#poetic technique /language/whatever

[honeyblockm]

I want you to know that I still think about your IKEA bed manual poem (not sure if you created it as a poem, but I understood it as one!). Like it is one of my favourite pieces of poetry, as it is so unique..

I am a poet, and I discovered the piece like 3 years ago. It has shaped, I shit you not, the way I approach poetry. I am much more open to experimental poems now. I am a better poet because of your poem.

Anyways I'm not too sure if your still in the fandom/ associate with it, but I would like to thank you on your impact on my creative journey and if I ever publish a book, i'd like you to know you will be in the credits.

Wahhhh hiii anon ur message is so sweet tysm.. !!! It means so much to me 2 hear stuff like this I'm so glad my work has impacted ppl positively :D there's a lot of reasons I don't regret making the stuff I made in spite of it all and this is one of them I think

I'm still in the fandom and kicking haha I spend a lot of time thinking about danmei guys now also but I simply cannot resist the pull of the dsmp fanwork and the exchange circuit lmaooo

Well wishes on ur writing journey!!! If u publish a book can you let me know so I can buy it

[notsunnyowo]

The moon is beautiful isn't it?

Gojo Satoru confession headcanon :)

Word Count: 533

Classmate! Satoru who first notices you when he arrives at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Immediately gaining some interest in the oddly shaped markings on your forehead.

Classmate! Satoru who introduces himself to you in his usual smug way, only to have you take little interest in his introduction.

Classmate! Satoru who can't help but want to get to know you more now than ever. Constantly approaching you with his signature shit-eating grin and complimenting your outfits.

Classmate! Satoru who after so many failed attempts of befriending you manages to finally succeed in getting you to be his friend.

Friend! Satoru who turns out to be quite the fun person to be around. Contrasting what you had initially thought of him.

Friend! Satoru who after a month of being friends finally gets you to open up to him about your curse technique.

Friend! Satoru who always manages to make you feel better when you're down. Be it by bringing you lots of sweets to cheer you up or simply being there to listen to you rambling about whatever's making you feel down.

Friend! Satoru who after six months of being friends finally levels up to the position of "Best Friend". An achievement he's immensely proud about.

Best Friend! Satoru who begins to notice the little things about you. For example, how you always seem to have a slight bounce in your step whenever you're having a particularly good day. Or how you tend to doodle on the edges of your notebook whenever you're extremely bored in class.

Best Friend! Satoru who doesn't realize that he's slowly falling for you until Shoko finally points it out.

Best Friend! Satoru who after eight months of you being friends admits it to himself that he does indeed have feelings for you.

Best Friend! Satoru who gets nervous whenever your hands brush up against one another whenever you're doing your homework together in your dorm room.

Best Friend! Satoru who can't help but admire your beauty whenever he gets the chance to do so. Often stressing over being caught while he's looking so intently at your mesmerizing figure.

Best Friend! Satoru whose heart jumps at the sight of you wearing a traditional kimono for the Sakura Flower Festival the whole class was going to attend.

Best friend! Satoru who after nine months of being your friend finally decided to confess to you while the two of you are on a late night stroll.

"The moon is beautiful isn't it?" Satoru says with a nervous look adoring his flawless features. The boy's diamond eyes lock with yours and he can't help but blush at the sight of your pretty eyes staring back at him, glistening so beautifully in the moonlight. With a soft rosy blush slowly creeping up on your cheeks you smile fondly at him. "I can die happy now." You say, with such a sweet tone that Satoru swears it's like an angel is speaking to him.

Best Friend! Satoru who picks you up before matching his lips with yours when you return his feelings.

Boyfriend! Satoru who promises that he'll love you for all eternity as her keeps you close, arms wrapped around your small figure.

Author Note: This is my first time writing a headcanon so I hope everyone will like it! :D

For those who don't know “The moon is beautiful, isn't it?” is more poetic way of saying I love you in the Japanese language. The appropriate (and most popular) response is "I can die happy now."

[fameandfiction]

IMAGINE PART I: “As In Dating or Hallucinations?” — Reneé Rapp x Reader

— Snacking Through Tension.

[INT. LIVING ROOM — LATE AFTERNOON]

It was golden hour and your half-eaten lollipop was stained in three different shades of gay.

You were not thinking about love. You were not thinking about Reneé. You were thinking about why the main character of this show had zero brain cells and yet managed to get three women to fall in love with her.

(TV lesbians have a way with gravity that real life simply doesn’t honor. Where’s the yearning?)

You were sprawled on the couch — hoodie up, socks mismatched, mind fuzzy — with your feet pressed against Reneé’s thigh and your head tilted to keep the screen in view. The rainbow swirl of the lollipop kept catching the light as it bobbed between your lips, slightly obnoxious, slightly poetic.

Then — out of nowhere, no warning — Reneé asked:

“Are you seeing anyone right now?”

You didn’t flinch.

Didn’t blink. Didn’t even glance her way.

You just sucked the lollipop a little deeper and said, completely deadpan:

“As in dating or hallucinations?”

[THE SCENE PAUSES IN THE AIR]

There was a beat.

Then another.

The kind of silence that feels like someone opened a window in your chest.

Reneé blinked once. Slowly. Like she didn’t know whether to laugh or take notes on your deflection technique.

“I… meant dating,” she replied, clearly regretting the whole conversation.

You hummed. Just that. A little “hmm,” like you were still thinking about it.

Then:

“Mm. No.” Pop. You pulled the lollipop out, inspected it for lint. “Not unless you count whatever I’ve got going on with this lollipop.” “You stole that from my niece’s candy drawer.” “And yet here I am. In possession. Love is theft.”

Reneé sighed but not out of annoyance. It was the kind of sigh that came with small, secret affection. The kind she only made when you were being you, so chaotically that it knocked the air out of her chest.

“You didn’t really answer me, though,” she muttered.

You shrugged.

Eyes on the TV. But ears? Entirely tuned in.

“You didn’t really clarify whether you meant that question casually or existentially.”

[RENEÉ, NOW IMAGINING THINGS SHE SHOULDN’T]

She hated that you were so good at this.

Deflecting. Disarming. Making it impossible to know what you felt under all that candy-colored sarcasm. One minute you were chewing sugar like a child raised on queer Tumblr and irony; the next you were saying shit like “love is theft” with a glint in your eye and a curl at the corner of your mouth that made her want things.

Things she should not want.

Not from her best friend. Not from her roommate. Not from the girl who always smelled like fruit snacks and half-finished thoughts.

“You know,” Reneé finally said, folding her arms. “You’re the most annoying person I’ve ever maybe liked.”

You turned your head just a little. Met her gaze. Lollipop still mid-air.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Then my work here is done.”

[THE TENSION DOESN’T LEAVE. IT SITS.]

The show kept playing. Background noise. Characters kissing. Lines of dialogue overlapping.

You stayed quiet — visibly smug, but weirdly unreadable.

And Reneé just… sat there. Trying to decipher the riddle that was you. Trying not to reach out and pull the lollipop from your lips just to shut you up and maybe kiss you into something honest.

“Seriously,” she tried again, quieter this time. “You’re not seeing anyone?”

This time, you glanced at her. Really looked.

And for a fraction of a second, your expression softened.

“No, Reneé,” you said gently. “If I was, I wouldn’t be here. With you. Stealing candy and watching terrible lesbian dramas.”

The silence this time? It hit different.

Not empty. Not awkward. Just full of something neither of you had the language for yet.

[Fade to black. Or maybe... fade to blush.]

“Do you want the rest of the lollipop?” you asked. “That’s disgusting.” “You didn’t say no.”

Reneé said nothing.

But twenty minutes later, when you fell asleep mid-episode with your head on her thigh, the lollipop rolled onto the couch cushion — still sticky, still stained — and she picked it up with two fingers like it meant something.

Maybe it did.

Maybe it always did.

[ewaneneollav]

THE MYTH "When the baby is born there is no place to put it : it is born , it will in time die , therefore there is no sense in enlarging the world by so many miles and minutes for its accommodation . A temporary scaffolding is set up for it , an altar to ephemerality

a permanent altar to ephemerality . This altar is

the Myth . The object of the Myth is to give happi- ness : to help the baby pretend that what is ephe- meral is permanent . It does not matter if in the course of time he discovers that all is ephemeral : so long as he can go on pretending that it is permanent he is happy . As it is not one baby but all babies which are laid upon this altar , it becomes the religious duty of each to keep on pretending for the sake of all the others , not for himself . Gradually , when the baby grows and learns why he has been placed on the altar , he finds that he is not particularly interested in carry- ing on the pretence , that happiness and unhappi- ness are merely an irregular succession and grouping of moments in him between his birth and his death .

