#value scale my beloved

[crow-with-a-pencil]

Monochromatic moon

[amarynthian-chronicles]

Do you remember the stars?

Sebastian Solace x Reader

"You have been making questionable choices regarding your inventory lately. What is this nonsense? It only takes up precious space."

Sebastian had stolen the little bundle of photographs from your person, visibly upset with your unforgivable crime of permitting yourself the mistake of carrying such sentimental things.

You pouted at him.

"Practical value is not the only thing that matters to me, Seb. Give those back."

"These are a distraction that will get you killed. I am not allowing this. You will focus on your missions and the preservation of your life. I do not want to find your corpse for the umpteenth time because of this tomfoolery."

"Somebody is very worried about me, I see. Have I found a home in your heart, Seb? Or did I create a new heart in the place of the old one that had disappeared ages ago?"

"Such an abysmal tragedy that you cannot conjure a new brain for yourself, while you are at it, my beloved light."

You giggled, amused with his silly insults.

He didn't stop you when you approached him, gently caressing along his tail, admiring his scales. You felt him shudder under your touch, your tenderness. He would never admit how sensitive his tail was, despite you proving it time and time again with your caresses and kisses.

"Will you return my photographs?"

"No."

You slowly climbed into his lap, squeezing his sides, reaching for one of his hands, kissing it once, twice, an infinite amount of kisses.

"Pretty please?"

"Never."

You leaned your head onto his chest, waiting to hear the cadence of his heart, knowing well that it was only beating for you.

"Silly man. I would love to have a photograph of you, though."

"You know how I feel about flashing lights, dollface. No cameras near me."

You tried to sneakily take the photographs away, but he held them out of reach.

"Naughty, naughty. Do not play tricks with me. It may cost you dearly."

"You are impossible. Let's make a deal. We look at them together, I explain the meaning of each of them, and if you deem it fit, you will return them to me. If not, I will not ask for them again."

He pondered your offer for a few minutes, before grinning.

"Add a little kiss to seal the deal and we have an arrangement."

You made a sweet little moan as his lips claimed yours, savouring you, worshipping you. His sharp teeth grazed the tender flesh, tempted to draw blood, but he commanded his instincts to remain under control. He did not wish to lose himself. Not yet.

You had to gather your thoughts, submerged in the ocean of his desire. He was a dangerous being, and his love was a force to be reckoned with. Never forget that.

Clearing your throat, you began with your little presentation, showing him each photograph and what it represented from your former life. Your favourite town squares, flowers in bloom, silly pictures of kittens playing with toys, wondrous landscapes, beautiful and little things that made life worth living.

Sebastian observed you with a dull sorrow nesting in his chest. Such a darling you were, speaking of earthly things with a joy unlike no other. Your inner light had to be otherwordly, Fae magic, sorcery. It had the power to dissipate darkness and despair as if it were a mere nothing. A force of Life melting the clutches of Death.

A part of him feared that your faerie self would one day never return, leaving him in the shadows, rotting for all eternity. He deserved nothing less, he was well aware.

He felt you poke him several times, bringing him back from his dark thoughts.

"Seb! Hello? Look at this one. Dusk, the early appearance of the magnificent moon and the royal court of stars. Do you see how beautifully the light reflects off the clouds?"

Sebastian narrowed his glowing blue eyes at the small picture, admiring it from both a technical and aesthetic angle. Impressive night vision features of the camera that had taken such a picture. Marvellous angle.

It had been an eternity since he had enjoyed the scent of night air and the beauty of the stars. Constellations twinkling in the midnight sky. A promise of freedom.

They say that stars could fall and grant wishes. Were you his fallen star? His true fate?

You whispered gently, cupping his cheeks:

"Do you remember the stars, Sebastian? I promise you, we will see them once more. Together."

[thicctails]

Gravity Falls is finally popping off again, so naturally my obsession with it has been dragged out from deep within me and thrust to the front of my mind, so here's a collection of various au ideas i have.

Explanations below! Contains Book of Bill Spoilers!!

A different form, a different time: Due to a widescale time and space fuck up, both Bill Cipher and the Axolotl get reincarnated (temporarily?) as humans. Specifically as older teens/very young adults. Hot topic wannabe and pink gumball son of a bitch must learn to navigate the hell that is mortality and human puberty as they set out on a road trip to try and reach the only place they can think of to find answers: Gravity Falls.

Obligatory dragon au: exactly what it says on the tin.

Time Stuck... with a twist: Something goes horribly wrong with the Time tape, resulting in Mabel, Dipper, and a 12 year old Billy Cipher being sent to the 80's. Trapped in the past/future, depending on who you ask, the preteens end up on the run with a mullet-wearing grifter with a familiar face, and must learn to work together to set things right. However, having two Bills' will make things much harder than usual, especially since one absolutely adores his star-marked humans and their weird Larger Human, while the other wants nothing more than to watch them burn.

Monster Falls but they're both Unitaurs: Mabel and Dipper are twins, let them be the same monster you cowards.

Under the Falls: This is one of my older ones! Its a strange little mer! au, where a younger Stan and Ford must take in their niblings after a monster hunter slaughters the rest of their family. Baby mers cant disguise themselves, so they must stay in the nearby lake. Luckily, their cat-eyed deer friend is more than happy to keep them company, and take them on Non-Grunkle-Approved adventures.

I Grow Maddened (From Grief): In the Book of Bill, we learn that Mabel and Dipper don't make it to 13 in pretty much every other timeline. Now, Bill 100% could be bullshitting, but i like to think thats its at least partially true: Dippers and Mabels don't tend to last in the Multiverse. But what about their Grunkles? Surely there are quite a few timelines where one set of twins is left to mourn the other.

This au follows a Ford that lost his Dipper and Mabel to a dangerous creature that escaped confinement while he was distracted by his work. It managed to also near fatally wound Stanley and nearly take one of Ford's eyes before he managed to kill it, leaving him with two dead family members and his twin on the brink. Consumed by guilt and refusal to live in a world without his beloved niblings, Ford set Stanley up on cryogenic life support and managed to lie his way into more time by convincing the twin's parents that both of them would be more successful under his tutelage.

Once everything was in place, he threw himself back into the multiverse (this time with a way back) and began hopping through other timelines, looking for the perfect replacements for his missing family. Man spirals hard, eventually deciding that the twins, when he gets them back, would not be leaving his and Stanley's sides again, because his twin is also not leaving. After all, their parents clearly dont value them like they should, and Ford knows that it will be easy to remove any memory of the twins all together.

Euclid + Scalene live (and get better children): Somehow spared from the genocide of their entire dimension, the deeply wounded Cipher parents eventually find themselves inexplicably drawn to a little backwater planet. The two find themselves becoming attached to a pair of twins that seem blessed by the Axolotl itself, and although their last child had caused violence on a previously unseen scale, both Euclidians find that they want to try again. The Ciphers become mostly unseen guardians to the little Pines, content to simply watch over them and bring them sweet dreams while they struggle to hold themselves together.

Then Bill shows up, and everything goes to shit.

[nyxshadowhawk]

A Retrospective on Harry Potter

Why did I like it in the first place? What about it worked? Where do I go from here?

I have decided to give up Harry Potter.

J.K. Rowling’s reputation now stinks to high heaven. At this point, she is quite indefensible. And even if that weren’t the case, she is not someone that I would want to associate with anyway. Meanwhile, the internet has not only turned against her, but against Harry Potter itself. An innocent question on Reddit, about which Hogwarts Houses the ATLA characters would be in, got downvoted to oblivion. Innumerable Tumblr threads insist that fantasy fans should get into literally anything else (suggestions include Discworld, Earthsea, The Wheel of Time, and Percy Jackson). And now that Harry Potter is no longer a sacred cow, there has been a recent slew of video essays that rip it to shreds, attacking it for its poor worldbuilding, unoriginality, and the problematic ideas baked into the original books (like the whole SPEW thing), etc. Those criticisms always existed, but now they’re getting thrown into the limelight.

It pains me to see such an ignoble downfall of Harry Potter’s reputation. If Rowling had just kept her damn mouth shut, Harry Potter would have aged gracefully, becoming a beloved children’s classic. I'd still plan to introduce it to my own kids one day (after Rowling dies and the dust settles). It’s not surprising that not all aspects of it have aged well, since it’s been more than twenty years since its original publishing date, and everything starts to show its age after that long. I acknowledge that most of the criticisms of the series that I’ve seen lately are valid, and I’ve read plenty of better books. And yet, when I return to the books themselves, even with the knowledge of who JKR really is inside my head, I still really enjoy reading them! There’s still a lot about them that I think works!

