#setting clear and achievable trading goals

[1-49]

송은석 : Tell the cameraman there’s no good side, they’re both attractive.

❝ your ace, your king, your double diamond. your jack of all trades, your 100 and one shades.

ᴘᴀʀɪɴɢ: actor! song eunseok × actress f!reader.

ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: romance. on set / gambling undertones as far as the film storyline goes. w.c 5k

two actors fatally ‘meet’ at a ‘casino.’ with the narrative centering round the ‘value of the moment,’ as the story advances, the ‘love on set’ becomes more evident thru the cameras. as the director realizes this early on, all of his retakes serve as both the actors’ main obstacle and unifying force in achieving their individual & character’s goals.

ᴛᴀɢꜱ: slight mutual pinning (?) both are kinda confused; mixed signals, ofc flirting. makeout :) i had MMA Eunseok on mind while writing this... the gloves and all.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: why i feel like everyones on sum Eunseok current rn? as if we re collectively riding that wave? am i not right? am i not!? it’s like homeboy was only getting comfortable up until now. or elsee y are his contents as of lately sooo attacking? idk why, but i feel like this type of situation goes so well w him?

this goes back and forth between the film’s plot and the real* on set setting. hope it’s not confusing

It feels like you’re wearing your seductive velvet dress just to let him down one more time. The never-ending takes of filming this movie and wearing the same clothes don’t help Eunseok at all; in fact, your attire has made him even more confused and hell crazed.

Drama, slash thriller, slash…

“Romance is for the weak,”

reads one of the script’s lines. Of course, there is nothing romantic about the way he has to portray the charismatic rival who must rob the same kingpin as you. You both need to be like loaded guns to figure out who will outsmart who. Without a doubt, this isn’t a game for the weak of heart.

Side from the fact that long shoots and endless days blur together, his constant presence both on and off set also distorts your perception and wounds your judgment. Though you know for a fact that it’s a waste of your time to catch vibes.

As you’re getting started & Eunseok is an A-list hitter, it is also completely out of the question. Moreover, even now, you find it surprising how you were cast for this role, but that was exactly what spurred you on to continue & demonstrate your abilities.

Though the weeks of filming went smoothly, as you 2 approach ‘a’ scene, tension is mounting.

But, now that you’re here, you’re reshooting and pacing around the same set of scenes, over and over. There is a clear build-up in tension and skin ship as the film goes. The way his hands would sometimes tighten around your waist, it seems like an old game. Practically, it’s the same same daily. 

It’s as if you have been thrown into a loop for a week. Monday through Saturday, which seems excessively intense because you have to look into his big eyes and act unaffected, just like your character. To pretend that you’re razor-sharp when you two touch and to act as though nothing is happening.

The latest take you took was three hours ago, before your lunch. Venue: the casino.

The casino set is unique in that it has distinct widths and depths, & it’s a character unto itself.

You’re shooting at a real place—a candid gambling place with walls painted in every hue imaginable, which is the main ‘bait’ factor. Nevertheless, the place’s real undercurrent is that it has the power to literally tear apart a person. Here, time and space are merely ideas, and much like love, everyone in the plot keeps playing in the hopes of hitting a jackpot. 

On the periphery are the people who have come here to escape reality, vibrant lights, music, drinks, and all things magnetic.

However, the more people indulge in these casino games, the more they immerse themselves in sin. The games have a concentric hierarchy, and the degree of wickedness increases gradually until it reaches the heart of the casino, where the money is kept in bondage and bound with a bloody ribbon.

In essence, the characters you and Eunseok play dance and mingle in the depths of hell.

As you both keep colliding in the games you play, what begins as an individual hunt becomes more focused. It’s the way that your objective in this round is to win jointly by lying. Still, at some point in the round, Eunseok’s character betrays you, but that is currently irrelevant, as you’re currently sitting on his lap.

And doing so, you scan the players in front of you. There are eight of them in total, some of whom have girls sitting on their laps as well. Some kiss, some clink their glasses, and some flirt with the person across. A ton of chips, cards, and cash are spread out across the poker table. 

Your character remains silent, just like Eunseok’s does. Distraction is something that neither of you wants. However, the fact that you’re sitting on his lap makes this already a deranged situation.

Players sling remarks about your character around the table in an attempt to break Eunseok’s character’s nerve.

“When will it be our turn to have our round with her, at last, exactly when?” Gesturing you both, one of the group members says, perched on the edge of the poker table. “Hm? We may need to take some action because you don’t really share your food here. We may need to bring bad luck to attract her.” The actor laughs narratively, but there is seriousness in the corners of his bright eyes that makes it seem like he is really after you, and there is nothing Eunseok can do about that. It is an amazing acting delivery from him.

And while his remarks are only meant to irritate Eunseok’s character, why does it feel like they also irritate the real Eunseok? Because his leg begins to twitch uncontrollably under you.

In order to stop letting his emotions show and to keep his mind to the job in hand, he needs to snap back into character quickly. He remains to cage you in a respectful manner, though, as his arms aren’t in contact with you because they’re both on the table.

So you have no choice but to put up with the sensation of his breath tickling the back of your neck, and the heat that seeps from his thighs and settles into you.

You feel imprisoned in his cage... On this set.

And, you start to appreciate the little things, like the thicker material covering your flesh, since it seems like your skin is getting uncomfortably slippery under your dress. 

Your back is glued to his chest, and his calm demeanor calms you down from the words and deeds of everyone around you—including the real extras from the close-up tables that swarm the set, adding realism to the scene and heightening the atmosphere.

You feel him place his hand on your thigh, something he has never done in previous takes of the scene, but he immediately lifts it. And as he moves his hand, the smooth surface of your dress wrinkles at the drag, making your heart want to leap out of your rib cage.

You lean forward until your elbows rest on the table in an attempt to escape the heat transfer that is becoming too strong between your bodies. More than that, there seems to be an off-energy between you two today that you can’t quite put your finger on. In either case, you’re unable to escape as his hand wraps around your waist and draws you back toward him. Simultaneously, it feels like his cold breath is making love to your throat as it swoops around your neck.

And so, you stay like this… in his arm... until he decides it’s enough, but Eunseok isn’t one to give up easily, so things continue this way. You simply can’t protest because that would ruin the scene.

However, even after going over the same scene several times, it didn’t stick, so the director agreed to let you unwind for the next few hours so that you could focus on the following scene.

And as absurd as it sounds, you might need to expend all of your energy on the next scene. You’ve become tired not just from your long work hours and endlessly repeated dialog lines, but also from being in too much close contact with him. And not to mention that the scene that follows is—

A loud “Action!” comes from somewhere across the room, past the cameras. You’re even deprived of the opportunity to summon all your bravery and take a deep breath. There is nothing you can do about the scene that is already in motion except follow your sync with Eunseok wherever it leads.

This time, the location is a 2nd floor room inside the casino with a glassed view of the floor below where all the ‘magic’ happens. In technical terms, the space you’re in right now is referred to as a ‘control room.’  

Control…..

With just the two yellow-toned lamps—one in the corner and one on the metal desk—the room is completely soundproof and somewhat dim. Additionally, the window glass also only sees out but not in, which promises that all intimacy will be trapped inside and not let out. 

…. If only you were allowed the right amount of privacy, 

but this is a film set, so naturally there are people inside who practically monitor every move you and Eunseok make in great detail.

They… Control…..

His suit jacket, which he had on earlier in the casino, is now draped across the brown leather couch, giving you more intimate time together and expanding his range of motion. And it’s all done purposefully. Everything is a part of the plan, as he’s deliciously in tune with your dress, too. 

His glistening velvet suit with diamond motifs fits the ‘rival notion,’ making him an ideal opponent—a fierce equal match for you. This is also reflected in the movie’s concept, which is to give the impression that this is a ‘pair game’ in which both of you are lying in order to get to the big ‘price.’

And all it takes to get there is for you to hurt each other in the process. There are jokes exchanged, teasing remarks, some lighter, some harsher, some even more vulgar, and swear words are thrown around, but neither of your characters ever lets up their confident façade. For they would be falling behind and losing the game if that were to occur.

As you gaze out the window, Eunseok is leisurely leaning against the desk, moving a silver-foil Ace of Hearts card between his black leather-gloved fingers and watching you. 

The games themselves give an adrenaline rush, and the lavish, spacious hall downstairs draws in gamblers, but the whole point of the script for him is that you’re a thrill sight and his object of desire. For someone made of steel, your whole sense of appeal lies in the fact that you steal his breath. 

The sleek black strapless velvet dress you’re wearing seems to be romanticized by the fake diamonds around the base of your neck. Your smoked eyes and glossed lips are your core points. You don’t long to impress. Your power lies in your strength and independence, but it’s also in elegance, solace, and trance. Another line says, ‘Simplicity is a killer,’ and you certainly are.

However, beneath it all, only you’re aware of how much of a mess you are because he is currently examining you.

... Still, it’s only acting. Eunseok is merely performing in his role as an actor. And, when acting, one can’t really let one’s true self show. As a result, cameras won’t be able to capture how hot you really feel inside or how confused; all you can hope for is that you don’t mess up your next set of lines.

And it’s that scene in the script where everything has built to a climax, and nothing is held back!

