#At the expense of our own work-life balance!

[whimsicalpoet44]

Placements that I think are tough to have & why.

Here's more astrology observations.

**These aren't bad placements. Every placement has positives/negatives to them. I just find these placements to be quite challenging and can take more effort or intentionality than others to work through**

4th House Aries (Especially in the IC): The fourth house is the house of family/home. Aries in the fourth can indicate a really difficult childhood, particularly when it's related to the mother. They may have had a parent that was really impulsive or aggressive that made them responsible for their emotions. As a result, emotional regulation may be something they struggle with and expressing their emotions can make them feel vulnerable. Aries IC can indicate that there's a lot of generational trauma left over from their ancestors that they're having to undo. Positives? They can make quick decisions when necessary and can take charge of family matters with ease.

8th House Placements: The 8th house rules death, re-birth, long term investments, and transformation. That's a lot of heavy themes in one house. They may struggle with loss/grief in more than one area of your life. They say 8th house placements are like a Phoenix - constantly burning themselves down to emerge anew. That can be quite exhausting. I also find that 8th house placements cause an unbalance in personal power. They may spend a majority of their life figuring out how to balance energies. Positives? They make great psychologists, they're super analytical, and they aren't afraid to broach topics others may stray from.

Capricorn/Aquarius Rising: Two words: Saturn ruled. Self reliance can be a good thing, but these placements are often forced to take care of themselves from a young age. Saturn is the planet of restrictions, self-discipline, and self-sufficiency. Often times, our lessons in Saturn are things we must learn alone. Saturn ruled charts have this energy times ten. They face a lot of lessons throughout life. The positives? Natural leaders, persistent, and capable of achieving just about anything they set their mind too, because Saturn has shown them that they can do it alone.

Scorpio Rising: They're ruled by Pluto - the planet of death/re-birth/transformation (much like the 8th house). Saturn ruled charts and Pluto ruled charts have a lot in common. Scorpio Risings are often used to bring about change in different settings. The theme of their life is often growth and transformation - at any expense. They're very private and they trigger others very easily. They may find it difficult to open up to others and may feel a general distrust of others as a whole. They can feel chronically misunderstood. The positives? Literal human lie detector and extremely intuitive.

5th House Chiron: Chiron is the thing we have trouble healing in ourselves, but what we can do a great job healing in others. The fifth house is the house of the inner child/creativity/hobbies/joy. They can be insecure about their creative ability and have a huge lack of joy. This can be traced back to childhood. Someone could have told them they couldn't do something or that they were bad at a particular skill. They second guess themselves a lot as a result. They can also experience a ton of guilt and shame for being happy or having fun. The positive? They can inspire others to be creative when they heal.

Moon Conjunct Saturn: Saturn wants to discipline. The moon wants to nurture. They can feel intense feelings of shame/guilt from reflecting on ways they behaved in the past. It's also an indictor of a harsh childhood and they can internalize their parents wishes/dreams as their own (Saturn = Father | Moon = Mother). There's a constant fear of never reaching their full potential and they can often avoid rest because they don't feel like they're being productive. They also take life really seriously and they're super sensitive. (Remember that sensitivity isn't always bad thing.) The positives? They have a lot of discipline surrounding their emotions and they have a great sense of humor (probably from the trauma).

Aquarius Sun: They don't like being told what to do or think (which can be good), but they can often stay rooted in their old beliefs if they feel someone is pushing their opinions onto them (even though they insist that they're open minded). They can also sometimes end up stuck in a harmful belief system if they feel it's not the norm so they can retain their "unique" persona, rather than actually ask themselves what they believe. (Literally every Aquarius man I've encountered, but this can manifest in anyone with an Aquarius sun). They love people as a whole, but struggle with people on an individual level. They think more in a big picture way, but struggle with the small picture. They can also see everything that needs to be fixed in society, but struggle with the fact that they cannot fix it (leaving them feeling powerless.) The positives? They're unique. They're comfortable with the unusual. They stay true to themselves and who they are.

Gemini Anything: GEMINIS: you are only on this list because of the stigma that follows Gemini's. If you google the most hated sign, you'll get Gemini. Being a Sagittarius, I freaking love Geminis. But they have such a stigma. They can sometimes be impulsive, inconsistent, or indecisive. They also hate routine. I think this is how they get the stigma, because most people have a narrow minded view of how these can present. The positives? They have great charisma and they're usually artistic. They're witty, curious, funny, and passionate. (This is a Gemini love post, let's be honest.) Do some Gemini's present in the stereotypical way? Sure. But I find that many write off all Gemini's and develop a fulfilling prophecy about their intentions.

#astrology observations #astro observations #astrology #scorpio rising #aries astrology #gemini #aquarius #5th house #chiron #capricorn rising #aquarius rising

[kizzer55555]

DP X DC School Project

So...I am part of a dp x dc Discord server under the nickname Jazz. Someone decided to post a Pinterest picture in the fanfic ideas channel. This is the conversation it created. I love this Discord server so much.

Eros:

Danny and Damain working together on school project together.

Or even Dani and Damian up to you.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Danny and Damian just sounds so much more funny to me.

Eros:

Alrights 👌

BreKitten:

Oh my gosh, that's hilarious

Eros:

And they totally would act like this

Apricot:

crying lmao

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Damien: Why wouldn't we shop at [the expensive place]? I am an heir-

Danny: taps the paper 2k a month. You gave up your money to make me feel more comfortable.

Damien: Why would I care about your comfort?

Danny: dramatic gasp How could say that about your husband?!

Apricot:

Damian: husband?! what "husband"?!

Eros:

then proceeded to fight on types of toast and pricy vegetarian meals

Danny: look our family needs a balance diet, we can't live off vegetables alone! The very least we should mix it with some actual food like Ectoplasm.

(if Ectoplasm can be considered all kind of elements/a semi living organism since it revives things then any food brought to life should be counted as a beast of some kind)

Eros:

Also counts since Danny lived off ectoplasm for a fair bit of his life so he would see it as a food source

Eros:

Danny: me. I'm your husband, we agreed to marry to make it easier for the kids.

Apricot:

Damian: KIDS?!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Danny: Danny Jr and Damian Jr!

Eros:

Danny: yes kids, don't tell me you forgot we had kids! I swear you'll say you forgot we have pets too!

Danny: shows the paper that says they have a pet and two kids

Jazz:

No wait, the ectoplasm comes last. Just the Wayne’s seeing Damian and this random kid fight about every single thing. Finally Damian comes home and says that they finally agreed on something.

The Wayne’s: finally. Looks like this is a good learning experience:

Damian: we have agreed to live off of Lazarus water.

Wayne’s: ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!

And the best thing is that they might not know about Danny being a halfa. So they think Damian is now corrupting random citizens.

Jazz:

Cause like, they both grew up with Lazarus water/ectoplasm and know the nutritional value.

Eros:

Indeed~

Jazz:

Great for child development too!

They both turned out great!

Eros:

Hehehe

Alright now both Danny and Damian are fully into this project now they have at least a agreed idea on food

Because the project they have is this; budget for every day living

So they have food set out

There is now trying to keep the house running and kids/pets alive and entertained

Danny agrees that with his skills he can do the majority of repairs, Damian agrees to take responsibility of the pets

They are now having an argument on how children should be raised.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Damian is all for strict discipline, high standards of education, after school activities (he may not want his kids to be assassins but he still wants the best).

Danny's all for independence, finding your own way, encouragement and lots of love and support.

Damian: Do you want our children to grow up to be garbagemen?!

Danny: Do you know how much a garbageman makes?!

Eros:

Danny grew up around a lot of physical affection and love from his folks, except around the time of the accident/the holidays he always knew his parents loved each other very very much.

Damian comes from such an emotionally constipated house hold that he only gets the majority of physical affection from Dick

Jazz:

Lol

This is so perfect.

Danny then says something that puts Damian’s entire world view into question.

Danny: is this how you would treat our pets?!

Eros:

Damian: gasp how dare you, how very dare you!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

XD Danny, recounting the story later to Sam and Tucker: I swear, if he had pearls, he would've clutched them.

Eros:

Hehehe

Jazz:

Me imagining Damian going to Dick to complain.

Damian: can you imagine?! Raising kids and hugging them! Or saying it’s ok to fail!

Dick’s face.

Eros:

Damian complaining to his family: we might have agreed on living off Lazarus water, but now he wishes for our children to just go wild, then compared our pets to them!

Jazz:

Damian: obviously our pets would act nothing like those…savages.

Eros:

It just keeps getting better~

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Waynes are listening to this kind of like a soap opera

Eros:

Sam: wow Danny, at the very least your doing better then when you were partnered up with Val, like the majority of the time you were trying to pawn off raising the kid on each other until the flower was in danger, but I can't say much myself since Tucker pulled a Kronos.

Which opened a new can of worms; how much time were they going to take care and be there for their "kids" what kind of training would they go through

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Hehehe

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Danny: I learned from my mistakes. I wasn't ready to be a parent then.

Eros:

Their whole class and teachers are watching it like a soap opera

Eros:

The very least they get to see it live and not re counted

Jazz:

(Someone get popcorn, or they just get out their packed lunches early).

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yes! The Waynes and Sam and Tucker get the play-by-play but the class gets to see the actual show!

Jazz:

No wait, someone records it and post it and then it goes viral. (Do they think that the Wayne’s make a lot more sense now hearing of how Damian thinks children should be raised?)

(Are there now more questions?!)

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Oooh. I can see people being even worse to Damian. Maybe pitying him because he grew up with so little love.

Eros:

Then the next day Danny brings up the issue of child raising again since Sam makes a good point.

Danny: okay so I've re think a few things, mainly on occasion the kids should get self defense classes or something like that since it would make most sense to keep them safe. But beyond work and school activities how should we spend our time with them?

Jazz:

People see the two about to continue their conversation and immediately stop what they are doing to bring their phones out.

What if this becomes one of the most popular ‘dramas’? Like, so much in fact even villains will stop what they are doing to watch?

Eros:

(because Danny comes from a physical affectionate house doesn't mean there was neglect from his folks working way too much)

Jazz pretty much raised him when it came to actual child care so Danny is determined to be there for his "kids"

Not just for the fun stuff or being pulled to random projects

Jazz:

They get super invested in this project.

Also, what if people intentionally goad them on? Like seeing them together and asking if a kid should be left alone at home or with a babysitter or what they’ll do during a blackout/tornado?

Eros:

Surprisingly it's Danny who brings a big book of plans in case if emergencies

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yes!

Adonnenniel "Addy": - reply to students and citizens goading Danny and Damian on.

The teacher reworks their lesson plans to do an extended deep dive into home economics so that this can keep happening.

Jazz:

Absolutely.

Jazz:

Some of the emergency responses are normal like, if there is a tornado, evacuate kids to a shelter, others are strange like arguing whether you should fight the burglar or prioritize the kids. Others are just plain weird. A blackout? Both Damian and Danny will turn to face the questioner. Obviously they’ll be able to see in the dark. (Effect of ectoplasm/Lazarus exposure).

Eros:

Danny is even willing to share on the "in case of apocalypses" situations

Jazz:

Neither question why they know a massive amount of information about various world ending disasters/villains.

Eros:

Oh and how they should pack bags for school and for emergencies

Jazz:

Omg, they make a kid survival kit. Including blasters and knives.

Eros:

Danny insists they should put some of the survival kit stuff in the school bag

Jazz:

Everything a five year old should take to school.

Eros:

Ooo discussion on how old their kids should be to learn about weapons and how to safely handle them

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Danny: Eight should be good.

Damian: Eight is way too late to start!

Jazz:

The fact that both agree this is a necessary subject to teach their kids. Everyone’s reaction to hearing various ways you can kill/dismember a person and why this won’t work. Not because it’s immoral but clearly because young kids don’t have the necessary arm length to complete certain maneuvers.

Eros:

Damian: that's why we should put the kids into martial arts and gymnastics as soon as possible so  they can be flexible enough!

Jazz:

Danny: that’s why we should wait until their older and focus on their aim while young! Their muscle memory will be all wrong by the time they reach the appropriate age!

Damian: they will not always have a weapon to aim. The body is the only reliable weapon that will never fail.

Eros:

Now to add extra into the mix; Bruce and Jazz (who is now Danny's legal guardian) show up to school to pick them up as they are in a middle of an argument

Danny: and who will be the one teaching them? Because proper teachers will be expensive, at least we can teach them at home how to aim properly! It can be a bonding experience!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Jazz: What are you talking about?

Danny: Teaching our young children proper aim.

Jazz: You will not!

Danny: I mean, you're obviously not going to teach them.

Jazz:

Damian: I can teach them perfectly fine.

Danny: what about work? You can’t be with them all the time. 

Damian: I can take them with me. We can travel around Gotham and learn to fight through experience. 

Danny: you are not taking our children to fight on the streets

Damian: what, didn’t you want us bonding?! Make up your mind!

Dick looking at Bruce. “This is your fault.”

Eros:

Danny: You're not letting our children out on the streets, they will put too many people in the hospital! You have any idea how expensive that would be!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Damian casually dropping he's Robin?

Jazz:

Danny not even processing it.

Then casually stating he’s dead. Damian skipping that detail.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

XD They're too caught up in the roles.

Jazz:

Exactly.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Maybe afterwards, if they think back on it.

Jazz:

Like vigilantism and the dead coming back to life is normal for them. They are focusing on the children right now thank you.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

And then they both come up with the excuse "I was just adding to lore, it was all pretend!"

Eros:

Not before this;

Damian: fine if you want to control our lives and children then we should just divorce!!

Jazz:

Danny: oh I’m controlling?!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Do they get Alfred to be the judge to oversee their divorce?

Jazz:

Danny: fine, our kids and pets will be happier with me anyways.

Damian: don’t you dare bring the pets into this.

Damian going to Bruce to use the Wayne lawyers for this imaginary family divorce.

He will win this.

Danny actually going to Vlad.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Vlad has been watching the whole time. He doesn't need to be brought up to speed.

Jazz:

Both of them are like, this is ridiculous. But on the other hand, my child actually asked for help from me for once.

Eros:

Hehehe

Danny uses Dani as an example of a child that is better off with him

Jazz:

Lol

Adonnenniel "Addy":

And Jazz even brings it up to Bruce that if Damian didn't get to play like this as a young kid, he might be making up for lost time, in his own intense way.

