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randomfoggytiger · 1 year

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X-Files Collector’s Edition: Amor Fati(gue) AUs

Part 2 is here, baby! Woo! Amor Fati canon-divergent-and-AUs time!

Loose chronological timeline below~.

Canon-Divergent Fics

Maria Nicole’s Off Center

“Once, she had fallen before him, her lips forming the word, "you," as she fell, contempt in her closing eyes. Before her gaze, he had felt unnerved and guilty, although he had not betrayed her, although what he had done, he had done to save her.

The guilt was worse now that he had betrayed her, betrayed both of them, and her eyes did not close this time as she accused both him and Diana Fowley of being liars.””

Skinner is forced to work against Scully as she prepares to leave for Africa. His guilt is intensified when Scully catches on and withdraws all trust.

@greekowl87′s (Ao3)

Kisses Are Meant to Be Distracting

““Scully disappeared back out to his apartment. She could hear the shower turning on and could swear she could also hear him ‘Walking on Sunshine’ off-key. She bit her lip and smiled to herself. Despite her initial confusion on where to turn, she recalled Mulder’s words…his touchstone, his constant…and for the first time in their seven years, she had never been happier. Granted his situation warranted that they stay slow with their new development, but it wouldn’t be their thing if it didn’t go slow.””

Mulder’s recovery is sweetened by his budding relationship with Scully.

Voices in the Dark

““Mulder?”

“You hated me. You said I gave up. You left me. I deserved it too.”

“Mulder…” Like a ghost, she maneuvered herself so they were looking at each other face to face. “Look at me.” Their eyes met. In the nightlight from the street lights below, Scully could see Mulder’s own tears. “Oh, Mulder.””

Mulder finally opens up about his vision; and Scully immediately dispels any loathsome thoughts he has about himself by affirming her loyalty and love.

@bluesamutra/bluesamutra’s una via

““Go outside,” she says nudging Dana’s hip, “Bill has been on his best behavior but I’m sure Fox came to spend time with you, not your brothers.”

Dana presses a kiss on her forehead and rises from the arm of the chair.

“Thanks Mom,” she murmurs.

Moments later, Margaret watches as Dana picks her way carefully across the lawn in those perilously high-heels she insists on wearing, her black overcoat wrapped tightly around her. The sky is darkening rapidly, the far end of the garden where the lawn gives way to trees and the Patapsco River beyond, almost completely obscured. Snow has begun to fall, swirling around and glowing in the glare from the coach lanterns.””

Post recovery, Mulder joins Scully for Christmas and gets involved in family bonding, saving Matthew from dramatically drowning late at night, winning Bill��s respect, and soaking up acceptance and love.

AUs

Diana Alexander’s Kaleidoscope Visions

““Not really, Scully, if you think about it. If the mind has received so much information that it's incapable of receiving more, it does one of two things. It either represses it or takes it into an arena that it can handle. Apparently this is the arena where our minds agreed that we could handle.””

Scully is still in Africa... but somehow can communicate with Mulder via telepathy. He, of course, has a theory.

Shoshana’s

Guardian Angel

““I had been asleep most of the last forty-eight hours, finally knocked out by the barbiturates in my system. They had found no signs of a tumor, just signs of extremely abnormal brain function, as yet unexplained. I am blown away by the grasp Mrs. Scully has of the situation; she is rattling off every detail with an authoritative poise that I have only seen in her daughter's demeanor.

I make no attempt to speak, just nodding my head occasionally to show that I am indeed listening and comprehending every word of her monologue.””

Mulder’s pain disspiates after Scully kicks Diana out and leaves him in the care of her mother and TLG. He blearily waits for her return from Africa.

Safe Haven

““I tell the guys to just wait a couple minutes while I grab a wheelchair and enter Mulder's private room, a room I had fought hard to get him, along with a treatment plan that included fewer drugs and fewer unwelcome visitors. Banning Diana Fowley may have been seen as the actions of a jealous woman, but I was still not convinced that she hadn't exacerbated his condition by slipping some drug into his bloodstream. I could see right through her concern. I knew she still worked for the Consortium, whatever still remained of it.””

Scully returns from Africa, victorious-- hailed by TLG, and sneak-hugged by an incredibly happy Mulder.

Gwendolyn’s Temporary Shelter

““It isn't proximity, then? You're hearing thoughts from people further away?" It was a new twist she hadn't even considered before.

"Not exactly." He wore the enigmatic expression he donned when he was holding some new mystery close to him, unwilling to share.

"Then what?" she asked.

"I don't think we're necessarily the only ones here."

Scully springs Mulder from the hospital to hide out in Africa, hoping to secure his safety while she digs for answers. In his isolation, Mulder uncovers the journal of a woman whose fate was also tied up in the mystery of the buried spaceship.

Amatia’s Midnight on the Firing Line

““I've seen this before, in Russia. Look, if you don't believe me, fine. But Agent Mulder must, because that's my name on your hand."

Skinner sighed, and nodded. Krycek filled the syringe, and injected it into the IV bag of saline. He handed Skinner the other bottle. "You've got to do it again when they replace the IV."

Skinner slid the bottle into his pocket, and looked down at Mulder, who was becoming more aware. "Agent Mulder?" he asked.

"Krycek's gotta get out of here," Mulder said, his voice raspy. "Diana's coming."

Mulder breaks out of the hospital with the help of Skinner and Krycek; but unfortunately, no one is ever truly “free” with the Syndicate right behind.

@atths--twice’s (Ao3, Alt. Ao3, FFN)

A Slightly Different Path - Chapter 3 - Constant Love

““After she left, he felt so alone, his mind buzzing. He had more nightmares, not wanting to rely solely on the painkillers to help him sleep. He would call her sobbing, needing to hear her voice, to know she was not dead, her blood running across the floor as he had just dreamt. Or her face blue from choking, or her body only bones and found in a shallow grave.

She took every call, talking to him until he stopped crying, telling him repeatedly that she was there and she was okay.””

Mulder is tortured by nightmares as he slowly recovers; but his reflection through his trauma gives him a beautiful analogy for his (*gasp*) wife Scully.

While recovering, Mulder’s continuous nightmares enable him to fully translate his newfound contentment to his (*gasp*) secret wife Scully. Peace is achieved.

Sarah Segretti’s (Ao3) A Less Certain World (Ao3)

“"No, Mulder. I looked. I know your scars. I saw nothing new. And your blood work in the hospital showed nothing I considered unusual." So I escaped Skinner's fate, then. "What, then?" My voice wobbles. Her eyes are still full. "I'm afraid -" And so am I, because that’s the second time today she’s admitted to an emotion she never admits she has - "I'm afraid the enhanced brain activity and the medications and the tests may have caused -" She stops, licks her lips, takes a breath. Her voice is very small. "Brain damage." Everything goes white and silent for a moment. Was this what it was like for her to hear the word "cancer"? She’s still talking - about having me tested, about finally taking me to a neurologist or two, how she should have done this before but I was in no mental shape - and her words slide past me like drops of rain down a windshield. Nothing sticks except those two words.””

Mulder’s sluggish recovery is shaken when Scully finally confesses that she, TLG, and Skinner performed remote brain surgery via the Biogenesis map, which gave him permanent brain damage. He begins to drown in fear, PTSD, and the implications of aliens blueprinting his genome while Scully scrambles to aid the newly-formed Resistance and reconfigure a cure for Mulder.