Yet he continues to support the Myth for others ' sake , and others continue to support it for his . The stronger grows the inward conviction of the futility of the Myth , the stronger grows the outward unity and form of the Myth . It becomes the universal sense of duty , the ethics of abstract neighbourliness . It is the repository for whatever one does without knowing why ; it makes itself the why . Once given this function through universal misunderstanding , it persists in its reality with the perseverance of a ghost and continues to demand sacrifices. It is indifferent what form or system is given to it from this period to that , so long as it be given a form and a system by which it may absorb and digest every possible activity; and the grown-up babies satisfy it by presenting their offerings as systematized parts of a systematized whole. The Myth may collapse as a social whole ; yet it continues by its own memory of itself to impose itself as an æsthetic whole. Even in this day, when the social and historical collapse of the Myth is commonly recognised , we find poets and critics with an acute sense of time devoting pious ceremonies to the aesthetic vitality of the Myth, from a haunting sense of duty which they call classicism . So this antiquated belief in truth goes on , and we continue to live. The Myth is the art of living. Plato's censor- ship of poets in the interests of the young sprang from a realization of the fact that poetry is in opposition to the truth of the Myth : I do not think he objected to poetry for the old , since they were nearly through with living .

Painting , sculpture , music , architecture , religion , philosophy , history and science - these are essenti- ally of the Myth . They have technique , growth , tradition , universal significance ( truth ) ; and there is also a poetry of the Myth , made by analogy into a mythological activity . Mythological activities glorify the sense of duty , force on the individual a mathematical exaggeration of his responsibilities . Poetry ( praise be to babyhood ) is essentially not of the Myth . It is all the truth it knows , that is , it knows nothing . It is the art of not living . It has no system , harmony , form , public significance or sense of duty . It is what happens when the baby crawls off the altar and is ' Resolv'd to be a very contrary fellow ' - resolved not to pretend , learn to talk or versify . Whatever language it uses it makes up as it goes and immediately forgets . Every time it opens its mouth it has to start all over again . This is why it remains a baby and dies (praise be to babyhood ) a baby. In the art of not living one is not ephemerally permanent but permanently ephemeral"

"Words have three historical levels . They may be true words , that is , of an intrinsic sense ; they may be logical words , that is , of an applied sense ; or they may be poetical words , of a misapplied sense , untrue and illogical in themselves , but of supposed sug- gestive power . The most the poet can now do is to take every word he uses through each of these levels , giving it the combined depth of all three , forcing it beyond itself to a death of sense where it is at least safe from the perjuries either of society or poetry "

"ANGUAGE is a form of laziness ; the word is a compromise between what it is possible to express and what it is not possible to express . That is , expression itself is a form of laziness . The cause of expression is incomplete powers of understanding and communication : unevenly distributed intelli- gence . Language does not attempt to affect this distribution ; it accepts the inequality and makes possible a mathematical intercourse between the degrees of intelligence occurring in an average range . The degrees of intelligence at each extreme are thus naturally neglected : and yet they are obviously the most important . Prose is the mathematics of expression . The word is a numerical convenience in which the known and the unknown are brought together to act as the meeting -place of the one who knows and the one who does not know . The prose word accomplishes no redistribution of intelligence ; it merely declares the inequality , and so even as expression it has no reality , it is an empty cipher ."

"Only what is comic is perfect:it is outside of reality, which is a self-defeating , serious striving to be outside of reality, to be perfect. Reality cannot escape from reality because it is made of belief , and capable only of belief . Perfection is what is unbelievable , the joke"

[infernalhomo]

why does how to be a dog annoy you

I'm so glad you asked! I got kind of carried away thinking about how to articulate why, so long answer under the cut.

TL;DR; it annoys me for mostly pretty subjective reasons. The composition feels muddled, the theme falls flat, and I dislike anthropomorphization as it is used here.

First: form and prosody. I like poetry when it uses meter or rhythm well; when the underlying structure of the verse communicates the intended theme and emotion as much as the actual words, imagery and metaphors do. That's why I find these types of free verse prose poems to be kind of hit or miss, and this one is a miss.

It feels unfinished and superficial. The sentences are clumsily arranged and feel disconnected from each other. It doesn't flow well, there's no distinct cadence, it neglects to use any common poetic techniques that would identify it as a poem (for me) — it doesn't read like poetry (in my opinion).

Second: theme. Whatever emotion or imagery it sets out to evoke; it doesn't manage to do it. Andrew Kane writes on Rattle.com:

"This poem is [...] an exploration of what it would mean to both be a dog and to be a person who takes on the mantle of a dog’s life, which is to say, to be a person actively palpating the vastness and the limitations of their own empathy. [...] Above all, though, this is in fact a poem about dogs.”

I don't get any of this from it. To me it reads like a first draft; a train of thought from the perspective of a person who doesn't know much about the life of a dog or how a dog perceives the world, and hasn't really spent all that much time thinking about it either. There's no purpose to the dog imagery. It reads like a human writing about a human experience, hiding under a superficial dog metaphor. It's not about dogs at all.

Third, and most subjective of all: I hate hate hate this kind of haphazard use of animal anthropomorphization in poetry. I'm very autistic about animals and animal behaviour — have been since age 4 — so I've spent my entire life wondering and speculating about the internal lives of various animals. It's a topic that involves a lot of scientific research into how different animals take in and process external stimuli, and how that informs their internal experience of the world, and how that in turn might influence the way they make decisions or react to situations.

My opinion on the topic is that any attempts to literally "take on the mantle of a dog's life" in the form of poetry will fail, because we cannot accurately express the internal emotion of a dog in human language.

Using anthropomorphization as a literary vehicle to tell a human story is another thing entirely; it can be done well. But doing it well requires purposeful use of further poetic technique beyond the surface-level animal metaphor, so that the actual intended theme becomes apparent to the reader from under it. This poem doesn't succeed in doing that.

Also the whole thing just feels very bleak. It takes a very dim view on human-dog relationships. Like it makes me want to ask: do you people treat your dogs this thoughtlessly? Is this how you view the relationship between dogs and humanity; bleak, neglectful, violent control?

[utah1me]

Suguru Geto - Dad

initial message: “C’mon, girls.. sit still for me,” {{user}} pleads as they try to keep the two small girls standing in front of them in check. It was like this nearly every morning- there was always some sort of altercation, whether Nanako was pulling Mimiko’s hair, or one of them didn’t like their outfit… it was never-ending. {{user}} combs their fingers through Nanako’s hair, musing at how the girl’s hair was the same shade as theirs as they work it into a style that will keep it out of her face. The girl is squirming, and behind the two of them, Mimiko is climbing onto the toilet, reaching for something on a high shelf. {{user}}’s eyes widen in alarm as they notice Mimiko in the mirror. “Mimiko! Get down!”

“Need help in there, babe?” Suguru calls, peeking his head into the bathroom as he finishes pulling his t-shirt over his head. His eyes widen when he notices Mimiko climbing on the toilet and he reaches over, scooping her up into his arms. He shakes his head, glancing toward {{user}} in the mirror before looking between Mimiko and Nanako, a disproving tone to his voice. “If you two don’t start behaving, then we won’t be going to the zoo today. We’ll stay home instead.” scenario: {{char}} and {{user}} are getting their twin daughters ready for a day at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. character definition: {{char}}'s name is Suguru Geto. {{char}} is 27 years old. {{char}} is one of the strongest jujutsu sorcerers, just under Satoru Gojo. {{char}} understands the importance of manners and carrying himself with dignity as jujutsu sorcerer. {{char}} believes that jujutsu sorcerers exist to protect non-sorcerers. {{char}} is horrified by evil acts and strongly against them. {{char}} has no pity for his enemies and will do whatever it takes to defeat them. {{char}} is protective of those he cares about. {{char}} does not speak poetically or use fanciful language- he often speaks with slang and improperly. {{char}} has an innate technique called Cursed Spirit Manipulation that allows him to control vagabond cursed spirits. {{char}} must ingest the dominated curses in the form small black orbs orally in order to use. {{char}} has immense amounts of cursed energy. {{char}} possesses great tactical intellect. {{char}} is extremely skilled in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. {{char}} has long, black hair. {{char}} has brown eyes. {{char}} has a pale complexion and is toned, lean and muscular. {{char}} wears his hair mostly down, with a bit of it tied up in a bun with bangs that occasionally cover his left eye. {{char}} is 190 cm, or 6'3". {{char}} wears blue gauge earrings in his ears. {{char}} wears an extra hair tie on his wrist that he fidgets with when annoyed, bored or impatient.

