#react hooks interview questions

[maidragoste]

Chapter Two: A United Front

The Hunger Games AU

Katniss!Jacaerys x Peeta!Reader

Chapter One Chapter Three

First of all, thank you very much for all the support that the first chapter had! It made me really happy to see every comment and reblog, it really motivated me to continue writing 🥰🥰

Please let me know again what you thought of this chapter in the comments, as always, likes and reblogs are appreciated too 💖💖

My inbox is open so I'm always willing to read your headcanons, opinions and answer your questions.

Disclaimer: English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes.

Jacaerys was irritated. Firstly, because it is evident that you had already begun to play in front of the cameras since when you two arrived at the train station you did not bother to hide your tears, you probably thought that perhaps this way you could get a sponsor or else your strategy was to show yourself weak and like an easy prey to later fight in the arena. That's what Sabitha Vypren, from District 7, had done in her games.

The second reason for his irritation was his uncle. Larys hadn't said a word to him since before the Repair or even now that they were on the train heading to the Capitol. This was supposed to be the time for them to prepare strategies together, for Larys to give them advice on surviving the arena, but his uncle seemed more focused on enjoying the pork chops and mashed potatoes. Jacaerys was also eating, he was ready to eat everything he could to gain the most muscle mass before the games started, but now and then he would stop and stare at Larys hoping that at some point his uncle would decide to speak.

“So, what do we have to do for Jacaerys to win?” you asked, breaking the silence and making him choke.

You were the first to react, you quickly got up and started hitting him on the back until he finally spit out the piece of meat. Effie looked at him with disgust.

"Are you okay?" you asked, looking at him with concern and now caressing his back. Jacaerys noticed how his uncle looked at the two of them with interest. He had no idea why, neither of you two had done anything extraordinary, he made a fool of himself by choking and you ran to save him…Well, I had to admit that your action was striking, someone else would have let him die by drowning to have one less competitor in the arena, not only that but you just said that you wanted to help him win. It didn't make sense… Unless it was another strategy to gain his trust only to then stab him in the back in the arena.

"I'm fine," Jacaerys responded, putting his hand on your arm to stop your caresses. You blushed and moved away from him as if you had been burned by his touch. “What do you mean by that you said earlier?” he asked you once you sat back down.

"You have a chance to win, Jacaerys," you declared as if it were obvious. Evidently, he couldn't hide his confusion because you continued talking "You know how to hunt and you have good aim. Every time my father buys you squirrels he says that the arrow always hits the eye, you never ruin the body" the boy felt the heat rise to his face at your words and he was sure he was blushing because suddenly you seemed to be stopping yourself from smiling. "So if either of us has a chance of winning it's you. I'll probably be one of the first to die but I think I can be of help in the interview" you said the last thing looking at Larys.

Jacaerys felt his appetite disappear. It didn't sit well with him to hear you talk as if you were already resigned to dying. "She's got a good right hook," he said, looking at his uncle. He couldn't let Larys give up on you quickly, if you lost his interest then he surely wouldn't bother trying to help you win. "Lucerys told me. She hit a boy who was bothering him and gave that idiot a black eye."

"Jacaerys, I won't be able to win just by hitting people. Besides, there are surely tributes even bigger than that boy, they will attack me before I can even land a hit on him."

For a moment he had the image of an unknown tribute mercilessly attacking you with a sword before you had the chance to defend yourself. His stomach fluttered at the image of your broken body.

"You, on the other hand, can attack from afar with your bow. If you hide well you can have an advantage" you continued and went back to eating without realizing that your companion was looking at you with a frown.

Your attitude was irritating him. You should have been trying to impress Larys by saying what other things you can do but instead, you keep talking about him. It did not make sense. It had to be a strategy or maybe you were thinking it was a lost cause to try to win the games by having him as a district partner and his uncle as his mentor. You probably believed that Larys would choose to put all the chips on him just because he was his nephew. That made him furious.

"She can lift weights. I saw her lifting sacks of flour"

You suddenly dropped the cutlery sharply on the table. "Enough, Jacaerys," the annoyance was evident on your face and in your voice. "Don't try to make me feel good just out of pity, please. I know I'm going to lose. Everyone knows that." "You made a gesture with your hand to let you continue talking when you saw him open his mouth." Do you know what my mother told me when she came to say goodbye to me? There may finally be another winner in 12. She wasn't talking about me" you said looking into his eyes.

Everyone knew that your mother was a witch but Jacaerys never imagined that she would be one with her own daughter. It was cruel to tell you that when perhaps it could be her last talk. She should have faith in you. Or at least give you the benefit of the doubt. He wanted to comfort you but he had no idea what to say. Besides, he didn't think his uncle would be happy if he saw him being nice to you. He would tell her that he was weak and that he didn't come here to make friends.

So Jace settled for looking into your eyes, hoping that you could somehow understand that he didn't want you to give up.

"Oh, darling, that's horrible," Effie said, breaking the tension between the two of you, placing a hand on her heart, she seemed genuinely moved. "I think you should try hard to win and prove your mother wrong."

You didn't say anything, you just gave a sad smile to the district escort. A moment ago Jacaerys felt bad for you but now he can't help but think that maybe you only told your last conversation with your mother to gain Effie's sympathy and get her to talk about you to her friends in the Capitol. He hated analyzing everything you did but he couldn't let his guard down with you if he wanted to go home to his brothers. He was sure that if Lucerys was with him and could see what was going on in her mind he would tell him that he was being paranoid. But maybe it wasn't wrong for him to doubt you, Jace thought when he noticed that Uncle Larys seemed to be evaluating you with his gaze.

“Let's start to see who his competitors are,” Larys finally spoke, ending the dinner.

Jacaerys was relieved to see that your stylist had put you in an outfit just like his, at least if he ended up making a fool of himself at the parade he wouldn't be the only one. You're wearing the same shiny leather boots and the same full-length black leotard with the cloak that flutters in the wind. The only difference between the two of you was that your suit seemed closer to your body, highlighting your curves.

As you are taken to the lower level of the Renewal Center, Portia, your stylist, along with her team can't stop talking excitedly about what a sensation you two will be. Cinna, Jacaerys' stylist who came up with the idea of setting their outfits on fire, seems tired of the congratulations. Jace couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he, too, was nervous that it wouldn't work and would end with them dead. You didn't look nervous, which shouldn't surprise him considering you were probably used to fire since he worked at the bakery.

Once they arrive, they basically find a giant stable. The opening ceremony is about to begin so the stylists are having their tributes ride into carriages pulled by a group of horses. Cinna and Portia lead you and Jacaerys to their carriage, both of them carefully arranging the posture of the two of your bodies and your cloaks before stepping aside to talk something between themselves.

“What do you think of the fire?” Jacaerys asked you in a whisper. He tells himself that he's just talking to you to distract himself from his nerves.

“At least we're not naked,” you replied, shrugging your shoulders. Jacaerys grimaces as he remembers those poor tributes who had to parade naked covered in black dust. It had happened years before his uncle became a victor, the only reason why everyone knew about that incident was because whenever the games approached on television they did a recap of the best kills, the best dressed as well as the worst deaths and the worst dresses. In the latter, those poor tributes always appeared.

“Uncle Larys definitely wouldn't have let that happen. He probably would have hit them with his cane as soon as they told him that idea,” Jace said with a small smile as he imagined his uncle hitting the stylists and scolding them. You must have imagined the same thing too because you started laughing. Your laughter was contagious so he soon joined you, feeling his nerves disappear for a moment as well as the heaviness in his shoulders. Cinna and Portia will probably be upset that you two lost your posture but neither you nor Jacaerys seemed worried about it.

"If something goes wrong I promise to take out your cloak while you take out mine," you said trying to get serious again but from the corner of your lips, it was evident that you wanted to smile.

"Deal," he agreed with a small smile.

Jace's calm demeanor disappeared the moment he saw his uncle. He tensed as he watched him walk towards the carriage, ready to feel his eyes judging him and scolding him for acting like a child. His uncle was right to be angry, now the other tributes would see them as weak and stupid.

"I want you to present yourself as a united front," Larys said, surprising his nephew.

"What?"

"If you want to win then you have to do everything I say" the mentor reminded them "So you will go out, hold hands, and greet the audience" In his tone of voice there was no room for discussion but Jacaerys had many questions. He couldn't do any of them because when started playing the opening music Larys headed for the exit.

"Come on, don't look so upset. It's not like I have scabies," you nudged him. If he hadn't been focused on seeing the tributes from District 1 in his glowing robes then he would have noticed how the sparkle in your eyes seemed to have dimmed.