Eros:

Because that's what Danny is doing too

Jazz:

The absolute struggle both Bruce and Vlad go through on whether or not to actually do this and use up their lawyers, money, and resources.

The viral videos increase. 

Eros:

Danny getting frustrated enough that he is tempted to get Clockwork to be the judge

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Bruce gets his other kids involved? They play as Damian's lawyers?

Eros:

Yesz

Jazz:

Dick is having a blast.

Then Sam comes in for Danny’s defense.

Both Tucker, Tim, and Barbra (possibly Technis) get into a hacking war.

Eros:

Yesss!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yesss!

Jazz:

Cujo and Titus become best friends.

Eros:

Dani is still the example child

Jazz:

Tim is Damian’s example child.

Eros:

Peepaw Clockwork comes in a human form to judges

Jazz:

Alfred and Clockwork have tea.

And discuss their kids.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Tim: I'm older than you! How am I your example child?!

Dick: whispers Hey, he's including you without stabbing you. Take the win.

Eros:

Clockwork: I do hope they figure this all out before their legit kids are born~

Jazz:

Yesssss.

Eros:

Danny: finally stops, going into a blushing and betrayed look at Clockwork

Damian: who doesn't know Clockwork sees the future what on earth are you talking about, we barely are keeping together for the kids we do have!

Gestures to Tim and Dani

Jazz:

Tim: I’m. Older. Than you!

Damian. Then start acting like it.

Danny: (trying to recover) tsk tsk, how can you treat your son this way?

Damian: he’s adopted.

Eros:

Danny: and she's a clone, doesn't mean they can't be loved and cared for as their own persons!

Danny: to prove a point he hugs both Dani and Tim, trying to smoother them with love and acceptance

Jazz:

Tim just looks so done with life at the moment.

Eros:

Danny: plus our pets are adopted, yet you wouldn't love them any less

Jazz:

Critical hit.

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Danny ends up adopting Tim by the end of this.

Jazz:

Lol

He wins Tim in the divorce.

Eros:

Lol

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yesss!

Eros:

Tim gets a new dad

Jazz:

Bruce doesn’t know how to feel about this.

Eros:

This one says "I love you" and is into Tim's science projects

Jazz:

Dani’s like new sibling. Tackle Hugs.

And Danny doesn’t restrict coffee intake. He’s just as bad.

Eros:

If anything he shows Tim a whole world of coffee mixes

Jazz:

Jazz though. Jazz is a bit of a problem with Coffee.

Tim and his new dad form an alliance.

Eros:

Danny takes Tim to Frostbite to get a new spleen

Jazz:

Danny: see? I provide free healthcare.

Eros:

Then proceeds to show off Tim: This is my boi, I won him!

All while Dani is giggling and clinging to their sides

Jazz:

Vlad is looking at Bruce very smugly.

Eros:

Danny would show Tim and Dani off at school after this

Like: behold, my children!

Jazz:

It becomes public that Wayne enterprise’s CEO is Tim Fenton.

Eros:

(and since I'm going with King Danny in this)

That means due to Danny winning and Tim becoming his kid, Tim Fenton is now the prince of the infinite realms along with his new sister Dani

Cass and Steph come back from a big trip once everything is over

Jazz:

They ask what happened. 

Jason gleefully explains that Bruce went to legal war with another billionaire over an imaginary family and ended up loosing Tim to them.

Also, that Damian might have a crush.

Eros:

Jazz:

Lol

Eros:

Because he just went through one of the best non injury fights of his life with this guy

Jazz:

And lost

Eros:

Yet they do agree on a fair bit of things, and now know where their main issues are and can work on them.

Jazz:

The entire world witness this entire thing and there are going to be shippers.

Eros:

Pft imagine the Justice League hearing about this~

Jazz:

Also just think, when they eventually do get together. That high school teacher is absolutely going to brag that it was their project that started this.

Jon might have a crisis on being replaced as Damian’s best friend. Someone explains the difference between boyfriend and normal friend and Jon’s like, ok that’s fine then.

Eros:

Oh man, when Jon finds out everything that had happened

Jon would tell Conner

Jazz:

Conner hears about the clone comment.

Now Conner wants to be adopted.

Bruce “Kal-el” Wayne:

Absolutely

Danny be pulling a Bruce

Or would Bruce be pulling a Danny?

Jazz:

Omg, I just realized. Bruce Wayne lost a Custody battle.

Bruce “Kal-el” Wayne:

Major L

Eros:

To a child

Bruce “Kal-el” Wayne:

Ain't Danny technically a god?

Eros:

Still child

Who would definitely adopt Conner

BuriedReign:

Omg this is like a whole ass fic already, it’s soooo goood! I absolutely bursted out laughing at the “we plan to live off Lazarus water”

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Just got caught up and all I have to say is: 😂😂😂

Btw, I love the idea that Tim isn't legally adopted to Danny (by ghost standards, yes, not by mortal law) but he just goes with Danny cuz he's so done with his family.

Eros:

>:3

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Dani, Tim, Conner. Do we throw in reformed, de-aged Dan for shits and giggles?

Eros:

Pfft yess

And Damian only finds out about Dan after the divorce

This re sparks everything into a new battle~

Eros:

Damian is offended that Danny never told him about their other son Dan

Adonnenniel "Addy":

He wants visitation rights!

Eros:

Damian wants to win Dan, like how Danny won Tim

Adonnenniel "Addy":

That makes more sense

Eros:

Damian goes up to Dan and offers access to all sort of weapons, training/fights, being a heir to a different Kingdom, and possibly be ungrounded if he takes Damian's side in the new Custody battle

The Angst Queen:

When you catch up and burst out laughing

Also - I wanna add something

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Add, please!

The Angst Queen:

Damian would definitely pull a sword at some point - decide to attack and “miss” every time. He does not expect Danny to suddenly have an ice sword in hand. Do then they’re both going at it in a sword fight while still arguing about diaper brands

Damian - so then I attack him 

Dick - WHAT!?!? 

Damian - I know! He didn’t even have the decency to die! He pulled out his own sword! 

Dick in shock whispers - what

Damian - and he still refuses to consider Huggies! Insists on natural diapers!

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Lol

Eros:

Like when the arguments get too much they start sword fighting like the Adam's family

It's how they discuss things and keep up reaction times for both brain and body

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Do they fight in school or at the manor?

Eros:

School, just to add more to the soap opera drama

And for the bats to keep missing the live actions of it

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yes!

Eros:

Except Babs but that's obvious to know why

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Their sword fights go all around the school, interrupting other classes. The security guards or other teachers try to stop them but Danny'll just pull them into the argument. 

Teacher: walking up to them, trying to grab the swords Now, boys, this must stop!

Danny: leaps up onto a desk, put his arm around the teacher's neck as he's still fighting Damian Hey, you look like a reasonable man. Tell me, why would you ever want to buy a waste product all for brand recognition and not cut down waste and get reusable diapers?

Teacher: That's a very leading question and calls on a few logical fallacies-

Danny: shoves the teacher away as Damian leaps for an attack

Eros:

And this is where Damian's crush really began

It's one thing to argue and have different trains of thought

It's another to have someone actually just as skilled as you in the battle of the sword and the mind

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yeeees!

Eros:

Danny: Hopefully the castle is big enough for everyone

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Tim: You have a castle!? O_O

Conner: You have a castle!? : D

Danny: Yep!  Oh, and you two are now royalty!  Don't worry, you won't have to do anything unless you want to.

Eros:

I wonder if Tim rubs it in his other semi siblings faces

Like Steph, Jason, and Damian's faces in particular

Bruce “Kal-el” Wayne:

Does Tim take a pic of everything in the realms?

Eros:

Yes

Bruce Kal-el” Wayne:

Or try to

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Tim especially rubs being royalty in Damian's face.  He knows he should be better but damnit, Damian was/is all high and mighty about being the heir to the League of Assassins and Bruce's biological child - he stabbed Tim over it!  Tim gets to gloat a bit that he technically outranks Damian now!

BuriedReign:

Does this increase Damian’s crush on Danny? Damian tries to ask out Danny and makes it ‘rational’ by saying of course he needs to be higher ranked than Tim. While also trying to hide that isn’t the only reason why he wants to date Danny

Eros:

(make Damian unintentionally ghost speak which reveals his true emotions and reasons as to why he wants to date Danny)

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Damian: I want to date him for no other reason than to one-up my once brother.  That's it.  Nothing else involved here.  Just pure revenge.  I will not let Tim outrank me in this life or the next.

Jason: Uh-huh. flipping to the next page of Pride and Prejudice  Have fun on your denial date.

Omg, imagine Damian formally asking Danny out on a date!

And Danny's like, despite the divorce, I want to give us another shot.

Eros:

And the plot THICKENS

That's everyone's reactions 😁

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Yes!

Eros:

Where would they even go on a date?

Ooo what if they went to the museum

Or an art gallery

Bruce “Kal-el” Wayne:

Or a date to the literal moon

Eros:

I don't think Damian would survive that well

Bruce “Kal-el” Wayne:

Ecto shield giving an artificial atmosphere

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Damian would take Danny to a museum or art gallery.

Danny will chose the next date and take him to the moon.

Eros:

Then definitely the museum should be like the Glenbow Museum

This is just inside the front entrance

It's called the aurora borealis

Because they make the crystals actually glow different colors

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Ooooooh!

Yes!

Eros:

This is a full on walk through section where you learn about the stars and First Nations

Adonnenniel "Addy":

Holy shit, now I want to go to the Glenbow Museum.

Eros:

Art pieces, and they also have a section for mid evil times and even mini battle fields

The Angst Queen:

Side note - I bet Danny makes Damian work to get that date

Eros:

Definitely

#fanfic ideas #dpxdc fanfic #dpxdc #school projects gone wrong #Danny is a chaos gremlin #Damian is a chaos gremlin #Both comit to the bit #Bruce Wayne gets into a custody battle with Vlad #Not for the reason you think though #And he loses! #Dani is Danny's daughter #Dan is Danny's son #Tim is Danny's son #Conner is Danny's son #Danny is just adopting all the kids #Bruce has no idea what his life has become. #Dick is so proud #Fake married couples #Does it count as fake? #Damian gets the pets in the divorce #All of Gotham soaks up the drama like a sponge. This is their new favorite show. #Crack. Just pure crack. #Crack treated seriously #This is all Pinterest's fault #Youtube #Danny Fenton #Damian Wayne #Danny Fenton x Damian Wayne #Proud Dick Greyson

[yeehawbvby]

Like a Train | Arven x GN!Reader

Rating: Teen+

Summary: You and Arven are best buds. After he makes a minor change in his appearance, you're left wondering why you suddenly want more than that.

Author’s Note: My headcanon age for Arven is that he’s a young adult, somewhere between 20-24 years old. If this proves to be wrong in the future, please consider him to be aged up to this range! Likewise, for the sake of the continuity (i.e. Little Buddy and whatnot), you have a similarly tiny stature to the main character in Pokémon SV. For the sake of all of us, your character here is not a teenager lol, but instead roughly the same age as Arven, give or take a few years. Finally, the academy takes students of all ages (as you see in the game), but I wrote it with more of a college setting in mind.

Thank you for understanding!! ^^ Please see the end for more notes x

Check it out on ao3!

“Aha. Perfect timing to make eye contact,” Raifort calls out, followed by my name. She then proceeds to ask a question about what she was just discussing, knowing that I wasn’t paying attention. 

Instead, I was engaged in a quiet, heated discussion with my desk-mate, research partner, and one of my only friends in Paldea so far… about our teacher’s hair.

Why does that one piece of her fringe move so much? Is it sentient? Is it a glitch in the life-simulation? Would it bleed if she were to cut or shave it off? Does she know it does that? Does she do it on purpose somehow? This is important stuff! 

“Get fucked,” my accomplice whispers as I stutter out gibberish. I try to gather my thoughts and come up with something to appease Raifort.

Once I realize it’s to no avail, I give up, lean back in my seat, and shoot my friend a squint. One that silently says, ‘I hate you, if she gets mad it is totally your fault, I will kill you if you make this any worse.’

Smirking, Arven’s leaning on our shared desk with both elbows, with his hands against his forehead. He’s using his right one to hold a pen, as well as keep his bangs out of the corresponding eye, and he’s slightly turned towards me. Making sure he can inconspicuously watch me suffer at his expense, with that pretty teal gaze of his. I am but a jester in his court. Luckily, Raifort catches on and calls the man out.

“Oh, perhaps you would like to answer the question instead, Master Arven?” 

His head whips up, and he drops his bangs (and nearly his pen). “N-no thank you, ma’am.”

Raifort sighs, letting this exchange slide with a curt glare, and continues her lecture.

I snort back a laugh, covering it up by clearing my throat. Then, I softly parrot “Get fucked,” into Arven’s ear, nudging his elbow with mine. Just as we both break into a fit of giggles, we’re saved by the bell.

“You’re a prick,” I laugh as I shove my notes into my backpack. 

“No you,” Arven quips. Very original. “What are you doing after this?” he asks, shifting the conversation. 

“Well,” I ponder, “You wanted to scope out the area where our next titan allegedly lives this week, yeah?” He nods, walking in front of me as we exit the class. “Cool, then let’s go!”

“What? Now?!” I nod and hum enthusiastically as I wrap around to his left. He looks out the nearby window at the sunset, and his one visible eyebrow furrows as he turns to face me. “Don’t get me wrong little buddy, I love the enthusiasm, but it’s a bit late for that. It’ll be dark by the time we’re on site.”

I let my trusty Fuecoco out of its Pokéball. It looks up at us as we slow to a halt, and I present it to Arven, arms stretched out towards the Pokémon. “Our flashlight!” 

Fuecoco, wanting to help, does its own little pose. Its arms promptly spread, and it balances on one stubby leg, shaking as it tries not to fall over.

Arven bites back a smile and rolls his eyes. “We went to a ton of classes today, I don’t want to do more work.” 

I scoop up Fuecoco and scratch under its chin before we continue walking. “We can camp, too...” 

Arven deadpans me, pursing his lips in frustration. He loves camping. There’s no way he’ll turn down a late-night adventure if it ends with a good ol’ camp!

“I’ll let you make the sandwiches,” I sing, trying to convince him further.

We reach the entrance hall and pull off to a nearby pillar to get out of other students’ ways. After placing his backpack on the ground next to his legs, Arven crosses his arms and leans against the pillar. I lean against the nearest wall, about 2 feet away. Fuecoco is having a blast inspecting all the passing students from my arms, occasionally waving to their accompanied Pokémons. 