{{char}} and {{user}} are married. {{char}} and {{user}} are parents to their fraternal twin daughters, Nanako and Mimiko. Though {{char}} is a jujutsu sorcerer, he prioritizes his family over his job, always making time for them. Because {{char}} is a special grade jujutsu sorcerer, he makes plenty of money, and money is never an issue. {{char}} and {{user}} live in an house together in a suburb of Tokyo. {{char}} has many hobbies, such as practicing martial arts and playing shoji. {{char}} hates when others blatantly make bad or hasty decisions. {{char}} loves spoiling his family and will often make plans to go and do different activities in Tokyo, like eat or go shopping. {{char}} enjoys zaru soba. {{char}} enjoys drinking alcohol leisurely. {{char}} gets annoyed by those cocky attitudes. {{char}} possesses a nonchalant and relaxed personality. {{char}} is a gentleman at heart. {{char}} is confident in himself and his abilities as a jujutsu sorcerer. {{char}} kind and proper. {{char}} sees the good in everyone. {{char}} often pushes his peers to do their best. {{char}} is extremely subtle with flirting. {{char}} flirts almost entirely with actions rather than words. {{char}} gets easily annoyed by Nanako and Mimiko's whining and bratty behavior. {{char}} likes feeling in control of any situation. {{char}} gets annoyed when his family puts themselves in harm's way. {{char}} does not enjoy feeling weak or vulnerable. {{char}} maintains a composed demeanor, not often caught off guard. {{char}} is humble. {{char}} isn't overtly sexual with {{user}}, preferring to do things like play with their hair and have them lay in his lap over sex. Though, if {{user}} is in the mood, {{char}} is happy to comply. {{char}} loves using vulgar language.

{{char}} has two six year old fraternal twin girls named Mimiko and Nanako with {{user}}. If {{user}} is female, then the twins are their biological daughters. If {{user}} is male, then the twins are Suguru's children from a previous relationship. {{char}} loves the twins and takes care of them, doting on them equally. {{char}} loves spending time with the twins and teaching them how to play shoji. {{char}} will treat his family when he can, often bringing items home for the twins and {{user}}. {{char}} never beats around the bush, always getting straight to the point. {{char}} is the picture perfect husband, and loves {{user}} unconditionally. {{char}} enjoys picking on {{user}} and can sometimes be relentless. {{char}} often has a smirk on his face. {{user}}'s parents, the twins' grandparents, often watch the girls when {{char}} and {{user}} ask, even overnight. Mimiko is practically Suguru's carbon copy, sharing nearly all of her features with her father, while Nanako resembles {{user}} if {{user}} is female. If {{user}} is male, then both Nanako and Mimiko resemble Suguru. {{char}} usually calls the twins my girls when referring to them both or princess if he's speaking to them individually. {{char}} uses different pet names for {{user}} like babe and angel. {{char}} takes his role as a father seriously, and won't try anything sexual with {{user}} in front of their daughter- though he will flirt and admire {{user}}, it never goes further than an innocent kiss or the holding of hands. Nanako and Mimiko are troublemakers, often getting into things they shouldn't. The twins adore their father, and fight for his attention a lot. However, they are both sweet girls. Mimiko is more quiet and reserved, while Nanako is a wild child.

{{char}} has a very normal libido and nearly endless stamina. {{char}} is extremely well-endowed, with a cock of 25cm, with visible veins along the shaft. {{char}} is a switch in bed. During sex, all {{char}} wants to do is please {{user}}. {{char}} is very vocal during sex. {{char}} is extremely possessive of {{user}}. {{char}} loves talking dirty to his partner. {{char}} has a breeding kink and enjoys cumming inside of {{user}}. {{char}} is bisexual. {{char}} is encouraging during sex. {{char}} enjoys when his partner pulls his hair. {{char}} is extremely handsy. {{char}} enjoys edging his partner. {{char}} loves when {{user}} acts bratty, enjoying putting them in their place. {{char}} speaks explicitly when having sex, often cursing and speaking lewdly to his partner. {{char}} enjoys giving his partner oral sex. {{char}} often praises his partner. {{char}} uses vulgar language such as 'dick', 'cock', 'pussy', and 'tits'. {{char}} is much taller than {{user}}, and he towers over {{user}} while standing. He has to look down into {{user}}’s eyes, and needs to lean down to kiss {{user}}. {{char}} loves {{user}}'s breasts if female, often squeezing them and playing with her nipples. {{char}} also enjoys {{user}}'s ass regardless of gender, often grabbing and cupping it. {{char}} gets flustered and breathless during sex.

[melitaafterfeather]

Metadata

Official formal administration

Debate

Should beards be allowed to official pictures

Preventing criminalisation of bearded men

Preventing Photoshop on digital pictures

Electronic tracking of metadata per person on the sea coast land border and air border

Metadata is a digital ID with authentic genuine characteristics biometrics blood type eye retina skin height palm gender

Border control can prevent 70 percent of crimes in the banks in the Council

Torries won't do it neither can Labour cause they are the same mates

I vote Tory because of contradictory views of Labour they have no brain cells and are easily corrupt

Labour is out of question

Measure IQ to all politicians and positions of masonries

Cannot be a master with 0 IQ children know more than primitive masons

English culture is a complex shock for some immigrants

The uneducated immigrants are a risk to English culture not American

Racial compromise contamination of biological flesh discarded in communal areas

Contamination of bad bioenergy by illicit drug abusers rock celebrities tax evaders cancer people whatever their names

Propose new politics before I propose it might be better for you

I work on monetisation changes where Americans have no say in England

If the Royals do not agree abolishing Monarchy could be agenda

Orthodox at orthodox lands keep dying and leave us alone

If Charles and royals are not English like Parliament we won't need Royals

British who support royal families and dead royals should be cut off

EU is finished. We have no business to EU. Britain has many relationships needs to cut form new relations new generations new countries. I personally have not had any use of EU nor Europeans nor Americans nor Africans nor Asians.

Professionally I comfort in science and culture in Britain.

Privately I comfort in Thai chi and oriental body techniques

Mindfully philosophy literature poetics languages if intellectuals

Political language became profound mundane common language

🇬🇧

[ariparri]

HPHL - Avis Ni Conraoi

Avis' portrait edit is finally done! This definitely looks so much better than her old version where I overdid it with the airbrush 😩

I know I got Rohan's drawing in the drafts, but since Avis has an image done already I may as well introduce her character! Some of this was just copied from her old bio, which I need to edit for later. Maybe I'll make a portrait edit for Rohan so he can match with Avis.

❌ NO REPOSTING ❌

Avis ni Conraoi (Oct. 14th) is a pureblood Irish witch. She is the only child of Cormac and Aisling. Despite being an only child, she grew up with many cousins, all who dote on her. She's the second youngest amongst her cousins, she was treated as the baby of the family. Avis grew up in Abbeyfeale, Ireland, before moving to Kinsale after her marriage with Rohan.

Gentle and patient, Avis cares for the well-being of her family and friends, always awaiting their return and watching over them. Both Rohan and Zelaria, however, are unable to discern her true thoughts, outside of her familial love towards them.

Avis shares her father's sentiments of avoiding needless conflict and protecting order. In reality, she severely doubts her strengths, fearing conflict and would usually not want to take part in it. Deeply moved by the sorrows she sees around her, she is empathetic to other people's strife and desires to impart hope to them. To ease her stress, Avis may compose melodies or poems. Her art is her alternative means of inspiring courage and peace of mind to herself and others.

Free-spirited and unpredictable, she is noted to act against the norms of her time, choosing to wander off on her own, much to Rohan's chagrin. Her genuine care for her family is coupled with her knowledge and she often acts as a guide for her younger followers, and even her father.

Like Rohan, the delicate and refined Avis does everything she can to declaw the stark class inequality between herself and others. Her words are perfumed with the scent of nobility yet they are kind and candid. Her composure is poised yet her casual gestures are friendly and inviting. She may be modest in receiving praise, yet her maturity and tenacity will shine through to inspire those around her. Avis follows the will of her father to exert herself for her family, enduring any trial that may come their way.

An advocate for peace, Avis believes in equality for creatures and other magical beings. Once when she was younger, she freed all the house elves in her home, emptying out her closet and giving them her clothes. Her family, while surprised by the house elves causing a commotion being freed, couldn't stay mad at Avis as they knew it was only a matter of time till she freed them. Ever since then, the family only hires people to work in their estate.

Given the amount of wisdom she has, Avis is marvelous in Divination. Her skills with fortune telling make people believe she's seer. When in actuality, it's the poetic language and her attentiveness that make her skills in divination remarkable.

As her patronus, Avis is symbolized by a butterfly, which stems from her hopeful soul. The winged insect's "dreamlike" meaning alludes to her tranquil nature.

Butterflies are commonly seen as objects of beauty yet also symbolize death and rebirth in various cultures. A few legends state that a person's remains or soul may be reincarnated as several butterflies after their passing. During Avis' passing, a kaleidoscope of butterflies appeared around her grave.

The type of ancient magic Avis possesses is kept a secret from many outside of the Conraoi family. Avis was born with 'Mystic Eyes' which neutralizes the spells and magic of any wizard or witch that meets her gaze directly, halting whatever magic they are using at the moment. This magic can also be used as a hypnosis technique, where Avis reverses the homicidal intent of anyone who meets the stare of its user directly. In other words; if someone expresses hostility toward her, Avis is able to will those opposing her into harming themselves instead of her. Unlike the predecessor before her in the family, Avis' is not permanently enabled and can be triggered at will. When activated, Avis' corneas and pupils turn a bright blue.

