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personalmoshiakh · 3 months

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hey, so— i’ve been ~officially writing a web serial since 2021 (unofficially, since at least 2014). Updates are currently very irregular, but i’m definitely still working on it!

✨🧿 THE BITTER DROP 🧿✨

modern fantasy romance about gay/trans Eastern Bloc Jews, set in a secondary world counterpart of early Soviet communes

The lounge is nearly empty tonight; all the action is downstairs at the grinding workshop — in the basement discotheque; you if I’m to have any hope of pulling, that’s where I ought to go but … ekh, I’m foggy tonight, between the psychosis and the laudanum for the pain what likes to haunt nefilim and the horse pills they made me take at the Mamka — nu okay, I skipped tonight’s dose so I can drink but like, neuroleptics don’t let go that quick — and as the brainfog settles on my thoughts, it turns to hoarfrost and my will seizes up like a rusty hinge.

Lev/Lyubov Morgenshtern, a queeny bigender flamer who’d once been one of the Pale’s youngest-ever ordained rabbonim, has just returned to the Talons Ghetto sovyet — an autonomous workers-and-peasants commune of the kind that directly preceded the Soviet Union (and indeed the thing that the USSR named itself after).

Lev is fresh off a stint on a psych ward that’d followed a far longer stint living in the tzarist-held half of Svet Dmitrin with a bougie respectability-obsessed ex-boyfriend — he’s got nowhere to sleep, no assurance her old friends, Red Guard and civilian both, would want to see them and the only workable plan she’s got is to find someone willing and soft-hearted to take him home for the night …

… and what luck if their rescuer, a medical necromancer by the name of Anzu Menelikov (Nyura to friends and lovers) is a beautiful trans flamer from a prominent rabbinical family! who better to welcome Lyubov home than a fellow hothouse flower and dedicated scholar? and does it matter if Nyura did anything the White Guard might still bear a grudge about? after all, most of the old Ghetto walls are still safely intact, and it’s not like Reb Doktor Menelikov personally set the Winter Palace on fire, right?

i’d say if you liked the Baru Cormorant series, Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union and Gentlemen of the Road, Fallen London and its associated games, China Miéville’s oeuvre, and Disco Elysium, this’d probably be your thing!

content warnings

(under the cut)

reclaimed homophobic slurs

the narrator has a history of psychiatric institutionalisation

homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny and antisemitism are environmental hazards in the setting, though by far not the focus

#the bitter drop #web serial #web fiction #web novel #fiction #tell your friends #and tell me if you read it tbh

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sgiandubh · 1 month

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In addition to Grandma, we now have Barbie Fitness launching her own fitness program ...

Dear Fitness Program Anon,

I thought I specifically asked you people to leave that woman alone. Even more so that (yet again) the story seems to have gone exactly nowhere and 0 interest in following her endeavors, to be honest.

Well, she is a fitness influencer and a fitness trainer by trade. As thousands of others on this planet and at least she did have a job, 'before' whatever was intended when she was associated (sort of) with S. What would you want her to promote, Anon? Scottish traditional cooking classes (with a bonus homemade tablet or haggis workshop, subscribers only need apply)?

I mean, d'oh. The only unaware idiots in this equation are the mommies with disposable income who flocked to her page and fawned, because this is what they do. Every single time a woman is paired with their Scottish Fantasy Hunk.

#anon #fandom #shitshow

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shuttershocky · 1 year

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The reason why Touko's so fun as a character is because she's from a different genre than the story she's in. She's secretly a cyberpunk character in a magic fantasy setting.

Think about it

More than even her runic magic, Nasu says her best skills are her puppets and biological modification.

We know from the first Kara No Kyoukai movie that her prosthetics / body modifications are just as cybernetic as they are magic, as when she's building Shiki's new arm, it can be seen having circuitry inside and being hooked up to her computer. She types in her computer while tweaking the arm, meaning the arm likely has programmed functions.

Touko has no set profession, instead the Hollow Shrine will do anything that will pay, taking advantage of Touko's wide, polymath skillset. In other words, she's a mercenary.

Touko's antics throughout the stories have made her a wanted criminal by the Mages' Association. Although Aoko describes them as being like a labor union, the Mages' Association in Mahoyo is described as making its vast fortune through real estate, buying up all the good land and then renting them out to mages for them to make workshops and homes in, while actually family-owned land becomes rarer and rarer as the Association buys them off. You know what that actually sounds like? A corporation.

Touko's not even made of real flesh and blood. The bodies she uses are puppets she creates, so close to her original body as to be completely indistinguishable. Whenever she dies, the next Touko body activates, retaining the previous body's will and memories. Touko's not just a cyborg, she's literally a ghost in a machine, a machine that's indistinguishable from her original human body on the surface, and yet keeps changing as she modifies her form (like in Francesca from Fate/Strange Fake's history, which mentions that Touko hid a demon inside one of her bodies as a trap). Nasu has also jokingly suggested she might have built a Touko unit specifically for combat.

