#i think ri is one of the big measurements

[dreadark]

compilation of some comments in official RI medical records

That's a sure sign of a diva who hasn't seen much of the real world, if you ask me. She needs a lesson in the grim reality of war and just how hard the Infected have it. Skyfire should be given more hands-on combat missions to knock some sense into her. —Medic Operator Gavial A reminder, Gavial, that all physical examinations are public record. —Dr. Kal'tsit

Well, look what we have here! Your body's pretty well built! —Gavial, admiring Eunectes

The physical exam went smoothly, but her heartbeat was abnormally fast and that confounded the data. —Gavial, clueless about Tomimi

That gal wakes up before daylight and starts training every day without exception... How can she not be in good shape? Argh, I wanna arm wrestle with her... If I get to fight her, that's even better! —Gavial, appreciating Akafuyu

If Weedy can still get infected despite all these protective measures, then life on Terra can no longer persist. —Gavial

Having that said, what are we even doing for her? Is she going to live here? Are you crazy? —Gavial, opposed to Leizi

Minor infection, nothing to be concerned about! I know my own body the best, of course. Rhodes Island's course of treatment has been effective in controlling and stabilizing the disease. However, physical performance has been affected considerably, down peak levels. Guess it's time to do some rehab... —Gavial, definitely not downplaying her own condition

Even among Vouivre, this girl has one of the most incredible bodies I've ever seen. I'm somewhat curious to see if she even can contract Oripathy at all, if her body can just tough it out... But whatever, that's probably not happening. Test it out? No, that's not an option. —Warfarin, about Bagpipe

We finally got one! An infected Vouivre! —Warfarin, about Toddifons

I was wondering what's the big deal when they told me Lungmen confiscated Ch'en's physical report. Turns out it was no big deal at all. Lame. —Warfarin, finding out Ch’en is infected

Everyday contact with Infected won't lead to Oripathy transmission, that's common sense; a majority of people don't believe this, which is also common sense. —Warfarin, in Honeyberry’s profile

What do I say? She doesn't really hide it, and she went so far beforehand as to tell me that her body probably isn't like the layman's, so I'm not overly surprised by this? Although if I could just have a little discussion with her, get her to undergo regular inspections in my office, let me draw a little blood, that's all. It wouldn't impact her in any real way. —Warfarin, wanting to experiment on Kjera Ask her yourself. —Kal'tsit

Nian insisted on entering Rhodes Island as a visitor and refused to undergo medical tests. After a series of gambling bets, dice-rolling, wrestling, and other competitions, the gathering of physiological data was finally put on indefinite hiatus. 'It's a darn shame that Gavial lost the last rock-climbing competition! We were so close to forcing her to get a medical examination. I never expected that Gavial would contribute to the medical department in such an important manner. Do your best, Gavial! There's always next year!' —Hibiscus, Medic Operator

What? She actually took a physical? Wow, she's so easy? I figured anyone Nian would haul in would be pretty much like her. Guess we're not gonna need Gavial's help this time, let her gear up for round two with Nian. Nian's idea for how to run the tests at the normal operator level had the examiner thinking of calling for a medic to shut the whole thing down. And Nian sure looked pleased with herself. She knew exactly how that would go down. But Dusk is really out of shape. Whatever, she's not taking a salary, so it's none of my business... Oh, the results match everything in the files we got. She has 'no connection' to Originium whatsoever. Not allocating any additional funds. If you're already struggling, you could always consider NOT starting a research project on some weirdo shut-in? —Closure

Miss Ling agreed to be medically tested, which we didn't anticipate. We thought she'd dodge us as hard as Nian did. She did show a sort of... laissez-faire attitude during the tests, though, so the results were all over the map. Not rigorous at all... but Miss Closure says not to mind it, so we suppose we won't. 'It's probably all the wine she drank,' was her explanation. —Medic Operator Hibiscus

Saria was my coworker at Rhine Lab. She is authoritative in the field of medical treatment, but did not become a Medic Operator. My guess is this is due to her lack of bedside manner. Just kidding. —Medic Operator Ptilopsis

Blaze, the next time you don't bring protective gear on the mission, I will have Dr. Kal'tsit forbid you from consuming alcoholic beverages. —Y.P., Medic Operator

Grani is in such good shape, even if infection was chasing her, it wouldn't be able to catch up... —A Medic Operator

Don't worry, Ms. Swire, Rhodes Island's hospital fees are quite reasonable. You only have to pay... —S.S.E., Medic Operator Any unfair charges to patients will have appropriate consequences. —Dr. Kal'tsit

Hey, this young lady can jump between buildings and punch through a wall with her bare fists. Makes sense she's in good shape, eh? —Aak, about Waai Fu

How great it is to be young. —Unnamed senior physician, envying Sideroca

Abdominal area feels pretty good on palpation. —Medic's addendum, after feeling up Ayerscarpe

Can she really do field work dressed like that? —Medical Department anonymous remark, judging Iris

In every way a person can be, he is very unsafe. —Sussurro, remarking on Tequila

That scent, it's so good... So refreshing... Ah, ah... Achoo! —A medic operator with a pollen allergy encountering Podenco

I hope we don't get too many more difficult patients like her... —A comment on Bubble’s profile

Shut-ins are bound to have a decent health advantage. —Tuye, relating to Indigo

Not good enough. I can still do better. —Folinic, about her own Oripathy

What? This is impossibly low! It would be impossible to have that little exposure to Originium! I cannot permit her to ever leave the medical department. Even if she wants to go fight, I insist she stays back! She is a special case! Anyone who loves medical science would want to see her! We must give her more exams and do a clinical analysis! Also... Come on, Dr. Kal'tsit, just this once, please! —J.A., Medic Operator, bewildered by Skadi Request denied. —Dr. Kal'tsit

Bonus:

Ahem. Everyone here? It's clear why the medical staff has assembled for this closed-door meeting... Yes, of course. You're all interested in Skadi, aren't you? Whether you are interested in her endocrine system, her skeletal system, her muscles, her nerves, or the fact that her Blood Originium-Crystal Density is almost zero... What kind of environment could foster that? What race is she? Her movement and physical functions are currently beyond our understanding, so how do they work? Right, right... Skadi has been kept a secret for too long! On behalf of Rhodes Island, all Infected people, and on behalf of science itself, we need to find answers! My plan is to put sedatives in her food... We'll work out the specific dosage, but enough for two hundred people should do, right? Then, when Skadi gets woozy, she will be taken to the nearest infirmary... And we've got her! Dissecting her would be a bit too much, but we only need a little more information to add to what Dr. Kal'tsit already has... That's it! Even if it's just a blood sample! A little bit of blood is no problem... Maybe a pinch of muscle tissue too? I think that won't be an issue, either! Everyone, don't you think...

Oh.

Dr. Kal'tsit? How long have you been here...?

—Dr. Kal'tsit discovered Warfarin's plan during her secret meeting, and fined her one month's salary.

[bleachbleachbleach]

went for a jog and all I got was this thought experiment

This is not a very hinged post, even by the typically low standards for hingedness on this blog, so I’m just going to. Put a cut in here nice and early.

It’s deer season right now, so I while I was out for a jog this evening I heard a gunshot and got to thinking, like, what does a bankai release sound like, and from how far away can it be heard?

I mean, maybe it depends on the bankai, though in generally they tend to be pretty flashy in general, and everyone’s gotta release, regardless of what happens after that.

We know that when actually fighting (with either bankai or shikai) friendly fire is a big consideration, to the extent that there are protocols for implementing third-party shields/etc. that don’t have to be put up by the combatants themselves--like when Yumichika orders a bunch for the Advance Team in real-time. And of course we end up with these 1v1 fights all the time, for reasons of tradition and practicality both. (Though the fact that so many of the fights during Fake Karakura are SEQUENTIAL rather than simultaneous cracks me up, because they really all just watched Ikkaku lose that pillar, huh??? Even if these fights take place over a matter of minutes rather than the 45min they feel like to us, still--!!)

This isn’t about sound, specifically, but thinking through what information we do have about bankai/shikai distances: People were fighting pretty far away from each other in that arc, given the entirety of Fake Karakura was below them. Kyouraku and Starrk got to see some snow crystals, but that’s it, so I assume they were 3 ri or more from Hitsugaya and Halibel:

[Bleach 132]

NB: The 3 ri is a radial measurement, as he says “3 ri in all (4) sides/directions.”

This very random number is honestly a neat detail--TO ME--because that’s around the average size of a storm cell! (Possibly related, but I was recently told by a child that I spend an above average amount of time on the Weather App, and that instead I should look at TikToks in bed like a normal person.) Don’t get me started on the fascinating history of antiquated Japanese units of measurement, because that was also very interesting to me. I think the wildest part is that there are measurements for area rather than just length, but since Hitsugaya doesn’t use them does this mean that Soul Society was just like “fuck it, we have had to change calendars and writing systems and units of measurement and vocabularies TOO MANY TIMES to keep up with these fucking living human people, we are eliminating some of these!!!” because boy nothing would excite me more than reading the AP Style Guide for Soul Society-- 

But anyway, that’s just what we know about the potential impacts and their range. I want to know about sound! How far away can you hear that release? Can you hear it from as far away as a rifle? As far away as thunder? How much of an impact re: temperature/relative humidity would tensou juurin have on these distances? What about standing up in the sky vs. on the ground where all the buildings and trees are?

I don’t have any desire to know these things for applied use--this is one of those things where making up the questions is way more interesting than any answers--but yes my jog was very cold and uphill and I had a lot of time to think about ephemera why do you ask

[sasorikigai]

No matter what verses, there are seven profound Japanese concepts that Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion takes to his heart. 

1. Ikigai ((生き甲斐, i.e. one of the words I used for my url - sasori (scorpion) + ikigai (a reason for being)). 

Discover your purpose in life. Determine the reason you wake up each morning. Choose something that aligns with your strengths, passions, and the needs of the world. This is what gives life meaning. 

2. Shikita ga nai (仕方がない, meaning "it cannot be helped" or "nothing can be done about it".

Let go of what you cannot change. Recognize that there are some things are just out of our control, and that’s okay. Let go and focus on what you can change. 

3. Wabi-sabi (侘寂,  a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection)

Find peace in imperfection. Recognize that nothing in life is perfect, including yourself and others. Instead of striving for flawlessness, find joy in the imperfections that make life unique. 

4. Gaman (我慢, "enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity".

Preserve your dignity during tough times. Show emotional maturity and self-control, even when faced with challenges. Remember to be patient, resilient, and understanding. 

5. Oubaitori (桜梅桃李, each individual character represents a different kind of blossom: cherry, apricot, peach and plum. "we all grow and bloom at our own pace.”)

Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone has a different timeline and unique path. It’s important to focus on your own progress, rather than trying to measure yourself against others. 

6. Kaizen (改善, "improvement")

Always seek to improve in all areas of your life. Even small changes can add up and make a big impact over time. 

7. Shu-Ha-Ri (守破離, "first learn, then detach, and finally transcend.")

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready, the teacher will disappear” - Tao Te Ching 

It is a way of thinking about how to learn and master a technique. There are three stages to acquiring knowledge; 

Shu: Learn the basics by following the teaching of one master. Imitating the work of great masters also falls in this stage. 

Ha: Start experimenting, learn from masters, and integrate the learning into the practice. 

Ri: This stage focuses on innovation and the ability to apply your learning to a variety of situations. 

[bibsy]

Thinking about my own experiences in resilience. Resilience involves a person being able to function, remain reasonably stable, adapt, and bounce back in times of hardship.

As situations worsen, or life continually throws curveballs, an individual continually has to adapt. Through adapting to life’s new circumstance, you have to find ways which enable you to function and remain stable.

This can be extremely difficult when all aspects of one’s well-being are affected. For example, if a stressor is set a the forefront, a person’s digestive system may be affected. This may be due to the diet becoming directly unbalanced through consumption, or, literal stress which in turn affects digestion. Or another example, when someone has undergone ongoing abuse. Living conditions, social supports, safety, emotions, all of these things are affected.