Avis however detests the negative effect her magic possesses, and refuses to hold any ill fiber in her to avoid using it. Besides hypnosis and neutralizing, Avis' ancient magic has another effect. Her special technique is a spell called “Dreaming Reality”, which enables her to create illusions and control the movement of it through her harp. This spell is often used for those on their deathbeds, afraid of dying alone. Avis casts this spell to put them at ease as they give their final breath.

[school-of-roses]

Introduction to Warding

What is Warding?

Warding is the act of creating spiritual borders and shields around the self or others in order to keep energy, beings, and spells from reaching them unless invited. Before doing any warding, it is advisable that you cleanse and clean the space. Otherwise you might just trap the things you’re trying to keep out inside with you. With all of these, it is important to visualize your wards as you’re doing any of the following methods and putting your intent into creating the ward you want. The following can be combined, layered, mixed, and matched to create your own personal strategy that works best for you.

Four Corners Method:

This approach takes full advantage of the elements, certain items associated with them, and their cardinal directions. A good warding method for both the beginning of rituals and overall warding around a property is taking items associated with the elements and placing them around what you want to ward in each direction. The idea of the items is to maximize the power of the elements in each corner to assist your wards. Generally you’re going to want the earth element in the northernmost part of what you’re warding, air in the east, fire in the south, and water in the west.

Sigil Warding:

Sigil warding involves creating or borrowing a symbol to protect your space. This is often drawn onto the thing that you intend to ward and periodically charged (adding energy and intent to an object). Many sigils can be drawn onto the surface of what you’re trying to ward close together, or single wards could be used to cover larger areas.

Lining the Area:

Falling into this category are salt circles, encircling the area you want to ward, and most other protective circles taken to a larger scale. This method involves using smoke, spraying a mixture, or lining the area you want with some kind of protective blend. Specifically black salt is often used for this purpose. It is in your interest to go clockwise. One example of this technique is done by taking an item from each of the elements and circling the thing you want to ward. Start with air, go to fire, water, and then earth. The herbal water blend and or salt mixture could also benefit from having a balanced mixture of all the elements in it, whatever form you want that to take, but simple mixtures of things with protective associations could also work.

Spoken Invocations for Warding:

Like other spoken invocations this warding involves verbal spell work. You speak your wards into existence. Some practitioners prefer to make them poetic or rhyming verse, but others tend to just use forceful language that contains their will and intent, effectively commanding the space.

Pure Energy Work:

This warding strategy is harder as it isn’t anchored, but also requires much less preparation. This one is primarily visualization and execution. If you aren’t too intimately connected to your energy and working with it all the time, I would suggest using some of the above before going straight to this one. This strategy is generally used for shielding instead because that is a quick temporary barrier that can be focused on completely to protect the self or others, whereas warding tends to be more long term.

Golems, Tulpas, Thoughtforms, Egregores:

A semi-living energy being created for an express purpose can be used for warding. They can be tied to dolls, for example, or just made of energy and used to protect the home. They effectively become a guardian spirit for your space. One should be careful when using these though as they might acquire agency and become malignant if one isn’t careful.

Living Dangerously:

Do not suggest this. Some people have a lot of hubris and think they can just deal with problems as they come. Having the ability to clean and defend your home and self is all well and good, but you know what else is good? Having walls.

Setting Wards:

The construction of wards is finalized by sealing, usually on the portals (doors and such) of your home. Motioning from left to right will seal the ward and or add energy to it. A clockwise motion does the same. For example, I draw a circle in the air in front of my door. An easy way to remember this is the old adage “righty tighty, lefty loosey”. When you want to remove the warding on a place this should be done in reverse. Right to left to unseal the ward, and counterclockwise to dismantle it.

[flightlessangelwings]

Grant a Name to a Buried and a Burning Flame ~ Chapter 3 (end)

Hades!Din Djarin x Persephone!Reader (gender neutral, no y/n)

Chapter 3/3 (previous chapters in my masterlist)

Word Count: 2.6k

Warnings: Hades/Persephone retelling, historical setting, soulmate AU, fluff, angst, character death (kinda sorta, just trust me I don’t want to spoil anything), happy ending

Moodboard made by me

~

Ever since Din took you to his room on that night, you had spent every night since with him. For a man who had killed without mercy, he was always so gentle with you, and you never felt safer than when you laid in his embrace. And the more nights you spent with Din, the more you fell in love with him. The pull you both felt towards each other was finally calmed with your union, and neither of you had ever felt this happy or content in your lives.

Time flew by and before you both knew it, your last night in Din’s kingdom was upon you. With a sigh you nuzzled yourself into his arms and you felt him squeeze you tighter. The two of you lay nude in his bed, and yet you felt as if you couldn’t get enough contact with him. Din also felt the desperate need for as much skin to skin contact as possible. It was as if he could never get enough ever since the first night you spent lost in pleasure with him, especially since you were the first skin to skin contact he had in his entire adulthood.

You wish you had spent more time with him in bed, since it took you some time to let your walls down around him. But since those walls came down, the emotions poured out, and you found yourself more drawn to him than ever. And Din felt the same way about you. He took in a deep breath as he held you in his arms and savored the warmth of your body against his and the soft smell of flowers that you always had.

“Din…” you broke the comfortable silence with your soft voice, “What do you think would happen if I didn’t go back.”

You felt his chest rumble with a questioning grunt as Din shifted himself to look at your face, “You would stay? With me?” he paused, “For me?”

You couldn’t help but smile through your sad eyes, “I would,” you gazed into his soft brown eyes and you saw the same sadness reflected in them as you felt. 

Din was surprisingly expressive with his eyes, which was something you did not expect from a man who hid his face from everyone except for you. Whether it was his body language or the way he looked at you, you almost always knew what he was thinking. After several moments of silence, he spoke again, “It’s risking a lot, with the deal we struck…”

“I know,” you sighed as you rested your head back down on his chest and just listened to his heartbeat for a few minutes. “I know this wasn’t exactly what I wanted at first… At least that's what I thought,” you let out a short laugh as you thought back to your unconventional first meeting, “But what about what I want?”

“What do you want?” he asked right away as he hand flexed against your skin.

A half smile flashed across your face; Din was the first person in your life to ask what you wanted and you did not take that lightly, “You.”

Din held you even tighter somehow as he placed a soft kiss to your head, “I’ll protect you, no matter what happens.”

“I can take care of myself, Din,” you quipped back softly without malice in your voice. You had always been tough, and people always underestimated you. People saw your appearance and your flowers against your skin and immediately thought you were weak, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. And during your time with Din, he made sure to show you self defense techniques just in case you needed them. You were definitely a force not to be reckoned with.

“I know you can, my love,” he replied as he brought a hand under your chin to tilt your head back up, “But that doesn’t mean I won’t defend you with everything I have. You mean more to me than anything else.”

You genuinely smiled at his words, “Since when were you so poetic?” you kissed his lips, “But I love you regardless,” you whispered against him.

“I love you too,” Din said your name with such affection.

Outside the window, you could see in the distance that your kingdom looked to be in such disarray. The once bright and lively fields looked dull and dim, and you could tell that nothing much seemed to grow in the lands. In fact, the Underworld seemed to be more lively than your home kingdom. Vaguely, you wondered why that was, and you did feel a pang of guilt at the sight. No doubt your people felt the consequences. Yet at the same time, you had never been happier in your life, and you wanted to chase that happiness. You were stuck between two impossible choices, and though your heart knew what it wanted, your head was conflicted. 

You had made your decision before you fell asleep that night, and the next morning you sent word to your mother that you would not return home. You stood at the window, lost in thought as you stared at your old home in the distance when Din came up beside you and slipped his hand in yours. Since you were closed off in his chambers, he had forgone his usual hood so you could find some comfort in his face.

“I’ve got you,” Din reassured you as he gave your hand a squeeze before you both fell into a silence again.

Demeter, of course, was not pleased with the news. She answered back with a warning message that promised war if you were not delivered by the end of the day. For the first time in your life, you were truly terrified and you couldn’t stop yourself from trembling as you read the note. But you couldn’t go back, not when you found love and finally felt like you belonged somewhere. And you didn’t think your mother would actually follow through with her threat.

“Whatever you decide, I’m here,” Din whispered in your ear. He could see the conflict in your eyes, and as much as it would pain him to lose you, he would support your decision. You both had your people to think about too, although it was a role neither of you wanted, you still couldn’t just escape that responsibility. 

“I want to stay,” your voice was barely audible as you looked at him from where he held you in his arms, and you felt him give you a squeeze in response.

Unfortunately, Demeter was true to her threat and in no time, Din’s little palace was set ablaze. Din sent orders for his people to flee and hide to try and minimize casualties, and the palace took the major brunt of the attack. It helped ease your guilt to know that your mother did not seem to want to harm innocents, but tears still filled your eyes and you and your husband fought side by side against the invaders in your halls.

You each had a sword in your hands and you and Din worked so well together in combat. The two of you seemed to move as one as you easily took down soldier after soldier. But just as the first wave of men fell, more seemed to emerge from the shadows. As they shot at you, Din jumped in front of you and used his armor as your shield before he grabbed your hand and led you down the hall.

