#if it was straightforward then the devil would be successful

[lefaystrent]

A devil enters a fairy ring and pulls out a ridiculously large contract from their briefcase. "I've come to bargain."

[harrysonlylover]

Find Your Pleasing*

Summary: In which Y/n has a heated meeting with the sexy CEO.

Trope: CEO!H

Warnings: smut, roleplay, usage of sex toys, unprotected smut.

WC: 2.4k

A/n: This is an old writing of mine, but I tried to edit it! And hello?

The floor was buzzing with workers frantically running from one room to the other as they made sure everything was perfect and neat for him.

Mr. Harry Styles, owner, and founder of Pleasing for sex toys. He started this company from the bottom in 2017 with no one to motivate him but his own will.

Back then CEOs of big companies laughed in his face when he proposed his project, they even scoffed and made fun of him. Now they are waiting in the lobby for their turn to have a word with him. He likes—no loves how they behaved after he outsmarted them in the business field, he even enjoyed watching their faces turn pale whenever they entered the headquarters because everyone knew that he'd be reigning on the top for a very long time.

The secret to his success was the face of Pleasing which also happens to be him. He caused a revolution of some type in the sex toys world after he launched an ad making every man and woman drool for him.

There were even rumors about couples breaking up thanks to Pleasing's glorious toys. When the news reached Harry he smirked, secretly liking the idea of having power over others.

He didn't even need to try and well the rest is history.

There are lots of things that the public does not know about the successful young man, one of which is his sex club also called "Pleasing". It is mistaken for being inspired by the company, little do they know the devil himself built both of them.

The sound of printing machines, telephones, and employees shouting got closer as Y/n neared the 5th floor also known as Styles' Headquarters. She had a job interview and was required to know some crucial details about him.

She approached the receptionist who was thankfully not so busy and she helped her reach his office, which was isolated from the entire floor.

She went in before Y/n and she could faintly hear the murmur of words exchanged between them. It wasn't long before she gave her the green light to enter.

A big mahogany desk was placed in the center of the room behind which he stood with his back to her, and she couldn't help but notice the display of several sex toys on the counter.

At the sound of her footsteps, he turned around, his right hand still placed on his hip. He was dressed in an elegant navy suit that made sure he appeared as the CEO.

She caught a glimpse of his painted fingernails varying from turquoise to transparent while his hands were complimented by luxurious rings, a lion, a pearl, and his initials. She was very familiar with his hands just like the rest of the world.

"Ma'am it's an honor to finally meet you, have a seat please." He signaled to the comfortable chair in front of his desk.

"Same goes for you, Mr. Styles." She smiled as she lowered her skirt to adjust her seating while his eyes raked her body.

"I know, now please call me Harry. I hope this doesn't bother you but I would rather be straightforward with this." He was now standing in front of her, leaning on his desk with his arms crossed over his chest, and she caught a whiff of his perfume—Tobacco Vanille that sent vibrations throughout your body.

"I'm a very busy man and I'm in a rush but please don't worry I already scanned your file, so I'm being righteous with you. Which is why I prepared questions for you to answer." He spoke fishing out a document and relaxing more on the desk, she couldn't help but let her eyes drift to his crotch and she wondered if it was a bulge or just a wrinkle on his pants.

"Anything caught your attention, Miss?" She immediately straightened her posture trying not to turn red in the face.

"No nothing Mr—Harry." He hummed and flipped the papers while she refrained from looking down again.

"So I gather that you've worked with big companies before, nice work indeed. How would you approach Pleasing's designs?" He turned his gaze to her and rubbed the light stubble on his chin.

"First of all Pleasing has a wide range of items that are no doubt causing global chaos in a good way of course. No one is even thinking of designing sex toys anymore as they stand no chance—but Mr. Harry did you ever ask your customers what they want?"

He was listening to her attentively, his eyes never leaving hers and the corners of his mouth were itching to offer her a grin.

"Sometimes yes, but how do you suggest that happens?"

"You focus on the people who are against Pleasing, who do not enjoy sex toys. Dig deep into what makes them feel good, I think that the initiative you're looking for here is not to sell more toys but to help everyone find pleasure. Even those that think they can't." She spoke confidently already feeling him become amused at her thoughts.

"Hm, so Miss tell me what would the motto be for this campaign?" He shifted around and stood behind her chair, his fingers lingering over the expensive leather.

"Find your pleasing."

"And do you know what's yours?" He leaned down and whispered in her ear and she could swear his voice suddenly became deeper.

She nodded her head and he moved forward examining the display of toys, his left hand was in his pocket while the other hovered over the items till he picked the one.

"This is a unique one, I didn't get to try it yet but I'd love to give you the honor." He presented it forward in front of her like a piece of candy. It was a plug or at least it looked like one but with a button on the side.

"Now?" She inquired feeling a bit surprised at his playfulness.

"Only if you feel like it Miss, I'd never push you out of your comfort zone. If you want you can take—“

"Tell me Harry do you know what's your own 'Pleasing' " She shot back at him as she watched his expression shift and eyes darken.

"Hm,yes I do but I'm afraid I'm a visual demonstrator Darling." He lowered down to her level and his hot breath was doing things.

"And I'm a fast learner Harry." He wasted no time in grabbing her by the throat, managing to pull her up on the counter effortlessly while keeping a good amount of pressure on her neck.

He kissed all over her collarbone as she wrapped her heels around his torso, and his cock was being pressed into her core.

"I find my pleasing in others, so pretty girl when you get yours I'll get mine." He muttered hungrily over her lips pushing his tongue as his jaw flexed. His hand found its way beneath her skirt and immediately cupped her cunt with his ringed hands.

"I saw how you were looking at my hands pretty, you're not so sly you know? What did you want, my hands to hold your cunt like this as you hump for relief?” His thumb was pressed on her clit making her jolt while his buttoned nose grazed her neck.

"Yes and your thick fingers inside," Y/n replied quickly as she was heating up by the minute.

He suddenly pulled back and removed all of his rings, slicing his eyes in her direction while smirking before placing the rings on her fingers. They were a bit loose and almost fell out.

"Tsk tsk even my rings can't fit, how will you handle me pretty." He chuckled pushing one finger inside making her grasp onto his shoulders.

He gently added another finger and began massaging her labia, with his forehead laid against hers. He fastened his pace going in circles and when he found her g-spot he teased her by delicately returning to his massaging technique.

She moaned against him, with her nails digging into his back. He was smiling at the sight of her falling apart from his touch.

"See this? This is my 'Pleasing', getting to satisfy a woman like you. Look at these pretty moans and your fucked out state already riding my fingers like a whore. Anything to get stuffed yeah?" He bit at her earlobe and when she didn't answer him, he curled his fingers at her g-spot.

"Yes I love it, I love your thick fingers inside of me." She continued to moan in ecstasy feeling his fingers hit deep spots and despite trying to jerk and shift around he kept a firm grip on her hips.

His thumb moved to her swollen clit lightly tapping at it before pinching it and grinning when he heard her scream due to overstimulation.

"My favorite spot, this little pearl just like the ring yeh? Like being in heat as I play with it?" His other hand dug into her back resulting in both of them becoming fully intertwined as she shifted closer to him.

"Please I need to cum Harry." She begged in a rush, his fingers felt so good and the pressure in her lower stomach was getting more and more intense.

"Cum pretty, let me find my Pleasing in yours." Right on cue, she closed her eyes shut, as she saw nothing but black, his eyes were still set on her face watching her almost black out from the mind-blowing orgasm he just gave her.

He leaned forward kissing the tip of her nose and slowly removed his fingers for a taste making her whine at the emptiness.

"You just had an orgasm and you still need something inside you?." He raised his eyebrows not to inquire but to make sure.

"Need you to stretch me out real good Harry."

That was all he needed to hear before he unbuckled his pants and dropped them to his ankles, his bulge looked painful as he took his briefs off to reveal his erect cock ready and glistening with precum.

He grabbed her roughly placing her on her stomach with her ass in the air and ripped off her skirt with his bare hands effortlessly.

"My ski—"

"I'll buy you a Skirts company."

He mumbled through heavy pants before leaning down to her cunt and grazing his nose at it before breathing in its scent and groaning loudly.

If she could see him right now he'd probably be looking at your puffy pussy with puppy eyes and a drooling mouth.

She wiggled your ass back at him making him chuckle and bite at her skin before standing up and placing his tip at her entrance.

He plunged in slowly but easily due to her wetness, she was so warm and snug yet so fucking tight he had to grit his teeth to stop himself from coming despite having stamina.

"Perfect pussy wanna make it drip all day fucking hell." He rolled his eyes back and moved his hips slowly before pulling her back to his chest by her hair and thrusting in at a fast pace.

The sound of skin slapping and moaning filled the room as he whispered the filthiest words in her ear.

"My Pleasing is destroying your cunt and knowing you love every second of it."

"My Pleasing is seeing you beg to be filled with me as you tell me how much you adore being a cockslut."

"So tight already eager to milk every drop yeah? Well, take all of it it's yours."

He nibbled at her earlobe and she could no longer do anything but moan and whimper at the feeling of his veins massaging her walls, as he hit her g-spot repeatedly. His thick cock stretched her out and rearranged her insides.

His hand was around her neck choking her, while the other reached around to her clit to overstimulate her making her jolt and cry out in pleasure.

"When you beg for it, it means you should be able to take it." He slapped her sensitive clit three times as she clenched around his cock uncontrollably letting go and reaching her second orgasm.

Harry followed immediately, too overwhelmed by her tightness, they stood chest to back with his bicep tightly wrapped around her while he spilled into her, load after the other.

"Take all of my cum, let your cunt swallow it up."

His hips stilled inside of her until every last drop was spilled, he moved strands of her hair from her face, allowing himself to kiss all over her skin.

He reached over grabbing the same toy from earlier. "May I?"

She nodded her head feeling eager for what he had in mind. He slowly pulled out not giving the chance for any of his cum to drip before inserting the plug inside her creamy cunt.

She hissed at the feeling of it along with the sticky cum, his eyes were twinkling as he almost passed out from the glorious sight.

"My Pleasing is making pretty plugs to keep cum where it belongs." He whispered and reached down to the button she thought about and pressed it making it vibrate with the cum inside of her allowing it to reach even deeper.