When neither of you can decide what brought you together—your shared dislike or your shared goal—and neither of you can explain the bad cues and inexplicable tension.  

Where your personal schemes about who will get the ‘shiny stones’ first are screwed by your shared greed and cynicism. 

When you two almost simultaneously blow up each other’s plans. 

And wherein, in order to make this work for at least one of you, you have selected a room to talk about the remaining options. In this case, the smarter one will really only be the meaner one.

This finally concludes the exchange of hurtful comments; there will be no more!

The door is the most attractive option, and the room is perfectly silent. However, it simply indicates that the first person out has raised the white flag and signed their lost. It’s impossible for either of you to succumb so easily.

Simultaneously, your character is the first to break the dense silence.

“Do you know where we’re going?”

With a rephrased and pointed question, “Where are you going with this?,” you look up at him then, looking a little disappointed and angry at the same time.

Coolly, Eunseok teases, “I’m trying to figure out if I should call it quits.” 

As an actor would, his hair is styled to perfection, and the two hair strands that fall into his eyes and give him a luscious appearance are actually just the result of the tireless efforts of the hair and makeup artists who never stop running after him. 

You find yourself ‘out of set’ for a split second, wondering what he’s like by himself. How he appears when he wakes up in the morning, how his hair looks after taking a shower, and how his body is dressed in a baggy, worn-out shirt rather than rich pajamas. However, that’s rather a ‘faraway’ Eunseok.

But the present, Eunseok, does he read you?

“You’re only saying that. But I won’t take the bait from you.” Your character is merely attempting to remind his of how he deceived you during the previous poker round. “In fact, I wish you saw you from my view. You ain’t all that, you know?”

Eunseok’s cool and calm demeanor remains unshaken. In fact, he just keeps on getting cocky. Given that you’re affecting him in ways he doesn’t understand, it’s in his character's self-defense mechanism as a means of continuing to taunt your character.

“Really,” he responds, crossing his gloved hands. His vest lifts at his tiny waist, and he tilts his head to one side in a seductive manner. The tone of his voice has been pre-calculated; every syllable has been worked on in detail. His precision in looking at you, moving, and facial expressions is unparalleled. 

“See, I’m good for the ego,” his words come across as too sultry, even though he’s the most soft-spoken he has ever been, “but I’m bad for the soul.”

If you two weren’t in front of the cameras, you’d have closed your eyes and allowed his words to give you goosebumps all over your body, but now isn’t the time to do that.

Not that they aren’t doing it already, either...

They’re actually doing that in real time. His voice, his eyes, and his tongue that digs and crawls at the inside of his cheek.

Just a cold-blooded actor. With every take, this terrifyingly skilled individual sends chills down your spine. You almost get the impression that he’s seriously flirting with you because of how excellently he is delivering his role. Nevertheless, the line is exceedingly thin, and the narrative is already in the script. Is it not?

You protest, looking frustrated, saying, “Your games are endless,” yet still simultaneously approaching him more closely to show that you aren’t afraid of him.

Actually, you and him are on the same level. And to add spice to the situation, you say, “However, this time, we both know that you’re going to lose.”

Waving the metallic Ace of Hearts card in your face, his quick silver tongue catches your attention as it runs along his lips. In an attempt to look impressive and put an end to the questions, Eunseok nonchalantly admits, “I like the games I play.” 

Although you must maintain your image and stay in character, all you really want is for all of this to end. You can’t take this and him anymore, like the weeks of filming together have reached a breaking point. You want to scream, ‘Cut!’ to put an end to this suffering, but you can’t fail your dream or let your character down either.

It’s as though you’re developing feelings for someone who isn’t even real. As though you are losing all feeling of reality as you observe him from up close. And because you know what is coming up next, you’re damn sure that Eunseok will take a piece of you with him when the lights go out and the cameras stop rolling, and everything is said and done.

Trouble…

It’s in his perfectly lethal-hued dark eyes. In the way the lamp light hits his eyes that makes him look so enticing, like a glass of whiskey on a thirsty day of never being enough. Intoxicating. Mysterious. Dangerous. A glass of trouble, really, and you’re fastly becoming a growing alcoholic. 

The narrative he tells you hurts as his words continuously fall from his gorgeous lips and seep into your thoughts and emotions like melted wax.

“The truth is, you can’t get enough of me.” Eunseok’s same eye-level with you decreases as he straightens up from the desk and now gazes a little down at you, imposing a slight dominance. He lifts his gloves, causing some veins in his arms to bulge between where the gloves end and his white rolled dress shirt begins. 

Without consent, his gloved fingers begin to crawl upward the inside part of your naked arm, waking goosebumps on their way. The trace is slow and faint, but that is exactly what he wants—for you to disintegrate bit by bit.

“Admit it,” he prompts.

He’s being pretty sadistic and adamant by insisting that you know that he knows how you feel about him; which is precisely the situation, and it leaves you feeling so exposed.

And it’s as if his proximity, presence, and dominance have completely eroded you, your character ‘breaks character’ as it succumbs to his dark charms.

You two are so close that you can understand each other perfectly, even in whispers right now. So you fire back in a private voice, “If I cared more about the truth,” miserable and defeated, “I’d be too aware of who was using who.”

In response, all he does is smirk,

and after making his way to your shoulders, he subtly brushes his thumb along your collarbone. Heat is generated by the tiny friction, and much like a fire match is struck, it ignites sparks in the air.

His hand then moves to brush some hairs away from your face and tuck them behind your ear. The black leather of his glove begins to skim first, then caress your delicate skin and the left side of your face. 

His eyes pierce your soul like a knife, so you look from them to his lips, breaking eye-contact. They lust for touch and have a unique, attractive shape.

“Stop!” You voice out in shock at what he’s doing, but do nothing. His gloved fingertips continue to graze your face. 

“Wonderfull,” he comments silently.

Your brain is fried...

And while in a daze, you notice that his tie is a little loose around his collar.

For some reason, this makes you feel compelled to tighten it, sealing the last bit of separation between the two of you. Eunseok’s brows furrow in concern as he realizes that this isn’t at all included in the script. Although this is blatant improvisation, the performance must continue as long as the director doesn’t yell cut.

You can understand why his free hand, which lends on your waist, is gripping you so tightly and nervously. He kind of breaks his neck shyly smiling away from you before turning back to face you...

Again, something the scene steps don’t cover.

“It was out of pl—” 

‘ace,’ it’s what you attempt to offer as an explanation while the camera is rolling, but you don’t finish saying it... Your mouth stays agape in contrast.

You opened it with an intention, got distracted, and now you hold it open with a fresh thought.

...Him.

Your lip gloss is a mirror of his tiny diamond-studded vest’s sparkle, as are his eyes, which reflect your phoney diamond necklace. 

‘How’d you get so pretty?’ Your mind stutters and your body shudders, yet the line is plain to see as it’s painted on your lips—ready to perform, ready to be spoken. How do you allow yourself to say it, though? 

But for real, when did his lips become this pretty?

It’s challenging to discern which aspect of yourself feels and which acts. There is a messed-up intersection where your character throbs with the need to kiss his character, and you throb with the need to kiss him.

Can he feel it? Are you obvious? Does anyone in the room have the ability to see right through you, as though you’re a transparent bottle filled with all these bottled wicked wants and needs?

Under the necklace, the skin on your neck contracts, relaxes, and contracts once more.

Your lips begin to quiver as the cold leather finally slides beneath your chin. Lifting it, your eyes are drawn back to meet his. You’re painfully aware that it’ll only take a single kiss to weaken a million truths.

“Fuck,” he utters as he begins to brush your lips, causing the leather to become sticky from the shiny gloss. 

Taking back his hand, he starts to rub and then separate his thumb and index finger, examining the degree of stickiness between them. He sighs, “You’re making me want to suggest that we steal those stones together.”

“I’m not stealing any stones with y—”

“I know, I know,” he says, interrupting. “But almost…” 

Eunseok looks directly at you and presses his tacky gloved thumb to his lips.....

The flawless pair of strands that get in the way of his eyes symbolize his seriousness while his tongue begins to pick up and taste any bits of whatever is still on his lips…

The intimacy is revolting, but you aren’t even given a chance to die from all the obscenities he’s doing as he continues.

“You are,” his voice becomes quieter as he speaks, “almost making me want to do it.” 

His lips draw nearer. His breath is what you inhale.

“Almo—” 

As soon as his lips touch yours, the rest of the sentence disappears. Just as your glittery, dark eyeshadow is captured in perfect detail on camera, his splattered letters perfectly entangle in your mouth.

Unsurprisingly, he gives you a desperate kiss with hands that dig into your waist.

The greatest corruption imaginable is a kiss that says, “If you aren’t mine, then I’m making you mine!” A kiss that puts your life and breath in danger. A kiss that tears through the façade and the acting mask, growing ever more dangerously real. 

What’s worse is that having spent so much time with him, it’s so evident when he’s unable to pretend. And currently, he surely cannot! 

He cannot act as though his lips aren’t needy or that his skin isn’t becoming hotter. Or that when he pulls your body more into his and presses his tongue deeper inside your mouth, his body isn’t trembling just a little bit.

Your hands slip off his shoulders and latch onto this vest, tugging on it just a little bit, even hanging on to it desperately for the life he’s stealing from you. 