….And how do you combat this? Through a variety of measures. But you can’t just “know” these measures - you have to adapt your mindset and behaviour. If one thing doesn’t work, you have to find another. Sometimes what appears maladaptive, may be adaptive given the persons state.

In addition to adapting, functioning, and remaining stable, you have to bounce back. And how does one “bounce back”? To say it simply: learning throughout your hardship. You learn how to survive. Through learning “how”, you must find “why”. For every “how”, there may be a different “why”. There is not just one purpose to a person’s life, but instead, a multitude of purposes.

I live to teach. I live to know that I am supporting the overall existential growth of children - I encourage social supports, positive mindsets in combination with a realistic point of view, I encourage healthy eating while allowing room for indulgence. Entire humans that are constantly striving to grow. For them, I continually pull out models for creative pathways - in a way, I am always pulling bunnies out of my hat for those that don’t have a bunny, don’t know where to find a bunny, need help getting a bunny, or those that have a hay with a bunny of their own…but they need help pulling it out!

In addition, I live for the people I love. For the people I love, i’d follow them to the end of the universe. And I really mean this in an almost literal sense. When i’m on hard drugs, sometimes I feel so so far away - I feel to be literally in a different realm. If someone were to need me though, i’d find a way to get there. On the flip side, if the positions were switched, i’d exhaust my resources to figure out a way to get there.

My drive to support my loved ones - I think of their significance so highly - that it hurts me, at times. I would put myself in danger for the people I love, if it meant preventing them from their own sufferings. The weight of my love and thought for someone outweighs how much I suffer.

…The weight of my love and thought for someone outweighs how much I suffer. I put my love above all else - and I suffer - and in turn, that suffering is recognized. How can you put love into the universe, without receiving pain in return? When I try to do things to reduce my suffering, I don’t feel good. Why should I be trying to help myself - when I can be doing things for others? There is meaning in love.

But there is meaning in suffering.

The suffering takes place because of the meaning.

My old student - I cared about him so much, so much that when he would be angry and upset towards me, it affected my mental state. And while I remained with him because I wanted to support him, still, I was affected, and this in turn affected by practice. I suffered. But I adapted. I returned to stability. And now, I feel a greater confidence that I can be in such a situation again that I will have greater stamina.

Anyway, as I ramble, I think about how there are big meanings. Love. Education. Friendship, and family. But there is also an appreciation for simple things, like having the ability to look at the sun when it’s golden. Water going downward a river. Hearing footsteps echo outside. Riding past someone at the park. Drinking a latte, sheltered from the rain in a coffee shop. Smelling your friend’s perfume. Seeing an animal take care. Arriving home, putting on comfy clothing.

And, even these appreciations present meaning. They created meaning through just existing, which drives one further to remain resilient.

I can create meaning through just existing.

Tomorrow or sometime soon, you will again be able to see the sun that’s golden.

[fromjuliewithlove]

Japanese Concepts for a more positive lifestyle

I recently came across an Instagram account that I want to give the credit of this blog to. The account name is EntrepreneurshipQuote. I try to practice a positive lifestyle, which many of you reading this already know, but there are always times where I find myself feeling less than positive and I look for ways to bring myself back up to where I need to be so I wanted to share these eye-opening Japanese concepts with you that will transform your life because I feel like we, as a general people, always have an oppourtuinity to learn from other cultures, and to take away something positive fom that as well.

1. Ikigai - Discover your purpose in life: Determine the reason you wake up each morning, choose something that aligns with your strengths, passions, and the needs of the wolrd. This is what gives life meaning.

2. Shikita ga nai - Let go of what you cannot change: Recognize that there are some things that are just out of our control, and that's okay. Let go and focus on what you can change.

3. Wabi-sabi - Find peace in imperfection: Recognize that nothing in life is perfect, including yourself and others. Instead of striving for flawlessness, find joy in the imperfections that make life unique.

4. Gamen - Preserve your dignity during tough times: Show emotional maturity and self-control when faced with challenges. Remember to be patient, resilient, and understanding.

5. Oubaitori - Don't compare yourself to others: Everyone has a different timeline and unique path. It's important to focus on your own progress, rather than trying to measure yourself against others.

6. Kaizen - Always seek to improve in all areas of your life: Even small changes can add up and make a big impact over time.

7. Shu-Ha-Ri - " When the student is truly ready the teacher will disappear." - Tao Te Ching

It is a way of thinking about how to learn and master a technique.

There are 3 stages to aquiring knowledge:

Shu: Learn the basics by following the teaching of one master. Imitating the work of great masters also falls in this stage.

Ha: Start experimenting, learn from masters, and integrate the learning into the practice.

Ri: This stage focuses on innovation and the ability to apply your learning to a variety of situations.

Whether you are young or seasonsed, everyone can take some time to stop, evaluate, and readjust the focus of your mind. It really comes down to your will-power over your situation and your way of thinking. I hope you are able to take something positive away from this and use it in your life to continue living a positive lifestyle.

[preordainedrule]

@lachrymosestorm   :   "Masamune. Why do you even want to be with me? I'm a mess."

     ❝   BECAUSE I LOVE YOU,   ❞   WORDS tumble out easily,   although lacking in grace.   love is a weapon to destroy sadness   /   masamune has no knowledge on how to use this sword.   should he smile or frown   ?   :   chooses to smile,   flooded with emotion.   (   emotion   *   warms him to his fingertips,   takes her hand,   pulls her closer,   wants to enjoy this warmth with her.   )

     ❝   &   EVERYONE’S A MESS IN THIS life,   ❞   he means the past,   accidentally slips back into an older   (   old - fashioned   )    way of talking.   ❝   &   you’re the most put - together person in my life,   dez.   even admitting you’re a mess is ten ri ahead of us.   ❞   a pause   &   a halt on the thoughts which have tangled,   eye glancing upwards as a silent prayer to God to aid him.

     ❝   I WANT TO BE WITH you because you’re the best person i’ve ever met,   ❞   back to rambling,   almost without a cause.  ❝   &   that includes the warlords,   family,   everyone i’ve ever met,   &   you know i’ve met a lot.   ❞   works himself into a state of desperation   :   pulls back,   a deep breath in,   slow exhale.  ❝   anyway,   ❞   he finishes with forced cheeriness,   a smile that refuses to light up his eye,   a quiver in voice that gives away fear.   ❝   i want to be with you because i love you   !   ❞

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hi! How are you?🥰

What do you think about the changes made in the English version of the game? I see very divided opinions, I decided not to download the game and stick with the Japanese one but I see many people complaining on facebook and tiktok😩

Btw, I really like what you write💕 Take care of yourself!✨

Hihi, thanks for checking out and supporting my blog!

Mmm, I have a lot of opinions on the localization! Since there's a lot I want to say (many of it spoiler-y), I'm going to place it all under the cut. I may reblog/add more thoughts later, since I'm still playing through chapter 2 right now.

Please feel free to share what you think as well, dear readers! I'm curious to hear what others' reactions are to the localization. It'd be cool to get a discussion going.

My Thoughts on the TWST Localization:

Firstly, I have to say that I like the general look of the game. I think the fonts are nice to look at, and I appreciate the little flourishes they added here and there. For example, they kept the original Japanese names of locations under the English names when we transition to new areas. The one thing I have to say I dislike is the size of the text bubbles. They are much bulkier than the ones in the Japanese version and take up like a third of the screen. The text bubbles were much slimmer in the original, so that will take some getting used to.

They translated the Tree element as Flora and Null as Cosmic. They also changed a card’s Attack stat to POW (like... Power?). These don’t really affect the story, but they do feel a little odd to read for gameplay purposes. Ultimately, I don’t mind these choices. I definitely enjoy Flora (like the fairy from Sleeping Beauty?) more than Tree, and Cosmic makes sense as a replacement for Null (since Cosmic encompasses both Light and Dark magic).

Now onto the meat of my thoughts!

Something that I noticed immediately was that there seems to be a lack of consistency with terms used. For example, Floyd uses both “Lil’ Goldfish” and “Goldfishie” to refer to Riddle. Another example is in the prologue, when Azul uses the term “dorm leader”, whereas “housewarden” is used everywhere else. At the very least, “headmage” seems to be more consistently used.

I also noticed a few mistakes, which tells me that whoever did the proofreading did not do it well. For example, Ruggie calls one of the Scarabia boys (I believe Kalim) Kamil. Let that sink in. KAMIL. Not Kalim, not Jamil, but KAMIL. That’s a mistake that I would expect a first time TWST fan would make, not an official localization. Another big one was during chapter 1, when Cater is explaining Split Card. In reference to his clones, he says “I have no siblings”. This is false and actually contradicts canon information, as Cater is said to have a few older sisters in the Japanese version. There are also some punctuation/grammatical errors, like “gotall” (spoken by Trey in chapter 2) missing a space. It’s just... confusing and at some points unprofessional. Like, these things should have been caught and fixed earlier.

I think some of the wording they chose was... interesting? I don’t agree with all of them, but they definitely gave off certain vibes. Alchemy became Potionology and Magift into Spelldrive, which makes NRC feel less like NRC and more like they’re trying so hard to be Harry Potter. Thaumark was definitely unexpected (I thought they’d stick with Madol?), but I kind of like it! It helps give Twisted Wonderland its character as a foreign land. I believe the “mark” part is derived from a European currency, and “thaum” is a measure of magic, so when you break the word down, it isn’t that hard to grasp. I am, however, conflicted with “signature spell” replacing unique magic; unique magic sounds more special and individualized to me than “signature spell” does.

Speaking of “signature spells”, Trey’s Doodle Suit was changed to “Paint the Roses”???????? My guess is that it was done to make a more obvious Alice in Wonderland reference, since Riddle and Cater’s were left untouched. “Paint the Roses” may also be a reference to the Kanji for Trey’s unique magic in the Japanese version. I guess it’s just jarring when Trey’s voice says one thing, but the text says another, but other than that, I don’t dislike the alteration.

I WAS FULLY EXPECTING THE CAT PUNS WITH CHE’NYA AND GRIM AND I WAS NOT WRONG 😂 (But luckily, they aren’t as frequent as I thought they would be.)

I’VE HEARD THAT CHEKA CALLS LEONA “UNCA” LEONA IN PLACE OF “OJITAN” abfhfahldilvsadvsiadsviadsviasvoasfvo THAT’S???????? I mean, I get that they wanted to make Cheka seem cute and endearing, but... I don’t know, “Unca” sounds strange to me? In my experience, it’s a pretty uncommon phrase, even by 5-year old standards.

On the subject of nicknames... HORNTON for Tsunotaro. I know a lot of people don’t like it, but personally? I think it’s fitting. Good for Malleus. It sounds silly to us, and that’s because it is meant to be silly. The only reason Tsunotaro didn’t sound silly is because many of us international players aren’t fluent in Japanese. To someone who understands Japanese, Tsunotaro WOULD sound silly too. Hornton serves its purpose just fine.

UWU speak is canon in Twisted Wonderland. You can thank Ceremonial Robes Idia and his homescreen tap lines (about Lucius) for that. I honestly don’t know how I feel about that, but it’s fantastic for the memes.

I suspected they’d take out honorifics or not completely bring them over in translation (which turned out to be the case), but it’s super weird for me to read Sebek calling Malleus just by his name and no title attached. I do get that he wants to be Malleus’s friend, but in the Japanese version, Sebek still revered and respected Malleus, addressed him by a title...

One thing I’ve noticed a lot of people unhappy about is the use of big words. I don’t mind it, really. We have students from all walks of life and with all kinds of personalities. Some of them are sure to talk differently than others. “But they don’t sound like high school students!”, you might say. Yeah. A lot of anime characters (and heck, even fictional characters in general) don’t act like their age. I think it’s fine for the purposes of creative liberty and to help distinguish the characters from each other, especially in such a large cast. The decision to use big words outside of dialogue is also pretty cool, in my opinion. Old fashioned phrases like “phial”, “vignettes”, “smorgasbord”, etc. lend itself to the poshness of NRC, which is a school steeped in history and magic. However, the abundance of big words does lend itself into a negative point (which I will make later).

