#above everything i am an art history girl

[kxanntt]

#lana del rey #lana del slay #lana del ray aesthetic #lana is god #lana del ray moodboard #above everything i am an art history girl #girlblogging #tumblr girls #explore #viral #poets on tumblr

[erinsintra]

The different species of Weaboos

Yesterday, I was watching this video about all the different sub-types of weebs, and while I do agree on everything said there, I feel like James didn't go far enough down the rabbit hole. So I decided to list a few of the "kinds" of weaboos I have dealt with on the internet.

(James is an awesome guy btw. You should watch his videos)

Weaboos

Possibly the most famous one. These are people - usually American or from other Western or West-leaning countries - that are obsessed with Japanese culture for one reason or another; usually due to overexposition to anime and/or manga. I have to admit, I was a bit of a weeb myself in my emo days, but it didn't go further than that. Some weebs, though, manage to sink down into some bizarre pipeline that turns them into a bizarre version of a Japanese nationalist. They start claming that Japan is the greatest country in the world, and anime is the perfect form of art, and Japanese girls are the epitome of (wo)mankind. It doesn't take long before they also start denying Japanese war crimes and defending their occupation of Korea. How they went from liking anime to endorsing war criminals is beyond me.

Koreaboos

Whilst weaboos are usually teenage boys (with the occasional thirty-something neckbeard thrown in), koreaboos are almost always teenage girls. They are people obssessed with Korean culture (specifically South Kora), or at least their weird version of it. Like weebs, most of their experience (or lack thereof) comes from popular Korean media, like K-pop and Koream dramas. They also love to idolise South Korea, claiming it to be a perfect society full of hot twinks with coloured hair, and as the above example, some of them tend to become political extremists as well. It's kinda funny to me how weebs and koreaboos hate each other due to their obssessive worship of rival countries. I used to know this kpop fangirl who once told me she hated wacthing anime because of what the Japanese did to Korea. That's like, I don't know, refusing to eat a hamburger because of the American Civil War.

Chinaboos

They aren't very common, but they are slowly growing in size as China herself expands her influences. These are people obssessed with Chinese history, Chinese dramas, and Chinese pop songs. I kinda dislike this kind a little less than I dislike the others - mostly because I am a admirer of Chinese culture myself -, but they have this weird tendency to deny the existence of China's misdeeds - while I am yet to see a chinaboo outright deny the Tiananmen square massacre or the Uyghur Genocide, most chinaboos I've met claim that China is and has always been the world's biggest superpower, and "dethroning" America is her fate. Crazy stuff.

I couldn't find a good image to put here, so here's one of Zhang Yong's tweets.

Teaboos

These guys are funny as hell. They're people who are obssesed with the UK, specifically England and the English monarchy. The type of people to stay awake for the entire night watching the new king's coronation, or the queen's funeral. They also frequently endorse the British Empire. I've had people come to me and say to my fucking face that they wished that Britain had colonised our country. People who idolise celebrities are already weird, but foreign politicians? That's a whole other level of screwed up.

Ouiaboos

I will never understand this. People who idolise France, praising their sophisticated culture and their chesse and wine and unpronounceable words. Some also like to endorse Napoleon and claim he was the most influential human being in modern history and an absolute gigachad.

I have never seen ouiaboos defending French colonialism, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

Wehraboos

The worse there is. People who idolise the Third Reich and their "efficient way of running things". If they were that efficient, why did they lose the war? They are almost always racist fucks.

Kaiserboos

The older cousin of wehraboos. They idolise the Kaiserreich and love the German monarchy, sometimes Prussia and Bismarck as well. Though not always racist, they usually have quite the controversial opinions on WW1. Guaranteed to be an EU4 or HOI4 player.

Romaboos

I kinda hate those guys for staining the image of Rome. These are people who idolise the Roman Empire, claiming it was the peak of Western civilisation at a time where "men were men" and "things were proper". Have you ever seen an incel on Twitter or Discord whose pfp is a Roman marble statue? That's one of them. They are usually very sexist, racist and homophobic, completely ignoring the fact that Rome was an incredibly diverse empire where homosexuality and gay marriage was about as common as brushing your teeth.

Leeaboos

Named after Confederate general Robert E. Lee, these are people - always Americans, thankfully - who idolise the Confederate States and the American Civil War. Like Wehraboos, they are guaranteed to be racist and sometimes also pro-slavery, claiming that it was an unjust war where the glorious freedom of their rebellious country was suppressed. Nevermind that the Confederacy was a barely-functioning oligarchy that lasted less than a decade.

Imperiaboos

Pretty much the Brazilian version of a leeaboo. They are people who romanticise imperial times and wish for the return of the Brazilian monarchy. They will go on and on about how the Empire was secretly one of the greatest economies in the 19th century (it wasn't), how they had the manpower to conquer the entirety of Latin America if they wished (they didn't), and how they were so cool they even scared off mighty Brittania that one time (which is actually true, though not as glorious as they claim). They are also frequently very racist and pro-slavery. Every time we have a shitty president (which unfortunately happens more often than not), they pop out outta nowhere claiming that "The Emperor would never allow that!" and so on.

Soviaboos

It always striked me as funny how so many soviaboos are of American origin. These people like to endorse the Soviet Union - or, in rare cases, the Russian Empire - claiming that it was the greatest superpower the world had ever seen, and openly wishing for its return. They commonly refer to their friends as "comrades" and tend to idolise Communist symbols and aesthetics in general. Generally very unpleasant to be around, though at least they are anti-capitalist and anti-american imperialism, so that's already a step on the right direction I suppose.

Thank you for reading all of this! I suppose I should get back to writing my novel now.

#fyp #fypツ #explorepage #memes #explore #funny #hilarious #tumblr fyp #fypage #foryou #fypシ #foryoupage #viral #shitpost #shitposting #weeb #weebcore #anime weeb #weaboo #korea #k pop #france #england #incel #roman empire #japan #cringecore #idk how to tag this #idk what else to tag

[centrally-unplanned]

something it occurred to me to wonder recently and thought if anyone would know, it would be you ;p

when Eva began back in 1995, how much was it anticipated? both narrowly in otaku circles, and more widely among 'people who watch TV in Japan'? as far as i understand the history, Gainax was pretty niche back then and mostly known for dating sim games, but the visual style of Eva is so immediately striking...

like, I know nobody quite realised just how huge it would become, but was there some sort of excitement for a new robot anime from the people who made Wings of Honneamise, Gunbuster and Nadia? or was it a complete surprise?

Hm, good question! I am not super confident in my answer, so my bet is "highly anticipated but not crazily so". Gainax was known but niche, having 'Otaku' success with as you mention Wings and Gunbuster...until Nadia: Secret of Blue Water came out in 1990. This would not have put Gainax per se on the map, as Toho and Group Tac were branded as the primary producers, Gainax as secondary, but it definitely put Hideaki Anno on the map as director. The show was wildly successful, aired in prime-time slots - which, fun fact, meant that its first season airing was interrupted due to breaking news about the onset of the First Gulf War - and Nadia herself became Best Girl in most of the Newtype/Animage style polls of the time until being dethroned by Sailor Mercury in 1992. Nadia was definitely still 'an anime', and it was a kids show in too many ways to be a real breakout. But it was the top of anime of its time, no debate.

Its success is what gave Anno the ability to finance Evangelion, and it meant he was also able to pull a lot of 'big talent' for branding purposes - which ofc was intentional, Anno is no fool. Hiring Usagi from Sailor Moon's voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi to be Misato for example, when Sailor Moon was the #1 anime of 1994, is certainly because of her talent but also because of her buzz, and he has a bunch of hires along those lines to make Eva the "oh man the best of the best are all here" kind of show.

(Again fun fact time - you prob know this one - he also tried to bring Kunihiko Ikuhara, Sailor Moon director, onto the animation staff, and as part of his tactics to woo him named Rei Ayanami after Sailor Mars, Ikuhara's favourite SM character that he famously cosplayed. Ikuhara was alas too busy with wrapping up his time on Sailor Moon and forming Be-papas to make Utena to spare the time)

All this meant that by the time Evangelion was getting ready for its Fall 1995 debut, the cover of the April 1995 issue of Newtype looked like this:

And hey, if you want some evidence of the buildup discussed, the first page of the cover feature starts off in 1990, with a discussion of the impact of Nadia:

Even here, once it transitions to discussing Evangelion, Anno is promising "something anime fans have never seen before". It was a common refrain in all the marketing material throughout 1995, that this show was going to be special. The manga adaption actually began print in February of 1995, as a hype builder. The Evangelion team was putting it all on the line.

Also I love that early concept art - the more gundam-esque pilot suits over the plugsuits would have absolutely been my jam, alas.

(This marketing material is more evidence against the mythical "mid-production pivot" theory that fans in the past surmised about Eva's intended story, but a topic for another time)

Still, this is just marketing - who wouldn't say your show will Change Everything, that is your job as a business! For all the inner-otaku hype and rep, Evangelion was definitely targeted at those otaku, and it wasn't marketed to an all-ages demo with wider appeal like Sailor Moon. Anno even remarks in the interview above it would be more of a 'cult hit' compared to Nadia. It had a Wednesday airing slot (at 18:30, not actually super late - another myth, it just had late night re-runs after its evening air slot), not a great time and definitely not a Saturday evening slot like Sailor Moon.

It was a show that instead grew over its airing and broke out of its slot and genre - its finale got audience ratings almost twice that of its premiere (though these numbers are hard to aggregate over different stations). Its about midway through its run that you start getting those "phenomenon of Evangelion" style articles, and when the ending hits the culture critics start jumping in as well and it becomes a true cultural event, and discussion of the show in mainstream magazines starts happening. That wasn't happening in 1995.

I wish I could say it all culminates with End of Evangelion being released and being the #1 film of the year and all that - but while it did well it got its clock absolutely cleaned by Princess Mononoke, which came out the same week. An honourable defeat at least!

Hopefully this is a good answer! Definitely more to be said on the topic, man this would be a great deep dive project...

#evangelion #anime history #also you had a great reply to my miyazaki walk cycle post and i never got to reply I am sorry -_-

[shytastemakerthing]

Appearance: So I'm a 5'0 "African girl with black curly hair and brown eyes. My skin is actually tan, though. I have a pear body shape and slightly chubby. I apparently always look exhausted due to insomnia.

Likes :I like art and mythology, and history.

Dislikes: I hate loud places,bugs, and summer and my accent( I have quite a heavy Spanish accent because I was born there and lived there for years and moved to an English speaking country).

Personality: I am an introvert honestly and quite shy, but when you know me more, I can be quite loud. I don't actually like talking, though. I love watching drama unfold before me, though, like family gatherings. I laugh at pretty much everything. I'm socially aware, but I can get emotional if someone yells at me due to my anxiety.i can be quite lazy and prefer to stay at home. Another thing is that I can never take anything seriously, I can laugh in serious situations, and my humour is broken and quite dark.

Love language:My love language is physical touch and quality time.

A/N: Hello and thank you for this request! I will admit that I also do not like summer. As someone who sunburns far too fast despite sunscreen, hates very hot weather, and how nasty the air can feel, I can very much relate in that regard. Anyways, I hope that you like your match-up! Enjoy!

I was not sure which fandom this was for or if you wanted platonic or romantic, so I chose a romantic for Twisted Wonderland match-up for this request.

Tw: None

I match you with........

Azul Ashengrotto

I have a feeling that Azul was not exactly a big fan of the summertime, on the surface that is. Being an octomer who has spent the majority of his life within the much cooler ocean, his first summer on the surface felt like absolute hell. It was far too hot, everything was sticky and sweaty, he was always dehydrated, his skin was far more adapted to receiving sunlight beneath the waves, not above it, so I think he would sunburn easily.

Because of this, he would absolutely join you in the much more comfortable indoors during the blistering summer heat. Maybe you would like to join him in the Coral Sea? He could easily procure a potion to allow you to breathe beneath the waves and the temperature is much cooler and better yet, no bugs. While beneath the waves, you will not have to worry about a single bug.

Azul is a very emotional person, he just works very hard to keep them in check. As a child, he would cry over everything, especially if the bullies were involved. If he sees that a situation is getting far too overwhelming for you and your anxiety is starting to rise higher and higher, he quickly enlists the tweels in getting rid of what is causing this to happen (if it is a person), while he quickly whisks you away to either his dorm room or the VIP Lounge, which would have two different results.