His heart is pounding beneath your hand, which is hard to comprehend considering that an actor with his level of training shouldn’t even flinch when filming a kissing scene. More so than anyone else, Eunseok exudes an air of magnetism despite being largely composed of steel. The fact that you’re seeing him partially fall apart for the first time is mind-boggling. 

It’s truly insane what only a kiss can reveal. And of anything, it isn’t fast. For this is something that you should feel, just as the audience should when it’s their turn. 

You whine his character’s name in between kisses, only slightly conscious that you’re still in the heat of filming this scene. However, he just hushes you, nuzzles your nose gently against his, and continues. His low, pretty pants and foul moans layer at your throat, just as yours in his.

Given how far out of script you two are at this point, you’re certain the director has had enough by now and will call it quits at any moment, but that never happens.

It’s gross how much of Eunseok’s tongue encircles yours while his cute nose wrinkles and brushes against yours. It all makes you want him even more. For the worst part, he smiles through it. It’s quite vile since he knows exactly what he’s doing.

You can feel his lips burn from the constant, wild collisions. And his scent seeps into your nostrils. That much is certain: it’ll be difficult to forget this—to forget him.

“Do you—Do you?” he stammers, pressing his lips to yours as he breathes heavily and squeezes your waist so forcefully that you fear his hands will split you in two. 

Since it’s an entirely improvised line, he eventually comes up with the right combination of words. “Have you indulged in this fantasy before? Have you—Have you ever thought about kissing me?” 

Even though Eunseok’s words are already weighing heavily on your heart and lips, he adds even more bitterness by saying, “You definitely have.” He answers his own question by not even giving you an opportunity to respond.

But then, is it untrue? 

Of course not, as you feel the weakness in your knees. You find it somewhat unfair that he has granted himself a space where he’s fusing reality and fiction.

You fight, “It’s—” while making an effort to escape and resist his lips, “It’s just this time,” but it’s mediocre at best.

As you step back away from him, his hands hopelessly slip off your waist and slide back to his side. They appear empty-looking, as though they don’t own anything of value, like something was snatched from their possession.

Now, empty handed, Eunseok is back gripping the metal of the desk. It isn’t like it’s just you who is feeling the effects of those frenzied kisses; he has definitely lost his breath too. His lips are pretty roused and ‘used-looking’, much like after an intense makeout, while the tips of his ears throb as they peek out from under his dark hair.

He somewhat manages to come up with another line even though his fairly strong defensive system is down.

“Then perhaps it’s just been my imagination all those times I thought I felt you thinking about me.”

Your mouth drops open at the same time as the director cries out,

“CUT! Beautiful! Beautiful!” He waves his hands in all directions proudly. “That take was spot-on perfect; we’re done here. I got everything I want here”, he says, tapping the big camera that some other guy is holding, and also exclaiming, “One take. It only took one take!” with excitement. “Excellent improvisation! Reshooting would only sour the spark.” He then successfully clasps his hands and says, “That’s a wrap, everyone!”

You’re left standing in front of Eunseok, glassy-eyed, quite sensitive, and shocked, but optimistic that what the two of you just did is still partially justified by your acting profession.

It looks like he’s blinking more than normal; and blinking is undoubtedly one of the patterns Eunseok exhibits when he’s nervous, which you’ve noticed throughout the months that you’ve been working with him. He also seems to be in denial, with confused lines painted on his temple.

Both him and you stay motionless while looking at each other as the director talks about the scene with a different staff member, his voice only sounding faint and far away in your ear.

“I like a good chase in a scene. To me, that’s everything. The actors must have a compelling chemistry and be aware of their roles. They must have trust in each other and their actions, because making a film is similar to a construction site, it must be built. It’s more than a camera, lights, and action.” Taking off his baseball cap, he gives himself a head stretch. “Trust me… what these two have is lethal.”

The longer the director keeps making observations, the more of the ‘real’ Eunseok is in your presence. Adorable, nervous smiles, head turns, and motions; knitted brows that enlarge his eyes even more. It’s as if he has softened his human side, opened his heart, and ‘thrown his metallic armour away.’

Finally, after hearing the comments, he sort of hisses with a ‘Really?’ while tilting his head to the side and putting on a cute, sarcastic look of suspicion.

“Are you okay?” You ask him in a gentle tone, concerned because it appears he’s thinking through and repeating every step of the scene.

He nods, but his face still wears that expression of shock mixed with denial, and a slight, but still noticeable, shy spark in the far back of his ever so silver persona. It seems like he’s coming to terms with everything that just happened, and he’s still quite riding out the wave.

Now that he has had a taste of how you kiss, it’s quite impeccable how you can bite down like an enemy and later be tender to all of those marks like a friend. 

You’re high-key giving him so much more to think about—so many more thoughts to deal with than what the sight of you in your dress had already done for him up to this point.

‘Romance’ slash ‘No Control’ slash ‘Trouble!’

So many twists and turns until the conclusion, but the scene is now over. 

The drama is done. The ‘acting’? 

Done! 

You’ll be taking off your makeup and dressing down, but the characters you just played will still exist within the both of you. That despite the fact that it seems like you two will be avoiding dealing with this for the time being, you’re both actors, and currently, the cost of your acting is your sanity. 

Starting today, heartthrob actor Eunseok won’t only continue to cause headaches to the millions of girlies who have his posters hung above their beds, but to you as well.

‘.....Nice.’

© 𝟭-𝟰𝟵. do not copy, translate, repost, and modify my works.

[nenelonomh]

the importance of balance in academia

balance is SO IMPORTANT in every aspect of life, but so often students sacrifice it in order to achieve high-level grades. balance is a critical factor that contributes to both personal well-being and academic success. many myths exist that build this lack of balance in the academic world, so let's debunk some of them.

working long hours guarantees advancement who told you this? seriously? the number of hours worked does not necessarily correlate with productivity or career success. quality of work matters more than quantity. you should try to prioritize efficiency and well-being over excessive hours.

life must be compartmentalized separating work and personal life rigidly isn’t always feasible. embrace flexibility. sometimes school/work and life blend, and that’s okay. focus on being present wherever you are.

you can have it all this is a big goal of a lot of people. i hate to break it to you, but you're NEVER going to have it all. balancing everything perfectly is challenging. prioritize what truly matters to you. accept that some trade-offs are necessary.

time management solves everything another lie that's commonly believed. yes, time management helps but IT WILL NOT SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS. time management alone won’t guarantee balance. it’s about making conscious choices, not just managing the clock.

technology frees up more time/technology wastes time technology can both help and hinder balance. you must learn how to use technology wisely; and not let it consume your life. always disconnect when needed.

academic stress arises when a student’s existing capacity to manage and adapt to academic demands is exceeded. it encompasses mental distress related to expected academic challenges, fear of failure, or even the possibility of academic failure. you can prevent it by learning about your stressors, changing what you can, moderating your emotional reactions and practising physical responses to stress (e.g. mindful breathing). remember, academic stress is normal, but managing it effectively is essential for your overall well-being and success. prioritize self-care, seek help when needed, and find a healthy balance.

one thing that you're going to have to learn in order to become more balanced on your academic journey is to drop perfectionism. you may think that it has helped you get to where you are,, that it motivates you and keeps you going. these are lies. you must find new ways to motivate yourself that are not harmful.

for example, learning how to evolve whilst accepting that you are still growing and that you are just a person will get you to the same places, without the detrimental effects. perfectionists tend to have an all-or-nothing mindset and experience feelings of inadequacy due to toxic comparison. in being a perfectionist, your creativity may dwindle, as well as health implications arising and relationship strain.

if you don't believe me -- take a look at the article here.

but HOW can you manage balance in academia?

prioritize and plan though time management will not save you by itself, it is a great skill and very helpful. create a weekly schedule that allocates time for BOTH academic and personal activities. prioritize essential tasks and set realistic goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

set boundaries establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. make time to go out with your school friends outside of schoolwork! you have to be mindful, however, that it impossible to have a perfect divide or balance. we are humans; we are messy; life is messy.

self-care make time for activities that help you relax and recharge, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. prioritize physical and mental health alongside academic commitments.

be flexible recognize that there will be times when your work demands more of your time and attention. adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining a balance.

build a support system i can't stress this enough! having people around you --even if you're writing your stressors on an anonymous blog-- is so vital to academic success. foster personal relationships and build a network of colleagues and friends who understand the challenges of academia. seek advice and support from mentors and peers.

effective communication communicate openly with colleagues, supervisors, and family members about your commitments and limitations. negotiate the workload when necessary. i remember in primary school (sixth grade, to be precise) when my teacher gave me extra homework to 'push me'. it took so much time away from me. as a twelve-year-old, i was able to talk to her and we agreed that i would simply just do the extension homework (instead of double work) so that i would have more time to play. this shit works!

utilize technology leverage technology for efficiency. use tools for time management, collaboration, and communication. if you get too distracted by technology, block the sites. delete the apps. do whatever you have to do to make it a tool. you can always re-download when you're finished. you can always call a friend during the breaks.

i think one of the most significant things to learn, ever, is that all of your actions/strategies are a double edged sword. they can either hurt you or help you. you have to decide which side you use.

achieving balance is an ongoing process, and you have to learn what works best for you--everyone is different. always strive for a healthier equilibrium. i promise you that it will be better for your wellbeing; your soul.

luck on your academic journey.