Magnifique! This fic isn’t about the bigger plot happening in the background: it’s about Mulder’s trauma in the face of irrevocable change and fear that he will lose his self-identity, too.

fxthisit’s You’re It

““What’s there to talk about?” She got her coat, “I’m not abandoning you, Mulder, if you are worried about that. I don’t know about you, but my priority has always been my work and the X-files.” She started heading out the room before turning around at the doorway, regarding Mulder with a look. “We’re partners, Mulder. I still got your back. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the scene,” she turned around and walked away, leaving Mulder dazed with only the receding sound of her heels....””

Apparently, fate decided not to give Scully a break. Diana’s alive, and hands Mulder a vague “I’m better now” excuse... which he tries to make Scully accept. Instead, she gently withdraws, redraws lines, and continues her work... which almost leads her to her death.

(And while Diana not being dead is a big fat bummer to end this list on, it IS in loose chronological order soooooo... format integrity!)

Enjoy!

#txf #x-files #xf fanfic #fic #Collector's Edition #Amor Fati(gue) ii #AUs #Maria Nicole #greekowl87 #bluesamutra #Diana Alexander #Shoshana #Gwendolyn #Amatia #ATTHS--Twice #Sarah Segretti #fxthisit #mine

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vugnasmineralblog · 2 years

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Fluorite Papa Pocket, Diana Maria Mine, Frosterley, Weardale, Co. Durham, England

#Fluorite

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bekkathyst · 10 months

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New Item Sale (July 15, ‘23) Item #12

$152 - $160 each - Free EU & US shipping on orders over $60

Color changing fluorite clusters from the Hidden Forest pocket, Diana Maria mine, Co. Durham, England. These are a stunning deep blue and sea green in natural daylight, and appear a neon green in unnatural light.

#12A.) 4” / $160

#12B.) 4.1” / $152

#12C.) 4” / $155

#12D.) 4.5” / $155

#12E.) 4.6” / $158

#12F.) 3.6” / $160

To claim items and order, please read and follow the system I have set up. You can read the rules here!

#item sale #new item sale #original

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mermaidsirennikita · 2 months

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So I was trying to find the “bitchy heroine” rec list but couldn’t find it but I did find a gifset of Norrington who has had a chokehold on me since I was 13. Any recs where the hero is like him? Repressed proper asshole that reaaaaaallly needs to get laid and preferably by someone who he finds improper/annoying and just can’t STAND THE ATTRACTION he has for them?

I really need to find a way to tag things more specifically other than "book recs" I'm sorry :(

I did make this post about controversial heroines on Instagram!

But yes!!! Norrington Type Heroes:

Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley is THIS. The hero is a stern, uptight lawyer with a strong sense of property and morality, and he basically ends up picking a local pickpocket girl (who's been lowkey stalking him) because his troublesome kids love her. And so he hires her as a governess. It's very "Captain Von Trapp if Maria was a Menace and he only had two kids". I think they call him like, the Scottish Hammer or something, and it's meant to be the Hammer of JUSTICE but she's like "WHAT DOES IT DO THO". He also has a massive oral fixation.

The Chief by Monica McCarty. The hero is very cold and stern and businesslike, and he ends up in an arranged/kinda forced marriage with this girl, who he doesn't exactly find annoying or improper, but he does find a distraction from WORK, which is DIFFICULT for him because he needs to WORK and not BONE.

Never Seduce a Duke by Vivienne Lorret lol. The hero wears glasses, is very stodgy and focused on figuring out the recipe for this... magical food elixir thing... and the heroine is wild, and he ends up thinking she stole his Arthurian recipe book from him (she didn't) and follows her across Europe. She bugs him sooo much.

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller. Uptight virginal spy guy on a MISSION (he's celibate because feelings distract from the job among other things) stays in a Viennese hotel run by the more casual, very sexy, experienced heroine. She pushes all his buttons and he's always running in to save her from zany murder plots. There's also a scene where's masturbating while thinking of him, but like, she didn't realize the door was open, and she looks up and he's watching and he goes "don't. stop." and I did gasp when I read it.

If you're down for trying an M/M historical, Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall is a hilarious romcom in which the uptight (virgin!) duke proposes to the woman he was always supposed to, because he's very proper and there are Expectations, and she's like lmao fuck you and runs off so he has to chase her down with the help of her frivolous and wild twin brother. This book's humor is basically mined from Valentine (the duke) being soooooo stuffy and repressed, and Bonny (the twin guy) being whimsical and free.

The Earl I Ruined by Scarlett Peckham. Local uptight earl who's a Secret Freak gets his reputation ruined by his best friend's flighty and gossipy little sister (he's also always been secretly in love with her). She spreads a rumor that he's into submission which... is not his kink of choice.

#romance novel blogging #romance novels #book recs

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polycule-playoff · 10 months

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Last Edited: 28 April 2024

Polycules that are in the running:

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy

Stephen King's It

Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak, Beverly Marsh, Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, Stan Uris, Mike Hanlon, Kay McCall, Audra Phillips and Patty Blum

Sherlock Holmes

Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mary Morstan, and Godfrey Norton

Doki Doki Precure

Cure Heart, Cure Diamond, Cure Rosetta, Cure Sword and Regina

A3!

Tsumugi Tsukioka, Tasuku Takato, Hisoka Mikage, Homare Arisugawa, Azuma Yukishiro and Guy

Persona 5

Akira Kurusu/Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura, Goro Akechi, Sumire Yoshizawa, Morgana and Yuuki Mishima

Akira Kurusu/Ren Amamiya, Hifumi Togo, Chihaya Mifune, and Lavenza

Witch's Heart

Claire Elford, Noel Levine, Ashe Bradley, Wilardo Adler and Sirius Gibson

Ensemble Stars!!

Leo Tsukinaga, Tsukasa Suou, Arashi Narukami, Izumi Sena, Ritsu Sakuma, Mao Isara, Hokuto Hidaka, Subaru Akehoshi and Makoto Yuuki

Stranger Things

Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Jonathan Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Argyle, Chrissy Cunningham, Eden Bingham, and Vickie.

Star Trek DS9

Elim Garak, Julian Bashir, Miles O'Brien, Keiko O'Brien, Kira Nerys, Jadzia Dax, Odo Ital, Quark, Worf, Ezri, Sisko, Lwaxana Troi, Kasidy Yates-Sisko, and Lenara Kahn

The Owl House

Luz Noceda, Amity Blight, Willow Park, Hunter, and Gus Porter

Dracula

Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker, Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris, Jack Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Abraham Van Helsing

The Breakfast Club

Brian Johnson, Andrew Clark, Allison Reynolds, Claire Standish, and John Bender

Winx Club

Bloom, Stella, Tecna, Musa, Flora, Aisha, Sky, Brandon, Timmy, Riven, Helia, Nex and Nabu

Resident Evil

Leon S Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong and Helena Harper

The Case Study of Vanitas

Vanitas, Noe Archiviste, Dominique de Sade and Jeanne

Scooby Doo

Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Shaggy Rogers, Velma Dinkley, Hot Dog Water, and Crystal.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Darla, Angel(us), Drusilla, and Spike/William

The Legend of Zelda

Revali, Zelda, Link, Mipha, Sidon, Yona, Paya and Tauro

The Magicians

Fen, Eliot Waugh, Margo Hanson, Josh Hoberman, Quentin Coldwater, and Arielle

Haikyū!!