Half her dialogue is jargon only she understands and is never explained to the reader

Her vision is augmented

#Kara No Kyoukai #Mahoyo #Aozaki Touko

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wolfbrawn · 28 days

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VERSES .

✶ verse — it begins with boyhood

canon . Farkas grows up in the shadow of Jorrvaskr. There are no mother’s skirts to cling to, only the tassets of warriors who call themselves Companions. His brother is at his side, and Farkas reaches for his hand when he needs to. Together, they are raised on a diet of watered-down mead and tales of Ysgramor.

✶ verse — we fight so that other people don’t have to

canon . Farkas proves his mettle and becomes a Companion. He and Vilkas are the youngest in the faction’s history to be granted this honour. Meanwhile, under the tutelage of Eorlund Gray-Mane, he becomes an increasingly proficient blacksmith.

✶ verse — his heart beats with fury and courage

canon . Farkas is invited into the Circle and accepts the gift of lycanthropy. He sees it as an extension of his own physicality, a weapon to be wielded with honour and purpose. Standing among the most trusted and capable of Companions, his work continues much as it ever has, taking him to distant, frozen corners of Skyrim.

✶ verse — just tell me who needs bludgeoning

canon . They live in the shadow of dragons, in a time of tremendous unrest. Farkas wishes only to exist as he always has. Simply, with an open heart and closed fists. He does not concern himself with politics or the machinations of the powerful.

✶ verse — empty hands hold so much promise

modern . Raised in the care system and vomited unceremoniously out into the world, Farkas learned to work with his hands. Qualifying as a welder, he spends much of his free time at the gym, and is the first to offer newcomers help and encouragement. This verse can be mundane or supernatural.

✶ verse — there’s a bad moon on the rise

modern . It is hardly surprising Farkas falls into a more transient existence. Raised in care, doomed to flunk school. Looking for highs in low places, he finds himself on the fringes of the music industry, putting his muscle to use as a roadie. This verse can be mundane or supernatural.

✶ verse — the beast’s embrace

bloodborne . A hunter and weaponsmith, first of the Workshop and then the Powder Kegs. Farkas seizes on the forbidden Caryll Rune and swears his oath, granting him the gift of beasthood. Now he is branded a heretic and is left factionless. He hunts as and when he sees fit, sympathising both with his former associates and the beasts he once culled without remorse.

✶ verse — how fast can you run? a wolf’s question

general fantasy . You can find him on the road or in the wilds, sometimes in the taverns with their stoop-back rooftops. He takes work where he can find it, usually in the forges or by fulfilling bounties. Farkas never stays in one place too long, for fear the locals will smell the wet-fur stench that clings to his skin, or notice how his eyes gleam unnaturally in the dark.

✶ verse — hear me howling / calling on my darling

exclusive to @shellcrack . Following the premise of the general fantasy verse, only here Farkas crosses paths with Miriam. She is in the spring of her life, born with lycanthropy in her blood – and the beast frequently bursts out of her with devastating consequences. They are mates, their lives together marked by the conflict between their humanity and the call of the wild.

#if i was a braver person i'd add specific years to his canon verses #but i'm here to play fast and loose #generally speaking i imagine farkas to be in his mid-thirties by the in-game events of tes: skyrim #✶ verses

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indierpgnewsletter · 1 year

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Cool RPG Links and Media 30/01/2023

Media of the Week

AA Voigt takes a look at my humble solo game of crime and revolt, The Spider and the City.

Matt Colville makes a nice comparison between forming a band in your garage and gaming groups.

Plus One Exp are organizing a number of workshops ahead of ZineMonth, aimed at new creators. There’s one about art direction and public domain art and aother about crowdfunding and how to budget for it.

Links of the Week

Articles

The story of Sworld World, one of the most popular RPGs in Japan, often credited with a revival in fantasy tabletop gaming.

Monte Cook on why he’s tired of “designing for assholes”.

Two examples of love letters from Judd Karlman’s game of Apocalypse World: Burned Over.

Tabletop crowdfunding on Kickstarter was down by 33 million dollars. While there was definitely less money being spent generally, the article fails to mention the company torching their goodwill.

Lowell Francis’s epic chronology of post-apocalyptic games has now reached it’s 23rd instalment.

Gabriel Caetano maintains a list of free TTRPG mechanics on itch.io and welcomes people to use them in games.

European RPG publishers are forming an association for self-protection - misleadingly titled a union. Another knock-on effect of threatening the OGL, it seems.

Reviews

A review of The Bloody Handed Name of Bronze, a bronze age game of myth and power, by Joshua Newman.

A review of Rolemaster Unified

A review of City of Mist, the baroque PbtA game of noir-ish urban fantasy.