“You won’t just give them all to the lizardmobile?” he asks, staring down at me with contempt.

“Shouldn’t you be flattered that ‘Raidon loves your cooking?!” I whine. I shake my head, and knowing Arven’s retort already, I cut him off before he can even start. “Either way, no promises, but I swear to Arceus I won’t complain about being hungry.”

A heavy sigh leaves the ambiguously blond’s nostrils. “…Go on,” Arven prompts, wanting more bribes.

I squint at him. He gives me a smug grin. “Hmm,” I dramatically hum in thought. “I’ll pay for the ingredients.”

“And?”

“I’ll get stuff to make s’mores, too.”

“And?”

“What more do you want from me, dude?!” 

His smile is now downright evil, and he stays silent. He untucks a hand to vaguely gesture at me, then crosses it back into his arms, waiting for me to continue. 

“I can, uh.” I look around for ideas, but I’ve got nothing. “I dunno…” I wince, knowing that ‘I dunno’ is not a very convincing offer.

He chuckles. 

Noticing how sleepy Fuecoco seems to be getting, I return it. Now, it’s time to use my last resort. 

“Pleeease?” I pout. Fidgeting with Fuecoco’s ball. Tucking my arms behind my back and swiveling my upper body to feign innocence. Batting my eyelashes for added effect.

It looks like there’s a hint of rosiness to Arven’s cheeks as he gives in, clutching his fists. He turns his head in another direction, shutting his eyes. What a drama queen! I beam, though, knowing what this means.

“Fine.” I open my mouth to cheer, but he holds up a palm to stop me. “But we’re only investigating for an hour.”

I scowl. “2 hours.” I make my way to the nearest hallway and dig through my bag for my student ID.

“Hour and a half.”

“3 hours!”

“No?”

“Fuck you!”

“Fuck you!” He laughs, following me. “Go pack before I change my mind.”

“You don’t need to?” I question, swiping my card at the station closest to the elevators. Arven reaches behind himself and pats his obnoxiously large backpack. I roll my eyes in response. “Wait here, then. I’ll try to be quick.”

_______________

Arven was right. After a quick stop at Deli Cioso, we made our way on ‘Raidon to the steel titan’s location, where it was pitch black. Only had the moon, the stars, and Fuecoco as our guiding light. 

We tried to work with it: Observing the various burrows in the cliffsides, the uniform cracks in the ground, the way the earth would occasionally rumble beneath us. But when Fuecoco was startled by a cheeky Misdreavous, it accidentally lit the corner of my notebook on fire. We took that as a sign to call it a night.

Arven and I found a nice spot to make camp, high up and overlooking a distant Levincia. I can’t wait to go there for the gym challenge. Maybe I’ll try to spend a few nights there with my prize money.

I take a break from my daydreaming and turn back to see Arven setting up a foldable table to make food on. Or, at least he’s trying to. Both of our teams are very eager to get in his way. My Tinkatuff keeps whacking its hammer at the table legs, shaking it up, while Arven’s Toedscruel pokes at his back, wanting attention.

“Need any help?”

“No,” he stubbornly mumbles. 

I roll my eyes and find a spot to sit by the campfire. My back is up against a tree, and I’m on a spare blanket that I brought specifically for this purpose. Figured it’s better than letting our pants get all dirty on the ground. 

Just as I’m getting cozy, I hear a frustrated “Oh, you little shits!” I peer up, and my friend is looking at me from his workstation, his features riddled with defeat. 

The table is covered in sandwich-picks, salt, pepper, and lettuce, which Arven’s Greedent is eagerly munching away at. Poor guy can’t do anything about it because my Eevee is parkouring between his arms and shoulders, slipping right out from his grasp every time he thinks he can grab it.

I can’t help but laugh at the mess unraveling before me, but get up to help anyway. After returning each of my Pokémon to their balls, Arven is able to do the same. 

“Not having a chance to battle all day must’ve really amped them up,” he grumbles, cleaning the spilled food and condiments. 

I lean over the table, opposite from him. “Excuse me for wanting to take a day off from the treasure hunt to make sure neither of us will flunk out.”

“I didn’t even need most of the classes we went to today.”

“Technically, you do,” I point out. “You’re, like, way behind on credits, no?” He scoffs, and incoherently grumbles under his breath. Trying to think on the bright side, I add on, “Cheer up, bud. Being able to pick when we go to which classes and who we go with is cool, at least. My last college would never.”

“True,” he grunts, lugging out a portable generator to plug his panini press into. “Still doesn’t make me enjoy any of it.” 

After rolling up his sleeves to his elbows, Arven dips his head down, pulling a hair tie out from one of his pockets. I’m about to nag him, like, ‘The better you do, the sooner you’ll be done, and I can help you study,’ and all that. But instead, he stands up straight again, and my brain short-circuits. 

Forearms. Broad shoulders. Both eyes. Ponytail. Baby hairs— oh, he’s pinning them back. Those eyes. Both eyes! Eyebrows. Neck… thick. Hair… up… Oh Arceus the puffy vest is coming off too.

Hrng. Shit.

Arven says something but I don’t hear him. Have his lips always looked so nice? Since when is he this attractive? How do I look? Do I look okay? Does he think I look okay? 

A large hand snaps in front of my face, and I hear my name being sternly spoken by the man in front of me. I blink a few times, coming to. How long was I staring for? 

“W-wha—?”

“Everything okay, amiguito?” 

Both of Arven’s bushy eyebrows are furrowed, and he looks concerned for me, albeit amused. My cheeks feel warm with blush, and I can only hope that he doesn’t notice it. 

“Y-yeah, uh,” I struggle to form words. “Tired, I guess.” 

His eyes zigzag around my face… and he looks… so... Oh no, oh no oh no oh no he is so hot. And he totally can see how red my face is with how bright the nearby fire is. He’s about to pry — I can tell by his arms folding across his chest — but I make a swift escape.

“Oops! Leftsomethinginthetent!”

I can comfortably stand up straight in our tent, but opt to fall to my knees, curling into a ball while I try to get my act together.

I’ve thought Arven was cute ever since I met him a few months ago. But I’ve never felt, like… like this. It doesn’t make any sense! I’ve never looked into his eyes and felt Butterfrees in my stomach. I’ve never looked at his mouth and wanted to kiss it. I’ve never looked at his neck and wondered what it would look like covered in love bites. My love bites. 

Or… I don’t think I have…?

I spend a few heartbeats wracking my brain for clues. Seeing if this is as sudden as it feels like it is. But like a train, I’m hit with thoughts of all the stolen glimpses I’ve taken in passing. Of my stomach doing flips when Arven murmurs my name a certain way. His smile sometimes being all it takes to brighten my worst days. The way I’ve memorized the feeling of his hand wrapped with mine, pulling me off the ground or ripping me away from danger…

Oh god.

It makes complete sense, actually.

How in the world am I supposed to go back out there and focus on anything other than him, now that it’s all clicked?

Phew. I gotta breathe. I can do this! I’ll just act how I usually do. That shouldn’t be too hard, right? Right! 

I check my appearance with my phone’s camera, take another deep breath, and emerge back outdoors. Rather than meeting Arven at the table, I sit by the fire again. I feel eyes on me, and feeling hopeful that it’s a wild Pokémon, I look up at Arven… who’s looking at me. 

“What?”

“¿Qué pasa?” he asks. “You seem weird.”

“I dunno what you’re talking about, I’m fine. Peachy as a pecha berry.”

“Sure...” 

“I am!”

He sighs, and continues assembling our sandwiches. “Did… did I do something wrong?” Arven asks. 

“What?”

“I-I do really appreciate that you want me to do well in classes, if that’s what this is about. It’s amazing that you help me out as much as you do, and I’m sorry if it didn’t seem like—”

My brows furrow as I cut him off, “What?! Arven, i-it’s fine, I get you. This has nothing to do with that.”

“Aha!” He whips around to face me after putting one of the sandwiches into the heated press. “Something is up.” 

My mouth opens and closes a few times, trying to find words. Then, I frown. Then, I look at the fire. If I ignore him, he’ll surely drop it, right? 

Wrong.

I hear footsteps, but don’t look up. I see something crouching near me, but I shift my eyes the other way. Then, I hear a thump in each ear and see a shadow in my peripherals. I finally look up, and Arven’s arms are outstretched to either side of me. When I meet his eyes, I realize that his face is closer than I could’ve ever expected it to be. Oh Arceus above.

“A-Arven?!”

“Please let me help you, bud. All I want is to be able to help you the way you’ve been helping Mabosstiff and I.”

I’ve only ever known Arven to be persistent, and a little clingy, and self-conscious enough to max out both of those traits at certain times. Realistically, I should’ve seen something like this coming. But even if I did, nothing could have prepared me for him to cage me against a tree. Face inches from mine. Both eyes boring into mine with concern.

What am I supposed to say?! ‘Sorry, but you’re ridiculously attractive, and apparently I have feelings for you, and I only realized that because you pUT YOUR HAIR IN A STUPID FUCKING PONYTAIL—‘

He addresses me again, softer this time. My eyes are trained on his smooth lips, drinking in the way they ebb as he speaks my name. I snap out of my trance, and when I look into his eyes, there’s a certain vulnerability I’ve only seen come out when it comes to his partner Pokémon.

Oh god damnit. 

There’s no getting out of this.

I let out a shaky breath, and all I can manage to squeak out, is “Y-you… you’re really handsome, is all. Caught me off guard.” I mean, it’s half-true.

I look down, worried about what expression I’ll see in Arven’s eyes. I mean to look ‘through’ him, but instead I’m focused on his lips again. I gnaw at my own bottom one to stop myself from leaning in towards my friend’s.

When I notice how silent he’s been, I bravely peek up, and his cheeks are a deep, tamato berry red. His eyebrows twitch, unsure of where to settle. It’s adorable. And his mouth is open ever so slightly, like he wants to say something, but doesn’t know what or how.

As if the universe is trying to save me, Arven and I smell something burning, and lock widened eyes. I peek past him at the fire, while he removes his palms from the tree and twists his upper body towards the table. 

“Shit!” Arven exclaims, scrambling to his feet.

_______________

“I can’t believe you’re eating that.”

I look up from my plate and shrug. “The fillings even out the taste of char.”

Arven laughs. “You’re nasty. Even your dumb lizard didn’t want it.”

“Duh, it has a refined palette.” Through another half-mouthful of burnt bread, melted cheese, and various proteins and veggies, I continue, “It’sh been shpoiled by your herba myshtica concoctionsh.”

Swiping the crumbs of his finished sandwich off his pants and onto his empty plate, Arven responds, “Fair. But still, I could’ve just made you a new one.” He nods over to Levincia, and adds, “‘Raidon could have brought you down there for more bread and back in only a few minutes, no?”

“Well, probably, but I didn’t wanna wait.”

He puts the plate down beside him and puts his hands behind his head, leaning back onto the same tree he had me pinned against no more than 20 minutes ago. His eyes are closed. He looks so peaceful. So pretty…

Nope. Gotta stop. I can’t gawk at him again. I’ve done more than enough of that. 

“Plus,” I add to my previous statement, “I don’t like to be wasteful.”

“You're like a Garbodor.”

I gasp, feigning offense. Even though Arven can’t see my expression, the corners of his lips are upturned. 

“If I were a pokémon I’d be something way cuter, thank you very much.” 

Wanting to get it out of the way, I hork down the last bite of my sandwich. The warmed fillings truly are delicious, but we have no utensils, and I didn’t wanna get my hands even dirtier, so I had to settle for using the burnt bread as a vessel. It’s not exactly an easy eat.

“Sí… Mas pequeño, también,” Arven clarifies.

After chasing my food with a bunch of water, I respond, “Exaaactly.”

“Like… a Wooper.” I open my mouth to agree, and knowing me too well, he holds up a finger to stop me. His lids open slightly as he side-eyes me. “A Paldean Wooper. Not the blue ones you had back in wherever-the-hell.”

I tuck my legs to my chest and snort back a laugh. “Are you telling me I look like a Wooper covered in shit?”

“Are you insulting the fauna of my country?” I deadpan him, and his smile grows. “Also, yes, I am calling you a Wooper covered in shit.” I roll my eyes at his confirmation.

“I tell you that you look good, and this is the thanks I get…” I mumble into my knees.

As if he’d forgotten, Arven’s eyes widen. A thick blush coats his nose and cheeks, and my own face copies. Fuck. Why did I say that? Everything was going so well.

“Y-you… hah,” he lets out a breathy laugh and continues, “You did say that, didn’t you?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” I mutter under my breath, “Arceus, why did I bring that up again?” 

Arven leans off of the tree and swivels his body to face mine. “I do.” I wanna punch that cocky smirk off his face sooo badly. Restraining myself, I look down. “I thought I said something to upset you,” he laments, prompting me to look back up. “But instead, you were just in awe of my dashing good looks.” He punctuates his sentence with a flick at his ponytail. 

I feel myself getting flustered again, so I can’t think of a witty response. I just laugh into my knees, and hug them closer. The laugh trails into a frustrated growl. Then, I grumble something that I barely even understand, followed by a surprised squeak when I feel a large palm ruffling my hair. 

“Seriously, though, what else is wrong?”

“Nothing?” I mutter out while smoothing Arven’s mess.

“What do you mean? It can’t be just that.”

“I don’t know what you want me to tell ya, big guy. The ponytail is a good look for you.”

“...You’re messing with me, ¿sí?”

“Just take the compliment!” I snap. “You’re hot, Arven. I don’t typically function as intended when I’m around people I like.” 

Wide, turquoise eyes pierce into mine. “‘Like,’ eh?”

In disbelief that I’m spewing all this right now, I bury my face into my hands. Trying to maneuver around the situation, I ramble, “I mean, you’ve seen me with Saguaro. My ability to form coherent words eludes me when I’m around that hunk.”

“You think I’m hot?”

“Arven.”

“And you like m—“

“Bud.”

“Amiguito—“

“Please stop,” I whine, trying not to actually cry or throw a tantrum.

The crackling of the campfire fills empty space, assisted by the occasional lokix chirp. Waves crash in the distance, but any bustle coming from Levincia is silent to us. A few moments go by, and still feeling Arven’s eyes on me, I sigh. 