Kiyoko Shimizu, Yachi Hitoka, Yamaguchi Tadashi, Tsukishima Kei, Bokuto Kōtarō, Akaashi Keiji, Kuroo Tetsurō, Kozume Kenma, Hinata Shōyō, Daichi Sawamura, Kageyama Tobio, Oikawa Tooru, Iwaizumi Hajime, Terushima Yuuji, and Ushijima Wakatoshi

Genshin Impact

Cyno, Alhaitham, Kaveh, Tighnari, Dehya, Nilou, Faruzan, Dunyarzad, and Candace

Kaeya, Rosaria, Albedo, and Sucrose

Neuvillette, Wriothesley, Navia, Clorinde, Zhongli, and Childe

Arataki Itto, Kujou Sara, Kamisato Ayato, Gorou, Thoma, and Sangonomiya Kokomi

Heaven Official's Blessing

Xie Lan, Hua Cheng, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, Yin Yu, and Quan Yizhen

Torchwood

Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams, Owen Harper, Ianto Jones, and Toshiko Sato

Spiderman

Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, Mary-Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Liz Allan, Felicia Hardy, and Johnny Storm

Beastars

Legosi, Louis, Haru, and Juno

Lupin III

Lupin III, Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Daisuke Jigen, and Fujiko Mine

Demon Slayer

Tengen, Makio, Suma, and Hinatsuru

Omori

Sunny, Kel, Basil, and Aubrey

Cookie Run

Herb Cookie, Vampire Cookie, Sparkling Cookie, Mint Choco Cookie, and Cocoa Cookie

The Grail Quest

Percival, Galahad, Bors, Dinadrane, and Blanchefleur

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair/Super Danganronpa 2

Hajime Hinata, Kazuichi Soda, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, Sonia Nevermind, and Akane Owari

Zero Escape

Akane Kurashiki, Junpei, Sigma Klim, Carlos, Diana, and Snake

Roswell New Mexico

Nora Truman, Louise Truman, Theo, Tripp Manes and Roy Bronson

Max Evans, Isobel Evans, Michael Guerin, Liz Ortecho, Kyle Valenti, Maria DeLuca, Alex Manes, Jenna "Cam" Cameron, Heath, Dallas Haines, Greg Manes and Anatsa

The Raven Cycle

Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey, Ronan Lynch, Adam Parrish, Noah Czerny, and Henry Cheng

Warcraft

Khadgar, Kalecgos, Illidan, Kael'thas Sunstrider, Vashj, Arthas Menethil, Jaina Proudmoore, Nathanos Blightcaller, Sylvanas Windrunner, Tiffin Wrynn, Varian Wrynn, Halduron Brightwing, Thalyssra, Lor'themar Theron, and Rommath

The Book of Firsts

Mika, Rin, Bran, and Kyou

Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun

Suzuki Iruma, Asmodeus Alice, Valac Clara, Azazel Ameri, and Purson Soi

My School President

Gun, Tinn, Sound, Win, Tiw, Por, Yo, Nook, Pat, and Kajorn

Bad Buddy

Pat, Pran, Korn, and Wai

Guardian Tales

Knight, Elvira, Arabelle, Beth, Priscilla, Yuze, Bianca, Loraine, Eva, and Camilla

Word of Honor/Faraway Wanders

Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Han Ying, Jing Beiyuan, and Wuxi

The New Teen Titans

Dick Grayson, Starfire, Victor Stone, Raven, Joseph Wilson, Donna Troy, Garfield

The Locked Tomb

Ianthe, Tridentarius, Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Alecto the First, John Gaius, Mercymorn the First, and Augustine the First

Baldur's Gate 3

Astarion, Gale, Lae'zel, Karlach, Shadowheart, Wyll, and Durge

Kagerou Project

Ayano Tateyama, Shintaro Kisaragi, Takane Enomoto, and Haruka Kokonose

NU Carnival

Eiden, Aster, Morvay, Yakumo, Edmond, Olivine, Quincy, Kuya, Garu, Blade, Dante, Rei, and Karu

Only Friends

Top, Mew, Ray, Sand, Boston, Nick, and Boeing

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System

Luo Binghe, Shen Qingqiu, Shang Qinghua, and Mobei-jun

#polycule #playoff

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lonelylavenderluke · 2 months

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Let's start at the beginning... - .1

pairings: (Eventual) Bucky Barnes x Original Character

TW: mentions death, violence, angst, controlling behaviour.

🔅angst/fluff, first meetings🔅

Description: A young Birdie has her world stolen from underneath her and ghost in the night stands guard till sunset.

Dear Diary,

Let's start from the beginning shall we?

Do you wanna hear the gut wrenching tail of how my top notch upstate New York lawyer of a mother abandoned me to my father. The Playboy of playboys. Or how about how she came back into our lives only to abandon us once more after the birth of my baby brother?

Perhaps we'll skip that for another time I mean seriously who in their right mind wants that kind of trauma.

Not me that's for sure but hey ho there are people worse off than me, that's what my Tia Diana likes to say whenever one of us complains about something. She's the live in Nanny, she's been with us since I was born cause Dad wasn't one for babies dunno why he kept us really I have my theories that it would be too scandalous of a thing for Obadiah Stane to let my dad get away with.

This is stupid. Why did I let Doctor Donovan talk me into this. Not that it's your fault. She's the one who told me that perhaps talking (writing) to someone or something would help me to not burnout and get a better grasp over myself.

Let's give this another go...

Dear Diary,

my name is Elizabeth Maria Stark. But everyone calls me Birdie. Tia Diana says it was my first word. I do like birds, I have a small mosaic of feathers that I'd made in class from all the places I've traveled to. It's my favourite thing that I made in art class, that and the ceramic infinity vase that I made for Pepper's Birthday last year.

My birthday is August 3rd 1993, making me fourteen years two months and six days old as of right now. I'm a Senior in high school, Obadiah kicked up a fit when my first report cards in primary school came in and I was doing far too well to be stuck in such a low level learning environment,so instead I got bumped up a couple classes. Yay me i guess.

Being a senior is great I guess. I'm like the most unpopular kid in my year, I mean seriously what seventeen year old wants to be shown up by a fourteen year old. So yeah being in senior year is amazing.

I told Tia Diana that the others like to push me about whenever essays are due, mostly the older girls corner me and try to get me to do their essays for them. She says that just normal and unfortunately I was gifted with a very beautiful mind. Her words not mine.

I think the only positive to my brain is that it makes Toby wanna grow up to be like me. He likes to do show and tell of all the things I do with him whenever Dad's busy and ignores our existences. But I always feel prideful whenever Toby brings home something from Preschool or Kindergarten and it's a picture of me or when he'd started learning how to write names he'd try to write mine.

Toby is the coolest kid ever. But don't tell him I said that I've gotta keep that disinterested older sibling vibe you know?

He's a little rugrat and I'd be lonely as hell in this big house without him. I mean I'd have Jarvis and Happy but you know Toby is my baby brother, it's ride or die for us two the two Stark kids destined for greatness.