None of the other things I’ve read have had as collossal of an impact upon my identity, my values, and my own writing as Harry Potter. It’s hard to move on from it, not just because it’s something I enjoy, but because I have to literally extract my identity from it. I don’t know who I’d be without Harry Potter. I don’t know what my work would look like without Harry Potter. I don’t know how to carry it with me as just another piece of media that I like, as opposed to a filter for who I am as a person. So, with all that in mind, I have to ask myself why I liked Harry Potter so much in the first place. If I’m going to move on from it, then I have to be able to define and isolate the things about it that I want to keep with me. Something about it obviously worked, on a massive scale. So what was it?

It’s not the worldbuilding. The worldbuilding is objectively quite terrible, especially in comparison to that of other fantasy writers who knew what they were doing. At best, it’s inconsistent and poorly thought-out, and at worst it’s insensitive or even racist. Is it the characters? The characters are, in my opinion, one of the stronger parts of the story. But I felt very called-out by one of the many online commentators, who said that anyone who identifies with Harry is too cowardly to write self-insert fic. (I do not remember who said it or even which site it was on, but I distinctly remember the phrase, “Reject Harry Potter, embrace Y/N.”) The reason why people get so invested in Harry Potter’s characters is because they’re easy to project upon, and it’s possible that my love of Harry comes more from over a decade’s worth of projection than anything else. The incessant arguments over characters like Snape, Dumbledore, and James Potter ultimately stem from the fact that these characters do not always come across the way Rowling wanted them to. As for the writing itself, it’s decent, but not spectacular. Harry Potter is something of a sandbox world, with less substance than it appears to have and a crapton of missed opportunities, making it ripe for fanfic. For more than ten years, I’ve been doing precisely that — using Harry Potter as a jumping-off point to fill in the gaps and develop my own ideas, some of which became my original projects.

So what does Harry Potter actually have that sets it apart? Why are people so desperate to be part of Harry Potter’s world if the worldbuilding is bad? What, specifically, is so compelling about it? I think that there’s one answer, one thing that is at the center of Potter-mania, and that has been the underlying drive of my love of it for the past decade and a half: the vibe.

Harry Potter’s vibe is immaculate.

You know what I mean, right? It’s not actually a product of any specific trope, but rather a series of aesthetic elements: The wizarding school in a grand castle, with its pointed windows and torches and suits of armor, ghosts and talking portraits and moving staircases, its Great Hall with floating candles and a ceiling that looks like the night sky, its hundreds of magically-concealed secret doorways. Dumbledore’s Office, behind the gryphon statue, with armillary spheres in every single shot. Deliberate archaisms that evoke the Middle Ages without going as far as a Ren Faire: characters wearing heavy robes, writing with quills and ink on parchment instead of paper, drinking from goblets, decorating with tapestries. Owls, cats, toads. Cauldrons simmering in a dungeon laboratory. Shelves piled with dusty tomes, scrolls, glass vials, crystal balls, hourglasses. Magical candy shaped like insects and amphibians. A library with a restricted section. A forbidden forest full of unicorns and werewolves. That is the Vibe.

There are five armillary spheres just in this shot. They are unequivocally the most Wizard of tabletop decor.

There’s more to it than just the aesthetic, though. The vibe is present in something that writers call soft worldbuilding.

There’s a phrase that writers use to describe magic systems, coined by Brandon Sanderson: hard magic and soft magic. Sanderson’s first law of magic is, “An author’s ability to solve problems with magic is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic.” A hard magic system has clearly-defined rules — you know where magic comes from, how it works and under which conditions, how the characters can use it, and what its limitations are. Examples of really good hard magic systems include Avatar: The Last Airbender and Fullmetal Alchemist. If the audience doesn’t understand the conditions under which magic can work, then using magic to get out of any kind of scrape risks feeling like the writer pulled something out of their ass. It begs the question, “Well, if they could do that, then why didn’t they do that before?”

You may come away from that thinking that having clearly-defined rules is always better worldbuilding than not having them, but this isn’t the case. Soft magic isn’t fully explained to the audience, but that doesn’t matter, because it isn’t trying to solve problems — its purpose is to be evocative. Soft magic enhances the atmosphere of a world by creating a sense of wonder. If your everyman protagonist is constantly running into cool magical shit that they don’t understand, then the world feels like it teems with magic, magic that is greater and more powerful than they know, leaving lots of secrets to uncover. Harry Potter, at least in the early books, excels at this. The soft magic in Harry Potter is what got me hooked, and I think it’s what a lot of other people liked about it, too.

The essence of soft magic is best summed up by this scene in the fourth film, in which Harry enters the Weasleys’ tiny tent at the Quidditch World Cup, only to find that it’s much bigger on the inside. His reaction is to smile and say, “I love magic.”

That’s it. That’s the essence of it. You don’t need to know the exact spell that makes the tent bigger on the inside. You don’t need to know how Dumbledore can make the food appear on the table with a flick of a wand, or how he can make a bunch of poofy sleeping bags appear with another flick. You don’t need to know how and why the portraits or wizard cards move. You don’t need to know how wizards can appear and disappear on a whim, or what the Deluminator is, or where the Sword of Gryffindor came from. You don’t need to know how the Room of Requirement works. Knowing these things defeats the purpose. It kills the vibe, that vibe being that there is a large and wondrous magical world around you that will always have more to discover.

One of the best “soft magic” moments in the books comes early in Philosopher’s Stone, when Harry is trying to navigate Hogwarts for the first time:

There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump. Then there were doors that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending. It was also very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and Harry was sure the coats of armor could walk. —Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 8

Many of these details don’t come back later in the series, which is a shame, because this one paragraph is super evocative! It establishes Hogwarts as an inherently magical place, in which the very architecture doesn’t conform to normal rules. Hogwarts seems like it would be exciting to explore (assuming you weren’t late for class), and it gets even better when you learn about all the secret rooms and passages. The games capitalized on this by building all the secret rooms behind bookcases, mirrors, illusory walls, etc. into the game world, and rewarding you for finding them. The utter fascination that produces is hard to overstate.

Another one of the most evocative moments in the first book is when Harry sees Diagon Alley for the first time, after passing through the magically sealed brick wall (the mechanics of which, again, are never explained). This is your first proper glimpse at the wizarding world and what it has to offer:

Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, “Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad....” A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium — Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about Harry's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Harry heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand — fastest ever —" There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon.... —Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 5

What works so well here is the magical weirdness of wizardishness juxtaposed against normalcy. Eeylops Owl Emporium is just a pet shop to wizards. A woman makes a very mundane complaint about the price of goods, but the goods happen to be dragon liver. Broomsticks are treated like cars. All of these small moments contribute to the feeling of the wizarding world being alive, inhabited, and also magical. It gets you to ask the question of what your life would be like if you were a wizard. What do wizards wear? What do they eat? What do they haggle over and complain about? What do they do for fun?

In Book 3, Harry enjoys Diagon Alley for a few weeks when he suddenly has free time, and we get to experience the wizarding world in a state of “normalcy,” when he isn’t trying to save the world. He gets free ice creams from Florean Fortescue, gazes longingly at the Firebolt, and engages with delightfully weird people. He’s a wizard, living a (briefly) normal wizard life among other wizards in wizard-land. And that is fun. It’s so fun, that people want that experience for themselves, enough for there to be several theme parks and other immersive experiences dedicated to recreating the world of Harry Potter.

One of the greatest things about Universal was its phenomenal attention to detail. You can hear Moaning Myrtle’s voice in the women’s bathroom, and only the women’s bathroom. The walls of the Three Broomsticks have shadows of a broom sweeping by itself and an owl flying projected against the wall, so convincingly that you’ll do a double take when you see it. Knockturn Alley is down a little secret tunnel off of the main street, and that’s where you have to go to buy Dark Arts-themed stuff. It’s really well done.

Another thing that contributes to the vibe, in my opinion, is that the wizarding world is slightly macabre. They eat candy shaped like frogs, flies, mice, and so forth, and they have gross-tasting jellybeans. In the film’s version of the Diagon Alley sequence above, there’s a random shot of a pet bat available for purchase. In the third film, when Harry is practicing the Patronus Charm with Lupin, the candles are shaped like human spines. In the first book, this is Petunia’s description of Lily’s behavior after she became a witch:

Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that-that school, and came home every holiday with her pockets full of frog spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who saw her for what she was — a freak! —Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 4

I remember reading this for the first time, and it just kind of made intuitive sense to me. I suppose it fits into the “eye of newt and toe of frog” association between magical people and gross things, but somehow it works. Unfortunately, this is retconned later with the knowledge that wizards can’t use magic outside school, but before that limitation gets imposed, the idea of Lily amusing herself by turning teacups into rats seems like an inherently witchy thing to do.