#indie rpg #ttrpg #rpg #goncharov #worldbuilding #ttrpg community #ttrpgsolidarity #ttrpg design

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kemetic-dreams · 11 months

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Author Octavia E. Butler Author (1947–2006)

Known for blending science fiction with African-American spiritualism. Her novels include Patternmaster, Kindred, Dawn and Parable of the Sower.

Writer Octavia Estelle Butler was born in Pasadena, California, on June 22, 1947, later breaking new ground as a woman and an African American in the realm of science fiction. Butler thrived in a genre typically dominated by white males. She lost her father at a young age and was raised by her mother. To support the family, her mother worked as a maid.

As a child, Octavia E. Butler was known for her shyness and her impressive height. She was dyslexic, but she didn't let this challenge deter her from developing a love of books. Butler started creating her own stories early on, and she decided to make writing her life's work around the age of 10. She later earned an associate degree from Pasadena City College. Butler also studied her craft with Harlan Ellison at the Clarion Fiction Writers Workshop.

To make ends meet, Butler took all sorts of jobs while maintaining a strict writing schedule. She was known to work for several hours very early in the morning each day. In 1976, Butler published her first novel, Patternmaster. This book would ultimately become part of an ongoing storyline about a group of people with telepathic powers called Patternists. The other related titles are Mind of My Mind (1977), Wild Seed (1980) and Clay's Ark (1984). (Butler's publishing house would later group the works as the Patternist series, presenting them in a different reading order from when they were chronologically published.)

In 1979, Butler had a career breakthrough with Kindred. The novel tells the story of an African-American woman who travels back in time to save a white slave owner—her own ancestor. In part, Butler drew some inspiration from her mother's work. "I didn't like seeing her go through back doors," she once said, according to The New York Times. "If my mother hadn't put up with all those humiliations, I wouldn't have eaten very well or lived very comfortably. So I wanted to write a novel that would make others feel the history: the pain and fear that black people have had to live through in order to endure."

For some writers, science fiction serves as means to delve into fantasy. But for Butler, it largely served as a vehicle to address issues facing humanity. It was this passionate interest in the human experience that imbued her work with a certain depth and complexity. In the mid-1980s, Butler began to receive critical recognition for her work. She won the 1984 Best Short Story Hugo Award for "Speech Sounds." That same year, the novelette "Bloodchild" won a Nebula Award and later a Hugo as well.

In the late 1980s, Butler published her Xenogenesis trilogy—Dawn (1987), Adulthood Rites (1988) and Imago (1989). This series of books explores issues of genetics and race. To insure their mutual survival, humans reproduce with aliens known as the Oankali. Butler received much praise for this trilogy. She went on to write the two-installment Parable series—Parable of the Sower (1993) and Parable of the Talents (1998).

In 1995, Butler received a "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation—becoming the first science-fiction writer to do so—which allowed her to buy a house for her mother and herself.

#african #afrakan #kemetic dreams #africans #brownskin #brown skin #afrakans #african culture #afrakan spirituality #octavia e butler #science fantasy #science fiction #science fair #science facts

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inlocusmads · 10 months

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The Bow That Burned Light

Killian, upon learning that her Elven background robbed her a chance of competing in Riverbend's Winter Games, subverts her odds by participating unannounced.

Characters: Killian Clawthorne (Nightbloom) (F!Elf!MC), Kade Clawthorne from Blades of Light and Shadow, Pre-Book 1

Teen+ | WC: 1.7k | TW: Some medieval fantasy swear words and some Elven/Orc discrimination.

A/N: This is my *first* fic for Blades, yay! If you'd like to be tagged for Blades, comment down below or well, anywhere else and just let me know. Tagging @choicesprompts because I used this scene and this scene from Brave as inspiration/rewrite material.

When Killian Clawthorne heard the Fourth Quarter of the Winter Games were to be held in her absence, she was beyond fazed.

As blacksmithing was to humans, the competition would be bereft of rangers from the Elven clan because it was rather tedious and people were afraid to take up such a profession or such a stance. The Age of Men was upon them. Worrisome things such as magic and visions that the Elves were associated with, were quickly admonished and outlawed, thus confining the very small population in Riverbend to settlements in the Deadwood Forest.

Killian was the only one who walked with the humans, learned to write their language and she was beyond remorseful that the Winter Games, known for their competitors across all the realms, represented by all the races, clans and sects in the realm, did not even have a single Elven competitor. In spite of her competing in the League Games held prior to the Quarter and placing first, there was no room to accommodate her because she was a nobody, for starters. The Winter Games were known for two things besides their obvious intention - liquor and bookies.

The bookies were in charge of parading their future champion, holding intensive betting rings and this time, Billy Boy had made a phenomenal entrance from his dormant years of training. He’d left behind a legacy; a reigning champion and a future Knight, they’d all said.