Jarvis says I should go to sleep. It's nearly two in the morning and I have school in a few hours, I guess this is me signing off for the night. I'll tell you more stories later seeing as you and I are now gonna be best of friends.

This is Birdie Stark signing off for the night.

——————

It's going great. I thought staring at the screen in front of me.

Fury had ordered me to be dragged out of class. Coulson was in the car that come to pick me up, greeting me as an old friend but I would be honest I'd never met the guy before.

"Miss Stark if you would be so kind as to focus" the one eyed man sent me a look making me shrug a little before looking back down at what it was they were showing, "so what your saying is for the past fifteen years you've been watching me?" I tilted my head a little wondering what it was that made me special. Like I get the whole being Tony Stark illegitimate child but like come on now, that's why everyone at school wanted me, doesn't explain why these people wanted me. "Because you are exhibiting skills that would put some of my best agents to shame.. and it's skills like those that catch our attention" Fury seemed frustrated which I get I was a smartass when it came to talking to adults, the only decent figures in my life were my godfather, uncle Rhodey and my Tia Diana, our nanny.

Looking through the list of things they had on me it showed all my after school hobbies and clubs along with my academic achievements. It was no secret I was held to higher expectations than most, a lot of it from Obadiah Stane who seemed to insert himself in anything to do with my life rather than allowing it to distract my dad. It had noted down about my ballet and the catch wrestling and mixed martial arts as well as being captain of my schools debate club and winning three national championships in a row.

"So. it's a scary world out there wanna be prepared" I glanced at Coulson who was skimming through a file in front of him, "what the director is attempting to say is that we would like to recruit you". I was silent for a moment wondering how to respond, it would be a slap in the face for Obediah who always spoke of these big plans of basically sticking me and little Toby behind a desk once we graduated College. I wanted to go into politics to make a difference, he wanted me and my baby brother stuck at SI for the rest of our lives under his control.

"What about College, I've just started getting responses back about them" I tell them as both adults looked at me in surprise for a moment, "bit young for college?" Coulson spoke up as Fury simply tilted his head watching me as I shrugged, "I'm fifteen in a few months, I wanna get a head start in life sue me... besides the sooner I can get out from where I am the better" I say as Fury leans forward in his seat. "Pick a school, you can do both" he said as I had a stare off with him, "Harvard... they got the best political science department of all the Ivy leagues... one of their lecturers came to an event my dad hosted last christmas one of the most interesting conversations i've had with an adult ever" I watch as he glances to Coulson before smiling. "You know what kid I've got high hopes for you... welcome to shield Agent Stark" and with that I was a Shield agent.

—————

Dear diary.

scratch out the plans for revamping the CIA, we're in with the big leagues now. School was great, got an A in my midterm paper on the prohibition period in Western States, got to listen to my teacher go on about his father's time in the army during the second world war. Apparently he got to meet Captain America whilst over seas. which is cool I guess, Dad always said we were held to the legend of Steve Rogers by my grandfather, how no one will ever be as perfect as Steve Rogers.

Anyway's History was the only class I got through, I was called out of class by an Agent Coulson from Shield. Apparently my grandfather was a founder of Shield alongside my great aunt Peggy. Just another secret to add to the pile of things my grandfather did that we didn't know about.

But that's not the point. Point is they've recruited me. Me of all people. The local overachiever with parent issues and a habit for picking up things quickly.

So yeah Fury and I hashed out an agreement, I'd train and work alongside Shield during the summers till I finish College and then I'll basically be Shields personal political figure that isn't the secretary of defence.

Finally my way out from under Obadiah.

note to self - remember debate club captaincy meeting next week, grab notes off of Hailey and Griffin.

—————

Toby was perched on Dad's work bench, the five year old had zero concept of time so more often than not woke me up so we could go work with dad in down in the workshop. Jarvis, the ever loyal companion he was would always let me know if our dad was actually up or not before we'd arrive.

"Pass me the flathead" Dad held a hand out for Toby to place one of the screwdrivers Dad had placed beside him, I couldn't help but smile as I watched them from my perch. Dad was going away for the week so Toby had especially wanted to be up early before he left, Toby adored Dad but then again Dads the only parent he knew, Harriet came back into mine and Dads life for a year before up and leaving Baby Toby in her wake. Not that either of us would complain, where dad had been distant with me growing up he was attempting to make some sort of an appearance in Toby's childhood. It hurt seeing them sometimes but he was improving in some areas as a parents He had yet to miss a birthday or parent teacher conference so he was getting there in some sense, most of the time though we spent our collective moments as a family here in the workshop.

Toby clapped at Pepper as she came in scolding Dad, another adult in our lives that Toby adored other than our dad was Pepper. The woman was a saint probably one of the few people to be able to get our father to do anything, she was always making sure dad had at least one day during the weekend to spend with us, making sure he didn't miss out on important updates from the schools, not that Dad got a lot of input when it comes to our schooling that was more Obadiah who didn't understand the meaning of keeping one's nose out of things. "Birdie make sure your father gets out of here on time for his flight.. Happy will be coming by to pick him up" the redhead smiled at me before swooping down to collect Toby into her arms gaining a multitude of laughter from the boy. "Come along Stark Junior Diana is here to get you ready for Henry's party" she smiled walking out with the five year old on her hip waving good bye to me and calling back to Dad to remind him of his flight once more before both disappeared.

Silence fell over us as I sighed getting from my spot watching dad tidy some of his tools away, "send my love to Uncle Rhodey yeah" I say stepping forward to be closer as Dad chuckled glancing at me, "sure you don't wanna come with really good learning experience?" he offered but I only shook my head knowing we'd had this conversation before. "I've got too much going on here Dad.. we've got Mock SAT's coming up I've gotta get on top of those besides wouldn't be fair on Toby if I also disappeared" I mumbled seeing his expression fall a little before he smiled once more, "I'm proud of you kid.. I know I don't say it enough but I am" he reached out looping an arm round my shoulder bringing me closer before kissing the top of my head. "Thanks Dad" Smiling I pull away before calling out to Jarvis, "Jarvis make sure the old man doesn't miss his flight" I say turning to leave, "stay safe and don't be late for Movie night, you promised us you'd show us Back to the Future" making my way out of the workshop it wasn't hard to miss the sound of my dads laughter.

Going about the days following was weird. It was a weekend so I hung out with Toby in the living room, Tia Diana bumbling about in the background making sure everything was sorted for us whilst dad was away. Jarvis was being brilliant in entertaining Toby by playing Simon says and name as many animals starting with the letter 'c', I chuckled lightly watching on ignoring the homework I had in front of me. By the second Day of Dad being away everything felt off, Tia Diana said it was nothing to worry about stating that I was simply stressed over school work and my extracurricular activities, Jarvis offered up the response of Dad missing out on calling us the night before letting us know he'd landed safe.

