let go of me!” you shouted.

If Rafe thought you would help him by betraying the Pogues, he thought wrong. Even if it meant being severely hurt, you would remain faithful to your friends.

“You know you’re risking your life here, don't you? If you don’t want to end up like Peterkin, speak up!”

“I have no idea where they might be now. They haven’t tried contacting me again.”

You were lying and Rafe knew it.

“Bullshit!” he muttered stormily.

He gave you a skeptical look. It was amazing how cold and sharp his blue eyes could be sometimes. You wondered: was there a time when they were nothing but caring? Warm, perhaps? God, what were you thinking! While you fantasized about him, the guy was choking you! Rafe only knew nonchalance and vehemence. Comparing him to a nice guy was like comparing a cat to a dragon.

Rafe then knelt to the ground and picked up the small blade. As he was scrutinizing it, he laughed. “Is that what you tried to fuck me up with?”

You let your gaze fall on him. You were too embarrassed to respond.

“Impossible,” Rafe whispered, truly taken aback. “Don’t you see there’s a high difference in size and power between the two of us? Even if I hadn’t countered your attack, I wouldn’t have been badly hurt. What were you expecting, seriously?”

“I wasn’t trying to kill you. I just wanted to hurt you enough for me to get away.”

Skeptical, Rafe frowned. 

“Are you hysterical?”

“See that blood stain on your cheek? The only one hysterical here is you.”

Teeth clenched, Rafe gawked at you, which sent shivers down your spine.

“If you want to shoot me, go ahead," you shouted. "Do it, Rafe! Quickly! I don’t understand why you want to steal this money so much, since you are rich, but whatever! Why is it so interesting, in your view? For little money, you’ve gone this far. Killing people, causing disasters… You even destroyed a historical gem, the Cross of Santo Domingo! And now, you’re going to finish off the girl you took captive. Great. What an achiever.”

“Even if you tried, you would never understand.” Rafe grunted in reply. “Don’t speak to me that way. The Pogues killed my father. The real monsters, here, are by your side. Not mine.”

After he reluctantly mentioned the death of Ward, which was his trauma, Rafe’s forehand began to drip with sweat. “I had to prove to him that I was a son he could be proud of.” he explained, more sincere than ever. “All I did was in order to please him. Satisfy him. I had to become an improved version of him. But all he ever saw was Sarah. All he ever found himself concerned about was Sarah’s fate, not mine! Still, I tried. And these Pogues… they… they killed him. Sarah, his beloved daughter, had its part in the crime. She betrayed me. She betrayed my father, and for that I will not forgive her!”

The grip of his hand around your arm became firmer. At this point, his nails were so deep in they were scratching your skin. Rafe seemed more tense than annoyed. When he spoke again, his voice sounded so weak, so fragile, that you had to focus on it to hear it.

“That's why… you have to tell me where the Pogues are. For me, for my father.”

Despite the emotion of the moment, you stayed lucid. Not wasting time before Rafe snapped, in a sudden gesture, you managed to push him back. He stumbled and fell to the ground. You tried to run in the corridor, but because of Rafe’s hand finding your tibia, you were forced to stop.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he roared. “Stop!”

When he said that last word, you picked up the blade. Yes, the one you found useless a minute ago. Yet, it was your only weapon, a way for you to defend yourself against the psychopath who had been wanting to kill you for days.

“What is it like to be in the position of victim?” you asked while you toyed with it.

Riled up, Rafe struck the air with his fist. A blow hit you, you endured it. The adrenaline that flowed in your veins helped you greatly. As you knelt and were about to stab Rafe in the trachea, you interrupted. 

What the hell were you doing?

As if you had been burned, you broke free of Rafe’s grip. You could have killed him. One second too late, and you would have cut short the life of another human being. No matter how rotten he was, Rafe did not deserve that. You could have become a monster, and that thought terrified you.

“Why…” 

A feverish voice had come to you. You turned back. Unlike before, Rafe was not looking at you proudly, but wept. 

“Why did you try to attack me?”

Your eyes widened in shock. The pinch you felt in your heart was scarier than everything you experienced until then. 

“Don’t play dumb,” you said. “I knew about your plan. I caught you talking with Topper.”

“So you heard nothing! He persuaded me not to kill you. Clearly, I shouldn’t have listened to that asshole. Anyway, he never gave good advice.”