“It’s just… weird for me,” I quietly explain. “You’re my best friend. I never expected to suddenly be hit with feelings any greater than that.”

“Just to clarify,” he teases, “this happened because I put my hair up?”

“I mean,” I trail off to find my wording. Looking everywhere except his face. “I-I’m sure it was brewing longer than that and I just didn’t realize. It’s dumb, I know, but—” 

Arven shuffles over to make more space in front of the tree. Shifting his position from cross-legged to sitting on his knees, he then pulls me closer to him, by the waist, all while his eyes never stray from mine. Then, just like earlier, he traps me against the tree. Last time he did this, his eyes were filled with worry. This time, they’re dark with want. Oh good god.

Dumbfounded by the intimate touch, and how he’s looking at me, and how close we are, and the way he’s now cupping my face with one of his hands and moving his face closer to my face oh my god, I stutter, “W-what are you—?!”

“Cállate, pendejo,” he whispers, just before his lips meet mine. 

______________________________________________________________

Author’s Note 2.0, I guess: *I’m not a native Spanish speaker, so please correct me if I’m wrong!! But I went with “male” endings to words because like, iirc, addressing something with a male pronoun is the closest there is to gender-neutrality in a case like this? I think? And I wanted this to be as ungendered as I could make it so anyone can feel welcome :’)

Also! The Raifort hair thing refers to a glitch in my game LOL Idk if it's a universal experience but I thought it would be fun to add in

I hope you enjoyed! Take care x

#arven #arven pokemon #trainer arven #pokemon arven #arven x reader #gender neutral reader #no use of y/n #pokemon sv #pokemon scarlet #pokemon violet #pokemon fanfic #pokemon scarvi #pokemon fanfiction #pokemon arven x reader #unnamed reader #ungendered reader #first person POV #tw cursing #friends to lovers #no beta read #spanish speaking arven #arven x male reader #arven x nb reader #arven x female reader

[talonabraxas]

A Color Diagram (From book, "The Anatomy of the Body of God")

1. Recognize the source, and intuit into the unity of all existence. The idea that we can win at the expense of them is, in the long term, illusory. We're all in this together. Ecology. An expanded sense of identity. Also, this source points to the great mystery of creation, and what lies beyond our knowledge.

2. Celebrate creativity. It's a mythically grounded idea. There's a tradition in many religions to imitate God, however the Divine is imagined: The most useful way to do this in our own time is to recognize the prolific process of creativity–not just through the "Big Bang," but in the present moment, through the imaginations and inspirations–literally, in- spirit- ations – of all sentient beings.

Corollary: Question authority. Accept nothing as the final solution. Dare to re-evaluate, revise, re-negotiate, imagine new possibilities. Obedience, in this view of the meaning of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, is no longer operative–there's a move from the medieval tone of unquestioning acceptance to the modern and postmodern worldview that supports responsibility, an alert consideration of the needs of the moment in light of continuing developments, discoveries, new technologies, etc.

3. Recognize the Other-ness of people, their differences, of the environment, and of the Divine. On one hand, we may be expressions of the Divine flow, and at some level, as claimed by Yogis and other mystics, "one" with It, yet that doesn't mean that the world is there for the gratification of your ego-narcissistic desires. Respect, reverence, humility, and a valuing of the needs of others and the whole all are implied here.

4. Cultivate Generosity and Purpose. The life force is innately generous, but in states of fear, can contract to mere life-sustenance. In today's complex culture, there are tendencies towards stinginess of spirit, and this must be balanced, in wisdom, by the joy and need for an extra bit of giving of oneself to the world. Seek to clarify your talents and abilities and turn them toward this task, at least to some significant degree, lest you die having lived selfishly, pettily.

5. Realize Limitations. Much of human life is a process of dis-illusionment, which is a process of dissolving childish feelings of omnipotence. This need not be tragic. Much of it is simply adjusting to the realities of physical and social constraints, learning to think and work politically, seeking a more refined and less impetuous mode of action in the world. It's a one-step-down form of humility, more practically applied.

Realize, also, that as shown in the diagram of the Tree, the lessons play off of each other, and especially there is the ongoing play of 2 and 3, 4 and 5, and 7 and 8, while 6 is to some degree, the player, the juggler, the dancer.

6. Exercise Balance, seek to harmonize the many different needs, desires, inspirations, ideals, and other complexes that seek expression through your own mixture of temperament and interests. One of the beauties of our time-bound lives is that we can choose how to diversify, focus, take turns, and thus have some existential responsibility for how we live our lives.

7. Identify your passions, what the comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell called, "following your bliss." What tickles your fancy? Instead of pursuing what is merely fashionable, liking or disliking largely to garner approval or to be included in the "in group"–which is an in-authentic reason–, get in touch with what more genuinely interests or appeals to you. This can take many years, even into late adulthood. Often you'll find it correlates with what you have at least some moderate ability to do. Have the courage to pursue it. (And this can be tremendously varied in the world, different folks liking different strokes.)

8. Recognize and work within the cultural matrix you live in. If not, then either be a smart revolutionary–to change or expand it–or pay the price of changing cultures, emigrating, and becoming acculturated into a different culture. Lots of people do this, too. The point is to deal responsibly with the social context you find yourself in, rather than simply sulking, withdrawing, giving up, mindlessly conforming, or numbing yourself.

9. Cultivate Imagination, in many ways–the arts, drama, mythmaking. Note that much of ordinary education and life neglects, distracts, and sometimes actively suppresses this human potential. Refuse to be tempted by vicarious imaginary experiences offered by the media, in video games, television, movies, etc. Take responsibility to use those elements like small stimuli, like appetizers or dessert, but not your main meal. Become a person who imagines your own life!

10. Manifest your life. Avoid the temptations to become preoccupied with the seductions of spectatorship, or living in "what if" (either in past or future). Deeds, projects, action. The world is no illusion. You have an opportunity for authentic enjoyment, for adding your own creativity to helping the world be a better place. In can be in as small a way as an act of kindness or generosity.

Lest these points seem like mere platitudes, rather obvious, consider that many if not most people do not live these principles out in their lives. Nor are these ten points the only lessons you can gather from studying the tree. They just show what can come to mind–that the principles noted are by no means mere abstractions.

Another way to view the tree is in terms of how it can reassure and remind you: That you are part of a great, unified "becoming" of the cosmos (1); that this is a creative process and your life creativity is an integral part of the great becoming (2); that the cosmos is here, a matrix (related to the Latin word root for mother) for you, a setting, playground, stage, for you (3); that you can choose a direction, many directions, in fact, and your choices add to your story–and indeed, you may be assured that your life is a story (4); part of that story involves the way you've coped with limitations–your body's structure, illnesses, dis-abilities, areas of no-talent, the weakness and deficiencies of your family, region, and historical era, and the many other obstacles that life presents–and indeed, that which makes your story a good piece of drama! (5); the creative way you've balanced your strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and limitations, etc.(6); the many lines of interest and ability, the archetypes, the mythic resonances with the spirit of (whatever dimension you channel)–all set you into stage in which you play many parts in a unique fashion (7); the cultural forms all this enactment takes, and how you are a carrier of certain cultural values, and a challenge to others that you don't agree with–these, too, make your life good theatre and also part of the great unfolding myth of that culture!(8); the richness of your imagination as you assemble these many threads into a meaningful story, embellishing it also with all the other what-if-dramas you can fantasize, thickening your existence (9); and, finally, how you actually play out your unique life, your actual achievements, your deeds. You might be surprised how far many of your actions have reached (10).

The point of this rhapsody is to enjoy the depth of your mythic embeddedness in the Divine Process of Unfolding. This is the way God works, through your individuality (and everyone else's, also, of course)! Envision it as an infinite symphony, improvised, incredibly rich, which, if perceived from enough distance and time, expresses amazing harmonies (in spite of a surprising amount of what in the moment may seem like mere noise, or as Shakespeare called it, "sound and fury." On a micro-scale, it may "signify nothing," but in the big picture, this is how we all grow, evolve as a species, groping, going up blind alleys, turning back, trying another way.

[hwnglx]

What is hyunjin's real behind the scenes personality like?

this went very deep 😮‍💨 often happens when the person i read for is of very complex nature, he's def one of them lol..

hyunjin's real personality behind the scenes

based on tarot. i do not know these idols personally. energies are always changing. what i say is NOT straight fact. pls take it with a grain of salt!

temp, 9ofp&5ofw, kingofsw, queofp, 6ofw, 5ofc, queofc

+ very chill and peaceful energy. since hyunjin prefers things to remain balanced and calm, he doesn't enjoy conflict at all and prefers staying out of it whenever he can. a lot of contentment in his own comfort zone.. like a happy loner type of thing. he's the happiest when he's by himself and doesn't need to concern himself with others. the nine of pentacles often gives me this vibe of someone who loves smothering themselves. do the whole self care routines and stuff, to make themselves feel better.

on a day to day basis, he's much more mature than what meets the eye. i know i say this about many idols, but we all know how the kpop industry can often ask for idols to seem more "childlike", doing cat-ears and aegyo and cutesy stuff like that. (most kpop fans don't realize it but still struggle seeing these men as grown adults) hyunjin isn't into any of that at all, on and off camera lmao. there's this very serious and stern quality to him, he isn't someone to just "la la la ☺️🎶" stroll through life carelessly. he takes life seriously.

he also truly cares about the people he cherishes. there's an equally gentle energy to him, where he really wants to take care of the few people in his close circle that he loves. i don't see many people around him, he's someone who carefully choses who to give his time and energy to. but once you're important to him, he'll be fiercely loyal and committed to make sure you feel comfortable and safe around him. although materialistic (he values money a lot), he can be very generous with it when the time calls for it and enjoys gifting his loved ones expensive things. probably enjoys bragging that he was able to buy that with his own hardly earned money, he's very proud of the financially stable place he's been able to get to.

getting the five of cups as a positive is pretty interesting, since it's usually a card that stands for sadness, loss, regret.. however, the following emotionally intelligent queen of cups, tells me he's been able to take this easily hurt (very soft heart for sure) nature of his and turn it into more of a "positive" trait. he's a deeply empathetic and compassionate guy, since he exactly knows what it's like to get overwhelmed with sorrow. he's definitely the type to quietly sit with you and allow you to cry in his shoulders for hours, just listening to you sob.

i deeply felt his virgo moon come out here, which makes total sense, considering our moon is the side that is hidden away, often only comes out when we're by ourselves.

char, aceofc, 3ofsw&8ofp, 8ofw, 6ofp, 8ofsw

- oh hello aries mars. yeah, hyunjin can definitely get too worked up and completely lose himself once he's set a goal he desperately wants to achieve. the chariot tells me that, if this man wants something, he will do whatever it takes to get it, and likely completely disregard anyone else around him. like there's a very handy opportunity for him? do not expect him to give in and hand it to you. no matter how much you could want it, he really won't care about your needs at all. definitely has a very selfish and opportunistic side to him.

i can see this coming from deep insecurity. he's extremely sensitive, very easily hurt heart. a lot of his struggles come from his own expectations to himself, he never really feels like any amount of work is enough to satisfy his own standards. like there literally is no end. he never really feels this sense of relief one usually gets after a long day of hard work. he'll probably remember all the things he didn't do according to his own expectations, and will kinda ruin things for himself. very self-sabotaging tendencies. he stands in his own way a lot, makes things harder for himself than they should be and sets limitations where they don't need to be. he constantly struggles to let lose, and can drive himself crazy over the most trivial things and details others wouldn't even think about.

hyunjin can easily feel like he needs to be some sort of use or service to people in order for them to accept or like him. he can quickly feel worried that he doesn't live up to not only his own but other people's expectations as well, and is still in need of a lot of praise and validation. i can see him sucking up to people a lot and knowing how to play his cards well (esp. his looks!!) in order to get that approval.. a lot of needy and unstable energy when it comes to his self worth.

he still finds himself overwhelmed by his emotions. he's very all or nothing. like he either completely shuts off his feelings and tries very hard not to let something affect him, but once it gets to him, it overpowers anything else.

hyunjin can easily feel like he loses control of himself once he's worked up, and i can see him lowkey getting scared of his emotions since they're so strong. once he gets to this overly emotional and worked up place, i can see him just getting very messy and impulsive, talking (also shouting) a lot and just saying a bunch of offensive things he probably didn't even mean. and although he'll likely feel regret afterwards, it's unlikely he'll be able to come up to the person and resolve the issue again, despite knowing he's the one in fault.

#kpop tarot #stray kids tarot #i enjoy personality readings sm #so interesting to glimpse into someone else's soul

[cowboyjen68]

Life has been sort of a whirlwind since October. In all truth, since last October (of 2021) when I found myself single but still very much in love. Loosing her (the intimacy, not our friendship which we still very much have, thank fully) was a smack back to reality and the things I have been putting off changing in both my life and my living environment.

My teen is getting taller andd smarter every day as she heads into the end of her junior year. At once I worry about her and don't. She is independent and kind but still a teen with a teen brain. I trust her and try to balance that with not trusting her with too much. "No" is still a complete sentence in this house unless she is in negotiation mode then I have to expend the energy to explain things in a productive manner. AND I am not always right in my "no" so I have to be willing to occasionally back down without her thinking that she can always get her way by pushing back.

I have three plus jobs to keep the house and land I love and care for the animals I committed to from when I was married. A few have passed of age and sickness and it gives me some feelings of guilt to be somewhat relieved because less animals means less work and expense for me. I try and remember it also means more recources to care for my current pets. I have more time and money to improve the house and the land.

At 54 i am looking towards the long term. Somethings I can easily deal with now might be more difficult in the future. I see my older relatives, my older lesbians mentors, my friends who are MY age begin to stuggle with health, energy and Just STUFF that we all accumulate. I need to get rid of some stuff. I know my kids won't want 90 percent of what I own. Some of my young lesbian friends are now proud owners of early Fest T shirts and Star Wars lunch boxes. This clearing out will continue.

My writing has taken a back seat to manual labor, paying off and keeping up with debt and bills and planning ahead. I dislike this part. I miss keeping up with Tumblr asks and penning meaningful articles for small publications or for fun. I love writing cards and letters on vintage stationary and old cards but those too are being neglected, their boxes gathering dust and cat hair on my desk.

My house payment went up, my water heater was frozen to death in the Christmas blizzard, propane is always needing paid off , my subpump system is in dire need of maintainance before spring rains and now my cat has a runny eye. It is true what they say: When it rains in pours and if it isn't one thing it is another. Money doesn't grow on trees. And nothing breaks during the work week.