"I'm telling you Birdie you have to stop stressing I promise everything is alright" the older woman attempted to reassure. I wanted to believe her, wanted to believe Happy, who came by to bring my new lacrosse stick to me, the old one had broken after I'd been messing about with DUM-EE. "Seriously Kid you're dads probably just partying with investors, Rhodes is with him so he'll probably kick him into gear about calling you kids" the older man clapped me on the shoulder as we went out into the yard, Tia Diana was watching Toby swim whilst Happy promised to help me practice my throws for next weeks playoffs. "I just miss him is all... I promise I'll stop worrying" I mumble as Happy sends me a sad smile, "he'll appreciate you worrying means you haven't become such a moody trouble maker" he laughed before chucking the ball at me, "I'm a teenager, being moody is my specialty" I shrug with a grin before throwing the ball back at him. The afternoon was spent like that Tia Diana and Happy distracting Toby and I from the fact we still hadn't heard from Dad, we went through the motions of getting ready for bed and everything. Jarvis was reciting the digits of Pi as a way of distracting Toby as I tried to get him into the bath, Tia Diana had had to leave early to go to her own kids. "I'll be back before breakfast are you sure you'll be alright?" the older woman worried as I shook my head, "go sort your own family out first Tia Diana they're more important we'll be fine we've got Jarvis don't we big man" I say glancing to the the ceiling as the AI responded with reassurance, giving me one last look Tia Diana pulled me in for a final hug. "Sleep well Birdie" pressing a kiss to my temple before leaving me in charge of the house for the night.

"Tobias for the last time, either you let me finish washing your hair or I'll tell Jarvis to not do the constellation story tonight" I huffed seeing the boy huff splashing one last time before grumbling to himself as I went back to trying to put suds into his hair. Bath time was difficult, both Toby and I related in the fact that we may adore swimming but bath time was not enjoyable, listening to the toddler enact some adventure with his frog and scuba diver, I grabbed the conditioner comb to run through the mane or hair the boy seemed adamant to keep as a rats nest. Curly hair was a curse he'd gotten from our Ma, I was lucky to have dads soft waves that curled when damp, a huff and growl was all I got from Toby as I combed the conditioner through his hair as gently as I could. "Henry says Mama's are meant to to look after kids not nannie's and sissy's" the boy mumbled playing with the bubbles I'd added as an attempt to sooth the grouchy attitude he got after bath time, I paused for a second after finally reaching the top of his head with the comb, remembering the comments kids use to make to me whenever Tia Diana would come and get me from school instead of Happy who everyone was convinced was my dad. It was harsh having to understand why everyone else had mums or stepmoms and I only had Tia Diana, when Harriet came back I thought things might get better that she didn't abandon me but really she was just bored and in between husbands, probably thought she could get dad to marry her this time round but dad wasn't the kind of person to get married, he'd done the whole kids thing now he just seemed to live life one one night stand to the next.

"Well Henry doesn't know what's he's talking about besides I'm a great sissy aren't I?" I say as he tilts his head back to look at me with a trembling look, "why don't I have a mama?" oh no it was one of those nights. Toby was a sponge for anything, would ask you to explain the reason of life to him before the sun had even risen, he enjoyed numbers and thinking games rather than cartoons, not that I didn't get him to watch cartoons with me, it was a pass time that we'd all pile onto the coach and just spend half a morning watching cartoons with Dad. "Cause we haven't found anyone good enough to be our mama..." I say not realising I'd started talking before wet arms reached out to try and hug me, "no need a mama I have my sissy" Toby mumbled burying his soap soaked head into my neck and for once I didn't care my clothes were getting wet as I hugged my baby brother closer to me. "I love you Toby don't ever forget that" I say feeling my throat tighten at the little ones words.

Bed time after that went smoothly. Toby seemed stuck to my side wanting to sleep in my room, nearly crying when I'd walked out the room to go get changed. "Jarvis start telling story of the constellations again.. i'm just gonna get changed" I ask the AI softly pressing a kiss to Toby's head before leaving to get changed finally feeling the days activities wearing down on me. Listening to the story of the Big Dipper and the different zodiac constellations I fell asleep thinking that things would be okay.

And then we were told that Dad had been kidnapped.

Obadiah took charge of the whole situation, taking up guardianship of both Tobias and I. Guardianship that meant leaving both Tobias and I alone in the mansion on lockdown with only Jarvis and Happy to interact with. He fired Tia Diana stating that Tobias was too old for a Nanny and that anything he may need emotionally I could provide for him. I was furious, crying heavily as Tia Diana said her goodbyes to us, telling us how much she loved us and how it had been a privilege to have been apart of our lives for so long, Toby was beside himself chasing after her car as she left, in less than a week we'd not only lost our father but also the woman who had stepped in taking care of us and loving us so unconditionally.

I was distraught, no matter the distance between us I still loved my dad and I still needed him. Everything seemed to be falling out from under my feet, Obadiah had organised for us to be home schooled, making sure to keep both Tobias and I out of the public eye as much as possible. Hell I'd practically prayed for Harriet to come back and take us with her to New York. To live with her and which ever number husband she was on.

Coulson tried reaching out to me, I said I was under new guardianship and that circumstances had changed. He simply acknowledged what was going on, offering his condolences and that the offer for shield still remained when things were sorted out if I was still wanting it. I wanted to say yes, every part of me said yes but to yes would mean to leave Toby alone and I couldn't do that, too many people had already abandoned us I couldn't do that to him. "I'll think about it.. thank you though" I murmured ending the call focusing back in on Toby who was going through reading time with Jarvis.

—————

Dear diary

Someone came to try and kill me last night. They'd disabled Jarvis and all power to the house and tried to strangle me.

I don't know much about the man who saved me, I saw he had a mask, long hair and a metal arm.

He spoke Russian and English.

He's scary strong.

He saved me.

—————

I was curled in the corner of my room staring at the dead body on my floor and the man standing over it. My throat and chest ached as if acid had been poured down my airways. He seemed to be staring at me before moving forward reaching for me, I squeaked shocked for a moment before being lifted into his arms. I wanted to fight but my limbs wouldn't move neither would my mouth in an effort to scream, maybe he was kidnapping me? oh god what if Obadiah had pissed off someone and now I was paying for it.

Slowly carrying me into one of the guest rooms he placed me on the bed, "оставаться" he muttered before leaving I stayed put going over what had happened my eyes slowly filling with tears at the thought I'd nearly died. Quietly I started crying clutching at my chest as the fear of what had happened came over me. Some time later then man reappeared kneeling in front of me, watching me for a moment before reaching for the hand that was near clawing at my throat, taking it gently in the hand that was flesh. "You're safe now" he murmured softly, giving my hand a squeeze before letting go and moving away. "Don't go please" I didn't recognise my own voice, he came back slowly as I reached out wanting comfort so badly, I hadn't had a hug from anyone but Toby since Pepper came by to check on us a week ago. Holding onto the man who saved me, I cried half scared out of my mind confused as to why and how someone would try and kill me, he was stiff unsure as to what to do but left me to hold onto him. Toby. Oh god Toby. "My brother... oh my god Toby I need too-" the stranger was already up and out the room, I sobbed the fear that my baby brother could be dead that they would have gone out of their way to kill a child was gut wrenching.

As quickly as he left the stranger was back with a blue and green bundle in his arms, tuffs of dark hair sticking out as he approached me with Toby asleep against him. Gasping I reached out letting the stranger slip my brother into my arms, hiccuping slightly I pressed kisses to the crown of his head. "Thank you... Thank you..." I whimpered cradling Toby as close as I could to my chest. The toddler huffed at me disturbing his slumber but didn't seem to wake, I didn't care looking over him he seemed unharmed and simply lost in dreamland, burying my nose in his hair I took a deep breath trying to take in his smell.