If you were taken to his dorm room, he brings out a spare set of pajamas that he had purchased after he started dating you. Once changed, he lets you lay in his bed, all tucked in and cozy while he makes you a cup of tea with some small snacks. He will stay there with you until he knows that you are alright, or until you fall asleep (his bed looks so freaking cozy).

If you were taken to the VIP Lounge, he lets you lay down on one of the couches that are within while still getting you some tea and snacks. Azul would discard his jacket and opt to place it over you instead. You are free to stay within the lounge for as long as you please while he finishes some work that he needs to get done.

Overall, Azul would give your relationship 110% at all times while still being the charming businessman that he is. He ensures that you are well taken care of at all times and to make sure the day is less anxiety inducing as he can. He may mess up a little along the way but he really is trying, For you, he will always try.

#twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland #twst x reader #twst #matchups #twst imagines #disney twisted wonderland #azul ashengrotto #romantic #twst azul x reader #twisted wonderland azul #twst azul #azul x reader #azul ashengrotto x reader #shy answers #shy writes

[carnocus]

writeblr introduction

Hey! I'm Arsen, I'm a Ukrainian-American in high school. I've been writing and making other forms of art for many years, and am planning on posting both my writing and my other art on this account! I've had this account for a while, yet it has undergone many breaks and changes so I'm reintroducing myself.

Some basic facts...

I'm 17 and will be 18 later this year

I currently live in the Northeastern US but my family is Ukrainian

My main blog for everything but my art is @thembones07

My account used to be under @/cryptidsandqueers

I tend to write mostly dark fantasy, horror, gothic, and literary fiction. I write both short stories and novels, and most of my works include a good deal of body horror. I am a big fan of using gore and horror as a vessel to demonstrate themes and put societal commentary in my writing ("A Modest Proposal"-style). I write mostly LGBTQ+ characters, and am a big fan of haunted house and mad scientist tropes. I make patches for clothes, including band patches, make other crafts, and draw. I am also into goth, industrial, metal, and grunge music, oddities, and fungi. I am currently planning on studying biology or mathematics after graduating high school.

I love doing ask and tag games, though sometimes I do get lazy and forget to. I also don't mind adults following me, but I am very liberal with my block button, so don't do any weird stuff no matter your age!

I've been wanting to connect to more writers on here, especially more horror writers, and refreshing my dash!

So with that out of the way, here are some of my works in progress...

Novels:

The Promethean Society (working title) - novel series - currently planning - dark fantasy/horror/apocalyptic dystopian

On a post-apocalyptic earth where some possess the ability to manipulate bodily tissue, a prestigious university opens its doors for the first time in 15 years, and young adults eager to serve the god of flesh pour in. The select few with the power are taught how to harness and grow it, given special treatment above the rest. They stumble into a world of lies, illegal experimentation, and fraudulent history. While trying to stay alive in the dungeons of the academy, which are crawling with unfinished experiments, the students must decide wherever to obey the Clergy and the god they supposably serve, or rebel and reveal the truth.

This is my main project right now, I am veryyy attached to it and it has undergone SERIOUS changes over the years. It features me being overly edgy and also a nerd, and is an exploration of corruption in the scientific research field but with body horror and gore. There is also a great deal of speculative biology, mad science, sibling relationships, and enemies to lovers.

Untitled - novel - currently planning, on the backburner - contemporary fantasy/folkore fantasy

After being away from her hometown for many years, a Ukrainian trans girl comes back and discovers a ecosystem she believed she'd imagined there. This is a novel about reconnecting with ones culture while feeling alienated from it because you are queer and grew up in a different country, as well as a love letter to nature and folklore.

This is a VERY self-indulgent story. The main character is Ukrainian-American and trans, like me, and the story deals with many issues I face everyday. I still need to do a lot of research before writing this because its setting is based on Ukrainian folklore and spirits.

Short stories:

The Architect - short story - 2nd draft completed - literary horror

A man is pressured by his dead mother's aspirations for him, with her dreams for him physically manifesting on his body.

This is a story about parents who raise kids for self-indulgent reasons and pressure them to fulfill the parents' unrealized dreams.

The House of Famish - short story - 1st draft completed - gore horror

A couple living in a carnivorous house fight over wherever to live by tradition or reject the harmful past.

I am very happy with this title and this story. It discusses familial attachments to unhealthy traditions through very cool visuals and features a subverted haunted house.

If you read this to the end, ily <3

#writeblr #my writing #writeblr introduction #books #short stories #writers on tumblr #artists on tumblr #horror writer #horror #dark fantasy #contemporary fantasy #artblr #horror writing #fantasy writing

[jkaresearch]

Art assistance = caregiving

I dont know why but i was thinking alot about care giving

I have. New art asisstance job and this time its more one on one than a big production like Lenny.

And i was thinking about how i am doing more than making the rat. I keep them company, we have meaningful conversationss and i am having real genuine human nnections

I approach everything with gentleness, compassion nd kindness. And I extend that to the artist i work for

I problem solve. I organize, i clean, i create, i make, i create a safe environment where they trust me. I am honest with my work, and i work hard

-

I love making the work, the craftsmanship, skillsets and the act of making art.

I love being a part of the process. I love how my hands is a part of the creation.

I love being a part of something important and creating culture and history.

—

I think alot about how most Filipinos are nurses. I think its our innate nature of being care giver. We are motherly and hospitable. We care an we give comfort. It’s natural to us and it comes out in everything we do.

Obviously i dont save lives, but i am also a healer and a natural helper.

I think about my mom as. Nanny/caregiver. I think about the women in my life who does this on a daily

We used to have our own nanny in the Philippines but in America she has to become one in order to survive.

I never really had shame thats he had to do that i understood that she had to do what she had to do. Also she never bowed shame in what’s he is doing, ive always seen her proud as to what she is doing. She runs the house. Without her they would not function.

I think about how she sacrificed and abandoned her own children and had to take care of other peoples children in order to have the aMercian dream. We never got out of that loophole. She never came home. I guess as a little girl i was waiting for the day when she would come home an tend to us instead but that never happened. I guess thats the reality of an American dream.

I think about how i m in their place now. I would always joke about how i would just nanny too to get many bc he earns alot. And she would always be like, dont because the reason why i brought u here so that you can have a better future and have a professional job.

And nw i see held doing what she is doing. I dont know why i am so convinced that art assitance is care giving, but it sure feels that way. That kiss hw much i put into othe job. I’m really serious into what i am doing and i really care about the people i work with. I go above and beyond.

I think my approach to the job is never just art making, I also build a relationship with these people and really try to change their lives- maybe through doing the work or through organization etc

I fin it so interesting how i never reallly had this epiphany before till now. But i feel so strongly about it. I feel so connected ot that word.

——

I really are about the job.

I could be doing their things but i am doing this.

It’s hard its not permanent and not stable

Sometimes i jump from me job to another just to make ends meet.

Alto of times i also end up with no jobs because one freelance job ended.

But I continue to pursue this type of work because i think i do well in it and i see how much i can touch peoples lives through it

I work well one on one. I work well alone and also in teams but i work well with thing i am passionate about I have to care about wat i am doing for me to put effort in it.

I take pride in what i do. I am proud that i made it here. I made this for myself. Got myself here by connecting with artists and being determined and offering my help and services.

I’m proud because i give my all and i found my niche. I know this is probably not gonna be forever but i know that this is a meaningful part of my life.

I also listen to th universe there must be a reason why i keep getting these types of jobs.

—-

But yea that’s all.

I’m proud of myself because I am chasing my dream. I am pursuing my passion and I am doing the bet i can it’s what i got.

Not a lot of people can go this route, but i did and i am doing well for myself. The fact that i was able to get so many opportunities on my own is insane. That is something to be proud of.

I’m proud of myself for following my heart and what I think is the best for me. For doing hat makes me happy. And ffor being so hard working and putting my heart into what i do.

[grandhotelabyss]

I am burned out on politics and hot weather—burned to the socket, as the poet said—so on my regular walks I have been desultorily listening to the Bennington College podcast from the end of last year. If it’s good enough for Goop—image above borrowed from Lili Anolik’s ’gram—it’s good enough for me. Undoubtedly seductive. This must be that mimetic desire the Catholic reactionaries are always warning us about: I half-listen and half-daydream, wanting to be such a famous writer that Anolik breathily rehearses my high-school romances. 

But, Lili will admonish me, it’s too late: her subtext is that these Gen-X luminaries—Ellis, Tartt, and Lethem—were, generationally speaking, the last serious American writers to command celebrity-level audiences before the final 21st-century onset of civilizational illiteracy. I never really got into the Gen-X writers anyway, though. I’ve ignored Ellis and Lethem all these years, though the pod is spectacular publicity for the former, and I wasn’t able to take Tartt with entire seriousness when I finally read The Secret History a couple of years ago, much as I viscerally enjoyed the novel. (I had the same reaction back around 2013, incidentally, to the book Anolik holds up as Tartt’s inspiration and precursor: Brideshead Revisited.) As I wrote:

In theory, Tartt means to morally indict the classics-obsessed mentality, the way pornographers used to preface their works with an assurance that all the fornication to follow was offered merely as a cautionary tale. In practice, just as Mario Puzo succeeded only in glamorizing the mafia, Norman Lear inadvertently turned Archie Bunker into a folk hero, and even Nabokov inspired some number of young girls to don heart-shaped glasses in a misunderstanding of his fable’s import, Tartt has only created a cult around her classicists’ cultus. She bears some responsibility for this ostensible misprision, it must be said.

[...]

With these unconvincing feints, popular fiction tries to morally launder the iniquitous and inequitable fantasy of freedom it proffers to readers. Despite poptimists’ charge that critics of Tartt are “elitist” when they point out her melodramatic plotting, evidenced by this weighty novel’s many empty calories of ersatz suspense, or her often overwrought prose (“His eyes were magnified and wicked behind his pince-nez”), the source of this novel’s popularity is nevertheless its daydream fantasy about joining the elite. Then again, maybe this moral duplicity is not entirely Tartt’s fault. Truffaut’s famous if apocryphal adage on the limits of cinema—he is supposed to have said, “There is no such thing as an anti-war film,” since movies glamorize everything—might hold true for all the arts and any subject matter. To create an effective work of art about [X] is to fashion [X] into the artifice of eternity, and what could be more glamorous than that? Another temptation is to say that great literature shouldn’t imaginatively fulfill the audience’s wishes, but too many readers want to marry Messrs. Darcy and Rochester or to join the conversation in Joyce’s Dublin and on Mann’s mountain for this to be true. To the endless despair of spartan socialists and other preachers of grayly Mao-jacketed justice, accession to the exceptionality of art is what common readers—and here I count myself among them—have always wanted. We are all Richard Papen.

For my money, the peak of American literature after the tradition’s Romantic founders—those seven dwarves and a princess, as an old professor of mine once called them: Irving, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Dickinson—was scaled not by the modernists or by the postwar masters but rather by the Silent Generation who commanded the 20th century’s final quarter. I wrote about this in an essay on Speedboat:

Almost every member of American literature’s last unambiguously major generation, the giants passing from the scene, was born in the 1930s: Carver (b. 1938), DeLillo (b. 1936), Didion (b. 1934), McCarthy (b. 1933), Morrison (b. 1931), Oates (b. 1938), Pynchon (b. 1937), Roth (b. 1933), Sontag (b. 1933), Updike (b. 1932), Wolfe (b. 1930)—and we can add some that are only a few years off in either direction for good measure, like Le Guin (b. 1929) or Ozick (b. 1928) or Irving (b. 1942). We might even take a cue from the Swedish Academy and adduce Bob Dylan (b. 1941).

This fact should be surprising since the Silent Generation, born from around 1925 to 1945, is so called because it came between the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers and seemed to leave less of an obvious historical mark than either. But perhaps its greatest effect was on American letters. I came across an explanation for why this might be so in a 2015 profile of the renascent journalist and novelist Renata Adler (b. 1937):

In an essay from 1970 (“Introduction, Toward A Radical Middle”), Adler argues that her generation “grew up separately, without a rhetoric.” They, the Silent Generation, are small, caught between two Americas: too young to have been involved in World War II or to fully absorb its traumas, but too old to have been wholly included in the cultural upheaval of the 1960s. “In a way, in culture and in politics,” Adler writes, “we are the last custodians of language—because of the books we read, and because history, in our time, has wrung so many changes on the meaning of terms, and we, having never generationally perpetrated anything, have no commitment to any distortion of them.”