“So it took a friend's words for you not to kill an innocent woman? You pretended to get close to me and stab me in the back. That’s supposed to be the victim’s technique. Didn't know you were such a coward."

You wanted to be sure of yourself. Unfortunately, the trembling voice that came out of your mouth proved otherwise.

“No!” he defended himself. “I was saying something offhand. I wasn’t seriously going to kill you. Are you stupid? In order to reach out to the Pogues, I have to keep you alive and well.”

Then Rafe looked at you.

“When I came into this room, I just wanted to tell you…”

“What is it ?”

“I want you to stay. There, with me.”

“I beg your pardon?”

As you waited for him to carry on, time stood still.

“We’re having a good time together, aren’t we?” he asked.

Without being able to talk, the words were cluttering in your mouth. Rafe was a professional at leaving you stunned. What was he on about ? Complicity ? You just thought he was going to kill you!

To fill the heavy blank, Rafe continued. “I… I’m lost. I don’t know where Rose went. After she stole all the money, she flew off to some fucking country, and she didn’t even try to contact me. As if I wasn’t worth her time... And as for Topper, he’s not a real friend whom I can count on. He would rather save Sarah than me. I have no one, and I feel so alone... At least, even if you are a Pogue, having you here is my only company. It gives me someone to talk to, someone to take care of, and I want that to stay that way. With you by my side, I feel useful.”

“We could have been friends,” you replied. “Whether you kept me away from my friends or not. You didn’t need to go to such an extent! Who would want to befriend you after this?”

“I don't like Pogues. Even if you consider yourself one, you’re more like me, a Kook, because of your rich parents. You have to admit it… You just can’t leave.”

“That is not how you maintain a healthy and stable friendship, you know ? Also, you are aware that I am friends with Sarah. You’re criticizing Topper, but in a certain way, I’m the same as him.”

“Sure. But you weren’t there when they killed Ward. You joined later. Besides, until then, you were the nicest to me.”

Again, you were lost at sea. How could Rafe go from one emotion to another so rapidly ? Before you could escape the house, he pulled you to him and you fell on his lap. His eyes, hungry, went from your eyes to your mouth. You knew what he was going after. You could have pulled away, but no. Instead, you stayed there.

Rafe leant towards you, sealing his lips to yours. Just like him, it had a bitter taste. It was like kissing grapefruit, wet and sour. As the sound of guilt came ringing to your ears, you became more stiff.

Before he locked you up, how many times did you fantasize about Sarah’s brother? More than once, that was for sure. And for that reason only, you gave in.

Damn, he was such a hottie.

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[scotianostra]

November 13th 1850 saw the birth in Edinburgh of Robert Louis Stevenson, the renowned essayist, poet, and author of fiction and travel books.

Nowadays we remember the man with an anual event, Robert Louis Stevenson Day 2024 includes a number of events for fans to attend. The event which includes readings, screen shows and an unbirthday party. Although most events take place here in Edinburgh on Saturday you can find the unbirthday party in Monterey Public Library, Clifornia. Remarkaqbly this dates back to 1891 when Annie Ide, the 12-year-old daughter of the American Land Commissioner in Samoa, told RLS of her disappointment that there were no special celebrations to mark her birthday on Christmas Day, he came up with an ingenious solution. As a qualified Scottish advocate, he drew up a legal document declaring: ‘I, Robert Louis Stevenson . . . have transferred and do hereby transfer to the said A.H. Ide, all and whole my rights and privileges in the thirteenth day of November, formerly my birthday, now, hereby and henceforth, the birthday of the said A.H. Ide.’ Now each year the Robert Louis Stevenson Club of Monterey holds aan event as such.

Stevenson had a brief sojourn in the Californian town in 1879, he went there to court Fanny Osbourne, a woman he met in France and fallen deeply in love with. Fanny was from Oakland and had returned to attempt a divorce from her husband. She had summoned Stevenson from his family home in Edinburgh and he readily obeyed her request. He wrote a memoir of his journey from New York through the heart of America, to the West coast in The Amateur Emigrant. Although brief, Stevenson’s time in Northern California deeply affected his work, inspiring his classic tales of adventure. RLS boarded at the French Hotel there, it is now known as Stevenson Houseand is a museum and property of the Monterey State Historic Park. t holds a large collection of Stevenson papers and Stevenson memorabilia. It features a bas relief depicting the author writing in bed, as seen in the pics. The second of the photos is Robert Louis Stevenson's Memorial in St Giles, Edinburgh.