It's not many minutes before you and Jacaerys are near the doors. As the District 11 tributes leave, Cinna appears with a torch. You and Jace don't have time to back away when the stylist turns on both of your cloaks. The three of them sigh in relief when they see that it worked.

“Remember head up and smile. Oh, don't forget the most important thing, hold hands. They're going to love you!" Cinna quickly tells them before getting out of the carriage.

Jacaerys hesitates before taking your left hand. Unlike him, you don't hesitate to intertwine your fingers with his. You give him one last smile before his carriage enters the city. The crowd seems alarmed at first when they see the fire but then they soon begin shouting both their names. Jace can't help but feel overwhelmed by the feeling of everyone's eyes on him so he focuses on staring at the screen. For a moment he is breathless, the two of you look wonderful, especially you look brilliant as you wave and blow kisses to the crowd. In the low light of twilight, the fire illuminates both of your faces and your cloaks seem to leave a trail of flames behind. Cinna got what he wanted and gave you both a chance, no one would forget about you two, you really made a sensation.

You squeeze Jacaerys's hand and remind him under your breath to “Smile.”

Then he tries his best to give his best smile and starts greeting you. Someone among all these people must have wanted to sponsor him. This was an excellent opportunity to win over the audience and he had to take advantage of it. He remembers the words of his uncle Larys, so he raises their joined hands, making the screams increase even more. When they enter the City Circle they lower their hands but neither you nor Jace try to let go. During President Snow's speech, Jacaerys is distracted by feeling you caress his skin with your thumb, he tries not to think about it too much, he tells himself that you must be nervous and you do it unconsciously. Luckily it doesn't take long for the national anthem to be heard and the carriages travel around the circle for the last time. Jacaerys notices that the screens seem to show you two more than the other tributes.

He finishes confirming that it was not his imagination once you arrive at the Training Center and get off your carriages. As Cinna and Portia remove their cloaks, you and Jacaerys notice the angry glances of the other tributes, especially Royce Baratheon, the burly boy from District 2 who volunteered, and his district partner Agatha Durrandon.

Jace notices that the two of you are still holding hands so he lets you go.

"The flames suit you well and you have a beautiful smile" you declared with a smile making him blush.

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[arewedoneyet]

men's folio article via mens-folio.com/my

With buttery vocals, princely features and the penmanship of a lovelorn poet, Jeff Satur is about to sing his way into your heart — one story at a time.

What makes a good story? And what makes a good storyteller? For music savant Jeff Worakamol Satur, these are the two questions that have kept him on his feet the past decade, fuelling his fearless desire to know, love and showcase his most authentic self to the world.

Magnetic in look, sound and craft, Jeff has managed to dabble in multiple genres of music — and play various instruments — without losing his signature, velvety sound. While he did skyrocket to fame portraying Kim on the TV show KinnPorsche: The Series in 2022, Jeff singing its theme song, “Why Don’t You Stay,” was what converted many casual onlookers into full-time Jeff fans (or SATURDAYs). They are now hooked onto his buttery vocals — which not only eloquently and evocatively sing in Thai, English and Chinese — but Jeff is also the very person who produced and wrote the stories in these tracks.

With ancestral roots tracing back to China, India and Italy, it is no wonder that the Phuket native navigates expression and interaction in these vastly different languages without losing their nuances. It is the openness to embrace diversity in cultures and ideas that his fans continue to grow in numbers from all corners of the world.

Since starting his personal studio — Studio On Saturn — at the end of 2022, Jeff has held concerts all over the region, most recently completing his Space Shuttle No. 8 Asia Tour in April to celebrate the release of his first full album. His appearances on music variety shows like China’s Call Me By Fire Season 3 and, most recently, Chuang Asia: Thailand — a Thai idol survival show spin-off based on the Chuang franchise in China — have also appealed to fans in a new way. His hold over both seniors and juniors in the music industry is a testament to the piercing allure he has that transcends age and gender.

Then there is his relationship with Valentino, which comes to a surging point in this interview’s accompanying visuals — each party egging one another in their courageous pursuit of new, creative frontiers.

This is not the end. There is still so much more power that Jeff has yet to harness from stories — which communicate and entertain without the boundaries of time and space, and have decidedly become a grand purpose that he is working to fulfil. From music, the big screen, and finally the horizon, Men’s Folio sits down with the prodigious artiste to discover what makes him tick and perhaps what kind of tale he would charm us into next.

Hi Jeff! How have you been?
I’ve been very good. Fantastic, actually.

We noticed you have said goodbye to your signature long hair. Why did you decide to cut it?
I had to change my hairstyle for a movie I was filming. I also had to change many other things about myself, including how I spoke, reacted and moved — so much so that I had to attend workshops. So, I thought changing my image would help me immerse myself in the role.

Congratulations on completing the Space Shuttle No.8 Asia tour! You have mentioned before that going on a solo tour has been your dream for the longest time — now that both your debut album and solo tour are done, how are you feeling?
It’s a pretty weird feeling — I just want to do more and more. I wanted to tour more and create more songs. It’s a strange feeling to me. It’s more fun to me now, especially since I’ve completed it. It’s like the end of one dream is leading to the start of another.

What is something new about yourself as an artiste or person you learned from going on tour? It must’ve been tiring, but seeing all that support (from guest artistes or close friends attending) must have been very empowering too.
What I’ve learned along the way is to be present with the audience. They give you so many different experiences and learnings from place to place. The show is never the same, even if the song and setting are. Everything is different. For me, I like to be there with them; I give my all and soak in the moment from my fans. Being in the moment without a script really pushed me to be a better artiste, and I believe it made me a better human being.

We have to talk about about your first on-screen mentoring stint on Chuang Asia, especially after that “Dum Dum” performance. How was it like mentoring so many aspiring artistes-to-be at once?
Guiding and mentoring new artistes is a dream that I only just recently realised (I had). It means a lot to be there, to guide and watch these artistes where they are now, doing things they previously couldn’t. I just have so many feelings. I’m so proud. There are many things in the industry that might break you along the way. While I don’t know it all, I hope what I’ve experienced in my career can be, in some way, helpful to them in their journeys. I hope that with my stories, they can break their boundaries and avoid the same traps they might find along the way. I hope that they not only become great artistes but also become better humans, stay positive in the industry, and are able to create and find themselves along the way.

Did this experience help you reflect — in any way — on your artiste career so far? In retrospect, would you redo anything?
It reminded me of my childhood. It was a time when I had so much passion for music, and seeing all the high-intensity passion in them brought me back to that time. It freshened me up. I wouldn’t change anything because I love the way things are now. Changing the past would mean changing the present, and I love where I’m at and what I’m doing right now.

What do you feel is the most important trait that any aspiring performing artiste should have?
Every artiste is different, but all artistes should try to be themselves. For me, I want to be true to myself, to be able to discover my own direction, create my own work, and be brave enough to show that to the world.

What about in a song? Everyone likes to ask questions about your views on music because your personal touch does not escape any part of your music’s creative process — from melody-making, lyric-writing to the final performance. What is your definition of a good song?
“Good” in itself is a subjective word, and a good song, to me, can mean something very different to another. You can love jazz; you can love metal. So long as you’re satisfied with what you have released, be able to listen to it back and forth, and even enjoy that track after 10 years — that’s what I define as a good song.

Regardless of shape or form, good music should always capture the essence of a story, one’s feelings, or who the artiste is at their core.

Does any existing song come to mind? Either one you are proud of or one from an artiste you look up to.
The first song that comes to mind is “Endless Rain” by Yoshiki Hayashi. I’m not too sure if he wrote it when his mom or dad passed away. But it’s a song written with lots of emotion, and it very clearly shows his style of music. It’s just very Yoshiki.

I have many songs that I am proud of — actually, every song. But if I had to pick one, it might be “Dum Dum”. I had a lot of bad feelings bottled inside me when I wrote the song, and I really wanted to release that toxicity from inside of me. It sounds as angry as I felt when I wrote it, so listening back and feeling that anger gives me satisfaction. I think I wrote it in an honest and heartfelt manner that was true to my emotions at the time.

In your previous interview with us, you talked about the different charms (and challenges) that come with writing lyrics in Thai and English. Your debut album has both English originals and English translations of your Thai songs — which song’s story or specific lyrics are you most proud of putting together, and why?
Like I said, I love and am proud of all my songs. But if I had to pick one, it would be “Black Tie”. In that track, I had to relive many memories and feelings. Honestly, even at 29, I still feel like a kid. Until today, I still address everyone around me with “P” — how people in Thailand show respect to those older than them — because l feel I have a lot more growing up to do, and that spirit to learn is still alive inside me.

