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dillydedalus · 4 years

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september reading

there is literally no way it is september. impossible. anyway this month we have horror, Fake Dating, the rashomon effect, a time war, and most importantly, no neutrals to be found anywhere

the old man & his sons, heðin brú (tr. from faroese by john f. west) published on the faroe islands in 1940 and the first faroese novel to be translated into english, this is a story about the dramatic shift in life style during the 30s on the faroe islands, from hardscrabble subsistence farming/fishing to market economy. interesting look at changing life on isolated isles, and a much lighter (and shorter) take on the stubborn autonomous subsistence farmer than laxness’s independent people. 3/5

the white shroud, antanas škėma (tr from lithuanian by karla gruodis - english/claudia sinnig - german) a modernist, fragmented, nonlinear novel about a lithuanian poet gone into exile, now working as an elevator operator in a new york hotel, who is involved with a married woman but might also be terminally ill. in between the present timeline, the book flashes back (both in the character’s own writing and in third person) to his youth in lithuania, his torture at the hands of the soviet regime, his time at a DP camp in germany and so on. quite interesting, with some great writing. 3/5

things we lost in the fire, mariana enríquez (tr. from spanish by megan mcdowell) really good collection of horror-ish short stories that also touch on gendered violence, child abuse, poverty and argentinian history (esp. dictatorship and disappearances) - some stories are more overtly horror, with clear supernatural elements, others are more ambiguous. i don’t read (or watch) horror stuff so i’m a bad judge of how scary this is - i found it more gruesome and upsetting than terrifying, but the dread is strong in this one. favourites: adela’s house (hungry haunted house), end of term and the title story (women & self-inflictred violence), under the black water (the poisoned oil-choked river is very bad but maybe.... there’s something worse in there). good, vividly gruesome, sharp sharp sharp. 3.5/5

axiom’s end, lindsay ellis i really like lindsay ellis, of all the ~youtube video essayists~ she’s probably my favourite and this book a) has a cool premise - aliens + conspiracies + alien communication and b) a really cool cover, and it’s lindsay, so i was super excited for this one. and it would be unfair to say i was disappointed with it; it’s a fun first contact romp with really good pacing, cool aliens, on-brand lindsay ellis humour and some interesting ideas on communicating with someone who is truly alien and incomprehensible. it’s fine! i enjoyed it and will definitely read the sequel, it’s just... i was hoping it would be AMAZING, and it just wasn’t. no huge problems (except for a few lines i would have liked to take a red pen to), just.... it was fine. 3.5/5

zeno’s conscience, italo svevo (tr. from italian by william weaver) imagine you’re a businessman in trieste who does a little unsuccessful writing on the side and one day you decide to take english lessons to improve your business opportunities with the uk and your english teacher is JAMES FUCKING JOYCE who tells you that you need to keep writing. incredible. anyway these are the autobiographical notes of one zeno cosini, a hapless hypochondriac smug self-delusional fool, who just cannot quite quit smoking, marries the one sister out of three he least desires, & works as an accountant (for the man who married his most-desired of said sisters) despite his rather tenuous grasp on bookkeeping. my favourite scene is when his future sister in law (2nd most desired) complains lightly about her difficulties with latin, he tells her that he believes latin is a man’s language and even roman ladies probably didn’t actually speak it, only for her to correct him on a latin quotation. i will say tho that this book is way to long to maintain the endearingness and often drags. 3/5 tfw u write for an audience of one but that one is james joyce so fair enough

der hund/der tunnel/die panne, friedrich dürrenmatt dürrenmatt (in addition to having a cool-ass name) really fucking slaps! his stuff is really good, and often really really wild. these three stories are all weird & slightly existentially scary, two degrees left of reality, and just. so interesting! we have a man stalking a street preacher and his monstrous dog, a train going through a tunnel for way too long (and it is very scary), and a man becoming involved in a pretend-trial (or is it) and becoming convinced that he actually is a murderer (or is he, really?). anyway, dürrenmatt.... slaps. 4/5

wow, no thank you., samantha irby a mix of memoir and comedy blogpost and social critique blogpost about growing up poor & black, dating while fat, chronic illness, and settling down in rural america. it’s fine. i haven’t read irby’s previous collections so maybe i’m missing that emotional connection, but i thought it was mostly...okay?? not especially funny imo & i prefered the more serious chapters of which there weren’t enough. 2/5

they say in harlan county: an oral history, alessandro portelli really impressive oral history about life in harlan county, appalachia, focusing on the labor strikes and conflicts in the 30s and 40s, but really exploring life and politics in the region from the first non-native settlement there to today. really interesting, sometimes inspiring and often infuriating and probably worth reading if you’ve ever listened to which side are you on. 4/5

rashomon & other stories, ryunosuke akutagawa (tr. from japanese by jay rubin) fun fact: if you read the short story “rashomon” expecting to get the, y’know, rashomon effect, you won’t get it bc the film actually takes its plot from the story “in a grove”. anyway this is an interesting collection of classic japanese short stories, many of which are actually about unreliable witnesses/narrators. i particularly enjoyed “in a grove” and the truly disturbing “hell screen”, but found this particular collection just a bit too long. 3/5