Precisely the sociological in-betweenness that made this generation less interesting for demographers than stereotyped GIs or hippies also made its members ideal, because somewhat detached, observers of the mid-to-late 20th century.

(By the way, I should admit I take a self-serving interest in this dubious topic of generational analysis because I wonder if those of us born around 1980 might not form a similarly well-positioned cultural cohort. We were also reared on a historical fulcrum: our childhood and adolescent sensibilities were shaped by the print/analog world of the lingering postwar liberal order even as we grew to adulthood after 9/11 and on the Internet. Like the Silent Generation before us, we have a foot on each side of our time’s major socio-historical divides.)

I don’t know how that last prophecy is holding up. Probably not as well as I’d like. A casualty, perhaps, of the in-person communal effects the Bennington pod so compellingly narrates, effects increasingly absent from our 21st-century lives in the metaverse. 

Relatedly, I was intrigued to see Nicholas Delbanco figure so heavily in the Bennington narrative. I fear he’s been somewhat forgotten as a novelist, but I once discovered a very good nonfiction book of his, one he would have been writing around the time he had Ellis in his fiction class. It’s called Group Portrait and makes the case that writers need to exist in community by dwelling on a period at the turn of the last century when Stephen Crane, Joseph Conrad, Ford Madox Ford, Henry James, and H. G. Wells all lived near one another in the English countryside. It’s a curious example of needful community, though, because it’s hard to say what exactly came of this grouping, aside, maybe, from Conrad’s revivification by his young collaborator Ford. As I wrote in my essay on Group Portrait:

In conclusion, we might ask: why is the Kentish convocation of the turn-of-the-century’s major Anglophone writers less heralded than later modernist enclaves? Delbanco allows for one that this was a male preserve; as I’ve already discussed here, the period from roughly 1880-1910 in English letters was highly and willfully masculinist, more so than the periods that preceded and succeeded it. Kent and East Sussex did not have the presiding female geniuses of Bloomsbury or expat Paris—no Woolfs or Steins, only the wives and domestic servants that made the men’s writing possible (though Woolf and Stein, it should be said, relied on similar support).

Another reason is the ambiguity of the achievement resulting from these writers’ neighborhood co-habitation. Crane did his best work before he arrived; if you don’t count Nostromo, Conrad’s and Ford’s collaboration didn’t issue in a masterwork; and James and Wells produced a quarrel, not an opus. Add to that the lack of sexual tension and soap opera—this despite Wells’s complicated love life and the homoeroticism that, in different ways, adheres to the lives and/or works of Crane, Conrad, and James—and you have a less immediately exciting story than Hemingway sparring in cafés or Lytton Strachey pointing out the spot of semen on Vanessa Bell’s dress.

The irony or coincidence or synchronicity is that Delbanco does for the turn-of-the-century novelists in his book what Anolik does for the Gen-Xers in her podcast. And yet a podcast is not a book, and Donna Tartt is not Joseph Conrad, and I am not (yet) a famous writer; and in the high summer heat, all that is solid melts into air.

#lili anolik #bennington college #donna tartt #nicholas delbanco #american literature #literature #literary criticism

[vynpop]

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

by Jamie Ford

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis:

"Dorothy Moy breaks her own heart for a living.

As Washington's former poet laureate, that's how she describes channeling her dissociative episodes and mental health struggles into her art. But when her five-year-old daughter exhibits similar behavior and begins remembering things from the lives of their ancestors, Dorothy believes the past has truly come to haunt her. Fearing that her child is predestined to endure the same debilitating depression that has marked her own life, Dorothy seeks radical help.

Through an experimental treatment designed to mitigate inherited trauma, Dorothy intimately connects with past generations of women in her family: Faye Moy, a nurse in China serving with the Flying Tigers; Zoe Moy, a student in England at a famous school with no rules; Lai King Moy, a girl quarantined in San Francisco during a plague epidemic; Greta Moy, a tech executive with a unique dating app; and Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to set foot in America.

As painful recollections affect her present life, Dorothy discovers that trauma isn't the only thing she's inherited. A stranger is searching for her in each time period. A stranger who's loved her through all of her genetic memories. Dorothy endeavors to break the cycle of pain and abandonment, to finally find peace for her daughter, and to gain the love that has long been waiting, knowing she may pay the ultimate price."

Review:

Jamie Ford brings into perspective the impacts of generational trauma and how it can shape us into the people we are in the present time. Did you know that our history can be traced back through matrilineal genetics because everything we are from our looks to our organelles is accomplished through our mothers? Yes, our fathers contribute to our creation by providing a piece of DNA, but it is the women's contribution that brings us to life.

Dorothy was a highly relatable character to me to an extent. I had experienced a similar situation to the one she was in.

Stuck in a toxic relationship, but doing her best for her daughter. She deserves more, better than what she was given. As all the Moy women deserve.

The generational trauma that she had inherited from the women before her had consumed her entire being. She couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was heartbreaking.

I will warn you guys, there are some heavy topics within this book so be aware of this. There were times I was begging for a break, a light in the darkness of the pages. None of these women deserved what happened to them and I wanted nothing more than to hug every single one of them.

I loved that Jamie Ford also dove into the Buddhist religion. I was always fascinated with Buddhist teachings and how those within the religion approach life. I plan to purchase a book or two to expand my knowledge of it. I never want to stop learning. Religion has always been a difficult topic for me, but we won't dive into that.

I will not lie to you all, I am finding myself hoping and believing in the invisible string of fate. Where the person who was destined for us is waiting for the right turn of events to bring us together. I can be both a cynic and a hopeless romantic. Just a warning!

I enjoyed this emotional read, but it did take me a while to finish due to how heavy it is. If you are up for an emotional read...pick this book up. Cuddle up with a blanket, some tea, and some Kleenex. Be prepared for the heartache and the longing for a long-lost love.

Favorite Parts/Quotes:

"He gently put the ear tips in her ears, then slipped the metal chest piece between the buttons of his shirt, directly above his heart.

'What are you doing?'

He smiled again and leaned closer.

'I wanted you to hear my heartbeat when I kiss you for the first time.'"

The amount of girly squealing I made at this part was ridiculous. Ridiculous! Anyway, there you have it!

#book blog #bookblr #books #reading #bookish #books and reading #bookworm #book review #The Many Daughters of Afong Moy #Jamie Ford #booktok #booklr #romance books #book journal #book journey #book quote #fiction #romance #emotional

[cepetriwrites]

SGE Fanfic New Chapter!

Just posted chapter seven for my School of Good & Evil fanfic! November is just going to be a month of straight writing lol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Penelope’s roommates were celebrating in their room after Yuba’s class.  “He’s your True Love for sure!” Arinsoë said, twirling with a pillow around their room.

“I wish my prince had done that,” Dahu sighed dreamily.

Penelope blushed, “Did it really look that romantic?”

“YES!” They both squealed and they all dissolved into giggles.

“He’s definitely going to ask you to the Snow Ball.” Arinsoë said.

“This should make it easier to decide,” Dahu said.

“What do you mean?” Penelope asked.

“You received two roses, and the Wish Fish couldn’t show your greatest desire. Eric saving you and being able to tell when you’re disguised should clear it up now right?” Dahu asked.

Penelope felt her smile fall, “I haven’t had any time to talk to Cedric though, what if he’s my true love but I don’t realize it because I spend all my time with Eric?”

Dahu patted her hand, “You’ll figure it out, Princess Uma said only one prince can fully have your heart, you’ll be drawn to him, he’ll fall in love with you and then we’ll all go to the snowball together.”

Penelope smiled again, trying to reassure herself, everything was going so nicely, she finally felt like she belonged, she had friends, a potential prince, she had her place in life. She would figure out her true love, get her happy ending, and nothing would ruin it.

Not even when she didn’t score within the top five in her beautification class. Or when she performed flawlessly in Princess Etiquette, only to still take a 7th rank.  Animal communication was her biggest flounder, as she was unable to procedure any satisfactory whistle sounds. A rusted 20 appeared above her head, and fear began to gnaw in her stomach. Dahu and Arsinoe assured her she would do better in the next class. In a History of Heroism she practically leapt out of seat to answer each question, garnering her only a three.

Her friends comforted her on the way to lunch. “Today’s classes were just a little tricky.” Arinsoë said, squeezing her hand.

“Whistling can be hard,” Dahu said sympathetically, “I can help you practice and you’ll get it in no time!”

Practice… Penelope had practiced for years, she had excelled in every course, mastered the art of being a perfect princess under her mother’s guidance. Every person she encountered proclaimed they had never met a Gooder person. What had happened? She wondered as they walked through the tunnel to lunch.

The truth was nothing had happened to Penelope. She was, and still was an excellent pupil with natural intelligence and grace. She was exemplary, unfortunately, so was every other princess at the school. And when you’re surrounded by the best, someone has to be the worst.

🖤🖤🖤

“I am going to vomit,” Narcissus said, watching the princes slowly sidle up to the princesses practically shivering with anticipation to begin courting. It made her heart clench with disgust.

“Um, one of them is coming over here,” Kali said.

A princess with uncharacteristically short hair, soft pink lips, and bright brown eyes, carrying two baskets, walked past the invisible border and was waving at them. No, at Ethel. The three girls snapped their heads to her.

“What is happening?” Havu hissed.

Ethel didn’t answer, looking like she had seen a ghost, as the princess approached. “Hi Ethel!” She said cheerfully as she sat down. “I’m sorry I didn’t come over the first day, I was, well, in shock I guess, and the second day the princes weren’t going to let anyone through.” She shook her head looking slightly exasperated. “But today I made it through! I even got you a basket, the fairies are not happy with me.” She placed it in front of a stunned Ethel.

Kali’s eyes narrowed, “You’re the other Reader.”

The girl nodded her head, “I’m Rose, nice to meet you!”

“Why is your hair so short?” Havu asked.

“Oh,” Her hand touched the soft fuzz covering her scalp, the cut was poorly done, and shorn close to her scalp. “My mother cut it.”

“Was she jealous of your looks?” Kali asked.

“It’s what Gavaldon parents do to their good kids, it’s in hopes of deterring the School Master from taking them,” Ethel finally said.

Rose nodded, “My parents also asked me to be cruel, but I couldn't bring myself to do it,” she laughed softly. “I probably should’ve.” She had a cheerful demeanor, but it felt more like a facade to cover up sadness.

Narcissus picked at her nails, she had heard of Readers of course, but mainly how they could be massive disasters and tended to be unequipped for the School. It had never occurred to her that it was because they were kidnapped. She shooed away the odd feeling those realizations gave her.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Rose said to Ethel.

“You are?” Ethel asked, very surprised.

“Oh no, not because, I mean,” Rose stammered, “Because you’re so headstrong, you don’t let people push you around, it gives me courage.”

Ethel looked down, her eyes getting wet, “I’m glad you’re here too.”

“Oh Ethel!” Rose flung her arms around her. “We’re going to get through this!” Ethel timidly hugged her back

Narcissus felt like she was intruding on a private moment, she and her roommates shifted away from the emotional hug.  Across the lawn she could see the other Evers staring in shock, but the two Readers paid no mind to anyone.

The next two weeks found the students settling into a routine. Narcissus, determined to never find herself in the third tier, and needing to compensate for her lackluster performance in special talents, threw herself into her studies.  She diligently wrote notes in every class, pestered the professors with questions and read and annotated every chapter before class.

She made her roommates quiz her and would hound professors for advice and study guides after class. While they found her needling annoying, they were excited to a student so wholeheartedly dedicated to their studies.

Her mother was writing multiple times a week, checking her rank status, quizzing her. Other family members were writing to her too, ordering her not to let down the family. Narcissus was turning in satisfactory reports, earning praise for the first time in years.  She never included that there were days when she felt like she was failing, when she stayed up for hours because the lessons didn’t stick in head. It didn’t matter as long as she could keep her ranks in the mid-60s. Her only wish was that her headaches would go away.