That association between magic and the macabre shows up elsewhere, as well. In The Owl House, Luz’s interest in gross things is one of the things that marks her as a “weirdo” in the real world. When she goes to the magical world of the Boiling Isles, weird and gross stuff is absolutely everywhere. That world’s vibe leans more towards the macabre than the whimsical, but it works because you sort of expect the gross stuff to exist alongside the concept of witches, and that they would be an intrinsic part of the world they inhabit. You don’t question it, because it’s part of the vibe.

(The Owl House is one of the few things I’ve encountered that has a similar vibe to Harry Potter, but it’s still not the same vibe. In fact, The Owl House outright mocks the expectation that magical worlds be whimsical, and directly mocks Harry Potter more than once. The overall vibe is much closer to Gravity Falls.)

The Harry Potter films utilize a lot of similar soft worldbuilding with the background details, especially in the early films that were still brightly-colored and whimsical. For example, the scene in Flourish and Blotts in the second film has impossibly-stacked piles of books and old-timey looking signs describing their subjects, which include things like “Celestial Studies” and “Unicorns.” When Harry arrives in the Burrow in the same film, one of the first things he sees is dishes washing themselves and knitting needles working by themselves, taking completely mundane things and instantly establishing them as magical. In that Patronus scene with Harry and Lupin, the spine-candles and a bunch of random orbs (and the obligatory giant armillary sphere) float around in the background. One small detail that I personally appreciate is the designs on the walls above the teacher’s table in the Great Hall, which are from an alchemical manuscript called the Ripley Scroll:

It’s all these little things that add up to produce The Vibe.

Obviously, much of the vibe is expressed very well in John Williams’ score for the first three Harry Potter films. The mystical minor key of the main theme, the tinkly glockenspiel, the strings, the rising and falling notes that mimic the fluttering of an owl, the flight of a broomstick, or the waving of a wand. That initial shot of the castle across the lake as the orchestra swells, as the children arrive at their wizarding school:

If you grew up with Harry Potter, just looking at this image gives you The Vibe. The nostalgia hit is definitely part of it, but The Vibe was already there, back when you were a child and you didn’t have nostalgia yet.

In my opinion, only Williams’ score captures this vibe — the later films, though their scores are very good, do not. But the soundtrack of the first two video games, by Jeremy Soule (the same person who did Skyrim) absolutely nails it. This, right here, is Harry Potter’s vibe, condensed and distilled:

This is why I feel invalidated by the common advice “just read another book.” I have read other books. I’ve read plenty of other books, many of which are wonderfully written and have left an impact on me. But there’s still only one Harry Potter. To date, there’s only other book that has filled me with a similarly intense longing for a fictional place, and that is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. That book deliberately prioritized atmosphere over everything else in the story, and actually lampshades this in-universe. The Night Circus has a plot and it has characters, but it’s not about its plot or characters. It’s about the setting and its atmosphere. It swallows you up and transports you to a fictional place that is so evocative and so magical that you just have to be part of it or you’ll die. And even then, The Night Circus has a different kind of vibe from Harry Potter. In this particular capacity, there’s nothing else like Harry Potter.

The thing is, I don’t think Rowling was being as deliberate as Erin Morgenstern. (In fact, given many of Rowling’s recent statements, I question how many of her creative choices were deliberated at all.) She was throwing random magical stuff into the background without thinking too hard about it, which works when you’re writing a kids’ story, but stops working when you try to age it up. Actually, scratch that — soft worldbuilding is definitely not just for kids! The Lord of the Rings has a soft magic system, for crying out loud, and Tolkien is the original archmage of worldbuilding. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that prioritizing atmosphere over meticulousness is bad worldbuilding. That is a valid way to worldbuild! Not everything needs to be clearly explained, not everything needs to make sense. The problem is that Harry Potter doesn’t balance it well. Certain things do have to be explained in order for the magic to play an active role in the story (and the setting of a magic school lends itself to that kind of explanation), but no rules are ever established for the kinds of magic that need rules. When you begin thinking about the rules, you’re no longer just enjoying the magic for what it is. At worst, you begin running up against the Willing Suspension of Disbelief.

It wasn’t actually the “aging up” of the story that did it in, per se, but rather, the introduction of realism. The early books were heavily stylized, and the later books were less so. A heavily stylized story can more easily maintain the Willing Suspension of Disbelief. That’s why, for example, you don’t ask why the characters are singing in a musical — you just sort of accept the story’s outlandish internal logic, and the inherent melodrama of it doesn’t take you out of the story. Stylized stories are more concerned with being emotionally consistent over being logically consistent. The later Harry Potter books changed their emotional tone, but without changing the worldbuilding style to compensate.

In addition to the more mature themes and darker tone, Harry Potter introduced more realism as it went, but Rowling did not have the worldbuilding chops to pull this off. There’s the basic magic system stuff: When you begin thinking about it too hard, something like a Time-Turner stops being a fun magical device, and starts threatening to break the entire story. Then there’s the characters: Dumbledore leaving Harry on the Dursleys’ doorstep in the first book is an age-old fairy tale trope that goes unquestioned, but with the introduction of realism in the later books, it suddenly becomes abandonment of a child to an abusive family. The exaggerated stereotypes of characters like the Dursleys become tone-deaf. The fun school rivalry of the House system is suddenly lacking in nuance. And then there’s the shift in tone: The wizarding world that we were introduced to as a marvellous place is revealed to be dystopian. You start thinking about how impractical things like owl messengers are, you start wondering if Slytherin is being unjustly punished, the bad history appears glaringly obvious, the quaint archaisms become dangerously regressive. Oh, and the grand feasts are made through slave labor! The wizarding world suddenly feels small and backward instead of grand and marvellous. J.K. Rowling’s bigotry throws it all into an even harsher light.

This is why I’ve always preferred the early books and films to the later ones. There’s a lot of things I like about the later ones, but they’re not as stylized — they don’t have The Vibe. Thinking about things too hard is just a necessary condition of adulthood, but it’s still possible to tell a dark, mature story that is highly stylized. I really think JKR could have better pulled off that shift if she was a more competent worldbuilder. But it is painfully obvious that she did not think things through, and probably didn’t understand why she had to. In her defense, she did not know that her story would end up being one of the most scrutinized of all time. As it stands, her strength in worldbuilding was in the softer, smaller, deliberately unexplained moments of magic that were there just to provide atmosphere. And there were less and less of those as the books went along.

Pretty much all the Harry Potter-related content released since the last film — including Cursed Child, Fantastic Beasts, Hogwarts Mystery, Hogwarts Legacy, Magic Awakened, and that short-lived Pokemon Go thing — have been unsuccessful attempts at recreating The Vibe. In fact, the only piece of supplemental Potter content that I think had that Vibe down pat was the original Pottermore, back when it was more of an interactive game. And of course that got axed. That was right around the time things started going downhill.

Some of the art from Pottermore’s original Sorting quiz.

So what now? Well, that’s the question.

I think I can safely say that The Vibe was the reason I liked Harry Potter. It’s the thing I still like the most about it. I’ve spent years chasing it, like an elusive Patronus through a dark wood. If I can capture and distill that Vibe, and use drops of it in my own work, then perhaps I won’t need Harry Potter anymore.

I'm gonna write the story that I wish Harry Potter was, and when I'm a famous author, I won't become a bigot. I'll see you on the other side.

[andypantsx3]

Hi, English is probably your first language but is there any advices you can give to someone who is struggling with writing essentially because of the language barrier? Aside from reading a lot in the target language, what else I can do? While writing I feel like I can't convey what I think properly, can't find the right phrases or words corresponds to what I have in my head in English. It creates a work which does not have much depth. What is the scale (?) of language proficiency one must have in order for their writing to be decent/accepted in your opinion? I am sorry for the long ask and I am aware of the few things I can do but I really love your content and value your opinion and I hope this is not a bother. Quick mention your Shouto makes me kick my feet and twirl my hair and many of us find solace in what you choose to present us. You and your mind are very much loved and thank you for all your hard work! 💞

Hello my love!!! Your English sounds amazing to me, I can't imagine that you have any problem writing in it!! I would never know English wasn't your native language!!

You are correct that I am a native speaker and I've never had to figure out the mechanics of writing in a second language. I'm curious if any of my friends & followers who are ESL speakers have recommendations here?

My uninformed two cents are, however: yes, continuing to read in your target language is going to do wonders for you. The more exposure you get the more natural it's going to feel, and the deeper the well of expression you have to draw from!! I also think possibly working with a beta reader who is a native speaker can help you tighten things up. Asking them to help you target natural expression can help you learn where you're most often missing the mark (although again from your message I would guess you do not often miss the mark)!!

The last thing I will say is that simple language is often all you need to convey an idea. One of the most repeated descriptions of my prose I see is that it is simple, especially in the early days of my writing. But to me, simple, straightforward language is the most natural way of communicating—it's how we talk to each other off-page!! There is no doubt in my mind that you could tell the most beloved story of all time with the level of proficiency you have now!! People have been very kind about my simple prose, they will be good to you too!!

