#this is my Higher Quality type stuff

[floating-far-from-earth]

judging you...

(og cg under the cut)

[reaching-giraffes]

Look, it is true that fashion industry has changed rapidly during the last 30 years, but sometimes when I see people bemoaning how "clothes are so bad and flimsy nowadays" it basically boils down to the solution of STOP BUYING FAST FASHION.

[aged-string]

Please watch TRON: Uprising

Best piece of animation I've ever seen

[grandlinedreams]

hiii i hope you’re having a great day/night!!

may i request a not really physically affectionate reader with zoro law or ace coming to them drunk being really excited and kissing&leaving lipstick marks all over their faces. it could be a hc type thing or whatever you like if you’re not comfortable w that!

also I absolutely love your writing ♥︎♥︎♥︎

hi there!! I hope that you're having a wonderful day/night too bb!! absolutely you can! This is my first attempt at a reaction type of post so I hope that this is to your liking!! and thank-you so much!!

[heads up!: mention of alcohol consumption, being drunk, tw for vomiting in Ace's]

Zoro ㅡ Alcohol is his forte, not yours. It isn't that you're opposed entirely to the idea of drinking, just that you're not as accustomed to it as he is ㅡ and as such, your tolerance for it (especially the stronger stuff) is not the strongest.

"Having fun?" He asks, amused by the flush of pink that's spread across your cheeks and bridge of your nose, the glossy, unfocused quality of your gaze. It'd been a playful challenge from Usopp that even he has higher tolerance than you and now the sharp-shooter is sprawled out a few feet away, fast asleep.

You nod enthusiastically, giggling when Zoro reaches to stop the unsteady bob with his hand. "Man, you're absolutely trashed," he comments. "We need to get you some water before you end up regretting this. Come on."

He reaches for your hand to help you up, steadying the way you sway before leading you towards the kitchen. You're still giggling when he guides you into a seat and retrieves a glass of water for you, pushing it towards you.

"Just how much did you have to drink, anyways?" He asks, reaching to thumb at your cheek affectionately ㅡ and watches you lean into it rather than pulling away. Affection is also far from something you normally indulge in very often, and he can't deny that it's nice to see this side of you.

"Not much," you answer at last, foggy mind finally registering Zoro's question, studying him for a moment. "C'mere." You add the forward curl of your hand to emphasize your words, pouting when he laughs. "I said c'mere!"

"Will you drink that water if I do?" Your head bobbles in a clumsy nod again and he leans forward to comply with your wish, only to blink as you lurch forward to press your lips to his cheek. They're cool and a little sticky, smelling of whatever alcohol you've drank ㅡ but you're on a determined self-imposed mission of peppering his face with kisses. It's a little silly with the way you add a verbal "mwah!" at the end of each one, but it still makes Zoro's own cheeks flush all the same.

"All done," you report when you finally sit back, satisfied with the little marks you've left across his skin, and you reach for the glass of water to drink it, as you'd promised. Zoro is silent for several moments. You won't remember this, he's almost certain ㅡ but now all he can think about is how cute you are when you drink.

ㅡ

Law ㅡ "I think that's enough for tonight." Nimble fingers pluck the half-finished glass of alcohol from your grip, ignoring your pout as he hands it off to Clione, who gladly downs it.

"Spoil-sport," you huff, and Law raises an eyebrow. It's not every day that he gets to witness you acting more like a child than adult, and he'll admit that the way you sulk is amusing.

"You'll thank me in the morning." He reaches for your wrist and gently tugs you up, relying on the fact that the others are in varying stages of inebriation to cover for him being so forward with you in front of the others.

He's already had a drink or two, though he stopped when Ikkaku pointed out that you'd been roped into a drinking game with some of the others. Guiding you to the bathroom, he leans in the doorway to watch you sway as you reluctantly ready yourself for bed, studying your own reddened cheeks in the mirror.

"I could've finished my drink," you tell him petulantly, and he watches you struggle to climb into bed. Another reason he's grateful that no one else will remember much about this evening ㅡ he doesn't need them knowing that it's been months since you last slept in the crew bunkhouse.

"I'm sure you could've, but I'm doing myself a favor when I'm the one who's going to have to look after you when you end up with a hangover." Hat tossed gently to the side, he moves to slip into bed beside you and frowns warily when he finds you eyeing him. "What is it? You're not going to throw up right now, are you?"

You shake your head and lean up, your lips on his cheek before he can ask what you're up to. Slow and a little clumsy, each kiss you press is intentional ㅡ his jaw, his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, his forehead ㅡ and you giggle when you pull away to admire your handiwork. "Now you can't be grumpy," you tell him.

Your own perchance for physical affection is usually on par with his, but it's clear that however many drinks you've had have pushed aside your own personal boundaries.

"Aww, you're blushing!" You crow, and he scowls at the fit of giggles that follows. You're lucky that he loves you, and you're lucky that you're cute.

"Whatever," he grouses, reaching to cover your eyes with a hand. "Go to sleep. And don't puke in my bed, got it?"

ㅡ

Ace ㅡ "See? I told you this was a bad idea."

"Shut up," you groan, venom absent from your tone for the way you're forced to stop walking in order to halt the vicious spin of your head. "I don't drink much, you know that."

"I do," Ace agrees, "which is why I'm telling you it was a bad idea." He pauses, head tilting in thought. "Not gonna lie, it was hot to watch you drink them under the table, though. Who knew you had it in you, huh?"

He waits for you to answer and when you don't, he turns to find you half-way into an alley, emptying the contents of your stomach as quietly as you can. That kind of thing doesn't disgust Ace, however, and he hurries to rub your back until the shuddering heave of your body has stopped. "Feel better?"

"Much," you rasp, fumbling for the strap of your canteen and chugging from it greedily. Ace waits until you're satisfied that you've rinsed your mouth clean before he loops his arm around your waist and continues guiding you back towards the Moby Dick. "Still think I'm hot?"

"Absolutely, babe." Ace's answer is swift and as honest as it always is, which makes your heart do something funny as you turn to look at his side-profile. It doesn't take long for him to notice, his expression somewhere between confusion and concern as you come to a stop. "What is it? Gonna get sick again?"

You shake your head. "No, I just really want to kiss you right now." There's the answering spark of fire from Ace's fingers in response, though you take advantage of his momentary fluster to cup his face between your hands and promptly pepper his face with kisses.

Clustered over his freckles, the tip of his nose, eyebrows and even his eyelids, it's several long moments before you pull away. "There," you say, and Ace wonders if you're sober enough to realize his face has gone roughly the temperature of the sun from your burst of affection. "Come on, I wanna go to bed."

Ace lets you pull him along, still dazed by the lingering warmth of your lips on his skin. He goes to bed without washing his face, eager to soak in this side of you that's far less reserved with your affection ㅡ and when the men of his division point out in the morning that he has your lipstick dotted across his face, all he does is grin.

[hisnumber1]

Devil's Embrace

Paring: Lucifer Morningstar x reader

Summery: (Y/n) had found herself at the hazbin hotel. She never thought of redemption but she got a free room while she does her work. (Y/n) made outfits and tailored for people if they pay enough. She loves trying to make unique dresses for balls or for higher class. Keeping her name in the high class of hell, she tailored for the king of hell himself. Finding herself tailoring for him in the hotel of his daughter is an interesting situation.

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Genre: fluff, slowburn, close proximity.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

I find myself leaning back in my seat, sighing. Watching AngleDust flirt with Husker and he growls in response. Charlie is putting more stuff on her board as she tries to figure out how to make the hotel work. I jump back on feet, strolling down the hallway ways to get to my room. I walk into my room filled with drawing and projects I've worked on. I fall flat on my face into my bed, I turn my head, looking at my recent project of a dress.

The dress was a long ballroom dress, with a long v going down the chest. The sleeves were mesh, and at the top it came off the shoulder. The skirt came out and poofed out, with the back covered in a long black mesh. The dress was white, with highlights of red, all of the mesh was black, giving it a dark energy.

Something just seems off, I don't know what it is but it just does. I hear a ping come from across the room. Lifting up my head and seeing my phone light up, I groan as I pull myself up. Walking to my table, I grab my phone and sit on the table. I read the notification, it was an email. I tapped on it, scanning over the text.

"Dear Ms. (L/n),

I hope this email finds you well. I recently purchased a suit, while I am pleased with the quality and style, I find that it is slightly larger than my measurements. Therefore, I am writing to inquire about the possibility of having it tailored to a smaller size.