women without men, shahrnush parsipur (tr. from farsi by kamran talatoff & joceyln sharlet) a magical realist feminist novella about 5 women in iran who all try to liberate themselves from men in one way or another, more or less successfully (one of them turns into a tree, another becomes undead), until they end up in a semi-utopian garden together for a time. disturbing in its depiction oppression and sexual/gendered violence. i don’t really know how i feel about it, but it’s a really unique and interesting reading experience; very fraught and ambivalent in the end. 3.5/5

take a hint, dani brown, talia hibbert i think this is the first actual pure genre-romance book i’ve read... in years??possibly ever? idk. anyway this is mostly a pretty fun & sweet story about ambitious & emotionally constipated phd student dani brown and security guy with tragic past zaf ansari, who begin a fake relationship for Various Reasons (as you do) and both develop Real Feelings (as you do, predictably). it’s mostly really enjoyable but man i’m really not used to Romance writing & it’s a lot. in the end everyone is very genuine & earnest & emotionally honest which.... not to be even more emotionally repressed than dani but i cannot deal with that. anyway given that 2020 truly is the gift that keeps on giving this was a fun fluffy delight & i might read more from the series. 3.5/5

this is how you lose the time war, amal el-mohtar & max gladstone two agents (red and blue) on opposing sides of a time war (the futuristic techy Agency vs the eco/organic Garden - neither of them is Good or Bad exactly) start writing letters as they hunt each other through the strands of time’s braid and eventually (inevitably) fall in love. really interesting concept of time travel and different timelines (if, like me, you conceptualise past as down and future as up, this will trip you up so much), very lyrical writing that sometimes toes the line to overwritten but mostly really works. 3.5/5

DNF: the madman of freedom square & the iraqi christ, hassan blasim (tr. from arabic by jonathan wright, german tr. by hartmut fähndrich) bindup of these two short story collections about iraq. these are incredibly brutal, depressing & horrifying stories about a country in a constant state of war & struggle. couldn’t bear it, probably not ever & certainly not right now.

allegro pastell, leif randt (audio) this is brilliant, bitingly funny novel about a millenial couple, tanja & jerome, and their on-and-off long distance relationship. they are privileged (and half-aware of it), attractive, successful, very in touch with their own feelings (couldn’t be me), self-reflective, faintly ironic in everything bc sincerity might be cringe, and you will hate them. these are people who perform their feelings rather than feel them, dissect all their opinions and impulses to the point of both paralysis and narcissism, engage in constant navelgazing and cannot form any relationship that isn’t based in constant evaluation and judgment. they pride themselves on their nonconformity but are really the greatest conformists of all, and the most square, boring, spießig people under the veneer of their urban liberal drug-and-club lifestyle. had so much fun with it even as i was constantly cringing at these people. 4/5

#the books i read #long post

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docholligay · 6 years

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Wish

For @keyofjetwolf‘s birthday tomorrow, I wrote some stuff she definitely does not want! Pharah vs her birthday, Lena being a little shit, Pharah and Mercy being tender. Roughly 3,300 words, and I liked it enough to put it in my proper OW universe, all of which you can find here if you want to read it or just check where this is in the time line.

Fareeha Amari was a woman of patience, intelligence, and strategy. She had earned high commendation from high school onwards for her focus and her strong drive, and she had achieved magnificent levels of success in her career due to this ability to clear the obstacles from her mind, and see clear the path.

Some obstacles are more difficult than others, however.

“What we doing for your birthday Thursday next?” Pharah looked up in horror to see the tiny British pilot grinning at her excitedly.

Ever since Tracer had been brought onto the project by Helix, she had expected to be friends with Pharah and Dr. Gamal. That they were nothing more than partners working toward a common goal did not seem to occur to her.

“I do not know what you are talking about.” Pharah was not even sure she had convinced herself, but she had to try.

Tracer whirled around to her side of the table and stood inches from her, eyes gleaming with delight, clapping merrily as she bounced.

“Your birthday!” She gave a little jump. “”S next week, right? Right,” she did not give Pharah the opportunity to respond, confirming her own question, “Saw it on your id card.”

Pharah glowered. “You stole my wallet?”

Tracer laughed. “Didn’t ‘ave to! I wouldn’t have neither,” she shook her head in sincerity, “I’m not that type, love, not at all, an ‘onest girl, I am, can ask anyone--”

Pharah brought her hand down on the table in front of her. “It does not matter how you know what you think you--”

“Saw you take it out at the pub,” Tracer added, “just so as to sate your curiosity.”

Pharah turned away from the conversation, unrolling plans for a modification to the Raptora suit, and mumbled in Arabic. “You can remember my birthday, but you can’t remember when we need to have paperwork done. How useful you are to me.”

“What was that, love?”