❤️ joanne

[theambitiouswoman]

How do you make a decision especially when the circumstances are challenging and you feel that you are running out of time? 💓

First, it's important to realize that you are not running out of time. Do not worry about living up to anyone else's expectations, or comparing yourself to others. This is honestly half the battle. Once you take that stress off your shoulders, you can better think and create a plan of action.

The more challenging, the better you are going to feel once you achieve it. I look at challenges as a test. They are not meant to hold us back, but to help us decide how bad we want it. Growth, along with everything you need to learn to accomplish your goals as well as being able to handle and live in the results you are trying to obtain.

Start by identifying the most important factors that are directly related to your decision. What truly matters to you in this situation? Narrow down your focus so you can save time and energy.

Figure out your objectives and what you hope to achieve through this decision. This will help you evaluate your available options.

Gather as much information as you can within the time you have. Look for reliable sources and prioritize information that directly impacts your decision. This is why I started off with having peace of mind. You need to be clear and focused.

Figure out the pros and cons of each option you listed as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages. Think about the risks, benefits, and potential outcomes associated with each choice. This analysis will help you weigh the options and make better decisions.

In challenging situations with limited time, trust your intuition. Sometimes, your gut feelings and instincts can guide you toward the right decision, even when you have limited time for in depth analysis.

Break down your decision into actionable steps and prioritize them based on urgency and importance. Taking a structured approach will help you make progress, even with limited time.

Set a realistic deadline for when you need to make your decision. Having a clear timeframe can create a sense of urgency and prevent unnecessary delay.

Remember, it's okay to make trade offs and choose the best available option under the circumstances. Do not be afraid to take risks. Trust yourself and the decision you make. Understand that no decision is perfect, but by following a thoughtful process and taking action, you can move forward and adapt as necessary. You won't have it all figured out. But your sense of commitment and determination will inspire you to accept when you need to pivot or make changes to your plan.

We put a lot of pressure on ourselves before we start something worrying about the wrong things. But once you are fully focused on your mission, you will be less worried about running out of time, because you will be too busy and focused.

[jadefromsnowstorm]

The Dragon Prince Season 5: The Missed Potential of Scumport

Aight so I recently watched the 5th season of TDP and while I enjoyed it a great deal more than Season 4 I still have a few issues with it

The biggest one being that some of the things in the plot just..... don't seem to matter that much? Like they'd setup for something and then completely ignore/forget about it in the show?

Finnigrin was the best part of this season no doubt there, but I felt the Scumport plot lacking somewhat

Like why even make Ezran go to Finnigrin for the ship if they planned for Villads to help the gang?

Just so Ezran can steal those three baby glow toads(that's still pretty stupid to steal from the shady guy running a brutal, lawless place) and get Finnigrin to follow them?

Why tell us that he wanted to kill Domina Profundis when she's such a nothing character this season and no confrontation even happens? Like Finn gets killed before the finale and Domina doesn't matter enough for the audience to care or be interested in that aspect of the plot

Like there were better ways of getting Finnigrin to chase them, I thought that they were initially setting up for Ezran & Zym to steal Finn's fastest or second fastest ship & use Villads to steer it

Could you imagine what it would have been like if they stole his main ship and then Finnigrin chased after in his second fastest one and when he had them in view he just whistled and the "ship" suddenly turned and stood showing the audience it was a crab all along (I still liked the reveal in the show tho)

There's also the whole deal with dark magic this season, we saw more elves willing to use/associate with dark magic or adjacent practices to achieve their goals, Karim, Finnigrin, Kim'Dael

(Terry maybe in the future seasons?)

Here's my ideas for the Scumport thing

Finnigrin is the first elf we've seen in the show that deliberately wants to use dark magic(well maybe except the Bloodmoon huntress but it's not exactly clear if the "blood magic" is supposed to be "dark magic")

It would've made much much more sense for Scumport to be a DARK MAGIC HUB where you could purchase and trade in goods used for dark magic

This would also increase the sense of danger in the place if most of the people there were dark magic users, Raya's whole comment about keeping a low profile & the other comment about everyone paying their dues to Finnigrin, there's no need for tension or to be scared for our heros in Scumport if it's just filled with snake oil salesmen

It would also make sense for why Finn wants Bait, maybe adult glow toads are excellent for some dark magic rituals & the little ones don't have much value or take too long to grow

Ezran's decision to save them would much more sense if they were going to be used in dark magic or the leviathans that they'd catch would be used in that way

Also make the gang actually steal one of Finn's ships, or if you really wanna include Ruthless, have Villads be indebted to Finn so he's actually trapped there and Finn has the control of his ship and then they can steal it from him

Make Domina Profundis more relevant this season, it's named Water so the Archdragon of the Ocean should play a bigger role, have Zubeia get injured early on and Domina can serve as our mentor for this season, set up her dislike for dark magic and conflict with Finnigrin/other dark magic users/Scumport and have a failed attempt for assassination by Finn in the finale

The Scumport subplot was the more interesting of part of this season so make it matter more dammit

[okaysional]

So, I emailed my MP ahead of the vote on the 21st, I used the template to state what needed to be done to and asked to be responded to about what their decision would be. My E-mail was as follows

Dear [Name] MP, On Wednesday 21st February parliament will vote on whether or not to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. There is no acceptable excuse for MPs to do anything but vote in favour of this. The ongoing slaughter in Gaza is insufferable and as inhumane an act as we have ever seen carried out on a civilisation of people. As your constituent, I remind you that we are in an election year - and that the public are closely monitoring how MPs will vote on Wednesday. This is an issue close to the heart of the electorate, and I urge you and your colleagues to do everything in your power to end Israel's massacre of Palestinians. Well over 28,000 Palestinians have now been killed - almost half of them children. The entire population is living with crisis-level hunger. Over 70% of buildings and infrastructure has been destroyed. The International Court of Justice has ruled there's a plausible case that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians, and has ordered legally binding provisional measures to stop the killing and ensure humanitarian assistance is provided. Third states - such as the UK - have a legal obligation to uphold these orders. This can only be achieved by supporting an immediate and permanent ceasefire now, which I ask you to vote for on Wednesday. Shamefully, the position of the UK has instead been to continue supplying Israel with weapons - in clear contravention of its own Strategic Export Licensing Criteria given that the highest court in the world has ruled there's plausible evidence Israel is committing genocide. The government has also chosen to suspend funding to UNRWA, the principle international agency providing humanitarian aid and upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees. This couldn't be more urgent. I ask you to take immediate action by: Voting for an immediate ceasefire on Wednesday 21st February, and against any amendments that seek to water down this urgent demand. Calling on the government to suspend all arms sales to Israel, and begin steps to end the bilateral arms trade. Demanding the government reinstates funding to UNRWA, and increases UK aid to Gaza. I would appreciate a response on how you will vote on Wednesday. There is no single acceptable excuse to vote anything other than immediate and permanent ceasefire and free Palestinians from this tyranny.

and the reply I received was fucking sickening:

Dear [Name] Thank you for contacting me about the situation in Gaza and the vote taking place on 21 February. I appreciate how important this matter is to you, and to so many of my constituents. I want to see an end to the terrible suffering in Gaza as soon as possible and for the fighting to stop now. I support the UK Government’s position, which is calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. There are several vital elements for a lasting peace, including the release of all hostages; the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package; removing Hamas’ capacity to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. My ministerial colleagues have tabled an amendment to the debate motion setting out this position. I respect the role and independence of the ICJ. However, I agree with the UK Government that South Africa’s case at the ICJ is not helpful in achieving the goal of a sustainable ceasefire. I share the Government’s view that Israel’s actions in Gaza cannot be described as genocide, and believed South Africa’s decision to bring the case was wrong and provocative. The Court’s call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza is a position the UK has long advocated. On UNRWA, I am appalled by allegations that any agency staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism. I support the UK's decision to pause any future funding of UNRWA whilst these concerning allegations are reviewed. The United States, Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands have all temporarily paused funding too. The Government is pressing the UN Office of Internal Oversight to produce a rapid interim report. The UK wants UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again. The UK is working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion – not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. I want to make clear that the UK remains committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it. The Government is getting on with aid delivery, funding multiple implementing partners including other UN agencies and international and UK NGOs. This support is helping people in Gaza get food, water, shelter and medicines. The commitment to trebling aid to Gaza still stands and the UK is providing £60 million in humanitarian assistance to support partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme and Egyptian Red Crescent Society to respond to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza. Indeed, the UK will continue to support the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza. 750 tonnes of life-saving food aid arrived in the first delivery and 315 tonnes in the second delivery. Ministers are doing all that they can to get more aid in and open more crossings. Finally, the UK continues to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected and civilians to be protected. The Government has previously assessed that Israel is committed and capable of complying with IHL, and regularly reviews its assessment. Thank you again for contacting me about this important matter.

not only does the man representing my area agree that it's not a genocide. he believes calling it such is MAKING IT WORSE?!?!??!?!?!?!??!!? and that yeah actually cutting funding to aid the area is fine bc 0.4% of them were linked to something maybe possibly

the govenrment is a fucking JOKE they do not deserve to do this and get away with it and i very much hope THINGS HAPPEN soon to stop their fuckign tyranny

[derelictheretic]

Here is my little Heather propaganda post for @homemadegirlbossbattle's!!