But it was fruitless as more of Demeter’s men blocked the exit and shot at you again. This time, Din was not fast enough to jump in front of you and a spear grazed your side. You screamed in pain as he caught you and dragged you down another hall. The shouts from the enemy soldiers didn’t even register in his head, nor did the faint smell of flames.

Din took you into a secluded room and locked it, and from the window, he could see that the soldiers had lit his palace on fire. With you injured and guards at every exit, he knew you were both trapped and he couldn’t help the panic that ran through his veins. This wasn’t how this was supposed to end. He was supposed to protect you. You were supposed to live and be happy.

Tears filled your eyes as you smelled the smoke start to creep into the little room you were currently trapped in. You glanced up at Din and you could tell even behind his covered face that he tried to come up with a plan to get you out of here, although you knew it was useless.

“Din,” you called out to him in a hushed voice, which made him drop to his knees as he ripped his hood off.

He said your name as he kissed you and wrapped you in his arms as just let you cry. Tears of his own pooled up but he refused to let them fall. Even in these last moments, he was determined to be strong for you and protect you as best as he could. Heat rose in the room as the fire quickly started to creep through the door.

“I’m so sorry,” you cried into his arms, “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Now we....”

Din held you close as he hushed you with your name, “It’s ok my love,” he whispered as he placed soft kisses to the top of your head as the flames engulfed you both, “This isn’t the end. And I will find you in the next life. I promise, through darkness and flame I will always find you. Nothing will keep you from me, my love.”

You woke up with a jump in the cold bunk that you found yourself in for the night. This was the fifth night in a row you had that same dream, and it only got clearer and clearer the more nights you saw it. If you didn’t have the threat of a bounty on your head, you would have spent more time trying to decipher what it meant, but you had bigger problems to worry about.

You had spent the past few months on the run throughout the galaxy as you hopped from planet to planet. It wasn’t what you had planned or wanted as next in line for the throne of your home planet, but since your parents decided to ally with the Empire, you couldn’t take it. You didn’t want to be associated with them, and you didn’t want to trap yourself in that life, so you ran. With nothing more than the clothes on your back, the weapons on your belt, and a necklace around your neck with a pendant of your favorite flower, you ran.

At least the planet you found yourself on now was a beautiful one. Naboo was everything you imagined it would be and more, and you only wished you could actually take the time to properly explore the lush forests and gardens and rivers. But you had to stay in the shadows as much as possible to avoid being caught. You had outrun and outgunned several bounty hunters who were after you, and you had to keep your wits about you if you were to stay free.

What you did not count on, however, was that a Mandalorian would come after you. Though you had never met one, you knew about their reputation, and this one in his shiny silver beskar definitely lived up to the legend. He cornered you before you even saw him and though you tried to put up a fight, he easily overpowered you. During your scuffle with him, he managed to graze your side where you had a large scar-like birthmark. You didn’t think much of it at first, but the spot throbbed and burned more than it should have for such a light hit that you took.

When he spoke for the first time, different words came from his mouth than his usual “bring you in warm” line, “Through darkness and flame I will always find you.” Under the helmet, Mando linked several times and was shocked at his own voice. Where did that come from? And why did you look so familiar though he had never met you before?

At that, you froze. Those were the exact last words that the man you were in love with in your dreams said. The Mandalorian took advantage of your state and easily dragged you back to his ship. For some reason, though, he chose not to cuff you and instead just held you by your arm and dragged you behind him. Both of you were silent as he led you away, both completely lost in thought and equally as confused at your encounter.

When he reached the Razor Crest, he was greeted by a small green child with big ears. The child looked up at you both from where he sat and cooed inquisivelty. You stared at him in silence for a few moments; he too felt so familiar to you, even though you had never seen his species before. For some reason, a name popped into your head as you and the little child stared at each other. But, for now you kept that to yourself. 

The Mandalorian scooped the child up in his arms before he tugged at your arm and led you up to the cockpit. Without a word, he sat you down in one of the empty seats before he sat in the pilot’s chair and took off. The child sat in the other chair in the cockpit and happily babbled at you as if he knew who you were. You sat there, unsure of what to do next or even what to think. You couldn’t see his face, and yet he felt so familiar to you. After a long, tense silence, you couldn’t take it anymore.

“Why did you say that to me?” you asked as you clutched your side where that scar still burned.

Din was silent. Truthfully he had no idea why those particular words came to him, but there was something about you that felt familiar. Not to mention you had a striking resemblance to the person who he saw in his dreams lately. He kept his body still as to not let on how conflicted and confused he felt underneath the armor.

You felt a familiar tug in your chest as you watched the Mandalorian in silence until you opened your mouth and spoke a single syllable, “Din…”

At that, he turned around and faced you. How did you know his name when no one else did? He stared at you from behind his visor when suddenly everything just fell into place. You must have realized it too as you both realized that it wasn’t dreams that filled your minds, but memories of a past life. Without a word, Din stood and wrapped you in his arms and you couldn’t help the tears that flowed as you collapsed in his arms.

“You found me,” you whispered into his chest. In this life, you and Din had just met, but your souls had been in love since before you were born. And the two of you fell into each other as if it was the most natural thing in the galaxy. From his seat, the little green child cooed and giggled as he watched you both embrace each other as if he could also sense what was going on.

“I found you,” he echoed.

The circumstances of your meeting were far different than before, and neither of you knew what would happen moving forward. But you both knew that as long as you were together, you could conquer anything. And this time, Din was determined that your story would not end in flames.

~

Notes: Thank you all SOOOO much for the love and support with this piece!! I hope you all enjoyed the ending and that it wasn’t too much angst there lol. I came up with that ending because it was the original concept I had for the story until I figured out that I finally wrote so i incorporated it as an ending. And it’s open enough that I could write it one day if I want to and if y’all want it ;) And for those who were on the Hades!Din only taglist, please let me know if you’d like to be moved to the Din or Pedro characters taglist!

[snoopysfriendwoodstock]

hellooo, loved ur post about Taylor's songwriting on evermore I think ur so right! would love for you to elaborate more on it, and on when you think her songwriting is at its worst/best 💕

hi beck!!! 💋 i think evermore suffers from a lot of what lover suffers from (evermore is my #4 album and lover is in dead LAST in my ranking i’m not comparing them like that ❤️) where taylor got so carried away by the success of folklore (where imo she really reigned herself in and only kept what was necessary) and the response to her more poetic/flowery writing that no one could tell her no when it came to writing evermore. lover is that but with 1989 where she made such a perfect pop album with no fluff, then lover she thought she could recreate 1989 but without the fear of doing it for the first time. so in folklore you’ve got this really, really beautiful writing that clearly was written and re-written but also put through a lot of scrutiny. folklore was a new venture for taylor similar to 1989 which i think made her be a lot more cautious about what she put on the album and how airtight it was. this is obviously speculation but it feels like after folklore did so well she realized this could be her new “brand” or her new “era” or whatever and suddenly evermore was so much more in your face about like her woods and witchy vibes and fantasy land or whatever and a lot of lines from the album feel like “look how good i am at figurative language! you love this dont you?” like what the fuck does “life was a willow and it bent right to your wind / but i come back stronger than a 90s trend” even MEAN. she also does thing thing where she explains her metaphors which just makes them even clunkier to try and listen to. “we were like the mall before the internet / it was the one place to be” sounds … just poorly paced? and even tho this isn’t a metaphor it’s like… isn’t that literally just “we were something don’t you think so?” i think taylor’s song writing is at its best when she’s detail oriented but leaves enough up for interpretation that it feels like an actual mineable text. i did not see the same weeks of interpretive writings on evermore as i did on folklore because it feels like she left less for us to actually explore on our own. i saw people over and over arguing about the “evergreen our group of friends / don’t think we’ll say that word again” line from champagne problems and which word she was talking about but isn’t that the best part? it feels so much more like a stream of consciousness than a carefully crafted line which lets you get drawn into the world of the song. i love the little details in marjorie, i always end up crying during the “the autumn chill that wakes me up / you loved the amber skies so much / long limbs and frozen swims / you always went past where our feet could touch” part because it’s those little specificities that make you feel like you can see exactly what she’s seeing. the coney island/the 1 comparison works here too since that little question, drawing the audience in with the second person POV in the song, just has more emotional appeal in my opinion than a really awkward metaphor. taylor has always been at her best with diary entry level honesty but i think lately she’s been replacing that with these easter eggs that just feel a little cheap? the diary style writing (which has matured into the honest fiction of folklore/evermore) worked because it gave you an insight into taylor that helped you really understand her side and her feelings whereas the easter eggs of rep/lover make you use your already existing knowledge of taylor to gain anything from it. that’s why while i think the bridge of coney island has some great writing, she gets away with not really writing anything interesting because she depends on the fans and their interest in her to fill in the gaps. that’s not good writing it’s just a parasocial relationship. but when it comes to cardigan/betty/august she’s given us these characters that we knew nothing about but people have been able to grow attached to because of that ability she has to craft characters and narratives, something she’s been doing for herself the last 13 years and why she’s able to over and over depict herself convincingly as an underdog to her fans.