Then, in a surprise turn of events, Zugrak the Wrathful, an Orc who manned one of the twelve fleet ships, had also been elected to the Quarter. Zugrak had started out as an unknown player, but once news of his past and his rumoured teacher being the Son of the Moon God himself, the bookies were looking forward to his prospect and thus, in a way, his victory would lead to a joint control of the Flotilla-Riverbend Trade Channel. A victory for all of them, proposed the bookies.

And finally, there was Timothy. No last name, none of his past known and the dealers loved it. More intrigue, more suspicion, more unpredictability. Rumours had it that his mother was an old crone; a retired priestess who now lived the last of her life in the Temple of Ellara. The last thing the people of Riverbend wanted was the fate of the winter harvest to be in the hands of an evil crone that could curse the fields at any given moment. Timothy was there, not because of his performance in the League Games, rather because his mother was an unfortunate old woman who could curse Riverbend forever if her son dared to not win.

Two Men. One Orc. No Elves.

Killian’s hood hid her ears, but it did not hide her dark, ethereal complexion known among Elves or her tall stature. A pair of leather boots that she made from spare scraps in her caretaker’s workshop gave her a grand sense of calm, as she clutched her arrow with such ferocity that Kade’s advancing cries for retreat did not dawn on her.

“Killian! Stop! You do not want to do this! People have died disobeying the Archpriest’s orders! You are actively interrupting an event-- Killian!”

“They -- they have erased my clan, my bloodline from the competition! One day, they will do that to the entirety of Riverbend. Kade, I cannot stay quiet. I need --”

“This is not the time nor the place to revolt! Killian, you do not understand. They will have you hanged, aye! This is too dangerous, even for you! I cannot-- I cannot bear to lose you again. First the gang fight and now this?”

“They will come for me again and again, until all of magic, all of our bloodline is erased, Kade. It is my family out there, my dear brother.” Killian’s voice grew down to a faint whisper. “I’m -- I offer my apologies. It is neither right nor just for them to tell me that I have a chance and take it away. It is not right for them to keep me in the dark for so long--”

“And for what, exactly?” Kade sobbed. “You’ll get hanged, this is treason, this is dangerous! Riverbend is your home, my sister. You are jeopardising your own home, your very right to stay here and for what? To tell them to listen? They won’t listen, you out of all people should know that nobody ever will listen to you. I don’t want to discourage you from practising this sport, Killian, but this -- this is not the way to get yourself known!”

Killian turned quiet. She quickly turned on her heel and kept walking in the direction of the field.

“I won’t have your body delivered to me! I won’t! Enough! There is no-- no destiny, nothing of that sort waiting out there-- this is utterly stupid and -- it is only going to get you killed! You cannot erase this prejudice from the minds of the evil, Killian, you simply can’t! If this is about you wanting to prove you are one of the finest rangers in this town, this is NOT the way! You’re a braggart! Your vaingloriousness will kill you! Killian! KILLIAN!”

The sounds of the competition rang like devastating noise in Killian’s ears, as she took menacing steps forward. The Royal Guards appointed around the patrol took no notice of her entry, completely bewitched by Billy Boy’s pathetic performance and Timothy’s brilliance. They had no intentions to support the Orc outside of business purposes and they did, just for the bookies to write a number in their notebook and hand out the coins. Nobody glanced at the elf until she took a stance among the competitors, planting a flag with the Elven Relic of protection and perseverance.

“My name is Killian.” her voice echoed in the open arena. “One of the only descendants of the Guild of Elves in Riverbend. And I will be representing my clan by myself!”

Gasps filled the crowd immediately. One of the men guarding the Archpriest and the Lord Elder recognised her; his eyes scanning the rest of the crowd to see if his pathetic adopted son of his, Kade, was among them, having failed to stop this reckless, arrogant witch he so reluctantly had to refer to as his “daughter”. The peasant, Murdoc dropped his guarding spear and ran to the arena.

“Killian!” Murdoc called.

Killian struggled with the long locks of her black hair, as she assumed position next to a perplexed Billy Boy who had no idea if he should take her bow from her. Killian took several steps forward, however, keeping her legs parallel to the shooting line. She drew the bow, her back perfectly straight and sent it flying. It landed perfectly at the dead centre. The crowd gasped, wondering if the competition was more of a spectacle than a competition. Murdoc’s friends giggled at how terrible he was in raising a child, much less a child that wasn’t even human. Other well-wishers of Billy Boy and Timothy were now terribly regretting betting in their favour.

One down.

Killian moved to the next target, walking as she shot the next arrow. It coursed through Billy Boy’s arrow in the second ring, landing once again into the bull’s eye.

Two down.

“Killian!” Murdoc demanded, now walking after her as she took down target after target; all of her arrows landing precisely in the red circle. “Killian, stop this!”