Some of the clever things they tried to do with the localization ended up coming across as awkward instead. An example of this is Cater deciding to call the “Adeuce combi” (short, catchy) HUNTING SEASON (after a poker term where you hold an ace and a deuce card). I understand what they were going for, but Hunting Season is such a mouthful. Other times, there’s puns they try shoving in or large words that read super weird in an otherwise normal sentence. Just because you can use big words doesn’t mean that you should. They should be used sparingly and effectively to make an impact, not thrown around haphazardly just because you want to show off how big your dictionary is.

Honestly, I found the memes and modern slang off-putting. In trying to be “with the times”, the slang and memes will actually date the game and I fear it will age poorly going forward.

It makes sense for some of the characters to have a looser way of speaking (Cater, Idia, Floyd, etc.), but it got to a point where it was excessive to read and took me out of the story. Cater and Idia are certainly “internet kids”, so naturally, they would have the most “internet slang”... but??????? Who actually uses so many shorthand phrases (G2G, LOL, WTG, etc.) out loud instead of just saying the words they mean? Cater got especially grating to read because of him constantly shouting hashtags even during moments that were meant to be emotional, like Riddle crying after Overblotting. Cater. Buddy. Now is NOT the time to say “#WOW” at your dorm leader having a breakdown. It makes it seem like Cater cannot read the mood, which shouldn’t be the case for what we know of his character.

Floyd, well... I know that he’s a very fickle and “I do what I want” type of character, but seeing him shout things like “hairdryer go brrrrr”, “yeet”, and “yeah boi” is strange to me???? And I’m not sure why, because Floyd seems carefree enough to just shout whatever. I think it’s because those are things so heavily associated with old or semi-ironic internet culture that I can’t help but see an old man walking in with a skateboard and going “how do you do, fellow kids?”, trying to blend in and be “hip with the youth”.

The strangest part of the localization (at least to me) was that they decided to change the laughs of several characters. (Ruggie’s “nishishi” became “syeheehee”, Lilia’s “kufufu” because “kheehee”, and even Jade’s “fufufu” becamse “hee hee”??????) Like... why? Was there something about their original laughs that sounded “too Japanese”, or could have been mistaken as something that wasn’t laughter? It’s such an odd translation choice to me.

Because of the culmination of all of this, the impression that I got while playing through and reading things was that the characters sometimes came off as entirely different versions of their Japanese counterparts. A lot can be conveyed about a character through their dialogue, and some of the choices made for the English dialogues paints the characters as oddly “not themselves”, or like one extreme of their personality instead of a more well-rounded individual.

Overall, I’m very mixed on the matter. It definitely wasn’t the best localization, but it definitely could have been a lot worse, too. I haven’t noticed any major censorship or changes, at least not this early in the game. The localization seems alright for what it is.

I will likely continue to play the English version along with the Japanese version just for the experience and the laughs.

[salmonthestoryteller]

About Non-Canon Ships...

It’s time for… not sure this counts so much towards “Salmon says something not everyone is going to like” today.  It’s more, just… food for thought?  I previously discussed Queer Interpretation of Fiction, and how I felt people were using certain excuses to hide negative reactions to it.  This is sort of adjacent to that, but it isn’t queer-exclusive - since Non-Canon Ships include both het and queer ships.

Between responding to that post, and a recent comment on a fic of mine, it made me think about Non-Canon Ships.  Why I ship Non-Canon Ships, why I write fics for Non-Canon Ships, why I often prefer them to Canon Ships; etc.  So, for me, it came down to a several different factors.

First off: I, personally, rarely am invested in the main characters.  There’s been a few exceptions in different fandoms, but for the most part, I generally am far more invested in supporting characters and even side and minor characters.  It’s kind of hard to be invested in a Canon Romance if I’m not a fan of the characters involved in it.

That said, even when I do like the main characters, I’m rarely overly invested in the main romance.  Thinking this over, it’s because a lot of canon ships follow very similar patterns.  That isn't to say that the characters, backstories, or plots are similar - they mostly aren't.  Nor am I talking about tropes. I'm actually a big fan of a lot of tropes.  So, what am I talking about?

Most canon romances, especially main romances, occur between characters who first meet during the main story arc.  While this can also aid in helping the audience get to know the characters, I would argue it is not a necessity for every ship.

Most canon romances begin with a physical attraction.  This is not bad in and of itself, but a couple of other factors contribute to why this can cause a lack of interest in a canon ship.

Most main story arcs take place within days to weeks, rather than months to years. Limiting the time the main romance has to get to know one another, and prompting them to go from a simple “I'm attracted to you” to “I'm in love with you” in an extremely limited time frame.

Halfway to three-quarters through the story arc, a deep dark secret is revealed that nearly destroys the relationship.  Don’t care what it is, it almost always exists.  But, given the previous comment on the time frame, why is it shocking that someone they’ve known a whole whopping two weeks, maybe two months if they’re lucky, didn’t tell them their deepest, darkest secret??

Oh, look, there’s a love triangle.  (I’ll be honest.  Among the literal thousands of stories I have consumed, I have read two - yes, just two - love triangles that actually worked well in the story.  Every other one I really wished we could have just skipped over.)

Oh, look, it’s the climax, time for the main romance to declare/redeclare their love

For TV/Novel Series: Rinse and Repeat Next Season/Book

I feel I grew snarkier and snarkier as I explained this, but especially in the case of series, it all connects to why canon romances rarely hold my interest.  Especially the Rinse and Repeat - because it lends towards main ships constantly breaking up and getting back together over the course of the series.  At which point my investment, if I had any to begin with, tends to hit rock bottom.

By comparison, most non-canon ships tend to be based on canon friendships (or rivalries.)  There’s actually a lot less common factors in this case.  But a few things stand out:

A lot of friendships and/or rivalries predate the main story arc.  The backstory of them is usually referenced at some point, but the fact is that these relationships usually can be measured in months to years.  A pretty big difference from most canon romances.

If a friendship does not exist before the main story arc, they are often shown being forged through shared experience or conversations.  In the case of series, these sometimes are built over the course of several seasons/novels even.  This is especially true of rivals-turned-friends, or if there is a mix of old and new friendships.

In a long-term friendship, one of the friends usually knows about the deep dark secret and stands by them during the reveal.  Alternatively, sometimes that is the tipping point for when a rival or a newer acquaintance who didn’t fully trust them finds a shared connection.

Will they or won’t they betray them?  Even if it comes close, ultimately the answer is almost always No. (And that's part of the appeal!)

Because the writers aren't worried about romantic interactions, these relationships are often given longer times to grow than the romances are.  They also don't tend to break up every story arc - so they're actually written as stronger emotionally than most romantic ships.  Rivalry-turned-friendships especially steer away from the “instantaneous trust” or even what I would call “hero worship” found in a lot of canon romance.

Essentially, if I am looking for a plotline where the characters take months to years to build familiarity and trust, stand by each other in their darkest hour, and are based more off emotional than physical attraction… It's almost impossible to find in a canon romantic ship.

But easy to find among the canon platonic relationships.

That is often what leads me to favor, and write for, Non-Canon Ships. Not because I don't appreciate platonic connections, but because the available romantic connections are disappointing me. So I am seeking to find and/or write a romantic story that appeals to me more than what has been presented.

All of this is also escalated if someone's story interests are genre specific. Personally, I lean towards certain genres. Which means, even when someone can recommend a romantic plotline which is more aligned with what I would be interested in - it often requires having to watch outside of my preferred genres. And, honestly, one romance is not really enough for me to watch a show or read a book I otherwise wouldn't have even looked twice at.  It's definitely not enough to keep me invested in a story long term.

Have there been canon ships that avoid enough of the mentioned pitfalls to tell a romantic story I grew invested in? Absolutely.  But, most story lovers will tell you that finishing a good story doesn't mean you never want to read something similar ever again. It's just the opposite. Reading a good story leaves you wanting to read a dozen more just like it! (This partly why I'm a supporter of tropes. I don't care that this plot appears in 50 stories. I am looking for 51 now!)

Is this post a super, super long variant of “Ship and Let Ship”? In one way, yes.  But I also wanted to offer food for thought on the why of it all.

I write gen fics. I write friendship fics. I write them because I'm invested in the overall plot of a story and the platonic relationships in it.

But I also write non-canon ship fics. And it isn't about sex or seeing romance as a more important or stronger connection. (I don't believe that at all.). I write them because I want a different kind of romantic story than what's commonly presented.

tl;dr: Non-Canon Ships aren't always about wanting to see two characters have sex or due to a lack of interest in platonic relationships. It can be about disappointment in the story arc of Canon Ships and an inability to become invested in them. Leaving some of the audience seeking a romance based on a stronger emotional connection with a better story arc - and finding the set up for one among the available platonic relationships instead.

[inkandpen22]

Shared Minds and Shared Souls (2/?)

Pairing: Spike x Female!Reader

Warnings: Angst, swearing, fighting, mentions of violence

Word Count: ~2.6k

Part Summary: Y/N is starting to get used to her role in the Summers’ house and with the Scoobies in the days following her arrival in Sunnydale. Much to her surprise, she enjoys predictability of her new routine and the normalcy of it. That is until a troublesome figure in Sunnydale makes his acquaintance and knocks Y/N through an unforeseen loop.

Masterlist

Aunt Joyce being surprised to see me is an understatement. It took Buffy and I both pressing her back down on the hospital bed to keep her from leaping up. Then, she thanked me up and down for coming. Which lead to her insisting she’s fine. She’s been covering at the hospital the last few days, but now she’s finally home. Her surgery went well, thank God! With everything going on, Joyce needs to be well. I don’t think Buffy could take another blow and poor Dawnie needs her mom. I know what it’s like to lose a mother, not fun. It’s Buffy and I’s goal to keep life as normal as possible for Dawn. The routine is I drop Dawnie off at school while Buffy plays Slayer. Then, I come back here and take care of Joyce. From there, I pick up Dawnie and prep dinner. In truth, I’m liking the predictable schedule. It’s odd, I thought I’d hate it here. I’ve never been the sort for the mundane lifestyle, but I haven’t been around family in years and it’s nice. 

While I prepare lunch for Joyce, I listen to the rock station through the boombox they keep on the counter. The house has been rather quiet since Buffy and the other Scoobies have been out doing researching Glory. Giles’s Magic-Box shop is their headquarters. Well, here and there, sort of double at meeting spots. Whenever the house is this quiet, I have to have music or the tv playing in the background. Otherwise, everything gets all noisy. Sunnydale has so much pent up energy, both good and evil, that it messes with my head. All I hear are the voices in the silence, so many voices that it starts to sound like static. I have mentioned this Buffy, I wouldn’t want to stress her anymore. 

My peace is abruptly disturbed as the kitchen door swings open and someone flies in hiding under a blanket. I jump, dropping my knife on Joyce’s sandwich. Smoke radiates from the figure like they’re a walking fire pit. Tilting my head, I watch in awe as a bleached haired man struggles to shut the door, knocking around the blinds. Who the hell is he? He dramatically flails his arms around to get the blanket off with a huff. Instantly, I see the green aura glowing around him. His eyes meet mine with a tilt of the head like a confused puppy dog, granted I did it too. 

“Who in the bloody hell are you?” He curses sassily. 

His accent is enough information to tell me who he is, Spike. So, this is the pain in the ass, psychotic vampy who is tangled up in a love-hate relationship with my cousin. She’s all caught up on Riley, Mr. G.I. Joe, when she has this dude pining after her? Boy, Buffy needs my guidance in more than one department. 

“Good afternoon to you too, Spike,” I greet him by name, much to his surprise.

Cautiously, he moves into the kitchen as I continue about my business. “How do you know my name? Where’s Buffy?” He asks, peaking around the house for her. 

“Don’t worry,” I assure him calmly. “Army Barbie is with her team of misfit toys working on Glory stuff.” 