Mystery man simply stood at attention his eyes scouting around the room, glancing to him I tried to see if I could make out anything distinctive about him other than the metal arm and mask. "Sleep. I will check the house" was the only thing to come out of his mouth before he disappeared from the room leaving me to the silence of Toby's soft snores. I didn't go back sleep simply tucked my brother into my side and held him there, I spent the rest of the night staring out of the window waiting for the sun to rise. He came back to the room once more standing in the doorway for a moment looking in on us before vanishing once more.

When the sun finally rose from the edge of the ocean Jarvis turned back on. Apologise reverberated from the AI to which I waved him off, "it's okay Jarvis... both Toby and I are okay..." I tell him as I go about sorting out Toby who had woken up in confusion as to why he was in a different room, I simply told him Jarvis had a power cut and I didn't want him to wake up alone with out his nightlights. After checking the house throughout the day nothing seemed disturbed except for the singular blood drop on the floor leading to the back door, stepping out I walked to the edge of the cliff looking out over the sea, feeling the waves shower droplets of salt water into the air being blown through my hair. I stared out waiting wondering if the stranger was still around if we'd once again been left on our own in such a big house. I was right to wait as I felt a presence at my side, the sun was already setting and I could hear the sounds of Jarvis playing Bill Nye the science guy for Toby. I stayed in silence waiting for the presence to make a move instead he simply stood waiting just as patiently, watching my every move as a hollering laugh rung out in the air from the house causing him to flinch ever so slightly.

"It's just Bill Nye.. Toby likes watching it after dinner" I murmur my gaze falling to the shadowy figure, glinting metal catching the last rays of sun. "Thank you... I don't know if you've come back to like kill me or something but thank you for not hurting Toby... he's a bright kid and he's got so much to give to the world" the words felt like lead in my mouth, every scenario was playing in my head each one as bad as the thought before but all of them ended with me dead and Toby alone in the world. "My mission is to protect not kill" his voice wasn't covered by the sound of his mask as he spoke startling me out of my head, swivelling my head at a dangerous speed I stared at the man long hair curtaining his face from me. "Why?" I shouldn't spoke but it had been the question on my mind all day, why had I been picked to die. "You're important... you're needed" It seemed as if he was struggling to think of an answer making me even more anxious at the thought that out there people where making decisions that resulted in life and death, "I'm not... trust me I'm not. I'm just a kid stuck in a world full of people who control my life with no way out" I say tears pricking my eyes at the thought of being trapped once again under Obadiah, I was met with silence before the feeling of a knuckle brushing against my cheek, closing my eyes I allowed the feeling of someone actually caring even if it was just for a moment.

Pressing into the touch, I didn't dare open my eyes. Parts of me were screaming at how I was being, this man had killed someone in front of me, yes he killed the person who tried to kill me but that still didn't make him any less dangerous and yet couldn't seem to find it in me to care.

As gently as his touch appeared it vanished being replaced by the sounds of movement, "the boy is calling for you- you should go back inside.. I will watch the house tonight" and then he left as I stood there fluttering my eyes as the figure of his back walking away.

I did as was told and went back inside getting Toby ready and tucked into bed. "Birdie who's the ghost man?" he asked sleepily as I held my breath for a moment before glancing to the window that looked out to the backyard, the ghostly figure danced across in the moonlight. "Someone who's keeping us safe... you can't talk about him Toby not anyone- not to Happy or Jarvis or or- anyone do you understand" I say watching the boy nod before burying his head in his pillow, "night sissy.. night ghosty" he voice puttered out as he fell asleep leaving me alone to my thoughts.

I didn't sleep in my room instead taking the sofa so I could see out the windows properly. When my eyes felt like they might close I swore I saw the shape of the mystery ghost man, but fear wasn't the thought on my mind as I descended into the realm of sleep.

#marvel #bucky barnes #winter soldier #bucky barns fanfiction #original characters #male original character #female original character #tony stark #marvel mcu #angst #siblings #death mention tw #bucky barnes angst

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ghminerals · 2 years

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Color change Fluorite crystal. 7 lb. 3.2 oz. Mined Naughty Gnome Pocket, Diana Maria Mine, Frosterley Weardale, Co. Durham, England 1/2 off

https://etsy.me/3Nk9cv0

#fluorite #minerals #gems #crystals #healingcrystals #crystalsforsale #gemstone #gemstones #fineminerals

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vindieselsfacebook-blog · 4 months

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Meaning/references behind every Gilmore Girls episode title - Season 3, Part 1

Hi friends! It's been a minute since my last installment in this little series I've been working on. I'm trying to make a definitive, clear, concise list of the meanings and references behind each episode title. I'm going season-by-season and filling in references when I catch them.

Some titles are quite obvious and literal, but many are clever references that emphasize themes and symbolism happening in the plot or character relationships. I like trying to figure them all out and wanted to share in case I have some wrong or people have caught references I've missed or didn't know writers may have spoken about, etc. ASP has such a deep well of pop culture knowledge, I enjoy mining it.

Masterlist: Season 1 Season 2, Part 1 Season 2, Part 2 Season 3, Part 1 Season 3, Part 2

My notes: - As always, please correct anything I've gotten wrong and share your own insight! - Many of these notes are pulled from and/or learned via annotatedgilmoregirls.com - an absolute icon! I claim no author originality. I'm just the one to compile/edit them. :) - Season 3 marks the first season that pulls literal quotes from episodes for some of the titles. That was never done in S1-2 at all and 5 times in S3!

Season 3, Part 1

Those Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer is a popular song composed by Hans Carste. It was originally written as "Du spielst 'ne tolle Rolle", with German lyrics by Hans Bradtke, and was first recorded under that title in 1962 by Willy Hagara. In 1963, it was recorded by Nat King Cole, with English lyrics written by Charles Tobias on a theme of nostalgia. The song serves as inspiration for and the soundtrack to Taylor’s First Annual Stars Hollow End of Summer Madness Festival. In keeping with the theme of madness, a barbershop quartet sings this song on a sanity-eroding permanent loop at the festival. It is performed by Mick Foster and Tony Allen in the show.

Haunted Leg Lorelai catches a cold and wishes for a more exotic illness. “I mean, I’d like to have a good illness, something different, impressive. Just once I’d like to be able to say, ‘Yeah, I’m not feeling so good, my leg is haunted.’”

Application Anxiety Rory has some reality checks and fears about her college application process as she finally receives her Harvard application. Lorelai uses the phrase when telling Rory about the Harvard alumni visit.

This One's Got Class and the Other One Dyes The title is a reference to a line from a campy classic film trailer for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (a 1969 spy film and the sixth in the James Bond series), introducing Bond’s love interest (Teresa "Tracy" Bond, born Teresa "Tracy" Draco, and also known as the Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo) with the line “Diana Rigg as the Contessa - the different kind of Bond woman. This one’s got class and style.” Tracy is the girl Bond falls in love with and marries (technically he first marries in You Only Live Twice, but as an undercover ploy). She’s the first Bond girl to really show bravery, intelligence, and talent in her own right. She’s also the first to rescue Bond himself. “This one’s got class” has taken on a life of its own as a colloquialism to describe a version of something that’s the best of its kind - a high rating based on grade, quality and perceived worth. Although the title of this episode is ostensibly about the two different plots – Lorelai has to give a talk to a “class” while Lane “dyes” her hair – knowing this context, we know it mostly alludes to Rory seeing herself as the girl with “class”, while in comparison Shane is the one who dyes her hair platinum blonde and engages in PDA, meaning that she isn’t as “classy”. Quite possibly the most literal “not like the other girls” allusion in the show.