As she moved to the last target, her bow raised, feet parallel to her shooting direction and her shoulders raised, she heard the voice of her guardian advancing with each passing second.

“Killian, don’t you dare lose another arrow! I forbid it!”

Her breathing grew more in pace, as everyone else’s breaths collectively stopped. Slowly, she released the arrow from her bowstring that shot through the air, piercing like that of a knife, hot off the furnace from the blacksmith’s forging shop with such speed that it pushed into Zugrak’s arrow; splitting it apart in two and pushing past the fabric of the target like a blade of light through the enemy’s flesh.

The crowd stopped gasping. There was an air of silence that lingered on for many passing minutes. Killian dropped her bow, turning on her heel to her guardian, Murdoc who stared at her with a mixture of disappointment and anger. Though she towered him, he had the authority and his authority called for dragging her by her collar out of the arena; leaving behind the deafening silence in their wake.

“I’ve just about had enough of you!” Murdoc Clawthorne pushed her into their kitchen.

“You’re the one who--”

“You embarrassed me, YOU EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF THE --”

“I followed the rul--”

“You don’t know what you’ve done!” Murdoc pointed an accusing finger at her.

“Just-- tch-- just LISTEN!”

“I am your guardian and you LISTEN to me! If I weren’t here, you would be starving in the streets like those pickpocketing orphans with their dirty, clay-clad faces!”

“This whole business was all about you, wasn’t it? Have you ever bothered asking me what I want? No! You walk around telling me what to do, what not to do, trying to make me be like you and the rest of you. Telling me nothing about my history and thinking a future marriage will solve the problem!”

“You poor, pathetic piece of mutton, nobody will even consider marrying you!” Murdoc spat. “You are the least of my concerns. Nothing you do or say will ever matter, you venomous hook-eared pross! You are in a society. A society of men. And I expect you to catch onto it quickly and ACT LIKE one!”

“Good riddance! I’d rather not marry anyway!”

“Then who will ever feed a wench like you? Put a roof over your head?” Murdoc grabbed Killian’s bow and tossed it into the burning fireplace in the kitchen.

“No-- NO!” Killian gasped, watching with cold, tears forming in her eyes as the fire consumed the wood, leaving a trail of dust and wisps of smoke in the kitchen. Her hood fell, exposing her long, ugly ears and before she knew it, her feet had carried her away to her and Kade’s room; the image of the burning bow still fresh in her mind. Instead of taking away her hope, it breathed in new life; a sense of newfound joy in the blinding, yellow light with which the old bow passed in a perilous fire.

When Kade returned home for the night, he saw his sister whittling pieces of wood for a new bow.

***

Tagging:

Perma: @quixoticdreamer16 @tessa-liam

Blades: @starlight-starfury @fuckitweball0000

A/N:

Killian is my second aroace character since Maura from Wake the Dead. It is also fitting because she does magic (ace, yknow like the ace of spades card) and is an expert ranger (arrow, heh, aro). Yes it was purely intentional.

I think I might have a pattern to my MCs. They're just really really strong, get a bunch of hits and are either great optimists like Jane from Open Heart and Killian from Blades or great at "fuck it, I'm not doing this anymore, bye." (but they do it anyway) a la Maura and Nora.

I honestly don't know how I'll be writing for Killian. Maybe a couple of rewrites of scenes from Blades 1, a little bit of Killian finding joys in her newfound ability to perform magic and maybe some Riverbend stories before she met the party. I might even draft up a character sheet for her! Who knows?

Anyway, thank you so much for reading and supporting! This fic was maybe, 2-3 weeks under the drafting process, mostly because I had to do a lot of revisions to the language. But it's done and I'm so glad it is.

#blades of light and shadow fic #killian nightbloom #choicesprompts #w:inlocusmads

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cotecoyotegrrrl · 15 days

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Author Octavia E. Butler Author (1947–2006)

Known for blending science fiction with African-American spiritualism. Her novels include Patternmaster, Kindred, Dawn and Parable of the Sower.

In 1995, Butler received a "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation—becoming the first science-fiction writer to do so—which allowed her to buy a house for her mother and herself.

#Octavia E. Butler #Parable of the Sower #Black Women Science Fiction Authors #Women Science Fiction Writers #science fiction #Oankali

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nikkilover-miraclenikki · 1 year

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【 Miracle Nikki CN 】 4 Seasons “Chapter 21”

Suit Display ::

Sober and elegant colors combined with neat tailoring: Whenever Hai Ying appears in a dress at the venue, it immediately attracts everyone's attention.

P.1 :: Grace (优雅舞曲)

The spring breeze blows over the eaves and brackets, the flowers and willow shadows in the clouds interweave with the birdsong and brook sounds like a dream, in the eyes of the lamb, A new story is about to be born.