"H—harry too sensitive." She tightened her grip on him as she could quite literally feel the cum vibrate inside of her.

He smirked and turned off the button only to push another one leaving you with a whole other feeling.

Emptiness.

"What is this?." He laughed at her reaction before pulling the plug out and showing her its transparent tube filled with cum.

"This one allows you to hold on to cum when you need it, fills up sluts like you when needed. Now open up." He tipped her head backward and she didn't get to see what he did since the cum was already spilling on her tongue.

He ordered her to take every drop and she did. She laid down on her back feeling spent out as he got a wet cloth and began cleaning her thighs and pussy gently leaving delicate kisses there.

When he was done he tossed the cloth aside and sat back down with Y/n in his lap and her head buried in his chest.

"Did my little minx like my new invention?" He asked feeling quite eager for the answer.

"Very much my love."

There are lots of things that the public doesn't know about the young successful man, one of them is his love life...

[ukiyowi]

Spirit guides personality and messages

Note: Hope you like it! Reblogs help a ton. I got hospitalised recently and it would be a huge help if anyone would be interested in buying paid readings or tipping! Every little penny helps! Thank you so much 🩷🩷🩷

Pile 1

Personality

Cards: The Devil (rev.), Wheel of Fortune, Queen of Swords.

The strong female energy that's coming through, I heard warrior/generational warrior. Your spirit guide is cold and detached, independent I'm seeing they're very very strong and loyal. They're also extremely powerful, I'm getting that they'll only communicate with you if needed, letting you fight your own battles, however they're very protective. I feel if anyone ever does you wrong, it always comes back to them in the worst way possible. They're someone who's very wise and travelled, they don't like meddling too much. I also get strong maternal energy, so maybe this is a female ancestor. What's funny is when the first two cards fell out, I was thinking of a warrior with flowing hair in an Armor with a sword and then the queen of swords fell out. Again, giving me warrior, very strong and analytical. They're straightforward and blunt, may come off as grumpy or annoyed occasionally. Like their space, someone who's fair and trustworthy. I'm getting they may like things staying the same, they love routine.

Messages

Card: The Tower (rev.)

Stop trying to resist good change. If something is falling apart, it's meant to trying to hold on to it will bring nothing but delay, hurt and harm. Go with the flow, stay true to yourself. Rebuild what was fallen because now by then you'll have learnt from your mistakes.

Song: Lullaby for a cat – Epik High

Pile 2

Personality

Cards: The Moon, Page of Wands, 7 of Pentacles

Okay first message I got is they're very communicative, and may try to talk to you or send messages through your dreams. They may be emotional and irrational at times, I'm also getting may be doting in a way. They seem optimistic and cheerful! I'm getting extremely fun and daring energy, there's not much that scares them probably because of how long they've been around, the kind to have seen everything. They may be a little fast-paced however, I'm getting if you're not progressing fast enough, they may try to step in, guide you in the right direction (or try) so that you can grow faster, they just want what's best for you. They're determined and persistent, very balanced energy, they value stability a lot especially mental and emotional stability and may help you manifest faster. They're selfless and fiercely protective especially against evil eye or the envy of others. You may have a lot of people who dislike you because of your success, your spirit guides protect you from that negative energy so it doesn't manifest into your life.

Messages

Card: Page of Cups (rev.)

Don't let others envy bring you down, nurture your inner child. If you keep working all day every day without giving yourself time to heal and replenish your energy, everything you've worked for will come falling down. It's not easy to forget or forgive the happenings of the past and you don't have to, but stop holding onto them with a vice grip.

Song: Fall - Sasha Sloan

Pile 3

Personality

Cards: The Fools, The Lovers, 3 of Cups (rev.)

First thing that came through: past life lover, a past life lover is your spirit guide, or someone who carries that energy. They can be a little scattered at times but they're youthful and love adventure. They also seem pretty idealistic for better or for worse, I'm also getting they're very patient and understanding, a lot of compassion is coming through. They're agreeable and cordial, I see that they love new beginnings and cycles, they are also extremely abundant in showing their adoration, either through symbols, signs, animals all of that. They're critical by nature, sometimes too much but they try to tone it down I'm hearing and focus on the positives. Yeah, I'm not getting much to be honest, they would love to communicate with you, I hear they use animals a lot as symbolism and can be blunt when giving advice or guidance simply because they feel like sugar-coating is a waste of your time.

Messages

Card: Page of Pentacles

You've worked very hard so far, keep that up, there's new things coming into your life that will send you back in motion. Lay your foundations before building your empire, don't sway from the goals you set and you'll be good to go. Remember to stay humble and grounded, meditate.

Song: Older - Shallou

All rights reserved, do Not plagiarise. Ukiyowi©®

[waraxarcana]

@waxgentleman continued from here:

Hawkins was a man who appreciated people who used their brains. Cunning was, in his opinion, an invaluable quality for a pirate. Especially cunning paired with creativity. After all, anyone could become a threat when they ate a Devil Fruit like Eustass Kid's or Akainu's. It caused too many to underestimate the less overtly deadly powers like his own, or Galdino's, or even Straw Hat's.

It was why he felt compelled to speak to the former assassin. One might assume the two had been dealt bad hands by fate, being given their particular powers, but clearly, it had been destiny for such unassuming fruit to be eaten by those who could actually make the most of them. Mr. 3 rattling off the uses he found for his wax abilities was proof of that, and Hawkins found himself more and more intrigued.

"Too many fall into the trap of presuming that our powers decide our fates. They are weapons one must know how to wield properly." And while it seems you did fall into a similar trap with the Straw Hat, I would expect it's " Nodding in acceptance of the invitation to join him for tea, Hawkins followed the wax sculptor. "As for your downfall at the hands of Straw Hat...it seems even we are not immune to falling into the same trap as our enemies. But do not be ashamed at being unable to predict him - even my cards have...trouble with that one."

Pulling out said cards, he began shuffling them mindlessly as he walked. "To answer your question, my cards tell me the future, but not in as straightforward a manner as one might assume. Tarot is often open to interpretation, so my cards rarely give me a definitive future. Rather, they give me the most probable outcomes, and I make my decision based on that. If they say a battle has a 90% chance of not turning out in my favor, why should I bother putting myself at risk for the sake of honor or pride? That sort of foolishness has led to many a pirate's downfall." It was a thing so many did not understand. They believed he was a slave to the cards. That he did whatever they said and never thought for himself. No, the cards were his guide. It was no different from a navigator reading the stars and the weather and charting the best course.

And his cards had told him that meeting with Mr. 3 would give him a better chance at succeeding at his goals. Or at least would be the better option to remove a few pesky ingrates that the cards deemed would be disastrous to his plans if he went after them himself.

The things he did to appease the woman who would make him a god...

"You may ask me what you like about my powers, as I have many more about yours. And if those answers are to my liking, I may have a business proposition for you. One my cards say has an 85% chance of success in your hands."

[5eraphim]

I need a support group for people who were sexually awakened by the "let's make a deal" trope. Technically I believe the name for this trope falls under the category of "Dark Bargains," though, in some instances, it's more akin to a gamble than a contract. And thinking more about this trope i startd spiraling and made this meditation on writing these tropes and why they work so well.

My Favorite Dark Bargain Tropes

The Deal with the Devil

A tale older than time. A mortal human makes some kind of agreement with a supernatural entity (not always a devil, but some sort of malevolent entity.) for worldly gain at the cost of one's immortal soul. While putting a lowly human against a powerful supernatural entity sounds like the build-up to a predictable occlusion, this narrative has been interpreted in countless ways to subvert expectations or even to subvert prior iterations of this story.

This is a sister trope to the "chess against death" story, where the protagonist will actively try to beat the devil/death at the cost of their soul rather than taking an assured reward for a secure price. Usually, the two overlap when the protagonist tries to work their way out of the contract, challenging the devil directly. 

Not only should your audience know why the protagonist would sacrifice their own soul for their reward, but what is the relationship between the protagonist and this antagonistic entity. Do they not believe in the afterlife, a hedonistic character only concerned with Earthly pleasure? Are they doing this as a last result, only making such a drastic sacrifice after an entire life of suffering? While the audience must understand the reward, "want," and motivation in question, the "fear" or lack thereof regarding the devil should likewise be understood.

The Bet

This one is super common in media. I remember from growing up and adult media/fiction. IMO, the better the characters, the more compelling the bet. Even one-dimensional characters can work so long as a real rivalry is established. Additionally, the audience won't care about the outcome if one person is written as blatantly overpowered or if this person loses through some cheap last-minute twist. A twist-ending can only work with proper foreshadowing or at least post-justification.

While this definitely falls under the "bargain" category, gambler characters flourish here, as they are all the more likely to risk it all and fight as hard as possible to win. Maybe they are blind to their own shortcomings regarding their opposition, or they don't understand the severity of the bet until they're in too deep. Just because your character wants to win doesn't mean they can't regret entering in the first place!

The genius of the trope really lies in simplicity. A bet can fuel a plot under just about any genre. It could come in the form of a high-stakes action game. The downward spiral of a hero in a tragedy. A high school romance where the (usually) male protagonist is challenged to woo his love interest after his friends bet he can't do it. 

The other critical component is the "punishment" aspect, or whatever fate should befall the loser. The story doesn't even need to show what happens to the bet's loser as long as the steaks are straightforward. Not to say the outcome needs to be played straight! The punishment could be less about harming the loser and more about the winner's amusement. Or perhaps the loser secretly enjoys or finds comfort in their punishment. The bet is far more about the "chase" and less about the "success."

The Fantasy Contract

Very similar to the deal with the devil trope but with slightly less sinister connotations. The idea here is it's more a matter of contracting the supernatural to receive their help and agreeing to follow whatever fantastical laws of the land. 

Typically, the supernatural entity would try to explain the rules and regulations in "human terms" to lure the protagonist into a false sense of security. To get a contract signed without reading the fine print or informed consent. Sometimes to the extent, the protagonist is effectively played like a pawn, just a minor stepping stone in the villain's master plan. The drama unfolds as your protagonist begins to learn they didn't understand what they signed up for and pick up there's more to the contract behind the scenes.