“I said that we have work to do and my name is Captain Amari, or Pharah--”

“Your name’s Fareeha, seen that on your ID as--”

“Captain Amari or Pharah. Not love, Corporal Oxton. Agent Oxton. Tracer. Whichever you prefer.”

“Prefer Lena.”

Pharah closed her eyes. She had spent her entire life modeling military excellence, to be the soldier her mother had been, and she was on the cusp of the first great thing to be developed since Overwatch had fallen. She wanted to be a part of something greater, and if she could not be a member of Overwatch, then she would create something new in Helix.

But this woman, who had gotten the honor of not only joining Overwatch, but being a field agent like Pharah’s mother, who got to stand in the way of evil and do good, and who had sacrificed so much to do so, did not seem to approach this, or anything, with gravity. She was a keen pilot, and her lessons had helped Pharah immensely, but her manner was brash and annoying, and Pharah could not wait for the day when she would be free of her.

“Did you not tell Ang?”

Pharah looked down at Tracer, who had reappeared at her side, though further from her and less excited now.

No, she had not told her. Mercy was a busy woman, a talented teacher, a doctor constantly being asked to consult, and running all of her volunteer work besides. She was moral and thoughtful and a shining example of everything Pharah thought of when she thought of Overwatch. When she thought of goodness.

She was also very beautiful, and her voice was soft and warm as a blanket, and she looked at Fareeha as if she were beautiful as well, but these were things Pharah barely mentioned to herself, they seemed so frivolous, so shallow and surface that Pharah would do better to ignore them.

“I have only...known her,” she said awkwardly, “for three months.”

“Keeping careful track now, aren’t we?”

Tracer delighted in the, well, Pharah was not so sure she could call it a relationship, not so sure she could explain how she felt, not even sure if it was the right way to feel. There were no manuals for this, no best practices, and Pharah had little experience in the matter herself. Her father would have called it, for love was an easy place for Sam to get to, and so many things were love in his eyes, but Pharah was her mother’s child, for good or for ill, and she could no longer ask Ana what it might be.

But whatever it was, Tracer’s pleasure in her hand in the making of it was the only thing about it Pharah found distasteful.

“She’ll want to know,” Tracer had already moved off Pharah’s memory of the dates, flitting to another topic, “She’ll want to do something, Ang’s very thoughtful you know, she’ll want to properly mark--”

“I do not celebrate my birthday.” She looked at Tracer briefly, then back to the plans. “I need your assistance with--”

“That an Egyptian thing, or just you being a general damp squib?”

“What is a,” she shook her head, deciding she didn’t care, “It is a Muslim...thing.”

“Told me you weren’t at all religious, when I asked after the tattoo.”

There it was again, the quality of Tracer’s memory, simultaneously unable to track from one task to the next and to remember in keen detail conversations from months ago.

Infuriating.

Tracer put her hands on her hips and cocked her head. “Also, discovered your birthday in a pub, love, drinking beer, which I’m fairly certain is alcohol, though if you told me that pisswater stuff wasn’t at all, I’d believe you, mind.”

She glared at Tracer, unable to mount a defense. “How I practice my religion is none of your business.”

“Lucky I’m not religious.” Tracer’s mind was already on another topic, flitting from them like a hummingbird from flower to flower. “I believe in two things for certain: The Hammers, that’s me footie club, mind, and the sky. Love flying, the feel of it when the wind just catches the edge of your wings, and it’s like you go where--” she looked down at the two fingers she had stretched out of her hand, and added another, “I believe in Winston, too, that’s another thing. And me family. Also prawn cocktail crisps though I don’t know if it’s serious as to call it a belief, but they’ve never treated me wrong, that’s for certain. Oh!” She jumped a little in her realization. “And there’s that little shop round the corner from me house what ‘as the best strawberry milks, I’ll take you there when we go to London.”

Pharah shook her head and looked down at the plans, glad enough that she seemed to be off the subject of her birthday, but carrying on again with this idea that they were, or would be, anything to each other but colleagues.

“Seems I believe in a lot of things, at the fag end of it all.” She laughed heartily at herself and pulled a few snacks out of her backpack, some of those beloved chips, a bag of granola, a bag of Slim Jims.

Pharah looked at her strangely.

“Jesse got me ‘ooked on them in Overwatch days.” She shrugged happily.

Pharah leaned over to take one of the meat sticks out of the bag, sketching on the plans with her other hand.

“That’s pork, Fareeha.”

She looked up to see Tracer giggle.

Some obstacles were impossible.

___

Pharah took the packages with a nod, already knowing who they would be from. Reinhardt’s large print that nearly echoed his booming voice, wishing her a happy birthday, sending her the same cookies and strudels she’d liked since she was a girl, the same teasing note about her sweet tooth, the same warm affection. The other was from her father, always something she had asked for, because Sam listened to her and loved her, and he always made sure to tell her so as often as he could. It would be wrapped in bright paper, the same way it had been when her mother scoffed at it when she was a child.