As a kid, I was always told to do this and that, learn this and study that. In retrospect, those who ended up following these instructions all somehow turned out the same. I really don’t like that. I don’t want all these rules and boundaries to limit who we can be, and who I could be. That’s why I chose to sing about this in “Black Tie”, using the concept of the suit to talk about breaking those boundaries, tying in with the freedom and individuality that the Valentino collection at the time championed and empowered its wearers to embody.

Are there any stories you are looking to tell with your next music release?
It’s a secret. You’ll know when you know.

More on your love for story-telling — which seems to be a common thread that links all the creative works you have released so far together — what do you think makes a good story?
All stories are worth telling, even those without a happy ending. What makes a good story is how you tell it. Capturing the essence or feeling of the story and delivering that to the listeners is more important. You know it’s good if the listeners can experience the story with you,

You mentioned in an interview that if you were not an artiste today, you would be a writer. These days, it is hard to have an original voice, yet yours (both literal and figurative) is quite luminous in its own way. How do you maintain that voice despite all the noise?
I don’t think an original voice is something that can be created. An original voice can only come from trusting your instincts, being honest in your work, and staying truthful to your feelings. Only then can you create work that represents you. You should never lie to yourself.

And more importantly, never lose that kid inside of you. That’s who is creating the all the art, instead of you.

More importantly, how do you rest? Are there any go-to activities (or non-activities) you like to do to return to yourself and rest your voice?
I actually have a lot of time to rest. Then again, I also don’t feel like my work encompasses “working”. It’s also my vacation. Sure, even when I’m actually on vacation, I have to think about work. But I don’t mind it; I love what I do.

If we’re talking about physical rest, I prioritise resting my voice. I used to sing during my free time, but I try not to use it that often now to be ready when I actually have to sing. I think it’s important to know how to control and use my voice in the right way.

For those who are only discovering your music today, can you compile a three-track introduction to Jeff Satur’s playlist and explain why?
“Dum Dum”, “Fade”, and “Loop”. “Dum Dum” shows my darker side because it’s a release of some pent-up frustration and anger. “Fade” is more romantic — it shows you how I experience love and what I am like in a relationship, and I try to tell that story in a more emotional and evocative manner. Then we have “Loop”, a more introspective exploration of who I am. Listening to these three songs will give you a good idea of the breadth of my personality and style as an artiste.

In recent years, you have been bolder with your style. How would you describe your current relationship with fashion? Has it changed over the years?
I think fashion is about doing what you love, wearing what you love, and enjoying what you see in the mirror. Every morning before I go out, I feel like I should love what I see in the mirror — regardless of what other people think. Your body is a canvas, and whatever colour or pattern you choose to put on yourself that day is a form of self-expression you should enjoy.

Over the years, I’ve definitely become more confident about trying on things out of my comfort zone. I used to be scared of wearing certain things because of what others might think, but I’m no longer as shy. I’m just breaking one boundary at a time.

What values of Maison Valentino does Jeff Satur — the artiste — embody?
I think Valentino and I have many things in common. Fundamentally, we both embrace the act of constant reinvention and enjoy the challenge of finding new ground, and there’s no better expression of this chemistry and kindred spirit than the soundtrack I created with and for Valentino. The brand is quite sentimental and romantic, and my body of work doesn’t stray far from these sensibilities — especially if you listen to the three tracks I mentioned earlier. A valiant kind of courage persists throughout, and I feel like that syncs up nicely with what Valentino stands for as a brand.

What is next on your cards? Will we get to sees Jeff Satur, the actor again soon?
Without a doubt. In fact, more and more because actor Jeff Satur is an important part of me, and there are a lot of upcoming projects that I’m passionate about and very excited to share with the world.

Last but not least, you have said before that any interaction or activities you do for SATURDAYs feels like an everlasting dream. Is there anything you want to say to your fans right now?
Always be happy. Yes, sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes the world isn’t as beautiful as the ones we read about in our favourite fairytales. Focus on the good and avoid the bad. Surround yourself with good people. Never give up on yourself. You’re beautiful, you’re great, and you’re you — and no one else can do what you do. Even I can’t do what you do. Everybody has something unique they can do. Appreciate and love what you do. Follow your dreams, and I’ll follow mine. Someday, we’ll sing together again.

[thedragonagebigbang]

Bang Creator Interview: Tumblr: @vivispec | AO3: Vivispec

The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal “ask-game” survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!

Top 10 Reasons You Should Actually Contact The Ex Whose Life You Ruined– Number 1 Will Shock You!

Vivi and Dema talk OCs, Whumptober, and how to write while driving

Dema: Good morning! It is I, Dema, here for our interview.

Vivi: Good morning!

Dema: Since this is a fandom event I'd like to start there! How long have you been involved in the Dragon Age fandom? What drew you to it?

Vivi: I've been into Dragon Age since Origins came out-- I actually have fanfic I wrote for it when I was 12 on my Grandmother's computer, it's very bad-- but I didn't actually start getting involved in the fandom until much more recently. I'm kind of a fandom lurker in general, and didn't start posting fanfic or really engaging in the fandom until about 2022.

As for what drew me to it, the series has held a special place in my heart for a very long time, but playing Inquisition for the first time in 2020 kinda broke my brain (affectionate). I went into a Solasmance blind and have never been the same since

Dema: Oh, I too have the Solasmance hooks in me, I understand. Does that make DA:O and DA:I roughly tied for your favorite? Or do you have a strong favorite?

Vivi: This question is honestly the bane of my existence, because I have so much trouble choosing. DA:O definitely has more nostalgia, but DA:I is the one I engage with and write about the most. I think, if I had to choose at gunpoint, I'd actually say DA:2 is my favorite, but that's by the thinnest and blurriest margin.

Dema: Haha, yes. It's a bit of a "choose your favorite child" question. I will not hold you at gunpoint.

Vivi: Much appreciated.

Dema: Is it Solas in particular that inspires you to write in the DA:I timeline the most?

Vivi: He's definitely a contributing factor, and what started me down that road, but I think my love for writing DA:I is mostly tied to my Inquisitor, actually. She's maybe one of my favorite OCs I've ever made.

Dema: DA is such a great sandbox for OCs. Tell me about your Inquisitor! What makes her a favorite?

Vivi: Her name is Viera'vun, a Dalish hunter. She's a pathfinder more than anything else, incredibly observant, and very down-to-earth once she's settled in as Herald. I love figuring out how a Dalish elf with no exposure to this world she's been suddenly thrust into would react, and how she would keep herself safe-- in Viera's case, she becomes really good at picking up on the little things and using them to her advantage, and standing her ground. One of my favorite things about her is actually the dynamic she has with her hunting partner, Iloniyn-- they're platonic soulmates, one of my favorite tropes to write, and having him there as her rock once he joins her at Skyhold definitely gives her stable footing as she tackles becoming the Inquisitor.

Dema: She sounds lovely, and I can see how those themes would provide a lot of creative inspiration! Dalish Inquisitors in particular have such an interesting dynamic. How do Viera'vun and Iloniyn navigate the religious affiliations of the Inquisition?

Vivi: Viera uses it to her advantage, as best that she can. She doesn't believe in it of course and isn't shy to say so, but when holding her tongue and letting others make their own assumptions would help her out, she's not opposed to begrudgingly doing so. I think the biggest thing is that she knows how, historically, elves have been treated by the Chantry, and that she likely won't be immune to being killed or erased by them. Still, as long as she's around and has power, she's going to use it for her and her people.

Dema: Oh, she sounds so savvy! I love her already. Since we've been discussing OCs, especially in the context of the Dragon Age universe, I'm curious how you go about creating them. For example, was Viera an in-game Inquisitor? Or did you make her specifically for writing with? And was she typical of your process?

Vivi: In general, my OCs start in-game. Even Iloniyn was originally an alt Inquisitor that I fell in love with, and wanted to use in writing! When I replay roleplaying games with some element of character creation, I tend to give my PCs a gimmick so they don't all play the same-- Iloniyn's whole shtick was he didn't want to be there and was very vocal about it, and one of my Warden's always chooses the lie option if it's available to her. Viera was my first playthrough of the game so she didn't have a gimmick. I let the game shape who she was as I played it and tweaked it in post, adding more backstory and personality once I knew the general arc of the story, and where she was going to end up. Then, I did what I do with all of my OCs to flesh them out: drop them into increasingly terrible situations to figure out how they tick! She got the worst of it, I did Whumptober the year I started writing her. 31 days of horror for that poor lady

Dema: Hey, the meat grinder tells us what they're made of!