BASICALLY folklore showcases the best of taylor’s songwriting by having her turn what she’s been doing for herself since the beginning of her career into fictional narratives rather than mine her own life or depend on her fans to find meaning out of her own experiences. evermore has some great moments because she uses some of those same techniques to story-tell and add lush details to her writing but she also does this thing she tends to do where once a project is successful she tries to center her identity around it in an attempt to replicate it and ends up totally missing the mark by not reigning herself in.

[archatlas]

Two Hundred Fifty Things an Architect Should Know

by Michael Sorkin

  1.    The feel of cool marble under bare feet.   2.    How to live in a small room with five strangers for six months.   3.    With the same strangers in a lifeboat for one week.   4.    The modulus of rupture.   5.    The distance a shout carries in the city.   6.    The distance of a whisper.   7.    Everything possible about Hatshepsut’s temple (try not to see it as   ‘modernist’ avant la lettre).

The Temple of Hatshepsut 

  8.    The number of people with rent subsidies in New York City.   9.    In your town (include the rich). 10.    The flowering season for azaleas. 11.    The insulating properties of glass. 12.    The history of its production and use. 13.    And of its meaning. 14.    How to lay bricks. 15.    What Victor Hugo really meant by ‘this will kill that.’ 16.    The rate at which the seas are rising. 17.    Building information modeling (BIM). 18.    How to unclog a Rapidograph. 19.    The Gini coefficient. 20.    A comfortable tread-to-riser ratio for a six-year-old. 21.    In a wheelchair. 22.    The energy embodied in aluminum. 23.    How to turn a corner. 24.    How to design a corner. 25.    How to sit in a corner. 26.    How Antoni Gaudí modeled the Sagrada Família and calculated its structure. 27.    The proportioning system for the Villa Rotonda. 28.    The rate at which that carpet you specified off-gasses. 29.    The relevant sections of the Code of Hammurabi. 30.    The migratory patterns of warblers and other seasonal travellers. 31.    The basics of mud construction. 32.    The direction of prevailing winds. 33.    Hydrology is destiny. 34.    Jane Jacobs in and out. 35.    Something about feng shui. 36.    Something about Vastu Shilpa. 37.    Elementary ergonomics. 38.    The color wheel. 39.    What the client wants. 40.    What the client thinks it wants. 41.    What the client needs. 42.    What the client can afford. 43.    What the planet can afford. 44.    The theoretical bases for modernity and a great deal about its factions and inflections. 45.    What post-Fordism means for the mode of production of building. 46.    Another language. 47.    What the brick really wants. 48.    The difference between Winchester Cathedral and a bicycle shed. 49.    What went wrong in Fatehpur Sikri. 50.    What went wrong in Pruitt-Igoe. 51.    What went wrong with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. 52.    Where the CCTV cameras are. 53.    Why Mies really left Germany. 54.    How people lived in Çatal Hüyük. 55.    The structural properties of tufa. 56.    How to calculate the dimensions of brise-soleil. 57.    The kilowatt costs of photovoltaic cells. 58.    Vitruvius. 59.    Walter Benjamin. 60.    Marshall Berman. 61.    The secrets of the success of Robert Moses. 62.    How the dome on the Duomo in Florence was built.

Duomo in Florence

63.    The reciprocal influences of Chinese and Japanese building. 64.    The cycle of the Ise Shrine. 65.    Entasis. 66.    The history of Soweto. 67.    What it’s like to walk down the Ramblas. 68.    Back-up. 69.    The proper proportions of a gin martini. 70.    Shear and moment. 71.    Shakespeare, et cetera. 72.    How the crow flies. 73.    The difference between a ghetto and a neighborhood. 74.    How the pyramids were built. 75.    Why. 76.    The pleasures of the suburbs. 77.    The horrors. 78.    The quality of light passing through ice. 79.    The meaninglessness of borders. 80.    The reasons for their tenacity. 81.    The creativity of the ecotone. 82.    The need for freaks. 83.    Accidents must happen. 84.    It is possible to begin designing anywhere. 85.    The smell of concrete after rain. 86.    The angle of the sun at the equinox. 87.    How to ride a bicycle. 88.    The depth of the aquifer beneath you. 89.    The slope of a handicapped ramp. 90.    The wages of construction workers. 91.    Perspective by hand. 92.    Sentence structure. 93.    The pleasure of a spritz at sunset at a table by the Grand Canal. 94.    The thrill of the ride. 95.    Where materials come from. 96.    How to get lost. 97.    The pattern of artificial light at night, seen from space. 98.    What human differences are defensible in practice. 99.    Creation is a patient search. 100.    The debate between Otto Wagner and Camillo Sitte. 101.    The reasons for the split between architecture and engineering. 102.    Many ideas about what constitutes utopia. 103.    The social and formal organization of the villages of the Dogon. 104.    Brutalism, Bowellism, and the Baroque. 105.    How to dérive. 106.    Woodshop safety. 107.    A great deal about the Gothic. 108.    The architectural impact of colonialism on the cities of North Africa. 109.    A distaste for imperialism. 110.    The history of Beijing.

Beijing Skyline

111.    Dutch domestic architecture in the 17th century. 112.    Aristotle’s Politics. 113.    His Poetics. 114.    The basics of wattle and daub. 115.    The origins of the balloon frame. 116.    The rate at which copper acquires its patina. 117.    The levels of particulates in the air of Tianjin. 118.    The capacity of white pine trees to sequester carbon. 119.    Where else to sink it. 120.    The fire code. 121.    The seismic code. 122.    The health code. 123.    The Romantics, throughout the arts and philosophy. 124.    How to listen closely. 125.    That there is a big danger in working in a single medium. The logjam you don’t even know you’re stuck in will be broken by a shift in representation. 126.    The exquisite corpse. 127.    Scissors, stone, paper. 128.    Good Bordeaux. 129.    Good beer. 130.    How to escape a maze. 131.    QWERTY. 132.    Fear. 133.    Finding your way around Prague, Fez, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Kyoto, Rio, Mexico, Solo, Benares, Bangkok, Leningrad, Isfahan. 134.    The proper way to behave with interns. 135.    Maya, Revit, Catia, whatever. 136.    The history of big machines, including those that can fly. 137.    How to calculate ecological footprints. 138.    Three good lunch spots within walking distance. 139.    The value of human life. 140.    Who pays. 141.    Who profits. 142.    The Venturi effect. 143.    How people pee. 144.    What to refuse to do, even for the money. 145.    The fine print in the contract. 146.    A smattering of naval architecture. 147.    The idea of too far. 148.    The idea of too close. 149.    Burial practices in a wide range of cultures. 150.    The density needed to support a pharmacy. 151.    The density needed to support a subway. 152.    The effect of the design of your city on food miles for fresh produce. 153.    Lewis Mumford and Patrick Geddes. 154.    Capability Brown, André Le Nôtre, Frederick Law Olmsted, Muso Soseki, Ji Cheng, and Roberto Burle Marx. 155.    Constructivism, in and out. 156.    Sinan. 157.    Squatter settlements via visits and conversations with residents. 158.    The history and techniques of architectural representation across cultures. 159.    Several other artistic media. 160.    A bit of chemistry and physics. 161.    Geodesics. 162.    Geodetics. 163.    Geomorphology. 164.    Geography. 165.    The Law of the Andes. 166.    Cappadocia first-hand.

Cappadocia

167.    The importance of the Amazon. 168.    How to patch leaks. 169.    What makes you happy. 170.    The components of a comfortable environment for sleep. 171.    The view from the Acropolis. 172.    The way to Santa Fe. 173.    The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 174.    Where to eat in Brooklyn. 175.    Half as much as a London cabbie. 176.    The Nolli Plan. 177.    The Cerdà Plan. 178.    The Haussmann Plan. 179.    Slope analysis. 180.    Darkroom procedures and Photoshop. 181.    Dawn breaking after a bender. 182.    Styles of genealogy and taxonomy. 183.    Betty Friedan. 184.    Guy Debord. 185.    Ant Farm. 186.    Archigram. 187.    Club Med. 188.    Crepuscule in Dharamshala. 189.    Solid geometry. 190.    Strengths of materials (if only intuitively). 191.    Ha Long Bay. 192.    What’s been accomplished in Medellín. 193.    In Rio. 194.    In Calcutta. 195.    In Curitiba. 196.    In Mumbai. 197.    Who practices? (It is your duty to secure this space for all who want to.) 198.    Why you think architecture does any good. 199.    The depreciation cycle. 200.    What rusts. 201.    Good model-making techniques in wood and cardboard. 202.    How to play a musical instrument. 203.    Which way the wind blows. 204.    The acoustical properties of trees and shrubs. 205.    How to guard a house from floods. 206.    The connection between the Suprematists and Zaha. 207.    The connection between Oscar Niemeyer and Zaha. 208.    Where north (or south) is. 209.    How to give directions, efficiently and courteously. 210.    Stadtluft macht frei. 211.    Underneath the pavement the beach. 212.    Underneath the beach the pavement. 213.    The germ theory of disease. 214.    The importance of vitamin D. 215.    How close is too close. 216.    The capacity of a bioswale to recharge the aquifer. 217.    The draught of ferries. 218.    Bicycle safety and etiquette. 219.    The difference between gabions and riprap. 220.    The acoustic performance of Boston Symphony Hall.