Anyway good luck, and I hope this helped even a little bit!! I am rooting for you, and I'm looking forward to reading your work if/when you're ready to share!!!!!

[tomorrowxtogether]

General Mills Unveils Limited-Edition, Collectible Cereal Boxes Featuring Gen Z Icons TOMORROW X TOGETHER

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 16, 2024--

General Mills has joined TOMORROW X TOGETHER, also known as TXT, in a harmonious partnership to bring the refreshing energy of Gen Z’s most iconic band to your breakfast table. Together they’re releasing special-edition TXT cereal boxes with General Mills’ iconic brands, featuring cutout standees so TXT fans can have a free-standing display of each band member to add to their memorabilia collection and celebrate the group’s recent 6th Mini Album minisode 3: TOMORROW release.

General Mills has partnered with K-pop group TXT, also known as TOMORROW X TOGETHER, to take over cereal boxes for a limited time! (Photo: Business Wire)

Cereal enthusiasts and TXT fans, affectionately known as MOA (which stands for “moments of alwaysness,”) are in for a treat as each of the five members is featured individually alongside a beloved General Mills’ brand mascot across fan-favorites like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Trix and Honey Nut Cheerios. From the Silly Rabbit to the Cookie Crisp Wolf, it’s a meeting of two iconic groups, bringing the ultimate star power and vibrant world of K-pop straight to your cereal box.

The TXT band members are thrilled to connect their love of cereal to their fans through this General Mills partnership:

SOOBIN, featured on Trix: “What I love about the collaboration with General Mills is the unique and adorable characters of each cereal. My favorite is the Silly Rabbit from Trix. I think it’s a great match for me!”

HUENINGKAI, featured on Cinnamon Toast Crunch: “I think MOA will be delighted to see us featured in the General Mills packages on the store shelves! I hope everyone starts their day energetically with TXT limited edition cereals.”

YEONJUN, featured on Cookie Crisp: “I’m excited about the collaboration because General Mills is a brand that everyone can enjoy together. I hope many people will like the TXT limited edition, too!”

Additionally, BEOMGYU is featured on Lucky Charms, TAEHYUN on Honey Nut Cheerios, and a TXT group photo can be found exclusively in Walmart stores on REESE’S PUFFS boxes.

Don’t miss your chance to collect these limited-edition TXT cereal boxes and add a touch of TXT magic to your mornings! To learn more, visit GeneralMills.com and follow @generalmills on socials at Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.

About TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TOMORROW X TOGETHER—consisting of SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN, and HUENINGKAI—established themselves as Gen Z Icons through the compelling soundtrack that represents the common experiences and emotions of today’s generation. The quintet’s 4th Mini Album minisode 2: Thursday’s Child (May 2022 release) debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and charted for 14 weeks, while 5th Mini Album The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION (January 2023 release) debuted atop the chart. In July 2022, Gen Z’s leading band became the first K-pop group to perform at LOLLAPALOOZA in Chicago and returned a year later in August 2023 to become the first K-pop group to headline the festival. Notably, TOMORROW X TOGETHER have been nominated at prestigious awards, such as the American Music Awards and People’s Choice Awards and won at the 2022 MTV EMAs (Best Asia Act) and 2023 MTV VMAs (PUSH Performance of the Year). The band is set to release their highly-anticipated 6th Mini Album minisode 3: TOMORROW on April 1, 2024.

About General Mills

General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale and standing for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2023 net sales of U.S. $20.1 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion.

[alicerosejensen]

What would it be like if you and Leon (maybe re4remake) got into a serious fight, or argument? Like a kind of fight that there are silent treatment, tension, and heartbreak but they also live in the same house.

I don't have much time to write headcanons or a full text, so I'll write it like this:

It is important to understand what caused the whole conflict. I'm just sure that Leon!re4 is the most non-confrontational guy. He will never raise his hand to his beloved, even if his aggression goes off scale, but what needs to be done to bring him to this?

I think one of the factors could be jealousy. On the part of the reader, most likely, because I am a rather jealous person. And the reason would most likely be Ada Wong. Here I don’t even need to start an unnecessary discussion, because Leon is somehow connected with Ada. It is unlikely that he is cheating on the reader, but he will not be able to do anything with his feelings.

Yes, Leon will try to explain that he does not love Ada, but if it was really me, then I would never believe him again in tears and snot. Leon may try to gently reassure the reader, hug him, and speak in a calm tone even if he is shouted at in response. Of course, he would convince that his beloved is the only one he truly loves, but there was already a misfire ... So if they live in the same house / apartment, it is important to understand who will leave. If I lived with Leon, then after 1-2 days, despite all the mental pain, I would have packed my things and left. Others can decide for themselves if they could trust Leon and let go of the situation.

However, I do not argue that in the version with the departure of Leon's partner from him, Leon himself will try to return the reader. Calls, messages, visits to your (or mine) work. If you ask me if I can forgive, then my answer is NO.

However, if this is some kind of domestic quarrel or your opinions regarding something loudly and strongly diverged and the reader was offended by Leon, then regardless of who is right, Leon will come to apologize first. He would value you (or me heh) too much to let a stupid fight ruin everything. You just have to wait until everything cools down and find some compromise.

[delyth88]

X-Men rewatch 6

X-Men: Dark Phoenix. I hadn't seen this one either. That might have been a good thing.

Okay. I think filmmakers should be banned from telling this particular story ever again.

I mean I guess this wasn't awful from a general movie point of view, but from a fan and character point of it really went in to destroy, didn't it? Like, I now have an unpleasant taste in my mouth. It took what I had come to love and just broke it.

Sigh.

I can't say I wasn't warned.

But this is unlikely to get a rewatch for a looong time if ever.

Both films that have tried this storyline have sucked. Not being a comics reader I wasn't sure which parts were fundamental to the story, so going into this one was a bit like Russian roulette - which characters are going to die this time? Given I'm now a certified Charles Xavier fan I am selfishly glad it wasn't him this time, but Raven? That was totally unnecessary. (As a Loki fan I am completely allergic to killing off beloved characters for shock value and to make your new big bad look more powerful. Just stop it. Okay?)

But beyond that, what I hated the most about this was how they twisted everyone just a little too far in to the evil mirror universe. *rolls eyes*

It was rather excruciating to watch Charles talk of superheroes and later be cut off by the president. Which I can only assume was there to make sure the audience knew that the other's were right about how he was being overconfident and putting people in harms way, and... I'm not exactly sure what else. The moments where this thread worked best for me were when it was more personal conversations. (Although the kitchen scene with Hank just seemed out of almost nowhere.) Jean's conversations with Charles I thought worked better - we could see how it looked from both sides and how Charles genuinely thought he was doing the best thing for Jean. I truly thought she was going to kill him again, so it gave me hope that he go through to her in that moment.

It's a shame Raven wasn't around to have a heart to heart with Charles. I think that would have been enlightening. And Hank seemed to change so abruptly that it didn't feel convincing.

Perhaps if it had been a couple of years for me between Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix it might have seemed more natural. But coming directly after three movies that had a really strong bond between the characters to this, I really felt I was missing some backstory here.

Thinking about this I've also realised there weren't any moments in this that felt like there was as much of a connection between the characters as the first few. Each one of those had at least one knock out moment for me between Charles and Erik, and sometimes the others.

Although, I did feel the weight of the world building and the previous films when Charles tells Erik that if they fight here on the streets of New York they will have lost what they've been working for. It has been so much work to get to a world where they are not feared and hunted, and the exchange with the guard and Nightcrawler in the transport about how the guard's kid had looked up to him hit home. :( And then we watch them tear it apart. But somehow it didn't ring as true to me as the other key decision points in the previous films. I had been thinking to myself that they had had remarkably believable motivations for each of the characters for their actions, and the scale of them, up until this film. :/ I dunno. There was just something missing.

Maybe it was that the key relationship this time was between Charles and Jean, but it just was as strong as the one between him and Erik that has been the foundation for the last three films.

And now, help me out here. What actually happened at the end? Did Charles just decide to retire and leave the school? Did he just feel too guilty? Did he feel he needed to leave because he had gotten too above himself? Was he pushed out? Is he homeless now? Or did they just rename the school in Jean's honour and he's stepped away from the day to workings of it, but is still welcome there? Did Erik just offer to help him move the his island? I'm not clear. Whatever it was he clearly was unhappy about things, but I WANT TO KNOW MORE! lol

I thought it was interesting that Erik really did seem to have settled down to live a peaceful life. I appreciated how he was prepared to defend his people, and then help the authorities escape. And here again, I think it really needed to have hit home harder that Raven was dead, because it just didn't seem to work for me that he was so dead set on killing Jean.