Warning(s): Murder, Torture, Traumatizing kids with their parents murder, widow mention, general manipulation

🕷She's burned down homes, tortured parents in front of their kids and left the kids to mourn over their corpses, telling them parents suck anyway and they never needed them anyway despite them being like 5.

Firstly please vote for her she's a hot bisexual living her best life making an equally awful bisexual dude's life miserable <3

Now onto some more of her crimes and awful behaviour:

🕷Heather is a spoiled brat who grew up with strict, rich parents and as soon as she hit college she went off the rails, but privately and well hidden from public eye.

🕷She learnt from a young age how to lie, manipulate, cheat and make herself look good to everyone else and she uses these tools constantly.

🕷When she was younger she was petty with it, getting classmates in trouble or expelled for something she did or causing another month long fight between her parents because she didn't get a toy in the colour she wanted.

🕷in her adult life Heather has made it her life's goal to torment One Man (John Seed) and she has been doing so wonderfully. She is indiscriminate in who she uses to achieve making his life the worst and she doesn't care who or what is destroyed in the process.

🕷She's stolen deeds from the hands of grieving widows after a hearty amount of emotional and mental manipulation.

🕷She was also in a large crime ring for a while during her lawyer days, she ran a good drug trade and had almost all of Atlanta's CEO's in every line of work under her heel, she even had dirt on the Mayor and got special favours from them every now and then.

🕷Her crimes go on and on but she indulges in a bit of everything, most recently she's found setting people (specifically angels) on fire is quite funny.

🕷She loves being in a cult and being worshipped as a herald, she deserves it after all, though she's not kind to any of the people in her care and uses Bliss (a drug) to make them all her perfect puppets. She took notes from her fellow herald Faith but likes to keep her underlings a little more mentally present so they can actively grieve their actions as they committ them.

🕷And after she's bored of committing atrotcities she sits at the Fathers side and goes along with his plan, more enthusiastically than the other heralds, just so she can encourage him to go further down the rabbit hole and drive him further into his own madness. All this to achieve her one goal of making John have just the worst day ever. <3

🕷She's like most villains who don't realise the one thing giving her purpose and reason to live is the one thing she wishes to destroy and eventually if or when she achieves that goal she'll be an empty husk with no clear drive left for anything. The crimes won't taste as sweet and waking up won't be as satisfying knowing her existence isn't bringing immense pain to John. But at least she'll be in charge of a cult (if they don't kill her in outrage over her killing off their original leaders that is.)

Please vote for her she looks really pretty covered in blood and she's taking applicants for personal worshippers who she'll totally be 10% more niceys too and she'll give you a free tattoo that's totally not a branding or anything <3333

[preferforex]

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[sooryajith-bigbee]

Corporate Event Management: The Art and Science of Wowing Your Audience

Corporate events are significant to businesses. Companies of all sizes engage substantially in these events to achieve a variety of business goals, from conferences and product launches to team-building activities and trade exhibits. However, planning and executing a good business event is no easy undertaking. It takes a delicate balance of art and science to design an event that is both exciting and beneficial, while also meeting the specific needs of your audience.

Why are corporate events so important?

Corporate events can play an important role in assisting firms in achieving a range of objectives, including:

Increasing brand awareness and reputation: Corporate events are an excellent method to expose your company to new clients and partners. They can also assist in positioning your organization as an industry thought leader.

Lead generation and sales possibilities: Corporate events can be a terrific method to create leads and sales chances. You may encourage guests to learn more about your products or services and consider doing business with you by providing great material and networking opportunities.

Employee motivation and engagement: Corporate events can also be utilized to motivate and engage staff. By fostering a fun and interactive workplace, you may assist employees in developing relationships with one another and with the organization, as well as in feeling more invested in their work.

Employee education and training: Corporate events can also be utilized to educate and train personnel. You may provide employees with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their professions by bringing in speakers and specialists.

Corporate event management is both an art and a science.

A successful business event necessitates a delicate blend of art and science. On the artistic front, you must be inventive in generating an idea and topic that will appeal to your target audience. You must also be able to design an eye-catching and inviting event space. On the scientific side, you must be able to properly handle logistics, budget, and staffing. You must also be able to troubleshoot issues and guarantee the event runs successfully.

Here are a few tips for planning a successful corporate event:

Set specific goals and objectives. What do you hope to accomplish with your event? Once you've determined your objectives, you may modify every component of the event to fulfill them.

Determine your target audience. Who do you hope to reach with your event? Once you've identified your target demographic, you may adjust the event's content, tone, and style to appeal to them.

Select the appropriate venue and vendors. The location and vendors you select will have a significant impact on the success of your event. Conduct your study and select vendors with a solid reputation and experience in designing and executing corporate events.

Make a clear budget and timetable. Before you begin planning your event, you should have a realistic budget and timeframe in place. This will keep you on track and prevent any last-minute shocks.

Publicize and market your event. Once your event has been arranged, you must promote and market it to your target demographic. This can be accomplished via a variety of means, including email, social media, and paid advertising.

Examine your event. After your event, you should analyze how it went and what areas may be improved for the next time. This will assist you in the future in planning even better events.

Corporate events may be a valuable tool in helping organizations of all sizes achieve their objectives. If you're searching for a solution to improve your corporate events, I recommend BigBee Experience for their corporate event services. They are a group of specialists that can assist you in creating memorable and engaging events that will help you reach your business objectives with their professional corporate event services.

BigBee Experience can assist you in elevating your brand, generating leads and sales, motivating and engaging your employees, and providing vital education and training. They have a proven track record of successful corporate event management in bangalore, and they will work directly with you to understand your goals and build a personalized event plan that meets your expectations.

[prismmediawire]

SinglePoint CEO Releases Shareholder Letter Overviewing 2023 and Successful Listing on Cboe BZX Exchange

Successfully Uplisted to Cboe BZX Exchange December 15, 2023

Year to Date Revenue Crossing $30 million

Completed $4,000,000 Underwritten Offering Capital Raise

Phoenix, AZ, December 21, 2023 - SinglePoint Inc. (Cboe: SING) a leading renewable solar energy and sustainable solutions provider releases shareholder letter overviewing 2023 and Successful listing on Cboe BZX Exchange.

Dear Shareholders,

As we approach the end of a tough yet remarkable year, I am pleased to share a comprehensive overview of Singlepoint Inc.'s significant strides and achievements for 2023. This year has been pivotal in our journey, marked by our largest success to date, becoming a listed Company on the Cboe Global Market BZX Exchange. This amongst additional milestones and significant improvements in financial performance, underscores our commitment to achieving the goals we set forth.

Strategic Uplisting to Cboe BZX Exchange

One of the most noteworthy developments this year has been our transition from the OTCQB market to the Cboe BZX Exchange. Commencing December 15, 2023, SinglePoint Inc. began trading under the ticker symbol (SING). This move is not just a milestone in our corporate evolution, it represents our commitment to growth, increased transparency, and making our Company more accessible to a broader range of investors, including institutional participants. This single accomplishment paves the way for SinglePoint to accelerate the acquisition strategy we have defined over the last 18 months. Becoming a listed Company eliminates what has historically been our most significant barrier to executing our strategy. I am confident in saying 2024 will be SinglePoints’ best year to date. It was an honor to participate in the opening bell ceremony at the Cboe Global Markets Exchange on December 15, 2023. This momentous occasion not only symbolized our successful listing but also highlighted our expanding presence in the renewable energy sector.

Financial Highlights and Growth Trajectory 

Our financial performance in 2023 has been nothing short of exceptional. In the second quarter, we achieved a record-breaking 79% increase in revenue, totaling $8,149,480 compared to $4,534,681 in the same period of 2022. This is a testament to our teams and the effort they continue to put in through what has been a tumultuous year in both solar and the over markets. We expect to see continued organic growth, with acquisitions driving accelerated growth numbers.

Furthermore, our performance in the third quarter continued this positive trajectory. We reported a gross revenue of $6,914,934 for the quarter ending September 30, 2023. Our year-to-date revenue nearing $21 million is a clear indication of our consistent performance and successful execution of our strategic business plans.

Looking Ahead 

As we reflect on these significant achievements, it's clear that 2023 has been a transformative year for SinglePoint Inc. Our uplisting to the Cboe BZX Exchange, participation in the Cboe opening bell ceremony, and the strong financial results are clear indicators of our dedication and fortitude. We are poised for continued success in the renewable energy sector and anticipate sustaining this momentum in the forthcoming years.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support and belief in SinglePoint Inc. We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering value and look forward to sharing our ongoing progress with you.

Warm regards,

Wil Ralston

CEO, SinglePoint Inc.

Contact

SinglePoint Inc.

888-682-7464

info@singlepoint.com

Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, besides statements of fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding revenue projections, financing opportunities, potential plans and objectives of the Company, anticipated growth, and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical and other complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Source: SinglePoint, Inc.