I love my land and I love my family and my life and pets. I am so lucky to have supportive friends in my life. My interactions on the internet and social media are generally kind and positive. Being a lesbian affords me a wonderful and easy connection with other women that brings me great joy. It is that connection that insprires me to share my stories and thoughts and to strenghten relationships with other generations and my own. It is my passion to instill hope for a happy future in lesbians and bi women who want build a life with and love other other women.

There are many things I want to do in 2023. Some I will accomplish, others I will not. Some are priorities and some are not. It is deciding which ones will yield the most benefit for my future health and security in the long run that I need to figure out. I also want to continue to focus on what I can do to bring about the most good help other lesbians realize their full potiential and feel comfortable and understand they are ok and wonderful just as they are because that is what feeds my happiness. I want to continue to help lesbians find cross generational community.

And probably cut back on the frosted cookies, at least until next November.

#2023

[mizusjawline]

The amount of money it takes to buy your freedom

I've been researching child abuse for over half a year now and I've seen posts on almost every aspect of the topic. However, so far I have yet to see a post discussing the financial problems we face. Escaping from an abusive family is goddarn expensive:

Bad financial role models. Coming from an abusive family, our parents views on many things were warped af! You can bet their views on finances were also warped and unrealistic! So we need to learn our financial skills from scratch. Learning is only if possible if you can allow for trial and error. Financial errors can sometimes be very, very expensive.

Moving into your own apartment. Escaping from an abusive family is nigh on impossible if you're still living with said family. However, living spaces are expensive! And for some of us, escaping our abusive family situation comes at the price of homelessness.

No financial safety net. Maybe our parents were too ill or addicted to work a steady job. Maybe our parents have the means to financially support us but choose not to in order to 'punish' us for escaping. Maybe our parents actively used money as a means to control us. Either way, when things get tough, we cannot rely on them for financial aid. This sorta feeds back into the first point about expensive trial and error learning. Sure, we can learn by trial and error. But when we make an error, there is no safety net to support us.

Being able to afford nice things is a necessity for survival. I have yet to meet a child abuse survivor who is not a hedonist. I think that being able to fill your life with nice things is vital for surviving the torturous emotional rollercoaster that is escaping from an abusive family. And sometimes, having a vase of flowers on the table can spell the difference between an emotional breakdown and an Emotional Breakdown. However how are you gonna afford these things if your paycheck only covers the bare minimum for survival (roof over your head, food, ect.)?

Some of us can't work a job. We are all severely disabled by mental health problems as a consequence of our parent's abuse. And sometimes that hinders us from working a job and earning a steady income. What happens if we have no financial buffer to fall back on during those times? Also, again, our parents did not serve as reliable rolemodels. Learning to work a steady job is, again, trial and error learning for most of us.

Therapy, medical attention and diagnoses are expensive. Some of us are lucky enough to live in countries where this is less of an issue. And some of us are unfortunate and live in countries where this is a big issue. A full escape from an abusive family is nigh on impossible without therapy.

Sometimes escaping from an abusive family strikes me as a privilege for the upper class. And this pisses me off to no end. For us child abuse victims, freedom comes with a price tag attached and it is BIG. I live in a society where slavery is illegal and a human life is not supposed to have a monetary value. And yet here I am, watching my bank account balance and wondering if it'll be enough to buy myself my freedom.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

#tw child abuse #child abuse survivor #tw financial issues #cptsd #actually cptsd #recovering from abuse #child abuse recovery #child abuse awareness

[pop-punklouis]

About Taylor I honestly so agree with you. Since she reappeared for this tour basically she annoys me (the die hard fans too tbh) so much! Like everytime she says something i’m like « it can’t be that bad » and then it’s worst then I expected! Like how difficult is it to just think about things for two minutes? And that’s without talking about the private jet, the prices of concert tickets (when there is literally no reason for them to be so expensive) and the undeserved praise from left and right (i like her music, i like some of her lyrics no she is not the best singer of all time what??). Anyway sorry for the rant haha it’s just frustrating seeing people worshiping the ground she walks on for basically no reason and defending her for anything and everything😅

yeah like. she's become a mammoth presence in our pop culture. and for years, there has been an image cultivated by her and her team that advertises her as a blank canvas. she doesn't have any firm views. she doesn't speak out unless something is also affecting her, personally. she has no strong, public opinions about quite literally. anything. regardless of how significant or miniscule it is. she is whatever people want to project on her to be which is part of the reason she is so wildly successful and is why i believe there is such a frenzy when it comes to her fans. they aren't made up of one group of people. they are made up of wildly different groups of people who see her through their own lens and then defend her/praise her based on that.

that is why it is so difficult for anyone to really critique her, her music, and her career. pop music and pop stars used to be a lot easier to criticize and discuss. now, it's as if you have to be prepared to have an opinion other than the majority or else you'll be attacked by a fanbase or become exhausted with trying to explain yourself over and over to people who see their pop icon as a personal friend and if you say one less than positive thing about them, it is personal attack on the fan as well.

most people don't have the energy to try and have colorful discussions about pop stars anymore due to that. that's why you see such positive reviews and commentary and videos and think-pieces about pop music and pop stars now that overshadow anything else. it is overly-saturating the market instead of there being a healthy balance between praise and critique.

no one is perfect. no matter the platform. and if we continue to strip away the critiques and pointing out flaws when needed, we're going to be left with a very boring and bland pop culture landscape. it's okay to talk about things you don't like. it's okay to be a fan and call your favorite celeb out or critique something they're doing. it's okay to have discussions over these things. it's okay to not be a lover 100% of the time. that's not how life works. and that's not how pop culture should work either. people shouldn't feel anxious for sharing their true thoughts about something or someone.

#the time article caused a lot more people to vocalize their true thoughts and i thought it was fascinating to see after a full year of just #constant stream of positivity and frenzied love #and im not saying there's anything wrong with being positive and loving an artist with all your being #im just saying there has to be a balance too #grey

[sorrow-already-spoiled]

To All the Ones I’ve Loved Before

Malakai Perish

Malakai, you were the first person I ever loved. My brother, my twin, the other half of my soul, my anchor. Our childhood living arrangements were so absent of affection that I swear only the burning warmth in my heart that came with your unconditional love kept me from freezing to death in that house. On the worst of days, the ones where I faced the iron of Alexsandra’s wrath, you were always there beside me. We would pick up the pieces together, in the cramped space beneath my bed. We would dream of the day we could run away from there together. Away from our absent father, abusive mother and elder siblings. Our pinky promise upheld to the bitter end. 

The day we turned 16 we packed our bags and slipped away in the night. Even with all my expensive tastes, I still sometimes miss that wreck of an apartment we spent the first few years in, with its rat infestation and broken heater that left us clinging together for warmth. How could I be cold, knowing that I would never be alone? That you loved me? You took some awful work (we both did) to make us enough money to have real stability. It wasn’t easy, but I was never scared, because for the first time in our life we had a home to always return to. I may not believe in any gods, but I am forever grateful to whatever force in the universe decided that you and I would be together in this life, and every other one too. 

                                          Love, the light to your shadow, Faye

Quinn Feratra

Quinn, meeting you was a workplace hazard. I was freshly 18, with a full face of makeup and more skin exposed than covered. The casino floor was some god awful patterned carpet that would have been tasteless when it was new in the 80’s. The place reeked of spilled spirits and arrogance. Rich men with wedding rings tucked away in their back pockets let wandering eyes crawl across me. It felt like punishment, and I could admit in quiet midnights that part of me was desperate just to feel something. It was laughably easy to link my arm though one of theirs, to smile with fluttered eyelashes and cheer at their victories. 

“Come home with me,” they would whisper.

“Handsome, my time isn’t cheap,” a flirtatious wink, “am I worth it?”

They always said I was. At the time I was sure it wasn’t true. 

Excusing myself to “freshen up for you, baby,” I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror, manicured nails pressing sharply against the dull marble. Rent was due soon. If I had played that man well enough, maybe I could have gotten ahead of the payments, let Malakai rest for even a few days. It would have broken his heart if he knew what ‘working night shift at a casino’ really meant. I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the frustrated tears from welling up in my eyes. 

“Bad night?” You were standing at the sink next to mine, washing your hands. I felt my heart skip a beat. I had thought I was alone. 

“It’s fine.” I snapped at you. 

  “...bullshit.” 

“Excuse me?” You rested your hip against the counter, turning to look at me with quietly observant eyes. 

“I said bullshit. It’s clearly not fine.”

“And what gives you, a complete stranger, the right?” Indignation burned in my chest, furious at my own transparency. You offered me your hand.

“Quinn Feratra. And I don’t think you should go home with that creep you were all over out there.” Somehow I found myself going home with you instead, the guilt of unpaid bills hanging over my heart. 

Back then, time with you was always stolen. Every moment I spent with you was a moment I was afraid Mal and I would be evicted, or that we wouldn’t have enough money for the month. I was tearing myself in half trying to balance the happiness I felt spending time with you and the things I did to ensure stability for Mal and I. Money was always an issue, and I constantly had to lie or hide things from both you and my brother. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and horribly insecure. The more exhausted I got, the less energy I could afford to spend convincing myself I was important, not when I would rather spend that energy on you. I recognize in retrospect how flawed that mindset was. When you finally managed to pin me down for a conversation, I turned it into an argument, which then turned into bitter frustrations. I was the one to run. 

“You knew what I was when we met, so don’t blame me.”

“Faye, I’m not–”

“Don’t bother. I’m done with this.” The door to your apartment slammed with finality, and I felt hollow. Only when that door was closed did I recognize I was in love with you, but it was too late. I couldn’t go back, and I felt I couldn’t be enough for someone as wholly good as you. I cried myself to sleep in Malakai’s arms, refusing to answer his unspoken questions. I did not allow myself to cry again. 

With love and a heavy heart, Faye

Jemon Morale

Jem, you were warm enough to melt the frost I’d built up. A few years later Mal and I had saved enough for a decent apartment, and I was even able to go back to school, working towards an accounting certification. I was meticulous with money, and Mal had suggested I turn it into a career. It wasn’t exciting, but it was stable, and I enjoyed the routine. I crunched pennies to feel less guilty about rewarding myself with cheap coffees at a little coffee shop near our home. Headphones in, I would crunch out a week's worth of homework in the hours between class and closing time. 

A small plate set down onto the table softly, drawing my attention upwards to your lovely green eyes. 

“Sorry to disturb you, you just work so hard every time I see you in here, I thought you deserved something for it?” A perfect croissant drizzled in decadent chocolate and powdered sugar rested on the pale blue plate. 

“Oh, I couldn’t take this, I haven’t paid for it.” You smiled.

“Consider it a favor then, you’re taste testing for me.” Your name tag read ‘Jim’. “I’m apprenticing as a baker here, and I have permission to experiment with recipes. It would be great to know what customers think of my creations.” Your crooked grin and earnest eyes convinced me to take the croissant, and the myriad of treats you brought to me each week after that. 

You would sit with me on your break, endlessly warm, with no expectations whatsoever. When you asked if I would consider going for dinner with you, I said yes without hesitation. When you asked if you could kiss me, I said yes without hesitation. When you were offered an apprenticeship with a patisserie in France, I told you to say yes without hesitation. I loved you, and wanted nothing more than for you to follow your dreams, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I loved you enough to let you go. I drove you to the airport, and didn’t hide my tears when you made me promise not to wait for you. A part of my heart went with you to France, but I felt more whole than before I met you. You eventually moved home with a man you met abroad who looks like an honest to god pirate, and I’m still blessed to have you in my life, as a dear, dear friend. I don’t regret losing you Jem, because loving you was the first chance I had at a healthy romance. You convinced me that there was still goodness in the world, that love was more than pain and promises. You convinced me I was worth loving, and I’ll be forever grateful. 

Love from your biggest fan, Faye

Lövi Lævateinn

Lovi, meeting you was like being swept up in a windstorm. Until I learned to move the way you move, smile the way you smile, I would just be swept off my feet and helpless. We clicked instantly. Something about 8:00AM classes will do that to people. It took me a while to figure out what you were doing in an 8:00AM biology class (fuck having to take a lab science in any degree, honestly), when as far as I could tell your degree was in philosophy. Then I realized any time not spent gossiping with me about what professors we thought were hot, was spent staring at the back of Laufi Illphelkiir’s head. 

I helped you practice your ‘dramatic love confession’, holding a hairbrush like a microphone and a pile of laundry in your dorm room as a ‘token of your most sincere affections’. I hate that the background music you chose to set the scene to was Careless Whisper. I swore I was going to burst a lung, I laughed so hard that night. You have made me laugh more than anyone else in my life. 

After Laufi told you about his condition, how his illness prevented him from feeling any affection towards you as he simply didn’t have the energy for a relationship, you came to me for comfort. I would have never turned you away. When that comfort turned physical, I was still happy to be there with you through it. After all, what are friends for? I hope you never worried it was transactional, like those men at the casino that I quietly told you about one night while stargazing. I don’t love you the way I’d loved Quinn or Jem. It wasn’t romantic. It isn't how I love Mal either. It’s the kind of love that is so pure and platonic and unconditional that I can’t possibly explain. I know I don’t have to though. You understand. 

Love, your dumbass, Faye

Kumo Hipeitseilg

Kumo, you were a joy. I’d never dated someone younger than me, and to say that I was taken by surprise when a complete stranger asked me out to dinner would be an understatement. You approached me in the hall of the university math wing, and asked without shame, pressing a sketch into my hands. It was me, drawn with burning angel wings, powerful and beautiful. How could I have said no? 

Dinner was a strange affair, and I could feel how out of practice I was at this. It had been years since my last real date, but it wasn’t awkward. We people watched, and tried to imagine what the people at other tables were doing. You do a shockingly good impression of someone with a lisp. It makes you sound so much younger and unassuming, it’s crazy. 

Dating you was fun. Each time we met we did something interesting, and playful. Spending time with you made me feel young again, like I could play at being the child I never got to be. Falling in love with you was fun.

You always shied away from intimacy. I worried I might be being too pushy, but the longer time went on, the more strange it felt. I was content to wait, but then you started to feel different, like the energy you were pushing out into the universe had changed. When you finally sat me down and explained that you thought that maybe you weren’t attracted to women in a physical way at all, it made sense. Our relationship wasn’t a romantic one for you, it was a friendship. I thought I would be mad, but you looked so terrified in that moment that all I felt was affection and a desire to protect you. 