There must be a good reason a character would try to make a contract with the supernatural, whether they believe it safe to do so or not. It doesn't have to be as dramatic as trying to raise the dead, so long as the audience understands why your protagonist is making this bargain in the first place. Perhaps the supernatural entities are "wolf in sheep's clothing" types, telling stories of helping humanity and mortals for ages now, omitting any less savory details.

Get creative writing on how to summon the entity! Fiction gives us no shortage of inspiring and fascinating ritualistic scenes of how to summon spirits and commune with the occult. Or instead of bringing the entity to your protagonist, they need to seek out the creature themself. Whether that means embarking on a weeks-long voyage to another land or a walk across town. Focusing on the setting and the build-up before even meeting the creature help build up anticipation and characterization of whatever your protagonist must invoke.

Working off the Debt

Not necessarily the direct result of losing a bet or bargain, but essentially all iterations of this scenario begin with a character confronted, needing to pay up, but ultimately being unable to pay monetarily. Great diversity for the reason your character wound up here. Maybe they were tricked into agreeing to something without seeing the price first. 

Often in this situation, the protagonist is given board while working off their debt for the antagonist, considering how living under the same roof as one essentially forcing you into servitude could affect your protagonist's mental state. Working under someone's direct control would force your protagonist to remain aware and suffer the consequences of being unable to pay up. Or they agreed to take out a loan to send money to someone they love and cannot pay back their debt now that it's accumulated interest. In the same vein, consider your character agreeing to work off the debt of someone close to protect them. 

Great sense of drama comparing a lone character with a massive weight over their head and pressure to pay off their debt, forced into the service of another person or organization. The fear of eternal financial debt is terrifying to the modern audience, and the idea of physically toiling away under the fleeting hope of escaping living like this. Especially if your character is a "fish out of water" type, the antagonist takes advantage of their naivety or inexperience in their new home.

While the pain of working off debt should be well elaborated upon, consider the build-up to this moment. Has your character been trying to doge the debt collector for some time? How long have they been working up this debt? Not to say every debater should have a long history leading up to the punishment for failing to pay, but to better establish your character's past and how that's relevant to where they've ended up.

As for examples under the "Gambling" sub-genera

All or Nothing

Ironically this trope is perhaps more common in game shows and competitive reality tv shows than in fiction. While it's hard to begin a story with the protagonist ready to bet everything they have on one game, if the audience watches how and how long the protagonist works to acquire what they have, we'll care all the more to see if they win.

Again, this generally works well as a climax/finale to your story, of watching how hard your character had to work for their success. Generally, no one would make such a risky move to possibly lose everything, logically speaking. Is your character so caught up with winning, so blinded by hubris they believe they already have this in the bag? Are they only risking so much to definitively defeat the antagonist? What exactly does winning big or losing everything mean in the context of your story?

You could also interpret this as it's not that the protagonist will actually lose everything if they don't win, but the idea of being "second best" is just as bad as losing everything. A character with pride on the line rather than something physical.

Other questions to consider might include the context of your particular character and the "final gamble" in question. Have they lost this game before? Were they prepared for everything to come to this? How much should your audience know about the challenger making this offer in the first place? While the game in question can be obvious, we don't necessarily need to know as much about the challenger. Playing up the knowableness of the opposition can amp up your character's fear in the situation.

Descent into Addiction

Unlike many other tropes listed, this one is far less neutral and much less likely to be played for comedy rather than drama. (Assuming you're writing something high-stakes.) For most, addiction is a rather somber topic, and when trivialized or written unrealistically, people won't want to see what ultimately happens to the characters.

Essential to understand the distinction between addiction and dependence; and how those factors affect your story. While addiction is about needing more and more to achieve the same outcome, dependence focuses more on taking the same thing without a sure result. Both can be just as compelling, can work in tandem together, and can explain a physical vs. psychological need.

Relapses often play a considerable role in stories about a descent into addiction and can work as the trigger for the events of your story, just as well as the bitter conclusion. "You admire a character for trying more than for their successes." (Coats) A character's recovery history can be just as compelling as their addiction, and if you are writing a character relapsing, this is vital information.

Even people with the best intentions or misguided love can trigger a relapse in another, usually in the form of some kind of enabler. The type of people who don't necessarily intend to cause harm or hurt the addict but will lead to a relapse all the same. Perhaps your enabler could be some kind of foil to a "tough love" character. Show the audience the difference between someone who wants the addict happy, even if they know the consequences, vs. a character who would do anything to save the addict from a grizzly demise, even if that means a lot of pain and tough love along the way.

Fixing the Game

Either in the form of a game rigged from the start for players to lose or fixed by the protagonist's opposition. This particular trope rally flourishes in a traditional casino/gambling table setting, considering the way these places are explicitly engineered to fuck with people's perceptions of time. 

If the protagonist is initially characterized as moral and fair, we could watch what it would take to break someone like this. As in, someone who swears to always play by the rules eventually breaks down by loss after loss until they contemplate cheating. To learn what it would take to "break" them in this sense and how guilt would factor into all of this.

As important as the protagonist, the audience should know who stacks the game against the protagonist. Not to say the motive should be divulged immediately, but rather only in ways relevant to the main character. It doesn't matter if the enemy is a rival player or if the entire casino is in on the heist. It's the intention that counts.

Great way to build tension/suspense for the reader if privy to how the game is stacked, while the characters aren't. Or if subtle clues are laid, leading to the "Ah-Ha!" moment when all the pieces fall into place.

Strip Poker

I have no analysis here. Just always love the tension slowly builds. A relatively neutral conflict can be played for laughs or dread just as easily. Works best if the audience is given a variety of reactions from players. The possibilities are endless to see who would be embarrassed, who is just having a good time, who is hyper-focused on winning, and who would lose intentionally.

Lottery of Doom

A sort of toned-down cousin of the "death game" genre. The idea that a character can meet a deadly execution determined by sheer chance alone is terrifying! 

The idea that this could happen to anyone plays on the natural human fear of disasters or fatal accidents, how any day could be our last. No matter how careful you are or how you try to protect yourself, it's simply impossible to prepare for everything. Sure, your main character might've survived the last lottery and every one before it, but that won't protect them from the next drawing. 

In a more creative twist, you could play with the idea that your main character has won a gruesome lottery, but they don't know about the "doom" part yet. Someone so caught up in winning they only realize what they've signed up for once it's too late. 

This trope is somewhat rare compared to the others listed but has excellent narrative potential nonetheless. While the format of a literal lottery isn't as exciting as gambling, it's the motive we need to care about. Maybe you're writing about a cursed town sacrificing virgins to appease a wrathful god, its pure population control, or just another cruel practice in your dystopian society.

[langernameohnebedeutung]

Your tags about gone girl are so TRUE and good!!! Marta from knives out was proven again and again to be the MOST selfless and kind nurse that family ever met!! Marta is so good she LITERALLY can’t lie bc she will LITERALLY vomit from the anxiety it causes her. Like all she really did at the end was expose a greedy selfish family from abusing her kindness any further just bc she’s in a lower tax bracket than them. She kept the money that was GIVEN to her by a man who saw that it should be rewarded. Like even the ending of knives out explicitly explains that Marta is such a good and experienced nurse that she didn’t commit any crime!! Who made that image!? I just wanna talk!! 😤😤😤

Absolutely!

the thing is, I can/could try to analyse or armchair-deduce what the intent of this person was (maybe they didn't even watch Knives Out and just saw that scene with the cup at the end and decided she was some evil homewrecker girlboss?) but in the end, I can't really say what the logic is.

The fact that they chose that photo makes me believe that if they had an actual reason, it was simply that the film ends with a young woman coming out on top and, you know, actually keeping it what she earned. I personally believe that there is a certain anxiety in our culture about female success that manifests in stories where women escape their social status on their own merit. The whole Hallmark-film cliché isn't just reserved for Hallmark films - we encounter it in a lot of works, like The Devil Wears Prada and other romantic comedies, where a woman being ambitious is treated as her being cold or neglectful or selfish - and giving up all of that is the "right answer" - another really big example would be 13 Going on 30. The basic narrative a lot of these films have (many of them not so directly or crude or not as their primary focus) is that a woman chasing a career is either cold, evil, manipulative - or she's secretly unhappy and denying an aspect of herself. Another huge historic example is the "femme fatale" - born out of the anxiety of men about women taking up careers during the war, being successful, and not returning to their assigned domestic sphere all that easily.

And I'm not saying that stories about big careers being unsatisfying or career-oriented women being selfish are inherently bad or sexist - there are also many stories like that about men (but also a lot of stories where male ambition or innovativeness is seen as a good thing) - but as I said, I think there is a tendency to demonise this in female characters with very little effort to actually show why it's a bad thing - or associating viciousness, selfishness, and arrogance with success to an over-the-top, lazy degree.

So what our meme-artist might have mis-deduced for some incomprehensible, no-reading-comprehension reason: Woman in big house looking down at others holding a mug that say "my house, my rules"? = EVIL!

But that's not the kind of story that Knives Out is telling. The whole point is that Martha acted correctly and that she was a good nurse who cared about her patient - and that her patient recognised and appreciated that. And that the family was duplicitous and arrogant and looked down on Martha.

In a way, Knives Out has one of the oldest "moralities" in the world, the same you will find in a lot of old stories, fairy tales etc: Hard, diligent and honest work and decency and kindness being recognised and rewarded - and falsity, selflishness, and arrogance being recognised and - usually in a plot-twist at the end - punished (or at least, withhold the reward that the "bad" person felt sure they were going to receive on account of their false nicety or noble birth or their tricks or attempts at manipulation - and have it transferred to the person who actually put in the work and deserves it). It's straightforward. It's a tale as old as time. It's both a tale of hope and a form of social criticism. In fact, it's also something you will encounter in a lot of classic detective stories, which is what Knives Out pays hommage to.

(I also think there is a certain anxiety in mass media tropes about women actually recognising the power and invisiblity of the caretaker positions they find themselves in - and weaponising that marginalisation against society. A lot of female villains are presented as villainous or perverted caricatures of caretakers.