The suit in question is a white Shawl Lapel with red highlights, the fabrics are jacquard and velvet, and I purchased it about a week ago. I have attached a copy of the receipt for your reference.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with information on the process and cost involved in resizing the suit. Additionally, if you require any further measurements or details, please do not hesitate to let me know.

I am eager to have the suit adjusted so that it fits perfectly, and I trust your expertise in handling this matter. I am available to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your attention to this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Warm regards,

Lucifer Morningstar"

I sigh as I look at the photos he sent. It is a beautiful suit, but if I did it, the style would be better, but it is not mine. Thinking of what the price is, I need to get his exact measurements to tailor it correctly. Pressing the reply button, I started typing out my reply.

'Dear Mr. Morningstar,

Thank you for reaching out and for providing the details regarding your suit purchase. I appreciate your trust in our tailoring services.

I will be more than happy to assist you with resizing your suit to ensure a perfect fit. Before proceeding, could you please bring the suit to my studio for a fitting session? This will allow me to accurately assess the alterations needed and provide you with a precise cost estimate.

Once I have examined the suit, we will discuss the adjustments required and provide you with a timeline for completion.

Please let us know a convenient time for you to visit our store, and we will schedule an appointment accordingly. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.

Looking forward to seeing you soon and assisting you with your tailoring needs.

Best regards,

(Y/n) (L/n)'

I read over the email before hitting send. 'Wait, isn't Charlie his daughter?' I thought as I look back over his name. I press another reply button and put the the address, letting him know where he could meet me. Tossing my phone onto my bed, I walk out into the lobby again, sitting on the bar stool. "A shot of anything strong." I grumbled at Husk, he was cleaning a glass when he heard me. "What's the occasion?" He asked grabbing a shot glass before pouring some. "Work." I groan with my head on the bar, keeping my eyes shut, my headache gets worse with light.

"Ever thought of getting anything for those migraines?" Husk asked when he placed down the shot, I look up, grabbing the shot and downing it. "Another please. I've looked into it, but I don't need to, I'll just deal with it." Sighing as I push the shot towards Husk. He shakes his head as he pours another one, pushing it towards me. Taking the glass and downing it again.

I hear Charlie in the lobby talking to Vaggie about something, I turn to her. "Hey Charlie. Your dad is gonna come in a few days." I slur out, catching her attention she turned me wide eyed. "What?" She asked as she walked closer. "I'm tailoring a suit of his, I told him I need to take measurements cause he could have grown in the last year." I replied to her. "So he's coming to the hotel?" "Yeah, I think so." Replying to her she chuckled a but before pacing back and forth. "He's only gonna be in my room, just to get measured. He's one my highest paying customers." I chuckle, feeling the alcohol get to my system.

"He emailed me a few minutes ago about getting a suit tailored. I told him that I needed for take his measurements and then I would come up with the price." I explain to her. Charlie's pacing got faster, but she's stops when Vaggie puts her hand on her shoulder. "When would he be here?" Vaggie asked me and I shrugged.

"I can go see if he answered if you would like?" I got up from my seat, walking to my room. Opening my door, I walk to my bed, grabbing my phone. I look at the notifications, seeing a email. I walk out to the lobby, opening the email.

"Dear Ms. (L/n),

Thank you for your prompt response and for offering to assist with resizing my suit. I appreciate your attention to detail and professionalism in addressing my tailoring needs.

I will certainly bring the suit to your studio for a fitting session. I propose scheduling the appointment for this Friday afternoon around 2:00 PM. Please let me know if this time works for you, or if an alternative time would be more convenient.

I look forward to meeting with you and discussing the necessary alterations. Thank you once again for your assistance, and I am confident in your expertise to ensure a perfect fit for my suit.

Best regards,

Mr. Morningstar"

I read out loud. Charlie pauses and starts pacing again. "He can't come. We don't even know if this works. If he comes he'll know I failed." Charlie said lowly, Vaggie hugs her and kisses her cheek. "It'll be fine love." She said as she pulled away from the hug. Vaggie looked over at me and sighed. "He'll be here in two days, just make sure he is only here for that a not going anywhere else. Charlie isn't ready to face him at the moment." She said as she looked up at the clock to check the time.

I nod, I grab the shot glass and down the last one before walking to my room. Falling onto my bed, a breath left my lungs as I hit the bed. I turn over and pick up my phone, unlocking it and looking at the photo of the suit. Thinking for a second, it looks a lot like the dress. Looking between my phone and the dress on the lay figure, they would look together.

Standing up from my bed, I tiptoe to the sewing mannequin. I run my finger across it, looking back at the photo and then back at the dress. A light bulb lit up and I ran to my desk, grabbing safety pins. Taking out my sewing needles, turning on my machine, grabbing buttons. I pull the mannequin next to the desk, sketching out the idea in my head.

A bang woke me from my slumber, I jerk up and look around. Standing in my door way is AngleDust, he looks out of breath. "(Y/n)! My shirt is ruined!" He said as he walked closer with his torn shirt. I groan and put my head back on the desk. "You alright toots?" He asks as he puts his arm on my shoulder. "I'm fine, I finally figured out what was wrong with the dress, and I fixed it. There is a problem though, Lucifer is gonna be here tomorrow and he's kinda matching with his suit." A groan left my mouth, Angle walks over to dress. "It's gorgeous. I mean it's always been." He said as he looked over it.

Sighing as I felt my eyes closing. I stayed up all night working on it, adding new fabrics, adding the details. I felt myself falling asleep again as Angle looked over the dress.

My eyes slowly open, I groan as I sit up. "My back hurts like hell." Groaning as I stood up. It looked dark out, I must have slept all day. Walking out of my room into the lobby, the lights were still on so someone was awake. Yawning as I walk to the bar, my eyes saw Alastor, he was sitting on the couch as he read a newspaper. "Morning Al." I yawn as I pour myself something to drink.

His head perked up at my voice. "Morning, you know it's in the late afternoon right?" He asked as he placed his newspaper down.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep last night. So I slept all day." Yawning as I walk over to the couch, sitting next to Alastor. "Why didn't you sleep?" He asked as he sipped his drink. "Working on that dress." I groan. He hummed in response. I downed the rest of my drink before standing up. "Well Lucifer is coming over tomorrow, so I need to sleep. Night Al." "Oh goodnight (Y/n)." He grinned.

I step into my room, closing the door behind me. Sighing as I walk over to my bed, sitting on the edge before falling backwards. Grunting at the sudden stop, I throw my arm over my eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Waking up to my alarm, I groan. I slowly sit up and turn off my phone. I whimper as the sun hits my eyes, I have to get ready and clean up for the appointment. I pick up my phone reading the time, but I saw that I had a email.

'Dear Ms. (Y/n),

Hello, I hope this email finds you in good health. I wanted to make an appointment to have a meeting. I want some new clothes by your hand. If you have the time for a meeting please contact me.

Love,

Valentino <3'

I read over the email before putting my phone down. I really don't want to deal with him right now, I sighed as I went to my drawers. Pulling out some presentable clothes, then walking to my restroom to take a shower. I turn the knob letting the water start, after I pull my clothes off of me, letting it hit the floor. Pulling my undergarments off before sliding into the shower. The hot water hitting my skin and wetting every inch of my body.

I put shampoo in my hair and scrub it in, soap going down my body as I rinse my hair out. Grabbing the bottle for conditioner, letting my hair run under water. Pouring some into my hand before scrubbing it into my scalp. I let the conditioner soak, I wash my body before rinsing off everything. Turning off the water, I grab a towel and put it around my body.

Walking into my room, striding to my bed, where I put my clothes. Taking the towel and drying off my hair before dressing myself. After wards I look at the time, it read 12:47 pm. I sigh, I still have almost two hours before he gets here. I look around the room, seeing my room is a mess, knowing us have to clean it sooner or later.

Cleaning up my room, putting everything in place before he gets here and picking up trash and dirty laundry. I organized everything and I looked at the time, it was 1:36 pm. My eyes widen as I look at the time. "Shit he'll be here soon!" I yelled at myself and I got a new mannequin out for the suit, making sure I knew where everything I needs was. Keeping track of time, I brushed my hair and put on light makeup, so I didn't look like I was dying.

Getting myself mentally prepared to see the sin of pride. He was cocky everytime you saw him, not a bad cocky but like 'he knows he's hot and he's not afraid to show it off' cocky. The man was hot, I can't denie that.

I walk to the lobby waiting for the knock, not a second later I hear it. Walking to the door, slowly opening it to reveal Lucifer. "(Y/n), it's been to long." He grinned as walked in to the hotel, his eyes shifted all over the lobby. "We will be working in a room back here, just follow me." I say as I lead the way to my room. He gladly follows along behind me, still looking everywhere. We make it to my room and I close the door after he walks in.