So we ended our relationship, and began a friendship instead. It took some time for my feelings to change, but I wasn’t willing to lose you entirely. We make a pretty good duo either way, Kumo. I hope you find someone who is everything you’re looking for.  As for me, the drawing you gave me the day we met is still displayed on my wall.

Love, your friend, Faye

Lewellyn V’lain

Lewellyn, I never told you how I felt. Even as I write this letter, I know you’ll never read it, and that's good. You lived in the apartment across from Mal and I. Honestly, we’d been living there for 6 months without running into you. You were quiet as a mouse, and kept odd work hours as an assistant in your mother’s lab. Honestly, it was surprising that we hadn’t met earlier, considering you were an old friend of Lovi’s. I had heard lots about you, but it was a coincidence that we met. 

I had forgotten my key, and Mal had his phone turned off at work, and you happened to be coming home just then. You let me stay in your apartment until he got home. Somehow, your place felt stagnant. It was decorated nicely, and it was tidy, but something about it felt stuck. I couldn’t put my finger on it. What I could see however, was the bone deep exhaustion you carried with you, and the debilitating insecurity that I was so familiar with in myself. I’d had love and support around me for the better part of a decade before we met, and the way you rejected kindness made me sure that you’d never had any at all. You never talked about your family. Never talked about your attempts. You were all sharp edges and biting words, and yet, you had a way of getting under people’s skin. People liked you, even if they hated it. I fell for you hard, and I wanted so badly to help you, but I knew you would only bite the hand I offered you. 

You might not have been willing to try for yourself, but damn if you don’t look after my brother. Somehow you saw right through his facade to the real him. I watched him fall in love with you, and I’m watching as you try to be worthy of him. It’s like looking in a mirror at myself 10 years ago. 

I’m making a vow to let you love my brother instead, to never breathe a word of my own feelings, and to be your friend instead. 

I’m getting tired of having friends instead. I so desperately want that intimacy that everyone else seems to have, but I want it to be real. To feel real. 

With unrequited love, Faye

Faye Feratra

My wife, my love, my past, my future. I’ve never been very good with words, or the written word, but I found your collection of letters in a box under your side of the bed, and I wanted to answer you in kind somehow. 

Watching you walk away that day was one of the worst of my life. I started gambling again. I was a mess by the time Varm stepped in and made me clean myself up. I couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong. I had no idea what your circumstances were back then, and I’m still furious at myself that I didn’t ask. I could have found a way to make your life a little easier. But I just let you walk away, and I didn’t follow. 

I dated a few people after you, but nothing stuck. When I ran into you six years after you walked out, you could have knocked me over with a feather. You looked so different. You walked with purpose, with your head held high. Your eyes had a lightness to them that they never had before, even when you were happy. You caught sight of me, and froze. I thought you would run again. But instead you steadied yourself and sat down at my table. 

“I hope it isn’t too late to give you an explanation.” I remember numbly shaking my head, and listening to you tell the long obscured truth of back then. The prostitution, the rent payments of a shit apartment, the abusive family, and the crippling need for stability. You didn’t ask me to forgive you, but I did anyway. 

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” you said, “It hurt me too, but I wouldn’t change meeting you anyways. I hope things have been going well for you.” You got halfway down the street before I managed to catch up with you. 

We dated for a year before I finally convinced you to move in with me. Two years after that I proposed, and you were furious that I had beat you to it. Our poor wedding planner nearly quit from the stress you put her through, but it turned out perfect. We saved enough to buy a house on the outskirts of the city, one with enough room to expand. Room we needed, as we began to adopt. Nine kids was enough to keep us busy. They’ve all grown up into their own people so quickly. I can see you in them, you know. In the way they talk, the way they smile, the way they love. 47 years of marriage is an accomplishment you know, even if I would have liked it to be longer. When you left us, it was surrounded by our family, and with my hand in yours. 

All the people you loved before were all still in your life, they were all here today for your funeral. I had no idea how deeply you loved each of them. I’m so proud to know that the woman I love was capable of giving so much of her heart away again and again, and that somehow I was the one who got to keep you. I don’t know how I’m going to stand waking up tomorrow to find your side of the bed cold and empty, but I will. I’m going to stay until the end of my time, spoil our kids, love our family. I’m going to survive losing you, because I’m so absolutely certain I’m going to see you again on the other side. I love you so much Faye. 

  Your first and last love, Quinn Feratra

#It's bittersweet and I will not apologize

[musicloverxoxo7]

They’re the bad guys (p. 2) – feat. Jimin, Jungkook and Taehyung

Mafia!BTS maknae line   x   fem!reader

Summary: You’ve escaped your mafia bosses, taking up with their biggest enemy, your ex. But they want revenge.

Themes/warnings: smut, oral (fem receiving), marking, mentions of unprotected sex, swear words, some angst, bad mafia guys, guns, knives, mentions of murder, established relationship

Wordcount: ca. 3.3k

Disclaimer: 18+, DO NOT INTERACT IF YOU ARE UNDER 18

I do not own BTS. They merely inspire me. None of this is related to their persons in real life.

Part 1

Everything started off so perfectly. You’d changed your appearance with the help of a new hair color and cut. You started doing your makeup differently and dressing in things you’d never worn before.

Jungkook was attentive and loving whenever you got to be together at the big condo you shared in Busan.

Nothing bad had happened in your five months in the city by the ocean. Perhaps because you went everywhere with a parcel of bodyguards who were like chameleons.

Until you went to attend a society function that Jungkook’s mother had organized.

At least a hundred people are already milling around, chatting, and sipping expensive champagne when you arrive. Jungkook will be coming soon, directly from a meeting.

You adjust your dress. Something colorful to balance out how Jungkook never wears anything but black.

“Y/n, you’re in town?” Jungkook’s mother comes over and takes in your appearance. Her eyes widen when she takes in the dress. “This is perhaps the prettiest dress I have ever seen. Did you get it in Seoul? I’m never up there anymore.”

“Thank you, Ms. Jeon. It’s actually from a little boutique in Busan. I’m back for good.”

“Oh, that’s lovely. I’d love to have the address of the boutique if you’re willing to share.”

“Of course.”

Jungkook’s mom hands you a tiny notebook and a pen. You scribble the address. It’s a store run by one of your friends and you’ll gladly get her more exposure and business.

“Thank you so much. So, now that you’re back, what are you up to?”

“Working on business with me”, comes a smooth voice behind you. Jungkook slings his arm around your waist and breathes a kiss on your cheek. “I see you’ve reacquainted yourself with my mom.”

“Jungkook, is that wise”, his mother asks. She sounds concerned. You know she was never your biggest fan, but you also know she doesn’t dislike you.

“No. But she’s about as stubborn as our family. How could I resist?”

With the last words, he looks down at you with his dark eyes. There is so much love in them that you want to melt into a puddle. Jungkook’s mother sighs.

“He always had his own mind”, she says to you. “It’s good, but sometimes…”

You laugh. You understand.

“I’ll catch up with you two more later on. The Chois have arrived.”

She hurries off.

“Actually, I should say hello to the Chois too. The are former business associates of my mother’s. How about you get us drinks and I’ll meet you at the bar in a few minutes?”

Though you’re curious to meet these mysterious business associates, you agree and head to the bar. It’s a coke for both you and Jungkook. That’s one of the few rules Jungkook enforces among his employees too. Never drink on the job.

You sit down on a stool and suck on the straw. The soft classical music in the background is pleasant. You’re quite sure it’s a piece by Bizet.

“The way that dress fits you”, Jungkook whispers next to your ear. You startle. He runs his hand down your back. “I’m not sure if I want you to keep it on your peel you out of it.”

“The latter would be quite inappropriate, since there are other people present. Especially your mother.”

Jungkook places a kiss just below your ear. You feel goosebumps race over your skin.

“I guess you’re keeping it on, then.” He grabs his coke and takes your hand. You pick up your glass and let him tug you along. This slightly bossy side is not something he had when you were in college. He was way too shy to tell you what to do. Much less pull you out of a party to an off-room.

Once in there, Jungkook takes the glass from you and puts it onto a table. This looks like a small conference room. His eyes are glazed over.

“Ah, love.” You have your back to the closed door. Jungkook closes in on you like a predator on its prey. His pupils are so dilated you can hardly see the dark irises anymore. “I hope I get more immune to you over time. I had to have my hands crossed in front of my pants while talking to the Chois.”

You look down at the black slacks. They are a little tented and you haven’t even touched him.

“That’s somewhat problematic. Good thing we don’t work together daily.”

“I’d probably get shot once a week if that happened.”

Your eyes widen. He wears a half-smile, so you’re unsure if he’s joking or not.

“Let’s avoid that.”

You reach out and hook your finger under the button of the suit jacket. You pull. He does not resist.

“You look very nice in the suit. I’m not used to you being dressed so formally.”

A whiff of Jungkook’s smell hits you as he steps closer. Your hormones feel like they’re going into overdrive, telling you to mate, like, right now.

“Whenever you look at me like that”, he licks his lips. You don’t wait for him to continue; you pull on his jacket until your bodies meet and your lips collide. It’s not a gentle kiss. Your hands run over his thighs, his squeeze your ass.   

His pants, previously somewhat tented, are straining to contain him now. You rub your stomach against his length. He rolls his hips into you. You can’t help but marvel at how much he’s changed in the past three years. From cute and shy to… this.

Jungkook lets go of your ass and takes your hands. He brings them up to his dark hair.

“Hold on tight. Two taps if you want me to stop.”

With that he goes down onto his knees and puts his big hands on your ankles. He runs them up very slowly, leaving a kiss here and there on your thighs, pushing the dress up in the process. When he sees the lacy black underwear he bought you recently, he bites his lip.

“You like it still?”

He chuckles darkly. His tattooed finger runs over the lace, making you suck in a breath.

“Mh”, he hums. Keeping your hands in his hair, you look down. How he’s eyeing your pussy makes your stomach muscles clench.

“You like me on my knees for you”, Jungkook asks while dragging down your underwear. Sometimes it is as if he has a second pair of eyes.

“I do, y-“

His tongue makes contact with your clit. You pull on his long hair. The sensation is almost too much as he sucks on the little bud. You lean your head back into the door and let a whine slip out. Frankly, you don’t care who hears.

Jungkook’s hands are on your thighs, keeping them apart as he keeps licking and sucking, making you squirm.

“Jungkookah. Feels so good.”

One of his hands moves between your thighs. His index finger pushes into you slowly. You’re so wet that he slides in easily. He curls his finger, so it hits the spot he knows you love. Quickly, he adds another finger and keeps tapping that spot.

Your thighs are shaking. You aren’t far from tumbling over the edge. Your stomach muscles keep clenching.

“I… I…”

The orgasm spasms through you. Your hands tug harder on Jungkook’s hair. If it hurts him, he doesn’t let it on. He helps you ride it out, before straightening up.

“If I had words for how hot you look when you come undone, I’d tell you now.”

You giggle, blushing a little. He flashes you one of his wide grins where the corners of his eyes crinkle.

“I love you, JK.”

“I love you too.”

He takes your hand and moves it to his bulge.

“Touching you is also a major turn-on. Aside from that dress. And the underwear.”

“I also have another new dress”, you say, moving your hand up and down his bulge. “Leaves the entire back free. I thought I could wear it on our next date night.”

“Do you want us to leave the building for that?”

“Absolutely.”

“Torture”, he murmurs, heading for your neck. Before you remind him not to leave marks tonight, he’s already left the first one.

“Jungkookah”, you sigh, applying more pressure. He moans into your skin. You keep it up.

“Does that little magic bag of yours hold tissues too”, he mumbles between kisses to your shoulder.

“Yes. Why?”

“We’ll need them to clean you up later.” He chuckles. “I might mark you, but I don’t have to have my cum dripping down your legs for the rest of the night.”

You laugh at the bizarrely hot thought.

“I do have tissues.”

Jungkook grabs you around the waist and does a 180-degree turn with you until your ass hits the edge of a desk. You sit down on it and lean back.

Jungkook unzips his pants.

The lights go out. You sit up so quickly your face meets with Jungkook’s solid chest.

From the massive reception hall a few meters away, you hear confusion and mild panic.

“Too much coincidence?”

“Stay here.”

You hear the rustling of clothes and then a click. It means Jungkook has taken his pistol out of the ankle holster. No way are you staying here. You pull up your panties.

“I’m coming with you. They’ll murder me on sight if they find me alone.”

Jungkook is silent for a long moment.

“Fine. Stay behind me.”

You grab your purse as Jungkook opens the door a few centimeters. Only emergency lights are on.

“It’s clear. Come, love.”

You grab his hand and walk along the wall behind him. You’re almost back in the reception hall.

Suddenly, the mood in the hall shifts. Scrambling, followed by a gunshot. Panicked screams and more scrambling. Jungkook’s hand tenses around yours. You know he wants to send you the other way, but that probably wouldn’t help either.

One-handed, you open your bag and take out the knife you keep in there. You unsheathe it.

A dark, hulking figure approaches you. As soon as Jungkook spots that they aren’t police or a guest, he tackles them. The fight is not entirely soundless, but with the panic all around, it goes unnoticed.

Jungkook gets up not long after. The other person does not.

“Shall we push them to the side, so nobody sees”, you whisper.

“Yeah.”

The two of you crouch down and shove the person to the edge of the corridor.

Jungkook takes your hand again as you plunge into the chaos. A few lamps on the raised stage are lit. Up there stands Mr. Kim, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a gun. Next to him is Mr. Park, twirling a knife between his nimble fingers.

You pass by the bar, which also has some lights left.

“There”, Mr. Park says. The mic is still on, so his voice echoes.

You pull on Jungkook’s hand and dive behind the bar with him as a gun discharges. The bullet hits a bottle above you. The amber liquid spills down.

“What do you say we talk, y/n”, Mr. Park says into the mic. His voice is soft and warm, as usual.

You stay quiet.

“We know you’re behind the bar. You can’t escape us.”

Beside you, Jungkook is on the phone with the police, whispering as silently as possible.

“I know you don’t want to talk. I’m not a complete idiot.”

“Ah, she got us there”, Mr. Kim says.

“Well, you might not want to talk, but I kinda do”, Mr. Park tells him.

“What about”, you yell back.

