#i am not really a horse person just a person who grew up around horses

[a-memory-a-distant-echo]

i know that it's at partly just that i do not generally post when i ride, but fang duobing, bounciest boy on the screen at all times, posting incredibly dramatically, is very funny and charming to me. he really wakes up and is like 'fuck yeah, every day is leg day, work them thighs!'

like, sir. please. you're gonna die. how far are you riding. how can you possibly sustain that, you cannot, it is impossible. how will you walk when you get off that horse. your thighs will be of steel, by which i mean utterly incapable of moving.

[echojedis]

How do people do OCs, I can never get them to click properly

[the-froschamethyst4]

Spurs and Chaps

𖤐Pairing: Bounty Hunter! König x Outlaw! Reader

𖤐Pronouns: She/Her

𖤐Warnings: smut, fluff, language, old friend to lovers, enemies to lovers, mention of violence, guns, P in V, age gap, groping, nipple play, badass Y/n, kissing/making out,

𖤐Summary: König the bounty hunter had to bring in outlaw Y/n but does he really have to bring her in?

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"Little lady you must have me as a fool?"

"No, sir."

Y/n puts the tip of her heel into the dirt as she flirts with the man in front of her. She just wanted one thing from this man, his money.

"Oh yes!"

"Fuck," loud moans filled the room, the man trying to keep his pants up as he has Y/n pinned to the wall behind her, he bucks his hips up into her, she moans, gripping his hair and kissing his lips.

They both fell on the soft bed behind the man, Y/n undressing herself, her holster on her thigh containing her pistol, she kisses down his chest to his stomach, one hand guiding down and then other resting on her gun.

He looks down at her and sees her hand on her gun.

"Hey, wait a min-" before he could speak another word, he was shot with a lead bullet between his eyes.

"Fucking disgusting," she says, getting off the guy and grabbing her skirt and dirty tank top, she digs around for his sack of gold and soon found it, she smiles and sticks it inside her shirt. She finds her boots and her long black leather coat, she heads out of the whore house and grabs her hat on the way out.

"Another one bites the dust," she says, opening the satchel on her horse's side sticking the gold sack into with all the others. She starts to sum as she gets on the back of her horse. She clicks her tongue and starts walking out of the bum rusted town.

She was acting cool and collected as if she say didn't just kill someone and robbed them.

----------

"Heard she's in Rosewood...you might want to check there...König."

"Tell me again...who am I after?"

"Her name is Y/n L/n, her bounty the highest I've ever seen, even for a woman, $790,000, not even Bonnie's bounty was this high. Was raised by her father who turned out to be Good Old Cyrus L/n, robbed the whole North City blind, was caught and rotted away in prison. Y/n was taken to an orphanage where she raised herself to become an outlaw, it started off as candy stealing then soon made it's way up from pick pocketing, now, she kills then takes." The Sheriff says.

"Sir, her last slighting was in Rosewood, now she's being on the move," his deputy says.

"Well, then, I guess you better get moving, Bounty Hunter."

"I'll see you when I have her."

"If we see you again," the Sheriff says.

König loaded up his horse, clicked his tongue and went South to Rosewood hoping he'll run into Y/n.

---------

It's been a few days, and Y/n has settled into a small town called Winslow, it was like her little hideaway, everyone knows who she is, but no one will ever give her away to the Sheriff and his Deputies.

Y/n sits on the back porch of her little home, she was in some jean shorts, and small white tank top that showed off her hardened nipples and her black boots.

Y/n was cleaning her old clothes she worn, she goes back into her lovely home and she grabs some whiskey from her top cabinet and opened the bottle, chugging some of it. Heading back outside to hang the rest of the clothes.

"Y/n..." She stops what she is doing and turns to see.

"König? How's the Bounty Hunting going?" She asked, knowing he's after her.

"Oh you know...I'm here for a little someone," he says.

"Me?" She says, her back turned to him.

"It's been a while, I just wanted to...catch up with you before, I take you to the Sheriff."

"How? Hmm? What could you have in mind, Bounty Hunter," she giggles at him, she stood up to face him, he looks down at her getting a view of her chest.

"You're a tease, just like I remember," he says, putting his hand on her cheek.

König and Y/n were old friends, even though they grew up differently, Y/n was taught to steal and be a bad person and König was taught to be a good guy. Growing up differently but still how became friends. They don't even know how it happened, and when they got older König picked up being a bounty hunter and Y/n was on the run from law enforcement.

Now did König and Y/n have some sort of relationship? Yes. Again they don't know how it happened, it was just a simple one night that turned into 3, then 4, next they they knew it 5, but it had to stop, it would look bad for a bounty hunter to be sleeping with a bounty.

It would ruin König's reputation.

"Did you take the job because of the money or to see me, again?" She asked him.

"I guess the money...I didn't know I was going after you till I was called in to help."

"Called in? You mean, you didn't see my WANTED paper? The Sheriff called you in?"

"Yeah. He asked for...the best of the best," he says.

"I see," she says, she walks past him, her hand sliding on his chest as she was heading inside. "If you want...you can come inside, König."

he smirks and follows her inside the house. She kicked her boots off at the back door.

"Take your shoes off, I don't want dirt tracked through my house."

"Since when did you ever care about the dirt?"

"Since I've lived here, I love my home, and want it clean and nice and neat," she says.

"But you kill for fun."

"And I can keep my personal life out of my work life."

"Killing is work?"

"Yep," she then turns to him. "Tea?"

"Water is fine," he says.

Y/n gave him some water and then watched him chug it, she smirks up at him, she bends down and kisses his chest down to his stomach, lifting his shirt and kissed his toned stomach.

"Liebe (love)."

"Do you think, I'll ruin your reputation?" she asks, looking up at him, he cups her chin.

"You know you will," he says.

"Good," she says, standing up and kissing his lips. She then pulls down his mask, "There's that face, I've missed...I could ruin you so easily," she teased.

"You ruining me? Doubt it," he chuckles.

König picks her up and slams her back to her wall, her legs wrapped around his waist, she then kisses his neck, he groans, he plops on her messy couch.

König then removes his jacket, and removes his shirt, he then tries to unbuckle his pants, but Y/n ends up helping him. Pulling his pants down and taking them off him, she kisses his bulge, he groans, cupping her chin.

"Fuck, I missed you," he says, leaning down kissing her temple, she moves back to laying on top of him.

"I've missed you too," she says, kissing his lips.

His hands roamed over her body. She then sits up and starts removing her clothes, König then helps her removing her tank top and kissed between her breasts. Kissing her breast and licking at her bud.

She moans, holding his head and playing with his hair, and kissing the top of his head. König then messes with her shorts pulling them off.

König pumps himself a few times, before sliding himself into her. She put her head back moaning his name and squeezing around him, he puts his hands on her waist, she starts rocking back and forth, König smirks, the sex was nice, and soft. It's suppose to be meaningless sex, but it's hard when König still loves Y/n.

Y/n looks down him, leaning over him, moving her hair on one side of head and then kissing his lips. She then starts moving a bit faster.

"No, no, keep going slow, take your time, don't rush anything," he says.

"It's just been so long."

"I know," he cups her face and starts kissing her face, then under her chin and then her lips again.

Y/n looks down at him, he slowly starts to sit up, holding her close to his body, as he bucks his hips up but she started to do the work again, bouncing up and down on him.

"God, you feel so good," König says. He loves feeling her gummy walls holding his cock inside of her.

"You do too," she moans, putting her head back. His hands then start going up her chest and squeezing her chest and playing with her nipples. She moans and looks at him.

"Are you g-going to turn me in?" She asked.

"Do you want me to turn you in?"

"No...I want you to myself, I don't want to be in jail," she moans.

"Aww~" he teases her.

Y/n then could feel herself about to cum, König smirks as cum shoots up into Y/n. Y/n smirks and then bounces a bit more and felt herself squirt on his lower stomach.

He smirks, chuckles a bit, Y/n then leans forward and then kissed his lips.

----------

König laid naked on Y/n's bed, Y/n next to him, he could turn her in so easily, but he can't do that to her. König looks over at her and moves her hair from her face.

"You can go if you want to," she says.

"No...not yet...I want to be here with you," he says.

"You can leave."

"No, not yet," he says, moving closer to her and holding her to his chest.

König kisses her forehead and kissed her lips, he holds her close and moves her hair from her face.

-----------

König was on his horse, looking at the house being light up by small lamps, he was leaving for the night, he doesn't know if he'll come back and see her again, but he wonders if he should put a small hold on bounty hunting and come live with Y/n for a little while.

He travels back to West Dale to see the Sheriff and tell him the news.

That he could not find Y/n.

Y/n woke up to no one next to her, she pats the cold empty spot next to her and thought about König, he's been gone for...so many years and now he came back to have sex with her and left, he didn't bring her in, so did he care about her?

----------

It's been weeks now. Y/n was on her front porch, she was doing some house work, putting up nice plants, around the house.

"Need any help?" Y/n stops and turns to the man's voice.

"König?"

"Have you done any killing lately?" He chuckles.

"Never," she teased.

"Could you help me with the other hanging plants?"

"Sure, liebe (love)."

[colorfullyminded]

TLDR

Okay I cannot believe I'm about to go off like this, but this has been bothering me for awhile, and it's only making me more spiteful. I have been enjoying the influx of Billford art lately. Amazing, great wonderful. What I have Not been enjoying, is the absolute vitriol the Billdip fans have been getting since the influx of TBOB. I was a billdip shipper for awhile. Hell I was a billdip shipper when I was a Parapines shipper-- I liked shipping Dipper with boys. I was also like 14 or 15 at the time. Obviously, if you follow me now, you'll probably notice what my main ship for Dipper is. I grew out of Billdip, and moved on to Pinescone. I have been shipping Pinescone for 10 years. However, not once did I go around saying "Lol, glad I matured and became a better person and shipped something healthier", nor did I post in the billdip tag, condeming people for a fictional ship! And saying mine was better because it was less problematic.

"I'm really glad people stopped shipping Bill and Dipper together. Bill is a 1000 year old triangle demon, and Dipper is 13--" Stop. Repeat what you just said.