"Now if you would please stand here." I ask him to stand on a X mark on the floor. He looked down and nods with a smile. "So how have you been (Y/n)? I haven't seen you in about a year." He asked as he gave me the suit. "Eh, tired. I have been working on a new dress over that year, I finally finished it the day before yesterday." I reply, setting the suit on the mannequin.

"Yeah? May I see it?" He asked as he looked around my room. I nodded and I walked into my other room, I have to rooms attached to each other for my bed room and my studio. Rolling the mannequin out, the jewels sparkled in the sun light.

"That is gorgeous." Lucifer said as he walked over, feeling the fabric. "It looks a little familiar." He said as he put his hand on his chin. His eyes caught on the suit and he gasped. "It's like a set! The dress and my suit." Lucifer stated as his eyes light up. I chuckled and nodded. "I noticed that when you sent me the photos."

"I would love to buy it." He said as he looked at it. I stopped in my tracks. "What?" I asked with a chuckle. "How much, I could gift it to my daughter." He stated as he started pulling out his wallet. "I'm not selling it right now. I actually made it for myself, kinda a dream dress." I chuckled nervously.

You could practly hear his face light up. "I've never seen you wear a dress." He said surprised. "Well yeah, I don't like wearing them." "You should put it on." He said. "No." I said flatly.

"Oh come on (Y/n). You even match with the king if hell, why not put it on?" He asked. "Lucifer, I need to start measurements, please stand where you were." I said with no tone. He was a persistent man. "Come on, I would love to see you in it." He purred out. "Lucifer arms up." I said with a measuring tape in my hands. "Come on." He whined out.

As he is begging me to put on the dress, I just ignore him and measure his body. As I measuring his bust to his groan there was blast and the hotel shaked. Causing Lucifer to tumble over and fall on me.

I closed my eyes at feeling of the rumbling, so I didn't know how close he was to me. "Well hello gorgeous." I hear Lucifer say, I open my eyes to see his face a few inches away from mine. "Oh you're wearing makeup, it looks good on you." He complemented me. "Lucifer get up." I say as I start pushing him. "I am darling." He chuckled. Standing up, he offered me a hand, which I gladly took.

"Well that didn't sound good." He stated as he dusted himself off, I nodded in agreement. "I actually finished measuring you, I would probably charge you about $230." I said as I looked over my notebook, adding the measurements. "Always straight to business. That's what I liked about you." He chuckled. Taking money from his wallet, handing it over to me, before I pull away he takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. Kissing my knuckles for a moment before pulling away. "Well I'll see myself out, and you should probably check what that sound was." Lucifer said as he started walking out of my room.

Watching him walk off, I felt the heat leave my face. When did that happen? When did my face get so hot? I asked myself, but just blew it off as me just getting hot. Placing down my money on the table, and I hear another bang. Groaning as more rubble falls down in my room. "Ughhh! What is that!?" I yelled out.

A/n: My first story on here and I plan to write more. Sorry if I update slow but I'll get around to doing it!

[calware]

dear calware, I'm not sure how much you know on the topic of Doc Scratch, but I was wondering, why is the common consensus around him that he's like a creepy pedophile? after rereading his messages with Rose, he seems more tone deaf and weird than a fully on creep. is there something I'm missing?

scratch isn't "literally" a pedophile (or a hebephile, which is the accurate term for this situation) which we know because of this

but at the same time, that is still the Way he's written

(i'm sorry if this following explanation is confusing.... i really do not have the right wording to describe it) it's almost like a metaphorical representation. he's a child predator in every way but the actual sexual attraction. the way he's written references the behavior of actual child predators and is meant to signal to the audience that this is the Kind Of Character he is. it's a literary tool(?)to tell the audience that he is literally taking advantage of characters in various ways (as well as straight up abusing damara) while at the time comparing it to child sexual abuse

but if you do want literal actions on his part, he does Literally groom young girls and they are his targets for manipulation

also, directly from the author commentary (which. is not 100% serious at times. but i do think it sometimes offers some actual insight):

I know I just said a bunch of stuff about [DD] maybe being a creep. But look, this is just my OPINION here. I don't think he's actually being creepy about this. I think he has a genuinely parental attitude toward Aradia and wants to see her succeed in her violent and underhanded schemes. See how he wants them to conduct their business with efficiency? He's way too professional to go Full Doc on these girls.

Another peek at Rose suggests she's still at it with her creepy uncle, Doc Scratch.

Then you have a few beats of conversation which bring Equius to mind, such as the creep-factor

[Dirk and Equius] have this creepy-guy streak running through them, with strange or offputting interests, and seem to get a quiet kick out of making others uncomfortable through demonstrations of these fascinations. [...] I'd say these self-examined qualities are just drawn out, isolated, and inflated both for dramatic effect, and also as critical write-up of those qualities existing within many human beings in general, which I would like to think is grounded in a creative process involving a certain degree of humility about some of this bullshit. I like all these characters here, but that doesn't mean I think their unpleasant qualities are good. It just means I am harnessing and heightening those qualities for creating strong villainous portraits.

We start getting the sense that the entire purpose of this conversation, from Doc's vantage point, is just to passive-aggressively manipulate Rose into peering directly into one of his cursed testicles. Wait, my youth pastor is literally barking like a dog right now for some reason. Probably because I put him on a leash and tied him to a post in the backyard. I guess I fucked up again? I mean one of Doc's seeds.

Maybe it's fair to say I have a higher than average tolerance troubling content. But even I have to admit to shuddering a little when I read Doc's creepy lines toward Rose. I think Doc's creep factor toward girls is most likely channeling part of Caliborn's personality, which almost seems to revolve around his horrid attitude toward women. For Caliborn, this weird combination of wrathful misogyny, yet fixation and obsession with certain girls, is obviously central to the type of real-world profile he's meant to portray. But when his personality is more muted among the collective in Doc's head, those qualities come across as more "restrained," "polite," and "flattering," which arguably just makes it all creepier. The result is a creepy dude profile that also exists in the real world, sort of adjacent to the Full Caliborns out there. There seem to be many stripes of this kind of unfortunate male behavior, which all exists in a broader family of sub-Caliborns. The Docs, the Eridans, the Cronuses… They're all sketchy in different ways.

Doc sitting back just to "watch" is another creepy Equiusism. Remember that was a thing with him.

I wonder what Jade would think if she knew she had in her possession since childhood one of Doc's testicORACLES!!! Oracles. The word I meant to say was oracles, not anything else. Anyway, like I was saying, how would Jade react if she realized every time she played with one of her beloved toys, she was actually fondling this weirdo's plump, juicy oracle. I know you think my youth pastor may have something to do with this peculiar outburst, but you're wrong. I "dismissed" him recently, because he told me with great pride that I learned everything he had to teach me. I don't need anyone to keep me from shoving my foot in my mouth anymore, I'm sure you'll be pleased to know. Now let's watch this grieving teen receive a demonic message from an evil puppet's big fat nut.

bonus commentary from book 6 that has nothing to do with the post:

We're reaching a specific kind of story partition. Not the end of an act, but the end of a year. Also an end of "disc," which is a kind of meta-partitioning I just made up for the purpose of closing the book on two years of content, as well as being a good meta-device for introducing the Doc sequence we're about to get into in the next book.

"next book"...... sad

[rattusn0rvegicus]

Happy Disability Pride Month! Today I would like to talk about schizophrenia. :]

I think a lot of people see schizophrenia as simply hallucinations and Maybe Delusions but like, that's not all it is by far.

There can be speech issues. This can look like issues with word-finding, tangential or circumstancial speech, or even go so far as "word salad."

There are also negative symtoms (essentially, really bad executive dysfunction + symptoms that can look like depression such as lack of experiencing pleasure or emotions in general) and cognitive symptoms (such as: difficulty concentrating, short term memory issues, brain fog, slowed thinking, etc)

Antipsychotic medication usually doesn't do much for these symptoms. It can sometimes help, but it usually does nothing and can also make those symptoms worse.

There are physical aspects to schizophrenia as well. Schizophrenics are also at a higher risk for type II diabetes and metabolic dysfunction even if they don't take medication , and antipsychotic medication makes this risk even higher. Some schizophrenics deal with catatonia, a condition that can affect movement - usually by essentially freezing and being unable to move (not the same as freezing in fear or being really depressed), and sometimes characterized by hyperkinetic movement. Malignant catatonia can even cause death. And finally, many schizophrenics have Tardive Dyskinesia, an iatrogenic movement disorder - that is, caused by antipsychotic treatment. TD causes involuntary muscle movements, that can sometimes even get so bad they cause muscular atrophy.