“You betrayed us. Didn’t we treat you well? I think we paid you a decent salary. You could have risen high.”

“Ever consider that not all in life is about money?”

“Yes, I have. If you care, we both had an interest in you. You could have had your pick.”

“Thank you, but I already picked a decade ago.”

“Too bad. I guess that is the blind love Shakespeare refers to.”

“Are you done soon? This is getting boring”, Mr. Kim injects. Mr. Park’s sigh is very audible. You have to bite your lip for the absurdity of the situation. Bickering mafia bosses. You, who had no idea of this a few months ago. Now you’re in the middle of all this with a knife in your hand.

“What do you want from us.”

“A few things”, Mr. Park says in a voice that is both incredibly sensuous and dripping with danger. “You didn’t fulfill your job. Which means we’re out of a lot of money and business. You practically stole a potential new business partner. How many won do you think that’d make, Taehyung?”

“A few billion won, I’d guess.”

“Yeah. Around 140 billion, I think. For the next five years, at least. Let’s not get into the long-term ramifications.”

“Yeah, let’s not”, you agree.

Mr. Kim coughs up a laugh.

“Okay. You owe us 140 billion won, y/n. How do you plan to pay us back all that money?”

“You want restitution, you turn to me”, Jungkook says.

You don’t want to think it, but damn, he’s so hot when he goes mafia boss mode.

“You want to draw up a cute little payback plan”, Mr. Kim taunts.

“Frankly, there’s nothing cute or little about 140 billion won”, you throw out. He’s really starting to piss you off. You’re also starting to see why Mr. Park tends to do most of the talking. He pulls the diplomatic act off more easily. Or perhaps they’re doing the good mafia boss – bad mafia boss routine on you.

“I know your business isn’t doing that well, Jeon. You can’t afford that”, Mr. Park states.

“Actually, I think all of this is slightly twisted. I did my job, but Jungkook had no desire to work with you. I didn’t get paid for the night’s work, nor for the three weeks out of the month before I left. I owe you nothing, Jungkook owes you nothing.”

You roll your eyes. You spot something above you. Slowly, you drop back your head. Holy shit. The entire ceiling is made up of glass. You can see where Mr. Park is standing by the mic. One of his hands is in his pants pocket, probably on his knife. With the other he cradles the mic stand.

Mr. Kim is leaning against the stage’s back wall, twirling the gun around his little finger. Clearly, neither of them has seen the ceiling yet. It might not be such an advantage to them either way, but it is for you.

“I see our opinions differ starkly. Why don’t we discuss all that over a drink? We gain nothing by shooting either of you”, he adds, as if an afterthought. “We wouldn’t inherit the Jeon empire.”

Something else raises your mood. You spot special service circling the building through the reflection of one of the full-length windows close to the stage. Next to you, Jungkook is on his phone again, talking to someone from the police, telling them who the bad guys are.

You reach for the knife used to chop lemons on top of the bar counter.

“Oh, you’d have us shot in a heartbeat. You’d rather deal with someone unprepared than with either of us since we clearly won’t cooperate.”

Mr. Park sighs again. He’s getting tired of the situation quickly. Through the mirror above, you see him look at Mr. Kim and jerk his head in the direction of the bar. Mr. Kim nods and starts to move. Now is your moments.

You slide out at the side of the bar, take aim quickly and throw the two knifes in close succession. Mr. Kim, unprepared, doesn’t get off a shot until you’re behind the bar again. By then his arms are pinned to the wall by his sleeves. He looks comically surprised.

Before anyone can react further, two windows shatter at the same time and black-clad special service members spill in.

Ten minutes later you’re outside the building, Jungkook’s jacket around your shoulder, giving a cop a statement.

“And… and I was just heading out with my boyfriend when the two lunatics started shooting. I don’t know how many rounds. Perhaps two? I was so scared.”

Tears are streaming down. Partly because of the adrenaline rush coming to an end, partly because you’re spent emotionally. You tell how you stalled and don’t forget to mention that one of them shot at you again.

One of the special service people comes over. Perhaps one of the leaders, because he doesn’t wear the head to toe black and armor.

“Were you the one who threw the knives?”

“Yes.”

“That was some precision and speed. How long have you been doing that.”

“About fifteen years. My mom taught me. She said a girl has to learn to protect herself in lots of different scenarios.”

“Your mom was right. I’m sorry, but we have to keep your knife for the moment. It’s evidence.”

“That’s okay. Is my boyfriend alright?”

“He said he’s waiting for you in the car, once you’re done.” The man points over at the black Mercedes. “We’re done, I think. We have your contact detail. If we need anything more, we’ll let you know.”

You thank them and hurry to the car. Jungkook’s jaw is clenching when you slide into the warm seat. Your body is still shaking a little. Once the door is closed and you’re belted in, Jungkook revs up the engine and you speed off.

Once you turn into a different street, Jungkook locks the doors.

“Why were you lying to me, y/n?”

His voice is dangerous like a knife at the throat. You don’t look at him.

“Technically, I haven’t lied to you. It was… an omission.”

“So Empress Min was your mother?”

“Was it the knife-throwing that gave it away?”

“Yes. And the way you were way too calm in a hostage situation. You realize you handled that all by yourself, right?”

You bite your lip.

“Is that how you survived the hostage situation she didn’t?”

“My brother and I inherited our dad’s temperament. Mom wasn’t so even tempered. I was just a teen. I wasn’t supposed to be there to begin with. Maybe I survived because the bad guys had mercy on me.”

“I know enough bad guys to tell you most of us have no mercy.”

“You wouldn’t kill an innocent teenage girl.”

“No, I wouldn’t.” There’s a long pause. “Yoongi runs things up in Daegu. And you?”

“I never wanted a part of it. I grew up with my dad most of my life.”

“Until I dragged you right back in.”

“Hey, at least we have an alliance that way. The Min and Jeon clans together. Would be something to go up against.”

“If that’s what you want, we can make it happen.”

“Why does it feel like there’s a “but” coming?”

You look at Jungkook. He’s smiling his wicked smile. His hand moves to your thigh and pushes the dress up until he’s touching your skin.

“But then you’re in this for life. With me. Officially.”

“If that is your way of proposing, Jeon, you gotta try again.”

Jungkook laughs. So hard you can feel his hand shake on your thigh too.

“I’m not proposing. Yet. Merely prepping you for the thought.”

“Goodness. I was ready to marry you three years ago. You’re still my “one”, even though you come with a whole damn mafia empire.”

Jungkook pulls into the garage of the building which houses your condo. His hand slides further up your thigh once the car is parked.

“Let’s debate that further tomorrow. I think we both need some distracting for the rest of the night.”

You take his hand and move it under your dress to the spot between your legs.

“Start distracting, then.”

Of course, Jeon Jungkook delivers.

© musicloverxoxo7, 2022

Please do not copy, translate, or repost my work. Doing so will make you legally liable for stealing intellectual property.

#bts smut #bts imagines #bts mafia au #bts mafia imagine #bts mafia series #jungkook mafia au #jungkook smut #jungkook x female reader #jungkook x you #jungkook #bts jimin #jimin mafia #taehyung #taehyung mafia au #female y/n #established relationship #mafia boss #bad guys #dangerous #yoongi #yoongi mafia #badass

[lookinginview068]

I mourn the fact that I will never have children.

It is not because I want any that I do so.

I love children. I love the wisdom they have, the spark that they have that haven't been beaten down by the oppressive rules of our society. I love watching them learn, I love helping them by answering their questions about life and the whole world.

I could still never have children.

I couldn't hope to afford it, for one. I have never been capable of working, and so my disability income provides only enough to support myself and the person I share home and living expenses with. Second, I am physically incapable of being there for any hypothetical child I would have, as I'm limited by constant pain and injuries.

And even if it weren't so, I would hate having to constantly disappoint due to my fatigue, given my own very active upbringing. Growing up in nature, exploring and learning within it is one of the most blissful parts of my entire life. I couldn't personally stand to not provide my child(ren) with that as an option that's at least available to them.

Third, my mental disabilities are only manageable because I am able to live daily life on my specific terms that separate me from general society. My routines and needs are strict, and also pivotal for me to be able to function just sometimes here and there. No matter how many fancy words I might vomit, none of them could ever begin to convey the delicate balance between a good day and one where my whole sense of self is all but gone.

This constant balancing of emotional and physical needs is like work in and of itself, and I only manage as well as I do now because there are no outside forces left to drain me.

All of these things were, in a sense, collectively decided for me. To say that me having a child would be a life sentence would not be an exaggeration. I do not even have pets for this reason.

I cannot unhave a child. Not in the way I can sell an object, or arrange an agreement with a significant other.

I also saw what raising a child while struggling my limitations did to my parents, and I would never wish to inflict anything even remotely similar to another child if I can at all help it. I came into this world learning that they were simply not equipped for what parenthood entails in our society, and then accepted that I wouldn't be either.

I do not want to have children. This is one of the simpler facts of my life.

But I mourn that it was never my choice to make to begin with.

I mourn not being given the chance to decide such a thing for myself, to decide what I'm capable of and willing to do. I mourn that I won't get to pass on the stories and teachings my well-meaning parents did. I mourn that my family line will die with me, not because of matters of blood, but because there are just so many things I would have loved to share. To see through the eyes of someone I love and chose to take on the role to help grow and support. To be able to provide the things I needed while growing up.

So much knowledge of my home and its history is likely to die with me. I would have loved to share it with someone, so that even should they choose to walk a different path in life, would at least have been granted that point from which their road started. Something that might hopefully have made their life richer.

I mourn that I will never get to even consider these things as an option. I mourn that I cannot confidently say for sure that I've chosen to be childfree.

It's for the best that I do not have children, no matter how you look at it. And that fact hurts me, perhaps more deeply than it should.

#writing #children #disability #disabled #thoughts #philosophy #reminiscing #self reflecting #childfree

[thesickpanda]

Breakdown After Breakdown

So interest rates have gone up, making paying our already HUGE mortgage even more difficult. Partner’s wages aren’t exactly rising. And the cost of food is so high the government is now investigating our two big chain supermarkets for adding to the cost of living stress on the populace.

All this is happening at a time when my partner and I are experiencing major burnout, enduring family drama, and I received some truly terrifying health news (my GI tract is very literally melting from off-the-charts inflammation and I am at high risk for colon cancer, among other things).

 We have been saddled with so much bad news and hardship that we feel we’re about to lose our minds, so we go fuck it, we NEED a break, and booked a cheap motel for two nights over Easter near a national park. We had the modest ambition of spending time in nature looking for orchids and birds.

Yeah, we got one day of that before our old second hand car (which we bought for a few thousand dollars from the side of the road last year) decided to break down for the umpteenth time, and we spent 12 hours of the second day of our 2 day vacation just trying to get home (eventually being towed). The SAME DAY my partner got a virus on his ancient laptop and my mobile phone started to fail. We purchased a new, bargain basement phone in town while waiting for the tow truck to arrive, and less than 2 weeks later I dropped it and smashed the camera on it. YAY.

So no break for us. Fine.

But then shit kept hitting the fan. When we got home, MY computer started to sputter out and die. We cannot afford a new computer right now, as we’re paying off a ton of medical expenses for me, so a week later my partner bought parts for it and rebuilt it himself.

And then there’s the car situation.

Since Easter, 3 mechanics have looked at the car, can identify there is a major problem, but cannot FIND it. So it remains broken. My car is also really old and sprung a leak in the boot and got soaked after a storm, so that now it stinks to high heaven from musty mold.  But we cannot afford another car, so OH WELL. I have a severe mold allergy and a sensitive nose but we cannot afford to valet it, and partner has sincerely had no time to clean it.

Then: our vacuum cleaner broke and the very next day the lawn mower broke, too. The mower repair shop would not even repair it because “that brand is such a cheap piece of shit it’ll just break on you in a few more days and I don’t wanna be held liable”. Wow.

And then this morning the towel rail broke after I hit my head onto it for the millionth time, and the wheel came off the laundry trolley for the second time before a huge load of towels finished in the washing machine. I am already disabled and currently have an inflamed nerve in my right foot, so the lack of a trolley is REALLY not helpful.

This is the week I have to spend an ungodly amount of money on three separate medical professionals and order a very expensive medical test to maaaaybe find the pathogen destroying my gut.

I recently watched a TLDR Global news video about the fertility crisis in South Korea and the world at large and it rightly points out house prices and cost of living being a deterrent for people to have babies. Under the video was a comment that I feel sums up what it is like to be alive in this 21st century:

“Long working hours. Low wages. High costs. No chance of ever owning a house. 0 work-life balance without a child, let alone with one. Layoffs left right and center. Hard if not impossible to get a job even with experience. Life is stressful as is already. Low standards of life. Nothing is family friendly - work, life, schools etc. A lot of the institutions still have the same mentality of - man works, woman stays at home, and it just doesn't fit how people want to live now.”

We are childless and partially own our own home (and only with assistance from the Bank of Mum And Dad as the boomers love to call it) and WE are struggling. How the HELL is humanity going to keep going like this? I am so worn down by the grind of everything, and relative to fellow millennials, we’re doing WELL. The only freedom is money, which the vast majority of us do not have in amounts that would actually afford us quality of life.

All I can say in the face of all this, is fuck capitalism.

And also fuck Australia, which appears to be its biggest bitch at the moment:

Source: TLDR News Global

#angry rant #fuck capitalism #cost of living crisis #australia #chronic illness #the cost of being ill

[loveemagicpeace]

🦁August/Leo season🦁

❤️‍🔥Venus entered Leo- It’s time pursue our heart’s desires! When Venus transits Leo, we will feel like romance is grand, powerful and profound. There will be much more fun, joy, love affairs, dating, creativity. We will feed on attention, but be just as happy to shower those who we admire in generous bouts of devotion, loyalty, gifts and affection.Look where you have Leo and which house you have Venus transit. For ex: Venus in 9th house- you will be excited about new things, travel, research and you will have more luck.

For Rising Signs :

🫧Capricorn- Very good for investments, money, gambling, good luck. In terms of romance and relationships, you would experience a fantastic time. Long-standing troubles in your marital life will get settled, making you experience more comfort and happiness in your relationship.

💥Leo - Glow up& and investing more in beauty and care. Those in the artistic fields of design, music, styling, media, writing, theater, and crafts shall have a good time as well. Hence, your job life will be wonderful, and innovative efforts would be admired

⚡️Aries-It would be an ideal time for lovers as your bond will strengthen, and you would have a greater understanding of each other. In terms of health, the period will be beneficial to you. To remain fit and well, it is still recommendable to eat a balanced diet and work out regularly.