Nurses are even a very common example of that:

Think Annie Wilkes in Misery, a former nurse and a woman who takes care of sick and injured Paul Sheldon - except she abuses him and tortures him and forces him to rewrite his work while he is isolated and at her mercy. Think of Mildred Ratched. Or even just costumes that play with that invisiblity, like Elle Driver disguising herself in that stereotypical nurse outfit in Kill Bill when she's trying to poison the Bride in her sleep - only to be held back by Bill, who tells her that she's acting dishonourably.

Even in the picture this person posted, you have Cassie from Promising Young Woman (double-)disguised as a stripper dressed up as a nurse. The sexualisation of occupations of mostly female professions, the marginalisation of sex workers, and (on plot-level) the dichtonomy between the doctors at the bachelor party (who only became doctors because the rape of Nina was brushed under the table) and Cassie (who dropped out to take care of Nina) all play into those scenes and the decision to dress her up as a nurse. Here, she does this on purpose. It's a way of calling these men out (men who likely work next to nurses every day). The guy she's after happily let's her cuff him to the bed because he barely notices her as a person - and is confused and horrified when the situation changes.

There seems to be some sort of horror element rooted in the idea (fear) of these jobs and this marginalisation actually giving a character power over someone - especially over a male character. (A similar thing happens in Gone Girl, where a lot of the trials/horror for Nick are rooted in realising that his wife has a whole secret life going on. He carted her off to Missouri, basically acts like she stops existing whenever he leaves the house. The big Horror is the realisation that she spent that invisible time schemeing against him and that her intimate knowledge of him gives her a whole lot of power over him that he underestimated - until she unleashes it. (characters like wives or staff having intimate knowledge is also something that is an element of worry and concern in a lot of stories and has been for a long time.))

But again, this isn't the case in Knives Out and it's not the story being told. There is nothing negative associated with Martha being a nurse - quite the contrary, it's basically an ode to the importance of her profession and the responsibility a nurse has for their patients and the knowledge and the split-second decisions that they need to make. Administering the right medicine is a literal life-or-death skill here and Martha recognising which one was the right medicine without even reading the label is an essential aspect of the story. Benoit telling her that she is a good nurse and she performed her duty admirably well and that she's absolutely free of guilt is a central aspect of her character being released from the duress she was under. It's an important moment. She needed to know that and it is a way of validating the value and honourability of her work. Knives Out doesn't associate anything particularly scary or horrifying with Martha being a nurse. It's a good thing!

Like. I mean. I talked for too long about a meme that simply doesn't make sense. But in short, there is no fucking reason for Martha to be in this picture and there is no reason to compare these characters to Amy Dunne whose character serves an entirely different purpose.

[wvrlock]

How would fallahan try to charm/change their behavior in front of each "canon" companion? In what ways would they try to appeal to each? Are they a good judge of character in the ways they try to appeal to people? How successful are they, usually?

I always joke that he has better deception than insight so he can lie to himself, but the fact is that he also has very high insight, numerically and factually. He doesn't include his own feats in his songs all that much (for his own safety, but he'd gladly brag about them) but he is so extraordinarily good at reading people that he was the one to orchestrate Zariel's redemption, he gave the paladin the words he had to say to move her. He also persuaded Tiamat's champions to help them out, and Bel to aid them in their search for Zariel's sword.

He asks himself "what are they feeling?", "what do I have that they need?", "what is their weakness?", and changes his words and behavior depending on the answers. He can improvise, but ideally he would gather the information he needs before an encounter, rather than during.

It usually works if he wants it to work, and even if he encounters someone who employs similar techniques he likes playing the "I know that you know" card, confidently displaying false friendliness and openness. And he doesn't mind downplaying himself to flatter the other party, which is precisely why he excelled at dealing with devils. At worst, he doesn't come off as trying to deceive, just trying to please.

"If he wants it to work" essentially means that he doesn't bother trying if he doesn't have something to gain, he'll just show his usual arrogant, playful personality that some people find fun and others irritating.

(Companions under the cut because boy this got LONG)

He likes Astarion, and honestly he wouldn't need to change a thing to be liked back. They share a sense of humor, many of their tastes and their signature sassy personalities. He would be 100% genuine to him.

She doesn't care much for Shadowheart, or so he says. There's this running gag about how Fallahan always ends up surrounded by very religious people being an agnostic himself, and he would be in his most brutally honest behavior about her religious trauma, but he doesn't really need anything from her.

Same goes for Gale... Fallahan is always intrigued by things he doesn't know and the arcane, and would love to have someone ramble about it for hours, but something in his personality kinda irks him. He's a romantic nerd, but like... the wrong kind of romantic, and the wrong kind of nerd. He'll bite his tongue on his opinions about the whole Mystra situation because he KNOWS he'd come off as the asshole he deep down still is.

Now, Wyll. Wyll IS the right kind of romantic nerd. Fallahan would be soooo nice and charming. He likes heroes, he likes stories, he likes drama, he could listen to him talk forever. He would share opinions on literature they both enjoy, and write about him, and be playful and flirty. I think he would totally try to get into his bed (Fal does have a habit of collecting lovers as 'trophies') while masterfully avoiding every one of Wyll's romantic advances, if they happen. He's interested in flings, not romance (that's what he says).

Lae'zel is. Uh. She's too straightforward to fall or even care about his charms. Not only he wouldn't try but he would keep a very careful distance.

Same goes for Minthara, who's even worse because she's used to sycophantic diplomats, she would be unimpressed and unamused. Not to mention that he's a very high elvish elf, and the kind of arrogant male she would despise. Nope. Not happening.

Halsin is... nice, but the most they'll have in common is that in some verses Fal's partner (@stagsworn) and he would be friends. But that's the extent of it. He doesn't need any tree-hugging dilf to psychoanalyze him, thank you very much.

Jaehira is just. No.

Minsc is the wrong kind of brute. His opinion on big dumb men is that they're either fuckable, or not worth his time. He'd be sassy to him, but also very careful not to anger him, which means holding his tongue most of the time.

Karlach is fine. Kind of a slow-burn thing because he'd take longer to understand where she's coming from, but he'd be genuine... genuinely nice. Not because he doesn't want to get on her bad side, but because he does find her quite entertaining.

[bewitchingivy]

IVYYYYY I'M HERE !!!!!! I want to give you 3+1 bonus , since you're my moot 🤭🫂.

Initials = S.P 🦄 My preference = He / Him

how would they show their love to you

I'm hearing words of affirmation (Literally had a vision of someone at the top of the mountain yelling " ____ I love you !!!! " 🤣) . Sharing sweets or chocolates which leads into kissing. Taking Polaroids and pasting them in the scrapbook.

what you should know about them

He's a bit impatient amd had a tendency to sulk up a little bit when things doesn't go in their way . Maybe sometimes too egoistic about their achievements . I'm hearing they play beautifully with their hands .

your first date together

Spending time together at a field. More of walking and having fun . Not caring about a specific destination . I'm seeing two people eating ice cream and one sneakily took a bite from the other 🤣. He'll give you something, which he had made of his own . Remember how I told you he's good with his hands ?? Yes he's creative so expect DIYs . Also you both may opt to eat from street / local shops rather than dining at a restaurant. Really fun , loving , cute and refreshing date . More information :- May bicycle together ❤️

Messages from them!

-> I'm still traveling and making memories of my own , dw I'll include you too when we will be together .

-> I have a fear of abandonment , don't leave me

-> I want to kiss you by all the ways you have watched in romcoms

-> I don't like carrots and peanuts , thought to tell you beforehand if you plan on cooking 🤭

Thank you 🌸

❛ love again ; entry #003

ALAEZAAAAA...!! YOUR READING IS HERREEE!! Thank you so much for joining my game and for following the rules <3 I hope you'll enjoy it :)  Remember to take what resonates and leave what doesn't!

his first impression of you:

Love Again by Dua Lipa DAAMN, ALAEZA YOU GOT THE SONG THAT I NAMED THE GAME AFTER LOL. The message's pretty straightforward; first meeting you? He. Wants. You. He's downright attracted to you; especially your energy, it's like intoxicating to him. To him, you're vibrant and you seem to light up the room wherever you go. Like how the song goes, he might have given up on love but then you came along. And he never expected the possibility of him falling for someone (again.)

your first date together:

Roar by Katy Perry This date will happen after either of you recently achieved something very big (you define that in your way.) Example; like graduating from university. The two of you will celebrate the success you achieved and it will eventually turn into a date. It's going to be a day so full of joy, laughter, and love. 

what you should know about him:

LOVE IN THE DARK by Jessie Reyez You should know that when he loves someone, he loves HARD. He's the type to never hold back and give his all to you. It's also probably his fear to give his all to someone only for that person to leave him. He's also a very attentive and caring person, someone who will never leave you alone when you're struggling and going through some hardship.

what he loves about you:

Stay Beautiful by Taylor Swift Your beauty; inside and out. I'm hearing that he loves you for who you truly are; for being bright and full of love even during and after going through hard times.

how he shows his love to you:

Downtown by Anya Taylor-Joy (both versions came up!!) By spending time with you and having fun. Treating you like the queen you are, and going to new places (travelling to other countries may be significant too) and exploring them with you. He strives to lift your spirits, he just really wants to see you happy, laughing and smiling all the time.

signs you'll see about him:

Christmas Tree Farm by Taylor Swift I don't know about you, but you might wanna look out sometime around December or the Holidays, that could be the time when you'll meet 👀Christmas day may be significant, or just anything related to Christmas. Ooh, and I saw 111 for you. 

a message from him:

The Lighthouse Keeper by Sam Smith OMG. This song has a lyric, "Hoping you'll be home for Christmas time." ALSJDKFHSD OHEMGEE. You might be doubting whether I'm playing my Christmas playlist BUT I SWEAR THIS IS MY LIBRARY OF 1800 songs in different moods and genres! ASHJDGJASGD ANYWAYS. "You may be wondering where I am, aren't you? Who am I, where you'll find me, constantly searching for answers and signs about me. I don't blame you though, I'm pretty excited of meeting you too! I find myself wondering the same about you. But know this that as long as you keep following your heart and listening to your intuition, we'll finally find each other home :)"

my feedback:

lemme just point out first that you got love again by kid laroi for me and i've got dua lipa's for you. coincidence? i doubt it LMAO. Thank you for the 3+1 bonus, Alaeza! You're so sweet 🥹 A lot of parts of the reading resonates so much. I kept hearing from other readings as well and I somehow sensed this that words of affirmation is part of his love language. Sharing chocolates and taking polaroids? Boy knows how to keep me. (I love Polaroid Love too.) First date is IDEAL. Chef's kiss. This is the kind of date that I really wanna go to 🥺Did ya say he plays beautifully with his hands?? I take it he plays guitar or piano- *COUGH COUGH* I have heard before as well that he has fear of abandonment, the impatient and egotistic part is new though, so we'll see >:) I don't like peanut butter either, BUT HOW DARE HE DISLIKES CARROTS- I really enjoyed the exchange, Aleaza <3 Thank you so much for the reading!   PS: Your ask didn't got into my inbox, I can only access it through my notifications. I wonder why.