Before I have the chance to blink, Spike is across the room has me pinned against the fridge. His face scrunched and his fangs daunting. While gripping my neck until I can hardly breathe, he leans forward and presses his body to mine to keep in place. I struggle in his grip, clawing as his hands. “You’re Glory, aren’t you?! Hm?! Messing with me?! What did you do to Buffy?!” He shouts. 

“Spike,” I choke. “You have to-” I gasp for air as he squeezes tighter. 

As a psychic, every time I have skin to skin contact with someone I can enter their mind and memories. It’s like watching a montage of someone’s entire existence. The recipient relives the memories too at the same pace as me. This allows them to kick me out if they so wish, all they have to do is realize what’s going on. However, like being in a dream, it’s rare that they do. I have little control when it comes to entering, it’s like falling. If I wish to leave, it takes a kick, like waking up from a dream. I have to be terrified by a memory or experience immense pain, those are the usual triggers. 

The moment Spike touched me, he opened the gate for me to see, feel, and hear everything he ever has in the form of visions. I can feel my mind slipping and images begin to flash before my eyes like bursts of light. Then, my vision goes black... 

A woman in 19th century clothing stands before with big eyes and brown hair. She’s so beautiful.... Suddenly, a pain pierces my neck.

Next thing I know, I’m sat on an old blood soaked sofa with a dead woman in my lap, bleeding from the neck. I feel hungry for more. 

“My wicked, wicked, Willy,” Dru purrs, peering up at me from her position on the floor with longing eyes. I shove the body off of me and crawl to her. God, I love her. 

I jump through time, landing in the middle of a fight with a young Chinese woman who I recognize as the Slayer. I manage to grab her and bite her viciously. She mutters something in Chinese to me. 

“Sorry Love, I don’t speak Chinese,” I state, tossing her to the side. 

Then, on a subway trained with a later slayer. I’m on top of her, gripping her neck as I twist it, killing her. For good measure, I steal her leather coat. I’m quite fond of it. 

I hover over the most recent Slayer, and perhaps the most annoying one, Buffy Summers. I raise the plank of wood in my hands to kill her. Suddenly, I’m hit over the head and fall to the floor. 

With a jolt, I’m back in the present moment. “Jesus and Mary!” I yelp, the back of my head throbbing. What the hell did Joyce wack me with? Or should I say Spike. 

The vampire stands before me wide-eyed, confused by what just happened. Having had enough reminiscing, I press my hands around his that grip my neck and send a powerful shock, causing him to drop me to the floor. I cough as I catch my breath. God, I can see why Buffy doesn’t like him! Spike recovers quickly and picks me up by my hair. I scream at the surge of pain and dig my nails in his hands. Soon, I’m against the wall and I bump my head. 

“Where are they?!” He barks in my face. “Tell me or I’ll kill you!” 

“If I were Glory and I had taken Buffy, how would killing me help you find her?” I question his logic amongst the fighting. For being over a hundred years old, he’s not exactly wise. 

Spike growls, not finding humor in my mockery. I’m not exactly threatened by the big-bad-bleach-crazy ole chap with the winkley-vampy face. I could have him on his undead ass in two seconds if I wanted. 

“Spike!” Joyce’s voice interrupts our altercation. Both of us turn our attention to the archway to see my aunt standing there in horror. She wraps her robe around herself tightly. “Let Y/N down! She’s my niece!” 

“Oh bollocks!” Spike swears, releasing me instantly. 

I fall to the floor on my knees again. Well, this fun- what’s wrong with people in this town?! 

“I… uh…” Spike stumbles over his words as he helps me up by the bicep. He brushes down my shirt and hair nervously. “Sorry about that. I thought-” 

“You thought I was Glory,” I finish for him, slapping his hands off of me. 

“Are you okay, Y/N?!” Joyce checks worriedly, staying cautiously in the archway between here and the living room. 

I hum, reaching up and running my fingers through the back of my head for any bumps or bleeding. Whatever she hit Spike with it fucking hurt! 

“Did I hurt you?” Spike asks, sounding genuinely concerned. 

“Not really,” I admit quietly and look to my aunt who’s the real reason my head is pounding. “If you ever hearing banging like that, never come downstairs! You hide!” I command of her. “Even if it did sound like I was getting murdered,” I grumble, glaring at Spike. 

“Well, as long as you’re alright. I’ll head back up,” she complies quietly. “But only if you’re sure!” She checks. 

“I’m fine, really!” I try to ease her nerves. It’s not good for her to worry. I shove Spike out of the way to approach her. “I’ll bring your food up soon. I might have to remake it,” I tell her as I spot her sandwich on the floor behind Spike. 

“You don’t have to do that,” she insists. 

“It’s okay! If you can wait one moment, I’ll just use some magic,” I announce, holding out my hand toward the counter. I conjure up a turkey sandwich just like I created before. I could’ve whipped one up this way earlier, but I was enjoying the task. “There you go!” I hand the plate over to my aunt. 

Spike blinks rapidly, stepping forward to stand beside my aunt. He stares at me in astonishment, “you’re a witch?!” 

“No, that shock you felt earlier was all in your head,” I sass, looking at him like an idiot. 

“You didn’t tell me there were witches in your family,” he says to Joyce, sounding offended. 

“We didn’t know ourselves until Y/N arrived a few days ago. She’s here to help out until I’m all better and… well…” Joyce shifts on her feet uncomfortably. “That Glory girl is gone.”

On that note, Joyce thanks me one last time and heads back upstairs. I relax once I hear her shuffling upstairs in her room. Taking a scan around the kitchen, there are broken plates and food scattered across the floor. I was so far into Spike’s head that I missed the reality and all the ruckus. Of course, I felt his hands around my neck, but my vision was impaired with his memories. 

“Let me clean up,” Spike requests, already squatting to pick up the bits of broken porcelain on the tile. 

“No need,” I state with a flick of the wrist. Within seconds, all the broken plates and scattered food is gone. The boombox that we’d knocked on the floor and caused to skip is now all fixed neatly on the counter. Soon, Nirvana is coming out of it without a problem. 

Spike rises from his position quietly starring at the perfectly spotless kitchen. I move around him toward the living room, already thinking of the next item on my agenda. I still have a few loads of laundry to go through and there’s cleaning that needs to be done. If I set those going with some magic before I head out everything will be done before Buffy’s birthday party tonight. Except, one issue, in this town, I don’t feel comfortable dividing up my power in case of an emergency. I could be attacked on the way to Dawnie’s school with the track record of this town. Plus, I’m Joyce’s sole bodyguard during the day, I need all my energy. 

“Hey wait,” Spike calls as he jogs to block my path. He holds up his hands as if that’s going to keeping me from walking away.

 With raised brows, I wait for the important reason he must have to be interrupting my to-do list. 

Wait... ew, I hate that! I have a to-do list! What am I, a 1950’s housewife? 

“Are you honestly Buffy and Dawn’s cousin?” He asks, still not convinced that it’s possible for the Summers’ to have family other than each other. 

“No,” I answer calmly, causing him to perk up. “I’m really Dolly Parton in a disguise!” He rolls his eyes, muttering curses under his breath. “You know, the rumor is the blonde hair is a wig,” I ramble to add more spice to the sarcasm. “And she just walks around Tennessee without anyone noticing her!” 

“Yep, you’re definitely related,” he determines unenthused, stepping aside. 

“I’m glad I’ve convinced you. Now if you don’t mind, I have stuff I need to do!” I step around him to head out and pick up Dawn. 

“I’m coming too,” he declares, following on my heels. 

I snicker, stopping in my tracks. “You’re coming with me to pick up Dawn from school? In the daylight... ” I add. 

“Yeah uh… just meet me at the crypt,” he decides, already heading back to the kitchen. 

“Wait, what?” I blurt out as I grab his wrist. “Why would I do that?” 

He glances over his shoulder, “I came to show Buffy something, but you’ll do I guess.” 

“I’m not Buffy though, I’m no Slayer,” I laugh lightly. “If it’s important I’d show it to her.” 

“You’re a witch, aren’t you?” He asks the obvious. 

“Well yeah,” I shrug. 

“Can you fight?” He continues, clearly leading somewhere. 

I stutter, “I mean I know spells and-” 

“Then you’ll do,” he declares. “We can tell Buffy about it later,” he adds, walking away. 

Buffy is made for this, literally! Unsure of myself, I shake my head. “Spike, I-” 

The vampire rolls his head back with a huff of annoyance. “All you God-forsaken women!” He groans under his breath. “I swear, one of these days I’m just going to lose my patience and kill all of you,” he sasses, facing me. “Except Joyce... and maybe Nibblet,” he determines as if that’s generous of him. “But definitely Harmony and that bloody annoying Cordelia if she ever comes back from LA!” He points at me sharply. “And you missy are testing me too!” 

Um, excuse him! He didn’t not just say that to me! “Oh buddy, you’re testing me!” I laugh mockingly. Little vampy here has another thing coming if he thinks he can threaten me. 

Spike chuckles wickedly and his face changes back to vampy style. He growls to reveal his fangs. I step back cautiously. I didn’t mean for him to take me literally! Abruptly, he comes charging at me. Oh great, not again!

_____________________________________________

Masterlist

Tags: @it-was-all-a-beautiful-dream 

[johannstutt413]

(requested by anonymous)

The first time the Doctor saw Mudrock without her helmet wasn’t supposed to be the first time; the Sarkaz (or at least, the records said she was a Sarkaz) normally received her treatment from Operator Folinic, but since she was out on a mission, and he’d gotten to know the squad leader somewhat well by this point, he decided to take her place. Besides, there were rumors going around that Mudrock was actually a golem themselves, and he needed something to combat those rumors with if he was going to have any luck introducing her to RI on a broader basis…So, he volunteered to give her a physical, and after a bit of contemplating (and talking to one of her golems), the Sarkaz agreed.

“Is now a good time?” That was his second question, after “Would you be alright with me performing your check-up?”

She turned around to look at the clock, then turned back around to nod. “Now is fine.”

“Great. Follow me.” He pressed a button on the underside of his desk, and the shelf behind him opened up to reveal a hidden exam room.

“...Doctor,” Mudrock said as she joined him in the back room, a golem slipping out from her armor and taking up a post in the corner. “Why do you have this?”

The Doctor shook his head. “Honestly, I would just turn this into a game room, but I can’t without getting HR’s permission and locating a new office, and since everyone else needs the space more, I’m stuck with it. If it makes you uncomfortable, I can see if I can use one of the public rooms?”

“No, it’ll be fine for today. I trust you, and you explained.”

“Thank you.” With a sigh of relief, he turned on the ancient-feeling computer system, giving the tower a pat as it whirred to life. “Good girl. Mudrock, whenever...you’re...ready...”

The geomancer had already taken off her helmet by the time he’d looked over to ask her to do just that. “Yes, Doctor?”

“Um, nothing you’re not already doing.” Man, he should have worn a lighter mask today.

“Ah, alright then.” She looked back through the still-open shelf. “Can we close the door? I’m still not used to revealing myself so...openly.”

He hit a button to do that. “Thanks for giving me the hon- I mean, thanks for trusting me.”

“I’m not in a battle, and you need to see me to do the check-up.” As she stated the obvious for both their benefit, the Sarkaz finished undoing her suit before stepping out of it and sending it walking over to the sentry golem.

“Right, yes, check-up, uh-huh.” Mudrock wore a swimsuit under her armor. Good to know.

She could tell the Doctor was struggling as he waited for his computer to finish turning on. “Are you nervous? You seem nervous.”

“Do I?” Shit, it was that obvious? “Well, I um...Oh, I’m just making things more awkward, I should’ve asked someone else to do this. I’m sorry.”

“I thought you’d be less scared of me with my armor off.” There was a note in her voice he’d never heard before, but he didn’t have the processing power to resolve what it was.

And lacking that information, he simply replied to the words he heard. “No, it’s not like that! I mean, now that you’re working with us, you never scare me, but I just didn’t expect you to...to...be so cute...” Sealing his death warrant, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and grabbed the first of several handheld devices he’d need to do the examination.