Her mother did not do birthdays, and had found it silly that Pharah might. Her mother did not do festivals of any sort, really, but this was the sacrifice she had made to ensure the safety of the world, a sacrifice she gave up to her own life.

And so Pharah smiled at the kindness of the cards, and popped a piece of strudel into her mouth, and shut the door to her small room behind her as she continued down the hall. No one else seemed to note any difference about today, and this was the greatest gift Pharah could have hoped for. Last year, she was lucky enough to leave the occasion totally unmarked, except for the usual packages. Birthdays were frivolous, and it was silly to lavish celebration on someone just because they had managed to be born. So had everyone else, as her mother used to say, what is so special about it?

There was, however, one loose end to tie up.

She walked into the workspace for the Raptora suit and looked around the room quickly.

“Where is Tracer?” She asked Dr. Gamal, who sat at a workbench, toying with a small piece of metal at the end of the helmet.

He answered distractedly. “She had a flight mission. Left last night, but she is expected to be checked in tonight.”

“That does not help me today.” She nodded as if in confirmed disappointment. “But perhaps she will stay gone.”

He chuckled. “She’s one of the best pilots in the world, Captain Amari,” He pulled at the metal, and it came free as he shook his head at it, “And she flew the Gnat, and the Slipstream. Her…” He tried to jam a tool into the space left by the metal, “personal manners weren’t part of the job.”

Pharah relaxed. Tracer was gone, and could not reveal anything to anyone, and Dr. Gamal seemed to either not know or not care, and did not question why Pharah was asking after Tracer first thing in the morning. It looked as if she would make it through the day without a scratch, and so she brewed herself some coffee, sat down at her workspace, and wished she had remembered to bring the strudel.

But birthdays are a full twenty-four hours, and Tracer was berthed in the same area as Pharah, sharing a common room and a kitchen in a way Pharah was forced to remember every time she found Tracer’s shoes and jacket scattered around.

She had been working out in the field, looking for sites to practice with the first Raptora suit, digging at the edges of cliffs, the wind whipping up and casting red dirt all about her. She wanted a long shower, a cookie, and to read her book in peace.

You cannot have everything you want for your birthday.

“Oi!” It punctuated the air and Pharah cringed as she tried to pass the common room, but the gig was up, and she had been spotted. “In ‘ere, come on then!”

Pharah tensed. It was going to be a surprise party. The lights were dim in the common room, and Tracer could just as easily come to her, and generally did just bounce into her life when she chose, and she would never choose the path of sitting still, so for her to beckon Pharah in...there was only one option.

But she’d been seen, and there was no way Tracer would let her get out of this.

She took a deep breath, walked into the common room, and immediately lost the breath she’d taken.

Sitting on the couch, lit softly by the candles of a birthday cake, was Mercy. The light made her glow even in the shabbiness of the common room, and the soft lilac of her dress sat beautifully against her blode hair curling gently at her shoulders. She’d dressed specially to see Pharah, blushing rose lipstick and dark mascara, a soft scent of vanilla that must be the sweetness of her perfume whispering across the room.

“Fareeha.” She said it so softly, seeming so shy and afraid of rebuke, like an awkward teenager instead of a highly respected doctor.

“Angela.” Pharah took off her jacket immediately, wiping at the sand and dust in her hair, thinking of how filthy and unkempt she must look.

Mercy stared at her, and Pharah stared back, and neither of them said anything for seconds that went on like hours.

“Right then, there’s me job done, save me a piece of cake.” Tracer’s cheerful voice jolted them out of their awkward trance, and they half-laughed at themselves.

Pharah looked over to Tracer. “I suppose I have you to thank for this.”

“Don’t hurt yourself,” Tracer took off her bomber jacket and tossed it over her shoulder, “I don’t know nothing, not even that it’s your birthday, lo--CAPTAIN Amari,” she gave a small salute, “‘ave a good night, Ang. Cheers.”

Tracer left the common room, and Pharah looked back to Mercy, who sat waiting, a bottle of pink champagne, sweet, the way Pharah liked, poured for the both of them, the candles on the cake burning down, and yet neither of them seemed able to say anything. Even after these months, things felt so tender and new, and every motion was imbued with such importance, as if this relationship was as precious as it was fragile, both of them desperate to keep and be held in this love.

Mercy broke first, looking down at the cake.

“Lena was telling me you do not celebrate your birthday, as a Muslim observance. I do know two things,” She was smiling shyly, as if she were trying to urge herself on, “that your father is not Muslim, and,” She smiled brighter, “Islam is being more like Judaism, and you may have picked the commentary of the Sheikh who already agreed with you. I read commentaries on the issue, you know, when Lena was telling me this, and,” she looked more serious now, “there are some commentaries that are speaking to the merit--”

Pharah laughed and held up her hand. “I am not very religious. I had hoped it would quiet Tracer.”

“God can only work so many miracles.”

Pharah looked at the cake. She loved Mercy and hated her birthday, and Mercy had gone to so much trouble, coming halfway across the world and taking time from her important work in Boston, and she did not know how to respond. It was easy, with Tracer, and with others, to growl and grumble, and to quietly take alone the gifts of her father and Reinhardt, but Mercy was soft and gentle, and Mercy was here, and Pharah did not know how to tell her she wanted nothing special.