Please don't forget to leave a feedback, tell me what resonates and what doesn't, and whatever you want to add! :)

[yhwhrulz]

Today's Daily Encounter Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Hangry

After he [Jesus] had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."1

In February 2018, the Oxford English Dictionary officially added a new entry into its pages — the word "HANGRY", which is defined as "bad tempered or irritable as a result of hunger". At some point or another I think we have all experienced this! That feeling of hunger that makes you grumpy and sometimes even a little unwise. During this time of physical, and even spiritual, weakness are moments when the enemy, the devil, tries to plant those lies into your mind. Those lies and bad thoughts might be about your worth as a person, your lack of success, and even question your relationship with God.

Fortunately for us, we have Jesus' example to follow! In Matthew chapter 4, we come across The Temptation of Jesus. After having fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus was very hungry. As He walked through the wilderness, along came the devil, ready and waiting to throw his daggers of temptation at Jesus. As he challenged the Lord, with thoughts of food, power, and worth, Jesus called on God's name and resisted the devil with a straightforward and direct, "Go away, Satan!" (Mt. 4:10 CSB). The devil had no choice but to leave because God's name is the Light and the devil, in his darkness, has no place there. Jesus provided us with ways to counteract the schemes of the devil by giving us His Word. God has unending love for us that is always reaching toward us.

When temptation causes us to be weak and crumble, God gives us Himself through the Holy Spirit which becomes living and active inside of us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to fight and in those moments of weakness when the devil whispers that we aren't enough, we can shout as Jesus did, "go away, Satan! in Jesus' name!" and he has to flee. Jesus felt hunger but did not allow himself to be hangry. He drew his strength from God's Word and His promises. "Man must not live on bread alone", says God's Word, "But on every Word that comes from the mouth of God." Don't allow yourself to fall into the tempting lies of the devil but rather resist that hanger with the bread that is God's Word!

Suggested Prayer: Thank you, Father, for allowing your Son to go through trials here on earth that I could relate to. Thank you for allowing Him to teach us the way to fight temptations and the weakness that comes with our physical needs, wants, and desires. Help me to call on Your name first because You will always provide my way of escape. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Matthew 4:2-4 (CSB).

Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B.

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

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When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2005-2023 ACTS International

[truepcwer]

Angelina Wilson - Carmilla's Doppelganger

❝ 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ❞

Angelina Wilson is the therapist that Vergil was assigned when he began therapy after returning to the Underworld. A doppelganger of Vergil's beloved Carmilla.

After first, Vergil was very hesitant of sharing his vulnerabilities with someone who was an exact look-a-like of Carmilla. However, like Carmilla he found it hard to deny to her help, at least having a familiar face would it easy for him to talk about all his trauma.

Of course, with Vergil being Vergil, the first couple of sessions, he sat in complete silence and took his surroundings. In these moments he was taking in information about the office and about her. The similarities were there, but they were polar opposite. While Carmilla was soft and gentle, Angelina, despite her name reminded her more of Dante's friend Lady formerly known as Lady.

Angelina within Red Grave was a well known therapist that very few loses and many successful patients who followed her recommendations and counsel. For the first we days, Angelina allowed Vergil to sit in silence, up until the end of the week where she finally spoke after being fed up with his behavior, stating;

" I get paid hourly, and my billing hours are high. If you want my help, you have to meet me half way, otherwise I'm as useless a streaming subscription for bad TV. "

Vergil was caught off guard by how straightforward she was, but there was a fire about her that reminded him of his mother Eva, and from there he began to open up bit by bit, up until it got complicated with the events of Urizen and the Underworld. After a week of talking, Vergil finally disclosed that he was second son of Sparda,and showed her proof by showing her his Devil Trigger. He did what he could to not cause damage to her office, showing Angelina his form, she was surprised that a son of Sparda was her client. She had heard the rumors and stories but never believed them until Vergil.

After a month, Vergil disclosed information regarding Carmilla and Nero, and how he wanted to have a relationship with his son but didn't know how after everything he's done. For a brief session, Vergil did talk about Carmilla and how the two looked alike, the following conversation went like this:

" Nero's mother, you're splitting image of her, it's very unsettling. " " Well if Sparda is real, and if this Mundus guy you talked about who created a splitting image of your mother to lure you into trap is real, I can easily believe that doppelgangers exist. " " You seem so casual about this whole situation.... does it make you uncomfortable that you wear the face of the woman I loved I very long time ago? " " I don't get paid to be uncomfortable, I get paid to heal your traumas and guide you on the right path. I just hope if you choose to become Urizen again, which I highly disapprove of, you at least spare me or have your human half keep me out of harms way. "

Vergil and Angelina have a strictly professional relationship and he doesn't cross the line of trying anything romantically with her. Angelina is another person that Vergil considers close given everything he's shared with her. Another woman who tethers him to his humanity.

[tomwhaleypoly]

WEEK 8 CONT.

For my second illustration I did an object called a 'Devil Fruit' from the popular anime called 'One Piece'.

I first used the pen tool to start with the easiest part of the fruit, that being the stem. It was straightforward, as it didn't require many broken points of joining of points. The most difficult part of it (which wasn't necessarily difficult) was drawing in the curve that can be seen at the top of the stem. For the opposite side of the stem, I used a separate sublayer to make a C shape using the pen tool. The most difficult part was creating the body of the fruit. This was due to the swirl patterns that can be found all over it. As can be seen in the 5th image, many handles were used to create the swirls. I started at the top of the fruit body and focused on creating an outline before moving onto making the inner details. There were some lines however that were not only on the outside but were also part of the inner swirls. The outer line ended up being made of swirls, lines, and separate swirls that didn't breach into the middle of the fruit. The swirls found in the middle of the fruit were easier to put in than the ones on the outside. This is because it was easier to get away with misplacing them as it wouldn't affect the shape and therefore appearance of the object as much as misplacement of the outer line would. There were some lines that had sharp lines in the curves, but were simply fixed by using direct selection to not just adjust the handles of the fruit, but also their positioning and rounding out the edges.

Finally, the coloring of the fruit. The problem with just taking the main body layer of the fruit and activating its fruit was because of the sublayers that already existed. Most swirls were placed on their own sublayer within the main layer. This meant that if the main layer were to be selected and the fill be changed colors, then since the swirls are not actually complete shapes but instead lines and handles, the fill would not fill out the entire shape but instead would fill in spots in a straight line between the start point and the end point. Instead, I used two different methods to fill in the shape before settling on one of them. The first method was using the selection tool to select the entire body shape. I then copied it onto another layer and used the fill tool to fill in the shape. There was a problem with using this method, as mentioned before it wouldn't actually fill in the color of the shape. The second method which was more successful and easier to use was by using the eclipse tool to make a circle with similar size to the fruit body. Next I switched the stroke layer to clear. I then proceeded to use the direct selection tool alongside the pen tool to add more vertices to the circle and then adjusting their point and angles using the direct selection. Once I had done this, all that needed to be done was change the fill of that shape and place the layer behind the fruit's body layer. Finally the most simple part, I made two circles using the eclipse tool and used the color board to make it a lighter shade of purple than the fruit body. I then removed their outer stroke and placed them in a sublayer of the color layer. Photo 1: The stem and it's handles Photo 2: The body of the fruit Photo 3: The color layer of the fruit Photo 4: The stem and it's handles colorized Photo 5: The body of the fruit and it's handles colorized

[servantofthefates]

How to Read Tarot Cards as Someone’s Feelings Towards You

It is usually a straightforward translation. Simply take the card’s meaning and change its formation.

THE DEVIL

Meaning: Addiction

Feeling: She is addicted to you.

THREE OF CUPS

Meaning: Joy

Feeling: He feels joyful when he thinks of you.

FIVE OF CUPS

Meaning: Grief

Feeling: Your shared past fills her with grief.

THREE OF SWORDS

Meaning: Heartbreak

Feeling: He is afraid you will break his heart.

FOUR OF PENTACLES REVERSED

Meaning: Greed

Feeling: She thinks you are greedy.

But sometimes, you have to go a step further and read between the lines.

TWO OF PENTACLES

Meaning: Balancing priorities

Feeling: You are only a second choice to him.

TEN OF SWORDS

Meaning: Painful ending

Feeling: Losing you would devastate her.

THE EMPRESS

Meaning: Abundance

Feeling: He thinks of you as a sugar mommy.

THE MAGICIAN REVERSED

Meaning: Trickery

Feeling: She thinks you cannot be trusted.

THE SUN

Meaning: Success

Feeling: Just looking at you makes him feel victorious.

[blackbat05]

Slowly

Frank Castle x Reader

A/N: Same universe as <Hero>? Thank you so much for the wonderful support for my first Frank fic and hope for your continuous support and feedback!❤️ Use of OCs.

Genre: PG-13

Warning/Notes: Fluffy neighbors/friends to possibly lovers fic? Frank being a sweetheart with kids. I think food is always the way to one’s heart. Tammy (OC) being the greatest wingman.

***

Friday,

‘Hey, could I leave Tammy with you for dinner? Last minute came up.’

‘Sure. Take all the time you need.’

Frank sends the text, grabbing his coat on the way out. It was Friday, which meant dinner with you and Tammy, your student from the elementary school you were a teacher at.

He feels like a fish out of water, waiting alongside with the other parents, mostly mothers who were giving him second and third glances.

‘Mr Castle!’

He chuckles as he sees a familiar girl with pigtails bounding down the steps before crashing into him. ‘I told you, Frank is fine.’