[vacantgodling]

Happy STS (Storyteller Saturday)! What does the bucket list of your protagonist look like? Your antagonist?

thank you!! it’s been so long since i’ve done a sts that i completely forgot to answer this yesterday 💀

bucket list for the tcol babies:

PIPER -> get accepted into a guild, become a knight, work in the same squadron as keevan and saith (somewhere in there, there’s finally being in a relationship with keevan however she won’t admit to that out loud lmao)

SAN -> get accepted into a guild, hone her hunter skills, beat their sister in a fight, gain some aptitude for tenom, return home and get her parents acknowledgement

DEUX -> mend her relationship with her brother (dion), visit every major temple of MUINENS in terrae, start a family

FORTE -> travel to every major part of terrae, establish himself as a ranger, do some feat to cement his legacy separate from his father, build his own house from scratch

CLEAR -> become a medic, be accepted into a guild, become known for being a medic, finding a nice girl to settle down with

a lot of these things i put are what they want or think they want and tbh most of them don’t achieve a lot of the stuff they want to on their lists. i do think it has something to do with in my own life i had so many goals and aspirations when i set out into adulthood that were dashed by my circumstances—and it doesn’t mean i can’t try to pursue some of those things, but allowing myself to recognize that i’m happy as i am now most of the time. i wouldn’t trade a lot of things that have happened that wouldn’t have if my bucket list beat for beat came true, yknow? so yeah that’s my mini rant about a theme of tcol #destiny

for our antagonists,

lord evondra -> get revenge on all terraneans

madja -> aid evondra in her uprising, claim her own territory in terrae

kalifia -> press every flower species in terrae, live quietly and simply

spoiler not spoiler but madja is a villainnnn. i’ve already said it before so it’s whatever lol. however, kalifia is sort of an antagonist by proxy. 2 of these 3 end up redeeming themselves in a way lmao.

[outeremissary]

F K S - Balthazar and Tristian

For the alphabet asks, which now I can properly link.

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

The fights run very, very passive aggressive. A lot of snipping at each other and piling up minor frustrations. There's never any yelling, but the effect is more than dramatic enough for others to know what's happening. During particularly bad periods Tristian spends the nights elsewhere- sometimes on his own, but usually with a friend like Jhod. It doesn't take much to get a petty vent-y snipe out of Balthazar over much smaller conflicts but this is where you get the Neutral Good Rant.

As for forgiving... Balthazar is, in some ways, much faster to forgive and forget. He hates being the one to apologize first, but when the fight's over in his eyes, it's over. He doesn't expect Tristian to hold a grudge and he doesn't resent Tristian for seeing things differently than he does. It can be harder for Tristian to truly forgive. On the one hand, he can be a fairly easygoing person and the power of forgiveness is something he believes very strongly in. But on the other he's an intensely principled individual and when something really gets under his skin it's harder than he'd like to let it go. Adding to that a tendency to break things down to relatively black and white situations and be naive in judgment for better or worse only complicates things.

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

The higher the romance level of the ask, the more embarrassingly long it takes to answer, I fear...

Balthazar's a great kisser. He has a lot of experience. He tends to be a bit forceful and domineering, and he absolutely bites given half a chance, but if that's not a deterrent... he's very, very good with his mouth in every way.

Tristian is far more of an amateur, but certainly isn't a bad learner. At first he mostly follows Balthazar's lead, but over time develops more surety. He's the sort of romantic to enjoy long kisses, sweet or passionate. The enthusiasm goes a long way towards developing technique.

As for first kiss... It happened not terribly long after Tristian was rescued from Nyrissa. For a time after that the two were nearly inseparable, and while there hadn't been a definite confession of love that emerged from the whole Oculus affair, there was a lot of clear tension. The waters of the changed relationship were still being tested. The kiss was a fairly significant test and came in the midst of a conversation that was more or less a confession, in that awkward way where no one is ready for the vulnerability of explicitly saying "I love you." And it was actually initiated by Tristian. Balthazar had been rejected by Tristian enough times in the past not to take for granted what he thought Tristian might feel about the situation. It wasn't until Tristian made a pretty unmistakable move that the reality of the situation set in. As for the quality: "It was by all accounts a bad kiss: sloppy, wet, aimless, and awkwardly full of teeth. And worst, it was over too soon." The second one, immediately after, was much better.

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

A surprisingly complicated question and not a straightforward yes.

Tristian is committed to helping Balthazar build and maintain his realm and was well before liking him on any level. Over time he's come to believe in Balthazar's capabilities as a leader, but also continues to see potential to be better. Kinder. More gracious. To him, a part of helping is intervening and steering things in one direction or another. It's always like that with him- supportive but not always unconditionally. Or maybe it's more right to think that the challenge is a part of the support. Why do you want this? How else could it be done? What is it about the trade offs that makes you prefer this method to another? There's less intensity to the challenge in smaller affairs, but it's always lurking around the edges. Overall he is supportive though: he wants Balthazar to be happy and to experience satisfaction, he just wants to make sure those successes aren't consistently coming at the expense of others.

Balthazar is freer with his support. If it doesn't come at the direct expense of a project of his own, he's happy to indulge Tristian and to do what he thinks will make him happy. But he doesn't always believe in Tristian's capacity to succeed in his goals. He's far more cynical than Tristian, for one thing, and doesn't think that optimistic projects will tend to bear fruit. It's very much like this with Tristian's personal struggle to be redeemed. Balthazar wants Tristian to be happy and to live without being burdened by self-loathing, and knowing that he can never completely persuade Tristian to let go of the guilt he wants to help Tristian with whatever might bring him some level of ease. He never even considers the possibility that the goddess who turned her back on Tristian would restore his abilities or welcome him back. He takes it as a given than the gods are petty and that level of favor is gone for good once lost. That lack of faith is ultimately to his own detriment- it blinds him to potential.

[mariacallous]

Buoyed by a wave of buying from overseas, including the stamp of approval from legendary investor Warren Buffett, Japan’s economic outlook is brightening, deflationary concerns are dissipating, and the stock market is on a climb that could take it above its all-time record highs. It only took 33 years.

On Dec. 30, 1989, Japan’s premier market index, the Nikkei 225, closed at 38,915.87, capping a year that saw a 29 percent rise and an amazing 15-year climb that helped to put Japan at the center of the global economic map. But in 1990, it fell 39 percent, marking what is now known as the end of the so-called bubble economy. The sharp fall that year was far from the end. Despite numerous attempted rallies over the years, the market was on a long and seemingly inexorable fall, hitting just 7,054.98 points in March 2009. Over 20 years, the market had fallen 82 percent.

The latest rally shows how far the market has come back, with valuations now up more than 370 percent from the 2009 nadir. And it may have a long way to go yet. While Tokyo, as of mid-June, remains 13 percent below its 1990 high-water mark, in the same time period the FTSE 100 in London has risen 213 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has soared 1,146 percent. No wonder investors are now seeing opportunity in Japan, since just catching up to the rest of the world would represent potentially large gains.

One of the main drivers in the market’s climb is a surge in inflation that started with the shortages and higher commodity prices of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the higher external costs have been a headache for all major economies, in Japan they quickly produced what a decade of monetary easing had failed to achieve: demand-driven inflation where wages and prices both rise. After nearly three decades of deflationary price pressures, Japan’s inflation rate has quickly climbed from near-zero levels to 4 percent. While that is still subdued by global standards, it is still the highest since September 1981. “A cycle between inflation and wages is finally emerging in Japan. I think this is a structural change in the economy,” said Kentaro Koyama, Japan chief economist for Deutsche Bank.

This is exactly what former Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda vowed to create when he took office in 2013. He quickly undertook a bond and equity buying spree that left the central bank holding 50 percent of all the Japanese government bonds in circulation and becoming a major holder of stocks. The target he set was a consistent 2 percent inflation rate that would be seen in both prices and wages. After 10 years in office, making him the longest-serving Bank of Japan governor in history, but with little sign of numbers moving, his goal finally came into sight just as he stepped down earlier this year.

Even Japan’s stingy employers, which have offered near-guaranteed job security but little extra cash over the years, are now pushing up wages at their highest level in 30 years. Japan’s Trade Union Confederation this spring won a 3.8 percent increase for its nearly 7 million members. Medium- and small-sized businesses are now seeing that they need to keep up to avoid losing people.

Another attraction is the health of Japan’s corporate sector. While the global dominance of companies such as Sony, Panasonic, Japan Steel Works, and Toshiba is long gone, major corporations have remained highly profitable, finding specialist areas that offer strong profit margins. Instead of producing the electronic goods or even the computer chips that drive them, Japanese companies have done well in a globalized economy with specialist products, ranging from the chemicals needed to make the chips to the industry-leading motion sensors needed for a robotic work floor.

But experienced Japan watchers might feel a twinge of disquiet. Ever since the mid-1990s, when it became clear there were serious structural issues in the economy, there have been a series of “Japan is back” declarations, with the fizzling of initial rosy forecasts giving way to declarations that “this time is different.” Stock market rallies in 1996, 2000, and 2007 all gave way to renewed bear markets. Promises that corporate Japan had now changed and was serious about rewarding shareholders instead of hoarding cash also seemed to be more talk than action. Retained earnings have risen steadily, reaching 242 trillion yen ($2.2 trillion) in 2020.