She was not even sure she didn’t want it, now. Mercy had made life rich and complicated.

Mercy sensed the discomfort in the room. “I did not--we do not have to. I was not meaning to be disrespectful to you, Fareeha, I am feeling so stupid.” She began to blow out the candles on the cake, trying not to show her disappointment.

“No, no, it is beautiful. I am happy you are here.” She bent over and blew out one of the candles, her face in front of Mercy’s and she smiled in the light of the last remaining candle. “I...I am not worthy I have done nothing to deserve it.”

Mercy looked at her with great tenderness. “You do not earn a birthday, Fareeha.”

She sat down next to Mercy. “I do not celebrate my birthday. My mother never did. My grandmother never did. My aunts never did. It was not done. I am an Amari, we are a practical people, the world does not have birthdays and so why should we?.”

She decided not to mention her father’s bright card, with the loving hearts scrawled on the inside, tucked into the military sweater she had asked for, some Aero bars rolled on the inside because Sam felt she had to have something special and impractical for her birthday. Mercy would meet Sam, and Reinhardt, soon enough, and see that her mother had always had a weakness for the very sweet, and the very kind, and the very effusive.

“Well,” Mercy nodded, “I am a Ziegler, and we are an impractical people, and we try to put into the world the things we want in it. I will celebrate you.” She suddenly looked aghast at what she had said, “It is not as if the Amaris do not work very hard to--”

Pharah took her shoulders. “I know. What it is you mean. This, this is all very new to me.”

She meant the birthday, and the little cake, and the sweetly wrapped present, and someone marking a day as special simply because Pharah was born on it, but she also meant this sitting on the couch with someone, hands on her shoulders, being looked at with love.

“For me, also.” Mercy nodded at her, and Pharah ran her hands down Mercy’s arms, taking her hands.

“This is my favorite birthday present.” She kissed Mercy’s hand. “Thank you.”

Mercy blushed. “Lena was kind enough to be bringing me to you.”

“As she will undoubtedly remind me every day I see her.” She looked over at the coffee table. “You brought my favorite champagne.”

Mercy smiled and picked up a glass. “For your birthday, or,” she handed it to Pharah, “not your birthday. If that is what you want.”

Pharah took the champagne from her hand. “For my birthday. Perhaps you will give me the inspiration to celebrate,” she sighed and nodded knowingly, “Tracer has told me I can sometimes be a wet squid.”

“A what?”

“That is what I said.” She took a drink of her champagne. “English nonsense. But, I can be...serious.”

She felt something crack in her, then, not the crack of destruction but something like it must feel to be a chick in the shell of an egg, and Mercy’s hand on her face was all the warmth of the sun coming through a crack, telling her there was something out there worth breaking through for.

Mercy moved to say something more, but simply shook her head.

Pharah set down her drink and moved to blow out the last candle, then felt Mercy’s hand on her back.

“Wait! Fareeha, before you blow out the candle, you have to make a wish.”

Pharah looked to her and smiled. “But I already have what I would wish for.”

Mercy put her hand in Pharah’s, and Pharah blew out that last candle, giving them over to the warmth of the darkness. But, you see, she had lied to Mercy, that day, for she knew very well what she would wish for.

She wished that someday, she would stand in front of her loving father, and kind Reinhardt, and irritating Tracer, and all of the people who had guided her to this moment. She wished that she would takes Mercy’s hand, and promise her all the things she would do, all the things she would put her focus and her drive into for Mercy. She wished that the greatest obstacle of all, the one that had never cleared from the path, her own fears and protections, would step aside and allow her this one gift.

She wished that someday, she would marry Dr. Angela Ziegler.

And they say your first birthday wish is the strongest.

#HON HON HON

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vandergelic-blog · 7 years

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Can you do a RFA + Saeran with an MC who's a exchange student at college and Her Korean isn't that great yet

Of course anon! I’m actually in the process of learning Korean right now..

Zen:

His acting career does actually require him to speak some English.

Remember he didn’t do too well in school, so his grade in English probably wasn’t great.

But he knew enough to communicate with you and tell you how much he loves you!

A lot of times he would lean down to ear and just whisper to you in Korean, and say really sweet things, leaving you flustered since you somewhat couldn’t understand him.

When you’re studying Korean, he would often award you with pecks on the lips whenever you pronounced a word right or said a sentence well~

Yoosung:

His English is pretty good! (Omg I imagine his accent would be really hot..)

He found out you didn’t know Korean well when you guys first spoke on the phone hehe, it was very clear that you were struggling.

“I-I can help you study MC! Don’t worry..I’m not that great at English myself. We can help each other!”

Would be very encouraging of you.

You guys both go to SKY University so he would often translate what the professor is saying for you.

Did everything he could to help you, as always. He wasn’t going to let language barriers prevent him from being with you~

Jaehee:

This girl, was valedictorian and graduated early. She has such academic success, of course she knows English.