"Bill is 1000 year old triangle--"

Repeat that last word to me. "....triangle?" TRIANGLE! I'm sorry what?! This ship is already completely wild enough. You're getting mad at this fictional age gap-- AND BILL IS A FUCKING SHAPE! A FUCKING SHAPE! This ship was weird from the moment GO! And Billford isn't any better. IT'S STILL A SHIP WITH A FUCKING SHAPE! And you're going to sit on your high horse and look down on the Billdip community. On top of it-- they have an age gap too! Bill is still thousands of years old or whatever-- however long it's been, who knows? And Ford was in his 20s or so when he met Bill. That's still a huge, ridiculous age gap-- that Bill could easily use and manipulate; which he did....and then also caught feelings and became a sad ex, but that's beside the point~ Both of these ships are still insane. And again, the bigger thing I think people are just ignoring about these ships--is that Bill is a TRIANGLE! THREE LINES CONNECTED TOGETHER! And this is the hill you're going to die on? ...Cause apparently it's mine. First of all-- as many people pointed out-- Ford Pines did not exist until the second half of the final season. People couldn't ship Fordbill because there wasn't any Ford to introduce.

"Well, even before Ford, I never shipped Billdip! I always disliked it." ...Okay, that's totally fine. Not everyone needs to like or agree on the same ship. Lord knows there's probably people who don't really care for Pinescone either. There's a lot of popular ships that I can't stand. But I'm don't go into a ship tag I don't like, screaming to a void for self validation. I don't go around mocking other people for ships that they had in 2014-- or even still today! It doesn't matter! I did that when I was a kid-- and then realized that was rude, and it was better to just ignore the ships I didn't like and enjoy the ones that made me happy. And grow a community of kind, like minded friends. And listen, I am all for safe spaces and being able to block things that make you uncomfortable. I am not saying people who find the BillDip ship uncomfortable to be idiots or babies or overly sensitive-- or anything like that. I think if something makes you uncomfortable, that is okay and I think it's perfectly fine to blacklist a tag that you don't want to see. I also think it's imperative that people tag things as accurately as they can so people looking at your work can know if one of your pieces has a thing that they don't like-- and therefore can avoid. What I don't appreciate is the fanhate for this ship that is sprouting up like weeds. You can not like something, you can be disgusted by it (I have my Gravity Falls ships I can not stand, nor do I feel comfortable with), but attacking real people for a FICTIONAL SHIP-- two characters who are drawings on a piece of paper and can not be affected mentally, physically or emotionally by fanwork; who still retain the same shape after everything we put them through-- to the point that you send death threats, or threaten to Doxx, or just harass relentlessly, I have always found that more childish and disgusting. You are causing real world pain to people. Me fucking up Dipper Pines is not going to do anything to him-- because he doesn't actually exist. He's a cartoon character. I could squash him and stretch him in Wonka's taffy machine--- I could throw him mock speed at a wall and watch him explode on impact-- but he still exists. He's not dead; I can pick him up and dust him off, and If I wanted-- I could decide that eh, 'Not a scratch on him'. And I'd be right. Because he is a cartoon character, and I am just a fangirl. I can not change anything about him-- I have no ability to make anything I headcanon canon. And even if I was the original artist-- it doesn't change the fact that Dipper would still be nothing more than a creation. A construct of shapes; he can not be hurt or traumatized in a way that leads to real life consequences-- because he is not real. I am not a cartoon character. My friends are not cartoon characters. Artist and Writers who stay in their lane...are not cartoon characters. If you hurt us...it will linger. It will leave a scar. If you can not tell the difference between Fiction and Reality, then I think maybe media might be too much to handle-- and I think you need to really reevaluate yourself.

And just to vent some other things that i keep seeing that are frustrating: You can't claim the twins are only 13-- and then on August 31st go "Happy 20-something Birthday Mabel and Dipper!" And then proceed to drop a picture of them as adults. Well which is it? Do they age or not? Because Gravity Falls showed them canonically aging. If you think the twins age-- then you can't suddenly turn around and go, 'no you can't ship them-- Dipper is a child!' but you drew him as an adult. So sorry, it looks like you can't draw the twins grown up anymore. You claimed they're 13, so better draw them 13 forever--. Aged up stories and works exist for a reason, especially for a fan who grew up on the series. The characters might have grown up alongside them. It's not unlikely for a person to ship Billdip when Dipper is much older.

And on that note, for people who are like 'well older billdip is fine-- it's just people shipping him during the show that deserve to die.' Okay... and like I said, this rant is coming from a recent influx of Billford shippers spitting on Billdip shippers. You know? The TOXIC Old Man Yaoi!

You're still shipping something that is problematic. You are still shipping something twisted and wrong. And I am not judging you. I am here for this divorced arc. I am thriving. But you can't just pick and choose what is and isn't okay. And let me first off explain; if there is something that personally triggers you about a toxic ship, and you want to avoid that-- again, perfectly understandable. Perfectly reasonable. You are the makers of your content space. And I am not judging anyone for that. I want people to be safe. I want people to have a good time in fandom spaces. I want people to not have to deal with the things that upset them or frighten them, or disgust them. But you can not say one is fine, and one is not. They're both bad! They're both toxic. In real life, these ships would both be charged with serious crimes! And yes, there are some crimes that are worse than others, and if you asked me what I thought was more problematic-- I'd say Billdip-- but both of these ships are extreme, and severe in their problematic content. You are still consuming problematic content. If it's a personal thing, that's fine; avoid it. But don't sit there throwing stones from your glass house.

[tenaciousbouquetearthquake]

Okay, guys. Hear me out on this. AU where Gus and his entire team are *shifters*, and that's why they all work so well together and Gus chose them to be part of the team. Because they're a *pack*.

Anders Lassen? A big teddy bear. Unless you're a Nazi or trying to hurt someone he cares about, and then he shifts into a giant brown bear and like mauls you to death and keeps your heart as a souvenir. But he'll totally try to bring his friends in on this, too, just because he wants to share his hobbies with them, and he genuinely doesn't get why his friends all think it's creepy and gross. Also, "he grew up wrestling bears on his family's estate". I'm just saying. This totally works.

Apple? That dude is a *cat* and no one can change my mind about that. Quiet, mysterious, calculating, a master planner, and when you see him in action, he's obviously competent and having a damn good time. Knocks things off of tables or steals shit or blows something up and overcomplicates the mission for no apparent reason, just for the drama. I'm thinking leopard, but I'm biased toward leopards as big cats because one of my favorite series by Nalini Singh is heavily based around a pack of leopard shifters and at this point, they're just my default. Also, so freaking pretty.

Gus? That dude is a WOLF. Larger than life, always having a good time on the hunt, wreaking havoc. Loves to make Apple crazy because that dude's a cat and you know how well dogs and cats get along. Mine actually get along really well except for when the cat tries to eat the dog's food, but whatever. But listen, listen--how else do you explain the absolute insistence of "No Apple, no mission"? Like, really, this was clearly *wolf* Gus just trying to piss off *cat* Apple because he thrives on chaos and just likes to drag his cat "friend" (Apple might contest this) into the mess. Apple probably didn't even need any help getting away from the Nazis on La Palma. He was probably just toying with them and *waiting for the right moment* to strike.

Freddy? Okay, okay. Before anyone complains about this, just listen. That dude is a FERRET. And if you've spent any amount of time around ferrets, I swear, you will understand what a compliment this is and what it says about Freddy. Playful, boisterous, tons of personality, sneaky, a penchant for stealing things (okay, it's sounding a bit more like Gus now, actually) and for causing THE GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE. 100% in on whatever plans wolf Gus and cat Apple are cooking up because *it sounds like a good time*. Also, ferrets are freaking ADORABLE. I mean, have you seen a video of ferrets being all cuddly or jumping around and playing? Tell me that's not Freddy.

Hayes? I feel like Hayes is either a really dark horse and is something absolutely terrifying that none of the guys will talk about directly (like, if it ever comes up, they'll all just conveniently change the subject or be super vague about it), or he's either the only human in the group and is the unofficial wrangler of these guys simply because he's the only one who's not at least partially ruled by his animal nature.

Not gonna lie. I know this may not be a big hit with anyone else not everyone is obsessed with werewolves and shifters and loves to read an au of it, but I am just *in love* with this concept and may spend an hour or two tonight just writing out ideas or drabbles of it.

[staenless]

I will say as a certified horse girl I didn't like the kelpie in the last episode. Not for any like moral or whatever reasons, in fact as someone who grew up around horses I believe they have an amazing capacity for horror realistically or fantastically. Kelpies are a great horror creature, a horse who isn't a horse, waiting and playing on our idea of horses as prey animals and less dangerous so they can eat us. 10/10 creature. I just think it looked lame as fuck.

Obviously I don't go into shows that aren't horse-centric expecting good horse representation. Honestly I'm pissing my pants with excitement that horses are even MENTIONED in my favourite manga/anime. But i am a horse girl and I'm allowed to 1)be critical of horses and 2)talk about how I'd have done the kelpie if I had the chance. So let's take a look at our kelpie!

The proportions are fine, the animators fell victim to Horse Pec syndrome (common occurance, horses have a lot going on 9n their pecs and it's difficult to show this realistically without giving horses tits). The ribs and chest... Are weird? Anne has this weird dip to her stomach that shouldn't be there, and I can't think of a reason for a kelpie specifically to have this. On a real horse something like that would be a sign of an ill fitting girth/improper care and potential abuse, you'd wanna see a vet.

The hooves are good and I really like the seaweed feathers (hair that hands over the back of the hoof).

I like the shark tail made from tail hair/seaweed and really sets Anne apart from real horses while emphasising her aquatic nature. This is a water monster, not a horse. I love the dorsal stripe up her spine it's so cute!!

Her mane being curly while her tail isn't is a bit weird to me but I think it emphasised that it's SEAWEED not hair and this bitch is DAMP. I did not like her face because it's so bizaar looking??? Her neck is quite thick going into her skull which is fine btu for some reason in some scenes she has a double chin? Which is literally impossible for a horse to have?

As you can see here horses have a hollow at the base of their skulls between their cheeks so no matter how they tip their head they cant have a double chin, just wrinkles. It wasn't often I saw it but you can see in the top picture of Anne it's shaded in and it just looks weird to me? Also parts of Anne's face are very bulbous including her nose and like yeah a horses nose can flare (usually if they're stressed, tired or curious) but that's not what's happening here. Also I'm pretty sure Anne is based on a draft horse, and they usually have some sort of Roman nose and big head. Maybe I'm bothered by her facial proportions because of that?

Draft horses are thick sturdy animals and a lot of non-horse enthusiast artists use them in their work because they're so visually satisfying. I mean look at this big boy. The problem is her proportions aren't quite right, her hind quarters are very slim, the back of her head has some weird lump? Not sure what that is? Her head is possibly too small and her lips/nose are just. I don't even know what's going on there.