But even some veterans who have seen it all before are much more optimistic today. “Japan is back,” said Tokyo strategist Nicholas Smith of the Asian financial services firm CLSA. In a report to clients in May, he said that strong earnings and attractive valuations have now been kickstarted by a new drive coming from regulators and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to push up share prices through stock buybacks. This cooperation is coming together in a way he has not seen in 35 years of watching the Japan market. “Japan’s market is still very much more than just cheap. It has growth when others haven’t, due to belated reopening; it’s awash with cash, driving some eyepopping buybacks,” he said in the report.

Helping this along, Smith said, is the involvement of once-shunned activist investors. His data shows that Japan is now the No. 2 market for activists in the world, after the United States. When the firms, including major international names, first saw opportunities in Japan in the early 2000s, they were often derided as hagetaka, the Japanese word for vultures. But after some high-profile agreements with corporate titans such as Toshiba and Olympus, the mood has changed. Well-known names such as the Carlyle Group and Bain Capital are active in Japan, along with some home-grown Japanese firms that often work from offshore.

The other big recovery has been in real estate values, which had plunged at the same rate as stocks in the 1990 collapse. Foreign investment is pouring into the sector as investors look at prices little-changed over the past 30 years, made even cheaper by a weaker Japanese yen, which has fallen 20 percent over the past two years. According to the Numbeo international cost-tracking website, apartment purchase prices in Tokyo are around half the price of the equivalent space in New York.

As depressingly often with economic developments, the boom has left one group out of the party: the average Japanese person, especially the estimated 88 percent who do not own shares. And while wages are rising, the gains are being outstripped by inflation.

“The current situation is a very good tailwind for risk assets. Real estate valuations are being helped by low interest rates. But will it help the average Japanese person? To be honest, I don’t think so,” said Deutsche’s Koyama.

He cites government data showing that even as wages are rising, inflation is one step ahead. According to the Labor Ministry, Japan’s inflation-adjusted real wage index fell 3 percent in April from a year earlier, the 13th consecutive month of declines.

Part of the problem, he said, is that wages are raised only annually, in many cases through the spring labor negotiation season, while prices rise continuously.

Unless, of course, people change jobs, an idea that is alien to traditional Japanese workers. But with Japan’s labor force now shrinking and demand for employees rising, the younger generation has taken to job hopping, which can easily add 10-20 percent to salaries.

The demand is clearly there, with 1.3 jobs for every job seeker, according to the Labor Ministry. (For those in construction, there are nearly 12 jobs per person.) The problem is that with one of the world’s fastest-shrinking populations, Japan is starting to face critical labor shortages, and the problem is expected to worsen.

This could undermine another potential area of growth for Japan from the new drive for economic security and the decoupling from China, which is now more politely called de-risking. While investment flows are typically slower to change than trade due to the long lead times involved, foreign investment into China was down 7 percent, at $76.7 billion, in the second half of 2022.

“The simple story of foreign business retreating from China is overdone and often just wrong. But neither is there a stampede back to China now that the mood music has become more positive,” Andrew Cainey, a senior associate fellow with the Royal United Services Institute in London, said in a commentary for Japan’s Nikkei.

With companies now increasingly nervous about their prospects in China, Japan is burnishing its credentials as a rule-of-law country that also offers solid infrastructure, a good lifestyle, and surprisingly low costs. Tokyo, which was for decades was ranked the most expensive place for foreigners, now scrapes in at No. 19, according to the latest Mercer ranking of cities by cost of living.

It’s not that costs have come down significantly; instead, they have gone up everywhere else. Japan’s newfound status as a low-cost destination is the natural result of 30 years of near-zero inflation. The longer-term problem is how to find the people to fill the jobs needed for any new boom period. But for now, foreign investors seem unconcerned. The bargains are just too good to pass up.

[xrodolphusxxlestrangex]

you've got no place to hide and i'm feeling like a villain, got a hunger inside. one look in my eyes and you're running 'cause I'm coming, gonna eat you alive. your heart hits like a drum. the chase has just begun. one misstep, you're mine. and you better stay clever if you wanna survive.

basics. 

name: rodolphus desiderius lestrange. pronunciation: rō-doll-fi-us. des-i-e-di l-rius. le-strange. meaning: famous wolf. ardent desire. hound of the borderland. birthday: january 17th. capricorn.  age: thirty-two.  pronouns: he + him.  sexuality: heterosexual.  siblings: rabastan. alessandra.  parents: roderick lestrange (father). astraea lestrange neè carrow (mother). other family: extended lestrange family. extended black family. extended carrow family (amycus and alecto carrow; cousins.) languages: english.  current residence: london.  born: london. 

wizard fun. 

hogwarts house: slytherin.  year of graduation: 1967. affiliation: death eater.  occupation: unspeakable; thought chamber.  pet: none. blood status: pureblood. species: wizard.  patronus: crow. the crow is a very well-known bird that some believe is an omen of dark magic. the crow is very resourceful, ambitious, and cunning. once they set a goal, they always seem to get what they’re after. crows are also fearless. regardless of what sort of creature they find in the way of their goal, they will do anything they can to overpower it. they are also very smart and have been observed using tools to achieve their means. boggart: not being noticed.  amortentia scent: peanut brittle, paint, new books, burning cedar.  wand type: apple wood. dragonheart string. unyielding. 12 inches.

appearance. 

height: 5’ 10” hair color: brown black.  eye color: piercing blue.  hair style: parted to the side with light use of product. fashion style: black. leather. form-fitting. rings with larger, expensive gems.

personality. 

positive traits: + resourceful + charming  negative traits: - condescending - overconfident

theme song: monsters by ruelle. 

quick facts.

roderick may as well as have been god in rodolphus' young mind, later replaced by voldemort. -- and himself as a close second.

the only time rodolphus cared anything about rabastan was after the younger boy went to school. they didn't have much interaction but rodolphus kept an eye out to be sure he didn't disparage the lestrange name. perhaps he should have paid attention to the trash alessandra was bound to become.

it's not common knowledge but rodolphus is a legilimens. although he has the power it's more of a power-trip knowing he has it in his back pocket more than anything else. he enjoys being a jack of all trades

he charms anything that moves. people either love, hate or fear him based on what he wants from them. he's used to playing with people's minds.

not only a pretty face and frightening, rodolphus is as intelligent as they come. he aced his schooling. in order to succeed in life, one needed knowledge. another notch on his "being in control" belt.

so much more.

headcanons.

click here. updated frequently.

bio.

from the time rodolphus was born, it was clear that he was the future man of the house. there would be no mistake that their first son would be anything but and roderick took him under his wing immediately, leaving astraea to her own sensibilities. this gave rodolphus his first lesson: marriage was out of convenience and had nothing to do with love. roderick would even go so far as to teach his true son that love only gets in the way of one’s purpose in life, leaving rodolphus with a cold heart and large ambitions. he was his father’s puppet, being molded into what a lestrange should be and always was. rodolphus took to it like a fish out of water. he became so self-involved, focused, and prideful that there was no way humble was in his cards. the only love he felt was toward himself, part of the prestigious lestrange family and the sacred twenty-eight that spanned more time than other families only dared dream.

as his siblings followed, nothing changed for rodolphus. he didn’t take the caring big brother role. they were two little beings that made loud noises, got too close to him, and made too many messes. the only thing that amused him was their stupid questions to which he would give them wrong answers. he would confuse them and point them in the wrong way any chance he got. rabastan and alessandra had no chance. luckily for all three of them, the threesome wouldn’t be under one roof for too long as he was on his way to Hogwarts first.

when he was sorted into slytherin – the sorting hat skimming his brown black hair – the room erupted. there was no doubt that’s where he would be however, having a lestrange in the house again was something to be celebrated. having rodolphus in the house was to be celebrated. in his seven years, the young charismatic man charmed nearly everyone he met, whether that meant having them head over heels with him or being utterly terrified and willing to do anything for him. he was a success in everything he touched, including his classes. well, not classes pertaining to muggles which were a waste of time. but everything else – everything else – he mastered. he wanted to be prepared for anything and that meant knowledge. without knowledge there was simply no way to win. he had roderick to thank for that little gem.

surprisingly, when rabastan came to school, he did keep an eye on him. he wasn’t entirely sure why, but he felt like his younger brother was weak and, although rodolphus didn’t much care in the traditional sense, he didn’t want to see anything happen to him or the lestrange name. however, when alessandra came and was sorted into hufflepuff he immediately cut her off and refused her existence. she may have had the lestrange name but was not a lestrange. her life kept going in the wrong direction. worse and worse. she was a disappointment and deserved everything she got. she was lucky she was still alive. for the time being.

nearing the end of his stay at hogwarts the inevitable happened: the engagement announcement. he knew who it was. he had known his whole life. hell, she had known. he didn’t act surprised when they announced “Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix Black are to be wed.” he simply raised his glass, put on a fake, charming smile he’d become so accustomed to, put his arm around her and nodded to the crowd. the wedding came and went. he could have done worse than bellatrix. she was a strong woman who could maintain herself. she wasn’t terrible to look at. to be honest, they were an attractive couple. they were an intimidating couple when they worked together – if they worked together. but like he learned from his father, love could get in the way of the bigger picture, and he couldn’t let that get in the way. right?

after leaving hogwarts, rodolphus knew where he stood in society and drank it up like the lavish champagne he would pour down the drain. he had the money and power that made it impossible to not be accepted into the ministry. he aimed to become unspeakable, leaving part of his life a secret only he could enjoy. the rest of his life was on display but behind the scenes in the thought chamber, rodolphus learned how the mind worked in a way no one ever could have. it was his chance to get yet another upper hand on those surrounding him. knowing it would increase his already dark abilities, it was only a matter of time before he learned to get inside the minds of society, whether it be the upper echelon or rotten scoundrels that deserved to live in the muck. legilimens was his aim, and a legilimens he became. yet another upper hand, as if it needed anymore.

as the war progressed, rodolphus sat back and watched it unfold, ever so perceptive with the dark mark beneath the dark sleeves he was forever seen in. the mark pumped through his veins like a heartbeat. if there was anyone dedicated to the dark lord, it was he. when he was called upon, rodolphus did the lord’s bidding on a whim, not thinking twice. the tasks he was given gave him pure adrenaline, only deepening his love for the wicked and cleansing the world of the unworthy.

rodolphus lestrange presented a strong face, keen mind and mystery to the world that could frighten anyone without his trying. what they didn’t know was the depths of his cruelty, his killings, his torture and, most of all, his lust for it.