Eight O'Clock at the Oasis Midnight at the Oasis is a song written by David Nichtern. It was recorded in 1973 by American folk and blues singer Maria Muldaur for her self-titled album and is her best-known recording. The song is about an offer of a love affair in a fantasy desert location, and is considered to be one of the most sensual songs of the 1970s. It’s the song that plays as an alarm when Rory looks at the clock (reading eight o’clock) at Dwight’s house, which of course he nicknames “The Oasis”.

Take the Deviled Eggs... Sherry pressures Lorelai and Rory to take leftover deviled eggs home after her baby shower. Lorelai rants on the way home: “’Take the deviled eggs!’ How many times did the woman say it? And then her drunken friends hear it and they’re all shouting, ‘Take the deviled eggs!’” Could possibly be referencing other turns of phrase involving taking a kind of food item. “Take the biscuit” is a British idiom meaning to be especially annoying or surprising or to be the worst or best of its kind. Similarly, to “take the cake” means to have ranked first, typically used to describe something that is very surprising, foolish, remarkable, or annoying. Both of these would describe Sherry’s baby shower. Perhaps even “take the mickey” or “take the piss”, British euphemisms for making fun of someone. “Mickey” is slang for “micturate” which means to urinate. Of course, the girls do in fact take the deviled eggs and end up throwing them at Jess’s car.

They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They? The title is a reference to the 1969 psychological drama film, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, directed by Sydney Pollack and based on the 1935 novel of the same name by Horace McCoy. Set during The Great Depression, the film focuses on a group of people desperate to win a dance marathon where they are ruthlessly exploited, and stars Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, and Susannah York. The title comes from the fact that race horses are often shot once they break their legs to put them out of their misery. The film was a commercial success, and is regarded as one of the best films of its era. As in the film, this episode is about a dance marathon - although it isn’t nearly as dramatic as the one in the film.

Let the Games Begin The ancient Olympic Games were first opened in 776 BC with the announcement: “Let the games begin!” In this episode, the “game” that’s beginning refers to both Jess and Rory’s new relationship and Rory starting to consider Yale over Harvard. Lorelai says the phrase before Richard and Emily pick them up to visit Yale.

Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving Lorelai and Rory endeavor to attend four different Thanksgiving meals in one day, including Sookie’s which ends up being a deep fried fest thanks to Jackson’s family and the Kims’ which of course has some Korean flair.

That'll Do, Pig During Trix’s visit to the Independence Inn, Emily begins to eat her food very slowly, resenting how quickly Trix wants to rush them along according to her schedule. Lorelai quips: “That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” which is a quote from Babe, a 1995 comedy-drama film directed by Chris Noonan, produced by George Miller, and written by both, based on the 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig, by Dick King-Smith. In the film, a grateful misty-eyed Farmer Hoggett says this line to the pig Babe after he has, against all odds, won a sheepdog trial, despite not being a dog. One of the most understated last lines in film history, it’s a dignified, restrained way for Lorelai to say Emily is doing very well provoking Trix.

I Solemnly Swear Lorelai is asked to give a deposition in support of Emily’s case against Gerta, her unfairly dismissed German maid. This is where the title presumably comes from, because “I solemnly swear” is how an oath to tell the truth taken in legal contexts begins. Meanwhile, Rory (the current student council vice president) deals with political drama at school between student council president Paris and senior class president Francie. A president’s oath of office also begins with “I solemnly swear.”

#gilmore girls #my gg brainworms #lorelai gilmore #rory gilmore #gilmore girls season 3 #jess mariano #gg episode titles explained

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overthemoonminerals · 1 month

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Fluorite from the Truffle Pig Pocket of the Diana Maria Mine in England

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insurrection-if · 2 years

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If I may ask what are some of ur favourite names? And what's ur favourite genre to read/write? I would also love to hear more about your brainstorming and outlining process when it comes to ideas/characters? You've built such an amazing world with such deep characters. I'm just fascinated by your big brain. Great work!! 💗💗💗

(づ•ω•)づ♥ I'm so unspeakably flattered!! Thank you so much for your curiosity, interest, and kindness - this message was so nice to see in my inbox! My response is so long, apologies in advance(!), so I've broken it into parts!

Part One: Names

Aha, my favorite names in-game or for people in general? （；^ω^） In general, my favorite names off very the top of my head would be: Damian, Ignacio, Antonio, Dmitri, Roman, Stepka, Maria, Dolores, and Diana. In-game, my favorite names would be: Elouan, Imka, Falda, Elov, and Leysa!

In my writing process for original characters, I typically choose names after the character's ancestry / region of origin / background has been established. I research baby names based on nationality / region / ethnicity and take into consideration the meaning of the name (hopefully across multiple websites), its sound / pronunciation (to see if its fitting to the image of them in my head), the likelihood of the parents / guardians of the character choosing that name, and how realistically I can buy someone having that name if I were to meet them in the street (rather than something that clashes or jumbles as a 100% fictional moniker when paired with their surname).

Then, the hardest part for me and the true test for its finalization, I look up the numerology of the given name and its breakdown to see if it reflects the character I've imagined them to be - just to reassure myself the vibes are truly right, haha! Some names in Insurrection might not have the most fitting numerologies anymore for certain characters as they subtly morph over time (unless I were to take the time to verify them all again) but they're all established enough to be sticking as the final names. Honestly, I'll have characters nameless for the longest time as I draft everything else about them, haha!

Part Two: Genre

When it comes to reading, I adore fiction so much! Particularly, I find myself drawn to fantasy and westerns as a whole, though general mythology readings are always captivating to me! (I was obsessed with Greek mythology in elementary school, haha!) In college, I developed a deep love for modernism as well - I could read and analyze modernist literature endlessly, I loved it so much! I like romances as well, though rather sparingly outside indulgent fanfiction. If it's romance novels, I tend to prefer historical settings with a deep consideration to the cultural / societal / psychological constraints on the relationship and complex interpersonal relationships to add some drama atop it all. I also love court intrigue in general, especially if it has romance threaded through, haha!

As for writing, well . . . I always hate my writing! My online fanfictions (drafted, shared, or simply brainstormed) all pertained to romance (reader-inserts too, don't shame me!) with not a one spared from a love triangle at minimum, haha! I am terrible at identifying the genres for my ideas, but my absolute favorite concepts all carry an element of the supernatural or fantasy, maybe mythological too - either to maximum extremes or subtle nuances.

Part Three: Brainstorms and Outlines

My brainstorms are somewhat different for every project, though a running trend tends to be a song acting at the center-point / anchor for the overall feel / a climatic moment / general idea that inspires me.

I can name these songs across three different (favorite) fanfiction concepts of mine: L.V.S. Your Lady Waits by Shayfer James (climatic moment), Wooden Heart by Elvis Presley (an overall feel), and Säkkijärven Polkka + Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl (combined for a general idea).