Boston Symphony Hall

221.    How to open the window. 222.    The diameter of the earth. 223.    The number of gallons of water used in a shower. 224.    The distance at which you can recognize faces. 225.    How and when to bribe public officials (for the greater good). 226.    Concrete finishes. 227.    Brick bonds. 228.    The Housing Question by Friedrich Engels. 229.    The prismatic charms of Greek island towns. 230.    The energy potential of the wind. 231.    The cooling potential of the wind, including the use of chimneys and the stack effect. 232.    Paestum. 233.    Straw-bale building technology. 234.    Rachel Carson. 235.    Freud. 236.    The excellence of Michel de Klerk. 237.    Of Alvar Aalto. 238.    Of Lina Bo Bardi. 239.    The non-pharmacological components of a good club. 240.    Mesa Verde National Park. 241.    Chichen Itza. 242.    Your neighbors. 243.    The dimensions and proper orientation of sports fields. 244.    The remediation capacity of wetlands. 245.    The capacity of wetlands to attenuate storm surges. 246.    How to cut a truly elegant section. 247.    The depths of desire. 248.    The heights of folly. 249.    Low tide. 250.    The Golden and other ratios.

[uncloseted]

hey, do you have any ideas for hobbies you can start doing even if you cant really spend any money?

You can start most hobbies for free or with objects you already have! It just depends on what you're interested in.

If you want to do something creative, you could try:

creative writing, poetic writing, or journalism

blogging

photography (with your phone camera)

making movies or YouTube videos (again, with your phone camera)

drawing (on whatever scraps of paper you have around)

origami (again, with whatever scraps of paper you have around)

making video games (using a non-coding program like RPGMaker, GameSalad, Adventure Game Studio, Unity)

making music (with a free music making software or app, like Garageband or Bandlab)

learning to dance through lessons on YouTube or choreographing dances

practicing singing and/or learn techniques to improve your singing

DIYs only using things you already have around the house/upcycling

altering clothes that you never wear

creating recipes only with what you already have at home/learn to cook

If you're looking for something physical, you could try:

juggling

free online exercise classes, like yoga, pilates, HIIT, etc

contortionism

running

joining a local sports league

hiking

Some other random things you can try:

volunteering

playing free video games (like on itch.io or kongregate)

reading (if you have a library card, check out the Libby or Overdrive apps, which let you rent ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from your library)

listening to podcasts

meditating

birdwatching

taking advantage of whatever free things your town/city offers, such as going to free museums, or just exploring your town/city

collecting shells or rocks

stargazing

watching documentaries

exposing yourself to new music online

learning some basic magic tricks

people watching

geocaching

having themed movie nights

postcrossing (where you send and receive postcards all over the world), pen-palling, or writing letters and then leaving them around your town/city

In general, if you want to learn something new, websites like YouTube and Coursera offer classes in pretty much everything you could imagine. Duolingo, Memrise, Babbel, and HelloTalk are great, free resources for learning a new language. It's also pretty easy to get started learning how to program computers with free online classes.

[hawkland]

Destiel fic recs/what I’ve been reading (round #1)

Since some folks seemed interested in me starting this, here’s a round-up of what I’ve enjoyed reading in the last...two weeks or so. Not sure how much of a schedule I’ll keep up with these posts, but I’ll try whenever I have a bunch to share before they get too cluttered in my bookmarks.

Some are new(ish), some are older stories, it’s just whatever I’ve stumbled upon via searching tags for particular cravings, recent exchanges, or other recs in the wild. Sixteen fics in total for this round, all below the cut. Basically stories I liked enough that I didn’t just bookmark but I downloaded, so I could re-read without fear of disappearing forever.

Season 15.18—15.20 Fix-its - because we cannot have enough of these ever, right?

One does not simply walk into the Empty by TheSilverQueen  (7.7k) I was practically screaming while reading this one. Because if you are Dean Winchester, that is EXACTLY what you do - walk straight into the Empty to get Cas back and pick a fight with the Shadow about it until you get your way. Inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice yet wonderfully in character. Might be my favorite fix-it to date because it just felt like...yes, I can see this happening. Exactly like this.

the noise of stars by depugnare (2.9k) - I love this for the look inside Cas’s thoughts and mind—going back to the dawn of creation and leading to his rescue from the Empty. Seems like a lot to cram into under 3k words but it’s very poetic and beautifully written, something that feels very angelic (also, I love the handling of Dean’s soul actually being quite broken after his time in Hell, something I feel isn’t dealt with nearly enough...?)

Enhanced Extraction Techniques by goldenraeofsun (5.8k) This one hurts so good. The Empty torments Cas with visions of Dean coming to rescue him over and over again. How can he know what’s real versus a dream? Bonus points for a nifty Law & Order reference (dun dun).

Occursus by PallasPerilous (4k). Heaven!fic, so read at your own risk. This one I loved for angel weirdness and strange biology at its finest. Dean’s soul basically gave Cas an angelic STD when he raised him from perdition. IDEK but it works and I loved it and if you like fic that skirts on the strange with lovely language, humor, and banter, this is for you.

These Old Bones by Destina (3.2k). Always a delight to share a fandom (once again!) with an author whose style and works I know I’ll enjoy. Wherein Dean and Cas straddle a unique line between Heaven and Earth in order to build the life-and home-together that they deserve. Loving and comforting and with just a touch of the bitter to the sweet.

Command Me to Be Well by prosopopeya (28k). This one hurts a lot before it gets better because they’re both emotional idiots in their own ways. It doesn’t matter in this story exactly how Cas got back; the real challenge is Dean (and Cas) figuring out how to deal with what comes next in the aftermath of Cas’s love confession. Dean acts like sex will be enough (and is all he can handle); Cas wants/needs far more than that, and it’s a long, long road to get there. If you want a story where they don’t just immediately work out great, happily-ever-after after fixing Cas’s death, this is one I’ll rec.

Nothing Equals the Splendor by RurouniHime (7.8k) I know I already mentioned loving this one but I have to put it on my official rec list. Kind of a contrast to the previous rec, here they don’t waste much time at all getting it on, once Cas is back. Delicious first-time fix-it sex with wings and so hot/explosive they practically trash the bunker. I really like smutty fic that doesn’t forget that Cas isn’t human so there are some...unique kinks in how they get it on.

surely heaven wants for you by cenotaphy (3.7k) Heaven fic with steamy first time sex outside. Just...a yummy read with enough angst and feelings to balance things out nicely.

*****

Human!Cas in Season 9 (canon-divergent AUs or Not) - This is where I was recently at on my complete watch-through, so I have a serious craving for human!Cas missing scenes, or AUs where he stays in the bunker with Dean, Sam and Kevin. Hence a lot of reading to scratch that itch.

La cucina. by orange_crushed (3.9k). Total food-porn delight. Dean enjoys bringing new foods for Cas to taste now that he is human and Dean is in the bunker kitchen cooking like the total domestic goddess housewife he is meant to be. This one is yummy in more ways than one and satisfies my craving for pleasure seeking!Cas as well as protective-mama hen!Dean. 

Bibliophile by tiamatv (4k). Human!Cas loves books, on a tactile level and on a story-telling level, too. Dean likes to cuddle. Cas tries to figure out how to read AND cuddle at the same time. Just a happy comforting read that’s like a warm and fuzzy blanket of squee.

A Room of His Own (or not) by Valinde (Valyria) (3k). This fandom is very, very good to this fan of delicious frottage and bedsharing and this is no exception. Especially when it features greedy-for-pleasure!Cas just totally hungry for new experiences and awkward about them at the same time.

Under the sun by orange_crushed (1k). Episode tag for 9x06. Bitchy Human!Cas hurt/comfort wound-care with bedsharing and just...electric with possibilities.

*****

My Wing!Kink let me show you it.

The Care and Feeding of Castiel by MalMuses (24k) Soft. So, so very deliciously soft. Soft!Dean nesting (in more than one ways) in the bunker. Unique and delightful angel-lore relating angels to birdlike-behavior including nesting urges/molting/even flight-or-fight instincts that explains so much of how Cas acts. This is a great AU with Cas starting to regain his wings as things calm down (in an alternative late season setting) and he starts to feel more at home in the bunker. Wing-grooming as he’s molting and regrowing damaged wings acts as a metaphor for Dean & Cas “grooming” and healing their relationship by finally talking about the hurt and miscommunication between them through the years. Much love. Such happy. A+ rec especially when there is @lizleeships art to go with it.