Thankfully, Mudrock was the most compliant patient the Doctor had ever worked with - even anticipating what he needed her to do before he’d asked her to do it - so for all his awkwardness, he was able to quickly make the determinations and measurements he needed to write up for her records. The prognosis was still rather grim, but they’d managed to increase her projected lifespan by several months from Folinic’s last determination, so the treatments were helping, at least. Although, frankly, at this point, the Doctor might need a blood pressure medication added to his prescription list…

“Alright, well, you seem to be doing better than your last check-up,” he reassured her as he finished putting in all the data. “I don’t have any recommendations other than to keep following the plan Operator Folinic set up for you. Um, anything I can do for you before I let you go?”

“Do you really think I’m cute, Doctor?” The geomancer hadn’t recalled her armor yet, and was instead reclining on the exam table.

Oh, where was this going to go now? He audibly swallowed. “I, um, yes, but uh...Please don’t report me to HR.”

“Report you?” She cocked her head. “For complimenting me?”

“That’s not why you were asking? Oh, thank God.”

For the first time since he’d met her, Mudrock chuckled, shaking her head. “Very few people see me without my equipment, and you’re the first person to say that to my face. I know some of my squad who have seen me talk about it, but they never told me what they thought. Thank you.”

“Oh, um, any time!” Too honest. “Well, I guess we should get back to…Actually, can I ask you something?”

“I’m at your disposal, Doctor.” The Sarkaz had her golems collect into her armor and start walking over to her.

Now or never; go big or go home. “Could I, um, have a hug?”

“Without my armor?” She stopped her armor in its tracks. “...Yes.”

“Sorry, I know it- yes?” This was nothing like the simulations.

Mudrock stood up from the table. “I don’t know when I’ll have a chance like this again.”

“Shouldn’t that be my line?” The Doctor timidly approached her. “You’re really okay with this?”

“I can’t remember the last time I hugged someone...I hope I remember how to do it.”

He stopped when he was within arm’s reach, focusing on her face despite the gravity of the rest of her. “Honestly, it’s the same for me. Ready?”

“Mhmm.” The Sarkaz’s voice had dropped to a whisper as her arms settled around him, pulling him closer as his did the same. “...You’re warmer than the earth I wrap myself in.”

“Uh-huh.” His brain had officially deactivated once her arms were around him; it was like being held by Mother Terra herself.

She rested her head on his shoulder - even without her armor, she was almost taller than him. “This is nice.”

“Uh-huh.” That was enough to get a few gears whirling properly again. “I should send that record to the office before I forget.”

“I’ll remember for you. A little longer?” One of Mudrock’s hands had crept up and pulled down his hood.

Instinct told him to take off his mask. “If you- Mudrock?”

“Your face...” She traced a scar that ran along the entire right side of his head, from forehead to jawline. “I don’t know what I expected, but...not this.”

“I thought about asking Orchid to teach me to cover them with makeup, but-”

The geomancer shook her head. “We all have scars to show and weights to bear, Doctor. There’s no need to hide them...Do you remember what they mean?”

“I don’t,” he admitted. “I don’t remember any of my battles from before Chernobog.”

“Mm.” That seemed to be enough, although it didn’t stop her from continuing to examine him, like a jewel appraiser evaluating a diamond inset in a ring.

The Doctor sighed. “I hate to break this up, Mudrock, but...I still have work I need to do.”

“Okay.” She reluctantly let him go. “Tonight, will you come see me and my friends? They miss you, and...I know I will, too.”

“Oh, um, yeah. Yeah, that sounds great.” He was blushing like an idiot; the Sarkaz was watching him with hope in her eyes. Time slowed down as they looked each other in the eye.

They went about their days as normal, but there was no denying it: there was something there that wasn’t there before.

[shortace]

The Adventures of Gloop and Angry Hamster in the Dimension of Fire Unfamiliar Environment with a Kid Who’s Going To Get Fired

Gloop was pretty smart for a goldfish. It came, he thought, of spending too much time in close proximity to Myles Fowl. That alone, however, would have done nothing; it took the intermediary efforts of the trans-species polyglot Beckett for anything Myles said to make any sense to Gloop. 

Angry Hamster wasn’t very smart, even for a sculpture made of shredded IQ tests held together with saliva. He was too busy being angry because he couldn’t figure out which number came next after 37, 34, 31, 28. Gloop could have told him the answer was 25, of course, and Myles would have informed him that IQ tests really only measure how good you are at standardised tests but his was 170 thank you very much. But Angry Hamster never thought to ask. He wasn’t that smart. 

Dolphin was a dolphin, and exactly as smart as a dolphin.

The sun shone, and a light breeze played with the tips of the waves. No record survives concerning the nature of the game, but possibly Tic-Tac-Toe. What we do know is that the ocean won. The ocean always does.

But Dolphin, leaping and frolicking, cared nothing for the breeze, or the sunshine, or the Tic-Tac-Toe. Her only concern was to have no concerns. And she was remarkably good at it. 

The low hum of a far-off boat reached Dolphin's ears, but she paid it no mind. It wasn't her concern.

Inside Villa Eco, young Myles Fowl was trying to comfort his twin brother Beckett. He wasn’t very good at it, as he often failed to grasp that emotions do not respond to logic.

'She's a wild animal, Beck,' he said again. 'She does wild things.'

'But she said she'd be there!' Beckett insisted. 'Dolphins don't break promises, brother.'

'Your sample size is one,' Myles pointed out, Beckett having only ever met one dolphin, and Myles remained unconvinced that actual communication had taken place, making ‘met’ seem the wrong word for the encounter. 'That is insufficient data to draw a conclusion regarding the reliability of the species.'

'I just know she's in trouble.'

Myles thought that 'just knowing' was poor research methodology, but he just sighed. 'We'll wait for her again tomorrow. Now come on, it's lunch time, and we need energy for our growing brains.'

Gloop, in his bowl, let out a nervous 'Gloop.' He hadn't understood all of the twins' conversation, but he could tell that Beckett was worried and it had something to do with his new dolphin friend. Even though dolphins were mammals, not fish, somewhere deep inside all aquatic creatures was a sympathy with all the rest, and like Beckett, he hoped that Dolphin was okay.

Dolphin was not okay. 

Off the coast of Dalkey Island, a fishing boat loitered. The pilot was sleeping off a bout of food poisoning - which, frankly, served him right for many of his illegal and immoral practices. On deck was a single underpaid, unqualified, and underage employee. Not for him a certificate in aquaculture, nor one in first-aid aboard ship. Moby Dick, though, he had read several times: quite an achievement for any adult, let alone a fifteen year old. The boy did his best to make up for his shortcomings with pure enthusiasm, and had, a few moments earlier, cast out a line with a complete lack of precision and the wrong bait. This wouldn’t normally be much of a problem, as tuna fish aren’t known for being overly fussy, but in this case Dolphin happened to be having a wonderful time just off the stern of the boat, and she wasn’t fussy either. 

The bait was disappointing, tasting stale and dull, and it had something hard and sharp inside it. It hurt Dolphin’s mouth. This would not stand. What sort of ocean gods would provide food like this? Dolphin raised her voice in complaint. 

Sound travels faster in water than it does through the air, so it wasn’t long before Dolphin’s podmates heard her whistles and clicks. Roughly translated, she had said: ‘This fish is bad and it hurts my mouth; send me the manager.’ Her podmates laughed and mocked her, a series of clicks that traveled all the way to the shores of Dalkey Island, where Beckett stood listening. 

Gloop’s laps of the fishbowl slowed slightly as he devoted more energy to his brain. Dolphin was in trouble, and NANNI wouldn’t let Myles and Beckett put to sea. Gloop was going to have to solve this problem on his own. It was a bit harder than figuring out what came next after 37, 34, 31, 28, but not for nothing was he the smartest goldfish in Ireland and perhaps the world. He would have to enlist some help.  

‘Brother mine, what are you putting in the fish tank?’ Myles asked wearily. He had written multiple treatises on the biology and psychology of twins, and perhaps his most important conclusion was that love and exasperation could, and generally did, co-exist. His second most important conclusion was that doubling the calorific intake of one twin could not sustain the other; Beckett had simply bulked up while Myles’ stomach rumbled miserably. He would not be repeating that experiment.

‘It’s a scaled-down version of your water filtration system, attached to a swimming suit,’ Beckett said proudly. ‘Gloop is going to sea, and he needs fresh water.’ 

‘There is only one Gloop, and two filtration systems,’ Myles pointed out.

Beckett held aloft the second unit. ‘This one’s for Angry Hamster. Look, NANNI fixed it to make air for him!’

‘Beck, Angry Hamster can’t swim.’ 

‘Gloop will help him. He told me.’ 

‘Is this about your dolphin friend?’ 

‘Yes, Myles; Gloop and Angry Hamster are going to rescue her!’ Beckett beamed. ‘NANNI has no joooo-ris-tic-shun over them!’ 

Myles had been playing vocabulary lists to his brother while he slept, hoping he might learn subliminally; he was pleased that it seemed to be working, but less pleased about this plan. ‘That is true,’ he acknowledged, ‘but Angry Hamster is made of paper and saliva. He will disintegrate in water.’ 

Beckett demonstrated the watertight suit he had had NANNI design for him. It was monogrammed with a cursive AH on each side. ‘Angry Hamster wants to go.’

Myles sighed. ‘Very well, brother. How are they going to get into the ocean?’ 

‘I will flush them down the toilet,’ Beckett proclaimed.

Beck!’ 

‘Kidding, brother!’ Beckett laughed at his brother’s shocked expression. ‘I will carry them to the beach and throw them in. Gently.’ Despite his boisterous nature, Beckett had a deep empathy and was perfectly capable of being gentle if circumstances required. Myles imagined that introducing two very different non-sea creatures equipped with untested suits into a marine environment counted as circumstances that required it. 

Beckett was as good as his word, and Gloop and Angry Hamster safely - if nervously - entered the waves from the Fowl’s private beach. To Myles, Beckett seemed to be making a series of very strange noises, but Gloop and Angry Hamster each heard ‘Fishing boat, southeast! Good luck!’ 

Being small creatures in a big and strange new world, Gloop and Angry Hamster did not swim particularly fast. They did their small best, though, with Gloop encouraging his papery friend. Angry Hamster got along in a sort of wriggly doggy-paddle, and NANNI’s suits withstood the challenge. Both animals were kept safe and breathing in their own special ways. 

In a matter of hours they had caught up with the fishing boat. Angry Hamster was exhausted, and if the boat’s pilot had not been unwell, he would never have made it. If our heroes understood the concept of food poisoning, they would be very glad for it. The boat remained idle. Angry Hamster was able to cling to the side with one claw, even though it was hard to grip through the material of his suit, and hold up Gloop with another, allowing them both to rest. 

As they rested, Gloop and Angry Hamster heard a voice above them. Angry Hamster could make nothing of it, but Gloop caught the drift of it. If either of them had a full comprehension of English, what they heard would have been something like this: ‘I don’t think this is a tuna fish. It doesn’t look tuna-y. I think it’s a dolphin. I’m going to be fired. I’m in so much trouble. What do I do? What would Ishmael do?’ all the accompaniment of pacing footsteps and heavy breathing.

Gloop caught ‘dolphin’ several times, as well as ‘fired’. He knew two meanings of the word fire: one was hot and burny, and the other was fast and deadly. Neither sounded good for Dolphin. He tried to convey his concern to Angry Hamster, but the fragmented analogy question on the hamster’s back was itchy and he couldn’t scratch it through NANNI’s suit. This, combined with hunger and exhaustion, was making him very angry. He let out a wild screech and clawed his way frantically up the side of the boat and onto the deck. 

The pacing, muttering boy stopped pacing and muttering at the sight of a wet-suited paper-mache hamster climbing on board. He began to wonder if food poisoning was contagious, and if hallucinations were a common symptom. Angry Hamster took advantage of the hesitation to launch himself at the boy’s face, screeching. What he was trying to say was ‘For the love of all the gods, scratch my back!’ But what the boy heard was tantamount to ‘I’m going to claw your face off!’