P.2 :: Qí lè lián huá (祺乐莲华)

NPC ::

P.1 :: Kimi

Main Story Vol.1 : Ch.18-7 “Betrayal and Loyalty”

P.2 :: Annabel

Main Story • Vol.2 Ch.2-S2 “Missing Bobo”

Type :: Association Fantasy Workshop Ch.21

Collection :: 4 Seasons

Date :: 24/02/2023…..

#4 Seasons #Association Fantasy Workshop #奇迹暖暖 #Miracle Nikki #Love Nikki #Nikki Up2U 3 #Nikki 3 #Orangecatty #Dress-Up Game #Nikki Diary Thailand

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chattingwiththelightkeeper · 3 months

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The Daily D/S For 1/26/24:

Exploring New Fetishes Or Kinks Within The BDSM

Within the expansive world of BDSM, individuals often find themselves drawn to various fetishes or kinks that can add excitement, intimacy, and novelty to their experiences. Let’s consider this fabulous fantasy land and together we will delve into the importance of exploring new kinks within the BDSM realm, how to go about it, and the paramount significance of maintaining safety throughout the exploration process.

Importance of Exploring New Fetishes or Kinks:

Personal Growth and Exploration: Delving into new fetishes or kinks can be a journey of self-discovery, fostering personal growth and a deeper understanding of one's desires and boundaries. It allows individuals to explore facets of their sexuality that they might not have been aware of previously.

Relationship Enhancement: For those engaged in BDSM dynamics, exploring new fetishes or kinks can bring novelty and excitement to the relationship. It promotes open communication, trust, and a shared experience that can deepen the connection between partners.

Breaking Routine: Exploring new fetishes or kinks within BDSM helps break away from routine and injects a sense of adventure into intimate relationships. It can prevent stagnation and rekindle the passion between partners.

How to Explore New Fetishes or Kinks

Communication is Key: Open and honest communication is the foundation of any BDSM exploration. Discuss desires, boundaries, and expectations with your partner before embarking on any new fetish or kink.

Research: Educate yourself about the specific fetish or kink you are interested in. Understanding the dynamics, safety measures, and potential risks associated with the activity is crucial for a positive exploration experience.

Start Slow: Begin with less intense or extreme activities related to the new fetish or kink. Gradual exploration allows for a better understanding of personal limits and comfort levels.

Safety Concerns and Staying Safer:

Consent and Safe Words: Prioritize clear and enthusiastic consent from all parties involved. Establish and respect safe words, creating a reliable means of communication during BDSM activities.

Education on Equipment and Techniques: If a new fetish or kink involves specific equipment or techniques, educate yourself thoroughly. Attend workshops, read reputable sources, and consider seeking guidance from experienced practitioners.

Regular Check-Ins: During and after engaging in new activities, conduct regular check-ins with your partner(s). Discuss feelings, comfort levels, and any concerns that may have arisen during the exploration.

Exploring new fetishes or kinks within the BDSM realm is a personal and intimate journey that can lead to profound self-discovery and relationship enhancement. However, the significance of prioritizing safety cannot be overstated. Clear communication, education, and a commitment to respecting boundaries are crucial elements of a positive exploration experience.

How do you approach exploring new fetishes or kinks within the BDSM realm?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this, I invite you to give my podcast a listen 'Chatting With The Lightkeeper,' a top 25% most-followed podcasts on Spotify but available on all the major podcasting apps and follow my socials for more exclusive content: Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) for a deeper dive into the wonderful world of D/S.

As with all of my thoughts, please see this disclaimer.

©TLK2024

#d/s relationship #bd/sm community #dom/sub #d/s community #my writing #bd/sm blog #bd/sm daddy #bd/sm kink #bd/sm lifestyle #bd/sm relationship #d/s #daily d/s

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cultsurvivorsafe · 2 months

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i feel so guilty for coping in unhealthy ways. it seems like i can only stay sane by sexualizing my trauma

I’m happy you reached out. Sooo many cult survivors struggle with guilt, and it’s often such a difficult burden to carry. Now, I understand reassurances are hit-or-miss. Guilt–especially when brought on by abuse–can be . . . weedy. Pervasive and deep-rooted. It takes time to shake self-blame.

Still, I want you to know that:

1. Both consciously and otherwise, you’re working extremely hard to manage trauma. A lot of energy goes toward it, in fact. This constant, sometimes overwhelming process may not manifest how you desire. Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Recognition is an amazing first step.

2. You’re not wrong for coping this way. You’re not a bad person, either. There is absolutely nothing to feel ashamed of.

3. Only your abuser(s) is/are at fault. No thoughts, feelings, or fantasies will ever justify what you endured.

And for the record, I’m glad you’re staying sane! Zero judgment here. An unhealthy coping mechanism can turn destructive fast, though, so here are some of my favorite resources:

Writing to Reckon – workshops (plus more recently, a journal!) for writing through cult abuse.