Ethel struggled in classes but was able to stay afloat with studying, every lunch she and Rose would sit together and pore over their studies, helping to quiz each other much to the shock of both sides.  The effort required for her to stay alive meant no outbursts or fights, to the relief of her roommates.

Kali and Havu were excelling in class, battling for top ranks, and the ultimate prize: Class Captain, with a few other high achieving Nevers. Narcissus burned with jealousy watching them succeed while putting in half the time that she was. It seemed that all the studying couldn’t compete with natural skill.

Elsewhere Penelope was finding herself in a potentially dire predicament.  She kept trying to study, but academia, which had once been an easy thing, requiring little work, was now arduous. She was managing to stay in middling ranks, purely due to natural talents she possessed heavily compensating for her inadequate study skills. She didn’t understand why it was so difficult for her, but she had to figure it out soon, the challenges were going to get tougher. 

Disaster struck two weeks later, during surviving fairy tales. Yuba was instructing them on which leaves could be used for eating, which would kill you, and which didn’t do anything in particular. It was not a particularly exciting lesson to children unaware of their own mortality. Especially when some of the students had been given new slingshots…

Narcissus was diligently scribbling away at her notes, doing her best to accurately sketch each leaf, grilling Yuba about the real colors of the leaf.  He was happy to have a student so intently hanging onto his every word.  Which is why he didn’t notice the boys taking up target practice.

Several loud cracks snapped everyone out of their focus on the lesson. Everyone turned towards the noise, the guilty party held their slingshots limply in their hands. The students’ eyes tracked the path of destruction to some broken branches hanging by a thread near a nest of sleeping bone stymphs. 

“What did you do?” Yuba asked, a scary edge to his voice.

“It’s okay,” one of them answered, “only Nevers can wake them up.”

“That’s not true,” Kali said horrified, staring at the nest. 

A bone stymph slowly rose from it, stretching out it’s wings, everyone held their breath as it took them all in. “What do we do?” Ethel whispered; then it let out an ear shattering screech.

“Run!” Yuba said.

Chaos broke loose in the Blue Forest as the sixteen students scattered, everyone screaming, as three bone stymphs launched themselves out of the nest and swooped towards their targets. Yuba waved his staff, attempting to stun the stymphs, but it was hard to strike them while they dipped and dived towards the students. Some of the princes tried using their slingshots to fight the stymphs.

“NO!” The Nevers screamed, the stymphs grew even angrier and one managed to grab a prince in its claws.

Yuba shot sparks from his staff to frighten the bird, succeeding in forcing it to drop it’s prey. A net appeared, catching the student, mostly unharmed. The three birds swooped to dive bomb Yuba, he aimed his staff to take care of them, but was knocked off balance by a fleeing student. The edge of the staff exploded, throwing everyone nearby to the ground.

Narcissus struggled to pull herself up, spitting out blood, a new exit had been created by the blast, a large gaping circle had been made by blasting through the foliage.  She heard a screech and saw a stymph, flapping its wings and staring at her intently. Narcissus scrambled off the ground and stumbled through the exit rather than risk ending up in its claws.

“No! Stop!” Yuba frantically called after the few students who went running through the new exit. But it was too late, in an effort to escape the stymphs, some of the students had run into the Endless Woods.

💕💕💕

Penelope crashed through the broken branches and shrubbery, desperate to escape the sharpened claws of the stymphs. The light disappeared and she could barely see, but she didn’t stop running until she couldn’t hear the screeching. Even then she kept running, until something finally tripped her and she crashed onto the floor.  Penelope laid there, sides heaving, she had never run so far and fast in her life. Her lungs burned and her legs felt like pudding. Her palms stung, she squinted seeing scraped skin and flesh blood oozing from the open wounds. She had never been hurt like this before.

She turned around trying to figure out where in the blue forest she was. A chill ran down her spine as she realized what was missing: blue.  Instead of the vibrant shades of turquoise, cerulean, navy, and indigo, there were browns and greens. She wasn’t in the Blue Forest anymore, she realized with a sinking stomach. She was in the Endless Woods.  She heard a howl in the distance and frantically tried to figure out which direction she had come from. But it was useless, she was lost.

She shivered and hugged herself walking forward, her eyes adjusted, she wasn’t stuck in a pitch dark forest. She wondered where she was, she wondered when the sun would go down. How was she going to survive? Two weeks of class were not enough for all the dangers lurking in these woods.

Penelope tried to stay quiet as she walked through the Woods, she had never been alone in the forest, she had never been alone, not like this.  The forest was too quiet and too full of noise at the same time.  She could hear sounds, mysterious commotion caused by unseen things.  Were they friendly? Hunger? Indifferent?  She wiped her eyes, she’d never been so scared in her life.

“Why am I walking?” She whispered to herself. She couldn’t find which direction she came from, she didn’t know where to go, she couldn’t survive for long. The teachers, she thought firmly, they’ll come find me, they won’t let me stay out here.  If the teachers were searching for her, which they were, then it didn’t make sense to keep walking. She just needed to stay put until the search party came for her. She was a princess, she was meant to be rescued.

She sat down and curled her knees to her chest, they’d be here soon, she’d get washed up, and have dinner in the dining hall. Arsinoë and Dahu would hug her and tell her how worried they had been, and tonight she’d sleep in her soft satin sheets and this moment would seem like a dream. 

A loud snarl ripped through the calmness of the forest, Penelope scuttled backwards into some bushes as she saw two, maybe three hulking creatures run by, she was glad she had gone unnoticed.  She started to hyperventilate, she became less sure of her odds of survival.  At least she managed to not become whatever that was’ snack.

A piercing scream rang out, the creatures had found a snack. “NO! Stay back!” A frightened voice called out, Penelope sat up, she knew that voice, it was a student! Penelope ran towards the noise, there they were fifty feet ahead, Penelope stopped behind a tree, taking in the scene.

Two hulking hounds, bigger than any dog Penelope had ever seen were licking their jaws at the prey they had cornered. A girl with white hair in a tattered black dress, gripping a rock, blood running down her arm, and pointing a glowing finger on the other hand. Narcissus. “I’ll do it! I’ll hex you!” She shouted, Penelope hadn’t realized how accomplished of a witch she was, none of them had had their magic unlocked, yet here she was ready to cast a spell.  They hung back hesitating in a standoff.

There was a loud caw and Narcissus’ eyes glanced to her side for half a second, one giant wolf took the advantage and lunged at her, slamming her to the ground. It pinned Narcissus' hand with the glowing finger down.  She used her free hand to bash the rock against the wolf’s face, the only thing keeping at bay as she tried to wrestle out of a creature three times her size.  Its companion hopped around, yowling in excitement.  Penelope was frozen, gripping on to the tree. She should do something, or Narcissus would die!

How? A voice inside her argued, you have no magic, no skills! All you’ll do is get yourself eaten, better run away before you’re next. Princesses aren’t warriors.

The voice was right, what was she going to do against two giant beasts? She was a princess, she wasn’t met to fight, she was meant to be saved.  She resolved to sneak away, to hide, so she could be rescued by the proper people. She turned away, but Narcissus’ screams still filled her ears, she was struggling, fighting with everything she had. It was a losing battle, she probably knew that, and yet she was fighting. She had more courage than Penelope ever could. No no no NO! She was a hero! She was supposed to help people! It didn’t matter if she was outmatched. She had to try!

Penelope scanned the forest looking for something, anything she could use, finding a couple fist sized rocks she grabbed them and dropped one in her pocket. She stepped out from behind the tree and hurled the stone at the excited wolf’s head, hoping it would hit. It missed, bouncing off the wolf’s shoulder bone, but it got its attention. It turned its head towards the minor nuisance and saw a disheveled girl in a dirty pink dress with golden hair and it pounced. At that moment, Penelope realized she had failed to figure out a way to subdue the wolf after getting its attention. Right before it’s jaw could clamp down on it’s delicious meal she lunged to the side and the wolf slammed it’s head into the tree with a CRACK!

One down, Penelope thought as she watched the wolf fall back in a limp pile.  She looked back to see the wolf staring very angrily at her. It growled as it stalked towards, Penelope backed away, wondering if she could pull off the same trick twice.  Before it could make a meal out of Penelope there was a small zap, and the wolf dropped to the floor stunned.

Penelope stared at Narcissus in shock, unsure of what to do next. “Run you idiot!” She snapped before taking off into the forest, leaving her and the wolves behind.

🖤🖤🖤

Narcissus hadn’t expected a lot of things, she hadn’t expected some stupid princes to awaken bone stymphs. She hadn’t expected to have to run through trees to escape only to find herself in the real Woods. She hadn’t expected when she dropped the ripped cloth she had been using to wipe the blood off her scratched arms, that a Grim Hound would find it. But most of all, she hadn’t expected to be saved from near certain death by a princess. 

Now she was sprinting through the woods, trying to formulate a plan. The beasts would soon recover from being stunned and soon be after her trail again. Narcissus didn’t know how to shake them when she was in such unfamiliar territory. She started zig zagging through the forest, right now her best plan was to climb a tree to give her a height advantage for defense. She didn’t stop running, taking in each tree, trying to find one she could climb high to be out of the jumping range of their massive jaws.

She slid to a stop as she heard shouting, through some trees she could see writhing vines, she recognized them, leecher vines, they liked blood. And there was Penelope, tangled in them, struggling to get out.  Narcissus saw a solution to her problem, Penelope would likely get out of the vines, they weren’t very strong, just scary. However once she did, the grim hounds would find her, and be set upon her. Once they had feasted on her they would likely be satisfied and not hunt Narcissus anymore.

Yes they’d be satisfied hunting and killing the girl who had overpowered them. Leaving her to be destroyed so she could survive was an easy decision, she was a villain. She should find joy in doing it. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t leave Penelope to the fate she almost suffered. Narcissus ran forward and grabbed the princess’ hand, pulling forward with all her might, yanking her free of the vines. “C’mon!” Holding tight to each other they ran away from the vines, and the familiar howls in the distance.

“How long till we’re far enough away from them?” Penelope asked panting, lagging behind Narcissus.

“Don’t you get it!” Narcissus snapped holding up an arm to blocking branches and weeds from flinging in her face. “They’re Grimm Hounds! Once they have a taste of their prey they don’t stop hunting!”

Penelope stopped running, pulling Narcissus’ arm back, “Then why are we running?” She snapped, “We’re just wearing ourselves out! Then we won’t be able to fight.” Narcissus looked at her, she was right, they were both breathing hard, bleeding, and tired. Penelope pushed her hair out of her face, “Is there anything we can do to escape them?”

Narcissus thought for a moment, “Water. Water will wash away our scent and they'll lose our trail.”

Penelope turned around, searching the forest, “How do we find water?”

Narcissus looked around, no signs of streams, or rivers, if she had been home she would know where to go.

“We’re going to be eaten by oversized mutts and my shoes are covered in mud!” Penelope stamped her foot in frustration.

Narcissus spun towards her, “What did you say?”

Penelope lifted one foot to show the mud covered pink slipper. “My shoes, they’re getting covered in mud.”

Narcissus tapped the ground with her foot, “This ground is softer, water makes mud, there might be a water source nearby!”

“How do we find it?” 

“Where ever the ground slopes downward.”  The two slide their feet along the ground, feeling for an incline, “This way!” Penelope grabbed Narcissus’ hand and tugged her along. They followed the wet ground as it became muddier and muddier, water starting to lightly splash their feet.  

Tiny streams criss crossed and trickled downward, in the distance they could the howls of the hounds on the hunt, they ran faster until they reached a muddy puddle about three feet wide. “That’s mostly mud, there could be a bigger puddle further, but there is enough water, probably.”

“You want me to roll in the mud?” Narcissus decided to skip the debate and shove Penelope into the mud, before jumping in it like a puddle herself. Penelope stood up wiping her face. Gone was the radiant golden hair, the flawless skin, the perfect dress, all that was left was mud. 

“That’s good! Let’s go!” Narcissus grabbed Penelope’s arm, “Run through every puddle you see!” And off they went again, ignoring the aching of their legs and the burning in their lungs. They splashed through every muddy puddle and stream, after wading through a shin deep creek they finally stopped running. “That… should… do it.” Narcissus said panting. 

Penelope leaned against a tree for support, “What now?”  