Tammy furrows her eyebrows, ‘Grandma says it’s rude to call older people that you respect by their first name.’

‘Mm. Well, your Grandma’s right. But I don’t feel so old yet. So Frank is fine or I’ll tickle you until you get home.’ Frank attempts to threaten the young girl without much success. ‘So, what’s for dinner today little Miss?’

Tammy giggles at the name Frank has given her. As if on queue, her stomach growls.

‘Fried chicken!’

‘Excellent choice,’ Frank extends his hand for her to hold. ‘Fried chicken it is.’

***

‘Frank, are you not hungry?’ Tammy peers over the large soda cup, lips stained with sauce. He shakes his head, wiping her mouth with the prepared napkin in his hand.

Chicken in mid air, Tammy puts the chicken back into the basket. Getting out of the booth that they were seated at, she walks to the counter to ask the staff for something.

Acquiring a plate, she comes back nonchalantly, placing two pieces of chicken on it. ‘Eat.’ Tammy pushes the plate towards Frank. ‘Grandpa says that soldiers need a lot of energy. If you don’t, you can get hurt and Miss L/N will be very sad.’

The last piece of information was something new. Frank can’t help but to marvel at the girl every time he met her. How could one be so sensible and aware of their surroundings at her age?

‘Miss L/N?’ He repeats her sentence, knowing that Tammy would tell him everything he needed to know in due time. As predicted, Tammy nods.

‘She likes you. Whenever she gets a text from you, she has that smile.’ Tammy sees Frank’s curious expression and elaborates. ‘No I did not look at Miss L/N’s phone on purpose. It was there when we were having dinner last week when you were late.’

Frank raises his hands in surrender, telling her that he believed whatever had just been shared.

‘Do you like her Frank?’

The man almost chokes on his drink, taking a few seconds to recover. Out of all people, it just had to be an inquisitive kid asking the sacred question. Frank sees Tammy looking at him expectantly. There was almost no way out of this one.

‘Yeah. Yeah I do kid.’

‘Then why don’t you tell her?’

Why didn’t he? Perhaps it was the fact he was leading a double life, one that you were blissfully unaware about. As far as he was concerned, you only saw him as a decorated war veteran.

‘Well… I want to be friends with her first. Become comfortable.’

And make sure she doesn’t get scared should she find out what I actually do.

‘She’s comfortable with you.’

‘And what makes you so sure kid?’ Frank teases, enjoying the conversation with Tammy.

‘You protect people. You protected us from bad guys.’ She adds plainly, as if it was the most straightforward thing. How he wished it was only that simple.

Nothing was simple the moment his entire family was gunned down. He didn’t want danger lurking too close to you when he wasn’t there.

Talking about the devil.

‘Hello guys! I see you already started on the chicken!’ You give Tammy a fist bump as she scoots in to give you space. Frank sees Tammy’s expression.

God damn it Tammy. Why did kids have to be so intuitive?

‘So? What secrets did you two share?’

To your amusement, your student giggles, giving side glances at Frank who was becoming unusually redder by the second.

‘Frank says he has something to ask you!’ Tammy, impatient of the dragging between the two of you decides to intervene. You look at Frank, curious.

‘Uh… I was thinking…’ The man attempts to find the right words. Then, he remembers Tammy sharing about a dumpling place near her house. ‘Tammy was telling me about a dumpling place with good dumpling noodles. Are you free… tomorrow?’

Bless Tammy’s innocent and goodwill gestures as she quickly chimes in, ‘Grandma’s taking me to Taekwondo lessons! I told Frank he should take you there!’

You smiled inwardly. You should probably give the charming man in front of you an answer before he crumbled from anxiety just by waiting.

‘Yeah, why not? I’m always up for good food.’ You catch Frank’s gaze, eyes twinkling.

He really had to thank his little wingman when the time was right.

***

Saturday,

Frank finds himself pacing up and down his sparse living room. It had been too long since he went out with another lady like this. What should be done first? How should he act? When should he-

Phone buzzing, he picks it up, reading the message from you. Another five minutes. Perfect. Just enough time to get his mind together.

Checking the time on his watch, he moves in front of the mirror. Deeming himself presentable enough with a simple grey long sleeved shirt and a denim jacket and jeans, he unlocks the front door, ready to meet you.

‘Frank! Thanks for waiting!’

He sees you step out of your house and does a double take.

Having applied light blusher on your cheeks, you were dressed casually in a cotton short sleeved dress with a purse sling across your body. To Frank, you were a sunflower in the pastel yellow dress.

‘Hello? Earth to Frank?’ He snaps out of his daze as you waved a hand in front of him. ‘I see someone’s hungry already,’ you grabbed his hand naturally.

‘Come on! I want to get good seats!’

***

Tammy was right. The dumplings were heavenly.

Silky skin and packed filling that burst in one’s mouth, the noodles was a nice complement with gravy as the finishing touch.

‘Ah!’ You slurped the bowl of noodles the moment it arrived on your table. ‘That just hits the spot!’

Frank didn’t disagree, but he was to busy observing you relish in the noodles.

She’s comfortable with you.

You weren’t like other women. You weren’t pretentious. Taking another bite of the dumpling, you were unaware that the juice had splattered at the side of your lips.

‘Y/N, you have something on your lips.’ He tries pointing it out to you without much success as you could not see the exact spot. So he takes things into his own hands.

Leaning forwards, he uses his thumb to gently wipe the spot.

‘Oh,’ you mumbled, hoping that Frank could not detect the increase in your heart rate. ‘I guess it was too delicious.’ You tried to joke, realizing that he was still staring at you.

‘Eh have you tried the spicy dumplings? Their pretty good,’ you expertly averted the crisis. ‘Here! I’ll give you one.’ You fished the dumpling out of your bowl, placing it on his spoon before staring at your noodles which was starting to look very interesting.

A dumpling lands on your spoon, dipped in soy sauce. You look at Frank who simply shrugs.

‘You’ve been dipping it in the soy sauce. The meat dumplings go best with them.’ And he quietly returns back to his own bowl of noodles.

Despite the shop brimming with customers and staff alike, you fell in love this atmosphere. Forget Michelin restaurants, any place could turn into a five star restaurant with good company.

***

He waits behind the queue to pay for dinner which he had to almost fight you for.

Just then, he sees a familiar figure peeking behind one of the many pillars in the shop. Once he paid the bill, he squeezes past the many chairs and tables before reaching the spot.

‘Tammy?’

‘Hi Frank!’ The girl beams brightly, sitting beside her two grandparents. Frank greets the two before turning to her.

‘You told me you had Taekwondo lessons today?’

‘I did.’ She points to her bag, Taekwondo uniform visible. ‘I’m here for dinner.’

Although her explanation was perfectly logical, something about that impish grin told Frank otherwise.

‘All the best with Miss L/N Frank.’ Mrs Wu tells Frank who doesn’t have the heart to correct her. Behind the older woman, Tammy gives Frank a thumbs up.

‘She’s a good one son. Don’t loose her.’ Harold Wu grunts, picking a bunch of bean sprouts to top with his rice.

‘I won’t. Thank you Harold.’

As more people filled the shop, Frank takes his leave, promising Tammy that he would see her next week. He steps out into the cold evening, walking towards you.

Frank does not tell you that he saw your student. Instead, he tells you that he had to go to the toilet.

‘Don’t tell Miss L/N ok!’

Walking down the pier, he notices you trying to beat the sudden chill. Frank removes his jacket, placing it on your shoulders.

‘It’s alright-’

‘Just take it. I don’t want you to fall sick. The children need their teacher.’

Bringing his jacket closer, it felt like you were being embraced by the man himself with the musky smell lingering on his piece of clothing.

Reaching the end of the pier, you were greeted by the calm crashing of waves, stars looking over the two of you brightly. Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath, breathing in the fresh air.

Ever since graduating from the teacher’s collage, you found yourself constantly busy, unable to take a break, let alone meet new people. This was certainly a welcomed change for you.

You slowly opened your eyes, feeling Frank move closer to you.

‘Y/N?’

‘Mm Frank?’

‘How would you feel about making this a weekly thing?’

You turned to face him, sharp features accentuated by the lights from the restaurants lined up across the pier.

‘I would love it.’ You kept yourself composed, knowing that this was a big step for him.

When he first moved in, the man was rather reserved. Sharing nothing more than his name. Spending more time with him, including the outings with Tammy allowed him to open up to you.

He lost his whole family. To what exactly you didn’t know and you had no intention of forcing it out of him. You know how it felt when people tried to press you to reopen your old wounds when you weren’t ready.

Frank’s could feel his heart doing a couple somersaults. He clears his throat, just to make sure. ‘Really? If you’re busy that’s fine.’

‘I’m alright Frank.’ You slipped your hands into his, gripping them softly.

‘It doesn’t have to be fast. In fact, I think we need to slow down in life. Savor every bit of it don’t you think?’

Your words deeply impact him. So he does what you say. He slowly captures every feature of your face.

That’s the greatest thing about the mind isn’t it? Endless memories stored, allowing one to replay it on repeat. Sure, he can’t see it but the feeling as sweet as honey does not fade.

He wants to remember every micro expression that you make. Not just when you’re happy, but when you’re sad, frustrated or even angry at him. Yeah… he needed to slow down. Like they say -

If you want to go far, walk together.

***

1 week later,

‘Hey Y/N!’ Esther, another teacher and a close friend that you made during your time at the school rushes to you, looking absolutely ecstatic.

‘What’s got you in a twist?’ You packed the materials in the respective shelves. Preparing to end the day after completing class preparation for the following week.

‘A handsome knight is here and he’s looking for his princess!’ Your friend teases you.

‘Have you been reading too much fairytales Esther?’ You laughed at her antics, stopping as you see Frank standing there, looking very chic and indeed too handsome for his own good.

‘Well… I’ll make my leave then!’ You scoffed at Esther’s wink. ‘Enjoy the weekend folks!’

Frank gives her a lazy wave. ‘You ready? You’re choosing the movie today.’

‘Promise me you’re not gonna cry even if I pick Meet the Robinsons again?’ You give him a playful nudge as he stares at you accusingly.

‘I did not! I was just… just feeling under the weather that day!’