#igotout – share your story, read about other survivors, and find empowerment. So many great books, podcasts, documentaries, and hotlines are recommended here!

People Leave Cults – individual consultation as well as support groups (including a minority exclusive one, if interested).

ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) Arts – some truly astounding work (visual, literary, and musical) from a diverse range of survivors. You can even submit your own!

I really hope you find peace, anon. Please take care of yourself, and feel free to message me again whenever.

#ex cult #cult survivor #cult recovery #recovery #positivity

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quasitsqueeries · 1 year

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Does Warhammer 40,000 need some good guys?

Firstly, 40K does have good guys, they’re called Exodite Eldar and they ride around their planets on dinosaurs they call dragons and they live an agrarian and nomadic existence, but also they’re not a playable faction because they don’t really fight anyone so on to the more relevant stuff.

Look, I’m upset about the idea too. There’s a creative purity to the idea of a setting where everyone is severely morally flawed. Here’s the thing though, 40K’s fans aren’t the community of weird nerdy punks they were in the eighties. For a long time, Games Workshop have recognised that kids are a huge market for their games, so the question is more, does Warhammer 40,00 need a faction for kids to identify with who aren’t Fascist power fantasy?

If you walk into a Games Workshop store, this is the first thing you’re likely to see:

These are the power fantasies you’re encouraged to identify with. I think we all know how appealing this stuff can be to twelve year old boys, and, sure, that’s nothing new. When I was growing up all the kids were into GI Joe and Transformers, and the generation after me were very excited about the Power Rangers and there is absolutely a discussion to be had about selling kids media that tells them violence is a good way to solve problems. In many of those cases though, the message is that the violence is in defence of some quality like freedom, justice, the earth, etc. Space Marines are Facists, they’re involved in a constant expansionist war in service of an Imperium that’s theocratic, xenophobic, and doesn’t seem to have any concept of human rights.

Sure Bernard, let’s not talk down to children, but also, let’s recognise that they don’t always have the context to be critical of the media that’s being presented to them, particularly if that media is one-sided in its narrative. This is why I think we need to be concerned about how military simulators like Counterstrike can act as recruiting tools. In the case of 40K, it’s been a long time since the game and the media around it have made it explicit that the Imperium is a Fascist state. All that’s really presented is the power fantasy associated with the ‘human’ space marines, and the values that come along with it, so I don’t think it’s really surprising that we’ve ended up here:

Trump doesn’t quite share the values of the Imperium of Man, he’s more isolationist than expansionist, and he’s more kleptocratic, while the Imperium is more Theocratic, however there are definitely similarities in how his followers see him, and how the Emperor is presented in 40K. They’re both seen as the heroic ideal of a charismatic strong-man, able to take a stand against ‘alien’ forces arrayed outside the state, and ‘degenerate’ forces inside, through a focus on militarism and national security. Again, the 14 characteristics of Fascism include a number of points where the politics of Donald Trump and the Imperium of Man intersect. I’m absolutely not saying that all kids who play 40K grow up to support Fascism, however it is likely that some people who were presented with the ideology of the Imperium as teenagers and weren’t equipped to critique it would have grown up to see something they could identify with in Trump’s politics.

It’s funny because if Trump did exist in 40K he’d be an ork, but the biggest ork already shares a name with Margaret Thatcher, and of course contemporary GW are too cowardly to name a space ork after Donald Trump.

Back to the point though. I think it’s really easy for kids to identify with Space Marines partly because they look really cool and heroic, but also in large part because they’re part of the human faction. We’re used to looking at humans as the good guys in Sci-Fi and Fantasy because it’s easy for them to act as audience inserts. There’s a common refrain in 40K spaces that ‘there are no good guys’ and I think this comes from an assumption that if humans aren’t the good guys then nobody else can be. The Eldar and Tau are definitely *less* messed up than the Imperium and I think what’s often overlooked is that their actions against humans are a response to Imperial expansionism. It seems like the Tau were originally intended as a foil to the Imperium; their value of the greater good was presented as a genuine positive, the Fire Warrior video game showed the Imperium as Fascistic and put you in the role of a Tau fighting their expansionism. These days, however, GW seem more focused on redeeming Space Marines (lol), and they’ve introduced all sorts of stuff about the Tau maintaining power through mind control (because of course nobody in their right mind would submit to Space Socialism). In any case, I think kids are less likely to associate with the Tau because they’re not human. I guess GW thought the anime aesthetics would appeal to a younger audience because kids like cartooons, right?

This is where I remembered there was an attempt a few years ago to put together some Warhammer media for kids. There’s still a website and a Youtube Channel but it doesn’t look like it went very far. Watching the Adeptus Mechanicus child inventing things with his cute Jokaero friend gave me whiplash. I’m confused that they’d make all the characters Imperials, but maybe they were giving it a bit before they showed an Eldar child setting out on their journey to become a ranger or a young Tau and their Kroot friend. Or maybe GW think only human characters are accessible to kids.