If you can identify my fanfictions based on that . . . Please keep them secret, haha! 人 ´∀｀)

For original fiction ideas it’s the same: If Only by The Kooks (for a general feel of In Blind Reverence), Old Yellow Bricks by Arctic Monkeys (for the protagonist and world atmosphere vibes of Bird Caught in Wires), my beloved Roma Fade by Andrew Bird (for my even more beloved "Faith & Beauty" - bleh placeholder name - for the general intrigue and corruption of the romances). Works like Hunters (image origin), This World Was Never Ours (image origin), Retribution (personal doodle inspired), and Insurrection (fandom origin) are outliers to this general music cornerstone to the core thought.

Though, in its current edition, Saints at the Gates by The Golden Dogs might be serviceable for a centerpoint as it’s easy for me to imagine the characters and events in relation to the MC almost like a theme song, haha! (　´∀｀)b

Character creation varies as well across works. For "Faith & Beauty", characters are largely influenced by spirit animals (or, more so, the values associated with them and their relation / embracement / challenge of those values) and a specific art-style. In Blind Reverence has characters that largely originated from Pinterest images of a similar aesthetic / design which I projected "personality vibes" and backgrounds onto before then further them fleshing out in relation to the Seven Sins and Heavenly Virtues as the basis.

Insurrection characters, however, started in the framework of a fandom before being essentially melted down and reforged anew - some much more drastically than others. The Superhuman AU they ended up in allowed me to retain numerous elements of their original designs and then toy with essentially throwing them a new world.

Music is often key to characters for me, especially with Insurrection. Many of their dynamics or changes came because I would be daydreaming in the car as a song played and my youthful mind wanted to make a "music video" out of it. I'd consider what character(s) best fit the song, create some scenario / relationship / trait to go along with it and voila!

For Example: In early character development, essentially his conceptualization, I attached Uriel to Puttin on the Ritz as sung by Rufus Wainwright. It inspired his fixation on status—his deep need to be accepted into some sense of social standing, particularly a class of people perceived greater, finer, or lording over others. He has a desire for flashiness and elegance, extravagance and understated refinement. Appearance is crucial to him; wanting both to comply with and blend into the ideal image of high class while also wanting to be striking enough to be distinct from all the rest. He wants live seamless among the upper echelon yet cannot help but always feel like the outside observer simply mimicking and commentating upon what he can never be apart of. He's also a bit of a showman, trying to appear suave and familiar while catching the eyes and ears of all those around. So, yeah, my brainstorms are sometimes like that.

If I want to imagine a younger Elouan, I listen to This Charming Man by The Smiths, Blue Diamonds by The Long Winters, Atomized by machinegum, or Rue Saint-Vincent by Yves Montand. If I’m imagining the antics of Fyodor, Anatoly, Panya, and Gabriel all together then I do so while listening to Hard Bass. For Niccolò, I used to listen to a lot of jazz and (electro) swing. And if I want to imagine all the HAWKS in a more casual setting, vibing and socializing and dancing, its always to the sound of either Soda City Funk by Tim Legend or the Dancing in the Moonlight Remix by Johnny Lectro (and original track by King Harvest), haha!

Oftentimes, I become so distracted by the daydream in association to the song that I forget I’m listening to music entirely as just let my mind wander around the vibes set in place or an idea I stumbled on during the process . . . And then I have to restart the song because I didn’t actually get to enjoy it, haha! ₍₍ ◝(・ω・)◟ ⁾⁾

My general rule when it comes to character writing, however, has become background, background, background! I remember my constant fascination with the parents of characters as a kid, always wondering how someone went from a child to something like a General, Assassin, or anything. This might have originated from two things about me:

1) I tend to have this constant, persistent thought towards all real-world and historical individuals: "That person was a baby once." I watch a documentary on some notorious criminal or leader or icon and I think, "Someone had to feed them, change them, and teach them how to speak. Enough basics to keep them alive, and their treatment towards that life in their care affected them long-term."

2) I like to consider nature vs. nurture, which perhaps explains my love for modernism, haha! I consider the innate core of the character, how they might act or think or desire at their roots, and then I try to filter it through what I've laid out from their background (which sometimes might not bear any affect at all) to see if the end result changes.

When it comes time to really flesh a character out, I like to backtrack to childhood. Who are their parents / guardians?: personality-wise, occupation, lifestyle (financial or aesthetic, in their past and present), their relationship to one another, their presence / absence, parent-figure or blood relative, what were their circumstances pre-, during, and post-birth, etc. How would those parents raise their child (expectations, discipline, attitude towards parenthood, etc.) and how might that style of parenting mesh with the childhood personality I imagine the character to have? It's not all so detailed as an entire biography, but the general beats / feel / lessons are there.

The end point is already known to me as I undergo this process, yet it can be reformed or altered as I connect the dots from A to B. This helps me to better "walk in their shoes" as I try to consider what they might feel, perceive, know, or do, though I'm no omniscient being that'll always have my bases covered, haha!

For other WIPs, I haven't delved all that deep for every character's roots and detailed origins, but I still try to conceptualize the most recent and impactful years of their life to sense what they cling to, desire, claim, feel, perceive, etc. It sharpens their image more from a blob to an outline in my mind to do so, though I still like to have a few "blob" characters to make versatile in my daydreams - leaving room for them to morph or split or meld over time. (Like how Anatoly and Dearil are split from a "blob" character!)

Insurrection characters predominately originated as fandom OCs, which makes them unique compared to all my other original characters (outside fanfiction). This influenced some aspects of their foundation: social hierarchy, their gift type (to an extent), and relationships to one another (factions, friendships, romances). They've all changed plenty since then though, so their fandom roots might not be so obvious anymore.

Originally as well, the HAWKS had not been the protagonists. The original protagonists had been: Spoiler Character, Kyle Kelly, Marcus Fan, Irene Loveridge, Aisling "Abigail" Ryan, and Benoni "Viorel" Briedis. Yet, upon switching to interactive storytelling, I felt it railroaded the MC's ideological range on the Gifted to band with this unit . . . and it would be difficult to introduce all the other characters at this point in the timeline as well. (That point being when this particular ensemble is formed.) Not to mention that I struggled to conceptualize them as serviceable ROs. Then it became a crossroads on which faction to make the new protagonist ensemble: CARDINALS or HAWKS.

Since the HAWKS could include an MC of any ideology due to the forced nature of their recruitment, they won out, haha! Minor characters (outside Sigmund) suddenly became protagonists, and it was quite the transition and what had once been distinctive but minimal characters needed the depth and draw to create an appealing ensemble. So it simply became a task of fleshing out those backgrounds based on what had already been asserted about them, scrapping and reviving elements from their original conception and dynamics while seeking out songs that struck me as suitable for their brainstorm sessions.

Its also just a lot of loose associative thinking in the early days, "trying on" this event or that occupation to see what's most appealing to me. Some characters have had countless "wardrobe changes", and others simply had a "hat quickly stuck on their head" as they walked out the door with their first outfit, haha! Then comes the fun part of seeing how they all might then interact as an ensemble.

Or, well, sometimes a character is simply born from a role in relation to another that expands without my notice until I can't shake them loose, haha! (´∀｀)

TLDR: My brainstorm and outlines for characters are largely determined by whatever music I happen to be listening too and my fascination with childhood influences.

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