Personally I think since Anne is a predator I'd probably base her on a hot blooded breed. I think an Arabian would make a great kelpie, they're a fast moving breed that's compact and powerful, and the way they look after a run, nose flaring, veins throbbing through their skin, twitching and hopping where they stand, could be very scary is channeled into a predatory instinct. Draft horses are far stronger but are much slower moving, so this probably fits into Anne's long term plan to lure Senshi into the water. However if we were casting based on aggression and bloodlust Anne would realistically be a Shetland pony.

Ask any horse fanatic and they'll agree with this conclusion.

You might argue that animating a horse in an "anime style" is hard but the horse doesn't have to be stylised to fit in the anime. I personally believe that trying to achieve as realistic a horse as possible is better for the overall look than stylising it right off the bat.

This gif by @ostinlein has a realistically proportioned and animated horse in a more cartoonist setting and it works really well! Also it's just plain beautiful! Something like this, maybe with slightly fewer details in the mane, tail and feathers would work well in the dunmeshi anime.

So Anne's anatomy isn't the best, and it seems to be just a generic horse with mismatched parts. She seems to be a warm blood but also a draft. I think?

Again just having a horse in the anime is exciting and I'm glad she looks as good as she does, animating horses when you're not a horse lover is probably extremely difficult and I can appreciate that her movements are all pretty decent and recognisably equine. Horse paces are very complicated and tricky things, there's a reason a horse galloping was the first thing ever filmed, and the few places we do see Anne's legs moving they move right. So kudos to the animators for that.

Kelpie art by @fishylookingdeer

A kelpie with a proper draft horse base for reference.

Dungeon Meshi the manga is, in my opinion, and adventure comedy with horror elements. I'm sure a lot of fans agree with me that there are moments in the anime that are genuinely horrific and terrifying, and not just in the end. The entire world of dungeon meshi is pretty damn scary and it's only because our main character is a joyful idiot that the manga has such an optimistic outlook despite the circumstances. The anime doesn't carry the horror many readers expereince through though, which is a little disappointing imo. Earlier I mentioned I believe horses in both realistic and fantastical setting have incredible capacity for horror and so I wanna take a second to share how I think Anne could have been scarier!

First off Kelpies aren't horses. They're mimicking creatures that disguise themselves as horses to lure you onto their back and into the waves, and so the best way to make a kelpie scary is to make them not-quite-a-horse. A horse, but slightly to the left. Anne has light blue eyes with no focus, I think that's pretty cool BUT what I'd really like is Anne to have normal horse eyes possibly with her pupils the wrong way.

Horses eyes have this horitonal still for a pupil, I think giving Anne pupils but verticle would be a subtle way of showing she's not really a horse while also nodding to her predatory nature, like a cats eye.

When horse watch you they usually move their whole head, and then they're calm you can usually only see the coloured part of their eyes. However when a horse is panicking the white of their eyes show and they look around frantically. I think giving Anne normal horse eyes (with a fucked up pupil) and then having her show the white of her eyes by tracking the part members with her eyes only would be really cool! This is NOT normal horse behaviour, but predatory animals do this to reduce movement and scaring their prey away. It would be a subtle "something isn't right here" way to make the audience uncomfortable.

Horses also can't open their mouth a ton. Don't get me wrong they can grab onto your arm or leg if the mood strikes them but they cant truely open their jaw much. They also can't pant. Honestly I didn't even think of the panting till I saw this gif by @rcrisdraws and now I can't stop thinking about it

Don't like that...

In conclusion I liked Anne, I liked a lot of her design and some of her animation was good (when she attacked Senshi was particularly nice). While I have some nitpick qualms with her proportions I think for a non-horse oriented show she's perfectly acceptable. I think she could have been truely terrifying if the animators wanted her to be, but that's wishful thinking on my part. If you've read all this way through my rambles then please take a moment to check out the artists I've mentioned, their work is stunning and they deserve love.

[dksw0rld]

How I achieved being the happiest I’ve ever been during the hardest year I’ve ever been through

I stopped waiting for the weekend to live life

If a friend asks me to go out to grab a drink on a Thursday for happy hour I now say yes. If I want to go to the movies on a Monday I go on a Monday. I began to refuse living a life that waited for the weekend to live. 

I stopped feeling guilty for spending money on myself

When I began to make my own money in high school, I would save all of it and not spend any on myself. A lot of this was honestly due to my parents paying for everything, they wanted me to save the money I was making for college and the future. Don’t get me wrong having parents like that was and still is a blessing. At the same time, it led me to associate money with needing to hoard it to be prepared for the next step. I began to recognize and heal those thoughts. I embarked deeper on my self love journey and adopted the mindset of recognizing that I am worth every penny I spend and more, whether that be spending money on experiences, on self care, or for my future self.

I re-started a hobby I loved as a child

When I was younger, I did ballet among a few other activities. I loved all of them but ballet was (and still is) my favorite. For years I wanted to start again but let life get in the way. This year I said enough. I looked up in person classes in my area and found that all of them were way out of my price range but, instead of giving up, I found another way. I found a program that taught lessons online with an instructor. Re-starting ballet truly makes my inner-child so happy. 

 I prioritize experiences

This ties into not waiting for the weekend to live life but it deserves it’s own point. I began prioritizing finding ways to live. I look up events in my area and actually attend them. I attend events I find that bring me out of my comfort zone like dance classes in the park, roller skating with a group of people I don’t necessarily know, attending a sunflower festival, etc. I also joined a few social groups that host events and I attend those. I take weekend trips with friends. I take myself on staycations and solo weekend trips. Life really is so much fun when you actually go outside and do things!

I volunteer

I grew up volunteering and I stopped during college. This year I realized how much I missed it. I also knew it would be a great way to meet new people and foster relationships. I’ve always loved being around horses so I knew I wanted to volunteer at a barn. I googled horse barns near me and found one 8 minutes away from my apartment - this barn is a true hidden suburban gem. It’s a therapeutic horse barn for kids with special needs. I volunteer there every Friday and Saturday and am absolutely in love with it. It brings so much to my life. I also volunteer through my church home but more about that in the next point. 

I prioritized finding a church home

I grew up in the church as my Dad was an elder there for 15 years. I sort of lost touch with my faith in the past couple of years. This year I renewed my faith and prioritized looking for a church home after putting it off for a year and a half. I googled churches near me and visited one every Sunday until I felt I found the right fit. I found the church I’m at now and I cannot explain to you how life changing it’s been. I joined a community group through the church to meet more Christians my age and those people mean so much to me now. We meet every Tuesday night, we go on runs together, volunteer together, had a Friendsgiving this past year, it’s just been amazing. I’ve grown so much in my faith.

I stopped prioritizing finding love

I am truly a certified lover girl. I have so much pure love to give and craved someone who would give me the same type of love. I tried to find that person most of my life and while I’ve had some great men in my life they never were “the one”. This year I genuinely stopped prioritizing finding my person and started prioritizing myself and my life. It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I’m now filled with trust that my person will come along when it’s time and until then I’m truly enjoying my season of singleness! 

I don’t care what anyone thinks

I’ve genuinely never cared what people think, even when I was younger, which has been a huge blessing. I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum. I’ve never been ashamed to like what I like or to not like what I don’t like, no matter what the people my age were doing. I’ve always done what I’ve felt is best for my life. I never get embarrassed about anything. This notion has just intensified this year.

I don’t care about social media

I stopped going on Instagram. I deleted the app off of my phone. I deleted Twitter years ago. I don’t go on TikTok. I only use Snapchat for extra picture and video storage. I genuinely do not care about social media anymore. I don’t care for everyone to know what I’m up to. I don’t care to know what anyone else is up to. I know what’s going on in the lives of people that matter to me because I actually talk to and spend time with them. I personally don’t see the point in posting on Instagram. I don’t care to know what “celebrities” are doing. I just truly don’t care about any of it. 

I prioritize privacy 

This year I realized how important privacy is. For a whole host of reasons. Some of them being peace, less evil eye, safety, not having the pressure of trying to “keep up”. I can go on and on honestly. This year I’ve begun to say less and observe more. Since choosing private over public I’ve seen my happiness grow and my life blossom. I’m very careful with who I let into my circle. I don’t tell anyone everything. I’m selective with whom I share with and what I share. I’m truly in love with privacy. I love having beautiful experiences and no one or only the people I’m having them with knowing. 

I pay attention to myself 

This year I began to truly pay attention to myself. How I act in certain situations, my thought processes, my emotions, what I still need to work on, how I’ve grown, what triggers me, etc. Once I started doing this, healing, growth and making changes has become so much easier. I finally feel like I know myself through and through. I feel in touch with who I am. I know how to love myself and make myself happy.

I pray this new year you begin to choose happiness, because happiness will always be a choice. This year was NOT easy for me at all but I still prioritized myself and my happiness and I truly have never been happier. I pray this new year you choose yourself. I pray this year you begin to truly live. 

[archiveikemen]

Minamoto no Yoshitsune Main Story: Chapter 14

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting┊aikm’s Genjiden Glossary

Yuno: But you don’t have to thank me…

(I was only doing what I should.)

Yoshitsune: Then let me rephrase it.

He took my hand and his amethyst eyes gazed into my eyes.

Yoshitsune: Come with me as an apothecary to ensure that I don't reopen my wound.

Yuno: … It’s not fair if you put it that way.

(I can’t refuse to perform my duties as an apothecary.)

Yuno: Understood. I’ll go with you.

Yoshitsune: Okay.

Yoshitsune-sama’s eyes softened when I nodded.

(I turned down the offer earlier, but…)

(I’m glad I can go outside for a bit as it's been a while since I last did.)

Yuno: Um… thank you, Yoshitsune-sama!

Yoshitsune: You’re welcome.

Yoshitsune: I’m relieved to finally see you smile.

Yuno: Eh…

(... I know there’s definitely no deeper meaning behind that but…)

Yuno: You’re amazing for being able to say such things so naturally, Yoshitsune-sama.

Yoshitsune: Did I say something strange?

Yoshitsune: I apologise if my words offend you.

Yuno: That’s not the case. I apologise for my weird comment.

(I was merely leading myself on.)

I smiled at Yoshitsune-sama who stared at me confused.

And then a slight smile formed on his lips again.

Yoshitsune: That’s a relief. Then, shall we go?

…

I quickly got ready and went outside,

(Huh?)

In front of the mansion stood Yoshitsune-sama and only one horse.

Yuno: Yoshitsune-sama, is no one else accompanying us?

Yoshitsune: I don’t need that just to go out to town.

Yoshitsune: In fact, I’m not fond of having a large entourage.

Yuno: … You were alone that night at the festival in Kamakura too.

(But is it really okay for the two of us to be alone together even when I’m a hostage?)