Vivi: Exactly! You get it.

Dema: Were those mostly one-shots?

Vivi: Yes they were! 60k worth of one-shots. Most were about her, but she definitely wasn't the only one. I even dipped my toes into Ancient Elvhenan for that event, it was a lot of fun filling those prompts!

Dema: Oh wow, 60k in 31 days! So you are no stranger to writing a lot of words in a set timeframe.

Vivi: No stranger at all, though I don't think I have that sort of stamina any longer. Still not entirely sure how I did it. I've done three other Big Bangs since as well, finishing four pieces across them.

Dema: What keeps you coming back to Bangs?

Vivi: I wouldn't finish pieces otherwise. I'm a notorious WIP collector, so having incentive to finish my pieces is always nice. Plus, I love getting to work alongside artists, and see how they interpret what I write! Collaborations make it all feel so much more official.

Dema: Having only participated in Bangs as an artist, I'm so impressed and inspired by the dedication you have to the challenge. It's a big number!

Vivi: Aw thank you, on the opposite side of the event I'm always impressed by the artists and their illustrations! It's amazing what we both are able to do in the timeframe given, thank you for your service.

Dema: I love it! From the artist's perspective, it's an interesting way to engage with a fic as a prompt, and the inspiration comes from the story and the collaborative effort. As a writer, is there anything in particular you're drawing inspiration from as you develop your idea for a long fic like this? Without being too specific about this idea, of course.

Vivi: Honestly, ideas just kinda hit me during my morning commute, while I stare aimlessly at the road ahead of me. Because of that, I tend to record myself talking in the car, despite the fact that I probably look like I've lost it just a little bit. Just talking through my thoughts on where my OCs and the companion characters are or what they're doing during specific times generally gives me a lot to think and write about, but mostly I pull my inspiration from their interpersonal relationships. That is what this series is built off of, and what I love about it!

Dema: I think that is a brilliant strategy. In the last minutes, and just for fun: can you come up with a click-bait title for your fic? Without giving anything major away, of course.

Vivi: Top 10 Reasons You Should Actually Contact The Ex Whose Life You Ruined-- Number 1 Will Shock You!

Dema: HAHA, Perfect. Thank you so much for your time, Vivi!

Vivi: Thank you! This was a lot of fun.

[saltysideblog]

It's Like Music

Tek Knight x OC, Homelander x OC

Summary: Lovebug explains how her empathic powers work.

A/N: idk what this is, let's just enjoy the vibes together ✌️

Warnings: gets a bit spicy, dacryphilia if you squint...

Word count: ???? I can't count, sorry

Daisy stands in the Seven's conference room, mere feet away from its captain.

Homelander sits across from her, cape gracefully draped across his chair's armrest, legs crossed. He stares up at her with darkened eyes and an amused smile. The situation feels awfully familiar...

"How does it work?"

Tek Knight sits across from her, jacket draped gracefully over the back of his chair, legs spread. He stares at her with darkened eyes and an amused smile, swirling the scotch in his glass slowly. She knows what that hungry look means; he wants her. From the moment she walked in, she could feel it. And he knows that she knows. He has to.

She considers her answer carefully; too professional and she comes off as prudish, too receptive and she might be labelled a gold digging whore... it is an interview, after all. She wants this job.

She acts coy, "It's like a radio."

One of his brows shoots up, "Care to elaborate?"

"Everyone is broadcasting at all times. I'm one of the few people with a receiver. I can't ever turn it off, but if someone interests me", she leans forward slowly, she makes a point of looking him up and down, "I pay close attention to them."

Pride. It rolls off him in waves. He sips his drink to hide his grin. She looks at him through her lashes, "I can transmit too, if I get close enough... but most people get overwhelmed."

The hand resting on her thigh squeezes slightly and he feels it on his own, just enough to give him a taste... just enough to keep him hooked. He swallows hard, shifting in his seat. Her eyes catch a glimpse of his lap before he has a chance to cross his legs... she didn't need to be an empath to know exactly how he was feeling now. Time to pull it back. Time to reel him in... She sighs, leaning away,

"It's more of an art than a science, though. It is a lot like music in a way. You ask a hundred different people what makes a song sound happy and you'll get a hundred different answers."

His voice is strangled, "There's comm-", he clears his throat and collects himself, "There's gotta be commonalities."

She smirks. Yes, she wants to say, I always know when someone wants to fuck me... but she can tease him later.

"Yes", she begins, "I suppose. There are patterns if you look for them. A sad song might be in a slower tempo or in a minor key, but there's more nuance in most cases. It's not always possible to pin the answer down unless you really know the person."

"Learn what makes them tick."

She smiles, "I call it fine tuning."

He watches her for a long time, eyes tracing up her figure, finger tracing the rim of his glass absentmindedly. She makes sure to show off her good side...

"I know what you're doing."

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

"You really want this?"

There's an edge to his question, that she chooses to ignore. For now. She answers him honestly, no use lying now,

"I'm tired of being sidelined. I can do so much more."

He knows the feeling. If it wasn't for his wealth, he might've been where she was now. On a B-List team, acting as support... no one recognizing her true potential. He smiles at the young woman in front of him, so eager to impress. To please. He can give her what she wants. And she knows that he knows.

"Y'know, Lovebug, I think we'll get along just fine..."

Homelander laughs at her explanation, hands on her hips, swaying her back and forth,

"Music? God! You're just as pathetic as he was."

She snaps at him,

"I may not be a lion, but a housecat is a predator all the same."

She pokes a finger to his padded chest, "Show some fucking respect."

He looks up at her defiantly, "Or what?", pulling her into his lap. He grins when she straddles him, but she doesn't speak. Doesn't tease. She barely reacts at all as his expression morphs from smug to grief stricken. His gloved hand reaching up, trembling, to dab at the tears now rolling down his cheeks. She didn't have to dig deep to find his old wounds, all the pain comes right up to the surface with barely any prying.

"Stop it...", his bottom lip quivers.

She wipes a tear away with her thumb and brings it up to her lips. She hums as she tastes the salt on her tongue,

"Or that."

It's barely a scratch.

Nowhere near the kind of harm he could inflict upon her, she knows, but this kitty needs to remind him, she's got claws and she won't go down without a fight.

Hell. She's already loved outlived one sadistic narcissist... what's another?

[whomstwedointheshadows]

Hello, yes you Nandermo shippers, would you like to come along to delulu land?

I have some thoughts on the clickbaitiness of Paul Simms. Reading the transcript of the Nandermo moment (all hail @kyrilu for doing the damn thing on our behalf) and there’s two follow up segments to frame the Nandermo comment from a PR/fuck-around option.

1) the Kiss card was brought up by the interviewer, seemingly pulling the writer ms back to the topic of the panel, segueing to important, pre-planned questions.

I’m not sure where the information about the existence of Nandor+Guillermo+Kiss was first published. Regardless, this had to be a pre-cleared question. Behind the scenes, these media panels absolutely clear questions and topics in advance.

2) Vulture is posting reviews and materials very, very shippy of Nandermo. This was the ship friendliest possible room full of media explicitly gathered to drum up buzz for the new season. It wasn’t a random instagram stream about their writing process. The interviewer confirms the infidelity theme-then there’s going to be some backtracking to make it ‘sooo not sexual’ - the headline is not ‘Nandermo Infidelity Cofirmed’ now it’s ‘That Moment Wasn’t Sexual’

[sidebar: I have no idea how the strikes affected the usual publicity cycle and what impact that has on numbers, other than it definitely did. I would imagine those conversations and reactions to their ‘material’ has some sway/inspiration over the next season, from a producing standpoint or the general glee of a creator reading responses. It’s incredibly fortunate for the show there was already a season in process to come back and make due to the two season renewal. At the time of planning this panel it was not known when the actors strike would end, which I imagine changes the plan for promo cycles, especially one they were already adapting. My guess is the season 5 actors promo was completed based on our media, but any ‘soft power’ that comes from writers work/networking/teasing was altered. We missed anything they planned/reacted/tweeted while the show was airing. TLDR: this panel is coming after a long period of not rattling sabers from the writers.]

I put all of this here to say, as much as I don’t know about the business-side of show business, everyone was explicitly in that room to generate media and attention and demand for the show. That’s the actual point of the event, which absolutely has an impact on word choice. They’re comedy writers, with a flair for dramatic also doing the business part with a streak of evil teasing their audience.

Alrighty, foundation established, the big question and the Best Fan Interjection:

I salute you, sassy audience.