Narcissus cocked her head, listening for the Grim Hounds, they sounded frustrated, but faint, and not getting closer, she felt relatively confident they lost their trail. She looked to the sky, “It’s getting dark, we need to find shelter. How’s your climbing?”

Terrible, her climbing was terrible! Narcissus discovered Penelope didn’t have the grip strength or calluses needed to handle the rough bark biting into her hands. She had no upper body strength, making it impossible for her to pull herself up. Narcissus ended up needing to boost her up until Penelope could reach the lowest branch and hold on, her legs dangling in the air. Then Narcissus had to climb up, and pull Penelope up. Once they reached a spot in the tree where the limbs split off, leaving some space for the two to stand, she collapsed against a branch.

“Princesses are so weak.” Narcissus moaned.

“Yet Evil still loses.” Penelope said tugging on a muddy lock of hair.

Narcissus stared for a moment, then erupted into giggles, Penelope looked frightened for a moment, then joined in. Narcissus kept laughing until her ribs ached with each breath. She and the princess sat in relaxed silence as the stress and fear were momentarily lifted off their shoulders.

Narcissus watched Penelope idly picked at the mud on her forearm, “What do we do now?” The princess asked.

Narcissus shrugged, “There’s no point in doing anything until it’s daytime, even worse things come out at night.” 

Penelope shuddered, “How do we fall asleep?”

Narcissus thought about all the monsters and plants Yuba had mentioned in class, she imagined them creeping up on their sleeping forms, their mouths opening wide with sharp teeth and drool dripping down on them, waking them a moment before their brutal death.  Her hair stood on end, “I don’t think we should. Let’s just stay up and maybe we can come up with a plan for daylight.”

#school for good and evil #school for good and evil fanfic #fanfic #ao3 #lesbian #wlw #slow burn #eventual happy ending #forbidden love #romance #writing #creative writing #lgbt

[kxanntt]

#moon #cottage aesthetic #naturecore #fnaf moon #viral #above everything i am an art history girl #explore #stay with me

[abernathyvalois]

I am a museum girl. above everything I am a museum girl

#studied abroad in italy last summer #and in the winter i got a text from the girl i got lost in the uffizi with #and she was like #hey i’m in an art museum right now and i wish you were here #you’d explain all the paintings and history to me #and it made me so happy #and i’m going to the met soon with a group of people for my friends birthday #and my friend said she calls me as a partner because i can appreciate art history #above everything i am an art history girl #and i always will be

[chrissshub]

❝SENSUALITY’S VICE❞

⭑—pairings: pornstar!Ken Ryuguji x amateur!fem reader

⭑—cw: shower sex, handjob, fingering, filming, draken’s a bit of a meanie, use of petnames, soft!draken, premature ejaculation

⭑—a/n: this one was a request but also something I’ve really wanted to do too <333

“Fuck up once and I’ll break you.”

Those were the first words to come from Draken’s mouth upon meeting you, the threat rolling off his tongue with ease. You were aware of his brash nature, rumors, and warnings from past partners. He showed no remorse to those that laid beneath him, the toxic dominance clouding his mind made sure that they’d feel every single of his ministrations in the morning.

The same attitude was the key to his die-hard fanbase, rallying around him. As heartless as Draken was, he never did leave anyone unsatisfied.

However, as the days and months melded into years, Draken was sure he’d done it all, from the himbo gardener to the hardest of doms possible. There was one specific category that hasn’t even been touched by his hands, one that stood for everything he could not.

Sensuality.

Focused less on the dramatic wails, spilled tears, and rough clashes on skin seen in pornography. No, the category of sensuality strived to promote the art of intimacy and touch, abandoning the typical stereotypes placed on the industry. Though for some, it’s a place of never returning, even going as far to call the category a hypnotic curse.

As for Draken, he saw it as a necessity, risking the strings of attachment over the span of twenty minutes. He knew the effects it had on a few, throwing away years of a glorified history for a taste of what was painted to be love.

If anything, it enraged Draken to no prevail, sending the veins throbbing with blood aflame. Such anger wasn’t something he became versed in, eventually taking out its wraith on those around him. It was the very reason he approached you, his darkened hues peering back at you through the mirror’s reflection.

Even with a heartless sneer dressing his features, Draken managed to catch your eye. Tracing down from the muted gold locks of upon his head, the expanse of his robust chest, ending with the plush white towel hanging loosely around his contoured waist–

You returned his gaze with a gentle haze, donning a coy purr to your voice. “Wow, do you threaten all the new girls like this or am I the first?”

“Just the ones who seem stuck-up.”

Finding distaste in his comment, you turned back to bear the full sight of Draken, your hands crumbling the ends of your own towel.

“Listen, I’m just here for the same reason you are: the money. And all I have to do is–”

Draken’s hand rose from his side, the rough palm clamping onto your jaw. He wasted no time to bring his lips to your ear, drawing your bewildered eyes to meet his own.

“See what I mean, it’s that ignorant, stuck-up attitude I hate. You’re a baby compared to me in this field, I have a reputation, sweetheart….Fuck that up and I’ll make you regret ever working with me.”

You gave Draken a laggard nod of oath, granting his grip to ease from you. He left you without a hint of remorse, simply waving for you to join his side. Your teeth pinched at the plush of your bottom lip, slipping from the seat and onto the cold tile flooring of the dressing room.

Thoughts swarmed your mind, pummeling the corners of your brain relentlessly. As to how a man who possessed an unruly tongue and a stark personality could rally as many supporters as he did was more than a mystery to be uncovered.

If it hadn’t been for the repeated self-reminders you instilled within, Draken surely would’ve been pushed to quiet the shoot one way or another.

You reluctantly joined him in the shower, the clouds of steam building above. The curve of your back pressed against the neutral shades of gray and white tile, using Draken as the shield from the bullets of water.

Beneath the shuddering pair of cold voids, you found yourself growing small, wallowing in the pits of intimidation. It didn’t help that Draken stood at the grand height of 6’1, his shadow alone swallowing you whole.

As smug as he presented himself to be, the worked palms of his hands finding rest along your side with a tender grip. As though he had forgotten of the brash display from moments ago, the lids of his eyes hung low as he brought his lips to your own. The loud crash of the director’s clapper board rang as white noise, all points of focus pinned to you and Draken.

Coming out as a faint whisper, Draken left you with a final word.

“Let’s get this over with, hope you’re prepared…Princess.”

Keeping your eyes away from the menacing stature before you, small hands coming into a gentle tug at your towel. The soft sheet of cotton unfolded in his hands, leaving Draken to gawk brazenly at your bare form. The plush of his lips brushed past your own, a few lingering pecks barely leaving its mark.

“Well, aren’t you opening up? Why don’t you take it off fr’ me too, hm?”

Unenthusiastically, your hand settled along the chiseled ridges of his abdomen, shaky tips dragging down to the frilly ends of white.

With a soft drop, the towel fell to Draken’s ankles, displaying every inch of his contoured physique. Powerful broad shoulders, slender arms laced around your waist, even the sight of his cock livid with a blushed crown was enough to coax a sharp chill to lick at your spine.

The urge to touch him was more than what you could have anticipated. The hand that did remain against his skin drifted past his naval, only to tremble with uncertainty. It couldn’t have possibly been okay to touch him like this, even contemplating such a thought was immoral to you.

Draken watched your hesitancy with an easing patience, almost smirking at the innocent display. So much talk, just for you to be struck with a sudden dose of fear.

He knew your wishes as plain as day, even sharing in the physical ambitions. As a result–and to ease your stress, Draken’s slender digits laced around your wrist, the loose grip slipping between his thighs.

“Tch, go on…I’m yours for the taking,” the soft mumble falling from his lips.

The supple pads of your fingers brushed along the surging veins of his cock, inducing hallowing gasps to flood you both. He waited for the enveloping warmth of your palm to surround his length, the tender squeeze drawing out such pitiful groans.

Draken had become all too aware that your touch was nothing to be compared. It was teasing if anything, his teeth gritting back the weary sobs. The way you swiped at his swelled slit, beading with the pearls of precum threw the nerves of his body into a toil of unease, Draken’s stomach caving in at each gliding pass.  

It drove him to chase his own reaction, ears curious to the pretty mewls of your voice. His hand slid from your waist lazily, glazing to cup at the back of your knee. He was insistent on having your leg hook around him, even with the troubles of maintaining quiet.

He found his free hand slipping from your side once more, only to dip past your pried thighs and past the plushy fat of your lips,  hissing at the mess hidden beneath, his eyes being granted a sliver of sight. Glossy strands of your essence painted your clit and folds alike, the lustful rivulets beading from your clenched slit.

Shamelessly indulging in your cunt’s warmth, Draken laid the flat of his thumb against your entrance, dragging his lingeringly slow graze between the delicate sheets of flesh. Through his salacious intrigues, Draken almost took your muffled moans for granted, his ears finally in tuned with such coos.

“Y’know, you chose the wrong guy to work with,” his voice heavy with pants. You brought your head into a tilt, the corners of your lips twitching with a smile.

“And why’s that?”

With the question being posed, it only forced Draken to come to terms with what coherent thoughts manifested in his mind.

He relished in how comfortable you grew to be, your firmly made fist working along his shaft vigorously, ending each stroke with an endearing squeeze. He didn’t even care just how much of a mess riddled about your hand, droplets of water and arousal melding into one.

He didn’t even care of how much of a mess his fingers became, rivulets of your slick threatening to trail down his curled digits. It was addicting to Draken, everything beckoning for his attention. Between his drenched hair, sprung senses, and having his thumb toy with the perked bulb of your clit, nothing has ever seemed as perfect.

Hell, even having your hazy minds pinned to his own made its impact. It enticed Draken, throwing his needs to side for the moment. There was something abrew within him, desperately trying to pull an orgasm of some sorts from you.

Maybe it was the quivering pout placed on your lips, his aching urge to ruin its prominence with a kiss. Maybe it was just how ridiculously needy you became, the effects wafting over him.

“Why?...I might just have to make this pussy mine, suckin’ my finger like that. Just imagine what she’ll do my dick…makes me wanna try too.”

With that, Draken planted a rough kiss onto your lips, the ruse of muted whimpers drowning into oblivion. Pulling his grip from your busied hand, Draken braced the curve of your hips, closing the distance between you both.

You didn’t need to hear the low rasp of his voice to fulfill his demand, the sole of your planted foot rising to the balls of your toes. Draken drew his fingers from your dripping folds, replacing the space with the cherried crown of his cock.

The inflamed tip nipped at your entrance, pulling a cord of stray groans from Draken’s chest. From the flickers of space among your adjusting bodies, his darkened hues caught wind to the explicit sight; the gummy flesh plump with rouse, suckling at his cock’s head with wet kisses.

He didn’t expect it, none of his movements being of conscious control. His hips snapped to meet your own, bullying nearly the entirety of his length into you. The shrill of wawarbled weeps fell from your mouth, your head dropping against Draken’s heaving chest.

It truly was greedy of him, sinking his length into the inviting heat of your walls. The hefty weight of pity welled up in his chest, the lump clogging anything but seething gripes to cut through his teeth. Draken took to the shell of your ear, whispering on about how well you took every inch of him.

“You’ve got it, Baby. J-Just a little bit—fuck!”

As his cock finally found its snug post within your cunt, Draken wasted no time to reel his hips back. Gentle dips fed the building pressure inside your bodies, coaxing your legs to tremble in his wake. There was a kind manner that graced Draken, even if for that second–he only wished to please you.

All the talks of breaking you, making you regret working with him as your first..it all returned to him in bitter spots along the grooves of his tongue. How could he ever be so harsh to an amateur, especially one as gentle as you? In your eyes–glimmering hues spotty with white, he discovered a soft side within himself, one that could never have existed moments before.  

And dear God, was it so good?

As a matter of fact, it was almost too good to Draken. There was no way you possibly made him feel this good, even stirring the pot of nerves overflowing at the depths of his tummy. There was clearly no way you, those hazy eyes dotted with lust, and that clenching cunt could have Draken ready to fill your womb as if you were his own…right?

Of course—against his mental wishes, the roused head of Draken’s cock was allowed one final kiss upon your cervix before the ribbons of white fled from him, painting your walls in his scent.