Gloop knew he had to act fast. High jump is not commonly practiced among small domestic fish, but with determination and a rudimentary understanding of geometry, much can be accomplished even by the smallest of animals. He swam away from the boat to give himself a run-up - or rather, a swim-up - and followed Angry Hamster’s lead in launching himself on deck. 

The poor boy fainted on the spot. 

To one side of the deck lay Dolphin, tangled in fishing lines and nets, flopping weakly. Dolphins can survive several hours out of the water, if it isn’t too hot or dry, and Gloop was relieved to see that, although she was clearly tired and uncomfortable, Dolphin was unhurt and should make a full recovery. But first they had to get her back into the water, which meant getting her out of those nets. 

Gloop knew who had the perfect teeth to gnaw through fishing lines. What he didn’t know was how to convey that instruction to Angry Hamster, who was currently scuttling around the deck looking for something he could scratch his back against - and whose teeth were still enclosed in NANNI’s watertight suit. Angry Hamster finally found a scratching post in the form of a tackle box. It had a sharp corner which dug in through the suit and hit the sweet spot perfectly. Angry Hamster was, briefly, less angry as he scratched. But his suit was meant to withstand water pressure, not tackle boxes. It ripped open, and Angry Hamster wriggled his way out of it. On some level he understood that this was undesirable, and he turned to look apologetically at Gloop.

But Gloop was overjoyed now that Angry Hamster’s teeth were free. He mimed chewing, gnawing, and pointed with a fin at the nets surrounding Dolphin. Chewing comes naturally to hamsters, so Angry Hamster understood immediately, and abandoned his tackle box. It was the work of moments to chew through the lines holding Dolphin on deck. Before she let herself slide back into the ocean, Dolphin took a moment to slap the recovering fisher boy with a fin. 

‘Hey!’ he protested weakly, but she was already gone.

‘There, brother.’ Myles and Beckett stood on the beach on Dalkey Island, looking out to the southeast. Myles had just spotted Dolphin scything through the waves towards them. ‘I told you she would be okay.’

‘And I told you Gloop and Angry Hamster would save her.’ Beckett handed the binoculars to his twin, to let him see the small goldfish swimming furiously beside the dolphin, and the slightly mushy hamster riding on her back. 

THE END (probably)

[whump-town]

if this is okay, for the suggest a fic thing, how about an au to minimal loss where hotch sent his agents into the building, but like gideon and adrian bale, they didn't come out again, or if they did, they couldn't be field agents because of the injuries?

"He failed his gun qualification." 

Derek Morgan's head snaps up from where he's staring at his paperwork. Everyone's been on edge since the accident but today the air feels unbearably thick. Enough to cut. "Dave, " he calls to the senior agent's receding back. "How bad?"

Rossi stops and stands for a moment conjuring the best words to describe the situation. He turns on the heel of a foot, looking over his shoulder he simply shakes his head. But that alone says enough. Dave's been unwavering with support. Strong. The only level head in the face of everything and now he's communicating that it's pointless. 

Things can never go back to the way that they were before.

Before the explosion.

Aaron Hotchner’s scream is swallowed by the crack that shakes the world. 

By the bomb that upsets his entire life.

He surges forward. That’s what his training has taught him, what his life has prepared him for. To keep moving forward regardless of what waits ahead. To move into the danger. Besides, his team is in there. His family and he’s-- he’s got to get in there. He has to-- Arms snag his waist and he knows just from the way that he’s stopped in his tracks who it is. “Derek,” he barks the other man’s name out like an order and it is. 

Except he isn’t released. He becomes increasingly desperate and he comes free only because irrational rarely looses to logic. This time, the earth splits and Derek Morgan’s shout pulls them all down. His voice cracks and he watches his boss’ receding back. 

What are they to do?

Nothing. Except follow.

Dave’s voice sounds through the chaos but Derek is deaf to the orders. All he can do is stand and stare in shock as Hotch runs into the scene. As he breaks protocols and puts himself into danger.

Derek Morgan hadn’t been there when Adrian Bale bested Gideon and killed their team. Aaron had been. He’d been preparing the trail the first team in, leading more local police into the scene. Hotch had spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from the shrapnel wounds embedded in his upper torso. The fact that he had only nearly died set him apart from the others. So he never complained because it could have been worse. 

So much worse. 

"No--" Derek sees the first responders collect his boss. Forming a line between the distraught unit chief and the men and women trying to do their job. 

"No!" Hotch's voice is a frustrated strangled sound. He's bigger than the line of people. Desperation forms an all new type of strength and breaks through the line. The smoke and scent of carnage punch him in the gut.

Failure.

God… Good Lord this is what failure smells like. 

"Hotch!" 

Too much has happened in such a short amount of time. 

"You okay, man?" Morgan meets Hotch at the elevator. He knows where the older man is headed. He's become easily predictable. 

Hotch doesn't so much as blink in response. 

Morgan wants to be pissed. He wants to flip the desk and punch a wall. He needs to do something because they just keep losing. They can’t seem to win. And, as much as he can understand, he can’t comprehend how unwilling to fight Hotch is. How hard is it to pass a gun qualification? The man is a god-damned sharpshooter. One of the best and he can’t even… He can’t do this one thing.

It’s not even hard.

They stop in the hall and Morgan refuses to look. He can’t but he still knows what he’ll find: his best friend’s faces memorialized behind glass, smiling for the rest of eternity. 

They found Emily in the hall. She’d been holding the body of another woman to her chest, pulling them both to what she thought was safety. The other man was dead, from what they can tell, but Emily refused to leave her behind. She was three feet from the exit when Cryus blew the compound up. Three fucking feet. 

Somehow, it had been smoke inhalation that did her in. Her legs broken beneath the debris that fell onto her body and yet, she’d laid on her back for three hours before she met her death. She was savable. They could have saved her. Instead, she died in a cult leader’s basement trapped under debris all alone. 

Spencer had gone quickly. Immediate. 

There was blood pooling on his lips as he’d smiled at Cyrus. His death had looked like defiance and he knew that as the hammer of the gun struck, Hotch would have been proud. It took balls to argue with Cyrus. To back the leader into a biblical corner but his words had struck a new rebellion: doubt. 

Cyrus had leveled his Glock to Ried’s temples and torn his genius brain to shreds. 

But Reid had never known strength as he did in that moment.

The bomb didn’t even leave them a body to bury. 

Morgan can’t even look at their pictures. 

“Cyrus killed them,” Morgan reminds Hotch gently. This has nothing to do with Hotch or his orders. This is about an unhinged cult leader and a bomb. This wasn’t Gideon and Adrain Bale. There was no way for Hotch to know. He had done what any of them would have: the job. That’s what Reid and Prentiss were doing that day. 

The day the earth stood still.

At night, Morgan wakes with cold sweat soaking his back. All he can hear is Hotch’s broken shout for Prentiss and Reid. The only time he’s ever heard the other man so desperate.

Morgan steps around debris, lowering his head in defeat at the way the emergency personal look at him. This isn’t shame… it’s Derek Morgan realizing he has no idea what to do. No idea what he’s supposed to say. Because there is nothing he can conceive to make this better. To give this moment a commodity of normalcy.

In the middle of it all-- a sea of black body bags, each one measuring out their failure-- Hotch is crouched on the ground. In his arms… Emily.

“Man…” Morgan had fallen to his knees right beside his boss. His oldest friend. “She’s gone,” he manages because that’s what the emergency crew had told him. What they kept saying as they explained that someone needed to come to get Hotch so they could take her away.

Morgan can’t-- Emily had always been so pale. Her dark hair and dark eyes had all been so striking to her pale beauty but he’s never seen her so still. A broken doll in Hotch’s arms. 

“We have to go,” Morgan says and he’s not sure he can do much more than repeating the words that other people have been repeating to him. He’s incapable of thinking past just how broken Emily is. He’d just spoken to her. The flashing light and her boot in the window.

Hotch tears his eyes away and up to Morgan. There are tear streaks on his dirty face, “I can’t.” He looks back down at Emily and holds her closer. Daring Morgan to take her away. “She--” the words get caught in his throat. “She didn’t think I trusted her.”

Morgan shakes his head but… it’s true.

“I do,” Hotch says. His chest heaves as he pulls in a broken sob. “I trust her.”

Morgan nods his understanding and places a hand on Hotch’s shoulder. “She knows,” he promises. “She knows, man.”

That day claimed more than it ever gave. 

They lost Reid and Prentiss. 

Hotch had been torn by his inability to be a p0lberrier but he’s been unable to stop the tremble in his hands since that bomb went off. His grip was too weak.

“Dave told me you failed your gun qualification,” Morgan says softly. Slowly, he raises his eyes until he’s at Reid. He’s never going to turn thirty. Never going to fall in love. 

Hotch doesn’t say anything which shouldn’t be as surprising as it is. He doesn’t talk too much anymore. 

“It’s not a big deal,” Morgan scratches at the back of his head. “You don’t need to go out in the field.” Hotch shouldn’t be anywhere near the field. Not for a long time. Morgan can’t take another Gideon. He can’t watch another friend unravel. He’s tired of losing people. 

He accidentally looks at Emily and feels the wind get knocked from his lungs. Clenching his teeth, Morgan forces himself to breathe steadily. Forcing the image of Emily’s still body in Hotch’s arms as far from his mind as he can. “Come on,” Morgan says, knowing that Hotch will follow. 

His hands tucked in his pockets, hiding their intense tremble, Hotch mindlessly follows. That’s all he’s really capable these days. His hands tremble. His eyes scan. He stays silent, broken. 

“We’ll be okay,” Morgan tells him, as he holds the bull-pens door open. Morgan just needs to work on convincing himself that as much as Hotch. 

They’re never okay.

[bestworstcase]

Okay but what is the general consensus on Zhan Tiri eating Ri Ni’n I would like to know

:D

the general consensus is. there is no general consensus ALKSDFJK

in ye olden times, by which i mean ~500 years prior to the consumption and earlier, the dominant belief in the citir region where ri ni’n grew was. ri ni’n in a protector/guardian role and the... entity that would become zhan tiri (known by various names but most commonly gat as’la) as this... slumbering devourer figure kept at bay by ri ni’n the gatekeeper. really early on gat as’la was considered... frightening but not evil. a force of primordial violence and part of the natural creation/destruction cycle that the abralians, who were the dominant culture in the area at the time, believed in. this mythology began to drift more and more towards malevolence as gat as’la began to “wake up” ie take more of an active interest in humankind. 

then! during the last decade or so before the shattered era begins, gat as’la encounters dione, who survives. no one has ever escaped before so gat as’la spends the next nine or ten years chasing her until that enmity sort of evolves into a mutual fascination. in 0 SE they make a bargain, gat as’la renames herself ẓanti’ri, and dione founds a cult in her name (the host of the rotted vulture). HRV’s characterization of ẓanti’ri has a lot in common with late-abralian characterizations of gat as’la—a cruel, violent devourer—but with the key difference of there being no notion of ẓanti’ri being held at bay by ri ni’n. she’s already here. they coexist. 

(early HRV ẓanti’ri is a goddess of war and vengeance, pretty much, with a pinch of apocalypse death cult thrown in for good measure. it is not a nice organization.)

*deep breath* 

to zoom out a little, zhan tiri’s domain is hunger and she is, to a much greater extent than the average sublime entity, sort of malleable in nature. most gods form when a significant amount of magic coagulates around an anchor point, and anchor points come from widespread shared beliefs or doubts or feelings about the cosmos at large. so, like, cathay for example began to form once sentient races started asking questions about what happens to people when they die. zhan tiri, on the other hand, actually predates the cosmos by a wide margin. she’s an abyssal parasite that crawled out of the dark country eons ago, killed jinarche, ate part of her corpse, absorbed and corrupted a big chunk of her power, and became... sort of a cosmic personification of hunger and sort of a cursed reincarnation of jinarche. and that cataclysm created the current cosmos with the separation between the profane and sublime realms etc. 