Schizophrenia can also cause fatigue, and antipsychotics are notorious for inducing drowsiness/fatigue/somnolence.

Not every schizophrenic person will deal with all this stuff but like, yeah. It's a lot more than just hallucinations and delusions.

This is not to say that schizophrenia as a psychiatric construct is not without its flaws, but that's a post for another day.

This is also not to say schizophrenia is a death sentence or that having schizophrenia means you're incapable of doing anything positive with your life or enjoying your life. That, again, is a post for another day. If you want to read something more inspiring after all this, check out my post here on highly successful schizophrenics. Additionally, around 86% of schizophrenics achieve functional recovery (this is not an absence of symptoms, but rather, an improved quality of life).

[tmnt-tychou]

Bayverse Headcanon - Intimacy

As usual, they are adult age when referring to them in this headcanon. The Bayverse boys are always at least mid 20's in my head.

Raph

Raph is the “What do you want me to do to you?” type of partner. He is Burger King and he is taking orders so you can Have It Your Way. He loves to give in the bedroom and he loves to get feedback that he's doing a good job and that his partner is enjoying what he's doing. He will still get his in the end, but he will happily go all night first, making sure the one he is with is thoroughly satisfied with his performance.

If you turn the tables on him, if you ask him to sit back while you give him love, you are going to blow his little turtle mind. And if you blow other things in the bedroom, he will follow you around like a love-sick puppy for days after. He is a big cuddler and is so nice and warm to sleep with on cold winter nights. And an absolute heater in the summer. In the height of summer heat, he will complain that you don't want to cuddle, even if you both get super sweaty because of it. If it's too hot for proper cuddles, if you put a hand and/or a leg on him while you sleep, he will be satisfied. But you'll probably still wake up drenched in sweat with a massive, hot turtle wrapped around you.

He isn't very good at post-coital pillow talk. Especially talking about himself and his feelings. It may take a few times before you can start coaxing the real stuff out of him. And you will need to be patient. Lay quietly next to him for a while after asking a question and give him proper time to form an answer. He appreciates patience and the silent moments in between.

Donnie

Donatello probably has the lowest sex drive of the four turtles. He's a little bit ace and doesn't need sexual satisfaction all the time. Sometimes too much physical and sexual stimulation overwhelms him, especially at the beginning where he's getting used to being manhandled on the regular. He's hypersensitive to physical touch so be gentle with him at first until he acclimates to having an intimate partner.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be near you, share with you, touch you. He wants to be close and interact with you all the time, he just doesn't need quality time with you to involve sex. If he does have a partner with a much higher libido, he can work his way up to it if you give him some time to adjust. Having a regular sex schedule will do wonders in getting him in the mood more often. If you miss one of your scheduled days, he may even go looking for you.

Donnie needs both physical and mental intimacy from a partner. He is big on communication and is always open to anything you want to talk about concerning the relationship. You can ask him what he likes or ask questions about his body and he is happy to respond with all the information. And he hopes he can ask the same things of you and continue with healthy and open conversations.

Donnie gets super chatty afterwards. He's got all the happy hormones swimming around and he's just feeling good. He wants to tell you about every little thought in his head. If you've got him under a starry sky, it's going to get really deep and philosophical. If you're alone in a bedroom, it will be soft, affectionate pillow talk. Either way, he just wants to talk to you. After your bodies were so close, he wants your minds to also be as close.

Mikey

If you're intimate with Mikey, you're intimate with Raph, because he tells his brother EVERYTHING. More than he ever wanted to know. Raphael knows all about your scars and birthmarks, favorite positions, and that thing you did that one time that really blew his brother's mind. So when you're dating Mikey, get used to knowing looks from Raphael. Maybe even a humorous smirk or two. Unfortunately, you will not be able to get Mikey to stop sharing. He is having such a great time with you he has to tell somebody and that somebody is usually Raphael. Mikey is a very intuitive partner. He checks in often to see if the one he's with is enjoying themselves. It's very important to him that his partner is having a good time and he's good at matching energy with energy in bed. If his partner is suddenly not into it, it crashes his libido. He will want to stop and talk about what happened and what he can do to make you feel better.

He is a firm believer that sex should be fun and enjoyed by both participants. He likes to talk a lot and laugh and joke during intimacy. He gives words of affirmation that he's into you, that he finds you so attractive, that he's enjoying himself. He wants to get the same back in return. He will try anything once. You can speak openly to him about things you want to try or any erotic fantasies you have. He also wants to know what your boundaries are and anything you're not into. He wants to make sure quality intimate time with him is always a good experience and he loves having a healthy sex life full of fun and communication.

He's very much a 50/50 partner. He loves to give, but he also wants to receive in kind. Having a “pillow princess” type partner who lays back and makes him do all the work will not satisfy him for long. He wants an active lover who is into it as much as he is. Someone who matches the energy he brings. He needs to be touched and held and loved on just as much as he wants to touch and hold and love on you.

Also, post-coital snack time will be a regular thing. Hope you're okay with crumbs in the bed.

Leo

Leonardo is a tough nut to crack when it comes to intimacy. He is definitely a 'friends before lovers' type of person. He has to have complete trust in a partner and will open up to them first emotionally before he will ever let them get close to him physically intimately. It takes him a while to allow your touch and even a while after to fully be used to it. But then he will start seeking it out and do more initiating. When he sees you as his, he will pull you into his space more and show you his world.

In the bedroom, he will be experimental at first to figure out what you like. Then, it's going to get pretty predictable. While Leonardo doesn't mind doing all the work—in fact he will work you over every time like it's his job—it will always be the same moves in the same order. Because he knows they are moves you like. But if you also like a little variety and spontaneity in the bedroom, you're going to have to have a discussion with him. Also, he will very much follow your lead. If you start trying new things or being spontaneous, you can inspire him to do the same. And though he will never ask for it, he will be absolutely thrilled if you take over every now and then and love on him.

Leo is one of the guys who will fall asleep on you right after the sexy times. Usually because he's worked hard and physical stimulation is a lot for him. Also, a good orgasm makes him sleepy and you are very soft, warm, and cozy. If you want him to stay up for some pillow talk, you'll need to catch him before he drifts off. And even then, if you talk for too long, you might look over and find a sleeping turtle.

How Mutant Turtle Bodies Work

This headcanon is something that changes from time to time depending on my mood and playing with different ideas. This is what is currently my favorite at the moment of writing this and I certainly don't mind if it doesn't align with yours.

Their genitals are kept inside their shells in a cloaca, but can be dropped or released at will. When they are inside their shells, you can finger and even penetrate them, but you should be gentle. They find it to be very pleasurable, though the attitudes about being penetrated vary from turtle to turtle. Once they are out of their shells, however, you have lost your chance to penetrate them until they release and go back inside. They can get hard and even orgasm while still in their shells. But once they are erect and have dropped from their shells, they can't pull back in until sexual release. Testicles remain in the body at all times and are never visible.

For regular turtles, the genitals are kept in the tail. For mutant turtles, this of course has changed. But they still have a pseudo slit in the tail that's very sensitive. They enjoy having their tail played with: stroked, licked or fingered. They can orgasm from just tail play alone and it can be very intense if you work them just right.

Regular turtles are also known for making a lot of noise during mating and the instinct is there for our boys to be noisy during sexy times. They fight it to varying degrees, depending on the turtle. Some prefer not to be loud and some don't really care how loud they are. You'll get a lot of whines and squeaks from them if you're the one giving them pleasure. (Some turtles will deny it, but they totally squeaked at you.) Of course, the beloved turtle churrs. This comes out more when they're being the dominant ones. Though unlike the purr-like sounds of a contented churr during snuggles, sexually aroused churrs have a bit more of a deeper growl to them.

They can get high off their own post-coital hormones. But it's usually after an intense sexy-times session where their pleasure was the main focus. And probably at least one intense tail-related orgasm. Afterward, they are absolutely useless. Completely stoned on feel-good chemicals, they are just big blobs of snuggly, fluffy turtle. If they try to put sentences together, it's funny as hell. But mostly, they just want to snuggle and nap. They WILL lay on top of you so you can't go anywhere while they sleep off the sexy times.