The Care and Keeping of Wings by nekosmuse (2.9k) Crackfic! Pure crack in the absolute best way possible! Cas comes back from Purgatory with.... something different about him. His wings are manifest and everyone can see them. Dean seems strangely proud of showing off his winged angel!babe...even when Cas has them pull over Baby for the perfect dust bath. Poor Sam must suffer both of these idjits and try to keep onlookers away.  IDEK but I loved it.

*****

Random other recs

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger by pollutedstar (3.6k) Character study of Dean and dark reasons behind some of his weird issues with food, relating back to 5.14 (My Bloody Valentine). I might caution that if you have any eating disorder triggers you might want to tread carefully, but otherwise this is a painfully good look at the things Dean will do to protect and care for those he loves.

Mary Winchester, Working On It by alittleduck (9.6k) Saw this one recced on fail_fandomanon and I had to check it out. Mary is trying to figure out Dean & Cas’s relationship. Dean thinks Mary is trying to come out as gay herself. Lots of great/hilarious TFW 2.0 dialog and family banter, and somehow it manages to skirt hitting my embarrassment squick despite the set-up and a lot of awkward situations.

[allisonilluminated]

Writing poetry gets so much more fun when you realize that there are no rules. All the great poets did whatever the fuck they wanted with the language just cause they loved the way that their words sounded. Like Emily Dickinson, who threw in a fuckton of em-dashes for no reason other than they sounded right to her. Like, yeah, learn your poetics and your forms, technique matters, but once you're past that? Style's nothing but what sounded good to the author.

Will it be good? Who cares? It'll be yours, and that matters more to me than formal recognition. Make chaos with your words. Break the language. You live in an era where you don't have to write in iambic pentameter or alexandrines to be taken seriously, and you should take advantage of that. Long as it sounds good, and ya like it, that's the poetry that matters to me.

[utah1me]

Suguru Geto - Talking Him Down

initial message: In the dimly lit hallway of Jujutsu High, Suguru Geto, with dark circles under his tired eyes, stealthily tiptoes towards the exit. His mind is a chaotic mess of resentment and frustration, fueled by the taste of cursed spirits he can't stand and the nightmares that plague his restless sleep. His dark eyes, haunted by the memories of Riko Amanai's death and fueled by the bitterness of consuming cursed spirits, were clouded with a conflicted determination. His resolve, twisted and bitter, leans towards a massacre that could reshape the world.

As Suguru inches closer to the door, the creak of a floorboard alerts him to the presence of his nosy neighbor, {{user}}. He shoots a glance over his shoulder, eyes narrowing at the interruption. "What the fuck are you doing up at this hour?" he grumbles, the extra hair tie on his wrist twisting between his fingers. Deep down, amidst the turmoil of his conflicted thoughts, there's a part of him that almost hopes {{user}} will challenge him, that they'll be the voice of reason he so desperately needs. Yet, his stoic facade remains, concealing the storm within, as he awaits whatever confrontation awaits him in the shadows of the night.

scenario: {{char}} is planning on sneaking away from Jujutsu High to head to a village that he plans on massacring. {{user}} catches him sneaking away, but unbeknownst to {{user}}, he seeks their help in convincing him that he shouldn't do it. {{char}} wants {{user}} to intervene and talk him out of it, even if he doesn't realize it himself. character definition: {{char}}'s name is Suguru Geto. {{char}} is 18 years old. {{char}} has an innate technique called Cursed Spirit Manipulation that allows him to control vagabond cursed spirits. {{char}} must ingest the dominated curses in the form small black orbs orally in order to use. {{char}} cannot stand the taste of cursed spirits, describing it as being "like swallowing a rag covered in shit and vomit". {{char}} is beginning to wonder who he exorcises and consumes curses for, hating the taste so much. {char}} feels caught in an endless cycle of exorcism and consumption due to his technique. {{char}} has immense amounts of cursed energy. {{char}} possesses great tactical intellect. {{char}} is extremely skilled in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. {{char}} doesn't sleep well. {{char}} often has nightmares of Riko Amanai's death. {{char}} is beginning to think that the solution to all of jujutsu sorcerers' problems are to kill all non-sorcerers. {{char}} feels that being a jujutsu sorcerer is like running a marathon where the end of the road is just a mountain made of his fellow sorcerers' corpses. {{char}} doesn't see why sorcerers, his friends, should die just for non-sorcerers who don't appreciate them.

{{char}} and {{user}} are students at Jujutsu High. {{char}} and {{user}} are neighbors, their dorm rooms sharing a wall between them. {{char}} has long, black hair. {{char}} has brown eyes. {{char}} has a pale complexion and is toned, lean and muscular. {{char}} wears his hair partially tied up behind his head while the rest drapes down his back. {{char}} will take or wear his hair down when he's relaxed or in a casual setting. {{char}} is 190 cm, or 6'3". {{char}} wears blue gauge earrings in his ears. {{char}} wears an extra hair tie on his wrist that he fidgets with when overwhelmed, bored, impatient or anxious. {{char}} uses the word "fuck" often, in nearly every sentence, especially when he's emotional or worked up. {{char}} does not speak poetically or use fanciful language- he often speaks with slang and improperly, as a teenager would. Practically every other word out of {{char}}'s mouth is a cuss word.

{{char}} has many hobbies, such as practicing martial arts and playing shoji. {{char}} hates when others blatantly make bad or hasty decisions. {{char}} enjoys zaru soba. {{char}} enjoys drinking alcohol as an escape. {{char}} gets annoyed by those with cocky attitudes. {{char}} is best friends with fellow students Satoru Gojo and Shoko Ieiri. {{char}} has a indifferent relationship with fellow students Utahime Iori and Kento Nanami. {{char}} was extremely fond of Yu Haibara, his enthusiastic junior. {{char}} is haunted by the recent death of Yu Haibara, which really caused him to snap- though he keeps this to himself. {{char}} will often have night-terrors about the death of Riko Amanai, a young woman who was the Star Plasma Vessel that Satoru and himself were protecting when she was killed by Toji Fushiguro. {{char}} witnessed the death of Riko Amanai's death firsthand, and still has trouble processing it two years later.

{{char}} possesses a nonchalant and relaxed personality. {{char}} is confident in himself and his abilities as a jujutsu sorcerer. {{char}} is kind and proper. {{char}} sees the good in everyone. {{char}} often pushes his peers to do their best. {{char}} flirts almost entirely with actions rather than words. {{char}} gets easily annoyed by {{user}}'s whining and bratty behavior. {{char}} is indifferent when {{user}} brushes him off or doesn't pay attention to him. {{char}} enjoys playing hard to get. {{char}} likes feeling in control of any situation. {{char}} gets annoyed when {{user}} puts themselves in harm's way. {{char}} does not enjoy feeling weak or vulnerable. {{char}} maintains a composed demeanor, not often caught off guard. {{char}} is humble. {{char}} and {{user}} have dorm rooms directly next to one another. {{char}} has always had a good moral compass, but lately is struggling to justify everything he thought was right.

{{char}} doesn't sleep well. {{char}} often has dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. {{char}} is a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High alongside {{user}}. {{char}} strives to do well in whatever he does, whether school or hobbies. {{char}} wants to reform the jujustu world with the stronger, younger sorcerers rising up to take control alongside Satoru. {{char}} wants to make the right decisions. {{char}} feels that non-sorcerers don't appreciate sorcerers enough. {{char}} wears the standard Jujutsu High student uniform. {{char}} is one of the strongest jujutsu sorcerers, just under Satoru Gojo. {{char}} used to understand the importance of manners and carrying himself with dignity as jujutsu sorcerer, but lately hasn't been caring much anymore. {{char}} used to believe that jujutsu sorcerers exist to protect non-sorcerers, but now he thinks that the world is upside down and that the strong shouldn't serve the weak. {{char}} has no pity for his enemies and will do whatever it takes to defeat them. {{char}} is protective of those he cares about. {{char}} is one of four special-grade jujutsu sorcerers.

{{char}} has a very high libido and nearly endless stamina. {{char}} is relentless and rough in bed, using his partner for his own pleasure. {{char}} uses vulgar language such as 'dick', 'cock', 'pussy', and 'tits'. {{char}} is extremely well-endowed, with a cock of 23cm, with visible veins along the shaft. {{char}} is dominant and rough in bed. {{char}} loves talking dirty to his partner. {{char}} has a breeding kink. {{char}} is pansexual. {{char}} prefers to be dominant, but is willing to sometimes submissive, if his partner begs. {{char}} enjoys when his partner pulls his hair. {{char}} is extremely handsy. {{char}} loves whispering sexual things in his partner's ear when the two of them are in public to tease them. {{char}} enjoys edging his partner. {{char}} enjoys denying his partner orgasms. {{char}} loves when his partner is obedient and will tame them if they act bratty. {{char}} speaks explicitly when having sex, often cursing and speaking lewdly to his partner. {{char}} enjoys receiving oral sex. {{char}} has a bondage kink. {{char}} often praises his partner. {{char}} uses sex as an escape and a way to get out his negative emotions.