Still, I did enjoy seeing them all working together on the train.

I did appreciate Charles eventually acknowledged he'd done the wrong thing by Jean to Hank and the others on the train, and there did seem to be some sort of redemption for him through Jean's forgiveness. But not fully, maybe only not from himself. I don't know.

I missed the light and energy of the Charles from the previous films.

I do wonder if that's part of the formula for the X-Men - the contrast between Charles and Erik. The continual hope for something better from Charles, and Erik's quest for vengeance. And when you disrupt that balance the line goes slack. Here Charles took on too much of the darkness, and there was no-one left pulling in that direction anymore.

Y'know, if Raven had been injured such that Jean thought she'd been killed but had survived and then been able to have that conflict with Charles I think that would have been more satisfying. She could have been fighting for the family she loved and the ideals they had originally set up the school on. I think to have seen her, the person who has always been sceptical of hope and seeing the good in people, going up against Charles and being the example of what he used to be before he got too carried away would have been more powerful. And then her and events bringing him back to the place he needed to be.

Maybe this was meant to be a lesson on becoming too entitled and arrogant. But the resolution sucked.

Hmmm... what else can I say.

Oh yeah. The weird aliens. I don't really want to say this, but I think they needed more screen time. lol They felt like such a side plot. Who were they? Why did they want to take over earth if they could just use the power of the pink space lights to terraform Mars or any other planet? Did the blond one have enough of the power from Jean to do that? She certainly seemed to have significant power of some sort after Jean transferred some of it. All in all they didn't spend enough time on them for me to care about them or feel any sort of sympathy towards their cause. They may as well have been a random natural phenomenon.

Oh yeah. Her Dad sure seemed to be a jerk. And again that shouldn't have felt that way to me.

So yeah. A very unsatisfying film.

[lean-mean-demon-genevieve]

I'm curious, what made you start to dislike genevieve? Have you always or was it a specific incident/experience?

Sorry if this question was already asked and answered

It really took off when she launched her Instagram and was clearly trying to monetize and become an influencer. Then from casually watching that unfold, I discovered other “antis” who helped validate some of her patterns of deception and manipulation for which she is often seeking praise.

I get especially fired up when she posts health and wellness misinformation as this is a topic close my heart.

Overall the biggest theme for me and why she really bothers me is how she manipulates her fans with her influence and then is beloved in the fandom as Jared’s sweet little wife. She uses a filter on her face to promote supplements that supposedly benefit skin. She cares about sustainability but partners with Amazon. She has enormous access and privilege, yet complains about how stressful her life is. She calls herself an activist and yet she centers herself in every even semi-important stand she takes. She has so much ability to make larger scale change and yet she just wants you to use her affiliate links for commission.

Essentially, she does little to nothing of value with all the opportunities that her lottery of birth has given her.

I’m not anti-Gen because I wish I was married to Jared or because I wish he was married to anyone else but her. I don’t like her for HER and who she is as a person based on what she’s shown us.

[audioandart]

Have you considered doing an analysis on Aqua’s Theme in Kingdom Hearts? (If you haven’t already) First playing BBS it’s almost shocking how dismal her theme can be until you know her story, I’d be interested to see how you discuss it

oh my god! Oh my god! My first request! wormthejay I would be ECSTATIC to do an analysis on Aqua's Theme. The BBS version 🫡

Also, normally these analysis wouldn't delve super deep into this sort of thing, but you're right about the shock value of her theme. Ventus sounds sad, but you know from the start of the game he's had a rough time of it. Terra sounds determined, which he is the entire game. Then you get to the end of the game and their theme is suddenly a double meaning. Ventus' theme always sounded sleepy (like a lullaby). Terra's theme always sounded a little desperate, but then there's Aqua. The entire game her theme doesn't really seem to make sense, as it either doesn't fit or it implies Aqua is that sad the entire game (which the novel actually implies she is, but we're focusing on the game rn.) Then you get to the end of the game and boom. Everything makes sense completely. Anyway I'm supposed to be doing music lol I got carried away 😅

Aqua's theme is very sad, like we said. It starts with this piano melody in the F Major scale, that, if you remember back to Dearly Beloved (KH1) edition, with the higher pitch, makes for a sad sounding song. (The more flats in a scale, the more sad it'll usually sound. F Major has 1 flat.) This piano carries through the whole song, and starts as the main melody but very quickly turns into the background melody once the violins (and likely other assorted strings) come in. The violin starts similar to the piano, a high sad sounding melody of it's own. Both the violin and piano sound a bit frantic with the speed of their notes, all quicker and adding a sense of desperation, (however it is different from Terra's. When I eventually get to his theme I'll explain.) However, the violin eventually switches to a slower note series, calmer, and it's lower now as well. This could be seen as Aqua's resignation at being in the Realm of Darkness, but in terms of the song it sounds like the desperation has taken a back seat (as the piano is still there in the background) to the feelings of the piece. Sadness is being focused on completely now. And yet, starting with the switch to a slower violin, there is a brass section in the background that occasionally plays a few notes. Brass is often used for triumphant, heroic, or determined music. In this case, the brass is very much a determined instrument. It plays what could be thought of as a musical cherry on top, a piece of determined (perhaps even hopeful, though it doesn't quite reach that level) strength on top of the sad sundae. It also joins the background melody on occasion, much softer than it's usual playing. There is an undercurrent of determination with the desperation. And then it repeats, as video game soundtracks often do.

This piece sounds like Aqua's journey in BBS start to finish. She starts desperate and sad, she's chasing after Terra and having to convince Ventus to go home, and neither are listening. She's worried Terra is falling to darkness. Etc etc Aqua had a real terrible time. Suddenly, final battle and she loses both of them. Still very desperate, looking for how to get them back. She fights Xehanort while he's possessing Terra, ends up in the Realm of Darkness. She realizes she can't get out and so, resigns herself to her fate. That is where the slower violin comes in. And now she has all the time in the world to focus on how she feels and how much she misses home (in a place made of darkness which very much pulls out all your worst feelings. Yikes.) But even with all that has happened, she feels determined to get home and get back to her friends. She walks on for a decade, fighting, to return to what is essentially her family. No matter what happens, she moves forward.

Also, if we're gonna include the novel here, (just as a little treat,) she feels inadequate of the title of Master. She feels some imposter syndrome. There's where part of the sadness in the beginning is coming from as well. Great theme! It conveys SO much with THREE INSTRUMENTS. (Technically, the violin is actually the whole string section, but you get the gist.) Dearly Beloved did well with the few it had as well, but Aqua's Theme conveyed a whole arc. Praise be to Yoko Shimomura!

[darkestspring]

Reborn Aelyra is in Luke’s place but is not killed but kidnapped and Rhaenyra declares war because they kidnapped her daughter

oh god, oh fuck, oh shit.

Aelyra had known that Luke was too young for something like this, she knew the dangers of diplomacy. Borros Baratheon would not align himself with her mother unless there was something he could gain in return for his loyalty.

Cowardice. The one thing Aelyra hated above all else.

"I will go instead of Luke." She had announced to her mother and father (it had taken a long time to get used to addressing them as their roles towards her in this life.) as she stood up.

Rhaenyra and Daemon had both looked at her, she was the spitting image of their late grandmother/mother. She had been a child who valued knowledge above all else, stoic and quiet. As if she was just waiting for her life to go by.

Luke and Jace has also stared at their elder sister, one with hidden relief and one with worry. There was a chance that Aemond would be in Storm's End. They were both aware of his obsession with her.

"Swear to me you will go as a messenger, not a knight." Rhaenyra had pleaded with her daughter as she stood next to her dragon, the cannibal.

Aelyra knew better than to make promises she could not keep. If a fight was coming then she would fight. "I will try." She replied before taking one more look back and climbing onto her dragon and flying away.

Vhagar was already there and the cannibal had eyed her with his toxic eyes, softly growling at his rider, his mother. "Lykiri." Aelyra whispered softly to him, running her hands over his hot scales soothingly.

Aelyra eyed the dragon that had once been her husband's and climbed down from her dragon, steeling herself. This was war, this fate had been decided when those foolish idiots passed over her firstborn, her beloved Rhaenys, in favor of a male heir, going against her wishes.

Aemond's eye watched her enter in the same way that a predator would watch their prey but she had faced worse things.

"Honorable Lord Baratheon." She ignored Aemond completely and looked straight ahead at Borros Baratheon. Even if she despised his and his cowardice, the self serving nature of the lord in front of her, she would still give him the demanded respect. "A letter from my mother."

It should have been Rhaenys, It should have been her first born to be heir. The thought filled her with guilt but the injustice burned her even more.

Aelyra handed the letter off to the maester and displeasure filled her as she was sent back.

"Wait, Lady Targaryen." Aemond called out for her but she did not stop. She exited with grace as the rain soaked her to the core.