Tag list:

@thelaundrybitch @leosgirl82 @dilucsflame33 @happymoonangel

@fluffytriceratops @thepinkpanther83 @yorshie @yamanekomono

@androidships007 @raphsmuneca @silversunskyless

[wa-kaizen]

Your Good Qualities | PAC PT 1

Hello beautiful people, if you are the type of person that gets uncomfortable by praises and people being kind to you this PAC is not for you! I will tell you everything good about you, because like everything in life, you do have both bad and good in you. Think of yin and yang! Last time you saw your yins and now you will see your yang. Also, I realised, hey, I might be a little too rude, so I would like to uplift my followers - and anyone reading this - ♡

If you wish to, you can tip or donate here. ♡

disc.: do not tip/donate if you have financial trauma, have a hard time with money or you need your money for better causes. You are never obligated to do this and I don't want any harm towards you. If you are sensitive about money, please just don't.

꒰ piles ꒱

→ 1 , 2 ,3

sections ༉˚

- basic good qualities

- what you don't see in yourself

- what others adore you for - platonic.

- what lovers see in you - feel free to skip if you are on the aro spectrum.

- what spirit guides love about you

pile one

anti-romantic

three of swords, nine of swords, the heirophant, ladybird, donkey, hyena, black dragon ‐ meditate, reflect, undergo metamorphosis, magenta dragon - awaken your soul memories and higher spiritual understanding. prepare for accelerated ascension, earth and fire dragon - it's time for service, when you give, you receive

basic good qualities.

Hello angels, I have an advice for this pile; please stop depending on the validation of others, not being like them doesn't mean you are any less beautiful.

selfless, kind, sweet, understanding, open minded, sensitive, very cute!, honest, empathetic, angelic face - ? -, ambitious, opinionated, passionate, diverse - personality wise, ex you can be cute but also hot -, caring, nurturing, very attentive

what you don't see in yourself

Sweetheart, there is a lot. I feel like you underestimate yourself, refuse to like yourself, to see all the good in you. You might think this because at some point you experienced either trauma related to bullying or abuse, which messed with your self esteem. I will not touch on that, as I would like to praise you. You are actually very beautiful, you might not be like x and y, or not act like z but I am getting an incredibly angelic energy from you. Do you have Libra, Pisces or Scorpio in your chart? Either way, you are really such a wonderful and kind soul. You always think of others and try to make them comfortable. Some of you might have a really different kind of playfulness to themselves than other's, maybe people around you look at it as rough even though you intend no harm. That doesn't mean you aren't kind? I think misunderstandings affect you a lot, so you think you aren't a caring or selfless person, you really are. Your energy is really beautiful and carries a lot of pain, it's hard to describe in words. It's like there is two sides to this pile. You are the sunlight after the rain, is what I heard, if that means anything to someone. You are lovely, fragile and you are a very sensitive person. Not in a bad way though. I am sorry, I keep trying to find the right words, it just seems hard because you are so unique! Ethereal? I guess, that's the right word. You are the golden tears on angels, you might seem harsh to others but your heart is full of love and wonders, full of curiosity. Don't let others take that away from you.

what others adore you for

You just make people so happy. Like, your smile makes them smile, your happiness rubs off on them, it stays with them. You have such a beautiful bright smile. You are a daydreamer, there is so much excitement and brightness in you!!!! Alright, so I think one half of the pile really loves pinks and girly stuff, the other is kind of into darker themes and could be like 'nah it's not me-' but it is! You are so full of life it makes other people happy!

Just being around you makes them excited for the day, you are playful and could have a bubbly personality. Even just doing the reading, your energy makes me happy pile one! You might think you are gloomy, or that you have a darker aura - which is possible - but regardless of that, whenever you enter a room you just make people so happy!

That feeling of 'ah, finally, we are about to have a good time.'

You truly are just someone that brights the space up.

Also, you could be very emotionally intelligent, understand people even if other people don't see why you would be kind to them, if they themselves don't see it, or think that they don't deserve justice. It's not that you are foolish, you just have a deeper understanding of how the human mind works is all. You see the good in other people even if they might not deserve it.

Of course, that does not mean that you are foolish and think everyone is good, you are quite confrontational, at least some of you.

So, you have your own opinions, but you are not blind to them, you see reality but also potential. I do think a lot of people adore you for it.

what lovers see in you

They love how generous you are is what I am seeing? You truly give your all in relationships, you don't just expect to receive and give nothing back. You might love the idea of '50/50'.

Also, you have that potential to make people daydream about you. You are so mysterious, they try to figure more and more things out about you.

I think the fact that your heart is wounded is attractive to many, so be cautious. People could try to use you for your past pain is what I am saying, take advantage of it.

Either way, bad intention or not, the focus seems to be on your heart, how kind, precious, generous and wonderful you are. For a lot of you, you could look somewhat distant while your personality is the complete opposite. I think this duality of yours is very attractive to many.

what spirit guides love about you

I can see them loving how far your abilities go, how well you are able to control them, especially your intuition. You are someone incredibly talented and lovely in their eyes, I can see you can do anything you want with good results, you just have to believe in yourself.

Also you are very curious about spirituality and aren't afraid to try out new things or correct someone if they do anything disrespectful, I can see a male figure is especially really proud of you for being able to do this, they look at you really fondly.

Do you ever practice any spiritual things in the dark? Such as meditating or communication with your guides? I can see that they watch over you doing it, and although worried for you, they are very trusting.

You are also able to listen to them really well, I can see that's also something they really adore you for. You don't push them away or refuse a connection just because you don't like hearing something, instead, you just keep on bettering yourself, which they really adore.

thank you for reading ♡

pile two

lo$er, lo♡er

knight of swords, the sun, four of pentacles, deer, donkey, cat, oneness, look for common humanity, invoke lemurian light, enter the magic, live in the now, size the moment, ascension flames, merge with light, ignite keys and codes

basic good qualities

confident - strong sense of leadership - smart - observant - non judgemental - good with advice - cool headed - child like - relaxed - bright - great personality - elegant? - graceful

what you don't see in yourself

There is a lot, pile two.

You have many good qualities, but are blind to them, simply because you are very protective of yourself, you have a hard time putting your guard down and being vulnerable.

You are kind, understanding and you are able to see though situations from two point of views, understanding everyone involved so you can find the most peaceful outcome to everyone involved.

Don't get me wrong, you definitely can be confrontational and be able to stand up for yourself, intimidate others, it's just that you are quite a chill person. That brings you many wonderful things in life you might not even be aware of.

You are also incredibly bright, kind, and funny, you just have a tendency to isolate yourself from others due to something that scares you a lot.

You have a hard time putting your guard down.

what others adore you for

You are very independent and cheerful is what I am saying, you know how to be responsible and realistic but without it "ruining the fun".

You probably had to "learn" this? Maybe some of you were bullied for being so childish, and also for being too serious. It's like people never could be happy.

So now you have learned how to please others? So, that's that.

Now onto the people that are actually deserving of your time!

I can see a lot of people looking at you as very intelligent in many ways, but especially money wise, you could be someone that's really good in saving up, or you just spend responsibly. They don't want to take advantage of you, they want to be like you, they adore you.

Also, you could be a very very realistic person, making you really mature. That is intimidating to some, but definitely very attractive, let that be platonic or not, people think you are very charming for the way you are, for the way you hold yourself. You just being yourself is really attention drawing, even if you might be a quite person. Of course, in a good way.

Some of you could be bit of a goofball? Like, you love to joke around, play and just be carefree. That does not take away from your maturity, just ads to it. For a lot of you, kids might really love you and want to play with you a lot!

Many people adore your patience when it comes to that.

Basically, you are the person a lot of people wish they could be.

what lovers see in you

Okay, so I see you have a hard time finding proper connections because you are very good looking but don't worry, I will touch on what people genuinely interested are attracted to!

You are able to go through hard times alone no matter what? You are able to overcome any obstacles you want with no issue even if it may concern or stress you out, it makes people want to help you, be there for you, be next to you.

Your personality is also very lovely. You could be like a child at times, which a lot of love interests adore.

No, not in a creepy way. They can just feel free next to you, feel like themselves, have no care in the world.

They know they won't be judged, neglected or taken advantage of. Being next to you is like a sense of euphoria, you make them feel happy again. It's the feeling of letting go of worries and being able to be a kid again for a few hours, it's the feeling of not worrying about problems because you are there for them to be their rock.