ANYWAY THE POINT IS, zhan tiri is what she eats. i mean this in the most literal way possible. when she struck that deal with dione, dione’s soul became... hm. tethered to ẓanti’ri’s sphere of power, so while ẓanti’ri didn’t eat it in the literal sense it still became, in a way, part of her. likewise for the other acolytes of the HRV. so an unintended side-effect of ẓanti’ri being worshipped is that it infects her with little bits of humanity. this had already begun to happen a little bit during her pursuit of dione (and was the impetus for her to choose her name) but it accelerates as the cult took off.

around 420 SE, ẓanti’ri has a divine existential crisis and spends a few years wandering and brooding until she ends up in the peatland of what would become saporia and meets sorchā, who is a young poet and philosopher afflicted with her own ennui. they talk a lot, and sorchā starts to crystalize her own philosophical theories and, in particular, the idea of “choimghē” as an ideal combination of the profane and sublime. (ẓanti’ri also adopts the spelling of zhan tiri around this time.) the concept of choimghē fascinates zhan tiri, who goes to ri ni’n to seek advice or help achieving it. 

(she goes to ri ni’n because, as the cosmic bridge, ri ni’n is of both the profane and sublime realms.)

now! zhan tiri and ri ni’n are not and have never been enemies. their relationship is more akin to the relationship between zhan tiri and huma or turul, i.e. they belong to the same, in a manner of speaking, family. there’s no like... biological relationship because sublime entities do not have biological relationships, but the four of them all developed around the same time and their spheres of power all overlap pretty extensively, and they’re all, like, compatible with each other. if turul is your patron it would be reasonable for you to petition zhan tiri for a one-off favor, for example, that kind of thing. 

which is to say zhan tiri does not approach ri ni’n in an antagonistic way or at all with the intention of killing her, but... ri ni’n a) couldn’t help zhan tiri with this even if she wants to and b) doesn’t want to, because zhan tiri has spent the last several centuries being horrible and ri ni’n, who understands things like pain and fear because she exists on the physical plane and has a body, disapproves of that. so she tells zhan tiri that the only way to get what she wants is through more violence, which ri ni’n will not under any circumstances help her with, and that if she does go through with it she’ll bear the consequences forever. and zhan tiri is like #YOLO and eats her. 

so like i said, zhan tiri is what she eats, so... there is a strong theological argument to be made that rather than ‘killing’ ri ni’n, zhan tiri engulfed and became her—this is the standard doctrine of the modern HRV. in any case she absorbed all of ri ni’n’s power, supplanted her as the cosmic bridge, and (this part is important) grew a body. (said body is a vast blobby mass of random things but she can smash bits of it into more... uh, coherent shapes when she wants to appear on the planet.) and part of having an actual physical body was that it came with physical sensations and real emotions rather than just vague impressions left by all the human souls she’d collected over the years so this whole process was a nightmare alksdfk and sorchā got to deal with this trillion-year-old god having a sensory overload meltdown for several months. 

the point being, in the aftermath of eating ri ni’n, zhan tiri mellowed out a lot. became... gentler. experiencing pain for herself and the realizing she had done that to people herself was horrifying for her. and this is also when her sphere began to really branch and grow into the eclectic monstrosity that it is today, because while attempting to process all these new things she was experiencing her only real frame of reference was ‘hunger.’

( zhan tiri: love is when you want to eat someone but have them not, like, die because of it right

sorchā: no )

so ANOTHER perspective on the eating ri ni’n situation is that it was kind of a last time pays for all type of thing. zhan tiri slaughtered one of her own siblings for personal gain and, just as ri ni’n warned her, she’s going to carry the consequences of that and every act of violence that came before for eternity and the nature of those consequences also mean she now has the capacity to be better. one last shattering atrocity in exchange for her becoming, not an entity driven by the compulsion to take and take but one capable of choice even though she does still feel that urge. this is the framework the thorn syconium teaches. 

then you also get myths here and there where zhan tiri and ri ni’n are understood as always having been one and the same, and their mythological enmity and the subsequent consumption of ri ni’n is interpreted as an individual entity having an internal conflict with itself, torn between its cruel and destructive urges (represented in the figure of gat as’la) and its compassionate and creative urges (represented in the figure of ri ni’n). in this conceptualization, ri ni’n is actually the triumphant half and zhan tiri’s ‘consumption’ of her is representative of zhan tiri embracing that side of her nature and bringing herself into balance. this view is especially popular with the sect of the HRV that resides in antares. 

then of course there’s another perspective that is more grounded in scholarship on the abralian faith, where ri ni’n was this gatekeeper who kept this dangerous, malevolent force of destruction at bay and guarded the wellspring of life and so on, and from that perspective this is a matter of zhan tiri having triumphed over ri ni’n and the world now being in an apocalyptic epoch that will ultimately end in the utter destruction of everything. 

and there’s the, like, demanitus framework, which is based on his writings and accounts of his battles with not just zhan tiri but also other gods, which takes things a step further to suggest that all gods are hostile to mortal life and the only way to avert the growing apocalypse is to cut off the sublime realm’s access to the profane realm altogether by removing the cosmic bridge. which is precisely what demanitus did when he banished zhan tiri to the dark country.

and then there’s the entities of the sublime realm themselves, who have myriad personal opinions on zhan tiri slaying and devouring another god because she felt like it and tend to pass those views on to their own cults. one of the reasons it is nigh impossible to kill one of zhan tiri’s scions is you would need the help of another god to do it, and zhan tiri is the largest, oldest, and most powerful god around, notorious for being extremely attached to her scions, and also a proven god-killer. nobody wants to get eaten. even cathay, however willing she might be to antagonize zhan tiri in other ways, wouldn’t do it. 

and then there’s huma and turul, who as i said belong to the same ‘family’ as both zhan tiri and ri ni’n, and who i think were kind of like “zhan tiri what the fuck” about it. but it’s not like—despite the sibling analogy i keep using—it isn’t equivalent to the human horror that this situation, of one sibling killing and eating another, would provoke. everything ri ni’n was—her power, her magic, her essence—still exists. she isn’t dead, in the way that gods can die (by becoming unmoored from their domain, which shreds them and causes their magic to disperse into the sublime realm itself). she’s just. part of zhan tiri now. so for huma and turul it’s more of a “why in the world did you do this to yourself” sort of “zhan tiri what the fuck” than it is a “you murdered our sister?!” thing. 

...so yeah. the general consensus on this depends a lot on where and whom you ask gjksdjkf. i think the thorn syconium framework is the one closest to zhan tiri’s feelings on the matter, unless she’s in a mood. 

[anothertimdrakestan]

Elle 

AnotherTimDrakeStan’s Tumblr

Shipping 101

9/26/2020

why @comicsandhoney​ is damian wayne’s soulmate.

(for context Ris asked me for a ship and i lost it lmao)

HI I GOT ALL YOUR MESSAGES HEHEHE I LOVE YOU! (go follow our ship blog @dc-ships-nstuff​ and req something if you want your own ship from one of us/our homies!)

so this was supposed to be a ship, a lil tiny lil headcanon but then, it turned into an essay. now, i apologize profusely but here is my dissertation on why you are in fact, Damian Wayne’s soulmate. I’ll be taking professor questions after my essay.

(this is a joke i promise i know how to write essays this is purely comedic dont @ me about literally anything hahaha)

We open, with the birth of the universe. It’s cold, it’s dark, but there is a deity who makes soulmates, call it/them what you will. But there are soulmates. And to properly explain why you and Damian are soulmates we must first explore what it means to be soulmates.

For the purposes of this essay, our definition of a soulmate is the person that fits to you like a puzzle piece. Broken in the correct places so that when the two of you are together you’ve got one side covered, making the world just a little easier. A soulmate is a person who is not like you in every way, nor the complete opposite. They are the person who brings a smile to your face at just the thought of their dorky lil laugh.

So how does this match up to you and our resident grumpy bird boy Damian? It’s simple really, I will map out every reason you fit like the puzzle piece we have just established through the entirety of this dissertation.

For those that are more drawn to proof statistically I invite you to this extremely non exaggerated and very well researched data set I have found after pouring over thousands of entries:

Now that I have asserted my belief with factual data I can begin the examples.

We can start with your general personality, introverted-extrovert. I believe this is a good balance to that of Damian as I would define him as closer to introverted but the two of you would help to slowly bring each other out of your shells, comfortable with the other at your side. He would love your snark and quick beat personality, he’d truly never bored of you and he’d love every second of it.

Activity wise you both are very similar but have your own things that would be so cute to teach the other! For a more visual representation:

For example, on a quiet day in the two of your would be found relaxing in the mansion using various art supplies while listening to good music, just enjoying being in each other’s presence. You said you aren’t the biggest on physical affection 24/7 which would (again) be perfect for Damian as he would truly just enjoy being in a space with you, getting to talk about the artwork, or the meaning of life itself and anything in between. He would want you to show him how to make little poems then slowly over time of the two of you dating he’d always try to give you a little poem for a holiday or anniversary that would make your heart melt. 

On more adventurous days the two of you would free entire zoos of animals being abused then shelter them all in a little sanctuary Damian begged Bruce to build as you get to watch Damian be at his happiest, saving animals with his favorite gal at his side : ) He would also force you to learn cheese viking as it was his favorite as a child and has a special place in his heart.  

I just KNOW your combined sass/snark would end the world like it would go up in flames and you’d be like “haha burn bitch” and Damian would finally actually give you a fist bump while you cackle. When someone’s being a bitch and you’re both out in public there’s this look the two of your give each other that makes you choke down laughter and Damian suppress the snarky grin that always tries to bubble up when he’s out with you : )

He would ABSOLUTELY wear the bracelets you make even if his brothers tease him at the beginning. They help him focus and remind him there’s always a person he’s grappling home to at night ; ). You’d definitely have to make a lot as they probably get cut off pretty frequently but it’s definitely fun to get to see how all the different colors mix and look when he’s wearing them. 

On the deeper side, he would want nothing more than for you to continue learning to love yourself. He sees you as perfection and just wishes you could see yourself as amazing as he does. You guys could have really deep talks about the pressure of expectations both external and internal and I think there could be a lot of mutually beneficial healing for the two of you. It is known that the relationships where you grow and better yourselves together always do better and your relationship with Damian would be no different!

Damian would love talking to you during boring patrols and him being in your life would be the end of a functional sleep schedule but it’s worth it when you get to sit out on skyscrapers draped in his cloak resting your head on his shoulder just in the comfortable silence. 

The silence definitely hits different (if that makes sense) some couples have to always be yapping on about something or all up in each other’s arms but the magic of you and Damian is that you have the emotional closeness and comfort just in the silence of each other’s company. Damian loves it, like, it’s his favorite thing getting to just be next to you and pay attention to the way your breath hitches when you come up with a new idea or you let out a big sigh after finishing an assignment- it’s the little things that makes his legs go a little shaky and his heart a little pound-y when you smile at him between math problems or strokes of a paint brush. 

And I think that’s one of the biggest foundational piece of your relationship, seeing the little things that no one else does. Being the youngest of the Robins Damian can feel like he’s behind or doesn’t measure up and you’re always there to hype him up and remind him that he’s amazing- he really needs it and (I can talk from experience) you’re great at it. Truly, everyone needs a Ris in their life and Dami would be beyond lucky to have you, and he wouldn’t let you forget it either. Bringing you little gifts or chocolates just because he saw them and thought of you and the little crinkly-nose smile you give him when he brings you a tiny little chocolate kiss after patrol. 

I rly popped off on this lmao I could say a LOT more but yeah lets go over my main points:

1. you’re personalities match and you’d make being out in public bearable

2. you both have similar activities and interests with room to teach other more about the things that make you happy

3. there’s a lot of emotional growth and loving passion to grow with the two of you throughout the relationship

4. you guys are one of the few perfect couples with appreciative silence and i’ll forever be jealous of it

So yeah you’re soulmates that’s all. That’s the essay. I can’t believe I donated like an hour of my time to this but I did and I’ll go down with my ship. 