Yoshitsune: I know better than anyone that you won’t try to escape.

Yoshitsune: Besides, wouldn't having my vessels around make you feel anxious? This won't be a proper recreational trip if you feel that way.

Yuno: … How did you know what I was thinking?

Yoshitsune: I thought so because you’re an earnest person.

Yoshitsune: Am I wrong?

Yuno: No… you’re right.

Yoshitsune: I see. Then that should clear all your doubts.

Yoshitsune-sama extended his hand to me with a smile.

Yoshitsune: Take my hand.

Yuno: Okay…

He helped me onto the horse and my field of view became taller.

(... um.)

The feeling of his chest pressed against my back made my heart race.

When he grabbed the reins, our bodies came closer.

(My heart is beating really fast for some reason…)

Yuno: … I think I might be nervous.

Yoshitsune: You're not used to riding on a horse?

(Hya…)

I shivered when I felt his breath brush against my ear.

Yoshitsune: Your body feels tense indeed.

Yuno: Umm, t-that’s…

(I can’t tell him that it’s because he’s making my heart race.)

Yuno: That’s right. I’m not used to horses.

I quickly came up with a white lie.

Yoshitsune: This horse is well-trained.

Yoshitsune: It’s calm and tame, so you don't have to worry.

(Whoa…)

Yoshitsune-sama wrapped an arm around my waist.

Yoshitsune: Just lean on me and trust me.

Even through the fabric of my kimono, I could feel his sturdy physique. My body gradually grew hotter.

(I hope he doesn't notice!)

Yoshitsune: Hold on if you’re scared.

The horse started galloping at a comfortable pace.

…

(This is Hiraizumi!)

There was a market being held in town, and it was bustling with people.

Hiraizumi wasn’t as big as Kamakura, but it was full of life.

(There's so many children… everyone has nice smiles too.)

(They must really love this town.)

Yuno: What a wonderful town…!

Yoshitsune: I agree. This town was built up by the hands of its people.

Yoshitsune: There’s only so much I can do for it.

Yoshitsune: The townspeople are to thank for making this town this wonderful.

I could tell from Yoshitsune-sama’s tone that Hiraizumi meant a lot to him.

Yuno: This town is irreplaceable to you too, right, Yoshitsune-sama?

Yoshitsune: Yeah.

Commoner 1: Oi, isn’t that…?

Commoner 2: Yeah… it’s Yoshitsune-sama.

(Oh.)

The townspeople started whispering amongst themselves when they noticed us, their eyes filled with admiration for Yoshitsune-sama.

Commoner 3: Eh? It’s Yoshitsune-sama…

The whispering spread like ripples,

When Yoshitsune-sama passed through, the bustling town went quiet.

(Amazing…)

In Kamakura, people cheered and sang Yoritomo-sama’s praises wherever he went.

But the scene before me was entirely different.

Commoner 4: … I heard he fought like a demon in a recent battle.

Commoner 5: He’s our hero indeed… he’s like a god.

Commoner 6: Praise the heavens, praise the heavens…!

The townspeople looked at Yoshitsune-sama as though he were a deity.

(This isn’t ordinary adoration…)

(To the townspeople, Yoshitsune-sama is a person of great significance.)

Commoner 7: By the way, who’s the woman on the horse with him?

Commoner 8: Is she perhaps his beloved Lady*…?

*Word used here is 姫君 which refers to the daughter of someone with high authority e.g. a nobleman’s daughter.

(Beloved…)

An uneasy feeling crept up to me when I noticed that the attention was on me too.

Yoshitsune: Yuno? What’s wrong?

Yuno: N-No, it’s nothing.

(He doesn't seem to notice it.)

Amidst the whispering from the townspeople, Yoshitsune-sama calmly continued moving forward on his horse.

Yuno: Is this how it’s always been?

Yoshitsune: What do you mean?

When I asked in a low voice, Yoshitsune-sama leaned in closer.

Yuno: I feel like we’re attracting a lot of attention.

Yoshitsune: Not really. Although, I think it’s natural for the people to be curious about my movements due to my position as the Supreme Commander of the army.

(No, no…!)

(Yoshitsune-sama naturally draws attention to himself by simply existing. This is nothing new to him.)

Yoshitsune: We can speed up a little if it’s bothering you.

Yuno: Whoa.

He adjusted his grip on my waist and the horse gradually picked up speed, the townspeople’s whispers trailing off behind.

Yoshitsune: Let me know if you're scared.

Yuno: No, I'm alright! Actually, the breeze feels nice…

With the breeze surrounding me, I looked around with my eyes wide open.

Yuno: Horse riding is fun.

Yoshitsune: Glad you’re enjoying it.

(My heart rate is bothering me, but perhaps it’s because I feel safe in Yoshitsune-sama’s arms…)

My skin heated up slightly as I recalled the warmth I felt on the night he protected me from the ayakashi in the garden.

The exhilarating feeling grew too much to handle, I watched the passing scenery of the town.

Yuno: At any rate, this town is really beautiful…

Yoshitsune: Hiraizumi was once known as a city of gold.

Yuno: A city of gold? That sounds kind of fancy.

Yoshitsune: It was probably due to the gold mines of Oshu.

Yoshitsune: Extravagant amounts of gold were produced, the lord’s mansion and even commoner’s houses were made of gold.

(I can’t imagine a town where everything is made of gold…)

Hiraizumi still had many buildings with beauty that rivalled that of gold.

(Wait, but…)

Yuno: I noticed a couple of houses that look as though they were burnt down.

The burnt houses appeared more obvious in contrast to the beautiful buildings around them.

Yuno: Did a fire break out…?

Yoshitsune: It wasn’t a fire.

Yoshitsune: It was Yoritomo-kou’s troops.

(... I see.)

Yuno: Hiraizumi was attacked by the Shogunate.

Yoshitsune-sama’s eyebrows turned into a slight frown at the sight of me tightly pressing my lips shut.

Yoshitsune: I didn't mean to bring that up. Pardon me.

Yuno: It’s fine… it was thoughtless of me to ask.

(It’s inevitable that I’ll one day have to fight against Yoshitsune-sama.)

Initially, I ended up on the Shogunate’s side due to my circumstances.

But now, I’ve chosen to support them on my own free will.

I told myself that time and time again.

(So… why do I feel so lost?)

(My purpose of getting closer to Yoshitsune-sama was that I hate going to war without knowing a thing.)

(Where I stood was clear in my mind.)

And yet, I now realised that feelings I was never aware of had grown deep inside of me and were starting to show.

That realisation shocked me.

(... I don't want to hurt Yoshitsune-sama.)

(I’m afraid of fighting him.)

My fear wasn't of being killed on the battlefield, but of something entirely different that bound me with invisible threads.

Yoshitsune: Yuno.

Yuno: … Yes?

(I need to act normal.)

Yuno: Sorry! I got lost in my thoughts for a moment.

Yoshitsune-sama stared at me intently as I tried to laugh it off.

Yoshitsune: Let’s get moving.

After a while of riding, we arrived at the outskirts of town.

…

(Wow…!)

The green mountain range stretched endlessly surrounded by mist.

The refreshing breeze blew down from the peaks, rustling the leaves of the lush greenery.

Yuno: I’ve never seen such a magnificent view before…!

Yoshitsune: The town isn’t the only thing beautiful about Hiraizumi, its nature is beautiful as well.

Yoshitsune: Water from snow thaw circulates through the vast plot of land, nurturing its flora and fauna.

Yuno: That’s true… this must be what “picturesque scenery” means.

I took a deep breath of the fresh air.

(I feel relieved.)

Yuno: This feels different from riding through town.

Yoshitsune: Yeah. I often go on rides like this too to clear my mind.

Yoshitsune-sama’s horse appeared content, feeling him gently stroke its neck.

Yoshitsune: Good boy.

(The horse seems very fond of Yoshitsune-sama.)

Yuno: You’re really good with horses, Yoshitsune-sama.

Yuno: When you were playing the flute the other night, birds and rabbits gathered around you… you seem to be popular with animals.

Yoshitsune: That might be a little exaggerated.

Yoshitsune-sama chuckled.

Yoshitsune: I’ve always been able to get along well with horses.

Yoshitsune: I enjoy riding faster than anyone can catch up to and seeing unfamiliar sights.

Yoshitsune: Perhaps this feeling was conveyed to them. Horses are sentient creatures.

Yuno: That’s so like you, Yoshitsune-sama.

I couldn’t help but smile at his gentle words.

(Animals being drawn to Yoshitsune-sama is likely because he has a pure heart.)

Yuno: Then do you find today’s outing unsatisfying?

Yuno: You’re riding slower than usual because I’m here, right?

Yoshitsune: — No.

While handling the reins, Yoshitsune-sama pondered for a moment.

Yoshitsune: If riding fast sharpens my senses, then what I’m feeling now is the opposite.

Yoshitsune: My chest feels warm.

(That means…)

His honest words went straight to my heart.

(Even though I don't understand the reason for this feeling.)

Yuno: — Me too.

Yoshitsune: I see.

My hesitation, short response… was received by him.

After a while, the horse gradually came to a stop.

Yoshitsune: Let’s rest a little.

Yuno: Okay.

With Yoshitsune-sama’s help, I dismounted the horse.

And then, with my hand still in his, Yoshitsune-sama looked into my face.

Yoshitsune: Feeling better?

Yuno: Eh?

Yoshitsune: I’m no smooth talker, so I don’t know the right words to comfort you.

Yoshitsune: That’s why I thought of showing you my favourite scenery.

(He noticed my unease…)

A warm feeling gradually formed in my chest.

Yuno: Thank you! I’m feeling much better now.

Yoshitsune: I see.

Yoshitsune-sama let go of my hand with a smile.

(… I’m really no match for you.)

Having touched that heart, there was no escaping the uneasy feeling.

Yuno: I apologise. It was my first time seeing a town burned down by the flames of war…

Yuno: Despite being aware of what war is like, I felt upset knowing it was the result of the Shogunate’s actions.

(Yoritomo-sama must’ve attacked the town in Hiraizumi due to his personal beliefs.)

(If I’m going to take the Shogunate’s side, I have to accept the consequences of it.)

Yoshitsune: …

Yuno: If it doesn’t bother you… could you tell me more about Hiraizumi back then?

He stared into my eyes, seemingly trying to figure out my true intentions. After a brief pause, Yoshitsune-sama spoke calmly.

Yoshitsune: A long time has passed since Yoritomo-kou’s troops burnt the town to the ground.

Yoshitsune: The lives people worked hard to build up, and the lives of those who tried to fight back were lost.