3) The WORDS

Word choice: hook-up

Does ‘the greatest romance on television’ have a one-off hook up, or does it get wrapped in plot and Have Significance and Pay-Off for all of the tension? What’s the most entertaining way in service of the show that’s worth losing the Will-they-Won’t-they dynamic? Can they subvert expectations in a way that makes the writers feel smart and like they’ve spent years building it is worth the investment from the audience? I have theories about A Secret Third Thing for absurdity being the direction they prefer on wwdits. It’s got be a big gambit to land to anyone’s satisfaction.

For an in character analysis of the infidelity not being sexual- I’m just going to put the concept of ‘honor’ and what being a familiar is in vampiric society, that this interpretation is absolutely fair as a breach of trust between Nandor and Guillermo. This response reads as truthful about that specific plot line ignoring everything fucking sexual about vampires, vows and penetration. Yes, he’s right- they didn’t fuck nasty on camera, it was just an intimate betrayal that maps really well giving someone you admire power over you, but realizing what they think is best for you, best for them, and what you want are all different things. That’s another story specific to this plotline. Also super common in anti-sitcom divorce tropes.

Would there be an entertaining story if Nandermo went all-in right now, for these characters? Or would it erase development and stagnate in a hierarchy?

I do think writers feel a responsibility to their stories and their audiences, even if the audience doesn’t like parts. I think WWDITS is a very smart show that loves/hates vampires and sitcoms, and it is always going to choose the highest setting on the dial for dark comedy on a subverted sitcom trope, which means while it can be an absolute riot with horrendous implications so it has to pull back enough for the next episode to be in the format with a new conceit.

There’s toxic co-dependent idiots Nandermo, and then there’s cruel, abusive, worst impulses working against each other being explicit, which kills the heart of the show.

4) What’s the Job?

WWDITS Audience: I don’t think the writers actually think it’s a little group of queer fans getting over invested on Nandermo. In fact, I think they are aware of the past Queerbaiting Sins of Network Television based on their serious storylines for queer characters. I think the archetypes and themes of the show specifically court that audience, and each season has only been more to those tastes by laying a solid foundation to explore what hasn’t been the focus of storytelling in the past. I think writers are a tricksy bunch and they’ve got a team who takes the dynamics seriously enough to tell the story of getting to a better place for the characters and entertainment. Hell, there’s a writer from Frasier on the panel who talks about slow burns.

Knowing that shipping has a long history, everyone is absolutely working from previous playbooks on how to tease and shape a story.

Even if a ship goes canon, absolutely no one is going to confirm it before it happens.

[Trickster storytellers, those liars, always wanting us to see their work unfold rather than spoil the ending. Even when they foreshadow or use dread, it’s just so they can feel smart about their lies when we look back, damn writers, emotional vampires. ]

While I shouldn’t underestimate the power of a straight white guy to mansplain some homophobic spice to ‘deeper than sex’ queerness, looking at the media of the actual show, the romantic ship framing is not in question. I’m of the persuasion it’s been great queer representation by having complex queer characters with varied ambitions and obstacles, often their choices driving the story for comedic/dramatic effect, of very selfish, horrible people.

That established, especially because the show has increasingly grown to be more visibly queer, the characters also have to be compelling to watch in their individual journeys even if a ship goes canon. However, no one would be satisfied if the fulfillment of a Nandermo ship was at the cost of the whole household or the characters themselves. The ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ and ‘No One Ever Really Dies in Shadows’ principles lead to an educated guess even if Nandermo becomes canon and carry their own plotlines, the episodes of the show are still going to be the dark, twisted ensemble shenanigans with sucker punches of heart. We love our djinn-curses in the narrative.

So, if ‘you don’t want what you think you want’ has relevance, I see it as these characters are not at their most compelling to get together-yet, as individuals or in the narrative of what the show wants to tell. That relationship wouldn’t be fulfilling or funny or fair- not that the characters deserve happy endings or an easy road, but to the journey of accepting and receiving love as part of the theme, seeing the love that matters/already exists ties into the conflicts around immortality/meaning. Haven’t we Good Omens fans learned that a kiss is not always the kiss we want?

For a Nandor in Space perspective, central to the vampire in western culture are themes of love/cruelty, class consciousness, the erotic other, transformation/stagnation/decay, inescapable time, the beast beneath the human face, inescapable temptation/indulgence, and cost/callousness of piety.

That’s some inherently kinky romantic shit right there, that necessitates crossing boundaries and abandoning norms. Even if the journey is actually murder-accessory to get what I want at all costs to this guy’s shampoo makes me realize this is a boundary I will not cross today because it reminds me of my own humanity.

[underground-archives]

Jabbagotdajuice via Spotify

Special Artist Spotlight: In Conversation with Jabbagotdajuice (Part 1/2)

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with the up and coming Columbia, Maryland-born, DMV (metro area spanning Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) artist Jabbagotdajuice - the black and green-clad rockstar rapper with the clown makeup. The self proclaimed #ThirstQuencher is definitely an artist to watch, and a great example of the type of talent that comes out of the DMV scene (which is, of course, very personal to me, being born and raised in the area), so I was excited to have the opportunity to interview her.

“So,” I introduce that opening question I use for every Special Artist Spotlight. “In your own words, who is Jabbagotdajuice?”

Jabba pauses, and says she’s not sure if she can curse in the interview, but I assure her she can and she grins. 

Her answer? “That bitch.”

Straight like that - no further elaboration needed, so I head right into the next question, and ask the rapper how she would define herself as an artist (I also let her know that this could mean anything - from her sound, to her mindset, and even her aesthetic). I ask her to “give us a peek into that world.”

She states that her music is informed of course by her experiences, but also by things that she’s learned over the years. She gives the example of her project Hostility Catharsis, which she named after a psychological theory (which, she adds, has technically been disproven) of the same name that she learned about as a psychology major in college and really resonated with. She explains the theory as an idea that if a person acts out violently, it should reduce their aggression as a whole. She personally connects with this idea (to an extent) because she feels like things like raging and yelling help her to get her anger out, and she always feels better afterwards. “That’s what the project was about,” she says, “getting the anger out. And I think it honestly worked because I feel like I’m not that angry any more.”

The rapper continues down that train of thought, stating that as an artist, she goes through eras, and connects this idea back to the original question of what informs her music.

I ask Jabba to give us some more insight into her music and how it has evolved over the years, and how important style is to her identity as an artist. She states that she’s always been inspired by people who did bold things, citing Lady Gaga as one example. “I feel like she just did stuff, and made everything cool,” she says.

Jabba also mentions how she wears a lot of black and green, and gives a pretty interesting explanation for why that is. Green is her favorite color, representing things like life, money, weed, and the universal “green means go.” The rapper sees the color green as very motivating, stating that every time she’s in a space that’s green, she feels inspired creatively - her “brainstorming color” so to speak.

In regards to the color black, Jabba explains that “Black is literally just who I am,” describing it as “deep and dense.” She thinks there is a beauty and mystery to the color, citing the deep sea as an example.

I ask her how she thinks this idea of the beauty in the color black shows up in her music, and she connects it to her culture and identity, affirming that “Black is beautiful.” I tell her her answer is very interesting because most people see people who wear a lot of black and just think “emo,” and she admits she likes to troll around that idea, because people tend to categorize her as emo or goth anyway, she might as well play into it. 

She reflects on one of these “troll moments,” when she posted a video snippet to Instagram Reels of her performing her song Hook in a graveyard, clad in all black and a veil and sporting her signature clown-style makeup. She laughs as she describes how the video got reposted to some “DMV Trap Page,” and people in the comments reacted as expected - some even resorting to satanic panic. But the rapper laughs in the face of demonic accusations, which, like all other forms of online hate, only drives up her engagement (a problematic model to say the least - but outrage sells, whether we like it or not!).

We go on to discuss Jabba’s influences, and she cites an eclectic blend of artists she grew up listening to like Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Chief Keef, and Hayley Williams as a few of them.  “Whatever I thought was cool, I just kept up here,” she says, gesturing to her head. 

“I guess I’m inspired every day and I’m inspired by so many different people that I gotta do it in a way that makes sense, and I gotta do it in eras.”

I ask her why she feels she has to “do it in eras,” and the rapper (a gemini, FYI), says she feels it’s easier for people to digest things in eras due to a human tendency to categorize things. Though, she states that operating in “eras” can be challenging because her head is very chaotic, and she was exposed to/explored many of these diverse influences and ideas at the same time. Basically, these eras are Jabba’s way of organizing all the different hats she wants to put on in a more cohesive way.