‘Sure… keep telling yourself that!’ You sprinted ahead of him. ‘First one out of here chooses the menu!’

‘I thought it was my turn today!’

‘Life can be unfair Mr Castle! Now chop chop!’ You beckoned him to follow with a smile that could light the whole hallway.

Frank shakes his head, ‘Alright darling but you’re playing a loosing game here.’

Who was he kidding though?

He could loose little games like these here and there, but you were his biggest prize.

***

A/N: I really wrote like 3/5th of it in one shot? It’s like 1am where I am now so please excuse me if the quality is questionable.😬

[maddie-grove]

Little Book Review: Devil House

Author: John Darnielle.

Publication Date: 2022.

Genre: Technically a thriller, really literary fiction.

Premise: In the early 2000s, moderately successful true crime writer Gage Chandler buys a rundown house in Milpitas, California. He does this at the behest of his agent, who has found out that the house used to be an adult video store that was the site of a Satanic double murder in the 1980s. Despite his doubts about the gimmick, Gage is eager to start exploring the case; however, it proves to be more complicated than he expected.

(Spoilers below!)

Thoughts: Much like Universal Harvester, the other Darnielle novel I’ve read, Devil House is pleasurably enigmatic. It’s a kind of scrapbook novel, where Chandler’s more or less straightforward narration is interspersed with excerpts from his books, letters, a detour into faux-Arthuriana, and an epilogue from the POV of a seldom-mentioned childhood friend. The ending is rather open and doesn’t explain exactly what happened with Chandler’s manuscript. This is right up my alley; I was one of those kids who loved the conclusion of ASOUE and didn’t get why other fans wanted definite answers.

The book's message is also enigmatic. I saw a review online that called it "an indictment of true crime," but even that review seemed ambivalent once I got past the clickbait-ish headline. At a pivotal point in the novel, Gage gets a long letter from the mother of a murder victim he wrote about in his first book. She shares her memories of her son and the hopes she had for him, as well as the suffering inflicted on them both by her abusive husband; she also condemns Gage for making her son a minor figure in somebody else's story. Gage is chastened, and her words spur him to do something rather unusual with his "Devil House" book.

I don't think this is an indictment of true crime, so much as it is a word of caution about narratives. No story can center everyone it involves; certainly there are few stories where every single figure is written as though the author were their loving mother. And the novel offers other complications, such as:

Gage's first book was about a schoolteacher in the 1970s who killed two teenage boys who were her students; they broke into her apartment, hoping for easy money, and took hold of her when they found her in the kitchen, shucking oysters. Terrified and already holding a knife, she stabbed them both to death and frantically tried to hide the bodies. It was a senseless, tragic situation, but the district attorney decided that she was a predatory Satanist (based on a few books about magic in her apartment). She was found guilty, sent to the electric chair, and made into a sinister legend. Gage's book sought to clear up that narrative. Would it, in fact, have been right to make the story about one of the boys she killed? Or was Gage's portrayal of this boy (as a more or less normal teenager with a tough home life who fell under the sway of a dangerous peer) sufficient under the circumstances?

In his new book, Gage writes about some potential murder suspects in the Devil House case: a straitlaced teenage ex-employee with a key, his severely ADHD friend, a homeless runaway classmate, and a nice artistic girl. They're sweet, fun, and sympathetic as a group, and two of them are in truly heart-wrenching situations. He also writes, more briefly, about the murder victims: a well-known local slumlord and an ambitious out-of-town developer. The slumlord is cruel and grasping to her tenants, routinely using humiliating and unfair business practices, while the developer is a sleazy coke-snorting ignoramus. Gage clearly dislikes the former and drips with contempt for the latter. I won't dispute that such people often do more damage than impulsive teens committing property crimes; however, he's absolutely using them as minor figures in someone else's story, and in a much harsher way than he did in his first book. Is this right, because of the misery they caused? Or is it wrong no matter what?

This isn't even getting into the final twist, whose implications I have yet to sort out.

Hot Goodreads Take: "It should be called the 'Devils Store' as it's not about a house in all honesty." Look, no one said the good folks of Milpitas were great at naming things.

[ceriseeclipse]

Dark Skies

The Signs’ Face Claims

I had this idea for a while: Personification of the signs. I always wanted to write a story that presents the signs as people, with the same features and personalities that the signs are said to have, living their lives, interacting with each other. Here are a few ideas for each character, if I get to the actual story, the characters will develop a lot of course. Please inbox me your feedback, if you would be interested in a story as such. 

Here’s an idea for the face claims. (the actors’ actual sun signs don’t have anything to do with their roles):

Henry Cavill as Aries, the impulsive soldier.Strong-minded and brave, but a hot-head, which makes him dangerous in a fight. He often throws caution to the wind and goes straight to the point, which he may regret later. He lives for today, is initiative and ambitious, lacks certain gentleness, humility and sense of social act, hurts people without even intending to. He’s restless, vital and always looks for new challenges and adventures. Deep-set eyes and dark eyebrows give him the severe, serious but handsome look. He’s not into love, but does like sex. He rarely gets attached to people, only lives for war and winning battles.

Zoë Kravitz as Taurus, the confident, self-sufficient, but sensitive girl. You can rely on her, she’s honest and respects good manners. Patient and cautious, she knows what she wants and won’t let anyone stop her. She keeps her feet firmly on the ground, doesn’t like to dream or wish, she strongly believes that if you want something enough, you have to go and get it. She’s practical and responsible, but easier to break than she’ll ever show. She loves strongly, and passionately, has a big, loving heart, but knows when to let go, she doesn’t put herself down for anyone. Her doe-like, big, brown eyes will make you trust her with your life. She is exactly who a woman should be, if you could say that, confident, strong, independent and intelligent.

Tom Hiddleston as Gemini, the sweet and funny, blonde, curly-haired sunny-boy. He can seamlessly change everything, from style, ideas to work or partner. He is easy to adjust to significant changes. Surrounded by a little nervous energy, he is brilliant but sometimes emotionally unstable. Being bisexual, he likes to sleep around with different people, but doesn’t really mean to intentionally hurt anyone, he just expects other people to take life and relationships as easily as he does. He’s humorous, energetic and cheerful, but doesn’t let anyone see his sensitive side, that’s why his mysterious way seems very attractive. 

Andrew Garfield as Cancer, the typical sweet boy, who likes to play with fire and often gets burned. He can go from being in a great mood to suicidal thoughts in a second. His heart is easy to break and he doesn’t know how to get over it. Trying to bring an order to his chaotic feelings, he starts writing. For himself at first, but that’s how his talent as a writer gets discovered. It helps at first, but his vulnerable nature wants him to take revenge on those who hurt him, which starts to destroy him slowly. 

Madelaine Petsch as Leo, the Queen Bee in Louboutins. She likes expensive clothes, always looks flawless and knows it. She appears even more confident than she actually is. As a struggling actress, her life hasn’t been the easiest. Trusting and a little naive, she’s often been used and lied to. She likes to manipulate people, but sometimes ends up being manipulated herself. Trying hard to hide her generous, forgiving heart, she thinks that the key to success is heartlessness and diamonds. Her brutally honest personality gave her the name of a “bitch”, which she enjoys at times, it gives her a painful kind of satisfaction to be hated, but admired at the same time. Her long, red hair perfectly matches her ever-red lips and green eyes, that roll so often. She enjoys her naturally good looks and knows how to use it for her best. 

Jamie Chung as Virgo, the beautiful healer. She’s a doctor, she lives for helping people. But the sad truth is, she doesn’t always know how to help herself. Being a gorgeous, strong woman, she is full of insecurities, no one can understand. She is ready to sacrifice herself for others, even people she doesn’t know, because her own life doesn’t mean anything to her. Attentive, with great analytical skills, she seems to see everyone's personality through, she sees when somebody’s hurting, when somebody's lying, her eyes don’t miss out on anything. She loves to bring order into the chaotic life, and tries to make the world a better place by being considerate and organized. Being wealthy, she doesn’t like expensive and unnecessary luxuries. Taurus is her soulmate, but unfortunately, there are many struggles that come in their way. Their love is beautiful and innocent, but leaves them both heartbroken, more than once. 

Shay Mitchell as Libra, the girl next door. She has always been a girl who went by unnoticed. A wallflower kind of girl as they say. She never minds, she doesn’t like to show off, doens’t like to shine. Simple clothes and sneakers, ponytail and barely any make-up, that is her every day look. She has a soft personality and knows how to handle troubles, a diplomat, religious, fair, justice has always been important to her. People usually think that she is a depressed teenager, but that isn’t true, life is going as she wishes it to go. She doesn’t like to be pushed, pressured, she prefers to leave responsibility to others. Sometimes, she feels a little basic, that’s all. But the girl will find her place in this world very soon. 

Michael Ealy as Scorpio, the blue-eyed devil. Despite what people said, he isn’t all that bad. The often call him “the evil eye”, if your eyes meet, you always move first. He can kill you with a look, undress you with a look, send you to hell with only one look. He’s never easy, everything is important to him and he takes everything seriously. All around him is black or white, nothing in between. The only people he can call friends seem more like loyal servants. It feels like he never tells the truth, he’s mysterious to a fault and will never tell you his opinion about anything. Don’t do him wrong, he will never let you leave with it. He scars a lot of people. Not always intentionally, just by being himself. 

Will Smith as Sagittarius, the short-tempered cop. He’s charismatic and respectful, a real fighter for justice. Straightforward, he will shoot arrows, he can’t leave anything unspoken. If you’re in the wrong, he’ll make you crack. He does have strong relationships with people, but only the ones who deserve it in his opinion. Quite tolerant, he will accept a lot of your flaws, but never cross a line, he can cut you out of his life in a second. He’s living on the edge, taking risks, jumps into danger, whether it’s about work or love. Being short-tempered, he gets angry fast, screams, even gets physical, but calms down fast and often regrets it. He does have a good soul, but not many get to see it. Mostly, all they see is a man fighting for the good in any possible ways.