For the people that are in love with you, you are happiness.

what spirit guides love about you

Whenever they give you an opportunity, you take it! You don't dwell too much on things, even if you might have a broken heart. They also love taking care of you. You are a peaceful "child", they don't have troubles with you and you are very hardworking, always doing your best to work hard, to create yourself and others a good life. You are like a calm river, that's what they adore about you.

that's all that they wanted to say, however, if you dm me I could try asking for more if you are curious! ♡

thank you for reading ♡

pile three

you are special

the emperor, five of wands, the high priestess, rhinoceros, badger, bat, goat - act from your innate wisdom, bee - spread heart healing with joy, bear - use power with wisdom

basic good qualities

brave - wise - powerful - intelligent - calm - respectful - gentle - soft - joyous - healing aura - smart with decisions - friendly - self aware - kind - reliable - cute? - observant

what you don't see in yourself

A lot of you could feel like you need someone to romantically love you in order to have a full life, to be married and have kids... well, that is not true. You are enough beautiful on your own, you don't need other people to define your worth.

You are a very complete soul, I see a lot of wisdom and gentleness coming from you, I don't sense negativity.

You could have a tendency to be insecure about false things, to bully yourself.

I would like to ask you to focus on your positive traits, I promise you are doing great, everything you are insecure about is either related to over worry or so. I know overcoming them is hard, but you are doing wonderful.

You remind me of angel spirit guides, your soul is very gentle and loving.

what others adore you for

That you always end up creating something wonderful from whatever situation you are in - let that be positive or not.

You are incredibly calm, the calmest out of all piles. Maybe you have an 'I don't care, I will live through this' attitude? So you just go around worry free, solving your problems with ease, a level head, keeping yourself grounded.

I do think this is surprising to some because they are so impressed. Because guess what? You always end up just fine, you always do your best, you don't pressure yourself. At least most of you.

Also, you do not allow anyone to waste your time or to fool you, you are mature enough just to move on and respect yourself.

You just don't let fears get the best of you. You are like a fairy maybe? You remind me of Tinker Bell

what lovers see in you

I am so sorry, don't read this if you are uncomfortable, but they are so attracted to your body it drives them crazy.

Maybe romantic interests are so obsessed with you they start making up their own narrative about you?

They fantasy a lot, and when they actually get to know you on a deeper level it's like they have been hit with a rock called reality.

However, I can see they adore the real you more than whatever they could ever think of.

You stun them, you amaze them, you make their heart beat fast like crazy.

You are a dream wrapped in a cloth of silk presented as a gift to them, if that makes sense. They adore you in everything you have to offer.

You have this tendency to make people obsessed with you. Whoever is in love with you, or is interested in you in the slightest becomes a better person just by loving you.

It's a very unique experience, you teach people a lot without even knowing.

what spirit guides love about you

This pile is very hard to read, but!

They do love how hard working you are!

You always surprise them by how good of a human you are also? That you don't let things get to you, yet you are still very protective of yourself.

Unfortunately that's all, if you are curious of more you can always dm me or watch out for the second part of this pac incase you will feel more attracted to a pile there! thank you for reading ♡

[desertdollranch]

Opening and reviewing my first Australian Girl doll

She spent more than a month in a box, making her way halfway across the world to her new home, and now here she is! I'm so relieved that she arrived safely. It was the longest I've ever had to wait for a doll, and through much of her journey I didn't know where she was or when she would be here.

I don't want to drop too big of a spoiler, but listen to this........ she was so worth the wait, and the money. This doll instantly won my heart with how exquisite she is in every way.

Australian Girl dolls were specially made for Australian children, by Helen Schofield, a grandmother who loved dolls. She created the brand when she couldn't find an age appropriate doll that was locally available or good quality. So she created these dolls to help children feel pride in Australian culture, while teaching them about friendship and empathy. There are five girls to befriend--Amy, Jasmine, Emily, Bronte, and Matilda, each representing a different region of the country, ethnicity, and lifestyle.

The company itself has quite high standards. They strive to reduce waste in their product packaging, and they use a factory in China that treats its workers humanely and does not use child labor.

If you've been around my blog for a while, you know how much I love collecting diverse brands and types of play dolls, especially international dolls. Also, this one will be extra special because I actually have an Australian grandmother--she's also a doll collector, and I'm looking forward to showing her my new doll the next time I see her.

After the cut, I'll show you who she is, and talk about why I chose her. I'll compare her with similar-sized dolls as well, and have her do some dressing up.

Before we get to the unboxing, let's check out the little goodies included with my doll.

First is a little pamphlet explaining why the dolls are special, but also represent real girls growing up in Australia.

There's another pamphlet about how to care for your doll.

All of the dolls come with a fun freebie: this cute pair of thongs.

Another freebie (a $30 AUD value) is this very sturdy doll carrier with pockets for accessories.

I also bought a pair of sneakers for my new girl. I figured her feet would be a bit larger than my other dolls, and these are cute, so she now has three pairs of shoes to wear.

Anyway. Enough of the small stuff. Let's let her out of the box.

It's Amy from Adelaide!

I chose Amy after three entire years of being indecisive and going back and forth on exactly which Australian Girl I wanted. They're all equally adorable, so I picked Amy because her personality seems very sweet, and I love that she has mixed heritage. According to the Austrlaian Girl dolls website, Amy's family tree is a mix of Aboriginal and Dutch on her mother's side, and English and Indian/Fijian on her father's side. Very representative of modern Australia!

I have no regrets. She is perfect!!! Just the most charming little angel. I am officially WOWED.

I'm seriously impressed at the superior quality of her construction. I understand why she was priced a bit higher than similar dolls. She is, from head to toe, beautifully made, with so many sweet details. Her dress and shoes are also impeccably made and feel very durable.

Her hair is flawless. It's a Kanekalon wig with loose curls, in a gorgeous shade of brown. Her eyes open and close. She has both painted and attached eyelashes.

She has a gap between her big toe and the next toe, so she can wear her sandals and thongs.

Her elbows are dimpled and she has subtle blush color on parts of her skin, including elbows and hands.

She has a crease across her palm.

She has articulation at her shoulders, hips, and neck. Her limbs, head, and shoulders are vinyl, and she has a huggable soft tummy. I don't really have a strong preference for either cloth torsos, vinyl torsos, or half and half like Amy. They all have pros and cons. This specific construction is nice in that she can wear low-neckline clothes without showing a cloth body, but it does make her harder to repair in case she has to be fixed.

I have a pretty good idea of what she'll be wearing when she's ready to change out of her pink party dress.

The first photo shows her in a dress I made. The second is a Maplelea dress and hat. The rest are all American Girl brand clothing, except for the shoes. Amy can comfortably wear most stretchy clothes by AG and similar brands like Our Generation, but her feet absolutely will not fit AG, OG, or Maplelea shoes.

The exception to the clothes is some of the tighter pieces. This AG shirt did not fit well. Amy's shoulders are a bit more broad than smaller dolls, and so without some extra give this is too tight.

Amy is 20 inches/51 centimeters tall. Here she is next to my Our Generation doll Jordana. I'm using an OG doll because they're actually available locally in Australia. Whereas American Girl dolls, which I usually use when I compare brands, have to make an overseas journey. So it's only fair that I consider any Australians reading this now who are wondering how Amy compares.

Amy is tall, but not the tallest doll in the family! Here she is next to Fernanda, my Karito Kids doll, who is about an inch taller although slimmer. Karito Kids dolls are in fact just slightly skinnier than American Girl dolls, so they have a much easier time sharing clothes.

In conclusion, I highly highly recommend this doll. She's absolutely sublime! I'm so thrilled to have her here, and I'm looking forward to having lots of adventures with her.

Obviously I'm far from Australia, but my Amy will still live her life as if she were in a suburb outside of the city of Adelaide. I've been looking at pictures of the geography of the state of South Australia, and there are some places in the mountainous parts that look pretty similar to the desert southwest where I live. So Amy will have no idea she's actually in the USA. Don't tell her the truth!

[reasonsforhope]

One of the things that I really appreciate about this blog is that now, every now and then, when I hear about some new awful thing in the world, it will be in the context of "and this is what people are doing to fight it". That's so much less paralyzing.

(If you have any sources to recommend for experiencing more of that, me and my mental health would be further indebted.)

Ahhh, I forgot about this message, sorry! Been a hectic couple of months.

I absolutely have more sources!

One of the biggest is the media collaboration The Solutions Journalism Network, which focuses on just that: closing the massive gap between people reporting on problems and people reporting solutions.

I have a giant bookmark list of sources for this blog, for good news stories and hope, so here's a bunch of links! Roughly in order of how good I think they are (in terms of size of stories, previously uncovered stories, good editorial standards, accuracy, detail, number of stories, etc. etc.)

We're gonna start with the ones that do good news ONLY, because sometimes you fucking need that, and then below I'll link some excellent sources that have a higher than average number of quality pieces on good news, even though they also publish other stuff too.