[librafolie]

The Knight of Swords

Swords stand for the intellect, logic, clarity, and truth. The Knight of Swords charges towards his aims with a singular focus. This knight bears similarities to the Knight of Wands- they are both bursting with energy and ambition. What sets them apart is the focus. The energy in the Knight of Wands is not directed at anything in particular; the Knight of Swords maintains a narrow focus on his goals. This knight wakes up at four in the morning to hit the gym, day trades on the side, and is definitely investing in crypto. He is optimizing his eating with a fad diet you haven’t yet heard of, and can tell you exactly how many grams of protein he’s had today. 

This focus and drive can be an incredible strength - sometimes it’s nothing less than what is needed to make your dreams a reality. But too much focus on the end goal can lead to tunnel vision, and missing other possibilities, factors, or important priorities in life. The Knight of Swords sometimes needs to be dragged out of the house to see his friends, or requires the occasional reminder to not be a dick. He may even realize, after much struggle, that he doesn’t actually want that thing he was pursuing so endlessly. Burnout is another potential issue. This sort of singular focus may not be sustainable in the long run. 

With wits, ambition, and a clear vision for the future, this knight may seem like a catch – but whether he can step away from the hustle long enough to maintain a relationship is a different story. 

All that being said, the Knight of Swords can be a powerful driving force to give you the burst of resolve you need to obtain your goals. 

Reversed 

The Knight of Swords reversed may be so consumed by his ambitions that he has made rash and unwise choices, or disregarded other people’s feelings. Or, this could indicate someone who has a goal in mind, but has not yet mustered the drive, discipline, and focus necessary to achieve it. Another possible meaning could be that the Knight of Swords has finally burned out after so much laser focus, or perhaps has become disillusioned with his goals. Balance is called for.

[jaideavry]

Re: your most recent post

Christian’s during slavery didn’t support freedom of enslaved black folk… so… am I supposed to believe that they weren’t wicked hateful racists? Cuz they were. If you don’t support something, it’s BECAUSE you have been CONDITIONED to hate them. You may think you just “””hate the sin””” but that’s the brainwashing at work. Stupid bitch.

I’d say those weren’t real Christians if that’s the case. The Bible is clear on being anti-slavery.

• Old Testament slavery was not race based forced servitude; it was voluntary means of working off debt.

• Slave trading is condemned in the Bible and is punishable by death in the Old Testament.

Exodus 21:16 Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnappers possesion.

• The Bible teaches that all are made in the imagine of God: slave and master equally human, protected, and one in Christ

Deuteronomy 23:15 If a slave has taken refuge with you, so not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave for free, nor is there male and female (do not twist this part of the verse to fit a narrative; if you’d like me to dive deeper and explain it I will) for you are all one in Christ.

• Jesus came to set the captives free

Luke 4:18 The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

• The Bible’s main goal is spiritual redemption, not social reform (but redemption achieves reform).

I know I have MANY black brothers and sisters in Christ who are Christian’s themselves. I love all people and would never hate anyone, especially not based off of the beautiful skin color God chose for them, and to do so is a sin.

💗

[theseventhoffrostfall]

My Railroad idea would also make them more expansive and sort of a more "wildcard" like you said. They oppose the strict, super-controlled lifestyle of the Institute on its people (both civilians and Synths) and help people and Synths escape the city and live new lives in the Commonwealth. They believe highly in personal freedom, that every man (uploaded into a Synth body or not) doesn't need to be constrained by the world to make their own path.

Alongside a sophisticated network of hideouts and safehouses, the Railroad also collaborates with raider gangs to coordinate attacks on Institute holding points. The Railroad, of course, doesn't condone or support what the raider gangs do, but they consider it a necessary evil. Birds of a feather-type thing. There would be some arguments that working with raider gangs isn't exactly a good idea, and some even fear that they're making the Commonwealth worse by indirectly hooking up Jethead Jones and his boys with Institute tech. In short, the Railroad believes in "no gods, no masters" but it's clear that their current methods may lead to more trouble than any thing the Institute was trying to do.

For the Brotherhood, I honestly considered scaling them back a lot. It would only be that a small platoon of soldiers, scouts, and whoever have arrived from DC on an expedition, having picked up transmissions about "a preserved Old World city of working technology and advanced robots." I didn't like that Liberty Prime returned, since that kind of felt like a rip off on Fallout 3's ending. The Brotherhood in my version is like the Brotherhood in New Vegas: drawn-back, smaller, but you can still help them out should you want to, or just ignore them if you like. Kind of like what you suggested.

The Minutemen form a much more cohesive government. They aren't NCR-scale, but they're organized enough that they have actual trading routes, half-functional towns-- they would even have some production of iron, since there's an actual functioning ironworks in-game that no one else but these drugged-up raiders were smart enough to see the value in. The Minutemen are stuck in an identity crisis: do they form one big government and become a "New State of the Commonwealth" which will focus more on a state of (supposedly) wise, compassionate people working to ensure the safety of its people, or do they focus on a smaller, but much more lenient government that allows towns to make most of its own decisions unless otherwise noted. They're not falling apart or getting their ass kicked by crabs or naked ghouls, they can stand on their own and they have a pretty decent set-up. It's just a matter of figuring out what their future is.

My main factions are:

Institute: Highly advanced super society that is do everything it can to correct the mistakes of the past, but constantly teeters on the edge of becoming the monsters they wish to extinguish. Brotherhood: Small, minor faction. Optional, but provides lore, good weapons, and a callback to Fallout 3.

Railroad: An anarchist faction that believes in personal freedom for everyone, a life free from control and oppression. Their problems are that they sometimes act before they think things through (the freeing of the Mark 1 synths and then covering it up) and working with dangerous raider gangs to achieve its goals.

Minutemen: A government having an identity crisis, struggling to find out what is best for itself: its people or its strength?

Honestly, I'm glad you like some of my ideas. I like your idea about the Institute too: a shadowy, mysterious collection of scientists controlling things behind the scenes would make more sense than these random dudes in labcoats sending out their supposedly super-duper advanced robots to harass a potato farmer across the map.

I'd love to share some other ideas about the minor factions too, if you have the time. Again, I hope this isn't a bother to you or anything

Nah, no bother at all, this combines some of my favorite things: worldbuilding, creating weird factions for weird worlds, fixing shitty stories and dredging up ancient gripes about stories so I can get angry about them all over again.

I like your takes on the factions.

Seems like we're basically in synch on the Brotherhood

Railroad as the local anarchist underground is great; aesthetically you get an interesting mix of secret agent, punk rocker and shadow-diplomat.

Through them we get more depth on the Raiders, which I've longposted about in olden days about being the most interesting part of the game (particularly in 4, where certain details like their fortifications and traps, tendency to exact tribute and forced labor rather than just massacre fore edgy torture and lulz, and even certain voice callouts where high-level raiders call out tactical instructions and advice to low-level ones paint this picture of Raiders as a weirdly believable grouping of warlords leading personal armies, hammering a pragmatic combat doctrine out of shared knowledge and blood-won experience, and being able to build bizarrely advanced gear like automated turrets and modular weapons platforms out of junk. The Nuka World raiders had more individual flavor but unfortunately lost some of that accidentally-grounded and gritty charm

But I digress. The Railroad as an anarchist collective gives them a clear and believable ideology and motivation, as opposed to "I will fight and die to liberate synths, for some reason, in lieu of any of the problems effecting wastelanders at this very moment like ghouls and supermutants on every blade of grass"

The Minutemen are a good point, too. It strikes me as silly that after they fell apart everyone seemed to decide "fuck it" rather than ever making any effort at common defense again, let alone government. I like them being a functional, if nascent faction. If nothing else, I want to not have to do literally everything and I don't want to micromanage settlements, or build buildings, or have to tell every dickhead which ear of corn to harvest. It doesn't make me seem cool it makes everyone else seem like an idiot, and I'm trying to play an action rpg not a Sims game

Yeah, I guess corollary to all of this is that any idealized version of FO4 would have the settlement mechanics gutted, overhauled, and reimplemented in only the barest state