His arms clung to your body, smothering you in his hold to ground his mind. He didn’t expect it, having your support, hands cupping his flushed cheeks and the soft purrs of assurance flooding the shell of his ear.

“Cut–Cut the damn cameras!” Draken’s bewildered shout rang throughout the silent set. In its brash manner, the blinding white lights came to a dimming halt, the cameras ending their studious appeals, even coaxing the director to jolt from his seat.

“What happened?! You guys okay?”

Exchanging a quick glance with you, Draken sighed with embarrassment. As if having the highs of his cheek dusted with rouge, having a view of his own sneering streams of cum pool down your leg was another story.

He wanted to explain his abrupt end, though it only brought the prickling admittance of his premature high and blowing up that ego of yours. Even if he wanted to lie, there was only one thing Draken could say without the imprudent snear of judgment befalling him.

“I-I’m gonna need a redo…she’s got a real good pussy on her!”

⭑—tags: @dejwrites @gabzlovesu @nanaminshousewife @tokyomanjihoe @presidentmonica @aasouthteranoswife @haikyutiehoe @varietysins @kazusugar @whore4mikey @rinhoes @dabilovesme @getoswhore @po3ticb3auty @rinny-babe @the-great-himbo @kenmasbimbo @10-jiku @jjjangsta @mitsuyasfavorite @yukihime-mikeys-girl @sweeneyblue1 @angwritez @devilgirlcrybabiey @sleepy3 @mytanuki-kun @bbytamaki

wanna join my taglist? click here:)))

#anime #x fem!reader #x female reader #reader insert #x black fem reader #x black reader #tokyo rev x reader #tokyo revengers #tokyo rev draken #draken x y/n #draken x poc!reader #draken #draken smut #ken ryuuguji #ken ryuuguji x y/n #ken ryuuguji x reader #ken ryuguji smut #[ ⭑—chris’ studio ]

[moon-simmers]

Architecture: Living/Drawing Room

An X-ray of the historical context. Eras: 1800s-1970s

History helps us to understand our past and how we come to today. I am studying architecture, that’s why I see how the different historical contexts influence their architecture.

This is a kind of help to the people who play the History Challengue at the time of building their homes and giving more personality to their decades

I’m not trying to have absolute reason, if there’s any mistake, please let me know.

These room styles are not the only ones, but they are an example to help.

Going from one decade to another doesn’t mean that the previous style disappears, there are familiar/historical contexts that could not afford to be at the forefront of technology.

Don’t limit yourself. This is a game, if you don’t want to make it historically accurate ITS OKAY

Late XVIII Century /Early XIX Century

The Drawing room or Reception room, was the center of the house, showed your status, your kindness, your good taste. Decorating the Drawing room was playing in a very fine line. Not living up to your income was bad, trying too hard was worse, and living above that was the greatest sin of all.

Large mirrors or portraits on chimneys exhibited the purchasing power of the family, as mirrors were normally considered valuable possessions of the house. The rooms were symmetrical in their construction but not so in the distribution of furniture

A man was expected to provide his girlfriend with a fully furnished house just like his parents' house. This is why so many men postpone marriage, they just can’t afford it.

The things they bought to fill their living rooms were sofas, ottomans, upright chairs and armchairs, stools, ladies' desks, sewing tables, side tables and screens. In addition, the furniture they bought usually lasted the rest of their lives.

The curve over Everything else

With the beginnings of a new century along with technological advances, a new ideal of the design of the homes was given. The beauty of symmetry is lost and rooms are chosen in different ways and with different angles

Art Nouveau, Modern Style or Jugendstil represented a break with the arbitrary styles of the time, offering a new aesthetic that was inspired by nature and that incorporated new materials derived from the industrial revolution, such as glass and iron.

Designs are used where ornamental and symbolic matters where whip lines or streamers predominate. A examples in the game are the Realm of Magic furniture, although they are far below the standard

A Material (and Edwardian) girl

Before the conflicts of the WW1 and later with the design of the Bauhaus one begins to consider the returned straight structuring but with a new modern look.

The materials they were made of were to be rich and wealthy without overlapping with each other. The Palais Stoclet is a perfect example of the transition from a straight Art Nouveau to a geometric Art Deco.

The Palais Stoclet must be one of the most sumptuously built mansions of the 20th century. It is an ode to craftsmanship and precious materials, being in double height was novel in its time, while transitioning to a new style of understanding the living of a house.

Art Decó Fantasy

Electricity and heating have already become paramount in almost all homes. The after WW1 period was characterized by the profligacy and ostentatiousness of a generation. After having gone through such an important war people began to live as long as they could afford as life was too short to spare in expenses.

At the same time the design school of the Bauhaus exclaimed that use and function should be first before ornamentation. The only thing I had in common with a Victorian Drawing Room was create meeting spaces around the fireplaces

My lovely little Home

During the 1930s Art Deco remained the predominant style until the beginning of the WWII. Because of the Great Depression, many people could not afford a sumptuous lifestyle and make do with their homes prior to this decade. Many people rented rooms or stayed with relatives in difficult situations due to the crisis.

The simplified and geometric trends of Art Deco begin to blend with more familiar and welcoming traditional styles, austere walls predominate with little decoration.

The living rooms began to be used for various functions that previously had separate rooms, such as music room or studios.

Build for your Nation!

With WWII in between, home renovations were not very significant. After decades of white walls the flowered wallpaper becomes attractive again.

The first televisions began to emerge in 1927, in the 30s and 40s it was considered a toy for rich men. The TV it was always installed in reading rooms or break rooms NOT ON LIVING ROOMS. Thus the concept of "Television Room" was created.

The women’s magazines and the most important architecture magazines of the time were full of what the television would do to the aesthetics of the living room and how to fit it. Many chose TV with styles similar to the rest of the furniture and place a sofa next to it to be able to handle it comfortably

i’ll never be the Same

Post war, economic comfort and desire for a prosperous suburban life. The windows become bigger and bigger to allow good ventilation and lighting. In this decade the concept of Living room as a separate room begins to mold towards the All in one concept.

Now the central heating supplies most homes, the Living rooms stop focusing on the fireplaces and become organized in a way that encourage group conversation along with pianos, turntables, radios, Tvs, etc.

From this moment until the end of the 70s the furniture of what today we classify as MID CENTURY STYLE is popularized, Wood colors with pastel shades in complementing the curtains and carpets predominate this decade.

Can't Take My Eyes off You

There are not many significant changes in the way of distribution of rooms, the trends of the past decadence begin to gradually increase. The separation with the rooms is almost invisible except for the kitchen, combining Living room, Dining room and TV Room.

Many new textures are incorporated into everyday life such as stone on walls and granite, concrete or carpet floors. Vibrant, warm and strong colors like yellow, orange, red and apple green are trending along with light wood and glass tables.

Television is already part and is an unconditional object of a living room, each time the need to hide it as if it were a piece of furniture is lost, radios have been replaced by record players

Take A Chance On Me!

All the trends of the last two decades reach their climax during the 70s: Striking and bizarre prints with vibrant colors, large windows that blur the limits of the rooms, platfroms and sunken lounges, large walls of wood or stone and floors with carpets.

The spaces finally appear in open and joined diagrams instead of separate rooms, while filling with different types of wood, both in walls and in furniture. The chimneys began to take prescence in the 60s and now are gigantic structures from floor to ceiling that are part of the aesthetics more than for its functionality.

The extensive and colorful armchairs are essential in any modern home, although their counterpart in earth colors is famous as well.

#ts4 #ts4 gameplay #ts4 edit #ts4 story #19th century #18th century #20th century #ts4 20th century #ts4 design #ts4 decor #ts4 interior #ts4 render #ts4 architecture #ts4 1890s #ts4 1910s #ts4 1920s #ts4 1930s #ts4 1940s #ts4 1950s #ts4 1960s #ts4 1970s #ts4 1980s #ts4 historian #ts4 history challenge #ts4 historical #ts4 history

[witch-hazels-musings]

It’s 🍪!

You have this ‘My Sunshine’ (?) fic where the reader is an absolute ball of sunshine and I LOVE it! Could you do a part two with Zhongli, Childe and Albedo please?

Mwah!

My Sunshine

( what an incredible choice of characters! Thank you for adding to one of my favorite fics!! ) 

Warning -> SFW, Fluff

Character X GN Reader | Anthology 

Includes: Albedo, Childe, Zhongli 

Albedo 

It was the way you greeted the world around you - with pleasant smiles, patient hands, caring and compassionate eyes. You saw the world for what it could be, the beauty of it and while Albedo searched for the answer in the universe, you already seemed to have found them 

He noticed you on his wanderings through the city. His hands were already moving to draw your expressions in a hope to capture everything that he possibly could - how could he capture the intensity of the sun itself, of a flower basking in the afternoon glow, or a firefly so vibrant that it burned orange and beautiful 

You were bouncing on your toes, smiling kindly at the people who walked by while you patiently waited for anyone to stop by. Not many people purchased flowers every single day, but you found it wasn’t hard to proposition people with your generous smile and pin-point compliments. 

“My! I have never seen something so beautiful in all my life.” You began, bending to rest your hands on your knees while catching the attention of a small young girl who had been glancing at the array of flowers at your side. She looked at you confused, a bit nervous but didn’t back away. 

Reaching for a small white flower, you trimmed the leaves and hummed a little tune before turning back to her. “A lovely flower like you must attract so much goodness. Even this daisy is impressed by your radiance!" She giggled and you continued, "Would you do me a favor?” You smiled at her, eyes showing only the purest of shine. The little girl nodded her head and you began again, “Could you carry this flower and help it grow? If it's you, I'm sure it'll turn just as beautiful?” 

The little girl wrapped her small fingers around the stem, her smile and giggle so powerful that Albedo was sure you cast a magic spell because as he watched her gallop away back to her parents, the flowers near you began to glisten and the sketch on his page came to life. 

He was unsure how to make a connection with you, so more often than not he would find himself purchasing flowers he didn’t really have the necessity for - but perhaps if he gathered enough up, he’d have a bouquet glorious enough to equal your soul 

“Mr. Albedo, pleasure seeing you again.” You brushed off your apron and turned to him. Your eyes closing and head tilting, a standard greeting of yours. “I have some rather rare flowers in stock today if you’d like to take a look.” 

“I am actually here to inquire if you had any Asters; the research institute has just run out.” 

“Hmm, let me check for you.” You bowed slightly before disappearing behind the many stalls and carriers of your wares. He scanned the flowers as he waited for your return. Gloved fingers inspecting the petals of flowers and, in his wandering thoughts, he began to investigate which one reminded him the most of you. “Mr. Albedo, I am sorry, it seems we are fresh out.” 

“I see …” 

“Ah! However, I needed to gather several other plants today. If you come back tomorrow I will set them aside for you.” You waved at the other worker as if to inform them of your intentions and quickly reached for the basket near the stall. 

“Actually, would it be too much of a bother if I were to travel with you?” 

You paused, staring at him with eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. What was this feeling in his chest, it hurt. “I would never pass up an opportunity to share in your company! What a splendid day this is turning out to be.” 

“Thank you, I will keep out of your way.” 

“Not too much I hope. So, Mr. Albedo, are you ready?” You turned to head toward the front gate and he followed after you. 

“Yes, and please, just Albedo is fine.” 

“Alrighty then, Albedo.” Ah, yes, that’s why his heart hurt. 

There you were, the wind wrapping around you as you stood in a field of flowers - the reflection of light difficult to pinpoint for as bright as the sun shined down onto the plane below, you were just as intense and, in fact, you may be the most luminous creature to ever exist -- how could he possibly reach something like you 

Childe

His world had never been bright -- from the snowy landscape that threatened every day to freeze the warm hearts that beat on its surface, to the dark void that he fought through as an adolescent, to the harsh and demanding ladder he climbed in service to his cause -- he’d never known the light … his had been seized so long ago 

So when he found a flicking candle, a small flame in his dark corridor, he walked to it - ran for it - and to see the glory reflected on the other side was something he fixated on until he could hold the candle safe in his arms 

He clenched his jaw and sighed. These boring briefings were never something he cared to participate in. He was more for action rather than words, so instead of listening to the updates from the short, purple-haired harbinger, he instead gazed out the open window at the city below. 