Good and hopeful news sources:

Future Crunch - If you only read one of these sites, read this one!!! It's a MASSIVE biweekly roundup of international good news stories with really high quality reporting--a lot of UN and WHO and major NGO reports as their sources. I cry from hope at LEAST 30% of the times I read this, and tbh it used to be like 100%, about a year ago when I started realizing that hope for the planet and for humanity was something that was REASONABLE TO HAVE.

Reasons to Be Cheerful - Fewer stories, but FANTASTIC quality of reporting, especially on fantastic local stories, many of them in international communities, that you've definitely never heard of before

Positive.News - Good coverage and especially roundups, mostly Europe-focused.

Good News Network - This one is awesome for the high number and approachability of its stories, but unfortunately also includes more "That's not news that's just a heartwarming anecdote" and "That's not good news it's actually dystopian" pieces than I'd like.

Jane Goodall's Good For All News - Really awesome focus on international issues, a lot of news from Africa, a lot of news about youth organizers and youth-led projects, and a lot of focus on how helping the environment and helping communities are inextricably connected. Yall Jane Goodall is doing SO MUCH amazing work out there even at her age, and most people also have no idea.

Good Black News - Mostly posts on music and entertainment, and doesn't post all that often, but they're great.

Good Good Good

The Good News Hub

Only Good News Daily

( ) for Tomorrow - Directory of grassroots solutions to all types of issues and "proof that no solution is too small to have an impact"

A Plus - Dedicated to uplifting stories in video form. I'm sure they're awesome, I just don't rly use them bc videos can set off my sensory issues

The Happy Broadcast - Illustrated good news tidbits! I haven't been using them much but it looks like they've (recently?) added more text and sources to each image, so I might change that. Illustrations are pretty cute tbh

Sources that publish a lot of good news, but also other not good stuff:

Euronews.Green - Environmental section of European news org

Yes! Magazine - Excellent solutions-focused journalism, excellent focus on BIPOC content and underrepresented communities

TheMayor.EU - EU-focused, discusses a lot of good projects and cool local developments/programs

Grist - Solutions journalism, fantastic corage especially on environmental issues

Mongabay - Billed as "News & Inspiration from Nature's Frontline," they are amazing and have some of the best goddamn reporting I've ever seen. They mean "frontline" very literally: there's a TON of pieces about and by and interviewing communities on the front lines of environmental conflict, especially developing nations and Indigenous communities world wide. That said there's also a lot of bad news on nature's frontline still, while they report a lot of amazing and powerful good news, make sure you're in a resilient mood when you visit this site, because some of the stories are also pretty upsetting.

Indian Country Today and Native News Online - two of the leading news orgs for Indigenous communities in the United States. Kind of like Mongabay in that they have a lot of good news stories from Indigenous communities that often no one else is reporting on, but also plenty of coverage of things that are definitely not good, so better to read when you're in a resilient mood.

If you have any good news sites/sources you'd like to add, please drop them in the replies or comments! I'm always looking for new good news sources (though I def don't always have time to use all of them, rip!). Plus, let's support these sites by giving them some traffic!

We could all use more ways to get some more good news.

[writingduhh]

Height || Ted Nivison

Hi friends! Just a little blurb and domestic fluff for this tall man 😮‍💨 (All my fellow tall gals and pals I see you and I understand the struggle of finding a tall partner 😩 )

Pairing: Ted & Y/n

Type: Fluff

It's safe to assume that for most people, household chores are a dreaded task, something to be avoided at all costs. But for you and Ted, they held a special place in your hearts – a way to share domestic quality time. Some might consider it mundane, but you both cherished these moments together, caring more about each other's company than the chore at hand. The soft strains of music played from a nearby speaker as you found yourselves in the kitchen, sorting through dishes.

"Here, could you put these away?" Ted asked, extending a stack of plates toward you.

"Of course," you replied, accepting the plates with care.

As you moved toward the cupboard, you realized it was much higher than expected. Your attempts to reach the shelf ended in disappointment, especially given the fragility of the plates you held.

"Would you like some help there, small stuff?" Ted teased, placing his hand gently on your lower back.

"No, no, I can manage," you insisted.

"Admit it, you're too short," he smirked, giving your cheek a playful peck.

"I'm actually of average height... You're just tall!"

With a soft laugh, Ted stored the plates and then wrapped his arms around you, engulfing you in a warm embrace.

"Nope, you're just small, and I love it," he cooed, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck.

"Why do you love me being so 'small'?" you sighed, using air quotes.

"Because you fit so perfectly in my arms, and you look absolutely adorable."

"Hmm, I'll accept that answer," you giggled, tightening your grip around his torso.

"It's true! And I almost forgot, you make for the perfect armrest," he said, resting his arm on top of your head.

"Alright, that's enough, you dork," you teased, gently pushing his elbow away.

"Well, if I'm your dork, then you're my shorty.”

Ok sorry this was actually not great but it was just in my brain so I had to write it out!

[astarionposting]

I’m at work right now, but I feel like doing gifs/portraits of tavs tonight once I get home… if anyone wants to allow me to borrow their tav/oc to make some gifs and portraits, send me a dm and/or ask into my inbox!! <3

I’ll need all the info for their mods and all the customization stuff so I can apply it into my game. Also an idea of what kind of scene/theme you would like + colour palette (since some may want it different from what I usually do)

If you play on console and maybe are missing out on mods (but have an idea of what your modded tav would look like), I’m happy to do so as well ! 😊

EDIT: forgot to add, the photos will be 4K and I can email the original PNG files to you as well for higher quality downloading. The gifs quality aren’t guaranteed to be suuuper amazing because it honestly depends on the length/colour complexity of the gif, but I can also export a higher quality (over 10mb) gif and send it by email if you wish.

ANOTHER EDIT: A lot of people are concerned about if there are a limited number of slots. I have no limit as of right now and will be taking every request that is sent to me until I impose a limit (which I probably won’t). If I receive a lot, it will just be first come, first serve and MAY take like 2-3 days MAX. I pretty much do nothing with my life except play games, sleep and go to work lol.

Thought i'd do a template to make it easier if you aren't sure what I need to know:

Picture of your tav/oc

DETAILS

Name: Race: Head: Body type: Skintone: Scar: Skin details: Eyes: Body art: Piercings: Makeup: Eyes- Lips- Hairstyle: Haircolour:

CLOTHING LIST

head: neck: body: hands: shoes:

MOD LIST

(links to your mods)

THEME

(what kind of scene/theme did you have in mind?)

COLOUR PALETTE

(a general colour palette, e.g. cool tones, focus on blue hues, dark and gloomy or warm tones, focusing on orange/yellow tones, bright and cozy)

[aimseytv]

“why did you make the coffeecast?”

people keep asking me this so i’m just going to do a quick reasoning in 3.. 2.. 1..

i made the coffeecast podcast for the main reason being that my just chatting streams are the content my chat enjoys the most, and the content i enjoy the most because i love chatting about things and topics especially when chat are there to bounce off of! everytime i ask chat what their favourite type of streams i do are, my core community will always without a doubt say just chatting. i wanted to incorporate my just chatting streams and mix them up with being able to bring people on to share experiences, untold stories and just stuff people want to share that they are passionate about to give my friends an outlet they wouldn’t usually get!

with misfits allowing me to have a full set and stuff, it basically is my usual just chatting streams but with a friend and higher quality cameras.. that’s the only difference

i love chatting with people, and i love talking with chat too! it’s a mix of two of my favourite types of content and allowing guests to sit down and talk about what they find enjoyable in front of an audience is so fun to watch

im glad you’ve all been enjoying :) im excited for when the full eight episodes are finished and uploaded next month! you will definitely enjoy them all

[girlinthemirrorbluenight-library]

My art for this year's @deancaspinefest. Check out the fic by Tossukka here. This one stood out to me immediately during claims. Such an interesting premise and I just love the roles Dean and Cas are put in.

click for higher quality

I'm working on two fics for this round and I knew immediately I wanted to paint for this one. I love doing landscapes and looking up the different types of tornados and storms featured in the fic gave me a lot of inspiration. I painted the backgrounds with acrylics and added in the storm chasing car stuff digitally. Here's a photo with my hand and the painting for scale

[lizzaneia-elizalde]

Hehehehe it's my shark week so rank the yanderes on their help-ability (idk if it's a word)

Yandere men and their help-ability on your shark week/period

I was also thinking of writing this last week since I was on my shark week also that time, but then I got busy so >-<

YAN! ARTIST:7/10

Arlen's pretty sensitive to stuff involving you. Of course, this meant your period too. This is one of the few times he'll leave you alone to let you somehow rest (he's aware that he's real clingy). He'll provide what you ask him to provide, but will not do it voluntarily since he wants to respect what you actually need depending on what you say.