Couldn’t really relate to your struggle, but you know she’d be up late helping you study..translating your notes for you.

Would always make you practice by asking you questions whenever you guys go out (bAEHEE WHY?)

Like for example at the supermarket she would point at a fruit..

“What is that? In Korean?”

“밥..”

“And that?”

“오렌지”

“And that?”

“시럽..?”

“Wrong. It’s actually 고추장.”

T_T

It was a hard process..but she helped you every step of the way.

Jumin:

Would be kind of confused at first and question you why you didn’t learn before you came to Korea.

But it was short notice when you learned you were going to Korea as an exchange student, that he understood.

Of course Jumin knows English, coming from a rich background and going to very prestigious schools. I also feel like he knows French too..or Italian, lol.

Wouldn’t really have time during the day to help you with Korean, so he would hire a teacher to give you lessons.

When he was home though, he would talk to you in English, but mostly Korean to make sure you got used to it. He thought it was very important that you practiced, much like Jaehee.

Overall wouldn’t think much of your lacking in Korean..he would just assist you to the best of ability and make sure you were getting the best lessons from the best teachers. :)

Seven:

Ahahahh this didn’t show up on the background check..but could instantly tell because of the way you typed in the messenger lmao.

Would probably implement a translating feature without even telling you or anyone else for that matter.

“Seven, what is this? Why would we need a translator?” Yoosung would ask.

“Lololol..no reason. Just got bored.”

Sometimes on call he would speak Korean that only fluent speakers would be able to understand, just to tease you.

Sometimes wouldn’t even speak Korean, but one of the many other languages he knew. Like Arabic or Romanian. Just to mess with you and confuse you..that little shit.

You once asked him how to say “Where’s the bathroom?” when you guys went out to eat once, and he told you “남대문 열렸어요” which literally means “your fly is open”. The server just looked at you then down at his crotch and frowned, leaving you flustered and Seven in a fit of laughter.

YOU LITTLE SHITDJJSSJ

BUT DON’T WORRY!! Amongst his teasing, he would give you lessons in Korean, and it would be kind of messy…and obnoxious, but hey you were learning!!

Saeran:

Okay so being stuck in a religious cult for most of his life and whatnot..he would not know any English.

So this is already a tragedy

Sometimes you guys would try to communicate just using body movements and facial expressions.

*cue saeyoung laughing in the background*

You would teach him some English and he would try to teach you some Korean!

Like you taught him how to say Hi, how are you (OMG HE WOULD HAVE SUCH A SHY BABY ACCENT DJJD)

And he would teach you “죽을래?” (do you want to die?)

Despite the language barriers you guys managed to make it work..somehow.

He’s not the best teacher, so you would have to seek out help elsewhere. But he would let you practice speaking with him, occasionally smirking whenever you said something stupid, hehe.

Vanderwood (added him cause he’s my guilty pleasure):

His English would be good for the most part :) Sometimes there would be some miscommunication though..

Like once he asked if you wanted anything when he went out to the store and you asked him in korean to bring back some tea, which sounds a lot similar to 차 which means car..

“I’m not bringing you back a fucking car MC I’m-”

“That’s not even what I said dipshit. I mean TEA.”

“THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD LEARNED THE KOREAN”

“learned the korean”

He wouldn’t say it, but he would find it so adorable when you guys were watching TV together and you literally did not understand anything so you have such a puzzled look on your face.

Would push you to learn more, and helped you with college sometimes. But honestly it bored him and he was such a sarcastic little shit, you couldn’t deal.

As long as you guys understood and were able to make fun of each other; your limited Korean wasn’t really a problem! He didn’t mind you not being completely fluent. As time passes, you’d reach that point and he would be there and be so very proud when you did!

Requests are open! So be sure to send one in~ 고마워 ^^

#mystic messenger hc #mystic messenger headcanon #mystic messenger #mysme #mysme hc

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woahthisguy4721 · 7 years

Text

Foot Fetish

So when I watched 13.01, I couldn't help but notice that Jack puts his hand on Kelly's feet, and Dean mirrors this with Cas. I immediately thought of the Christian foot washing practice, but since blasphemy IS my kink, I figured I was projecting. However in lieu of the 'Song of Solomon' reference, I decided to revisit this idea.