Keanu Reeves as Capricorn, the lone wolf. He never really needed anyone. He was fine being alone. Growing up in an orphanage, he was used to it. Not knowing love, no one to care about. But still, he got through, fought for his degree, became a teacher, not even knowing what for. He doesn't really fall in love, he doesn't really get attached, he doesn't really need it. His good looks and seemingly cool nature attracts a lot of people, he’s interesting, mysterious behind closed doors. But no one really knows him, not even himself. At times, it feels like he's ready, to be a part of the world, to take care of people, but he struggles to believe that anyone would put up with him. He always was so ambitious, so determined, but he came to a point where nothing makes sense anymore. That's the moment he meets him. Better said, he reads his book. A book about retaliation.

Margot Robbie as Aquarius, the sharp-tongued beauty. She grew through struggles and insecurities, which turned her into this perfect human being. She was abused, betrayed and had to fight to survive, just to become a brilliant thief. She’s a woman who gets what she wants, with her intelligence and incredible looks. She considers herself a visionary, she has her ambitions and desires, she’s close to the spiritual world and has a great imagination. Overly dramatic at times, she knows her worth, and knows others better than they know themselves. People bore her quite easily, she expects mystery and entertainment from others. Sexually passionate, she suffers from lack of permanent feelings. Her life has to be a never-ending adventure. 

Jared Leto as Pisces, the lost soul. He'a a musician, struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse. His curious and creative mind can't manage between his will to get inspiration and his addictions. He always needs more, whether it's whiskey, love or music, he can never stop. At times, it feels like he's at the end, that he can't do it anymore, but only one shot, and he's back, writing, singing, playing guitar. He falls in love with creative souls like himself, struggling, even dying. For him, it's always over. Every day, can be his last and all he does is singing, dreaming, he always took the path of least resistance.

[blacksunscorpio]

What does it mean when I have a Capricorn signature?

Signature Sign In Astrology

You might have heard the term signature sign thrown around if you’ve been studying astrology for a while. Others of you might not have heard if this concept at all. It isn’t as well-known, however, it can reveal significant information about you.

What it Means

To put it plainly, the astrological signature sign is the zodiac sign that’s the most specific to you and your character.

How to find it

It involves noting which element and quality/modality appear the most or has the most signs and then combining them into a zodiac sign which is taken to be the signature sign of the chart. It will be easy to do because certain characteristics of signs will repeat themselves. It’s the most frequent modality and element in your natal chart.

Ex. 1 A person has more fire signs than any other element, and more fixed signs than any other quality, then that person's signature is Leo. In some cases, there is no clear majority in either element or quality to give a clear signature. When this occurs, an individual has an Ambiguous Signature.

Ex. 2  Let’s say you are a Taurus Sun, a fixed earth sign. But many planets in mutable signs take up residence in your chart. In addition, you have a multitude of planets in water. This makes you feel like a Neptunian/Pisces, which is a mutable water sign. You might not have many or any for that matter significant placements in Pisces but somehow still identify with the qualities of the sign to a great extent.

How To Find It Cont.

You weigh the elements and modalities of the sign where a planet is located in your chart. Begin with the Sun, next Moon and repeat this process for all the planets in your natal chart: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The ascendant and the Midheaven also have to be considered.

Signature Signs Through The Zodiac

Aries signature

If Aries is your signature sign, you are ambitious and have a strong will. Boss-like. Warrior. Killer instinct. Can sometimes be hot-headed and impulsive, it happens that you act before you think instead of the other way around which can get you into serious trouble. Don’t be Oberyn from GoT and get cocky now. However, you’re a born leader and like to initiate things. Taking action is your second nature. No one will ever pull the Hermit card or 4 of cups for you in a Tarot reading. Way too active. A straightforward sign, which sometimes blends into bluntness, bossiness, or take-no-prisoners attitude. Being independent is very important to you. You hate being told what to do. You like to work alone if you can. Competitive and brave, someone who loves new challenges. You love to win. Will always be after new opportunities to conquer.

Taurus signature 

If Taurus is your astrological signature sign, you prefer to think before you act. Need a lot of time to make a decision, but once it’s done, nothing can make you change your mind. You are incredibly stubborn and persistent. Taurus is the sign of hedonism. If this is your signature sign in astrology, you know how to enjoy life. You appreciate good food, beautiful clothes, and everything luxurious. Taurus craves stability, both financially and emotionally. You are dependable and passionate. Love to cook and or shop for expensive and good quality things. Can be jealous in love or possessive as well. Bullheaded to the point of no return but just as ambitious when it comes to cultivating stability and wealth.

Gemini signature

If Gemini is your signature sign, you are curious, witty, and chatty. You are a great observant, someone who notices every detail, and then make a pun about it. Gemini is incredibly smart. They love to read and write, and they are usually talented when it comes to expressing themselves. However, Gemini because of their mercurial flighty nature can lack focus if they don’t reign it in somehow. This flightiness can give others the impression that they are sometimes superficial. You get bored veryyy quickly. Because of this, you need a lot of mental stimulation. Geminis are life-long learners, they are simply in love with knowledge. Need to be sure to keep that devil and angel [your twins] aligned so as to not make enemies or be seen as two-faced.

Cancer signature 

If Cancer is your signature sign in astrology, you are a gentle soul. However, you become easily overwhelmed with others. Cancer is a crab and will retreat into its shell if it’s not in the mood to deal. Can be moody and or need a lot of time on your own, in the safety of your home. They like to be surrounded by family members. You are soft and caring. HIGHKEY intuitive and can sense the emotions of others easily [especially when developed.] They are extremely protective of their loved ones. Will pinch you with their claws if you mess with them or someone they care about.

Leo signature

If your signature sign is Leo, you have a big heart. Quite warm and sincere. Famous for its generosity. They, like Jupiterians like to give- especially in terms of love and affection. Leos need luxury around them. They are the royalty of the zodiac, right? They enjoy being around others, making people laugh and cheering them up. Have lots of energy but a big ego to go with it. They love attention and might court it often or simply get it naturally since the Sun is in the mix here. Too much of the negative manifestation of Leo can make one prone to arrogance, bossiness, and boastfulness. It’s important to realize that this wounds people around you. If you show others your soft side, they will give you all the love you crave.

Virgo signature 

If Virgo is your signature sign, you are modest, effective, and helpful. Deeply analytical and process information at the drop of a hat. Productivity is very important to you. Virgos have a high attention to detail, and they solve problems by analyzing them. Rational and cerebral thinking is one of your greatest strengths. Quite reliable and have a strong sense of duty. Can be hyper-critical and a bit too compulsive in their tendencies. Prone to nervousness and anxious habits. However, this sign has a very powerful brain. They prefer thinking over feeling, which can be sometimes challenging for them. 

Libra signature 

If your signature sign is Libra, you’ll be quite elegant. Venusian, baby. No matter what they do, they’ll make sure to do it with their face on and in their best attire. Libras are graceful and charming. They have great social skills, and they get along with everyone. However, sometimes they don’t stand up for themselves even when they should or because they wish to avoid conflict at all costs. They can also be a bit superficial which might be perceived as “fake” by some. There’s a deep need to be liked. Quite good taste though. Keen artistic talents. Great diplomats and would do well as an ambassador or even in HR [actually, please think about getting into Human Resources, there are way too many pieces of shit in this particular department]. This sign strives to create harmony, both visually and in interpersonal relationships.

Scorpio signature 

If your signature sign is Scorpio, you possess the qualities of Pluto. You have a deep mind, are intense and probing with perhaps a bit of a mysterious aura. You make a perfect detective. Nothing stays hidden. Quite loyal and passionate with intense emotions. Intuition is superb, but you are very sensitive at the same time. Scorpio can become obsessed with the object of their love. May be prone to jealousy in love or be quite ruthless and vengeful if slighted. It’s important NOT to get on this person’s bad side because Scorpios rarely [if ever] forgive. Is probably very sexual or unmatched in bed. Might end up rich [Pluto=wealth]. Might become a Mafia-boss. Might become a dictator. Might run a funeral home. Depends, lol.

Sagittarius signature

Expansion. Jupiter rules this sign and as a result one with this signature loves new experiences that aid them in understanding the world better. Optimistic and with a great sense of humor, people love being around them. They have high energy levels and they are always on the go. If your signature sign is Sagittarius, you have an unshakable faith in the universe. Philosophical prowess and an open mind with a streak of jolliness The sign of philosophy, and always looking towards the bright side. Might be blunt, unattached, and a bit dramatic or louder than most, however, lucky breaks might come often or in the nick of time. Makes sense since Jupiter rules luck.

Capricorn signature 

If Capricorn is your signature sign, there are significant earthy vibes to you, no matter your actual sign. Said native is reliable, efficient, and incredibly meticulous, and high-key ambitious. There’s a great need for success that borderlines on obsession. They are empowered by executive achievements and accomplishments. Order, structure, and discipline are paramount. Capricorns are famous in astrology for being known as hard workers who put a lot of effort into achieving their goals. They do not give up. They will climb the ladder, do or die. Typically will be quite successful in life. Often accused of being cold or cruel. Hell, they might be. Still, they are in need and are deserving of love and commitment. Reliable in a relationship once they decide to stop restricting themselves of affection and give in.

Aquarius signature 

Unique and eccentric, you always notice it when you meet an Aquarian. If Aquarius is your signature sign, you prefer to live life on your own terms. Freedom is your most important value in life. You enjoy being around like-minded people, even though your relationships are usually not of an emotional nature. Aquarius is the sign of brilliance in astrology. I always say that Aquarians have the highest levels of analytical intelligence but sometimes get written off because they can be weirdos lol. Mad scientist vibes. Wonderful ideas, fascinated by everything new and modern. Tech geeks. Aquarius is also the sign of humanitarian ideals. If you have this sign strong in your chart, you have a strong sense of justice.

Pisces signature

If Pisces is your signature sign, you have a very strong intuition. Quite sensitive to the point that all that white noise can easily overwhelm them. Hard to make out reality sometimes. Hence, Pisces needs to spend a lot of time alone in suspension thinking about things. Compassionate and have a strong sympathy for those suffering. Great healing abilities and an even greater imagination and creative streak. Probably feels quite good around water and can have a psychic knack with animals. Can be very musical and often have strong artistic talents. Be sure to tether yourself to this world so as to not float off. Escapism is okay but don’t escape reality too much. You may have come from another realm but in this incarnation, you were placed here for a reason. You belong here on earth with us ;).