Even now, Aemond thought, unable to contain his anger, you're still walking away from me. I claimed Vhagar to be able to be someone by your side as you had claimed the cannibal. I kept up with my studies and my sword fighting to be on par with you and defend you but you still.

"She still won't look at me..." He muttered, dark eyes staring after her before he stormed after her, ignoring the calls of lord baratheon.

Aelyra could feel his presence behind her as she tried to calm cannibal. He could feel her panic, her underlying rage. Seeing Vhagar didn't calm him either. "Lykiri, it's okay." She hushed him, tensing as she felt him behind her.

"Lady Targaryen." His voice was dark, nearly growling as if he was as much of a dragon as Vhagar was. "How I've missed you."

"Why would you? There was never anything between us." She retorted, her purple eyes glaring as she spun around. "Take any ill intent towards me and cannibal will be happy to eat you whole."

As if to back her words, cannibal bared his teeth and growled at Vhagar.

"You were meant to be my wife and I will take what is mine." He hissed down at her, barely dodging the cannibal as he dragged her over to vhagar.

Fighting was useless, Aelyra realized. He barely reacted when she scratched and bit and punched him.

"Rhaenyra." Daemon spoke softly to his wife as he clutched the letter from Storm's End in his hands. "There's news from Storm's End."

A smile played on her face. So, her daughter had done it. Her precious child.

"Aemond had taken our daughter hostage." Daemon was a s gentle as his rage would allow and Rhaenyra immediately felt cold. No, not her daughter.

"What?" She croaked, her mouth felt as if she had swallowed sand.

"He kidnapped her from Storm's End as she was about to leave on her dragon. He has taken her to King's Landing." Daemon swallowed the urge to chew his own tongue out as he spoke the next word. "He intends to make her his wife."

her heart collapsed and her body with it. Her nails dug into the stone floors as her husband dropped next to her. The thought of giving up came to her, end this stand-still and go to her daughter. Let Aegon be king but leave her daughter alone.

"We'll get her back, I promise." Daemon whispered to her. "Our girl will return to us."

[wildflower-otome]

[Translation] Cupid Parasite Sweet & Spicy Darling - Peter Flage Sweet & Spicy End After Story

Source: S&S Wedding Note - His and my Wedding Note (Otomate Sweet Box Bonus Booklet)

Peter Flage - Sweet & Spicy End After Story - Chii-chan’s Unexpected Weak Spot

After our wedding ceremony. A few years had gone by since we had returned to Celestia.

At first, I, the leader of the Dii Consentes, Jupiter, had decided to concentrate on my work as a god, but after a few years realised that would prove difficult. Humans evolve at a truly staggering pace after all.

‘Ah, I can’t take this anymore! I don’t get these trends!’

‘Trends…..?’

As I yelled out, utterly bamboozled, the Goddess Juno—Lynette looked in on me. Calming down at the sight of the reassuring figure of my beloved wife, I nodded.

‘Yes. I don’t understand what’s popular amongst the humans. Consequently, I'm not sure how I should deal with problems when they occur.’

Human culture—that is, what was in trend, had changed at a dizzying speed. Because views on romance and on life changed together, there were many occasions where I was at a loss when it came to trying to understand their sense of values. Even though it had only been a few years since I had been away from the human world, I was having trouble understanding the principles behind what motivated them.

At this rate, I would end up becoming a so-called ‘old man behind the times.’ As I dropped my shoulders, unsure what to do, for a moment Lynette put her hand to her chin—and then suddenly raised her index finger as if she’d had an idea.

‘Then, why don’t we go study in the human world for the first time in a while?’

‘That’s it!!!!’

The planning for our study trip went smoothly. Having decided to go with her to the human world for research, we came up with the idea of how we would do so together.

It would be a problem if the chief god were to be away from Celestia for a long time. Therefore, this time around we decided that rather than doing something large-scale such as going to university or doing an internship, we would visit the human world for a short period of time, as if we were doing a homestay. After that, we set up a door between realms so that we could return to Celestia at any time should anything happen, and rented a house in a certain city in the human world so we had a place to stay.

Like this, so that we could learn about human trends while continuing to work, she and I made up our minds to do a homestay together in the human world.

‘Chii—chiichi~♪’

On this day, I was on the floor in the living room in “Chii-chan” form, basking in the rays of the sun. Because I’d eaten my fill of food at lunch, my stomach was completely stuffed and I was unable to move.

So, thinking of what kind of study I would be able to do while lazing around, I was studying up on recent trends on social media. Smoothly swiping with one paw, various amusing news stories appeared one after the other. Even in this small body, the tablet was easy to use, I was thoroughly impressed by how advanced humans had become. (Hm. As usual, humans sure think up some pretty interesting things…..)

Developing such new fangled things as this, I could understand how their thought patterns would come to diverge from those of the gods.

(After this, I should go sneak into a university. In this form, no one will be able to see me after all!)

The weather was fine today, and it would be fun to go to university. Sneaking in using my Chii-chan form was a good idea, but going together with her in Peter form also seemed like it might be nice. With those thoughts in my head, as I gazed at my tablet— it happened.

As she was walking through the living room, she inadvertently stepped on my tail. Instantly, an incredible pain shot up my tail, and I screamed loudly.

‘Chiiii!!!!!’

The pain was enough to make me jump upwards. Startled by how excruciating it was, I rained down lightning without thinking.

The sky that had been completely clear just a moment ago darkened and it began to pour with rain.

‘Wah-, oh no! And I’ve got the laundry out there drying!’

She ran out to the balcony, and did her best to bring in the clothes. I did think that I had to help her, but was near fainting with agony. A shock ran up my tail, going all the way up my back, the only thing I was able to do was moan ‘chiii’.

Thinking that it might get better if I took human form since they didn’t have tails, I tried becoming Jupiter, and then Peter, but the pain didn’t disappear. Despite not having a tail, the area “around my tail” hurt so badly, I could only curl up into a ball in the end.

‘The clothes got all wet….. Sheesh, don’t rain down lightning just because your tail got stepped on.’

Hearing that merciless sounding voice from behind my back, I looked up, tears in my eyes.

‘It’s not “just” a tail-.....!’

As I raised my voice while crouching down, her eyes opened wide, and then she sighed as she looked at the drenched laundry she was holding.

‘Well, I’m sorry. But if you don’t want to get stepped on, then don’t sunbathe as “Chii-chan”. Chii-chan’s tail has so much hair, it makes cleaning really hard too.’

So speaking, she showed me the air cleaning filter, which was completely packed with strands of Chii-chan’s hair. Somehow or other, it appeared the loose hair had drifted across the room at some point.

My hair had been falling out. The idea that someone such as I was shedding hair was a tremendous shock to me.

‘I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! To begin with, there’s no way this body of mine would ever shed hair! Are you sure you’re not mistaken!?’

‘But, no matter how you look at it, this is Chii-chan’s hair.....’

Taking up a tuft and displaying it as she spoke, the white and glossy fur was, no matter what angle you looked at it from, strands of hair from my tail. Embarrassed that the tail fur I was so proud of had been falling out all this time, I reddened to the ends of my ears.

‘That’s not true-! Th-That isn’t mine-! Anyhow..... Don’t step on my tail ever again!!’

Having come out with it, I then went and holed up in my room. Laying down on my bed, I breathed a sigh. Even now the area “around my tail” was throbbing with pain.

(I suppose she’s right that it’s my fault for sunbathing in a place like that but.....she didn’t need to say it like that!)

With the pain of having my tail stepped on, and the shock at having the fact that I was shedding pointed out, my misery continued on unabated. Even though it had hurt so much, not only had she not understood my pain, it even felt as if she hadn’t seen it as all that big a deal, making me feel all the more down.

The sound of the rain hitting the glass of the window panes echoed. Even though I knew I was the one who had made it fall, the pouring rain seemed only to increase my gloom.

In the end, I spent all day shut up in my room, bearing the pain alone. But even in the morning of the next day, it still hadn’t faded.

‘Chiii.....’

Curling up in my blanket in Peter form, I let out a groan.

When I’d had my tail grabbed before it hadn’t hurt this much.

Still, somehow or other, it would appear that there was a single spot that, once stepped on, would cause me to be in tremendous agony. Just like the reverse scales on a dragon.

(Or perhaps.....maybe it’s because I’ve entered moulting season or something, with less hair on my tail it’s not as well protected.....)

I was definitely missing some hair. That might have something to do with it.

I wasn’t sure of the reason, but all the same, my pain still hadn’t disappeared. Not knowing how much time would need to pass before it got better, I was starting to feel pitiful all on my own.

Even so, I hesitated to go to her for comfort right after having gotten so huffy just the day before. Just as I was thinking that perhaps I might as well return to Celestia, I heard the sound of a knock.