The practice of foot washing in Christianity is often used as a form of baptism. It is called maundy, in reference to the latin 'mandatum,' meaning command. Its called this after the first lines sung before the ceremony, "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("I give you a new commandment, That ye love one another as I have loved you") John 13:34. I also think its of note that Maundy occurs on Thursday of the Holy Week, the week celebrating the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

For those of you not versed in Biblical lore, the ceremony itself is a reference to Christ washing the apostles feet before He is betrayed by Judas (in fact, within the text, Christ acknowledges He already knows Judas will betray him, John 13:2). Simon Peter (oh hi, dude crucified on an upside down cross!) pushes back; this is something a servant should do. It was custom at the time for the host to kiss the guest (oh hi, Judas!) and present them with a basin of water to wash their feet. This custom was due to the frequent wear of sandals; a long day of travel would produce dusty feet. Its for this same reason showing the bottom of your shoe is an insult in Arab cultures: its the dirtiest, literal lowest part of you. Christ tells Simon Peter if he won't allow this, he has no part in this journey (John 13:8). Simon Peter says then wash my hands and head as well, but Jesus says his feet are enough and alludes to the fact He knows He'll be betrayed. He then says this:

"14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

(Book of John, Chapter 13)

I think this is pertinent to spn for two reasons. First, sacrificing your life for your family is literally all of Team Free Will's go-to move. Cas in particular has been paralleled to Christ in many ways, in saving Dean from Hell, his multiple 'crucifixions' for Dean, even his association to the sun. I'm also very interested in the idea of the teacher being equal to the student. Sam, Dean, and Cas will all be teaching Jack, but it will be the strength of them together that will lead Jack down a righteous path. I also think the allusions to Judas are of note. Dean, much like Judas, feels to blame for Cas' death, despite the fact that in many ways, it was nothing he could have prevented.

But I'd also like to dig into another Biblical story about foot washing. When Jesus is dining with the Pharisees, a woman known for being a sinner arrives and washes His feet with her tears and dries them with her hair. The company mumbles about how the true Christ wouldn't let a sinner touch him in such a manner. Christ rebukes them:

"44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.""

(Book of Luke, Chapter 7, New Kings James Version)

Other apostolic accounts identify her as Mary of Bethany, and the act is done in thanks for Christ raising Lazarus (oh hi Cas, who we know is coming back). But I'm using this particular account for emphasis. The 'sinner' reminds me of Kelly, or as the angel called her 'the brood mare.' Kelly reminds me of Christ's mother Mary in that her birth was also frowned upon but allowed for access to 'Paradise.' I have a half-assed speculation that the Paradise Cas saw was the cessation of war between Heaven and Hell with Jack as the firewall between them.

Going back to Dean and Jack touching their loved ones feet, I love the Biblical implications this arouses. The washing of the feet is a way to cleanse the recipient of the sins, the dirt acquired in their journey. Both Cas and Kelly carry the sins of following the unclear path in hopes of saving humanity. Dean and Jack symbolically forgive and absolve them of these 'mistakes' through these paralleled scenes. They lower themselves to their lost family and stand not above them but as their equals.

@tinkdw @gneisscastiel

-----

If you've read through this Bible lesson, here's a gift for your trouble! A list of nsfw destiel fic that utilize 'the Song of Solomon,' plus a bonus fic with a foot-washing scene! See ya in hell, you filthy animals!

"Bible Study" by misachan (a personal fav tbh) https://archiveofourown.org/works/212272

"Pillow Talk" by @casthewise

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1392382?view_adult=true

"Dirty Sweet" by themetaphornextdoor

https://archiveofourown.org/works/297767

"Angel Wing" series by SarahJaneS (foot-washing in part 5, but its all glorious)

https://archiveofourown.org/series/292418

#season 13 meta #actually researched meta #i'm so proud #blasphemy is my kink

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afrikaansislekker · 8 years

Text

Afrikaans Masterpost.

Goeie dag almal!

I would like to officially introduce myself. My name is Chiquita. I’m from South Africa and my native language is Afrikaans. I’ve been asked by quite a few people for Afrikaans resources, but, unfortunately, they’re very scarce. I have decided to compile some of my own and share it with you guys! Geniet dit!

History and background:

(Unfortunately, I cannot verify ALL the information, but I will try my best to make sure it’s accurate.)

The languages of South Africa | Brand South Africa (along with information about South Africa’s 10 other official languages!)

Afrikaans | About World Languages

Afrikaans | Omniglot (Arabic section requires verification.)

Afrikaner | SAHO

Afrikaans language | Wikipedia

Afrikaans language | SA-Venues

Online lessons:

Afrikaans lessons | polymath.org

Afrikaans | Openlanguages

Learn Afrikaans | Hein’s Universe

Afrikaans lessons | Easy Afrikaans

Learn Afrikaans | Learn 101

How to Learn to Speak Afrikaans | WikiHow

Afrikaans Language Course | ielanguages

All you need to know about Afrikaans | Rawlangs

Music:

Bands and groups (active):

(Link in name leads to home pages, where applicable.)

Fokofpolisiekar (profanity), (lit. “F*ck off police car”) - Alternative rock. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Die Heuwels Fantasties (lit. “The Hills Fantastic”) - Alternative, Electronica, Indie, Pop. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Van Coke Kartel (lit. “From Coke Cartel”) - Alternative rock. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Straatligkinders (lit. “Street light children”) - Rock. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Foto na Dans (lit. “Photo after Dance”) - Progressive rock. - Background | YouTube

Die Antwoord (profanity and considered vulgar), (lit. “The Answer”) - Hip hop, Rap, Rave. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Eden - Pop - Background

Die Melktert Komissie (lit. “The Milktart Commission”) - Pop, Acoustic. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Glaskas (lit. “Glass case”) - Pop, Rock. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Artists and musicians:

(Link in name leads to home pages, where applicable.)