Liyue had shifted from a temporary destination into a permanent one as the tasks and duties continued to lengthen his stay. At least he didn’t mind the city, not like some of the other places he’d stay at. Just as he was about to drift back to the boring discussion, he heard a voice drift up to him. A lively, giddy voice that stole all of his attention and focus, but as soon as you entered into view his minimal interest piqued into desperation. 

“Wait up! You can’t tell me that this isn’t a beautiful day, just take it all in!” You spread your arms wide and spun with so much energy that the inertia made you stumble, luckily you caught yourself before running into some poor passerby. Childe smiled and rested his chin on his palm as he looked down at the loveliness that was your everything. 

You laughed, and the way your hands flew to your lips to cover the sound made him jealous of those fingers. You spoke, words falling off of your tongue like sugar and he grew antsy at the thought of not tasting it. You existed, and he needed a piece of it. 

Waving to his subordinate, he spoke in a hushed whisper, and while the meeting continued to drone on, he made his first step at capturing a star. 

The more information he gathered, the more interactions he had with you - the more he fell into your luster, the richer his feelings grew for you 

His actions were that of a child just looking for a comforting glow in their endless darkness, hands cupped to keep it alive, breathing held for fear of accidentally blowing it out - stay, please stay 

He called your name, the sound of his voice dissipating in the open space as he searched for any sign of you. 

“Hey there!” You called out to him, and when he looked up toward your voice, he smiled. Your legs dangled off the tree limb, your hands wrapping around the bark as you balanced there. 

“How is the view?” He asked, crossing his arms and staring at you from below. How did you get up there, he wondered. 

“Beautiful, I can see so much from up here. It’s like a whole different perspective.” You breathed in deeply and lifted your arms to reach for the sky above you. “How about you join me?” 

“I’m not sure I can, I don’t even know how you got up there.” 

“Sheer will and determination!” Giggling, he thought maybe you were actually a mythical creature in the fairytales he used to read as a kid. There was no way you could live in this world and be so positive, it had to be you were something beyond this world. “I’ll come down to you.” Twisting, you wiggled onto your stomach before letting yourself drop onto the ground below. It was further than you thought and as soon as your feet hit the earth, your body became off balance and tumbled backward. 

Childe easily caught you, his sturdy chest supporting you and arms extended so your hands could have something to grab onto. 

“Ooh, that was exhilarating.” Tilting your head, you turned to look at him and for a moment he felt his lips scream for yours. He wanted to let you go, but how could you when you fit so perfectly in his arms. “Childe?” 

“You’re something else.” This was dangerous, you were dangerous, and now that he knew what it was like to feel the brightness of the light, he would never let the dark creep back in. 

He needed you - it was apparent - and he hoped one day you’d realize you needed him too. A light like yours truly needed to shine in the darkness of places, so choose his, please choose his 

Zhongli 

There is no one in this world that would understand luster better than he - no one who could see the shine inside a being as clearly as one with eyes who’ve witnessed the birth and eventual death of the universe. The great Morax, the ruthless Rex Lapis, the gentle and patient Zhongli are one and the same, and the visions they’ve witnessed cannot be forgotten 

So, to see a person with purity so refined, that even the dullest observers could clearly recognize, he found it nearly impossible to look away 

He heard tell of a new performer joining the Pearl, someone who had shown great elegance and glorious promise at wowing the crowds. As a man who fancied the arts of all kinds, he was intrigued by the rumors and whispers. So, when the schedule showed the name of this new performer, he made his way to the boat drifting on the sea. 

His lips tasted the sweet flavor of tea but his eyes soaked in the delectable movements of your body. The graceful bow of your spin, the bending and twisting of your limbs as you moved just enough to tell your story on the swaying stage. He felt the history in your dance, the pride in your fluttering fan as you moved it across your face, the snap of truth as you forced it up toward the sky. He was transfixed, as he was sure all were. 

When you finished, you began to greet the many interested patrons eager to hear the sound of your voice. There was no way he could have known how transfixing you would be when he heard it. 

“What a stunning performance.” Zhongli mused, his head bowing, a mirror of your own gesture. 

“That is great praise from someone such as yourself.” You smiled and he was reminded of glaze lilies. 

“Pray tell, what was the inspiration for your dance?” 

“Ah, an insightful question, not unexpected I must say.” You laughed and moved your hands to your chest, elegant fingers resting over your heart as you answered his question. “The light of a soul has so much insight, don’t you think? If the soul is radiant, the vessel's beauty is so easily seen, and if there is beauty shining so brightly that it can communicate out to those who look, it may shift just the tides of the future.” You laughed again, a bit more unreserved than the last, and somehow more telling to your honesty. “I’m sorry, I hope that answered your question.” 

“Splendidly, and then some.” He found himself transfixed, captivated by a spirit shining before him. 

Spending time with you was as refreshing as standing in a mountain stream, as filling as a warm meal, as bright as the basking stars that littered the sky above and reflected in your eyes even in darkness 

“Zhongli, hello again.” He wandered into the garden, the gentle bubbling of the water as it fell along the rocks provided a lovely background to your visage. Carefully, you rested your fingers against the pages of your book as you looked up at him. The shadows of the shifting trees let highlights of the sun dance across your face and he couldn’t help but capture this image in his mind. 

“Good afternoon, you seem to be enjoying the day.” 

“As I always am. Nature has provided such elegant and lovely conditions that it would be a waste to not thank it, don’t you agree?” 

“Wholeheartedly.” He smiled, his hands gripping tighter around each other as they rested against the small of his back. It was incredible how nervous you made him; for a man who was a powerful as the mountains that looked down over the city, you made him feel like a tiny pebble in the stream begging to be touched by you. “May I join you?” 

“Absolutely, anything in this world can be improved by good company, and yours is always my favorite.”

“As yours is mine.” He sat on the stone bench next to you, his hands resting on his lap as he looked out across the scenery. You moved closer to him, your arms touching as you shared in the company of each other and, while his eyes drifted to your face, he watched how your smile and good nature made the flowers bloom. 

You were a compliment to his life. A perfect addition to the drift of time and as he looked at the future that stretched before him, he found your red wrapping perfectly around his amber 

--

tag list

@star-gods @mercurysmaiden @dourpeep @clemmywrites @pepperoncinipizza @handswritteeen @lucifucker @beelsdessert @odafashioned @coolcats09 @ninqat @musekala @sufzku @mooshymello @heavenlyang @plenilunegazes @glazelilyy @justyoureverydayqueer @idunkar @solowmomo @twokissesforamelia @the-mermaid-of-mondstadt @fuwon @angel-melt @lucacandy @shesleire @marianadi @zentoruu @smol-knife @nightlywallows @aoirohi @nitorious-ghost @mguerra11 @anatthesavage @maiiikoo @actstfbla @youaskedfurret @nonniechan @tempehlust @zenith-impact @plumpkie @jaggedsi @salty-salty @onlyhereforinteractivestories @gultonluvv @shy-specter @liebestraumss @jaemjenjam @softlybeloved @anatthesavage @mkazuyuh @excitedlysuffering @kaidou-pie @yujiia @cytomegalia @natxxu @ilyshelb @fvushiguros @nua-fromliyue @yoshikuno @kaidou-pie @anonymousficreader @cyphermagic @chichikoi

#genshin impact #genshin impact X reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact musings #genshin impact fiction #albedo x reader #albedo #genshin albedo #genshin impact albedo #childe X reader #childe #genshin childe #genshin impact childe #Zhongli X reader #zhongli #genshin zhongli #genshin impact zhongli

[demonslayedher]

okay bestie, i'm not sure if you've talked about this before, but when it comes to demon slayer Nezuko (not post-canon au, but like a swap au), how do you think she'd do her hair? she leaves it down because she can't do it herself as a demon, but it seems as though a bun was pretty traditional for her. additionally, most other female characters wear their hair up similarly, with the exception of a lot of female demon slayers, who do ponytails, braids, pigtails, etc. is that abnormal for the time period or could it be due to many of those slayers' high statuses?

Um... so-o-o-o-o.... I meant to answer this with my other role-swap demon slayer Nezuko AU Asks, and I even went looking for it because I really felt there was more than two of them, but then I lost sight of that part of the Ask and was just like, "hairstyles!! Taisho hairstyles!!" And now I'm back, like, 'oh, durrrrr, this is fully in the context of role swap Nezuko, uhhhh' and once again I must confess to everything confessed on the response to other the other role swap Nezuko Asks. ^^;; Clearly my brain still remembered to answer some of it as I originally had meant to answer them all together. But also, I have loved Nezuko is EVERY HAIRSTYLE I have ever seen her in, be it Gotouge's art, Ufotable's art, or a plethora of canon-esque or AU after AU after AU of fanart. This child looks good in everything. Nezuko truly is the beauty of our hometown.

And anyway, I did not do the homework as assigned, but I dug up some Taisho period reference instead of relying on general familiarity with it (I'm not a fashion historian, but I have enjoyed history and fashion and Taisho Roman for a very very long time). So I have this to offer!

Yes, yes, I know, while this was just for fun, I need to show my work and explain my answer, and maybe I can at least get partial credit even for having done the wrong assignment. And turning it in late.

Since I am not a fashion historian, I'm going to keep it brief, starting with a review of late Meiji/early Taisho history touched on in this post about marriage and courtship in the era. Basically, Taisho was an exciting, experimental time! Girls were enjoying freedoms and influence over popular culture like never before, especially going all out on fashion in those precious years before they were married and expected to act the role of a demure, subservient wife. And they loved trying new things with their hair, either on their own or in salons!

At least, that was the case if you were a rich girl, with the luxury of higher education and no necessity to work. If you were a girl in countryside, life was virtually still like it was in the Edo Period. Since the rich city girls are what most people think of when they picture Taisho fashion, let's jump back to that a moment and clarify that a lot of what feels signature Taisho, especially Art Deco inspired fashions, didn't really take off until the 1920's, later in the relatively shorter Taisho period, whereas KnY more likely takes place in early Taisho. A lot of what I included above (specific Tamayo and Nezuko's looks) are from a bit later. To get a clearer look at what fashions would had influenced the KnY cast, looking at the late Meiji styles will give us a more accurate picture. By this time, city girls were already very experimental with their (still generally kept long) hair, and they lo-o-o-o-o-oved ribbons.

In the countryside, girls generally never cut their hair beyond childhood, but kept their long hair bound like Nezuko does. There wasn't exactly a taboo against leaving your hair down, though, school girls were popularizing long braids too. Nezuko does seem to have picked up a taste for the ribbon trend! Maybe she can't afford a nice kimono, but that much is within her means. Another fashion standard of the time was that when girls wore haori, they were long haori that went below the knees. Speaking of clothes, Western style clothes were still difficult to attain, so even among the affluent this was something reserved for special occasions. Even in the busiest areas of Tokyo, you'd only see may be 1 in 7 people in fully Western attire. You'd be hard-pressed to see anyone in Western attire in the countryside, much less wearing fine material like silk. Nezuko's kimono is like a cotton or hemp or a blend, and that asanoha pattern may very well be a lose rendition on sashiko stitching, which could reinforce the durability of the clothes (though to be effective, the patterns would be much smaller).

So we can gather than Nezuko, despite living a very traditional and thrifty life, does keep up with fashions within her means. Since her sewing projects were high enough quality to sell for profit (according to Fanbook #1), she probably had good taste, too. So with all that in mind, we do see female demon slayers who have chosen practical hairstyles, like Ozaki and other girls present at Muzan's defeat with a tight ponytails, or like the girl at Rengoku's Final Selection and one of Shinobu's Tsuguko, who cropped their hair short. Those girls are likely orphans who have lost every shred of normalcy they ever had; there is no reason for them to keep to traditions and fashions, and they may not feel the time or even interest for cute hairstyle trends. So what would Nezuko do?

Like I said, I like everything I've seen, and I feel like any hairstyle could be justified as long it both appeals to her tastes (both traditional and trendy) and her sense of practicality.

And now for more!! Like I said, I went looking for reference instead of trusting my own (apparently unreliable) memory! Here's some stuff especially about Taisho school girl fashion trends, and here's a wider array of hairstyles with years of reference included. And here's a Japanese blog page with a bunch of street fashion photos from the 1920's and later, showcasing "moga" (modern girl") fashion. There is so much to say about the fashion-forward Taisho period that this is just a tiny sample, but again, a lot of the really fun stuff isn't quite relevant until Kiyo-chan, Naho-chan, and Sumi-chan are the target ages for those trends!