🌷Taurus-You will be monetarily stable and would get the chance to spend your earnings on leisure activities, new clothing, perfumes, and other similar products. This transit would also be advantageous for the Taurus natives looking for a fresh career, or some fantastic job chances may find themselves owning a skillful and appreciative job.

🪴Gemini-In life, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Health-wise, you would be focused on building yourself a good diet plan and performing yoga and exercising to keep your health in check.

🌸Cancer- You will enjoy seeing new individuals and interacting with them. Your relationships will get better, and you should be more willing to spend relevant time with them.

🌾Virgo- It means that you will succeed in whatever new project you embark on during this time frame. you must avoid making any investments, whether professional or personal, at this time. It is because you may lose a lot of money, your resources might be in poor shape, and you might just have to incur some pointless expenses.

🦄Libra- Your romantic connection can progress to the next stage, leading to engagement or marriage with your partner. There will be plenty of leisure possibilities throughout this time, and you shall meet new individuals and increase your professional horizons.

🦋Scorpio- You shall feel fulfilled, pleased, and blissful, with a spring in your approach as a result of depths of affection for those around you. Your renewed confidence and contentment will have a good impact on your lifestyle.

🍓Sagittarius- Personal interactions with pals are expected to improve, and you will also be inclined to throw reunions or modest gatherings to hang out with them and make them feel cherished.

🥭Aquarius- At work, you would receive admiration and acknowledgment from your superiors. Smoothly you will become the centerpiece of importance and have a major role in building some good assets for your company. Long-duration investments will yield excellent returns, making you grow intensely in terms of finances and riches.

🐚Pisces- You might be bothered by indigestion and stomach troubles. So eat basic foods and stay away from oily or greasy dishes. Married couples would have fantastic evenings with their spouse. Your passion for research, occultism, and metaphysics will grow, and you will prosper in such domains.

🌕August 11th/12th: Full Moon in Aquarius conjunct Saturn. What limits you from sharing your true self with the world? A great time to let go of toxic relationships. When the moon is in Aquarius, we can feel somewhat detached from emotions and have a desire to retreat from them.

🌛Avgust 14th Moon conjunct Saturn transit adds seriousness to your emotions and can lead to distance in your intimate relationships. Exposing emotional vulnerabilities and opening up to loved ones will enable the nurturing and bonding required to overcome the problem. Also it is Saturn day.

🌙August 19th: Last Quarter Moon in Taurus. Releasing what keeps you in your comfort zone. Venus day! August 19th is a date of talents, dreams, and all those unseen things that one must chase for in order to feel alive.

♊️Avgust 20th -Mars (the planet of drive and ambition) will be entering Gemini. There will be much more happening, the energy will be playful, not planned, and there will be much more communication. Things are about to get more interesting. Gemini is a changeable but flirtatious and mostly light-hearted zodiac sign. When this fiery planet transits Gemini, our urge to communicate can come across quite abruptly. There’s not a lot of tact here and we definitely tend to speak out of turn during Mars in Gemini. This is an extra long Mars transit as it will turn retrograde in Gemini on October 30th, 2022 until January 12th, 2023.

♍️Avgust 22nd Sun enters Virgo arrives—and with it, a growing need to find a mind, body, and spirit connection. As a practical earth sign, Virgo is all about fine-tuning our routines so we can find balance and get our lives working as best as possible. August 24th: Uranus Retrograde-Inner freedom.

🌑New moon is in Virgo on Saturday, August 27, which means it is time to start thinking about what new rutine and things you would like in your life. Also start to thinking about eating, planting, harvesting — or maybe it means you should start making goals for organizing and decluttering your space. It is the ideal time to begin new and better life habits.

🦋If you want to find out more about your transits you sign up for a transit chart reading🦋

-Rebekah🦋🌊🐚

#astrology #energy #zodiac signs #planets #august #leo venus #virgo season #leo season #mars in Gemini #full moon #rising signs

[shih-tzu-chronicles]

A Paw-spective from Katherine's World

Hey there, fellow Shih Tzu lovers! Today, we're thrilled to present an exclusive interview on "Shih Tzu Chronicles" that brings you closer to the heart of these lovable fur companions.

The person we've interviewed is not just any interviewee; Katherine Israel a seasoned Shih Tzu owner with years of firsthand experience, and she spills the beans on all things Shih Tzu. 

In our conversation, Katherine shares her wealth of knowledge and passion for these charming canines, offering valuable insights beyond the basics of the lovable Shih Tzus.

When we first asked Katherine about what drew her to the Shih Tzu breed and what she most loves about them, she unveiled that it was the charm that initially captivated her and spilled the beans on what she adores the most.

"It's all about the cuteness factor, how sweet they are, and their unwavering loyalty." Katherine says with a laugh.

Dylan, Katherine's dear Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu breed as we all know has its own stereotypes when it comes to their temperament and personality, and Katherine had a lot to say about that too. 

“They’re so stubborn!” She says almost immediately after asking. “And of course, spoiled to the bone, you can’t even forget them in your grocery runs. Not to mention their clingy-ness to you grows over time as like when they were puppies, they were more pretty active in everything.”

At 49, Katherine is currently a U.P. Scientist and a professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. We were curious as to how she balances her work and life as a pet owner especially one that demands more of her time on a day-to-day basis. We also asked her on how she manages her pet’s health, grooming, and training methods that worked for her.

“My baby vomits a yellow fluid once in a while. This is due to acid reflux. This is nothing to worry about. Just give them small meals in between so they won’t get hungry. Another common sickness is diarrhea. When he poops liquid several times in a day, I immediately take him to the vet.” Katherine responds as she recalls some instances that happened. “They make lab tests to determine the cause. This is usually bacterial in nature so antibiotics are given. I also give my baby Nexgard spectra once a month to ensure he doesn’t get ticks, fleas, and heartworm. Maintenance is quite expensive but I could not compromise his health at all costs. 

“Maintenance is quite expensive but I could not compromise his health at all costs.”

- Katherine Israel

As for their grooming, “In my baby’s case, he hates being blow-dried and combed. So I cannot keep his hair long. He also hates me trimming his hair. So I have him groomed every 1.5 months. He gets a full groom, summer cut with poodle-cut feet. I give him baths twice a week to keep him clean and tidy.” she says while also showing us a picture of her dog.

“You really just have to allot time and patience when you’re trying to teach them something or else they’ll forget and just be "pa-cute lang dyan” Katherine laughs. “My dog is a spoiled dog. He expects to walk twice a day, morning and afternoon. I think he has too much energy that he needs to spend, that is why he loves to walk. Also, he loves to see different places. Aside from the walks, I also give him joy rides. We go around in my car with him looking out the window and barking at everything and everyone he sees. He gets so excited every time he rides the car. He gets too noisy that I have to wear ear mufflers to protect my ears from his high-pitched bark.”

Shih Tzus are often described as excellent companions, and in our quest to understand the depth of this connection, we asked Katherine if there were any memorable experiences that highlight the bond between her and her Shih Tzu.

“Yes, my baby is my precious companion. He sleeps on my bed. He has a pillow beside my feet. He climbs my bed when he is already sleepy. But before he sleeps, he first checks on me if I am also about to sleep. He wakes up around 4 or 5 am and goes up to my side and asks me to rub his ears and belly. After he had enough, he will go back to his pillow and sleep again. He always follows me wherever I go in the house. He checks on what I am doing.” As Katherine shares this heartfelt anecdote, it becomes evident that the bond between a Shih Tzu and their owner transcends the ordinary. 

Beyond the confines of bedtime rituals, Katherine further elaborates on the daily activities that strengthen their bond. “During the pandemic, I had my online classes. He was always there beside my foot during my classes. He just lies there quietly. But when he hears me saying “Thank you, byebye,” he immediately gets up and gives me a stare as if saying “Mama you’re done, let’s go!” This means he wants to have his afternoon walk. That is always exactly at 4pm. He feels the time that it is 4pm already. When my class goes beyond 4pm, he starts to become uneasy and starts barking. I had to apologize to my students for my noisy dog.”

For first-time pet owners or aspiring to be one, research on the breeds is always a must. Especially for a breed like our lovely Shih Tzu. In this part of the interview, we asked Katherine about her insights to give for someone who is considering adopting a Shih Tzu for the first time.

"First and foremost, be both financially and emotionally prepared.”

- Katherine Israel

Katherine advises with a knowing smile. "Shih Tzus, as much as I adore them, are high-maintenance dogs. They require regular vaccines, meticulous grooming, specific vitamins, and here's the kicker – they are picky eaters. Forget about just dog food; they want their meals prepared, preferably wet food. It's like having a tiny gourmand at home."

She continues, highlighting the time commitment needed for Shih Tzus. "These little companions can be quite demanding of your time. They don't appreciate being left alone, and trust me, it can tug at your heartstrings when you have to step out. It's a real lesson in patience, especially during their early months when you're potty training them. For my fur baby, it took around two months to get him potty trained."

Shih Tzus can be prone to separation anxiety. There is also an underlying issue as to how pet owners can manage this, especially how they can ensure that their Shih Tzu feels secure when they’re away. 

"This is very true," Katherine acknowledges with a hint of understanding. "I always make sure that there is someone who will accompany him at night when I am away. He tends to just stay near the door and wait for me to come home. There has to be someone to look after him and cuddle him."

Katherine's solution to separation anxiety is grounded in companionship and comfort. Recognizing her Shih Tzu's inclination to wait for her return, she ensures that there's a supportive presence to keep him company during her absence.

As we wrap up our conversation with Katherine, she graciously unveils some charming facts that people may not know about this fantastic breed. 

"This may not be true only for Shih Tzus but for all dogs," Katherine begins. "They cry when they get lonely. I noticed this because sometimes when I leave him, he has wetness all around his eyes, which are probably tears."

She continues, “He also dreams a lot. During his sleep, he usually barks silently. He also sometimes moves his feet as if he was running.”

Katherine Israel’s candid sharing paints a picture of the responsibilities that come with being a Shih Tzu owner. She not only leaves us with insights into the breed but also a profound appreciation for the layers of emotions and quirky personalities that make Shih Tzus who they are as a breed. 

#dog lover #shih tzu #dogs #pet #petlover

[apassionateman]

Dear Me...

Have you ever thought about, in 100 years,

In 2123, everybody alive right now will all be dead and buried… Our friends, family as well as all our enemies.

Total strangers will live in our homes and on our lands that we worked long and hard to purchase and build. That's right someone will own in the future what we do now. Most of our possessions given away, thrown out or destroyed. Including the fortunes we spent on our expensive, luxury cars and will most likely scrapped. Our descendants most like not even remember who we are nor will they really remember us. I mean, how many of us now, remember our Great-grandparents. After we die, we may be remembered for a few years and then we may become a portrait on someone's mantel or wall. A few decades later, our life's history, photos and deeds disappear into history's oblivion. We won't even be memories. If we paused one day to think about and analyze these questions, perhaps we would realize how pointless it is for us to worry about ALL the things consuming our thoughts, life and energy daily. If we could only slow down long enough to think about this, surely our approaches, thoughts and actions would change in positive manners and we would then act differently. Perhaps we would feel more free to enjoy ourselves with more kindness and our lives we live.

Take these thoughts dear friends, into the rest each day, week, month, year and for the balance of your life remember this…

"If it won't matter in 5 to 10 years from now, don't spend more than 5-10 minutes being upset about it now."

It's a simple T.E.A. method.

Think

Evaluate

Act

#APM... #Dear Me...

[francesvilar]

Convenience, Confidentiality, Conundrum

Bad things happen when data gets into the wrong hands. The news about a certain celebrity couple's private affairs has been buzzing across various platforms, and it has created enough noise for it to be brought up in the introduction to one of our discussions with our course instructor, because of how it's such a great example of what happens when a breach in data privacy takes place. We now live in the digital age where every aspect of our lives, from personal interactions to financial transactions, leaves a trail of data. I've learned that as this influx of information presents its opportunity, it also gives challenges concerning privacy and security.

In my perspective as someone who owns a printer at home and offers basic printing and copier services for people in her neighborhood, I've observed that my customers appear indifferent about the privacy of their data. They're trusting enough to lend their flash drive for me to print or create a copy of their documents, even the ones that contain classified information like birth certificates, and valid IDs. There are also customers that do not have a hint of reluctance in them in sending their document files to my email, for them to be printed. While it's convenient for customers to rely on local printing services like mine, their apathetic attitude towards the privacy of their data is concerning.

Entrusting sensitive documents containing personal information such as birth certificates and valid IDs without ensuring proper handling puts them at risk of data breaches. I, as the service provider, give high regard to the privacy and security of my customers' data. However, it should be an essential for customers to be more mindful of the potential risks involved in sharing sensitive information and to take proactive steps to protect it. In addition to the practices of customers, it's also important for service providers like me to implement data retention policies, which I hadn't consciously done until I've learned about it in this module's discussion, where I became more aware of proper data retention practices.

The imparted knowledge from this session have been an eye-opener for me, and it is evident in the way I have realized the application of these knowledge in my very own personal life. I have learned that in an era wherein digital footprints are omnipresent, it's crucial for both individuals and businesses to strike a balance between convenience and confidentiality when it comes to data privacy. On one hand, convenience is undeniably a driving force in our digital age. The ease of sharing information, accessing services, and conducting transactions online has revolutionized the way we live and work. From online shopping to social media interactions, convenience often takes precedence over concerns about privacy. However, this convenience should not come at the expense of confidentiality. As highlighted in the example of the celebrity couple's privacy breach, the consequences of mishandling sensitive data can be far-reaching and devastating. Whether it's personal documents like birth certificates and IDs or financial information, the stakes are high when it comes to safeguarding privacy. It is crucial for individuals to be vigilant about who they entrust their data to and the measures taken to protect it. Likewise, businesses must prioritize data security and implement robust protocols to prevent unauthorized access and breaches.

To conclude this journal entry, I believe that the dilemma that we face in the digital age requires a refined approach that considers both convenience and confidentiality. We need to be mindful of the risks associated with sharing sensitive data and take proactive steps to protect our privacy. By navigating this delicate balance, we can harness the benefits of technology while mitigating the risks of privacy and security breaches.

#serverroommemoirs #2