Elvis Blue - Pop, Adult contemporary. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Kurt Darren - Afrikaans folk music. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Steve Hofmeyr - Afrikaans folk/pop. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Jack Parow (profanity) - Hip hop, Rap, Afrikaans rap. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Nádine - Pop. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Bobby van Jaarsveld - Pop. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Bok van Blerk - Pop rock. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Chris Chameleon - Folk, World, Rock, Acoustic. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Hennie Jacobs - Acoustic. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Juanita du Plessis - Afrikaans gospel. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Snotkop (vulgar), (lit. “Booger head”) - Pop, Kwaito, Rap. - Background | YouTube | Facebook

Karlien van Jaarsveld - Pop. - YouTube | Facebook

Movies:

Dis ek, Anna (2015, lit. “It’s me, Anna”) - Drama. Movie based off of the novel written by Anchien Troskie. A girl endures abuse at the hands of her stepfather. A court case ensues.

Semi-soet (2012, lit. “Semi-sweet”) - Romantic comedy. A desperate young woman tries to save her company from someone taking over. A relationship can seal the deal, therefore, she hires a model to be her significant other.

As jy sing (2013, lit. “If you sing”) - Musical comedy. A music teacher supports his singing group. Circumstances force them to sing for what they believe in.

Poena is koning (vulgar and profanity), (2007, lit. “Poena is king”) - Comedy. Two teens boys go on a mission. They refuse to stay virgins until the finish highschool.

Bakgat! (2008, lit. “Cool!”) - Comedy. A popular girl is dumped by the highschool sport star. She goes on a mission to transform the school wimp into the next best thing.

Bakgat! 2 (2010, lit. “Cool! 2″ - Comedy. The characters from the first movie now attend university. Some dreams, like a rugby career, seem unreachable.

Bakgat! Tot die mag 3 (2013, lit. “Cool! To the power 3″) - Comedy. The main character aspires to win a rugby league and pay for his wedding with the prize money, meanwhile, he is putting his relationship in danger.

Wolwedans in die Skemer (2012, lit. “Wolf dance in the dusk”) - Thriller. Sonja arrives at a hotel where she’s supposed to take up her new job as a receptionist, but following a freak accident, she has no idea who she is.

Liefling (2010, lit. “Darling”) - Musical romance. A girl with a love for life falls in love during the December holidays, but fate, and other people, intervenes.

Pretville (2012, lit. “Fun-ville”) - Musical. A movie that in set in a typical 1950′s town, showing what life was like back then.

Faan se trein (2014, lit. “Faan’s train”) - Drama. A mentally challenged man has a dream of having his own traicn. We accompany him on his journey.

Pad na jou hart (2014, lit. “Road to your heart”) - Romantic comedy. A young man has 5 days to travel across the country to attend his father’s funeral. He catches a ride with a beautiful young lady.

Treurgrond (2015, lit. “Mourn ground”) - Drama. A movie that shows how farm attacks affect the whole community, not just the family.

Jou Romeo (2016, lit. “Your Romeo”) - Teen comedy. A school has to cancel a play due to budget cuts. Kids stand up, and try to keep the play going.

Sy klink soos lente (2016, lit. “She sounds like spring”) - Comedy. A guy tries to win a girl’s heart by lying to her, saying he is part of a band. He is a mere motor mechanic. Now he needs a plan, or he’s going to lose her.

Vir die voëls (2016, lit. “For the birds”) - Comedy. A wild girl on the verge of marrying isn’t sure if the married life is for her.

Vir Altyd (2016, lit. “Forever”) - Romantic comedy. A girl is left in front of the altar by her significant other. She makes some “bad decisions” and ends up going on a journey where she realises who she really loves.

Videos:

Learn Afrikaans 101 | YouTube

Learn Afrikaans - Steohenstone | YouTube

Learn Afrikaans | YouTube

Greetings - Learn Afrikaans | YouTube (I listed this one specifically, because I know people other than natives struggle with the g-sound!)

Extras:

Afrikaans slang | Wikipedia (checked this out myself, not too bad!)

Afrkaans memes and jokes (@antiegriet) | Instagram

Afrikaans quotes (@cool_kwadraat) | Instagram

Maroela Media - Social platform filled with articles and news.

Afrikaans.com - A page with a little bit of everything.

Pasella - A travel series focused on food, celebrities, and all the fun little things in South Africa.

Afrikaans is Groot (lit. “Afrikaans is Big”) - A annual event hosting some of the best Afrikaans artists in the country. | Facebook

I really, really hope this helps! Please report any problems, any feedback would also be appreciated! Thank you so much for reading, spread the word!

*Disclaimer: I do not own any of the content mentioned on this page, but am merely sharing it for educational purposes, Should any individual have a problem, please contact me without hesitation.

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