‘Um, Peter. Can I come in?’

‘.....Alright.....’

As I answered weakly, she opened the door, drawing in a breath at seeing me curled up in on myself.

‘Peter, are you all right!?’

‘Chiii.....’

Truth be told, I wanted to run to her and have her treat me nicely as I told her about how much it hurt. But, feeling awkward, I was unable to speak. Seeing that I was still wrapped up in blankets, she was in a fluster.

‘Sorry, I’m so sorry. Does it still hurt? Wh-What should I do?’

Unable to help feeling guilty seeing her look so panicked, I tried crawling out from underneath my blankets. Still, even as I tried to move, the area around my tail started to throb with pain yet again.

‘Chii-‘

Hearing me unable to help crying out, the expression on her face became increasingly shocked. So, doing my best to hide the pain, I tried to pretend as if I were fine.

‘I-I’m alright.  It, doesn’t, hurt that much, anymore.....’

‘I didn’t realise that it was that bad.....’

She saw through me instantly.

‘I’m sorry, Chii-chan. Um..... The truth is, I made these for you, hoping that they’d make you feel better, but-‘

What she took out as she spoke were cookies in the shape of “Chii-chan.” At the same time as I felt a surge of happiness at how faithfully she had replicated my form, I also began to feel apologetic.

She had been that worried about me.

But I, on the other hand, without explaining how much it had hurt having my tail trod on, had childishly locked myself away in my room. Feeling a sense of guilt, I opened my mouth to speak.

‘.....I’m sorry too. .....I was just in shock because it hurt so much.....’

‘No, I’m the one that should be sorry. I even said it was “just” your tail.....’

Both of us becoming gloomy, we lapsed into silence.

‘W-Well then, since you went to all the effort to make them for me, would it be alright if I ate these cookies?’

‘S-Sure! Of course.’

I took the “Chii-chan Cookie” she passed over to me and stared at it intently. The more I looked at it, the more I could tell how well made a likeness of me it was. Feeling that it would be a waste to eat it, I took a photo of it with my smartphone. And then, after spending some time looking at it from different angles, realised that it might be even more of a waste not to eat it. Having made up my mind, I bit into the tail end. The flavoursome taste of butter spread throughout my mouth.

‘Mmn-, this is delicious.....!’

‘Really? I’m so glad.....’

As she watched over me with a relieved look on her face, I continued to munch on the cookie.

Once I had finished eating the head part as well, she looked at me timidly.

‘So, how do you feel now? Does it still hurt.....?’

‘H-Hm.....Well.....’

Unfortunately, the area around my tail was still sore. But, for some reason, it felt as if it had lessened from just a moment ago.

‘Whereabouts does it hurt?’

‘Around here.....’

When I pointed to the place around which the humans would call the tailbone, she gently touched the area in a soothing way.

‘Pain, pain, fly away—’

‘.....Chi?’

As I tilted my head in confusion at the unfamiliar words, she smiled as if embarrassed.

‘I came across it while I was reading a book. They say it’s a magic spell to make pain get better.’

Repeating the spell once more, she patted the “area around my tail”. Her shy and gentle hand movements were easing the pain.

Still, I had a feeling that it wasn’t the magic spell that was making me feel better. It was because she had made cookies while thinking of me.

A god had given cookies to a god. There was an emotion that was more than love in that.

Devotion was the most effective for a god’s recovery. Even if it was a prayer that came from a fellow god.

‘Pain, pain, fly away—’

Doing her best so that my pain would fly away, she massaged the sore area. It felt ticklish, and it stirred up a strange feeling in me. Unable to stand how adorable she was, and the ticklishness of her fingers as she touched me, I climbed on top of her.

When I pushed her down onto the bed, she looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected it. As I hung over her, I licked away cookie crumbs that had been stuck at the corner of my mouth.

‘I’m fine now. It doesn't hurt anymore.’

‘Really?’

‘Mm. It’s all thanks to the cookies you made me. Thank you. But….my tail is my weak spot. I’m sorry, but I must ask you not to step on it in the future.’

‘.....Sure, I understand. Sorry for stepping on you.’

‘I’m sorry too. For lying around in a place like that….. From now on I swear to you I’ll take care when sunbathing.’

‘Yeah.’

We had finally made up. With this we were back to normal.

At that very moment, as I was thinking absentmindedly, she reached out her hands towards me.

Just as I thought she was about to hug me, she drew my head forward. Her lips pressed against mine, even though I was the one on top of her, it had been her who had kissed me.

‘Well then, we’re all made up now….right?’

Beneath me, she was smiling. While her smile made me happy, wanting to make her lose her composure since she was treating me as “Chii-chan”, this time I kissed her.

Sucking, gently biting, I deepened the kiss further. A biting kiss, the kind to make her breathless. As I continued to kiss her in a rapture, she gradually began to lose her earlier calm. When I trailed my tongue across her throat, she gave a small gasp. I wanted to hear more of her voice. I wanted to bite her. —I wanted to devour her completely.

Just like when I had eaten the cookie, I lost myself in tasting her.

Licking her ear, her throat, her collarbone, I changed the position of my head little by little.

The area “around my tail” no longer hurt, but now a different place was aching. Following that inner desire, I drew forth her voice from her.

There was something that was sweeter than a cookie. As I tasted it as if I were in a trance, I heard her say you musn’t, and my head was held back.

‘Peter…..’

‘My tail was stepped on. …..For today, allow me at least this much.’

We each had places that were off limits. I’d had mine stepped on, so in exchange I wanted her to let me do as I wished. Which was why I became more forceful than usual, and slaked my thirst. Yielding to my determination, she could only cry out. Body twisting, she grabbed onto my hair.

It was the first time I had ever seen such an expression on her face. An aching swept through me like a storm, and I became absorbed in making her mine.

Once the time came, my instincts overcame my reason. I forgot myself in my desire for her.

I no longer felt any pain. However the area “around my tail” had lit a fire in me.

After my first fight with her. Our passionate making up continued on.

[stardust-in-my-mind-blog]

Sometimes it be like this.

My heart and brain want to work together.

My soul and mind still have a few values they are negotiating.

And I'm just standing here, holding the scales, waiting for them to balance.

Impatiently, I may add.

Fearfully, sometimes.

My mind has its intelligence and knowledge that I've painstakingly acquired and organized into different skills and crafts.

My heart has one of those burning souls that have all the wings and eyes and a thousand different creatures all spiraling within it.

My eyes have enough tears to flood the world, and they have tried.

My arms have the ability to both swim and fly.

My feet are beginning to learn how to dance and step without my mind setting limits others gave to it.

My hands are learning how to touch without fearing themselves weapons of destruction. They are weapons of destruction, but it is I who master the controls. These palms will never strike another thoughtlessly. These fists will never stop curling into themselves when my anger begs for control.

My fingertips will consensually explore whatever they desire.

My body is my own to control.

No matter what regulations others try to set.

I choose my own compliance.

I choose my own submission.

I choose my preferences and my comfort.

I choose to step out of them whenever I want.

I choose to let you understand me.

I choose to understand you with the information you give to me.

And you give me so much information.

I catch all of it.

I collect your movements, your words, and what things or feelings put the emotion into your expression.

I know what makes your eyes flash.

I know what makes them flood.

I know how to get them to focus on what I want.

I am at this time in my life where I now have to make decisions.

Everything is in pieces.

I am staring at the pile of it.

My life feels like it is just in piles around my room.

I have razed my beloved garden into ashes.

Everything that I am.

Everything I was.

Everything that made me.

Everything that destroyed me.

Everything I tried to build.

Everything I successfully destroyed.

Everything I'm willing to take back.

Everything I will never forgive.

Everything I will allow to follow me.

Everything I will leave in the ashes.

Everything I will step away from.

I have to begin considering my choices.

For the first time in my life, I am going to wholly and consciously contemplate my true wishes, desires, dreams, ideals, values, and relationships.

I am going to make lists.

I am going to compile evidence.

My own internal scarlet crusade is here in full banner and calvary.

Who do you think burned the garden down?

I didn't call them.

I never knew how to knowingly summon forces outside myself.

Fuck, I can't even ask for help in this life from people I trust when I so desperately need it.

(But I'm learning. I'm learning. I'm learning and making it part of whatever integrated self I have at the end of this.)

But this image.

This art.

This picture that someone conjured by the tools they had skill with...

This picture says everything to me that I needed to put into words.

The words found me and ran like sugar in my bloodstream to my mind who then told my fingers to find the keys and surrender all of my to my heart.

It's my heart who writes.

My hands are only her wings.

And my soul is the one who whispers in song to her all the beauty she inspires to make him burn.

She melts into him.

And my mind gives them whatever they need.

We're all learning how to work together.

If you measure time without season and cycle, how can you truly learn the lessons nature is here to teach us?