#kny nerdery #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer #kamado nezuko #my art #my dumb art

[wannabegwenstacy]

Eden's Favorite Fic's (BTS Fic Recs)

Updated Version: Here!

Note: In the past I haven't indulged in tumblr fics often but I recently (past 3 months) have been reading quite regularly & am planning on branching out a bit. To keep track of the ones that I have enjoyed & the ones that I have even came back to I'm making this list. Again, I haven't been digging into the tumblr fics world for long so for right now its a very short list. I'm hoping with time I can get more fics of different types on here (btsxbts, some gender neutral xreader ones, & more ones that I genuinely like)

About me to understand what's going to be on here:

Age: 21 (99' liner)

Sexuality: Bisexual

Pronouns: She/Her

Ult Bias: Yoongi

Trio: Rap Line

I am OT7. I do enjoy smut but don't think it is necessary to FF. Overall I just want a well-crafted plot that makes sense. I read for entertainment & to escape. But I still need some form of realism (just me personally) to follow the trail of events. PSA: I'm trying to find a broader scope of writers I like but for right now I don't have many. There are gonna be some repetitive writers for now.

______________________________________________________________

Kim Namjoon:

- Librarian Namjoon Universe by @jungshookz

Beauty & the Bookworm (I love this concept SO MUCH)

Pairing: Cute, Good Boy, Nerdy, University Librarian Namjoon x Bratty, Semi-Popular, Procrastinator, University Student Reader

Word count: 20.8k

Summary: You're a procrastinator big time and you may or may not be failing. To get some extra credit you begrudgingly take the library assistant opening where you work under strict dorky Namjoon. Passive aggressiveness, cuteness, fluff, & some smuttiness arises.

Jealous-Boyfriend-Librarian Namjoon (Drabble)

Pairing: Jealous Boyfriend Librarian Namjoon x Oblivious Cute Girlfriend Uni Student Reader

Word count: 3.4k

Summary: You take an Art History Course and end up needing a tutor. Joon offers to tutor you but he doesn't know shit about Art History so you end up getting tutored by an ArtHoe Taehyung that may or may not like you but you are oblivious to this and Joon gets super jealous.

Kim Seokjin:

- Hockey Player Jin by @ve1vetyoongi

HEART OF GOLD (BLADES OF ICE)

Pairing: Sweet Hot New Hockey Player in Town Jin x Ex-Figure Skater (who has a history with jin) Reader

Word count: 20k

Summary: After a fall during figure skating practice dashes your dreams of competing at nationals, you vow to hang up your skates for good. That is until you cross paths with Kim Seokjin, captain of the ice hockey team, who is determined to get you back out on the rink and melt the ice in your heart. (Jimin is a bully in this and their other k-pop idols as characters. Very Very Fluffy and Hallmark Christmas Movie-ish so be aware of that. Overall, it's just cute :) )

Min Yoongi:

Note: these are all but one by the same writer @jungshookz & are written from the pov of a female reader. I'm gonna try to find some gender-neutral fics but for now, if you are female-identifying I really enjoyed these! :)

- Mechanic Yoongi Universe by @jungshookz

Baby, You Can Drive My Car (My favorite AU Fics I've read so far on Tumblr!!)

Pairing: Tatted, Mic Drop Era, Mechanic Min Yoongi x Spoiled Rich, Inexperienced, University Student Reader

Word count: 24.6k

Summary: Welcome to Min Mechanics - What can I do for you today, doll?

Maybe She Can Drive His Car

Pairing: Oblivious, Hot, Boyfriend, Mechanic Min Yoongi x Adorable, Spoiled, University Student, Jealous Girlfriend Reader

Word count: 11.6k

Summary: Yoongi's ex is back in town for a visit and you would be lying if you said you weren't slightly envious of a) how knowledgeable she is about stupid cars and b) how well she gets along with literally everyone.

- Uni Yoongi x Nerdy Reader (mini series) by @jungshookz

Note: these are all drabbles I'm gonna link my favorites in the series. I'll probably add more later.

Cocky Uni Student Yoongi x Nerdy Reader:

^^This is the start of the mini-series, recommend you read it first!^^

The One with the Scrunchie:

Contains: smut, a super cute scrunchie turning into a kink of sorts, slightly insecure Yoongi, experienced Yoongi, slightly inexperienced reader, shy about their own body reader.

Yoongi always had an Overactive Imagination:

Contains: talking about sex, implied smut, reader trying to be productive while also being horny, Yoongi being super distracted and horny.

"I'm gonna need you to shut up now please"

- CEO Yoongi Universe by @jungshookz

Suit&Tie (First Fic in the series)

Pairing: CEO Min Yoongi x Secretary Reader

Wordcount: 21k+

Summary: Young Intimidating Hot CEO Yoongi, Clumsy Secretary Y/N who loves Sugar, Best Friend Jimin. Funny Awkward Meeting that sets up the whole plot, was like reading a Kdrama in book form.

The One Where Augst D makes a Comeback (Favorite Fic in the series)

SPOILERS READ PRIOR DRABBLES TO CATCH UP!! (I recommend The First Date, The One Where Yoongi is Just a Little Jealous, The Proposal, The Wedding, Baby Makes Three, Baby Min's Timeline, The Birth of Baby Min, Daddy's Little Girl, Who the Hell is Augst D.

Pairing: CEO Min Yoongi x Secretary Reader

Word count: 6.5k

Summary: Yoongi finds out you faked an orgasm and he's going to gi-give it to you more ways than one.

- Demon Yoongi by @jungshookz

Hellish (I got some feelings for incubus Yoongi not gonna lie)

Pairing: Bratty, Super Sexy, Sex Demon, Mint Min Yoongi x University Student, Non-Supernatural Believer Reader

Word count: 22.1k

Summary: Jungkook is your clueless, energetic best friend. Wonho is a character in this fic, You are dragged into summoning a demon one night by your overly excited to be summoning a demon? best friend Jungkook. Spooky but Kind of Sexy Shit Happens! (This is probably my second favorite Yoongi Fic I've read!)

- Basketball Captain Yoongi by @jungshookz

Basketball Captain Yoongi

Pairing: Cocky, Popular, Charming Captain of the Basketball Team Min Yoongi x Water girl University Student Reader (who has been crushing on Yoongi hard for some time)

Word count: 18.4k

Summary: Jungkook is your athletic bro of a best friend that signs you up to be his replacement as the water boy (girl in this case) after he makes the team. You have had a pathetic schoolgirl crush on Yoongi for a while and is basically the only reason you agreed to be the water girl aside from spending time with Jungkook. It's fluffy & smutty!

- Android Yoongi @jungshookz

Technologically in love (..I cried! but I also smiled a lot so you know this is well written)

Pairing: Personal Assistant Prototype but SUPER Lifelike Android Min Yoongi x Messy, Junkfood, & Cartoons Loving Reader (basically your early 20s living alone kind of vibe)

Word count: 24k+

Summary: You live in a Detroit Becoming Human type universe but prior to a lot of the advancements. Androids are already a thing but not to the level the M1N Y00NG1 is yet. You are best friends with all the boys and they happen to be engineers which is how you ended up with Yoongi in the first place. Namjoon created Yoongi as a personal assistant prototype android & you are told to live with him. Things get fluffy, SUPER ANGSTY, and super smutty!

- Listen Closely by @avveh

Listen Closely ( sexiest Yoongi fic I have read so far, I kept wanting to go back and read again)

Pairing: Tsundere Office Worker Min Yoongi x Hardworking Office Worker Reader

Word count: 12.2k

Summary: Unintentionally, you stumble upon something that makes you view your coworker Min Yoongi in a whole new light. (SMUT 18+: Masturbation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, breathplay, spanking, degrading names.)

Jung Hoseok:

- Secret Boyfriend Hoseok by @kpopfanfictrash

Keeping a Secret (this took me places...Idk about you but I have trouble finding really good Hoseok fics and this one was perfect. One of my favorite fics on this website)

Pairing: New Relationship Dom Hoseok x New Relationship Tease Reader

Word count: 3.7k

Summary: You and Hoseok have been hooking up for a few weeks now. No one in your friend group knows. What happens then, when he shows up at movie night looking better than anticipated? SMUT!

- Studio Sex Hoseok by @joonbird

Studio:

Pairing: Boyfriend BTS Hoseok x Girlfriend Reader

Word Count: 5k

Summary: Hoseok is stressed about his upcoming mixtape, so you decide to swing by his studio and help him relax. (Hobi being the beautiful glorious sexy man he is and putting those ungodly hips to use!)

Park Jimin:

- Jimin and His Pregnancy Kink by @boymeetsweevil

ME, YOU, AND THIS THING WE HAVE BETWEEN US (NSFW)

Pairing: Sweet Caring Domestic but Horny Jimin x Pregnant Hormonal Reader

Word count:~3.7k

Warnings (aka what to prepare for): everything is graphic and gross lmao, blowjobs (face f*cking), boob job (not the one w/ silicon inserts), cunnilingus, dom!jimin if u squint, cumplay if u squint again, dirty talk/degrading language, penetrative sex (doggy style), unprotected sex, PREGNANCY KINK that’s a big one

Summary: You’re pregnant and Jimin is…happy about it (If I remember correctly this one is 25% cute domestic Jimin trying to calm his hormonal pregnant partner and 75% pure filth aka Jimin having a pregnancy kink and trying to hide it but not well at all. This is however my ultimate fav Jimin smut I have ever read!)

- Crush/Neighbor Jimin by @sketchguk

Lover to Lean On: (I absolutely adore this fic. Overall it's just really well written and I felt like I was watching a show in my head rather than reading a short Tumblr fic. Highly recommend it!)

Pairing: Cute Customer & Neighbor Jimin x Florist Reader

Word Count: 19.9k

Summary: For months, you can hear your no-face neighbor and his ‘girlfriend’ singing and dancing and laughing and falling in love. Above all, you can hear their bed banging against your shared wall, and they won’t ever let you sleep. You’d much rather stay up at night worrying about your own problems, like the weight of an unrequited crush, so of course, you’re bitterly single. But one day, the apartment is radio silent. And one day slowly turns into one week and then into an immeasurable amount of time since you’ve heard his laugh. So on Valentine’s Day, when you’re missing it the most, you beg your neighbor to open up to you with cookies in one hand and two broken hearts in the other.

Kim Taehyung:

-Roommate Taehyung Universe by @jungshookz

Stuck with You

Pairing: Frat Bro bit of an asshole Roommate Kim Taehyung x Clean Organized bit of a Pushover Reader

Word count: 37k

Summary: Kim Taehyung becoming your new roommate is definitely up there on the list of the worst things to ever happen to you. Librarian Namjoon is your Best friend and ex-roommate. Frat bro Jeon Jungkook makes an appearance. There is so smut and implied smut.

The One with the One Year Anniversary (Drabble)

Pairing: The cutest domestic boyfriend Kim Taehyung x girlfriend reader

Word count: 4.6k

Summary: NO SPOILERS! so I'm going to give you a quote: "well, um, look! I made breakfast for you. f-for us!" Also, SFW

Jeon Jungkook:

- Gamer Jungkook by @softyoongiionly

PRESS START (this is the cutest fucking smut type fic I have ever read! it is so pure and is the exact type of relationship I want! IT MADE ME SIMP SO HARD!) gender-neutral I believe!

Pairing: Night owl Gamer Domestic Boyfriend Jeon Jungkook x Witty Domestic Cutesy Relationship Reader

Word count: 5.5k

Summary: A night in with your boyfriend Jungkook includes all kinds of things: anime, witty banter, snacks from 7-Eleven and, you know, sex. (GREAT READ!! I AM A SIMP FOR THIS FIC!!)

#bts smut #bts fic #bts jungkook #bts jhope #bts yoongi #bts jimin #bts taehyung #bangtan #bangtan sonyeondan #namjoon #jimin #seokjin #jungkook #jin #bts army #jjk smut #smut #kth smut #ksj smut #pjm fanfic #pjm smut #pjm oneshot #pjm fluff #pjm angst #pjm ff #pjm x reader #kth oneshot #kth x reader #kth angst #kth bts