Yuno: … Do you think everyone resents the Shogunate for their actions?

(The suffering of the people who had everything taken from them right before their eyes must be beyond imaginable.)

Yoshitsune: The people who have resentment and fear of the Shogunate gathered under my flag.

Yoshitsune: But… the town of Hiraizumi isn’t all negative emotions.

Yoshitsune-sama pointed at the town we came from, his sleeve fluttering in the wind.

Yoshitsune: It was a devastating sight to see after the town was ravaged, but… everyone didn’t lose hope.

Yoshitsune: They worked together to rebuild their homes, businesses resumed, and they aimed to restore the town.

Yoshitsune: As time goes by… the town will surely become much more beautiful than it ever was.

Yuno: That’s what makes the town so… wonderful.

I muttered as the realisation hit me.

Yuno: Not because of what remains of the City of Gold, but because everyone is building up their lives from the bottom and with a common goal.

(Now that I think of it, Yoshitsune-sama said earlier that…)

= Flashback Start =

Yuno: What a wonderful town…!

Yoshitsune: I agree. This town was built up by the hands of its people.

Yoshitsune: There’s only so much I can do for it.

= Flashback End =

(Yoshitsune-sama sincerely believes in the people of Hiraizumi.)

(The town of Hiraizumi is his pride.)

(The townspeople too…)

Yuno: The townspeople looked at you as though you were a deity.

Yuno: I think I learned the real reason for that today.

Yoshitsune-sama shook his head.

Yoshitsune: I’m no deity.

Yoshitsune: Once, in the face of Yoritomo-kou’s forces, I failed to protect what was important.

Yuno: Yoshitsune-sama…

A silent flame flickered in Yoshitsune-sama’s eyes as he looked ahead.

Yoshitsune: However, my vassals and the people of Hiraizumi still chose to believe in me and follow me.

Yoshitsune: It’s my mission to provide them a country where they can live peacefully under the threat of no one.

Yoshitsune: — Even if I won’t be able to see it with my own eyes.

(What does he mean by that?)

Yuno: Um…

Yoshitsune: — It’s gotten a little chilly.

(Oh…)

Yoshitsune-sama removed his haori and gently draped it over my shoulders.

Yuno: Thank you…

Yoshitsune: We should head back to the mansion.

Yuno: Yes. … I hope I can come here again.

Yuno: Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound like I’m disappointed by the current situation… it’s just that the scenery is so beautiful, I’m a little reluctant to leave.

I scrambled to cover up my words that were spoken without consideration.

Yoshitsune: I wish I could show you more of all sorts of things too.

I took Yoshitsune-sama’s outstretched hand and climbed back onto the horse.

(I didn’t ask what he meant by those words from earlier.)

— “Even if I won’t be able to see it with my own eyes”.

Those words became tiny thorns that lingered and pricked my heart.

…

A few days later—

On my way to Yoshitsune-sama’s room to check on his wound…

(Kurama?)

I saw Kurama eating a mandarin on the engawa.

Kurama: It’s you.

(Why a mandarin…?)

Kurama picked up another mandarin and gave me an irritating look.

(It’s better not to get involved with him… I think.)

Yuno: Hello. Well…

Kurama: Wait.

Right as I was about to walk past after greeting him, he called out to me.

Yuno: What?

I stopped reluctantly, and he offered me a mandarin.

Kurama: Peel it.

Yuno: Huh?

Kurama: I told you to peel it. Just take it.

(Whoa…)

He forcefully pushed the mandarin into my hand.

Yuno: You can do it yourself.

Kurama: Why should I, when there’s someone else standing right in front of me?

Yuno: That’s tyranny…!

(I guess there’s no other option.)

There was no refusing him, and so I was pressured to reluctantly sit down next to Kurama.

I carefully peeled the mandarin, making sure I didn't crush the flesh.

Kurama: Remove the fibre.

Yuno: Aren’t you being too demanding toward someone who’s peeling your mandarin for you?

Yuno: Fine, I’ll do it. Here.

Kurama took the mandarin and nonchalantly tossed a segment of it into his mouth.

Yuno: … Do you like mandarins?

Kurama: I don’t hate them.

(That’s kind of surprising…)

Kurama: By the way, where are you going?

Yuno: To Yoshitsune-sama.

Kurama: That reminds me, you’re treating his injury.

Kurama: Is it healed?

Yuno: It’s much better now.

Kurama: Which means your treatment will soon be no longer needed.

Yuno: That’s true…

The words that were said so matter-of-factly made my heart ache.

(We’re seeing each other every day now, but there won't be a reason for us to meet after his treatment is completed.)

(I won’t be able to talk to Yoshitsune-sama anymore…)

Contrary to my clouded expression, Kurama grinned in amusement.

Kurama: That’s a good thing. Yoshitsune turns into a softie around someone like you.

Yuno: Someone like me… a little rude, don't you think?

I retorted, a cold and mocking gaze staring down at me.

Kurama: Rude? You’re a powerless woman with nothing special about you, and that's a fact.

Kurama: For human beings, Benkei and Yoichi are strong.

Kurama: That’s why they’re allowed to serve by Yoshitsune’s side…

(Kurama must have his reasons for thinking this way, but…)

Yuno: Yoshitsune-sama and I aside, I don’t think anyone has the right to decide who is or is not allowed to get closer.

Kurama narrowed his eyes sharply.

Kurama: Are you arguing with me?

[vixen525noms]

Haze Radio

A story from an apocalypse world of mine.

Warning for violence. Also editor was busy so this is not nearly as polished as usual.

-----

The voice on the radio had been a comfort since the new radio station started broadcasting in the small town a couple years ago. Nobody was sure where it was set up, although some rumors the host took over a nearby abandoned military site. Nobody could really get access there so that’s where everyone decided it must be. The station called itself Haze Radio, so when the host allowed call-ins, people just assumed that was the person’s name. The friendly voice had accepted that as a nickname for themself. People wanted to send gifts to the host so a drop box was set up. Nobody saw anyone take from it, but it was emptied when locals checked so they knew the gifts must be retrieved somehow. 

So while the host, Haze, remained a mystery, the whole town grew fond of the voice. The voice reported on the annual scarecrow festival and complimented the ragtag art around the town. They gave reminders of when hunting season started and what areas hunters are allowed in and where not to go. A friendly voice discussed when the weather was good to plant and harvest. The voice praised a rehab project that restored local land to allow animals to flourish when the government approved reintroductions of species previously extinct locally. 

The whole town gossiped about the voice on the radio. How did this Haze know so much about everything going on? The voice didn’t match any locals. The station wasn’t heard outside of town. It was all… bizarre. But the town quickly loved their mysterious radio station. 

But one day the regular local reports the station gave were… strange. The stranger on the radio had previously warned them ahead of time when a tornado would pass through town so everyone trusted Haze. Haze was never wrong. Haze knew when a freeze would kill off seedlings and to wait to plant. Haze knew when thunder may spook the horses and they needed to be put up for safety. Haze knew when coyotes were too close to the duck farm. But this… It was vague. It didn’t make sense. Just a warning that bad things would happen. That in the next week they need to get their relatives and friends from the cities to come out here through a certain date. 

Of course all of them had talked to relatives and friends about the mysterious radio host and how much his words helped the town. About the warning before the tornado even formed, how Haze seemed to know the exact path it would take down to the street corners it would go past. Many out of towners wanted to dismiss the crazy talk of coming to town by a specific date. But when the locals got worked up, many eventually caved. Some locals even claimed needing desperate help after health issues to get far traveling children home. 

Those who used deception to get family to come faced arguments over the next days… but eventually most agreed to at least wait to see if anything happened on the date declared. 

The date in question came and Haze had a new message. “Stay at home. Don’t risk going outside no matter what. Just watch the news to see why I told you to bring everyone here for safety. I am so sorry I couldn’t tell you more, but if they found out I warned you, I would have been taken away and unable to protect you.”

It turned out the locals had been wise to listen to the voice of Haze.

News announcements on television warned that strange phenomena appeared near major cities and especially military structures. Giant beings, many bearing some sort of elemental abilities came through what were apparently portals of some sort.. 

The locals became extremely worried. The abandoned military place they all knew about… it might be a target too. They were soon calling each other on the phones and texting, trying to see if anyone had eyes on it. To see if they would be targeted too. The news was reporting mass casualties… as they were trying to make sense, they heard sounds like on the television. The ground shaking and splitting. Looking out windows, word spread fast that two of those monsters were in town. Fire hitting the small police station, the town hall… But nobody was in those buildings. They had listened to Haze and stayed home.

Suddenly a third one of those monsters showed up, attacking the other two. It didn’t make sense. In the new broadcasts all the monsters were working with each other. Why was this one acting different? While the first two had used fire and earth, this one gestures and blasts of water hit the fire one, causing it to fall. The fire giant fell onto the school… which was empty only because of Haze’s warning. The earth one punched the one using water and the beast stumbled, damaging several downtown shops in the fight. Shops empty because of Haze’s warning. 

But the fight was moving. Getting closer to the neighborhood. To houses. The fire giant tossed a piece of wall at the water giant, and it shattered, pieces impacting a nearby building with three apartments in it. The water one roared and hit the fire giant again. It yelled at the two other giants and that’s when it clicked for everyone. The water giant screaming at the other two to get the hell out of his town… that voice was Haze. The first time any of them heard anger in that familiar friendly voice. The other two seemed hesitant but talked. Something about a job to do. An assignment. But Haze didn’t back down. “These people have nothing to do with the mission. They are innocent and good. The base here is empty. So go elsewhere. But leave this town alone.” 

Finally, the two other giants began to leave. The water giant knelt by the apartment, carefully removing debris and speaking in a soft voice, “This building won’t hold long. You can’t stay in it. We need to move you somewhere safer. I know I must be very scary to you… especially when you are seeing what my kind are doing on the news… but even if you don’t let me help you, you need to get out of here and see what houses may take you in.”

Of course with all the terrible things on the news, it was hard to trust a giant… but he didn’t try to touch anyone. He merely held the fire escape in place against the building so they could get out on their own now that the stairs were ruined. As they started their retreat to the neighborhoods, they glanced frequently. Haze was checking each damaged building for people. He seemed visibly relieved when so many were empty. The only time he came near the people heading to the houses was to move debris that blocked their path. 

A couple hours later many of the locals had gathered in one of the larger houses to talk. Downtown was in shambles, but most houses and all the farms were still fine. Most importantly the early warning meant their relatives from the city were far away from the worst of this apparent invasion. The radio was going in case Haze came back on it. If he gave any more information they wanted to have it.  But first they needed to decide what to make of what happened. Haze was one of them… but also the reason they were alive.