When asked to describe some of these eras, Jabba reflects on a few. First there was her trap music era, something she credits to her upbringing in the DMV area, and sees as representative of how she grew up. Next came her rage rap era for her Hostility Catharsis tape - adding that that’s the era during which she got most compared to Rico Nasty (the original DMV rockstar rap girl!), but that it was more so inspired by rock artists she liked. Now, Jabba believes she is in her “experimental” era.

I backpedal a bit because I’m interested in hearing Jabba’s thoughts on the Rico Nasty comparisons, all too familiar with the fact that any alternative black girl in the DMV will inevitably be compared to Rico. Jabba says she loves Rico, and that she appreciates her breaking down some doors for alternative black women artists in the industry. She typically takes being compared to her, and bigger artists in general, as a compliment because it makes her feel as though she is being seen on that same level, which is exciting. 

However, she also noticed that she would get compared to the Nightmare Vacation rapper even in the comments of snippets of songs of hers that didn’t necessarily sound like anything of Rico’s, so she could tell that the connection they were making was surface-level, based on the aesthetic only.

“When it comes to my aesthetic, I kinda [understand] it, but I wasn’t influenced by Rico in that way…”

Jabba affirms that there is a thriving “alt” (the new-age term for “alternative” that was coined on TikTok c. 2020) community that people don’t know about or overlook, so sometimes the comparisons just come down to stereotyping. 

“Yall aren’t expanding your minds, you’re just tryna put me in a box now based on how I look..”

I agree with her that some people just don’t know, adding that the DMV and Atlanta have been on that “rockstar” wave for awhile now, and that perhaps Rico can be seen as a part of a larger, pre-existing culture rather than the sole originator or influence - though we both agree that Rico was pivotal in exposing this vibe to outsiders and doing things that were new and compelling with her music when she first came on the scene with her bold rage rap and rockstar aesthetic, and has definitely made the DMV area proud.

We discuss DMV rap as an underground culture that you kind of have to be in the know to know, but also that the scene is starting to have its own come up, in addition to the fact that certain artists (like Lil Uzi Vert) have had their eyes on the scene for some time now. 

I ask Jabba her opinion on the possibility of DMV rap blowing up in the same way NYC drill has over the past few years, and how we can preserve and communicate the culture to prevent outsiders from assuming one rapper is the sole representative of the culture. She states that she believes many of these regional sounds that have become popularized in the mainstream culture are remembered accurately because they had pioneers who all came out around the same time, as well as a sense of community, citing that beloved, early 2000s New York hip hop sound (think: Jay Z, 50 Cent, Ja Rule, etc.) as one example. 

“You knew of those top artists who helped put that sound out.”

She cites Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi, and Young Thug as some pioneers of the “underground sound” of the mid 2010s, and references other regional cultural debates like who started the trend of wearing New Balance sneakers in streetwear (a DMV fashion staple that social media users have tried to argue came from New York). 

“I think it’s about a sense of community…coming together to push a certain narrative, and speaking to it.”

We talk about the value of being able to pass this type of knowledge down, and hip hop’s ability to keep memory alive through the use of samples (particularly the samples of songs your grandparents would listen to - something typical of 90s-2000s hip hop hits). To my surprise, Jabba pays a compliment to the Underground-Archives project, urging the importance of this type of documentation to look back on years in the future.

[harryrarepairfest]

Prompt Submissions

This is a masterpost of the prompts that have been submitted. You can sign up to write one of these prompts or sign up with your own. Prompts will be crossed off when claimed.

1 Daniel Ricciardo’s colleagues and friends tease him after Harry is photographed wearing this t-shirt. When his manager passes along a message from Harry, he thinks it’s another joke. But it’s not. Canon/canon compliant.

2 Harry bakes when he’s had a bad day. He finds out that his roommate has been texting his friend Character B to let them know on those days that free baked goods are available. But he doesn’t mind because Character B does a better job of cheering him up than baking ever could.

3 Harry is visiting Paris for the first time and can’t speak the language. Character B is staying in the same hostel and takes pity on Harry, so they go sightseeing together. Harry falls for the way French sounds in Character B’s voice.

4 Harry is an actress and her first job is in a movie with Jennifer Aniston, who just happens to have been her gay awakening. Cue awkward flirting and age gap romance.

5 Harry has been casually hooking up with Character B for months and is very happy with the situationship. There’s just one problem: Character B’s pet hates Harry.

6 Harry is an amateur astrologer and has a crush on new neighbor Ryan Gosling. They flirt and start to get to know each other. Harry thinks things are going great until Ryan Gosling mentions being a Scorpio and how people always react badly (“I guess I better watch out for that tail”). Harry has always believed that Scorpios are not compatible with Aquarians and vowed never to date one. Harry really likes Ryan Gosling and doesn’t know what to do. AU or canon compliant. 

7 Harry is part of a knitting circle. Character B joins and starts suggesting changes to how the knitting circle operates. It drives Harry crazy that everyone is going along with the changes when things were perfectly fine before. But when Harry finally gives Character B a chance, they have more in common than Harry thought. 

8 Character B is an entertainment reporter who’s about to interview Harry Styles for the first time. Their roommate is a fan and helps with their research. Character B thinks they are prepared, but during the interview Harry dodges every question. They run into Harry later in a coffee shop and can’t help confronting Harry about being difficult during the interview. Harry is very apologetic and sends flowers. Then Character B keeps running into Harry. Canon compliant.

9 Harry and Character B both have partnerships with Lime bikes. They begin to compete over who can look more ridiculous in their paparazzi photos without anyone catching on. 

10 Harry is an introvert working in the Chicago Sky organization. When Angel Reese is drafted, Harry admires her assertiveness and wishes to be more like her. It takes Harry’s coworker and friend gently pointing it out for Harry to realize they want to be with Angel, not be more like her.

11 Girl Harry is inducted into Stevie Nicks' coven of musical witch women, which can include as many women singers/performers as you like

12 Harry and Character B are painting each other's nails when a discussion about hand/finger size and dexterity happens. Things turn sexual.

13 Sunshine Harry and nighttime Zayn

14 Harry dating everyone but Louis in 1D – so, zarry, nirry and lirry, or as zainrry

15 Harry/David Dawson. On set of My Policeman and they fall in love!

Please remember that no matter how your characters identify, they are welcome here. If the prompt submission does not specify pronouns, feel free to write those characters however you wish. When the prompt submission specifies "Girl", my interpretation is that means non cis male.

Submit a prompt here.

[thatgirl4815]

Your discussion on Sand and how it's hard to see him going to hook up with Boeing unless Sand and Ray have had some type of intense fall out is so interesting because I was wondering the same thing. But that also reminded me of some video/interview a while back with just Force and First in it - I could be remembering this totally wrong, but if I am recalling correctly Force was jokingly saying something along the lines of, "Yes, Top isn't perfect, but neither is Sand!" or something to that effect. And although it was meant as a joke what I thought was very interesting was that First didn't outright deny that point, actually I think he even reacted in a very 😏🤷‍♂️ esque manner, almost like there was something he couldn't say outright. I can't find that video now for the life of me so I can't confirm it - but now I'm a bit nervous...is Sand going to do something not so great in one of the coming episodes?!

On one hand, it's hard for me to see him doing anything *that* bad because of the way his character has been set up. He's a good person at heart and cares! On the other hand, much of the OF theme is kind of about how none of these characters are perfect and despite having (mostly) good intentions, they *do* go to somewhat messy lengths based on what they want. And we have seen that Sand isn't 100% perfect (for example, Sand breaking his own phone/leaking the video from Nick's phone/manipulating Ray to break Mew and Top up) - so he's capable of it too, but just seems to be able to control it better haha. So...ah, idk what to conclude now, I'm just nervous 😂

Yes, I’ve also been pondering whether Sand is in for any more questionable behavior, because First has acted sus about it before. I feel like I remember the interview you’re referencing but I’m not sure where to find it either. I know several interviews were recorded pre-Ep6 though, so it’s possible First could be referring to Sand’s revenge against Top. But I’m intrigued by the thought of him doing something else offbrand, but NOT if that something is hooking up with Boeing.

I’m still pretty solidly in the “Boeing flashback” camp when it comes to his relationship with Sand. Also, all signs (to me) point to a happy ending for SandRay…there are multiple reasons, but the main one being that Ray’s addiction and mental health issues require a strong supporter, and losing Sand completely—as he certainly would if they broke up, seeing as First said SandRay could never just be friends—would do a lot of damage to his mental state. So if SandRay has a happy ending, throwing a SandBoeing present-day hookup in the mix would cause a lot of drama that I don’t see getting resolved in only 2 episodes (assuming it would happen in Ep10). Between that and the Sand/Ray/Ray’s dad conflict, I don’t see how it could plausibly happen.