"Muse? Do you need something? Ah, hot compress and hot chocolate? Sure. Just wait for me, okay?"

YAN! DRAGON:8/10

Vincent's also sensitive, but to blood. He can smell it, and he gets really uncomfortable. Not to the concept of period, but he's uncomfortable due to the fact that blood is permeating from you. It feels to him like you're bleeding to death despite it being a natural biological phenomenon. So he gets fussy around you and ends up being always worried, pressing his giant dragon head on your abdomen since his body temperature is higher that most monster kin and people. He also brings stuff you need to make sure you're comfortable. Although, he's quite blunt sometimes...

"Love, are you okay? I can smell the blood being a bit stronger this time. Is the flow strong? Hmm? Why are you blushing, love?"

YAN! THEATER ACTOR:9.5/10

Ignatius would actually know a lot about periods, surprisingly enough. He did play feminine roles before, and is a girl's man. An Alan if you will if you exclude the yandere-ness and the arrogance. So he's knowledgeable about stuff like this (probably more than you). He'll track your period for you, and if you're irregular, he makes sure he has an extra pad/tampon/diva cup for you. He's ready to drop the primadonna persona for once and shower you with attention.

"Stop! My god, darling! *whispers* you have a stain. Here, take my sweater. Wrap it on your waist. Then we'll go to my locker to get a new sanitary item and an extra pair of pants. Don 't worry. I'll gouge the eyes of those who saw your stain."

YAN! BUTLER:10/10

Ugh, what do we expect from the perfect butler himself? Also knows your period cycle if regular, and if you're irregular, he somehow knows when you would get your period like a week before. And he's always accurate. Tea, biscuits, sanitary items of the highest quality, somehow always have a change of a dress on him? Where does he even store it? Anyways, what i'm saying is, this man is gonna be your go to when you're on your period fr.

"Master, would you like some chocolate bonbons? I have some right here. Haha, you're just craving them? Then i'm glad I know you well enough. Here, and some medicine too."

YAN! SUGAR DADDY:5/10

As much as I love Rowan, he's probably not the best when you're on your period. He's probably the type to ask "what's your p0xxy size?" when you ask him to buy pads LMAO. He clueless, really. Despite being such a playboy before. He's also a busy man, so he's not going to be that attentive with you. But he does compensate with showering you with what you need and want though. Just... Don't ask him to buy sanitary items without specifying what brand, size, and absorbency... He will not be embarrassed to ask you shameless questions like earlier. He will get better with time though... I think.

"Darling, why do you need an extra long one? Is your p0xxy that long or-- OW! OUCH! HEY! DON'T HIT ME!"

YAN! JOCK:8/10

Since Damon is actually not a clueless jock and is an intellectual in disguise, he knows about periods. And will probably research more for you. He will run to the convenience store for you, buy you painkillers, snacks... He will be your personal errand boy for the week! This is one of the times he thanks his athletic prowess that let's him be of use of you in your shark week.

"You need painkillers, babe? Sure! Also chocolate? Um, let's see. If my route is on street X, then I could probably go around the pharmacy then the convenience store... Okay! Just wait for me. Be back in a jiffy!"

YAN! ASSASSIN:4/10

His fellow assassins in the organization more or less don't get periods anymore due to the abusive training they get there. Maybe rarely, but mostly gone. But since he needs to be academically smart to think critically, he knew about the nuances of periods. But that's it. Don't expect this guy to be helpful, he will just fumble and act smart but in reality he's not skilled in taking care of someone in their periods.

"Angel, you think that you can tell me what to do to help you? I'm clueless here. But I swear I'll help ya."

YAN! EX-BOYFRIEND:4/10

Lee never paid attention to you before you broke up. So with you back in his arms, he's discovering quite a lot about you. And that meant your period routines also. If you're the type to have painful periods, panic will settle inside this man. He doesn't know what to do with that. He will fumble and fall, which is new to Lee. But learning new stuff about you actually is exciting for him. So, he may not be the best to take care of you, he will be willing to learn.

"Uh, are you okay? You look like you're about to die... Is it that painful? Fuck. I don't know what to do... The pharmacy? Okay. Uh, shit. Know what painkillers you need? Like the period specific? You'll list it down? Thank you."

YAN! COWBOY:5/10

Bad news, Knoxx will be at most average in your period. Being someone who only had you as his lover, he's pretty much new to helping you with your period. He's so focused on his horses before that he never really paid that much attention to women's biology before. Now, that you're with him, he's eagerly trying to help you as much as he can. Unfortunately, it was the bare minimum.

"Darlin! I got yer some pads! Uh... Wrong size? There are sizes? Ah sorry darlin. Can't you use them? Too short? Also mediocre brand that gets blood everywhere? Oh that's bad darlin... Okay, I'll try to find a better one."

YAN! EMO:3/10

Ashton's a lonely man. He never got together with a person before, let alone somebody with a womb. He's a single sadboy before you. He never listened to classes too, so he's really dumb when it comes to periods. His sensitivity can only get so far when it's actual human biology is involved. He will not be helpful, that's for sure. So uh, just make him run errands for snacks for you.

"What can I do? I feel so bad... I bought you tampons/pads when you use the opposite, and cold compress. Snacks? I can do that..."

YAN! WEREWOLF:6/10

Being a werewolf, he doesn't know the concept of periods. In his species, there's only the concept of Heats and Ruts, so human periods baffle him. But hey, he learns quick. So just simple instructions from you, he gives. He's average really. But due to his wolf form and the natural heat coming from him, he's a large stuff toy to cuddle AND hot compress in one.

(ugh werewolves have so much different biological concepts from each other that my werewolf specie is an amalgamation)

"Ah, you need cuddling again? Sure. Let me just shift. So go lie on the bed now and I'll be with you. Make sure to have a towel underneath your hips so no stains."

YAN! EX-HUSBAND:7.5/10

Iñigo's actually really attentive. He knows quite a lot about you so he knows your rituals on your periods. He makes sure that you're well fed, well taken care of, and if you need anything at all, he would give it on a silver platter. He makes sure that everyone respects your privacy and needs despite your mood swings. He's extra patient with you, and he works at home by this time to take care of you.

"Wifey, you good? Why I'm working in your room? Well, you told me earlier not to leave you right? So I'm here. Don't worry, just sleep in your fort, I'll be right here."

YAN! HOSPITAL CHAIRPERSON:10/10

Being a person in the medical field, he knows more than you know about periods. Plus, his paranoia would make him really attentive. Maybe a bit over, but you know he'll provide you everything you need. Especially if you're the painful type. Medicine will always be on stock, and that hot compress and food good for periods will be with you always. Also has access to the best sanitary items. Extra absorbent for pads and tampons, and holds a lot of blood with enough suction and a long pull tab for diva cups. He's the perfect man for the job, and he's really glad to help you.

"Did you eat the soup I gave you? Yes? Good. Here, medicine. You told me it hurts a lot, right? I told you, just call me if the medicines ran out."

YAN! VILLAIN:8.5/10

Eros did come from the modern era, and was astounded by the bad sanitary items in this era. Magic is the new technology, but they can't even make decent sanitary pads? Unbelievable. So you know he made it a business opportunity. It was taboo talk, period that is. Noble lords found it vulgar, some noble women too, but they ultimately gave in and was surprised by it's effectiveness than just.... Cloth. When asked, he will answer that he made the pad just for your needs. And you know that this man spoils you a lot with the profits.

"See? That's better than those flimsy cloths. it feels comfortable, right? Without it worrying if it will untie. It's just for you, my duchess."

YAN! POLITICIAN:6.5/10

With how busy he is, he's probably not around you that much when you're on your period. BUT he will be giving you what you need and want. He will be absent, sure, but he always have the cctv camera rolling to see if you're in pain, in need of food, or new sanitary items. And if he sees that you need something, he will be ordering somebody to buy you things.

"I saw that you needed medicine. So I let my vice mayor bring it to you. Don't worry, he's compensated. I'm just glad you're not in pain anymore."

YAN! MAFIA BOSS:8/10

Surprisingly, Hades is really good at taking care of you on your period. His men will be errand boys on your beck and call. He will be extra careful with you, maybe a bit too much. He will princess carry you if you want. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner in bed? Yes! Hot compress always hot, and entertainment will be always with you. If you want, his men will entertain you too. But then, it will be a bad idea cuz if you laughed at this men's antics... His jealousy will trigger.

"You good? You need to eat... A what? I don't think that's available here, love but hey, nothing that I can't get. Just wait for me, love. I'll just order my men to find it here."