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. 

Love u the most Ris and if anyone else read this far holy heck I really love you lmao!!!

[hedgebelle]

Cultural References in “They Are Out There Saying”

It took me forever to compile it, but here it is! A brief explanation on all the references to Japanese culture I made in my JayDick Summer Exchange fic “They Are Out There Saying”.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25707886/chapters/62420596

When I got the prompt from @paperempires​ calling for the Batman Ninja verse, I was like, you want 16th century Japan? I SHALL DELIVER.

Ok, so first, let’s talk about geography.

Right now, Japan is divided into prefectures, but in the past there were provinces. Check out the map below.

Green: Hida Province

Aka the province where this fanfic actually takes place. Nowadays the Hida-Takayama region in Gifu Prefecture.

Located there is the hidden village of the Bat Clan, the calligrapher's house, as well as real places briefly mentioned: Takayama city with its castle (ruins) and Tenshōji Temple (associated with True Pure Land school of Buddhism), and Shirakawa Village (diamond shape on the map).

Btw, Shirakawa Village is a UNESCO world heritage site and overall a lovely place. If you have a chance to visit it, please do. Here, check it out 😊.

Also, Hida is one of the two places in all of Japan where gneiss, a type of metamorphic rock, can be found. A piece of trivia I learned from my best friend (who might or might have not dared me to fit gneiss somewhere in the fanfic) 😉. The second place where gneiss can be found - again, true fact - are Oki Islands, the archipelago north of the Grand Izumo Shrine.

Dark red: Owari Province

Nowadays part of Aichi Prefecture.

According to the Batman Ninja (the version with Japanese voice over) Joker made himself a feudal lord of this province. Which is kinda interesting, seeing as Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), one of the key players during the warring states period who started the unification of Japan, was a lord of that domain.

Located in Owari is also Alfred's teahouse 😊.

Yellow: Kai Province

Nowadays, it's Yamanashi Prefecture.

Penguin made himself a feudal lord of this domain. In Batman Ninja he really commanded penguins wearing samurai armour 😂.

Violet line: Tōkaidō Road

A tract that linked Kyoto, a seat of the emperor, and Edo (present day Tokyo), the seat of shogun.

So, traveling the Tōkaidō Road didn't become a thing until the 17th century ^^". But I figured, if castles can be weaponized in this verse, then I can send Jason down this road 😊.

On the side note, travelling the Tōkaidō Road became quite a subject in the culture of the Edo Period (1600-1868). For example, check out these famous ukiyo-e.

Star: the Grand Shrine of Izumo

Very much a real place. One of the three most important Shintō shrines in all of Japan. Worshipped there is Okuninushi no Okami, god of marriage. When praying in the Grand Shrine, a pilgrim is supposed to clap their hands four times, not just two like everywhere else. That's because in that Shrine one is not praying just for themselves, but for their destined partner too. 

The Grand Shrine is located in the Izumo Province - nowadays a part of Shimane Prefecture. 

*Even today Izumo is called a place where fates are being brought together 😉.

Circle: Mt Hiei

Again, a real place, located very close to Kyoto. The Enryakuji temple located on that mountain historically had big influence also due to the fact, it commanded its own army of warrior monks. Some further reading on them, if your interested, is here.

(Btw, the Enryakuji Temple is also a UNESCO world heritage site.)

It was emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129) who one said that the only things he does not have control over are the roll of dice, the waters in Kamo River and the warrior monks of the Enryakuji Temple.

*Kamo River flows through Kyoto.

Square: Inabayama Castle

Nowadays called Gifu Castle, located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture 😊. One of few castles built on top of a mountain.

Triangle: Mt Osore

A real place, considered one of the most sacred in all of Japan. A site of Bodaiji Temple. Due to the volcanic activity in the area, there's sulfur both in the air and in the lake right by the temple - hence its striking colour. Otherwise, the landscape is barren. 

It is said that Mt Osore matches the description of Buddhist hell, and holds the entrance to the afterlife. For some further, light reading check here.

If you think to yourself wooow that's a lot of references then fear not - there's more 😂.

Other references

Fuke Sect of Buddhism 

Monks of this sect, as a part of their practise, wore basket hats, played flute, and were on constant pilgrimage. 

Travel, however, used to be heavily restricted, so in exchange for a special travel permit, monks were asked to spy for the shogun. Also, ninja (and other people involved in espionage) were known to donn on the attire of a Fuke Sect monk. For that reason, monks were sometimes asked to play on their flutes to prove their identity.

In Batman Ninja Jason is operating undercover as one of those monks.

Check this, for some further reading.

Direction of the Demon’s Gate

It’s north-west. It was believed that demons and evil spirits enter through that direction, hence it was considered unlucky.

Rokuyō (lucky/unlucky days)

A circle of six days, three of which are thought to various degrees lucky, another three - to various degrees unlucky. The most unlucky one is called butsumetsu and apparently is meant to symbolise the day Budda died.

Ri

Old unit of measurement. 1 ri ≈ 3.9 km ≈ 2.4 mi

Sexagenary cycle

A cycle of 60 years. It was traditionally used in China for time reckoning, and was known in other South-East Asian countries too.

For some further reading click here.

Golden leaf

Kaga Province (north-east of Hida; now part of Ishikawa Prefecture) is known as the biggest producer of golden leaf in all of Japan.

Zen Circle

On the photo below:

It’s an important symbol in Zen Buddhism that stands for enlightenment, absolute, the void. In Japanese calligraphy and sumi-e (ink painting), drawing the circle is seen as an expression of absolute freedom of the mind that lets the body create. If it’s closed, it symbolises perfection. If not, it becomes an expression of wabi-sabi - a concept in Japanese aesthetics that translates to beauty of imperfection.

Kappa

One of the fantastic creatures that appears in many Japanese folktales. Kappa is a water demon that (unsurprisingly) dwells in lakes and rivers. It is rather mean and known to cause mischief, but surprisingly enough - very fond of cucumbers.

Ogre (oni)

One of the fantastic creatures featured in Japanese folklore. Usually portrayed with red skin, horns, and a tall, hulking figure; as a concept somewhat similar to demons or devils, as they represent everything evil and harmful (and also, oni reside in the eight great hells). It was believed a human wicked beyond any redemption might turn into an ogre.

Haikai-no renga

A genre of linked verse poetry. It is made of 18 or 36 verses that alternatively have 17 (5-7-5) or 14 (7-7) syllables. It is less formal than an earlier genre, renga, and as such is supposed to be lighter, witty, comical even. There aren't as many rules dictating which verse is supposed to have a direct allusion to which, how many times and in which verses certain motives (like flowers, moon, seasons) can be mentioned. 

Still, the first verse is supposed to contain kigo, so a word or phrase that indicates the season - in the fanfic it’s May (rice planting season) which is classified as early summer in the old lunar calendar - or in some other clever way gives an allusion to the environment the poetry meeting took place in. The first verse is also supposed to be written by the guest of honour which is why Jason was asked to compose it 😊. Important is also the third verse, as that’s where the theme of the whole haikai-no renga is officially established. 

From the first verse of haikai-no renga evolved possibly the most recognisable form of Japanese poetry - haiku.

Lovers’ suicide

A suicide committed together at the same time by the lovers whose shared affection defied the rules of society and/or obligations to their families. Before commiting the act, they would usually pray to be reborn together on the same lotus flower in the Pure Land. 

Lovers’ suicide is a theme featured in plays for pupper theater bunraku, most prominently The Love Suicides at Sonezaki written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon.

Pure Land

In a nutshell: According to some schools of Buddhism in Japan, Pure Land where people can be reborn and practice pure version of Buddhism, thus are able to finally gain enlightenment (which is impossible when alive, because the practice in the land of the living is warped, impure).

Please, take my way too short explanation with a grain of salt. It might not seem that way, but I’m not all that knowledgeable about Buddhism ^^”.

Nenbutsu prayer

Practised in True Pure Land Buddhism. It’s basically a recitation of a short phrase that translates to “I take refuge in Buddha Amida”.

Kannon

The bodhisattva associated with compassion.

Vengeful ghost

It was believed that a person who harboured a deep grudge or hatred in their last living moments towards those who had wronged them could become a vengeful spirit.

 *Hoichi the Earless - one of the traditional horror stories. In this story, vengeful ghosts (of the fallen Taira clan) want to take with them a blind monk because he beautifully plays on biwa (traditional instrument). Once his brethren realise the danger Hoichi is in, they paint his whole body in Buddhist sutra, safe for his ears. Because of that, when the ghosts appear again, Hoichi - safe for his ears - is invisible to them. Spoiler alert, the ghosts take Hoichi’s ears, thus the earless in the title. Check out here for some further reading.

Ten Virtues of Tea

Text attributed to a Buddhist monk Myōe (1173-1232. It lists all the properties of green tea beneficial to the human body and soul. 

Translation can be found here.

Portuguese firearms

Historically, the first Europeans Japanese people came in contact with were Potuguese traders. They introduced many European goods including firearms. 

On the unrelated note, the Potuguese in that time period were referred to as Nanbanjin (南蛮人) which translates to southern barbarians.

Eight great hells

...are the concept of hell in the traditional culture in a nutshell. The concept itself was heavily influenced by Buddhism. 

Further reading is available here.

Shinto wedding ceremony

While it incorporates many rites, the most core one (as far as I know) features the groom and the bride taking turns drinking sake (rice wine) from three cup, each slightly bigger than the other. When drinking, they are supposed to sip three times. 

In feudal times, wedding ceremonies started with an elaborate bridal procession to the groom’s house. There, the dowry would be presented, blessings would be given, and then the bride and groom would take turns drinking sake as described above. 

...Okay, I believe that’s it. Thank you for reading!

[juulxs]

Entrepreneurial Journey #5: The Overall But Not The End

What is really an entrepreneur? How will your start-up become success and you as entrepreneur become successful? In my recent blog, I keep on telling the reality of starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur. I’m not a real entrepreneur however as a business student, I set my mind as an entrepreneur in this subject and yes it’s really hard. From initiating an idea as your start up down to planning and making your start-up like into reality is not easy as 1..2..3.. So today in my final blog I would like to share my learning in my whole 2 weeks’ duration, update in our product, and my experience in this subject.

Having an idea only is not enough to become a successful entrepreneur or a successful person, of course with dedication and determination are one of the tools to become successful one but, based on the discussion series, after you have your own idea there is a process after it.

1. You need to validate your idea, check if the idea you have is accurate to the market, or is it click on the preferences of the customers.

2. You need to measure it to see if it is worth it and ideal to put your idea into action.

3. Learn from it. If you think your idea is worth fighting for then put it into action.

However, not all start-up or idea become successful directly, not all entrepreneurs are also successful in just a blink of an eye. According to Eric Ries an American Entrepreneur, we can acquire success by just following the steps, and this steps are can be taught and can be learned. A lot of hardship and problems that you will experience but don’t give up and fight for it.

Another thing that I’ve learned in the discussion series is that it’s not necessary that your start up idea must be too expensive and to elegant. Simple things but unique idea are enough. Do things that don’t scale and think big, start small like what Nick Swinmurn did.

This subject really taught me that life is so hard, and not all achievements are easy to acquire. You need to experience first the hardship in order to learn. This subject helps me to experience also the reality of the world. Interviewing the respondents, looking for their feedback on our product makes you think that you need to challenge yourself. Creating an idea is not easy also, a lot of rejection and not so good comment from your respondent you will get. But through this subject it helps me to accept the reality and think that you cannot instantly get everything you want. So like what as starting a business.

Start-up update:

Our team decided to apply all the feedback and comments of our instructor. We also add our target market which are every household of Poblacion, Valencia City and individuals ages from 5 years old and above. As of now, we are formulating an idea of how our machine will determine the biodegradable and non-biodegradable category. We are also now preparing for our pitching.