Arguments went back and forth. He’s one of them, one of the enemy. Probably sent ahead as a spy. He’s the reason anyone is still alive. Warning the government might have saved more people. Warning the government could have gotten him locked up by the government and unable to help. If his people saw him turn traitor in a more drastic way, they would have intervened and the whole town would be dead. Then the argument that sealed the decision: without his help we could still die to the others.

The music vanished and a familiar voice spoke on the radio once more. It sounded… sad. Haze apologized again that he couldn’t do more. Apologized for hiding what he is from everyone. Explained that the rumors of his location were correct… He had been trying to make a shelter that his kind couldn’t access. He knew he couldn’t stop the others… their minds were set. But he wanted to help as many people as possible. He opened the gates to the military land. They were welcome to come… and he would not blame them if they chose to attack him. 

Silence after the voice signed off and soft music played again. What he said made sense. One person cannot stop a hundred. But they can guard one small place.

Discussion followed instead of arguments. They already decided that without Haze they wouldn’t stand a chance. But there were still concerns. How to handle this… it wasn’t an easy matter. But it seemed it was time to meet Haze. The mystery radio host was a giant, and their only hope.

[spin-linn]

A Small Snippet from a story I'm writing

Heroes United [Working Title]: a Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons novel

Hiccup’s POV:

The trail we followed to Old Corona was littered with a few too many tree roots and chuck holes for my taste. It was like a war zone, and the battle was being waged against my lack of agility. I tripped and teetered over so many times I lost count. I would have smashed my face against a sunken boulder had it not been for Jack, who quickly yanked me upright by the shirt collar just as I began to topple over a huge crack in the obliterated cobblestone road.

“Jings, you're as wobbly as a newborn foal,” Merida chortled after watching my clumsiness take over for the umpteenth time.

I gave her an irritated glare. “Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, shrugging her delightful personality off. “I get it, I'm a klutz. Tell me a new one.”

“As you wish,” she took my sarcasm as a challenge. “You're also as stubborn as a buckin’ cuddy.”

“Whoa! Watch your mouth, Mer!” Jack cackled, taking her words to be off-color.

“She wasn't cursing,” I chuckled, realizing Jack wasn't as well-versed in Scottish lingo as I was. As much as the Vikings hated them, my dad and a lot of the other adults sure enjoyed borrowing a lot of their slang and vernacular. I grew up hearing it a lot, so one could say I was fluent. I knew what a cuddy was. “She just called me a horse,” I explained. “Like, a wild one that someone's trying to ride for the first time. That's why she said I was like a bucking cuddy.”

“Oh, okay,” he seemed to understand, “like a bucking bronco, then? I know rodeos.”

“What the heck's a bronco?” I gave him a confused glance. “Or a rodeo?”

“Seriously? It's another word for a horse.”

“Innae no horse I've ever heard of,” Merida scoffed.

“Jeez Louise! It's an unbroken horse!” Jack enunciated, holding back laughter. He seemed to be reaping as much fun out of the strange conversation as he could. “And a rodeo is like a big show where people do horseback tricks and try to ride broncos or bulls.”

“Show riding, huh?” That got my attention. “We do that with our dragons from time to time back on Berk! Toothless and I have gotten pretty good at air tricks.”

“I can hit a bullseye from 50 paces on horseback,” Merida interjected, bragging to herself. “Been practicing for months.”

“That's impressive, Mer, but I would say barrel racing and lassoing cattle isn't exactly like that,” Jack chuckled, shaking his head. “You've clearly never seen a cowboy movie.”

“Now we're talking about cows?” My confusion only grew. “What even is this conversation?” I threw my hands up in defeat, beginning to laugh in spite of myself. “Now I'm lost.”

“I guess you could also call him a ‘brumby’, Mer,” mused Jack, still preoccupied with the whole “cuddy” confusion. “Picked that one up from a friend 'down undah',” he said with a funny accent.

“I have absolutely no idea what's going on back there,” Rapunzel called back to us as she led the path, studying Cassandra's notebook. “But I am enjoying the chaos.”

“Join the club, Punz!” I started to laugh.

_______________

If you've stuck around this long, thanks for reading! The story this is from has been a passion project for almost 10 years. I'm writing it as a form of therapy, and I'm not planning to post the finished product anywhere as of now.

I've been working on this story for several months now, and I'm just really proud of this dialogue exchange. I wanted to share it, even though I don't intend to share the whole story. Thanks for bearing with me, and I hope you enjoyed it!

[allthefakepeople]

was the archer written about kit tanthalos? sources say "yes" (i am sources)

hi everyone

the first time i listened to the archer by taylor swift after i watched willow i blacked out and realized how it was literally written for Kit Tanthalos of Tir Asleen and after some coaxing from @spybrarian and @aro-of-artemis i have decided to share my thoughts with you all... warning: this will be long Combat, I'm ready for combat

(kit is always ready for a fight, whether that be physical or with words. she never feels like she can let her guard down)

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

(she pretends she's not as combative as she is sometimes, but she just comes across as the opposite)

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

(she has so many things she wants to say to so many people. jade, airk, sorsha, and mostly madmartigan)

Easy they come, easy they go I jump from the train, I ride off alone

(just how she doesn't have many other connections besides jade and how that must've still been lonely sometimes. also in ep 2 when she wanted to keep moving to keep searching for airk but everyone else wanted to stop and look around for elora, including jade who i'm sure she was trusting to understand how important this is for her)

I never grew up, it's getting so old

("you've just proven to everyone in that room exactly what you are. a petulant child who needs to grow up" but also kit definitely gets tired of herself sometimes)

Help me hold onto you

(she just needs someone to hold on to, she hopes it's jade. she needs help remaining vulnerable)

I've been the archer I've been the prey Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

(just this whole chorus is so much of kit's internal conflict. like she's been the one causing the pain to others, while also being the one who has been hurt. she has this mentality that she's better than others, but is that just a shield to hide behind when she's actually incredibly vulnerable)

Dark side, I search for your dark side

(there are definitely times where she wonders 1. why jade sticks around for her and 2. hopes that the reason she does, is because she also has the anger inside her that kit does. she definitely sees parts of that fire in jade and it's probably one of the reasons she was drawn to her when she was a kid. she has to find that "dark side" to encourage herself that she's not actually a bad person deep down)

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face Then I hate my reflection for years and years

(she can't look at herself without seeing the reflection of her father and her mother... she's not sure which part she hates more)

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost The room is on fire, invisible smoke

(i'm just obsessed with the way this describes anxiety, but also this reminds me of kit at the end of ep 6 when she's truly at her low point and she goes off on elora before falling through the crystal)

And all of my heroes die all alone

(i mean... kind of self-explanatory but still... just kit and her hero worship of madmartigan)

'Cause they see right through me They see right through me They see right through Can you see right through me? They see right through They see right through me I see right through me I see right through me

(just how no one sees kit for who she truly is, not even jade, until ep 7. like they all think she's out of her depth, no one is willing to get close enough to understand every little piece of her, jade has gotten the closest but even she falls short sometimes "can you see right through me?" and that tears kit apart sometimes. especially after ep 3 because she was so sure that she and jade had an understanding and it was all blown up by the truth)

All the king's horses, all the king's men Couldn't put me together again

(ep 6 kit core. again, just how she's pulled to pieces by everything up till this point and nothing could really bring her back to who she was before she left tir asleen, maybe even since her father left.)

'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

(having to fight her own twin brother, even if he's potentially "better" now, was incredibly taxing for kit)

Who could stay? You could stay

(by the end, jade and kit have come to a different understanding about each other and "where the princess goes, i go" has a new meaning. and jade will stay if kit only asks... would kit ask though?)

basically my conclusion is somehow taylor swift wrote a song specifically for Kit Tanthalos before she was even a concept so... if you have any other contributions about this or just want to scream (or whisper or talk) about me about willow/kit/tanthamore/anything else my askbox/dms are always open

[allwayswildchild]

You can read it on AO3 or under the cut!

It's been two months since I disappeared from my world. It's been two months since I've seen or heard from Zelda and I hate that fact.

It's been two months since I joined the chain and I'm still adjusting. It's weird waking up and not seeing you next to me. It's weird not knowing where you are or if you're safe. I hate the fact that I can't protect you right now. I hate the fact you don't even know where I am right now. I hate the fact I had to leave without saying goodbye or at least saying where I was going.

I know you wouldn't read this and that's fine. I'm not sure why I'm writing this, but I think it will make me feel better about not seeing you. I know you wouldn't read this but I at least want to explain where I've been and how it's been.

If you haven't already guessed it I got sucked into another adventure! Wooo! I'm so excited about this, it's not like I died on that last one or anything but I don't think hylia cares about that. On this adventure I'm traveling with eight other past heroes. You'll probably recognize a few of them! I would too if I paid attention to your ranting but sometimes it just goes on for too long and I stop paying attention. Not my fault.

There's Time, Twilight, Warriors, Sky, Legend, Hyrule, Four, Wind and me. Those are nicknames. In reality we're all named Link. And that's why we're called the Chain. Wind came up with it. Everyone's nickname is their hero title. So like the Hero of Twilight or the Hero of Time. Mine is the hero of the Wilds. Fitting right. I know if you were reading this you would be uncontrollably laughing right now because of my title.

Time is the oldest. He's like the leader of the group. He  seems very stoic and serious on the outside. The chain goes to him when they need advice or have some sort of problem. Even though he's the oldest he still acts like a child on the inside. If you look close enough you can see the mischievous glint in his eye. Especially if he's about to play a prank on one of the boys. He has said some weird things at times also. Once in casual conversation he said that he fought the moon. No one could tell if he was being serious or not. I haven't really talked to him that much but he seems like a good guy, if not a little bit mischievous.

Twilight is unique. I don't quite know what to like about him. He apparently grew up on a farm in a place called Ordain, which is outside of Hyrule. Since he grew up on a farm he has a lot of experience with animals and horses. It seems he loves being around farms and urban places. I don't blame him though since I'm the same way. I've talked to him more than I have Time but still not a lot. Thinking of it I haven't really talked to the chain lot. Oops.

I don't really like Warriors. I don't know why but I just don't. Whenever I'm by him I don't talk and I flinch whenever he tries to touch or talk to me. I feel bad that I do this but it's not like I can change it. I think before the calamity there was a person like him, who I might have feared. I don't know. I don't have any memories of anyone like him though. Warriors is a Captain in his Hyrule army. Wasn't I a Captain once? I can't remember. He is good at making decisions. Him and time usually are the ones making the battle plans.