Nature worships Balance.

And so will I.

Artist Of Image -Giulia Grillo

[gornackeaterofworlds]

💔🎈❗️🥀🍓💋🐞 for my beloved caiji pretty please 🙏

Reblogging ask games when I know I barely developed the characters or plot yet is gonna end me..

💔 (broken heart) - Who has your character hurt most? Physically or emotionally? How did it feel? Do they regret it?

Initially I wanted to say her sister, but I actually think that's untrue depending on your scale of how bad something is. So, my true answer? Her parents. It...well it's hard to place how it felt. Y'know the song from Epic, Monster? Does she regret it? Not in the tiniest little bit. She BRAGS about it. Eventually..

🎈 (balloon) - What does your character do at parties? Are they a wallflower or a party animal? Do they go with friends or alone?

Parties are never to have fun, not for Caiji. They're networking, plotting, scheming events. You find out information and make your next move, you gather things to hang over others. She does drink, though due to her... incredible size a few glasses of wine is the same as water to her. Though she does drag her sister everywhere

❗️(exclamation point) - What was the scariest moment of your character’s life? Does it still affect them?

This is so far in the plot I can't even hint at it. But it's me, ofc I'll hint at it. So I'll take this moment to remind people, for completely unrelated reasons, to glance at the worst content warnings..

🥀 (wilted flower) - How does your character deal with stressful situations? Is their fear response fight, flight, freeze or fawn?

None? Where's the "throw all your values to the wind and strategize the easiest possible way for you to live" response? Taps the Monster from Epic sign

🍓 (strawberry) - Does your oc believe in anything? Are they superstitious? Religious? Atheistic? Has anything in their past made them this way?

Hmm. I actually never thought of this in depth. Yokai understand that magic is its own science, it operates outside of reality and changes it as it pleases. There's no gods, if that's what's implied. But they do worship strong historical figures. Caiji, specifically, has a very complicated relationship with this kind of ideology. She's the daughter of two of the physically strongest and most resourceful and cunning, but has an incredibly strained relationship with the most mystic-inclined individuals. So her views are definitely warped in terms of who she looks up to. And it will be explored, but she also has very little mystic abilities. Her lack of communication with that side of society is part of what got her in this position in the first place.

💋 (kiss) - Is your oc a good kisser? Have they kissed anyone before? Do they even enjoy kissing? What was their first kiss like in comparison to their most recent?

At first, for the longest time, I had the urge to make Caiji very sexually experienced. She's rich, she's hot, she's powerful. But...she's also alone. She doesn't have the time nor vulnerability for that kind of thing, and she's only like 21? She's likely not kissed anyone, no, and her anxiety to do things perfectly and be knowledgeable ahead of time probably makes her a very nervous and awkward kisser. She would enjoy kissing. I won't be showing explicit sex in Butterfly Effect, I'll barely be showing kissing, but multiple characters do smash. And she's one of them

🐞 (ladybug) - What does a perfect day look like for your oc? What do they do? Who do they see?

This is the hardest question. Because it depends on where she's at in her development. Where the comic is now? Being able to sleep and have her family take care of everything for her, as they mostly do now. Having her..rivals dead or obedient. Being given a prophecy of prosperity and peace instead of what's to come

[thoughtfullyrainynightmare]

Could you answer #1, 11, and 23 for beloved Fue?

FUE FUE FUE!! GDASFDRAF

*dusts clothes and clears throat* Yes

Why do you like or dislike this character?

Okay! So! We've talked about this a lot on this blog lately, and perhaps I'll add them to my Vermillion Master post. But, let's give a ... somewhat brief summary of it.

I very much like him. I really do. Because I think that him as a character is someone that is easy to admire. He has high morals and lives by the virtues and values he has found for himself, granted that they lie greatly in the scheme of what is good and law abiding. However, he's also capable of letting mercy serve as justice at time. What I mean by it, is that sometimes the law isn't to be followed to the letter, but evaluated on a case by case basis. If he didn't believe in that, then he wouldn't have stopped Asta's trial along with Nozel.

He's someone who tries to do good, and sometimes, at his own expense. If he didn't, then he wouldn't be putting such a huge toll on himself to be the very best leader to the CLK that he could be, but also, why he didn't pursue (not that we can see anyhow) any further consequences to William for his betrayal. Of course Julius' orders would have weighed a lot, but I'm sure that, if Fue had wanted to, he could have emphasized his standing in the socioeconomical system, and perhaps even try to put pressure on Julius for William's dismissal if nothing else through the King/Law department.

But instead, Fue decided that the kingdom has already suffered greatly, and the loss of a Captain might be too heavy of a toll, both in man power, and the unrest it might cause, along with people losing even more faith in the MKs as a whole. I mean, some of them being possessed was bad enough, but one of them being, kinda, the leader of the cult that made it all happen? That would be too big of a blow.

Yes. It's a great tragedy on Fue. But it's a personal tragedy. One life, his own, in the place of many.

I really think that he is someone who believes in... how those at positions of authority are servants of the people. They make decisions for the good of the people, and he tries to abide by that.

Can Fue ever trust William? Fully at least? I think not. But... I think that in his mind, the scales tip towards him not pursuing justice for himself. Because he wants the good of the people.

I'm not sure if I can, still, fully formulate the gravity of this decision, and what an incredible decision it is, because I'm not sure, if I could, in a similar situation, make the same call. I'm not sure how many could.

Fue is a character who's very essence is in the growth, safety, and well being of others. Yes, sometimes it comes in the form of telling them to grow stronger on their own accord, because there'll come a time when they need to stand on their own two feet. But if everyone is as strong as they can be, then the system is much more solid and safe to everyone. Everyone needs to do their part. But he wants to help people achieve that.

However, I also think that, since he has been known to dismiss people from his squad (due to good reasons), he's not naive, and he won't forgive or look to the other way with just anything. So, the person's wish to be better, needs to be genuine. They really need to try and be good, be better, from the bottom of their hearts. Abide to at least similar ideals as he does.

And as my "somewhat brief description" isn't brief anymore, I think I'll end here.

(But as a bonus, he's also fine to look at, so... a little icing on the cake)

11. Would you date this character?

I think that he only reason why I wouldn't date him, is his royal status. I imagine that it'd be quite restrictive, and it'd be a lot to get accustomed to. But... it'd, probably, be doable. So... yes, yes I would date him.

23. Favorite picture of this character?

(Do I really have to choose?) You get top 3 (last ft. Mereo)

[lilleputtu]

Lille's Kingdom Events Generator

It is done-ish! And by that I mean the most basic form of this lil idea I had is ready to be unleashed on the world.

But Lille, what even is this?

Why thank you for asking, audience in my head. This is a random generator that reads in a list of events and a list of kingdoms and gives you random events that make sense to happen to said kingdoms based on requirements. Kinda like everyones beloved ROS, but instead of being for single households usually, it's on a more neighborhood scale and has a few more ways for you to influence which events roll.

I am bad at explaining it, but I promise it makes sense.

Is it necessarily a sims thing? Absolutely not! I am sure you could use this for writing prompts or random events in a TTRPG campaign or whathaveyou. But my main thought was "medieval simmers would love to have a random thing to throw natural disasters or war refugees from whatever fictional 'other' kingdoms are around in their minds at them" because I AM that medieval simmer.

So here's what you get:

An .exe which randomizes things, ala ROS, but while taking requirements into account.

An XML with sample events to generate. Are they good? Eh, they'll do. This is why it's an XML, so you can edit it and someone smarter than me can make a cooler version.

An XML with sample Kingdoms, upon which the requirements for the events are tested. They are named A,B,C,D and E and just had random-ish values thrown at them. Edit them. make them your own!

A Readme, which explains things in more detail.

Huge thanks to @clouseplayssims for throwing some inspiration in the form of every single ROS list in existence at me and being one of my initial guinea pigs, as well as enabling the silly little idea in the first place.

Alrighty, to the download, yes?

DOWNLOAD(SFS)

Note: Due to how I turned the base python code into an exe, some antiviruses flag it as a possible Trojan. I do not know how to fix that. I can only say that me and my 200 lines of code do not want to damage your computer or steal your monies, I promise.

Further note: I compiled and tested this on Windows 10. It might work on other operating systems, but i make no promises. If anyone is running into issues like that and or knows how to compile a python script, please let me know, i am more than happy to pass you the sourcecode so more people can have a functioning version of this.

I will happily answer any questions, take suggestions or try to do tech support, just let me know!

Also definitely feel free to share your edited events/kingdoms files. My examples are thrown together haphazardly and it SHOWS.

Also - you can totally use it for non medieval things. Just write modern events and ignore the fact that the program calls things in the kingdom file kingdoms. They could be cities, or planets, or whatever else you can come up with!