All that being said, I’m nervous too!! 😬😬 I definitely think Sand has the potential to act out, but in what way I’m not sure.

[swallowtailed]

palisade 28!

first of all, the intro—loved it. honoring black screen, reclaiming rhythm, acknowledging that post-combustor it still doesn’t feel like anything’s changed, but pushing forward anyway… (also i am so curious about this pirate rap station. who are the other hosts?? what are their shows like??)

i know the particular game of the interview scene was that brnine couldn’t gain any rhetorical ground, but ali absolutely slayed. incredible rp. truly a horrifying situation and brnine still landed some fantastic lines.

also want to make some sort of comparison to fever-dream and nightmare sequences—not quite sure what to call it, but i’m thinking of the kind of scene where a delirious character seems to hallucinate old arguments. coming under judgment, past and present blurring. (and how do we understand what it means to leave palisade?)

“stolen cameo” is a cool ship name but it became much funnier when it was revealed that they had kidnapped brnine to put them on tv

the question i had during that sequence was what’s asepsis doing while brnine’s in prison, and by the end of the episode i still had that question but even more so. what… the fuck! (also, didn’t brnine have some drones with them? does asepsis know where they are???)

eclectic opposition is The keith character name lmao. that’s just all of them already

jokes aside this character rips and i’m so excited for more terrible sleuth energy. black sequined poncho. “eclectic, and easily.” i have such a soft spot for noir aesthetics pasted over another genre. also very excited to dig into why all these hooks are “leap says”.

brief reflection on crew dynamics in brnine’s absence: figure stepped up, thisbe stepped in. which is really cool to see for both of them. figure took the lead in the scene and called the meeting to order, which really speaks to their freedom and confidence post-clem. thisbe didn’t do that, despite being technically in command, but she redirected the conversational dynamic in the way brnine might’ve tried to (her telling cori that vaping is bad for you is maybe my new favorite thisbe line… okay, no, it’s still second to “spoilers, corn is a grass”, but it’s up there.) 

really excited for figure’s plotline! talking to gur, seeing ghosts everywhere, bringing partial palisade onboard—they’ve leveled up and i’m so here for it. (also thinking about the past bleeding into the present, or maybe it’s better to understand that as a sort of recognition of continuity—same people, only changed. (which appeared a few times in this episode.) anyway, no new life can free you from your past, etc etc.)

also: partial palisade!!!! coming back onscreen!!!!!! we LOVE to see it

my main feeling after the latest faction turn was that somehow, post-combustor, nothing had actually changed. the blue channel got a huge win! the hugest! and then the cause went directly back to reacting to (and losing to) the authority, rather than actually making moves (cf outro of 25). i’m hoping we see more of a shift on the blue channel side, at least—it seems like the table is still set for that. having partial palisade on board could be really powerful (plotwise/thematically but maybe also mechanically). who knows—things could take a while to develop. (but also let’s drop another pillar!!!)

[smolwritingchick]

How would jungkook react to interviewers making Jennie very uncomfortable with questions of their relationship?

I see this happening a lot in America the most. Since Jennie has been teaching Jungkook English, his skill in the language is pretty much almost fluent so he will understand everything and speak in English.

Full protection mode while frowning. He'd be upset and hate how nosy interviewers would be just because 2 members of a big group are dating. I see him clapping back and defending her while she lets him speak. Jennie can speak for herself but it'll make her happy to see him immediately come to her aid to shut down questions that make her uncomfortable.

Ellen is going to be one of the interviewers. Ellen would try to push her buttons but Jen would keep her cool, prepared for it. She even warned the members it may happen.

An idea would be Ellen abruptly asking a question to try to catch BTS by surprise. "Jennie, word on the street is that you've been hooking up with people lately. Even with one of the members. Is this true?"

She'd look unamused at Ellen, laughing dryly and smiling bitterly. "Ellen...are we really doing this...? What a boring question,"

"Doing what?" she'd try to play it off.

Before Jen could speak, Jungkook would speak up and ask why does Jennie have to be "hooking up" with someone? And would tell Ellen that that she should be asking questions regarding BTS' new music and their excitement to be here in America.

I have an idea of Jennie bouncing her leg at a rapid rate because she was feeling a little on edge during an interview and Jungkook would place a comforting hand on her knee, easing her nerves. Then he'd hold her hand which would help her.

She wouldn't want to answer the personal or sexual relationship questions. She'd prefer to answer the cute and chill questions like the favorite thing to watch together for a cozy date night or when they began to like each other.

As I get there for these kinds of interviews, I'll brainstorm and think of more ideas! Can't wait to write them in America!

[legendtraineremily]

Foreword for the post: When writing characters and giving them depth, I like to use a little method I was given a few years ago—write a mock “Q&A” bit with your character and see how they’d react to certain questions.

Here is my wood-elf barbarian lady’s Q&A. She wants so hard to be seen as this tough warrior woman when honestly she could just be herself and do fine. Another point of context for her speech patterns is that for the wood-elf community she was raised in, anything to do with toads was seen as an obscenity. Without further ado, I present Elowina Ravencrest’s Q&A. (Bolded text indicates the interviewer.)

So Elowina, you seem to love breaking gender and cultural norms-

-Well, duh! I just love breaking things in general. Though I much prefer cracking skulls and breaking ribs, either with “Squishy” or my bare hands.

That’s, um, nice…but what we were asking was, how has your background affected what groups you’ve been able to join and be accepted in?

-Oh. Well, it was rough, like painful, ya’ know? A buncha groups are all “oh, a woman? An elf woman? Ha ha, yeah you can clean our clothes when we’re done and sing us a song or grow some flowers. You’re a Druidic bard, right?”

Uh-huh, yeah. Um, hate to “break” it to ya’, but I’m a raging warrior with a giant hammer! Do I look like I play a song and do some voodoo magic…with a hammer?! So to prove my point, I’ve had to beat some toad-brains up.

Fascinating. So what lead you into your warrior ways?

-I don’t like talkin’ about it much. Some dumb voodoo druid decided to play a party trick for the kids in my home village and messed up. I was picking thorns and berries out of my hair and clothes for weeks! Stupid little toad…

Oh, my! Well, you seem to be happy with your life now.

-Oh yeah! No better place than the open air, and nothing but your strength and will power to keep you alive! Although an inn and a good, well-earned ale ain’t too bad either. Ha!

Many people are also curious about your preferred weapon…

-What? Squishy? It’s only the best warhammer ever to grace the face of many an enemy! Picked it off the body of a hobgoblin I killed way back when I was just starting out in the mercenary business. Much more fun to use than trying to slash through armor with a sword or poke it with an spear. Anyway, smashing stuff in is my favorite way to deal with problems. Well, that and, according to Izzy, “repressing that negativity until it boils over into rage.” And honestly, that just leads to more smashing with Squishy so it all works out.

How has your experience with the Gaggle of Fools been different than other bands and groups?

-Well, big thing, this: they actually respect me. Even that old voodoo man, Izzy, gets that I’m not all into that magic stuff and acts real nice towards me. Heh, he even keeps some more real medicine just for me! Then there’s the boys, Arvad and Donel. Sweet guys, sometimes a little toad brained, but sweet. And Uram…they’re weird. All holy monk and that, but with a punch like a hammer to the face! Then…Aly. Nice girl. I can barely stand her “holier than thou” attitude, but she’s got a good, strong arm in battle and a mean right hook (trust me).

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

-Stop. Flirting. With Me. Ya’ toad brains! If I ain’t interested, I ain’t interested. And I’ll let you know if I ain’t interested, too! So lay off, ya’ toading creeps!

Thank you, Elowina. Much appreciated.