Speaking of battle plans, I forgot to write why we are even on this quest. To be honest I don't know. I don't think any of the chain does either. We have some theories though! Not very good ones.

One theory is that Hylia just hates us and likes to see us suffer. It's a very compelling theory, probably the best one yet! I know I haven't written about him yet but it was Legend that made this theory. Which isn't surprising if you knew him. He probably has the most hatred for Hylia out of anyone.

Which I'm not surprised with how many adventures he's been on but that's for a later section.

The second theory is that we're getting together to defend a villain or something like that. A "big bad" if you would. This theory was made by Warriors. I'm not surprised cause Legend and Warriors usually are the opposite; they fight a lot. Being honest this is the most logical theory. There is some evidence against this theory though! One thing is what villain would need ten of Hylias heros to defeat? We all have defeated separate villains by ourselves, so what villain needs all of us? And why can't Hylia do it BY HERSELF!

Anyways! The next person I will talk about is Legend, seeing as I already talked about him. Legend has a very interesting personality. He acts like his is really mean and doesn't care but I feel like know it's an act. He and Warriors fight a lot. They are just very opposite people. He also has A TON of rings! They are all magical too! He also doesn't wear pants..... He only wears shorts. Even if it's freezing. He's also been on the most adventures. I don't know how many but when Time said he had been on about 3 before, Legend muttered and I quote "That would have been nice." I don't think anyone else heard it but I was right next to him and I have really good hearing.

Wind is next! He is the youngest of all of us. I think he is sixteen. Which sucks! He said he started his journey when he was fourteen and finished it when he was fifteen. So he had a year to rest, which is not a lot but it's better than nothing. Some people like Time had a lot of time between their last journey and this one. Lol, I didn't even mean to do that! Anyways Wind is very energetic and curious about everything. He likes exploring and well, the ocean. Seeing as his world is all oceans with islands. He talks about his world all the time! And he's really loud, so you can't ignore him! He also talks about his family a lot, he lives with his sister and grandmother. I can't remember if I had a sister. Or a family. Huh? I can't remember anything about a family. I'll ask you next time I see you. If I ever do.

Without further ado is Sky! He is the one who holds the master sword! Apparently he was also the one who forged it. Which means either him or Four is first because everyone else has had the master sword on their journeys. Except for Four, he says he had a different sword but didn't elaborate when we asked him about it. Sky said he thinks he was the first but didn't say why. Sky talks about his Zelda a lot. I think they are together but I don't want to ask. He also does woodworking. He likes to randomly start carving wood. He just sits down and starts on a random thing. He mostly does animals like birds. They are always really pretty!

Anyways the second to last is Hyrule! And yes that is his title The Hero Of Hyrule. It kinda sucks that we have to call him a kingdom and it has gotten confusing before when we are talking to someone that's not the chain. Let's just say it takes a while to convince them that's his name. He is an adventurer at heart. He also is terrible at staying on the path. Legend has to drag him back whenever we are walking. He gets distracted very easily and doesn't even realize it. He loves exploring and he's also the group medic! He has more training in that medicine than most of us. I don't have much to say about him to be honest. He seems like a very fun person!

Last but not least Four. Yes, like the number. I have no clue why that's his title but I wouldn't ask him. He talks to himself a lot. He's also really short. Like he's shorter than Wind that's why everyone thought he was the youngest. He did not like it when we assumed that. He's also really smart, but he doesn't really talk to other people that much. I don't know, I haven't really talked to him. I've probably talked to him the second least, other than Warriors. That's all the chain!

Another thing I forgot to mention is they all suck at cooking! I'm the designated cook! Which I'm fine with but if I'm sick or injured, everyone will get food poisoning! I swear four burns all the food he makes and Hyrule adds bugs and random stuff, so it's uneditable! Twilight can make stew and that's it! He doesn't even add enough spices or he puts too much spices! There is not in between! Sky can only make pumpkin soup! That is the only thing he knows what to make! Like yeah it's good, but pumpkins are hard to find! And in the one who gets ALL the ingredients! Legend just doesn't know how to! Before he just ate the separate ingredients! Like he cooked the meat and ate it, then ate the carrots, and ate the cooked potatoes! Not even together! And not spices! And it's all over or under cooked! He doesn't know when it's actually cooked! Warriors can make food but it's ONLY military food. With no seasonings and it's two meals. And that's it. Time is the best between everyone besides me. He knows how to cook very basic food. Probably because his wife taught him. Oh wait! Oops I forgot to mention he is married! The only one of the chain, I think. He speaks the world of her. Late nights when I'm making dinner he just sits and talks about her talks about her to the air or anyone listening.

Well that's all I have to say right now. I wish I wish with you right now. I really miss you right now. Sky and Time aren't helping when they talk about their partners. I wonder how you're doing right now. I wonder how you're doing without me. I hope you're doing well. I hope I see you soon!

Love you, Hero of the Wild.

[phoenix-is-the-hottest-thing]

It could just be bias, however I did like Kiana and Mei's interactions in chapter 32 as their time wholesomely bonding when they connected their minds felt really deserved after they both had suffered for 15 chapters. It made me feel genuinely happy to see them holding hands. I feel like while Kiana would accept her immediately even after she committed literal war crimes, as I think Kiana came to understand and respect her decision over time, however I felt it was unrealistic how Bronya accepted Mei despite her joining World Serpent. I think it would have been really personal to Bronya because World Serpent did a lot of the same shit Anti-Entropy did with trying to blow up an entire city in order to awaken a herrscher. I honestly did not like how they did Bronya during and after the moon arc with having her superglued to Kiana and Mei for no other reason than nostalgia baiting. Also with Mei becoming the Herrscher of Origin, it felt like Elysia straight up groomed and brainwashed Mei during Elysium Everlasting with how often she bothered Mei with compliments and how Mei somehow grew from finding Elysia annoying to being head over heels for her just because she 'died' as well as how it showed in chapter 34 that Elysia uploaded herself into Mei's brain which could lead to a Sirin type of situation if the writers could commit to Elysia having even the slightest flaw. What do you think am I reaching?

You're totally entitled to your feelings on the reunion (it WAS meant to make the players feel fuzzy!) and mm personally neutral on Bronya accepting Mei back and sticking with them, I think it's believable because she was very close to Mei. Remember when she blew up her brainchip?

Talking about brainchips, Elysia didn't upload herself in Mei's brain or anything. Mei got the signets voluntarily, and who showed up was dependent on who Mei wanted to see. Could've been Kalpas lmao. If you're gonna blame anyone, blame Kevin for getting Mei into ER.

So yeah, you are reaching on Elysia. I'm honestly not sure how to unpack "groomed and brainwashed Mei during Elysium Everlasting with how often she bothered Mei with compliments and how Mei somehow grew from finding Elysia annoying to being head over heels for her just because she 'died'" but I'll give it a try?

First off, Mei's way too old to be groomed by the time she meets Ely, she's in her 20s. She is not a child? The relevant definition of grooming is:

To attempt to gain the trust of a minor with the intention of luring them into a sexual relationship.

So let's hold our horses a bit. You may be looking for the word "manipulate", which, fine whatever, but it's not grooming. Mobius manipulates Mei too, Elysia's not special (and significantly less murdery) and she isn't doing it to "lure her into a sexual relationship". She is very open about being attracted to Mei('s horns), no luring is happening here. Try to think of why you find an adult woman openly flirting with another adult woman so predatory you'd compare it to pedophilia? Sounds like something to, uh, unpack.

Second off, while Elysia compliments Mei all the time, she never touches her horns without permission. That's why she's asking so much! The horn touching embarrasses Mei, and she's even more embarrassed about people learning she let Elysia touch them, but they are touched with her consent. Elysia asks again afterwards, but Mei says no, and she doesn't touch the horns again when rejected, it just becomes a running gag that she wants to.

TLDR Ely's an insistant flirt to Mei's more bashful ways, which one can find annoying, but not a molester. (Mei agrees to touch her elf ears as well, so the attraction may not be all that one-sided, either.)

Third off, Elysia is gone during most of Elysium Everlasting. Mei's shift in attitude towards Elysia occurs around chapter 3 of Elysian Realm's story, and is especially notable in the Pristine Memory dialogues that were added for it. For example:

Elysia: With that said, I’ll present you with this book! But don’t take my efforts for granted! Elysia: Isn’t it wonderful? I asked a bunch of people to help me out! Mei: The long credits on the blurb definitely shows… Mei: It’s exquisite alright, each page is a recreation of a scene, faithful enough to evoke vivid memories… Wait, Elysia, have you been wanting to… Elysia: Mm-hmm♪ Mei: …Thank you, I’ll cherish it. Elysia: Is this real? Mei has finally opened up to me! Elysia: If so, can I touch your… My, that was a joke, don’t run♪

(Excerpt from Pristine Memory 10) (Read all Flame-chaser texts here)

Originally suspicious and hostile, Mei warms up to Elysia over time, she spends months in the Realm. By the time Elysium Everlasting starts, she still finds Elysia a lot to deal with, but she trusts Elysia doesn't want to hurt her, and they are friends.

Then Elysia dies just before revealing her deepest secret to her, just before giving Mei what she came for, she disappears at the pinnacle of the trust they've built all this time.

Seems very understandable to me that Mei is terribly shocked and upset that her friend died, especially since more people die afterwards (her accusatory voice at Vill-V after Pardo dies haunts me), so much so that she's much softer when she gets Elysia back for a few minutes.

You don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. You don't realize how attached you are to your annoying friend until they're murdered. You don't cherish your time with your loved ones quite as much as when you're about to never see them again.

Mind you, I did NOT like the last couple acts of Elysium Everlasting. I fucking hated them so much I didn't get HoHe! But you know why I didn't like them?

I thought Mei would insist on saving Elysia. She refused to let Kiana sacrifice herself, and Kiana refused to let Hua sacrifice herself, but suddenly it was fine for Elysia to go off and die heroically? Uh?

Not to mention I kind of felt like the way Elysia was written in EE wasn't really her, because Elysia had always been hiding sadness underneath her flirting and positivity, but that's a whole other can of worms.

So yeah you reaching, maybe because it's been such a long time that you've kind of warped the canon through the Elysia-dislike filter? Look inside yourself whether you have a bias and reread the source material.