Anyway, if GW are going to be selling to a young audience (and I don’t think that toothpaste’s going back in the tube), then I think that at least for that audience they need to shift 40K’s focus a bit, it needs an outside perspective on the Imperium. One of the reasons the Imperium is so normalised is because they are the perspective faction. Most of the books, most of the video games and all of the TTRPGs are from the Imperium’s perspective. Players can’t see the Fascism for the Fascists. My suggestion would be to have the perspective characters be humans who aren’t Imperials, and who are engaged in resistance against the Imperium.

Gue’vesa by ComradeMatt on DeviantArt

They’re called Gue’vesa. Some time in the 2000s someone decided to release rules for using human auxillaries in Tau armies. It makes sense, the Tau Empire is unique in 40K in being multi-ethnic, and the Tau would much rather incorporate ex-Imperial worlds into their Empire than fight them. Having the Gue’vesa as perspective characters would work because it would put the Fascism of the Imperium into perspective. Gue’vesa characters would be aware of the tyranny that caused their planets to secede from the Imperium, as well as the threat of being reconquered, they know they’re all considered excommunicate traitoris. The Tau Empire is multi-ethnic, which is a foil to the Imperium’s xenophobia, Gue’vesa characters would likely work side-by-side with Tau, Kroot and others. The Gue’vesa can’t be Nationalistic because they’re part of a wider Empire. The wiki page describes these worlds as having freedom of religion. Also, the joke is that the Tau are Space Communists. If that’s the case then perhaps the Gue’vesa have actual trade unions. Imagine! Trade unions in the 41st Millenium! So yeah, Gue’vesa make good perspective characters because they’re humans, but they’re also involved in a Star Trek like alliance of worlds that’s a more optimistic view of the future and doesn’t bring the Imperium’s Fascist undertones.

There are some things I’d want to change about how these units are depicted though. The rules that were released just take an Imperial Guard unit and put it in a Tau army, with some Tau weapons. What this fails to recognise is that the way Imperial Guard squads work is a function of the Imperium. The Imperium just throws bodies at their problems, with little regards for human life. The Tau Empire is much more efficient, partly because they’re younger, but also because they’re smaller and can’t treat their troops with the same disregard the Imperium does. It’s likely that human troops serving the Tau Empire would be much better trained than their Imperial counterparts. Gue’vesa troops would likely be elite and highly specialised. They would have the advantage of Tau technology, but also, given Tau would have access to Imperial technology through the Gue’vesa, but without the superstiton of the Adeptus Mechanicus, there’s a possibility that Earth Caste scientists could reverse engineer Imperial technology and make improved versions of it available to Gue’vesa troops. With those kinds of advantages it makes sense for the Gue’vesa to serve not as auxilliary units but as an army in their own right.

So here’s what I’m picturing. The Gue’vesa army is made up of very small, highly trained and specialised, well equipped units. Commanders are accompanied by various T’au and human advisors. Units similar to Catachan veterans could be accompanied by Kroot trackers, while using drones and stealth battlesuit technology to keep themselves safe. They could even field something similar to a Space Marine in a melee role using battle-suit armour and power weapons. T’au likely have the technology to provide Gue’vesa with jetbikes or similar. This would all be accompanied by the standard battle suits and hover tanks.

Obviously all these units are completely mixed-gender. No more squads of dudes with a single femme head option.

(Here’s the bit where I might really upset the GrimnDark fans, but the absence of the Imperium from human worlds is likely to result in a lot of unsanctioned psykers, and there’s a possibility that Exodite Eldar seers might notice this, and grudgingly offer to train these psykers in the path of the seer so they’re equipped to resist the warp’s influence, because having daemons crawl out of their heads is a problem for everyone. So maybe they can field units of actually stable psykers)

Guard verteran units can look really cool, which is a shame because they’re likely to get annihilated just like other guard units. With a bit of extra stealth and drone technology though, (and perhaps pulse rifles) they could fill a role similar to Eldar Rangers. It’s the armoured, power weapon wielding melee units you want to make the cut-outs for the store though. They’d look badass like a Space Marine, but their fervour is about freedom from Imperialist oppression and standing side-by-side with their non-human allies. It’s still a violent power fantasy, and that’s not great, but it’s one with better values behind it and it at least makes a space for a conversation about the Imperium’s Fascism.

Anyway, that’s what I’d do if I were Games Workshop and wanted to keep selling toys to kids, but also wanted to address the shift towards Fascism in some fans. Obviously this is a long-term project but it doesn’t seem like 40K’s going away any time soon.

#warhammer 40k #warhammer 40000 #tau #Imperial Guard #eldar #Imperium

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