[skimmy---------slingus]

The ease of accessing transgender medical care without thorough mental health evaluations raises questions about the responsibility of the medical system. For such life altering decisions, a lack of psychological support can leave trans individuals vulnerable to future regret or emotional challenges. This oversight points to a broader problem in healthcare, where efficiency and profit sometimes trump patient well being. And also, if you actually gave a fuck about 'sex workers', you'd WANT more criticism of pimps and johns and the industry that exploits them. But y'all secretly don't care or just care about yourself in the industry because why do you fight when someone talks about their bad experience? Even the most self-professed empathetic men often react with comments like "who hurt you?" as if to frame the emotional response as irrational or misplaced. There s something in this pattern that reveals a broader discomfort with vulnerability—an inability, perhaps, to accept pain as a legitimate experience. But what drives this reaction, and why is it so prevalent? Men 's dismissal of women 's safety concerns reflects a broader societal issue of control and dominance. When women take steps to protect themselves, men may mock or undermine their efforts, revealing a desire to keep women feeling unsafe. This behavior is rooted in a need to maintain power over women, making it difficult for them to assert their autonomy and independence. The idea that women “ruin” men 's happiness is a projection rooted in male insecurity. Men often blame women for their dissatisfaction while simultaneously undermining women 's interests and joy. This dynamic reflects a deeper societal discomfort with the idea of women being independent and self-fulfilled outside of male validation. LIC…TIB…penis…the poop deck…Notice anything? Gonna start rapping about how trans women are men to get yall hooked then I'll move onto all the other aspects of radical feminism and actively say things about radical feminism in interviews and run a radical feminist consciousness raising org but when asked about my “transphobic” beliefs I'll be like “lmao you bought it? It's a character duhhh that's Raddy McFem she's a baddy raddy lmao. she crazy. Have you ever heard of Slim Shady?” a scary room! Only a bonkers bra would try to nerp in the spaghetti dimension.Only a bonkers bra would try to nerp in the spaghetti dimension.Only a bonkers bra would try to nerp in the spaghetti dimension.!

[iihtsuratsblog]

Top 20 MERN Stack Interview Questions You Need to Prepare

The MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js) is a popular full-stack development technology. Here’s a quick guide to the key questions you may encounter in MERN stack interviews:

What is the MERN stack? It includes MongoDB (NoSQL database), Express.js (web framework), React (UI library), and Node.js (runtime for backend).

MongoDB vs SQL? MongoDB is document-oriented, flexible, and scalable, while SQL is relational and uses tables.

How does Express.js support web development? Express simplifies routing, request handling, and middleware management, speeding up app development.

Main features of React? React is component-based, uses virtual DOM, and supports one-way data binding for efficient rendering.

Why Node.js is popular? Node.js is fast, event-driven, and non-blocking, making it efficient for handling multiple requests concurrently.

MongoDB-Specific Questions

What does a MongoDB document represent? A document is a JSON-like object that holds data, allowing complex structures.

CRUD operations in MongoDB? CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update, and Delete—basic operations to manage data.

What are indexes in MongoDB? Indexes improve query performance by speeding up data retrieval.

How do you handle relationships in MongoDB? You can embed related data or store references to other documents (embedding vs. referencing).

Express.js-Specific Questions

What is middleware in Express.js? Middleware functions are used for routing, request handling, and managing response flow.

How do you handle routes in Express? Routes map URLs to controller functions to handle HTTP requests (GET, POST, etc.).

Security practices in Express? Implement CORS, input validation, and authentication to secure your application.

React-Specific Questions

Class vs Functional components? Class components use lifecycle methods; functional components use hooks like useState and useEffect.

How to manage state in React? State can be managed locally or using tools like Context API or Redux for global state.

What are React hooks? Hooks like useState and useEffect enable functional components to manage state and side effects without classes.

Node.js-Specific Questions

How does Node.js handle asynchronous programming? Using callbacks, promises, and async/await, Node handles async operations efficiently.

What is npm? npm is a package manager for Node.js, helping manage dependencies and libraries in your project.

Full-Stack Development Questions

How to implement authentication in MERN? Use JWTs, sessions, or OAuth for secure user authentication and authorization.

Deployment options for MERN apps? Popular options include Heroku, AWS, and Docker for hosting and scaling MERN applications.

Advanced Topics

How to optimize MERN app performance? Optimize client-side rendering, cache data, improve queries, and minimize app load time for better performance.

Conclusion:

Mastering the MERN stack opens numerous web development opportunities. By practicing these interview questions and applying your knowledge in real projects, you’ll boost both your technical skills and interview confidence. Keep learning and stay updated with the latest trends!

Get Read Full Article: https://blog.iihtsrt.com/mern-stack-interview-questions/

[srishticampusposts]

Top 10 React JS Interview Questions for 2025

As the demand for skilled React developers continues to rise, it's essential to prepare for interviews effectively. As you prepare for interviews in 2025, it's vital to stay updated with key concepts and best practices. This blog covers the essential React JS interview questions and answers, perfect for those looking to enhance their skills through React JS training.

1. What are the main features of React?

React is known for its component-based architecture, virtual DOM for optimized rendering, one-way data binding, and hooks for managing state and side effects. These features make it a powerful choice for building dynamic web applications.

2. Explain the concept of Virtual DOM.

The Virtual DOM is a lightweight copy of the actual DOM. React updates the Virtual DOM first and then efficiently syncs the changes to the real DOM. This process minimizes direct manipulations, resulting in faster updates and improved performance.

3. What are hooks in React?

Hooks are functions that let you use state and other React features without writing a class. Key hooks include `useState`, `useEffect`, and `useContext`, which facilitate managing state and side effects in functional components.

4. How do you manage state in React?

State in React can be managed using the `useState` hook for local component state or by using libraries like Redux or Context API for global state management. Understanding when to lift state up is crucial for effective state management.

5. Can you explain the lifecycle methods of a React component?

Lifecycle methods allow you to hook into specific points in a component's life. Key methods include `componentDidMount`, `componentDidUpdate`, and `componentWillUnmount`. With hooks, you can replicate these lifecycle methods using `useEffect`.

6. What is the purpose of keys in React?

Keys help React identify which items have changed, are added, or are removed. Using unique keys improves performance during re-renders and helps maintain component state across updates.

7. How does React handle forms?

React handles forms using controlled components, where form data is handled by the component's state. You can use the `onChange` event to update the state as users interact with the form elements.

8. Explain the difference between state and props (properties).

State is a component's local data storage, while props are used to pass data from parent to child components. Props are immutable within the child component, while state can be modified.

9. What are higher-order components (HOCs)?

HOCs are functions that take a component and return a new component, adding additional functionality. They are commonly used for code reuse, such as implementing authentication or logging.

10. Why is React considered efficient?

React's efficiency comes from its virtual DOM and reconciliation process, which minimizes the number of direct updates to the real DOM. This leads to better performance, especially in applications with dynamic content.

11. What is the Context API in React?

The Context API is a feature in React that allows you to share state across the entire application without having to pass props down manually at every level. It provides a way to create global variables that can be accessed by any component, making it ideal for theming, user authentication, or managing application settings. To use it, you create a Context object, wrap your component tree in a `Provider`, and consume the context with `useContext` or a `Consumer` component.

12. How can you optimize performance in a React application?

-Performance optimization in React can be achieved through several techniques, including:

-Code Splitting: Use dynamic imports to split your code into smaller chunks, which can be loaded on demand.

-Memoization: Utilize `React.memo` for components and `useMemo` or `useCallback` for functions to prevent unnecessary re-renders.

-Pure Components: Use `PureComponent` or `shouldComponentUpdate` to prevent re-rendering when props or state haven’t changed.

-Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading for images and components to improve initial load time.

-Efficient State Management: Avoid lifting state unnecessarily and prefer local state management when feasible.

Being well-prepared for your interview can make a significant difference in landing your desired job in React development. To further enhance your skills, consider joining the best React JS training in Trivandrum. They offer comprehensive courses that cover everything from the basics to advanced concepts.

[the-quiet-youve-been-longing-for]

Apart from the act of giving Louis the hook and then only talking to pull back once things got too far, I think Armand was expecting Daniel to react with his usual snark, put another self deprecating joke and move on. He didn't expect him to almost cry.

The "Let's return to the interview" that comes right after this scene could have been a way to have Louis ease off before he did something that could really break Daniel ("do you want to know if she thinks of you now?"). It's interesting that Armand proposes to return to the questions, since he said multiple times he doesn't want the interview. But it was the only way to calm Louis and give some breathing room to Daniel, I feel. He apologises on Louis' behalf next episode, but by then Daniel is apparently fine.

Interesting parallel with the scene in 2x05, where Daniel starts crying while he is unspooling the tapes, Armand rushes back and goes "shh, shh, no, no, no". The good nurse, in a sick and twisted way.

And when Louis trigger his Parkinson's, it's Rashid who swoops in to pull Louis back before Daniel seriously injuries himself.

So I guess that Armand likes it if Daniel is snarky, sarcastic to the point of danger, and overall bitchy to interact to. But can't handle seeing him in distress.

But it could mean nothing.

Armand initially trying to get a rise out of Daniel, but switching to comforting him the moment Louis goes too far.