[sapphybandit]

I wanna know more about how you feel about motorcycles. what kind of bike might you see yourself on? do you have any interest in wrenching on your own bike (assuming a situation where you had the space to do so)

🎨: Captynz

🎨: 427Deer

The appeal of Motorcycles to me is has been about what it represents: Freedom. I grew up in an environment where I felt trapped, had to follow the script that everyone else had given me. They said they knew what's best for me, what was in store for my life, so I learned to make myself small and not want for things. I wasn't really a person or an individual for a lot of my life, just a tool for everyone else.

But I saw the types of characters in shows and games that would use Motorcycles. They were cool, tough, knew what they wanted in life, and could go anywhere they wanted. They could go fast, weren't held back by anything, dexterous and could slip through any barriers in their way. A night time drive, with nothing but them and the road, and the city scape in the background, it felt powerful and soothing all at once. An individual who could stand on their own, be the force of change they wanted in the world, and forge a life of their own choosing. There's strength in knowing that if you wanted to do something, go somewhere, you just, could.

I wanted that.

So I worked hard with skills I had to get out, fought like hell for my wants, my identity. I've gone through hell, lost so much, to get where I am now. But I'm free, and I'm happy. I still don't own a bike myself, but I feel like I became the type of person I wanted to be. I carry the cool biker chick energy and personality, and no one will make me be something I'm not ever again.

As for owning a bike, I think I mentioned on stream (I think it was you that asked about it as well) that I've essentially done a fresh start with my move to the PNW, so I don't have a whole lot of funds or just, stuff in general (you think GameDev work would pay more, but everything is just expensive here). I think, owning a bike in this area where its often cold and dark and rainy and hilly, might be hard for me to drive a bike around. Maybe in the warmer months, though, that might be do-able and nice.

I unfortunately don't know anything about models or the machinery behind them, but there's a fondest for the sleeker japanese styled motorcycles that I've gotten depicted in a few comms now. But to have a bike that I tinker and clean up and repair on my own? That sounds just lovely. It's like the modern horse, you're a team and you take care of each other, in a way.

So I could see myself doing that maybe in the future. It might not realistically be my primary vehicle, but it'd be nice to travel the area in the way I've always fantasized.

Thanks for the question! I hope I answered it well enough.

[starlixir]

interview meme

——— character question sheet

▌real name: Nova Badree (her last name isn't her actual last name, but she never could remember it after her death. Her brother isn't a big help.)

▌single or taken:  Single (default) - Was going to get married before her future husband was murdered.

▌abilities or powers: For any verses involving magic / powers, Nova is capable of manipulating both electric and technology (as they go hand in hand with each other). Even going as far as manipulating the data within said technology. She could also do other things as well like manipulate water or even fire, but she doesn't use it as much. In a more normal / mundane verses (like rdr2 or Yakuza), she is capable of surviving out in the wilderness. In general, she knows how to fight with various of weapons as well as know many martial arts.

▌eye colour: Brown

▌hair colour: Dark brown (depending on the verse, she may have blue highlights).

▌family members: David (Father), Charlotte (Mother), Sophie (Older sister), Clay (Older brother), Liam (Older brother), unnamed brother (Older brother), and Cornelius (Brother-in-law).

▌pets: Petals (RDR2 / Wild West verse but that's her shire horse).

▌something they don’t like: Negativity and coldness / winter.

▌hobbies/activities: Cooking, crafting, writing, reading, and dancing.

▌ever hurt anyone before: Only if it is necessary.

▌ever killed anyone before: She had, but only because she has no other choice. If push comes to shove, she can and will take another lives yet chooses not to!

▌animal that represents them: I am not sure at this point. I'm struggling with this.

▌worst habits: Stubborn, Self-doubts (every now and then), and can come off too energetic.

▌role models: Clay, Skylar, and various of fictional characters. Depending on the verse, it may be different people. Such as Jaheria (bg3) or even Kiryu (Yakuza).

▌sexual orientation: Demisexual bisexual.

▌thoughts on marriage/kids: She does want to get married but not really big on kids. She doesn't mind taking care of kids at all. Just prefers to not have any of her own. Plus, she isn't really a motherly type. More like a sisterly type.

▌fears: Being abandoned and being useless.

▌style preferences: Nautical-themed or anything comfortable.

▌someone they love: Clay (he's always going to be the few people who she will put at top), Esmeralda, Cornelius, and Duncan. Insert anyone else that makes a connection with her in the rpc.

▌approach to friendships: Nova may be awkward when making friends, but she absolutely loves making friends. She can and will be found approaching others to befriend them.

▌thoughts on pie: She thinks they are alright. She does enjoy apple pie the most with whip cream. Probably a little too much whip cream.

▌favourite drink: It depends on the verse, but she prefers tea.

▌favourite place to spend time at: Anywhere that has running water or near anything swamp-related. Such as near the river or in Bayu Nwa (in rdr2).

▌swim in the lake or in the ocean: Both, though she leans more on the ocean. She grew up around the ocean.

▌their type: That's, eh, complicated. Her type is all over the place. It ranges from someone who is opposite than her in personality to someone who is like a golden retriever.

▌camping or indoors: Indoors, though she gotten used to camping outdoors. The only reason why I say indoors because Nova was a city girl before she was forced to camp outdoors.

Tagged by: Stolen

Tagging: Y'all

[dorianslayyy]

13 Books Tag Game

Tagged by @bubblegum-blackwood

1) The last book I read:

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros - I absolutely devoured this sequel, omg. Obviously it’s nothing fancy or anything like that but hey what’s wrong with a smutty YA? Not to mention DRAGONS

2) A book I recommend:

Perfume by Patrick Süskind - when I read it I had no idea it was a whole entire modern classic, I just picked it up at Oxfam for like 3 for £1 or something but, wow, I can 100% understand how it earned that status! If you like an eery not-too-long horror story with the most beautiful imagery describing some fucked up gothic storylines and a lot of social commentary, you’ll love this book!

3) A book that I couldn’t put down:

Ahhh ok, im gonna say In Memoriam by Alice Winn. The ending was… idk I wasn’t really a fan of the ending, I thought it kind of disengaged and took away from the struggles and severity of war and sexuality the rest of the book portrayed but until that point the rest of the story was everythingggg, there’s a sweet forbidden romance/coming of age/found family in the 1910’s propelling into a story of the horror of WW1 and losing everything you know. All I can really say is that I read it all in one go (more or less) and it had me laughing and sobbing throughout

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more):

I mean… there’s an obvious choice here - The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. HOWEVER I’m going to absolutely cheat and also say Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, the drama, the trauma, the vast majority of these characters are awful and I love it 🤌🤌

5) A book on my TBR:

So many… so so many… I’m gonna say House Of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski tho because it was expensive and it’s cool looking and I’ve actually been meaning to read that for a while but boy howdy it’s huge

6) A book I’ve put down:

The Tale Of The Body Thief by Anne Rice UGHH I’m trying so hard!! It’s so many words with so little going on, and I do enjoy it, I really do, it’s so goofy, but it’s so.. i mean verbose isn’t really quite the right word but you know what I mean. Sorry mutuals :( I just need a break to read something short and silly - which I’ve almost finished the little series I’m currently reading

7) A book on my wish list:

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch - it sounds absolutely soul crushing and miserable, I know this completely contradicts what I just said about being in the mood for a silly read but <333

8) A favorite book from childhood:

Omg 10000x the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, guys you don’t understand, as much as I would love to talk about how my mum and I used to sit and read Anne Of Green Gables before bed or my Enid Blyton obsession when I was like 6, Skulduggery Pleasant was my absolute jam - I must’ve read that series (the original 9 + spin offs) a million times in primary school. I did keep up with phase 2 when that was coming out but I don’t know if I’ll bother with phase 3, I’m just too old now and phase 2 wasn’t all that imo - I think it’s sort of beating a dead horse at this point :( but the original 9 and Maleficent Seven/Armageddon Outta Here were my childhood and I definitely absorbed Valkyrie Cain into my identity as a child so that series probably shaped a big part of who I am and my hobbies as an adult

9) A book you would give to a friend:

Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood. Silly, nerdy, fun, a cute little Pride and Prejudice-esque enemies to lovers feat. women in STEM

10) A book of poetry or lyrics that you own:

Ok so anyone who’s seen my other poetry blog @apoemadaykeepsthehoesaway knows my obsession with The Complete Poems of Wilfred Owen (I have a lot of difference versions) AHHH by far my favourite poet - as you can imagine with such a young man, you can clearly see his changing mentalities, his growth as a person and a writer, his influences, and really gather a lot of context for what’s going on with him in general through his poems. And he grew up in all the same areas I grew up in and hung around as a kid/younger teen, which I think adds to my personal interest in him too. Idk ig we’re very close friends on a parasocial level lol.

And ofc there really aren’t that many poets around that give such visceral, truthful, and emotional insights to the First World War as Owen does (also a queer icon). He was my intro to war literature and I have tattoos relating to him, he and his work are just incredible to read about, would highly recommend having a look at Siegfried Sassoon’s war poems too; another very blunt poet who was a celebrity and war protestor at the time and happened to mentor Wilfred Owen, as well as being linked with other influential folks of the time such as Robbie Ross, Stephen Tennant, Rupert Brooke, and Ivor Novello. Ok Ill move on :,)

11) A nonfiction book you own:

Surprisingly I quite like nonfiction, mainly history and essays from philosophers and the like. Speaking of, Friedrich Nietzsche’s Beyond Good And Evil is a pretty solid one I own, I’ve never read anything where the author begins by calling himself and all his coworkers socially inept incels 🥹 but even though I don’t remember the specific reason I bought it (I was reading it to argue against some other philosophers in an essay in college and I really don’t remember who or what it was) I remember it being a really interesting read

Or yknow in a more traditional sense of non-fiction, I also have Notes On A Nervous Planet by Matt Haig. Really helped me get through some stuff, if you’re struggling with anxiety or feeling a bit down lately I’d very much recommend

12) What are you currently reading:

Omg ok, The Hitchhiker Trilogy by Douglas Adams, I’m currently on book 3 of 5 - Life, The Universe, And Everything. Really silly and nonsensical space bs but somehow also a bleakly satirical social commentary on the unseriousness of our ‘serious’ world. Really enjoyable, fairly political to some degree, really short (around or less than 200 pages a book), really fun. Martin Freeman truly was the perfect casting for Arthur Dent in the film of the first book. Full of that quintessentially British cynical humour and of course plenty of cups of tea

To give a little preview, the second book literally opens “The story so far: In the beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”

13) What are you planning on reading next?

Books 4 and 5 of The Hitchhiker Trilogy, and then I suppose I had better carry on reading The Tale Of The Body Thief :D

Tagging whoever wants to have a go, it’s super fun, sorry if I went on a bit on some of these 😅